By Brittany MissertJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - The highly anticipated SALT Color Run took place at Windham High School on Saturday, May 7, and had a nice turnout de-spite the overcast weather. It was the first event of its kind at WHS, and SALT advisor Mr. Matt Blair was very excited to reveal how this event came about.

“I was at another school’s football game awhile back, and they were advertising for their own color run,” he said. “As it turns out, they

were raising money for a classmate with an illness, but I thought it would be a good idea for all of our sports teams. I brought it to the SALT captains, who helped give feedback, conduct research and actually plan for the event.”

Senior Elizabeth O’Neill was the SALT captain who undertook this project. “We started planning for this at the beginning of the year,” she said. “We needed to order the powder way before, but it’s great to see this yearlong project finally come into the light. We started promoting

This Edition:

Penguin Problems: Comic of the month, Page 3

WHS Senior Runs Boston Marathon: Mitch Campbell shares his experience, Page 4

Presidential Primaries: Trump is only Republican nominee left, Page 6

GSA: Pride Prom is a success, Page 7

Seniors: Take a look at where the Class of 2016 is going next year, Page 8

NBA Playoffs: Who will win? Page 10

Promposal Contest Winners Announced: See the winner, prizes, and runners-up, Page 12

Muffins: Check out this month’s delicious recipe, Page 13

Spanish Day with Fifth-Graders: SHS spreads Spanish language and culture, Page 14

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth O’NeillParticipants at the Color Run throw paint powder in the air to start the race.

SALT organizes new running fundraiser with success

Story continues on Page 5

WHS Shows Its Colors

ROARThe Jag May 17, 2016

Finding the Right College Like all people heading to college, I was very aware of the

national college decision deadline on May 1. I simply couldn’t decide which college to go to. There were plenty of options: Northeastern, RPI, UNH, UMass, and UConn. But still I had a hard time narrowing down the field. In the end, I chose Northeastern, but it was a long, hard jour-ney to get to that decision. Here are a few things I wish I had done differently during my college application process:

1. Find an area of interest. I’m split straight down the middle: I love math and science, but I also really enjoy writing and English (obviously). I have a creative side and an analytical side. I like the phrase that I once heard some other undecided student say: I was too smart to just pick one area of interest. If you too are split right down the middle, consider how hard it will be to switch into a major that you don’t choose early in the game. For example, it’s easier to start in engineering and switch out than switch into engineering later.

2. Start looking early. The best time is probably in the middle of your Junior year. Start looking at colleges and decide which ones you want to go visit. Look at location and programs offered. Cost is not necessarily important because you can receive scholarships and financial aid to make it affordable for you.

3. Have a list of questions prepared for when you visit the college. I found that talking to current students was the most helpful thing. My favorite question to ask was: What made you choose this school over any other that you were looking at? Using this question pointed out the unique aspects of the school that the student was drawn to.

4. Look at the colleges in depth. What makes their program unique? Co- ops, research opportunities, a fantastic reputation among employers? If you narrow your search down to a specific major, what in that major does that college stress? I’m looking at

civil engineering, and some schools had transpor-tation engineering as a main part of the curriculum, while others barely mentioned it.

5. Pay attention to college deadlines. I was blindsided because I thought the deadline to turn in my application was February 1 for one school, but it turned out that the deadline for scholarship consideration was December 1! Also, for majors like nursing, the limited enrollment can be filled with applicants who applied early action.

6. Plan out your timeline for getting things done. Ask your teachers for recommendations now, at the end of your Junior year, so they will have the summer. Figure out when you will finish your Common App. Start working on your essay now, or at least think of a topic. Have a basic outline going

into Senior year.But just remember, once your application is turned in, there

are more due dates. You need to notify Guidance that they need to send your transcript and letters of recommendation. There is a date for the FASFA and maybe CSS Profile if you are applying for financial aid. And then there are scholarships to apply to.

Senior year is very stressful, as you may imagine. You are, after all, making your first major decision about your life all on your own. However, don’t forget to reach out to others for help. Try not to get too overwhelmed, because it will all turn out the way it was supposed to in the end.

Make Way for Ducklings - Spring is Here Recently, I saw the most adorable

video of a mother duck and her duck-lings waddling through an elementary school. Every year, the mother duck lays her eggs in a nest behind the build-ing, then parades them through the halls (escorted by teachers and students) to take them safely to a nearby pond.

This is a sign of spring for sure.Like the ducklings, many of our

students will soon make their ways through the halls of WHS, marking the time to move on to summer. With less than a month left of the school year (can you believe it?), students will be planning their lives beyond school walls - whether it be a job, a trip, time at the beach, training for fall sports, or collecting all their belongings to head to college.

We teachers are like the mother duck: we guide you through those hallways, helping you be the best you can be under our protection. We want you

to have the best chance at the next stage in your life, so we lead you on what we hope is a safe and success-ful path.

But just like the ducklings, once they are in that pond, the mother duck has to give them freedom to roam. This is summer - your chance to roam and try new and exciting things on your own. It’s your time to take all you’ve learned and make what we mother ducks all hope are good choices.

My greatest hope for you is that you have amazing, safe experiences beyond the halls of WHS. Whether you are travelling to faraway destinations or staying in Windham with family and friends, I hope that you are healthy, happy, and bring back lots of great stories to tell. Even if I can’t protect you, I’ll be thinking of you.

So waddle on, little ducklings.

