Issue #5 2011.pub

Plainfield
Public
Schools
Issue #5
Layout Editor: Amanda Flyte
March 2011
The Panther Advocate
Inside this issue:
Student Interviews
2-7
Teacher Interviews
9-11
Student Commentaries
12-17
Technology News
19
Video Game News
21-22
Sports
22-23
Club News
24
Special points of interest:
Congratulations to the boys and girls basketball teams, who both won
the ECC small division championships. The boys had a regular season record of
14 – 6 and the girls were 17-3. “It feels great to know that both girls and boys
won the ECC Small title, especially during my senior year,” said center Denise
Vergato, “it’s all I could’ve asked for from the team. It’s overwhelming to think
that we actually pulled it off.” Suthod Young, a senior on the boys team, had
nothing but good things to say about the achievement. “It’s been two years, and
we’ve had a lot of preparation for it. My teammates and I, we’ve been working
really hard. We wanted to do this, and we did.”
-Nate Boutin
Thoughts on Valentine’s Day…
Page 8
CAPT Schedule
Page 18
Graphic Design II
Page 19
ECC Indoor Track Championships
ECC
Small
Division
Champs!!!
Page 23
Marco’s Old School
Page 27
Photographs taken by LifeTouch
Page 2
Waiting For Tuesday
Interview by: Steven Tucker
Photographs by: Brandon Wisniewski
Walking down the hallway with pop in his step. Leaning back in his chair like he doesn't care.
The look on his face, you can see he is fearless. Steven Tucker is one of the toughest kids in the
school, he represents what a Plainfield student really is. So for all of the students at Plainfield
High, I had to interview this amazing man to show his true passions. Everyone looks up to Steven
and one day I hope to be a quarter of the man he is.
Stevan Tucker chilling in a chair
“Parties,
college, and
work: in that
order.”
When you’re on a date, do you think the man should pay or not?
Yes, it is the right thing to do.
How many hours a week do you spend watching TV?
Too much, about 20 hours, a lot of movies.
What would you do if you had a million dollars?
I would not work and would have more time to enjoy life.
What was your favorite game to play as a child?
“Super Smash Bros.” on the Nintendo 64.
Do you play video games?
Yes, I have a PS3 and play it all the time.
What’s your favorite gambling game?
Lottery tickets, ACES HIGH are my favorite.
Do you prefer card games or board games?
Board games because I am good at them.
What game show should you go on?
“Deal or No Deal” because it takes no skill to play.
Would you rather be good looking or rich?
Good looking for the ladies.
Would you like to know the day you’re going to die ahead of time? Why or why not?
I would like to know so I can do everything I want before I die.
Would you rather have super strength or super intelligence?
Super intelligence so I can help lot of people by curing diseases.
Would you rather have the power to be invisible or the power to read minds?
That is a hard question but if I had to pick, I would go with the power to read minds so I would
know what other people are thinking of. It would be fun.
What one thing are you most proud of?
Finishing high school.
Where do you think you’ll be in five years?
Working my dream job and making a difference in
the world.
What are you most looking forward to in the
next year?
Parties, college, and work; in that order.
What is the most important thing you’re saving
up for?
College and a new car.
Steven Tucker with Mr. Farrish
Page 3
Steven Tucker with Billy Petrowsky
“Mr. Marr would
make a great
president because
everyone likes
him”
Steven Tucker with Mr. Marr
Who influenced you most when you were a child?
My dad because he was always there for me.
Who influences you the most now?
Myself. I want to do the best I can and the only way to get there is if I push myself to reach my
goals.
What is the most daring or dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
I’ve done lots of dangerous things in my life. Some of them are walking on river ice, jumping
off bridges, and a lot of other dangerous stuff.
What person in history would you most like to meet?
Henry David Thoreau, interesting person with good quotes.
Who do you think would make a great president?
Mr. Marr would make a great president because everyone likes him.
If you could run for public office, would you? Why or why not?
Yes, I would run for the little people. I would do my best.
What would you do if you were a woman for a week?
Shopping of course, I would need to look nice if I was a woman.
Do you like to open doors for women?
Always because I am that kind of person.
What is the sexiest thing about a woman?
The heart because the sexiest thing a woman can do is care.
What’s your favorite sport?
Football. I played it for many years and you get to hit people.
What’s something you like to do and not many people know about it?
I raise rabbits for show. It is different and I like doing it.
What’s your favorite store?
Wal-Mart because you can get anything there.
What are you interested in? (Like fishing, hunting, and paintball...ETC.)
I play paintball and go hunting. I only hunt with a bow, it gives me a challenge.
Why did your parents name you your name?
My grandfather is named Marc Steven so my name became Steven Marc.
Do you believe in "happily ever after"?
Yes and no, I believe that some people get the big house, beautiful woman, and good job. But
some aren’t so lucky.
What's the most embarrassing moment you can remember happening to you?
I locked my keys in my car at the school once.
Do you have any pets?
I have a fish named Oscar.
What do you do in your spare time?
I wish I had some spare time. When I do I spend it hanging with friends and looking for something fun to do.
Do you like to sing while you are taking a shower?
No, I can’t sing.
What's your favorite color?
Black and white.
If you knew today was your last day on Earth, how would you spend it and
why?
Continued
I would eat all the food I could then I would walk around Wal-Mart till I died.
on the next
page...
Page 4
“It is one
big party
when you
die.”
What is your favorite appetizer on a hot date?
Chocolate pie, to see if she is open minded.
Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night person, I like to sleep during the day.
What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?
I like to stay up and watch the sun rise. It is best when on the
water.
If you could take a year off and go travelling, where
would it be?
I would go to Hawaii so I could learn how to surf.
Which is your favorite comic book character? What do
you like about him/her?
Batman, because he doesn’t care if people like him or not.
He just wants to catch the bad guy.
Do you like frogs? Have you ever eaten frog legs?
Steven Tucker with Matt Laprade
Tasted like chicken. I am willing to try anything.
If a movie was made about your life would it be a drama, comedy, tragedy, or a musical?
Comedy, because I like to make people laugh.
If you were to write an ad on yourself what would your slogan be?
Don’t let your life pass you by!
Do you believe in life after death?
Yes, it is one big party when you die.
Are you afraid of any thing?
Nothing, life is better when nothing holds you back. I don’t like to read in front of a group but I do
if I have to.
Who do you think is the sexiest man/woman alive?
Myself because I get jealous when I look in the mirror.
How old do you think you’ll be when you have kids?
Twenty-seven and a half, but I don’t know. Anything can happen.
If you could be an animal, what animal would you want to be? Why?
A fish because I don’t have to do anything.
What one thing would you change
about your school?
I would change the rules of
senior privilege so you
could come in late and
leave early.
What is the ultimate
dream vacation?
To go to every state so I
can see what is out there.
Steven Tucker punching Brandon Wisniewski in the face.
Steven Tucker with Mr. Emmi
Page 5
MURPH!
Interview and Photograph by: Eneriko
Kevin Murphy, a “talented” young man who is in his senior year of high school, allowed me to sit down and interview him. He is an athlete here at our school and an academic champion as well, having taken many rigorous, yet
challenging classes such as Shakespeare and Honors Pre-Calc. He is quite possibly, just hands down, the coolest
guy you will EVER meet. After a five minute interview and many, many grueling days of translation, here is what he
had to say.
Murph! Why’d you cut the ‘fro?
Because of the Patriots loss and plus I
wanted to.
What sports do you play?
Football, basketball, and golf.
Who is your favorite coach?
I don't have one; I like them all equally.
Do you consider yourself good at your
sports? Which sport the best?
Yeah, I consider myself a legend. Golf is
my best.
What kind of car do you drive and why?
94’ Cavalier: it was cheap.
Do you consider yourself a good driver?
I think I am the best driver.
What are your favorite classes and why?
AP History, because it’s fun.
How are you doing in baby history, I mean AP history?
Decent, it’s by far the easiest class ever.
MURPH when are you going to work at KFC with Carter and me?
NEVER! Because Carter doesn't work there anymore, he's a quitter!
Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, and Jessica Alba. Dispose of one, marry one,
and kiss one, go!
Dispose Angelina Jolie, kiss Megan Fox, and marry Jessica Alba. ;)
If you could go back into any period in time, what would it be?
The Great Depression.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
“Inception” because it’s awesome.
Any last words for Plainfield High School before you graduate?
WHERE IS SHE?!?!
http://www.reelmovienews.com/gallery/batman-the-joker/
What will you do after high school?
Go to college
Page 6
Killing Time With Kezzilla!
Interview and Photographs by: Brandon Wisniewski
Between work, school, and being senior class president, Keziah Encarnacion has a lot to take care of before she graduates from
Plainfield High School. Organizing the Senior Prom and working on how to create an exciting prom night with the minimal amount
of money is a tough task. Aside from that, Keziah also has work every week and a lot of homework. She barely has time to plan for
college, so I was lucky to even be able to interview her. Overall I wanted to show everyone at P.H.S. a small part of whom Keziah is
and what she plans to do now and after she leaves P.H.S.
So Keziah, where did your name originate from?
Well, my parents wanted something different, so they looked in the Bible and Keziah
was there. It was a perfect, different name.
What is it like being the senior class president?
Well umm haha it’s cool. I don’t get to do as much as I had wanted, and I haven't
been able to achieve any of my goals, but everything happens for a reason. I can’t
wait for the end of the year senior events.
So do you work, if so where?
I work at McDonalds in Plainfield. I’ve been there for a year and a half.
How do you enjoy your job and why?
Ummm, enjoy? Haha. Well I like working there because the people I work with are a
lot of fun. The job itself is horrific. I will not be working there for the rest of my life.
What colleges have you been accepted to and which do you prefer?
So far, I have only been accepted to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. I am awaiting responses from UConn,
Eastern, and Quinnipiac. I am unsure which one I want to go to at the moment.
Do you drive, if so what kind of car?
I do drive. I drive a Pontiac Grand Prix. It’s fast but I don't take advantage of it.
