 By: Kenan Mujic and Matthew Zapata
The second leg of the UEFA Champions League Semi Final matches kicked off last Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7 and 8, at 3:00 p.m., and Wethersfield High School is filled with supporters scattered around the school, hoping that their team goes through to the final in Madrid. Pre-match: The first finalist with be confirmed Tuesday, as Liverpool and Barcelona fight for a trip to Madrid. Although Barcelona took the first game with a scoreline of 3-0, you can never count Liverpool out at home, and that is exactly how Liverpool supporter, and WHS junior Rei Koni described it. “Liverpool is a different animal at Anfield, and they will surprise a lot of people with their performance on Tuesday,” Koni said. Liverpool dug themselves a huge hole, especially against a giant like Barcelona. However, if they can somehow pull this miracle off, it will cause shock across the entire soccer nation at Wethersfield High School. The second semi final game is the battle of the two underdogs, as Tottenham Hotspurs travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax Wednesday night. Ajax grabbed a key away goal and took the first game with a scoreline of 1-0 in a hard fought game. However, if Spurs can continue the dominance that they showed in the second half of that first game, they can come out with the victory, but it will take a lot of work and that is how WHS teacher and Tottenham Hotspur supporter, Mr. John Martin, views it. “We know when Tottenham plays open, and gives Son and Dele Alli space, that’s when they’re at their best, and that’s their only hope to come out on top,” Martin said. It will be an interesting match between two very evenly split teams, but only two teams can book a ticket to Madrid. Wethersfield High School soccer nation is anxious to see who it will be. Post-match: Various reactions lead the way through the halls of our very own Wethersfield High School, varying from Liverpool supporters chanting “You’ll never walk alone” to Barcelona fans whining themselves to class with their heads down in pure disbelief. Liverpool has actually done it; they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history, overcoming a 3-0 deficit to go on and win the second leg 4-0 and advance with the final score line of 4-3 on aggregate. Liverpool fans wander the halls with a bright smile on their face, while Barcelona fans walk in misery as they can’t hear enough of it. Bragging rights are a huge thing at this school, and Liverpool sure has to the right to brag, just like how Koni described it. “It feels amazing being able to walk up to your friends who have been on you about losing 3-0 and get back at them. It’s a feeling every soccer fan wants to experience,” Koni said. As Wednesday hit and soccer fans were still reacting to Liverpool’s incredible comeback against Barcelona, it was time for the other Champions League semi-final match. The Tottenham Hotspurs and Ajax were set to kick off with millions of fans watching, including many from Wethersfield High School. Ajax was up 1-0 after the leg and after 30 minutes of action, they were up 3-0 on aggregate. Everyone thought it was over, but as the second half hit, Tottenham Hotspurs did not agree, they came out and went completely lights out, as brilliant build up led to Lucas Moura’s second half hat trick, tying the aggregate scoreline at 3-3 but nodding Tottenham past Ajax on away goals in an incredible comeback performance. Many Tottenham fans cannot believe that their team pulled this off, including Martin, as he expressed his emotions to us the next morning. “I had a real thought of turning my TV off after the first half,” Martin said, “But as they scored one, and then two, and when they scored the third in the 95th minute, I as more than okay. That was one of the most incredible games I’ve ever seen in my life.” Well Mr. Martin, you weren’t the only one. If you cheer on Barcelona and Ajax, school will be miserable for a very long time, but if you cheer on Liverpool and Tottenham, you are one lucky supporter. However, in June, there will be only one team standing, and we’re anxious to see which supporter at Wethersfield High School remains standing as the final whistle blows in Madrid.
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 By: Kavi Khadar
Coming this fall, Mrs. Campbell will be teaching a brand new UCONN ECE digital imaging course open to next year's students. As a college course, the workload will be a bit more intensive; however, Campbell has her syllabus outlined for what the course will bring. “There are a lot of team projects, problem-solving, and cross-curricular activities. I have already met with the professors at UCONN and they are very enthusiastic about WHS joining the faculty,” she said. Taking this ECE course can prep you for college, and if you're looking to major in anything involving graphic design, this is the class for you! It’s necessary to take the regular Digital Imaging class prior to taking this course so here’s what you can expect. The class involves taking your own photos with cameras that Campbell provides. You'll then take those photos and bring them into Photoshop or Illustrator and edit them to perfection. It doesn't stop there. After editing the photos, you’ll have the opportunity to put these photos on various items like shirts, mugs, tiles, posters, stickers, key chains, etc. As a student that took the normal digital imaging class, I wish I could have had this great opportunity to take an ECE class in Campbell’s classroom. I asked why students should consider taking this class after Digital Imaging and Campbell said, “This will give the students opportunity to earn college credit and advance their skills and understanding of various tools of communication.” I can confidently say that these attributes are going to be and important in life and especially college. You can find out more about this course by stopping by and talking to Mrs. Campbell in room 23A down the tech hallway or Mrs. Mucinskas to get the sign up sheet for UCONN.  By: Grace Detrick and Valentino Fazio
This week we asked the managers of two different sports teams here at WHS what their experience is like. We talked to seniors Olivia Destefani and Gabby Klementon, who manage the boys’ baseball team, and senior Riley Grenier who managed the girls’ basketball team this past winter. If you’ve ever considered becoming a manager, now's the time because the three managers mentioned are graduating this year, leaving openings for the 2019-2020 sports seasons. We wanted to find out what exactly a managing job entails so students can see if the job would be right for them. As for baseball, you have to do the book and write down everything that happens in the game like a strike or ball, etc. “At first it was very hard learning how to do everything and we were clueless, but now we have the hang of it,” Klementon added. She records the stats manually on an iPad and keeps track of the pitch count during the game. Grenier’s job however, is a little different. For the girls’ basketball manager, there is more participation involved and less stat recording. “I have to participate and come to every practice as a ‘practice player’, run drills, and play defense on the girls,” Grenier explained. Both of these jobs have easy aspects and challenging components as well. Destefani and Klementon both agreed writing down the players names before the game is the easiest and knowing what to classify every pitch or play is the hardest part. Destefani said, “It's all worth it because when we win or we make them cookies they get so hype.” Grenier’s idea of the most difficult part of being a manager was “running a ton and repeating drills.” However, he really enjoyed the job because of the friendships he made with the players and getting to know people he didn't talk to before. The best piece of advice Klementon and Destefani wanted to give to future managers was not to make Coach Bagdasarian mad and hang in there because it's hard at first, but gets easier and you'll get the hang of it. Grenier had similar advice that it gets easier along the way as long as you show up on time, do what you're told and are ready to run. If you think you would want to take over either of these positions and are interested in managing either sport next season, speak to Coach Russell or Coach Bagdasarian. By: Jenna Colon and Amanda De Jesus
