Holiday Issue - South Burlington High School

the rebel word
holiday 2011
“Second to None”
The Newly Wed Game
page 1
They live together, they work together, but how much do they actually know about each other?
The Rebel Word wants to know!
SB Teachers compete in
Rebel Word Newlywed
Game
Sample Questions and Answers
How would you spend a million dollars?
Mrs. Backman: “He would pay off bills, take
me to New Zealand, and buy Bolton Resort to
turn into an alternative school/ have student
run Resort!”
Mrs. Painter: On bikes. And more bikes.
Mr. McDonald: I would buy a beach.
The location of your dream vacation?
Mrs. D-P: Ireland
Mrs. Mazza-Anthony: India or Peru
On December 8, 2011, five SBHS faculty couples went head to head in fierce competition
of knowledge; who could correctly answer the
most questions about their significant other.
The competition was based on the 1960s-90s
success “The Newlywed Game”, which debuted in July 1966. Contestants include Team
Mazza-Anthony, Team McDonald, Team
Divoll-Painter, Team Dransfield, and Team
Backman.
Each couple answered unusual questions,
like “What is your husband’s most repeated
phrase?”, “What is your wife’s favorite outfit”, “How would you spend a million dollars”, “What was the name of your husband’s
first pet?”, and so on. (See right column for
more questions and responses!) Each response
was judged for accuracy as well as creativity.
Throughout judging, all the teams were very
close, but two teams rose above the rest;
Team McDonald and Team Backman both
answered more than 50% of their questions
correct, tying for first place.
Each received a small “wedding cake”, pride
and glory, and a certificate; a prize package
valued at over $5.00, yet priceless.
Team Divoll-Painter came in a close second,
and was the only team to guess the “favorite
outfit” question correctly. “Riding pants,
boots, helmet, etc… everything she wears to
the barn.” Mr. Painter said.
Team Dransfield and Team Anthony’s answers
stood out for their creativity. The Anthonys
received “The Funniest Answers Award” and
the Dransfields won “The Cutest Answers
Award” for their unique responses.
Each runner-up team received two chocolate
mousse cupcakes, from a local company.
The Rebel Word congratulates each team for
their efforts and enthusiasm! Thank you!
The strangest gift you have ever received?
Mrs. Dransfield: A generator electrical
switch.
Backmans: A homemade coffee set.
Mr. Anthony: My mom once bought me a
man purse…
Mr. Dransfield: A gift certificate for facial
piercing…I never used it.
Mr. Painter: An alternative metal band CD
for Christmas.
Mrs. McDonald: A weird t-shirt with Disney
Characters.
Your husband’s most repeated phrase?
Mr. Dransfield: When asked something like
"Should I get chicken or beef?" I often reply,
"Yes."
Anthonys: “Ok…”
Backmans: "Stop freakin' out"/"You’re not
listening"
Mr. Painter: "I love you at all times"
Left: 1st place prizes, “Wedding cakes”.
Middle: Mr. and Mrs. Backman
proudly display their certificate on the
science bulletin board. Right: Prize
for each runner-up couple; chocolate
mousse cupcakes.
WHAT’S INSIDE . . .
Man on the Street:
What’s your dream gift?
Questions - By Mr. Stone
From the Principal’s Desk
Point-Counterpoint:
Drinking Age: Raise it or Keep it?
From the Principal’s Desk
Holiday 2011
The Rebel
WORD
The Rebel Word
fears
have nothing to fear, he’s doing
his job, only criminals are “afraid
of cops,” man I need to drink
less coffee…wait here comes the
cop…what’s that in his hand …
darn I am getting a ticket! “Mr.
Burke, here’s a warning for “condition of vehicle” you need to get
that muffler fixed.”
One night, not too long ago I was
sitting on the couch at my house
and my wife says to me, “Hey
how about getting off your duff
and doing something around here
for a change?”
