Republican The Tech Issue The Falcon Frontrunner PAGE 3 PAGE 5 Vol. LVIII, Number 3 The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph High School February 2016 Weisenger Descending to the Depths New Tables Debut This Quarter By Aniket Agnihotri ‘19 Scuba training in Key Largo, FL immediately. By Amritpal Jagra ‘17 seats sums to 234 with more overall space for each student. Staff Writer with nine other cadets over Christ- To Wiesinger, the biggest chal- Copy Editor mas break. As Ian started to learn lenge in scuba diving is learning For years, students have com- Freshman Ian Wiesinger, an aspir- to scuba dive, he found that he had to master the calculations of the Before Christmas break, students plained about how confining the ing NAVY SEAL, has distinguished a strong passion for the serenity dive tables, a number scale used were informed about upcoming tables are, especially in crowded himself from his peers through his of the sea life, despite the many by scuba divers to determine the changes that would take effect in the lunch periods where there is not naval interest and involvement. impedimenta that he is required amount of time a diver can stay second semester. One major change ample room to spread out. Wiesinger is part of a military to wear. underwater based on the altitude is new tables in the cafeteria. “It’s annoying at lunch when there prep organization, the United States His equipment consists of a regu- of the dive. If any calculation is The student body has been com- is not enough leg room, with all the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC), lator to control breathing, a BCD erroneous, the dive could become plaining about the crowded and seats filled and everyone’s backpack which allows cadets to get a sense (Buoyancy Control Device), an deadly in an instant. uncomfortable tables, which have taking up extra space,” senior Lean- of military life while in high school oxygen tank, fins, a set of goggles, In the event of a calamity, such as been said to lack sufficient spacing dro Wong said. through various trainings and activ- and a wetsuit, all of which weighs a tank leak, a diver would quickly for enjoyment of the lunch period. “The new changes in the cafeteria ities such as Marksmanship, SWCC a total of 100 pounds. Once in the signal to his or her assigned buddy The students have been waiting for are for the betterment of the school,” (Special warfare combatant-craft water, that weight does not matter that they are losing oxygen. Then a solution and now it has come. In said junior Jaiveer Johal. “The new crewmen), Field Operations, and to him. Ian loves to go underwater the two would go up to sea level in the third quarter, a number of new, tables and the improved menu have SCUBA. and see the multitudes of sea crea- a tranquil, safe manner. improved tables, courtesy of the created a new lunch setting that pro- Wiesinger joined the Travis Man- tures such as turtles, eels, whale “When I come up from a dive, I Mother’s Club, will be replacing vides a better variety of food with ion Battalion in Flemington NJ sharks, manta rays, and the breath- usually feel energy-deprived and the old ones, providing more space more comfort and space.” just over a year ago and is looking taking coral structures. worn out,” he said, “but I also can- and comfort to each student. Many students are also excited and forward to serving his country in Diving takes a physical and men- not wait to go back down again.” The design of the new tables has anxious to see the transformation of either the Navy or Marines. He has tal toll on the body. A diver has “When you dive, you go underwa- already been selected and the plan is the cafeteria, wanting to get the feel achieved the rank of E-3 (Seaman) to stay aware and keep track of ter and it’s an amazing experience,” to bring them in as soon as possible of the new atmosphere. and is interested in EOD (Explosive everything throughout the dive. If he added, “You see a lot of incred- in the third quarter. The selected “The addition of new tables brings Ordnance Disposal), which requires someone dives too deep or comes ible underwater life and it kind of style includes 23 rectangular tables, excitement and something to look Scuba experience. up to the surface too quickly, they has a calming aspect as you are able to seat six students at each, and forward to in the second semester, In the fall of 2015, Wiesinger can develop “the bends,” which can diving in their world. It makes me 12 round tables, able to seat eight allowing us to be the first ones to was selected to participate in Basic be life-threatening if not treated feel calm, relaxed, and focused.” students at each. The total number of continued on page 7 The Story