Edwin O. Smith High School E.O. Smith Drum Line Jams Out at Pep

The Oracle
Edwin O. Smith High School
Volume XXXIV Issue I
Storrs, Connecticut
November 2012
Senior Class Vice President Wei Jia Ma tries to
win the Oreo game
Energized students cheering on their
class officers!
E.O. Smith School Spirit
Shines at Fall Pep Rally
On October 25th, all four grades
congregated into their respective
quarter of the gymnasium, which
was decked out entirely in one color
exhibiting their school pride. Labib
Fasihuddin energized the crowd
with a fabulous performance of our
National Anthem. He was followed
by a series of games from the hit
television show “Minute to Win It”
played by Class Officers. Treasurers
unraveled a strand of tissue paper as
quickly as possible, Secretaries had
to shake the Ping-Pong balls out of a
tissue box banded around their waist,
Vice-Presidents guided an Oreo
cookie from their forehead into their
mouths without using their hands,
and lastly your class presidents were
faced with the difficult challenge of
keeping a feather afloat simply by
blowing it upwards. The student body
was also treated to a magnificent
performance by the school drum-line
and an entertaining dance from the
E.O. Football team to the current hit
song “Oppa Gangnam Style”.
By: John DeVecchis
E.O. Smith Drum Line Jams Out at Pep Rally
T A B L E
pgs. 2-3 Kudos & Congrats
pgs. 4-5 Club Action
pgs. 6-7 Arts & Leisure
p. 8 Student Groups
p. 9 Almost, Home
p. 10-11 Spotlight
o f
C O N T E N T S
p. 12 Depot News
p. 13 Girls Empowerment Group
p. 13 Around & About
p. 14-15 Sports
p. 16 Interviews with Seniors
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Kudos & Congrats
Storrs Regional FFA wins at Eastern States Exposition’s
FFA Floral Design Contest
Students from E. O. Smith High School’s Agricultural Education Program entered the Northeast Regional FFA Floral Design Contest hosted at Eastern States Exposition in Agawam MA. The theme for the event was Under a Harvest
Moon. This multi-state competition was displayed in the Farm-O-Rama Building during the fair.
1st Place – Yarelis Vazquez
7th Place – Samantha LeBlond
12th Place – Kylie Crabtree
13th Place – Brittany Reynolds
Yarelis Vasquez’s
winning submission
Kylie Crabtree
Samantha LeBlond
Brittany Reynolds
The Storrs Regional FFA is Proud
to Have Winners at Nationals!!
At the National FFA Convention, October 24 – 27, 2012 in Indianapolis Indiana, The Ag Engineering Team, coached by Mr. Pomeroy,
earned a Silver Medal with Brian Maxwell rising to the top spot on the team. Real world experience required that they construct both
plumbing and electrical projects as well proper use of tools and calculating real world challenges. CONGRATS!!!!!
The team consisted of:
Brian Maxwell
Dan Hill
Andrew Johnson
Jen Malloy
Job Interview Contest:
Congratulations to graduate Morgan Covensky, earning a silver medal at nationals in a grueling contest including a job application, a proper follow up letter, and a live interview. CSX transportation was not only the sponsor but part of the judges panel. She won at the state level
having to prepare a correct resume, cover letter and succeeding at components of the national contest above.
State Level:
At our state FFA Career Development held on November 9th, a freshmen dominated Horse Evaluation team placed 6th out of 12 veteran
teams, earning third overall in the team event.
The team consisted of:
Kylie Dancosse
Erin Meikle
Victoria Salai
Justine Phillips Galucci
Congrats !!!
The Storrs Regional FFA is proud to announce results of the FFA State Nursery /Landscape contest:
Jacob Miller placed 2nd
(missing 1st place in the state by 2 points)
Joshua LeBaron placed 9th
The team placed 3rd
Team members:
Jacob Miller
Joshua LeBaron
Chelsea Doherty
Victoria Kaczowski
E.O. Smith Model United Nations goes to UConn
3
The Model UN participated in the annual simulation at UCONN the weekend of November 11-12th. Former students Paul Bloom, Arthur
Atkin, Elise Ursin, John Meyers and Kriste Lazauskas all played an important role in running this year’s conference. Awards were given to:
Most Improved Delegates on their committees:
Laura Chrobak
Liz Pouya
Best Delegate on their Committees:
Rebecca Kaufman
Jonas Burkhard
Rebecca did a particularly outstanding job as the committee topic was deforestation in Haiti and she played the role of Haiti. Her chair even
allowed her to run the committee for a period of time as she sought help from other nations on the committee.
On Monday evening November 5, E.O. Smith senior, Sara Greene, placed third in a highly competitive poetry slam sponsored by UConn’s
Poetic Release. Sara, the only high school performer in the mix, made it to the final round of competition which was judged by nationally
known slam poet, Jared Paul, among others. Please congratulate Sara on her outstanding performance!
Quiz B owl News!
By Mr. Pirrie
Quiz bowl went to Yale just before the storm. This is a rebuild year so I am trying out various
teams, but even so they did very well, taking a very respectable 8th and 9th place out of 24 teams.
More spectacular is the play of Saman Azimi and Prayush Singh (who played on separate teams),
who took 5th and 2nd places respectively as individuals out of a field of 99 players.
Congratulate them when you see them!
E + R = O ~(or Be an Awesomesauce and Read this Article)
By Tucker Lewis & Elle Schaffhauser
Many of you are wondering what E+R=O means? How about Awesomesauce? Well, if you had attended The Ultimate DECA Power
Trip in Washington, D.C. for the North Atlantic and Southern Region
Leadership Conference, you would have heard Kent Julian speak
on how EVENTS +(YOUR) RESPONSE=OUTCOMES. Brenden
Lee White encouraged everyone to be an Awesomesauce instead
of a Lamesauce. Tucker Lewis, Elle Schaffhauser, Alissa Chick and
Joe Pinney were fortunate to go to D.C. and meet 2500 other DECA
members from as far north as Germany and as far south as Puerto
Rico. They also attended amazing workshops put on by professional
sports teams and corporate executives from the fashion, hospitality,
tourism, & retail industries.
Some of the workshops included: The Washington Nationals ticket
sales directors having “NATITUDE” while giving members advice
on how to break into sports and entertainment careers. AT&T’s
marketing director presented their promotional campaign on “Don’t
Text and Drive.” Thousands of teenage lives have been saved because of their one word campaign. “The Lemonade Stand” author
Ara Bagdasarian discussed common misconceptions about starting
a business, and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
explained how fashion trends are started, and then trickle down
through society.
There was a trade show with lots of free giveaways from fundraising vendors and college representatives. Tucker Lewis was offered a
“Naked” internship (in four years) with Naked Juice Company and
Joe Pinney found out he received a huge scholarship from Johnson
& Wales University in R.I. Practice competitive events were also
conducted, and E. O. Smith’s Tucker Lewis took the stage receiving
a medal for being a top performer in the sports and entertainment
team event.
The weekend wasn’t all business—the group went on a daytime
scavenger hunt discovering the secret George Washington knew
that no other founding fathers knew, took a night tour of the D.C.
monuments, and listened to motivational speakers encourage members to set goals, overcome obstacles, and accomplish their dreams.
D.C. this year, Boston in 2013/2014—Join DECA and join in on the
fun!!!
DECA—an association of students interested in marketing, management, & entrepreneurship--inspires students through leadership
training sessions, career competition, and support of local charities.
