BEAR FACTS
Brewster, NY
The Official Newspaper of Brewster High School
Twenty-five Minutes with
Nikki Horler, The New Principal of BHS
Volume I.i
December 2016
Brewster High
School’s STEM
Evolution
by Alec Passarelli with Viktor Urvantsev
Model UN members hold
a mock election with
speeches, stumping, and
posturing. Did it turn out
the same way it did in life?
Read more on page 5.
New principal Nikki Horler ascends from BHS student to full-time principal
by Emily Fego
With the changing of the
presidential guard comes
a new approach to the nation. How will it affect us?
Read our columns and
opinions on Donald Trump
on pages 6 and 7.
On July 1, 2016, Nichole Horler
took the reins as the new principal
of Brewster High School. She returned to Brewster as an alumnus
of the Class of 1984. Her previous
educational experience includes
teaching social studies in the Middletown School District and being
an not only an Assistant Principal
in the Minisink Valley School District, but also the principal of the
Monticello Middle School.
On Wednesday, December 13, I
got to sit down with the engaging
and passionate Ms. Horler who
candidly answered my questions.
She was easy to talk to, sincere,
and authentic. Following are her
responses to my questions.
EF: I understand that you were
once a Brewster Bear, yourself.
What are some of your fondest
memories from that time as a
student here at BHS?
Couples meet cute, court,
and woo an audience in
Brewster’s production of
“Almost, Maine.” Read
our review on page 9.
NH: I was the Varsity field hockey
goalie for years. I loved field
hockey. We went to sectionals for
the first time my senior year and
it was fantastic. That is a great
EF: What were your initial thoughts
when you first returned to BHS?
Any surprises?
NH: I was concerned that I
wouldn’t be able to have enough
time to make long-lasting or effective change. For me, it’s important
to change things that need to
be changed and to ignore other
things. Brewster has always been
a great school and a very close
knit community, and that hasn’t
changed at all. But, we are getting
another population and that was
very concerning for people in the
community. So, it’s a question of
how do we find a balance and how
do we change things long term for
everyone.
EF: Do you think your alumnus
status will influence or already has
influenced decisions about change
in BHS? What exactly do you have
planned for the future at BHS?
NH: I don’t know if being an alumni
has anything to do with change or
acceptance of change. What I do
know is the superintendent and
the board are very interested in
making big substantial changes
for the better. We have a Strategic
Coherence Plan which looks into
how we can get everyone to think
critically and how we can look at
everyone’s social and emotional
well being. We want to make sure
everyone just leaves here mentally
healthy and not too stressed, ready
for college or a career. It takes a
lot of change to be able to do all of
that. The schedule will be a huge
piece of this change for next year.
We will be making the periods a bit
longer, with forty-eight minute long
classes. Then, there will be about
a thirty minute period in the middle
of the day, where you would be
Continued on page 4
14 Things I Wish I Knew
Before Graduating from Brewster HS
Mrs. Schumacher’s
12R Students
With a successful football season, the only way
to recap is by talking to
the captains themselves.
Read what they thought
about it on page 11.
memory for me. I was also in the
play, the musical, which was also
another great memory. But the one
thing that I remember more than
anything is on Valentine’s Day we
used to send a carnation to friends
for a quarter and then write little
memos that would be delivered.
I don’t know why, because I don’t
save much, but I still have one of
those saved because it just really
stuck with me.
Experience breeds wisdom, but
wisdom isn’t easy to come by on
its own: sometimes we really need
to depend upon the kindness of
strangers. Those who have been
there are the ones that have the
insight to help you get by. So, Ms.
Schumacher’s period 1 English
students have a bit of wisdom that
they’ve learned from their 4 years
that they would like to pass on to
their undergraduate peers:
Don’t smoke weed in the school
bathroom - I know it sounds ridiculous, but kids have and will. All
your actions against the handbook
will have consequences. Don’t
leave school if you are not allowed.
Don’t vape, smoke, drink or have
sex anywhere on school grounds.
Don’t even wear offensive clothing.
These things may seem like a good
idea in the moment, but trust us
and don’t do them. - Emma C &
Meghan B
Don’t let anyone manipulate
you; you’re not a sheep, you’re
an independent person, you are
the wolf - Perhaps the most important life advice I could give anyone
is this piece of advice. Far too often
do I see this not only happening in
the confines of this school but outside. It’s the conform and be cool
or be cast-out. Who cares if you’re
cool? That doesn’t matter as soon
as you get out of here. News flash:
even if you’re cool in high school
you could completely suck outside
of school. You are your own person.
Never, EVER, forget that. Do not
be a follower, be the one that gets
away from the path, you are not the
prey. You are the mighty predator
that can do fantastic things, go
forth and be on top, be dominant,
be a difference. - Nick A
Don’t treat teachers like your
friends. Use formal speech. Be
respectful - Being polite is very
important everywhere, especially at
school - Sabrina J. & Michela F.
Be respectful to all your peers
Continued on page 4
I entered Brewster High School
on the first day of the school year in
September of 2013, ready to begin
my educational journey to my future
as an engineer.
BHS is a STEM school, a school
that prides itself on preparing its
students for concentrations in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
But by the time I got there, the
high flying BHS had been grounded:
they did not offer any engineering
courses. They had no Engineering
Club, and, to make matters worse,
the library and locker rooms were
outdated, the classrooms were
mostly traditional in structure, and
the cafeteria needed an upgrade.
This fall, when I entered BHS
on the first day of my senior year, I
was so excited to find construction
overwhelming the building. Brewster
High School was home to a brand
new library, refitted locker rooms,
two Makerspace classrooms, a
remodeled cafeteria, and later in the
year, students will receive personal
Chromebooks.
The renovation that I was most
enthusiastic about touring was the
library. Over the last few years, in
many ways, I found the library to be
minimally functional. I used it only as
a place to finish work in peace or to
A presentation room that will
house stadium seating and a
90 inch TV will fulfill a variety of
educational needs
quickly jump on a computer.
We now have a state of the art
library scheduled to open this winter.
I was given access to tour the
construction and was awed by the
job being done. The skilled crew
employed by Triton Construction, is
managed by John Hansen.
Fifty percent of the library’s
surfaces have been replaced. The
flooring has been replaced with new
vinyl composition tile and the walls
received a bright white finish. The
tech room, which previously took up
twenty-five percent of the library’s
space, was replaced with four group
Continued on page 5
See More Inside...
Opinions - Page 2
Music Reviews - Page 6
Horoscopes - Page 8
Movie Reviews - Page 9
Sports - Page 11
Opinions
The Roving Reporter
We want to hear what the everyday Brewster
student thinks and feels. In every issue,
we will hit the streets with a new question
and will post your feedback here. Be on the
lookout for us!
Page 2/December 2016/Bear Facts
Taylor D’ottavio (10)
Amelia Cuomo (12)
Tyler Livingston (9) &
Tony Saljanin (9)
Olivia Berardi (10)
“Being comfortable around somebody, because if you’re not comfortable there could
be tension. A friendship should be open.
You know their lives and they know yours.”
“Loyalty and being comfortable around
them are pretty important. You want to be
able to know that a person is always gonna
be there for you, and that you can completely be yourself around them.”
Kenny Arias (12)
This issue’s question:
What quality of friendship do you
value the most and why?
Courtney Massias (12)
“I believe that a social person is a fun
person, because I’d be able to talk to them
without it being awkward, and they are
probably lit.”
Bear Facts
Advisors and Editors-in-Chief
Cynthia Amuso
Robert M. LoAlbo
Editorial Board
Isabella Mancini
Eliza Pattie
Kelsey Rojas
Valerie Simpri
Contributing Reporters
Sarah Bosari
Jessica Capossela
Sarah Comer
Connor Dignan
Emily Fego
Jason Gonch
Jack Guida
Mary Heath
Amber Krisch
Nicholas Leahy
Robbie Pigat
Tsubomi Poley
Lexi Poynor
Viktor Urvantsev
Jamonica Warren
“Honesty because it’s the only way to communicate clearly with others, and for both
parties to know exactly what they’re going
to get from each other. Nothing feels worse
than being lied to.”
“Loyalty, so that they always have your
back. Let’s say you and your friend are talking to a cute girl and that girl has a clingy
friend beside her. Your friend has to be the
wingman and take one for the team if you
know what I mean ;) (take her friend away
so you can work your magic)”
Julie Lewis (11)
RJ Frankenberry (9)
“Exciting because you want to be around
someone who interests you, or shares your
own interests.”
“Honesty because I want my friends to let
me know when I look trash!”
Photographer
Luca Riolo
Administrators
Nichole M. Horler, Principal
Kieran Stack, Asst. Principal
Danielle Sullivan, Asst. Principal
Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Ed.D.,
Superintendent of Schools
Bear Facts is published by the
students of Brewster High School in
New York and is a public forum for
student expression, encouraging all
sides to voice their opinions.
The Bear Facts Newspaper encourages its readers to submit original
material in the form of editorials or
letters to the editors. Bear Facts
and its editors reserve the right to
edit submissions for length and
content. Submissions may be received via email or in person to any
member of the editorial staff.
“I value the humor in a friend. I think if a
friend has humor & always has you laughing nothing else is nearly as important.”
Jalom Wells (11) and
Susan Adeyeye (11)
Bear Facts does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, or handicap in
regards to its publication, submissions, activities, or programs. All
published work honors the highest
standards of journalism, striving for
truth, accuracy, and fairness first.
Editorials, opinions, and letters
to the editor do not necessarily
represent or reflect the opinions of
Brewster High School, the students,
or the editors of the Bear Facts
newspaper.
Please send your letters and responses to
[email protected].
Bear Facts
Brewster High School
50 Foggintown Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Phone: (845) 279-5051
Fax: (845) 279-7405
“Being able to joke around about anything.
What’s a friendship without laughing at
anything you hear/see?”
“With friendship, I value great memories.
Ones that make you laugh, make you cry,
happy, and ones that can lift you up. I want
a friend that I can build with. We have to
have goals of being the best that we can
be. We all have the same 24 hours in a day,
and it is what you do with it that counts. I
believe friends are supposed to be there
for each other through thick and thin, but
most of all I just want to laugh and have a
great time.”
Opinions
Page 3/December 2016/Bear Facts
Make America Great Again?
by Mary Heath
People usually reflect on the past with a
warm nostalgia. They think back and decide
that things were better “back then.” But for
most of us, “back then” indicates childhood,
a time when we were sheltered from the
harshness of reality.
Today I look around and observe just
how insane the world has grown. And when
I think backward to my childhood, I have to
remember that when I was a little girl, the
9/11 tragedy occurred and the stock market
crashed and everything seemed insane then,
too. And when members of older generations
look back to their childhoods, they initially
say that life was better then, too. But in
reality, that time might include: The Great
Depression, World War II, the Red Scare, The
Cold War, the Vietnam conflict, the turbulence of the 60s, the Watergate scandal,
uprisings and social injustice, etc.
So when Donald Trump says he will
“make America great again,” I often wonder
what time period he is harking back to. Was
there a time in America when life was ever
really great? Was there a time when things
were calm and peaceful, or when everyone
had an equal share in acquiring the American dream? Were we ever even close?
The truth is that America - and the world
- has always been on fire. But we see it all
differently as our perspectives change. I’m
not suggesting that life today is drastically
worse than at any other time, but I’d like to
offer my perspective.
In the 1950’s. American playwright Arthur Miller, said, “Common human decency
was going down the drain. It’s indescribable,
really, because you’d get this feeling that
nothing was going to be sacred anymore.” In
his play The Crucible, Miller discusses how
fear can tear a society apart. And everyone
knows the famous FDR quote, “We have
nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Right now, people are afraid. Afraid
of what the future will hold. Afraid of each
other. Afraid of the unknown. There is an
Ask Suzanne:
Our advice column
for readers
ple - consider reaching out to a trusted adult
in your life or to the trained faculty in your
guidance department. And think about joining
a club, trying a new sport (you will meet new
people) or volunteering somewhere local. Perhaps you could start a journal or a new exercise
regimen. Listen to music that makes you feel
good.
At first it might be uncomfortable to try
something new, but perhaps it will turn out to
be just what you’ve been craving in your life.
I hope you find the strength to change
your routine.
Dear readers,
ASK SUZANNE is an advice column to
advise people as to how to best deal with their
concerns and issues. I try my best to ensure
that you will make the best decisions to help
you move forward in positive ways. I hope you
will write to me, in confidence, seeking my
guidance. Just a reminder, I will not disclose
any information sent to me. What you write
will always remain anonymous. I encourage
you to be creative with
your usernames and
send feedback so that
this column will be
successful in helping
those who seek advice.
Thank you! I look forward to reading your
letters.
~ Suzanne :)
Sincerely,
Suzanne = ]
Dear Suzanne,
I am a good
student, I have great
friends and supportive
parents. But sometimes
I wish I was a different
person. I want to meet
new people and experience new things. This
thought is overwhelming me. Last weekend,
when I was home alone, I raided my parents’
liquor cabinet and drank some of their vodka.
Ever since, I have been drinking everyday. I
find myself making excuses to be alone so that
I can drink. My friends have noticed that I do
less with them. They don’t talk to me as much
and I’m becoming very isolated. How do I stop?
Should I tell my parents?
Dear Suzanne,
I am in 9th grade and I have a crush on
this girl in the 11th grade. I tried talking to her,
but I didn’t know what to say so it ended up
being awkward. I want to ask her out but I’m
afraid if I ask her out she will reject me because
I am younger than she is. What should I do?
Buh_buh_bacon
Real-name-hidden2
Dear buh_buh_bacon,
Funny username btw. I understand how it
feels to think your life is too routine, or feeling
dull. Maybe you can suggest to your friends
that you include some different friends in your
activities, or maybe you could try incorporating new activities into your weekend routines
with them. Try a healthy activity none of you
have done before.
You should tell your parents about the
vodka and what led up to drinking. They
can help you. You said they were supportive
parents; they will be understanding if you tell
them the truth and share your desire to stop.
Loving parents will do just about anything to
help their kids feel better. Be prepared for their
reaction - perhaps they will be surprised or
even a little angry and they might not trust you,
initially. But their goal will be your health and
happiness.
