Monarch Spark - Feb. 2016 - Bishop McGann

Monarch Spark
Bishop McGann-Mercy High School - Riverhead, NY
February 2016
Volume 12 Issue 02
The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds
Cait Jacobs
The McGann - Mercy
Theater Company has tackled
various challenging dramatic productions, but The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon
Marigolds is perhaps one of the
most intricate and difficult shows
so far. This play follows the story
of Matilda “Tillie” Hunsdorfer
(Olivia Geppel) and her dysfunctional family including her
promiscuous older sister, Ruth
(Cait Jacobs) and their self-centered and cruel mother, Beatrice
(Grace Lukachinski). The small
cast also features Anne McGol-
drick as Nanny and Kelsey Tuthill
as Janice Vickery.
This production takes
place in a claustrophobic, decrepit
apartment in the 1960s-1970s. On
the surface this play surrounds
Tillie’s science fair project, but
the underlying issues of neglect,
abuse, and bullying are evident
throughout the show. When
asked about her favorite aspect of
the show, Olivia Geppel stated,
“It is a very challenging piece,
and I get to put my mind to work
by really getting into character. I
am like Tillie in many ways, and
I enjoy playing a character that I
can relate to emotionally.” Getting
into character can be challenging
in dark dramas such as this. Each
character is scarred by their past
and must attempt to deal with
their troubled history in the present.
In addition to having to
deal with the dark sides of their
characters, the cast is also working with a rather short script and
must try to create their characters’ backstories with the little
information that they have. These
backstories and the future of the
characters are referred to as the
second script. The first rehearsal
of this show dealt with learning
methods of acting and developing
a second script so that the cast
could truly get into character
and become that person on stage.
Grace Lukachinski, a senior and
someone who can almost always
be found either in the auditorium or the chorus room, took the
initiative to write out a lengthy
second script in order to do justice for her character, Beatrice.
Anne McGoldrick (Nanny) and Kelsey Tuthill (Janice)
are both given a daunting task in
sharing their characters’ stories in
limited ways. As an elderly deaf
woman, Nanny never speaks.
She serves as an oblivious verbal punching bag for Beatrice
throughout the show, yet Anne
manages to capture a depth to
her character that makes her an
intriguing woman in the show.
Kelsey Tuthill may not play a
silent character, but her role as
Janice is also challenging. Unfortunately, it is hard to go into
details to explain why Janice is
an interesting character without
spoiling an aspect of the play, so
I’m afraid you must come see it to
know.
The one character who
has not been discussed here
is Ruth who is played by Cait
Jacobs, the author of this article.
Playing Ruth has been a chal-
lenging yet enlightening task for
me to attack. She is not of sound
mind, which makes her hard to
understand. Ruth has a troubled
past, and at the start of the show,
she desperately wants to be accepted and well liked, no matter
the cost. She develops immensely
over the course of the production,
and she is not the only one. The
characters of Tillie, Ruth, and
Beatrice all slowly reveal more
about themselves throughout the
play. One grows brighter, one is
slowly beginning to see the light,
while the last one succumbs to
the darkness.
To find out what happens to
the complex characters in the
show, come see it. It runs from
Thursday February 25th to Saturday February 27th. The show
begins at 7:30 each night, and
tickets cost $10 at the door. I may
be biased, but trust me when I say
that you won’t want to miss this
production.
Photo Credits: Google Images
Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center
Katie Brownfiel
The East End of Long Island is
home to a plethora of feathered,
furry, and scaled fauna whose
presence is a familiar staple in
our daily lives. Waterfowl are
seen in honking and quacking
flocks on a near daily occurrence
in the autumn and spring, squirrels’ bushy tails tease us whenever
we glimpse out our windows, and
the appearance of timid rabbits
provides a definitive definition of
the reemergence of spring. These
innocent glimpses at the precious beauty of our natural world
are marred just as frequently by
far grimmer accounts. I cannot
recount a day in recent memory
when I have not seen glassy-eyed
mammals lying on the side of
the highway. I have seen turtles trapped precariously in the
middle of a one-lane road, nearly
defenseless against oblivious cars,
and I have heard stories of waterfowl that were injured by the sly
traps of pollution. These brutal
sights, when combined with
In
This
Issue:
Valentine’s
Day Fun
page 2
the toll of hunting season, wage
a vicious war against our local
wildlife.
