The Panther Advocate - Plainfield Public Schools

Plainfield Public
Schools
Inside this issue:
Music News
2-5
Seniors Spotlights
6-8
Student
1318
Editorials
Political
Editorials
1923
Entertainment
News
2427
Sports News
2835
Game Page
36
Special
points of interest:
 Teacher of the Year
pages 2 through 4
 Catch up with DJ
Bledsoe and Earl
Davis on pages 10
and 11
 Spirit Week schedule on page 14
 Book Review: “No
Easy Day” Pages
20-21
Plainfield High School’s Student Newspaper
October 2012
The Panther Advocate
Layout Editors: Corrie Cirelli, Allen Griffin, Ibrahim Mohammed
TEACHER INTERVIEW
Page 2
2012 Plainfield School District Teacher of the Year
Interview and Photography by: Noah Fields
This is the beginning of Mr. Stevenson’s fifth year teaching at Plainfield High School. He is married to Mrs. Shannon
Stevenson and has three young daughters. In addition to teaching at the high school, he is also the director of the spring
theatrical production each year. He is also very active in the community and his church.
Interview with Mr. Stevenson
Congratulations on your selection as teacher of the year not only for the high school but also the Plainfield School
District. Many teachers work an entire career and never receive the honor. What does it mean to you to be the
teacher of the year only after four years as a teacher at Plainfield High School?
It means a great deal. The last district stopped awarding teachers of the year and I saw the way it affected teachers. It
feels great to be awarded this honor. Especially as arts teachers can be overlooked, but that doesn’t happen here.
What is your favorite music genre? Favorite group?
Well to listen to I’d have to say 90’s rock, Dave Matthews, things like
that. To perform is jazz. My favorite group, hmm that’s a tough call,
depends on genre. The Beatles with Dave Matthews pulling up second.
What’s your favorite singer?
Big Frank Sinatra, he’s my idol!
What is your least favorite music genre?
Scream metal, it’s an acquired taste I suppose, but not one I acquired.
When did you realize you wanted to be a teacher?
In high school, beginning of junior year.
What college did you attend?
UConn.
Why did you choose to music education as a major?
When in high school it changed who I was. I was primarily a band kid when younger and sang in choirs. When I got to
high school it was athletics and music. I remember my mother forced me into the musical my freshmen year. I realized
the family atmosphere involved in the musical and music department, just one big family. If I can do this when I teach
I’d be happy.
Did you take part in any clubs or play any sports in high school and if so what were they?
I did athletics. I was a varsity tennis player and I played baseball for the town. Towards the end of high school I had to
make the chose of whether sports or music. In my high school we didn’t have as many clubs as we do here at Plainfield
High School. It was music and sports. The clubs I was in were: band choir, jazz band, orchestra after school, jazz quartet,
and musical production.
Last year you directed the successful production, “Annie.” What will be the drama production this year?
“Willy Wonka.”
Why did you choose it?
Originally, we sat down with colleagues from Griswold and Woodstock, and decided to do a friendly musical this year.
Last year it was more of one or two dominant characters. While this year we are pulling back to “City of Angles” feel,
having more spread out roles and different characters. It provides a vast array of people throughout the play. It’s also an
opportunity to have kids again as umpa lumpas. Now the set is going to be a challenge in different ways. It is completely
different from anything we have had to build in the past. The first act will be more of reality based sets but the second
act is a fantasy feel which can be challenging. Creativity is one of the biggest challenges.
Continued on next page
TEACHER INTERVIEW CONTINUED
Page 3
The theater department has competed in the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards in previous years and won an award last year. Would you like to elaborate on what the award was and what this competition is?
There are many different art awards in the state. We go to that one because it has a direct
connection to National Awards since the winning leads goes to Joey Awards for a national week long workshop. By competing, it gives us a way to keep the art program in
check. Three judges come to the production to critic it. It’s the team’s way of being accountable. Last year, our school won the arts and education award for integrating the musical into the schools education. Every school can submit additional material like how
you make an effort to get as many students involved throughout the school. It really is a
school wide production here. Spirit was fantastic overall.
Is there anything interesting about you that most people wouldn’t know that you’d
be willing to tell students and staff?
Yeah probably. It’s interesting how we all tend to get labeled by our jobs. We’re not always 100% what we do. One of my passions is wood working. I’ve built some furniture
and have a workshop of tools.
If you could impress one quality in your students what would it be and why?
The one overall quality is simply professionalism, how to conduct yourself, your maturity and respect. To rank order of
those is difficult, but professionalism encompasses all of them.
Why do you think it is important to require a fine art appreciation credit in music or art in order to graduate?
The idea is a catch 22 for me. It’s important to have exposure for that credit. Pursuit to take arts doesn’t always make
sense. My dilemma is that we get tied up with individual credits that students don’t get what they need for the field they
want to go into. Let’s look at music; the goal is to be involved in as many music classes possible. It can be a touchy situation. Possible, but not always allowed. However it makes all students involved it the art programs somehow.
If you had the power to make one change in the school what would it be and why?
School pride. It’s the biggest thing lacking. I don’t see an overall ownership by entire school of “We are PHS.” It exists
in groups but it isn’t an overall idea. That’s really important to get an overall school spirit. I believe other problems
would dissipate.
The music program continues to grow and improve. What is your goal this year with the ensembles?
Primary changes are the block four ensembles are now separate. Finally we can break apart into basic, intermediate, and
advance ensembles. It’s a huge step to take. Main goal is to get chorale independent. They are vey reliant on chamber
choir and now since the groups are separate and not integrated, the lack of voices was proven challenging. Yet we’ve
gotten over that hurdle and it is going to get better.
How do you feel about your daughters having to attend Griswold Schools and possibly singing for Mr. Ray
Churchill?
(Laughs cheerfully!) I love it, knew it moving to Griswold. My wife had Mr. Churchill as a student his senior year and
he was a student teacher when I was in high school in 1994, it’s a small world. I know most of Griswold's music program. It’s motivating to know my children are going to a successful program. Great to have neighboring program to help
for success. I’m good with that (spoken with a nod).
Speaking of Griswold, why do you think it is important to integrate choir functions with Griswold and Plainfield?
Any ensemble that is successful should have an open door program.
There’s no element of stealing ideas. Adapt, adopt, and borrow ideas;
find and take away how and why things work. That’s what Griswold has
done for us: starting a growing music program here four years ago. Mr.
Churchill opened his program with open arms. He let me tour his program to see what worked and how to run a successful program. I decided then that students from both schools should be cooperative, turn into
to allies during school and festivals. Also, we know what we do and
how we stand up against other ensembles. Keeping a gauge helps kids
here.
Continued on next page
TEACHER INTERVIEW CONTINUED
Page 4
Did you do anything special this summer?
Played it low this year. Spent time as a family. We did put up a pool which was a big deal for the girls since they love it.
Oh, we went camping, in our back yard, but still a big step!
Thank you for allowing me to interview you.
You’re welcome.
When you see him in the hall, please take a second and congratulate him on winning the Plainfield School District
Teacher of the Year Award!
After interviewing Mr. Stevenson I decided to ask Mr. Bitgood how someone becomes teacher of the year and also asked
some staff and a student what they had to say about Mr. Stevenson.
Mr. Bitgood how does one becomes teacher of the year?
They are nominated by teacher, administration, and student advice.
Would you like to say something about Mr. Stevenson receiving this accolade?
I think he has done a ton for the school by building the community and pushing the envelope for what kids can do. For
example: plays, competitions, auditions for festivals and still balance school.
When asked to comment about the teacher of the year, Mr. Mariano stated:
As teacher of the year, he individually sets a standard in culture to build the program. Seems he has clearly reached his
goal by travelling to Berklee Jazz Festival with the chamber choir and sending students to different festivals. The quality
of the program is much improved. He continues to challenge himself and students to set new standards each year. Part of
what makes a good leader is being a good listener and team leader. He has created a solid foundation for the theater department. After work his number one job is being a dad of three girls and a husband; that can be very difficult to balance
for some people.
Mrs. Lussier had this to say about Mr. Stevenson:
I’ve known him for 15 years as family and a friend; always a good friend and I’ve had the opportunity to work with him
for the past four years. As a friend, you can always count on Brian to be there for help and fun. As a teacher, I believe
Brian puts his students first and foremost above everything. He has worked hard to expand the theater program in our
school. I believe he has been a great asset to the program and to the students at PHS. He is a great team leader, always
open for suggestions and gives 110% to his productions.
Hunter Oberdorf said:
Throughout my years here at PHS, Mr. Stevenson has been my mentor. He has helped me realize my talents and to be
confident in my musical abilities. I could never thank him enough for everything he has done for me, he is truly an amazing teacher and person.
Cow Patty Bingo
Saturday, October 27, 2012
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See music students or
Mr. Stevenson
for Tickets
Page 5
MUSIC NEWS
“WE ARE FAMILY”
Article and Photograph by: Keith Sheeley Jr.
If you were to casually walk down the music hallway during blocks
three, or four, you are more than likely to hear some beautiful sounds. You hear
the incessant ticking of the metronome, which helps the band to stay in time.
The percussive booms of the bass drum echo throughout, and then the band
starts to play. It’s like heaven to your ears. If you were to do the same at the
start of the 2010-2011 school year, things would be different. That year there
was a total of eighteen in band. Now already into the 2012-2013 school year,
the band has grown significantly to an astounding fifty-five people! Much, if not
all of the band’s sudden success can be credited to Mrs. Howard, Plainfield
High School’s band director. Her views on music have shaped the band program for the better in just a short amount of time. Since she took over the quantity of music the band plays has increased, the music is also better and the band
has grown tremendously. Not only as students but as a family. Her “methods of
madness” if you ,will, have helped the band rise from the dead and now the students of the
band are setting themselves up for success for the years to come! Everyone seems to be happy
with what’s going on! I had the opportunity to interview the mastermind behind the band, Mrs.
Howard, and pick her brain about certain topics.
When you first stepped into the spotlight, there was a small handful of kids in band. What
were your first thoughts, and how did you plan on making it work?
Well, when I first started, I wanted to encourage the kids who were enrolled to strive for a new
set of goals, but also encourage others to join to build up the numbers so it would be a successful band in the future.
Was your plan successful?
It (the band) continues to grow… We were at eighteen members two years ago, and now, we’re
at fifty-five total, so, I think we’re going in the right direction!
How many people are currently enrolled in the concert and symphonic bands?
If you split them up, there’s twenty-four in one ensemble, and thirty-one in another!
What’s the most important thing you tell your students?
To be confident and to commit to everything you do; everything is important. Though it does
get frustrating at times, and it’s easy to get frustrated with yourself, but, a slow and steady progress will help you continue and we’ll reach the goals that we’re setting!
Has the morale around music changed since you started working at Plainfield High
School?
