From the Other Side Internet Safety Serious Writers On Campus

THE
“The Voice of
the Abbey”
December 2008
BEACON
Portsmouth Abbey
School
Portsmouth, RI
(401) 683-2000
portsmouthabbey.org
Volume 8, Issue 2
Serious Writers On Campus
Gabriela Gutierrez
Staff Writer
When I was first assigned to write about the “serious writers” on campus I had no idea that there were three people on campus who had already written a book or were
in the processes of writing one. Before I set out to write this article, I knew Sara Munda, Darren Colbourne, and Frankie Pagliaro in much the same way most of you know them,
as dedicated Abbey students. What I unearthed in these interviews were three passionate writers who use writing as a creative outlet. In these interviews, I addressed the basic
questions of why, when, and how these “serious writers” started writing a book. And if there is one thing I learned about these students, it is that they all write about everyday
things that catch their attention and that they love to write because they love to read.
Darren
Darren Colbourne, the Third Form Diman Scholar,
is currently writing a militaristic fiction book entitled
Sub Zero. In his novel, Darren features three sub-plots all
functioning at the same time. He tunes the reader into the life
of Allen, a sixteen-year-old runaway who has illegally joined
the military; a Chinese diplomat in military control of China;
and group of scientists in Antarctica who find themselves
in a very privileged position when they discover plutonium,
uranium, and oil under the Antarctic shelf.
Sub Zero is Darren’s first novel. Although he has
always enjoyed writing, he has never written a book--which
raises the question, why start writing a book? Darren began
this novel simply because one day he got bored. He cranked
out twenty pages that first day and kept them all. From that
day on, this project has occupied his free time, which he
admitted was not much at the Abbey. In fact, one of his major
problems in writing this book has been finding the time to
do it, especially without any distractions. Inspiration comes
in bursts; however, since his book is militaristic fiction a lot
of his inspiration comes from the news--especially political
debates—but mostly from the books he reads.
DARREN, Pg. 4
Sara
Sara Munda is a Fifth Former who has written three
books. The first she wrote when she was eleven years old as
a kind of response to the Jurassic Park craze going on at the
time. The second book she wrote right before she came to
Portsmouth Abbey, and she finished it during her Third Form
year. Sara confessed that out of all the books she’s written, she
feels best about her second book.
This sci-fi novel takes place in the future somewhere
around the year 2040. A company manufactures clones for
people as an ultimate insurance policy for them if and when
they get sick and need extra parts. But, unfortunately, this
company goes out of business, and the people who have clones
are left with the choice of either keeping them as part of the
family or putting them down. The book is about a family that
chooses to keep the clone they made for their son. The clone
befriends the father in a way that his actual son hadn’t been
able to do, and the story is about the growth of the relationship
between the clone and the father. Tragedy then strikes when
the actual son gets sick and the family has to choose between
the life of the actual son and the life of the clone, who at this
point has become part of the family.
SARA, Pg. 4
Frank
Frank Pagliaro is in the process of writing two books.
Both books are realistic historical fiction, and they deal with
the issue of organized crime in America. He began writing his
first book during March break of his Third Form year right after
finishing his history paper. This book focuses on the disorganized
Irish Group in America. However, that book hit a wall at around
one hundred and ten pages, but it is stored and ready for when
the time to finish it comes. The second book is his main project,
and it concentrates on the Italian “Cosa Nostra.”
When Frank starts writing a book, he has a beginning,
middle, and end planned, but he is left to develop the real meat
of the book. A lot of the inspiration for his books comes from
other works he has read. Inspiration also manifests itself in
various art forms like paintings, sculpture, movies, and they each
inspire him in different ways. Because his books are historical
fiction, his stories benefit from devising a time line, which forces
him to look at different aspects of the story that he had never
contemplated before. The details in his books also come from
people and instances in his own life. Frank uses friends, family,
and situations that he has experienced to create characters and
anecdotes in his books that push the story along.
FRANK, Pg. 4
Internet From the Other Side
Safety
Frank Pagliaro
Staff Writer
As of January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th
President of the United States of America. He won the election on November
4 by a margin of 365 to 162, an incredible landslide and a clear mandate
from the American people. It was almost a given that, in light of the massive
failure of the stock market during the administration of George W. Bush, a
Republican, a Democrat would be the next to take control, as that would be
the seemingly easiest way to implement the “change” that Americans seem
to be so desperately searching for. Although it may be up for debate whether
President-elect Obama could actually be called a Democrat or if his proper
definition is as a socialist, there is no doubt that a hard-core liberal will be
our next president. While this is disconcerting to some, including me, the
historical significance and the ultimate need for support of the president-elect
is not something that can be denied.
It is troubling to me that all I really need to do to become President is
be a junior Senator for three years, write a few books about myself, and learn
to speak in an eloquent fashion. It is troubling to me that our next President
has the most liberal voting record in the Senate. It is troubling to me that he
has talked about how to execute the “redistribution of wealth” and that his
wife, while speaking on his behalf, said that in order for everyone to enjoy
“the pie” that is American prosperity, some people will have to “give up a
piece of theirs.” Unfortunately, it sounds a lot like socialism to me—not the
capitalism that Americans hold near and dear. I am sorry that we will soon
have a President who is in favor of increasing the capital gains tax, who
associates with such shady characters as Jeremiah Wright, Franklin Raines,
Tim Howard, and Jim Johnson, and who said that he has been to “57 states.”
I am also sorry to see a president come to power who advocates cutting taxes
for families making less than $250,000 a year and yet votes for a budget
that raises taxes on single people with a taxable income of over $32,000 (as
Obama did in June of this year), who supports giving driver’s licenses to
illegal immigrants, and whose natural-born status in the United States is up for
debate. But these are all moot points now.
Dohyon Kim and
Kathryn Yao
On December 5, 2008, Katie LeClerc, an
internet analyst, gave an important lecture on internet
safety to Abbey students. She discussed many issues
that affect teens today.
With the internet becoming a more significant part of students’ lives every day, they are forced
to consider the idea that colleges now pay immense
amounts of money to online communities like Facebook. From there, they determine whether the student
is suitable or not for a position at their college.
Dr. and Mrs. Bonin posed a question to their
advisees concerning their Facebook pages: “Is your
profile something you would feel comfortable showing your parents?” If not, they suggested reconsidering what they were posting on their pages.
She also warned of cyber predators that
many young, unsuspecting teens fall victim to during
their time spent on and off of the internet. Countless
felonies have been committed, and many have suffered the consequences of the results.
Although the internet can be a valuable resource, Ms. LeClerc warns Abbey students to
be cautious with what they decide to post on a site, or
who they choose to converse with. She left students
with a valuable and informative quote: “The internet
doesn’t make you stupid. It just makes your stupidity
more accessible to others.”