What has been your favorite class at P.H.S. for your entire high school career?
My favorite class would have to have been anatomy and physiology. I liked it because I love learning about the human body.
What is your dream career and why?
My dream career is to be a pediatrician. I love helping kids, and the medical field spikes my interest.
Why are you afraid of vomit?
Ever since I was little I have always been scared of it. I don't know why. It looks gross, tastes gross, and
smells horrible. It’s scary seeing someone vomit, and experiencing vomiting. Yuck! It makes me quiver.
What are the different nicknames people have given you over the years?
People call me Kezzie, Kezz, Kezzilla, or Special K.
Out of all of these nicknames which are your favorite?
I like Kezzie and Kezzilla. I like Kezzie because I have always been called Kezzie, and my dad calls me
Kezzilla.
If you could do anything before you graduate what would it be?
I would want to do something mischievous. I’m called a goodie girl all the time. I need to rebel to show I
have a dark side. :D
What are your plans for the summer before you go off to college?
I plan to work in the morning, and spend the afternoons exploring, going places, and having fun.
What do you plan for prom and the senior class trip?
I had no say about the class trip. It’s the same place as every other year, and prom is at Foxwoods. I can’t wait.
In the end, what would be your last words for P.H.S.?
My last words will be said in my class speech, at graduation. :)
Page 7
X-Man: The Story of One Man, Who Wanted to Be a Cheerleader
Interview and Photograph by: Zachary Nadeau
I had the shakes, I was nervous. I couldn’t help it, I felt like I was about to go meet Bruce Lee. Yes,
I’m referring to the first time I met Xavier Laporte. I had heard so much about this man’s skills and
I was intimidated as the interview began…
For people like me who didn’t even know your name before this interview, what do you want them to know about you?
I’m a fun, loving person, I’m friendly. I like making new friends, and I
don’t bite.
What made you decide to get into cheerleading?
I have done 8 years of karate and 4 years of gymnastics, so I figured it was
a good opportunity for me.
Do you think that you are looked at differently because you choose to
do cheerleading instead of football or other “guy” sports?
I think people do, but if it’s what I like, people shouldn’t really care.
Is it true that you are black belt?
Yeah…
What other things are you interested in besides cheerleading?
Soccer and Baseball.
How do you like Plainfield High so far? Is it everything what you hoped for when coming to
high school?
Plainfield High School is a lot better than middle school. It’s everything I expected and hoped for, I
really like it.
What is your favorite after school snack?
Uhmm… Ramen Noodles.
What is your favorite song, or artist?
“No Love” by Eminem.
Do you have any siblings?
One younger sister.
What’s your biggest fear?
Losing a loved one.
What are your plans after high school?
Go to college for technology and computers.
What is your favorite class? What do you like about it?
Probably world civ. It’s better than last year and I have all
my friends in that class.
Who is your favorite teacher?
Mr. Zenowitz!
http://media.daemonsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Bruce-Lee.jpg
Page 8
Valentine’s Day: To Be or Not To Be
Article and Photographs By: Cassie Guerin
Ever since our first year in kindergarten, when we think of Valentine’s Day we associate it with Cupid, chocolate, roses, and valentine cards.
But not many people know where these traditions came from. Valentine’s
Day holds its roots in an Ancient Roman festival that celebrated fertility. This
festival occurred annually on February 15 until the year 496 when Pope Gelasius I turned it into a Christian feast day declaring February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. However, this holiday did not become associated with love until
the 14th century in a poem written in honor of Richard III and Anne of Bohemia’s engagement. Valentine’s Day continued to evolve over the centuries
and by the 18th century it was traditional to give gifts and hand-made cards.
Now it is a commercial success; nearly 25% of all cards sent each year are
valentines.
Student opinions on Valentine’s Day:
“”What makes Valentine’s
Day so special is the person
you spend it with.”
-Brandon Wisniewski
“I think Valentine’s Day is
cool and all, but I don’t think
that people should be told
when to be romantic. Be
spontaneous!”
-Colleen Horta
“Valentine’s day is a special day because
it’s the one day of the year that’s dedicated to the one you truly love and if
you’re lucky enough to have someone on
this day you should cherish it.”
-Dj Bledsoe
information taken from: “Valentine's Day History” — Infoplease.com
Photograph by: Brandon Wisniewski
“Although many would disagree with me, Valentine’s
Day is a wonderful holiday. Whether I have someone
or not, to watch the world fall in love or appreciate
love all on one day is a relief from all the negative
talk and actions we are so accustomed to.”
-Jenna Marchenkoff
“I think it’s a good day because
you don’t have to show love to
only your significant other, but it
is also a day where you can show
that you really care about your
friends too.”
-Jordan Beauregard
Page 9
The Helping Hand
Interview and photographs by: Marco Kotwasisnki
Mrs. Collins is one of the paraprofessionals and the instructor of the Max and Company Program at Plainfield High School. She also helps run the school store and trains students with special needs to work at the
store.
“Fantastic,
amazing and
accepting.”
What is your official title at PHS?
I am a one-on-one with a student here and I also am the instructor of the Max and Company program.
How long have you been working at Plainfield High?
I’ve been at Plainfield High School for 4 years yet and I’ve been working in the Plainfield School system
for over 25 years.
What’s your favorite gum?Gum? (Laughing) It would have to be like some sort of sugarless. Ah Winter
Green!
Are you a pastor? (officially entitled)A pastor? I am a justice of the peace and I have a ministers license.
I officiate weddings.
How many people have you married?
Hundreds. I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of weddings.
I heard you married Mrs. Leitch.
No. I officiated her wedding. (Laughing)
To what country would you move if you retire? And why?
To what country? I think I would stay in the United States because all of my children and grandchildren are
here.
What are you going to do after Max graduates?
I am not sure of that. It is up to the administration.
Describe PHS in three words.
Fantastic, amazing and accepting.
It must be hard keeping an eye on Max while running the school store. Would you rather change
professions? If yes, what would you like to be? If no, why?No, I would not change my profession because I feel that I truly enjoy teaching kids with special needs and I enjoy teaching students to accept those
with differences.
What kind of music do you like to listen to? I like a variety of music. Several of my children and my
husband are musicians and I sing so I enjoy just ah…. such a variety. I love old time rock ‘n roll and I love
gospel and folk music. I like them all.
When Max goes home, do you still help him?
I have gone to Max’s home to assist his family in the past and I’ve gone on Home Visits to assist other
families while working for Families United for Children’s Mental Health.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are spending time with my family. I have six children and eleven grandchildren...running
marathons and other races. I also enjoy listening to my husband and son play at many music venues.
Mrs. Collins, Max and Mrs. Holmy
Mrs. Collins at the school store
Page 10
She Shoots, She Scores
Interview and Photograph by: Cynthia McIntosh
Many people don't know Mrs. Voland, one of our gym teachers, very well. They don't take the time to get to know her. So I took the
opportunity to go and interview Mrs. Voland. I found out that she is very busy and very hard to get a hold of. I chased her all over
the school until I finally got to take a moment to ask her a few questions, and I found her to be very pleasant .
How long have you worked at Plainfield High School?
Fourteen years at the high school and 33rd year in the Plainfield district.
Explain your perfect day here at P.H.S.
To have every kid come to class prepared and to give 100% every minute of class and for after school activities to have every kid
present and try 100% to win their contests.
What would be your worst day here at P.H.S?
When kids don’t corporate and always say this is “stupid” and why do we have to do this?
When kids just complain.
Why are you a gym teacher?
Because I like sport activities and when I went to college I thought about something that I
liked to do, and I like being around kids.
Do you or have you coached any sports? What sports do you or did you coach?
I coached basketball, first year girl’s soccer, and softball.
What was your best team?
The 1993 girls’ basketball team. We won Quinnebaug Valley Conference championship and
lost in final quarter of states. Softball we won back to back Quinnebaug Valley Conference
championship in 1999-2000 and in 2004 we lost in state finals.
What season of coaching was your best?
I enjoyed basketball season.
What’s your favorite sport? Why?
I’ve always loved basketball and watched it plus played it but now I enjoy playing golf.
What’s your biggest pet peeve about the gym?
That people don’t respect the gym.
What high school did you attend?
North Haven High school.
Do you have any pets? What types?
I have a boxer, his name is Benny.
What is your favorite type of cheese?
My favorite is Brie.
What do you think is the most important meal of the day?
Breakfast.
What is your favorite food? Why?
I don’t have one.
Congratulations to all
who performed in the
Variety Show! You did
an excellent job!
Photograph by: Colleen Horta
Page 11
Rice for Lunch
Interview and Photograph by: Danielle Willard
I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with the wonderful Mrs. Rice to ask her a few
questions that have been racking the brains of students for years.
What are you having for lunch today and why?
I’m having nacho pie because I wanted to try Mrs. Salo’s nacho pie recipe.
What are your favorite colors?
Yellow and blue.
What’s your shoe size?
Six and a half.
Are you married and do you have children?
Yes, I am married. For 25 years. And I have three children.
What’s your favorite television show or favorite movie?
I love “The Sound of Music.”
Who’s your favorite musical artist, and what’s your favorite song?
I just like country music.
What do you do in your free time?
Well, I’m busy with my kids. But I love reading, and I’ve been crocheting. All of my relatives received crocheted scarves for Christmas. So, I made 15 scarves.
Students have referred to you as “intimidating.” Why do you think that is?
Well, I feel if rules are made by administration, then I should follow through. So I do.
How do you do your hair?
Blow-dry it. Boom. Done.
Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Baldwinsville, New York, which is near Syracuse in upstate New York. And all this snow that we’re getting is
what I’m used to. I love it!
If you could live off of one food forever, what would it be?
I love scalloped ham and potatoes. Probably not the best health food for me, but I love it.
Why do you do your little noises? When did you start doing them?
I just did it. I actually don’t know how that developed.
pophistorydig.com
Why the overhead? Do you think you’ll ever update to a smart board?
