Issue 1 Master

Issue #1 The Patriot October 2004 Student council calls for change Darby DeCicco ‘05 executive board establish a closer Township, senior relationship with the school service day, the Big things are happening in student administrators. senior kickoff council. “We’re here for you,” Long says. dance, “We’re trying to make student “We’d be happy to hear new ideas.” homecoming, and council a bigger part of the school,” says Along with new ideas, student the annual spirit student council president Christine council is also looking for new members. parade. McGuire’05. With fifteen seniors on an executive “We have This, among the dozens of board of twenty-five, it’s important that fun,” Long says, activities the organization has planned, underclassmen step up and fill the roles hoping seniors is student council’s most important goal that will be left vacant next year. will decide to for the year, according to McGuire. “It can change your life,” attend general Vice President Emily Long ‘05, McGuire says, encouraging freshmen, meetings, the agrees, saying that the twenty-five sophomores, and juniors to come to dates of which are members of student council’s executive meetings and take an interest. soon to be board hope not only to get the McGuire, who has been involved in announced, and organization more involved in student student council during her entire high help plan the life here at Township, but to get school career, is currently vice activities that are Darby DeCicco/ The Patriot Township students more involved with president of the New Jersey State so important to Student Council Vice President Emily Long (l), and student council. Student Council, and even attended a senior year. President Christine McGuire Both girls agree that they’d like to national meeting in Las Vegas over the Student Council see changes in student council, starting summer. knows that the best way to make they invite students with any ideas to with the average student. Their hope is “I bring back my experiences,” activities great for students is to get stop by the student council homeroom that new advisor Miss April Ferry will she says, hoping underclassmen will students involved in planning them. in G229 or to come to the general be able to aide them in getting homeroom understand the value student council Most importantly, both girls say meetings. representatives and other students more can have. that student council needs “We’re the voice of the student involved in general meetings, as well as But it’s not too late for seniors to encouragement from the students it body,” McGuire says, hoping that this in helping the student council’s get involved, either. Student council is serves. Tired of hearing their peers say year, the student body will help them find currently planning Mr. Washington that student council never does anything, something to say. Inside... Cyclists ride to aid MS research Mallory Heimlich ‘05 raising $5,300. but it wasn’t as bad as I had envisioned,” “The reason why we raised so says Ambacher, a first year rider. “I Saturday, September 18 and Sun- much money was the response of the thought I’d end up 20 miles from Ocean day, September 19, 2004, WTHS people in our school community. They City passed out on the ground with buz- teachers Lieutenant Colonel Joseph were very generous and contributed zards circling above my head, and when Wolozyn and Mr. Richard Ambacher greatly,” says Ambacher. we arrived at the finish line, I was amazed along with WTHS student Brian Keifer MS is a chronic, unpredictable I did it. I didn’t think I would feel too ‘05 participated in the 24th MS 150 disease of the central nervous system well, but I wasn’t whipped, so I must have of the Delaware Valley. The annual that affects about 2 million people see Cyclists page 2 charitable bicycle tour that raises worldwide according Freshmen Adjust p. 2 money and awareness about multiple to the National Mul- sclerosis (MS) drew 6,000 participants tiple Sclerosis from all over the tri-state area. Society’s website “I did the event last year with a (www.national former teacher from WTHS. It was a lot mssociety.org). of fun, and I enjoyed it so much I decided The event began to do it again. It’s a nice way to spend at Woodcrest Station the weekend,” says Wolozyn, a second in Cherry Hill and year rider. ended in Ocean City, In order to raise money, New Jersey, a total of Ambacher and Wolozyn put letters in about 150 miles up faculty member’s mailboxes here at the and back. It took them school informing them about the event, about seven hours to and Wolozyn also got some businesses make the ride up and Patriot sports p. 7 to donate as well as some of his neigh- about six to make it bors. Wolozyn and Ambacher’s goal back. photo courtesy of Col. Wolozyn Entertainment p. 5 was to raise $2,500. However, they “I thought it Col. Joseph Wolozyn (l) and Mr. Richard Ambacher were astonished when they ended up would be a real test, take a break from their 150 mile journey. New Teacher Profile Dessaigne enjoys opportunity Cyclists ride Note: In every issue of The Patriot, student teacher than it is to stop MS we will run a profile of one of the new teaching your own class. Cyclists from page 1 teachers at WTHS. This way everyone “You don’t have anyone can get to know them a little bit better. looking over your shoulder trained okay.” telling you what to do, when “The event was very well orga- Cheryl Supernavage ‘06 to do it, and how well you did nized,” says Wolozyn. There are about Mr. Shawn Dessaigne (de-SEN- it. You’re in charge,” he said. four or five rest stops every 15 to 20 miles. ya), a TCNJ graduate, works in our The most important “There were tons of things to drink Performing Arts Department teaching thing he learned from student- and eat, like energy bars yogurt, water, the Music Tech class and AP Music teaching is to keep the Gatorade, and peanut, butter, and jelly Theory class. He was excited about this students interested. Dessaigne sandwiches; there was a whole variety of job because, aside from this being his hopes that by teaching these things,” says Ambacher. “We took full first job, there is only one other person courses he can help students advantage of all the rest stops; we stopped he knows of in New Jersey teaching involved in music realize that at every one. We made sure to drink lots Music Tech. After seeing the job he it could be a possible choice of fluids and stretch but didn’t stay too was offered, he knew it was a unique for their own future. long at the stops so we wouldn’t cramp job and decided to take it. Aside from teaching, Cheryl Supernavage ‘06/ The Patriot up.” Ever since he was little, he always Dessaigne enjoys music, Mr. Shawn Dessaigne teaches Music Tech. At every rest stop there were bike knew he’d enjoy teaching, and when especially classical, and his and AP Music Theory. mechanics from the area, and if anything Dessaigne came to Washington family. He often goes to Europe to visit “There are so many opportunities broke they would fix it for the riders for Township with the idea of becoming a his relatives in his father’s home country, offered for students in music,” he said. free. There were cars also patrolling the band director, he had a set view of what France. A couple of people extremely routes, checking to see if anyone had bro- teaching would be like. Dessaigne grew up in influential to Dessaigne are the boss ken down. So far, teaching is not what he Williamstown, so he has always been at his college job and the cooperating “There were motorcyclists with expected. Working in a classroom familiar with Township. He finds the one teacher for student teaching he was trailers full of young kids, and if they saw atmosphere and imagining yourself main difference between the two high assigned to, who was like his mentor. you were pooped out, they would stop and directing a band are two completely schools, other than size, is the music One point of advice he’d like to put you in the back of the trailer,” says different ways of teaching. He department. Washington Township has share with all aspiring teachers is to Ambacher. “Then they would take you describes it as being “very difficult.” a huge music department, and he learn everything you can because you to one of the rest stops and then to a bus He student-taught in Cherry Hill. definitely thinks that Township does not never know what you will end up to take you back.” He finds it was very different being a overlook their music programs. doing. “I’m going to try and expand team WTHS next year,” says Wolozyn. For next year’s bike tour they’re trying to Freshmen make smooth transition gather a bigger team, and so far they have Jamie Recchino ‘05 Joining activities such as color students, the school is a maze. The about a half a dozen people on the team guard and band or playing sports has halls are so crowded, and it’s definitely including about four other teachers from Think back to middle school. It assisted the ninth grade students in an adjustment.

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