Despite the apparent bleakness of the conservation situation,
there is
strong
hope. The
Evelyn
Alexander
Wildlife
Rescue
Center,
a notfor-profit
wildlife
rehabilitation center
located in
Hampton
Bays, provides the
necessary
resources
to restore
life and
health to
previously hopeless cases. The
Wildlife Rescue Center fills a
valuable, necessary, and unique
niche in our community. It was
Senior
Spotlight
page 3
the first wildlife hospital and
trauma center on Eastern Long
Island, and the facility’s driving
goal is to rehabilitate and release
animals that have faced adverse
conditions. An
emergency
hotline
number
can be
reached
at any
time, and
it allows
citizens to
do their
part in
preserving
valuable
native populations.
Volunteers
arrive
on sight
and aid
in transporting wounded animals to the
Center. There, the animals receive
medical attention. One hundred
species have passed through the
Book
Review
pages 6 - 7
Center’s welcoming doors, and
countless tragedies- from young
orphans to automotive accidents
to wounds inflicted by domestic
animals to bullet wounds- are
treated with compassion.
The Center’s recovery room
can house approximately fifty patients, and these can range from
songbirds to raptors, foxes to
rabbits, and turtles to deer. Each
animal requires a specialized diet,
and the differing physiologies of
the diverse species require varied care treatment methods. For
example, orphaned birds require
attention twice an hour for hours
on end, waterfowl need to undergo the waterproofing process, and
thirty to forty separate diets may
be prepared at one time for the
many recovering animals.
Additionally, heated pools are
located directly behind the main
facility to provide further recovery areas for injured waterfowl,
and a recently built raptor flight
conditioning cage is also part of
the Center. A handful of raptors,
owls and red-tailed hawks, were
Continued on Page Two
Spark
Strip
page 8
Monarch Spark - Page 2
Valentine’s Day Swag
Emily Cleary
Valentine’s Day is just
around the corner, as you can
tell by the supermarkets that
stocked the shelves with candy
hearts right after Christmas for
the crazy holiday shoppers. The
day is about love and spending
time with that one person that
makes your heart beat just a bit
faster than normal, of course at
a healthy rate...no need for any
heart attacks this year.
The valentine that stole
my heart is a tall man named
Netflix or maybe the not so sad
option of any member of One
Direction? Nope, still sad. If you
have a date and need some tips on
how to dress or do your makeup
keep reading. If you are being
taken out on a romantic evening
to a fancy restaurant these are
tips you should take into account.
Glam it up! Use your normal face
makeup unless you feel daring. If
you just learned how to contour
and want to show it off, go right
ahead! As for the eyes, glitter on
the lids and darker in the crease.
Don’t forget to blend! If possible,
use the Urban Decay Naked 3
palette. I just bought it and it is
amazing.
As for the outfit, a dress is
in order, to be honest. Any style
that you love will do just make,
sure that sun dresses are not included unless you are going on a
beautiful holiday in the Bahamas.
If you are being taken on a more
casual date, jeans and a sweater
or your everyday attire is perfectly fine. For makeup the best suggestion is to go light because the
date is more casual. The activity
that gets me in a Valentine’s Day
mood is watching videos on Youtube about DIY Valentine’s Day
crafts. I watch a lot of YouTubers
online, the one YouTuber I suggest is Alisha Marie! She has a
ton of great videos of DIYs, and
makeup tutorials, and so much
more!
If you are creating some
Valentine DIYs for your Valentine MY suggestion would be to
make it very special and unique
to fit your personality and your
significant other is personal.
Another great suggestion is to do
some crafts with your Valentine.
It would be a great activity to do
when both of you have no idea
what to do for the day. Just have
fun with the holiday, and if you
do not have a date, just log onto
Netflix, grab a bowl of popcorn,
and there is your date for the
evening! Happy Valentine’s Day!
MONARCH SPARK STAFF
Reporters
Accolades
Katie Brownfiel
Best-Opinion PieceJessica Allen 13’
Kelli Cichanowicz
2nd Place-Opinion PieceVeronica Marrinan 14’
Emily Cleary
Taya Coniglio
Juliet Fusco
3rd Place- Best Arts Review
Katie Brownfiel 16’
Honorable MentionMost Outstanding ReporterKaylee Navarra 13’
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Comanda
Juliet Fusco
It is widely known that
the Mercy community cherishes
the presence of English teacher,
Mrs. Comanda. From her approachable and kind personality,
to her advantageous teaching
style, she has proven to be a beneficial aspect of many student`s
lives.
Before beginning her
career in education, Mrs. Comanda expanded her knowledge
during her college experience
during her attendance at Stony
Brook University. There, she
majored in political science, and
received many English credits.
When advancing onto graduate
school, Mrs. Comanda received
her masters in social studies and
gifted education. Before beginning her journey here at Mercy,
Mrs. Comanda taught in public
school while living in Florida.
