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Frank Scott Bunnell
SCRIBE
Bunnell High School * 1 Bulldog Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614 * Tuesday, April 28 2015 * Volume LIV, Issue 4
Bunnell Boys Basketball Brings Home the Ring
The Bunnell Boys Basketball Team celebrates with their coach, Pat
Yerina, at the Mohegan Sun after their Championship win on March 27.
Photo Credit: Connecticut Post
feel uneasy; however, they did
Scribe Staff
Indeed, we are the champions. not give up hope just yet. Their
instinct at a time like this was to
The Bunnell Boys Varsity Basbring out the best in themselves
ketball team dominated the 2015
and the team.
Class L State Championships the
“I was nervous... people [said]
first ever state championship title
that
we couldn’t beat them. We
in BHS boys basketball history.
started
to say to each other, ‘We
The team competed against the
are
going
to make history. Pick
Naugatuck High School Greyit
up
now,
’
” said junior Rashaad
hounds, with a final score of
Spain.
72-61, on Sunday, March 22,
Bunnell regained their confiat the Mohegan Sun Arena in
dence
as they closed the second
Uncasville, Conn. With powerful
quarter
with a score of 26-24,
defense and strong rebounds, the
and
tensions
rose for Naugatuck
boys played a heart wrenching
fans
as
Bunnell
snatched the lead.
and exhilarating game that had
When
Bunnell
broke
a 37-37 tie
viewers, at home or at the arena,
during
the
third
quarter,
they
at the edge of their seats.
never
looked
back.
Bunnell
had
“It feels great to make history,
a
44-39
advantage
at
the
end
of
[to] know you can come into the
the
third
quarter
and
the
Dawg
gym and look at the banner sayPound reinforced their cheers.
ing we did it,” said senior Ryan
“Everyone gets butterflies,
Pittman, who scored 12 points in
but
it’s just another game. When
the state title game.
you
play nervous[ly] that’s when
During the first quarter, the
you
do badly,” said sophomore
game got heated as both teams
Zhyaire
Fernandes.
battled to keep the lead, but
Throughout
the game, the
Naugatuck took control by the
Bulldogs
prevented
the Greyend. Bunnell was beginning to
hounds from potential shots with
fantastic rebounds by working
as a team. By the fourth quarter,
BHS took a substantial lead and
the win looked definite. When
the clock ticked down to zero
with a final score of 72-61, the
team raced out onto the court in
celebration.
“I was so proud of the kids
and the coaches, and I was so
happy for the entire school. What
a great atmosphere and great
experience for our fans, coaches,
and players. To be in a first class
venue with 8,000 people watching, the media, and the game
being on TV was amazing,” said
Athletic Director Mr. Johnson.
The BHS Dawg Pound was
right beside the basketball team
from start to finish, and there was
an awesome presence of the BHS
community at the Sun. Throughout their season, the basketball
team gained more and more
attention from everyone in the
school, and their fan base grew
exponentially.
“I lost my voice from yelling
so much at the game, but it was
so worth it,” said junior Nelson
Tejada.
Members of the basketball
team made memories that would
last a lifetime. Winning the state
title, as well as making history for
Bunnell, was a special moment
for each of the players.
“It felt good to win the first
state title in my senior year, especially in front of a lot of fans and
a packed house at Mohegan. It’s
a good feeling knowing that you
are one of the reasons the school
won the State Championships for
the first time,” said senior Donte
Peeler, who scored 17 points in
the championship game.
Also leading the scoring in the
Championship game was senior
Aaron Samuel, who totaled a
massive 21 points, and juniors
Nick Gianonni and Pat Gough
with seven and six points, respectively. Sophomore Zhyarie
Fernandes also scored six points.
“As a member of the girls’ basketball team, seeing our school
accomplish that kind of thing
for the first time in history was
truly special,” said junior Winnie
Etienne.
“One of the best things for
Dave Johnson and I is to keep
putting up those State Championship Banners!” said Principal
Dr. Orr.
On Friday, March 22, a last
minute pep rally was put together
and the entire school came
together to support the basketball
team in the BHS gymnasium.
The BHS band and choir filled
the gym with encouraging
songs like, “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”
Bunnell’s “main attraction,” the
Step Team, had the bulldog spirit
rising within each student. The
approved” or “not." Science
teacher Mrs. Tait modeled a Dr.
Dowling inspired outfit, including a sophisticated pant suit
with padded shoulders. Mrs.
Priddle wore a sparkly gown that
wowed the judges, Dr. Dowling
and Admin. Mr. Darcy, but she
was automatically frowned upon
when she took off her shawl to
reveal her bare shoulders, which
was definitely not “Dowling
approved.”
"I helped write a few of the
skits, such as the Dowling Fashion show. Hearing people laugh
at what I wrote was an amazing
feeling!" said junior Kara Murray.
A gym skit with new physical
education teacher, Mr. Swaller,
was an unique opportunity
for teachers to show off their
physical talents. When Swaller
announced that it was time for
class, several teachers did not
show any effort or participation,
mocking students here at BHS.
Others showcased their hidden
talents. Decked out in her full lacrosse gear, Mrs. Lewsey imitated
continued on page 5
Nora Turner
Editor
As students waltzed into
Vazzy’s Four Seasons at 7 p.m.
on Saturday, March 14, there
was an electric spark of anticipation coursing through the air.
Students marveled at the Gatsby
inspired decor as they met with
their friends at each table and
admired everyone’s outfits. This
year’s junior ring dance was not
lacking any glitz and glamour;
the dresses sparkled with beads
and bright rainbow colors while
the gentlemen in suits looked
sharp. The air buzzed with bursts
of laughter and background
music that began to play. It was
a memorable and care-free night
that had students dancing for
hours and having a blast with all
of their friends.
This year, the junior ring
dance was Great Gatsby themed,
which meant the junior class
council, Pres. Olivia Belliveau,
VP Nora Turner, Treasurer
Maddie Videira, and Sec. Yazmin
Santos, had the responsibility to
transport students to the Roaring
Faculty Show: “A Must See”
Scribe Staff
There is only one night a year
when BHS students can witness
their teachers making a fool of
themselves in front of the whole
school. This night is the famed
Faculty Talent Show, which was
held on March 19 at 7 p.m. The
BHS auditorium was filled with
students eager to see what was
in store for them. With energetic
cheerleaders and storytelling,
this year’s show brought back
old favorites, as well as new skits
that had audiences dying with
laughter.
A video of the famed homework song was showed before
any skits began, but instead of
the original, BHS teachers and
students got together to create
their own version, which also
aired on the morning announcements. Hosts Mrs. Martire and
Mrs. Kulenych, who write and
organize the entire production,
introduced the first act, which
featured Mr. Ginand and Mrs.
Brace. The two jumped around
and yelled several cheers to show
their Bulldog Pride, all while
Mrs. Martire gets a raw egg
smashed over her head in Egg
Roulette in the Faculty Talent
Show. Photo Credit: The Laurel
wearing the BHS cheerleading
uniforms. This is a recurring act
from years past, and it is always
one to smile about.
"It was hilarious to see BHS
teachers do their skits. It changed
how I looked at them completely, and I couldn't wait to go to
school the next day,” said junior
Patrick Haggerty.
The second act paid homage
to Project Runway, a reality TV
show about fashion. Various
teachers walked out sporting
attire that was either “Dowling
Step Team, as well as the BHS
cheerleaders attended every
home boys basketball game
during the season.
“We’ve been to every game
and we’ve supported them since
the beginning, so seeing them
win meant a lot to our entire
cheerleading team,” said junior
Kara Murray.
