May 29- Ascension Thursday Mass Freshman Retreat Day

June 6- No Classes Senior Breakfast

June 7- Graduation Day June SAT

June 13- 4th Marking Period Ends

June 16- Finals Begin

June 21- First Day of Summer

June 24- Last Day of Finals

June 27- Undergraduate Day

June 28- Summer vacation begins!

THE PILOT

Cardinal Spellman High School

May 2014

Rev. Trevor Nicholls- President Mr. Daniel O’Keefe- Principal

Upcoming Events Featured Articles

v  SAT Tips (page 6)

v  Talent Show (page 2)

v  The Wiz Review (page 2)

v  Spoken Word Poetry

Slam (page 3)

v  Must-See Summer

Movies (page 5)

v  We’re Keen on

Ms. Keane! (page 4)

v  Gospel Fest (page 6)

v  Spider-Man 2 Review

(page 6)

CSHS Annual Talent Show By Starlene Parris

On May 2nd, Student Government presented Cardinal Spellman’s annual Talent Show. As it began, three emcees introduced the eleven acts and reminded the audience to be respectful and clap for all the performers. There was a variety of musical performances where Spellmanites sang and danced while audience members sang along and waved their phones in the air. The reactions of the audience made the talent show feel like a concert. All of the acts did an amazing job at creating an energetic aura throughout the auditorium. Once all of the performances were over, it was time for the judges to vote for the winners. This year there was also a People’s Choice Award given out. In order to vote, people had to send an email to the email address given to their favorite performer. The audience was given five minutes to vote before voting was closed. The People’s Choice award was given to Christopher Bates, who delivered an amazing singing performance of “All Of Me” by John Legend. Shortly after Christopher Bates was awarded, the votes for first, second, and third place came in. Mikayli Solomon won third place for her beautiful singing performance of “Stay” By Rihanna. Next, Caitlin Macahilig and Edwin Lugo won second place for their acoustic rendition of “Heartless” by Kanye West. Lastly, Geoffrey Sam won first place for his rap performance that included his own lyrics. The Talent Show was a very fun experience and showed that the students of Spellman are the most talented students in New York City.

Block S Success By Rebecca Mota

On May 10th, Spellman’s gymnasium was transformed into the setting of a meaningful ceremony with elegant red and white decorations for this year’s annual Block S dinner. Each year, our school’s dapper athletes are awarded varsity letters to put on their senior sweaters. They are recognized

for competing in a sport where they represent their team, Cardinal Spellman High School as a whole, and also all the distinguished athletes who played for the same team before them. One of these distinguished athletes is basketball champion Curtis C. Johnson Jr. of the class of 1971. He was inducted to Cardinal Spellman’s Hall of Fame, and at the ceremony was described as “skilled and generous” during his time playing basketball for Spellman. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Spellman’s own freshman biology teacher, Ms. Rita Piliero. Before she was inspiring students in the laboratory, Ms. Piliero was a Cross Country and Track and Field coach who truly desereved this high honor, as she assisted all runners both on the track and on the trail in reaching their full potential. Current runner Brittany Stanley and football/lacrosse player Premier Orion were named Scholar Athletes of the Year, while Maria Backman and Michael Wickes took home the grand title of Athletes of the Year. Congratulations to all the varsity athletes, managers, and MVPs. Very special thanks to Ms. Morris and Mr. Opper for organizing such an awe-inspiring event.

Cardinal Players Present The Wiz by Raysa and Cynthia Gonzalez

This year the Cardinal’s Players performed a production of The Wiz, a retelling of the classic The Wizard of Oz using African-American culture. The Wiz book was written by William F. Brown in 1974, and the music and lyrics for the musical performance are accredited to Charlie Smalls. The production held at Cardinal Spellman was led by Nikita Francois as the new director of the Cardinal’s Players. Overall, The Wiz was performed well. The set was well-made and created an appropriate atmosphere for the setting. The costumes were impressive as well, especially Glinda’s dress and the costumes of the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. The best moments were the usages of the aisles. They were very creative and helped involve the

audience in the story. The choreography was also extraordinary. It was engaging and the outstanding talent of the Players showed how much work was put into the choreography. Although it was not the strong point of the production compared to the choreography, the singing and acting in the performance were enjoyable. The music of the play was adequate, and although no songs were especially memorable, the orchestra’s performance was outstanding. The famous trio, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man, really stood out. They were very comedic with impeccable timing and hilarious lines, making scenes with these characters highlights of the play. Overall, this production of The Wiz was a success and brought entertainment to whomever watched it.

