INSIDE THIS ISSUE News - Schodack Central School District

January 2016
The Voice of Maple Hill High School Students
A Not So Winter Wonderland
Best and Worst of 2015
We surveyed all Maple Hill High School students
to determine what the highlights were and what
fell short in 2015:
Best TV Show:
1. The Walking Dead
2. Bob’s Burgers
3. How I Met Your Mother
by Phil Finkle
As many of you may have noticed, winter had a delayed
takeoff this year. With Christmas of 2015 being the hottest
in New York’s history, arriving at a surprising 74 degrees,
it’s obvious that something’s up.
That something is called El Niño, literally translated as the
Child of Jesus, due to the pool of warm water and air occurring right around Christmas. El Niño only occurs when
the Pacific Ocean trade wind dies out and ocean temperature becomes unusually warm. This will continue to mess
with the East Coast all winter.
Worst TV Show:
1. My 600 Pound Life
2. Pretty Little Liars
3. Supergirls
Best Movie:
1. Star Wars
2. Magic Mike XXL
3. Pitch Perfect 2
Worst Movie:
1. Star Wars
2. Antman
3. The Visit
see 2015 Continued on page 15
El Niño has impacted both Canada and the United States. In
Canada, there is reduced flooding due to the lower
amounts of snow, more icebergs impeding travel, ski areas
negatively affected, thin ice on the great lakes, and landslides/storms. While Canada may be having a rough winter,
America may have it worse. The Eastern Coast of the United States will have generally warm weather and not much
snow. However, the West Coast will be slammed with
storms, see crop damage, flooding, heavy precipitation, an
impact on the ski industry, and lots of runoff from all of the
snow.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
F
YI
2016
Olympics
2015 Gun
Crisis
p. 2-5
les
i
f
ro
P
Lt. Reickert
Superwoman
Mrs. Wood
p. 12-13
see Wonderland continued on page 14
ws
e
N
Same-Sex
Marriage
Legalized in
2015
p. 14
A
.
sc
Mi
&E
Winter
Fashion
Book &
Movie
Reviews
p. 6-11
Best and
Worst of
2015: Year in
Review
s
S
rt
o
p
Superbowl 50
years
later
JV Bball
Coach
p. 15
p.16-18
The Paw Print Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Kassidy Berger




Section Editors:
News: Skylar VanAlstyne
A&E: Allison Felts & Alysa Kelly
Sports: Kerry Golden
Contributors: Leah Coiteux,
Philip Finkle, Elvia Garcia,
Sarah Konig, Selena Lezama,
Maeve Morley,
Alaina Rossetti, Dylan Rossiter
Faculty Advisor: Miss Flood
Paw Print
Editorial Staff 2015-2016
The Paw Print
Editorial Staff
would like your
input to the school
newspaper this
year. If you see
news happening,
want to write a
feature or sports
story, or take
some photos,
please let any of us
know.
Keep current about school events!
Follow @MapleHill_HS on
Twitter!
A Note From Guidance...
A Junior student and parent information night will be held on February 3rd at 6:30 in
the high school auditorium. Important information about the college process, SATs,
ACTs and financial aid will be presented. This information will be very helpful to you as
you start or continue your college search.
Sophomores will have the opportunity to visit the Career and Technical Education
(CTE) programs for Junior and Senior year on March 1st. Any sophomore considering a
CTE program for next year must visit the program. Permission form are available in the
guidance office. Signed permission forms are due February 3rd.
$$SCHOLARSHIPS$$- Now until the end of the school year is a very busy time for
scholarships. Please check your email regularly from Mrs. Southard for announcements
of new scholarships available. They are also posted on the daily bulletin and all are available in the guidance office.
Page 2
2
FYI Columns
January/February 2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
25
26
Regents Exams
27
Regents Exams
28
Regents Exams
2nd Quarter
Ends
29
Regents Exams
Ski Club
@2:30
30
31
1
Last Day To Order Yearbooks
Booster Club Meeting
(7:00)
2
3
4
5
Report Cards
Distributed
Ski Club
@2:30
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Ski Club
@2:30
13
14
15
District Closed—
Presidents’ Day
16
17
No School
No School
Mid-Winter Break Mid-Winter
Break
18
No School
Mid-Winter
Break
19
No School
Mid-Winter
Break
Ski Club
@2:30
20
21
22
23
25
26
Ski Club
@2:30
27
24
Page 3
FYI
2016 Olympics
Destination: Rio de Janeiro
by Sarah Konig
2016…. the year of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics! The Olympic games
originated in ancient Greece 3,000 years ago. The games were reorganized in the 19th century and the world has been competing in The
Olympics ever since. They were originally held to honor the Greek God
Zeus, in Olympia, every four years. In 1896, the first modern day Olympics took place in Athens, with 280 participants from 13 nations, competing in 43 events. The Summer and Winter Olympic Games have been
held separately and alternate every two years, since the 1994 games. The
Olympics returned to Athens for the first time in a century, in 2004;
11,000 athletes from 201 countries competed in those games. The Olympics have really grown to show pride for their individual nations.
