docthe panther advocate - Plainfield Public Schools
download 
Report Transcription
the panther advocate - Plainfield Public Schools
Plainfield Public Schools Issue 7 May 2010 THE PANTHER ADVOCATE Inside this issue: Zak Nadeau Interview 5 Celebrity Deathmatch 6 Taylor Aubin 8 PIMA / Rent-a-Senior 10 Senior Spotlight 16 Shannon Gowin Interview 18 Guess Whose Facial Hair! 3 Also in this issue: • Five ways to make your Spring time seem more in teresting • Check out some pretty ladies on page 11. • What’s the deal with Honors English IV? • Learn all about Mrs. Maher on page 13. • Learn all about Mr. Marr on page 14. Layout Editor: Ashleigh Daigle She’s really cool. :D By-standers go crazy as Salutatorian Caitlin Duncan and Valedictorian Nate Martin go head to head in an intense game of chess. But chess isn’t the only thing these two go head to head with... Turn to page 6 to find out more! Page 2 Paws up, Paws down A look into the good and bad happenings here at Plainfield High! Paws lub! crosse C of the La n o ti a rm to the fo Paws up nt! in the state tourname g it to the third round kin ma m tea ll tba up to the Girls Baske Paws up for “C oins for Cures! ” Paws u p Paw s up t to new o Ch inducte es of N HS! at R oule tte! Pa Paws down to er leav Hanov . r M wn to ws do Ms. G no long Paws down to er being part freshmen actin S. ing PH of the PHS fa culty. g like freshm en! Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha. If you want my _________ (type of jungle cat), forget my ________(taco bell menu item), If you wanna get with me better make it _________ (adjective), Now don't go wasting my precious _________ (something in a bathroom), Get your ________ (body part) together we could be just ________ (adjective). I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha. If you wanna be my _________ (something outside), you gotta _________ (verb) with my friends, Make it last forever, ________-ship (noun) never ends, If you wanna be my _________ (piece of clothing), you have got to _________ (verb), Taking is too _________ (adjective), but that's the way it is. What do you think about that now, you know how I ________ (verb), Say you can handle my _________ (movie title) are you for real, I won't be ________ (adjective), I'll give you a try If you really _________ (verb) me then I'll say goodbye. (“Wannabe”—Spice Girls) Congratulations: Plainfield’s Littlest Panther. Colin Michael Noble Six Pounds Two Ounces. April 21, 2010 Guess Whose Facial Hair! 1 7 1 13 8 14 9 15 2 3 10 4 16 11 17 5 12 18 6 Answers on page 20! Page 4 School Events A Night of Honor and Success Article by: Adam Main “Students must have a diverse background in community service, leadership, and cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale.” Pictures by: His Dad The door opens, and the drum sticks begin to pummel the snare drum as the NHS seniors enter the classroom. This is the National Honor Society tap in; when the NHS seniors walked single file through the halls of PHS on Friday, April 9, 2010, to congratulate the new inductees who had been selected by a anonymous panel to be part of this prestigious organization. Founded in 1921, the National Honor Society recognizes students who display excellence in Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. To be eligible for NHS membership, students must have a diverse background in community service, leadership, and cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale. Members must also demonstrate good character and citizenship within their communities. No one said it was easy to get into the NHS! Once inducted through tap in, new members must go through an induction ceremony. The induction ceremony is where the new members are officially sworn into the NHS and must repeat a pledge. The induction took place on the evening of Thursday, April 15, 2010. The PHS auditorium was filled with proud parents, grandparents, and guardians who were eager to see their child walk up on stage and be officially sworn into the NHS. The ceremony began with Nate Martin, the President of the National Honor Society, as he congratulated the new inductees and challenged them to not only do their required service hours, but to go out of the box. The ceremony continued until it was my turn to speak. I proceeded to light a candle with the “light of service.” I then walked on over to the podium, turned the page to my speech, and introduced myself. My speech was all about how you grow as a person from community service, and the learning experiences you gain as an NHS member. You really learn to appreciate what you have in your life when you give back to those who are less fortunate. Once sworn in, members must maintain their balance of community service (a minimum of sixty hours is required a year), and attend meetings once a month. The schedule of an NHS member is usually very hectic due to the rigorous paces one must go through to maintain membership, but it is all worth it when you see the outcome of your service projects. The amount of goods you were able to buy for the local homeless shelter, or to be able to graduate with the honor of being part of the NHS makes your hard work pay off (not to mention it looks great on college applications!). Have an opinion? E-mail us at [email protected] NHS logo from : http://www.lodi.k12.wi.us/sc Page 5 Student News Do You Know The Ice Cream Man, Who Walks Through Plainfield Hallways? http://www.thefarmerscow.com/home.html Interview & Photo of Zak By: Beckay Demuth Ice cream is the life of summer, even though it melts into sticky situations. Recently there was an “ice cream naming contest” in which there where ten ice cream flavors that needed to be named for The Farmer’s Cow dairy farm in Lebanon, Connecticut. The flavors are as follows: vanilla, chocolate, chocolate chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, strawberry, cookies and cream, black raspberry chocolate chip, peanut butter cup, cherry vanilla, and coffee! A sophomore here at our school, Zak Nadeau, was one of the winners chosen and won a summer’s supply of FREE ice cream. Q: So…you won a summer time supply of free ice cream? A: Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. Q: How did you accomplish this? A: I entered a contest to name ice cream flavors. Q: What is the name you came up with? What flavor of ice cream is this? A: The ice cream was chocolate, chocolate chip. I named it “Muddy Boot Supreme.” Q: What is the name of this ice cream place and where is it located? A: It is The Farmer’s Cow, in Lebanon, CT. Q: So who is going to drive you all the way to Lebanon every time you get hungry for ice cream? A: I think they bring it to me. I get a five gallon tub each month of summer. Zak Nadeau himself! Q: Have you been there yet? A: Nope. Q: When are you going to go there? A: Probably never, I don’t know. (HAHA) Q: How do feel about the cows that provide you with ice cream? A: They look well fed and healthy from what I’ve seen. Q: Why do you like ice cream? A: Why do aardvarks like ants? http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img- Q: How much do you like ice cream? A: A lot, my dad gets Ben and Jerry’s a lot so I have grown to love it. Q: What is the best flavor of ice cream in your opinion? A: My favorite since I was little has been cookie dough, but I like plain chocolate too. Q: What toppings do you like? A: I like hot fudge, or something crunchy. Q: Bowl or cone? A: Depends how I’m feeling, usually a cone but if I feel like I need to do some work, I’ll bust out a bowl or two. Page 6 Student News Celebrity Deathmatch! Valedictorian vs. Salutatorian Interview and Pictures by Marcus Ticktocker. The valedictorian and salutatorian are the top two students of a graduating class, the best of the best. In our senior class, those two individuals are salutatorian Caitlin Duncan and valedictorian Nate Martin. Here at The Panther Advocate, we thought it would be a great idea to hear their opinions on the school and their future. Necessary precautions were taken to make sure that there wasn’t any fighting (tickets on sale now, get ’em while they’re hot!). Without further ado, here are what the top two students in this year’s senior class have on their minds. As a little warm up, let’s start with some easy stuff. First off, what is your favorite book and/or author, and why? Nate: I don’t read much anymore unfortunately, but I used to read Mark Twain. I’d have to say Huckleberry Finn. Also Tom Sawyer is a good song. Caitlin: Let’s see. That is a tough one. I’m going to be lame and say Emily Bronte because I