Half Hollow Hills High School East Special Graduation Issue Issue 4 June 2012 SENIORS! Josh and Matt college and are then thrust Rosenberg out into the workplace. Editors-in-Chief It is plenty scary to hear A major change in our that presently half the lives will be here soon, graduates from colleges and we are torn between are unable to fi nd a job. sadness and excitement. Will things change for Perhaps it’s a little of both. the better by the time we Our high school careers graduate from college? are coming to an end. We But, as we look back and are about to embark on the contemplate on our four next phase of our lives. years at Half Hollow Hills For us, it will be going off East, smiles come to our to attend college and start faces. Sure, it was tough that next experience. Wow, studying to get good grades. where has the time gone? However, those great times, It has passed so quickly. like participating on our Wouldn’t it be nice if things award winning newspaper didn’t have to change? staff and playing on our We will soon be saying school baseball teams with goodbye to our high school “the thrill of victory and buddies hoping that it the agony of defeat,” came doesn’t all end here. We to mind. The friends we are realistic, however, and made, both fellow students appreciate that out of sight and teachers, will always and out of touch make many allow us to share good relationships more distant. memories. A sense of Sad! On further refl ection, satisfaction grows within, though, excitement sets in. and we say it really was an We will make new friends, exciting and satisfying four have new experiences, new year high school career. ideas and above all, we So to all of our friends, will grow up and mature, to all of our teachers, becoming more independent. we salute you. Let our It is hard to escape the friendships continue even feeling that it is a tough new after we graduate. We world we will be facing out salute Half Hollow Hills there. We want to focus East and what it has meant on preparing ourselves for to us. Good luck, good careers as we pass through health and success to all! An Interview with What are the Entertainment T-Birds’ Sports INSIDE Mr. Hodgson seniors doing after & News Wrap-up graduation? THIS ISSUE Page 2 Pages 6-7 Page 8-10 Page 12 [2] Thunderbird Special Graduation Issue Issue 4 June 2012 Press Conference with Assemblyman Andrew P. Raia Natalie Haebich and the effects of school emphasizing proper media Layout Editor and community budgets. etiquette, students where able Andrew Raia was elected to actively relay questions “Our liberty depends on to his fi fth term as an back and forth and get their the freedom of the press, Assemblyman for the 9th ideas across without being and that cannot be limited Assembly District on Long intrusive or aggressive, a skill without being lost” –Thomas Island, consisting of parts of that is vital in essentially every Jefferson. On Friday, April Huntington and Babylon. In aspect of one’s future career. 27th, Assemblyman Andrew his opening speech, he stated This educational question Raia of East Northport that one thing he values in a and answer session for gathered students from politician is accessibility to aspiring high school students High Schools throughout the public, and because of was held at the Half Hollow Suffolk County in an effort this he remains very available Hills Community Library. to provide a simulation of a to the community and always Additionally, fi lm crews real press conference. Young has both ears open. With the from the participating journalists interested in goals of augmenting students schools across Suffolk media and government were writing and reportorial skills, County were in attendance provided the opportunities Andrew Raia provided a of the event to record it and to discuss major issues and sense of inspiration to young put together a segment on ask questions with regard to media enthusiasts in contrast MSG Varsity Network and Assemblyman Andrew Raia with members of the Mr. Raia’s political actions to the high amounts of Cablevision. The segment Thunderbird staff. and experiences. The major stereotyping and accusations can be viewed online at: topics included in the press of yellow journalism seen by http://www.msgvarsity.com/ seminar were bullying, the the modern day industry. By hs-experience-mock-press- dangers of prescription drugs, establishing guidelines and conference-1.1064850 . Junior Prom Honing in on Mr. Hodgson Michael Choi has granted Mr. Hodgson the Along with teaching, Features Editor opportunity to satiate the two Mr. Hodgson has ultimate goals in his career: always coached at the An essential part of the teaching and coaching. schools by which he was teacher interview feature Mr. Hodgson’s passion employed. Ranging from is trying to highlight the for teaching roots from basketball to lacrosse, teachers who are undermined his early years as a high the latter of which is relative to their effort and school student during which his forte, Mr. Hodgson sacrifi ce to the overall school he constantly felt that he does not show partiality in the sports that he environment and to truly was “more aware of the get down to business when coaches. He has coached at introduce them to the entire facts and current events it comes down to exercising various schools including student body, including those than [his peers].” Having his main teaching West Islip, Bethpage, and who have not even heard of been raised during a truly philosophy: you get what both Hills East and West. the featured teachers. For the turbulent time infested with you work for. A fi rm At one point of the Skyler Yahney last issue of Thunderbird of various political and military believer of meritocracy, interview, I requested Staff Writer this academic year, I have debacles, such as Nixon’s Mr. Hodgson constantly Mr. Hodgson give me his decided to interview and corrupted administration attempts to instill that defi nition of a teacher, as On Friday May 11th, the write about one of the most and the Vietnam War, Mr. value in his students with well as a self-evaluation of junior class held their an- well known, but one of the Hodgson prides himself in his assignments and tests. himself as an instructor at nual “junior outing” at the most undiscovered fi gures his insight in the realm of As an individual, Mr. Hills East. He believes that Thatched Cottage in Center- in Half Hollow Hills High social studies derived from Hodgson classifi es himself teachers are “facilitators that School East – Mr. Hodgson. his fi rsthand experiences and as someone who “seeks port. The fun packed night always seek to open students’ His social web of students observations acquired during knowledge” and “knows was full of dancing, socializ- minds to information and and faculty members is such a politically fi red up era. how to enjoy life.” In his ing and great memories. “This ideas that they have never extensive and far-reaching, In college, Mr. Hodgson free time, Mr. Hodgson was the best possible way to thought of before.” When mostly because of his delved deeper into his often ventures out into the relieve the stress of APs; I had asked to evaluate himself dedication to tending to interest in social studies and city to sit in on academic a great time.” stated Shreyas as a teacher, Mr. Hodgson diverse groups of students, education with the intention lectures to constantly Havaldar. “Can we just rewind stated that he “connects whether they happen to be of later becoming a teacher update his knowledge. He is this night all the way back to to people with respect ambitious students pursuing with a multi-dimensional also an avid fan of playing regardless of their age.” us going to the prom? That highly demanding courses perspective to enlighten and golf and watching sports. He also pointed out that was fun!” was said by Alex in social studies, like AP a fl exibility that allows him Before I ended the “mutual respect and joking” Wiley. Overall, it sounds like United States History and to break the barrier between interview, I asked are necessary and essential the junior class had a great AP Economics, or active him and his students. Mr. Hodgson if there elements to building a strong time! This is defi nitely a high- players of Hills’ boys’ During the inceptive was anything that he foundation in relationships, light that many students look lacrosse team. Working as years of his teaching career, would like to tell the especially those between forward to in their junior year. a faculty member of Hills Mr. Hodgson taught at a readers. After a moment teachers and students. small school in the state of contemplation, he Mr. Hodgson often of South Dakota, which presented what he thought resonates with an image of a he describes as a “Little was the key to success playful teacher who likes to House on the Prairie.” in life – relationships. fool around with his students Although the beginning “Relationship is the most all the while maintaining the was not as astounding as important thing to develop conventional authority of an he had hoped, Mr. Hodgson in school and in life. One instructor with discipline. gradually moved from one can learn a lot from a Although he mainly deals school to another, gaining conversation with people.” more experience and with his classes in a confi dence in dealing with humorous and lighthearted different types of students.