Let freedom ring at the top of the World Trade Center

November 2012
Albertus Magnus High School, Bardonia, NY 10954
Volume 6, Issue 1
Let freedom ring
at the top of the World Trade Center
FEATURES
Kevin Murphy secures a place of honor at the top of the
Freedom Tower for the five graduates lost during the 9/11 attacks.
Pages 2-3
Off to Ethiopiaone student’s trip
to Africa
Meet the new faculty
Senior standoutLauren Gruffi
Student Council
New Clubs
Freshmen locker
problems
Working for Haiti
Pages 4-5
Artists at GAGA
UTA arrives
Fashion & Reviews
Movies:
Here comes
the Boom
House at the end of
the Street
TV: Go On
By Mike Strack
T
he attacks that took place
on September 11, 2001,
shook the United States, leaving a mark that will never be
forgotten. Many lives were
lost, including five Albertus
alumni: Michael McHugh
(1984), Sean Fegan (1985),
Brian Novotny (1986), Michael Roberts (1989), and
Kevin Reilly (1991).
Each year on September 11,
Albertus holds a ceremony at
the school memorial garden
and distributes a card to commemorate the lives of their
lost alumni.
Eleven years after the attacks, a new Freedom Tower at
World Trade Center One nears
completion. Kevin P. Murphy,
a 1981 graduate of Albertus
and father of current students
Tyler and Brayton, is the Superintendent of Steel Erection
for the Local 40 Ironworkers
Memorial Card
Photo courtesy of Mr. Murphy
constructing this tower.
Mr. Murphy described this
building as one that represents
“a new beginning, a sign of
hope, and a mission to rebuild
what was taken from us by
terrorism.”
Freedom Tower, upon completion, will stand at 1,776
feet tall, making it the largest
building in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Murphy said, “At
the top of the roof in elevation
1671’ 10 ½” in the southeast
corner of the building, there is
a beam called the ‘topping out
beam’.”
The “topping out” ceremony
held on September 26 by those
involved with the construction
of WTC1 included over 1,500
workers and 60 Union Trades,
including the Ironworkers.
It is on this beam that Mr.
Murphy placed Albertus’
memorial card honoring the
five alumni. Mr. Murphy describes his placing this card at
the top of the Freedom Tower
as a “Tribute to Albertus families and a tribute to all others
lost.”
According to President/Principal Joseph Troy, “This tribute is intended to remind all of
us that though these five victims are gone, they will never
be forgotten; and their memory will live on in both the
Freedom Tower and the hearts
of the Albertus community.”
Sister Nancy:
nun, teacher, leader, and…interior designer?
Chapel gets a makeover
By Laura Clinton & Kiera Townsend
Pages 6-7
Editorials:
Brother to Brother
Tech Addictions
Celebrity Feud
TableTalk
Hurricane Sandy
Dangers of Fast Food
S
Page 8
Homecoming
Girls’ Tennis
Varsity Football
ister Nancy has been busy
all summer completing
the renovations to the chapel.
Located in Senior Hall, the
chapel is a small room where
students and faculty can go,
anytime during the day, to say
a quick prayer or to have quiet
time with God.
Each morning, students and
teachers gather in a five-min-
ute prayer session for intercession, reflection, and group
prayer. During October, small
groups gathered to pray the
Rosary for Life.
The chapel is in use much of
the school day, and although
the chapel was already filled
with the presence of God, Sister Nancy wished to make His
presence more visible.
The renovations
were completed over
the summer and included the addition
of traditional wooden
pews, off-white painted walls, the inclusion of the Stations of
the Cross, and various
posters with quotes
such as Mrs. Parisi’s
favorite, “I can do all
things through Christ
who strengthens me.”
Prior to the renovations, the chapel had
a more solemn atmosphere, with dark, blank walls,
and assorted chairs distracting
from the light that streams
in naturally through the windows. This set a mood more
reminiscent of Jesus’s death
than His Resurrection.
With the more cheerful atmosphere now in the chapel,
and the Stations of the Cross
Pictures courtesy of
Mrs. Grace Zemsky
visible, there is more focus on
being uplifted by the struggles
of Jesus and in relating these
struggles to one’s own life.
Entering the chapel, one
now finds that it is just as busy
as before, but God’s presence
and positive message are as
much felt as they are seen. Sr.
Nancy said, “I’m thrilled with
how everone is reacting to the
changes, which further identifies what a truly sacred place
the chapel is for all of us.”
Page 2
Albertus Magnus High School Off to Ethiopia
One student’s amazing journey
Meet The New Faculty
by Jackie Parker
Mrs.Catherine Curley
Birthday: February 27
Teaches: Theology, Geography 9, English 10
Graduated from: Cornell University, BA Labor
Relations; Fordham University, MA English; St.
Thomas Aquinas College, MS Teaching.
Favorite thing about Albertus: The positive
energy from the students and entire AM community.
Why did you want to teach at Albertus? My
three siblings and I are all proud alumni, and I
thoroughly enjoyed my time here as a student. It
is my goal for all of my students to have the same
wonderful experience that I had.
By Sara Chivelly
W
hen my uncle approached me with plans to go to Africa, I
was shocked. My uncle, who does fundraising and charity work around the world, wanted his daughter and me to get an
understanding of what is happening in Africa, as he hopes to raise
money and awareness for organizations there.
We planned our trip 6 months in advance, to prepare food to
bring, to get shots, a passport, and an agenda. The culture there is
completely different, as women are covered head to toe. Siobhan
and I bought scarves and appropriate clothes to fit in socially. I had
no idea what I was in for but was excited for this adventure that
could potentially change my life.
