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Library renovations planned for new school year at MHS
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Bidding farwell to retiring teachers at MHS
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Chief
Vol. 66– No. 5
June 8, 2018 www.thechiefonline.com
Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News
Lights, camera, and layups: one student’s dream comes true BY ISABELLA ITALIANO COPY EDITOR
ISABELLA ITALIANO // THE CHIEF
MHS student, Joseph ‘JoJo’ Gonzalez got the surprise of a lifetime on May 21 when he received a visit from The Harlem Wizards. The professional team challenged the Massapequa All Stars to a basketball game JoJo will never forget, but there’s another surprise waiting for him still. JoJo, wearing a purple Wizards Jersey with his name displayed on the back, was able to showcase his uplifting spirit and outgoing personality throughout his special game. He showed off his dance moves, played with The Wizards and even took the over microphone to hype up the crowd. The event was footage for an upcoming episode of George to the Rescue, a television show that rescues the homes of deserving people, which features JoJo and his family. The game was to highlight JoJo’s love for his school and basketball. JoJo was born with Down Syndrome and his family moved to Massapequa last December, but the new backyard didn’t have an area for him to pursue his passion. “He was leaving friends that he grew up with,” Jojo’s mom said. “It was a big transition for him.” When the family applied for the show, the crew fell in love with their story immediately and hoped it would help people relate better to people with different challenges. After almost 100 episodes, JoJo is the first participant with Down Syndrome. “They’re such an inspiring family and we wanted to reward them with a special transformation they wouldn’t be able to tackle on their own.” George to the Rescue producer, Andrew Bank said. “They look at JoJo as a gift and we were very moved by that, and George was very moved by that.” The surprises began when the show’s host, George Oliphant knocked on their door to tell them they were chosen for
Ballin’ with the Harlem Wizards at MHS | JoJo and the wizards pose for pics in the gym after the surprise basketball game. the yard renovation. The fam- amazing young man like JoJo ards team hidden in a class- thought it was meaningful that ily was not expecting it and a special experience.” Eric room until the event,” Sec- JoJo was an honorary player,” said it was amazing. “Broadway” Jones, Wizards ondary Supervisor of Special sophomore Jessica Heaney While specific details of Showman and Player said. Education Mrs. Danielle Hel- said. “He did a fantastic job.” the remodel remain a secret The event included seven fand said. During the event, MHS until the big reveal in early Wizards players, their MC, Wizard team member Ar- Principal Patrick DiClemente June, Oliphant and his team of Jamel ‘The Voice’ Thomp- thur “King Arthur” Lewis Jr. was reminded of two videos, contractors and designers have son, and their staff. The MHS Published a children’s book The Present and The Danbeen working hard and are ex- team was made up of Mr. Jesse in 2016 titled Is the King ger of a Single Story, both of pecting great reactions from Meyers, Mr. Michael Labella, Too Small to Play Ball???? which contained a message the family. “I hope it’s a bas- Mr. Perry, Mrs. Leigh-Ann The story is about being able of awareness and inclusion. ketball court,” JoJo said. Zimmer, and special guest to overcome obstacles to do “[The game] helped students In addition to the backyard George Oliphant. what you love. At the end of to see multiple perspectives or makeover, the show wanted to The crowd cheered as JoJo the game, the Wizards crew different lifestyles.” add to this special story. They got everyone in the stands to packed up the show. King ArFor everyone, especially arranged for The Harlem Wiz- clap along while players per- thur presented to an ecstatic JoJo, the surprise basketball ards to play against Oliphant formed trick shots and danced JoJo a signed copy of the book game will always be special. and the Massapequa All Stars, around him. “The enthusiasm and posed for pictures. The backyard renovation, and which included several MHS and energy that the MHS stuSuperintendent Mrs. Lu- the George to the Rescue exteachers. dent body brought into the cille Iconis, several school and perience will give the GonzaFor over 50 years The gym was fantastic,” Oliphant district administrators and the lez family positive memories. Harlem Wizards has brought said. “The love for JoJo was Mayor of Massapequa Park, The episode of George to hundreds of talented, humor- especially heartwarming.” Jeffrey Pravato, also attended the Rescue featuring JoJo and ous shows to schools and nonJoJo knew his family, the event. his family will air early this profits across the country. The along with George and his Members of the MHS fall on NBC. games interact with teachers crew would be at school, but community who were in attenand everyone in the stands. was unaware of the real plan dance felt the game turned a “Our team was humble[d] for that morning. “We had the regular school day into someto be a part of bringing an production team and the Wiz- thing they will never forget. “I
THE CHIEF NEWS Student bathrooms to receive overhaul in the near future
JUNE 8, 2018
BY LAURA FRANCAVILLA MANAGING EDITOR
CAITLIN LE GOFF COPY EDITOR
Every high school has its fair share of student complaints, and Massapequa High School is no exception. One of the biggest—and most prominent—problems is the state of the student restrooms. After years of wear-andtare, the school’s plans to update the restrooms are planned to be put into action. “What we’re looking to do is to totally refit the student bathrooms in the high school… it’s going to be a complete gut and redoing new fixtures and tile and floor, so everything,” Director of Facilities Mr. Timothy O’Donnell said. The district voted for the bathrooms being redone “in 2014, [when] the district went out for a $35.7 million bond and as part of that bond, bathroom renovations just for the high school were included,” Mr. O’Donnell added. The budget for this project
is anticipated to be $1,050,000 for the 14 student bathrooms. One major issue many students had (most notably in the first floor girls room) is the stalls are not fixed when broken. In the first floor girls bathroom alone there was one working stall with one stall being out of order for at least three months and another with a non-closing door. This caused major issues during class when a line would form because students could only use one stall. While the boys bathrooms are not in the greatest condition, it is far better than the girls room. However, some stalls don’t close and the windows on the first and second floors are bolted shut, creating heat during the summer months. “The amount of heat stored in the bathroom because the windows are bolted shut and the heaters are constantly on, not to mention how hot the water from the faucets are all the time, those are the main problems,” senior Dom-
inick Faber said. Students have expressed their joy over the news. “I’m happy that the bathrooms are getting fixed, I hope that they are much cleaner and I also hope that the bathrooms are more private, like a European style bathroom,” junior Thomas Finston said. Many students feel that a European style bathroom, which offers more privacy, is the right move for the school. This style offers more privacy with no gap between the stall door and the wall. “ The school has also decided that new paint colors should be included in the bathrooms. The girls room is currently pink while the boys is green. “Word art” has also been talked about to make the bathrooms more attractive. “Instead of doing just a painted wall in the bathroom, I wanna do something different. I would love to have these glass or plastic frames hung on the wall, and then have the ability to put art or great mes-
sages in them. We could do different themes for them and rotate the art according to the theme each month,” Principal Mr. Patrick DiClemente said. Another issue with the bathrooms students have noticed are the lines you have to wait on to get inside. Many students want to go to the bathroom quickly and return to class, therefore many complain about hall monitors because they don’t like how they have them wait outside if the bathroom is full. “I would love to come to a place where we didn’t need to have a monitor outside the bathroom. However its important because we once had a student who was ill and passed out in there. The monitor realized the person was in there for awhile and checked in, that’s the one positive of having a monitor there,” Mr. DiClemente said. Another possible addition could be smoke detectors to discover kids that vape in the bathrooms. With vaping be-
coming an ongoing problem, not to mention bad for one’s health, the detectors would send a message to school officials and allow them to stop the student. Minus the graduating seniors, the student body will get to enjoy these new bathrooms in the future. “Right now we’re waiting on permits from New York State [NYS] , so every project that we do in the district, once we have the plans, we have to send those up to NYS, SED [State Education Department]... hopefully we’ll have some permits mid-to-late summer, then we’ll be bidding it out and hopefully we’ll be starting sometime during next school year,” Mr. O’Donnell said. Students have much to look forward to with bathrooms that will be fully functioning and contain newer appliances. They will also be more private and may include new artwork to help make it look more appealing.
