issue#2 roughh - Plainfield Public Schools

PLAINFIELD PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
ISSUE #2
The Panther Advocate
NOVEMBER 2009
It’s All About the Climb
Article and pictures by: Alexis Griffin
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Officers stood saluting along side
the many police cars and animal control
vehicles that lined the street. Red, blue and
CURRENT EVENTS
3-4
white flashing lights illuminated the dull
and rainy Tuesday morning as a hearse
made its way to the Lighthouse Church of
SCHOOL NEWS
5-8
God.
Family, friends, co-workers, and
student
and
staff from Plainfield High
SPORTS
9School
gathered
together on October 13,
14
2009, to mourn the loss of Theresa “Terry”
Foss.
WORLD NEWS
18
Here at Plainfield High School,
she was the varsity cheerleading coach and
an active member of the Booster Club. Foss was also a member of the Plainfield Police Department
FIELD TRIP NEWS
20
and the Connecticut Municipal Animal Control Association.
Foss was always out to help people. She immersed herself into our community and always
worked her hardest at everything she did. Foss made an impact on many lives. As quoted in The NorMUSIC NEWS
21
wich Bulletin, her older brother, Michael Wicheal, said she was: “hard working, kind and caring –
the kind of person that loved animals and was very devoted to her family and her children. She’s always out helping people.” While doing what she loved, a unfortunate and tragic incident occurred.
MOVIE NEWS
22Foss was called to 270 Green Hallow Road, where a
23
large and aggressive dog was preventing a family from leaving
their home. While responding to the call, she was knocked to the
ground by the dog and suffered from a head injury as a result.
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST:
After the incident, she was hospitalized for nine days. She
passed away on October 8, 2009.
• UConn Shooting
At her funeral, one police officer discussed how Foss
always
had
the strength to always over come obstacles in her
• Swine Flu Outbreak
life, and compared her life to a song… “The Climb” by Miley
• Day of Silence
Cyrus. He said her attitude was just the same as the lyrics;
“Gotta keep my head held high. There's always gonna be an• Pep-Rally
other mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move. Always
gonna
be a uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't
• Marching Band
about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the
• Football
other side, it's the climb.” The song began playing just as he
was finishing.
• Cross Country
A handful of people stood in front of the crowd at her
funeral.
They
shared stories and told us how she had changed
• Cooking Contest Winners
their lives. Everybody seemed to agree upon one thing: life will
• PHS Slogan Contest
just not be the same without Terry Foss.
INTERVIEW
Page 2
Here in Spirit:Interview with Terry Foss
Picture and Interview by: Alexis Griffin
This interview with Terry Foss was completed on September
22, 2009. The questions were asked about her thoughts on the
sport she was dedicated to coaching, cheerleading.
Were you a cheerleader in high school?
No, I cheered in a youth league in Hawaii. I was a dancer and a
member of the color guard in an all girl drum and bugle corps
during high school.
What made you want to be a coach for the Plainfield cheerleaders?
After coaching for many years at the youth level, I decided to
become a high school coach when my daughter attended Ellis
Tech. The advertisement wanted to offer cheerleading to the students, so I got the necessary certificate. However funding and
logistics just kept it from happening. When I heard the job was open at Plainfield High School, I was thrilled . I had coached
most of the girls at the youth level and my son was going to be a freshmen that September, so I applied. And as they say, the
rest is history.
I’ve heard that you can be a tough coach, why do you think that is?
Being thought of as a tough coach is not a bad thing. Although, I don't think of myself as a tough coach. I do think that I can
be tough when the situation calls for it.
What do you consider the hardest and easiest part of cheerleading?
Hardest- Making sure no one is injured. Easiest- Picking a team.
Should we expect any changes or improvements from last year?
Yes, we are always learning new cheers and our halftime (routines) will continue to evolve as the season progresses. We are
also focusing on stunting and tumbling this season.
Did your team participate in any competitions last year? If so, how did you do?
We placed second at ECC. I took the team to different competitions last year, ones that have teams that are very competitive
and the skill level is much higher than we had previously competed at , of those we placed 5th and 6th.
Are you planning on competing when competition season comes around?
Yes, we always look forward to competing and this year should prove to be one of the best as we move up into the medium
division at ECC.
People always argue this: do you consider cheerleading a sport? Why or why not?
Cheerleading is a sport and in some states it is listed right next to football, basketball and soccer.. Cheerleaders are athletes
and they work just as hard as any other athlete to prefect their sport. Even though cheerleading is not currently listed as a
sport in Connecticut, most cheerleading programs are held to the same rules and academic standards as other sports. Here at
PHS even though we do not have the formal title of "Sport", we are supported as such by our athletic director , administration, teachers, student body and Booster Club. It truly makes a difference to the team and the coaches to know that the hours
of hard work and dedication that go into perfecting a half time routine or competition routine are appreciated and noticed.
Cheerleaders, like any other athlete, live to give the performance of a lifetime every time they step on the field ,court or
track.
CURRENT EVENTS
Page 3
Gone But Not Forgotten
Article by: Zak Nadeau
When you think of college you might think of wild parties, drinking beer, and being
independent. Fights and murder definitely aren’t the first things that come to mind. With a
handful of Plainfield graduates going to the University of Connecticut each year, this may be
something to think about before picking the college you go to. The most recent murder was
at UConn, on October 18, 2009, when Jasper “Jazz” Howard was stabbed. Howard was a
star player on the UConn football team, and a father to be.
During a dance at the Student Union Building, a fire alarm was pulled forcing all
the students to exit the building. While outside, Howard, along with five other football players, got into a confrontation. Howard and another player were stabbed. Howard suffered
serious injuries and later died after being airlifted to St. Francis Hospital. The other student
had minor injuries and was treated then released.
UConn played their first game since the loss of their teammate on October 24. The
Huskies and West Virginia’s team, The Mountaineers joined together before the game, and
had a moment of silence for Howard. In a major sign of respect the Mountaineer crowd,
infamous for their hostility towards opponents, stood for a lengthy ovation as the opposing
team entered the stadium. The admiration and respect didn’t stop at the cheering; fans of
both teams wore red arm bands and pins in the shape of hearts with Howard’s number 6 on
them. There was also a banner that read “Today we are all Huskies,” signed by West Virginia fans and the team. Although West Virginia was paying respect to the Huskies it did not
keep them from playing a tough game. It was a close score through out, but in the end West
Virginia came out with the win, the final score: 28-24.
On October 26, a little more than a week after Howard’s death, UConn and state
police continued to investigate the murder. Divers and dogs were on scene investigating the
campus. Divers were searching the bottom of Swan Lake for any evidence. UConn police
said they left no stone unturned, but did not say they found anything.
While police were investigating in UConn, friends and family of Howard were
mourning. Howard’s funeral was held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Miami,
Florida. Huskies’ coach Randy Edsall, and fellow players of Howard, all had something to
http://www.truecrimereport.com/
jasperhoward.jpg
“Jazz loved to
have fun, make
people laugh. He
had a good
strong heart. I
think he got that
from his
mother.”
say about Howard. “Jazz loved to have fun, make people laugh. He had a good strong heart.
I think he got that from his mother.” Kashif Moore, a fellow teammate told a Norwich Bulletin reporter, “Jazz would never back down from a challenge. He had a lot of swag.” It is
clear that Howard has a big impact on everyone’s life, and so did his death. It would be fair
to say that he may never be forgotten.
Only ten days after Howard’s death, two men have been accused of his murder.
John Lummox III, a twenty-one-year-old man of Bloomfield was charged with murder and
conspiracy to commit assault. He is being held on a two million dollar bond. Hakim Muhammad is also from Bloomfield, he too is being charged with conspiracy to commit an assault. The two men were arraigned in Rockville court, on October 29, 2009. A third man,
Jamal Todd, 21, was also arrested but posted bail. Police investigators say Todd was the one
who pulled the alarm in the student union during the dance, forcing everyone one to evacuate the building.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1082/
story/765823.html
CURRENT EVENTS
Page 4
The Plainfield Epidemic
Article by: Eneriko Ferraj
On Thursday, October 22, 2009, at Plainfield Central School, almost half the student body was missing. One hundred seventy-six students were not in school that day; eighty of these 176 students initially went to school but got sent home due to flu like
symptoms. A little more than fifty percent of students were absent from the school on Friday.
Superintendent of Schools, Mary Conway, stated to the Norwich Bulletin that 293 of 572 students did not show up to the
middle school on Friday. She also went on to say that she assumed it was H1N1 due to the amount of students getting ill in the short
time period.
On Monday, 192 kids were absent from the middle school for being sick; more may have stayed home due to fears of
H1N1. Also on October 28 there was supposed to be a musical concert for Plainfield High School and Plainfield Central School. The
show was cancelled due to parents fears of H1N1 spreading at the concert.
“They should have just closed the school down and disinfected the school,” stated 8th grader Enxhi Ferraj. Another student
at the Central School anonymously said they should have closed down the school. When some students here at the high school were
asked the same question, junior Ashleigh Daigle said: “I think that the school could have handled the outbreak in a better fashion
instead of making them stand in the hallways waiting for their parents to pick them up, they should have closed the school down and
sent the students home so that they could sanitize the school.” Another student here at PHS, Mary Dixon, had this to say: “I think
sending the sick kids home was the smartest thing they could have done, I don’t see the point of closing the school down because
that will just put everyone in town in a state of panic, especially the younger kids.”
