The Quadrangle | Fall 2021 Edition | Official Publication

THE

QUADRANGLE

PAGE S 3 - 4

COVID-19 COVERAGE PAGE 6

BLOOD DRIVE PAGE S 7 - 8

PEP RALLY & HOCO PAGE 9

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PAGE S 1 0-12

A STUDENT'S VOICE PAGE S 1 3-15

ART CORNER PAGE 1 6 - 1 8

PETER PAN, FALL DRAMA PAGE S 1 9-22

SCHOOL & PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PAGE 2 3 - 2 4

LITERATURE & CREATIVE CORNER PAGE S 2 5-26

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT PAGE S 2 7-28

Humans OF

Newfield

WEIRD SCIENCE PAGE S 2 9-31

FASHION & LIFESTYLE PAGE 3 2

COMIC STRIP PAGE S 3 3-34

AWARENESS PAGE S 3 5-38

FILM & BOOK REVIEWS PAGE 3 9 - 4 0

MEET US!

A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS

Dear Reader, We are so happy to have everyone in-person again! Newfield's Newspaper Club remains your partner in engaging, informing, and uniting our community through such uncertain times.

The Quadrangle is excited to share the first publication of the 2021-22 School Year. In an eco-friendly initiative, we will continue to release our publications online. The publication is also available to readers through our Issuu link (found on our Instagram page) and our page on the school's website. All articles and artwork will be available on Fusfoo as well.

In continued collaborations with Video Club, The Quadrangle looks forward to making broadcasting across campus a reality. In the coming weeks, we will be working ardently to bring this vision to life.

If you have any comments or suggestions for us, feel free to email us at nhswolverine@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram, @thenewfieldquadrangle.

Happy reading!

The Quadrangle Staff

A POWERFUL AGENT IS THE RIGHT WORD.

WHENEVER WE COME UPON ONE OF THOSE INTENSELY RIGHT WORDS IN A BOOK OR A NEWSPAPER THE RESULTING EFFECT IS PHYSICAL AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL,

AND ELECTRICALLY PROMPT.

Mark Twain

POLL RESULTS

Thank You, Newfield Security Team!

By Dora John

Above: Newfield High School's security team.

On September 23, 2021, around 10:50 AM, Mr. Graviano came over the PA system to call in a lockdown. Students initially shrugged it off, but teachers assured them that this was not a drill. As students frantically messaged classmates, video began circulating of an intruder jumping over the courtyard fence and rumors (later qualified as false) of possible gun possession. For a few moments, every extraneous sound was denoted a gunshot. The lockdown was eventually called off around 11:35. Parents rushed to pick up their kids, in lines that paralleled the lines on September 11th, 2001.

As Mr. Graviano recalls, even among 1,500 students, security guards immediately recognized the face of the intruder.

The suspect, a Longwood High School graduate, had originally jumped the fence into the new courtyard with the intention of confronting a student at Newfield High School. The courtyard, secured by a gate, is an alternative for students who prefer to have lunch outdoors and where masks are not required. Security guards immediately apprehended the suspect and as he appeared to be aggressive and hiding something, security guards believed he may have been in possession of a gun. The man then jumped back over the fence and fled. Security guards continued to chase the man who then began fleeing into the surrounding neighborhood.

The Suffolk County Police Department was contacted, and nearby schools, including Selden Middle School, North Coleman Elementary School, and Jericho Elementary School were also placed on lockdown. The suspect was apprehended by law enforcement just north of 153 North Coleman Road in Centereach. Canine units continued searching the vicinity for further threats. It was revealed that the suspect had dropped his weapons, two knives, when he jumped over the fence. Hence, the intruder faces several charges, including possession of a weapon on school property.

All security guards were recognized by Suffolk County Legislator Nick Carrappa, who, in a statement to TBR News Media stated, "I am happy to recognize the efforts of these men; Michael Banks, Frank Crocitto, Matt Finelli, Emmanuel Rancy, Anthony Rivera, Russ Scott, and John Webber. Their keen efforts helped ensure the safety of students and staff, and were instrumental in assisting the police with the apprehension of the intruder. My gratitude goes to Newfield High School’s Principal, Scott Graviano and his heroic security guards for their dedication to public safety."

SCHOOL HEADLINES

COVID-19 Cases at Newfield

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

By Ozzie Hall

By Ozzie Hall

By Peter Marjowski A new school year means new COVID-19 cases to be kept track of. The list of cases throughout the school district that is located on the district website has now removed all of the cases from the 2020-2021 school year and began keeping track of this school year on August 31, 2021. Here are the cases from Newfield reported during Quarter 1.

Over the summer, a rise in the mysterious Delta variant of COVID-19 was seen, once again dousing fuel on the fire of vaccine debates across the country. According to the CDC, the Delta variant is over twice as contagious as other reported variants. However, many studies have shown that the vaccine continues to be effective against the Delta variant. The CDC’s variant tracker has shown Delta to be the most prominent variant since July 3rd, and according to UC Davis, as of July 22nd, 2021, when Delta made up 85 percent of cases, 97 percent of hospitalized COVID patients were unvaccinated, showing that vaccines are able to prevent severe cases of COVID. The Pennsylvania Pressroom reported on September 14th, when Delta made up 99 percent of cases, that in Pennsylvania, 97 percent of deaths, 95 percent of hospitalizations, and 94 percent of deaths from COVID were among the unvaccinated, showing that vaccines can also effectively prevent the Delta variant.

09/02/21 - One case reported 09/03/21 - One case reported 09/09/21 - Three cases reported 09/13/21 - Three cases reported 09/14/21 - One case reported 09/17/21 - One case reported 09/20/21 - Four cases reported 09/21/21 - One case reported 09/23/21 - Two cases reported 10/04/21 - One case reported 10/08/21 - One case reported 10/12/21 - One case reported 10/13/21 - One case reported 10/14/21 - Three cases reported 10/15/21 - One case reported 10/19/21 - One case reported 10/22/21 - Two cases reported 10/27/21 - One case reported 11/02/21 - One case reported 11/03/21 - Two cases reported 11/08/21 - One case reported

Over age 12 and attend Newfield High School -Do you think COVID vaccinations are safe?

No, not safe.

32%

Yes, safe.

68%

Do you think masks should be required in school?

No. 42%

Yes. 58%

Delta wasn’t the only concern with vaccines in the past several months. As vaccines were proven to be safe against Delta, it became a priority to test vaccines for the age group of five to eleven. The New York Times reported on October 7th, 2021 that this move could help protect more than 28 million people. As I write this, Pfizer has submitted data to the FDA to get the vaccine approved for this age group. The Delta variant left more children susceptible to the virus, as they did not have a vaccine available to them. This caused children to account for one in four infections in September and sent 30,000 kids into hospitals in August. The FDA meeting to approve the Pfizer vaccine for ages five to eleven took place on October 26th, 2021.

As of October 6th, 2021, 66 percent of the American population has received at least one dose of the vaccine and 57 percent have been fully vaccinated. Over 480 million doses have been distributed throughout the United States, with around 400 million having been used.

Rate mask compliance in our school. Rate from 1 (improper wear of masks) to 10 (proper use of masks).

Average Answer: 1.5

More on COVID Vaccines

By Diya John COVID-19 has been around for nearly two years and it indeed feels like the “new normal”. To help prevent the further spread of COVID, agencies like the FDA and CDC have recommended those over the age of twelve to receive the COVID vaccine. In the event of contracting coronavirus, the COVID vaccines will help protect individuals and help them fight off the virus, stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies. Within one to two days of getting the vaccine, one might develop side effects such as pain or swelling at the site of the vaccine, headache, fever, nausea, etc.

When anonymous students were asked if they were vaccinated, I received mixed answers. Some felt as though they did the right thing to get vaccinated. Some felt that they didn’t need to get vaccinated. Here are the responses: “Yes, I am fully vaccinated. I thought it was the right thing to do, it will help protect me and others from COVID.” “No, I am not vaccinated. I wanted to hold off and see how others would react and respond to the vaccine before taking it myself.”

“No, not yet. But I will get vaccinated soon, I’m scheduled for my first dose next week!”

