Informer December 2012 Issue - Woodlynde School

Buddy
Halloween
Parade
Coverage ...
Page 7
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check out: woodlynde.org/informer
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Over 1,600
cans are
collected for
the needy ...
Page 2
Woodlynde School’s Award-Winning Student Newspaper
December 19, 2012
Issue 3
Photo by
Maya
Holloway,
Photographer
School Uniform Will
Only Have Three Colors
By Patrick Torphy
Editor-in-Chief
Woodlynde’s rainbow-selection of polo uniforms will soon be a
thing of the past.
This year already, the online palette available for purchase
has been reduced from twenty colors to six. By next year, only
three colors will be offered: Blue, white, and terra cotta.
While these colors will be the only ones sold on Lands End,
students can still wear their previously bought polos that are any
color.
“We're taking a very sensible approach that recognizes people
have spent money and made an investment in uniforms ... we
don't want people to feel like they've wasted money,” said Head of
School Dr. Fulco.
Alumni Spotlight: Jerome Bailey
Rising Star Has Come a
Long Way Since 9th Grade
By Nick Brayton
Staff Writer
Alum Jerome Bailey
credits his parents and
Woodlynde for making him
the success he is today.
See COLORS on page 7
The Great
Schemer
Jafar (played by David
Uhlmann), whips up a
potion in Aladdin.
More Middle
School play
photos —
and a
story —
are on
page 6.
When Jerome Bailey opened Woodlynde’s front doors for the first
time as a freshman, he was miserable.
"I despised Woodlynde when I first started. I did not want to be
there!" said Jerome, who graduated in 2009.
While he initially hated the school, by the time he graduated, he loved
Woodlynde — and learning. He achieved honors classes and became co-
Editor in Chief of The Informer.
After his prosperous high school career,
he went on to many successes in college
and recently was accepted into the elite
program, Teach for America.
But achieving that success wasn’t easy.
Before attending Woodlynde, Jerome
applied to six high schools, including Chestnut
Hill Academy. However, the only school
to accept Jerome was Woodlynde, and his
parents were dead set on enrolling him.
"... Throughout Middle School, I was
tested by a psychologist and documented
with auditory processing [disability]. Essentially,
the learning disability just means
I sometimes needed extra time to process
information. I also would have trouble fol-
See TEACH on Page 5
Informer Special Report:
Concussions: A Dangerous Risk
Finally Being Taken Seriously
Students used to be told to
shake it off. Now, they undergo
testing and may have to
stay home. Failure to do so
could result in brain damage.
By Patrick Torphy
Editor-in-Chief
Even after being repeatedly crushed under
a moon bounce in a freak accident,
Hunter Register never thought he’d have to
miss a month of school.
“When I was driving [afterward], I felt a
little woozy ... I went to the doctor three days
later because my nausea and headaches
weren't going away,” he said.
The doctor checked Hunter’s balance and
made him recite words and numbers, even a
poem, until it was determined that the senior
had a serious concussion, his third in only 14
months. Hunter was told he couldn’t go to
school, use his phone, watch television, or
expose his eyes to any sort of harsh light for
two weeks.
Two weeks turned into the whole month
of October being quarantined in his house.
The doctor warned that if Hunter were to
return to school, he could suffer permanent
brain damage.
While nothing about Hunter’s situation
may seem fortunate, he is lucky to grow up in
an age where head injuries are taken seri-
ously. It’s a controversial topic, particularly
in sports, especially following the recent
tragedy of a Kansas City Chiefs football
player who committed a murder-suicide.
Jovan Belcher is the fourth NFL player
this year to die from a self-inflicted gunshot,
calling into question why this disturbing
trend is occurring. Some experts say the
answer is easy: Concussions.
Two years ago, Chicago Bears player
Dave Duerson killed himself after suffering
from what he believed to be a “postconcussive
disease” that led to severe depression.
After a full
brain examination,
Duerson was found to
have a degenerative
brain disease, most
likely due to repeated
head-trauma from
playing football.
Photo by Mattie
Sweet
Senior Hunter
Register had to
stay home for a
month due to a
concussion.
Here’s the Plan...
But professional
athletes aren’t the
only ones who should
be concerned. An estimated
140,000 high
school athletes in the
United States suffer a
concussion each year,
according to the National
High School
Sports Injury Surveillance System.
A study included in the American Journal
of Sports Medicine reports that number
rising at a staggering annual rate of 15 per-
See CONCUSSIONS on page 4
Photo by Mattie Sweet, Media Editor
The Girls’ Varsity Basketball team gets some last-minute instructions from
Coach Robison during a recent game against Delaware Valley Friends School.
Additional coverage and photos are on page 12.

Page 2 The Informer
December 19, 2012
Upper School Play: Footloose
Cast Is Set to Star in Upcoming Musical
By Christa Deckman
Staff Writer
This year’s Upper School musical has many people
excited, including seniors Haley Van Schaick and
Evan Guinessy, who are the two leads in the production
of Footloose.
Haley is playing the part
of Ariel, and Evan is playing
the part of Ren, a teenager
who is an avid dancer and
fights against his new town’s
no-dancing law.
When asked how he felt
about being a lead, Evan
said, "Awesome, because this
is the first time I [will be] a
lead in a Woodlynde production."
When asked what they
were most worried about,
Haley said, "Not crying after
it is all over.”
Evan said, "Probably making
sure I don’t mess up any
of the dance moves and falling
on my face."
Footloo se pre mie res
March 7.
Dr. Simmons, the Director
of the musical, is delighted
with the cast. “I’m really
excited about the selections. All of them have
great voices and a lot of enthusiasm for the production.”
He added, “Although I haven’t worked with
them individually, they all seem ready to start
working in January when we start full cast rehearsals.”
Photo by Maya Holloway, Photographer
Principle members of the Footloose cast include: (from left to right) junior Kaelin
Wilcher, and seniors Evan Guinessy, Haley Van Schaick, and Hunter
Register.
Footloose Cast List
Ariel - Haley Van Schaick
Urleen - Samantha Goodman
Wendy Joe - Lauren Robinson
Rusty - Noorie Weinberg
Vi – Megan Doll
Ethel - Megan Flynn
Cowgirl Bobbie - Kim Alphonso
(Taylor Sforza)
Ren - Evan Guinessy
Willard - Kaelin Wilcher
Rev. Moore - Tristan Bosna
Chuck Cranston - Hunter Register
Jeter - Jack Stinson
Bickle - Josh Cameron
Garvin - Alec Kravitt
Lyle - Joel Cureton
Travis - Dan Fink
Betty Blast - Mattie Sweet
Coach Dunbar - Ryan Mullen
Eleanor Dunbar - Ryleigh Grady
Principal Clark - Christa Deckman
Cop - Liz Carney
Lulu Warnicker - Taylor Sforza
Wes Warnicker - Oleg Kariouk
High school/ townspeople—Caroline
Stefan, Hannah Lipschutz, Sheila
Sullivan, Morgan Caba, Christian Acosta,
Gaylen Martin, Upper School choir.
School Collects Over 1,600 Cans for the Needy
By Alex Roberts
Staff Writer
For two weeks in November, the Woodlynde community was
challenged to bring in cans for a food drive to help people in need.
"We made a very ambitious goal of 1,000 food items. I didn't
think it was unreachable, but I didn't think it would be easy, either,"
said Senior Class President Patrick Torphy.
English teacher Mr. Koch came up with the idea and ran it by
Student Council a few weeks prior to the food drive. The cans were
going to be sent to Manna on Main Street food pantry and the
Berwyn Baptist Church.
