“ H o w t h e B e a r s m a k e t h e i r m a r k ”

The Norwalk High School

Paw PrintVoLUME III, ISSUE 1octobEr 2008

I N t H I S I S S U E :News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1NewsFeature......................................5Arts and Entertainment............................6Feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Editorial....................................10Opinion......................................11Opinion Feature......................................13Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

NEWS FEATURE A & E SPORTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

At 10pm Sunday, September 28, ten Norwalk high School students, their parents, and Mr. Welsh sat anxiously waiting in Saint Philips Hall. One hour later, those same people stood up applauding and welcoming very special guests. During the week of September 28 – October 3, nine stu-dents from China came to live with ten Norwalk High School students to experience the life of an American teenager. “The other Chinese students wanted to come [to Amer-ica].” and “They think it’s a special experience.” were just some of the statements the lucky visitors gave. The students attended school with their American hosts and shadowed them around through out the day. Going to a school where you do not fl u-ently speak the language and do not complete-ly understand the subjects can get boring, but luckily for the Chinese students, the week that they were here Norwalk High School only had three days of “real” school. Seizing the advan-tage, Mr. Welsh and the host families made sure the entire week was fully planned. While in America, the students were treated to a variety of unique, but traditional American experiences. They toured Yale Uni-versity, visited the Maritime Aquarium, went to the movies, attended sports games, visited New York City, toured the United Nations, and of course, ate pizza. Needless to say, they en-joyed every minute of their week, except the

food. “I miss Chinese food very much,” was the consensus of many of the Chinese students. Friday, the student’s fi nal day together, was a day of last minute souvenir shopping and many sad goodbyes. As the Chinese students were picked up at Norwalk high School, everyone; hosts and Chinese; had tears in their eyes. After a quick round of pictures, the Chinese students got into a bus and drove off to JFK Airport to catch an 11:30 pm fl ight to Beijing. Though the Chinese students are being missed by many, the American students, who plan to visit China later on this year, will not have to wait too long before they say “Ni Hao” again.

a trip of a Lifetime For Nine StudentsGabriella cappo ’09Peer Editor

Congratulations to The Norwalk High School PawPrint for recieving second place in the fi rst Annual High School Journalism Contest. The award was for the Best Overall School Newspaper awarded on June 12, 2008.

Early last year budget cuts threatened to disband most of our freshman sports. This would have affected both the boys and girls who were com-ing into the school. However the teams were spared by a donation from the football team, which was orchestrated by their head coach, Pete Tucci. He decid-ed to give much of his football funds to the school to save the freshman teams. “We all felt it was the right thing to do,” said Jon Albrecht, the dean of students and a member of the coaching staff. This donation saved over six sports year round and gave our fresh-man a chance to play the sports they want. It will also strengthen the Varsity and J.V. teams, who will now receive experienced players in-stead of fresh beginners. “Sports can be very important,” said Frank Moffett, NHS science teacher and varsity coach, who went on to speak of the values they can build within a person. He later said that sports can teach them teamwork and discipline. When asked how the football players felt, Albrecht replied, “They were fi ne with it; we just had to do a little extra work.” They had to do more fundraising to accumulate the money that was given away. This action does not really affect the players who are still given the same perks and free gear they have been given in the past. The downside was, instead of practicing, they were fundraising to make some of that money back. But the coaches all agree it was worth it.

Daniel Conklin ’09Photography Editor

Just a Little Donation

China students take a picture with their American host families that attend Norwalk High.

PhotoC

redit:TedW

elsh

To see more pictures and information on spirit week make sure you check out News page 3!

The varsity football players decided to put a spin on how they would announce their players

Photo Credit: Sharon C

adden

NEWS THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 2 NEWS THE PAW PRINTPagE 2

caPt Masters

Congratulations to all of the CAPT Masters! In honor of their achievements there will be a ceremony on October

28th, at 7:00pm in the auditorium.

college Visits

In the career center, students may meet with college admissions officers for schools in which they are interested in. To attend these meetings, students should ask their guidance counselor to write them a pass during the specific

time block. Colleges in the Career Center:

Bryant University- Oct 23Lake Erie College- Oct 23College of New Rochelle- Oct 27Western CT University- Oct 28Providence College- Oct 28Eastern CT State University- Oct 29Albertus Magnus College- Oct 30Mitchell College- Oct 31Smith College- Nov 5Daniel Webster College- Nov 13Syracuse University- Nov 17(Check with career center for times)

blood Drive

Norwalk High School will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, December 1st in the gym from 8:30am-2:00pm. Students may sign up with members of the National Honors Society. Students must be 17 years of age, in good health, and weigh over 110 lbs. If students have any questions see Mr. Hariton in

room 107B.

all Season Sports Passes

Norwalk High All Season Passes are good for admission to any NHS home sporting event within all seasons, ex-cept ice hockey. The pass costs $20 for students and $35 for adults. Order forms are available at the front office or at www.norwalkhighsports.org/

allseasons%20passes.html.

Freshman Studies

The freshman studies class, taught by Ms. Elkas, is completing some community service for the school. The students plan on clean up and around the bleachers to start, and are trying to get involved within

the community.

current Issues

Friday, October 10th, the Connecti-cut Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the right

to get married.

N E W S b r I E F S

Family, friends, and generous contributors helped pay for 18 year old Max Stephenson’s tuition to New York University, simply by giving small donations. Within two weeks, Stephenson raised over $5,000 via email requests, and all he did was ask for a little help by crowdfund-ing. According to Creative Common Attribution, crowdfunding is when a group of people invest or donate a small portion of a larger investment over the internet. That money is pooled to-gether to bring off a project that otherwise would need tradi-tional sources of funding. When asked where Stephenson came up with the idea to plainly ask others to aid him, he said, “I heard about it from a student who did this in Canada. It wasn’t the same exact thing, but it was similar- a mass guerilla campaign to raise money for college.” Stephenson sent his 765 word plea for help and donations to 200 people in his own address book and approximately 100 people his mother thought would be generous enough to help. Although many people were obliged to support him, he was not surprised to hear that many thought of it as a scam. With

a handicapped mother and a father trying to support the family with three jobs, it seemed like another sad sob story. He said, “I definitely see why people might think it’s a scam-I was trying to make it seem as unscam-like as possible, which is kind of difficult when you’re asking for money.” Over 2,000 people have responded to Stephenson’s emails ask-ing for $2.50 donations, and with that he received over $5,000 within two weeks. To thank his supporters he plans on sending a piece of his graduation cap to each person.Students, teachers, and anyone interested can get involved with crowdfunding with a website known as DonorsChoose.com. This site allows people to make donations and contributions to those in need. For example, if a teacher would like a projection system so that they can show video clips or presentations without having to constantly borrow the department’s, the teacher could place their request on DonorsChoose.com and generous citizens can donate x amount of dollars to the cause. When the object has collected enough money to buy it, the teacher can take pictures of them using the projection system in the classroom and would receive points on the website. With the points come reliability and persuading the donators that the money will go to another specified use for future endeavors. .

Strangers Paying Your college tuition

the art of Wearing What You created

Some people say you wear your heart on your sleeve; this is true for three Norwalk High students. Denis Dalesio (’09), Alex Calderon (’10) and Cameron Fuller (’10) are three young entrepreneurs trying to make it in the clothing business. They call their company “The Creative Theory.” They use screen-printing. Screen-printing is an old way to get a design onto a shirt; it first appeared in 1907, pat-ented by Samuel Simon. Dalesio explained the screen-printing process, “Take a mesh screen and put an image on it, then put ink on and roll it upon the screen and then the image will come out on the shirt.” The screen printers that Dalesio, Calderon and Fuller use are located in Dalesio’s basement and Calder-on’s garage. To make shirts, they have to order plain colors. “Among the screens, ink, squeegees and shirts, we spend about $40-$80 dollars.” The cloth-ing they sell is going for $10-$15 dollars for shirts and $20-$25 dollars for hoodies. They either order their shirts or buy Hanes white t-shirts. “Just being artistic and being able to put artwork on clothes. It’s an easy way to show off your art.” Diego Lema (’10) also has a strong passion for art. He has seen some of the designs “The Creative Theory” has to offer and is im-pressed. “I’ve seen Denis’ elephant design and I love it. You want a shirt that no one else has, a custom design. It’s kind of like tie-die, if you make a tie-dye shirt you could never make that exact design on that shirt again, its custom, it’s your own.”

Lema went on to provide advice for the three entrepreneurs, “They need to have good promoting skills, they need to get their name out there by wearing their designs, making flyers, anything that will bring attention to them and their work.” Many of the young entrepreneurs’ friends support them. Shannon Tomascak (’09) is looking forward to their latest de-signs. “ I would buy the designs not just because they are my friends but because all their designs are unique. I feel that this company is great practice for the future, to get them prepared for the real world.”Dalesio hopes to continue this business in the future, but first he is thinking about art school. “We are just doing what we love,” Dalesio added.

samantha redfield ’09Staff Writer

Dennis Dalesio, Alex Calderon, and Cameron Fuller showing off one of the shirts they designed.

Photo Credit: Sam

antha Redfi eld

a Positive change In communication?

In a Norwalk High School survey created by NEASC, twenty-eight to thirty percent of students felt as if they did not have a caring adult they could go to in the building. As a result, the school decided to take action and created the Advisory Program to connect students with their community. Starting January of 2009, students and teachers will meet twice a month on Wednesdays for about forty minutes during the school day. Freshmen will meet with a group of eleven students and two adults, while sophomore, junior, and senior groups will have about fourteen with one adult. The reason for the slight difference in class size is that NASK feels the fresh-men are the neediest group and could use the most guidance. Each class is grouped mostly by alphabetical order and will discuss agenda like issues. If the classes show little to no diver-sity, slight changes will be made to the rosters.

Among the Advisory committee are curriculum writers. Some topics teachers will discuss, depending on the appropri-ate grade, are CAPT, SAT prep, college tips, keep the students career focused, goal oriented, and have possible guest speakers. While the meetings take place, the day’s schedule will change. Students and staff will use the 2X 2Y schedule and will ask everyone to stay in their classrooms for the extent of the conference. Kevin Walston, Housemaster in B House, expects some re-sistance from students, especially the senior class, but has high expectations for the program. “We think we have really scratched the surface on finding ways to help connect every student to their school and community.” He finished by saying, “This program is to encourage students to become more engaged, and if they are more engaged they are more likely to be better students.” There will be a presentation introducing the idea to the stu-dents on November fourth, with the help of two seniors and ten faculty members.

Chelsea Jacoby ’09Business and News Editor

Chelsea Jacoby ’09Business and News Editor

Peace sign jewelry people wear with meaning or just for fashion.

NEWSTHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 3

It seems that lately, everywhere you look peace signs are dominant; on people’s clothing, their jewelry, and even their shoes. Left and right, stores fl ood their windows with peace merchandise, and consumers are attracted. The question is, do people wear peace signs because they are simply “cute”, or is there a deeper meaning to the peace sign ring on their fi nger? “I think people wear it because it is fashionable, and everyone is doing it,” explained Kelcie O’Brien (’09). “I think they are pretty, but I also do believe in peace.” Alyssa Schlegel (’09) also shares the same opinion as O’Brien. She said, “[people wear them] sadly… because it looks cute. People’s actions have defi nitely not become more peaceful. There is still a lot of gang violence in Fair-fi eld County despite the new peace trend.” Recently, on September 22nd, International Peace Day was commemorated by Norwalk’s Montessori School. Students stood outside Westport Avenue’s Whole Foods holding up signs and offering “free hugs” for peace. Although March of 2008 marked the fi ftieth anniver-

sary of the peace sign, another event this year also built up to the use of peace signs, the death of Norwalk teen, Cas-sidy Geary. “It is weird that ever since Cassie passed away they started to come out again. It is just a coincidence though,” added O’Brien. Supporters of “Click it for Cassie” display a peace sign on their cars in remembrance of Cassie’s peaceful na-ture. According to those interviewed the majority of those who wear peace symbols wear them simply because it looks appealing. Some may not agree that this is the way it should be, or that society should look into the deeper meaning of peace. Many wonder who is to tell them they cannot wear a symbol if they do not believe what it stands for. “Anyone can wear what they want,” argued Dana Karp (’09). “But, I believe in peace and don’t think people should just wear it because it’s pretty or a trend.”

Bruna Petrillo ’09Opinion Editor

Wearing Peace Signs: World Peace Vs. Piece of Jewelry

Nine eleven was a day of maybe the biggest heartbreak in American history. A few days later, Duffy. Franco, an art teacher at Norwalk High, and his students came up with the idea of making 1,000 origami paper cranes and hung them in the cafeteria for the whole school to see. “My students decided to make them within a couple days after it hap-pened,” said Mr. Franco. “We wanted a place where the whole school could appreciate it.” The meaning behind these 1,000 paper cranes started with a Japanese saying, “If someone were to fold 1,000 paper cranes, they are granted one wish.” “Essentially, they had a wish for peace,” stated Mr. Franco referring to his students who helped make the cranes. Over the summer, construction took over our school

and along with that the 1,000 paper cranes were thrown away. It is still a mystery at to who made the decision to throw away the cranes.“I was stunned to imagine that someone would look at something so beautiful and then make a de-cision to throw it away,” said Mr. Franco. Mr. Franco worked very hard along with his students that year in the days after 9/11/2001 to make that wish for peace, especially after that

1,000th crane was made. He found out about what happened to them in the worst possible way.“When I went down to

the cafeteria on the fi rst day of school, and I was so shocked I couldn’t speak,” said Mr. Franco. There is a slight possibility that more paper cranes will be made, and it is clear that this time, just as the last, students will have to put their hearts into it.“If there was enough interest, I would con-sider it,” said Mr. Franco.

diana newman ’09Staff Writer

Replica of one of the paper cranes that were thrown out.

PhotoC

redit:Samantha

Redfield

1000 Paper cranes “ora-gone-E” During the Summer

Spirit Week Highlighted Through Pictures

“Essentially they had a wish for peace.” -Duffy, Franco, Art Teacher at NHS

All Photos taken by: Sharon C

adden

Peace sign jewelry people wear with meaning or just for fashion.

Photo Credit: S C

helsea Jacoby

to help rebuild the paper cranes contact Mr. Franco

NEWS THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 4 NEWS THE PAW PRINT

In Geneva, Switzerland, an experiment is underway that some believe puts much of the earth at risk and allows man to “play God”, and yet for some reason, almost know one has heard about it. The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC as the scientifi c community prefers to call it, is a new technological ad-vancement created by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, that will allow scientists to see what happened moments before the big bang. They will see this by smashing atoms and particles together at speeds that far exceed the speed of light. However, if the experiment goes wrong, it could create a black hole. “I have know idea what you are talking about,” admitted a surprised Kayla Smoragiewicz (’12). Very few people have been informed about this important experi-ment. “Every day of the week I watch CW11 news in the morn-ing before school and they haven’t mentioned a single thing. If a black hole could possibly be created when this thing goes off, you would think more people would know about it. God forbid if a hurricane hits Texas but who cares if a black hole destroys the earth right?” said an annoyed Stephan Chassagnoux (’10). “I am really surprised I haven’t heard more about this on the news,” stated Kayla Smoragiewicz (’12) If more people knew about it there would be more of a

controversy. Many people who heard about the LHC are upset by the fact that it endangers the Earth and allows people to “play God.” “I’m not upset when people play god,” said local Baptist Pastor Jason Coker. “Playing God in this experiment is no different from using modern medicine.”

While much of the religious community is upset, Pastor Coker provides a refreshing view point that does not cru-cify the LHC. “First, if anyone thinks these scientists are playing God, they are wrong because to play God one would have to assume the mixture of [the creation story in the bible] and science, they just don’t mix.” Clarifi ed Pastor Coker. “When these scientists per-form this experiment they are not playing God, they are just using the tools that were given to them.” While the majority of the world goes on living their lives, the scientifi c commu-nity will be on edge for the

next several months running tests with the LHC. Hopefully their results will bring forth new discoveries, more technological advancements, and answers to thousand year old questions. If the experiment goes horribly wrong and Earth is sucked into a black hole, at least no one can say “I told you it was wrong to play God”.

gabriella cappo ’09Peer Editor

Fatal Experiment Or Scientifi c Advancement: The LHC

The Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland.

For years, Google has dominated the search engine industry however; its time may soon come to an end. The ever popular Google is starting to feel pressure from a new kid on the block named Cuil. This new search engine (pronounced cool) is predicted to be a major competitor with Google in the coming years. Cuil.com, which is Irish for “Knowledge,” has indexed 120 billion web pages. This is about three times more than Google, and ten times more than Microsoft. Not only does Cuil have a vast amount of indexed sites, but it also provides an effective way of viewing searched material. Unlike Google, Cuil presents possible sites horizontally on the page, based on relevance. To further assist a user in searching, Cuil provides more choices and suggestions that could be more accurate to what you are looking for. Representatives from Cuil explain, “The search engine goes beyond today’s search techniques of link analysis and traffi c ranking to analyze the context of each page and the concepts behind each query.” Overall the consensus is that Cuil is a superior site that has the potential to be the next Google, but still many are skeptical of the sites ability to convert Google users.When asked if they were aware of Cuil.com, Norwalk High School students had a general response of confused look. Nicole Bamford (’09) stated, “I have never heard of Cuil, but I use Google ev-eryday.” Cuil.com has not yet made its mark on the population of America that uses the Internet the most. Google has implanted itself into American culture, and it can even be used as a verb. It seems al-most an insurmountable task to overtake the ever powerful Google, but many in the industry believe that Cuil.com has the potential to be a huge success.

noah cooper ’09Design Team

google Isn’t cuil Enough Now

Ashley Lampman (’09) looks at Google and then is amazed at just how cool Cuil.com is.

4 Weeks = geometry

With twenty years of personal experience as an SAT teacher, now the presi-dent of Math and English Consulting, Michael Marlowe explains his theory that Geometry not only could, but should be a four-week course. “Students are already turned off by math. If you ask one hundred people, seventy fi ve will say that their most diffi cult math subject is geometry,” said Mr. Marlowe. Out of everything that is learned in geometry, there is little that is neces-sary for future years and that students actually remember. “Proofs had a reason to be learned, but we question if they are still im-portant. But if they are so important, why is it not tested anywhere else currently, or for the rest of our lives?” he asked. There is only so much that the human mind can comprehend. , And to say everything in geometry is completely relevant is not true. “There are about twenty things everyone needs to know, and there are twenty to thirty more for a higher level of math or architecture,” Marlowe continued. Mr. Marlowe added on to the “BS” theory, the “bigger or smaller” the-ory. It explains everything that is needed to know in a geometry course. It discusses how when you see a circle problem, it is really about triangles. It also discusses consecutive and corresponding angles, which are fancy words for next to each other and parallel to each other. He also said that most teachers skip over the fi rst chapter in a geometry book, the chapter about patterns. But he said a good teacher will go over this section because it is critical to know. “We’ll teach the fi rst week, review the second, have the fi nal the third, and party the fourth,” Marlowe concluded. If one thinks about the importance of every topic they learned in school, anything in Geometry would rarely be remembered unless it was the es-sentials, which can all be taught in four weeks.

melanie pinto ’10Arts and Entertainment Editor

Photo Credit: Telegraph.co.uk

Geographic shapes from a a poster hanging in NHS teacher Mrs. Russo’s Room.

Photo Credit: A

shley Lampm

an

PhotoC

redit:SaraLeD

uc

Weekend Weather Forecast Norwalk, CT

Night time Friday, Oct 24

DaytimeSaturday, Oct. 25

Daytime Night time Sunday, Oct. 26

Daytime Night time

Mainly Clear80% chance of percipitaiton

Lows in the 40’s

Mostly Cloudy

Rainy at timesHighs in the 60’s

Brought to you by: Mr. Anastasia’s Meteorology ClassIn correlation with Accuweather.com & Weather.com

NEWS FEatUrETHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 5

Photo Credit: A

shley Lampm

an

DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?:THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008

Plans to enact a windfall profits tax to provide a $1,000 emergency energy rebate to American families and provide $50 billion to jumpstart the economy and prevent 1 million Americans from losing their jobs

Write O for Obama or M for McCain on the line according to their stance on the stated issues.

Will be telling oil producing countries and oil speculators that our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end. The impact will be lower prices at the pump and will increase the value of the dollar and thus reduce the price of oil.

ECONOMY

TAXESWill keep the top tax rate at 35 percent, maintain the percent rates on dividends and capital gains, and phase-out the alternative mnimum tax and will cut the corporate tax rate from 35 To 25 percent.

Will be telling oil producing countries and oil speculators that our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end. The impact will be lower prices at the pump and will increase the value of the dollar and thus reduce the price of oil.

EDUCATIONBelieves our schools can and should compete to be the most innovative, flexible and student-centered - not safe havens for the uninspired and unaccountable. He also understands that we are a nation com-mitted to equal opportunity, and there is no equal opportunity without equal access to excellent educa-tion.Aims to create the American opportunity tax credit and simplify the application process for financial aid.

IRAQIs ready to launch a responsible, phased withdrawal.

Wants to get Iraq’s economy back on its feet and believes in the importance of succeeding.

ENERGYWill ccommit our country to expanding domestic oil exploration and believes in promoting and ex-panding the use of our domestic supplies of natural gas

Looks to provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump and within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.ANSWERS: ECONOMY: O, M TAXES:

M, O EDUCATION: M, O IRAQ: O, M ENERGY: M, O

Go to www.baracko-bama.com or

www.johnmccain.com to see additional information on

each candidate!

W

ant to find out more?

Word BankChurchArizonaMichelleUnitedAugustIllinoisMalia

MeghanSasha

ColumbiaAlexandriaVirginia

Panamal CanalHonoluluCindy

HarvardEpiscopalHawaii

National War

Fill in the blanks using the words from the word bank to the left.