The pep rally motivated many
students to come and cheer for
Bunnell at Mohegan Sun and
boosted the players’ confidence,
too. Members of the Dawg
Pound were also brought out
near the end of the pep rally to
get students hyped up with their
awesome cheers. Each grade
participated in school cheers
and senior Brian Valeriano led
each side of the gym in doing the
famous “roller coaster,” which is
similar to the wave.
As Mr. Johnson says,”I’ve
always said that success is a
journey, not a destination. The
best part was all of the practices,
games, and just being a family. It
was a great lesson for us all. The
boys represented the school with
dignity and played with class.”
The BHS Dawg Pund rallies for the boys basketball team at the Mohegan Sun Arena on March 15. Photo Credit: Connecticut Post
Dance Goes Gatsby
Twenties. Juniors voted for the
theme in Advisory in February,
and the Gatsby theme was the
clear winner.
“I was delighted with the
Gatsby theme, and I think a lot of
people got into it which was awesome… the photo booth was a
nice touch. Overall, I think it was
awesome,” said junior Ewelina
Dabrowski.
“We watched scenes from
The Great Gatsby [movie], and
researched the twenties and what
was popular during that time. We
all did it together and it was nice,”
said Videira.
Vazzy’s Four Seasons was
decorated in gold and silver;
tables were alternately adorned
with gold and silver balloons, or
monochrome bottles filled with
flapper-inspired feathers and
pearls. Table cards were elegantly printed with every student’s
name on them. The venue was a
fun and upscale environment for
the students to enjoy.
“I think the decorations were
really good. I just wish we found
continued on page 8
Page 2
Upcoming
Events
NEWS
Shaving Heads to Beat Cancer
April 20- 24
Positivity Week
April 24-26
Retail 101
BHS Auxilary Gym
April 24
“All Things Words”
Poetry Festival
BHS Library
8:30-11 a.m.
May 2
SAT Administration at BHS
May 4-8
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6
Boys’ Basketball Championship
Banquet
Vazzano’s Four Seasons
7 p.m.
May 13
Flood Band Step-Up Day
8-9 a.m.
May 13
Spring Concert
BHS Auditorium
7 p.m.
May 14
Hall of Fame Banquet
Vazzano’s Four Seasons
6 p.m.
May 25
Memorial Day
NO SCHOOL
BHS St. Baldrick’s Shavees included; (left to right) Admin. Mr. Darcy,
Ms. Marino and Admin. Mr. Koch. Photo Credit: Ms. Iddings
type of charity to be involved
Liridona Egriu
with, so we chose children's canStaff Reporter
cer after we learned about Nina
FBLA hosted a St. Baldrick’s
Poeta from Seymour HS and her
event on March 15, beginning at
journey with brain cancer,” said
noon, in the BHS gymnasium.
FBLA advisor, Ms. Sweeney.
People from the surrounding
St. Baldrick’s is a non-profit
community shaved their heads or association committed to raising
cut their hair, which had to be a
money for childhood cancer reminimum of ten inches to qualsearch. The donations are desigify. Participating in the event by
nated to help institutes treat more
getting one’s hair cut or shaved is
kids in further medical trials or
in honor of individuals who have provide additional research for
no choice but to do so because of cures. The St. Baldrick’s Founcancer or other terminal illnessdation has been raising money
es. There were five people in
since 2005 to donate for research
particular that were listed on the
into childhood cancers. In the
St. Baldrick’s website who have
meantime, the foundation has
been diagnosed with cancer that
awarded more than $100 million
the BHS FBLA choose to honor
to research. According to the
specifically, one of them being
National Cancer Institute, “On
Nina Poeta.
average, one to two children for
Prior to fundraising for St.
every 10,000 in the United States
Baldrick’s, FBLA fundraised for
develop cancer each year.”
Nina Poeta and Miracle Minute.
“It was so nice to see people
They also directed a new book
from our school and from the
drive and helping Ms. Marino sell community get involved with our
heart T-shirts, so FBLA devoted
event and raise so much money
the past month to fighting the
for such a wonderful cause,” said
battle against childhood cancers.
VP of FBLA, senior Olivia Hayes.
“FBLA wanted to choose a
Any person or student who
‘theme’ this year, as far as what
signed up prior to the event was
responsible for raising money.
Qualified barbers and beauticians had to be on-hand to shave
people’s heads, but anyone could
have volunteered to get his or her
head shaved at the event. BHS
teachers and students had volunteered to help out at the event.
FBLA’s goal was to raise
$10,000 which they met successfully. FBLA provided a photo
booth, face painting, a pie eating
contest, and many more activities
at the event so families could
attend, as well.
“The event went great. We
were able to unite the school
and the community of Stratford
towards one cause. Ms. Sweeney
and the FBLA members did a
tremendous job organizing the
event and raising a lot of money,”
said Admin. Mr. Darcy who was
a shavee at the event.
According to the National
Cancer Institute, “The five-year
survival rate for all childhood
cancers has increased from 58
percent in 1975-77 to 79.6 percent in 1996-2003.”
Ms. Signor and the BHS HOSA
members attended the State
Leadership Competition on
March 13 at Gateway Community College. Stephanie Beaton,
an Executive of Yale New Haven
Hospital, was the speaker.
The BHS boy’s lacrosse team
held a Food Drive advised by
coach Dick Cerone on March 24
to “Help ‘Crosse’ Out Hunger.”
All of the items collected have
been donated to the South End
Community Center and Sterling
House Center.
On March 26, seniors attended
a field trip at the Downtown
Cabaret Theater to see Lord of
the Flies in Bridgeport. With
English teachers and Dr. Orr as
chaperones, the half-day trip was
safe and successful.
their coach bus never arrived
to pick them up, but luckily the
students had a safe trip home on
the train after walking to Grand
Central Station.
The Financial Literacy Fair was
held in the BHS library media
center on April 8. Seniors attended the morning session during
periods 1-4. Juniors were invited
to attend the afternoon session
during period 6 with speaker
Peter Bielagus. The event was
hosted by Ms. Priddle, Mrs. Coleman and the Sikorsky Federal
Credit Union.
The Bunnell-Stratford Marching
Band has been invited to Dublin
for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
in 2016. They will be traveling to
Ireland next March to attend this
parade.
On March 25, Dr. Dowling and
Ms. Lewkewich took 18 students
to see Wicked in NYC at the
Gershwin Theatre. Unfortunately,
The BHS softball team is holding
a jewelry fundraiser in partnership with the company, “A Little
Pizzaz.” Every item is under $20
and can be found at www.alpjewelry.com. By using the promotion
code “Bunnell,” a percentage of
the proceeds will go towards the
softball team. The fundraiser will
By raising funds for research
of childhood cancer, hopefully
organizations like St. Baldrick’s
will no longer have to exist. By
donating now, who knows how
many lives could be saved in the
future.
“I would certainly [shave my
head] again in the future…I
walked away feeling really good
about helping out. Having my
daughters come and watch was
special and hopefully it will
prompt them to get involved
with charities in the future as
they grow older,” said Admin Mr.
Koch.
Top left and bottom left: Ms. Marino and Admin. Mr. Darcy getting
their heads shaved for St. Baldrick’s. Right: Admin. Mr. Koch with his
daughter during his shave. Photo Credits: Ms. Iddings
Bulldog Briefs: From All Four Corners
Briana Keys
Staff Reporter
April 2015
last from April 19 to May 9.
The Future Educators of America (FEA) are completing their
“Water For Africa” fundraiser
which donated money to the
Uganda Farmer’s Inc. located in
Milford, Conn. Their mission is
to help bring clean water to areas
in Uganda with unsafe drinking
water. To raise money, they sold
reusable water bottles for $7 and
they ended up raising a total of
$1000.
The BHS Indoor Drumline won
the USBands National Championships in Class 3A Standstill
Percussion under the direction of
band teacher, Mr. Miller.