It is currently believed that only a few kids actually had swine flu. As for the rest of the children, it was a bug spreading
around. However some parents aren’t sending their kids to school until this epidemic of the flu is over and that may take a while.
And that’s about it.
Keeping Abreast of the Situation
Article by: Dan Trombley
As most of you know, October is National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was started in 1985
by the American Cancer Society. The goal is to educate people on breast
cancer. 1.2 million cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year
alone; the chances of getting breast cancer are one in eight. Forty thousand people in the United States die from breast cancer each year;
400,000 people die annually from the disease. The Keep a Breast Foundation is a great way to support the research to cure breast cancer. The
most important weapon against breast cancer is to learn everything about
it. Women ages twenty-nine to thirty-nine should get checked at least once a year. Early prevention is very important for a full recovery.
The Keep a Breast Foundation is a non-profit organization. They do fundraising to raise awareness
about prevention, early detection and support. The Keep a Breast Foundation’s only mission is to get this information out to everyone so he or she can live a healthier lifestyle. The Keep a Breast Foundation offers art
shows and popular accessories such as their new bracelets. These bright bracelets come in an amalgam of colors such as lime green, blue and bright pink. Many people question what these bracelets stand for. They are a
cheap yet stylish way to raise awareness concerning breast cancer. You can purchase bracelets at Zumiez. The
nearest Zumiez is located at the Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut. There are also many other ways you
can support this foundation, for example, you can sign up for a membership: it cost $25. There are art shows
that are pretty much everywhere in world, the only problem is finding them. At the art shows you will find
paintings or paper maché moldings of a women’s chest. There are a lot of bands that support this cause, such
as 3OH!3, Thrice, TV/TV, Versa Emerge, All Time Low, The Maine, TAT, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Alana
Grace, Big D & The Kids Table, Hit The Lights, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Silverstein, Saosin and
There For Tomorrow. Various items can be obtained from the Keep a Breast Foundation at their concerts. If
you’re not into bands and bracelets they also offer sweatshirts, t-shirts and hand bags.
The Keep a Breast Foundation is just a wonderful way to support breast cancer prevention. If you are not into any
of these wonderful items, you can get out and be active for the whole month of October. You can run, walk, hop on a bike, do some
yoga, go surfing; it really does not matter. When you are active, you
Information and picture taken from http://www.keep-a-breast.org/
are supportive of a healthier lifestyle and breast cancer prevention.
SCHOOL NEWS
Page 5
I Can’t Hear You!
Commentary and picture by: Alexis Griffin
On October 20, 2009, at Plainfield High School, several students wore red tape on their clothing,
body, and face that had “LIFE” written across it. The red tape was worn for the Day of Silence. Those who
had a pro-life view on abortion rights (against abortion) had their chance to express what they believe.
So, what about the rest of us? They had their turn, where’s everybody else’s? In a school that’s
supposed to promote education, comfort, and equality, it only seems logical to think that we’d have something in honor of the opposing side of a subject such as this. This is, truly, something that cannot be ignored.
I’m not only speaking for my own personal views or people who are pro-choice, but for the girls in
our school who have had an abortion. One girl, who attends our school and who has actually gone through
this procedure said this:
“Seriously, they
need to
understand
that the grass
isn’t greener on
either side.”
“When I saw the red tape, I honestly felt aggravated and upset. It was unfair and biased. It was a harsh way to go about it.
They picked just one side without being completely educated. Seriously, they need to understand that the grass isn’t greener
on either side.
By using that tape they felt they were being real, but they don’t really
know. They don’t understand the emotional attachment to a baby. It was
just… heart-wrenching to see how thick-headed people can be and how
unwilling they are to see this side of it. Do you think it was easy to make a
decision like this?
The people in this school just brush some things under the rug. They close
these things behind a gate and they realize that once this gate opens, it’s all
going to flood in. So they’re trying to hold it shut as long as possible to
prevent that. Problems that teens face everyday, such as pregnancy and
abortion, need to be addressed in school too.”
She’s completely right. We’ve had a Day of Silence for pro-life views,
we've had assemblies for drunk driving, and our last pep rally was in honor of
someone who passed away… Why do we not hold out a hand for those who’ve had
experiences such as abortion? Why do we not recognize the emotional burden these
students have, and offer support? This student went on to say:
“Just because handfuls of student wear a little piece of red tape doesn’t
mean babies are always saved. And even when some are, they don’t even
live a good life. Like living off the state… what kind of life is that?! This
school can’t just sugar coat life like it does. We can’t go on pretending
everything’s alright.
I feel unwelcome in my own school. I need to feel that it’s alright to talk to someone. Our school needs to open doors, to
both sides of these issues.”
We need to offer some kind of recognition to opposing views because students should feel welcomed. Students should not
feel that they will be looked down upon because of their beliefs or experiences. This would be a fine topic of discussion in an advisory, or a twenty minute assembly held by those that are comfortable enough to speak about it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be
someone with that experience, just somebody to tell us that his or her door is open, and he or she is willing to help.
SCHOOL NEWS
Page 6
Costume Chaos
http://teacherpictures.com/images/strict-teacher.jpg
Commentary by: Adam Main
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/fp/
It’s Friday, October 30, 2009. You expect to walk into your school and be greeted by ghosts and goblins. Instead, you stumble into your class with a dazed look on your face as the halls are free of such creatures. Another term paper is thrown in your face
with a big mediocre “C+” stamped on the front. You drag on class after class, passing through our grey, bland, and musky hallways
going about the duration of another dry, saltine-esque day at Plainfield High.
This is the first year in my four years at this school that we’re not permitted to
wear Halloween costumes. Most years you were required to follow the general guidelines
of no masks and no adult themed costumes. Now, out of nowhere, is this big slap in the
face; costumes are not allowed at all during the week of Halloween. How could they not
allow us to celebrate a national holiday that has been a tradition for centuries? What’s
next, are they going to put a ban on turkey the week of Thanksgiving, or ban the combination of red and green on anything the week of Christmas? It’s all just being blown out
of proportion.
Maybe the administration fears the costumes could be a distraction during class.
That may be true, or not, but it’s only one out of the 180 drawn out days here that we can
have a little clean fun. No wonder why students here have compared our classrooms to
jail cells. Everything is dull and dry, our activities are boring to say the least, and it’s all
resulting in a steady decline in school spirit. This is just another limiting rule that can be
added to the student body’s “Why I’d much rather be punched in the gut than be in
class at PHS” list.
It seems that fun is no longer part of the PHS agenda. Its been wiped clean to
make way for more preaching about the PSATs and how we could “achieve more.” Ask
many of the students when the last time they had genuine fun during a school activity
(excluding field trips) and they will have to stop and think a while back. Maybe we are
just not seeing the whole picture. A school is a learning environment after all.
When speaking with a few students in the school, many seemed unfazed by the
new rule, but more seemed upset that the school is beginning to limit us more and more.
One student was upset and brought up the point that fun activities such as being able to
wear a costume to school during Halloween “brings up the school spirit.” Although this
was a good point, there are other perspectives. Kayla Charlwood believes “some of the
costumes students wear are ridiculous.” From personal experience, students sometimes
take their costumes too far. Ms. Slowik expressed her opinion to me as well. “I feel that
it distracts students from the academic ventures here at school,” she went on to say.
Upon arrival to school on the 30th, I was told of students seeing costumes, but only a few. I was informed that the costumes were
appropriate and not distracting. Alexis Griffin stated “I’ve seen quite a few costumes, and they are not distracting me at all.” I have
yet to see any disciplinary actions taken by the administrators.
The students, though, do need to see this from the teacher’s perspective. Their job is to teach, and if the students can’t handle having Halloween costumes without taking away their time to do their job, then one could see why this rule has been put into
action. These teachers have a ton of information to cram into our brains in a short semester, so they already have enough stress on
their shoulders. If the students act as they do before a vacation or pep rally day, then these teachers have one less day to teach us the
information we need for our future.
Acting out and wearing a costume on Friday even though we know we are breaking a school rule only shows the faculty a
lack of respect and maturity. Mrs. Reilly elaborated by stating that costumes during the school day make for a “zoo-like atmosphere.” With the ban on Halloween costumes still on at this time, surely October 30th goes a little smoother with hopes of students
not disobeying the new rule. Let’s save the costumes for Saturday when treats will be handed out instead of detentions!
SCHOOL NEWS
Page 7
Put a Little Pep in your Step
Commentary by: Marcus Tichenor
Senior Class at the Homecoming Pep Rally
Photo by Alexis Griffin
Plainfieldites are a dying breed.
With each passing year since our
current senior class were freshman,
the level of school spirit has dramatically fallen in the school. Four years
ago we had a very proud school. Seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshman all participated en masse at
school events. As new freshman enter, pride for the school becomes less.
Even desecration, vandalism, and
defilation is becoming more common
with the newer students.
The seniors of two years ago were the crème of the crop. They were the most electric and ecstatic group of kids you could possibly be around, seemingly oozing with school spirit. Last year’s seniors gave them a run for their money indeed, but the sheer intensity that the class of 2008 wielded is hard to match.