I did not realize how different Africa really is, until I stepped
off the 14-hour plane ride. I was so overwhelmed that I actually
fainted on the Customs line and woke up to ten Muslim men and
my uncle standing over me asking, “Are you okay?!” It was actually a benefit I passed out, because it got us right through the Custons line that could have taken hours.
Our hotel was beautiful and safe. Yet, right outside were slums
and people sleeping on the roadside. We slept with the television
on, because if not, the wild dogs barking would have kept us up.
Everyday we visited different organizations: Unicef, Operation Smile, The Black Lion Hospital, Seeds of Africa, and multiple
soup kitchens. I thanked every student at Albertus who contributed
to the dress down day I sponsored for Operation Smile. With the
money raised and Siobhan’s money, we donated over $4,000.
We saw different things everyday: economically, socially, and
politically. One day we fed 400 in a soup kitchen, including those
with disabilities and AIDS. We spoke with top leaders to better
understand major issues and what we can do as Americans to help.
One day, we visited Seeds of Africa school. We brought jump
ropes and soccer balls for the children and played with them all
day. They are so happy and content with what they have, which
affected me.
While there, we filmed everything and did interviews with organization representatives, hoping to bring all back to America, so
others could get involved and understand what is happening across
the world. Every second I was there, I felt in my heart that I had to
do something to help.
Everyday brought a better appreciation for my life and the trip.
The people there have nothing but are generous and happy just to
be alive. I honestly thought I was going to go there and change
their life, but really they changed mine. I had such a connection
with the children and people, and they will always be a part of me.
It is amazing what you learn when you step out of your daily
routine. I am excited to show the school our documentary of our
trip. We hope to raise a million dollars for the main organizations
we saw and promote awareness.
Yes, Africa is completely different from America: a different
time zone, climate, language, customs, and calendar. Yet, we are all
humans, and we are all connected; it is our duty to help one another
to strive and succeed.
Students at The Seeds of Africa school. Sara Chivelly, holding
student, and her cousin Siobhan next to her
November 2012
Mrs. María Margarita Cimo Mosquera
Birthday: January 30
Teaches: Foreign language
Graduated from: The School of Translation and Interpretation of Rosario University, a private, Catholic university in Colombia, for both Spanish and English.
Favorite thing about Albertus: The STUDENTS and Staff.
Why did you want to teach at Albertus?
The people who interviewed me (Mr.Troy,
Mr.Locatelli, Ms. Sauer) impressed me
with their professional qualifications and
personal attributes. They welcomed me
and showed interest in my life. They made
me feel at ease and were kind during the
interview. I felt that it would be a wonderful experience to work in this school framed
within clear Catholic principles.
All photos
by Addie Gerber
Mr. Michael Fevola
Birthday: April 20
Teaches: Math Analysis with Business Applications, Computer Application/Web Development, and Technology/Study Skills
Graduated from: SUNY Albany, BA, Italian & Business; CUNY Baruch, MS Computer
Science.
Favorite thing about Albertus: It’s a Catholic school. Everyone is warm and friendly.
Why did you want to teach at Albertus? It
truly has a community spirit and is very welcoming. I hope I can help the students and
faculty with their technology needs.
Working Together For Haiti
T
By Sania Solon
he Albertus Magnus community announced the formation of a new organization
called Spirit Haiti. The earthquake of January 12, 2010, in Haiti, which claimed the
lives of 300,000 also left many children orphaned and homeless. Despite many world relief efforts, things have not gone well for Haiti. Although it has faded from the news, the
suffering still lingers with children living in tents or on the streets, easy prey for predators
and in dire need for assistance.
To address this issue, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill and Blauvelt have come together to create Spirit Haiti which is striving to build an orphanage, a safe haven for the
children. Spirit Haiti is a student-led group connecting young people to other young people. Sr. Val who
spoke at a retreat last year shared her experiences of
visiting the children and seeing their needs. Currently,
students at St. Greg’s, St. Anthony’s, and Monsignor
Scanlan High School in the Bronx have chapters.
The mission for Spirit Haiti is to be in solidarity
with the people of Haiti and the Dominican Sisters
in building the orphanage--Elizabeth’s Place. Meetings and planning activities are scheduled throughout
the year. The Albertus community invites all to join
in this wonderful project. For information on Spirit
Haiti, contact Junior Representative Sania Solon or Sr.
Nancy Richter.
November 2012
Senior Standout:
Lauren Gruffi
by Jamie Arnowich
L
auren Gruffi is clearly a standout student at AMHS. While
she has just begun her senior year,
she has accomplished enough for
any student to be proud of. She
balances six AP courses, two varsity sports, and the normal ins and
outs of high school life.
She maintains a 4.0 GPA and is
a national merit scholarship semifinalist, a member of the National,
Math, Science, English, Social
Studies, and Italian Honor Societies. Not only does she excel in
the classroom, but she is also an
exceptional athlete. As a junior
and captain of the Varsity Soccer
team, she earned All-League honors. She also achieved All-League
and All-County honorable mention in her sophomore season.
Although Lauren says, “My
favorite sport is soccer. I also really enjoy lacrosse, but I have
been playing soccer longer,” her
achievement in lacrosse is notable. She has played on the Varsity
team for all four years at Albertus.
As incredible as Lauren’s
achievements are, they tell only
half the story. She may seem to be
superhuman, but she is actually a
normal girl, as anyone who talks
to her would understand.
