TUNLAW - North Plainfield High School

Page created by Edward Rogers
 
CONTINUE READING
TUNLAW - North Plainfield High School
TUNLAW                                                                                                 Volume 90, Issue 1

                                                  The Official Newspaper of North Plainfield High School
                                                          34 Wilson Avenue North Plainfield, NJ 07060

                                                                                                                                                    Inside this issue:
                                                                                                                                                    Homecoming               2

                                                                                                                                                    Hallway Decorating       2

                                                                                                                                                    New Staff                3

                                                                                                                                                    Last Minute Costumes     4

                                                                                                                                                    Fall Activities          4

                                                                                                                                                    College Sneak Peek       6

                                                                                                                                                    Fall Sports              7

                                                                                                                                                      Tunlaw Editors
                                                                                                                                                      Editor-In-Chief:
                                                                                                                                                      Victoria Kisling
                                                                                                                                                      News: Victoria Kisling
                                                                                                                                                      Features: Kayla Arguello
 This year’s Canuck at the Fall Pep Rally. The mascots and cheerleaders from 1968.
                                                                                                                                                      & Alveiry Zarate
                                                                School Spirit                                                                         Opinion/Editorial:
                                                                  Victoria Kisling                                                                    Jessie Corchado &
          Every year at North                    cot, the Canuck. However,                        field was a very small                              Heather Hernandez
Plainfield High School                           the Canuck was not always                        s c h o o l . I th i n k t h e r e w e r e
( N P HS ) , t h e e n t i r e s t u d e n t     the woodsman that he is                          about 200 hundred kids in                           Sports: Amaiana Sajjad
b o d y a n d s t a f f p a rt ic i p a t e      known to be today. Accord-                       each graduating class so eve-
i n S c h o o l S p i r i t W ee k .             ing to Ms. Waller, the Ca-                       rybody knew everybody.”
S c h o o l S p i r it W e e k f e a -           nuck was the name that was                                                                           Tunlaw Staff:
                                                                                                              Ms. Sloan, the current
tures a different theme                          g i v e n t o t h e m a s co t , b u t                                                               Aniyha Gaddis
                                                                                                  Varsity Cheerleading Coach
e a c h d a y w i t h t h e Ha l l w a y         t h e h i gh s ch o o l w a s r e p r e -
                                                                                                  a n d S t u d e n t A c t iv i ty C o o r d i -     Olivia Molenaar
D e c o r a t i n g C o m p e t it i o n         sented by a pine tree. The
                                                                                                  nator, replied in a similar
between the four classes                         c o s t u m e t h a t M s . Wa l l e r
                                                                                                  manner. She said that the                           Jordan Sample
taking place on Thursday,                        a n d M s . S h e b e y b o th w o r e ,
                                                                                                  Canuck represents “strength,
the Homecoming Football                          w a s c o mp o s e d o f b la c k                                                                    Katrina Bavosa
                                                                                                  resilience, diversity.” The
game Friday night, and the                       t i g h t s , b l a c k l o a f e r s, a
                                                                                                  Canuck means something                              Diana Orozco
Homecoming Dance Satur-                          white blouse, and “a green
                                                                                                  d i f f e r e n t t o e v e r y o ne i n
d a y n i g h t . T h is y e a r , t h e         s h a g g y t r e e o u t f it . ” O n c e i n
                                                                                                  N o rt h P l a i n f i e l d , b ut i t r e p -     Jasmine Muhando
themes were: Pajama Day                          costume, Ms. Waller said,
                                                                                                  r e s e n t s t h e s c h o o l an d t h e
( M o n d a y ) , Tw i n D a y                   “Linda and I would try to                                                                            Sebastian Villacis
                                                                                                  people.
(Tuesday), Save the World                        d o t h is d a n c e w h e r e w e
Wednesday (Wednesday),                           w o u l d k n o c k o ur h ip s t o -                        23 years after Shebey                   Nermeen Girgis
T h ro wb a c k T h u rs d ay                    gether. Sometimes one of                         graduated, Mr. Lake gradu-
                                                                                                  a t e d f r o m N P HS . M r . L a k e              Emely Alphonse
( T h ur s d a y ) , a n d S p ir i t D a y      u s w o u l d g e t do w n a n d t h e
(Friday).                                        o t h e r wo u l d j u mp o v e r l i k e        c o m e s f ro m a l i n e o f C a -                David Michael Kenny
                                                 a b u l l f r o g . Th e n w e ’ d r u n         n u c k s . H i s m o t h e r gr a d u a t e d
            S c h o o l S p i r it W e e k                                                                                                            Sabriya Zafar
                                                 a r o u n d t h e s t a n d s an d t r y         i n 1 9 5 6 a n d h i s t wo o l d e r
has been a tradition at the
                                                 t o g e t p e o p l e t o c h ee r l i k e       s i s t e r s gr a d u a t e d i n 1 9 8 4
h i g h s c h o o l f or m a n y y e a r s                                                                                                            Joseph Leon
                                                 clap and things like that.”                      and 1987. When asked how
and it is safe to say that
                                                 Ms. Waller shared that they                      school spirit has changed                           Kimberly Perez
like anything else, school
                                                 c h a n g e d t r a d i t io n i n a w a y       f r o m wh e n h e a t t e n d e d t h e
s p i r it c h a n g e s . N a nc y W a l -
                                                 w h e r e t h e y w o u l d do t h e             school as a student to now as                       Shafaq Shahzad
ler is an NPHS Alumni,
                                                 f i r s t ch e e r o f t h e g am e s            a teacher, Mr. Lake said,
Class of 1968. When inter-                                                                                                                            Alex Novillo
                                                 w i t h th e c h e e r l e a d e r s . T h is    “ T h e s ch o o l s t i l l h a s s p i r i t,
viewed, Ms. Waller shared,
                                                 w a s u n t r a d i t io n a l b e c a u s e     l i k e i t a l w a y s d i d b ut I t h i n k      Samantha Merendino
“ I t w a s g r e a t s ch o o l s p i r i t .
                                                 a t t h e t i m e , m a s c o ts w e r e         the biggest difference is that
E v e r y b o d y w o u l d go t o t h e
                                                 n o t c o n s i d e r e d to b e t r u l y       we don't see as many stu-                           Myles Pacla
dances, our canteens,
                                                 p a r t o f th e c h e e r l e a d i n g         dents who have had their
w h i ch w e r e o u r w e ek l y                                                                                                                     Elisa Peregrina
                                                 team. When asked what it                         parents, their aunts and un-
dances. Everybody would
                                                 meant to be a Canuck at the                      c l e s , e t c , c o m e t h r o u g h th e        Audrey Urmaza
g o t o th e s c h o o l p l a y .
                                                 time, Ms. Waller replied,                        s c h o o l . Gr o wi n g u p , N o r t h
T h e r e w a s a l o t o f sc h o o l
                                                 “ T h e r e w a s a l o t o f sc h o o l         Plainfield, especially North                        Courtney Thomas
s p i r it , a l o t o f go o d s c h o o l
                                                 s p i r it . E v e r y o n e w e n t t o t h e   Plainfield sports, was the
s p i r it . ” M s . W a l l e r a t t e n d -
                                                 football games, so I think                       only thing I ever wanted to
ed NPHS from 1964 to
                                                 to be a Canuck was to have                       b e p a r t o f .”                                  Faculty Advisor:
1968. In her senior year,
                                                 a l o t o f p r i d e f o r o ur                            M r . L a k e t h i n k s t h at
s h e w a s t h e m a s co t a l o n g
                                                 school. I knew a lot of the                      s c h o o l s p i r i t i s so c ie t a l ,         Mrs. Lake
with her lifelong best
                                                 cheerleaders and so I think                      meaning that people lose
f r i e n d L i n d a S h e b e y. A
                                                 it was just fun being with a                     t r a c k o f wh a t i s h a p p e n i n g
l a r g e p a r t o f t h e s cho o l
                                                 g r o up o f p e o p l e I e n j o y e d
s p i r it c o m e s fr o m t h e m a s -                                                         around them and that there
                                                 b e i n g w i t h . N o r th P l a i n -
                                                                                                  (continued on page 2)
TUNLAW - North Plainfield High School
(Spirit Continued) will be more school spirit if people were not so wrapped up in themselves. He believes that there should be
more maroon and white around the school along with the Canuck to add more school spirit. When asked what the Canuck means,
Mr. Lake replied, “The Canuck logo is the best logo anywhere. We are the only school in the United States that has the Canuck mas-
                               cot. To me, it represents everyone who has ever
                               come through NP. It represents hard work. It rep-
                               resents toughness. It represents resilience.”
                                                 Mr. Risoli graduated 7 years after Mr. Lake.
                                          He believes that the school spirit has increased
                                          throughout the years. When asked why, he re-
                                          sponded, “I think this is due to the pride that NP
                                          takes in its diversity, awards such as National
                                          School of Character, and activities like Canuck
                                          Mentors and ROTC, just to name a few reasons.”