“I got vaccinated recently. I had a headache for a day after the first dose. But, I didn’t feel anything after the second dose”.

Vaccines are a very debatable topic -- some people feel that it is the right thing to do, while others feel like they should choose for themselves. Places all over the world are starting to place vaccine mandates on businesses, schools, and hospitals, which are very controversial. In most places, you will need to show proof of vaccination with a vaccination card. An individual has the choice of being fully vaccinated or undergoing weekly testing, which can be tedious after a while. Several major cities including Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris have been filled with crowds of thousands of people participating in anti-vaccination protests.

Having seen both sides of the argument, you choose … will you get the vaccine or not?

Freshman Orientation: First Impressions Scan QR code!

School Shooting in Oxford, Michigan

By Anthony Otis On Tuesday November 30th, a school shooting was took place at Oxford High School in Michigan. The shooter is a 15-year old sophomore at the school. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, fatally wounded four students. He also shot six other students and a teacher, who are all recovering from their injuries. The students that were killed in the shooting were Tate Myre (16), Hana St. Juliana (14), Madisyn Baldwin (17), and Justin Shilling (17).

The following day, Crumbley was sentenced as an adult, with a total of twenty-four charges. This includes four counts of first degree murder, eleven counts of assault, intent to kill for the students and teacher that are recovering, and multiple counts for possession of a weapon on school property.

According to ABC News, on November 26th (Black Friday), Crumbley's parents brought him a semi-automatic handgun as a Christmas present, which he used in the shooting. The following Monday, a teacher saw Crumbley searching for ammunition and reported it to the school's administration.

A few hours before the shooting, Crumbley’s parents were called in for a meeting with guidance counselors regarding the behavior of Crumbley, including statements he made like, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me". While administration tried to send him home, Crumbley's parents refused and Ethan was sent back to class. In a few hours, Crumbley began the shooting.

Victims of the Oxford school shooting.

During a press conference a couple days later, school officials say that they will dedicate their football stadium to Tate Myre since he tried to disarm Crumbley.

By Friday, December 3rd, Ethan Crumbley’s parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley fled from the police and ended up in an empty warehouse in Detroit. They were arrested by the police here. The next day, the parents were charged with four counts of first degree involuntary manslaughter and sent to the Oakland County Jail where their son was sent.

After the #2 Michigan Wolverines won the Big Ten championship over #16 Iowa 42-3 on Saturday, December 4th, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh dedicated their win to the victims of the shooting and their families and friends that were traumatized by the event. The next day, Sunday December 5th, the Detroit Lions dedicated their first win of the season over the visiting Minnesota Vikings 29-27 and the game ball to the victims and the Oxford community. Before the Lions-Vikings game, the Detroit Lions warmed up in Oxford apparel and the Michigan Wolverines wore Number 42 on their jerseys dedicated to Tate Myre’s football number. On Monday, December 6th, the Detroit Pistons had a moment of silence for this tragic event before their home match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

(Left to Right): Ethan Crumbley, Jennifer Crumbley, and James Crumbley

How safe do you feel at school? Rate from 1 (not safe) to 10 (safe).

We will never forget the lives that were lost and we will keep them in our hearts.

Average Answer: 1.5

Homecoming 2021

Fall Blood Drive

By Zakariyah Hanif

By Meaghan Riley

This new school year marks the beginning of Newfield’s return to normalcy. The biggest indicator of this was the revival of homecoming, the first in three years. Interestingly, this year’s seniors, the Class of 2022, have only experienced one Homecoming their freshman year. And unfortunately, the rest of Newfield’s classes have never participated in Homecoming as a high schooler.

On November 5th, Newfield High School held its annual blood drive. The school’s gymnasium was turned into a center of giving for the duration of the school day. It was open to everyone that was sixteen and older, and so many of Newfield’s students were ready to help those in need. People flowed in and out of the doors like water as people made their way to and from classes.

Homecoming is an annual event held at the beginning of the school year. It is commonly held the day after the Pep Rally.

Both events focus on raising school spirit. Homecoming does this by having a parade through the street. There is a theme and parade floats are decorated around the theme. The parade consists of multiple components. First, the marching band leads the parade with the homecoming royalty and courts escorted in cars. Tailing the parade are the class floats. These floats are uniquely painted to fit the theme, which was "Superheroes" for the 2021 Homecoming. The Freshman Class were the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Sophomores the Justice League, the juniors were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the senior class was the Avengers.

The parade marched from Hawkins Path Elementary School to Newfield. At the conclusion of the parade, there were performances from the Thespian Honor Society, the marching band, kickline, and most notably the classes. Each class performed a skit based on their superheroes of choice, competing for the best act. This concludes the parade of homecoming, and the remainder of the day is saved for the homecoming football game. Here the winners were announced for the class skits, and this year the senior class won!

To end on a cheerful note, Newfield’s football team gained a victory at the Homecoming game! This year’s Homecoming was nothing short of a success, and it far exceeded all expectations. It brought the entire school together for a day of fun. This brings hope for more similar events, like Class Competition, to take place this year.

The blood drive was run by the New York Blood Center, and every staff member was exceptional in the aid of students who were newcomers to the whole process, as well as the members of the student body who have given blood before. They were incredibly efficient in getting people in and out of the gymnasium: leading students through all the necessary tests, assuring students of the effects of blood donation, and providing food and drinks to recuperate after the donation was complete.

Newfield’s own General Organization (G.O.) cabinet as well as the individual class officers dedicated their time to the event and made sure to help the New York Blood Center in their efforts of helping out during the event. They were meticulous in making things run as smoothly as possible, and were constantly checking in with their fellow students to give them a pleasant experience.

The advisors of our school’s G.O., Ms. Mangine and Ms. Montana, had been wonderful in their assistance of the G.O. cabinet and the New York Blood Center.

As someone who had the privilege of participating in the blood drive for the very first time, I can say from my own experience that the event was certainly one to remember. From the incredible staff and students to the overall positive atmosphere, giving blood felt like even more of an incredible service than before.

Approximately eighty pints of blood were donated from Newfield High School, which is an extraordinary amount of blood to be distributed across the region. Newfield will be hosting another blood drive in the spring, and I highly encourage anyone reading to participate if they can. Anyone who has given blood through the New York Blood Center or some other kind of professional distributor should be proud of the contributions they have made to those who are in less fortunate situations, and may even help to save someone’s life. There is a level of fulfillment that comes with it that is one everyone should experience at least once in their life.

Homecoming Video

Pep Rally Video

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DECA, Varsity Leaders, & Habitat For Humanity

By Jasmine Llivicura On the morning of November 5th, along with the bitterly cold air, DECA and Varsity Leaders Clubs gathered together in Shirley to assist in the construction of Jessica and Zach’s future home. You may be asking yourself, what is Habitat for Humanity?

Well, the idea first started in Georgia on a community farm by the farmer and biblical scholar, Clarence Jordan. Later on, the founders Millard and Linda Fuller came up with the concept of “partnership housing” where they would start the idea of volunteering to build houses for those in need of a home with low cost due to certain circumstances. Many years later, that idea grew into a huge organization that has benefited more than 35 million people in all 50 states of the United States and in more than 70 different countries.

Our leader on November 5th was Seth Weiss. Seth was extremely helpful and grateful to all the students who came and who were truly dedicated to the cause and wanted to help. He made sure we were all prepared and that there were no safety hazards and engaged with us as we worked. Seth led everything we did that day with care since most of us had never done any construction.

Most of us knew what to expect, but it was different once we got there because we knew we were working on a house that was going to a family for a good cause.

(Left to Right): Members of Varsity Leaders Club and DECA assist with Habitat for Humanity.

So, we kept working hard all day. We dressed in layers since it was going to be a bit chilly. When we arrived in Shirley, we were given hard hats, hammers, work belts, gloves, and safety glasses. Now, we are actual construction workers.

Our efforts and dedication were going to make a family very satisfied and overwhelmed with joy. Jessica and Zach had very different upbringings. In May of 2018, Zach had a hemorrhagic stroke which required emergency surgery and caused a major shift in their lives. Zach could no longer work or drive and was left with deficits on his right side and expressive aphasia, the loss of ability to understand speech.