Jag OpinionTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 2

EDITORIAL

Mrs. Ash

Table of Contents

Opinion - 2News - 4

Academics - 8Sports - 9

Features - 12Activities - 15

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EDITORIAL

Ashley Domogala

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 3OPINION

JagRoar Staff

Ashley DomogalaEditor-in-Chief

Mrs. Katherine AshClub Adviser

Brittany MissertGeneral News Editor

Paige EspositoOpinion Editor

Taylor MendesFeatures Editor& Photographer

Nick TaurasActivities Editor

Katey VestaPR & Co-Marketing

Editor

Rachael PageAcademics &

Co-Marketing Editor

Matt PetrySports Editor

Copy Editors:Amanda AkkerBella PfeifferKatey Vesta

Staff Writers:Amanda AkkerBilly FischerAllie Millard

Rachael PageMatt Petry

Sneek Peek: 2016 Yearbook Preview As some of you may know, I’ve been the

Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook for three years now. The yearbook is such a great way to remember everything from high school, and a lot of people see it just as a “cool book you get at the end of the year,” but to me, it’s some-thing more. It’s a yearlong project a small group of stu-dents works tirelessly on. This year alone, I’ve seen more technology glitches, pictures, and yearbook samples than some of you can imagine. I’ve dealt with many late-night, deadline- and stress-induced frenzies, and had to draft proposals, sched-ules, and everything imaginable to create the yearbook. Despite all of the stress it causes in my life, I wouldn’t have changed a thing from this year or the years past.

I’m extremely proud of the yearbook this year. As a senior, it felt great to finally create the yearbook my graduating class

will look at for many years to come. Some of you will remember the cover design we came up with last year with the claw marks, and I’m happy to announce we have updated the design again this year. We also worked hard on trying to decide who to dedicate this year’s book to, and we’ve added a lot of new events as well. Even though the entire book has been sub-mitted at this point, we are

currently working on a special surprise for everyone. Sorry, no spoilers though, you’ll just have to buy a yearbook if you want to know more!

Buy your yearbook at jostens.com.

EDITORIAL

Brittany Missert

Buy your yearbook before it’s too late!

jostens.com

Notice: We will be publishing a special June

edition on the day of graduation, June 10.

We will also be publishing a lengthier online edition.

Check for it atissuu.com/jagroar

Penguin ProblemsCreated by Brittany Missert

Jag NewsTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 4

Photo courtesy of Jean CampbellMitch Campbell (right) poses with his mother Jean Campbell (left) and brother Trevor Campbell (middle) moments after crossing the finish line.

WHS Senior Runs the Boston Marathon

By Ashley DomogalaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - On Marathon Monday, Windham High School senior Mitch Campbell was at the Boston Marathon. However, he was not cheering on the runners from the sidelines. He was one of two 18-year-olds from N.H. running the grueling 26.2 miles, finishing with a time of 5:34:28.

His mother, Jean Campbell, said the run was “healing” for him. He was at the 2013

Boston Marathon bombings, only 20-30 feet away from the second blast. He was watching a family friend run the marathon at the time.

Mitch Campbell decided to run because he was finally 18, and many of his other family members, including his brothers and father, have run the marathon, and it was something he has wanted to do as well.

Campbell ran on the team 415 Strong, whose members are survivors of the Bos-ton Marathon bombings and their family members. He trained for the four months preceding the marathon, following the lead of the coaches on the team, who gave runners schedules to follow.

Campbell woke up at 3 a.m. on Mara-thon Monday to catch the team bus, which arrived in Boston at about 5:15 a.m. He

had a long wait time, as he was part of the last wave of runners. “A little bit after I started, the elite runners (from the first waves) were finishing,” Campbell said.

When asked to describe the day, he said it was “very tiring.” However, he also added, “It was very fun.” His mother and brothers followed him along the route as he ran and saw him in three different places. Pictured with this story is Mitch and some family members just after Mitch crossed the finish line.

When asked if he would do it again, Campbell replied, “I don’t know.”

However, he had some advice for anyone considering running. “I feel like anyone could do it if you train and have training beforehand,” he said. “It’s all in the training.”

Mitch Campbell is one of two 18-year-olds from N.H. to participate

Photos courtesy of Mr. Matthew Blair and Elizabeth O’NeillLeft: Runners go through the green color station manned by student volunteers.Right: Participants take a group picture afterwards to display their new colors.

Students Look to the Future as AP Exams End

By Amanda AkkerJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM – Advanced Placement (AP) exams took place this year from May 2-13, bringing stress to students all around the world, including students in Windham High School. In all, there are 37 AP cours-es ranging in focused subjects, with 12 offered at WHS. The tests average around two to three hours long, usually with mul-tiple choice and free response sections.

Skylar Hebert, a sophomore in AP Biology, said, “I think AP courses are not something to take if you are not passion-ate about it. We do a lot of review for the

test, since it is really hard and counts for a college credit.”

The exams showcase all the content the students have learned over the year, and can benefit them after high school. Most four-year universities/colleges in America grant placements or credits to students whose scores are qualified according to their standards. More than 3,600 schools can receive a student’s AP information.

“I took the AP Calc, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics exams. To prepare for the exams, I bought a bunch of AP practice books,” said senior Kelsey Kendzulak. “I wasn’t expecting all my AP exams to be hard, but I’m sad that APs are over, since there is now not much to do in school.”

Exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest possible score you can get. Most colleges and universities give credit and advanced placement for scores of 4 and 5, with some also giving credit

for scores of 3, depending on the exam.According to CollegeBoard, “Exam

scores of 5 are equivalent to grade of A+ and A in the corresponding college course. AP Exam scores of 4 are equivalent to grade of A-, B+, and B in college. AP Exam scores of 3 is equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in the equivalent college course.”