Barack Obama’s wife’s name is ____________ Obama and his children’s names are ____________ Ann Obama and ____________ Obama.

John McCain’s birthday as well as Barack Obama’s birthday fall in the month of ____________.

McCain is currently the senator of ____________ and Obama is the senator of ____________.

Barack Obama’s religion of choice is ____________ ____________ of Christ and McCain’s is ____________.

John McCain is proud to call ____________ his hometown while Obama originates from ____________.

John McCain’s wife’s name is ____________ Hensley McCain.

Obama attended ____________ and ____________ University and McCain was edu-cated at ____________ ____________ College in 1973.

There was dispute because John McCain was born in the ____________ ___________, but he is nonetheless an American Citizen.

I F I W E R E P R E S I D E N T I W O U L D . . .“Turn Martin Luther King day into Martin Luther King Month.” Mike Corasaniti (’11)

“Bring soldiers home from Iraq so they could be reunited with their families.” Sarah Zezima (’12)

ANSWERS (FILL IN THE BLANK): MICHELLE, MALIA, SASHA, AUGUST, ARIZONA, ILLINOIS, UNITED, CHURCH, EPISCOPAL, ALEXANDRIA, HONOLULU, CINDY, COLUMBIA, HARVARD, NA-TIONAL, WAR, PANAMA, CANAL

“Attempt to unite congress for the benefit of the country.” Dan Faugno-Fusci (’10)

“Allocate funds specfically aimed tofind-ing alternative means of energy sources, that are eco friendly.” Sara Costa (’10)

artS & ENtErtaINMENt THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 6

Marc Mones (’09), senior at Norwalk High School, is and always has been an artist.

“I’ve been doodling ever since I can remember. I doo-dle here and I doodle there,” he said.

He has been chosen as Artist of the Month for this is-sue of The Paw Print because throughout his years, he has never been seen not picking up his pencil and drawing, even if it is in the middle of class.

Melanie: What was your favorite medium when you were younger?

Marc: Pencils, because they were easily accessible. I still like pencils now, even though now I expand to acrylics, gouache, and charcoal.

MP: What do you have most trouble with while working on your art?

MM: I have trouble with still-lifes.

MP: What do you admire most about your art?

MM: I admire my own creativity. And everyone else ad-mires how different my art is. It is not the wind-of-the-mill-stuff.

MP: Do you turn to art when you are having a rough time?

MM: I mainly turn to art when I have a subconscious, po-litical, or environmental idea to get across.

MP: What is your favorite thing to draw?

MM: I like to draw old peoples’ faces that I create.

MP: Do you plan on going to college for art?

MM: Absolutely. I am looking at A.I.B. because I went to a summer pre-college camp and I basically fell in love.

MP: Do you get inspired by your own art or does some-thing inspire you?

MM: I use a lot of others as inspiration to mold my own

ideas. My original ideas mainly come from an emotional attachment.

MP: What are you most excited for in your art career?

MM: I am most excited to infl uence others and get my views across through expression.

Spotlight on: Marc Mones, aP artist of the Month

As the credits roll during the end of the latest episode of a popular series, it is not the theme playing but the sobs of the heroine, her father dying in her arms. You may be asking yourself: “What show is this? What channel is it on?” The answer may sur-prise you. This is the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode 2, by Valve Software. Never heard of it? Few outside of gaming circles

have, but games like this may be able to list a new selling point: emotional experiences. While I will not go into details about graph-ics and psychology, it stands to reason that it is easier to feel sympathy for something that actually looks like a person than for a tiny little blip that looks vaguely like an ape. In other words, thanks to ad-vancements in technology, we have moved from fi n-ger-paints to a fi ne set of paints, which make a nearly photo-realistic portrait. Because video-games allow for direct interac-

tion with characters, as opposed to the passive sort which other medias work with, it can be easier to feel more for a digital character than for the live actor. In fact, deep stories of drama are showing up in games much more frequently. Take the upcoming Gears of War 2. The original was known for being a big burly shoot-’em up game with lots of gore and a novel chainsaw-bayonet. The story was one of vengeance and detonating a bomb in the monster’s underground cave. The sequel will not tone down the violence, but one character’s missing wife will be a major focus of the plot. Tell me the last time a television show made you cry? I don’t think that’s happened to me since the ’90s. But a game? I shed a tear as Alyx Vance (the aforementioned heroine) lost her fa-ther. You might too.

Being stuck in a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf is what many teenage girls are dreaming of. Most would do anything to be Bella Swan, the main character of Stephanie Meyer’s increasingly popular series, Twilight, who is stuck in this love triangle with her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, and her werewolf best friend, Jacob Black. Teenage girls around the country have been buying copies of Meyer’s series, Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, and Breaking Dawnto see who Bella chooses, and if her choice will lead her to becom-ing a vampire. “A love triangle between a human, werewolf and vampire sounds crazy, but the author makes it realistic,” said Liz McLean (’09). With over eight million copies sold, Meyer is anything but a small celebrity, some have even begun to call her the next J.K. Row-ling. “There will never be another J.K. Rowling. That’s a lot of pres-sure on me isn’t it?” said Meyer. But as more and more girls become enraptured in the series, her book sales have increased rapidly, her second book of the se-ries, Eclipse bumped Harry Potter out of the number one spot on Best-Seller lists. And with her book, Twilight coming to theaters in December, thousands of girls will be attending to watch their dream boyfriends, Edward and Jacob, and to envy Bella Swan. “Bella is a character that all girls can relate to,” Liz McLean also said. Even though Meyer had only wanted to just write a book about a dream she had, it has turned into a phenomenon, full of vampires, covens, werewolves, and love. Meyer has captured the attention of millions with her characters and has started a craze that is far from dead.

Playing games With My Heart

back to Summer; a Midsummer Night’s DreamStart the clock, lights please, curtains, places, and action! This fall you will be able to have the wonderful opportunity to experience yet another funny comedy here at Norwalk High School directed by Mrs. Pettibone in late No-vember. This year’s comedy is Shakespeare’s comical version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Originally, the dedicated choir teacher, Mrs. Pettibone, thought of putting on a different type of performance this fall. “We were think-ing of some silly fairy tales, but we decided we prefer to do a Shakespearian comedy, rather than a modern day comedy,” said Pettibone.

Auditions were on September 16th.They were promoted by the Septem-ber 12th club fair. Everyone had their chance to audition and everyone had just as good a chance as anyone.

“Anyone has a chance at it,” said Pettibone.Once auditions are closed rehearsals begin immediately and occupy a

good part of the week until performance time. “Rehearsals will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school,”

stated Pettibone. There are seniors who have been part of the comedy from past years.

“I have done the fall com-edies since freshman year and they have been a fun and educational experience having gone from crew to larger funni-er roles,” said Anthony Granata ‘09.

In this comical version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, the audiences will meet four young and confused lovers. They will also meet the king of the fairies, Oberon, and his Queen Titania. Along the

way there will be Puck, Tom Snout, Theseus, and some other entertaining characters.

With four performances, beginning on Sunday, October 23, everyone will have the chance to see what this comedy has to offer.

“The comedy is great every year and every year it doesn’t disappoint me,” said Nicole Gannon, Senior at Westhill High school.

Twilight craze

PhotoC

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wim

age.cbsnews.com

PhotoC

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An image from the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream

An old X-box game consel

Melanie Pinto ’10Arts and Entertainment Editor

Ashley Lampman ’09Design Team

Justin McGown ’11Staff Writer

Diana Newman ’09Staff Writer

Photo Credit: M

elanie Pinto

Senior Artist of the Month; Marc Mones

artS & ENtErtaINMENtTHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 7

During the 2007 to 2008 school year, Mr. Mecca, Norwalk High School’s Principal and others were interested, about displaying art-work around the school (read Getting Exposed). “I have only one year to base this on, but I am so impressed by our students’ art, and it’s not just the seniors,” Mecca said. This year there are plans to show more art by adding more showcases around the hallways and holding certain pieces of framed art along the front wall in the cafeteria. “We are planning on a display in the cafeteria. First we need to paint over the brown, and we will move from there,” Mecca add-ed. As for the showcases, they should be in place around early No-vember, “It would be a nice resolution [to have them done],” Mecca continued. With these showcases and bulletins, not only would the school look nicer, but the students would feel more recognized and accom-plished as well. “It would be such a rewarding feeling to see my work around the school,” said Kristen Cordero (’10). After asking for more art exposure in the front lobby, Mr. Mec-ca made it clear it was not his top priority, “I need to think about the display areas,” he said. Although some students liked the idea, “I think the display cases in the lobby would be cool,” said Sara Cybart (’10). “If I was in art, I’d like for people to see my work as soon as they walk into school in the morning, or right before they leave for the day,” she added. And if it turns out that placing artwork here is not enough, Mr. Mecca thinks something larger would work. “The Maritime Aquarium is a great idea. City Hall is filled with NHS’ students’ work. If we found a niche to house art, we’d do it,” Mecca finished. With so much talent, it is only necessary that these artists are seen. The showcases should be in place by November, and the caf-eteria will be done after the brown wood is painted. The search for more art exposure is not over, so keep your eyes open.

Upcoming ConcertsDuffy - October 25

New Kids On The Block - October 28

Backstreet Boys - November 2

AC/DC - November 12 - 13One Republic - November 26Michael Bublé - December 5

Get your tickets today!

Showcase Spotlight PoEtRy CoRnEr

Dwindlingconcerts

The members of the Norwalk High School Marching Bears prac-tice from five to eight on week nights and from nine am to at least four pm on Saturdays. They prepare to compete on Saturday nights, which usually ends by midnight. The theme of the show this year is about a man who escapes from jail. He then goes to the Green Mill Lounge, meets a girl and dances with for a little while and enjoys his freedom for the time being. The man then gets chased and caught by the police and gets thrown back in jail. “I feel that this is a great show and it has a lot of potential. I really enjoy performing it,” said Jasmine Hall (’10) a four year member of the color guard.” Its just one of those things that makes

you tap your feet.” The marching band fully funds themselves. They fundraise all of their own money by holding bake sales, car washes etc.) “I’m not satisfied with the support from NHS,” Hall said. “There isn’t enough student or teacher population attending competitions, I would like to see some more familiar faces in the stands.” The way a band competition works is bands from all across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey etc.) march on the football field to perform they have a certain amount of time to get on the field, perform and then get off the field. There are judges com-menting and critiquing on almost every move the bands and color guards make. They judge music, drill, the work and creativity and performance. Each of these are called captions and before the band gets their score they find out who wins each caption. Any band in your class can win a caption it doesn’t matter if they come in first or in third. Competitions are taken seriously every school is battling for first place. This is why the band practices so often. For years Nor-walk High school was undefeated and now the band is working their hardest to regain that title.