Spoken Word Poetry Slam By Sarah Maymi

   On April 3, 2014, the Spoken Word Poetry Club, monitored by Mr. Quintana, recited their poems in front of an audience. The event took place in the Little Theater, where a great crowd attentively listened. Last year, the club hosted a similar event in the auditorium, "I Am Me," which had a focus on anti-bullying. This event was a tremendous success and was something the Spoken Word Poetry Club was very proud of. This year's show was hardly different. The theme of this year's poetry slam was "We are the Future." The spoken word poets, ranging from freshmen to seniors, primarily wrote and recited poems dealing with the confidence within oneself and each person’s ability to transform the world. An almost unintentional continuation of the last years' topic, the majority of the poems had an inspirational theme attached to them, emanating an overall positive and vibrant energy in the room. It was not a surprise that people walked out of the event with an extra spring in their step! What was extraordinarily impressive was the

amount of freshmen that excelled in their performances! The Spoken Word Poetry Club previously had few freshmen members, and even fewer sophomore members. However, due to the effective advertising for the club, various freshmen and sophomores were prompted to become members. This was their first poetry slam, and they knocked it out of the park! Needless to say, Mr. Quintana and the club were extremely pleased with their bravery and results. Despite the achievement, a bittersweet cloud hovered over performers and attendees, for the poetry slam also emphasized the departing of seniors - most of whom had been devoted members of the club since they were freshmen. It was truly sad to know that such great talents will be leaving Spellmen, but we are certain the future holds greater possibilities for their bright minds. The day was absolutely magical for the Spoken Word Poets, who shined in front of their school with their talent and dedication.

Fine Arts Showcase By Ryan K. Gangadin

   On April 29, Spellman put together another marvelous Fine Arts Showcase. It featured the finest art our school had to offer. The displayed art came in many forms, from colored pencils to painted canvases. Because freshman art classes studied color theory, there were numerous representations of the color wheel, one of them even being made with lollipops. The junior and senior classes really took their art to the next level. One notable work of art was a drawing that was half human and half tiger with black and gold hair. The detail of this art made it unique, as the whiskers and locks of hair looked as if they were real. Biology students also had a display of recycled items that were transformed into new objects. One student created an actual working lamp out of plastic spoons, while another forged a broom out of plastic bottles. All in all, this year’s art showcase was really successful and truly showed off the awe-inspiring talent found in Spellman. CORRECTION: In the prior issue of The Pilot, there was

an article about Ms. Morris. The ending of that article should have stated that because Ms. Morris teaches so

many students, she gets to share in all of their successes.

What follows is the fourth in the series of articles featuring the most senior Spellman Faculty members:

We’re Keen On Ms. Keane! By Kristen McMonagle

After teaching for a short time at an all-girls school, Ms. Keane began her career in Spellman thirty-eight years ago, finding herself in a learning environment unlike any other. She explained to The Pilot that Cardinal Spellman High School is unlike other schools because it is so diverse and has a very rich history, especially for a co-ed school. Through all her years at Spellman, teaching "Chemystery," as Ms. Keane often calls the subject with her students, remains interesting to her. This is made possible by doing different experiments and demonstrations each year. All students having their

