Help prevent suicide: Mr. Conway, a true How do athletes resources exist, Disney fan, retires manage their talking also helps. after 35 years. sports injuries? Read pages 2, 6. Read page 5. Read page 8. June 2017 Kennedy High School 422 Highland Avenue The Waterbury, Conn. 06708 Eagle Flyer Volume XIII, Issue X HIGHEST HONORS The top ten ranked seniors in the Class of 2017 were awarded their medals at the school’s annual Awards Night, Meet top ten: Thursday, May 25 in the auditorium. They are, from left to right, Valedictorian Damaris Cabrara, Salutatorian Class of 2017 Christian Milian, Iqra Malik, ranked third; Jacob Dinklocker, ranked fourth; Ebru Azizoglu ranked fifth; Sheila French, ranked sixth; Mariette DeCena, ranked seventh; Fiona LeMoine, ranked eighth; Arianna Ramos, ranked ninth; and Emily Benton, ranked tenth. Cabrera will be attending the University of Connecticut to study biomedical engineering. Milian will attend Yale University to study molecular/cellular biology. Malik will attend UConn for business and biomedical study. Dinklocker will attend UConn to study biomedical engineering. Azizoglu will also attend UConn as an undecided major. French will attend Rochester Institute of Technology to study chemical engineering. DeCena will attend Emmanuel College to study biology. LeMoine will attend UConn for nursing. Ramos will attend Villanova University as an undecided major. Benton will attend the University of Bridgeport to study education and mathematics. Photo by D. Cabrera/staff Math teacher Ms. Scialla wins top teacher award for 2017 By Leylah Veliju Correspondent Teacher advises Student Council,runs blood drive, plus coaches softball Math teacher Ms. Scialla won “I enjoy getting to know the “One Teacher of the Year from had the same opinions on Scialla and Kennedy’s 2017 Teacher of The Year students outside of the classroom and Waterbury will be chosen to run for her teaching. award after being nominated by helping them participate in commu- Teacher of the Year for the state,” said “She knows how to teach well and fellow teachers and staff, receiving the nity service,” said Scialla. “We have a Scialla. knows how to make a classroom fun award at Crosby High School lot of kids here with good hearts that A past student had only good but still educate us,” said freshman Wednesday May 31, 2017 during a live to help others, and sometimes see things to say about Scialla. Jalissa Robles. ceremony at 4:30 p.m. that in the classroom.” “Last year when I had her, she went “She makes learning easier because “I am honored and very apprecia- Scialla describes this as her favor- in depth when explaining things,” said she simplifies everything so we could tive. It feels good to know others ite part of being a teacher, which one sophomore Rhakeem Henry. understand,” said sophomore Joshua respect your good work ethic,” said student recognized. Current freshman in her math class Saliva. Scialla. “She does a good job at teaching Scialla, a Kennedy teacher for 10 and she’s always there for her She knows how to teach well and knows years who also taught at Weaver High students,” said sophomore Idaly School in Hartford, Conn. for three Hernandez, who was in Scialla’s class how to make a class fun but still educate us. years prior, is involved in extracur- in 2016. Jalissa Robles, ricular activities. These include advis- Of all the 2017 Waterbury schools’ “ freshman ing the Student Council, coaching var- teachers of the year, Scialla may have Photo by L. Veliju/staff sity softball and coordinating the blood the chance of following 2016 National AWARD WINNER Math teacher Ms. Scialla won Kennedy’s 2017 Teacher” of the drive. She said she believes this is why Teacher of the Year and former Year Award after being nominated by fellow teachers and staff. Scialla was teachers nominated her for the award. Kennedy history teacher, Mrs. Hayes. honored at an afternoon ceremony Wednesday, May 31 at Crosby High School. Early enlistment in military offers benefits ByAnthony DeJesus Academic advantages given to early joiners Correspondent NEWS COMMENTARY The military is often glam- make my life easier,” said Air Program.” Lastly, the military has sig- orized by Hollywood movies Force veteran Joseph Morales. Rather than enlisting at the nificant benefits and over exag- showing gore and the horrors. Various opportunities are end of high school you can get gerated parallels to offer when However, the military does available since even though ahead by starting your junior considering joining the stron- offer high school students early there is a side that shows the year, and with this comes faster gest military force in the world. enlistment in order to get a head combative action of those who promotions and the option to “The early enlistment pro- start in joining the