www.thewestwordonline.com Volume 46 Number 3 / December 2018 The WestwordStudent voice of the Westhill community “The test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.” Behind the scenes of the All-School Musical Page 29 DISCUSSING A PLASTIC FREE p. 9 CAFETERIA EXPLAINING THE U.S.-CHINA TRADE p. 12 TRUCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCKDOWN p. 27 SAFETY PLANS 2 TheWestword December 2018 2018-2019 Staff Editor-in-Chief Copy Editors Note from the Editors Addison Magrath Mira Ahuja, Amy Nozius, Dear Readers, cusses health and the importance have broken and our Athlete’s of Print Executive Editor Anisa Richardson, Marta Zach of self care. the Month, Themy Barkas and Rachel Plotzky Graphic Designer Welcome to the third issue Continuando con Las Noti- Maya Manders. Online Executive Editor Angela Ramirez of the year, we are very excited cias, debatimos las restricciones Online we continue to bring Alexandra Watkinson Pollster to continue serving as the student de dejar el campus durante el día news from the community includ- Managing Editors Bella Vaccaro voice of the Westhill community escolar. ing the growing mold epidemic. Katie Gaia, Chloe Giulini Reporters and bring you updates about the Feature contains all the do- Visit thewestwordonline.com. Be Assistant Managing Editor Hailey Baloutch, Lexi Boccuzzi, school. nation drives that occurred in the sure to check out our Instagram Tamar Bellete Molly Cannon, Alyssa Goldberg, Our Editorial this month holiday season and a new column account for updates @thewest- Ombudsman Sam Harris, touches on the recent issues re- where students can learn about word. Bailee Esposito Franki Spinelli Mastrone, garding mold in the buildings. their teachers from a different per- We encourage any and all Photo Manager Timothy McKeithen, Myra News highlights the Mock spective. There is also this issues’s readers with comments, questions, Harrison Travaglino Perez, Shaira Sunbeam Trial teams first competition vic- Artist of the Month, Matthew San- or concerns to contact us by ei- Business Manager Illustrators tory. In Viewpoint, we debate the tos. ther dropping a letter into Addison Evan Lenz Neeka Baclayon, ethics of genetically modifying Limelight reviews the new Magrath’s mailbox in room 224 Social Media Manager Michelle Chau, Gloria Twum crops. film The Grinch and “thank u, or emailing us at westwordwhs@ Isabella Adamo Photographers This issue, Special Report next” by Ariana Grande. Find gmail.com. Head Illustrator Ariana Centeno, Sydney Eben, delves into the differences in the Page of Fun and the top baby Tamar Frydman Justin Gonzalez, Raquell Hardy, healthcare systems around the names of 2018 in Scatterbrain. Sincerely, Graphic Director Cailey Koch, Jayden Lesser, world. In Sports, we provide insight Addison Magrath & Rachel Plotzky Ryka ChandraRaj Isabella Nuzzo, This Supplement insert dis- on the records that Westhill sports Editor-in-Chief & Executive Editor News Editors Anika Tandon, Quinn McHale, Amr Nasher, Anastasiia Vladymyrenko Editorial Policy Micayla Roth Co-Advisers The Westword will be guided in the publi- Viewpoint Editors Mr. von Wahlde, cation of material by a concern for truth, Anita Amiti, Rishabh Sahu, Mr. Wooley What’s inside human decency, and human benefit. It is Jason Zarrilli Las Noticas Adviser published during the school year by the Las Noticias Editors Mr. Sandoval Editorial Highlights the student late night staff, along with the Commu- Camila Miranda, Columnists opinion on school air quality nications class. Letters to the Editor, ad- Alessandra Pinto, Fatima Santos Maura Johnston, 3 vertising requests, comments, criticism, Special Editors Alexandra Lazo, Mary Leydon, News Showcases the Silvermine Teen or suggestions are always welcome. The Veda Bhalla, Kayla Mendiola Jessica Matloub, Sanjana Nayak views expressed in Viewpoint and the Feature Editors Staff Writers 5 Vision art contest winners Op-Ed page do not necessarily represent Michael Dubon, Elizabeth Olivia Berni, Husayn Biggs, the opinions of The Westword. Watkinson Sabrina Boyd, Olivia Butler, Viewpoint Discussing the costs of Supplement Editors Glorimar Chiruzzo, 11 senior dues The Editorial Board consists of Joaquin Monteclaro, Sara Gatz, Danielle Gleaton, Addison Magrath, Rachel Plotzky, Alex- Kate Williams Yulia Lozynska, Special Report Evaluating the border andra Watkinson, Bailee Esposito, Ka- Limelight/Scatterbrain Editors Maria Mirafuentes, 13 conflict tie Gaia, Chloe Giulini, Tamar Bellete, Carl Cubarubbia, Kelly Fox Leiny Otero, Quinn McHale, Kate Williams, Alliyah Sports Editors Francesca Rubino-Chuckas, Supplement Looking at the different Rivera, Camila Miranda, Jason Zarrilli, Lucca Metzger, Ashley Shapiro, aspects of staying healthy Kayla Mendiola, Mr. von Wahlde, and Alliyah Rivera Ruby Streett Apicella, 17 Mr. Wooley. The Editorial can be found Copy & Verification Manager Madison Thibodeau on page 3. Sheetal Sudhir Bella Vaccaro, Evelyn Vasquez, Las Noticias Tradiciones de Marta Zach 25 diferentes