Mrs. Comanda initially taught
social studies, but she began to
teach English classes as well.
She was influenced by her passion for reading, writing, and her
overall “appreciation” that she
continues to hold for what “many
authors have had to say.” After
Mrs. Comanda moved back to her
origins in New York, she started a
family, which now consists of her
husband, who is also an educator, her two dogs, her 21 year old
son, Drew, and her 23 year old
daughter, Gabrielle. However,
when her son was in pre-school,
Mrs. Comanda decided to resume
her teaching career, and in 2003.
With an open mind and an open
heart, she decided to explore new
teaching environments, and was
especially attracted to the family
oriented manner of the Mercy
community.
At home, Mrs. Comanda
enjoys spending quality time with
her family, reading, and cleaning. She mostly enjoys reading
novels, such as the Harry Potter
series, which she would read
with her children as they grew
up. When she vacations with her
loved ones, she feels at home in
the relaxed environment of the
Sunshine State. However, Mrs.
Comanda has broadened her
experience by chaperoning the
junior and senior Europe trips,
and this year`s trip Italy will be
her fifth journey abroad with the
school. She recalls one of her
most cherished moments at the
Vatican, due to the fact that it
“had to be seen to be believed.”
Mrs. Comanda cannot express
how proud she is of her students
to take the initiative of traveling
internationally and expanding
their knowledge through experience.
In the Mercy community,
Mrs. Comanda has experienced
many memorable times within
her classroom. Throughout the
years, she has had student-given
nicknames, such as “C-Money”
and “Commander in Chief.” One
humorous moment in her classroom, was the instance in which
one of her students mistook her
husband, who was a principal at
the time, for a police officer and
stated that he believed the two
careers were the same concept.
Despite the entertaining aspects
of her career, at the end of the
day, she is mostly impacted by
her students` overall ability to
gather as one, raise donations,
and go on missions.
Fast Facts:
Movie: It`s a Wonderful Life
Food: Italian food-pasta
Restaurant: La Volpe
Sports Team: Yankees/Jets
Favorite Author: J.K. Rowling
Wildlife Rescue Continued
Liam Gilpin
Cait Jacobs
Siobhan Merrill
Editor in Chief
Second Place Best EditorialKatie Brownfiel 16’
Third Place Most Outstanding
ReporterKatie Brownfiel 16’
Katie Brownfiel
Advisor
Honorable Mention
Best Arts ReviewKatie Brownfiel 16’
Mrs. Amanda Weis
Contact Info:
The Monarch Spark
Bishop McGann-Mercy High School
1225 Ostrander Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
For advertising in the
Monarch Spark,
please contact us
631-727-5900 ex. 370
Continued from Cover...
unable to be released into the
wild again, but they remain in
the Center as ambassadors and
educators. The Center wishes to
educate the public about factors
that threaten wildlife, and their
personality-filled animal partners
effectively drive the point home.
The Center’s enthusiastic staff
have reached a 45-50% release
rate, and this number is especially
significant when compared to the
national release rate average of
30-50%. Through their continued utilization of donations, the
Center plans to raise its release
rate and expand upon its current
educational programs. Volunteers
are always needed to transport
injured animals and to partake in
animal care tasks such as cleaning
bedding and preparing formula.
The work that has been done
by the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife
Rescue Center has touched the
lives of thousands of injured animals since its opening in 2000. If
you ever see an injured animal, be
sure to call their hotline number
(631) 728-9453, and queries can
be answered through their website or office (631) 728-4200.
Monarch Spark - Page 3
Senior Spotlight
Katie Brownfiel
Spotlight On: Sherryl Citera
Sherryl has been a member of our Mercy community
since ninth grade, and her enthusiastic attitude has made our halls
a little brighter. Her bright school
spirit has aided her in attaining
the title of Mrs. Mercy alongside
her long-time best friend, Josh.
Sherryl’s favorite Mercy
memories revolve around school
dances because, “They’re fun
and build energy.” The Junior
Banquet, however, stands out
as Sherryl’s dearest memory of
her high school experience. She
says, “Junior Banquet was really
fun to hang out with classmates
before we go our separate ways.”
She also describes the feelings of
being comfortable in your own
skin and having fun while you’re
young in association with the
Junior Banquet. Some of Sherryl’s confidence can be attributed
to Ms. Resnik. Ms. Resnik taught
Sherryl nearly every subject from
ninth grade until eleventh grade,
and she inspired Sherryl to be
confident in herself. Sherryl’s
favorite class at Mercy is creative
writing.
