ISSUE 1
SUMMER &
The Prophet
UNION CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
SEPTEMBER RECAP
2009—2010
THIS IS VIKING TURF
Paul Savino
On July 29, Union
Catholic began building its new
track and field complex, which
will feature its brand new synthetic surface turf field and
track facility. The new track and
field, funded by private donors,
will replace the existing athletic
field and is designed to accommodate several sports teams.
Some features of the facility
include a regulation size, allweather field for soccer, lacrosse, softball, and baseball, a
practice track, and a cheerleading drill area. The newly designed and renovated track and
field complex will also be used
year-round for physical education classes.
The new track is a huge
step for UC. “The construction
of this state-of-the-art athletic
facility is a momentous event
for us at Union Catholic,” Principal Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M.
said. “It brings new life and energy to our mission of helping
students grow both in the classroom and on the field of play.”
The final stage of the
track is scheduled for completion as soon as possible to coincide with the start of the 20092010 school year.
An overhead view of the Viking logo at midfield.
The blessing of the turf field was held October 13
and will be covered in our next issue.
The Center for Success was dedicated to the late
Sister Eloise Claire Kays, R.S.M., a beloved guidance counselor at UC.
SUCCESS AT UC
Erica Gianella
While many of the Union Catholic students and faculty were enjoying their summer
break by sleeping in late, traveling, or perhaps just relaxing on the beach, Union Catholic
was busy at work.
Over the summer, part of the UC library was transformed into the much- anticipated Union Catholic Success Room. The room was designed to provide supplemental assistance to students who need help in an academic area. The room is divided into two classrooms, the success room and the supplemental room. Both rooms are designed to provide
study tools, test taking strategies, and time management skills. (continued on page 5)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Out-of-Box Night, Golden Class
Think Pink, Fall Fun
Senior Day of Recollection, UC Fall Sports
College Checklist, New Faculty
Transfer Students, UCTV
English Teacher Honored
Legends Lost
PM Training, Welcome Back Dance
VMA’s, September Music
MLB, Movies
We, the People, JSA
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
13
Fall TV, NYC Fashion Week
MusicFest, 9/11, What UC Club?
Charity of the Month, Blink-182
Summer PAC, Tech Crew
Fashion in Session, Philippines
Meet Your Staff
14
15
16
17
18
19
PLUS: TONS OF FUN
PICTURES, PROFILES, &
QUOTES TO KICK OFF
THE SCHOOL YEAR!
THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX
Cate Munkittrick
THE DAY THAT ALL FRESHMEN OF THE
golden class of 2013 had been waiting for was finally
here; it was the day they would finally receive their
necessary tool to enter the world of laptop learning.
On Wednesday evening, September 16 the Class of
2013 walked through Union Catholic’s doors, awaiting their prized laptops. Out of the Box Night had
finally begun.
The freshmen had to wait almost an hour
before they were finally able to open the boxes containing their laptops. According to Emily Cimiluca
‘13, the freshmen first went into their assigned classrooms to receive the boxes that held their laptops.
After their parents filled out the necessary paperwork, they handed in their tickets that they received
at the door for a chance to win prizes, which included
a printer, iPods, t-shirts, flashdrives, and a portable
mouse. After these prizes were given out, Miss Piasecki, Assistant Principal, went into detail about the
rules of using their laptops.
While Miss Piasecki was warning against
downloading games and using MySpace, many of the
freshmen’s thoughts were on the laptops that were
inside those boxes. Molly O’Halloran ‘13 remembered
thinking, “I wonder if it [the laptop] has a webcam?”
Courtney McGovern ‘13 was already wondering what she would use her laptop most for.
“Probably video chat and school work,” she said.
Most of the freshmen agreed that they were wondering when the moment would for them to tear open
the boxes and unveil the laptops for which they had
been waiting.
Suddenly, that moment came. Miss Piasecki
told the students they may finally open their boxes.
The freshmen tore their boxes open as fast as they
could. The finally saw their new instruments for
schoolwork and a few games of Tetris. After several
minutes of inspecting their shiny new, objects, the
freshmen started to head home, excited to turn on
the laptops and test them out. When looking back at
Out of the Box Night, Dara Maguire ‘13 realized she
enjoyed much more than getting her laptop. “My favorite part of the night was seeing my friends and
meeting new people,” she said.
Now that the freshmen have their laptops,
they are required to bring them to every class (except
physical education) for taking notes and enhancing
their learning experiences. In addition, they have
been instructed by Mr. Jim Johnston of the rules of
using their laptops. All freshmen must leave their
laptops locked in their lockers during lunch and must
take them home every evening to be recharged. Any
laptop found in an unlocked locker is subject to confiscation. Also, students are not permitted to make
any changes to the operating system installed in the
laptops. With proper use and care, the freshmen’s
laptops will be tools for taking learning to a whole
other dimension.
Page 2
UC GETS GOLDEN
Alexa Fee
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE FRESHMEN ORIentation inspires different emotions in everyone. Upperclassmen are excited for new adventures and marvel at the new
freshmen (“Were we really ever that young?” most ask). The
freshmen prepare to enter high school, one of the most important stages of their lives. This year’s orientation on September
4, however, was a little more exciting than the previous ones.
“This year’s freshman class is also known as the Golden
Class,” explains Director of Admissions Mrs. Thornton. “They
are the Golden Class because the year they graduate, 2013, is
the fiftieth anniversary of Union Catholic being a school.” Union
Catholic Regional High School was founded in 1962, originally
as a separate school for boys and girls. In 1980, the two schools
merged to become coeducational, and the school has been that
way ever since.
“We’ve been hearing about how we’re the Golden Class
since the Lock-In in April,” said Katie Brown ’13. “We didn’t realize how important it was until Orientation, when [the administration] really explained what it meant for us.”
For orientation day, it meant a few changes. After hearing the “usual talk given by [Principle] Sister Percylee [Hart,
R.S.M.], the freshmen were then brought to the senior courtyard
for a special ceremony,” said Mrs. Thornton. Standing under an
arch of golden balloons, the class received special packets containing small golden cross pins, which were then pinned onto
their shirts by their Big Brother or Big Sister. Then, the students
continued with the traditional Big Brother/Big Sister breakfast
before heading off to their first classes, only this time the usual
donuts were golden frosted, in honor of the freshmen.
“We’re all really excited for this class,” said Mrs. Thornton. “Their graduation will make the fifty years of UC being a
community, which is a big deal for everyone.”
A group of freshmen smiles before heading through the
golden arch of balloons in the courtyard. They soon had
their golden crosses pinned onto their collars and enjoy ed
a breakfast of golden-frosted donuts. UC really went allout with the Golden Class theme!
THE PROPHET
WALK, TALK, SUPPORT,
& THINK PINK!
Sarah Surma
FOR 25 YEARS, THE MONTH OF OCTOBER HAS
been painted pink. Why is everything so pink in the
month of October? The entire month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Breast Cancer is an
ongoing battle that many women face today. Unfortunately, one out of nine American women will get breast
cancer.
This year, many Americans want people to be
more aware of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In an
effort to do so, there will be many cities and towns that
will support this cause in unique ways. In New England,
local towns will be participating with an
event called “Paint the Town Pink.” In
the “Paint the Town Pink” event local
towns and businesses will decorate their
windows with the Breast Cancer emblem. Each business pays 25 dollars to
support the cause. Ten percent of the
money made on “Paint the Town Pink”
will be donated to the American Cancer
Society. On October 4, there will be a
walk called “Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer” in Boston. Donors, family members, peers,
friends, and survivors can partake in this event. To participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk
go to www.cancer.org/stridesonline
Paper, Paper, does anyone want a PINK Paper?
During the week of September 28th, the Carver Reporter
will print news stories on pink paper. The pink paper will
reflect what will be happening during that week. For every
pink newspaper sold, the Carver Reporter will donate ten
cents to the American Cancer Society.
Like the famous Marilyn Monroe said, “Diamonds
are a girl’s best friend”. That is exactly what Neda
Behnams was thinking as well. Neda Behnam is the creator of the Lucky 7 Collection for Breast Cancer. “Seven is
a very lucky number and means new beginnings”,
Behnams said to the press. The Lucky 7 collection is a
seven piece collection of necklaces available in sterling
silver, 18 karat yellow gold, and rose gold with a diamond
imbedded in every piece. A percentage of the money from
the jewelry collection will be donated to the Stand Up to
Cancer Foundation. Since it was the 25th anniversary of
Breast Cancer being around, Neda felt that she needed to
do something special. “I wanted to do something to
honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as well as honor
all those like myself and my family, who have been
touched by breast cancer”. If you would like to buy a
piece out of the beautiful Lucky 7 collection it is now on
sale at www.nationaljewelernetwork.com .
QVC will be supporting breast cancer
awareness through a sale for shoes. The name of their
fashion broadcast for breast cancer is called “FFANY
Shoes On Sale”. On October 13 QVC will be holding a sale
for shoes with all proceeds going to breast cancer. If you
shop QVC all designer shoes will be half off on the 13th of
October. So ladies get ready to shop and strut your stuff
with a pair of new half off designer shoes. Go to
Page 3
FALL FUN!
Cleo Murphy-Guerrette
WELCOME TO FALL! THE CHILLY WEATHER IS APproaching, leaves are changing, and school is officially in
session, but what fun is there to have in fall? Here are a
few fun fall festivities!
