September 2016

Opinion

Feature

Are we obligated to stand for the National Anthem?

Page 9

Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758 mhsthechief@gmail.com

Editorial

Words of wisdom: Every year is a blank page

Tips for sophomores

Page 5

The

Sports

Page 4

USA takes home the gold in Rio

Page 12

Chief

Vol. 65 – No. 1

September 16, 2016 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

MHS gets new principal: Mr. DiClemente leads team

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ALEXANDRA DOULOS// THE CHIEF

Everyone remembers Mr. DiClemente as the friendly principal from their days at Ames often seen engaging with students on a daily basis during their freshman year.

As the high school administration team changes this year, Mr. DiClemente is the principal of the main campus.

A teacher from 1994 to 2003, Mr. DiClemente taught English for five years to middle school students and for four years to high school students in three school districts besides Massapequa: Three Village, Patchogue-Medford, and Brentwood. He enjoyed his six years as the principal of Ames and is now looking forward to the challenges and excitement being the main campus principal will bring. He looks forward to what he calls “the idea of a full-scale high school.”

“One, I’m excited about working with multiple gradestenth, eleventh, and twelfth, varying grades and ages of people. Two, I’m excited to be able to walk around the building and see a theater performance or a basketball game or a football game.”

Mr. DiClemente knew that he wanted to be a teacher from a young age because he “likes the idea of being part of a team and working towards a common goal.” While he admires people who go into a variety of other professions, the idea of being a team player attracted him to education. “There’s no other job where you’re surrounded by so many people and working together so often each day,” Mr. DiClemente said.

However, the ambition to be a principal came later.

“Once I got into teaching, I was very impressed with people who take leadership roles.

It’s less about what you stand for and more about how you go about it. Regardless of what somebody is leading in, I admire people who are organized, influential, supportive of others, and able to gather people.”

Mr. DiClemente looks for-

ward to “spending time with quality people, successful people, young and old, that are hard working, proud, and committed to the community. I’m excited about joining a really talented group of educators.”

He is thrilled to work alongside the terrific staff and get to know the hard-working students at MHS. “In the first month that I’ve worked here, people have been very kind. I’ve been able to meet with students, PTA, the Hall of Fame, the Chamber of Commerce, retired people. I think the more people I talk to, I realize more and more how proud people are of Massapequa High School, and I would say that it’s important for people to realize that we have a special opportunity to be part of and to make a great school.”

Mr. DiClemente wants to encourage everyone in the community, and especially students, to become involved in the school.

“I’m excited about being able to help create an outstanding high school experience. You get to go to high school once, and I’m involved with you and other people to make it an enjoyable, challenging, and supportive place for you- making a school inviting and working with others to affect the community.”

Mr. DiClemente wants to help students create the high school experience they want while encouraging students to take on an active role in improving the community in their own ways. “If there’s something that’s not going well, let’s address it together. I think students have a lot of opportunity to affect things in the community. I think we all have a great opportunity to affect things that happen outside of the school.”

Though Mr. DiClemente anticipates a challenge associated with the sheer number of students who attend MHS, he looks forward to confronting it head on.

“I know that it will be a lot more challenging here than

There’s a new boss in town | Mr. DiClemente takes on his new position as principal. it was at Ames to meet all the people. How do you meet 1800 students? I think when you work in such a big place, you don’t always have the opportunity to connect and get familiar with people- that’s going to be something new to me.

I’m going to try to do a great job of getting to know as many people as possible early. ” Mr. DiClemente seeks to encourage students to challenge themselves on a daily basis.

“In many ways, I feel that we’re doing the wrong thing if we’re in a place where we’re not challenged. I definitely want to be challenged and I think that if we’re not being challenged, we’re not improving. I think the high school

experience is just very challenging for all of us. The demands change, we’re always trying to reflect on being better, and we’re being evaluated every day. It is a challenging atmosphere in general.”

Mr. DiClemente advises everyone involved in the school community to ask for his participation in solving any problems they see.

“What I want all students, teachers, staff members, parents to know is I think the school that we have reflects who we are, so if someone feels we’re not doing something right, I would always invite people to come in and to talk about it so that we can adjust it.”

Mr. DiClemente chooses to focus on constant improvement and thus advises students to “get better every day at whatever you’re doing- at being a student, at being a son or daughter, being a friend. Get better at your job and become a better student.”

He also wishes to highlight the importance of being willing to ask for help when necessary.

Finally, in the carpe diem spirit, Mr. DiClemente counsels students to “Commit to success because you only get one chance at high school, so make the most of it.”

LOCAL NEWS Getting to know the new administrators at MHS

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE MANAGING EDITOR

position?

B: For the most part, we help the principal support his vision and goals for the school. I do the master schedule and take care of testing. There’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff, working with guidance and making sure students have everything they need.

W: Mainly, I’m responsible for creating a safe environment for students that is inviting for all.

Q: How does this compare with your past tasks?

B: It’s a little different. With this job I get to work with students more while in the past it was more about curriculum, so I’m excited about that. I’ll be a part of running the building and student activities which is more challenging in a way because it is more responsibility

Ms. Deja Berry and Mr. Kenneth Wing | Executive Assistant to the Principal and Dean of Students

Mr. McCaw has left the building

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE MANAGING EDITOR

changing and he will have to use skills gained from his past roles to work with the staff and students at the Ames Campus.

As for a favorite of these jobs, Mr. McCaw leans to-

responsibility of securing the health, safety, and welfare of every student and staff member in the building at all times, as well as making decisions that are in

er, I’ve always had the support of other people” he said.

He is very appreciative to have had the helping hands of both Ms. Jean Castelli, a colleague of his

PROVIDED BY JORDAN MCCAW

Each and every year, students and teachers witness changes in staff throughout the district, and this year we are bidding many goodbyes, including one of our executive assistants, Mr. McCaw. However, the former teacher, advisor, and administrator is not leaving the district, but rather moving to the Ames Campus to assume his position as principal.

Though his job is new, Mr. McCaw is no stranger to the Ames Campus, as he taught English there for nine years prior to becoming supervisor of secondary education at the main campus in 2012.

His past tasks have ranged greatly alongside his variety of jobs in the district. As a teacher, he was responsible for both educating and supporting his students. In the special education department, he was responsible for all students with special needs. While executive assistant, he created schedules and oversaw the out of school suspension program (OSS), home instruction, and night school. Now, his role is

being that it is a whole school I’ll be working with as opposed to just one department.

W: It’s on a level playing field. I have always wanted a job that was predominantly student-oriented, and the dean of students allows me to still be heavily involved with the students.

Q: What are you most excited about with this new position?

B: I’m excited right now to get to see the students I worked with at Berner and what they’re doing now and what challenges they’re taking on and seeing them grow.

W: The new challenges, meeting new students, and engaging with past students.

Q: Most worried about?

B: There’s not much for me to worried about because I’ve

DANIELLE ANZELONE// THE CHIEF

Due to the recent retirement and promotion of administrators such as Dr. Williams, former principal; Mr. Howard, former dean of students; and Mr. McCaw, former MHS vice principal and current Ames, principal the staff at MHS has shifted around quite a bit. The following are questions and responses collected from interviews with two of the many new staff members, Mr. Kenneth Wing and Ms. Deja Berry.

Question: What is the title of your new position?

Ms. Berry: Executive assistant to the principal, which is just a fancy title for vice principal.

Mr. Wing: Dean of students at Massapequa High School Q: How long have you worked in education?

B: Twenty years W: Twenty-six years Q: What positions have you held in the past?

B: I was a high school math teacher, a math chairperson, a curriculum associate for mathematics and business, and then the executive assistant to the principal at Berner.

W: For the first five years, I worked at East Lake as a math teacher, then I moved to Berner for two years doing the same thing. I worked at Ames for the past 18 years teaching

math and working in the attendance office.