My advice to you is to keep talking to peo-
Dear Real-name-hidden2
This is a more common problem than
you might think. Dealing with fears is difficult
because we often tend to think about the worst
case scenarios. Think about how you would
feel if you didn’t take the risk of asking her; you
might regret it for a long time. The worst case
scenario is that she will turn you down, but you
will have risked only a dent to the ego and that
can be recovered with time. You are in the first
year of high school. You will experience disappointment, but each experience adds to your
character and to the strength you store up. Plus,
if she doesn’t accept your invitation, maybe she
isn’t the right girl for you. Good luck. I hope
this helped!
~ Suzanne ;)
Dear Suzanne,
Sophomore year has been really stressful
so far, even though it has been only a little over
epidemic today that finds neighbor afraid of
neighbor, white people afraid of non-white
people, conservatives afraid of liberals,
men afraid of feminists...etc. When people
are afraid, they naturally get defensive, and
when they get defensive, people lose sight
of the the fact that what they are afraid of is
other people.
When Donald Trump says he
will “make America great again,” I often wonder what
time period he is harking
back to.
It’s easy to deport a faceless mass, but
it’s not so easy to deport someone with a
family or a history or a personal story.
When a group of people are labeled - are
attached to a stigma - they are easily herded
like a flock of sheep. They become dehumanized and others’ actions toward them
become inhumane.
But what if we took fear out of the equa-
three months. I am in 2 AP classes and they are
very demanding. Over the summer I thought
I would be able to handle it and study hard for
each subject. My goal is to get my GPA over 95.
But lately I have been procrastinating a lot. I
want to spend my time watching TV and playing video games. I’ve fallen into a pattern of
procrastinating and believing that my problems
will take care of themselves. But I know the reality is that if I continue doing this, my grades
will suffer I will be facing a difficult road to 95.
But, I don’t know how to get over this. HELP
ME!!!
Squishy-sponges21
Dear, Squishy-Sponges21
High school can
be very difficult and
stressful: there are
daily assignments,
standardized tests, college applications...and
that’s not to mention
daily practices or play
rehearsal or outside
jobs. It’s a full plate
for many high school
students.
Sometimes we think
we can handle more
than we actually can.
You’re overdoing it
when you start procrastinating because
you feel like you’ve
worked hard and you
deserve a break from
the work. Consider
joining a club that a
friend attends. Ask
your friends to motivate you by inviting you to
do things other than watching TV or playing
video games.
Everyone needs some down time to
restore, but too much can lead to indulgent
behavior. Perhaps you could write down your
goals and come up with a plan to attain them.
Consider a simple “to do” list every day. Put
the list on your phone and check off each item.
This will show you your progress. Be sure to
balance your time between fun and work. I
hope this helped!
~ Suzanne =)
Do you have a question that you would like to
ask Suzanne? You may submit them via email
to [email protected]. We look
forward to hearing from you!
22 Veterans die from suicide everyday. Help spread the awareness.
Semper Fi challenges all Brewster
sports, clubs, faculty, staff and students to participate in the “22 Push
up Challenge”. Videotape your group
supporting awareness of this cause
from January 3rd - January 24th and
hashtag it #22SemperFiBearsCare
tion?
We fear others because we do not know
them, but we seldom take the time to get to
know them, either. We are so focused on our
own lives that we sometimes forget to look
up. That is the change that we need to make.
We need to look up and see people, not as
nameless faces roaming the halls with us,
but as people, as fellow students, as members of our community and as citizens of the
world.
People rush to judge one another. We
need to remember that each of us has a
past and a present, an ongoing epic that is
often hidden from the views of the world, but
it exists all the same. We might not need to
learn every story, but we need to recognize
that it exists. For each of us.
We need to discard the labels and look
at the faces. We need to see the forests, but
more importantly we need to appreciate the
trees. We need to see the human beings.
Once we recognize people as people,
then and only then, can we start to make
America great.
Sea Change
By Emily Fego
The blankets of ice that once covered the
entire Arctic ocean in winter are shrinking.
Vibrant forests countless animals once called
home are bare. Landfills containing much of
the world’s unwanted garbage are growing.
Cumulative data that tracks weather patterns
point to an even more destructive future.
We don’t live in a forest or remotely near
any glaciers. When our garbage reaches the
curb it is no longer our problem. Earth has experienced temperature change over the course
of history. We are safe.
But, soon we will not have enough efficient
fuel to run our cars. Soon we will not have
enough oxygen to fill our lungs. Soon we will
accumulate so much waste that our backyards
will become landfills.
Temperature change has happened in the
past, but it is now accelerating at a rate that is
statistically undocumented.
Though it may seem insignificant, even
the slightest temperature change will cause
glaciers to melt. As the glaciers melt, the
sea levels rise and decrease in salinity. With
decreased salinity, the ocean cannot circulate
heat and nutrients throughout the world.
As the glaciers melt, the sea levels rise
and increase the rate of erosion. To compensate for the loss of sand that has eroded on
the coast of places like Florida and New Jersey,
sand within about a mile radius is pumped
Temperature change has
happened in the past, but
it is now accelerating at
a rate that is statistically
undocumented.
from the ocean onto the beach. But, as a result
of rising sea levels, the redistributed sand
moved even farther out into the open ocean,
taking it too far out of reach to pump it onto
the shores. Vacation destinations will lose
serious beach-front property, reduced to little
more than randomly salvaged patches of sand
and the open ocean.
Global warming doesn’t necessarily mean
that the world gets hotter. Global warming may
have catastrophic effects that go beyond the
scope of just the changing temperature. Everything environmental is connected; the changes
to our environment will directly affect large
populations of people, no matter the location.
Finger pointing is futile - the direct cause
of climate change no longer matters. Now is
the time to come together and act, now is the
time to plan for a more sustainable future.
We are intelligent and we are capable. Our
generation has experienced more innovation
than anyone ever thought probable. What we
need is the motivation to want to make a difference, no matter how big or small.
This is more than whether or not your
grandchildren will see polar bears before their
extinction. This is about coming up with a plan
to slow down the clock ticking down to the
extinction of life on Earth as we know it.
The ice is still melting, sea levels are still
rising and the forests are still being destroyed.
Acknowledging whether climate change exists
is no longer the question. The question is, are
you willing to do something about it?
News
Horler continued from page 1
able to have about thirty different options to
pick from. If you want to sit and write articles
for the newspaper for that thirty minute
period, then here will be a room for you to
do that with a teacher to supervise. If you
want to do yoga, then there will probably be
a room to do that. If you want to do crafts
or mindfulness or review work, you can do
that as well. We would be focusing on finding
what teachers are passionate about, what
students are passionate about and merging
that.
EF: Technology has been the center of a lot
of change in Brewster High School. How do
you feel the increased focus on technology
will impact students, and the learning process as a whole?
NH: I think teachers need to feel more
comfortable with using technology first. I
am a very gadgety person so I have devices
all over the place. If students learn electronically, then why not? It has to be that
mind-shift to just say, it’s 2016, everybody
has multiple devices so we should find a way
to best use them. Instead of telling students
to turn their phones off and put them away,
we have to question why it is not okay for
students to have their phones out. Why is it
distracting to the teacher? What if you learn
best by using that device, you should be able
to use it, which is definitely a big shift.
EF: Do you believe that BHS is equipped
to prepare students for the evolving career
paths of the 21st century?
NH: I hope so, with what is coming up next
year. One of the things that colleges want
kids to be good at is collaboration. Adults
think we need to teach how to use the program so they can do the project, but that’s
not completely true. With projects, if you
were given the topic, the causes of the Civil
War, you should be able to show what you
know however you feel best fits. If you want
to write articles about the Civil War, or find
pictures about it, then maybe that is how
you best learn and we should be looking at
that. We shouldn’t focus on every student
doing the same exact thing on the same
exact day. We teach how to memorize and
regurgitate information and that doesn’t help
you in real life. My own daughter will say, “I’m
not good at the game of school,” and she is
right, because she is an “outside of the box
thinker” which we don’t celebrate enough.
You are celebrated for being a great student,
and a great student here is being good at
memorizing. We can use technology to meet
the needs of all students. People who are
teachers were probably all very good at the
game of school and they are naturally good
at that. Kids who struggled are not generally the ones who come back and become
teachers, because we are only looking for
Page 4/December 2016/Bear Facts
a specific type of person. You are going to
teach how you learned which is what you
see, everybody in rows, reading the same
thing year after year. Hasn’t anyone written
a book in the last five hundred years that we
would all like to read?
EF: This is a transitional time in the country.
What are your thoughts about how to bring
unity to BHS?
NH: Right after the election and the day
before Thanksgiving, we read the article by
Ms. McLeod over the announcements and
we tried to do some PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) things. But
I don’t think one thing is ever going to fix it. I
think that our parents are so vastly different
in their beliefs and kids see that. I know my
kids have the same mindset as I do, and that
is the case with the students here. We have
to shift our thoughts and opinions which is
very challenging. How do you do that with
twelve hundred kids who think it’s funny to
throw down a Trump bumper sticker at a
table of Hispanic kids who are concerned
about where they are going to live next year?
It’s baby steps, and about holding a mirror
up and saying that we are really not doing a
good job of this and questioning how we can
do better.
EF: What word do you think best describes
Brewster High School, our student body and
our staff today?
NH: Passionate. You guys raise an insane
amount for charity! I don’t know if anyone
has actually done the grand total, but last
year one club raised twenty-seven thousand
dollars from Mr. Brewster - and that’s just
one club! I think that whatever it is that kids
decide they are interested in, or teachers
decide they are interested in, they are passionate and that is a great place to be.
EF: How would you like BHS to be described
in five years? How do you hope to influence
BHS and its reputation?
NH: Everybody still better be passionate! I
am very interested in change, and not changing because I have nothing better to do. I
want to be able to get everybody on board for
systemic change, really changing people’s
core beliefs. If that means continual gentle
disruptions so that everybody is always just
a little bit uncomfortable, then that’s great.
That is when everything happens, when you
are slightly outside your comfort zone. If
you’re always living in your comfort zone, you
are never going to make changes and nothing exciting is going to happen. Everything
will stay status quo and that’s what I don’t
want. I want to make sure that in five years,
Brewster goes from being a good high school
to a great high school.
EF: Do you feel that your role and perspec-
14 Things continued from page 1
and turn the other cheek if they disrespect you. Remember, you won’t get
along with everyone - This is a good skill
to help you in a workplace. Your co-workers
aren’t always going to be kind, some may not
even like you. However, it’s your job, and you
have to put up with it. You can’t go running to
mommy or daddy or even your boss complaining about them. GROW UP. - Layloni G. &
Vanessa D
She might not be pretty now, but she
could be beautiful later - That girl who was
a little goofy or nerdy and went unnoticed
freshman year may just become the focus of
everyone’s attention senior year as she has
grown into a beautiful woman. - Chris Z., Tom
L. & Pat G
I wish I knew high school went by so fast Make everything count because from the time
you get into high school everything will just fly
by. So have fun and cherish the memories you
make in high school. - Jared T & Christian L.
Don’t be a rude dude - Being mean won’t get
you very far and will only cause more trouble
than anything. More enemies will appear instead of friends when you are being rude and
mean, and the ones you do make can turn on
you easily. - Ardian R. & Brandon E.
Utilize every study hall - If you just fool
around in a study hall and not get anything
done in that period, you are going to have a
long night. These study halls are here to help
you try to get some work done before you go
home. - Kevin H & Nick L
There’s always a consequence for doing
dumb stuff - You will always have a conse-
tive as a mother will influence how you will
run BHS and empathize with the student
body?
NH: On the very first day with the faculty, I
showed a picture of my two girls. I have one
who is eighteen and one who is twenty-six
and they are both very different. I said, “One
is very successful and doing everything
she loves and is very passionate about life,
and the other one is a bit of a hot mess.” I
was honest about my own kids and my own
perception on education and how I handle
things, and they were impressed that I was
so honest about it. Being a mom is infused
in every piece of me - it is just a part of my
personality - so there is no way for me to
split it. I think that because my one daughter
struggled so much with school, life, relationships - you name it, it made me better at
doing this because it has made me naturally
more empathetic.
EF: Speaking of family, is there a tradition
that you practice that you would be comfortable sharing with us in regard to the holiday
season?
quence for anything you do wrong in high
school, and it will affect your school life. If you
find yourself suspended, you will find it hard
to catch up in the classroom. If you’re in after
school detention, you can’t hang out with
friends. It’s different in high school compared
to other grade schools because you have so
many more freedoms and responsibilities, and
those are taken away when you get in trouble.
- Kevin C & Tommy E
Be wary of your social media presence Colleges DO look at you social media!!!!! You
want to be sure that colleges will not reject
you just because you had a red cup in one
of your popular Instagram photo, plain and
simple!! - John D & Ryan F
Get enough sleep - You need the sleep. Trust
me. - Anthony U. & Tim N.
Every homework credit counts - Missing
homeworks add up quickly, and before you
know it, you are failing that class. - Scott J &
Cole C.
It always gets better - It may not today, it
may not tomorrow or next year but eventually
it will. Unfortunately, sometimes bad things
happen that you can’t control. It’s okay and it
will always get better. Trust me. - Taylor G.
Listen to your parents - You are going to
fight with your parents. You are going to think
you know more than your parents. Then you
are going to realize they are your biggest supports and are right about everything. Growing
up and becoming a young adult might lead to
some clashes with your parents. But remember they only want what is best for you, and
you will be missing them terribly once college
starts. - Emma C & Meghan B.
NH: My one daughter is not always with me
for Christmas because she is a nurse. She
works in Pediatric Oncology, and has to work
on Christmas. A few years ago, we created
our own holiday. We do a Christmas pajama
party! I kid you not, we just did it on Sunday!
I buy beautiful boxes and everyone gets their
new pajamas, because everybody gets pajamas on Christmas! Then, we have an agenda
where we have all sorts of crazy games that
we play. Some of them are those minute- towin-it games with baby marshmallows, and
Chinese take-out containers, sometimes it’s
cups that we have to build, we do Christmas
Pictionary, we do a whole night of it. We
have appetizers, we have hot chocolate, we
sing Christmas carols, do Christmas trivia. I
have an agenda of ten things, I have a whole
box so it’s all organized, and it’s a good five
hours full of these activities. They got me
pajamas with yarn balls this year because
I knit. So, that’s our big thing that other
families probably don’t do and it all stemmed
from my daughter not being around on
Christmas!
