JANUARY 2013 ISSUE The second annual Alumni Day got off to a

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
JANUARY 2013 ISSUE
EasyBib School
Edition, the automated
bibliography and
citation maker is free
for students to use
through February
22nd. Simply Register,
using the school's
computer at
easybib.com and you
will be granted
"Premium Access".
From here, register for
an account. You will
now have the ability to
access the service
from off-campus
computer
The annual Blood
Drive will be held on
March 20th in the
gymnasium. (See
article in this issue for
more details.)
The second annual Alumni Day got off to a
great start as Guidance Counselor Mrs.
Barrows introduced the successful group of
former Wood-Ridge High School students.
On January 4, 2013, Daniel Graham,
Emilio Rivera, Emma Ruhle, Amanda
Deliberto, Thomas Santoro, Carlo Autino,
Robert Bauer, Alexander Netelkos, Patrick
Horan, and Nicholas Sartori took their
places on the stage and stated their majors
as well as Universities they currently attend
or degrees they hold. As graduates of
Wood-Ridge High School, alumni
discussed their experiences at college and
explained the challenges one will face.
They presented seniors with the
opportunity to ask questions and
thoroughly answered any inquires. This
process was not only informative for
WRHS attendees, but also rewarding for
returning graduates who were more than
happy to provide guidance and share
helpful details. Overall, the day was
productive and the Class of 2013 enjoyed
listening to advice and hearing about what
is to come after graduation.
-Priscilla Bauer
The 3rd annual PBA Beefsteak was held on the
rescheduled date of Friday, January 11th. The
purpose of the Beefsteak was to raise money
for Wood- Ridge High School students' senior debt,
which alleviates the cost of the yearbook, cap and
gown, and senior festivities. The remainder of the
money is distributed among the remaining grade
levels for when they become seniors. The
Beefsteak is a fun way to participate in a school
fundraiser while having the opportunity to win
great prizes. Adult tickets were $50 and children
tickets were $35. Salad, pasta, french fries, and of
course, unlimited beef was served. Many tricky
tray tickets were sold as well as 50/50 tickets. On
behalf of the students, I'd like to extend a special
thank you to Councilman Azzolini, who generously
donated his 50/50 winnings to the school. Tricky
tray baskets were all donated, including various
Wood- Ridge attire, a "Girl's Night Out" basket, a
scratch off lottery ticket basket, and an exercise
basket, among many others. Many local restaurants
and businesses donated gift certificates, including
Martini Grill, Bazzarelli Restaurant and Pizzeria,
Oasys Spa, and Quest Fitness Gym. Beefsteak
goers were entertained by a hilarious comedian and
DJ Steve Louvretin. Thank you to the WRHS staff
and administration for all their efforts in making
this exciting fundraiser possible.
-Laurel Dragonetti
The kitchen was up and running on Friday,
January 18th. Mrs. Olweck's periods 2, 3, and
5 culinary students participated in "Top
Chef.” Students were expected to select an
entree and a dessert to prepare and serve to
three guest judges. They filled out an order
sheet compromised of all the ingredients
needed for their chosen dish and how much of
each they would need. The order was then
sent out and the students were ready to cook.
They had to plan ahead to make sure that their
dishes were ready on the 18th. In addition to
preparing the food, students were also judged
on presentation. The winners of the entree
from period two were Erick Peralta, Lily
Rautenberg, and Jesus Arrieta with the entree
of ceviche. The winner of the dessert category
was Jessica Rielly and Julio Rojas who
prepared flan. From period three, the winners
of the entree category were Brian Monico and
Yasmine Tlouhan with the entree of chicken
fajitas. In the dessert category, the winners in
period two with an Italian love cake were
Nicholas Rozas, Tyler Zamski, and Jevon
Drakeford. Lastly, the winners in period five
with an entree of sausage pasta with spinach
was Maggie Mele and Kristina Torres
accompanied by the winners of the dessert
category with the dessert of brownies was
Alani McCoy, Allen Savinovich, Sierra
Battaglia, and Diego Guttierrez.
Congratulations to all of the winners of "Top
Chef!"
-Marguerite Ammerman
Due to the emergency days used during
Hurricane Sandy, the Wood-Ridge School
District has had to change the schedule for
the remainder of the year. Rather than
having off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
students will be required to attend school
for a half day. Although this was
unexpected by most, having class for an
additional day before midterms may be
helpful for those who need supplemental
review. Periods will be shortened from
approximately forty five minutes to half
an hour and students will be dismissed at
12:13 p.m. As of November 28, 2012, the
Board of Education made additional
changes, including one-session days on
February 18th, Presidents’ Weekend, and
April 1st, spring break. In the event that
the make-up day on April 1st is not used
prior to spring break, there is a possibility
that it will be reinstated. Hopefully,
severe weather conditions will no longer
e
alter the calendar of events andCologne/Perfum
students
will be able to enjoy holidays off
in Gam
the es
Video
future.
