Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown, NJ January 2013 2012-13, Issue 4 MFS Presents Twilight, Los Angeles by Maura Aleardi This winter, Moorestown Friends Gornto cast each character after historical background of the events. School is performing the play Twilight: listening to each actor recite a monologue Gornto explained, “Imagine the typical Los Angeles 1992. Traditionally a one from the play. He paid no attention to the character analysis covered with a very woman show, the performance portrays physical appearance of the actor, as some intense historical exploration.” He added, the different reactions of people who were men are cast as women and vice versa. “I think the cast that we’ve assembled involved in the L.A. Riots twenty years ago. really appreciates the story that’s being These riots followed the arrest of told and really cares about the message.” Rodney King, who was beaten by several The story is universal; it’s a The final production will involve a Caucasian police officers. The officers “human story, not a male-female, number of audio and video appearances, claimed he was under the influence of black-and-white story. including live scenes from the events in PCP and therefore acted violently towards 1992. Gornto said, “Making that happen them. A video of the incident, paired with seamlessly and easily is challenging.” a negative drug test, proved otherwise. He believes that “the story is Looking toward the future, Gornto ” Larissa Morgan by photo Director Mark Gornto chose this play universal; it’s a human story, not a male- said, “I’m excited about seeing how all Senior Miranda Remington because, “Looking at the fact that it has female, black-and-white story.” the pieces come together and seeing how been 20 years, it’s interesting to revisit the In preparation for this play, the actors much of a conversation we can generate rehearses her monologue for conversation that deals with race and how will each have to dive into an intense in the community itself, not just the cast.” the play. nothing has been changed in 20 years.” character analysis, plus investigate a

A Day in the Life of a Class President by Jailene Jaquez photo by Jailene Jaquez The freshman election has tantly they have to be unbiased. grader Natalia Queenan, for example, taken place, and Mitchell Mullock, WordsWorth wanted to know: said, “I think Mitchell is a good leader who is also a part of our Word- What advice did the reigning presi- and he is easy to bring up issues to.” sWorth staff, is now the president dents have for Mullock? What advice Being a class president is be- of the class of 2016. Fellow presi- would Mullock give to the future gen- ing the representative voice of the dents David White (sophomores), erations of class presidents? Most class. Students may not like the Steve Mannion (juniors), and Eric importantly, what can we expect opinions of their peers and that can Harkaway (seniors) seem to have in the upcoming years from him? turn into total chaos, but a class welcomed Mullock with open arms. “I like being the class president. president can cut out all of the cha- This election puts pressure on It’s really cool,” Mullock stated ear- os and make a decision that is a Mullock; not only is he a new presi- nestly about his fledgling presidency. compromise of everyone’s opinions. dent trying to live up to the reign- When asked what advice he Sophomore class president ing class presidents, but he is also would give to aspiring class presi- David White offered advice in this representing the class of 2016. dents, he answered, “You have to be area for future generations of presi- Being a class president re- liked and you also have to know what dents: “People will get mad no quires one to be calm, cool, and you’re doing to be a class president.” matter what, but it is your job to Freshmen class president collected. Presidents also have to Initial reactions to Mullock’s make good decisions for the class.” have patience, and most impor- presidency seem positive. Ninth Mitchell Mullock. Robo Recap: What the Robotics Teams Have Been Up To Lately by Callie Cramer The three Moorestown Friends robots must place rings on a wall of competed at an FTC qualifier at The Foxes did not compete, and robotics teams are off to a good start pegs in specific Cherokee High instead ran a children’s robotics event. this year. The MFS Foxes, MFS Hawks, patterns in School. There, However, the teams have not and MFS Falcons have all been working order to gain the Hawks were just been competing. They have also hard on their robots and working points. The Upcoming Competitons: in the second- been using their talents to enrich towards their championship matches. challenge is Saturday, February 9th - NJ State FTC place alliance. the community and educate about The MFS robotics teams participate set in a square Championship at NJIT in Newark, NJ They also robotics. in the FIRST® Tech Challenge. Each arena with the Saturday, February 23rd - PA State won the THINK They have become involved with team must first compete and qualify two competing FTC Qualifier in Phoenixville, PA award, which is the Friends Enrichment Program. at a qualifier event in order to move alliances at Saturday, March 2nd - PA State FTC given to the team They will begin to help out the Friends onto the State Championship matches either corner. Championship in Millersville, PA that shows the Academy of Westhampton’s budding towards the end of the season. The Each alliance best engineering Lego robotics program. They will also Foxes and Hawks have both qualified. is made up process. be visiting several schools in Camden This year, the challenge that the of two robots The school to educate about robotics. Finally, they robots must complete is called Ring from opposing hosted a state have been helping out our own middle It Up!. Each robot is build, designed, teams. qualifier on Sunday, December 9. The school robotics teams. and programmed by the students. The On November 17, the 3 teams Hawks and Falcons both competed.