Now, at this point I wasn’t going
to argue…there were probably
17 “condition of vehicle” violations on the rig, so he’s letting me
off easy. Doing his job. He was
actually a pretty nice guy.
“SECOND TO NONE”
The Rebel WORD is
written, edited and designed
by students from
South Burlington High School.
SOUTH BURLINGTON
HIGH SCHOOL
550 Dorset St.
South Burlington, VT 05403
http://sbhs.sf.sbschools.net/
Page 2
“school shooter” are turning into
prisons; maybe fear is scaring us
to make “ultra-safe decisions.”
Maybe schools that are afraid of
looking bad because of low state
test scores cut arts and physical education so they drill math
problems and vocabulary into the
students all day. After all there is
no state test in music or physical
education, in those content areas
schools (you could say) have
nothing to fear.
Then I started to think on a on
a much smaller scale. I began
Patrick Burke, Principal
to think about relationships and
Veronica White, Adviser
Jordan Kazmierczak,
So
what’s
this
story
all
about?
self-confidence. You know, I
OK I’m only kidding -- she actuManaging Editor
I mean, who cares that I have
think what every person -- teen,
ally asked me (rather sweetly I
a
crummy
car
and
got
a
warnadult, senior citizen-- “loves” the
may add) to go out and get some
REBEL WORD STAFF MEMBERS
ing ticket? Well, what it got me
most is the freedom to “be themmilk as we had just run out, (my
thinking
about
was
fear.
That
was
selves.” I remember when I just
kids’ ability to drink milk is
Jennifer Graham
what was going on in my body
knew I would end up marrying
another reason we need to buy a
Jennifer Camm
when
I
was
pulled
over.
I
was
my wife; it was exactly the time
farm or at least a cow or two).
Vika Bespalov
sweating, a little panicky, a little
I stopped being afraid to “just be
Amna Mustafic
shaky,
I
was
afraid.
The
sketchy
me.”
So I jump in my car and head to
Carly Kemp
thing is that I was afraid for no
Chittenden Mills. I grab the galSean Lunny
real good reason.
Like Bruce I think because of
lon and head back up the hill toRyan Scagnelli
fear we can “kill” things we love
Jacob Barton
ward home. Just as I hit the crest
I
started
to
think
about
fear
in
a
and one such thing could be our
Chloe Brock
of the hill (at this point my car
broad context. What is it like to
freedom to be ourselves. Fear
Nicholas Garcia
was working at “maximum cabe
a
US
Marine
pulling
people
sometimes is what compels us to
Eric Davidson
pacity”) I see one of “Vermont’s
over in Iraq? Or to be an Iraqi be- “make rash judgments and bad
Finest” (a State Police Officer)
EDITORS
writing a ticket to a car parked on ing stopped and searched? When decisions. I’m afraid he won’t
Bailey Gokey, Assistant Editor
Route 15. He sees me and in full I was living in Ireland in the early like me, or afraid I’m not smart/
Samuel Rodgers, Opinion Editor
90s I visited Belfast where I once cool/pretty/tough. I’m afraid
“Grand Theft Auto” mode whips
Connor Devarney, Sports Editor around and chases me down, blue watched a British soldier search a to say what I really think, I’m
grandmother outside a shopping
afraid to “make waves” I’m afraid
lights flashing, headlights beamGUEST CONTRIBUTORS
mall. She was about 80 years old. to try out for the team or play, I’m
ing.
Patrick Burke, SBHS Principal
It was obvious the search was
afraid to admit I love poetry, I’m
Eric Stone, SBHS Faculty
random. They wanted to scare
afraid to apply for that job, speak
I pull over just past my kids’ old
her
and
scare
me.