                                               School spirit will always change, but the
                                          Canuck and what he stands for will never change.
Cover of the 1968 Yearbook                                                                                             1968 Varsity Cheerleading Team

  Cheerleaders and Canuck at the Fall Pep Rally.           Junior,Noran Zaher,full of CanuckPride atFall PepRally.   MembersoftheCrossCountryteamat the FallPepRally.

   Hallway Decorating                         As always, the four classes
                                                                               Saturday September 24th was the North                Homecoming Dance
                                                                               Plainfield Homecoming dance where it was
                                              stay after school, often very
           Sebastian Villacis                                                  truly a night filled with fancy clothes, good                 Jordan Sample
                                              late, to decorate the hallways
                                                                               food, and hanging out with friends. The
                                              with different themes in the
                                                                               theme of this year’s dance was called “Hollywood Lights”, showcasing the auditorium
annual Hallway Decorating Contest. On Thursday, September 22 stu-
                                                                               with a trendsetting decor of black table covers placed with shining star pieces and a
dents from each class came together to represent their class and help
                                                                               centerpiece of black and red balloons with the famous Hollywood clapperboard and a
decorate their hallway. Students that had time to spare came by to assist
                                                                               little photo area where guests can take pictures like a real celebrity as they pose on
in decorating their classes hallway for the time that they could, but some
                                                                               the red carpet. Dr. Stephenson said, “The night was perfect! The girls looked beauti-
students stayed late just to add the final touches to their hallways. Land-
                                                                               ful and the guys looked sharp. I think this year went very well”.
ing themselves fourth place were the Freshmen with their theme “Forest
Freshmen.” Brian Yumiguano helped out his class and said, “we tried            The food and drinks were served by the teachers as they displayed rolls, pasta, meat-
going for something small yet nice”. Getting a position of third place just    balls, veggies and more. But the part that everyone was looking forward to was the ice
like the previous year was the Class of 2019. With the theme of                cream. Guests danced the night away as the DJ played popular songs and some mem-
“Smurfmores” they decorated the hallway as a Smurf village. Student            orable old school songs like the “Cha-Cha Slide” and the “Running Man,” which made
Council President, Joseph Leon said, “ The whole sophomore council             everyone bust a move and show off their dance skills. The winners of Homecoming
decided together on the theme which was the smurfs. Everyone in the            King and Queen were Nick Chesararo and Amina Elsais, and the winners for Home-
student council pitched in ideas and were determined to work together to       coming Prince and Princess where Dalavar Athar and Shaerton. The winners were
make our hallway the best it could be.” Coming in with second place were       very surprised to win as Shaerton commented “I was really shocked and I was really
the seniors with their theme of “Safari Seniors.” They decorated their         happy about it. Part of me didn’t believe I was going to win, but my friends voted for
hallways with various animals, most of which you'd find in zoos. Karen         me.” After crowning, the winners engaged in a slow dance to Ed Sheeran.
Gordon said, “it’s a fun theme and everyone loves animals, it's colorful
                                                                                         As the night was coming to an end, everyone was both smiling and taking pic-
and pops out.” Finally coming in first are the juniors with their theme
                                                                               tures but also out of breath from dancing all night. Even though the night was over,
“Disney Juniors”. The juniors decorated the hallway with a bunch of
                                                                               everyone seemed to have a great time as they left in laughter and the fun memories
small Disney logos and Disney characters. Anne Joseph said, “It was dif-
                                                                               they've spent with friends. Veronika Miller commented on the experience and said,
ferent and creative and everyone could relate to it.”
                                                                               “It felt like an everlasting night”.