E. O. Smith DECA meets every Thursday in room 134, or contact
one of our many officers—Tucker Lewis, Tony Bell, Rahim Mama,
Raman Mama, Elle Schaffhauser, Alissa Chick or advisor Ms. Biren
at [email protected] for more information.
Tucker Lewis presents at DECA conference
4
Club Action
E.O. Smith Animal Rescue Club
By Lucas McLean
In the hassle and hustle of the presidential election, lots of opinions
are being thrown around about the most pressing issues facing the
country today. When the debates at the Thanksgiving dinner table
get a little too heated, it’s nice to take a break from politics and think
about an issue we can hopefully all agree on: animal cruelty and
abandonment is a heartbreaking dilemma, and something needs to
be done about it. Countless animals across the country are without
caring homes, whether they’re abused or wandering the streets with
no form of shelter at all. When there is a problem this serious and
this widespread, action must be taken. It’s not something that can
just be talked about; it’s something that needs to be dealt with.
The best way to make a difference? Start local. Animal Rescue
Club was initiated in 2010 by Megan Shain, with E.O. Smith English
teacher Mrs. Ryan-Gidman as supervisor, and neither could have
been more dedicated to the cause. In the 2010-2011 school year,
ARC sold homemade crayons in the cafeteria, with proceeds going
to local animal shelters. The club also supported Our Companions,
a Connecticut-based animal rescue organization, one goal of which
is to provide more inexpensive spaying and neutering options.
During the next school year, ARC planned two movie nights- an
animal-themed movie screening after school with free refreshments- to once more raise money for local pounds. Although neither of the two events was very successful, ARC hopes to resurrect
them this year. The club also set up another cafeteria sale, this time
selling friendship bracelets made by the club’s members. Proceeds
went to the Willington Pound, but the club’s involvement with the
shelter didn’t end there. ARC collected items for the shelter like
dog food, toys, and blankets, and went there to visit with the dogs.
The club helped advertise the dogs for adoption, and all of the dogs
living at the Willington Pound last year are now in new, loving
homes. This year, Animal Rescue Club hopes to do even more to
help local animals in need. Animals can’t speak for themselves. They
need a strong, passionate voice to deliver their pleads to the public.
ARC wants to be that voice, to translate every meow, bark, squawk,
and whinny into a single clear and resounding message: the animals
need us.
Lucas McLean with a pound pup
Photo by Mrs. Ryan-Gidman
Megan Shain with an animal shelter dog
Photo by Mrs. Ryan-Gidman
Virtu
E.O. Smith Ballroom Club
By Ellen Yang
By Ellen Yang
Are you looking to join an E.O. Smith club in which you can
show true leadership skills, take charge of your project, and
publish literature for the entire community to read? Then Virtù is
right for you! This club provides a warm and resourceful atmosphere for students to edit, organize, and create a collaborative
annual literary magazine filled with the best of E.O. Smith’s artwork, photography, short stories, poetry, and much more. Virtù
takes submissions from all over the school, and puts it all together into monthly teasers for the magazine, called “Virteezers.” In
the spring, the team selects pieces and creates a vision for the
magazine. Are you ready to take part in the artsy publication of
the Virtù Literary Magazine, 2013? Join us in Room 217 every
other Tuesday with Mrs. Aborn!
Have you ever seen “Dancing With the Stars?” Of course you have;
ballroom dance is taking over America, and now it’s taking over E.O.
Smith High School! Men and ladies, if you want to learn how to ballroom dance, now is your chance! Free group classes are being offered
to both students and teachers every Monday from 2:15-3:15 in the
Cafeteria, starting November 19th. These classes will be taught by E.O.
senior, Ellen Yang, and members of the UConn Ballroom Team. You
can learn anything from the elegant ballroom dances, such as Waltz,
Foxtrot, and Tango, to the sexy Latin dances like Rumba, Cha-Cha,
and Samba. No partner needed! So bring your dancing shoes and get
ready to rock the dancefloor!
E.O. Smith helps Efforts for Playground project
Submitted by Mrs. Heather Bunnell
5
New Jewelry Club
The E.O. Smith Jewelry Club is meeting on the third Thursday of each month. The group will be making earrings, bracelets and fabricated
jewelry. New skills will be introduced each week, and no experience is required. Students will also have free work time, and access to a wide
variety of beads, attachments and finding. Students will also have the opportunity to make projects to sell for the Mansfield Community
Playground Project.
Mansfield Community Playground Project
The Mansfield Community Playground
Project fundraising phase is underway! Last
May, the students of Southeast, Vinton, and
Goodwin elementary schools worked with
a designer from Leathers and Associates to
design a fantasy inspired playground. E.O.
Smith students, Alyssa Bailey, Ari Lewis,
unique elements.
The project, sponsored by the Mansfield
Advocates for Children, was adopted in
response to a town survey which indicated
a community need for a central, accessible,
community playground. The playground is
slated for construction in 2013, and will be
for ‘tots and older kids with age appropriate
features throughout.
The Project is in its fundraising cycle, and
has a number of events underway, including
a ‘Buy –a-Board’ sale, a ‘Hand-Print Tile’
project, two upcoming fairs at the Mansfield
and Willington Libraries on December 1st,
and a Papa-Gino’s fundraiser on December
5th. E.O. Smith students Crystal Mastrangelo and Jamie Bernier are working on fundraising events to sponsor special needs components for the playground. Alexia Provatas
and Aimee Chicoine, assisted by Katie Zak,
Laura Couture and Heather Cote have been
hard at work creating earrings and jewelry
that is being sold at fundraising events for
the playground.
Details about the events are available at our
Facebook page, like ‘Mansfield Community Playground Project’ or at our website at
www.mansfield communityplayground.org.
Volunteers for committees, fundraising, and
building the playground are still needed.
Contact [email protected] if you can
help.
Schematics for the new Mansfield Community Playground
Heather Cote, Roxy Ryan, Renee Gochros,
Jenn White, Noah Burnette, and Emma
Schroer assisted at Design Day, blowing
bubbles, painting faces, and helping students
create found object sculptures. As a result
of the children’s ideas, the playground will
feature a dragon slide, a spaceship, a milk
truck, and a rolly-slide, and many other
built by 800 volunteers in 5 days. The site of
the playground is right next to E.O. Smith,
behind the Mansfield Community Center.
The playground has a special focus on accessibility, with wheel chair accessible rubber
paving throughout, ground level activities,
a sensory garden, and bucket swings. The
playground will also feature separate areas
What the playground next door may resemble!
Arts & Leisure
6
Funky and Fresh at Jorgensen: October 2012
By Ellen Yang
The artists at the Jorgensen Center for the
Performing Arts in Storrs, Connecticut have
never been more novel or exhilarating. Two
particularly astounding performances were
held there this October – one by the eclectic
and offbeat vocalist Regina Spektor, and the
other by the retro, rock ‘n’ roll vocal group,
Under the Streetlamp. All of the performers
were archetypal of Jorgensen’s refined musical
tastes and stupendous prowess in searching
out the most talented entertainers in this
world to bring them right back to the heart of
the University of Connecticut.