School enthusiasm from a bygone era is close to dissolving entirely. Homecoming week is supposed to be host to the days where
our school erupts with enthusiasm. The game and dance end the week with an explosion of all the built up excitement. Or, at least,
they’re supposed to. Last year’s pep rally was wretched. The seniors class in its entirety easily drowned out the handfuls of students
from the other three classes who decided to make some noise. The juniors, sophomores, and freshman put close to nothing into what
is supposed to be a school celebration. There was no electricity in the air and many of the student body skipped the pep rally and
went home. The flair that the pep rallies held at one time has dwindled.
Friday, October 23, 2009: Plainfield High School’s Homecoming pep rally. There was a feeling in the air, but it wasn’t electric. It
was more of a longing, of unfulfilled ideals, and of half-met expectations. Friday’s pep rally was indeed an improvement from last
year, but still was far from satisfactory. But why is that, and did it really? Students that decided to go to the pep rally entered under a
presumption that it will fall short of our previous experiences. Because of this mindset, they enjoy it less than they would if they felt
neutral. In fact, the pep rallies every year for the past four years have been the results of massive amounts of planning, work, and
unfortunately ingratitude.
Plainfield needs a massive overhaul in the morale department. Newsflash students: the student council, cheerleaders, the sports
department, what-have-you, are not responsible for how you feel when you enter this building: you are. For whatever reason you
have for there being a burning distaste for our school in your mind, it is no excuse to prevent the masses and yourself from a day of
enjoyment.
http://xkcd.com/588/
Our school is only as good as we make it. If you
come here wanting it to suck, then it’s going to
suck. If you don’t think that the pep rallies are as
good as they used to be, change that! Get your
friends to cheer for the sports teams, wear the
school colors, and make some noise once the big
day comes. Staying quiet will just continue our
steady decline into a spiritless school. The journey
of a thousand miles starts with a single step; get
started on making the school proud once more.
Page 8
SCHOOL NEWS
The Rallying Cry of Plainfield High
Article by: Kayla Charlwood
On October 23, 2009, the halls were oceans of orange, black, and white. Why was
this? Today was the pep-rally for our homecoming football game. There were students that had
some lack of spirit, but that didn’t bring the rest of us down. Most students were so pumped up
for the rally that they were a distraction to others during class.
It was around 1 p.m. and my peers were charging
into the gym like a wild pack of wildebeests. There was
chanting and jumping in the stands by the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. We were all ready to show our
school colors. The cheerleaders dedicated this pep-rally in
honor of their recently deceased coach, Terry Foss. Next the
masters of ceremonies, Kayla Robatialle, Eddie “In the
Hizzouse” Krauss and Sarah Murray, called out all the senior
athletes.
“GO PANTHERS GO!” You know what time it was next: the cheerleader’s routine. The
girls were peppy and loud trying to get the students and teachers pumped up for the start of the
rally. When the girls were done and pushed the mats away, we knew there was a new event about
to happen.
What was next? This was a surprise to many; there were teachers being called out for their
very own Teacher Homecoming Court. The nominees were: Mr. Greene vs. Mr. Brisson for King and Mrs. Lussier vs. Mrs. Salo for
Queen. We all knew Mr. Greene and Mrs. Lussier would walk away as the winning couple and we were right! Mrs. Lussier was very
excited to be crowned Queen and she said she felt like she was sixteen years old again. Homecoming Queen and Kings nominees
were called out to the floor next to receive the cheap Burger King crowns they supplied us. After this event, it led to seniors, juniors,
sophomores, and freshmen trying to do a scavenger hunt, which failed horribly.
Next there were tunes and notes drifting through the air. Musical chairs was about to occur. The contestants scurried around
the chairs intensely looking at all their opponents. The final two contestants were Nicole Young, a sophomore here at Plainfield, and
Mr. Brisson, an English Teacher here at Plainfield High School. Leaving with the victory was Mr. Brisson. After Mr. Brisson was
announced the winner, Eneriko Ferraj exclaimed, “Mr. Brisson cheated by picking up Tim Colli!”
Concluding with our last event of the day was a dodge ball
competition. The sophomores and
juniors were up first. You could
see the fury coming out of each
side’s eyes. The juniors and sophomores were both determined to
win. The sophomores were the
winners, leaving the juniors on
their walk of shame. Now strutting
out onto the courts were the seniors
vs. freshmen. Seniors took out the
freshmen so fast, that if you were
to blink your eyes, you missed the whole game. Now, seniors and sophomores were competing
for the winning prize. The dodge balls were being thrown from kid’s hands so fast and powerful
like cannon balls being shot out of a cannon. Yet, as no surprise, the seniors won. At the end of
Photos by: Alexis Griffin
the day, Plainfield High School showed the most school spirit they have had in many years.
CLUB NEWS
Page 9
Marching to the Beat of a Sea Shanty
Commentary by: Ashleigh Daigle
Friday night. The field is illuminated by the stadium lights. It’s
freezing cold. Maybe I should have worn more than just leggings and a
sweatshirt. Good thing I wore two pairs of socks. If you think you’re cold
sitting in the bleachers with sweatshirts, blankets, gloves, and drinking cup
after cup of your hot chocolate like I was doing; then think of how it feels
to be out on the field with only Under Armor and a uniform on holding
metal instruments which don’t play when they’re too cold .
I feel like I’ve been wandering around this field for hours. It’s not
like I’m REALLY interested in the game. Sports have just never been my
thing. Is it halftime yet? The lady at the concession stand told me to come
back in ten minutes for my fries. I walk my way over to the stands. They
announce the homecoming king and queen, who just so happen to be Jeff
Buchert and Kayla Robataille. They must be so proud. Finally, the marching band comes out. I stood on the sidelines waiting for
Patrick Slattery to start conducting.
The band starts playing something from Pirates of the Caribbean- or at least I think that’s what they’re playing. The woman
next to me is starting to get irritated, I can tell. I stand sipping my hot chocolate and listening to the band. The marching band kids
couldn’t look any happier. Actually, they all look like statues, with their eyes fixated on their individual instruments.
Taylor Perry, a junior at PHS, who plays the flute and the mallet percussion in the band, told me, “Some kids don’t fully
know what they’re doing this year but we’re getting there. The material and drills are a lot more complicated compared to last year,
because we were looking for a challenge. We’re doing pretty well considering what we have.”
They’re playing another song from Pirates of the Caribbean. The whole theme of the marching band is in the spirit of
pirates. That might explain why the color guard is twirling the flags in pirate costumes. I guess it’s not in the spirit of Halloween. I’m
almost out of hot chocolate and I wonder if my fries are almost done. But I stood there, still freezing, cheering on these kids who put
in hours of dedication towards this show. The woman to my left is shooting me evil death-glares. I’m all out of hot chocolate and I
wonder if my fries are done.
After they’re finished playing they start walking off
the field, Patrick is leading the way. He’s followed by Sean
Reece playing behind him. He’s on drums with a bruuumbradda-bum badda-bum sound. It sounds like what you would
hear as you were walking the plank. They’re off the field, and
return to their section in the bleachers.
Patrick Slattery, this year’s drum major, had this to
say, “I think the show went well, but the season’s not over yet,
and we always have room to improve.”
These kids are truly dedicated to what they do; they
practice after school, and they’re always looking for people to
join the cause. The music program is slowly getting back onto
its feet. If you’ve ever been interested in marching band, join
them! They’re always looking for new members who are dedicated and willing to learn.
Photo Credit: Norwich Bulletin
SCHOOL SPORTS
Page 10
This Week In Football
Article by: Shawn Thomas
A lot has changed in Panther Land since our first issue of The Panther Advocate.
After their week one win over Woodstock Academy, the Panther football team traveled out
to Ledyard to take on the Colonels in their home opener. Things did not go the way the
Panthers expected. In the first offensive drive for Ledyard, quarterback Troy Powell threw
a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to put the Colonels up 6-0. They never
looked back from there. Scoring forty-eight points and holding the Panthers offense to a
goose egg on the scoreboard. The Panthers took their loss and went home to a hard week
of practice to prepare for the power house team of the ECC: the Montville Indians.
There was one question going through each of the Panthers minds throughout
practice during week three: Is Tyler Girard going to play? Well, he did play. He ran for
two touchdowns and one hundred plus yards as the Indians went on to win a lopsided
game to say the least. The final score was 42-0 and the Panthers were 1-2 going into their
early bye week.
With an extra week to prepare, the Panthers practiced hard to get ready to play a
decent Waterford football team. On a brisk, cold Friday night Plainfield traveled to Waterford to take on the Lancers. The Panthers drew
first blood on the first play of the game as senior running back, Jeff Buchert, ran it in for a
score. Plainfield failed to get the ball into the end zone after that. Nursing a 6-0 halftime
lead the Panthers came out a little bit flat to start the second half. On the other hand, Waterford came out and scored twenty points in two quarters to give them the late game win
over the Panthers. “We’re doing a lot of good things, we’re just not finishing the job,”
Plainfield head coach Pat Smith said of his team.