It’s become an amazing environment! And the students continue to become more confident.
If you could pick, what would you say has been your favorite moment so far in your first
two years as Plainfield’s band director?
The students are positive, and they’re starting to reap the benefits of being in music classes, so,
their success rate goes up, so has their morale, and the band family has grown, and become
stronger. 100% what we’re after.
You recently had a baby boy! Do you want him to take up a career in music?
He can do whatever he wants! I love my little man, and I want him to have fun, experiment
with music, and if he wants to pursue music, we’ll definitely be able to help him!
Besides music, what other hobbies do you have?
My husband and I enjoy raising our baby boy, and we garden! But, since the baby was
born...the garden has become a vegetable cemetery.
What is the most inspirational thing anyone has ever said to you?
The thing I remember the most from high school was the teachers, and all of the students. We
used the phrase, “Eyes with pride.” We said it every day, and we really believed it, really
bought it, and we would carry it on. We were never allowed to carry ourselves without confidence, and I think that standard helped me to understand that as long as your carry yourself
with confidence, and you believe in yourself, you really will be successful and I hope to inspire
that to all of my kids!
“Eyes with
pride. We said
it every day,
and we really
believed it...We
were never
allowed to
carry ourselves
without
confidence.”
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
-Hans Christian Andersen
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Page 6
THE LOVELY, LOQUACIOUS LINDSAY
Interview and Photographs by: Ashlyn Hart
Most people in the school know Lindsay Reindl as our senior class treasurer whose
campaign slogan was “vote for me for treasurer because Asians are good with numbers,”
but Lindsay has a lot more to offer to Plainfield High School besides her arithmetic skills.
Besides being a class officer, she’s ranked at number two, and is like a mini-Martha Stewart. Her homemade dresses put my gorilla glue, and duct taping skills to shame, and her
baking creations should have their own show on TLC. Hopefully the school will now realize
what a great friend she would be to have, and will be able to identify her in our congested
hallways.
What’s your name?
Lindsay the Great (Reindl).
When and where were you born?
I was born on April 28th, 1995, in Grove City, Pennsylvania.
How do you like your senior year so far?
Honestly, I don’t like it at all. What keeps me going is knowing that college will probably be
really difficult to get used to, so I might as well enjoy my time being dependent on my parents and not having real-world responsibilities.
What activities are you involved in?
Right now, I’m in NHS, class office, and Yearbook Club.
What is it, like being a class officer?
It’s kind of nice getting to decide stuff and knowing what will be happening for our class. I
like it because it makes me feel like I’m doing all that I can to help our class!
What’s a hidden talent that you have?
I can make my shoulder blades pop out really far, which is kind of useless and gross. It
makes me feel like I’m some sort of mutant, which is awesome!
What’s your favorite color?
It’s a three-way tie between forest green, mustard yellow, and minty green.
You’re ranked number two in our graduating class, what advice can you give to underclassmen who want to achieve a similar academic status?
Never, ever, ever take study halls. They messed up my ranking so I had to take two AP classes to make up for it. Also, try to double up on subjects as much as you can to take as many
AP classes ASAP!
In your free time you like to?
Knit, sew, and bake. I think I’d be a really good Amish person.
What type of career are you interested in pursuing?
I want to do something in science, but I’m not completely sure on what exactly yet. And after
I get bored of that, maybe a math teacher or the owner of a bakery/dress shop.
Where do you hope to go to college?
I really want to go to UConn since Kimmy (sister) is there and my Dad’s at the power plant
on campus. They don’t have the exact major I want, so I still feel unsure.
You’re a blogger, do you want to share any information about that?
Sure! I’m not one of those annoying bloggers who just write about his or her personal life or
his or her perspective on stuff nobody cares about. I like to share the things I make and what
inspires me.
You enjoy fashion, how would you define your style?
Since I like so many things of different styles, I’d have to say it’s kind of eclectic.
“I think
I’d be a
really
good
Amish
person.”
Lindsay, modeling a
homemade dress.
Continued on next page
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT CONTINUED
Page 7
What is your favorite season and why?
I like both spring and fall. Fall is nice because the temperatures are nice, crisp, and cool
and I’m obsessed with apple picking. Spring is also lovely because everything comes
back to life after being all dead and depressing for so long.
Describe your favorite holiday memory.
I’ll never forget that Easter morning when I woke up and saw my mom scattering Easter
eggs all over the yard. When I asked her about it, she denied the whole thing. I’m onto
you mother!
You are quite domestic. When did you get into knitting and why?
I always thought that knitting looked so fun, but the Youtube tutorials confused me. Ben
(boyfriend) knows how to knit and he taught me for my last birthday!
What do you want people to remember about you?
I would want to be remembered by my pride in being a nerd. I accept that I’m not cool,
but being uncool is just awesome.
What is your favorite quote?
“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the
big things.” - Robert Brault
A beautifully executed blueberry velvet cake from Happily Square, her blog.
ebay.com
“I like to
share the
things I
make and
what
inspires
me.”
She’s an artist too!
ifferslit-
Homemade cupcakes, too cute to eat!
Found on her blog:
http://happilysquare.blogspot.com/
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
All About Alyssa
Interview and photographs by: Kylie Hart
I decided to interview Alyssa Durigan in hopes of finding out about her perspective of the volleyball team and how she thinks they will do this year.
Hello Alyssa.
Hi Kylie.
What is your full name?
Alyssa Marie Durigan
When and where were you born?
June 19 1995, in Connecticut
What are the best and worst things about being a senior?
The best thing is picking on freshmen, and the worst thing is trying to figure
out what college to go to.
I hear that you play volleyball, how is it?
It’s very fun!
I also heard that you got hurt, can you tell me about that?
“Alyssa the Great” at her locker before first block.
Yes, I hurt my knee sliding down for a ball , over the summer.
What position do you play in volleyball?
I am a hitter.
How is the team this year?
It’s very good, we have good returning players and we all work
very
well together.
What is your favorite…
Season? Summer.
Food? Chocolate!
Holiday? Christmas!
Color? Blue!
If you could have any super power what would it be?
Alyssa, Jessica and Ashlyn at Alyssa’s locker
To fly!
Have you looked at any colleges yet?
Yes, Becker College in Massachusetts.
I hope that the rest of your senior year and volleyball
season will be awesome!
Thank you Kylie, I hope your sophomore year will go well.
Thank you for the interview.
You’re welcome!
Alyssa’s return to volleyball after an injury
Alyssa, up at the net
STUDENT INTERVIEW
Page 9
Introducing Your New Peer at Plainfield High School
Article and interview by: Kali Trepanier
I recently met a new peer of mine, whether you see him in the football field or in the classroom he will always be
there with his southern hospitality. Here from Norfolk, Virginia, a guy who loves football and being back to
Plainfield, Jacob Goulas.
Hey there, What’s your name?
Jacob Goulas.
You’re new at PHS where are you from?
I was originally from Plainfield but we moved to Norfolk, Virginia.
Why did you move?
I moved because my dad is in the Navy. He was transferred to
Groton.
What grade are you in?
10th grade.
Do you have any siblings?
Yeah, I have a brother. His name’s Hunter, he’s a sophomore too.
What do you do in your spare time?
I play football.
How do you feel the football year and the first game?
I think it’s going well. I feel like the first game was very productive,
the team just needs to work out the kinks. The offence needs some
work but the defense on our team is strong!
Mason Delorge, Jacob Goulas, and Joey
Are you excited to be in Plainfield again?
Walmsey
Yes, very!
What are your plans for the future?
Go to college at UConn.
What’s your favorite class and why?
Personal finance because of money.
What’s your favorite movie?
“Grand Torino.”
Do you have a favorite song, artist, genre?
I like hip-hop and rap. My favorite artist would probably be Kanye West.
What do you feel about this year as a whole? Work, school, sports, life?
Easy, simple, it’s a simple life up here.
Page 10
ALUMNI INTERVIEW
Graduated Gremlin
Interview and Photograph by: Sammie Longo
Are you wondering what happens after high school? Wanting to know where people are and what they’ve been up too?
Well I decided to interview someone that most of us in Plainfield High would know. DJ has offered to help with these
responses, one night on Skype after his night class.
What is your full name?
Delbert Scott Bledsoe Jr.
What did you want to be when you were a freshman?
No idea…A senior.
Did you leave with the same dream?
No...Not at all!
What have you been doing since you graduated?
Well I worked at Mohegan Sun, over the summer. Now I’m going to school at Quinebaug
Valley Community College for Mechanical Engineering.
What’s the plan for your future?
Get my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and get lots of money in a big company.
What’s something you miss about high school?
Sports...FOOTBALL!!
What was your best experience in high school?
Friday night football games baby!
What was the first indication that you were now in the “real” world?
Right after graduation, when I was working 40 hours a week.
Could you explain something that you struggled with since you graduated?
Calc based physics, it’s extremely hard!
Do you work? If so do you like it? Why or why not?
Well I’m going to be tutoring CAD for minimum wage when I don’t have class. I’m going to like it because I like CAD
and getting paid.
What was your worst experience in high school?
Losing to Griswold every year!
Do you enjoy college? Why or why not?
Absolutely...You get 50 times more freedom then high school, and the classes move at a good speed.
What did you do to celebrate your new stepping stone in
your life?
Had a graduation party!
What will you be majoring in?
Mechanical Engineering.
Do you play any sports?
They don’t have sports at QVCC!
Do you live at home?
Yupp…
What do you do on your spare time?
WHAT SPARE TIME?
When you were a kid what did you want to become?
A solider man.
What is your favorite quote?
“When you get married always fight naked!”
Do you have any advice for the graduating 2013 class?
Cherish every moment! It comes too quick!
“Cherish
every
moment!
It comes
too
quick!”
DJ cuddling his pup
ALUMNI INTERVIEW
Page 11
Life After High School
Interview and photographs by: DJ Pollard
When I found out I was able to do a student interview with a student that has already graduated my first thought was to
interview Earl Davis. Earl has been my friend for a while now and I thought it’d be great for currents students to read
about someone else who has just graduated so they know what to expect when they too graduate.
How have things been since the end of your high school career?
Things have been pretty good. Over the summer I pretty much just hung out
with friends, ran a lot, and prepared for college.
Can you explain your commute to and from college?
My housing information was sent in a bit too late so I was put on a waiting
list so I have to commute every day. So I need to go to New London everyday and take the train to Boston.
You seem like quite a smart kid and are great at running. What colleges
did you apply to and which did you get accepted to?
I applied to Central, University of Connecticut, Boston College, Fisher College, and a few others. For Uconn I got put on a waiting list and I wasn’t
Earl, thinking hard
willing to wait and I got accepted to about seven or eight schools in total.
Do you miss your time here at Plainfield High School?
Yeah, I miss the atmosphere here, like seeing the teachers and my friends everyday.
Out of the schools that you were accepted to, why did you choose Boston College?