Some students are eligible to receive the AP Scholar Awards based off of the num-ber of exams they take, and the scores they receive on them. These awards are sent with the scores to colleges; students are awarded with a certificate of achievement.

At the time of the test, you can choose to send your AP exam scores to one insti-tution/program of choice with the cost of $15 per any additional colleges.

This year, AP scores will be released on www.collegeboard.com around the begin-ning of July.

Color Run: WHS Shows Its Colors

February break, and we had a lot of people pre-register, which was great. I’m really hoping to turn this into an annual event.”

On the day of the event, about 50 people showed up. “I’m super excited for the color run!” senior Erinne Curtain said before the event. “I’ve wanted to do one for awhile. I’m glad I get to cross it off my bucket list.”

After checking in, participants were given a small cup of paint powder to play with. Many runners started throwing it at each

other, but eventually the SALT captains and advisors started the event by having the participants throw the remaining paint into the air. The runners were then divided into different waves, and ran around the school as student volunteers flung yellow, green, orange, and blue paint at them.

Senior Will Carpenter, a runner during the event, said, “I would definitely do another color run. I had a lot of fun.”

Overall, the event was a colorful success and SALT organizers hope it will continue in the future.

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 5NEWS

Story continued from Page 1

All work and no play for students leading up

to the major tests

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 6NEWS

Donald Trump Becomes Presumptive

GOP Nominee

By Bella PfeifferJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - When primaries began, there were more candidates for the GOP nomination than anyone could keep track of. Now, there’s only one. The business-man Donald Trump, known for his TV show “The Apprentice,” has almost cer-tainly become the Republican candidate in the 2016 Presidential election.

No matter your opinion on him, you have to wonder how he did it. When Trump entered the race in July, he was laughed at. Few political analysts forecast-ed anything but failure in a field full of experienced politicians.

But soon, even early frontrunners like Jeb Bush began to pay attention to the me-dia mogul. Public attention skyrocketed as Trump released controversial statements about building a wall at the Mexican border and insulted other candidates in de-bates. In November, he received more air-time than all of the democratic candidates combined, and one quarter of the airtime in total despite paying less for advertise-ments than most others in his field.

It’s undeniable that all this attention gave Trump an edge over the other potential nominees. By the time the

New Hampshire primary approached, Trump was a household name. Whether people loved or hated him, they knew who he was and what he stood for.

With this advantage, Trump was able to dominate the first primary, and continued on to win in the majority of other states. However, despite his media advantage, Trump would never have been able to get this far in the race if some people had not believed in his message. All the publicity in the world would have meant nothing if Trump’s message did not resonate with Republican voters.

As Trump pulled further and further ahead, many candidates began to drop out. Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina were among the first to suspend their campaigns after the New Hampshire primary. Jeb Bush dropped out soon after. By the end of March, both Ben Carson and Marco Rubio had exited the race.

Trump, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich were the only three remaining by the primary in Indiana. Cruz, already mathematically eliminated, played all his cards in Indiana but still failed to win. He dropped out the same day, and Kasich left the race the next. They had been hoping for a contest-

ed Republican convention, which would only happen if Trump did not reach the magic number of 1,237 delegates and automatically clinch the nomination.

By May 5, Trump was the only candi-date remaining. Through his manipulation of the media and technology-savvy cam-paign, Trump had garnered the majority of the vote in a very divided race, convincing his contenders to drop out.

Yet, when looking for people to inter-view, I was unable to find many Trump supporters at Windham High. After some research, the reason was clear: less than 2 percent of Trump’s supporters are younger than 30. Even if most of us could vote, the statistics say it’s unlikely we would be voting for Trump.

Whatever your opinion on him, you have to appreciate the crazy circum-stances that could take a reality TV star and business mogul and make him into a viable presidential candidate, and the presumptive Republican nominee.

Only one Republican presidential candidate left from a field of 17

Photo courtesy of nbcnews.com

‘Feed My Starving Children’ Fundraiser Turns Heads

By Katey Vesta JagRoarStaff

WINDHAM - During the month of April, WHS junior Julie Fares put herself in charge of a fundraiser entitled “Feed My Starving Children.” The goal of this event was to raise money that would be used to prepare meals for needy children in eco-

nomically weak countries such as Haiti. The large metal cans full of coins students may have seen in their advisories last month were for this fundraiser.

According to Fares, WHS donated a to-tal of $547, most of it in coins, which will make almost 2,500 meals. However, Fares said that the fundraiser was only part one of her plans for this charity. “Now that the fundraiser is over, people can come pack meals on the 21st of May,” she added, also stating that she herself has helped pack nearly 20,000 meals over the course of

two events and that the experience “defi-nitely changed me.”

Sign-ups for the meal-packing event have already been completed, but Fares still encouraged people to get involved, even if it is through a different community service event. “Any change we can make for the kids who go to bed hungry is a good change, obviously,” she added. Due to WHS’ impressive contribution to this event, Fares and her volunteer team are hoping to make a big difference for the people who need it most.

WHS student leads charge for a wonderful cause

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 7NEWS

GSA Celebrates Pride with Pride

By Katey VestaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - Amidst the plethora of clubs and groups within the WHS community, there is one that surprisingly tends to fly under the radar: the GSA. This organiza-tion, formally known as the Gay-Straight Alliance, has been established at WHS for quite some time, yet there are still many people who are not aware of its existence, let alone its wonderful message within the school.

“We are working on creating a more accepting environment in the school, and trying to create a place where anyone can feel safe to talk about their issues and feelings,” said Jaime Williams, the treasurer for the Windham GSA. Williams also stressed that a person does not need to be a member of the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other) commu-nity in order to get involved - it is called the Gay-Straight Alliance, after all.