Regina Spektor rocks at UConn
Regina Spektor is a Russian-born, New York
native singer who is classically trained in
piano and has a unique, artful, and personal
style. Some might say that she is representative
of the anti-folk scene. As Jorgensen describes
her, “She is genuinely rare and refreshing – an
unadulterated, unanticipated original.” She
became distinguished for her 2006 album,
Begin to Hope, which included her hit single “On the Radio.” Her newest album, What
We Saw from the Cheat Seats, was released
in May 2012, and its singles included “All the
Rowboats” as well as “Don’t Leave Me (Ne me
quitte pas)”. Regina has made appearances
on Conan, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, and many other media programs. She has
performed for President Obama, Radio City
Music Hall, and the films of The Chronicles
of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and (500) Days of
Summer.
On October 6th, the singer of Only Son, Jack
Dishel – also Regina’s husband – opened for
her. When Regina came on stage to perform
her first song with her amazing crew of drums,
cello, and keyboard, she instantly oozed charm
and personality. Over the span of the concert,
she sang a large selection of songs from her
newest album, What We Saw from the Cheap
Seats, such as “Oh, Marcello!”, “Firewood”, and
“Patron Saint”. However, she also performed a
few older pieces, such as “Us”, “Folding Chair”,
and “Hero”, making the audience rather
nostalgic. (One audience member shouted,
“Sing Samson!” but she only said, “Why not
let me sing what I want to sing? … Does that
make you all feel guilty?”) She also sang “Call
Them Brothers” with Jack Dishel. In terms
of her interaction with the audience, she was
sweet, smart and authentic, telling amusing
vignettes along the way. Musically, her voice
was perfectly mellifluous – both innocent
and powerful. She was just as good, if
not better, than her recordings. Most of
the time she was at her Steinway & Sons
piano, but she also played a few songs
standing up or at a keyboard. She opened
the concert with upbeat and exciting
pieces that everyone sang along with, but
gradually entered into her more powerful
and heartrending songs, which lulled the
audience into reverent silence as they
took in her tremulous and thoughtful
voice. When the concert ended, the audience stood up in ovation and applauded
for an unbelievably long time, hoping to
hear her sing one more time. At last, she
came back on stage and did a three-song
encore as students danced in front of the
stage. And to our greatest pleasure, she
sat down at the piano for a fourth song
and began to murmur the wistful lyrics
of Samson, just like we had asked. Regina
had touched the hearts of all of UConn
in this unforgettable performance.
Under the Streetlamp is a superhot new
American vocal group, made up of four suave
male performers – Shonn Wiley, Michael Cunio, Christopher Kale Jones, and Michael Ingersoll. All of these talented men were part of
the Chicago Jersey Boys cast and have now put
their Broadway voices to excellent use in their
electrifying and exciting vocal performances.
They take the best radio hits of the 50’s and
60’s – a genre which they label “The American Radio Songbook” – and remaster them
with polished voices, slick self-designed
choreography, and charming interactions
with their audiences. Under the Streetlamp
is gaining heat incredibly quickly. In fact,
they have already released their debut CD
& DVD, and are currently on tour around
America through PBS; they will be broadcasted on television this spring.
On October 27th, Storrs, Connecticut was
lucky enough to bring these stellar entertainers to the stage of Jorgensen in a cabaret
setting. From the moment they stepped on
stage, it was clear that they were incredibly
classy men who knew how to have a good
time. They performed a fiery explosion of
oldies, soulful medleys, emotional ballads, and
playful group harmonies, such as “Sh-Boom”,
“I’m a Believer”, and “When You’re Smiling”.
However, Under the Streetlamp also did a fantastic job in letting each person shine through
solo songs. This worked tremendously well,
as the audience got to hear the strengths of
each singer alone, as well as in a group. For
instance, Michael Cunio sang a breathtaking
rendition of “At Last” by Etta James; Christopher Kale Jones sang a woeful and passionate
interpretation of “Blue Moon”; and Michael
Ingersoll performed “Pretty Woman” fabulously. Also, Shonn Wiley sang a sizzling solo
in “Cry”, during which he feverishly threw
off his suit jacket while belting the passionate
lyrics of Johnnie Ray, “Remember sunshine
can be found, Behind a cloudy sky, So let
your hair down and go on and cry.” Many of
their songs were tributes to the golden classic singers – Johnnie Ray, Elvis Presley, The
Four Seasons, and many more. In multiple
ways, their sound surpassed the original; their
unique voices were not just flawless – they
were out-of-this-world, to die for. Their dancing was just as amazing; their slick and steamy
steps epitomized the music perfectly, and left
the audience moving as well. It was extremely
impressive that all of the songs had their own
routines, each of which was choreographed by
the tap-dancing UTSL member, Shonn Wiley.
Their moves added immense flavor and style
to the performance. But perhaps their personalities and wit were the best part of the night.
They told the funniest stories about their theatre days, told intentionally bad jokes (mostly
Ingersoll’s doing), and made the most hilarious flirtatious interactions with the women in
the front row. So, this live performance was
explosive, exciting, and tight. These friendly,
generous, and talented men, in my opinion,
are among the best performers in the country.
Who can’t love them? But there’s only so much
that a reviewer can convince you of, so listen
to them here: www.underthestreetlamp.com.
See how amazing they are for yourself.
Under the Streetlamp performs
at Jorgenson
The Hunger Games as a Dystopian Series
By Surath Fernando
The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne
Collins, is a work of young-adult, dystopian
fiction. The story outlines life in Panem, a
future country located in North America,
and the oppression that its people face at
the hands of the Capitol. This power hosts
an annual event, called the Hunger Games,
in which two children between the ages of
twelve and eighteen are chosen
from each of that nation’s twelve
districts to fight to the death.
At first glance, the series seems
like a run-of-the-mill dystopian
work.
Upon closer inspection, however, certain aspects of the novels
fall flat. The Hunger Games
opens by introducing Panem’s
dictatorial presence: the Capitol,
which has had absolute power
for the past seventy-five years.
Although we witness the cruelty
of this institution in the form
of a yearly tribute-killing of its
nation’s teenagers, we quickly
learn that the Capitol is anything but all
powerful. Towards the beginning of the first
novel, Katniss, the series’ protagonist, and
Gale, one of her male suitors, demonstrate
that their masters’ sight does not extend into
the woods outside their homeland, District 12; subsequently, the two are prone to
criticizing the establishment in such an area.
This, however, is hardly the largest failure
of the Capitol; its weakness is epitomized in
the first novel’s climax, when the two final
competitors in the Games, Katniss and her
fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta, who are
allegedly in love, force the Capitol to declare
them both winners.
We do, admittedly, see some sign of retaliation from the Capitol in the second novel,
Catching Fire. Indeed, the woods are no
longer accessible, and certain regulations
involved with trading begin to be enforced.
Unfortunately, this conflict is largely overshadowed by Katniss’s overwhelming problem, for she spends much time lamenting
the fact that two kind, attractive males
have feelings for her and leading them on.
Nevertheless, the idea of rebellion has been
planted in the minds of Panem’s people – the
half-pretend love that the two victorious
tributes displayed for one another has had
quite the impact on the country. Such love’s
appearance strengthens in the second novel
when Peeta falsely claims that his beloved
actress is pregnant with his child.
The third book, Mockingjay, marks the
beginning of all-out war between the Capitol and the rebelling Panem residents. Both
sides suffer significant losses; main characters and individuals whose names can
scarcely be recalled alike are killed off like
flies. Again, this demonstrates the Capitol’s
lack of actual power, for what seventy-five
year old dictatorship cannot instantly crush
7
any internal threat posed against it – especially when the immediate cause of such a
threat is that two teenagers appeared to be in
love?