Q: What inspired you to work in education?

B: I think I’m a people person.

I was initially a math teacher and I know a lot of people don’t like that subject and I wanted to help people feel better about math.

W: I have always wanted a job that wasn’t soulless, and educating students is certainly not soulless.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?

B: I like working with students and helping them to realize that they can find success and do well. That’s my favorite moment.

W: Definitely working with students.

Q: What responsibilities come along with your new

You say goodbye, I say hello | Mr. McCaw has left MHS to become principal at Ames. wards teaching, yet he real- the best interests of the kids. in the special education dely loves everything he has Though he will soon sure- partment, and Dr. Barbara had the opportunity to do. ly have a lot on his plate, Mr. Williams, former principal of “I really adore teaching. McCaw has no doubt in his MHS. Mr. McCaw is very As a teacher, I felt like I was mind that he will succeed. excited to become this both directly, positively affecting “In my previous roles, reliable and supportive person the students” Mr. McCaw said. I’ve dealt with a whole range for his co workers in Ames.

Starting this year, Mr. of issues so I feel very confiHe is also excited to McCaw will have the hefty dent in my abilities, howev- “work collaboratively with

THE CHIEF

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worked in the building and I’ve worked with these people before. If anything, I’m anxious about the master schedule and that it runs smoothly, basically that I’m responsive to what everybody needs.

W: If at some point a student comes to me with an issue, I fear being unable to resolve that issue.

Q: What are your hopes for the school while you are here?

B: I hope that we are able to provide students with challenging coursework while having fun and getting involved.

W: I hope we can continue to make MHS not only the greatest school in Nassau county, but the best on Long Island.

I love the community and the school and great things have happened every year here and I hope to continue that tradition.

Q: What advice would you give to any incoming students?

B: This school has so much to offer in the way of coursework, in the way of clubs and sports and activities and I would just say to get involved make the best of it and don’t forget to have fun.

W: I would tell all students to go after their goals and dreams in life, don’t ever sell themselves short.

teachers, with parents, with students, and with the community to enrich and expand opportunities for all students both inside and outside of the classroom, as well as work with Mr. DiClemente and Mr. Esposito to create a 7-12 continuum to prepare students for post secondary endeavors.”

As far as hopes and goals, Mr. McCaw aspires to prepare students as best he can so that their transition to the main campus is reasonable.

“I want students to look back at their time here and I want them to feel they were well supported, appropriately challenged, taught the skills and given the confidence necessary to pursue as their future goals” Mr. McCaw said.

Though many students have a negative opinion towards Ames and the time they spent there, Mr. McCaw believes that it isn’t really the school that students dislike.

“I think we are comparing privileges, not schools” he said.

All in all, Mr. McCaw is excited to have a job and a place to call home in Massapequa.

THE CHIEF LOCAL NEWS Some of last year’s promised updates can finally be seen

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

DANIELLE ANZELONE // THE CHIEF ALEXANDRA DOULOS// THE CHIEF

ALEXANDRA DOULOS// THE CHIEF

Students were promised several new facilities and aspects to the environment at MHS at the close of the 2015-2016 school year. Over the summer, several of those changes were made such as the renovation of the girls locker room, increased security, all gender bathrooms by the ramp, and the distribution of chromebooks to all students. MHS clearly has a lot to look forward to this year.

Future plans set to update the science classrooms at MHS

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As always, the focus of this project is on the students and making the facilities better able to accommodate them in their educational endeavors.

“Education and student learning has changed since the rooms were renovated and we hope to provide flexible learning environments for the future.”

Answering a main concern of parents and students,

classes are not expected to be seriously interrupted. Some physics and astronomy classes have been moved, but the lab tables have also been moved and this should not disrupt any learning during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Ms. Caputo and Mr. O’Donnell, the facilities director, are the primary district representatives along with the architect and construction

managers that the district has hired to assure the successful completion of the renovations.

Berner science classrooms, like the MHS classrooms, will also be updated and the renovations in both sites are estimated to cost $2.7 million.

It seems that students all over the district have something to look forward to, especially if they are interested in science.

ALEXANDRA DOULOS // THE CHIEF

A new and improved MHS can be enjoyed as the school year begins, and students can look forward to more coming throughout the upcoming and following school years.

The upcoming project intended to fix and update all three science wings is divided into three stages: the first one having begun already,.The second phase is scheduled to begin in the Spring 2017 semester and the third stage will continue into the 2017-2018 academic year and potentially even the following summer.

Students who took chemistry and teachers who teach the subject have been contending with the worst of the damage, which included water and gas leaks, limited access to electrical outlets, and peeling wood on the cabinets and tables of laboratories and classrooms.

“New plumbing-gas and water will be installed,” Sci-

ence Curriculum Associate Lisa Caputo said. Additionally, “electricity, chemical ventilation, [and] proper chemical storage for each floor of the wing” will be updated to ensure student safety and productivity.

Ms. Caputo explained that “new cabinets, lab tables, student seating, white boards, and interactive projectors” will be added to update the learning experience for science students.

She hopes that the renovations benefit students and teachers.

One challenge that the administration has faced is the sheer number of students the Massapequa school district serves.

“The new rooms will have greater storage space for the students due to new room layouts, not expansion,” Ms. Caputo explained. The curriculum associate also hopes that “the new gas, water and electricity will hopefully eliminate many of the problems encountered previously.”

Science wings evolve |Mural located in the first floor science wing illustrsates Darwin’s theory

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Doulos MANAGING EDITOR Danielle Anzelone COPY EDITORS Victoria Barbera Liam Higgins EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Ryann Regan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kiera Pagano 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.

THE CHIEF EDITORIAL Words of wisdom: Every year is a blank page The summer has come to an end now that we are all back in school. We are ready, or not so ready, to begin learning, testing, excelling, and challenging ourselves again.

No matter who you are in the school—a sophomore, a junior, a senior, a teacher—this year will bring many changes your way. These may be anticipated or unanticipated. Either way, we now stand at the beginning of a cycle in a position to make changes of our own for the better, and everyone could use some words of wisdom every once in a while.

Though change is most often viewed as upsetting and somewhat scary, there is a lot of positive change to look forward to as we return to school.

The administrative team has changed for this school year due to retirement and promotions.

Though Dr. Barbara Williams and her positive and upbeat personality will be missed, Mr. DiClemente has joined the school and his fantastic attitude will surely fill the shoes of our past principal. Along with Dr. Williams, Mr. Howard was everyone’s favorite administrator, a great guy with an amazing sense of humor that everyone loved.

Mr. Wing, however, is just

as great as “Howie,” a kind man with a dedication to help students all over the school.

Not only did we get new staff members, but we also have been met with places in the school that have been reconstructed over the past summer. At the top of the list is the girls locker room, which went from rusty old lockers that some claim to be from the 50s when the school was built, to an immaculate dressing room for female students all over the school.

Though we expected the remodelling of the science wings to begin over the summer, plans have been delayed.

However, there is a lot to look forward to and if we cannot envision change in our environment, then we can in ourselves.

Here at the Chief, we like to think of life as a great big book filled with winding roads, exciting endeavors, brutal challenges, heart-pounding action, frightful twists, and maybe, just maybe, a happily-ever-after ending.

Every year, every month, every week, and every day will be filled with opportunities to improve ourselves, and the first one we suggest you take is the opportunity to turn to a fresh page in your life. It’s a new year, and every

new year brings its own opportunities— and challenges.

The good news is that every single one of these challenges can be surpassed because every day is a new day to try again.

If you have been coasting through the summer or through the past year, now is a great time to get serious about school and buckle down. Every year is a new chapter, every month is a new paragraph, every sentence is a new week, and every day is a new word in which you can say something truly great. Get started on making your book a masterpiece because we all are capable of anything we set our minds to.

