Hear students’ thoughts Forget candy, flowers. Sideravages run Disney: about how Feb. 14 What ideal gifts would 48 miles in four days. should be celebrated. you give loved ones? Sound crazy? It’s true! Read page 3. Read pages 6, 7. Read page 8. February 2018 Kennedy High School 422 Highland Avenue The Waterbury, Conn. 06708 Eagle Flyer Volume XIII, Issue V Competing Legal Eagles: Kennedy’s Mock Trial team as lawyers By Jenilyn Djan Staff Writer Win or lose...they still prevailed. Students are already contemplat- ing the 2018 season after competing at the Waterbury Courthouse Thurs- day Dec. 7, 2017 for the Mock Trial Regional competition, where students practiced a semi-altered case mimick- ing an actual trial about whether a man was guilty for the deaths of four fam- ily members aboard his ship. Students won their defense while the prosecu- tion side lost. “It was a good season, even though I was just an alternate. I was able to learn a lot this year,” Melany Junco, a sophomore. Students have been practicing since August 29, 2017 once a week every Monday for this competition, and have even done a few Saturday and addi- LEGAL EAGLES tional practice sessions to be more pre- The defense side of the team won vance to the next round next season. Kennedy’s Mock Trial team competed at the Waterbury Court Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. They won one case and lost another. Members are, their case, but the prosecution lost. “Our team worked really hard this pared. front row, left to right: sophomores Nadia Evon, Melany Junco, juniors Risper “Even though we lost at the com- “Even though we lost, I thought our year and next year we’ll work even Githinji, Jenilyn Obuobi-Djan, Derya Demirel, Marin Delaney, Kaitlyn Giron, and petition, the students did great,” said prosecution did great,” said Kariny harder to advance,” said William sophomore Samarah Brunette. Back row: Adviser Mr. Clark, sophomores Tesi Mr. Clark, teacher of the Talented and Topoleski, a sophomore. Bryant, a sophomore. Tili, William Bryant, Kelsey Goldbach, senior Fuka Reale, junior Susana Mejia, Gifted and team adviser. The Mock Trial team hopes to ad- Photo compiled by J. Djan/staff sophomore Kariny Topolosci, and juniors Ariana Padilla and Edgar Yepez. DECA toy drive brings in 50 toys for city shelter By Elena Acevedo Staff Writer Outcome remains same despite toy drive being moved indoors Did two weeks change what school again for two weeks rather than decided to buy a toy for a young boy side in the cold,” said Brian Portela, a previous years received in a the one Saturday outside since the out- because she feels no one really shops junior who has been in the club for day? come didn’t change. About 50 toys for young boys, they usually shop three years. “(We had) 25% participa- were donated by faculty, students and for young girls, which impacted an- Portela donated a chess game, tion from club members,” said club members, along with books which other student’s thought process. action figures and a set of Hot Wheels Mrs. Sasso, club advisor and Sasso then donated after school on “(I wanted) to include a boy and since he wanted to donate a variety of business teacher. Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 to St. girl so no one would be left out,” said toys. TOYS GALORE The annual DECA toy Many club members did not do- Vincent’s. Members had different re- Allison Rivera, a junior who has been “It’s easier to pick out toys that a drive, which changed in 2017 to be nate toys to the 2017 Distributive sponses to how this year’s DECA toy in the club for two years. young boy would like rather than a held in school the first two weeks of Education Club of America (DECA) drive went. Rivera donated a doll for a young young girl, because I picked out toys December rather than outside on a benefiting St. Vincent DePaul Shel- “Last year I froze outside for hours girl and a box of cars for a young boy. that I liked when I was younger,” he Saturday ‘stuffing a bus,’ brought in about 50 toys (some seen above) from ter, but the outcome was about the and almost no one showed up,” said Unlike Ahrens, the DECA toy drive is said, mentioning that he did enjoy students, club members and school same as the 2016 DECA toy drive Alyssa Ahrens, a junior who has been Rivera’s favorite community service the Dunkin Donuts Sasso provided staff, according to club adviser and held outdoors to ‘stuff a bus.’ in the club for two years. event, although she didn’t like stand- for the outdoor drive but not the business teacher Mrs. Sasso. Sasso “It didn’t change the outcome,” She donated a big truck with four ing outside in the cold for hours, she bitter cold. donated