In lieu of the Boys Basketball
Team winning the Class L State
Editor: Nora Turner
Staff Reporters: Doralis Ceballos, Liridona Egriu, Briana Keys, Julianna Koonitsky, Hannah McGettigan
Freelancers: Michael Castelot, Alex Ghajar, Giovanni-Marie Roper, Yazmin Santos
Advisor: Mrs. Dena Kelly
The Scribe, the official, student run newspaper of Bunnell High School, is published as a product of the journalism course at Bunnell
High School. These publications welcome submissions from the student body and staff of Bunnell High School. However, the views
expressed in the Scribe do not necessarily reflect the views of the district, administration, students, or staff of the Scribe. Letters to the
editor are welcomed; letters must be signed but names will be withheld upon request. Students interested in enrolling in the journalism
program for the 2015-2016 academic year should contact their guidance counselors, or see Mrs. Kelly in D5 for more information.
The Mission of Bunnell High School: Students will acquire content knowledge, strengthen higher order thinking, and develop character
in order to address 21st century challenges.
Championships, and the first
ever state basketball title in BHS
history, the BHS Athletic Association is hosting a Boys Basketball Championship Banquet on
May 6 at 7 p.m. The event will be
held at Vazzano’s Four Seasons in
Stratford, and will include dinner
followed by the presentation of
the state championship awards.
Reservations can be made by
contacting Dave Johnson and all
checks should be made payable
to “Bunnell High School.” Reservations are required, as tickets
will not be available at the door.
April 2015
NEWS
Ginger Katz: The Courage to Speak
Hannah McGettigan
Staff Reporter
On Tuesday, March 24, sophomores and freshmen gathered
in the BHS auditorium to hear
Ginger Katz’s “Courage to Speak”
speech based on her son, Ian
Eaccarino, and his experiences
with a drug addiction.
Eaccarino, son of Katz and her
husband, Larry, was known as a
bright and talented young man
to many. On Sept. 10, 1996, Eaccarino passed away as a result of
an accidental heroin and valium
overdose.
Throughout the course of
Eaccarino’s life, drugs took over
many experiences and potential
successes. Determined to prevent
families from experiencing the
pain and guilt that came from
her son’s death, Katz founded the
Courage to Speak Foundation.
The Courage to Speak Foundation has the sole purpose of
educating and empowering youth
to be drug free by sharing Eaccarino’s story. Katz has visited many
schools throughout the nation
to share the importance of drug
prevention education to students,
parents, and teachers.
According to the Foundation’s website, “[Katz] reaches
young people like few others
can. Through her presentations,
she implores listeners to follow
the positive passions in their
lives. A central theme of [Katz’s]
(left to right): Mrs. Steglitz, Larry Katz, Ginger Katz and Ms. Signor
stand after the Courage to Speak assembly in the BHS auditorium.
Photo Credit: Hannah McGettigan
work is that young people should telot.
Students were also able to
cultivate relationships with three
relate to the story behind the
to five trusted adults with whom
presentation through their own
they are able to share their probpersonal experiences. The Courlems and innermost thoughts.”
age to Speak assembly reassured
As the freshmen and sophmany students that they are not
omores of Bunnell High School
alone when dealing with issues
listened to Katz’s story, many
were moved when learning about surrounding drugs.
“I already knew a lot about
the powers of drugs. As a mother
drugs, as my cousin struggled
who has experienced the horrifying presence of drugs, Katz was with [them] for some time. It
able to captivate students through only reinforced what I already
knew,” said sophomore Erin
the serious impacts of any drug.
Hanna.
“I thought it was sad, but it
Students also learned more
was a wake-up call. There was
more information on different
information on drugs that they
situations surrounding drugs,”
did not previously know. Katz
said sophomore Michael Caswas able to educate teachers and
Truth About: Sports Injuries
Hannah McGettigan
Staff Reporter
All athletes, from the NFL
pros to high school soccer
players, have one experience in
common: injuries. Sports injuries
cause permanent damage to athletes and force many to end their
careers early. Although injuries
may seem entirely unpreventable,
there are many ways to avert and
overcome them.
According to Stop Sports
Injuries, a medical sports injury
prevention site, “High school
athletes account for an estimated
two million injuries, 500,000
doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations per year [in the U.S.]”
There has been a continuous increase in the number of athletes
under hospitalized care, along
with the amount of risk involved
in each sport they play.
With the amount of pressure
and intensity that an athlete may
feel throughout their season,
there could be times when a
serious injury may be ignored
because athletes want to push
through their pain. Many athletes
learn as children to “toughen up”
and fight through their pain. Although this can change a child’s
mindset in a positive manner, it
could cause an injury to become
much worse. Resting an injury
will allow an athlete to come
back to their sport stronger and
healthier.
“During basketball season, I
twisted my ankle so I had to wear
a brace and ice it every night
because I didn’t want to miss
practice or a game,” said fresh-
man Hannah McLaughlin.
Former NFL player for the
Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Webster,
suffered from chronic traumatic
encephalopathy (CTE) after his
football career, causing him to be
emotionally and physically unstable. The number of concussions
that Webster experienced during
his career caused permanent
brain damage, which also lead to
his death at age fifty, according to
Frontline.
Injuries like concussions have
several symptoms. These symptoms are not to be ignored as
they can prevent an injury from
progressing.
"When I broke my finger, I
told my coaches and went to the
doctor. Although I was out for
two weeks, it was a good decision," said sophomore and color
guard member, Melissa Lemieux.
Sudden, new pains can be
temporary, but they may also
reveal a serious injury or an
overuse injury which occured
during repetitive training. If the
pain is constant or continues to
increase, medical care should be
considered. Orthopedic care and
physical therapy may provide a
quick recovery during the healing process.
“I know coaches want to win,
athletes want to play, and parents
what to see their child succeed.
But a child's recovery from injury
is no time for bargaining. While
young athletes heal faster than
adults, rushing them back from
injury before they have been
given enough time to completely
recover simply increases the risk
of future injury,” said physical
therapist Keith J. Cronnin from
the website, Mom’s Team.
After receiving care from a
doctor, there are several ways to
treat a sports injury at home. An
important method is “R.I.C.E.”
which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Besides
resting the injury, icing will
decrease the pain and control
inflammation. Compression and
elevation will both limit swelling
to the injured area.
"Since applying ice to an
injury has been shown to reduce
pain, it is acceptable to cool an
injured part for short periods
soon after the injury occurs. You
could apply the ice for up to 10
minutes, remove it for 20 minutes, and repeat the 10 minute
application once or twice," said
R.I.C.E. originator, Dr. Gabe
Mirkin.
Although many athletes
worry about losing their fitness
level when injured, injuries that
are not healed will develop into
chronic pain.
“It took me a year and a half to
come back from my knee injury. I
had to go through physical therapy to recover fully,” said junior
Justin Anderson.
Main concepts to keep in
mind while in the recovery
process are to get professional
help, follow the advice of your
practitioner, and work around
your injury if needed.
“Some people push too hard,
too quickly and end up re-injured. Others give up entirely.
students about the signs and
personalities of someone who
may be struggling with a drug
addiction.
“The Courage to Speak assembly taught me how addiction
severely impacts other people
and the extent of the addiction,”
said freshman Nathan Larsen.
Drug prevention has become
a necessary topic for families and
teachers to educate the younger
generation. Due to the increasing
amount of drug use, the dangers
and health effects they can play
long-term is usually unknown to
teens.
“Every student will be exposed
to drugs. It's important that
teachers are aware of the signs
since it is about the safety, health,
and welfare of each student,” said
Katz.
The Courage to Speak Foundation uses stories from all over
the country to inspire our future
teenagers to stay clear from
drugs. These stories are used to
inspire teens to live a drug free
life.
