Millbrook High School Student Newspaper

The Teen Alternative Fashion Show

By Emily Walenta

Newspaper, old books, plastic bags, staples, duct tape, soda cans, and loads of other recycled and random items you have around the house might just seem like junk. However, in the minds of the artistic, enthusiastic kids of Millbrook High School, this junk is fashion! On Tuesday, November 10th, the Millbrook Free Library hosted its first annual Teen Alternative Fashion show, in which art students at MHS modeled and designed all sorts of unique outfits.
The fashion show drew a crowd of almost five times the amount of participants. The sixteen high school students all modeled outfits that told their own stories, and chose up-beat songs to strut down the runway to. It was an exciting even that brought together Millbrook High School and the community; we hope to see you there next time!

Best Dressed Teacher of the Month: Mrs. Sarr

By Kristin Schaad

Mrs. Sarr was flattered to be voted Best Dressed Teacher of the Month, but admitted she felt a bit silly.

When asked who her style icons were, she shamefully admitted she had none. She continues by saying, “My friends are my only style icons; I don’t really have any favorite actors or actresses either.”

She usually shops in thrift stores where she can find vintage items, but also enjoys shopping at stores such as H&M where she can purchase more recent trends.

She is inspired by the style and culture of the 1920s as well as the Hippie era. Mrs. Sarr loves the short hair and long pearls associated with the flappers. She continued by questioning the current resurgence of the 80s. “We didn’t look good then and we won’t look good now,” she said very matter-of-factly.

We can be sure that her tasteful style will not be affected by any future shoulder pads or sky-high hair.

Halloween at MHS

By Denise Martin

Halloween hit full-force this year in Millbrook. The high school was full of ghosts, movie characters, and music legends. It was nice to see that all grades participated in dressing up and everyone seemed very excited and fully embraced the spirit of the holiday.
There were so many amazing costumes and characters roaming the hallways of Millbrook High School this year. Costumes ranging from football players to a “cereal-killer.” There was certainly no lack of originality when it came to dressing up. Freshmen Izzy Hurley and Carli Ross dressed up as Toad and Toadette from Mario Bros. MHS faculty also participated by wearing costumes or hanging ghoulish creatures from their ceilings.
Many of the Halloween costumes seemed to be themed this year; movies, books, bands, and more. A reoccurring freshman theme seemed to be ‘Alice in Wonderland’; the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and Alice as well as a few other characters from the book were all seen around the school. Flying down the halls were members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and representatives of The Four Different Seasons also made an appearance.
Despite Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, many students still celebrated during school on Friday. The day was all-around fun and entertaining; everyone seemed to have a really great time. It was a very Happy Halloween .

MHS’s Male Athlete of the Week: Jonathan Campbell

By Emma Lovett

Jonathan Campbell has been named Athlete of the Week and, in my opinion, it’s a fitting choice. Jonathan is a part of the Cross-Country team in the fall and also runs on the Track team in the winter and spring. He has been running for five years and usually runs the longer distances for Cross-Country and does long-distance workouts when practicing. When it comes to up-and-coming Cross-Country meets, he is most excited about seeing friends from other schools. He says that “Cross-Country and Track meets can be wonderful social events. It all depends on what you make of them.” When competing he always tries to be friendly to all his competitors and to not take himself extremely seriously.
When asked what he enjoys about the sport, he answered “Both Track and Cross-Country are like no other mainstream sports. I love the fact that the sports help me deal with stress, pressure, as well as keep me in shape both physically and mentally. They are, for the most part, fun because as difficult as running can be, it is also so simple. I find that simplicity exhilarating.” He also talked about his team and how great they are to work with.
I know that a basketball team works together by passing the ball, as does a soccer team. What I wasn’t entirely sure about, however, was how a Track or Cross-Country team works together. Jonathan told me that being supportive of each other is the main way they work together. Also, helping with training whenever possible helps too. When I asked Jonathan how much practice is required, he answered, “A LOT! More than most people would think.” He also practices on his own, outside of school, something he feels is very important, because “sometimes the team training isn’t adequate enough to provide solely for the individual needs of each member of the team.”
I also decided to ask Jonathan about something called “runner’s high;” a supposedly peaceful and happy state-of-mind which is said to occur when strenuous exercise activates endorphin production in the brain. I wanted to know if he ever experienced it, or if it is just a myth. He replied that “Runner’s high is real. Basically, when your body has been running for so long, your body transitions into a weird state of euphoria where you start to forget pain and exhaustion. You start to feel relaxed and actually happy.” He also told me about a term called “Runner’s Heaven.” He only experienced it one time, but he lost feeling in his legs while he was running, and was then able to sprint 400 meters quickly without feeling tired or out of breath. After the sprint though, he said “I felt terrible.”
Jonathan doesn’t play any other sports, but is a fan of soccer and basketball. When it comes to other activities he participates in, he said “there’s too many to count.” With all those activities he involves himself in, I was really curious as to how he manages to balance homework and other responsibilities with running. Jonathan says he finds it difficult at times to manage all of that, but he says you need to learn to discipline yourself and it can be tough. “It all pays off in the end,” said Campbell.
I wanted to make sure I asked him about his plans for the future and how he feels about moving on from Millbrook. He definitely wants to attend college, and his top two choices are University of Notre Dame and Northeastern University. He wants to major in Music Management and Marketing or Pre-Law. “Millbrook will always be my hometown, and I will miss everyone, but I’m ready to move on. I’m sure college will be a fun new experience.”
Lastly, I wanted to know if he was still planning on continuing running on a team when he heads off to college. He doesn’t really plan on running on a competitive team, but he definitely will keep in the habit of running. I really appreciate him answering my questions and I wish only the best for this talented and interesting person.