Their current apartment is cramped, and it is difficult for Zach to walk around since he must take care of the twins.

Jessica’s and Zach's new home will meet Zach’s needs, and they will be able to create many loving memories in the house.

I believe Habitat for Humanity is one of the most helpful organizations out there. It is a blessing that there are people who truly want to help those in need and volunteer their time to assist in building homes. It is something that everyone should experience once in their life. After you finish volunteering, the knowledge that you just helped someone’s life become easier is an amazing feeling. Hopefully, Habitat for Humanity continues to exist for many more years to come so that more people can volunteer and those who need homes can receive them.

A STUDENT'S VOICE: THE STATE OF OUR WORLD

Back at Newfield

By Erin M. Looney I started my junior year of high school with the small spark of hope that Newfield would regain some of its normality in terms of the way classes were going to be taught, the events that were going to be held, and the distance between me and someone else. That small spark grew into a large burst of satisfaction when I realized that all of these concepts were going to be spoken about and potentially happen and change for the better. We had Homecoming, Theatre Arts is currently working hard every day for the fall drama production, and there many more events to come. Although it is not the same, by any means, similar to the beginning of my freshman year of high school, it is the best for given circumstances. I am grateful for all that has been done to make these events possible.

There are many policies at Newfield that maintain order and allow for us to have such fun events take place. The policies set are not as strict as they were last year due to the decrease in people becoming sick with the virus and our common sense of knowing what is expected of us in staying safe. After spending almost two years since the first shutdown occurred, we have adapted enough and are more knowledgeable about how to handle situations regarding COVID. According to the CDC, “The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases (95,448) decreased 11.6% compared with the previous 7-day moving average (107,953). A total of 43,997,504 COVID-19 cases have been reported as of October 6, 2021.” The small spark of hope I had exists for both Newfield and the world as a whole in regaining normality, or at least a more refined one that we have all made. Having everyone back at school has had a huge impact on me -- it has opened more doors than before. This year, I have joined many new clubs. I engage with more students and do more things for my school. This has certainly had a positive impact on me as I can see more of what Newfield has to offer me and what I can offer Newfield. We all learn in a more visual and direct experience rather than from a Chromebook all of the time, as well. Using the device surely has its benefits, but the

combination of normal, first-hand learning with it has been very beneficial for me and hopefully other students as well.

In incorporating both, students can learn how to find answers to their questions as well as broaden their knowledge on certain topics even a bit more than what is taught in the class. Students can use various websites to study, and even learn about new topics that they are interested in outside of school. It is a step in the right direction for college, especially for those like myself who are close to graduating and have experienced high school a bit differently than those just entering high school. Not only is it unfortunate that the incoming freshman last year, as well as this year, have to experience it in such ways, but they have more time to have normality again. My normality will be different than theirs, and although sometimes I wish that I had the chance to change the time at which COVID affected my class year, I wouldn’t because I’m sure something greater will come out of our experience.

We can’t change the past, but we can take it and alter our future in some ways. The younger audiences deserve more time to enjoy high school for what it is; I feel that as juniors, we have had to grow up far faster than we thought.

Although that is scary, it has made us stronger individuals.

As we approach senior year, we will only be even stronger and ready for whatever choices we make after we leave.

And if we aren’t, we still have time. There is no rush on growth. There should not be a demand to be completely ready. Everyone has different lives and your starting point does not have to compare to those around you. I hope that life around Newfield only gets better from here; we can make that happen. Let’s not waste the moments we have left worrying about what could have been and focus on what we will do today to make every day going forward, count.

The End of a Twenty Year War

By Ashley O'Connell

The U.S has withdrawn from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year long war, though we still have work to do. To help us better understand the initial reason for this war and the withdrawal, we need to start from the very beginning.

First, we need to start with the terrorist organizations al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It first began in October of 1999 when the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1267, meaning that they implement a traveling ban, an asset freeze, an arms embargo, and such against a certain group of people, against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. This created a committee between the two groups, now naming them as terrorist organizations. After this, al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, started rising in power. Fast-forwarding to September 9, 2001, just two days before the attack on the Twin Towers, Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was the commander of the Northern Alliance and an anti-Taliban coalition, was assassinated by alQaeda, which dealt a huge blow to the anti-Taliban resistance, since Ahmad was a master at warfare. Since this assassination happened only two days before the 9/11 attacks, it is believed that it was done to ensure the safety of Osama bin Laden by the Taliban.

Then 9/11 occurred, 4 hijackers, 2 hitting the Twin Towers, 1 hitting the Pentagon, and the other being taken back by passengers and crashing into a field, and about 3,000 deaths. This was when the U.S began the war. President George W. Bush said the U.S will “win the war against terrorism,” and drew attention to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Bush eventually called on the Taliban to surrender their leaders in hiding, or they will be killed. On September 18th President Bush signed into law a joint resolution that allowed the use of force against the ones responsible for the 9/11 attacks. This joint resolution was later on used by the Bush administration as their reasoning for its decision to go to extreme lengths to fight back against terrorism such as invading Afghanistan, eavesdropping on people without permission, and standing up the detention camp in Cuba.

The war began when the U.S, with the help of British forces, started a bombing campaign against Taliban forces, called Operation Enduring Freedom. Other countries that pledged their support were Canada, Australia, France, and Germany. After about a month of airstrike attacks from the U.S, the Taliban began their retreat due to its loss in Mazar-e-Sharif against the Uzbek military leader, Abdul Rashid Dostum. Later on in December, bin Laden escaped during the battle between Afghan militias and al-Qaeda militants. On December 9, 2001, the Taliban collapsed when they surrendered in Kandahar and their leader Mullah Omar escaped.

On April 17, 2002, President George W. Bush gave a speech at the Virginia Military Institute, where he said, “By helping to build an Afghanistan that is free from this evil and is a better place in which to live, we are working in the best traditions of George Marshall,” which referenced the Marshall Plan that helped Western Europe after WWII. Though President Bush referenced the Marshall Plan in his speech, they didn’t come close to the amount spent in the Marshall Plan, which was $13.2 billion from 1948-52, which is $135 billion in today’s money, and the U.S only spent $38 billion on humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Afghanistan from 2001-09.

Then, on October 29, 2004, Osama bin Laden aired a message only three weeks after the presidential elections and a few days before the results came in. In the video, bin Laden taunted the Bush administration and admitted to him being behind 9/11, saying the reason for it was, “We want to restore freedom to our nation, just as you lay waste to our nation,” Skipping over to May 1, 2011, after many years of conflict and searching, Osama bin Laden was finally found and killed in Pakistan. Even though their goal was accomplished, after bin Laden’s death, there was still a debate about whether or not U.S. troops should completely withdraw and end the war in Afghanistan. About a month later, President Obama decided to withdraw 30,000 troops, mainly due to the pressure from lawmakers and the many Americans who did not support the war.

Now moving all the way to 2021, after almost 20 years, America’s longest war, President Biden decided on a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops by 9/11, saying that they wouldn’t be able to complete the withdrawal by May 1, which is what was set under the U.S.-Taliban agreement. Only a day after this announcement the Taliban took over Kabul and the presidential palace just hours after President Ghani left the country. The Taliban leader said that they will talk with other Afghan officials in order to create an open and inclusive Islamic government. The next day, President Biden defended their decision to withdraw, saying that since our mission of counterterrorism is complete it’s time for us to end our involvement in Afghanistan. He acknowledges that the withdrawal was messy and blamed the Afghan security forces because they failed to counter the Taliban.

The U.S. deployed 6,000 troops to help evacuate everyone, but because of the thousands of fo Afghans trying to flee, it became disorderly. President Biden said that the military would help to evacuate the Afghans who worked with the U.S. and expand refugee status for the Afghans trying to flee.

On August 26, during the evacuation process, 13 service members and 170 Afghans were killed and about 18 service members were injured when they were attacked at a checkpoint outside of the Kabul airport. After the Islamic State in Khorasan took responsibility, the U.S. launched an airstrike only days after against the suspected plotter of the attack, killing 10 civilians including 7 children; only for the Pentagon to later admit that it was a mistake. On August 30th, U.S. completed their withdrawal of military forces, evacuating over 120,000 people. Though thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. and its allies remain there, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that they will work on getting them out and that from now on any future engagement with Afghanistan will focus on diplomacy.

