Volume 6, Number 1 November/December 2011

Mr. Matthew Barrett newest addition to administrative staff

Western Wayne HSLake Ariel, PAPlanet Wildcat

PSSA scores meet state mandates

Inside this issue

3 OPINION

10 FEATURES

11 FEATURES

WWHS has met 13 out of 13 target areas on the Spring’s PSSA tests. Mr. Sheehan, principal, is pleased to announce that this means that the high school has met required “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP) for the second consecutive year on PSSA tests in both Reading and Math. As a result, the district has moved out of all warning areas, meeting and in some areas, even surpassing, the performance level required by the state. “I am extremely proud of our academic perfor-mance and I want to thank the students and staff for their hard work,” Mr. Sheehan said. PA’s Department of Education website explains that AYP is part of the federal No Child Left Be-hind Act. “The purpose of AYP is to ensure that all students have reading and math skills that pre-pare them for the future.” Every student must score Proficient lev-el or higher in Reading and Math by 2014. Districts must show AYP in several areas including Attendance or Graduation Rate, and Test Participation.” In addition to PSSA perfor-mance results, data, as shown in the below graph, indicates that WWHS has also been making consistent yearly advances on the SAT. Mr. Sheehan encourages this year’s test takers to continue this trend by earning high scores on this year’s tests as well.

were also part of an unusual student teaching experience for Mr. Barrett, who is certified as an elementary education teacher as well as a prin-cipal. “I spent a semester in South Dakota at a Native American board-ing school. We took students from 13 different reservations across the Midwest in order to educate them. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I learned a tremen-dous amount about education. I also had the privilege of coaching their football team which went undefeat-ed for the season!” Mr. Barrett ex-plained with an enthusiastic smile. This adventurous side of his per-

by Maria Ingaglio

Co-Editor

Fourth time’s a charm for the newest vice principal at Western Wayne High School, Mr. Bar-rett. During the past four consecu-tive years at Western Wayne High School, four different VPs have sprouted. Mr. Barrett’s eagerness in successful consistency of the pro-fession makes him stand out from the crowd. In the upcoming school year, Mr. Barrett plans on becom-ing part of the community as well as getting to know the student body, faculty and staff. Upon entering Western Wayne, Mr. Barrett took notice of the many successful programs within the school. “The number of activities available at a student’s fingertips is remarkable, providing options for every individual student,” Mr. Bar-rett said. Impressed by gradual in-crease of student improvement, he looks forward to being part of the school district’s progress in a posi-tive direction. Despite the fact that Mr. Bar-rett is the latest authority figure in WWHS, he has a much lighter and down to earth manner. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, traveling and, most of all, spend-ing time with his family. A s a loyal Penn State Alumni, he also enjoys watching his alma mater dominate other collegiate football teams. Mr. Barrett’s enthusiasm for sports has already spread to Western Wayne as displayed by his Wildcat Pride. “It’s really awesome to see Mr. Barrett attend a lot of school sport-ing events, including our varsity football games. His attendance proves that he’s making a great at-tempt at getting to know his stu-dents,” Varsity Quarterback Johnny Rhodes said. Sports are not only a hobby; they

sonality is most likely part of what has led Mr. Barrett to WWHS, de-spite a 50-minute commute here from his home in Factoryville. He entertains himself by listening to satellite radio and to audio books while he drives. As one who enjoyed his own youth, Mr. Barrett gives this advice to today’s students: Treat others the way you’d like to be treated. Teachers credit Mr. Barrett with a good start. “Mr. Barrett has been great to work with,” English teacher Mr. James Rebar said. “He brings warmth and personality to what can be a difficult position.”

Photo by Samantha Sinclair

Reporter Maria Ingaglio welcomed the chance to sit down to talk with new Assistant Principal Matthew Barrett as he settles into his position here at WWHS.

fun FACTS!A few favorites:

Team: Penn State FootballFood: ItalianAuthor: John GrishamMusic: All typesCandy: Sour Patch Kids

Attended: Bishop O’Hara High School; Penn State UniversityBest advice ever received: Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.Professional goals: To develop consistency in the profession and build his career.

Does appearance

really matter?

School pride

strong at Fall 2011

Spirit Games

Get in step with Nick

VanLeuven

Claws & Paws

Planet Wildcat

OPINIONPage 2 November/December 2011

Editorial

by Christina GabrieleCo-Editor

PAWS to our Homecoming CourtPAWS to seniors for their great PSSA resultsPAWS to our football team’s great seasonPAWS to Fall sports teams who were so dedicated this yearPAWS to marching band for their great parade awardsPAWS to Mark Yamialkowski for his award as best drum major in the Hazelton paradePAWS to the new semi-formal theme

CLAWS to snow in OctoberCLAWS to two flood days so early in the year CLAWS to injuries to some of our best football playersCLAWS to the Penn State scandalCLAWS to long lunch lines

Breaking news!The word is out:

Exercising can be fun for everyone!

by Harry Harrison

Some people love to go for a run on a nice Fall day; others like to gather friends and shoot some hoops. Some people enjoy going for a bike ride, and others playing a pick-up football game. Some people hate walking, but love to jump on their trampolines. There is one thing all of these people have in common: they’re exercising!

Exercising isn’t just for athletic people; it’s for everyone! Many believe that they can’t, or shouldn’t, exercise because they don’t play a sport or plan on playing one. However, exercising is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle, and it can be fun! Some people wonder, “How much fun is going for a run?” It can be fun though! Going for a run, taking a walk or a job, playing recreational sports with your friends, jumping on a trampoline, dancing, and even playing Wii or XBox Connect are all great ways to get moving.

I found myself interested in raising awareness for fitness when I was signing in to my AOL email account and saw something about obesity flash across the news feed. I read the article and was in complete shock. Obesity is a huge problem that is completely taking over the United States. The title of the article I read was simply put: America, the Fattest Country on Earth.” In our “fat country,” 15 out of 20 tenagers are overweight, and 12 out of 20 are obese.

As of 2011, we are at the highest obesity rate of all time. It’s not something to joke about anymore. For years, we have sat back and laughed at people who struggle with exercising and staying fit. It’s now time to start helping them - and helping ourselves. Being overweight is related to many neg-ative factors such as heart problems, diabetes, shortness of breath, lack of self-confidence, poor sleeping patterns, short concentration spans, bad joints, in many cases, humiliation, and the scariest part, death! I’m smart enough to know this article in our school newspaper won’t change America, but let’s try to change our community. Let’s get active! It can be fun, and the outcome can be a great feeling!

*Please note, the views expressed in this editorial are the views of the student writer and, as such, do not necessarily reflect the views of other students at WWHS.

1970A Easton Highway Lake Ariel, PA 18436(570) 937-4112 EX. 3104

Planet Wildcat

Co-Editors: Mark Yamialkowski, Christina Gabriele, Maria Ingaglio, Shaun Howard Photographers: Samantha Sinclair, Giovanni ClarkReporters: Samantha Burge, Allison Hess, Harry Harrison, Danielle Reed, & Mallory DePewAdvisor: Mrs. Marianne Morgan

MEET THE PRESS

Going with his gut feeling is the most important part of the job for editorialist Harry Harrison who is known for his candid re-flections on high school life.