An Interview with Mrs. Watz

By Allie Kohut

It is always difficult starting off a new year at a new school. However, Mrs. Watz, the new Chemistry teacher at Millbrook High School, seems to have no problem fitting in here. Being a proud graduate of Siena College, Mrs. Watz was not initially interested in teaching Chemistry. In fact, she entered Siena with the intention of eventually becoming a mathematics teacher. However, this all changed drastically when she took a chemistry course. “When I took this new course, I realized how much I enjoyed Chemistry!” Mrs. Watz said with enthusiasm.

Mrs. Watz came to Millbrook after teaching Chemistry, 8th grade science, and a forensics class at Germantown High School. When asked what the transition was like from Germantown to Millbrook, Mrs. Watz simply answered, “It was extremely easy! I was excited to teach just Chemistry.”

To rap up my interview with Mrs. Watz, I asked her what she enjoyed most about Millbrook High School. Without hesitation she answered, “The people. Everyone is so friendly, positive and hardworking! I come across great personalities in both the students and the teachers!”

It seems as though Mrs. Watz has enjoyed her move to Millbrook High School and I know that we all have too. After talking to some of her students, there is no doubt that they are all pleased with her decision to teach here. Being a student of our new Chemistry teacher, I most definitely agree.

If you are ever walking on the second floor and happen to pass the Science Wing, take the time to go and visit Mrs. Watz. She will make you realize just how fantastic Millbrook High School truly is.

MHS’s Drama Club Presents Follies

 
By Tess Dunlap

This past weekend, 97 Miles off Broadway (also known as the Millbrook High School Drama Club) hosted the second annual Follies, a fundraiser extravaganza for their upcoming spring 2010 production of Beauty and the Beast. Held at seven o’clock on Saturday, November 14th, the show featured acts from Drama Club students, district teachers, administrators, and community members. Some highlights included: Studio performers in a selection from Annie; Heather Holohan in both a solo dance and solo vocal number; senior Ryan Parker and junior Britta Burrows in vocal display numbers from Beauty and the Beast; high school nurse Marcia Tanzman as an ancient woman from The Old Folks; junior Daniel Hurley and company in songs from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; high school principal Dr. Christine Ackerman, high school science teacher Joanne Fargione, and freshman Leigh Davis in a hilarious Forum spin-off (with a cameo by high school teacher Mr. Deredita); Drama Club members, announcer Steve Fabrizio, and Alden Place principal Tom Libka in “I Am Not Dead Yet” from Monty Python; Alden Place teacher Chris Propfe with a guitar solo; high school guidance counselor Lisa Petta, high school assistant administrator Brian Devincenzi, and superintendent of schools Dr. Lloyd Jaeger in a scene from The Writer; the Millbrook High School Madrigals and Jazz Band; and perhaps the best number of the night - Puttin’ on the Ritz from Young Frankenstein, featuring middle school principal Brian Freid, Dr. Lloyd Jaeger, middle school English teacher Bill Burrows, Drama Club director Dr. Karen Burrows, and Studio tap dancers. The Follies was a well-attended, excellent showcase of talent in the area, and will hopefully raise adequate funds for the upcoming season.

Philadelphia 2009

By Ryan Donovan

 On October 29th and 30th, Millbrook High School’s junior class went on a class trip to Philadelphia. After a six hour bus ride from Millbrook, we arrived in Philadelphia. The first thing we noticed was the wealth of Phillies fans, flags and World Series advertisements. At each place we stopped, we learned some facts from a few of our classmates and our tour guide.

