inside - the Montrose Area School District

Mete r Chronicle
Produced by the students of the Montrose Area Junior/Senior High School
INSIDE
Photo courtesy of S. Hohn
Juniors Joel Roman (left) and
Matt Hohn recently earned their
black belts in karate. To learn
more about their karate training,
turn to ...
Page 7
A. Rebello/ Meteor Chronicle
Senior Robbie Volk (right)
jumps for the ball in a game
against Elk Lake Feb. 16. To
read more about the boys’ and
girls’ basketball teams, turn to ...
Page 8
DATES TO REMEMBER
March 20
Willy Wonka KIDS
MAHS Auditorium
7 p. m.
March 27
Dodge Ball Tournament
High School gym
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
April 1-5
Easter weekend
No school
April 17
Weightlifting Tournament
High school gym
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 22
Earth Day
May 8
Prom
May 11
Senior high
Chorus concert
Auditorium, 7 p.m
May 18
Junior high
Chorus concert
Auditorium, 7 p.m.
.........................................
CORRECTIONS
The staff of the Meteor
Chronicle regrets misreporting
the following information in
Issue 3:
Junior John Olver’s and
third grader Madison Gilhool’s
names were misspelled.
School board president
Doug Wilcox has four, not
three, grandchildren attending
Choconut Valley Elementary
School.
Montrose Area School District
‘Once in a Lifetime Experience’
March 2010
By Katy Swingle, Staff reporter
Graduation Project Inspires Job Prospect
The chance for a high school
junior to meet Geno Auriemma,
one of the most successful coaches
in women’s basketball ever, and
University of Connecticut’s Maya
Moore, “one of the best women’s
basketball players today” may
seem unlikely, but for Katelyn
Spellman, that dream has been
fulfilled.
For her graduation project,
Katelyn chose to job shadow
Debbie Antonelli, a women’s
basketball commentator for CBS
College Sports and a sideline
reporter for Fox Sports South.
“I am a huge women’s college
basketball fan, and I knew Diane
Dean (Katelyn’s mentor and a
friend of Katelyn’s mother) had a
friend who works in sports broadcasting,” Katelyn said. “I thought
shadowing a sports commentator
would be a different idea [for a
graduation project], and shadowing a sports commentator
would be fantastic.”
Mrs. Dean made the arrangements, and Katelyn traveled
to Hartford, Connecticut, to
attend the University of Connecticut versus Rutgers (State
University of New Jersey)
women’s basketball game that
Ms. Antonelli was covering.
Katelyn wanted to observe what
Ms. Antonelli does on a daily basis.
“UConn is my favorite
[college women’s basketball
team],” Katelyn said. “I have
liked them since elementary
school, about fourth or fifth
grade.”
Before the game, Katelyn
attended the UConn pre-game
practice/shoot-around and met
UConn
players
and coaches. At
the shoot around,
Ms.
Antonelli
interviewed
UConn’s Moore.
Katelyn watched
and listened to
the interview and
had her picture
taken with Moore.
She also watched
Ms.
Antonelli
interview Coach
Auriemma.
“Just
being
able to watch the
shoot-around was
an amazing, oncein-a-lifetime experience,” Katelyn
said. “I was awestruck because I
was so close to
the best team in
women’s college
basketball. And
Photo courtesy of Diane Dean
seeing
Debbie
in action, I was Junior Katelyn Spellman observes CBS commentators Debbie Antonelli and Dave
surprised at the Ryan call the UConn women’s basketball game against Rutgers Jan. 26.
amount of time
hear on TV is just a small portion
and effort that go into preparing for us.”
After the shoot around, Kate- of the broadcast. You don’t see all
for every game. She seemed to
know everyone at the shoot- lyn, Ms. Antonelli, and Mrs. the hours of preparation required
around and game, and I could Dean went to the CBS broadcast for a quality broadcast.”
For the first half of the game,
tell that everyone she talked to truck, which is the “nerve center
for the production,” according to Katelyn and her father sat in the
respected her as a broadcaster.”
As she watched the shoot- Katelyn. In the truck, the director, broadcast truck and observed the
around, Katelyn, a starting for- producer, sound technicians, duties of the crew in “full swing.”
“During the second half, I
ward for the Lady Meteors, said and graphic designers work to
she was struck by how similar produce the live coverage of each sat with Debbie at the broadcast
table courtside with a headset
UConn’s Huskies were to her game CBS broadcasts.
“I was astounded by how on,” Katelyn said. “I was literally
own teammates.
“They sing, dance, and goof much behind-the-scenes work inches away from the action on
around until their coach comes it takes to create one two- the court and was able to view
in. Then it’s strictly business,” hour broadcast,” Katelyn said. the game from an entirely new
Katelyn said, “and it’s the same “[Everything that] you see and
See Project, Page 2
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
Speakers Inspire
Students Through Business
By Johanna Hripto, Staff reporter
Motivationalspeaker
and Washington, D.C.’s pro
women’s football coach Keith
Howard drove eight hours in a
snow storm from the nation’s
capital to Montrose Feb. 12. His
goal: to teach students about
determination, business skills,
and how to live winning lives.
The event was the first annual
Future Business Leaders of
America (FBLA) Business and
Leadership Skills Conference
held at MAHS.
“There might be a kid who
needs to hear me speak. I want to
have an impact on his/her life,”
Coach Howard said.
Approximately 90 FBLA,
Key Club, and student council
members from grades eight
through twelve, along with
several students from Mountain View and Blue Ridge high
schools, attended the daylong
conference.
Thirteen guest speakers talked
to students in eight separate
workshops set up around the
school. The conference was
planned to coincide with National FBLA Week, according
to FBLA adviser and computer
science/business teacher Duane
Benedict.
“Each [state FBLA workshop
and conference] has a limit to
the number of students who can
attend. So, we wanted to bring
the experience to MAHS,” Mr.
Benedict said. “We decided to
have a special event that would
benefit everyone and not require
costs for travel, lodging, meals.”
The guest speakers were
requested by FBLA members
who had heard them speak before
or by Mr. Benedict and Key Club
adviser Suzanne Bennici.
“I hope that the [students]
who aren’t also FLBA members
gained an appreciation of the business as well as the leadership
aspect of [the conference],” Mrs.
Bennici said.
In
addition
to
Coach
Howard, representatives from
DeVry University, business and
leadership training company
Mid-Atlantic Association of
Cooperatives, and public speaking skills development program River City Toastmasters
spoke. Local business presenters
included Judy Kelly from State
Farm Insurance, Doug and Cindy
Lattner of McDonald’s, school
board member Chris Caterson of
Little & Nelson, Inc., Insurance,
and Julie Humphrey of Proctor
and Gamble along with MASD
school board president Doug
Wilcox.
In Coach Howard’s keynote
address, he spoke of his acronym
DREAM ON: discipline, respect, education, achievement,
motivation, organization and networking. He also discussed setting
and achieving goals through his
own business experiences.
Coach Howard started work in
a security business, then worked
his way up to president and turned
the business into a $15 million
company. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the company was
forced into bankruptcy, but only
five months later Coach Howard
received a call from his former
coach, offering him a job at Team
Focus, a non-profit organization
for youth ages 10-18 who do not
have father figures in their lives.
Coach Howard accepted the position and is now vice president
of Team Focus.
“I made sure I still had discipline and still kept learning,”
Coach Howard said.
Following
the
keynote,
students were divided into
groups and traveled through the
workshops or stayed with Coach
Howard where they discussed
leadership and knowing “who
you are, where you are going, and
See FBLA, Page 2
Long-Term
Substitution
Brings Positive
Experiences
By Kate Kielceski
Staff reporter
Teachers Heather Washenko and
Heather Winn have more in common
than just their first names: Both
recently held long-term substitution
positions at MAHS.
Last school year, Mrs. Winn took
over English teacher Katie Fischer’s
six classes for approximately four
months while Mrs. Fischer was out
on maternity leave. Ms. Washenko
did the same for science teacher Teri
Evans this year.
Both Ms. Washenko and Mrs.
Winn had previous teaching experience before taking up the longterm substitution positions at MAHS.
Ms. Washenko had been employed
by Mid-Valley School District as
a day-to-day substitute, by Pocono Mountain Charter School as a
science teacher and by the Scranton
School District as a summer school
biology teacher. Mrs. Winn had been
a long-term substitute at LampeterStrasburg High School in Lancaster
County.
The teachers concur that these
experiences taught them a lot about
being teachers, their personal teaching styles and how schools really
function.
“In general, this teaching experiSee Substitute, Page 2
PAGE 2
Project continued from Page 1
perspective. I felt like a legitimate commentator.”
Katelyn finished off her
“perfect day” by having
dinner with Ms. Antonelli,
Mrs. Dean, and Dave Ryan,
Ms. Antonelli’s broadcast
partner for the game, talking
about basketball and the
game they had just watched.
“I shadowed Debbie because I have a passion for
basketball,” Katelyn said. “I
play year round, watch it on
TV whenever I can, and read
about it in books, magazines,
newspapers
and
online.
I’m a basketball junkie.
Also, I wanted to explore a
basketball-related career and
a way to stay involved with
the game after my playing
days are over.”
Katelyn’s experience has
influenced her career decisions, but she is still unsure
what she wants to do.
