February 2016The Glen Ridge High School Student PublicationVol. 47 Ed. 2

The JournalistHave a Healthy Holiday

How to Stay Active and Healthy During the Winter

It’s that time of year again, when the air turns brisk and your desire to stay inside increases. It can become incredibly hard not to get bogged down in the gray, and never leave the comfort of your own home. However, stud-ies have shown that giving in to that urge can be detrimental to your health. There are some easy ways to beat the winter blues, that will benefit you in other ways too. The first thing is really simple. Even though it’s chilly and all you may want to do is snuggle up in your bed and binge watch your favorite show on Netflix, try going outside! Just be-

cause it isn’t tank top weather, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors. Going for a walk to your favorite coffee shop or even having a picnic in a nearby park can change up your winter routine. As long as you bundle up, there

is no reason not to try this. As soon as winter comes around, a lot of people stop ex-ercising because of the chilly weather. That shouldn’t be the case. Maybe it’s too cold to go on a run outside, or there is a mountain

of snow piled by your window. However, there are plenty of ways to elevate your heart rate indoors. You could take up yoga, or even join a gym. If you aren’t looking to spend money, search the internet for “at home workouts” and

you’ll find countless routines. With all of the possibilities, you are sure to find one that works for you. This time of year is notoriously referred to as “flu season”. In order to beat the germs and get away scot free, you

should always wash your hands when you enter your home. In addition, be sure to get enough sleep. Your immune system re-leases proteins called cytokines while you sleep, which improves slumber. Not getting enough sleep can in-crease your chances of catching a cold. The holidays are filled with des-serts and sweets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them! If you are still looking to eat healthy during the holidays, keep in mind portion size. If there is a tray of cookies, take one instead of two. It’s always important to treat yourself, because your body deserves it.

By Alyssa Smolen

Photo by Caroline Kinley

A few weeks ago, Glen Ridge High School welcomed its newest principal, Mr. Melchor. Mr. Melchor hopes to make GRHS a community of learners, where students and teachers collaborate to learn and grow together. “School is a great place for students and teachers to learn and grow,” said Mr. Melchor. “I hope to build a community of learners, that is comfortable with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I plan on emphasizing collaborative work, a sense of global empathy, critical thinking and problem solving.” Mr. Melchor started his educational

career as a teacher at Arts High School in Newark. He never aspired to be a principal, but eventually doors opened. He went on to become the Department Chair of Performance Arts, and then the Vice Principal of Arts High School. After that, he was a principal in Livingston before he became the Principal of North Warren Regional High School, a seventh-twelfth grade school similar to GRHS. He sums up his rise to the principalship with a saying that his dad taught him: “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” Mr. Melchor’s first impressions of GRHS have been very positive. Even before

he became principal, he made an effort to attend shows and athletic events in order to better understand the culture of the school. “A school’s culture is defined by its students,” he said. Since becoming principal, he has had the opportunity to meet parents, teachers, and students. Everyone has made him feel very welcome. Mr. Melchor has made every effort to make himself visible to the school community. He has done this by welcoming students to school each morning (often in the freezing cold), as well as immersing himself in the chaotic cafeteria during lunch.

“A principal has a responsibility to be visible,” he said. Notably, Mr. Melchor was a professional guitarist before entering the educational sector. In fact, he still plays professionally part-time, travelling and performing in prestigious New York City venues. “Music is something that is me,” he said. He advises students to find a passion when young and keep it. “I want to make sure school is fun,” he said, “and I want to help students have new experiences through the curriculum so that they can find a passion.” In the coming weeks and months, Mr. Melchor will learn

New Principal: Mr. Melchor

By Cameron Dignan

GRHS Has a New Fearless Leader

about the goals of the staff and students here at GRHS. He will learn about the curriculum, the assessments, and the instruction. Then, he will work with people on setting a new direction for the

school. Although he is not yet sure what to expect or what that new direction will be, for now he can attest to his experience at GRHS with three simple words: “I love it.”

Photo Source: Mr. Melchor

School News

The Journalist StaffEditor-in-Chief: Cameron Dignan

Managing Editor: Anna Whitney

Assistant Managing Editor: Sonia Kinkhabwala

Copy Editors: Emily Duffus & Lev Kolinski

Sports Editor: Justin Dignan

Entertainment/Leisure Editor: Celia Buckley

Opinion/Editorial Editor: Allie Dreier

Layout Editor: Maddy Broderick

Staff: Alyssa Smolen, Erica Debelak, Audrey Alix, Zoe Brett, Meridian Hinton-Cooley, Ethan Collins, Erin Vo-

gel, Emily Johnston

Photographers: Caroline Kinley, Abbie Robik, Erin Vogel, Cameron Dignan

Advisor: Ms. Abrahamsen

Email: grhs.journalist@gmail.com

Page 2 February 2016

On Wednes-day, November 18th, some seventh and eighth graders who are studying French had the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Bickford Theater in Morristown to attend a musical performance of French songs en-titled “French Reflec-tions”. Students made the half-hour journey to hear a bassist, drummer, keyboardist and a vocalist per-form several French selections including a mix of traditional French songs as well as familiar chil-dren’s songs includ-ing “Frere Jacques” and “Alouette”. For the children’s songs students from Glen Ridge as well as the other schools were

invited on the stage to sing along. The hour-and-a-half event ended with the entire audience enthusiasti-cally singing along to “Sympathique (Je Ne Veux Pas Travailler)” which means “I Don’t Like to Work.” Ms. Batastini, who chaperoned the field trip along with Ms. Serghides, said the primary purpose for the trip was to expose students to French music. She emphasized the im-portance of music in learning a language, saying, “Songs are very important in learning any language, but especially with French because when you see something written on a page it looks very different

than the way it sounds. It’s not a phonetic lan-guage at all.” She was happily surprised that the selection of songs was different this year than in years past, and she liked the vocalist better this year. The students gained an appreciation for French music from the trip while hav-ing fun. Many of the students were enthusi-astic about the music and were participat-ing by singing along. One seventh grade Glen Ridge student, Liz Delgado, said, “I learned new French songs. I thought the whole experience was a fun time.” An-other seventh grader in attendance, Sude Kilincoglu, agreed. She also suggested

that next year they should provide writ-ten lyrics to the songs so students can follow along. After the per-formance the students went out to lunch. They were given the choice of Smash-burger or Chipotle. Lunch seemed to be a big hit with all the Glen Ridge students. Liz Delgado and Sude Kilincoglu both said they really enjoyed lunch at Smashburger and liked having the independence to choose which restau-rant to go to. The field trip was a huge success. The students hope to be able to go on a similar trip in the future.