Sherryl is very passionate
about music, and she pursues this
interest by creating pop music
covers on Youtube. She has been
a member of chorus for the past
three years, and she participated
in vocal jazz club in ninth grade.
Her favorite song is “Drag Me
Down” by One Direction.
Sherryl is a big fan of pop
culture, and she has a number
of celebrities that she admires
including Justin Bieber, Liam
Payne, Will Wheaton, and Demi
Lovato. She says, “Demi Lovato
is my inspiration. She taught me
to have confidence in myself and
taught me to show people my true
self.” Sherryl also has admiration
for her mother, who taught her
right from wrong and encouraged
her to live her dreams.
Sherryl plans to study at St. Joseph’s College, BOCES, or Suffolk County Community College
next year, and she intends to major in Early Childhood Education.
Her life would not be the same,
however, without the support of
her friends who have helped her
through the rough periods of her
life. Josh is her closest friend, and
she says of their friendship, “Josh
and I have a close relationship,
and we really enjoy each others’
company. We do covers together, and we’ll always be there for
each other. I feel like he’s the one
who understands me. What I love
about Josh is that he’s caring and
loving and nice to other people.”
Because of the nice and respectful people that Sherryl has
encountered over her high school
journey, she can say that Mercy
is her second home. She felt truly
welcomed in the Mercy community. I would like to personally
wish Sherryl the best of luck on
her journey, and I am glad to
have known this passionate, compassionate, and sweet woman.
Fast Facts:
Hometown: Mastic Beach
Birthday: May 5th
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Food:
Chicken parmesan, mac n
cheese, chicken cutlets, and
spaghetti with meatballs
Favorite Hobby:
Singing and watching
Youtube videos
Photo Credits: Katie Brownfiel
Spotlight On: Joshua Elio
Katie Brownfiel
There are some faces that
you never want to forget, there
are some smiles that light up your
day, and there are some friends
that will always bring a smile to
your face. I have been blessed to
know Josh Elio for the past six
years, and his spirit, enthusiasm,
and gentle kindness have given
him a special place in my heart
and in the hearts’ of the Mercy
community.
Josh is affectionately
known as J-Dawg by his peers,
and he received this honorary
title on March 1, 2010. While he
was shadowing Mercy in sixth
grade, Marco Pascal called him
J-Dawg. This nickname made
Josh feel as though he would
have nice friends here, and he
knew that the fun had only just
begun. Mercy was Josh’s first experience with a Catholic school,
and he was unsure of what to
expect at first. However, Josh
received help along the way from
his friends: Sherryl, Rory, Ashlyn, and Katie. Josh was recently named
Mr. Mercy, and this honorary
title reflects his abundant school
spirit. Josh says, “I am absolutely
into school spirit. I see it at Mass,
pep rallies, and during prayer.”
Josh reminisced about his eighth
grade visit to the local nursing
home with his class, and he
recalled that this was among his
favorite memories of Mercy. He
said, “It best demonstrates how to
live Mercy- we serve the community, not just the school, and we
show our love to people just like
how God shows His love to us.”
Josh’s favorite memory was the
Junior Banquet, and he has found
joy in all of Mercy’s dances. His
favorite classes are band and
computer graphics.
Josh has been an active member of Jazz Band and
Wind Ensemble at Mercy. He
has played the drums since
7th grade, and he helped the
Jazz Band attain Silver in their
NYSSMA competition. However, what many may not know, is
that Josh has been posting drum
covers on social media for the
past two years, and he is active
in his church’s music ministry.
Josh would like to join a pop or
rock band someday to pursue his
musical interests further. Josh is
a self-described “pop/rock kinda
guy,” and Demi Lovato’s “Heart
Attack” is his favorite song.
Josh might go to a trade
school to study either industrial
electricity or computer graphics.
Whatever his plans are for the future, I can be confident that Josh
will find success and happiness.
As a closing remark, Josh states
that he is, “Very blessed to have
Sherryl as a best friend for three
years now.”
I can personally say that
Josh has touched many lives at
Mercy. His smiling, concerned
face and sympathetic hugs are
readily available for anyone who
is struggling through a rough
period of time. His performances
in the various band ensembles
are always a joy to listen to, and
his passion for music is easily
seen. He is funny, compassionate,
strong in spirit, and thoughtful.
He is a friend worth treasuring,
and his presence will be truly
missed next year.
Fast Facts:
Hometown: Shirley
Birthday: February 18th
Favorite Food:
Chicken and cheese
quesadilla, hamburgers,
fried chicken
Favorite TV Show:
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,
Friends, Fosters
Favorite Hobby: Playing
music and hanging
out with his friends.