If
you’re
innoin meetings, confront a peer…fear
elementary school and my heart
The WORD welcomes
cent, madam, you have nothing to is killing my freedom “to be me,”
is racing. He waits a full three
your opinion.
fear they said – yeah right – then
fear is killing something I love….
minutes before approaching the
Opinions may be expressed in
why was I afraid? Why were they because I love being myself.
car and asks me for my license,
letters to the editor addressed
doing it?
registration, and insurance.
to:
What can we do to help disThe Editors
I
was
recently
listening
to
a
Bruce
pel fear? How can we “protect
([email protected])
Then he spends a great deal of
the things we love”? How can
time (at least it seemed like a long Springsteen’s album and on one
song
there
is
a
verse
where
he
we keep our hearts from “turnAll opinions expressed in this
time) shining a flashlight into my
says:
ing black”? I don’t have all the
publication are those of the
car, into the back seat, and the
answers, but I can tell you what I
individual writer and neither
“way back” (as the trunk area of
I am just trying to survive
did when my son was four years
of the WORD staff nor of the
any wagon is oft referred to). At
administration of
What
if
what
you
do
to
survive
old and afraid at night. I ask him
this point I’m sweating, my hands
South Burlington High School.
kills the things you love?
what he is afraid of (monsters,
are kind of shaking and I’m a
Fear
is
a
powerful
thing
bad guys, etc) and I tell him, “It’s
little freaked out. Then (in my
head) – wait a minute – what did I Can turn your heart black you can OK little guy, there are no such
The Rebel Word is also online.
trust
thing as monsters and if there
do? Why did I get pulled over?
http://sbhs.sf.sbschools.net/
were, I’d protect you.”
It
hit
me.
Bruce
is
right,
fear
is
a
It couldn’t be for speeding (my
powerful thing, and as humans,
Before we can we do this for each
car can’t break the speed limit
SHARE THE WORD
when
we’re
trying
to
survive
we
other maybe, like him, we need
going down hills much less going
OR
to name our fears. What are we
up them) I wonder if he’s looking can get a little crazy. We can
PLEASE RECYCLE
even
“kill”
things
we
love.
Not
afraid of? Who can we tell about
for someone with a car like mine?
really “kill” but rather forget or
our fears? What is an appropriWas I “profiled?” (still in my
act
contrary
to
them.
Maybe
our
ate way to “protect each other”?
head) Great, what if one of my
“post September 11th survival
We should try and do this for one
neighbors drives by?
mode” has us killing some of
another; it would make this whole
the things we love (freedom for
“fear” thing a little less… well, a
My wife’s probably worried.
one).
Maybe
schools
afraid
of
a
little less scary.
This stinks. Suddenly I realize I
Courtesy of Mr. Burke
holiday 2011
Top 10 Holiday Movies
Page 3
The Rebel Word
By Nicholas Garcia
The Rebel Word conducted an informal poll
for students and staff members. They were
asked what their ten favorite holiday movies are.
and was directed by Frank Capra. 7th place on the poll is the famous animated
film Polar Express. Starring Tom Hanks,
Polar Express was a movie about a kid who
didn’t believe in Santa Clause until he was
Tying for 10th place was Frosty the Snowbrought to the North Pole to meet Santa. man and Gremlins. Gremlins is not a holi
day movie, but it is set during Christmas,
In 6th place we have a comedy staring
and the gremlin was a Christmas gift for ac- Chevy Chase in National Lampoons Christtor Zach Galligan. Frosty the Snowman was mas Vacation. Made in 1989, National
a cartoon movie that displayed the holiday
Lampoons Christmas Vacation is a classic
spirit of Christmas.
to many adults, but not as well known to
our generation.
Year without Santa Clause and White
The Nightmare Before Christmas and A
Christmas tied for 9th place. Neither Year
Christmas Story tied for 5th place. The
without Santa Clause or White Christmas
Nightmare Before Christmas is both a Halwere on the original poll. loween and Christmas movie directed by
In 8th place, from 1946, It’s a Wonderful
Henry Selick. A Christmas Story is about
Life. It’s a Wonderful Life stared James
Ralphie, played by actor Peter Billingsley,
Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came in
4th place. It is a Christmas classic and a
childhood song sang around the world.