If you have been accomplishing everything you want and ticking off every box on your to-do list, challenge yourself, don’t wait for others to challenge you.

Alter your routine by doing homework in the cyber cafeor join a sports team or club.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience” Join a club, take up a hobby, or make a new friend!

You might just look back and realize it was one of the best things you have ever

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decided to do. You cannot be afraid to take opportunities and you can never stop searching for your passions.”

However, in your ambitious quest to become successful, do not forget that there is still time to be a teen, and that time will not last forever. Remember to not be too hard on yourself. Try your best and don’t take yourself too seriously, because you will look back and realize that you can do so much more with a positive attitude than a negative one.

Focus on constant improvement rather than instantaneous success. You will look back at your day, week, month, year, and, ultimately, life and realize that every miniscule bit of effort led to success. You will make mistakes while trying new things and you will encounter failure; they mean that you are learning and growing instead of merely existing.

Try to find the humor in every day because it is a well known aphorism that laughter is the best medicine.

Finally, even if your life is not a fairy tale right now, hold on, keep working and putting in consistent effort every single day. As Hans Christian Anderson said, “Enjoy life. There’s plenty of time to be dead.”

Distribution: 1,800 copies 1,859 students, 194 teachers All papers are free

KIERA PAGANO // THE CHIEF

Crack open a book full of imagination | As the new school year begins, we all need a pep talk to get us going.

THE CHIEF FEATURE Starting off the school year right: make the best out of MHS SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

idly approaching. With the football season coming, the Massapequa Marching Band is practicing to debut their new field show of Batman vs.

pride will be in the air as the Chief Nation will do everything they can to display the blue and gold Chief head.

The library | Come here after school or during your lunch period to knock out some homework.

Ten tips for tenth graders

Unwind with some tunes

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS

BY CHRISTINA SIGNORETTI AND LIAM HIGGINS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STAFF WRITER AND COPY EDITOR

After a long summer filled with fun and relaxation, returning to school for a year of stress and hard work can be quite painful. In order to stay happy and healthy, it’s important to destress as much as possible. Here’s a mix of calm and soothing songs that are sure to help you unwind after a long day; so sit back, relax, and enjoy the music.

1. Different Names for the Same Things by Death Cab for Cutie 2. Daylight by Matt and Kim 3. Kitchen Sink by Twenty One Pilots 4. Paint by The Paper Kites 5. Roslyn by Bon Iver and St. Vincent 6. Fireflies by Owl City 7. All Apologies by Nirvana 8. Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers 9. Truce by Twenty One Pilots 10. I Found by Amber Run 11. Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran 12. Asleep by The Smiths 13. That Green Gentleman by Panic! At The Disco 14. Work Song by Hozier 15. Oh Ms Believer by Twenty One Pilots 16. Catch You On My Way Out by Finish Ticket 17. The Gambler by FUN 18. Love At First Sight by The Brobecks 19. Like Real People Do by Hozier 20. Wayfaring Stranger by Ed Sheeran

ALEXANDRA DOULOS // THE CHIEF

1. Get organized early and hit the ground running! It is often easier to earn higher grades earlier in the first semester between returning signed class rules and regulations and handing in your summer work on time.

2. Connect with teachers, counselors, and other staff members! It is never too early to start making solid connections with those who can write letters of recommendation for you. Those will become critical sooner than you think!

3. Utilize the school’s resources! It may not be cool to stay in the cyber cafe during lunch or go to the library after school, but the high school offers state-of-the-art facilities for you to do homework, get a project done, or ask the librarians for research help, which will help alleviate stress and keep you productive!

4. Get your own school supplies! Maybe you could devise a color-coded system or make another effective method of organization. Always know where your own pens and pencils are and make friends by loaning a pencil instead of borrowing one this year!

5. Use and love your planner! The agenda book you were given on the first day of school contains a plethora of useful information— the bell schedule, the periodic table, important holidays, capitals, and more!

6. Challenge yourself! Taking accelerated, Advanced Placement (AP) and Secondary Collegiate Articulated Learning Experience (SCALE) classes— and excelling in them—demonstrates to colleges that you are a serious student with a passion for learning, leading to more acceptance letters come senior year.

7. Get involved! The day does not end when ninth period ends—MHS offers more than 50 clubs for you to join! Take up a new hobby—perhaps kitting, car care, or the newspaper— or enhance your World Language skills by participating in the Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Chinese clubs.

8. Be Proactive! Procrastination always causes more problems than it fixes. Don’t walk slowly in the hallway to get to class as late as possible, start that assignment early, and always keep an eye out for other events, responsibilities, and deadlines on the horizon!

9. Ask for help! Everyone wants you to succeed, so know when you need help—it could save you a lot of stress and time!

10. Enjoy it! High school flies by and, before you know it, you will be walking across the stage, diploma in hand!

Superman at the September 10 game. Homecoming is going to be a blast this year on October 15 when the Chiefs play against Baldwin. School

ALEXANDRA DOULOS // THE CHIEF

BY CHRISTINA SIGNORETTI themselves. Having a cyclical STAFF WRITER work and study schedule will Starting the new school not only prohibit procrastinayear is always tricky after a tion, but make it easier to get summer filled with sun, sand, involved in the community by and slacking off. When Sep- leaving you more free time. tember comes around, most By starting off the school dread it, but there is more year stress free, there are more to the school year than just opportunities to make the most homework and studying. out of being a high school stuIncoming sophomores dent. If the workload is startwill be able to enjoy the open ing to get too overwhelming, campus and how easy it is to grab a snack, do some yoga, use technology in the build- sleep, or even make a playing at sites ranging from the list with all of your favorite cyber cafe, the library and the songs. Check out ours! Ancomputer labs. Also, new stu- other way to diminish stress dents at MHS can start their is to get involved in what high school careers out right Massapequa has to offer. by getting involved in MassThe football season is firapequa spirit, befriending ing up, and the anticipated upperclassmen, and trying to Farmingdale vs. Massapequa set a good work schedule for home game (October 8) is rap-

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The cyber cafe | Students can get some work done while still enjoying lunch.

THE CHIEF

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

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Diving into the Dominican Republic

BY KIERA PAGANO GRAPHIC DESIGNER

KIERA PAGANO // THE CHIEF

For the final week of summer, my family and I decided to go on vacation for a week to the Memories resort in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is a Spanish-speaking country, but since many of the resort guests are English speakers from America, most of the staff speaks both languages fluently. I had a conversation with our waiter at a restaurant about learning to speak English, and he told me he had only been learning the language for one year. His English was better than my Spanish, and I have been learning it for three years longer than he has!

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso, but the resort accepted both pesos and US dollars. The staff accepts dollars because the Dominican peso is equal to about two cents in US currency, so tipping waiters in dollars rather than Dominican pesos gives them more money.

The Memories resort has the largest water park in the Dominican Republic, but sadly it is not on the beach. However, the resort next door to Memories, called the Royalton resort, is located on the beach.

The two resorts made a deal together so that guests from both vacation spots could fully enjoy their stay-- guests from Royalton were allowed to travel to Memories to use the water park, and, in return, guests from Memories are granted access to the Royalton’s beach.

Although the only languages spoken by the staff are usually English and Spanish, the resort was international, and I overheard many of the guests speaking other lan-

guages as well. I overheard people speaking in Russian, Portuguese, German, French, Albanian, Chinese, Italian and still more. These languages were spoken privately to family members and friends, not to the staff themselves. However, the resort still makes their best effort to have as many languages as possible accessible to the guests.

Restaurant menus in the resort contained the same menu translated in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian so more guests can know information about the food they want to order. To actually order the food, however, you must be able to order in either English or Spanish.

A tropical paradise | The view from one of the many beaches in the Dominican Republic.

