e u ppageage 6 ppageage 7 s s i s i h t ppageage 2 ppageage 3 ppageage 8 n I In this issue Irondequoit High School 260 Cooper Road Rochester, NY 14617 November 2010 Rodequoit Vol. LXXXII No. 1 IHS sports top sectional leaderboards Photo courtesy of Kyle Napierala For the fi rst time in the history of Irondequoit High School, the Boys Varsity Soccer Team won the Class AA Championship. "We had a close-knit group of guys [this year] and a brand new coach. At the beginning of the season we were a little nervous with the new offen- sive terminology, however by the end of the season we were very happy with its suc- cess... I am proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of the legacy of Irondequoit vol- Girls Field Hockey ended a leyball." IHS senior Greg Black, junior Jake Schmidt and senior Joel Miller rejoice after Miller's winning touchdown to earn the record breaking season with a -Ben Bovenzi Eagles their Section V title. loss in the semifi nals. cided to go for the touchdown. “We’re very close as a team,” By Nate Owens “It was all or nothing. We said, says senior lineman Joe Marr. Editor ‘let’s just win it here, put it all “We all like each other, and on the line,’” says Tony Bianchi, we have good chemistry.” On October twenty-ninth at a junior lineman for the Eagles. However, the Eagle’s dream Marina Auto Stadium, West After a twenty-three year season came to an end Friday, Irondequoit beat Webster Schro- drought, the win final- November fifth, as Rush Henri- eder thirty-one to twenty-five ly gave the Eagles a Sec- etta racked up 516 yards rush- to improve to a 9-0 season and tion V victory, the first of ing to win forty-six to seven. win the Section V title. As time head coach Bianco’s career. It might not have been exactly expired, Emmy Poccia connect- “I am proud of the kids, I am the way the team wanted to end "Our team was really young but we worked hard and got along ed with Joel Miller on a thir- excited for the community, and the season, but nothing can take The Girl’s Volleyball team lost together... I am really happy with to Pittsford Sutherland after teen yard fake field goal pass. I’m humbled by the whole thing,” away what West Irondequoit how the season ended." a strong season that carried Although the Eagles could Coach Bianco said of the win. has done this year, and we can -Kali Elahi them to the semifi nals. have tied the game with a field So what is the secret to only imagine what the Eagles goal, they unanimously de- Irondequoit’s sudden success? have in store for us next season. The Parent Portal: Sisters 'do the right thing' A gateway to student achievement with summer service By Sarah Duchano rick McCue. “We live in an infor- ing in work on time and improv- Editor mation society—people are con- ing their attendance records. ter Democrat nected, and they expect to have As far as the future for the Par- information easily available to ent Portal, West Irondequoit is and Chronicle, During the 2007-2008 school and the Rivera them.” Information is immediate- considering giving students their year, West Irondequoit schools ly available upon its submission own account. A consistently up- twins spent a implemented a program called week of their by teachers to Infinite Campus, dated knowledge of student prog- Infinite Campus, a web-based and parents are notified when as- ress gives students the initiative summer volun- student data management system teering in Pitts- to seek out help from teachers or which houses all of its students’ counselors when they know their burgh, Penn- information including their at- sylvania at a We live in an informa- grades are falling. Victor High tendance records, grades, health “ School is one that has granted its YMCA-spon- reports, and transcripts. It is the tion society—people are sored camp connected. they expect students with their own passwords center of student data collection to the system. To the astonish- for underprivi- within a K12 educational system. to have information easily leged children. ment of the faculty, usage reports The program has been success- available to them. have shown that students use the The children, ful for teachers in enabling them ” who the girls portal four times as frequently as to easily organize and update stu- -Mr. McCue parents. With the decision still emphasized dent information electronically. “weren’t trou- under consideration at IHS, Mc- Until September 30th, 2010, this Cue says that “it fits well with our bled youth; just information was only available to signments and homework are due Photo courtesy of Keighley Farrell underprivileged,” were placed in the camp [West Irondequoit] belief that high teachers, counselors, and admin- and also if