Reena reviews The Silver Linings Sloane Gandler writes about her Playbook by Matt Quick, the ba- Junior Mike Brill goes in depth experience with the infamous In this issue: sis for the Oscar-nominated mo- about the sport of fencing. “Baby Project.” tion picture. 2 Editorials January 2013 Online @ MFSWordsWorth.com The Baby Blues: Suffering through A Junior’s Real Life Experience with the Infamous “Baby Project” by Sloane Gandler Scoliosis: Babies: we all love them. They’re cute, She hadn’t cried once since I took her home they giggle and smile, and are so fun to from school, but that was about to change. play with. However, a baby is also a big After class, I took Dylan out of the dance How Backpacks are Weigh- responsibility. You have to feed it, change studio and when I turned back around after its diaper, and wake up multiple times in getting water, Dylan wasn’t in her carrier! by Jackie Sackstein the middle of the night to care for it when it A dance teacher had taken her out of the ing Us Down cries. Every year, the juniors at Moorestown carrier and was holding Dylan by the arm Dragging yourself through a day weight, my answer was that I simply Friends get an early taste of parenthood without supporting the neck. That was the of school is hard enough, but how couldn’t with a locker in Hartman Hall. with the infamous “Baby Project.” Each beginning of my nightmare. Dylan wouldn’t about doing it with unrelenting back I had been asking for months before junior gets a baby doll that cries, needs to stop crying for the next half hour and I felt pain? That is the life of a student like now to get a locker in the main build- be rocked, and wakes you up at 1:00 in the like I was going to cry right along with her. me who has scoliosis. Scoliosis is the ing, but my request went unanswered. morning, just like a real baby. The screaming was ear-rattling and was loud unnatural curvature of the spine that I find it saddening and unfortunate My experience with the dreaded “Baby enough to wake someone a mile away. can cause many prob- that it took this diag- Project” started out joyfully. I was excited to The rest of the night was a mess. She lems in the future. It nosis for the school get my new child, much woke me up a total of can crush the respira- to finally listen to my to the surprise of my six times that night, tory system, impair the cries for help. classmates, most of so by the time I had skeletal system, and It is even more dis- whom were dreading to go to school, I was hinder the ability to turbing to find out it. They thought I was like a walking zombie. walk straight. that I am one of nuts for wanting the However, even though The curvature in many Moorestown baby, but I didn’t care. I was exhausted my spine has not only Friends students suf- I had names picked and couldn’t wait misaligned by hips and fering through this out in advance and to get rid of Dylan, feet, but it has also pain. The simplest when I walked up to I still managed to brought on a merci- solution is to not the health room, I somehow appreciate less pain that comes have to carry books finally met my new the experience. from carrying my back- back and forth to daughter. I decided to There are mothers pack. On top of my Photo By Lauren Lowe class. If each class name her Dylan, after that do this every day. daily activities, I now have to see a had a class set of textbooks and we the famous Manhattan Sometimes there is chiropractor multiple times a week, as could take all of our notes on laptops, candy store “Dylan’s more than one baby well as doing physical therapy for my we would be able to stop weighing our- Candy Bar.” She to take care of. This back in order to attempt to ease the selves down with backpacks. This is looked so cute in her project definitely pain. My chiropractor told me that my my solution to dealing with scoliosis, pink pajamas and her taught me that I am backpack should only weigh 10% of and I sincerely hope that the student carrier. She came with not ready to be a my body weight, but we all know that body can come together to help other her own bottle and mother for a while will never happen. When asked why students like me. It is time to stop the diaper and diary sheet, and that when I am I didn’t use my locker to lighten the suffering. on which I logged the Photo by Austin Harris one, I will keep hoping times she cried and Juniors must be prepared to drop everything and that my baby doesn’t take care of their babies if they cry. what she wanted. wake me up at 3:00 Carrying her around in the morning. I school all day was not as easy as it looked. do think that this project is necessary for After the Apocalypse That baby was incredibly heavy. My arm still our curriculum; it definitely has a valuable by Breanna Riddick hurts just thinking about it. I was especially lesson to be learned. If a high school student nervous for the end of the school day makes the decision to be sexually active, To read this article, scan this QR code with because I had to drive home with Dylan in and a baby is the result, this project teaches your smartphone or web-enabled device, or the backseat of my car. I was so nervous us how great of a responsibility a baby is visit our website online at: that she would cry while I was driving, and I and how we are definitely not ready as high wasn’t allowed to pull over and do anything. school juniors to take care of another human Just like a real baby, I had to take Dylan being. This project was effective for me, and http://www.mfswordsworth.com everywhere. That night, that place was I hope it was effective for my fellow juniors as dance class. She sat in the corner of the well. dance studio and watched as I took class.