Overall, the resort was a diverse culture and a friendly, I would definitely like to go wonderful experience with a optimistic staff. My family and back to Memories resort again!

MHS AROUND

A visit to the other side of the world: the China trip

BY GIANNA SANTORO STAFF WRITER

This summer, students enrolled in Mandarin had a chance to go on the trip of a lifetime. Students spent the whole day in and out of airports to finally make it over the Pacific Ocean and arrived in China the night of July 6th on the other side of the world.

The time spent travelling felt like an eternity, but in the end, it was all worth it. They flew from New York to Chicago, where they met up with several other students from two other cities, and then finally made the long trek to their final destination, Beijing. Once we arrived, we saw that the hotel had small rooms, but it was enough to fit two people per room.

Each year, the Confucius

Institute sponsors a two-week trip to China for high school and college students, called the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp. This trip provides students with the opportunity to visit China’s many historical sites, improve their Mandarin, enjoy great food, shop in local markets, and participate in many other wonderful cultural activities,” Mandarin teacher Mrs. Tracy Pi, who has taken students on this trip for many years, said.

The first few days were mainly spent in a classroom where we learned about everything from culture to Chinese painting and even Tai Chi. At last the day came when we would finally take the bus ride to historic sights such as

Gu Gong’s palace and walk the Great Wall! It was pretty steep with big ramps and stairways. That was the big highlight of the trip for Beijing, that is, until we got to Xi’an.

In order to get there, the students had to board the bullet train which went about 308 km/h at its fastest point. Even at such a high speed it took about 3 hours to pass tons of farmland and little towns. The hotel rooms in the countryside were much bigger compared to the ones back in Beijing.

Xi’an held the second highlight of the trip: the Terracotta Warriors. The whole exhibit contained 3 separate pits where the clay sculptures of soldiers and horses have been excavated, with more yet to be

uncovered. The exhibits are part of the large tomb of the first emperor Qin Shi Huang,who ruled during the Qin Dynasty.

However a large portion of the site was destroyed by a fire, which is seen in the third pit where nearly all the unearthed soldiers were shattered.

One of the last visits was to the Muslim Snack Street, which is known to be a popular tourist destination. We bought a ton of gifts and souvenirs to take home. They had everything from hats to little handcrafted sculptures. There was even a vendor selling string puppets!

“Students had the opportunities to do many different cultural activities, like Beijing Opera Face Paint-

ing, Chinese Calligraphy, Kungfu-Taiji practice, Paper Cutting, Chinese Painting, [and] Karaoke” Mrs. Pi said.

Eventually the two weeks were up and it was time to head home. Unfortunately, we had to part ways in the end as different flights separated us from each other. The Massapequa kids and two other students from a different city than the rest took a flight back to the airport in Beijing and flew for another 13 hours to the airport in Chicago. At last, the remaining students, absolutely exhausted from the time spent flying, were on their way home.

“This trip was not only a chance for students to improve their language skills but also a once in a lifetime experi-

THE CHIEF

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna: A trip of a lifetime

BY CHRIS HADSALL STAFF WRITER

From July 3 to the 12, three years of saving money from summer jobs finally paid off in the most spectacular way I could ever imagine. Ever since I was young I’ve dreamt of adventuring beyond the comfortable suburbs of New York, finding new and unique places with a charm that pulls in people from every corner of the globe, and thriving in a foreign land among foreign people with a foreign culture. My excursions through Germany and Austria with my teachers and classmates really allowed me to embrace this culture and find a love for adventure

within myself that I had never felt so strongly before, and it was totally unforgettable.

My classmates and I spent these nine days mingling with foreign travelers in the delightful cities of Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna, accompanied by fellow German students, our tour guide Rob, and our phenomenal teacher and friend Frau Kahn.

Within seconds of exiting the Munich airport, I knew that I was in for something totally unique from my life in New York. Munich really allows you to enjoy yourself and it invites you to see and learn about the distinct culture that it holds. From the ornate

Glöckenspiel in the Marienplatz Square to the well known halls of the Höfbrauhaus, Bavaria’s distinct history displays itself in various details while exemplifying what is totally unique about German culture as a whole, even today.

A bike tour led by Hinks, the awesome college-age australian guide from Mike’s Bikes, showed us all the beauty of the inner city, and a later trip to Neuschwanstein Schlöß — the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle—allowed us to really take in the scenic, fairy-tale-esque German countryside.

After fully experiencing Munich, we travelled to

Austria to see what Salzburg had in store for us. Salzburg provided me with a quieter, but nonetheless just as charming vibe, than that of Munich. In Salzburg we had the opportunity to visit Mozart’s birthplace, providing many new details to our knowledge of the man that made Salzburg truly famous.

We also found abounding medieval history in Salzburg, with Hohensalzburg Schöß looking out over the city from the nearby mountaintop and with the nearby salt mines of Bad Hallein, which turned Salzburg into a major player in the gold-salt trade with Africa.

However, many of us can agree that meeting Frau Kahn’s

D THE WORLD

ence to firsthand learn and witness Chinese culture, food, and language.” Mrs. Pi said.

Overall, this was a great experience for students from different places to interact with

each other and make friends.

This was the trip of a lifetime that we will always remember!

family was a major highlight of the trip. They not only did they make us a wonderful Austrian lunch, but they even paid for us to ride the nearby Alpine Slide, a major attraction in the area. And our final excursions in Salzburg led us to see the extreme sports vehicles of the Red Bull Hangar before splitting up to either wander the city or go to a nearby lake at Henndorf am Wallersee.

Vienna held even more adventures in its streets. After getting off of the train from Salzburg, we went straight to exploring the various parks and museums Vienna had to offer. We then took a look into the Stephansdom Cathedral in the center of Vienna before finding dinner and going to the town square to watch the Euro Cup finals on large outdoor screens with the natives.

Our last day was spent touring the Habsburg Manor, one of the largest palaces in Europe, devoted to one of the longest lasting European dynasties.

We then ended off our European excursion with a nice dinner on the last night where we all reflected on our trip.

Overall, my experience in Germany and Austria this summer allowed me to not only increase my proficiency in German tenfold, but it also allowed me to learn about traveling skills and about myself in the long run. Naturally, words cannot do this trip justice, and I can never thank Frau Kahn and everyone involved in this trip enough for making my dream a reality. As we say in German: Vielen Dank!

GRAPHIC DESIGN BY KIERA PAGANO

PROVIDED BY CHRISTOPHER HADSALL

PROVIDED BY TRACY PI

Ni hao! (Hello) | Mandarin students experience chinese food, language, and culture.

7

Gruß! (Greetings) | Current and former students visit Europe.

THE CHIEF 8 POLITICS Reviewing the RNC: the past, present, and future of the GOP SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

All presidential elections revolve around contentious topics, but this one has forced voters, recreational political buffs, and the nation as a whole to address the purpose and responsibilities of the government. The Republican National Convention, July 18-21, featured some of the most important figures in the Republican Party, such as Donald Trump, along with his family and business empire.

Day 1 of the convention focused around the slogan “Make America Safe Again.”

Patricia Smith, mother of Sean Smith, one of four Americans killed in the Benghazi attacks of September 2012 in Libya, confessed that she “blames Hillary Clinton personally for the death of [her] son.”

Military contractors John Tiegen and Mark Geist, two men who survived the Benghazi attacks, recounted the events of September 1112, 2012. Tiegen explained how he checked for signs of life in CIA operatives Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, found none, and announced

their deaths. Geist described getting injured and being treated in the midst of combat.

“The Republican National Convention focused heavily on national security and painted a grim picture of the nation. This is typical in a “change” election cycle,” AP Government teacher Mr. Daniel Bachman said. A change election cycle in an election in which the incumbent has already served two terms.