Coming in 3rd Home Alone starring
Macaulay Culkin. Home Alone, made in
1990, is still in the top three holiday movies
of South Burlington High School. 2nd place belongs to How the Grinch
Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey as the
Grinch. Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting
for, the number one favorite holiday movie
in South Burlington High School is the Elf,
starring Will Farrell as a human raised by
elves. There you have it, the top 10 favorite
holiday films of SBHS!
Occupy - Where are they now?
By: Amna Mustafic
On November 10th a fatal shooting occurred
during the Occupy Burlington protest. A 35
year old man was shot and sent to a hospital
around 2 pm where he later died of his wounds.
A few hours after his death, police had found
the gun. According to the free press and witnesses, some believe that it was a self-inflicted
gun shot wound. Because of this, police did
not believe that the
public and especially
City Hall Park was in danger. According to
VPR news, his name was Pfenner, a transient
man who police had spoken to before. Police
say that Pfenner pointed a gun at another man
when he was in a tent with three others in
City Hall Park. Since October 28th the people
involved in Occupy Burlington have been
watched by police. The protesters cooperated
with the police and agreed to leave the park
immediately. City Hall Park was shut down
from the public for several days because of the
amount of broken glass around, blood etc. The
park will be maintained and cleaned before it is
reopened.
FROM ALL OF US AT THE REBEL WORD...
IMAGE COURTESY OF http://www.strifeofcloud.
com/events/happy-new-year-2012-new-yearideas-2012/
IMAGE COURTESY OF http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/12/happy-new-year-best-brightest/
holiday 2011
Entertainment
Page 4
The Rebel Word
By Vika Bespalov
GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS
Based from: Bennington, VT
Members: Grace Potter, Scott Tournet, Matthew Philip Burr,
Benjamin Brian Yurco, Catherine Popper
Style: Roots Rock, Folk Rock, Blues
Latest album: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (2010)
Achievements: Had a sold out national tour (Winter Tour 2011)
and over 3 million music video views on YouTube
Lyric from a song:
“I see a tiny light like a flashbulb sparkle in the night,
I see a tiny light telling everyone to hold on tight”
(Tiny Light)
www.gracepotter.com
EUGENE
HÜTZ (GOGOL BORDELLO)
Eugene Hütz is part of the band Gogol Bordello.
From: Burlington, VT
Style: Gypsy Punk
Latest Album: Trans-Continental Hustle (2010)
Achievements: Most known for his work in “Everything Is
Illuminated” starring Elijah Wood,
where his song with Gogol Bordello is in the movie, and Eugene has
a role in the movie.
Song lyrics:
“Start wearing purple wearing purple
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits they will all vanish
I promise, it’s just a matter of time...”
(Start Wearing Purple)
www.gogolbordello.com
JACOB ES
Based from: Burlington, VT
Members: Jacob
Style: Rap
Latest (Mix Tape): Peace of Mind
Achievements: Opened for Mac Miller at UVM’s
Fall fest. Also, he has performed at Higher Ground.
Shows coming up: January 10th @ Webster Hall
Lyric from a song:
www.jacobesmusic.com
Where to check out other local music
Higher Ground
1214 Williston Rd. South Burlington, VT 05403
A concert venue where many local, and national artists play.
Check out their calendar to see when artists play.
Radio Bean
8 North Winooski Avenue Burlington, Vermont 05401
Radio Bean is a little café located right outside of Church St.
They always have local musicians playing and you can check out
thier calendar online. They also have open mic night on mondays!
Questions
holiday 2011
Page 5
The Rebel Word
As a teacher, I get a lot of questions. Most of
the time, these questions are welcome. They at
least demonstrate that the students are paying
some sort of attention, and also you hope that
the material you are presenting has sparked
some interest, although possibly tangential to
the topic you are discussing. Some questions
are sincere, some are funny. Some questions
are bizarre. I remember one student asking
if I had ever killed anybody. Too often, I am
asked what color my hair is. More often, I am
asked if Skapof really was a cage fighter.