                                        Who even has time to worry about graduation when there are still nine months to get through? What even is
     Project Graduation
                                        Project Graduation? These thoughts may have been running through seniors' heads when reading the title of
           Katrina Bavosa               this article, but it is a guarantee that graduation will be here much sooner than anticipated. Currently, the
                                        main focus is on getting through the final year of high school without too much stress and flaunting their
"authority" as upperclassmen. They're anxiously waiting to finally walk across the stage and receive their diploma, as many of their friends have
done before them. But much thought also needs to be given to Senior Smash, the event that is hosted the night of graduation as a final activity for
the seniors to bond as a class and say farewell.
        To answer some possible questions, this year's Project Graduation is headed by Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Ford with the help of several other
dedicated PTA members. Schools nationwide undergo committees similar to Project Graduation with the purpose of giving seniors a safe outlet to
have fun with their peers for a final time before parting ways. North Plainfield High School picked up Project Graduation about twenty five years
ago after newly graduated students across the country were involved in a series of drunk driving accidents. The intention of Project Graduation is
to keep students, and other drivers, safe. The PTA members have been doing a great job so far and their work is greatly appreciated, but now it is
the seniors' time to join the effort.
        Senior Smash will not be able to happen if student involvement does not increase. At minimum, the senior class needs to raise $15,000 (yes
you read that right) in order to cover venue, transportation, food, etc. The PTA can plan as many fundraisers as they want, but without seniors will-
ing to actually raise money, little progress will be made. Planning is one thing but execution is the most important piece. Senior year is supposed to
be the highlight of high school, so why not make the most of it and actively contribute now so that it can be a great end to the final year of high
school?
        So what can students do to help? Well, even just by coming out to school events like Color Wars, the Volley Cheese tournament, and the Mr.
Canuck competition, an impact is being made. Getting excited for upcoming events and potential fundraising opportunities will also be beneficial
to the goal because there will be a greater turn out and a greater profit made. Listening to announcements and just being aware of when these
events are going on will also make a difference. If all the seniors do their share to contribute not only their time, but their enthusiasm, they will be
well on their way to exceeding their goal and creating a memorable experience at Senior Smash.
TUNLAW - North Plainfield High School
NPHS Welcomes New Staff
                                            Olivia Molenaar, Diana Orozco, Kayla Arguello, and Alveiry Zarate
This year the NPHS community has welcomed many new teachers and former teachers in new positions. Each one of
                  them was asked what their favorite part of NPHS has been. Below is the first of a two part series.

                      Mr. Charles Rowan (Assistant Principal): My favorite part about coming to work
                      at NPHS would have to be the students and the staff.

                                             Mrs. Olga Wickerhauser (Biology Teacher): My favorite thing about coming to
                                             work is the students. I really like the diversity of the student body here at North
                                             Plainfield.

                       Ms. Rebecca Visintainer (Dance Teacher): I love the students’ ability to be open
                       to learning new things, adapting, and their ability to help each other without be-
                       ing told to do so.

                                                   Mr. John Bednarz (HS Librarian): The people I work with are such a help,
                                                   and the students seem so happy and interested in learning.

                       Ms. Erin Kreeger (Science Teacher): "My favorite thing has been working with the students;
                       there are times when I am amazed by the work they are doing and the interesting questions they
                       ask. I came in with high expectations for the physics program...the students have risen to meet
                       those expectations, so it makes my job fun because we are able to explore topics that I didn't
                       think we were going to be able to cover."
                           Ms. Zoraida Otero (Guidance Counselor): My favorite part about coming to work everyday is the
                           interaction that I have with my students. I look forward to helping my students in the areas of aca-
                           demic achievement, career development, and personal/social development. As their number one
                           advocate, it is important that I build a strong rapport with my students and that they are treated
                           fairly at all times.
                          Hollywood Nights
                                                                                    Shelton: When I won I felt great but shocked somewhat because I didn’t really think
                      Alveiry Zarate and Audrey Urmaza                              I would win based off who I was going against.
        The 2016-17 school year had an amazing start with this year’s home-
coming. The theme was Hollywood Nights. This year’s homecoming court in-
                                                                                    3. Did you think you were going to win?
cluded seniors Nick Cherasaro, Antoine Izaguirre, Chris Medrano, Sefa Kolu-
bah, Kaitlyn Carreras, Amina Elsais, Emily McGrath, and Yanqing Liang and           Cherasaro: I didn’t think that I was going to win.
juniors Olivia Molenaar, Anne Joseph, Zya Shelton, Ayah Elsais, Dlavar Athar,
Brandon Smith, Brandon Wynn, and Trevor Sullivan. At the end of the night,
the winners for king, queen, prince, and princess were announced. The winners       Amina: I didn’t think I’d be queen but I was really excited and happy. It was a great
were Cherasaro as king, Amina as queen, Athar as prince, and Shelton as prin-       and fun experience.
cess. The winners were interviewed, their responses are shared below.
1. What does it mean to be homecoming king/queen/prince/ Athar: Honestly, I didn’t know because I didn’t focus much on “Omg am I going to
princess?                                                                  win?” I went to homecoming not with the thought to win but to think of it as a time
                                                                           to make memories I would look back at in 20 years and have a great time. I walked
Cherasaro: It means a lot of the people voted for me.
                                                                           into homecoming with a “I got two more years of high school, might as well live
Amina: I think being homecoming queen is a really nice gesture coming from them up to the fullest because why not?” type of mood. Just there to make great
people from my class who voted, and it was just an awesome way to end a memories with great people. CLASS OF 2K18.
memory filled night.

                                                                                   Shelton: A part of me did and didn’t at the same time. I did because I have great
Athar: Well, I wanna start off by thanking my parents because if it wasn’t for friends who support me and I knew would vote and didn’t because of, once again,
them, I wouldn’t be here. And I also want to thank my friends who supported
me. And most of all, I want to thank the teachers and staff members who make
NPHS what it is. Going to homecoming was a lot of fun. I had a great time with
friends and becoming homecoming prince to me is an honor. I appreciate eve-
ryone that voted for me. It was a great feeling. I can’t really explain it, but it                                                                From left: Dlavar
was truly an honor.                                                                                                                               Athar. Olivia Mo-
                                                                                                                                                     lenaar, Zya Shelton,
                                                                                                                                                     Anne Joseph, Ayah
                                                                                                                                                     Elsais, and Trevor
Shelton: It means a lot being homecoming princess because I didn’t even think I
                                                                                                                                                     Sullivan
had the chance to be nominated.

2. How did you feel when you heard your name called as one of the
winners?
Cherasaro: I was nervous because I don’t like dancing and I didn’t want to go
out there.                                                                           From top left:
                                                                                     Nick Cherasaro,
                                                                                     Chris Medrano,
Amina: I was really surprised to be announced because all the nominees were          Antoine Izaguirre,
                                                                                     and Sefa Kalubah
great.
                                                                                     From bottom left:
                                                                                     Kaitlyn Carreras,
Athar: It was a feeling that I could not explain. It felt great like cotton candy    Yanqing Liang,
and warm cookies.                                                                    Emily McGrath, and
                                                                                     Amina Elsais.
Last Minute Halloween Costumes                                                                   Senior Expectations
                           Kayla Arguello                                                                         Olivia Molenaar