Middle School French Field Trip A Great Success

By Zoe Brett

Meet Mr. Zaragoza

A friendly new face around GRHS this fall is none other than Mr. Zaragoza. While he is new to the high school, he is no stranger to Glen Ridge. Before teach-ing at Glen Ridge High School, he taught some of the younger kids over at Ridgewood Avenue School for three years. He’s definitely happy with the transition, and noticed an en-vironment of “mini-adults” here, which contrasts with his previous experience working with students as young as third-grade. He has also found the high school to be less hands-on,

By Erin Vogel

and rightfully so, as the students are much more independent at a higher grade level. Mr. Z is not a Glen Ridge High School alumnus; however, he is a local, as he at-tended Nutley High School. Following the completion of his degree at Rutgers University, the alma mater of many fellow Ridgers, he pursued social work. After a few years, however, he changed his career to education with a degree from Montclair State, and found his way to Glen Ridge as a result. Mr. Z is full of energy. He teaches

special-ed, but has many other hobbies as well. The marching band will be happy to know that he plays percussion. Mr. Z was even the youngest timpanist in the New Jersey Symphony Or-chestra, when he was 17-years-old. When he is not teach-ing, Mr. Z loves to travel. He is also interested in tropi-cal fish. He loves ‘90s movie trivia, is a licensed scuba diver, and has gone skydiv-ing. According to fel-low special-ed teacher Mr. Petouvis, Mr. Z is very ‘’laid back” and “great” with his students.

There are many new teachers this year, one of whom is Ms. Philipson. Ms. Philipson is the latest addition to the math department at GRHS. She teaches Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry Honors and College Prep Geometry. Grow-ing up in Pompton Lakes, Ms. Philipson has always aspired to be a teacher. “Even growing up, I would play ‘school’ with my friends. I would love

teaching a problem and then grading it,” she says. Ms. Philipson taught for two years before coming to GRHS. She enjoys teaching here and loves the atmosphere. GRHS is just as happy to have her as she is to be here: she is truly a selfless indi-vidual who would do anything to make her students happy and more knowledgeable in math.

By Ethan Collins

Ms. Phillipson

Photo by Cameron Dignan

Photo by Cameron Dignan

School NewsPage 3 February 2016

John Deacon Photo by Abbie Robik

Senior of the Month: John Deacon Despite his busy schedule, senior of the month, John Deacon can be seen at almost any time with a smile on his face. He is always sure to say hello to his friends, his peer leadership students, or anyone else he encounters while walking the hallways of the high school. In his free time, John says that he “[does not] like to stay inside,” and enjoys going on “outdoor adventures” or playing sports with his friends. John is also very devoted to help-ing others through mission work. He travelled to Santo Do-mingo, in the Domini-can Republic over the summer to do mission work through the Foundation for Peace. While there, he helped locals by participating in ministry outreach

and community devel-opment. Like many seniors, John is now focusing on apply-ing to college. He is applying “to study business, but [he] re-ally [doesn’t] think he wants to pursue that.” Instead, he wants to be able to explore the world and “become fluent in another lan-guage.” He also plans on doing more mis-sionary work in the future because of his commitment to reli-gion and helping those in need. John’s friend and fellow senior Kedar Ramanathan describes John as “the best person [he] ever met,” who is generous and always willing to help a friend, or a stranger. No matter what, John is “open to whatever happens” in the future, and will be sure to make the most out of his senior year.

By Lev Kolinksi

Mr. Petouvis is a special education teacher. He always has a smile on his face, and will greet anyone in a very polite man-ner. He is very edu-cated and intelligent, as well. He received his teaching degree from William Paterson University, and is cur-rently taking classes at Montclair State University. Mr. Petouvis is a very confident teach-er, which is due to his eight years of teaching experience. He taught at Ridgewood Avenue School for three years, and also taught at the

REACH program. The REACH program is a school that provides a different educa-tional environment for students with mental health disabilities, and who may have anxiety or mood disorders. After teaching at REACH and Ridge-wood Avenue, Mr. Petouvis is currently starting his first year at GRHS. He teaches academic develop-ment and co-teaches as an in-class support teacher. Mr. Petouvis has a very creative mind, for his favor-

ite class in middle and high school was woodshop. He re-ally enjoyed building and creating things in woodshop and the freedom that had come with it. His desire to teach began in his senior year of college when he had volunteered at a Cerebral Palsy center. After that, he went back to school to earn his teaching certifi-cate. Mr. Petouvis is a friendly guy, and a great addition to the GRHS faculty.