To our fellow seniors, here are some dos and don'ts for prom: 1. DO buy your dress way in advance. You want to be prepared months in advance for when your prom comes. Plus you do not want the same dress as anyone or a last-minute dress that you do not like, so make sure you check your class prom dress Instagram. 2. DO bring comfy shoes. Your feet will thank me later. Although those five-inch stilettos look great for pictures, they will not feel nice by the end of the night from all the dancing you’ll be doing. 3. DO takes tons of pictures. You want your prom night to last forever, and these pictures will be a great reminder. You want those memories of your friends and you in high school to stick with you. 4. DO go glam. Prom is your time to shine, so go to town. If you’re planning on doing your hair or makeup by yourself, try it out a few times in advance to practice. YouTube and Pinterest are great for tutorials and ideas for hairstyles and makeup ideas. 5. DO have an after-prom plan It does not have to be too crazy, but make it a memorable night and have fun. And the don'ts.... 1. DON’T try something new the day before. That includes tanning, haircuts and colors, facials, or anything that could give your skin a reaction. I know some of us want to try a new hair color for prom or want that golden tan, but we recommend not trying anything right before prom day because it can be difficult to recover from a bad tan or hair coloring. 2. DON’T freak out if someone has the same dress as you. Prom is about having fun with your friends, dressing up for YOU. If someone has the same dress as you, it's truly not the end of the world. #girlpower 3. DON'T over do your makeup. Remember less is better, you don't want to have that awful flashback in all your pictures. You want to enhance your beauty, not change it. 4. DON'T buy an uncomfortable prom dress. You’re going to be wearing this dress most of the night, meaning you´ll be eating and dancing in it. Avoid dresses that are too tight or that have too much beading that can irritate your skin. 5. DON´T do drugs or drink alcohol. You don't need to be high or intoxicated to have a good time. You also don't want to ruin one of your most memorable nights of high school. No one wants to remember the time they got in trouble!  By: Sedina Begic and Nyah McCall
Every day, I start my morning by grabbing a snack and water bottle. However, now that it’s Ramadan, I have to remember to refrain myself from drinking or eating. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims all around the world. During these 30 days, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and pray. Ramadan started on May 5th this year, and moves back 10 days every year. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid; this is a holiday that lasts three days. For me, fasting during school isn’t as difficult as some may think. I actually find it easier to go fast while in school because it helps the long, hungry hours pass more quickly. By the time I get home, I only have 4-5 hours before I can break my fast. Experiences during Ramadan are different for everyone, so I decided to interview a fellow student at Wethersfield High School to see if her experience is similar to mine. Lejla Mustabasic is a senior that is practicing Ramadan this year. When asked if fasting during school is tough for her, she said, “Definitely. I’m extra tired at school not only because I’m hungry, but also because when I wake up for Sehur, I lose even more sleep.” Sehur is the time at which Muslims wake up to eat before sunrise. This way they won’t be as hungry during the day. I asked Mustabasic what the hardest part about fasting in school and she said, “Lunch time is the hardest to get through. Everyone around you is eating or drinking something and you never realize just how hungry you are until people around you start eating. Some people even forget that you’re fasting and offer you food and it makes your temptations even worse. Once lunch is over though, the rest of the school day is fine.” When asked if fasting makes it harder to focus during tests or quizzes Mustabasic said, “I don’t find it to be that difficult but I’m sure for some students it's difficult because breakfast is really important and eating a good breakfast can help you focus better during a test. I don’t seem to mind it though.” Although Ramadan may seem impossible for those who don’t participate, it actually isn’t that bad. Not only is fasting a religious experience for Muslims, but it also shows us how fortunate we are. There are people who truly don’t have anything to eat or drink during the day. We forget how blessed we are to be able to drink or eat at any time of the day and we don’t know the daily struggles of those who have nothing. If you have a Muslim friend who’s fasting, don’t be afraid to ask them questions about it. They’ll probably be more than happy to tell you about it.  By: Shantall Teran
Seniors in most schools including Wethersfield High School have the opportunity to graduate early. This is only allowed if the said senior has enough credits and will be able to meet their required credit by the first semester. What we don't see when our seniors graduate early is if they enjoy it or find it meaningful. Is it beneficial to them and do they regret their decision. Same goes with our seniors who had the opportunity but didn't take it. When a senior decides to graduate early, they are not allowed to participates in any sports of the next semester but they are allowed to participate In senior activities like prom and senior picnic. To be able to graduate, you have to be meeting the credit requirements by the end of the first semester to be able to graduate at the end of the semester. This year, it has not seem that there were many students that had graduated early. I spoke with school counselor Mathew DeGuire. He told me that typically there are at least five kids every year who graduate early, “We typically have 5-8 seniors graduate early per year, but that could change by the year.” He had also told me that kids graduate for many reasons. “This depends on the student. There is a wide range of reasons for a student to graduate early including work, start college early, travel, etc.” I spoke with two seniors of 2019 who have decided to graduate early. Arelis Herrera said she initially decided to graduate because she had enough credit but also because she had a plan for herself. ”Everyone’s different but for me personally I already know what I want to do with my life and never really cared for the high school experience so I knew it’d be a waste of time when I can instead be spending time doing what I love and working”. Senior Rachel Hall had a different reasons for graduating, “School always stressed me out, there was a period of time when I would throw up everyday before school because I was so anxious and couldn’t control it. I figured instead of being in class all day I could work and learn communication skills and e-commerce and other things while getting paid and saving for my future.” I asked both the seniors on how they felt while in school knowing that they had to graduate earlier than most of their peers. Herrera said, “I didn’t feel like I had more on my plate than students not graduating early, if