May 2014 Passages VOLUME XLIX Northwest Catholic, 29 Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut, 06117
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Northwest May 2014 Passages VOLUME XLIX Northwest Catholic, 29 Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut, 06117 “Looking In Theater” Inspires Senior Class By Annie Berning ‘14 students from the was only for the senior class, responded if they were the impressed by the greater Hartford area. The the topics that the actors ones involved. performance. For Mrs. This year, the Northwest group is directed by Jonathan dealt with were realistic for Mrs. Williamson Williamson, who had worked Catholic school board Gillman of the Greater a college environment. The coordinated the performance. very hard to coordinate the initiated a new seminar Hartford Academy of the group performed eight short Last year, she attended a event, it was a great success. series titled “Life Skills,” Arts, a member of the Capital skits. Each one dealt with Looking In performance “The presentation by Looking with the goal of preparing Region Education Council racism, relationship issues, specifically for Catholic in Theatre surpassed my the members of the depression and suicide, school administrators. She expectations in two ways,” senior class for life roommate conflicts, or peer was very impressed with she recalled. “The actors post-graduation. The pressure at parties. The set what she saw and it became and the director, Jonathan school board has was simple and there were her dream to have Looking Gillman, involved in the already sponsored two no costumes, only dialogue In perform for the students of show were at such a high presentations this year, between the actors. The skits Northwest Catholic. Looking level. I was also impressed including one titled were largely open ended, In came last year as well to by the engagement of seniors “Personal Finance” and designed to inspire thoughts and their comments.” The a second titled “Your Kimberly Sanders about the issues at hand, students were also inspired Personal Brand.” Actors answer questions from the audi- rather than force a suggested to begin thinking about the These dealt with the ence while still in character. response upon the students. new types of experiences basics of finance, The performance stopped they will have in college, workplace attire, interviews, (CREC). The students at two points to allow both positive and negative. and social media use. The involved in the performances the actors to introduce Rose O’Brien ’14 felt that, third presentation was held attend an intensive over the themselves, tell the audience “the presentation was very on March 7, when a group summer. There, they wrote their age and where they realistic, and portrayed a called Looking In Theatre their own scripts based on go to school, and to answer Kimberly Sanders very accurate representation performed a series of skits their personal experiences, questions from the audience Looking in Theaters students act out of what college students can that presented students with with guidance from Mr. regarding their roles and a common scenario. face.” The entire senior class situations that they may face Gillman. The group travels to why they responded the way benefitted from Looking In, once they graduate from high schools all over Connecticut, they did. These discussions perform to the entire school and thanks the school board school. presenting various skits to were conversational, before prom. and Mrs. Williamson for The actors from Looking students of all ages. allowing students to think Students and coordinating the event. In Theatre are all high school Because the presentation about how they might have administrators alike were Unified Theater Takes The Stage Costa Rica Is Trip of A Lifetime Counting By Charles Faselle ‘15 All of the participants agree By Katherine Garger ‘14 underneath the ground and that their involvement in create the perfect temperature “Ability over disability, Unified Theater is a surprising The History Department for hot tubs. Down the creativity over conformity, and rewarding experience. trip was definitely the and collaboration over Learning to embrace and highlight of my high school competition.” This is Unified celebrate differences is behind years. The camaraderie Days Theater’s motto. Instead Unified Theater’s mission, among all of the people on of focusing on what kids and everyone who witnessed the trip gave me some of the with special needs cannot the production could see the best memories that I could Junior/Senior do, Unified Theater puts a obvious joy and friendship ever hope for. As we zip lined spotlight on what students of represented on stage. through the rain forest, we Prom: all abilities love to do. This Mrs. Avery, who has been learned about the natural May 17 past year was Northwest involved with Unified