courtroom. “Mock Trial has brought me so close to the rest of the team and some of the people I get to work with are people I would definitely call my best friends. I think that’s what sets us apart from other teams, because everyone works so cohesively and genuinely loves being together for all of our long practices.” senior and Mock Trial Co-captain Kayla Collins said. Not only were the Mock Trial students proud of their accomplishments, their advisor Mr. Daniel Bachman was amazed by their hard work and achievements. “Samantha Cupolo and Kayla Collins leadership was amazing. They were available to help me and all of the
other students 24/7 by either modeling trial performance or giving advice to newer members of the team. They were both responsible for the best closing arguments ever offered in the 35 years we have had Mock Trial. Liam Higgins and Tom DiGennaro gave amazing opening statements, almost always intimidating our opponents,” he said. “Michelle was perfect in her cross examination of the prosecution witness and worked with Mary Kate Cotter to put on an impressive direct examination as well. Cassidy Kamean took a flawed witness and turned her into an impeccable expert witness. The Juniors on our team were Alissa Popeck, Arina Fang, Amanda Doulos and Natasha Saar. Alissa and
Ariana played critical witnesses in court while Natasha and Amanda were ready at a moment’s notice to play any part I needed.” The MHS team competed against Goshen High School and Clarence High School in the preliminary rounds of the state finals, and their case involved an issue prominent in the world today. The case, People v. Carson Conners, revolved around a student who was accused of bullying and the case goes on to reveal that some students are unfairly accused of “petty crimes to prevent them from taking exams that might lower the school’s overall average,” Mr. Bachman added. What made this experience even more special for the
team was that they had help from professionals in the law field. Two former MHS students, Alex Sylvan and Brenna Strype, are currently advisors who helped the team prepare. Judge Douglas Lerose also helped the team when Mr. Sylvan couldn’t this year. “I hope throughout the year the team has come to believe in themselves more. I hope they see in themselves the unbelievable talent and potential that I saw in them from the first moment we got together as a team,” Mr. Bachman said. The MHS Mock Trial team brought their all in the finals and performed extremely well. Congratulations to all members of the team who competed.
Mock Trial team places high in state competition BY LAURA FRANCAVILLA MANAGING EDITOR
BILLY BOYE
COPY EDITOR
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The verdict is in | MHS Mock Trial places fourth in NYSBA competition.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LIAM HIGGINS
MHS students have once again proven themselves a force to be reckoned with. The Mock Trial team which competes in the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Competition has gotten themselves to the State competitions up in Albany. On Tuesday May 14, they competed and placed fourth out of over 400 schools in New York in the competition. “Honestly when we heard the verdict in the finals, it didn’t feel real. It feels like the past three years of hard work and late nights have been worth it and it’s extremely validating to know that we’re good at what we’ve been doing,” senior and Mock Trial Co-captain Sam Cupolo said. The members of the team have spent countless hours perfecting their cases, many of those hours taken from their own free time. “We came in fourth out of over four hundred teams in New York State, which is an absolute honor to have made it that far,” Cupolo said. Teams include attorneys and witnesses, with the attorneys giving their direct examination for their own witness, and a cross examination for the other team’s witness. The students who competed have shown that they have near perfect synergy with each other, both in and out of the
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NEWS MHS introduces new “Go Green” class for students
JUNE 8, 2018
BY JACK GRAZIANO COPY EDITOR
When we look down at our plates we rarely consider where our food comes from. Most of us don’t think about what goes into making, producing, packing, and shipping all of our food. Many of us don’t consider how far our food has travelled, who grew it, and the kind of labor that is involved with producing, shipping, and packag-
ing it. Most of the food Americans eat travels, on average, 1,500 miles before it reaches the consumer. Mr. Michael Labella wants to change that. Besides being a gym and health teacher at MHS, Mr. Labella also teaches the Go Green Class at the school. The class is an “environmental health course aimed to bring awareness to both the environment and horticulture” Mr. La-
bella said. This year the class has grown a variety of vegetables including spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and garlic all within their classroom. In the classroom there are two grow walls that make it possible to efficiently grow plants indoors. The class doesn’t limit themselves to the classroom and it has expanded into the courtyard across from the Al Bevilacqua Wrestling
Room. In the courtyard the class planted tulips and daffodils. This year the class was exclusively offered to CCC students in the high school and not to the general population. The class has been extended to all students and about sixty people will be taking the class next year. Mr. Labella wants to expand by introducing new and
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innovative ways of growing crops by using hydro, aero, and aquaponics as well as doing more outdoor growing. The class’ ultimate goal is to host a farmer’s market of sorts to sell the crops and raise money for the next school year. Mr. Labella hopes for the course to become an accredited course through Adelphi University that would earn students three college credits.
School library slated for new modern look this upcoming fall BY MICHAEL RIGGI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SABRINA ALBERTI STAFF WRITER
SABRINA ALBERTI // THE CHIEF
After years of patiently sitting by while other major renovation projects were in the works, the library at MHS is finally receiving a massive overhaul going into the new 2018-2019 school year. Not only will this new project update all of the physical structures of the current space for the first time since it was built, but it will allow students to interact and communicate with each other in a variety of beneficial new ways. “Planning for this renovation has been very exciting and has given us an opportunity to examine the library program and expand on ways to make it better,” school librarian Mrs. Lynn Reynolds said. “The newly designed MHS library will continue to be the hub of the school and turn the library into a multi-use facility that promotes cooperation between students.” As in any other school the library acts as a center for student resources and a lot of thought has gone into rebuilding the traditional space to suit the needs of the school. As a result architects working on the project have planned to rebuild the space “floor to ceiling” for the benefit of MHS students and the community. When planning for the new structure of the facility, the architects and respective staff in the high school are making sure to focus around “flexibility” as a key factor for making the library more suitable for peers. In order to embrace a true modern type of working environment the entirety of the library will be completely redone from the ground up. “The new space will take advantage of today’s technology with a fresh 21st century look that meets the needs of today’s students,” librarian Mrs. Jill O’Connor said. Even though the project is still in progress, many new exciting features are planned to
be included in the renovation shifting the library to a more modern-day type of working space. This new atmosphere will include new circulation desks, lounge pieces for a more comfortable study area, and charging stations for chromebooks. The space will also include separate glass areas for group study sessions, allowing students to get any extra study hours with their classmates right in the heart of the school. “With these new features the library will be a much more inviting and versatile space for students that will fit in terms of technology” Massapequa High School principal Mr. Patrick DiClemente said. “Different types of students, such as a student who prefers a quiet area versus a student who wants to work in a group, will be able to find these specific types of accomodations.” Plans for the “re-imagining” of the school library have been submitted by architects even though they are still subject to change. To make space for all of these new exciting features, project managers plan to remove the side offices from the current library to make the library even grander in scale. While many of the new additions/features of the space have been finalized, aspects including the final layout and color palette are to be determined. All of the staff involved in the project is making sure to work around the clock in hopes that construction will begin by the end of the school year to meet the expected finishing date of this upcoming September. If finished in time, the library will act as a great resource for new students to learn the ins and outs of the high school and the coursework for a variety of challenging classes the school offers. “Everything and anything that has to do with the library - events helping the library, meetings, video conferences - will be reimagined,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “The architect
Awaiting change | The current state of the library before the big change this approaching fall. came in, took a look at space bracing more modern techno- events for clubs or for getting and designed a layout. Despite logical features. In addition to work done on a group project this the instructional area will this, the library will continue for a class. remain.” to offer traditional after-school “Nothing major has ever Some of the new areas programs and will further fa- been redone in the library will include “Flexible seating cilitate classroom discussions on this scale” Mrs. Reynolds and power ports in some of by embracing the new maker- said. “It will be nice to have the tables for an easier way for space areas. a fresh new room that showstudents to stay connected.” The librarians and admin- cases student artwork and the Despite many of these istrators are more than pleased community.” changes, many traditional el- to be part of this transition Between the soon to be ements of the current library in Massapequa High School renovated library and new will still remain. Moving which will change both the cyber cafe facilities, students forward the newly renovated way that students and faculty will have more opportunilibrary will continue to stay members work. The collabora- ties and resources than ever open till 5:00 pm and offer tive maker spaces for instance at MHS to excel in their high students a wide array of physi- can act as great spaces for school careers moving forcal books/textbooks while em- planning out future meetings/ ward.