What morals can we discern from this
trilogy? Other dystopian works depict the
corruptive nature of power, for their dictatorships do not threaten to crumble at the
slightest obstacle. Perhaps certain
works in which the seemingly
all-powerful forces fall have moral
merit as well, if the reasons behind
their collapse are to avenge tragedy
or something of that sort. The rebellion against the Capitol is ultimately
inspired by half-sincere teenage
love between two people who hadn’t
exchanged a word prior to being
chosen as tributes. In this sense, the
trilogy is inferior to several of its
dystopian companions.
Where it succeeds, however, is in
its simplicity. The characters of Peeta
and Gale, the two all-but-professional Katniss suitors, are virtually
flawless and hence unrealistic; however, the
two resultantly appeal to a very broad audience, which can be fond of them without
having to worry itself with analysis. Furthermore, the series does not employ excessively
complex word choice, thus enhancing its
accessibility, a trait which is often compromised unnecessarily. A final component of
the simplicity of The Hunger Games is its
fast pace, for this trait staves off boredom
among its readers, where other works of
literature, rife with vivid (and perhaps excessive) descriptions may exacerbate this quality. Perhaps, then, we can find value in The
Hunger Games not in the realm of academic
but rather recreational reading.
…And the Band Plays On
By Josh Stern
This year marks the beginning of a new
system for the two EOS bands. Previously, there was a freshmen-only “concert
band” and a “symphonic band” consisting
of everyone else. This is the model used
by most schools, and it has its advantages,
giving freshmen a year of separate training and allowing them to work on specific
concepts. But Mr. Burgess realized that
one of the most driving forces for freshmen
musicians is student leadership, and this led
him to reconsider the system. Now the two
bands—the B-level “symphonic band” and
the A-level “wind ensemble”—are each open
to all grades.
Although the A-level band is inherently
more challenging and will inevitably attract
the more skilled and experienced musicians,
Mr. Burgess’s hope is that the two bands
will ultimately be divided more by repertoire than by skill level. The main difference
between a symphonic band and a wind
ensemble is that the former is based on fixed
instrumentation, meaning that the number
of players per part mostly remains constant
from piece to piece. A wind ensemble uses
flexible instrumentation, which allows a
composer to specify how many players there
should be per part.
This year, in order to create more unity
within the music department, the bands and
orchestras will be sharing their concerts.
Their first one this year will be on November
6; expect to hear some English folk songs,
a setting of a familiar Christian hymn, and
more. Of the four band/orchestra concerts
planned this year, two will also include the
Symphony Orchestra, which consists of
strings, winds, and percussion.
Furthermore, the jazz program has returned to a big band format. Because of an
imbalance in the instrumentation last year,
Mr. Burgess ran the program with two jazz
combos rather than one big band, but this
year’s line-up was such that that was not
necessary. Like last year, the jazz band will
share concerts with various chamber music
groups, both instrumental and vocal. The
first jazz/chamber concert this year will take
place on December 15 at St. Mark’s Chapel
on the north side of UConn.
Mr. Burgess is very excited about several upcoming events and opportunities for
the band. Composer Erik Ewazen will be
working with the wind ensemble in March
when they play his composition “A Hymn
for the Lost and Living.” The May concert
will feature a guest soloist from the U.S.
Coast Guard band. In addition, two of the
four band/orchestra concerts this year will
take place at von der Mehden Recital Hall
at UConn. Be sure to check the next three
editions of The Oracle for details on what is
happening in the EOS music department.
8
Student Groups
Seventeen Germans Enjoy an Indian Summer in New England
By Hannah Goodwin
On September 23rd, 2012, at about 6:30pm, fifteen German
students and two teachers hopped out of the vehicles in the E.O.
Smith parking lot after a long trip from Steinhagen, Germany. Anxiousness filled the air, but everyone quickly found their
American partner and exchanged greetings. Little did we know
that this would be a life changing seventeen days. This is the first
time E.O. Smith has done an exchange with the Steinhagener
Gymnasium in the northwestern part of Germany, in the state of
Nordrhein-Westfalen. But Mrs. Smith, the E.O.S. German teacher
whom we all call simply “Frau”, has a long-time connection with
the coordinating teacher. Ms. Maike Pieper, the German coordinator of the exchange, was Mrs. Smith’s host sister back in 1993,
arrived to when they left, the group developed many little inside
jokes, from “bellybutton,” “pinky promise”, actually-- any phrase
with alliteration-- to “z-fo-may-shun.” Little things like these
helped us to bond as a whole and we really got to know each other. The day of departure was tear-filled, as we were forced to part
with our new friends. But the sorrow will be short-lived, because
our very own E.O Smith students will embark on a three-week
journey in Germany this summer, once again meeting with the
students of the Steinhagen Gymnasium. I think I can speak for
everyone when I say we couldn’t be more excited!
E.O. Smith - Steinhagen welcome party
German Exchange girls
when she was participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth
Exchange Program (the same program that recent graduate
William Trickett, is currently participating in). After more than
a decade, they reconnected through Facebook, and the idea for a
new exchange program was born.
A few days into the trip, all of the German and American
students went to Empower Leadership Sports, an establishment
in Middletown, which offered team-building activities, such
as zip-lining and tree climbing. Many unsure moans filled the
air; however, no one backed down from the challenges at hand.
Everyone braved the five zip lines and conquered the two tree
climbs. This was the first of many great trips. Throughout the
two school weeks the Germans shared with us, they experienced
many Connecticut attractions, such as the Pequot Museum, the
Nathan Hale Homestead, the UConn campus and the Dairy
Bar, the Hartford Capitol, and the Lincoln Culinary Institute, as
well as a day trip to The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. The
weekends were left open for the host families to organize, and
many formed small groups to tour Boston and New York City.
The Germans immersed themselves in American culture, from
eating American “delicacies,” like KFC and Subway, to spending
time at the malls and bowling alleys. Having personally hosted a
student, I’ve seen first-hand how well our two cultures fit together, even though they have many differences. From the time they
“750-jähriges Jubiläum Steinhagen”
If ever two could meet, surely be now.
If ever again, they would wonder how.
If ever they remember the great times;
In which they spent in making greater climbs.
All during that time we had splendid fun.
But soon they had to leave, weighing a ton.
But when they arrived, they brought each a gift,
These gifts meant the world to those who got them,
And although their visit was swift, t’was a thrift.
The gifts they left were treated as a gem.
But the fun times are just half way over,
Because in just short time we’ll flyover.
We’ll go from the land of ours, into theirs.
To fun times again like millionaires,
In Deutschland we shall go, as honored guests.
And repeat the times, for which we had here,
And pass on them gifts of our own crests.
All that to make up for it when we’re there.
Good times start with a gift, and end in poem.
Wir sind alle zu Hause, we’re all home.
Patrick Kornegay
E.O. Smith Drama Club Warms Legions of Hearts
with Whimsical Winter Romance
By Liam McLean
Photos by Christian Schirmer
The weekend of October 26th-28th saw winter come early to the
E.O. Smith auditorium, as the drama club’s production of Almost,
Maine proved a delightfully quirky confection for anyone who likes
their romantic comedy with a healthy dose of whimsy and hypothermia. A charming, understated exposé on life and love (it’s actually less nauseating than it sounds), John Cariani’s funny, poignant
Owen Elphick and Emelia Ford
9
the E.O. Smith Drama Club proved more than capable of bringing
these scenes and more to life, avoiding the temptations to indulge
in schmaltzy sentimentalism or grating adolescent melodrama and
instead rendering
portraits of ordinary, mundane
human beings in
extraordinary,
surreal situations.
