October 5, 2012 - Glenbard East High School

ECHO
GLENBARD EAST HIGHSCHOOL
October 5, 2012
FEATURES
Check out the
list of this
Summer’s
movies
OPINIONS
Homecoming
maybe?
5
4
NEWS
East
welcomes
new teachers
Volume 53
7
A&E
Check out the
haunted house
preview
Issue 1
SPORTS
See how
athletes view
the turf 10
8
New Superintendent getting comfy with District 87
By Sylvia Whitaker
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Since becoming a new
member of the Glenbard District
87 family, Superintendent Dr.
David Larson has continued
to learn and adapt to his new
surroundings. During a phone
interview, Dr. Larson provided
some updates to what he is
learning and how he is using
that information to apply ideas
within the district.
One thing new to
Dr. Larson this year is a bigger
school district. It can be quite
challenging to go from school
districts ranging from 1,200 to
8,000 students to a district with
over 12,000 students. A plus side
is that District 87 has only four
schools for Dr. Larson to visit.
“I’m looking forward to
being able to visit four schools
instead of a dozen,” said Dr.
Larson.
Even though Dr. Larson
has experience at different
districts over his career, he
continues to “keep an open
mind” with “no presumptions”
since every district is different.
However, the fact that the
Glenbards have yet to add airconditioning to their schools
does shock him.
“It’s a little unfair. My
office is air-conditioned but
the classrooms are not” said Dr.
Larson.
Dr. Larson also
mentioned being impressed by
how all four schools are able to
enforce and maintain consistent
and uniform policies throughout
promoting teacher performance
the district.
is by
Of course,
continuing
there is no
to set high
such thing
consistent
as a perfect
standards
school
in excellent
district and
teaching.
there are a
The
few policies
second theme
that some
is student
schools
expectations.
struggle with
Students are
while others
expected to
enforce the
come to school
policies
and take
with few
responsibility
problems.
for their
An example
education by
of such a
being ready to
policy being Photo courtesy of District 87
learn.
critiqued
The third theme
now is the Physical Education
is leveraging data and tools for
waivers.
greater student achievement.
“I will have to continue
A new program being used in
to research the topic and gather
classrooms right now is Mastery
information before making any
Manager. This tool allows teachers
decisions” [regarding policy
to use common assessments
changes], said Dr. Larson.
to see what students may need
In terms of evaluating
to work on and what they are
the direction of a district, on a
excelling in.
recent leadership retreat, Dr.
There is no doubt
Larson picked up a few ideas
that Dr. Larson cares about the
for implementing initiatives.
students and he even zeroed
One of the techniques he is
in on what he thinks is most
currently using is to look up
important for student success.
all the initiatives and group
The three important ways Dr.
them together into what he
Larson believes teachers can
characterized as three “key
continue to assist in student
themes”. The three themes are
success are by support,
teacher performance, student
nurture and encouragement.
expectations, and leveraging data
Teachers can show support by
and tools.
continuing to be involved in
One of the ways of
student extracurricular activities
for balance and character
development. Teachers can
nurture by continuing to
readily providing services and
information students need to be
successful. Teachers can continue
to encourage students to take
responsibility and give back to
their communities. An example
of the last theme that stood
out for Dr. Larson was freshman
orientation.
“I was really
impressed to see the
upperclassmen helping
the freshmen during the
freshmen orientation. That
kind of leadership was truly
impressive,” said Dr. Larson.
As the “lead learner”,
Dr. Larson’s vision will keep
Glenbard on the cutting edge
of standards of excellence for
both students and staff.
In a previous interview with Dr. Larson, we
discovered some interesting facts.
Here is a list of facts that you might enjoy!
By Chrissa Smith
Staff Writer
-Dr. Larson worked as a superintendant in Birmingham, Michigan where the district consisted of thirteen buildings and 8,000
students. He worked there for five years.
-He also worked in Northern Michigan at Harbor Springs Middle
School as a superintendent where the district was much smaller
with 1,200 students.
-Dr. Larson was a high school principal for six years and an administrator at Palm Beach county for ten years.
-Our new superintendent continues to enjoy working in District 87 where he looks forward to visiting students, faculty and
school activities.
-His favorite ice cream he says is anything that has Reese’s Cups.
-His favorite music is classical.
-His favorite movie is Gladiator and says it illustrates good leadership and teamwork lesson.
-One thing that no one knows about him is that he likes to read
Russian Literature.
Turf brings community together
By Magdalena Pecyna
and Jessica DeJong
Co-Editor-in-Chief
and Staff Writer
The football team
emerges. Adrenaline rushing
through players’ veins, excitement
erupting from the cheering
crowds. Drops of sweat falling
down heavy like blood in a
battlefield. Ready for the 2012
Homecoming game – for the first
time in history, played on turf.
Glenbard East upgraded
its stadium to an artificial turf
during the past summer. Until
now, East and South were the
only two schools left in the
District 87 and the DuPage Valley
Conference still playing on grass.
West Chicago was the
first school in the DVC to get a
turf field, other schools soon
followed. Within the District 87,
Glenbard North upgraded to turf
in 2009, followed by Glenbard
West a year later.
To pay for its
renovations, Glenbard North
came up with a funding plan that
became a model for the other
District 87 schools. The model
divided the expenses of the
construction between the school
district, the local park district, and
the school’s boosters club evenly.
Glenbard East proposed
this idea to the Lombard Park
District about 4 or 5 years ago,
however the park district did
not see the need for such an
investment at that time.
“It was a dream of ours
that did not get any support,”
said the Assistant Principal of
Operations, Bill Mushrush.
After the Park District
board members changed,
the idea came up again. For
about nine months Principal
Josh Chambers negotiated an
agreement. After reaching out to
the East Boosters Club, a contract
was finally formed.
The plans included a
new turf field for Glenbard East,
with an additional agreement for
replacement of the turf in 10-15
years down the road.
Adjusting the original
Glenbard North funding model,
the Lombard Park District agreed
Photo by Courtney Ellis
to pay more than 1/3 of the cost.
The Boosters took a
loan from the school district that
will be paid off during a period
of 10 years. Boosters took on
numerous fundraising projects
such as the Red and Black Dinner,
golf outings, and an upcoming
American English concert on
Oct. 13. “The
Boosters Club
goes above
and beyond.
None of
the money
contributed
to pay off the
turf project
will be taken
from individual
sports teams,”
said Mushrush.
The East turf
project went
smoothly
without any extra expenses.
The field was substantially
complete a week before
deadline. No additional
adjustments had to be made,
like at Glenbard North, where
limestone had to be put in the
foundation to make up for the
soft soil.
Instead, the field
was improved by using
encapsulated crumb rubber
infill to ensure players’ safety.
East was also provided with
a new scoreboard, as well as
play-clocks and signs along
the field. Bleacher banners
and flags by the entrances,
designed exclusively by
Principal Josh Chambers,
added the final touches.
The track did not
have to be redone since it was
replaced two years ago. The
only improvements made to
the track were repainting of
the lane lines and numbers.
Continued on Page 2
2 Echo
East Goes Greek
By Carla Chavez and
Isabela Caruso
Co-editor of News and
Features and Staff Writer
“Even a god cannot change the
past” – Agathon C. 445 BC.
This year student council is
more dedicated than ever to
make this homecoming better
than previous years.
The Powder Puff game took on
a different approach this year.
Junior and senior girls were
able to participate even if they
had already and may do so
again next year. The number
of players on each team had
decreased from eleven to seven,
giving the game even more of a
competitive feel, and making it
superior to the original powder
puff game.
Compared to other
years, student council had
never been more excited to
host this year’s “Olympic” pep
rally. Glenbard East’s very
own students competed as
Olympians. These games
were much more intense,
challenging, and surely got the
crowd on their feet!
Decorations will be
more extravagant than ever,
including the homecoming
court crowns. This year, the King
and Queen will be crowned with
a classic Grecian wreath of laurel
leaves rather than the typical
crowns, giving this dance the
ultimate Greek experience.
In previous years, voting for
homecoming court has been
an in-class task. This year, voting
occurred on First Class. This gave
students more time to think of
who they will vote for.
Generally speaking,
one issue that was mentioned
last year was the lack of musical
variety played by the DJ.
“The songs that the DJ played
were really old and not that
fun to dance to”- said Arun
Madappat, senior.
This year, a new DJ was hired who
holds past experiences working
with the Navy Pier Cruise Lines.
Some of the changes include
the DJ accepting song requests,
making the dance even more
entertaining for both students
and faculty.
This year’s spirit week
was filled with unique ways of
showing East Side Pride. Going
along with the Greek theme, one
of the spirit days included a toga
day where students released
their inner god and goddess. The
variations of togas all pertaining
to each individual student’s style
surely was the highlight of the
week and got everyone excited
for the homecoming dance.
All leading up to the
core of homecoming, the big
game tonight at 7:30 p.m.
where we hope to see the Rams
overthrow the West Chicago
Wildcats.