Pumpkin picking is one fun fall activity. Find your
local pumpkin patch, take a hay ride, and pick pumpkins in
preparation for Halloween jack-o-lanterns! You can also
test your sense of direction in a fun corn maze. Some
farms, such as The Critz Farm in upstate New York, offer
other attractions such as apple picking, gathering maple
syrup from tree, cider mills, and petting zoos. It’s the perfect way to prepare for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Don’t
forget the ultimate fall activity: jumping in leaf piles!
You're never too old to be a kid, so grab a rake, a few
friends, and your inner child!
Cooking is fun for any season, but who doesn’t love
making fall snacks? A recent poll of Union Catholic students showed that students prefer caramel apples to candy
apples, so here is a fun and easy recipe for caramel apples.
CARAMEL APPLES
Ingredients
6 apples
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels,
unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk
Directions
Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft
stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.
Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl,
and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to
cool briefly.
Here’s another fun fall recipe. When you’ve finished
carving your spooky Halloween jack-o-lanterns, save the
seeds and make this tasty treat!
TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS
Ingredients:
Pumpkin seeds
Cooking spray, olive oil, or butter
Optional: Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned
salt, or other seasoning of choice
Directions
Rinse pumpkin seeds. Use your fingers to remove all
the pulp. Drain pumpkin seeds and discard pulp.
Spread out on a cookie sheet to dry overnight.
Preheat oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil. ‘
Toss pumpkin seeds in olive oil, butter, or spray with
cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder,
onion powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, or
your choice of seasonings. Toss to coat.
Bake about 1 hour, tossing every 15 to 20 minutes,
until golden brown. Cool pumpkin seeds before
eating.
Now that you know a few ways to have fun in the new fall
weather, get out there and use them. Have a good autumn,
Union Catholic!
THE PROPHET
THE LAST OF THEM ALL
Noel Lima-Barreria & Stephanie Vasquez
ON SEPTEMBER 30, THE SENIOR CLASS HAD ITS YEARLY
Day of Recollection at St. Joseph’s Shrine in Stirling, New Jersey.
Since it was their last recollection together, the students tried to
make it count. They willingly put more of themselves into the
games and activities that they had laid out for them since it was all
about the problems that they had in common and how to deal with
them. What most people found so surprising was that they ended
up finding more about themselves then they thought. “What I
found out most about myself on recollection is that I work better in
smaller groups than I do in bigger groups, because I hate the attention,” said Jaelynn Lee ’10.
For some it was an emotional day, for others it was just a
way to get out of school day, but for most it was a day to reflect on
their high school journey. “Man plans and God laughs,” was a
phrase that the teachers were emphasizing to all seniors that meant
how they are all planning things for the future but sometimes God
plans
something different
for them. This
phrase really
hit to most
seniors, since
it
described
what a lot of
them
were
going through.
“It made sense
to me because
we all make
Seniors pose for a picture while painting their
plans in life,
class banners. The banners will be displayed
and they tend
at all of the school masses.
to not turn
out the way
we want them
too, and it’s for a reason because maybe God has something better
planned for us,” stated Emily Wilman ’10.
Religion teacher Mr. Thornton and visitor Mr. Caffery were
two guests that were asked to speak at the recollection. Their stories were inspiring, talking about their life and what they found out
about themselves in their decisions. Mr. Thornton talked about how
God had different plans then the ones he had already made for his
future, and how it ended up being the best thing for him. It really
made most seniors think about their futures, especially Mr. Caffery’s story, talking about how he influenced his co-worker to stop
drinking.
One thing that really got seniors thinking was when they
were asked to write a letter letting go of some emotional baggage
that they carry around, like an ex-boyfriend they still love or the
stress about college applications. They were asked to write them so
that at the senior retreat in February they can burn them in the
camp fire they are planning to make, symbolizing their stress just
burning away. In a way, it sort of lifted the weight off their shoulders, especially for Derek Venner, ’10, “The letter helped me heal
and just get my problems off of my chest,” he said. The day not
only required physical but mental strength. It required taking something from within themselves and facing what they have been holding inside. The day ended with mass at the shrine, reflecting on
what they have learned all day. The day ended well with the seniors
hanging out with all of their friends in one place for what it might
be the last and only time.
Page 4
UC FALL SPORTS
PREVIEW
Brian Hartnett & Paul Savino
WITH THE BEGINNING OF A NEW
school year here at Union Catholic, it is time to
look forward to an exciting new fall sports season. Each of the following sports teams looks
forward to a year brimming with promise:
Boys’ Soccer
The boys’ soccer team is not winning
many games this year, with one win against Hillside and five losses through their first six games,
but the team is looking pretty good together.
They get to play about eight more games this
year to see what else they can do. Team goalie
Brett Grayson ‘10, who shares goalie duties with
John Hao ’10, said that, “We have a great team
defensively and within the next year or two we’ll
have a very competitive team”. When asked about
some of their close losses, Grayson added, “We’ve
held our own against Cranford, New Providence,
and Governor-Livingston, and that is an achievement in itself.”
Girls’ Soccer
The girls’ soccer team is having a solid
season so far this year with an even five wins and
five losses. They are looking at having a lot of
success hopefully finishing up this season strong.
Team captain and midfielder Cate Munkittrick
‘10, who has a goal on the year, said, “It’s been a
really fun year so far and we have come a far way
from the summer and I really enjoy playing with
all of the girls.”
Girls’ Tennis:
The girls’ tennis team has seen great
changes, as over half of the team is comprised of
new players. Four of the seven team members
are new players, but the team has already grown
pretty close. “I am having fun on the team,” said
Dominique Hayward ’11, one of the new players.
“Everyone is very welcoming.” The team is led by
Jaelynn Lee ’10, Amina Dickson ’10, and Colleen
Cassidy ’11. (continued on page 10)
The entire Class of 2010 gets together for a group
picture. We rate this photo a “perfect ten!”
THE PROPHET
COLLEGE CHECKLIST FOR SENIORS
Jordan Morrisey
SENIOR YEAR IS HERE. Although it seems like a year full of potential for fun and friends, there are also many
things to get done this year in order to move on to the next step in life: College.
What you should be doing or should have done so far:
• Visit as many colleges that may be of interest to you as possible.
• Narrow your list of colleges that you plan on applying to down to between five and ten schools, and review
it with your parents and guidance counselor.
• Get application and financial aid information and deadlines for each school.
⇒ Something else to keep in mind is whether you are applying Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision. The deadlines for all of these vary depending on the college, but some are as early as November
1.
• Make a master calendar and write down:
⇒ Test dates, fees, and deadlines
⇒ College application due dates
⇒ Due dates for recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials
• Look to see what colleges accept the Common Application, which is accessible at www.commonapp.org.
⇒ The Common Application is much easier to use then the individual application of each school. There is
a list of participating schools that accept the Common Application. This way, you will only have to fill
out one application and send it to your colleges as opposed to each college’s individual application.
• Begin writing your essays, whether they are for the Common App, individual applications, or supplemental
essays which some colleges require in addition to the Common App essay. Ask teachers, parents, and
friends to read first drafts.
NEW FACULTY AT UC
Kayla Klein
THE NEW STAFF AT UNION CATHOLIC THIS YEAR
are certainly going to fit right in. Here are some interesting facts from The Prophet’s interviews with them!
Religion, English, and Sociology teacher Mr. Thornton
• He graduated in 2004 from the University of Mary
Washington and has always wanted to teach.
• His strengths are that he is patient, organized, and
approachable.
• His weakness is that he does not know when to say
“no,” sometimes.
• “I see myself at UC; I hope I can stay here long-term. I
love it here, and it’s certainly been a great decision,” said
Mr. Thornton with a smile on his face.
Freshmen and sophomore English teacher Ms. Mintel
• Alumna of Union Catholic
• English teacher Mrs. Dellanno inspired her to become a
teacher.
• Her strengths are creativity, willingness to learn new
things, and time management skills.
• Her weaknesses include the fact that she is very blunt
and cereal. “I eat probably four bowls of cereal a day,” she
admitted.
• One of her goals in life is to learn how to play the piano.
• Her hobbies include playing volleyball; she actually
played for UC when she was a student here.
(continued on page 10)
Page 5
The room includes SMART-Board technology
and desks that provide adequate space for
learning.
SUCCESS (cont’d from page 1)
The success room was funded in partnership with
the Union County Education Service Commission. The
Commission provides services, such as state textbooks and
supplemental aid to non public schools like Union Catholic.
Ms. Lori Webber, who has taught for seven years in
the Union County Education Commission, is delighted to
be one of the two teachers who is overseeing this remarkable program unfold. “I love the room,” said Miss Webber.
“It’s a great area.” She has confidence in her students and
hopes for them to become “independent and successful
learners.”
What further renovations are in store for Union
Catholic? The administration is constantly developing new
ideas to keep UC updated in conjunction with the twentyfirst century. “There are always plans going on,” said Assistant Principal Mrs. McCoid. Keep your eyes peeled, UC!
THE PROPHET
UC WELCOMES
LIGHTS, CAMERA, UCTV!
Cate Munkittrick & Sarah Surma
STUDENTS IN ALL
FROM THE ATHLETIC SCHEDULE TO THE LUNCH MENU,
UCTV is in charge of informing the Union Catholic community of
GRADES
the day's happenings. Meet the students who make homeroom a
Danielle Gruskiewicz
THE FRESHMEN WERE NOT THE ONLY
new faces to be welcomed into Union Catholic
this year. Unlike many other years, UC received a
large number of transfer students. It is always
difficult to be a new student, especially when everyone in the class already knows each other! The
transfers have to learn a new schedule, memorize
a new building, and meet new friends. Here are a
few transfer students that students might not
recognize in the halls, but should take the time to
get to know.