Model UN Holds Mock 2016 Presidential Campaign
On Saturday, October 8th, forty five members of Brewster’s Model U.N club ran their
own presidential race, with eighteen students
being Republicans, sixteen being Democrats,
and eleven members running the event who
were responsible for deciding the results of
the other students actions. The thirty four
non-crisis members of the club picked real life
Republicans or Democrats to portray and then
split into two rooms to start campaigning to
get their candidate elected. Students spent the
day deciding on advertisements, submitting
statements to the public, organizing rallies,
and undercutting the opposing party to make
specific states swing in their party’s favor. Every
plan they came up with was reviewed by the
crisis members and Tom Mullane, our club advisor, who would then decide the consequences
and effects on the electoral map. Crisis was also
responsible for coming up with roadblocks and
emergencies that the other students needed to
respond to. How well the Republican or Democrat side responded to these emergencies also
affected their chances at winning.
Participants had full control over which
direction they took their party, as long as they
could justify their actions without straying
too far from the role they were supposed to
be playing. Both sides came up with various
proposals and actions to sway the vote in
their favor. On the Democratic side, President
Obama (sophomore, Sarah Borsari) helped
balance the party budget and convinced the
rest of the party to agree to fix the court system.
Elizabeth Warren (junior, Autumn Gerard)
convinced just enough people to support a
compromise on the issue of immigration to
temporarily influence voters in Texas and Arizona. In the Republican Party, a motion passed
that promised to implement gun safety and responsibility courses for children nationwide to
help minimize gun related accidents, and made
a clear set ‘pathway to amnesty’ for those here
on working visas and legal immigrants with
no criminal record. In addition to party-wide
agreements, individual members could take
actions on their own like making donations,
holding fundraisers, or even participating
in illegal dealings if they were willing to risk
getting caught. Underhanded tactics were used
throughout the conference, from spies and
sabotage to actual attacks and threats.
The events of the conference caused some
very unusual results, like New York voting Republican, making for an unpredictable finish.
But by 5 o’clock the conference was ended with
Hillary Clinton winning by just two electoral
votes, 270 to 268. After the conference, awards
were given out by the chairs of each committee
based on performance and participation. From
each party there was a ‘best delegate’ (Sarah
Borsari for Democrats, Angelo Casale for Re-
publican), ‘outstanding delegate’ (Olivia Jaspers
for Democrats, Erin Renzi for Republican),
honorary mention (Jane Scinta for Democrats,
Colton Booth for Republican), and just one for
best rookie (Autumn Gerard, Democrat).
Model UN students Viktor Urvantsev, Colton Booth, and Jackie Bechara bring the presidential
election to a whole new level
Features
Page 5/December 2016/Bear Facts
Summing Up Your Life in Six Hundred and Fifty Words or Less
The fall usually means one thing for seniors: the college essay. The weight of the college essay lies heavily on the shoulders of many students as they attempt to reveal their character to
college admissions boards, hoping to get that stamp of college acceptance. While this difficult task is being undertaken, some students tend to take it as an opportunity to shine as writers
and reveal their best selves. The editorial staff of Bear Facts would like to take the opportunity to highlight some of the great work that our students are accomplishing.
M c Ke n z i e
Q u i n n
I have to tell her.
When my mom came home from her
latest trip to Trinidad, I was expecting updates
on my grandmother’s mango tree and the
family friends who always seem to drop
everything to spend time with us. Instead, my
mom sat me down and began to unpack every
detail of her spontaneous visit with a Hindu
Pundit.
With just my name and date of birth to
guide him, the Pundit proclaimed that my
wisdom extends beyond my lifetime and that
I have the ability to see things for what they
truly are. Listening to my mom recite this
information made me smile. I could see the
faith in her eyes as she held onto that vague
description as though it were the perfect
synopsis of her daughter’s story. Yet, the tilt of
her lips faded as she continued to recount the
meeting.
Eventually, I removed the
necklace from her jewelry
case and clasped it around
my neck, not because I
wanted to escape impending
suffering, but because it was
important to my mom.
Clouding over my perceptiveness was a
dark energy, which as the Pundit explained,
manifests from the alignment on my planets, revealed to him by the study of Vedic
Astrology. The existence of said negativity is
referred to as a graha, which was going to be
with me for a year.
Before I could even get a word in, a small
bottle of what looked like blood (which I later
learned was blessed oil) and a necklace
with a pendant that resembled a bullet,
was placed on the table between us. I was
instructed to wear the necklace—which stored
blessed herbs—every single day and apply the
oil to my hair each morning.
My initial reaction was jokingly to ask,
“Am I going to die?” I was never the kid to
jump over cracks in the pavement or pick
up pennies. My behavior stems from logical
thinking and the understanding of probable
outcomes. By complying with the Pundit’s advice, I would contradict everything I’ve come
Evolution STEM continued from page 1
workspaces outfitted with whiteboards and
outlets. Each group workspace received energy
recovery ventilators which will keep the air
clean and remove humidity.
In the middle of the library, students will
have access to bar-like seating, appropriate for
1:1 tutoring or technology help. The library circulation desk will sit directly behind that area
with a circular charging station where students
may go to recharge all devices. In the back of
the library, behind and around the circulation
desk, is where all BHS-owned books will be
shelved on new millwork units. The area near
the windows will house more bar seating which
students can use to work at, while behind
that are multiple tables set up for collective or
individual studying. And along the far wall is a
large “graffiti board” for group work and library
projections/announcements.
New millwork bookshelves are carefully
put into place, creating an academic and
relaxing space for BHS students to study
and research
to know. So, I simply refused.
For days on end my mom asked. And
begged. And looked at me as if my apathy
was destroying her. Eventually, I removed the
necklace from her jewelry case and clasped
it around my neck, not because I wanted to
escape impending suffering, but because it
was important to my mom. Seeing my mom
at ease was a good enough reason to do just
about anything, no matter how far it went
against my personal ideologies.
And even if I wouldn’t admit it out loud,
I began to love the way the necklace looked
on my chest. It seemed to match with every
outfit.
Each morning at 6:45, I knew to stand in
front of my mom’s bathroom sink. That was
the time when she would take out the bottle
of amber liquid and work a small amount
into my scalp. I became accustomed to our
routine. It gave us a moment to pause and
connect amidst the chaos of rushed makeup
and wrinkled shirts.
I didn’t even mind the occasional fasting,
or the weird looks I got after explaining to my
classmates that no, I wasn’t wearing ammunition around my neck, but rather a layer of
spiritual protection.
I felt like I was finally able to do something for my mom that was more than a
homemade card or surprise birthday party. My
graha mattered.
That’s why I was on the verge of tears as
I approached my mom. But, I had to tell her.
My fists clenched as I held onto the chain, the
distinct pendant lost among blades of grass.
It took minutes for my mom to forgive me,
and days for me to forgive myself. Since then,
no ill fate has been bestowed upon me, which
hasn’t come as a surprise. Other necklaces
have worked their way into my wardrobe,
ones that earn a lot less attention. Yet, my
graha hasn’t
restricted me,
it’s expanded
my perspective.
I’ve seen why
faith is not only
reasonable, but
a fundamental
aspect of humanity.
The main portion of the library has been
designed with perimeter lighting. Mr. Hansen
looks favorably upon the addition of a large
U-table centered around a large screen TV.
There is an area that separates two larger
group spaces for teachers and students to use
as a less formal location.
It is all impressive, but my favorite addition
is the new presentation room. The southeast
corner of the library will contain a presentation
room with a ninety inch television for presentations all surrounded by glass radiant walls.
The presentation room will contain stadium
seating and provide a place for students to
make presentations with a teacher present.
The addition of this space is exactly what
Brewster students need in order to leave high
school with a real world skill: knowledge of
how to present information.
So Brewster High School had begun taking
steps towards levitation, the most basic form
of gravitational negation; it is well known that
in order to fly, one must negate gravity.
But more was needed. I am proud to say
that this year, Brewster High School began taking its steps towards levitation, the most basic
form of gravitational negation. The 2016-17
school year marks the first year of a robotics
class, taught by Dr. Brittany Kozlenko, and
the return of an Engineering Club, led by Mr.
Edward Schmidt.
The robotics class has added a level of
technological interaction that is so necessary
for engineers. While students in AP Calc learn
formulas and laws while taking tests, Robotics
students require an entrance into the world of
tinkering.
Robotics is taught in a kinesthetic classroom where each project channels knowledge
of skills that will be useful in a college classroom, but more importantly, in the interactive real worlds of engineering and science.
Students in the class have shown proficiency
through authentic experiences that accelerate
Va l e r i e
M i t u z a s
I’ll never be able to tell anyone where
I get my laugh from, my eye color, my
passions. I’ll never be able to determine
who I resemble, of the people around me.
I’ll never grow up and be as punctual as my
mom or as extroverted as my dad. Despite
my sister and I sharing a similar Russian
background, we’ll never share resembling
interests. I’ve also never been able to
experience the feeling of knowing that I
am who I am because of my mother or my
father, and I never will. Ideally, if I had to
think of a million other “side effects” of
being adopted, I could.
Growing up not having parents and
family members to hold accountable for my
inherited characteristics has allowed me to
live a very unconfined and self-contained
life. Especially, while being someone who
is conspicuously incognizant about their
identity, I’ll always be someone who wants
to distinguish more about who I’m supposed to be.
All my life, I have been aware of my
autodidacticism. Since the age of two, I’ve
been drawn to art and music. I’ve taught
myself how to play the piano, guitar, cello
and ukulele. I’ve taught myself how to
speak French, write in script and how to
play chords to songs in my dreams. I’ve
never asked anyone to teach me these
skills, I didn’t need to. If I’ve ever wanted
to learn how to do something, I’ve always
been inclined to make it happen on my
own.
Throughout school, most of my peers
assumed they knew what they were
supposed to grow up to be, based on a
“guideline” their
parents had
left for them
to follow. I remember all the
times my friends
would ask what
my parents did
for a living and
expect me to say
I aspired to do
the acquisition of knowledge. They understand
practical application of real world objectives
ranging from the design of alarm systems to
musical instruments.
One of the most intriguing parts of the
course is the “Twenty Percent Project.” Students spend twenty percent of their class time
(generally Fridays) planning and eventually
constructing projects that will improve the quality of life at Brewster High School. This involves
students directly in the real-life application of
information. This is what satisfies the STEM
student and provides students with an inside
look at demand within engineering fields.
Upon entering high school in 2013, I knew
I wanted to become an engineer. But I was
frustrated by the lack of engineering programs
or clubs I could join. I had no academic option
to enroll in any classes that would allow me
to tinker or build explicitly. Brewster was
grounded.
But after so many years without it, the
Engineering Club is back. We began by working
on casting metal objects of our design. The
exploration of engineering consists of taking
real life situations and exploring solutions.
On December 1, we studied how to
increase the flow of water through a well by
changing the water path, as well as the size
and material of the tubes. We are scheduled,
as a group, to tour the library in order to gain
information on the engineering aspects of big
projects. As president of the Engineering Club,
I am pushing our group to look for competitions, including a solar car challenge, so that
we can enter inter-scholastic challenges. We
are planning to make a shirt dispenser for Mrs.
Chalmers. The plan is to enable Mrs. Chalmers
to propel shirts into the sports crowds at Brewster sports events.
The physical and educational evolution
that the high school is undergoing shows Brewster’s progress toward levitation. However, BHS
will never soar until the mechanical classes
the same. Even as I matured, that never
seemed to be the case. Eventually, everyone has to grasp an understanding of how
to build upon their passed down traits and
I know I won’t ever have to
follow in someone else’s
footsteps. I’ve been creating
my own.
characteristics in order to become someone. By not having those distinctly passed
down to me from my adoptive parents, it’s
as if I’ve been exempt of having limits and
expectations for who I want to be.
I know I won’t ever have to follow
in someone else’s footsteps. I’ve been
creating my own. I’ll consistently want to
break away from people’s assumptions and
expectations of who I’m alleged to be. The
easiest way for me to do that is through
art. When I’m eye to eye with a canvas, an
instrument, even a blank sheet of printer
paper, every doubt, every fear and every
problem vanishes. Even as a child, I knew
there was that same promise of tranquility
every time I emptied my mind through art.
But, with happiness comes imperfection.
With every mistaken brush stroke, every
doubtful melody and every crumpled piece
of paper, I know I’m one step closer to my
limitless goal of becoming someone.
I’ve always felt the same undeniable
confidence when it came to who I want to
be, despite my age or differences among
my family and friends. I know when I’m
living on my own, alone with my canvases
and sheet music, I won’t be worrying about
who to be. I’ve known since the moment
I opened my eyes. I’ve been who I’m
supposed to be, who I should be and who I
want to be. As I experience the intimidating
world of adulthood, becoming someone
will already be checked off my endless
to-do list. I’ll already be the person I’d do
anything to become. That someone is me.
Read more college essays on page 9
that once taught students how to engineer
projects are returned. This could be achieved
by transforming a classroom into a mechanical
shop; a mechanical Makerspace with whiteboards, work benches, and mechanical tools
including a 3D printer. As all students are
expected shortly to receive their own devices,
perhaps a former computer lab could be converted to house the mechanical space. It could
be used for the Robotics class, as well as by
the Engineering Club to build projects that are
currently restricted because of a lack of space
and technology. With the addition of a mechanical space, Brewster High School would quickly
gain respect as the exemplary STEM school it
is so clearly on its way to being.
It’s so easy to talk old people
into coming to Ursus.
What will it take to get you there?
We’ll see you Thursdays in room 211.
In the meantime, submit your poetry,
prose and artwork to
[email protected].
Living in Trump America
Muchas personas están preocupados o estamos precocupados por las cosas que el nuevo electo ha dicho. Muchos niños y sus familias no quieren
regresar a sus paises donde hay mucha violencia porque si todo estuviera
bien en nuestros paises no tendríamos la necesidad de star en otro país.
Necesitamos oportunidades de demostrar todas las cosas que podemos
aportar a este pais.