Possibly to the smart board, but I haven’t been given that option. I love the overhead because I get to see how kids are working, see
if they’re understanding. I love the interaction as we learn together. I’m learning what they’re doing,
and they’re learning the materials themselves. I love it! Besides I get to see what they’re doing too.
In January, you were gone for a few days. Is it because you fell off of a roof while trying to ski?
Is this true?
No. That is absolutely, positively, not true.
Have you ever gotten into a fight?
Me!? No. Have I broken up a fight? Yes.
What do you think makes a student “great”?
A great student isn’t necessarily the A++ student. A great student is the person who’s doing his or her
homework and tries and tries and tries, because I will be right there trying with him or her.
Page 12
The Dangerous Deadly Truth
Khoi Ton/ NorwichBulletin.com
Commentary by: Cynthia McIntosh
Recently, Connecticut has been having dangerous and sometimes fatal moments due to all of the snow storms from the last
couple of weeks. There have been multiple reports of roofs collapsing, leaving people and animals injured and even some dead. Most
of the roofs at risk are large flat roofs. Waterford Patch’s Blue-Thumbed Builder offered great tips on roof clearing. Tons of roofs
across Connecticut were buckling, bending and collapsing, which made Governor Daniel Malloy issue a strong recommendation that
officials inspect every municipal roof and also that all residents clear their own roofs.
New Haven County was hit the hardest. There was a roof collapsing in Bethany, which included a horse barn and had an
end result of horses being trapped and injured. In Durham, one of their local barns collapsed and killed a baby calf. The Windsor
High School’s roof did not collapse but did receive a great deal of damage. Thirty workers in Milford miraculously escaped their
business building without being injured when the roof was collapsing. All of these tragedies could have been avoided if people had
listened and cleaned off their roofs.
In Moosup, Connecticut, 100 feet of a large barn on a farm collapsed under a mix of rain and snow. According to the
“Norwich Bulletin” Stan Parcinski, the owner of the farm, saw this catastrophe happen on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, and was
shocked about what he was seeing. Parcinski said, “I couldn’t believe what my eyes were showing me. The whole 100-foot section
had just caved in. There were no rafters left. They’re just smashed up under the rest of the debris.” He also told reporters that he hadn't worried about the barn collapsing, because it had a slated aluminum roof that had survived
other major snowstorms which also included the blizzard of 1978. The insurance will not be
covering the loss of the barn but Parcinski hopes to rebuild it. Manny Garcia from Danielson
had said, ”I’ve never seen it this bad” and Plainfield Fire Marshal Paul Yellen said, “Snow will
absorb a significant amount of water, if the pitch of the roof is not steep enough to encourage
drainage, or if it’s a flat roof, something has to give, and most likely it will be the roof. Once
the roof collapses, it can bring the rest of the building with it.”
Now many people are probably wondering if our school and school district is having
Stan Parcinski
any problems, well I decided to go and find out this information. So I went to talk to the head
custodian Mr. Kettle. I asked him if our school was having any problems with the snow on our
roofs or if any other schools in our district have had any problems with snow. He said, “We have no problems here, a couple other
schools in town have drifting but the town hired a civil engineer to inspect the schools and said that they needed to clean off the
roofs. There was no damage and no big problems, we lucked out.” So as far as I can tell there is nothing for our school to worry
about. As I went to leave the office after talking with Mr. Kettle he said this, “Now plowing the parking lots, that’s a whole different
story!”
Information taken from: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/homepage/x1779422541/Moosup-barn-collapses-under-weight-of-snow-rain and http://cantonct.patch.com/articles/roofer-madness-connecticut-kept-busy-by-collapses-and-damage
gwinnettbuzz.com
Inferi Among Us Article by: Brittney Deloge
Dr. Jules Cotard was a Parisian neurologist who was the first to discover the signs of the unique psychological disorder, Cotard’s Syndrome, which was obviously named after him. Cotard's syndrome is a rare
condition where an individual believes that he or she is a part of the living dead. Symptoms include: believing
one’s veins have dried up, obsessing over the belief (or rather delusion) that one has lost part of his or her body
or whole organs, assuming one’s self has no soul, or is even a part of the walking dead. Its psychosis is encountered primarily in mental disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia, which are characterized by organic lesions where the temporal and parietal lobes of the brain meet. According to FactIndex.com, in a lecture in Paris
in 1880, Cotard described a patient with the alias of Mademoiselle X, who denied the existence of God, the
Devil, several parts of her body, and her need to eat. She believed she was eternally damned and could no
longer die a natural death. She later died of starvation.
Neurologically, Cotard’s syndrome is assumed to be related to Capgras delusion ("the belief that your
relatives have been replaced by impostors”) for they are both assumed to be the result of a disconnection from
the part of the brain that enables individuals to recognize faces, as well as the areas that associate emotions with
recognition. Both Cotard’s and Capgras are commonly caused by brain damage. Treatment is found to be difficult, for the medications, tricyclic and serotoninergic, which are antidepressants, have shown to be very ineffective.
When the patient is given environmental support and safety, the effect of treatment may increase, however, their best bet is
to receive Electroconvulsive Therapy, if they ever truly wish to “be alive.” According to an article from “The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences”, a 61-year-old woman suffering from Cotard’s syndrome was given this treatment for two
weeks, shockingly after her second day of treatment she stated “I am alive.”
With a syndrome as bizarre as Cotard’s, maybe all those nutcases crossing their fingers for a 2012 Zombie Apocalypse will
have their dreams come true.
Information taken from:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/431745/walking_corpse_syndrome_a_disorder.html
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/55/11/1319
Page 13
Egypt: Hot Days, Cold Nights and Shoe Throwing
rhizome.org
Commentary By: Colleen Horta
-Mr. Marr
Information Gathered From:
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/01/whats-happening-egypt-explained
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/562238/201102041911/ObamaViews-Egypt-Through-A-Unique-Lens.htm
Update February 14th: President Mubarak has officially stepped down and has handed control over to
the military.
www.bostonherald.com
After suffering through the arctic climate that Connecticut has currently
been facing, I knew it’d be a nice escape to feel the warm rays of sunshine in Egypt.
However, that wouldn’t be a leisure trip. While the students of Plainfield High
School were spending the snow-days of the past month cozy in their houses…doing
nothing… I was researching the political turmoil that has been happening in Cairo.
We’ve all seen the headlines: “Cairo in Crisis”, “Cairo the Epicenter of Violence”,
“Protestors Arrested”, but not that many people know exactly what’s happening. So
I wanted to get the actual information, and where better to go than the source of the
madness?
Basically, people don’t like the current President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak.
According to the journalist website “Mother Jones”, the people are protesting “their
autocratic governments [a government where the ruler has unlimited power], high
levels of corruption, and
grinding poverty.” The
Egyptians have hardly
any freedom left, and are
President Hosni Mubarak
significantly poor. This
“war among the people” was inspired by the Tunisian (the “cousin” country to Egypt) revolt, which ultimately lead to the downfall of their government. Since Cairo is the capital of Egypt, that is where most of the violence and protests are taking place. Mass mobs are angrily attacking others, yet they are all fighting for the same cause. They are simply trying to
create their voice, and get back the freedoms they have lost. They no
longer have internet access because officials were trying to stop mass
communication, but word of mouth still allows the riots to be organized.
People would do anything to make their statement, which apparently included throwing shoes at government officials.
These violent outbreaks are causing problems for America. We
provide the Egyptian army with their supplies, and so if they shoot protestors, they are shooting them with our weapons. Furthermore, polls indicate that Americans believe that our gas prices will continue to increase as
long as the fighting continues. Egypt is one of the major crude oil suppliEgyptian Army tries to stop protestors in Cairo.
ers, and problems could pursue if the government problems aren’t resolved.
According to investors.com, people are debating Obama’s actions, which are based off of his personal experiences. As a
child, he lived in a culture where he personally experienced a dictatorship. He’s seen the problems caused, but he’s also seen the
resolutions. Therefore, he doesn’t want to just cover up the problem to make it go away. However, he also doesn’t want to just invade and take complete control of the situation, which is what China is threatening to do.
What do I think? Personally, if we intervene too quickly, I could see a situation similar to Vietnam or Korea arising. For
now, I think it is best to do just what we are doing now: keep close tabs on the violence, and maintain a watchful view to make sure
nothing escalates to the extreme.
I also asked Mr. Marr what he thought of the situation in its entirety, because we can all count on his realistic and respectable political opinions. He simply stated, “I am hoping sincerely for a civilized solution.” I completely agree with his simple yet
truthful answer. Violence won’t solve this crisis. Anger only leads to more anger, and when in history has a war fully solved a problem? A war between opposing views might be a temporary fix, but unless it is peacefully resolved, this bloodshed will continue until
there isn’t any blood left to shed.
Page 14
Pop Went My Heart
musicrooms.net
omgmusic.com
avirllavigne.com
Music Review by: Amanda Flyte
When you think of Linkin Park, you think of rock. When you think of Avril Lavigne you think of
her dark eyeliner and black clothes. When you think of McFly (even though you probably never heard of
them) you think of Chris Pine describing the British lads as Blink 182 meets early Beatles in “Just My
Luck” right? Well, not anymore. Recently each of these artists have changed their sounds into a more
mainstream one. It may just be me, but I think that this change of music is to be considered conforming.
While, I like the new sound, it is not the same as the old music that you are used to and at times can be
disappointing.
It all started when Avril Lavigne released “Girlfriend” which was a million miles away from
“Complicated” and “My Happy Ending.” Her black clothes were overcome by pink and she died her hair
blond. She started wearing fluffy tutus with stripped stockings and created her own clothing line for
Kohl’s, Abbey Dawn, of similar style.
On September 5, 2010, McFly previewed their highly anticipated new single, “Party Girl.”