Mainly because it was the best school: the most prestigious school. And I’ve always wanted to go to school in either
New York or Boston.
What were your first impressions of BC?
It wasn’t really as scary as I thought. It’s not like Uconn; the campus isn’t as large but the scariest part was probably taking the train there alone and stuff.
Do you think PHS is a good school for students trying to get into bigger schools, like Ivy league schools?
Well, I think PHS is a good school even though it does get a lot of criticism for its staff, but I think it’s on the students
and whether or not they want to learn. As far as getting into big schools, Plainfield and all small schools often get overlooked because of their size.
In the new age of technology, communication is much easier. Have you been able to keep in contact with your
friends from school?
I have been able to keep in contact with some of my friends but most of them are really busy with their lives.
I know you love to run, how much would you say you run in a day, in a week?
On average about seven to ten miles a day so that’s around 60 to 70 miles a week.
What makes running fun for you? What’s your motivation?
I think a lot of people treat running as a chore but I do it because I love it. And my motivation is getting better and being
as good as I can at my sport.
Do you plan on running at the collegiate level?
Ehh, it’s a consideration. All of the schools I’ve applied to are D1
schools for running so, I’d need to get my mile time down to like
4:30 or so.
Who are you rooting for in the upcoming election? Barack
Obama or Mitt Romney?
It’s a tough decision because I’d really like to see what the republicans can do but Barack’s plan isn’t something that works quickly.
Also, he didn’t inherit a perfect country to begin with and it was the
Republicans that got us in this mess to begin with so I’m going to go
with Obama.
Earl, being Earl
FRESHMAN FLASHLIGHT
Page 12
The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives
Interviews and Photographs by: Kandis Guyton
The first day of school. It sounds like a bad drama show. Everyone is coming back to school for the first time in almost
three months. You have stories to tell about summer vacation, and lots of good things can happen, but bad things too. I
got the chance to sit down with a couple of the freshman to ask them how they felt on the first day back to school.
What is your name?
Natalia Rickey
Brooklynn Winchell
Ian Gamboa
What grade are you in?
Natalia: Freshman.
Brooklynn: 9th
Ian: Freshman.
Where were you born and when?
Natalia: Norwich 1998, October 28th to be exact.
Brooklynn: Putnam, October 15th ‘98.
Ian: Backus Hospital, January 30th 1998.
Where do you currently live?
Natalia: Plainfield.
Brooklynn: Sterling.
Ian Gamboa in gym
Ian: Plainfield Connecticut.
Why did you choose to come to Plainfield High
School?
Natalia: I didn’t want to leave my friends and I’m not into trades.
Oh and the music program.
Brooklynn: Because Jeff’s here (Jeff Malouf).
Ian: No other high school interested me.
How did you feel on the first day of school?
Natalia: um… free. I didn’t feel nervous I felt happy.
Brooklynn: Weird.
Ian: Nervous.
What was your first impression of the school?
Natalia: It’s huge I might get lost.
Brooklynn: It was big.
Natalia Rickey
Ian: It looked nice.
What would you like to come from your first year of high
school?
Natalia: More friends.
Brooklynn: Good grades. Make new friends.
Ian: I want to be like straight A’s and no trouble.
What would you like to come from your first year of high
school?
Natalia: More friends.
Brooklynn: Good grades. Make new friends.
Ian: I want to be like straight A’s and no trouble.
What do you like about the school?
Natalia: The block scheduling and how there’s way more freedom.
And how the lunches mix.
Brooklynn Winchell and Haley Bunn
Brooklynn: The People.
Ian: That it has everything. I don’t like running the mile.
Continued on next page
FRESHMAN FLASHLIGHT CONTINUED
Who is your favorite teacher so far?
Natalia: Mrs. O’Connell.
Brooklynn: Mr. Clair.
Ian: Mr. Murray.
If you were stuck on an island and got on wish, what would
you wish for?
Natalia: A beach house just magically appears.
Brooklynn: Music.
Ian: A boat.
What do you never leave the house without?
Natalia: Cell phone.
Brooklynn: Clothes.
Ian: My cell phone.
If you could be president of the day what would you do?
Natalia: I’d make there be no taxes on anything.
Brooklynn: No school.
Ian: I would have to fix the gym, it’s necessary.
Page 13
“The
secret
third
floor.”
Natalia Rickey and Kenny Chamarro
SCHOOL NEWS
Homecoming Is What We Make It!
Article by: Jessica D’Auria
Photographs by: Erin Desrosiers
Whistles blowing, coaches yelling, helmets clashing, and cheers being chanted! Do you
know what that means? Finally, it is once again football time! Homecoming is almost here, but this
isn’t going to be just an ordinary homecoming. We want to make this year special; we want it to be a
homecoming that freshmen will want to repeat and seniors will remember forever. It is time for
something new. Year after year students decorate hallways, paint their faces, have a mediocre pep
rally, cream some average football team and then come back Saturday to dance. It is time for
change! However, complaining isn’t going to do anything, it is time to actually step up and take action. This is OUR school: whatever we put into it, we will get out of it!
Some ideas student council has for this year are pretty extreme, but not impossible. One
idea is a homecoming parade. Which would take place on Friday, after school, right before the
game. Basically, each class would create a float instead of decorating a hallway. The benefit of this
is that the town will become involved with what is going on in our school system. Also, all the hard
work we spend on hallway decorating will not be torn down after an hour. The floats could then be left
near the field during the game in one of the lower parking lots.
This would give everyone at the game an opportunity to see all of
our hard work. The parade could include the players, cheerleaders, marching band, classes and those who helped with decorations. Alongside, student council, any clubs interested and possibly a can collection float to give back to our community could
also be included.
Homecoming is in less than a month and this could be
hard to tackle, but we are not going to let that slow us down. Just
remember, this has yet to be approved and is only one of our
many ideas. It is all about what you, the student, want. If you
have any ideas you would like to share feel free to stop by our
student council meetings! They are held in the library, Tuesday
afternoons from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. You can also stop by and see Mrs.
Titus in the library at any time during school hours. PHS is ready
for change! Together we can make incredible changes like this
happen!
“By
changing
nothing,
nothing
changes.”
-Tony
Robbins
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 14
What Ever Happened to Study Hall?
Commentary and Photographs by: Lindsey McKenna
Two years ago, the Board of Education was informed by the superintendent regarding the change in study
halls. This meant no study halls, only classes, classes , classes. When students became aware of this change, you could
just hear the uproar of disappointment. Although, we seem to have spotted the intelligence behind this plan that has
been labeled as devious. We can see how his plan involved the students attending Plainfield High School to achieve success. But shouldn't students
have the opportunity to take study halls if they need them? Especially those
who are taking challenging classes and participating in sports?
Between the multiple sports, after school activities, and high level
classes, it tends to be very stressful as a student! I just don't see the fairness
in
this whole decision. Granted, all students are required to fulfill the goal of
credits depending on your graduation year. I’m sure students with a study
hall would manage the rest of their classes, and actually utilize this amount
of
time that’s given. I do agree that some students don't deserve a study hall
because they will probably waste it but, but there are some students who are
overloaded with classes and extra-curricular and they need one.
Talking to your guidance counselor about this topic can be really
simple. If you consider yourself a hard working student who wants to take
advantage of high school with good grades and classes, you have a good
chance to be accepted to get a study hall. I think that study halls are given to
Sammi Pixely and Lindsey Bourgeois
students by chance, or however the computer system works. So, some kids
are put into study hall, when they don’t really need one or deserve one. The
other day, I went into guidance and asked for a study hall due to the fact that I am taking two honors classes, and really would appreciate some extra time to get my work done. I was denied; Then I hear freshmen and some of my friends
talking about their study hall, and I was like “wow.”
I just think that if study halls are going to be denied for some students, then it should be denied for all. But if
this spare time is going to be given to some, then all students should have the opportunity . Plainfield High School says
that we should demonstrate fairness, trustworthiness, etc. Where’s the fairness in some students getting study halls and
some being rejected?
Recently, I interviewed one of our seniors here at Plainfield High School, Lindsey Bourgeois. She is catching up with
her credits, and has a study hall each semester this year. This was our conversation:
Do you think it’s fair that some students receive study halls, and other don't when requested?
I think that seniors should always have the opportunity to have a study hall. But underclassmen shouldn’t receive study
halls before upperclassmen.
What are your thoughts on the topic of study hall restrictions?
If a student is choosing to do sports and such, then they cant blame the school system for their decisions. If they cannot
balance school work and sports because they do not have a study hall, then that is their own fault.
I also talked to Sammi Pixely, I asked her how she felt about study halls as well.
I requested a study hall when I was a freshman and I was denied. I thought that maybe it was just because I was a
freshman. Now, my junior year, everyone says that study halls have been taken out completely. But where did they go?
Because I’m pretty sure I know several students who have a study hall, and others who don’t.
Spirit Week schedule
Wednesday October 10- Twin day
Thursday October 11– Class colors: yellow for freshman, blue for sophomores, green for
juniors, red for seniors
Friday October 12– Black and orange day
Saturday October 13– Homecoming dance 7-10 p.m. $7 Semi-Formal
Page 15
STUDENT EDITORIAL
More School Dances Huh?
Commentary by: Tim Colli
Photographs by: Tim Colli and Mrs. Lussier
Do you have any pep in your step? I certainly would like more people to have some
at Plainfield High School. There’s roughly one dance per school year, except juniors and
seniors have two. At Plainfield Central School there were dances every other week: why
not in high school? One thing I am trying to achieve in my senior year is to have more
dances. It seems to me that the two semi-formal dances Plainfield hosts each year are enjoyed by the students. Perhaps if that is the case, why aren’t there more than two a year?
Previously in my sophomore or junior year, our school attempted to have more than one.
However in order to have a dance, 40 or more people have to sign up, which never happens. Honestly are students that attached to their game consoles that they can’t go out and
boogey?
If dances aren’t formal, students should not have a problem putting decent clothes
to wear. The only issue students could claim is not having seven dollars for a ticket. Dancing is entertaining, enjoyable, and relieving when you are with your friends listening to music. This reminds me that there is work needed to be done in the DJ area. DJ’s are meant to
take requests and play the songs we like. Most of our DJ’s are just like radio stations on repeat. What the students are sick of is hearing the same songs over and
over. The DJ’s do ask for requests, but what’s the point if they don’t
play them? I understand most songs requested these days are not
school appropriate. It’s easier to go to Youtube.com and type in
“edited” after the song name, than it is to set up their equipment. In
all honesty, the main reason that I hear concerning why students don’t
attend dances: the music.
Interviews:
Mr. Worth - Dances are entertaining and fun however we lack in
attendance. We are going to try having themes and see if more people
sign up.
Mrs. Titus - She feels that the students really lack interest of the
dances. She is a bit confused on why students don’t buy tickets to
attend.