       Halloween is coming. Are you still deciding on what to
dress up as or do you have no idea? Well, there are some very                                         The seniors of North Plainfield High
simple costumes that are not much work, but are still creative.                                   School have reached their final year walking
BuzzFeed shared some creative ideas like the ones below.
                                                                                                  the halls and being surrounded by faces that
        This first costume is very simple. Why not dress up as                                    have been familiar to them for years. Ending
Wednesday Addams from the Addams Family? All you need is
                                                                                                  a chapter of your life is never easy. Especial-
a black button-down shirt tucked into a black skirt. Then, just
add braids, and maybe just put on a serious face.                                                 ly when the people that you have experienced
                                                                                                  it with have impacted your life tremendous-
        Here’s another idea. Be a strong independent woman
                    like Rosie the Riveter. Wear your blue button-up shirt, add a ban-            ly. Senior year is a time to end high school
                    dana, and a pair of high-wasted jeans.                                        right and create memorable moments that
                      Do you have a black suit and black sunglasses? You could be a               you can forever carry with you. Going
                      character from Men in Black.                                                through senior year, it's important to keep
                                                                                                  these expectations and goals in mind to keep
                      This last costume could be an idea for couples out there. You could
                      dress up as Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction. Vin-            on the right path. Enjoying this final year is
                      cent Vega just needs a white button-down shirt, a black jacket, and         what being a senior is all about. Although it's
                      black pants. To dress up as Mia Wallace all you need is a white long        the last year, it's only just begun, one jour-
                      sleeve button-down shirt, black pants, and a black short wig.               ney is coming to an end, while the start of a
                                                                                                  new chapter is approaching this coming
                      It’s okay if you don’t go all out for Halloween, these simple cos-
                      tumes will do just the trick.                                               June. Senior year is a big deal and every sen-
                                                                                                  ior has their own goals and expectations for
                           Fall Fashion                                                           the year. Several seniors were willing to
                                                                                                  share.
                           Diana Orozco
                                                                                                       As expected, many of the seniors antici-
Diverse denim is definitely taking some of the spotlight this fall.
                                                                                                  pate a very busy and stressful year ahead of
There are many ways to make your denim stand out. An exciting
                                                                                                  them. All are welcoming the new school year
trend that is having a comeback moment this year, is denim on den-
                                                                                                  and everything that it has to bring. One of
im. In the past, some may have found this risky, but this fall don't
                                                                                                  the seniors here at NPHS, Kanira White, ex-
be afraid to pair some blue jeans with a lighter jean jacket or shirt.
                                                                                                  pects this year to be very fast paced and
Don't forget about patchwork, which in the most literal terms is
                                                                                                  emotional. She shared how this is her last
patches of different fabric. It is the art of using pieces from different
                                                                                                  year with the people she's spent 6 years with,
articles of clothing, and piecing them together on one article of
                                                                                                  yet it's heartwarming to see everybody pre-
clothing, maybe some jeans or even a dress. Patchwork has been
                                                                                                  pare to move onto greater things. Other stu-
trending, one reason is because it can be very easy to dress up or
                                                                                                  dents, like JP Donatelli, expect this year to
dress down. It can be included by adding light patches to darker
                                                                                                  be a great year with new memories shared
colored jeans. Denim with embroidery also seems to be trending this fall, and it is looking
                                                                                                  with his friends. Dilinna Enwerekowe ex-
amazing! It can make any outfit chic and unique. Finally, you can even add your own spin
                                                                                                  pects to make the best out of this year.
to any denim by adding embellishments of anything you find cool or interesting, or any-
thing that represents you. You can add pins of anywhere you've traveled, your favorite                  While speaking to the current NPHS sen-
band, or simply your favorite color. You can also add sayings you find motivating or in-          iors, a common goal expressed was to get in-
spiring. Jackets covered in patches, pins, or buttons can give you the unique style you           to college and do well in school. Senior year
might be looking for. Make denim the staple to any outfit this fall. You may want to start        is filled with college applications and the an-
looking through old denim you have stored in boxes in the depths of your closet, thinking         ticipation of getting into a school is a topic
they were outdated and would never make a comeback. This fall, they certainly are.                on everyone's mind. While trying to enjoy
                                                                                                  this year, these students stated that getting
            Fall Activities                                                                       into college was their main goal.

            Emely Alphonse
 Fall. A time of sweater weather and          If you enjoy the aroma of cinnamon in your           weekend until the day of Halloween which is Mon-
 Uggs. This year, the set date for fall was   home, this craft is perfect for you. The materi-     day October 31, 2016. Fright Fest is a time to go to
 September 22, 2016. Now we’re pretty         als that you will need are the following: non-       Six Flags with a couple of your friends and enjoy a
 set into the beginning                                   scented candles, cinnamon sticks,        night of being frightened. There are rides, mazes,
 of October. It's getting                                 and some rope long enough to tie         scare zones, food, and games all around there.
 chillier in the morn-                                    the cinnamon sticks together and         If you like to volunteer or help those in need, this
 ings and colder at                                       secure. All you would have to do is      fall Community Food Banks are open to anyone
 night. Some of us may                                    simply line up the cinnamon sticks       wanting to volunteer. There is one in Hillside, New
 not even like the cold,                                  together as close as possible around     Jersey and another in Neptune, New Jersey. Helping
 but there are things                                     the candle and tie the rope around.      others have a meal in their stomach creates a great
 that we can do to keep                                   Now the next time you light a can-       feeling in you that you did something to make an-
 our mind off of that.                                    dle, your home will have the scent of    other person feel even better. If you are interested in
 This fall try diving                                     a cinnamon wonderland.                   volunteering and finding a local food bank, please
 into some arts and                                       In fall, you have so many opportuni-     visit the Feeding America website for more details.
 crafts and some of the DIYs. Something      ties to also do activities outside of your home as    To get in the spirit of fall, there are a couple of clas-
 you may enjoy making could be an Au-        well. Halloween is coming, so why                                  sics that you can watch in the comfort of
 tumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holder.          not go pumpkin picking? There are                                  your home. Netflix and other movie
 The supplies that you will need to pro-     a bunch of pick-it-yourself farms in                               sources have classics available like The
 vide for this DIY, will be the following: a New Jersey today where you can                                     Corpses Bride by Tim Burton and The
 mason jar, mod podge (type of glue),        pick corn, apples, pumpkins and                                    Addams Family. These movies will get
 leaves (can be real or fake), and a sponge many other plants. These farms give                                 you right in the spirit of Fall.
 brush. For this craft, a ribbon is added at you the experience of going on
                                             hayrides and possibly being able to                                Hopefully these ideas will encourage
 the end but that is optional based on
                                             see animals there too.                                             you to go out or stay in and enjoy a little
 how you wish to have your design. An-
                                                                                                                bit more about fall. Have a happy fall
 other simple arts and crafts project that During the whole month of October,
                                                                                                                this year.
 you could do at home is cinnamon scent- Fright Fest is happening every
 ed candles.                                                                                                           All images: http://images.google.com
High End Makeup Swaps                                         Interview at the Fleetwood Museum, North Plainfield
  Alex Novillo and Samantha Merendino                                 Jessie Corchado and Heather Hernandez