Melania Trump’s speech communicated details of her immigrant experience and passion for America, but also sparked controversy when some of her speech seemed to be plagiarized from Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention of 2008. Speculation rose, but the speechwriter— Meredith McIver— was not fired. Though many believe the incident was blown out of proportion, controversy accompanies any suspected plagiarism scandal because it touches a core ideal: honesty.

“Actions speak louder than words. Talking about one’s word meaning something and actually meaning

something is completely different. One is trustworthy and respectable and one isn’t,” junior and AP US History student Samantha Cupolo said.

Day two of the convention was grounded by the phrase “Make America Work Again.”

Tiffany Trump spoke of her father’s strengths and shared with the nation that “his desire for excellence is contagious.”

Donald Trump, Jr., like Tiffany, highlighted his father’s long history of problem-solving success. “We have actually started to believe that solving our great problems is an impossible task. That’s why we need to elect a man who has a track record of accomplishing the impossible.”

Former Republican primary contender Dr. Ben Carson used a bifurcated explanation, beginning by citing his career of neurosurgery to comment on the human brain’s ability to reason. Next, Dr. Carson spoke about Saul Alinsky, the subject of Hillary Clinton’s senior thesis, and how his 1971 book Rules for Radicals “acknowledges Lucifer” in the dedication page. He then posed the question: “Are

we willing to elect someone as president who has, as their role model, somebody who acknowledges Lucifer?”

“Both sides have, unfortunately, sunk into a negative campaign seeking to demonize the opposition. In my opinion, this is a disservice to the voters in that neither candidate has been properly vetted on the issues,” Mr. Bachman said.

Day three’s mantra was “Make America First Again.”

Eric Trump’s pride for his father shone through every word of his speech and urged Americans to see the Republican nominee in light of America’s current state. “It’s time for a president with common sense.”

Indiana Governor and vice presidential pick Mike Pence sought to address notions the fear that Mr. Trump will be a belligerent incendiary. “I’ve seen this good man up close, his utter lack of pretense, his respect for the people who work for him and his devotion to his family. This is the outsider, my running mate, who turned a long-shot campaign into a movement.”

Finally, the last day of the convention concentrated

The 2016 DNC makes history in Philadelphia

BY LIAM HIGGINS COPY EDITOR

Marking the end of the hard-fought primaries and caucuses, the Democrats hosted their national convention in Philadelphia from July 25 through the 28. The two remaining primary contestants, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, strongly opposed each other in the primaries; however, as the primaries drew to a close, it became evident that Mr. Sanders would not win the nomination, and he endorsed Mrs. Clinton.

Accordingly, the Democrats took on the phrase “stronger together,” implying party unity between supporters of Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton.

The first day of the Democratic convention started off tumultuous; several classified DNC emails were leaked the day before the convention started. These emails heavily implied that the Democratic Party was actively trying to undermine Senator Sanders in favor of Secretary Clinton, resulting in the resignation of the party’s controversial chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

The Democratic Party was undoubtedly pushed towards the left this election cycle. The party’s platform,

which is the document showing the policy positions the candidate will generally align with, was the most progressive in its history. It included support for a $15 minimum wage and set a path towards a public option for health care.

“As was the case in 2008, President Obama’s first election, the Democrats had the advantage of responding to the Republicans and painted the picture of a nation on the right track with more challenges to face,” AP Government teacher Mr. Daniel Bachman said.

This first night also featured several big names in the Democratic Party. The first to speak was First Lady Michelle Obama, who delivered a powerful speech endorsing Mrs. Clinton.

“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves,” Mrs. Obama said, highlighting the incredible progress that the United States has made throughout its history.

Next to speak was Senator Elizabeth Warren, who thanked Bernie Sanders for reminding the Democratic Party of what it should be fighting for. She also delivered scathing remarks about Trump, saying that he “takes advantage of a rigged system.”

The closing speaker of the night was fellow presidential

candidate Bernie Sanders, who thanked and gave much praise to his supporters. Senator Sanders’ speech attempted to persuade his supporters to vote for Secretary Clinton come November in an attempt to unify the two factions of the party.

On day two of the convention, the official roll call of the delegates was taken, and Hillary Clinton formally became the Democratic nominee for president. The second night featured a speech from Bill Clinton, who reminisced about the times that he and Hillary Clinton had shared and spoke about her volunteer work.

Day three seemed partly focused on the issue of gun violence. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy gave an emotional speech on the subject, in which he discussed the Sandy Hook tragedy. He said that he has had “enough of children dying in classrooms.”

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a victim of gun violence herself, stated that Secretary Clinton would “stand up to the gun lobby.”

The third night featured Vice President Joe Biden’s passionate and candid speech, which roused the crowd and praised Hillary Clinton. He spoke of “the unbreakable spirit of the people of America.” Later, Senator Tim Kaine

gave his speech and formally accepted the vice presidential nomination of his party.

He talked about his volunteer work in Honduras and even spoke several lines in Spanish. He viciously attacked Trump, mocking the Republican nominee’s habit of saying , “Believe me.”

President Obama closed out the third night with his speech. He emphasized the major changes that he had pushed and achieved during his administration, implying that Hillary Clinton would continue making similar change and progress.

On the fourth and final day of the convention, one of the earlier speeches stood out amongst the others and caused the most uproar. Khizr Khan, father of Humayun S.M. Khan, an Army Captain killed in the line of duty, railed against Trump, saying that the Republican candidate had not sacrificed anything in his life and that he did not trust Mr. Trump to uphold the Constitution, citing Trump’s support for a ban on Muslim immigrants. This speech would not have caused much controversy were it not for Trump’s reaction. Trump pushed back on some of the comments, claiming that he had made sacrifices in his life. Trump

around the rallying cry “Make America One Again.” Ivanka Trump spoke at length to combat notions of Mr. Trump’s sexism. “When Donald Trump is in charge, all that counts is ability, effort and excellence.

Women are paid equally for the work that we do and when a woman becomes a mother, she is supported, not shut out.”

Donald Trump spoke on the concluding day of the convention, delivering an hour and 15 minute address that touched on the key points of this campaign: immigration security concerns, foreign and domestic terrorism, the increase in violence, job creation, Justice Scalia’s replacement, and the proper— if at all applicable— usage of politically correct speech. The Republican nominee clinched his speech with an emotional appeal to viewers that took into account both the past and present while generating hope for a better future. “We will make America strong again. We will make America proud. We will make America safe again.

And we will make America great again. Thank you!”

even went further to criticize the Khan family, causing a great uproar from both parties.

On the final night, Hillary Clinton accepted the nomination of her party for president, a moment years in the making, both for Mrs. Clinton and women throughout the nation.

Secretary Clinton became the first woman ever to become a major party’s presidential nominee. She crowned this moment with a speech that focused heavily on policy as well as the historic achievement she had accomplished.“When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit,” Mrs. Clinton said.

She also used more progressive rhetoric in her speech, presumably to try to win over supporters of Mr. Sanders.

“All of the people who spoke at the DNC did an absolutely incredible job. This election has really been quite interesting, and I think that all the guest speakers did a great job in terms of keeping the entire convention very professional and informative. Personally, I am not 100% ‘Pro-Hillary,’ but if I could, I would still vote for her, because despite everything, I will always be 100% ‘Anti-Trump,’” junior and AP US History student Alex Valentine said.

THE CHIEF 9 OPINION Point: supporting Colin Kaepernick and freedom of expression SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

BY LIAM HIGGINS COPY EDITOR

Walker was one of those, nearly as much media atten- ment and AP United States tweeting, “Stop deliberate- tion, nor would his message History teacher Mr. Thieke. ly trying to miss the message have been spread so quickly.

In the hopes to reconcile by crucifying the messenger.”