Rio de Janeiro, and all of the country of Brazil is spending $25 billion to
build the stadiums and dorms for the athletes. The spending is intended
to increase the nation’s prosperity, with all of the tourists coming to watch the events taking place. The World Cup
and The Olympics are described as “economic engines.” Brazil is fortunate to have the honor of hosting these spectacular sporting events within 2 years of each other.
The track and field stadium has been reporting problems without power due to unpaid bills. These bills were supposed to be paid for by a soccer club that has been playing at the stadium since the World Cup, back in 2012.
For this year’s Olympics, Brazil is forcing cut backs for the preparation of the games. They are reducing the use of
volunteers and there will also not be air conditioning in the athletes’ dorm rooms, unless it is being paid for by someone else. The budget cuts will not affect the sporting events themselves.
Excitement for the Olympic games is rising and will continue to rise until August 5, the opening day of the Olympics!
Page 4
FYI
2015’s Gun Crisis
by Alaina Rossetti
Unfortunately, 2015 seemed to be a year of
tragedy for America. After the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, President
Obama commented, “We have a pattern
now of mass shootings in this country that
has no parallel anywhere else in the world.”
Here’s a look at what America’s gun crisis
looks like, but please note this is not a
complete list:
December 2nd, 2015: San Bernardino, California: 14 dead, 21 wounded
Fourteen people were left dead after the shooting at an Inland Regional Center, at a open holiday party. The shooters were a husband and wife, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik. Malik was pledged to the Islamic state but
there was no evidence that the couple were part of any terrorist network. The two shooters were both shot and
killed in a gun battle with the police.
November 29nd, 2015: Colorado Springs, Colorado: 3 dead, 9 wounded
Gunman, Robert Lewis Dear, entered a Planned Parenthood and shot and killed three people. The people included
police Officer Garrett Swasey, Iraq war veteran Ke’Arre M. Stewart and Jennifer Markovsky, all three were adults
with two children of their own. Dear was arrested and put with police custody and is now being charged with minimum, life in prison without bail and maximum is the death toll.
October 1st 2015: Roseburg, Oregon: 9 dead, 9 wounded
Gunman, Christopher Sean Harper-Mercer, shot and killed nine people, eight being fellow students and one being a
teacher all at the Umpqua Community College. Harper-Mercer struggled with mental health issues and just recently
moved to Oregon from Southern-California. Harper-Mercer ended up shooting himself before authorities could
reach him.
July 16th, 2015: Chattanooga, Tennessee: 5 dead, 3 wounded
Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24 opened fire on two military facilities killing five people. Abdulazeez first went to
military recruiting center and then drove to a Navy-Marine training facility and opened fired before authorities shot
and killed him.
June 18th, 2015: Charleston, South Carolina: 9 dead
Twenty-one year old, Dylann Roof, shot and killed a total of nine people three of them men and and six of them
were women. Dylann Roof went to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and killed nine people. Roof went
and killed these people because of hatred towards African Americans. Dylann Roof then disappeared but was soon
caught and put under police authorities.
Page 5
Arts and Entertainment
What to Wear this Winter: Style Staples
by Allison Felts
As these last months of winter are coming to an end, so is your winter style. Sweaters, boots, and scarves can only be
worn for a few more months, and now's the time to be a trendsetter with your winter look. It is also the time to buy
“staple pieces,” which are clothes or accessories your style will revolve around. For example, a new pair of boots or a
purse is a staple because it will be worn a lot. The staple pieces you pick should go with the look you are trying to
send this winter. So if you have certain styles or brands you like, you should pick these when buying your staples. You
should also pick something you love and will use for a long time. Although you might want to pick the trendiest colors
or styles as staples to your wardrobe, you want something you won’t get tired of after a few
months. It’s still necessary to give your style a fresh start with trendy pieces, but maybe not
spend a lot on them.
Tall or short, heels or flats; it seems boots complete any winter look. Now is the time to buy
Hunter Boots, Dr. Martens, or any other boot that fits your style. These styles are super popular this winter, and both look great with bulky sweaters, scarves, and your winter coat. These
boots are a staple to your wardrobe, and will stand out from the crowd. Picking the style that
is right for you will make you a trendsetter, and they will reflect other pieces in your wardrobe. These new boots will definitely stand out, and I suggest looking at Nordstrom Rack for
them. Nordstrom Rack is in the Colonie Center mall, and has absolutely anything you will be
looking for this winter. They have amazing quality brand names, and you never know what
you’ll find. From hundreds of shoes to room decor, they have unique items that are anything
but mainstream.
Adding new & unique pieces to other parts of your wardrobe will give it a new
touch this winter! Trendy jewelry or accessories are not staple pieces, but still
add something new to your wardrobe. These chunky watches, statement necklaces, and rings are totally in style. What’s great about these accessories is that they
aren’t very expensive because they are part of the winter collections. In stores
now, the spring break lines are coming out, so the winter merchandise is going on
clearance. Now is the time to buy these accessories for your winter wardrobe!
