NOVEMBER 15, 2011 OPEN .pub - Oratory Preparatory School

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OPEN
Oratory Prep’s Electronic Newsbits November 15, 2011
Lighting Up the Night for Joe
Photo by Michael Skinner
Walk-a-thon Nets over $7,000
S
ixteen students from Oratory boarded a
mini bus with Mr. and Mrs. Greg Mahan to
ride to Verona for the “Light the Night”
walk to raise money for The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society in honor of their classmate and
friend Joe Marzella. Head of School Bob Costello
told Brandon and Tyler Bongo, the organizers of the
school’s team, that if they had enough students sign
up for the walk, he’d supply a bus.
When they arrived at the walk site on Saturday,
October 22, they found another dozen or so boys
from Oratory who were there to help raise over
$7,000 in the name of the sophomore who was diagnosed
last year with leukemia.
The Bongo twins who organized the team from
Oratory, said it was a great night. Tyler said for him,
the best part of the night was “walking with around
30 of our supporters of Joe. We had a great time doing
it.”
Brandon said he and his brother know Joe through
baseball from last year. “We wanted to do something
positive for him and being a part of ‘Marzella’s
Members’ was just something we felt we could do.”
With their inspirational
balloons filled with
lights, above, PJ Tuohy,
Brian Moretti and Greg
Caldera, front, listen to
the speaker prior to the
walk.
At left, Brian Moretti
and Jack VanderMeulen
carry the school’s banner
for Marzella’s Members.
Photo by Michael Skinner
THE GANG’S ALL HERE. A
group shot with many of the Oratory
walkers, at left, includes honoree
Joe Marzella holding a survivors’
white balloon.

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PAGE 2
M
r. Bill Martin couldn’t
have been more
pleased with the outcome
of the student
council blood drive.
“Tonight, we ran our most successful
blood drive ever - with 72
pints collected, besting our previous
high of 56 last year,” he said.
“For a small school, that is a
huge jump. We had 9 deferrals
(people who could not give for a
variety of reasons.) We started
with 46 in the fall drive of 2009-
2010 and have made it up to 72 in
only two years’ time.”
He thanked all of the shift
Banking Blood
workers and student council
members who made it the best
drive ever. He gave kudos to the
blood drive chairs Evan Warshauer
and Rob Browne for their
hard work.
Junior Shea Magee said it was a
good experience donating blood.
“It was rewarding,” he said a few
minutes after he was done giving.
“You need to remember to drink a
lot of water during the day before
you give,” he suggested. “I didn’t
drink as much water as I should
have, and they say your veins are
more receptive to give when you
do.”
BEST PRACTICES. Four upper class students sport T-shirts
that they were given by NY Blood Services after presenting a
power point presentation at Johnson and Johnson in New Brunswick
in early November. According to Mr. Bill Martin, these OP
boys were selected as an example of “Best Practices” in running a
student-led blood drive. From left, junior Rob Browne, seniors
Michael Pacelli, Mike Brennan and junior Evan Warshauer. “I
was really proud of these guys,” Mr. Martin said afterwards.
With Dr. Ben
Schroeder
giving a
thumb’s up,
Fernando
Garcia in the
foreground
smiles to say
all is well.
SAVE A LIFE. BE A CHAMPION. Matt D'Angelo, Cormac
Rada and co-chair of the event Rob Browne, above right, check
the blood donor list at the start of the drive on November 8. The
banner that they proudly displayed was won by the 2009-2010
student council that showed the highest percentage of donors for
a high school participating in the blood drive.
Everyone Loves a Sticker
As Tim Doddy, left, finishes donating, Shea Magee smiles to show he’s ready to
give the gift of life.
Co-chair of the
blood drive,
Evan Warshauer,
gives
Mr. Frank
Kearns a drop
of blood sticker
at the end of
his donation to
wear as his
personal red
badge of courage.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2011
Working with Neighbors
S
eventh and eighth graders paired with middle school girls
from Kent Place at the end of October to make 300 sandwiches
for the homeless in the locally-run program called
Bridges. Both schools participate in donating food and making the
sandwiches yearly, but this is the first joint effort of the schools
coordinated by Campus Ministry leader Mrs. Cathy Marshall.
Kellen Philipp concentrates on
getting chips in every bag.
Ham and cheese sandwiches are part of the assembly line products by the
gloved seventh and eighth graders from OP and Kent Place. The sandwiches
were ensconced in foil since they weren’t being distributed until
the next day by another group of volunteers.
Juniors Meet College Reps at
Mt. St. Mary’s
Photo by Michael Skinner
A FAMILIAR FACE. Parent of Shane Schwarze ‘10, above left, Mr.
Bill Schwarze, discusses the merits of Drexel University, his alma mater,
with Sean Conklin while other OP teens listen in or sign up for information
about the school. The juniors attended Mt. St. Mary’s annual College Fair
with Director of College Placement Mrs. Ann Geissler and Mr. Rich
Garibell on October 26.
Spirit at the Halloween Dance
F
or most trick or treaters, Halloween was a bust this year
because of the untimely snow storm that caused power outages
and the closing of many schools on October 31 and
November 1.
On Friday, October 28, however, the student council boys sponsored
a dance that offered students the option to dress up for the
occasion. Sophomore Michael Skinner snapped this shot that shows
some of the costumes including the ever-popular snuggie (in deep
blue) modeled by sophomore Tim Brabant that were sold last year.