“[Job shadowing] showed
me that a career in sports
broadcasting is something
I’m definitely interested in
and is something that I may
pursue,” Katelyn said. “Who
knows? Maybe one day you’ll
see me call a UConn game on
ESPN.”
Substitute continued from Page 1
ence helped me find my strengths the whole novel, so I got to do
and my weaknesses in the whatever I wanted.”
classroom. At Montrose, as well
In long-term substitution sitas in every experience I’ve had, uations, the subs, however, are not
I found what works and what the only ones to learn some lessdoes not. And, of course, with all ons. The regular teachers learn, too.
experiences, I believe you find Mrs. Fischer and Mrs. Evans say
out more about yourself,” Ms. their absences from school brought
Washenko says.
new experiences; the most difficult
Mrs. Winn has learned similar part of the whole situation was
lessons from her experiences as a returning to the classroom.
substitute.
“When Jackson was born, it
“I learned you always have to was early on in the year, so I missed
be more organized that you think getting to know all the kids. This
you need to be. Any long-term made it hard when I came back,”
substitute requires flexibility, but it Mrs. Fischer says.
taught me a lot about how I teach,”
Upon her return, Mrs. Evans
she says.
says, making up work was the
No two days were alike, Ms. hardest part. Some students had
Washenko says.
Ms. Washenko’s tests to take and
“My experience was like a roll- assignments to turn in. So Mrs.
ercoaster ride. There were days Evans depended on her substitute
when nothing could go wrong and to grade the work and then give her
then those where nothing seemed the grades.
to go right. Through the ups and
All four women agree that overdowns, the experience was exciting, all, their experiences were positive
challenging and fulfilling,” Ms. and taught them a lot. Perhaps
Washenko says.
due to her success as a long-term
Mrs. Winn agrees that being substitute, Mrs. Winn is now a
a long-term substitute can be full-time employee at MAHS. She
“challenging.”
teaches eighth grade English and
“High school teachers are reading classes.
normally autonomous and make
Mrs. Winn says her long-term
their own plans. Long-term subs substitution helped prepare her for
have to work within what teachers a classroom of her own.
leave for them,” Mrs. Winn says.
“I definitely got to know the
“I had a good deal of flexibility students, the administration, how
with teaching the novel To Kill to complete paper-filing and all the
a Mockingbird. I had to cover behind-the-scenes things.”
Life As We Know It...
MARCH 2010
how you are going to get there.”
In the other workshops, students learned about insurance, corporations, interviewing skills, how to ease fears
of public speaking, advertising, and community service. Mr. and Mrs. Lattner of the Lattner Enterprises, which
owns and operates six McDonald’s restaurants in New York and Pennsylvania, talked to students about finding a
passion in life and incorporating that passion into a business.
“Make the world a better place,” Mrs. Lattner said. In the community service workshop, Mr. Caterson discussed the importance of good community relations
and showed students the pros and cons of starting a small business.
“[You have to] meet your financial goals. There’s no easy money in small business,” Mr. Caterson said.
Mr. Wilcox and Mrs. Humphrey told students what employers look for in future employees during the
interviewing process and how to improve one’s chances of being hired.
“The interview process is your opportunity to let [your future employer] know how awesome you are,” Mrs.
Humphrey said.
“[You have to] use whatever opportunities you have to sell yourself,” Mr. Wilcox added.
Coach Howard has traveled the country speaking to thousands of students about how to educate themselves
and how to succeed in life and the business world. In addition to coaching the D.C.Divas, he has coached at three
high schools and two universites, one being his alma mater, the Univeristy of P.ittsburgh, from which he has a
degree in psychology.
“I liked how [Coach Howard] spoke. He was funny and kept everyone entertained,” sophomore Key Club
member Jake Myers said.
For students interested in a business career, Coach Howard offered some advice from a business perspective.
“If you could answer some of the questions that come up in business yourself, you could save your business
thousands of dollars. Take accounting courses and law courses.... [You have to] get ready to compete. That’s what
business is all about: competing.”
Staff reporters Tatim Brace, Katy Swingle and Samantha Vetri contributed to this article.
Eggs Teach Life, Death Lessons
For the past several years Mr.
Joe Moore’s ninth grade earth
science classes have observed the
miracle of life—not through human
births but with chickens and quails.
In February Mr. Moore ordered
20 quail eggs on E-bay as part of his
annual project. Then students added
chicken eggs for a total of 28 eggs
in all.
The eggs were placed in an
incubator in Mr. Moore’s classroom
where students could observe the
eggs daily.
“[The project] is a good interest
generator, and it also connects our
students to our agricultural roots,”
Mr. Moore says. “Most kids don’t
have any contact with farm animals,
and it is good for them to get a basic
understanding about agriculture,
food and Susquehanna County.”
Freshman Tommy Krupinski
says he likes learning about
agriculture and about the chickens
and quails.
“We are learning how farming
is important to our society and how
agriculture will always be needed in
this world. We get to see the eggs
grow and hatch,” Tommy says.
This year, however, Mr.
Moore’s project has taught an
unexpected lesson. The miracle of
By Dallas Ely, Staff Reporter
Katie Hibbard/ Meteor Chronicle
One of only two chicks that hatched
from the original 28 eggs that students in science teacher Joe Moore’s
class tried to hatch, this chick lived
only a few days.
life has become the circle of life. Only two
of the 28 original eggs hatched, presumably
because some of the eggs were diseased
and others were infertile, according to Mr.
Moore. The two chicks that did hatch died
shortly after leaving the shell.
Mr. Moore says he has never lost all of
his eggs before, but this year’s problems
among its greatest fans.
“When people see [the guitar
on my back], they’re like, ‘Oh, you
have a tattoo!’” junior Jen Byerly
says. “Getting the tattoo hasn’t really
changed anything [about the way
people treat me].”
Junior Brooke Bishop got her
first tattoo along with her friend,
senior Kaitlin Spickerman, last
November for Kaitlin’s birthday.
Each girl chose lyrics from the
song “Work in Progress” by Set Your
Goals to be tattooed between her
shoulder blades: “My life: a constant
work in progress and I wouldn’t have
it any other way.”
“The lyrics have always inspired
me more than any other,” Brooke
says. “I really love having them
permanent.”
Though sharing tattoos can be
one way for friends to bond, it can
also be a way for people to keep
in mind friends and loved ones
they’ve lost. Junior John Olver is
one example. John had a cross and
banner with the name of his friend,
Nick Bryant, a former MAHS
student whose life tragically ended in
January 2009, tattooed on his leg in
memory of Nick.
“It’s permanent,” John says.
“I’ll always have it as a reminder [of
Nick].”
will not stop him from doing the
project in the future.
“This may be a better lesson
educationally, as bad as it may be,
because we learn about the fragility
of life on a farm and how hard it is
to farm and the responsibilities of
farming,” Mr. Moore says.
After discarding the 26 eggs that
did not hatch and then sterilizing
the incubator, Mr. Moore placed
33 new South American and game
chicken eggs into the incubator.
He was hoping for an 80-90
percent hatch rate; however, 15 of
the eggs were infertile. At press
time one of the remaining 18 eggs
had hatched.
One student says she learned
the importance of cleanliness in
farming through the disappointing
result of the first group of eggs.
“I think we all learned that the
incubator needs to be clean because
of bacteria, and we see how bacteria
can kill the chickens so easily,” Sam
Poirier says.
After the chickens hatch, Mr.
Moore will take them to his farm in
Hop Bottom.
“Once these eggs hatch, they
will be the seventh generation of
chicks from Room 61,” Mr. Moore
says.
“Life As We Know It” is a year-long series devoted to informing teens
and the community about some of the issues teens face.
Teens Explore Permanent ‘Self-expression’
Otzi the Iceman, a mummy
found in a glacier in the Otztaler
Alps between Italy and Austria in
September 1991, has 57 tattoos,
according to author James M. Deem.
Otzi is estimated to have lived
in 3300 B.C. Other mummies, a
female and two males found in the
Altai Mountains of Siberia, are also
heavily tattooed with animal prints
and dashes.
Though it had long been popular
in many nations, according to Time
magazine, body art was banned from
most of the Western culture in the
eighth century and all but completely
forgotten until the end of the 18th
century.
Then tattooing became nearly
exclusive to sailors, who picked up
on the art form faster because of
their travels, and to criminals, who
were often branded or tattooed when
caught. Sailors’ tattoos frequently
had specific meanings. For example,
according to Time, a turtle signified
that the sailor baring it had crossed
the equator.
Now, more than 45 million
people in the United States alone are
reported to have at least one tattoo,
according to the Pew Research
Center in Washington, D.C.
The art of tattooing is making a
comeback…big time, and teens are
METEOR CHRONICLE
FBLA continued from Page 1
Art teacher Jen Flaherty says she
has seen “some amazing work done
in the form of a tattoo.”
“Many of the pieces have a story
behind them or mark an event in that
person’s life,” she says. “They have
personal meaning to the individual
that wears them and tell something
about that person. To me, these
are the most interesting tattoos and
reasons to get [them].”