“We have one of the best student
sections in the conference. So
come on by to join them and
show your school spirit. I hope to
see every one there!” said Dean
Toliopoulos.
News
Turf
(continued from Pg. 1)
More additions coming
soon will include new ticket
booths, resembling the ones at
Bolingbrook High School. They
will have sliding glass windows
and will be placed on the
campus towards the end of the
fall season. East is also hoping
to renovate the bathroom and
concessions building next year.
East maintenance staff
had to be trained on how to take
care of the new field. “The grass
had to be rolled out before every
home game,” said head of the
maintenance department, Greg
Jones. Now, the entire field needs
to be rolled out only twice a year.
Since the rubber from the field
wears off with usage, the field can
be replenished throughout the
season as needed.
Even though the turf
itself seems to require less work
as the grass did, the maintenance
spends as much time working
on the fields as they used to.
“There are different additions to
the works now, it evens out” said
Jones. Instead of rolling the grass,
advertisement signs and banners
need to go up before every game.
Even though it may not
save time, the turf preserves the
other grass fields at East. “Because
we have that stadium, we can use
it for under-levels. This saves a
lot of wear and tear on the other
grass fields,” said Jones.
Coaches agree, “On a
high school budget, it is very
hard to keep and maintain a
quality grass surface. Especially
when multiple sports are using
the field and it doesn’t have time
October 5, 2012
to rest. So, at the high school
athletic level, I prefer turf because
it doesn’t negatively affect the
game. A bad grass field can give
one team an advantage, which
shouldn’t happen. Plus, poorly
maintained grass fields can be
dangerous for players in regards
to injuries” said the Varsity Girls
Soccer Coach, Kent Overbey.
Jones also points out
that the natural grass surface
used to be very uneven: “I think
the turf field is going to save a lot
of injuries.”
Other teams also
improve their play on the turf.
The boys’ soccer team was the
first to officially use the field and
had a very positive impression.
“The game is more true. The
ball bounces normal and when
looking to receive a ball on your
foot you tend to know where
it is. The players are able to
make cuts and change direction
without slipping as much,” said
the Head Boys Soccer Coach,
Josh Adler, “Players can now be
more prepared to play against
conference and non-conference
opponents that also have turf
surfaces.” Currently the entire DVC
uses turf fields. “Most teams that
we play also have turf, so now we
are much more used to it,” said
one of the Varsity Boys Soccer
Captains, Seth Quam. “Soccer has
always been meant to be played
on natural grass, but I think this is
extremely beneficial to our school
and high school athletics. Teams
are competing on a fair surface,”
said Adler.
The game changes
when played on an artificial field
as opposed to a natural one.
“We’ve been able to play quicker
and faster on the flatter surface.
It’s tough to make good passes
when the ball could bounce away
off of a weird bump in the grass.
We don’t have to worry about
this now because of the turf,” said
Quam. The turf puts East athletes
at a great advantage. “Players love
getting out there,” said Adler.
The football team
approves of the new field, too.
“Our football players love to
practice on the stadium,” said the
Head Varsity Football Coach, John
J. Walters, who agrees with Adler
on the multiple advantages of the
field. “Having the turf provides our
team a consistent play surface,”
said Walters.
Aside from bringing
benefits to the school athletics,
the turf opens up opportunities
for others. “If it is a grass contest
field, it only gets used for Varsity
games. Now, with turf it is used
for PE classes, band, football,
soccer, and the park district uses
it on the weekends. It is a multipurpose field,” said Walters.
Indeed, the turf allows
the entire school to use the field
as much as possible, and it bonds
the entire community by allowing
the Lombard Park District to
utilize it on the weekends.
“This field has been a
great addition to our school and
community. It will be great to
see how it benefits our school
and community in the future. It
will give current Rams and future
Rams something to look forward
to,” said Adler.
Glenbard East proudly
celebrates its new stadium and
the partnership that made it
possible. The 2012 Homecoming
game will be the first to be played
on the turf, with many more yet
to come.
News
October 5, 2012
Echo
3
Creating a community, one senior at a time
By Jaclyn Abdul and
Justin Gunderson
Co-editor of News and Features
and Staff Writer
Throughout the school,
you may have seen students
wearing green shirts that say
“SENIORS”. These students are a
part of the senior leader group
here at East.
A Senior Leader is
a student who is selected to
help the school to become a
community. It is a group of
20 students that are chosen
to reflect Glenbard East as a
whole. A majority of the student
population is unaware that the
group exists regardless of their
important role in the community.
“[This is a] group that is
dedicated to making Glenbard
East a more positive, engaging
school. They help empower
the student body and create a
community.” This is what teacher
Mr. Christopher VanDenBerg says
defines a senior leader.
You can see the leaders
in action at events ranging from
Freshman Orientation to Senior
Day but, VanDenBerg hopes to
get them involved in just about
everything.
These seniors were
selected out of the 65 that went
through the application and
interview process. Since last
year there were 65 applicants
compared to other years where
there are usually 50, VanDenBerg
stressed that it was one of the
hardest decisions he’s had
to make because all of the
applicants were qualified for the
job.
He has also stressed
that he doesn’t want the senior
leaders to seem exclusive and
wants them to represent the
school. They are here to aid the
students and not overpower
them.
“The senior leaders
were picked to really reflect our
student body as a whole. They
are not to look like an exclusive
group; they are very diverse
individuals just like the students
at East,” said VanDenBerg.
The senior leaders
can also be seen taking part in
multiple events throughout the
school. VanDenBerg says that
he hopes to get them involved
in just about everything (Lake
Geneva Leadership Weekend,
Freshman Orientation, etc.) in
order to make this year the best
and create a legacy. They are
here to make a difference in our
student body.
Not only do the senior
leaders impact others, but being
one also has its benefits.
“I have learned to be
comfortable with being myself.
The leaders have really become
like a family,” said Samantha
Chow.
By being a senior leader
you not only help others, but
you help yourself become a
truer person as well. You become
someone who is looked up to by
underclassmen, and the benefits
from being in the program are
endless.
“The senior leaders are
here to amplify the whisper of the
students, and create a roar,” said,
Phil Schellenberger.
If you are an
underclassmen and interested
in later becoming a senior
leader, you can listen to the
announcements at the end of
the school year and go through
the application and interview
process.
The Senior Leaders
of the 2012-2013 school year
include Phil Shellenberger,
Maddie Moeller, Matt Chlebek,
Aaron Carlson, Xavier Brown,
Jackie Eul, Samantha Chow,
Megan Cotterill, Shariq Imam,
Jolie-Grace Wareham, Evan
Nowak, Taylor Godbey, Bilal
Hameed, Tom Ohman, Seth
Quam, Rachel Tumlos, Kellie Gill,
Lisa Laurenzana, Maria Quevedo,
and Jacob Chowlewa.
Picture courtesy of Mr. VanDenBerg
Senior Leaders on one of their field trips to Lincoln Marsh in
Wheaton partaking in leadership training for Lake Geneva
Leadership Weekend
The endless virus Welcoming the future
By Jake Primas
Staff Writer
“West Nile Virus is in
the environment and it’s here
to stay. It will be here next
year and the year after that,”
says Dupage County Health
Department communications
manager David W. Hass. West
Nile is a virus that affects the
entire body and causes flu like
symptoms.
When West Nile starts
up depends on the Weather.
When we have constant hot,
dry weather then the Culex
mosquito, the main carrier of
the West Nile Virus, is most
prominent. The Culex mosquito
will not subside until we have
cold nights below fifty degrees
Fahrenheit or a frost.
Until the first frost
the best way to protect yourself
is to dump any stagnant or
standing water. If you have
a coy pond or a small pool,
it would be best to empty
or clean it to prevent the
mosquito from breeding.
To protect yourself
it is advised to wear long,
concealing clothing when
outside at dusk or night and
to use insect repellent. Also try
to fix any damaged screens, to
keep mosquitoes out, or to just
use air conditioning.
This year alone the
United States has had 3,142
reported cases of West Nile and
134 deaths as a direct result of
the virus.
Illinois has had 94
reported cases of West Nile and
3 deaths as a result of the virus.
Although the virus was not a
direct cause, it complicated
our beloved village president’s
health and played a role in his
recent death.
Closer to home, a
student here at Glenbard East
High School has had his family
affected by the West Nile virus.
Mike M., a junior, stated that his
eight-year-old cousin was put
into a coma by the virus. She
was receiving chemotherapy for
her leukemia, which cased her
to have fewer white blood cells,
when she caught the virus.
Even though there have
been many reported cases and
deaths, most of the reports have
been in the south primarily Texas
with 39% of all cases.
Most people, despite the
reports, are generally unaware if
a mosquito with West Nile bites
them. Approximately one in five
people infected with the virus
will develop symptoms such as
fever, headache, body aches, joint
pains, vomiting diarrhea or rash
according to a Dupage County
health department news release.