Behind the Voice Second Pep Rally, Another Success By Stephen Kenny ’17 By Jason Manuel ’18 an impersonation of Michael on and there is no other atmo- Staff Writer Managing Editor Drabich by Mark McGuire, and sphere like it,” said senior class the handing of a check from President Jacob Lunn. Ms. Curto turned many heads with The most recent pep rally for St. Joe’s to St. Jude’s Research The pep rally itself is a culmi- her spectacular performance of “Ave the winter sports season fea- Hospital consisting of money nation of months of preparation Maria” at the Advent Liturgy. I began tured a myriad of events which raised by the school. and practice by the pep rally to think about what life experienc- brought the whole school togeth- This recent pep rally was only committee, aimed at making it es would lead to such a capability; er. Apart from the presentation the second one in St. Joe’s his- successful. Preparations for the there had to be a story behind the of the winter sports teams, other tory. However, it has helped to first pep rally in October were English teacher and distinguished events included a dodge ball change the perceptions in the underway in mid-August and theater department director. Well, I contest which resulted in Dr. school, especially compared to required the efforts of numer- sat down with Ms. Curto, and there Gubernat being the last teacher the start of the year. ous people to bring it to frui- certainly was. “standing,” a dunk exhibition “Everyone was doubting the tion including Tom Morrison, Growing up, Ms. Curto was sur- by college basketball commits idea of a pep rally at an all- Kevin Sweeney, Danny Vajtay, rounded by the ever-present arts Breein Tyree and Tyus Battle boys school and we proved Mike Zarnowski, Chris Quigley, community. Her father was a com- and Tom Morrison’s infamous them wrong. We brought tons of poser/director, her mother was a alter ego−Justin Fleetwood−, energy and the students caught continued on page 5 singer, and her brother was a screen- writer. Her ability, then, to connect with many mentors in the profes- Photo by Normandy Studio sional realm allowed her to take Ms. Curto impressed the school positive risks. Starting at a young age community with her voice this at the Cleveland Institute of Music, past December. she sang in a children’s chorus with in low-budget schools was a theater Falcons on Air the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. company, and did what they could By Roderick Perez ’16 To start up this unique school activ- She was inspired by the beauty of the to prevent that from happening. For Staff Writer ity, many donations were needed due performances and by many mentors, this reason, she is all the more grate- to a lack of modern technology and such as conductors George Szell and ful for the 20 years of support and “Live from the Vincent Maglio training. Deal generously donated a Robert Shaw. fostering of the theater program at Gymnasium, this is St. Joseph bas- variety of broadcasting equipment She told me about her second St. Joe’s about which she is so pas- ketball on the St. Joseph Radio Net- while Mr. Harring, the activity’s grade teacher, who would bring in sionate. work,” emphatically exclaims senior moderator, has brought in a few of music to every lesson, no matter the “Theater is the last, best chance sport’s broadcaster Anthony Colucci his friends involved with journal- subject. One day, she plucked out to change our world,” she said. “I at the start of the highly anticipated ism to assist the amateur student the young, “dreadfully shy” Curto say that because there are tremen- rivalry game against East Brunswick. broadcasters. and convinced her to continue and dous art forms and tremendous ways Inspired by the book You Can’t Senior Malcolm Virgil, one of pursue her singing. This inspira- to encourage us all as humans to Make This Up by Al Michaels and the student broadcasters, is very Students are now broadcasting tion, among other educational and understand one another, but there basketball games online, which the works of Gordon Deal, a Saint optimistic about the program. He can be heard on Spreaker.com hands-on experiences, led to her is nothing like being moved and Joseph alumnus and graduate of Rut- foresees an “evolution into TV determination to make singing and transformed by live performance. It gers who serves as the public address broadcasts” from the current set up dible because the microphones that the arts her “life’s work.” takes the greatest, worst, and most announcer at New York Giants and of only streaming vocally through Colucci and Chadwick used attracted From there, she trained further in vulnerable aspects of humanity and West Point football games, Colucci Spreaker.