Despite what a teen chooses
for his/her tattoo, parents can be the
deciding factor in whether or not one
is tattooed at all. In Pennsylvania, if
one is under the age of 18, he/she
must have a parent with him/her to
be sure that the body art is acceptable
to the parent, according to TattooJoy,
a Web site for tattoo enthusiasts. So
teens whose parents are agreeable to
tattooing consider themselves lucky.
Jen’s parents were willing to pay
for her tattoo, a tribute to her love of
music and the guitar.
“They saw it as self-expression,”
she says. “My mom was the one who
paid for [the tattoo] as my birthday
present.”
Junior Lori Holbrook designed
her tattoo with her deceased
grandmother’s initials, RVP, centered
between a pair of wings and placed
on her upper back.
“[My mom says getting tattooed
is] a good way to show your love for
someone,” Lori says.
Many teenagers have jumped on
the body art bandwagon, seeing it as
a way to express their individuality
and their emotions, and because of
the increased popularity of tattoos in
pop culture.
“I’m not sure why, but body art
does seem to be more visible in the
media and in popular culture with
TV shows devoted solely to tattoo
art,” Mrs. Flaherty says. “My biggest
concern is that it has become the
latest trend, and teens are [getting
tattooed] more just because everyone
else is doing it.”
Lori agrees and says that anyone
who wants a tattoo should be
committed and understand that it is
permanent.
“[The tattoo] has to be
meaningful,” she says. “If you’re just
getting one to get one, then you’re
going to regret it in five years.”
Not only are the long-term effects
something to be considered, but those
intending to get tattoos should also
make sure to thoroughly investigate
tattoo parlors. One should consider
the cleanliness of an artist’s tools,
the quality of previous artworks and
pricing.
Finding proof of an artist’s
registration can be a good start. In
By Katie Hibbard
Photo co-editor
Pennsylvania, according to TattooJoy,
all tattoo artists must be registered
with the Department of Health and
must sterilize all equipment that has
been used, though many simply buy
new needles.
Also, tattoo artists have various
styles and specialize in different
types of tattooing, such as portraits
and murals. Many artists keep the
drawings or pictures of tattoos they
have done to illustrate their unique
styles to prospective customers. One
should think about the type of tattoo
he/she wants and decide which style
would work best for that tattoo.
Finally, one should look into
tattoo prices. The cost of a tattoo will
depend on its size, amount of detail,
whether it includes text or a picture,
whether it contains black and/or
white ink or colored ink and even
the placement of the tattoo. Costs
will also vary by artists. According
to tattoo artist A. R. Marth, most
shops will request minimal payment
for smaller tattoos and charge by the
hour for larger ones.
“I think [tattoos are] attractive
and a good way to express yourself,”
Brooke says. “My tattoo means a
lot to me. Looking back on [getting
the tattoo] and knowing it really
means something to me makes its
permanence worthwhile.”
Editorial
Communication,
Attention Lacking
In a typical high school, there
are what seem to be a million events
taking place every week. Sports
games, fundraisers, field trips, club
and class meetings—the list goes
on. With a hectic schedule like this,
one would assume that the majority
of students would be aware of these
events. At MAHS, however, the
number of students who talk about or
participate in such events is a small
minority. Countless fundraisers
go by unnoticed by many and less
successful as well.
Take the Haiti relief collection,
for example. After the Haiti
disaster, key club placed a jug in
the cafeteria during lunch periods
for students who wished to donate
money. There was even a set ideal
goal marked by a line on the jug. A
few announcements were made in
front of the lunch periods, but the
collection was never mentioned
over the loudspeaker. Students who
may not attend lunch regularly and
teachers who are not lunch advisers
were left out of this fundraiser.
A number of possibilities
suggest why fundraising and support
for projects in the high school are
sometimes disappointing.
“I didn’t know anything about
it,” is a common refrain.
The daily announcements are
one important way to communicate
with the student body, but sometimes
they are under-utilized. During the
December angel basket collection,
students say too few announcements
were made until the Key Club
experienced very little participation
from the student body over several
days. Eventually, Mr. Tallarico
made a special announcement of
behalf of Key Club to tell students
that donations were lacking. Since
this was one of the first times the
fundraiser had been mentioned,
Angel Baskets ended up being a
success because many students who
didn’t know of the project beforehand
brought in their contributions.
Sometimes students simply need
more information to understand the
significance of a particular event
or project. Take the recent Smile
Train fundraiser. While numerous
announcements were made over
several mornings, for those who had
never heard of “Smile Train,” the
reason for the fundraising and why
Opinion
students should support the cause
were a little vague.
Too often it is assumed that
students look at the flyers posted
on the walls or talk to members of
a given club. It is simply untrue
because if students aren’t reminded
constantly of fundraisers, little effort
is made. A perfect example is the
senior class’s Meteor blanket sale.
While very few blankets have
been sold due to a lack of effort on
the seniors’ part, Meteor sports wrap
sales were a success for the junior
class this year. These items are
similar in cost and quality, yet the
class that cares less about fundraising
is reaping less.
So why do the seniors care less?
Are they merely lazy and apathetic,
or could it be that they don’t
understand the importance of class
fundraising?
There seems to be a disconnect
among members of the student
body, especially in the senior high.
Students don’t talk to one another
about school-related topics. There’s
little or no talk about the previous
night’s game – even after a thriller
like the Meteors’ recent victory
over arch-rival Elk Lake – except
among the athletes. Little or nothing
is heard about student council’s
Liason Committee meetings with
administrators and other members.
Student Liason is a way for the
students involved to represent the
ideas and opinions of other students,
yet the meetings are never even
discussed.
Students’ lack of awareness
about events going on in the school
is certainly in large part the result of
inattention. How often do we hear
students say that they can’t hear
morning announcements because
their classrooms are noisy?
But sometimes a lack of
information is the culprit too.
Students won’t support what they
don’t understand or even know
about.
Irish playwright George Bernard
Shaw once said, “The problem with
communication…is the illusion that
it has been accomplished.”
Sometimes we humans think
we express more information than
we do – and sometimes others of us
think we’ve heard it all. Both groups
need to rethink those views.
“Well, who’d you vote
for in the last election?”
“Huh? I don’t vote!”
Another Voice:
Where Should America’s Money be Going?
Angela Short
A & E editor
A few weeks ago, around the
time of the terrible earthquake in
Haiti, my government class was
reading from a book called Amazing
Grace, written by Jonathan Kozol.
The book is about what it is like
for people to live desperately poor
in the United States. I never knew
what some people go through
because of their dire financial
straits, mostly because such
situations aren’t shown very often
on TV or in magazines.
Montrose Area Junior/Senior High School
Editor in chief...............................Eli Gere
Katelyn Spellman
News/Features editor...................Katelyn Spellman
Opinion editor...............................Tatim Brace
Arts & Entertainment editor...... Angela Short
Elementary editor.........................Geena Bistocchi
Samantha Vetri
Junior high editor.........................Leah Cronk
Sports co-editors..........................Megan Henry
Photo co-editors...........................Katie Hibbard
Amanda Rebello
Editorial cartoonist......................Clara Lattimore
Adviser..........................................Sandra Kaub
Staff
Dallas Ely, Chelsea Gelatt, Johanna Hripto, Kate Kielceski,
Cory Kimmell, Courtney Kimmell, Kaitlin Liddick, Brooke
Malloy, Katy Swingle, Kayla Tyson,
Carmen VanNess
50 High School Rd. Montrose, PA 18801
Editorial Cartoon
“Those guys in Washington
don’t know what they’re doing!”
Meteor Chronicle
PAGE 3
MARCH 2010
METEOR CHRONICLE
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There are many touching
stories in Kozol’s book about what
real people living in poverty in the
Bronx and Harlem experience. One
story that sticks out in my mind
is of a little boy who was killed
because he had leaned up against
an elevator door in his apartment
building and it opened. The family
was blamed for the child’s death,
according to Mr. Kozol, because
authorities said the child should
not have been playing in the
hallway of the building. But the
neighborhood was too dangerous
for him to go outside. Where were
children supposed to play if not in
the hallways?
Kozol writes about “garbage
piled five feet high in an airshaft”
where the child died, and in that
same building a woman with
three children said the telephone
company had been there 10 times
because rats had chewed through
the walls and phone lines.
As my class finished reading
about poverty in America, I started
to wonder how we Americans can
pride ourselves on being so well
off when we have people living the
way they do?
According to a Web site called
News One for Black America,
our President Barack Obama sent
$100 million in relief to Haiti.
According to CNN’s Web site,
the American Red Cross raised $7
million dollars for Haiti to help
them reconstruct their country, and
yet we have people suffering in our
own country. Despite the tragedy
of Haiti’s disaster, why are we not
helping our own citizens?
Two main reasons come to my
mind. If the United States hadn’t
sent money to Haiti when many
other countries did, we would
have looked bad in the world’s
eyes. Also, the poverty of many
Americans is not often shown on
TV or in magazines, so people are
not aware of what it is like.
According to the U.S. Census
Bureau, a family of four with an
income of $19,157 lives in poverty,
but according to Atlas of Poverty
in America, $35,000 is needed to
provide for a family of four living
in the United States. That is a big
difference.
Using that $19,157 figure,
12.7 percent of Americans live
in poverty. Those people lack
food, sanitary water, and a good
education, yet we are sending
millions of dollars to a country that
isn’t even our own.