Brittany Harpin - The music that the DJ’s play isn’t good. The dances are also boring.
JJ Esparrago - There needs to me more break dancing at the dance, like battles. I would go
if more people went, and we got a new DJ.
Mason Delorge - Dances need to be more exotic and need more publicity so they are known. There needs to be more dancing music.
Ryan Barile - The DJ needs to be better.
It seems to me, via the students’ point of view, that the music
needs to be better. As you can see, many commented on the DJ that
Plainfield uses. However, from the staffs’ view it is mostly attendance
that they are worried about. Some students state that if more people
went that they would go. Perhaps Plainfield should start advertising
dances before the week of the dance. We could do this by making announcements, put ads on bulletin boards, and have teachers tell students
at the beginning of class. Hopefully by trying these new methods more
students will sign up so we can have more than one dance a year.
Brittany Harpin & I.
JJ Esparrago
Jake Goulas, Mason Delorge, & Ryan Barile lounging.
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 16
Fair and Unlucky or Lucky and Unfair?
Interviews and Photographs by: Samantha Lee
Why do sophomores and freshman need 27 credits but this year’s juniors and
seniors only need 25? Is that fair? I interviewed the current assistant principal Mrs. Riley about this topic and this is what she had to say about it.
Why did the amount of credits required to graduate change from 25
credits to 27?
Well, part of the change was in wanting students to have sequential math in
order to have them prepared for CAPT. Now it’s sophomore English all year
so they’re prepared better for the English section of CAPT.
When did this change?
The Board of Education added math last year, and this year’s yearlong English was added.
Who wanted to change it in the first place, and why?
The idea and change of the amount of credits was because of the superintenAndrew DeLorge
dent’s concern on the CAPT scores; there was a “learning gap” and something needed to be done.
Are we the only class that needs 27 credits?
No, but you are the first. The graduating class of 2015 is the first class at PHS that has this new system.
Why don’t we have the choice on doubling up on other academic core classes?
Mostly because of how the doubling up on English is to improve your CAPT and the lack of personal resources, an example of having one foods teacher.
In my perspective, having to double up on English all year would be unlucky but fair. It would be because we’re the first
class to have to double up. In some students eyes, it may be unfair or not needed, but in actuality, it helps us in the long
run. Sure, you might not enjoy it now, but when you pass the CAPT with flying colors, it’s going to have a lot to do with
all of the time you’ve spent learning the material. I also interviewed a sophomore and freshman on their ideas and perspective on having to obtain 27 credits. Andrew DeLorge is a freshman and his concerns with the credits seem to have a
greater impact on him, rather than Andre Bergeron, the sophomore I interviewed who didn’t really seem to care about
the change.
Who is your English teacher this year?
Andrew: Mrs. Proulx
Andre: Mr. Craig
What are your thoughts on having 27 credits and having to double up on
English?
Andrew: I definitely think it’s going to be harder since we have it all year.
Andre: I don’t really mind, because I’m a genius.
If you had the choice to double up on a different core class, what would it be?
Andrew: If I could double up on a different class it would be science or history
Andre: I would stick with English, because I’m a genius
Are you planning on staying at PHS even with the credit change?
Andrew: Absolutely.
Andre: Yes, because I’m a genius.
Andre Bergeron
Clearly the point of view on the credit requirement change fluctuates based on the person you’re asking. Though it may
seem difficult, or you just don’t even care about it, yearlong sophomore English was added to help you and make you
successful
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 17
PDA! Yay or Nay?
Commentary by Kandis Guyton
http://www.ryanbyrd.net
When you’re in high school, romance is everywhere. You see it all the time. Every time you turn
into a new hallway, you see some new couple holding hands or kissing each other. The other day I was
walking in the Junior hallway headed to honors English II. I was
already late due a momentary locker mishap, and so I was rushing to
make it to class before the final bell. Picture it, everyone is crowding
up the hallway and I'm weaving in and out of thousands or rushing
people. Right as I get close to Mr. Farrish’s class, the crowd just
stops and stands there like a bunch of bumps on logs. One couple
decided to plant themselves right smack dab in the middle of the
hallway. You would think they would have the courtesy to move to
the side out of everyone's way, but no. they just sit there and make
www.schooltube.com
out. The saying “every little action causes a chain reaction” comes
into play here. Due to their “little’ make out, everyone in the hallway had to stop and to see what they
were doing, they had to yell at them to “get a room”, and then we had to try to go around them. This reminded me of a traffic jam on the high way. One person wrecks,
traffic is backed up for miles, and everyone has to go really slow to
be nosy. Their make out made me late to English and made me
think: should public display of affection be allowed in school?
For those of you that don’t know PDA stands for Public
Display of Affection which qualify as acts of physical intimacy in
the view of others. While in school you are pretty much always in
“the views” of others. Everyone goes through the “honeymooners”
stage of the relationship. You hug, kiss, and are tied to each other
pretty much the whole time, but you could at least stop for the eight
hours you are in school. According to the Plainfield High School
student handbook on page 43: “Students are prohibited from engaging in inappropriate physical or sexual contact disruptive to the
school environment or disturbing to others.” Watching people kiss
in hallway is definitely disturbing to me. I sat down with a couple
of people to ask them how they felt about PDA.
How do you feel about PDA in the school environment?
Mr. Worth- I'm a private person and do not feel excessive PDA is appropriate anytime in the school environment its distracting. With the school expectations we don't want it to get out of hand or go to far.
Victoria Royce a Junior at PHS- Its gross! You have a house for that stuff”.
Why shouldn't PDA be allowed in school?
Mr. Worth- Well it’s just not appropriate and it makes students late for class, it clogs up the hallways, and
during cold season it’s a awful way to spread germs.
Victoria-It’s a public place, no one wants to see you making out.
What type of PDA is appropriate for school?
Mr. Worth- You can hold a girls hand or a quick hug or a kiss on the cheek, but a 10, 20, or 30 second lip
lock is excessive.
Victoria- Like hugging. Nothing to gross
What do you think the teachers and other school personal are doing about the PDA?
Mr. Worth– I think people are asking students to move along and get to class. I don't think it’s a terrible
problem in the hallway.
Victoria- Nothing really. I’ve seen Mr. Worth tell a couple of kids to knock it off but other than that its
ignored.
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 18
Real love, real friends, real body parts….
Commentary by: Hunter Oberdorf
Although it may not be crystal clear, throughout history, society has always valued beauty. People of every race
and culture have gone to extreme measures in the name of beauty. Such as the people of China with foot-binding, to dangerously constricting corsets in the Victorian era, to nose jobs as early as 800 BC in India. However, while plastic surgery has been around since ancient times, it has only recently become accepted by society.
Many people don’t even know the origin of plastic surgery and the many reasons behind it. Egyptians used
forms of plastic surgery in order to prepare and recognize the dead, while ancient Roman surgeons would remove scars,
especially on the back, which were considered marks of shame because they suggested that a man had turned his back in
battle, or worse, had been whipped like a slave. Rhinoplasty was then developed in ancient India due to the practice of
mutilation as a form of public punishment for immoral conduct.
Today, through television, magazines and billboards, a business that was at one time kept under wraps, is now
exposed. Because of this, the public is becoming more and more accustomed to the idea of plastic surgery. During the process of trying to beautify humans, something other than silicone has
“It seems that
been implanted; the belief that plastic surgery will improve lives. Not only do people now accept
life becomes
plastic surgery, but many also see it as a solution to personal and even professional problems.
These outrageous beliefs have created a society that values appearance over almost anything else. more plastic
Many believe that plastic surgery will boost their confidence and vitality. When in realiand artificial
ty, the boost is only temporary. Often patients’ insecurities about their appearance are symptoms
as time goes
of underlying psychological issues and may only be temporarily alleviated by surgery. While
marketing plastic surgery as a confidence booster increases profits, it gives people unrealistic
on and it gets
expectations. They believe that their life will change and are disappointed when it doesn’t.
harder and
To make matters worse, some parents are pressuring their children into having plastic
surgery. Doctors and parents say that the children understand the surgery. However, it’s more
harder to find
likely that the child thinks that his or her parents don’t accept him or her the way he or she is and
something
have to change in order to be accepted. Some people also feel pressured by their spouses to stay
youthful, or to become more attractive to their significant other. Many women, as well as some
real.”
men, have a desire to meet social expectations of beauty. They often end up viewing themselves
from the perspective of others. Some people may try to simply forget about the topic of plastic surgery, but it’s hard
when the public is bombarded with visuals of these altered humans.
The acceptance of plastic surgery, as well as the value of appearance over ability, has an effect on younger generations. From a young age, children play with toys like Barbie dolls and burly action figures, with bodies that are physically impossible to achieve. Exposure to these “ideals” is damaging
my.englishclub.com
to the self-esteem of youths. The American culture has built a
mold of what an “attractive” person is supposed to look like. As
time goes on, this margin of difference in the mold is getting smaller and less forgiving of any differences in someone’s appearance.
The assembly-line look ultimately damages the notion of personal
identity; because of this we are in danger of doing something terrible and unthinkable: making beauty boring.
Vanity in our culture has increased and become more acceptable. People are more open about their desire to be attractive,
and plastic surgery no longer has a negative connotation. People
believe that happiness can be achieved through surgery. Instead,
people need to embrace their differences instead of trying to erase
them. As the plastic surgery trend spreads, it seems that life becomes more plastic and artificial as time goes on and it gets harder
and harder to find something real.
Information taken from: www.randomhistory.com
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 19
When the Mitt Hits the Fan
Commentary by: Ibrahim Muhammad
Mitt Romney has received the Republican presidential nomination; combine that with declining popularity
polls of President Barack Obama and there is a pretty good chance that the former Massachusetts governor might
just be our next President. It is common knowledge that Romney’s views have “evolved” some and it is impossible
to know what entertaining thing he will say next. So what does Romney actually want to do?
Romney’s stance on abortion has changed some since ran for office in 1994. Back then he thought that abortion should be “safe and legal.” Romney mentioned no specific circumstance where abortion should be restricted to.
However in recent years he has changed his stance on the subject and is now against it. He believes that abortion
should only be an option in cases of incest and rape. He has even stated that if elected president he would support a
Constitutional Amendment that would define birth at conception. This is odd considering just a few years prior he
had no problem with abortion. Recently however he has become much more conservative on this subject.
Another issue that Romney has also received a lot of criticism for being two faced on is the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender rights issue. In 1994 he has said that he would offer a better policy for LGBT people than
his democratic counter parts. But then he pulled a 180 on that issue as well and said “call me old fashioned but I do
not support gay marriage or civil unions.” Keep in mind that this was during the 2008 Presidential election, so it was
quite possible that he was just using rhetoric, in an attempt to rally up support from the base of the Republican Party,
the most important constituency for winning an election.
www.shakesville.com
Climate change is an issue that Mitt Romney gets criticized on quite often, during June of 2011 he said "I
don’t speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world’s getting warmer. I can’t prove that, but I
believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to
that.” A reasonable opinion, but only a few months later he said, "My
view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this
planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try
to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us." If the man
cannot hold a simple opinion for more than a few months, how can
we expect him to perform under the pressure of being president and
controlling the most complex managerial organism on earth.