own perspective on different experiments is also what keeps teaching Chemistry enjoyable to Ms. Keane. Because Chemistry is a subject relevant to nearly every aspect of our lives, Ms. Keane has consistently enlightened her students throughout the years by revealing to them how interesting and pertinent to their lives the subject can be. In addition to varying the course each year, Ms. Keane also holds many traditions for her classes annually, such as her signature Chemistry-centered Halloween extravaganza. "Elementary teachers teach students, while high school teachers teach subjects" is a theory Ms. Keane has heard often. As a high school teacher, she feels this theory is false and she does in fact teach students. She enjoys getting to know each student and their individual senses of humor. She feels that her students give her so much, and really would not be teaching if it was not for the joy her students bring her. One of the most rewarding feelings to Ms. Keane is something as simple as one student telling her that she was able to help him/her make better sense of a topic. When asked about her past years at Spellman, Ms. Keane recalled the late 70’s and early 80’s, where she made lifelong friends. Her friendships with many of the faculty at this time remain to this day, even if they moved on to work at other schools. Since teaching in the 1980's, technology has changed the dynamics of the classroom, but as the digital age has begun, Ms. Keane has managed to master technology on her own. The rewards of teaching students that she loves and having alumni return and talk about their success in various fields are what make it all worth it for Ms. Keane. Having alumni come back with great achievements is something very special for her, and the students that she has each year makes it all worthwhile. Ms. Keane also expressed how blessed she feels to begin each morning with "the best Spellman has" by moderating National Honor Society. Many times, with the rewards of working with current students and hearing from alumni, Ms. Keane says she feels like every day is like Teacher Appreciation Day.

 

Must-See Movies of Summer 2014 By Sarah Maymi

This coming-and-going of spring, with its April showers and blossoming of flowers, announces the arrival of summer. Stack your textbooks in the bottom drawer, replace your converse boots with flimsy flip-flops, prepare to bathe in the scorching sun, and...buy a ticket for an impending summer blockbuster? Summer offers a lot of opportunities unavailable throughout winter and even spring, but film-going is hardly counted among them. Ironically, summer is often the time when many hyped films are released, and it's time we discuss some of those movies that will inspire even dedicated slouchers to rise and purchase a ticket. Here are films being released from early June to the middle of summer: The Fault in Our Stars www.thefaultinourstarsmovie.com Director: Josh Boone Release Date: June 6, 2014 Summary: Hazel Grace, a cancer patient, is forced to enter a support group, where she meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee. Background: If you claim you haven't seen at least four kids in your school carrying and/or reading the novel, you are a liar. John Green's fourth book was arguably his best and most highly acclaimed, especially by the teenage demographic. The unique and heartbreaking tale has been herald worldwide, and we can hope the adaption will install the same emotions it did when we read it. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes www.dawnofapes.com Director: Matt Reeves Release Date: July 11, 2014 Summary: Genetically evolved apes under their leader, Caesar, are led to war with humans who have survived a deadly virus born a decade previous. Background: Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a surprise hit, despite the skepticism surrounding the reboot of the iconic Planet of the Apes franchise.

Not only did the prequel receive critical acclaim and commercial success, it was nominated an Oscar for Visual Effect. The trailer for this sequel raises the tension and stakes as a battle between the highly intelligent apes and mankind. How to Train Your Dragon 2 www.howtotrainyourdragon.com Director: Dean DeBlois Release Date: June 13, 2014 Summary: Five years after Hiccup and Toothless united both dragons and Vikings, drama and intrigue erupts as they discover a secret ice cave enclosing hundreds of new - and wild - dragons. Background: How to Train Your Dragon is considered to be one of DreamWorks’ greatest achievements, seated in the podium with Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. The heartwarming animated feature about an outsider befriending a dragon won the hearts of moviegoers worldwide. We can only expect this sequel to maybe surpass its predecessor. Transformers: Age of Extinction www.transformersmovie.com Director: Michael Bay Release Date: June 27, 2014 Summary: A mechanic and his daughter discover Optimus Prime, bringing down Autobots, Decepticons, and a paranoid government establishment. Background: I t ' s universal ly agreed the Transformers Trilogy perhaps lost their spark along the line, but this new installment - featuring a new cast which includes Mark Wahlberg and Stanely Tucci – who seems to be a promising actor and possibly a future cash cow. If I Stay www.ifistaymovie.com Director: R.J. Cutler Release Date: August 22, 2014 Summary: Mia Hall, a musically talented teenager, has an out-of-body experience after she is tragically involved in a car accident, snatching away the lives of her family. As her physical body lies in a coma, she must decide whether to stay in the real world - with her rebellious boyfriend and dreams of going to Julliard - or to pass into the afterlife.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Review by Ryan McMonagle