THE CHIEF FEATURE Biology teacher Mr. Gariglio lassoes up his last year at MHS
JUNE 8, 2018
BY JACK GRAZIANO COPY EDITOR
trainer. “My love for sports and medicine led me to athletic training,” he said. But what ultimately led Mr. Gariglio to teaching “was the exchanging of knowledge and information, working with students everyday, and passing on knowledge and information.” Mr. Gariglio is looking forward to his retirement. “I’m excited to carve out time for me I guess. I’m excited to ski, hike, finally get a break, and of course become a cowboy,” he said. Mr. Gariglio’s kind heart and captivating teaching abil-
ities will be remembered fondly. Few teachers are able to impact their students in the way that Mr. Gariglio has. “That’s always been my ultimate goal, even if a student doesn’t find interest in biology, just to get a student interested in coming to class,” he said. Respect has always been at the forefront of his teaching. “In order to get respect it must be reciprocated,” he said. “Treat people the way that you would want yourself and your kids to be treated.” Massapequa says a sincere goodbye to an amazing educator, colleague, and friend.
Mr. Robert Gariglio | Biology teacher.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEAH JOHNSTON
Mr. Robert Gariglio says a heartfelt goodbye to Massapequa after 34 years of hard work. Mr. Gariglio has been a biology teacher at MHS for fourteen years. In addition to all his accomplishments as a teacher at MHS and Berner, he has worked at several other places. Mr. Gariglio teaches at Nassau Community College and LIU Post and has worked at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, aiding special needs students. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Gariglio was an athletic
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Main campus secretary Mrs. Csajko has left the building BY JESSICA HUNT STAFF WRITER
time in General Office, she has a lot of good times and bad.” her and wishes her the best in relaxing plans for retirement. The MHS family will miss retirement. “I plan to stop and smell the roses and enjoy each day as it comes,” she said. “I hope to see my seven grandchildren more often, catch up with friends, travel, sit and read a book at the beach, work in my garden, take golf and dancing lessons, and continue volunteer work with my church.” “The thing I will miss the most about MHS is the camaraderie I had in the office with the other ladies and administrators,” she said. “We shared Mrs. Debi Csjako | General Office secretary.
“Seeing all of the kids I knew at Lockhart grow up is such a rewarding experience,” she said. “It gives me a sense of self-worth.” After her time at Lockhart, she began working at Berner and then found her home at MHS. “It’s all about the students,” she said, “making sure they’re in a safe, healthy environment,” One fulfilling memory is her involvement with the Empire Games. She finds it rewarding to work with the CCC kids at the Games. As a school nurse her goal is to make “a difference in stu-
dents’ lives and in the community and to make people feel better about themselves when they come into the office.” For Mrs. Fink, her retirement offers exciting new opportunities, but she will also miss much of what made MHS home to her. “I’m going to miss my colleagues, my friends, and being able to care for everybody,” she said. Looking forward to her bright future, Mrs. Fink hopes to travel during her retirement, on a European river cruise and to her favorite place—Disney World. She also hopes to con-
wonderful faculty, staff, and students.” An MHS graduate herself, Mrs. Muller enjoyed returning to the building and seeing students she worked with at Grace Day School. Upon returning to MHS it took Mrs. Muller some time to adapt to the technology. This was especially challenging with PowerSchool since she “was used to handwriting all work since there was no technology at Grace Day School.” Mrs. Muller has some retirement plans that everyone wants when they end their career, including spending time
with family and friends. “I’m looking forward to enjoying my home and keeping up with things including some traveling and relaxing,” she said. Mrs. Muller will miss many different things from her time at MHS. Overall she is going to miss “The contact with everyone at MHS” the most. “It has been a wonderful journey and I will truly miss my time here.” We wish you the best in the future for many years ahead.
PHOTO BY ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Mrs. Debi Csajko, a secretary at the MHS General Office, said goodbye to MHS and hello to retirement back in April. After working at the school for twenty one and a half years, she has made many valuable memories that she will carry with her throughout her lifetime. “Some of the best memories at MHS are our musicals, the AP Art Shows, the Christmas concerts,” she said. “It always amazes me how talented
our students really are.” Originally Mrs. Csajko only planned to work at the high school for five years, but eventually wound up staying with the job due to its many positive aspects including being close to her house, having good benefits and enjoying helping both the teachers and students. As she worked with the MHS staff and students she continuously put her best effort into all of her work and always showed to be a true team player. Although she enjoyed her
School nurse Mrs. Fink bids farewell to her time at MHS BY LIAM HIGGINGS
2017-2018 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ly miss such a beloved school nurse as she embarks on a new chapter of her life.
Mrs. Christine Fink | School nurse.
LAURA FRANCAVILLA // THE CHIEF
After working for 20 years in the Massapequa School District, including six years in MHS, Mrs. Christine Fink embarks on a new journey as she enters into her retirement. Ever since she was young, Mrs. Fink has had a passion for helping others feel better. “I love taking care and nurturing the students that come into my office,” Mrs. Fink said. Prior to working at MHS, she spent time at Lockhart, taking care of students who are now seniors at MHS.
tinue her generosity by volunteering at an animal shelter. Massapequa will certain-
Registered nurse Mrs. Muller checks out of MHS BY ALEX CARMENATY STAFF WRITER
Mrs. Susan Muller | School nurse.