Clothes
-Priscilla Bauer
Electronics
Jew lery
Money/Gift Cards
Shoes
Other
Prior to the holiday break, a poll was taken to find out what
students got for Christmas. Based on the results, it looks like
many students received money/gift cards as a present more
than anything else. Regardless of what gifts students
received, everyone knows the true gift is in giving.
-Erica Azor
On Saturday, January 19th, the National
Honor Society hosted a charity pasta dinner.
All the money made was divided between two
families with children diagnosed with cancer
in the Wood-Ridge school district.
The event consisted of two dinners, the first at
4 o’clock and the second at six o’clock. Price
of admission for adults was $10, and $6 for
children. Guests were fed delicious pasta in
the cafeteria prepared by Miss Garvin and
Mrs. Urato. Those who attended enjoyed
salad and pasta served by the members of the
National Honor Society. Dessert, provided by
Lyndhurst Pastry Shop,was also served. The
event was a success, and raised a little over
$900 for the two families. The pasta dinner
once again showed the fantastic sense of
community present in Wood-Ridge.
-Victoria Ruhle
On Monday, January 29th, a high school assembly was held on
school safety. The presentation was given first period by VicePrincipal Mr. Deo. The presentation included various news clips
and videos of past school and public shootings including
Columbine High School and the Aurora, Colorado theater
massacre. Students were warned to always be on the lookout for
suspicious or unfamiliar people in or near the building. Students
were also informed of the possibility of new school I.D.'s that
would allow admittance into the building. Mr. Deo stressed the
importance of looking out for the safety of fellow students.
Police officers would also continue to patrol the school area
throughout the day. Students were informed of certain mistakes
made that prevent school safety such as opening the door for
strangers. Students were assured that teachers, administrators,
and the local law enforcement are doing everything to keep
Wood-Ridge High School a safe, positive environment.
-Victoria Ruhle
In November 2012, most of New Jersey was affected by Hurricane Sandy. This
terrible disaster flooded the town of Moonachie, including the Robert L. Craig
School. As a result, students of that residential area were schooled in WoodRidge's Public School District. Catherine E. Doyle Elementary welcomed the first
and second graders, while third through seventh graders were split between
Wood-Ridge High and Gretta Ostrovsky Middle School. The eighth graders and
kindergarteners were temporarily set up at the Civic Center. Moonachie students
have returned home to continue their learning in trailers supplied by a restoration
company. They are setup on the grounds of Robert L. Craig School until further
notice. Although the Moonachie students and staff will be missed, it is inspiring to
see that things are slowly getting back to normal.
-Erica Azor
The HSPA is the High School Proficiency Assessment. All high
school juniors in the state of New Jersey will take this test on
March 5th, 6th, 7th. The test is scored out of 300 points. In
order to receive a proficient score, the student must earn 200
points. Scoring under 200 points is partially proficient and
over 250 points is advanced proficient. In order to graduate
next year, each student must score at least 200 points in Math
and English. To prepare for testing, the juniors had a HSPA
prep rally on December 4th. Mr. Sanfiz and Mr. Forman
talked to the students about the content of the HSPA. In the
weeks leading up to the HSPA, all junior math and English
classes will perform HSPA "Do Nows" at the beginning of
each class period. Each group that correctly completes the "Do
Now" receives a lottery ticket. At the end of each week, a
lottery ticket will be drawn and the winner will receive a $5
gift card. Also, the math and English class with the most
cumulative lottery tickets will be rewarded with a pizza party
after the HSPA. Additionally, any student who receives a
score of Advanced Proficient on the HSPA will be exempt
from his/her final exam. Good luck juniors!
This year, the students of Wood-Ridge High School will be
taking their mid-term exams from January 22nd through
the 25th. The teachers have decided to vary their exam
layouts, as some teachers are giving tests and others are
assigning projects. Mid-terms are everyone’s mid-year
crisis. “I’ve been going for extra help after school to
prepare for my midterms,” sophomore, Julia Connelly said.
Sophomore, Joelle Buscema, added, “I’m not too
concerned about midterms this year. I’ve been studying a
lot and have confidence.”