By sitting down during the the issue, Kaepernick instead Opponents of the football anthem, Kaepernick sparked took a knee at the next game, player’s actions claim that he outrage, which spread the sto- showing respect for those in is being “un-American” and ry further than it would have the military but still protesting “disrespectful.” Republican gone by conventional means. for what he feels is right. This presidential candidate Don- He evidently feels passionate seems to have eased tensions. ald Trump went so far as to towards the subject of police Although the flag should say, “Maybe he should find a brutality and took a strong mea- be held in high regard, Colcountry that works better for sure to show that. Unfortunate- in Kaepernick did what he him,” implying that Kaeper- ly, his message was missed in thought was right without nick should leave the country. the arguments over patriotism, resorting to violence or any But that argument is even so his method did not work as extreme measures. He knew more “un-American,” seeing well as he had probably hoped. how to bring the public’s atthat Mr. Trump is essentially ¨I would certainly say tention to the issue of police telling Kaepernick to simply he has the Constitutional brutality, and there is nothing agree with every action the US right to protest. I agree with more American than standgovernment makes, right or the fact that he is trying to ing up for your rights and wrong, and not voice his con- draw attention to an issue, the rights of others. There is cerns. The US was founded on but I think it draws attention nothing wrong with standcitizens voicing their concerns away from the issue and to- ing up, or sitting down, rathand exercising their right to wards himself,¨ said Govern- er, for what you believe in. protest, and there is nothing more American than that.

For most Americans, the question is not whether or not Kaepernick could refuse to stand but rather, whether he should. Some say that his passive protest was disrespectful to the veterans who have served this country.

Some will say that Kaepernick should have brought the issue up in a different manner so as to not be disrespectful.

However, had Kaepernick simply done a press conference or spoken out, he would not have received Taking a knee for justice |Students weigh in on protest.

PATRICK TEHAN // MCT CAMPUS

San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick made headlines on August 26 during the National Anthem at the 49ers-Packers preseason game when he made the decision not to stand during the singing of the National Anthem.

Kaepernick justified his actions, saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Based on his speech, one would assume Kaepernick is referencing the recent instances of police brutality that this nation has seen. Kaepernick, being black himself, feels strongly about these issues that impact his entire community. After the incident, Kaepernick went on to say that he would not stand for the National Anthemuntil he felt that enough measures were taken to curb police brutality.

Especially in recent years, police misconduct and brutality have come at the forefront.

The death of Michael Brown sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri back in 2014, and the

death of Freddie Grey set off a days-long riot in Baltimore.

Both sides of the aisle, left and right, hold strong beliefs on the subject, with those on the left tending to side with the victims of police brutality and those on the right tending to agree with the officers’ perspectives.

This issue is incredibly nuanced, but regardless of whether or not one considers Kaepernick’s actions to be justified, there is no denying that he has the right to do so. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees his right to protest, and this is his form of protest.

Many former fans of Kaepernick went to extreme lengths to show their disapproval of his actions; one man even burned a Kaepernick jersey and filmed it, uploading the video online.

In response to the incident, veterans across the country came out on both sides.

One disabled former marine sergeant Joey Jones tweeted, “I don’t have legs but I’ll stand w/ [with] enough pride for both of us every time my National Anthem plays.”

This idea was echoed by a large number of veterans.

However, many veterans also came out in support of Kaepernick, starting the hashtag “VeteransforKaepernick”. One veteran, Trey

Counterpoint: Colin Kaepernick’s flawed form of protest

BY CHRIS HADSALL STAFF WRITER

The stars and stripes of our nation have enduringly symbolized the unity and freedom of our country from the genesis of the United States more than two and a half centuries ago.

Despite our nation’s strong history of standing together with our fellow countrymen to solve our greatest problems together, some often find it necessary to rebel against the red, white, and blue. In times of great division, such as during the Vietnam-War Era, our nation found itself so drastically and emotionally divided and entrenched in certain ideologies that patriotism fell to the wayside in favor of protest.

Flags were burned, ripped, or treated with disrespect. Leaders of different factions spoke out against our nation. Americans were practically forced to take sides against each other.

While these unpatriotic gestures may succeed in getting certain issues talked about, do they really help embrace change in policy and legitimate conversation?

In all honesty, when a certain viewpoint becomes so

enraging and divisive that it encourages one to protest his or her own homeland by dishonoring the flag, less people of that nation begin to tolerate it. Such protests often don’t lead to discussions of policy and the facts of the issue, but more so just encourage people to acknowledge the existence of an issue.

In the case of Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49er’s quarterback, who recently refused to stand up during the National Anthem claiming that he will not “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” it is practically impossible to argue that Kaepernick doesn’t have the right to sit during the National Anthem , seeing that it is a matter of free expression. However, the idea of not standing for the National Anthem appears to be so disrespectful and almost taboo that his method of trying to get a point across actually distracts from the point he’s attempting to make.

Kaepernick, like any protester of police brutality and discrimination in law

enforcement, desires some form of change to prevent the continuation of this terrible trend. However, there are many other ways he can do this beyond not standing for the National Anthem, such as speaking at a Black Lives Matter rally about policies, discussing his concerns directly with the media or donating to a charity or fund that seeks to eliminate the problem.

Granted, in recent weeks Kaepernick has committed himself to partaking in the latter two actions stated, which I personally applaud him for.

This move shows that Kaepernick understands that this effort must be about more than just awareness, but also action.

Nonetheless, the argument against not standing for the National Anthem still stands as a flawed form of protest.

Kaepernick may be protesting against police brutality and discrimination across the United States, a definite issue that the nation has already been gradually seeping into the national consciousness with the rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, but he does not succeed in helping this

movement gain further support by alienating his fellow Americans when he doesn’t stand.

By sitting, Kaepernick not only refuses to stand for the discrimination in this country, but he is also refusing to stand for the soldiers who fought and died to defend his rights to freedom of speech, the law enforcement that protects local communities and who needs to hear his message in a tolerant manner so a solution can be found, and the members of those communities who would be willing to step forward and help the movement, which drastically hurts his case.

AP Government teacher Mr. Bachman commented on the effectiveness of Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the National Anthem, claiming that Kaepernick’s approach is “obviously attention grabbing,” but could be seen as ineffective due to the fact that “it’s immediately polarizing” and that such a form of public protest must attempt to be more “attention getting and persuasive.” Mr. Bachman argued that “choosing to sit during the National Anthem in front of an audience that’s

typically very patriotic, per say, you’re not going to get people who are not already on your side on your side.”

By sitting, Kaepernick clearly overlooks one of the greatest flaws of the Black Lives Matter movement and even the Blue Lives Matter movement: the idea that being against discriminatory practices in law enforcement and against policies that endanger police are mutually exclusive. It is perfectly feasible to be pro-law enforcement but also against police brutality and discrimination, however too often people feel the need to take one side since both movements are giving off a vibe of exclusivity towards each other, which only continues to halt cooperative progress on the issue.

With struggles as great as this in our nation, we cannot turn against our flag, but we must turn towards it and stand up with faith that our democratic system will bring justice and with action to match our statements.

THE CHIEF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Finding Dory vs. Finding Nemo: Does sequel compare?

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

BY MICHAEL RIGGI STAFF WRITER

characters Nemo and Marlin are relatable and effectively able to appeal to the audience, as they offer an engaging past and a bond that is interesting to watch. Where the film shines is in the overwhelming and impressive cast of supporting characters, (especially Dory), that offer a needed variety in the adventure and introduce great comedic opportunities.

In comparison, “Finding Dory” has many returning voice actors as well as many new actors, once again including characters such as Dory, Marlin, and Nemo, along with newcomers Ed O’Neill as Hank and Kaitlin Olson as Destiny. Surprisingly, the supporting character of Dory effectively works as a main character, as the impressive

comedy and interaction with others is a refreshing change in a world of many serious characters. Supporting characters are once again a strong point of the film and may work better than its predecessor, as returning characters and new characters, (especially Hank), have a true impact on the film and add to the film’s heart.