McFly hadn’t released anything new since their 2008 album, Radio:ACTIVE. They spent all of 2009
writing, and re-writing songs for their new album, they flew to Atlanta to work with Dallas Austin and
back to London to work with Taio Cruz. As soon as I heard Taio Cruz, I knew this album would be different, but nothing prepared me for the minute long clip of “Party Girl” that premiered on Radio One. It
was nothing like I expected and that made me love it. It was fast and dance-y, like something Taio Cruz
would sing himself. But at the same time it was the same McFly because the lyrics, the subject was exactly something McFly would sing about. McFly’s oldest fans have been split between two fine lines,
those who love McFly’s new sound and those who hate it.
I admit that I don’t normally listen to Linkin Park, but I do know the song that was on the
“Twilight” soundtrack and the song that was on the “Transformers 2: The Rise of the Fallen” soundtrack,
and those songs are obviously rock. But their latest single, “Burning In The Skies” is nothing like previous songs. It is obviously pop.
I understand that artists change as they grow up, but why do they have to conform? Why change
everything that your fans love about you just to get more listeners? These three artists already had record
deals and number ones, and millions of fans. McFly has number one singles in Argentina and Spain, I
think it was obvious people loved them. So why change now?
I Dropped My Heart Between Natalie Portman And Julianne Moore
Article by: Amanda Flyte
hollywoodgo.com
Chris Colfer, he’s this cute little boy from everybody's favorite television show, “Glee”, admit it, it’s
your favorite show. He plays Kurt Hummel who is an openly gay teenager, the only one in his high school in
Lima, Ohio. He has a beautiful voice and a sassy style sense and admit it, he’s your favorite character. As the
second season of “Glee” begins, Kurt is tortured by a nasty football player, Dave Karofsky. It gets so bad that
Kurt transfers to a school with a zero-tolerance bullying policy. Kurt’s struggles, and how Chris portrays them,
prove how much of an incredible actor Chris is, and how much he deserved the Golden Globe that he won last
month for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture made for Television. When the
presenters announced his name, the shock and surprise was evident on Chris’s rosy face.
“I think I dropped my heart between Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore so if anyone sees that
please give it back to me. I-I-cant believe this, thank you so much Hollywood Foreign Press. Uhm I have to
thank Ryan Murphy for being my fairy godfather. Uhm everybody at Fox, Robert Ulrich for submitting me to
the show when there was nothing to submit me for, uhm, our amazing, amazing, amazing crew who keep us
sane during these crazy times. And our very talented cast, you guys owe this- I mean you guys deserve this as
much as I do. But, uhm, most importantly to all the amazing kids that watch our show, and the kids that our show celebrates
who are constantly told ‘no’ by the people in their environments, by bullies at school, that they can’t be who they are or
have what they want because of who they are, well, screw that kids.”
In an backstage interview, Chris became emotional, saying "I have my big-boy pants on right now. I'm trying not
to cry! I hate to say I'm a Cinderfella, but I've been watching the Globes since I was an embryo. I got a Facebook message
from an elementary school friend who said, 'I remember you standing up and talking about attending the Golden Globes
when we were little.'" Later on in the interview Chris’s composure started melting again when asked about being a gay
rights role model, "Now I'm really trying not to cry, but one of the best things, for all the kids who are watching tonight,
who don't understand that Kurt Hummel is a character… they saw him win and that's great."
I think that it is incredible that a 19-year-old boy has won a Golden Globe the very first time he was nominated. It
really does say, that no matter whom you are, you can do what you want. Forget about the bullies who tell you otherwise,
go for the Golden Globe!!!
Page 15
Earth Rotates, Horoscope Changes: Initiate Mass Panic Now!
Commentary By: Colleen Horta
For those astronomy lovers out there, about a month ago there was an announcement made about a new horoscope
sign, “Ophiuchus” (pronounced off-ih-YOU-cuss). Professor Parke Kunkle, an astronomy teacher at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, suggested that this new sign be added to the 12 main signs, and that new dates be assigned to
every sign. Hours after this announcement was made, the news spread virally, and avid horoscope followers panicked.
However, there are many faults with this claim, and I’m here to debunk the mystery of the constellation.
First off, this constellation isn’t new. Suggestions from the 1930s astrologers state that there should be 13, and not
12, constellations, including Ophiuchus. In 1970, astrologist Stephen Schmidt published the book “Astrology 14”, which
actually included one other sign “Cetus”, as well as Ophiuchus. He is also the one who created the astrological sign for
Ophiuchus. So why is this Professor Kunkle claiming that we should all start following other horoscopes?
Simply speaking, instead of the old-fashioned way of looking up at the sky and seeing the mapped out constellations, the modern-day astronomers are mathematically proportioning the sky, and now the constellations are somehow
changed. Again, let me reiterate the point that this sign has already been discovered, regardless of the math behind it. So it’s
all personal opinion as to whether the change should be made or not.
Furthermore, the Twitter and Facebook rumor mill hasn’t been helping the cause. Some people claimed that these
changes would be mandatory for only those born after 2009, while others are completely disregarding the suggested change.
However, this is all only subject to opinions, and until there is a scientific declaration, that’s all this new horoscope change
will be: an opinion.
Aries: March 21-April 19
Taurus: April 20-May 20
Gemini: May 21-June 20
Cancer: June 21- July 22
Leo: July 23- Aug. 22
Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Libra: Sept. 23: Oct. 22
Scorpio: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21
Sagittarius: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
Capricorn: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
Aquarius: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Pisces: Feb. 19 – March 20
Aries: April 19 – May 13
Taurus: May 14 – June 21
Gemini: June 22 – July 20
Cancer: July 21 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 11 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 17 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 31 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 24 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 30—Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 18—Jan. 20
Capricorn: Jan. 21 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 17 – March 11
Pisces: March 12 – April 18
zodiacimages.net
New Horoscope Dates:
Ophiuchus
Ophiuchus star constellation
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1347140/Horoscope-change-2011-Sidereal-astrology-reveals-13th-OPHIUCHUS-zodiac-sign.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiuchus_(astrology)
whassupinthemilkyway.blogspot.com
Old Horoscope Dates:
www.whassupinthemilkyway.blogspot.com
Page 16
Do You Believe in Xenu?
Commentary by: Jeremy Mack
http://questionthedogma.com/blog1/xenu.jpg
This is exactly what I imagine the head of
the intergalactic federation to look like.
Truth seekers have always flocked to religion or science to explain the unbelievable events that occur on earth. There are many fables created by different cultures,
like the story of Adam and Eve, or how scientists believe in the theory of evolution.
Currently there is one religion spreading across America that provides a sense of science and faith. This religion is called the Church of Scientology.
The Church of Scientology claims that a warlord by the name of Xenu, who is
head of the Galactic Federation, came to this earth somewhere around 75,000,000 and
4 quadrillion years ago and dropped off Thetans inside of volcanoes of Hawaii to end
the population problem on Xenus’s planet, which allegedly had two hundred and fifty
million inhabitants. If the Thetans survived the hot lava, after a 36 day waiting period
they were hit with a hydrogen bomb. The spirits of theses murdered aliens were brainwashed to forget their past lives and stay on earth, and when humans started arriving,
the Thetans entered their bodies and caused all their hardships, which is still happening
today.
The worst part about this belief is that you don’t learn this knowledge until
you are already deep into the religion and reach the “OT3” level. The way to increase
your level is by donating money to the Church of Scientology, but it is way worth it
because by the time you reach the “OT6” level you allegedly receive telepathy.
The main practice of the Church of Scientology is called auditing, where
members use an E-meter to help recall past lives and release the main Thetans from the
body. The less Thetans you have in your body, the more relaxed you should feel, and
the closer you will be to salvation. Once you are released of all your excess Thetans,
you should be able to get in and out of “Meat Shells” or bodies the same way a human
gets in and out of cars.
Another fact that doesn’t help the religion seem realistic, is that the creator of
the Church of Scientology is an American pulp fiction writer named Lafayette Ronald
Hubbard. I guess this religion fits his calling because obviously there has been some
sort of alien take over and the aliens are forcing some to believe in this crazy religion.
No person in his or her right state of mind would find any of this information even
debatable.
http://www.foxnews.com/images/
http://www.the-latest.com/
http://3.bp.blogspot.com
Tom Cruise and John Travolta are
both Scientologists.
This is an E Meter; It looks epic.
Information found at
http://www.scientology.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
http://www.xenu.net/
Page 17
Pocahontas 3000
Commentary by: Brittney Deloge
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
transgriot.blogspot.com
http://doodiepants.com
Information taken from
http://recomparison.com/comparisons/100281/avatar-vs-pocahontas/
http://wtfoodge.com/avatar-pocahontas/
http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/35
www.nineronline.com/a-e/avatar-versus-pocahontas1.213662037/avatar-to-follow-a-pocahontas-narrative
http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/movies/pocahontas/pocahontas.html
http://passportforthesoul.com/2010/01/08/avatar-a-plagiarizedpocahontas/
...a slightly
more thrilling
plot, learning
to tame
dragons with
mythical
beings is far
more exciting
than being
taught the
skills to grow
crops by
Natives.
It seems that as soon as James Cameron’s movie “Avatar” hit
the big screens it became an instant success. With little time to ponder,
one who has had the chance to view the film may ask himself or herself
why it would ever be given any less credit than what it had already been
hyped up to be. Well, for starters let us flashback to 1995 when Walt
Disney’s “Pocahontas” rose into theaters. As told by Disney’s Archive,
“Pocahontas” is an animated feature tells the tale of the Native American Pocahontas, and features a fabricated story of her encounter with
Englishman John Smith and the settlers that arrived from the Virginia
Company. Those English settlers were on a quest to take the native people’s land as well as their gold. John Smith, a man amongst them, was
not whole heartedly into the idea of savagely ripping the natives’ home
from them. He met the Indian chief's daughter, learned about their customs and ways of life, thus also gaining a better understanding of them
as a whole. John Smith ends up falling in love with Pocahontas and decides to go against what the other English settlers’ goals were. These
instances can also can be seen throughout Avatar, only replace settlers
with miners, Natives with Navi and gold with unobtanium.