Many people are worried or we are worried about the things that the new
president elect has said. Many children and their families do not want
to return to their countries where there is a lot of violence because if
everything was good in our countries we would not have the need to be in
another country. We need opportunities to demonstrate all the things we
can bring to this country.
Bueno, creo que todos nos sentimos mal cuando nos entaramos que ganó
Donald Trump. Claro que da miedo porque no sabemos lo que va a pasar
cuando él suba a la presidencia porque él dijo que iba a deportar a los
inmigrantes. Y éso lo puede cumplir porque él nos odia...pero eso puede
suceder si los congresitas lo aprueban. Bueno, yo me siento mal porque
cuando uno se viene a este país es para un futuro mejor para cumplir un
sueño. Y solo pensar que un día todo se puede acabar.
Well, I think we all felt bad when we found out that Donald Trump won. Of
course it’s scary because we don’t know what is going to happen when he
becomes president because he said he was going to deport the immigrants. That can happen because he hates us ...that can come to pass
if congress approves it. Well, I feel bad because when you come to this
country it is for a better future to fulfill a dream and I can only think that
one day everything will end.
La primera vez que escuché que Donald Trump ganó me asuste demasiado, pero un día después una mujer me dijo “Donald Trump es la persona indicada para ser presidente” y yo le pregunté por qué pensaba éso.
Ella me dijo “Donald Trump no va a sacar a los inmigrantes indocumentados, el sólo sacará de este país a todas personas que haya cometido
varios crímenes y los devolverá a su país de origen.” Al escuchar ésto me
di cuenta que tenía razón. Él es el indicado para eliminar la delincuencia
y devolver la tranquilidad a este país denuevo. Hillary Clinton fue una
buena persona para la presidencia de los Estados Unidos, pero ella no
dijo que iba a acabar con la delincuencia.
The first time I heard that Donald Trump won I was very scared, but one
day later a woman told me, “Donald Trump is the right person to be
president.” I asked her why she thought that and she said, “Donald Trump
is not going to expel undocumented immigrants, he will only remove from
this country every person who committed several crimes and return him
to his country of origin.” On hearing this, I realized that she was right. He
is the one to eliminate delinquency and restore tranquility to this country
again. Hillary Clinton was a good person for the presidency of the United
States, but she did not say that she would end crime.
Me siento asustada, pero a la misma es bien porque sé que ese señor no
podrá a hacer lo que dice pues muchos de nosotros estamos enojados
pero yo creo que todos debemos de estar bien y no pensando en éso. Yo
de mi parte, me siento normal. Preocupada estoy, pero creo que todo
estará bien.
I feel frightened, but at the same time, it seems good because I know
that this man cannot do what he says because many of us are angry, but
I believe we will all be fine and we are not thinking about it. On my part, I
feel normal. I am worried, but I think everything will be fine.
Para mí, cuando esa noticia llegó a mí cuando Donald Trump ganó lo
presidencia, fue una noticia muy mala porque hay personas muy racistas
y si el presidente es un racista también, entonces se complicaría más
las cosas para las personas que no somos americanos, nosotras las personas inmigrantes trabajamos mucho para este país e incluso pagamos
impuestos, pero nunca los valoran las buenas cosas. Esa es mi opinión
sobre ésto.
For me, when the news came to me when Donald Trump won the presidency, it was very bad news because there are very racist people and if
the president is a racist too, then it will complicate things more for people
who are not Americans. We, the immigrants, work hard for this country
and even pay taxes, but people never appreciate the good things. That is
my opinion about this.
Por una parte me siento tranquila porque según que dijo Trump, él
deportará a personas que tienen record criminal. Pero, también puede
que deportará a personas que no ha cometido ningún crimen y éso es
triste porque pueden ser personas que trabajan honradamente y por sus
familias, algunos niños quedarán sin sus padres.
On the one hand I feel calm because according to what Trump said, he will
deport people who have a criminal record. But, it may also be that he will
deport people who have committed no crime and that is sad because they
can be people who work honestly and for their families. Some children
may be left without their parents.
Page 6/December 2016/Bear Facts
Pues, yo me siento triste porque mi familia y yo estamos
seguros aquí ya que en mi pais hay mucha violencia
y tengo miedo que Donald Trump nos heche. Sé que
estamos invadiendo su país y lo sentimos pero nuestras
paises no cuentan con la suerte de tener un buen presidente como los Estados Unidos. Gracias, Obama, por
darnos la oportunidad de conocer a los Estados Unidos y
de darnos su apoyo.
Me sentía mal con mi madre y mi hermana porque Donald Trump
dijo muchas cosas sobre los inmigrantes, algunas cosas no eran
ciertas. También porque algunas personas nada más vienen para
superarse y salir adelante, por ejemplo yo con mi madre y mi hermanita venimos a este país para salir adelante porque nosotros sin
un padre que nos ayudara no podíamos salir adelante en nuestro
país. Por eso, nos venimos a este país para salir adelante.
Well, I feel sad because my family and I are safe here
since in my country there is a lot of violence and I am
afraid that Donald Trump will send us out. I know we are
invading his country and we are sorry, but our countries
are not lucky enough to have a good president like the
United States. Thank you, Obama, for giving us the opportunity to get to know the United States and for giving us
your support.
I was feeling bad with my mother and sister because Donald Trump
said a lot of things about immigrants; some things were not true.
Also because some people come for no other reason than to make
themselves better and get ahead. For example I, with my mother
and my little sister, we came to this country to get ahead because
we, without a father to help us, could not get ahead in our country.
That’s why we come to this country: to get ahead.
Pro:
Saving the American Dream
by Robbie Pigat
It was a brutal and exhausting election cycle. Leading up to Election Day was a tough run for many. By November 8th, many Americans were still on the fence about whom their votes will go to. In fact, many American
voters had already decided not to cast votes at all.
I followed the election process from the time of the first primary last spring right up to Election Day. I believed then, and I believe just as strongly today, that there was only one candidate who has consistently shown
real ability to lead the American people. That candidate is our President-elect, Donald J. Trump.
I am not saying that Trump is a perfect candidate. Even the most enthusiastic Trump supporters would
like to change certain characteristics of his. Donald Trump is human and has flaws. However, I think his flaws
have been made so much more evident under the regular microscope of the media since even before the first
primary. But I can confidently say that I stand by the decision of the American people who are willing to look
past these flaws to the man with promise, the man who can guide our country to a greater future.
Trump isn’t just a big business chairman turned politician. He is a brand - a name that suggests strength
and determination and vision.
The name Trump is one I have a real connection with. My father is an employee at Trump National Hudson Valley, a golf club. Before Trump committed
to trying to win the Republican nomination, he was invested in the success of
his multiple businesses. He was regularly found at Trump Hudson Valley. My
dad, along with other employees, described Donald Trump as very generous
and caring. Another characteristic that was commonly discussed was Mr.
Trump’s humility in regard to his work. He regularly asked the employees what
he could do better to improve the management of the club. Yes, Donald Trump
asked his employees what he could do to improve. The Donald Trump I am
familiar with is very different than the man characterized by the media as an
impulsive bigot.
Trump isn’t just a big business chairman turned politi-
cian. He is a brand - a name that suggests strength and determination and vision.
After months of closely following this election, I struggled to find articles or
broadcasts that reflected the positive characteristics or the promise of the
President-elect. He was portrayed as a “dictator” and as the president who will
drive us into World War III. I could find little coverage of the millions of dollars
he raised or contributed to charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project.
There was no headline celebrating the $20 million donation he made to the
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for terminally ill patients. Apparently,
Donald Trump’s generosity and compassion pale in comparison to coverage of
his hair or his tweets.
I’m going away to college in less than a year and I will enter the workforce in about five or six years. I am
planning to establish a professional career in the field of business. Right now, business majors are faltering,
their futures are cloudy, they are struggling to find their place in the world of commerce. But with such a successful and significant business mind entering the White House in January, I can be confident that there will
be real opportunities for me and for all young Americans who enter the workforce with their hopes of forging
diverse career paths.
Some of Trump’s big plans are already gaining traction. He is prepared to act, he is assembling his cabinet and is anxious to get to work. He has made clear some of his ideas for reform: his sweeping tax reforms,
which will simplify the tax code and lower taxes on the middle class; his immigration policies which will discourage undocumented immigration; his promise to secure the southern border which will deter illegal drug
and human trafficking; and his plan to transform failing urban locales into thriving, commercially successful
cities.
Donald J. Trump is the man who will lead us to the realization of this great country’s potential and return us
to our status as the most powerful nation in the world - the land of the American Dream.
Muchos de nosotros los hispanos venimos a
los Estados Unidos por un futuro mejor para
que podamos seguir y alcanzar nuestras
metas. Yo me siento muy triste al saber que
hay americanos que nos discriminan, como
Donald Trump, que piensa que todos los
hispanos somos malos y que venimos a los
Estados Unidos a molestar, pero no. Muchos
de nosotros los hispanos venimos a estudiar
y trabajar para ser unas grandes personas.
Yo vine a este país a superarme
y a salir adelante en la escuela.
Pero yo, a veces, siento que los
americanos lo hacen de menos
aun no solo porque venimos
a su país a trabajar honradamente. Pero a si mismo te
ofrecen una oportunidad para
superarte en la escuela estudiando duro.
Many of us Hispanics came to the United
States for a better future so that we can
pursue and achieve our goals. I feel very sad
to know that there are Americans who discriminate against us, like Donald Trump, who
thinks that all Hispanics are bad and that we
come to the United States to be a nuisance,
but no. Many of us Hispanics came to study
and work to become great people.
I came to this country to better
myself and to do well in school.
But, I, at times, feel that the
Americans put us down even
though we only came to their
country to work hard. At the
same time they offer you an
opportunity to improve yourself
in school by studying hard.
Me siento muy triste y con un poco do temor, en que
Donald Trump había ganado las elecciones, porque
el quiere mandarnos a nuestras paises, tanto que
nosotros sufrimos en los caminos tratando de llegar
a este lugar. Uno viene en camino arriesgando su
vida sin comer, sin beber agua. Es muy duro para
todos nosotros, y ahora que Trump ganó las elecciones a todas nos dió mucho temor, cuando él dijo
que quería deportar a todos los inmigrantes.
I feel very sad and a little afraid that Donald Trump
won the election, because he wants to send us
back to our countries, but we suffered on the
roads trying to reach this place. People go on
their way risking their lives without eating, without
drinking water. It is very hard for all of us, and now
that Trump won the election we all became very
afraid when he said he wanted to deport all the
immigrants.
Page 7/December 2016/Bear Facts
Along with the recent election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. comes a host of
issues. concerns, and reassurances, and confidences. The people of this country have never been more
divided. We recently asked our ELL population about their feelinss regarding Trump’s election. Below are the
various responses we received, in both English and Spanish.
En la vida hay muchas cosas que hacen que las personas se odien entre
si. Este mundo está lleno de racismo y rencor. Yo soy latino y por veces me
siento menos que los demás. Tengo tres años en Estados Unidos y yo venía
con mucha esperanza de ser alguien en la vida pero cuando vine mi vida no
fue como lo pensé porque las personas de aquí se creen más que los latinos
solo porque somos pobres o pueda ser por otra razón no sé. Pero hoy en dia
mi familia y yo estamos tristes y cenajados porque el presidente los hace de
menos.
Yo me sentí muy triste porque Donald Trump quedó
como presidente primero mas que nada porque el mucho nos discrimina a nosotros los inmigrantes y también
porque yo estaba transmitiendo para mis papeles y ya
no sé si eso sea posible de lograr. Crucé la frontera para
una vida mejor y para poder ayudar a mi familia que
está en mi país pero ya no sé que va a pasar: si me voy
a quedar o me van o mandar. Siento que todo se fue a
bajo.
In life there are many things that make people hate each other. This
world is full of racism and hatred. I am Latino and sometimes I feel that I
am less than others. I have been in the United States for three years and I
came with a lot of hope of becoming someone in life, but when I came my
life was not like what I thought it would be. People here believe they know
more than the Latinos only because we are poor or it could be another
reason that I don’t know. Currently, my family and I are sad and upset
because the president demeaned them.
I felt very sad because Donald Trump became president
primarily because above all he discriminates against us
immigrants and also because I was filing for my papers
and I do not know if that is possible to achieve now. I
crossed the border for a better life and to be able to help
my family that is in my country but I do not know what
will happen: if I am going to stay or if they are going to
send me away. I feel like everything is going downhill.
Con: Think Before Youby Jessica
Speak
Capossela
“I’m LGBT, I’m a girl, and I’m brown...well, I’m done.”
This was one of the many responses I heard throughout the day following the results of this year’s Presidential election.
While running for president, Donald Trump made many statements that were offensive to so many different
groups of people. Yet, after the election and his electoral win, so many people still support him irrevocably. Why?
His comments are racist, misogynistic, and bigoted. Trump is regularly characterized this way and people
continue to support him. I am trying to understand why.
I have been told that some support him because he is not a part of the established political arena. Others
echo that by saying he represents change. I counter with this question: is the kind of change we want? The idea
is too simplistic to me. It is the same ideology used by the people who supported Hillary simply because she is a
woman. That doesn’t make her the right candidate or even the right woman for the job.
We have all taken enough basic English classes to know that the way in which we say something will convey
meaning. Whenever Trump is accused of bigotry, he responds by backpedaling and affirming that he actually
loves “that group of people.” But Mr. Trump, we are more than faceless groups of people.
I could provide infinitely long lists of the the derogatory comments Trump has
made, implying the intention to revoke the rights of people who worked for
centuries to attain those rights. But I won’t, because you have heard it all. And
yet, many of you still support him. Help me understand why.
A group of students at BHS conducted Psychology surveys on political views.
The results shocked me. About 80% of those surveyed claimed to have very
liberal views, yet also claimed they were in favor of Trump.
What does this mean? Our beliefs represent us. If I am to believe that the
students in BHS are a microcosm representing the country, how do I reconcile
His comments are racist, misogynistic, and bigoted...and people continue to support him. I am trying to under stand why.
these facts in terms of the election?
Far more dangerous than my inability to reconcile the numbers with the truth,
however, is the fact that this election has separated people. Yes, I was laughed
at and called a “loud liberal.” But today, the language I’m hearing includes
such polarizing terms as fear and hate. We are separated by our political beliefs in a way that spills over into all that we discuss and how we get along.