anything I had less academically. It was stressful knowing that adulting was coming sooner for me so decisions had to be made quicker but other than that it was a relief”. Hall also expressed the same feelings, “I didn’t feel like I had more to worry about becasue I feel like everyone worries just about the same when it comes to passing but I did worry a lot just to make sure I got all the credits I need in time”. Now that they are graduated, I wanted to see how their life is now and it’s generally all good. “My life’s been so much more enjoyable since I graduated. My whole life changed due to personal life issues but it was perfect timing because I got to take a break and gather myself before working. Now I’m really focused and ready to start college in the fall.” Herrera says. She also talks about how shes able to persue her carrer now, “I definitely have more time and freedom to do what I want. I love having more time to focus on modeling and music”. Hall says “It’s been good since I graduated early, I’ve been working full time, saving money and since I have no test or projects or exams I can have fun and enjoy myself after work and what not”. Both of these graduated seniors don’t regret their decision they are happy that they chose this but Hall did express missing her friends “I don’t regret it one bit, however I do miss my friends and I miss being around people my age and all the goofy fun moments high school had with it”. Herrera wants to tell upcoming seniors “If you know what you want your future to look like already and are able to work on it now then graduate early if you can and stay focused! Don’t slack off just because you’re almost at the end but have fun.” Hall also had some advise for upcoming seniors “High school is like your last chance to have fun before u go out and become an adult so enjoy it!” Senior Auna Foster and Danielle Colbath are seniors who decided to not graduate. Foster decided to stay to have the “senior” experience, “I didn’t want to miss out on other school activities/ experiences that happen later in the year”. Foster does not regret her decision. Colbath wants students to figure out what’s best for them, “Do what feels right for them, if they have a plan in place after or school isn't their best strong suit, then graduating early then that might be the best option”. Foster needs you to know that the last semester isn’t even the hard part. “It’s not as hard as you think, just don’t slack. Keep working/keep yourself busy , so you don’t have room for procrastination or laziness”. These seniors are just some examples of what you could experience if you decide to stay or graduate early. It is important to realize that were all different with different circumstances. If your someone who would rather work or start you college education earlier than it could be a decision for you to consider. If you want to take more classes, be around friends and have the senior experience than you might want to stay. Make sure to stay focussed in what ever you decide to do its okay to not have a plan but it can be very detrimental if you decide to procrastinate your life.  By: Emily Litke The Pulsera Project is a non-profit organization that works to educate, empower, and connect artists in Central America with students all over the United States. These students, specifically those taking Spanish, sell colorful, handwoven bracelets and bags made by artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala. At Wethersfield High School, students who are a part of the Spanish National Honor Society are selling bracelets, or “pulseras,” and bags. Leah Lin, a member of the SNHS, says “Wethersfield High School has been participating in this project for two years now.” She adds that, “People should purchase a pulsera because the funds go back to Central America to help the artists and their families to be able to afford everyday necessities.” The most important part about these bracelets is that when you purchase one, it comes with a tag that shows you who made your bracelet or bag, as well as a little information about the artisan. This gives you a personal connection with the bracelet. If you purchase one of these bracelets or bags, you will be providing employment for nearly 200 artists, as well as funding educational programs, scholarships, women & youth programs, fair trade advocacy, social enterprise, and artisan benefits such as housing & healthcare. Katie Galusha, Vice President of the SNHS, says “The Pulsera Project supports a lot of students, especially ones our age, with scholarships and higher education. The money also reduces the likelihood that people in Central America will have to work in sweatshops.” Galusha also adds that, “You could spend $5 on anything, why not spend it on something to do good for others, and you'll get something good out of it too. People should help others, especially those who aren’t as fortunate as us.” As you can tell, the Pulsera Project has been around for a very long time and has been educating and empowering artists in both Nicaragua and Guatemala over this time. They have raised over 4.5 million dollars since they started in 2009, for artists in Central America and continue to do so today. Make sure to purchase a bracelet for $5 or a bag for $10, at lunch or from any SNHS member, to show your support for these phenomenal artists throughout Central America. The Pulsera Project ends on May 13th.  By: Jake Lepore and Shane Bresnahan
SPOILERS AHEAD, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!! Game of Thrones, Season Eight :Episode Three was released this past Sunday, leaving fans with very mixed emotions. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet, don’t read any further. The entirety of the episode surrounded the battle of Winterfell, which put the living against the dead in an epic war. The duration of the 80 minute battle makes it the longest fight scene in any TV series or film ever! The story line with the Night King and the army of the dead has been a crucial part of the show since the very first episode, as he was perceived to be the big villain in the show. Season Eight: Episode Three was meant to be the big payoff for this plot in the show. Overall, WHS students and staff members were satisfied with how the fight played out and how the Night King was finally defeated. However, there was some major criticism surrounding it. Senior Riley Grenier said, “The fight was great, but it could’ve been better, I was wishing for more action and important deaths in the 80 minutes of straight chaos.” When asked if she enjoyed the episode, psychology teacher Mrs. Niemiec said, “I definitely enjoyed it!” Although she said that there were amazing moments of excitement, there were some moments of frustration, including the lighting used throughout the episode. A main complaint among WHS members and thousands around the world was the darkness of the episode. The battle takes place in the middle of the night so it was very dark and hard to see at times. However, something that most of the interviewees were ecstatic about was the moment when Arya Stark plunged her Valyrian steel dagger into the heart of the Night King, obliterating the army of the dead and winning the war for the living. Senior Luke Johnson said, “It was a fantastic moment because it seemed as though the war was lost for Jon Snow and his army, and then out of nowhere, there’s Arya ending it all. I never saw it coming and that’s what made this scene so good”. Not everyone was incredibly pleased with this villain’s ending though. Seniors Holden Hoon and Shun Wong knew that the Night King had to die, but they both thought that it was a little rushed. Holden said, “When Arya stabbed the Night King, I was happy that this part of the show had finally been resolved, but then I thought about the fact that we still have no idea who he was and why he was trying to kill everyone and that made me a little upset”. Shun stated,“I just wish that the show elaborated on his story a little more and maybe gave him an actual speaking part so the viewers could know his identity”. Overall, everyone agreed that this episode lived up to the hype and delivered the experience that the viewers were looking for. The excitement has quickly shifted from the Night King to Cersei as the show closes out on the final three episodes. The students and staff at WHS couldn’t feel more bittersweet about it, as they are excited to see what happens, but are sad to see the show end, since it has been around for nine years of their lives. What did you think of this episode?  By: Megan Keleher and Dante Burgos
