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The L ghthouse Vol. XXVIII, No. 6 Lyndhurst High School April 2015 Peer Group prepares for Class of 2019 By Jennifer Wartel With fewer than three months of school left, seniors are closing one of the most im- portant chapters of their lives and eighth graders are about to begin it. Leading these upcoming freshmen through their first year at LHS will be the 2015-2016 Peer Group Connection. Forty-three current juniors were inter- viewed for a position for next year’s Peer Group and 28 were ultimately selected. Peer Group Co-advisor Mr. Belmont said leaders must be relatable and respectful role models with good communication skills. Before selecting the Peer Group members, the advisors checked each candidate’s atten- dance, discipline records and grades. “I never try to look for one particular type of Peer Group leader, and when a student expresses necessary leadership qualities in a truly unique way, that always stands out in my mind,” Belmont said. Junior Amanda Hackett is one of the stu- dents selected for next year’s program. “I think [a leader] is someone who has a high authority position, someone who has more knowledge and is going to share that with younger people,” Hackett said. Hackett said she hopes to teach the incom- ing freshmen how to succeed in high school and learn from them as well. She said she would like to gain perspective by interacting with the ninth graders to see how the un- derclassman experience has changed at LHS since her freshman year. Hackett said she wants to become an adult figure they can trust and will have the re- sponsibility of keeping conversations with her group confidential. At the end of the ex- perience, Hackett said she wants to feel she Courtesy of Jessie Bolton and Christiane Piezas has helped guide the incoming freshmen in Sophomore Stef Cilento, Junior Anthony Dell’Aquila and Junior Kislande Joseph (top, left to right) take part in the Thirteenth Annual Spring Poetry Slam in the the right direction. library on March 27. Senior Yoshi Nomura, Cilento, Sophomore Julie Pacillo, Joseph, Junior Francesca Caliguire, Junior Jose Rodriguez and Freshman Shanice Seniors who have been admitted to Peer Wright (bottom, left to right) all received awards at the event. Group are required to sacrifice early dismiss- al every other day to be part of the program. “The way I see it, making people’s lives bet- ter is more important than leaving school No room for timidness at 13th 80 minutes early will ever be,” Junior Gianna Jacobelli said. Jacobelli has been selected to be a peer leader next year. She said she hopes to make Annual Spring Poetry Slam a difference and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. Jacobelli said she believes she By Francesca Saavedra members gave the students and judges—En- Snyder, who has been judging the slams will give her group of freshmen a year they glish Teachers Mr. Belmont, Mrs. Falco and for about four years, announced the slam’s will always remember and help them avoid Students and teachers gathered in the Mr. Snyder and Business and Technology award-winning poets. Sophomore Stef Ci- as many problems as possible during the library during fourth and fifth blocks on Teacher Mr. Fuschetto—a chance to reflect lento, Junior Francesca Caliguire and Senior transition into high school. March 27 for the Thirteenth Annual Spring on the poetry. Yoshi Nomura received honorable mention Former peer leader Paul Minervini, who Poetry Slam. After listening to poems from students and for their poetry. graduated from LHS in 2014, said Peer Group Attendees had the pleasure of hearing orig- faculty, the judges departed to another room Third place was awarded to first-time slam gives seniors the opportunity to change inal poems from approximately 30 students to deliberate. LHS Class of 2004 Alumna participant Junior Jose Rodriguez for his someone’s life for the better and give kids the and faculty. This year’s event brought per- Gia Grillo read a mix of her older and newer piece titled “The Joke” which addressed the confidence to try new things. sonal stories and emotion to the forefront. works while cake was served to the student topic of bullying. continued on page 8 Musical interludes performed by band poets. continued on page 6 Are musicians getting The world is in our The ‘Hurst readies for their fair share? hands hustle Music streaming Earth Day encourages Boys and girls track services reshape the students to keep the prepare for a strong industry.|5 environment clean.|7 season.|12 Check out “The Lighthouse” on the LHS website! 2 The Lighthouse April 2015 Question: If you could do high school all over again, what would you do differently? COLUMN COLUMN What would What would Newman do? Covello do? Compiled by Emma Flusk Compiled by Emma Flusk My high school years were a huge part of If I could do high school all over again, the the foundation that has made me into the only thing I would do differently would be to Courtesy of Emma Flusk Courtesy of Emma Flusk man I am today. change my perspective. Life is all about per- I loved being in high school. However, what there after a while. OH YES… I left because spective and how we see things. The funniest part is we act like we have it I would change about that era would not be she was “on that pedestal.” Now I look back It wasn’t until senior year that I realized so hard, like getting up in the morning to go related to my actual high school experiences and think, I should have just ended it there how fast everything goes by. You just have to school or work is the worst thing in the but those outside of my school. and had a great memory in 1999. Instead, it’s to live in the moment and enjoy each min- world. Meanwhile, there are millions of peo- What many high school students don’t re- a sad story. ute of it because before you know it, you’re ple around the world without a bed to sleep alize is that the freedom you have now is not Thinking about concerts and musical acts, done with high school and the next chapter on. eternal. Now, “hindsight is 20-20” and many in high school I saw some fantastic shows. of your life starts. To more than one billion people across the people will also tell you that “youth is wasted However, I could have seen some other acts. If I could do it all over, I would go through globe, $1.25 is their daily budget for food, on the young” for a lot of reasons. I’m sure George Harrison would have been great to high school with the understanding that all medicine and shelter. If that’s not extremely you could ask all your parents, teachers and see live. A Notorious B.I.G concert would the problems that seem so large today will alarming, then I don’t know what is. That’s older siblings, and there would be plenty of have been a tough sell for my parents as a be so insignificant soon enough. Nothing not what modern life should be with people things they have realized were not exactly freshman in 1996-1997, but in retrospect, I lasts forever, and that’s the beauty of it all. unable to afford the simple necessities in life. stellar experiences in high school. would have come up with something, espe- If you’re going through a difficult time with Yet this is what some people have to go That boyfriend or girlfriend you put on a cially with Tupac dying in 1996, a year earlier school, sports, family, relationships or what- through, working in sweatshops just to sur- pedestal? Yeah, that pedestal turned out to than Biggie in ‘97. ever it may be, you just have to know that vive and provide for their family. There’s no be a throne of lies. That person you had a I was also very lucky to travel a lot through eventually things will be alright. reason everyone in the world shouldn’t have crush on? That person was a jerk who was my high school. I was only able to go to The daily problems you have will become a bed in some sort of shelter with clean water starving for attention and is a despicable Austria, the Czech Republic, England, meaningless to you, and you’ll wonder why and enough food to eat at least two meals a person now. That piece of clothing you were France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Morocco, you ever worried so much about them in day, every single day. dying to get that you had to wear out? That Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland in the first place. As for the good, you learn That’s why I think to myself, you can either was ugly, awful-colored and ill-fitting on you. my high school years. Yes, I said “only” as a to appreciate it more. I’ve come to realize do one of two things. Either make an attempt Those are just things that everybody would joke. It was awesome. how special each and every moment of life to help all the people in need, or, if you don’t, admit and perhaps focus on. I made friends in high school that I hold is. When you change your perspective, you then at least enjoy your life and be grateful First off, the Yankees won the World Series very dear to me today, and it has been awe- change your outlook on life.