So a lot has obviously happened over these past twenty years, and we wanted to ask some of the students here at Newfield about their thoughts on the matter.

America retreated this year leaving all military equipment behind, some American military people died, and the Afghanistan people are suffering and getting killed. The country is overrun by now.

-Concerned Senor It has taken years of work and effort for recent power to make the decision that will affect and kill many people.

-Frustrated Freshman While it’s a good thing that we’ve finally ended a 20-year long war, we still left a lot of damage behind that needs to be fixed, like people that were left behind and the people living there who are now being targeted by the Taliban and dealing with corruption.

-Understanding Sophomore

My Varsity Soccer Experience

By Sadaf Mansib After slacking off on writing this article in due time, I find myself sitting in the dark on this fine evening, wondering where to go from here on out now that the soccer season is over.

Regardless of what went down in this season, with 15 of the 16 games ending in loses and one being a tie (arguably, that game would’ve also been a loss if it hadn’t been for the decision of no overtime due to limited lighting after sunset), I would look back at it as a learning experience on how to attempt at learning something one does not have talent or affinity for. For me, it seems, soccer was something I always wanted to do but never had the right “circumstances” for.

As always, though this article is meant to be for Newfield Varsity Soccer in Fall 2021-2022, what I can give most accurately is my perspective and views, nothing less or more. I could also name all the players I played with, but I’m afraid that referring to them by name would also be an insult to how devoted, talented, inspiring, hard-working they are. Their names, in my eyes, shouldn’t be in this article. They are better represented elsewhere, and I hope most reading this article know them or are curious enough to figure out elsewhere.

So, starting, I didn’t make it to the team last year. I was like one of the 3 or 4 people that didn’t make it through, and I knew perfectly well why or how I was one of them.

On top of not having the needed skills, I was bad at communication. The team last year was filled with players who played together for a while now, and I couldn’t see myself doing much even if I made it. This year, however, I think I found the perfect teammates I could not only trust and rely on but would also find them doing the same towards me. I was one of the upper-classmen, so maybe that boosted my confidence and approval too. The starting line-up was mostly juniors with some seniors, including the goalkeeper, and of course, the popular middle-schooler everyone cheered for at the Pep Rally.

Hell Week, which is the tryouts, set the tone ... I think. The first day was pouring, and no other day afterward in the season poured that badly. To my surprise, most of the tryout players were speedy, if nothing else. The running repeats felt awful for me after a summer of no movement, but everyone, most anyways, seemed right comfortable.

Skipping to right after the tryouts, the first game was near in sight and thighs were falling into place: we had our starting line-up, the potential subs, and some subs who will rarely play unless we get desperate. The usual. But after the losses started kicking in and the coaches’ motivational words did not produce results, some other things became clear too. I don’t know if it’s the schooling after a year of virtual, or the ridiculous amount of AP classes the juniors and seniors were taking, but Friday games were downright awful and Monday games were energetic, for the most part.

So it became a matter of holding the energy high enough through the weeks. It didn’t help.

At one point, I recall, there were some talks about trusting your teammates and not pointing fingers at each other. It’s the whole idea of being a Family that won and lost together. It was unavoidable, though. Some of us felt like trying on one day and not other days, and it was so mixed up that the problems were varied from game to game. The only consolation, I think, is that there was no shortage of energy or trying in the practices. So as a person who has almost no knowledge of the sport, I couldn’t figure out why it didn’t work out, why we couldn’t win a single game.

Perhaps the better players among us (there’s your reference to that whole trend) knew what went on. I overheard some of the returners for next year talk about a “lost season” and “next year will be better” I think maybe halfway through the season.

Now that I have some free time before fencing starts soon, I can only find myself disappointed in myself. I went in trying to be a better player myself, but that wasn’t enough to pull us out. We went down as a team, but the limited assistance I gave in trying to hold it up is what frustrates me. I will keep looking back at this season as a constant reminder that my best, physical and mental, is not good enough to accomplish things. Many more needed things in life make or break any activity or goal. This happened to be one such instance I could see that, plain as day.

Though it was mostly a matter of scores and achievements.

I think we did well, really well. I am biased here, of course, but I loved every practice and the seriousness of the players. I might be wrong on this, but sometimes when players are full of themselves they don’t try as much anymore. I have never seen that, and this season also kept that streak up. It’s just frustrating that the season ended so early, without any proper closer or achievement to mark it down. History is awful to the losers, and even if, even when, the next year’s team goes on to do well, I just don’t see anyone looking back at this season as anything more than a misfortune. Fortunately, I might be one of the few that are unreasonably stubborn about our place in the world, and that will allow me to always remember this season as a good little chapter to go in my life’s book. After all, though I lost and the team lost, I gained so much that I never cared about the scores. Sure, we missed out on celebrations and joys, but I don’t think anyone became any lesser for this. It would be a shame if they did, for there was nothing anyone individually or as a whole could’ve done to avoid this. It is what it is.

I’m not the most subtle or artistic with words, maybe one of the very words, but this level of passive-aggressive pessimism towards myself gave me a shot at trying my absolute best on my first and final season of varsity soccer.

I don’t expect to be remembered, but I will remember all those friendly faces and gestures and voices as long as I live as a testament to how when a group of people brings their bonds up to the level of Family, it is something else entirely than to try and win as a team in a high school sport.

Here, the former gained more meaning than the latter.

ART CORNER

Sailor Moon

By Isaiah DeLaCruz

A View

By Leah Landron

"George Frederick Watts Study in Pencil"

By Zakariyah Hanif

Solar Power

By Dylan Sands

MUSIC & DRAMA DEPARTMENTS

Peter Pan: Let Us Fly to Neverland!

By Tabitha Franco

Newfield High School’s Fall Drama Production was Peter Pan. On November 12, 2021, there was a great deal of excitement. For weeks, the drama department had been preparing costumes, holding rehearsals, and selling tickets to the show. I went to the show on Opening Night and it was very enjoyable experience. There was a lot of laughter and applause from the audience all night. The performance was spot on, a manifestation of perfection.

My favorite part of the drama was be Captain Hook. Shoutout to Sean Campbell for his amazing performance and enthusiasm in this role. Ally Short, who played Wendy, once again proved her talent in singing. Short sounded like an opera singer. There was a lot of love and appreciation for the cast and crew at the end of the show, acknowledgement for their outstanding work.

To start the play, whimsical music played gaved viewers the feeling of being in the movie. The play started with Wendy telling a story to her brothers about pirates and a boy named Peter Pan. There was perfect attention to detail in the costumes, props, and set. It seemed as though the movie had come to life. Excellent use of props like the Hoverboards created the illusion of flying. It was truly amazing to see how inclusive the cast was with everyone that played.

Transitions between scenes were smooth and the audience was very respectful. The performance was attention-grabbing and I never felt bored. The actors did a very nice job of keeping the show both enthusiastic and enjoyable. They used their imagination to the fullest when it came to certain scenes and used props to the best of their ability to make them look real. The last musical number was very heartwarming. This was one of the best shows I have seen in a while.

I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us for the spring musical, The Little Mermaid.

Peter Pan Cast + Crew Interviews

Peter Pan: Fall Drama

Credit: Noelle Turner, Drama Club Historian

SCHOOL & PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

Newfield Football's Blackout Game

By Ozzie Hall On September 10th, 2021, the varsity football team played against West Babylon High School, with a final score of 24-13 in Newfield’s favor. It was incredibly well-matched, and after Newfield scored in the first quarter, not giving a chance for West Babylon to come back, no one scored for all of the second and third quarter. When West Babylon finally scored, things got tense, but Newfield came out on top.

The Blackout game was one of the first games that allowed in-person crowds since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. I noticed that the bleachers were especially full and there were many band students present playing music to cheer on the football team. This was the first live music performance in Middle Country since COVID hit. It’s safe to say that the return of Newfield’s football team was a major success.