Our first stop of the day was Independence Hall. Next, we visited the historic Liberty Bell. Then, we went to lunch at The Bourse where some of my classmates indulged in their first authentic Philly Cheese-steak. After lunch we visited places such as Ben Franklin’s grave, Old Christ Church, the United States Mint and the house of Betsy Ross; maker of the American Flag. A long walk later and we found ourselves at the Hard Rock Café for dinner. Our last stop of the day was the King of Prussia Mall where we browsed through the various stores. We then went back to our hotel, swam in the pool, relaxed and watched the Yankees win game two of the World Series against the Phillies.

The next day, we woke up early, had breakfast and readied ourselves for another fun day in Philadelphia. Our first stop of the day was the Benjamin Franklin Institute. We then went over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where we had lunch and then walked around through the various art galleries. Once we finished in there, we went out to the Rocky steps where most people ran up in tribute to Rocky. Next on our visit was the National Constitution Center. There, we visited Signers’ Hall which had statues of all the signers of the Constitution, followed by a presentation about the constitution. Our last stop in Philadelphia was the Spaghetti Warehouse, where we had dinner before embarking on our long trip home.

M.H.S’s FEMALE ATLETE OF THE WEEK: MALLORY PETERSON

By: Chandani Harrindranauth

On behalf of the faculty and students of Millbrook High School, I am proud to congratulate Mallory Peterson on being this week’s featured female athlete. This sophomore sensation, who participated in both Varsity Girls’ Soccer as well as Cross Country this fall, will be participating in States this upcoming Saturday, November 14, for Cross Country. When speaking to Peterson about her feelings on her upcoming race, she responded that she felt somewhat nervous about competing. However, she says just being able to participate makes her feel eager. Peterson’s ambition for the state meet is to finish the race in the Top 10. This wouldn’t be the first time Peterson has demonstrated her strong, yet quiet self-determination to the best at what she does; throughout the Cross-Country season, Peterson took 1st Place multiple times, such as at the Marlboro Dual Meet, Saugerties Meet, and Burnt Hills Meet. In these races, Peterson was able to best approximately 200 girls. Peterson continued to place well throughout the season, making her, in my opinion, a sport star.
When hearing about Mallory Peterson’s achievements and dedication to Cross Country and sports in general, I wondered how such a successful athlete manages to keep her grades up, take part in extracurricular activities, all while participating in multiple sports. Could she really do it all? To answer this question, I interviewed some of Peterson’s teachers on how she presents herself as a student:
“Mallory is a very motivated and talented student. She is very insightful and it reflects off of her work.” -Mrs. Traudt, Grade 10 English

“She is an exceptional musician, top level.” -Mr. Fryer, Band/Jazz Band

“Mallory is a very dedicated student and musician. She is a leader in the chorus. - Miss. Clements, Chorus

In addition to being a hard-working student and a stellar athlete, Peterson participates in Madrigals and plays the trumpet in band. Although Peterson makes everything she does seem, to me, effortless, she insists that it requires a lot of hard work and late night study sessions. When asked if she had any plans yet for college, Peterson responded that she is still mainly unsure, but positive that she would like to play college soccer. As Millbrook’s Cross Country season comes to a close, Peterson has hopes in continuing to beat her personal record. Once again, congratulations to Mallory Peterson for being named this weeks’ female athlete star.

Girls’ Volleyball Wraps Up

By Rita Ouimet

Millbrook Girls Varsity Volleyball had a tremendous season this year. They had several girls win All-Tournament Player awards in the tournaments they attended. Trish McGrath, setter, won the award at a tournament hosted by Carmel High School, and Rita Ouimet, outside, won at Millbrook’s Sectional Warm-Up Tournament. In addition, Samantha Lape won the New York State Player of the Week in August. Millbrook Volleyball made it to the championships at several tournaments they attended, and made it all the way to Section 9 Semi-Finals, where they lost to long-time rivals, Rhinebeck.

AHA Welcomes New Members

By Allison Reid

The members, new and old, of Athletes Helping Athletes are excited for a new year in the program. This year, they plan to continue their service by working with and helping students at Alden Place Elementary and Millbrook Middle School to make positive choices on and off the athletic field. On their upcoming visits, AHA members will be focusing on sportsmanship, civility, and drug and alcohol prevention. Through personal experiences, games, and activities, they hope to further enlighten the young students of Millbrook.

“This is one of the strongest groups we’ve had since the introduction of the program here at Millbrook” said Shawn Stoliker, AHA Coordinator.