Photo by Maria Ingaglio

Meet senior Harry Harrison of South Canaan, one of Planet Wildcat’s valued staff members. Harry has been a staff member for three years, first as a freshman and then as a junior and senior. Harry took some time off from writing, but newspa-per advisor, Mrs. Marianne Morgan, recruited him again last year, and Harry has never regret-ted his decision to return to writ-ing. “One of the best lessons I’ve learned here at Western Wayne is to not hide my talents to write and draw. I learned this by writing for Planet Wildcat.”\“Harry is naturally gifted,” Mrs. Morgan said. “I most admire his ability to really show his emotion in his writing. Many people have stopped me to compliment his work.” Harry most enjoys writing about sports and editorials. “I like to teach people lessons based on experiences that I’ve had that other people can learn from,” he explained. Harry, who is also known for his artistic talents, is planning a career as an art therapist. “Art is relaxing,” he said. “It allows me to relieve stress caused by the day. I’m lucky to have art second, seventh, and eighth periods this year.” Harry said that he most enjoys his Advanced Art class because students have the freedom of choice of what they do. Harry’s favorite medium is pencil, and he has earned many admirers already this year for his pencil drawing of The Beatles on display in the art room window. Harry is excited about a career in art therapy. “I’ve always been helpful toward others and enjoyed art, so this will be a chance to com-bine these in a great career.” As for athletics, Harry plays both football and baseball. He enjoys the physical activity and the camaraderie of working with his friends on both teams.

STUDENT SPEAK: good-looking: adj. handsome or pretty

We like to say that LOOKS don’t matter, but there’s no denying that there are times when looking good feels undeniably good! So we asked some students, “When is there a time when you know you look ‘just right’?”

Photos and interview by Samantha Sinclair

Planet Wildcat

OPINIONNovember/December 2011 Page 3

Andrew Stine, 10th grade:“During football games because I feel pride in wearing my uniform.”

Desire Shradnick, 12th grade: “In the winter I feel warm because of the furs I choose to wear.”

Brittney Greaney, 11th grade: “On the first day of school because I dressed to impress.”

Matt Lukeski, 12th grade: “The day I presented my senior project. I dressed for the occasion and got good remarks for it.”

Vinny DeLeo, 11th grade: “Whenever I’m on a hot date because I feel more confident.”

Izzy Esposito, 10th: “I feel that during FBLA and TSA, dressing up makes me look present-able and professional.”

Allie Miller, 9th grade: “When I’m with my friends at a football game because I’m sup-porting our team and also having a good time with friends.”

by Mark Yamialkowski, Co-Editor

“I think my style varies. I change my ap-pearance depending on my mood,” sophomore Ashlyn Anderson said. When Ashlyn is feel-ing confident and happy, you’ll see her striding through the hallways with a smile on her face and wearing outfits that say, “I care about my appearance.” “I think that people that a lot of people who don’t know me get the wrong im-pression of me.” This is how Ashlyn sees herself through her peers’ eyes. Though Ashlyn feels that her peers have the wrong impression of her, she cares about the way she looks. This can give a first impression about Ashlyn that she is an out-going, friendly person. So, you might ask, “Do looks really matter?” Yes, looks do matter. In fact, it is said that it takes just three seconds for someone to evaluate you when they first meet you. First impressions are made from the clothes we wear, to the way we wear our hair, to even how much we weigh. Snap judgments like these about people are crucial to the way we function, even when these judgments can be wrong. Stereotypes are seen as a neces-

sary component for making sense of the infor-mation we receive from first impressions. Savannah Jablon, senior, agrees that appearance matters. “A person’s appearance can show what kind of person they are. For example, someone in formal attire can be an intelligent, well man-nered, proper person. Someone in a jeans and a hoodie could be a more relaxed person who doesn’t care about looks,” Savannah said. Savannah believes that people perceive her as, “just another girl.” She thinks of herself as a shy, smart, and non-judgmental person, and describes her personal style as comfortable, relaxed, and easy-going. She abides by the school dress code policy and doesn’t think that it is very limiting because our dress code is very lenient, and ev-eryone seems to dress in the same attire.

Let’s look at how Ashlyn and Savannah view different aspects of appearance.

Ashlyn: “When I see someone who is dressed dark and scary, obviously I am led to the stereo-type that they would fall under the categories of “gothic, emo, or punk.” I think we should dress respectfully, and however we feel like. Our ap-pearance should reflect ourselves and our atti-tude.”

See APPEARANCE on page 9

How much do looks really matter?

Studies show that males, like Jordan Rola, 9th grade, are more apt to look in a mirror to check out how good they look while, sad to say, females check their flaws.

Photo by Mark Yamialkowski

SmashSmart , intui t ive, enthusiast ic

Best f r iend to brotherLover of l ines , rhymes, and t imes

Who fears the unknown, l imits , and my breaking point

Who would l ike sanctuary, peace s ta-bi l i ty

Resident of hard covers , sof t covers , but not judging covers

Gay

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES Page 4 November/December 2011

BioPoem

Tarina Usher

poetry

author

BioPoem

Ashley Gay

poetry

author Poet’s SoulBioPoem

Katie DeCan

poetry

author

TarinaTenacious, Tantalizing, Tolerant

Daughter of TinaLover of Music, Tea and the Sea

Who Fears Failure, Death, and DisappointmentWho Would Like More Sleep, More Silence and

More SunshineHabitant of the Hideout

Usher

by Samantha Burge

Ron Music, 10th grade: “Rock is my favorite music to listen to because it gets me motivated to do better in the game. (Ultimate Frisbee)

Bryane Burns, 10th grade: “On bus rides to my game I listen to my iPod, but I listen to the Dave Matthews Band because for some reason, I think of my events.” (Track and Field)

Kade Kolheffer, 12th grade: I listen to “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber because this is an inspirational song to listen to before the game.” (Basketball)

Chris Tomasetti, 11th grade: “I usually listen to heavy metal, like Disturbed; they get me pumped up and my blood moving before a game.” (Ultimate Frisbee)

Michael Roses, 9th grade: “I would listen to “Not Afraid” by Eminem because I want to feel strong and fearless before the game.” (Golf)

Bob Dyer, 12th grade: “I would listen to rap music like Rick Ross “Ima Boss” because it gets me pumped up for the game!” (Golf/Baseball).

Cassara Wagner, 9th grade: “I listen to country and rap before a game. This kind of music pumps me up and gets my mind off of everything else besides the game.” (Volleyball)

Ryan Gisinger, 11th grade: “I listen to rap and rock. It helps me get in the zone and gets me excited for the game.” (Basketball/Baseball)

Alex Tufano, 11th grade: “I listen to “Hurt” by Alone with the Seas because it relaxes me and calms me down for the game.” (Ultimate Frisbee)

Michaela Killian, 10th grade: “I listen to “Stronger” by Kanye West with my friend, Abby Hemmler, because we sing this in our heads when we run.” (Cross Country/Track and Field)

What do you listen to when getting pumped up for a game?