FROM THE OTHER SIDE, Pg. 4
Relationships at the Abbey
Field Hockey
Page 7
Page 3
Page 3
Evert Lecture
2
Newsworthy
From the other Side
(Continued from Page 1)
It is undeniable that Barack Obama has flexed his intellectual and oratorical muscle and proved to the world that is a very intelligent man. His abilities have led to an historic event;
I would be remiss if I failed to mention that Barack Obama will be the first African-American President of the United States. This is a monumental happening in this nation’s history. It was
a mere 150 years ago that blacks were still subjected to the indescribably horrible, immoral and inhumane institution of slavery. Just 53 years ago, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery,
Alabama, because of her famous refusal to move to the back of the bus. The lynching of Michael Donald by the KKK in Mobile, Alabama, was only 27 years ago. The fact that a black man
has become the President truly shows how far we’ve come. By no means are all African-Americans on an equal footing with whites in America today—but this is certainly a big step in the
right direction.
The fact of the matter is this: as of this January, Barack Obama is the leader of the free world. He is the President of the United States of America. He has a war going in Iraq, as well
as war against terror that is going on across the globe. He has a failing economy on his hands and a record-setting debt to deal with. He has people in many parts of the world who would like
nothing more than to see him dead. What he needs now is the support of his people. He needs the citizens of America behind him, strong and supportive. America needs to rediscover the
meaning of the words “United We Stand.” This is not to say that America needs to support every single legislative measure that he pushes or agree with every point he makes. Not only is that
dangerous and foolhardy, but also ludicrous and, quite frankly, impossible. Would John McCain have made a better president? I certainly believe so. But do I know that for sure? No. Now
it is time to give President-elect Obama the opportunity to lead. The Republican Party lost a surprising amount of seats in the Senate and House. There are 55 Democrats to 40 Republicans in
the Senate and 255 Democrats to 175 Republicans in the House of Representatives. With the scales tipped towards the political left, President-elect Obama will have a real chance at effecting
the “change” he has advocated so ferociously and articulately. The tables are set for either enormous success or enormous failure. It’s up to him.
Party Division, America’s Poison
Daniel Caplin
Staff Writer
th
United we stand, divided we fall. On November 4 , the people voted for Senator Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. As the opposing party scowls and reels at
his arrival at the White House, the principles that this country was built on slowly die.
I woke up on a cold morning seeking warmth from the prestigious Fox news. As I sat sipping a caffeinated beverage, Bill O’Reilly and Barney Frank began bickering, pointing fingers as
to which party was to blame for the economic crisis. I sat there in utter disgust, wondering as to what our forefathers would say when facing a despicable spectacle such as this.
The Revolutionary War needed a spark to motivate the colonies to rebel, and it was through assembly and unity that we found our spark. Unity gave the men and women of the
13 original colonies the strength to win the revolution, and create a Constitution to govern our fair states. In these dark times, why can’t we unite, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as
Americans?
The division into party systems was inevitable, since there are at least two sides to every argument, and a respective political party for each side. Although at first it seemed to be a
simple concept, it evolved into a social quandary of right and wrong, causing a great amount of aversion to appear in society. This dislike has come to the point where people disagree with one
another, and then go on to attack the other’s morals and integrity, accusing the opposition of frivolity and dishonesty. I find it unlikely that our forefathers would approve of such mindlessness,
but it is a regular occurrence.
I overheard one squabble not too long ago. The two people in question barked back and forth about their candidate and their qualifications as to why they should be president. I was
then taken aback to hear one of the men yell, “Are you kidding me? Do you honestly believe this?” as if the person should be ashamed for upholding their beliefs. Party division has made us
dim-witted animals, poisoned by an ideal created by parties that must attack the very core of an opponent’s beliefs, and make them feel as if what they believe is sinful.
Our ideological tendencies lead us to fight for what we believe in, but that does not mean we should be squabbling in such a way that we will be conducting ourselves in a barbaric
manner. We should listen to our opposing party members and try to agree or compromise with them, or better yet, absolve the party system completely. The shared intent of Hamilton and
Jefferson in forming their respective parties was indeed righteous and justified, but it has turned into something completely different.
Government was made to deliberate; the system of checks and balances was formulated for this purpose, but to dispute internally within each branch of government is unreasonable.
As the worlds’ superpower, we must conduct ourselves in a way that indicates to our fellow nations that we believe in what this country was built on: unity. Keeping this in mind, when Presidentelect Obama assumes his position in the White House on January 20th, we must let our fellow nations know that we fully support this man. To divide is to be foolish; our free nation was founded
on the principle of unity, and as my favorite President (William McKinley) once said, “The free man cannot be an ignorant man.”
New Voters
Sixth Former Libby Sacco, now legally able
to vote, casts her first presidential ballot in
Barrington, RI
Having just received his American citizenship,
Mr. Clarence Chenoweth votes in his first
election for President of the United States.
Collegitis
Lilli Donahue
Staff Writer
A plague has taken over the lives of Sixth Formers, Fifth Formers, some Fourth formers and even Third Formers… Collegitis has struck! With Facebook groups such as “I know it’s
a touchy subject…but where did you get in?” on daily news feeds and add-ons on the side bar for “your chances” of getting into any college listed, this obsession distresses many students and
parents who believe that their children’s future depends on from where they receive their degree. This belief has been strengthened and made even more present in today’s society with all of
these books on how to “get into college”, “start young for your future”, etc. Some parents have even laid out four-year-plans (some longer) for their children with the end goal of getting into a
certain Ivy League or other Elite college.
From book sales to application fees, the college process has become a profiting industry. Best-seller books guarantee that if you follow their flawless instructions, you will get into your
dream school. Then there are private college counselors that can be hired to help instead of the high schools’ free college counseling program. They capitalize on being able to make your child
stand out on paper. They can tell you how many community hours you should do and what other activities you should participate in to best pad your application. This unfair advantage often
does work, as examples in my own school have shown.
Professional writing assistants have become the new antidote to Collegitis. They can help you write that immaculate essay, making you look
confident, not cocky. Then there is the lucrative SAT and ACT prep industry. This is the most popular prescription to Collegitis. These
test prep courses taught by groups such as Kaplan and The Princeton Review will guarantee a boost to your score, for a fee. However,
these classes are often taught in large groups and by a single teacher (two if you are lucky, or if your group is really big). Next there is
the private SAT and ACT tutor who guarantee that they can get you to a certain score level and who can charge as much as $100 an hour
and often more depending on the tutor’s reputation.
Most students did SAT/ACT studying in their junior years and in the beginning of senior years. But these days, it is more
common to begin as a freshman because of the raised expectations and the buzz these scores have created. They have mutated into makeor-break tests, overshadowing your high GPA, leadership positions and accumulated community service hours. The hope is that if you
practice often, you will become comfortable with the test and find all the patterns, hints and best ways to answer. For some students, SAT/
ACT prep can be a part of daily life with some businesses text messaging or emailing a person the “SAT/ACT Test Prep Question of the
Day.”
But what happens to the students who don’t have the financial resources to cure themselves of Collegitis? Should a lack of money
really keep them at a disadvantage from their peers? Should their scores and chances at college be ruined by not having access these
luxuries-made-necessities?
Many students who do have the advantage of these luxuries have been heard groaning and complaining about how they cannot
go out and hang with their friend because their parents are “forcing” them to take an SAT course that day. With the noted privilege of SAT
tutoring and the benefits and results it promises it can produce, students, in a way, lose something. Those that are constantly being tutored
actually miss out on many of those high school memories and events.
