Let It Snow! - Convent of the Sacred Heart

Faculty go
crazy for
their frozen
yogurt
page 8
king street
chronicle
Volume 28, Issue 3 Convent of the Sacred Heart - Greenwich, CT December 2007
cristina ceballos
managing editor
On the second floor of the mansion building
sits a quiet office with a steady stream of
visitors. It’s a place where nervous students
can go to vent, to cry, or just to talk. By senior
year, every student has made at least a few
visits to the College Guidance office.
“The best part of my job is getting to
know all about the students,” said Mrs. Rachel
Boyer, who became Director of College
Guidance in 2006. “My first year here was
kind of chaotic, but the girls were really great.
Right off the bat, they came to my office and
were really proactive about getting to know
me,” she said.
During the school year, she spends most
of her time meeting with students in person
or answering their questions via email.
“You girls have a lot of questions, and
they seem to pop up at the strangest hours,
like 2:00 am on a Monday morning,” said
Mrs. Boyer.
Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Mary Sykes, who is
Madrigals kick
off Christmas
season
liana khandji
staff writer
neil.fraser.name
Beyond the
calculators
Math office answers
KSC’s burning questions
page 9
Mrs. Rachel Boyer and Mrs. Mary Sykes both joined the Sacred
Heart faculty in 2006. Their offices are located on the second floor.
the Senior Advisor to the College Guidance
Department, usually get to school at 7:30
am.
“The morning is an ideal time to meet
with the parents of juniors, especially for
those who want to come in before work,” said
Mrs. Sykes.
Communicating with parents is crucial
because it can be difficult to work with parents’
high expectations. The landscape of college
admissions changed drastically in the
last ten years as the children of baby boomers
began to apply to college en masse. The in-
meg larson
“
You girls have a lot of
questions, and they seem
to pop up at the strangest
hours, like 2:00 am on a
Monday morning.
”
Commander in chief
A profile of Student
Body President Katie
Eisenberg
Getting the right guidance
Decked in Santa hats and their signature
red fleeces, Convent of the Sacred
Heart Madrigals stood under the
Westchester Country Club tree and serenaded
family and friends for the annual
tree lighting ceremony on November 30,
2007.
-Director of College Guidance
Mrs. Rachel Boyer
“The Madrigals embodied the Christmas
spirit, and they added a nice touch
to the ceremony,” said member of the
Westchester Country Club Mr. Thomas
Julian.
In spite of the 40 degree weather,
they performed a series of holiday songs
including “We Wish you a Merry Christmas,”
“Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,”
and the Sacred Heart favorite, “Carol of
the Bells.”
After their performance the president
of the club said a few words and
around 6:45pm all the girls were summoned
to gather around the tree as it
was lit.
Other Sacred Heart guests joined the
meg larson
page 12
creasing size of the applicant
pool makes admissions more
selective, making applications
hyper-competitive for
some schools.
“Expectations that were
reasonable five years ago
might not be reasonable anymore,
and parents sometimes
overshoot,” said Mrs. Boyer.
“They really want what’s best
for their kids, which is totally
understandable. In general,
though, students tend to have
a better idea of where they
belong. Sometimes I think
that they have more realistic
expectations of themselves,”
she said.
One of the hardest parts
of her job is watching students
not get into the schools
that they wanted. Last year,
Mrs. Boyer said that she drove
four hours to go and “yell at a
school.”
“They were just horrible to one of our
students, so I pretty much drove up to yell
at them. Seriously, I did. They made promises
and didn’t keep them, and they made her
go through a lot. It was kind of awkward for
them, but I felt very vindicated when I was
done,” she said.
The college eventually remedied the situation,
but the student ended up choosing a
different school after all the trouble.
Mrs. Boyer worked in college admissions
for several years, but decided to switch to the
high school side of the process so that she
could work more closely with students. She
said that it’s much more rewarding for her to
help students work through disappointments
instead of “just saying no and hanging up the
phone.” She also likes writing recommendation
letters, since they help her “show the colleges
who the girls are from every angle.”
Together, Mrs. Sykes and Mrs. Boyer
continued on page 9
festivities including Head of the Upper
School Mrs. Jayne Collins and
Sister Maureen Wade.
“I was so proud to be with the
girls. They looked Christmasy in
their red fleeces and Santa hats,
and sang beautifully, as always,”
said Mrs. Collins.
Based on the smiles on their
faces, the Madrigals enjoyed
participating in the ceremony
as much as the audience enjoyed
listening to them.
Senior Madrigal Amy
Traver said, “It was a really fun
way to kick off the Christmas
season.”
jcrew.com
meg larson
Sacré
Couture
The timeless
sweater vest
page B7
Hollywood
holdup
chief layout editor
From the studios at 30 Rockefeller
Plaza in New York City to Paramount headquarters
in Hollywood, the entertainment
industry came to a stop as thousands of
writers, backed by supportive members
of the cast and crew of various television
shows, went on strike.
On November 5, the Writer’s Guild
of America (WGA), a union comprised of
film and television writers, began protesting
what they believe is unfair compensation
for Internet and DVD product sales.
The strike came after three months of unsuccessful
contract negotiations with the
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television
“
...the amount a writer
is paid for the sale of
a single DVD...currently
stands at four cents.
”
Producers (AMPTP), which represents the
major broadcast networks and motion picture
companies.
To work as a writer, one must be a
member of the WGA, which in turn has a
contract with the AMPTP regarding payment
and royalties for writers. Currently,
writers are paid 2.5 percent of the movie
or television show’s profits. Although the
initial goal of the strike was to increase the
amount a writer is paid for the sale of a
single DVD, which currently stands at four
cents, the aim has shifted towards the new
market on the Internet.
With so many shows being broadcast
online, the Internet has presented a new
medium to make profits off of media products.
However, writers are not paid when
their shows are broadcast online or when
online media stores, such as iTunes, sell
their shows.
Many would say, however, that the
WGA is clearly winning in the
court of public opinion,
utilizing blogs to explain
their position
and paint the
studios as greedy.
The producers have
had a quieter presence
in the media since the
beginning of the strike.
Their much-less publicized
view is that the writers
are paid plenty and the strike is
a question of the rich getting
news.yahoo.com
continued on page 5

2
opinions
king street chronicle
Convent of the Scred Heart
1177 King Street
Greenwich, CT 06831
(203) 532-3172
editor in chief
sarah julian
managing editor
cristina ceballos
features editor
sylvia khoury
asst. features editor
caroline kitchener
news and chief layout editor
meg larson
asst. news and layout editor
emily oehlsen
photo/graphics editor
emily schloss
arts editor
lauren manning
asst. arts editor
megan morelli
sports editor
liz masi
opinions editor
clare mccarrick
staff writers
grissel barragan
antonia cecio
joan degennaro
julie ertl
heather grehan
liana khandji
alex mcnulty
deidre miller
tori porter
lizzy von klemperer
elyse yoder
artist
genevieve irwin
layout assistant
lacey henry
photographers
lindsey festa
olivia ruggiero
keller wilson
copy editors
maria brusco
cailey cron
susannah lawrence
eleanor logsdail
katie randolph
elizabeth sabia
layout adviser
mrs. rachel boyer
adviser
ms. ellyn stewart
About the KSC
The King Street Chronicle is published
six times a year by Sacred
Heart’s Journalism students. It is distributed
to all Upper School students
and is available to any member of the
community free of charge. Our goal
is to inform students, parents, and
alumnae of events and issues in our
community and the world. The KSC is
subject to prior review by the administration.
Living in exile
cristina ceballos
managing editor
I was a two-year-old in Caracas when
Hugo Chávez attempted a military coup
and failed. I was eight years old in Rye
when he ran for president and won. My
family had moved to the U.S. in 1995, intending
to stay two or three years and then
move back. But when Chávez took power,
those “two or three” years became twelve.
We’re still here, and I doubt if we will ever
move back.
I’ve never been unhappy about living
in the United States, and I don’t regret my
childhood here. Instead, I mourn for a lost
possibility, because moving back to Venezuela
is not even an option anymore. We
always believed that we could go back, but
my family, and thousands of others, lost
that choice.
Venezuela is breaking down. A large
part of the problem is political, and the
country is becoming unlivable. Caracas,
the capital, is one of the most dangerous
cities in South America, with the highest
per capita gun deaths in the world, according
to the UN. The crime rate is astronomical:
every weekend between 60 and
100 people are murdered, according to the
Miami Herald. Even living in Baghdad is
safer than living in Caracas, according to
usatoday.com. Although both cities have
similar populations, an average of 7,000
people are murdered each year in Baghdad,
while 15,000 are killed every year in
Caracas.
When we visit Venezuela for the summer,
it’s as though I’m suddenly eight
years old again. Going to the movies past
9:30 pm is out of the question, since it
would mean being on the streets late at
liz masi
sports editor
night going home. I’m not allowed to go
jogging outside on my own, even in broad
daylight. Opening a door becomes a fiveminute
task, as each key must be picked
out of a jingling key chain to unlock the
heavy iron bolts. When we first moved to
the United States, my mother says that
she would lie awake at night, nervous over
the house’s flimsy metal locks that could
be forced open with a single kick.
We take so much for granted in this
country: safety, security, the due process
of law. When candidates campaign and
win the presidency next year, no one will
be forced to leave the country. When we
go to the supermarket, we expect to find
milk and eggs in the aisles, not empty
spaces because of food shortages. The
government’s squandering of Venezuela’s
oil wealth has been obscene. It’s a crime
and an outrage to see all that money go to
waste when it could have helped propel
Venezuela out of poverty.
In December, for the first time in his
career, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela
tasted the sting of electoral defeat. He
had proposed a new constitution, which
would have abolished term limits and allowed
him to run for president indefinitely.
But on December 2, for the first time
ever, Chávez lost a national election. For
the first time since 1998, we felt some
hope.
“I’ve been in exile for twelve years,”
my mother told me the night of the referendum,
as we stayed up until 2:00 am
to hear the news. “Do you know what it
means to me that my children can only see
my family in the summer? It’s so hard to
leave your roots behind.”
I love living in the United States, but
I want more than one option. I want both
my countries, not half of my home.
A cleanly community
I don’t know of a single person who
would want mice scurrying across the
Convent of the Sacred Heart hallways and
classrooms. Not only do their rubbery
tails, beady eyes, and furry coat terrify
most people, but, believe it or not, their
mission is even more frightening. Why
do these fervent, four-legged creatures
scamper where humans trek? Well, it’s for
a shining reward, a gleaming bit of…food.
And as we all know at Sacred Heart,
food is well adored. It is something of
which we Convent girls are mightily proud.
We devour those muffins at break with
utter adulation. We were near tears when
the vending machines were removed. We
jump for joy when gouter is announced.
We wait anxiously in front of the toasters
for our hot bagels to slide down the tray.
We love our food at Sacred Heart so
much that we often complain as to why we
aren’t allowed to take our rations outside
of the cafeteria. I, admittedly, grumbled
about how I couldn’t bring my cinnamon
muffin into the Core Center. But I think
it’s imperative that everyone recognize
the importance of cleanliness (and the
prevention of a mice infestation). When we
do take our food outside of the cafeteria,
crumbs and wrappers are strewn across
the hallways, classrooms, and the Core
Center. While we are not intentionally
being sloppy, we always manage to leave
remnants of food where pesky mice can
find them.
The benefits of being tidy, neat, and
sanitary are overlooked by some of the
student body at Sacred Heart. While staff
and faculty laboriously clean our Core
Center, our hallways, and our cafeteria, as
well as beseech us at Morning Meeting to
pick up our items, we seem to neglect that
vital duty.
The Core Center is a sanctuary for
us but we don’t treat it with the respect
it deserves. The Core Center is still fairly
new, only about a year and a half old. It
seems, however, that a tornado has blasted
through its walls. While the staff, and
even some compassionate students, have
worked hard to give us new decorations
and furniture, students still throw their
bags everywhere, leave pens lying on the
ground, food in crevices of the couches,
wrappers underneath the tables, and the
list goes on and on.
I have been a culprit of this crime
many times, I must say. I definitely know
what it’s like to let things get messy and
I am negligent myself. My room at home
is no temple. Nonetheless, I think it’s
important that we don’t take everyone’s
work for granted. When I see staff
vacuuming and breaking backs as they try
to swipe everything clean, I realize how
unjust it is.
It’s truly not that difficult to pick
up after oneself. If you drop something,
quickly bend down and throw it away. If you
can’t find a spot to place your belongings,
open up that deserted locker or ask Ms.
Foster for a suitable location. If you want
to finish that chocolate chip muffin, spend
the extra two minutes in the cafeteria to
protect us all from an invasion of rodents.
Just take a look around the Core Center
one afternoon and share a lending hand
in picking something up. Even if it’s just a
piece of paper, if everyone did it, it would
truly make a difference. It would show
respect for all the care and effort the staff
puts into making Sacred Heart a happy
and clean family.
Learning
to love the
Convent
sarah julian
editor in chief
I doubt that a day has gone by when
I haven’t heard a fellow student complain
about the amount of time we spend at
Sacred Heart. I myself am equally guilty.
Many a night, as I walked down to the
parking lot at 6 pm, I have griped, “I
might as well live here!” I complain about
the uniform restrictions, food policy, or
homework load. More than once, after a
particularly busy week, I have fumed internally,
“I can’t wait for college!” I am
sure that I have too often grumbled about
the frequent liturgies and chapels. Yet I
recently realized that for all the complaining,
Sacred Heart students really love Sacred
Heart.
Countless times my classmates and I
have bemoaned the sorry lack of boys at
Sacred Heart. And yet, how many girls
roll out of bed every day, hair un-brushed,
face makeup-less, wearing pajama pants
and a baggy sweatshirt, considering
themselves ready for the school day? How
many times have I heard students use the
phrase “I’m not trying to impress anybody”
with regards to their appearances?
Although quick to condemn it, it seems
students do find positives in our singlesex
environment.
Almost daily, we complain about the
homework load. But nearly all students,
when asked, will admit that the education
Traditions unique to Sacred Heart, such as
Mater chapels, gouters, and conges are what
make the school so special.
we receive is incredible. Sure there might
be rules we don’t like, but that doesn’t
stop students from showing Sacred Heart
pride in the form of Sacred Heart sweatpants,
fleeces, sweatshirts, t-shirts, flap
hats, key chains, bumper stickers, Nalgenes,
Vineyard Vines bags, and even
sports bras.
Yes, I complain about liturgies. But if
anyone were to take a look at my college
list, she would see that almost half of the
universities listed are Catholic. The same
liturgies I complain about have become
something to be searched for in a college.
So, it’s true. Students do complain
about school. But that’s only natural. Especially
in high school, it is not uncommon
to take everything and everyone for
granted. But if we take a step back, it’s obvious
that we are pretty lucky. Few people
have a school as special as Sacred Heart.