países hispanos. Announcements Feature Slay of the Month: Rafli The Westword has no announcements at The Westword 30 Harahap this time. Westhill High School Limelight Top books and movies of the 125 Roxbury Road Corrections 32 year The Westword has no corrections at this Stamford, CT 06902 time. (203) 977-4894 Scatterbrain Fill in our mad libs on the Page of Fun [email protected] 35 If you have an announcement or an advertisement you would like thewestwordonline.com Sports Insight on the ski team published in the next issue, please Visit ourschoolnewspaper.com/Westword 36 evolution e-mail us at to view our print archives. [email protected]. Front cover photo by Harrison Travaglino / Photo Manager. Back cover photos by Mr. Otterspoor (top), Lexi Boccuzzi (bottom right), & Justin Gonzalez (bottom left) / Contributors & Photographer. EDITORIAL 3 Addressing the mold issue The Mold Task Force (MTF) future and how to deal with it as a dents and staff. The Westhill community has According to the Center for was created by Board of Education whole. To understand the extent of continuously voiced their con- Disease Control (CDC), humans President David Mannis, Superin- The website also includes re- mold-related symptoms within cerns over the mold, but most are are exposed to small amounts of tendent Earl Kim, and Mayor Da- ports from the health inspectors the school, The Westword put out still worried and curious on how it mold everyday, but an increased vid Martin. They recognized the and work plans for areas around a survey to all Westhill faculty to is directly affecting the health of amount may lead to unhealthy rising mold issues in most of the the school. The reports suggest fill out anonymously. When asked students and faculty. Most are still symptoms. Teachers and students Stamford Public Schools (SPS) further inspection and room reme- what symptoms they have expe- misinterpreting what mold really have been surrounded by this and formulated this task force to diation. One report is an air qual- rienced, 61 out of the 90 survey is and how it has ended up in Wes- mold for many hours per day for mitigate the mold issues. ity test that lists some of the most responders specifically cited head- thill alongside the other SPS. several years, and it has not been The MTF is tasked with common types of mold and their aches as one of their recurring “I feel mad that people come addressed until this year. “investigating, developing and spores per cubic meter, but with- symptoms. Of the 90, only ten fac- to school and do not feel their best. However, something impor- implementing comprehensive re- tant to note is that all individuals mediation efforts, and ongoing react differently to mold. The same monitoring programs,” according Bottom Line: The Westhill community is outraged at the lack of amount of mold in the air can seri- to stamfordct.gov. communication and ongoing health risks due to mold in the school. ously affect one person’s breathing The members of the MTF are and health while it may not impact made up of City of Stamford em- another person at all. ployees: Chief Financial Officer The main problem with Wes- Michael Handler, Interim Direc- thill’s mold situation is the location tor of Operations Cindy Grafstein, of the growing fungus. It seems to Deputy Superintendent Tamu Lu- be a problem in each building, and cero, Chief Fiscal and Operations most is situated within the heating, Support Officer Clarence Zachery, ventilation, and air conditioning and City Engineer Lou Casolo. (HVAC) system. These five employees man- The HVAC system is respon- age the increasing mold issues and sible for maintaining the school’s try to answer any questions about temperature and controlling the their methods as well as their ev- air ventilation. There is also a fair eryday jobs to keep the City of amount of mold in plain sight, es- Stamford operating. pecially in the art department, but The MTF holds weekly meet- most of the mold particles are air- ings on Wednesdays at the Stam- borne and flow through the ventila- ford Government Center on the tion system to students and faculty. fifth floor at 6:00 p.m. The meet- “I understand it is not the dis- ing is held until there are no more tricts fault, but we have to find a questions in the audience. way to control the humidity in the Meeting minutes are recorded classrooms and get rid of what is and posted along with all infor- existing now. The ventilation and mation they receive about build- leaking needs to be fixed. They did ing conditions on stamfordct.gov/ not create the mold, they just do mold-task-force. not have an adequate ventilation If you wish to contact the MTF system,” a teacher who wishes to with issues or questions, email them remain anonymous said. at [email protected] Although the mold seems to or call 203-977-4847. be at every corner, it is difficult to One of the main issues with remediate the current damage with the mold at Westhill is the lack of a long-term solution to the HVAC communication between SPS and system.