As fun as these questions are, the question I
am asked the most is why I became a teacher.
The reason for asking this question seems to
be as varied as the people asking the question.
Some students might actually be considering
joining the profession. Some students might
think joining the profession might be the single
dumbest thing a person could do.
At odds with this, in my opinion, is that the
answer I tend to give is perhaps – and this
is purely out of line on my part – the answer
most teachers would give. How dare I speak
for so many professionals? Well, if you listen
to teachers when they talk to each other about
how and why they got into the profession, the
routes these teachers took are varied, but at the
core – it seems to me – is that they became a
teacher because of pure hubris.
For my part the hubris is evident in that I actually thought that I could make a difference in
the lives of other people. I thought that I could
try to open students’ minds to learning. My
hope was that I could, through teaching, give
students opportunities that they may not have
otherwise found. I guess when you really boil
it down, I hoped that I could make being a
geek “cool.” If that isn’t hubris, I don’t know
what is.
I teach Math and Science. That’s what I do,
but that isn’t who I am. If I could I would
also teach English. I love poetry. I’d like to
hang out with my English department colleagues and drink black coffee, wrap myself
in an afghan, and snap my fingers at slam
poetry recitals. If I had the time I would love
to teach History. I can’t think of a better time
that circling up the desks and discussing the
causes and ramifications of the Civil War. I
would love to be in the Art department because
I love to draw and paint and make pottery.
But I don’t have any talent, so that’s pretty
much out. Could you imagine me and Bushey
co-teaching chorus? Now THAT would be a
hoot, but I’m not really capable of the musical
derring-do of our music department.
Nope, I can’t be in all of the departments at
once. I wish I could. Do you know what’s
remarkable? Most of you can. I am so jealous. You get to be in the English Department
and read some of the finest works of prose and
poetry ever written with the guidance of people
who really know the material. You get to learn
the history of our world with people for whom
it is a passion. You get to practice Art under
the tutelage of some extremely talented people.
Heck, you get to learn a new language (or
two)!
And I’ll be trying to do my part. I’ll be teaching about Free Fall, and Projectile Motion, and
Linear Equations hoping (as I think my colleagues would agree) that those of you in your
desks will get a spark, spawn many interests,
follow your passions, and… ask questions.
Courtesy of Mr. Stone
Recovering Strong
By Ryan Scagnelli
As you may remember, earlier this year Hurricane Irene swept through the United States
leaving behind a path of destruction and uncertainty. Irene killed more than 40 people, three
of them Vermonters. Damage are an estimated
one billion dollars in property and utility.
Roads and bridges were swept away with the
flooding making it hard for food and water to
be supplied to the people that needed it.
As we reported in September, even now, people
are working continuously to help the communities impacted. One such community is the town
of Waterbury. An organization working to help
is the Rebuild Waterbury program, or the RBW.
It was formed right after Irene hit Waterbury
and has provided food, water, clothing and
shelter thanks to the donations and help of hundreds of volunteers. Local businesses have also
taken suffered in the Waterbury area. Some 60
small businesses that have taken flood damage
closed temporarily like The Alchemist Pub and
Brewery, Muddy Paw Grill, and Memory Lane
Scrapbooking which will be closing indefinitely. Schools were shut down and “many teachers
from the elementary and middle schools in the
area, rather than plan for school” says Alysia
Backman resident of Waterbury and teacher at
South Burlington High School,“ they were out
volunteering “ .
The hurricane did more than destroy homes and
businesses; it drastically impacted the lives and
the dreams of the people living there. The resilient residents of Waterbury are working toward
a hopeful future.