“The assembly was emotionally educational. I thought it was
informational and gave lots of
detail on why you shouldn’t do
drugs and how it’s not worth it,”
said sophomore Mia Candanedo
Katz and the Courage to
Speak Foundation has touched
the hearts of thousands of
families, teachers, and students.
The importance of drug abuse
There’s a fine line between challenging the injury enough to aid
recovery and over-doing it,” said
personal trainer and instructor
Tamera Grand from Fitknitchick.
com.
Preventing an injury from occurring can seem nearly impossible but strengthening your body,
increasing flexibility, and playing
your sport safely contribute to
avoiding injury.
Dr. Stephen Pribut said,
"Musculoskeletal fitness is one
of the pillars of fitness. Strength
training can be helpful for a
variety of reasons. Core strengthening helps many people. And
improving lean body weight by
increasing muscle helps dieting
indirectly and is good for your
overall health."
Although one must be cautious throughout the recovery
process, it should not discourage
the idea of making a comeback.
Many athletes do return to their
previous state and can progress.
“I had to hear many people say
‘you can’t’ or ‘you should give up’.
I kept my head up and saw what
was in front of me. I came back
averaging 15.2 points a game and
may have a chance at starting
with all the seniors that are leaving,” said junior Justin Anderson.
Safety should be the most
important part of an athlete’s
lifestyle. Injuries may be hard to
endure, but they can be treated
quickly and carefully. Is it worth
the risk to play one season if
permanent damage becomes an
option?
Page 3
Bulldog
Buzz:
Why should students have a
voice?
Giovanni-Marie Roper
Freelancer
Ricardo Belizaire- "Students
should have a voice because we're
the future, and it's important that
we take the initiative to influence
our school."
Winnie Etienne- "Students’
voices are important because the
school is for students; it's where
we prepare ourselves for the real
world. So if we don't have a voice
now, when we're getting ready to
get our lives together, we won't
know how to voice our opinions
outside of school."
Kyle Sullivan- "It's important for
students to have a voice so that
they can help better the school
experience from their own options and ideas. A student should
have a voice because it better
prepares the student for life in a
democratic society where [your]
voice matters."
Ms. McGohey- "Students should
have a voice in their school
because this is something they're
a part of, and teachers and the
administration have a responsibility to the students to get them
ready not just for college but for
the world, and students should
have a say in how that happens. "
Page 4
OP-ED/NEWS
BHS HOSA Holds Penny Drive to Save Lives
Yazmin Santos
Freelancer
Every two years, HOSA affiliates its organizations with a new
charity for which they help raise
money by conducting fundraisers. This year HOSA chose the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. BHS HOSA students, along
with representatives from the society, came up with ideas on how
HOSA could get the best result
from a fundraiser. Since HOSA
is associated with the charity for
two years, they are able to plan
long-term fundraisers as well as
short-term ideas.
From March 23 to March
27, BHS students and staff were
asked to donate pennies to the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the Pennies for Patients
fundraiser. In return, donors
received stickers that said, “I am
Saving Lives,” or a red bracelet
with the Society’s logo on it for a
donation of two dollars or more.
Any kind of donation was appreciated, and students were very
generous in giving spare change.
HOSA students participated
during their lunch waves by
walking around to each table and
asking for donations. They were
responsible for explaining the
charity’s goals, collecting money,
and handing out stickers and
bracelets.
The Society was founded in
1949 and according the their
website, the mission of The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(LLS) is: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of
life of patients and their families.
As part of the Penny Drive,
HOSA students needed to be able
to tell other students what leukemia was in order to accurately
advertise their cause. HOSA
members also helped put together an announcement for the daily
Bunnell Bulldog Bulletin. It was
crucial to inform students about
the specifics of the charity.
President of HOSA, junior
Fatima Ali, said, “Pennies for
Patients was a great fundraiser
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma
foundation. Many people were
generous, and the jars filled up
quickly. I like the way we gave a
bracelet to those who donated
two dollars or more, and a sticker
to those who donated change.”
When asked about future
fundraisers and upcoming events
for HOSA, Ali said,“...every two
years we are partnered [with]
and support a certain charity;
last year we fundraised for Cystic
Fibrosis, and this year is Leukemia and Lymphoma. We have
done Pennies for Patients and
next year we are planning a big
carnival themed fundraiser with
games and food! Hopefully we
will raise a lot of money with it.”
HOSA was able to raise at least
$400 with Pennies for Patients.
With a lot of effort and hard work
from its members, HOSA hopes
to exceed their funds raised this
year with the carnival. HOSA is
ready to help the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society in their fight
April 2015
to find a cure for these cancers!
The BHS HOSA chapter recently raised monies for the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society with their Pennies for Patients drive.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Dodgeball: “Zach and His Sons” Reign Supreme
friends for my team, and we
found out about the tournament
freshman year. We thought it was
a good idea to join and a lot of
fun,” said junior Zach Piroh.
“Zach and His Sons,” was this
year’s winning and undefeated
team earning medals and a $10
gift card to Dunkin Donuts.
“My favorite part was playing
with all my friends and having
fun,” said a member of “Zach
and His Sons,” sophomore Brett
Bogdwicz, “When we won we felt
real excited because there were a
lot of teams in the tournament.”
Although they did not win
any games, the all-girl team,
“The Baller-inas,” took their time
creating their outfits. In result
the girls won “Best Dressed”
with their choice of attire being,
all-black T-shirts with their team
name written across in pink,
black spandex with pink kneehigh socks and tutus around their
waists.
“It was just fun playing with
and against all of my friends,”
said sophomore Madison Robotti, a member of “The Baller-inas.”
Hallie Carroll
Sophomore
1. Dark BlueJack's Mannequin
2. ImmortalsFall Out Boy
3. HallsAndrew McMahon
4. SwimJack's Mannequin
5. KonstantineSomething Corporate
Cayla Wallace
Junior
1. Safe With Me Sam Smith
2. Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran
3. Ring Off Beyoncé
4. NirvanaSam Smith
5. RetrogradeJames Blake
Adrian Cordova
Senior
1. Love Me Like You Do Ellie Goulding
2. One Last Time Ariana Grande
3. Chains Nick Jonas
4. CenturiesFall Out Boy
5. Want to Want MeJason Derulo
Julianna Koonitsky
Staff Reporter
BHS held the sixth annual
Dodgeball Tournament on March
13, 2015, in the main gym. With
20 teams competing, it was an
intense and agressive tournament. Many students enjoy the
experience and take advantage of
this opportunity to play, as well
as compete, with their friends.
“I look forward to playing
dodgeball, it’s fun and we never
play it in gym class,” said sophomore Andres Vanegas.
Students who attended the
tournament were asked to create
a team of six players. The cost to
play in the tournament was $30
or five dollars per person. The
teams were allowed to be creative
with their team name and matching attire.
“I picked five of my closest
The 2015 BHS Dodgeball Tournament winner was “Zach and His Sons;”
(left to right): Adam Wojenski, Miles Richards, Nick Gianonni, Nicholas
Nolting, Zachary Piroh, and Brett Bodgwicz.
Photo Credit: Sherri Kelley.
Behind all of the fun and
games, there is a lot of time and
effort into making this event
happen. Six years ago, Sherri
Kelley was trying to figure out a
way to raise money for Post Prom
at BHS. She came up with the
idea to hold a Dodgeball Tournament in the school gym to collect
money in a way that everyone
would enjoy. After it being a
great success, Post Prom has been
hosting the tournament every
year since. They have gone from
raising $300, to last years’ $2,000.
This year they believe that they
raised close to $1,800 to $2,000.
The tournament was held in
March, however, Kelley had been
planning for the event since
October. There are many people,
especially the parents, involved
in helping out so she gathered
everyone together to discuss the
schedule for the tournament.