Mr. PetouvisBy Audrey Alix

The main goal of Glen Ridge High School’s Com-munity Service Club is to give back to the community by vol-unteering as often as possible. This is why in late November, the club took a trip to St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen in Newark to help out the staff in any way they could. The members of Community Service Club helped prepare and serve lunch to over two hundred people that showed up for the meal. The experience was de-scribed as “fun and rewarding” by club officer Jack Gruhin. Gruhin explained that he enjoyed preparing lunch with his friends in the kitchen, and he ultimately felt a great sense of fulfillment when he was finally

able to serve the food that the group had worked hard prepar-ing. Volunteering at the soup kitchen is just one of the many ways Community Service Club attempts to give back to the community. The group is currently coordinat-ing with the public library to help out library members with computers and the club will soon begin planning a fun event with HANDS of North Arlington, a group comprised of the lo-cal developmentally delayed population. The club meets on Wednesday’s right after school in Mr. George’s classroom. Meetings are typi-cally quick, and new members are not only always welcome, but also highly encour-

aged to join. The Com-munity Service Club is planning another trip to the soup kitchen this spring. If this event or other activities similar to this interest you, then stop by Mr. George’s room after school on Wednesday to give the club a try. It is a great opportunity to get in-volved while also hav-ing a good time. There is no feeling more rewarding than volun-teering to help others. As Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Ultimately, if you are looking for a new club to join this spring, make sure to consider community service club.

Soup Kitchen Trip:GRHS Gives Back

By Justin Dignan

Photo by Cameron Dignan

School NewsPage 4 February 2016

Glen Ridge Goes Green With the recent Paris climate talks, many students may be wondering how to best protect the environment here in Glen Ridge. For one, interested students are always welcomed to join GRHS’s environmental club, which organizes many different projects. In the past year, mem-bers hosted a Glen clean-up, participated in a climate rally in New York City, and planned a school-wide recycling project. Looking forward, the club aims to integrate reusable coffee cups into the cafeteria. To join, just talk to advi-sor Ms. Zepp. You can also take steps to be greener in your per-sonal life. Carpooling,

utilizing public trans-portation, walking, or biking are all great al-ternatives to driving to and from school and activities. It is also a good idea to avoid wasting food as much as possible. At home, you can keep your heating/cooling turned low, minimize use of lights as much as possible and conserve water when showering or brushing teeth. If particularly passion-ate, you can reach out to local environmental groups such as Clean Water Action in Mont-clair or the local Sierra Club chapter. These two groups (and many others discoverable with a quick Google search) can provide a way to get involved with all facets of cli-mate action including

influencing legisla-tors, attending rallies, signing petitions, and organizing hiking trips. As a school district, Glen Ridge has really embraced environmentalism. So far, the lower schools have all adopted gar-dens, earth day cele-brations and assembly programs targeting environmental issues. The entire district has shifted to environmen-tally friendly paper towels, toilet tissue, and cleaning sup-plies. An additional district-wide initiative reduced paper waste from flyers by push-ing faculty to replace them with emails. All schools have motion sensor lights, a cur-riculum integrated with environmental

ideas, energy efficient lighting, water filling stations and recycling programs. The middle school has a sustain-ability cycle class, while the high school has energy efficient windows. At Ridge-wood Avenue School, a “green team” has been instated to institute more envi-ronmental changes. Luckily, our new superintendent, Mr. Phillips, has been re-ally enthusiastic about these changes and is expected to continue making great progress with the district. Despite this progress, we all have a long way to go. The best thing to do is to be aware of climate crisis, and, in whatever way is best for you, take action.

By Anna Whitney

The party culture at Glen Ridge High School is secret to few. While the participation in these social events may seem overwhelmingly high, many students think differently. When asked about how this culture applies to them and what their thoughts are on it, one student re-sponded, “parties can be seen as a huge part of high school, but go-ing out is certainly not a necessity. They may seem to be a great time, but you can eas-ily have just as much fun hanging out with friends or even stay-ing in some nights.” The ideas expressed in this student’s idea of fun aren’t shared by few. There are tons of kids who would rather throw back a steaming cup of coffee than an alcoholic counterpart. In Glen Ridge, a small town where word travels fast, the culture is marked by how social and fun it

is, but also how isolat-ing it can be at times. According to another student, they believe that some people go to parties just for the sake of going or for the sake of experi-encing the intoxica-tion and subsequent release of inhibitions that allows them to express sides of themselves which are otherwise suppressed in high school. This student chooses not to take that route as she observes up close how superficial, at times, party interac-tions can be. While many students go to parties to have fun and not all party-goers are in it for the social intentions, there is an element of that idea in the minds of many. At a time in students’ lives when insecu-rity and hormones are running rampant, participating in the party culture may subconsciously help making friends and holding conversations seem less daunting.

With this in mind, it is important to ac-knowledge that there are other ways to have the same effect which the party culture promises. It is not the only escape from the social construct that high school is, and the many uncomfortable experiences which are associated with it. While some choose the party culture route to escape the stressors of ado-lescence, many others channel their energy into other pursuits. One student explains the importance of be-ing busy. “I think that the most important part of being busy is the experience you can gain from differ-ent interests. Whether they be sports, drama club or any other extra curricular activities, meeting people and diversifying yourself [with] people besides your immediate friend group can [help you] achieve a level of per-spective which is im-

portant no matter what your involvement [is] in the social scene on the weekends.” This student also stressed the importance of being open-minded towards those who do participate in the party culture. The fact is that high school is a learn-ing experience and GRHS’s party culture is an example of said learning. It’s definitely not for everyone nor is personal participa-tion necessary to be friends with those who do take part in it. While at times there may seem to be an overwhelming number of participants, it is important to remem-ber that just because we have a small school, that does not mean that all students’ interests are one way or the other. Many students choose to sur-round themselves with others who share their interests, but even with different-minded friends, the party cul-ture is not a necessity.