Outside of just Windham, however, the group is actually a national conglomera-tion of student-run groups. The organiza-tion that sponsors these groups, GLSEN

(Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), also supports annual events such as Ally Week and the National Day of Silence. The organization states that it wishes to give students the tools they need to “address and help end anti-LGBT bullying.”

Emmy Giardina, the president of the Windham GSA, believes that the group can help offer a safe space for any student, but does specifically try to assist with the trials that non-straight students may face every day.

The Day of Silence was a recent event run by the GSA on April 20. Giardina said, “Day of Silence is a day that promotes acceptance. It is an anti-bullying statement for LGBT youth that promotes that every-one has a voice and should be able to feel safe enough to use it.” The vow of silence is what encourages student supporters to not speak on that day, and it is meant to represent the forced silence that oppresses LGBT+ youth on a daily basis.

The GSA also recently oversaw the execution of their first large-scale planned event: the Pride Prom. It was held on Saturday, May 14, and saw a respectable

turnout, with even some students from neighboring towns such as Goffstown in attendance. Signs around the school had advertised the event for weeks before-hand, and the GSA really pulled out all the stops for this occasion. Balloons and lights decorated the school foyer and gym, several tables were stacked with food, and a great playlist kept the guests entertained all evening.

Haley Crean, a GSA member who worked to plan the event, said, “I’m really proud of everyone in the GSA who made this possible and I’m proud that this is really the first thing that the GSA has done in the high school.”

Both planners and attendees of this event thought it was a huge success, and are looking forward to planning similar events in the future.

“Our whole mantra of unity has really been a compass tonight,” added Crean in regards to the goals of the GSA. Indeed, the Pride Prom and other GSA events help to unify the many different communities within WHS, and the GSA hopes to drive these efforts forward even farther in the future.

Photos by Taylor MendesLeft: Eileen Hughes, Darby of Goff-stown, Haley Crean, Katey Vesta

Above: Jen Leblanc

Recent events include Day of Silence and Pride Prom

Jag AcademicsTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 8

Where Are the Seniors Going?By Rachael PageJagRoar Staff WINDHAM – As the end of the school year nears, underclassmen and staff pre-pare to say their bittersweet goodbyes to the seniors who will be headed in different directions in the fall.

The May 1 deadline for colleges has passed, so the seniors have their plans for graduation officially set in stone. Before April vacation, WHS had a “College T-Shirt Day” where students and staff could represent their colleges.

According to Mrs. Julie George, the sign outside the guidance office has been updated about every two weeks since Feb-ruary, so that everyone can see where one

another is going in the next year. Mrs. Kellie Steward, who has been a

guidance counselor for about 15 years, said, “I will miss the seniors, but it is ex-citing to watch them set new goals as they achieve the ones they set in high school.”

Mrs. Steward also added how great it is to watch the seniors grow over the years. “The first two years [are] mainly in-and-out meetings, but by the third and fourth years of high school, you really get to know them and develop relationships with them,” she said.

Alex Meier, a senior this year, is attend-ing University of Massachusetts Lowell in the fall. He plans to major in Computer Science. “Although I’m not going far,” he said, “leaving the school system I grew up

with is bittersweet, but I’m excited to see where college takes me.”

“I’ve been in Windham since first grade, so it will definitely be bittersweet to leave,” echoed Catherine Miceli, a senior who is attending Simmons College with a major in Nursing. “I’m excited to live in Boston and start my career path,” she added.

Although it is saddening to see the seniors go, Mrs. George said, “I am con-fident that they are well prepared, landing on their feet, and moving forward. Also, I am looking forward to start working with the junior class next year as well.”

“It’s a very busy, bittersweet, and ex-citing time of the year,” Mrs. Steward and Mrs. George agreed.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Bob Dawson via TwitterFrom left: Brette Miller (University of New Hampshire), Abby Mitchell (Southern New Hampshire University), Patrick Hume (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy), and Anna Matsco (Worchester Polytechnic Institute).

It is ‘bittersweet’ as students move on

Class of 2016

Jag SportsTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 9

Track Team Has Strong Showing in N.Y.Photos courtesy of Mr. Ryan O’Connor via Twitter

From left: Alex Jonson in the 100m high hurdles; Jenna Parsons in the 4x100m; and Natalie Gallagher in the 100m hurdles.

By Billy FischerJagRoar Staff

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Windham com-peted with 231 other high schools in the Loucks Invitational Meet in White Plains, N.Y. from May 12-15. WHS athletes did very well, setting some new personal and school records. Here are the results:

Senior Alex Jonson in the 110m high hurdles got a time of 15.04 seconds, plac-ing fourth at the meet out of 38 hurdlers. He is now in third in New Hampshire.

Senior Jared Hathway ran in the 100m dash with a time of 11.37 seconds, and placed 23rd out of 91 sprinters. He is now fifth in New Hampshire, and the second all-time 100m runner from WHS.

Junior Jack Connors also ran the 100m dash, with a time of 11.97 seconds, com-ing in 71st place out of 91 other sprinters and keeping his place as 24th fastest male sprinter in Division II.

Junior Connor Brennan ran the 100m dash with a time of 12.22 seconds, placing 84th out of 91 other sprinters.

Senior Peter Caron ran the steeplechase, a 3000m race with barriers and water on the track. He placed 10th out of 26 runners

with a time of 10:11.76.Senior Natalie Gallagher finished the

100m hurdles with a time of 17.15 sec-onds, placing 23rd out of 37 other hur-dlers. She is still in sixth place in Division II in the 100m hurdles.

