Green Horn

February 22, 2010 Volume 30, Edition 5

The Award-Winning Student Publication of Springfield High School and the Tech Center

Three Teams
Involved in
Project
VISTA
By Sarah Gray

D
uring World War II, Springfield, Vermont, was a
thriving and successful town. Many engineers
lived in town at the time and Springfield’s pro-
duction of machine tools and weaponry made the town
an influential center for manufacturing. Unfortunately,
Springfield has declined since the mid-20th century.
Springfield is now a no-name small town that travelers
on Route 91 pass without a second thought.
To return notoriety to Springfield, Springfield
High School Literacy Coach Kevin Coen, Special Edu-
cation Teacher Elizabeth Goddard, and the Springfield

T
High School Student Council introduced Project VISTA he Cosmos boys varsity soccer team, Division II State Champions this
this autumn. Project VISTA is a chance for teenagers to
team with members of the Springfield community and autumn, visited the Vermont State House in early February. The boys,
act to improve Springfield, Vermont. flanked by their coaches Paul Kendall and Corey Cenate above, talked with
“It’s a combination of a contest and com- Governor Jim Douglas and viewed a session of the Vermont Legislature. The
munity improvement,” Coen said of Project VISTA. team was honored with a proclamation noting their achievement.
See VISTA page 23

What’s Inside: Kevin Anderson Named

Truancy Officer
Bernie
Sanders By Erika Anderson
visits SHS,

S
pringfield High School acquired a truancy officer
p. 5 this past winter. The officer, Kevin J. Anderson,
has been a citizen of Springfield for about 30
Tiny years.
"The position was posted by the Springfield
Dancers in School District for people interested to apply,” Anderson
The Little said. “I was required to submit a resume and three letters
Prince, of reference. I was then interviewed for the position."
A truancy officer is someone who makes
p. 6 sure that students are going to school. Vermont state
law requires that school-age children from 6-16 must
Girls sports go to school for the full number of days that school is
held. New Hampshire lawmakers raised the drop-out
offer valid age in the state to 18, and some schools, like Stevens
competition, As a truancy officer, Kevin Anderson High School in Claremont, New Hampshire, have hired
p. 19 will make sure students get to school.
See Anderson page 20
Green Horn Interview
. Rebecca Skrypeck
Is Five Years and
Counting with
Theatre
R
ehearsals have begun for Rebecca Skrypeck’s we never really had a full fall show my first year here.
tenth show as Springfield High School Drama So, I guess you could say that I directed ten shows,
Club Advisor. You Can’t Take It with You marks and nine of them went to show. Out of those, two of
Skrypeck's fifth year in the position. In addition to them were musicals, and they were the first musicals
directing the spring and fall shows, Skrypeck has also I ever directed.
directed shows for the Springfield Community Play-
ers, and directs SHS student participation in the Page What were those two musicals?
to Stage program at the Weston Playhouse. A native of The first one was Anything Goes, and the second one
Holyoke, Massachusetts, Skypeck came to SHS after was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
receiving her Masters Degree from Ohio University. I worked with Tom Heintzelman [the former SHS Band
She became a full-time teacher in 2005. Director] on the first one, and Jim Chlebak [current
band director] on the second one for music directors.
Green Horn: Please introduce yourself. When we do the third musical next year, I’ll work with
Rebecca Skrypeck: I’m Rebecca Skrypeck, a drama Mr. Chlebak.
and English teacher. One of my favorite ways to describe
myself is to say that I am a drama teacher who teaches Are there any ideas about what that musical might
English, not an English teacher who teaches drama. This be?
is my fifth year at SHS. I’m afraid to put this in print, but I am thinking about
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I’ve also
You’re the Drama Club advisor and director. How always been toying with The Wizard of Oz, and every
many plays have you directed since you came Christmas my mom has been getting me weird Wizard of
here? Oz stuff, so I think she’s pushing me towards doing that.
The show this spring will be about my tenth show. Either way, it’s going to be a huge show. I’ve also always
The first fall one-act I directed never went up. We had played with the idea of doing Alice in Wonderland, but
a number of kids drop out, and they couldn’t do it, so that’s more of a play. The musical is kind of weird and
sketchy. I don’t
think it works as
GREEN HORN STAFF a musical.
A shley Richardson..................... Co-Editor You’ve direct-
O livia Johnson........................... Co-Editor ed a show for
the Springfield
J enny Bradley.......................... Co-Editor Community
S amuel L. Benton.................... Layout Editor Players, cor-
rect?
K elsey Christensen.................... Layout Editor Yes, I directed
L aurel Porter............................. Photography Editor T h e Va g i n a
Monologues by
C ourtney Downing................... Sports Editor Eve Ensler. We
Melissa Tarbell............................ Tech News Editor did two week-
ends over the
----------------REPORTERS--------------- s u m m e r, a n d
Erika Anderson, Ryan Brady, John Forbes, Sarah Gray, raised over a
Sam Hensel-Hunter, Angelo Jardina, Maria Stern, thousand dol-
and Olivia Thayer lars. We gave
about half of
pg  G r e e
By Laurel Porter
that to a women’s violence charity. I also didn’t direct,
but acted in, Crimes of the Heart. I played Babe. I
mostly help out backstage with the Players, and I’m on
the Board. I’m the secretary. They let [the Drama Club]
borrow so much stuff prop and set-wise. It’s really nice
to have a collaborative with them.
What is your role in relation to the Hartness
House?
I directed a dinner theatre. Some students from SHS
participated in it, as did teachers from Riverside. We had
some students from Keene State College participate in
it. It was my first dinner theatre, so the space was weird
to work with, but I was proud. We had a sold-out show,
and people really seemed to enjoy it.
What work have you done with the Weston Play-
house?
I work with the Weston Playhouse not in a profes-
sional capacity but in an educational capacity. When I
first came to SHS, I kind of ended up doing the Page
to Stage program by default. [David] Stern, who was
here before me, had set it up, and I ended up doing it.
Ever since then, every year I’ve been going to either
the Page to Stage teacher conferences and taking the
students to the matinee in the fall. We’ve done the Page
to Stage program for three years, where the student
actors work with staff at Weston and get to perform
for the actors, who put on the show professionally, and
get their feedback. Hopefully next year we’ll be doing
Death of a Salesman.
How have your five years at SHS been so far?
I can’t complain, after thinking about my past jobs. I
don’t think I’ve ever had a job for longer than three
years before, not because I’ve been fired, but because
situations have come up in my life and it’s time to move
on. I may not have wanted to leave those jobs, but it was
time to leave those jobs, for graduate school or anything
else. So, I was kind of freaked out when the three-year
mark hit and I was still working here my fourth year.
And now it’s my fifth year. In some ways, I know it’s
not time to move on. I don’t have that gut feeling that
says “Get out now and start running for the hills!” I’m
happy. I’m content. [My husband and I] have a house.
We have a dog. I don’t miss living in the city.
n H o r n
 News
Tight and Adequate
Budget Is Ready
By Maria Stern

Social studies teacher Angelo Jardina
stands alongside Abraham Lincoln at
the conclusion of Lincoln's talk.
During Lincoln's speech, Jardina
measured himself against the famous
historical figure. Jardina was a
half-inch taller than the 16th President.
T
he school budget in Springfield is a regular topic
of heated debate and disagreements. It is respon-
sible for late-running board meetings and long
deliberations. The 2010-2011 budget is no exception.
One of the challenges in creating this budget
involved balancing payments on the school bond during
tough economic times. In order to make this possible,
the budget was level funded. Level funding means the
2010-2011 budget will not be larger than the 2009-2010
budget. “Although not a formal mandate, the board made
sociated with the bond principal payment.”
The proposed school budget was finalized in
late January at $25,440,521. The obligation to the River
Valley Technical Center is an additional $630,000.
“In order that the 2011 budget does not ex-
ceed the costs contained in the 2010 budget, and honors
contracts with teachers and other staff, cuts had to be
made,” said school board member Marilyn Thompson
in an e-mail.
“The board, administrators, and the budget

Lincoln in
it clear it wanted to level fund operating expenses so that
the only addition to our overall budget was the payment
on our construction bond,” said school board chairman
Larry Kraft in an e-mail.
committee tried to find a way to do the least harm while
maintaining the program,” said Perotti.
Proposed cuts include a guidance counselor
in the elementary schools, the elementary Bridge Pro-

Springfield
“The goal is to adequately fund the budget,
to maintain the integrity of the Springfield School
District's educational program, and not overburden the
local taxpayers,” added Superintendent Frank Perotti in
an e-mail. “That budget was essentially a level funded
By Peter Mike operating budget and only added the new expenses as-
gram, Title I teachers in the elementary schools, a health
clerk, and an athletic trainer at the high school. “There
are cuts in almost every area, from supplies to staffing,”
said SHS Co-Principal Bob Thibault in an e-mail.
Springfield High School officials made
See Budget page 22

T
o a smattering of appreciative applause and
the delightful admiration of students and staff,
Abraham Lincoln delivered a few well-chosen
remarks to social studies classes and teachers in the
Springfield High School Cafeteria the week before
February break.
Lincoln, who turned 191 this February,
was impersonated by Steve Wood, a Claremont, New
Hampshire, native. As Wood recounted in a question-
and-answer session after his speechifying, he has played
Lincoln for about 16 years. His initial performance
as Lincoln occurred as part of a dramatization of the
Lincoln-Douglas debates and inspired his career as
impersonator of the famous 16th President of the United
States.
Lincoln discussed such topics as his read-
ing habits, his son Robert Todd Lincoln (who attended
Phillips-Exeter Academy in New Hampshire), campaign
stops in Manchester and Dover, New Hampshire, his
family, and the Civil War, the "terrible war" as he de-
cribed it.
The talk--spiced with frontier anecdotes and
homespun aphorisms--concluded famously as Abraham
Lincoln read The Gettysburg Address, a speech three
minutes in length, which followed a 2-hour oration at
the dedication of the Gettysburg battlefield in November
of 1863.

After his formal presentation concluded,
Wood explained that it had taken him about two months
to grow his Lincolnesque beard. Additionally, his cus-
tom-made outfit was historically accurate, though since
it was wool, it tended to be "toasty" in warm weather.
Wood also encouraged audience members to read about
Lincoln in such detailed biographies as Lincoln, pub-
lished in 1995, and the more recent Team of Rivals.
N
ick Chlebek practices with Lucas Sheldon on sax. On February 5th and
6th, SHS musicians joined other area band students for the Winter
Music Festival at Windsor High School. Chlebak represented SHS in the
jazz band playing guitar. Erika Anderson, Jen Stein, Emily Mobus, and Brittany
Adnams performed in the District Chorus. These students auditioned earlier this
fall and winter and played with musicians from such schools as Leland and Gray
High School, Woodstock High School, and Bellows Falls High School.