Stripes over checks... there is always so much controversy between Nike and Adidas and which brand is better, nobody can ever agree. This week, we interviewed students and staff around the school to get their opinion. Nike is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. Adidas is a multinational corporation, founded in Germany, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the world compared to Nike. Both brands being the top sportswear manufacturers in the world means that the competition is very high. So many people could argue all day about which is better. We wanted to find out from a random selection of students and staff which brand is actually better. Going into the interviews we asked each person three questions and they were, Which do you prefer Nike or Adidas? Why? What makes this brand better than the other? When asking senior soccer player Lucas Villagra he said “Nike, I like the clothing and they have a better fit.” However when we asked security guard Mr. Rumley, he had a different answer claiming, he hasn't owned a pair of Nikes because they don't fit his feet the right way, he definitely prefers Adidas in this debate. IMG_6429. When asking teacher Mr. Roets he had a very specific answer and he seemed very prepared. We asked him what he prefers and he simply said “Neither.” He then went on to say, “Brand loyalty isn't based on any factual information, it's based on whose shilling the product.” We got a variety of responses from the students and staff around the school, and we were not surprised when many of the answers were Nike. By: Isiah Timmons & Katie Galusha
Last Saturday, Junior Prom was at the Glastonbury Country Club. Despite the cool breeze and muddiness of the green, everyone was still elated to be there. Compared to years past, the attendance on the green was sparse due to the rain earlier in the day, but the support of the community was still present and strong. As soon as everyone arrived at the event, the music was so enjoyable that everyone had already started dancing. WHS juniors Becca and Bella shared their thoughts about prom, “I thought it was going to be fun.” The DJ had to call the students back to their table in order to start dinner as everyone was on the dance floor. The food was in buffet-style, as it was last year. There were many mixed opinions on this prom’s food choice. However, the majority of juniors enjoyed the music compared to last year because it was more music they were used to. WHS Junior Abby Malizia agrees with this, she stated “The music was a lot better [this year] than last year.” After talking with senior student council member Angelica Velez, senior prom seems it will be very enjoyable as well. “One of the things I’m excited about this year is [the] Aqua Turf itself. I know some people have been there, but it’s just such a big venue and the scenery is gorgeous, so that’s something that I personally am looking forward to. This year they have a photo booth so rather than getting a key chain, you get a cute slip with a couple of photos, so that’s nice. I also think that senior prom will be the one to remember since it is one of our last big nights together. It’s just going to be unforgettable and I can’t wait!” Senior prom is located at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT, with food choices of roasted sirloin, chicken ala Kathryn, chicken francaise, or a vegetarian eggplant parmigiana. For food, it will be served to you rather than buffet style, which may help with food quality. The Aqua Turf is notorious for its food, as it is usually very good. As for DJ, it will be the same as last year, so as seniors, we definitely look forward to something enjoyable. You can now buy tickets after school, see Mr. Miller in room 506 to take care of dues and payment. Prom tickets are being sold this week, April 29th. Before buying a ticket, you must pay your class dues. Senior prom will be Saturday, June 8th. You do not want to miss it!!  by: Natalie Castertano
It’s far too common that someone has a connection to suicide. Whether you’ve personally been affected by it, or know someone who has, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. In order to make this message apparent to WHS and the town of Wethersfield, National Honors Society is hosting a suicide prevention walk at the school on May 4th. Check in begins at 9am, and the walk starts at 10am. The walk will be held at the WHS track, with a table for registration. There will be a table where each attendee can pick out beads to wear during the walk that relate to their connection to the cause. There will be several colors that represent several different circumstances and associations to suicide. There will be a time during the opening ceremony where attendees will be asked trade beads with another person, as a representation of support. Sometimes all a person need is to know that there is someone out there who cares about them, and who is willing to help them. Our goal for this walk is to provide everyone with a sense of security and unity. Come out and walk to show support to others, but most importantly to yourself!  By: Steven Klatt
Earlier this month, from April 11- 14 at Augusta National Golf Course, some of the best golfers came together to compete at the Masters Tournament. Names such as Bubba Watson, former Masters champion Dustin Johnson, and the now 5-time champion Tiger Woods appeared on the roster. This was the 83rd edition of the Master Tournament. The prize for winning the Masters Tournament is the coveted green jacket and taking home more than 2 million dollars in prize money. Tiger Woods won his fifth Green Jacket and fifteenth major, one stroke ahead of three runners-up. It left him one shy of Jack Nicklaus’s record of six Masters wins, and three short of his record eighteen major wins. At age 43 he became the second oldest winner, again only bettered by Nicklaus, who won at age 46. It was 11 years after his last major win, the 2008 U.S. Open, and 14 years since his last Masters win beating the previous record of 13 years held by Gary Player. Woods only emerged to lead the tournament in the final round, when Francesco Molinari who had been leading the tournament for a long period hit his ball into the water on the 12th hole, and then again on the 15th after hitting a tree. It meant it was the first time Woods won a major when not leading after the 54th hole. We asked Senior Luca Isaila his thoughts on the Masters tournament and what he thought of Wood’s finishing push. “ I was really excited when Tiger Woods suddenly came out in the end and normally you don’t see a comeback like that after hole 50. I didn’t expect much from this Masters but it was actually more exciting than I thought it would be with a lot of new players coming out and actually doing well, it was nice to see.” Overall, this was a historic edition of the Masters and an excellent start to the upcoming season.  By: Kayla Cruz and Aliza Yousufzai
