MARCH/APRIL
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The results from Class Competition this year were VERY unexpected! Class Competition is where all the classes compete against each other through various activities. Teachers also made up a team. After YEARS of the seniors being the champions, this year's victory was taken by the JUNIOR CLASS! Congratulations Class of 2025!
Although the winner is to be determined after the event, everyone knows the seniors are going to be declared the winners The events included: volleyball, relay race, musical chairs, tug-of-war, and knockout basketball.
After asking Newfield students about their opinions on this event, there is what they said:
"Seniors should have won.”
“I can’t wait for class competition next year, I will absolutely participate in an event.”
“My favorite event was musical chairs.”
Newfield’s spring production of Hairspray was extremely entertaining and incredible. From the detailed set pieces to the impressive acting and vocals, everything about the play was professional and polished. Hairspray is set in 1962 and follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, a teen who captures hearts and minds on her quest to become a cast member of the popular Corny Collins Show. Along the way, she makes new friends, acquires powerful enemies, sings, dances, and eventually breaks barriers by integrating the program. It is an amusing show that also contains serious and important subject matter, and Newfield’s drama department did a great job of balancing the heavy topics with healthy doses of fun
With about 160 students involved, including the cast, crew, and pit orchestra to name a few, this production was huge. There were 25 dance numbers, far more than in a typical musical. It must have been incredibly difficult to pull off, making the play even more impressive. The costumes, sets, and large group numbers really gave a proficient feel to the show.
Tracy Turnblad was played by talented senior Jaidy Pagano, who provided the glue to hold this complex and spectacular show together. While this was Jaidy’s first time playing a lead role, she’s no stranger to Newfield’s stage, having performed in many past productions. Throughout Hairspray, she was energetic and embodied Tracy’s bubbly personality flawlessly. Jaidy described her character as, “very accepting,” and someone who “isn't afraid to fight for what she thinks is right!” Her masterful portrayal of Tracy set the perfect tone from the moment the curtains opened.
Although Jaidy has set foot on stage many times before, this play was particularly special because it contained a mix of Newfield theater veterans and newcomers. One of those newcomers was the impressive sophomore Darchelle Boisrond, who played the role of Motormouth Maybelle. People got a sneak peek of Darchelle’s talent at Newfield’s Black History Night, and she didn’t disappoint on stage. Her confidence and commanding presence were impressive, and her strong vocals contributed to an already amazing show. When asked about her debut performance, Darchelle shared that while it was initially difficult to get into character and memorize all her lines, she loved playing Motormouth because she was “one of few black celebrities in the 60s,” and “the fact that she is plus size, black, and famous really showed how the world was starting to change ” Hopefully this is just the beginning of a theater career for Darchelle at Newfield.
Junior Kyle Bogad is no stranger to Newfield’s stage, but he is starting to make a name for himself as someone who takes on challenging and out-of-the-box characters. He voiced talking plant “Audrey II” in the fall production of Little Shop of Horrors, and now took the role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mother, in Hairspray. Edna is typically portrayed by a male actor in drag and Kyle pulled it off fantastically. He shared, “trying to embody a 60 year-old woman when I’m a 17 year-old man has been so challenging, but also the most exhilarating thing I’ve done in theater!” Payton Astromovich, who played Edna’s husband Wilbur, was another side character who helped bring life to the show. He was the perfect compliment to Kyle’s Edna, and their time on stage together, especially their duet number “You’re Timeless to Me” had the audience laughing and clapping along.
Every spring the LOTE Honor Society hosts an inspiring and informative International Night to share cultural experiences from around the world. This event has been going on for 22 years! It was held on Friday, April 12th in the Newfield gymnasium, but you’d never know athletics were played there just a few hours before. The members of the LOTE Honor Society worked hard to transform the space into an explosion of heritage, and the results were amazing. The moment you walked in, it was impossible to ignore the educational tables set up around the perimeter of the room. Each station contained a tri-fold board with information about a specific country. The tables also had traditional dishes on display, available for sampling. Students were on hand to answer questions and serve food to attendees. Many of those representing countries wore that area's customary clothing, lending an authentic atmosphere to the night. Regions of the world that were covered included, Haiti, Bangladesh, India, South Asia, Pakistan, Portugal, Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Palestine, Dominican Republic, Poland, Afghanistan, Ireland, Ecuador, Ghana, Columbia, Argentina, The UK, France, and Vietnam
In addition, the center of the room focused on international performances. These were a fantastic compliment to the overall experience and added an entertaining element to the event. This portion of the program opened with the drum club, followed by Irish step dancing by Mrs. Webber’s Irish Dancers. Next, a variety of Newfield students came up to recite poetry, sing songs, dance, play instruments, and more, all in another language or to highlight a certain nationality. Each performance was well done, and the audience clearly enjoyed them. The acts spoken or sung in other languages were particularly impressive and must have taken quite a bit of practice to perfect.
This evening isn’t just a fun event, it is also a fundraiser. The money raised is used for senior scholarships and donations to international charities. Most recently, contributions were made to the World Central Kitchen. This night is a combination of raising money and cultural awareness. According to one of the club’s advisors, Madame Martin, “The mission of the World Language Honor Societies Club is to promote and celebrate the diversity of all cultures represented here at Newfield ” International Night is a great opportunity for students to express elements of their own cultural heritage or to learn about one that is of interest to them.