With a tough loss behind them the Panthers moved into week six. Plainfield was set to
play old rival, the Putnam Clippers, for the
Dropo trophy. The George Dropo trophy is in
honor of the late, George Dropo. He was a Plainfield resident and a student at Plainfield High
School. He was also very athletic and loved to
represent the orange and black of the Plainfield
Panthers. Every year, Plainfield and Putnam play
for the trophy. Over the last twelve meetings
between the two teams, Plainfield had retained the trophy every year. It didn’t change this
year. Led by a gritty performance by running back Jeff Buchert, the Panthers scored twenty
eight points in the first half. Buchert had 100 plus yards and three touchdowns on the
ground. He also threw a thirty-six yard touchdown pass to Nik Ververis. The two Putnam
scores came on a fumble return for a touchdown and a touchdown pass to Shane Herllihy.
The Panthers however, got to enjoy their victory, their trophy and their homecoming and
Pictures from: NorwichBulletin.com
hopefully this win will put them back on the right track.
SCHOOL SPORTS
Page 11
Vanquish the Weak, Hurdle the Dead, Arrive Triumphant.
Article by Shelby Langlois Pictures by Jeff Rouillard
If you see nineteen expeditious Panthers running fiercely
through our fields, don’t be alarmed; that’s our cross country team.
Mr. Bowne, a math teacher here at Plainfield High School has
been the cross country coach for three years. Coach Bowne is
pleased with how well our small, hardworking team is doing. The
boy’s team has three wins and six losses. Our girls’ team has four
wins and five losses.
The girls’ cross country team is made up of seven girls
(four freshmen, two sophomores and one junior). The boys’ team
has twelve runners (four freshmen, and a combination of eight
sophomores and juniors). Although it is a small group for the size
of our school,
this crew of runners is fantastic.
On Thursday, October 22, our cross country team attended ECCs (East
Coast Conference). The team got third place in their division for boy sand girls.
The best time for boys’ varsity on the 5,000 meter run was junior, Tyler Rouillard
in 29th place with a time of 18 minutes and 56 seconds. Girls’ varsity had freshman, Tori Crandall coming in 41st place with a time of 24 minutes and 6 seconds.
Our school is full of great runners, and our cross country team is the best
of the best. If you like running, try it out next year, or come to support our cross
country team!
INTERVIEW WITH COACH BOWNE
What do you think about our cross country team this year?
“They’re very young, very hardworking because it takes a lot of hard work to do cross country. The girls especially are very motivated, and the guys have the best hair in the conference.”
Other sports are suffering from the seniors we lost from last year, is this the case for cross country?
“Yeah, we lost a handful of talented seniors from last year, and our one senior this year got hurt; but we won’t let that be an excuse. I
think we’re going very well.”
Do you enjoy being a cross country coach?
“Yes, it’s a lot of fun, you get to go to a lot of nice places, and the kids want to be there.”
Did you do cross country in high school?
“I did not, but I did do track, that’s where the knowledge comes from. Cross country training is the same as long distance training
from track.”
What was the best meet you guys have been to so far?
“The Ocean State Invite in Goddard Park in Warwick, Rhode Island. It was a really nice
park, there were a lot of people from all around the northeast, and all over. A lot of competition. There were even kids from Ireland and Canada there. It was a lot of fun, and our
team did well.”
What’s your favorite thing about cross country?
“All the kids that want to be there; you don’t get kids who don’t want to run cross country
in the sport.”
SCHOOL SPORTS
Page 12
Cross Country
Interviews
by: Shelby Langlois.
INTERVIEW WITH TYLER ROUILLARD
INTERVIEW WITH CAITYLN WALKER
Why do you like running?
I like it because I’m good at it and I’m not coordinated
enough to do anything else.
I’ve been running since I was a little kid, and I am good at it, so
I’ve decided running is my thing. I like to go outside and run by
How do you feel about your cross-country team this year?
myself, it gives me time.
I’m very happy with them. We have a good amount of freshmen,
and they’ll build us for the future.”
How do you feel about your cross-country team this year?
Most runners do cross-country to stay in shape for another
We have a young team, some training could get us to be really
sport, if this is you; what other sport do you do?
good and if they put in the effort the team could really succeed.
I don’t play any other sport, I do track and outdoor track. Running
is all I do.”
Most runners do cross-country to stay in shape for another
sport, if this is you; what other sport do you do?
Do you plan on continuing your running career after high
school, maybe in college?
I do basketball, but I don’t do cross country to stay in shape for
I would like to get a scholarship for college, and even if I don’t I
another sport, I do it because I like to run.
would like to continue running. It’s something I can’t stop doing.”
Do you plan on continuing your running career after high
Do you have any pre-race superstitions? Do you get nervous
school, maybe in college?
before a race?
I do have some superstitions. I like to do the same things before
Yeah, I want to get a scholarship for cross country.
every race. I usually don’t get nervous until five minutes before,
Do you have any pre-race superstitions? Do you get nervous
unless it’s a big race. If I don’t eat well and stay hydrated the day
before a race?
before, I’ll blame that on why I don’t do well, so I try to eat
healthy. I also have to shave my legs the day before. If I don’t, I
I don’t have any pre-race superstitions, but I have to wear the
feel as though I’ll do badly.”
same exact thing the day of the race. I do get nervous during a
race.
How do you feel about Bowne and Grant as coaches?
“I think they’re good coaches. They know what they’re doing. They
How do you feel about Bowne and Grant as coaches?
push you to do better during the race, I’ll always find them running
around pushing us to do better or telling us how to do well in the
I like them as coaches and I love how they put all their time and
race.”
effort into the team.
What would you like the rest of the school to know about cross What would you like the rest of the school to know about crosscountry?
-country?
”It’s a lot better of a sport than you think. A lot of people hate runI would like the rest of the school to know that cross country is
ning long distances, but it’s not that bad, and they should try it.”
wicked hardcore.
Tell me about your personal experience at ECCs this year.
Tell me about your personal experience at ECCs this year.
“I was injured, so I didn’t get to run that fast this year. I was hoping
for a spot in the top twenties, but because of an injury, I did not
The ECC’s were very difficult and I felt that the talent was a lot
make it. I did try my best, and encouraged my team mates. “
higher t his year.
Cross-country combines a lot of individual performances within
Cross-country combines a lot of individual performances
the context of a team sport. What’s it like on the course? Is it a
within the context of a team sport. What’s it like on the
pack mentality or every man for his or herself?
course? Is it a pack mentality or every man for his or herself?
“On the course, usually, it’s tough and you have to have a good
When you’re out running, it’s more of individual spots, but it’s all mentality. If you’re doing badly then you have to get yourself to
a team effort.
improve. If you’re doing good then you have to figure out what’s
getting you to do well, and keep it up. When you’re running, you
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
tend to think about yourself, but overall, it’s all about encouraging
Everybody needs to try doing cross country, it takes a lot of effort, each other.”
but it will pay off.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
“RUN CROSS-COUNTRY ! :D”
Why do you like running?
SCHOOL SPORTS
Page 13
The Shaved Leg People
Article by: Nick D’Amico
Did you ever wonder what those guys on their bikes in colorful sweat suits are doing? Neither do I. Cycling came
about in 1868. The first race was held in the Parc of Saint-Cloud, Paris, where it originated. Lance Armstrong , a
famous cyclist has won the Tour de France eight times in a row since 2000. Since 1903, the French have won their
own competition thirty-six times. But lets not get carried away. Lets talk to one of our student that attends PHS,
Nate Etchells, sixteen and a professional cyclist, is going to tells us about the unknown sport of cycling.
When did you get into cycling?
My fifteenth birthday. I was given my first racing bicycle as a birthday
present.
When did you compete in your first race?
Um...probably a few months after I got my bike.
How long do races usually run?
Um…it all varies. I’ve done races ten miles to fifty miles long. It all
depends on the event.
www.finishlynx.com
How many races have you competed in?
Uh…(long pause)...I’ve done thirty-five my first year and my second year I’ve done fifteen. I’ve been a lot more busy
because of work.
Are you sponsored? If so, by whom?
Well first off, I’m part of Mystic Valo Junior Team and we are sponsored by Mavic Wheels, Connagy Chiropractic,
Build-a-Bike-Guy.com, Nyantic Bay Bicycles, Raleigh Bicycles, Squadra Gear, Loui Grinelle Gear, Lake Shoes, and
Tish Kirk. And...oh what was his name…(rubs beard and takes a very long pause)…..oh I totally forgot his name.
Why do you shave your legs?
I shave them so that if I crash, the scar wont get all gross and irritated.
Have you ever crashed?
Yes.
Who is your coach?
I don't really have a coach right now. My manager is Bill Humefrees.
How many people attend your events?
It all depends. The criteriums get more fans...I guess. The sport doesn't have a
lot of publicity.
Who do you look up to for this sport?
I think my greatest hero would be Lance Armstrong.
How long do you think you will be cycling?
I’d like to keep cycling till I can’t anymore.
Www.mylifept.com
So there you have it. A kid who shaves his legs and rides a bike for fifty miles each month. I hope you have learned
something about this unknown sport.
SPORTS
Page 14
Fair or Foul?
Article by: Nate Bedard
Whether it has been a missed call down the line or making bad calls on the base paths, the umpires have made a lot of mistakes in the 2009 Major League Baseball playoffs. For a regular season game there are four umpires on the field. In the playoffs they
add two umpires, one down the left field line, and the other down
the right field line. With six umpires you think they would get
together and make the right call but that has yet to happen.