BioPoem

Myranda Strada

poetry

author

MyrandaCaring, diligent, and understanding

Daughter of Tia and EdLover of animals, UGGS, and shop-

pingWho fears DEATH, dark, and dusk

Who would like less homework, longer weekends,

longer summer vacationsResident of South Canaan

Strada

KatherineOptimistic, hopeful, quirky

Sister to AnnaLover of art, music, and intelligenceWho fears loss, heartbreak, failure

Who would like knowledge, understanding, a sense of accomplishmentResident of the planet Earth

DeCan

BioPoem

Cassie Reeke

poetry

author

CassieLoving, Compassionate, Sweet

Sister of ReneeLover of food, sleep, and family

WHO FEARS BUTTERFLIES, DEATH, AND FAILURE

Who dreams of being successful and happyWho would like sleep, love,

and creativityResident of Pennsylvania

Reeke

Photo by Samantha Sinclair

Listening to music is a great way to get pumped up for a game, just ask senior Kade Kolheffer!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES Page 5

If you HAD to Choose. . .

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

November/December 2011

Back to School . . .

or

Loaning a classmate a pencil, carrying supplies for a teacher or making a cupcake to celebrate a friend’s birthday might not seem like a big deal at first, but guidance counselor Mrs. Adrienne Nipper assures us that it’s the little gestures that count. That’s why Mrs. Nipper helped to institute the guidance de-partment’s school-wide Education Program in 2010. The pro-gram contains six pillars representing trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, all of which are displayed on banners in the cafeteria. As a student at WWHS, you can expect to be introduced to these pillars through a variety of school-based activities, but one of the pillars - caring - is already seen every day through our new “Acts of Kindness” program. Since caring is shown through altruism and concern for others, it is the basis of “Acts of Kindness.” It’s designed to recognize students who go out of their way to do something kind for another student, teacher, or staff member. This can include opening the door for some-one, helping a classmate who has dropped his or her books in the hallway, sharing lunch with someone who forgot his or her money, or giving a classmate a pencil when one is forgotten. Students who have been “caught” performing an act of kind-ness are acknowledged during school announcements and re-ceive a prize of a pen, pen/highlighter or lanyard emblazoned with the “Acts of Kindness” logo. All nominated students are also entered in a monthly drawing for bigger prizes such as backpacks, DVD player, iTunes gift cards and more! The high school had more than 225 nominations last year and 43 nomina-tions in the month of September 2011! To recognize a student who performed an act of kindness, student and staff members can fill out a nomination form found in the guidance office and put the nomination form in the Acts of Kindness jar also found in the guidance office. “Students tell me it is a great feeling to be recognized for doing something good. As a school, we want to continue to praise others for being kind and caring. It creates a sense of camaraderie in the building among students and staff,” Mrs. Nipper said.

Some of this year’s ‘Acts of Kindness’ students

Destiny Frashila who helped a lost freshman get to class.Josh Cohawitz who helped put up and repair the spirit stream-ers in the hallway during Homecoming.Nina Fumanti who closed a friend’s locker, left open acciden-tally, so no one could steal anything.Kyle Troiano who assisted another student (not in his class) on where to go for picture day.Derek DeGroat who helped other students by loaning them pencils and more.Kaelyn Jacques who made a friend a cupcake to cheer him up.Jacob Gillis who helped carry supplies for a teacher.

Caring attitude pillar of Acts of Kindness program

Giving a friend a pencil is second-nature for junior Derek DeGroat who earned a kindness award for his good deed.

by Samantha Burge

Peanut Butter Sandwiches Yogurt?

Sam Merrifield: Yogurt because I dislike peanut butter.Sean Masgula: Yogurt because it has more flavor.

Pencil Pen?

Natasha Gregorski: Pencil because you can erase your mistakes.Alyssa Etchie: Pen because it makes my handwriting look neater.

Notebook Binder?

Louie Vitorio: Notebook because you lose papers in binders.Jesse Thorpe: Binder because you can put the notebook in the binder.

English Math?

Colton McDonald: English. There is less thinking.Angelena Campisi: Math because you have to use your mind more.

Breeze Through Study Hard?

Tony Hartnett: Breeze through because I already doAshley Michiels: Breeze through because I want to get it over with.

Drive Take The Bus?

Sam Kresge: Drive because there are annoying children on buses.Destiny Fraschilla: Drive because the bus is annoying and way too long.

Sleep In Be On Time?

Cheyenne Wilmot: Sleep in because it gets me more ready for class.Dan Weiss: Be on time because you won’t get into trouble.

Work After School Practice after school?

Nick Weiss: Work after school because I will be more prepared for class.Cassie Reeke: Practice after school because you get to work out and have fun with your friends!

Best Friend Hang out with a group?

Tristen Locklin: Best friend because it is nice to hang out with one per-son.Zoe Lyons: Best friend because you can tell them stuff that you do not want anybody else to know.

School T-Shirt Collared Shirt?

Gary Thoman: School t-shirt because I don’t have to buy new ones, and I won’t ruin my collars.Dylan Black: Collars because I don’t like Western Wayne stuff.

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES November/December 2011Page 6

StaffProfile

Mrs. Marianne Morgan

Fun fact: Mrs. Morgan was a communications assistant in the Director’s Office at FBI Head-quarters in Washington DC.Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, going to concertsA Few Favorites:Books: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Anna Karenina, The GreatGatsbyDrink: Diet Peach SnappleFood: Anything MexicanMusicians: John Mellencamp, Jon Bon Jovi, and Bruce SpringsteenI’d like to meet: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and President Clinton.

Job Title: English Teacher, English Department Chairperson, Newspaper AdvisorResides in: MoscowFamily: Husband Charles andchildren Ryan, a sophomore at Columbia University, NYC; Emily, a junior at North Pocono High School

by Christina Gabriele Co-Editor

Tired of shopping at the same old stores? If so visit Charming Charlie! Charming Charlie is one of the newest stores located at the Shoppes at Montage Mountain that has an endless sup-ply of accessories! Charming Charlie stores have been around since 2004, but it has opened in our area June 2011.

Puttin’ on the glitzCharming Charlie boutique now open at Montage

This store has three other locations in Pennsyl-vania as well. You can find this store not far from the Guitar Center. Charming Charlie is a fashion accessory bou-tique with a unique blend of fun, style, color and affordability. Charming Charlie pulls looks to-gether for costumers with touches such as– ear-rings, necklaces, bracelets, handbags, scarves, belts, clothes, and more. As soon as you enter the store you are greeted by a friendly associate who gives off a warm and friendly vibe. The atmosphere of the store itself has a lot of ambiance such as chandeliers, decorative walls and a very feminine look. Paula Wisnewski, assistant manger of Charm-ing Charlie, wants her customers to know that the name Charming Charlie comes from a man in Houston, Texas whose parents own a fine jewelry store. His idea was to create a store that made women look and feel fabulous at all ages with reasonable prices. Paula said that the main trend right now in Charming Charlie is scarves because of imminent cold weather. The big color category is berry and red. “Charming Charlie is different from any other accessory store be-cause our main goal is customer service.” Ms. Wisnewski said. When first walking into the store you might feel overwhelmed by all of the color choices, but the store is actually well-thought-out. It is set up with many booths that are organized by color families. If you need a red purse to match red high heels, you can easily find it because the ac-cessory booths are color-coordinated! In each section, you can find match-ing shoes, hair items, purses, scarves, jewelry, hats, and shirts. This store has unique items for woman all ages. Great prices range from $4.97 to $49.57. You can’t go wrong shopping for unique items that you won’t find anywhere else for an excellent price! Charming Charlie even has its own section for younger girls ages 4 to 14. According to www.charmingcharlie.