  Lately makeup has become more popular                            While the Fleetwood Museum at Vermeule
  than ever before. New trends, new                                Mansion is interesting to the eye, there is so
  brands, and new products are constantly                          much more to learn once inside. The Fleet-
  hitting the market, but the problem is                           wood Museum, or also known as the Ver-
  that it costs a lot of money to get these                        meule Mansion, is a public place where you
  amazing makeup looks. The products are                           can view old antique cameras and find out
  very expensive. That's why Tunlaw is                             historic information about North Plainfield.
  here to help by giving specific swaps that                       The Vermeule Mansion was built in the 18th
  work. You'll save tons of money with                             century and housed the Vermeule family.
  these!                                                           During the war, the Vermeule women would

  Too Faced “Born This Way” Founda-                                take injured soldiers from Washington’s
       tion ($39) VS L’Oreal Paris                                 troops and would give them shelter. There
    “Infallible Pro-Matte” Foundation                              was a China set Washington gave the family
   ($10.60): The “Infallible Pro-Matte”
  foundation is a great replacement for                            as a thank-you gift. In the cemetery located
   Two Faced “Born This Way” founda-                               in the park, the entire Vermeule family is
  tion. It’s a matte formula that is long                                                                                            Sara Parmigiani and Roberta Scott
  wearing and has extremely good cov-                              buried.
  erage for a drug store makeup brand.
                                                                   To make this place more special, there is a camera museum called the Fleetwood Museum,
                                                                   which was owned by Mr. Fleetwood, a North Plainfield resident who collected cameras and do-
   Mac “Zoom Lash” Mascara ($18) VS                                nated his collection to the museum. An interesting fact lies
     L’Oreal “Voluminous Superstar”
                                                                   there: A pastor from Newark was the actual inventor of
   Mascara ($5.90): If you want great
   voluminous lashes without paying a                              roll film! Roberta Scott and Sara Parmigiani, curators at
  hefty price, then L’Oreal’s “Superstar                           the Vermeule property, shared some details regarding this
        Mascara” is the way to go.
                                                                   historical place. Roberta Scott is in charge of the Fleet-
                                                                   wood Camera Museum. She often escapes through pho-
    Laura Mercier “Translucent” Loose                                                                                tography within na-
   Setting Powder ($38) VS Maybelline
     “Masterfix” Setting + Perfecting                                                                                ture and fine art. Rol-
    Loose Powder($9.00):Maybelline’s                                                                                 oflex and 35mm roll
    “Masterfix” is much less expensive
                                                                                                                     film are the two cam-
   than the high end product. Both are                                                                                                                 1935 Time Capsule
     translucent and don’t make your                                                                                 eras that Ms. Scott
   skin look lighter. It completes your                                                                              would have liked to use out of the many of cameras in muse-
         look with a matte finish.
                                                                                                                     um. Ms. Scott loves hand-made authentic lenses; she would
                                                                                                                     rather use an older model camera than a modern camera.
   Anastasia Beverly Hills “Dipbrow                                                                                  The type of camera Ms. Parmigiani would like to use is the
     Pomade” eyebrow gel ($18) VS
   Maybelline “Brow Drama Pro Pal-                                                                                   Mamiya Seekor. Ms. Parmigiani was a huge help while un-
    ette” ($9.96): The less expensive                                                                                raveling the history of our town. She mentioned that the
  product is a great alternative and is
                                                                                                                     Vermeule Mansion carries so much history throughout its
  half the price. Both have all day cov-
  erage and are pretty water resistant.                                                                              three floors. From libraries to music boxes, antique books to
                                                                                                                     quilts, she brought us stacks full of information on North
                                                                                                                     Plainfield and even brought us a time capsule that was to be
   Urban Decay “All-Nighter” Makeup                                 Vermuele Mansion Sign
   Setting Spray ($30) VS Maybelline                                                                                 opened by 1985. She also gave us the chance to go up the
   “Masterfix” Wear Boosting Setting                               stairs and show us the different rooms and what they held. Everything felt so surreal. To be
    Spray ($8.40):The less expensive
  product is almost three times cheap-                             brought back in time was truly an amazing experience.
   er than the high end product. Both
    leave a nice glowing finish to the                                Mood Songs
    skin and set your makeup to look
             flawless all day.                                        Sabriya Zafar
                                                                      Music is a huge part of our lives. Whether we feel like laughing or crying, music is there. Here
                                                                      are some songs you can listen to when you're in a particular mood.
   NARS “Radiant Creamy” Concealer
   ($29) VS Maybelline “Fit Me” Con-                                            When You’re Happy                                                          Relaxation
   cealer ($5.50): The Maybelline “Fit                                1. Let Me Love You– DJ Snake                                            1. Let it Go– James Bay
  Me” concealer is an amazing alterna-
  tive for the NARS concealer. It has a                               2. Treat You Better– Shawn Mendes                                       2. Things Happen– Dawes
  very similar amount of coverage and
                                                                      3. Hips Don’t Lie– Shakira                                              3. Thinking Out Loud– Ed Sheeran
   comes in many different shades for
           different skin tones.                                      4. Hymn for the Weekend– Coldplay                                       4. Let Her Go– Passenger
                                                                      5. Heathens– Twenty One Pilots                                          5. Sleep on the Floor– The Lumineers
                                                                      6. Closer– The Chainsmokers                                             6. Morning– William Wild

The websites, businesses, and products referenced are for informational purposes only. The district has no affiliation and does not endorse the specific sites/ businesses/products listed.
Freshmen Perspective                                         Sneak Peek Into College
Jessie Corchado                                                                                          College is a new experience for all students. It's
                                                             Jasmine Muhando and Aniyha Gaddis           not like elementary school where mommy or
Freshman year can be a scary year to most. You've just                                                   daddy hold your hand on your way in, or like
transitioned to a new environment. You are going to be       high school where you are nagged at to do your homework. The beauty of college life is the
here for four whole years. Now a month has passed and        independence you receive. To learn more about this, NPHS graduates from the class of 2016,
twenty freshmen were asked how their first year has          we’ve interviewed about all things college:
been so far. Here’s a few that stood out!
                                                             Mariah Rohan, Montclair State University
                                                             A.G: What major are you studying?
“This year has been pretty good. It's going by quick”
                                                             M.R: I have a double major in Information Technology
                                                             and Computer Science with a minor in Communica-
“At first, I was really nervous about going to high          tions and Public Relations.
school, but after getting to know people through activi-
                                                             A.G: Do you live in a dorm or commute?
ties, it became a lot more fun.”
                                                             M.R: I dorm.
“At first I was really nervous and now I feel happy.”        A.G: How are you and your roommate getting along?
                                                             M.R: My roommate and I are like long lost sisters and
“My freshman year has been good. Not the best, but it's      she's my soon to be cheer partner. I love her.
good.”                                                       A.G: How was your first day?
                                                             M.R: My first day was actually pretty intimidating. I'm
                                                             the only girl in most of my computer classes and they
“My freshman year has been great. It's more different
                                                             all have more experience than me but it was nothing
than middle school.”
                                                             that I couldn't handle.