The administration has decided to set up mid-term week by
giving two exams a day, according to each student’s
-Heather Nolting
schedule. “To best study for a mathematics midterm, I
advise my students to look over their previous quizzes and
tests and redo any problems they had trouble with,” Miss
Ames, a current WRHS mathematics teacher, said. The
students at Wood-Ridge High have many study habits,
including scheduling their study time and reviewing note
cards. By filling out study guides and reviewing in class,
all students are fully prepared for their tests. Good luck to
everyone!
-Cassie Kriegel
Wood- Ridge High School's annual blood drive will take place on March 20th in the gymnasium. Those who are seventeen
are eligible to donate blood and those who are sixteen are eligible to donate with the consent of a legal guardian. If you are planning
to donate, there are a few steps that need to be taken to prepare for the donation process which include the following:
· eat a good meal within two hours of donating and drink plenty of water both the day before and the day of the
donation
· hydrate within 30 minutes of the donation (there will be a Hydration Station at the blood drive where water and juice
will be provided)
· donor must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
· a photo ID is required
Blood donation is a safe and simple process that takes only an hour, of which only ten minutes are actually spent in the donating
chair where you will be provided juice and cookies. Every year, approximately five million people in the United States are in dire
need of a blood transfusion. With one donation, up to three lives can be saved! If you are interested in not only donating but also
volunteering to receive six service hours, contact Mrs. Fontana, the school nurse. Come to the gymnasium on March 20th and help
save a life!!!
-Marguerite Ammerman
In 2005, George Bush officially named January “Crime
Stoppers Month.” The Crime Stoppers organization, a
non-profitable charity group that involves volunteers who
work to raise funds to help private investigations, is
responsible for giving anti-crime its own month. Today,
there are close to 1,000 programs across America that
collaborate with the Crime Stoppers Organization to not
only proclaim to abolish crime, but to also celebrate those
who commit their everyday lives to stopping it. Police
officers, private investigators, and people in the criminal
justice field devote their lives to eliminating criminals
from the streets and making America a better and safer
Martin Luther King Day is a United States federal holiday that country. As an act to rally more people into participating
marks the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. This holiday falls in the organization and recognizing the month, Bush
on the third Monday of January. Martin Luther King Day was proclaimed that taking action towards protecting our
first celebrated on January 20, 1986. A bill to make Martin
communities from undetected or unpunished criminals is
Luther King's birthday a national holiday was presented to
the right thing to do. January 2013 marks the ninth year
Congress and voted on in 1979. However, it did not pass. There that “Crime Stoppers Month” will be recognized and
was then a rally held for Peace Press Conference in 1981. At
praised as an advancement in our country.
this rally, there was a petition made to pass the law and it
-Cassie Kriegel
collected six million signatures. President Ronald Reagan
signed the bill on November 2, 1983, making Martin Luther
King Day a national holiday. However, even after the bill was
passed, there was much resistance. This holiday is celebrated in
honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and many other men and
women who fought for equal rights.
-Heather Nolting
FOUR MORE YEARS…….
On Monday, January 21, 2013, the Presidential Inauguration took place in Washington, D.C. President Obama and his family
gathered on the west front of the Capitol building as he took the oath of office in front of approximately 800,000 citizens. The
prestigious ceremony was followed by a week of celebrations, including the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony, Inaugural
Address, Inaugural Parade, and multiple Inaugural balls and galas acknowledging the elected President of the United States. As
President Obama returned to office, the official theme marking continuing success was “Faith in America’s Future.” The purpose
of this particular motif was to commemorate the nation’s determination and consonance as well as to celebrate the 150th
anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Statue of Freedom’s placement on top of the Capitol Dome in 1863.
-Priscilla Bauer
Amanda Romero, Erin Lang, Desi Mele, and Corinne
Coppola
How did all of you meet?
We all met in elementary school and have remained friends
through high school.
Do you see yourselves in each other’s futures?
We will all keep in touch after high school by seeing each
other on our breaks and spending the summers together.
What college will you most likely be attending, with
what major?
Amanda will most likely be attending the University of the
Sciences with a major in Biology, Erin is either attending
Montclair State University or St. Peter’s University with a
major in Biology, Corinne wants to attend Marist or
Rutgers with a major in psychology, and Desi will be
attending Parisian Beauty School.
What will you miss the most?
We will miss seeing each other on a daily basis.
What career path do you plan to pursue?
Desi would like to become a hairdresser; Amanda would
like to become a geneticist; Erin would like to become a
Physical Therapist; Corinne wants to work with special
needs children.
Who is your favorite teacher or favorite class?