It’s quite obvious Mitt Romney isn’t sure what he is saying
but why? He is a highly successful player in the stock market, was
educated at Harvard and came from a family highly involved in politics. So why does his foot end up in his mouth so often? Perhaps because he doesn’t believe in what he is saying. Having adapted views
on economic or political policies is one thing, however his views on
those have been more or less consistent, so what he is compromising
on is social issues, as a way to appeal to his base. The notion that
gays were okay eight years ago but now are immoral and don’t deMitt Romney being Mitt Romney
serve rights is absurd and hard to believe. The Republicans have
moved so far to the right that in order for a centrist like Romney to appeal to them he must be conservative about
what his Republican base really cares about: gays, abortion, and the fallacy of climate change. This is what makes
him a very unpredictable candidate. If elected, will he go back to his more liberal policies, or will he remain the
diehard conservative he has transformed into?
Information taken from :http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/mitt-romney
BOOK REVIEW
Page 20
Osama Drama
Article by: Kali Trepanier
“No Easy Day” is a memoir of former U.S. Navy SEAL, Mark Owen. This memoir is Mark Owen’s firsthand
account of the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. The book details Mark Owen’s career as a Navy Seal and his involvement with several combat missions that eventually lead up to Osama bin Laden’s kill. Owen published his book
without first getting permission from United States Department of Defense (DOD). This created a huge controversy; the
DOD said that the memoir contained classified information, but as for Mark Owen and his publisher, they disagree.
In the first half of the book, Owen describes his upbringing in Alaska and his dreams and desires to be SEAL.
He tells his stories of the hardships while entering the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group
(DEVRU) and missions he acted upon during his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Owen also tells about his involvement
in the Maersk Alabama Hijacking rescue operation. After several piracy
acts, one of which four Somali pirates seized the cargo ship MV
Maersk Alabama, a couple hundred miles off the Somali port of Eyl
U.S. troops attempted a rescue mission on April 12, 2009. Throughout
the mission Owen describes the effort, dedication and teamwork his
group preformed during the dangerous military missions.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
The second half of the book is Owen’s account of the raid of
the compound that eventually killed Osama bin Laden. He writes that
he was the second in line, behind the point man that went up to the third
floor of the compound where Osama lived. He tells how their helicopter, Stealth Blackhawk, crash landed, almost killing the men even before the raid. Instead of one helicopter landing half the men on the rooftop and one helicopter landing the other half on the ground, the helicopter that didn’t crash saw the crash and brought its men to the crash site.
The element of surprise was gone and they quickly had to change their
plans. They decided to breach a wall from the compound via a heavy
steal door. They tried and tried again to break in, but they again had to
quickly change their plans to make it work. They eventually blew up
the door and just as they blew it up, shots were fired in their direction.
The SEALS fired back and scrambled to safety. When they went to fire
again they saw a woman with two children standing where the gunman
stood several seconds ago.
Once inside the compound, the Navy SEALS, as stealthy as cats, approached the top floor where they had been
told Osama lived. As they advanced toward the top floor, the point man shot Osama’s son. He was hiding near the stairs;
the point man whispered his name and then another evil man went down. Once in the room where Osama lived there
was several women, the point man not knowing if the women had bomb strapped to them rushed to push them against a
far side of the other wall so just in case they were strapped it wouldn’t blow up his team. During all the commotion Owen shot a man. He and another SEAL shot this man several times. After they looked at the man dead on the floor they
asked a child who he was, assuring that he was the right man, that he was Osama bin Laden.
Continued on next page
BOOK REVIEW CONTINUED
Page 21
After Owen and his men killed Osama they got samples of DNA from Osama and all loaded into the still remaining helicopter. They only had thirty minutes to complete the mission,
for the helicopter would run out of gas soon after thirty minutes. Once outside all the SEALS got inside of the helicopter and flew to the American
base in Afghanistan. After their return to the base the men gladly expressed
their pride and happiness for killing one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. The SEALS were finally able to go back home, back to the United
States, and back to their families. They had a private press conference with
President Obama. Obama asked who was the man that killed Osama and
with honor and dignity and they said it was a group effort.
www.businessinsider.com
Although this book was meant to do no harm, just to inform Americans how the job was done, Mark Owen was sued for material breach of
non-disclosure agreements. This meant that before the book was published it was suppose to go to the DOD due to specific information that could potentially jeopardize national security. Lieutenant Colonel James Gregory of the Department of Defense stated that should the book contained specialized information about SEAL weapons and tactics, and
said that Owen could potentially be charged with a criminal offense. Christine Ball of Dutton Penguin, however, said
that the contents of the book was inspected by a former special operations attorney and that sensitive content would not
be an issue. The DOD is not the only people that had a problem with Mark Owen breaching his contract, “No Easy Day”
mentions several organizations and SEAL– related charities that Owen asks his readers to donate to. However, one of the
organizations, the Navy SEAL Foundation, stated that it would refuse to accept any donations related to the book. A retired SEAL stated that the book does not contain classified information. The officers stated that, nevertheless, they expected the SEAL community to reject Owen because he broke the informal code of silence that DEVGRU members traditionally follow.
upload.wikimedia.org
rackcdn.com
Whether Owen’s memoir is a breach of a contract or the next world renowned book it has made its way up to the
top-selling book on September 13, 2012, replacing “50 Shades of Gray” on “USA Today’s” best selling book list. “USA
Today” stated that hardback versions were outselling e-versions and that the book sales in its first week was up to 1 million copies, not counting e-books.
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden’s compound that Mark Owen and his men killed Osama
Information taken from: washingtontimes.com
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 22
9/11/01: Never Forget
Commentary by: Darien Sharkey
www.imdb.com
September 11, 2001, was a devastating day in history. Terrorists hijacked
four United States Airlines and carried out deadly attacks in New York, Washington,
and Pennsylvania. Two planes hit the World Trade Center and one plane hit the Pentagon. U.S. Airlines flight 93 is not as thought of when the topic of September 11th
is brought up. This plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Nobody knows that this
was the only flight where the passengers practiced heroism. They fought back. There
is a movie called “United 93.” The movie reenacts the hijacking, the commotion in
the control room, and the reactions to the attacks. To this day, we remember the
flights, the passengers and the victims. It was a heart-breaking moment in history. It
is a tragedy we have had to face in our lifetime; but, is the memory slowly fading to
the back of our minds?
On September 11th, every year, we remember the ordinary people who did
not deserve to be the victims. We say the phrase, “Never forget” but, is it believable
that the next day everyone forgets? It’s strange to think that every year, new generations have no idea what happened on this day. It seems unreal to children who were
born five years ago. Although our generation was only in the early beginnings of
school, we remember the day because of the chaos,
The Freedom Tower rendering.
the panicking, and the distress. Ten years from now,
the catastrophe will seem fictitious. Think about it, the material we learn in history today
seems nonexistent. We do not seem to be concerned with what happened centuries ago.
This same memory will be unreal to the up-and-coming generations. The result of this
might be because the public is not covering the story anymore. On the “Today Show,” they
did not give a moment of silence. In place of that, they focused on celebrity news. It also
might be because the schools are not giving the opportunity to have a moment of silence at
the times when each tower was hit. This year at Plainfield High School, we did not take
the time to do anything as a community.
In New York City, there is a memorial being built, where the Twin Towers were
are now pools. Around the borders of the pools are the names of the victims on the flights.
The south pool contains the names of people who were first responders to the attacks, the
people on Flight 175, Flight 77 and Flight 93, and the names of the victims who were in
the Pentagon. The North pool holds the names of the people on Flight 11 and the victims
of September 26, 1993. In case you are not aware of this attack, what happened was a
truck bomb was detonated below the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
The plan was to knock the North tower into the South tower, resulting in both collapsing.
It killed only six people but injured thousands. There are 2,983 names on both pools.
The National September 11th Memorial Museum contributes to the memorials.
The museum helps conclude the events, documents the impact of the events, and explores the ongoing message of SeptemWorld Trade Center Memorial
ber 11, 2001. The museum tells the story through multimedia displays, narratives, records, and a collection of authentic artifacts.
The Freedom Tower is also in progress; it is just one world trade center. It was “topped out” in April of 2012. The building will be completed in
2013. The Freedom Tower is 1,776 feet tall, and is going to be the third tallest
building in the world. There are also seven more buildings in the plans for the
upcoming years.
Information taken from: Wikipedia.org, 911memorial.org
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 23
Why the Arab World Needs to Grow Up
Around the eleventh anniversary of the September
11th terrorist attacks, there was a storm of anger and protesting brewing in the Arab world. There was a trailer for a movie that went viral on YouTube called “The innocence of Islam.” The movie contained some offensive things about the
Muslim prophet Muhammad and offended a lot of people in
the Middle East. The movie trailer has caused rioting and
protesting in Egypt and Libya, and unfortunately resulted in
the death of several Americans including the American ambassador to Libya. There has been some speculation by some
that the attacks were actually a front for Al Qaeda. The film
seemed to have reignited what seemed like waning tension
between the United States and the Middle East.
En.Newsbharati.com
Commentary by: Ibrahim Muhammad
A screen shot of Prophet Muhammad from the film.
As someone who grew up around Islam and knows it to be more or less accepting and tolerant, it bothers
me to see Muslims acting simply childish. Whether it is Salman Rushdie or the creators of “South Park”, whenever
western media brings up the prophet Muhammad, often simply satirically, there is a ridiculous and sometimes violent backlash. One that does nothing for their cause but makes Islam and its followers seems uncivilized and violent. The bigger problem with their actions is that it is causing innocent people like the Libyan ambassador, who
only wanted to help them, their lives and that is unacceptable. I agree that something needs to be done, if we allow
them to think that we are powerless against them there will be continued problems from the extremists. The ridiculous thing about it all is that film really had nothing to do with the United States, the government has even tried to
get Google to remove it, but they refused, and President Obama denounced the video. So protesting outside the embassy is pointless and killing Americans is nothing more than unjustified murder.
www.Thinkprogress.org
The larger problem this is contributing to is the negative perception of Muslims by the rest of the world.
Any Muslim that I have talked to about the issue was annoyed at best but really didn’t think of it as anything more
than a sign of the decline of quality content on
YouTube. But events like this make the general public
think that a simple video made them get this riled and
murder Americans, this tragically contributes to the lack
of toleration that is so much the problem with international issues, particularly in the middle east. One thing
that was notable was that there were, perhaps for the
first time, protests against the anti-American behavior
by moderates in that region. This was very surprising to
see and shows that perhaps democracy and a liberal society can one day exist in the Middle East as well. But
for this to happen the society in the middle east needs to
become what they preach, accepting and tolerant.