The plots of both films feel very familiar and somewhat simple, but ultimately do not detract from the experience, as simple is all that is needed. In this sequel, Dory must find her parents to reveal the truth about her past and to once again find her true home.

“Finding Nemo” offers heartfelt moments and a feeling of wonder. while “Finding Dory” has more suspenseful mo-

PROVIDED BY DISNEY.COM

PROVIDED BY DISNEY.COM

With many new competitors in the world of animation, Disney and Pixar animation studios have scheduled a lineup of many future movies that continue the stories of beloved franchises under the company’s title to help conquer the competition. Rather than spend all of their time creating new worlds and characters to explore, the company believes that the key to success may be within the past.

In the hopes of making a profit and to justify the superiority of Disney films, numerous sequels and spin-off movies have been planned for the near future; this has created somewhat of a division among true fans as Disney has had a mixed bag in terms of worthy sequels in the far and recent past.

“Finding Dory,” the sequel to the famous “Finding Nemo” made thirteen years prior, begins a string of sequel films for the company on a very positive note that captures the true grandeur of the company and proves how special a Disney/Pixar film can be.

The newest additions feature an incredibly strong range of actors and characters, and an amazing display of visual animation that will impress both adults and children alike. Also, scattered easter eggs and a few touching moments enhance the plot, making it one of Disney/ Pixar’s most outstanding films.

Although “Finding Dory” works as a film by itself, does it compare to the film it follows?

The answer can be decided by looking into “Finding Nemo” to see which main fish character carried the better film.

“Finding Nemo” has a respectable range of actors that deliver fitting voice performances, including Alexander Gould as Nemo, Albert Brooks as Marlin, and Ellen DeGeneres as Dory. Main

Finding Nemo and Finding Dory | The two movies made quite a splash when they hit theaters.

10

ments and interesting character arcs, but both plots are structured by classic chance moments and last-minute plans.

Comparing both films in terms of visual style shows how far Disney/Pixar has become. “Finding Nemo” has a classic art and animation style that makes it feel both current and dated, although “Finding Dory” has visuals that go beyond beautiful and continue the art style in a cleaner and more fluid way.

When comparing these two films, it can be hard to pick a film that is truly superior. This shows how successful the Disney team is, being that the sequel, was a box-office success. If continued like this, the future will be profitable for Disney and will continue their legend of truly outstanding films.

Overall, “Finding Dory” was a fantastic film in and of itself and a sensational sequel to the original that begins a new era for Disney/Pixar with fantastic characters, compelling stories, and some truly amazing visuals that take animation to the next level.

DC Comic’s Suicide Squad hits theaters with a bang

BY SARA GOWEN STAFF WRIITER

PROVIDED BY DCCOMICS.COM

Suicide Squad is an anti justice league made up entirely of infamous villains that DC comics fans have come to resent ever since the first debut of the wellknown and adored characters such as Superman, Batman, and Wonderwoman during America’s Great Depression.

The first trailer of the film first launched at Comic Con 2015, and fans have been anxious for the premiere ever since. The villains in this major motion picture vary from more prominent criminals such as the Joker and Harley Quinn, to less popular convicts like Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and the Enchantress.

This unlikely band of misfits, joined by other malefactors, El Diablo, Killer Croc, Slip Knot, and Katana, are forced to work together as a last resort team of metahumans to save the world from mass destruction when the distinct heroes can’t.

Amanda Waller creates this Task Force X and convinces the team to work together to complete their assigned mission by promising them reduced prison sentences. As a safeguard, Waller injects them with minuscule bombs in their necks, that would explode, effectively

Rooting for the villain | DC Comics newest movie is a success. killing the villain instantly if they were to ever attempt an escape or disobey orders.

Throughout the film, the criminals become friends, forming a bond unlike any other. The villains show off their top of the line skills, which they need to obtain successful super villain status. With assets including expert gymnastics skills, perfect shooting aim, and veteran combat expertise, they appear to have potential to become the go-to villain dream team.

During the course of the film, the backstories of each villain are revealed, which allows audiences to feel empathy for the characters and understand

their struggles. This makes the convicts seem more like real people, not just the bad guys in yet another superhero movie.

Suicide Squad shifts the debate from good vs evil to bad vs evil. The crowd even finds themselves liking the villain, and becoming genuinely interested in their stories, something that was never thought to be feasible in the past.

Deadshot, played by Will Smith, focuses on getting a better life for his daughter and keeping her happy, as well as gaining full custody of her.

The origin story of how Harley got involved in the DC world is revealed, which involved her working at Arkham

Asylum as a psychiatrist. She was assigned to the Joker himself, also referred to as “Mr. J”, and fell in love with him while he was her patient. She helped break him out of the psychiatric hospital, and stayed by his side as they became the king and queen of Gotham City.

Each actor’s performances in the film is phenomenal, and each becomes his character.

They became a squad themselves, which made the onscreen dynamic believable.

While the actors do a great job with their characters both as a team and individually, the plot was not one for the books. It begins with good intentions, and it is easy for

the audience to enjoy, but as it continues, it is easy for the audience to become confused.

The plot, though it was unpredictable for the most part and filled with twists, it had gotten lost in itself after nearly an hour of screen time. The beginning of the film sets up the plot exceptionally well, but it doesn’t live up to the given hype in the end. The film, which could be exceptional if more time and attention was paid to its most important aspects, was overall a hit, and definitely one I would recommend.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Twenty One Pilots rocks the Garden!

THE CHIEF

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

BY LIAM HIGGINS COPY EDITOR

The worldwide phenomenon Twenty One Pilots took Madison Square Garden by storm on August 10, 2016 for the first time in their career.

Twenty One Pilots was formed in 2009 by singer Tyler Joseph and former members Nick Thomas and Chris Salih in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio. In 2011, Thomas and Salih left the band, and drummer Josh Dun joined. The band remained “fairly local” until their third album, Vessel, was released in 2013 and be-

gan to pick up steam. In 2015, the duo released their fourth album, entitled Blurryface, which became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and charts remarkably well even to this day. With their single “Stressed Out” going double platinum in the US, the band embarked on their largest tour yet: The Emotional Roadshow Tour.

From the start of the concert, there was no denying that the two had an incredible stage presence. The members certainly knew how to put on an incredibly energetic, yet emotional show. The band

engaged in fun antics and stunts such as when the lead singer Tyler Joseph rode the general admission crowd in a giant hamster ball and when he climbed a large podium during one of their songs. The band is known for being constantly dynamic throughout their show and displaying a more theatrical performance.

“It was such an outstanding concert with so much energy and amazing music,” junior Erin Cancela said.

The band was certainly proud that they were able to play Madison Square Garden

for the first time. It has been a goal of theirs for an incredibly long time, and August 10 was when that dream was finally realized. Tyler Joseph gave a moving speech, ending with the phrase “We did it!”

Despite the large venue, the band was able to keep the intimate atmosphere of some of their smaller shows.

Joseph shared several stories with the crowd and the band performed some songs on a separate, smaller stage on the opposite side of the arena. They even played a medley of some of the songs

from their first two albums.

The band also brought back the opening acts, Chef’Special and Mutemath, to perform several covers of other songs, such as “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion and “Jump Around” by House of Pain. After those covers, they played their most popular singles, such as “Car Radio,” “Ride,” and “Stressed Out.” Ending the concert off with an encore, the band played two of their most impassioned songs, “Goner” and “Trees,” which left concert-goers with a sense of pure euphoria.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO // INSTAGRAM

LIAM HIGGINS // THE CHIEF

TOP makes it big time | August 10, 2016 performance at MSG.