Student Council organized the event, and not only did they reach
their goal of 1,000 cans, they surpassed it by collecting over 1,600
food items. “You could tell that they were very grateful for our donations
because they were surprised by the sheer volume of food we
brought. They kept saying 'There's still more?'" Patrick said.
Teachers and Student Council are very proud of the school’s accomplishment.
"There are few times when students can reveal to the outside
[the] quality of the Woodlynde student; this was one of those times,
and it was a great success,” Mr. Koch said.
Patrick joked, "If we didn't reach our goal, I was going to take a
trip to Costco and finish the job myself!"
~ Staff Writer Michael McGroary contributed to this article.
Photo by Mrs. Russell, Art teacher
Seniors Kasia Fussey (left), Ryan Mullen (right), learning specialist Ms. McMurrer
(center) and others count and sort over 1,600 cans for the Woodlynde Food Drive.
Photo by Patrick Torphy, Editor-in-Chief
Seniors Steven Earhart and Christian Acosta help lift
boxes of food donations at the Berwyn Baptist Church.
Photo by Mrs. Russell, Art teacher
Freshman Seth Lapensohn uses the hand truck
as Student Council counts and sorts the cans.
Photo by Patrick Torphy, Editor-in-Chief
Junior Kaelin Wilcher depositing donations at
Manna on Main Street.

December 19, 2012
The Informer Page 3
Student Spotlight: Brandon Anderson
Senior Is Training to Become a Police Officer
By Alex Roberts
Staff Writer
Senior Brandon Anderson will learn how to properly perform
a car stop, raid a house, shoot a gun, and many other police
skills in the two-year program for aspiring police officers that he
is taking.
Surprisingly, he also will learn how to iron a shirt.
“We will never have an excuse coming in with a wrinkled
shirt,” Brandon joked.
You don’t hear of Woodlynde students becoming police officers,
but Brandon is a different story. Brandon has wanted to be
a cop since eighth grade. "I want to protect my city," he said of
Philadelphia.
Over the summer, he participated in a week-long, overnight
program called the State Police Youth Camp. "I felt accomplished
because I completed what many other people quit, and it
was the first time I was far away from home."
Brandon entered the youth camp to prepare him for The
Philadelphia Police Explorers, a two-year program for aspiring
police officers ages 14 to 20 that takes place every Saturday,
from 9 to 5 p.m. Brandon is learning everything there is to know
about becoming a police officer.
"I was ecstatic and felt motivated to be accepted into this
program because now I know I'm going to be doing this in my
future."
Brandon has a drill sergeant who occasionally yells in his
face, which he doesn’t mind.
"I wasn't discouraged. I just thought what they were doing
was just going to help me be better," Brandon said.
Right now, Brandon is learning about rules that the police
follow. He also has an intense workout. “I’m dead by the end of
it,” Brandon said.
To prepare for this experience, Brandon runs every other
day and also has worked out with Athletic Trainer Ms. Gallagher.
After high school, Brandon plans to attend Philadelphia
Community College. Once he graduates in 2015 from The Philadelphia
Police Explorers, he hopes to move on to the Police
Academy and become a Philadelphia police officer. After being
on the force for a few years, Brandon wants to apply to the K-9
unit.
Teachers and students are very impressed by Brandon’s
accomplishments.
“I’m so proud of Brandon for working so hard to pursue his
dream ... I know Brandon will make an excellent police officer
because of his strong character, values, and personality. I can’t
wait to see him pull someone over!” Learning Specialist Ms.
McMurrer said.
Photo by Mattie Sweet, Media Editor
Senior Brandon Anderson has wanted
to be a police officer since eighth grade.
Felled by a Hurricane, Beloved Tree Is No More
By Christa Deckman
Staff Writer
When junior Patrick Nucci used to go out with his friends for
recess during Lower School, they would always use the big tree in
the front of the school as a goal post for their football and soccer
games. They would also run around it while playing freeze tag, using
the tree as a barrier.
Now that they’re in Upper School, that tree was a constant reminder
of their Lower School experiences.
Then one night in late October, Hurricane Sandy uprooted the
tree.
“When I saw the tree fell on the way to school on my bus, I was so
devastated,” Patrick said. “I said to myself ‘Oh, my God, that tree
fell. I had so many memories from it, and it just fell. Oh my God!’"
Returning to school and seeing the fallen tree was upsetting for a
lot of people, like junior Luke Alonso. "I was really disappointed to
see that the tree I knew for almost eleven years was knocked over."
"When I was a kid, my friends and I used to play freeze tag, and
no matter what, that tree was always the barrier that saved me from
being frozen in the game.”
Students remember hanging with their friends and playing
games around the tree.
Senior Hannah Lipschutz said, “I remember playing with
friends, running around the tree, [and] leaning against it to catch
my breath. Driving up to school in the morning, that tree would be
the first thing I would see.”
She added, “When I first saw it after the storm, I wanted to cry.
It felt like that tree was my childhood at Woodlynde, and as I am
graduating and getting ready to leave this school, it feels tragic.”
Photo by Breana Daniel-Schnobrich, Photographer
(From Left to Right) Juniors Ziere Jones, Patrick Nucci and Luke Alonso mourn the loss of
the once great tree. Sophomore Eliza Griffin (bottom) stands amidst the carnage.
Chess Champ!
Corrections
In the October issue of
The Informer, sophomore
Lesley Vizak's record for
the 2012 tennis season was
incorrectly listed. It was 3-6.
In addition, the captains
of the tennis team were incorrectly
named. The captains
were seniors Maisey
Thompson and Kate
Dokas.
Ceramic Bowl Project Will
Raise Funds for Needy
Photo by Mattie Sweet, Media Editor
Fourth grader Adam Serota holds
up the two trophies he won in a
recent chess tournament.
Sixth grader Sam Close
with the ceramic bowls
she made.
Ceramic bowl photos by Mattie Sweet, Media Editor
Holding their bowls are (back row, from left to right) Art teacher Mrs. Russell,
Wayne Ireland, Mickey McGowan, Admissions Assistant Ms. Leaman, Greg
Goodman, Kristin Flynn, Sam Close, Evan Guinessy, Ellen Stickney, Kindergarten
teacher Mrs. Crawford, (front row, from left to right) Travis Buckley,
Andy Hicks, Andrew Gordon, and Declan McDonnell.

The Informer
Page 4 December 19, 2012
Stage Crew
Underappreciated, Yet Incredibly Hard Working
Production Director Norma Rizzo (left) puts together a
set piece with junior Emily Bank.
Freshman Michael McGroary (left) offers guidance as
sophomore Oleg Kariouk sprays glitter.
By Trevor Bowes and
Isabel Tirado-Barrett
Staff Writers
The backstage was swamped with scissors,
glue guns, Scotch tape, cardboard boxes and
large cans of glitter. Students were sprawled
out across the floor working contently on their
creations.
The Middle School play this year, Aladdin,
was a high quality performance, but it took the
help of every person involved to make it that
way, including the stage crew. These 15 student
volunteers worked countless hours after
school and on weekends.
Despite that, some feel as if the stage crew
is perhaps the most underappreciated part of a
play production.
The Middle School play this year received a
higher budget than ever before, and with that
they had a larger stage crew production. Grand
plans were made this time, and with the help
of devoted student volunteers, they were able
to get their jobs done and make last-minute
fixes before the premiere of the play.
"We set our sights high, which was great,
but it was more work than any production I've
ever done," said Stage Crew Head Mr. Kupersmith,
who has been associated with Woodlynde
plays for the past seven years.
The largest projects were the camels and
the elephant for the Prince Ali scene that doubled
as a magic carpet.
