2004 May Falcon.pdf - Saint Joseph High School

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2 THE FALCON May 2004 EDITORIAL Looking back and finding my path By Fofie Mgbako Retiring Editor-in-Chief As a seven-year-old kid, I was so envious of my oldest brother. Every morning he would wake up, put on his varsity jacket, take his keys and speed off in his red SUV. In the evenings, he would always be on the phone, talking about some calculus problem or an upcoming party or the next basketball game. Occasionally, I was able to get a glimpse of where he went everyday. It was somewhere I knew I would end up. It was this wonderful place, St. Joseph High School, where I have been able to foster such passion for learning, such dedication to friendship, and such desire to achieve. Have you ever been on a bus or car ride, watching the earth race by through a win- dowpane? In retrospect, that is what my high school experience seems to have been, a streaming line of events. The last four years of my life, however, have been much more than that. As I revisit my freshmen days in my mind, I realize just how much I have grown and just how much history was created during this time. The images of my JV championship basketball game, the Umoja Club trips to New York, my junior prom, my first Falcon issue, my favorite classes, the school trip to Italy, retreats to the Brothers’ house in Belvedere, and the completion of the new facilities have defined some of the highest points of my high school life. There were also some times of grief, however, such as sitting in silence in sophomore religion as September 11, 2001 unfolded, and losing two shining spirits of this Students of St. Joe’s visit Italy By Joseph Lombardi Co-Editor-in-Chief As most of St. Joe’s students spent their spring break making late night runs to McDonalds and sleeping until noon, a lucky few were able to feast on exquisite Italian cuisine and explore the scenic countryside of Italy. Sponsored by the International Traveler’s Club, various students and faculty of St. Joseph High School decided to explore Italian history and culture outside of the classroom by taking a class trip to this ancient country. The nine-day trip began on April 7 and included trips to many of Italy’s tourist attractions. The students attending ranged from freshmen to seniors; however, a sense of camaraderie among all the students immediately developed. Furthermore, the group met International Travel Club enjoys Italy. up with the Rhode Island School Number One, with whom they shared a tour bus. The tour began in the beautiful streets of Sorrento, Italy. The group then took a short boat ride to the scenic island of Capri. Next the students visited the island of Syracuse, toured the city of Palermo, and took a cruise to Naples. The trip ended with a tour of Pompeii and Rome. Although the students loved the Italian countryside, to many, the food was the highlight of the trip. Every night the students ate at a different excellent restaurant, immersing themselves in Italian culture. Furthermore, the students were given time to shop with their friends and explore on their own. In retrospect, the International Traveler’s Club trip to Italy was one that none of the students will forget. “It was an invaluable experience,” stated Junior Kabir Bindra. Aside from being an educational endeavor, the trip to Italy was, above all, the opportunity of a lifetime, giving the students the chance to explore a new culture and have fun with their friends. Published by the students of St. Joseph High School 145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840 Volume XLVI, No. 6 • May 2004 Editors-in-Chief: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Varco, Joe Lombardi Managing Editor:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Beck Associate Editors: . . . . . . . . . . . Josh Esteban, Tom Bacsik, Joe Runkle Sports Editor:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Green Photography:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Varco Staff Writers:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Barbato, Chris Donnelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brendan Gilmartin, Bryan Gregus, Andrew Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin Lapitan, Brian McNamara, Fofie Mgbako . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Minnella, Casey Naiduk, Jason Naselli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Polansky, Matt Roth, Peter Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Scheller, Anthony Sessa, Jerry Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jake Torrenzano, Ryan Turbert, Jude Wierzbicki Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. George Milligan Faculty Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Martine Gubernat The Falcon welcomes articles from students, parents and faculty members for consideration for publication. All articles are subject to editing. The opinions expressed in The Falcon do not necessarily represent the opinions of faculty or administration. Opinions expressed in any column except those of the editors are not necessarily those of the editors. Graphics and Printing by Media Trends, Metuchen, NJ (732) 225-4555 By Brian McNamara Retiring Managing Editor Each May, members of the senior class are honored for their achievements during the past four years. On Tuesday, May 25, this tradition was continued. Invited seniors and their families congregated in the Vincent Maglio Gym at 6:00 p.m. Students were presented awards in three areas: extracurricular activities, athletics, and academics. The evening began with a prayer by Deacon Rich McCarron as well as an introduction from Principal Lawrence Walsh. The awards in