We are having trouble defining common decency without using judgment and
discrimination. We are expecting unconditional empathy but are slow to give it.
We are condemning behavior as wrong but we continue to reciprocate it.
Perhaps the electoral college went in favor of Trump because so many people
did not support the questionable things Hillary Clinton has done. Or frighteningly, perhaps there has been a fornication of our country’s morals and it is okay for the future of America to spit in the face of its victims and marginalized populations.
I am not suggesting that everyone who supports Trump is like Trump. I am thinking that where there is
ignorance, we promote fear. Generalizing groups of people leads to greater ignorance and further discrimination
resulting in fear.
Saying that all men are rapists is not going stop men who rape; saying that all Muslims are terrorists is not
going to stop the percentage of radical Muslims who incite terror. But silent acceptance of Trump’s labels and
behavior suggests to people all over the world that we find no trouble with his bigotry and double standards about
people he does not know.
If we do not promote the humanity within all of us, we will run it down.
As I write this, it is just one day after the election. There is backlash and there are protests and there are
millions of hashtags being generated. It is human nature to form quick opinions.
We should be careful and deliberate and consider our opinions before letting them fly. Until we feel the need
to respond, we must monitor our own fear and hatred and watch how we use our words.
That is what I am doing. No matter what your views are on the election, hate and fear for each other will not
unify us behind the President-elect.
Me sentí mal porque había mucha gente diciendo que había
ganado Trump y ellos estaban murmurando muchas cosas sobre
los hispanos, que nosotros los hispanos solo traimos delincuencia,
enfermedades, etc. Que nosotros solo venimos a quitarles sus
empleas , su dinero, y su comida y pues uno se siente mal como
yo. Yo me siento preocupada, mal y hasta deprimida y eso que
dicen de uno, uno se siente humillado por ellos se siento super
preocupado.
I felt bad because there were a lot of people saying that Trump
had won and they were murmuring a lot about Hispanics, that we
Hispanics only bring delinquency, diseases, etc. They said that
we just come to take their jobs, their money, and their food, and
for that, someone like me feels bad. I feel worried, bad, and even
depressed and what they say about people would make someone
feel humiliated by them and feel super worried.
Yo creo que el tiene unos buenos puntos de vista porque
va a decir no al aborto y por otro lado a insultado mucho
a los hispanos y creo que tiene algo bueno para América
y pienso que no es justo que nos quiera mandar solo
porque unos hispanos hacen cosas malas. Creo que él
no sabe que no todos somo iguales. Hay unos que si
queremos aprovechar y llegar ser a alguien en la vida.
I think he has some good points of view because he was
going to say no to abortion but on the other hand, he
has insulted the Hispanics. I think he has some good
things for America and I think it’s not fair that he wants
to send us out just because some Hispanics do bad
things. I think that he doesn’t know that we are not all
the same and that there are some of us who want to
make the most of ourselves and become someone in
life.
Que ganó Trump lo entiendo, pero que se refiera tan desagradable hacía
las demás personas, no. Solo Dios sabe porque pasan las cosas. Yo
no tengo miedo de lo que diga porque pienso que él solamente le gusta
llamar la atención. Personalmente, no tengo miedo de lo que vaya a pasar
porque preocuparme, mi futuro no está en las manos de él, y no entiendo
como demasiadas personas tienen miedo, porque tenerle miedo (de él) es
un humano, y él no es el dueño del mundo, ni el rey...Quisiera y me encantaría que las personas se preguntasen a si mismas. ¿Por qué temer a un
humano? Todos somos humanos, tenemos que dejar los miedos, y como
yo digo Dios tiene el control de mi vida y mi futuro. Tenemos que pensar
claramente. Y si hay personas que tienen miedo por el nuevo presidente
les digo <<no tengan miedo. Ustedes también son humanos!>> Soy Latina
y ésta es mi opinión.
That Trump won, I understand, but that he refers so unpleasantly to other
people, I do not understand. Only God knows why things happen. I’m not
afraid of what he says because I think he just likes to attract attention.
Personally, I am not afraid of what is going to happen because my future is
not in his hands, and I do not understand how so many people are afraid,
because he is a human, and he is not the owner of the world, nor the king
... I want and I would love for people to ask themselves, why fear a human?
We are all human, we have to let go of fears, and as I say God has control
of my life and my future. We have to think clearly. If there are people who
are afraid of the new president, I say, “do not be afraid. You are also
human!” I am Latina and this is my opinion.
Pues la verdad hay muchas personas que reaccionaron mal con esa
noticia que porque el señor presidente habló sobre para deportar a los
inmigrantes a veces nos discriminan por ser ilegales en este país pero en
realidad hay personas que no comprenden que uno viaja y trata la manera
de venir a este país por tener una vida mejor, uno tiene derechos a tratar
de salir adelante tenemos que buscar la manera para seguir adelante y
también darles una mejor vida a nuestra familias no es fácil para nosotros
dejar nuestras familias. También queremos que nos comprendan que nosotros estamos acá no para dañar este país queremos que el presidente
comprenda esto que es por un bien.
Well, the truth is many people who reacted badly to the news did so because the president talked about deporting the immigrants. Sometimes
people discriminate against us for being illegal in this country, but in reality
there are people who do not understand the journey nor think of the way
in which we came to this country to have a better life where one has rights
and can try to find a way to get ahead and also give a better life to our
families. It is not easy for us to leave our families. We also want people to
understand that we are not here to harm this country. We want the president to understand that this (why we are here) is for good.
Para mi y para mi familia nos afecta mucho porque hay la posibilidad
que nos deporten ya inmigración tiene toda la información de nosotros y
pueda ser que nosotros seamos los primeros que nos deporten. Nosotros
venimos a este país a tener un buen futuro a salir adelante y ahora para
que nos deporten ellos son injustos con los hispanos que le hemos hechos
a ellos nada. Sin los hispanos, este país no es nada. Si nos deportan este
país se va a la ruina. Yo quiero trabajar, sacar a mi familia adelante,
estudiar, y sacar la carrera que quiero. Para eso vine a este país pero ese
sueño no creo que se me cumpla. En nuestro país hay mucho peligro
y por eso no quiero regresar a mi país. Para muchos hispanos, es muy
importante estar aquí también para mi familia. Yo tengo un sueño y mi
familia también pero en que nos deporte, no voy a dejar mi sueño. Los
presidentes prometen y no cumplen, lo que espero que no nos deporten.
Venimos luchando por la familia. Yo no quiero regresar a mi país quiero
estar aquí con mi familia. Mi familia ha pasado muchas desgracias. Por
eso venimos a este país. Murieron dos primos míos y eso fue lo más doloroso que me ha pasado en mi vida y en mi aldea hay muchas muertes. Y
para sufrir otra vez no es justo para mi familia. Aquí tengo muchas oportunidades y las quiero aprovechar y sacar a mi familia adelante. Somos
chapines pero honrados.
For me and my family this affects us a lot because there is the possibility
that they will deport us since immigration services has all the information
about us and it may be that we will be the first to be deported. We came
to this country to have a good future and to get ahead, and now in order
to deport us they are being unjust to the Hispanics and we have done
nothing to them. Without the Hispanics, this country is nothing. If they
deport us this country is going to be in ruins. I want to work to help my
family improve, to study, to get a career that I want. For this reason, I came
to this country with this dream that I don’t think will come true now. In our
country there is a lot of danger and that is why I do not want to go back
to my country. For many Hispanics, it is very important to be here just as
it is for my family. I have a dream and my family does as well, but if they
deport us, I will not be able to leave my dream behind. Presidents promise
things and don’t make them happen. That is what I am hoping for, that
they don’t deport us. We came fighting for our family. I don’t want to
return to my country; I want to stay here with my family. Many awful things
have happened to my family and for that reason, we came to this country.
Two of my cousins died and that was the most painful thing to happen in
my life. In my village, there are many deaths and to have to go back and
suffer again is not fair for my family. Here I have many opportunities and I
want to try them and help my family have a better life. Yes, we are natives
of Central America (somos chapines), but we are honorable.
Cuando me enteré que Mr. Trump había ganado la verdad me sentí
normal, no me afectó en gran manera porque yo creo que por algo él
ganó. No me siento incómoda, sino que me siento normal, porque él es
presidente de los Estados Unidos del país más importante. Él no gobierna
todo el mundo. Yo pienso y no solo pienso, sino que lo siento y lo creo
que el único que pone y quita reyes es Dios. El país puede depender del
presidente pero mi vida depende de Dios.
When I found out that Mr. Trump had won, the truth is that I felt normal.
It does not affect me much because I believe that he won for a reason. I
do not feel uncomfortable with it, but I feel as I always do, because he is
President of the United States of America, the most important country in
the world, but he does not govern everyone. I think and not only think, but
I feel it and I believe that the one who appoints and removes kings is God.
The country can depend on the president, but my life depends on God.
Features
Page 8/December 2016/Bear Facts
“Almost, Maine:” Laugh, Cry, Sigh, Gasp, Repeat.
David Dimmino (Wendall) and Cecilia Guida
(Marci), all of who added
to the authenticity of the
show. From Megan’s
of 5
sincere portrayal of confessing love, to Cecilia’s
The BHS Fall Drama this year was a conempathetic comedic timtemporary dramedy in the form of a series
ing of Marci’s heartfelt
of vignettes. Each scene took place in the
raw pain, to David who,
same town, in the same timeline, but with
for never having acted
different characters and plots. The conbefore, gave Lendall
necting thread between all was the subject
a calm and collected
of love. That gave the audience insight and
personality while leaving
unpacked different types of relationships
him open to the comedy
that come with love.
and realization of the
I sat down in the PAC with my friends
scene, these actors
Grace Curley’s and Megan Campbell’s characters are falling for
not really knowing any of the plot. I confess,
clearly loved being on
each other as they reminisce about old times
I probably would’ve loved the show even if
the
of love-- you could be reached in some way.
stage, inciting power
I think “Almost, Maine” will be in my
laughter, gasps, and sighs
memory whenever I face losing love, finding
in response.
love, or being in it. The characters and
I applaud the choice of
their stories were given to us honestly and
the play as a whole, being
unimposingly, and they have stayed with me
more contemporary, as
since. I know that many others were as capit was a fresh contrast
tivated by the deep examination of love as I
from other plays in recent
was, and I’m excited to see what will come
years. The writing and
next.
delivery made us feel like
we couldn’t
help but immediately relate
the characters’
situation to
our own. We
David DiMinno surprises a confused Charlie Fitzpatrick with his felt we were
representation of his love for her.
in the world
of the show,
it was about chaos. I’ve been an avid BHS
presented with the complex emotheater-goer from a young age, and have an
tions of conflict, desire, anxiety,
appreciation and respect for the process of
and frustration that we put into or
theater. I also had friends in the show, and I
take out of love. The stories were
went to support them.
portrayed with such authenticity,
The curtains opened to snow-covered
that even if you’ve only ever heard
trees, soft light, and a wooden bench. It
Above: Mili Gonzalez and
began with the first couple, the slightly awkAaron Lurin share a snowward boy and the shy girl that you know will
covered moment of love
end up together. And so it began. During
by Sarah Comer
the next two hours on the stage, through
metaphors, artistic nuance, and raw emotions, the characters grappled with the state
of love- what it’s like to be in it, lose it, finally
express it, regret it, or realize it. I applaud
the actors and all those involved for their
amazing efforts to present a piece of art with
personal charm.
Highlights of the night included the
performances of Megan Campbell (Deena),
Aquarius - Feb. 17 to March 11 - It’s time
to embrace yourself Aquarius! Everything
is finally falling into place. A victory finally
happens today, with someone’s help. You
haven’t had this much energy and momentum
since 2014, so enjoy this time! Between now
and December 20th, you can accomplish great
things, so don’t let anything stop you.
Pisces - March 12 to April 18 - Balancing
private time with all the new people that are
coming into your life is a challenge this week.
You will meet someone on Monday that could
very much intrigue you. But take your time
and feel it out don’t jump right into it. An
action-oriented Mars moves into your zone of
privacy and intuition and encourages you to
to get in touch with your feelings. Don’t make
any big decisions in your life but instead feel
things out.
Aries - April 19 to May 13 - You deserve to
pump the brakes a little bit and just enjoy life,
so give yourself permission to bask in the glow
and not push yourself too hard. Energetic
Mars moves into Aquarius on Wednesday so
you step back and let loose a little. You are
also able to prioritize time with your friends
and allies. It feel good to be in sync with your
family and friends. The rewards you have been
working so hard for are arriving now so you
won’t have to put in too much effort. A spontaneous getaway is just what the doctor ordered.
Taurus - May 14 to June 21 - Things go from
hot to hotter this week. So enjoy this exciting
momentum. Things get even sweeter after
Wednesday when active Mars moves into your
zone of fame and success. Between now and
Left: After years of marriage,
couple Michael Malanga
and Cecilia Guida share a
moment of forgetfulness and
heartbreak.
All play photographs courtesy
of 4sonsphotography
Horoscopes for December, 2016
These dates reflect the inclusion of Ophiuchus, the newest zodiac sign discovered by NASA.
December 19, there is nothing stopping you
from getting your name out into the world in an
exciting way, so take this opportunity to show
everyone what you most proud of. Love thrives
this weekend as you start to reach out of your
comfort zone.
Gemini - June 22 to July 20 - This week feels
like a breath of fresh air. You have been
waiting on the final details of a project to
come together and on Monday, the last pieces
of the puzzle could fall
into place. Things won’t
feel quite so arduous
after Wednesday when
assertive Mars moves into
free-thinking Aquarius.
Let your adventurous side
play for a while this week.
Venus moves into your
privacy zone this weekend
so some old feelings can
show up.
Cancer - July 21 to Aug. 10 - Romance takes
center stage this week. A spark that you have
been feeling could turn into something more
on Monday. Go with what you are feeling and
don’t be shy! Also, do some thinking about
your inner self that will help channel your energy and help you uncover and resolve issues
in the next few weeks.
Leo - Aug. 11 to Sept. 16 - Things are shifting
this week, so go in the direction of your
priorities and deepest values. Do what you’re
comfortable with, and tweak things for your
own benefit. Teamwork is key after Wednesday when active Mars moves into your zone of
relationships. Between now and December
19th you can cement key alliances and partnerships. So have fun and don’t give up.