Glen Ridge Party Culture

Computers are slowly taking over our world. Between Face-book, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Yik Yak, and more, anyone can see that computer science really is the way of the future. In our own school, we have resources that allow us to learn more about how computer science works, includ-ing Ms. Bachrach. Entering her 12th year of teaching at GRHS, Ms. Bachrach is giv-ing knowledge to the Mark Zuckerbergs and Bill Gates of tomor-row. With a grow-ing number of com-puter science and coding-based jobs, Ms. Bachrach can truly see the value of learning to code in the modern world. “Most jobs of your generation and genera-tions to come will re-quire problem-solving skills and have some element of computing. Some students will love computer science and go on to pursue it as a career. There are many lucrative and exciting career op-portunities open to CS graduates.” Many students from Glen Ridge who have passed through Ms. Bachrach’s class are at universities majoring in computer science, and many students right now, like junior Mia Holtz, plan on pursuing it as a career after taking Ms. Bachrach’s class. “Without Ms. Ba-

chrach, I don’t think I would be nearly as invested in computer science and have the courage to pursue it as a career,” Holtz says. Computer Science is beginning to take over our world, and aside from great job op-portunities, computer science can teach high schoolers a lot. “Computer Science is important because computing is ubiq-uitous in our world. Computer Science is the basis for all types of computing. [It] teaches students how to solve problems and become better think-ers,” Ms. Bachrach says. Ms. Bachrach has really enjoyed her 12 years at GRHS. AP Computer Science has been her favorite class to teach, and is extremely rewarding. She also teaches Com-puter Science 1 and 2, Robotics, and middle school electives. Ms. Bachrach says, “one of the things I really like about teaching at GRHS is that we are a small community. I know most of our students. We get to teach gen-erations of the same family. Some of us fortunate “specialty” teachers get to teach the same student in 3 and 4 classes between 8th and 12th grade. It is really a privilege to witness all of the growth and maturation that a student under-goes during that time period.”

Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Bachrach

By Maddy Broderick

By Anonymous

Photo by Cameron Dignan

Opinion/EditorialPage 5 February 2016

The Great Gatsby. The Catcher in the Rye. The Adven-tures of Huckleberry Finn. The Call of the Wild. These novels are known throughout our time as renowned classics and have been read, analyzed, and enjoyed for many generations. How-ever, these books all share something else in common. Despite being well-written and prominent in the liter-ary world, all of these novels have been deemed as “banned books” in schools and libraries across the na-tion. A book can become banned for a number of different reasons. For example, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a highly controver-sial book due to its themes. “Racial slurs, profanity, and blunt dialogue about rape

have led people to challenge its appro-priateness in libraries and classrooms so often that, today, the American Library As-sociation reports that To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the most challenged classics of all time,” R. Wolf Baldassarro writes. Though this book teaches important lessons about equal-ity and has even been considered life-chang-ing, some institutions see it as inappropriate and choose to prevent its availability, there-fore depriving readers from being exposed to a moving, informative novel. The same goes for other books, whether they have been banned for these reasons or different ones. The Giver was banned for containing violent themes and in-appropriate language.

For Whom the Bell Tolls has been thought to include some form of propaganda. Even seemingly-innocent children’s books, such as Where the Wild Things Are and the Harry Potter series, have been banned in some places. Some people find the ma-terial in Where the Wild Things Are to be troubling and too dark for children to read, and many people be-lieve that Harry Potter promotes Wiccan witchcraft and Satan-ism. These are two of the many books that have been banned for no good reason. Though the material in these books can be inappro-priate and controver-sial, that doesn’t mean they should be banned entirely. Banning books is a violation of the First Amendment, which states that, “Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” In the court case Island Trees School District vs. Pico, “the Court recognized that the First Amendment rights of students are ‘directly and sharply implicated’ when a book is removed from a school library.” Yet there have been so many instances of books being banned throughout history. Banning a book from a school or library can also keep one from being exposed to topics and information that could educate them and change the way they look at the world. So many of the topics in books have been mis-taken for being more obscene than they really are, and be-cause of this, students have been unexposed to truly educational works of literature. In Tennessee, the mother of a high

Photo Source: Google

school student felt that the book her child has been assigned to read, Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, was not appropriate and tried to get it banned in the school district. The book is based on a real-life story of an African-American woman who has no idea that her cervical cells are being used for medical testing and research that is con-tributing to advances in the field. The book contains many themes and topics, gynecol-ogy being one of them. Unfortunately, the woman mistook the topic of gynecol-ogy for something more inappropriate, and felt that this topic should not be a part of her child’s reading curriculum. The Immor-tal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an author’s venture into the fields of both literature and science. It has an important message and has been praised for its plot and writ-ing style, and readers will delve into biol-ogy and medicine as well as more abstract themes. Students, especially, would be exposed to good writ-ing and topics such as gynecology, that they are unlikely to have known much about beforehand. By banning books such as The Im-mortal Life of Henri-etta Lacks, students, among other people, are being “protected” from exposure to works of literature that will educate them, affect their outlook on life, and provide lessons that will carry on into adulthood. Not only does it violate a constitutional amend-ment, but it blocks students from reading good literature that can teach them about the real world and top-

ics that matter. However, there are some books that con-tain subject matter that is inappropriate for children of a certain age. Banning them is not the solution; there are other steps that can be taken in order to keep young children from reading books that have unsuitable material for their age group. For example, books marked with an age recommendation set guidelines as to when one should read about certain types of content. Separating books in stores and libraries can also be helpful; by keeping the children’s sec-tion isolated from the adult section, it is less likely that a child will read a book that is not appropriate for them. An idea that might work as a solution in schools would be to offer an alternate reading option for stu-

dents who do not feel comfortable reading a certain book. Though it isn’t the best option, it’s a better choice than to ban a book altogether. Overall, ban-ning books is uncon-stitutional and unfair to authors and readers everywhere. Though there is much contro-versy regarding this issue, many people in the world are against banning books. The books that have once been, and might still be, deemed as inap-propriate by some people are celebrated by others. It may seem like there are many people who support banning books, but there are just as many who want to see it end. If these people continue to fight for the cause, maybe, in the future, we will be able to free the words once and for all.

Free the Words!By Meridian Hinton-Cooley

A famously banned book, The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger), which is read in 10th

grade.

Photo Source: Google

Another famously banned book, The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald), which is also read

in 10th grade.