G r e e n H o r n pg 
News
You Can’t Take it With You
A Good Shindig
D
rama is involved in the lives of some high school
students on a daily basis. However, a group of
Springfield High School students are taking
the notion of drama to a new level and staging a spring
production of You Can’t Take It With You.
The play was chosen by Springfield High
School English teacher, drama coach, and director
Rebecca Skrypeck because of its witty script. “I really
liked the script. I was also in the play my senior year
of high school,” Skrypeck said. “I have a lot of seniors
this year. I remember having so much fun with it my
senior year that I wanted to do if for this group's senior
year.”
You Can’t Take It With You, by George S.
Kaufman and Moss Hart, is a comic play with three
acts. The play revolves around the Sycamores, a dys-
functional, yet loving, family living in New York City in
1936. Alice Sycamore, played by senior Eliza Pennell,
is the daughter of Penelope and Paul Sycamore and
the fiancé of Tony Kirby, played by senior John Esden.
Tony’s family is wealthy and distant, so when it comes
time for the two families to meet, Alice is embarrassed
by her family and fears that this could cause trouble
for her relationship with Tony. The play suggests to
the audience that in the end, the materialistic view of
pg  G
By Sarah Gray
Drama Club members study the script
of You Can't Take It With You, a
comedy about the relationship between
two families in 1936. Emily Mobus
(Essie Sycamore) shows character in
body language while Eliza Pennell
(Alice Sycamore) and Jon Esden (Tony
Kirby) stand behind other performers
at rehearsal. Jess Watkins (Penelope
Sycamore) prepares for funny stuff.
life doesn’t matter as much as the people you choose to
spend your life with.
Auditions for the spring production of You
Can’t Take It With You were held on Tuesday, January
5th, and Thursday, January 7th, in the SHS Auditorium.
Skrypeck said there was a large turnout for the play.
“I thought I was going to have too many
students for parts but that was not the case," she said.
"I had enough but I had too many girls. Some of the
male parts will be turned into female parts.”
Assistant director junior Alanna Parker feels
the auditions were successful this year. “We all know
each other from previous plays, so we get along well,”
Parker said.
Senior Emily Mobus auditioned for You
Can’t Take It With You because she knew it was her last
chance to perform in a drama production at SHS. “I
really enjoy being in productions like this,” Mobus said.
Mobus will be playing the role of Essie Sycamore, the
sister of Alice and a ballet dancer, who dances through-
out the entire show.
Sophomore Erika Anderson was unable to
audition for the play because she was performing in
the opera The Little Prince, which was produced at the
Weston Playhouse and the Dorset Playhouse this winter.
r e e
Instead of participating in the cast on stage, Anderson
will be a first-year member of the drama tech crew.
“Since I was unable to audition, I decided,
instead of doing nothing, I would learn to be on tech
crew,” Anderson said. “If I want to get into theater as
a career, then I want to be familiar with every part of
the theater. I want to be well-rounded.”
Sophomore Sam Hensel-Hunter chose to
audition for the spring production because the play
appealed to him as a chance to act out a range of per-
sonalities presented through the characters. “It’s a lot of
fun acting, and it looked like a fun play,” Hensel-Hunter
said. Hensel-Hunter will be playing the roles of Ed
Carmicheal and Donald. Ed is married to Essie, and
Donald is the maid Rheba’s boyfriend.
Junior Laurel Porter auditioned for the play
because she enjoys acting and wanted to have something
to do in her free time. “I like having something to do.
If I don’t have something to do then I feel like I’m go-
ing to die,” Porter said. “I need to have something that
helps me avoid doing something else.”
Porter will be playing the part of Mr. De-
Pinna, an iceman who once stepped into the Sycamore’s
house to speak to Paul Sycamore and then never got
around to leaving. He now resides in the basement and
helps Mr. Sycamore assemble fireworks.
“I came one day to deliver ice and never
left,” Porter said, describing her character.
Barrett Skrypeck will handle set design for
You Can’t Take It With You and Velcea Kae will be in
charge of lighting. SHS Photography teacher Catherine
Moore will be in charge of costumes.
“Mr. [Barrett] Skrypeck is doing the set
design. It is going to look like the inside of a really
cluttered house,” Mrs. Skrypeck said. “A house where
the inhabitants collect a lot of things and people. Very
lived-in. Velcea Kae is our lighting designer and I
haven't had a chance to talk to her yet about her plans.
But we hope to have a lot of great lights. Costumes,
done by Mrs. Moore, are in the progress of being created
and pulled from the costume closet. They are going
to be more representative of character versus time [the
1930s]. It will all come together nicely.”
The play will hit the stage of the SHS Audi-
torium on Friday, March 19th, at 7:00 pm. There will
also be a performance on Saturday, March 20th, at 7:00
pm, and Sunday, March 21st, at 2:00 pm. Students and
faculty involved with the play believe the play will be
a success.
“Of course it will be a success,” Skrypeck
insisted. “The Drama Club here is amazing and hard-
working.”
“We have a lot of good actors, a good direc-
tor, and a good stage crew,” Anderson concluded. “It’s
going to be a good shindig.”
n H o r n
 News
College, Health Care, Economy
Bernie Sanders Wants Students Involved
By Liza Fontaine

A
ge, eye color, social class, hair color, race. None
of it matters: a United States citizen is a United
States citizen. U.S. Vermont Senator Bernie
Sanders spoke with students and staff at Springfield
High School on January 12th about these citizenship
issues in Vermont and the country.
“Everyone who wants to be in higher educa-
tion should be able to [attend college] regardless of their
family’s financial standing,” said Sanders, speaking in
the SHS Auditorium.
In his speech Sanders said that money should
not be an issue when it comes to education for students.
For example, Sanders said the United States is losing
people who could be good doctors because they cannot
afford to go to college.
Sanders said that today, the United States is
facing a crisis: a debt crisis. Paying for college is dif-
ficult when the government’s debt problem is affecting
citizens' back accounts. Sanders wants to help students
who are interested in attending medical school, who
would otherwise go into debt paying for college. He
wants to set up a system by which their debt will be
forgiven.
“Bernie Sanders was right to say everyone
should be able to go to college,” said sophomore Felicia
Graham afterwards. “But college is something to earn
and we would be allowing people, who don’t care, to
get in free.”
Sanders also discussed health care. He said
that all citizens have human rights and that health care
is a human right. He stated that 46 million Americans
do not have health care.
To help more Americans get health care,
Sanders is trying to establish more health centers in
Vermont. He feels that this should not be an economic
concern because health care is a human right and such
care is lacking in the U.S.
At the assembly, Sanders emphasized the
See Sanders page 20

Visiting Artists Enrich SHS

Elissa Campbell
Vermont crafter Elissa Campbell
worked with Rebecca Skrypeck's
freshmen English class making books.
Campbell, from Montpelier, visited
Springfield High School on January
21st and 22nd. The seven classes she
worked with will then incorporate their
classwork into the books. Skrypeck's
class made books of poetry. (Right)
Juniors Felicia Blish and Deanna Beam
make their poetry books.

John Brickels
As part of the SHS Arts Academy
Program, visiting artist John
Brickels helped students sculpt
architeture and machinery models
from January 11-January 14. Though
his strength involves constructing
detailed creative models of machinery
and surreal industrial buildings, he
excels at architectural sculptures.
(Left) Freshman Samir Mann examines
one of Brickel's sculpted robots.

G r e e n H o r n pg 
Features
The Little Prince
Dancing Beyond Generations
By Erika Anderson

G
oing back to school after the holidays is always
a drag. About 400 students rolled out of bed
to get ready for school on Monday, January
4th. However, over holiday break and for a few weeks
afterwards, three Springfield High School students were
sporadically absent from their classes. While they were
racking up absences, these students were at the Opera
Theatre of Weston’s rehearsals for the production of
The Little Prince.
"We started on the 29th learning our dance,"
said SHS sophomore Lauren Fountain, who played the
part of a rose. "We continued rehearsal almost every
day after that."
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint
Exupéry, is a powerful novel which appeals to different
age groups and generations. A pilot crash-lands in the
Sahara Desert and meets the Little Prince, who asks the
pilot, “Please draw me a sheep.” Gradually, in install-
ments throughout the book, the Pilot narrates his story.
With music composed by Rachel Portman, the story is
presented in the form of an opera of the same title.
The Weston theatre performance was direct-
ed by Diana Stugger with musical direction by Angela
Gooch and choreography by Ashley Hensel-Browning.
The performance featured a children’s chorus sung by
local youth and boy soprano Taylor Ampatiellos as the
Little Prince.
SHS senior Eliza Pennell played the part of Lauren Fountain, Erika Anderson, and Eliza Pennell frame a small vignette of
a dancing rose. "We dance in the second act after the their dance performance in the opera The Little Prince. These three Springfield
Little Prince arrives on Earth and meets the snake," she
High School dancers performed in the musical in early January at the Dorset
said in January. "The Prince then wanders into a rose
garden." The Prince is disappointed to find six silly Playhouse and the Weston Playhouse.

Teachers Help with New

roses, as vain and proud as those on his planet. Three
singing roses and three dancing roses make up this
conceited contingent.
Lauren Fountain also played a dancing rose.

Discipline System
This was Fountain’s third performance with the Opera
Theatre of Weston. "I was asked [to participate] by
Ashley Hensel-Browning and gladly accepted," Foun-
tain said. "I have played the role of a number, a frog,
an angel, and now a rose."
The dancing was on pointe, a form of ballet.
The dancers were fortunate enough to be able to dye
By Olivia Thayer
their pointe shoes green. "We dyed them with Sharpies,

which was fun," said Pennell.
A large challenge for students participating
in the opera involved the amount of school they missed.
Students would miss a few hours each day during the
two-week interlude. "Missing school isn't hard if you
stay on top of things," said Fountain afterward. "If you
procrastinate it is more stressful." Fountain felt it was
hard to miss lecture-based classes, however. Pennell
agreed.
"Honestly, it's harder on days when I only
missed a few classes and I was at rehearsal until six,"
Pennell said. "That's because most of my school work
is done at home anyway."
See Prince page 23
pg  G
A
new disciplinary policy took effect on Monday,
January 11th, at Springfield High School. This
new system included a revised disciplinary
section of the SHS Handbook and a new program en-
couraging staff members to take the lead in disciplining
students.
“I felt from the first day that the handbook
wasn’t very clear,” said SHS Co-Principal Robert
Thibault. Thibault felt that the previous version of the
handbook left too much room for interpretation.
“Some of the consequences are different.
Some are more reasonable,” said Thibault, about the
handbook changes. “Mainly it’s just a clearer set of
consequences.” Unlike the old system, the handbook
is now organized by the consequence, not the action.
r e e
For example, the lowest disciplinary action is
a fine payable to the town of Springfield for possession
or use of tobacco on school ground. The punishments
continue through detentions, in-school suspension,
out-of-school suspension, and expulsion. Under each
heading is the action or actions that will result in that
consequence.
“[The handbook] is clearer, which is good,”
said Thibault. “Some may see it as cracking down, but
in my opinion it’s not. It’s just clearer.”
Another part of the new discipline system
is SHS staff involvement. SHS teachers Ruth Haskell,
Sean Sullivan, Belinda Hathorn, Cynthia Knight, Su-
See Discipline page 21
n H o r n