Virgo - Sept. 17 to Oct. 30 - Your creativity
and intelligence shine right now, so put on
your biggest smile and embrace exciting fresh
energy this week!
Communicating clearly,
especially in realm of
relationships or artistic
projects, is important
on Monday. Take a
leadership role and
celebrate your achievements. Your love life
thrives this weekend,
especially if you’re
brave enough to open
up about difficult emotional situations.
Libra - Oct. 31 to Nov. 23 - This is an important week, especially for family matters. You
have made some big realizations about some
personal matters and this is the week to set
boundaries and make changes. If you are single, between now and December 19, you are
sure to make some exciting love connections.
Go for the person who gets your unique sense
of humor.
Think You Know Your Zodiac Sign? Think Again...
By Izabella Mancini
Everyone knows there are twelve zodiac
signs: Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus,
Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius and Capricorn. Right? Nope, not
according to NASA.
NASA believes that there is a thirteenth
zodiac sign called Ophiuchus, or the “Serpent Bearer.” Ophiuchus is positioned between Scorpio and Sagittarius, beginning on
November 29th through December 18th and
is graphically represented as a man grasping
a snake. The name Ophiuchus is Greek. The
constellation is quite large compared to the
other twelve constellations. Ophiuchus was
discovered by Ptolemy, a second century
astronomer.
People whose birthdays fall in Ophiuchus are thought to be spirited, majestic,
impulsive, clever, flamboyant, and may at
times give into being jealous, power
-hungry, and
temperamental.
Relationships can
be tense at times
with an jealous
Ophiuchus.
The ancient
Babylonians invented the twelve zodiac signs
to match their twelve-month lunar calendar, but NASA claims that the Babylonians
“ignored the fact that the sun actually moves
moves through thirteen constellations, not
twelve,” during earth’s year-long orbit around
the sun. The establishment of the thirteenth
zodiac sign creates the necessary shift of the
dates that determined the twelve traditional
signs of the zodiac. What you believed to
be your sign, based on your date of birth, is
most likely no longer your sign.
NASA has been receiving controversial
responses to the discovery of this thirteenth
sign. Apparently, people are reluctant to
forgo their previously established signs.
NASA, however, stands by their discovery and
their insistence that the shift should occur.
NASA acknowledges that some will
decidedly not budge and will continue to
read the horoscopes for the signs they have
always read. Astrology, according to many,
is not considered science and they are not
about to change because NASA tells them
they should.
What do you believe? Is the discovery of
this thirteenth zodiac sign a game changer
for you? Let us know what you think.
Scorpio - Nov. 24 to Nov. 29 - This is going
to be one of your favorite weeks of the fall. A
supportive sextile from the sun to your ruler,
powerful Pluto, on Monday will break down important barriers and put you on the right track.
Focus on spending quality time with family
after Wednesday when active Mars moves into
your zone of home and privacy. You deserve
some peace and quiet. Go get some.
Ophiuchus -Nov. 30 to Dec. 17 - You are
trying to escape the routine, dull, and ordinary
aspects of your life. You try to find new things
that will make your life more exciting and
stimulating. But as your are trying to have a
better life pressure might be put on you which
could cause you to have to slow down a bit and
take a breather.
Sagittarius - Dec. 18 to Jan. 20 - Holiday parties and relationships fuel your spirit thanks
to positive December stars. Friendships may
start to change and morph into other things.
Don’t over think it though; that can make
things worse. Instead, focus on other things
like your goals and intentions. During the
week you’re goals and intentions you set now
have incredible power to grow.
Capricorn - Jan. 21 to Feb. 16 - Career issues
will take command of your life and confuse
you. Free will and personal problems dominate this month. You will visit spiritual and
sacred places to empty your soul, and to help
you with your career. You won’t have a team to
help you through this, you are going to h ave to
do this by yourself. Good luck and have fun.
Features
Page 9/December 2016/Bear Facts
College Essays continued from pg.5
Fey i s e t a n
Fa l a n a
I have a hat. Actually, I have three hats.
And there may be more that I haven’t yet
discovered.
Throughout my life, I’ve been rotating
these three different hats. The white hat. The
black hat. The hat with the little label in the
back that says ‘Made In USA’. I’ve worn each
distinct hat in each place that I call home.
Back in my hometown of the Bronx, the
first hat I wore was the white hat. I remember that particular day back in my large third
grade classroom. I was a typical, curious
eight-year old girl. The only difference was
that I didn’t use the “Bronx slang” like my
classmates. One of my classmates asked
me, “Why do you talk like you’re white?”
I was extremely puzzled by her question.
Did I really sound white? What was “talking
white”? This brought a great deal of distress
upon me as I started to notice many traits
about myself that related to my classmate’s
question. I started to question the way I
talked, the way I acted and even the way I
spelled my name. Who was I? In third grade,
I came to understand my first hat. The white
one.
An unfamiliar boy approached
me. He said, “Aren’t you supposed to be ghetto since you
are from the Bronx?”
In seventh grade, with my white hat, I
moved upstate to Brewster, NY. Moving to
suburban Brewster would provide a fresh
start. I was interested in trying on a new hat.
I made new friends, met new teachers and
adapted to my current school. I was hoping
that I wouldn’t be limited to just one hat, but
one day, there it was. The black hat waited
for me while I quietly waited on the lunch
line. An unfamiliar boy approached me. He
said, “Aren’t you supposed to be ghetto since
you are from the Bronx?” I looked at him for
some time. I was shocked to be asked this
question on the fifth day at my brand new
school. I thought that things were supposed
to be different around here. I thought I could
actually be just me, without having to wear
a hat at all. Especially, a new hat. The black
one.
A few
years later,
I traveled to
Nigeria to visit
my relatives
abroad. I was
so excited to
experience my
native culture in
the motherland.
I could sense a
strong feeling
of belonging
with my people, people who related to me
and shared a deeper understanding of my
identity. In Lagos, I came upon a little street
vendor with some cultural jewelery. I asked,
“How much is the necklace with the red
beaded flowers?” I spoke with my American accent, so I sounded like a foreigner.
The vendor responded in his heavy Yoruba
accent, “This costs 1000 Naira.” My mom
replied in Yoruba to the salesman, “What’s
the real price?” This guy was shocked. He
thought that my family consisted only of English-speaking tourists. My mom negotiated
the price of the necklace down to 500 Naira.
As we drove to our next destination, I
thought about the effect this man’s behavior
had on me. Did he actually inflate the price
since I was American? Couldn’t he see that I
shared his Nigerian blood? In addition to the
necklace, I had received my third hat. The
hat with the little label in the back that says
‘Made In USA’.
I still find myself juggling these hats as I
move from the Bronx to Brewster and back to
Nigeria. I was expected to wear one of these
hats at all times, apparently.
But why must I let others decide which
hat I wear? Why can’t people get to know the
real me? The me who wears whichever hat
she wants… or doesn’t wear one at all.
E r i n
L e n n o n
It’s 2007. I’m gripping the hand of
my five-year-old brother with all my might.
I’ve been lecturing him on the dangers of
Halloween. Don’t eat anything already open.
Don’t stand within reach of strange cars.
Don’t leave my sight. We look up, and there
he is. The Scream, in all of his glory, slowly
approaching us. His black robes flutter ominously, and he’s moaning, like he’s in pain.
Every time he takes a step forward, we take
one back. Before long our dance reaches
such a tempo that we’re sprinting up the hill
behind us, our small arms pumping to keep
time with our legs. I push Brendan in front of
me and risk a glance backwards. My grandmother is holding a Scream mask, doubled
over, tears of mirth streaking her wrinkled
face. I scowl at her, pouting. And then I ask
to try on the mask.
My grandmother is holding
a Scream mask, doubled
over, tears of mirth streaking
her wrinkled face.
I’m in sixth grade, sitting with my
brothers on the old couch in the new house
that doesn’t quite smell like home yet. We’ve
been left alone
for the first time.
I’ve gone around
making sure all
of the doors are
locked, turning
lights on and off
so that if anyone
drove by, they
would assume that
my parents were
working in their
home office. I’ve
carefully screened the movie we are about to
watch, ensuring that it is clear of profanity.
Meanwhile, across town, my grandmother is
instructing my older cousin. They will drive
slowly down the road to our new house with
the car lights off. She will park at the edge
of the woods, and he will creep through our
yard under the cover of darkness. Just as I’ve
quit my pacing and hand wringing, they have
Our (Arguable) Top 10 in Music
Let’s just say this is clearly not the “Greatest of All Time” chart but it’s not the worst
either...
#1) Closer - The Chainsmokers Featuring
Halsey
This song has blown up; very catchy, upbeat,
and all about relationships. They try to stay
in the moment by ‘never getting older’, and
people seem to get stuck listening to it over
and over again. Another hit by the Chainsmokers, still reigning #1 after 13 weeks.
#2) Starboy - The Weeknd Featuring Daft
Punk.
This song is very strange and not all that
catchy. It has potential, but it should never
have left the studio as is. People write songs
for a reason, to send a message, yet there
is nothing here. It’s still better than #5 but I
have no clue how it has been second most
popular for 6 weeks.
#3) Heathens - Twenty One Pilots
Lead singer Tyler Joseph’s unique voice fits
perfectly with this song and its introverted
lyrics, along with its corresponding movie
Suicide Squad. Overall a
very driving punk rock feel.
Instrumentals give this song
emotion, cutting guitar and a
great drummer.
#4) Let Me Love You - DJ
Snake Featuring Justin
Bieber
Behind the layers of auto tune that resembles singing there is a good beat. Good to
listen to if you need a boost, but it’s hard to
remember anything other than four words of
the melody.
New Instruments of the World
by Eliza Pattie
So, you’ve got some talent in music, heh?
You play the guitar or violin? Oh, that’s cute.
If you really want a challenge, here are some
instruments from around the world for you to
tackle next.
about 40,00 of them over the past 25 years or
so. The wild bamboo from the island provides
a beautiful burnt finish and an old-world hand
crafted charm. He now sells them made of plastic, which makes them cheaper and easier to
obtain. The Xaphoon has a 2-octave range and
uses a tenor sax reed. In comparison to playing
the average saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece,
the one on the Xaphoon is very bulky with a
small angle and doesn’t come to a point, making it a little harder to get out a sound.
Charango
The Charango is a small Andean guitar, about
the size of a ukulele. When Columbus conquered the Americas there were no stringed
instruments. They brought Spanish guitars
with them which eventually evolved into the
Charango. The Charango is found in the Andean regions of Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, northern Chile, and Argentina. In Argentina it is also
known as the Mulita, Kirkinchu (sometimes
“quirquinchu”) and kirki in Bolivia and Peru.
The Charango is traditionally made
from an armadillo shell but is now more commonly made from wood. It has a very rich and
special sound because of its six double-strings.
Xaphoon
The Xaphoon, Maui Xaphoon, or Pocket Sax,
was invented by Brian Lee Wittman, who lives
in Maui, Hawaii. Whitman crafted the first
Xaphoon out of the wild bamboo that grows
wild on the island. He was playing his own
metal saxophone when a young boy came up
to him and asked if Whitman had a little one
to play. He began whittling a small block of
bamboo and shaved the mouthpiece down to
an angle and tied on a reed. From this original
one, Whitman estimates that he has made
Glass Armonica
The glass armonica, bowl organ, or hydrocrystalophone was made by Benjamin Franklin in
1761 after he saw an earlier version of upright
water-filled wine glasses. It is constructed of a
series of 37 glass bowls increasing in size on a
rod that spins as the player pumps a pedal, like
an old sewing machine. The player wets their
fingers so they glide smoothly across the the
surface of the bowls. As the player drags their
fingers on the glass, a note is heard; higher for
smaller bowls and lower for larger ones. Rims
of the bowls were painted different colors according to the pitch of the note: A (dark blue),
B (purple), C (red), D (orange), E (yellow), F
(green), G (blue), and accidentals were marked
in white. Since all the bowls were closely
packed together, the player could sound up to
10 notes at a time. It creates a very sweet sound
that can be heard by dragging your finger on a
wine glass. Pieces for the armonica were written by famous composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. Many Europeans learned to
play it, but it lost popularity in the early 1800’s
because of rumors that anyone who played it
or listened to if would go mad; because it excessively stimulated the nerves. Few people still
play the armonica, but it has not gone extinct.
arrived. As my brother hits play, I look to my
left out the window. I expect to see my own
reflection, but instead find the face of a man
looking in at us. Needless to say, we scream.
We dash upstairs, looking for a phone to call
my parents, the cops, anyone. The front door
bangs open, and I hear laughter. Curse her
and her spare key. But I laugh, too.
My grandmother’s goal has always
been to amuse others. She puts on a show
for us; her antics have no boundaries, and
nobody is safe from her pranks. I have
always been her antithesis. My entire life, I
have fought to be in control. I plot and plan
and constantly rehearse scenarios in my
head to make sure everything goes just as
I need it to. Occasionally, something will
disrupt my plans. Locking myself out of the
house. Getting sick the week before an SAT.
Leaving my wallet at home. Little things set
me off and before I know it I’m checking
my pulse and counting my breaths to keep
myself from getting worked up. Nothing challenges my perfectly arranged existence like
an afternoon with my grandmother.
Her form of acupuncture can’t be
seen, but she still manages to hit every one
of my nerves. And yet, nothing is quite as
good at quelling my anxieties. My personal
anti-hero, she allows me to see the world
through her eyes when I need it most. While
my views are usually clouded with worry, hers
are decorated with simplicity. And somehow,
the little things become little again.
I’m seventeen, standing at the
top of the hill in the pouring rain. There’s
lightning, but our counselors’ requests for us
to stay inside our cabins have been ignored. I
look out below me. There’s a tarp, some dish
soap, and a lot of mud. I crack my knuckles
and shake out my hands. I take three deep
breaths; two fast, one slow. Close my eyes,
and think of my grandmother. I slide.
#5) Broccoli - D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty
To write a review on a song, you have to actually listen to it, which I could barely do in this
case. If you search what the name D.R.A.M.
stands for you should be able to understand
why he makes no sense. I am aware an
entire industry is centered around this genre,
but frankly I think it is disgusting and the
music video is worse.
overshadowed by Minaj.
