The Averill Park Pulse February 15, 2017 Volume V, Issue 3 PULSE Ready To LEAKY ROOFS AND FLOODING Show Your PLAGUE CLASSROOMS Talents? Averill Park stu- rips of the plastic membrane dents, staff and faculty arriv- that lines the roof, rips in the ing at the high school on Feb- heating vent joints, and ice by Ryan Gutheil ruary 8 were greeted with a jams on the roof that didn’t problem – severe leaks and allow for proper draining. On March 25, the flooding in several classroom In addition to classes New Horizons Club will be on the west side of the build- being moved, some teachers hosting a Talent Show. Come ing. Located mostly in the experienced damage to per- see some of Averill Park’s upstairs science wing and the sonal items located on walls most talented students per- foreign language rooms be- and shelves due to the water. form at Algonquin Middle low, as well as the cafeteria, Some classrooms were School at 6:00. All proceeds visible signs of damage in- opened as teaching places cluded water dripping from later in the day, though some above, falling ceiling tiles and teachers elected to hold their water pooling across floors. classes elsewhere due to the School employees water problems, including responded immediately, buckets left to catch water, clearing up the fallen tiles and residue from the ceiling and squeegeeing up water, See Page 13 For More Pictures Of tiles. though most of the classes in Damage Caused By The Leaking An update from the affected rooms were Tsao sent to staff and faculty will benefit Averill Park High moved for part of the day. the school principal, during School’s sister school in the According to an that afternoon, the leaks were (continued on page 17) Dominican Republic. update sent from Ms. Tsao, caused by a combination of This show will fea- ture acts of all types. Expect to see singers and a variety of musicians. There will be gui- tarists, pianists, a kazoo en- USIC UNDRAISER ITS semble, and even people play- M F H ing ukulele. In addition to your ALL THE RIGHT NOTES (continued on page 2) by Lauren Harland and plained, “It goes to help pay for guest artists, and help to Gabrielle Skiba INSIDE THIS ISSUE: offset the cost of trips for some students and other Scheduling 3 Live music…in a small things that might come bookstore? It’s not common, up.” It was the first time ever 5-8 Editorial Pages but the Averill Park Music that Averill Park High School 9-11 Department pulled it off. The held a fundraiser at the Reviews Music Department held a bookstore, but Blostein in- Clubs 14-15 huge fundraiser at Barnes & tends to do it again. In fact, the Music Department is al- 19 Noble on December 8, 2016. AP Connections The money raised at the event ready signed up for next year. Mr. Blostein, the Profiles 20-22 will go to multiple worthy This big event was causes around the high band, orchestra and jazz band largely student run. When 24-26 conductor at Averill Park, ex- Sports school throughout the year. (continued on page 2) Page 2 February 15, 2017 Got M USIC F UNDRAISER ( CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) asked how much Another preparation was contribution that Money? put into the fund- was vital to the raiser, Blostein success of the School Store replied, “The stu- Barnes & Noble Open For dents did the work. fundraiser were They created their the many stu- own small ensem- dents who volun- Business bles and practiced teered their time for quite a few to wrap Christ- weeks before they mas gifts that by Katelynn Flick and Saman- went to Barnes & shoppers bought tha Schroeder Noble and per- in the bookstore. formed their Lauren Meyers, a Did you know that works.” “It allowed us to play in front freshman and an active par- we have something new and Siblings Hannah of an audience without having ticipant in the Music Depart- exciting to offer? It's called Ryan and Zach Ryan were to feel the pressure of a regu- ment said, “The gift wrapping the "School Store!" It was among the student perform- lar concert.” station at Barnes & Noble let actually an idea from last ers at the fundraiser. The the customers buy their family year, but it didn't start until group played three and friends gifts the fall of 2016. songs, Zach on and get them guitar and vocals wrapped in one The school store and Hannah on trip so they didn’t was an idea started by the bass guitar and have to worry teachers and students in piano. Much like about it any- all of the other more.” Meyers performances, the and many other siblings did fantas- students took tically and the shifts wrapping shoppers at the books and Barnes & Noble other items from loved to have the Barnes & Noble. live music. “It was Not only a really great expe- did everyone at rience for my Room 227. The store sells brother and me,” pencils, pens, gum, popcorn, (continued on Hannah recalled, jewelry, items with the Averill page 4) Park logo, special seasonal items and holiday treats, and many more things. T ALENT S HOW ( CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) One student who works there, Anna Fiske, said classmates, a group of teach- New Horizons School. This mense talent, but also bring she enjoys “selling things to ers and staff members will be school, which is located in a attention to how vital sup- people.” “I like making peo- showing off their musical poor area in the Dominican port for our sister school is.” ple happy,” said another stu- talents as a group. Republic, has recently been This is a feeling shared by dent worker, Zephryn Noble. Unlike some talent declared Averill Park High most club members, who are “I think the best way shows, like those found on School’s sister school. The working hard to be sure we to improve the school store is television, this show will not children who attend this can make money for the by making posters and mak- have judges. This is because school receive meals as well New Horizons School. ing announcements and by it is not a contest, but rather a as education to improve their If you want to help with the telling people about it,” said chance to see some of the futures. stage crew for this show, Brendan Garrow, another incredible acts which stu- If you want to help sign up in Room 220 as student who works there. dents have worked diligently out this cause, you can attend soon as possible. Additional- The school store is on. the show and purchase re- ly, if you want to be involved located in the back of the Along with the enter- freshments as well as other with the club’s other fund- Cafeteria by the water foun- tainment, there will be food, items. raisers throughout the year, tains. It is open every Tuesday drinks, specialty soaps and New Horizons Club stop by Mr. Goodnow’s room and Wednesday, A through D other items for sale. President Jessica Liberty said, after school on Thursdays. lunch. Perhaps the most “We are hoping that this tal- Thank you for your support important part of this event is ent show will not only show- of our sister school. the money it will raise for the case our student body’s im- PULSE Page 3 SCHEDULING BEGINS FOR NEXT YEAR P ROCESS I NVOLVES L OTS O F P LANNING by Adam Limoges a course description, prereq- your course choices into a student body.” If a large num- uisites, and the amount of computer program that the ber of people sign sup for a credits you will receive for administration uses. The specific class the faculty may Scheduling can be a that specific class, too. Look- courses are entered into the shift to oblige the student stressful time for students. If ing through these will help program as a code allowing it body. If the teachers can not you don't have a plan or don’t you formulate a plan and be to arrange and decipher it fit certain classes into their know how it works it can prepared when you make your easily. According to counselor teaching schedules they may cause anxiety and pressure. schedule. Mrs. Arsenault, “All of that give up teaching something Your schedule throughout There are many information is in the comput- else or another teacher may high school is very important. steps that go into making your er. They make a master teach a class section, too. As You need to make sure that personalized class schedule. schedule that is mostly com- a last resort, the counselors you have completed the Many of these steps are per- puterized. They meld the two might have students take a courses you need to receive a formed by the administration (yours and the master sched- second choice elective. diploma. But, it's not all about therefore removing the coun- ule) and voila, schedules are With nearly 1,000 requirements; scheduling selors from part of the sched- created.” The computer, guid- students to schedule, a helps you discover your inter- uling process. However, the ed by the administration, is messed up schedule here and ests and create a path for first step of the process is an the one that makes your there is inevitable. So, if you yourself, and your high school appointment with your coun- schedule.