OpinionPage 6 February 2016

Opposing Views: Midterms vs Quarterlies

Midterms vs. quarterlies. The debate started last year, with the sweep-ing announcement that midterms were being completely scrapped. Students rejoiced. However, was that re-joicing unwarranted? Prior to last year, GRHS had two major exams every year: midterms and finals. About a week would be taken out of class time for each of these exams, allowing for ample preparation before the administra-tion of the tests. With the new state PARCC exams, the school de-cided to replace mid-terms and finals with quarterly exams, in order to not lose even more classroom time. This choice was not without consequences. First of all, colleges have final exams every semester. That means twice a year, college students must study and take an exam that covers all of the information that they learned in the semester. By throwing out midterms, there-fore, GRHS is doing a disservice to its soon-to-be college students. Kids at other high

schools will be more prepared for high-pressure, high-stakes exams than kids from Glen Ridge. However, the purpose behind mid-terms was not only to prepare students for college. The point was to review the material that had been taught in order to learn it more thoroughly. By studying for midterms, students learned con-cepts that they may have missed during the year. Not only that, but by review-ing information for a second time, students understand and retain more. With quarter-lies, students miss out on the review and clarification of con-cepts and information learned throughout the year. There are certainly arguments that exist which make a case for quarterlies instead of midterms. With the new PARCC exams, it is under-standable that teachers do not want to “waste” any time reviewing for and administering midterms. However, quarterlies do not solve this problem. More time is wasted with quarterlies, since

they are taken three times per year (not in the third marking period due to PARCC) instead of only twice. Also, some students may argue that mid-terms and finals placed a high burden on already over-stressed students. On the con-trary, midterms and finals each counted for only 10% of a class’s final grade, so they were unlikely to af-fect a single grade by more than two or three percent. Any addition-al stress from these exams were unneces-sarily self-inflicted by students. The replace-ment of midterms with quarterlies was a mistake. Quarterlies do not prepare stu-dents for college or help them learn the material. On the other hand, midterms help students thoroughly understand concepts and learn how to take big tests. It would be in the best interest of GRHS to reinstate midterms and finals, despite the extra time that would be taken from classroom instruction with the introduction of the PARCC.

Pro MidtermsBy Cameron Dignan

Pro QuarterliesBy Celia Buckley Last year, when Mr. Phillips and Mr. Heitmann an-nounced that midterms and finals would cease to exist at our school, most students were relieved. This was big news at the time, and came as quite the sur-prise, especially from our district. There was even a segment on NJ 12, featuring opinions from various students at GRHS, each one seeming pleased with the news. At the time, PARCC testing was introduced and they were planned to take place in between midterms and finals. Just the sound of that alone, without the multiple quizzes and tests students already face each week, was overwhelming. Mid-terms and finals took up four half-days each, with 2 hours for each period, whether or not there was a test for that class. So mid-terms and finals alone added up to 8 days of testing in total, plus at least a week spent reviewing for each of the two blocks of test-ing. Although we would miss the half days, and going out to lunch on test days, we

would not miss mid-terms and finals. Enter quarterlies. These are like mid-terms in their cumula-tive nature. They cov-er more information than just one chapter, but not nearly as much as a half year’s worth of facts and names and formulas that would normally be covered in midterms and finals. Instead, these tests come at the end of each marking period, four times a year, hence the name. Initially, we were all a bit confused as to how this was a good alter-native to midterms and finals, because quarterlies would be twice as frequent. Four times a year sounds like a lot at first, but quarterlies only count as a normal test grade. That’s a big difference, con-sidering that midterms and finals were worth 20% of students’ final grades. Even though students may roll their eyes at the more frequent testing, there’s no doubt that quarterlies are much less stressful than midterms and finals. Quarterlies are inte-grated into the year in a smoother way than midterms and finals.

The school days and periods remain the same as any normal day, and there is less anxiety and anticipa-tion involved without the two-hour long ex-ams. Since quarterlies cover only a marking period of informa-tion, students do not have to scramble as much to recall older information and cram it all into late nights of studying--the informa-tion learned during that marking period is fresher in their brains. Some quar-terlies are not even real tests, depending on the teacher. If the class has been tested recently, or been involved in many dif-ferent assignments, the teacher might make the quarterly an independent paper or project to turn in as the test grade. Overall, quar-terlies help reinforce recent information rather than force us to remember twice as much information. This saves students and teachers time, and it doesn’t break up the flow of the school year nearly as much as midterms and finals do. Best of all, it saves us all a lot of stress.

Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

SportsPage 7 February 2016

Senior Carter Travia Signs Letter of Intent

The Glen Ridge marching band has had a historic season this year, from taking on a new band director, to taking sec-ond place along with “Best Visual” at na-tionals. This is also the first time in two years that the marching band has competed in USBands, a very dif-ficult competition cir-cuit. In fact, the last time the band marched with USBands at na-tionals they received thirteenth place. Lead by drum major Helen Sagges, this year’s marching band domi-nated the competition and came out on top. Percussion captain Aidan O’Connor thought that the marching band re-ally succeeded this season as a whole. O’Connor explained that, “with the change of staff, [the band] encountered a lot of struggles, but [pre-vailed].” O’Connor also thought that there were standout individ-uals that deserved to be mentioned for their

special contributions to the band, including sophomore percus-sionist Oliver Turiano, who “was definitely the MVP of this sea-son because he was given two weeks no-tice and had to hop on a totally different part, which was amazing.” O’Connor also talked about how senior band member Kedar Ram-anathan “did a very good job acting and he really lead on the field. He made the best out of his senior year and really killed it.” Ramanathan played the Tony to Margaret Marino’s Maria in their West Side Story show, and helped to ultimately snag the “Best Visual” title at the national compe-tition in Delaware. O’Connor is also very excited about next year because the band is, “hopefully going to have a marching drum line again, which [it] hasn’t had in three years.” The band’s success has been celebrated throughout

the school, as many students have taken an interest in the band’s stunning win. One student said how they “think the marching band is wicked great this year, and their national win is amaz-ing. I’m really proud of them, and it can be really hard when you lose a bunch of gradu-ating seniors, but this year’s seniors really stepped it up.” An-other mentioned how the band’s “West Side Story show was so awesome,” and how “seeing the marching band at all the football games always made supporting the Ridgers double the fun.” Under the direction of Dr. Gage, the band will hope-fully experience many more wins and suc-cesses, and everyone predicts an even better season next year. “I’m excited to see where the band goes next year,” O’Connor says. “It’s gonna be a great year.”