The result was
three days of the
high-caliber high
school theatre
we have come to
expect from this
Sarah Jensen and Aidan O’Brien
talented group of
teenage thespians.
If you had the fortune to see the production and are now craving
more E.O. Smith theatre, or are miffed that you had to miss it and
are looking for another opportunity to see the Drama Club in action, you don’t have long to wait! Mark your calendars: E.O. Smith’s
production of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,
this year’s musical, will be showing the weekend of February 8th10th and is sure to be an equally stellar production.
play has in recent months become an unlikely tour de force, achieving widespread national popularity and proving itself a particular
favorite among high school troupes. Comprising a series of vignettes set on a single Saturday night in a fictional slice of unorganized territory in northern Maine called “Almost,” the play features
a cast of motley, manifold, endearing, and occasionally insufferable (though always human) characters who find themselves in an
equally diverse range of remarkable, sometimes inexplicable situations which alternately bring them together and pull them apart.
A dreamy but self-loathing woman (Sarah Jensen) seeks resolution
in the Northern Lights after her husband’s untimely death, and
Tristan Bock-Hughes and Chase Bruder
she finds a new lover in a compassionate handyman (Aidan O’Brien)
who offers to repair her (literally)
shattered heart. A well-intentioned
but frankly obnoxious and self-obsessed young man (Joe Cherepon)
is dismayed to find that his ex-girlfriend (Ella Wasserman-Smith) has
moved on, but he discovers new
hope by happenstance in an empathetic bartender (Erica Maheu; God
help her). Two jerky-chomping
tough guys (Tristan Bock-Hughes
and Chase Bruder), frustrated with
Eliza Patterson
their regular romantic mishaps,
stumble upon love in probably the
Paul Ference and Caitlin Briody
most unexpected place. A husband and wife (Liam McLean and
Gemilath Mama), disenchanted with their marriage but unwilling
to communicate, finally muster the
strength to express their feelings and
resign themselves to the grim reality
of a sometimes-inevitable parting-ofways. And an unsentimental tomboy
whose hardened façade masks an
inner insecurity (Caitlin Briody) finds
herself undressing in subzero weather,
wooed by her dopey-faced but charming longtime best friend and persistent pursuer (Paul Ference). With
The Cast of “Almost, Maine” readies to take a bow
characteristic aplomb and finesse,
10
Spotlight
An Odyssey of Epic Proportions:
A Tale of English Teachers and their Quest for Destiny in the Halls of E.O. Smith
By Liam McLean
At the end of last year, E.O. Smith bade
farewell to four English teachers, some
permanently, others for only a hiatus. Their
impassioned contributions left an indelible
mark on our community and climate and
some hefty hiking boots to fill. With the
2012-2013 school year now in full swing, it
seems only appropriate to introduce, with
due fanfare, those teachers with the zest and
zeal to jump into those boots and embark on
their own trailblazing odyssey as E.O. Smith
educators.
As their colleagues can attest to, those with
the guts and gumption to pursue this path
often find it to be a challenge worth the
reward. In the spirit of E.O. Smith, we would
like to take this opportunity to recognize
and applaud these intrepid adventurers and
wish them the best of luck as their voyage
unfolds.
Ms. Powers-Bigler
Ms. Erin Powers-Bigler is a sophomore and
junior English teacher this year, and also an
instructor for the modified English class,
teaching a curriculum that encompasses
both American and British literature. Born
and raised in Raynham, Massachusetts,
Ms. Powers-Bigler nurtured ambitions to
become a teacher from her earliest days. “I
don’t remember not wanting to be a teacher,”
she says.
Her enduring passion for education is
reflected in a dynamic and colorful twelveyear career thus far: although she initially
pursued elementary education, she set her
sights on high school English after “falling in
love” with college English literature courses,
and after graduating, she got a position at
a private school in Stowe, Vermont, where
she instructed prospective Olympic athletes.
After moving to Connecticut in 2001, Ms.
Powers-Bigler taught at Windsor High for
seven years, followed by a four-year stint at
the Hartford Academy of the Arts. Despite
the diversity of her career, she says that she
has come to appreciate a degree of universality to the teenage experience, stating, “One
of the things I’ve learned is that kids are
more alike than different.” Nevertheless, she
still finds it difficult to compare her various
positions, though she is thus far enamored
of E.O. Smith, praising what she perceives
as a respectful and welcoming culture and
the privileges allowed to students, which she
calls a “throwback to another era.”
Ms. Powers-Bigler also appreciates the
school’s connection to UCONN and its
emphasis on rigorous academics and college
preparation, rather than solely standardized
testing, two of the factors which attracted
her to the school in the first place. As such,
she is excited for the opportunity to become
a part of this vibrant community, and she
says that her only anxiety stems from the
strength of the teachers around her. “I work
in a department full of amazing and talented English teachers…it’s a lot to live up to.”
Nevertheless, Ms. Powers-Bigler is rearing
to meet the challenge, armed with a fundamental teaching philosophy that emphasizes student engagement in literature above
all else. “Literature is really the gateway to
perspective,” she says. “I want students to be
able to see that gateway.”
Ms. Rowley
Ms. Regan Rowley is a junior and senior
English teacher this year, teaching both
British and World Literature. An undergraduate journalism major, Ms. Rowley initially
enjoyed a position on the writing staff of
Women’s Day magazine, where she specialized in exposing readers to the infinite
marvels of natural fiber rugs.
After discovering that her true calling lay
in teaching, she started graduate school only
a year after she completed her undergraduate degree (to her parents’ dismay), pursuing a degree in education. Ms. Rowley has
previously taught at Rockville High School
and most recently in Hartford, where she instructed seventh and eighth grade students,
an experience she appreciated though not
with the same fervor with which she enjoyed
teaching older students. It was this desire to
return a high school setting which partially
compelled her decision to apply for a job at
E.O. Smith, along with a lasting interest in
this institution. “This school has always been
on my radar,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to teach here…I’m very fortunate to be
around such excellence.”
Ms. Rowley cites the school’s evident
commitment to top-notch instruction as
another attractive factor, noting, “This whole
staff and school have a climate that really
nurtures education.” She also remarks on
a more personal, nostalgic element in the
school’s appeal, saying that it reminds her of
her own high school. Ms. Rowley embarks
on her E.O. Smith English teacher odyssey
loaded with enthusiasm and unburdened by
qualms, saying that the most exciting aspect
of her new job is the opportunity to develop
relationships with a new group of students,
and that she has few concerns. “I’m one of
those people that just bulldozes through.”
In her classroom, Ms. Rowley emphasizes the collaborative nature of education,
articulating her philosophy that “we are all
a community of learners” and that there is
no rigid hierarchy in place. “Just because I’m
the teacher doesn’t mean I’m the all-knowing expert on literature and writing.”
Mr. Thiboddeau
Mr. Mike Thiboddeau is a sophomore and
senior English teacher this year, as well as
the football coach, prepared to instruct
legions of students in American literature,
world literature, and tackling tactics to make
all who dare challenge the E.O. Smith Panthers shake in their shoulder pads.
A native of South Windsor, Mr. Thiboddeau attended undergraduate school at
Southern Connecticut State University,
where he played baseball and football and
was a resident advisor or incoming freshmen, helping to ease the often jarring transition between high school and college. Mr.