Monarch Spark - Page 4
Monarch Spark - Page 5
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness
is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
Valentine’s Day Crossword
Dear J- Donn, Ms. Donnelly:
Dear Gigi:
We love you! Can’t wait to go to the
Appalachian Mountains with you!
Percy Jackson Club is the best!
You are one of my closet friends
here at Mercy!
Love: The Core 4
Dear Fiji Water:
Happy Valentine’s Day
From: Porkchop
Dear Billy McCann:
Happy Valentine’s Day
From: ?
Dear KK:
I LOVE YOU!
ACROSS
DOWN
1. A symbol of love.
2. What does Cupid shoot?
5. Something a poet writes.
3. A Valentine’s Day emotion.
8. A day for love.
4. He shoots love arrows.
9. A Valentine’s Day color.
6. Will you be my ____________?
10. Go on a ________ with your significant
other.
7. A Valentine’s day treat.
11. Sealed with a _________.
9. The flower of love.
Valentine’s Day Word Search
From: Joe
Dear Mackenzie:
From: Ariana Davis
Dear Katie B:
Thank you for being wonderful!
Love: The Monarch Spark
To: GRAVY BABY
Oh Gravy. Thanks for being my best
friend. I love you more than anything in
the whole world. Stay Gravy.
Love: Cathy
To: Bella Baby
Not my Bella Baby! I love you so much
and you are my
Beautiful butterfly
poo poo platter.
I hope you have a very good Valentine’s
day because you are my bestie for life
xoxo
Love: Cathy
Love: Gehrig Franco
We love ya. Thanks for being a good
clam. The ccc loves you!
Dear Sheba:
You once were lost but now your found. I
love you very much! I’ll help you find
your way!
From: Molly Andes
Dear Ariana:
Happy Valentine’s Day!
From: ?
Dear Clam:
Love: Cathy
Dear Becca:
From: Tony
To: Billy Willy Poo:
From: Anonymous
Sup M8! Happy Valentine’s Day! Glory
to Deutschland! See ya!
:)
From: Jessica
Valentine’s Day Match
A. Friendship
B. Chocolate
C. Candy
D. Saint Valentine
E. February
F. Beautiful
G. True Love
H. Romance
I. Flowers
You are my best friend, and I love you so so much. Thanks
J. Love
for being you.
K. Cherub
From: Anonymous
L. Cupid
M. Joy
Dear Jfrie:
You are like a shining star in a night of
dark nights. The thought of you brings a
smile to my face and warmth to my heart.
Your happiness is like laughter, once you
start you can’t stop. Someone as smart
and talented as you deserves a very
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Dear Greg:
- Dr. Seuss
1.Unconditional love. Its very hard to
find, but once you do, you should never
let it go
2. A sweet food made with sugar or syrup
combined with fruit, chocolate, or nuts
3. An intense feeling of deep affection
4. The god of love in some ancient
cultures.
5. The month that Valentine’s day falls in
6. A feeling of extreme happiness
7. A relationship between friends
8. A baby-faced angel
9. A popular gift, it has many variations,
all of which look pretty and smell nice
10. The priest that Valentine’s Day was
named for
11. When somebody is more than just
pretty, you can call them this
12. A feeling of excitement and surprise
associated with love
13. A food made from cacao seeds. It's
amazing!
Monarch Spark - Page 6
The Best Young Adult Novels
Sabrosa
Cait Jacobs
Kelli Cichanowicz
Sabrosa is located at 1767 Old Country Road in Riverhead and is a Mexican
grill with very bold flavors. The restaurant
is known to be a very inviting place, and its
ambiance is very calm. After you place your
order at the counter, there are many tables in
the middle of the large room waiting for you
to sit down.
The restaurant offers many choices,
but a very popular item on the menu is the
burrito bowl. A burrito bowl is filled with rice,
beans, lettuce, cheese, and countless other
options. I decided on a burrito bowl, and I
was offered three choices of rice, which is a
bit different than other Mexican grills in the
area. One choice was white rice, a second
choice was brown rice, and a third choice and
healthier option was quinoa. Quinoa tastes
very similar to rice but has more protein in
it. I went with the brown rice and topped my
bowl with lettuce, cheese, and a specialty salsa which not only added flavor but also some
spice as well. Sabrosa is a great place to bring
your family for dinner because it's a healthier
option from other fast food places.
In addition to the great food, the employees at
Sabrosa have very positive attitudes. They are
friendly and very welcoming. They explain
everything you are getting to eat so you know
what you are eating and what it tastes like.