There have been multiple bad calls in the 2009 playoffs
so far. Lets go back to game two of the American League Divisional Series between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota
Twins. Joe Mauer hit a fly ball down the line in the top of the 11th
inning. The ball was fair by five inches but was called foul by the
umpire. Another blown call came in Anaheim, California, when
the Yankees played the Angles in the American League Championship Series. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the third base umpire
failed to call out Robinson Cano when he was clearly off the base. As you may already know one blown call can ruin a game or even
a series for that matter. Major League Baseball has to equip these umpires with the right tools so they can make the right callsThis is
not the first year that umpires are making bad calls. Remember when Tim McClelland called the Rockie’s Matt Holiday safe when
his hand did not even touch the plate? That call sent the Rockies to the playoffs while the Padres got sent home. That happened two
years ago in the National League’s wild-card tiebreaker game. What about when Chuck Knoblauch “tagged” Jose Offerman in the
1999 ALCS? Replays clearly showed that he missed him by three inches.
So umpires have made a history of blown calls. Well you can take some
pressure off them by using instant replay for all questionable calls. It is
time to get out of the dark MLB.
Some managers and baseball experts suggest extending the use
of instant replay after seeing how many calls that the umpires have
missed so far in the playoffs. So far Major League Baseball only uses
instant replay for questionable home run calls. Managers would like to
see replay used for fair, foul, and questionable calls on the base paths. By
extending the use of instant replay, games will not be relying on the umps making the right call. Buster Olney, senior writer at ESPN,
feels that the Major League Baseball should expand the use of replay for the World Series. He thinks there should be one umpire in
the booth and if there is a questionable call he can see the replay and make the right call.
Major League Baseball is starting to fall behind the other sports that use instant replay. In the National Football League both
coaches can throw a challenge flag two times per game if they don’t agree with the call. The refs then look at the replay and make
the right call. In National Basketball Association they don’t have challenge flags but if it is a questionable call then the refs will look
at the replay. A referee could use replay on deciding whether the shot was a two/three pointers. It could also be used on buzzer beaters/foul calls. They even use replay in the National Hockey League. The review may be initiated by the referees or the video replay
judge, if they feel that it is a close call. Neither coach’s can ask for replay to be used. Baseball did a good job in adding replay this
year but now they have to extend the use of it. That way the game can be decided between the two teams and not the umpires. Major
League Baseball has taken a step in the right direction but now it is time to take a leap.
Pictures Courtesy of: Sports Illustrated.com
SCHOOL NEWS
Page 15
Mmmm, Taste Like Cooking
Photo and article by: Beckay Demuth
Mrs. Salo has been hosting a cooking contest for three years now. This year there were eleven entries in the cooking contest, which
is more entries than previous years. The contest is a fun experience for everybody so hopefully next year more students will enter
for a chance to win.
The winners of the PHS 2009 Cooking Contest are as follows:
3rd place—Lulu Lamb—Cinnamon Buns—Award: candy making supplies
2nd place—Yolanda Hoffman—Dessert Pizza—Award: hand held
mixer
1st place—Chelsea Lincoln—Éclairs—Award: food processor
Congratulation to all for a job well done.
PHS Foods Classes are having a Thanksgiving Pie Sale.
These are 9 inch pies for $7.00 each.
Pies will be available at the end of the day on Wednesday, November
25.
Please submit payment with your order to Mrs. Salo in room 3310.
Mmmm, Taste Like CAPT
Photo and article by: Beckay Demuth
CAPT Practice: the word phrase we hate to hear as we helplessly sit in class. The work that the
teachers push onto us over and over again, attempting to glue it in our indolent brains, so eventually it
could be put to test. Teachers are especially big on CAPT with freshmen students. But why you ask?
Every year the CAPT tests are administered to the entire sophomore class in hope that they will achieve
goal or higher. At Plainfield High School, it is a graduation requirement to pass the CAPT testing. The
letters in CAPT stand for Connecticut Academic Performance Test and the subjects include science,
mathematics, reading, and writing. If you receive a three as a score then you have passed the test. If you
receive a four or five as a score then you have reached goal. All students who reach goal on their CAPT
test, along with their parents are invited to attend the CAPT scholar breakfast to receive awards for each
test subject they received goal in.
This year’s CAPT scholar breakfast took place on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. There were one hundred and twenty four students combined who received goal in one, two, three, or four sections of the CAPT and five students who received goal in all five
areas of the test. One junior student did a retake of the CAPT last year and received goal in three areas of the test. It was a good
morning for these students who were aloud to skip half of first block, and even the first half of second block, to sit in the cafeteria
socializing among friends and family while they enjoyed a variety of muffins, bagels, fruits, and beverages. For every award a student received their name was placed into a raffle for a chance to win a brand new laptop, printer, and laptop carrying case. Everybody was anxious just as they were about to announce the winner. For some reason I personally had a feeling that Robin Gunn would
win the prize because I am her good luck charm; everything goes right for her when I’m near. The moment felt so right, and I was so
sure of myself that she would win as they were reaching in to pull out a name. All I could hear was silence. Then they surprised me!
“ROBIN GUNN!” She was the ultimate winner, my instincts were right and everybody was cheering, and at the same time you could
see the jealousy in the other students’ eyes. By the end of the breakfast everyone who attended it seemed pleased; students were
proud of themselves and parents were proud of their children, and they got free food and a shorter work day!
http://www.ct.gov/cen/lib/cen/j0341513.jpg
ORDER DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 18.
CURRENT EVENTS
Page 16
Plainfield Slaying Finally Resolved
Article by: Shawn Thomas
In the early morning of January 12th, 2007, a horrific event took place. Laurie Courtemarche, a mother of three was brutally
murdered in her Pleasant Street apartment. Forty-five year old Roger Allen Fenner broke through a first floor window and brutally
stabbed Courtemarche in front of two of her children and a friend. In a conflict believed to be related to their past relationship, Fenner sat outside of her house throughout the night and listened to Courtemarche talk “down” on him to one of her close friends. Fenner left the apartment and came back with one of his son’s hunting knives, broke through the window, and attacked Courtemarche.
He was later found in the foundation of an old building behind the Horsebrook Café. He had severe lacerations to his neck and both
of his wrists, which was believed to be caused by an attempted suicide.
Courtemarche left behind three kids. The oldest being Chris, middle child being Cassandra and the youngest of the three
was Dylan. Living in the same neighborhood as them, I knew a little bit about the two younger children. Dylan loved to play sports
and was always over the house with my brother either throwing a football around or shooting hoops in the driveway. Cassandra was
always with her friends, trying to harass all of the older kids, and just getting on their nerves. As much of a pain as she was, she was
a cool and easygoing kid. After the sudden death of their mother, they both moved to New York with an aunt and visit Plainfield
from time to time.
As for Fenner, he has spent the last three years in prison waiting for a dragged out trial to come to an end. When he went off
to prison he left a seventeen year old son Mike. He has other children but they all live in Michigan with their mother. After the murder, Mike moved in with an aunt in Danielson and continued going to school at Ellis Tech. After that school year he moved out of
Connecticut to Michigan with his mother. He still lives there today and is now nineteen years old.
“Our family is frustrated that this
Mike was a very close friend of mine. We spent two summers together before the murder, so it took
case has dragged on for as long
a hard hit on me when the murder occurred. I can just imagine the toll it took on Mike.
as it has, and we are discour-
This past week, Roger A. Fenner was sentenced to fifty years of jail time, found guilty of
aged by the prospect of experifirst degree murder and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. It was a very long and excruciating
encing the emotional heartache
trial that Fenner dragged out for as long as possible. He tried to plead insanity, appealed many of the
of going to trial.”
trials and finally it has come to an end. Although Fenner has finally been sentenced, I don’t think
that anything can make up for the life he took from this community.
-Anonymous source
By: Ashleigh Daigle
The events that unfolded at 300 Sorghum Mill Drive, shocked people across the state. A family was
killed in cold blood. In The Middle of the Night, a book written by Brain McDonald, takes you through a firsthand account of the murder from the man who did it. Through a series of letters written by Joshua Komisarjevsky, McDonald takes you the startling story of his life and all the way up to the night of the murders.
You’d never suspect Cheshire, Connecticut to be the target of a mindless slaughtering. On the night of
July 23, 2007 in the quiet neighborhood surrounding Sorghum Mill Drive Dr. William Petit and his family
would have a crude awakening.
It was the kind of neighborhood where people felt safe. Where every road looks the same and is surrounded by beautiful homes, and manicured lawns. A most unlikely place for a murder, let alone the murder of a mother and her two
daughters. While the father slept soundly on the couch was beat until he was rendered unconscious. It’s a place where a child could
leave his bike on the front lawn and not have to worry about it being gone in the morning. A place where a family didn’t have to lock
their doors at night because the crime rate in Cheshire is in the lowest 1 percent of Connecticut. A family town. A typical perfect
neighborhood.
The book takes you up to the night where Joshua Komisarjevsky and his partner-in-crime Steven Hayes would break into
the home of the Petit family. Where they bludgeoned Dr. William Petit half to death. And eventually, would lead to the sexual assault and murder his wife and two daughters who slept soundly in their beds.