Another staple piece that totally defines your wardrobe is your winter
coat. Trendier coats are also being clearanced right now because it hasn’t
been very cold this winter. Now’s the time to buy if you want the fur
hooded parka that everyone has, or a super sleek trench coat. Forever 21
has a fabulous selection of outerwear on clearance right now and they will
have something for everyone! The new additions to your wardrobe will
make you stand out from the crowd and for great prices. In store or
online; they will have something for you! It might be the time to leave behind the black North Face and move on to something new.
The key to your closet this winter are these trendsetting looks. Everyone
will be eyeing them; from your winter coat, to your rose gold watch.
Don’t forget to find the pieces that will make you feel the best. Feeling
good in your outfit makes you look even better! Hunting for the pieces
that will reflect your look is the fun in shopping and will definitely be
worth it. Don’t forget to watch the winter clearance prices drop because
that will be the best time to snatch next year's staples. Happy shopping!
Page 6
Arts and Entertainment
Book Review: The 5th Wave
by Amanda Kern
Cassie’s day started just as any other day would, but it would not
end just as any other would. The mothership arrived first, exactly
ten days before. It was spotted by a satellite passing Mars. During
those ten days, the world was in mayhem. What was it? Why was it
here? What’s going to happen? On that tenth day since the sighting
of the mothership, Cassie went to school as she had the day before,
but this time, school wouldn’t end the same as it had the day before.
The tenth day was the day the 1st Wave hit; a power outage, more
specifically an electromagnetic pulse hit. Phones stopped working as
did cars and planes, and there was no more electricity. Shortly after
the 2nd Wave hit; a huge, no, not huge, a ginormous tidal wave
washed the Earth. Cities within hundreds of miles of the coastlines
were wiped out. The survivors were frantic, no one knowing what
the next wave would bring. The 3rd Wave was gruesome, even
worse than the first two waves combined; infection plagued the
Earth. It starts out mild with a bad cough and fever, but then things
take a turn for the worst as blood is spat up. It was called the Red
Death or the Blood Plague or the Pestilence, the Red Tsunami, the
Fourth Horseman, people had several different names for it, but it
was all the same thing, a deadly infection, killing most of the remaining population. Those that survived eventually experienced the 4th
Wave, the arrival of the aliens; the Others or Teds as some called
them. Silencers, striking as quietly as possible, sneaking up without
warning. Since no one knows what they look like, how can the survivors trust anyone? That’s the first rule in the post arrival world,
trust no one. That becomes Cassie’s mindset once her little brother Sammy was taken away on a bus. But where did
the buses come from if no vehicle worked after the 1st Wave hit? From the day Sammy was taken away, Cassie makes
a promise to herself to find and rescue Sammy, all the while waiting for the 5th Wave to strike. Cassie puts her guard
down when she meets Evan Walker, a used to be farm boy before the Others decided to take over, and he takes care
of her. She then realizes that she’s broken the golden rule, trust no one. Conflicted, Cassie must make a choice; run,
since being alone seems the best way to go, or stay, and in doing so break the first rule of surviving. If she runs she’ll
be keeping true to herself, but could Evan be the key to finding and saving her little brother?
Rick Yancey takes you on rollercoaster in his book The 5th Wave, twisting and turning when you least expect it. You
think you know what’s happening or what might happen and the bam! Yancey changes direction and steers you off
course, leaving you to wonder how the story will turn out. Is Sammy still alive? Will Cassie be able to find her baby
brother? Is Evan Walker to be trusted? One minute you feel confident about what’s going on, the Yancey pulls you for
a loop and you now have no clue what’s happening. Throughout the whole book, Yancey keeps you on the edge of
your seat with every twist and turn, every up and down he throws at you. With every page there’s something new to
be learned as well as something you wouldn’t expect. Anyone with a love of reading about adventure and action
should consider adding The 5th Wave to their reading list. In addition, it is recommended you pick up a copy of The 5th
Wave and read it before heading to see the adaptation that hits theaters January 22nd.
Page 7
Arts and Entertainment
New Year, New Nothing
by Selena Lezama
It’s a New Year, 2016 is finally here! It's that time of the year where we all pull out a piece of paper and pen to
write down our New Year's resolutions and for some of us, this year’s resolutions are probably the same as last
year, or the year before that. Surprisingly, there is actually a reason as to why people make these resolutions at
every start of the new year.
Here is some insight:
How did the making of New Year’s resolutions begin?
According to History.com, the origin of making New Year’s resolutions began around 4,000 years ago. It is reported that the ancient Babylonians would make promises to the Gods in hopes they’d earn good favor in the
upcoming year. They would often vow to pay off their debts or return the farm equipment that they borrowed in
the previous year. Now we vow to lose a few pounds, spend less money or to become physically and mentally
better.
What's the secret to achieving your resolutions?