If after reading the brief synopsis you are not under the impression that James Cameron must have had Walt Disney Mad Libs as he wrote “Avatar”, you surely must not
have been paying attention to both what you read and the movie that “Changed Everything After All.” According to Nineronline.com, the clashing similarities between the two films has plagued “Avatar” with
names such as Pocahontas 3000, and Pocahontas in Space. In short, “Avatar” is the modern day version of
“Pocahontas” with blue people and a slightly more thrilling plot, learning to tame dragons with mythical
beings is far more exciting than being taught the skills to grow crops by
Natives.
If it is still not in you to believe that “Avatar” is a rip off in
general, take a look at Scott Mackay’s novel “The Meek.” This Science
fiction novel tells the story of a group of engineers going to a distant
planet named Ceres to take over the natives land. These natives (Meek),
are genetically bred, blue with large eyes, elf like ears and do not breath
oxygen. Take out the mystical creatures and the unobtanium, and
“Avatar” could be the film production of “The Meek.” Maybe James
Cameron read Scott Mackay’s novel while in the process of writing his
“Pocahontas 3000.”
The next time you watch a film and you get the slightest feeling
that it’s the greatest ever made, remember, you are probably mistaking
the carbon copies of numerous previous hits as a misnomer masterpiece.
Page 18
Pass Out, Pee My Pants, and Cry
Commentary by: Danielle Willard
Photographs by: Emily Lafave
On January 20, 2011, I sat in on Mrs. Howard’s second block piano class’ end of
the year recital to showcase all that they’ve learned. This was Mrs. Howard’s first piano
class that she has taught at Plainfield High School. Some had played the piano previously,
but most were only beginners. Myself, her students, and Mr. Mariano’s freshman class had
all gathered in the auditorium and were the audience for the recital. Sommer Marriott,
Beckay Demuth, Samantha Dupointe, Jarrett Huber, Tasha Oswell, Jake Dunphy, Ryan
Tozer, Russell Bruscato, and Andre Miller were all scheduled to perform that day. Before
Beckay Demuth showing off her skills. going on stage Mrs. Howard joked with the class to loosen them up. She reminded the students of the performance etiquette she had taught them. She repeated numerous times that if
they messed up to continue as if nothing was wrong. Almost every student was sweating, and they all ruffled their music sheets nervously.
“I feel like I’m going to pass out, pee my pants, and cry,” said Sommer Marriott before she went on stage. One by one each
student went up in front of their classmates and played one or two songs. The pieces
varied from “My Heart Will Go On” to classical tunes by Beethoven. When their performance was finished each student bowed and the audience applauded. After everybody had played his or her songs, Mr. Mariano and his class exited, and he handed
Mrs. Howard a stack of notebook papers with reviews written by his class. I stayed
with the class as Mrs. Howard asked them to gather around the stage.
“Overall, I was very proud of you guys. Good for you,” she said with a smile
on her face, praising her class for a job well done. Cookies, brownies, and drinks were
Sommer Marriott taking a bow.
served after their performances. The students seem relieved that it was all over and as Mrs.
Howard says, “There’s nothing cookies and brownies can’t fix.”
CAPT Testing Schedule
Wednesday, March 2
Block 1– 7:30-9:50 (Testing Time)
Thursday, March 3
Block 2– 7:30-9:10 (Testing Time)
Friday, March 4
Block 2– 7:30-9:10 (Testing Time)
7:40-8:45 Science 1 (65 minutes)
8:45-8:55Break (10 minutes)
8:55-9:50 Science 2 (55 minutes)
7:40-9:10 Math 1 (90 minutes)
7:40– 9:10 Math 2 (90 minutes)
Block 1 9:15-10:28
Block 3 10:34-12:30
Block 4 12:36-2:00
Block 1 9:15-10:28
Block 3 10:34-12:30
Block 4 12:36-2:00
Block 2 9:55-10:28
Block 3 10:34-12:30
Block 4 12:36-2:00
Monday, March 7
Block 3– 7:30-9:50 (Testing
Time)
Tuesday, March 8
Block 4– 7:30-9:00(Testing Time)
Wednesday, March 9
Block 3– 7:30-9:00 (Testing Time)
7:40-9:00 Response to Lit. (80 minutes)
7:40-9:00 Writing 1 (80 minutes)
7:40-8:40 Reading for Info (60
minutes)
8:40-8:50 Break (10 minutes)
8:50-9:25 Edit and Revise (35
minutes)
Block 4 9:55-10:28
Block 1 10:34-12:30
Block 2 12:36-2:00
Block 3 9:05-10:28
Block 1 10:34-12:30
Block 2 12:36-2:00
Thursday, March 10
Block 4– 7:30-9:00 (Testing Time)
Block 4 9:05-10:28
Block 1 10:34-12:30
Block 2 12:36-2:00
Friday, March 11
Block 1– 7:30-8:50 (Testing Time)
7:40-8:40 Read for Info (60 minutes)
7:40-8:45 Writing 2 (80 minutes)
Block 3 9:55-10:28
Block 1 10:34-12:30
Block 2 12:36-2:00
Block 2 8:46-10:28
Block 3 10:34-12:30
Block 4 12:36-2:00
Page 19
Something New on the Verizon
Commentary by: Zachary Nadeau
Get pumped! iPhone 4 is coming to the Verizon network as of February 10!
Verizon plans to sell a record amount of phones, based off of the pre-order sales they
had on February 3, when they sold more phones than any other previous launch. The
pre-order sales of the iPhone 4 on Verizon have far surpassed the sales of both the
Storm, and Droid phones when they were first released. Although the pre-order was
limited to current Verizon users only the amount of orders reached record amounts
within two hours of the release between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday February
3,Verizon had sold out!
The iPhone 4 is six months old; however the launch of iPhone on Verizon has
been getting people hyped again. Good PR and many rumors have kept people dreamhttp://theiphoneguru.s3.amazonaws.com/ ing of the day that the power of Verizon (now with 4G) would pair up with the simplicity
and elegance of the iPhone 4. The dreams are finally a reality, to the displeasure of AT&T
of course.
When the news first spread of the Verizon release of iPhone, AT&T told the press that the CDMA (Code Division Multiple
Access) Signal that Verizon uses will drastically limit the iPhone’s capabilities. The CDMA network will not allow users to browse
the web while making a phone call and limits the areas of service. Although these issues were stated from the start many people still
went crazy over the new Verizon powered iPhone.
AT&T is not the only company afraid of Verizon’s increased sales; T-Mobile has recently put many of their phones on sale,
and is even giving some away. When you sign up for a new contract with T-Mobile you will not just get a connection to their 4G
network, you’ll also get to choose from several phones for free, including the new Motorola Cliq 2. It is clear that companies fear
Verizon’s increased sales. This could be beneficial to anyone looking for a great deal on a new phone, even if he/she is not a fan of
Verizon.
Jordan’s Dream Came True!
Article and Photograph: by Eneriko
What on earth could be better than coming to school, showing up for class
and jumping on a Macintosh and making stickers and t-shirts and getting to keep
them? Making them for our nice big happy town, that’s what. Graphic design, the
class we all know and love, is officially getting a second installment added to it. As
of next year there will indeed be a graphic design II, where more responsibility and
work will be weighted upon students who choose to take the course.
The class is going to be taught by Plainfield High School’s own Mr. Jordan and will focus on the production side of design. “Our kids are going to get to
expand on their skills learned from the first graphics class and produce real world
projects for the school and community.” Such projects may include making materials and advertisements for the school play such as t-shirts, posters, programs and
tickets. Students will design it all. Numerous opportunities exist for school groups,
classes, and clubs to have their own insignias.
Mr. Jordan has been trying to get this class since he first got his job at PHS
Mr. Jordan doing his thing.
and it is finally in and ready for returning students next year. The technology that
will be used in this new class are the screen printing, apparel machines, heat press and a lot of other stuff that students will be familiar with from graphic design. For those of you used to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Mr. Jordan will go into more depth with
each program respectively and will introduce InDesign for publication design. The programs are all industry standards.
As far as the academic side of this class, there will be 21 century technical skills, learning the technical side to every machine and the class will effectively help people communicate their ideas to a grown audience. This class in this writer’s opinion will
be a great addition to the tech wing, having taken a few tech classes myself, including graphic design. Any students will like this
class and if you’re the type of student that likes to pay attention and do hands on work, this class is for you. I know Mr. Jordan is
excited about this class and so are the students that will be taking the course. For anyone who has not taken graphics yet, I highly
recommend you do, and then give this new installment a try when you get the chance, you will not regret it, I promise. This has been
Eneriko and that’s about it.
Page 20
MLG 2011—Calling All Gamers!
Article by: Nathan Boutin
Hundreds of gamers raise their Xbox 360
controllers in the air at last years MLG
event.
dualshockers.com
Major League Gaming (MLG) holds the most prominent gaming competitions in the United States. People from all over the world come to spectate and take part in the events. The most skilled gamers known on Earth
will be attending this year’s competition, and this could be your chance as
an up-and-coming gamer to test your skills against the best of the best. Want
to make a name for yourself in the competitive scene? Then come out to one
of the MLG events to hone your skills against the pros; it’s the best shot
you’ve got at video-gaming stardom.
The all-new MLG Pro Circuit is the place for competitive gaming.
MLG will be making six stops at six different cities across the country this
year. Only a few details have been released. The first stop will be in Dallas,
Texas which takes place on April 1, with the next tournament being held in
Columbus, Ohio beginning on June 3. The next four events and finals locations are to be announced.
The three day events will be hosting a number of tournaments. Three main stages will
showcase all of the MLG events. Games being played will include big titles released last year
such as “Halo: Reach”, “Call of Duty: Black Ops”, and RTS strategy game, “Starcraft ,2” All
nationalities will participate, but the largest presence is on the European front, with Korean
gamers also being very competitive in the gaming limelight.
Money and prizes are a huge part of the MLG competition. This year, over one million
dollars in prize cash and merchandise will be given away to those who place well
in the elimination style brackets. Last year, Darkest Hour, a professional “Halo:
Reach” team, won the Dr. Pepper Online competition, earning them $10,000. Also,
“Starcraft 2” pro, Jonathan Walsh (AKA Jinro), won $6,250 in prize money for a
flawless performance at last years MLG Dallas– who says you can’t make money
playing video games?