Ruggs Charged With DUI After Fatal Motor Accident

By Anthony Otis In his second year as an NFL wide receiver, Henry Ruggs III was charged with two felony Driving Under the Influence (DUI) that contained a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .161% (twice the amount of the Nevada limit of .08%) on Wednesday, November 3rd. The motor crash occurred on Tuesday, November 2nd at 3:40 am. Ruggs was driving at a speed of 156 mph seconds before the accident. Ruggs' Corvette was decelerated from 156 mph to 127 mph when he collided with a Toyota RAV-4 killing a 23-year old woman and her dog. After he was charged, Ruggs was immediately released by the Las Vegas Raiders and can be sentenced up to forty-six years in a prison -- this contains two twenty-year sentences for DUI charges and another six years for reckless driving.

The police say that Ruggs had shown signs of impairment when they tested him. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said: "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim of this horrific tragedy. We will continue to gather facts and monitor the matter under our policies, but our thoughts at this time are with those impacted by this devastating incident." The Raiders (5-2) were on their bye-week but reported back to team headquarters on Monday before having an off-day on Tuesday.

They were scheduled to begin practicing Wednesday before Sunday's game against the New York Giants (2-6).

Ruggs was the Raiders' first-round draft pick in 2020 out of Alabama, No. 12 overall. At the time, team owner Mark Davis said of the speedy wideout, "He was the only person I wanted in this draft." With twenty-for catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns, Ruggs' 19.5 yards per catch average is second in the NFL among pass-catchers with at least 20 receptions.

2022 NFL Mock Draft

By Anthony Otis

LITERATURE & CREATIVE CORNER

Come Home

By Erin M. Looney It’s written in the stars that blink across the night It’s on the inside of your favorite sweater that hugs you tight It lands cold on your nose in your favorite weather It’s the embrace from your dog when you need to feel better It's the smile a beautiful human gives you from a distance--oh, it's the soft whisper of reminiscence It's the little things in life that make a home, a home It is not just the roof over our heads Or the bed that we sleep in Rather, it is who is with us when we do It is the beauty in things that make us run back to it over and over Just like a home, we need some place to go when we need comfort But the comfort in irreplaceable experiences Is significantly more prominent than the comfort in replaceable settings

Numbers

By Leah Landron

I got good at math when I was young, back when it was still fun I expected the fall of a gifted kid to have concern warranted to try to climb each rung to try and beat the best but nothing, because no one sees because when the antonym of success wasn't worthless, everyone feels invisible, but I'm hiding behind invisibility the possibilities seemed endless. because I don't know what I want because no one ever taught me Now I hate it but these numbers have become my identity.

Yet I do like that “smart” is what others think of me but, it's not healthy to have it this way where all the gifted kids are blindfolded, led down a hallway and if you step wrong, your captors can kill because why should anyone respect you still if you're not the best at everything?

It's all a wall built ten feet high because at that point it's pointless for anyone to try to tear you down because you're too oblivious to see the ground, so when you start to get numbers after numbers telling you, you're not that, what can you do but sit back because you were never taught how to fail becauseyourfailuredoesn'tcount and even your "not good enough"s don't amount to anyone actually noticing.

At least not in the attentitive way, which is all you ever wanted in the first place.

how to deconstruct my entire self-perspective because it was founded on an innocence never reprimanded and if I was left-handed maybe I would have been brought up differently, but this is how it is now so what is there left to be, but hurt.

Because if numbers are our worth, then this year I'm a bad investment because all good things must come to an end, and you can't get higher than a hundred percent because what goes up must come down, and maybe now I've met the ground.

But I mean, who really cares if your logic is sound when all you do is look around and see your social status reflected back to your breaking sanity, but maybe if I could just be me, nothing else would have to matter but the problem with that is that we live for others ...which may also be a saving grace discovered.

‘Cause the people we've touched count more than we've bothered and achievement isn't currency or us an account to be covered, and in the end, the only thing that adds up is each other and maybe that's how we forget about the numbers.

What No. Are You?

By Emma Raver You sit in the second seat, in the row closest to the window.

You look at the clock and it is so quiet you can hear the seconds tick by.

You look down at the paper, and fiddle with your number two pencil.

You take a deep breath and keep writing, trying to solve this unknown equation in front of you.

You question why you have to but realize your running out of time.

You start thinking about the number you will receive The number that some people will categorize you by, but you keep going despite the fear.

You finish and close the test and turn in it.

You sit back down and you realize something YOU are not defined by that number, that is not where YOUR limit ends.

The Quality of Paradise

By Meaghan Riley

I cannot find the plans tied to my existence My fingers have to rush for the rope Only finding that it has been cut Is this sabotage or something greater There is no wonder left here in my mind Once filled with all of the dreams That now feel like nightmares There is no real purpose for this life As I feel my head sinking underwater I’m reaching desperately for what I know Anything to retain this dark reality of mine So I can search for the missing part in me Amidst the swirling sea of my thoughts I reach out for the lonely life raft Thrashing through the treacherous waters Word and phrases colliding to form a line A line from this life raft to a circle around me One that loosens and tightens with each minute I can see the words looking for something Crashing across my skin and swirling down Down to my waist and burning me alive It finally finds its home at the rope around me Connecting to the place I thought was a void Filling what I remember as never-ending These words glow golden to bring life Those burns in my skin were not of punishment Words are my resurrection and reflection Keeping me afloat in the endless sea

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Student Athlete of the Quarter: Alessandra Vidal

By Gwenn Schechner

If you're a student in Newfield who listens to the announcements you've probably heard of the name Ally Vidal. As a starting player on the Newfield Varsity Field Hockey team, Ally has shown what it takes to be a successful athlete.

Ally started playing field hockey in seventh grade and is now committed to Molloy College with a field hockey scholarship.

How does one get to this point? Ally has been working nonstop towards this goal for years. She finds that her motivation comes from the adrenaline rush when scoring goals and her desire to be the best in the game. She explained that she watches field hockey films, routinely goes to the gym, and practices her stick skills everyday.

The game footage couldn't say it better. Ally is a very skilled player who dominates her opponents on the field left and right.

She is also an incredible teammate. Ally is always willing to help others and check in on everybody, on and off the field. She shared that some of her best memories have been with her fellow teammates who have become her best friends over the years.

Whether it is at practices or bus rides home from games, the time spent with teammates is one of her core memories.

Playing sports has been a crucial part of Ally's high school career, helping to shape her personality. According to Ally, field hockey has shown her that there is always room for improvement.

She spoke further about how meeting people better than her in the sport has helped keep her leveled and motivates her to work ever harder. Being an athlete helps teach you life lessons and Ally preaches the importance of trying at least one sport in high school. “It's an amazing experience," she says, "Being an athlete is something to take pride in."

Meet Newfield's Student of the Months!

By Asim Sheikh Dora John

Matthew Montalvo

Co-Curriculars: President/Editor-in-Chief of “The Quadrangle” Newspaper, President of General Organization, President of LOTE Honor Societies, Treasurer of the National Art Honor Society, Secretary of Students Against Destructive Decisions, National Honor Society, DECA, Middle Country Legislative Assembly (Student Representation), NHS Mock Trial Team, Superintendent’s Leadership Club, Thespian Honor Society

Co-Curriculars: President of Thespian Honor Society, Vice President of General Organization, President of Bass/Tenor Choir, Student Producer for Peter Pan, Announcer for Football Games, Lifeguard at LA Fitness, Referree/Coach at i9Sport, Altar Server at St. Margaret's RCC, Mixed Choir Member, Theater Arts Club, Student Production Assisstant for Addams Family

Let me introduce you to Newfield’s October Student of the Month, Dora John. who is currently ranked first in her class. For her dedication was the key to success, and sacrifice throughout her high school career led her to where she is now. Dora welcomes challenges and says her ability to adapt played an important role in her success. Dora draws her inspiration from women who hold leadership positions like Julia Gillard and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; they have managed to achieve success in male-dominated fields. For Dora, being at the top of her class wasn’t one of her main focuses, instead, she always tried to not cut corners, and to do honest and complete work. One bit of advice Dora offers to other ambitious high schoolers is, “If you’re dedicated enough to anything, you’re always going to find a way to ‘make it work’”. Outside of school, Dora spends her free time reading or volunteering, and she particularly loves to tutor and feels that it’s a great way for her to meet all sorts of new people and relate to their experiences. Dora says that through participating in after-school activities and out-of-school activities, she became aware of interests she didn’t know she had and continues to encourage others to take these opportunities. During her time at Newfield High School, Dora has been working on increasing participation in numerous after-school groups and has tried to increase the overall Newfield spirit.