#6) 24K Magic - Bruno Mars
Not as powerful as some of
Mars’ other songs but still
catchy. He won’t be remembered by it but it deserves its
spot in the top 10.
#7) Side to Side - Ariana Grande Featuring
Nicki Minaj
Not much different from Grandes other
songs, but still gets stuck in your head. She
has worked with Minaj before and kept it
balanced, but by not fully belting her range in
her classic way, Grande seemed to become
#8) Cold Water - Major Lazer Featuring
Justin Bieber & MO
An encouraging song about loyalty, with an
electronic groove. Starts soft with acoustic
guitar and increases in energy. The techno
sound is not my first choice but doesn’t overpower or drown out the vocals here.
#9) Juju On That Beat - Zay Hilfigerrr &
Zayion McCall
The latest dance tune, but not a real song to
be played at the Grammys or anything. Waiting to stop seeing this in my Instagram feed.
#10) I Hate U I Love U - Gnash Featuring
Olivia O’Brian
It’s so easy to get this song about conflicting
love stuck in your head for days. The built up
anger and broken hearts are heard through
the two singers and the snapping in the
background. If you’re sad about any relationship this is your go-to song.
Features
Page 10/December 2016/Bear Facts
Fantastic Beasts: a Rowling Great Time
by Sarah Bosari
As the first film to be released from JK
Rowling’s magical world since 2011’s Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, this
film had a standard to live up to higher than
Hermione Granger’s OWL scores. This film
follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne),
an eccentric magical creature extraordinaire
who appears in 1926 New York City with
a case full of monsters. But when these
creatures are unexpectedly released, he
must join forces with Porpentine Goldstein
(Katherine Waterston), a high-strung MACUSA employee who is desperate to return to
her old post, Queenie (Fine Frenzy) her sister,
and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) a no-maj
who wants to open his own bakery, but lacks
the funds. Together they travel through New
York, struggling to retrieve Newt’s missing
creatures, all the while something more
sinister lurks just below the surface.
Director David Yates returns to the wizarding world, adding Fantastic Beasts to his
resume, which already holds 4 of the 8 Harry
Potter films. Yates includes shots, composition, and color scheme that have become his
trademark in the directorial world. Along with
this approach, he brings in the character
focus, pastel contrast, and shot balance that
creates an overall whimsical feel to the film,
and will never fail to catch the eye of anyone
watching.
While this film features David Yates’
return behind the camera, it is writer JK
Rowling’s first time writing directly for the
screen. Rowling is able to portray the story in
a strong, cohesive way, all the while incorporating a good balance of action, comedy,
romance, and suspense, that makes it enticing to watch, and leaves you wanting more.
She features perfectly quirky characters that
mix together in storybook fashion, creating
a seamless flow to the plot, translating well
with the actors. At the helm of this film we
see Eddie Redmayne, who stars in what can
be shockingly considered one of his more
tame roles, in comparison to a trans-gender
Danish artist in 1931, a young French revolutionary, and theoretical physicist Stephen
Hawking. Redmayne captures the peculiarity
and abnormality of the wizarding world in a
new way that explores and exhibits a character that we have not seen before. Stellar
line delivery and an almost shy side of the
character, as well as the leading Hufflepuff
we all needed, he extends the realm in a
definite way. Katherine Waterston makes a
splash with her performance in this film as
Tina. Despite some basic delivery, she helps
create multiple sides and stories to an otherwise fairly unexplored character. The mystery
she holds behind her makes for a more intriguing character, and translates well when
her story does emerge. When these emotions do roll over, she gives a performance
that brought me to the brink of tears. While
Dan Fogler is typically seen on the silver
screen in more slapstick-than-plot movies,
he brings a raw sense of comedy and charm
to this film. As Jacob, an almost prototypical
New Yorker from the accent to the American
Dream, Fogler has awesome comedic timing
and perfectly overplayed reactions that make
him an eye catching character and a joy to
watch.
This film helps to explore parts of JK
Rowling’s universe that we had not seen
before. It takes place in the United States
and not the UK, it explores the morals,
This Will Make You Uncomfortable
By Tsubomi Poley
I have tried to write this piece many
times.
Almost a month ago, I watched a documentary in Creative Expression. The documentary, Audrie & Daisy, is about two high
school girls who were sexually assaulted. The
documentary still affects me today in a troubling and personal way, to the point where
I didn’t feel comfortable writing this piece
until now. The documentary was painful to
watch and made me think differently about
so many things.
I think it’s safe to say that the most
uncomfortable, confrontational issues are
the ones that end
up staying with us
and affecting us for
the longest time,
sometimes forever.
At a party in
2012, Audrie Pott
was sexually assaulted by boys she
considered friends.
Pictures of the
sexual assault were
posted online and
forceful bullying immediately followed
the release of these
photographs.
Daisy Coleman
was invited to a
sleepover party by
older boys whom she was friends with. She,
and the friend who accompanied her to the
party, were both sexually assaulted. Later,
Daisy’s body was dumped outside of her
house where she was left for dead in belowfreezing temperatures. She survived, but was
then regularly bullied after the sexual assault
and feared going out in public.
Both girls were in high school when they
were sexually assaulted, both became the
targets of aggressive backlash from their
peers, and in both cases, the perpetrators
got off quite easily.
At first, it seems that the only thing that
any of us might have in common with Audrie
and Daisy is our age; both girls were in high
school when they were attacked. The idea of
sexual assault feels foreign to us, that most
of us can’t fathom it happening to ourselves
or to one of our friends. I think most of us
who were watching the documentary felt
separated from it: the feelings and events
that were unfolding and being described on
the screen were so un-relatable, all we could
do was watch. We didn’t feel part of it. But
by the end of the documentary, the opposite
was true for me. I felt like someone had
spat in my face. It was uncomfortable, it was
shocking, it was eye-opening.
Audrie & Daisy begins in a room where
three boys are being interviewed about
Audrie Pott. They’re all mumbling short, halfhearted answers, they all have the same, uninterested demeanor. The interviews last for
minutes and became increasingly harder to
watch. We quickly learn that these interviews
are taking place years after Audrie’s sexual
assault. And years after Audrie’s suicide.
At the end of the documentary, the
screen goes black and names start appearing on the screen: names of victims of sexual
assault. As soon as the screen went blank,
conversation started. Most of the class had
the same, angry reaction to the documentary: angry because of what was done to
these two girls who could’ve easily been
government, and focus of a different place
and a different time. While some of these
are used for historical purposes, it connects
to the real world in blatant and obvious ways,
and explicitly shows the difference in thought
process and values of people from different
backgrounds and stories.
Fantastic Beasts was released on November 18th, 2016, rolling in a cool $75 million on its first weekend, a number that fell
flat to Warner Bros.’s expected projections,
chump change compared to the previous
films of the Harry Potter franchise. The film
held the #1 spot on the charts for 2 days, before being bumped down by Disney’s Moana.
Despite this performance, the franchise will
continue, with a promised 4 more movies.
Fantastic Beasts was overall an experiment
that I believe went very well for everyone
involved. It features strong directing, acting,
and writing, and is visually stunning in it’s
scenery and effects. I thoroughly enjoyed it
and look forward to the next 4 films in the
series.
Sneaking around New York to find missing creatures, Porpentina and Newt Scamander try to
keep the magical world a secret from No-Mags in the new film Fantastic Beasts and Where to
Find Them
students in our school; angry because there
was no justice for Audrie; angry because
these things shouldn’t happen.
And yet it felt all too familiar. I stayed quiet.
I felt some anger but I was mostly disappointed; disappointed in our justice system
and disappointed in so many parents who
raise their girls to be careful instead of raising their boys to respect boundaries and to
understand the word, “no.”
A sexual assault occurs every two
minutes in America - that’s approximately
300,000 sexual assaults reported each year
in the United States alone. And approximately thirteen-percent of sexual assault
victims will go on to commit suicide. The
number of unreported cases is too difficult
to estimate. Audrie & Daisy shows us what
happened to these two girls, but it’s equally
important to note that there
are hundreds of thousands
of stories that we’ll never
hear. Most victims fade into
the world of statistics, their
stories never exposed like
Audrie’s and Daisy’s.
Audrie & Daisy brings to
light an issue that is significant and relevant, but we
must remember that sexual
assault doesn’t happen to
high school girls alone. It
can happen to people of
any sex, status, color, age or
sexual orientation. Consider
that seniors will be heading
off to college in less than a
year. Unfortunately, sexual
assaults on college campuses are steadily increasing.
Discussing sexual assault makes people
uneasy. It opens up other issues that lead to
controversial opinions and we feel embarrassed. But sexual assault is real, it is the
stuff of news headlines and it is imperative that we open up this discussion to all
students.
We owe it to the memory of Audrie
Pott to allow ourselves to feel uneasy and
awkward. We owe it to ourselves to let the
education about sexual assault begin here
and now.
Day of Service,
December 16, 2016
by Jamonica Warren
The Sandy Hook Elementary School
shooting occurred four years ago on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut.
Twenty children, aged between six and seven
years old, as well as six adult staff members
lost their lives. As their neighbors in Brewster, we were heartbroken to see a town and
a school, so much like our own, have to face
such grief. After witnessing the strength
exhibited by the residents of Newtown as
they rebuilt their lives, we in the Brewster
schools decided to move forward and offer
our strength in solidarity; we created the Day
of Service.
There are two Days of Service, one in
the winter and one in the spring, during
which high school students volunteer to go
to the JFK and CV Starr schools to coordinate
crafts, tell stories, and generally interact
with the students. Democratic Congress, a
student government group, organizes the
event as a way to pay tribute to the actions
taken by Newtown to heal after their tragedy.
We hope to foster meaningful connections
between the different schools in the district
and give our younger counterparts role models to look up to. The high school students
focus on the opportunity to make even small
impacts in children’s lives.
This year will be the fourth year that the
high school will be conducting its Day of Service. With over 100 volunteers, it’s fair to say
this is a meaningful event in our community
- one which we hope continues to grow.
Brewster’s Third Annual Day of Service will
commemorate the tragedy that befell Sandy
Hook Elementary in 2012.
Sports
Page 11/December 2016/Bear Facts
When Loyalty for
A-Rod Pushes Back
by Jason Gonch
“I’ll post the picture right now,” I texted
my friend whom I hadn’t seen in awhile. I
had to re-download Facebook, a network I
hadn’t been on since 10th grade. I had to be
nice to post the picture, but really? Facebook? If Facebook shut down between the
last time I used it and now, I wouldn’t have
known it, plus, what on earth was my login?
I got to the site, memories of Facebook
swiftly danced into my head. I spontaneously
remembered every time I had logged into my
account with my password FanofArod13.
The letters were in a hurry to get to the
tiny password bar on my screen. The familiarity of the combination of letters and numbers
I typed made me feel like I had just opened
a time capsule from sixth grade. I memorialized the time frame when I had used
FanofArod13 for every account I created.
My password was perfect, it had all of the
qualities a password should have and then
some. It was kind, it allowed me to unlock
anything I requested. It was
loyal, and kept
secrets for me,
secrets that nobody else would
ever be able
to know. It was
tough, secure,
and it never
allowed anyone
besides me to
use it. Most
of all it was
personal. FanofArod13 wasn’t
just a random
combination of
letters, I made
the most out of
it.
On February 10th, 2009, A-Rod admitted to using steroids. I was very unhappy
with him and, changing a password took only
a minute to do. In spite of that, I ended up
keeping it, and all of my friends questioned
why I still liked A-Rod; even I questioned why
I still liked him.
I had noticed that the Internet redesigned the way America follows superstars
Fall Sports Recap
By Jack Guida
Football: The football team this past season
finished with a record of 8-1, making it to the
section semi-finals. They finished the regular
season 6-0 while winning the league. The
Bears finished with almost 3,000 total yards
led behind the strong offensive line with
talented backs and receivers. The powerful
defensive line accounted for 7 sacks and the
defense had 10 interceptions. Connor Dignan,
Nick Leahy, Jack Guida, Brian Milano, Mike
Buonadonna, Tim Meissner, and Henry Terry
were voted at least All-League.
Girls’ Soccer: The Brewster Varsity Girls’
Soccer team is coached by Coach Segara.
The captains were Tara Regan and Brianna
Pellecchia. Although their record did not show
it, the girls were able to laugh it out and have
a good time.
Boys’ Soccer: The soccer team was led
behind senior captain Brendan Feehan. They
finished with a final record of 9-8-1. Hugo
Guerra, who will be playing at Buffalo next
year, helped contribute to the team’s success.
They lost to Somers in the playoffs.
Volleyball: The volleyball team finished with
a final record of 7-14. Seniors Amanda Mejia
and Carey Lyons were selected for All-League.
Field Hockey: Coached by Jennifer Hershman
and led by senior captains Lindsey McLaughlin, Emily Fego and Amber Krisch, the Varsity
Field Hockey team finished their regular
season with a record of 6-8-2, and made it to
the first round of Sectionals. The girls were
very successful, with some given distinguished
awards: Keegan O’Connor, Emily Schaub,
Amber Krisch, Jacqueline Benvenuto, and
Samantha Anfuso with All-League Honorable
Mentions; Emily Fego, Brianna Sayegh, and
Lindsey McLaughlin with All-League; Lindsey
in two ways. One is that we find and idolize
heroes fast. People can become famous overnight and think they are on top of the world.
The second is that we tear down our heroes
even faster. It only takes one mistake for
people to turn their back against an American
star. In A-Rod’s case, he got caught for steroid
use several times and now the media loves
to hate him. What he did was wrong but he
is just as human as rest of us. What people
don’t realize is that everyone makes mistakes, even the people we look up to.
Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle played
baseball for the Yankees during a time
without the Internet. Yankee fans loved them
throughout their entire career but the truth is
that they made mistakes too. Mickey Mantle
was a chronic alcoholic and Babe Ruth was
a reckless driver who had time in jail. These
moral mistakes are as bad as A-Rod’s but
weren’t punished as badly because the media
didn’t destroy them.