Staff Editorial: the
pen is mightier
Sitting for the SAT is pretty painful.
This four-hour, ten-section exam takes
up an entire Saturday, in addition to
countless hours spent studying. As if
that weren’t enough, come test day,
students must also endure moans
about the “personal statement”
all test takers are forced to sign.
When proctors announce
that this statement must
be written completely
in cursive, the moans
increase. Then,
twenty minutes
of precious
test time will
be wasted
while the
proctor
has to
write
every
letter
in script,
because
people “forgot how.”
What has happened to handwriting?
Remember third grade, when you were
so excited to learn script? Today, you’re
lucky if you even write at all. With the
advent of Securexam, long written tests
are now typed out in a secure network.
The act of actually writing out an essay
seems like a remnant of an age past.
Students complain about hand aches
after only 20 minutes of writing.
We barely ever write out notes.
Instead, we type at the flying speed at
which the teacher talks. Though the
typed notes allows the teacher to teach
at a much faster rate, are we really
remembering what we type?
And, if you’re like me, your computer
probably crashes about ten times a year.
I lose all my work, have
to rewrite that paper
I started, and email
frantically for the notes
I no longer have. I tend
to yell at my computer
constantly.
T h a n k
goodness for APs.
Sure, I never
thought I would
hear those
words flying
out of my
mouth,
but APs
are the
reason
I have
learned to
write quickly. After
Ms. Hitching’s AP U.S. History
class, my writing speedily improved. I
know that we no longer have the luxury
of typing on APs.
Although computers make things
Hand writing papers has become a long lost art. In the
time of Securexam and typed-up notes, students simply
don’t need the good old-fashioned pen and paper combo.
“
What has happened to
handwriting? Remember
third grade, when you
were so excited to learn
script? Today, you’re
lucky if you even write at
all.
”
With the pen, there
are no printer problems,
no problems saving,
no possibility that the
computer is lost.
“
”
incredibly fast and much more efficient,
sometimes the art of the pen, and
penmanship, is lost. With the pen, there
are no printer problems, no problems
saving, and no possibility that the
computer is lost. Next time you go to type
your notes, remember the power of the
pen.
Staff editorial policy:
Staff editorials topics are voted upon by
the editors of the KSC. They are written
by the opinions editor.
emily leitner
megan morelli
On the first day of school at Kings Rural
High School in Nova Scotia, Canada, a
student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.
He was jerked around, threatened, and
called a “homosexual.” Two upperclassmen
who witnessed this incident used the
power of technology to encourage others to
take a stand and, by the end of the week,
students at over 60 schools in the province
of Nova Scotia wore pink in support of antibullying.
The movement became known as the
“sea of pink,” and even the government
of Nova Scotia officially made the second
Thursday of every school year “Stand
Up Against Bullying” Day. This simple
statement by two teenagers has also
garnered support from countries all over
the world such as Taiwan and Germany.
I’m constantly reminded by those
signs on trains, subways, or in airports
telling me “if you see something, say
something.” These signs of course refer
to bombs or suspicious looking items or
Letter to the editor:
Dear Editor,
asst. arts editor
opinions 3
The power of pink
Every time I tell someone that I am
a junior, I automatically get asked that
dreaded question: what colleges are you
looking at? I am confident that every
junior has been asked this question at
least once.
I have become accustomed to
robotically replying “Oh, you know, here
and there.” Personally, I do not like telling
others where I am applying, because,
frankly, it’s not any of their business.
I don’t understand why adults, whom
I have never even met before, feel the need
to ask about college. Stress about college
is practically inevitable, and perfect
strangers asking about it increases this
people, but oftentimes we overlook those
simple words. In reality, they can really be
applied to things happening in our life, and
particularly in our school today.
The two Canadian boys, victims of
bullying in elementary school, saw this kid
being picked on and knew personally the
emotional and psychological affects this
can have on someone. They took a stand,
not knowing that they would soon create
their own mass anti-bullying movement.
They saw something happening and did
something about it.
My challenge to you is to follow in the
footsteps of these two boys. Sure, we can’t
wear pink because of uniform restrictions,
but there are other ways. Don’t keep your
mouth closed because you are afraid of what
others might think, but don’t do it for the
glory either. These boys were called heroes
in some people’s eyes, but to themselves,
they are just human beings witnessing
an injustice and acting out against it. Not
saying anything is the same as silently
saying it is okay.
So keep your eyes open, your closets
full of pink, and never underestimate the
power of one person.
The infamous college question
emily schloss
photo editor
stress even more.
Why do they care? It is not as if
they can sum up who I am and what my
accomplishments may be based solely on
the colleges I happen to have visited. If I
say I am applying to Harvard University,
will people think differently of me than
if I were applying to a school of lower
caliber?
A student generally knows when she finds her perfect college. However, she may
not want the general public to know, too.
However, I understand that most
adults do not know how much we hate
being asked about college. In their
attempts at making conversation, they
probably seize upon the one topic that is
universal for high school students.
But, for all those adults reading this,
please stop asking. If I feel the need to tell
you about college, I will.
I find it troubling that after liturgies, Upper School students have to
put the chairs away when we sit on the bleachers. The time that it takes to put
away the chairs often takes time away from our break. If the Middle Schoolers
simply picked up the chairs that they were sitting on, we wouldn’t be struggling
with three chairs after every liturgy. It would be much more simple, efficient, and
productive.
- Junior Antonia Libassi
Letters to the editor may be submitted by any member of the Sacred Heart community.
They should be emailed to Opinions editor Clare McCarrick at mccarrickc@
cshgreenwich.org.
pa.uky.edu

4 news
Class of 2009 prepares to leave a legacy
lauren manning
In the spring of 2007, members of the
Convent of the Sacred Heart Class of 2009
met to plan their sophomore retreat. While
successfully planning the retreat, another
endeavor also grew out of these discussions.
Now in their junior year, these same students
have established the Class of 2009 legacy
project.
This project, formally named the Nora
Falk Legacy Initiative, was defined by the junior
class as having “the common goal of improving
the experience of families with children
suffering from serious illnesses through
service, awareness, and personal commitment.”
“I think this project means a lot to our
“
I think one of the
best things about the
legacy project is that it
really shows how Nora’s
love for helping others
is translated to all other
people.
grade because it is something that we were
able to create ourselves, so we are very passionate
about our cause,” said junior Kyla
Harrington.
Although the plan for the project comes
from the entire grade’s thoughts and ideas,
much of the inspiration comes from another
source. Nora Falk, a member of the Class of
‘09, passed away at age 14 in 2004 after a courageous
battle with leukemia. The values and
love which Nora vividly promoted in all aspects
of her life served as a strong motivation
for the Class of ’09 to establish this project in
her memory.
“I think one of the best things about the
legacy project is that it really shows how Nora’s
love for helping others is translated to all
other people,” said junior Ale Ferrara. “This
tori porter
arts editor
”- Junior Ale Ferrara
staff writer
Photography class is one of the most
sought-after electives in the Convent of
the Sacred Heart Upper School. With six
classes and fifty-eight students in total,
photography teacher Ms. Kev Filmore
teaches levels one, two, and three. The following
explains how photo students get
from film to print.
After shooting the assignment, girls
are sent into the rolling closet. The closet
is situated in a corner of the darkroom and
is absolutely pitch black. The darkness is
absolutely imperative because if the film
gets light on it, the pictures are ruined.
In the closet, first pry the top of the
film canister off with the bottle opener
in the closet. Then, insert the end of the
film into the film reel. Twist the sides of
the reel so that the film winds up into it.
After the film is all the way wound in, use
the scissors in the closet to cut the inside
middle cylinder from the film canister off
of the film. Place the reel in the light-safe
container, and screw the top on before
leaving the closet.
Once finished in the closet, go out into
the darkroom. Pre-wet the film for developing
by lifting the red lid off of the light
safe canister. Because of its design, taking
the red top off will not expose the film to
light. After pre-wetting, pour the developer
into the canister. Agitate the canister
every thirty seconds for five minutes to
develop the film. When the developer is
done, pour it back into the pitcher where
is really a Class of 2009 project. Half of our
class didn’t even know her and I think it is an
incredible thing that she is still making an impact
in peoples lives for those who did and did
not know her.”
Through almost weekly meetings and
an ongoing email chain, the junior class has
worked consistently to achieve their goal with
this project. Finally, in late October, a group
of five students met with Mrs. Jayne Collins,
the Head of the Upper School, to propose the
project.
“I was exceptionally pleased to see how
devoted the group was to preserving the
memory of Nora in such a way. This could
bring ease to all those who loved her that are
suffering. The girls are so dedicated and it is
a really good
thing they are
doing. This
is really a living
memory
of Nora,” said
Mrs. Collins.
W h a t
began as a
broad idea
has now been
condensed
into a much
more focused
service project.
With the
help of Mrs.
Kerry Bader,
Director of
Community
Service, the
students were
Nora Falk is the inspiration for the Class of 2009 Nora
Falk Legacy Initiative.
able to transform their range of ideas into a
plausible and more finite plan.
“At their first meeting, the students were
so enthused and had many wonderful ideas.
As they continued talking, they realized that
in order for the project to be successful, they
would have to narrow their focus,” said Mrs.
Bader. “This focus allowed them to define
their scope and move ahead with their proj-
it came from, so as not to waste the chemicals
or contaminate the water by pouring
them down the sink. Stop the developing
process by setting the canister under water
for five minutes. Then pour in the fixer,
a chemical which fixes the film to keep it
from changing. After agitating the fixer
every thirty seconds for five minutes, put
the canister under another water wash.
When the water is done, pour perma-wash
into the canister and continue agitating.
Following the perma-wash, it is safe to
take the film out of the light-safe canister.
Remove it, take it off the reel, and dip it
into hydroflow, which is the final chemical.
Run the film through your fingers to
take the excess hydroflow off.
After developing the film, bring it out
of the darkroom and clip it in the drying
closet. It will take about twenty-four hours
to dry, so be patient.
ect.”
In finalizing their plan, the students decided
to focus on both healthcare and education
as their basic initiatives. These ideas,
chosen by class vote, are expected to expand
as the project continues to grow.
“It was really difficult to narrow down
the project because there were so many good
ideas, but obviously it is not possible to do everything.
It has been a good learning experience
in terms of how to work on a team and
hear everyone’s input,” said Kyla.
In general, the healthcare branch of the
project places focus on improving the hospital
experience for both sick children and
their families. Through this, the students
plan to promote education in a number of
different ways including
homework
help and spreading
awareness. In planning
projects and
opportunities such
as homework help,
arts-and-crafts,
pen-pal groups, and
visits with both the
sick children and
their siblings, the
students not only
want to provide
service, but also to
make a personal
connection.
Over time,
the group plans
to grow, giving all
members of the Class
of ‘09, and eventually
students in other grades, an opportunity to
participate in this project, so that it can continue
for years to come. In hopes to expand
the project to its fullest extent, the students
also plan to connect to other schools throughout
the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, by
inviting them to participate in local service
projects as well as inspiring the schools to begin
a similar program.
Going deep into the dark room
Photography students use the darkroom to develop pictures using a light
safe canister.
To make a print, take the film and
place it in the enlarger in the dark room.
Turn on the enlarger’s light and shine the
picture on a “dud” piece of photo-paper. A
“dud” is a piece of paper that has been accidentally
exposed
to light and therefore
cannot be developed
with a picture
on it. When the
picture is situated
well, turn the light
off and put a real
piece of paper on
the easel. Shine the
light through the
negative, without
moving the paper
lindsey festa
courtesy of ale ferrara
or the negative.
The final step
of developing a
print is to put it
in the developing chemicals. The same
chemicals used for developing the film are
used to make a print. First, after exposing
the paper to the light, put it into the tray
full of developing chemical. This makes
the picture appear. Second, put in the tray
of water for thirty seconds, which stops
the print from developing. Lastly, take the
print and put it in the tray of fixer, which
stabilizes the print and makes it so that it
doesn’t change. Finally, put it in the sink
to wash under water for at least five minutes.
Once the picture has been developed,
put it on the drying rack. Congratulations
on successfully developing a print.
Model UN students
attend the Princeton
Conference
cristina ceballos
managing editor
A plague of locusts ravaged Somalia, scientists
in Botswana found a cure for AIDS, and
barbarian tribes attacked the Roman Empire
at the 2007 Princeton Model United Nations
Conference. Thirteen students from Convent
of the Sacred Heart participated in the conference,
which took place from November 29 to
December 2. Delegates represented different
countries or people, simulating a gathering of
the United Nations.
“I spent a lot of time preparing for this
conference, but it was worth it,” said sophomore
Beth LaBossiere, who represented Australia
in the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian
committee. “I learned a lot about current
events. It’s much more interesting to learn
about countries’ points of view in this context,”
she said.
Sophomores Adaire Carey, Tori Porter, Grissel
Barragan, and Katie Randolph spent
some downtime together at the Princeton
Model UN Conference.
grissel barragan
Beth’s committee was one of the largest
committees in the conferences, with over 100
delegates representing 70 different countries.
Other delegates participated in crisis committees,
which were much smaller and ranged
from 16 to 30 people.
Sophomores Katie Randolph, Kate Garcia,
and Tori Porter were part of a joint crisis
committee, in which one committee reacted
to the actions of another. Half of the delegates
represented the leaders of a rebellion in Somalia,
while the other half represented government
officials trying to crush the uprising.
“My room solved the crises much faster
than the other room,” said Katie. “We kept
outwitting the people in the other committee
while they just talked about their problems
too much. It was really fun,” she said.
The conference was run entirely by
Princeton students, and some committees
included guest lectures by Princeton professors.
Although most of the delegates came
from high schools in the northeast, schools in
China, Turkey, and Venezuela participated as
well.
“
I spent a lot of time
preparing for this conference,
but it was worth
it ... It’s much more interesting
to learn about
countries’ points of view
in this context.
”
- Sophomore Beth LaBossiere
“I really benefitted from the other kids in
committee, since they had such strong views,”
said sophomore Grissel Barragan. “I was
amazed at how good everyone was, although
it was a little overwhelming.”
For many Sacred Heart delegates, Princeton
was the first large conference they attended.
New delegates learned Model UN
procedure and vocabulary, which can be confusing
for novices.
“I loved that my committee was formal,”
said Beth. “Using phrases like ‘motion for a
10-minute moderated caucus with a speaking
time of one minute’ became second nature to
me,” she said.

