Issue 2 The Patriot December 2005 Township accepts Governor’s Award Mike Jones ‘06 increased and documented involvement with the community, On October 18th, Washington increased use of technology, Township High School was selected professional development, successful to receive the New Jersey Governor’s improvement in special education, School of Excellence Award for 2005. and a miscellaneous category that This year, only 22 schools in the state the school could submit anything it received the award. Which, when viewed as an area of improvement. coupled with the great number of Also, improvement in one of the school’s in New Jersey, is quite an following areas: Student attendance, admirable feat. Graduation rates, and/or dropout “I think it’s a great honor reduction. because what it really says to our The high school, however, is community and staff is that other not the first school in the district people are recognizing what I believe to receive Governor’s School of I’ve seen for sometime here: that this Excellence status. high school is truly a school of great “Last year three elementary excellence, and now we’ve got that Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Farrow schools in our district won this official stamp of approval.” said Mrs. Principal Rosemarie Farrow, Ms. Anne Moore, and Mr. Joe award: Birches Elementary, Rosemary Farrow, the executive Bollendorf accept award, accompanied by Township Board members. Whitman Elementary, and Wedge principal of Washington Township importantly, the prestige associated continuous improvement in Wood Elementary”, said Farrow. High School. with the award itself.” stated Mrs. standardized testing. The remaining The Governor’s School of Considered an honor to all Farrow. for such a thing required a school to Excellence Award has proven the schools accepted, the award has The Governor’s School of fit into at least 5 out of nine superior merit of Washington become something to strive for in New Excellence Award is a three-year-old categories. Township High School. In future Jersey and contains many perks. honor given annually to up to 25 These categories consist of: years, the school hopes to maintain “The award is essentially a schools in the state of New Jersey. Growth in literacy measures, its educational standing and possibly 25,000 dollar honorarium given to the Just to apply, a school needs to show improvement in parent involvement, have a few more district schools schools that win, but more and give proof of two years of reduction of violence and vandalism, receive the award. Homecoming celebration shines despite rain Heather Ale ‘06 “All the girls agreed that Katie was the right choice,” expressed Nicole Twelve girls. One dream. That is Fleming ’06. Washington Township Homecoming. On Mr. Joseph Bollendorf, assistant October 14th these twelve girls, who were principal, concurred, “It is comforting that selected by the masses, lined up, shivering the queen is someone that the student body in the cold October rain on the freshly- feels good about being represented by. She laid turf and opened the boxes that revealed really seems to care about her classmates.” the Homecoming queen of 2005. The Judging from the outcome of white rose had made its choice, and it was Homecoming, her classmates seem to care Katie McEnroe. about her as well. Despite the fact that this year the girls were escorted on foot, due to the new turf field, the crowd’s Inside... enthusiasm never dropped. “It is very clear that this is a In contrast to the bleak weather that would greet them at Home- tradition that everyone enjoys and is coming, the 2005 court poses together on a sunny afternoon. Coffeehouse Perks P. 2 really fired up about,” Bollendorf Prior to the game, the Spirit Parade and a lot of fun,” asserted student stated. made its way around the field. In order to council member, Christina Vassallo, Before the half-time entertain the stands, and compensate for ’06. announcement, the Minutemen were the lack of vehicles, this year the floats After the Homecoming game Powderpuff Recap P. 3 out defending their home field. They got creative. The floats with the most wrapped up, the fireworks went off with delivered a crushing 34- 0 defeat to impact were those that celebrated their a bang. “I could hear the fireworks from Rancocas Valley. The Minutemen club with a performance or a cheer. my house,” said Lisa Phillips, ’06. They dominated the opposing team The most spirited float was the 11th were sponsored by Turnersville Auto Senior Directors P. 10 throughout the game, with big plays and 12th grade class council, granting Mall and set off by Schaffer coming in bunches, and consistency them their 5th year in a row winning Pyrotechnics. The fireworks proved the from the players. first