PHOTO BY ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Another Nurse is hanging up her thermometer. Mrs. Susan Muller, R.N. is retiring after forty-two years of hard work and dedication to her career as a nurse. Mrs. Muller had worked as a school nurse at MHS for two and a half years, six years in the school district, and eighteen years at Grace Day School on Merrick Road before it closed down a few years back. Mrs. Muller stated that she was excited to work here due to “Being with all the
THE CHIEF 5 FEATURE Head of Music Department Dr. Gaines sings song of farewell
JUNE 8, 2018
BY JACK GRAZIANO COPY EDITOR
ready to retire. During his retirement he plans to work at Queens College and continue to work for NYSSMA, “as well as getting back to sleeping and catching up on reading,” he added. Dr. Gaines’ predecessor will have big shoes to fill and Dr. Gaines would like to leave some words of advice for his predecessor and former students and colleagues. “I would advise that person to consider what they have here and not to act hastily. I would also like to state that I couldn’t be happier or prouder of my time here at MHS. It has been a great experience,” he said. “Massapequa will always be somewhere that I look at and continue to look at fondly
Dr. David Gaines | Music Department Curriculum Associate regardless that I won’t be mak- ment and we all thank him for ing the decisions anymore.” his years of dedication in the With that said, Dr. Gaines music program and beyond. is looking forward to his retire-
year as a member of the faculty here at MHS. Mrs. Thompson, who teaches a general accounting course as well as a college level accounting class
helps instill knowledge to her students on how to make decisions in the working world. Students in her classes learn to be smart with their money when making decisions like buying a car and applying for a loan. These little tips and tricks help her students with a better understanding of how to be smart with their money. Mrs. Thompson began her career in the accounting and finance fields for ten years before she went back for her teaching degree. After that, she began teaching for seven years in North Carolina before beginning her work at MHS. The accounting and finance fields attracted her because she enjoyed them and she had hopes of starting new businesses. After having kids
of her own, she then realized how important teaching is to the next generation of students and she returned to school to get her teaching degree. Thompson and her family then returned to Massapequa because, “Massapequa is a fantastic school district. After moving back to Long Island following twenty years living in New Jersey and North Carolina, my husband and I wanted our children to have a great education. So, we chose to buy a house here. I was lucky to also begin teaching in Massapequa,” Mrs. Thompson said. While some teachers prepare students to pass exams like Advanced Placements tests or New York State Regents exams, Thompson views her role as something bigger.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DR. GAINES
After 31 years, Dr. David Gaines is turning to the next chapter of his life, retirement. Dr. Gaines worked in Massapequa first as a band director at MHS. He worked to bring the band up to the same caliber as the orchestra and chorus. After 21 years of hard work he was promoted to the Head of the Music Department. Dr. Gaines worked as Head of the Music Department to develop “a high level performing band program” and eventually received the NYSSMA Presidential Citation for creating such an outstanding music department. Despite the awards and accolades he has received over
the many years his best memory is “working to develop a music program for special education students at East Lake, Berner, Ames, and at the high school level.” Though Dr. Gaines has received many awards and recognition for his talents as a band teacher and the Head of the Music Department, he didn’t originally know he wanted to become a teacher. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do exactly but I liked working with kids even in high school. I worked at summer camps and just enjoyed being around youth. It was always about working with kids first, music came second to me,” he said. After over three decades of hard work Dr. Gaines is
Career and tech ed chairperson Mrs. Thompson logs off BY PETER TOUTOULIS 2017-2018 SPORTS EDITOR
After a twenty year career as a teacher, Mrs. Susan Thompson has finished her last
ISABELLA ITALIANO // THE CHIEF
Mrs. Susan Thompson | Career and technology chairperson.
“I love teaching students because I feel I am helping them build their future. I have always tried to teach for deep understanding and am much more interested in students learning for life than learning for “‘the test,’” she added. With her successful career at MHS drawing to a close, Mrs. Thompson has made sure she left her mark on her students and the entire business department by giving students a large range of opportunities to grow and enhance their skills in their specific fields. While we all have much to learn, Mrs. Thompson has the experience to continue to be a successful entrepreneur in her retirement.
Reflection of Mrs. Conte’s impacts on the MHS community BY SOPHIA THEODOROUS STAFF WRITER
Ms. Conte made it work. She earned her degree for teaching and began her journey as an educator. Ms. Conte was a business and health educator before becoming a teacher in Massapequa School District. She worked at Berner Middle School as well as here at the main campus. During the time she has spent in Massapequa she has been able to see former student’s siblings pass through her classes. As her departure is nearing students were saddened that should would not be around for their siblings to have her as a teacher. Leaving behind some advice for future teachers, Ms. Conte says, “You have the ability to shape the minds of our youth! Be a strong leader and role model… Respect and love them for they will only be in your care a short time but will forever remember how
PHOTO BY ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Walking down any hallway at MHS you’re sure to find Ms. Marianne Conte somewhere along your journey. From Personal Money Management, Video Production, 21st Century Business Skills, Keyboarding/Study Skills, Restaurant and Hotel Management, Desktop Publishing, Career Connections, and Career and Financial Management and currently Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Fashion Marketing, Sports Marketing, PC Applications, and College Marketing she is sure to be found all over. If that list is not enough, she has also contributed to Massapequa School District by participating in extracurricular activities. As a Co-Advisor of the Trading Post, an Advisor of the Fashion Club, and a long standing member of the Massapequa Partnership
for Career Development Advisory Board the years she spent at MHS were with numerous contributions. “My favorite and essential life lessons that I have taught my students are related to stress management, time management, and decision making” said Ms. Conte. Her students and their well being are always her number one concern. Growing up, Ms. Conte did not know that her life would lead her to teaching. “Growing up I was always intrigued by the entertainment industry and wanted to be an actress or a dancer,” she said. As the years went on, she realized that she truly wanted to help and teach others so she pursued education. Managing being a fulltime mother, a PTA member, holding various sales and marketing positions and being a part time college student,
Mrs. Marianne Conte | Business teacher. and what you’ve taught them.” will be missed the most,” said The remembrance of all of Ms. Conte. Ms. Conte’s accomplishments Yet, her students will aris admirable. “The students gue they will miss her more. and staff members at MHS
TOURIST SPOTS
JUNE 8, 2018
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THE CHIEF
Sagamore Hill One fun thing to do over the summer is to visit Sagamore Hill out in Oyster Bay. This is the summer home of our 26th President Theodore Roosevelt who served from 1901-1909. The site gives all the history and information you need to know about Teddy Roosevelt from his life, to the Spanish-American War, to his Presidency, and even to living in Sagamore Hill. Make sure to visit Sagamore Hill this Summer, a site that tells you about the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Adven
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Cradle of Aviation
If you’re a tourist on Long Island, then the Cradle of Aviation is an essential spot to check out. Housing tons of memorabilia related to aviation, it also holds seasonal events. One of these events includes a retro gaming expo, where an area of the Cradle of Aviation is decked out in arcade cabinets, giving people a chance to either experience new games or relive their childhood. The Cradle of Aviation is home to hundreds of shows and displays that are fun for people of any age. With an admission fee of $9 for adults and $8 for children, it is most definitely worth the price.
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Jones Beach State Park not only has one of the best beaches in New York, but also many other fun-filled activities to offer for all ages. Well known for its wide sand filled shoreline, it attracts many locals and tourists in the summer months to experience a variety of summer activities. Other than the swimming in the ocean, Jones Beach also has other amenities to offer such as playgrounds, picnic tables, a performing arts center, marina, swimming pool, restaurants and much more. One of the most popular events held here is the BLI Summer Jam at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater where a variety of popular artists such as Shawn Mendes, Marshmello, Alessia Cara and many more will perform. This years BLI Summer Jam will take place on June 15 and is a great way to end the school year and kick off the start of the summer vacation.
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Most commonly referred to as “The End,” Montauk is a town with beautiful scenic spots and plentiful tourist attractions. Housing famous beaches, hotels, a picture-perfect little town, and of course the famous lighthouse, Montauk separates itself from the common Long Island hustle and bustle and makes for a perfect summer day that’s just a train ride away.
Fire Island Another great destination for tourists is Fire Island national seashore. It’s almost nine miles of beach and fun things to do! Take a twenty-five minute ride on the ferry or your own boat to one of the twenty villages on the island. The most visited town is Ocean Beach, featuring many places to eat and shop with just a quick two-block walk to the beach.You can rent a house, book a room at a hotel or just go for the day. No matter what, you’ll take home memories that will last a lifetime.