National
Former Senate Majority Leader
George Mitchell published
a report on performanceenhancing
drugs in Major
League Baseball. The report
names Roger Clemens, Andy
Pettite, and Barry Bonds as
having used steroids.
Senator Barack Obama won
the Democratic vote in the
Iowa caucus, while Governor
Mike Huckabee gained the
most Republican votes.
California passed legislation
that would provide health
care coverage to 70 percent
of the 5.1 million Californians
who are currently uninsured.
Although this is a significant
move towards universal health
care, it must first be passed by
the state senate.
The House passed a budget
bill that approves $516 billion
for the government budget.
President Bush praised the
bill, despite the fact that many
conservatives thought this
number too high.
International
Rumors that Russia is seeking
to annex Belarus gained
credibility when the leaders
of the two countries met on
December 14 to pledge closer
economic and military cooperation.
Iran, upon recieving a fuel
shipment from Russia for
its existing nuclear plant at
Bushehr, revealed it is now
building a second nuclear
power plant.
First Deputy Prime Minister
of Russia, Sergei Ivanov,
expressed the need for Russia
to have nuclear parity with the
United States in a speech to
members of the Russian miltary-industrial
commission.
Palestinians were pledged
$7.4 billion in aid by 87 countries
in order to help them
create a peaceful and secure
state of their own. Those who
pledged money included the
United States, France, Britain,
and Saudi Arabia.
julie ertl
continued from page 1
staff writer
President Pervez Musharraf declared a
state of emergency in Pakistan on November
4. This proclamation severely limits the
freedom of the Pakistani people by imposing
limits on non-government controlled
news stations and suspending the Pakistani
constitution. The quickly approaching Pakistani
election adds an element of urgency to
this issue, since the election must be held
democratically.
Since the 1990s, the political situation
in Pakistan has been corrupt. Musharraf
banished former Prime Ministers Benazir
Bhutto and Namaz Sharif over corruption
charges. Musharaff, who was the leader of
the military, made himself the new Prime
Minister of Pakistan.
United States Deputy Secretary of State
John Negroponte delivered a strong message
to President Musharraf during their
meeting in Islamabad on November 17, emphasizing
the need to return to democratic
rule. The United States believes Pakistan
cannot have the necessary elections while
under emergency rule and not until free
media is restored and political prisoners are
released.
“We would urge him to lift it [the state
of emergency] immediately,” Negroponte
said during his meeting with Musharraf on
November 17, according to globalsecurity.
Writer’s strike
richer.
While it may seem that only a small
portion of Hollywood would be affected, the
strike has shut down production on dozens of
primetime shows. Many show-runners ended
production on their shows as an indication
of solidarity with the writers, while others
closed down after running out of new scripts.
This has created huge unemployment rates
for people who work behind the scenes.
During the strike, writers are unable to
fulfill any writing duties on films or television
shows. A writer’s failure to comply with WGA
guidelines during the strike would result in a
hefty fine from the union. In their new-found
time off, the writers have congregated in key
spots in both Los Angeles and New York,
picketing outside entrances to major network
studios.
Unless a settlement is reached, most
shows will conclude the very short 2007-2008
television season in the coming weeks after
running out of new scripts. The last writers’
strike in 1988 lasted five months and ended
up costing the entire industry $500 million.
If this strike continues for that long, the 2008
fall TV season may be remarkably bare in
terms of new programming because of lack
of development and the amount of money
lost will be exponentially higher. Until the
two parties reach an agreement, studios have
begun to consider their TV programming
options, which may mean more reality and
game shows.
The WGA was the first union whose contract
with the AMPTP expired. The Screen
Actors Guild (SAG) and the Director’s Guild
of America (DGA) have contracts that expire
in mid-2008. The SAG and DGA members
are also not paid for Internet content,
which is why many writers feel so strongly
about standing their ground on their position,
knowing that the deal they cut with the
AMPTP will be very similar to the one given
to SAG and DGA members next year in their
contracts.
The first talks since the WGA went on
strike began on November 26. However, after
days of negotiating, the talks again broke
down on December 7. There are currently no
plans to go back to the negotiating table.
org. “We think it’s incredibly difficult...to
have the kind of free, fair and open elections
that the Pakistani people seem to want…to
have confidence that their country is going
to stay on a democratic pathway.”
Musharraf, however, says that
emergency rule is needed to
hold the country’s parliamentary
elections in a
peaceful atmosphere,
according to vaonews.com.
Upon being
elected Pakistani
president in 2008
for another five
years, Musharraf
stated he would
shed his role of
military chief and be
inducted as a civilian
leader.
Many people do not
believe in what Musharraf
is doing and are
strongly opposed
to him being
re-elected.
Convent
of the Sacred
Heart history
teacher Mr.
Paul Grisanti
said, “His ser-
sarah julian
The Iowa Caucus is famous for little
other than its timing. Traditionally one of the
first states to select delegates to the Democratic
and Republican National Conventions,
Iowa is looked to as an early indicator of a
presidential candidate’s chances of success in
the primaries and the presidential elections.
This year, the caucus was originally planned
for January 14 but was subsequently moved
to January 3.
Iowa is slightly different from other
states in that the presidential candidates are
forced to campaign in more localized ways to
smaller numbers of people in local buildings
and at private homes. Thus, it takes considerable
effort to win Iowa, but many presidential
candidates campaign heavily in the
state because of the benefits victory brings.
A win early in the primary season generally
provides a great boost in a candidate’s popularity,
and improves his chances of gaining
joan degennaro
editor in chief
staff writer
Since his election to Mayor of New
York City, Mike Bloomberg showed strong
dedication to the reform of the city’s education
system. His current plan involves grading
the public schools based on student test
performance, parent and teacher feedback,
and the work of the principals.
Schools who receive good grades will
be granted extra financial funding and
principals might receive bonuses. However,
schools receiving Ds or Fs will be under
closer watch. If no changes occur in one
or two years, the school will either change
principals or close down.
According to Director of Community
Service and New York City resident Mrs.
Kerry Bader, these changes will not be
enough. She said, “Unfortunately, neither
of these remedies addresses some of the
fundamental problems in urban education,
news 5
State of emergency in Pakistan
vice to Pakistan has had some good traits,
but it is time for him to go.”
The United States is not trying to dictate
how Pakistan should be governed.
American officials believe continued democratic
reforms will leave the
country in a better position
to deal with political
extremism in
the region.
In early 2007,
when talks of a free
election surfaced,
Bhutto and Sharif
saw this as their
opportunity to
come out of exile
and restore democracy.
Both were
almost killed upon
entering Pakistan. At
this time, Musharraf
decided to suspend the
constitution and
to put all the
Supreme Court
under house arrest.
President
President Pervez Musharraf made himself the Prime
Minister of Pakistan in the 1990s after having served in
Pakistani military.
Taking over Iowa
the party nomination.
This year, speculation is everywhere
about the results of the Iowa Caucus. On
the side of the Democrats, Hillary Clinton
and Barack Obama are battling for the top
spot. According to the The New York Times,
an ABC/Washington Post poll found that 30
percent of Democrats who are likely to attend
the caucus would support Obama, whereas
26 percent would choose Hillary Clinton.
John Edwards was next with 22 percent, followed
by Bill Richardson at 11 percent.
As for the Republicans, Mike Huckabee
is making a strong push. In August,
the Republicans held the Iowa straw poll,
which serves as an indicator for the caucus.
In this poll, Mitt Romney won 31.6 percent
of the vote and Huckabee came in second
with 18.1 percent. Recently Huckabee began
his first television commercials in the state.
However, in terms of campaign cash, Romney
raised more than $62 million whereas
Huckabee raised about $5 million, according
to The New York Times.
Making the grade
saudigazette.com
Musharraf saud
he would end
the emergency
rule on December
15.
which are too vast.”
Mr. James Liebman is the project’s
chief accountability officer, taking time off
from teaching at Columbia Law School until
July 2008 so that he can continue to issue
these reports.
According to Mrs. Bader, the New York
school administrators have two major complaints
about the grading system.
“Special education students should not
be included in the assessment because special-ed
students usually perform at a lower
level than general-ed students,” she said.
“Additionally, English as a second language
should be taken into account when assessments
are evaluated.”
The process of grading schools has
led to nationwide discussion and debate
surrounding the actual process of judging
schools. In both Florida, where this grading
system has been used before, and New
York, schools have been given good grades,
but failed according to the No Child Left
Behind System.

KSC’s top ten Christmas carols of all time
Ranging from classic to modern, these holiday tunes are sure to please
liz masi
1.
This pop classic has warmed the hearts
of millions of fans both young and old. Mariah’s
album titled “Merry Christmas” sold
over 16 million copies worldwide, making
it the largest-selling Christmas album ever.
With a catchy beat, Christmas
spirit, fun
lyrics, and o f
course, Miss
M a r i a h Carey,
there is no
doubt why
this is # 1
on the KSC’s
list.
Good tip: Listen to a
version of this song sung by Olivia
Olson, who was only 11 years old at the
time of the recording. Her powerful voice
resonates in her performance in the popular
movie, Love Actually.
2.
“When it snows…ain’t it thrillin’!” With
these words, this classic song sings what
rings true for many young children—the
magic of snow, winter, and Christmas. One
traditional version is sung by Tony Bennett
with great vocals, awesome energy, and
blasting jazz instruments. It sparks a fun,
festive feel true to the holiday spirit.
Good tip: If you’re looking for the richest
voice out there, check out Louis Armstrong’s
version. His voice is seeped in
Christmas tradition.
3.
This song may be a slower ballad, but
with a beautiful harmony of string instruments,
a back- up chorus, and, of course,
the legend- ary Frank
Sinatra, this song is
not only beautiful,
but sends an
i m - portant
Christ- m a s
message. “Have
yourself a merry
little Christmas…Let your heart be light;
From now on, our troubles will be out of
sight.”
Good tip: For the distinctive, beautiful
voice of Sarah McLachlan, definitely listen
to her rendition.
antonia cecio
sports editor
All I want For Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey
Winter Wonderland Tony Bennett
Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas
Frank Sinatra
staff writer
As Christmas approaches rapidly,
many students become
obsessed with their
countdowns and
the excitement
of the holiday
season. However,
many are not
aware of the other
significant holidays
that occur
around Christmas
time. Kwanzaa and
Hanukah also take
place in December.
They each represent something
special, as Christmas does
for the majority of the Upper School students
at Convent of the Sacred Heart.
4.
“The lights are turned way down low…
let it snow! Let it snow! Let
it snow!“ Every person
can con- nect with this
uplifting carol. Viva snow
days. The classic version
is sung by Dean Martin
and conjures images of
crackling fire- places, snow
flurries, and hot cocoa.
Good tip: Mi- chael Buble
sings a more modern version, but with the
same elements of classic jazz and good
cheer.
5.
This song is the anthem for all those
who begin to anticipate Christmas in October!
Sung by the peppy and fun Johnny Mathis,
this song describes the best parts of the
Christmas season and what we Christmas
hams all look forward to. “It's beginning to
look a lot like Christmas; soon the bells will
start, and the thing that will make them ring
is the carol that you sing… right within your
heart.”
Good tip: Of course, Perry Como’s version
is classic. Older and more traditional
than Mathis’, Como’s voice is sure to warm
the heart.
6.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It
Snow!
Dean Martin
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot like
Christmas
Johnny Mathis
White Christmas
Bing Crosby
If you haven’t seen the 1954 film White
Christmas, then you are definitely
missing out. This Christmas
classic is sung b y
Bing Crosby, who
is the lead in
the film. Not only
is the mov- i e
beautiful, but
Bing’s voice is sensational.
His rendi- tion
is so old that you can hear
the crackling static of the old
recording booths. But that’s
what makes this Christmas carol so special.
With Bing’s voice, the back up voices singing
melodiously in the background, the oldworld
charm, and connection with the film,
this song is a classic.
Good tip: If looking for a modern, R &
B soul rendition, listen to Destiny Child’s
version. It has a hip hop edge with amazing
harmony.
Freshman Hannah McGovern said,
“The whole winter season goes by so
quickly, I wish I had a chance to learn
more about the holidays that others celebrate.”
“I don’t know much about
Kwanzaa, but I know it is an
African holiday that is celebrated
after Christmas,”
said senior Keara Stewart.
Kwanzaa is a Pan-
African holiday that is
celebrated solely in the
United States. It is celebrated
for a week beginning
on December 26
and ending January 1.
During these seven days
of celebration, candle-lighting
and the pouring of libations (drinkofferings
to God), are performed every
night. This holiday was created by Roan
7. Jingle Bell Rock
Oh, those cheesy guitar and bells. How
could someone not love this song? This song
makes you want to dance in Christmas festivity,
and Bobby Helms does a great job.
Good tip: Neil Diamond does an awesome
rendition with more of a modern, rock
edge.
8.
Bobby Helms
Rockin’ Around The Christmas
Tree
Brenda Lee
After hearing
this, people really
want to rock
around the Christmas
tree. Brenda
Lee’s version is upbeat
with a strumming
bass, sporadic electric
guitar, and a rockin’ sax solo.
Good tip: Calling all Disney fans…Hannah
Montana gives her rock, punk, pop edge
to this song.
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Gene Autry
This song is an anthem for children
everywhere who enjoy all the magic Christmas
has to offer. Like Bing Crosby’s “White
Christmas," Gene Autry’s version is vintage.
Good tip: Jack Johnson fans should try
his version of "Rudolph." His light-hearted
acoustics and distinctive voice make this
classic carol his own.
10.Jingle Bells
Jim Reeves
“Dashing through the snow, in a onehorse
open sleigh, over the fields we go,
laughing all the way, ha ha ha!” If this doesn’t
make one nostalgic of second grade chorus,
nothing will. Jim
Reeves’ rendition
is featured on the
Elf sound- track and
appears in the motion
pic- ture. It’s a
great, tra- ditional
version, very short
and sweet with the
much-loved bells and piano.
Good tip: In his appropriately titled album,
Christmas Island, the awesome Jimmy
Buffett adds a Caribbean feel to this carol.
Karenga in 1966. Its purpose was to embrace
the African-American culture that
is prominent in the United States.
“Hanukah is a really interesting holiday.
It has so much history, and it is
really symbolic of what the Jewish
people have gone through. I
love to play with the dreidel,”
said sophomore Tammy
Quintano.
Hanukah, also known as
the Festival of Lights, begins
on the 25th day of the month of
Kislev, which is derived from the
Jewish calendar. This month can fall anytime
from late November to late December,
and it celebrates the re-kindling of the
menorah during the Maccabee rebellion.
Because of this historical significance, every
night during the eight day Hanukah a
new light is lit on the menorah. The holiday
is celebrated with presents and feasts
on the first and last days of Hanukah.
‘Tis the S
at Sacred
Photos courtesy of: ntimemusic.com, dvdtoile.com, orlandoweekly.com, myclassiclyrics.com, nndb.com, joegirardmusic.com
There’s more to the season than just Santa Claus
Sacred Heart appreciates holidays other than Christmas during the winter season
“I always found Hanukah a fun holiday
to observe, and the story of Hanukah
is well known by even those who do not
c e l - ebrate it,” said junior Meg
Taylor.
Although there are only
two other main holidays
that occur around the same
time as Christmas, there are
many other smaller holidays
that deserved to be celebrated.
Boxing Day is celebrated
in all Commonwealth countries,
such as Canada, England and
Australia, and is a gathering day. There is
also the Winter Solstice, and the Dutch St.
Nicholas Day.
“I love the Dutch St. Nicholas Day celebrated
on December 6. My Dutch friends
celebrate St. Nicholas Day, and St. Nicholas
doesn’t take a sleigh from the North
Pole, but a boat up from Spain,” said history
teacher Mr. Paul Grisanti.

