June 3, 2009 Volume 81 The Quill Issue V Published by the Students of Greenport High School (Left to right): Technology Teacher Dan Pearce and new superintendent Michael Comanda Greenport’s New Leader Michael Comanda is named next year’s superintendent By Rob Mills “All students, all the time, no excuses, no Comanda started out at SUNY Upon his return, Comanda worked exceptions!” This is the motto GHS principal, Geneseo (State University of New York) at Hampton Bays School for three years as a Mike Comanda, will be bringing with him to where he earned his bachelors in special ed- special education resource room teacher. He his new position in Greenport Schools. The ucation. For the next ten years he worked in would also receive his administrative certifi - opportunity to leave the high school princi- Orlando, Florida as a self-contained special cate at Dowling. He spent seven and a half pal’s position and takeover the job as superin- education teacher for emotionally disturbed years as an assistant principal at Riverhead tendent is among the most diffi cult decisions students. High School. As for the last eight years of Comanda has ever made. As superintendent, He earned his masters at the Univer- his career, he has spent them right here at Comanda hopes to maintain the great rela- sity of Central Florida. GHS. He developed a strong passion for the tionships he has built with the community, Comanda and his wife were both born students of Greenport. After each and every the students, and the staff. He feels, how- and raised on Long Island. He went to high period of the day, Comanda can be seen talk- ever, that he will have just as much, if not school not too far away from Greenport, in ing and interacting with the students around more, contact with the students. “I will have Commack. They moved back to the island him. He is someone students can go to with more contact with the elementary school. I when they decided to have kids. “We believed their problems, ... can walk out of the offi ce anytime and inter- it was very important for our children to be act with the students,” says Comanda. raised around family,” said Comanda. -Continued on Page 9 2 The Quill • June 3, 2009 Editorials We are looking for local businesses to The Dear GHS students and faculty, Quill advertise in The Quill. There are two remaining issues this year. The adver- This year, we will feature student and facul- tisement size and cost per issue are as ty work each issue. Please submit poems, stories, follows: Vol. 81, Issue V photos, drawings, anything you think might be of 1/8 page $35. per issue interest. We look forward to your work! June 3, 2009 ¼ page $60. per issue ½ page $115. per issue Sincerely, Editorial Board Full page $225. per issue The Quill Staff If you are interested in advertising in Give submissions to Mrs. Gibbs, Room 301 The Quill, please contact Jennifer Gibbs EDITOR-IN-CHIEF at 477-1950 extension 364. Robert Mills Got comments? E-mail us at [email protected] LAYOUT EDITOR Will Bunchuck Editorial COPY EDITOR By Rob Mills Kristin Biggs Seniors, the time has come for us learned something new about someone STAFF/REPORTERS to take the next great step in life, Gradu- else on the trip as well as themselves. Katie Zurek ation. Greenport has helped mold and It was a bonding experience that I am Emily Demarest shape our lives. It has created memories sure affected each and every senior that Sara Maaiki great and poor. If there is one thing we went. For those who did not get a chance Caitlin Ryan must never do, it is to erase this time to experience the senior trip, there is al- Megan Drobny from our minds. It has been a most plea- ways Senior Skip Day, in which a fun Sontaneice Griffin surable experience, one I am grateful fi lled day off from school will help the Greg Turner to have shared with many of my class- class bind together. These are all experi- Sarah Parker mates, as I’m sure you are too. ences that we will remember for years to Victoria Carasone Years will go by before our class come. Kaitlin McElroy will be completely back together again. Given Greenport High School’s Kelly Bracken Therefore, we must make the best of small nature, we have been able to get Chanice Taylor our remaining days, creating more and to know each and every one of our class- Desiree Freeman more memories we can cherish as we get mates, as well as the underclassmen. Sara Morey older. I can guarantee you will remem- That is a gift not many other