In Amazing Grace Kozol talks
about a school near the Bronx,
Stuyvesant High, that richer kids
attend. It consists of 12 science
labs, five gyms, an Olympic-size
swimming pool, an elegant theater,
a two-story library, and a beautiful
view of the Statue of Liberty.
I was amazed by the
description of the school, so I
looked it up. According to the New
York Times, this school cost $148
million! With a school that big, I
would think that the kids who are
living in poverty around the area
would be able to go there too, but
that is not the case. Only students
who meet stringent requirements
may attend Stuyvesant, and that
does not include many minority or
poor children.
The kids in poverty go to their
own neighborhood schools, schools
that are “dangerously loaded with
lead,” according to school officials.
Students in these schools suffer
from chronic illnesses like asthma
and anxiety.
Taxpayers spent $148 million
on a school for kids who have
money as soon as they are born, but
we don’t help change the schools
that need it the most, those in poor
neighborhoods. We need to help
those kids get a good education so
that they don’t live in poverty their
whole lives. So often kids born into
poverty stay in poverty because
they can’t get a decent education to
find well-paying jobs.
Our country needs to think
twice about where its money goes.
We need to make our country better
by starting out at our lowest points.
Our lowest point is when a child
is killed because his apartment
building is in ill repair, and the
family is blamed.
PAGE 4
MARCH 2010
Lathrop Street Fifth, Sixth Graders
Perform Willy Wonka Musical
By Samantha Vetri,
Elementary co-editor
When Lathrop Street sixth
grader Chris Ricci heard about
the auditions for the Willy
Wonka KIDS play that chorus
director Nino Bennici was
planning for fifth and sixth
graders to perform, he signed
up.
“I thought that I would
give it a shot because it is my
last year in the school, I like
Mr. Bennici, and I thought it
would be nice to audition for
his play and that it would be
fun,” Chris said.
So Chris, along with 83
other students, reported to
auditions in mid-January to
perform excerpts from the
parts of the play’s script that
the students were trying out
for and to sing a portion of a
song from the musical.
“During the auditions, I
felt a bit nervous, but I was
confident that I would get the
part,” Chris said.
And he did. Chris will
play Willy Wonka in the
performance for Lathrop
Street students only March 18
and for the public March 20
at 7 p.m. Both performances
will be held in the MAHS
auditorium. Willy Wonka KIDS is a
Samantha Vetri/Meteor Chronicle
Sixth grader Chris Ricci (left), and fifth graders Matt Ruseski
(middle) and Ethan Luecke (right) rehearse a scene from the play in
MAHS auditiorium on March 11.
stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s
“Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory,” a tale of the worldfamous candy man who wants
to retire but needs to find a
replacement. The play features
songs from the popular family
film Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory.
Willy Wonka KIDS is codirected by Mr. Bennici and
his wife, MAHS band director
Susanne Bennici, along with
three student directors: eighth
grader Callie Curley, sophomore
Maura Warner and junior Carolyn
Myer. Lathrop Street librarian
Natalie Hawley is the costume
designer, and art teacher Lori
Keihl, several Lathrop Street
faculty, and parents are assisting,
according to Mr. Bennici.
METEOR CHRONICLE
Sixth Graders Meet for a Movie
By Geena Bistocchi, Elementary co-editor
Moving from sixth grade
in an elementary school to
seventh grade in a considerably
larger high school is a scary
proposition for many elevenand twelve-year-olds, and if
that’s not enough, the incoming
seventh graders must merge with
scores of strangers from another
elementary school who look like
them, but they’ve never met. It
all can be intimidating at best,
frightening at worst.
Enter Choconut Valley’s
sixth grade Send-off Committee
and its Movie Night to be held
at the Montrose Movie Theatre
on Public Avenue in Montrose
March 31.
The idea is for sixth graders
from Choconut Valley to meet
their classmates from Lathrop
Street before uniting next fall at
the high school.
Choconut Valley Send-off
Committee member Laura Legg
thought the two schools’ students
would like to do something fun
together.
“The sixth graders start
seventh grade together, but some
of the kids really haven’t met
each other, so the idea took off
from there,” Mrs. Legg says.
Students will arrive at the
movie theatre at 6 p.m., and a
parent or guardian will sign in
his or her sixth grader. After the
movie, parents will pick up their
students and sign them out of the
theatre again.
The idea of a movie night
attended by Lathrop Street and
Choconut Valley sixth graders
appeals to most students.
“The movie night is a great
idea!” Choconut Valley sixth
grader Gabrielle Cramner says.
“That way we can get together
and meet before we get to the
high school.”
The charge for Movie Night
is $7.50 per student to include
the movie ticket, soda or water,
popcorn, and a raffle ticket to win
one of several prizes.
.......................................................................................
Derbies Celebrate 100 Years
of Scouting
By Samantha Vetri, Elementary co-editor .....................................................................................................................................
Snowshoeing Comes to Choconut Valley
By Geena Bistocchi, Elementary co-editor
Instructor Paul Mang helps
fourth grader Savannah Anderson
attach her snowshoes.
“I thought the snowshoeing
was an excellent idea,” Savannah
says. “It was so much fun, and I
hope we do it again next year!”
The Northeast Wilderness
Experience visited Choconut
Valley March 3 to instruct
students in grades fourth, fifth
and sixth on how to snowshoe.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Bistocchi
The program was organized
by Choconut Valley’s physical
education teacher Katy Rosenkrans.
Photo courtesy of Sal Vetri
Cub Scouts in the wolf den of Pack 92 (left) and the tiger den
(right) watch cars race during the annual Pinewood Derby at the
Montrose fire hall Jan. 16.
Scouts of Packs 92 (Montrose) and 27 (Silver Lake)
celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Boy Scouts
of America as they raced their cars in derbies in Montrose and
Silver Lake. The Pinewood Derby dates back to 1953.
Awards were given to the owners of the best-looking cars
and those finishing in first, second and third places for each den
and for placing in the top four of the pack overall.
“I felt fantastic and excited because I won a final trophy in my
den for the fastest car,” third grader Maxwell Brewer says.
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Little Voices: “Who is your hero?”
Photos by Samantha Vetri & Geena Bistocchi
Madison Gilhool
Bethany Evans
Tanner Politi
Wyatt Everitt
Nicholas Robinson
Lathrop Street
Third grade
Choconut Valley
Sixth grade
Choconut Valley
Second grade
Choconut Valley
Third grade
Lathrop Street
Third grade
“My heroes are my grandparents because I always go
to their house and do
actitivies with them.”
“My hero is Mrs. Bistocchi
because I can go to her
for everything, and she will
always be there for me when
I need something.”
“My hero is Superman
because he is strong and has
all these powers,
like flying and super vision.”
“My hero is my teacher,
Mrs. Huff because she
helps me with what I need.”
“My hero is my mom because
she cooks for me and helps me
do my homework and makes
me feel better when I am sad.
PAGE 5
MARCH 2010
METEOR CHRONICLE
Shaffer Places First at Wrestling Districts Bullying Often Tied to Maturity
AAU Helps Basketball Players Improve
By Katelyn Spellman, Co-editor in chief
Having lost
only one match
in the entire
season, eighth
grader
John
Shaffer
took
first place in
the 210-pound
weight
class
at the PIAA
District 2 Junior
High Wrestling
Championships
at Lake Lehman
High
School
Feb. 20.
“My coach
told me that
many of the
other
schools
Photo courtesy of Chris Gardner
were counting Eighth grader John Shaffer wrestles his Lake Lehman opponent in the 210-pound
me out and not weight class at the PIAA District II Championship at Lake Lehman High School
expecting
me Feb. 20. Shaffer won the title of district champ in his weight class.
to even place at
districts,” Shaffer said.
Spellman also plays soccer and players on the eighth grade
Shaffer had advanced to AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) boys’ team.
districts after having finished basketball.
Center
Cameron
Dean
in first place in the same
“AAU improves my fun- has played basketball for the
weight class at PIAA District damental skills like dribbling, Meteors for five years and
2 Western Sectionals at Blue shooting and passing and AAU ball for four.
Ridge High School Feb. 13.
“[AAU] helps my game
defense that I use during the
Seventh grader David school season,” Spellman said. tremendously because I’m
Gardner placed second at
Like her own skills at able to play against better
sectionals at 85 pounds, and dribbling and shooting, Spell- competition and players from
seventh grader Patrick Parks man said her team has also a lot of different places,” Dean
took fourth at 90 pounds.
improved its ball handling, said. “It has helped me become
Shaffer finished his season communication on the court a better overall player and
at 22-1, and the Meteors as a and ability to play as a team.
improve my fundamentals.”
team ranked 19th in District 2.
Guard Erik Burgh agrees.