like French literature and even though her writings could be considered very verbose, I enjoy it. How about your favorite movie? Nate: That one is a tough one. I used to like Happy Gilmore but then I watched it again recently and it was really dumb. So let’s go with something like Shawshank Redemption. Caitlin: Dead Poets Society! It has my favorite actors in it, I love the story, and carpe diem. I don’t know, everything about it. What is your favorite high school memory? Nate: I dunno, I have a lot of those. Caitlin: Going to see The Killers. What do you think about the classes you’ve had here at Plainfield High School? Nate: Most of them are pretty good. Some of them I feel like I could be doing something else. Like, we don’t really need gym because I do track regularly so why waste time? Also probably health, it’s not that informative even though it’s required. Caitlin: Some of them have been a little too easy because the bar wasn’t set too high. A lot of them have challenged me, especially physics. In general they’ve been really good and I’ve enjoyed most of them and I would definitely take them again because they were enjoyable experiences. What would you say your favorite class has been? Nate: I’ve had a lot of good classes but I really like AP Chem with Dr. Wu. Caitlin: Honors Humanities with Mr. Greene. Do you think that you are very competitive academically? Nate: To an extent, it’s mostly personally. If someone’s out of reach I don’t try and go head to head with them. But to a degree I am academically competitive, like I want to know what people get. It’s mostly on myself. I have to set a certain standard otherwise I’m not happy, I feel like I don’t know it. It’s mostly on me. Caitlin: Not as much as some people. To a degree I am. I like pushing myself to do my best. It’s not so much competition with other people as it is with myself. Do you think those classes have adequately prepared you for college? Nate: To an extent; a lot of the classes I’ve taken are good. Like Mr. Adams’ calculus classes are really in depth and even though he gives a lot of homework, I’m sure I’m going to be faced with that in college. Some classes haven’t prepared me well, but for the most part they have. Caitlin: Some of them. The ones that actually make you learn yourself and that are rigorous I’d set yes. But classes that are a breeze really haven’t prepared you for the real world. Are you someone that doesn’t feel the need to study, or do you do a lot of that? Nate: It depends on what it is. Like calculus it’s one of those things where you study minimal because it’s math and you either know it or you don’t. Something like Spanish though, like I’m absolutely horrendous at language I don’t know why it’s just words and I can’t remember them. It requires more study for some than others. I study enough to get to the level I want to achieve. Caitlin: At the beginning of my high school career and in middle school I didn’t study and I got by easily that way. Then I realized that I need to study in order to keep my grades up. So yes, I do study. What is the most time you’ve spent studying and for what subject? Nate: To be honest I don’t really remember. Lately I’ve been studying a lot more than usual, especially for AP History tests because those are pretty difficult. I’d probably say three or four hours max is what I’ve ever done. Caitlin: Probably chemistry. I spent and entire two days worth going over everything and practicing problems. Page 7 Student News To Nate: Do you want to pass her? Nate: It’d be cool. I really want that scepter. The valedictorian gets a scepter at graduation and it’s really cool. Other than I don’t really care. As long as I remain one or two it doesn’t matter, considering my scholarship to UConn is riding on it. If I don’t graduate valedictorian or salutatorian I lose $8,000 a year. Well who do you see as your academic rival? Nate: I go head to head with David [Smith] in some subjects because he is very intelligent even though he’s not that high in class ranking. He’s my friend and all but we always go head to head. Especially in science, that’s my big thing I really like science especially chemistry; not so much biology. But ever since biology in sophomore year we’ve always kind of compared each other. Caitlin: I wouldn’t call it a rivalry because I’m just trying to do my best and I’m not trying to be the best. If you want to go that angle for rivalry I’d guess it’d be Nate Martin! He’s a very smart guy like I said. From an academic standpoint, how do you feel about our new administration? Nate: They don’t really have control over what we’re learning per se. They can add things here and there, like Mr. Arcarese had the extra fifteen minutes writing at the end of the day. That was mostly for CAPT, which makes the school look better and I guess it would help with our credibility since we are up for accreditation with NEASC soon. As long as the school stays accredited I don’t really see a need for preparation for CAPT since it is a standardized test that only applies to the school. Caitlin: Compared to last years it has more calm and more direct feelings. It feels like everyone knows what they’re doing and there’s no tension like last year. Everyone knows what is expected of them. Which administration do you prefer, the Arcarese administration or the Worth/Bitgood administration? Nate: They’re very similar in some respects. They’re both strict on different aspects. Mr. Arcarese was very controlling in most aspects which is sort of good because he brought the school up a little bit in terms of standards. He set people to higher standards he wanted them to meet. Mr. Worth this is his first year; I think he’s still trying to feel everything out. But he seems a bit more lax. Caitlin: I’d have to say they’ve been a great administration thus far. Where do you plan on going after graduation? Nate: Right now I’m looking at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. It seems like a really good school but it’s also extremely expensive: tuition cost $40,000 a year. So, at this point, unless I get more money from the financial aid office I’m likely just going to be going to UConn. Caitlin: I plan to attend UConn for four years and then hopefully go on to law school. Why did you decide to go there? Nate: I applied to really difficult schools to get in to. I believe you should apply to the caliber school you want to go to; you should always push yourself. I think the schools that I applied to, like I applied to two Ivy League schools, and if I could get in to one of those it would be great and also it’d be something I’ve never experienced before. That’s also why I want to go to Rensselaer because it’s a very very academically competitive school. On the other hand UConn is also good and it’s a great fallback for my situation. Caitlin: Because it was close by. It has a large school atmosphere. They accepted me into their honors program and I needed a challenge. How about for graduate school? Nate: I’ll probably at least apply to MIT, Rensselaer if I’m not going right now, maybe Stanford but probably not. I’m not sure I’ll make it all the way to California for that school. Probably Yale again because that’s where I’ve always wanted to go. Caitlin: Stanford. It’s one of the best law schools, it’s a big school, and it’s on the West Coast. What do you plan on majoring in? Nate: Chemical Engineering. I really like chemistry to begin with and I didn’t really know too much about engineering before I went to the UConn connection program. They had someone describe what Chemical Engineering was all about and it seemed really interesting to me. It’s about applying sciences and that’s really what I’m interested in. Studying is great and all but I really want to make something that will improve how we live. Caitlin: For undergraduate I plan on double majoring in English and Classics. For graduate school I’m going for law and to focus on corporate law. So what do you want to have as a career after your college days? Nate: That I haven’t thought too much about. I want to do something possibly environmental. I want to have an impact on how we live so I don’t want to be one of those chemical engineers who just sits in the company workplace just testing how long the indicator strip on a razor blade lasts, something like that. Caitlin: Corporate attorney, and I may write some books on the side. Mostly because I like to argue I like to delve deep into a subject, get some facts and back up a point. I like reading over stuff, looking at the finer details which is a lot in corporate