"Building the elephant and the camel was
hard work, but actually maneuvering it and
getting people off the top of the elephant without
being seen was the hardest part,” said
sophomore Norma Rizzo, who was the Production
Director on the stage crew and put in
over 100 hours attending rehearsals and tech
sessions.
Norma helped produce “one of the most
magical shows Woodlynde has ever seen,” the
Play Director said.
However, while the elephant and camel
were the largest projects, they were not necessarily
the hardest ones. The toughest projects
for the stage crew required a lot of work on
dull tasks to make props for the show, such as
a sarcophagus and other background pieces.
This play, Mr. Kupersmith said, was “more
technically involved.”
“There’s always been a lot of costumes, but
the construction of set pieces [were] a lot more
involved; [freshman] Jack Perme’s father
built us a lot of heavy duty rolling platforms.”
The stage crew’s work for the play was as
essential to the production as the actors were.
They worked through many of the hardships
and learning processes that came with the
larger-than-ever production, and the end product
was a success.
Freshmen Brad White (left) and Jack Perme
hard at work, but having fun.
Photos by Christa Deckman, Photographer
Concussions Are a Major Concern
CONCUSSIONS from page 1
cent. While the population of student athletes susceptible
to such injuries could be growing, it is also likely that
more are just being reported.
The sports culture of handling head injuries has
changed, and Athletic Trainer Ms. Gallagher, who
graduated from Woodlynde in 1999, sees the contrast
first-hand.
“Growing up, it was one of those things of, if you hit
your head ... it was just shake it off and get back in
there. I had my fair share of concussions, I'm sure of it,
they just were never classified as concussions,” she said.
Even when she was diagnosed with a concussion, Ms.
Gallagher neglected to take the proper precautions.
“At that point it was, ‘We still need you to be in class,
we still need you to be at football, we still need you to do
this, we still need you to do that.’” Had she rested her
brain immediately after the trauma, she insists, “[my
symptoms] would not have lingered as long as [they]
had.”
“I should have spoken up more, I should have followed
up with a neurologist, I should have followed up
with the doctor again when things weren’t going away.
But I figured, ‘Oh, they’ll go away eventually,’” said Ms.
Gallagher, who still suffers from symptoms such as light
sensitivity.
An estimated 140,000 high school
athletes in the United States
suffer a concussion each year.
Now, she administers neurocognitive tests to all
Woodlynde student athletes.
The assessment, titled “ImPACT” (Immediate Post-
Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), lasts 20
minutes and measures verbal memory, visual memory,
processing speed, and reaction time. It is typically used
in professional sports.
All student athletes at Woodlynde must take it in the
beginning of their sports season. If an athlete suffers
head trauma, they can then be tested again to see if
their baseline measurements vary from the current
ones. A variation would indicate a concussion.
Woodlynde’s purchase of this assessment follows
new state laws enacted by the Safety in Youth Sports
Act to help curb concussions. This piece of legislation
requires coaches to complete a concussion management
certification training course every year.
Those coaches are also required to remove students
from an athletic activity if they are exhibiting signs of
a concussion. Penalties for coaches who violate the
requirements can be as harsh as permanent suspension
from coaching.
5 CONCUSSIONS ALREADY
At least five Woodlynde students already have suffered
from concussions this
school year, but School
Nurse Trigone doubts that
all students report their injuries.
“I always get concerned ...
with kids who don’t report
that they’ve injured themselves,
because they know
that if they have one more
concussion, one more injury,
that they’ll be out. There is
that fear in kids to not report,”
she said.
She went on to say,
“There’s pressure from the
school, there’s pressure from
peers, there’s pressure from
society [to perform well] ...
Photo by Mattie Sweet
Athletic Trainer Ms.
Gallagher doesn’t want
students who have a
concussion to suffer like
she has.
but there’s also pressure that student athletes also put
on themselves, because they want to be successful. I
think we need to take a step back [and] know why
[reporting a concussion is] so important.”
Nurse Trigone acknowledges that Woodlynde is
ahead of the curve. “I think people here are really on
top of this,” she stated.
One of the most important factors in preventing
concussions from going unreported is education.
Nurse Trigone points to an October 2011 article in
the journal Clinical Pediatrics that suggests student
athletes educated about the dangers of unreported
head injuries are significantly more likely to tell their
coach if they suffer one. It also suggests that more
than half of all student-athlete concussions remain
unreported.
At Woodlynde, the topic of concussions is covered
in all Health classes, but not in Physical Education.
Physical Education Department Head Mr. Shank
says, “It’s not going ignored; we’re very aware that
we need to get the word out. But based on this
[interview] I think I’ll do something in P.E. class.”
After taking the ImPACT test on Dec. 5, Hunter
was cleared for Physical Education class, but still
can’t play basketball. While he may view this as a
nuisance, it’s personal for Ms. Gallagher.
“From my own personal experience having a major
concussion, if someone makes a comment about
their head hurting, I don’t take it lightly. As I say to
the kids’ parents and them: I don’t want them to suffer
like I had to suffer for so long.”
Concussion Effects
Long-term consequences for
multiple concussions:
Post-concussion syndrome -- Can cause
headaches, difficulty concentrating, and
irritability.
Mild cognitive impairments -- Can lead to
dementia.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- Can
cause prolonged aggression, confusion,
depression, memory loss, and dementia.
~ Information from the Sports
Concussion Institute

December 19, 2012
The Informer Page 5
Fire When Ready: Students Embark on Paintball Trip
By Alec Kravitt
Staff Writer
Junior Patrick Nucci has been looking forward to Woodlynde’s second annual
paintball trip all year, because he likes shooting people with balls of colorful paint.
Patrick was one of 21 Upper Schoolers who went to Poco Loco Paintball on Nov.
18th to shoot at each other. About seven to ten games were played, and as always,
the trip was a blast.
Patrick said he had a lot of fun shooting Head of Upper School Mrs.
Dougherty and History teacher Mr. Smith, who chaperoned the trip.
Student Council co-advisor Mrs. Russell said that her favorite part was running
and jumping into "bunkers", which were essentially platforms and barrels.
Getting hit with a paintball is like receiving a needle. At first it hurts a lot, but
then it goes away after a while. That is, unless you’re Mrs. Russell.
"I have a bruise on my leg because [senior] Ryan Mullen hit me [there], and
[junior] Emily Bank hit me in the shoulder," she said.
Just because the trip is over doesn’t mean the war is. Freshman Rich Sposato
left the trip wanting revenge on senior Christian Acosta, because Christian shot
him so many times.
Christian replied, “He is in for a haircut in his sleep.”
However, Christian admitted he’s a little scared and will always be watching
his back. He is always ready for the challenge if they ever play paintball together
again.
Patrick, in the meantime, said that he wants revenge on sophomore Tristan
Bosna. “Tristan shot me in the hand. He destroyed me!”
Photo by Tianna Buck, Photographer
Junior Patrick Daniel-Schnobrich (left) and sophomore Tristan Bosna are
ready for action.
High Honors
Students recently were inducted into the National Honor
Society (for Upper School) and Mondrian (for Middle School).
Photos by Julia Wolfe and Ben Weisman, Photographers
(Left Photo): New National Honor Society members are: (from
left to right) Seniors Steven Earhart, Christian Acosta, Jeremy
Cooper and Haley Van Schaick.
(Bottom Photo): New Mondrian members present their
certificates following the induction ceremony.
Alum Is Accepted into Teach for America
TEACH from Page 1
lowing multiple-step directions," Jerome said.
Most schools said they did not have sufficient resources
to help him with his learning difference. Even
though Woodlynde had the capabilities to aid him academically,
Jerome did not want to be there.
"The first year was not enjoyable … I truly thought it
was going to be a bad four years.”