What are your favorite movies?
Lauren: I really like Mean Girls,
She’s the Man, or Soul Surfer.
Lauren Gruffi - Senior Standout
What is your favorite subject in
School?
Lauren: That’s really tough, but
probably science.
Do you have any pets?
Lauren: I have a dog. He’s a
Maltese named Phoenix
What is your favorite thing to
do at Albertus?
Lauren: I really like to just spend
time with my friends
It is clear to anyone that Lauren is a star at Albertus, and her
achievements are numerous and
noteworthy; however, she is also
a joy to anyone who makes her
acquaintance.
New Clubs on the Block
School activities offer much more this year
by Jackie Parker
S
chool is in session, and so are extracurricular activities.
New clubs include the Fitness Club, Underground Theater
Alliance, the Animation Club, Cooking Club, and the Interact
Club.
Fitness Club: Get fit with friends. Under the supervision of
Mr.Yaun, students work out together. For more information,
please see Josh Nyemchek or Mr. Yaun.
Underground Theater Alliance: Ever since the fall drama was
cut, students have been yearning to perform in the fall. The UTA
are coming together to do just that. The planned Shakespeare
show is free, educational, and a blast for all. Although the cast
has already been set, students are welcome to get involved. See
either Laura or Kelly Clinton. Full article is on Page 4.
Animation Club: This club is for anyone who has the slightest
liking for animation. Three main topics include: anime, comics,
and Disney. Meetings are Wednesdays in the art room. Besides
catching up on the latest manga or watching fanfic or youtube
videos, the club also enjoys drawing, eating, and watching
movies. If interested, contact President Shannon Fegan (845)
608-4686 or email her at [email protected].
Interact Club: Interact Club is a community service organization sponsored by Rotary International, whose motto is “service
before self.” They meet the first Tuesday each month to give
students an opportunity to choose activities: Special Olympics,
soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, Operation Smile, Meals
on Wheels, Operation Christmas Child, elderly and veteran visits. They plan to participate in the “Toys for Tots” drive and
fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness or Wounded Warriors.
Project suggestions are welcome.
The Cooking Club: Mr. Gregg Mower supervises student
exploration into the culinary arts. More than 70 students expressed interest in the club, which is in its first stages. For more
info, contact President Jamie Arnowich or Mr. Mower.
Albertus Magnus High School Page 3
Students vote and their leaders are...
By Kelly Mickler
President: Kimberly Roc
Vice President: Jack Sullivan
Secretary: Thomas McConnell Treasure: Brian McFadden
Class Reps
Seniors: Akiel Andrew Dylan DiScenza
Dominick Rodriguez
Juniors:
Bridget Gallione
Courtney Olsen
Sania Solon
Director-Madison Kandoth
Sophomores:
Kelly Kozar
Lauren Milano
Kiera Townsend
Director-Owen Lorenz
Freshmen:
Student Council Execs during Homecoming Holiday Days.
Emily Auld
L to R: Brian McFadden, Jack Sullivan, Tom McConnell,
Matthew Sullivan
and Kimberly Roc. Photo by Addie Gerber
David Yakal
Director-Jack Kandoth
President Roc and Vice President Sullivan shared their ideas for the year.
What do you plan to accomplish this year?
Roc: I want to bring the needs of the student body to Student Council meetings so
they may be addressed. I will serve as the voice of the students to the administration and be able to strengthen the bond between the two. Whatever the student
body wishes to accomplish is what I want as their President.
Sullivan: I plan to continue the changes that were made last year and work well
with all members of the student body, especially school officers and administration to make Albertus the best place that it can possibly be.
What specific changes do you hope to bring to Albertus?
Roc: I hope to increase school spirit. I also would like to change the outerwear
policy. Although I understand that can conflict with school uniforms, wearing
Albertus outerwear like team or club sweaters should be considered. Hopefully
with the help of the Student Council, some type of compromise can be reached.
Sullivan: I would also like us to be able to wear shorts when it gets warm outside.
However, my main goal is to have an informal spring “black light” dance.
Did you have any particular motivations for running?
Roc: My friends and past SC members encouraged me to take chances. Being
in Student Council for two years prior to running made me feel I had the experience. Feeling I can contribute also motivated me because I thought, “What better
way can I make the student body and my own voice heard than becoming Class
President?”
Sullivan: I was encouraged to run by former President Arnell Dandridge. I want
Albertus to improve in all aspects of the school, and I wanted to be in a position
where I would be able to help the most people.
Locker troubles plague freshmen
By Dan Miller
and Carter Whitmore
nce again the year began
with head custodian Mr.
Candido Ortiz fixing various locker problems. Recent
Freshman Hall mishaps included an accidental chocolate milk spill that leaked
through several lockers, destroying many textbooks.
The other type of mishap
included the constant “back
lock.”
Students whose books were soiled by the spill were able to get them replaced. Freshman Hope Kehoe, whose locker was soiled by the chocolate milk, said, “I was worried I
would have to pay for the damaged books, but Mrs. Power and Sr. Donna replaced them
because it was an accident.”
Back locks are different because they are a deliberate and nefarious act requiring a different response. A back lock occurs when someone puts his lock on his locker but does
not actually bolt it, which creates an opportunity for a prankster to remove the unlocked
device, reverse it, and lock it, so that the combination pad faces the locker.
According to junior Brendan Nolan, “Being ‘back locked’ is irritating because it is
hard to unlock and can make you late for class.” Students who have been back locked
must then seek assistance from Sr. Donna, head of building and grounds, who will then
send Mr. Ortiz to help the student.