GRHS Marching Band Takes Season by Storm

By Maddy Broderick

Glen Ridge High School Senior, Carter Travia, has devoted his life to the sport of swimming. At a young age, Carter chose swimming over lacrosse. At that point he knew that he was serious about compet-ing at an elite level with a club team. This dream would become realized as he furthered his career through high school and became known as a standout swimmer. On November 12, 2015 Travia signed his National Letter of Intent to swim Divi-sion I with the Men’s Swimming Team at

the outstanding pro-gram at Fairfield Uni-versity in Connecticut. Carter decided that Fairfield was where he felt most comfortable, specifically falling in love with the Jesuit university’s breathtak-ing campus and the distance from home that happened to be perfect. He knows he made the right choice over other schools such as Villanova and Lehigh. Carter’s par-ents, his number one fans, have strongly supported him and have been extremely helpful in the decision making process. “I am looking forward to see

where swimming will take me in my career,” said Travia. His friend and fellow swimmer Emily O’Halloran describes Carter as “a great teammate and a nice guy who is very devoted and passion-ate about swim and always strives to be better.” Travia is look-ing forward to the rest of high school season and hopes to continue to achieve at the Meet of Champions and at the YMCA Nationals for his club team, The Montclair Dolphins. Carter has a bright future ahead of him in the world of swim.

By Erica Debelak

The Glen Ridge High School Boys’ Soccer team of 2015 had a rocky start. They lost four out of their first five games, and had a 4-10-2 record going into their county tourna-ment. When they were defeated in the second round of counties, all hope was not lost. They were seeded eighth out of 13, and their first round game was against the ninth seed. The game was supposed to be close, as it was, but the boys emerged with an overtime victory after Adam Juros scored the game winner and ad-vanced them into the second round of states. In one of the most entertaining Glen Ridge sporting events of the year, the GRHS boys with a 6-12-2 record took on the number one seed Dayton High School team, with a record of 14-4-1. With an army of fans behind them, Glen Ridge took the field like a storm, planning to play as hard as they could since this very well may be their last game as a team. The defense, playing with speed and ag-gression, along with senior captain Nathan-iel Johns in goal did everything they could to keep their team in

the game. Blood was shed, and the Ridg-ers were not going down without a fight. When the two halves ended in a 0-0 tie, the game advanced into a golden-goal overtime, and the boys knew that they had a real chance at winning the game. The fans went wild; according to Ethan Collins (senior), “the bleachers were not very well set up, so we had to sit right next to the Spring-field kids, and boy did they get angry over the simplest things.” Screaming matches were breaking out in the stands as the boys took out their ag-gression on the field. The game came to a staggering conclusion when senior captain Alex Weissman was able to score, leaving Dayton’s tearful play-ers on the field, and sending a determined Glen Ridge team onto the next round of the tournament. The same confidence was seen later that week leading up to the semifinals against Brearley, the number five seed. Af-ter beating the number one seed in a fantastic game, the Glen Ridge team knew they had the potential to take it all the way and win the group tournament. They arrived at Brear-

ley’s grass field on a rainy day ready to take them down and advance to the sec-tional final. Their odds looked good after an aggressive first half with a score of 0-0. Nevertheless, with the kickoff to start the second half, Brearley made a very contro-versial shot from the halfway line that the referees ruled a goal. While this infuriated the team, they were still ready to play, and when Arran Robertson (sophomore) scored an impressive goal to tie the game, they knew it wasn’t over. And yet, with another controversial call for a Brearley corner kick, Glen Ridge fell by a score of 2-1. “We worked really hard all season and it’s tough to see a game that we should have won slip away like it did,” says Judah Raab (junior). Even from the fan section, this loss was heart breaking. The team truly emerged from the dust as underdogs and then had their dreams crushed in a miserable fashion. On the bright side, leading goal scorer Arran Rob-ertson and much of the defense and midfield lines will return in the fall of 2016, when the Glen Ridge boys’ soc-cer team will be back for revenge.

Boys’ Soccer: A Cinderella StoryBy Emily Duffus

Photo by Erin VogelCarter Travia

SportsPage 8 February 2016

Cheerleading had a strong fall season. They won first place in their division at their first competition, the 2015 SEC Cheer for the Cure. This was a major part of the season and a time for the team to show off their strengths.

“Our score was almost perfect, and we scored higher than some other teams that weren’t even in our division,” says senior Abby Johnson, who is a captain along with senior Isabella Olczak.

“It was amazing,” says Olczak, “I was so proud of my team.”

Another one of the most memorable football games of the season was on the night before Halloween, against Central High School, which Glen Ridge won 48-22. The girls were dressed as old-school cheerleaders, with authentic cheer uniforms that were worn by Glen Ridge cheerleaders in the 80’s.

“Not only did

we dress up, but a lot of the seniors thought it was going to be our last away game,” recalls Johnson, “but the football team...went on to the playoffs so we had another night game to look forward to, which made the game even more exciting.”

The cheer team has been able to have fun, work hard, and come out of the fall season with a first place award for the Cheer for the Cure competition because of the great leadership and efforts of Johnson and Olczak. They have invested much time into creating routines and practicing them, and bringing everyone on the team together. “I always looked up to my captains, so it’s really cool to have this experience,” says Johnson.

