Harlem Renaissance How do students, staff Evia makes history impacts freshmen define true meaning winning all-state through collages of Christmas season? volleyball honors Read page 2. Read page 3. Read page 8. December 2016 he Kennedy High School 422 Highland Avenue T Waterbury, Conn. 06708 Eagle Flyer Volume XII, Issue IV Stars shine brighter with presence of Mr. Collins By Kyle Cleary Longtime teacher of English,I’m loving it--reading!Here’s to you Staff Writer drama passes away Nov. 28 By Micaela Snow A theatre icon is gone, but remains “There are big memories like at the Staff Writer far from forgotten. end of the cast party for Anything Goes They call me a theater geek Mr. Kevin Collins, teacher and re- where he hugged me and told me that Because I love being on that stage vered director for several Waterbury he would miss us and there are smaller They call me a theater geek public schools, passed away from memories,” said O’Donnell. “But Because I love every aspect of it, every page every moment was just as significant complications from They call me a theater geek chronic obstructive as the next.” Because I love to be around the cast pulmonary disease Students even had downright silly They call me a theater geek the early morning of but favorable memories of Collins. Because I hate it when time goes Monday, Nov. 28, “My favorite memory of Collins too fast 2016 according to is how he allowed us to call him family, and immedi- ‘dad,’ ’’ said Dawson. I wish it could pass slowly ately students be- “My favorite memory with him is I wish the clock would stop So I can turn back time probably when we watched Memphis gan reflecting on his life. So we can start back on the top “He taught me to be the best ver- in class and he said he could see me up sion of myself,” said freshman at there, which meant more than he knew They call me a theater geek UConn, Storrs Kathryn O’Donnell, a to me because I knew he really be- Because I love the sound former four-year student theatre mem- lieved in me,” said Paola Robles, a They call me a theater geek ber. “Everything I am now is shaped former student theatre member who Because it’s my lost and found by Collins.” attends college in Manhattan. They call me a theater geek So many students from inside and If there was one thing most stu- Because I love reading each line They call me a theater geek dents remembered about Collins, it outside theatre feel the same. Because I find the atmosphere divine “He has truly inspired me to shoot was he always told the truth, no mat- for the stars and be the I wish I could stay there best actress I can,” said I wish I could be frozen still Micaela Snow, a senior So I can hear the sound of the piano and three-year student So we can feel the unspeakable chill theatre member. There is just so They call me a theater geek Because that’s what I am much students have to They call me a theater geek say about the theatre Because it’s inside my blood, and Collins alone. every milligram “He inspires me to They call me a theater geek never give up, just like Because I cherish the feeling he never gave up on They call me a theater geek our theatre,” said Because it gave me this indescribable healing Sydney Dawson, a Photos by Kyle Cleary/staff freshman at Roger Williams Univer- ter how brutal. MEMORIES Bottom photo is a panorama of room 107, where Mr. Collins taught English and drama and where he displayed Halo theatre awards won, above. I wish I could restart the hour sity who was in several Kennedy “He didn’t have a filter, he just said I wish I had the power to keep it there shows Collins directed. whatever he wanted to say and I loved it,” said Robles. kinda did his own thing and didn’t let So I can see you one more time “He didn’t care what it took; he it,” said Morgan. Students have copious other good the craziness affect that,” said Delaney. So I can hear the sound, always pulled through and got the “His honesty,” said O’Donnell. things to say about Collins. He was encouraging, students said. it’s just not fair shows together,” said Morgan “He always saw things for how they “(He was) a man with a good sense “Something that I have learned from Fasanelli, a Marymount Manhattan were and had no problem with telling of humor who loved his job,” said se- him was to not make yourself small,” They call me a theater geek Because you taught me to be free College freshman who was in it how it was, but it was never dis- nior Mikele Cokani. “He was a lot said Dawson. They call me a theater geek couraging.” Spamalot, a stagehand for Anything more expressive than other teachers.” Lastly, he inspired Because you ignited something in me Goes and his English 12 student. “He Even one of Collins students from Another student from 1984 remem- “How hasn’t he inspired me? He They call me a theater geek would get you where you needed to be the ’80s that you may know remem- bers Collins as “energetic and passion- was more than a teacher or director, he Because I’m laughing remembering as a performer.” bered this about him: ate about theatre,” said Dana Cleary, a was a friend when I needed it, a role Pippin and Anything Goes Others have a favorite memory. “Collins always told the truth, and Waterbury resident. model when the times came, a voice They call me a theater geek “My favorite memory of him was it was one of his best traits,” said busi- The good continues. lesson when I needed it, and someone Because they were my favorite shows his stories he would share with us ness department chair Mr. Lucian, who “He always knew how to make you to just listen and then tell me to go out They call me a theater geek Because I know that I will always about growing up in Town Plot,” said was a theatre arts student at the time. laugh,” said Vincent Griffin, a Sacred and do it,” said Robles. have a friend Even in indirect ways, Collins senior Carson Delaney. Heart sophomore who did Anything Collins was like a father to They call me a theater geek From room 107 to the auditorium, keeps influencing students. Goes with Collins. Kennedy: he was extremely caring, yet Because I now realize that with the memories continue. “He doesn’t cut me or any students His enthusiasm stood out. with a dosage of sarcasm and truth to memories, there is never an end. “We all watched Pippin together any slack and in the end it has made “He was different than the other let you know he loved you but above and he got all happy and at some points me work harder than ever in acting in teachers because all he wanted to do all he motivated you to have the level In loving memory of Mr. Kevin sang along,” said senior Taylor Mor- classes and in everything I do. He was teach,” said Fasanelli. of passion he had for what he did. He Collins, a true inspiration to me gan from Sacred Heart who was in two knows after high school I won’t really Nothing seemed to swayed him. never worked a single day in his entire and so many others shows Collins directed. be cut any slack and prepared me for “He taught for so many years, he life because he truly loved what he did. SEE page 7 for another commentary about Mr. Collins DECA hopes to help 500 children with toy donations By Samantha Campanaro Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 members hold fourth annual toy drive; bring items to room 136 Managing Editor “Christmas is about giving to those in need, the word Dec. 1, 2016. Last year DECA collected many toys, but cause) it is a good cause,” said freshman Braeden not receiving,” as the saying goes. “We’re going to make a huge poster for in the failed to fill the bus, according to president Gorman. DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of lobby as well as all around the (school),” said Elizabeta Sofroni. DECA members hope to continue the tradi- America) is holding their fourth annual toy drive senior and vice president Aida Mecka. “We raised a lot of toys last year, as least tion for years to come, collecting toys for kids in Kennedy’s parking lot Saturday Dec. 10, 2016, Even with all of the advertisement, help is three tables,” said sophomore Joni Pasholli. around the Connecticut area. where a car is parked and filled up with toys still needed from everyone in the school and com- DECA’s goal is to fill at least a car, if not “I hope we reach a certain amount (and) we which will be brought to Waterbury’s Police Ath- munity. more, and deliver the toys to PAL, whose mis- accomplish the goal,” said junior Yartiza Vega. letic League (PAL) for distribution. “I hope we get a surplus of toys so we can sion is to help out young kids. DECA has always helped out the community “We distribute flyers to teachers and post (fly- make (kids) happy,” said senior Leslie Dennis.