Spring has arrived and that means spring sports are now in full swing and all the athletes are getting ready to win their future meets. Although spring track started in the beginning of March, they are still training to win. We got the chance to sit and chat with the captain of the track team Amayia Giscombe to see what is going on in the track world and what it’s like to have such an important role in the team. Giscombe mostly does throwing: shot, disc, and javelin. We also learned about what roles she has on the team besides doing the activities that they do on track. She has the privilege of being the main part of the team and help the other team members. We were interested in seeing how it is different being a captain versus being a team member. “Some of the duties are to show people how they should throw, such as form and just be very uplifting ‘oh you can do this you got this.’” These little pointers help the team work together better and motivates them to move forward and win at the next meet. Some people join and don't know how to do certain things so teaching them how to do it is part of her job. Making sure the team comes together is very important and helps them win the meets. “Being a captain I am more aware of the forms of everyone else if I see that someone is struggling I make sure to help them. I'm not always the best, like yesterday some of the freshman threw better than me but it’s okay I’m proud of them that means I’m doing my job.” Overall, the track team is of to a very good start this season. Make sure to support the Wethersfield track at their next home meet on April 30, 2019 versus Rocky Hill at 3:45.  By: Ariana Tessier and Calista Margiotta
Being two seniors here at WHS, there are many classes that we have had to take. However, there are many classes that seniors have taken that they enjoy going to and enjoy taking. Students LOVING a class...yeah, weird right? Eight seniors who shared with us their favorite classes and why they enjoy these classes so much. This will also give the upcoming seniors and other students here at WHS to hear about classes that they may be interested in taking in the future. WHS senior Lauren Christie’s favorite class is Current Issues. She said, “I get to learn about things that are beneficial in real life.” This class benefits Lauren and she always is looking forward to going to spend time in that class. With other students we polled naming the same class, it’s safe to say this is a popular class amongst seniors. Dante Burgos had a lot to say about Speech, saying “I feel as though it’s a great class especially for students who have problems speaking in front of large groups. It is also a great class before you go off to college because it is a good tool to have to be comfortable talking in other groups.” Paige Contenta´s favorite class is Journalism which is a class we both take and enjoy. Matt Iallonardo talked about his Calculus class and said, “This is my favorite class because I enjoy the teacher.” Dino Alihodzic is taking AP Psychology this year and although it is an advanced class and very hard, he said, “This is my favorite class because I love Ms. Niemiec and the class is always fun.” To conclude the portion of this article with interviews, we end with Grace Amoruso who’s favorite class is the challenging Uconn ECE Composition and Rhetoric. One of the benefits of going to Wethersfield High School is being able to take college level classes and using those credits in college. Entering senior year can give you a great opportunity to take the classes that you have been interested in throughout your other high school years, but haven’t had the chance to take. What's your favorite class? Did it make this list? Comment below!  By: Taylor Pitchell & Erin Nargi Over spring break, WHS students embarked on international trips including trips to Ireland, Italy, France and Spain. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for these students and it is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Mrs. McGrath and several Wethersfield High School students traveled to Italy during this past spring break. They had an 8 hour flight over the Atlantic and spent all of spring break in the beautiful 70 degree weather. They visited cities like Florence, Assisi, and Roma where they visited old historic sites, museums and other locations that allowed them to soak in the Italian culture and history. Students also had the opportunity to test their knowledge on the Italian language while eating unlimited amounts of pasta. Some students have been learning Italian since freshman year so this was the perfect time to put their Italian to the test. Students enjoyed their time and said the trip was 100% worth it. WHS is considering planning the trip again in the near future. The other group, led by Mr. Roets and Mr. Nicholas, traveled to Spain over spring break. Lindsey Clark, a senior at Wethersfield High School said her favorite part of the trip was “walking along the beach in Barcelona, and later on being able to just sit on the beach and talk with all my friends from WHS but also having that time to be able to create a friendship with students from Washington state that traveled with us.” In Barcelona, there tried many different foods, including flammekueche which is similar to pizza. “It is a really thin piece of dough that has a creamy sauce on top, with additional toppings such as ham,” says Lindsey Clark. It was a favorite of many of the students on the trip. Clark described the trip by saying “Everyone had a smile on their face!” I think it’s safe to say everyone else who went on the trip could say the same thing. Keep your eye out for posters for upcoming trips to create your own once in a lifetime experience. By: Maddie Bradbury and Lauren Christie Wethersfield High School recently held an appellate court , and I had the opportunity to attend. Going into the court case, I had a lot of questions and didn’t know what to expect because I have never been to anything like this before. It was very serious; we had to go through a metal detector, and there were several police officers in the auditorium making sure everyone was attentive and appropriate. We sat quietly and engaged in our seats, while listening to the case unfold. Holding the court case at the high school was a great opportunity to learn first hand about the judicial system. While listening to the lawyers present their sides, I was able to learn how to set up good arguments, which could be very useful for me in my later life. It fascinated me how much knowledge the judges had about not only the case at hand, but they also referenced dozens of cases from the past. One of the cases involved a milk delivery man who slipped and fell while delivering the milk to the school. He slipped on the icy pathway that he claims should have been cleared off, and is trying to sue the town for his injuries. He lost the initial court case because the town had immunity, but due to his contractual obligation to be at the school, he appealed the case and was given the opportunity to present it at the appellate court. My biggest question was how would I feel if this was one of the teachers at the school who fell and got hurt? I was curious if teachers would face a similar result in court, so I asked one of the men who helped organize the court, and he said “Unfortunately, the teachers are not obligated to be at school, so they would not be able to sue the school either. The only people allowed would be students, because by law they have to come to school.” It was these questions that helped extend what we saw at the appellate court that made it so interesting, it was a chance for the “real world” judiciary system to come to a high school and give us all some authentic learning experiences. Thank you to the State of Connecticut and to Wethersfield High for bringing this experience.  By: Justin Biraci