Doug Racine
A 3-Part Plan for Vermont
By Courtney Downing
P
olitics is not a spectator sport” is a line from
Ralph Nader that was quoted by Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Doug Racine when he
visited Springfield High School in early January to talk
with SHS students and staff members about his goals as
possible governor of Vermont.
Racine is no stranger to Vermont politics.
In the mid-1970s, he worked with U.S. Senator Patrick
Leahy. In 1983 he was elected to the first of five terms in
the state legislature as Chittenden County representative.
He has also been a member of the Natural Resources
Committee, Appropriations Committee, and served as
the Senate President Pro Tempore from 1983 to 1992.
In 1996 Racine was elected Lieutenant Gov-
ernor and served three two-year terms in that position.
At the end of his terms in 2002, Racine ran for Vermont
Governor and lost by a few percentage points to the
incumbent James Douglas.
U.S. History teacher Angelo Jardina at-
tended Racine’s January presentation. “He [Racine]
talked about issues that are really important to the
students,” Jardina said. "The texting bill is definitely
a big one for teens everywhere. I also enjoyed how he
kept taking little surveys, such as to see who was 18 and
registered to vote.”
Music teacher Jim Chlebak and junior
Chelsea Howland will help choose an
assistant principal for the high school.
G r e e n H o r
U.S. History student Max Messier said, “I
liked how Racine talked about real student issues that
we think about every day, such as the drinking age and
the texting bill.”
During his talk at SHS, Racine said, “ I think
you guys have been getting a raw deal from the federal
government.” He claimed that young Americans are be-
ing left to pay for just about everything, such as soldiers
going to Afghanistan and health care for the elderly.
Racine plans on solving these problems and making
sure that young people aren't the only ones paying for
societal needs.
“Vermont needs to pay for this stuff now,”
said Racine. “Instead of putting it off and leaving it for
future generations to pay."
If elected governor, Racine plans to keep
three things in mind. First, he wants to maintain the
quality of life in the state. The quality of life describes
the ways Vermonters see themselves and feel about their
day-to-day existence.
The second goal for Racine is to strengthen
the quality of the state infrastructure, creating better
and safer roads and bridges. He also wants to increase
the use and services of broadband around Vermont. In
his presentation, Racine suggested that tourists visiting
A New Assistant Principal
The Process Is Underway
By Olivia Thayer
T
he 2010-2011 school year at Springfield High
School will see another change in administration.
Co-Principal Larry Wight will be retiring after
40 years in education. After Wight’s retirement, current
Co-Principal Robert Thibault will become the principal
and Springfield will hire a new assistant principal.
“The job was posted on schoolspring.com,
a job clearinghouse for educators,” said Thibault.
Over 50 people applied for the job. Not
all of the applicants were licensed in Vermont to be a
principal. Those fifty included three applicants from
the Springfield School District. After selecting the ap-
plicants that were eligible to be principal, a committee
was formed to interview the applicants and narrow the
field more.
This assistant principal selection committee
includes SHS science teacher Amanda Frank, music
teacher Jim Chlebak, English teacher Jen Dodge, math
teacher Cynthia Knight, two SHS students, juniors
Kelsey Christensen and Chelsea Howland, SHS spe-
n pg
Features
Angelo Jardina felt that Vermont
gubernatorial candidate Doug Racine
spoke about issues important to
students, such as a texting bill.
Vermont should be able to use their cell phones while
they are on the chair lifts at ski resorts. If they are un-
able to get such service on the lifts in Vermont, they
may choose a ski resort in Colorado that does have cell
phone service. In this way, if the quality of Vermont's
infrastructure improves, Vermonters may become more
attractive to out-of staters.
Doug Racine wants to improve public
schools in Vermont, promote a better system of higher
education, and encourage more job training. Racine
insists that without his three-fold plan for improving
the state, Vermonters won’t be able to get a good educa-
tion or have a good job. Racine hopes to bring greater
progress to the state by making school more of a priority
for all Vermonters and insisting that job training become
more common than it is today.
cial education teacher Karen Blodgett, SHS librarian
Juliet Loutrel, SHS guidance counselor Kelly Ryan,
River Valley Tech Center Assistant Director Scott Farr,
Springfield School District Superintendent Dr. Frank
Perotti, SHS Positive Parents member Joan Hooke, and
Thibault.
“The teachers and support staff on the com-
mittee were all volunteers,” said Thibault. “Everyone
who volunteered was accepted.” Thibault invited Farr,
Ryan, and Perotti because "each of them would work
closely with the candidate." Christensen was invited
to be on the committee because of her role as student
representative to the school board and Howland because
of her role in the SHS Student Council.
“I wanted to be on the search committee
because serving the needs of student learning in music
and the visual arts is, in many ways, quite different from
supporting learning in other subject areas,” said SHS
See AP page 22

Feature
Grade Point Average
Seeking a Level Playing Field
G
PAs are a hot topic,” said Springfield High
School guidance counselor Kelly Ryan. Some
students obsess over this number configuration
while other students could care less. At Springfield High
School, grade point average is calculated on both a 4.0
and 5.0 scale. All classes count toward a student's total
GPA. This is one of the most common ways to calculate
GPA among public high schools students.
Though this is a common way to determine
GPA, there are errors in this process. Imagine two stu-
dents who both take seven Advanced Placement (AP)
classes. One student has a study hall for his eighth period
while the other takes band. The student who takes band
excels. This student receives an A+ for the class, maybe
even reaches All-States. But the class is on a 4.0 scale
rather than a 5.0 AP scale. This means that their overall
GPA is less than the student who takes 7 AP classes and
then a study hall. Why is this?
Study Hall Student: 7 periods x 5.0 GPA =
35/7 periods=5.0GPA
Band Student: 7 periods x 5.0 GPA + 1 period
band 4.0GPA = 39/8 periods = 4.8 GPA
This is just one example of how this grading
system is flawed. The band student who is taking a full
period day, including band, is penalized in the GPA
compared to the student who is taking 7 periods and
a study hall, which doesn’t count toward their GPA.
Because band is on a different GPA scale the student’s
GPA goes down.
Another imperfection in Springfield
High School’s grading system involves weighted and
un-weighted classes.
“I think that a lot of students are misled into
thinking they can get a B in an AP class and think it’s
an A," said senior and salutatorian Eliza Pennell. "It's
not an A." This means that a B in an AP class is a 4.0
pg  G
By Jenny Bradley & Olivia Johnson
when calculated into one's GPA. But when it comes to
the transcript, it still shows up as a B.
According to Great College Advice, colleges
will look at both one's weighted and un-weighted GPA.
Admissions officers uses the weighted GPA to compare
class rank and determine what academic challenges a
student has faced when it comes to weighted classes.
However, when it comes to comparing performances
among applicants, they use an un-weighted GPA.
“I’ve spoken to different colleges this year.
Some colleges recalculate GPAs to level the playing
field,” said Ryan. “If they didn’t, it would be like com-
paring apples to oranges because some students don’t
have the opportunity to take weighted classes.”
Although students may encounter these
problems, they can easily be overcome. The chances
of one of these errors affecting an acceptance to col-
lege is minuscule. Some students even turn to college
courses to boost their GPA. But this isn’t exactly an
equal opportunity for everyone. Due to financial issues,
academic level, and time restrictions, taking college
classes outside of school can be impossible. But why
do students obsess so much about all this?
“We don’t just want kids to take classes to
boost their GPAs, but to get a well-rounded education,”
said SHS Co-Principal Bob Thibault. Math teacher Sean
Sullivan agrees. “We want to encourage kids to make
decisions that are in their long-term best interest,” Sul-
livan added. SHS Guidance Counselor Kelly Ryan
GPAs are controversial, made more con- suggests that some colleges re-calcu-
troversial by the manner in which these figures are late GPA to level the playing field for
evaluated and used to determine student achievement.
applicants. The guidance department
“It’s never black and white. GPAs not only show col-
leges how hard you have worked, but they show a lot displays brochures and catalogues that
represent college expectations.
See GPA page 23
O
n January 28th, Springfield High School hosted
an American Red Cross Blood Drive, conducted in
conjunction with the Tech Center's Human Services
class. “We are expecting 50 people to donate,” said stu-
dent Jenna Swan during the activity. In order to donate, a
student had to be 17 years old, 110 lbs or more, and over 5
ft and 6 in. “There is always a blood shortage,” said RVTC
Human Services instructor Courtney Lihatsh. “It’s really
good to give back to the community, because you never
know when you will need it.” The class hopes to conduct a
blood drive later this year, in April or May, and perhaps in
the autumn. Junior Max Blake (left) was happy to donate.
r e e n H o r n
 Health
Snacks.
Healthy Bursts of Energy or
Thoughtless Ingestion?
By Ashley Richardson

helps them pay attention

and learn better. "I always
snack about two to three
times a day, because the
food wakes me up when
I'm feeling drowsy," se-
nior Angelo Jardina said.
"My snacks range from
really healthy, like a Cliff
Bar, to junk food, like a
soda and a Snickers bar.
I eat whatever, whenever,
because I need the energy.
Plus, I eat the three large
meals a day, so I'm always
eating something."
Many students
don't actually think about Silas Farrar doesn't snack. He eats
the food they eat through- breakfast around 10 or 11, and always
out the day as snacks, just
as boosts of energy to lunch and supper. Soda, particularly
Vending machines serve as a dispenser for snacking needs. make it through the rest Mountain Dew, is his substitute.
of the school day, and then
They can provide one with food ranging from gum to through sports practices. never had a cavity."
Cheez-Its and drinks ranging from soda to water. "I don't really care what For many teenagers, a packed schedule keeps them
I eat throughout the day, from eating entire meals at the dinner table. Instead,

1
0 o’clock in the morning, after school, 8 o’clock at because I just burn it off during basketball practice," these athletes, dancers, and actors tend to grab a quick
night, and midnight--all prime times for snacking. senior Amanda Aberle said. "I try to be healthy. But if snack before practice, and then something small after,
Twinkies, fruit snacks, carrot sticks, and apples-- I'm tired, and lacking energy, I'll drink a soda to wake without getting the full effect of a nighttime meal. “It’s
all prime snacking items. While most Springfield High me up." kind of awkward to eat a big meal, like dinner, at night
School students and staff don’t have a set time to begin According to the New York Times, 42 percent because of my dance schedule, but I always eat breakfast
their daily snacking, they pack munchies along in their of Americans snack three or more times a day. And, in and lunch, and then snack throughout the rest of the day,"
bag to eat throughout the day. a recent survey, the number of children who ate three Pennell said. "I bring my own snacks to school, because
“I don’t have a set schedule that I follow every meals a day declined, while children who snacked went they're healthy and fresh."
day for snacking, but I do try to eat something healthy up more than 40 percent. "I don't really snack through- Although most students and staff members at
every three hours,” senior Eliza Pennell said. "Usually out the day, because I leave 4th period to go home and Springfield High School snack throughout the day,
I just snack on fruit or granola bars throughout school make lunch," senior Autumn White said. "I eat lunch and it is proven to be healthier for you to eat smaller
hours to keep me energized." and usually breakfast. And then after school I sometimes meals about six times a day, new studies are showing
Freshman Angelina Mei agrees with Pennell. eat a healthy snack. I either have peanutbutter crackers, that as children are growing up, their eating habits are
She doesn't have a schedule for her snacking, but tends cereal, or peanutbutter on toast with bananas on it." getting worse.
to eat a snack once a day. "I don't have a set time for my Other students, however, choose not to snack “I don’t agree with that,” senior Matt Mitch-
snack, but I eat Goldfish about once a day, whenever I throughout the day, and just eat three regular meals in ell said. “When I was growing up, I would constantly eat
feel like it," Mei said. "They're not that great for me, so the morning, afternoon, and nighttime. "I always eat fruit roll-ups or candy. But now that I’m older, I make
I only eat them once a day." breakfast and lunch, and almost always dinner, but I healthier choices. Now, instead of junk food, I snack
Snacking throughout the day, whether you’re never snack," sophomore Kristin Cook said. "Instead on trail mix or fruit. I can’t say I never eat junk food,
munching on an apple or a granola bar, is proven to be of snacking, I drink water all day. It's healthy, and it however, because I still eat a lot of candy. But I think
healthier for you than just limiting yourself to three keeps me full." that teenagers in high school do so much, and have so
large meals a day. “I always eat breakfast, lunch, and "I don't snack," senior Silas Farrar said. "I don't many extracurricular activities, that whatever junk food
dinner, and I snack once or twice between those meals,” eat breakfast until 10 or 11, and usually by then I eat we do eat is burned off quicker than we consume it.”
senior Emily Mobus said. “I usually snack on apples more of a lunch. If I eat too early, I get sick. Most days
and crackers, because if I don’t eat, I’ll faint from low I eat lunch, and I always eat dinner, but I don't snack Favorite Snacks? Goldfish, granola
blood sugar.” throughout the school day. When I get home, I drink bars, Cheez-Its, peanutbutter
Bringing a snack to school, and eating it between soda, and that fills me up. Mountain Dew is like liquid
in all forms, and Mountain Dew.
classes, or during a class, wakes up some students and food. I drink at least three cans of soda a day, and I have