affairs. I love to write in general; that’s where the novelist part comes in. Do you plan on coming back to Plainfield, or do you see yourself somewhere else? Nate: I will probably move out of Plainfield after it’s all said and done. I’m sure I’ll return here at least a few times, especially since my immediate family lives here, but I do not believe I will stay here. Caitlin: I’m not going to live here, I’m going to come and visit sometimes. In college I’ll visit some of my high school teachers but I do not plan to live here. I plan to live either in Massachusetts or somewhere on the West Coast. Page 8 Plainfield Alumni Pitcher Perfect Interview By: Alexis Griffin; Pictures By: Tayler Aubin Many, many guys in this school would kill to be able to spend the day at Fenway Park, so close to the field, that they’d lose all control of their bodily functions when the ball went flying. But for Tayler Aubin, it’s just another day enjoying his line of work. You graduated from Plainfield High in 2007, correct? -Yup, I sure did. Did you play any sports or were you involved in any clubs or other activities? -Freshman year, I played football but stopped because they took all the fun out of it. In my freshman year I also did track, cross country, and basketball, same thing in my sophomore year. Early in my junior year, I was in a car accident and it totally put me outta sports for the last two years high school and that sucked. What were your best subjects, and how about your worst? -Well...I really enjoyed science, english, and history. I’m not sure if I had a "best" subject. And yeah, I have bad subjects, mainly just because I didn’t like that subject for example: Math or spanish, haha. If you get what I’m what I’m tryin’ to say. Did you have any favorite teachers? Why? -Yes, I had a lot of favorite teachers but my all time favorite would have to be Mrs. Brooks, haha. People always give me a look when I tell them that... Why? She was strict, but understanding, She would make you work until you got what you were looking for. I wasn't ever afraid to ask her for anything, even if it wasn't history related. And she had a good sense of humor towards the students. My favorite thing though, was her comebacks to all the bad kids, haha! What made you want to go to New England School of Photography? -First thing...all it was, was photography. No math, no English, no science, just straight photography. And of course, I read up on the school, and really liked what they offered. Also the location was nice. Did you have any other alternative choices? -Nope, I applied to one school and that was NESOP. I even told my mom that if I didn’t get accepted I would work until I did. When did you finish college? -June of 2009 What is your Major? Minor? -Majored in Photojournalism and Minored in Fine Art Color When did you become interested in photography? -To be honest, I don't really know, I remember always wanting a camera, because my dad had one. I do remember one day my mom and I went to get some film developed that I took when I was in Maine. We went to the Ames store, now that’s not around anymore, but we were in the little bench area near the front doors, and my mom was talking to someone. And I was looking through them, and there was a sunset photo that I just loved. I remember being so happy to show people that this was a photograph that I took. I was pretty young too...no more than 5th grade, maybe even younger. Do/did you have any specific inspirations? -Weird thing is...was when I went to NESOP kids were all about like who’s your favorite photographer? And stuff like that, or whose work do you like most? They asked all these questions for different types of art. And I had no answer, I didn’t like any other photographers, I didn’t follow anyone’s art, I just had my own thing. But I do have to say my dad got me into photography, he’s done it for a long time now as a hobby, and I just did it along with him. And he paid for film to get developed! But this question brings up an issue...this goes to kids who have ran into this question with anything. Who cares if you don’t know any photographers, or you can’t tell that this is some famous painting, it doesn’t matter. If you enjoy doing whatever it is that you’re doing, do it! Don’t let other people make you feel dumb, or that you can’t do it. Your inspiration can be from anything. The people that judge you, I feel, end up falling short. Children working at a dump in Guatemala. Page 9 What kind of support did you get from you friends, family, and teachers? -I got a tremendous amount of support from everyone! I am super thankful for them. It definitely made a difference in everything. How do you feel about your picture of Obama being published on the ad for NESOP? -Haha, it’s definitely cool. And I'm proud of myself for it. So far, what would you say are your best accomplishments? -Well getting into NESOP, graduating, and now working successfully as a professional photographer is a big accomplishment. But a huge accomplishment that means a lot to me are the children I saved when I was down in Guatemala. I photographed these three young sisters and their family as they worked in the dumps. Just their living situation and what they've gone through was just horrible. I was able to show my photographs to a local organization in Guatemala who helps families, and they ended up taking the girls in, giving them proper schooling and food, and the family a new house. What's it like to intern as a photographer for the Boston Red Sox? -Its really cool, a lot of fun, but VERY stressful! I am so glad that I have this opportunity. I'm almost tired of being asked to get tickets!! Haha nah, just jokin'. How did that come about? -The manager of the photo department put out an internship ad at my school, and I just gave him my resume and set up and an interview and waited. Another photo of children working at a dump. What are some of your favorite pictures you have taken? -It is really tough for me to choose a favorite...but usually a photo that actually means something to me, that's a favorite. What would you consider the most enjoyable and most stressful part about being a photographer? -Well, just being able to photograph as a career is exciting for me. Photojournalism, I just love it. There is so much to it, and yeah I'm a photographer but...also...a policeman, a fireman, a cook, ya know ? I get to photograph these people in these environments that I know personally wouldn't witness. I get to be all these different people for a day. I shoot a lot of weddings, and I think it’s so cool that I am part of their family, a friend, I'm part of these peoples most important day. I'm totally there. Some things aren't the prettiest, say car accidents, fires, or hanging out in Dharavi (Dharavi was beautiful in its own special way), but the experiences that I have now, I wouldn't give those up for anything. As for the stress part, haha, yeah, it's there, and always will be. First thing I was stressed out about was, actually producing "good" photographs, photographs that are acceptable to everyone. Then I found out...just shoot what you want to shoot, ya know ? Don't follow, don't do what everyone else doing, you have to be different in this field, it’s fierce out there. As for being out photographing an event, a wedding, anything that's live, is stressful, you don't want miss anything, and when you do, it sucks. I do want to say that weddings are the most stressful to shoot. They hired you to take good photographs of their wedding day, you CAN'T screw up, and CAN'T miss anything. But, overall the Pros out weigh the Cons. Is there any advice you would like to give to people who hope to be successful in photography? -You need to have a heart for photography, you need to enjoy it, and like to look at it...but it has to be in you. Going to school, your photos will get ripped apart by teachers, thrown out, and literally be told they suck. You just have to take it, and work on it. And remember that not everyone is going to like your style! That's totally okay. Like I said earlier, be different, shoot what makes you happy! Don't take the easy the root. You need a heart for photography, it is hard to get photo jobs, hard to get clients, but if you truly love it, you will get somewhere. You just gotta be original. Page 10 School Events Seize The Day Article By: Ron Benoit Picture Taken From: About.com “...Rent-ASenior day is a go.” Students’ final days are marked by a series of traditions and events that are a celebration of the four years we spend here. One such tradition