To kick off the summer movie season early, Sony brought out "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on May 2. This movie is the sequel to 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man," a reboot of the seemingly timeless Spider-Man franchise. Following Marvel Studios' "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" has a lot to live up to. Does it triumph over Captain America, or fall short? Returning characters from the first film include the obvious Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield), Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and Aunt May (Sally Field). Newcomers include an obsessed Spider-Man fan who becomes an electrified super villain named Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter's childhood friend who becomes the crazed Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan), and the mechanical villain Rhino (Paul Giamatti). As with the previous "Amazing Spider-Man," both Garfield and Stone give amazing performances and have very believable chemistry. While Aunt May’s character

was not present often in the previous installment, she has a bigger role in this movie and Sally Fields nails it. The villains are also great for the most part, with the exception of an incredibly hammy Russian caricature performed by Paul Giamatti. While the acting is superb overall, the story does falter. The problem lies with the addition of too many sub-stories, which stretch out the run time. One of these stories is Peter Parker's parents being killed while trying to expose the evil of Oscorp. This story is unnecessary, and the movie may have been better off without this complication. Other unnecessary additions are the stories of Green Goblin and Rhino. The mechanical villain is shown before his powers briefly in the beginning and for the last 5 minutes, doing nothing but yelling and shooting at the floor. The Green Goblin’s transformation is also very rushed, and the audience is not given the proper amount of to connect with Harry Osborn. Being Spider-Man's greatest foe, the character deserved much more, and likely could have been saved for another movie. Luckily, Electro is great, and his action scenes are the best in the movie. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is not at all a bad movie, just a flawed one. With the last big action movie being the incredible "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," this movie had a lot to live up to. While it didn't measure up to Captain America and received poor reviews from critics, it was still very fun not only as a comic book movie, but as a film overall.

Tips on Taking the SATs By Calayah Heron

For all those juniors who have yet to take their SATs, and even the sophomores who are a bit curious of what the SATs are like, this is for you. The following are some steps to help prepare you for the big test, and some tips on taking it. Do NOT study the night before. If there is material you did not understand in the weeks before the test, it is unlikely you will begin to understand it eight hours before the test.

Background: If I Stay was published in 2009. The film stars Chloe Grace Mortex, a wildly talented young actress who already showcases in the trailer that she will bring this film to life.

Gospel Fest 2014 By Loribel Peguero

This year’s Gospel Fest can be described in one word: Spectacular! It was a great way to close off the year at Spellman, as it was an all-around great time for everyone who at tended. There were performances from the Cardinal Spellman’s renowned Gospel Sensations, our Step Team, our Spoken Word Poetry Club, and also students from St. Mark the Evangelist School, Mount Saint Michael Academy, St. Francis of Assisi School, and Dominican College. All of the performances took place on a positive and exciting note. The hard work of all the participants paid off and was shown through the performances. With a night full of laughter, thoughts, singing, dancing, and mutual love for the Lord, everyone left fulfilled and with happiness in their hearts.

Instead, according to Guidance Counselor Ms. Ellis, it would be wiser to spend time practicing beforehand. She recommends practicing for the test at least one hour a night three months before the test, and two hours a night one month before the test. Follow this advice and do not wait for the last minute to begin studying! Ms. Ellis’ second recommendation would be to speak with a teacher you trust about questions you are unsure about. Consult your math teacher for a math question, and your English teacher for any verbal or writing questions you may have. Make sure to pack your bag the night before. There were a few students in my testing site that were not allowed to enter because they did not come with their ticket or ID. Be sure to have all the things you need packed and ready to go the night before your test. This will save you the stress of looking for it in the morning. Do not eat a big breakfast. Yes, your test is in the morning, and yes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, eating a heavy breakfast will not work in your favor while taking the test. For example, I could tell which students in my testing site had a big breakfast by how nervous they were, and after a while my proctor had to open a window. Before long, those same students had to rush to the bathroom during the first break. Eat a light breakfast, and save the heavy food as a reward for after the test. Plan your time wisely. If you are like me, and you do not have a car, chances are you’ll have to take public transportation to your testing site. Check the bus/train schedule before leaving your house, so you can have an idea of when to leave and when you will get there. Or if you are lucky, your parents can drive you, that works too. When taking the test, there will be 10 sections. Depending on your test booklet, you might come across an English section first. These sections contain problems such as improving sentences or choosing the right vocabulary word. The math sections can contain anything from algebra, geometry, to some weirdly worded arithmetic