Let's be honest, trying to achieve your resolutions is really difficult. For the year of 2015, approximately 45% of
Americans made New Year’s resolutions, as stated by Statistic Brain. However, about 8% of those people were
successful in achieving their resolutions. So, what's the secret? It turns out that simply wanting to change is not
enough. According to the website “How Stuff Works,” the best way to be successful with your resolutions is to
share your resolutions with others. If you keep your resolutions a secret, no one is going to check up on you;
you would only become accountable for yourself.
However, don't let all these facts and statistics stop you from reaching your goals. You'll never know, 2016 may
be your year, and if it's not, you still have many more!
Page 8
Arts and Entertainment
Fuller House IN DA HOUSE
by Elvia Garcia
The coldest months of the year have arrived which means one of two things, indoors and Netflix. Bingeing on your
favorite Netflix series is probably the most relaxing thing to do on a cold below 40 degree day and I guarantee you
should add one Netflix series to your “to watch” list this winter season. Papa Danny, Uncle Jesse, and Uncle Joey return on the new spin off Fuller House on February 26. It’s been twenty one years since the last episode of Full House
was aired, but nothing has changed. “That magic you saw? It’s still there because it never stopped from the day we
ended the show,” John Stamos told PEOPLE Magazine. And indeed it was magic, with actors like Mary Kate and Ashley, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron, John Stamos and many more who led “Full House” to be one of the most watched
shows in the nineties. If you’ve never watched “Full House,” it focuses on a widowed father that has help from his two
hilarious roommates, Jesse and Joey with raising three Tanner daughters. Unfortunately, in “Fuller House” neither
Mary Kate Olsen or Ashley Olsen will be on the show portraying America’s favorite “Michelle Tanner.” Executive producer Bob Boyett, tells PEOPLE that Ashley would feel uncomfortable acting seeing as the last time she acted was
when she was seventeen and both twins are jammed pack with their busy schedules. But no worries, “Fuller House” is
still said to be a non-stop watch. This time, this spin off follows D.J. {Candace Cameron Bure} raising her three sons
with the help of her sister {Jodie Sweetin} and her best friend, Kimmy {Andrea Barber}. Throughout the season, you’ll
also see your favorite family members Aunt Becky, Danny, Joey and Jesse come out to play. When Netflix released
their first official teaser on YouTube, social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook blew up with posts about
their excitement to see the “nostalgic future”.
Page 9
Arts and Entertainment
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS!
by Selena Lezama
Hint: All the words correspond with the topic of winter. Good luck!
1. lkwnsfaeo _______________________
2. tmniset _________________________
3. egerznif ________________________
4. gdndlsie ________________________
5. tho athlccoeo ____________________
6. bsotritfe _______________________
7. nmwoasn _______________________
8. rfsmaufe _______________________
9. vhelso _________________________
10. myhprateiho ____________________
ANSWERS:
1. snowflake 2. mittens 3. freezing 4. sledding 5. hot chocolate
6. frostbite 7. snowman 8. earmuffs 9. shovel 10. hypothermia
Page 10
Arts and Entertainment
A Review of The Revenant
by Elvia Garcia
The Revenant begins with a tale so unbelievable it may be true. My sources say just as much. Director Alejandro
González Iñárritu has spun a film so incredibly wild and vivid that it brings this old folk's tale to modern day viewers about fur trappers in the West before it was ever tamed. Gonzalez’ use of natural lighting in Canadian and
Argentinian landscapes not only served the purpose to set the film in the harshest winter conditions in the Mississippi but sets the tone for a dark and ancient land where the unknown was still relatively feared and those who
ventured out west were pioneers. The story focuses on Hugh Glass, the valiant protagonist of the story who is an
exceptionally “ordinary” fur trader trying to make it back home with his companions and his half Pawnee son,
Hawk. This one hundred and sixty minute film’s focal point tells the story about Glass’ revenge against John Fitzgerald, the vile, antagonist {Tom Hardy}. Throughout his journey, Glass encounters himself with remarkable
events including a bear attack, and confrontations with a Native American tribe looking for their daughter. A film
so extraordinary exceptional you will start to believe that you are with Glass in every scene of the film.
Perhaps this is the film that will lead Leonardo DiCaprio on the way to Oscar success. After all, it already landed
him the Best Actor Award, Drama at the 2016 Golden Globes. DiCaprio obviously takes his career as an actor
seriously and social media has taken notice. A meme that social media has propagated in recent years mocks DiCaprio for the lengths he goes to assimilate into his role. This film was no exception. The film portrays a man
struggling with the elements, with man and with himself. A struggle that lead him to take shelter in the warmth of
a horse carcass, a scene the Lenardo did not skimp. Leonardo himself spent a night in the animal carcass along
with countless scenes of rushing in and out of horribly frigid waters. The film script circulated for a couple of
years before actually being picked up by DiCaprio, most likely due to the rugged scenes they had to prepare. As
aggressive and violent as this movie is, every second watching the film keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what life threat will happen next. Although this movie is incredibly well filmed, beware, it isn’t for those
who are easily scared.