eason
Heart
elyse yoder
Along the side of the Upper School hallway
laid multiple cardboard boxes with advisors’
names written on the front of
each box. During the week before
Thanksgiving break, Convent of
the Sacred Heart students were
asked to bring in cans of food,
bags of potatoes, and rice for the
Thanksgiving food drive. Each advisory
had a cardboard box to fill
up with food and received points
based on the amount of food
brought into school for the drive.
Over five tons of food were
donated to community service
organizations. Specifically, two
deliveries of food were brought to
Casa de Esperanza. Gift cards and
cash donations worth $500.00
were also collected and distributed
to the organization. Casa de
Esperanza provides women with
staff writer
Q & A: What’s your favorite holiday food?
compiled by tori porter
emily oehlsen
“
Decking the halls with Christmas cheer
asst. news editor
The preperations for Christmas Day are
not to be taken lightly. Christmas trees are
assembled and decorated in the foyer of Convent
of the Sacred Heart in late November,
and plans for hallway decoration commence
as soon as students return from
Thanksgiving break.
There is a universal aim to out-wrap,
out-shine, and out-decorate the rest of
the Upper School community, which
leaves the Core Center, classrooms, and
hallways bursting with all things Christmas.
Over the past two decades, garlands
have grown and paper chains
have proliferated in the Upper Schools
halls. In the 1990s, the task of decorating
was managed by the House Decorating
Committee. This group of students
handled most major holiday decorating
projects, including Halloween, Thanksgiving,
and Easter. The decorations were
much the same as they are today, with
the exception of space limitations. They
were confined to the Upper School, which
consisted of a single hallway and the Core
Center.
“At Christmas, the decorations overflow
into every single hallway,” said junior Aline
Souza. “No matter where you go in the school,
you can feel the Christmas spirit.”
But perhaps the largest change in Christmas
decorating has been the enactment of
class competitions. This friendly contest began
during the Christmas season of 2004 between
the freshmen and the sophomores.
support services including food and clothing
banks. They even receive the opportunity to
learn English as a second language.
“The food that was donated will be given
to families in need at Thanksgiving and
throughout the year. Your dedication and
Senior Emily Leitner said, “I think the
competition started in my freshman year because
a few girls in my class had sisters in the
sophomore class. The freshmen were talking
about how we wanted to decorate all our lockers
like presents and the older sisters reacted
by trying to make their hallway look better
Sophomore Lizzy Von Klemperer decorates lockers during
big-little sister locker wrapping.
than ours.”
From the beginning, Emily found that
home-made decorations, such as ribbons
crossing the tops of lockers and paper chains,
were the most effective.
“If you buy too many store-bought items,
I think it becomes too much of who can buy
the most cheap decorations,” said Emily.
Members of the Class of 2010 realized
the hazards of store-bought decorations in
December 2006.
support for the poor in our midst is inspiring,”
said Kerry Bader, Directory of Community
Service.
Not only did Sacred Heart students provide
food for families at Thanksgiving, but
this Christmas was also a major time
for community service.
In addition to service at St.
Luke’s Lifeworks in December, a toy
and clothing drive took place during
the Christmas season. The food and
clothing will be given to the children
at the Carver Center in Port Chester.
They will also attend a Christmas
party hosted by Sacred Heart.
“I think it is good that we give
during the Christmas season because
we get an opportunity to share
the spirit of giving,” said freshman
Jillian Carter.
Children nearby won’t be the
only ones receiving gifts this Christ-
mas. Mrs. Mary Sykes, Senior Advisor
to the College Guidance Department
is organizing a toy drive for
“Last year we had a huge mess. It looked
like Santa threw up in our corner of the Core
Center,” said sophomore Maria Brusco. “So
this year we are trying to make it more organized.”
The intensity of Christmas decorating
has grown since the birth of the competition.
While it does increase interest in decorating,
some feel that it does not coincide
with the Christmas spirit.
“I think that the Christmas decorating
at Sacred Heart, while a memorable
and a special tradition doesn't
represent the true meaning of Christmas,”
said junior Liz Masi. “I remember
last year during the contest, I worked
really hard on a decoration and someone
told me it was tacky and to take it
down. Healthy competition is good, but
not when it hurts others.”
As the seniors prepare for graduation
next spring, the upcoming Christmas
marks their last at Sacred Heart.
“I know it is so corny to say this,
olivia ruggiero
but around Christmas everyone is so
kind to one another. The amount of
door-holding and baking and hugging
in the school skyrockets,” said senior Alison
Whelan. “I will definitely miss the love
at Sacred Heart around Christmas time.”
For freshmen who did not attend Sacred
Heart in middle school, the Christmas decorations
in the Upper School can be a bit of a
shock.
“Christmas decorating at my middle
school was horrible because we had to be
politically correct. I am really excited to go
all out and have a good time this year,” said
freshman Jessica Morris.
Sacred Heart gives during the holiday season
Students and faculty provide for the less fortunate in the local community
Students collected presents for the children at the Carver Center. The
gifts will be presented to the children the last day before break.
“
Definitely sweet potatoes.
”
-Freshman Maya Albert
I’m a vegetarian so that rules out a
lot. I love all kinds of squash.
Cranberry sauce from the can.
-Junior Millicent Green
“
My favorite holiday food is pie with
homemade whipped cream.
-Senior Kelly Donlin
“
“
emily schloss
”
-Sophomore Maria Brusco
”
This is difficult, but I would have to say
my favorite holiday food is turkey.
-Academic Dean Mrs. Gail Casey
”
”
girls in Iraq. The toys collected will be given
to United States servicemen and women who
will then distribute them to the girls.
“
graphics by liz masi
I think it is good
that we give during
the Christmas season,
because we get an opportunity
to share the
spirit of giving.
-Freshman Jillian Carter
”
“It’s really good that we raise awareness
and donate to charities during the holiday
season. I also think we should continue serving
the community even more throughout
the rest of the year as well as during the holidays,”
said sophomore Emily Hagan.
Families who were in need on Thanksgiving
and who continue to seek care throughout
the rest of the year will receive the support
they need as a result of the strong efforts
made by students at Sacred Heart.

8
heather grehan
features
Faculty’s fro-yo frenzy
Examining the frozen yogurt addiction of faculty and staff
staff writer
A student sluggishly drags herself into
her last period class with barely enough
energy to make it through the day, only to
look up and see exactly what she needs to
keep her upbeat and alert. On the teacher’s
desk lays a coffee cup filled to the
brim with Caribbean coffee frozen yogurt
complete with whipped cream
and sprinkles. Her hopes of some
type of afternoon sugary pickme-up
begin to rise, but she
crashes back into depression
as she comes to the realization
that the frozen yogurt
is for faculty members
only.
Students have always
looked longingly
at the teachers’ ever-
constant frozen yogurt
snacks, but now
with the vending machines
gone, it seems
that the students are
left with a bit of brain
freeze and bafflement
as to why the faculty
gets to keep their tasty
snack machine.
“I think it is unfair
because they took away
our vending machines,
but the teachers get to keep
their yogurt machine,” said
sophomore Afiya Roberts.
Junior Millicent Green
had a similar attitude towards
the coveted machine.
“It is very difficult when
they come into class with their ice
cream cones and sprinkles, and we
do not get anything,” said Millicent.
Students also question why teachers
have frozen yogurt in the hallways and
classrooms when students are told that
having food in the hallways is strictly forbidden.
“How come we always get yelled at for
having muffins in the hallway, but teachers
get to walk down the hall with giant
cups of frozen yogurt with sprinkles and
nobody yells at them,” said sophomore
Courtney Reynolds.
The faculty had quite a different
opinion than the students on the presence
of the frozen yogurt machine. Many of the
faculty members visit the frozen
yogurt machine at least once
a day, while some visit the
machine as many as four
times in one day, a very
impressive feat considering
the machine
is turned off at 1:30
pm in the afternoon.
But, with two flavor
choices a day,
cones and topping
choices including
sprinkles, chocolate
syrup, and
cookie crumbles,
who could resist.
Mr. Anthony
George, food service
director, said,
“The kitchen goes
through 18 gallons of
frozen yogurt a week.”
“The most I have
visited in one day is
four times,” said history
teacher Mr. Paul Grisanti.
For some, the coffee
cups, not the smaller provided
ice cream cups, full
of the highly favored Caribbean
coffee flavor or sprinkletopped
vanilla, are staples
in their daily routine. Many
faculty members admitted that
without it they would not be their
usual exuberant selves.
“The yogurt machine is a very
bright spot in the day. It gives us strength
for the afternoon,” said English teacher
Mrs. Pamela Simpson.
gardnervillage.com
Upper School math teacher Ms. Samantha
Lehn said, “I guess I would survive
but I sure would not be as happy and
pleasant as I am now.”
“
The yogurt machine
is a very bright spot
in the day. It gives us
strength for the afternoon.
” -Upper School English teacher
Mrs. Pamela Simpson
“St. Ignatius said about the removal
of the Jesuits, ‘I would cry for 15 minutes
and then get on with my life,’” said Upper
School history teacher Mr. Grisanti. “If
the frozen yogurt machine was taken out,
I would probably cry for 15 seconds.”
And, Upper School Spanish teacher
Sra. Ana Maria Neuman said, “I think
some teachers would resign if it were taken
out.”
With the frozen yogurt machine
having such an impact on the teachers’
attitudes and spirit, it seems that students
would only benefit from this tasty
addition. Surrounding area schools like
Greenwich Academy offer this luxury to
their students, and many believe Sacred
Heart should do the same.
“I enjoy and look forward to the yogurt
very much and would love for the
students to have the same treat on a daily
basis,” said Upper School chemistry
teacher Ms. Mary Musolino.
“
How come we always
get yelled at for having
muffins in the hallway,
but teachers get to walk
down the hall with giant
cups of frozen yogurt?
”
-Sophomore
Courtney Reynolds
lizzy von klemperer
Tech
Talk
staff writer
It seems as though as soon as one buys
the most recent iPod, Apple comes out with
a new and improved version. On Wednesday,
November 5, Apple introduced the
current iPod nano to its family of electronics.
It includes video on a larger, two-inch
display, and up to 24 hours of audio on a
single charge. Over 100 million iPods have
been sold around the world, and with the
holidays and the newest iPod, Apple expects
these sales to sky rocket.
Sophomore Amy Colombo said, “I really
want the iPod nano. I’m praying that
I will get it for Christmas. I have had my
nano for about 2 years now.”
The graphics on the most up-to-date
iPod nano are more advanced. It can flip
through CD covers when scanning music.
Pre-loaded games on the iPod nano include
Vortex, brick-basher, and a solitaire card
game. Another improvement is that, “the
iPod screen is 65 percent brighter than the
previous generation,” according to the Apple
website. These games are clearer and
more digitally sophisticated than previous
models of the iPod.
The most recent iPod nano holds eight
gigabytes of music, equivalent to 2000
songs and thousands of photos. This is
double the capacity of the previous nano,
which holds four gigabytes. The iPod classic
holds 160 gigabytes of storage, equal to
40,000 songs or 200 hours of video.
Diane Sanderson, who works in the
tech office, said, “I don’t think I will buy the
new iPod nano because I already have the
iPhone. My kids chose the original iPod,
because it has more storage space.”
The newest version of the iPod nano
comes in red. The iPod nano is also invested
in helping others, which is an incentive
for the philanthropic buyer. Accompanied
by The Global Fund, Apple donates 50 percent
of the profit of the RED iPod to AIDS
relief in Africa.

Now presenting...
The Math Department
Dr. Mederer:
Least favorite word? NEVER
Favorite mathematician: Leibniz,
(best cookies, beats Newtons any
day!)
Favorite function: y=0, because it is
even AND odd.
What is your secret ambition? Advisor
to the President
Favorite movie: Roman Holiday
Ms. McKenzie:
Least favorite word: Prerogative -- because
it reminds me of the song, and it
is too hard to pronounce both ‘r’s
Favorite function and why: Any constant
function--nice and simple
Favorite song to dance to: “U Can’t
Touch This”
Favorite math joke: There is a joke
about the student who is asked to find
sinx/n and easily finds that the answer
is “six!” (by canceling the ‘n’s).
Pet peeve: When people leave shopping
carts in parking spaces, ads that make
meaningless claims like “you may save
up to 20% or more”
College guidance
continued from page 1
write recommendations for every senior
who applies to college. The process actually
begins in the spring of junior year, when
girls answer detailed questionnaires about
their activities and interests.
“Although I start thinking of ideas
in the spring, I like to write the letters in
the fall. I find that many girls change a lot
over the summer,” said Mrs. Sykes. “Writing
them is one of the hardest parts of my
job, but it’s also one of the most creative.
You try to make them interesting, instead
of just spelling out what a student’s done,”
she said.
Some students can be harder to write
for than others. In that case, Mrs. Sykes
and Mrs. Boyer talk to teachers. They both
attend all faculty meetings and try to meet
with teachers at least once a cycle.
“Your teachers know you a lot better
than you think, so they can often help,” said
Mrs. Boyer. “Other times the problem is
just a matter of having writer’s block or not
knowing where to go with the recommendation,”
she said.
Mrs. Jayne Collins, the Head of the
Upper School, reads every recommendation
and sometimes makes suggestions and
edits. Headmistress Sister Joan Magnetti
reads the final drafts before they are sent
to colleges, which is standard practice for
small private schools.
Mailing out applications requires a
mountain load of paperwork. The school
must send a recommendation, a transcript,
a secondary school report, and a high school
profile. Everything must be photocopied
several times, and with some students applying
to ten colleges, this can mean over
500 photocopies.
“The worst part of my job is the paperwork
and the packaging. It’s just horrible.
It’s tedious and it takes forever,” said Mrs.
Boyer.
The College Guidance office is exploring
the possibility of submitting the paperwork
online instead of by mail. Most
colleges allow students to submit their applications
online, and submitting electronic
recommendations and transcripts would
make the job of the College Guidance office
much easier.
Mrs. Sykes and Mrs. Boyer also get to
talk to colleges in person when they meet
with admissions representatives from different
colleges. About 50 colleges visited
The worst part of my
job is the paper-work and
the packaging. It’s just
horrible. It’s tedious and it
takes forever.
“
”
-Director of College Guidance
Mrs. Rachel Boyer
Sacred Heart this year, and the representatives
can give students “a pretty good feel
for what a school is like,” said Mrs. Boyer.
“Many times, students feel awkward in
the meetings with college representatives.
Though it’s understandable, it really is just
a conversation with another human being,”
said Mrs. Boyer. “They’re nice people who
just want to get to know who you are and
why you are interested in their school,” she
said.
A day in the College Guidance office
may get very busy, especially in the fall and
spring when deadlines approach. Mrs. Boyer
and Mrs. Sykes teach College Guidance
classes five times in the eight-day cycle.
In the spring, they also coordinate Sacred
Heart’s Advanced Placement exams.
“I do so many different things in my
job,” said Mrs. Sykes. “Every five minutes I
shift gears. I might answer the phone, then
talk with a student, then fill out some paperwork.
It’s a great job if you like variety,”
she said.
Mr. Knight:
Least favorite word: Grunge, it
sounds so grungy!
Favorite function: The exponentials
- they have no limit!
Lowest math grade: I received a
zero on my first calculus quiz using
the definition of the derivative (I
had been absent the day before, but
my teacher made me take the quiz
anyway)
Secret Ambition: To qualify for
Jeopardy (tried once online, but no
luck)
Ms. Lehn:
Least favorite word: Who needs words
when there are numbers and symbols?
Favorite function: e^x; it’s true to itself-
every time you integrate or differentiate
it, you still get e^x. Everything about it
is positive! It’s never negative, always
increasing, always concave up. If only
we could all be like e^x…
Most embarrassing teaching moment:
Being mistaken for a student, repeatedly…
when do you think that will stop
happening?
Favorite math joke: Yes, let epsilon be
less than zero. Gets me every time!
Mr. Cushman:
Favorite song to dance to: Any of the
old Beatles songs.
Secret ambition: To have Al Roker’s
job- TV weatherman
Favorite math joke: What did Pi say to
I ? (Get Real!)
Favorite movie: Chariots of Fire
Hobby: Playing euphonium
features 9
Poll: The college process
compiled by emily oehlson

10
features
Cleanliness craze
deidre miller
staff writer
In recent months, the publicity regarding
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus
aureus has been overwhelming. More
familiarly known as MRSA, this staph
bacterium, previously thought to be found
only in hospitals and nursing homes, has
surfaced in many new settings including
schools and gyms.
MRSA is an organism predominantly
known for causing skin infections. It is
primarily spread through physical contact
with a person or object infected with
the staph bacteria. In order to prevent the
spread of this “superbug,” it is important
to practice basic hygiene and use common
sense. MRSA can be prevented by washing
hands and not sharing towels, clothing, or
equipment.
“We have been stressing good hygiene
practice and common sense. The two go
hand in hand,” said school nurse Ms. Mary
Students are expected to wipe down athletic equipment after use.
Walsh. “We are just trying to get back to
the basics to contain and prevent any in-
fections.”
In response to the outbreaks, the
Convent of the Sacred Heart community
is taking action to provide a safe, sterile,
and healthy environment. The cleaning
staff is diligently working to keep Sacred
Heart sanitized and clean. Purell instant
hand sanitizing dispensers were placed
“
We have been
stressing good hygiene
practice and common
sense. The two go hand
in hand.
”
-School nurse Ms. Mary Walsh
throughout the school building. In addition,
each division of the school was individually
informed of precautions students
may take to prevent staph.
“I think that the actions of our school
are very responsible,”
said sophomore
JoJo Golden. “I’m
glad that we’re being
overly cautious,
especially when it
comes to athletics. I
know that many other
schools haven’t
even recognized this
problem, and are
putting their students
into danger.”
Certain procedures
were instituted
for all athletic teams,
including the routine
use of sanitary wipes
to clean both hands
an equipment.
“Due to the infection
alert, we have
chosen to be more proactive in preventing
staph by instituting protocols,” said athletic
director Ms. Kelly Stone.
olivia ruggiero
Election 2008
Giuliani’s fight for the Oval Office
heather grehan
staff writer
As mayor of New York City, Rudy
Giuliani was able to cut crime rates and
keep the city under control during the
9/11 attacks. But now that he has joined
the race for president, people wonder
whether his policies are right for the
White House.
“I think he did a wonderful job for
New York City at a very very tough time. I
admire the leadership he was able to lend
from the time of 9/11 on but I have always
thought that what it takes to be mayor
of New York City is very separate from
what it takes to be President,” said Upper
School chemistry teacher Mr. Kevin
McElroy.
On June 11, 2007, Giuliani released
his twelve commitments, a speech of
twelve statements which he plans to uphold
if elected. He promised to stay on
the offensive in the war on terrorism, end
illegal immigration, stop wasteful spending
in Washington, cut taxes, impose
accountability on Washington, bring
American energy independence, improve
healthcare, improve life for all children,
reform the legal system, prepare the nation’s
cities for terrorist attacks and natural
disasters, improve education, and improve
America’s reputation around the
world.
Currently it seems that people think
that he will uphold his promises and that
his policies will work for the White House
because Giuliani is ahead in the Republican
national polls. But it seems that
Giuliani’s campaign has been ridden with
controversies from the very start. The
controversies started with his lack of support
from his family, particularly his son.
According the CNN.com his son does not
want to be part of his father’s campaign
and would rather work on his golf game.
Then, most recently, there have been
questions about his use of the New York
Police Department to chauffer his wife
and friends around the city. According
to the New York Daily News, the police
department drove his then “mistress”
Judith Nathan to visit her parents all the
way in Pennsylvania on the taxpayer’s
money.
“I do not know how he will do in the
election with all the controversy with his
family. I do not think it looks good for
him,” said junior Lindsey Festa.
Furthermore, in the Republican debate
that was broadcast on YouTube.com,
the other candidates, particularly Romney,
questioned whether his New York
policies are right for the presidency.
One of the first topics up for debate
was the mayor’s policies on illegal immigration
and other candidates questioned
whether he would make his New York
policies the nation’s policies.
“The policies of the mayor in pursuing
a sanctuary nation, in pursuing a
sanctuary city are frankly wrong,” said
Governor Mitt Romney, opposing candidate
for the presidency.
Giuliani responded to Romney’s
comment by claiming that New York City
was not a sanctuary city, despite a lawsuit
that he had against the federal government
to maintain its sanctuary status.
Then he pointed the finger at Governor
Romney by claiming he had a “sanctuary
mansion” when he employed illegal immigrants
at his home.