Less than 1% will
develop a serious neurologic
illness such as encephalitis or
meningitis (inflammation of the
brain or surrounding tissues).
Generally people over 50
are at the highest risk if they have
previous health complications
such as cancer, diabetes,
hypertension, kidney disease
or organ transplants. The virus
usually affects the age group of
40 years of age to 70 years of age.
As of now there are
no vaccinations, treatments, or
medicines to help treat or prevent
West Nile.
Those with mild
symptoms usually recover on
their own. Those with more
serious complications need
hospitalization and bedside care
with supportive treatment.
If you develop
symptoms of the virus contact
your local doctor and if it is
West Nile, report it to your local
health center. The will report it
to the city and they can then
spray chemicals to kill the Culex
mosquito or put a tablet in the
drainage basin.
By Melanie Torres and
Roshemira Cook
Staff Writers
In August 2012, the
class on 2016 stepped into
Glenbard East to begin their high
school experience. Anxious and
energized, this group of freshman
participated in activities that gave
them a taste of their lives for the
next four years.
Freshman Orientation
has always been an important
Glenbard East tradition. It is a day
dedicated to the school’s newest
members, and an opportunity for
them to meet new people, learn
about their school, and make
their transition into high school a
smooth one.
In prior years this
Orientation consisted of a
barbeque for students and their
families as well as a half day of
team building activities, tours,
and book buys.
However, changes
were made this year in order to
improve a day that is seen as the
foundation of a student’s high
school career as East. The removal
of the freshman barbeque as
well as a transition from the
previous half day format to a full
day format, are the two biggest
changes that were implemented
this year.
The students started
out the day in Biester where
they were shown a short video
introducing them to the school.
The video promoted important
locations throughout the school
as well as key individuals who
work here. Then, the students
embarked on a full day of team
building activities with their
upperclassmen big brothers and
big sisters, a building tour and
book buy, as well as a lesson
on how to set up Firstclass and
PowerSchool.
The original barbeque
was then reinstated where the
administration grilled hot dogs
for lunch.
“I thought it was
highly organized,” Stated Mr.
Bagdasarian, who helped craft
this year’s changes.
“It was nice to have
the kids for a whole day and
the feedback from the staff and
students was very positive.”
Incoming freshman Roshauna
Williams said, “
The day was long but
fun. I learned a lot but would have
liked to see more of the school.”
With this year’s new
format, students were able to
experience a day that was very
similar to a full day of high
school; it was very informative yet
retained a very social atmosphere.
“I think the changes
created a more consistent
message to freshman students. In
addition, much of the information
used to be taught during classes
in the first quarter. As a teacher, I
have observed that our freshman
class has been more at ease with
using the Firstclass email system
from day one,” said Director of
Photo by Jaclyn Abdul
Freshman Academy Justin Mayo.
The whole production of
Freshman Orientation is a great
challenge; it takes a very dedicated
group of staff and students to
make it a success.
Some notable people
who helped the overall process
were Mr. Mayo and the Freshman
Academy House Leaders, Mr.
Shahe Bagdasarian, Mr. Gabe
Gancarz and the library staff, Mr.
Eric Lemke and the PBIS team,
Ms. Nicole Miller, Mr. Chris Van
Den Berg, Ms. Binita Donohue,
all of the students working with
Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the
Senior Leaders, as well as Mr. Josh
Chambers and the Glenbard East
Administration.
Overall, the students
and staff seemed to embrace
the changes made to freshman
orientation. Freshman Academy
is always looking to improve their
orientation and will continue to
do so. However, one thing that will
remain constant is the dedication
and the display of Ram Spirit and
East Side Pride.
A freshman poses for his first school ID picture
4 Echo
News
October 5, 2012
Education is Critical Issue in Upcoming Election
By Leah Busby
Co-editor of Opinions
With the world economy
in shambles and national
unemployment rates still at a
frightening number (8.1% as of
August 2012), America’s upcoming
presidential election is proving to be
more significant than ever. Throw in
some hot topics such as legalizing
same-sex marriage and defining
when abortion should be allowed
and you’ve got yourself a critical
election.
While democratic
candidate and president incumbent
Barack Obama and republican
candidate Mitt Romney promise to
recover jobs and restore the nation
to its previously thriving status, both
men have very different ideas on
how to lead the struggling nation
back to a thriving country.
Less Costly
Liberal or conservative,
moderate or extreme, democratic
or republican, the most important
and responsible thing a citizen can
do to fulfill their obligations to the
country is to vote, but the most
important question is “for whom”?
Perhaps the most
imperative issue to current high
school students and prospective
college students is both candidates’
platform for Education. Senior,
Jolie Grace Wareham believes
that, “Education is one of the most
important topics for the election
because all of us are going to be
impacted by new president’s plans,
and we need a higher education so
that we can step up and take our
parents place in society”.
Sympathetic to the
cause, Barack Obama at a rally on
April 24th told University of North
Carolina students “We have to make
college more affordable for our
young people”.
According to
the official Barack Obama
campaign website, Barack
Obama has and will continue
to hold education as a
national priority. Furthermore,
by doubling the size of the
Pell Grants, which provide
loans that don’t need to
be repaid to low-income
undergraduates, Obama has
increased scholarships and
financial aid money in order
to make advanced education
accessible to middle and
working class families.
While increasing
funding for Pell Grants
has caused the number to
grow from six million to
nine million recipients in
the matter of three years,
senior Eric Bruce reminds
us, “Increasing government
funding for schooling can
actually inflate tuition. The
more the government is
willing to spend on aids and
grants, the more a college
can charge for tuition”. In
other words, tuition will grow
if the government is giving
more money to a wider range
of students. According the
Washington Post, college
tuition increased 8.3% from
2010 to 2011.
“Of course there is a
problem with tuition increase,
but there are other factors
than Pell Grants that come
into play,” says Wareham.
Though scholarships and
grants do play a role in
tuition spikes, things such
as inflation, demand and
availability of classes also
impact the cost for education.
Wareham reminds us, “There
has to be an opportunity
for higher education if people
choose to get one”.
College for All
While our current
president plans for additional
government help in schooling,
Republican elect Mitt Romney
stays true to the traditional
Republican standpoint
of minimal government
interference.
Romney, who
governed over Massachusettsthe state with the most top
rated schools in the nation,
vetoed a bill that would cut
charter schools, as he believes
that increased options lead to
a greater chance for success.
The veto of this bill allows for
students to attend schools
that specialize in one subject
specifically for a very small or
free tuition.
With Obama’s plans for
college affordability clear, the
nation is left to wonder about
Romney’s plans. According to
Mitt Romney’s official website,
Romney believes that college
should not be regarded as a
special privilege. Romney also
believes that college should
be available to all Americans,
whether it is through computer
courses, community colleges,
state universities or private
schools.
In an attempt to
make college more accessible,
Romney implemented the
John and Abigail Adams
scholarship, which provides
four years of a tuition-free
scholarship to a state school
for any Massachusetts student
in the top 25% of their class.
Aside from actively supporting
the John and Abigail Adams
scholarship, Romney has not
released a solid plan on whether
or not he plans to help the 96% of
college students graduating with
the burden of paying back loans,
currently averaging $25,520.
Start a Change
If you’re interested
in learning more about the
candidates, presidential debates
between Mitt Romney and Barack
Obama began on Wednesday,
October 3rd and will continue
Thursday, October 11th, Tuesday,
October 16th, and Monday,
October 22nd. The topics covered
will range from domestic to
foreign policy. These debates
will help Americans get to know
their candidates better so they
can vote for the one who most
accurately represents their views.
Those who are
interested in making a difference
in our nation and will be eighteen
years old by November 6th
should contact Jolie-Grace
Wareham by October 9th. She will
help you register to vote in this
upcoming election!
When it comes to
electing the next presidential
candidate, it is our job to decide
which one will best lead the
nation to educational prosperity.
Stay tuned and stay informed.
The Halloween edition of ECHO
will feature facts about both
presidential candidates and
student opinions!
Information provided by Andrew Kelly
Percentage out of 500 surveyed students of who they would vote for
as of September 2012
Obama: 59%
Romney: 41%
Summer Olympics hits home
By Magdalena Pecyna
Co-Editor-in-Chief
With a Greek Olympics
theme for our Glenbard East
Homecoming Pep Rally, it is a
good time to look back at London’s Summer Olympics.
This year’s honor of
lighting the Olympic flame was
handed down to Britain’s next
generation. The five-time rowing
gold medalist, Steve Redgrave,
carried the torch into the stadium and passed it over to seven
teenagers, who ignited copper
“petals” on the ground. Those
seven young athletes represent
Britain’s hopes for the future and
send a strong message into the
world. The future of sports is in
the hands of young people.
The United States puts
great hopes in its young athletes, too. Sports shape character and bring us together.