is Rent-A-Senior Day. For a few dollars, underclassmen purchase a paddle to get exclusive “out of class privileges” and take place in an auction. If they win a senior, they will get the company of that senior who has volunteered himself or herself. While it is intended to be a fun day for students of all grades, it serves another purpose as well. Rent-A-Senior Day is a way to celebrate and honor the previous four years and bridge together the different grades. It is a symbolic passing of the torch; the current seniors participated as freshmen, now it is their turn. The rumor of cancelling the event was a sensible one. While formal classes are all but over for seniors, underclassmen are racing to finish required material for final exams. The presence of seniors, many of whom are forced to dress ridiculously or perform unusual tasks, can be very distracting for students who are still working hard. Obviously, participating seniors should be held to a certain degree of behavior to make sure that the interference is minimal. If, however, seniors follow this code and sit quietly in the class of their renter (which they are capable of doing), there should be no disruption. But, contrary to the rumors, Rent-A-Senior day is still a go. The limitations are still very vast on when the buyer has his senior, but it’s still a blast to see them run around in tiaras and skimpy dresses. While the dates are not etched in stone yet, expect to see this fundraiser take place before the school year’s over. Plainfield Pretties By: K. Salony and The Ticktocker Pictures by: Kyle Roughan On Saturday April 10th, Plainfield High School held their annual Miss Plainfield Pageant, also known as PIMA. This year’s theme was holidays and everyone’s costume looked wonderful. The costumes were the very first portion of the pageant. Some of the holiday costumes used were: Melon Day, April Fools Day, Grandparents Day, Twin Day, Day of the Dead, Earth Day, Midsummer’s Day and many more. The majority of the outfits were hand made by the contestants using paper maché and all types of fabrics. Each holiday presented each had a story behind it describing what the holiday is all about. It gave the crowd a little more inside to the topics. As each girl came out, everyone hollered in excitement. The theme definitely excited the vibrant crowd. The second half of PIMA was certainly as interesting as the first. The first event after intermission was the dress modeling. The actual modeling was essentially the same as when the girls showed off their costumes. The commentator would share a bit about the girl on stage as she would walk forward, to the right (of the stage), to the left, and then back to a stand where they stood. There were reds and pinks and blues, poofy dresses, and slim dresses. After the dress modeling, there was a song and dance routine for the holidays they girls were representing. While the singing was good and enjoyable, the dancing was the icing on the cake. While the choreography was decent, it was hilarious to see that many of the girls had no idea what to do. Coming to mind most prominently is Chelsea Still, who miss stepped in the front of the stage, but was quick to recover! Behind her a few other girls lost their places too, which made for a few moments of laughter from the audience. It took a lot of effort and planning to put the event together though, and all in all the girls did a fantastic job. Overall PIMA was a success. Tara Musser took home Miss Congeniality, third place was Laura Gorman, second was Amy Floodine, and first place winner was Kristin Musser. CongratulaKristin Musser: First Place Winner tions ladies and to everyone who participated in this event; you certainly all are winners. Page 12 Academics Where Oh Where is Honors English IV? Article by Jessica Chandler Pictures taken from: barnesandnoble.com. Senior year: the time of your life, the time to apply for colleges, and the time to graduate from high school. Freedom is at your doorstep, and during this brief period of your life you find yourself taking a variety of classes to prepare for your next years in college. Of course, one class that everyone must take four years of in high school is English. Upon going through the course selection guide as a junior, there seems to be a gap. They have College-Prep English IV, Advanced Placement English, but where oh where is Honors English IV? I spoke with Ms. Wisniewski about the subject because she has handed in a curriculum for the possible Honors English IV class to Mr. Worth. “I think they wanted to focus more interest on the AP course and make that the Honors class… [T]hen there would only be two choices. And I think the ultimate goal was to get more kids involved in the AP program.” The only problem with that, however, is that many students who would want to take AP English are already taking other AP courses such as chemistry, history, or art. “…A lot of those students would be overwhelmed taking all AP courses,” spoke the Wis. The problem with the present English classes is a simple one: there are mixed levels in the CP English. It is a problem Ms. Wisniewski has in her classes often: “…I don’t feel that a lot of my students get to [thinking at a higher level] because there are so many students who don’t understand what it is we’re reading because the two levels are so different.” The bright students who should be in an honors class may get an assignment finished in fifteen minutes, but those who don’t understand as well get it done in forty-five minutes. If the brighter student is given another assignment, that means the one who struggles is given twice as much homework. “It’s really hard to balance and I’m just trying to find a balance right now.” Colleen Horta told me what she thought while we were in our Honors English III class with Ms. Wisniewski. She said, “For those who have excelled in Honors English classes for three years, they will be extremely bored in CP English IV. However, an AP English Class can either be too hard or cannot fit into our extraneous senior schedules.” In a nutshell, it’s exactly what the Wis said! What would that Honors English IV class contain? “There are certain pieces of literature that we are asked to include in all senior courses,” she said. Those would include: Frankenstein, Beowulf, the Canterbury Tales, and Macbeth. The Wis added other things too such as T.S. Eliot, Rudyard Kipling, and Oscar Wilde; also modern texts including The Kite Runner and Angela’s Ashes; possibly some drama such as Pygmalion, which is similar to My Fair Lady. The Wis told me that it was discussed in their department meeting about having the course, she did speak with Mrs. Slowick, but the majority of it was put together on her own behalf because she did not realize how close we were to registering for next year. After speaking with her Honors English III class (which includes myself) she put the curriculum together and handed it into Mr. Worth. They did discuss, however, doing a split class such as having the brighter students read a novel, the students who struggle read a play, and do a group project based on that. “That way,” said Ms. Wisniewski, “we can get to that higher order thinking with one group, and make sure that we can have initial understanding and interpretation in the other.” Unfortunately, the Honors English III class she has currently will not have an Honors English class for their senior year. Although the Wis handed in her curriculum, she handed it in too late! The course selection booklets had already gone out and the courses had already been numbered, so it could be a future choice during the 2011-2012 school year. At one time, in longago Plainfield, such a class existed; perhaps that will help the class return. Students who want to go to great colleges could benefit from an Honors English IV class if they don’t have enough time in their schedule for AP English. CP English wouldn’t exactly prepare them for that and it wouldn’t look as good when they apply for colleges. “I really want students who want a challenge. I want them to be able to have the choice to take that challenge. Having just a CP class doesn’t allow them to step up to the challenge. I know AP would be that, and I think that was the initial goal but being that so many students are taking other AP courses, it’s just not working out. And we need that honors class for those kids who can’t squeeze that AP English course in.” Could you benefit from this new course? Says the Wis: “I’m just hoping that with my actions and perhaps with your actions this will be something