Page 11
Profiles
Dad by Day, Enforcer by Evening
by Phil Finkle
Between being a father by morning, hunter and fisher by evening, and Lieutenant by
night, this man has a full plate. Lieutenant John Reickert has been working with the
Schodack Police Department for 19 years. He is second in command and has more
responsibilities than can be named. Lieutenant Reickert oversees all daily operations
of the agency, including training, the vehicle fleet, makes public appearances when
the chief is unavailable, makes sure all regulations are followed by officers, and oversees the sergeants who keep watch on the patrolmen. But where did this all begin?
Over 22 years ago, Lieutenant Reickert attended Unity College for a year and then
transferred to Hudson Valley Community College for his remaining year to get his
degree in criminal justice. Straight out of college, Lt. Reickert started working with
the Schodack Police force as a part time officer working once to twice a week. After
about a year of working the gig, he started to think about what he really wanted to
do as a career. After thinking back to his father being a state trooper for over twenty years, he knew what he wanted to do. He was finally recruited as a full time officer. He continued working as a full time officer for 10 years until his hard work was
recognized and a promotion to Sergeant came about.
“My most memorable positive moment while working with the Schodack police was doing CPR on an infant and bringing the child back to life,” says Lieutenant Reickert. After over 18 ½ years, this past May, John Reickert was promoted
to Lieutenant. As many may know, Lieutenant Reickert is also the one to often respond to any problems within Maple
Hill High School. He believes that the largest problem within the school is drug and alcohol use. According to Mr.
Reickert, all schools, big and small, have very similar problems. To work against this drug and alcohol abuse, kids need
to be educated to stay away from certain substances. Many kids experiment with drugs and leave them behind, however many can’t work through the curiosity and end up being hooked.
While many may know about Lieutenant Reickert’s career with the police force, many do not know that he also works
with S.W.A.T. He started in 1999 as a “grunt” and has recently been promoted, taking over for the senior most member, as a tactical commander of the 14 people in the “shared services group”. S.W.A.T., standing for Special Weapons
And Tactics, deals with many issues that the police force cannot. Lieutenant Reickert works with neighboring police
stations as well. For example, our interview was scheduled for December 10th, however a homicide occurred in Valatie, and Lieutenant Reickert responded to help out. He was asked to bring his department out onto the roads to look
for the suspect whose vehicle description was given. There is a shared agreement or “pact” between adjacent towns
and counties to assist in times of need. Lieutenant Reickert was one of the first officers to arrive and push the vehicle
off of the road into the parking lot of Dunkin Donuts in East Greenbush.
I asked Officer Reickert what advice he had for someone who wanted to go into the field of Criminal Justice. His response was to “do your research”. You need to have goals. Don’t just claim that you want to be a cop or do something within law enforcement. Ask yourself where you would like to see yourself in 5 to 10 years, and just don’t get
ahead of yourself.” Seeing as how much I look up to anybody that protects civilians and even our country, I asked Lieutenant Reickert what his opinion on all of the police hate going on right now. “It’s all just the vocal minority that is getting their fifteen minutes of fame. Most of our country supports our efforts.” Lieutenant Reickert believes that there
are good and bad sides to the profession of criminal justice, and often the media likes to highlight the bad. While some
civilians in the U.S. don’t believe that law enforcement is looking to keep us safe, without the men and women that put
their lives on the line everyday, life would be anarchy. Lieutenant Reickert will continue to do his best to keep the citizens of Schodack safe and assist the local community with any issues.
Page 12
Profiles
Local Hero: Wonderwoman Mrs. Wood
by Selena Lezama
“Wow! What was that?” A strange human like figure flies across the sky.
“Woah! Look there it goes again!” This time the kids got a better glimpse of the figure. The figure
looked like a woman with a red, velvety cape with a determined facial expression.
Just a few minutes have passed from the last sighting and the figure lands in front of the kids. The
kids were puzzled. Together, in unison, they say, “Mrs. Wood?”
Just kidding.
Mrs. Wood isn't a comic book heroine, however she is one to many members of our community.
She is respected by many people in this community for all of the outstanding things she has done
to help others.
As a child, Mrs. Wood was raised to always be respectful to other people. Her parents, especially her mother, inspired her
to always help others. “You never know when it could be you who needs help,” Mrs. Wood said. She first began by helping
at her church, now she helps whenever and wherever. As she was growing up, she wanted to become a lawyer to help
prove people not guilty and live their lives to the fullest. However, while she was attending Siena College to become a lawyer, within 6 to 8 months of her sociology class, she knew she wanted to pursue a career as a social worker. These collegiate studies brought her to where she is today, a social worker for Maple Hill.
In previous years, Mrs. Wood was only a social worker for the high school, but with Mrs. Owen’s
recent retirement, she now works between the high school and the middle school. Before, she
only worked with around 80 to 100 kids a year, now she works with an estimated 200 kids a year.