Junior Ashley Bowers ran the 100m dash with a time of 14.20 seconds, placing 61st out of 62 other sprinters.

Junior Jenna Parsons also ran in the 100m dash and the 200m dash, with a time of 13.89 seconds and 28.76 seconds re-spectively, earning a personal record. She placed 57th out of 62 other sprinters in the 100m dash and placed 54th out of 61 other sprinters in the 200m dash.

Junior Susie Poore placed 22nd out of 31 runners in the 3200m or 2 mile race. Her time was 11:05.25, breaking the school record and putting her in the fourth place in the 3200m in Division II.

The boys’ 4x100m relay race team comprised of Jared Hathway, Jack Con-nors, Connor Brennan, and Alex Jonson, placed 23rd out of 33 teams with a time of 45.25 seconds, running a season personal record and ranking them as second in New Hampshire.

The boys’ 4x400m relay race team also

did well, beating the school record by 8 seconds. Made up of the same runners as the 4x100m, they came in sixth out of 38 teams with a time of 3:33.25, putting them in second place in New Hampshire.

The girls’ 4x100m relay race, made of Hannah Pesci, Ashley Bowers, Natalie Gallagher, and Jenna Parsons, finished with a personal record time of 54.16 sec-onds, taking 28th place out of 31 teams. They now take eighth place in Division II in New Hampshire for the 4x100m girls’ relay race.

The girls’ 4x400m relay race was run by Hannah Pesci, Hannah Harootian, Ashley Bowers, and Laura Pomeroy. Beating their season best with a time of 4:30.45, they placed 40th out of 49 teams and now rank 10th in New Hampshire for Division II in the girls’ 4x400m relay race.

The girls’ 4x800m relay race was run by Laura Pomeroy, Hannah Harootian, Susie Poore, and Lily Shpak, who earned a time of 10:28.21, placing 22nd out of 42 teams. They now rank 10th place in Division II in New Hampshire for the girls’ 4x800m relay race.

It is safe to say that Windham High School had a strong showing.

Athletes break personal and school records

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 10SPORTS

NBA Playoffs Going Strong

Can anyone stop the Curry and the Warriors?

Photo by OregonLive.comStephen Curry takes a layup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

By Matt PetryJagroar Staff

WINDHAM - The NBA Championship picture is beginning to form as we ap-proach the Conference Finals.

In the West, there is a seemingly unstoppable force in the form of the Golden State Warriors, who are set to face Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with everything to prove and the talent to upset the reigning champs. Meanwhile in the East, King James and the Cleveland Cav-aliers still do not know whom they will be facing as the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors still battle to advance.

Many believe the Warriors to be the favorite to repeat as champs this year and it’s hard to argue. The Warriors went a record 73-9 in the regular season and have the reigning two-time MVP Stephen Curry on their team. Outside of Curry the team also has perennial all-star Klay Thomspon, star and jack-of-all-trades Draymond Green, and arguably the deep-est bench in the league.

“The Warriors are going to win because they have the best team, and the Splash Brothers. Stephen Curry is the MVP and is the best player in the world and I think he’ll bring them all the way,” said Mike Stefanelli, WHS alumni, former manager of three varsity sports, and freshman at Southern New Hampshire University.

Curry gave the team a scare early in the first round when he went down with a knee injury, which turned out to be a knee sprain that kept him out of six games. Despite the temporary loss of the first-ever unanimous MVP, the Golden State continued to dominate their first round opponents the Rockets and their second round opponents the Trailblazers, showing that they are a complete team and not just one player. Curry reminded the world why he was the first unanimous MVP in his first game back, dropping 40 points including an NBA record 17 points

in overtime. Despite being

the heavy favorite, the Warriors are in no way guaranteed to be repeat cham-pions. Both the Thunder and (as-suming they make it out of the East) the Cavaliers are legitimate contenders.

The Thunder are a team that has had the talent to win it all for years now, but always find a way to come up short. This year they seem to be on a mission to silence their critics, dominating their opponents including the 67-15 Spurs. Having a roster that boasts arguably two of the top three players in the world in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder is a dangerous team with a chip on its shoulder.

Finally, there are the Cavaliers, and a perfect storm may be brewing for them to upset the Warriors.

“I think the Cavaliers will win the NBA title if they continue to play the way they have been recently. Their defense has definitely stepped up and it is difficult to play against a team making 20-plus threes a game,” said Steven DaSilva, WHS ju-nior and varsity basketball player. “Also, if they continue to weaponize Kevin Love the way they have, it will only create more space for their shooters to get open looks,” he said.

In the championship last year, the Cavs pushed the Warriors to the limit without Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving. This year, they have managed to stay healthy and have been dominating in the playoffs, sweeping both of their opponents thus far. With the Cavaliers having to expend minimal effort to get out of the East while the West proves to be as grueling as ever, its not hard to imagine a fresh Lebron and the Cavs picking apart what is left of the Western Conference Champions.

As the playoffs continue, the picture may become clearer as to who will be crowned champion, but for now there appear to be three main contenders for the crown.

Will it be Curry and the Warriors who continue their dominance and champi-onship reign? Will it be the dynamic duo of Westbrook and Durant who have the chance to finally silence those who have doubted them? Or will King James finally bring a title back to Cleveland?

Perhaps it is none of the above and the Heat or the Raptors will pull off the upset of the decade. No one can know for sure how the remainder of the playoffs will play out, the only thing that is certain is that it will be a joy to watch.