Jones Beach
*Graphic by Kiera Pagano
THE CHIEF
JUNE 8, 2018
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Riggi MANAGING EDITOR Laura Francavilla COPY EDITORS Billy Boye Caitlin LeGoff Isabella Italiano Jack Graziano BUSINESS MANAGER Alex Carmenaty 2017-2018 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Liam Higgins 2017-2018 SPORTS EDITOR Peter Toutoulis ADVISOR Elyn Coyle Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758
Editorial Policy
The Chief, the student newspaper of Massapequa High School, is an open forum to discuss the student body’s issues and concerns. Members of The Chief will make every effort to publish following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with the first amendment of the United States Constitution, the staff also will refrain from printing material that may incite students, be a violation of MHS’ Student Code of Conduct or disrupt school operations. The editorial board of The Chief welcomes and encourages submitted letters, stories, cartoons and any other feedback to the editor. Please send all submissions to mhsthechief@gmail.com. Letters sent by email may need to be verified by student signature before publishing. • Although anonymous letters to the editor are not printed, names will be held upon request. The Chief has the right to deny publication of any editorial, column, review or comment. • Grammatical and/or spelling corrections will be made; however, the content will not be altered. • Corrections will be printed when mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff. • Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by someone other than the original author will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will be listed at the end of an article. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work. • All columns, reviews or commentary are strictly the opinion of the writer and may not represent opinions held by the school board, administration, sponsors, parents, student body or advertisers. However, all editorials reflect the viewpoint of The Chief editorial board. Distribution: 1,700 copies 1,859 students, 194 teachers All papers are free
*Correction: In the March issue, Kevin Malone was incorrectly reported as Kyle Maloney.
THE CHIEF 8 EDITORIAL Off-campus lunch: the ‘student specials’ dilemma
Off-campus lunch at the main campus has been a tradition that students have flaunted and embraced proudly for decades. But rising costs may soon be driving students back into the cafeteria. Due to the high competitive prices of new businesses and their tendencies to offer no special discounts for students, off-campus lunch may soon be a privilege that many students will lose grasp of in the coming years. The standard school lunch prices at Berner, Ames, and other schools across the district are designed to be affordable for lunch card swipes and family plans. At the main campus however, students have the ability to leave the building and purchase lunch at surrounding businesses. Over the past year, some places have raised their prices and others have removed student specials, making lunch for those who take advantage of open campus privileges much more costly. Where student specials
used to be around $5 at most local businesses, many of the existing businesses and newer businesses have increased their prices to be upwards of $7. Due to the rising popularity of these new establishments, some fear other businesses could follow suit and increase their prices. This may seem insignificant, but it is in many ways quite the opposite. Students struggling to make ends meet might already have a challenging enough time purchasing food, and rising lunch prices will make this even more difficult. Sophomore students in specific who do exercise their privilege to open campus are the ones that suffer from this scenario the most. While the majority of juniors and seniors have their licenses and a job to support funds for lunch, sophomores are often left behind and struggling in that middle block. While many sophomores do have the option to get a job, age restrictions of-
Letters to the editor
Dear editor, I am writing to commend you for the recent issue of “The Chief”. The paper did an excellent job of tackling today’s biggest issues and highlighting student voices. I especially admired your “Signs, silence, and suspension” piece. It was clear throughout the article that there was an even balance between the administrators’ and students’ views of the recent Day of Peace/Walkout. You both expertly pointed out the facts of this situation in order to properly inform the student body. By including the different punishments given to students across Long Island, you furthered the question for readers on whether or not in-
school suspension was appropriate. Also, citing the case of Tinker v. Des Moines gave MHS pupils a deeper look at the history of student protests and provided crucial facts. I recently emailed Mary Beth Tinker, one of the students who sued the Des Moines Independent School District, about the walkout and I am positive that she would appreciate your piece just as much as I did. Finally, I would like to thank “The Chief” for their level of professionalism in reaching out and asking me questions on this topic. It was an overall positive experience and I look forward to your next issue. Congratulations once again! - Patricia Taylor
ten prohibit many from getting a job in the beginning of the school year especially. Sophomores are additionally much more prone to “sophomore eating syndrome,” a nickname given to sophomores who take too much advantage of these new lunch opportunities and buy lunch out everyday. Juniors and seniors often times are more experienced in saving money and have the benefit of the doubt in this regardand. Off-campus lunch is available to specifically give students the choice for more food options and is completely optional for all. For students who decline to leave the building for lunch, multiple facilities are available to eat in including the Cyber Cafe. Students also have the option to work in the library. Another effective alternative option is paper bagging their lunch and bringing it to school. While not always the most exciting alternative, bringing lunch saves students
money who eat out often. In comparison to businesses around the high school, the Cyber Cafe acts as a much more affordable alternative option with similar lunch prices/options to those of Berner, Ames, and other Massapequa schools. By staying in to eat everyday for lunch though, students are losing the opportunity to leave campus for around forty minutes and come back into their next period with a clear mind. Students can continue to exercise their privilege of going out to lunch despite these rising prices. Many local establishments such as ‘Town Bagel,’ ‘Zona,’ ‘Potstickers,’ and ‘Zim Zari’ continue to offer lunch specials to students. Since prices may continue to rise at eateries where student specials are not offered, it is important for students to manage their money and delegate where they spend it. Eating out is costly regardless of the restaurant no matter how much money the student specials take off.
Dear editor, After the last paper of the Chief was printed at MHS, I read the article entitled, “ Toma-talk: how MHS’s broadcasters deliver the daily news” and it made me think of something that the school can start doing for the students, and that is to have the announcements available for students at any time. As I know, personally, during my homeroom class, everyone is very loud and excited and they all like to talk a lot, which makes it very difficult to hear the announcements well. For me, I feel that it would be very helpful if a written version of the announcement was made available for students who perhaps did not hear the announcements, missed something, came in late, or were absent. While I was a sophomore last year, I found that the announcements were always very helpful with times for clubs and where they were
meeting, and even information for college such as scholarship opportunities. This year, however, it has been a lot more difficult finding this information because, as previously mentioned, it is hard to hear the announcements. Another suggestion is to maybe record the announcements and put it up on haiku for students to go back and listen to. I do not think I’m the only one who feels this way, and I feel that something can be done about this, and I believe it would not be a hard task to accomplish. I find that having announcements in the morning is a fun way to wake everyone up and make them laugh with the different noises used, and I like that it’s not teachers that are doing it, but that the students can get involved. I appreciate your time, and I look forward to anything that can be done in the future. - Isabelle Alves
Editor’s NoteThank you for expressing your concern about the morning announcements. There is a way to get the messages if you miss the morning announcements. If you visit the Massapequa High School website and click on the bullhorn on the MHS page you can get the announcements that way. You can also visit the website and scroll to the bottom where you will find an email subscription option.
THE CHIEF 9 SCHOOL NEWS The Chief newspaper advisor puts down red pen for retirement
JUNE 8, 2018
BY ISABELLA ITALIANO COPY EDITOR
was an added bonus. “I’m very proud of my work with The Chief and the award winning publication it has become over the past 15 years,” Mrs. Coyle said. In her retirement, she is looking forward to unwinding and getting used to a much slower lifestyle. She would like to travel, take art courses and maybe even learn piano. Mrs. Coyle is going to miss the people she has grown so close with the most; the colleagues she has had the privilege to work with, the friends she has made, and the students she has impacted. “What we do as teachers can have such an impact on students’ lives,” Mrs. Coyle said. “And I hope my impacts were positive.”