Jerome had a 50-minute ride to Woodlynde; he generally
disliked learning; and it was a rough transition
from knowing everyone at his old school — which ended
at eighth grade — to knowing no one.
“From the beginning, I could tell Jerome had a great
deal of potential as a student, but he wasn’t always enthusiastic
about learning,” said College Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Tabun, who was Jerome’s French teacher
freshman year.
Then, in his sophomore year, everything changed
immensely when he made friends with classmates Dimming
Jones and Ben Grant. After that, Jerome began
to like Woodlynde.
And when Jerome found out that he did not get into
honors level classes in his sophomore year, he began to
put in more effort to drastically improve his work. With
better grades and the encouragement of English teacher
Mrs. Byrne, he was moved into honors classes in his
junior year.
Teachers continued to encourage him and would provide
support whenever he had difficulties. With this support,
he would always strive to do the best work he pos-
sibly could.
"At Woodlynde, I learned to 'Go the Extra Mile,'
and not settle. I honestly still believe this mission, and
[I] strive to go further and further every day of my
life."
In a true show of his determination, Jerome and his
friend Ben wanted a journalism class, so they worked
to have one formed as an elective. They then became
co-Editors in Chief of The Informer, revitalizing the
paper and launching it to new heights of quality.
"At Woodlynde, I learned to 'Go
the Extra Mile,' and not settle ...
[I] strive to go further and
further every day of my life."
~ Jerome Bailey, Class of 2009
After his Woodlynde career, he used this determination
to achieve even greater goals. He was accepted
into the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, a national
program that finds African-American male college
students internships and helps teach them leadership
skills.
He met many important figures, such as former
Secretary of State Colin Powell, Congressman John
Lewis, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
“As a history major who loves African American
history, meeting Civil Rights Activist John Lewis is
something I will never forget!” Jerome said.
One of his most recent achievements was being
accepted into the prestigious Teach for America, an
incredibly competitive program that trains talented
college graduates to become teachers in low income
areas.
The program is so competitive that, in 2009, less
than 10 percent of the 46,359 applicants were accepted.
"I desire to teach in low income areas because I
want to make a change. Only two percent of teachers
nationwide are African American males and I want to
help change that woeful statistic!” Jerome said.
The day he found out he was accepted, "I was overjoyed!
I was speechless! The first thing I did [was]
thank God, and then called my parents!", whom he
credits for helping him get this far.
Jerome will be teaching at a school in South Louisiana.
He is eagerly awaiting the start of his official
career as an educator on the first week of August.
"I want to inspire children who may see no value in
education. I am determined to make a change."
Mrs. Tabun said she is confident that Jerome will
make an “outstanding” teacher.
“Jerome has achieved a great deal by actively seeking
opportunities such as Teach for America, and committing
fully to everything that he does. He is an outstanding
example of what is possible when preparation
and opportunity meet.”

Page 6 The Informer
December 19, 2012
Middle School Play: Aladdin
Production Was Like No Other in MS History
By Isabel Tirado-Barrett
Staff Writer
The musical Aladdin, with 62 actors and a larger
budget, was like no other performed in Middle School
history.
“I put in more hours in this show than I’ve ever done
since I’ve been here,” said Mr. Kupersmith, the Tech
Crew Director.
When asked what was unique or different about this
play, he said, “We had a larger budget, which meant we
could get more spectacular — as in, more spectacle. And
a lot of glitter … lots and lots of glitter. I had nightmares
of it.”
In addition to the 62 actors, there was one Production
Director (sophomore Norma Rizzo), and five Student
Directors (seniors Tianna Buck, Haley Van
Schaick, and Evan Guinessy, and juniors Emily
Bank and Kaelin Wilcher). The lighting, painting
and construction credits go to the 13 participants in
the Tech Crew.
The actors, tech crew, directors, supporting directors,
costume crew and choreographers worked hard
each afternoon and, as the play neared its final due
date, stayed after school until as late as 9:00 p.m.
Official preparation for the play began in early September.
As the play neared its final production in November,
mostly everyone came in on Saturdays to practice.
The play was an hour and 37 minutes of dancing,
singing and exciting performances. The lights, timing
and acting were wonderfully produced.
“In the end, well done,” said sophomore Alec
Kravitt. “I especially liked the costume designs. I
liked the part where Jasmine and Aladdin were floating
in the air. I liked the Magic Carpet ride, along
with Jafar’s lair. It was overall well done.”
Freshman Michael McGroary, a member of the
Tech Crew, reported, “Pretty well done. Really good
for a dress rehearsal!”
Sixth grader Skylar Reiner, who played one of
the guardsmen, added, “It was awesome! I loved it. It
was good because we worked really hard at it and it
turned out well ...”
“I liked it because of the technology and props,”
freshman Liz Carney said. “The props especially
were really great.”
Photos by Breana Daniel-Schnobrich and
Maya Holloway, Photographers
Aladdin
(Graham
Dileo) and
Genie (Josh
Cameron)
perform
during one of
their songs.
Impressive props such as the elephant were built by
the stage crew.
Princess
Jasmine
was played
by Erin
McKie.
Performing in Aladdin are (from left to right): Sophie
Fastuca, Kristin Flynn, Sam Close, Jenna Goodman,
and Derek Smith.
Martin Luther King Jr. Mural Project:
Students Are Keeping the Dream Alive
By Julia Wolfe
Staff Photographer
"I might shed a couple of tears," senior Hannah Lipschutz
said about this year’s Martin Luther King Jr.
mural project.
This is Hannah’s last year working on and presenting
Woodlynde’s mural at a press conference at Girard
College in Philadelphia on Jan. 9th.
She has been going on the Martin Luther King Jr.
mural trip since she was in fifth grade, which makes this
her eighth year. Hannah has seen the program grow
tremendously.
"I like it and it is a creative way to support something
that I believe in, and to support what Martin Luther
King Jr. also believed in, and to remember all of
what he did," Hannah said.
The program, according to Art teacher Mrs. Russell,
“is designed for students to keep Martin Luther King
Jr’s. legacy alive through the arts.”
Hannah declares that this year's mural looks
“amazing.”
"It is really text-based, and very visual and abstract
with ... color.”
This year, twelve students worked on the mural,
some of whom returned from previous years and others
who volunteered for the first time.
Professional artist, James Burns, who has made
many murals all over Philadelphia, helped the students
produce their mural. The theme of this year’s painting
is, “I Have A Dream Speech,” Mrs. Russell said.
Freshman Jenna Pavucek, who has an interest in
art, said she was looking forward to working on the
mural for the first time and presenting it at the press
conference.
"I am excited because I want to learn more about
Martin Luther King Jr. I'm excited to draw and paint
and meet new friends," Jenna said.
Seniors Evan Guinessy and Maisey Thompson
focus on the mural project, which is designed to keep
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy alive.
Professional artist James Burns gives senior
Hannah Lipschutz some pointers, as eighth
grader Xavier Carroll works on the mural.
Photo by Mr. Gelman,
Journalism teacher
Members of the MLK Mural
Project proudly displaying
the banner are (back row,
from left): Mrs. Russell,
Olivia Calabro,
Chris Lumsden, Cassia
Enright, Evan Guinessy,
Kaelin
Wilcher, Hannah
Lipschutz, Andrei
Benoliel, Polly Post,
(front row, from left)
Xavier Carroll, Jenna
Pavucek, Amanda
Cappelli, and Kate
Dokas. Not pictured are:
Noorie Weinberg, Norma
Rizzo, Christa Deckman,
and Tim Carr.
MLK Mural Photos by
Mrs. Russell, Art teacher
Seventh grader Andrei Benoliel works
intently on the mural.