Christina shows us that accessorizing is eas-ier than ever thanks to Charming Charlie boutique! Watch: $15; Scarf: $12 ; Purse: $30

Photos courtesy of Christina Gabriele

com, the company fundraises for local charities; loocations have donated items to Look Good Feel Better, which is a charity that helps women with cancer. The goal is to help women feel bet-ter about themselves by donating hats, scarves, and other accessories. Clearly, this store isn’t just selling accessories, it’s helping the commu-nity as well! Check out www.charmingcharlie.com for fashion ideas and challenge your fash-ion ability.

Help others see the world in a new light!

Donate your used eyeglasses now!

Millions suffer from poor vision because they don’t have access to eye care or simply cannot afford it. Poor vision impedes a child’s ability to learn in school and robs and adult of independence, mobil-ity and quality of life.

You can help by donating gently used eyewear. Just place it in the collection box in guidance.

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESNovember/December 2011 Page 7

by Maria Ingaglio Co-Editor

We’ve all heard them…the stories about our own teachers when they were our age. Most of the time, teachers insist that they were perfect students who had excellent behavior when they were in high school, but that’s highly unlikely. Let’s take a look back at some of our favorite teachers. Chemistry teacher Ms. Maria Masankay, also known in high school as “Ria”, graduated from Forest City Regional in 1989. Another nickname Ms. Masankay had was “Doc” because her father was known throughout the school for his medical pro-

fession. She was a twirler for the band and was a member of her school’s scholastic team. As a classic rock and roll fan, she listened to bands such Aerosmith, Meatloaf, Def Leopard and the Steve Miller Band. “I was rocking on my chair in class one day repeatedly and my teacher told me to stop because I was going to get hurt. I didn’t, and then proceeded to sneeze while rocking. I knocked my head off the back wall and fell flat on my butt!” New Jersey native, Mr. Anthony Zoppi, graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 1994. During high school, Mr. Zoppi participated in football, track, chess club, math team, ecology team and even founded his own school club. “I was a founder member of the Pirate Adventure Club, also known as PAC, which was dedicated to wilderness, hiking and biking.” Mr. Zoppi’s favorite mu-sic included Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam, while his favorite movie was The Cross. Although Mr. Zoppi clearly enjoyed his high school career, he has yet to reveal all of his high school se-crets. “Let’s just say I was in detention A LOT, but we won’t say why.” A 1995 graduate of Bishop Hanan High School, Family & Consumer Science teacher Mr. Kobeski was extremely active in both his school and community. With the nicknames “Coco”

and “Smiler”, Mr. Kobeski participated in the school play, soccer, foreign language club, Christian living club, and mission club. In the community, he was part of the Irish and Polish Clubs and even ran for the State Democratic Committee, which he lost by only 54 votes. In addition, Mr. Kobeski had a total of three part-time jobs! When Mr. Kobeski wasn’t involved in his school or community, he was getting into a little bit of trouble. “My cousin and I happened to be in a car without a license driving to Wilkes-Barre at midnight to see the Rocky Horror Show when we happened to have a little accident that delayed getting my license by an extra year.”

Back when I was in high school...

Mr. Zoppi’s senior portrait

Mr. Kobeski’s senior portrait

Ms. Masankay on her graduation day

Our teachers, once students, too!

Educational video game earns praise

Creating a reading-based computer game was child’s play for programmer Shaun Howard.

Photos by Christina Gabriele

by Christina Gabriele Co-Editor

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create your own computer game? Senior Shaun Howard had the wonderful opportunity to achieve making his own online computer game for children that helps them learn to read. Just at the age of four, Shaun was introduced to Su-per Mario Nintendo by his father. His interest in video games has expanded throughout the years.As a gaming enthusiast, Shaun was immediately receptive when North Pocono junior Emily Mor-gan asked him to build a game for her senior project website. Shaun had been recommended by his Computer Programming IV teacher, Mr. Salley to do this as his senior project. He sub-sequently spent several hours every day to com-plete this project which took him two months. Shaun started creating the game as soon as possible, using Adobe Flash Professional CSS. He first conducted research on his own in order to gain new programming skills by utilizing the tutorials of the programs he reviewed. Shaun’s literacy game, created for young children try-ing to strengthen their abilities to read, includes many sounds and effects, a descriptive menu op-tion and three different stories which can be read in either English or Spanish. “I included Span-ish because it opens more doors for Spanish stu-dents, and it also promotes my abilities to speak Spanish,” Shaun said. The three levels in the game are provided by the three different stories which vary in difficul-ty with “Pop Goes the Weasel” being the most

difficult. To help beginning readers who might struggle reading the rhymes, Shaun added au-dio with high school teachers Ms. Grace Piconi and Mrs. Melissa Orner narrating. Narration is included for both English and Spanish versions. “The best part about completing the project was the attainment of advanced knowledge and skills pertaining to vex images and animation,” Shaun said. As a result of his positive experience build-ing the game, Shaun is now considering game design as a career. Over all, the experience has made him even more advanced in computer programing. Shaun gives this advice to those interested in creat-ing their own games: “Be creative and use your imagination. If you have any ideas, write them down. Even if ideas clash at first, don’t be dis-couraged.” Those who have tested Shaun’s game have high praise for it, especially its Spanish portion. “I’ve been praise because of its ease of use and organization,” Shaun said. “Users have found it fun with graphics that are appealing to children, as it should be for elementary level literacy.”

Emily said that children in her summer reading class had a chance to test the game and found it “a lot of fun.” Shaun also went beyond his origi-nal plan to simply build the game by connecting the site to other organization’s sites and to make it something a person could find through a search on Google. WWSD second grade teacher Mrs. Stacy Box is a fan of the game. She wrote to both Shaun and Emily via the comment section of the web-site to say how much she liked their work. Mrs. Box wrote, “I had fun visiting this site both as a teacher and parent to three young children. I am excited to show my youngest the games later today, as I think she’ll really enjoy them. You should be so proud of this work and all of your efforts to promote literacy. Best wishes to you!” Shaun and Emily’s literacy game can be found on www.eatabook.webs.com. If you have young siblings who are interested in trying to strength-en their reading abilities, this game is highly rec-ommended! It is also fun for students who are studying Spanish!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESPage 8 November/December 2011

All About Abby...

Who is the teacher she is most inspired by?