With parents, faculty, and other students constantly talking about college on a daily basis, Collegitis is hard to ignore or hide from.
With advertisements in magazines, information mail in your mailbox and Facebook groups all about applying to college, Collegitis has become
a big part of high school students’ and their parent’s lives. How can one ignore the obvious reality of Collegitis?
Is it really the student who wants it? The parents? The faculty and guidance counselors? Who wants it the most? Everyone seems to
benefit from a good acceptance letter. The student gets to boast that they got into “that” college, the parents get to boast that their child got into
“that” college and the faculty and college guidance counselors get to say they were influential in this student getting accepted into “that” college.
Students often talk about where their parents and siblings went to college thinking that they will have legacy on their side. There are those students who grew up in specific colleges’
apparel, usually a parents’ Alma Mater, thinking about and planning to attend this specific school. They have the bumper sticker on the car and the family friend recommendations. But what
happens when that child grows up, plans do not work out the way they were supposed to and the student gets rejected from that college? Who is to blame? The students GPA, and SAT scores?
Did they not do enough community service or extra-curriculars?
Collegitis has become a permanent disease, and I do not know what to do. If there is someone with a cure, please let me know before it gets any worse.
3
Abbey Life
relationships at the abbey
Susan Skakel
Staff Writer
“Can you believe they did that in the Annex?”
Everyone has heard this sort of phrase yelled across campus, whispered in the halls or shouted in dorm rooms. The question that remains after you know they did that is whether or not
you’re surprised by it. What kind of community does the Abbey foster? Does it practice what it preaches? And does it teach abstinence or chastity? Is there a difference? Ultimately, does the
Abbey give its students the prospect of and occasion for being chaste, abstinent, or promiscuous?
Some think that the Abbey proffers a façade of abstinence, not chastity. This assumes that abstinence is defined as saying “no” to sex for, almost, purely the purpose of saying no. It
is saying “no” without almost any morality behind the matter. Chastity, alternately, is defined as not participating in sexual activities as a result of deep thinking about the matter, although not
necessarily for religious reasons. Chastity is saying “no” because this “no” is a means to an end, which is the essential spiel of Jason Everett, the speaker of a few weeks ago.
“Despite the pretense that the Abbey is an abstinent community, what with the religious presence on campus, there is a strong undercurrent of promiscuity defined by off-color and
casual remarks by certain faculty,” says Betsy Waring. Dan Flanigan, on the other hand, thinks the Abbey is only promiscuous in appearance: “The Abbey is shown at first as a promiscuous
environment in that there is coed boarding, but that aside it really promotes and offers a chaste community.”
Opinions on this issue vary into extremes. Some think that the Abbey offers too abstinent an environment. “The Abbey is only abstinent, no one here partakes in sexual activities,” says
Kelly Coffin. At the other extreme, and in the same room, Janice Kim reports that “the Abbey is definitely promiscuous and is so different from my home country.”
As for other foreign opinions, Claudia Vollmer, a native of Venezuela, contributes similarly with “nothing is private here, there are no secrets and all sexual activities are done out in the
open. This is entirely different from my own country where I wouldn’t know anything about anyone in my school except for my closest friends.”
Some think that promiscuity varies between the sexes. “The boys are more chaste and abstinent while the girls are more promiscuous,” says Janaina Yael Pivatto-Corbin. Sarah Taddei
agrees, and remarks that this might be because “the boys are forced to think about it because it is on their mind all the time while the girls don’t really need to.”
The majority of opinions is that both the male and female students at the Abbey are promiscuous. Promiscuity is defined here as actual sex or serious actions towards sex. It also
encompasses continuous talk of sex, which ultimately makes sex not sacred at all because it becomes “common.”
Both Joe Mitchell and Parker Barry, without hesitation, say that the Abbey is “probably promiscuous.” David Garvey errs on a slightly more lenient line saying that “although the
Abbey is not promiscuous, it definitely is not completely abstinent or chaste.” Alicia Turner says, “How can a place be chaste or abstinent when I know people openly participate in sexual
activities on the campus?”
Alicia’s point brings up another question: Why is the Abbey, despite the obvious religious influence, a
promiscuous environment according to most people? An anonymous girl gives an insight into the subject: “Because there
are so many places to go on campus and the level of excitement is heightened by the thought of getting caught, it is hard
to not want to hook up.”
This brings up another good question: does coed boarding always leave room for promiscuous behavior?
The real answer lies in how many people “take” to Jason Everett’s speech and how many really related. A new
Third Former, Tarryn Murphy, was profoundly affected: “I really liked what he was saying; it gave me a new perspective
on a lot of things, and I signed a chastity card.” However, many people were not as positively affected, such as Betsy
Waring. “I really felt the speech simply skated over many different issues on the subject,” says Betsy. Another skeptic,
Janaina Yael Pivatto-Corbin, says that the speech “implied that there is only one person that you can love, and I really
don’t believe that.” Miss Lee, finally, offers the perspective of a former student at the Abbey: “The speech reminded me
of a speech that I received as a Sixth Former about drugs. The people that are open will take to it and the people that
aren’t won’t take to it.”
Ultimately, how the Abbey is perceived--chaste, abstinent, or promiscuous--must be on a case-by-case basis.
The fact that a significant portion of the Abbey is religious seems to have no bearing on the community, proved by the
majority of students’ affirmations that the Abbey is promiscuous. The question then must be asked: are the students at
fault, the blame falling entirely on hormonal rage and passion – or is the Abbey, as an administration, at fault, for giving
Ola Wojdakowska and Pat Lohuis
occasion for students to partake in sexual activities on campus in places like the Annex?
Evert Lecture
Salome Wilfred
Staff Writer
I was confident Jason Evert’s presence at this school would
be about as successful as Joe Gallagher’s onstage impersonation of
Trixie. To my amazement, his lecture was not an utter pile of undefined
junk. Just as surprisingly, all the people I talked to thought the same.
Some were even crazy enough to say they “loved it” in public. Evert’s
motive was not to go in front of us to spit out the same old attempt at
convincing us that sex is bad and we should not do it, but rather tell us
why we should wait: for the betterment of ourselves.
Since the age of fourteen, I have received chastity lectures on a
consistent basis. If not from my mother, it was from my Sunday school
teacher at church. I appreciated this and wanted to be passionate about
waiting, but never really understood why. Their lectures consisted
of telling horror stories, reporting statistics and trying to convince
us basically that “sex is bad, sex is dirty, sex is bad.” They never
actually told us why we should wait, only try to scare us into waiting.
Jason Evert went in front of us not to lecture, but in a sense to hold
a conversation with us. He did, of course, give statistics, but he also
offered a plethora of Biblical evidence: “Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her
holy,” along with other, more culturally relevant references for why we
should wait.
But, of course, the lecture had its flaws. Evert focused mainly
on the males and pointed out their faults. He seemed to victimize the
girls, almost to a point of making me feel like a lost, helpless puppy.