“It's been okay, but boring. I have no friends in my clas-   A.G: Of the acceptances that you received, why did you Mariah Rohan
                                                             choose Montclair ?
ses.”
                                                             M.R: Montclair was not my first choice but it was the least expensive and it had everything I
                                                             was looking for in terms of my major. Not every college has Information Technology as its
The high school has different activities that cater to       own major and Montclair does.
many people's interests, and the best way to enjoy high      A.G: What is something you didn't expect about college?
school is to get involved. Some fun clubs that students      M.R: The freedom. They trust you a lot and it's like you're living by yourself. All you really
can join are: Canuckling, Tunlaw, Art Club, Debate Club,     have to do is get your work done. It's a great opportunity that I hope everyone gets the
                                                             chance to experience.
Interact, Drama, Student Council (check when your
class meetings are), Chess, Step, Show Choir, and so         A.G: Any advice to the seniors applying?
many more. Freshmen can also count on their mentors          M.R: To all my seniors, first off, congrats! This is it and don't take anything for granted. You
and counselors to help guide them through high school.       have to stay focused or you will fall behind and make sure you have safe schools you are ap-
Don't be scared to ask them questions. That's what           plying to. Also, make sure you apply for every scholarship out there because it will help a lot.
                                                             Once again, congrats class of 2017!
they're there for!

How To Navigate High School                                  Jasmin Okolo, Boston University
                                                             JM: Do you live in a dorm or do you commute?
Aniyha Gaddis
                                                             JO: I live in a dorm.
   1. Ask Seniors For Help: Nobody knows the                 JM: How is your relationship with your roommate if you have one?
   inner workings of high school better than those
   who have one year left. Seniors are your greatest         JO: Me and my roommate go everywhere together!
   guides and will be more than willing to help,             JM: How was your first day of college?
   JUST ASK!
                                                             JO: First day of classes went smoothly because I only had an hour of
                                                             Spanish and it was my birthday.
   2. Do NOT Procrastinate: The worst thing                  JM: What are you majoring in?
   you can do is wait last minute to do anything,
   whether it be for school or some regular day-to-          JO: Psychology major/Biology minor
   day activity. This causes added stress on your            JM: Do you prefer morning or afternoon classes?
   part. Just get it out of the way, you'll love your-
   self for it.                                              JO: I have morning classes every day.
                                                                                                                                      Jasmin Okolo

                                                             Samantha Jeannot, Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
   3. Know Your Guidance Counselor: When
   your parents are nagging you or your best friend          JM: Do you live in a dorm or do you commute?
   tells your secret, it often times feels like you          SJ: I live in a dorm.
   have no one to vent to. Luckily, you have a coun-
   selor who is here to not only listen to your issues       JM: How is your relationship with your roommate if you have
   but devise a way to solve them.                           one?
                                                             SJ: I don’t have one.
                                                             JM: How was your first day of college?
   4. Utilize Study Groups or Academic Aids:
   Being that at times school can become over-               SJ: My first day of college was quite simple and relaxed since I
   whelming, a group may be your best bet. Study             only had 2 classes that day. It was significantly different than a
   groups and tutors relieve the stress of being             first day of high school because there were so many people and my
   alone in this crazy cycle we call high school.            classes are all over the campus, so I had a lot of walking to do.
                                                             JM: What are you majoring in?
   5. Be Early: We all know the struggles of trav-           SJ: I'm majoring in English and getting a masters in Education.
   eling through the busy high school hallways. To                                                                                   Samantha Jeannot
   assure that you won't be late, don’t waste time                             Her parents are getting divorced, her Nana passed
   stopping and hanging out along the way. Being                               away. Could Kylie Galen's life get any worse? Yes, it Book Review
   late can turn into absences and absences can
   turn into skips or detentions. Doesn't sound fun.                           could and it did. Her mom sends her off to Shadow Nermeen Girgis
                                                                               Falls camp for the entire summer. The rumors
                                                                               about the camp are that it is full of freaks and juvenile delinquents. Born
   6. Lastly, Enjoy Yourself!: Many people con-                                at Midnight by C.C. Hunter tells the story of Kylie as she finds out that
   sider the high school years to be the most free                             supernatural creatures are real and she's one of them. But what is she?
   and easy going years in life. Enjoy them. What-
   ever drama or stress that comes your way will                               That is what no one knows. They know of her gifts but they aren't sure of
   pass and when you turn your tassels to the other                            what she is. She's in denial about what she is. Until she finds out her dad
   side and leave behind all that you once knew,                               was cheating which leads to her finding out that he's not her real dad. But
   you'll look back on the amazing four years you                              the ghost who appears to her and tries to get her attention is. Can Kylie
   experienced at NPHS.                                  come to accept who she is in time to be able to use her gifts to help the people around her or will
                                                         she turn her back on her gifts and let those she's come to love down?
Pushing limits. Working past the fatigue and pain. Practicing despite weather conditions. These are all tech-
She Runs, She Dribbles, She Scores!
                                                       nicalities the girls’ varsity soccer team has experienced thus far in the season. New head coach Ms. Colabelli
Katrina Bavosa
                                                       and captains Ashley Atubi, Nikita Forrester, Jocelyn Ramos, and Dilinna Enwerekowe have spent countless
hours conditioning the team to build physical stamina and agility. Coach Colabelli states, "Over the past few weeks, we have proved not only that we are physical-
ly strong, and mentally tough, but that we are relentless competitors". Honing their skills on the field is not their only focus, however. This season holds the
promise of physical achievements, as well as the development of a family-like cohesive unit, bonded by a common passion. Senior Aracely Pacheco states, “We
grew closer as a team by constantly giving each other positive feedback and pushing one another to our full potential. Trusting each other on the field is crucial
but being able to trust each other off the field is what shows we’ve really bonded as a team”. On the field, it has not been all smooth sailing, as eleven members
graduated this past year and left crucial openings in the formation. The team was not deterred by this predicament, however, in fact they took it in stride. Players
were switched around, positions were changed, and in the end, the team’s determination accommodated the gaps left behind by last year’s seniors. The girls were
not willing to give up easily nor settle for anything less than their best. Coach Colabelli explains that their bond is a cause for this, "As an individual, when you
watch your teammates giving everything they have on the field, you become inspired to do the same. The girls come out each game and play for each other, and
it's that unity that allows them to be successful". It was because of this commitment to each other and steadfast determination that the team was able to secure a
2-0 win over Gil St Bernard. To recap their season, senior captain Jocelyn Ramos states, “We trained harder, pushed ourselves further, and became closer as a
team. We stepped it up.” So if you happen to stroll past Upper Krausche and see the soccer team sprinting across the field or crowded in a motivational huddle,
know that they are giving it their all and putting in that hard work.