The Bullpod: Top 5 Songs on your iPod
Giovanni-Marie Roper
Freelancer
Sergio Bran
Freshman
1. Come Alive116
2. This is Living ft. LecraeHillsong Young and Free
3. AnomalyKB
4. Insomniac ft. Andy MineoTrip Lee
5. Dark Days and Darker Nights
ft. Britt Nicole Tedashii
Mrs. Tait
Science Teacher
1. It Takes TwoRob Base
2. Scarlet BegoniasGrateful Dead
3. Tupelo HoneyVan Morrison
4. Everybody KnowsJohn Legend
5. Total Eclipse of the HeartBonnie Tyler
Page 5 April 2015
ART/CREATIVE FEATURE
Scribe Creative Spotlight
Here at the Scribe we love students who express themselves in artistic formats, like drawing, painting, creative writing, and photography. This page is
dedicated to the BHS students who devote their time and talents to the arts.
Spring
By Ashley Young
I only remember the gloom
Being trapped in a world of white
Never being able to get away
I would try to break the ice
Throw away the cold, dark breeze
Wondering whether it would ever
get the best of me
But as I awaited the warm sun
upon my shoulders
I thought a bit about the beauty
of goodbyes
And what the next greeting
would bring me
The sweet days
The savored nights
The smell of new life filling the
air
A time of new beginnings
A time of change
It’s finally here
By: Corrin Campbell
By: Sarah Wiegand
By: Juan Cardenas
Sunset by: Kathleen Politica
By: Doralis Ceballos
By: Selena Quick
By: Sarah Wiegand
By: Corrin Campbell
Faculty Talent Show
continued from page 1
an over competitive student, and
Ms. Ravo wowed the audience
with her gymnastics skills, including a handstand contest with
Mr. Stein.
“My favorite part was Mr.
Swaller’s gym skit. The teachers
in the back who were taking
selfies, and the teacher who broke
her nail and couldn’t participate
was really funny because it was
just like me and friends. I could
totally relate to it,” said freshman
Lainie Gerardi.
Other skits included a storytime reading of Hansel and
Gretel with Mrs. Coleman and
a performance of Mr. Connor’s
famous red pen songs. Several
teachers held a dance contest to
pop music that mirrored a Step
Up movie. Teachers also acted
out an audition for this year’s
school play, The Wizard of Oz.
“Mrs. Coleman’s improvisation
during Hansel and Gretel had me
falling off my chair!” said junior
Mohamed Yassin.
A lip-syncing contest showcased the teacher’s musical side
and some of the songs featured
were “Shake It Off,” by the some
of the English department “Uptown Funk,” by Ms. DeLuca and
“Call Me Maybe,” by Mr. Ginand.
“It was a roller coaster of
emotions! At one point I was
laughing so hard my stomach
started to ache, and at one point I
was at the verge of crying. It was
a very memorable event!” said
freshman Maciel Valle.
A more sentimental part of
the Faculty Talent Show was a
poem, read by senior Isabelle
Brown, that was dedicated to
Dr. Orr since this will be his last
year at Bunnell. Choir teacher
Ms. Lewkewich also sang to Dr.
Orr where pictures of him over
were projected of his time here at
Bunnell.
“It was the most awesome
experience of my life! I will never
forget this! Ms. Lewkewich can
sing!” said Dr. Orr.
Throughout the entire production, Ms. Marino, came out
on the stage and prentended to
sell her famous T-shirts. It was a
hysterical transition from skit to
skit.
“The show was great! It was
probably the best one I have
seen all three years. I especially
enjoyed the lip syncing contest,”
said junior Orlando Segui.
But no one was prepared for
the grand finale that Kulenych
and Martire had in store for the
audience. Playing off of a famous
skit from the Tonight Show with
Jimmy Fallon, the two hosts,
Mr. Studley and Mr. Darcy,
all competed in a game of egg
roulette. The rules are simple; a
carton of eggs, half raw and the
other half hard-boiled, are placed
in front of the contestants. Each
player has to pick up one of the
eggs and smash it against their
head. The audience went wild as
both Martire and Kulenych got
the first raw eggs, but in the end,
every one of them got hit with
a raw egg. It was a terrific and
hysterical end to the night.
“I had a great time at the
Faculty Show! Getting to see
teachers I had and currently have
act in comical skits is something
I will not soon forget! My favorite
part was seeing the look on Mrs.
Martire’s face when the first egg
cracked on her head,” said senior
Sam Leventhal.
“The show was awesome!
My favorite part was when Mrs.
Martire cracked a raw egg on her
head! It was super fun to see my
teachers outside of the classroom letting loose and dancing.
Definitely a must see,” said junior
Arielle Beninco.
“Teachers aren’t actors, but
for 45 minutes everyday we have
to put on some sort of a show…
we all have that instinct,” said
Studley.
The money raised from the
Faculty Talent Show will go
towards the senior scholarship
fund. In the end, the event is
always something to remember
and look forward to year after
year. Martire, Kulenych and all
those who help them really do
know how to pull off some great
comedy.
Page 6
ENTERTAINMENT
April 2015
If You’re Reading This, Drake’s Back Beauty or Phsyco?
Doralis Ceballos
Staff Reporter
On Friday, Feb. 13, Drake
made quite the comeback with
his fourth mixtape, If You’re
Reading This It’s Too Late. He
“pulled a Beyoncé” by dropping
the mixtape on iTunes unexpectedly to surprised fans.
The mixtape is rumored to
be called an album only because Drake needed to finish
his four-album contract with
Cash Money Records. There was
confusion because in early 2014
Drake announced he would be
coming out with an album called
Views From The 6, and it turns
out that this mixtape is a bridge
for that upcoming album.
Even though Drake released
this mixtape with no warning, he
gave fans many hints through his
songs and Instagram posts. As he
raps on “0 to 100/The Catch-Up,”
a single he dropped in June: “We
already got spring 2015 poppin,”
hence the drop of his mixtape.
A few weeks before the release
of his mixtape, Drake posted
several pictures of Madonna captioned with lyrics from the song
on the mixtape called “Madonna.” He also posted many other
pictures captioned with the titles
of his new songs.
The album starts off with
“Legend,” a smooth, slow going
Drake’s new album cover.
Photo Credit: Google Images
song where Drake entitles himself a legend, considering all the
accomplishments he has had in
only five years.
“Energy” is the album’s most
popular song on the iTunes
charts, an eerie song with
memorable lyrics that speak for
themselves; “I got enemies, got a
lot of people trying to drain me
of my energy.”
“Know Yourself ” is a real party starter with the repetitive line;
“I was running through the six
with my woes” and shortly after,
a daunting beat drop.
Drake slows down the mood
with a song dedicated to his
mother, “You & The 6.” He
discusses the struggles he had
growing up without his father,
and how his mother and his city
helped him get through the trials
and tribulations of life.
This album holds a little bit
of everything: slow paced, fast
paced, motivational, and relatable
songs for all. It is perfect to get
a party going, or to listen right
before going to bed. Drake is
known for his emotional songs,
and these 17 songs are no exception.
If You’re Reading This It’s Too
Late debuted at number one on
the Billboard 100. The album
was already streamed 17.3 million times on Spotify, breaking
Drakes’s own record that was
made with his previous album;
Nothing Was the Same. He also
became the first rapper to top the
Billboard’s Artist 100 Chart.
On Feb. 28, Drake tied a 51
year-old record by charting 14
songs at the same time on the
Billboard Hot 100. He rivals the
14 titles that the Beatles placed
on the Hot 100 on April 11, 1964.
“I really love this mixtape.
Drake really put a lot of effort
into this and it gives me life.
What amazes me is that this is
only the start. He has an actual
album coming out later in the
year. If I had a friend that didn’t
like this mixtape we would no
longer be friends,” said junior
Orlando Segui.