TAKE A
NUMBER
Nurse’s Office
60
Approximate number
of students at the
nurse per day
2
Number of students
sent home per day
3600
Number of BandAids
used in six months
29
Number of students
with life-threatening
allergies
9
Number of medications
the nurse carries
12
Bottles of liquid Tylenol
used in six months
1st
Grade with greatest
number of nurse visits
compiled by sarah julian
Students lie awake night after night.
Even though they are tired, sleep does not
come. Teenagers sleep all night, but still do
not feel well-rested the next morning. Both
of these examples are symptoms of insomnia.
“You want to sleep, but you can’t. I
personally take at least two hours before I
eventually fall asleep,” said Convent of the
Sacred Heart sophomore Amy Pritchard.
“If I manage to stay asleep, which is very
rarely, it is usually only for 15 or so minutes.
A sleep study I had done last year
showed I woke up an average of 14.7 times
in a single hour. That’s pretty much every
three or four minutes.”
According to gurl.com, a recent study
was conducted that stated insomnia affects
one-third of teens. Worse yet, women are
twice more likely to suffer from insomnia
than men, according to The National Women’s
Health Information Center. This is not
good news for students at Sacred Heart.
“I know that it’s a problem for a lot of
students at this school. I know of several people
who can go on four hours of sleep regu-
larly.
A lot of times it’s not work that is keeping
them up, though, it can be due to procrastination
and other things of that nature that
can be prevented,” said freshman Jenna
Nobs.
People who suffer from insomnia ei-
ther have trouble falling asleep or staying
asleep. Insomnia comes in varied forms.
Short-term, or transient insomnia, lasts
anywhere from a single night to several
weeks. The more serious version of this
condition is chronic insomnia, which generally
lasts at least three nights a week for
over a month.
The many causes of this disorder range
from
medical
reasons
to foodinduced
causes.
Stress,
c a f -
feine,
exercising
within
three
hours
of sleep,
a n d
doing
mentallyintensive
activities before going to bed are some
reasons why sleep may be difficult. Noise,
light, and temperature also are contributing
factors.
“I think a lot of people at [Sacred
Heart] suffer from insomnia due to the
amount of work and extracurricular activities,”
said junior Kerri Whelan. “[Because
I stay up late at night] I am dependent on
caffeine, and I know other people are too.
If I don’t have my soda at break, I’m not
happy.”
The different types of insomnia are
treated in different ways. Transient insomnia
can be alleviated by following good
sleep practices, practicing meditation, or
seeking therapy.
Treatment of chronic insomnia is a
bit more involved. Relaxation therapy to
reduce stress in the body and mind is advised,
and avoiding activities in bed such
as eating, reading, and watching television
is also recommended. The body needs to
features 11
Sleepless at Sacred Heart
julie ertl
staff writer
“
You want to sleep, but
you can’t. I personally
take at least two hours
before I eventually fall
asleep. If I manage to
stay asleep, which is very
rarely, it is usually only
for 15 or so minutes.
”
-Sophomore Amy Pritchard
Tandoori: A taste of India
sarah julian
editor in chief
Walking into Tandoori, an Indian
restaurant located in
Port Chester, New York,
I was reminded less of
Bollywood and more of
the type of old-world
Italian restaurant my
grandparents would frequent.
The dining room
was large, but there were
only a few families dotted
around the outskirts.
The place settings, and
even the chairs would
not have seemed out
of place in a restaurant
titled “Alfredo’s” or “La
Cuchina.” While the
décor was decidedly Indian,
it was not so noticeable
as to overwhelm
the senses or to transport me to Delhi or
Mumbai. The room was quiet enough for
me to hear quite clearly the warbling voice
of an Indian woman emanating from the
speaker system. However, whatever might
have been lacking in the ambiance was
more than compensated for by the food.
The cuisine was incredible. The aromatic
mixture of spices and herbs smelled
nearly as good as it tasted. Each dish had
a unique medley of flavors that was irresistible:
coconut, mint, cilantro, curry, all
were in abundance.
I started with the keema dosa- ground
lamb and peas served in what seemed to be
a cross between a crepe and a pita. Coconut
chutney and a lentil sauce were served on
the side for dipping. The lamb filling was
delicious, and spreading the cold coconut
chutney inside the warm crepe made for a
flavorful combination.
I tasted the baingen burhani, or eggplant
topped with yogurt, mint, and tamarind
sauce. But my favorite item of the
be trained to understand that the bed is related
to sleep and nothing else.
Insomnia can produce negative effects
in daily life. Transient insomnia may not do
permanent damage, but chronic insomnia
can lead to serious problems. Health, mental
alertness, and memory may diminish. It
causes people to be irritable and unable to
concentrate. This can result in substandard
Some students suffer from insomnia, but there are several possible cures. Treatments
include therapy, good sleep practices, or meditation.
Tandoori: Taste of India is an Indian restaurant located in Port Chester,
New York. Another nearby location is Riverside, Connecticut.
performance at school or on the job.
“Staying up to the early hours of the
morning really makes it difficult for me to
function during the day,” said senior Megan
Lacerenza. “It would be nice to go to
bed at a decent time once in a while, so I
wouldn’t feel so exhausted.”
If falling asleep is difficult, the National
Sleep Foundation recommends a list
of activities to make the sleeping process
easier. Going to bed at the same time each
night and waking up at the same time each
morning will create a good sleeping habit.
To wind down, it is helpful to read a book,
listen to soothing music, or take a bath.
Upper School English teacher Mrs.
Pamela Simpson said, “I don’t know how
anyone could suffer from insomnia at this
school because they have so much work
[which makes students exhausted]. I know
there are people out there, though, and I
find it ironic that the fatigue we suffer from
is what eventually leads to insomnia.”
night was the bread. Tandoori’s menu contains
an entire section of different Indian
breads. I ordered kandahari nan, a sweet
bread with a fruit and nut paste spread inside,
and chapathi, a whole wheat
bread. Both were delicious, especially
the chapathi when dipped
in the sauce of my chicken tikka
masala.
The chicken tikka masala and
my lamb rogan josh were served
in metal bowls with the meat immersed
in sauce. This left plenty
of sauce for dipping with bread,
or for enjoying with rice. Just be
careful. Some of the sauces are
spicy.
The prices at Tandoori are
very reasonable. An appetizer,
bread, and a meal costs about
$20. Dessert would cost more, but
it is not worth staying for slightlysoggy
rice pudding or the strange
pistachio ice cream.
Recommended dishes: keema dosa, chicken
tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, chapathi
bread.
Atmosphere
Service
Food
sarah julian
keller wilson

12
features
Advanced Placement masterpieces
Laura Silvera: Swimming Dog
g
“I used oil pastels. I didn’t really
have an inspiration. I decided
I wanted to take pictures of ordinary
things in really different
perspectives, sort of giving the
simple things we take for granted
a new look and beauty. One day I
just started taking pictures, and I
liked some and drew them.”
Hail to the chief
sylvia khoury
features editor
If Katie Eisenberg is trying to keep a low
profile at Convent of the Sacred Heart, she
is failing dismally. It’s hard not to notice her
when she smiles from the podium every day
at morning meeting, moderating announcements.
She has comfortably settled into her
new role as Student Body President after an
arduous campaign last spring.
“I knew that, as a senior, I wanted to
serve the student body to my fullest extent
and give back to the school that has given me
so much,” said Katie, who is a “lifer,” having
attended the school since Preschool.
In spite of Katie’s 14 years at Sacred Heart,
her previous attempts to become a member of
student council were unfruitful. “I’ve run for
“
and authetic.
”
Katie created a brilliant
character who was
at once likeable, edgy,
- Senior Maria Zoulis
Student Council each year, but I hadn’t actually
won before I became President. I can’t
claim to have a history in this area, but I’m so
thrilled that I get to be the liaison between the
students and the administration,” she said.
Students are pleased with Katie’s performance
in her role, notably her daily appearance
as moderator of morning meeting, in
which she entertains the student body with
her “facts of the day.”
“I am constantly asked if I have a secret
source for my facts of the day. Unfortunately,
I am not at liberty to discuss this with members
of the press,” said Katie, adding the little
known fact that grasshoppers have white
blood.
“The facts of the day are so funny,” said
senior Lara Abdo. “I love how they teach us
too.”
Many students know Katie as the girl
who bakes cookies for anyone’s birthday at
the request of the birthday girl’s friends, or
for other special occasions.
“She made the cross country team a huge
cookie in the shape of a sneaker with wings,”
said junior Brittany Williams. “She’d clearly
spent a lot of time decorating, and it made us
really happy.”
Katie has also made a name for herself
in the school community through her acting.
She most recently starred in Dancing
at Lughnasa, Sacred Heart’s fall play, which
received very positive reviews. She played the
role of Agnes, one of five Irish sisters.
“Katie created a brilliant character who
was at once likeable, edgy, and authentic,”
said senior Maria Zoulis, one of her co-stars.
Katie also uses her stage presence to excel
on the school’s Forensics team. She broke
to finals in varsity reading at the state tournament
in Albany last May.
“I thoroughly enjoy public speaking, and
I finally realized this year that practically all
of my extra-curricular activities involve public
speaking in one way or another. This year
I’ve also given many speeches to prospective
students, so I’m glad my experience has been
put to good use,” she said.
Members of the community appreciate
her unique speaking style.
“When I think of Katie, I think of imagination
and of thinking out of the box. When I
see her at morning meeting, it always brings
a smile to my face. I’m so happy that someone
with her talents is the head of our school,”
said Head of the Upper School Mrs. Jayne
Collins.
Katie is also a member of the school’s Instrumental
Club and has played the flute and
piccolo for eight years and the electric bass for
one year. She wants to pursue theater in college,
and claims that her dream job would involve
Saturday Night Live and the Muppets.
Alex Jung: Legs in the City
f
“I used acrylic paints. I was
walking down Haight Ashbury
Street in San Francisco when I
passed a building with a pair of
fake legs sticking out. I thought
it was funny so I decided to take
a picture and paint it. It was my
first time doing a painting with
so much detail, so it took a while,
but I’m glad I stuck with it.”
Books that inspire
Literature shapes the lives of Sacred Heart teachers
caroline kitchener
asst. features editor
Giving birth to revolutionary children
like religion, history, and language, literature
continues to sculpt the overall progression of
humanity. But books also impact the personal
life of each individual. Words have the power
to change minds, ignite passions, or even inspire
a new life direction.
“The Physics of
Baseball combined two
of my favorite things. It
helped me realize just
how much physics applies
to everything,” said
Mr. John Paul Reid, Upper
School physics teacher.
The ramifications of
this realization are still
felt on a daily basis as
Mr. Reid teaches Convent
of the Sacred Heart
students about the wonders
of physics. Other
Sacred Heart teachers have also found their
vocations within the pages of a good book.
Upper School English teacher Dr. William
Mottolese has devoted much of his life to
a single work of literature. James Joyce’s Ulysses,
the subject of his dissertation, changed
the way that Dr. Mottolese approaches life.
“Ulysses is an unbelievably inexhaustible
book that you can read over and over. Just
reading it expands my awareness and sensitivity
to life,” said Dr. Mottolese.
Unable to name just one book that
shaped him into the man he is today, Dr. Mottolese
emphasized the importance of his favorite
book as a teenager.
“Reading The Lord of the Rings shaped
my imagination. After reading the trilogy, I
had to read all the other nerdy, sci-fi stuff.”
h
Danielle Giorgio: Silverware
“I used pastels on dark blue paper for
the silverware. I decided to do a piece
on silverware because the AP judges
like to see some range in your work. I
get a lot of inspiration from other artists’
styles and interpretations of different
things. It was extremely difficult to
get the right highlights on the different
pieces of silverware, especially trying to
make the spoon look like it actually had
a 3-dimensional shape to it.”
Mr. John Paul Reid, physics teacher, reads
the book which influenced him most, The
Physics of Baseball.
compiled by emily schloss
Like Dr. Mottolese, many other Sacred
Heart teachers were influenced by the books
that they read in their childhood. Upper
School Dean of Students Miss Karen Panarella
found life’s truth buried within a simple
children’s story.
“I received Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places
You’ll Go upon graduation from kindergarten
and probably did not realize how true it was
until I got older, but it is
a book about life. There
may be twists and turns,
and ups and downs, but
that is life,” said Miss
Panarella.
Other teachers claim
that they were most influenced
by a book that
transported them into
another world. Upper
School Spanish teach-
olivia ruggiero
er Sra. Ana Maria Neuman
found her haven
in a little Columbian
town shaped and molded
by renowned author Gabriel
Garcia Marquez.
Sra. Neuman said, “Reading El Amor En
Los Tiempos Del Cólera [Love in the Time
of Cholera], I experienced laughter, sadness,
hate, and love all in one page.”
Although most Sacred Heart teachers
experienced a change of mind or heart as a result
of their favorite work of literature, Upper
School history teacher Mr. Paul Grisanti is
not one to follow the crowd. Mr. Grisanti cites
the name of his favorite cookbook, Mastering
the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.
“I used to look like Doc Mott, but then I
read this book,” said Mr. Grisanti.
Mr. Grisanti quickly amended his humorous
answer with a serious one. He named
the Bible as the book that has had the greatest
impact on his life.