place in the Spirit Parade. Second point that the weather would not take “The energy was amazing and place went to the Art Club and third away this year’s homecoming. “As Cross Country Makes the team was great. We kicked their place went to the Renaissance Club. damp as we all were, the enthusiasm butts,” enthused outside linebacker, “Despite the rain, the Spirit was not dampened one bit,” History P. 14 Daniel Camargo, ’06. Parade was still a wonderful success Bollendorf declared. WTHS The Patriot Page 1 Local talent shines at Coffeehouse Justine Jacobs ‘06 local bands Post Refuge, The Atlantic, turned out – not and Nascence. There were also a only in the The sweet sounds of tuneful number of solo acts including performances, but music could be heard throughout the performances by Melissa Meehan ‘06 in efficiency. halls of Washington Township’s 11/ and Kim Hofsteader ‘06. “I think it 12 wing earlier this month when “The highlights of the night were was the most students gathered for the annual fall when The Atlantic played and when organized Coffeehouse on November 4th. The Nascence played,” says Coffeehouse Coffeehouse I’ve S.U.R.E. headed event, which features MC, Elizabeth Bryan ’06. “Nascence ever been to,” coffee and refreshments, thrift, and covered “Wonderwall” [by Oasis] and states Bryan. plenty of places to lounge in addition [“What I Got”] by Sublime, and they Oberholtzer to great music, returned to an acoustic were good. Everyone was dancing and agrees. “It was the format in an attempt to shake things having a really good time.” smoothest running up. show ever, starting “The Acoustic Coffeehouse show “It was the smoothest and ending is often a venue to show the incredible running show ever.” precisely on creativity of our performing students,” time.” Photo coutesy of Joe Forte ‘06 says S.U.R.E. advisor Mr. Todd - Mr. Oberholtzer According to Local band Nascence headlined the S.U.R.E. Oberholtzer. “Without high volume Despite the many excellent Oberholtzer, all Acoustic Coffeehouse. and sound effects, it challenges the performances, there has been talk the credit belongs bands to show off their musical amongst Coffeehouse attendees that to the students, namely S.U.R.E. “They did an awesome job organizing virtuosity instead of simply being an act was banned from future S.U.R.E. manager Jackie Van Orden ’07 and everything and really kept our heads loud.” events due to their use of improper Bryan, Master of Ceremonies. screwed on straight. I know that Oberholtzer’s hopes of language and smashing some “They ran the show like they’ll do the same for any upcoming challenging student creativity were equipment. However, Oberholtzer professionals,” he says. shows, and will just get better over certainly rewarded during the show. would like to correct these notions. Coffeehouse organizers feel time.” Senior Eric Wang opened the night “The most harm that was done efficiency and quality of the Students who missed the fall with a rousing rendition of the Star was embarrassment for the offending November 2005 show will only be Coffeehouse can look forward to a Spangled Banner – played on the saw! act,” he emphasizes. “Nobody will be topped in future events. similar S.U.R.E. run event in the “His performance received a banned from the show in the future, “We had a lot of underclassmen spring. If it’s anything like this fall’s standing ovation and was the most so any rumors to the contrary are just step up this year, which was great since experience, it will be, in the words of artistic of the night!” declares that, rumors.” there aren’t many long time senior Oberholtzer, “a great and memorable Oberholtzer. S.U.R.E. members were very members,” says senior, and three year show!! Woo-Hoo!” The Coffeehouse featured other proud of the way this year’s show S.U.R.E. member, Monica Barron. outstanding acts as well, including Students give life by giving blood Mark Natale ‘06 Holding an event as big of the blood drive certainly takes a great deal Saving lives is an action that is of work from the Interact staff. always glorified. Begining in our With hundreds of students involved, infancy, everyone has an innate desire and the activity taking up an entire to be a hero. Recently at WTHS, we school day, organzation was key to all got that chance. a succesfull blood drive.. The blood drive isn’t a typical “A lot of work had to be done fundraiser. Most fundraiser’s raise when it comes to recruiting people, money for great causes, but the blood scheduling everyone, and just drive actually saves lives. Many making sure everything runs Township students fail to see this, until smoothly,” explained Chris Caruso one realizes the impact it has had on ‘06, Interact chairperson for the some of our very own Washington event.