Live performance ticket sales are dropping rapidly, as major labels are reporting that along with record sales (thanks to music piracy), now concerts and live shows are selling poorly as well, reported the AP. “I like Lil Wayne but I’ve always been too busy to see him live,” said Do-menick Franco, ’09, “Don’t CDs sound better than live anyway?” Though classic and contemporary artists are struggling, some success has been found by Disney-branded teen artists. “While the rest of the industry is struggling, artists aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds are soaring,” Stated MTVnews. Though records do make the most money for performers, it is said that per-formers prefer live versions of their songs, as the original meaning is better held. The Doors front man Jim Morrison is quoted as saying, “Those first few songs I wrote, I was taking notes at a fantastic rock concert going on in my head.” People magazine has stated that, “While these may be deemed isolated in-cidents, music promoter Barry Fey blames the depressed national economy as well as some internationally known rock stars who are commanding outrageous ticket prices.” Though the music industry has fallen on hard times, with opposition found in summer blockbusters and piracy, there is hope that the new, younger generations’ musical taste will expand beyond the Jo-nas Brothers and Hannah Montana. New iPods from Apple, and classic bands of yester-year reuniting for tours are also expected to boost music sales this holiday season.

The Front RowTanya Timolien `09

Staff Writer

Life is a theatre – invite your audience care-fully.

Not everyone is worthy or honorable enough to have a front row seat in our lives.

There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance; & some people from a

further distance. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with drain-ing, negative, unsuitable, friendships, & relation-

ships. Observe the relationships around you, pay at-tention to, the ones who lift and which ones lean. Which ones encourage and which ones dis-courage. Which ones are on a path of an up hill

growth and which ones are going down hill? When you leave certain people do you feel bet-

ter or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know & appreciated you & the gift

that lies within you? The more you seek growth, peace of mind, love & truth around you – the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the Front Row, who should be moved to the balcony, and who should be booted from the theatre of your life.

You cannot change the people around you, but you can definitely change the people you are

around. Ask for wisdom & discernment and choose wisely

the people who sit in the front row of your life.

Some of the greatest musicals have been turned into movies, but when movies get turned into broadways shows will the same result oc-cur?

Rent, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and many oth-er Broadway shows have been turned into box office hits at the movies; the reverse is a phe-nomenon turning movies into Broadway shows.

Broadway took Legally Blonde, a comedy about a young girl following her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School, and turned it into a show. Questions how Broadway could pull off making this comedy into a hit musical pestered the pro-duction. Although it seemed like a stretch the musical did make it to number one.

Sure Legally Blonde was a hit, but in order to make it a hit much of the original script was

changed like different scenes and different char-acters.

Has Broadway taken it too far? Rumors of American Psycho becoming a Broadway show makes one wonder if playwrights have run out of ideas. They are turning to movies that, if they wanted, could just tweak it a little bit to make it a show.

“When making a movie into a musical it has to be done carefully. They have to keep the orig-inal plot and try not to change a lot. The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast did a good job of keeping the same plot,” said Mrs. Pettibone, the choir teacher. “Sometimes they make the movies into musicals because the story line is good.”

This just makes the public wonder could any movie become a musical? What’s next, SAW IV?

When Movies Meet broadway

chronicles of the green Mill LoungeNYC’s Broadway district in Time’s Square

Samantha Redfield ’09Staff Writer

Max Whitaker ’09Staff Writer

Victoria Giannitti’09Staff Writer

Melanie Pinto ’10Arts and Entertainment Editor

Photo Credit: http://upload.w

ikimedia.org

“I feel that this is a great show and it has a lot of potential. I re-

ally enjoy performing it”Jasmine Hall ’10

octobEr 2008PagE 8 FEatUrE

NEW AT NHSVictoria Giannitti ’10

While going to class at 7:30 in the morning has not changed, Norwalk High School has. From the fl oors to the new plaza, many renovations have taken place. Every house offi ce is refi nished with new carpeting and new doors. “They look great the old carpet and stains and this offi ce was so cramped, but now I have a lot of space and it looks great,” says Mr. Mecca, Nor-walk High Schools Principal. Over the summer new air con-ditioning units were put in the school and as everyone can agree they have seriously cooled the school down. “Some days it’s actually colder inside the school, then outside,” says Shan-non Wu (’10). But, for the most part, the school has improved. “The school gives off a good vibe, it’s brighter, and comfortable,” says Alena Grullon (’10). “The school has a nice atmo-sphere and is a great place to work,” says Mr. Fuller, an English teacher at NHS. The only things left to do are clean up outside, repair some things in E-House, and refi nish the gym fl oor.

As a freshman one begins their tenure at Norwalk High School not knowing what to expect as far as sports, classes, friends, and most of all, upperclassmen. However most share the same views on high school and had the same thoughts on the upcoming year. Freshman year is a person’s fi rst impression to the school and to colleges, and it doesn’t really hit at fi rst. The main focus for almost all freshmen was just to “stay alive”, after hearing all the crazy stories about what the seniors would do to you. Once it is realized that all of these crazy things are false, then a student is ready to start their high school career. During freshman year, you do not have the stress of a big test like CAPT or the dreaded SATs, but it is your fi rst introduction to fi nals and midterms which are far from enjoyable.However sophomore year is really when it starts to pick up and you begin to realize that this is going to help determine the rest of your life. During sophomore year the classes get harder, and competition on the playing fi eld and the classroom grow. By sophomore year, you can already pretty much pick out the kids who are taking school seriously and those who are the clowns of the class and the ones in between. People have probably already fell into a group of friends that will be kept throughout time at Norwalk High School (or hope to). Practicing with juniors and seniors every day at practice can be a bit intimidating. Sophomores are also getting close to the age where you can start working and racking in the cash.

Kyle Weimar (’09)

“Making a whole lot of friends and meeting as many people as I can.”

Katy Lee (’09)

“Graduation”

taylor Dispirito (’10)

“Junior Prom!”brent Vigneault (’10)

“School breaks, Chanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Thanksgiving,

Cinco de Mayo, and Arbor Day”

Heard in the Halls: What are you Looking Forward to Most this Year?

WELCOME BACK TO NORWALK HIGH SCHOOLStaff Writer

Jeff DeSimone ’09Feature Editor

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one

Plasma Screen in Front of Main Office

FEatUrE octobEr 2008 PagE 9

Academically, this is a very important year because the adjustment period is over and it will be diffi cult to bounce back from a bad sophomore year. The CAPT

test is during this year and although it is not SAT-caliber, you still need to pass it to graduate, so you can

not brush it off like it’s nothing. Speaking of SAT’s, Sophomore year is the

most diffi cult academic year for stu-dents and it is the one colleges

pay the most attention to. Junior year is when a

majority of athletes will start to play

at the varsity level, andmusicians will begin

to grab solos. It is your fi rst

year being considered an

upperclass-men, so

push yourself

and stand out. Oh, and one

last thing. Senior parking, one

of the favorite perks for anyone who is in their fi nal year at

NHS. Being in your fi nal year, you have

probably made yourself known to your fellow

classmates by this point and you are ready to coast on by. Not so fast. Senioritis may come into effect if you get into college if that is your desired plan, or at least make sure you have enough credits to graduate and pass Senior English. Once the second semester hits, students tend to begin slacking off and

just think about graduation and prom. This may be fun and relaxing, however, don’t think there are no risks in relaxing a little too soon. But it is your last year, so make it

worth while!

allie Megale (’11)“Color War.”

Ian golden (’11)“Mistletoe.”

Stephanie gonzalez (’12)“Summer.”

andrew Fitzgerald (’12)“Hockey season and Lacrosse

season.”

Heard in the Halls: What are you Looking Forward to Most this Year?

School Myths:Fact or Fiction?The following statements are either true or false.

Try your best to guess correctly. Answers are on bot-

tom

1. Fourth Floor A House Exists2. Upperclassmen throw D batteries at freshmen during the Pep Rally.3. There is a Greenhouse at NHS4. There are classrooms in “C” house.5. People eat lunch in the Bathroom.6. Freshmen and sophomores can have open end.7. Norwalk High School was modeled after a prison.8. Cafeteria meat is re-used9. Freshmen are supposed to decorate their house offi ce.10. There are Bathrooms in S House.11. Classes are not air-conditioned.12. There is a Quidditch Club at NHS.13. There is a gift shop in B House.14. The NHS Marching Band has not lost a competition in the last 20 years.15. If the fi re alarm goes off three times in a day, we get out of school.16. The surveillance cameras work.17. There are three teachers with the same last name at NHS.18. Hand sanitizers are in all of the Resource Centers19. NHS used to have a Candy Store20. You enjoyed this quiz.

WELCOME BACK TO NORWALK HIGH SCHOOL

answers: 1. Fiction 2. Fiction 3. Fact 4. Fact 5. Fact 6. Fiction 7. Fact8. Fiction 9. Fact 10. Fiction 11. Fiction 12. Fact 13. Fact 14. Fiction15. Fiction 16. Fact 17. Fact 18. Fiction 19. Fact 20. Fact

Staff Boxthe Paw PrintNorwalk High School

23 Calvin Murphy DriveNorwalk, CT 06851

(203) 838-4481ext. 1808

The Paw Print would like to thank all Journalism students for their work in the

creation of this newspaper. The following writers are those whose work

appears in this issue.

Executive Editor:Sara LeDuc

Design team:business Editor, News Editor:

Chelsea Jacobyarts & Entertainment Editor- Melanie

PintoFeature Editor- Jeff DeSimoneopinion Editor- Bruna Petrillo

Sports Editor- Brian JacobyNoah Cooper

Ashley Lampman

Photography Editor:Daniel Conklin

Staff Writers:

Peer Editor: Gabriella Cappo

Eloise LibreEmma Lott

Molly Young

advisor:Mr. Karl

EDItorIaL THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 10

EDItorIaL

Please let us know what you think. Students are welcome to submit writing either in

person to room 218B or email to

nhspawprint@gmail.com.

Policies:Our newspaper reserves the

right to edit all submissions for space and

clarity. All entries must in-clude name, year in school,

and phone number for verifi-cation.

Marc CoppolaMatthew Cranston

Jaleesa DavisVictoria GiannittiJustin McGownAlex MorsanuttoDiana Newman

Samantha Redfi eldEric Scatamacchia

Tanya TimolienDaisy VillalobosMax Whitaker

Jennifer Wilkins

My Personal rebuttal: a travesty avoided

Obama versus McCain, Palin against Biden. These are the words that have been spoken on all of the platforms of media and newsprint. Quite frankly I am sick and tired of it. In the early stage of our Journalism class, we had to decide on what the feature story would be. We had several ideas, but the only one that stuck out was the election. A few staff members thought it was a great idea. “We can do a story on the childhood of each candidate!” some of them said. While this was going on, I just sat back in my desk and listened with increasing disgust. I thought to myself, “If we see the election on TV, read about it in the newspaper, and hear it on the radio, why on earth would it need to be in the school paper?” Immediately I raised my hand to weigh in on the travesty that was occurring. I was not about to have the feature of this paper be about the economy, immigration, tax cuts, and other political jargon. A few of my classmates argued that students needed to be informed about the possible leaders of our coun-try. That is fi ne, but unless the students at our school have never picked up a newspaper or watched the news, the idea is irrelevant. Of course, the election should not be excluded from the paper completely. The idea of having a small sec-tion about it in the latter pages of the Paw Print is fully endorsed. As one of the editors, I apologize sincerely for those who are actually interested in the election, but being a high school student myself, I really do not think that it would capture my interest. The feature of the paper is all about grabbing attention and relating articles to the masses of Norwalk High School. The election just would not suffi ce. Students at Norwalk High have not proven to me that they have interest in it, so it shall not be the feature of this paper.