SPORTS
HIGHLIGHTS
Varsity Basketball:
12/1 Blair Academy 46-64 Loss
12/8 Canterbury 34-40 Loss
12/10 Masters 34-36 Loss
12/14 Stuart Country Day 41-61 Loss
12/15 91st Street Sacred Heart 24-44 Loss
Sophomore Deidre Miller was the high
scorer with eight points.
Upcoming games:
1/9 Greens Farms Academy
1/12 Miss Porter’s School
1/16 Westover
Varsity Squash:
12/1 Hopkins Invitational 6-1 Win
12/3 Greens Farms Academy 7-0 Win
12/5 Greenwich Academy 0-7 Loss
12/12 Hackley 7-0 Win
12/14 Holy Child 7-0 Win
12/18 Rye Country Day 4-3 Win
Upcoming matches:
1/11 Holy Child
1/16 Hopkins
Varsity Swimming:
12/1 Blair Academy 114-41 Win
12/4 Riverdale Country Day
12/12 Loomis 94-89 Win
Sacred Heart beat Loomis, the reigning
New England Champions
12/14-5 Greenwich Town Championships
Upcoming meets:
1/9 Westminster
1/19 Miss Porter’s School
Junior Varsity Basketball:
12/10 Masters 39-23 Win
Upcoming games:
1/10 French American
1/15 Holy Child (3rd’s)
1/17 Greenwich Country Day
compiled by liz masi
Sports and Arts
Crank that: Hip hop club expands
liz masi
sports editor
Hips sway perfectly, feet step, tap,
and kick in coordinated movements, and
arms slice through the air in a flawlessly
choreographed symphony. This is none
other than Convent of the Sacred Heart’s
very own hip hop club, a group formed
two years ago by junior Jennifer Eliezer
and senior Sonte Myers. What started
as a passion for the melodic beats and
rhythms of hip hop grew into a devotion
to a lifestyle of song and dance.
“Hip hop has been in my life since the
day I was born,” said senior Sonte Myers.
Sonte’s uncle was a rapper in the 80s, and
he brought hip hop into Sonte’s life.
Junior Jen Eliezer adds her own
childhood memories.
“When I was younger, hip hop in my
house was banned. My mom didn’t
want me watching MTV,” she said.
“But, like any child, you always
want what you can’t have. I would
sneak in and watch it whenever
I could. Eventually, my love for
music grew and they realized
they couldn’t get it out of me.”
The girls’ innate passion
for hip hop music grew into
a love for dance, fueling their
dream of bringing it to the
Upper School. Together, in
2005, Sonte and Jen made
plans for the club with
Mrs. Jenn Bensen,
a previous Upper
School Dean of
Students.
They began with
only five members
and no performances in the 2005-2006
school year. Both girls remained
determined to bring hip hop music to the
sylvia khoury
Senior Sonte Myers busts
a move at a hip hop club
practice.
features editor
In the earliest days of the Roman
Empire, spectators cheered as gladiators
faced angry lions. Today, equally giddy fans
cheer when two football teams violently
clash on the playing field. Mankind likes
the action, the gore, and the heroes that
sporting events provide. Most, however,
agree that these events are slightly less
entertaining when the bleeding Spartan is
six years old.
“I think especially in this community
there’s a lot of pressure on parents to get
their kids started on sports at a young age
because it gives them more opportunities in
high school and college,” said senior Julia
Wilfert.
There have been many recent examples
of sports prodigies under the age of ten,
including the Australian Rhain Davis whose
audition tape for the Manchester United
Football Team in England has been the talk
of YouTube for months now. Manchester
United forms youth squads for players
eight and above in search of the freshest
young talent. Davis was asked to move
from Australia to England in order to train
for the team.
“I think it’s good for children to
play sports young. They can decide
if they like a sport and make new
friends,” said freshman Jenny Rassia.
Stories of prodigies like Davis don’t always
Upper School, gaining six more members
in the 2006-2007 school year. The team
also performed a wildly popular piece
at Talent for Tots last March, giving
them exposure. This year the club has
22 members, ranging from freshmen to
seniors.
“I’m happy about the growth of the
hip hop club and the
lindsey festa
commitment
that every one
has to the art
of dance,” said
sophomore Afiya
Roberts. “I expect
that even after the
leaders have gone
on that the club will
continue to grow
and will become part
of the Sacred Heart
community.”
Jen and Sonte are
both working towards
improving the club
and making sure it is a
serious venture at Sacred
Heart.
“We’re really excited.
We’re always thinking of
choreography and listening to the hottest
songs,” said Sonte.
Whether inspired by Kanye West,
end well. A cautionary example is Sonny
Pike, who at the age of seven was invited
to train in Ajax’s Academy for Prospective
Recruits. Unable to stand the strain of
training or the pressure of competition, he
had a nervous
breakdown in
2000 and gave
up football
entirely in 2003.
According to
msnbc.com, an
estimated 30
million lower
and middle
school kids will
play competitive
sports into high
school. Parents
are pushing
children to play
in travel teams
or local leagues
at younger
and younger
ages. Many of
these situations
become high in
pressure, and
according to
many, low in fun.
A famous example of parents pushing
their athletic children to the breaking point is
the story of Dominique Moceanu. Daughter
of a Romanian gymnast, Moceanu’s career
T-Pain, Chris Brown, Common, Jay Z, or
Lil’ Wayne, these girls work long hours to
find songs that epitomize their love of hip
hop. The girls who comprise the hip hop
team have practiced for over a month and
will perform for the Upper School the day
before Christmas break.
Freshman Sveva Marcangeli
said, “I thought that joining this club
would be a great contribution to my
dancing technique and would just
allow me to discover different types
of dancing styles. I really hope to
continue dancing in the Hip Hop club,
it’s an enjoyable and vigorous way to
not only dance but also get to know more
people.”
Jen and Sonte hope to perform at
several morning meetings throughout the
year, at Talent for Tots again in March,
during Field Day in late May, and most
importantly, at the DAIS (Diversity
Awareness Initiative for Students)
Conference in April.
Jen, Sonte, and and several other
members of the Hip Hop Club attended
the conference last year, since they are
also members of the Diversity Club. The
conference brings together about 700 men
and women of all races and ethnicities
to discuss diversity’s representation in
schools. After witnessing many high
school dance teams perform at the
conference, Sonte and Jen are making
plans for a possible performance, their
biggest yet.
Jen and Sonte are pleased with their
success and are steadfast to their ultimate
goal for the group to carry on throughout
the years, becoming a legacy in the Sacred
Heart community.
Jen said, “I really hope the club
continues to grow after we graduate,
because if it doesn’t, it will break my heart.
That’s my main goal, above all else.”
A portrait of the child as a young athlete
was planned before she was even born in
1981. At the age of two she was swinging
from the washing line in a test of strength
and by the age of ten was training under a
specialist. At the age of 15, in 1996, she was
the youngest
member of the
United States’
“magnificent
seven” goldw
i n n i n g
O l y m p i c
g y m n a s t i c s
team. It all
went downhill
w h e n
M o c e a n u
r e q u e s t e d
to be an
emancipated
minor and
control her
own finances,
citing her
p a r e n t s ’
exploitation
as her main
grievance.
“It’s hard
because in
athletics, especially in skating, children
have to start young because the body
peaks, especially for girls, as soon as
16. It takes a lot of work to succeed
Some children who are pushed to participate in
sports from an early age find them tiring by the
time they reach high school.
painetworks.com
continued on B3

B2
caroline kitchener
sports
Curling rocks the world
An inside look at an extreme Olympic sport
asst. features editor
There is no better way to release holiday
tension than by flinging a 42-pound granite
rock across a sheet of solid ice. Household
tools morph into weapons as curlers sprint
across the ice in a frenzy of frantic “sweeping.”
Made famous
by vast
Olympic media
coverage,
curling is an
extremist
sport like no
other.
T h e
goal of curling
is similar
to that of
darts. Players
aim their
rocks at the the speed of the rock.
center of a
12-foot circle. In one “end” (round) of curling,
each team will throw eight rocks. Teams score
one point by throwing their own rock closer
to the center than the rock belonging to the
other team. The team with the most points
when finished with an “end” is the team whose
points get counted on the scoreboard.
According to the curling manual published
by CurlTech, “normal scoring in an end
may be one, two, three, or four rocks. Scores
of five, six, and seven are much less common.
Scoring all eight rocks is as rare as a hole-inone
in golf and many players never see one.”
There are four players on each team in
curling. Each player throws two rocks per end,
alternating with the opposing player from
another team. The team captain is called the
“Skip.” As captain, the Skip will call the shot
by advising the player with an aiming point.
Professional curlers sweep the ice in order to control
The Skip gives advice similar to the caddy
in golf. Like a golf ball, a curling rock will
not necessarily travel in a straight line. The
rock will curl, but it is at the discretion of the
captain to determine which way and to what
degree.
Dating back to sixteenth century Scotland,
the game of curling
originated as a relaxed
pastime played on frozen
ponds in winter.
After curling was
added to the Olympic
program in 1924, it took
a while for the sport to
catch on. United States
curling-awareness
grew immensely after
the United States male
Olympic team won
bronze at the 2006
games in Torino, Italy.
An Olympic sport
unusally dominated by
Canada or Norway, this exotic game grew on
Americans afteir their unexpected triumph
over the colder corners of the world. Since
2006, media coverage of curling in the United
States has increased dramatically. Curling
will most likely be one of the most popular
sports at the 2010 winter Olympic Games in
Vancouver.
Curling is a sport deeply ingrained with
a strong sense of tradition. Rich with the
culture of its Scottish heritage, players must
abide by a strict code of respect for their opponents.
At the beginning of a game, every player
shakes hands with each player from the opposing
team. Instead of saying “nice shot” or
“good play,” curlers will congratulate their
teammates and their opponents by saying
“nice rock.”
stirlingicerink.co.uk
Faculty sports fanatics
Teachers reveal their favorite sports teams
liana khandji
staff writer
On game day, Convent of the Sacred
Heart teachers trade in their red pens for
face paint, their textbooks for foam fingers,
and their apples for hot dogs and French
fries. In many cases it seems as though their
passion for sports is almost equal to their
passion for teaching.
“My loyalty is to the Toronto Maple
Leafs,” said Upper School Academic Dean
Mrs. Gail Casey. “I grew up in Toronto, and
my dad worked as an usher at Maple Leaf
Gardens on evenings and weekends. He
loved hockey, and it was the best way he
knew to see every game. I have very fond
memories of the times that he would bring
my brothers and me with him to the games,”
she said.
Upper School math teacher Mr. Bryan
Knight and his youth baseball team got a
once in a lifetime opportunity during their
little league days.
“
Even though I am a
Boston College Superfan,
my loyalty is to the Duke
Basketball team.
”
- Ms. Samantha Lehn
“Having grown up in Chicago, my favorite
sports team would definitely have to be
the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team, said Mr.
Knight. “My baseball team got to walk onto
Wrigley field before the game was about to
begin to get some tips and pointers from the
players. It was one of the coolest experiences
of my life.”
Some teachers have done their research
when it comes to their favorite teams.
Upper School Science teacher Mr. Kevin
McElroy said, “I have been following the New
York Mets since they were called the Amazin’
Mets, and my grandpa used to tease me
about it. Back then, I remember the bigger
miracle than mankind landing on the moon
was the Mets wining the World Series, and
that miracle happened in 1969.”
Upper School Head of Campus Ministry
Mrs. Lori Wilson is another Mets enthusiast.
She said, “I love their colors, and their
players, especially David Wright, and I am
shocked that they are tearing down such a
beautiful stadium.”
For some teachers, college sports hold
the most interest.
“Even though I am a Boston College Superfan,
my loyalty is to the Duke Basketball
team,” said Upper School math teacher Miss
Samantha Lehn. “I have always been a fan of
Coach K, and I’ll always remember the 1992
Eastern Regional Finals when Duke beat
Kentucky at the buzzer.”
Some faculty members found that their
most memorable childhood moments included
going to sports games with their dads.
Upper School science teacher Mr. John
Paul Reid said, “I will never forget the time
my dad took me to a Philadelphia Phillies
Baseball game. They were and are my favorite
team and despite the fact that they lost
that particular game the quality time I spent
with my dad is something I will always remember.”
Not only did Upper School Head of
Community Service Mrs. Kerry Bader enjoy
going to the games with her dad, she now
does the same with her own kids.
“My favorite sports team is the New
York Giants,” said Mrs. Bader. “One of my
earliest memories is going to Giants games
with my dad in the New Giants Stadium.”

clare mccarrick
alex mcnulty
opinions editor
After three long years of high school
have passed, the awaited moment has
finally arrived. Senior year is here, and
you have earned your spot at the top of
the school. Naturally, all of the leadership
positions should be given first priority to
seniors. However, in a society where any
leadership position is a coveted aspect of
a college resume, one can be sure that it
will be a struggle, not only against other
seniors, but against underclassmen, to
ensure that position.
This particularly relates to the
leadership position of sports captain.
If there are at least two eligible seniors
on the athletic team, captains should be
decided among the seniors.
Holding the position of captain
requires authority. As the natural
ladder of authority goes, seniors should
command the most respect from the
younger students and athletes.
Captains should also have experience
in their sport. If a senior has been a
member of the team for four years, she
clearly has the most experience on the
team. Shouldn’t a captain spot be reserved
for a member of the team who has been
devoted to the team?
However, this has not necessarily
been the case regarding sports captains
as of recent. The Convent of the Sacred
Heart athletic department has a policy
of team-wide elections for the team’s
captain for the next year, but there are no
stipulations regarding age.
staff writer
vs. lizzy von klemperer
New teams offer athletic opportunities
Sacred Heart promotes instructional and thirds sports teams
“
Some students would
rather have more playing
time on a Thirds team,
but others want to be on
the better team even if
they’re benched.
”
- Sophomore Courtney Schmidt
staff writer
During sports preseason in the late
summer, aspiring athletes can smell the
freshly cut grass and hear
the apprehensive
buzz. Year
after year,
athletes see
their bubbly,
s o o n - t o - b e
c a p t a i n s ,
ready for a
season of
the sport
they love.
Something
that has
n e v e r
c h a n g e d
is that the
c a p t a i n s
are either
always seniors
or juniors. A
captain has been
defined as having
traits “including
strength, agility,
and endurance.”
None of these
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , .
however require
seniority.
Being a member of the
junior or senior class may not be a key
factor in determining who gets a spot on
a varsity team, but the role as captain
sports B3
Pro-Con: Seniority’s role in Sacred Heart sports
Leadership roles for upperclassmen Giving lowerclassmen a chance
Finding a way to reduce stress at Convent
of the Sacred Heart is a search in which many
students are involved. The creation of thirds
and instructional sports teams could be a
solution.
For students who could not make
a varsity or junior varsity level team,
instructional sports and thirds teams were
developed to give these athletes a chance to
practice and play their sport. Instructional
sports teams were a new addition to the
Convent of the Sacred Heart Upper School
last year, created by Athletic Director
Ms. Kelly Stone. They were added to the
Sacred Heart athletic program to improve
the seriousness and level of participation
in sports.
The creation of thirds and
instructional teams all depends on how
many people are interested in playing
each sport. They also take pressure off
of students to always be competing at a
high level by allowing them to play the
game they are passionate about for pure
fun. Sacred Heart also takes pressure off
students to make a team by not cutting or
excluding anyone from team sports, even if
they cannot play at a competitive level.
“Even though some juniors may be
qualified to be captain, I think that, in a
way, it takes away from the authority of the
seniors,” said senior Kaitlin Southwick. “If
there are several seniors on a team, and a
junior is captain, it causes confusion
amongst underclassmen.”
Holding the position of
captains does not always require
the most athletic skill. A captain
is one who commands respect,
leads the team, and encourages
everyone to work their best. I
think it would be more difficult
for a senior to adhere to a
younger captain,
though it is
done quite
often.
I know
that there are
numerous
students
who are not
necessarily
seniors, who
have all the
important
qualities and
would make
fantastic captains.
However, it is not
their last year of
high school, so
they still have
another chance for
captain. For seniors, it is
our last chance to achieve this leadership
position.
There is a difference between the two
types of teams. Instructional sports, are a
demonstration of the sport and focus on
how to play the game. Both instructional
and thirds teams have their own coaches
and practice time. The people participating
on instructional teams practice as a group,
but do not compete against other schools,
Members of the 06-07 varsity softball team meet before a game last year.
Softball was one of the sports that introduced an instructional team
because of the growing level of interest in the sport.
whereas a Thirds team does.
For example, during the fall season,
the Sacred Heart field hockey team was the
only sport that had a thirds team due to the
popularity of the sport. They had their own
coach and there were about 18 people on the
team. The team did have normal practices
and games, although they had fewer than the
junior varsity and varsity teams.
Freshman Samantha Moor, who was on
the thirds team for field hockey, said, “I don’t
think that students prefer thirds to junior
varsity or varsity teams because you don’t get
that many games. However, it is a good thing
this school has instructional or thirds teams
because they can help you improve your skills
and still play the sport you want.”
Other students took into account the
emotions of other people and the desire to
have a sufficient amount of playing time.
Sophomore Courtney Schmidt said, “I
think that it depends
on the person. Some
students would rather
have more playing time
on a thirds team, but
others want to be on
the better team even if
they’re benched.”
The winter sports
do not have any
instructional or thirds
teams this year. Spring
sports, like golf and
softball, introduced
instructional sports
teams last year, a
brittany williams
welcome change for
some students.
Junior Iris Longo, a
softball player, said, “Some
people may prefer being on
a thirds team because they may get to play. I
would have rather played than been benched,
and the coach promised me I would play in
the second half of the season, but I didn’t
really get to.”
Senior Katie Eisenberg had her own
opinion on this matter.
She said, “I think instructional sports
were created to give students a chance if
they aren’t ready to play at a varsity level,
because cutting them would not allow them
to improve. It will prepare them for next
year’s tryouts.”
has almost always only been awarded to
upperclassmen. This is not fair, because
every student should receive an equal
chance based on physical ability and
leadership qualities.
While I believe that freshmen and
sophomores should become captains more
often, it is true that seniors may have more
experience playing the sport. Also, team
members are more apt to listen to a senior
as a captain. Because of the small but
significant age difference, a senior captain
would be more able to command the
attention of a dozen student athletes.
Many freshmen are admitted to Sacred
Heart every year. Coming from a variety of
different schools, these new students are
able to bring fresh, new ideas to the team. A
newcomer with innovative techniques and
tactics is as important as a seasoned veteran.
Younger players are a helpful resource that
should be valued more by being given the
more substantial role as captain.
If lowerclassmen were encouraged to
become captains, it would make the new
freshmen and sophomores feel welcome.
Being at the bottom of the food chain can
be intimidating. If students from other
grades were encouraged to be captains,
more underclassmen would join the team.
Lowerclassmen could have more
athletic skill and be a better leader and
organizer then a senior. It is not fair to the
team or the student to choose a captain
over seniority when a lowerclassman is
more capable.
Freshmen and sophomores should not
make the assumption that only seniors and
a few juniors can be captains.
Young athletes
continued from page B1
in a sport, so they have to start really
young,” said senior Takako Hirokawa,
who figure skates every day after school.
Many parents cite college admission as
the reason they push their children onto the
playing field or into the swimming pool at such
young ages. Scholarships in athletics are often
enticing, especially from high-profile schools
with expensive price tags on education.
“It’s appalling if students start sports
young for the college process, but completely
“
I find the fact that
children are driven to use
steroids absolutely appalling.
There shouldn’t
be that much pressure on
them.
” - Sophomore Jenny Traver
understandable if students are geniunely
interested in the sport they take up,” said
Director of College Guidance Mrs. Rachel
Boyer.
Some high-pressure situations have
pushed children as young as eight years old
to experiment with steroids, though most
steroid use can be found in high school.
Msnbc.com conducted a survey from which
they concluded that up to 11 percent of high
school students have used steroids on at least
one occasion.
“I find the fact that children are driven
to use steroids absolutely appalling. There
shouldn’t be that much pressure on them,”
said sophomore Jenny Traver.
Others argue that they found athletics
enjoyable as a child.
“I started horseback riding
when I was six, but I wanted to and
enjoyed it,” said junior Bryar Falvey.