NFL Draft Patriots Recap

By Matt PetryJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - Another year, another draft, and another batch of rookies that have Patriots fans once more wondering what exactly Coach Belichick is thinking.

That is not to say that Pats fans think the team has completely whiffed on this year’s draft. It is more that people have no idea who it is exactly that they got.

Whenever the NFL draft rolls around, the Patriots have made a habit of com-pletely avoiding big-name prospects in favor of guys they feel can be molded to fit their needs and embrace “The Patriot Way.” This year was no different.

Cyrus Jones, a cornerback out of Ala-bama, was the Patriots’ first selection. He fits a glaring need in the secondary and fits the mold of a Belichick pick. Alongside Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan, Jones can help the Patriots fill the hole that Darelle Revis and Brandon Browner left with their departures two years ago.

The only splash the New England made

in the draft was when they used the 91st pick to select Jacoby Brisset, a quarter-back out of N.C. State.

While some were left scratching their heads after the pick, it actually is not that hard to see why he was selected. In the aftermath of Brady’s reinstated four-game suspension, the Pats face the going four games with Jimmy Garoppolo as the start-er and want to expand their options.

Outside of the previously mentioned picks it was a by the numbers Patriots draft. They selected a couple guards, a de-fensive tackle, and some obscure lineback-ers and wide receivers.

While many fans likely wanted to see more linemen or flashy early round re-ceivers for Brady, or a pass rusher to help replace Chandler Jones, Pats fans have learned to put their trust in Belichick and they will continue to do so as long as the team continues to succeed.

Of course the Patriots were not the only team drafting, so here is the biggest win-ner of the draft and the biggest loser.

Biggest Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars hit an absolute homerun with this draft. Last year their young of-fense showed itself to be at an almost elite level but the team was held back by an atrocious defense. That issue was certainly

addressed in the draft.With the fifth pick, the Jaguars selected

Jalen Ramsey, cornerback out of Florida State, who many considered to be a top two talent. Next they managed to steal Myles Jack with the 40th pick. Jack, a linebacker out of Notre Dame, would have likely been a top ten pick if it had not been for concerns raised about the health of his knee.

If Jack’s knee holds up, the Jaguars will have landed arguably the two best defend-ers in the draft. They then proceeded to load up on talented pass rushers, filling another hole in their roster.

In a matter of a few years the Jaguars have gone from the laughing stock of the NFL to a promising young contender.

Biggest Loser: Atlanta FalconsLast season no team was worse at get-

ting to the quarterback than the Falcons, who amassed a pathetic 19 sacks. Yet despite their egregious lack of a pass rush, the Falcons refused to draft a pass rusher. To make matters worse, this was one of the best pass rushing draft classes in recent memory.

The Falcons missed a golden opportuni-ty to fill a gaping hole in their roster, and that fact makes them the biggest loser of the draft.

Belichick produces another by-the-numbers draft for the Patriots

Pros and consDoes Windham Need a Track Facility?

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 11SPORTS

By Jaime CleasbyJagroar Correspondent

WINDHAM - Overpopulation isn’t the only issue in this small town. In addition to people trying to solve the problem of too many students and too little school space, Windham students and residents have debating whether a track and field is worth the extra tax dollars.

The recent proposal to borrow $4.2 million to build the new track and field facility has raised debate on what it is truly worth. The facility proposed would include a track surrounding an organic turf field, in addition to stadium lights and bleachers.

Laura Pomeroy, WHS senior and track star, said, “The facility would positively

impact the town because every single person in the community can use it.”

People may not have voted for the track facility due to its relevance in their lives. People who do not participate in sports or have kids who would use the facility may not feel as though it is worth it to spend the extra tax dollars. However, this would allow non-athletes to also use the facility.

WHS senior Mary Fennessey, in con-trast to Pomeroy, said of the track, “It is a waste of money and is not something important for our families to spend tax dollars on when we have access to a track elsewhere. Expansion of the schools is more important because education is really top priority when parents send their children to school, not giving them a special place to run.”

Regardless of which proposal is wor-thier to the community, the dollar sign is what it comes down to.

“Some people are very concerned with the tax rate in the town. It’s not astro-nomically higher than other towns, but it has been steadily going up as the town has grown and with the town not having a lot of industry, which is a major draw, it also hurts the tax pace and puts more pressure on the citizens in property taxes as opposed to taxes that can come from businesses,” said Mr. Ryan O’Connor, track and field coach.

With the track proposal having a potential increase on tax rates of Wind-ham residents, it has been questionable whether it will ever pass. Building a track and field facility could positively impact the community, but it would also impose a high cost on taxpayers.

Have a story idea or your own opinion? Email the JagRoar at

jagroarnews@windhamsd.org.

Jag FeaturesTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 12

Promposal Contest Winners!

First Place Winners - Chad Desautels and Sam Mague“I started by asking Officers Shane Mirisola and Greg Iworsky to help out with my promposal. We came up with the plan of having Oficer Mirisola pull Sam Mague over,” said Desautels. He and Mague will be seated at the prom table closest to the dance floor and will be offered dinner before any other table.

Runner-Up Winners - Justin Missert and Meghan Hynes“It was very cute the way he did it. And I was very shocked!” said Hynes.“I asked my sister to help me with asking Meghan to prom and she suggested food. So I got her favorite girl scout cookies and a single rose and gave it to her,” said Missert. They will be second to be served dinner at prom.

Photos courtesy of Chad Desautels, Brittany Missert, Willem Shattuck, Korey Lord, and Brett Curtis

Marshal Pesaturo and Alex Raymond Lingard Whiteford and Kaleigh Dutrisac

Other Great Submissions!