Brian jacoby ’09Sports Editor

No Negative Nancys or Debbie Downers Here

Some love Norwalk High School and others dislike it for the diverse array of students it inhabits. Approxi-mately 1,700 young adults of different racial, religious, and economic backgrounds are in the same place for nearly seven hours each day. Every individual has his or her own unique personalities and opinions. However, despite differences from one another, one thing that never seems to waver is petty complaints. Despite the fact that we live in one of the richest counties of the richest country on the planet, never do we suppress the need to whine about things that are not worth complaining about. While some do have legitimate problems that merit complaints, many waste their times griping about annoyances rather than real problems. This is stupid. I am so hungry. I hate this class. I have no time to do my homework; I have no time to do any-thing.Whining is one of my biggest fl aws. However, in recognizing this, I wonder: can we choose to complain less and be satisfi ed more? Does complaining minimize our triumphs and limit our successes? I believe the answer to all of the above is yes. Whining does nothing but deter our moods and catalyze sadness. We complain simply because it is easier than taking action against things we wish would change. If you think something is stupid, change it. Speak out against things you dislike. Actively share your ideas and criticize constructively. Each NHS student has his or her own thoughts and opinions for a reason. If there is one thing journalism has taught me, it is that not everyone is like me- not everyone has the same thoughts, opinions, or ideas as me, not everyone has the same likes and dislikes as me- and that is okay. It is okay that my peers in journalism want a different feature or front page. Those differences give The Paw Print the diversity it needs to appeal to a diverse group of people. NHS’s blend of students teaches us to be accepting of others. Use your opinions as an advantage. Take action towards that which displeases you. Use your voice, say what you believe loud and say it proud- just do not use your voice to complain.

Sara leduc ’09Executive Editor

Letters to the EditorDear Editor,

Freshmen class, welcome to Norwalk High School! You have made it this far and here is some advice from a sophomore. Fresh-men year will be good depending on how you make it. If you work hard you will do well, but if you slack off your next four years will be hard. Here are some tips on how to survive high school: Always do your homework, never cut any classes because you can be denied credit, always listen to all the teachers and do what you are told, follow all directions that the teachers give you, and make a lot of friends! Also, get involved and you will have fun and make new friends!

Sincerely,Danny Barrand Class of 2011

Dear Editor,

As a senior, the ever-present college process is looming.

We recently received our cumulative transcripts from our Guidance Counselors that inculded all courses, absences, GPA, and class rank. It has been the policy of Norwalk High School (and Brien McMahon, for that matter) to weight AP courses when calculating the GPAs of students. This is so students that challenge themselves by taking more diffi cult courses are rewarded with stronger GPAs. In visiting many colleges in the past year, I have found that admissions offi ces must constantly recalculate GPAs with additional weight to honors and AP (if not already given). In our current system, the top, AP-level, students are rewarded for their hard work but the honors students are not. An honors student receives the same amount of credit as a student in stanine fi ve classes. This is not only unfair to students, but to thousands of admissions offi cers that must take the time to recalculate the GPAs of applicants. I urge the administration to reconsider this policy.

Sincerely, Allie Cuttner

Class of 2009

Dear Editor,

Student Government would just like to say a quick welcome back to everyone and Norwalk High School and furthermore, Thank you to everyone who participated in spirit week and pep rally! Spirit week was a lot of fun and pep rally went well. The student government couldn’t have done it with out the help of those students, clubs, parents, and teachers who put in a whole lot extra. Thanks to everyone. The beginning of the school year has been very busy for the student government so we’d like to now thank everyone who has been helped out in any way for any-thing. Thank you so much. It is work like yours that helps us out tremendously. As the year goes on, student government hopes to have several events and hopes the students of Norwalk High School can get involved. If anyone has any interests in bettering the school or just being a part of it, don’t hesitate to act on that desire. Another great year is ahead fi lled with big plans and fun surprises and student government is ready for them all.

Sincerely, Your Student Government President,

Gabriella CappoClass of 2009

If you would like to appear as a guest writer for the paw print, drop off your writing

in mr. karl’s room, 116B or e-mail the paw print at

nhspawprint@gmail.com.

oPINIoNTHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 11

“Unsanitary is the only word to describe these bathrooms.”

“We are too conditioned for self-destruction for the boy scouts to live in

their America. The only remedy would be a mandatory lobotomy at birth.”

With a new school year starting the students at Norwalk High are expecting a clean start for the year. They did not get that in the girls’ bathrooms.

In second fl oor B house girls’ bathroom is already fi lthy and full of obscene language. In one of the stalls some girl is being challenged to a fi ght for no reason. Terms like “slut” and “whore” are in the bath-rooms. Not only is it vandal-ism, but there is no need for anyone’s feelings to be hurt.

“I just don’t understand why the bathrooms are so gross,” said Chloe Fosella (’09). “I don’t even like going to the bathroom because it’s so dirty.”

Unsanitary is the only word to describe these bath-rooms. There are many “feminine supplies” left lying around, the toilets are never fl ushed, and sometimes there is no soap to wash your hands with.

“At my old school the bathrooms were dirty, but not this dirty. I like Norwalk High, but the bathrooms scare me a little bit,” said Peggy O’Hara (’11), a transfer from Notre Dame.

The bathrooms are dis-gusting and should be cleaned more often. This type of attention will hopefully get them clean.

They should be cleaned more often because this can prevent and future illnesses and it will look more professional. New student or old, something has to be done.

Samantha Redfield ’09Staff Writer

Norwalk High bathrooms go Down the crapper

Spiro-tualizing americaLucas Spiro ’09Guest WriterDeath had been on my mind a lot recently. I sped along in a brand new Chevy; dusty from hours on the road across Americas “bread basket” state. Hawks circled overhead, scouring these sanguine fi elds for dead that has been buried by the ages. It made “sense” though. Being on the verge of falling into what could be the rest of my life naturally includes the end, the fi nal bow. After all, it was a funeral that brought me out here in the fi rst place.

I would like to believe this country still has so much left to offer, but where to start looking? Is the American Dream something lost in all of the battles that took the lives of brother, and given as tribute to be kept a secret? Or is it constantly being created and recreated with each new breath? How hard is it to fi nd, if it is able to be found at all. And if it is ever recognizable, is it just a matter of reaching out and taking it?

Being so young, and old enough to see how young I am at the same time is what made it all so frightening. It was also probably why Death was tickling my eardrums so viciously. Fear can force us in all kinds of directions leading to all kinds of paths, and then it becomes a matter of choice. But it was not choice that had me traveling on this road on this particular day, because it lead me to Cabella’s. A place that scared me in, out, and all around myself; and I had only stopped for lunch.

Cabella’s is on of the country’s largest camping and hunting stores; a haven for the contemporary outdoors-man and the seemingly incestuous offspring of guileful pioneers. If the condition of the mammoth- sized parking lot was any indication, I knew I was headed for chaos.

It was all too unexpected. A woman tended a cauldron of fresh, sweet, kettle corn; steaming like a Shakespearean witch’s brew. Small men with thick glasses carried fi re-arms. Tall men with shaved heads carried fi rearms. Portly men, weak men, psychotic men, burley men and infants all carried fi rearms.

Three boy scouts stood outside of the main doors passively begging for donations. Their bodies bled with meek embarrassment. The troop leader idled off to the side, portentous and balding. These children were learning the rarity of generosity at an all too early age. A brutish rec-ognition that their cause was not worth the nick-els and dimes clinging to the lint in the depths of not just stranger’s, but fellow American’s pock-ets. Why had these boys chosen this place for their

collection? Surely they must have thought the people here would share their values and support their cause more than anywhere else. Or maybe it was because of the numbers. Could it all just be business?

These poor fools, defenders of an American way that does no longer exists and will never exist again. We are too conditioned for self-destruction for the Boy Scouts to live in their America. The only remedy would be a mandatory lobotomy at birth.

This meager defense of what can only bee seen as truth in the eyes of a child is what scared me back into myself and my car and onto the open road. There are times when the only thing a person can do is fl ea; quickly and without a word to anyone. It will not matter to them anyway.

So when the sun is glaring, blinding us to what lies immediately ahead; and those birds above screech threateningly, we can still shake our fi sts at them and shout, “I’m not dead yet!”

Daniel Conklin ’09Photography Editor

When nature calls, many Norwalk High School students do not answer. Some be-cause the bathrooms are not available, others because they are just fi lthy.

The state of the bathrooms in Norwalk High School are utterly disgusting. I did some investigative journalism one day and came across several factors that made people wish they could hold it in until they got home.

First thing I noticed, besides the grim and fi lth, was that only some bathrooms were handicap accessible. While one bathroom had the metal guard rails and safety switch, the other bathroom had none of these features. Making it all but impossible for the physically handicap to use the bathroom, which is completely unacceptable.

Next was the conditions the bathrooms were in. Paint was peeling from the walls and ceiling as graffi ti covered the stall walls and mirrors, where there were mir-rors. People have also decided to save water and not fl ush the toilet; I however believe we can spare the water for a fl ush. I’m all for going green, but if it’s brown, fl ush it down.

To remedy these problems a fresh coat of paint, a few new mirrors and some automatic fl ushers could really brighten the place up. They also need to address the issue of making all the bathrooms handicap accessible.

Another problem with the bathrooms, was many of them were locked. With the excep-tion of the lunchroom and locker room, I came across two open bathrooms in all six houses and on all three fl oors. This is a problem for the student who is already rushing to class and cannot spend the extra time searching for a

bathroom. We are students, not explorers. So lets make the day a little easier on the

students of Norwalk High School. Lets unlock some bathrooms, pull out the paint brushes, and make our school a little bit nicer, one step at a time.

This will be the tenth school I have gone to, so this is not a new thing to me. When I decided to move here for my se-nior year, I did not know what to expect. I had heard good things about Norwalk High, but the large, grey buildings were less than reassuring. Despite a confusing layout and a huge population, I found my way around easily enough.

After a few days, I soon realized that it is the same as all the other schools I have been to, only with a bazillion more people. Also, there are a few small differences that make Norwalk High stand out. For instance, at my old schools, we were always allowed to eat outside. When I heard I could not do that here, I was disappointed. Then I noticed the courtyard. Here, in the smack middle of the

school, is a beautiful area where one could eat outside, if not for the thing layer of trash coating the ground.I never really thought about it, but I litter as much as anyone else. But at other schools the litter is more manageable, since the student body is was so signifi cantly smaller.

So I think the main differences are caused by the mas-sive size of this school, which is easily three to four times as large as my last school.Even if it is a huge change for me, I like this school so far. I think there are some great people here, and I will probably be glad I moved here. I will probably even let the goose-poop covered Converse slide. Well, maybe not.