“We learned that we couldn’t
Girls’ Basketball
“Last year my [AAU]
win games as individuals, but
Family has played an we could as a team,” Spellman coach, Cory Gesford, worked
important role in the per- said.
with me on my defense.
formance of junior high girls’
The eighth grade girls’ team During one game this season, I
basketball player Meghan finished its season 17-4. The remembered everything he had
Spellman.
seventh grade girls’ season taught me, and I played good
“My sister Katelyn, a ended 14-1.
defense,” Burgh said.
junior, inspired me to play,”
The eighth graders finished
Boys’ Basketball
Spellman said. “I’ve been
Like Spellman and team- their season 11-6. The seventh
going to her games since first mates Nicki Lewis, Myra graders went 10-4.
grade, so I wanted to play too.” Lattimore, Ashlee Lattner
In addition to having and Erica Reeves, AAU has
Staff
reporter
Kaitlin
played
basketball
since been a significant factor in the Liddick contributed to this
fourth grade, the eighth grade performance of some of the story.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Junior High Athletes Define Dedication
By Amanda Rebello
Photo co-editor
Before a sports season even
begins, sometimes months before, some of MAHS’s student
athletes start to prepare. Whether
their goal is to get in shape for the
coming season or get bigger or
stronger or work on their skills,
these dedicated students count
on their early preparation and
practice to pay off.
Eighth grader Samantha
Bennici, who runs the 1600m and
800m in track, began preparing
for the 2010 track season after
last year’s cross country season
ended in October.
“I ran all through the summer,” Bennici says. “I haven’t
stopped. I haven’t taken time off,
so I can get better.”
Bennici follows a workout
rotation that includes hill workouts, speed workouts, long and
easy runs, core building and
conditioning.
Bennici says her definition of
dedication is “putting more work
than is needed into something,
not just settling for your best but
pushing to be the best.”
Eighth grader Rachael Mordovancey, a thrower on the track
team, says she started preparing
about a month before the season
began March 8 “because I want
to be in shape before pre-season
so I can focus more on my form
for throwing than having to get in
shape.”
Junior high track coach Bob
Davis says “anything one does
ahead of time to get in shape can
help the athlete. An athlete needs
to build up a base of fitness, or
he/she will really be susceptible
to injury.”
Mordovancey does speed
workouts “because throwers’
form actually has a lot to do with
your legs,” she says.
“You give your all to something
you’re in,” Mordovancey says. “If
you’re going to do it, you don’t
do it halfway, and you work your
hardest to get what you want.”
Seventh grader Ryan Stetson
has also been preparing himself
for his sport’s season, next year’s
football season. He’s been lifting
at home and sometimes at the
school with junior high football
coach Sami Bourizk.
“I’m lifting to get bigger for
football,” he says.
The bench press and work
with dumb bells he’s doing will
help him on the football field,
Stetson hopes.
“You want to keep doing
something until you get better at
it,” Stetson says.
Eighth grader Lauren Hackett
started playing catch the last
week in January to work on her
pitching arm for softball.
Her sister and her dad have
been playing catcher for her to
help her work on her pitching
form “so I could get better,” she
says.
“[Athletes who work out out
of season] are really smart to do
that. That’s great that they are
showing initiative,” Coach Davis
says.
By Kate Kielceski and Kaitlin Liddick
Staff reporters
Imagine you are a twelve- says.
Although the number of
year-old student in seventh
grade. School is important to fights in school this year is down
you, and you take it seriously. from last year, according to Mr.
You don’t think of yourself as a Canevari, technology has ennerd, but you are picked on every abled bullying to reach past the
day. Pushing, shoving and name- doors of the school building.
Through Facebook, MySpace
calling are nothing new to you.
Recently the harassment has and texting, bullies can attack
gotten worse. It is so bad that you their victims at home and on
take the long way to your classes weekends.
The reasons kids bully each
and risk being late just to avoid
other vary. Mr. Canevari says
the kids who pick on you.
Although you feel like you it is often over boyfriend and
are the only one going through girlfriend troubles with junior
these situations, your problem is high students. On the other hand,
Dr. Kaub says the reason is more
common throughout junior high.
Bullying occurs more often of a subconscious decision.
“Kids that bully are often
among junior high students than
senior high students because of trying to find their place in the
the difference in maturity levels, social order. It is also based on
according to assistant principal relationships they’ve seen in
their lives such as between other
Russ Canevari.
“It is the younger kids, adults they are close to.
Another reason for bullying
mostly. Older kids take things
is for self-preservation. If kids
better,” Mr. Canevari says.
Seventh grade history teacher have been bullied, they think that
Kevin Kloss agrees that maturity is how they should treat other
is a major factor in the bullying people. It is a social thing to
secure their place, to guarantee
he sees.
“It is the maturity level. that they won’t look weak,” Dr.
Senior high kids don’t care. They Kaub says.
Regardless of the motivation
just want to get on their way and
not be bothered,” Mr. Kloss says. behind bullying or the way it is
Mr. Kloss has seen bullying done, the effects of bullying upon
firsthand and even broken up two victims is always detrimental,
fights this school year resulting physical education and health
from bullying. He says that he teacher Ellen Mulligan says.
Ms. Mulligan sees the victims
sees incidents of bullying about
of bullying through the school’s
three times a week on average.
“I’m sure it’s happening every peer mediation program. Aside
day, but it just goes unnoticed,” from aiding kids in getting help
from their peers, Ms. Mulligan
he says.
While most people think of also acts as a friend to students
bullying as fist fights, Mr. Kloss who need someone to talk to or
and crisis counselor Theresa need to know someone cares.
“Bullying destroys [victims’]
Kaub say they see other more
subtle ways that kids bully each self-esteems. They suffer from
other. Bullying with words can depression and anxiety, and they
be just as dangerous as fights, don’t feel safe. There are physical ailments. It’s a horrible
they say.
“Verbal bullying can be worse thing and a terrible thing to
than fighting. A bruise caused by experience,” Ms. Mulligan said.
What can be done to prevent
a fist will heal. Words will stay
bullying?
with you,” Mr. Kloss says.
“Educate kids about what
Dr. Kaub encounters instances of bullying during stu- bullying is to help them choose
dent counseling sessions on a not to be one,” Ms. Mulligan
fairly regular basis, she says. She says. “If kids are being bullied,
also believes that verbal bullying they need to get an adult involved.
Someone cares. They will help
can be as hurtful as a punch.
“Even when victims leave the [kids] come up with a plan and
bullying [site], they still have the show [kids] how to take control.
scars of the situation,” Dr. Kaub Kids can’t do it by themselves.”
...............................................................................................................
Outstanding Junior High Students
Amanda Rebello/Meteor Chronicle
Seventh graders Bryce Fair and Anna Churco (front) and eighth graders Callie Curley and Stephanie Koloski (back) were named Outstanding Students for the second marking period.
“Students chosen were recognized by teachers for being helpful to others, being cooperative and participating in class,” assistant principal
Russ Canevari says.
METEOR CHRONICLE
METEOR CHRONICLE
PAGE 6
AArts & EntertainmentJ
PAGE 7
MARCH 2010
Arts & Entertainment
Hohn, Roman Earn Black Belts
By Katelyn Spellman and Cory Kimmell, Co-editor in chief and staff reporter
,
They come in white, yellow,
“We had to fight other class same material as its Pennsylvania
orange, green, purple, blue, red, members,” Roman says. “I fought counterpart, Hohn says.
brown and black. To earn one, a Matt, my mom and all of the orange
“[The New York test] included
person must demonstrate control, and brown belts at our dojo. Our the same stuff as the Pennsylvania
wisdom and peace of mind. Years instructor judged the fights.”
test, just in a more concentrated
By Brooke Malloy, Staff reporter
of training are
form; it was a lot
required
to
harder because it was
When the word
reach
the
condensed,” Hohn
“art” comes to mind,
highest degree,
says.
most people think of
a black belt. On
Karate is a family
easels, oils, pastels and
Oct. 28 juniors
affair for Roman. His
watercolors, sculptures
Matt Hohn and
mother, Judy Roman
and drawings. Rarely do
Joel
Roman
(who has also studied
they think of LEGOS.
achieved this
karate for five years),
In
November
goal.
received her black
students from Mrs.
Hohn and
belt with the boys.
Jen Flaherty’s Art
Roman started
Roman’s
brother,
1 classes and Mrs.
karate
five
senior Aaron, has
Cathy Regan’s Art 2
years ago after
also participated in
classes were invited
Roman’s mom
karate. He achieved
by administrators of
saw a karate
the level of brown
the Everhart Museum
demonstration
belt before leaving
of Natural History,
at a Boy Scout
the sport two years
Science & Art in
meeting.
ago.
“I thought
“I don’t mind
Scranton to contribute
[karate] would
having my mom
to a display of 2-D
be cool,” Hohn
in karate with me
artwork inspired by
says. “What kid
because I know I
New York-based LEGO
Photo courtesy of Shelley Hohn
doesn’t dream During his diploma ceremony in early November, junior Matt Hohn can count on her,”
brick artist Nathan
of becoming a (right) receives his black belt, lying on the floor in front of him, after Roman says. “If
Sawaya. Their artwork
ninja?”
I need help with
could be motivated
having passed the black belt test Oct. 28.