Thiboddeau’s aptitude in and enthusiasm for
this position interested him in high school
education, and after graduating college, he
sought out teaching positions, working as
a hall monitor at Stony Brook University to
support himself as he searched. He taught
two years in Waterbury and spent one year
in Enfield as a long-term substitute teacher
prior to his current position at E.O. Smith,
his first full-time teaching job. Mr. Thiboddeau says that once he saw an opening at
the school, applying was a no-brainer. “I’ve
always just heard so many good things about
(here)…when I saw there were openings I
jumped on it.” He says that his initial unfamiliarity with anybody on the staff was
nerve-wracking, noting that in his prior
teaching experiences, he had always been
acquainted with some faculty members first
through coaching and that, “this is really the
first time (he) started fresh.”
Mr. Thiboddeau is particularly excited by
the opportunity to work with both seniors
and sophomores- while the former is his
specialty, given his experience with overseeing the transition period between high
school and college, the latter presents
11
a challenge to which he is eager to rise
up. His teaching philosophy focuses on the
individual contributions of each student,
he states that; “each and every student has
a different voice” and that, accordingly, he
aims to create a classroom environment
where “everybody’s opinions are heard and
respected.”
Besides his passion for teaching and football, Mr. Thiboddeau loves music and sees
his hour-long commute as an important
meditative period where he can enjoy his
favorite tunes. He is also an avid movie buff.
Over the course of the last year, Mr. Thiboddeau was married in St. Thomas in the
Caribbean and recently became a father.
Ms. Tiffany Smith, the fourth addition to
the E.O. Smith English team, could not be
reached for an interview. We welcome her
heartily to our school community, as well.
Look out for an interview with Ms. WhallSmith in the next issue of the Oracle.
Getting to Know You,
Getting to Know All About You
Shortly after the end of last
school year, the students
of E.O. Smith’s music department were
saddened to hear that Catherine Rowe, the
longtime chorus director, was retiring. But
many of us were consoled by the words of
that year’s chorus president Lauren Dominique: “Ms. Rowe will only allow for some
AWESOME teacher to come in. I mean,
really…she thinks so highly of each and
every one of you, she couldn’t just leave you
with anybody.”
And she was right. The music department soon welcomed Amanda Hanzlik as
the newest addition to the family. Not only
does Mrs. Hanzlik have a long history of
music education, but so does her husband,
Dr. Louis Hanzlik, who is currently a trumpet instructor at UConn.
Mrs. Hanzlik’s love of music began with
her involvement in numerous dance classes
in her home state of Iowa. Soon, she started playing instruments, and she joined the
school chorus in seventh grade after being a
closeted singer for several years. She fell in
love with singing, and before long she was
involved in all the choral activities at her
high school, seeking out as many musical
and dramatic opportunities as possible.
After graduating from the University of
Iowa with a double major in vocal performance and music education, she lived in
New York for ten years. During this time,
she sang professionally and worked with
many adult and children’s choirs (most of
them in church settings). With a master’s
degree in early childhood music education
from Columbia University, she taught at Rye
County Day School in New York and public
schools in Greenwich, Connecticut, as well
By Josh Stern
as giving private lessons from her own voice
studio. Dr. and Mrs. Hanzlik moved to
Connecticut in 2008; he became a professor
at UConn, and she taught part-time at the
Community School of the Arts, worked as a
music specialist in the UConn Child Development Laboratory School, and supervised
student teachers obtaining music education
degrees. Last year she taught an Introduction to Music Education course at UConn.
Now she’s at EOS, and she absolutely loves
it here. She has been overwhelmed by the
generosity of the chorus officers and the
professional and parental support, and she
is delighted with the community of talented
singers that is the EOS chorus. “Connecticut is definitely starting to feel like home,”
she says.
Mrs. Hanzlik’s primary goal for the chorus
is to have a strong, family-like community
of singers who enjoy the process of making
music together; she says everything else is
secondary to that. She plans to collaborate
with the UConn choirs; there will be guest
soloists from UConn in the annual Messiah Sing, and the Men’s Chorus, Women’s
Chorus (formerly Calliope), and Chamber
Singers will perform the National Anthem
at a few UConn (and EOS) sports games.
In addition, the chorus will participate in a
workshop with the chorus director at ECSU.
For now, the chorus is busy preparing for its
first concert of the year, on November 7. It
will feature a series of songs in many different styles, all built around the word Alleluia.
Expect to hear some South American choral
music next semester.
“I hope to find ways to bring the choir into
the life of E.O. Smith even more,” says Mrs.
Hanzlik. “I’m hoping to have music—and
choral music in particular—be a more natural and cultural part of life at E.O. Smith,
and I’m looking for interesting and new
ways to do that.”
The soprano’s pastimes include cooking,
working in the yard, playing with her kids
(ages 3 and 6), and long walks—and she
loves holidays. Her favorite type of music?
“I’m a big fan of music that grooves—if it
grooves, I’m a fan, and that can be anything
from Bach to, you know, Aerosmith or Maroon 5.”
And now that she has settled into the
“groove” of E.O. Smith, it’s clear that she
has been extremely well received. Take it
from chorus president Labib Fasihuddin:
“While it was sad for all of us to see Ms.
Rowe retire, we have been blessed with Mrs.
Hanzlik. Her passion for music and the
success of her students [reflects] the kind of
person and teacher she is and will continue
to be. With her at the reins, the sky is the
limit for the E.O. Smith choral department.”
Mr. Burgess, the band director, agrees: “Mrs.
Hanzlik brings a wealth of choral music
experience to our department. Her passion
for great music and her love of teaching is
contagious and I am really looking forward
to her inaugural concert with our choirs.
We are thrilled to have her at E.O. Smith!”
Depot News
12
Gallery Night at E.O Smith Depot Campus
By Amber Barr
Hello E.O Smith! We recently had a fantastic event that happened at the Depot
Campus. The First Annual Depot Gallery
night took place on October 11, 2012 at
6:30pm. Gallery Night was a huge success;
there was nearly 100% turnout of students
and guests that came to participate! Depot
Students are really starting to progress
towards graduation! Parents, students,
and faculty all left feeling impressed with
students’ completed work and the tight and
positive school community that we have
created.
Gallery night was similar to an Open
House except students were required to
“I think it went well because the students
were engaging and able to respond effectively to questions, so rather than seeing
papers, parents and guests got to see
authentic project work. I also think it went
well, because students were presenting
their work in different advisories, thus
giving guests the opportunity to communicate with students other than those in their
own child’s advisory. I got to meet new
parents and students outside of my advisory, and it gave me the opportunity to see
other students work. Students were able to
get ideas from the other parents, as well as
develop community connections.” Stephen
Hill, Advisor
“It was a success because students were
actively engaging in conversation with parents and visitors. Students also seemed enthusiastic and eager to share their learning.
I received positive feedback from parents
regarding their child’s work and the event
itself.” Shannon Rose, Advisor
Amber Barr
attend and were asked to communicate in
an authentic way with real audiences (other
students and their parents). It was designed
to be a public celebration of student work
here at the Depot. We hoped to create a
sense of community by putting students
in the position to show their work to each
other and other parents. Students felt a
sense of pride in their work because of the
great feedback from other students’ parents. Because the Depot is a highly individualized environment, students were able
Devin Vigue
to see what their peers have been working
on. This event also allowed Depot faculty
to assess the students’ work and progress
since the beginning of the year.