On Sunday, 14 April 2019, the Game of Thrones Season 8 episode was released nearly after a year and a half wait. Everyone has been awaiting the new season as it left a major question mark in the last episode of Season 7. The episode took the same format as the first ever episode of Game of Thrones. The similarities were clear and bold between the two episodes. For the most part everyone enjoyed the episode. Luke Johnson, a student at WHS, said “The episode modeled the first episode completely, you could tell off the bat when the kid was climbing the tree like Bran used to.” This was one of the many scenes that showed direct correlation to the first episode of the show eight years ago. There were also a lot of plot developing that took place in the episode. The episode almost served as a a set up for the rest of the season. Johnson also said, “The episode may have been a little slow, but there were a lot of conflicts that were ignited in the episode”. The show is most likely going to have an upsetting end with many dying, so in the next few episodes many characters are going to die. There are also many possibilities as to who is gonna end up on the iron throne. Johnson stated, “As long as anyone but Bran ends up on the throne, then I’ll be happy”. People are avoiding social media to avoid spoilers. Some have been waiting almost 1.5 years and they finally got their relief. It was the most watched television episode, with 17.4 million views. This show has the entire school buzzing and talking about the possibilities of the show. Some are still wondering about what the first episode entirely means. Or, in what episode will the Great War happen?  By Christian Galain & Austin Harnish
The Wethersfield boys volleyball team are tied with rival Newington at the top of Class M as they are set to square off on Wednesday May 1st. Newington were the class M state champs of 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017. “Seniors Riley Grenier, Kevin Rascius, and Josh Malizia are our captains.” said junior outside hitter Rei Koni, “As leaders, I know they can take us far, they are confident in us and themselves, and I know I don’t have any worries with them on our team.” We then talked to the head coach Deborah O’Brien, Ms. O’Brien has been coaching girls volleyball since 1990. She was the assistant coach for 4 years and then became the head coach. She has been coaching the boys since 2007; after being the assistant for 2 years she then became the head coach. “Our season has gotten off to an excellent start. We are currently 9-0. The athletes worked hard during the off season and continue to work hard at each practice and match. They all have strong skills and are playing well as a team, their positive attitudes are also an asset,” said Coach O’Brien. “This team is gelling very well. Team chemistry makes a big difference. This team is one of the most motivated, hard working, skilled teams we have had in a few years. Many of the players have a lot of varsity experience.” One last question that we had asked was how are the captains showing leadership on the court, “We have 3 captains this year. All 3 of them are working hard on their own skills and work hard to motivate their teammates during practices and games. They lead by example. They are able to keep the team focused and positive during practices and games.” Make sure to come out and support the volleyball team for their next game, on Wednesday May 1st, and the rest of the season. Games usually begin around 5:00pm, to see the whole schedule click on the link.  by: Kevin Rascius
IBM is reaching out and making a difference at Wethersfield High School. Science teacher Mr. Kess runs an interesting independent study called, “Mastering the Mainframe.” This independent study provides seven WHS students with the incredible opportunity of learning how to use mainframe computers and setting them up for future success in the field of computer science. The independent study gives students the chance to learn about these computer systems and gives students real-world application of this knowledge. The students access IBM’s mainframe computers through laptops and are advised by Project Manager Christopher Zack from IBM. Mainframe computers are essential tools in the real world, they are used primarily by large companies for critical applications, transaction processing, storing important information, and so much more. As Mr. Kess said, “Mainframe computing is something that doesn't get alot of attention, but is a huge, huge part of the finance community.” 92 of the world's top 100 banks use mainframe computers, there are 30 billion business transactions handled by mainframes everyday, and they handle about 87% of all credit card transactions. “Mainframes are secure, they are fast, and the whole point is to crunch data. It’s incredible what mainframes do, they're in the background, we don't know realize what they do, but everybody touches them everyday when they make a credit card transaction or book an airline ticket.” (Christopher Zack) Mainframe computers are a key component of our everyday lives, yet very few people know about them. They handle our most important transactions and store the most vital information because they are fast, secure, reliable and dependable. Tests have shown that they can survive an earthquake with an 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale, these are built to handle the extremes. This independent study is very different from any other class at Wethersfield High School, as it culminates in a competition sponsored by IBM that can result in obtaining “Digital Badges” that acts as credentials to recognize students achievement and contribution. These badges are a tangible item that proves to potential employers that you have the skills to work for them. Project Manager Christopher Zack from IBM said, “Ideally, students will get those badges. The goal here is to complete the course, and earn the badges. The badges are an incredible thing to take away from this. This contest identifies the people who have the potential to be mainframers, and get their names out there as candidates to be mainframers.” In the competition, hundreds of students compete, and are asked to complete a multitude of challenges and projects on a mainframe computer. Successful students in the competition can earn these digital badges, and win other prizes such as Amazon gift cards. With this independent study, IBM and WHS expose students to an amazing job opportunity in a rewarding and important field. These students are getting a free jump start on a potential career in the field of computer science, and IBM is getting a head start on training the next generation of mainframe programmers, and identifying possible future employees. The independent study has just begun this semester, and Mr. Kess and Mr. Zack hope to make it into a half-year elective by the beginning of next year. As it is an independent study, students try to meet with Mr. Kess once a week but do most of their work in their own home. In order to do well in this class, students must be responsible and self motivated. While the course may sound difficult and very ¨techy¨, both Mr. Kess and Mr. Zack encourage anyone with any interest in the field of computer science to participate. The class can shed some light on what “computer science” means, and presents an amazing and free opportunity for all Wethersfield Students. All in all this independent study and future WHS elective provides an incredible opportunity for students. If you are curious about computer science, enjoy a challenge and love the thrill of competition, this class is for you. By Bryce Cox Music theory is a semester long elective taught by Mr. Rioux, who also teachers choir. The class is open to all grade levels, freshman through senior. It is a relatively small class and allows for much individual time for explainations and other aspects of learning.