Freshmen are usually the victims of such pranks, which some believe are done by
upperclassmen. Sr. Donna said, “These acts are immature, and I wish students would
stop this, because it adds more unnecessary work to the custodians’ already busy day.”
O
Page 4
Albertus Magnus High School Advice: Ask Albert
Artists
Dear Albert,
In trying to make new friends in school, I’ve earned
the reputation of class clown. Although being funny
and goofing off in class have made me more friends, it
has also resulted in bad relationships with my teachers,
who are constantly threatening detention and warning
me that “progress reports are being sent out soon!” I’m
afraid it’s too late to prove myself to my teachers and
keep my status as the funny one in class. How can I do
this? From, Class Clown
at GAGA
Local art show
exhibits Albertus works
By Maureen O’Dowd
T
he art of senior Hae
Wan Park and art teacher Ms. Jen Wassmer was recently displayed at the Garner Arts Center on October
13 and 14.
According to Ms. Wassmer, “The art show at the
Center was packed.” Over
one hundred local artists
were represented in the display. A party held on October 13th with live music
and a silent auction added
to the celebration of the
center’s re-opening.
This was the first show
for the Center since Hurricane Irene flooded the Garnerville center, postponing
many art shows. Although
the center is still recovering from the damages
from 2011, the success of
the “Garner Resurrection”
show indicates a bright future for the center that continues to be a place for local
artists to share their work
(www.gagaartscenter.org).
Dear Class Clown,
High school is a time to learn how to express yourself to
your peers, which leads many people to try to stand out in a
unique way. However, now that you have socially excelled
in high school, you have to work on academics. It’s always
beneficial to be on a teacher’s good side, so I highly suggest apologizing to the teachers most annoyed by your distractions. Next, prove to your teachers that you are ready to
work. Take the initiative and ask if there is any extra credit
or help they can offer you. Lastly, you should focus on studies and put more effort into your classes. You have made
friends, but now you need to make the grade. Your teachers
will quickly become impressed by the change. It is definitely
possible to be both a “Class Clown” and a “Teacher’s Pet.”
Find a way to be “the funny one in class” without being a
disturbance. Good luck! Albert
above: Hae Wan
Park’s work displayed at the show.
right: Poster supplied by GAGA
Need advice?
Just ask!
Submit questions to
[email protected] or
www.formspring.me/AMHSAskAlbert
with the subject: Dear Albert
All questions will be kept
anonymous.
UTA takes the stage
By Stephanie M. Ruppen
T
he Underground Theatre Alliance, a new student-run club, is planning a
fall production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
The story follows young,
noble woman Viola, pursuing a new life after being
shipwrecked on the shores
of Illyria. She disguises
herself as a male page to
Duke Orsino, who courts
Lady Olivia. Duke Orsino
soon discovers feelings for
his new pageboy, and Lady
Olivia develops a crush for
the disguised Viola. Complications arise to this love
triangle when Viola’s twin
brother Sebastian arrives.
If this sounds familiar, it is
because the bard’s plot can
be recognized in the musical All Shook Up (2005) and
the movie She’s the Man
(2006).
When asked, “Why Shakespeare? Why start this club
November 2012
in the first place?”, junior
and Director Laura Clinton
said the UTA began when
last year’s spring production
of Hairspray concluded; and
cast members were disappointed to wait a year for their
next performance. With the
fall drama budget cut and no
school plan for a production,
Laura said, “When we have
a community of students eager to perform, what else do
we really need? So I thought
of a Shakespeare production.
They’re free to do, they’re
educational, and they’re fun!”
Laura is no stranger to
Shakespeare. Besides reading Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and
Macbeth taught in her English
classes, she also participated
in Rockland Community College’s summer program with
her sister Kelly. Laura said,
“I was lucky enough to have
been a part of a Shakespeare
production with the Rockland
Shakespeare Company and
wanted to bring the joy I had
performing with the RSC to
Albertus. I spoke to Ms. Patty
Maloney-Titland about my
idea. She could not have been
more supportive!”
Ms. Maloney-Titland, RCC
Performing Arts head, is also
mother of sophomore Finn
Titland. She assists UTA with
script adaptations and technical and stage direction. Ms.
Millie Mendelson and Vice
Principal Carl Locatelli also
supervise the club.
Despite their optimism, the
new club has faced obstacles,
including where Twelfth Night
would be performed. The
original plan of performing
onstage in the Albertus gym
was changed when the UTA
realized rehearsals and show
dates conflicted with basketball. As the daughter of a
basketball coach, Laura said,
“We could not expect the basketball team to cancel practice
for our show.” The solution
came when Ms. MaloneyTitland said, “You can do
Shakespeare anywhere!” According to Laura, “We could
do it in the parking lot, in a
classroom; and we could even
do it underground. Thus, the
Underground Theatre Alliance was born.” The school
has offered the rotunda as a
suitable performance area,
contingent upon the readiness of the production.
The UTA plans to debut
Twelfth Night on November
30th and December 1st in
the rotunda at 7 PM. Tickets are $10. Proceeds will
go towards the school’s
Drama Department. Further
info will be posted on the
school’s website.
UTA members, left to right: Fiona Egan, Kelly Clinton,
Carmangelo Capasso, Laura Clinton
November 2012
Albertus Magnus High School Entertainment
Page 5
REVIEWS
Here comes the BOOM
Movie Date with Kevin James
By Ashley Columbia
K
evin James is without a doubt a funny man and proves so in the new
heartwarming comedy Here Comes the Boom, directed by Frank
Coraci (www.fandango.com). The movie is the perfect combination of
action and comedy to keep the crowd laughing from beginning to end.