we can have incorporated…for the 2011-2012 school year.... [T]he need has to be there, if students want it we should be able to do it, but if they don’t want it...then it won’t happen.” Page 13 Teacher Interview Make Room For Mrs. Maher Article and Picture by: Shelby Langlois She’s sugar, she’s spice, she’s everything nice…she’s Mrs. Maher! Originally from Rhode Island, Mrs. Maher joins us for her first year of teaching. She attended Chariho High School, and then went off to the University of Rhode Island where she started her journey to become an English teacher. Initially, Mrs. Maher aspired to be a Spanish teacher but changed her mind to teach English because it’s something she is passionate about. Reading, writing, literature and discussing things that matter is what she envisioned for a career. Mrs. Maher enjoys the work of poet Walter Whitman and author Sherman Alexie. Her favorite book to teach would have to be To Kill A Mockingbird and her least favorite being Catcher In The Rye. Mrs. Maher sent out fifteen applications to different schools in Eastern Connecticut and Plainfield was one of the three that contacted her back. Mrs. Maher knew for sure that Plainfield High School was the place she wanted to be when she first drove up the driveway. When she met Mr. Worth and the English department, she knew she’d fit in just fine. I asked Mrs. Maher how she felt about Plainfield High School and she said that she loves our building, our students and everything that’s going on and that she’s glad to be a part of it. Considering Mrs. Maher is only a few years older than most of us attending PHS, there’s a lot of advice and guidance that she could provide for her students. I asked her how she felt about the closeness in age and she said that she feels kind of like a big sister. She can guide and protect us while still being a figure of authority. Mrs. Maher encourages students to keep a positive outlook on school. Her mottos are “Just let it roll off your back” and “have balance.” The reason why Mrs. Maher chose to be a high school teacher is so that she can be a part of the growing and maturing stages of our lives. She sees high school as the years where we find ourselves and she feels privileged to be a part of that. Mrs. Maher enjoys camping, hiking and anything that has to do with the great outdoors. She’s quite the animal person, and in fact spends a lot of her time outside with her husband, who is her high school sweetheart, and their two dogs (Lucy and Fenway). She enjoys her annual family camping trip in New Hampshire and fall weather. In upcoming years, Mrs. Maher hopes to get involved with more and more school events. She’s looking forward to seeing our production of Footloose and one day hopes to get involved with our school plays. Spring Breakdown Editorial by: Beth Carlton comps.fotosearch.com/comp/FSP/FSP476/spring -b... The bell rings and you run out the door into the warm spring air. It’s the start of April vacation and excitement is overflowing inside of you. You will have an entire week to hang out with your friends and boyfriends/girlfriends without the worries of school in your way; now you will finally be able to sleep in, hang out with your friends and do the things you haven’t had time to do during the school days. What more could you possibly want from spring break? While students were planning exactly what they would do for this vacation, they found something out which ruined some students’ whole week. It was the fact that the dates for vacation were all going to be different for Killingly High School, Ellis Technical High School and Plainfield High School. Plans made with these fellow students from different schools were crushed due to this unfortunate issue. While Plainfield students had the week off, the two other neighboring high schools were back in their old routine of writing papers and solving equations. Students from all three schools were not happy in the least bit. Many students are still upset with the way the breaks were scheduled and say that it isn’t fair. Along with a handful of other complaints, many agree that the schedule should change next year. The point of spring break is to be with your friends and have a good time, but if your friends attend these other schools then you probably had a pretty boring week. If you were wondering, the dates for vacation went a little like this: Killingly – April 5-9th, Ellis Tech – April 12-16th, and Plainfield – April 19-23rd. Students from all three schools think that this was completely unfair and that next year things would be scheduled differently. Let’s just hope that someone takes these feelings into consideration for next year and plans spring break on the same page as these other high school—that is, the same week. Page 14 Teacher Interview The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Mr. Marr Picture and Article by: Tim Lynch What jobs did you have before working here? “I started teaching in 1964 in the Brooklyn Junior High at that time. If you can believe it or not, it was Latin. I then moved from Latin, after about seven or eight years to English and became Department Chair in English for the next eighteen to twenty years. Then I moved into administration and became their Assistant Principal until I retired in 2003. I took the summer off, then I went up to Marianapolis in Thompson. I got a little part-time job in English. That lasted one year, then I became full-time for five years, ending up with the last two being their assistant headmaster. Then I ended here in 2008. That takes care of my educational situation.” Why did you decide to become a teacher? “I thought I would like to go into industry first, and I started back in 1964...I was fired as a Latin teacher in December of 1963/1964. I thought I’d give it a shot, and I fell in love with it. After that first sojourn into teaching Latin and a couple of English classes, they asked me to stay on full-time, and I did! As the years have gone by, I’ve noticed, if I can look back on it over the past forty years, being around kids, working with kids has kept me very young, and I just enjoy their enthusiasm about life. I think I have something to offer them. That’s why I’m still in it today.” What’s your favorite book? “Probably the one I’m reading now. I like reading all kinds of books. I’m reading Pat Conroy’s South of Broad, but I must say, the one that REALLY got my attention was a recent book I read by Ken Follett called The Pillars of the Earth was a tremendous book. Then I read the sequel, which was called World Without End. You can read them interchangeably, but they’re both excellent books. This one by Jack Conroy is an enjoyable book. The man simply has a fluency with the English language that borders on poetry.” Do you speak more than English and Latin? “I used to be able to speak Latin fluently, but I haven’t had an opportunity to use it for a long time, so it’s locked away in one of my memory banks until the day comes when I have to use it again. I don’t think it would take long to get it back. As a child I used to speak French, but that went away as well. So right now, English is my only tongue.” So you learned French as a child? “My native language is French. Until I went to school at age five, all I could speak was French. I can remember bits and pieces of my father speaking to me, and his mouth is moving, but the sounds make no sense to me. I couldn’t speak English. My father could only speak English though, so he took my mother aside, and had the ‘conversation’ with her, because I was his first-born, and he wanted to be able to speak to his son. Unfortunately they didn’t raise me to be bilingual, so eventually after a year or so, I stopped speaking French and spoke entirely English.” So where were you raised? “I was born in Rumford, Maine, which is a little paper town in Northwest Maine. Great place to be raised as a child. I grew up as a teenager in the 50s there. Which was when America made really neat cars. And we drove every one of them. It was a wonderful time growing up.” You have an interest in automobiles? “I love cars. I’ve always loved cars. I have several of my own, and I take loving care of them. I have a vintage 1973 TR-6 which I keep in my garage. Because I don’t drive it much, I’m probably going to sell it. I also have a couple of motorcycles. My wife and I started riding bikes about six years ago, and we find that’s a lot of fun. So the TR-6 has taken a backseat. We also do boating, we have a nice twenty four-foot boat, and we trailer that around from lakes to rivers to any