Hohn and
anything, I can
by real or imaginary
Carmen VanNess/ Meteor Chronicle Roman study at Shihon Bob Wright’s
Since they have passed the black depend on her and Matt.”
creations based on
Sophomore Jacey Blom, an Art 1 student, poses next to her 2-D LEGO project,
Dojo at Neumann Hall in Choconut belt test, Hohn’s and Roman’s hands
Reaching the black belt level
LEGOS.
is on display at the Everhart Museum as part of the Student Art at the Ever- Township. The 20-member class, are classified as lethal weapons in has been Hohn’s and Roman’s goal
When the students which
hart Brick Creations exhibit.
whose students range in ages from Pennsylvania. The athletes have since joining karate, so the hard work
were assigned this
Sophomore Chris Spoehr’s jumping off the wall!” Emma said. five to 65, meets weekly and costs learned, however, that with their required to earn it has been worth it,
project, they first had
skills comes responsibility, Roman they say. Both plan to continue the
In attendance at the opening $30 a month.
to come up with an idea for a LEGO project was inspired by a
A “Shihon” is a seventh-degree says.
sport and improve upon their black2-D design, using LEGOS as an Barack Obama HOPE poster. His was Nathan Sawaya, whose brick
“Just because [mine and Joel’s] belt ranking.
inspiration. Their projects could be pale red and blue project turned creations are also on display. The black belt. Hohn and Roman are
“Being in karate for such a long
drawn, painted, or designed using out looking similar to the poster, artist talked with the students first-degree black belts or “Shodans.” hands are ‘lethal’ doesn’t mean that
The black belt test was divided we can kill people with our hands,” time, it becomes a part of you,” Hohn
technology such as photography with a hand-drawn LEGO man in about the processes of art and why
the middle and the word BUILD he likes building with LEGOS, into sections and taken throughout Hohn adds. “We know combinations says. “I want to participate in karate
and Adobe Photoshop.
according to student exhibitor the month of October, Joel says. of moves that could kill or seriously until I graduate from high school, and
After students worked on their across the bottom.
It officially ended on Oct. 28, and injure someone, so in a self-defense hopefully, I can find a dojo where I
“I was surprised because I Carmen VanNess, a senior.
projects for nearly two weeks, with
“I learned that you can get they received their belts in early criminal case, that [knowledge] go to college. Ultimately, I want to
the assistance of NEIU #19 artist thought mine was really bad,”
could be used against us.”
become a sensai (third-degree black
in residence Earl Lehman, Mrs. Chris said. “I don’t have that much inspiration from almost anything,” November.
“Each belt level comes with
In addition to taking belt).”
said Chris.
Flaherty and Mrs. Regan were artistic skill.”
Karate has taught Hohn and
The museum’s LEGO exhibit
“I thought it was wonderful responsibility. In order to ad- Pennsylvania’s black belt test, Hohn
faced with what Mrs. Flaherty
vance,
you
need
to
pass
a
belt
test
passed
New
York
state’s
black
belt
Roman
not only physical skills but
called “a difficult task” to choose opened to the public Feb. 5, and and nice to see students’ artwork, that includes memorization of test. He and five other students– also the principles of respect and
20 projects out of approximately student artists whose projects are and it was a good experience for Japanese terms and a kata, which is three black belts and two high brown morality.
110 to send to the Everhart Museum on display were invited to the the students to meet the artist and a memorized sequence of moves,” belts–from Shihon Bob’s Dojo
“[Karate] has taught me to show
for possible inclusion in an exhibit show’s opening the night before. hear him speak about his own art Hohn says. “[Advancing from a traveled to New York City Jan. 30 to respect to other people and to refrain
called “Student Art at the Everhart: The work of approximately 25-30 creations,” Mrs. Flaherty said.
brown belt to a black belt] is basically take the test. Unlike the Pennsylvania from violence,” Roman says. “I have
students from seven area schools
The Everhart Museum is located the same principle, except on a test, the New York test takes five all of these [karate] abilities that I
Brick Creations.”
“Mrs. Regan and I both laid comprises the exhibit that runs in Nay Aug Park in Scranton for bigger scale. It’s more physically and hours to complete and is taken in should use for self-defense and not
those who might like to see the mentally challenging.”
out the projects and chose the best until May 2.
one day. However, it includes the just for fighting someone.”
Senior Project Serves
to Make a Difference
By Geena Bistocchi, Elementary co-editor
Othello ‘Up Close, Intense’ Student Art Displayed in LEGO Exhibit
By Leah Cronk, Junior high editor
“O, beware, my lord, of
jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster
which doth mock/The meat it
feeds on.”
Approximately 150 freshmen,
including Ceara Hartman, juniors
and seniors heard these lines
spoken by Italian officer Iago in
a performance of William Shakespeare’s Othello “up close” at
the Schorr family Firehouse
Stage in Johnson City, N.Y., Feb.
5. “The up close was really up
close! The actors [on the thrust
stage] performed very close to the
audience,” Ceara says. “Since I
had never seen a live production
before, I didn’t know quite what
to expect. I was struck by the fact
that the characters’ emotions were
more evident up close, and if they
made a mistake in their lines, they
couldn’t go back.” English teacher John Koloski
organized the field trip, he said,
because he thought students
would be interested in a story
that deals with some of today’s
most important issues–racism,
interracial marriage, religion and
domestic violence.
Othello tells a tragic story of
love and deceit. The protagonist, a
dark-skinned Moor who is a military commander, falls in love with
and marries Desdemona, a fairskinned Italian noblewoman. Iago
is passed over for a promotion by
Othello, and Iago plots revenge.
Over time, Iago gains Othello’s
trust and then abuses that trust
by convincing Othello that
Desdemona has been unfaithful to
him. Othello’s jealousy causes him
to murder Desdemona and then
take his own life once he realizes
he has been tricked about his
wife’s infidelity.
Mr. Koloski says he had hoped
students would see literature
brought to life through this play.
When Iago got in our faces,
it was really intense,” junior Sam
Porter says. “I didn’t think I was a
play-type person until I got to see
Othello.”
Seeing a Shakespearean play,
or any play for that matter, acted
out on a stage makes it real, Mr.
Koloski says.
“The right play gives an experience that ignites a passion for
live theater,” Mr. Koloski says. “I
wanted to see students fall in love
with what they saw.”
Senior Emma Robinson says
she had read the play before seeing
the Firehouse Stage performance
and was impressed by the quality
of the acting.
“I really liked [the play]
because it was interesting and very
well acted,” Emma says. “[It is] a
complex story with a tangled web
of trust, deceit, love and hate.” Mr. Koloski says that many
students experienced the essence
of the characters: Desdemona’s
purity that cannot prevent her
death; Iago’s vengeance that causes
so much death; and Othello’s
jealousy and anger that cause him
to murder his one true love. For
some students, Mr. Koloski says,
“It really hit home, and they got it!”
At the end of the play, students
had the opportunity to talk informally with the actors out of
character.
“I liked the talk-back the best
because when I actually got to talk
to the actors, it showed me a different side of them, how good the
actors are at acting, and now I have
a better appreciation for the people
that work so hard to produce such
a great Shakespearean play,” Sam
says.
.................................................................................................. ones that had the best concept and
Garden Club
to Beautify Courtyards
By Courtney Kimmell, Staff reporter
The smell of flowers fills the
air, and bees buzz lazily from one
gorgeous flower to another in the
high school courtyards. Well, not
yet. However, this is what the newly established Garden Club hopes
to see after turning the unused
courtyards into lush gardens.
Garden Club president Emily Hardy-Shephard, a junior, proposed the idea of refurbishing the
courtyards to Superintendent Mike
Ognosky during a student council
Liaison Committee meeting.
Although planning for the club
began last school year, Garden
Club became an official club in the
beginning of this school year.
“I didn’t like looking out the
windows and not seeing the courtyards being used to their full potential,” Emily says. “The idea
was passed around as a graduation
project last year, but no one picked
it up, so I decided to start the club
through student council, and it took
off from there.”
The Garden Club’s first project
will begin as soon as the weather
breaks, Emily says. She and the ten
other Garden Club members will
plant flowers and possibly start a
vegetable garden.
However, the plants and other
materials needed to complete the
project are not free. Emily says the
club is counting on the generosity
of the community to help fund the
club’s projects until the members
can raise money on their own.
“We have people in the community who are already willing
to donate, and we will fundraise,”
Emily says.
Science teacher Matt Oleniacz
is advising the Garden Club, which
is open to students in grades nine
through twelve. Members will
meet during study halls and after
school. Anyone who is willing to
put in the time and effort to achieve
the club’s goals is welcome, Emily says. Interested students may
contact Emily or Mr. Oleniacz in
Room 66.
When they are finished with the
courtyards,the Garden Club members will move on to other projects
to improve the school, hopefully
for many more years.
“I want the club to continue
even after I graduate,” Emily says.
execution of ideas,” Mrs. Flaherty
said.
Thirteen of the submitted
projects were selected by a jury
at the museum for display. The
projects depicted a “wide range” of
artistic development from LEGO
landscapes to still-life drawings
and scenes, according to Mrs.
Flaherty and Mrs. Regan.
Shake the
Winter Blues
Postcard invitations using
senior Emma Robinson’s LEGO
project were mailed to student
guests to announce the opening.
“I was in shock when a museum
representative asked if a picture of
my LEGO project could be used
on the front of the invitations for
the exhibit’s opening. I was really
excited. Even my brother, who
is featured in my project, was
By Angela Short, A & E Editor
Geena Bistocchi
Elementary Co-editor
This time of year there never
seems to be much for teens to do
unless, of course, they’re into
snow! And even it’s become a
melting, muddy mess. There’s
little choice but to stay inside
and bring the fun to your house,
so grab your friends and throw a
dinner party!