schools can Callie Bubb ber these days for the rest of your lives. give. Greenport is a unique place with Many would say our class is not a unique personality. Our time here has PHOTOGRAPHER as close as those in the past, and I sadly taught us many life lessons and helped Estefany Molina tend to agree. There are many different us grow into the adults we will become. groups of friends and enemies. How- As a class we must continue to exert The Quill ADVISER ever, I believe this will change if it has the character built into our lives by the Mrs. Jennifer Gibbs already not begun to. For those seniors amazing and unique education we have who were able to go on the trip to Flor- received here. ida, I am sure many would agree they The Quill is the official publication of Greenport High School. Opinions ex- Dedication: pressed on the editorial pages do not On behalf of the senior class and all The Quill members, we would like to necessarily express the viewpoints or dedicate this issue of The Quill to Mrs. Jennifer Gibbs, our Quill adviser, for all of official policies of the school. The Quill her hard work, dedication, and persistence in working with us to produce some of welcomes all readers’ opinions on all Greenport High School’s fi nest issues of The Quill. topics. Letters must be signed, but names Thank you Mrs. Gibbs for helping to make our high school careers a memo- may be witheld upon request. The editors rable learning experience and giving each and every one of your students a lesson reserve the right to reject, edit, or shorten they will take with them for years to come. You have been our history teacher and letters. All letters should be sent to : our journalism teacher, but most importantly, you have been our friend. Thank The Quill, c/o Mrs. Gibbs, you for everything you’ve done. GHS will not be the same without you. Greenport High School -Senior Class 2009 720 Front Street Greenport, N.Y. 11944 The Quill • June 3, 2009 3 Opinion Pieces/Features GreenportGGr School’s Big Changes Byyy Tim Heaney Although I won’t be wandering the Abruzzo is no longer in the high school of- scrawny legs can hold it up. Mr. Golden will mean halls of Greenport High next year, there fi ce; that’s because Mrs. Capone got a job at be teaching an A.P. Micro Economics class will be many changes. Some may or may not East End Eye Associates, and Mrs. Abruzzo which focuses on how they get cheap people agree with them, but change is inevitable. Not is training with Dr. Kozora to be Mr. Coman- like him to buy things through marketing. only is enrollment dropping from 361 to 326, da’s secretary next year. As everyone knows Mr. Martilotta will be teaching an array of but we all know that Mr. Pearce, Mrs. Gibbs, by now Comanda is taking the responsibility electives, which he feels is awesome. Dr. Kozora, Mr. LaSalle, and Mrs. Thompson of superintendent, and seems to be gearing won’t be here. up and getting ready. He should make a great Mr. Pearce will be replaced by a young replacement. Comanda’s job will be taken guy from Long Island. He will take over on by a Mr. Skuggevik; he likes to be called Mr. Davis’s Production Systems class, and “Skuggs”. will also introduce a much anticipated CAD All exterior doors will be locked from class. Unfortunately Auto Tech won’t be of- 9:00AM to 2:45PM. There will be a camera, fered next year, but will be in two years. He and intercom/buzzer system at the front en- is qualifi ed to teach the course, but when the trance and the northwest handicap accessible curriculum was planned, a replacement had door. Some feel this will take away from our not yet been found. Even though I won’t be rural laid back feel, and others are for any- here, I think that a Metal Shop class would be thing that will help improve student safety. a wonderful thing to bring to GHS. This is in the budget under “Central Services Mrs. Gibbs duties will be picked up Maintenance” for $16,200. There is also hope by Mr. Connolly, and Mrs. Viggiano; they for some improvement to be done. There is a are dually certifi ed. Two of Mrs. Thompson’s long range repair plan known as the “Building math classes will be taken on by Ms. Foster. Envelope” which will be done in stages, and Mr. LaSalle’s Spanish classes will be taken on set in motion next year. This is long overdue, by a female teacher that is currently teach- as most of us don’t appreciate getting rained ing Spanish at the Jail, so she should be more on while studying PH balances.