“Mr. Hayden because he inspires me to think outside of the box. He helps me develop creative ideas that transpire into works of art

when I’m finished.”

Some favorites:

Book: Sarah’s KeyMusic: All kindsColor: Green & OrangeDrink: Apple JuiceFood: ChocolateSubject: ArtMovie: The Grinch

Abby’s advice to underclassmen:

“Be dedicated, do your homework, and be friendly to others because you never know when you will need their help. Be polite as well.”

Meet Abby

Carmody!

She’s bright, creative, and dedicated!

Meet the Senior ClaSS preSident!

Her role model? “My mom influences my creativity, work ethic, social characteristics, and inner strength.”

What is the best advice Abby has received at WWHS? : “To do what I want to do. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Lastly, what motivates this girl? Abby is motivated by the thought of failing. “If I fear failing at something I will work harder at it until I can make it worthwhile,” she said. Abby’s perfectionist attitude & creativity drive her to overcome any obstacle. Abby says she is also motivated by her parents.

Bits & Piecesby Shaun Howard, Co-Editor

Would you like to know a little more about Abby? She was born on October 24th, 1993 and is 18 years old. She has two younger sisters, Rebecca and Rachel, who are twins.

She enjoys hobbies such as drawing, scrapbooking, going to the movies, playing with her dog, Holly, and camping.

Abby was an intern at SEEDS in Honesdale, Pa. SEEDS stands for Sustainability, Energy, and Educa-tion Development Support.

She is a member of the following: Future Business Leaders of America, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Students against Destructive Decisions, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track.

Abby’s favorite extracurricular is basketball, although she’s involved in a plethora of other activities.

Abby enjoys basketball the most because she finds it fun. “Also, everyone tends to agree with each other,” she said.

She is treasurer of the National Art Honor Society and captain of Cross Country.

Abby finds enjoyment in art, but she takes the sub-ject seriously as well. She draws for the National Art Honor Society, Art for Seasons, and Scholastics, and she has obtained the Congressional Award for her art.

Abby plans to attend a four-year university to major in environmental design or graphic art design. Some of the universities she is considering are Arcadia,

Pennsylvania State University, and Kutztown. She desires to make environmentally-sound prod-ucts and advertisements.

Where does she want to be in ten years? “I want to move out west and further develop my art techniques in the radiant atmosphere!”

The “best” lesson she’s learned so far? “To always be dedicated to myself and things will fall into place.”

How would Abby like her classmates to remember her after graduation? “As a dedicated and involved person, willing to lend a hand to anyone!”

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES November/December 2011 Page 9

Savannah: “If I saw some-one who was dressed prep-py or in formal or business attire, my first thought is that they look sharp. Maybe they have a senior project presentation or an upcom-ing sporting event. Appear-ance is how you see or view someone or something, much like a stereotype. A stereotype is how a person categorizes another person by the way they dress, act, and even by the activities they are part of.” Luckily, our appearance is under our own control. We can cover tattoos, change out of suits, and wear make-up. We can appear laid-back for social occasions, flirty for a date, and professional for a job interview. The way we want to be perceived as people is in our own hands. Now take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Women and men do this differently. When women look in a mirror, they look to see if their flaws are hid-den. Men look in mirrors

Appearances continued from page 3

Attractiveness enhanced by attitude, smiles, social skills

to admire themselves. If a woman gains a pound, she may automatically feel overweight, but if a man gains a pound, he may think it is normal. Simple things such as a smile can make your first impression better. It makes you seem more approach-able. When talking to some-one, look him or her in the face and don’t cross your arms or stare at your feet. These signs of shyness of-ten come across as coldness. David Amodio, assistant professor of psychology at New York University said, “Stereotypes are seen as a necessary mechanism for making sense of informa-tion. If we look at a chair, we can categorize it quickly even though there are many different kinds of chairs.” Chairs, like people, come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some even give off different types of moods, just as people do. Susan Fiske, professor of psychology and neurosci-

ence at Princeton Universi-ty, said that attractiveness is one thing that can actually make stereotypes self-ful-filling and reinforcing. “At-tractive people are credited with being socially skilled,” said Fiske. “If you’re unat-tractive, it’s harder to be socially skilled because people don’t seek you out.” If you want people to no-tice you, remember that less is more. If you are trying too hard to get people to no-tice you, it will surely look this way. Dress and act in a way that is socially accept-able. If you must dress in business attire, don’t over or underdress. Wear dress pants or a skirt of appropri-ate length, a nice shirt or blouse, and dress shoes. To grab someone’s atten-tion, you don’t have to over-accessorize, either. Wearing a couple pieces of jewelry can make your appearance either seem business like or fun and flirty. Don’t over-dress for social occasions such as a party or hanging

out with your friends. Wear clothes that are comfortable. This will show that you are relaxed with those who you are with and will make you look and probably feel more personable. You don’t have to be a su-permodel or spend a fortune on clothes and accessories

to make a good first impres-sion. You need to let people to get to know you prop-erly by being yourself and by dressing and acting for the appropriate setting. It is what is on the inside that matters most. Smile often. Appearance is a mind game to be taken seriously.

by Allison Hess

Look into any art classroom, and it is obvi-ous that “creative juices” are flowing as students and teachers express themselves through various

means of cooperation and mediums. The same scenario can be seen, or rather heard, in music class, where students work under their teacher’s direction to create works of musical genius. In addition, although it is not as obvi-ous, creativity is also present in math, English, and science classrooms. Teachers in core classes strive to bring in real-life and creative applica-tions to otherwise “boring” subject matters. Math topics often have a way of being per-ceived as, well, uninteresting. Although useful in everyday life, many students have trouble seeing its importance in the future. Mrs. Wendy Boch-novich, statistics and geometry teacher, uses real data collection to engage statistics students with their subject. “We just finished gathering data and organizing into graphs,” she said. “This is exactly what so many organizations from insur-ance companies to sports people do to inform us of everything from accident rates to most points scored.” This creative method of teaching helps students to remember the concepts. Math teachers agree that Promethean boards are immensely time efficient. This technology is useful in all classes, and students notice the ef-fect of it on the way they learn. Students are very involved in class, since teachers can easily send students to the active board to work through a

problem for the whole class. The board’s inter-active features keep students engaged. Learning actively is beneficial to the way they remember their topics. Technology is also vital in science classes where students get hand-on experience working with equipment useful in real-life lab settings. It also prepares them for college level labs, which require knowledge of the mechanics of equip-ment. That’s why science teacher, Mrs. Chris-tine McClure, makes sure her students under-stand important technology. Students in these classrooms work with mi-croscopes and gram staining in order to better understand bacteria, and a spectrophotometer is used when dealing with plant pigments. These skills will help students going into science in college with their lab style classes. Working with the equipment also helps students to relate to the topics being studied. In many English classes as well, students re-late to topics through creative project which help them understand the important parts of the material. What’s more, projects require that students collaborate as team members, another important skill. Making posters that summarize the main points of a novel or concept is often a tactic teachers use to get students to work to-gether and truly understand important facts. Each teacher is different, but in any classroom or on any topic, creative ways of teaching are at work, and students say such methods do en-hance learning, particularly when “old” topics are taught the “new” way.