The Lady Canuck Field Hockey team is back in action this fall with a goal to try and better their record from last year. This year's       Field Hockey
team is lead by the senior captains, left wing forward Christina Guerra and center defender Estefani Zavaleta. The team is guided
by head coach, Corrine Cecala and assistant coach, Heather Morgan. In order to achieve their personal bests, the girls attend prac- Shafaq Shahzad
tice for two hours every day after school. Each minute spent practicing shapes the girls into an amazing force that can't be defeated.
Captain Zavaleta constantly drives her players to never give up and tells them that their captains will be in there, no matter what the score is. She motivates them
to always leave the field having given it their all. And for these girls, Coach Cecala said that, "It all comes down to showcasing that potential in our games on a
consistent basis to be the best that they can be." So far this season the girls had a tremendous 1-0 victory over Koinonia Academy with a goal by sophomore Dan-
ielle Havrilla . The Lady Canucks kicked off the Somerset County tournament on October 1st as they fought hard to try and secure a win against Montgomery
High School. Coach Cecala said," It was a tough game playing a higher seeded team out of our division, that also has had much more highly competitive games
during their main season.”

                                                               Sophomore Ryan Smith may only be in his second year of Cross Country but his skills and
 Fall Athletic Recognition - Ryan Smith
                                                               dedication do not go unnoticed. Smith has been an avid runner
 Katrina Bavosa
                                                               ever since he was young and participated in middle school track,
 both of which he states as factors that better prepared him for Cross Country. Smith's fondness for Cross Country is
 fueled not only by his love of running but by what being part of the team entails. "My favorite thing about Cross Country
 is competing against other great runners who are just as motivated as me as well as being part of team that works hard
 and tries to improve at every single meet." This desire to improve Ryan speaks of is a quality several of his teammates
 highlighted in him. Senior captain Royer Brito states, "Ryan has come a long way and even though he has some more to
 learn, it's inspiring to see someone so dedicated to this sport.” Smith is constantly working to improve his personal rec-
 ord time, as shown through his performance at the divisional batch races. Coach Eshleman said, "On September 24 at
 the Great Adventure Safari invitational [Smith] set a personal record with a time of 17:39. He also has had 2nd, and 4th
 place finishes at the divisional batch races which had over 75 runners in each race". The Cross Country team is looking
 forward to joining in the Somerset County meet and the Skyland Conference meet within the next couple of weeks.

   Girls Tennis                Most people are still out in the sun enjoying their summer vacation in August, but the Lady Canucks Ten-
                               nis Team was working hard and preparing for this year’s season. The team’s record this year is 2 -10.
   Alveiry Zarate
                               Coach Graubard states, “Our record of 2-10 does not reflect the growth in this year’s Girls Varsity Tennis.
  Playing in a very competitive conference, we have lost half our matches 3 -2, which indicates a slight switch. Either way decided
  the outcome. Our doubles teams are ranked 2nd and 3rd in conference and our singles continue to knock on the door of suc-
  cess.” The captains for this season are Seniors Victoria Kisling, Karen Gordon, and Emily McGrath. Gordon says that the team
  has a lot of potential. She also states, “Our doubles have been doing well and our younger singles players have really grown th is
  season.” Furthermore, Kisling, Gordon, and McGrath all say it is an honor to be captain. Particularly, Kisling states, “Being a
  captain is very unexpected for me at least. I think it’s a pretty cool experience and I’m enjoying it.”