He relentlessly talked about how much girls are pressured and how
often they feel forced, never considering the idea that at times it is the
girl pressuring; sometimes, girls just do not want to say “no” – like, for
instance, in “Sic Transit Gloria … Glory Fades” by Brand New:
Letters to the Editors
Kathryn, Sara:
Congrats on a very nice first edition of the Beacon. I read it over quickly this morning and will read it in detail as
I am traveling to Asia on Tuesday
Dr. DeVecchi
Headmaster
I just wanted to congratulate you all on a job well done! Having worked on my high school newspaper, my
college newspaper, served as a newspaper advisor, and having worked at a local Spanish newspaper, I would like
to commend you all on a fantastic edition of the paper! I know what a daunting task creating a paper can be! The
format and writing were outstanding! It was a pleasure to read all of your articles. I sincerely look forward to the
next edition.
Mr. David Allard
Modern Language Department
Re-discovering the
Radio Show
Kristin Harper
Guest Contributor
I have recently found out that only a small number of students at the Abbey know about our radio station!
That’s unfortunate, as it’s one of the Abbey’s most unique qualities. The station itself is hidden well away, and looks
like it’s just small dark closet next to the computer lab and the physics classroom. But it holds so much more than an
ordinary closet.
When I walk in the station, I am immediately transported back in time. Records are stacked on the shelves,
tape
decks
scattered around here and there, and a few of the posters display bands I haven’t even heard of. There is
“He is the lamb, she is the slaughter.
a
binder
in
there (somewhere) which lists all of the old radio shows students had and what songs they played, all the
She’s moving way too fast and all he wanted was to hold her.
way
back
in
the 60’s! It was a big deal back then. People used to listen during Study Hall, conference, and call in on
Nothing that he tells her is really having an effect.
the
weekends.
It used to be hard to get a show. Now, unless you have friends who are involved, no one you know
He whispers that he loves her, but she’s probably only looking for seprobably
even
listens to WJHD 90.7 Portsmouth Abbey School Radio.
So much more than he could ever give.
When
our show rolls around, I hunt down Bob to get the key, bring along a stack of the best CD’s, and my
A life free of lies and a meaningful relationship.
friend
brings
a
notepad
of ideas that we have had during the week. We sit down, turn the playlist off (courtesy of
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides.
Pauline.
Thanks
Pauline!),
turn the microphones on, and start our show. Sometimes people notice that the mysteriHe waits for it to end
ous
closet
in
the
Science
Building
has a light on and they look in. We’ve had a few listeners who have called in. But
and for the aching in his guts to subside.”
not many people know what we are doing in there. We sit around, listening to music and usually laughing our heads
off at some joke one of us just made. Last time, we had a whole conversation without noticing that we had left the
Girls pressuring boys may not be as common as boys pressuring girls,
but its prevalence is increasing. And persistently being told that the main microphones one, causing it to be broadcasted! Oops. It’s fun just hanging out, waiting to be on the air, listening to
good music.
reason females have sex is because of the lack of love they received
So if you get a chance, turn on your radio every once in a while and tune it to 90.7 FM. Or, if you’d rather,
from their father or because of peer pressure gives us an easy scapegoat you
can
start
your own show. You’ve got the music, because Pauline always puts the newest NOW CD into the comwhen, in the end, to have sex or not is our choice. puter.
And
you
have the opportunity, because many of the older students who had shows have graduated. You have
Overall, the lecture was commendable, valuable, and exposed
the
equipment,
and it’s really easy to learn how to use it all. The CD player works. The switchboard, while maybe
many things. Its influence was clearly shown throughout the student
lacking
a
few
labels,
works and is easy to use. And it truly is fun.
body through the dance later in the week. In attempts to not look like
the bear scratching his butt against a pole, people found numerous new
MONDAY: Ben Lynn (6pm)
intriguing ways to boogie.
TUESDAY: Keith Hong (9:30pm)
WEDNESDAY: Alex Gallo (9:30pm)
Leo Makowski (6pm)
Gabby Fontes and Steph Waterman (4:30pm)
THURSDAY: Kyle Moriarty (conference period)
Radu Florescu and Davin Cooke (6:30pm)
FRIDAY: Kristin Harper and Natasha Hidalgo (6pm)
SATURDAY: John Beletsky (1pm)
SUNDAY: Salome Wilfred and Tessa Condon (5pm)
4
Abbey Life
Face Poll
Horace Allen
Photo Editor
If you can come back as someone, who would it be?
Darren
His favorite genre is realistic militaristic fiction. He enjoys the authors Dan Brown and John Grisno. Even though ideas come in
bursts, Darren has a method to his writing. When he starts to write he has a beginning and an end in mind. From there he fills in the
middle of the book by writing an outline for each chapter. For Darren, writing is definitely a hobby, a chance to expend his creative
energy.
Sara
Kate Skakel: Mr.C
Laura Medeiros: Hannah Montana
Joe Gallagher: Denzel Washington
(Cont’d from Page 1)
(Cont’d from Page 1)
Sara wrote this book to explore the moral implications that went into cloning, a topic she felt that popular sci-fi books and
movies seemed to ignore. She wrote her third book this summer. This book, essentially a love story, is set in 400 AD Britain and
features a magic parallel world.
These three books all seem very different, but the process and the inspiration for each was the same. When Sara begins
to write she already has a blueprint for the beginning and middle of the book. The only thing that is missing is the end, which she
admits is a “real pain” because the end can really ruin a book and it’s tough to get it just right. In addition to the popular themes
of the times--like her dinosaur and sci-fi books--a lot of the material for her books emerges from everyday life. Sara possesses the
unique ability to take routine things and translate them into details for a story. This means she is never dry of ideas because ideas
are all around her. For her characters, however, she models them mostly after herself or archetypes she recognizes from other
books; as is the case with all writers, inspiration comes from her reads. Sara confesses that writing a book is pretty taxing time
wise. However, she was homeschooled for much of her primary education, so she found the time to write her first book at home.
When she came to the Abbey, time was not so abundant. Even though the Abbey keeps her too busy to write, there is no denying
that writing is what Sara loves to do. She would love to write as a profession but, in her opinion, “becoming a professional writer is
like winning the lottery;” it isn’t for everyone, and it definitely isn’t bankable.
Frank
(Cont’d from Page 1)
Frank has always loved to write. He started writing these books because he had a myriad of ideas floating around in his
head, and he thought it would be great to write them down so that he could have something tangible in his hand, something that
he could go back and revise later. Now writing has become a habit. He writes for ten to twenty minutes every day. He doesn’t
keep everything he writes, in fact he will sometimes trash a whole days worth of writing. But it helps to write every day in order
to keep the story fresh in his mind. Yes, there are some days when he doesn’t want to write, but really it’s just at first because
once he sits down and gets going he remembers how much he loves writing, and he realizes there is nothing else he would rather
be doing. Writing is Frank’s passion and “to have one of his books published would be a dream come true,” as would becoming
a professional writer; but, like Sara, he doesn’t think that writing is a very practical career, so he is currently exploring his other
career opportunities.