extracurricular activities were presented first by the Director of Student Activities, Dr. Gubernat, while Mr. Walsh presented the awards to the students. Following the club awards, athletic awards were given out. Br. Ronald Cairns, Athletic Director, announced recipients from all 13 varsity sports. This section of the night was capped off with the presentation of the Scholar Athlete Award. The academic awards were divided into three sections: cum laude awards, special awards, and departmental awards. The cum laude awards consist of the Summa Cum Laude, awarded to stu- community in Mrs. Lorraine Noble and Michael Partipilo. Incredibly grateful to my mentors and teachers and great friends, I say a fond farewell to this school. Perhaps the greatest thing about St. Joe’s is that it allows you to reach your highest potential, to define what your experience will be. My advice to every student is to work hard and learn as much as you can from your teachers and classmates, so that in the end there are no regrets. Never be afraid of the success you can achieve and understand that even if you take a risk in a club or sport or academic endeavor, and fail, St. Joe’s is filled with individuals who will gladly help you stand and try again. I am standing on a sun-drenched path under a crimson sky. Looking to my left, there is familiarity in the scene of soaring dents with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.4 or higher over four years; the Magna Cum Laude, awarded to students with a GPA between 4.0 and 4.4; and the Cum Laude, awarded to students with a GPA between 3.8 and 4.0. There were 72 students who received these awards, which represents 37% of the graduates. In conjunction with these GPA awards, the guidance department presented the Bloustein Awards, given to students with a minimum SAT score of 1260 who are among the top ten percent of the class. The special awards were presented in honor of faculty, staff and students who passed away. One of the most important scholarships is the Lorraine Nobel Memorial Award, presented to a student who plans to pursue a career in teaching or education. Scholarships from local fraternal organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, were presented by group liaisons to the recipients in attendance. The Robert Frost Literary Contest Awards were also presented. The contest, which is sponsored by the English department, presents first, second, third and honorable mention awards in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. falcons, falling angels, thorny bushes, and dirt roads. Looking to my right, the path simply fades into a thick fog. It is incredibly comfortable to stand still, basking in the sun and enjoying the view. Yet there is something so inviting about the haze. It is filled with mystery and adventure, and who knows what beauty lies there. To my left is a phase of my life I have grown to love and cherish, and to my right is the next phase of my life, for which I am fully ready. This is because I can always look back to the magical scene that I, along with every person that has touched my life, have created. I will never forget this high school experience and my hope is that the writers of this newspaper and every student that walks these halls will not let this opportunity pass by. For now, it’s on to the future. Awards night celebrates achievements of seniors The departmental academic awards were given in seven departments, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Religion, Science, and History. Between two and three awards were given for each department, one for excellence and the others by department choice. The science department presents three memorial awards in lieu of the others. The evening ended with the presentation of the Special Academic Awards, Salutatorian and Valedictorian. The salutatorian, Steven Bellizzi, received the Brother Gilbert Memorial Award while the Valedictorian, Sean Carter, received the Thomas Platko Memorial Award. These two awards are based solely on GPA, using the first seven semesters and the first marking period grade of the eighth semester. “It is an opportunity for parents, staff, faculty, students and the administration to recognize formally the achievements of the senior class,” said Mr. Fischer, Dean of Studies and one of the organizers of the event. “It shows the larger picture of school-wide accomplishment. That one moment students go up to receive their award represents hours of hard work and dedication.” Donor wall established in science wing By Joshua Esteban Associate Editor In the hallway of the newly-built science wing, a new 50-foot donor wall was created to acknowledge and to honor the contributions of the many benefactors to the “Building for the Next Century” campaign. According to Brother Dennis, President, “The dedication wall is our community’s way of thanking the 980 donors who contributed their time and money, which are gifts in kind.” The President’s Office, in conjunction with the school’s corporate counsel, Semple Bixel Associates, made up the committee that sought to establish some type of donor recognition. Once the President’s Office and corporate counsel decided upon a donor wall, several professional corporations presented different ideas for the design. The committee discussed the use of school colors, plaques, and styles of lettering with the company that was creating the donor wall. Brother Dennis said, “The donor wall helps us remember the past as we move to the future. The pic- Photo by Joe Varco The Donor Wall occupies a section in the new science wing. tures of former alumni, faculty, and staff are meant to keep this remembrance.” The donor wall is the latest great addition to the St. Joseph campus.