Mrs. Elyn Coyle | English teacher and advisor extraordinaire.
would have provided an easier and shorter way to practice, and overall more safe for the students. According to Newsday, the aquatic center was rejected with a total of 1,818-3,423 votes. The swim team members aren’t pleased with the community’s decision to not have the aquatic center. “I think that people were more concerned about the money aspect of it rather than
the practicality of the pool itself. It’s frustrating knowing that all the time and effort we put into raising awareness about the pool situation went to waste,” senior Sean Maurer said. The new aquatic center would have provided many uses to the community. The swim team would have had a more local place to practice and even the Berner students could have used it as a gym unit.
“Sure, I was never going to swim in it [the pool] anyways, obviously because I’m graduating, but it would’ve been nice to see the future swim team have a pool of their own,” Sean said. “The money from taxpayers would have eventually been worth it in the end.” Many of the swim team members voiced their support for the pool, and were disappointed in the end result. “The pool would have
ISABELLA ITALIANO // THE CHIEF
At the end of this year, Mrs. Elyn Coyle is trading in her English books for plane tickets, as she says goodbye to her MHS family for the past 32 years. Throughout her career, she has taught a variety of courses including Journalism/ Creative Writing, Broadcast Journalism, SCALE Composition, and 7-12 grade English courses. She has also been the advisor of both The Chief and WMHS since 2002. “I love teaching. it’s what I do, it’s what I’ve done, and it’s who I will always be,” Mrs. Coyle said. Some of her best memories of her time in the district include working on a team in
Berner, seeing A Christmas Carol in Theater 3 when she taught 7th grade, and the annual trip to Columbia University with The Chief, Visions, and the Yearbook. Before she became a Chief, she wrote manuals for a retail company. After she was asked to do a training instruction course, she became hooked on teaching. When she entered the Massapequa School District, she also chose to make the community her home and sent her own children to school in the district. Since taking over The Chief, the paper has won countless awards, and the club has gone on many memorable trips. This year, several students and Mrs. Coyle went to the Newseum in D.C., which
No new pool for the Massapequa swim team BY LAURA FRANCAVILLA MANAGING EDITOR
After months of debate and support from many people in Massapequa, the budget vote took place on May 15. The much anticipated aquatic center at Berner Middle School was in the mix and was voted down by the community. This comes as a shock to many, since it is well known that the swim team travels to Brentwood just for practice during the week. The new pool
been a huge help to not only swimmers, but to the community and we were all disappointed that our efforts to encourage this pool did not prevail,” said junior Rachelle Casement. Although the aquatic center won’t become a reality, the swim team will continue to go to Brentwood and bring MHS more wins in their meets.
THE CHIEF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Review: Avengers: Infinity War soars to infinite success
JUNE 8, 2018
BY BILLY BOYE COPY EDITOR
When Marvel Studios released Iron Man (2008) to the world, it was the beginning of an entire cinematic universe that would span ten years of stories about classic superheroes. These heroes include, but are not limited to Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and recently, Spider-Man. The MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) has had multiple instances of it’s iconic characters crossover with each other. These crossovers can be as small as a cameo, such
as Doctor Strange making an appearance in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). On the other hand, however, they can be as big as a multitude of heroes coming together to fight one villain, which is the case for Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Originally planned to be released on May 4, 2018, the film’s release date was pushed forward one week, releasing to the world on April 27, 2018. This was in part due to an interaction between Robert Downey Jr., the actor who plays Tony Stark aka Iron
Man, and Marvel Studios on Twitter. This film is the third of the Avengers series of films, with an untitled Avengers sequel releasing in 2019. This untitled sequel has been rumored to be a sequel film to Avengers: Infinity War. In a common trope with all MCU films, the creator of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, makes a cameo in this film. In the film, he makes a cameo as Peter Parker’s bus driver in the beginning of the film. Another common trope
with all MCU films is the post credits scene, which Avengers: Infinity War has. To avoid spoilers for the movie, however, this article will not detail the post credits scene of Avengers: Infinity War. Avengers: Infinity War has an all-star cast, featuring Chris Evans as Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. These actors have played their characters for a long time, ten years in the case of Robert Downey Jr. Two of the newest actors to join the
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cast are Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, and Tom Holland as Spider-Man. Avengers: Infinity War has quickly been met with universal praise, reaching $1 billion total earnings in just 11 days, a world record never upheld before. The film also reached $257.6 million dollars in its opening weekend, beating out the previous record holder Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Avengers: Infinity War is a critical success that truly envelops the idea Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.
Preview: Andrew Roberts’ Churchill: Walking with Destiny BY ALEX CARMENATY BUSINESS MANAGER
Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Britain, has been the subject of many books, the first one being published in 1905. This November, English historian Andrew Roberts will publish Churchill: Walking With Destiny a novel focusing on Churchill’s time in politics and his opposition to Adolf Hitler and Nazism. This is an epic book that tells of an epic life. Roberts peels back the layers to provide insight into the reasons why Churchill did what he did and how he came to be a major historical figure. Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on No-
vember 30, 1874 to Lord Randolph Churchill and his American mother Jennie Jerome. According to Mr. Roberts, Churchill was “profoundly affected by his half-American background” and all his life promoted the idea of the union of the English-speaking peoples. Churchill had difficulties in school and was not a very good student, mainly due to the lisp he developed at a very young age. He became a master of the English language and as Mr. Roberts noted, “the role of Churchill’s oratory in inspiring the British, American and other peoples to defeat Hitler was absolutely essential.”
On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill became the Prime Minister of Britain. Churchill formed a coalition cabinet from the Conservative, Liberal and Labour Parties to take a united stand against Hitler. Britain would stand alone against the Germans for an entire year. It was Winston Churchill who rallied the people for human freedom with his powerful speeches. The United States and the Soviet Union would join forces with Great Britain in defeating Germany on May 8, 1945. Churchill had a great relationship with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and with General and future US Pres-
ident Dwight D. Eisenhower. “He highly respected and admired both men. Although they had many political arguments, it never affected their friendships” Mr. Roberts stated. Roberts commented on Churchill’s military leadership and his stances during WWII. “He was an exceptional war leader who played a vital role in defeating the Nazis.” Roberts said. Also saying that “Along with the Chiefs of Staff, he devised the strategy for Britain to win the war, in alliance with the British Empire, United States of America and the Soviet Union”. Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965 at nine-
ty years old. Britain and the rest of the world mourned the death of the man that made a huge impact on the world. At the moment when freedom was most under siege, he stood up to Hitler and the Nazis. In Churchill’s life and in Roberts’ book we also find lessons to the challenges we face in our own time. Roberts said that “Every generation needs a biography of Churchill to call its own” And for this generation it is Churchill: Walking With Destiny. Roberts’ new book, Churchill: Walking with Destiny is being published by Penguin in November. You can pre-order it from your local bookstore, or on Amazon.com.
