HE HIEFTAIN TMONTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL O AKDALEC, CT 06370 ISSUE #10 2017 ‘Tis the Season “The Foreigner” Comes to Life By: Kaylee Kingston With Thanksgiving checked off, everyone can start their countdown to one of the biggest USA holidays. Christmas is celebrated with family, presents, decorations, and delicious food. Get your stockings hung because here comes Christmas! The spirit is bright. The clean, crispy, fresh air lifts us. The warm feeling from the fire gives a feeling of relaxation. Watching old holiday movies with friends and having long, deep, night talks with family members who have been away for a while make Christmas one of the best holidays. This magical holiday brings many traditions to enjoy: the Christmas tree with flashy ornaments and glittery MHS’s drama production, The Foreigner. Photo By: Nia Muckenthaler tinsel, the hope of a white Christmas, hot chocolate and warm apple pie with vanilla By: Joshua Archibald ice cream, lively Christmas parties, ugly The MHS Drama Club’s provoking – for example, KKK members Christmas sweaters, cuddling with loved performance of Larry Shue’s play “The entered the stage wearing robes made from ones, classical Christmas movies, and, of Foreigner” evoked laughter and self- floral sheets. They proceeded to run away course, holiday music. reflection from audience members. Set in fear because of a stunt by the character Christmas is clearly an exciting at an inn in Georgia, the play follows a Ellard Simms (played by David Baukus). holiday to get all done up and ready for, cast of characters whose antics anger the This imagery reflects the ridiculousness of but many people do not know where KKK. racism and intolerance. to start. Well, hellogiggles.com has The drama club presented the In an increasingly divisive some Christmas tips. “You can watch a show from November 30 to December 2. political climate, “The Foreigner” Christmas special: ‘Rudolph the Red- Cast members from all four graduating encourages audience members to reflect Nosed Reindeer’, ‘How the Grinch Stole classes brought the whimsical characters on their biases and consider the strengths Christmas’, ‘A Christmas Story’, or ‘A to life, lending to a night of entertainment of each person regardless of his or Charlie Brown Christmas.’ Bust out the and introspection for audience members. her outward characteristics. The play seasonal drinks/food. And lastly, be jolly: Victor Johnston, Sage Maciejny, Holly demonstrates the beauty of understanding This is perhaps the most important rule Richmond, Ryan Gallagher, Ryan and the power of listening. of all. In the end, Christmas is not about Radgowski, Griffin LaMarche, David “Everyone feels like it’s important spending enormous amounts of money Baukus, Melody Sopczak, Duncan to be the same, but we’re all foreign to or spoiling your (family.) Rather, it’s Brown, and Caleb Bazinet formed the the world and we’re even foreign to the about coming together and celebrating all cast. They were aided by fifteen crew people who are close to us,” says actors of the good parts of life. The best thing members backstage, including stage Ryan Radgowski. Griffin LaMarche you can do to prepare for Christmas is manager Abby Orbe and assistant student added that the play encourages audiences just be happy. It’s the one time of the director Julianne Martin. to consider “how amazing each person is, year where you don’t have to hate on The drama club managed to use no matter what…the first impression is.” humanity” (which is what I do 95% of the each member’s talents to design a show –––This subject is not an easy one time). “Take advantage of [the Christmas that was both humorous and thought- to reflect on, but the drama club seems to Season]. It’s the most wonderful time of have done so successfully. the year, after all.” Page 1 THE CHIEFTAIN MHS NEWS Advisory Singing for Seniors By: Katarina Turchetta School Advisory helps students more than many may think. Every other Wednesday all students gather with their advisory teachers to discuss topics going on throughout the school and in their personal lives for a half hour. Benefits, though, seem controversial among some students and teachers. A few students reported that they felt Advisory is a waste of time and pointless. However, the goal of Advisory is to help students figure out who they are, where they’re headed, and how they’re going to get there. It is also intended to give students more adults to go to if a problem should come up. Each student has an adult who knows them and helps them navigate through their Active Athletes Caroling at the Montville Senior Center. Photo By: Robert Alves high school experience. Students leave with a meaningful, personalized plan By: Joshua Archibald and are prepared for post high school. An They may have not struck the harp, mind by engaging