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PAGE 4
Parents’ Guild models,
like Mrs. Mary
D’Angelo, poses
with Head of School
Bob Costello at
right. Ladies modeled
fashions from
Windswept in
Mendham and men
modeled outfits
from Adams and
Madams in New
Providence.
Art teacher Susan
Preston, assisted by
Gira Derise, narrated
the commentary
on the fashions
the senior boys wore
and added researched
comments
about each one. At
the conclusion of the
parade of tuxedos, a
slide presentation of
seniors and their
moms was presented
to a tearful
audience.
Guild President Bill O’Shaughnessy congratulates
the trio of committee heads who spearheaded
the event of 350 attendees.
Nancy Ronco, Donna Mooney and
Chrissy Croonquist are
recognized.
Fashionably Dressed
A ll the glitter
and glamour of TV’s
“Dancing with the Stars”
was captured at the OP
Parents’ Guild’s Fall
Fashion Show “Celebrate
Oratory Style” on Sunday,
November 13 at the
Parsippany Hilton.
With seniors and
moms partnering in the
selling raffle tickets,
manning the Spirit
Shoppe booth and selling
50/50 tickets, everyone
was busy. Many women
shopped at the boutiques
while others crowded the
side room laden with
impressive baskets which
pleased young and old
alike.
Loren
Reinoso
and Dan
Santos
help the
moms in
the Spirit
Shoppe
boutique.
SCENE
STEALER.
Ms. Keira
McGowan, a new
member of the
catwalk parade at
the show this year
is escorted by her
father Dean of
Academics Owen
McGowan. Keira,
decked out with
matching shoes
for each outfit,
pirouetted, twirled
like a pro and
relished the limelight.
Alfonso Guerriero and Joey Mascolo
gladly accept money for the fifty-fifty
which rose to approximately $4,000.
Last minute raffles are popular with
Board President Joe Weinhoffer.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2011 OPEN PAGE 5
Guild’s Fundraiser Has Style
STRUTTING
THEIR
STUFF.
The boys
gather for an
onstage group
moment. Displaying
their
individual
style, the
theme of the
day, the boys
selected a variety
of tuxes
ranging from
classic to contemporary.
Anthony Perrella
Billy Vander Meulen
Marko Grimm
John Wassman
Drue Doman
Andrew Palmer
The boys give roses to their moms at the end of the event.
Since his mom wasn’t present, Chris Ditta (in the pink vest)
gave his flower to Campus Ministry Coordinator Cathy
Marshall.
This was the perfect
time for pictures for
Josh Velasquez,
above, and Andrew
Marshall with mom
Margaret, at left.

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PAGE 6
Honor Society Inductees Named
30th Induction
Ceremony
Ann Geissler, Director of
College Placement and National
Honor Society adviser at Oratory
told 150 parents, teachers
and students gathered in the
school’s gymnasium on
Wednesday, November 9, that
the 30 th induction ceremony of
the Newman Chapter of the National
Honor Society Induction
at OP was a night of celebration
for the families of 16 inductees
and 18 returning members to the
society.
One of the themes reiterated
throughout the night in remarks
made by Head of School Bob
Costello, Dean of Academics
Owen McGowan and NHS adviser
Ann Geissler is that membership
is more than an honor.
It is a privilege which carries
with it responsibility and an
obligation to continue to demonstrate,
on an everyday basis,
the four outstanding qualities of
scholarship, service, leadership
and character.
NEWLY INDUCTED. After accepting the Newman chapter of the National Honor Society’s
pledge to “strive in every way by word and deed to make its ideals the ideals of Oratory Prep... to serve God
and my fellow man by using my talents in the service of all mankind,” the newly inducted honorees gather
for a picture.
From front left: Scott Turtur, Tom Hughes, Ryan Montalvo, Tyler Bongo, Chris Billups; row two: Michael
Portela, Matt Munro, Rob Browne, Matthew Szeluga; top row: William O’Shaughnessy, Cormac
Rada, Matt D’Angelo, Anthony Trusso and Evan Warshauer. Missing from the photo are seniors Gerry
DeFilippo and Drue Doman.
Returning members pledged “to continue to seek the light of truth, to uphold scholarly habits, to engage
in worthy Christian service to both my school and community, and to lead in all things that will advance the
welfare of Oratory Prep.”
HUGS ALL
AROUND. Matt
Kelly gives his
mother Shiobian
a hug as Matt’s
seventh grade
brother Chris
adds his arms
around them
both for a group
hug.
Handing out the official
certificates, Mr. Bob
Costello congratulates
Anthony Trusso.
Scott Turtur signs the official register of National Honor Society members 2011-12.