Amanda’s favorite class is Mrs. Sistarenik’s sophomore
year biology class; Erin’s favorite class is Mrs. Gaven’s US
History II junior year; Corinne’s favorite class is any class
Mr. Ben-Nun teaches; Desi’s Favorite class is Graphic
Design.
-Nicole Sinatra
On Friday, January 18th, thirty WRHS students
participated in the Papermill Musical Theater
Workshop run by accomplished representatives from
the Papermill Playhouse. Students participated in three
ninety minute sessions throughout the course of the
workshop. The first session was lead by Meg Zervoulis
who taught students the techniques, dynamics, and
blending of singing with a group. The second session
was “Broadway Dance Styles” taught by Jennifer
Forziati-DaCost. Students learned the basics of
Broadway dance and put together a choreographed
dance to “Cease the Day” featured in the Broadway
musical Newsies. The last session was taught by
Suzanne Hevner. She taught an acting and
improvisation class during which she taught students
the ins-and-outs of improvisation. Thank you to the
Papermill Playhouse representatives and great job to all
the students who participated in this fun-filled day.
-Marguerite Ammerman
What is Your New Year's Resolution
I didn’t make one
Go to the Gym
Get better grades
Be more outgoing
Be more
adventurous
This month's poll asked students about their New Year's Resolutions.
A majority of students did not make a resolution this year. Although,
of those students who did, many of them decided to try their best and
get better grades in school.
-Erin Lang
Thousands of people make a new year's resolution to better
themselves in the upcoming year. Losing weight, eating
healthier, keeping a clean house, and doing well in school
are just a few of the many resolutions that are set forth each
year. Personally, I do not come up with a resolution for the
new year. I feel that if a resolution is set forth, I’m just
setting myself up for failure knowing it will be broken.
Many people stick to their resolutions for maybe two weeks
and then slowly, but surely, give up and push aside their
resolution because too much sudden change in the
individual's lifestyle is needed to successfully follow
through with his or her resolution. Instead of conjuring up a
resolution for myself, I set goals for myself. A goal is more
rewarding than a resolution because New Year's resolutions
are notoriously known to fail. By setting goals, success is
easier to achieve because one can take small steps which
will, when followed, result in a personal reward. This
method is very effective and motivates me to reach my
goals. It provides me with something to look forward to.
Coming up with resolutions are ways that people try better
their lives and change things about themselves or their lives
that they are not necessarily proud of. Resolutions provide
no means of guidance. What I mean is that when a
resolution is set, in the majority of cases, the person setting
the resolution does not know how to achieve it. He/She
does not know the steps needed to take, how to execute the
resolution to be successful, or what to do when and if the
resolution is achieved. When goals are set, the steps that
need to be taken are understood and planned. When I set
goals, I know what I need to do to successfully reach my
goal and how to conduct myself in order to not only reach
my goal, but to maintain the changes that I have made and
better my life. In conclusion, New Year's resolutions are, in
the majority of instances, not successful and are a waste of
time and energy. An alternative that I do strongly believe in
and that I use often is setting goals and rewarding yourself
after your success.
-Marguerite Ammerman
It’s that time of the year when anxious students run to check the
mail in anticipation of their college acceptance letters. SATs and
college applications are out of the way. Now all that’s left for
seniors is waiting for the responses that will determine the next
four years of their lives.
Seniors, Michelle Potocki and Gina Gonzalez, are very bright and
they’re headed towards prosperous futures. Michelle’s top
choices were Ramapo, Rutgers, and TCNJ. She has been accepted
to Ramapo, Seton Hall, Montclair, NJIT, Rowan, and Drew. She
hasn’t heard back from Rutgers or TCNJ yet. She hasn’t been
declined so far either. Hopefully, her acceptance streak continues!
She is going to choose Ramapo and she is very excited because
she has always planned to go there. She loves the location and the
school.
Gina’s top choices were Ramapo and Seton Hall. Gratefully, she
has been accepted to both. She is still unsure of which college she
will attend because she is waiting to hear back from Stanford,
TCNJ, and Rutgers. Financial aid is a very important factor in her
college decision-making process. She is not disappointed about
anything though because she has already been accepted to her top
two choices. She is very excited to move away and start fresh.
She is also very excited to start her education towards pursuing
her dream job as a business telemarketer. Congratulations to all
seniors who have been hearing great news about their futures. To
those who are still waiting for responses, keep your head up and
keep checking the mail. Good luck!
-Dipal Patel
On Saturday, January 19th, the Wood-Ridge
High school competitive cheerleading team
had its first competition. The competition was
held at Hackensack High School. The girls
did a fantastic job hitting a perfect routine.