Creative teaching increases learningin ‘21st century classrooms’

In “A “Twisted Tale” Mousetrap competition Lucas Karnick and Danny Guo were chal-lenged to design a car powered only by the spring of a mousetrap, but able to complete an obstacle course with turns, all dependent on technology in labs dealing with concepts such as chemical reaction rates, fluid dynam-ics, and geo-technical engineering.

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESPage 10 November/December 2011

Homecoming, a chance to shine and show school pride Chilly weather. Leaves. Pret-ty dresses. Handsome suits. Al these words can be linked to one: Homecoming! This year’s tradition of Home-coming took on a new spin as students also celebrated an early Spirit Week. Both are now a tra-dition in schools across the nation when alumni are invited back for festivities including the crown-ing of the current year’s king and queen and activities designed to get just about everyone involved. This year’s Homecoming was highlighted by the crowning of queen Abby Carmody and king Garrett Enslin. Court members were Paige DeBastiani, Mikaela Carey, Kim Finkle, Katie Getz, Nick VanLeuven, Adam Gil-lis, Matt Rosensweet, and Matt Lukeski. Congratulations to all!

The band is a huge part of Homecoming at WWHS as they take the spotlight at the anual pep rally.

Showing school spirit and class pride means friendly com-petition be-tween classes as students sport their class colors while compet-ing in spirit games.

Senior court members basked in the glory of one of the last hurrahs of high school.

Photos by Maria Ingaglio, Giovanni Clark, Samantha Sinclair, & courtesy of Mrs. Riley

Dog houses make for outstanding project!

When seniors Taylor Robinson and Keandra Zdziarski were set to begin their senior project, they knew that they were going to have to learn new skills, but didn’t realize how much math would “matter.” “It was interesting to see how much math you are using when building something like this without really thinking about it,” Keandra said about the two doghouses she and Taylor built. “It made me realize I like hands-on projects,” she added. To Taylor, it was especially interesting to see blueprints on paper come to life. The girls even went “green” by using recycled materials. Upon completion, they donated pet sup-plies and both dog houses to a local dog shelter.

“Music Camp” focuses on culture, theme snacks, and lots of fun!

For musician Thomas Christopher, holding a music camp was both fun and rewarding. Thomas’s camp, which was held for three days was all about making music education fun. Thomas taught the children different aspects of culture and music and how to play instruments Each day followed a theme including Hawaiian, African, Patriotic, and Spanish. Children had fun dressing up for each day of camp according to that day’s theme. At the conclusion of the four days, participants celebrated in a closing program. Thomas even provided snacks

such as frozen bananas with peanut butter and crushed peanuts for African Music Day. The chidren leaned to use “boom whackers” and bells. Sounds like a rewarding, educational experience for all!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESNovember/December 2011 Page 11

Projects on displaySenior Projects showcase students’ interests, talents in and out of the classroom!

In Step with NICHOLAS VANLEUVENby Maria Ingaglio, Co-Editor

Nicholas’s future plans include attending a four-year university to major in biochemistry and be part of a ROTC Unit.

Age: 17Family: Brothers, Brad and JeffreyParents: John and Amy VanLeuven Resides: South Canaan

Favorite quotation: “Chance favors only the prepared mind.” -Louis Pasteur

1 Tell us about FBLA and football!FBLA is a great organization where your own potential and drive determine your success. It’s a great place to network and build experience in the business world. I’ve been playing football since I was in fifth grade. The increased support of the team in the community makes me proud to be part of my team even more. Our team is a family that works together, plays together and wins together.

2 What have you gained the most from FBLA?I’ve learned to speak clearly and effectively in order to portray a message. Achieving your goals isn’t always easy and most likely won’t come on the first try.

3 What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from football?Since I’m captain, I’ve advanced my own leadership skills as well as my athletic skills. We learned to work as a team to focus and achieve one goal.

4 Best piece of advice to underclassman?Take advantage and push yourself with AP and honors courses. Get the most you can out of your high school to prepare yourself for the next step in life.

5 Who’s your biggest inspiration?My dad because he never ceases to push me to my full potential.

6 Fondest high school memory?By far, my fondest memory was beating Wyoming Area’s football team at the begining of September. We were predicted to lose, and during the game we were down in points. As a team, we rallied together for a defeat. In

addition, I scored my first varsity touchdown during the game!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES November/December 2011 Page 12

Seven FBLA members and busi-ness students from WWHS joined students from several area schools to participate in a workshop spon-sored by King’s College and the PA Institute of Certified Public Accoun-tants (PICPA). Entitled “A Passport to Opportunity,” the purpose of the day was to highlight the variety of careers that exist for those people with degrees in accounting. Keynote speaker was John Jones, CPA and Director of Human Re-sources, Knoebels Amusements. Also, four presentations were held

Leaders take part in workshopfeaturing a public accountant, Sam-uel Siracuse from Parente Beard, Joe Noone, an accountant and spe-cial agent with the FBI, and two student panels—one speaking about making the transition from high school to college, the other about internships they have taken part in. Participating in this informative day were Brekke Green, Patrick Dzikowicz, Savannah Jablon, Ka-tie Lescinski, Makayla Beavers, Liz Osborn, and Mikayla Maher. Busi-ness Department Chairperson Ms. Fran Vitovsky, FBLA adviser, ac-companied her students.

Officers hope to foster unity

Photo by Samantha Sinclair

Q: How do you plan to make your mark as class president?

C.K.: As president, I plan to institute an aug-mented tolerance and anti-bullying policy in order to make school a safe and welcoming place for everyone.I.E.: To use my efforts to unite the class!

Q: What do you think is your best leadership trait?C.K. Listening to the needs and opinions of my peers in order to compromise and form the best opinion or plan.I.E.: My willingness to succeed.

Q: What’s your great-est challenge as class president?C.K.: My challenge

Junior class president Cameron Karnick and sophomore class president Isabella Esposito, are excited as they plan for the year ahead.

What’s cookin’ Western Wayne?by Maria Ingaglio

Co-Editor

Caramel Apples8-10 tart apples8-10 craft sticks2 cup Packed brown sugar1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk1 cup light corn syrup1/2 cup butter1 tsp. vanilla extractCoatings (nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, etc.)

1. Thoroughly wash and dry apples. Insert craft sticks into apple at stem.

2. Lightly butter bottom of a cookie sheet.

3. In a heavy bottom three quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and butter.

4. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramel reaches 240 degrees F (approximately 25 minutes).

5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Allow to cool slightly.

6. Working quickly, dip each apple into the hot caramel mixture. Allow excess mixture to drip off the apples.

7. Dip bottoms of apples into the coating of your choice.

8. Place on buttered cookie sheet. Let stand until firm, about 25 minutes. Store uncovered at room temperature.

Tip! If the caramel gets too stiff to dip, place it back on the stove over a low heat until soft enough to continue dipping.