Several guests from E.O. Smith attended,
including Mr. Bayne, Mr. Silva, Ms. Riffle,
and Mrs. LoStocco. We are looking forward to potentially having another Gallery
Night towards the end of this year to show
off finished work, and it will likely be an
event for many years to come.
“I was very proud that all of our students
were prepared for this event, and so many
exceeded our expectations in presenting
their work. It’s always interesting to see
what students will show when asked to
demonstrate their learning – and I can honestly say that I learned some new things
from students at Gallery Night!” Brad
Martin, Director
Brianna Mullady
In conclusion, Gallery Night was a hit for
students, faculty and parents. As a result,
the Depot will plan future opportunities for
students to show their work in a community setting. Stay tuned!
Ryan O’Keefe
“I thought Gallery Night was interesting
because I had the opportunity to see students work. Before Gallery Night I had
no idea what some of the other kids were
doing, but being able to see my peers work
helped me gather more interests for future
internships or research projects.” Taylor
Deschene, Student ‘14
“I think that Gallery Night set the tone for
the rest of the year. I enjoyed the opportunity to see what my peers are doing. I
am proud of the work I am doing here.
The feedback that I got from other parents
helped me get more ideas for what I can
do for the rest of this year. I know that my
mother really enjoyed coming. She enjoyed
seeing all my work and other students’
projects.” Amber Barr, Student ‘14
“Gallery Night let the Depot Campus
definitely be shown in a different light
than most would think; the students gave
Depot a very good name to their parents
and showed that they wanted to be here
by showing off the hard work they have
already done this year.”
Kiona Cortese, Student, ‘13
Dakota Labbe
and his Drift Bike
E.O. Smith students and Bacon Academy Students Discuss;
How are Women Portrayed in the Media?
By Arin Hall
Twenty female students from E.O.Smith
ing things I’ve seen in my entire life. We
and twenty female students from Bacon
watched video clips from Miss RepresentAcademy (along with twenty mentors
ed, and the Dove Commercial campaign.
from the community) came together
on September 18th at the Student
Union on the UCONN campus to
meet together for an empowerment
session. The group is known as
G2G, or Wow-Wow-Woww, and
is the brainchild of Sheila Riffle
of E.O. Smith, Linda Iacobellis of
Bacon Academy and Kathy Fischer
from the UCONN Women’s Cultural Center. During this workshop,
the students were shown exactly
how the world today (mostly media)
G2G Group gathers at UConn for their first meeting
depicts women. It was by far one
of the most beautiful and disturb-
13
We got to share many of the things we
felt towards the way women were depicted,
while also realizing that we are constantly
being hit by the images of what we should
look (or act) like rather than what we truly
are. Between the Bacon Academy Bobcats
and the E.O.Smith Panthers, we were able
to connect on so many different levels,
many of us finding things we had in common with other students, while also bonding and creating newfound friendships. It
all sounds pretty sweet, but it was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to go again.
There are two more workshops planned in
2013.
Around...
...and About
14
Sports
Congratulations to the 2012 CCC Champion Boys and Girls
Cross Country teams and coaches Mick Fitzgerald, Jorge Guerra,
Cassandra Rowett and Greg Tutolo. The Boys captured the CCC
conference meet at Wickham Park and the Girls won the regular
season championship. Well done by both groups!
Congratulations to sophomore swimmer Siobhan Dale. Siobhan
is the CIAC Class M state champion in the 50 free-style. Siobhan
also finished second in the 100 free-style and was a member of the
second place 200 medley relay team along with Kelsey Adamson,
Marysia Borocinska-Begg and Emily Tomanelli. Congratulations
to coaches Karim Mabrouk, Terry Grant and the entire team.
By John DeVecchis
The Boy’s Cross Country team experienced one of their best
seasons in quite a while this year. Led by senior runners Zach Pittman, Jack Phillips, Nathaniel Picard-Busky, Trevon Johnson, and
Marc Trotochaud, the Panthers finished the season with an overall
record of 6-1. The accolades continue for this year’s XC team. On
top of being co-conference champions with Rocky Hill, our boys
finished second in the entire state in Class L. After speaking with
the team, the appreciation of the leadership and experience their
Coach (Fitzgerald) provides for them is extraordinary. On the
season as a whole Graham Turner (Junior) said, “we had a good
season this year and hope to come back stronger than ever next
season”. Although few may recognize it, cross country is a team
sport and requires strong performances from all members. However, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and recognize
the All-Conference runners for E.O. Smith this year. Seniors, Zach
Pittman, Nathaniel Picard-Busky, and Jack Phillips, juniors, Jason
Ball and Kevin Moynihan, and sophomores, Sam Barnes, and Kennedy Bailey.
The Boys’ varsity soccer team has tackled through the adversity
this year. Coach Blomstrann has led his hard-working team to a
respectable record, which we have become so accustomed to here
at E.O. Smith. Senior and captain goalie, Xavier Fegan, has had an
exceptional season stopping nearly every thing that comes his way.
Other senior captain Jorge Delos Santos has developed into a fierce
competitor and a
strong anchor for
the Panthers in
the mid-field. “We
just have to keep
up the hard work
and strive for the
best, and hopefully give a great
performance to
proceed far into
the tournament.
Just need to keep working hard and playing hard” – Jorge Delos
Santos (2013). Filling out the senior class of 2013 are Jacob Hall,
Thomas Giardina, and Abdul Alrukaibawi. Behind all the seasoned
veterans is a young group of energetic underclassmen that promise a bright future for the soccer program. Sophomore Dan Melody, an immense contributor, and defensive specialist JoJo Phillips
played huge roles in the team’s success. “We had some tough times
throughout the season but I commend our senior captains who led
the way keeping the season in tact” – JoJo Phillips (2015). And on
Coach Blomstrann: “Coach puts more into the teams success than
anyone else in the program” – JoJo Phillips.
Sports Records
15
EOS Boys Varsity Cross Country
6-1 Regular Season
7-0 Conference Race
Boys Varsity Cross Country team dominated the regular season
having 5 shut out wins over RHAM, Rockville, Bloomfield, Fermi, and Hartford Public. Zach Pittman, Nathaniel Picard- Busky,
and Jack Phillips (seniors/ captains) propelled the team into
State Opens after securing second place in the Class L Meet.
Nathaniel led the season from the front of the pack.
EOS Girls Varsity Cross Country
7-0 Regular Season
6-1 Conference Race
Girls Varsity Cross Country was undefeated in their regular
season. They secured the season with a win over rivals Tolland.
They had three shut out wins during the season sending them to
conference where they finished Co-Champions. Andrea Ricci and
Miranda Cilfone (seniors/ captains) lead the team in a strong
season.
EOS Girls Varsity Field Hockey
6-8-1
Girls Varsity Field
Hockey came together as a group transforming from a loose
collection of raw
talented individuals
to a cohesive team.
Shannon Bailey,
Suzanne Cayer, and
Dani Wrubel (seniors/ captains) led the team through a challenging season. The
Play For The Cure event raised over $1,100 for the support of
Breast Cancer research. The girls dominated the last home game
against Wethersfield winning 8-0.
EOS Boys Varsity Football
2-5
Boys Football team had a phenomenal 2 game win streak which
was the first time in 7 years. The last time the team did this was
in 2005. Kodey Duplissie, Anothny Dignoti, and Didier Moncion
(seniors/ captains) are lead scorers and strong defense.