But this number difference has not stopped her from forgetting what she loves the most, helping
people. In fact, she has taken over the Adopt-a-Family Program and recently began the Backpack
Program this year with Mr. Frese. These programs help families receive the right resources to live
a better life. She really enjoys this change because as she works with the middle school kids they
will feel more comfortable with her as they grow up to become high schoolers. Even though some
may see her as a heroine who works single-handedly, she still receives help from community
groups and programs, such as the Anchor and Concerns U. In return, the community is very
thankful for her work.
If the news hasn’t reached you yet, Mrs. Wood was chosen this fall by the Schodack Faculty Association to be Teacher of
The Year. Every year, the faculty chooses the most superb teacher in the District to be given the award, and this year Mrs.
Wood won. This award has recognized Mrs. Wood for all the amazing things she has done for this district. She was even
noted for the sacrifices she has taken to help families in the community financially, such as sacrificing her “ability to park in
her own garage because it was full of five cent deposits,” as stated in the speech given by Mrs. Strock. However, when she
received this title, she was shocked. She says she does not like to be recognized. “Let me be a worker bee, not a Queen
bee,” she humbly stated. Mrs. Croft, who has known Mrs. Wood for a long time, most certainly believes that Mrs. Wood
deserves the award because she “really cares about people and she works hard to make things better.” So the next time
you see Mrs. Wood, take the time to congratulate her for the award and all of the things she has done to benefit the community.
No matter what her time card may say, she is never off the clock. No matter where she is or what she's doing, she will never stop doing what she loves. She will never stop helping kids and families live a better life. She will never stop sacrificing her
own time or her belongings to help charities. Mrs. Wood will never stop being the great person we all know her as. She is
truly one of a kind.
Page 13
News
Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in 2015
by Alaina Rossetti
Looking back at 2015, one of the main events that come
to mind was when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex
marriage in all fifty states. This particular event comes to
mind because it is such a great milestone in American
history, and as teenagers, we got to witness it and forever remember it.
The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all
fifty states on June 26th of 2015, with a decision of five
to four. All over America, people celebrated, waving the
iconic rainbow flag. The Supreme Court believed that the
right to marry shouldn’t just be between a man and a woman but should be open to anyone who wants to
get married.
As high school students, we were obviously around before
the legalization of same-sex marriage and we will remember
a time when it wasn’t always legal for people to marry
whomever they chose. But since it all happened in 2015, we
will always remember how hard our nation worked to get
to where we are currently. America is making steps to become as equal as we can and this was such a major step towards that goal.
Wonderland, continued from front page
According to the Weather Channel, this year will be considered, “The
Strongest El Niño on record since the beginning of the 20th century occurred during 1997-1998.” El Niño occurs every 2-7 years and will warm
the oceans for 6-18 months. In the spring, we will see very warm weather while the Western United States will see an exaggerated increase in
tornadoes and other storms. This is due to the fact that El Niño will last
straight through winter and spring. While I personally am very excited to
have a warm spring and not much snow, my sincerest apologies to all of
you skiers at Maple Hill that are feeling the effects.
Page 14
Year in Review
Best and Worst of 2015
Best Fast Food Restaurant:
Worst Song:
1. Wendy’s
1. “Hello,” Adele, “Same Old Love,” Selena Gomez, “Cool
2. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Five Guys (3-way tie)
for the Summer,” Demi Lovato (3-way tie)
3. Moe’s
2. “Bad Blood,” Taylor Swift
Best Overall Restaurant:
3. “Dear Future Husband,” Meghan Trainor
1. Olive Garden
Best Video Game:
2. Town Tavern
1. Fall Out 4
3. Kay’s Pizza and Panera (2-way tie)
2. Black Ops 3, FiFa16 (2-way tie)
Best Female Singer:
3. GTA 3
1. Adele
Worst Video Game:
2. Carrie Under1. Fall Out 4
wood, Selena Gomez,
2. Call of Duty
Taylor Swift, Beyonce
3. GTA, Destiny (2-way tie)
(4-way tie)
3. Demi Lovato
Best Netflix TV Series:
1. Orange is the New Black
Best Male Singer:
2. One Tree Hill
1. Justin Bieber
3. Jessica Jones, Making of a
2. Charlie Puth
Murderer (2-way tie)
3. Ed Sheeran, Luke Bryan MacMiller (3-way
tie)
Best App:
Best Fashion Trend:
1. Twitter
1. Leggings
2. Snapchat
2. Flannels, Joggers (2-way tie)
3. Pinterest
3. Converse
Worst Fashion Trend:
1. Joggers
2. Uggs, Man bun, sweatpants (3-way tie
3. Saggy pants
Worst App:
1. Twitter
2. Pinterest
3. Path
Best Sports Team:
1. Yankees
2. Patriots, Golden State Warriors (2-way tie)
3. Giants
Best Gift:
1. Money
2. iPhone
3. Polaroid Camera
Best Social Networking Program:
1. Instagram
2. Twitter
3. Snapchat
Best Song:
1. “Sorry,” Justin Bieber
2. “Hello,” Adele
3. “Wildest Dreams,” Taylor Swift
Page 15
Sports
Not Just A Coach
by Kerry Golden
Some of the coaches here at Maple Hill have been
around since the 80s, coaching year after year some of
the finest athletes. You might recall the year 2009, when
our boys’ basketball team went to states in Glens Falls.