Can’t make it to the action? Don’t worry – there will be plenty of live
streams available at www.majorleaguegaming.com to keep you posted on the
events. While there is no way to be sure of what talented individuals will be commentating and casting matches for the live streams at the MLG events, there have
been some rumors. Some say that Sean “Day9” Plott will return to cast this years
“Starcraft 2” matches. Last year, he worked with fabled caster Marcus “DJwheat”
Graham at MLG Dallas. The duo could return this year, but it is too early to tell.
Come out and play for fun, for money, and even for fame. If you can’t,
watch all of the action on the live streams to support North America’s largest competitive gaming league. Whether you’re new to the professional gaming scene or a seasoned veteran, this
year’s MLG competition is sure to have you eager to spend even more hours in front of an LCD
monitor.
Information & picture taken from: www.majorleaguegaming.pro.com
gamersbook.com
Page 21
Left In The Dust? Starcraft 2
Review By: Nicholas (The Man) Perry
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgu
rl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com
www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/
/e621.net/data
There have been many video games released in the year 2010. For hardcore gamers, the
Xbox 360 is their tool of destruction when the need to own some noobs arises on a Friday night.
However, the Xbox is not the only system worth mentioning when it comes to hardcore gaming.
Starcraft 2 is a game for the PC which was released in July of this year. It is a sequel to the game
Starcraft, which was released in 1994 and took the RTS (real time strategy) game genre by storm
with this fast paced, futuristic, mind enveloping game with intense gameplay, an epic story, and a
booming online community that insures hours upon hours of good old fashion ownage. The first
Starcraft became so big in fact, that it is actually played as a televised sport in South Korea and
its players were viewed as some of the biggest celebrities in the country. With a game that has
achieved so much; the sequel has some big shoes to fill. And I am happy to say that Starcraft 2
fills them very well.
For those of you who don’t know, the Starcraft storyline takes place in a different galaxy far away from earth, where a futuristic race of humans known as the Terran are battling for
survival against two very distinct alien races. The highly advanced Protoss, and the genetically
superior Zerg. The Zerg are a race of insect-like creatures that travel from planet to planet in
search of new species of life to add to the swarm. Their goal is to reach genetic perfection by
infesting races into their ranks. While the Zerg are mindless and destructive, they have one ruling
creature called the Overmind that controls all Zerg through genetic manipulation. The Protoss are
a highly advanced race of alien creatures that believe they are the most powerful race in existence. They take on a sense of honor and resemble ancient Japanese samurai in terms of lifestyle.
They train from birth on developing their physical and psychic power in order to purge from existence their races mortal enemy, the Zerg. In Starcraft 2’s campaign, you play as Jim Raynor, a
Terran who is on the run from a corrupt government as well as Zerg forces.
In the first game, Jim made allies with the Protoss by helping refugees escape when the Protoss home world was overrun by the Zerg army. You play the entire campaign raiding planets like a
group of space pirates for valuable artifacts so you can acquire enough resources to construct a sizable army to overthrow the corrupt government and take down the Zerg leader.
The game also has a booming online community where a player is put into five placement
matches to determine his or skill and is then put into one of five leagues (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond). Within each league is hundreds of divisions and each division has 100 people.
By winning games you can climb all the way to rank one, meaning you are the best in your division.
If you keep winning against other players, you will be promoted to a higher league. By using this
system, you will always be playing against players around your own skill level to ensure that you
always have a fun challenge to partake in. If you don’t feel like playing against other people, you
don’t have to. You can play games against the computer A.I (Artificial Intelligence) opponents of
adjusted difficulty by yourself, or you can team up with real life friends or even completely random
players. This advanced multiplayer system is easily one of the best constructed and ensures many
options for a player to participate in
As good as this game is, there are some downsides. For one, the game is for the PC. This
means that the game has RIDICULOUS computer requirements in terms of RAM and graphics cards,
as well as a very efficient processer. Also, this game is a real time strategy game, so if you have no
experience in the RTS genre, this game can be very difficult to learn how to play. The games creators
(Blizzard Entertainment) have tried to fix this problem by incorporating a practice league for online
gameplay. In the practice league, a player has a total of 100 matches he can play that are unranked
and do not affect your record. However once you leave the practice league, you cannot go back.
All in all, Starcraft 2 is a fantastic game that any RTS gamer should buy for one reason or
another. In fact, the only reason you shouldn’t buy this game is if you have a bad computer, or you
have no taste for RTS games whatsoever. With other games being released this year such as Halo
Reach and Call Of Duty Black Ops, its easy to see how a PC game such as Starcraft 2 can be left in
the dust. However, I suggest that if you enjoy RTS games or just want to try playing them, and your
computer is up to par, there is no reason for not running out to pick up a copy because this game is
just as good as any Xbox game released this year and it is definitely worth the time and money to get
it.
Page 22
The Legacy of The Last Emperor Continues
Article By: Brandon Wisniewski
Facts
Record: 31
Wins
3 losses
0 Draws
1 No Count
How many of you would be willing to step into the cage with a professional fighter? Across the world, Mixed Martial Arts has become one of the greatest extreme sports. Several people at Plainfield High School enjoy watching,
practicing, or even admiring the sport of MMA. There are beliefs of whom has can take the title of greatest in the
world, but a lot can be based on personal opinion. I am going to tell you my opinion of whom I believe is the greatest and why. Overall each and every fighter out there has talent for they would not make it as far as they have if
they didn't.
Www.sherdog.com
Www.sherdog.com
The love of fighting, the torture of physical training, the diversity of skill
and technique, and the will power are what build a new age Mixed Martial Arts
fighter. Two big industry names for MMA would be UFC and Strikeforce.
Wins:
Amongst the two there are many fighters, but only one’s name stands out more than
8 TKOs
others. Fedor Emelianenko has been training in grappling since the age of ten and
16 Submissions
still trains with his original trainer. Many people strictly believe Fedor is the great7 Decisions
est pound for pound fighter in the world. Fedor is a heavyweight fighter from Russia; he is world renowned and his record speaks for itself. Yet his most recent loss
Losses:
shocked many fans: why would the greatest fighter tap out in the first minute of the
1 TKO
first round? No one can truly answer the question, but the facts show one loss is
1 Submission nothing. Fedor has a record that is hard to top in MMA and it is why he has the
1 Dr stoppage
reputation he does as one of the greatest pound for pound fighters in the world.
Fedor started off his professional career at the bottom; like most fighters
Height: 6’0
he had to work hard to make it in the sport. On December 22, 2000, Fedor
Emelianenko fought his first fight of the night against Ricardo Arona. The fight
Weight: 229lbs lasted for three-five minute rounds and Fedor won by unanimous decision, yet he
was also scheduled to fight Tsuyoshi Kosaka. After fighting for three-five minute
Year of
rounds Fedor was bloodied up, and at the beginning of the fight with Kosaka the
Birth:1976
doctor stopped it within the first 17 seconds. As it was Fedor who was bleeding, he was slammed with a loss, yet
he truly did not lose the fight. Fans and speculators believe that the loss cannot be counted for. The loss was not
Country:
fair; it was truthfully not even a loss for Fedor. After that night Fedor didn’t face any other losses, he went on a
Russia
strong winning streak from 2001 till 2010.
Fedor fought many different fighters, but some of his last fights were against well known top notch fightNickname: The ers. On July 19, 2008, Fedor Emelianenko beat Tim Sylvia within the first round, but it only took him thirty six
Last Emperor seconds to do so. Fedor won against Sylvia with a rear naked choke, this was a shock to the MMA community.
Alongside that Fedor also knocked out Andrei Arlovski on January 24, 2009. Arlovski and Emelianenko were brutally exchanging strikes; Arlovski sadly had the advantage and cornered Emelianenko. As
Arlovski went at Emelianenko, he was struck across the head with a punch and was
knocked out immediately. Now many skeptics say Fedor only fought chump fighters, yet
Andrei Arlovski has a well known reputation in the world of MMA. So for Fedor to knock
him out cold with one punch goes to show he isn’t just all talk. Fedor has also fought Mark
Coleman, Mirko Filipovic, Matt Lindland, Brett Rogers, and Heath Herring. Fedor had
been considered the greatest pound for pound fighter by many publications including
ESPN.com, Sherdog, Full Contact Fighter, and MMA Weekly.
On June 26, 2010, Fedor was set to fight Fabricio Werdum for three five minute
rounds. Within the first round Fedor was submitted by Fabricio, Fabricio submitted Fedor
with a Triangle Armbar. Sadly Fedor was beaten for the first time in his entire career. This
had shocked many fans and left them wondering, how? Well there are many scenarios, but
in the end Fedor accepted the loss and apologized to his fans. Fedor got cocky when Fabricio went to the ground and he went in to try and quickly finish the fight, in the end he was
caught in a tight situation and was forced to tap out. Since then Fedor had been training for
his next fight which was against Antonio Silva on February 12, 2011. Fedor Emelianenko
lost the fight to Antonio Silva due to the doctor stopping the fight. Fans are now wondering
is Fedor worn out after ten years of winning, should he retire, or should he just take a
break? In the end his record will still go down in history and his fights will never be forgotten.