Max Whitaker ’09Staff Writer

New School, Same Problem, Different Day, Same Max

Photo Credit: A

shley Lampm

an

Girls bathroom toilet in second fl oor B-House.

“The large, grey buildings were less than reassuring.”

PhotoC

redit:Bruna

Petrillo

Photo Credit: D

aniel Conklin

Boys bathroom urinals in second fl oor B-House.

Lucas Spiro standing next to an American fl ag.

Max Whitaker sits in the D-House courtyard.

Photo Credit: B

runa Petrillo

oPINIoNTHE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 12

oPINIoNTHE PAW PRINT

About a year ago people would have thought three dollars a gallon would be too much to be paying for gas, but now a days, we are lucky if we see it under four dollars. As if buying a car is not hard enough for teenagers to afford these days, they now have to worry about how they will afford to fi ll the tank. This dilem-ma has driven kids to have no choice but to stop extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, to go fi nd a job. It leaves a tough decision for kids but it is one that must be done if they hope to have a means of transportation. “Practice about 15 hours a week plus games and pasta parties; it’s almost impossible to work if you play a sport,” said Gianna Vinelli (’09) had to give up Field Hockey to get a job. Even though it is very diffi cult for high school students even to fi nd the time to get a job, those who have them struggle to balance it with a healthy social life. However, they are left with no choice because without that job, they could not afford the gas in their car to go hang out with friends. With gas prices so high, there is not even a signifi cant amount of money left from a paycheck to go out and buy other items people may need or want. “Sometimes I have to make sacrifi ces to stick to my responsibilities and often that sacrifi ce is giving up my friends,” said Todd Esperance (’09). So although many teenagers would love to focus on sports, band, or their social life, the reality of it is that many of them must hang up their sneakers for a nametag and gas.

My journey to the National Democratic Con-vention started last year when my guidance counselor handed me a Junior Statesmen of America packet describing a trip for 250 United States students to venture to Denver and attend the Democratic Convention. I applied and six months later I was en route, about to experience the week of a lifetime. Obsessed with the election since the beginning, it was thrilling to actually be go-ing where history was being made. I was going to be at Invesco Field where Barack Obama, the fi rst African American nominee made his public acceptance speech. It was all too good to be true. Junior States-men is a bipartisan program for high school stu-dents interested in politics and the world around them. They offer this convention symposium once every four years for both the Democratic and Republican conventions. The second my feet touched the ground in Denver, an indescribable energy overcame me. People around me believed in the change that Obama promised the country once elected.. No words were passed, but I knew the people around me felt it too. The most exciting day of the week was Thursday, when Obama made his nomination speech. 250 students arrived at the fi eld at 12

p.m., even though Obama was not going to speak until 8 p.m. In those eight hours we were never bored as speakers and performers fi lled the day. Al Gore, Howard Dean, Martin Luther King III, Bill Richardson, and Nancy Pelosi spoke to the audience. Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crowe, will.i.am, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson also entertained. The 84,000 people that fi lled the stadium were never bored. Around 8 p.m., the entire stadium was si-lent in anticipation for Barack Obama to step on

stage. The feeling of 84,000 people completely silent was mind blowing. As Obama stepped on stage, the entire stadium stood and cheered until he kindly told us to stop. Throughout the speech, I kept on pinching my-self to make sure all this was really happening. The memory of this

day will last a life-time.

Getting home was hard; not everyone cares about the election like the people in Denver. Going from thousands of people caring about the future of our country to people who could not care less was hard. It was a let down, but a way for me to see what I needed to do for the election. It is now my mission to get youth in-volved because we are the future of this coun-try. Although I cannot vote yet, there are still ways for me to change the world. Whether you agree with Obama or not, this country needs a change and we are the ones that will make it happen.

Jeff desimone ’09Feature Editor

Molly Young’s notebook fi lled with election bumper stickers.

PhotoC

redit:Ashley

Lampm

an

Si Se Puede! Yes You can!molly young ’09Peer Editor

Will Work For gas

Photo Credit: D

aniel Conklin

A NHS Student gets in their car to go to work.

thinking cancer is cool? XoXo, Norwalk High

Even as young as age fi ve, children are given the idea that “smoking is cool,” and when you’re young, the last thing on your mind is, Will this kill me?

Many teens consider themselves “social smokers,” and do not think they can get addict-ed. One can start off bumming cigarettes at par-ties and smoking them simply on weekends, and then deny having a serious habit because they rarely buy packs, or have never bought a pack in their life.

Others buy packs often, and are seen smok-ing, regardless of the scene. Norwalk High School’s “wall” is a common place to fi nd people

smoking cigarettes after school. Sadly, the age of kids there range from freshmen to seniors. This means that kids as young as thirteen have already been allured to the dangerous world of cigarettes.

Reality is, there is evidence that suggests a link between lung cancer and starting to smoke at an early age. Since the media infl u-ences younger kids to smoke by having those that they look up to in pictures or movies with cigarettes, they are sending out a negative message, and kids fi nd that it is okay.

Instead of worrying about the effects smoking can have on them in the future, kids simply worry about masking the smell before they come home to their parents.

Bruna Petrillo ’09Opinion Editor

Gossip is overrated. NHS even had it’s own gossip page on MySpace. The MySpace NHS gossip page con-sisted of NHS students fi nding gossip on each other and emailing it to page, it got posted up for all MySpace members to see.

“That’s so childish, we’re 12th graders now, some people act like they’re freshman again,” Says Mone` Stringfellow (`09).

This page has recently been de-leted by the owner, but no one knows who it was that started. Rumors are

fl oating around that it is a NHS Senior. However, listening to this just adds to rumors being spread. A Majority of the students involved on this page were Upperclassmen.

“Some people have too much time on there hands.” Says Stephanie Perez (`10)

NHS already has plenty of gossip going around and putting it on a public site does not do anyone any good.

The person who created this idea is very immature. With this site up, fi ghts could have been caused for un-necessary reasons. Spreading false in-formation is not good for anyone.

Tanya Timolien ’09Staff Writer

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oPINIoN FEatUrETHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 13

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redit:Ashley

Lampm

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The blatant lack of interest shown by the students of Norwalk High School in the 2008 presidential election is absolutely dis-graceful.

When talking to students, the common excuse as to why they did not care about the election was that they could not vote. Okay so you cannot vote, get over it.

There are so many reasons that this election will change our lives, and to not understand them and appreciate the effects of this election is embarrassing to our generation.

First of all, as the war in Iraq carries on, troop shortages will become more signifi cant. Depending on which candidate wins the presidency, a draft may be utilized to increase troop num-bers.

If the possibility of being sent to war is not enough reason to care, ask yourself if you want a job after you graduate college. The U.S. economy is currently in turmoil. Jobs are becoming scarcer as employers cut back on spending.

Does Roe v. Wade, Engle v. Vitale, or Plessy v. Ferguson ring a bell. These are a few of the many Supreme Court cases that have shaped our country.

Four Supreme Court justices plan on retiring during the next presidential term. The new president has the task of selecting the new justices. These Justices will be in offi ce for the majority our generation’s lives.

So you don’t care about who will make court decisions that will dictate how you live the rest of your life, then think about how you are going to pay for college. Most students going to college will depend on some sort of fi nancial aid to help defer some of the costs.

If the next president is not successful in fi xing the economy the amount of money available aid will be severely decreased.

The 2008 presidential election will undoubtedly affect the lives of every student at Norwalk High School. It is understand-able that everyone does not follow the election religiously, but to not even know the candidate’s names is hard to believe.

Do yourself a favor. Watch a debate. Listen to the news. Do some research. You may not be able to vote, but it is your country too.

Put Up or Shut Up I Just Don’t careNoah Cooper ’09Design Team

Matthew Cranston ’11Staff Writer

“I cannot vote, so I do not care,” is probably one of the most popular answers to the question, “Why do you not care about the election?” There are many reasons why people do not care about the election. Most teens do not pay attention to the election because they cannot vote. Others feel that their one vote will not count. Other people just do not want to take the time to learn about the different candidates and research which one is the best. Most teens feel that they do not need to care about the election because they cannot vote. The problem with this is that when it comes time for them to vote, they will not know anything about the voting process, the candidates of that year, and the issues. Some other people feel that their one vote will not mean anything. Many people are getting the idea that they do not be-lieve that one person can make a difference or have an impact. If they think that their say will not count, then why should they

vote? What would happen if the candidate that you do not favor wins by one vote? Your vote would have counted then. For example, back in 2004, in the presidential race between Kerry vs. Bush, the election was so close that they called for a recount. This caused a big controversy. Other people feel that they just do not want to take the time to research and fi nd out about the candidates and their ideas. This upcoming presidential election is defi nitely a very impor-tant one. We have two very distinct representatives with very different opinions on many issues. Especially during this big crisis in the economy, concerning every American, who would not want to vote? The fact that youth votes have gone down over the years makes it more important, now than ever, for them to begin to vote again. There are so many issues to be concerned with. Many of these will affect their future. You never know when a vote could make a difference.

When you hear the word election these days, you think Republican or Democrat. But how many people even consider or know of the Green Party?

The Green Party is a federation, or group, of state Green Parties. The Green Party has been around since 2001 after reincarnat-ing from the older Association of State Green Parties, which was originally formed in 1996 to help provide support and promote the formation of parties in all states.

The Green Party is specifi cally committed to environmentalism, non-violence, and social justice. The members stand for democ-racy without the support of corporate donors.

Currently running for president in the green party are Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente. In terms of current issues, McKin-ney/Clemente stands for total pullout from the War in Iraq and more renewable resources.

McKinney and Clemente were nominated into their current positions as presidential and vice presidential contenders on the Green Party ballot party on July 12th 2008. Former U.S Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and Hip-Hop activist and journalist Rosa Cle-mente were the fi rst all women-of-color duo to run on a national ticket in U. S History.

The Green Party’s main agenda is to present a political alternative in the United States. Their main focus is to protect the environ-ment, promote non-violence, aim for more ethnic and gender equity, and create a more community based economic system, aiming for more distributed wealth.

Sick of red & blue? try Something NewDaisy Villalobos ’10Staff Writer

“Because we need a new president. Bush is just sending more people to Iraq.”-Jamie Devore (‘11)

“I don’t know enough about politics to make an actual stance on who should be president.”-John Sornatale (‘10)

“Because if you don’t care then you have no right to complain about it.”-Taylor Watson (‘09)

WH

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“If we don’t care about the election, it’s like saying we dont care about our future”-David Weeks (‘12)

“It behooves us all to choose our leaders wisely.”-Mr. Fernandez, Mathematics

“It’s a constitutional obliga-tion, and in some countries its against the law not to vote.”-Mrs. Silva, Science

“A lot has gone wrong in the past 8 years and what happens in the next 4 can dig us out of there.”-Mr. Welsch, Social Studies

“Having the opportunity to have our voice heard is the essence of being American.”-Ms. Stamos, English

“Most teens feel that they do not need to care about the election becasue they

cannot vote.”