Getting together with friends
is a great way to shake those
winter doldrums. Invite people
to your home. Decorate and
make the inside of your house
look fun and inviting. Ask each
guest to bring a different type of
food: snacks, dips, desserts or
new recipes. Remember to plan
LEGO exhibit. It is open Monday,
Thursday and Friday from noon to
4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
“What impressed me the most
about Mr. Sawaya’s work was the
large, life-size scale,” Emma said,
“and the way he said he’s able to
start with just one LEGO block and
build from the bottom up, rarely
having to start over.”
..................................................................................................................................................
Graduate Publishes Children’s Books
By Chelsea Gelatt,
OutandAbout
with Angela
and Geena
a back-up meal in case guests
forget or dishes turn out poorly.
We once had a dinner party, and
our friend burned the fettuccini
alfredo. Fortunately, we also
had chicken and dumplings to
serve. You can even plan your
party around a theme. For
Christmas this year we had a
dinner to get into the Christmas
spirit. We put out our traditional
Christmas decorations and
lit candles. Even our desserts
were dyed green and red.
Preceding the dinner, we had a
gingerbread house competition.
We broke up into groups and
built houses from gingerbread
we had bought in advanced. Of
course, Geena and I won! After
dinner we had a fun night of
karaoke.
Easter is just around the
corner, so consider throwing an
Easter/welcome spring dinner
party. Have an Easter egg hunt
with colored eggs and little
gifts to be found. Or have egg
dying competitions and see
who can make the prettiest or
most original egg.
Instead of letting winter
doldrums get you down, get
creative. Use your imagination,
and let it snow if it must!
Photo courtesy of Steve Coney
Alumnus Steve Coney (’92) enjoys music
and playing his guitar in addition to authoring children’s stories and publishing
books such as Creepy Stories for Creepy
Kids and Where to Watch for Birds. His
latest children’s book, Pythons on the
Playground, is available this month.
Staff reporter
Spooky stories and
exciting adventures fill
the pages of MAHS
alumnus Steve Coney’s
new
book,
Creepy
Stories
for
Creepy
Kids, published by
CreateSpace and available from Amazon.
The book’s eight
short stories remind
teen readers of being
children, hearing spooky
sounds in the night and
thinking shadows made
by trees were ghosts.
The author’s characters experience bonechilling
adventures,
never know-ing what
might be around the next
corner.
Take “The Walk,”
for example. In this story
Zane, the main character,
is left alone by his two
friends to face a long walk
home. Before he leaves,
his friend gives him some
advice: “Shout ‘Scary
people, come out!’”
On his way home, Zane uses
the advice his friend has given
him but is disappointed by the
spooky result.
The tales in Creepy Stories for
Creepy Kids were compiled from
a collection Mr. Coney started in 1999. Many more stories
have been published elsewhere,
he says. It took the author, who
resides in Johnson City, N.Y.,
with his wife Jennifer and their
two children, 10 years to collect
the stories and nine months for
the book to hit stores.
The characters in Mr. Coney’s
stories are based on people from
his life, he says. In “The Flight,”
for instance, the pilot character is
based on his late grandfather, and
“She Bites” is about his daughter
Maybellene.
“I believe greatly in writing
what you know,” Mr. Coney says.
A new book, Pythons on the
Playground, was released March
17, the author says, and the audio
edition of Creepy Stories for
Creepy Kids will be out by fall.
Amanda Rebello/ Meteor Chronicle
Senior Angela Short (far left) leads an activity during Day of Difference March 10 in the gymnasium.
Senior
Angela
Short’s
graduation project was called
Day of Difference, and it made
a difference.
“The day made a difference
in my life because I got to see
sides of people that I didn’t
know existed, and I was able to
reveal a different side of myself
too,” junior Leah Cronk said.
Short’s project took place
March 10 in the high school’s
gym and auditorium. The
purpose of the day was to show
students how words and actions
can hurt others. Approximately
100 students participated in
a variety of group activities,
including some that presented
everyday situations and how
they could be handled in
positive ways to avoid hurtful
results.
“I think the ‘day of difference’
was very successful,” Short
says. “It made students realize
that their actions affect students
mentally
and
physically.
Hopefully, after my project
they will use what they were
taught, and their niceness will
be contagious!”
.............................................................................................
Myers Off to All-state
By Kayla Tyson, Staff reporter
For
some
people, singing
and
playing
instruments are
simply hobbies,
but for some
band and chorus
members they
are much more
than that.
J u n i o r
Keenan Small
and sophomores
Jake Myers and
courtesy of Karol Roman
Alana Yoemans Junior Emily Augenti playsPhoto
her clarinet at district
participated in band at Pittston Area High School Feb. 12.
district chorus
sponsored by the Pennsylvania PMEA, at Pittston Area High School
Music
Educators
Association Feb.11-13.
(PMEA) at Wallenpaupack Area
“I liked the fact that I was given
High School Jan. 27_29.
the opportunity to play with other
To qualify for districts, the sing- French horn players,” Megan said.
ers, along with students from other “Usually it’s just me since I’m the
area high schools, were required to only French horn player in our
memorize “Holy Radiant Light” school’s band.”
by Russian composer Alexander
All four band members who
Gretchaninoff and perform it at pre- com-peted at districts qualified for
district auditions held at Lackawanna regionals, which will be held at Blue
Trail High School in October. The Ridge High School March 25-27.
top 20 students in each voice part
As a former choir member
were tapped for districts.
and district competitor himself in
At districts Jake placed second in high school, chorus director Scott
Bass 2, qualifying him for regionals Zimmerman says he knows what it
held March 11-13 at Tunkhannock takes to compete at the district and
Area High School. Keenan placed regional levels.
19th in Bass 1, and Alana placed 13th
“The chorus students worked
in Sop-rano 2 at districts.
very hard and moved up from their
Jake again finished second positions prior to auditions. Jake
in Bass 2 at the PMEA Region 4 moved on to regionals as a sophomore
competition and secured a place in while Alana was only two points
the all-state choir to convene April out of an alternate spot. For them to
21-24 in Pittsburgh.
achieve that as sophomores against
“Before the auditions for dis- difficult competition is tremendous,”
tricts, it was nerve racking, but then Mr. Zimmerman said.
fter, I tried to just have fun with it,”
Hard work is the key to success
Jake said.
at band districts and regionals too,
Band members Aaron Roman, a Nick said.
senior on trumpet; Emily Augenti, a
“I stayed after school every day
junior on clarinet; and sophomores for a week for nine hours of practice
Nick Best on euphonium and Megan to prepare for districts,” Nick said.
Gregory on French horn participated “With hard work and determination
in district band, also sponsored by comes success.
PAGE 8
MARCH 2010
SPORTLIGHT
Commentary
Unity, Leadership
Foundation of Success
By Megan Henry, Sports editor
Basketball Hall of Famer and
former NBA coach Larry Bird once
said, “Sports do not build character;
they reveal it.”
One aspect of character that
sports elicit is leadership, which can
take many forms. Coaches may be
in charge, but often it is teammates,
whether they mean to or not, who
emerge as leaders.
“More times than not, the leaders
seem to assume their roles, not as a
right of seniority, but as their personal
desire to have their last season [be] a
memorable and productive one,”
girls’ varsity soccer coach John
Cherundolo says.
With so many different
personalities working toward the
same goal, having a teammate as
a successful leader among athletes
can be a sure way to keep things
running smoothly and make sure that
everyone is doing his/her part.
“With sixteen girls of all
different personalities, there were
speed bumps [during the basketball
cheerleading season],” senior captain
Renée Oleniacz says, “but we knew
if we wanted to perform stunts and
cheers [and] be our best, we had to
get over the issues.”
Often in high school sports there’s
a system already in place when it
comes to assuming responsibilities.
Seniors are generally expected to
lead laps or drills while younger
athletes may be assigned to keeping
track of equipment and so on.
“I believe that senior athletes
have a responsibility to the team and
coaches to be role models for the
underclassmen,” Coach Cherundolo
says. “They might not necessarily be
the best or most talented members of
the team, but they should set the tone
for meaningful and focused practices
as well as team-related activities.
So much of a team’s character and
togetherness come from the seniors’
ability to bring everyone together as
one both on and off the field.”
Senior football captain Bryan
Castrogiovanni says that during
football, the team members assumed
their roles and worked well together
because of the players’ close
relationships off the field.
“For the most part, [we were all]
friends,” he says, “so [we] were trying
[our] hardest for [our] teammates….
My best friends are from the teams I
was on [throughout high school].”
There’s only so much success
that a team can reach without such
relationships and the drive that comes
from it. Although it isn’t necessary to
be best friends, athletes still need to
get along well, or by the end of the
season, they will have lost sight of
their common interest and be sick of
each other.
“We all [had] the same goal every
game: stick every stunt [and make]
cheers sound and look perfect,”
Oleniacz says. “When every person
is looking to achieve the same goal,
success is guaranteed.”
Swimmers Get Advice From Olympic Coach
By Carmen VanNess, Staff reporter
When the parent of an Elk
Lake swimmer told Coach Ed
Murach that she could put him in
touch with a former U. S. Olympic
swim coach who was going to be in
Tunkhannock in February, Coach
Murach welcomed the opportunity
to arrange a meeting.