Peer leadership exemplified in the Summer Olympics
inspires future generations to
aim high. “When you see somebody your age do something
great, you believe you can do
that too,” said Head Girls’ Track
Coach Joe Latala. “Coaches try
to instill good values, hard work,
and solid character, put it’s like
with parents. When you have
captains, athletes will listen to
them.”
“Our job is to show kids
that their progress is so much
more important than just a race
and making them reach their
potential. Our goal is to bring
out the best in the kid,” said
Latala.
These Olympics Americans took home a total of 104
medals: 46 gold, 29 silver, and
29 bronze. For the first time in
history, American women outnumbered the men and received
more medals: 29 gold, 14 silver,
15 bronze. The U.S. women won
together, dominating in team
sports: soccer, basketball, gymnastics and beach volleyball all
won gold.
Olympics brings the
entire world together in sportsmanship, dedication, and discipline. Young leaders celebrating
these values show a bright future for sport and the world.
Opinions
October 5, 2012
Homecoming maybe?
By Roshemira Cook
Staff Writer
Homecoming! You have
all the important things that you
need such as your clothes, shoes
and your date. You even have
plans on what you’re going to do
after you and your date leave the
dance, but then you get down to
your last thing: “YOUR TICKETS”.
When you go to buy them you’re
thinking, “Why are homecoming
tickets so expensive?”
As a senior, you’re not
inclined to pay a lot of money
for a ticket just to come back to
school and chill in the gym room
with your friends.
As a freshman or
sophomore you’re all excited,
but seniors not so much.
Why should we pay
$45 or $50 dollars for tickets? I
mean as seniors we don’t want
to spend all our hard working
money on little things like
partying inside the school gym
that we attend everyday of the
week for free.
This is why most
upperclassman won’t come. They
think of it as a waste of time.
Then the students that
actually pay for the tickets are
at a loss because no one comes,
so the next year the kids that
went the previous years don’t
want to go because of their past
experience. The vicious cycle
continues…
Just think about it;
homecoming is not all about
money. It’s about fun and
hanging out with friends, the
excitement you experience
knowing that you’re about to
have a good time.
You don’t get too many
high school days, so we want
to be able to attend all the
important events such as
homecoming without worrying
about the prices. Then another
thing about the homecoming is
the theme; I personally think that
they should give out a school
survey about homecoming and
the themes.
That way the committee
as well as students can throw out
their list of thoughts and themes,
and an understanding can be
reached to make more people
feel like they have a say.
On a positive note, I
was informed that the DJ for
the dance this year is now taking
personal requests which wasn’t
the case in previous years.
I mean, do you teachers
remember your homecoming?
Did you have to pay $50 just to
attend your homecoming inside
your school gym?
Let’s Compare
Ticket Prices!
Starting
Strong
By Jaclyn Abdul
Features and News Editor
Think back to the first or
second week of school. Correct
me if Im wrong but I’m guessing you were probably thinking
something along the lines of,
“Oh, it’s the first couple weeks….
doesn’t matter,” Well, I’d like you
to consider thinking again. Sure,
you’re still in summer mode and
everyone has their rate of adjustment to classes and homework
but getting into gear as soon
as possible is a sure-fire way to
make the rest of your semester a
breeze. Wouldn’t it be nice to not
have to cram for all of your exams
in December or May? Well I’m
here telling you that this is a sure
way to do exactly that.
If you’re a student at
East, you know that your semes-
ter grade is based off of your
non-reported quarter grades.
Teachers vary in how much your
quarter grades matter, but it is
usually in the 40%-45% range.
(Leaving your final exam grade
to be worth between 10%-20%).
Having a good first quarter grade
takes that much stress off of you
second quarter and those stresses
are taken off even more once
finals come around.
Not only does having
sufficient quarter grades make for
a breezier final exam, but it also
gives you a nicer winter break or a
head start to your summer relaxing time. After taking 4 sets of
final exams, I’ve honestly learned
my lesson the hard way!
Now, life isn’t always
perfect and things don’t always
go our way but starting off your
school year with the grades that
you are aiming for is a great
mechanism for keeping those
grades at the end of the semester.
Hope you have all had a good
start to your school year!
5
Don’t Sweat Summer Reading
By Lauren Cali
Opinions Editor
There’s so much to say
about summer reading. But I like
summer reading, so I will focus
on the positives.
From freshman year to
senior year, you have some sort
of reading during the summer,
and it has its benefits. In addition
the school does a good job of
picking out interesting books
for each English class. The topics
range from history to romance.
I remember my
freshman year; I had a lot of
choices. It was great being able
to have such a variety of genres.
Although during my sophomore
year, I had only 2 books to pick
from and another book required.
But still, the required books like
The Greatest Generation or The
Great Gatsby are interesting and
not so boring.
Some people may or
may not like to read. But I think
summer reading gives students
an opportunity to explore
reading options.
Some of the books may
be a series or a trilogy. By just
picking one book, you could
find other books you may like,
whether it’s from that author or
from the type of book.
By doing summer
reading the interest may ignite
a spark in some people. Just by
reading one book you may want
to continue reading.
One of the downfalls
of summer reading includes
summer homework. But it’s
not a crazy amount of work. A
lot of people really don’t like
homework, let alone homework
during the summer. But it
benefits because it helps you
remember what you read.
Persomally, I don’t
see why someone wouldn’t
want to read. I look forward to
summer reading. In May, I get
really excited for the summer
reading list.
Last May I even
picked out a book that wasn’t
on my list. This book was
Perfect Chemistry. When I
eventually got to read the
book, I really liked it.
I really do
recommend to everyone, to
read summer reading books. It
is really worth it.
When will I need to need to know this?
By Seth Quam
Staff Writer
East:
Single $ 20 Couple $40
South:
Single $ 15 Couple $ 30
North:
Single $ 15 Couple $30
West:
Single $ 15 Couple $ 25
Echo
The wise and sage-like
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most
folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.” I find
the same is true of most high
school students, at least the ones
at Glenbard East. However, do
most folks make up their minds
to be happy? Do we go through
high school passing their classes
and surviving? Do we go through
high school accumulating GPA
points like enthusiastic collectors
in order to get into an awesome
college, where they plan to really
begin school?
How many students at East
take courses because they want
to graduate, earn college credit,
or just have fun? Probably all of
us, and believe me, I think that
all of these are great reasons to
have. However, any class could
be a more powerful experience if
one of these reasons was coupled
with the desire to be challenged,
to learn, and to grow. I will now
interrupt my own sappy, cliché
discussion to tell a terrible joke.
What did one dinner plate say
to the other dinner plate? (Keep
reading for the answer!)
One of the most common
complaints among East students is that they will never use
whatever they’re learning. When
will I ever use calculus is the real
world? Well the answer to this is
question, for the overwhelming
majority of the student body is
very simple. Never. Never ever in
a gajillion years! However calculus
class could prove invaluable for
nearly everyone! Calculus teaches you to plan your time wisely,
to stick to a regimented schedule, and to widen your range of
thoughts passed what you may
have previously imagined.
Imagine being a journalist for a daily newspaper when
you grow up. Clearly, you do not
need calculus to write an article
about the professional baseball
player who strained his back
from a particularly violent sneeze.
But, you do need to know how
to stay on top of your work and
get it done in a timely manner in
order to submit your daily articles
on time. If you learn this lesson
over the course of four years in
high school you’ll be much better
equipped to excel in your career
and be able to enjoy life.
Furthermore, math classes
teach us to have a memory
and build up a wealth of
knowledge. Trust me, I regurgitate math formulas and
then forget them immediately
as well as anyone this side of
the Mississippi, but to really
succeed in math you need to
recall most everything you
learned the previous year.
Suppose you’re a paper
salesmen at a small paper supply company in northwestern
Pennsylvania. In this line of
work, it could be imperative
that you remember the prices
that you have sold your paper
for in recent years so that you
can make a good pitch to your
clients. Ok, maybe that wasn’t
the best example, but I had
the work “The Office” in here
somewhere!
So maybe there is something to gain from high school
in that it could help you in
your future career. But I want
to live in the moment, I want
to have fun now! I am not advocating for a departure from
fun. I merely suggest that we
honestly try to learn, not just
earn points, but really learn,
and you might be surprised
in the satisfaction that you
feel now after really learning
a chapter of Biology or a facet
of grammar. By the way, the
dinner plate said, “dinner’s on
me tonight.”