They also tell you what they recommend,
which is a nice touch if you have never been
there before, and you don't know the flavors.
Finally, Sabrosa is a good place to study because it is very quiet. And, if you leave room
for more food and want to reward yourself
after hitting the books, you could get dessert
because they offer many different flavors of
gelato. The delicious food, inviting atmosphere, affordable prices, and friendly staff
are just some of the reasons you should check
out this new restaurant. Sabrosa was a great
experience, which I highly recommend, and I
look forward to going back.
Alexa Locke
From his hometown of Toronto, Canada, Shawn Mendes rose to fame by posting
6 second videos of himself singing covers of
popular songs on the social media site Vine
in 2013. He soon gained a following of over
a million people. In January of 2014, Mendes
was discovered by his soon-to-be manager
Andrew Gertler, and he was invited to sign to
Island Records, the record label he currently works with. Shawn Mendes had already
released his first single, “Life of the Party”
in June. Mendes had become the youngest
As 2015 came to a close, I found
myself reflecting on the wide variety of books
that were released this year. From fantasy to
contemporary, wonderful books were published and shared with the world in the year
2015. Here are my personal favorite 2015
releases.
Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel- The Wrath
and The Dawn by Renée
Ahdieh
(Honorable Mention:
A Court of Thorns and
Roses by Sarah J. Maas)
Fantasy novels take the
reader into new worlds
of magic and mayhem.
The Wrath and The
Dawn by Renée Ahdieh manages to do so in
a perfect way by bringing the reader into the
tale 1001 Arabian Nights, only with a new
and intriguing twist.
Shahrzad, a sixteen year old girl, volunteers to marry the young king Khalid, but
this is not a fluffy romance. The king has been
murdering his wives the morning after they
are wed, and Shahrzad plans to not only find
out why, but put an end to his bloody reign.
After she manages to survive the first night,
she begins to plot to avenge the deaths of his
previous wives, including her best friend. But
as Shahrzad learns more about Khalid’s past,
she starts to doubt herself and everything she
was taught about him.
The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee
Ahdieh is a beautiful tale, combining both
the well known story of 1001 Arabian Nights
with a new world of fantasy and secrecy. This
novel is great for anyone looking for a complex and intriguing tale of magic and mystery.
Best Young Adult Science Fiction- Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and
Jay Kristoff
(Honorable Mention:
Their Fractured Light by
Amie Kaufman)
The futuristic and
fascinating world of
Science Fiction is a
favorite of many, and
Amie Kaufman and
Jay Kristoff’s Illuminae brings readers into
a not-so-glamorous future in which humans
have terraformed the galaxy, but innocents
are caught in the crossfire between two major
corporations.
Told through confidential government
documents and chat logs, readers follow the
tale of Kady and Ezra, a couple who broke
up the morning of the attack on their planet
that changed their lives, as well as the lives
of many others. Kady and Ezra must put
aside their feelings as they try to discover the
secrets that are hidden from them as all the
remaining refugees try to outrun an enemy
warship. But this is not all they must face,
for as their evacuating fleet desperately tries
to avoid a battle, they are forced to deal with
a deadly plague that has broken out, rapidly
mutating and causing horrifying symptoms,
as well as the extremely intelligent AI built
into the only warship in the fleet seeming to
turn against them. Meanwhile, the ones in
charge tell the refugees nothing.
Illuminae is a must read novel for any
science fiction fan. With its unique format and
fascinating plot, it is nothing like anything
else you have ever read before.
Best Young Adult Contemporary Novel- Every
Last Word by Tamara
Ireland Stone
(Honorable Mention:
All the Bright Places by
Jennifer Niven)
Contemporary novels
are popular for being
both relatable and meaningful, allowing authors
to send important messages to their audiences. Tamara Ireland Stone uses her novel
Every Last Word to tackle the issue of mental
illness, and shows the world the reality of
being a teenager suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The novel Every Last Word follows
seventeen year old Samantha McAllister as
she desperately tries to hide her severe case of
OCD from her ‘popular’ friends. Sam doesn’t
need everything to be clean and organized,
no, she suffers from horrible thoughts filling
her mind, needing to do things always three
times, and being unable to stop thinking about
a subject or an object. Sam has the real OCD,
the type that people never really know about
or comprehend. While Sam battles her mind,
she also discovers an underground poetry
club, and develops a love of words, as well as
a love of one of the members of the group.
Every Last Word is a beautiful tale of love,
mental illness, and friendship. This book has
become one of my absolute favorite books, so
I may be biased when I say this, but it was no
doubt the best book of the year.