G r e e n H o r n pg 
Columns
I
am a vessel.
I carry all of the normal internal organs,
140 pounds of weight, five feet and four inches of
height. I carry plain brown hair on my head, and faded
freckles on my face. I carry a song stuck in my head,
the same lyrics playing on repeat for hours, days. I
carry incoherent phrases in my mind, longing to be put
down on paper. I carry a history of experiences, some
struggling to be remembered, some casually slipping
into the corners of my mind, begging to be forgotten.
I carry a pair of plastic, blue-rimmed glasses,
Examining Existence
An Ode to Public Radio
By Kelsey Christensen
I
often find myself mentioning stories that I heard
on National Public Radio to people of intellectual
superiority. In fact, I’m more often trying to impress
people when I say anything to the tune of “Did you hear
that story about [insert something vaguely interesting]
on NPR the other day?” than I am honestly informing
someone about something relevant to them because Na-
tional Public Radio has such street credit with scholarly,
interesting intellects.
Listening to NPR is an activity more geared
at providing myself with intellectual ammunition than
it’s geared towards educating myself about news and art.
When I’m tuned in to the station, a story will keep my
attention and engage me. However, I’m also thinking,
“I can’t wait to tell [insert person I respect] about this.
Or drop it in a class discussion when it’s relevant. They
will think I’m so smart.”
I was recently guilty of this habit when
I proudly reported to my chemistry teacher that the
guys on Car Talk, a call-in show in which people are
advised on car troubles by exuberant hosts Tom and Ray
pg 10
Accepting Ambiguity
The Things I Carry
By Jess Watkins
and when I place their lenses over my eyes, the world's
edges no longer blur, but come together to form a vivid
picture of clarity. These glasses are a fairly new addition
to the plethora of things I carry, but they have quickly
become my crutch; the object I most rely on to give me
accurate perceptions of the world. But are the percep-
tions my glasses give me really accurate, when they
consist of manufactured lenses to aid in proper vision?
How can a pair of glasses be more accurate than what
I am designed to see? They are synthetic vision, yet
objects at a distance would be unidentifiable to me, if
not for them.
I carry a cell phone, because what am I
supposed to do without one in this day and age? Cell
phones have become one of our biggest and easiest ways
of communication. They have also become a necessity
for safety in this world of violence. Residing in my
pocket, my cell phone provides me with easy access
for help in an emergency. Cell phones have become
tools that we believe will protect us. Yet I feel like my
cell phone traps me. Anyone can call me at any time.
They have the power to interrupt whatever I'm doing.
Is it ridiculous of me to think that my cell phone exerts
power over me? Maybe.
I carry a pen, to write down all of the insig-
nificant things I have to do. I carry chapstick, because I
can't stand when my lips are dry and cracked. I carry an
Magliozzi, had cracked a chemistry joke. When they
announced the show’s 800 number before an ad break,
Tom and Ray said “And if you want to call Avogadro,
his number is 6.02 x 1023.” For those chemically-dis-
inclined, 6.02 x 1023 is the number of items in a mole,
and a mole of any given element will weigh its atomic
mass in grams. Maybe this joke would have been less
appealing to me if I couldn’t impress an intelligent
person with it.
Actually, when I select a radio station, I con-
sider NPR with a dose of subconscious dread. I typically
end up choosing mixed CDs of catchy drivel (one of my
CDs includes the recent pop singles “Rock that Body”
by the Black Eyed Peas, “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga,
and “She Wolf” by Shakira) over programs of NPR.
This causes me a little bit of guilt, though. I imagine
my brain will rot into oatmeal as a result of making the
wrong listening choice. Listening to NPR is like eating
vegetables: I do it because I know it’s good for me, and
sometimes it can be tolerable bordering on enjoyable.
There are NPR programs, however, which I
G r e e
iPod, so I can retreat from reality temporarily. I carry a
water bottle, and because of this I probably drink more
water than most people.
These are just the physical things I carry,
material objects that don't hold much importance in
the scope of the world. They don't define me, they don't
contribute to who I am. Sometimes, the things that we
carry that no one can see are the most important. We
carry invisible things in our minds, hearts, souls, and
these things are definitive of the truth. These things are
the most revealing. They show great depths about a
person.
I carry a propensity for procrastination.
Maybe I was born with it, or maybe somewhere along
the lines it got written into the mechanics of how I
function. Regardless of how my procrastination began,
there's nothing I can do to stop it. It incessantly compels
me to do everything other than what must be done. I
dread doing the most minute things, which leads me to
put them off as long as possible. In doing this, I put an
exorbitant amount of stress upon myself that is unneces-
sary. But I continue to do it. This results in a constant
weight of worry, a heavy burden I bear which never goes
away. I am stuck in a perpetual state of procrastination,
and it's so embedded in my habits of life, I don't know
See Ambiguity page 21
honestly enjoy. For example, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me
is a hilarious, fast-paced, verbal weekend NPR program
about current events. With host Peter Sagal and score-
keeper Karl Kassel, the news and trivia is delivered with
clever spontaneity on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Despite
its silliness, this show serves the purpose of teaching one
quick anecdotes while offering entertainment. For ex-
ample, in late January, during the Not My Job challenge,
a quiz during which contestants are offered three absurd
See Manifesto page 22
n H o r n

Welcome To...
Mind Over Matter
By Melissa Tarbell
I
n the past, people who claimed to have extraordinary
powers were thrown into psyche wards and were
considered unworthy of living with normal folks.
But what is it that makes them the unworthy ones?
According to some theories, these people—psychics,
clairvoyants, etc.—actually have the special ability to
access unique parts of their brain.
The brain is the organ in our bodies that
scientists know the least about, despite much progress in
brain research. What scientists do know about the brain
is that humans use very little of it. So why shouldn’t
this be a legitimate explanation for these extraordinary
abilities some people have?
For example, I often have what I like to call
blank moments. Sometimes I get thinking about my
name or voice or I look really intently in the mirror at
myself and it triggers a state of mind that is frightening.
It is like an out-of-body experience: I get thinking about
my existence without actually thinking about it. It is just
a feeling. In one sense it is kind of neat, having a differ-
ent perspective on life, viewing myself from the outside.
However, I feel as if I can get stuck in this state of mind
because it is really hard to come back to reality.
I mention this personal situation because I
I
n a way, it’s incredibly strange to me that we describe
a human feeling as “alive.” We’re always alive, until
we die. So what is it about first kisses, speeding,
sneaking out, meeting new people, watching a sunrise,
taking a run in the rain just because … what is it about
those circumstances that makes us feel more alive than
those circumstances of going to work, doing the dishes,
and watching reruns of Friends?
Technically, we’re just as alive when we
G r e e n H o r
had one of these moments the other day and I realized
that I could feel it happening in a different part of my
brain. Maybe it sounds absurd, but I felt like this was oc-
curring in a part of my brain that I don’t usually access.
That’s probably where the whole out-of-body experience
part comes from. I’m not used to using that part of my
brain so it feels foreign to me. It’s just a theory of mine,
but it makes sense.
Anyway, this realization made me wonder if
maybe all humans are capable of doing amazing things.
But we just don’t know how to unlock the rest of our
brain. It is all stored in our brains somewhere. For any-
one who believes in reincarnation, I bet the memories of
our past lives are locked away in our brains. This would
explain déjà vu. When you experience déjà vu, you are
just getting glimpses of something from another part of
your brain, from your past life. Since our consciousness
can’t engage these areas at will, there is no explaining
them.
Again, the brain is mysterious. We can never
know all its capabilities. So why rule out the ability to
see the future, read someone’s mind, or move objects
just by using our mind?
Intuition is another amazing capability of the
Finding Serendipity
Staying Alive
By Eliza Pennell
load up a dishwasher as when we catch raindrops on
our tongue.
But at the same time, we’re just … not. The
things that make us feel alive often make the heart beat
faster. They often make us think more. They make
us uncomfortable, sometimes. We might burn more
calories and feel deeper emotions. It’s almost as though
those alive moments require extra power. You live more
in a shorter period of time.
There’s something untouchable about alive
moments; I don’t think we can really explain them. The
most concise way I can describe the feeling personally
is by calling it a full feeling. I feel like I’m full of ev-
erything: light, rain, stardust. Life. It almost feels like
the universe, or God, or whoever, decides that I’m just
not filled up enough with stuff. So they shoot it into
me.
I feel this way most often when I perform.
Sometimes I feel like I could just about explode. It’s an
otherwordly experience for me; sometimes I can’t even
remember what happened on-stage:
“Did I even do the right dance?”
“Did I say that line right?”
n pg
Column
mind. In some way, individuals can link their minds to
the minds of others. I know someone who had a brother
who died. At the moment he died, she felt it. It was
the middle of the night and she didn’t know anything
about his death at all, but somehow she just knew what
had happened. Sure enough, her brother had died that
night.
I bet the brain is capable of so much, and
See Welcome page 20
But then I’m off-stage again for a while, and
I conserve life. I put on the sweatpants. I go to work
and school. I clean my room. It’s funny, these things
are real life—but they can’t make me feel as alive as
when I am on-stage.
It's strange. It almost seems that those full,
alive moments are worth more than all the other mo-
ments. Performing. Checking your e-mail. Or travel-
ing. For example, I spent three weeks at dance camp
over the summer. I can't explain it, but since then, I feel
like I haven't done half as much living. I just don't do as
much. Or I just do tedious things, rarely experiencing
anything new or exciting.
So I like to think those three weeks at dance
camp--and other huge, exciting times in my life--have
made me who I am more than, say, my typical breakfast
and weekend activities. I want it to be that way, anyway.
But maybe the most basic, most boring, aspects of life
have more to do with who a person becomes.
Who knows, really? Either way, I'll take
those monumental, inspirational, scary, overwhelming
experiences as often as I can.
11
Reviews
Avatar
Spectacular Visuals
Disguise Average Movie
By Sam Hensel-Hunter
settlers. Pandora’s humanoid inhabitants seem straight
from Africa. The big blue people are called Na’vi. They
stand a whopping 10 feet tall and speak in their own
language combined with a broken English that seems
stereotyped to accents of less-than-educated Africans,
an aspect of Avatar that, coupled with the loincloth look
of the Na’vi, seems like a negative comment on Third
World tribes. The protagonist of Avatar is Jake Sully,
a paraplegic ex-marine who is brought to Pandora to
replace his dead brother. Sully is introduced to the scien-
tists who are working to improve human Na’vi relations
with the Avatar program. The movie’s namesake comes
from the genetically-engineered Na’vi-human hybrids
that are controlled by highly-trained scientists in special
Avatar’s budget remains unknown. Estimates
range between $200-$300 million, possibly making it
the most expensive film ever made. There’s no question
that Avatar looks spectacular. The creative film utilizes
manufactured imagery that doesn’t look out of place
when mixed with live actors.
Avatar’s step forward in technology and
photorealistic imagery could be the first in a wave of
similarly-generated films. But really, can we call some-
thing that is created almost solely on a computer a film?
Reels, celluloid, and prints are words that are in danger
of being replaced by Mo-Cap, render, and green screen
in the film industry.
Is this departure from the roots of film

T
he latest box office buster from James Cameron pods who tune into their brainwaves. because of what we’ve done to our world? Do we see
was unleashed to the popcorn public on Decem- The scientists on Pandora are working with it as something tattered and spent to the point that we
ber 18th. Two months later, Avatar holds the a sinister corporation that is making a killing on a pre- have to create new worlds that we can blissfully watch
record for highest grossing movie of all time and picked cious stone, creatively-named unobtanium. The major- while we forget the state of our own environment? Even
up the Golden Globe award for best drama as the movie ity of Pandora’s unobtanium lies under the homes and with all its purported liberal and green messages, Avatar
immersed audiences deep in the forest moon of Pandora. spiritual grounds of the Na’vi who have a tendency to manages to keep far enough away from relevance to
Pandora’s air knocks out humans after half a minute and fill bothersome settlers with yard-long arrows. To keep keep its profits high and controversy low.
kills them in four. The inhabitants are no less hostile. unobtanium extraction on track, the corporation employs
Mammoth beasts that are reminiscent of animals from scores of private military contractors who operate with
See Avatar page 23

Humor
the jungles and plains of Africa are a threat to human indiscreet violence against the native culure.