Editor-in-Chief’s Column Unchaining Controversy by Austin Harris An effective film gets people talking, and Quentin Spike Lee’s exact Twitter quote was, “American slavery Tears. I don’t think that it’s too far off to assume that Tarantino’s Django Unchained has most definitely was not a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It was a Quentin Tarantino considered this when deciding to gotten people talking. The film, which tells the story holocaust.” Well, Spike Lee was telling the truth, but tell his story about a freed slave in this specific style. of a freed slave (Jamie Foxx in the title role) who perhaps he was not considering that fact that the real One of Spike Lee’s major criticisms of the film was becomes a bounty hunter in order to save his still- “Wild West” was not a Sergio Leone spaghetti western its use of the n-word. Personally, I think that criticizing enslaved wife from an evil plantation owner, inspired a movie that takes place in 1858 for using the n-word controversy even when its first trailer came out. Right is ridiculous, for obvious reasons. To be fair, Spike before the film’s release, prominent filmmaker Spike Lee’s anger about Quentin Tarantino using the n-word Lee said on Twitter that he would boycott the film goes beyond Django Unchained; he has criticized because it was “offensive to his ancestors.” Tarantino in the past about his other movies that Well, I think that Spike Lee is a bit misguided. have used the word. Personally, I think it’s ignorant Unlike him, I actually went to see the film, and when people just throw that word around, but unlike thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it is touchy subject matter, most rappers and kids who think that they’re being and yes, there are many parts of the film that made cool, Quentin Tarantino knows the power of the word, me uncomfortable, but that was the point of the film. and he definitely uses that power to further the story.

The film was made as an homage to the spaghetti Used with permission from MTC Campus My suggestion to anyone boycotting the film western films of the 1960s, films like The Good, The either. Those types of movies also tended to gloss over or calling it offensive is to actually go and see it Bad, and the Ugly. Tarantino definitely did a good job major injustices as well, the biggest being the way before you form your opinions. I found it powerful, emulating that genre of film, but many critics had an Native Americans were treated. Yes, oddly enough, none entertaining, and thought-provoking, and I think most issue with Tarantino depicting slavery in this style. of Sergio Leone’s movies talked much about the Trail of other people will, too. 3 Pop Culture January 2013 online @ MFSWordsWorth.com Less is More with the New iPad Mini By Gaelyn Gregory