Rebel Comics
holiday 2011
A Man of Many Talents
Page 6
The Rebel Word
By: Samuel Rodgers
The Rebel Word interviewed Mr. Eric Stone about
his activities both within school and outside of
school. Mr. Stone works in the math and science departments teaching courses such as algebra, chemistry, and physics. Read on to discover the story of
Stone... Q: How many years have you been teaching?
How many of those were at SBHS? A: “16 total. 14 here at SBHS.” Q: Where else have you taught, and for how
long?
A: “C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South
Carolina.”
Q: What was it like compared to SBHS?
A: “Completely Different. Johnson was in the
middle of a big city and it was primarily an African
American school. We have everything, whereas they
had nothing. For example, Johnson didn’t have a
true football stadium, or even a field. In fact, they
didn’t even have a grounds manager. When I was
employed there, I coached the baseball team, which
meant I was also the field manager. [Long story
short], I had two students sitting in the trunk of my
Honda Civic holding a chain link fence, as I drove
around the infield.”
Q: What, professionally, drives you?
A: “Truly, for me, it’s working with kids. If I can
instill a love of learning within them… if I can be a
part of that process, then I’ve done my job.”
Q: Which subject, mathematics or science, is
your passion? Why?
A: “Science, because my first degree was in Physics, which started [my career].”
Q: It is well known that you are the advisor to
Scholar’s Bowl, could you elaborate?
A: “Scholar’s bowl is kind of two things in one.
First of all, it’s like team Jeopardy. It’s more of what
you should have learned in high school, but didn’t.
Also, differentiation is what the team is really about.
For example, a lot of people think they would be
bad for Scholar’s Bowl...that they have nothing to
contribute. WRONG! We need all types of specialties for it to be effective. So, we need more than all
math whizzes... all are welcome!
The wizard, Mr. Stone, at work...
or is it play?
Q: You also play a key role in the South Burlington Educator’s Association (SBEA), would you
go into greater detail?
A: “I am the Chief Negotiator. What that means is
that I am responsible for leading the SBSD and the
SBEA to an agreement when our contracts are up
for renewal. I usually negotiate things like staff salaries, benefits, and working conditions.”
Q: How does it feel to represent the members of
the SB staff?
A: “I have to remain open. My job requires me to
look at the big picture, and balance the wants from
the needs. The end purpose is to find a common
ground between SBEA and SBSD. I feel that, in the
end, we are all on the same team... there is a direct
correlation between staff morale and the overall
health of the district.” Q: So, doing all of these things, being a full time
teacher, faculty leader, club advisor, and parent,
how do you fit it all in?
A: “I don’t! I do the best I can. A few years back,
I gave this problem to one of my classes. I asked
them, ‘You are traveling along a path carrying three
5 pound statues. You come to a bridge that you will
need to cross. You can only take one trip across the
bridge, but the bridge has a maximum weight capacity of your weight and 12 pounds. How do you get
across with all three statues? ’ – You juggle.”
Q: By juggling all of these things, do you feel like
you miss out on anything?
A: “Not really. Yes, I have dropped the ball a
few times, but who hasn’t? Thankfully, I haven’t
dropped something really important. I find I have to
prioritize. There are x hours in a day and I have x +1
hours of work to do in that day, therefore I have to
make priorities. A smart man once told me that there
are three priorities: 1. One’s Self; 2. One’s Family;
3. One’s Work. Your first priority is to take care of
yourself so you can provide for your family. Finally,
the work that matters most to you becomes of importance. I’m sure to the outside person, it looks like
complete chaos... believe me it is!”
Rebel Sports
By Connor DeVarney & Jacob Barton
Rebel Hockey
Boy’s Indoor Track
The Rebel Boys Hockey team coached by Sean Jones started their season with a 7 – 1 victory over Harwood. The boys are very confident in
their team this year. “There’s only one real sport to watch this winter…
Rebel Hockey” said senior forward Daniel Gluck. “I’m most looking
forward to reverse toe drags and tossing some ridiculous sauce passes to
Eric ‘Bender’ Craig,” he added. Junior forward Eric Craig said “I can’t
wait for the ladies to watch me snipe bar down, but I get scratched more
times than a lottery ticket so I’ll be wheeling from the stands; if I get on
the ice bring your sunblock because I’ll be giving you UV rays from the
goal light.” The boy’s hockey team will be looking for support from the
Rebel fans at each home game.