place that fits our fancy. So that’s a lot of fun.” Have you ever done theatre? “I have! When I was in college, I did a lot of theatre, acting, a couple of plays we produced as college kids. When I first taught at Brooklyn, for the first five to eight years, I was the director of their school plays. I enjoy theatre, and being involved with the acting part of it. So yeah, I have.” Page 15 Where did you attend college? “A college in Canada, actually. In the province of Prince Edward Island, at a little school called St. Dunstan’s University. The reason I went there, when I was looking at schools, my mother and father without a lot of money said, “You know, you could look at St. Dunstan’s University”, and I looked at it, and it was amazingly cheap. It was about $700 a year, which today sounds like chump change. At the time it was a good opportunity for me. I was able to work at the paper mill in the summers making excellent money, and then save enough to pay for two or three years of college. So I went to Prince Edward Island, and I had a wonderful time. I still have some friends up there, and I go up every ten years or so just to see who’s still alive. It’s a great trip and the island is a beautiful place.” What’s your favorite movie? “I have a couple. The most recent movie which I found just awe-inspiring with the special effects was Avatar. I went to see it twice. I never go to the movies twice. I also am a huge James Bond fan, particularly the older ones that star Sean Connery, who’s one of my favorite actors. I like him in any movie. He made a movie along with a couple of other people called A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which I enjoyed so much, I bought it. I watch that from time to time.” Do you have any last comments for the student body? “I do. This is my second year at Plainfield High, and I would like to publicly commend the student body and the staff for being a wonderful bunch of kids and teachers, and I thank them for making my sojourn here being absolutely wonderfully enjoyable, and I look forward to coming to this place every day.” “I look forward to coming to this place every day.” When Bullies Attack Commentary By Thomas Murphy Schools seem serious again about bullying. Recent headlines of teen suicide due to bullying, has schools employing programs to prevent the issues of bullying. But if you look at today's cases of violence in schools with past events, they’re very similar. Odds are that schools are preaching but it will mostly be all talk and no action. There have been numerous amounts of school violence throughout the years and schools seem to find a new excuse for the reason why every time one is broadcast to the public. The recent headline that has people talking about bullying in schools is the recent teen suicide of Phoebe Prince. She moved from Ireland to Boston with her mother and her three sisters. While attending South Hadley High, she allegedly endured relentless bullying by a group called the “Mean Girls.” Nine teens from the school harassed and stalked Phoebe, calling her explicit names on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook, and Formspring. Phoebe Prince The reasoning for the treatment was because Phoebe was supposedly in relations with a popular football player at school, and people took offense. She was tormented for seven months until on January 14, she was found in her home by her younger sister, hanging from her stairwell. She was still wearing her school clothes. October 1 1997, Pearl, Mississippi; sixteen-year-old Luke Woodham’s girlfriend dumps him. The next morning he wakes up, kills his mother and steals her car. He then proceeds to his school, where he shot and killed his girlfriend, her friend and shot seven other people until the school principal stopped him in the school parking lot. Luke was just getting back into his mom’s car. He explained to his principal that the world had wronged him and he just couldn't take it anymore. "I killed because people like me are mistreated every day," he said. "I did this to show society: Push us and we will push back." On March 29 2007, Eric Mohat, seventeen, was harassed so mercilessly in high school that when one bully said publicly in class, "Why don't you go home and shoot yourself, no one will miss you." He did, with a single gunshot to the head. Eric was a quiet but likable boy, who was involved in theater and music. He was called “gay”, “fag”, “queer” and “homo” in front of teachers in class and they didn’t take any action to prevent the bullying. "I did this to show March 12 1987, twelve-year-old Nathan Ferris, brought a pistol to school. He was bullied consociety: Push us and stantly by another student about his rather large size: he was known as the overweight loner. He carried the we will push back." Luke Woodhams pistol around for seven days until he actually used it. Before the day he drew the weapon, he warned a student not to come to school the next day. The student didn't believe him and said nothing to anyone. The next day, when the bully humiliated him in front of the class, he drew the pistol and fatally shot the boy. He then shot himself immediately after. Many people look at school violence as an event that happens every so often, but it happens on a regular basis. Then when something like the Prince suicide happens, the aftermath seems to affect every school within the country. Schools compare themselves with other schools, asking many questions, but the main question is whose fault is it? The finger is pointed at schools, parents, and of course Marilyn Manson, but eventually the topic of the cause dies out and people forget until it happens again. Page 16 Senior Spotlight Making Their Mark...Literally! Article and Picture By: Mary Dixon Here are some hints about two senior girls who attend Plainfield High School, try and see if you can figure out whom I am talking about! One of them went from being a cheerleader for seven years to being one of the best female track and field throwers in Connecticut. One of them stopped playing basketball, switched to track, and now holds some very impressive records. They are close friends yet give each other some tough competition. They both throw discus, shot put and hammer. One more hint, they are also two of the captains for the girls volleyball team! Do you know whom I am talking about? I am taking about Kayla Robitaille and Stephanie Charron! When it comes to track and field, Stephanie Charron is one athlete that may be intimidating to go up against. Even though she didn’t start track as soon as she came to high school, she has definitely made some notable marks. She throws the eight pound shot-put thirty four feet two inches, the discus 111 feet five inches, even though she just started throwing hammer she has already hit a mark of ninetyStephanie Charron and Kayla Robitaille. three and during indoor with the weight throw she hit twenty eight feet eleven inches. Before you think that that is not very far, incase you don’t know the weight throw is twenty pounds. It is clear that she is one of the top throwers at Plainfield but she says “it doesn’t really make me feel any different, to me, I’m not good enough.” Even though she doesn’t consider her and her boyfriend Josh Choquette a power couple it’s become more and more clear that they are both very talented and hard working athletes. She says “we’re both very stubborn and I hate when he tells me what I am doing wrong.” She hopes to finish off with thirty six feet in shot put, 130 feet in discus and 120 feet in hammer. Even though she competes against one of her good friends, Kayla Robitaille, she says “I don’t feel any strain. We have been friends since preschool- we are just there to critique each other and push one another. She wins shot, I win disc.” I asked her if she ever feels pressure to do a good job when she is throwing and she replied “I do feel pressure. Last year I was expected to win ECCs (Eastern Connecticut Conference) in disc and once I fouled all three of my throws people look at you and say, ‘I thought she was good?’” When it comes to the 2010 outdoor track team, Stephanie feels that the freshman have become more and more disrespectful of senior and captains but the throwers are a fun group she says that just keep Stephanie throwing shot- put. your eyes open in the sector and you’re all set. Like many others Stephanie feels that Coach Park and Bowne are a lot of fun. She states that “they know what they are doing and will push you to your limits, but it all pays off eventually.” She admits that going to