Scott Voss (James), a biology teacher in a failing school, steps up to raise
money to save the school’s extracurricular activities threatened by budget
cuts. The middle aged teacher believes that since he was a wrestler in college, he can easily enter the ring and earn money whether he wins or loses.
The only problem is that his time has come and gone some twenty years ago.
One of the activities set to be cut is the music program lead by Marty
Streb, played by Henry Winkler. With Scott Voss promising Streb to save
his job, Streb promises to coach
him. The dynamic duo turn to
someone with experience in the
field named Niko (played by Bas
Rutten), an immigrant from Holland seeking citizenship with the
help of Mr. Voss’s night schooling. As the three men work vigorously to help each other, they
gain the support and respect from
both the school and the UFC.
After the sudden fall out of
a competitor, Scott Voss is
presented with the opportunity of a lifetime in which if
he should enter into the ring
and win, he would win fifty
thousand dollars and save the
school’s programs.
Training harder than ever before, Voss enters the ring with the
UFC’s
ultimate
fighter
Ken
“The
Executioner”
Dietrich.
Here Comes the Boom is truly an inspirational movie teaching all to follow their dreams, and when the going gets tough, never quit. Everyone should see this movie; it guarantees continuous
laughter, admiration, and inspiration to make a difference in society.
FASHION
Little Mix Match in Fall
By Tracy Xiao
U
GGs, jeans, sweatshirts, jackets seem to be the only things people wear in
the fall. While fall is too cool for shorts and sandals and too hot for coats
and scarves; don’t fret, because there is always something for you in fall.
Fall offers just the right temperature to put on a sweater, which can be playful
if you match it with different options. This fall, designers seem to be toying
with the graphs and patterns on sweaters to make a happening statement. The
different design on sweaters can offer you a different look each day. Sweaters
are easy to match with jeans, boots, UGGs, skirts...almost anything. For instance, an oversized sweater with jeans can create a casual look and can be the
most comfortable outfit when you hang out with your friends
Don’t make this wonderful transition of seasons into something boring. Mixing and matching sweaters can certainly add fun to your fall and keep you
warm at the same time.
House at the End
of the Street
By Kristin Burns
H
ouse at the End of the
Street features The Hunger
Games’ star Jennifer Lawrence
and Max Theriot.
Elissa (Lawrence) moves to a
small, wooded town in Pennsylvania with her newly-divorced
mother (Elizabeth Shue). They
can afford their house only
because of the reduced price
caused by the history of the
place. Many years ago, a girl
murdered her parents then disappeared, resulting in rumors
that she still lived in the woods.
The brother of this girl, Ryan
(Max Theriot), the only remaining living relative, now lives
alone in the house where his sister murdered their parents. Ryan
soon befriends Elissa.
The plot line is unoriginal as
aspects of House can be traced
back to other horror films, but
House is more drama than horror. There is a buildup of suspense until the
end, which unravels within plot twists.
The weakness of House lies in the script, which does not do the independent, strong-willed character of Elissa justice.
Go On
T
By Gianna Pisano
he Daily News says Go On “is the best new sitcom of the
fall.” Newsday gives the NBC sitcom a five star rating.
Go On stars Matthew Perry as Ryan King, a man who loves
his sports-radio host job, but who must deal with his wife’s unexpected death. When he tries to return to work, his co-workers
feel he has not had enough time to deal with his loss, so they force
him into a “transitions” support group for ten hours of therapy.
He insists he is fine, just wants to complete the sessions, get the
paperwork signed, and get back to work. Of course, this does not
happen. Ryan gets stuck in a group session led by Lauren (Laura Benanti), who might not be as good a therapist as the group perceives her. However, the people in the group, despite their many issues, have big hearts and try to help each other anyway they can.
The group includes Suzy Nakamura as Yolanda, whose parents are divorcing and who thinks she is the group’s leader; Julie White as Annie,
who has had anger issues since the death of her partner; Tyler James
Williams as Owen, a young boy who speaks little and whose brother
is in a coma; Sara Baker as Sonia, who is grieving the death of her
cat; Bill Cobbs, an older blind man who has struggled through life;
Seth Morris as Danny, who, when he returned from the army, found
his wife pregnant with another man’s baby; Tonita Castro as Fausta,
who lost her brother and father; and Brett Gelman as weird Mr. K,
who is dealing with something the group is too reluctant to ask about.
As time passes, Ryan begins to care for those in the group; and
even though he has a hard time realizing it, they are helping him too.
Overall, it is a good show with many funny, touching moments. If
you enjoy shows like Community and 30 Rock, you will enjoy Go On.
Tuesdays at 9 pm.
Page 6
Albertus Magnus High School November 2012
Editoral
Celebrity Feud: Elton John vs. Madonna
I
t seems celebrities love to
feud. Donald Trump and
Rosie O’Donnell have gone
head to head. Recently Lindsay Lohan whined on Twitter that the court system was
mean to her but played nice
with fellow actress, yet terrible driver, Amanda Bynes.
Lately, the most entertaining
feud is between Elton John
and Madonna.