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 13FEATURES

World’s Best MuffinsBy Katey Vesta(blueberry version)

Ingredients:½ cup unsalted butter or shortening1 cup sugar 2 eggs1 tsp vanilla extract1 tsp baking powder¼ tsp salt2 cups blueberries2 cups flour½ cup milk½ tsp nutmeg mixed with ½ tsp sugar, set aside

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.

Fold in half of the flour and half of the milk. Mix well, and repeat until all of the flour and milk is used. Then gently stir in the blueberries. Note: if you are using frozen berries, rinse them very well before adding them, or else the muffins will be blue.

Fill lined muffin tins ⅔ full with the batter, and sprinkle the sugar-nutmeg mixture on top. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with butter, and enjoy!

By Katey VestaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - I have to admit, between the recent AP tests, oncoming finals, and the prospects of having to start the col-lege applications process, I have been indulging in quite a bit of stress-baking. It’s a fairly fortunate affliction, as your friends often don’t mind having a steady flow of cookies and cupcakes on hand (unless they’re trying to eat healthy, in which case you might make a few enemies).

Regardless, I have recently had ample time to look back upon

some of my favorite confectionery recipes, and I have to admit to a rather unpopular opinion: I have a huge soft spot for the humble muffin. Its reputation has taken a beating over the years, having been called anything from a wannabe cupcake to a cupcake’s ugly cousin. However, I think that muffins are wonderful in their own right, regardless of how tasty cupcakes are.

Because of such very meaningful self-reflection, this month I am sharing my family recipe for a muffin batter that is extremely versatile. Here it is written with blueberries, but it is just as easy to substitute some bananas or chocolate chips, or anything the heart desires.

‘May’ I Have a Muffin?

Photo by Katey Vesta

More Promposals

Brett Curtis and Brianna Langlois Lily Shpak and Korey Lord

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 14 FEATURES

By Ashley DomogalaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM – The Potter Universe can rejoice that a sequel of sorts is being re-leased by the Queen herself, J.K. Rowling. Written by Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is being called the “eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.” The play will open in London at the Palace Theatre on July 30, but fear not; for those who unfortunately cannot afford a trip all the way to England to see a play, the book version is being released on July 31.

This is just one of many moves that have reinvigorated the Harry Potter fandom; one could even compare it to the recent revamp of the Star Wars franchise.

The release date of July 31 for the book version of the play is especially fitting, considering it is both Rowling and Harry Potter’s birthday. This is a big deal for Harry Potter fans because it will finally answer the persistent questions of what happens after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book in the series. That book had an epilogue that gave fans a glimpse of the future of our beloved char-acters, but did not fulfill our curiosity.

After the eighth and final movie of the Harry Potter series, Rowling announced in 2012 that she would be writing a Harry Potter encyclopedia for charity. However, we have yet to see that encyclopedia.

Fans survived through the interactive website Pottermore, asking Rowling ques-tions on Twitter, and re-reading the books (over and over and over again).

Finally, after waiting all this time for

new material, it seems that the Potter Universe has more and more to look forward to. Universal Studios Orlando opened Diagon Alley in addition to the al-ready existing Hogsmeade in 2014, while Universal Studios Hollywood just opened their Wizarding World of Harry Potter on April 7. Fans can also look forward to the spinoff set in the world of Harry Potter “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in cinemas on Nov. 18.

I myself have already preordered “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and will also be among the first to see “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” when it comes out later this year. I absolutely cannot wait for another peek into Harry Potter’s wizarding world, the place in which I have imagined myself since my introduction into the world of Harry Potter about 10 years ago.

‘Captain America: Civil War’ Is a ‘Masterpiece’

By Katey VestaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - Marvel has managed to carve out an impressive place for itself in modern pop culture. A few years ago, comic book superheroes suddenly became cool, and ever since the fateful release of “The Avengers” in 2012, Marvel has been churning out multi-million earning hits. The latest of these releases, “Captain America: Civil War,” may just be the best of the bunch.

The first Captain America film debuted in 2011, just before “The Avengers” smashed its way into the limelight, and so did not garner much enthusiasm. However, its 2014 sequel “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” capitalized upon Marvel’s recent success in cinemas and received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The directors, brothers Joe and An-thony Russo, set the bar unbelievably high after that movie, yet it is very possible that they surpassed it this time.

Simply put, “Civil War” is a masterpiece of the modern action/drama film. Marvel has struggled in the past with balancing story and action, but this movie pulls it off almost effortlessly. Every fight scene

is charged with narrative impor-tance, and even the more diplomatic scenes are intense and engaging. The characters stay true to themselves throughout the events of the mov-ie, even as they are being fractured into individual factions. This en-sures that the story is easily followed and just makes sense, as each hero and villain has a constant motivation.

Beyond the storytelling elements, this film’s visual effects and cinematography were incredible. Many movies as of late have gone slightly overboard with sci-fi lens flares and flashy lights and magical effects, but “Civil War” had enough tact to reign in their sfx department while still making the movie seem tactilely real. The myriad of well-chosen camera angles also made the movie optically engaging, in addition to contributing to the visual storytelling of this medium.

One of the most interesting elements of the Marvel cinematic universe is that the plot arcs transcend individual movies and have broad impacts on different fran-

chises. The latest installment of “Captain America” brings together story elements from almost all of the recent movies and turns it into a very cohesive and interest-ing story. Emotionally, this is a brilliant move, as it ensures that any given viewer is invested regardless of which hero is their favorite.