Sarah Yanchitis ’12: “The hardest thing about
being a transfer is meeting new people,” said Yanchitis. She currently lives in Elizabeth. Before
coming to UC, she went to Mother Seton Regional
High School in Clark. Her favorite thing about UC
so far is the people. Yanchitis also plays softball
and likes chemistry.
Lucy Yoon ’12: “People are really, really nice at
UC,” said Yoon. She currently lives in Westfield.
Before coming to UC, she attended Brent International School in Manila, Philippines. For Lucy, the
hardest thing about being a transfer student is
that everything is new. Her favorite subject is
math, and she enjoys playing the piano.
Marcel Krause ’11: “I play basketball; practice
day and night,” said Krause. He currently lives in
Union. He attended Union High School before
coming to UC. His favorite subject is chemistry.
For Marcel, the hardest part of being a transfer
student is remembering new classes.
Joao Sousa ’10: “It is hard to find where classes
are in the building,” said Joao Sousa. He currently
lives in Newark. Before coming to UC, Sousa went
to Externato Carvalho Araujo. His favorite subject
is anatomy. He enjoys traveling and playing soccer.
little brighter!
Name: Sean Siburn ‘11
UCTV job: Anchor
Reason for joining UCTV: “I thought it would be fun. I’ve always
been interested in broadcasting.”
Best part of being in UCTV: “Learning more about the field of
broadcasting”
This or that:
-Coke or Pepsi? Coke
-McDonald’s or Wendy’s? Wendy’s
Random question: Which celebrity would be your best friend? Derek
Jeter
Name: Erin Farley ‘11
UCTV job: Anchor
Reason for joining UCTV: “I want to major in broadcasting/
journalism [in college].”
Best part of being in UCTV: “Reading the announcements”
This or that:
-Snuggie or Slanket? Snuggie
-MTV or VH1 ? MTV
Random question: If you could be anyone in the world for a day,
who would it be? President Obama
Name: Anthony Calenda ‘11
UCTV job: Video and Computer Mechanic
Reason for joining UCTV: “I thought it would be fun.”
Best part of being in UCTV: “The experience and Mr. McCabe”
This or that:
-McDonald’s or Wendy’s? Wendy’s
-Oprah or Ellen ? Oprah
Random question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of
a Tootsie pop? Three
Name: Ashley Sporer ‘11
UCTV job: Anchor
Reason for joining UCTV: “It is a fun experience and a good opportunity.”
Best part of being in UCTV: “The people and being a part of it”
This or that:
-Taylor or Kanye? Taylor
-Snuggie or Slanket? Snuggie
Random question: What color would you paint the sky? Light yellow
Name: Andrew Hines ‘11
UCTV job: Anchor
Reason for joining UCTV: “To get experience in broadcasting”
Best part of being in UCTV: “Being able to read”
This or that:
-Taylor or Kanye? Kanye
The UCTV staff keeps the school informed of upcoming
-Target or Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart
events, the day's lunch menu, and all announcements.
Turn to page 7 for more bios!
Random question: What color would you paint the sky? Purple
Page 6
THE PROPHET
ENGLISH TEACHER UCTV (cont’d from page 6)
Tejah Larkin ‘12
HONORED BY STATE Name:
UCTV Job: Announcements
Reason for joining UCTV.
“I would like to major in it (Broadcasting) in college”.
OF NEW JERSEY
Best part of being in UCTV?
Jamie Ciocon
time.”
SHE IS “THE TEACHER WHO SMILES ALL THE
English teacher and Humanities Department Curriculum Specialist Mrs. Dellanno has lots to smile about
after being named the first runner-up for the 2009 Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Award, an honor given
by the New Jersey Chapter of the Council for American
Private Education (NJ CAPE). She was nominated to represent the Archdiocese of Newark and was deemed first
runner-up for the award after a successful interview with
the NJ CAPE council.
Mrs. Dellanno was chosen by Principal Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M., to represent Union Catholic in the
Archdiocese of Newark. “I was really surprised and gratified because as a teacher, I don’t always know what kind
of effect I’m having [on my students],” said Mrs. Dellanno
of the nomination. “To have my hard work and dedication recognized is really nice.” She submitted information about herself, including tidbits such as her accomplishments and her philosophy of education, to the Archdiocese of Newark and was selected as its nominee for
the award based on her insights.
Mrs. Dellanno has implemented several projects
and initiatives throughout her 25 years of teaching at UC,
including the Beginning Teachers Assistance Program
(BTAP) and the UC Online Library. As Curriculum Specialist of the Humanities Department, she maintains the development and delivery of the Humanities curriculum,
which includes the English and social studies topics.
As the longtime teacher of the English 2 Accelerated and English 4AP classes, Mrs. Dellanno has had an
impact on the success of many students in the subject of
English. “She makes the subject less threatening, especially to those students who don’t necessarily love English,” said Kim Manhit ’10. “She makes it a lot easier to
appreciate English because she introduces literature as if
it’s our friend.”
Aside from expressing her love of literature and
guiding students towards well-written college essays, Mrs.
Dellanno delights in making a difference in the lives of
her students. She fondly remembers, “I had a student
who once said to me, ‘I only started to believe in myself
because you were the first teacher to believe in me.’” Mrs.
Dellanno strives to make her students feel “valued, successful, and empowered” in the learning environment she
creates for them.
Furthermore, Mrs. Dellanno considers her success
to be an accomplishment for UC as well. Her publicity
has informed people about the positive environment that
UC has to offer. After this experience, she firmly believes
that the motto of “becoming all God calls you to be” applies not only to the students, but to the teachers as well.
“UC is a true learning community, where students and
teachers learn together,” said Mrs. Dellanno. “I’ve really
grown here.”
Page 7
“The best part about UCTV is going live. “
This or That
Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi
Ellen or Oprah? Oprah
MTV or VH1? MTV
What color would Tejah paint the sky? Pink and Purple
Name: Jenna Socci ‘11
UCTV Job: Audio
Reason for joining UCTV.
“I thought it would be fun to see what it would be like behind the scenes”.
Best Part of being in UCTV?
“Being apart of the experience”
Taylor Swift or Kanye West? Taylor Swift
Walmart or Target? Target
Snuggie or Slanket? Snuggie
What color would Jenna paint the sky? Pastel Green
Name: Nigel Silva ‘12
UCTV Job: Making intros
Reason for joining UCTV?
“To make intros for UCTV”
Best part of being in UCTV?
“Being in class is my favorite part”
Yankees or Mets? Yankees
ipod or TV? Ipod
Mtv or Vh1? Mtv
What color would Nigel paint the sky? Blue
Name: Mark Mintel ‘ 11
UCTV Job: Turning the TV’s on and pressing play
Reason for joining UCTV?
“I thought it would be fun”.
Best part of being in UCTV?
“Having something to do in homeroom.”
Taylor Swift or Kanye West? Kanye West
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Burger King or McDonalds? Burger King
What color would Mark paint the sky? Green
Name: Mr. Wright
UCTV Job: Leader of prayer and things spiritual
How did you become the prayer leader?
“I guess they wanted somebody good looking”
Best part of being in UCTV?
“Sharing God’s word each day and a little spiritual nugget.”
What do you think of the new UCTV members?
“I am excited to be working with Tejah and seeing so many
new faces. For me there is no greater joy than to be able to
work along side my colleague Mr. McCabe.”
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Burger King or McDonalds? Old School McDonalds
Walmart or Target? Target
What color would Mr. Wright paint the sky? God got it
right the first time
THE PROPHET
THE PROPHET REMEMBERS: LEGENDS LOST
Ally D’Aluisio
THE SUMMER OF 2009 WAS A TRAGIC TIME FOR MUSIC, MOVIE, AND TELEVISION FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Within three months, the entertainment industry lost Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, and Patrick Swayze.
These individuals were known for their inspiring song lyrics, mesmerizing acting abilities, jovial catch phrases, and awe
inspiring dance moves. When Jackson and Fawcett both passed away at the beginning of the summer, everyone was
shocked. When Billy Mays passed away in the middle of the summer, everyone was taken aback. When Swayze passed
away at the end of the summer, everyone was baffled. “It was hard to comprehend,” said Megan Furlong ’10. “It seemed
like all of a sudden, so many people were gone. We lost heroes.” While the physical remains are no longer with us, their
legacies will live on forever in their art that they worked so hard to perfect.
Remembering: Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
“In a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
Known as “The King of Pop,” Michael Jackson died of apparent drug overdose
in his home in Los Angeles, California. Starting in the band the Jackson 5 with his
brothers, Jackson was exposed to the lifestyle of a celebrity from a very young age.
Even after he went solo, Jackson’s celebrity only seemed to increase. In 1982, he released the album, Thriller, which is argued to be one of the most inspirational works of
pop music. Many years, plastic surgeries, and outfit changes later, Thriller is still the
number one selling album of all time, and the infamous “zombie dance” that went
along with its music video is known by millions. Prior to his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform fifty concerts at London’s O2 arena beginning in July 2009. Currently,
the This is It documentary of his rehearsals for the tour is set to be released in select
theaters on October 28 and will run for two consecutive weeks.
Remembering: Billy Mays (July 20, 1958 –
June 28, 2009)
“Hi, Billy Mays here for…”
Billy Mays, the man with the catchphrase that was stuck in everyone’s head,
died of hypertensive heart disease in his
home. Mays, best known for promoting
home-cleaning products such as OxyClean
and Orange Glo, was the CEO and founder
of Mays Promotions, Inc. Prior to his death,
Mays was scheduled to promote the fastfood restaurant chain, Taco Bell, in a series
of infomercial-like commercials.