May Love Burn Forever
Mike Popham: Doc Brown from Back to the
Future
Eloise Andry
Staff Writer
On June 21, 2008, Ms. Kelly Christopher (a.k.a. Ms. Chris) married Mr. Pete Reiser. Their beautiful wedding on Cathedral
Ledge overlooked the majestic Mount Washington Valley in North Conway, New Hampshire. Forty-five minutes before Ms. Chris
walked down the trail which served as their aisle, the rain clouds of the morning cleared, leaving a gorgeous blue sky. As Ms. Chris
walked the trail to Annie’s Song, played by Mr. Reiser’s high school friend on the acoustic guitar, the best dog, Riley, began to
bark. Dressed up in a bowtie, Riley could not understand why he had to stand with the groomsmen. Luckily for Ms. Chris, Riley’s
antics prevented her from tearing up. In total, 115 people attended. As a bridesmaid, Ms. Carter represented Portsmouth Abbey
during the ceremony.
Ben Theriault: Bo or Luke Duke
Kwasi Ayim: The White Power Ranger
The reception took place at the base of Cranmore Mountain in a ski resort. The guests ate delicious barbeque and the
wedding cake was decorated with a cowboy and cowgirl, complete with the hats and boots standing beside a cactus. The Reisers
wanted to “celebrate with family and friends in a comfortable and casual environment.” With the band Barefoot Truth playing, an
outdoors ceremony, and the exceptional cake decorations, the wedding allowed the Reisers to share their love of the outdoors with
friends and family. The couple followed tradition by sharing their first dance together to My Best Friend by Tim McGraw, and
then dancing with their parents. However, they put a spin on tradition when Mr. Reiser surprised the new Mrs. Reiser with a gift of
matches with the words “may love burn forever” etched on the box--reminder of how they met on Match .com. The entire wedding
party participated by lighting a match as Mr. Reiser held a sparkler. Their wedding achieved its goal in reflecting who the Reisers
are as a couple, and fulfilled its motto of being “fun and personal with personality.”
Third Form Girls’ Retreat
Kelly Coffin: Jesus
Felipe Vicini: Vito Corleone
Frank Pagliaro: Mickey Mantle
Sarah Auer
Staff Writer
On Saturday, November 1st, I and 34 other Third Form girls left the Abbey turnaround for an exciting weekend at a retreat center in Dover, Massachusetts. The twenty-four hour stay consisted of riveting talks by Mrs. Zelden and Mr. Hodes, as well
as peaceful prayer led by Father Paschal. Topics included femininity and the question of how to build a future and where exactly
to start. “It really made you think about subjects that are important,” says Jesse Bessinger. Though we found the large establishment to be overwhelming at first, we settled in and enjoyed the vast property and participated in a scavenger hunt Sunday morning. We spent time in the retreat center’s beautiful chapel Sunday: a few hours in silence, reflecting on things that had occurred in
our lives, and then we had confession.
The weekend proved to be an enjoyable time, full of bonding and inspirational talks that left us with lots to think about
after we returned Sunday night. Courtney Macomber admits that “even though I had to miss a dance, I’m glad I went because I
got to know my classmates a lot better.”
Third Form Boys’ Retreat
Sidharth Sharma
Staff Writer
Brendan Hammatt: Jack Johnson
Billy Papp: Bob Marley
The other weekend, I boarded the bus at the turn-around with the rest of the boys in my class for our Third Form retreat.
Dire warnings from the people who experienced last year’s retreats were filling my ears. Thankfully, what I had heard previously
about long hours of prayer, having to write about our feelings, and terrible food was somewhat negated by my female classmates’
positive descriptions of their retreat from the previous week. The other boys and I would have to see for ourselves what to think
of the retreat.
When we finally got there (we were late by an hour or so), I was immediately impressed at the sheer size and grandeur
of the retreat center. Walking through a secret door behind a bookcase, we encountered a vast library, our own rooms, and a
well-stocked hospitality suite with food, comfortable couches, and games. We assembled in the chapel and began the retreat with
prayers led by Fr. Paschal, followed by a thought-provoking talk by Mr. Hodes. We were asked questions that made us think
about who we are, where we wanted to be, and where we wanted to go.
To follow up on the talk, we brought out pillows and settled down to watch a movie, The Neverending Story, which
really never ended. Though the movie was a cheesy film from the 80’s, it delivered a clear message about personal happiness.
Halfway through the film, Mr. Hodes let us go to bed if we wanted. I, along with a few others, remained despite the late hour, not
only to laugh at the corny effects and bad acting, but to get the full retreat experience.
The next day brought another talk from Mr. Zelden as a follow-up to what Mr. Hodes had spoken about the previous
night. We then participated in a scavenger hunt that took us around campus looking for stone pineapples and Greek letters; the
prize was a gift card to the coffeehouse down the road from the Abbey. Afterwards, we had free time interspersed with lectures
from Mr. Hodes, a film about God, confession with Fr. Paschal (if we wished) and finally, Mass. At last, we packed our things,
stocked up on a few sodas from the hospitality suite, and headed back to the Abbey.
All in all, I had a great time at the retreat. If a Third Former asks me next year what I thought of it, like I’ve asked
Fourth Formers this year, I will definitely tell them the retreat was a moving experience.
5
Abbey Life
Dancing Queens
Ms. Corie McDermott
Guest Contributor
Aching muscles. Hours of practice. Split toes. Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” On November 15thand 16th a term’s worth
of hard work paid off and marked the Abbey’s inaugural grand jeté into the dance world. The new program, fostering an art
that fuses grueling physical labor with passionate aesthetic expression, is a far cry from the chaotically, uncoordinated flailing
displayed at typical Tuck dances. No, our new dance program demands dedication and discipline so that its members have the
skills and confidence to demonstrate their athleticism, flexibility and balance with rhythm...on stage! In an institution where the
athletic, theatrical and service programs are all healthily ingrained into the afterschool culture, this dance recital paced another
important and vital step in the growth of our arts community.
Martha Graham, a 20th century dancer and choreographer, once said that “dance is
the hidden language of the soul.” If that’s so, then the members of this troupe “spoke”
volumes with their bodies. The program consisted of both ensemble productions
and solo pieces, and it explored various forms and genres including ballet, hip-hop,
modern and tap. The program began with a traditional ballet that charted through
the basic positions and bread-and-butter movements. The second piece, however,
shattered the stereotypical format of orchestral music as the exclusive soundtrack for
pirouettes by pairing two different contemporary songs with the same sequence of
moments. It is clear that the student choreographer for this piece, Francesca Spinella,
was asking her audience to consider how music colors and influences the tone of a
performance.