The Boy’s Indoor Rebel Runners are trying to repeat of last year’s
championship season. They rebels have been practicing very hard and
preparing themselves so they can keep that crown. Returning from last
year, Malcolm Plunkett is projected to lead the rebels, along with a lot
of other young faces. I got a chance to sit down with all-state runner Cal
Heffernan, to hear what he thinks about this upcoming indoor year. “We
look very promising,” Cal said. “We have a lot of new faces this year,
and we look pretty young. We have a couple returners from last year’s
prime team.” Let’s support these boy’s to bring home another state
championship. Good luck boys!
Dance Team
The Rebel Dance Team coached by Doris O’Brien will be led by their
lone returning senior Alyssa Jeffer. The Dance Team has always been an
exciting part of SB winter sports. Look for the Dance Team during half
time at the basketball games.
Girls Hockey
Girl’s Hockey coached by Mickey Toof will by led by senior forward
Molly Higgins and junior defense Anne-Marie Farmer. “We’ve always
had good chemistry and leadership skills which help us get through the
tough games.” In their home opener against Essex the Rebels had a close
fought game but ended in a 2- 1 victory for the Hornets.
Girls Basketball
The Girl’s Basketball team, coached by the one and only Sheila Burleigh, looks to win a state championship this year. The Rebels will be
led by senior captain Reily Simoneau and senior Brittany Moody. The
Rebels will take on SB rival CVU on December 15th.
Girl’s Indoor Track
The Girl’s Indoor Runners are also looking to repeat of last year’s dream
team of state champions. Practice has already started for the rebels.
One of the top runners, Mollie Gribbin, will be returning for her senior
and final year at SB. “We are very short on girls this year, compared
to last year,” second year shot-putter Mirella Coric said, “ Despite our
numbers, we are still striving for nothing less than a championship
again this year.” Good luck to Mirella and the rest of the rebel girls who
wanna bring home another championship for the second straight year.
Boys Basketball
After finishing the season with a 5-15 record last year, the South Burlington Boys Basketball team is looking to change that greatly this year
with a fresh slate. Unforchunalty the Rebels have gotten off to a slow
start, losing their first 3 games. Their recent lose was to Essex in a hard
fought game. Junior Point Guard Connor Burke, says, “We have a very
young team this year. A lot of people who are new to the Varsity Level.” The Rebels have a few returning starters this year, including Sean
Keogh, Andrew Mallory, Mike Miller, and Trevor Seward. Good Luck
REBELS!
holiday 2011
Point - Counterpoint
Page 7
The Rebel Word
Should 21 be the legal age?
Forward by Samuel Rodgers
The legal drinking age in America has been a topic of discussion for decades. Our parents dealt with this issue, now it is our turn!
Should the drinking age be lowered, raised, or stay at 21? SB students take on the issue in this edition of Point/Counterpoint.
By Chloe Brock & Jen Graham
Alcohol - 21 may not be high enough...
The drinking age should no be lowered because
your brain is not fully developed until age
25. If you drink a lot before this time it could
greatly affect the way your brain functions in
later years. By now I’m sure you can see how
dangerous drinking can be, but if your still not
convinced let me tell you more. Drinking is
very unsafe, not only for your brain, but for the
rest of your body as well. Drinking can cause
weight gain, can cause liver failure, heart malfunctions, kidney disease, stomach ulcers, and
many more harmful affects on the body. Your
judgment is extremely impaired, and if you or
someone else drinks and drives, you are at high
risk for causing an accident. It is very possible
to not only hurt yourself, but you can hurt, and
possibly kill others.