  Cross Country                You see these individuals run around the track, the school, and they even pass by when you walk home. This year’s North Plainfield
                               Coed Cross Country team is all about succeeding all together to break records and come out as the best they could possibly be.
  Myles Pacla
                               Training their hardest, they all strive and compete against other towns for best time running a certain amount of miles in a specific
   area. Elisa Peregrina, one of the few sophomore runners that have been involved with the sport since she started high school, explains what Cross Country is
   all about. “The actual definition for Cross Country discusses a competitive off road running sport. Many say that all you do is run, technically that is true, but it
   has more depth to it. We run for speed, distance, endurance, stamina, elevation, etc. Cross country is a passion.” She then continues to speak out about the
   team, their experience with the first meet they attended, and compares it to where they stand now. “The team’s bond is amazing. Everyone is so diverse and
   we have many unique personalities. When together, we are like a family. Everyone is so accepting of one another, supportive, and there is never a dull mo-
   ment. This year’s first meet was very eventful. For the team having many new comers, it was very exciting yet nerve-racking for some. The outcome of the
   team's results were good for the first race of the year, and a good starting point to build from. From the first meet to this time in the season, the team is thriv-
   ing. Each meet, there has been almost 100% improvement for individual times and team rankings. Everyone has really been able to push themselves and feed
   off of each other's encouragement. ” Another runner on the team, Courtney Thomas, also speaks out about how time consuming cross country can be.
   “Personally, I have time for all other activities that I do, even with cross country. I manage my schedule around this sport and nothing else.” Coach Eshelman
   of the cross country team states, “As my first year coaching cross country, I am really enjoying it. I love seeing the team's passion for running at such a young
   age, because I wish I found mine earlier.” He then continues to say, “there is nothing better than seeing the team excel and progress more and more together.”
The Canuck football players
  Throw, Fly, Flip, Twist, Catch!                    The North Plainfield Junior                 Time To Tackle Another Year
                                                     Varsity Cheerleading team                                                                 are back at it this year in full
  Elisa Peregrina & Courtney Thomas                  started out in May as a com-                Amaiana Sajjad                                speed. The boys practice five
                                                     pletely new team, with only a                                                             days a week for three hours,
                                                     few returning members. They                  regardless of the weather on Krausche Field. The boys brought home a
worked hard all summer long in the hot, sweaty wrestling gym. But that sweat                      win against Delaware Valley on September 9th, 28-7, with a season rec-
wasn’t for nothing, it was all worth it in cheer camp when they won several tro-                  ord, 1-4. They push one another to remain dedicated to their purpose in
phies and spirit awards--a huge improvement from last year. Coach Gilchrist-                      giving it their all when on the turf. The new head coach, Mark Ciccotelli,
Hamilton, most referred to as Coach G, says she has high expectations to im-                      coach Nick Tyson, and coach Castor Lasada, have been working in long
prove team unity and thinks they are definitely moving in the right direction.                    practices to build the player's football skills. Coach James DePaolo says,
Coach G also hopes to polish their tumbling and synchronization. The two cap-                     “we have changed our offense on line, and I would say that we throw the
tains of the team are sophomores Sydney Muhando and Cheyenne Mutura. Chey-                        ball way more than any other years we have before. Coach Thomas Ban-
enne says this season is “filled with highs and lows but the team as a whole is so
                                                                                                  non adds to coach DiPaolo’s comment by saying, “it can be very hard to
hardworking that whenever there are lows we come back stronger, and we are so
                                                                                                  learn a new scheme of offense, and many times it is much harder on the
excited and ready to take on competition season!” JV Competition begins in De-
                                                                                                  quarterback because he has the pressure to throw the ball at a much
cember and the team is ready. Coach G said she is, “very proud of this teams ded-
                                                                                                  faster pace than before.” Captains, Nick Cherasaro, Jesse Knight, and
ication and perseverance. They are awesome.”
                                                                                                  Matthew Bordfeld shared that they hope to aspire for their ultimate
        Thus far, the season for the Varsity Cheerleaders is progressing in an                    goal, which is to win a playoff game.” Captain Matthew Bordfeld, senior
excellent manner. The team is full with a very athletic, emotionally inspired                     at North Plainfield High, said, “as someone new to this school, I feel as
group of individuals that are very hardworking and dedicated. The team has been                   if the amount of passion and optimism that my teammates hold, it
working extremely hard since the season began in the summer, and they intend                      doesn’t only push the other player but myself to remain positive all
to continue to push themselves the rest of the way. Ms. Sloan, varsity coach, has
                                                                                                  throughout the games, no matter the end score.” Nick Cherasaro, senior,
high expectations for her team now and for competition this winter. To prepare,
                                                                                                  varsity starting quarterback shared advice for any newcomers to the
the team will continue working on making their movements sharper and clean-
                                                                                                  team. He said, “when it gets hard, simply push through it, because there
ing up their stunts. Varsity competition begins on November 6th and carries on
                                                                                                  will always be a lesson learned. He said, “a life lesson that I think I have
throughout the months of December, January, and February.
                                                                                                  taken away from all these years of playing on this “family-like” team, is
         The captains of the team are seniors, Sefa Kolubah, Katrina Bavosa, Ami-                 that your parents can’t come out on the field and wipe your forehead for
nah Muhammad, and Kaitlyn Carreras. Carreras said, “this season so far is one of                  you; therefore you have to grow and progress with time and its condi-
the best ones we have had. I think I saw how truly amazing we were at camp,                       tions.”
where we won multitudes of awards and trophies, not only for performance, but
for sportsmanship. My team has matured in ways I couldn't fathom before the
summer began. As a senior and captain, I can honestly say I will forever be proud
of them. I can't wait for competition season!" Kolubah also said, “The Canuck
Cheer Team is more than a bunch of athletes that throw each other around.
We're a family and I couldn't be more honored to lead them as captain my senior
year. We continue to exceed expectations with our strength, ability, and skills. I
can't wait to see what these girls have to offer by competition season!” Ms. Sloan
said, “Watching this team grow in the last four years has truly been a great bless-
ing in my life!”

                                                                                                  The North Plainfield Boys Varsity          Team Work Makes the
                                                                                                  Soccer is undefeated in the Skyland            Game Work
 Performers of the Night                                                                          conference division so far this sea-
                                          North Plainfield High School Marching Band is                                                               Joseph Leon
 Amaiana Sajjad                                                                                   son. David Wilson, senior, dodged
                                          drumming back onto the turf Friday nights, and
for many hours after school. The musicians of NPHS Marching Band started practicing               the opposing team scoring an astonishing goal assisted by the captain,
in June, with basic marching techniques. Karen Gordon, senior, says that the practices            Kenny Navas in a recent game against South Hunterdon (1,0). Edgar
lasted for about nine hours each day during the summer. Gordon continues to say, “the             Castaneda and Danny Gonzalez each made a save, blocking the goals
hardest part about marching band practice is when camp begins, in the first week of Au-           from the opposing team. By defeating other teams they have the deter-
gust.” Each year marching band chooses a theme, this year's theme is, From the Land of
                                                                                                  mination and mindset to win. The varsity captain, Kenny Navas said,
The Rising Sun (Japan). The musicians perform music that is a representation of the
                                                                                                  “My hard work, respect, and accountability on and off of the field al-
annual theme. So far NPHS marching band has attended six competitions, all on Satur-
days. Daniela Barriga, senior, is this years main drum major, followed by juniors, Julia
                                                                                                  lows me to lead by example, create a stronger team atmosphere, and I
Pacheco and Hajira Adil, as assistant drum majors. The band placed second in competi-             make decisions which are best for us in the long run.” The team at-
tion in North Brunswick on October 8th. They get a chance to put all their practice under         mosphere is looking solid and terrific so far according to Kenny, as he
the bright turf lights at every football game, and every Saturday competition.                    lead his team to victories. The varsity coach, Mr. Henriques, said,
Color Guard is the other half of NPHS marching band, as they practice and perform                 ”Even though we have a lot returning players from last year’s soccer
hand in hand with marching band. The dancers and performers of color guard choreo-                program, what I see is that they no longer rely on one person to make
graph their dances with the music the band plays. The performers learn to throw, catch,           things happen out on the field. They are very much a team that is
and spin the different colored flags to the beat of the music. There are three instructors
                                                                                                  made up of the sum of their parts that makes them a strong team.”
names, Daniel, Shanen Shotwell, and Jennifer DeJesso, for the guard that help in de-
                                                                                                  Mr. Henriques knows that his team is very responsible and knows that
signing how everything is supposed to look and be done. Sigrid Soto, a senior at NPHS,
is leader of color guard alongside with junior, Linda Lopez, and freshmen, Cedric Thom-           every single player is dedicated to the team. He said, “Every year is the
as. Soto says, “this is my first year as a color guard performer, but in the past I was a par-    same– the hunt for a championship whether it is another division title
ticipant of the marching band, that’s why my transition from one group to the other               which we have won two years in a row in 2014 and 2015 or a county
seemed easier than it would be for someone who is first joining either one of the pro-            and or state championship.” Junior, Floyd Ebanks Jr said, “This year's
grams.” Soto adds that, “marching band and color guard are like salt and pepper, they go
                                                                                                  captains are really hardworking. Despite any circumstances the team
better together. Surely as color guard performs we can perform to music being played on
                                                                                                  may be going through, they keep us focused, and help keep the team
some speakers, and they can perform music by themselves, but if I were the audience, I’d
like to see both showing off their talents together.”
                                                                                                  spirit alive. That's really important for us.”
You can also read