Fans have much to look
forward to. This mixtape was just
the beginning of what Drake has
to offer this year.
Doralis Ceballos
Staff Reporter
Fall Out Boy made quite the
comeback this year with the
surprise of their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American
Psycho. Released on Jan. 20, 2015,
this lyrical phenomenon wowed
fans and surprised them with an
upcoming tour this summer.
To give fans a sneak peak, Fall
Out Boy released the platinum
ten lead single, “Centuries,” in
early September and announced
their album in November. Fans
were more than happy to wait
until January, since they had not
had a new album to enjoy since
2013.
American Beauty/American
Psycho was produced by Island
Records, and it has 11 songs, including a remade version of their
song, “Immortals,” from the hit
animated movie, Big Hero 6.
The album starts off with
“Irresistible,” and its melodic
trumpets and the repetitive line,
“I love the way you hurt me.”
This song also comes with an
entertaining music video which
features the band in their nerdy
sports gear getting ready to play a
basketball game with much more
experienced players.
Perfect to boost up your spirits
on a bad day, “Uma Thurman” is
an infectious dance song. Take a
break from your stressful home-
work by doing the air guitar to
the smooth, groovy guitar riffs.
“The Kids Aren’t Alright” is
the best when you want to sit
back and relax. With a smooth
first verse flowing into the laidback chorus, this song will surely
get you into the groove after a
long day.
“I really liked this album but I
feel like it was a bit more upbeat
than their previous [ones]. My
favorite song would have to be
‘Centuries,’” said sophomore
Evelyn Santana.
American Beauty/American
Psycho debuted at No. 1 on the
US Billboard 200 with 192,000
sales in the first week, and was
No. 1 on the Canadian Billboard
Albums Chart, as well.
To get fans even more excited,
Fall Out Boy announced a 39date “Boys of Zummer” tour with
Wiz Khalifa in North America
June through August and a nine
date European tour to visit six
countries starting October 2015.
“When Fall Out Boy came
out with the song ‘Centuries,’
it kind of became my [Fall Out
Boy] song. It’s kind of about kids
that don’t fit in and how one day
they’ll rise to the top. I’m going
to see them in June and I’m so
excited to see my heroes in person with Wiz Khalifa and Hoodie
Allen!” said junior Alex Naimoli.
million in sales in the U.S. The
movie was directed by Robert
Schwentke, who also worked
on The Time Traveler’s Wife
and RED. Writers for the film
included Brian Duffield, Akiva
Goldsman (I Am Legend, The Da
Vinci Code) and Mark Bomback
(Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,
The Wolverine).
Insurgent was met with critical
reviews, mostly citing its slow
development and overall awkward plot. According to popular movie review site, Rotten
Tomatoes, “Shailene Woodley
gives it her all, but Insurgent is
still a resounding step back for
a franchise struggling to distinguish itself from the dystopian
YA crowd.” Insurgent’s target
audience is teens, but they are
met with fierce competition from
series like The Hunger Games and
The Maze Runner.
“I am excited for the next
movie because they are going out
into the new world, and I have no
idea how they are going to continue the storyline. My favorite
character was Four because he
is so dedicated to Tris and how
much he loves her. He’s also so
strong and you’re always learning new things about him. He’s
dimensional and I like that,” said
junior Sarah LaMontague.
Despite the drag of the storyline, the relationship between
the movie’s characters is what
makes the film. Tris and Four’s
on-screen love story is believable
and sincere. When interviewed
by Glamour magazine, James
said, “They’re co-dependent, in
a good way. Tris is in no way
the damsel in distress but that
doesn’t detract from Four being a
masculine character. They’re two
people in love but broken by the
situation they’re in.”
Fans of the Divergent series
will not be disappointed with
this visually stunning film and
its fiery characters. A cliffhanger
at the end has viewers anxiously
awaiting the next film Allegiant:
Part 1, which will release in
March 2016.
Insurgent: Visually Stunning, Storyline Bores
Insurgent, starring (left to right) Zoe Kravitz, Shaliene Woodley, Theo
James and Miles Teller, premiered on March 20, 2015. Photo Credit:
Google Images
physical violence and discord.
Nora Turner
After escaping the Erudites’
Editor
crazy scientific schemes with her
Fans of the Divergent series
brother Caleb, played by Ansel
have been eagerly awaiting the
Elgort, and frenemy Peter, played
next installment in the franby Miles Teller, the crew found a
chise, Insurgent. Tris, played
safe hiding place in Amity.
by Shaliene Woodley, returns a
Tris and Four are eager to
completely different person, now
strike back against power hungry
strong, resilient and ferociously
Jeanine, played by Kate Winslet,
rebellious. While the upgraded
because of the slaughtering of
special effects, and stellar acting
innocent Abnegation people, as
by Woodley and her co-stars
well as killing Tris’ mother and
makes the movie enjoyable,
father. Jeanine is acting as dictaInsurgent lacks a dynamic plot.
tor to a society that is supposed
This fast-paced movie, set in dysto be balanced across all its factopian Chicago, still brings the
tions, and also targeting Tris and
franchise’s adorable love story,
Four because they are Divergent.
demonic villains and a feisty feTris and Four think they are the
male lead that is definitely worth
only people who know how to
watching.
effectively strike back against her,
The movie opens with Tris
so they plan to leave Amity at
and boyfriend, Four, played by
once.
Theo James, living in the Amity
While Tris and her crew try
faction. Now they must live in
to leave Amity, Eric, played by
a place of peace and harmoJai Courtney, and his evil team,
ny, which is difficult for the
are ordered by Jeanine to test all
ex-Dauntless, who are used to
citizens for Divergence so they
can capture them. Peter betrays
Tris and Four by revealing their
location and igniting a foot chase
through Amity. Four, Tris and
Caleb run into Factionless on
their escapee train, and after
a quick squabble, one of the
Factionless brings them to their
headquarters.
“I thought [the movies] were
kind of the same. I think you
get to see a lot more about how
Tris is coming into herself. My
favorite character is Four because
in the books he is a constant in
Tris’ life and he’s the one [she]
can actually trust,” said senior
Stephanie Camp.
Jeanine is now focused on
capturing and using all Divergent people because she wants to
open a mysterious box left by the
founder’s of the society. The box
was discovered in Tris’ childhood home, and it believed to be
hidden by her mother. In order
to unlock the message inside, a
Divergent citizen needs to pass
a simulation for every faction;
Abnegation, Amity, Erudite,
Dauntless and Candor which
is virtually impossible. Jeanine
believes that Tris may be the
perfect candidate to break open
the box and finally discover what
the founder’s had intended when
they created the society.
“[Insurgent] was better than
the first one because there was
more suspense. My favorite
character was Peter by Miles
Teller because you got to know
him more,” said junior Maddie
Videira.
Insurgent was released on
March 20, 2015, and topped box
offices its opening week with $52
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 119 minutes
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi,
Thriller
Shaliene Woodley stars as Tris in Insurgent, the newest movie in the
Divergent series. Photo Credit: Google Images
April 2015
SPORTS
Page 7
Spring Sports Start Up: Teams Looking for Success
very high expectations as a team
this season. They look to improve
their 6-11 record from last year
and hopefully clinch a state playoff spot. Senior Dante Salce said,
“We have been working hard so
far this season in practice and I
expect good things out of all our
players this year. I hope to have
a winning record and hopefully
bring home Bunnell’s first SWC
Championship”
The girls lacrosse team will
look to improve on their 3-14
record from last year. They will
try to make a playoff run this
year, which would be a great
victory for the team. Sophomore
Abby Bociek said, “We have been
working hard at practice so we
can prove to everyone that we
can compete with anyone.