Mays’
Remembering:
Farrah
Fawcett
death was sudden and unexpected, but his
(February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009)
voice will remain a staple in everyone’s liv“My biggest expectation now is just
ing rooms for years to come.
to live. I will not go gently into that
goodnight.”
Known for her feathered hair and bright smile, Farrah Fawcett lost her two-year battle with cancer at the start of
summer. Fawcett, best known for playing Jill Munroe on the 1976 television show, Charlie’s Angels, was an Emmy-award
winning actress famous for her generosity and kindness. In May 2009, Farrah’s Story, a documentary on her life and
struggles with cancer aired on NBC. At that point, Fawcett has been very candid about her battle with cancer, and was
focused on raising awareness for the disease. Even in her final days, Fawcett
was a courageous mother, sister, actress, and most of all, friend.
Remembering: Patrick Swayze (August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009)
“There's no better way to take care of health than through something as
joyous and beautiful as dance.”
Patrick Swayze, famous for his leading roles in Dirty Dancing and
Ghost, died of pancreatic cancer in his home outside of Los Angeles. Despite his diagnosis in June 2008, Swayze starred in the A&E series, The
Beast, which premiered on January 15, 2009. Even in times when most people would have given up, Swayze continued fighting. He was always a hardworking man, and in the face of disease, he kept working hard. Swayze’s
legacy lives on through his dance moves, incredible performances, and lines
that everyone knows, because, let’s face it, “nobody puts Baby in the corner.”
Page 8
THE PROPHET
CLIMB TO INSPIRE: PEER
MINISTRY TRAINING ‘09
Ally D’Aluisio
ON AN UNUSUALLY WARM SEPTEMBER 23 MORNNG, A
group of about fifty junior and senior Peer Ministers set off to a
retreat facility in Kearny, NJ. Starting out with a breakfast of bagels and juice, at 9:00 A.M., everyone piled onto two buses en route
to Kearny. The green “inspire” shirts that all fifty students and
moderators wore were a sight to see.
Despite the fact that the Peer Ministers travel to Kearny
every year, there is always excitement before going. “I’ve done the
ropes course before,” said Melissa Marks ’10 before leaving. “But it
will be fun to see what new things they have in store for us, espe-
The senior Peer Ministry Leaders group
gathered to show their smiles before
heading off to the training site.
cially with the new Peer Ministers.”
After arriving in Kearny, the retreat directors were quick to
start the day’s activities. First, the students were randomly broken
up into small groups, where they stayed for the rest of the day. A
quick game of “the human spider web” was used as an ice-breaker
to bring everyone together. After a few rounds of ‘trust falls’ and
‘human chairs,’ the group took a break for lunch. This was a necessity for the coming physical challenge course that all of the students would face shortly after.
“When I first saw the rock wall,” said Lindsay Chaillet’10, “I
wasn’t sure if I could do it! I was not expecting that at all.” The
rock wall, a towering 45 feet in the air, was one of the most challenging aspects of the day. “My arms felt like they were going to
fall off!” said Megan Furlong ’10. With the help of the retreat moderators and fellow classmates, however, Furlong and the majority
of Peer Ministers were able to make it to the top of the rock wall.
Another challenge was provided by the forty-foot telephone pole which was attached to a log that formed a suspended
balance beam. At first sight of the beam, students’ eyes went wide,
but once the first climb took place, everyone slowly began to warm
up to the idea. Shrieks of “you can do it!” echoed throughout the
field and overwhelming claps sounded once someone began their
descent. Trust and teamwork were built in a matter of minutes.
After the “team ski” and “desert island” games, in which
Peer Ministers tested their communication skills and had to work
together as a team to be successful, students, teachers, and retreat
moderators made their way back inside to have a brief reflection of
the day. The point had been proven: physical activity may be hard,
but learning to work together and communicate with each other is
always harder.
Page 9
UC STUDENTS
WELCOMED BACK
WITH DANCE Brian Hartnett
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, UNION CATHolic students danced the night away at the annual
Welcome Back Dance. This year’s dance was held
from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Approximately 220 students attended the
event, which was sponsored by the Student Council. This year’s music was provided by DJ Pros,
whose great variety of top hits and favorites kept
many students on their feet all night long.
With roughly 220 tickets sold, this year’s
dance was a great success, both for the school and
its students. Much of its success can be attributed
to the efforts of the Student Council and their advisors, Sister Ann Sullivan and history teacher Mrs.
Leegan. The Student Council members were responsible for selling tickets to the event, as well as
selling food and beverages at the dance. Others
who contributed to the event included Principal
Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M., Associate Principal
Miss Piasecki, and many UC faculty and staff members, who took time to chaperone.
Overall, the dance was well-enjoyed by the
students who attended. Many students used it as
a great opportunity to interact with and get to
know their classmates outside of the classroom.
All classes were well-represented at the dance, but
there was especially great attendance from the
freshman and senior classes.
For the senior class of 2010, the dance
marked just one more “last” in their Union Catholic lives. Thus, many seniors came out to really
enjoy the fine evening. “I’m really enjoying the
dance and making it the best it can be,” said Zach
Dlabik ’10. “I’m really trying to live my senior year
to the fullest.”
For the freshman class of 2013, the dance
represented a great opportunity to escape the
stresses of school and meet new people. “The
dance has been so cool,” said Anthony Gianella
’13. “I’ve met so many people.”
It is great to see the school year starting
off right. It is also very thrilling to know that this
dance only marks the beginning of all the fun
times in store this school year!
Students crowded the dance floor all
night at the annual Welcome Back to
School Dance.
THE PROPHET
FALL SPORTS (cont’d from page 4)
Gymnastics:
Although the gymnastics team lost some top contributors to
graduation, they return with plenty of new talent who look to replace the
void. The team includes seven members, three of whom are new to the
team. One of these new members is the team’s lone senior, Liz Jones ’10.
Other gymnasts to watch include Joanna Bianco ’11, Marissa Mastrocola
’11, and Nicole Pietrapertosa ’12. One team member stated that the team’s
goal this year is “to win more meets.” The team has already made strides
toward accomplishing this goal, winning one of their early meets.
Girls Volleyball:
The Girls’ volleyball team
looks very promising with many
players from last year’s stand-out
team returning.
Last year, the
team went 22-6 and reached the
Non-Public state championshipmatch, where it lost to the number
one team in the state. This year,
the team has its sights set on once
again reaching and hopefully winning the state championship game.
It is certainly possible with their
strong cast of seniors, which includes Catie Finnegan ’10, Geri
Pinto ’10, Colleen Sweeney ’10, and
Emily Wilman ’10, who was named
a Player to Watch by The StarLedger. The team also includes
sophomore stars Annyssa Herlihy
’12 and Julie Monroy ’12. So far,
the team is off to a good start, defeating Summit and New Providence in early season matches.
Fall Athlete Profile: Emily Wilman ‘10
Throughout its history, Union
Catholic has seen several outstanding
volleyball players suit up for its historically strong team. This year’s team
is certainly no exception, with three
players who earned All-County honors
last year. One of those players is senior outside hitter Emily Wilman ’10,
who made first team All-County last
season. Emily cites her defense and
her ability to recognize blocks as her
greatest skills on the volleyball court.
She says that her greatest accomplishment is helping her team reach last
year’s state finals, and her goal this
year is to return to the state championship. She plans on playing volleyball in college and hopes to play well
enough to receive a scholarship. She
has high hopes for her team and expects them to have a great year.
Cross Country:
The boys’ cross-country team is anchored by a strong lineup of
seniors who hope to make a run at the conference championships. These
seniors include D.J. Thornton ’10, the defending Union County Cross Country Runner of the Year; Kevin Mulligan ’10; and Michael Cahill ’10. In addition to these seniors, the team includes many new freshmen looking to
make contributions. The boys’ team has already started off the season
strong, defeating Arthur L. Johnson in their first dual meet.
The girls’ cross-country team is also filled with a bunch of new
faces who look to make the team very competitive. The team is led by
Jenna Socci ’11 and Kendra Simcox ’12. The girls have also enjoyed a
strong start to the season, putting up a strong showing against a tough
Arthur L. Johnson team in their dual meet.
Cheerleading:
This year’s cheerleading team can best be described by one word:
youth. The team is composed of four juniors and four freshmen. Nya Allen ’11 and Kiana Cooper ’11 are the team’s only returning members, and
they look to impart their wisdom and experience to all the new members.
Due to the new turf field being under construction, the cheerleading team
has not yet cheered at any sporting events, but they look to bring spirit and
life to the new field when it officially opens. After this, they will continually make their presence heard at boys’ and girls’ soccer games all throughout the fall. “We hope to continue to bring spirit to sporting events
through new cheers and our enthusiastic presence,” said their coach, Religion teacher Ms. Neshimka.
Page 10
FACULTY (cont’d
from page 5)
•
Ms. Mintel is really excited because
she is Union Catholic’s new technical
director for the Performing Arts Company!
Geometry and basic math teacher Mr.
Hall
• He went to Rowan University in South
Jersey
• He is a huge supporter of knowledge
and learning new things. He hopes to
set good examples to his students.
• He is in charge of the Board Game
Club this year at UC.
• An interesting fact is that Mr. Hall
cycles every day. “I once cycled the
island of Manhattan,” he said proudly.
• He is determined to become a college
professor and finish his master’s degree at Seton Hall University.
• “Enjoy Every Sandwich,” is one of Mr.
Hall’s favorite quotes.
Art teacher Mrs. Shroppe
• She really wanted to teach at UC because not only was she an alumna of
’93 but UC has always been such a
special place for her.