with different aspects advisor’s job is to help students through but they did join the chorus – the Active of culture is a common one among the visioning, goal setting, and being an Athletes carolers, that is. The group of Active Athletes. advocate. Advisory also helps students get volunteers practiced holiday tunes starting Alves says the students “work connected to one another. Through class in late November, culminating in its third hard, and this performance wouldn’t be discussions and activities students create annual performance at the Montville possible without their dedication. It’s just a bond with one another and learn more Senior Center on Friday, December 8. an idea without the follow-through.” about themselves. Plans for Advisory The chorus, led by Mr. Alves and Students enjoy the caroling event include filling out a Student Success Plan assisted musically by Mr. Cushing, was because it is an opportunity to share to track students’ individual progress and formed as part of the Active Athletes’ positivity with the community through goals, to decorating a door for a contest. mission to help the local community. music. Senior Amanda Perkins remarks, Even with all this, some students Alves started organizing the group “I like it when the elders sing along and believe advisory is just an excuse to have in November, recruiting athletes (and one laugh and ask for an encore. …If you’re shortened classes or a time to socialize supplementary non-athlete choir student) having fun and spreading joy, it doesn’t and finish homework. Students need to to sing. Kiera MacCracken and Aurora matter the musical quality of your look at advisory in the way it’s intended Curran, both freshmen, accompanied the performance.” and see how it can help them in their chorus on piano. Those individual talents Nick Tibbetts, a senior, founded futures endeavors. Advisors are trying combined to make an entertaining show Active Athletes in 2015. The organization to help students stay on track with their for local senior citizens. encourages student athletes to serve the academic studies and help them seek According to junior Nia community, both in and out of school, colleges or jobs they might want to pursue Muckenthaler, who performed in the and works on a major service project in the future. Students should see advisory group, “I like that I can be an athlete while each school year. This year’s project will as a helping hand. having the chance to be creative at the benefit the KICK-IT Campaign, which same time.” The spirit of expanding one’s raises money for research on childhood cancer. Page 2 THE CHIEFTAIN MHS NEWS Holiday Food Drive Contest By: Mari De La Cruz “Giving is receiving” is the motto ended on November 13 and the victory of the holiday season. This year, MHS went to the Class of 2019 winning by just students had the opportunity to give to one donation over the Class of 2018. The the Montville Social Services by donating junior class successfully won $100. food items. Social Services then makes Part Two of the Drive went until food baskets for Montville families in December 15 and with the winning class need Recommended food items include receiving double the money. This gave canned goods, boxed goods, etc. Student every graduating class more motivation Government incorporated a twist in order to donate if they did not donate the first to get more students to donate: a contest. time. The winner had not been determined The contest started on at the time of this printing. November 6 and ended on December It isn’t always obvious that 15. Each graduating class was assigned even in the Montville Community some a shopping cart to place their donations families need a helping hand--especially in every morning. Teachers also had during the holiday season. Holidays are the opportunity to donate, but it was up meant to be spent without any troubles to them to donate to whichever class getting in the way. One simple donation they desired. The shopping carts were can help bring a smile to those without the monitored each morning. The contest means to provide for themselves. was separated into two parts: Part One Cart of donated items for the food drive. Photo By:Tessa Rummel Gender and Sexuality Acceptance By: Sireena Holloman Montville High is moving is pretty accepting and tolerant, they as just black or white. G.S.A. clubs are toward a more inclusive and progressive would still prefer to see more awareness incredibly important to LGBT+ people. community with its fairly new G.S.A. among teachers and students regarding There is a lot of discrimination against Club. G.S.A. stands for Gender and gender identity. The long-term goal of the people in the community for being Sexuality Acceptance and it was formed club is to make MHS more aware of the themselves and it makes these people feel in November of this year.