Each girl also played to her strengths in solo performances. Megan Wart, who also
demonstrated her fast-tapping feet, set her emotionally charged modern dance to
a burning lyrical ballad, “Iris.” Carly Augustis-Kokoni conjured a more abrasive
juxtaposition by pairing alternative rock with her fluid modern movements. Francesca
Spinella was featured on numerous occasions in ensemble pieces. A clear veteran
of Pointe, Ms. Spinella let every arm movement flow through the very tips of her
Francesca Spinella strikes a graceful pose
fingers as she
glided across the
stage. The entire
Abbey Company –Emily Cunningham, Gabrielle Fontes,
Brianna Heaps, Meredith Hoffman, Carly Augustic-Kokoni,
Francesca Spinella and Megan Wart –channeled its theatrical
skills in “Coffee Break,” a delightful, crowd-pleasing number
incorporating nearly each style of dance as well as a guest
appearance by Ms. Gassert.
The Abbey Dance Company is off to a promising
start and has added a new dimension to our afterschool
activities. In his opening remarks at the Art’s Review during
Parents’ Weekend, Mr. Bragan commented about his pride
in how much the arts have grown over the past 7 years. I
share in his sentiments. What was once a smattering of
instrumentalists and plays has transformed into a department
full of energy, enthusiasm, diversity, vitality, a range of
different performance groups, and now after this fall, a dance
program.
Face Poll
Horace Allen
Photo Editor
Quent Dickmann: Francis Anthony
McGuinness Pagliaro
Beneva Davies: Ms. Gassert
Alicia Turner: Lil’ Wayne
Libby Sacco: Jacqueline Kennedy
Robert Franklin: John Lennon
student Profiles:
Leo Makowski
Sara Munda
Staff Writer
Patrick Lohuis: “Wayne Gretzky, are you
kidding!”
You’ve seen him striding through campus draped in a black trench coat, swinging a laptop bag in one hand. You might
have even glimpsed him in costume, dressed as a character from Watchmen or V for Vendetta. You’ve watched him perform
various roles in various dramatic Abbey theater productions, the most recent being his lead role of Petruchio in The Taming of the
Shrew. But where to begin to describe the infamous Leo Makowski?
Hopefully, you’ll speak to Leo at least once during your stay at the Abbey: if you do, you certainly won’t forget it. I
managed to grab a minute with Leo to discuss a couple of big questions, most of which he answered.
Leo’s heroes are Ayn Rand and Andrew Ryan. His current favorite video game is BioShock, his favorite book The
Unbearable Lightness of Being, and his favorite band System of a Down. He plans to pursue a career in chemistry and/or physics,
Gen Gralton: DMX
and of any acting role he could have, he would like to play Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
When asked what he thinks of organized religion and the Catholic Church, he answered “&%$#@!” and
“%#@%@&$#$%@!” respectively. “You know why? Because it’s conformist. Not that all conformist things are bad, but [the Church] poisons people, brainwashes people, and
it uses the word DEATH. It tells little children about
DEATH. I mean I’m crazy, but I don’t think we should
Francesca Bessey
talk to kids about death, I think we should just let them
Staff Writer
enjoy themselves.”
Abbie Bolduc : Nicole Richie
I asked Leo what sport he would play at the Abbey if he
My first experience of Emmett Conway was a half- hour
had to do one. The conversation went something like this:
conversation about the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces. He took
Leo: What is the actual question? Is this customimmense amusement in the fact that they actually have a name (aglets)
tailored for me?
and that I knew it. This may seem slightly unusual, however, this is
Me: Yeah.
a sample of typical Emmett behavior. Of the gaggle of new Third
Leo: Sponsored gaming.
Formers, Emmett stands out as a lively, energetic, and spontaneous
Me: No, really.
new addition to the Portsmouth Abbey student body. An alumnus of
Leo: Like managing a sport?
St. Phil’s, Emmett said he chose the Abbey for high school because he
Me: Like you yourself playing a sport.
Parker Barry: “Jeb Beletsky, I don’t know how,
said: “I would hate to have been kept in a prison-like building and/or
Leo: Com-serv.
but he makes everything look easy.”
institution, like Stang or LaSalle.” Blunt statements like these pepper
Me: A sport.
Emmett’s conversations, part of his somewhat eccentric character,
Leo: Dot dot dot. Hold on. I’d do conditioning.
which he will gladly throw at
Me: That’s not a sport either.
literally anyone in the vicinity.
Leo: I’m not a ... competitive person.
Five minutes of conversation
I asked what he would do if he ruled the world.
and he has declared at least
Leo immediately answered that he would separate church
four people to be best friends
and state. He added, upon consideration, that he would
of his, including one person
establish an optimized eugenics program. “Then I would
he has never met before.
have the Nuremberg trials repealed,” he said. He grinned.
Courtney Rutledge: Hugh Heffner or Rosie
He further exemplifies his
“Just kidding, just kidding.”
O’Donnell or Ellen DeGeneres
personality by refusing to
interview unless he is brought
a coffee or some other formal
token of gratitude (he has to
settle on a handful of candy
corn).
In many respects, Emmett leads the normal Abbey life. A day
student, he attends class and cross country practice before returning
home each day. He doesn’t really specify a favorite thing about PAS,
however, he apparently really likes the apples here (though he complains
Chido Onyukie: Gen Gralton
they have recently been sub-par). His least favorite thing is the skunks,
Leo’s predictions for the upcoming play were
a very real threat to every student’s sanity, claiming, “They look rabid
ominous: he said it was going to be terrible. “I really can’t
and like they could potentially leap onto my face.” An interesting
do Shakespeare,” said Leo, “he’s like another language.
take on the pestilent animals, however, Emmett has “interesting” takes
He’s horrible, I can’t stand him.” (Mr. Hobbins afterwards
on most things to the point where hearing him make a rather average
congratulated Leo on his outstanding performance of
observation might cause alarm.
Shakespeare.) When asked after the play about how he
Emmett doesn’t really have any specific hobbies, unless they
thinks it went, Leo says only, “It was not a total disaster. involve talking to as many people as possible. “I’m crazy,” he admits.
It would have been if not for Mr. Bragan holding the
But, if you spot him at Tuck or shouting excitedly at you from across
entire thing together. We really owe the whole show to
campus for one reason or another, you’re in for an experience that’s far
him and Brother Joseph.”
from boring.
Emmet Conway
6
Dear Abbey
Entertainment
What’s hot
Hearing from Early Action/Decision Schools
what’s not
Waiting for Regular Decision Schools
Sixth Formers who applied to Colleges in November are soon to receive their letters,
but for those who weren’t so gung-ho about their applications, looks like another
four months ‘til the results.
Dear Abbey,
What did you do with the cups? My friends
and I need to keep our cereal in motion!
Also, we lack our daily dosage of caffeine
from the coffee, and have all fallen asleep
during humanities lectures as a result. We
demand you hand over our beloved cups! Sincerely,
Starving Kara O’Hearn
Staff Writer
Tales of Beetle the Bard
Twilight??? Though the Twilight saga has recently captivated the minds (and hearts!) of
millions of teenage girls, JK Rowling’s Tales of Beetle the Bard sends the reminder
that Harry Potter is not yet forgotten. The new book has claimed Barnes and
Nobles’, Amazon’s, and Borders’ best selling spots while the four Twilight books
fall into second. Who will end victorious?-Only time will tell.
