Volume XIII; Issue 7
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
cavchronline.com
Doodling in class: Harmful or helpful? Many students find doodling helpful, teachers may disagree
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Emily Raymond ‘15 Staff Writer
s everyone looking down at their notebooks doodling? At first glance, this gives the impression that you’re not paying attention. However, studies have shown that doodling actually helps improve memory and that those in class who appear distracted are actually just as aware, if not more, of what’s going on. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Recent research in neuroscience, psychology and design shows that doodling can help people stay focused, grasp new concepts and retain information.” There is a benefit to putting drawing in class. Time Magazine’s John Cloud reports, “In a delightful new study, which will be published in the journal Applied
Cognitive Psychology, psychologist Jackie Andrade of the University of Plymouth in southern England showed that doodlers actually remember more than non-doodlers when asked to retain tediously delivered information, like, say, during a boring meeting or a lecture.” Why not just focus on the teacher? The answer seems to be that when you aren’t keeping your mind occupied during a boring lecture, you are likely to daydream.
“Doodling forces your brain to expend just enough energy to stop it from daydreaming but not so much that you don’t pay attention,” Cloud says. You don’t have to be a talented artist to doodle. Even coloring or sketching patterns are shown to have the same effects. Dave Umstead, the band director at HBHS, says that students doodling in class would not be a problem for him. “If someone is clearly focused I don’t
say anything about it.”
Umstead believes that it varies according to the subject in which a student is doodling. “In English class, if someone is reading out loud, then I would say doodling would not be an issue, but in math where you need to be looking constantly then it wouldn’t work. “ Molly McAndrews ‘15, claims that she occasionally doodles in class. “I draw patterns, flowers, anything. I generally refrain from doodling if it’s a new topic, but if it’s a topic I’m comfortable in I’ll doodle.” McAndrews believes that teachers will detect a pattern in students doodling in class, and that they understand it’s an important outlet in class. So what should we take away from this? Teachers: Your students may actually be paying attention while they draw little bunnies and spirals. Students: You are now excused to draw bunnies and spirals, as long as you know what’s going on in class.
Illustration Credit: Emily Raymond ‘15
A look at league of legends
May the FORCE be with Kamen Teresa Randlett ‘16 Assistant Entertainment Editor This past Saturday Hollis Brookline High School’s very own FIRST Robotics team, FORCE 1073, participated in a competition at Goffstown High School. But this meet was not a normal FIRST competition. The members of the team dressed up as Dean Kamen, entrepreneur and inventor of the Segway. Not only did they dress up in celebration of Halloween, but also in honor of Dean Kamen’s newest revolutionary invention--one that he hopes will affect the whole world and change the lives of millions. The Slingshot. Born a New Yorker, Kamen has ideas just as big as his home city, and his invention is nothing less than revolutionary. His idea consists of a three hundred pound and about three foot tall box that will bring fresh water to the world. The simplistic design masks the true potential of the machine. The small box is a clean water machine called the Slingshot which, despite its size, is extremely powerful. Producing thirty liters of purified water per hour, the Slingshot is a completely foreign idea to the world. The amount of en-
ergy used during the hour of purification is equivalent to the amount of energy used when blow drying hair with a standard blow dryer. The Slingshot is powerful, but a great quantity of boxes must be manufactured and distributed in order to make an impact. In a year, one Slingshot will make enough water for three hundred people, which is around 365,000 liters of water. A member of HBHS’s very own FIRST team, Athena LaJeunesse ‘16, believes that Kamen is “such a big role model to all these FIRST students” and is “making people think of the possibilities of what we can all do with engineering”. LaJeunesse also says, “He’s not all about the gadgets and segways or even making money; he’s about helping people and the world.” After creating a partnership with Coca-Cola, the Slingshot is now in the process of being transported and set up in impoverished places across the world such as rural communities in Latin America and Africa. Though Kamen is President of DEKA Research and Development Corporation, he had not been able to get the Slingshot into production. But this fall, he finally collaborated with Coca-Cola, and the Slingshot took
Hollis Brookline High School’s First robotics team. Photo Credit: Teresa Randlett ‘16
off. The partnership has allowed the project to grow to its full potential and Kamen’s invention will hopefully lead to a worldwide impact. Since only two percent of the world’s water drinkable, the Slingshot can help create more fresh water globally. Kamen hopes to eventually have people travelling on foot to deliver his invention, to even the most remote places in India and Africa. The FORCE team at Hollis Brookline High School and surrounding FIRST Robotics teams were invited recently
to attend Dean Kamen’s “Slingshot” documentary in a private viewing. The documentary spanned over a seven year period of time, with filmmakers following Kamen around his home here in New Hampshire. FIRST Robotics teams were especially invited to the viewing due to the fact that Kamen is the founder of FIRST Robotics. Although our FIRST team did not attend, the invite itself is quite an honor.
And about senior shirt censorship... Mike Morgan ‘15, Staff Writer It’s pretty common for school administration to be cautious when it comes to what students wear around school, but it seems this year they are cracking down particularly hard on the Class of 2015’s senior shirt names. For instance, a student was denied the name “Otis” on the back of his shirt, and another student had his design “Getrecked” rejected for a possible al-
Book Nook Gone Girl
lusion to alcohol.
not to want to risk anything this year.