People below the drinking age tend to take
By Sean Lunny
things for granted and drinking is no different.
Some people drink under the legal age limit. If
the age is lowered to 18, the same amount of
people will break the law by drinking under
age. This means that younger children will
be exposed to alcohol. Some students are still
in high school at age 18. If they are allowed
to drink and buy alcohol, it is much easier for
them to get alcohol for younger students, such
as freshmen. Students may then feel that they
are free to drink in school, and this would not
be a good situation for the school and teachers.
Some of the consequences of drinking at such
a young age are; if you don’t know when to
stop it is possible to get alcohol poisoning,
you might need to get your stomach pumped,
or even face death. You may make unwanted
decisions under the influence, such as having
unprotected sex, which may cause pregnancy
and STD’s. Teenagers who start drinking early
are more likely to be addicted to alcohol when
they are adults.
Drinking alcohol is not a good thing to be
doing at such a young age. It can ruin your life
by making poor decisions. A college student
does not have a good reason to drink because
their brain isn’t going to say, “Hey you! Stop
drinking! It’s killing me. I don’t care if you are
successful and have stopped growing. You’re
killing yourself!”
People take drinking for granted and need to be
more mature to drink alcohol. It only takes one
little drink to get addicted. Drinking without
having the necessary maturity can cause an
incident that can ruin your life.
They fight for our nation, so why can’t they drink?
When people turn 18 they are allowed to do
a number of things, vote, use tobacco products, live on their own, as well as go to war
where they can legally take a the life of another
person. Why can’t these adults drink? They
are allowed to do everything an adult is able to
do except drink alcohol. A person can go off
to war on their eighteenth birthday and spend
three years fighting, witnessing and doing horrible things that they could have nightmares
about for the rest of their lives yet they can’t
have a beer with their friends when they go on
leave. These mature, responsible people, many
of whom have chosen to serve their country
deserve the privilege of consuming an alcoholic
beverage.
Another big problem with the drinking
age at 21 is a new trend among college students
called “pre-gaming”. Pre-gaming is where
students go to a location where they can drink
heavily and then head to the site of a party or
event. Pre-gaming is not only very dangerous but also creating a culture where the goal
of drinking is to get drunk, not sit down and
enjoy a drink with your friends. If these people
were allowed to drink openly they would not
be participating in pre-gaming. College is a
time when students are expected to learn how
to deal with the pressures and effects associated
with alcohol; how can they do this if they aren’t
allowed to drink until they are in their third or
even fourth year of college?
We took a brief survey of our school
community to figure out how our school felt
about alcohol. The survey was broken up into
two sections, one for students and one for
adults. The students believed the drinking age
should be lowered with 82% surveyed saying
the drinking age should be lowered to some
degree. More surprisingly though, 56% of the
adults surveyed thought that the drinking age
should be lowered. So if you agree that the
drinking age should be lowered, support legislation to lower the drinking age.
HOLIDAY 2011
Man on the Street
Page 8
The Rebel Word
By Eric Davidson & Bailey Gokey
The Rebel Word asks:
If you could have any gift, what would it be?
Dylan Douglas-Biddle (9)
“A better phone.”
Mr. Galiga
“A life time supply of Cape Cod Sweet
mesquite BBQ chips!”
Evan Nolting (12)
“My own pet Canadian lynx.”
Ms. Kaupilla
“A hundred billion dollars!”
Mr. Sankowski and Mr. Marabella
“Perfect attendance and no tardies for seniors on any
given day.”
Nick Wilson (12)
“A lion.”
Ibragim Temirov (11)
“A gift that means a lot from a close
friend or family member.”
Ms. Randal- Mullins
“School greenhouse.”
See something that you like? Something you don’t? Want to suggest an article topic? Let Us Know!
Contact the Editing Team at [email protected] or
see Ms. White in the English Office for details.