New PAS Mugs
Dear Little Miss Tummyache,
Glass Mugs
Although I have tried vehemently to keep
the public from knowing that I, your beloved
Abbey, am the notorious cup snatcher, you
Last Monday’s Assembly made quite a stir when Dr. DeVecchi announced the
have deftly found me out, and I have no
new mugs in the dining hall. Since then, the reusable mugs have been spotted
choice but to own up to the heinous crimes
everywhere on campus. Hopefully these mugs won’t disappear as quickly as
I have committed. Using my considerable
they came.
influence over those high up on the faculty’s
food chain, I fooled you all into believing that
the disappearance of the cups was due to the
school being run by a group of tree-hugging,
penny-pinching dictators who have no
Going to Semi-Formal Excuses For Not Going
concern about student affairs past their ability
to make the next tuition payment. Boy, did
Either with a date or stag, this semi is sure to make the week a whole lot brighter.
you guys look ridiculous!
Bump that overnight or previous plan and sign up!
If it’s any consolation, the cups have
gone to a good cause: I put cereal in every cup
I stole, wrapped it in saran wrap, and plopped
Dinner and a Movie
Dining Hall and a Tuck Movie
it in the ocean in the hopes that they will soon
reach the sunny shores of Zimbabwe and help
While all of us love to bum around in sweats on campus, it’s sometimes too easy
some starving children there. (Or kill some
to forget what we’re actually missing in the real world. Head to a movie, go
baby sea lions, which would one day decimate
shopping,
or grab a coffee. It’ll be a pleasant reminder that there is life outside
global fish populations. The way I figure,
this school.
we’re going to need a lot of fish to populate
all this extra water we’re going to have
The Tiny Tim Effect The Ebenezer Scrooge Effect
because of the growing numbers of stupid
people who keep on littering.) And they say I don’t care!
Christmas is fast approaching and as we all get into the spirit,
P.S. Everyone falls asleep during
make sureit’s the right one! humanities lectures.
Dear Abbey,
Why do girls love it when I spit
everywhere, keep my top button
unbuttoned, wear shoes too big for my
feet, wear my hat indoors and at a strange
angle, never comb my hair, scratch
myself “down there” uncontrollably and
at inappropriate times, and look like a
complete slob in general?
Dr. Love Dear Doctor Strangelove,
I wish I knew why, but all I know is that every
girl loves that.
Dear Abbey,
What’s your favorite Fall Sport? (Drama
and community service don’t count!)
Winded Dear Windee,
Probably JV football. Not because it’s nice
to see the up-and-coming talent, but because
there’s something strangely cathartic about
watching freshmen willingly beat each other
up at the behest of someone bigger than them.
Dear Abbey,
What’s your opinion on the Model UN?
Debbie Diplomat Dear Little Debbie,
Oh, it’s fine, if you like pussy-footing around
the issues and keeping it as a “simulation”. If
I ran things, every school would still represent
a country, but it would be more realistic than
that. Since I’m all about staying true to source
material, the delegates would accept bribes
and other illegal favors just like real countries,
get caught in illicit sex scandals, and they
have to hate the French. You know, just like
real life. Dear Abbey,
When I come back from Community
Service, I have this warm, fuzzy feeling
inside. Am I going to die?
Really, truly, concerned Dear Dead Man,
Yes, yes you probably will. You have a case
of what we in the medical field call “feeling
good about yourself”, and let me tell you,
the effects aren’t pretty. Subjects have been
known to do kind things, spontaneously break
into song, and feel so invincible that they will
jump in front of a runaway bus, a runaway
train, and in one case, a group of rabid
Hannah Montana fans.
Acts of
Christmas
Kindness
Wishes
Donoria Benevides washes the
dishes in our overloaded sink every day.
People leave their dirty dishes out of
laziness, and she cleans them without a
complaint. EVERY DAY. Very selfless.
-Mrs. Spinella
I have been thinking about Sarah
Savoie. She guessed the closest to the
Pennies for Peace candy jar contest and
was told to pick out a gift card from a
variety of places. When I saw her in the
dining room and asked her what she would
like, she declined any of them saying that
the program was a fundraiser and the extra
money could go to the program. I thought
that was really nice and can’t stop thinking
about it. -Mrs. Weida
Mrs. Sahms never, ever gives up
on a student who is having a hard time in
classes -- no matter how hopeless it may
seem to everybody else. -Anonymous
Ever since I had Ms. Brady last
year, she has given me her special homemade care packages when I get really sick
and before exams so I have food to study
with. Thank you, Ms. Brady! -Ana Lopez
Pam Gorman was selling jewelry
made out of paper by Ugandan women in
Africa. The program is called Bead For
Life. All profits go towards community
development projects. It gives this village
and its people a way to earn income for
food, clothing, etc. Great story, hats off to
Pam…http://www.beadforlife.org
-Mr. Jestings
Kathleen Timmons gives me a
hug every time I need one.
-Susan Skakel
Henry Drayton and Ben Lynn
have been extremely helpful in locating
missing student items – they take the time
to help reconnect a student to his/her lost
possessions. Generous with time and caring! -Ms. Brzys
Fr. Damian always spends a great
deal of time creating interesting displays
in the Classroom Building for us to enjoy.
Thank you!
The Blackberry Storm phone is an awesome
gift!
-Emmy Falvey
A big, red, shiny bike.
-Susan Skakel
CASH. And lots of it!
-Laura Song
An Xbox 360!
-Jeff Salvatore
My Christmas wish is that Pres. Elect
Obama does indeed pass legislation for a
playoff system in college football and that
this is the extent of the radical agenda of
change that he plans to implement as commander in chief.
-Mr. Marx
Clerks II, the movie.
A Ferrari.
-Nick Albertson
-Meghan Harrington
The new black and silver MacBook!
-Jacinta Guan
A nice, vacation in Egypt.
-Ms. Gassert
Aaron Carter!
-Christine O’Connell
A brand new OR ‘67 model yellow Mustang
with black racing stripes!
-Alex Gallo
Robert Pattinson from Twilight.
-Kathleen Timmons
Get into a good college on early decision!
-Chanho Park
1) Peace on Earth
2) Good will toward men.
-Father Ambrose
I want to have a reunion with my best friend
from 2nd grade!
-Ms. Brady
Sports
7
The journey to 18: a Look at the celtics
Daniel Roger Caplin
Staff Writer
With championship banner number 17 being raised, and a new season underway, many Boston fans are left wondering, “What will this season bring for the Celtics?” Last season started
off promising, when in a Draft Night deal with the former Sonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder), the C’s managed to acquire sweet-shooting Ray Allen to assist Paul Pierce with the team’s
offensive attack. While this trade raised the expectations of Boston fans, the hype didn’t officially commence until the team acquired one of the most versatile forwards to ever play the game of
basketball, Kevin Garnett. A blockbuster deal that sent young prospects to Minnesota in exchange for an experienced veteran let the fans know that the organization was heading into the season
with a “win now” mentality. Aside from what was to be known as the “Big Three” (Allen, Garnet, and Paul Pierce), the Celtics had also quietly signed James Posey, a hard-nosed defender with a
knack for hitting big shots, and Eddie House, a quick-shooting guard with a scoring mentality. After a dismal ’06-’07 season, the most storied franchise in NBA history was ready for its historic
run to the title.