Although it’s smaller, skinnier and magnified, pictures on the iPad mini are more is still ten hours of surfing the web on Wi- lighter than its predecessor, the iPad pixelated than on the iPad 4th generation. Fi or nine hours of surfing the web using mini is not much different than the iPad. Although it’s named the iPad mini, it is cellular data network. Despite this, the Costing only $329, the iPad mini comes not that small. The iPad mini, at 7.87 inches iPad mini is a quick and easy way to search in black and slate or white and silver. The tall and 5.3 inches wide, is more than half something on the Internet, play games or iPad mini is easier to type on, as it can the size of the regular iPad, which is 9.50 check your email. Overall, the iPad mini is be held with one hand, and it is easier inches tall and 7.3 inches wide. a great gift for a family member or friend. to carry around than the regular iPad. The iPad mini is not much of an upgrade I would recommend it for anyone who is On the other hand, the iPad mini’s from the iPad2 either, as it still does not interested in buying an Apple product. camera is not as good as the iPad and when have a flash camera and the battery life Gaelyn Gregory by Photo And the Oscar Goes To ... By Austin Harris The nominations for the 85th Annual Academy Awards were announced on January 10. The show, which will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane, is scheduled to air on Sunday, February 24. As the date of the event comes closer and closer, it is always fun to guess which nominees will go home winners. These are my predictions as to who will win this year in some of the major categories. Best Picture: Argo Best Supporting Actor: Phillip Seymour-Hoffman Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino for Even though Ben Affleck did not even get nominated for The Master Django Unchained for Best Director for this movie (which is just wrong), This is another tough category. So far, Hoffman has Even though it was considered a surprise that this film has already won the Golden Globe for Best won the Critics’ Choice Award, but lost the Golden Tarantino won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, Picture (Drama) and the Critics’ Choice Award for Globe to Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained. I think he deserved the award. He was robbed when Best Film. It was also immensely popular with both However, Waltz just won an Oscar two years ago Pulp Fiction did not win Best Director and Picture critics and audiences, which is always a good sign for another Tarantino film, so I’m going with Phillip in 1994 (Forrest Gump did instead), so perhaps for a Best Picture winner. Ben Affleck’s snub was Seymour-Hoffman. the Academy will try to pacify him here. Also, his probably a result of his perceived arrogance. screenplay has inspired a lot of conversation (see the Editor-in-Chief column), which is something that Best Director: Ang Lee for Life of Pi Oscars love. This is an odd situation. Normally I would say that Ben Affleck would win, but he wasn’t even nominated. This is the category that I am most unsure of because Best Score: Michael Dynna for Life of Pi so many expected nominees weren’t nominated (the I have an issue with the Best Score category. For others being Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty whatever reason, the actual best score of the year and Tom Hooper for Les Miserables). I’d rather call almost never wins, and many times it isn’t even this a guess than a prediction, and my guess for nominated. It’s sort of like the Academy just chooses Best Director is Ang Lee because Life of Pi was both five adequate scores from the Best Picture nominees. artistic and powerful. For instance, last year, War Horse had the most well- Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/MCT written score, but The Artist’s frankly annoying score Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln only won because people really liked the movie. I just This is probably the most obvious category. None Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway for Les chose Life of Pi because it’s a nice score that’s been of the other actors nominated in this category Miserables winning the other awards. I’m still mad that The Dark disappeared into their roles as much as Daniel Day- This is another obvious one. Anne Hathaway has Knight Rises wasn’t nominated. Lewis did. Also, he’s playing a real person, which been winning almost every Supporting Actress award tends to help actors win. for her role in the film. She has all of the aspects of an Academy-Award-winning performance (those being Best Original Song: Adele and Paul Epworth for tears, desperation, and general pathetic-ness), as “Skyfall” Best Actress: Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark well as a solo that is apparently flooring. She’s also I usually have the same issue with the Best Original Thirty been in the movie industry for a while, so the Academy Song category. Last year, only two average-quality At first, it seemed obvious that Jennifer Lawrence will probably agree that it’s time to honor her. songs were nominated, and “Man or Muppet” won, (star of The Hunger Games) was going to win this which was just a strange choice. However, this year, award for her portrayal of Tiffany in Silver Linings Best Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio for Argo some pretty awesome songs are nominated. The Playbook. But Zero Dark Thirty came out late, and Argo was one of the most well-made films of the year, competition is pretty stiff, but I think it’s safe to say critics have been raving about Jessica Chastain’s hands-down. It thrilled audiences, and the reason that Adele’s “Skyfall” will win the award -- after all, it’s performance. She’s also won the Critics’ Choice behind that, beyond Ben Affleck’s direction, was a great song, and it’s the only one on the list that was Award for Best Actress, as well as the Golden Globe. Chris Terrio’s terse script. He brought to the screen a #1 on the Billboard Top 100. story that most people did not know that was strange, intriguing, and suspenseful. If Ben Affleck can’t get an Oscar for this, at least the screenwriter can.

Book Reviews by Reena Karasin This Month: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matt Quick

The Silver Linings friends are set against their temperamental he is. He scenes. Overall, however, I Playbook by Matthew Quick marriage. Quick shows how throws what are essentially was surprisingly disturbed by is the story of Pat Peoples, a everyone in Pat’s life is temper tantrums, but as a this book. Pat narrates the mentally unstable optimist. affected by his instability, mentally unstable adult they story, and therefore we only As our narrator, Pat can only and how each character are uncontrollable and often know and understand what show us what he remembers copes with it. violent. he does. Pat’s confusion, and understands of his world, In many ways, Pat acts It was also an odd desperation, and anger was making him an impressively as a child. He has immature experience reading a story upsetting and heartbreaking unreliable storyteller. Pat’s names for aspects of his life, set in South Jersey – Quick to experience. However, the sole goal in life is to improve such as “apart time” and often references places in fact that the novel had such himself both mentally and “bad place.” It was unnerving Collingswood, Oaklyn, or the an effect on me proves that it physically in order to win to see a grown man’s extreme Cherry Hill Mall, but I felt is a piece of quality literature. back his beloved wife, even dependence on his mother, that this actually enabled though all his family and to see how vulnerable and me to further visualize the Photo by Reena Karasin 4 Sports January 2013 Online @ MFSWordsWorth.com