The Informer
December 19, 2012 Page 7
Student / Faculty Kickball Game
The juniors were the top student team in the kickball tournament,
which was played by students in 8th to 12th grade. The
eleventh grade then lost to the faculty / administration team.
Photos by
Julia Wolfe,
Photographer
Sophomore
Lesley Vizak,
junior Megan
Doll, and senior
Morgan Caba
hold up a sincere
sign.
The seniors show off their team spirit
Sophomore Breana Daniel-Schnobrich
shows some support for her big brother,
Patrick (11th grade).
Junior Jordan Booth gives the teachers
a run for their money.
Math Teacher Mr. Sweeney proudly roots for his team while
sophomore Megan Flynn says otherwise.
School Uniform Colors
Are Being Phased Out
COLORS from Page 1
Eventually, the whole student body will only be wearing those
three colors. “It could be three or four years that it will become recognizable
on campus that the color palette has been changed and
streamlined,” Dr. Fulco explained.
In addition to tightening the color selection, Lower School students
will have to all wear Woodlynde polos, as opposed to the current
option that allows them to wear Woodlynde T-shirts.
These decisions were made with the intent of streamlining Woodlynde’s
uniform and making it more synonymous with the school’s
color scheme.
But that rationalization isn’t enough for freshman Michael
McGroary, who opposes the changes. “I really like the bright colors
... I just think that they should keep them.”
Photo by Breana Daniel-Schnobrich, Photographer
Sporting some of the Woodlynde colors that will no longer be available for sale are
sophomores Baird Register, Joel Cureton and Samantha Goodman, and senior
Jeremy Cooper.
Halloween Buddy Parade
Photos by Patrick Torphy,
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Christen McCreavy walking with her buddy,
third-grader Julia Campbell.
Enjoying the festivities were (from
left) sixth grader Annie Bryant, fifth
grader Chris Civitella (hockey outfit),
and third grader Travis Buckley.
Kindergartner Kyle Purdy (center) races senior Alex Hertel
(left) and eighth grader Austin Levant (right).y

Page 8 December 19, 2012
OPINION
The Informer
Woodlynde School
445 Upper Gulph Road
Strafford, PA 19087
The Informer welcomes feedback
and letters to the editor.
Please send to:
Informer@woodlynde.org
Editor-in-Chief
Patrick Torphy
Media Editor
Mattie Sweet
Layout Editor
Jeremy Cooper
Opinion &
Magazine Editor
Cassia Enright
Staff Writers
Alex Roberts
Hannah Lipschutz
Trevor Bowes
Nick Brayton
Joel Cureton
Nick Spino
Nick Scaramuzza
Christa Deckman
Samantha Goodman
Elizabeth Carney
Victoria Hartzell
Alec Kravitt
Matt Savitz
Giana Campbell
Ryan Harvie
Isabel Tirado-Barrett
Chris Lumsden
Photographers
Ben Weisman
Breana Daniel-Schnobrich
Andrew Rosenberg
Julia Wolfe
Tianna Buck
Maya Holloway
Videographers
Kelan Reilly
Jordan Gregson
Michael McGroary
Graphic Artists
Chris Maguire
Megan Flynn
Chief Enforcers
Brandon Anderson
Christian Acosta
Faculty Adviser
Mr. Gelman
Adviser-at-Large
Mrs. Byrne
Circulation /
Editing Adviser
Ms. DeLiberty
Backpack Relocation
Controversy Heats Up
Teacher has been moving bookbags for
safety reasons, but his methods have
drawn students’ ire.
If you left your backpack in a place that has been determined
“unsafe” or “a hazard”, you may have some trouble finding it.
Chances are, Mr. Kupersmith tucked it away in some hidden
section of the hallway.
The English teacher is doing this because backpacks are clogging
the halls and causing a headache for faculty and students
alike.
Commentary
Cassia Enright
Opinion Editor
Photo by Mattie Sweet
Cassia shows how students’
bookbags have been placed
between the lockers.
Contributing to this problem
is the extremely inconvenient
location of the seniors’ lockers
in the athletic hall, which
causes them to dump their
backpacks on the floor in the
Upper School hallway.
"We have kids in wheelchairs
and kids on crutches,
[so] it’s a real safety issue,”
Mr. Kupersmith said. “[There
are] book bags in the hall
when [the students] have to go
outside or to lunch, or even a
fire drill.”
Therefore, Mr. Kupersmith
has implemented an unofficial
policy in an attempt to reach a
resolution — but it’s not working.
As it turns out, hiding, tossing,
and shoving backpacks
has had some negative consequences.
And this plan seems
to be anything but safe for students’ property.
“My computer battery now falls out just about every time I
touch it from being slammed in between lockers. It is really difficult
to charge my laptop,” complained junior Gaylen Martin.
When it comes to clearing the halls of backpacks, Mr. Kupersmith
said: "Sometimes the only way to get it out of the way is a
swinging motion [because it’s so heavy]. Or if the bags are on the
floor, [I] pile them on top of one another."
Not only are electronics being damaged but this less-thanideal
solution is disrupting education, including mine.
So students, as of right now, the only place where your backpack
is sure to be safe is in — or on top of — your locker. So this
wouldn’t really be an issue if everyone did that.
Also beware that Mr. Kupersmith is patrolling more than just
the halls. He has also taken over the area by the Upper School
printer, which originally wasn’t supposed to accommodate any
bags, but Mr. Kupersmith decided to allow three.
However, I didn’t know that.
Just when book bags were starting to disappear, I left mine
on a desk next to the Upper School printer right before first period.
One minute it was there, and the next it was gone.
With my notebook and writing tools MIA, I was left with no
choice but to sit in Mr. Kupersmith’s class without the ability to
participate. Can you imagine how I felt when I figured out that
the teacher who hid my bag was the one whose class I was in at
that very moment?
What’s the Word?
If you could get any present, what would you want?
Compiled by Hannah Lipschutz and Julia Wolfe, Informer staff
A Very Woodlynde Holiday
Awkward...
There are others who have faced negative consequences, too.
Sophomore Lesley Vizak has had her classes seriously disrupted
on a regular basis. “Either I am looking everywhere for my backpack,
which makes me late to class, or kids from [other] classes and
grades are coming into our class asking if anyone has seen theirs.”
The last thing a college-preparatory school for students with
learning disabilities needs is more distractions. Considering no one
really seems to be adapting well to the new policy and it is causing
much more of an issue than it is helping, there has to be a better
solution.
Luckily, Mr. Kupersmith is willing to make some changes. In
fact, when it was suggested that maybe a more traditional, less cruel
and unusual action be put in place by an administrator, like a detention,
he had this to say: "A balance needs to be reached. My goal is
safety, not a punishment."
When I interviewed him for this column, Mr. Kupersmith said he
would begin handling the backpacks with more care and will try to
put them as close to their original location as possible.
Mr. Kupersmith also has some suggestions, including the creation
of a drop-off area where students can quickly set down their
belongings before assembly or between classes.
I think there should also be some locker relocations: move seniors
back to the high school wing so their lockers are closer, and group
the Middle School together in the athletic hallway.
At this point, it seems as though having these ideas come to fruition
is up to the administration, which is arguably where it should
have started in the first place.
“I would want a
room full of chicken
nuggets with One
Direction in the
middle, because that
would be awesome.”
~ Megan Doll, junior
“I would want sharks
with lasers on their
heads, because that
would be the coolest
thing ever.”
~ Hunter Register,
senior
“I want a magical
mechanical
unicorn that I
could ride across
a rainbow with.”
~ Luke Alonso,
junior
“I would want a private
jet so I could go
anywhere in the
world A at any time.”
~ Eliza Griffin,
sophomore
“Diapers, because
I’m a big boy now.”