office. As seen by these box office numbers, the Star Wars films undoubtedly hold a special place in the heart of millions across the world. Since the release of the original Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) a mass following and cultural phenomenon have developed unlike any other. Not only has Disney found a way to capitalize on the long running success of the franchise, but it has done so in a way that revived the franchise to even greater heights. So what’s the problem? While this may seem to be a great accomplishment, the movies themselves are generally what is stirring up controversy among the millions of fans. In 1977 one clear cohesive vision of the franchise moving forward was always in sight from director George Lucas. Over 40 years later this pre-existing cohesiveness of the future of the films has been muddled with in the hands of different directors and executives within the largest corporation in the world with the newer live action films. This rift can specifically
be seen when comparing director J.J. Abram’s Episode VII (The Force Awakens) to director Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII (The Last Jedi). In Episode VII, Abrams sets up specific character arcs for new characters including Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. While these same characters are present in Episode VIII, Johnson had a much different interpretation of where he wanted the sequel trilogy to go over J.J.’s vision, changing character arcs and even disregarding plot lines established in the previous film. Unlike any film in the franchise prior The Last Jedi split fans into two very separate camps both for and against Star Wars and executives at Disney such as Kathleen Kennedy who control the films. In comparison to other entries Episode VIII ranks significantly below many of them in terms of reviews and audience satisfaction scores, showing that not all fans are on board with the current path Disney is taking. Following this backlash much controversy surfaced around the newest film in the
franchise Solo: A Star Wars Story. After switching directors multiple times and recasting argumentatively the most famous of the Star Wars characters, debate has centered around whether the newer films are necessary since they conflict with George Lucas’s vision. Many also argue that Disney is rushing the newer films with only a five month gap between the latest two entries. Waiting for Star Wars films in the past is part of what made them so special to many. Years of speculation for films such as Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, and even The Force Awakens is part of what made their theatrical releases so special to fans waiting years for these films. With part of this appeal now taken out with the novelty of a new film every year, it can very easily slip into the trend of oversaturating the movie industry similar to the impact the superhero genre has had on many. Undoubtedly Disney and its respective directors have put their best effort forward in making each film “feel” like
a Star Wars film visually and appeal to audience nostalgia, but the deeper substance other films carry is beginning to fade. Even though Star Wars was by no means ever “deep” or “moving,” the new films moving forward can’t just ride off of nostalgia in a mass cultural phenomenon that fans depict, critique, and memorize frame by frame. Many of the problems the franchise is up against now can be fixed in the future with the films planned to come. In particular the spin-off trilogy from director Rian Johnson can fix many of these problems with a fresh take on the universe not directly tied down to the original films. With plans for new films, television shows, and even parks/hotels at Disney resorts across the world, it is challenging not to be excited for the potential future that Star Wars has to offer. Despite all of the criticism, such great potential that Disney has in bringing this property to new levels of engagement and immersion to the hearts of fans shines as a glimmering light of new hope.
Is the Star Wars franchise beginning to sink? BY MICHAEL RIGGI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … a new movie in the Star Wars franchise didn’t release every year. As promised after acquiring the rights to Lucasfilm for over one billion dollars in 2012, Disney has consistently released a new film in the Star Wars franchise once a year since the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. But is the yearly release of these films over-saturating audiences with too much of the popular movie saga? In terms of box office numbers, the Star Wars saga continues to dominate and shows no signs of slowing down. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) sits as the third highest grossing film of all time accumulating just over two million dollars while its sequel Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) ranks as the ninth highest grossing film of all time collecting around $1.3 billion. Not far behind from this is spin-off film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) which raked in a little over one billion dollars at the box
THE CHIEF SPORTS Jake Bresnihan runs to success in last year on track team
JUNE 8, 2018
BY LAURA FRANCAVILLA MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAKE BRESNIHAN
There are some people in Massapequa High School who are notorious for their athletic accomplishments and skills. Everyone knows their names and when they graduate this year, their accomplishments will go down in MHS history. One such senior athlete this school year is track runner Jake Bresnihan. “I originally picked track as a way to hang out with my friends and stay in shape, but ended up sticking with it over something else because I became pretty good and enjoyed the time with coaches and teammates,” Bresnihan said. In his four years of high school track, he has been made a varsity athlete and an all state scholar athlete. He has also earned the 600m All Conference, 4x800 relay All County, All Long Island Sprint Medley Relay, All State Intersectional Relay, and the All American
Running for the win | Bresnihan finishes last track season strong. Distance Medley Relay titles. at something and it all comes forty years Massapequa has To add onto this impres- together to form a great team,” won…” he said. sive list, Bresnihan is part of he said. Bresnihan also has been the 4x200 school broken reFor his last year at MHS, accepted to Quinnipiac Unicord. he has high hopes to be named versity and will be attending Bresnihan didn’t get to All Division, All County, and this fall. He will be enrolled these titles by himself. “I like All Long Island again. “I also in the university’s entry level how track is never really a would like to win the county physician assistant program. competition with your team- championship as a team. It Quinnipiac unfortunately does mates… everybody is good would be the first time in over not have a men’s track team. “I
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will not be continuing in college, but I think it’s the right move for my career and what I want to do,” he said. Although he won’t be continuing with track in college, Jake will always have the memories from his experiences in track with him. “My best memory [from track] is from sophomore year when I was lucky enough to go to the Penn Relays,” he said, “and the first moment I stepped out onto the track and looked up at the thousands of people around me in the stadium was incredible.” When you’re with a team for so long, it can be hard to let go. “Keep working hard,” he said in regards to advice for the team members he’s leaving behind, “track is a sport where you get out whatever you put in, and if you are willing to put in the work to improve you will get to do a lot of cool things.”
Shannon Bernhardt spreads lasting influence on athletics BY SABRINA ALBERTI STAFF WRITER
Senior athlete Shannon Bernhardt amazed her audience and team all through the field hockey, basketball, and track seasons. Bernhardt started her athletic journey in seventh grade while playing multiple sports. She fell in love with athletics and started playing on the varsity field hockey team freshman year as a midfielder. This season she was the primary player against Baldwin and she led her team to a county championship. “The best highlight of the field hockey season this year was by far winning back our coun-
ty championship title. We had to fight for every win that we earned this season and winning that game made it all worth it,” Bernhardt said. Shannon also participated in the first field hockey game ever played at Massapequa High School instead of Field of Dreams. “Winning against Sewanhaka 4-0 was a great way to set the tone for the future field hockey games that will take place on that field,” Bernhardt added. The basketball and track season was similar to the field hockey season for Shannon. During the basketball season, she scored a total of eightone points, including the most
important game of the year against Baldwin. “One of my favorite moments was winning the semi-final game against Syosset that allowed us to take on our rival, Baldwin, in the county championship game,” she said. Despite not winning the game the memories of the season will stay with the girls forever. In the spring season, Shannon’s main focus was getting ready for the upcoming field hockey season. She joined the track team to stay in shape but walked away with much more. “The sport has started to mean so much to me than just staying in shape. I’ve met so
many girls that I can now call my friends and everyday spent with them is a new highlight of the season,” Bernhardt said. On top of balancing all three sports, Shannon was able to maintain her academics. “It’s honestly easier to stay on top of homework and studying while in season because you really have to learn how to manage your time,” she said. Shannon claims it is easier to juggle three sports and homework throughout the school year. “It is the best way to train yourself to prioritize your work once you get into college.” Athletics has always given Shannon something to look
forward to at the end of the day. “I liked the idea of intense competition and being able to exercise everyday after school,” Bernhardt added. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and meet new people because sports is a great way to get to know people that you wouldn’t have met otherwise,” she said. Shannon has met her lifelong friends throughout sports and will continue playing field hockey at Suny New Paltz while pursuing education in math or science with a minor in deaf studies.
tain for a second time” Matthew Waterhouse said. “We had a really big team this year and a really fun season.” Headlining the Varsity tennis team as captain for the past two years, Waterhouse encouraged many teammates both years and led them to victories in their matches. Since joining the team in eighth grade Waterhouse has continued to demonstrate impressive leadership skills in helping others. He has continued to improve his game through hard work and dedication outside of the school team by practicing indoors and outdoors whenever he can. Off the courts of the high school Waterhouse has also accomplished impressive feats such as being All Division every season while on the team and being an All-Conference
player. This year alone Waterhouse entered the county tournament for doubles with the team’s first singles player Niles Ghafar and achieved an All County ranking. “Since we were both singles players we practiced a lot of doubles for counties,” Waterhouse said. “It was a difficult journey and I’m proud of how we did.” Waterhouse shows no signs of slowing down in the upcoming months as he continues to play in preparation for the future. For this upcoming fall he will be attending SUNY Purchase and competing as the first singles player on the college’s team. While away in college Waterhouse encourages the team to keep working hard next year and listen to the advice coach and the captains have to offer.