A Libyan protesting the killing of the ambassador.
Information taken from: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Page 24
Down in the Dirt with the Turtleman
Article by: Harley L’Etoile
Out in middle of nowhere in Kentucky, lives a man known
as The Turtleman: his real name is Ernie Brown Jr. This 47 year old
man, along with his right-hand man Neal James, and his faithful dog
Lolly Dog, get calls from everyone around. The Turtleman has been
catching animals since he was only seven years old. He has caught an
average of 300 turtles a year, while only being injured 33 times. To
this day, he says he has caught over 12,000 turtles. Who knew someone could be so faithful to the town of Washington County and help
them out? When he catches the animals he usually kisses them and
sets them free somewhere else where they won’t be in danger.
He currently has his own show called “Call of the Wildman”
on Animal Planet. It currently shows once in a blue moon at 6 pm.
When Neal and Turtleman get calls from people in town or other
places, they go out with Lolly Dog and try to help those people.
When he goes out to help new people that are just meeting him, they
don’t think he will get down in the dirt, but when they see him doing
his work, they realize he means business when he is saving animals with
his bare hands.
On May 31, 2012, Turtleman was on the “Today Show” and said,
“I love it. I just like making people happy, it makes me feel good. It will
never get old.” In his spare time he loves to look for arrowheads and
spending time with his two daughters, Megan and Courtney. He was married to a woman named Debbie in 1987, but then got a divorce. As a child
he spent most of his time in the woods learning the animals that occupy
them. The Turtleman is scared that his fans will get mad at him when he
helps everyone out, and he doesn't want to hurt them. The
Turtleman
is a loving man who cares for animals and the people around him. Be sure
to catch the Turtleman every night on Animal Planet at 6 pm.
What do you think of the Turtleman?
Kelso Warren; “I love how he helps everyone.”
Melinda Zekiri; “I don't know who he is.”
Emily Brennen; “He is cool.”
Five Turtle Facts:
1: Tortoises orbited the moon before astronauts did.
2: Males sniff tails to find potential mates.
3: They have favorite colors.
4: They breathe without a diaphragm.
5: They are nearly as old as dinosaurs.
Information from: Animalplanet.com
turtlemanliveaction.com
Neal James and the Turtleman
Poptower.com
Turtleman and Lolly
Page 25
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
2012 VMAs Has Hart
Commentary By: Keenan MeBane
The Music Television Video Music Awards of 2011 lacked luster because
there was no host, and a scarcity of memorable performances. However, this year’s
VMAs had a leg up on the prior year before it even aired, because they received one of
comedy’s funniest front men: Kevin Hart. Also, many star studded performances were
announced before the show, which made people indifferent on whether or not the entertainment would be sufficient enough to hold the viewers’ attention throughout the
two hour time slot.
Initially, critics applauded MTV for locking down a comedian in such high
demand to host the Video Music Awards this year. Then, the moment of truth arrived
as the spotlight hit Kevin on the VMA stage. His opening monologue had apparent
highs, and definite lows. He touched upon recent celebrity new that occurred throughout the summer such as: Chris Brown
Kevin Hart on the VMA red carpet
and Drake’s night club brawl, Kristen
Stewart cheating on her boyfriend with one of her directors, and the birth of
Snooki’s baby. However, some of his jokes sounded like an elementary
school student trying to make a mature joke. After, he redeemed himself
when he received a jersey from Dwight Howard that fitted like a child wearing his father’s shirt. Overall, Hart brought a sufficient amount of hilarity as
the host, but MTV should greatly consider getting a host with more charisma
in the upcoming year.
The shows opener and close are both vital points during any award
show, and the VMAs was no exception. The night began with a provocative
performance of one of Rihanna’s controversial tunes called “Cockiness.”
The smoke filled set and muffled percussion prelude set up a dark mood for
the up-beat, dance track. Rihanna’s vocals fell flat at most points, but the
intensity from the multitude of dancers and a risky walk through the crowd
Taylor Swift closing the show
by the songstress forced the audience to advert their attention from her vocal ability to the theatrics of the performance instead. Overall, the performance wasn’t Rihanna’s best, but it was a great
way to set the energetic mood for the rest of the night.
Other memorable performances include a simplistic, but powerful performance of “Thinking Of You” by newcomer Frank Ocean, and the debut of Alicia Keys’ girl-power -anthem, which featured a sentimental verse from the usually hard rapper Nicki Minaj and an appearance from Olympic gymnast Gabriel Douglas as well. Then, the performances
of the night were topped off by a performance by Taylor Swift in a performance which was unusual for her. She performed her number one single “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and
the performance showed a diminutive amount of a country element that she
usually produces and leaned more toward a pop angle. However, the new persona Swift portrayed was very entertaining and also suited her well. The new
turn in Taylor’s image proved to be an effective way to close the show.
The Video Music Awards wouldn’t be complete without the actual
awards, right? The United Kingdom’s latest gift to teenage girls, One Direction, received the most awards of the night with awards for Best New Artist,
Best Pop Video, and Most Share-Worthy Video beating out Justin Bieber who
has been superior at the VMAs in recent years. Rihanna took home the award
of the night by winning the Video Of The Year Award for her controversial
video “We Found Love.” Other winners include: Demi Lovato (Best video
with a message), Calvin Harris (Best electronic dance music video), Chris
Brown (Best male video), Drake (Best hip-hop video), Nicki Minaj (Best
(Left to Right): Winners Rihanna and Nicki
female video), and Coldplay (Best rock video).
Minaj with Katy Perry during the show
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Page 26
The Broken
Articles and photographs by: Hunter Oberdorf
“A party on a ‘Baywatch’ babe’s backside” had made Lit bona fide rock stars in the 90s, with their song
“Miserable.” They also had incredible success with other hits such as
“Zip-lock”, and “My Own Worst Enemy.” Then it seemed like they had
vanished from the spotlight overnight. On June 5, 2005, A.Jay and Jeremy Popoff’s mother and step-father were hit by a drunk driver while riding their motorcycle, their step-father was killed instantly. Then in May
of 2008, while rehearsing to go on tour with KISS, Lit’s drummer, Allen
Shellenberger, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Almost a
year after his diagnoses, Allen Shellenberger lost his battle with cancer.
After taking personal time to allow themselves to heal, the band has
bounced back powerfully! This year they have released their first album
in eight years titled “The View From The Bottom.”
It was a rainy, dreary day as I hopped in the car to head to Mohegan Sun. Despite the weather I was extremely excited that I was about
A.Jay Popoff, Jeremy Popoff, and Kevin Baldes
to see the rock band, Lit. To make it even better, other iconic bands
were part of the tour. The nostalgic lineup also included Sugar Ray, Everclear, Marcy Playground, and Gin Blossoms.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at Mohegan Sun. There was some extra time before the concert was scheduled to start,
so, I decided to wander around some of the stores they have there. After wasting about twenty minutes in Spin Street, I
made the decision that everything was highly priced and made my way to the arena to find my seat.
The crowd was diverse, ranging from current high school students, to retired people and nostalgia seemed to be
a powerful force since the venue was packed with fans ready to belt out lyrics with the rockers. After no more than ten
minutes of sitting in my seat the magic began. Sugar Ray front man, Mark McGrath put on his “good host” pants and
acted as the master of ceremonies for the night’s events.
First on stage was Marcy Playground. To my disappointment, they didn’t impress with their music, as their
songs were generally loud and snarky. However, I both respect and appreciate that they truly played their hearts, out despite the less than eager crowd. After a handful of songs they closed their set with their hit song from 1997 titled “Sex
and Candy.” The audience simply gave a polite applause that was soon followed by a set change for the next band.
I was then treated to the music of Sugar Ray and Gin Blossoms. As Gin Blossoms closed their set, yet another
set change took place. Lit’s banner unraveled with the white and red text popping out against the black background.
When I saw the banner, I immediately became excited. This was the reason I came here tonight: to see Lit live and to
dance and belt out their songs along with them.
A.Jay Popoff (vocals), his brother Jeremy (guitar), and Kevin Baldes (bass) are the original core of the band and dominated the stage along with Nathan Walker (drums) and Ryan Gillmor (guitar). They opened up with their song
“Miserable” (better known as the Pamela Anderson video). A frenzy of screaming girls erupted as A.Jay sang the opening line “You make me come…you make me complete…you make me completely miserable.”
The band had great chemistry on stage and genuinely seemed to be having a great time performing with each
other and engaging the audience. In addition to playing older songs like “Zip-Lock” and “Perfect One,” they played a
handful of songs from their new album such as “You Tonight”, “Nothing’s Free”, and “The Broken.” They saved their
biggest hit “My Own Worst Enemy” for last and blew
the crowd away. Smiles were all around, the sea of
people were dancing, clapping, and singing throughout
the song. As they finished their last song the crowd
erupted into thunderous applause and cheering and one
could easily tell that the audience didn’t want to let
them go.
Continued on the next page
A.Jay Popoff, Jeremy Popoff, Kevin Baldes, Nathan Walker, and Ryan Gillmor.
Information taken from: www.litband.com
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS CONTINUED
Page 27
However, we didn’t have to let go just yet. Lit announced that they were
going to be out at the merchandise table to meet people and sign shirts, posters, or anything else the audience wanted. The minute I heard the announcement I rushed to the table. I was in the front of the line, a line that soon grew so long that we were told that not
many people would get to the table because of time restraints. As I stood there I could
hear the last band, Everclear, through the walls. They sounded fantastic; however, I wasn’t leaving my spot in line for anything.
After about thirty minutes of standing in line I heard screaming from the back. I
quickly whipped around to see Lit coming towards the table. As they passed by me, I received a quick half-hug and “Hey Darlin’” from the lead singer, A.Jay. The line moved
somewhat fast and soon I was at the table. As I went down the table, each band member
shook my hand and introduced himself and I followed suit. As we made small chat as
they signed my CD and poster and then I had to move down the line because time was
ticking.
I was ecstatic as I made my way back to the arena to watch the rest of the show.
Lead singer, A.Jay Popoff
As I entered the arena once again I reflected on Lit’s performance. From their first note to
their closing bows, their energy was nonstop and they engaged the audience throughout the entire show. The group was
once a soundtrack to an era long past, but hearing them live again tapped into the fun, nostalgic nerve that exists in all of
us.
SPORTS
Friday Night Lights
September 21, 2012
St. Bernard @ Plainfield
SPORTS NEWS
Page 28
Cheerleaders Cheated Out Of Coaches
Interview and Photographs by: Andrayah Clarke
This years cheerleading season was postponed due to the loss of our two
coaches. I’m interviewing Haley Ames, a returning varsity cheerleader here
at Plainfield High School, to find out what really happened and how it personally affected her.