Recipe and photos courtesy of Mrs. Stephanie Zoppiand her Gourmet Cooking ClassIllustration by Abby Carmody

is to mediate between differing opinions of students as well as the wants of the student body and the restric-tions imposed by the school administration.I.E.: I see disagree-ments amongst the class as the greatest

challenge I’ll face.

Q: What might we be surprised to learn about you?C.K.: That I fenced for three years as a child!I.E.: I hate snow, but I love winter!

Try this recipe for a fun Christmas gift idea!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURES Page 13November/December 2011

by Mark YamialkowskiCo-Editor

As Stephen Trygar arrived at his elementary school Christmas con-cert, he was very excited for one of his first performances. Stephen was dressed as a little elf for the concert and was surrounded by colorful Christmas scenes and songs ready to celebrate the holiday season. Today, if you see Stephen, he is no longer little! This TALL trum-pet player has been raising his own standards as a musician and as a composer, challenging himself each and every day on higher and higher levels of musicianship. Stephen be-came very involved with music af-ter his first practice with the Mary-wood Wind Ensemble. He listened to the people he was playing with and they inspired him to play the best he could. So what grabbed Stephen’s at-tention and got him so interested in music? Up until high school, music was something fun to do and came easily to Stephen. A natural talent that many people wish to have or to acquire, Steven worked on his musical career on trumpet with his private teacher Mark Howonetz (Mid-Valley). Stephen said that taking lessons with Mr. Howonetz changed his life because it gave him the career that he would like to pur-sue for the rest of his life. Music has offered more than a ca-reer for Stephen. It has given him a sense of confidence. Just like every-one, Stephen had to discover who he was and what he really loved do-ing. “Music has given me a creative train of thought, and I now look at obstacles from different points of view,” he said. With entering high school as a freshman in the 2008-09 school year, Stephen was given the as-signment in English class to pick a senior project. What would be bet-ter for someone so musical than to write an original musical composi-tion? Deciding to do just that, Ste-phen set himself on a two-year jour-ney in writing melodies, harmonies, and pondering just what he wanted his song to be about. One night, as Stephen sat on his back porch he stared at the stars and began humming. He had already begun to write a song for his proj-ect, but his humming cleared it all up. The tune he was humming gave inspiration to his original composi-

tion, “The Zodiac: A Story Told by the Stars.” Once Stephen knew what he wanted melody-wise in his compo-sition, it was time to write the song. Stephen used a computer program called Finale to write his compo-sition. This program allows users to write music and listen to (play back) what they have written. “A song is another way to express emotions, just like a piece of art-work or even the types of clothes you may wear on a given day,” Stephen said. “When you begin to write a piece, you must have a reason, but you must also have an understanding of music and how it is structured.” To Stephen, the most important thing to be understood in composing is harmonization (the process of writing a harmony that will complement the melody). Stephen said that once his melody was written, he wrote a counter-melody which he then harmonized. After doing this, Stephen had to extract each instrumental part and go over every note, articulation, and expression with a fine-toothed comb to ensure that the outcome of his composition would be nothing less than extravagant. Audience members were treated to some of Stephen’s compositions at the Marywood University’s Wind Ensemble concert on November 6, where the Marywood University Trumpet Ensemble played two of Stephen’s arrangements, “Fun and Jokes,” and, “Eto Triumf.” Also, Stephen arranged five Christmas carols (“Carol of the Bells,” “O Come, Immanuel,” Trepak from

“the Nutcracker,” “Huron Carol,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?”) for Brass Ensemble which will be featured in this year’s Christmas concert.

Stephen wants everyone to know:

“Music isn’t just playing, or listen-ing. Music is a way of life. In the car you listen to the radio, while you do activities you listen to your iPod. People idolize bands and mu-sicians. When you walk into a de-partment store, is it silent or is there music playing? Think about all of the places you hear music and don’t realize it.

For many, being a musician is a way to think or a way to let out emo-tions. When I am angry, I go to the piano and play soft music. When I am upset, I sing. This is where my compositions come from. My emo-tions bring forth creative knowl-edge, and if it sounds good, I write it down. Just consider, what would life be like without music?”

Musician Stephen Trygar findsvoice as composer, performer

Photo by Samantha Sinclair

Composing a song for his senior project was a warm-up for musician Stephen Trygar, who is trumpet section leader.

“A song is another way to express emotions, just like a piece of artwork or even the types of clothes you may wear on a given day.”

Substitute Spotlight

Meet Mr. Jared Haydenby Danielle Reed & Mallory DePew

Mr. Hayden, a certified social studies teacher, is a substitute teacher at WWHS. A graduate of WWHS and Marywood University, Mr. Hayden’s hobbies include music, reading, and archery.

A Few Favorites:Author: Bernard CornwellMovie: Lord of the RingsStore: Barnes and NobleFootball Team: EaglesFun Fact: Mr. Hayden plays the trombone.

Mole Day fosters interest in chemistry

Students in Mr. Mark Nebzy-doski’s chemistry class cel-ebrated mole day, by creating “moles,” eating mole-themed treats, and even calculating the number of moles in their chalk drawings. The moles created were based on an element cho-sen and required information about the element to be present. The moles had to resemble the element in some manner. Addi-tional mole projects were created for extra credit. Holey Moley! Celebrated annually on Octo-ber 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m., Mole Day commemorates Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x 1023), which is a basic measur-ing unit in chemistry. Mole Day was created as a way to foster in-terest in chemistry. For a given molecule, one mole is a mass (in grams) whose num-ber is equal to the atomic mass of the molecule. In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro’s Number of mole-cules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was first dis-covered by Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1858) and he received credit for this after his death.For more information visit: http://www.moleday.org/

November/December 2011Page 14

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESTaking a look at

the “Novel” music of November & DecemberCheck out these current events, upcoming concerts, technology, iPad apps, and favorite bands!

Beatwave - a great (free!) music App!Beatwave is an app for the Apple iPad that is completely free to download and use. It requires little to no musical ability, and it is a visual kaleidoscope of sounds, provoked by the fingers of the user. The music isn’t completely based on their finger notions, but a user has a great deal of control over the music being pro-duced. Some features include: saving patterns, changing the tempo of rhythms, altering sounds, and even adding alternate tones. The best part of the app is its ability to allow a user to create music that is pleasant to the ears, at the control of their fingertips.

Friends’ Favorite Bands:Brad Boots - Led Zeppelin, Otep, Mötley Crüe, and White ChapelPaige Fratamico - MetricAaron Kizer - SublimeColin Kovaleski - SublimeDanielle Reed - Nirvana and Avenged Sevenfold

Band of the Month: NickelbackSong of the Month: “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana

A Life’s Interest in Music…This month junior Kelly Conklin was asked to express herself in the words of music.

“Music to me is the story of the heart. Music blooms from an unknown space bank in a great poets mind, and it is expressed to the world in a familiar way. It calms me down on stressful days, and on others it lifts my spirit. Music is the universal language of love, of comparison. Several people who do not associate with each other may not realize that they both have the same favorite song. Some lyrics are so admirable that I choose to quote them and place them upon my walls. Music to me has meaning, but unfortunately, many people do not tend to have a taste for meaningful music anymore. The music I have collected has a meaning to me, through every lyric written. I only listen to the music that I can connect to and thoroughly enjoy.”