school, having a job and participating in sports all school year long stresses does stress her out when it comes to money. “Sports get in the way of me being able to work. I only work one to two days a week.” She is very happy with the decision she made to switch from basketball to track. She says “she is more successful in track and it has opened many doors for me.” Track and field is not the only sport Stephanie excels in. She was also the setter for Plainfield High’s volleyball team, which made it all the way to states. Stephanie is not just an athlete however, she also focuses on her academics and after graduating Stephanie will be attending the University of Rhode Island and majoring in kinesiology. I asked her what interests her in that major and she replied “working with athletes and helping people feel better.” When asked looking back at your four years of high school what are some of the things you are going to remember the most? She said “I will remember the good times during the summer with everyone and how successful our 2009 volleyball season was.” With determination and drive Stephanie getting many people predict that Stephanie Charron will continue to excel. ready to set. Continued on next page! → Senior Spotlight Continued Page 17 Kayla Robitaille was a cheerleader who after seven years of cheerleading and receiving the ECC all-star award wanted to try something new switched to track. Kayla now stands amongst some of the most talented female athletes in high school. Not only does she throw thirty four feet for shot put, over 110 feet in discus and hammer she is also one of the hitters on Plainfield High School’s volleyball team. She hopes for finish off the 2010 outdoor track season throwing thirty-five feet in the shot put, 126 feet in discus and ninety-five feet in hammer. When asked what are some pros and cons of being an athlete in high school Kayla states that the pros are you meet people and make a lot of friends, you feel good winning and you get in good shape. Some cons are it takes up a lot of your time and energy and the meets are pretty long. After discovering how Stephanie feels about competing against her friend is decided to ask Kayla if she feels tension in their friendship competing against each other she says “Steph and I are very competitive and I don’t think we get mad at each other when the other wins, we just get mad at ourselves that we didn’t do better.” Kayla says that looking back at her four years of high school, she will definitely remember all the good memories with all of her friends, all the fun she had, and all the accomplishments she has made on her sports teams. She is also going to remember winning homecoming queen. She feels it was one of the most exciting moments of her life and she will never be able to forget that feeling. Even though Kayla does not know what she will be majoring in, in college she plans on attending Eastern because it is close to home. She says she can commute if she has to however she is hoping to walk on to their volleyball team in the fall. She feels that “people change their majors all the time in college anyways so I’ll figure it out when I see what I enjoy doing in college.” Kayla hitting. After getting to be teammates with Stephanie and Kayla for two years during volleyball, indoor and outdoor track I can honestly say that they are Kayla throwing shot-put. not like most high school girls. They are extremely talented athletes that don’t let their talent go to their heads; they still maintain their true personalities, they are down to earth and fun to be around. Panthers In the Outfield By: Nick D’Amico When you start reading this, don't’ freak out. I don’t watch baseball. Now don't try to find me and kill me because I don't watch one well known sport. I decided to write about our own baseball team and interview the coach, Mr. Schiffner. As a coach, how do you feel about your team succeeding this year? We are going through some growing pains, but most importantly the players are improving each day and that is very important to a coach. Who do you believe is your best player? We have several very good players, very difficult to say who is the best is. We like the team concept first. Do you lose any players to the golf team? I didn’t know we had a golf team. Just Kidding. No, we didn’t lose any players to the golf team. Nate Bedard, Dustin Yaworski and the Bear Have you gained any players since last season? Have you lost any? New players to the varsity this year are Barry Maily, Conor Boisse, Connor Green, Nate Bedard, and Josh Biron. What was the most successful team at Plainfield? We have done very well over the years. I think overall we have been a successful program during the years that I have been head coach. Are there any problems with any of your players? I have no problems with this team, it is made up of very nice young men who are working hard and trying to get better as baseball players. How important is it to you to win the entire season? Winning is always fun, but watching players working hard and trying to get better is just as rewarding when you put it all in perspective. Do you think you might make it to the state playoffs? I don’t think this is not going to be an out year, but I think if the guys continue to work hard through out this year and have a good summer, we could have a respectable team next year. Any final words? I have really enjoyed working with this group, we don’t have any super stars, but we have solid players who are willing to make sacrifices and work hard. Page 18 Sports You’re Gowin Down Interview and Pictures by: Shelby Langlois With a record of 114 strikeouts and counting, Shannon Gowin helps bring the Panthers Softball team to a current standing of eight wins and three losses. Softball coach, Mr. Langlois says, “In softball, a pitcher can pitch every game, and if you have a good pitcher you can depend on her. You pretty much know what you’re going to get every time out. She’s excellent; she’s gotten better every year and that’s what you look for in a player. You’re looking for them to want to be there, and she does. She’s willing to take the ball every day and go out and help us win” “Help Us Strike Out Breast Cancer” Recently, the softball team raised money and awareness for breast cancer. Their collection of $685.79 went to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure. “The main goal was to have them give back to the community in some way. We also wanted to bring awareness to breast cancer and its effects on our community” - Coach Langlois How’s softball so far? It’s going very well; we’ve improved in many areas. How long have you been on varsity? Since freshman year, so three years. What got you interested in softball? My sister played softball and I wanted to follow in her footsteps when I was younger. What gets you ready for the softball season? Well, I don’t necessarily stop, I play all year round. How do you feel about the Plainfield team? We’ve gotten a lot better and there’s far less drama which means we all get along very well. How do you feel when you pitch very well? I feel great…and excited! How have the last two games gone? We did very well and had great hits to earn runs. Are you going to make state play offs? If we keep up what we’re doing now, I’m sure we will! What are you goals as a team? TO BEAT GRISWOLD, definitely! And to go to states. What has playing softball taught you about life? If you try hard enough you will succeed. What do you like to do besides softball? Hang out with friends of course. Who is your inspiration? My Dad and my Mom. They’re always there for me and cheering me on. Do you see yourself pursuing softball outside of high school? If I make a college team, then yes. What’s your favorite part about softball? I don’t really have a favorite part. I like winning and striking batters out. What is your best experience of being on the team? Beating Griswold freshman year and making fun of Dan and Langlois!! Yankees or Redsox? YANKEES! :D Page 19 Ska-tch Tape For My Broken Heart By Ashleigh Daigle The underground genre of Ska. The best way to describe Ska music would be punk rock with a brass section: trumpets and trombones galore. The style is fun, catchy, and just full of energy. Here at Plainfield High School, there’s one teacher who knows Ska better than anyone else: Kevin Mariano. Mr. Mariano teaches history, but he’s also the trumpet player for the five piece ska band Chasing Trinity. The band has been together since their high school days when they were using the name Johnny Under 9. The name