When did you start cheerleading?
All together, eleven years ago.
What do you enjoy most about cheerleading?
I enjoy how our team is hard working and down to business when it’s needed,
but we’re also one big family.
How is the team like a big family?
We’re all open with each other, and are there for one another.
Do you think cheering for the RAMS field was any different from cheering at PHS?
Yes, I do. Cheering at the RAMS field wasn’t as serious, it was mostly fun.
Cheering at the high school is the real thing, we have to work hard and focus
at all times, or we won’t be able to compete.
Do you plan on doing college cheerleading?
Probably not. I want to focus more on my career and schooling.
What exactly happened with your coaches?
Both our assistant and head coach left to be coaches at Griswold High School.
Are you hurt by their decision to leave PHS?
No, because our team will still be successful with or without them.
Do your teammates share the same feelings on the coaches’
Current Plainfield High School varsity
decision to leave?
cheerleader Haley Ames striking a pose
Yes, we are basically all on the same page with how we feel about it.
in gym class.
Do you think they feel bad for leaving PHS?
Probably not.
Have any of your teammates spoken to them since they left?
No, I don’t think so.
Are you happy with the new coaches?
Yes, I worked with them at the RAMS field so I’m comfortable with them.
What do you think will be different with the
new coaches?
Not much, it’ll just be a little different because
they have different coaching styles than our previous coaches.
Do you think it’ll be a successful season?
Yes, regardless of the new coaches we will come
together and make things work. We care too much
for the team to let this ruin our season.
Do you think it’ll be awkward when we compete against Griswold?
More than likely, yes.
Do you think your team is better off with the
new coaches?
I think both sets of coaches were positive assets to
Left To Right: Andre Bergeron, Andrayah Clarke, John Dirocco, Joey
our team.
Walmsley, Haley Ames, Mason Delorge.
Page 29
SPORTS NEWS
Article by: Michelle Pfeifer
Photographs by: Ashlyn Hart and Michelle Pfeifer
Being a senior means it’s my fourth and last year playing on Plainfield High Schools girls soccer
team. We continue to improve every year and we are ready for the competition this 2012 fall season. I decided to interview Coach Zielinski on how he is feeling about the team and give it the recognition it deserves!
How long have you been coaching girl’s soccer at PHS?
Six years.
What is your favorite thing about coaching?
The competition.
Are you impressed with the amount of talent the team has?
This years team has a tremendous amount of talent. We are strong on both ends
of the field and our goalkeepers are great.
What made you decide to make a JV team?
We had enough girls this year to put together a JV team and get them a limited
schedule.
How do you predict the team will do this season?
I think the team should be competitive in every game.
How is this team different from the previous years?
This years team has 13-14 really strong players that can
all make an impact on the game.
What does the team need to improve on?
Finishing.
What do you hope the team accomplishes this year?
We hope to go back to states this year and maybe get a
home game.
Coach Zielinski
Seniors: Michelle Pfeifer, Sam Jimmis, Katrina Roys,
Kourtney Brown
Varsity Girl’s Soccer Schedule
Fri.-9/28-Tourtellotte– W 4-0
Mon.-10/1-Windham– L 3-1
Thurs.-10/18-Griswold-Away
Sat.-10/20-Tourtellotte-Away
Thurs.-10/4-Valley Regional-Away Tues.-10/23-St. Bernard-Home
Mon.-10/8-Parish Hill-Away
Senior Katie Marcoux
Thurs.-10/11-Wheeler-Away
Tues.-10/6-Killingly-Home
Sat.-10/27-Lyman Hall –Home
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Superior Soccer Team
SPORTS NEWS
Page 30
Going for the Goal
Interview by: Hunter Goulas
Last year the Plainfield High School boys soccer team finished the season with a record of 1-15, but this year brings
promise. The two new coaches and various new or returning team members may be cause for a better season. To get
the inside story, I interview the head coach of the team.
What is your name?
“I grew up
Josh Lord.
Do you teach here or at another local school?
playing soccer,
I am a permanent sub at the Central School.
and I've got
Why did you choose to coach our team?
I wanted to coach high school varsity soccer because I believe they would better understand the passion for the
concepts of my coaching style.
game. I just
Do you coach other teams?
U-14 recreational, U-10 competitive.
want to share
How old are you?
what I know
I am 33 years old.
with the kids.”
How long have you coached soccer?
I would say about ten years.
How do you think the team will do this year?
The team will greatly improve on last year’s record.
What does the team do well?
They are really good at passing.
What does it need to work on?
They definitely need to work on communication and better decision making.
What are you main concerns with this year’s team?
My main concern is just making sure they all get along.
How far do you see the team going in the playoffs?
Probably second round, but hopefully farther.
What is it like to coach soccer?
It’s the best thing in the world since I grew up playing soccer,
and I've got passion for the game.
I just want to share what I know with the kids.
Left to right: Assistant Coach George, senior Josh MilDid you go to school here?
lete, Head Coach Josh Lord, and senior Haseeb Murtaza
No, I went to school in Glastonbury, Connecticut.
Have you coached the kids on this team before this year?
Yes, I've coached Ryan Marchesseault, Ryan Raymond, Kurt Palmeri, Justyn Gilman, Haseeb Murtaza, James Delle Fave, and Ian Gamboa.
With little prompting Coach Josh explained to me that he played college soccer for Central Connecticut, and played at a
semi national level, but regrets not playing for the Major League Soccer teams. Soccer has brought him to many places,
including Miami and Costa Rica.
Plainfield 2012-13 Varsity Boys Schedule:
9-29: Tourtellotte– Home– W 2-1
10-15: Killingly– Away– 6:00 pm
9-11: Windham Tech– Away– L 5-0
10-2: St. Bernard– Home– W 2-0
10-17: Griswold– Home– 3:45 pm
9-20: Windham– Home– W 3-0
10-5: Westbrook– Home– 3:45 pm
10-19: Tourtellotte– Away– 3:45 pm
9-25: Killingly– Home– L 5-1
10-6: Wheeler– Home– 3:00 pm
10-22: St Bernard– Away– 6:00 pm
9-27: Griswold– Away– T 2-2
10-9: Ellis Tech– Away– 3:30 pm
10-24: Ellis Tech– Home– 3:30 pm
10-13: Wheeler– Away– 6:30 pm
10-26: Hale Ray– Home– 3:30 pm
SPORTS NEWS
Page 31
Plainfield Panthers Bite Bacon
Article by: Allen Griffin
“Strive to
get better
everyday...live
action!”
-Coach
Smith
Continued on Next Page...
www.norwichbulletin.com/
Vince Lombardi, one of the best coaches in
National Football League history, once said, “It’s not
whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get
up”. The Plainfield Panther football team took these
words to heart in our first game against Bacon Academy.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm going off
at precisely 5:30 AM, nothing too unusual as this happens every school day. The only difference is today is
Saturday, and one of the most important days of the
year. I spring out of bed and begin my daily routine:
work out, eat breakfast, shower and then rush out the
door. I race to the school, and I arrive at precisely 7:30.
I enter the locker room, and face my fellow teammates,
groggily changing into their uniforms. Today is one of
the most important days in Plainfield football, the first
Seniors Kelsey Holewka, Colby Cyrus, and
game. We clamor to get ready, silently acknowledging
Mason DeLorge at practice
each other, getting ourselves mentally ready for today.
We pile onto the bus in a controlled chaos, a mess of pads and bodies find their seats and we
are on our way to Colchester.
The bus ride is silent, with many of the players listening to their iPods, or sleeping.
It’s a quiet 45 minute ride, cold and uncomfortable, with an uneasy tension in the air. Smells
fill the bus, a mixture of dirt, sweat, and old gym bag; not the most pleasant smells, but
something we’re accustomed to. We arrive at Bacon Academy and file into the locker room;
this is where we get ourselves fully pumped. Players are taping their wrists, putting on their
pads, struggling with their tight jerseys. I have little trouble preparing myself, taping only
my wrists, and my pads fit without too much trouble. We are all shouting and positive vibes
fill the air. This is where courage is summoned, bravery wielded, fear is overcome, and we
are ready to play the greatest sport of all time, football.
We stampede out of the locker room, and proceed to march through the woods; this
is a poor design choice on the part of Bacon, but it does provide a good buffer from us and
the field. We rush onto the gridiron, into our five running lines. We quickly stretch, and do
pregame warm-ups. Finally, we are ready to play. All of our work over the summer has led
to this. All of the blood, sweat and hard work has led to this moment. The coaches spark a
fire inside of us with their motivational speeches; we came here to change the culture and
earn a win, and we wouldn’t leave here without one.
Our captains take the field and plan to defer the ball to Bacon; we win the coin toss
and defer it. However, the referee makes the motion that we are to receive the ball! How
could this be? Turns out, Bacon outright insulted us, and deferred to us for both halves. This
infuriates us, and turns out to be a huge mistake in the long run. We take the field, and
smack them in the mouth. Unfortunately, they put up the first points, but they were forced to
kick a field goal for only three points. We hit them back hard, with senior Mason DeLorge
scoring the first touchdown of the game. With the score in our favor we kick the ball off and
rush down the field. Bacon scores a touchdown on this drive and kicks it in for an extra
point. Now we are down four points, but we never quit; we slammed it in for a touchdown
but again failed the conversion. The first half kept going back and forth, a strategic battle of
chess between two equally matched teams. At the end of the half we were down, 12-17, but,
we never put our heads down, and collected ourselves at the half.
SPORTS CONTINUED
Page 32
http://freeteams.net/eocpanthers/
As a football player you have no time to be tired. You work too
hard to allow yourself to give up, or pity yourself. Bacon is forced to kick it
off to us again at the beginning of the second half, regretting their earlier
decision to defer it both halves. Again a battle of back and forth ensued, but
this time the refs entered the match. Call after call, the refs angered the fans,
coaches and players, but self-control led us to keep our mouths shut and
play the game. This became increasingly hard as they called back touchdown after touchdown. After a hard battle, Plainfield finally reigned victorious 28-20. Our spirits soar, and we are extremely proud of ourselves. We
never quit, never put our heads down, or defeated ourselves. We continually
put the effort and work in, and with a strong defense, and a persistent offense, we walked away with a win.
Strong performances shined throughout the game. Mason DeLorge stripped the ball and scored a touchdown early in the game, and continued to run strong the entire game. Sophomore Jordan Federer ran increasingly well until he
was unfortunately injured. Chad Davis, one of our team captains, ran a strong running game as well, alongside Kelsey
Holewka, one of our returning seniors. On the defensive side of the ball, captain Colby Cyrus rocked the house and led
the defense to shut down the Bacon offense. When questioned, Colby Cyrus attributes much of the defensive success to
raw passion: “We felt we had something to prove after our less than stellar showing the previous week in a scrimmage
with Rocky Hill; we were out for blood.”