Model student
deidre miller
staff writer
Michaela Bryce, a unique addition to
Convent of the Sacred Heart's sophomore
class, has been involved in modeling since
she could barely walk. At age 15, Michaela
is still pursuing this same interest and
continues to
model professionally.
When
Michaela
was born,
her mother,
an avid artist
and current
lower
school art
instructor,
was working
at a photo
studio along-
side Barbara
Campbell, a renowned children’s photographer.
Michaela was first photographed
as a baby at this studio and as she grew
older she began to model for companies
including Disney, Laura Ashley, Target,
Lord & Taylor, The Children's Place, Saks
Fifth Avenue, and F.A.O. Schwartz. Michaela
left behind her modeling career
at age four, however, because she wasn’t
enjoying it.
As Michaela grew older, her interest
in modeling was rekindled and she began
to get more serious about it. Currently, she
models for Funny Face Today, or FFT, a
modeling agency based in New York City.
Michaela’s agents at Funny Face Today
provide her with opportunities called “gosees”
where she presents her portfolio to
different companies in hopes of getting
hired. Most
recently,
Michaela
attended
a request
go-see for
the cover
of the latest
novel in
the Clique
series.
“Modelingopportunities
come in
waves,” said
Michaela. “You’ll have five things one
week, and then the next week will be dead.
During crazy times it can get a little hectic
and cut into school, so the modeling has
to be worth it to you, because you’re the
one who stays up the extra hours doing
school work.”
Once she has landed a modeling job,
Michaela is then photographed at company
photo shoots.
“I love photo shoots,” said Michaela,
“I find them really fun. You are constantly
changing clothes and having your make
up touched up.”
After a long day of modeling, Michaela
always takes pride in viewing her
final product.
“It's great to finally see how everything
comes out,” she said. “It's really
exciting because you never know exactly
how the photo is going to turn out when
it’s being taken.”
Sophomore Michaela Bryce, pictured above, models for Funny Face
Today, a modeling agency in New York City.
“
It’s great to see how
everything comes out.
It’s really exciting because
you never know
exactly how the photo is
going to turn out.
”
- Sophomore Michaela Bryce
Say cheese!
The best cameras to give and to get this Christmas
joan degennaro
staff writer
newdigitalfans.com
Pocket-Fit:
Fujifilm FinePix 7.2 Megapixel
For people on-the-go, who
don’t want to carry a large purse,
this pocket-sized companion
is the perfect gift. But don’t be
fooled by its small size; this petite
camera has face detection,
red-eye removal, a movie maker
setting, various scene modes, image
stabilization, and intelligent
flash. This camera also comes in
five cool colors, including “wave
blue,” “midnight black,” “wasabi
green,” “hot pink,” and “sunset
orange.” Approximate price:
$180.
courtesy of michaela bryce
Basic Beginner:
Sony Cybershot 7.2 Megapixel
The Sony Cybershot, with
7.2 mega pixels, is the perfect
camera for a beginner photographer.
It features automatic
face detection, red-eye removal,
video, high definition output,
ability to make slideshows with
music, and long lasting battery
power. This compact camera
comes in silver, black, and pink.
Approximate price: $200.
featuredreviews.com
Camera
gizmologia.com
Lifetime Keepsake:
Nikon D40X 10.2 Megapixel
Digital SLR (Single-Lens Reflex)
The Nikon D40X is the perfect
splurge for the serious photographer.
It features a 10.2
mega pixel single-lens reflex
and 3D color matrix metering.
This camera can also shoot up to
three frames per second and has
in-camera image editing. Approximate
price: $700.
Outdoor Adventurer:
Olympus Stylus 790 SW
For the outdoorsmen of Sacred
Heart, the Olympus Stylus
790 SW should top the Christmas
list. This compact but sturdy
camera is waterproof, freeze
proof, and can withstand up to
a five foot drop. It also features
perfect shot preview, face detection,
and a movie maker.
This camera comes in silver,
black, blue, orange, and green.
Approximate price: $300.
dsp.images.net

Ready
katie eisenberg
lauren manning
arts editor
A few years ago, a digital camera was
really the only thing I desperately wanted
for Christmas. Ever since that day, with
rechargeable batteries and an extra large
memory card in tow, my camera and I
have become inseparable. What is simply
a small box of gray plastic with some extraordinary
capabilities has become one
of my favorite material possessions.
On one day, not long ago, I took 253
pictures with my camera. From awkward
candid photographs to the smiling faces
of a group of friends, I made sure to
have it all safely preserved on my trusty
memory card, freezing the day’s memories
forever. The words WARNING: LOW
BATTERY LEVEL, which flash across the
screen on some days, were, thankfully,
nowhere to be seen this time.
On this specific day, the occasion was
yet another Sweet 16 party. For someone
who has been to nearly ten such parties
within two months, I would expect myself
to have enough documentation. But
no, this was a new event, a new location,
a new group of friends, a new celebration.
My little camera came out again to see it
all.
I found myself chatting with friends
and devouring food, but then back in my
newly found home, right behind the cam-
era lens. To me the only thought was to
preserve the memories. Five, ten, even
thirty years into the future, I wanted to
be able to remember the moments like
these. I could not grasp the idea that another
day with friends, when I felt my
happiest, could ever be forgotten.
A few hours passed and it was those
two hundred plus photographs later. They
were moments frozen in time that could
not be forgotten except with an accidental
push of the delete button. I thought
this was what I wanted, but then I was
not sure. I looked at the small screen of
my little camera and realized that yes, I
do have these pictures, but where are my
personal memories? I had finite, physical
proof of living this moment, but I had
also missed so much. The conversation
had drifted back and forth, but I could
barely remember any of it. The laughter
rang in my ears, but I could not recall
what it was about. The click of the shutter
and the flicker of the flash had cemented
these moments, but I had missed them
completely.
This day transformed me from a
camera-wielding teenager who snaps
pictures at every possible moment, to
one who truly appreciates the moments
I have. I had only seen what was in the
“
Spend your time
dancing with a friend,
get dressed up for fun,
and enjoy a simple
potato chip. Snap that
occasional picture after
all of this.
”
viewfinder and nothing on the side. This
opportunity taught me to really live in the
moment. Spend your time dancing with a
friend, get dressed up for fun, and enjoy a
simple potato chip. Snap that occasional
picture after all of this. My camera is my
trusty companion, but my memories are
my true friends.
Q: What do you like to take pictures of?
“
There isn’t one specific thing that I enjoy photographing the most. It’s more about how the
inspiration hits you and when you see something amazing when you least expect it.
”
- Senior Lara Abdo
“ ”
“ see every day. They are a change of scenery.
” -
Candids of people, especially little kids, are my favorite. When I traveled to Costa Rica I took
lots of pictures of the ocean and the mountains. Those pictures are different from what I
Junior Ale Ferrara
I like to take pictures of moments that I would like to hold on to and remember for the
rest of my life.
- Sophomore Katherine Hurewitz
compiled by grissel barragan
photo & graphics by megan morelli
“
I take a lot of pictures of my friends and pets.
”
- Freshman Kelly Ford
“
I enjoy taking photos of landscapes and my family.
”
- Webmaster Salvatore Rotondo
Just kidding, don’t smile
Reflecting on capturing memories beyond the camera
“
To me the only
thought was to preserve
the memories...I wanted
to be able to remember
the moments like these.
I could not grasp the
idea that another day
with friends, when I felt
my happiest, could ever
be forgotten.
”

B6
arts
Forgotten artists
lauren manning
arts editor
A member of the Convent of the Sacred
Heart Madrigals arrives at school
at 7:20 am to practice. An actress in the
school play rehearses at school until late
in the evening. An AP art student spends
her entire lunch period in the art room
finishing her latest piece. However, some
students believe that a majority of the Sacred
Heart community does not always
recognize this dedication.
“Recognition of the arts has always
“
Sometimes I still
feel like sports get the
primary focus.
”
-Junior Susannah Lawrence
been a big issue, and when I first started
here nine years ago we didn’t have even
have a theater or gallery. Arts have definitely
taken a higher profile position over
time,” said drama teacher Ms. Nancy
Maloy.
Because of students’ varied interests,
it is sometimes difficult to recognize different
groups equally.
“Sometimes I still feel like sports get
the primary focus. Sports teams make up
approximately half of the entire school,
while the arts productions are only 20 to
30 people, so the focus is understandable.
But we do just as much work as they do,”
said junior Susannah Lawrence.
On the other hand, senior Genevieve
Irwin understands why artists may not
receive the same publicity.
“I think that it might not seem that
art gets a lot of recognition, but then
again it’s more difficult to recognize artists,”
said Genevieve. “It’s easy to make
announcements about winning sports
games and so forth, but you can’t really
announce artists unless they win a com-
petition, which doesn’t happen as often as
winning a game.”
In the classroom, teachers must
sometimes take into account students’
outside time commitments. Some students
think that teachers are more likely
to make allowances for artistic activities,
not sports.
“Teachers never really cut you slack
even if you were at school late for a soccer
game or had a tournament all weekend,”
said sophomore Emily Hagan.
However, students involved in the
arts feel that the opposite applies.
“I often run into a lot of problems
during the final week of the fall play.
Teachers throw a bunch of things at us,
without realizing that we don’t really have
a chance to get home that week,” said Susannah.
“A little more recognition is what
we need. Not that we should turn this into
Sacred Heart Art School, but just little reminders
that the arts do exist,” said Susannah.
The arts programs at Sacred Heart
have grown in the last few years, with increased
funding and greater school support.
“Although in the past it appeared
as though more emphasis was placed on
sports than the arts, the construction of
our new theater really proved that Sacred
Heart is making an effort to make the arts
just as important as athletics,” said senior
Maria Zoulis.
Ultimately, however, some students
find satisfaction whether or not their efforts
are formally acknowledged.
“The act of performing, as well as
the process associated with it, is enough
recognition [for me],” said senior Katie
Eisenberg, who sings in Madrigals and
played a lead role in Dancing at Lughnasa.
“When I am on the stage, I feel as
though that is a reward in itself – to make
an audience laugh, cry, or think in utter
silence is the greatest recognition of all.”
REal
ROCK
Below the Radar
Rilo Kiley
The band Rilo Kiley includes Jenny
Lewis, Blake Sennet, Pierre de Reeder,
and Jason Boesel.
megan morelli
purevolume.com
asst. arts editor
Rilo Kiley is a Los Angeles based band
featuring Jenny Lewis on vocals, Blake
Sennett on guitar, Pierre de Reeder on
bass, and Jason Boesel on drums. Jenny’s
airy indie-rock vocals add a soulful touch
reminiscent of “new wave” sound.
The band’s fourth album, Under
the Blacklight, was released by Warner
Brothers Records on September 9. Their
pop-sounding song “Breakin’ Up” has
already been featured in the newest season
of the hit show Grey’s Anatomy.
Rilo Kiley’s first album was produced
in 2001, entitled Takeoffs and Landings,
and their second was The Execution of All
Things. However, it was not until their
third album that the band started to gain
popularity.
More Adventurous was released on
Barsuk Records, an independent music
label, and spent most of 2004 high up on
Billboard Magazine’s Heatseekers Chart.
This success prompted appearances on
shows such as Late Night with Conan
O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live. This
album also reached No. 14 on the Village
Voice’s “Pazz & Jop music critic’s poll” out
of almost a thousand other CDs.
They opened for Coldplay’s “Twisted
Logic” tour in the United States in the fall
of 2005. Their songs were featured in the
films Must Love Dogs, Conversations with
Other Women, and John Tucker Must Die.
Their songs were
featured in the films
Must Love Dogs,
Conversations with
Other Women, and
John Tucker Must
Die.
“
”
After the success of that album died down,
the band took a break pursuing individual
interests and projects.
Their music-hiatus proved to be
worthwhile, as their latest album is slowly
garnering a lot of attention and fans. They
have recently been featured on MTV as
one of their “You Oughta Know” artists,
performing their second single “Silver
Lining.” Additionally, MTV chose them
as one of the performers for the “mtvU
Woodie Awards” along with such bands as
The Academy Is, Gym Class Heroes, and
Fall Out Boy.
The lyrics on Under the Blacklight
are heartfelt and personal, relating to
relationships, society, and life in general.
Their song “Give a Little Love” holds a
classic message, especially significant
during the holiday season, “You’ve got to
give a little love to get a little love.”