Congratulations Dora!

Congratulations to November Student of the Month, Matthew Montalvo! You may not know him, but you have definitely heard him as the Voice of Newfield, Matthew credits his success to his involvement in afterschool activities and the community. Matthew is inspired

by Brandon Smoller, Ms. Meichner, and Mr. Austin.

Outside of school, he is an altar server for his church and has plenty of responsibilities in his home. One of his hobbies that he could pursue in school was theatre, it allowed him to meet new people while doing something he enjoyed. On top of that, he became a leader in theatre, which placed more pressure on his shoulders. While doing these after-school activities, Matthew found qualities about himself that he didn’t know he possessed, like how good of a leader he is. Adding to his responsibilities, he is currently taking two AP courses and says that keeping your responsibilities in mind and being devoted has kept him at the top of his class, even prioritizing his responsibilities over his own personal pleasures. Advice Matthew shares with those seeking to be as successful as he, is to involve themselves with the community and in things that interest you. Most importantly he says that no matter the pressure that is placed on you, don’t give up and push through it. As for any doubt or he has ever felt about himself achieving the top of his class, just pressure on him and managing his responsibilities have been his main struggles. Once again, congratulations Matthew!

WEIRD SCIENCE

End Of The World, As We Know It

By Lisa Clinton We constantly ask ourselves the following questions: why are we here, what is the purpose of life, how are we here, and when all comes to a stop, how will the world end? It's only human nature to ask these questions with little to no answer. We know how we got here but we don't know why. We begin to understand the detrimental effects we’ve had on this Earth forcing us to ask ourselves when and how will the world end?

Haven't you noticed the summers becoming more brutal? Are your sunburns becoming worse and worse each year? Fewer snowstorms and less snow on the ground? In recent years we've been starting to take notice of the impact we've had on the Earth and Earth's environment. Between pollution, climate change, and skyrocketing populations, we are quickly becoming the destroyers of the place we all call home. The greenhouse gases produced by human activity are causing global temperatures to rise each year. According to the Washington Post, “The National Weather Service’s “unofficial” D.C. climate data shows that in 1996, the average winter temperature was 35.3 degrees. In 2020, it was 42.8 degrees.” That's a rise in temperature of almost 10 degrees. The impact that has on the environment can be detrimental. It will only start snowing under the correct conditions of 32 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal moisture in the air. The Washington Post also made the point that this could become a potential breaking point because once temperatures rise above 32 degrees, snowstorms will turn into rainstorms.

What exactly can we do to save the world? The best way to protect species that are endangered is to protect the places where they live. Getting involved with volunteering in the community or visiting the parks more. In the early 1980s, halogens were banned as scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer. Since the ban of halogens in products such as hair spray, or air fresheners, the hole in the ozone has steadily decreased. Then in 2020, the hole in the ozone over the arctic had completely disappeared. It is proven we can save the world as we know it by listening to our scientists and taking the necessary steps to save what we have left.

There are so many possibilities on how our world will end; we overheat and melt the icebergs, our animals and How does that have to do with the end of the world? This simply other organisms will go extinct, or the sun will explode. shows the detrimental effect we are having on the Earth. The more No matter where we arecalled in ourthe galaxy in sevensection, to eight The Dragon capsule, otherwise pressurized we disregard our actions, the closer and closer we will be to ending billion years, our will and end delicate most lifeload. nearby.

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Dragon from Falcon 9 in the event of a crisis. In more likely to kill the Earth or at least all the inhabitants on it thanrapidly isolate any such unlikely event, Dragon's launch abort system can rapidly to fix the problem.

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Over the shuttle is furnished 16 Draco used to arrange agreed upon, we will be so deep in this problem that there will beDragon no past couple years, have you noticed more storm surges the rocket during theofmission, including apogee/perigee saving it. According to the World Economic Forum, “Humans will and orbit floodsadjustment, throughoutand theattitude country? control. Every Draco cause so many mammal species to go extinct in the next 50 years maneuvers, that the planet's evolutionary diversity won't recover for 3 to 5 engine is equipped for creating 90 pounds of power in the vacuum and every day we make an impact on our Earth Number of engines is16, thrust in vacuum 400N / 90and lbf. million years, a team of researchers has found.” In 2071, I will beof space.Each slowly kill our home.

By 2070, most animals will be In 2020, SpaceX returned America's capacity to fly NASA space turning 67 years old and will be old enough to see this happening But we still save ourselves and our to and from thecan International Space Station on planet.

American firsthand. One-third of the planet’s species will be gone and at thattravelersextinct. action thesince community andwell spread awareness for the first in time 2011. As as flying space of the point, there will be nothing left we can do to solve that problem invehiclesTake wefor areNASA, doing to our environment every single explorersdamage to space SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft can day. the future. It will be too late unless we do something now. only commercial a matter of time before we lose it all. orbit, the likewiseIt's convey space explorers to Earth ISS, or beyond. SpaceX additionally offers business trips to both Earth and Lunar orbit.

Image: Courtesy of Space Center Houston

Inside-US

By Delilah Fay “OMG!! EWW!!” This is most likely what you would hear if you would bring up the topic of anatomy or talking about inside your body. I'll admit it: this topic isn't for everybody. However, for our future nurses, doctors, and others interested in the medical field (such as myself), I would like to share this little bit of information that I have learned in my life so far: Did you know your lungs aren't the exact same? Crazy, right?

The right side of your lung is divided into two lobes while your left lobe is divided into three lobes. The left lung is also a bit smaller, allowing room for your heart.

Collecting human blood types can be a very difficult process.

There are currently around 30 known blood types. You might know the more simplified “ABO” system which categorizes blood types under O, A, B and AB. The universal donor blood type is O negative.

When you hear your heartbeat you would think the whole heart pumps at the same time. Actually that is one of the most misleading myths about the human body. The truth is that your heart has two chambers as they call it the top chamber pumps first then the lower chamber. They beat so fast that you would think it's one singular pump. If you ever get the chance to see your heart pump on a machine you would see there are in fact two pumps going almost at the same time.

If you take all the blood vessels that you have in your body and lay them out flat and in front of one another you will be able to wrap around the world four times. It's that something. Can you imagine if only everyone's blood vessels were doing the same thing?

Your brain registers three colors: red, blue, and green because those are primary colors. When we look at things our brain creates the color that we see uses those colors registered in our head. So basically our brain is created to be an artist. We are able to respond to colors that quickly and interpret what we are actually seeing.

Do you know how we get hiccups? Hiccups come from a thin layer in your diaphragm that's under your lungs and it twitches at times which makes it take in air little by little that is interrupted by your throat closing. This creates the sound of a hiccup, contracting our diaphragm and making us hiccup.

Did you know that when we are born, we see the world upside down? As we grow the brain starts to develop and it then reverts your vision, the retina to make us see normally like everyone else.

The left side of your brain controls the right side of your body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of your body.

FASHION & LIFESTYLE

HoCo Spirit Week Tabitha Franco & Weronika Karpio The most recent fashion event to happen at Newfield was spirit week. Everyone dressed up and showed their school spirit throughout the week, during the Pep Rally, and Homecoming Day. Day 1: Pajama Day Throughout the day I saw people in plaid pajama pants and onesies,with teachers dressing up in character pajamas. Shoutout to the teacher that was in the taco pajama, as well as the one in the batman outfit.

Day 2: Team Day Team jerseys and sport spirit were all around the school on team day. Rangers, Mets, Yankees, and Giants were the most prominent teams. There were a great deal of debate on who the best team was, the Mets or the Yankees, who was the best football team, and most importantly, why some teachers didn’t show off their team spirit.

Day 3: Military Day The theme was to wear camo or red, white, and blue. I often saw people wearing camo, but what stood out the most was one of the guys that wore a full red shirt, a blue suit, and a matching wig.

Others wore opposite colors, pledging for world peace and an end to war. Military Day was also a wonderful way to celebrate and appreciate those in the armed services.