Page 23
Putting The Pedal To The Medal
Article and Photograph by: Dean Roussel and Aju-Aju Deng
Panther Pride was in full effect at the Roland Field house at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut on Saturday, February 5, 2011. The Plainfield High School indoor track team’s competing athletes faced the opposing ECC
Small/Medium Division teams at the ECC Championships. Both boy and girl athletes put on a strong showing, Griswold won the
both the male and female team championships
The night did not pass without its successful moments, however. The girls’ 4x720
meter relay, made up of Stacey Plantier, Caitlyn Walker, Jenna Brown, and Tori Crandall
won first place. The girls 4x800 took the monkey off their backs to say the least for previously they had finished in second place at this meet for the past five years. Three days later,
Tori admitted that she was still beside herself at the thought of it. Plainfield continued it’s
dominance in the Shot Put with Josh Choquette and Jen Nelson both winning the conference
championship. Choquette had special honors, as with a distance of 53 feet and 5.5 inches, he
set the meet record for longest shot put throw. A Plainfield girl has won the shot put for
three straight years and a Plainfield boy has won for four straight years. Later on in the
night, freshman Kerri Ruffo took home the silver medal in both the 1000 meters and the
Caitlyn Walker, Stacy Plantier, Jenna
3200 meters. For sprinters, Tara Hill and Brianna Rocha took second place and third place in
Brown and Tori Crandall
the 300 meters (respectfully) and Hill, in that run, broke the Plainfield school record for
girl’s 300 meters, previously held by MB Diop set last season. Shortly after their success in the 300m Tara and Brianna along with
Ashley Dumaine and Mackenzie Goebel dominated the 4x400m relay crushing all other competitors in their wake. Tara opened up a
50m on the first leg and Ashley Dumaine was lapping other teams while running the second leg. Other top finishers for the girls
include Joslyn Mecteau (4th High Jump), Maddie Facchini (6th 55m Hurldes), Kathryn Sanborn (4th 1000m), Jenna Brown (5th
600m), Lynsey Marchseault (6th 600m), Caitlyn Walker (2nd 1600m), Kathleen Silviera (6th 1600m, 6th 3200m), and Maddie Facchini, Ina Azo, Mackenzie Goebel and Tori Crandall (3rd Sprint Medley).
The real story of the night was the final event, the girls 4x200m
relay. Coming into the last event, three teams were still in contention for
the team title. Bacon led Griswold by 2 points and Plainfield was not far
behind. Depending on the outcome of this final event, any one of the three
could have won the team title. Plainfield was the top seed going into the
race with Maddie Facchini, Ina Azo, Brianna Rocha and Tara Hill as their
runners. For the entire race, Plainfield, Bacon academy and New London
runners were jockeying for the lead, but on the final turn Plainfield’s Tara
Hill slingshotted out of the turn wide and took a narrow lead in front of the
other two teams. Coming down the final straight away it was Plainfield in
the lead, closely followed by a Bacon runner and then a New London RunTara Hill, Ashley Dumaine, Mackenzie Goebel and
ner. Merely meters from the finish line, with a final desperate surge, the
Brianna Rocha
New London runner attempted to pass the bacon girl but the two collided
and fell forward. Tara Hill’s lower leg was hit and they all fell down; only
inches from the finish line. Griswold was far enough behind that their runner simply hoped over the fallen runners and snuck away
with the win. Since the three runners fell and all lost their batons, they were disqualified. Meet officials met for quite a while immediately after the race to sort out what had happened. The decision was that New London’s relay team would be disqualified due to
interference and Plainfield and Bacon would be allowed to re run the race. Despite a second opportunity to run, the girls were all
exhausted; this being their fourth or fifth race. The Plainfield girls won the second running of the event as well, but did not beat
Griswold’s time and finished in third officially.
On the boys’ side, sophomore Dave Parenteau finished fourth in the 600 meters. Parenteau was also in the 4x400m relay
that won the bronze medal, which included juniors Dan Beaudry, Paul Washington and Seth Greenhalgh. The boys 4x800m relay of
Joe Meier, Steven “the Lethal Weapon” LaFlamme, Chris Messier and Jared Pfeifer took fourth. Also, Muzzy finished 4th in the
shot put, and Kendrick Needham set a personal record in the Pole Vault and
As a team, we are also looking for athletes
also took second place by clearing 10 feet.
As a Plainfield High School distance runner I can only imagine
who are motivated this outdoor season. So
how tedious it is to run a race at the Coast Guard Field House because the
if you want to be a part of an awesome
track is 20 meters shorter, which may not seem like much, but if you conteam, and want to get in shape, compete
sider that individual events can be as much as 3200 meters. That increases
with us in outdoor track!!! See Coach
the number of laps depending on the length of the race and it is no wonder
Bowne or Parkinson for more info and outthat athletes of all types need mind-over-matter to perform at such a large
racing event. The aforementioned athletes, along with some others, all comdoor track starts Monday March 21st.
peted at the Class M State Championship Meet Saturday, February 12. Josh
Choquette was State Champion in the shot put. He also will be competing
at the New England Championships and the New Balance Indoor National Championship in Boston, Massachusetts. The girls 4x800
finished in 6th at the state meet and also broke their previous school record set last spring by 11 seconds.
Page 24
The Debate Update
Article and Photographs by: Nathan Boutin
I’ve heard about it in rumor, on the morning announcements, and
from the students involved. I didn’t think much about it at first, but
then it hit me—just what the heck is debate all about? I caught up
with the reputable Mr. Mariano, head of the debate club, and even
attended a debate meeting myself to better understand the tactics
involved in rigorous debate.
Debate is, in my own definition, an intellectual struggle in
which two opposing sides utilize the ability to create valid supporting points and fortify them with information and reasoning. From
this, one may discern that debate is not the most fun after-school
activity out there. Debate demands a lot of work and a significant
amount of self discipline, but rewards one with timeless skills and
thrilling adventure.
Debate club kicked off the year with over 20 students, but
Debate club members during a meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2011.
around 10 are currently in attendance. Many do not realize the work
it takes to be part of such an academic club. Preparation is key, and real determination is necesRebut This!
Argument: Mr. Mariano, you sary. The atmosphere is really laid-back, though—Mr. Mariano runs the show, after all—and
are irresponsible. You allowed new faces are always welcome. Debate club meets after school on alternate Wednesdays with
Saturday debates should you wish to join.
your cat to catch on fire.
There are a variety of topics that get debated, ranging from light and fun to heavy and
Counter: Haha. In my defense
serious. Such a light topic may be, who would win: Superman or Batman? A more serious debate
I did not light the candle. I was may be on bullying, or the electoral college system.
upstairs, actually… apparently
But what you argue for is not the real benefit of debate club. The real challenge comes
one of my cats jumped on top in the essentials of communication. Formulating a real argument, being formal and polite, and
of a candle and lit herself on
learning to keep calm, are all vital skills for debate and life in general. “If you want to get a job,
fire. I had nothing to do with
if you want to get married, if you think you might have a roommate someday, you need these
kind of skills,” says Mr. Mariano, “—you can’t just shut down, yell at the other person, and
the candle—I didn’t buy the
candle, I didn’t light the can- have nothing get done.” Clearly, debate is long-term deal that will help you out in the grand
dle, I didn’t light the match. I scheme of things.
The club runs much like a family. While observing, I noticed the debate officer, Jared
take literally no responsibility
Chamberland, acting as a leader in group discussions and decision making. Peter Maher, the
for the actions of my cat or my
debate team captain, was unfortunately not able to attend this specific meeting. However, he did
cat catching on fire.
provide a bunch of notes, sort of like a lesson plan, for the rest of the members. It’s that sort of
action that shows quality leadership. Mr. Mariano, also part of this family, gave some helpful advice: “Think of the opponent as a
used car salesman: kind of shady. Don’t be intimidated just because they have all the answers.”
Perhaps the most interactive aspect of debate is attending statewide competitions. Plainfield is a part of the Connecticut
Debate Association (CDA), which organizes high school debates. Once a month, students from Plainfield have the chance to leave
their comfort zone and go to another school such as New Canaan or Glastonbury.
They have no idea what the topic is until they get there, so it’s mainly fundamental
skills of debate that come in handy. Once students arrive, they are given one hour
to research and prepare arguments. Students are scored individually and as a team,
but the score isn’t what’s important. “I’ve had teams that have gone 0-3,” Mr.
Mariano told me, “but I’ve told them that’s okay—it’s more of what you get out of
the experience.” The primary focus of these excursions is simply to learn, to get out
of Plainfield, meet new people, and watch how some of the leading schools in Connecticut run a debate.
As for the future of the debate club, everything looks to be in the clear.
Mr. Mariano stated that he’s willing to continue for as long as possible. Currently,
with a healthy core of sophomores, there will be plenty of upperclassmen to fill the
Peter Maher, debate team captain
ranks in the future. New students are welcome at any time, especially those who
know the expectations and are in for the long haul. Debate club looks great on a college application, so there is no reason to not consider debate as one of your after-school activities of choice. Tell your friends; if they say no and actually give you a reason why,
debate them!
The Debate Club meets on alternate Wednesdays!
Page 25
Time For A Positive School :)
Article by: Rose Labrie
I entered the library second block on Thursday, February 10, 2011, to a group called the School Climate Committee. I was
welcomed with refreshments and a cheery group of people. This committee is district wide, including Plainfield High, Plainfield
Memorial, Sterling Memorial, Shepherd Hill, Moosup Elementary and Plainfield Central schools. There was a representative from
each school sitting at the six tables available when I walked into the library. Two students from the Central School and a handful
from the high school were waiting also. Some students believe they are all about bullying. They aren’t completely based on bullying
although, that is a topic they discus they talk about what the schools are doing to help make their learning environment a more positive, safer climate. Each updated the other schools on what they’re doing to help make the school more positive.
The Shepherd Hill Elementary School representative for the School Climate Committee is Mrs. Megan Duffy. She discussed how they teach the students at young age levels to talk to an adult if they are being bullied. They encourage the students to be
positive during morning meetings, where they play games in order to interact. They are really showing their positive attitudes.
The Moosup Elementary Schools representative is Mrs. Erica Sundtrom. They are teaching the students about tattling vs.
telling. In other words, telling someone is a good thing. They make a promise everyday to be nice, and respectful. They have participated in community service; they make signs, do recycling projects and they help other students become better with hygiene. M.E.S.
is working hard with several activities to make the community better.
The Sterling Memorial School’s representative is Mrs. Laura Smith. She talked about how they focus on everyone. They
had the students fill out a survey asking what they thought about the school. Most reactions were that they feel safe, and the other
students are friendly, yet they don’t like learning. To encourage learning they play a game every month. A game that they discussed
is played by putting something on somebody’s back and you have to find your match. For example, Minnie has to find Mickey
Mouse.