• She wanted to follow her dream and
make it reality, even though she knew
the creative field is very hard.
• “I found this opportunity very important so I can give back to the students
what I have learned in the real world,
to bring the outside world in a creative sense into the classroom.” Mrs.
Shroppe said.
• She believes in her students and can’t
wait to see how they improve throughout the year.
• She loves what she does and is very
enthused about teaching.
English 3R teacher Mr. O’Neill
• Being the oldest of many brothers and
sisters inspired him to teach because he
always taught them things and enjoyed
every second of it.
• He considers himself to be very patient.
• He loves to travel.
• His favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird.
• “I have a huge passion for what I do
and this year will be my 39th year of teaching!”
THE PROPHET
VMA’S ’09: A SCANDALOUS SENSATION
Stephanie Vasquez & Noel Lima-Barreria
THIS YEAR’S 2009 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS LIVED UP
to its infamous reputation by featuring scandalous behavior just
like it did in the past. In previous years celebrities have had some
jaw dropping moments like last year’s host Russell Brand, who also
hosted this year, dissing
the Jonas Brothers and
bashing their faith. But it
was nothing compared to
what happened this year.
Kanye West made the most
impromptu moment of the
night as he appeared on
stage when Taylor Swift
won her first ever VMA
award for best music video
of the year, also making
her the first country star to
ever win a VMA. Making
Kanye West wrestles the microhis way up to her, he
phone away from Taylor Swift,
kicking off an internet frenzy.
grabbed her microphone
and said that Beyonce had one of
the best videos of all time and that she should have won this
award. After the incident, the media and blogs buzzed the whole
night about this moment.
Soon enough, Taylor Swift fans were all over the internet
bashing West and showing their support for Swift. Even Usher
prodigy Justin Bieber backed Swift up when he went up to present
an award saying she deserved to win. Celebrities that Swift claims
she didn’t even know they knew she existed, tweeted their support
for her saying West was wrong to do what he did and to not let
that affect her. The night took a unexpected turn when later in the
show Beyonce won best video of the year but gave up her acceptance speech to Taylor Swift so that she could have her shining
moment.
Another person that seemed to take the spotlight tonight
was Lady Gaga and her outfits. As if her appearing with Kermit the
Frog was not weird enough, her outfits kept getting unique as she
changed several times throughout the show. She donned a black
lace Jean Paul Gaultier dress with Dragon print silk for most of the
night. There was a slight commotion on the internet boards though
when people saw that Shakira and Pink wearing the same Balmain
studded leather dress. But all is well, as the two noticed but
laughed it off later on while taking a picture together. Other than
that, everyone looked fabulous. Ashley Greene from Twilight kept
it simple, wearing a black and gold dress. Fefe Dobson let her fans
decide what she should wear on MTV, and they have spoke! She
wore the winning outfit, which was a red plaid Smythe jacket.
Apart from her performance, Pink gave an acrobatic performance of her latest hit “Sober” along with Beyonce’s fabulous
performance of her latest single “Single Ladies”, which proved her
diva status. Host Russell Brand made his appearance to “We Will
Rock You” with Katy Perry singing in the background. Lady Gaga’s
bloody performance of her latest hit “Paparazzi” left everyone with
something to talk about. Last but not least, the night was in memory of Michael Jackson. With an opening speech by Madonna followed by a performance by Janet Jackson and a movie that producers plan to make on the last moments of his life, it really hit home
to many people that the King of Pop was not with us anymore.
Page 11
SEPTEMBER MUSIC
PREVIEW
Noel Lima-Barreria
HONOR SOCIETY
After being named a Band to Watch by Rolling
Stone and Buzzworthy Artist by MTV, Honor Society releases its first album entitled Fashionably
Late, which was produced by John Fields and executive-produced by the Jonas Brothers. These
gentlemen toured with the Jonas Brothers and Jordan Sparks on their world tour over the summer
and had their own little mini-headlining tour
called the Full Moon Crazy Tour. Tracks on their
album include songs like “My Own Way,” “Where
Are You Now” from the movie Bandslam starring
Vanessa Hudgens, and their latest single, “Over
You.”
BOYS LIKE GIRLS
Looking for some catchy tunes? Look no further!
This Boston based band released its sophomore
album Love Drunk on September 8. Most of this
rocker band’s songs deal with the challenges of
heartbreak and new romance. “Love Drunk,” the
bands lead single and title track, is a celebration of
love’s intoxicating effects while the tender “Two Is
Better Than One” that features Taylor Swift is
more of a ballad song. Its album is a mix between
the bands pop-rock debut and the more electronic
fashion of bands like the Killers and Franz Ferdinand. So if you like them, then you are sure to love
Boys like Girls!
JAY-Z
On September 11, Jay-Z released his eleventh studio album Blueprint 3,
which was eight years to
the day after the release
of his first Blueprint album. This album sold
over 476,000 copies in its
first week alone and it
became his eleventh number one album breaking
the record he had previously shared with Elvis
Presley. With songs like
“Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys, “Run
this Town” featuring Rihanna, and “Already Home”
featuring Kid Cudi, we can tell why.
MUSE
This English alternative rock band released its
fifth studio album The Resistance on September
14. Upon its release, the album topped the charts
in 16 countries and reached number three on the
American album chart. Its first single is “Uprising,”
which was released on September 7. If you like the
theatrical flair of Queen with the symphonic filigrees of 1970s progressive rock, then this is the
album for you.
THE PROPHET
MAJOR
LEAGUE
BASEBALL
HEATS UP
Miguel Ferreira
NOTE: This article is a recap of the
MLB highlights before the start of the
playoffs. Just before press time, the
Anaheim Angels swept the Boston
Red Sox and the New York Yankees
defeated the Minnesota Twins. The
Angels and the Yankees will face
each other in the next round of the
playoffs, the American League
Championship Series.
ON THE EVENING THAT THE
New York Yankees became baseball's
first team to finalize a playoff entry,
they were presented with a refresher
course on just how emotional and
gratifying the next month could be.
The Yankees' return to the
postseason after a one-year hiatus
was secured on the road, but their
thrilling 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on September 22 made
it all the more satisfying, as they
took it upon themselves to rewrite an
Angel Stadium script that has become tired.
The Angels are also very
close to clinching their division as a
win against the Oakland Athletics
will seal their playoff berth. The Saint
Louis Cardinals will also clinch their
division with a win against the Houston Astros. Their play has been really
amazing ever since outfielder Matt
Holliday joined the team.
The Philadelphia Phillies also
look to clinch their division also this
weekend against the ever so struggling New York Mets. Ryan Howard is
a serious contender for MVP this year
as he just broke the record for the
fastest player to ever reach the 200
homerun mark.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are
still a few wins away from a playoff
appearance and face a strong challenge from the Colorado Rockies,
whose baseball continues to make
headlines.
Page 12
MOVIE REVIEWS
Stephanie Vasquez
FAME IS THE SCHOOL THAT MANY
kids dreams of where they can sing, act and
dance their hearts out. However, at times it
seemed as if critics did not want to give this
movie a chance. because it is a remake of Alan
Park and Christopher Gore’s 1980 hit Fameone of the original high-school musicals. This
time around, director Kevin Tacharoen made it
into a more upbeat version for the new generation with the young cast attending New York
High School of Performing Arts. Director Kevin
Tacharoen receives the credit for his amazing
choreography! Even the tiniest dance moves
make the cast stand out. Viewers will see the
young performers through their struggles on
and off the stage. At times, this movie may
seem like just one long music video, but the
dance numbers are incredible. If there is one
thing that will “live forever,” it is the performances given by these young actors putting the
fame in Fame.
First Wall-E, then Up! Disney has done it again,
never ceasing to amaze! Inspired by the children’s book of the same name, Cloudy with a
Chance of Meatballs is about an inventor named
Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader), who despite
his many tries, ends up inventing junk. Along
with a brainy weathergirl (voice of Anna Faris),
they attempt to discover why the rain in their
small town has stopped and why food is falling in
its place. Meanwhile, lifelong bully Brent (voice of
Andy Samberg) continues to torment Flint and
Mayor Shelbourne (voice of Bruce Campbell), who
wants to use Flint's latest invention for himself.
Mr. T voices cop Earl Devereaux, adding a large
amount of energy to the role! Though the characters are kind of funny-looking and there are
many clichés, moviegoers cannot help but laugh
at these actors who make this movie hilarious.
Jennifer’s Body is about Jennifer Check
(Megan Fox) and Needy Lesnicky (Amanda Seyfriend), lifelong best friends. Jennifer is the hottest
and most popular girl in school while Needy is
needy. Jennifer is the head cheerleader who rules
the school and has all the boys after, her but she
stays grounded because of Needy. However, Jennifer
becomes possessed by a demon and begins killing
boys. Of course Megan Fox has no problem luring
the teenage boys and gets away with it because who
would believe the popular cheerleader is a crazy demon-possessed flesh-eater? Only Needy suspects the
horrifying reality when teenage boys begin disappearing in the small town. Ultimately, she stands
before her best friend and a boy named Chip Dove
(Johnny Simmons). This is Megan Fox’s first leading
role, and though the role might not have given her
the chance to show off her acting skills, she does a good job.
THE PROPHET
WE, THE PEOPLE
Jordan Morrisey
WELCOME TO UNION CATHOLIC’S ONLY NONPARTISAN STUDENT
political review. We, the People serves as the middle ground, and sometimes the battleground, for political thought. The goal of this column is
to provide the UC community with a presentation of both neutral and balanced analysis of political ideas, events, and trends.