Music theory isn’t just for music students, and is open to students of all level of music knowledge. Music theory covers basics such as note names and reading ledger lines, as well as note lengths such as quarter notes and eigth notes. It also covers more complex aspects of music such as time signature and composition. The final project of the class is a composition project following the basic rules of composition. Using the intervals learned in the first two weeks as well as chords and their inversions. It is a fairly simple course and doesn’t take up a lot of time in regards to the amount of classwork and homework involved. The class involves use of the school’s new electronic music lab, utilizing the pianos and composition programs on the computers. I would recommend music theory for anyone interested in music, regardless of type. Learning the logic behind music, such a rhythms, tonality, key signature, and intervals provides a greater insight and understanding to everyday music. By Bryce Cox Wethersfield High School is hosting an Arts Extravaganza Night this Wednesday, March 27th, from 6pm to 8pm in the art gallery, cafeteria, and auditorium.
The Arts Extravaganza, organized by the arts department, features different stations focusing on different aspects of the arts, including painting, drum circles, and different music performances, as well as decorating cupcakes, printmaking, bubble painting, and more! Band and orchestra conductor Mr. Bowles says, “March is ‘arts in the schools’ month, so the arts department wanted to bring together different students from different disciplines together in one event.” Students typically don’t get a chance to explore other aspects of the arts outside of their own area(s) of study. The Arts Extravaganza provides students and younger kids with an opportunity to explore different areas of the arts that would otherwise be overlooked or missed out on. The arts are often underrepresented, set below sports and academics. This night opens people up to many aspects of the arts, leaving little to no parts out. The Wethersfield High School arts department encourages as many people as possible to come to the Arts Extravaganza, as it will be full of fun and educational opportunities! By: Dimitri Shaposhnikov, Ryan Zwick School lunch has always been a hot topic of discussion, especially when it comes to the quality of lunch. We asked a group of seniors some questions about lunch, the purpose of these questions was to find out what the students think should be changed, added, or removed.
One pressing question we had for seniors was; is the food this year better than the food from last year? Sarah Gordon, said that they thought it was about the same quality as last year, while everyone else at the lunch table said that they thought the food was decent. One suggestion from Sarah Gordon was for the cafeteria to provide taste tests for students to try and give feedback on the food. The next question we asked was, ¨Do you think the food is healthy?” Sarah replied, ¨No but we think that they are trying to make it better.¨ Recently, WHS has started to offer a program called student choice, and many of these choices are fairly healthy. For example, with student choice you can now order different types of burgers including regular, bean, chicken, etc. Two seniors Alyssa Pearce and Lucyne Grigorian, agreed that increasing the duration of lunch would be a positive change. The seniors agreed that lunch should be about 10 minutes longer because often times, the lines to get food are very long. Adding an additional 10 minutes to lunch would allow for students to have time to get their food, and finish eating. We’ve come to the conclusion that although WHS school lunches are decent, there are definitely some improvements to be made. By: Emily Litke HDFS 1070 Individual and Family Development is a course normally taught at the University of Connecticut as a semester course for a large sum of $1,800. This price is what a normal 3-credit course would cost a student at Uconn.
However, for the same three credits and a much more in depth approach to the class, you can take this class at Wethersfield High School for only $125 as a full year class. As a former student, Family and Individual Development was a great stepping stone to college level classes. It gives students a jumpstart on college credits and allows them to apply real life situations, from their own lives as well as research from case studies, to their work and class discussions. Mairead Breton, who took this class as a Junior in high school, stated “The independent and self driven work in the human development class allowed me to be prepared to succeed in a typical college class and get used to the way that assignments are given.” Mrs. Bailey, who is a certified ECE teacher with a masters in education and an undergraduate in Family Consumer Sciences Education, has been teaching this class for 2 years now. She states that “Students will have an understanding of Individual and Family development through the lifespan, as well as learn about societal factors and family influences that affect development.” She also states that “By the end of the year, I hope my students appreciate the diversity in families and different cultures.” As a full year class, this class goes very in depth into human development through the lifespan, family diversity, as well as influences that affect development. Students will be able to analyze concepts by relating them back to their own personal experiences as well as learn to read and write at a college level with depth and insight, and be able to give credit for what has been read. Each semester, this course requires a minimum of 10 community service hours. Mrs. Bailey puts a large emphasis on the fact that the volunteer work that is required in this class is what makes it stand out from others, stating “Volunteer work is what sets this course up as different. It allows students to work in a field they may be interested in one day and possibly make a good impression for future careers.” At Uconn, this course is required for any student going into a degree in human services, like psychology majors, social work majors, and so many others. However, even if you decide to major in something else, the credits can still be used towards any of the required elective classes all students must take. By: Jake Lepore and Zeeshan Haider As of September of 2018, Wethersfield High School has a new english elective, Myths and Legends, that is available to all current and future upperclass students.