Theater habitat and the rebuilding Catholic and Intensive for over ten years (first at that needs to happen to Education Academy’s fourth Conard High School and protect the surroundings. We Mr. Fitzpatrick annual Unified Theater now NWC), explained that, then planted a baby tree that Tim Dodds was fascinated First Day of production, centering around “Unified Theater is a very will grow to help restore the by the local term “Pura Vida a “Hollywood” theme. The special organization to me, environment and maintain a Mae,” meaning “pure life, Senior Exams: production was lead by and this year’s production safe home for inhabitants of dude!” He even accidently May 22 Northwest Catholic students was another great example the rainforest. said it to a priest, which could Gabriella Beaulieu ‘14, of why this activity is both One day, the bus wound be seen as disrespectful, but Charles Faselle ‘15, Anna valuable and beautiful.” up a road that our tour the priest just laughed and Mirabello ‘15, and Fiona Shea Everyone involved in the guide referred to as “the said “Pura Vida Mae!” right Academic and ‘15, and Angel Cintron and production had a lot of blender.” The road cut back. Service Awards: Gabe Rodriguez from IEA. fun, new friendships were through the mountains and Ryan Delmonaco reflected The cast divided into made, and participants contained very hard curves. on the trip by saying, “I really May 29 four groups, each of which and audience members The final destination of “the enjoyed meeting all the locals wrote and performed a skit agree that wonderful blender” was one of the most and the people we traveled based on a theme. The self- things happen when you educational parts of the tour, with. Exploring the country Baccalaureate named groups were Pixar’s put the spotlight on ability. a local school. There were ten side and experiencing the Prehistoric Players, Big students from first to fifth city life with my friends Mass: City Stars, Bright Lights, grade, and only one girl. Each is something I will always and Shining Stars. These child had to walk up two remember.” June 3 groups then incorporated miles or more just to get to “This is one the best trips their skits into one larger school each day. our department has ever held. framework. Jessica There were two classrooms, The students were exceptional Graduation: Jordano ‘15 acted as a where the students were and the experiences were film director, searching all taught together. The something I will carry with June 4 for great ideas to make a students performed a custom me my whole life,” said Mr. movie. The production Costa Rican dance and Fitzpatrick, reminiscing about included two full then we joined them for a the trip. Final Exams: company dance numbers Kimberly Spera game of soccer. We visited All of the students were sad choreographed by Mary Zachary Sprinsky, Jacob McCollum, Alison Hardy, the Baldi Hot Springs for a that the trip had to end, but June 11 Buckley ‘15 and Olivia Stephanie St. Marie, and Alicia Susi ’15 are all smiles day and learned how the their memories from the week at rehearsal! Fenton ‘15. volcanoes heat the water from in paradise will last a lifetime! NWC Page 2 Editorials May 2014 Letter from the Academic Dean STAFF A few days ago, I spent several hours meeting with was stumped. Then I realized that indeed I did, or at least Editor-in-Chief a potential new teacher. In any interview process, the I think, I knew the answer. The answer is very simple. interviewer has a list of questions to ask the potential The answer is a great employee … “Why did you leave your last job?” “Why did way to treat others and Maggie Rose you decide to seek employment at Northwest Catholic?” to run your own lives. “What can you bring with you to make Northwest Catholic The answer is basic and a better school?” After the applicant has answered the simple, yet universal and Executive Board questions, it is typical for the employer to ask, “”Do you thought provoking. The have any questions?” In this particular instance, I thought answer is RESPECT. that one of this person’s questions was particularly Think about it. If you give Annie Berning pertinent. the people around you The question he asked was, “What makes Northwest your respect, they in turn Andrew Doran Catholic a place where I would want to work?” Obviously, will respect you. Respect Avery Hatch there are some standard parts to that answer. First, it is a is a basic expectation. We Catholic school. Being a Catholic school, we (the students all want to be examined Jessica Jordano and the teachers) are able to talk about God, and faith, and then given respect Matthew Marshall and morality. It’s hard to imagine not being able to tie for the person we are. those topics to any subject areas in the school. Secondly, All of us have this need; Molly McDonald I always tell people that Northwest Catholic has great it confirms the person Mr.