“They have a lot of good stunt ideas [that] make our routines look really cool,” says junior Abbie Robik of the captains.

Both Olczak and Johnson show a lot of appreciation

and give a lot of recognition to their team as a whole. “The team is really driven and hardworking this year,” says Johnson.

Olczak adds, “they are great at making the best of situations...everyone is always trying to help each other and show each other new skills. Cheer, to me, has always been more than a sport--it has been a lifestyle and I will miss everything about it.”

Football season may have ended, but there is still the winter season for cheer. Not only are there basketball games, but winter is the prime competition season.

“With practice, we can be really great,” says Wolfred. “I have always loved competing and [I think] this year’s dance will be really successful.”

“I think we will do well. The team is working so hard, so I’m excited to see how the season goes,” says Olczak.

Of all of the sports that Glen Ridge High School has to offer, soccer is one of the most interesting. The Girls’ Soccer team has always been one of our success stories; for countless years, they have made it far in the state tournament with many wins under their belt. The 2015 team was no exception. With a final record of 17-6-1, the girls are definitely a group of winners. They also made it to the semi-finals of the Essex County Tournament and the finals of the North Group 1 State Tournament, winning the North 2 Group 1 Sectional Championship along the way. Another huge highlight of the season includes a win against the Montclair High School girls’ team, one of our rivals. The overwhelming success can be attributed to a few vital characteristics of this year’s team: talent, hard work, and strong bonds. In every game, it is clear that every single girl on the field has a ton of talent. On the attacking end, Katie Liu, Halinka Prussak, Leslie Jaiyesimi, and Lindsay Jaiyesimi made incredible runs and shots throughout the season. Taylor Kulik and Jenny Lisovicz also made quite a few appearances in the forward position. Another extremely important aspect of the team was the midfield lineup. Merritt Davie and Liz Hauschild played on the wings for most of the season and could often be seen speeding up the sides or fighting in the middle for a loose ball. Colleen Grady took up her spot in the center, becoming the number one assister

on the team with her fantastic corner kick skills. Jessica Muney could also be seen zipping around in the midfield position. Likewise, the team could have never achieved success without their solid defensive players. Olivia Schwern and Meghan Marhan were unbeatable on the sides with their quickness and incredible soccer IQ. And the team could always depend on Galen Lew to fight for the balls that made it through the first line of defense, and she would always give it her all. Tori Woznick was also always there to back the team up in the goal in a time of need. These girls would never fail to demonstrate heart on the field, and on the bright side all of them and their skills will return to the team next year. Unfortunately, a few of the most important players on the team will not be returning. Madeline Valverde could always be depended on in a time of need to work hard on the field. Emily Gill took up the center defensive position, and she was one of the most determined players on the team. She fought her heart out for every single ball, commanded the defense with skill and courage, and was always there to clear the ball out of the defensive end. Tomi Kennedy, the team’s leading goal scorer for at least two years in a row and the second highest goal scorer in Glen Ridge Girls’ Soccer history, could be seen working hard in both the midfield and the forward positions. Her insane talent will be very useful to the Princeton

Girls’ Soccer team next year. Finally, the girls’ goalie Ryanne Ege, with a final count of almost 150 cumulative saves this season, literally saved the team on many different occasions. Whether running out for a ball or diving for a save, the team counted on her numerous times and she always pulled through. The team is going to have to work very hard next year to compensate for these losses. To make up the strong bond, senior Ryanne Ege states that the team this year was “a lot closer than years past”. She said she had “a good time hanging out with the girls on and off the field”, which created an important team dynamic that showed in their playing and could not be created any other way. It was clear on the field that these girls supported each other. This dynamic also created a pivotal relationship on the field where “everyone worked hard for each other,” and did not play selfishly according to Ege. When interviewed at the beginning of the season, Ryanne Ege stated that she hoped they would be able to “compete with top notch teams” and “go all the way to the state championship”. They certainly achieved these goals, and it all ultimately made them closer as a family. It was a pleasure to watch every single game and Ryanne says, “even though we fell short of our goal” and were unable to win the final game to take away the state title, she is “so proud of all the girls and this was a great final season”.

Girls’ Soccer Finishes StrongBy Emily Duffus

Cheerleading Has Successful Fall Season

By Celia Buckley

Photo Source: Glenridge.org

Armed with many new members and lots of enthusiasm, the GRHS bowling team is ready to take on the season. Like any other sport, bowling requires practice and patience. However, Captain Lucas Hanson believes that he, along with other captains Mark Femino and Colin Rush and the entire squad, are “committed and have the potential to contend in competitions”. Among the many new bowlers are Ashley Zweig, Jonah Fritz, Meridian Hinton-Cooley, Shayna Sadow, and Alexander Rovalino. There is no doubt

that new members such as these joined for what Hanson calls a “welcoming environment”. Sources close to The Journalist have confirmed that the bowling team wishes to recruit more girls this year in order to create a separate boys and girls team. This way, they will be duly-represented in competitions and therefore have a better chance of winning.

It looks like it’s going to be a great year for the GRHS bowlers! If you’d like to join them, they practice at Garden Palace Lanes in Clifton every Thursday night. Come on out!