The team placed first in their division of
“Small All Music.” They also received Grand
Champion for the whole high school session.
On Sunday, January 20th, the team competed
again at Saddle Brook High School. The girls
hit another perfect routine and placed third.
The team has a strong routine and will
continue to compete every weekend against
fierce competitors. Good luck girls; keep up
the superb work!
-Amanda Romero
This year the Wood-Ridge High School boys’ basketball
team is off to a phenomenal start. They have a record of 6-2
halfway through the season. The boys are continuing their
fast pace offense and making almost all of their three point
shots. The boys played Lyndhurst away, winning 78-42. On
December 27, the team beat Kearny at home 90-73, winning
the annual Herb Cohen Holiday Tournament. The first game
of 2013 was at home against Becton Regional High School,
the Devils won, 86-71. The next game was away versus
North Arlington. Once again they brought home a 94-63
win. On January 10, the team played against their rivals, the
Hasbrouck Heights Aviators. The team won 108-68. This
was the first game of the season they scored over 100 points.
Unfortunately, the boys lost 84-61 to St. John the Baptist on
January 13. On January 15, senior, Michael Gibney, broke
the Wood-Ridge High School boys’ basketball record for
most points. The previous record was 1,779 points set by
Jimmy Hawthorne in 1981. Gibney broke the record by
scoring his 1,780th point. The boys won the game 87-66.
Two days later, the boys beat the Wallington Panthers by a
score of 99-73. On January 19, the boys played their hearts
out against West Milford, but sadly they lost 89-84.
Hopefully, the team keeps up its outstanding offense and
tough defense for the duration of the season!
-Erin Lang
The girls' basketball team has been off to a strong start. The head
coach is Jesse Romano and the assistant coaches are Sean Obeirne
and Peter Romano. The Varsity starters are #24 Bailey Wyrostek,
freshman, #14 Allison Kronyak, sophomore, #44 Breyanna Scott,
senior, #4 Karina Tayaba, sophomore, and #1 Alisa Giordano,
sophomore. The team’s record is 5-8. Their most recent win was
against Weehawken with a score of 56-26. Some other victories
were against Saddle Brook with a score of 40-30, North Arlington
with a score of 46-35, Becton with a score of 55-43, and Memorial
with a score of 51-31. Keep up the great work! Go Blue Devils!
-Heather Nolting
The Wood-Ridge and Hasbrouck Heights wrestling team started out
the new year strong by defeating Passaic Tech High School on
January 3rd. The score was 39-33. The following day the team played
its second match against Saddle Brook. The Wood-Ridge and
Hasbrouck Heights team won with a score of 42. Saddle Brook had a
score of 28. The next match was on January 8th against Secaucus.
The team continued its winning streak. The final score was 45-30.
The team played against Waldwick High School on January 11th and
won with a score of 53. Waldwick finished with a score of 15. The
next day the Wood-Ridge and Hasbrouck Heights team went up
against Hackensack High School and unfortunately was defeated, by
a final score of 24-39.On January 16th, the team versed Lodi High
School and brought home a 43-27 victory. On January 18th, the
Becton wrestling team and the Wood-Ridge/Hasbrouck Heights
wrestling team tied with a score of 33. The following day the team
went up against Lyndhurst High School and defeated them by a score
of 60-24. With only one loss this month so far, the Wood-Ridge and
Hasbrouck Heights wrestling team has started out the new year
impressively and are sure to excel throughout the rest of their season.
-Jennifer Jones
This year’s track team is off to a great start!
Complete with track star, Ally Cox, the team seems
better than ever! Ally won 6th place in the 55m
hurdles at the latest track meet. Akua Addo, another
winter track participant, took 1st place for junior
varsity shotput against Garfield. The team meets
every day at 3 p.m. and so far, has had two NJIC
Conference meets over the course of the winter sports
season. Good luck to the indoor track team for the
rest of the season!
-Cassie Kriegel
The Wood-Ridge High School bowling team started out the new year with its first game on January 3rd.
The bowling team played Becton High School and won with a score of 1381. Becton had a score of
1260. The next game was played on January 8th against North Arlington. The Wood-Ridge High School
bowling team defeated North Arlington High School by a score of 1352 to 1230. The bowling team
continued its winning streak on January 14th when they beat Hasbrouck Heights High School. The very
close final scores were 1221 to 1218. The following game was played against St. Mary's on January
17th. Unfortunately, The Wood-Ridge bowling team was defeated by St. Mary's. The final score was
1248 to 1466. The Wood-Ridge High School bowling team started off the new year strong and will
hopefully maintain this drive throughout the rest of the season.
-Jennifer Jones