Surviving Apocalyptia
Fear Itself
By John Forbes

L
ast edition I informed readers that fire was inef-
fective against zombies because they don't feel
fear. Those of us who are alive, however, do
feel fear, and that is precisely why zombies present
such a threat. The more you fear something the more
dangerous it is. In fact, most deaths involving zombies
typically occur due to the victim's frightened hesitation.
Why hesitate, though? Zombies can't be that scary, can
they? Then again, stagnant animate corpses do tend to
be frightening, mainly because they're grotesque and
rotten. Allow me to elaborate.
Our fear of zombies stems primarily from
our fear of death. Death, after all, is the most frighten-
ing thing about the human condition, and zombies are
a living manifestation of death. They require no form
of sustenance. They cannot be reasoned with. And they
are absolutely inescapable. How is knowing this going
to help you? It should harden your perspective and stem
pg 12
any hesitations you may have had in destroying the
undead menace.
Another factor is the viral threat that zombies
represent. Imagine any terminal illness. Now imagine
that this illness is highly contagious, and now imagine
that everyone who has this illness is trying to give it to
you. There's no hope for the development of a vaccine
because the illness immediately shuts down all of the to remember some things: there is no cure and zombies
host’s bodily functions, preserving only the parts it re- are not capable of remembering or even thinking. So
quires to live. It's a chilling thought, but maybe knowing go ahead and end their mockery of life, because if you
this particular fear will help you overcome it when the don’t they’ll end your genuine life.
zombies start gnawing on your door. Zombies also have a more active method of
There can also be a sort of emotional attach- striking fear into our hearts. Zombies have a tendency to
ment, not to the zombies per se, but to the people they let out a sort of low moan when they spot a victim. This
once were. This isn't so frightening, but it is emotionally can catch the inexperienced human off-guard because
trying. Shooting a friend or family member can be dif- it’s just pretty creepy, and it frightens the seasoned
ficult, even if they're a decaying pile of flesh. If you're
ever challenged with this circumstance it's important See Apocalyptia page 23
G r e e n H o r n

My Aim is True
(Elvis Costello; 1977)
By Samuel L. Benton
I
n 1977 Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacMa-
nus, a name almost as full as his lyrics) exploded
into the rock scene with his debut album My Aim Is
True. Did I say exploded? I meant to say “talked his
way into.” Armed with his guitar, Buddy Holly glasses,
enough words to put the dictionary to shame, and a name
borrowed from the King of Rock N’Roll, Costello let
his presence be known like that kid in the back of class
who just won't stop talking.
The lyrics of My Aim Is True can be a lot
of fun. Costello packs his verses tight, so that words
spill out like a really-cheesy grilled cheese. The wordy
lyrics, combined with Costello’s unconventional voice
(not great, but hey was Dylan's? Morrison’s?) produce
a geeky sound (or maybe that’s just his glasses). Dig
these lines from “Miracle Man”: "Yet everybody loves
you so much, girl/ I just don't know how you stand the
strain/ Oh, I, I'm the one who's here tonight/ and I don't
wanna do it all in vain.” I like that. A lot. In fact, I
like a lot of the lines this guy writes, some simple and
nice like “Alison,” his second single which contrary
to popular belief is about “disappointing somebody”
(Elvis’ Words), not a murder.
Of course some lines are more complex,
though not to the extreme, like the lyrics to “Less Than
S
ince the turn of the century new video games
have been produced as fast as rain falls from the
sky. Some games are designed to be futuristic
and mythical, while others focus on the reality of life
or, in most cases, war.
One game line in particular that has focused
on the reality of war is Call of Duty, also known as
CoD. This year Activision, the producers of the CoD
G r e e n H o r
Zero,” the album’s first single which is apparently about
former British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosley.
Example: “Calling Mr. Oswald with the swastika tattoo
/ There is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo /
Carving "V" for "vandal" on the guilty boy's head/ When
he's had enough of that, maybe you'll take him to bed /
To teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead.”
That’s a mouthful, and being some of my least favorite
lyrics on the album, they leave a bittersweet taste.
Bittersweet taste aside (and a paragraph as
wordy as Costello), his lyrics get a passing grade, but his
music will bring down his GPA. It’s not bad, but it’s not
so good either. Frankly, it’s kind of a bore. There isn’t
much to hold your attention and Costello really threw it
on the backburner focusing on his lyrics instead. Maybe
it’s because he didn’t have his own backup band yet (his
backup band for this album was made up of members
of Clover), or maybe it’s because he just didn’t know
any better, but musically there is little to hold your at-
tention. With Costello’s next album, This Year's Model,
he formed his backup band, the Attractions. I haven’t
heard it yet, but I’m hoping that the backup band was
the majority of his problem.
The music has a rock n’ roll feel (which I
dig), and maybe a slight bit of punk in it (very slight:
Modern Warfare 2
A Gamer's Call to Duty
By Angelo Jardina
games, released the sixth game of the series Call of
Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Each of the CoD games have
been based on the soldiers and battles of World War II.
But in 2007, Activision creators decided to base their
games on something more modern, hence the creation
of CoD Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2.
Critics and gamers alike all across the world
waited for the release of Modern Warfare 2 this past
November. They had the same question in mind: “Will
this game live up to the hype behind the first Modern
Warfare?” Their question was answered with a definite
yes when the sales went through the roof. In November
alone, six million copies of CoD Modern Warfare 2 were
sold. During December, this was the largest-selling game
across the world.
If you are looking for the best-selling game,
then CoD Modern Warfare 2 is the game to get. How-
ever, if you are not someone who wants to invest many
hours into online game play, this isn’t the game for you.
Yes, the campaign which continues the plot and story
board of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Spec Ops
n pg
Review
others see it more than I do). What really stuck with me
were the bass parts of “Welcome to the Working Week”
and “Miracle Man,” and the guitar part to “Alison.”
They’re my three favorites on the album. Who would
of thought? The ones with a closer balance of words and
music are the more enjoyable songs, a lesson Costello
needs to learn. If you’re not a big fan of Costello, you
may have trouble getting through a single song, let alone
My Aim Is True in its entirety.
In the end My Aim Is True gets a passing
grade of B+. It's not a great grade, but My Aim Is True
isn't a great album. It's good, no doubt, but I strongly
disagree with anyone who calls it one of the best albms
of all time (Rolling Stone ranked it 168 on their top
500 albums list.) At first it may seem to be impossible
to make it through, but give it a couple more listens. It
may grow on you.
missions, which vary from killing mindlessly as waves
of enemies pour on you to crawling through the grass
incognito, are entertaining. But Modern Warfare 2 is
widely known for its online multiplayer interaction.
It will give you a plethora of weapons and
perks to suit any game player and offers different game
modes to allow experimentation. Different weapons can
be paired with certain perks to make the ideal weapon
class. For example the Famas, which fires short bursts
if equipped with scavenger, stopping power, and ninja,
allows you to empty strong bursts into your opponents
without having to worry about running out of ammuni-
tion or being heard.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of
those games that will either suck you in or spit you out.
You will either be good at it or you will not. However,
it provides plenty of entertainment either way. Call of
Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a must-try game. Even if you
are not that great, it’s a game like no other that cannot
be passed up.
13
Sports
Mike Hatt Leaves Football
Cites Achievements, Athletic Director Duties
By Ashley Richardson

M
ike Hatt, the
coach who led
his Springfield
High School Varsity foot-
ball team to a state cham-
pionship title in 2008,
for the first time in over
60 years, and to the state
championship game in
2009, has resigned from
his head football coaching
position.
“I never in-
tended to be the football
coach at SHS,” Hatt said. Mike Hatt
“I have only coached be-
cause we needed a coach at various times over the last
15 years. I coached football from 1995-1997, 2001,
and 2006-2009. Obviously I will miss coaching Friday
nights at Brown Field. The thing you will always miss
the most as a coach is the relationships you develop
through athletics between players, parents, coaches,
and officials.”
Hatt, although he didn't intend to be the
football coach, is the only football coach in SHS history
to defeat rival Bellows Falls in four consecutive years.
In 2006, the Cosmos defeated Bellows Falls 13-6; in
2007, 32-24; in 2008, 39-14; and in 2009, they faced
Bellows Falls twice, defeating them in regular season,
19-18 and in the semi-final game, 34-21.
“The key to the last two football seasons,
and going to States both years, is simple. We had great
kids,” Hatt said. “Our players’ work ethic and attitudes
were terrific. One of the most gratifying things for me
as their coach is how much our players really know
about the game. Our coaches and players have done a
tremendous job in teaching and learning the game.”
Because of the coaching staff, including
assistant coach Richard Saypack, who is also stepping
down this year, many Cosmos athletes have been rec-
ognized around the state for their achievements on the
gridiron.
“Seeing so many athletes receive league,
state, and in some cases, national recognition for their
achievements, is a highlight of my coaching career,”
Hatt said. “It’s also a pleasure seeing so many of SHS’s
past students college education enhanced by their in-
volvement in our athletic programs.”
Throughout Hatt’s coaching career, which
has spanned 27 years, many of his highlights as a coach
remain at Springfield High School, and most of them
involve football, even though basketball remains his Football coach Mike Hatt reached great heights with his teams over the last two
first love.
“I had many highlights during my coaching
years. In top photo, he honors the 2008 state champion football team during a
career,” Hatt said. “Being a part of the 2008 state foot- basketball game in Dressel Gymnasium. Bottom, he works as the SHS Athletic
Director. Hatt resigned his football coaching position this autumn.
See Hatt page 22

pg 14 G r e e n H o r n
 Snowboarding
Snowboard
Twists and
Turns
By Ryan Brady

A
s many know, Norwich,Vermont native Kevin
Pearce was injured in December while prepar-
ing for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Pearce was
injured while attempting a double cork, which is an
inverted double back flip. His accident has alerted the
public about the dangers of snowboarding and skiing.
Pearce’s level of snowboarding is extremely
dangerous. But he isn’t the only one who has to be wary
of the dangers of winter sports like skiing and snow-
boarding. Many students at Springfield High School
head to local mountains, such as Okemo and Ascutney,
and even as far away as Killington, each weekend to
enjoy the slopes. As fun as skiing and snowboarding From left, Snowboarding Team Coach Dallas Brown, Trevor Olney, Mark Xu,
are, however, they come with a certain level of danger. Brittany Durham, Josh Olney, Forrest Jade, Marky Hall, and James Short get
As suggested by Pearce's accident, the injuries of skiers
and snowboarders can range from broken wrist or turned crazy before the Killington slope-style competition on February 5th. This fiesty
ankles to Pearce’s major concussion. band of winter athletes had eight meets scheduled for their season competition.
“I’ve never been injured skiing,” said