Fresh Musical Acts
artist to debut on the Top 25 list of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with this single. Prior to
his success, Shawn Mendes was part of two
headlining tours as an opening act. In April of
2014, Shawn Mendes released his debut album, Handwritten, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 200 chart as number one and sold
over 189,000 copies. Currently, Mendes can
be seen as the opening act for Taylor Swift on
her 1989 World Tour. Also, it is reported that
he is working on new music.
Another fresh face in the music scene
is Tori Kelly. Originating from Canyon Lake,
California, Tori Kelly is a singer and songwriter with a powerful voice. Kelly began
posting videos to YouTube when she was
14, which caused her to gain some recognition. When she was 16, she auditioned for
American Idol and made it through to the
“Hollywood” rounds of the show. However,
she was eliminated, but she did not let that
discourage her from continuing to make
music. She released her EP, Handmade Songs
by Tori Kelly, in 2012, and the following year
her manager, Scooter Braun (also known for
managing Justin Bieber), helped her sign to
Capitol Records. In October of 2013, Tori
Kelly released her second EP, which marked
her first major label release. Then, in June of
2015, Kelly released her debut album, Unbreakable Smile, and the lead single, “Nobody Love” became her first Billboard Hot
100 appearance. Recently, Tori Kelly released
a new single titled “Hollow.” It can be found
on her re-issued edition of Unbreakable
Smile, which is set to be released sometime in
late 2015 or early 2016.
Photo Credits: Google Images
Monarch Spark - Page 7
Movie Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Liam Gilpin
You don’t need to worry that Star
Wars: The Force Awakens is another Phantom Menace. It more than surpasses all of the
prequels and even Return of The Jedi. With
excellent performances from newcomers
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and
Adam Driver, it is no surprise that it outshines the wooden acting from the prequels.
The original cast returns to reprise
their legendary roles, and they do so with
ease. Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo and
is excellent as the gunslinging smuggler we
have come to love. Scenes between Harrison
Ford and Carrie Fisher were less than desireable, but their acting talent stands up in their
own scenes.
The Force Awakens is a story about
the dark side and the light awakening once
again. The First Order rises from The Galactic Empire's ashes and seeks to reclaim what
is theirs. The Rebels are still fighting against
an overwhelming force of evil. This galaxy
has never looked better with the perfect mix
of computer and practical effects. From the
arid desert planet of Jakku to the forest planet
of Takodana, The Force Awakens displays
these new planets with a fantastic soundtrack
by John Williams. The music highlights
both tense and somber moments with genius
orchestration. Without spoiling anything for
those who have not seen it, the film’s story
can simply be called a near clone to Star
Wars: A New Hope.
J.J Abrams’ directing was excellent,
but he obviously played it safe by giving fans
what they wanted instead of branching off
somewhere new like the prequels attempted
to do. The fans wanted the originals back,
and that is what he gave them. Although it is
similar storywise to A New Hope, The Force
Awakens stands up on its own by exemplifying excellence in every aspect needed for a
great film. It delivers to all demographics as
a space opera or a simple space action film.
It stands up to the test of diehard fans and
newcomers alike. The future offers something
that has the potential to be greater than the
originals.
Photo Credits:Google Images - George Lucas Films
Roving Reporter: What did you think about Star Wars : The Force Awakens?
Michael Andes, 7th Grade:
Chole Dereme, 8th Grade:
Brian Poerio, Junior:
“It was good because it was
immersive, and it brought
back many characters.”
“It was a good movie because
the special effects were so
much better than
the older movies.”
“It was a brillant setup for the
continuing main trilogy that is
to arise in the coming years.”
Photo Credits: Monarch Staff
Not Quite Legendary Material - Legend by Marie Lu
Katie Brownfiel
Playing off the ever-popular dystopian theme of adolescent literature, Legend
chronicles the cruel face of a futuristic America. This twisted prediction, however, lacks
the solid world building that made Divergent
such a laudable success, dynamic and consistent characterization necessary for an invested reader, and the masterful descriptions that
readers have come to expect.
The novel follows the parallel and
colliding stories of Day, a rebellious fugitive, and June, a military prodigy, in a wartorn republic. Little is explained about the
intricate workings of their world, and the
few glimpses the reader receives in the first
hundred pages, the critical exposition period,
cannot formulate a necessary understanding.
What has caused the Republic to become a
merciless and militant nation? Who are these
violent Patriots, and how can they be differentiated from the equally murky defined Colonists? If the reader cannot readily define the
vital players in the nation domination game,
and the Republic itself is a vague mystery
of futuristic technology and what appears to
be millions of destitute citizens, then how
successful is the prose?