May 2004 THE FALCON 3 Crab Nebula Astronomy Club keeps busy and looks beyond By Michael Varco Staff Writer In addition to its usual activities centered around the telescope and celestial pictures, the Astronomy Club attempted an ambitious project this year in the creation of mosaics of space formations such as the Orion Nebula, Crab Nebula, and Sombrero Galaxy. In order to create these mosaics, the students in the club took several photographs of the space formations using Photoshop software, then printed and pasted them together. Even if the process sounds By Daniel Beck Managing Editor For most students, junior year is one of the most stressful and difficult times of their high school career. From an increased workload to SAT’s and college searches, it seems that their academic and athletic responsibilities are never ending. Counselors, teachers, and parents are constantly reminding them to think about their future and to prepare themselves for senior year and college. However, on May 7, the stresses of junior year were the last things on their minds. Between 7:00 and 11:30 p.m., over ninety couples met at Pierre’s of South Brunswick for the 2004 Junior Prom. Accompanied by twenty faculty members, the juniors and their dates enjoyed a night they will surely remember. Couples, who paid $125 for bids, began to arrive at approximately 6:45p.m. to Pierre’s. Originally a bakery, Pierre’s was recently renovated and made into a restaurant/dining hall. As a result of a booking conflict with last year’s location, the Prom Committee, consisting of the Junior Class Student Council officers and representatives, chose Pierre’s. The Committee, as well as all in attendance, was delighted with the new location. Ms. Diane Dwyer, Junior Class Moderator, commented, “We were quite pleased with the decision to move the location this year. The food and atmosphere were incredible.” The theme of the evening, “Starry Night,” was fitting for the beautiful May evening. After the couples arrived, they began their evening by enjoying butler-passed hors d’oeuvre, followed by an open buffet of various entrees and pas- simple, it was challenging. Some of the pictures fit together while others did not. Although this led to confusion, the club members persisted and were able to put together most of the mosaic. Joe Varco, the Astronomy Club President, stated, “This is the first time the current members of the club have created a mosaic. It has inspired us to attempt more mosaics in the future. The Astronomy Club owes a lot of gratitude to Mr. Ernst for moderating the club and enabling the members to see a glimpse of many extraordinary celestial objects.” PROMS JUNIOR PROM One starry night in May tries for dessert. Following the delectable dinner, couples began to dance to music provided by the AllStarDJ Productions, led by Ed Mullen, St. Joe’s alum from the Class of ’01. The prom song, Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” was the culmination of the memorable evening. As the two-hundred guests depart- The club is also planning renovations this summer to the observatory’s retractable roof, which has begun to leak. As a result of the leakage, the telescope, cameras, and filters are in danger of being damaged from rain and have to be covered after each use. The plans include purchasing a dome for the observatory. This would allow the observatory roof to retract automatically rather than manually. Although these renovations and ideas have not yet been started, both Mr. Ernst and the Astronomy Club have high hopes for this summer. ed that Friday night, they reflected on the immensely enjoyable evening. It truly was a night that each junior will remember. SENIOR PROM ‘Here’s to the night’ By Andrew Hunter Staff Writer In what has become perhaps the most longed for moment in one’s high school career aside from graduation, the Senior Prom lived up to its expectations as a night to remember for the seniors of Saint Joseph’s. Approximately 111 seniors donned tuxedos for the prom, which took place on Thursday, May 20 from 7-12 p.m. The Excelsior, in Manalapan, New Jersey was chosen as the site for this year’s prom. Dinner consisted of an open buffet serving numerous dishes. Photo by Astromomy Club members “I truly had a great time at the prom. It was a night I’ll never forget.” Timothy O’Connor Photo by Mr. Dave Gandy Juniors Jude Weirzbicki (left) and Timothy O’Connor (right) with their dates enjoy a starry night to remember. Students were able to dance to the music of today, played by a DJ who also took special requests, while enjoying the night with their dates. Black and taupe were chosen as the official colors of the prom while the theme was “Here’s to the Night.” The chosen prom song was “Here’s to the Night,” by Eve 6. The bids were sold for $115 per couple. When asked what makes the Senior Prom so special, Student Council moderator Mr. Bryner responded, “It’s one of the last great chances