The neighborhood has not changed since the events of that July 23rd morning. Life doesn’t stop for anyone. Every road
looks the same. Every road has children riding their bicycles. And cars with college stickers proudly displayed on the bumper. Until
you get to the corner of Hotchkiss road. Where you meet the lush garden where the Petit family home once stood. Not a single board
remains. “Life goes on in Cheshire, but it does so with the sad memory of a misty and senseless morning where the tears begin to
fall” (Brian McDonald).
http://images.dailyme.com/
Family Killed in Cold Blood
CURRENT EVENTS
Page 17
Child Abuse and Balloons?
Article by: Hailey Griffin
Was this an accident, a form of child abuse or maybe just an attempt to start their own reality show? None of these questions came to mind before Colorado Army National Guard sent out an 0H-58 Kiowa helicopter and a Black Hawk UH-60 to chase
after a runaway flying saucer believed to have been keeping a 6-year old, three foot tall boy hostage. A 911 call was received by a
Mr. Richard Heene and a Mrs. Mayumi Heene pleading for the return of their son Falcon Heene. Falcon was believed to have stored
himself in a battery compartment on a homemade research-gathering flying saucer only meant to leave the ground to be sent into the
eye of a storm. This experimental aircraft left the backyard and traveled 7,000 feet above the ground, 80 kilometers southwest, and
through two counties. The rescue team followed the balloon for more than two hours over a span of fifty miles. This large helium
balloon that was never meant to go more than twenty feet in the air landed at 1:40 in a wheat field near the town of Hudson, Colorado. Once the Sheriff’s deputies secured it in place by burying the edges with dirt and drilling holes releasing its helium, they discovered that no child was to be found. A resident from Weld County reported a UFO dropping from the sky so from there a search
team was sent to search the perimeter. After a two hour search party was sent out a call came in saying that the boy was found in the
safety of his home!
Hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted on this rescue mission as well as the 15 minute required wait for all departures
leaving Denver International Airport. It had been confirmed that Falcon had climbed up a pole into the rafters and hid in a cardboard
box for the whole time. When asked why he didn’t come out when called or when the police had searched the home over a total of
three times he replied, “I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me, that‘s why I went in the attic.” Apparently his
father had scolded him previously that Thursday morning when finding him hiding in the balloon’s battery compartment.
The Heene family was no stranger to publicity however. In October they had been participants on the show “Wife Swap,”
being described as “chaotic as a twister.” Mr. Heene was also pitching ideas to several networks involving his family and featuring
himself as a mad scientist. Coincidently One of the first shows he pitched was a story about accidentally sending his son up in a hot
air balloon. Investigators soon found numerous amounts of clues leading to the result that all of the chaos was just a publicity stunt,
all was a hoax. First clue was a statement made by Falcon in a CNN interview when being asked why he his in the attic, “ You said
we did this for the show.” His father immediately said, “absolutely no hoax, that’s terrible after the crap we just went through. No!
The balloon wasn’t tethered properly, and it was a mishap. I’m not going to lay blame on anybody.” Investigators however, have
found a written document stating “ this will be the most significant UFO related news event to take place since the Roswell Crash of
1947, and the result will be a dramatic increase in local and national awareness about The Heene Family, our Reality series, as well
as the UFO phenomenon in general.” A second clue was an observation made by a Colorado State University physics professor,
Brian Jones. He discovered that the homemade helium balloon was only a thin Mylar balloon covered with foil and held together
with duct tape, all of these materials together could not carry a 37 pound boy. Being the creator of the balloon, you’d think Mr.
Heene would have figured that the balloon would be the last place the boy would have been according to the max weight it can hold.
Larimer County sheriff, Jim Aldean, also collected some evidence. He got the children to admit to knowing of the hoax
however, will not receive charges because of their age. Mr. and Mrs. Heene are now facing charges; they must pay all dues back to
the wasted rescue mission and may lose their children if a closer investigation proves that it is necessary. The Heene family has been
visited by the police several times for potential domestic violence crimes over the last past year. Leilani Bishop, a neighbor has also
complained to the Heene family because one of their boys had urinated on her driveway. This family is clearly unruly and free to do
whatever they please. That may have to do with their father being a storm chasing researcher who devotes his time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building his flying saucer. He is however known for having a temper and being devoted to what ever it takes to make his acting career start up.
Mr. Heene is a very intelligent man however, he is trying to prove his theory that rotating storms create their own magnetic
fields. Mr. and Mrs. Heene had first met in an acting class in California, which may be why they had fooled the sheriff’s department
and investigators in the start of the search and rescue mission. It’s amazing what people will do to have their name in the lime light
or to have their own show. People like that will endanger their children, and unfortunately ruin their own reputations that they’ve
worked so hard to obtain. Parents are always supporting their children to reach higher limits and to reach the stars, but please don’t
resort to telling them to hide in a hot air balloon to achieve them.
+
=
HOAX!
Pictures Courtesy Of: http://img.metro.co.uk/i/
pix/2009/10/falconballoonR_450x300.jpg
WORLD NEWS
Page 18
Pain, Anger and Devastation—Is it Worth it?
Commentary by: Mary Dixon
Nine hundred and six. This is not the number of miles on your car or minutes you went over on your cell phone bill; this is the number of United States casualties that have occurred in Afghanistan since we invaded their country in 2002.
Not only are our country’s military and citizens suffering but Afghanistan has lost
18,741 people. This number is the number of deaths of troops and civilians combined.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-01/18/
xin_26f8368a557e47f489a23964f8e36cf2_capt.flsn1030118
0045.iraq_soldiers_funeral_flsn103.jpg
“My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the
early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend
the world from grave danger.” This is the quote that changed the lives of many; this
is the quote people saw coming but kept wishing they’d never hear. This quote is
former President Bush telling the world that America is invading Iraq. With this
quote came tragedy, heartache and anger
Four thousand three hundred and fifty four. This number probably doesn’t
mean anything to you but to four thousand three hundred and fifty four families, their lives is forever changed. This heart-wrenching
number is the fatalities of the innocent United States soldiers that have been killed in the Iraq war. March 19, 2003, may be some
celebrity’s birthday, a couple’s anniversary but more importantly this is the day that opened people’s eyes to war in a totally different
perspective. This is the day mothers wished would never come, and the day fathers said farewell to their little girls. This is the day
George W. Bush ordered American military forces into Iraq. Iraq has also had their deal of losses as well; they have lost 727,523
people.
With the Iraq and Afghanistan wars including journalist and civilians, there is a combined death toll of 753,399. Many people have been affected by these wars and for the most part people are handling their emotions in a fairly positive way. Music artists
are writing songs expressing their feelings. Some of the most popular country songs are, John Michael Montgomery “Letters From
Home”, Trace Adkins “Arlington” and Toby Keith “American Soldier.” The lyrics in “American Soldier” that really stand out are:
“And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price, I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice. Oh, and I don't want to die
for you, but if dyin's asked of me, I’ll bear that cross with an honor,’ Cause freedom don't come free, I’m an American Soldier an
American.” This verse really makes you think just how much our soldiers protect us. A movie entitled American Soldiers is a film
that shows you the life of an American soldier at war in Iraq. Throughout the movie, it expresses heartache, anger and loss. This excellent film is guaranteed to touch your heart. This movie is one of the best in my opinion. Besides songs and movies, books are also
being published; a great example would be Chasing Ghosts by Paul Rieckhoff. This story exposes how the life of a soldier is affected
after coming home from war. Rieckhoff gives examples on what he heard, saw and
gives you the inside scoop on what the news tries to hide.
However, in my opinion most people of the United States aren’t paying
enough attention to the war; they have the wool pulled over their eyes, ignoring the fact
that the world is becoming a constant fight of survival. Everyday soldiers put their lives
on the lines for their country and yet people still choose not to recognize the bravery of
these strong people. Whether you’re a man or women, boy or girl, you should be informed and grateful for everything the military services do for you. I want people to see
the truth, not just what they want to hear. People need to stop denying the facts when
http://wagingnonviolence.org/wp-content/
they are right below their nose. People should be acknowledging this situation, not just
uploads/2009/07/iraq_troops03-14-2006b.jpg
at the beginning when September 11 occurred. Know the truth and know the facts, remain on your toes and don’t be afraid of hearing the most heart-wrenching things . People aren’t realizing the impact that war has on
this country. It is not just the military and their families that are going to be affected. It’s a ripple affect and eventually the ripple is
going to come to you.
CURRENT EVENTS
Page 19
The Fort Hood Massacre
Article by: Eneriko Ferraj
On Thursday November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood Texas, one of the soldiers came to work that day and went on a bloody rampage with a gun. It has been confirmed that he shot and killed thirteen solders and injured over thirty others. The man who did this
was Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a thirty– nine year old Muslim who had been in the military as a psychiatrist since 1988. He started
firing when 300 unharmed soldiers were waiting in line for their vaccines.
After the shootings, Hasan was gunned down by officers and hospitalized while being heavily guarded. What could have
been the motive for these killings one might ask? It can easily be suspected that he was a terrorist due to his Muslin beliefs but he
could also have been physiologically ill. Some of his family members have stated to reporters that he was often harassed because he
was a Muslim. “It's a tragedy to lose a soldier overseas and even more horrifying when they come under fire at an Army base on
American soil,” said Barack Obama at a press conference. Hasan’s brother could not believe this had happened; he always knew
Hasan was treated unfairly due to his religion but didn't think it was enough to motivate this tragedy and thinks that there might be
another reason behind this.