military by fight for our flag, options exist. have benefits. gram provides a head start to requiring students to maintain They are called support “Joining early has provided those who want to serve their stable grades and passing the MOSs, otherwise known as a chance for me to take a chance country before they finish high military entrance exam, known POGs (Personnel Other than of the academic advantages that school,” said SFC. Gersten. as ASVAB. Grunts). comes from the military and I Whether you set sail on a MILITARY MEN In the military recruiting office on 581 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, Conn. Tuesday, May 16 at approximately 3 p.m. “I wish we had the early en- But regardless of it there are can still finish off school,” said Navy frigate, fighter jet, or are from left to right Staff Sergeant Daly, Sergeant First Class listment program when I was programs and options for those Pvt. Jerry Ramirez, a current Humvee, no matter what branch Gersten, Sergeant First Class Howland, Sergeant Treadwell, and young. It would’ve made the who want to enlist. These in- Navy enlistee who is in the EEP you join you’ll be making a dif- Staff Sergeant Jameson. Photo by A. DeJesus/correspondent whole experience smoother and clude the “Early Enlistment (Early Enlistment Program). ference. page 2, The Eagle Flyer/June 2017 Learn basics of health care despite confusion By Justyn Welsh Sports Editor Battle of American Health Care Act versus Obamacare breeds backlash Photos by J. Welsh/staff What is the good, the bad and the ugly of the former President Obama’s legacy, insured many “I personally think health care will fail, current American health care status? Americans in need, however it was without issues. it will be too much of a burden for our Health care is a hotspot for Americans as time “Obamacare is contending with skyrocketing government to handle,” said Shea Moriarty, changes, now there is a drive to repeal the Afford- price increases, insurer defections and anemic en- a middle school teacher with a college back- able Care Act, yet it seems its replacement has as rollment growth,” according to an unnamed CNN ground in political science. “The cost is many issues as the bill itself; with the election of article in 2016 with the then-presidential candi- too high, we have too big of a population President Donald Trump in November 2016, this dates promising reforms for American health care. to have a government health care system.” effort has turned into reality through its replace- Even in the face of current issues with The current issues with Obamacare, de- ment: the American Health Care Act. Obamacare, many recognize its original goal and spite some of its benefits, have lead to the “Health care is a tricky issue to tackle; fixing view its current status as a regression for America. rise of Trump, and the Republican party, it is even tougher,” said Mr. Cermola, substitute “I believe the original plan was a great pro- to repeal and replace the bill. teacher for Mrs. Fitzpatrick (on maternity leave), posal but executed wrong,” said Steven Ayres, a “Barely anything equated from who studied American Studies in college. Kaynor Tech senior. Obamacare,” said Cris Bond, a junior. Health care has always been a major topic in Obamacare, although deeply embedded in “I don’t like it (Obamacare) because it politics, however, it has reached a pinnacle with American coverage, has seen its fair share of is- caused the prices to skyrocket,” said Nick the ongoing clash between Democrats and Repub- sues prompting the movement for reform: in- Cordone, a senior at Platt High School in Meriden, ditions from losing their coverage,” said Politico. licans to decide its current fate. It has shifted to an creasing premiums, mandatory insurance, and the Conn. Despite promises by lawmakers and the Presi- issue of who passed what bill, either former Presi- need to get coverage for issues that do not di- While some flatout dislike the plan due to its dent himself, the infamous bill dubbed “Trumpcare” dent Barack Obama, or current President Trump. rectly affect some users has put a damper on its failures, other seem to be more understanding as is not without flaws in its own formula. “It does not seem to be so much about the bills original, modest inception. to where and what went wrong. “I’ve heard Trump doesn’t offer much to those themselves as the people who pushed for them,” “The initial idea was really good, but as it went “With it driving up everyone’s costs, I under- with pre-existing conditions,” said Zandria Oliver, according to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, an Advanced Place- through Congress, it was perverted,” said Michael stand the backlash,” said Mr. DosSantos, a business a Watertown High School junior, in response to ment U.S.