Day 4: Superhero Day Besides pajama day, superhero day was the most celebrated and popular day of the week. People dressed in either superhero shirts or many others went the extra mile and dressed in full superhero costumes. There were many Spidermans, Supergirls, and Wonder Woman in the hallways. A popular costume was one of the Avengers. Shoutout to the certain history teacher who dressed up as Thor and brought a hammer.

Day 5: Newfield Day Friday was the day of Pep Rally. Everyone either wore their team sports jerseys or red, white, and black. Students were excited to bring back school spirit after three years without Pep Rally. There were performances from Kickline, JV Cheer, and Varsity Cheer.

The most energetic cheers were towards Kickline, Varsity Cheer, JV and Varsity Soccer, MC Tennis, Varsity Volleyball, and Varsity Football.

New Fall Fashion Trend?

Fastlane: An Update on the World's Performance Cars

By Aamir Sheikh Acura: Honda Motors is renowned for making reliable cars meant for daily use by any and all. Honda’s grander lineup, Acura, has focused the company’s interests on increased luxury, performance, and bolder designs while maintaining Honda’s reputability as reliable enough for regular use. These founding principles were most greatly exemplified in Acura’s 1990 NSX, an artistic blend of new shapes and concepts largely considered as Japan’s first supercar. The car carved out a specific niche in the market - a supercar made to be enjoyed and used, which struck major blows against Acura’s targeted competitors such as Ferrari. The NSX upheld its luxurious and convenient reputation with its accommodating interior for several driver sizes and styles, as well as leather upholstery and a wide field of vision for a more immersive and comfortable driving experience. Its 3.0 L V6 engine, incorporating Honda’s latest performance innovation known as VTEC, churned out a modest 270 horsepower that pushed the oneand-a-half-ton aluminum car - which is to say that it was relatively light - from 0 to 60 mph in just around 5 seconds. With acceleration and engine power that competed with same-class Ferrari’s for nearly half the price, a precedent was set for the NSX that was abruptly abandoned in 2005 as a result of shifting focuses to technological improvements in the market. The NSX potential was revived in name with the 2015 release of the “2nd Gen” NSX, a hybridized supercar that changed dramatically in the 10-year span to better reflect the changing market and implementations of technology. The NSX was given a futuristic appearance, matched by its innovative combination of a seven-speed mid-mounted V6 engine coupled with two electric motors powering the rear wheels and two additional motors powering the front wheels. This hybridized all-wheel-drive system gave the NSX the potential to accelerate quickly due to the instantaneous delivery of power from its electric motors to the wheels, and for the car to reach considerable speeds as its 430 horsepower engine drove the 3,100pound supercar to parallel both the 2015 Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 458 Italia.

By Rubaba Tanisa Fall has come like a gust of wind! But so have new fashion trends, will they emerge into something popular or not?

After some time of staying home during quarantine and wearing loungewear, some old and new trends have arrived! The now grandpa style-inspired tops, which were popular throughout the '90s to the early 2000s eras with preppy designs, have officially come back for the season.

Some of the old trends are back like denim, wild leopard jackets, luxury laces, and smoldering blush tones are just a few of the fall trends you can get thrilled and ready for right now!

There are several new fall trends but one that is most focused on are sweater vests. Fall is a time of layering which is very popular among everyone. Sweater vests have been seen on the runways in previous seasons, but this year, they're casting a wider net. Sweater vests are no longer just something your grandma would wear but they've become a fashionable fall trend.

Social media are already flooded with styling ideas for the fall, a lot like layering it over a button-down shirt or wearing it as a standalone top with jeans. Not only that Prada, Gucci, Dior, and Marc Jacobs all used the nerdy-chic knit in their F/W 20 catwalk shows, so being on board can be a great idea. Wearing the knit vest style this season and putting it with other styles available on the market will help you achieve your ultimate preppy look.

Styling the sweater vest might seem hard however with a few tips you can wear it as an everyday look, a night out look, or even an office look! Always make sure you are wearing the right type of clothing based on your shape and size with the right type of designs as well to fit your personality, whether it’s for a casual weekend or dressing up professionally and preppy for the office it can always be a go-to look!

For the everyday vintage look, it's recommended that you match it with a pair of large pants if you truly want to dig into that retro vibe. And because the weather isn’t too cold yet, you are more than welcome to wear the sweater vest with a shirt on the inside while it is still somewhat warm out. Put a sweater vest over a T-shirt to completely embrace the classic style once the temperature cools down. You may take it a step further by wearing a vividly colored vest, for example.

During the night when you would like to go out with the old and granny-chic style, that is based on '90s trends that have been taking the fashion world for the past year and a half of its feel!. With a small or cropped sweater vest, search inside your closet for a nice soft and elegant-looking flowy dress to put on top of for another great layered look for the fall!

This style can be matched with boots for a quick outfit that seems like you put in a lot of effort. Wear a sweater vest over a small and cute slip dress for a more streamlined look, as well as the vest over a dress (preferably ones with long sleeves) for the fall, to add extra color or even texture to make it a bit more fancy and preppy.

Six Creative Fall Life Hacks

By Diya John

With the cool crisp wind, Thanksgiving rounding the corner, and leaves changing color, you know that fall has arrived. Here are some helpful life hacks to help you make the most out of this fall season.

Pumpkin Decorations Thinking of using pumpkins as a fall decoration on the deck or porch?

Spray a simple bleach solution onto them so they can last all season long.

Spray on a mixture containing one part bleach to ten parts water. This will stop the bacteria from spreading, making your pumpkin decorations last longer. If you carve them, spread vaseline (petroleum jelly) over them to stop the open cuts on your pumpkin from going brown.

Cleaning Shoes Shoes getting covered with mud as the fall brings on the damp weather?

Don't worry, there is a simple fix! Use micellar water when cleaning them next time, it works like a charm!

Pinecone Decoration Pinecones are a simple decoration to put your home in the fall mood.

Instead of buying fake plastic ones, simply take the ones from outside!

You might be thinking, there might be bugs in them, but just toss them into the oven for 20-30 minutes at 200°. Now you have a cheap, easy, and cute decoration!

Pumpkin Cooler Make an epic fall-themed pumpkin cooler: simply scoop out the insides of the pumpkin, fill it with ice, and stick your favorite drinks in!

Fall-Themed Homemade Wreath Have a lot of leaves, pinecones, and other autumn decorations lying around? Get some glue and put it all together to make an adorable homemade wreath and hang it!

Autumn Aroma Is your house smelling like damp leaves? Make it smell like autumn instead! Fill a pot with water and simmer a handful of cinnamon sticks, an orange rind, 2 tablespoons of cloves, and 3-5 bay leaves to fill your house with a cozy seasonal scent!

By Rubaba Tanisa

Math Homework

AWARENESS

Hispanic Heritage Month

By Ozzie Hall Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated from September 15th to October 15th in 2021. According to hispanicheritagemonth.gov, “We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.” It also honors Hispanic culture and struggles, and the independence days of many Latin American countries. It was originally established as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Ronald Reagan expanded the holiday into a 30-day celebration in 1988, and this change was made legal on August 17, 1988.

On September 14th, 2021, the Biden administration released a statement on Hispanic Heritage month that can be found at whitehouse.gov, saying “During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanic heritage is American heritage. We see it in every aspect of our national life: on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy. We benefit from the many contributions of Hispanic scientists working in labs across the country to help us fight COVID-19 and the doctors and the nurses on the front lines caring for people’s health. Our Nation is represented by Hispanic diplomats who share our values in countries all over the world and strengthened by military members and their families who serve and sacrifice for the United States.

Our communities are represented by Hispanic elected officials, and our children are taught by Hispanic teachers. Our future will be shaped by Hispanic engineers who are working to develop new technology that will help us grasp our clean energy future and by the skilled union workers who are going to build it.” The White House also hosted a roundtable with 4 Hispanic cabinet members on the importance of Latin leadership in areas of government. Other government departments have published resources and information on Hispanic Heritage Month, Including NASA, the CDC, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the Census Bureau, the Department of Labor, and the Navy.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, allies to the Hispanic community can educate themselves on Hispanic history, struggles, and culture, support Hispanic businesses and amplify the voices of Hispanic people.