they were turned in school students are young adults By Erin Fleischer so they could escape life in the projects of istrators. Now, West Irondequoit late. The communication that was Pittsburgh and keep them off of the street and should have responsibility for Editor has joined other area districts in- done between parents and teach- their own success…This self ad- during the summer months. The recipi- cluding Pittsford, Penfield, Victor, ers previously via email or voice- ents of the “Do the Right Thing” award vocating…will prepare them for Rarely do people find the time to do Brighton, Webster and Greece in mail can now be done prompt- college and the working world.” beneficial deeds in this fast-paced world. are young people who go out of their way opening the parent accessibility ly through the Parent Portal. to do exceptional deeds that profit the Students at IHS understand the It is because of this that students like feature of IC: the Parent Portal. According to Mr. McCue, the intent behind the Parent Portal, Anija and Brianna Rivera, seniors here at community. For Anija and Brianna, this The Parent Portal enables par- principals of the Pittsford, Vic- means taking a week off from playing however they are not so much Irondequoit High School, are a breath of ents to access the information tor, and Brighton school districts, in favor of their grades being fresh air for the Irondequoit community. soccer in order to help young people who kept on Infinite Campus from who initially spear-headed the are victimized by their circumstances. posted—for their parents to look The Rivera twins were recently nominat- their own computer, using a se- program, the Parent Portal has at— before having time to fix ed and subsequently awarded the “Do the “It made me want to keep doing what cure password. “It was inevitable made it possible for their parents Right Thing” award by News 10NBC. I’m doing and get other people to that parents would seek this type and teachers to more effectively "Parent Portal" continued on They were also featured in the Roches- help the less fortunate,” says Anija. of access,” says IHS principal Pat- support their students in hand- page 2 » Page News odequoit 2 November 2010 R Meet the newest additions to IHS excellence Shannon Swenson By Sierra Parks, Rachel Theisen, and Abigail Morris EDITOR IN CHIEF Contributors Sarah Duchano for your position as an administrator? "I can tell you I am very good at do- NEWS EDITOR Tim Shafer “As a teacher, it has helped me to better ing the laundry." Administrator understand how to give instructions. As a Chris Ford counselor, I already have previous relation- What kind of student were you in OPINIONS EDITOR For the past fourteen ships with students and their families…and high school? years, Tim Shafer has been I already know how great the students are.” "I was a good student... I was very Sarah Kozak working in the West Irond- involved in sports- football, wrestling, Shannon Swenson equoit School District. What is something about you that peo- track and lacrosse... but I also loved the LIFESTYLES EDITOR Previously a counselor at ple might not expect? history courses I took. I had some of the Dake Junior High, he is Nate Owens "I don't think [people] would be too sur- best teachers." now the assistant principal SPORTS EDITOR prised... I enjoy helping with my six-year- for 9th and 11th grade at old son's flag football team, and I love What is a special quality you bring to Megan Esparza-Miller Irondequoit High School. watching my younger daughter dance. your job? Melissa Stio My family also goes a long way back in "An ability to listen, and then look PHOTO EDITORS How have the roles as a West Irondequoit District. Around 1963, for ways to help people work through teacher and a counselor my grandfather was on the board when things in order to watch them succeed." Ryan Wright helped to prepare you ILLUSTRATION EDITOR they passed the Urban Suburban Program. What is your special talent? Alex Rousse ARTS EDITOR Erin Fleischer Jenna Winicki Cathy Smura COPY EDITOR Counselor Math Jack Demarco Our newest counselor at IHS, Mrs. Ms. Smura attended SUNY Skye Ernst Winicki earned her Bachelor’s Degree Geneseo and majored in math for Amber Piedmont at Binghamton and her Graduate De- grades 7-12. After college, she Cindy Ruiz gree at Brockport. “I love the students student-taught at both Thomas Jef- STAFF WRITERS and the people here. My beliefs about ferson High School, which “was a Joe Allen education line up with the educational little challenging,” and in the York Saron Berhe beliefs in Irondequoit.” Her goals as a Central School District just south Sarah Buckley counselor this year are “to be there of Geneseo.