HE HIEFTAIN TMONTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL OAKDALE ,C CT 06370 ISSUE #4 2013 Before I Die… Read Across America Day By: Tanner Schlepp We all have aspirations for the future, things we would like to do before we die. Candy Chang, an urban planner, artist and designer, started the “Before I die…” project in 2011.”After I lost someone I loved, I thought about death a lot. This helped clarify my life, the people I want to be with, and the things I want to do, but I struggled to maintain perspective,” Chang said on her website, candychang. com. The first board appeared in New Orleans and instantly became popular with thousands of responses being written on the board with colored chalk. She has given talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) and publically speaks across the country. Mrs. Laurencot, an English Helena Sun and Adrienne Foret at Read Across America Day. teacher at MHS, read about Chang and her work in an L.A. Times article. “It was By: Joey Weekly a response to a suicide in a high school. Every year MHS students will present to the class. The activity or The teachers thought about a way to have audition for the opportunity to go to craft pertains to the book that they have students start thinking more positively local elementary schools and share a read aloud to the class in an interesting about their futures. So that interested me, favorite book from their childhood with and entertaining way. “The students and I downloaded the kit.”Mrs. Laurencot the students. The Read Across America do fantastic stuff,” says Mr. Rousseau, placed the project on the chalk board in program allows high school students, “Other teachers rave about the students her room, 304, and welcomed anyone to with a friend of their choice, to reach out who participate.” The program has been come in and sign it. “All students will be to classrooms in the grades of preschool running a long time and is a successful invited in.” through second grade with a book and one, based on the ample participation year The response to the “Before some form of project. in and year out. The program isn’t losing I die…” board has been “very good” Read Across America is run by two any steam, even with the participants who according to Mrs. Laurencot. Some of the English teachers at MHS: Mr. Rousseau are lost because of graduation each year. responses have been: “Before I die I want and Mr. Richmond. At the auditions, which Many of the students participate all four to grow old.” “Before I die I want to face are held each year, Mr. Richmond and Mr. years, and they love participating in the my fears.” “Before I die I want to develop Rousseau judge students on their overall program. The level of participation each a way to breath under water to explore the reading ability and the creativity of their year gives the program a sort of friendly ocean forever.” “Before I die I want to self-designed follow up activities. There competition among students. live my life the way I want.” may be students reading in a partnership It appears as though Mr. Rousseau The publicity for the “Before I or they may do their assignment alone. and Mr. Richmond have many years of a die…” walls has been outstanding. Over A student’s overall responsibility level is successful program to look forward to, 100 “Before I Die…” walls have now been also a very important factor of whether or and so do the local elementary school created in over 10 languages and in over not they are chosen to participate in this students of Montville. 30 countries. Chang notes, “Regularly program. contemplating death is a powerful tool to A student’s follow up activity is restore perspective and remind us of the meant to be a hands-on activity that they things that make our lives meaningful.” Page 1 THE CHIEFTAIN MHS SPORTS Out of the Park! Rainville Reigns By: Zach Meisner and Staff Editors Many people would shudder when it comes to the thought of running laps or racing other people, it takes strength and dedication. But, Joe Rainville is a prime example of this strength and dedication. Rainville, a senior track member, has been frequently asked how he has been able to succeed over the years he has been running track, and he was very happy to share his experiences. One of his memories was placing 6th in an ECC championship where he ran the 800 meter dash, and experienced one of his best memories associated with track and field. He also mentioned his victory against Plainfield and his qualification for the state meet. When Rainville was asked about his favorite thing about track Brandon Haas at Dodd Stadium and field, he said, “It is really all about the good people and friends you make.” By: Natasha Burch He also said, “It’s important to have a Now that spring is finally here, school, Haas replied, “Yeah, I’m going good time running, and succeeding in it’s time to play ball! The baseball players to Uconn next year, so I want to continue something you’re dedicated to is very are happy to start the new season and hope there. I have a preferred walk on in the fall rewarding.” to start it with a bang. Brandon Haas is so I’ll be on the fall roster and then I get to Some of the advice that he was one of the eight seniors on the team who is practice with the team as like my try-out, willing to share with newcomers going excited to play again. He has been playing so I’ll see how that goes.” into track and field was to “go along with it baseball since his freshman year. Towards For his senior year, his first game and to simply show up and stay committed the end of that year, he was called to play in was against Fitch High School. Many because it definitely pays off in the end. states and ended up getting an appearance people were surprised to find out that The end result is definitely something that in Pitch Bran. Haas was fortunate enough they actually won that game due to Fitch pays off, whether it is the memories you to actually take one of the players spot on having a winning reputation and had make or how much your body has really the field. recently added skilled students from St. grown and gotten stronger since when Haas was asked if he plays any Benard’s to the team. you had first started.” He said, “It’s one of other sports which he replied, “No, this The proudest moment of Haas’s the best activities you could ever involve year I’m only doing baseball. But my whole baseball career happened in the yourself in.” Not many people are able to freshman year I played football, which season of 2011. Haas says that, “We own up to the track and field expectation, was my first year ever trying out. Then didn’t start the season off too well, we but looking back, he said it is going to be I played basketball and baseball. My were actually underrated. Our record a thing he will never forget for the rest sophomore year I stopped playing football didn’t show our potential, so we didn’t of his life: speed, commitment, victories, and I just played baseball and basketball. have the greatest record going into the and most importantly, the friends he had My junior and senior year I only played playoffs. But we ended up winning the made along the way. baseball because I wanted to make that state championship.” Rainville will be attending my main focus.” Eastern Connecticut State University When asked if he wanted to come this fall and will be a member of continue playing baseball after high their track team. Page 2 THE CHIEFTAIN MHS SPORTS Ben Reed: Far from Sub-Par By: Meagan McAdams Achieving the position of number his hardest to practice as much as he can. the division title, Reed has set his hopes one golfer as a sophomore is not an easy Last year, the team did not win as much high for this season and believes that all task. However, Ben Reed has a natural as they would have liked. “Losing was a his goals are reachable. talent for the sport. His freshman year, part of it as well, but once those matches Reed played number two on the team, were over we tried to forget about them occasionally moving up to number one and focus on our next match,” says Reed, when that player was out. This year, as always optimistic. He believes the golf a sophomore, he has moved his way up team is looking very promising this year, to the position of number one, followed other teams have moved out of their by Paul Hanrahan, John Delaney, Cory division, making the division title well Meigs, and Zach Meng. within reach. Reed began to play golf at a “I’ve learned that even if you hit a young age, around four or five. He admits, bad shot, you can always come back with however, that he never played very much the next. Also, it’s fun to get out there until the season started last year. The team and be with your friends,” said Reed. plays at Norwich Public Golf Course, He also said that he enjoys how relaxing Chanteclair, Shennecossett, Old Lyme the game is.