Glenbard East High
Editors-in-Chief: Sylvia Whitaker,
Magdalena Pecyna
Features & News Co-Editors: Jaclyn
Abdul, Carla Chavez
Graphics Editor: Jovan Newsum
Photography Editor: Courtney Ellis
Arts & Entertainment Editor: Jovan
Newsum
Clubs and Activities Co-Editors:
Ashley Antony, Haley Lydon
Sports Editor: Cassandra Bocchieri
Opinion/ Editorials Co-Editors:
Lauren Cali, Leah Busby
Extra-Extra Editor: Courtney Ellis
Advisers: Jeffery Kargol, James Hultgren, Jasen Beste
Staff: Alyssa Abbinante, Jaclyn Abdul, Ashley Antony, Cassandra Bocchieri, Brittany Burnett, Leah Busby,
Lauren Cali, Isabella Caruso, Carla
Chavez, Roshemira Cook, Jessica DeJong, Courtney Ellis, Tyra Gafeney,
Justin Gunderson, Andrew Kelly,
Gregory Kelly, Jacquea Lowery, Haley Lydon, Jovan Newsum, Magdalena Pecyna, Audrey Peicicert, Jacob
Primas, Seth Quam, Chrissa Smith,
Melanie Torres, Sylvia Whitaker
The Glenbard East Echo is
published regularly by the
students of Glenbard East.
1014 S. Main St. Lombard, IL
60148. Editorials represent
the views of the executive
board. The Echo reserves the
right to edit or shorten any
letter without altering its
intent. Letters to the editor
must be signed and will be
printed on a space-available
basis. The unsigned editorials
are the opinions of the Echo
staff. The opinion columns are
the beliefs of the writer and
may not express the views of
the entire Echo staff.
6
Echo
Clubs &Activities
October 5, 2012
Aries is getting a makeover
Ashley Antony
Clubs & Activities Co-Editor
Every day you are
creating moments and memories
that will be cherished forever.
Glenbard East’s Yearbook, Aries,
has been putting together these
moments and memories so that
they can last a lifetime, preserved
and unforgotten.
This year, Aries has two
new advisors, Special Education
and English teacher, Rosemary
Orbegoso and Science teacher,
Christopher Aderhold. Orbegoso
had been the yearbook advisor
at Glenbard North for the past
nine years, and this is her first
year at East. Mrs. Orbegoso
hopes to increase the sales of
the yearbooks and is planning to
bring some new changes to Aries.
Some of the changes
include, all of the pages being in
color and not black and white.
There will also be an opportunity
for all students to include four
personalized pages in their own
yearbook. The personalized pages
are an extra $15. There will also be
increased coverage for clubs and
sports. Each club or activity will
receive one full page dedicated to
only them.
Seniors also have some
new opportunities. There will
be bios on seniors, which are
free and each senior gets to say
their name or nickname, their
best high school memory, and
what their plans and goals are
for the future. Seniors can also
have baby ads, and there will be
Marching with spirit
Ashley Antony
Clubs & Activities Co-Editor
A Rams’ football game
is not complete until there has
been a performance by the
Glenbard East Marching Band.
The East marching band is
composed of 110 of the most
experienced players who had to
audition to make the band.
The students begin
practice at a two week marching
band camp before school starts
in August. They also take a
class in the first semester and
attend one hour sectionals after
school once a week along with
Rehearsal Friday, which is when
they practice for game day.
Along with playing in
the marching band, students also
find time to participate in other
activities, like sports and clubs.
They also have a loud voice in
their community and school.
“Marching band has
definitely done a lot for me. I
have made new friends, become
a leader, and become a lot more
involved at east because of it,”
said senior, Sam Scully, who has
been playing the baritone in the
East marching band for three
years now.
A unique aspect of the
East marching band is that they
perform a different show every
week at each football game.
Each show has new formations
and new music. They try to play
music that the crowd would like
and can relate to. This contrasts
with all of the other Chicago area
schools who spend the entire
year working on the same music
and form.
The East marching band
performs with the Pom Squad
and Twirler, sophomore, Andrea
Babincsak, who has been with the
band for two years. “It has given
me more experience with my
twirling and has given me more
confidence that I get can in front
of a crowd of people I see every
day and twirl by myself.”
Other events that the
East marching band performs
at are the Lilac Parade, the
CROP Hunger Walk, and home
basketball games.
This year, the marching
band will be performing with
the American English, a Beatles
Tribute band. This event will be
a fundraising concert for the
Booster club and to help raise
money for the artificial turf
project that had been completed
here at East. The concert will
take place at East in Biester
Auditorium on Saturday, October
13th from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Brian Shaw, the Band
Director of the marching band,
says that the experience has been
unbelievable. “The students have
a great personality and we always
try to find a balance between
working hard, having fun, and
taking pride in our work.”
The marching band has
done a great job here at East and
will continue to make the season
an even greater success.
a senior superlatives section. The
forms for these can be filled in at
Jostens.com, which is the website
of the company publishing the
yearbooks.
An additional change
is Aries being delivered in May.
There will be three days in the
cafeteria, where the yearbooks
will be handed out to the
students. All clubs and sports are
invited to sell any products or
food in the cafeteria during the
delivery days. For an example,
clubs can sell candy, T-shirts,
or even have a music jukebox.
This will bring all of the students
together and give clubs and
sports an opportunity to make a
little extra money. There will also
be space in the cafeteria reserved
just for yearbook signing.
Due to the May
delivery, the yearbook will hold
a supplement because it will
make the production easier. The
supplement will allow the Aries to
be created in two parts, which will
save time. The supplements will
be handed out on the delivery
days along with the yearbook
and can be easily attached to
the inside back cover with an
adhesive strip. The supplement
will contain the spring insert,
which includes all spring sports,
clubs, events, and prom pictures.
The main goal this
year is for every student to be
included in Aries and to have
their picture in it. This does not
mean the picture that everyone
took during registration, but a
picture showing the student
being involved at East and doing
something.
“It is so rewarding
when the books come in, and
even more rewarding to know
that every student is in it,” said
Orbegoso
Aries tells the story of
every student at East and it is
only right for every student to
be a part of it. The yearbooks
are currently $40 and can be
purchased online at Josten’s.com.
However, after November 1, 2012,
the price will increase to $45. If
you wish to become a greater
voice in your school yearbook,
contact Rosemary Orbegoso at
rosemary_orbegoso@glenbard.
org or Christopher Aderhold at
christopher_aderhold@glenbard.
org. Aries meets on Wednesdays.
Find the leader within
Haley Lydon
Clubs & Activities Co-Editor
On the weekend of
September 22nd, students
spent the weekend at Lake
Geneva for Leadership Weekend.
Many students have heard of
Leadership weekend, but many
don’t know what activities and
skills are learned there. The
students go to Lake Geneva and
come back with exciting stories
about the fun activities and
challenges they experienced.
The activities that the
students participate in challenge
the students’ skills, especially
problem solving skills. Difficult
activities are done in groups,
so you must incorporate and
fuse together your team’s ideas
to try and solve the problem
together. At times the activities
may be hard to figure out, which
may cause some frustration, but
what they are learning is how
to control their frustration and
think outside of the box to plan a
solution.
“ I feel that Leadership
Weekend taught me to embrace
the responsibility of being a true
leader among my peers,” said
Junior Aliyah Goris.
Some of these activities
include the Spider Web and Pipe
Line. Spider Web activity is where
students try to cross to the other
side, of an area, without touching
the web. Pipe Line is an activity
where students must get a
marble through a certain amount
of tubes, but the marble must get
to the finish line without leaving
the tubes. The students have
to move the tubes in different
positions to get to the finish line
successfully.
One goal of Leadership
weekend is to make new friends
and meet new people. The
students have the opportunity
to witness and be a part of
a positive environment by
observing and treating students
with respect. The skills that the
students work on during the
weekend teach them how to
become leaders in their school.
They started to improve their
skills.
Photo courtesy of Ms. Danielle Palakis
Once they become
confident with their skills they
become empowered to do right
thing and want to make changes
in their school and community.
Some examples of changes
students have made in school
include creating new clubs like
Habitat for Humanity, Invisible
Children, and ACE Club. Some
other activities students become
involved in are Valentines for Vets,
Glenbard Gratitude day, East Side
Crew, and fund raising events.
Once the students
start to feel more empowered
in school, they start have more
pride in their school. They start to
create a large fan base for their
school including sports and clubs.
“Through leadership,
we want to empower students
to feel like this is their school
and that they have a voice that
would be heard and supported
by teachers and administration
and other students. Lake
Geneva and beyond provide
opportunities for students to gain
the skills necessary to be positive
influences in their community,
school, and peer groups. Our
goal for students is to create
opportunities that will lead to
growth,” said Social Studies
teacher, Christopher VanDenBerg.
Leadership Weekend is
one main reason our students are
strong, confident leaders who will
help the world become a better
place. If you are interested in
joining the Leadership programs,
please contact Mr.VanDenBerg
at christopher_vandenberg@
glenbard.org with any questions
you have.
NEWS
October 5, 2012
Echo
7
Welcome to the Ram Family
Photo by Kia Lowery
Over the summer Glenbard East hired new staff members.
Let’s get to know them a little bit!
1.) What college and high school did you attend?
2.) What does it feel like being in a new environment with
different people?
3.) What is your favorite childhood memory?
4.) How would you ask your date to the homecoming dance?