the toys to Waterbury’s St. said Sasso. smaller trucks inside because her did enjoy spending time with the “I think us doing it outside was Vincent DePaul Shelter Monday, Dec. Sasso said she plans on having the nephew loves cars so she figured an- members. just a good way for the members to 18, 2017. Photo by E. Acevedo/staff DECA toy drive run within the other little boy would love cars. She “No more standing for hours out- bond with each other,” said Sasso. Celebrating Black History month: what else can high schools do? By Jurea McIntosh Elementary school students complete projects, read books but what happens in upper grades? Staff Writer Photo from time.com, 100 most influential photos, taken by J. Dominis “We Shall Overcome” is a well-known gospel Black History Month: the former does so in and respect different ethnicities and cultures song which eventually become a protest song February, while the latter does so in October. around us,” said senior Alessandra Leitao. associated with the Civil Rights Movement. “Everybody should be able to express them- What can high schools do to make Black His- During the month of February, the United selves and have their own sense of belonging,” tory Month inclusive? States celebrates Black History Month since said Zhaelynn Cooper, a senior. “English teachers can focus on black authors President Gerald R. Ford made it official in 1976, While Waterbury elementary schools have cel- who offer diverse narratives of what it means to but as Waterbury students from different schools ebrations for Black History Month, ask students be an American. Educators should strive to teach and backgrounds discuss the month’s importance to do projects, and read about historical figures writers not usually included in the literary canon, as well as the importance of representation, the like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr, some and they can ask students to reflect on which question raised is are schools doing enough? students feel the high schools do a poor job. authors they think curriculum should include. “Having a whole month set aside for celebra- “We can do more; the elementary schools do History teachers can encourage students to ‘build tions, lessons and so much more will help build so much more and all we have is a few announce- their own textbook,’ offering supplemental read- a sense of belonging among the black students ments,” said Rebekah Merancy, senior. ings with histories of non-white males or differ- and teachers in our schools,” said Ama Ansah, a It is important that all students feel repre- ing perspectives of historical events,” according senior from Crosby High School. sented during their own culture’s celebration, and to Leah Shafer from the Harvard Graduate School With growing issues of racism, inequality and every president since Ford has acknowledged of Education. oppression in today’s society, Black History February as Black History Month with his point . President Ford originally requested that all Month is a time to remember the struggles and that this is the “opportunity to honor the too- Americans “recognize the important contribu- value the contributions of black people. often neglected accomplishments of black Ameri- tion made to our nation’s life and culture by black “Black individuals have pioneered so many cans in every area of endeavor throughout our citizens,” according to Green. advances that impact our society greatly, from history,” according to author Treye Green on ICONIC GESTURE At the 1968 Olympics, gold medal medicine to political rights,” said Deborah Marin, www.ibtimes.com, the international business sprinter Tommie Smith, center, and bronze medal a senior from Waterbury Career Academy. times website. sprinter John Carlos, right, raised black-gloved fists to call attention to how America must treat blacks Canada and the United Kingdom also celebrate “It’s important for people to acknowledge as equal, according to time.com. Smith took his shoes off to represent black poverty. page 2, The Eagle Flyer/February 2018 Science shows why February has fewer days By Alex Robinson, Mehdi Namazi Graphic Designer, Staff Writer Caesar’s 46 BC calendar acknowledges leap year, 12 months Left with less than the rest. “It’s never really bothered me time and keep the calendar in sync with Every month other than February has either that February has less days in its space. 30 or 31 days. Why is it that February has only month compared to the rest,” said Some were aware of this fact; city 28 or 29? This is how the calendar has been for Jocelyn Bermeo, a Kennedy se- resident George Anderson said he was centuries, and it is said the Romans left it with nior.