Frida Kahlo & Her Impact on Art, Culture and Social Standards

By Meaghan Riley Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was born in Mexico on July 6th, 1907. She was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits, which depicted herself as unflattering as a means of attacking social beauty standards. Her original home in her life is now known as the Frida Kahlo Museum. The Frida Kahlo Museum was previously known as La Casa Azul. Despite getting diagnosed with polio as a child, she excelled in academics.

She had such promise that she was on her way to medical school, before a bus accident left her with lifelong medical problems at the age of eighteen. It was in her recovery that she once again found her passion for art.

Along with art, she was very politically active as well as educated. It was through her passion for politics that she publicly announced her affiliation with the Communist Party, where she met her husband Diego Rivera. She and her husband had a very rocky relationship, some evidence showed that there were multiple affairs between each of them. With those affairs, Frida Kahlo had some public relationships with both men and women.

Her art has been her way of communicating with the world and its issues. She has commented on identity, gender, class, postcolonialism, and race. She challenged the society in Mexico through her art, and was praised for it by many. Also known for putting elements of her own chronic pain or illnesses into her work, large portions of her pieces have an autobiographical element to them, giving a glimpse of her personal struggles and life events to the viewer.

Throughout her entire career, she depicted her bisexuality through her artwork. There was a passion that was a constant factor in each of her portraits, and it was clear that with each brush of paint, or a stroke of charcoal, there was an emotion that fueled. Not that she had to by any means, she was constantly proving how true her feelings were. There is a validity in bisexuality that is constantly challenged, even within the LGBTQ+ community. There has been a line that people are expected to cross; You either like men, women, or non-binary people. People expect others to fit into a certain mold, but Frida Kahlo was a figure that other Latino women could look up to.

There was a precedent set when people discovered that Frida Kahlo was bisexual. Frida Kahlo was a woman who was known as an artist and was celebrated by people of huspanic heritage, and rightfully so. She was proud of who she was, and that truth shined through with her artwork. She was a woman who acted as a figurehead for embracing all that comes with being a woman.

FILM & BOOK REVIEWS

Maximum Ride

By Caitlin Kenney About a year and a half ago, I went to the local library to renew my card; in search of books I would actually enjoy.

I certainly consider myself an avid reader, but I have always had a lot of trouble with finding the right book. I took some out, but they were not for me. A section with James Patterson's novels caught my eye. Familiar with the author on my family's bookshelves, I picked up a few of his titles.

Iconic Film Quotes

By Muhammad Chaudhary I have seen a lot of films, from those films I have decided to list the best, most Iconic quotes ever--sadly pulp fiction quotes may or may not be mentioned at all because of the language. The film quotes will be in a list type pattern.

“You’re killing me, Smalls.” - The Sandlot (1993) “Ugh, As if!” - Clueless (1995) “Bend… and Snap!” - Legally Blonde (2001) “You can’t sit with us.”- Mean Girls (2004) “I don’t have friends. I got Family.” - Fast and Furious 7 (2015) “Ogres are like onions.” - Shrek (2001) “I like that boulder, That is a nice Boulder.” - Shrek (2001) “I am Groot.” - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” - Gone with the Wind (1939) “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” - The Wizard of Oz (1939) “May the Force be with you.” - Star Wars (1977) “Bond. James Bond.” - Dr. No (1963) “It’s alive! It’s alive!” - Frankenstein (1931) “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” - The Godfather Part II (1974) “Here’s Johnny!” - The Shining (1980) “I’ll be back.” - The Terminator (1984) “I’m the king of the World!” - Titanic (1997) “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” Dead Poets Society (1989) “Yer a wizard Harry.” - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) “Dear Diary…” - Heather (1988) “But the really amazing thing is, it is nobody’s goddamn business.” Easy A (2010) These are all the quotes I am able to mention without any problems. All the other quotes aren’t the safest things to go on a school newspaper so I won’t mention them at all. These are the most Famous, most Iconic, and most Redefining quotes in Hollywood.

At first, I foudn the books rough to my liking. My mom knew that I really wanted to read these books, so she texted my aunt for help. Being avid readers, when my aunt recommended this series to me, I expected this to be just the right book.

I had enver heard of Maximum Ride, and was skeptical at first. I wondered if it would get anywhere exiting.

I read the whole series and am reading it again. Patterson's novels have a way ot making you feel like you are right next to the main characters.

In Maximum Ride, six kids with avian DNA stay away from the outside world, under the watchful eye of a character that took them out of hte "schol" where they lived their early lives.

The series is all about survivor. If you are a huge Sci-Fi fan like me, this is the book for you!

Possibilities are truly enless with a library card.

UPCOMING EVENTS

D EC EMB E R 2 4 - J A N U A R Y 2ND

WINTER BREAK

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JA N UAR Y 2 5 - J A N U A R Y 28

JANUARY REGENTS CANCELLED

F EB RUA R Y 3 R D

SENIOR CAP & GOWN ORDERING F EB RUA R Y 1 6 T H

POPS CONCERT MARCH 4 T H

SENIOR BANQUET

Red Light, Green Light

By Emma Raver Do you remember playing Red Light Green Light as a kid with your friends, or how about the traditional game of old-fashioned tug of war?

Well, in that case, you might enjoy Netflix’s new series Squid Game.

After watching this series you will never look at your childhood games the same. It is strongly recommended not to have kids watch it due to the strong violence content and frequent trigger warnings.

The story itself caught many people's attention, resulting in the film becoming ranked as number three on Netflix’s top ten. People compare this film to the well-known film, The Hunger Games, but it is on a whole other level of violence.

The characters have to play these common child games. If they lose, they die. I do not want to spoil anything for the viewers, but I recommend this series, for mature audiences only. It is full of suspense and shocking twists.

Overall, the creators and actors did a wonderful job of bringing this unique story to life. The story has been talked about in great lengths. TikTok creators have been making art videos of each character and their symbolism throughout the show. There have also been rumors that LaLisa's new song, Money, was based on the show. Headlines are also rife with hopes of Netflix renewing the series for a second season. This thrilling series is worth your time!

Official Quarterly Publication

Executive Cabinet Advisor: Mrs. Elisabeth Donahue President/Chief Editor: Dora John Vice President: Muhammad Chaudhry Secretaries: Emma Raver & Erin Looney Treasurer: Leah Landron Historians: Zakariyah Hanif & Sadaf Mansib

Our Staff

Emma Raver, Secretary and Webmaster

Tabitha Franco, Joint Section Editor of Fashion

Diya John, Section Editor of Student's Voice (The State of Our World) & Class of 2025 Liaison

Lisa Clinton, Staff Writer

Weronika Karpio, Section Editor of Current Events & Class of 2024 Liaison

Meaghan Riley, Joint Section Editor of Creative Writing & Class of 2022 Liaison

Isaiah DeLaCruz, Staff Artist

Asim Sheikh, Section Editor of COVID

Jasmine Recova, Section Editor of Music & Drama Departments

Aamir Sheikh, Section Editor of Lifestyle

Anthony Otis, Staff Writer

Leah Landron, Treasurer & Section Editor of Literature

Sadaf Mansib, Historian & Joint Section Editor of Creative Writing

Lauryn Franco, Joint Section Veronica Hall, Editor of Broadcasting/Videography Section Editor of School Headlines and LGBTQ+ Club Liaison

Caitlin Kenney, Section Editor of Awareness and Publicity Director

Zakariyah Hanif, Historian & Staff Artist

Rubaba Tanisa, Section Editor of Weird Science

Dora John, President / Editor-In-Chief, Staff Writer

Muhammad Chaudhary Ashley O'Connell, (Moosa Irfaan), Staff Writer & Section Editor of Vice President & Joint Section Editor of Broadcasting/Videography Art

Erin Margaret Looney, Secretary, Class of 2024 Liaison, & Section Editor of Film and Book Reviews

2021-22 School

Delilah Fay, Joint Section Editor of Fashion

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Publishing Since 1958

The mission of the Middle Country Central School District is to empower and inspire all students to apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be creative problem solvers, to achieve personal success, and to contribute responsibly in a diverse and dynamic world.

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