The class, taught by long-time WHS teacher Mrs. McKenna, has students plunge into the world of mythology and cultural tales so that they can see the importance of the stories and the influences that they have had on our world. If you are worried about the class only focusing on Greek and Roman stories that everyone knows, don’t worry because this class covers multiple pantheons and cultures including Egyptian, Chinese, and Norse. As you journey through the different cultures, you will find many similarities between them and this includes the lessons that they teach. Mrs. McKenna exclaimed, “I love that there are so many different myths and legends for every culture, yet many of these stories have similarities. You can find common elements in stories from different cultures and time periods: hero’s journey, sacrifice, themes, etc.”. Myths and Legends is similar to other english electives in terms of the number of projects and papers that students will complete throughout the year. The semester course is broke up into four main parts,(myths, legends, fairy tales, and folk tales) and each part includes creative writing assignments and projects that display the students’ knowledge in each section of the class. “It is about the same amount of reading and writing as the other senior English electives. We read many excerpts and passages from bigger texts, focusing on myths, legends, fairy tales, and folk tales. Students read a choice novel that is inspired by a classic fairy tale. We write several papers which involve creative and analytical writing.” In terms of day to day work, Mrs. McKenna stated, “It varies by the unit. Many times, students choose a topic to investigate and report to the class. We read a variety of different sources, many of which are online. These provide us with a great variety of myths, legends, fairy tales, and folk tales. Most of the assessments involve writing: posts, essays, creative writing, and projects”. What puts this class in a different category though is the freedom that students receive when it comes to writing. In other english classes, students are forced to write about a certain theme or book but in Myths and Legends, Mrs. McKenna allows students to pick what stories and ideas they want to write about, resulting in students working harder because they are writing about something that they are interested in. We have both been involved in the class and we know from experience that this course is great to take before college because it resembles the freedom that you have beyond high school learning, and it focuses a lot on what students are interested in reading and writing about. Myths and legends is a class that we believe everyone should take if they have the chance because it is different than the other senior english electives, as it doesn’t force students into reading one book or writing one specific way. This class is available for seniors during both semesters and students can either choose to be in level 1 or level 2. By Katie Galusha, Manager of Choralaires Most people know about what the Choralaires are up to during the months of December and the last couple months of the year. But what do we do in between? In short, a lot of music is involved.
Let us start with the general description of Choralaires: An auditioned-entry choir with 23 (6 basses, 6 tenors, 6 altos, 5 sopranos) spaces available. This is an honors choir, so with membership in the choir, you gain an honors credit. By being a Choralaire, you are also a member of concert choir. We’re also the choir with the infamous field trips for an array of concerts we have been asked to perform. So, the Choralaire literature that is performed is usually a Capella. In the Christmas season, we have staple songs that you must learn and memorize for the rest of the years as a Choralaire. The rite of passage is when you learn “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.” On a day-to-day basis, we rehearse all of our music. With the amount of music we perform, it is strongly suggested to practice in some way at home as well. When we are first handed music, the group tends to sight-read the music. This year’s phantom of the opera medley had a full sight-read run through, the first day it was handed to us. This class gives you an opportunity to make some of your closest friends, as the chemistry within the group grows as the year progresses. On the rare occurrence that we have a substitute, you find the Choralaires rehearse at least one song, and then continue to play music in some way, or continue to sing from their literature. You form a great appreciation for music of all genres. The audition process for Choralaires is the key component in order for you to be enrolled. You are able to audition in June. Your first opportunity to audition is freshman year. If you audition and make it in, you are a member in the group for the rest of your time at the high school. You obtain/accept the responsibility and demands of choralaires when you audition for the group in June. Senior, Mackenzie Stevens (Alto II) states, “We are all so close that I think when you get put into the group, you’re at first saying ‘what is going on, what are these people doing?!’, because there are so many inside jokes [made] and euphemisms [that we all use in conversations now], its all really good.” After the first couple of months, the group as a whole, make memories that we all cherish and laugh with one another about. “We all work really well together. We know when to crack down when we need to, and we know when it’s okay to goof off with one another, so we can mix those together and still get a lot of work done” said Senior Alto II, Emily Raffalo. The audition is nothing to be afraid of either. You sing the National Anthem for Mr. Scott P. Rioux (Choral Director) and all of the members of the same gender. Then, you sing with some of the members, display your vocal range, and get tested on sight-reading, along with pitch matching capabilities. All auditions within the group are never discussed with others. We are never allowed to discuss auditions. At the end of the day, Mr. Rioux makes the decisions for the group. “No one talks badly about you. No one will insult the way that you sing, so if you think that as soon you leave, that is not the case. We really appreciate people who come because it’s scary. We’ve all been in that position so we know what it’s like. So, yeah don’t be scared. We’re not [there] to judge you, and we know exactly how you’re feeling [while you audition].” states Raffalo. My biggest advice is to audition! You will not regret it. You do not even have to have been involved in any choral group prior to your audition. Auditions are held in early June, so keep an eye out! |
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