June arrives in the story with the
promise of dynamic characterization, spunk,
and the tough girl persona that Tris and
Katniss wore so well. However, after her
rebellious escapades were briefly recounted,
the reader was slapped with her complete
and utter flatness of character. Granted, her
brother was murdered, but her character takes
no strives towards originality. Her dialogue
does not shine, there is nothing in her actions
that is particularly memorable until the novel
draws to a close, and her attitude ranges
wildly and without explanation. One moment
she is emotionless and uncaring, and the next
she is head over heels in love with Day. The
emotional growth in her character is sporadic,
and it takes the entirety of the book for her to
become confortable in the skin of a heroine.
Day, on the other hand, truly carries
the story on his strong shoulders. There are
levels of complexity to his character, and his
compassion, inner strength, rebelliousness,
loyalty, and selflessness combine to make
a true hero and a worthy protagonist. He is
refreshingly good in a world of darkness, and
his morals, though interpreted as treacherous,
are in the name of a greater good. He supports
Tess, a loveable orphan, he secretly protects
his remaining family members, and he carries
the burden of a terrible secret. This infamous
knowledge propels the plot and made me
genuinely eager to learn how the story would
end. Although the ending revelation was not
incredibly unique, it still carried all of the
surprise, shock, and turmoil that one would
expect from the genre.
If it were not for Day’s daring escapades, his depth of character, and his innately
likeable nature, June’s weaknesses would
have defined the book as merely mediocre.
The alternating points of view and the dramatic revelations and tension, however, allow
the book to rise to its title with a struggle.
Monarch Spark
Bishop McGann-Mercy High School - Riverhead, NY
February 2016
Volume 12 Issue 02
Hoop Dreams: Lady Monarchs Varsity Basketball
Siobhan Merrill
The Lady Monarchs Varsity basketball team started the
season off well BY winning their
first 5 games of the season to go
on to a 5-0 winning streak. After
a rough patch they picked back
up again, and after last Wednesdays win against Southampton,
they are now 9-5 and headed for
playoffs. This is the team’s 3rd
consecutive year making it to
playoffs, and the girls are very
confident going in. After losing
a few starters last year, the team
came back strong and filled the
starting positions with ease. They
have developed great chemistry
with each other and that shows
on the court
During last Wednesday’s
game against Southampton,
the ladies came out strong and
crushed the Southampton Mariners with a 59-32 victory. All the
girls came out fired up and ready
to play, putting up great shots,
and working well together as they
moved the ball up the court. Mia
Behrens, point guard and captain
of the team along with Jules Cintron commented, “This is an important season for us. Our chemistry has been great and we have
Brandon Vassallo
all worked so hard to get where
we are now.” This is true for the
girls, most of whom have been
training in the off season as well
as the regular season to improve
their game. Megan Kuehhas, a
year varsity player similarly remarked, “These past few seasons
have been really great; we’ve
been improving every year, beating teams we’ve never beaten.”
In years past the Lady Monarchs
Above: Lady Monarchs and Coaching Staff
junior who has been on varsity
team for 4 years, remarked after
their game against Southampton
that, “We’ve been really confident going into games, and it’s
shown. We’ve beat teams this
year that we’ve struggled to hold
our own against in past seasons.”
Dayna Young, a senior and four
have lost to teams such as Babylon, but this year under the new
coaching staff of Meg MacArthur
and Donald Smith, the team has
played better against traditionally
tough teams and has come away
with victories.
Not all is fun and games,
however, since, as the season
The Spark Strip
winds down, the team is reminded that their seniors will be leaving them. At Wednesday’s game
the crowd was full of energy as
the announcers called out the
seniors and recognized them for
all that they’ve done for the team.
The seniors were announced,
and after formal handshakes with
coaches and the other team the
four seniors: Jules Cintron, Fiona
Fahrety, Kristen Heimroth and
Dayna Young gave flowers to
their families as a thank you for
all of the support they’ve been
given through their years of playing the sport. Fiona Fahrety, a
senior on the team, has played on
varsity for four years. After the
game, when asked how she felt
knowing this was her last season
with the team, she remarked, “I
am going to miss the team and all
our memories: It’s been a really fun season, and making it to
playoffs has made it even better.”
Dayna Young also said that she,
“Couldn’t have asked for a better
group of girls to play with; I’m
really going to miss them next
year.”The Lady Monarch playoff
game is scheduled for Saturday
February 13th. Good Luck Girls!
Photo Credits: Monarch Staff