The boys baseball team will
try and make a statement in the
SWC this year. They want to
prove that they are the top dogs
and the number one contender
for the title this year. Not only do
they bring back a very talented
senior class, they also have two
of the strongest players in the
state, seniors Justin Lasko and
Ronnie Rossomando. In a recent
poll by MaxPreps, a nationwide
source for High School sports,
the Bunnell baseball program has
been ranked number one in the
state. Also, Rossomando has been
named the Preseason Player of
the Year, after being named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014.
Junior Adam Wojenski said,
“Last year, [the baseball team]
fell just short of our first state
championship; the feeling after
we lost was unforgettable. This
year, we aren’t accepting failure
and we are determined to win a
state championship. This is one of
the best baseball programs in the
state and we expect to keep it that
way.”
The girls softball team is also
looking to improve from their
.500 record last year. They return
junior pitcher Lauren Anderson
and catcher Megan Uhrynowski,
a leader on both sides of the ball.
They will look to accomplish
more as a team. Uhrynowski
said, “We have improved a lot
from last year and we look to
accomplish much during the season. I expect for us to be a deep
threat in the SWC this year, and
I’m anticipating for us to make a
deep playoff run.”
The Girls Tennis Team has
Boys varsity track members warm-up for their meet on April 15 against
Stratford High. Photo Credit: Ron Guerrucci
about track and field is that
Alex Ghajar
running is the only important
Freelancer
or main event. Track consists of
As the spring sports have now
many different “jump” events
gotten into the full swing of prac- from the triple-jump, consisttices and competitions, the boys
ing of a hop-skip-jump pattern,
outdoor track team, following
to the long-jump, or even high
the accomplishment of their first
jump.
Class MM State Championship
Pole vaulting is very popular
last year, have big shoes to fill.
amongst both boys and girls on
The girls track team is also work- the team, as it is considered one
ing hard for another successful
of the more excting events, and
season.
many athletes fight over their
For both teams, practice
spots to vault.
started on March 23 this year.
“Pole vaulting may seem scary
Practice is mandatory five days
but really it’s all in the head. It’s
a week, while optional Saturday
quite simple; all you have to do is
training sessions are available.
run and jump,” said junior Jack
Each practice usually consists of
Ferrera.
any exercise from long distance
For athletes of a bigger and
workouts for the endurance
stronger build, throwing events
runners, to the shorter sprinting
like shot-put, discus, javelin toss,
exercises.
and even hammer throw are very
A common misconception
common.
Shot-put is when a thrower
stands in a large circular platform
with a metal border marking the
circlular border. The thrower
spins and “puts” the ball into the
air, as far as possible. Stepping
out of the circle is not allowed.
Discus is very similar, except a
spinning motion with the body is
used to generate power instead.
Javelin involves a long metal
rod that is thrown, similar to
a football or baseball, as far as
possible.
Hammer throw is a very
special event that combines both
the technique of discus with the
weight of a shot put.
Another common misconception is that many people see track
as an individual sport, which is
far from true.
“First and foremost, track is a
team sport [that requires chemistry] for teammates to successfully
run a relay. The run won’t flow
nicely without it. But the team
component goes far beyond that.
While only one or two runners
from each team occupy the track
at a time, the rest are cheering
and shouting words of encouragement. Having the entire team
there for you during an event has
a certain feeling that I feel can’t
be replicated anywhere else,” senior captain Tyler LeComer said.
The way a team can win a
track meet is by earning the most
points, just like in many other
sports. The better the position of
the runner, jumper, or thrower,
the more points they are awarded. The top six to eight runners
Photo Credit: The Connecticut Post
Michael Castelot
Freelancer
As the 2014-2015 winter
sports season finally comes to an
end and after the amazing State
Championship run by the boys
basketball team, Bunnell spring
sports have begun.
The boys and girls golf teams
will look to improve their game
this season. Both teams have high
hopes and expectations for this
season, as they both look to earn
a spot in the state playoffs.
Boys golf member, junior
Danny McCormick, said, “My
goal [for] this year as a team is to
have a winning record and to do
some damage in the postseason.
I really want to play my best golf.
I wish [the] best of luck to my
teammates and I can’t wait to tee
off the season!”
The boys lacrosse team has
high hopes for the season too.
They return a very talented player
in Haylee Norton, who won the
SWC championship last year as a
freshman. Assistant Coach Beth
Benson said, “My expectation for
the season is that through hard
work and commitment to the
team, we will earn our spot in
the upper end of our conference.
We compete against some of the
top tennis players in the state,
so we have our work cut out for
us. I hope to see all of our girls
succeed and success happens
when you work hard and dream
big. I know our girls have great
potential, and I want them to
realize that too!”
The boys tennis team expects
to be a top team in the SWC
this year. They return one of
the state’s best players in senior
Blake Norton, who will look to
play Division I tennis in college.
They also bring back seniors
Sean Karasik and Ben Stein.
Karasik said, “The team goal is
to make the state tournament by
winning half of our matches. We
have some good talent and also
some inexperience, so it's going
to be tough. Personally I want to
qualify for the SWC individual
tournament.”
The boys and girls track team
are back into action this year. The
boys’ team will try to win back to
back Class MM state championships. The girls’ team also expects
to have a great season. They lost
a lot of key players from last year,
but they return one of the fastest
runners in the state, Ruvens
Exantus. Exantus said, “This year
I’m hoping the team can have as
much success as we did last year.
I’m going to try and act [like]
more of a leader this year and get
my team as motivated as possible.”
Senior Ronnie Rossomando pitches for the BHS baseball teams.
Photo Credit: Connecticut Post
BHS Track and Field Ready to Dominate
usually are the ones to grant
points to a team. First place will
always get 10 points, while the
last person in the top six through
eight, depending on the rules of
that meet, will get one point. All
events are scored equally, and
ties are broken up by dividing
the points between the deserving
teams equally.
The BHS boys and girls track
teams had a co-ed meet at home
on April 15 against Stratford
High School. The meet was not
scored.
“I look forward to competing
against the other teams in the
area and seeing how they’ve improved over the years compared
to us,” said junior Diamond
Medley.
On Tues. April 21, the boys
track team competed against
Masuk, Joel Barlow, and Weston
at the BHS track. Bunnell won
against Joel Barlow 80-70, while
they lost to Weston, 107.5-42.5
and to Masuk, 87.5-62.5.
The boys team had another
meet on Mon. April 27 against
Pomperaug, New Milford and
Immaculate. Bunnell lost to
Pomperaug 95-55, but won
against New Milford, 82-68 and
Immaculate, 96-53.
The girls track team competed
against Immaculate and Weston
on Tues. April 21 at Masuk High
School. The team lost to Joel
Barlow, 77-73 and to Weston 8862, but they snatched the victory
against Masuk, 75-70.
Since the Bunnell track is
only two years old, several meets
will be held at the Bunnell field
during the season. Not all meets
are co-ed, and most of the time
boys and girls compete seperately
and on different days.
The girls track team warms up with a lap around the BHS track before
their meet. Photo Credit: Ron Guerrucci.
April 2015
NEWS
Page 8
Teacher Feature: Ms. Gard
Julianna Koonitsky
Staff Reporter
Ms. Rachelle Gard greeted
Bunnell High School in Jan. with
an enthusiastic and bubbly spirit,
ready to start teaching the Video
Production class in E-1. It is a
huge change for BHS. Mr. Gallichotte, former Video Production
teacher had taught at BHS for
35 and a half years and retired
this past February. Gard took his
place in her first year teaching.
“I’m excited,” she admits, “it’s all
kind of new for me.”
Gard’s interest in Video
Production began when she
was a child making videos with
her brother and her friends on
their home camera. She took a
video class in middle school and
learned how to edit what she had
filmed.