The Plainfield Memorial School representative is Jessica Blanchette. She talked about how they have a month topic on
every mix it up day. They make good character traits posters and talk about cyber bullying. The hallways have pictures of all the kids
,making the students feel safe and like they have value to the school. They are planning so much more to help kids feel more comfortable in their school environment.
The Plainfield Central School representative is Mr. Brian Tedeschi. He spoke to the others in the committee about
P.R.I.D.E. cards. These are special cards giving the students privileges. They also have words of wisdoms every morning on the announcements. Students have taken a survey saying they feel safer with having a visible teacher in the hallway and it seems to be
working. Counselors do lessons with the students to teach them about bullying, cyber bullying, and lots more. They have posters
around the school about bullying. They have peer mediators and now a new program called Ovaisis to help stop the bullying.
Last, but not least, was our very own Plainfield High School. Our representatives are Mrs. Melanie Ericson and Mrs. Jean
Riley. Our school is a little harder to deal with due to the fact we are older and harder to work with since we’re older and we are at
the age where we don’t want to listen. The Natural Helpers, along with Student Council, are working on another mix it up day. We
are planning to be using an advisory class and switching up half of two classes with different grades and playing a few The School
Climate Committee work on the assemblies we have on sexting, bullying, and exclusion with in the students. We also have Waves of
History’s and other field trips where we meet with other schools. Mrs. Riley talked about how Plainfield has a healthy rivalry with
Griswold, although our Thanksgiving game gets a little competitive. This makes the activities we do with them fun and exciting.
Page 26
College in High School
Article by: Rose Labrie
What grade are you in?
Junior.
How do you like the middle college?
It’s a’ight
What are your classes like as far as the schedule?
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday five classes, Tuesday three classes and town meeting, and
Friday two classes and service learning.
I hear you are taking a medical assisting class at the college. Does taking that class interfere with taking all of your high school classes as well?
No, I schedule my classes around my medical assisting class.
Where do you guys eat? Do they provide lunch for you?
The cafeteria, we can go outside and sit on the benches, and people with a privilege card are
allowed to go out to lunch. Lunch is provided for people who can’t afford it.
How long are the classes?
School is from 7:20 to 1:55 and the classes are an hour and 25 minutes.
What is an advantage to the school?
Opportunity to go into college classes.
How many people are in the school and in your classes?
105 total in the school and approximately 12 in each class.
What is the difference between public schools and Q.M.C.?
Fewer students in the class and teachers are easy going and our grading system consists of A,
B, and I. I being incomplete, in which the teachers work with you to achieve an A or B.
This year we have been out of school so much due to the snow. How does the school determine the delays and no schools?
It depends on Ellis Technical High School, because we ride buses with them.
Information from:
http://www.eastconn.org/QVMCHS/index.htm
om
l.c
ca
o
l
in
om
zo
Quinebaug Middle College is a high school program offered at the Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson,
Connecticut. Unlike most high schools, they offer students college classes, such as medical assisting, art classes, and academic college classes, while they are still in high school. This program is offered to students from grades 10-12 who feel disconnected from
their current high school, or want to take college classes, or it’s for those that fear they may drop out of the educational world all
together. This program was made to help students who are more independent learners. This program enrolls students from Killingly,
Plainfield, Putnam, Thompson, Windham, Woodstock, Quinebaug Valley Community College, Brooklyn, Griswold, Sterling and
EASTConn.
The idea for this school occurred in 2006, as educators from local schools got together to discuss making a middle college
to help students. They based this idea from other community college campuses nationwide. Quinebaug Middle College opened its
doors in August 2008, after the Connecticut State Department of Education endorsed the Quinebaug Valley Middle College High
School.
Q.M.C. has a schedule consisting of two activities. On Tuesdays, they have they have town meeting which is when they
discuss school issues togeher . Then on Fridays, they have a service which teaches them how to do different programs like homeless
awareness, big brother and big sister, and the school store. They also do an activity called the nature trail where they made a trail
behind the college; they decorate the trail and clean it up. This information was told to me to my older sister Amanda Labrie. She
started the program at the beginning of this year. I asked her the following questions:
Page 27
The German School System
Das Deutsche Schulsystem
Article and photographs by: Marco Kotwasinski
The school I went to.
“Sich in den Staaten
aufzuhalten wird das
groesste Abenteuer
meines Lebens!”
My next school!
Wie aufregend es war meine neue Familie kennen zu lernen. Sich in den Staaten aufzuhalten wird
das groesste Abenteuer meines Lebens!
Als ich endlich am Montag aufwachte, war meine Vorfreude auf die Schule gross.
Wieder mal mit dem Schulbus fahren ist anders, da ich vorher mein Fahrrad benutzen konnte.
Ausserdem bemerkte ich das die Schule ganz schoen weit weg ist.
Dann aber die Fassade zu erblicken und zu sehen, dass die Schule tatsaechlich so aussieht wie in
den ganzen amerikanischen Filmen machte die Aufregung fast unertraeglich.
Dann wurde ich meiner Schulberaterin vorgestellt.
Meine Schule hatte so etwas nicht, oder so viele verschiedene Bueros.
Wir hatten nur zwei Sekretaerinnen und zwei Konrektoren sowie unseren Direktor und einige Vertrauenslehrer.
Eine Cafeteria wie hier gibt es auch nicht, allerdings haben wir ein sogenanntes Bistro.
Da kann man sich fuer wenig Geld Essen und/oder Getraenke kaufen.
In diesem Jahr wird aber auch endlich die Mensa fertiggestellt, wo man in der Pause etwas zum
essen kaufen kann.
Das Deutsche Schulsystem unterscheidet sich in einigen Dingen vom Amerikanischem.
Zuallererst faengt die Schule um 7:50 Uhr an, nicht wie hier um 7:30.
Ausserdem muss man erst um 7:45 Uhr an der Schule sein.
Es gibt auch keine Schulbusse, die die Schueler von ihren jeweiligen Hauesern abholen, dafuer
muss derjenige/diejenige schon selbst zur Haltestation laufen. Oder man nimmt einfach sein Fahrrad.
Die Schule ist nicht weit entfernt und man hat Buergerssteige um nicht auf der Strasse fahren zu
muessen.
Zusaetzlich ist es auch nicht sehr weit vom Stadtkern entfernt, sodas man Einkaeufe auch bequem
mit dem Fahrrad erledigen kann.
Jeder Tag hat nicht dieselben Klassen, es gibt bis zu 13 unterschiedlicher Faecher jede Woche.
Man hat 6 Schulstunden pro Tag und nach zwei hat man eine 25 minuetige Pause, nach den naechsten 2 eine 25 minuetige Pause.
Das Ende des Tages ist um 13:10 Uhr, danach gehen viele Schueler nach Hause oder in die Stadt.
Es gibt Busse, welche die Schueler an Stadt– oder Dorfstationen absetzen, den Rest muss man
laufen.
Einige Klassen muss man jedes Jahr haben, z. B. die Klassen Sport, Religion (welches man, wenn
man 14 Jahre alt ist, abwaehlen kann) Deutsch, Mathematik und Englisch.
Ab der 7. Jahrgangsstufe kommt noch ein Wahlpflichtsfach hinzu, hierbei kann man von Sprachen
ueber Leistungskurse in den Faechern Physik, Biologie und Chemie waehlen.
Fuer die Sprachfaecher muss man gute Noten als Vorraussetzung in Deutsch und in Englisch haben.
Es gibt unterschiedlicher Arten von Schulen.
Ich besuchte eine Realschule, eine High School der Mittelklasse. Dann gibt es das Gymnasium,
welches hoehere Ansprueche hat.
Die unterste Stufe belegt die Hauptschule.
Die Real– und Hauptschule kann man nur 10 Jahre besuchen, welche aber nach deutschem Gesetz
Pflicht sind, auch auf dem Gymnasium.
Danach, wenn man den Anforderungen entspricht, kann man fuer zwei weitere Jahre auf das Gymnasium wechseln. Im spaeteren Leben gibt man ein besseres Pendat ab, wenn man das Gymnasium
erfolgreich besucht hat.
Die spaeteren Jahrgaenge muessen auch ein Berufspraktikum machen, damit sie einen Einblick ins
Jobleben erhalten. Die Noten warden auch anders geregelt, da man nicht Credits bekommt, sondern
eine Zahl von eins bis sechs, wobei eins die beste, also ein A+ ist, und eine sechs ein F ist.
Es gibt natuerlich noch viel mehr ueber unsere Schulen zu berichten, aber es gibt soviel, dass ich
noch lange nicht fertig waere. Also, besucht Europa!
Journalism Jigsaw
Article by Dean Roussel
I walk out of Mr. Belcher’s photonics class on the first day of the new semester
and go up the stairs to a place where my mind can roam free. I round the corner of the
junior hallway and enter Mr. Greene’s room. Journalism II, after a year’s wait for me,
was finally here. I sit down next to Cassie Guerin and Colleen Horta, who both just
completed journalism I. My friends Brandon Wisniewski and Steven Tucker (who gave
a great interview of himself in this issue) came strolling in, as did my pal from journalism I last year, the headline master, Zak Nadeau. Sophomores are a rarity in journalism
II, but we have found quality writers in Cyndi McIntosh, Rose Labrie and Danielle
Willard. Sitting with them is a good man who goes by the name of Nate Boutin. My
German bud, Marco Kotwasinski, takes a seat in front of me. Amanda Flyte and the
coffee-wielding Brittney Deloge soon take seats as well. We all watch and laugh as our
comrade Eneriko Ferraj monotones his way through the morning announcements, and
his performance is anything but plain. Last but certainly not least,
Jeremy Mack was a late arrival in this class but his journalistic
talents are as red-hot as his hair. All in all, we have an eclectic
group of personalities; each has given their two cents on topics
you will read about. I hope that this issue has reflected the awesome environment created in this class. Enjoy!