Remembering Edward M. Kennedy
1932-2009
“For all those whose cares have been
our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall
never die.”
Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy was born in
Boston, Massachusetts to parents Joseph P.
Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, and was the
youngest of nine children. Kennedy was the
younger brother of both President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Senator Kennedy was elected to Congress, November 7, 1962, representing Massachusetts as a Democrat. He served 46 years up
until his death, on Tuesday, August 25 of brain cancer. Kennedy was
known to all as a senator, but he deserves to be known for all of the great
achievements that he made.
The fact that Kennedy was known as “The Lion of the Senate” is a
clear indicator of the momentous efforts, as well as the bills and laws,
which he strived to and achieved in bringing into existence. His role as
the liberal lion came forefront in 1995, when the Republican Revolution
took control of Congress. Kennedy rallied Democrats in Senate who had
to stand against Newt Gingrich’s House of Representatives, who planned
on fulfilling the Contract with America. This Contract was the Republicans’ promise for ten bills that would implement major reform of the Federal Government, if they obtained majority. By 1996, the contract failed to
pass the Senate, so that Democrats could move forward with legislation.
Kennedy also acted as a leading voice for human rights and democracy around the world. He supported the Northern Ireland Civil
Rights Association during the civil rights demonstrations in 1969. Kennedy visited South Africa in January 1985 as a response to the escalating
violence in the region. In response to this mounting crisis, Kennedy introduced the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1985 in March, which imposed sanctions
against South Africa including establishing a timetable for the elimination
of apartheid laws and the release of political prisoner Nelson Mandela.
Kennedy was a huge proponent of universal health care, an issue
which is in the national spotlight right now. The Senate is continuing to
make progress towards a bill that Kennedy would, hopefully, be proud to
support.
In his final weeks, Kennedy, fearing that his death might deprive
Democrats of an important vote in the health care reform fight, wrote a
letter to Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and the leaders of both
chambers of the state legislature to urge them to pass a law that would
allow the sitting governor, in the event of a vacancy, to appoint an interim
Senator rather than allowing the seat to remain vacant until a special election could be held. That interim replacement would be barred from running in the special election.
On Thursday, September 24, Patrick chose Paul G. Kirk, Jr. to
serve as interim Senator until the special election in January. "I am
pleased to appoint Paul Kirk as interim U.S. Senator from Massachusetts," said Governor Patrick. "For the next few months, he will carry on
the work and focus of Senator Kennedy, mindful of his mission, his values
and his love of Massachusetts."
Page 13
UC JSA
HOPEFUL
FOR YEAR
Adrianna DeGazon & Miguel Ferreira
THE FUTURE OF U.S. POLITICS IS IN
the hands of the current teenage generation. The Junior Statesmen of America is a
national organization that unites students
who have common interests in government
and politics, foreign affairs, law, and education, and gives them an outlet to express
this interest with one another.
Union
Catholic has started a new chapter run by
Aaron Pinkard ’10, who participated in a
three week JSA summer program at Princeton University. “[I was] interested in politics, and got info on how to start a chapter,” Aaron said.
The UC Chapter of JSA has four
officers: President Aaron Pinkard, Vice
President Conor McDonough ‘10, Secretary
Alexa Fee ‘10, and Treasurer Dan Chapman
‘10. On Mondays from 2:15-2:45 PM, the 15
members debate current event topics, play
trivia games, and talk about upcoming JSA
events. The first major event they will be
attending is at Princeton University on October 24, where they will debate fellow JSA
members, listen to guest speakers, and get
to know chapters from their area.
JSA was founded in 1934 for students to express their interest in these particular areas of interest. Since then, over
500,000 students nationwide have become
active members. JSA is run by and organized by the students who participate in the
program. “Not only are [the students] able
to socialize about politics, but [JSA] also
raises political awareness,” Pinkard said.
The organization is separated into
sub-categories. The local chapters, found
in high schools, form regions. The UC chapter is located in the Mid-Atlantic region.
These regions form states, which hold
three overnight conventions per a year
where students can meet and talk to students who may or may not share the same
views as them. Each jurisdiction elects a
student "governor" who appoints a cabinet
to help them run their state and plan the
conventions, manage a support network
throughout region, and upkeep order and
policy within chapters. They also manage
the finances and adopt the national budget.
For more information about JSA,
contact Aaron Pinkard or Mrs. James in
Room 103 or go to http://www.jsa.org/
about-jsa/about-jsa.html.
THE PROPHET
FALL BACK INTO TV!
Adrianna DeGazon
FALL IS HERE, AND SO ARE THE GREAT SHOWS ON TV. THIS
fall, get hooked on new shows while keeping up with your old favorites.
Here is a peek at what’s on this fall:
Glee
Glee Club never looked better! This fall
the highly anticipated show began, to
the delight of many across the country.
Glee is about a group of students from
all different social casts, who unite to
sing in their high school’s glee club.
The pilot episode aired last spring, and
has had the nation wanting more. Glee is
a fun, light show about singing, which
airs on Wednesdays at 9 on FOX.
Vampire Diaries
Based on the young adult series of
books by L. J. Smith, Vampire Diaries is a show about Elena, a girl who has
recently lost her parents, and Stefan, a vampire that returns to his hometown of Mystic Falls to start fresh. Stefan’s evil brother, Damon, also has
returned and fallen for Elena. Some have nicknamed Vampire Diaries as
‘Twilight-on-TV’, because of the vampire elements of both storylines.
Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8 on The CW.
90210
Who knew that a single zip code
could be such a hit? 90210 focuses
on the ups and downs of the lives
of eight affluent teenagers that go
to West Beverly Hills High. They
face the typical high school drama,
but their wealth and fortune adds
to it. The high school drama is in
its second season, and keeps on
getting better and better. Tune in
on Tuesdays at 8 to witness all the
drama in Beverly Hills.
Ugly Betty
An ABC favorite, Ugly Betty is sure to have you tuning in every week to see
what crazy outfit Betty will be wearing. Ugly Betty is about a girl trying to
make it as a writer in the fashion industry, while staying true to herself,
family, and friends. In the upcoming season, which airs Fridays at 8, Betty
makes editor!
Grey's Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy, one of the most watched medical dramas on television,
focuses on the lives of 11 doctors and their day-to-day challenges working
at Seattle-Grace Hospital. The show is famous for its witty characters, the
unconventional lives they lead, and the strange, yet interesting, medical
cases the doctors deal with. Season 6 will be airing on Thursdays at 9 on
ABC.
Defying Gravity
The year is 2052, and eight astronauts are embarking on a six-year mission around our Solar System….and the world gets to watch the whole
journey from their television sets. Dubbed the “Grey’s Anatomy in Space,”
the show is filled with drama, excitement, suspense, and adventure. The
show airs on ABC, but is on hiatus at the moment.
Page 14
NYC FASHION
WEEK
Cleo Murphy-Guerrette
THIS YEAR’S NEW YORK CITY
FASH-ion Week took place this year September 10 through September 17 in Bryant
Park, Hudson Street, and surrounding areas. The week was jam packed with fashion shows from top designer brands as well
as up and coming designers.
Fashion
shows and photo shoots were in full swing.
Famous brands such as BCBG, Lacoste, DKNY, Miss Sixty, Marc Jacobs, Betsy
Johnson, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Oscar
De La Renta, and many more displayed
their trendy new lines. Even California's
premier art and design university, Academy
of Art University, had a show displaying
the work of their recent graduates.
Down any major street near Bryant
Park, trailers with models outside and fashion show sets being turned could be seen.
Many celebrities and teen socialites were
spotted showing off the works of their favorite designers. Ex-OC star, Rachel Bilson,
was seen wearing her favorite designer and
friend, Brian Reyes’s, new line. Another ex
OC star, and current star of the new show
the Beautiful Life, Mischa Barton was seen
at fashion week perhaps studying for her
new role in the show as a model. She was
spotted with designer Herve Leger.
Madonna, outrageous as usual, was seen
strutting New York's fashion scene in Marc
Jacobs.
Some of the most appraised new
lines this year came from designers Ocsar
de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger,
and Ralph Lauren, to name a few. Many
hair and makeup designers got the chance
to show off their new products in the fashion
shows.
Francois
Nars, founder
and creator
of
NARS
makeup and
cosmetics,
impressed
the
crowds
this year with
his
new
make-up colors and designs.
As
usual,
the
New York FaFashion Week gave designers
shion Week
and models a chance to “strut
was a huge
their stuff” by showing off
success.
their latest fashion lines.
THE PROPHET
MUSICFEST GETS
CLARK ROCKIN’
Alexa Fee
THE TOWN OF CLARK WAS ROCKING ON SEPtember 12 and 13 as people arrived at the Oak Ridge
Park to celebrate at the annual Music Fest.
With headliners like Third Eye Blind, known
for the hits “Jumper” and “Never Let You Go”; Uncle
Kracker, creator of songs “Follow Me” and “Drift
Away”; New Jersey native Pete Yorn, known for both
his work on soundtracks like Spider-Man and My Sister’s Keeper, and his work with actress Scarlett Johansson; and popular indie band They Might Be Giants,
amongst others, the turnout was huge.
“I have never seen so many people at Music
Fest,” said Katie Brown ’13. The crowd was drawn in
from the surrounding areas, as well. “It was really cool
seeing Union Catholic people there, too, some of
whom I had only met a few days before,” Brown added.