Or maybe even that same year when the boys baseball
team won the state title? Does the name Jamie Schultz
bring back memories? Well if you did not already know,
the Tampa Bay Ray has an older sister who is also a Maple Hill alumni. Not only that, Holly Schultz or Rosenberger is now a coach for the girls JV basketball team as
well as an EMT and part of the Schodack Valley Fire Department. In addition, the assistant coach is also a Maple Hill grad and former basketball player, Sammi Vye, now Ayala. Recently I got to talk with her and ask her some questions about coming in and becoming part of the basketball
program.
1.What influenced your decision to become the girls’ JV basketball coach?
“After coaching girls JV soccer and modified track in previous seasons, I have had the opportunity to coach some of
the same girls who also play basketball. It was so enjoyable working with these athletes I couldn’t say no when the
opportunity arose. Coaching them for so many seasons and watching them grow is a privilege. Coaching different
grade levels and different sports gives me the opportunity to continue working with these outstanding women.
2. What are your goals for the season?
“Goals for the season are to improve everyone’s individual skills, promote teamwork and have an enjoyable winning
season.”
3. How has the season been going so far?
“Our season is going great, and surprisingly fast. We are more than halfway through our season and only continuing
to get better. Not only do we have a winning season, but overall our teamwork in games has improved. Win or lose
we play as a team.”
4. I know you played basketball when you were a student at Maple Hill, can you share some of your favorite memories?
“Coach Sam and I have played basketball together at Maple Hill for four years together. We always talk about the moments that stand out to us, and they all revolve around high school sports. Together as a team, we went through it all,
the workouts, the pasta parties before big games, pre game pep talks, the most glorious of wins and even soul crushing losses. Sports gave us a lifelong bond with my teammates and coaches. I find myself looking back at pictures and
awards and can’t help but smile and that’s what I want for all these girls. A positive memory on their 4 years in high
school. It’s something that you will never get back.”
5. What do you hope the girls take away from this season?
I coach because I want these young women to have a passion for the game. I want them to know the importance of
discipline, hard work, team effort, dedication, determination and to know how to win in not only sports, but life.
It is always nice to see MH graduates come back and visit, but it is a pleasure when they come back and get to coach.
The girls JV basketball team is currently 10-1-0 and wish Coach Holly and Coach Sam the best of luck with the rest of
their season!
Page 16
Sports
The Super Bowl… 50 Years Later
by Dylan Rossiter
What started out 50 years ago as a simple game between two competing American football leagues is now
known as the Super Bowl. Although this game has changed to more of a unofficial national holiday, it’s roots
have never changed. We still see the American Football
League champion battle the National Football League
champion each February.
Five decades ago, the game started out not as a bowl, but
simply was the First World Championship that featured a
35-10 victory for the Green Bay Packers over the Kansas
City Chiefs. Ironically, there's a chance that we could see
this match up in the 50th anniversary game this year.
As we all know, Super Bowl Sunday is merely more than a
game; it's a day of fun, food and family. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 1.25 billion chicken wings will be consumed
on February 12th (super bowl Sunday). I plan to consume
about a quarter of that amount!
The age of the fancy lights and BIG board acts is a far cry
from who performed in the first world championship 50
years ago. In that landmark game, we saw the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band & Grambling State
University Marching Band, Al Hirt, Anaheim High School Drill Team and Flag Girls, all take the field at
halftime. As the buzz surrounding the halftime action grew, so has the price for the TV rights.
For you and me that's a good thing, as it indirectly leads to all the fantastic commercials we see year in and year
out. Last year, a 30 second commercial cost a whopping 4 bucks. At that rate I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw
“The Donald” flash across our screens perhaps finding a way to alienate another group of Americans.
Also in our digital age, you can stream the game online for FREE starting at 6:30pm EDT. Yet don’t try streaming
it over cellular because you might have to take out a second mortgage to cover the cost of all the data.
If you dislike football, and the idea of watching it on TV seems foreign (yes there are people that actually do this)
you could always be like our very own Elvia Garcia who apparently went to the movies last year instead of
watching the BIG game. “We were the only ones there,” Elvia said. If you're not crazy about football but don’t
feel like seeing the latest Hollywood dream, Super Bowl Sunday is also a good day to go shopping or hit the
slopes. No matter what you end up doing on the 12th, “ I couldn’t do my homework because of the super bowl”
isn't a good enough excuse for not doing your homework (trust me, just ask Mrs. Balogh).