The feud began in 2004,
when Elton John said, “Madonna best live act? *&%
off!” John’s partner got involved when Madonna won
best original song saying that
it shows, “How these award
shows have nothing to do
with merit.” Madonna hardly
fought back, always remaining tight lipped. However, just
as sharp-tongued as always,
Elton John went for another
round. His advice for her Super Bowl gig in February 2012
was semi cordial: “Do a better job lip-syncing.” And did
she take his advice? Of course
not. Madonna’s half time performance will go down in history as the aging queen who
thought she could, but did not.
Madonna even dared insult
Lady Gaga and should have
known that insulting the current queen of pop music would
cause a backlash, not only from
Lady Gaga’s “little monsters”
but also friend-turned-rival Elton John (Gaga is godmother
to his son). This time, John
kept his public comments grated saying, “[She has been]
horrible to Gaga.”
Who will win this feud?
While there will never be a
publicly determined winner,
heavyweight status goes to
Elton John, who has been delectably sarcastic to the former
pop diva. Although Madonna
does not respond to his comments, John does make valid
points, saying Madonna has
reached the ripe old age of 54
and should realize it, now that
her daily workout regimen is
16 hours long.
While it is important that
Madonna stays healthy, she
should also do something else,
like get a life, accept she is not
20 anymore, and maybe start
producing instead of performing. Someone needs to plop
her down in front of the “telly,” replay her Super Bowl performance, and tell her, “See
that? Stop it…No. You’re going to break a hip.”
Elton John, a true songwriter
and musician, still performs to
adoring global audiences who
Society is Addicted to Technology
By Cristina Magistro
eople are addicted to technology. Ever since the Internet arrived,
tech companies have created new ways for technology to become
mainstream. Now, many rely on technology for things that used to be
done manually. Worldwide, all have become dependent on technology,
which can be become a problem if those resources disappear.
Some advantages to technology include the social network and quick
access to information for anything. Search engines such as Google or
YouTube can help the average person learn anything, even how to cook.
Educators use technology in classroom instruction. Even Christmas
shopping has been simplified with purchases being done online.
Technology is not only related to the Internet. It is also in electrical
appliances that regulate lighting, washing and drying clothes, cooking.
Now almost anything can be done with technology.
There are disadvantages to technology dependency. It is costly to keep
purchasing the latest Smartphone and tablet. Also when there are power outages, as many experienced with Hurricane Sandy, society cannot
function. Banks are unable to dispense cash when systems go down.
Debra Fogle-Spielmann, Practice Administrator for a large cardiology group spoke about the importance of technology in her office. She
said, “We have an electronic scheduling system as well as an electronic
medical record system. If either of those systems goes down, even for
a short period of time, our practice is paralyzed. We cannot schedule
appointments, and our physicians cannot retrieve patients’ records.”
Albertus social studies teacher Mr. Anderson, who uses the SmartBoard daily, said, “A classroom without a Smart-Board would definitely affect my class in a negative way. My history classes rely heavily
on notes that have been organized into power points. I used to work
without a computer and would display the notes on an overhead. Now
everything is through my Smart-Board, which is like my cell phone. I
didn’t have a cell phone most of my life; but now that I do, I rely on it
so much.”
Technology has impacted the lives of many, who now depend on it for
daily activities. It is important, however, to remember that man can still
survive without technology, given the fact people have existed successfully long before technology arrived. Technology is a tool and luxury
for mankind, not a necessity.
love his shows as much today
as always. He may sport the
occasional sequin jacket but
has long passed on the outrageous costumes he wore 30
years ago.
If Madonna is to learn any-
thing from this feud, it is three
things: Do not lip-sync if you
expect people to pay exorbitant amounts of money; admit
age with grace; and, lastly,
never mess with Gaga.
Brother to Brother
by James Brooks
I
P
by Arianna Sotos (visiting alumnus)
n 2012 an estimated 241,740 new cases
of prostate cancer culminated in 28,170
deaths according to the National Cancer
Institute. It is the second leading cause of
cancer death in men, behind lung and skin
cancer, with 1 in 6 men contracting it in their
lifetime.
The difference between lung or skin cancer
and prostate cancer is that there is nothing a
man does in his life to increase his chance of developing the disease. It is not
preventable. In cancers with so many victims, the afflicted person may have
made certain choices to increase their chances of contracting it, such as smoking or improper skin care. Prostate cancer can affect a person whether or not
he makes healthy choices, the same way many woman diagnosed with breast
cancer have done nothing to increase chances of it.
All one can do is get regular checkups and wait. Both are indiscriminate and
rampant, but prostate cancer does not receive the attention other diseases do.
Thankfully, groups such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Movember
are trying to change this.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation leads the world in philanthropic funding and
research for this cancer. Since 1993 they have raised $490 million, providing
funding to 1,600 research projects at nearly 200 institutions in 15 countries
around the world. Their goal is to find innovative ways to prevent and treat
prostate cancer without current complications, such as urinary incontinence
and/or erectile dysfunction, that can result from both the cancer and treatment.
Not treating can result in the cancer’s spreading from its central location
into the kidneys, urethra, lymphatic system, and bones. Further, many do not
talk about the subject or may not even know about it, which is the worry of
Movember.
Movember started in Melbourne, Australia, with 30 Mo Bros (as participants are called) and in 2003 grew to 854,288. Mo's in 2011 raised an incredible $299,000,000. According to Movember, in the US “82.3% has been committed to programs supporting prostate and testicular cancer initiatives, and
67.2% was donated to Movember’s men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer
Foundation (37.3%) and LIVESTRONG, The Lance Armstrong Foundation
(29.9%); 15.1% has been committed to programs run by the Movember Foundation,” these being educational programs and global action plans. The remaining money goes to administration costs (2%), fundraising costs (8%) and
7.7% for retained funds as a safety measure for the sake of the organization.