problems. Not only must you pace yourself while taking the test, but you must also be mindful of your strategy in finding the answer. There is a trick in answering questions on the SATs: narrow down your choices. Often while practicing for the SATs, I’ve come across certain problems I wasn’t sure of, but managed to get the right answer by simply narrowing down my options. I crossed out two answers I was sure were incorrect, and made an educated guess on what I thought fit best. For improving sentences on the English section, what I often did was cover the options, and improve the sentence in my head. When I took my hand off of the options, I looked for the one closest to the answer I had in my head. This relieves your brain of the stress of choosing between very similar answer choices. Students often try every answer they see to find out which one fits best, causing them to doubt themselves. Narrowing your options down, or coming up with the best one in your head, is a sure way to get the right answer. The same goes for the math section. Always think through the problem and use your analysis to eliminate answers that don’t make sense. Now if you’re really not sure, and you have no way of figuring out the answer, your best choice is to omit it. Leaving questions blank in any section will not cost you any points, as opposed to giving the wrong answer, which will cost you a quarter of a point. Don’t start omitting answers from the beginning in the math section. The questions only get harder as you reach the end of the section. Try your hardest in answering the ones in front, but keep in mind that you must always pace yourself and do not spend too much time on one question. Finally, if you think you know your vocabulary, study it some more. You can never know too much vocabulary.. It won’t stress your mind, but instead exercise it, and give it a little wake up call. I hope you found these tips very helpful in preparing for/taking the SATs. Good luck, and aim for those high scores!

Pilot Staff

MODERATOR

Mr. Rivlin

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kristen McMonagle ’15

WRITERS Ryan Gangadin ’17

Cynthia Gonzalez ’15 Raysa Gonzalez ’15 Calayah Heron ’15*

Tiffany Le ’16 Melissa Liriano ’16 Sarah Maymi ’16

Kristen McMonagle ’15 Ryan McMonagle ’16

Melanie Melo ’15 Melissa Melo ’15

Christine Miller ’15 Michelle Miller ’15 Rebecca Mota ’15

Elizabeth Noone ’17 Starlene Parris ’17

Loribel Peguero ’17 Alexa Pena ’17

*Also co-editor

New SAT Questions (…might look something like this!)

by Melissa Liriano 1. If Mark bought a large popcorn at the movie theater, he ____. A. is thirsty B. was hungry C. got moneyyyy D. likes popcorn 2. Which is likely to happen? A. D. Rose playing B. Manziel getting drafted C. The Cubs winning World Series D. None of the above 3. What's the best way to pass a final? A. Study B. Cheat C. Get enough retweets for it to be canceled D. Bribe your teacher 4. What is the best weapon to use in a fight? A. Fist B. Pen C. Sword D. Shoe 5. Bridget couldn’t get Starbucks this morning. She _____. A. is very upset B. is going to get Dunkin Donuts instead C. is in a bad mood D. can’t even 6. Fill in the blank: Solo por un ____ se puede enamorar. A. taco B. empanada C. beso D. trick question, all of the above 7. During a fight, people observing are most likely to shout _____. A. WORLDSTARR B. SHARKEISHA NOO C. EMILY PUT THE SHOVEL DOWN D. HUAHH

8. Bridget sees a pic of a girl she hates. What does she comment? A. you're perf B. ily C. can i be you D. A, B, & C 9. Fill in the blank: “Literally _________. A. this is so confusing, I can’t B. ew, I can’t C. he is so cute, I can’t D. she is so annoying---- 10. When encountering an alien, what is the most logical response? A. run B. "greetings" C. "I come in peace" D. "ayy lmao"