1 November 2019 The Bear Print Volume 4, Issue 2 David Brearley High School GSA by Jordana Wagner On September 26, 2019, a new club called the GSA (Gay- Straight Alliance), launched by Amalia Perez and Emily DeLuca, held its first meeting. The club meets in room 155 every third Thursday of the month directly after school and lasts until about 3:30 depending on the topic being discussed. The GSA is a safe space for all expressions of gender identity and sexuality. The meetings include discussion about different sexual and gender identities, personal experiences, and LGBTQ+ issues, whether it’s regarding politics or everyday life. Overall, it’s supposed to be a fun and inviting environment for everyone who is willing to come with an open mind. The first two meetings were extremely successful, with over 50 Inside this issue people showing up to support the club. Co-president of the club, Amalia New Teacher Spotlights . 2 Perez, answered some questions about the GSA: Q: “How was the first meeting?” Recycling in School ........ 3 A: “ It was very surprising how many people were willing to come out Bears That Care ............. 3 and support us. We were originally very skeptical and thought no one would be willing to go. It was really nice to see how many people were Girls Soccer .................... 4 willing to potentially go out of their comfort zone to support us.” Boys Cheer ..................... 4 Q: “ How does the co-presidency work between you and Emily?” A: “Em and I both know different things about the community, so we Cafeteria Additions ........ 5 specialize in different things. I’m personally the president of sexuality, Trendy Fall Fashions ...... 5 while Em is the president of gender identities. We just decided it would be Fall Recipe ...................... 6 better if we had equal power.” Q: “How hard was it to push for this club?” Musical Suggestions ...... 7 A: “ It was a bit difficult because there was some confusion with pa- Sudoku ........................... 7 perwork, but in total, it took about 5-6 months to get the club approved last year. We had started around December and it was finally okayed Crossword ...................... 8 around May. It was all worth it though.” Q: “ Is there a way for those who want to become more involved to be a part of the executive board?” A: “ Yes, Ms. Spampinato, Em, and I are working on a survey that students can use to apply to be part of the executive board. We’re just looking for people who are willing to commit to meeting twice a month.” Q: “ Is there anything else you would like to say?” A: “ The main thing we want people to know is that we’re going to push the idea that everyone can say what they want without rumors being started. Like if a student came out, we don’t want them to be outed unless they’re comfortable. If there is anything sensitive mentioned, like some- one potentially harming themselves or another person, we will be telling guidance.” Overall, The GSA is important to the school because it offers a safe place for those who want to discuss their sexualities and gender identity without worrying about possible judgment. The GSA is all- inclusive and invites everyone no matter what they choose to identify as. It is a great place to meet new people and to make long-lasting friends. 2 New Teacher Spotlight: Ms. McGrath by Mia Rivera New teacher alert! Let’s ues through her own teaching. An- give a warm welcome to the new other inspiration of hers would be addition to the David Brearley Eng- her own middle school English lish department, Ms.McGrath. She teacher, who she found phenome- is a warm-hearted and caring per- nal and engaging. Ms. McGrath son who fits well into the school says, “She would teach us literature staff. What better way to greet her where it made it relevant.” Aside than with an introductory interview? from teaching Ms. McGrath has fun Although it is her first year teaching and interesting hobbies, such as here, she previously taught for 4 ceramics and sign language! She years at South Plainfield, Dunellen, doesn’t consider herself fluent but and Morenberg high schools. She she can understand and communi- struggled between going into the cate in sign language. Aside from math or English department, but in that, every Tuesday she attends a the end, she felt that she was better ceramics class with her mother and suited to be an English teacher. sister! All-in-all Ms.McGrath is a One of Ms. McGrath’s biggest inspi- great teacher as well as an awe- rations is Oprah because of her re- some person! David Brearley sure spect and acceptance towards peo- is lucky to have her! ple’s differences and so Ms. McGrath tries to reflect those val- New Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Allen by Gianna Sacca and Mia Fuschino This school year we have Ms.Allen has surprisingly welcomed a number of new only been teaching for 6 months teachers. One of them is and was inspired by her high Ms.Allen who is a S.T.E.M, 8th school biology teacher to become Grade Science, and Biology a teacher. Because of this, she teacher. She previously taught at hopes to one day inspire some- Stewartsville Middle School in one too. Since she is a science Warren County, New Jersey. Ms. teacher, she loves the labs and Allen was drawn to David Brear- hands on activities that come ley because of it being a mixed along with the subject. Ms. Allen middle and high school building. also knows how to make the stu- At her old school, she helped dents truly enjoy the subject, al- with the yearbook and the school lowing them to get involved in the dramas saying, “I am very excit- class. ed to help out with the shows here and to be able to get to Even though she is new, know all of the students.” Ms.Allen has already shown what a great addition she is to our Da- vid Brearley staff. 3 Recycling in School by Annabelle Klinder Bears that Care When I first came to Brearley four years ago, I remember going by Michaeal Vargulin up to one of my first teachers and asking where the recycling bin to throw out old papers was. The response I was given was the school Our world can be so cruel does not recycle papers, and I would just have to use the trash bins. sometimes, making communi- I remember bringing all my scraps of paper home to recycle them on ties form to help others. One my own. such community that can be According to Green Schools, “Americans now use about seen in Kenilworth is “Bears 31.5 million tons of printing and writing paper each year, meaning That Care” - a club run by Mrs. 660 pounds per person, which requires 535 million trees (most from Minarik - that organizes fund- virgin tree fiber) and 12 billion gallons of oil for its manufacturing”. raisers, food drives, and other events that benefit other peo- ple and the community. Bruins and Bears That Care host an annual event, the food drive, which honors two of the town's members who passed away in the terrorist attacks of Septem- ber 11, 2001. Both Robert Kaulfers and John Tobin had children who attended the dis- trict and were active members of Bears that Care, so the drive is a way to keep their memo- Every day, we go into school asking our classmates or teachers ries alive. to use a sheet of paper for notes or classwork while the teachers give individual handouts. Much of this paper ends up being burned All of the donations or put to waste at the end of each school year. Often times, students from this year’s drive are going don't feel the need for their sheets and are relieved to be rid of to St. Theresa’s Church. The them. Sadly, this means that paper cannot go and be recycled and church then provides these reused so that we do not need to waste paper and cut down more goods to anyone in the area trees. It is disheartening when you hear and see a once-great who is in need. The donations amount of trees and forests being cut down by the acres. It is not that were collected and en- good for our planet’s future if we continuously cut down trees for pa- couraged consist of canned per and other uses. If we get the school to start recycling more ma- goods such as beans and terials, we would not have to waste paper as well as other recycla- soup, along with bagged items ble products like plastic, which is a common way to have students such as pasta and other non- carry their salads and other foods. perishables. The food drive is Recycling is just one step into the ways we can help our planet just one of the events that improve. It is something most of us have been learning about since Bears That Care creates to elementary school. As we got older though, it appears most of us better the community and help have lost sight of what it means to reduce, reuse, and recycle. If we people in need. All of us are a had a recycling bin in our classrooms and cafeteria, with the cooper- part of the same community, ation of students and teachers, we can become a more green and what helps one person school.