“Tennis has had a huge impact on me,” Waterhouse said. “I’ve played since middle school and I’ve made so many
good friends through the sport. I’m really looking forward to playing in college.”
Senior Matt Waterhouse aces competition in successful season BY MICHAEL RIGGI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATTHEW WATERHOUSE
After five years of heating up the high school tennis courts senior Matthew Waterhouse has capped off his successful high school career as second singles player with impressive accomplishments as the team captain and as an all-county player. Unlike any season ever seen in Massapequa’s history before, Waterhouse was tasked to help managing a team of over fifty athletes compared to much smaller teams in the past. Despite the large number of students on the tennis team Waterhouse was able to control the courts and strategize with the help of the coach and other team leaders, leading the team to an impressive 12-2 record during the regular season. “It was exciting to be cap-
Swingin’ solo | Senior Matt Waterhouse competing in a match.
THE CHIEF 12 SPORTS Chiefs baseball team dominates county and L.I. championship
JUNE 8, 2018
BY BILLY BOYE COPY EDITOR
Newly named Long Island champions | MHS baseball team swings to success. can.” Mr. Sheedy said. SUNY-Old Westbury in a 7-1 at States on Friday, June 8, in The team also were named win.. Starter Christian De- Binghamton. The school wishLong Island Champions on Nave fired a four-hitter, waling es them luck to bring home anSaturday, June 3 when they three, and striking out five. other big win for the school in beat West Islip in a game at They will be competing the future.
an intense game, with very high stakes for both teams. “The whole team was mentally and physically prepared and we wanted to defend what was ours,” senior defender Matt Weigand said. Massapequa played Syosset on the new home field in early May. The Chiefs secured a number one place in the conference with an 8-6 win over the Braves. Syosset beat Farmingdale 9-4 in the semifinal round advancing them into the County Championships against the Chiefs in hopes for
redemption. Adrenaline was definitely running from the start of the game all the way to the end. Senior Goalie Mike Venezia cleared the ball to long pole defender Matt Weigand, who brought the ball down the field and scored leading the chiefs to a 2-0 lead halfway though the first quarter. Venezia completed the game with a total of 11 saves. Venezia and his defense were two of Massapequa’s powerhouses during the game. Their outstanding effort against
PROVIDED BY MIGUEL MONTESDEOCA
The varsity own baseball team has once again proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with. On May 28 2018, Memorial Day, the team won the game that brought them to the county championships. The team trained and practiced extensively in expectation for this big game, spending many hours of their time during practices. All of the players on the team have great synergy with each other, as they have practiced with each other for the entire year. “One of the unique things with this team is that
it’s not dependent on one or two players.” baseball coach Thomas Sheedy said. “It’s a whole pitching staff of people who contribute.” The game that got them to the county championships was no doubt an eventful one. Both teams scored many points, but Massapequa High School ended up on top at the end of the game, winning a 5/0 game against Oceanside. This win was an important one for the team, due to the fact that it was their second straight Nassau Class AA baseball title. “That’s our main goal: play the best baseball that we
Boys lacrosse team dominates county championship BY SOPHIA THEODOROUS STAFF WRITER
Boys Lacrosse brought home a Nassau Class A County Championship at the Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University on Tuesday, May 29. Walking into their County Championship game, the Chiefs held their heads high concluding the regular season with an incredible 17-1 record. Working hard every day at practice and training for games like this made this day even more memorable. It was
Syosset’s offense kept the Chiefs in control. “We were able to strategize more [from the last game],” sophomore A.J. Pilate said. “The thing that was different in this game [was] we were able to deal with all this pressure” . In important games like this one, teams can lose their focus under the pressure. Massapequa’s victory earned them the chance to play at the Long Island Championships. Coach Radomski looks forward to continuing their win-
ning streak in their next game. “We just have to keep playing how we’ve been playing.” Their outstanding performance on Tuesday was evident that they have the potential to earn another victory. “It’s the best time of the year to be playing” Radomski said. The Massapequa Chiefs will advance to the Long Island Championships to play against Suffolk Class A champions on Saturday, June 2 at Hofstra University.
Varsity boys and girls track counties acknowledgements BY PETER TOUTOULIS 2017-2018 SPORTS EDITOR
The boys and girls track teams competed for a county title at Long Beach Middle School on May 25. As their seasons wound down, the athletes competed to make a final push for all-county honors and a chance to advance to the
state meet. The teams fought hard in order to stay in the race and fight to the finish. Here are some athletes who were recognized for their performances at the county meet and received all-county honors:
Boys Juan Arango, Nicholas Bianco, Jake Bresnihan, Kevin Cetin, Liam Curran, Charlie Gugel, Bryan Moody, Alec Padron, Vincent Pugliano, John Ronan, Joseph Ryan, Sean Wissman
Girls Shannon Bernhardt, Katelyn Byrnescunningham, Emily Corso, Nicole Iannuzzi, Brittny Membreno, Gillian Murphy, Jaclyn Portogallo, Kayley Theodorus
Girls lacrosse gets the last laugh at county championship game BY SABRINA ALBERTI STAFF WRITER
On Thursday May 31, 2018 the Massapequa Girls lacrosse team was determined to take home another County Championship against Port Washington. The team’s resilience was
key in this crucial game. Senior and team captain, Moira Callahan, was committed to ride home with another plaque in her hand. “We came out slow but in the second half defense really stepped it up and Sophia
played well,” Callahan said. “On offense once we started winning the draw controls we were able to push in transition and get five quick goals to seal the win.” The stands were filled with happiness and cheer at Adel-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOPHIA THEODOROUS
The new county champions | Girls lacrosse celebrates their big win at counties
phi University Thursday night as the girl’s led themselves to success. Junior midfielder, Kate Fiola, was just one of the girl’s that led their team to victory. “I’m excited for the opportunity that we have playing West Islip,” Fiola said. “I just hope that we play well as a team and have fun.” This will be Fiola’s third time winning Counties and competing for the Long Island Championship. The team started practicing in late March for this win and are ecstatic to get a chance to win their next game. The girls will compete against West Islip for the title on Sunday June 3, 2018 at West Islip High School. Sophomore goalie, Sophia Cardello, was the finishing touch on the game. “I think we all played our hardest, we
knew we couldn’t just stop at this game,” Cardello said. “West islip is a very good team, we played them in the season and won but it should be a battle. I’m very excited for tomorrow and I hope we make it upstate this week.” Sophia ended the game with a total of seven saves and an unbearable amount of hard work and dedication. Last year, the team competed against Middle Country for the Long Island Championship and lost the heartbreaking game by one point. Senior midfielder Jackie Gatti shot the winning goal against Port Washington to seal the final score: 10-6. The team continued their tradition of running on the field to celebrate their County Championship win.