The crowd was not discouraged by the rain on
Saturday night. “Actually, I think the rain kind of
added to the whole thing,” said Nathalia Obara ’10. “It
was drizzling hard enough to keep you cool while
you’re jumping around in the crowd, but not heavy
enough for you to really need a sweatshirt.” (continued
on page 16)
UC REMEMBERS 9/11
Erica Gianella
ON SEPTEMBER 11, THE UNION CATHOLIC COMmunity gathered together to remember all of the men
and women who lost their lives in the terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center. It is a day that will
forever be remembered.
In keeping with the tradition, Campus Ministry
organized the spiritual prayer service via UCTV. Due to
inclement weather, this year’s prayer service was held
from the UCTV studio instead of the traditional outdoor memorial.
To open up our memorial, Erica Gianella ’10 recited a poem called “A Nation of Survivors” by Jack
Foshee Jr. The Gospel reading from the book of Luke
was read by Nathalia Obara ’10. The reading emphasized that even in a time of darkness, we should love
our enemies. The Prayer of the Faithful was led by
Samantha Nizeolek ’11, Caresse Simmonds ’11 and
Aaron Pinkard ’10.
Irene Orejudos ’10 ended the service with a poem
called “One” by Cheryl Sawyer. The reading focused on
how after the tragic events of 9/11, America was
united as one
Keeping with Campus Ministry’s theme, Inspire, a
two minute video presentation was broadcasted to the
school. The video showed news clips and videos of the
brave men and women who put their lives on the line
for the victims of September 11. “I think that prayer
service went well,” says Anthony Gianella ’13. “It was a
good way to honor [those] that fought for our country.”
Page 15
A QUIZ: WHAT UC
CLUB DO YOU
BELONG IN?
Arielle Gonzalez
1. A perfect weekend to you would be…
A. Going to see a show in the city
B. Volunteering with sick children
C. Going to the park with friends
2. Your friends would describe you as…
A. Dramatic and musical
B. Kind and caring
C. Fun loving and ready for adventure
3. Nothing bothers you more than…
A. Someone singing the wrong lyrics to your favorite song
B. People who don’t care about the problems of others
C. A lazy person sits around watching TV all day
4. Someone could win you over by…
A. Taking you to see your favorite show
B. Showing how they volunteer at a soup kitchen
C. Buying you your favorite team jersey
5. You can usually be caught saying…
A. “This one time at play practice….”
B. “We raised so much money for ____”
C. “You won’t believe what happened at the game!”
6. You feel most comfortable wearing…
A. Dance pants and show shirts
B. Jeans and charity event shirts
C. Sweatpants and team t-shirts
7. Your room is filled with…
A. Show posters and scripts
B. Charity events schedules and scrap books
C. Autographed jerseys and trophies
Mostly A’s: Performing Arts Company (PAC)
You love music, dance, acting, and anything dramatic. You would love the musical world of PAC, where many
different types of students come to enjoy their love of the
arts. With your charisma you would look great on the PAC
stage, and will make tons of friends who are just as remarkable as you!
Mostly B’s: Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC)
You are kind, caring, and always willing to lend a
helping hand. You would fit in perfecting at SMAC, a club that
is dedicated to funding cancer research and also helps out
with various other organizations. As one of UC’s biggest
clubs it will help you meet other selfless people who are looking to make the world a better place!
Mostly C’s: UC Sports Team
You are fun, full of energy, and always up for the
next challenge. You would love being a Viking on one of UC’s
championship sports teams. A UC sport where you can compete on a team filled with other determined students who
THE PROPHET
CHARITY OF BLINK-182 REUNION TOUR
THE MONTH:
CONCERN
WORLDWIDE
Kayla Klein & Erica Gianella
Alexa Fee
EVERY MONTH, THE PROPHET SELECTS ONE CHAR-ity to be the “Charity
of the Month.” This month’s is an organization called Concern Worldwide,
which is a relief organization that focusing on reducing poverty in other countries. The organization, founded on
March 19, 1968, originally focused its
missionary work on the small republic
of Biafra, in Nigeria, Africa. Since then,
Concern Worldwide has opened up to
over fifty countries, and currently operates in 28 of the poorest countries.
For the two years, Union Catholic
has been involved in the Concern Worldwide project. It first started when history teacher Mrs. Leegan’s honors and
accelerated world studies classes were
visited by a representative of Concern
Worldwide. The speaker, Delia Dunlap,
currently works as an educator at a refugee camp in Ethiopia. The two classes
set up a campaign called “Refugees
Read”. “[Dunlap] explained [in her
emails] that the camp had a small library that was very well used,” said Mrs.
Leegan. “The campaign resulted in holding two bake sales and raising about
$100 that we sent to Delia to use as she
saw fit in the camp.”
Concern Worldwide continues to
work on reducing poverty around the
world, as well as setting up disaster programs and educational services for the
people affects by poverty. In 2008, Concern Worldwide celebrated its fortieth
anniversary with this message: “Hunger
and poverty continue to devastate lives
in the developing world. Unfortunately,
the fact remains that Concern’s work is
needed now more than ever. Our 40th
anniversary…marked an opportunity to
look back at the work Concern has done,
to thank all those people who have
made it possible and to renew Concern’s
efforts to help people living in extreme
poverty and hunger.”
To find out more information about
the Concern Worldwide program, contact Mrs. Leegan, or visit the website at
http://www.concern.net/.
Page 16
BLINK-182! WHERE TO BEGIN? MOST PEOPLE CAN AGREE THAT
Blink-182 is probably one of the greatest bands existing. A lot of people were
really disappointed when Blink-182 announced that they were splitting up.
Allegedly, band members Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom Delonge
were all going through a lot of obstacles in their lives, and they needed a
break from each other. Touring and playing the music people enjoy all over
the world is what they love to do, and
they evidently decided they couldn’t take
this “break” any longer. The reunion tour
has united the guys to once again play in
front of thousands of people.
On August 26, Blink-182 performed at The PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. “Thank you NJ for selling out this
huge venue the fastest,” said Mark Hoppus with a smile on his face. Many Union
Catholic students got together for this
event to celebrate the final days of summer. “It’s beautiful how music brings
people together, especially Blink-182 music,” said Jordan Doherty ’12, after the
Fans were ecstatic to see band
show. Chester French, Taking Back Sunmember Tom Delonge with a guiday, and Weezer opened for them and
tar in hand once again.
got all the fans hyped up for Blink. While
all of the opening bands were very impressive, it was great to just rock out with friends! When Blink-182 finally
performed, everyone was super anxious and excited to hear them. They
started off with the song “Dumpweed.” The crowd was absolutely amazing,
and everyone was having a fun time. “I was literally touching the stage,” said
alumnus Spencer Davis ‘09.
There wasn’t one song that Blink didn’t perform well. Once everyone
knew the show was coming to an end, it started to get insane. Nobody
wanted it to end. Travis Barker came out for an encore and his performance
was spectacular; he played a ten-minute drum solo while being suspended in
the air. The drum set was turning and moving IN THE AIR, and at one point,
he was upside down, still playing. It was unforgettable and definitely caught
everyone’s attention. It surely was a fantastic way to end such a remarkable
day. Blink-182 was even better than expected, and the concert was certainly
an amazing experience!
MUSICFEST (cont’d from page 15)
Music Fest was sponsored by
Overlook Hospital, the presenting sponsor, as well as donators Wal-Mart, TD
Bank, and many others. The shows, along
with other family-gear attractions like
rides and games, lasted from 9 a.m. to 10
p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 8
p.m. on Sunday.
“I really enjoy going to Music
Fest,” said Brown after the shows. “It’s
just so chill getting to spend the time with
your friends, getting some food, and listening to free music.”
Third Eye Blind, a band whose biggest hits occurred in the
90s, graced the stage at MusicFest, performing its widelyknown song, “Jumper.”
THE PROPHET
SUMMER PAC:
A SUCCESS!
Danielle Gruskiewicz
WHILE UNION CATHOLIC STUDENTS ENJOYED SOME FUN
in the sun this summer, UC Performing Arts Company was hard at
work. The company performed two shows this summer, Love Awkwardly and An Evening of One Acts. They were performed during
the months of June, July, and August.
In late June, Love Awkwardly, an original show, debuted and
received rave reviews. Based on the real life stories of several UC
students, Love Awkwardly is a show about the ups and downs of
teenage relationships and friendships. The show was written by
alumnus John Rotondo ‘07 and English teacher Mrs. Carolan. The
cast- who includes alumna Taziana Molinaro ‘09, Greg Gedman ‘10,
Arielle Gonzalez ‘10, Samantha Mellina ‘10, Justine Mujica
‘10,Conor McDonough ‘10, Jordan Morrisey ‘10, and Bobby
Dyckman, ‘12 all gave impeccable performances. They captured the
audience with their depiction of their characters' lives as they
faced large problems, cramped by the “awkwardness” of high
school. The show will be performed again on January 7th and 8th
2010 at 7pm.
This summer, UCPAC also put on another production, An
Evening of One
Acts. The night
consisted
of
the one act
plays, The Actor’s
Nightmare, All in
The
Timing,
and
Wanda’s
Visit. The cast
had about a
month to prepare for the
Young actors shone in UCPAC’s summer
show, and with
production of An Evening of One Acts.
all the different
shows in one, it
was quite a challenge! Many actors had to play more than one role.
In addition, the show had only a limited number of tech crew members, so the actors had to fill in; working both back stage and front.
But the cast accomplished their goal with flying colors. They included Dylan George ‘11, Michelle Ryngel ‘11, Megan Roberts ‘12,
Danielle Gruskiewicz ‘12, Schuyler Peck ‘12, Meredith McAna ‘12,
Annyssa Herlihy ‘12, Joe Passantino ‘12, Brandon Rotondo ‘12, and
Antonio Zuzuro-Caprio ‘12. “[I am] thrilled to be a part of PAC and
to be working with such a talented cast.” said Meredith McAna.