Bowling Team is Optimistic

By Sonia Kinkhabwala

“His personal-ity was reflected in the products he created.” This is the legacy of Steve Jobs, a man who lived at the intersec-tion of the humanities and science, of tech-nology and the liberal arts. Jobs is best known for being the “man behind the machine,” the genius behind Apple, respon-sible for products ranging from the Ma-cintosh computer to the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Walter Isaacson, the former editor of Time Magazine and biographer of Benja-min Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Henry Kissinger, chronicles the development of these products and fol-lows the themes that surround Jobs’s life. Jobs was very

human. He had a fiery will and determina-tion, but character-istics that made him far from perfect. He was known for berat-ing colleagues and employees for the slightest flaw. He was a control freak and un-relenting perfection-ist. He had a binary view of the world, in which everything was either “the best thing ever” or “garbage” (to phrase it nicely), the most insignificant blemish causing the latter categorization. However, it was this perfectionism that brought the best de-signers and engineers to Apple, for anything less than the best would not be toler-ated, and that caused Apple products not only to be amazing feats of technology,

but works of art, with hardware and software seamlessly integrated. Jobs was mo-tivated not by a desire to make a profit, but by a desire to make great products. This philosophy is what brought Apple to the top of the tech in-dustry. In fact, when Jobs was forced out of Apple in the mid-

1980s due to a power struggle, the com-pany’s focus shifted from making great products to maximiz-ing profit margins. It was not until Jobs returned more than a decade later that he shifted the company’s priorities back in or-der, saving the com-pany as a result. The theme of

abandonment is preva-lent throughout Jobs’s entire life. Put up for adoption, Jobs was abandoned by his birth parents. Amazingly, when Jobs fathered a daughter out of wed-lock in his early 20s, he did the same to his own child. Not only that, but Jobs brought in John Sculley to Apple as a business partner and revered him as a father figure, only to be abandoned by him when forced out of Apple. Walter Isaa-cson’s biography details Jobs’s life from the beginning to the end. The book is an entertaining read, but it serves a greater pur-pose as well. It is an absolutely necessary read in order to under-stand the products that shape our life. Read-ing it is a jour

ney through the life of an amazing man. The reader cringes at Jobs’s unconven-tional dietary habits and hygiene (he often worked barefoot and did not believe that he had to shower). The reader is appalled by his decision to drop out of Reed College in order to meet a guru in India. Yet, the reader understands that Jobs had a vision that made him one of the most significant innova-tors of the modern era. Jobs understood, perhaps better than anyone else, that sight is different than vi-sion. Vision requires an imagination, a cre-ativity that means that Apple is not just about technology, but also about the humanities, for, “Where there is no vision, the people per-ish.” (Proverbs 29:18)

Book ReviewSteve Jobs: Walter Isaacson’s Biography Gets it

RightBy Cameron Dignan

“Steve Jobs” Photo by Cameron Dignan

SportsPage 9 February 2016

Photo Source: Google

Entertainment Page 10 February 2016

Restaurant Review: The Spot In the winter of my Freshman year, I reviewed a restau-rant called Mac Attack on Walnut Street in Montclair. To this day, that review stands as the only negative piece I have written for The Journalist. Recently, Mac Attack closed down after a nearly two-year run next to neighbors Red Eye Cafe and the Montclair Bread Com-pany. In this review, I am happy to report that its replacement - The Spot - is off to an excellent start. The Spot is a lesson in the art of comfort food. The owner, who casually chatted with me over my meal, knows that comfort food does not necessarily mean fast food, or junk food. This is realized in the inclusion of color-

ful salads on their menu. My personal favorite is the vegetar-ian Southwest Salad, which mixes vibrant corn and green pep-pers, with black beans and creamy avocado. All this is dispersed in romaine that crunches with freshness and is topped off with a spicy chipotle ranch dressing. Other stand-

outs include the Thai Salad and Waldorf Salad. While similar eateries may have one dish devoted to the classic grilled cheese, The Spot literally puts this sandwich in a category all by itself. On the more simple side of the spectrum are both the American Grilled Cheese and

the CBLT, or “Ched-dar, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato” with a strong Paprika aioli. Without the bacon, this CBLT is just what is required of a grilled cheese, and it has the power to satisfy cravings everywhere. The Spot also supplies the tried and true partner of the sandwich - soup! In this category, the

roasted tomato was my preference, but they also offer Broc-coli Cheddar and Vegetable. As if mocking its predecessor, The Spot also serves up a wide variety of Mac n’ Cheese. While there, I tried the White Truffle with Parmesan, Roma-no, and white truffle oil melted in. It was

perfect. There was just the right amount of cheese and truffle, while not being overly greasy or bland. Also quite appealing are the Lobster, BBQ, Carbonara, and Philly Mac n Cheese’s. Unlike Mac Attack, these dishes are actu-ally served in ceramic bowls rather than take-out tins. As I finished up my meal at The Spot, I was thanked profusely by the waitstaff and owner. As they had been throughout my entire dining experience, they were efficient and truly reflected the comfort their food aims to evoke. I truly enjoyed my experi-ence. In the future, it is a very likely pos-sibility that the Spot will grow to compete with the many great restaurants in the area.

By Sonia Kinkhabwala

Photo Source: Google

Shelter Spotlight: Furry Friends in Need of a HomeBy Anna Whitney

Greetings and salutations! I am King Henry! I am a stately, senior, black and white gent. I am very curious, always checking out what my subjects are up to

and I like to play with kitty toys. I am an independent fellow – not much of a lap cat. I prefer lounging on a luxurious, fluffy kitty throne. Or a simple kitty bed would do.

I’d like to mention that I am FIV positive. I am currently healthy and I plan on living a long and fun-filled life! Please consider making me a part of your royal court.

My name is Valentina and I am a gorgeous four-year old Maine Coon mix. I am a fluffy goddess who expects all around her to bow and show respect. It’s lonely being queen of the shelter loose cat room,

and all I really want is a person to love and hug me. I can’t wait to claim your lap as my new throne and sleep the night away in your comfy bed. Playful with string toys and sparkly balls, I also just love hanging out

on my favorite lounge toy and giving you loving eye blinks to show I care. I prefer the company of hu-man friends to feline friends. I am ready and waiting for my forever home!

For more information on Valentina, Henry, and other adoptable pets, visit the Montclair Township Ani-mal Shelter, 77 North Willow St., or call 973-744-8600 or email adoptmontclair@gmail.com