SPortS THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 14

Ground ball to second, Leon fi elds, fl ips to Bryan for one, over to Cooks at fi rst………..GOT ‘EM, and the Norwalk 14s win the fi rst Babe Ruth World Series in the city’s history.

This past summer, my Norwalk 14-year-old Babe Ruth team clinched the fi rst World Series. The tourna-ment took place on beautiful Adams Field in Quincy, MA, right outside historic Boston.

The team went undefeated in both our state tour-nament, held in Norwalk, and in the Regional tourna-ment. Upon clinching the Regional Tourney, we en-tered the World Series walking on air.

Six games were played in Quincy, and we fi nished with a record of 5-1. We played teams from around the coun-try; Youngstown, OH, Cam-bridge, MA, Mount Vernon, WA, Nederland, TX, and Tal-lahassee, FL.

Many of the games against these teams could have gone either way. Some of the southern teams had the advantage of playing year round.

There are many reasons why our team accom-plished winning the World Series. The one thing that really stood out was the fact that we were a true “team,” on and off of the fi eld. During one of our days off in Quincy, we decided to call the coach and have a non-scheduled practice to keep the momentum going.

On the fi eld we were more than just a group of kids from Norwalk playing baseball, we were a team on a mission to accomplish a dream.

Nobody ever put anyone else down and we always picked each other up and kept our heads in the game. We learned to get along with one another and became

true friends. We played as a team and won as a team.Off the fi eld, and in the “foreign world” of not play-

ing baseball, we were the best of friends. We all talk about the great times and memories that we made during this unforgettable summer.

The excitement of winning the World Series was unexplainable and I could not sum it up any other way. Considering the fact that when I started this article it was almost 1200 words long. We won our championship game verse defending champs, Tallahassee, FL by a score of 5-3. The post game ceremonies were mentally and physically emotional. When being called up to receive your trophy, you almost did not know what was happen-ing. Every single one of us was in shock. Our Center

fi elder, Tom Sullivan, summed it up the best, he turned around and said to us, “Hey guys…., we just won the World Series!”

Back home the excitement continued. We were in every pa-per, quotes all over, and people who we did not even know were congratulating us. We attended a Red Sox game where we were sent

on the fi eld, a heart-felt and inspiring parade in Norwalk, and a Bluefi sh game. We are going to be awarded with a banquet, rings, jackets, shirts, and parties. It is not something that everyone gets to experience, and we are doing our best to let it all soak in.

To think that a team from the small town of Nor-walk, who lost its fi rst game, could accomplish this much is truly unbelievable. The fact that our team won fi ve straight must-win games to win the World Series is something that I as a player cannot even believe.

It was the greatest summer of our lives, and will be something that will stick with us forever. Everything paid off in the end, and we ended up champs. Friends forever and Norwalk World Series Champs for life.

Matthew Cranston ’11Staff Writer

a Summer to remember...

Simonsen Just couldn’t Stay awayBrian Jacoby ’09Sports Editor

For two years many have asked the Board of Education for another turf fi eld for the sports teams. With this proposal the problem is that there is no space on the Norwalk High campus to house a second turf fi eld. A needs assessment study by Milone and MacBroom discovered four options and determined the best way to add another fi eld for the school. The most logical area to build a turf fi eld with lights is between Norwalk High and neighboring Naramake El-ementary School, on Naramake’s property. This proposal did not go over well with many Naramake parents. Steven Colarossi, a Naramake parent said, “The plan puts Naramake students’ safety in jeopardy and takes away green space the school uses for community events.” Colarossi later went on to suggest a turf fi eld at nearby Nathan Hale. NHS Athletic Director Wayne Mones dismissed Colaros-si’s suggestion when he stated, “People need to understand where we’re coming from, our safety issues. We have kids out of class at 2:30 P.M. rushing over in their cars to Nathan Hale to get to practice. We have fourteen and fi fteen-year-olds who have to walk.” A joint study by UC Riverside researchers and the In-land Empire Spine Center backs up Mones’ safety concerns when they found an alarming number of students experience long-lasting back pain as a result of carrying their backpacks. Researchers found that sixty-four percent of the students sur-veyed by the UCR team reported pain, and twenty-one percent reported pain that lasted more than six months. Ricky Joslyn, a sophomore at Norwalk High and mem-ber of the JV soccer team said, “It is a real hassle to carry all my books and equipment to Nathan Hale every day.” Joslyn continued to say, “It would be a lot easier if we had an extra fi eld next to Norwalk High. We could start practice sooner and players would get home earlier.”

As of now it is not decided where or even if Norwalk High will get another turf fi eld; it seems as if this situation is far from over.

Eric Scatamacchia ’11Staff Writer

turf Is greener

“On the fi eld we were more than just a group of kids from Norwalk playing baseball, we

were on a mission.”

After offi cially retiring as the head coach of the boy’s soccer team last year, Norwalk High School English teacher Kurt Simonsen is coaching again. However, it is not soccer that he will be coaching; its football. This summer, Simonsen decided to volunteer for the role of kicking coach for the football team. He will be coaching for the entire season, asking for no payment in return. “It’s a really rewarding experience,” said coach Simonsen. “I don’t need anything in return.” Norwalk High has never had an offi cial kicking coach, so Simonsen is expected to have a big impact on the football team. He originally retired from coaching soccer to free up more time to spend with his wife and two daughters, Keegan and Emma. After a whole season off, Simonsen decided that it was time to get back on the saddle. As opposed to those of a head coaching job, Simonsen’s hours are much more fl exible and the work load is signifi cantly lighter. No longer will he have to decide who makes the team and who gets cut. Now all he has to do is come to football practice for about an hour each day if he so chooses, and teach his hybridized soccer/football.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY TEAM FOR RAISING $820 TO DONATE TO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS! GREAT JOB

LADY BEARS!

Members of the Norwalk World Series Champs pose after their 6-3 win over Tallahassee, FL.

Photo Credit: M

attCranston

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THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS

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SPortSTHE PAW PRINT octobEr 2008 PagE 15

85 years of baseball in the historic “House that Ruth Built” and it all comes down to this. The New York Yankees, one of the greatest sports teams of all time, helped to make the closing ceremonies one of the most memorable moments in Yankee Stadium history. In front of a full house came some of the greatest Yankees of all time. The stadium opened in 1923 and has been home to one of the greatest teams to ever play the game. From players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Roger Maris to current players Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, this stadium has produced many legends. The closing ceremonies labeled, “Farewell to the Stadium,” were unforgettable. An emo-tional spirit fi lled the stadium and everybody watching this historical event. There were many great players to take the fi eld and exhilarating ovations for all the legends. One of the biggest ovations was the one given to former Yankee centerfi elder Bernie Williams, who was making his fi rst return to the Stadium since retiring.In keeping with the theme that it was the “house that Ruth built,” Babe Ruth’s daughter Julia Ruth Stevens came in to throw out the fi rst pitch and close out the stadium. A Ruth would open it and a Ruth would close it. Fans arrived starting around 1:00 in the afternoon to be a part of this historic day. Gates opened and allowed fans to visit Monument Park and walk around the warning track of the fi eld to see it from a different perspective. This would be a once in a lifetime

experience. Next year, fans will experience a more modern replica of the original Yankee Stadi-um. The fi eld dimen-sions will be about the same, but the stadium will be smaller. The new stadium will also feature more luxury boxes in place of seats. There have been so many memories, historic moments, and events held here. It has become a place of more than baseball memories, but of true history. The original Yankee stadium will be missed, but there will be a whole new era of baseball and memories to be made.

a Farewell to the House that ruth built: 1923-2008 Matthew Cranston ’11Staff Writer

Yankee Stadium in New York City that is going to be knocked down.

Photo Credit: W

aybacksports.com

Unsung Heroes Alex Morsanutto ’09Staff Writer

Soccer Season Kicks Into Full gearJeff Desimone ’09Feature Editor

Last year the Norwalk High School Boys Soccer team’s season was considered less than impressive. They are confi dent they are going to prove to people that they are a better team this time around.

Although the team lost four starters, there is still a lot of experience on this team, with numerous returning players that have played Varsity in past seasons. Of these returning players, only four of them are seniors, which are TJ Lepoutre (’09), Tommy Garcia (’09), and Captains Robert Geitz (’09) and Matt Surace (‘09).

“The fact that we have a small senior class isn’t important since we have so many other players with two to three years of varsity experience, such as juniors Willy Arbieto (’10), Alex Hurd (’10), Sean Whitteaker (’10), Mike Lepoutre (’10), and fellow captain Tyler Collins (’10).” stated Surace.

After being ranked lower than they had hoped in the FCIAC’s preseason rankings, the team is ready to prove all the doubters wrong. If you listen to the players, they are very confi dent in the program and have high hopes this season.

“The team will be very good this year and we intend on putting our school back in the FCIAC’s elite.” said Geitz. (’09)

The team got off on the right foot behind second year NHS Teacher Coach Laughton, with a preseason record consisting of four wins, zero losses and two ties.

With senior leadership and a group of talented underclassmen, the Norwalk High School Girls Soccer team looks to be improved. Led by Captains Nicole DiMeglio (’09) and Alyssa Schlegel (’09), the team believes that hard work and team chemistry are the keys this year. Fellow Seniors on the team are Samantha Redfi eld (’09), Ashley Lampman (’09), Michelle Scatamacchia (’09), and Chloe Fosella (’09). The team will look for contributions from their underclassmen, especially Lindsay Macri (’11), Karolyn Collins (’12), Peggy O’Hara (’11) and Mia Kalogeridis (’11). “I really love this group of girls. I can tell that they have heart and love to play the game,” said Schlegel (’09). DiMeglio (’09) said, “We would like to get more wins and keep a high level of intensity at practice and in games.” The team is coached by Norwalk High School ’s very own NHS English teacher Ms. Stamos and NHS Math teacher Mr. Fernandez. Do not forget to support them this season, especially when they go on the road to face cross-town rivals Brien McMahon on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 PM.

BOY S

confi dent they are going to prove to people that they are a better team this time around.BOY S

confi dent they are going to prove to people that they are a better team this time around.Although the team lost four starters, there is still a lot of experience on this team, with numerous returning BOY SAlthough the team lost four starters, there is still a lot of experience on this team, with numerous returning

players that have played Varsity in past seasons. Of these returning players, only four of them are seniors, which BOY Splayers that have played Varsity in past seasons. Of these returning players, only four of them are seniors, which are TJ Lepoutre (’09), Tommy Garcia (’09), and Captains Robert Geitz (’09) and Matt Surace (‘09).

BOY Sare TJ Lepoutre (’09), Tommy Garcia (’09), and Captains Robert Geitz (’09) and Matt Surace (‘09).

“The fact that we have a small senior class isn’t important since we have so many other players with two to

BOY S“The fact that we have a small senior class isn’t important since we have so many other players with two to

three years of varsity experience, such as juniors Willy Arbieto (’10), Alex Hurd (’10), Sean Whitteaker (’10),

BOY Sthree years of varsity experience, such as juniors Willy Arbieto (’10), Alex Hurd (’10), Sean Whitteaker (’10), Mike Lepoutre (’10), and fellow captain Tyler Collins (’10).” stated Surace.