Introducing Mr. Daniel Matuszak
Department: Science and Social
Studies
Photo by Courtney Ellis
Introducing Ms. Kelly Hall
Department: Business
1.) I am a Glenbard East
graduate, class of 2003. I
attended Eastern Illinois
University for my Business
Education certificate and Trinity
Christian College for my Special
Education certificate.
1.) High School: Adlai E.
Stevenson High School
College: Illinois State
University
2.) Glenbard East isn’t really a
new environment to me. I went
to school here, I was a substitute
teacher for 3 years, and I did a
maternity substitute position
last semester. That being said,
the faculty and students are
great here at East and I don’t
think it would have been that
difficult to feel like I belong.
3.) Going boating and tubing
up in Wisconsin during the
summers with my whole family.
4.) I would probably get her
locker combo from a friend,
decorate the inside of her locker,
leave flowers and a note asking
her to homecoming.
Photo by Courtney Ellis
Introducing Ms. Darlene
Argeropolos
Department: English
1.) I have my undergraduate
degree from Loyola University
and my masters from the
University of Illinois. I am a
graduate of Alvernia High
School in Chicago.
2.) It feels refreshing.
Sometimes change is good and
changing from North to East has
been a very positive experience
so far. Of course, I miss my
students and friends at North,
but everyone here has been
very welcoming and that makes
the transition a lot easier.
3.) Riding my bike with my
friends down to Foster Avenue
Beach. We used to love to
watch the artists painting on
the rocks. I knew someone who
painted the Beatles on one. It
was really cool.
Photo by Courtney Ellis
Introducing Mr. Joel Pelland
Department: Health
1.) I went to Central Michigan
and finished up at Northern
Illinois
4.) I believe in just keeping it
simple. Be yourself. Just go up
to the person and ask. I asked
six boys in one of my classes
what they preferred and their
answers were ---- 2 cheesy and 3
straight out
Ms. Emily Anderson- CASE
Hearing itinerant
Ms. Patti Biagi- Special Ed Aide
Ms. Kelly Close- Computer Lab
Aide
Mr. Brandon Collie- Special Ed
Aide
Ms. Kristen Fagan- CASE Aide
Ms. Diana Flint-AP-O Secretary
Ms. Linda Gifford- CASE Vision
2.)It feels great-I am somewhat familiar with East (I was
a substitute teacher for a little
while about year ago) and with
the district (I taught at South
last year) but everyone here has
been so nice! And the students
are the best!
3.) Playing whiffle ball with my
dad and brothers and going on
bike rides with my family.
4.) It would probably be something semi-creative but sure
to get her attention. In lieu of
specific details I’ll share one
of my favorite ways I helped a
friend ask someone to a dance.
We tied him up and Threw him
in his trunk, taped a rose in his
mouth, candy to his hands with
a sign that said Prom? Pulled up
in front of His soon to be dates
house, popped the trunk, turned
the car alarm on, and left.
Introducing Mr. Andrew Packer
Department: Music
3.) To pick one would be very
hard. I would say that family
vacations and playing sports
whether it be on a team or in
the back yard with friends would
top that list.
Other new staff
members:
1.) I went to Western Illinois University, and Fulton High School
(graduating class of 79 people!)
By Kia Lowery and
Brittany Burnett
Staff Writer
2.) Glenbard East has been a
great school to move to. I have
enjoyed the students and the
staff here and they have been
very welcoming to me. Change
is not always bad. I am just
starting a new chapter in my life.
4.) In a way that will make them
remember it forever.
Photo by Courtney Ellis
Introducing Mr. Caleb Ankrom
Department: Social Studies
Itinerant
Ms. Alyssa Godzicki- Foreign
Language Teacher
Ms. Rebekah Grimm- CASE
Physical Therapist
Ms. Heather Hamilton- CASE Aide
Mr. Matt Hammel- Data Specialist
Ms. Kim Hankes- CASE
Psychologist
Mr. Wade Hardtke- Business
Teacher
Ms. Genevieve Hebeka- CASE
Social worker
1.) I went to Loyola University
Chicago. And I graduated high
school from Glenbard West. :)
2.) Since I was a student teacher
last year at Glenbard East, the
environment is not completely
new to me. I am thrilled that I
am able to stay at East this year.
It makes life easier to already
know familiar faces.
3.) My favorite childhood
memory would probably be
going to the pool during the
summers. My mom taught me
how to swim, and then I joined
the Glendale Heights Dolphins
Swim Team. After 6 years on
the team, I became a lifeguard
at the Glendale Heights Aquatic
Center. And that’s how I met
my husband! He was a lifeguard
too.
4.) When I was in high school (I
went to Glenbard West), a boy
asked me to homecoming by
putting a fish bowl with fish
on my doorstep. The poster
beside it said, “Of all the fish in
the sea, homecoming with me?”
I thought it was sweet, and I
did say yes. However, the next
day all my fish died and I had to
flush them down the toilet. So
I probably would never ask that
way!
3.) My favorite childhood
memory would have to
be Sunday dinners at my
grandma’s house growing
up. Every Sunday no matter
what, the entire family,
cousins and all, would all
somehow fit in my grandma’s
small house and have a
family dinner together. Even
though it is not something
very big, I always look back
on those Sundays and smile.
4.) If I were still in high
school, I would probably ask
my date in some obnoxious
embarrassing way. Maybe I
would fill my date’s car with
many balloons so when he
would open his car door all
of the balloons come falling
out. I would also write with
car paint on the windows
“Homecoming?” to make it
over the top. I feel that the
when asking someone to a
dance sometimes the bigger
the better :)
circumstances.
2.) Any kind of change in your
life can be a little jarring, and
starting, as a new teacher here
at Glenbard East is no different. What has made the process
relatively smooth for me has been
my new colleagues in the Music
Department and around the
school helping me figure out how
things go here. I’m so impressed
with the students and staff. It’s
been as smooth a process as
you could ask for under the
Mr. Tom Kallas- French Teacher
Ms. Vicki Koresch- CASE
Orientation and Mobility
Ms. Teresa Lawrence- English
Teacher
Ms. Barb Layer- CASE Phys.
Handicap
Mr. Scott Lilly- Guidance
Department Chair
Ms. Robyn Maciejewski- CASE
Speech Pathologist
Ms. Justine Martin- Social Worker
Intern
Mr. Kameron Matthis- Math Aide
Ms. Theresalynn O’Connor– Math
Teacher
Mr. Jay Oppenheimer- ISS/Study
Hall Supervisor
Ms. Rosemary Orbegoso- Special
Ed Teacher
Ms. Jen Pacheco- Job Coach
Mr. Ron Pacini- Math Aide
Ms. Limaris Pueyo-Dean
Ms. Jessica Spata- Psychologist
Intern
Ms. Robin Stranski- Receptionist
Mr. George Wedel- Reading Aide
Mr. Joon Yun– Special Ed Aide
1.) I grew up in Indiana, so most
people reading this probably
haven’t heard of Castle High
School. I did both my undergrad
and graduate degrees at The
University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign. Photo by Kia Lowery
Photo by Kia Lowery
Introducing Ms. Catherine
Disterheft
Department: Foreign Language
2.) Since this is my first year
of teaching, it is hard to
compare this environment
to any other school, but I
will say that Glenbard East
has been great! Everyone
here that I have met have
been more than welcoming
and accommodating to
me. I am so excited for this
new opportunity and look
forward to a great year!
3.) That’s a tough question. Probably my first home run in
little league.
4.) I’d like to answer with
something romantic, but I’d
probably just go up to her and
ask. That always seemed to work
anyway.
8 Echo
Arts & Entertainment
October 5, 2012
October 2012 Preview: DVD’s, Movies, and Video Games
By Jovan Newsum
Staff Writer
DVD/Blu-Ray:
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most
Wanted:
Alex the Lion and the classic Madagascar gang are back
and this time they are traveling
around the world with a band
of circus animals. The characters
bring this movie to life with funny
and clever humor and memorable over-the top moments. The
characters are very charming
unique features from the big and
strong Gloria the Hippo, Tall, but
sensitive Melman the Giraffe to
the funny and crazy Marty the
Zebra. This movie is touched with
interesting and hilarious dialogue
for each character from the witty
penguins to the evil Chantel DuBois. This is easily one of the best
movies to watch for a laugh with
friends or family. So join the gang
across Europe in this third movie
in the ‘Madagascar’ franchise.
Release Date: October 16th (DVD
and Blu-Ray)
Rating: PG for Some Mild Action
and Rude Humor.
Other Releases for DVD/Blu-Ray:
Dark Shadows:
Release Date: October 2nd
Rating: PG-13 for comic horror
violence, sexual content, some
drug use, language and smoking.
In Theaters:
Prometheus:
Taken 2:
Release Date: October 9th
Liem Neeson returns to big
screen as he tracks down his
family’s kidnappers again in
this action thriller sequel to the
hit ‘Taken’. This is a hard-hitting
movie filled with close cornered
combat and gun shooting action
that explodes onto the screen
and leaves you on the edge of
your seat with every moment.