But how does one increase awareness? With the “Mo” portion, aka their
mustaches (or any other facial hair). Mo Bros pledge not to shave for November in the same way a runner would pledge to run X number of miles. The
Mo Bros and anyone else, man or woman, make donations and raise awareness that all men need to get checked for prostate cancer and other health
issues. The facial hair is their pink ribbon and their way to get news out to an
under-educated audience. Anyone wishing further info or to support these
foundations, may contact Prostate Cancer Foundation at pcf.org or Movember
at movember.com.
November 2012
By Mike Strack
Albertus Magnus High School Albertus & Health
Table Talk
Tidbits of world news
Sandy was uncompromising
First hand accounts capture Hurricane Sandy’s impact
by Shannon Fegan and Brendan Nolan
by Maxx Annunziata
Pause Your TV!
You know how, when you watch your favorite show and want a snack or have to leave the
room, you wish you could pause the TV? Now
you can with PredictGaze! This new television
technology uses a webcam to detect the viewer walking away, which causes the TV to stop.
Many would think this would be expensive, but
it was developed using a standard, cheap webcam. PredictGaze has also proposed the idea
of detecting the face and age of those viewing
the television along with hiding private information from someone’s Facebook account when
detecting another person in front of the TV.
http://www.gizmag.com/predictgaze-pausestv/24535/
The Blind Will See
Finally the blind may soon be able to see. The
idea of a bionic eye has been discussed and researched for a long time. A few months ago in
Australia, scientists implanted a bionic eye in a
woman who is now able to see shapes. Electrodes in the eye, which affect nerve cells, get
feedback from light. This step will lead to an
external camera and more electrodes incorporated in the prototype, which will help new
bionic eye technology be further developed.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/
world-first-scientists-surgically-implant-bioniceye-blind-patient
Xbox Music Will Rock Your World
The release of Microsoft’s Windows 8 offers a
new source for streaming music. Xbox Music is
a feature available with tablets having Windows
8, which offers a selection of songs that allows
the user to pick what they want to hear. Many
programs available have been similar to this but
have not allowed people to stream the music
they want instantly. Along with tablets and PCs,
Xbox Music is available for a free trial on the
Xbox 360 where music can be streamed directly
on users’ gaming systems.
http://phys.org/news/2012-10-xbox-music-ondemand-free-tablet.html
T
he Northeast has never seen a storm the
likes of Hurricane Sandy. Being called
the Frankenstorm of the century, Sandy arrived October 29 and lasted through October
30. With wind gusts upward of 80 miles, the
storm caused much damage to New York,
New Jersey, and other states.
Albertus was closed from October 29
through November 2. Classes resumed on
Wednesday, November 3. Here are just
some of the many stories that were shared.
Senior Kimberly Roc, Chestnut Ridge:
“We lost power for 7 days. A power line
went down at the end of my street and cut
off the power for my whole neighborhood.
My grandmother and aunt in Spring Valley
still do not have power. I’ve never been so
happy to flip on a switch and get light.”
Sophomore Carmangelo Capasso, Haverstraw: The water from the river came within one block of my home. Miraculously, it
went around the parking garage and missed
us.”
Language teacher Ms. Monica Sauer, Nanuet: “We lost power for 48 hours but were
able to manage. I’m grateful there was no
damage other than the food in the refrigerator that had to be thrown away.”
Junior Anthony Cotaj, Chestnut Ridge: “I
got hit by a shingle, but I’m okay. It’s awful how dangerous things can turn during a
storm like Sandy.”
Junior Bridget Gallione, Chestnut Ridge:
“Our power was out for 9 days and authorities had to move wires to the side of the
road, which are still there. I had to travel 4
minutes out of my way just to get into my
home.”
Religion/Gym teacher Mr. Tim Gavan,
Pearl River: “I was lucky to be untouched
by the storm. There were no power outtages or damage. I feel quite fortunate.”
Beware the Dangers of Fast Food
M
any people enjoy eating fast food for its
taste and convenient restaurant locations in their neighborhood. However, those
who enjoy this food may not
have seriously considered
the harsh drawbacks to fast
food.
There are approximately
160,000 fast food restaurants in the United States
alone. According to www.
livestrong.com, the closer
someone lives to a fast food
Page 7
restaurant, the higher the risk
of becoming obese. English
teacher Mrs. Ruppino, who
lives in New Jersey, said, “In
the heart of town, which is just
a few blocks long, there are at
least 9 fast food restaurants.”
The health risks associated
with eating fast food are endless. Some of these risks include obesity, diabetes, heart
disease, high blood pressure,
cancer, liver disease, asthma,
and many more. So what is a
person to do considering the
by Joe Koza
taste, convenience, and hazards?
In order to avoid these
potential hazards, try making healthier decisions when
choosing where to eat. Perhaps eating smaller portions
or choosing to eat at Subway
instead of McDonald’s could
help.
Learning how to weigh
options and make smart decisions early on can prove to be
a small change that makes a
big difference over time.
Uprooted trees on South Mountain Road, New City.
Photo courtesy of Patch.com
Freshman Joe Campitiello, W. Nyack: “We
lost 7 trees on our property--6 willows and
1 blue spruce. They all missed the house,
thank goodness. We’re cleaning up the
trees ourselves. My three brothers and I
have been very busy.”