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Officers Selected
Fernando Garcia
Joe Mascolo
Timothy Lynch
PAGE 7
November 15, 2011 OPEN
T
he four officers for this year, who were
selected by the NHS seniors, represent
the pillars of the Newman Chapter of
National Honor Society. President of
the NHS, Timothy Lynch, at left, lights the candle
of leadership.
Selected to represent scholarship is vice president
Fernando Garcia. Secretary Joseph Mascolo
reads his speech on the
importance of service; and
member-at-large Matt
Billups lights the candle
for character. Each officer
read an original speech
about the area they represented.
Matt Billups
“Every day you are onstage as a role model.”
Mr. Bob Costello
Full-fledged members in Oratory’s Newman Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Front from left: Daniel Santos, Christopher Ditta, Fernando Garcia, Joe Mascolo, Tim Lynch, Matt Billups. Row two: Ryan
Montalvo, Tim Kelly, Michael Sbarra, Liam Thomas Ward III, Nick Benelli, Anthony Perrella, Mario Nasta, Michael Pacelli.
Row three: Loren Reinoso, Matt Kelly, Matt Munro, Chris Billups, Chris MacTaggart, Tyler Bongo, Michael Brennan. Fourth
row: Michael Portela, Scott Turtur, Tom Hughes. Top row: Evan Warshauer, Cormac Rada, Anthony Trusso, William
O’Shaughnessy, Matt D’Angelo, Rob Browne, Marko Grimm and Matt Szeluga. Missing from photo are Gerry DeFilippo and
Drue Doman.

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Phone:
908-273-1084
extension 46
If you have information or photos to
share, please send them to
OPEN Editor, PR Coordinator
Susan Dougherty
E-mail: sdougherty@oratoryprep.org
At the last home
game, senior Jack
Fitzgerald, # 10,
scored two goals.
Jack said best part of
the season was
“reaching some of my
goals I set for myself.”
The senior, who
made 12 goals this
year, has applied
early decision to
Hobart
College in New York
state.
With Heads
Held High
The 2011 Soccer Team gathers in the lobby before
boarding the bus to Montclair Kimberly Academy
for their final game, the quarterfinals of the state
competition. Andrew Stigliano, in the front row,
exemplifies the team’s pride.
Their Championship Season
T
he
cross country’s winning
season and Prep B Championship
is no secret. And the
progress of the team individuals
is chronicled in Coach Bill
McCrystal’s
spreadsheet, the
tally of the
boys’ times.
“From race to
race, their
times changed,
of course,” he explained, “depending
on who had a good day or who was
injured.” So Mr. McCrystal religiously
tracked those times from various
races on the same courses and
charted a boy’s progress in bold. “Now
I’ll be able to give out the ‘Bold
Award’ at the November 15 dinner to
the boy whose time was bolded on the
spreadsheet as an indication of the best
“This has to be one of the
most successful cross country
time,” he said.
In addition,
Mr. McCrystal
will award the
“Most Improved”
citation
and the
“Rookie of the Year” award. “It (the
dinner) will be an informal ceremony,”
he explained, “and a time just to reflect
on the highlights of their individual and
team accomplishments.”
seasons this school has seen
in the last decade.” Coach Bill
‘Tis the Season to Think of Others
O
ratory
is pulling out
all the stops this holiday
season in thinking
of the needy in society.
Check Edline for complete
information on each of the
drives and donation events.
FROZEN TURKEY DRIVE:
On November 22, bring them to
the lobby. Organized by Tom
Giaquinto ‘12.
BRIDGES HOLIDAY DRIVE:
Coats, hats, gloves, boots and
sweatshirts are needed. Talk to
Mrs. Cathy Marshall.
On a sunny day before
the cross country team
won the Prep B Championship
title, boys
stretch and go through
exercises to prepare
themselves for the
grueling loneliness of
the long distance
runner.
NEW YORK SOCK EX-
CHANGE: Matt Munro’13 is
spearheading this drive for
warm socks. Boxes are in the
lobby now.
STUDENT COUNCIL TEE
and WREATH SALE: December
2, 3 pick up. Donate money
to purchase trees for armed
forces members’ families.
CHERISHED CREATIONS:
This yearly toy drive by the 7th
and 8th graders especially gathers
toys for children in need.
See Mrs. Irene Crum.
OPEN NOVEMBER 15, 2011 PAGE 8