~ Luke DeLeo,
freshman
“[Censored]”
~ Mr. Alonso,
Technology
Department

December 19, 2012
MAGAZINE
Horrible-Scopes
Editor’s note: Warning, this article could contain mature
content and may not be suitable for young children.
ARIES- The extreme weather we’ve been having isn’t going to take the holidays off. There is a 50 percent
chance of snow and a 99 percent chance that Jack Frost is going to do more than nip at your nose.
TAURUS- Your parents are going to buy you a pair of really expensive white gold hoops, but you’ll have
to pretend like you don’t even like them because two years ago, Regina George told you that hoop earrings
were “her thing”.
GEMINI- Don’t fret about your size this holiday season. What you lack in height will be made up for in
your high productivity and performance when you are sold into the elf slave-trade industry.
CANCER- Your family will excommunicate you because you made the thrifty and disgusting choice to
bring the leftover desserts from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah.
LEO- You’ll be assigned an eight-page research paper on Kwanzaa, though not even the Internet claims
to know exactly what it is. Good luck finding a single source.
VIRGO- You’ll have to live with the stigma of being THE WORST gift giver in your family when you
choose the last-minute present of magazine subscriptions. Because of a typo, Grandma will receive
Tiger Beat and your One Direction-loving cousin will get Readers Digest.
LIBRA- Make sure you stay on your toes; a man scruffy in red is making sure he knows when you are
sleeping, knows when you are awake, and knows if you have been bad or good. So you better watch your
step for goodness sake. Just kidding! He is actually going to rob you.
SCORPIO- Frosty the Snowman is going to come to life and insult you on your lack of skill in snowball
rolling.
SAGITTARIUS – Because you were too lazy to make plans for bringing in the New Year, you’ll have to
learn the hard way when you’re forced to watch the less-than-tolerable movie New Year’s Eve.
CAPRICORN– You are going to lose the baby Jesus from the coffee table-sized nativity scene. Be ready
to face backlash from your EXTREMELY religious grandmother. As it turns out, a baby carrot is not
only an extremely obvious substitute, but extremely offensive.
AQUARIUS- Reindeer are going on strike, and in this economy you can’t pass up a job. Strap on those
antlers and take one for the team.
PISCES– It turns out the substance you used to make those derides is in fact not clay ... I’ll spare you
the details. Ew.
Music Review:
Battle Born Doesn’t Quite Meet Expectations
Phillip Phillips Has a Few High Points
The Killers Review
As a Killers fanatic, I anticipated only the
best from their new album Battle Born, released
on Sept. 18th.
Their older albums, Sam’s Town, Day and
Age and Hot Fuss, have a special place on my
iPod, and I was
ecstatic to add
Battle Born to
my sacred collection
of their
work.
Frontman Brandon Flowers has a voice
you just can’t miss. It’s the kind of voice that
when you hear it, you automatically know
you’re listening to The Killers. The band as a
whole has been on a roll with their music so
far and I had such high expectations for their
new album.
When I finally
gave the album
a listen,
shockingly, my
heart sank. I was
surprised to find
that they weren’t
as amazing as
they used to be.
Cassia Enright
Magazine Editor
Samantha
Goodman
Music Critic
Their past
songs were as
original as it got,
and I feel as though the tracks in Battle Born
are a little too reminiscent of their previous
hits. The single off of the album, Runaways, is
decent if you aren’t familiar with the band.
For me, though, it just doesn’t cut it.
I would rate this album three out of five
stars.
To be fair, though, I still give them an A for
effort. After all, it’s almost impossible to top
their legendary older music.
All in all, their new album isn’t my cup of
tea. Maybe it’s because I’ve already drank it.
Phillip Phillips Review
Phillip Phillips, crowned as the winner
of American Idol season 11, released
his album charmingly titled, The World
From the Side of the Moon in mid-
November via Interscope Records.
Phillips, being the singer-songwriter
that he is, wrote the majority of songs on
the album with the help of Gregg Wattenberg.
The single off the album, titled Home,
reached number one on the iTunes Pop
chart, and remained in the iTunes Top 5
for eight weeks before it hit double platinum.
Although it sounds highly similar to
basically any song by Mumford and Sons,
Home's lyrics are inspiring, and there is
no doubt that they speak to me.
For example, the line "Settle down, it'll
all be clear; pay
no attention to
the demons;
they fill you
with fear," puts
me in a peaceful
and positive
state of mind.
This would
make an amazing
poem, but
the melody that goes along with it is
nothing to go crazy about.
Although most of the other songs on
the album have the same mellow folk
sound, the track Can't Go Wrong has a
nice, catchy country anthem-like sound to
it. It gives the album just a little bit more
of a variety.
Overall, this record has its high points,
but it's nothing too special. The World
From the Side of the Moon, like its title,
won't be remembered for long.
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier
Bardem, Ralph Fiennes
Page 9
Movie Review:
Skyfall Hits All
the Right Notes
Synopsis: An attack on MI6 pits James Bond
(Craig) against Silva (Bardem), a cyber-terrorist
with a furious vendetta against M (Dench).
Review: The James Bond series is now fifty years
old, and Skyfall is the
Jeremy perfect anniversary present.
It hits all the right
Cooper
Layout notes that one could
Editor want out of a Bond film
— and then some.
After the misstep of Quantum of Solace following
the series high point of Casino Royale, it’s a
huge treat to see the series get back on track.
This is arguably the most well-made Bond film to
date, with gorgeous cinematography, meticulous
direction and stunning action sequences, especially
at the beginning and end.
Daniel Craig continues to excel as James
Bond, further solidifying the argument that he
may well be the best in the role. This time, the
character is not at 100 percent, which allows
Craig to show Bond at his most vulnerable and
determined. Javier Bardem is a great villain. His
character more or less serves as the antithesis to
Bond and it’s another credit to Craig’s performance
that he prevents Bardem from completely
stealing the show.
Skyfall follows the current trend in the series
of being darker and more realistic. However, it
also works as a throwback to the older films, with
the reintroduction of characters such as Q and a
certain car which will delight fans of the classics.
Skyfall also rivals
Casino Royale as the
most emotional film in
the series. This is
largely due to the
character development
of Bond and M.
In addition, the ending
marks a huge
change in the status
quo, showing a brave
decision on the
filmmakers’ part.
Consensus: Skyfall
successfully continues
the trend of a darker, more character-driven
Bond film while also serving as a celebration of
the classics. It’s one of the best in the series to
date and quite possibly the best action film of the
year.
Verdict: 9.3 out of 10
Lincoln Succeeds
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy
Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David
Strathairn
Synopsis: When people think of great U.S. presidents,
they think of Abraham Lincoln. The film
covers the last four months in the life of the
Great Emancipator, played by Daniel Day-Lewis,
as he attempts to end the Civil War and pass the
Thirteenth Amendment, which will rectify slavery.
Consensus: Led by another
staggering performance
from Day-Lewis,
an excellent script, and
one of the best casts of
the year, Lincoln succeeds
where many recent
biopics have failed in
crafting a layered, engaging
and moving portrait
of its iconic subject.
Verdict: 9 out of 10

The Informer
Page 10 December 19, 2012
Guest Column:
College Is A Combination of Freedom and Heavy Workload
After graduating last June, I moved on to Kalamazoo
College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I knew that the transition
from high school to college would be one of the most
difficult in my life,
Katie Schmitz
Alum and former
co-Editor-in-Chief
and there were so
many things I was
worried about.
Would I be able to
handle the workload?
Would I make
friends? Has Woodlynde prepared me?
At college, I have never been so free and so busy at
the same time. There is always something to do, there is
always something that I should be doing, and then there
is always the option to sit around and do nothing.