There are few aspects of this movie that one can realistically critique. Indicative of its success are its current ratings, as it has a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, five stars on Cinemablend, and similar high marks on many other rating sites. So whether you’re Team Cap, Team Iron Man, or Team I-Don’t-Care-About-Teams, this film is definitively worth the watch.

Latest Marvel blockbuster astounds audiences

Photo by heroichollywood.com

Fans Look Forward to Revamp of Harry Potter Fandom“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” to be released June 31

By Peter CaronJagRoar Correspondent WINDHAM - On Thursday, April 21, a crew of Spanish Honor Society stu-dents visited Windham Center School on a mission to contribute to the foreign language education of kids who have not been given the opportunity to learn it in the school system.

The Center School recently cut its foreign language program. The SHS attempted to teach fifth-graders some basic Spanish in a fun environment with activities like Bingo, an art project, and games.

“The students benefited because it was their first exposure to Spanish, so they learned new words they had never seen before,” said Lily Shpak, a junior

who went on this trip. She said was very pleased with the way kids were reacting to the new Spanish they were learning.

Also attending this event was junior Susie Poore, a SHS officer. She said her favorite part of the day was playing Rojo Light Verde Light with the fifth graders as well as freeze tag.

She said, “It was really funny to see the kids scream ‘uno’ in order to be unfrozen by their classmates.”

It seemed as though the person having the most fun was Mr. Chad Westwood, the faculty sponsor of the Windham High School chapter of the Spanish Honor Society. He took pictures during the day and he agreed with Shpak and Poore that there was an excellent response from the children, and that it was like “watching magic happen.”

Spanish Society Exposes Fifth-Graders to Spanish

Jag ActivitiesTHE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 15

Follow us on Twitter! @JagRoarNews

Photo courtesy of Mr. Chad WestwoodKevin Frey plays freeze tag with fifth-graders.

Get your yearbook

NOW,before it’s too late!

2016 Yearbookwith new and

improved cover

jostens.com

What’s Happening?Club Calendar

Monday2:30pm- NHS (6/6)2:30pm- Newspaper2:30pm- jagSAT2:30pm- SMILES (every other)2:30pm- Theater3pm- Strength and Conditioning6pm- Robotics

Tuesday7:15am- Mu Alpha Theta (monthly)7:20am- SALT2:30pm- Strength and Conditioning2:30pm- Book Club2:30pm- Yearbook2:30pm- JCA2:30pm- Robotics

Wednesday2:30pm- JagSAT2:30pm- Minecraft2:30pm- Theater

Thursday7am- Mathletes7:15am- DECA7:15am- Knitting Club7:20am- SHS (monthly)2:30pm- DECA2:30pm- Theater2:30pm- Latin Club2:30pm- Knitting Club2:30pm- Strength and Conditioning2:30pm- Robotics

Friday7:20am- Go Green Club7:30am- Friends of Rachel2:30pm- Marine Science2:30pm- Art Club2:30pm- Games Club6:00pm- Robotics

THE JAGROAR MAY 17, 2016 • PAGE 16ACTIVITIES

May Calendar26: “All In the Timing,” 7pm, WHS Auditorium27: Early Release27: PROM Grand March ~5:10pm Atkinson Country Club 6:30-11pm30: Memorial Day, No School

June Calendar3: JCA Annual Field Day13-17: Finals17: Last Day of School

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Contact us at jagroarnews

@windhamsd.org

Book Club: Meetings on Tuesday in the Media Center at 2:30pm.

The WHS Theatre Company: We are currently working on a student produc-tion of “All In The Timing,” a comedic series of one-act plays by David Ives. This performance is being directed by WHS Seniors, and will take place for one night only on Thursday, May 26, at 7 p.m. in the WHS Auditorium.

Friends of Rachel: Friends of Rachel will hold three more meetings this year. We are planning a Final Study Bag fund-raiser, officer elections and designing a mentor program for incoming freshmen!

Art Club: Figure drawing and open studio.

SALT: In June, SALT will be presenting for the first time two $250 scholarships at the Athletic Awards Banquet. Also, SALT will be helping out with detailing graduation parking. In July, some of the SALT Captains and SALT members will be attending a three-night, four-day New England Student Athlete Leadership Con-ference at Stonehill College.

Club advisors: To have your club featured in this monthly article, email jagroarnews@windhamsd.org.

All stories written by club advisors.

By Nick TaurasJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM - On June 3, 2016, the Jaguar Community Alliance will be holding its Second Annual JCA Field Day, formally known as the JCA Staff vs. Students Soft-ball Game.

The event will be held from 2:30 p.m. - 4:40 p.m. Students and staff alike will be going head to head in the popular Staff vs. Student Softball game as well as taking part in fun yard games. The JCA will be grilling hot dogs and burgers as well as having the Kona Ice Truck where all staff will receive free snow cones.

Mrs. Janice Les, who is one of the advisors of JCA, said that participants “can expect that the event will be entertaining and enjoyable.”

The softball game is typically lively.

Students and staff preselect their "batting" songs and create an atmosphere of friendly rivalry.

“The most important aspect is to attend and to have a good time,” said Mrs. Les. For the past few years, the teachers have “won” the softball game, but the students do not believe the teachers are the most honest about the score since the advisor for the club, Mr. Mike Welch, is the only one to talk to the newspapers and report that the staff won.

When asked if the teachers will be cheating again this year, Welch replied, “In regard to the victories secured over the years by staff defeating the students, I am confident that the current students will keep this legacy of losing alive and well.”

The JCA expects it to be a fun-filled day and are looking forward to see the turnout for this exciting event.

JCA Annual Field Day June 3

Photo Courtesy of meme4u.com