Snowboard Team
freshman Jordan Crowley “I don’t think I’ve been with
anyone who’s been injured either. I’ve heard of people,

See Danger page 20

Sliding to the Big Match

By Michael Whittemore

Kevin Pearce flies high over the half-
pipe. Pearce seriously injured himself
in Utah as he trained for the Olympic
Trials in snowboarding.
I
n mid-January, Springfield High School snow-
boarders busted tricks at Okemo Ski Resort to
prepare for their first match of the season. Boarders
Dylan Patrie, Michael Whittemore, Josh Olney, Mark
Xu, and Jordon Pfenning, a recent addition to the team,
and SHS snowboard coach Dallas Brown, practiced
to sharpen their skills for their first meet, Wednesday,
January 27th, at Okemo in Ludlow, Vermont.
The SHS boarders mainly rode trails Sap-
phire to Timberline then on to Upper Mountain Rd,
ending at the Dew Zone. With this trail run, the Cosmos
boarders were able to practice racing speed, jumps and
rails, and most important, the Super Pipe.
“It’s one thing to just ride a rail,” said Pfen-
ning, “and another to ride a rail and gain points.”
The team members took each obstacle that
they knew they would be facing in their match and
worked on each one individually.
First the team worked on jumps. The main
idea for jumps is to get big air. But to beat the other
teams, the boarders need more than that. In addition to
a basic jump, the team starts practicing simple board
grabs. For example, a tail grab occurs when a boarder is
in the air and he grabs the back end of his or her board
and holds it for a few seconds, then releases and lands.
Even though these grabs are small and simple, they add
a few points to a boarder’s score.
Next, the team worked on rails and boxes.
But they did not simply ride across the rail or box. They
continuously look for ways to add points to their final
score. There are many other tricks a boarder can do on
a rail or box such as spins or 180s.
Last, the team worked in the half pipe. The
main thing that they worked on involved riding the
pipe. Then they added the tricks in later. It looks like
an easy thing to do, airing out of the pipe and coming
back down. After tumbling a few times, the boarders
soon find out that this is not true. When the team was
comfortable with riding the pipe, they continued to add
tricks to their repertoire.
By that time in practice, the boarders were
sick of just doing simple grabs so most of them worked
on 180s and other tricks. The day finally ended with a
last run down Timberline and through the pipe.

G r e e n H o r n pg 15
Sports Opinion
Haruka Sato, Chelsea Wheeler, Lauren
Fountain, and Cody Lynch pose during
practice. The Dance Team participated
in the State Competition on Feb.13th at
Rice High School in Burlington,
competing in the jazz and hip-hop
division. To prepare for this competi-
tion, the team danced at basketball
games this winter.
Dancers
Tip-Toeing Into Sports
By Lauren Fountain
For many people, dance is considered an art
form, not a sport. When many people think of sports,
one may think of football, basketball, or even baseball,
but dance is never a word that crosses one’s mind.
“I don’t consider dancing around on your
toes to be a sport,” said Springfield High School sopho-
more Dan Davis. He, and many other students, share a
similar opinion on this topic.
However, some people offer different opin-
ions. “I believe dance is a sport,” said junior Ryan Gott-
schalk. “Dancers exercise and work just as hard as other
athletes.” Gottschalk’s opinion is shared by freshman
Tim Hildreth and sophomore Mike Whittemore, who
agree that dance is a sport, yet not a common one.
Many people form their judgments about
When people think of dance, one may envi-
sion girls gallivanting across the stage in pointe shoes
and a tutu. However, this is not always the case. There
is much more to dance than simply ballet. The many
types of dance include jazz, modern, lyrical, hip-hop,
tap, and ballroom dancing. When people think of dance,
one may think of slow classical music, which seems to
be less popular for many people.
Many people don’t understand the strength
that is required to be a dancer and the demands the sport
can make on one’s body. Although football players are
on the field trying to perfect their tackle, dancers are in
the studio trying to perfect their double pirouette.
“Dancing takes talent, perseverance, and
dedication. These are three important factors every

P
ractice makes perfect. These are the words that
many dancers hear every time they take to the
floor. Dancers memorize steps through repeti-
tion. The art of dance is difficult to master. So, why
don’t people place dance in the same sport category as
football or basketball?
dance without seeing how dancers actually perform.
Dance is very competitive. Many dance team students
participate in competitions during the month of January,
and participate in the state competition during February.
The Springfield Dance Team won States in 2007 and has
maintained a high record of success in competitions in
the following years.
person participating in a sport must share,” said SHS
graduate Ashley Fountain, who danced in the role of the
Sugar Plum Fairy last December. “I feel dance should
be placed in the same category as every other sport
because dancers are required to be physically fit, attain
knowledge of the art, and share their passion with their
audience.”

National Signing Day

Who Will You Sign With?
By Maria Stern

A
table with a microphone and four baseball caps
spaced strategically across it stands in a high
school gymnasium. Chairs are set up like a press
conference. A high school athlete files in with his parents
and high school coach. They all sit down facing the
crowd, the student in the center. Flash photography il-
luminates the beads of sweat on his forehead. The athlete
reads a prepared statement, which he labored over.
“Before I make my selection I would like
to thank my parents for supporting my athletic and
academic endeavors and my coaches for pushing me
to run that extra sprint. Without them, I would not be
sitting here, making this decision today. Thank you
to all the schools who have expressed interest in me,
especially the four schools I am choosing from today:
the University of Texas, the University of Alabama,
the University of Notre Dame, and the University of
Southern California. And last, but not least, I thank God
for blessing me with my athletic talents.” The athlete
takes a deep breath.
“After much consideration, and discussion
with my parents, I have decided…gosh is it warm in here
or is it just me?” The athlete slowly unbuttons a long
pea coat and whips it off with a flourish. Underneath is
pg 16
a rust-orange t-shirt with the white Longhorn symbol
stretched across the chest. The Texas coach lets out a
whoop of glee. The USC coach storms out of the gym.
The Alabama coach shakes his head, trying to figure out
where he went wrong. The Notre Dame coach shakes
hands and congratulates the Texas coach. Beside the
athlete the mother is beaming, and the father grins
proudly. The high school coach places a contract in
front of the athlete, who signs it with emphasis. Then
they pose for pictures.
While the above scenario is fictitious, it is
not far from the actual National Signing Day festivities.
On this hallowed sports day, major prospects are given
a few moments in the spotlight on national television.
However, a head coach could not attend a National Sign-
ing press conference unless it was held on their campus,
due to NCAA rules. It is more likely that a coach would Angelo Jardina and Jon Esden
send a representative in his place depending on the celebrate National Signing Day, though
importance of the prospect to the program.
National Signing Day is the day when high
their lives were not complicated by
school seniors officially sign their National Letter of such college admissions hullabaloo.
Intent to play their sport at a NCAA Division I or II Esden will go to Auburn while Jardina
is headed to Union College.
See Signing page 21
G r e e n H o r n

Kayla Perham
Impressive Performance in
Girls Basketball
By Ryan Brady
Kayla Perham.
T
hus far the girls basketball season hasn’t been
going as planned, as they have three wins in a
long season. However, Kayla Perham has been a
standout carrying the Cosmos the best she can.
Perham averages about 10 points and 8 re-
bounds per game, impressive stats for a team that’s only
averaging 30 points per game. Despite her fine statistics,
she’s been disappointed by her team's losses.
Often athletes use losses to motivate them-
selves, but Kayla thinks otherwise at this point. “Losing
doesn’t motivate me any more,” said Perham. “But I do
get motivated by watching videos of Candace Parker on
Sports Opinion
Physical Education
Survival of the Fittest
By Vicki Kopidakis
C
aptains are picked. One by one, those with the
greatest physical ability are drafted. All those
around you have left you standing alone. You’re
all that remains, eventually forced onto a team of vicious
warriors ready to engage in a battle of physical activity.
This is a Springfield High School gym class.
What was intended as an innocent class to
involve students in physical activities has evolved into
a full-blown battle of survival of the fittest.
“It doesn’t matter what I do,” said avid gym
participant and 3-sport athlete Amanda Farnsworth. “I
G r e e n H o r
YouTube. I think about how she makes space for herself
and how she just flows on the court. It really pumps
me up before my games and makes me push that much
harder in each game.”
Outside of basketball, Kayla was also a
standout on this fall’s semi-finalist field hockey team.
Perham was one of two captains of the field hockey
team. She also currently captains the basketball team.
During field hockey, she had four goals in the Cosmos’
run to the semi-finals. She credits her current success,
however, to the athletes she practiced with as a freshman
and sophomore.
“It was a great learning experience for me,”
Perham said about her freshman and sophomore years.
“I was practicing with some really good athletes those
two years. They really made me the athlete I am today.
They transformed me from a skittish freshman to a
confident senior.”
Perham hopes all of her successes in high
school will carry over into college, though she is still
unsure about which sport she will play in college. “I’m
still on the fence about it,” she said. “I really enjoyed
playing field hockey this year especially since our season
went well.”
She’s also still undecided about which col-
lege or university she will attend. Her choices include
the University of New England, Colby-Sawyer, Castle-
ton, and Keene State. Depending on where she goes
See Perham page 20
just want to win.” And she’s not alone.
“Losing [in gym] really isn’t an option
for me,” said sports enthusiast Taylor Fontaine, who
is a member of the Springfield baseball and football
teams.
Both Farnsworth and Fontaine agree that a
competitive edge helps to make gym class more enjoy-
able. “Trying to win makes it fun,” said Fontaine.
Gym students like Farnsworth and Fontaine
See Phys-Ed page 20
n pg
Sports
Jill Rushton attacks the ball during
warm-ups for the U-32 playoff game
this past autumn. Rushton is one of
the Cosmos field hockey players
participating in the Riley Rink
tournament.
Riley Rink
Encourages
Players
By Sarah Trombly
T
he Springfield High School field hockey team is
anxiously awaiting the opening of Riley Rink.
After February vacation, the turf will be covered
with girls who are hoping to improve for next season.
Most people agree that the Riley indoor field hockey
rink, located in Manchester, Vermont, really gives the
team a chance to bond.
Organizer of the Cosmos team for Riley
Rink, Ruth Haskell, Springfield High School JV field
hockey coach, enjoys the whole experience. "It's really
fun for me and the kids," she said. "There's no pressure.
Just show up and play the game." Under Haskell's lead-
ership, everyone is given the chance to play as much as
they desire.
However, with Riley Rink being so small,
the games are limited to seven against seven. The
competition has other disadvantages. Cancellations
of games can occur with bad road conditions and all
athletes must pay on an individual basis to participate.
However, Riley Rink competition allows older players
to teach and play against the younger players in order
to sharpen their skills.
SHS 9th grader Jill Rushton, who plays
forward on the Cosmos field hockey team, has a definite
opinion about indoor field hockey, "It's a good way to
get upper and underclassmen together," she said. "To
get ready and [gather] together to play something we
love." The passion the girls share for field hockey runs
deep, making Riley Rink an important part of their
See Riley Rink page 20
17
Sports
A New Gym in Town
By Courtney Downing