Page 17
Sports
Rossiter’s Round-Up
by D. Ross
We have Black Friday (now black thanksgiving) which is always full of deals and
people running into stores like chickens with their heads cut off to get a TV that
in 6 months will be outdated and vastly depreciated in value. And then we have
black Monday when the (4 letter word starting with s) hits the fan for the NFL
teams that couldn't figure it out the recipe for success that season. Typically it’s
a handful of sub par coaches that walk out of their respective team’s offices
holding their pink slips, but this year was more of a purge of the old to put it
nicely.
Firing people used to be something that happened in pro sports every few years and when it did no one really
payed any attention but lately it seems teams are more eager than Kim Jong-il to hit the read button and fire a
good member of the coaching staff. Now I know the head coach is very much responsible for the way the team
goes but let’s not forget that the head coach never has to go out and tackle someone.
All and all we saw 6 coaches get handed their pink slips just 4 days into the new year, Not including the dolphins
who fired their coach in the middle of the season. Some deserved it more than others, but the giants firing of
head coach Tom Coughlin shocked the conscience of your humble correspondent.
In his 10 years as head coach of the New York football Giants, Coughlin brought 2 Super Bowl championships to
THE BIG APPLE. Perhaps the most impressive part about those 2 championships is the fact that Coughlin did it
with teams that weren't even expected to make the playoffs. That same case of a bad team is something the 69
year old man has faced for nearly the past 3 seasons in which the Giants have failed to make the
playoffs. Coughlin may be good at making bad teams good, but not even Mother Teresa could heal everyone.
Coughlin who “resigned,” appears to be done with football in the NFL at least after he took his name out of the
running for Chip Kelly’s job in the city of brotherly love. Kelly who single handedly lead to his own demise in
Philly by way of a power grab, will now take over as head coach of the Santa Clara 49ers. My prediction is Kelly
will last not even 2 seasons with the hapless 49ers before returning back to college football.
Speaking of college football, how about that National Championship? Well I have to be honest with you I find
college football about as interesting as a box of rocks,
but that was one of the best football games I have ever seen. I wasn’t surprised that Alabama won, but I
didn’t expect Clemson to put up such a fight.
Well, that will do it for this month, but be sure to
check out mine and primetime Connor Hall’s coverage on the almighty The Cube.
Page 18
Seize the Day...It’s a Hit!
by Kerry Golden and Allison Felts
From the perspective of a participant: (Kerry Golden)
The night of January 8 was a huge night for 23 young performers as
they took their places at curtain call. There was only one thing on
their minds, could they pull off Seize the Day tonight after only three
short weeks? Based off of the crowd’s reaction and the hard work
put in by the cast, crew and directors the answer was a no brainer…
YES! That night 23 high school students from all different grades and
friend groups came together and performed 10 songs from various
Broadway musicals, including Wicked, Hair, American Idiot and other popular shows. Many of the students dedicated their entire winter
break and the week back to school following Christmas to the production; learning the songs and choreography.
The show started off this year with a few words from the very talented director, Emma Myers. As soon as she spoke, the audience
was immediately captivated and ready for the show to begin. Following Miss Myers’ words, the entire ensemble came out and sang
“Seize the Day” from the 2012 Broadway show, Newsies, which followed the theme of their cabaret. However, the entire show was not just singing and dancing. In between each of
the songs the narrator's: Kerry Golden, Noah Roberts and Kristin McInerney, would come out, make a few jokes
and introduce the next song.
For Seize the Day, there was only one simple piece of scenery, scaffolding! Throughout the show, the actors and
actresses sang and danced on the scaffolding which was very unique and made the show different from last year.
The use of the simple scenery was fantastic as it did not take away from the singing in the show. In addition, the
lighting crew which included Carter Zimmerman, Jordan Scott, Becki Lauridsen and Kari Minissale, all made great
use of the spotlights and made the soloists stand out even more. The lighting crew also made the lights fit the
mood of the song. For example, “Falling Slowly” from the musical Once, was very slow and emotional, so the
crew only had two spotlights shining on the cast to draw the audience into the emotions the cast was portraying
on the stage.
If you attended the performance, then you obviously noticed the fantastic choreography in the opening and closing numbers of the show. This year’s cast had the opportunity (again) to work with senior Sami Muller. Sami
came up with both dance numbers all on her own and was able to teach the whole cast all the steps in a little less
than two weeks. Sami not only choreographed some of the numbers in the show, but also sang her rendition of
“My Man,” which was originally sung by Barbra Streisand.
From the perspective of a spectator: (Allison Felts)
The Maple Hill drama club’s cabaret, Seize the Day, was a wonderful insight to different musicals. The time, commitment, dedication, and effort put into the performance was unbelievable. Hours of work went into the show,
and I applaud the performers and directors for that. It was great to see a show where I could tell how much fun
the actors and actresses were having on stage. During the show, the personalities of the performers came
through, and I usually don’t see that during a live show. I could see how dedicated the students were to the
show, and how much they enjoyed making people smile. It was amazing how these students put together all of
the numbers in only a few weeks. The singing was energetic and the choreography brought the stories to life.
The Maple Hill drama club worked very hard on their cabaret, and the audience of the performance could definitely tell.