However, to single out any one player as the most valuable player, or as a game changer, would do the rest of the
team a great disservice. A football team works as one single, cohesive machine, and if any part fails the entire machine
malfunctions and shuts down. The defensive line pushed the offensive line around, and our backers closed down the running game up the middle. Our deep guys covered the air, stopping pass after pass. On the other side of the ball the Panther offense rammed the Bacon defense into submission. “I’m very proud of the group” Smith said, “They never quit!”
But now we must look to the future, and prepare for future games. The hard work has just begun. Coach Smith is
constantly looking out for the future: “There is always room for improvement. We need to continue to work hard, and
limit mental mistakes.” We can’t let this win get to our heads, and practice has to be harder on us than ever. As Coach
Smith says: “Strive to get better everyday...live action!”
Plainfield Varsity Football Schedule
Date
Home/Away
Opponent
Time/Score
Fri. 9/21
Home
St. Bernard
43-6 W
Sat. 9/29
Away
Waterford
38-21 L
Fri. 10/5
Away
North Providence
6:00 PM
Fri. 10/12
Home
Woodstock Academy: Homecoming 6:30 PM
Fri. 10/19
Home
New London
6:30 PM
Fri. 10/26
Away
Killingly
6:30 PM
Fri. 11/9
Away
Stonington
6:30 PM
Thu. 11/15
Away
Jonathon Law
6:00 PM
Thu. 11/22
Home
Griswold
10:00 AM
SPORTS
Page 33
How Bout’ Dem Cowboys
Article by: Katrina Roys
The National Football League kicked off with the defending Super Bowl Champions suffering an unexpected loss against their National Football Conference East division
rival, “America’s Team.” The New York Giants had the Dallas Cowboys outnumbered,
having won five of the last six meetings. The Dallas Cowboys had their second straight
disappointing regular season last year. After starting off with a 7-4 record through their
first eleven games, the Cowboys sputtered down the stretch with a 1-4 finish. Last season
famously came down to the final game of the season for these two teams. Both teams entered the game against each other in Week 17 with an 8-7 record, and the winner would
win the NFC East and advance to the playoffs. New York went on to win that game in
dominating fashion, 31-14, and the rest is history. Dallas was undoubtedly hungry for revenge for the way last season ended, but with New York lifting the championship banner,
emotions were running high on their sideline as well.
I went to school, on September 5th, the day of the big game, representing the Cowboys with a Dez Bryant jersey. All day I was told that the Cowboys were going to lose horribly, they stink, they were going to get killed, and so on. The proof was in the pudding that
the Giants had ten times more of a chance of winning and the Cowboys were going to get
pummeled. I ignored the many Giants fans that roamed the halls with their Eli Manning jerseys and other fan attire. After
the long school day and soccer, finally the game was about to start. It was 8:30 pm and I was freaking out now. The entire game I was at the edge of my seat with my heart beating rapidly at every snap.
Dallas won 24-17 in the long run. Dallas' defense frustrated the Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning and his offense
with three sacks and half-dozen pressures, all before the largest crowd at MetLife Stadium for a Giants game. The
82,287 fans saw the defending league champions lose in the now-traditional midweek kickoff contest for the first time in
nine such games. The spotlight belonged squarely on the Cowboys: from quarterback Tony Romo's three touchdown
passes and 307 yards passing, to running back DeMarco Murray's 129 yards rushing, to wide receiver Kevin Ogletree's
two scores. This was a huge win for the Cowboys but it was only the first game of the season and it’s too early to tell
anything. We also have to keep in mind that the two rivals meet up again in week seven.
The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys met up about three weeks ago now. The Cowboys have again
ruined expectations. Defeating the New York Giants seems so long ago. Two steps back against Seattle
"We let them
erased a giant step forward toward a special season. However, I remain optimistic. Maybe it’s me becomknow where
ing used to being a Cowboys fan and anticipating this kind of disappointment. The season isn’t over for
we are as a
the Cowboys. Now going into week three and the Cowboys are 1-1 with a division victory. When we
defense, and
look back ten weeks from now we might say that this was the turning point in the season. I’m not sure,
but it could happen. Every championship team needs that chip on their shoulder. They need to have a
that we'll
humbling moment so that they play like every game is their last.
play that way
Eli Manning made amends for an awful second quarter by throwing a career-best 510 yards to
lead the Super Bowl champion New York Giants to every week."
a 41-34 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Bucca- DeMarcus
neers on Sunday, September 16th. "The first half
Ware
was very disappointing," said Giants coach Tom
Coughlin. "Thank goodness, we are so happy to be
1-1 at this juncture. There is plenty of stuff to correct and we'll work to get that corrected." In the fourth quarter,
Manning's 80-yard strike to Victor Cruz followed by a two-point
conversion run in by Andre Brown tied it 27-27 and a 33-yard
touchdown to tight end Martellus Bennett gave New York a 34-27
lead with less than four minutes to play.
Information taken from: http://www.nfl.com and http://espn.com
Pictures taken from: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/
SPORTS NEWS
Page 34
NFL Predictions and Analysis
Articles by: Colby Cyrus and Josh Millette
Photographs by: Allen Griffin
As the football season picks up speed, so do our football instincts. As school wide heroes, it is our duty to shine some
light on football fans regarding the NFL season. We’ve decided to spread our views on the topics shown below. We do
not mean to offend anyone. God bless.
http://endzonereport.net
Super Bowl Pick:
Colby: 49ers will win super bowl because they have a bad taste in
their mouths following last year’s disappointment after their NFC
Championship loss. This year the offense and defense are clicking on
all cylinders. With the addition of my boy Randy Moss, there is no
stopping the Niners.
Josh: The Ravens will meet the Niners in this year’s superbowl. Joe
Flacco is ready to thrust himself into the category of elite quarterbacks. With weapons like Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Dennis
Pitta running routes along with Ray Rice hittin’ the holes, there is no
question they can put points on the board. The defense is stifling, exA picture perfect handoff from author to author
perienced and….Ray Lewis.
Best Offense:
Colby: The Niners running game is ferociously led by Frank “The Tank” Gore. Alex Smith, the former number one
overall pick, has come into his own at the quarterback position and is more than ready to win. Also,
with the manchild, Vernon Davis truckin’ DB’s and the saucy Randy Mossy making the secondary look slow, San Francisco will gain infinite yards.
“ He will, if
Josh: The best offensive team in the National Football League is the Baltimore Ravens. Their balance of run and pass excellence inflicts fear in opposing defenses. Ray Rice is a threat to take any
not
handoff the distance which keeps safeties honest. As a result of this, Joe Flacco has numerous opalready, be
tions downfield. If the Ravens can minimize turnovers and stay healthy, watch out.
the most
Best Defense:
Colby & Josh: The 49ers defense is the best in the league because of their fierce and intense
feared
style. They are bolstered by a strong defensive line led by Justin Smith. Then they have the best
player
line backing core in the whole NFL which features Patrick “Whatcha talking bout” Willis and Aldon “Mount Everest” Smith. The secondary’s speed allows them to line up deep but still be able
among
to stop the run.
NFL
Favorite Player:
Colby: Charles “Chuck” Woodson is easily my favorite player because he is a fearless playmaker
defenses.”
on the defensive side of the ball. And more importantly he is the only defensive player to ever win
the Heisman trophy; in addition to that he went to my favorite
college program, The Michigan Wolverines. He is known world widely for his game
changing big plays in crucial situations. So all in all, guys a boss.
Josh: Some may call him superman, but his birth certificate says Cameron Jerrell
Newton. He is my favorite player because of his explosiveness and big play ability.
He is taking the NFL by storm and revolutionizing the quarterback position. Cam is
the perfect blend between the scrambling ability of Michael Vick, the gunslinger arm
of Brett Favre and the work ethic of Tim Tebow. He will, if not already, be the most
feared player among NFL defenses. In conclusion, he is the future of the NFL.
Continued on Next Page...
SPORTS CONTINUED
Page 35
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2010/12/22/pierrepaulx.jpg
Best Player:
Colby: Eli Manning is hands down the best player in the game. He might not put up the flashy numbers but he gets the
job week in and week out. I would not choose any other quarterback in a clutch situation than Eli. Manning knows how
to lead and win a game when it matters. Ask Patriot fans.
Josh: Calvin Johnson is the most dominant player in football. The dude catches balls. Matthew Stafford can toss the ball
anywhere in the vicinity of Megatron and have confidence that he will bring it down. From a size stand point, he towers
over opposing defensive backs at 6’5” making him a nearly impossible cover.
Best Playmaker:
Colby: In my opinion, Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens is the best
playmaker in the NFL. It is odd for a defensive player to be known
as a playmaker but Ed Reed makes the biggest plays every week for
his team. He changes game consistently with his ball hawking and
return skills causing instant offense.
Josh: From my point of view, Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers is the league’s best playmaker. He is a big play waiting to happen. This second year wide receiver out of Kentucky will not only
line up in the slot, but you’ll also see him in the backfield and back
receiving kicks/punts. Versatility is the key to Randall Cobb’s success.
Best Defensive Player:
Colby: The best defensive player in the NFL is Jason Pierre- Paul.
He plays for the New York football Giants and is a nightmare for
opposing offenses. With his unique build and athletic ability he is
almost an impossible block. He is a game changer and helps lead the
Giants to victories throughout the season.
Josh: It is clear to me that Patrick Willis is the best player on the
defensive side of the ball. He is one of, if not the hardest hitting linebackers. In addition to his ferocity, he has the quickness to shut down receivers and tight ends when needed. He is the
anchor on the best defense in the league and is pivotal to their success.
Best Coach:
Colby: The best coach in my opinion is Jim Harbaugh. He is the Head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and since he has
taken he hasn’t seen anything but success. His in your face coaching style seems to motivate his players to perform at
their potential.
Josh: It is clear that Sean Payton is the most important coach to his team, the New Orleans Saints. Payton is suspended
for all 16 games this year for his involvement in the bounty scandal. The Saints have started with a loss in each of their
first two games and have looked terrible both sides of the ball. Sean Payton always seemed to make the right calls at the
duckbrand.com
THE UPCOMING PRO-LIFE DAY
For the past few years our school has been one of the many that partake in a national day of silence, or “Pro-life Day.” Being pro-life means that
you are against the practice of abortion, opposite of being pro-choice which
means you are for the practice. The National Day of Silence is Friday, October 12 this year, but our school is hosting this event on October 19 so it
doesn’t interfere with our pep rally.
Normally supporters are silent the whole day to represent the unborn
babies, but it is not necessary if you just want to show your support. For more information regarding the event you can
visit http://www.silentday.org/. As of right now our school does not sponsor a pro-choice day, but that can be scheduled
if people are willing to request it.
GAME PAGE
Back To School
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