Could this have been prevented? The feds were already on Hasan’s back for almost six months before this disaster occurred
do to him mentioning something about suicide bombings on internet postings. However, this is only a rumor and has yet to be confirmed. This case is still developing and we should not make any assumptions as to what the motives were.
Right now, Hasan is conscious in a hospital in Saint Antonio and no one is allowed to speak to him except for military officials, the feds, and his lawyer. An investigation of Fort Hood is still ongoing as authorities are still looking for the facts. The names
of the thirteen victims who died were given out on Saturday, November 7; one of whom was wasn't even a soldier but a physician
assistant.
It has been said by some that this has been the worst act of terrorism to our country since 9/11. Some solders reported Hasan
stated “Allahu Akbar!” during the rampage which means “God is great” in Arabic. Although he has suffered serious injuries, doctors
say Hasan will survive. He is now facing the death penalty and a military trial. Now only time will tell why he did this horrific thing
and what his fate will be for it. This has been Eneriko and that’s about it.
Pictures from: examiner.com
The shooter Nidal Malik Hasan
FIELD TRIP NEWS: DAILY CAMPUS
Page 20
Article by: Kim Caouette
The alarm goes off; I was not ready to start the new day. But wait! I have a field trip today.
Yes. We are going to The University of Connecticut to visit their school newspaper, The Daily Campus.
I heard that they put out a new paper everyday, and I thought that was pretty impressive considering the
fact that it takes our school a month to put out just one issue. So I got ready for the day and went to
school. The field trip started right at 8 o’clock so I didn’t have to sit in class for long. As soon as I got
down to the rotunda, I saw kids running for the buses. I had to book it to get a good seat because everyone knows the cool kids sit in the back. Don’t worry about it. The bus is all filled up and I literally have
to sit in the front seat behind the bus driver. “HEY KIM!” I hear from behind me. I turn around and the
voices were Brooke and Adam. Thank God
I can sit with her, because I didn’t want to sit alone.
The bus drive went by quickly. All the kids around me screaming and singing various Michael Jackson songs; I found it quite entertaining. Brooke, Adam, and I just talked the whole ride down, until we got to
the campus. At UCONN, I noticed how cold it was. It’s only the beginning of October, and it is already freezing. Wow. I was excited to see
what The Daily Campus had to offer us as feedback from our first issue.
So, we walk into this very small and cramped room, where not all of us
could fit comfortably. Then, I saw Chris Duray. He was the editor for
The Daily Campus, and he was the one giving us our tour of the school.
He led us up the stairs into another cramped room, just slightly bigger.
This room had tables with computers; you could see piles of papers and
newspaper clippings on the walls. You could tell this was their work
room; it was legit.
Ashleigh Daigle is really cool; Chris Duray, eh, not so much.
Basically, Chris just went on and on about their paper, and how they can
write whatever they want and no one could stop them, which I thought
was pretty cool. He talked about how they own their building. Also, they
pay for most of the paper from advertising. Chris seemed confident when
he was speaking about the paper, like he really did like his job and the
paper itself, but I could still hear some hesitation is his voice. He kept
asking the group if we had questions when he hadn’t said anything we
could really base any questions on. Not to mention how he was holding
his coffee cup, and taking a sip after almost every sentence. At one point,
I could see that cup was completely empty, but he continued to take false
sips from it. I thought to myself it must just be a nervous thing, or he had
nothing else to say.
Finally, the part came for what I was waiting for: our feedback from our articles we wrote from the first issue. Mr. Greene
asked Chris if he could give us some feedback, and we all looked up at Chris with anticipation to see what he was going to say. “I
never got a chance to look at them,” he declared. I was so disappointed. I really do like to write for our school’s paper and I just
wanted to see a different perspective of it. What some one else’s thoughts were of my writing. But he had nothing. We got jipped.
The rest of the tour was of the downstairs layout room, which was just as small as the upstairs room. I was very surprised
about how tiny the whole building was, but I guess that’s what you have when you buy your own building. After we were done with
that horrible tour, and horrible speech about their paper, it was finally LUNCH TIME! I was very hungry and Brooke and I could not
wait to eat. We all walked to the food court in the student union. One look around and we knew what we would eat: Wendy’s. After
inhaling our lunches, and getting some candy at the UCONN Co-op, we were off to the bus again. Complaint after complaint was all
I could hear from everyone around me. Everyone was so full, and for the most part everyone agreed on one thing: the best part of the
field trip was lunch time.
But wait! The day was not over because Mr. Greene was taking us to UCONN’s Dairy Barn. I was so full, and I was not
about to buy an ice cream cone. Just then, Mr. Greene announced that he was buying everyone ice cream. All of a sudden, I was hungry again. We all got our choice of whatever we wanted, and we brought our desserts back to the bus to eat on the ride home. I have
to say that the highlight of my day was on the ride home. I handed Marcus Tichenor my melted ice cream cup, and watched him pour
various ice creams from one cup to the other, laughing hysterically all the while. I basically just laughed with him the whole ride
home, and then it was time to leave. I got a ride home with Brooke, and was happy despite the fact that I didn’t get what I wanted,
but that we had a free day from school.
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper340/stills/
Smells Like Teen Despair
ENTERTAINMENT— MUSIC
Page 21
Article by: Beth Carlton
My hands clenched tighter to the old red gate, its paint slightly chipped and fading due to the thousands of hands that had held this very spot before me. Hundreds of people stood behind me, their energy being transferred to the next until it was flowing through everyone. The crowd started to roar as sixteen lights
instantly awoke flooding the stage with a red glow. It was time. The energy was released and bodies collided
as the sound of shredding guitars filled the air. I could feel the vibrations in the floor moving through my
veins into my skull. It was pure serenity.
This was the creation of four men who have the talent to create such a scene as the one on Friday,
October 23. Playing on the famous stage which looked like the opening to a magic show, it was The Used.
The curtains were a royal purple pulled to the side with the logo of the band’s new album Artwork in the center. The stage belonged to the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts which sits directly across from Gate
C of Fenway Park on Lansdowne Street. It was a purely magnificent venue and you could tell that a lot of hard work and determination was put into making it. It was extremely creative as even the lobby was filled with paintings from the walls to the ceiling. The
ceiling was painted as a night’s sky filled with poufy clouds and bright stars. The walls were a deep blue with random designs of
painted circles, suns, wavy lines, and squares. I assure you that it was not a boring sight; this place was absolutely breathtaking.
The music hall where the stage dwelled was also astonishing with the dim glow of lights and the crowd that was united together doing what they love most: moshing to their favorite music. I scanned the room which was fully alive, taking in every moment that was occurring. Fists were thrashing violently into the air, bodies were gliding across the top of the crowd, and voices were
passionately singing: “There’s blood on my hands like the blood in you. Some things can’t be treated so don’t make me, don’t make
me be myself around you!” This was the opening song called “Blood on My Hands” which was a perfect choice to set off a deranged
night. I knew that everyone agreed with their loud shouts and ear-piercing screams that proved their love for the song and their loyalty to the band. Even the dead could hear the riot that the crowd generated but they didn’t mind and neither did I. We were all in this
together and it was an extravagant form of unity.
No one was an outcast here; everyone belonged and was accepted. I think that this was why it was so significant. I knew
from the second that I walked over the threshold that there was no other place I would have rather been. Watching them play their
last song “A Box of Sharp Objects”, I was overwhelmed by how fast time can fly by when you are doing something you absolutely
love. I was startled out of my thoughts as I was shoved; realizing now that it was time to go. As the rest of the crowed fled, the lights
spontaneously deceased, and I started walking out of the unique lobby where it seemed I had been entering just minutes before. I
took one last look around the room to soak up the imagery into my mind and strolled out into the ravenous night. It was time to go on
with the ordinary life I had, picking it back up from the street. I found it in the same place that I had left it, so I went on my way,
watching as the night formed into just another memory. There was difference between this and other memories though: I knew was
that this special night would not be forgotten.
Fuel to Feed the FireSyde
Article by: Dean Roussel
An idea was formed within a basement in Sterling, Connecticut. The basement is my basement, and the idea is a band that
has been built by five students attending Plainfield High School. The band’s name is FireSyde, and it has three very adroit guitarists,
each keeping it real with their own skills: junior Matt Fontenault, who also provides rich vocals; sophomore Tyler Sabourin, who is
the band’s murderous “solo master” for when the tempo kicks up; and senior Krit C, who brings his own divine style. Endowing immaculate bass riffs upon the band is junior Alex Stenner. The man behind the drum set with the energy and the beats, sophomore
Jake Dunphy, formed the band through a string of text messages and Myspace bulletins.