went through some changes as did the band. Chasing Trinity formed in 1999, while Mariano joined in 2004. He had heard a lot about them through high school access programs and had worked with their singer Jordan at Cross Sound Ferry in New London. Their unique sound allows them to play with any band at any venue. “Life is really structured,” says Kevin Mariano, “the way that I see it, it’s all about having fun, enjoying yourself and being whom you are. We’re all different and our personalities come out in the music.” As for lyrical content of the songs, Bryan Briggs, the drummer, said “We write songs about everything from war to girls to random stuff like the Laundromat to getting fired.” They’ve already put out two albums and their third album, Sexy, Stylish, Thriller, is nearly finished. They’ve even done a collab album with New London’s own Hand Grenade Serenade called New London Calling. They’ve been on more than one compilation including More Bang For Your Buck. They’ve been in countless newspapers and Bryan Howard or “Howie” the bass and backup vox for the band, describes the name for the band as chasing the rockers’ holy trinity. Everyone has a vice, and for Mr. Mariano, it’s his band. “It’s definitely my sanity and a huge part of who I am.” The band had been on hiatus with playing shows, but played on April 16th with a comeback show at the Oasis. But sadly enough, Chasing Trinity has no up and coming shows… at the moment. We’re anticipating the return of more Chasing Trinity. The band usually gets together on Monday nights. “It’s a structured time for us all to get together,” says Mariano. Chasing Trinity is also up for an award this year, red carpets and all, for the best Ska band from New London County. The Whale Awards is on May 29th, and hosted by WailingCity.com. This event is the New London equivalent of the Grammy’s. The awards will take place at The Hygienic Art Park at 8pm, with a pre-show red carpet special starting at 7pm. If you head on over to WailingCity.com, you can cast your votes for Chasing Trinity for the best Ska band. It’s always best to end with a quote and Mr. Mariano won’t disappoint. “I’m certainly proud of my band, but I’m not bragging.” They’re currently working with PWOP Studios to have the best sound for their new album. The money they earn for shows helps to pay for their recording time. They’re certainly a band that will rock your socks off, if you’re wearing socks that is. “We write songs about everything from war to girls to random stuff like the Laundromat to getting fired.” -Bryan Briggs Page 20 School Events The Price We Pay http://www.canpages.ca/ by Ron Benoit Proms are fast approaching and while most are probably all done with their major purchases (tuxedos and dresses), there are a few pieces of information everyone needs to remember. Disregard what you’ve seen in movies and on the television because you don’t need to break the bank just for your prom. When it comes to transportation, people ultimately assume: limousine. Limos cost an exorbitant amount of money and while it is very classy, it’s generic too. If limousine service is your choice of transportation to the prom, consider pooling in the limo with friends. It cuts the cost down immensely and still have the decadent atmosphere of a fancy limo. And considering the fact that transportation can range from $400 up to even $2000, which is the primary source of big bills after prom. Pooling with a group of friends will let you divide the cost amongst one another, turning that $50 per person for five people, down to $25 a person for ten people to ride along. Now, forgive me if I hit a soft spot, but spending an upwards of $300+ on an article of clothing for a small event is outstanding. That’s almost the price of most limos. Just think, $300 dollars for something you will wear once...doesn’t seem to be a smart idea. Students want to go all out and end their senior year and prom with a bang, but when money is thrown away so easily, do you think back at your expenses? That will pay for a car, insurance, cell phone bill—you name it. Look for deals, it’s like shopping for a car. If the price isn’t what you want to spend, move on. There are plenty of tuxes and dresses out there. The cost will vary where you shop; go to department stores like Macy’s if you have to. On top of those two big expenses you have the cost to get hair styled, nails done, tans (if you’re into that), teeth whitening, souvenir photographs, corsages and boutonnieres just to name a few. The senior prom this year ends pretty early at around 10:30 or so. And what do you expect to do after, go home? I don’t think so! Make the night even more memorable. Go eat and hang out at the casino, just don’t think your night’s going to end early. You’ll probably go hanging out with a group of friends or to an after party where you’ll reminisce about the prom and just hang out. More expenses to add onto more expenses. Post party gatherings aren’t cheap, especially if you’re the social host. All that money equals a large bill and a lot of man hours at a part time job. It takes me, personally, sixty hours every two weeks just to take home a $450 paycheck...and it isn’t easily earned. Prom is supposed to be that memory everyone looks back on to laugh and remember. So, you mustn’t forget why you’re truly there: to have a blast and a memorable experience you can always look back on. The splendor you get from friends and other acquaintances commenting about your dress or tux will dissipate quickly. You’re going to get there, eat, drink, dance, and be merry. You’ll soon forget about how important you look and enjoy your time. The senior ball is taking place at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Ledyard, not even a mile away from MGM and Foxwoods. The ball will be on June 11th, so prepare now, the days are getting shorter. http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/ The following are the answers to the Guess The Facial Hair game on the third page! Number 1: Mr. Emmi Number 2: Adam Main Number 3: Richie Smith Number 4: Mr. Riley Number 5: Ryan “Red” Coady Number 6: Mr. Adams Number 7: Ashleigh Daigle Number 8: Mr. D Number 9: Brandon Godfrey Number 10: Mr. Farrish Number 11: Zac Standeford Number 12: Andrew Fortier Number 13: Mr. DiGiacomo Number 14: Abraham Lincoln Number 15: Mr. Bowne Number 16: Mr. Greene Number 17: Mr. Haas Number 18: Josh Byrd Cinco De Mayo in Mr. D’s Room! Fun Pages Page 22 New Music To Sink Your Teeth Into Kris Allen: A pop-rock artist who recently won American Idol. Album: Self Titled Wale: Up and coming hip hop artist with an interesting name. (Olubowale Victor Akintimehin) Album: Album Attention Deficit Song to look for: for “Let It Loose” ft. Pharrell Williams Sounds like: like Gucci Mane Song to look for: “Live Like We’re Dying” Sounds like: like Gavin DeGraw Four Year Strong: A rock group to keep an eye on in this year’s Warped Tour. Album: Enemy of the World Song to look for: “It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now” Sounds like: like A Day To Remember www.krisallenofficial.com www.underthegunreview.net upload.wikimedia.org Five Sure Ways To Put A Spring In Your Step Get off of the internet, sign off of Facebook, and actually go outside. It’s beautiful out! Indulge yourself with cool treat when it’s hot out by heading on down to Hanks Dairy Bar or Ra-Ra’s! Get a sweet tan over the weekend, come back on Monday pretending you just came back from the Bahamas! Put down the controllers and invest in an outdoor hobby such as mountain biking or kayaking! Catch up on some much needed Zzz’s that you missed trying to study for that algebra test. Page 23 Art News Advertisement by: Beckay Demuth Photos by: Mrs. Dobrocki Dates and Times Ashley Dumaine’s first place winner in the voice of democracy art form contest. Her painting will be judged on the national level! Pieces by: Greg Burlingham Kristin Musser • Friday May 14: 5pm– 7pm • Saturday May 15: 12pm– 7pm • Art created by students will be spread though the school cafeteria and top level hallways. Cassie Blanchette working on a painting using a skeleton example. Cara Cote Kristin Musser Page 24 Footloose! Featuring Eddie Krauss as “Ren” and Chelsea Merritt as “Ariel” Where the Plainfield High School Auditorium When Thursday, May 13 at 7pm, Friday, May 14 at 7pm Saturday, May 15 at 1pm and 7pm Ticket Prices $5 for Students and Seniors $8 for Adults Footloose T-Shirts One Line Ads $10 $1 Purchase your tickets and buy your t-shirts now during all four lunches or with Mrs. Turenne in the Main Office!!!