TJ Wallace works out in the Springfield
High School weightroom. Now there
is a new workout option in town, Snap
Fitness on River Street.
W
here is that one place in town that an indi-
vidual can go where he or she doesn’t have to
worry about what’s in their shopping cart, or
how bad their hair looks? The gym, of course.
The town of Springfield has multiple gyms
and workout facilities, such as the Edgar May Recreation
Center on Clinton Street, Curves on River Road, and
the weight room at Springfield High School. If you’re
an employee at Springfield Hospital, you have access
to the gym at the hospital.
The newest gym in town is called Snap
Fitness, located at 363 River Street, right next to the
Springfield Royal Diner.
Snap is open to members 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. When an individual becomes a
member, they are given an access or key card, and,
when they want to hit the gym, they just swipe the
card in front of a proximity sensor to gain access to the
building. Lights in the building automatically turn on
if a card is swiped after hours.
This system is very secure. For example,
when a person enters the gym, security necklaces are
available for each person to wear. If for some reason
an emergency were to take place, an individual would
push a button on the necklace to contact emergency
services.
Although the gym is safe, and individuals
would be taken care of in the event of an emergency,
workers at Snap recommend that people have a workout
partner--fitness becomes both more safe and more fun
with a friend.
Springfield community member and former
SHS student Lydia Knight first heard about SNAP fit-
ness from the owners themselves. “The owners (Nola
and Dana Watkins) came into the diner where I work
(Springfield Royal Diner and Pancake House) to talk
about the new facilities.”
After visiting the gym, Knight said, “It’s a
pretty laid-back place. It’s easy to access. I just loved
meeting new people who enjoy getting their pump on,
like me.”
Why is it that people work out? Some say
they enjoy the cute little outfits they get to wear while
slowly dragging their feet along the treadmill. Others say
they enjoy the way it makes them look and feel. Sounds
reasonable enough. But a more important question may
be "Why is it that people don’t work out?" Most say
they’re too busy, or they’ll make a New Year’s resolution
to get to the gym more next year.
In 2006, a BBC online news article produced
statistics showing that only 12% of the general public
owned a gym membership. This may be one of the
main reasons why 63% of the American population is
overweight An alarming 3.8 million Americans weigh in
See Fitness page 23

It’s Snowing.
Safely Fire Up Your Engines.
By Ashley Richardson

F
or many Springfield High School students, the
first snowfall only means one thing: time to break
out the snowmobile from its storage in the garage
and get it ready for riding.
“I ride my snowmobile every winter,” senior
Jordan Kimball said. “I like to snowmobile because it’s a
great activity to keep me busy throughout the winter, and
it makes a lot of good memories with my friends.”
Many snowmobilers in Vermont take a safety
course to learn about the snowmobiles and snowmobile
safety. “I got my snowmobiling license this year, and
took the course in Ludlow,” senior Melissa Tarbell said.
“The course was pretty long, but the test was quick and
easy. We learned about safety during the course, and at
the end of the test, we got our snowmobiling license.”
Vermonters who like to snowmobile are
lucky if they live in the woods, because they are able
to make their own trails, and snowmobile locally. But
many snowmobilers also travel north and go on more
trails in that location that are open to the public.
“I don’t race at all. But I snowmobile for
fun and to spend time with my family,” senior Lindsay
Turgeon said. “Instead of just staying on local trails, we
travel all around Vermont and sometimes we snowmo-
pg 18
bile in Maine.”
Many students begin snowmobiling at a
young age because their parents take them out on the
trials, and for many students, the love of riding continues
through their childhood and teenage years. “I’ve ridden
snowmobiles since I was three years old,” Turgeon said.
“My parents are big snowmobile fans, so they raised me
to love it like they do.”
Both Tarbell and Turgeon have their snow-
mobiling license, and took a course in safety to under-
stand how to practice safety while driving and riding on a
snowmobile. Safety is a big role in riding snowmobiles,
especially when the snowmobiles are taken out at night.
This year, some students have become wary because
of recent teenage deaths from riding snowmobiles,
although the fatalities from riding snowmobiles has
Senior Jordan Kimball pulls some
dropped since the 1990s.
“You’re only going to die on a snowmobile if
stunts on his snowmobile. Kimball
you’re not safe, or if you ride on thin ice,” Tarbell said. normally rides on snowmobile trails or
“Also, many people that are not safe also drive fast, at his friend's house in Springfield. He
and I don’t like to go fast, so I’m not worried about the
snowmobiles each winter to keep busy
safety problem. I always ride safely when I go out.”
and make memories with friends.
See Snowmobile page 20
G r e e n H o r n