for the students to get together and enjoy themselves for a night of fun and dancing.” By Matt Roth Staff Writer As the 2003-2004 Student Council completes the school year, it is proud of the many goals that it accomplished. The Council planned social and community outreach programs, including the ever-popular Thanksgiving Food Drive and Christmas on Campus. It also organized dances, namely the Freshman-Sophomore Semi-Formal and the Junior and Senior Proms. In addition, it reviewed requests for several new clubs this year, including the Dance Club, Native American Club, Leo Club, and Statesmen’s Club. The Council also created an ambitious new goal by developing and initiating the Easter Basket Program. This involves the crafting of Easter baskets for the less fortunate in the community. Still in its preliminary stage, it is By Casey Naiduk Staff Writer As activities are winding down on campus, it is time to look back and remember the school year. Campus Ministry has had another successful and productive year. Good Samaritan Collections have been consistent this year with valiant participation from the students and their families. The program coordinators have worked with a variety of new agencies, and the change has greatly improved the collections. Confirmation retreats for local parishes have also been a huge success. The final retreat was held in Kendall Park this past month. It was the ninth retreat held this year. The Penny War this year evolved into a close coin compe- Student Council Campus Ministry MATH LEAGUE 2004 It all adds up By Joshua Esteban Associate Editor The intellectual and assiduous students that participated in Math League contributed to its many awards that were earned this past year. The Varsity team placed first in the Catholic Conference Varsity A Division, which has teams competing from the Tri-State Area. The Varsity team’s score of 1964 out of a possible 2000 points set a school record for this competition. Giann Gorospe, who had a perfect score for each of the four contests and was tied for first in the division, and Aaron Rubin, tied for third, did much to bring about a St. Joe’s victory. The JV team achieved a third place finish in the Catholic Conference JV A Division and was led by Jeremy Rothstein’s perfect cumulative score and first place finish. In the Advanced Math Honors Mathfax, a national contest, the team placed not only first in the division but also first in the nation. Giann Gorospe led the team with Aaron Rubin and Christian Bosoy, ranking sec- expected to become more expansive as future planning becomes refined. The Student Council anticipates that it may one day match the magnitude of the Thanksgiving Food Drive, the most successful event historically each year. Mr. Bryner, Student Council moderator, kept informed and connected through each grade’s representatives and officers. He assisted in organization efforts and monitored the Council’s progress. He named the Thanksgiving Food Drive as his favorite project because of its significant influence in helping the community. He furthermore summarized the fulfillment of such a program as the “community spirit of being able help others in need.” Continuing well-known projects, as well as introducing several new and innovative ones, has ensured the Student Council’s success this year. tition, which benefited Operation “Rice Bowl” sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Students raised $200 for this worthy cause. Social Action students have worked in various facilities to complete their course requirements as well as to facilitate numerous local projects. Seniors certainly have been leaders this year and have shown solid effort in their participation. The Metuchen-Edison YMCA has been an integral part of Social Action’s great success this year. Finally, the application process to choose the mentors and mediators for next year started in early May. In anticipation for next year, Ms. Diane Dwyer, Director of Campus Ministry, commented, “The year has brought much change and we’re already looking forward to next year.” ond and third respectively in the division. According to the Varsity moderator, Ms. Muratore, “The enthusiasm exhibited by the students is commendable. I’m extremely proud of the successes and especially the achievement of attaining a school record.” The JV team was successful this year as well. In the Geometry Honors Mathfax, John Bufe, who was first in the division, led the team to a second place finish. He also received a perfect score of 90 in the St. Joseph Algebra I contest. JV moderator, Ms. Backlund, said “The great improvement shown by the students since September in their problem analysis and mathematical strategies indicates a promising future.” The St. Joe’s community is very proud of those who gave their time and talents to bring the esteemed Math League such outstanding recognition.
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