New Members

9^th grade:

Monica Koralus

Annie Whalen

Kendra Weller

Emily Koehler

Kyla Karten

10^th grade:

Lucas Lehmkeihl

Melissa Estramera

Mackenzie Whalen

Izzy Oullette

11^th grade:

Andrew Gartleman

Lauren Rollins

Tara Adams

12^th grade:

Caitlin O’Donnell

Returning Members

10^th grade:

Peter Lachance

Mallory Peterson

Max Wilson

11^th grade:

Mary Richwine

Katie Nellis

Allie Kohut

Sara Gagnon

Nick D’Onofrio

12^th grade:

Jonathan Campbell

Anna Gagnon

Kai Germano

Elaina Nellis

Allison Reid

Chrissy Robertson

Nicole Shanks

The Millbrook Cross-Country Team Wraps Up; Two Move on to States

By Jonathan Campbell

10/10/09

Millbrook Central Schools hosted its first Ben Boice Invitational in four years on Oct.10. The turnout for the meet included schools such as Pine Plains, Spackenkill, Florida, and New Paltz. The Girl’s Cross-Country Team placed first overall for girls’ varsity team at the meet. Mallory Peterson medaled for coming in first, and set a new course record. Other medals include Katherine Nellis for coming in 3rd place, and Elaina Nellis for coming in 7th place. For the Boys’ Cross-Country team, Jonathan Campbell medaled for coming in 3rd place. In addition to the modified and varsity races, an open 2.5K race was held for the course, and many Millbrook alumni and staff participated. Millbrook hopes that it can continue this tradition for more years to come.

10/17/09
The Millbrook Cross-Country team raced at the Burnt Hill’s Invitational on Oct.17. The performances for all the team’s participants were outstanding. The Girl’s Cross-Country Team placed 3rd overall. Individually for the girls, Mallory Peterson medaled for coming in 1st place with a time of 18:23, Katherine Nellis medaled for coming in at 5th place with a time of 20:10, Elaina Nellis medaled for coming in at 12th with a time of 20:29, Mary-Kate Bida came in 34th with a time of 21:56, Julia Galantich came in 42nd with a time of 22:36, Kyla Karten came in 43rd with a time of 22:45, Shannon Cox came in 93rd with a time of 26:45, and Emily Bida came in 95th with a time of 27:08. For the Boy’s Cross-Country team, Jonathan Campbell medaled for coming in 5th place with a time of 16:46, and Edward Kiewra came in 127th with a time of 21:27. David Baldwin ran in the Boy’s Junior Varsity Race. Every member of the Millbrook Cross-Country team set personal record times for their performances.

10/30/09
The Millbrook Cross-Country team raced at the MHALs invitational at Ogden Mills on Oct.30. The overall performance for the girl’s team was slightly weaker than expected, but regardless both Mallory Peterson and Katherine Nellis of the Girl’s Cross-Country Team medaled. Mallory Peterson placed 3rd with a time of 19:58 and made the MHALs All-Stars First Team honor. Katherine Nellis placed 20th with a time of 22:14. For the Boy’s Cross-Country Team, Jonathan Campbell medaled by placing 7th with a time of 17:22, and he received the MHALs All-Stars First Team honor.

11/6/09
The Millbrook Cross-Country team participated in its last meet at the Section 9 Invitational at Bear Mountain on Nov.6. Overall performance was superb. For the Girl’s Cross-Country Team, Mallory Peterson placed 2nd with a time of 18:42, Katherine Nellis placed 10th with a time of 20:32, Elaina Nellis placed 21st with a time of 21:51, Julia Galantich placed 27th with a time of 23:01, Mary-Kate Bida placed 29th with a time of 23:08, Kyla Karten placed 36th with a time of 23:45, Shannon Cox placed 51st with a time of 27:08, and Emily Bida was unable to participate due to illness. For the Boy’s Cross-Country Team, Jonathan Campbell placed 4th with a time of 16:40, and Edward Kiewra placed 64th with a time of 23:12. Mallory Peterson and Jonathan Campbell both qualified for the NY State Invitational, and will be running in Plattsburg for this event on November 14th. Congratulations to the entire Millbrook Cross-Country Team! The team would like to thank Coach Keller for all his work and dedication to this sport, and to all the parents and administration for their support.

Millbrook High School’s new “Blazer Chronicle”

The editorial staff and contributing journalists welcome students, staff, parents, friends and the whole Millbrook community to Millbrook High School’s electronic newspaper.  In the coming months, we plan to provide exciting and timely news, sports, and human interest stories that capture daily life and events of which many of you may not be aware.  Check back next week to see our November issue.  We hope you enjoy our product and our efforts!

Editorial Staff

Parent-Teacher conferences

Title: Parent-Teacher conferences
Location: High School
Start Time: 11:50 -3:00
Date: 2009-12-03
End Time: 6:30-8:30

Parent-Teacher conferences

Title: Parent-Teacher conferences
Location: High School
Start Time: 11:50
Date: 2009-11-24
End Time: 03:00