The season began with many questions, mostly wondering whether the Big Three could all work cohesively on the court, and
sacrifice their personal stats for the overall benefit of the team. Those questions were quickly answered with a 20 point victory over
the Washington Wizards in the first game of the ’07-’08 season. The Celtics continued to thunder through the regular season, finishing
with a 66-16 record. Players such as point guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins proved themselves to be effective starters,
while Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were named All-Stars, and Garnett garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors. After establishing
themselves as the best defensive and overall team in the league, the next challenge was the playoffs.
The only soft spot on the team at that point was their playoff inexperience, which became evident after their first two playoff
series against the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both series lasted all 7 games, and it took clutch defensive stops and a
41-point explosion from Pierce in the final game against Cleveland to keep Lebron James and the Cavs at bay. After getting their feet wet
in the first two rounds, the Celtics gained confidence heading into their Conference Finals series against Detroit, beat them, and found
themselves pitted against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
One of the greatest rivalries in sports history, beginning with the likes of Chamberlain and Russell, Magic and Bird, was finally
being realized in the culmination of the Celtics’ storybook season. Such an ending could not have been scripted. The Celtics powered
through the Finals behind the heroics of team captain and Finals MVP Paul Pierce, leaving no one doubting as to who the better team
was.
With the ’08-’09 season just underway, and a fresh new banner hanging in the rafters of The Garden, the Celtics enter this year
with some familiar faces, and some new ones as well. The main concern for this season has been the departure of sixth man James Posey,
which has left many sports analysts in doubt of the team’s depth off the bench. However, many experts speculate that defensive-minded
guard, Tony Allen, will be able to fill Posey’s gap. Celtics fans have also enjoyed the recent play of athletic rookies, Bill Walker and J.R.
Giddens, who have each shown a lot of prospective talent, as well as the play of former Warrior, Patrick O’Bryant.
The size up front for the Celtics was a key ingredient to their success last season, mainly stemming from the play of Garnett, but
also from the development of their younger forwards. The return of these frontcourt members gives the team the size and experience necessary to once again put up a fight for the Championship.
Among these big men, forward Leon Powe takes up the role of an instant offense alongside the poor man’s version of the “round mound of rebound”, Glen “Big Baby” Davis.
The outside threats of Pierce and Allen matched with this fiery front court leaves little doubt in this author’s mind that come next year, last year’s banner will be hanging in the
prestigious rafters above the hallowed court of The Boston Garden with banner number 18.
Girls and goals: field hockey
Jesse Bessinger
Staff Writer
The varsity girls’ field hockey team, led by captains Ally Boglioli and Beneva Davies, played an intense
season with some memorable wins against such formidable rivals as Lexington Christian Academy and Beaver
Country Day. Through rigorous practices and dedication to the sport, the whole team proved themselves over and
over with a series of close games and hard work. Head Coach Mindy Urick fine-tuned the skills and technique,
and the improvement in their performance was clear as the autumn months progressed. This year’s varsity team
set a high standard for the J-V girls to meet next year, but the junior varsity team had a pretty successful autumn
themselves. Although, unfortunately, not very well renowned here on campus for athletic excellence, the J-V
field hockey team completed their best season in several years this past fall, with a 3-1-5 record that the whole
team was deservedly proud of. Coming away from the last game with Worcester Academy with a 1-0 win was
also pretty satisfying. Head coach Colleen Sanchez has a tough job, teaching each year’s new batch of beginners
an entirely new sport, but after a few months, the effort paid off and resulted in a lot of fresh talent-watch out
Varsity! All the girls this year did a fantastic job and each and every one of them deserves a personal congratulation, as well as all of the coaches, assistant coaches included, of course. Girls, come and try it out next year-boys,
at least come and watch. It’s a lot of fun!
bend it like portsmouth abbey
Kathleen Timmons
Staff Writer
The girls’ varsity soccer team compiled a record of 8-5-4 under
the leadership of the Sixth Formers and captains Sarah Taddei,
Merritt Bauer, and Olivia Simone. The girls endured an intense
preseason that led to great team and personal successes over
the course of the season. The team defense only allowed 21
goals in the season while the offense scored 36. The defense
was anchored by Sarah Taddei along with Stephanie Proulx
and Salome Wilfred. In net, Sarah Savoie’s skills were comparable to that of a brick wall. The midfield consisted of Olivia
Simone, Merritt Bauer, and Tori and Katie Sgarro. The Shea
sisters were a powerful one, two punch coming off the bench
along with Third Formers Casey Brown and Emily Kaufman. The players whose enthusiasm on the bench was slightly better
than their soccer ability were constantly cheering and encouraging their teammates. The team became fluent in French through the teaching of Kelly Coffin and her nifty translation guides
Captain Sarah Taddei takes control of the ball.
for cheering. The highlight of the season occurred at the EIL post season tournament. The
team faced off against undefeated, EIL champs and rivals Pingree. The game was extremely close, but through intense play by
both offense and defense, the team pulled off a 2-1 upset. The team made it to the final round and faced off against Dana Hall
but lost in a shootout. The team was truly lucky to have Mr. O’Connor and Ms. Keenan coaching due to their genuine enthusiasm every day. Their unending support and knowledge of the game were unsurpassed. The team will surely miss the graduating
Sixth Formers who guided our team to so many accomplishments this season. As the girls’ soccer programs continue to succeed,
the future seasons will hopefully be brimming with even more accomplishments.
Girls’ squash Makes a Racket
Kerry Klemmer
Guest Contributor
With a line up of nine players, five returning and three newcomers, it is hard to predict the outcome of this year’s girl’s varsity squash season. Each
player has their own kinks to work out and the team as a whole still needs work. According to three year veteran of the varsity team, Ana Lopez, “This year is a
developing year for us. We only have four returning players [in the top seven] and our number three seat and captain,
Josephine O’Reilly is injured. But I know everyone on the team is willing to
step up and we’re going to have a great season.” Josephine’s injury, hopefully
only temporary, was sustained in last weekend’s playday and could possibly
make or break the season unless someone can step up to fill the number three
seat, which seems unlikely at this point. Despite this unexpected setback in
last weekend’s playday, all in all the team faired well. According to Coach
McDermott, “Our league, based on playday, has gotten noticeably stronger.
We’re a pretty deep ladder, though, with strong players all the way through.
It’s going to be up to the top three to step up.” This leaves success in the
hands of seasoned team members: Ana Lopez, Olivia Simone, and Josephine
O’Reilly. This, however, does not discount the up and coming skills of new
members: Sarah Savoie, Tara Tischio, and Georgia Callahan, who will also
act as integral members of the team. All in all the team definitely has some work to do and hopefully this will be accomplished and result in a winning season.
Winter Time
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Halloween
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Ugomma Eze
Congratulations to Manor House for most
Raven Points so far!
1st: I’m dreaming of a green Christmas; 2nd: Frosty’s International Christmas; 3rd: Barbie’s Malibu Beach House
Merry Christmas from The Beacon