And finally, The Newfield Robotics team competes one last time this season at the World Championships in Dallas, Texas. The VEX Robotics World Championship is recognized as the largest robotics competition in the world by The Guinness Book of World Records. Teams must earn an invitation by qualifying at their State competition or qualifying Signature event. After hard work, countless hours, and dedication, the Roverines gained the opportunity to compete with 819 robots from 44 other countries.
Qualification matches went great, winning 9 matches and only losing 1, beating Newfield’s previous record of 8 wins and 2 losses. Their record earned them 10th place in their division, going into elimination matches. They won the first round, sending them to the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, they lost a good match to the eventual winners of the bracket.
It all starts with the game, this season's game “Over Under” pushed the team to innovate and problem-solve. After performing well at the NY State competition, the Roverines decided to build a brand-new robot in the 7 weeks between States and the World Championships, showing how driven they are to be the best they can be.
Despite the loss, the team had an awesome season and put in quite a performance in Dallas. The team had an amazing time and can't wait for next season with a new “High Stakes” game.
Thank you to club advisor and Coach, Mr. Fitzgerald for steering the team in the right direction and teaching us all we know now—special thanks to Mrs. Lewkowicz for helping and chaperoning our team in Texas.
The efforts of our seniors, Corey Giles and Zander Wolmart, paid off in their building of the new robot. It was strong and able to play hard without worries. Ben Rasmussen’s driving skills helped the team win matches, and his quick-thinking strategies helped the robot perform to the best of its ability. The countless hours Farrah Khatoun put in to learn how to code and program the robot paid off. Her programs controlled the robot during the autonomous period of the competition, as well as the joysticks and buttons on the controller during the driver portion of the match, making sure they were always perfect. Last but not least, thanks to all the other robotics members for their assistance in our preparations for the World Championships. Great work team!
Saitta Roy is the March Student of the Month for Newfield High School! Saitta is graduating in June with 10 APs and more than 30 college credits. She is involved in various school events and holds leadership positions in many clubs. Saitta is the founder and president of Crochet Club, president of The Quadrangle, president of the National Honor Society, lawyer in Mock Trial, vice president of the Tri-M Honor Society, member of Pit Orchestra, member of Dr. Roberta Gerold’s Leadership Club, and member of the Middle Country Legislative/Outreach Community Committee. Outside of school, Saitta holds a job at the Middle Country Public Library. She also used to volunteer as a tutor/homework pal, an MCPL Book Buddy and made donations to Stony Brook Hospital with Crochet for a Cause. Saitta has acquired more than 100 hours of community service. Mr. Latham, our mock trial advisor and Saitta’s AP US Gov’t and Politics teacher stated, “Saitta has been a rock on the Mock Trial team for the past three years. Her ability to understand the nuances of the law and to still not lose perspective on what is happening in the trial is truly a gift. She is unwavering in her commitment to excellence, and this translates into the classroom.” Saitta gets inspiration from Diedre Von Dornum, a leading public defender, for her unwavering empathy. In the fall, she will attend the University of Notre Dame for mechanical engineering. She also wants to go to law school and be a patent lawyer. Congratulations Saitta!
Ashleigh Murray is the April Student of the Month for Newfield High School! Ashleigh is an active member of the Newfield community. She is a member of the Class Council of 2024, president of General Organization, Girl’s Epee Captain in Fencing, vice president of Crochet Club, member of Dr. Roberta Gerold’s Leadership Club, member of Environmental Club, member of Thespian Honor Society, and involved with Theatre Arts. Ashleigh gets inspiration from her mother, who worked very hard for Ashleigh. She states, “Now I want to return the favor in our future.” A challenge Ashleigh faced throughout her high school career was taking challenging classes without reading into them. She expresses that she struggled. However, having friends made the experience worthwhile as they helped her face challenges and study. Some advice Ashleigh has for underclassmen is, “Do not give up when things get hard, honestly it is better to keep trying even if things never end up working out.” In the fall, she will attend the New York Institute of Technology for Architectural Technology. Congratulations Ashleigh!
On Thursday, April 4, the Newfield Thespian Honor Society held its annual Broadway Night. This fundraiser allows honor society members to perform a Broadway song of their choice. Some students chose to sing while others played an instrument. This year’s acts ranged from solos to duets to larger group numbers. It was clear that everyone on stage was excited to be there and having a great time. The show included two acts and a total of 28 performances. It opened with a group number by the honor society officers from The Addams Family Musical. From the beginning, it was clear this night was going to be extremely entertaining. In addition, the crew cleverly adjusted the lighting colors, specific to each act, which really added a nice effect to the entire evening. When not performing, the participants joined the audience to cheer on their peers and even started dancing through the aisles at one point. At only $5 a ticket, this was a worthwhile experience for a great cause. You could even further support the Thespian Honor Society by purchasing popcorn or snow cones during intermission This was a well-organized event and everyone who participated should be proud.
How do you tell your parents you flunked school?
Have a sit-down with them. The best thing you can do is not hide it, when you confront your parents face-on about a bad grade, the consequences will be less than if they were to find out themselves. With that being said, still be ready to get grounded!
How do you tell if your crush likes you?
If your crush is giving you mixed signals, they most likely have feelings for you. If they talk to you a lot and walk you to class, there's another sign!
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AVA STEBBINS EDITOR STAFF WRITE
CODY CLACKETT