Many students are well within reason to be upset regarding the censorship constraints. “I am angry with it,.” said Ashley Farmer, ‘15, when asked about her thoughts on the multiple rejections.
Vice principal Tim Girzone commented that“There were more violations with school inappropriate names this year,” said Girzone. “The filter is the same this year, it hasn’t changed.”
It would appear that administration will not allow any name to be printed on the shirts that is even remotely related to school-inappropriate ideals not reflective of school values. However, the people responsible for the senior shirts have had to deal with countless attempts of shameless profanity in situations such as these, so it is understandable that they are careful
As a result of its transition from print to the big screen, Gone Girl has jumped to the #1 position on the New York Times Bestseller list, and it doesn’t look as though it’s going anywhere. Gillian Flynn’s unpredictable plot of this thriller keeps readers gripping the book’s covers at all hours of the night.
In Carthage, Missouri, Nick and Amy Dunne celebrate their fifth anniversary over crepes while getting ready for their long-established anniversary festivities. They then part ways to go about their day-to-day activities. While at the bar that he and his sister Margo own, Nick is called home by his neighbor to find the front door swung open, the cat outside, and his wife … gone. When detectives arrive to investigate, to Nick’s surprise, they find signs of a bloody struggle. Spouses are typically the focus of much speculation in similar investigations, and Nick soon becomes the prime suspect in the case. Amy and Nick’s perspectives narrate the thriller, providing for an experience that is both unique and intriguing to the reader. Shocking secrets are spilled, media-driven hysteria ensues, and the roller-coaster plot keeps readers on their toes as it takes them on a wild ride. Flynn writes in a very unique style, immediately gripping the reader on the first page of the novel and holding them through the last sentence. Readers are driven trying to guess who the killer is, and what happened to Amy. One of the best suspense books available Gone Girl will keep readers glued to the book for hours on end. Michelle Weiner from Associated Press comments, “It’s simply fantastic: terrifying, darkly funny and at times moving. The minute I finished it I wanted to start it all over again.” The Cavalier Chronicle is produced by Hollis Brookline High School students. The articles published represent the views of the staff and do not represent Hollis Brookline High School, HBHS faculty, or administration. As this publication is intended to be a tool for learning, please bring any concerns related to the newspaper to the attention Adviser Lin Illingworth. She can be reached at lin.illingworth@sau41.org
Photo Credit: Bridget Giles ‘15
What do you want to see most on the table this thanksgiving?
Maggie O’Hara ‘16, Staff Writer
Jason Maslin from The New York Times comments, “Ice-pick-sharp… Spectacularly sneaky… Impressively cagey… Gone Girl…”
According to administration, all student who had their senior shirt names rejected had either been fully aware when they asked for something profane or did so unintentionally. Either way, the people responsible for censorship did not want to take any chances and are determined to keep the shirts, which bare the school’s name, as respectable as possible.
Next week’s Question:
How early is too early to play Chrismas music? Answer at cavchronline.com
Football wrap up: Defying history Nicole Landry ‘15, Staff Writer Entering and dominating their first playoff game and winning their conference, the Hollis-Brookline football team traveled to the semi-finals against Windham Saturday, November 15th, where they exceeded expectations. For their first playoff game, HB, with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses during the regular season, faced an intimidating and competitive game against Sanborn Regional High School, who held a record of 5 wins and 3 losses during their season. While Hollis-Brookline football has not seen a playoff game in three years, the team quickly adapted to manage every bit of pressure. Some players, such as Joe Brooks ‘15, and Wyatt Farwell ‘16, stepped up and contributed greatly in the final weeks of the season and into the playoffs. Brooks made impacting catches to propel the team into the endzone, and his interceptions turned the team’s attitude toward a positive direction. Farwell stepped into the role as main running back after the unexpected injury of Matt Ferenchzalmy ‘15, while continuing to make crucial tackles on defense. Moving on to the undefeated Windham the following week, the team knew they would have to face a new, extensive challenge. During the Fall Sports Awards banquet, which took place Thursday before the game at Windham, Coach Lones stated that despite a negative prediction of a score of 48-6 and an over-under of 41, “Our team has only one word that comes to mind this week, and that is believe.” No one expected this team to do advance. Modestly and copiously, they entered the
After their final game, the football team came together to celebrate the fantastic end of a season. Photo Credit: Nicole Landry ‘15.
game as the only people to consider that they could make HB history. Needless to say, the team’s dedication carried them a long way. The team arrived to the banquet late due to their practice and Sports Awards having conflicting schedules. The players ran home, took showers, gathered their favorable clothes and threw them on as swiftly as possible, still showing up only a few sports into the ceremony. After asking Mark Thibeault ‘15, about his final year as part of the HB football family, he tells us about the memories and type of environment he will never forget. “We always stuck together as a family and I’m honored to be part of such a great senior class, with the beginning of a new era in HB Football.” The team lost 32 to 7, but the team’s families, fans, and spectators couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments this season. Holding Windham to 32 points required a defensive
team--one that tackled, hustled, and refused to give up. HB persevered until the last seconds of the game and gave Windham their toughest game of the season. As they walked off that field as a united team, they defined not only their season, but also their comradery.
A miracle in itself:
A review of The Hollis Brookline Theater Department’s The Miracle Worker