A Fencer’s Journey By Dylan DiFlorio Fencing, a sport that dates back propel him even more into the focused, torso, groin, back and neck, but not the Brill worked hard during the offseason hundreds of years, has become a global determined realm that he believes gets arms. Touches are scored with the tip of and summer, commuting to camps and practice. It requires quick, flexible you winning results. The team season so the weapon. the FASJ (Fencing Academy of South reflexes; allegedly, the tip of the fencing far is “pretty good with high hopes.” The next weapon is Sabre. This is a Jersey). His notable efforts have put him weapon is the second-fastest object in When asked about the opponents light cutting and thrusting weapon with on a new level in the sport. Last year, Brill sports, with only the marksman’s bullet Michael will face throughout the season, which fencers can target the entire upper was on JV. This year, he is a top contender moving faster. It’s a fun, fast-paced sport he responded “All will be tough. But body, except for the hands. Hits with the on the Sabre varsity squad. When asked that Moorestown Friends is proud to be a fencing’s a tough sport, and that’s why I edge of the blade or point are valid. how he would describe his offseason part of. enjoy it.” Epee is a heavier thrusting weapon efforts, he said that it was “challenging “It’s strategic, exhilarating, and fun,” When asked to describe the team that targets the entire body. but fun.” said varsity fencer and junior Mike Brill. chemistry, Brill responded, “the Fencers are simultaneously allowed Centrulo, an important tournament, is “To be a fencer, you need to be tough, upperclassmen really help and show the to hit, rather than dueling back and forth. coming up, and Brill is ready for it. “I want smart and positive.” younger classmen. It’s a cool thing to be “Sabre is really fast pace, wild and to keep getting better and training hard. As of late January, Michael is 1-1 a part of.” aggressive and spontaneous. You get As a team we just want to get better and after a victory against Saint Augustine. There are three types of fencing, and a burst of adrenalin from it,” Brill said compete. I’d like to thank Mr. McGinn He had a couple of extremely close and each has its own weapon. Foil is a light when describing the style of fencing he and woman’s Sabre world champion intense bouts, and is using his energy to thrusting weapon, which targets the practices. Jane Eyre for their help.”

WordsWorth Staff Player-to-Watch: Editor-in-chief: Austin Harris

Editorials Page Editor: Brandon Beach Jackie Sackstein Pop Culture & News By Alex Creighton Page Editor: Maura Aleardi “I’ve been swimming since summer of eighth grade, but I was a little kid, but I’ve only four days before, he broke his Sports Page Editor: been competitively swimming wrist while playing basketball. Emily Tatum for five years,” sophomore He was unable to swim at the Brandon Beach told Word- championships. Layout Editor: sWorth. Now fully healthy, Beach Callie Cramer Beach is a varsity swim- said, “I wanna get well under mer at Moorestown Friends, five minutes in the 600,” when Copy Editor: but before MFS he swam for asked about any goals he’d like Reena Karasin the Metro Village Country Club, to accomplish this year. the SJAC, and Pheasant Run. To conclude the interview, Online Editor: Last year at the Friends League WordsWorth asked about his Jared Edelstein Championships, Brandon fin- favorite swimming memory. ished sixth overall in the 200 “This past meet I had to swim Staff Writers: free, which he calls “one of the 500 and swim the first 50 Jake adamson, Alex Creighton, Macey [his] best accomplishments.” free and I almost got my best Cropski, Dylan DiFlorio, AJ Dunham, Before his best swimming, time,” he said. Jade Ernest, Sloane Gandler, he did suffer an injury. Beach Brandon Beach is a talent- Ed Gelernt, Gaelyn Gregory, Jailene was almost going to perform in ed swimmer, which is why he is Jaquez, Lauren Lowe, Photo By Emily Tatum In This Issue his first championships in the the player to watch. Mitchell Mullock, Breanna Riddick Newspaper Advisors: February Events Calendar Debra galler & Diana Day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Super Bowl - USVGB Home vs. 5:30 USBB V/JV 7:00 US Admis- ACT Check out our Haddon Hts. and GVBB Home sions Open House 3:00 US Swimming coverage! vs. Kings Christian FSL Championship

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 TBA US Fencing 5:30 USBB and Winter Break - No Fr./Soph. Tourna- GB V Home vs. School ment LEAP

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Winter Break - No USGB V Home vs. 1:00 Red Cross 5:30 USGB Home School Maple Shade Blood Drive vs. Overbrook Presidents Day

24 25 26 27 28 1 2 Winter Play Tech Tech Week Tech Week Tech Week Tech Week 7:00 Twilight, Los 7:00 Twilight, Los Week US Photo and Me- US Photo and Me- Angeles 1992 Angeles 1992 JV Sports Awards dia Arts Show dia Arts Show