A new breed of reality television
antonia cecio
staff writer
This season’s television producers,
writers, and directors have pushed the envelope
everywhere, beginning with their
newest installments of reality television. It
is easy to look back on a time when reality
television consisted only of The Bachelor,
dating game shows, a little Real World, and
American Idol. But in recent years, reality
television has broken out of its timid shell,
placing racier shows on television. This new
breed of reality television features models
and unconventional dating.
One of the newest reality television
shows on the air, America’s Most Smartest
Model, is a cross between America’s Next
“
feel smart.
”
America’s Most
Smartest Model is
hilarious. It makes me
Top Model and Are You Smarter than a
Fifth Grader? It challenges models to use
both brains and beauty to win a $100,000
prize. The models must compete in challenges
to prove their intellect and model-
megan morelli
-Junior Iris Longo
Lauren Conrad, who starred in The
Hills, started her own clothing line.
ing capability. This show airs on Tuesdays
at 11:00 pm on VH1. The models are asked
questions to earn them “the edge” in photo
shoots and competitions.
“America’s Most Smartest Model is hilarious.
It makes me feel smart,” said junior
Iris Longo.
Another very popular show, I Love
New York, has been circulating reality
television as well. This show is all about a
woman named New York, who is actually a
woman named Tiffany who once appeared
on the previous show Flava of Love. New
York invites a certain number of cast men
to come live with her, until she chooses one
to be her true love. This show is in its second
season because the winner of the first
season, Tango, dumped New York due to
her disrespect for his mother.
“I have seen I Love New York, and I
Laguna to L.A.
Reality TV star Lauren Conrad starts
her own clothing line
asst. arts editor
From a catty high school senior to an
up-and-coming fashion mogul, Lauren
Conrad is slowly becoming a household
name. Lauren started her fame as a high
school senior in Laguna Beach, California,
when MTV followed her and her
friends around in the popular
reality series Laguna
Beach. After graduating,
Lauren nabbed her own
show, The Hills, which
chronicles her new life
in Los Angeles, where
she attends fashion
school and works as
an intern for Teen
Vogue.
Recently, Lauren
launched her
own clothing line,
which features
laidback pieces inspired
by her California
lifestyle.
“Lauren has
a job that’s she’s
really into and I
totally respect that
but I’ve looked at
her fashion line,
and I think that she
should stay more
with Teen Vogue,”
said junior Emily Perlstein.
“Her clothes were
way average and too expensive
for what they were
offering.”
Although some
students think that
these pieces are too vague and unoriginal
Conrad backs them up by suggesting that
customers add layers or accessories with
these simple items.
“I have not really seen Lauren’s clothing
line but I certainly love her outfits on
The Hills,” said Upper School math teacher
Ms. Samantha Lehn. “They fit very well
with her lifestyle, but I’m not sure the line
would be so appropriate for my life here at
Convent of the Sacred Heart.”
With more and more celebrities breaking
into the fashion industry, it’s hard to
say if people want these clothes for the
style or just for the label that comes
along with them.
“I think a lot of people are
going to buy the clothes just because
they know her from TV,”
said junior Alex Rizk. “A lot of
other unknown designers are
making stuff just like that.”
On the contrary, sophomore
Tayler Sirabella
chooses to ignore the name
behind the clothing.
She said, “I wouldn’t
buy it just because she
made it. I would buy it
because I like the clothes.
Some of it does look nice.”
Freshman Claire
Finnegan said, “I’d buy
them if they were cute because
sometimes the ones
in the department store
look weird. Lauren works at
Teen Vogue so she probably
has a good fashion sense.”
In late November, Lauren
released a line of leather
bags and purses for the Linea
Pelle Collection. Consumers can
pre-order these bags, which will
ship just in time for Christmas.
purevolume.com
“I love the bag because
it holds so much and the
leather is super soft,” said
Lauren, according to thehollywoodgossip.
com. “It’s available in three colors. There’s
also a clutch and a coin purse.”
don’t think it is very well done. It is a less
classy version of The Bachelor,” said sophomore
Courtney Schmidt.
I Love New York airs at 9:00 pm on
Mondays on VH1.
Another very popular and revolutionary
show is A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.
This show tracks a bisexual woman,
Tila Tequila, on her quest to find true love,
whether it be with a man or a woman. Tila
Tequila is famous for being a MySpace star
and self-proclaimed internet babe. It airs
on Tuesdays at 10:00 pm on MTV. This
revolutionary show is not recommended
for younger audiences, and has received
mixed reviews.
“A Shot at Love is such a bad show.
I saw one episode of it and I was embarrassed
to see it. It was a waste of time,” said
senior Rachel Creary.
emily schloss
photo editor
arts B7
smartestmodels.com
Many affirm that this new breed of reality
television is extremely entertaining.
“These new shows are ridiculous, but I
watch them because they are funny and entertaining,”
said freshman Caitlin Duffin.
Upper School History teacher Mr. Paul
Grisanti said, “This new breed of reality
television affirms my belief that the best
button on the television remote is the off
button.”
Sacré Couture
Nerdy no more, the sweater vest hits
the streets of Manhattan
This winter, typical “nerdy” attire has
never been more in style. Sweater vests,
whether worn under blouses or alone, are
featured by designers such as J.Crew, Ralph
Lauren, and Vince.
“Sweater vests are incredible because
they are so versa- tile,” senior Sarah
J u l i a n s a i d .
“ T h e y
can be
w o r n
over a
p o l o ,
ox-
stapleittogether8.blogspot.com
ford, or simply
a t-shirt.”
This schoolboy-chic item is part of this
winter’s obsession with knit. Lace and crochet
add another element to the knit trend.
Cashmere dresses and bulky oversize
sweaters, often paired with leggings, another
must-have piece this season, were shown
on runways from New York to Milan.
For those who say that “beauty is pain,”
the knit trend completely goes against this
ideal, proving that comfort prevails.
Freshman Lauren Webb said,
“Knits are a great way to keep warm and are
perfect for winter.”
Although many love this trend, some
brandsoftheworld.com
are not as enthusiastic, claiming that
sweater vests are meant for men rather
than women.
“I think that solid colors tend to look
too manly,” said junior Kate Foley. “Argyle
“
Sweater vests are
incredible because they
are so versatile. They
can be worn over a
polo, oxford, or simply
a t-shirt.
” -Senior Sarah Julian
patterns are much more feminine.”
However, some members of the Upper
School do not like sweater vests in general.
“I don’t know what it is, but I just don’t
like them,” Director of Community Service
Mrs. Kerry Bader said.
Nevertheless, if looking for a chic
sweater vest, the Ralph Lauren Fair Isle
Shawl Collar Vest is the perfect
spurge. A less expensive option
is Ann Taylor’s version
of this trend.
Wheth- er worn by
Chandler Bing on the
television
sitcom
Friends
or found
on Stella
Mc-
Cartney’s
i121.photobucket.com
catw
a l k ,
s w e a t e r vests are sure to warm up
your closet this winter.

B8
cristina ceballos
arts
Foreign Film Focus
Avenue Montaigne shows Paris’ artistic side
managing editor
This lovely French film, directed by
Danièle Thompson, provides the sweetness
and texture of a chocolate
croissant. Avenue Montaigne
is a delightful comedy, an airy
romance set in the magical city
of Paris. But do not mistake
this film’s charm for substance.
Avenue Montaigne is a
delicious dessert of a movie,
but it lacks the seriousness and
purpose that could have made
it a truly great film.
The movie opens with
classical views of the Eiffel
Tower and the Seine, sparkling
in the morning sun as a romantic
waltz plays in the background.
Into this charming vista steps
Jessica, an innocent girl who wanders the
narrow streets of Paris in search of a job and
an adventure. She becomes a waitress at the
Bar de Théâtres, a small, street-side café
popular among the area’s artistic types. With
a cheerful smile and a sympathetic ear, Jessica
befriends many of the famous and sometimes
neurotic artists who frequent the café.
The plot centers on the night of March 17,
when three major events- a play, auction, and
concert- take place near the Bar de Théâtres.
The movie skillfully weaves together the lives
of several different people, using Jessica
as the focal point between them. Jacques
Grumberg, an art collector played by Claude
Brasseur, plans to sell an art collection he
spent a lifetime amassing. His estranged son
Frédéric, struggles to understand his father
and to prevent him from selling his mother’s
Radiohead revolution
British rockers sell record online for free
meg larson
news editor
Imagine a world without record stores,
where all music is bought online from the
artists without the help of record labels. Now
picture listeners being able to get their favorite
artists’ latest album, legally, for free. While this
may seem like a dramatic departure from the
current music industry model, it could be the
way of the future. Radiohead, an alternative
rock group, certainly believes this.
On October 10, Radiohead released their
seventh album, In Rainbows, exclusively
for online download and independently of a
record label. They chose to offer their newest
release for free, giving fans the option to pay
whatever they want for the disc.
Several other bands have chosen to sell
their albums this way already, but Radiohead
is the most well-known band to do so.
Radiohead’s move to sell their record
independently also indicates a growing trend
of releasing records away from the big record
companies, whom many hold responsible for
overpriced albums. Both music critics and fans
see this move as potentially revolutionary. It
may lead more bands to do the same because
it eliminates many of the difficulties that
come with releasing an album on a major
label, such as the majority of the profits going
to the record company and executives who
are unhappy with an artist’s creative product.
Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood,
in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine,
commented on the band’s decision to let
listeners choose their own price.
He said, “It’s fun to make people stop for
a few seconds and think about what music is
worth.”
A British music journal conducted a
survey among people who had bought In
favorite statue. Other characters – a pianist, a
soap opera star, and a hotel concierge – face
difficult decisions and pivotal turning points
in their lives.
The overall acting was excellent. Cécile
de France, as Jessica, played
the leading role with warmth
and charm. Albert Dupontel
was especially pathos-inducing
as Jean-François Lefort, a
renowned concert pianist
sickened by the artificiality of
the classical music world.
But Valérie Lemercier
stole the show as Catherine,
a vain, high-strung actress
yearning to break free of
her unexceptional television
roles. Although she seemed
like a conceited fool at first,
empiremovies.com
Catherine became surprisingly
sympathetic as she desperately
chased a role in an upcoming film by
American director Brian Sobinski. This prima
donna stopped at nothing to get her way,
even using Jessica as a human shield to stage
a “casual” encounter with Sobinski. Her
ridiculous antics teetered between annoying
and hysterical, but by the end of the movie, I
was laughing with her when she finally gained
her coveted role.
Catherine’s role was the high point of this
warm-hearted romantic comedy. Although
Avenue Montaigne is more pleasant than
profound, it recognizes its limits and steers
away from overused platitudes and mawkish
sentimentality. The result is a light-hearted,
appealing film which succeeds on its excellent
acting and charm. It’s a pleasure to watch, and
viewers will find it hard to resist the allure of
the beautiful city of Paris.
Rainbows. Of those surveyed, about half chose
to pay nothing, while the rest paid between
ten and twenty dollars for the album.
“People are constantly pirating music
today so even if they feel loyalty to an artist,
it might not be enough to get them to pay for
something they can legally get for free,” said
junior Lauren Alexander.
The music industry has struggled with
which direction to take when sharing music
has become impossibly easy to do. Although
many file-sharing programs have been shut
down or turned into legitimate ways to buy
music, the music industry is still struggling
with how to adapt to new technology. In the
last five years, the explosion of mp3 players,
have revolutionized the way people listen to
“
It’s fun to make
people stop for a few
seconds and think about
what music is worth.
”
- Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood
music and have made record companies focus
on making releases technology-friendly.
Every year, the number of albums sold
in stores decreases. The days when pop bands
could sell millions of records in a week seem
to be over. There is much discussion about
how the music industry needs to adapt to new
technology. Many students at Sacred Heart
already purchase most of their music online.
“I’d definitely rather buy music online,”
said sophomore Jojo Golden. “Especially
now that you can buy whole albums online, it
would be pointless to get the actual CD.”
Radiohead released a “discbox” featuring
the album on CD, two 12” vinyl records with
artwork and lyric booklets, and a bonus CD
containing additional tracks on December 3.
How much are you wearing
Financing fashion at Sacred Heart
elyse yoder
Sacred Heart sweatshirt
- $22 - $50
Uniform skirt
- $44.95
Gap Cushion Tab-
Socks - $7.00
staff writer
Plaid kilts and polos are the hallmarks
of a Convent of the Sacred Heart student
just as much as are a social awareness
which impels to action or a deep respect
for intellectual values. For Sacred Heart
students, these kilts and polos comprise
their every day look, along with other
accessories and uniform options.
Although students at Sacred Heart
are required to wear a specific uniform to
school every day, additional accessories
and uniform options increase the
price of what they wear. Many
students stick to the basic
polo shirt and skirt, but
others wear the required
uniform along with extra
accessories and apparel.
Students can select
from an array of sweatshirts,
t-shirts, sweaters, and
other school-sponsored
apparel that can be
bought at the school’s
bookstore. While
the classic Sacred
Heart gray, white,
or hunter green
long-sleeve t-shirts
only cost students
about $20, the
Boathouse warmup
set, required for
all Sacred Heart
athletes, costs over
$100. Although students
are allowed to wear their
Boathouse jackets during
the day, many feel the
price is too high.
“I can understand why
we need to buy the sweatshirt
and jacket because we can wear
them everyday, but not the pants.
Unless I am required to wear them to
practice, I don’t think I am every really
going to wear them,” said freshman Cece
Urbanczyk.
While the price of school polo shirts
and skirts does not vary, what students
spend for accessories such as socks and
shoes ranges widely depending on the
brand, style, and quality. Some students
“
It’s the accessories
that are making everyone
think that the uniform
cost is high. Remember
UGGs are not part of the
uniform.
”- Dean of Students
Miss Karen Panarella
may wear a pair of shoes costing as little
as $20 whereas others could be wearing
a $200 pair of shoes. Such price variation
causes the total amount of money spent
on schoolwear to fluctuate.
“I think the average cost of the
uniform is fairly reasonable,” said Upper
School Dean of Students Miss Karen
Panarella. “It’s the accessories that are
making everyone think that the uniform
cost is high. Remember “UGGs” are not
part of the uniform and could earn you
a detention.”
Some students think that money
spent on items worn to school is a
reasonable price. Because students are
given so many options to wear, these
students do not have a problem with
the cost. Students also recognize
that because Sacred Heart
does have a uniform, they
Uniform Polo Shirt -
$25.00
probably spend less
on school clothing
than if there were
not a uniform
requirement.
They also
recognize that
with an initial
investment in
Sacred Heart
apparel, such
pieces of the
uniform can be
worn multiple
times over the
Gap Classic Tights
- $12.50
UGG flats
- $120.00
course of
their four
years in
the Upper
School.
“I don’t
think that
the cost of
the uniform
is that big a
deal. It
is not
like
a $100 pair of jeans that you wear
like once a week or so, but you wear your
skirt and other school apparel five times
a week,” said junior Allie Hagan.
Other students believe the cost of
the uniform to be too much.
“I don’t like that the prices are high.
I think the prices of the uniform should
be lowered,” said sophomore Shanique
Clarke.
Wearing optional uniform pieces
such as tights or leggings and jewelry or
hair accessories can increase or decrease
the price of the uniform. While certain
students wear more expensive brands,
others are wear only the necessities.
Beyond the basic uniform, some
Sacred Heart students wear clothing such
as UGG boots and expensive jackets to
and from school. There is also variation
because senior privileges allows for the
senior class to wear sneakers and their
customized rugby shirts. Sports teams
often have additional apparel as well.
additional research by lauren manning