Top Three Music Videos:Breathe Carolina – “Blackout”

MUTEMATH – “Blood Pressure”Lagato Shine – “You’re Wrong”

Current Events:◊ Jay-Z, subliminally referring to Lil Wayne in several of his songs, describes this name-calling as ‘Just Sport.’ Jay-Z claims rap music is simply the essence of the moment. Whether he refers to Lil Wayne or any other prominent artist, he means no harm.◊ Michael Jackson’s Immortal Album came out on November 21st. This release features songs and compilations from the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name. ◊ Demi Lovato and Jason Derulo recently gathered to record a track on Lovato’s new album, Unbroken. The ballad was included to deliver a message to people about how they can change the world if they come together.

Upcoming Concerts:December 10th – Joe Jonas – The Scranton Cultural CengterDecember 16th – Lady Antebellum – Mohegan Sun ArenaDecember 29th - Wu Tang Clan - Sherman TheatreFebruary 17th – Rascall Flatts – Mohegan Sun Arena

Technology and Music: The future of the music industry and how avid listeners are affected.The future is approaching rapidly as innovative new ideas are being established day by day, but one thing remains, dedication to quality musical produc-tion. Along with the revision of technology has come the increase in quality of musical production. Production is much simpler than it was in the past, for now complexity has been subtracted from the science of music. Instead of utilizing ancient reel-to-reel’s and cutting tape manually, producers are now able to press one button to record audio and another button to cut audio. These actions all happen on a computer or mobile device. Technologies like the iPad have further improved one’s ability to make and produce music, within minutes. There are several apps available for download on the iPad that are free to use and account for quality musical production. These apps provide music listeners with the opportunity to feel creative and original. After realizing how simple music can be and how expressive it truly is, one may have feelings of hope and dignity.

Co-Editor

Junior Alyssa DeKnipp (Below) is the proud artist behind the winter scene. Alyssa attended “Arts Alive” this summer. “It was a great experience. The teacher allowed us to choose our own

styles and be creative inside the boundaries he set for an earthy, eco-friendly piece. I really enjoyed that,” she said.

Senior Abby Carmody (Bottom) put her ar-tistic abilities to work on a “sustainability” mural for the new EverGreen Elementary School. Abby used artifacts from the re-cently closed Hamlin and Lake Ariel schools including a desk top, a locker door, and a pencil sharpener.

Marching Band officers posed for a photo (Bottom Left) while Frankie Bunk, (Bottom

Center) cooked delicious and easy caramel apples. See Page 12 for the recipe!

The annual semi-formal was celebrated with a new theme, The Harvest Ball. Students decorated the gym, with juniors Jordan Liptak and Samantha Dougherty (Left) going to great heights to help!

Planet Wildcat

FEATURESNovember/December 2011 Page 15

Something’s happening in every corner!Brandon Aleckna and Jason White (Right) install a new shock in automotive class; (Below left) Katie Hebert works on her Frankie “Snookistein” project.

Spanish students Caroline Laabs, Dana Rooney and Nathan Sosa, (Below) along with Kaelyn Jacques and Hannah Peifer, (Mid-Center) were happy to show off their treats in commemoration of their class’s Day of the Dead celebration.

Multicultural Club member Josh Cohawitz and teacher Beverly Beers receive a certificate for their project to help end the current famine in the horn of Africa (Far Right).

Rachael Yamialkowski is all smiles as she shows off her “Mole Day” poster (see page 13), while Katie Hemmler and Veronica Witt (bottom) busily research this year’s Technical Stu-dents Association competition topic in Biotechnology Design. While Katie is new to the club, Veronica participated last year.

Select photos by Maria Ingaglio, Samantha Sinclair, Mark Yamialkowski, & Giovanni Clark

Planet Wildcat

SPORTS November/December 2011 Page 16

Girls relish race that’s pure Go, Wildcats!

• Show your school pride! Attend winter sports events!

CALENDAR

Boys’ Basketball

Dec. 29: @ Hawley Rotary Tournament vs. MonticelloDecember 16 @ SusquehannaDecember 21 @ RiversideDecember 23 @ Forest City TournamentDecember 26 @ Forest City TournamentDecember 27 @ Honesdale Jaycees Tournament vs. HonesdaleDecember 29 @ Honesdale Jaycees TournamentJanuary 3 H vs. Carbondale January 6 @ Old ForgeJanuary 10 H vs. Holy CrossJanuary 13 @ Valley ViewJanuary 17 @ Mid ValleyJanuary 19 H vs. DunmoreJanuary 26 H vs. RiversideJanuary 28 @ Carbondale

Commentary by Allison Hess

Every Tuesday afternoon this Fall, more than 100 students athletes from all over the North Eastern region “toe the line” and got ready to run three miles over hill and dale. Among them, WW runners wished each other good luck and prepared for the race. These cross country ath-letes knew what they are going to do; they were going out with a game plan, school spirit, and a reverberating word through their minds, their team pre-race cheer, “kill.”

Captains Garrett Enslin, Abby Carmody, Brian Escobar, and Shannon Myers, along with the rest of the members of the cross country team, know that when they yell ‘kill’ in the huddle, they aren’t promoting aggressive running. Rather they are getting ready to race, against nature itself.

“Cross Country is pure,” the slogan on their team apparel advertises, “It’s a race against other runners, nature, and yourself.” Spectators of the WWHS cross country team know that these run-ners have run in some extraordinary conditions. Mud, rain, and snow are often the forces press-ing against them, yet they push themselves to the limit to beat their personal records, the hills, and other teams. Running against other teams re-quire a game plan, one made way ahead of race day. Head Coach Justin Collins is the “man with the plan” when it comes to running. “We can’t

go out there and just run,” Coach Collins said when asked about his team’s pre-race planning, “It’s really important for each athlete to know who our competition is and what they need to do individually and as a team in order to pull out a win.” He puts in an enormous amount of time and effort to give a plan to each athlete and to propel his team towards excellence.

Last year, the boys’ varsity team’s record was two wins to 20 loses. Coach Collins’s goal this year was to beat this record, and already they are well on their way, with three wins already and one race to go. The varsity girls team beat their past record early in the season with 16 wins to a prior 13.

Most of the freshman girl runners are on junior varsity this year, and they are making Western Wayne proud as well. These girls have a lot a of potential, and they are sure to keep a winning legacy alive after seniors leave in June. “Un-fortunately, we will be graduating nine seniors this year,” Coach Collins said. “Their positive attitudes and leadership will be missed.” This feeling is common among all of the runners. Yet, even with this loss, the cross country team has its eyes set high for the coming years. They know that they can be competition to some good teams, like Holy Cross and Prep. Other schools in the area did well to be on the look out for some yellow jerseys making their way to the front of the pack.

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Cindy Rizzi & Mrs. Heather Hess

Being on the cross country team means extensive workouts followed by tough competition. Both the boys and girls team were set on improving last year’s records.

Thanks for a great season, Wildcat football team & cheerleaders!