Gard had no idea this would
be the subject she would teach
in the future until she took
engineering classes in college
and realized she wanted to teach
technology education. During
her sophomore year, Ms. Gard
was heavily involved in leading
a youth group for middle school
kids. This is when her passion for
teaching began.
“Ms. Gard is always positive;
her smile brightens up my day,”
said junior Jaylon Eggleston.
Many people enjoy Gard’s enthusiasm and positive drive, not
only as a teacher, but as a person.
Gard was inspired to teach with
such compassion because of her
third grade teacher, Ms. Seims,
who Gard felt went above and beyond her role as a teacher.
When she was in third grade,
Ms. Gard had surgery done on
her hip and while she was out
of school for three months, her
teacher would spend every other
day at her house to make sure she
was getting all of her work. When
Gard missed out on a Valentine’s
Day event at her school, Ms. Seims brought her all of the candy
and notes from her classmates.
“She showed me that education is more than reading books
and memorizing facts; education
is learning how to become a person who positively contributes to
the community we live in,” said
Gard.
When Gard moved in January
2015, she needed to start looking
for a job. She was strictly looking
to teach engineering classes,
when the job offering at Bunnell came to her attention. After
hearing such good things about
the technical program here, she
decided to give it a chance. “I
knew I had an interest from my
Ms. Gard’s Favorites:
Movie: The Grinch
Book: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Food: Gumbo
Song: “I Don’t Think I Have” by Phil Collins
Sport: Volleyball
Sports Team: Seattle Mariners
own video making experiences
and thought it would be a new
challenge and fun opportunity,”
said Gard.
Even after his many years
working at BHS, Gallichotte
is happy to see his old class in
the right hands. He had a lot of
history with Video Production
in his 35 years at BHS. In 1981
he taught automotive mechanics,
then went on to teach drafting,
graphic arts, world of technology,
and robotics. When the video
production courses were added
in 1992, Gallichotte wrote the
curriculum for it. From about
mid 90’s up until this year he has
taught video and graphic arts.
“As I leave Bunnell High
School after 35 and a half years
I know that Video Production
and the Technology Education
department will be in good
hands as this old bulldog retires
and is replaced by a young new
pup with lots of enthusiasm and
energy,” said Gallichotte.
Gard has officially taken over
now, and has a couple new ideas
for BHS. She hopes that some
students will be interested in the
new Robotics club she will be
starting soon with Mr. Carrino.
She has also been running
the morning announcements.
Gard says that when she was in
high school, the announcements
were something people looked
forward to every day. Gard wants
it to be the same way at BHS. She
is all about collaboration and has
lots of ideas for working with
other teachers to try new things
in the school.
Ms. Gard was born in Baton
Rouge, La. and because of her
father’s job as an engineer; she
was used to moving around a
lot. She lived in La., Texas and
Ms. Gard is the newest addition to BHS, and she is teaching Video Production. Photo Credit: Julianna Koonitsky
as soon as she moves over the
Mont. in her childhood and her
summer.
father went to work in Japan for
From being in a band, to
two years, allowing her to spend
playing
sports, Gard was always
a couple of summers there. She
used
to
keeping
herself busy.
moved to Wash. with her mom
Gard
played
the
trumpet in a jazz
and brother, Chris, where they
band,
symphonic
band, and a full
stayed more permanently.
orchestra
from
when
she was in
Gard graduated from Curtis
fourth
grade
until
her
freshman
High School in University Place,
year
of
college.
She
spent
three
Wash. in 2009. She moved to
years
during
high
school
playing
Colo. to attend Colorado State
for a local community college
College where she majored in
jazz band.
Mechanical Engineering and
“[I] loved being in band!”
earned her license to teach
Gard
said. However, band was
technology classes. She graduated
not
Gard’s
only hobby; she
in 2014, and she was engaged a
participated
in volleyball and
couple months later in July.
swimming.
She
played volleyball
Gard moved to New Haven
throughout
middle
school and
this past January to be with her
into
her
freshman
year
of high
fiancé, who is currently getting
school
until
she
decided
to swim
his Ph.D. at Yale in Organic
during
her
last
three
years.
Chemistry. “He works in a re“Ms. Gard is a fun and energetsearch lab and recreates pharmaic
person, and a pleasure to have
ceutical drugs,” Gard said. Gard
as
a teacher,” said senior Mariah
and her future husband, Blaine,
Marter.
plan on getting married in Fort
Collins, Colo. this July and going
on a cruise for their honeymoon.
She says she does not have a pet,
but she plans on getting a kitten
Gatbsy Ring Dance: Fun Night of Friends
continued from page 1
Andres Venegas and Doralis Ceballos (left) and Kevin Campbell and
Olivia Kaskack (right) pose together at the junior ring dance.
Photo Credit: Scribe
out about the theme earlier so
combination,” said sophomore
[more girls] could have planned
Cooper Shea.
our dresses to match the theme,”
As people finished their meal,
said junior Sarah LaMontagne.
it was time for the dancing to
Once students arrived and
commence. In the Four Season’s,
found their seats, it was time
the wooden dance floor sits in
to eat. Vazzy’s served dinner
the middle of the room, which
buffet-style, where they offered
was a great way to see all of
salad, mixed vegetables, rolls,
the students that attended. The
pasta, chicken and roast beef.
lights around the room began to
Soft drinks and water were placed change color which created a soon every table to keep students
phisticated, club-like atmosphere.
hydrated throughout a night of
“The food wasn’t bad, and I
dancing. Dessert was served later liked the Four Seasons. I liked
in the night, which was a chocohow the dance floor was in the
late and vanilla ice cream roll.
middle and you could see every“The food was really good.
one,” said junior Alyssia Mosley.
The rolls and pasta were amazing,
The DJ played something for
which made it an overall good
everyone, from Latino to dance
hall classics like the “Cupid
Shuffle,” and the “Cha-Cha Slide,”
as well as newer beats like “Single
Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and
“Uptown Funk.” The DJ also
slowed it up with John Legend’s
“All of Me,” and Ed Sheeran’s
“Thinking Out Loud.”
“Compared to the 2014 ring
dance, it was a lot better because
they played better music and
everyone had more energy,” said
senior Dante Salce.
The girls went all out on their
dresses this year. Some popular
trends were sequins, jewels and
lots of glitter. Bright colors and
cut-out designs made every dress
unique; there were not really two
that were alike. Since most girls’
dresses were so fancy, the jewelry
was modest. Some guys were
seen in a full-blown suit, while
others just sported a colored
dress shirt and a trendy tie. Some
of the BHS teachers in attendance
even took part in the dance’s
theme, and they were spotted
wearing Gatsby-themed attire.
“My favorite part was dancing
because I got to spend time with
my friends,” said junior Stephanie
Alvarez.
There was also a photo booth
for students to take goofy pictures with their friends. A wide
array of hats, beads and boas
were on hand to make the photos
super fun. Students and teachers
got to take home strips of each
photo, which was a memorable
keepsake for the night, better
than any Instagram post.
“It’s always sort of a drag to
leave my comfy home to come
to a dance. But every single time
I do, I am so happy to be there,
everyone looks stunning. They’re
having such a good time, and
it’s an electric atmosphere. And
I loved that photo booth,” said
Mrs. Martire.
The night was also extraordinary because everyone looked
elegant and classy. The overall
environment was positive and
energetic, which really made the
night magnificent.
Proceeds from the 275 tickets
sold will go toward the junior
class fund, which will help pay
for prom and graduation fees.
Pres. Belliveau said, “I thought
the dance turned out really well.
It seemed like everyone enjoyed
themselves. I think [the class
council’s] hard work really paid
off.”
(left to right) Emily Booth, John Minopoli, and Lindsay Colacurcio at
the BHS junior ring dance. Photo Credit: Scribe