I respected Alex Rodriguez, I became
connected to him and developed a strong
relationship over many years. He is still the
person who made me bolt around my house
after he hit a home run, as if I were rounding
the bases with
him. He is still
the same person
who inspired
me to buy the
same gear as
he used, I was
A-rod for Halloween, it was
an automatic
decision. He is
still the same
person I tried to
imitate when I
played baseball,
I swung like he
did, I threw like
he did, I even
had the same
game face he
wore.
Everyone I knew despised him and
declared him unforgivable. However, my
opinion was one in a million, he was still my
role model because I saw him as a human.
He was my password and still had his powers,
nobody had to know this. I didn’t have to
be confrontational with my friends, it was a
secret. I feel the same way typing it in now as
I did in sixth grade.
McLaughlin with an All-Elite Honorable Mention; and Jacqueline Benvenuto and Amber
Krisch with Golden Dozen Awards.
Cross Country: Both the boys’ and girls’ cross
country team, coached by Coach Scelia had
a great season. They won one of their meets
and their times improved each meet. Luca
Riolo, Dayshawn Siranula, and Erik Jacobson
were voted All-League. Luca and Erik were 2nd
team All County and Dayshawn and Scott were
3rd team All County.
Swimming: The girls’ swimming team had
an unforgettable experience. The season
taught the girls a lot beyond swimming. The
team really stuck together no matter what the
outcome of the meet was. The team was led
by captains Tsubomi Poley, Kayleigh Kolz, and
Sabrina Jacobson.
Tennis: Coached by Daria Pascale, captained
by Lauren Fitzgerald and Tara O’Hanlon, this
young team had a good season. They returned
to the court without seven former players and
with only five veterans. They had a well earned
victory in a tough match against Walter Panas.
Off the courts, they raised over $1400 for the
Putnam Humane Society with their “Hit for
Hope” carnival.
Insider Reflections
on a Memorable Season of
Bears Football
Jack Guida
My senior
year of football will
definitely be the most
memorable one.
There’s nothing
like the atmosphere
on a Friday night
under the lights while
the whole school and community watches.
Finishing our season 8-1 and winning the
league is definitely something our team took
pride in and we had a lot of fun doing so. We
developed our own traditions that are special
Nick Leahy
My senior
season was definitely
one to remember.
This year we went
8-1, but in my opinion, I think we should
still be playing. We
were undefeated
League Champs,that’s truly something I’m
proud of. I could not have asked for a better
team. We never gave up, no matter what
happened or what the score was. We went
into every game confident that we would win
even when the odds were stacked against
us. In football, they say your team is like a
band of brothers, That could not have been
more true for this team. We are brothers on
Connor Dignan
I enjoyed every
second of my senior
season. Through the
ups and the downs,
I soaked it all in with
my teammates. Going
to Eveready the day
before the game to
get milkshakes, and then going back to Brian
Milano’s house to watch Friday Night Lights
are memories I am never going to forget.
Still, ending your high school football
Winter Sports Preview
By Jack Guida
Boys Basketball
The basketball team this year will be lead
by captains Connor Dignan and Sean Nevin.
The team is lucky to have such a special
3-point shooter in Sean Kelly, who is returning from last year and will be a prominent
force in the league. There are many returning players as well as some newcomers
who will add to the team. Last season they
finished 12-10. All of the seniors have made
sure that everyone was working hard during
the offseason and they will be looking to
improve upon what they did last year.
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team is optimistic about
their team following last year’s 16-3 season.
Julia Borsari, senior captain, will lead the
team filled with a lot of talent.
Hockey
The hockey team this season will be combining with Yorktown. Last year’s team had
a lot of success with many young players.
Combining with Yorktown will only help them
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES…
to be the next,
“Mr. Brewster”?
JOIN US TO HELP RAISE MONEY
FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS!
See Mrs. Lieval, Connor Dignan,
Brendan Feehan or Sean Nevin
to high school football. Our team would eat
together the night before every game and
we’d get milkshakes from the same restaurant. We always had each others’ backs and
we treated the team as a family, which is
what led to the success of our team.
After the last game I played as a Bear, our
team lined up in front of the Bears’ Den for
the playing of the Alma Mater one last time.
This is when it truly hit me that I will never
again play with the same group of guys and
for the same fans. My experience playing
Varsity football is one of the greatest I have
had in my life and I am thankful for every
second of it.
and off the field.
I could not have been prouder of this
team this year. In our final game against
Somers, when they got the ball to our one
yard line with only seconds to go, we knew
defeat was imminent but we kept fighting.
When that final whistle blew, my teammates
and I couldn’t help but cry, As we stood in
front of our amazing student section while
the Alma Mater was played, the thought
most prominent in my mind was that this
would be the last time playing on this field
with my brothers in front of our loyal fans.
I will never forget this season and all we
accomplished.
I love my team, I love our fans, and I love
this town!
Go Bears!!
career is weird. To think I’ll never run across
the field to the Bears’ Den, or hear Mr.
Wood’s distinct voice call my name again is
something that is very sad to comprehend.
In football you can’t just get a group of
people together and play a game, like you
can in other sports. When that final buzzer
goes off, it’s done. That’s why after everyone
else had left at the end of the final game,
some of my teammates and I stayed behind.
We walked to the 50 yard line to soak it
in one final time. As I walked off the field I
thought to myself, I’m gonna miss the lights.
where they will be a force in the section.
Connor Henderson and Kevin Moroney are
the captains.
Gymnastics
Brewster Varsity Gymnastics is coached by
Vin Savastano with captains Diana Limitone
and Amber Vane. Their hopes for the season are to be undefeated league champions. They finished strong last year with a
league record of 4-1 and look to improve on
what they did last year.
Track and Field
The track and field team, coached by Coach
Scelia looks to improve from the great cross
country season. The team has already shown
lots of improvement with potential school
records in the upcoming season. They will
race at The Armory in New York City.
Skiing
This combined boys’ and girls’ team,
coached by Mike Belucci and captained
by Hailey Cantamessa, Sophie Lester and
Chris McCarthy, is looking to begin their
practice season on Monday, 12/19, at
Thunder Ridge. A relatively young team, they
are optimistic about winning their races
and returning to the Sectionals at Hunter
Mountain.
Wrestling
The Brewster wrestling team is led by
Coach Looby and Captains Grant Cuomo
and Brooke Pagan. The team has looked
very strong in the pre-season. The team
has been picking up multiple moves these
past few weeks fast and the There’s always
room to become a better wrestler, but the
team has faith that the players will improve
and in time will become better throughout
the season.
The Back Page
Snowmen That Don’t Melt!
by Lexi Poynor
The concept of the “Snowman Pot” project came about when Ms. Schneider and Ms.
Chamberlain wanted to teach their Period 2
classes how to: collaborate with peers, follow
directions, and see a project from beginning
to end using real world aspects of business.
The project would also be an opportunity
for their Life Skills students to practice fine
motor skills, listen carefully, and begin to
understand what quality of work truly means.
Before starting the process with their
students, Ms. Schneider made a model of
the snowman pot and then she and Ms.
Chamberlain assessed the process. The project consisted of a lot of trial and error while
deciding upon the easiest and most efficient
method to create the beautiful snowmen.
The students worked at different stations
using different skills, with little help from
aides or teachers. The different stations
required the following skills: base paint touch
up, gluing on ribbons and painting facial features. The students are also responsible for
delivering the snowman pots to those who
Mu Alpha Theta Adopts
Families
Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society is in
the midst of our second major community
service program, called Adopt a Family.
Through the program, we have taken on
the task of providing four families with their
Christmas gifts to make this holiday season
a memorable one. We kicked off the year
with the Pajama Program where we provided
children in Women’s Shelters with new
Page 12/December 2016/Bear Facts
NJROTC Salutes Our Own
ordered them. The members of the classes
alternate jobs so they can formulate opinions
about which task they like best and which
ones can expand their various skills.
Courtney preferred to paint the faces on
the pots - she wanted to give each snowman
a cheery glow. Abrianna especially liked
painting the carrot noses on. Abrianna struggled with painting on the smiles, using dots
to create curving grins, but the task helped
her gain the understanding that not every
task will be easy. She will have difficulties
in life, but she knows that when she has
persevered to accomplish a task, it feels
pretty amazing! Courtney had difficulty gluing
on the ribbon in a straight line, Courtney
soon found that as she kept working on the
process, she got better at it. Not all things
come easily, but practicing makes it easier.
The money that is collected from the
sales are going into a fund for donation to
an undecided charity/organization at the
end of the year. The group has another two
fundraising projects planned before the end
of the year. Ms. Chamberlain hopes that the
students will be able to choose the destination of the funds, as they are the ones who
put in the labor.
I witnessed a lot of holiday spirit in the
work room. Courtney told me she is excited
to spend time with her sister, mother, and
grandparents baking cookies and opening
gifts. Abrianna cannot wait to drink hot cocoa
while decorating her Christmas tree with her
family. Both girls hope to stay involved with
these projects. For now, they are happy to
spread holiday cheer among the district and
community for just $4 for each snowman
pot.
pajamas and books. As the year progresses,
we look forward to and continuously prepare
for our annual math-a-thon, in which third
graders are invited to complete workbooks
and raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s
Research Hospital.
In anticipation of Veteran’s Day, the BHS
NJROTC, Chain of Command and Drill teams
pooled together funds to pay for a surprise
party in order to say thank you to their
beloved Chief and Commander. The plan
was executed by c/LT Martine Hawthorne
and c/PO1 Alonzo Mclemore. The cadets put
together an NJROTC photo album, a book
of signatures and messages from NJROTC
members as well as BHS faculty members,
and personalized gifts for Chief Vlangas
and Commander Waidelich. The party was
celebrated with a themed cake and food contributed by the members of the unit. NJROTC
is not simply a unit or a class to its members;
it is considered a family. The unit would like
to thank Chief and Commander for their
service and for all they do. Another special
thank you goes out to the teachers and staff
who helped to organize the event
9th Graders Embark on
Iron Giraffe Challenge
Join 9th grade English students as they
participate in Water for South Sudan’s “Iron
Giraffe Challenge.” Place bottles that can be
recycled for a return deposit in these labeled
bins in the cafeteria and in participating
classrooms. The money raised will help
buy a new drilling rig, or iron giraffe, so that
Water for South Sudan can continue to drill
water wells in South Sudan. BHS will host
the Iron Giraffe Challenge from December
12th through the end of February.
Please help your furry friends at the Putnam Humane Society by donating these
items:
• Friskies Canned Cat Food (NO fish flavors, please)
• Cat litter (only non-clumping and un- scented, please)
• Blankets and comforters
• Clean towels
• Dog & cat treats (NO treats or food from China, please)
• Dog & cat toys
• Cleaning supplies and (HE) detergent
• 6 foot x 1 inch leashes
• Postage stamps
• Gift cards
• 6 inch paper plates
ATHLETICS HOME GAMES, AWAY GAMES
Schedules are subject to change. Please check ahead of time before attending.
Thu Jan 5, 2017
Thu Jan 12, 2017
Tue Dec 20, 2016
4:15pm
Mod
Boys
Basketball
AWAY
@
5:15pm
V
Ice Hockey AWAY vs White 4pm - V Gymnastics HOME vs Ma
JJCross
River
Plains/Ebersole
Ice Arena
hopac/Epic Gymnastics
4:15pm
Mod
Girls
Basketball
HOME
vs
4:30pm - Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
JJCross River
Fri Jan 13, 2017
HOME vs RC Ketcham
4:15pm
Mod
Boys Basketball HOME vs 6pm - V Girls Basketball HOME vs RC Fri
Jan
6,
2017
Peekskill
Ketcham
8:40pm - V Ice Hockey AWAY vs Lake
4:15pm - Mod Girls Basketball AWAY @ land/Brewster
Ice
Arena
Peekskill
Wed Dec 21, 2016
4:30pm - JV Boys Basketball HOME vs Sat Jan 7, 2017
Sun Jan 15, 2017
Eastchester
7:40pm
V
Ice
Hockey
AWAY
vs
Horace
4:30pm
V
Ice Hockey HOME vs Somers 4:30pm - V Boys Swimm. AWAY @ Greeley/Brewster
Ice
Arena
/Brewster
Ice Arena
Clarkstown S
6:15pm - V Boys Basketball HOME vs Mon Jan 9, 2017
Tue Jan 17, 2017
Eastchester
4:15pm - Mod Boys Basketball HOME vs 4:15pm - Mod Boys Basketball AWAY @ Lagrange
Beacon
Thu Dec 22, 2016
4:15pm - Mod Girls Basketball HOME vs 4pm - V Gymnastics HOME vs ScarsTue
Jan
10,
2017
Beacon/HHWells
dale/Green Chimneys
4:15pm
Mod
Wrestling
AWAY
@
Beacon
4:30pm - JV Girls Basketball AWAY @ /vs Beacon, Carmel
Wed Jan 18, 2017
N. Rockland HS
4:15pm
Mod
Wrestling AWAY @ La
4:30pm - V Indoor Track AWAY @ Wed
Jan
11,
2017
grange
Middle School/vs Ocean Breeze Track & Field
4:15pm - Mod Boys Basketball AWAY @ Lagrange, Wappingers
Lakeland/Copper Beech MS
Fri Dec 23, 2016
4:15pm
Mod Girls Basketball HOME vs Thu Jan 19, 2017
4:40pm - V Ice Hockey AWAY vs Carmel Copper
Beech
(Lakeland)
4:15pm
Mod
Boys Basketball HOME vs /Brewster Ice Arena
Hendrick Hudson
All items can be dropped off in the designated box in the main office. Contact Izabella Mancini with questions or concerns.
([email protected])
4:15pm - Mod Girls Basketball AWAY @ Hendrick Hudson
Fri Jan 20, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Wrestling HOME vs Wap
pingers/HHWells
Mon Jan 23, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Boys Basketball AWAY @ Lagrange
Tue Jan 24, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Girls Basketball AWAY @ JJCross River MS
4:30pm - Mod Wrestling AWAY @ Scars
dale Junior High
Wed Jan 25, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Boys Basketball HOME vs John Jay Cross River
Thu Jan 26, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Wrestling HOME vs Van Wyck, Unionvale
Fri Jan 27, 2017
4:15pm - Mod Girls Basketball AWAY @ Lakeland/Copper Beech MS
4:45pm - Mod Boys Basketball HOME vs Lakeland