EOS Boys Varsity Soccer
6-8-1
Boys Soccer team is working its way to the playoffs. They’re
improving their team chemistry by competing with top teams in
the CCC East by having close games to tough teams like Bloomfield and RHAM. Jorge Delos Santos and Xavier Capo (seniors,
captains) supported the team with leading defense and saves on
goal.
EOS Girls Varsity Soccer
8-6-1
Girls Soccer had a positive record in the season, including dominating wins against Hartford Public 8-0 and Bloomfield 7-0.
Shannon Enright and Karina Larson (captains) hold the team
together, motivating all players to give their all. Megyn Asselin
is the team’s leading scorer. The team has earned a place in the
CIAC tournament.
EOS Girls Varsity Swimming
8-4
Girls Swim Team is having a strong season setting records in
several events. The team is sending multiple swimmers prelims to looking to place in the medley relay. Sarah Swart, Alicia
Kelley, and Ziqi Yao (senior, captains) are leading the team to a
strong finish to the season and do well at state championships.
EOS Girls Varsity Volleyball
13-5
Girls Volleyball team is having a phenomenal season because of
excellent team chemistry. The team is going to state championship after a devastating loss last year. Despite losing a tough
game to Tolland on their senior night, they are ready to win.
Giulia Bambara, Melissa Higley, and Claire Compton (seniors,
captains) are hitting very well this year and will leave the team
in a good light.
Memories of E.O.S. and Future Plans for 2013 Seniors
16
Interviews conducted by Mahnoor Mian
Photos by Christian Schirmer
Interview #1
Name: Kristina Calarese
Birthday: March 9, 1995
M.M.: What was your favorite book from an English class in high
school?
K. C.: Well, I really enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby sophomore
year in Mrs. Baruzzi’s class.
M.M.: What has been your favorite class or who has been your favorite teacher?
K.C.: U.S. history with Mr. Larson sophomore year! He gave us a lot
of really interesting background on the subject!
M.M.: Do you have any plans for after high school?
K.C.: I would like to attend Providence College studying sociology.
M.M.: That’s interesting. How did you pick sociology?
K.C.: Volunteering with exchange students made me really interested
in the study of people, and it’s something I’d like to continue.
M.M.: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
K.C.: I want to live in New England, and I want to be a social worker.
M.M.: What are the craziest things you would love to do in the next
ten years?
K.C.: I want to be the next Taylor Swift! I want to visit Turkey! I
want to be like that guy that jumped from the stratosphere! I want to
go over Niagara Falls in a barrel!
Interview #2
Name: Samantha Malecki
Birthday: November 27, 1995
M.M.: Do you have any plans for after high
school?
S.M.: I would love to go to MIT and major in
math and economics. I would also like to play
softball wherever I go to school.
M.M.: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
S.M.: I want to live in a city in South America! Maybe with a graduate degree and I’ll be really successful and
wealthy! Or I want to live in a million dollar apartment in Manhattan!
I’ll have two dogs--Princess will be a miniature poodle, and Phoenix
will be a golden retriever!
M.M.: If you could be anything in the next ten years, what would
you do?
S.M.: I will be the first woman to win a Nobel prize in economics!
M.M.: What has been your favorite memory from E.O. Smith?
S.M.: We were in New York City for Model UN with three of my
good friends and we went out after our late night committee session
for frozen yoghurt and went back to our hotel room and we watched
Say Yes to the Dress for a long time!
M.M.: What has been your favorite part of senior year so far?
S.M.: Coming in to school at 9:30 and leaving by 1:00!
Interview #3
Name: Christian Schirmer
Birthday: April 9, 1995
M.M.: What has been your favorite part of
senior year so far?
C.S.: The freedoms and privileges that it comes
with. The accomplishment of surviving the
first three years!
M.M.: What were the hardest classes?
C.S.: Ad Chem, AP computer science, World
Civ.
M.M.: Who have been your favorite teachers?
C.S.: Frau, Ms. Lovejoy, Dr. Green, Heafey, Mrs. Tambouri- there are
so many teachers I liked, I could list so many more!
M.M.: What has been the hardest part of senior year?
C.S.: College stuff
M.M.: Do you any advice for current juniors?
C.S.: Figure out what you want to do and where you want to go for
college because it all gets really hectic and confusing. And start your
senior project over the summer.
M.M.: Do you have any plans for after high school?
C.S.: UConn EUROTECH program. It’s a five year program offering
a dual Bachelor’s degree in German and engineering where you study
engineering abroad for a year.
M.M.: How did you make this decision?
C.S.: I learned about it when I was taking an engineering class and
since I like German, I thought the program would suit me well.
M.M.: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
C.S.: I don’t know. A lot can happen between now and then. So this
may be optimistic, but I’d like to become fluent in German and work
for an engineering firm in Germany--Ja! After a few years in the
engineering field I would probably go back for a Master’s in Germany--why not!
M.M.: What have been your favorite memories or parts of E.O.
Smith?
C.S.: So, it was around the holidays junior year, and the Chamber
singers were warming up near the superintendent’s office. They were
singing Silent Night and I happened to walk by. I was walking to my
bus and I just heard around three seconds but it was glorious. The
music was amazing and it was great to see everyone’s smiling faces! I
will never forget this memory!
Interview #4
Name: Caitlin Briody
Birthday: June 7, 1995
M.M.: What has been your favorite part of senior
year so far?
C.B.: There’s pride in being a senior and the confidence that comes with that knowledge
M.M.: What were the hardest classes?
C.B.: Ad Physics, World Civ, Pre-calc
M.M.: Who have been your favorite teachers?
C.B.: Mr. Luft, Mrs. Archibald, Mr. Mingrone
M.M.: What has been the hardest part of senior year?
C.B.: Trying to figure out how to get into college. It’s hard to figure
out what I want to do and then the application process can be extremely overwhelming.
M.M.: Do you any advice for current juniors?
C.B.: Don’t be like me and put things off. Now’s the time to start prioritizing and putting your energy into things you really care about.
M.M.: Do you have any plans for after high school?
C.B.: I have too many plans! There are a lot of things I would try.
I’d like to try being a performer, I like to travel a lot but not so much
that it disrupts having a life. I want to do weird things like skydiving
and just going on adventures in general. I’ll probably go to UConn
for financial reasons.
M.M.: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
C.B.: Hopefully I’ll be saving the world in some way! I don’t really
care what exact city I live in as long as I’m around nice people! I don’t
know! I love New York; I’d like to try living there but I don’t know if
that’s where I would want to stay my whole life.
M.M.: Are there any specific places you want to visit?
C.B.: I would love to visit Italy, Austria, Australia, somewhere in
South America, Hawaii, China, and maybe Egypt!
M.M.: What have been your favorite memories or parts at E.O.
Smith?
C.B.: I went to Austria in the summer after freshman year. It was a
great experience. I also really like doing drama. My favorite production so far has been Brother’s Grimm because we were able to get
really creative and silly in our rehearsals!
M.M.: What’s the craziest things you plan to do in the next ten
years?
C.B.: I plan to be on Broadway. I plan to solve world hunger. I plan to
find a cure for cancer just because Christian told me to. I’m going to
learn guitar, memorize the dictionary, and be on Jeopardy. I’m going
to climb Mt. Everest and have my own clothing line. I’m going to
be president, secretary of state, and drive an ice cream truck. All at
once. I’m going to go skydiving and cliff diving and scuba diving and
dumpster diving. I’m going to figure out the meaning of the universe
and have some really fun parties.