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“Panic!” rocks the summer| P!ATD performs in Summer 2016.

Panic! at the Disco: a superb performance at Jones Beach

BY DENNIS FAIELLA STAFF WRITER

With summer comes concerts, especially at Jones Beach, a beloved venue of many Long Islanders. One of the many bands that visited Wantagh this year was Panic! at the Disco, and I was lucky enough to attend.

As I stepped out of the sky blue minivan in the Jones Beach Nikon Theater parking lot and walked into the stadium, I felt the tension and excitement build up from the parking lot. As my friend and I walked through the outside stadium, we felt

and heard the anticipation of the hundreds of fans waiting inside. The smell of popcorn from the nearby concession stands filled my senses as vendors shouted at people to buy knockoff t-shirts. We found our seats, and waited there until the opening act came on.

As the opening act, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, finished their last song, tension built as almost every Panic! fan in the stadium awaited their night of thrill and exhilaration to begin. The crowd cheered with anticipation, anxious for the main singer of the band that every fan

adored to come out on stage.

Soon enough, the man we’d all been waiting for walked out on stage, and the band started playing the music along to the first song of the set. The concert began with the electric tune “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time” as Brendon Urie’s voice echoed through the crowds and the unison voices of hundreds of fans sang along with the music. As the lead singer performed the first song of the set, an invigorating vibe was set for the rest of the concert, which I had been looking forward to ever since a friend of

mine had gotten us tickets.

The whole theater was lit up with cell phone flashlights.

After two amazingly performed songs, the revolutionary single “Hallelujah” began to play, the crowds excitement doubled as people who didn’t even come to see Panic! At The Disco began to sing along with the chorus. After that iconic performance, the energy in the stadium only increased with each song adding to the joy and excitement. Immediately after “Emperor’s New Clothes,” the band began playing their less recent hits such as “Girls/ Girls/Boys” and “Nine In The

Afternoon” which created an energy unlike any other.

The band even included an amazing cover of Queen’s anthemic song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which the band put their own twist on. The energy created by this performance perfectly summarized the entire concert.

Witnessing Panic! at the Disco live was an electrifying experience. The songs were perfectly performed and laid out, certainly making that night one that I will never forget.

What its like behind the scenes at Jones Beach Theater

BY CHRISTINA SIGNORETTI STAFF WRITER

CHRISTINA SIGNORETTI // THE CHIEF

Like every other 16 year old, it was a challenge to find a summer job that both interested me and wasn’t too far from my house. Luckily enough, I was able to find the perfect one that not only made me content, but also felt more like a night out than a job.

Jones Beach Theater hires a certain amount of new ushers each summer, and this year, I happened to be one of them.

When I found out that I got the job, a staff meeting was held on the stage at the theater to show all of the new staff just how easy it is to fit in at such a famous place. Looking out at the empty arena gave me goosebumps. I could not be-

A summer unlike any other | An MHS student’s incredible job experience at Jones Beach. lieve that this was my summer past times during this summer worked left me with high spirjob. I could not believe that because I got to see how the its and unforgettable smiles.

Music has always interestI was seeing the same view spectators at the concerts rethat so many famous people acted to their favorite bands ed me, and working at Jones have raved about. Being an and artists. Turning around Beach Theater has shown me usher was one of my favorite 360 degrees each night I the side of it that helps make

others happy. I don’t enjoy anything more than when I see groups of kids smiling as wide as they possibly can as they wait for their favorite artist to come on stage. Or how even the shyest people can blossom into who they truly are as they get lost in meaningful songs.

Or how it was so easy to turn my colleagues into my family.

All in all, finding the perfect summer job and being on the other side of concerts has defined so many new emotions for me. From serenity to hope, all forms of emotions are shared and transferred when at Jones Beach Theater. I can say that working there was the best decision I made all summer, and I can’t wait for next summer.

SPORTS Extreme Makeover: Girls’ locker room gets facelift

THE CHIEF

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

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DANIELLE ANZELONE// THE CHIEF

The new and improved locker room shines for female athletes | The girls locker room beckons students and female athletes back to school after substantial renovations— but still lacks benches. Some improvements include a color scheme reflecting school pride, new lockers, new radiators, and a fresh coat of paint.

Rio recap: all you need to know about the 2016 Olympic Games

BY VICTORIA BARBERA COPY EDITOR

chael Phelps was definitely the most dominant athlete in Rio. With 5 golds and a silver, Phelps now has a total of 28 Olympic medals. Many fans were disappointed when Phelps announced his retirement at the conclusion of the games. His historic wins have made him one of the best athletes of all time and his success will continue to inspire young athletes all over the world.

There were many female athletes who achieved gold in

Rio. Nineteen year old Katie Ledecky (swimming), broke her own world record, and swam the 400 meter freestyle in 56.46 seconds. She left Rio with a total of four gold medals and a silver.

“Swimming is an amazing sport and being on a team that supports you and will always be with you is an experience of a life!” Casement said. “I think this [winning the gold] influences more people to swim and keep working at their goals if

BRIAN PETERSON // MCT CAMPUS

Flipping their way to first | USA women’s gymnastics team take the gold at the 2016 Olympics.

Swimming to success | USA women’s swim team wins big in Rio.

BRIAN PETERSON// MCT CAMPUS

If you turned on your TV in the month of August, then you probably caught some footage of the 2016 Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 11,000 athletes traveled to Rio to represent their countries over the course of 16 days. Many were concerned about the Olympics being held in Brazil due to a lack of security. Nevertheless, Rio did not disappoint, and the Brazilian culture influenced all who attended.

On opening night, over 75,000 people gathered at Maracanã Stadium to enjoy Rio’s iconic opening ceremony. When it came time to introduce the athletes, nobody was surprised to see Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps leading Team USA into the arena.

The US sent 558 athletes to the games and represented the most female athletes ever in Olympic history. Based on the crowd’s reaction, it was clear that Team USA was the favorite for these games.

“I think it was great that it was the most females that swam in the Olympics because they have been training for practically their whole life and they finally get that opportunity to showcase their hard work and talent,” Rachelle Casement, a sophomore on the girls varsity swimming and diving team said.

The excitement of the crowd began to dull, Team Russia made their entrance into the arena. Russia found themselves in a massive doping scandal, and as a result, 118 athletes were banned from the games. According to a BBC report, there is evidence

to conclude that the scandal was a result of a four-year, state-run doping program.

Senior Amanda Fedele said,“It’s not fair to the other countries and it puts everyone on an uneven playing field”. Some athletes were able to submit petitions to override their ban, but the incident was a major disappointment for Russian athletics.

Despite the scandals, USA came home with 121 medals, 46 of which were gold. Mi-

they are already a swimmer.”

Simone Biles (gymnastics) made Olympic history, as she is only one of four other gymnasts who have won four gold medals in a single olympic games. Twenty four year old Helen Maroulis made Olympic history when she became the first ever US women to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Though her success has not made many headlines, Maroulis has revolutionized wrestling for many young women, and she will go down in history for her achievement.

Another historic moment took place on the track, when Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, dominated the men’s 100 meter freestyle. Reaching staggering speeds of 28 mph, Bolt ran the 100 meter freestyle in only 9.81 seconds.

He was the first athlete to win the 100 meter freestyle gold in three consecutive olympic games and has graciously accepted his new title as the fastest man in the world.

“The excitement of all of the gold medals for our country and team unity was great!”

Physical Education teacher Ms. Brigit Canle said. “It’s amazing to see athletes who dedicated their whole lives to their craft excel at the Olympics.”

The Olympics brings together a variety of cultures and communities, and the Rio games captured the spirit and celebration of a variety of athletes, all from unique backgrounds. Overall, Rio was an incredible host city for the games, and the success of the athletes has inspired and will continue to inspire generations to come.