The Actor’s Nightmare, written by Christopher Durang and
directed by alumnus Edward Sagendorf ‘07, is a play about an actor
who finds himself on a stage, seconds before a show is about to
start. He is about to go on as the understudy of the lead, but there
is one problem; he does not remember attending a single rehearsal.
The comedy follows the lead character George, as he stumbles in
utter confusion from one scene to the next, which the audience
could not get enough of. The next play was All in the Timing,
which consisted of 3 one acts: Arabian Nights, Sure Thing, and The
Philadelphia. All three plays were comedies, directed by alumnus
John Rotondo ’07 and written by David Ives. “[I am] incredibly
proud of these young actors and actresses, many of whom have
stepped on the stage for the first time during this process,” said
Rotondo. (continued on page 18)
Page 17
TECH CREW
ACTIVE OVER
SUMMER
Arielle Gonzalez
THIS SUMMER, THE UNION CATHOLIC
Performing Arts Company (PAC) was hard at work
building the set for their upcoming production of
Noises Off. The technical crew (tech), made up of
students, started their work in August with the
help of English teacher Mrs. Carolan, new technical
advisors, English teacher Miss Mintel, and UC
alumnus Matthew Esposito ’03, and various UC
alumni and volunteers.
The tech crew started their fourteen day
journey with the selection of the fall play from
new director and alumnus John Rotondo ’07, who
took over the direction of the show after former
English teachers Mr. and Mrs. Addison had moved
to South Carolina. Rotondo is no stranger to directing, as he oversaw the PAC productions of
Love (Awkwardly) and All in the Timing earlier this
summer, and was excited to take on this new challenge.
This year’s show provided a unique challenge from the technical perspective because the
set is two levels high, has seven functional doors,
and three staircases, and finally, must rotate 180⁰
twice! All of these elements are incredibly important to the show and the rehearsal process. Because of this high level of difficult, the set had to
be completed in fourteen days in order to be ready
for the cast, which was another challenge presented to the crew.
The tech crew started off by organizing
their materials and constructing platforms which
would make up the walls and floors of the set;
these platforms can be either very simple or very
large and complex to build, depending on the
structure. While this was going on, the walls were
being painted and the doors and fixtures were being stained, so they would be ready once the set
was done.
As their September 1 deadline drew closer,
the tech crew worked even harder, often coming in
early and staying extra hours. Finally, during the
last week of August, the crew was able to sit back
and relax, as they eagerly waited to hear the reactions from their fellow students who would see
the set during orientation.
“The set looked really cool,” said Michael
Gonzalez ’13. “You can tell that they [the crew]
worked really hard on it.” The tech crew should
definitely be proud of their accomplishments, especially with such positive reactions from the student body, and should consider this year’s fall
play set a complete success. It will be especially
exciting to see the set fully completed with furniture and ornaments when the show opens on November 5, 6, and 7.
THE PROPHET
FASHION IS NOW
IN SESSION!
Alison Rebozo
WHO KNEW THAT CLASSES ON SATURDAY COULD BE SO MUCH FUN?
The Fashion Institute of Technology, located in Manhattan, provides fall
courses for high school students interested in pursuing a career in fashion.
Exploring career possibilities with the eleven week class has now become a
stimulating way for teenage boys and girls to come together and share a common passion. With almost sixty classes to choose from and actual college professors teaching, students are guided through an experience that is truly unforgettable. The non-credit program is a hands-on chance for students to develop
and enhance their inner talents. How is a program like this beneficial? Fashion
is a lot more than clothes, supermodels, and a glamorous life. The industry
itself is very rigorous, and job opportunities must be earned. By learning the
basics and attaining experience in this field, students can explore their options
and use their knowledge for a future profession.
From my personal experience, the classes are much more than just
learning about fashion. As each week progresses, you learn something new
about yourself. Creativity is key, and it is put to the test with most assignments. The curriculum helps define who you are as a person and sets you aside
as an individual. Not one student that attends is alike in any way, except for the
common love they share for fashion. The beneficial experience comes from the
core of that very thought. To be different, you must think differently. To succeed, you must think outside of the box. This program would be beneficial
for any high-school junior
on the frantic college
search. Being on campus
and in the classrooms
gives you the feeling of
being an actual college student, as you experience
their rewarding lifestyle.
Independence is demonstrated through class trips
around New York City,
where you learn to carry
The Fashion Institute of Technology is one of the
yourself as a mature pernation’s premiere schools for design.
son.
This will be my second year attending the Saturday Live classes and I
am overjoyed because it is always the highlight of my week. At first it was extremely overwhelming, and made me feel as if I was a freshman all over again.
Upon arriving to an extremely large school, not knowing what to expect and
being unfamiliar was overwhelming. Although this was a tremendous difference compared to high school, there was something about my surroundings
that made me feel comfortable. The classes are filled with people who share the
same interests as me. It is reassuring to know you can be different, yet still be
an individual. Not only were the classes rewarding, but many new friends from
different locations were made. The diversity was truly amazing. It ranged from
a student who recently moved from Asia to students from the tri-state area.
The class has made an impact on every person who signed up and attended. “I
really enjoyed the classes and I’ve learned so much that I feel I can use my
knowledge in applying to colleges and in learning more about fashion merchandising.” said Rebeca Sandhaus, also a second year Saturday Live student. “Aside
from the learning experience, I also made great friends and had a great time in
the city.” The attitude toward this program seems to be contagious! If anyone is
interested in design, business, merchandising, or art, this is something you may
want to highly consider. To find more information on this course, visit the
school’s website at www.fitnyc.edu.
Page 18
SUMMER PAC
(cont’d from page
17)
The last play, Wanda’s Visit, also
written by Christopher Durang, is
about a suburban couple, Jim and
Marsha, who are stuck in a boring and
unhappy marriage. Their problems are
only intensified when Jim’s old high
school girlfriend comes to visit and
never wants to leave! This show was
directed by alumna Jillian Hernandez
’07. The shows added to the impressive and high quality plays that
UCPAC is known for. This was the
fifth year of Summer PAC, and with
such great success, it seems that there
will be many more to come!
On September 26, Typhoon
Ondoy struck the Asian country of
the Philippines. The 17.9 inches of
rain that fell in 24 hours killed almost three hundred people and
flooded the homes of hundreds of
thousands of others (see picture below).
On October 2, Mother Nature
struck again, this time unleashing
Typhoon Parma onto the Philippine
archipelago. As of press time, 16
people were killed as the typhoon hit
the already-flooded islands.
This year’s goal of the Union
Catholic Filipino Club is to raise as
much money as possible to donate to
the Philippine Red Cross. Most of the
Filipino Club members, including
religion teacher and club moderator
Mr. Tanyag, have families that have
been affected by the typhoons.
Please continue to support the club’s
bake sales and other fundraisers
throughout the year and pray for the
healing of the Philippines.
THE PROPHET
MEET YOUR STAFF!
The fearless Editors-in-Chief of The Prophet
This year, your friendly neighborhood Prophet has the biggest staff it has had in years! Our next few issues will
contain introductions to our staff, so feel free to get to know us!
Name: Arielle Gonzalez
Position: Editor-in-Chief
What is your pet peeve while interviewing someone for a story? “I can’t stand when people answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to my
questions, but don’t explain their answers! It makes for an ‘awkward turtle.’”
If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why? “I would be Mac-and-Cheese because it is clearly the bestnamed color in the box!”
Name: Jamie Ciocon
Position: Editor-in-Chief
What do you like about being Editor in Chief? “I like to reach out my staff, not only as a leader, but also as a friend. I
really like to create a fun, enthusiastic environment for the staff.”
If you were a pizza topping, which topping would you be and why? “I would probably be bacon because it is so versatile – it works so well atop a warm cheese pizza, beside a stack of pancakes, and between two slices of bread, tomato,
and lettuce. My mouth is watering.”
Name: Jordan Morrisey
Position: Reporter/politics columnist (We, the People)
Why are you looking forward to writing about politics? “There are too few people in Union Catholic that are concerned and know about what’s going on in their country and government. So I would like to get the rest of the UC community at least somewhat informed of issues of importance on the political scene.”
If you were a superhero, who would you be and why? “I would be The Flash because people only think he can run
fast, but he can do so much more than that, such as vibrate through walls and stop moving objects in their paths.”
Name: Sarah Surma
Position: Reporter
Why would you encourage students to take the journalism class? “It’s fun, and it expands your writing skills. You get
to meet different people, be involved, and know what’s going on with the school.”
If you were a wilderness animal, what animal would you be and why? “I would be a hippopotamus because I like the
Hungry Hungry Hippos game!”
Be sure to check out our next issue for more introductions to our staff!
The Prophet
The Official Online Newspaper of Union Catholic High School
Editors-in-Chief: Arielle Gonzalez & Jamie Ciocon
Copy Editor: Alexa Fee
Junior Editorial Staff: Brian Hartnett & Adrianna DeGazon
Assignment Editor: Noel Lima-Barreira
Sports Editors: Miguel Ferreira, Paul Savino, & Brian Hartnett
Reporters: Ally D’Aluisio, Cleo Murphy-Guerrette, Jordan Morrisey,
Alison Rebozo, Kayla Klein, Sarah Surma, Cate Munkittrick,
Danielle Gruskiewicz, Stephanie Vasquez, Erica Gianella
Page 19
THE PROPHET