Librarian Mrs. Doreen McAvoy, Stony
Point: “Our tree on the side of our house
came down and just barely missed our
neighbor’s house. We removed part of the
tree, but what is on a power line must be
taken away by the town. I’m glad nobody
was hurt.”
Junior Mallary McFadden, W. Nyack:
“We lost our water. You never really appreciate something as simple as turning on
the faucet until you don’t have it.”
Sophomore Thomas Ludwig, Airmont:
“Our lights flickered and that was it. We
were lucky to come through this with no
problems. I feel sorry for all those people
who lost their homes.”
Junior Brian Reardon, Stony Point: “A
couple of my neighbors had trees fall on
their houses, but they’re okay. Haverstraw
Marina up to Stony Point is gone. It’s unbelievable.”
November 2012
Girls’ varsity tennis wins
at Pearl River Tournament
C
ompeting with public
schools with over 1,000
students and teams much larger than their own, the Falcons
managed to win three medals
in the Pearl River Tournament,
held September 22 and 23.
In the third singles category,
Katie Solesky placed third,
along with Kristen Arendt and
Mikaela Connell at second
doubles; and Jacklyn Onody
Albertus Magnus High School By Shannon Donohue
and Kaitlyn Joong placed first
at fourth doubles. The team
finished fifth with 125 wins.
The team had one of their
best seasons. Coach Caroline
Gizzi said, “Our team has had
a very successful season. We
won three medals in the Pearl
River Tournament. We have
become very serious and competitive this year. Captains
Jordan Galindo and Shannon
Donohue are great leaders,
and we are excited that a majority of the team is returning
back next year.”
This season, the team has
won against some talented
schools such as Pearl River
and Nanuet.
Coach Gizzi (top far left) with
Girls’ Varsity Tennis
Homecoming
Kicks Off The Year!
By Alessandra Garcia
Photos by Alex Kezek
FreshmEn
Seniors
Page 8
Good Luck,
Girls Varsity
Soccer for the
Section 1
Championship
Game
Falcon football
ends a winner!
By Rob Gelok & Tom McConnell
T
he 2012 Falcon football team earned its best record
in their program history--6-2.
The “Falcons, behind tough defense and lightning
offensive attack, was virtually unstoppable,” said head
coach Paul Villanueva. They outscored their opponents
with a program best 269-84 in just 8 games.
This high powered offense was built around a definite candidate, for not only All-Section but possibly
All-State running back, senior Nico Denise. Denise is
the all-time leading rusher in Falcon history with 1,350
yards. Another field leader was senior Ryan Tobin who
finished the season with a milestone 89 tackles.
When asked about his success, Nico said, “It is not
just an individual effort. I have to credit my offensive
line. Without their push, I can’t run the ball at all. I
would like to thank Dan Doohan, Rob Gelok, Matt Cabillis, Dominick Rodriguez, and Ryan Tobin for all their
help this season. The team is more important than an
individual’s stats.”
Although they missed the playoffs, they got the 5th
seed with a piner playoff ranking of 1.90 (The 4th seed
got 2.0).
The season ended on a 3-game winning streak. They
bested Yonkers Montessori Academy with a 63-20 win.
Sacred Heart game ended with a win of 36-0. Falcons
loomed victorious with a 35-19 win over the #8 seed
Hastings in the playoff consolation bowl game.
Newspaper Staff
Contact us: [email protected]
Albertus Magnus High School
798 Route 304
Bardonia, NY 10954
Juniors
H
omcoming begins every October prior to the
first pep rally. During that week students dress
up daily with different themes. Days for dress
up this year were designated for holidays, music
genres, colors, and school spirit wear. Students,
faculty, alumni, and families gathered together
Homecoming Weekend to share food, sports, and
fun. The October 5th football game against Rye
Neck kicked off the weekend.
On Saturday the community celebrated Mass and the Boys’ and
Girls’ Soccer home games followed. The girls kicked off on a high note,
defending the ball from Maria Regina High School of Hartsdale for a 5-0
win. Junior Ally White said, “We came out strong
and played hard.” Coach Tim Gavan said, “The girls’
hard work has been paying off on the field.”
As the night progressed and temperatures dropped,
the Boys’ Soccer worked even harder against the
Burke Catholic Eagles. Despite a valiant effort by
the home team, Burke emerged victorious with a 2-1
win.
On Sunday, October 7th, Albertus held the Homecoming Dance in the gym. Students from all grade
levels danced and sang along to the DJ’s eclectic
mix. Sophomore Jade Ortiz said, “Last year, I enjoyed homecoming because it was a new experience.
This year’s dance was awesome and it’s so special to
have friends from every class dancing around with
you and hanging out!”
Sophomores
Editor-in-Chief
Joshua Nyemchek
Assistant
Editor-in-Chief
Shannon Fegan
Copy Editor
Jackie Parker
Editing & Layout
Staff
Brendan Nolan
Ray Mosquea
Edward Amaba
Gabbi Valdez
Faculty Advisor
Mrs. Rose Ruppino
Photography
Alexandra Kezek
Addie Gerber
Magnus Monitor is a student-produced
newspaper
that publishes four times a
year. Student editors make
all content decisions under
the supervision of the advisor.
The newspaper is a member
of the Columbia Scholastic
Press Association and the
Scholastic Press Association.
Opinions expressed within
the paper do not represent the
staff’s views or the views of
the Albertus Magnus administration and staff.
Letters to the editor are
encouraged but cannot be
anonymous. Please submit
via email to [email protected].
Special thanks to...Mrs.
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