William “Bill” Boomer was
head coach of the University of
Rochester swim team from 1962 to
1990. He was also a “technical consultant for Stanford University’s
swim team,” according to his
online biography. Later he became
a 2000 Olympic swim team coach.
Coach Boomer is credited with
developing swimming techniques
similar to those used by aquatic
animals, emphasizing aligning the
body properly to minimize water
resistance. These techniques and
postures are what he taught the Elk
Lake-Montrose swimmers when he
spent two-and-a-half hours with the
swimmers in what junior Meghan
Honeyford called an “on deck, extended swim practice.”
“Boomer spent time going over
physiological issues, breathing,
posture and body alignment. He
also reviewed what to expect at
different points of a race,” Coach
Murach said. “Hearing it from a
different source refocused [the
swimmers] on some things.”
Honeyford
participates
in various swimming events,
including the 200m free relay, the
200m medley relay and the 100m
breast.
“It was crazy seeing a different
outlook on breathing, but I think
it helped my technique improve,”
Honeyford said. “But I still have to
keep practicing.”
Boomer, who has innovated
the sport of swimming with new
breathing and stroke technique,
inspired Meghan.
“It was crazy, meeting Bill
Boomer,” Honeyford said. “It was
really cool, knowing that he has
met Michael Phelps.”
METEOR CHRONICLE
Featured Athletes
Wrestlers Traver and White
By Katelyn Spellman, Co-editor in chief
When one thinks of a high school wrestler, a petite blonde girl usually
isn’t the first image that comes to mind, but varsity wrestler Heather Traver, a
junior, is exactly that.
Female wrestlers aren’t common in the area, varsity coach Jim Lewis says.
Traver is the only female wrestler in District 2, the Lackawanna League and
on the MAHS team.
“[Traver] and I talked [about her joining the team], and she asked me what
she needed to do to be part of the team and actually wrestle instead of just
being the manager,” Coach Lewis says. “[Traver] is a very hard worker, and
I’m proud to have a hard working wrestler like her on the team.”
Traver: A lot of people are shocked
Q: Why did you join the wrestling
when I tell them I wrestle because I
team?
am the kind of girl who likes to dress
Traver: I was a manager for the
up and look nice. But my friends
team when Coach [Lewis] asked
and family weren’t very surprised
me if I would like to collect forfeits.
because they know that I am not
I was already there for practices,
an average girl, and that I am very
matches and everything else, so I
persistent in what I do.
decided that I would just join the
Q: What do you say to people who
team. I joined Jan. 16.
suggest that it’s not very feminine or
Collecting forfeits in wrestling
lady-like for a female to wrestle?
refers to one team’s earning points
Traver : Everything changes when
when an opposing team has no
I step on the mat. I’m not a girl; I’m
wrestler to compete in a particular
just another wrestler. I can still be
weight class. The team with a
feminine and lady-like when I go
wrestler is awarded a win. This
out to dinner and stuff, but during
is beneficial to the team because
wrestling, it’s completely different.
the points could be “the difference
Senior Jay White is one of
between winning or losing as a
Traver’s teammates. An eight-year
team,” Traver says. By collecting a
veteran of the sport, this is the first
forfeit, Traver earns six points for
time he has competed with a girl.
the team.
Q: Did you at all influence Traver’s
Q: What class do you wrestle in?
decision to join the team?
Traver: I wrestle in the 103-lb.
White: I’m not really sure if I had
weight class, which is the lowest
anything to do with her joining.
varsity weight class.
Originally she joined to take forfeits
Q: How many matches have you
for the team and just to fill a weight
actually wrestled?
class, but she was told that if she
Traver: Out of five regular season
wanted to compete, she could and
matches, I’ve had three forfeits and
she did.
wrestled twice. My record is 3-2.
Q: How do you feel about having
Q: Do other wrestlers treat you
Traver on the team?
differently than the boys?
White: I think it’s a good thing for
Traver: Wrestlers from other
the team because it fills a spot and
schools are usually shocked when
they first see me, but then they pretty sometimes gives us team points.
Also, it should show other sports
much treat me like everyone else.
like football that even though she’s
Q: Are you at all self-conscious?
a girl, it doesn’t mean she can’t play
Traver: When I’m getting ready
or compete.
[for the match] in the gym, I kind of
Q: Are you aware of any concerns
am because everyone is staring at
me. But after awhile, I don’t pay any other wrestlers may have?
White: None of the wrestlers are
attention to them, and I just focus
really worried about [practicing and
on what I’m going to do during the
competing with a girl,] and they
match. shouldn’t be. I have showed her
Q: Are people surprised when they
some moves, but other than that, she
find out that you wrestle? What do
practices with kids her own size.
your friends and family think?
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Meteors Finish Season League Champs
When seniors Matt Meehan and
Robbie Volk were in junior high, they
witnessed the boys’ varsity basketball
team claim victory in the Lackawanna
League Division III all-season
championship, something that would
not happen again for some time.
Now seniors, Matt and Robbie
have seen their own team win the
championship. They remember
watching the then varsity players—
Kyle Adriance, Tom Burgh, Justin
Marbaker, Chris Strohl and others—
succeed in the championship and
thinking that they themselves might be
able to do it once they joined the varsity
team.
Meehan had had a good feeling
about winning the championship ever
since junior high, he said. Many of the
boys who played together in junior
high continued to play together so they
matured and improved as individual
athletes and as a team together. Meehan
had confidence in many of the younger
players who came after them and
clearly had potential skill to bring to the
team.
“In eighth grade, I knew we could
do it one day because we won the
league,” he said. “Also, I knew we had
a lot of strong players coming up.”
Meehan credits the strength of the
boys’ team to their “good comradery,”
which has come from their playing
together since at least junior high when
players from the Lathrop Sreet and
Choconut Valley teams became one.
Some of the boys had been
practicing their teamwork on the court
since before seventh grade. Volk and
Alan Charles, shooting guard, have
played together since elementary
school.
“We know each other’s skills,”
Charles said. “We know what strengths
and weaknesses to play off of.”
The skill and teamwork of the boys
have paid off in games such as the one
Feb. 16, a four overtime game against
Elk Lake in which nine players (from
both teams) saw scores in the double
digits. For the players, the game was
action-packed and high-energy for
several reasons.
“The game was intense because
they are our arch-rivals,” Volk said,
“and it was our senior night…. We
knew we had to win that game to be in
league contention.”
Not only were the Meteors giving
their all, but so were the Elk Lake
boys, according to Volk, who “were
in the same situation we were (after
Lackawanna Trail had lost.)”
Some of the game-winning
moments at the game included a threepointer from both sophomore Colby
Major and Charles and a four-for-four
foul shot spree by Volk. Moments
like those are ones Volk said he has
imagined since playing basketball in
junior high.
“Those game-winning shots,” he
said, “…you think about when you’re
real young. You dream about it.”
The Elk Lake win made the
Meteors league champions and also
ranked them third seed in the District
II Class AA playoffs behind Dunmore
and Holy Cross.
The girls’ varsity basketball
team also succeeded in claiming the
Lackawanna League Division III
all-season championship. The Lady
Meteors earned their 18th win of the
season in a game against Elk Lake Feb.
15.
Junior Amelia DiPhillips recalls
the game as a close one and one that
they almost lost since the girls were
not playing their best the first half of
the game. Then they changed their
strategy.
“We were down three at halftime,” she said. “We weren’t focused
By Eli Gere, Co-editor in chief
enough…. We started focusing more
on our defense and being aggressive
and turned it around.”
The girls’ team, like the boys’, also
had several players who had practiced
together since they were very young.
The girls agree that this closeness
and unity were serious factors in their
victory.
“We’ve played together since sixth
grade,” DiPhillips said. “We know each
other’s strengths and weaknesses….
We’re all friends.”
DiPhillips also mentioned the
players’ ability to have fun as a major
contributor to their success.
“We’re serious but we have fun,”
she said. “We dance before games and
listen to music.”
This year’s juniors and seniors
won a league title in junior high, and
they, along with their teammates,
have been working towards achieving
the same level of success with high
expectations.
“We knew we could do it
eventually if we stayed together,”
DiPhillips said.
She is proud of both the girls’ team
and the boys’ team.
“I think it’s really neat that we won
the championship,” DiPhillips said,
“because the boys did it too, and the
girls haven’t done it since [the 20052006 school year].”
The seasons for both teams ended
early in the playoffs. The last boys’
game Mar. 2 resulted in a 63-55 loss
to GAR, whose win was a result of
their speed advantage both offensively
and defensively, according to TimesTribune writer Scott Walsh. The boys
ended their season with a record of
22-4.
The girls’ last game Mar. 1 was
against Mid-Valley, and it also ended
with a loss for the Meteors, 50-46.
Despite the strength and leadership of
players such as sophomore Dallas Ely,
the Mid-Valley Spartanettes prevented
the Lady Meteors from owning the
court.
Coach Al Smith said that the girls
simply failed to “capitalize” when
they were in the lead, largely because
of the Spartanettes’ powerful defense.
The girls’ season ended with a record
of 19-6.
“We expected to go farther because
we did good all season,” junior Alex
Lewis said.
“Our last game was disappointing
because we had scouted Mid Valley,
and we thought we could beat them.”