Expressed with excellent acting
from Liem and this is a must see.
Rating: R for Sci-fi Violence including some Intense Images and
Brief Language.
The Raven:
Release Date: October: 9th
Rating: R for Bloody Violence and
Grisly Images.
That’s my Boy:
Release Date: October 16th
Rating: R for Crude Sexual Content throughout, Nudity, Pervasive Language and some Drug
Use.
Release Date: October 5th (In
Theaters)
Rating: PG-13 for Intense
Sequences of Violence and
Action, and Some Sensuality
Other Releases for In Theater:
Frankenweenie:
Release Date: October 5th
Rating: PG for Thematic elements,
Scary Images and Action.
Here Comes the Boom:
Release Date: October 12th
Muller the son of Albert Wesker.
The new style of gameplay now
implements movement while
aiming, quick-time events, and
new melee style combat. Along
with new zombies and enemies,
this action pack thriller of a game
should please veterans and new
comers alike.
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Rating: PG for bouts of MMA
Sports Violence, some Rude Humor and Language
Rating: Mature for Blood and
Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity,
Strong Language, Suggestive
Themes
Alex Cross:
Systems: XB360, PS3
Release Date: October 19th
Rating: PG-13 for Violence including Disturbing Images, Sexual
Content, Language, Drug References, and Nudity.
Paranormal Activity 4:
Release Date: October 19th
Rating: Not Rated
Video Games:
Resident Evil 6:
The groundbreaking Resident
Evil series’ sixth installment
hits in a big way with more in
depth story with four separate
campaigns. Classic favorites
such as Leon Kennedy, Chris
and Claire Redfield return, along
with new characters such Jake
October 5, 2012
Assassin’s Creed III:
Assassinations have never been
so fun. In this new assassin’s
tale of Connor, a half Native
American half Caucasian assassin
is seeking justice in the time of
the American Revolution. On
the brink of war, the Americans
fight for Freedom, Liberty, and
Pursuit of Happiness against the
British and it up to you find the
answers and solutions to bring
order through assassination.
Travel the vast open world, hunt
the wild life, meet keys figures
such as George Washington and
Benjamin Franklin, and use your
tools such as the hidden blade
and the tomahawk to slay foes.
Join the fight.
Release Date: October 30th
Rating: Mature for Blood, Intense
Violence, Sexual Themes, and
Strong Language
Systems: XB360, PS3, PC, and Wii
U
Arts & Entertainment
Other Releases for Video
Games:
NBA 2K13:
Release Date: October 2nd
Rating: Everyone
Echo
9
New turf ribbon
cutting ceremony
District 87 and Lombard Park
Distrcit shared the honor of cutting the ribbon to the new turf.
Left to Right: Robert FriendDistrict 87 Board Member, David
Kundrit-Lombard Park District
Commissioner, Jason S. MyersLombard Park District Superintendent of Finance and Personnel, Greg Ludwig-Lombard Park
District Commissioner, Paul W.
Friedrichs-Lombard Park District
Excutive Director
Systems: XB360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP
Dishonored:
Release Date: October 9th
Rating: Mature for Blood and
Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual
Themes, and Strong Language
Systems: XB360, PS3, PC
Just Dance 4:
Release Date: October 9th
Rating: Everyone10+ for Lyrics
and Mild Suggestive Themes
Systems: XB360, PS3, Wii U, Wii
Release Date: October 23th
Rating: Mature for Blood, Strong
Language, Violence
Systems: XB360, PS3, PC
Photo by Courtney Ellis
Asylum Xperiment
Alyssa Abbinant
Staff Writer
October is the time of
year for pumpkins, costumes, and
scares! The Asylum Xperiment
is a local Haunted house, It’s
located at the Odeum Xpo Center
at 1033 North Villa Avenue Villa
Park, Illinois 60181. General
admission to this haunted house
is $25. This may sound like a lot,
but it’s really three attractions in
one. This comes to a little over
$8 per attraction. There is also
the choice of the VIP package
for $40. The VIP package works
as a fast pass--no waiting in the
long lines! The experience can
be enjoyed in three houses:
The House, Blackout, and
Armageddon! 45,000 square
feet of scare that will leave you
wanting more. Opening night is
TONIGHT October 5th! Days of
operation are Thursday-Sunday
and the Wednesday of Halloween!
Get there when it opens at
7:00pm and stay until Midnight!
Don’t worry, the parking is free!
On Thursday and Sunday, the
Haunted house will be open
from 7:00 to 10:30pm. On Friday
and Saturday, enjoy a frightfully
good time from 7:00 to midnight!
They’ll be waiting for you.
10Echo
Rampage
Fall Sports Updates
Girls
Girls
Girls
Cross
Golf
Volleyball
Country
By Lauren Cali
Co opinions/Editorials Editor
The cross country team
is off to another great start this
season. New head coach Tydra
Davis takes the lead position
this year. Her captains this year
include seniors Lisa Laurenzana,
Kelly Kevil, and KJ Nelson. The
captains and sophomore Tori
Payne, have all shown “ambition
and determination”, said Coach
Davis.
“This year we
are all really excited because
we have a lot of new members.
Everyone has been working
extremely hard in practice, and
we have been doing very well on
all levels. The team has a great
attitude this year, and I can’t wait
to see how everyone does this
year”, said Laurenzana.
As for the competitive
aspect of the team, the most
important meets this season
are the IHSA state series. For
the team, “it is always a goal
to progress as far as possible
through the IHSA state series”,
said Davis. Sectionals and the
state meet are at the end of the
season, and are included in the
state series.
The season will be
successful as long as there is hard
work, dedication, commitment,
and team unity. But the team isn’t
all serious business. Senior Kelly
Kevil said “we all are constantly
laughing and joking around!”
Kevil also said that she is looking
“forward to seeing how everyone
improves because everyone
is doing really good already!”
As for the season in
general, “a lot of untapped
talent from novice runners and
ambition and determination
from veteran runners” is present
said Davis.
The girls volleyball season is
already in full swing. Every year,
brings new faces to the team.
Something that is essential is “To
have the right combination with
the group” said head coach Marci
Maier.
The captains this year
are seniors Megan Cotterill and
Alex Symonds and junior Meghan
Hanewall. Influential factors of the
team are “positive attitudes” said
junior Dana Camp. The captains
bring a lot to the team. “We bring
excitement, energy, focus, and
intensity” said all three of the
captains. Being a captain results in
responsibility and importance. A
goal for this year for the captains
is “keeping the team together,
and having high energy to keep
the game going”.
At the Glenbard West
Tournament over the weekend
of September 14-15, the team
finished in the top half of the
tournament. One of the highlights
of the tournament included
Meghan Hanewall being named
to the All Tournament team.
A competition
to look forward to is Autumnfest
this year., over the weekend of
October 12-13. Glenbard East
hosts Autumnfest every year.
There are going to be 24 teams.
The team is striving to finish
higher than last year.
Sports
The girls golf team begins on a
good note this season. They are
currently 5-8 for the season- a
school record. One of the major
goals is to qualify for sectionals. The team competes against
both DVC and non-conference
opponents.
“Our goal is to be .500
versus non-conference opponents.” said head coach Scott
Miller. The team is working on
their goal to be .500 versus DVC
opponents as well, and are currently 1-6 in the conference.
The senior captains are
Jana Payne and Danielle Murphy.
Along with the team goals, the
captains have their own role for
the season. “As an athlete, my
main goal is to improve throughout the duration of the season
to be a better athlete as a whole
and I want to make sure the rest
of the team can count on me for
anything they need”, said Murphy.
As for preparing for the
season, the athletes have “played
a lot of golf this summer and
worked hard at the range”, said
Murphy.
The team hosted their
Glenbard Open this year on September 15th. There were twelve
teams and East finished 6th. A
highlight of the Open included
the play of Jana Payne. She
shot a 97. The team set a school
record with a low score of 194 at
home,on the September 20th.
“ This is the first time we have
broke 200” said Miller
October 5, 2012
Departing The DVC
On September 10th, West Chicago voted to depart the
Dupage Valley Conference (DVC), which causes the school to be the
first to leave the DVC since Glenbard South departed after the 1996
competitive season.
This change occurred after a 4-3 vote at the Community High
School District 94 Board of Education meeting. West Chicago voted
to leave the DVC in favor of joining the Metro Suburban Conference,
who accepted this offer. As a result, the withdrawal process from the
DVC will begin, leaving the traditionally 8-conference team DVC with 7
teams.
The reason for this change is not officially known and
according to Assistant Principal for Athletics, Mr. Omar Davis,
“there was no way for anybody to know that this was going to
happen”, although as stated by The Naperville Sun, the possible
change was presented two years ago. However, Mr. Davis says
it was a decision “made with the students’ best interest in mind”
.