The then-unnamed FireSyde had their first practice on October 3, 2009, and made, from scratch, almost a whole original
piece of music. “When you put a group of musicians together, and you jam out for the first time, you feel great! You just wanna keep
going and going,” said Jake. The band also has a pallet of artists they cover, such as Three Days Grace, Papa Roach and The Red Hot
Chili Peppers. FireSyde’s cover songs allow all the members to flaunt their style. “Our band has a lot of potential and a good amount
of talent with each member… right now we’re all trying to make something productive and of our interest,” said Matt. With such
potential, readers might want to know where the band sees itself going. Jake wants to play at the upcoming Plainfield lock-in, but
Alex Stenner, always the one with the calm approach, has another outlook. “My opinion is the sky’s the limit… (but) I see this whole
idea as having fun and playing with our friends and if people like our music, that’s awesome, but for (FireSyde) it’s just about having
a good time.” FireSyde is an upcoming rock band ready to pump up our very own Plainfield High School, and there aren’t many
things more exciting than that.
images.starpulse.com/.../The-Used-band-w04.jpg
“If You Feel Like Dying You Might Wanna Sing”
Page 22
ENTERTAINMENT— MOVIES
Paranormal Activity:Terrifyingly Hyped
Article By: Ron Benoit
A limited release led me to drive an hour out of my way to see the recently
released Paranormal Activity. Driving to Providence Place is not that bad of a ride, but
it surely worsened when you had to drive three of your loudest friends, at night, right
after the longest shift in your lifetime. Entering the theater area, I learned that moviegoers seemed more frightened than I expected. Hearing the echoes of “that movie was
scary as heck” started to irritate me more and more. I am never one to follow hype, as
I’ve learned on countless occasions. It’s ridiculous they put this movie in the same category as The Exorcist. To be honest, the viral internet marketing and hype is driving this
movie to be a huge success.
The run-time of this movie is eighty six minutes, and to be completely honest,
only five of those eighty six minutes are probably near frightening. The first hour or so
of the movie was initially the character development and they definitely were developed. They portrayed an everyday person’s attitude; Micah and Katie were the typical
couple who fought, joked, and made love. At parts of the movie I really wanted to hop
into the movie and slap them for being so irritating. Micah has this horrible rendition of
being macho, believing that the ghost will just eventually leave them alone. And at
most parts the dialogue was so realistic, it would elicit boredom throughout the audience. The reviewers that say you won’t be able to sleep after seeing this movie are correct; whenever I would try to fall asleep, the screams of Katie would wake me from my
slumber (and being awoken is no fun).
On top of that, the story had unoriginality. It consisted of watching them sleep, then discuss what was recorded that night
before. Paranormal Activity gains its accolades in its budget. With a budget slightly less than $20,000 and filmed in under a week’s
time, its cost was mainly from special effects. That’s what implements the scare factor: the sound and visual effects. Sadly, following
the trend of Cloverfield and The Blair Witch Project, it’s extremely shaky. Most of the film is like that, while the other parts are shot
on a tripod. That’s what set the tone for the movie; it made you feel like you were right there. And the theater makes that experience
more enjoyable, which is why many enjoy watching any movie in a theater environment. But from everything, I learned if I leave
my remote on the coffee table and the next day it's on the couch, that’s extremely frightening.
This movie is for all the people out there that follow the same cliché horror movies and want a cheap fright for
$12. Spoiler alert, the trailer is the movie, without the cost and all the fluff. It was definitely was not scary. There was a certain
amount of suspense, I guess, but when you’re watching it,
one was hoping that something truly frightening would happen, which sadly did not come.
Author’s Note: Fumbling around on the web is supposedly
the original ending of the film that was not released for the
theatrical ending in the US. The original ending has been
viewed by those in the screening, but has been sprawling
around the web. I recommend watching it if you intend on
seeing the movie because in my personal opinion, the theatrical ending of the movie is a very cheap way at getting one’s
attention. With the original ending, which was cut for a more
jumping scare, had a more glorious impact on the moviegoers that not everyone would initially see.
Pictures taken from: entertainmentgeekly.com
ENTERTAINMENT— MOVIES
Page 23
Let the Wild Rumpus Begin:
The much loved Maurice Sendak 1963 children's book Where the
Wild Things Are has been turned into a heart-warming film. Directed by Spike
Jonze, this movie is about a young, rambunctious child named Max. This boy
is played by Max Records, a recently unknown actor plucked from Portland,
Oregon. In the beginning of the story, Max throws a temper tantrum at dinner
one night, in which he bites his mother, and runs out of the house, still in his
wolf costume he likes to wear. At the nearby seashore, he finds an abandoned
sailboat, and sets out in it. His imagination takes him on a journey to a far
away island where huge, hairy creatures live. When he first enters, he sees one
beast, Carol, in the middle of a tantrum. He decides to join in the chaos, only
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Wild-Thingsto find himself up against this group of wild things. He quickly convinces
Are-movie-03.jpg
them that he is a king with magical powers and
could help them all get along so that they are
not forced to eat him as they were already contemplating. He becomes a well trusted member and
leader of their large, loud, loving family. On this far away island, Max can be in charge and can do
whatever he likes. He can be as barbaric as a beast, start as much wild rumpus as he pleases, and not
get into any trouble for one bit of it.
The parallel between this imaginary world and his real world is obvious, but it is what helps
to make this such a likeable movie, while keeping with the original tone of the book. This movie is
very enjoyable and without most of the usual Hollywood computer generated graphics and animation.
"Where the Wild Things Are was so cute. I loved every second of it," says Jazmin Santiago, my best
friend who came to see this movie with me. The beasts from the movie are large costumes, with fuzzy
fur, long feathers, and rather enormous claws, but they are very believable. While watching the
movie, I was completely drawn into their world. This was a great family movie, with no bad language
or inappropriate behavior, only being rated PG. My mother seemed to enjoy the film just as much as
my younger siblings had. Even if you have never read the book and do not know what to expect, I
would recommended this movie to anyone with a big heart and wide imagination.
Top Five Movie Previews of 2010
By: Merlin Sohl
#1) The Other Guys - Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Will Farrell, Samuel L. Jackson,
Eva Mendez, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michel Keaton, Damon Wayans Jr.
Set in New York, the plot centers around two detectives (Mark Wahlberg, Will
Farrell) that idolize the city’s two top cops (Dwayne Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson) but when they have the chance to step up and save the day things don’t go
according to plan.
#2) The Expendables - Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Randy
Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, Micky Rourke, Bruce Willis, Arnold
Schwarzenegger. The U.S. and other top nations put together a team of highly
trained Mercenaries to go and take out a corrupt dictator; with little help from
the counties that hired them. They figure out they have to fight the dictator’s army and the countries that set them up.
#3) Tron legacy - Cast: Jeff Bridges, James Frain, Garret Hedlund. The tech savvy twenty-seven year old Kevin Flynn looks into his
father’s whereabouts and gets pulled into the same “Computer World” where fierce computer programs and gladiatorial games rule.
This is the same place where his father has been for the last twenty-five years and Flynn must fight across the cyber universe.
#4) Book of Eli - Cast: Denzel Washington, Mila Kuniz, Malcolm McDowell, Jennifer Beals, and Gary Oldman. Takes place in post
apocalyptic America: Denzel’s character has a book that holds the key to saving humanity and he must fight and kill to protect it
while everyone wants possession of the Book of Eli.
#5) Legion, Cast - Dennis Quaid, Doug Jones, Paul Bettany. God loses faith in humanity and instead of flooding the earth he sends
an army of angels to wipe us out. An archangel named Michael helps a group of people hold out against the angel horde because a
pregnant woman’s unborn child is the last hope for humanity.
screenrant.com
kidstvmovies.about.com
Article by: Mariah Mccracken
SCHOOL NEWS
Achieve More is No More
By: Christine Byars
Two years ago, the slogan ‘achieve more’ was implemented by Mr. Arcarese, our
previous principal. He put it on everything, from rubber bracelets to his letters to parents to the
opening page of the agenda.
Plainfield High School is dumping the old slogan and wants something new and
fresh. Many suggestions have been submitted, but few have stuck: strive for more? get ‘er
done? PHS needs your help!
This is a contest for you, Plainfield High School students, to put in a slogan for our
school. Ms. Slowick, a PHS English Teacher, is the one to see for submitting suggestions. You
may also submit them to the main office.
The School Council, a group that meets once a month on Wednesdays, will go through the
Examples of Other High
School Slogans:
suggested slogans and pick the best of the best for our new school slogan. So go on Plainfield
High, make us proud and give us a slogan worth printing on hundreds of agendas.
•
Griswold— Great
Things Happen Here
•
emy— Serving Youth
Since 1854
PHS needs a new slogan. We are having a contest to give students, faculty and staff
an opportunity to develop our new motto. We would love for you to participate! Our
new school-wide motto should spur enthusiasm, inspire teamwork, and
build school community. We want our new motto to be a guiding force for
our entire school community. It should help set a positive tone,
Norwich Free Acad-
•
Montville— Effort,
Respect, Responsibility.
capture the goals of our school MISSION and EXPECTATIONS
(academic, social, and civic), focus teachers and students,
and improve discipline and student achievement.
Our new motto should be catchy and meaningful to our students, faculty and staff.
It should be a message, remembered by all, that reflects our beliefs and philosophies about teaching and learning. The
collaborative development of our school motto will be among one of the most effective things that we have done as a
school community. It will help us to develop a sense of community identity, and will serve as the backbone for all we
believe and do here, at PHS.
Please submit your PHS Motto to Mrs. Turenne in the main office or Ms. Slowick in room 2113.
The deadline for entries is Wednesday, November 25th.
Special thanks to the following editors for making this issue possible:
Layout Editors: Ron Benoit, Alexis Griffin, Kayla Charlwood
EditorEditor- inin- Chief: Marcus “Aurelius” Tichenor