In high school, it was always decided for me: never do
nothing, always do what you should be doing.
Now, it’s incredibly refreshing and liberating for me
to choose how to manage my time. If I don’t want to do
my history assignment at a certain point in time, I
don’t have to, and nobody is going to sit me in front of a
laptop and force me to type.
Another big difference between high school and
college is the importance of the syllabus. Throughout
my years in high school, every syllabus I ever received
got a nice comfy home in the very back of my binder,
never to be looked at again after the first day of school.
In college, I have probably consulted at least one
syllabus every day. All of the work due is listed on the
syllabus, and important details about certain assignments
are often included. In one of my courses, we had
a lot of days off because the professor often traveled.
He never warned us when these days off were coming,
and the only way to know was to consult the syllabus.
I’ve found that, for my own sanity, it is very important
to balance the social and educational aspects
of college. I had so much fun during my first trimester,
and I think the fact that I was enjoying myself ultimately
benefitted the quality of my work.
Before I graduated from Woodlynde, many people
took it upon themselves to tell me how hard college
was going to be. During my senior year, something I
heard a lot was, “You think this is hard? Wait until
you get to college!”
Yes, the work in college is harder. But just take it
one assignment at a time, and you’ll be able to get it
done. Make your own assessments, do your work, have
fun, and don’t let anyone scare you into thinking you
can’t handle it.
Katie Schmitz is a freshman at Kalamazoo College.
New Student Spotlight on: Maya Holloway
Freshman Has Encountered Phillies and a Giant Snake
Maya Holloway is a new freshman who started at
Woodlynde in the beginning of November. Staff Writer
Liz Carney sat down with Maya to talk about what it’s
been like so far.
How has your experience at Woodlynde been so
far?
“It's been good. The teachers have been really supportive
and the students are really nice. A couple of freshmen
showed me how the school works and they never let me
feel alone.”
What school did you attend before you came here?
William Penn Charter School / Cyber School — she
switched in the middle of last year.
How did you feel starting at Woodlynde in the
middle of the year?
“At first it was nerve-wracking and it still is, but slowly
I'm starting to adjust.”
Are you going to play a sport at Woodlynde?
“I’m going to play basketball because I’ve been playing
ever since I was a kid. It’s been a very nice experience
playing with all the girls and getting to know them more
and also getting better as a team.”
Have you taken any interesting vacations?
“I went to Puerto Rico and I went zip-lining. It was fun
but very nerve-wracking because it was so high up.
Also, while I was in Puerto Rico, I saw a chameleon
and a large snake. It was very scary and I screamed
when I saw it. It was skinny and almost as tall as me.
Photo by Julia Wolfe, Photographer
It was hanging in a tree. I [also] saw a cool volcano
and went hiking on it.”
What is something cool that’s happened to you?
“My family and I were down in Florida and we went to
the baseball field where the Phillies were playing the
Marlins and we got there early enough and got to
meet a lot of Phillies players and get autographs from
them, like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase
Utley and Carlos Ruiz.”
What do you like to do for fun?
“I like to play sports (field hockey, basketball, softball,
and lacrosse), paint abstract, [and] listen to all different
kinds of music, like pop. And I like photography
and taking pictures."
Ninth Grade Learning Specialist Mrs. Wilson
says:
“She’s very responsible, hardworking, conscientious,
and friendly, and a terrific addition to our
school.
I think it’s very hard to start in the middle of the
year, but Maya has done a great job with catching up
with everything. I’m also very proud of the ninth
grade, especially the girls, for how well they’ve welcomed
Maya, helped her feel a part of Woodlynde, and
befriended her.”
Matt’s Top 5 List
Things that Annoy Me
1) MR. KOCH’S 6TH SENSE
When you’re walking in the hallway with your phone out, and English teacher
Mr. Koch accuses you of being on your phone
Matt Savitz
Staff Writer
and then takes it. Even if he is behind you
and you’re trying extremely hard to not make
it noticeable and he doesn’t know you’re on it,
he somehow magically knows and says,
“Gimme it.”
2) LOCKED BATHROOM STALLS
When you walk into the bathroom and someone was in a stall, locked it, and
then came out underneath it. Then when you need to use the stall, it’s locked
and you have to get all dirty by sliding across the filthy bathroom floor.
3) COMPUTER PROBLEMS
When the school computers have problems … For example, the keyboard falls
out, the battery life is terrible, and it’s too slow. And some school-relevant websites
are blocked (like YouTube).
4) FIGHTING OVER LUNCH SEATS
When students fight over seats at lunch, it is very frustrating. They argue over
and over, threatening each other. Though sometimes it’s funny and actually
makes me laugh from what they say and do to each other just to get a seat. I’ll
admit, if anyone took my seat (which they don’t), I would be angry. But these
guys pull each other out of the seat, tickle, lightly punch/kick, and slide the person’s
backpack across the floor so they have to get up and get it.
5) ROLLEY BACKPACKS
Rolley backpacks are ridiculous. They get in the way of everything and everyone
in the hallway. For example, sophomore Joel Cureton has his bookbag about
three feet behind him when he walks around school. Some people trip and others
step on it, either by accident or on purpose because they are angry from the
bag getting in the way. He should really invest in a backpack that goes on his
BACK — and so should everyone else, unless they need to have one due to back
problems, etc.
Video Game Review:
Halo 4 Is “Obliteratingly Fun”
The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived: the release of
Halo 4.
The Halo series continues with John (also known as Master Chief) awakening
an old evil on a new planet called Requiem. Halo 4 is made by 343 Industries,
which has done a phenomenal job with the game. The graphics for the campaign
Patrick Nucci
Video Game
Critic
(the storyline) and for the multiplayer (against
others online) are amazing. The cut scenes are
unbelievably realistic and the gameplay is
astonishing.
Spartan Ops, the new game type with a story
behind it, is an amazing idea that 343 Industries
came out with.
The game was one of the best in the Halo series I have ever played.
The story of Halo 4 is obliteratingly fun. You're on a forerunner planet, and you
accidentally awaken an ancient evil. Who wouldn’t love that? There are new enemies
called the Prometheans that are two feet higher than the Master Chief and
really hard to kill.
The main types of Prometheans are
crawlers and knights. Crawlers are
dog-like enemies that can climb walls.
Knights are nine-foot creatures that
can disappear and reappear in a new
spot. They can snipe, and use assault
rifles and pistols.
The multiplayer for Halo is so
much fun. The new gametype is called
flood (which is another alien species
that is very hard to kill and can destroy
a whole species in 24 hours or
less). When you get killed, you turn
into the flood.
Overall, Halo 4 is an amazing
game. I would rate this game a 9.5.
This is not the best Halo game, but it
is way better than Halo: Reach or Halo
3: ODST.

December 19, 2012 The Informer
Page 11
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Report:
Jokes and Strong Chemistry Will Lead to Success
A slew of new players injects
additional life into the team.
By Ryan Harvie
Staff Writer
With all the jokers and personalities on the Boys’
Varsity Basketball team, the players will probably have
great chemistry and a successful season.
A bunch of new players have a great deal to bring to
the team with their shooting skills and good conditioning.
Incoming freshman Luke DeLeo is a very confident
player and will most likely be the starting point guard
for the team. His quick speed, strong shooting, and “do
anything to win” attitude make him a well-rounded player
and teammate.
Another one of the new players is sophomore Dan
Cervone, who is the first one to admit he has the mouth
of a superstar, but is still working on his skills.
All kidding aside, Dan will give a strong inside
presence and will help grab many rebounds for the
team this year. He is currently working on his shooting
and will hopefully be able to get his jump shot working
for the season.