It is a well-known fact that the DVC is the most
competitive conference in the area. West Chicago found difficulty
fulfilling these levels of competition. While as East has various tiers
of competition, such as the Freshman A and B volleyball team, West
Chicago did not and do not have this organization, despite the large
student population. This fact goes back to Mr. Davis’s statement that
all high schools have different “demographics”.
According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, the DVC
would prefer to remain an 8-team conference. Now the question is who
will replace West Chicago? On September 19th, the Board of Education
had their meeting and began the process of replacing West Chicago.
The meeting consisted of a development of criteria for the possible
conference candidates.
All seven schools were represented in this process, under the
head of the Board of Control president, Wheaton Warrenville South
principal David Claypool. It is through Claypool that all decisions must
be past through. While the committee will officially begin their search
next week, there is no solid date put on a decision.
At this time, the most likely candidate for this empty spot
would be, in the eyes of Chicago Tribune writer Mike Helfgot, Lake Park.
Lake Park applied for admission into the DVC back in 1996, to replace
Glenbard South. That spot eventually went to West Aurora in 1998.
Lake Park is said to be the most logical choice in the replacement due
to the fact that they have no strong bonds to their current conference,
the Upstate 8.
Competitive ties that are less likely to be broken include
Neuqua Valley, who won’t leave behind its sister schools of Waubonsie
Valley and Metea Valley; and Glenbard West. While Glenbard West is
obviously in close proximity, the Hilltoppers would probably not cut
bonds with traditional opponents Downers Grove North, Hinsdale
Central, York and Lyons Township.
To make it clear, West Chicago has not officially left the DVC
quite yet. They have informed the public of their plans to depart, and
have been accepted into the Metro Suburban Conference. As planned,
the Rams will take on the Wildcats tonight for their homecoming game.
There is no decision regarding West Chicago’s replacement in the
conference yet, though replacements are being pursued.
Picture taken by Leah Busby
Be sure to stay tuned for further information on
the new addition to the DVC
The Freshmen Girls volleyball team celebrate at their September 25th game
Picture taken by Countney Ellis
By Cassie Bocchieri, Sports Editor
At long last, Glenbard East has finally joined the ranks of the
surrounding suburban schools and various professional stadiums in
the recent installation of turf on the football field. Since most players
have been playing on this surface for many years, on opponent’s fields,
the general feel of this addition is nothing new.
But the fact that East athletes have turf to call their own
is special. According to Assistant seniors Megan Cotterill and Alex
Symonds Principal of Student Services Mr. Bagadasarian, all the
athletes who get to play on this field are “jacked up” about this
inaugural year. A big plus for playing on the field for the athletics is
the ability to have “a consistent play surface”, as varsity football coach
John Walters puts it. He adds that the football players, “love to practice
on the stadium”. Likewise, head boys soccer coach Josh Adler says that
while soccer is meant to be played on grass, “the game is more true”
on turf and specifically, “the players are able to make cuts and change
direction without slipping as much.”
With turf being installed, the football or
soccer teams do not necessarily have to postpone practices due to
weather restrictions, such as heavy rainfall. Coach Walters says that
they “can have a functional practice if the weather is bad.”
Glenbard East was one of the last area
schools in switch to turf, joining the “modernization” of football. In the
last quarter of a century, a majority of upper level football stadiums
have been switching to a turf-playing surface. However, currently, only
12 out of the 31 NFL fields have natural grass. Similarly, only 4 of the
18 MLS stadiums have turf as well.
During the summer, the NFL Injury and Safety Panel reported
that certain knee and ankle injuries are more prone on turf surfaces,
this does not discourage East nor make the installation a mistake.
Bagadasarian states that the school spent $20,000 extra while installing
the turf in order to protect athletes from harm. The protection is
from the incap rubber pellets under the turf to make the turf “as safe
as possible” says Bagadasarian.
There has been no scientific research done
to specifically identify the direct connection between turf and injury;
however, concerns regarding the relationship are understandable
due to the high injury levels in the past from turf. Specific turf injuries
include an increase in ACL tears and turf toe. Though these past
injuries were most likely due to the turf being a combination of a
blacktop bottom and an AstroTurf top. As time progressed, so did turf
safety. Coach Alder says that he has “yet to see an injury caused by the
surface.
Thus the response from this new playing surface has been
nothing but good. A single statement from Coach Walters can most
accurately sum up the addition-”awesome”.
August 31st
Picture taken by Cassie Bocchieri
New Year, New Cheer
l. to r. Stukel and Nickolaou
This year, two of East’s cheer
teams have new coaches. Michelle
Stukel is the new coach of the JV
cheer squad. She cheered all 4
years during her time at Illinois
State, and spent the last year
coaching there. She now teaches
English at Plainfield Central High
School. This year at East, Coach
Stukel is looking forward to
watching her JV girls get better,
performing at football games,
and going to competitions.
Coincidently, the freshmen cheer
coach, Melissa Nickolaou, spent
her college career cheering at ISU
with Stukel. This is Nickolaou’s
first year of coaching. She says
that she is a very competitive
person and is looking forward
to competing and expects to do
well in contests. Nickolaou is a
6th grade health teacher at Indian
Trail Middle School in Addison.
Since both Stukel and Nickolaou
cheered together, they plan on
incorporating their ISU moves into
routines for the Ram cheerleaders.
Echo 11
Fall Updates Continued
Boys Soccer
The Boys Soccer team is
currently 3-10-1. In conference,
the boys are 1-3. Coach Josh
Adler says that the boys are
“continuing to improve and we
look forward to the rest of the
regular season...” Some of the
boys senior leaders are Miguel
Godoy, Seth Quam, Matt Rosetti,
Samir Ghiasi, and Eduardo Diaz.
Juniors include Carlos Urbina,
Miguel Godoy, and Trevor Cook.
Currently, the team has played
Naperville North, Willowbrook,
and Hinsdale South. They also
have set a goal to be more
accountable for their mistakes
and have started to make
significant progress since the
Rockford Boylan game.
The Boys Varsity soccer team hurdles at their game on September 25th
Boys Cross
Country
Girls Tennis
The Girls Tennis team is 2-1 in their dual meets and they just claimed
the championship at their 6-team tournament. The current lineup is 1st
singles Erin Proffitt, 2nd singles Sam Prentice, and 3rd singles Angela
Kern. Double include the pairs of Wendi Guraziu and Amanda Janouch,
Janie Jemmi and Shannon Gill, Alyssa Severino and Debra Carlson, and
Michelle Pugacewicz and Camille Panes. They started their DVC season
on September 11, and played in the Hoffman Estates Quad on Saturday,
September 15.
Picture taken by Lauren Cali
Tackling The Turf
Rampage Sports
Picture taken by Jessica DeJong
October 5, 2012
Varsity has place 3rd in
both invitational so far. Varsity
places 2nd out of 22 teams at
the September 15th meet. Their
leading runners in both races
have been juniors Jack Peters and
Vince Booth followed by seniors
Brad Busching and Tim Swanson.
Recently, the team went to the
20 team Argo Invitational and in
three weeks they’ll be going to
the 54 team Peoria Invite.
12
Echo
Extra Extra
Would you rather...
October 5, 2012
What’s on your iPod Vs.
What’s on your teacher’s
iPod
A few ECHO news reporters went around and
asked a few students and teachers to put their
that came up!
Would you rather
be asked with...
Roses: 70%
Chocolates: 30%
Would you rather
go as...
Friends: 46%
Date: 54%
Would you rather go
with...
Close Friend: 87%
Someone You Barely
Know: 13%
Would you rather be
asked...
Extravagantly: 65%
Pop the Question: 35%
Would you rather be
asked...
In Front of a Crowd:
43%
Privately: 57%
Francisco Flores,
Freshman:
“Electric Feel” by
MGMT
“Bulletproof Love” by
Pierce the Veil
“Chemical Kids and
Mechanical Brides” by
Pierce the Veil
Mr. Oppenheimer (Mr.
O):
“The Dead Heart” by
Midnight Oil
“Valium Skies” by The
Verve
“I Confess” by English
Beat
Michal Kaczmarek,
Junior:
“In the End” by Linkin
Park
“I Got a Feeling” by The
Beatles
“Hummer” by Smashing
Pumpkins
Miss Bauer:
“Gotta Be Somebody” by
Nickleback
“Falling For You” by
Colbie Caillat
“Summer Nights” by
Rascal Flatts
Steven Friberg,
Sophomore:
“She Will” by Drake
“Yuck” by Lil Wayne
“New Orleans Maniac”
by Lil Wayne
Mr. Martinez:
“Flake” by Jack Johnson
“Can’t Stop” Red Hot
Chili Peppers
“Juan Loco” by Rodrigo
y Gabriela
Joe Gajewski, Senior
“Born Free” by Kid Rock
“Loud” by Mac Miller
“I Hate Everything
About You” by 3 Days
Grace
Ms. Eckersall:
“Kids” by MGMT
“ Extreme Ways” by
Moby
“Viva La Vida” by Cold
Play
Maze of Olympus