BOY SMike Lepoutre (’10), and fellow captain Tyler Collins (’10).” stated Surace.

BOY SAfter being ranked lower than they had hoped in the FCIAC’s preseason rankings, the team is ready to prove

BOY SAfter being ranked lower than they had hoped in the FCIAC’s preseason rankings, the team is ready to prove all the doubters wrong. If you listen to the players, they are very confi dent in the program and have high hopes

BOY Sall the doubters wrong. If you listen to the players, they are very confi dent in the program and have high hopes

Last year, senior class president Nick Carroll (’08) brought back Bear Pack; a group to raise school spirit at Norwalk High. The Pack tailgated before every game, painted themselves, and wore their green Bear Pack shirts. This year, due to the loss of Carroll, the torch is being passed on to Jeff DeSimone (’09) to lead the Pack. “Nick did such a great job and got everyone so excited,” said DeSimone. “It is one thing to be outgoing and loud, but to infl uence the entire crowd is something that is very diffi cult.” Regardless of the footsteps DeSimone will have to follow, Bear Pack is trying to come back just as strong this year. On the online network, Facebook, the Bear

Pack group has 301 members. Messages are sent out weekly to all the members reminding them of home games and dress code (wear white, or bear pack shirts). “As for shirts this year,” DeSimone explained, “they are going to be sold as opposed to given away.” The design of the shirt is the same as last years’ for now. Barbecue tailgates have not yet begun, but the Pack is going to try to start soon. So if you have not yet joined the Bear Pack, the time is now; join the online group for updates, and come show off your school spirit.

Pack together For School SpiritBruna Petrillo ‘09Opinion Editor

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Led by Captains Nicole DiMeglio (’09) and Alyssa Schlegel (’09), the team believes that hard work and team

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Led by Captains Nicole DiMeglio (’09) and Alyssa Schlegel (’09), the team believes that hard work and team

Fellow Seniors on the team are Samantha Redfi eld (’09), Ashley Lampman (’09), Michelle Scatamacchia (’09),

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Fellow Seniors on the team are Samantha Redfi eld (’09), Ashley Lampman (’09), Michelle Scatamacchia (’09), Fellow Seniors on the team are Samantha Redfi eld (’09), Ashley Lampman (’09), Michelle Scatamacchia (’09),

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Fellow Seniors on the team are Samantha Redfi eld (’09), Ashley Lampman (’09), Michelle Scatamacchia (’09),

The team will look for contributions from their underclassmen, especially Lindsay Macri (’11), Karolyn Collins

G irl s The team will look for contributions from their underclassmen, especially Lindsay Macri (’11), Karolyn Collins The team will look for contributions from their underclassmen, especially Lindsay Macri (’11), Karolyn Collins

G irl s The team will look for contributions from their underclassmen, especially Lindsay Macri (’11), Karolyn Collins

(’12), Peggy O’Hara (’11) and Mia Kalogeridis (’11).

G irl s(’12), Peggy O’Hara (’11) and Mia Kalogeridis (’11).

“I really love this group of girls. I can tell that they have heart and love to play the game,” said Schlegel (’09).

G irl s “I really love this group of girls. I can tell that they have heart and love to play the game,” said Schlegel (’09).

DiMeglio (’09) said, “We would like to get more wins and keep a high level of intensity at practice and in

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DiMeglio (’09) said, “We would like to get more wins and keep a high level of intensity at practice and in

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The team is coached by Norwalk High School ’s very own NHS English teacher Ms. Stamos and NHS Math G irl s

The team is coached by Norwalk High School ’s very own NHS English teacher Ms. Stamos and NHS Math teacher Mr. Fernandez. Do not forget to support them this season, especially when they go on the road to face G ir

l steacher Mr. Fernandez. Do not forget to support them this season, especially when they go on the road to face cross-town rivals Brien McMahon on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 PM.G ir

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cross-town rivals Brien McMahon on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 PM.

PAW PRINT PATRONS:The following families assisted in contributing to the creation of this newspaper.

Every little bit helps and we appreciate all of your support. ~ Thank you.

Congratulations to the sports teams and their achievements thus far

this season!

Bear Pack T-shirts are available for sale at most

NHS sporting events

Yankee Stadium in New York City that is going to be knocked down.

Every year high school football teams like to call out how a season will be measured up by how many playmakers they have. Who is the next Brent Adams or Cyprian Oyamba?

But in Norwalk High’s case it is the opposite; many peo-ple overlook these true athletes, maybe by accident or maybe because they are not the ones scoring all the touchdowns.

It is no secret that this year the strong points to Norwalk High’s football team are the offensive and defensive lines. Anchored by highly coveted 300 pound All-FCIAC tackle DJ Morrell (’09), the line has been called the biggest and most athletic group of people ever to play for NHS. Head Coach Pete Tucci said, “This line is bigger than that of the ‘98 team

which was runner-up in the FCIAC championship, they are easily the best group of athletes we have ever had.”

The average weight of the line is 270 pounds. Joining the line this year is transfer Tyler “Vito” Garcia(’09), who is from Hamburg , PA. Many remember his older brother, Christian Garcia(’08), who broke the state record for fi eld goals in a season. Captain Ryan Johnson (’09) said “Vito is a good asset, and a good element to the team.

From the left to right, the line consists of Alan Quintero (’09), Tyler Garcia (’09), Ryan Johnson (’09), Mike Diaz (’09), and DJ Morrell (’09). They are a close group who do every-thing with each other, from buffet nights to working out.

“The line is special because we are a very tight group, and we worked very hard in the weight room during the off-season, and I believe if we can play to our fullest potential we can sum up to be one of the best lines in NHS history,” said Ryan Johnson.

The last key to the success of the line will be the coaches; with experience from coaching at the college level to other high schools, they push the lineman to their limit.

Captain DJ Morrell (’09) said, “The line coaches have everything to do with it. They push us, don’t let us slack, and they always demand us to get better and better each week.”

With all said, the rest is, as they say, “history” and the front fi ve will have to live up to the hype if they want to be put down as the best. Only time can tell how good they will be.

“This line is bigger than that of ‘98 team which was runner-up in the FCI-

AC championship.”- Coach Tucci

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Photo Credit: M

attCranston

SPortS THE PAW PRINToctobEr 2008PagE 16

Part of the student body is involved with creating Norwalk High School’s fi rst muggle Quidditch team. Quidditch is known from Harry Potter, a sport in which wizards and witches fl y on their brooms and score points. Ellen Foster (’10) and Marissa Fung (’10) are the founders of the sport at Norwalk High. “We got the idea from other colleges who play it,” said Foster,” We wanted to get the team together last year,

but we fi nally got it approved this year.” Both Fung and Foster want to get more players so there can be more teams. “The sport of Quidditch involves hand eye coordina-tion along with agilities that can whip anyone into shape the same as any other athletic sport,” said Fung. Marissa Fung and Ellen Foster want to get more schools in the area to organize a team, but for now, it will just be Norwalk High vs. Norwalk High. “Quidditch is a fantasy sport. Today, regular high school sports are taken too seriously. The game of Quid-ditch focuses on childlike freedom of fun,” stated Foster.

all that Is Missing Is DumbledoreJenny Wilkins ’10Staff Writer

Come October sports fans are torn between the two most popular sports in the U.S. One of the oldest debates in the books is what sport is more popular, baseball or football. One way we can gain some insights into this diffi cult debate is by comparing who watches the NFL regular season rather than the base-ball postseason.

Television ratings by USA Today behold some an-swers to this question. On Sunday, October 12, 2008 the main football game of the weekend, the Dallas Cowboys at the Arizona Cardinals, received a rating of 16.1, equivalent to 12.4 million households. The NLCS Game 3 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers had a rating less than half of the Dallas/Arizona game.

Although this football game’s ratings were sub par compared to previous week’s games the NFL was still able to beat postseason baseball without a problem.

On a smaller scale forty “avid sports fans” at NHS were asked the question “What are you watching now, the baseball playoffs or the beginning of the NFL regular season?” Twenty-two out of forty students at NHS chose football over baseball.

In fact nine out of the twenty-two students who chose football over baseball went on to say they wouldn’t watch the baseball postseason even if there was no football.

Stelios Kalogeridis (’10) said, “Watching baseball bores me. I would rather watch politics over baseball.”

In the end no concrete information for one side of this debate was found but it is evident that football is beginning to overtake baseball as America’s pastime.

Eric Scatamacchia ’11Staff Writer

During the fall, two big sporting events come to life: the postseason of the MLB, and the beginning of the NFL regular season. In the U.S., baseball and football are said to be the two most popular sports. They are the true American-born sports. People differ in the choice of sport that they choose to watch during the months of September, Octo-ber, and November. On Sunday, October 12, 5.4 million people tuned in to watch Game 3 of the 2008 NLCS between the Phila-delphia Phillies and the Los Angleles Dodgers. The es-timated number of viewers was down 5% from last years Boston-Cleveland match up. On October 11, 3.7 million households tuned in to watch Game 2 of the ALCS on TBS, between Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. This year’s series was up 71% from last year’s coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rock-ies. TBS’S fi rst round coverage of postseason baseball ratings were down 26% from last year. 40 NHS students were asked, “What are you watch-ing now, the baseball playoffs, or the beginning of the football season.” We found 55% of the students polled are tuning in to the football season It looks as if come the beginning of fall, a majority of the students are somewhat tired of baseball, and would rather watch football.

Matthew Cranston ’11Staff Writer

Football Vs. Postseason baseball: Which Will Prevail?

cHEErLEaDINg“I feel that we’re improving

and that we deserve the title of a sport,” said captain Melissa

Iannazzo (’09). The cheerleaders look forward to cheering on the bears in the Thanksgiving game.

croSS coUNtrY“They’re a young group of

guys but they’re all working very hard, I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said captain

Daniel Conklin (’09).

FIELD HocKEY“We have really great chem-istry,” said captain Jessica

Castagnetti (’09) of her team. The team is excited to have

clinched a spot in the upcom-ing state tournament.

boYS SoccEr“We’re having a good

season and we are looking forward to FCIACS and

States,” said captain Matt Surace (’09).

gIrLS SoccEr“I know we’re capable of fi nish-

ing the season strong,” said captain Nicole DiMeglio (’09). The girls celebrate their victory

over Central.

gIrLS SWIMMINg“Especially the seniors, we want to end this year with a

great season,” said senior Ali-son Modica (’09).

gIrLS VoLLEYbaLL

S P o r t S b r I E F S

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR COVERAGE ON WINTER SPORTS IN THE NEXT

ISSUE!

“I’m proud of my girls that we beat McMahon,” said

senior captain Emilia Berk (’09)

FootbaLL“We got off to a rocky start, but we’re getting better every day in practice,” said Brian Jacoby (’09). The team is looking forward to their Thanksgiving game against

rivals Brien McMahon.