Almost half of the team is filled with new and interesting
players, and hopefully they will be able to learn
more and become a strong team.
Alum Dimming Jones (class of 2009) returns as
the Assistant Coach, and his hard-working attitude
makes him a good leader. He and senior Brandon
Anderson joke around and argue constantly, with
Dimming joking about how Brandon is bad at basketball
and then Brandon claiming he is a lot better than
Dimming. Their humorous interactions make everyone
laugh.
The Varsity team had its first game Dec. 4th
against Renaissance Academy, which they lost, 42-22,
but everyone gave an immense effort and there were
numerous great plays.
Sophomore Tristan Bosna, who is no longer on
the team, managed to get three steals, which helped
lead to fast-break baskets.
In addition, Brandon put up six points and a bunch
of rebounds. Forward Ryan Harvie added six points.
Both of these players were very good at running
the team's offense by monitoring the ball and making
sure that it got to the right players at the precise time.
The JV team also had its first game against Delaware
Valley Friends School, which they came away
with an impressive win.
Dan played power forward and scored several
points. Sophomore Nick Spino also helped the team
with his hustle.
The varsity team this year might not have the best
record in the league, but they will definitely have the
best time. It has a great bunch of players who add a
lot of different skills to the team, which will probably
get much better throughout the season.
Staff Writer Chris Lumsden contributed to this report.
Athlete Spotlight: Dan Cervone
Sophomore Loves Blocking Shots
Informer Staff Writer Nick Scaramuzza sat down with new sophomore Dan Cervone
to talk about his first season playing basketball for Woodlynde.
When did you start playing basketball?
"Third grade."
What is your favorite position to play in basketball?
"Forward or center."
Did you play for any other basketball teams before you came to Woodlynde?
"I played for Haverford High School."
What would you tell someone who never played basketball and is just
starting?
"That it is a lot of fun, and don't feel discouraged when you first start, you'll get better
with practice."
What is one of your favorite memories in basketball?
"The championship game for our rec team. It had to be my favorite memory because
it was me and a bunch of my friends messing around in a game."
"Describe a cool moment in basketball that happened to you?
"Blocking the ball as someone is about to take a shot. You feel so good aft
er you deny his shot."
Have you ever done a 360-degree dunk in a basketball game?
"All the time, because I'm just too
good!"
Have you ever gotten hurt in a
basketball game?
"Yes, I broke an ankle. I was posted
up on some kid. He went to go one way,
and went the other, and I twisted my
ankle and heard a crack ...
“I was out for the rest of the season on
crutches, and was forced to go to the
games, even if I couldn't play. I honestly
hated going to the games knowing I couldn't
play."
Have you ever met a professional basketball
player, and what was it like?
"Yes, Allen Iverson when he was still a
Sixer. He seemed nicer than what people
made him out to be. I only got to meet
him because they had a little meet ‘n greet
before the game started. We didn't really
talk a lot, though."
What's your favorite sport and why?
"Baseball ... I have been playing it since I
could walk, and I’d have to say it's my best
sport, too."
What his teammate says:
"Dan is a pretty good player, a good defender
in general," said junior Jordan
Booth.
Photos by
Andrew Rosenberg,
Ben Weisman,
and
Christa Deckman,
Informer Staff
(Top Photo): Freshman Luke DeLeo
runs the offense.
(Left Photo): Sophomore Dan
DeLuca lines up a free throw.
Junior
Jordan
Booth
intensely
concentrates
on
his upcoming
shot.
How much do you think he'll
contribute to the team and why?
"I think he will do a lot because defense
is more important than offense and Dan's
good at it.”
Photo by
Breana
Daniel-
Schnobrich,
Photographer
Sophomore Tristan Bosna goes up strong for a layup.

Page 12
Sports Monthly
December 19, 2012
Girls’ Varsity Basketball Report:
Team Moves on without Their Former All-Star
The players and coach are
optimistic they can be successful,
and have a balanced scoring attack.
By Nick Spino
Staff Writer
The Girls' Varsity Basketball team knows that without
all-star Sarah Engman, it'll be a much different
atmosphere on the court. They will have a different skill
set this season and, due to Sarah’s graduation, will have
to fill the void in the middle.
"Sarah is going to be a tough loss to overcome; however,
I believe we can be successful," Coach Robison
stated. "I think that by the end of the year, all of our
scoring will be well divided among the team versus just
one player making all of the baskets."
After playing their first two games, it has been a
struggle for the team, which has started with an 0-2
record. Starting point guard Michaela Trusk has
been their dominant scorer, dropping 18 points in the
first game, which is just shy of matching a career high
she set in Middle School.
“Gaylen [Martin] and Michaela have been working
great together on offense,” senior Tianna Buck
said. “Also, Maya [Holloway] has been playing aggressively
down low and she has been getting the ball.
She has been a great addition to the team.”
Mr. Robison, who coached the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball
team in the fall, is looking forward to what he
hopes is a productive season. "I am excited to be working
with the Upper School girls again," he said.
"Volleyball was a great experience this past fall. I am
excited for the basketball season and the new ninth
grade talent that will be joining the team this year."
Freshmen who will be playing this year include
Maya, Kyra Weaver, Jenna Pavucek, and Mary
Pawlicki.
"I expect seniors Alex Roberts and Tianna Buck
to be stand-out leaders for this team," Coach Robison
said. In addition to Alex and Tianna, returning players
include Cassia Enright, Amanda Cappelli,
Emily Bank, and Christa Deckman.
"I think the team will do well this year, even
though we lost Sarah. We gained a lot of new people,"
Christa said. "Things will be different this year because
we won't be relying on just one person to make
all of our shots. We are going to have to work extra
hard and develop new strategies in order to win.”
Athlete Spotlight: Michaela Trusk
Point Guard Has a
Blast Playing Ball
Sophomore Michaela Trusk has been playing basketball since fourth grade,
and is the starting point guard for the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team. Staff
Writer Ryan Harvie sat down with her to ask about the current season and
her basketball career.
Guard Gaylen
Martin blows by
a Delaware
Valley defender.
How well do you think the team will do this year?
“Since we have a lot of new girls, I think we will do very well, and as we see
how we all play together, I think we will progress throughout the season. I
think it's going to be a great season!”
Why do you enjoy playing basketball?
“It’s just something I enjoy doing, and I just forget everything else and focus
on playing the game.”
Is basketball your favorite sport?
“Yes, because I just have a blast playing it.”
What was your highest scoring game? How many points?
“In sixth or seventh grade at Woodlynde, our Middle School Girls’ team
scored 32 points and I had 19 of those points.”
Are you upset that Mr. Purdy is not coaching the Girls’ team this
year?
“I was a little upset when I found out he wasn't, but our new coach, Mr.
Robison, is a lot of fun and he is a great coach.”
What’s your favorite move to do in a game?
“The back door, because you just fake the person out and get an easy layup.”
Photos by
Mattie Sweet,
Media Editor
What’s something exciting that happened to you in a game?
“When my CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) team won the championship.”
What’s a funny thing that happened to you in a game?
“The funniest thing that has ever happened in a game was when the other
team we played started speaking
Spanish, so that we
wouldn't know what they
were saying. It made us
laugh a lot, but we had to get
serious and play the game.”
When asked what it’s like
playing with Michaela,
senior Alex Roberts
said:
“She’s really fun to play
with, because she’s a
very good team
player and gets
everyone involved
on the
team.”
Senior Alex Roberts looks
to pass to a teammate.
Senior Tianna
Buck fires up
a jumper
during game
action.
Photo
by Maya
Holloway,
Photographer
Photo by
Junior
Emily Bank
gets
comfortable
while icing
her ankle.