Girls Sports
Nothing to Laugh About
By Liza Fontaine, Alexandra Johnstone, & Holly Hooke
T
here are many stereotypes about boys and girls.
Girls are known to play with dolls, and boys
are known to play with trucks. When a woman
is pregnant with a baby girl, what color clothes do her
friends buy for the baby? Pink. In Springfield High
School, there are also stereotypes about boys and girls,
one of them being the difference between girl and
boys sports.
“Going to girls basketball games are like
paying two dollars to watch a comedy show,” said one
Springfield High School boy recently.
Comedy and joke seem to be two popular
words used around SHS to describe girls basketball.
Other sports besides basketball, such as soccer, softball,
and field hockey, are also considered to be not up to the
level of excitement and intensity as SHS boys sports.
“When I was younger I remember coming to girls
games,” said senior Bennett Chevalier. “They beat
Division One teams, and the games were just more
intense.”
In the past two years, Springfield High
School boys have won three state championship titles.
The girls, on the other hand, haven’t had the opportunity
to make it that far. A win brings enthusiasm to the players
and the fans, as well as victory. The boys teams have had
more winning records than girls in the past few years,
which could lead to the negative outlook on SHS girls
sports.
Some teams have a particular leader to
control the show, while others squads consist of a group
with the same level of talent who must perform equally
during games.
“Our girls teams have just lacked a super
star player,” said Chevalier, who plays football, “unlike
us.”
Criticism of girls sports often involves
the slow pace of their games. “It’s too slow,” said
sophomore Derrick Gralich, “and the girls games are
so dreadful.”
According to www.girlscouts.org, females
are 51.7% more likely to not participate in physical
education opposed to males where percentage for
non-participation is 40%. Emphasizing this point and
contributing to this discrepancy is the fact that girls are
less confident and feel they don’t have enough skills
to participate in school activities. Part of this could be
because some girls are ridiculed when they do play.
A sexist joke heard throughout SHS:
“Wanna hear a joke?
“Sure.”
“Girls Basketball.”
Talk about a drop in confidence. Most fans
at SHS sporting event are students themselves. When
students are putting down girls sports with jokes such
as the one stated above, it’s not easy to feel confident in
G r e e n H o r
Sports Opinion
front of a gym full of fans. In fact, girl athletes at SHS
feel such statements are demeaning.
Sports like field hockey and tennis, domi-
nated by girls, are also the subject of jokes. Yet, despite
this sarcasm, recent studies show that the ratio for girls
playing sports has gone up about 80%. In 1971 the figure
was 1 in 27 girls. Now 1 in every 2.5 girls play a sport,
according to www.girlscouts.org.
“ I think there has been an explosion in
woman’s sports,” said SHS Athletic Director Mike Hatt.
“Women are great athletes. Obviously, if they’re in the
Olympics then they have to be good.”
Lindsey Van, a top-ranked competitive ski
jumper on the U.S. Ski Team, has defeated many men
in ski competition, which is usually known as a men’s
sport. Van holds the record for the longest jump among
women and men. She proves that girls shouldn’t be
put in a different category as boys when it comes to
sports.
However, there is a persistent stereotype
about girls sports being a joke, or less legitimate than
boys athletics. “I don’t feel that way,” said Hatt. “People
who think that way don’t see the big picture. Women
are good athletes.”
Another point of criticism: many people
believe that girls simply don’t work hard when it comes
to sports, whether it is in practice, games, or the off-
season.
“In order to be successful you have to work
hard all of the time,” said SHS sophomore Michael
Whittemore, who believes this stereotype is false. “You
have to train, especially in the off-season. That’s the
only way to take it to the next level.”
You know the saying, “practice makes
perfect.” Some students at SHS believe that boys take
practice more seriously and work harder than the girls.
Throughout the season, teams find flaws in how they
play. When practice time rolls around, the flaws should
be worked on and fixed, but according to some, girls
don’t take practice seriously. “They don’t even come to
our practices,” said SHS freshman Jill Rushton. “They
don’t see that the coaches do make us work hard.”
“Guys practices probably look better than
girls because they play at a faster pace,” added junior
Billy Wheeler.
The uniform and overall look in playing a
sport may contribute to the confidence needed to win
games. However, it shouldn’t be the only thing athletes
are concerned about. “I mean you have to look good,”
said senior field hockey player Erin Graham. “But that’s
not what it's all about.”
Comedy show or not, girls sports are impor-
Springfield girls compete in a variety of
tant to SHS. “Usually people that put down womens sports. They are not always given credit
sports haven’t gone out for a team,” concluded Hatt. for their athletic achievements.
“It takes a lot to go out and play for a team.”
n pg 19
Anderson from page 1
truant officers and substantially cut dropout rates the
process. Springfield hopes to cut its dropout rate, which
has caused SHS to be a school on Corrective Action.
A truancy officer helps ensure that students
are in school for the time required by the state. The
officer will make house calls and have meetings with
parents and students to troubleshoot the problem.
"Truancy officers are responsible for assisting school
administration with follow-ups for students who are
excessively absent from school," Anderson said.
Kevin Anderson was a police officer for 28
years before he retired in 2007. He is currently part of
the committee of the Windsor County Special Investiga-
tion Unit.
"I have worked many investigations during
my career involving children of all ages," said Anderson.
"Reflectively, I feel the most important qualification
for the truancy officer is to have a sincere interest in
students and look out for their best interest. Education
is one such interest. I love to see students succeed and
completing school has to be at the top of the list.”
A grant will cover the cost of Anderson’s
Welcome from page 11
those unworthy people with extra cognition have re-
ally got it good. Then again, maybe they don’t… I bet
many of them love their abilities, but I also bet many of
them find their abilities to be a burden. Imagine if you
could read someone’s mind. Maybe at first it is kind of
cool, but not knowing what someone is thinking is the
best part about life. I would never want to know what
someone was thinking. And I wouldn’t want someone
reading my mind.
Telekinesis would be kind of cool. But then
again, what would the world come to if everyone was
moving their beloved Cheetos towards themselves with
their mind as they sit watching the latest episode of The
Office? America’s obesity problem would be sky high.
It’s bad enough as it is.
I guess maybe people are is better off not
knowing what kinds of powers they could reach. How-
ever, I think that those few who do have extraordinary
abilities should embrace their uniqueness.
Sanders from page 5
number of Americans dying due to the lack of good
health coverage.
Besides serving as mayor of Burlington for
eight years, a member of the House of Representatives
for 16 years, and U.S. Senator for three years, Bernie
Sanders considers himself a Progressive.
According to Sanders’ definition given
during his speech, a Progressive believes that people
shouldn’t be forced to do without things that are needed
to live because of lack of money. According to Sanders,
a Conservative is the opposite: they believe that govern-
ment shouldn’t be involved too much and seek to limit
government assistance to the needy.
Sanders feels that Progressives offer more
financial assistance to citizens, while Conservatives feel
that if people are starving, they may need to starve.
Sanders spoke at Springfield High School
with the goal of engaging more young people in public
service.
But some students resented Sanders' strong
tone.“I feel like he started out well,” said Graham.
“But when he heard our [more conservative] beliefs,
he slammed them and was very close-minded.”
pg 20
position. SHS Co-Principal Bob Thibault is positive
about the truancy officer. "It is a part-time position that
is shared between Riverside and SHS with the objective
to eliminate truancies in the Springfield School District,”
Thibault explained.
Anderson is not a Student Resource Officer,
a proposed position cut from the school budget last fall.
He works part-time and he is not a police officer. He
carries no weapon, wears no uniform, and has only his
SHS Identification badge rather than a police badge.
Anderson is similar to a Student Resource Officer only
in the sense that his role is to help keep kids in school.
The position will be funded through the
school year. Many hope that funding will remain avail-
able to employ a truancy officer for years.
“Some other qualifications I have include
coaching youth sports, including ice hockey and soft-
ball,” Anderson said. “I am also from a large family, 8
children, so I am constantly around children of all ages.
I am very excited about getting to know students and
helping them complete their high school education.”
Snowmobile from page 18
Kimball agrees. He isn’t worried about the
recent teenage fatalities. “No, I’m not nervous at all,”
Kimball concluded. “I don’t let things like that bother
me. It’s their own fault if they get hurt, because you’re
totally in control. It all depends on how far you squeeze
the throttle.”
Riley Rink from page 17
winter. Rushton adds, "Every year I look forward to
playing with my teammates."
SHS field hockey halfback Jessie Haskell
uses the indoor rink to stay in shape. She enjoys learn-
ing more skills at the faster pace of Riley Rink."I think
everyone who plays field hockey should join because
it's good team bonding and you get cool tees," Jessie
said. Ruth Haskell has a fond memory from last year's
Riley Rink play: being in last place in the standings for
the playoffs and going all the way to the chamionship.
Dangers from page 15
but never actually seen any injuries.”
Crowley is fortunate. Snowboarder Dan
Davis hasn't found the slopes quite so forgiving. “I’ve
broken my wrist and collarbone,” said Davis, “and I
was with someone when they broke their arm. Injuries
usually come as you snowboard more and try more
challenging parts of the mountain.”
Five years ago, a Springfield student, while
skiing with his classmates, was killed. Davis recalled,
“I wasn’t with the kid. I can’t think of his last name, but
I was on the mountain and I heard about it.”
“It really showed the dangers of the moun-
tain," added Crowley. “You should expect the unex-
pected when you’re skiing or snowboarding.”
Both sports are dangerous as riders move
from lower levels of skiing and snowboarding to more
advanced levels. When riders get into tricks and use
more than just the mountain's twists and turns, like
jumps, boxes and rails, the sport becomes very danger-
ous. Pearce’s injury clearly shows that.
However, snowboarders and skiers alike
have plenty of opportunities to protect themselves while
on the mountain. A helmet isn’t just a luxury, but a ne-
G r e e
Phys-Ed from page 17
play activities such as dodge ball, floor hockey, and mat
ball with such intensity and emotion that the gym floor
tends to resemble a battlefield where only the strong
survive.
However, some students don’t appreciate
this intensity. “It doesn’t need to be taken to the level
that some people take it to,” said Lauren Fountain of
the highly competitive gym classes. “It takes all the fun
out of the class.”
A constant stream of pegged balls and
whacked sticks doesn’t help to make the environment
a friendly one either. “I’ve gotten hit several times,”
said Fountain. “It’s not fun.”
Since the competition is viewed as intimidat-
ing, students find they must use a cutthroat approach in
order to be competitive. “Kids won’t pass to anyone
they think has less ability or who might jeopardize a
win,” said Justin Derosier. Consequently, participants
with the best intentions are forced to follow in the steps
of their vicious teammates in the hope of receiving a
pass.
Physical education classes allow students an
opportunity to engage in activity with their peers. Yet as
competition intensifies, the friendly nature of the com-
petition is replaced with the intense passion and fierce
rivalry of varsity sports. “It’s not a state championship
to win mat ball,” concluded Fountain. “It’s just a game,
just a class.”
Perham from page 17
will determine which sport or sports she chooses. “If I
go to Colby [Sawyer] I’ll play basketball, because they
don’t have field hockey. For UNE [University of New
England] I’m unsure because they won their conference
and division for field hockey so it would be tough to
make the team. If I go to Castleton and Keene State, I
hope I can play both.”
The future aside, Kayla hopes that the girls
can turn around their basketball season and possibly
win a playoff game. “I’m focused on what’s happening
now, college is later," Perham said. "I just hope we can
make something of our season, so my last season in high
school is memorable.”
cessity for both skiers and snowboarders. Wrist guards
are suggested for most snowboarders, who often have
more wrist or arm injuries than skiers. It’s even possible
to purchase gloves, which have rigid plastic pieces in
them that allow the rider’s hands to bend forward, but
not backward. They’re similar to finger-saves in goalie
gloves.
Beside gear that riders can buy to protect
themselves, they should also practice safe habits. First
and foremost, they must learn to ski within their limits.
They should ride with a friend. And when they reach
the point where exhaustion settles in, they should avoid
that last run down the mountain. A big cause for riding
injuries is a lack of focus, which often happens on a
rider’s last run, because he or she is tired.
Staying safe amounts to wearing the proper
gear and being smart on the mountain. Obviously, both
skiing and snowboarding are meant for fun, but keeping
oneself safe allows riders to keep others safe as well.
. Unfortunately, Kevin Pearce’s injury proves that at
any level, injuries are bound to happen--but alert riders
reduce the possibilities of accident and injury.
n H o r n
Ambiguity from page 10
how to escape it. Constant self-sabotage, and I am lost.
I don't know how to combat it.
I carry the fatal tendency to hope. I try to
mask my optimism with pessimism, an almost always
failed attempt to lessen the blow of disappointment. De-
spite all of the energy I expend on convincing myself that
my endeavors will result in defeat, I somehow always
manage to dupe my efforts and continue to hope. Hope
is considered a good thing. Without it the world would
fall into craters of despair. Hope gives us reasons to live
through grim times. It fills us with a belief that things
can be better. So maybe it's not so fatal after all. Sure,
it's made some of my disappointments worse than they
would have been if I hadn't had so many expectations,
but it makes the darkness bearable. Hope wraps us in
comfort. Hope gives us the belief that we can make a
difference. Hope lets us evoke change.
I carry the struggle between motivation
and lack of it. There's a battle in my mind between the
desire to be productive and successful, and laziness,
which seems to be more of a dominant quality in me.
It's so strange to live with an innate tendency of laziness,
alongside an insatiable determination. It seems like the
odds are against me, but I've proved that with enough
willpower, I can succeed.
I carry a heavy load of compassion. You
would think I would feel lighter, caring so much for
others, but sometimes I feel so strongly that it weighs
me down more. Sometimes I feel everything that others
feel so acutely. When a member of my family or one
of my friends is hurting, I'm in pain with them. But if
this is considered a burden, it's one I would never want
to give up. I cherish my ability to feel compassion,
to be empathetic, because it makes the world a better
place. If people were incapable of compassion, putting
themselves in other's shoes, and empathizing, then the
Signing from page 16
school during the next year. Due to strict rules enforced
by the NCAA student-athletes can only commit to a
school verbally until the first Wednesday in February.
Although the day varies with the sport, the
majority of sports recognized National Signing Day this
year on February 3rd. ESPN broadcast athletes signing
on to college field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross
country and men’s water polo teams, although football
receives, by far, the most attention.
“I am not signing, but I do celebrate it [Na-
tional Signing Day],” said SHS senior football player
Jon Esden. “I just check up with who Auburn got the
next day.”
SHS Social Studies teacher David Slivka is
similar to Esden. He doesn’t watch the National Sign-
ing Day proceedings. Instead, he reads about it the next
day.
Being heavily recruited by Division I pro-
grams, never mind a big to-do broadcast on national
television, may be every high school athlete’s dream.
However, Springfield High School students don’t seem
to dream as big.
Senior soccer player James Karkowski will
be signing, “but I don’t know where yet,” he said.
Senior Angelo Jardina has decided on at-
tending Union College next year, although he is on the
fence about playing soccer. “I was [going to play] until
I realized it may be a bit much with school and a sport,”
he said.
So National Signing Day has come and gone.
Who signed with your favorite team?
G r e e n H o r
world would be a zone of destruction. People would
tear though life without any thought for others. People
would be entirely self-focused, which would result in
chaos and disaster. There are already enough people who
move through life with no regard for others, and that
causes plenty of problems as it is. We need the people
who are capable of compassion.
I carry a fear of time. I am constantly work-
ing to deadlines. The days, hours, minutes, seconds slip
away. Every ounce of time I have is precious, yet much
of it is wasted. It escapes down the drain, and I'm repeat-
edly left scrambling. Where does the time go? I'll look at
the clock, and I will think, "Oh, I've got all the time in
the world." But then I look at the clock again, and hours
have passed. Where did all of that time go? Are my eyes
playing tricks on me? I'm constantly losing time, and it's
impossible to ever get it back. You think I would learn
to be more efficient, use my time more effectively, but
I think it's a lesson that will never penetrate my mind.
I want to spend my time being happy, so if I have to
scramble at the last minute to get something done, at
least all the time I wasted I was enjoying myself. But
I don't want all of the time to disappear. I want to do a
lot in my life, and I only have the time that the world is
willing to give me.
I carry my dreams with me. My aspirations,
hopes, goals are always knocking around in my head.
They are persistent. They won't let go of me, and I won't
let go of them. We cling to each other. My dreams push
me forward, they give me a reason to be excited for the
future. They remind me to work hard, they whisper me
when I'm ready to acknowledge defeat, they gently prod
me to persevere. They tease me, purposely tantalizing
my desires. They let me see glimpses of them when I
begin to forget why I work so hard. They say, "Jess,
remember why. All of this will make a future possible
Discipline from page 6
san Fog, Angelo Jardina, and SHS Student Assistance
Program counselor Danielle Dulaney volunteered to
give up one of their study halls or lunch duties or other
free”time. During this time these adults deal with stu-
dent disciplinary issues such as cutting class and student
insubordination. With the new system, there will be a
teacher from SHS occupying what was formerly Athletic
Director Mike Hatt’s office each period of the day.
“The system was modeled after the idea ‘it
takes a village to raise a child,’” said Thibault. “We are
all in this together and it shouldn’t be just the principal
or co-principal disciplining.”
SHS math teacher Cynthia Knight is one of
the teachers participating in the new system. “I wanted
to help change the climate of the school,” said Knight.
“I hear a lot of comments from students like ‘I can do
that, nothing will happen’ and I wanted to help in that
area.”
This volunteer staff observed Larry Wight
and Thibault while they were discipling various stu-
dents, so that they could understand more of what they
would be doing themselves. They also began talking
to students and disciplining them if needed.
Even though only eight adults will be actu-
ally disciplining the students, Thibault says the entire
school community will be affected. For some, the
change might be as small as an increased study hall
size.
“I try to be respectful and I don’t deal with
any of my own students,” said Knight. “If I feel the
n pg
that will give you the opportunities to make us become
reality." And then I remember. I remember that I want
to write and publish a novel, continue to perform on
stage, travel the world, make a difference in people's
lives, raise a family, earn a Ph.D., go on an archeological
dig, live in a range of places, and travel to outer space.
My dreams encourage me to be persistent, they tell me
that it will all be worth it someday.
I carry large amounts of love. Love squeezes
into every crevice of my heart, always on the verge
of explosion. I love so many people so much, it hurts
sometimes. I love my beautiful brother, Layne, my best
friend and sister, Anna, my kind older brother, Nate,
my amazing mother, Erin, my goofy father, Trevor,
my sweet stepmother, Mindy, my unique and equally
amazing friends, my grandparents. I love music, songs,
artists, to the point of obsession some of the time. I love
reading for hours. I love acting on stage. I love writing,
but sometimes I hate it because it frustrates me when
I'm unable to convey what I want to. I love dancing,
despite not being good at it. I love putting incoherent
splotches of paint on a canvas. I love laughing. I love
biking, hiking, swimming, running, canoeing, just being
in the outdoors. I love sunshine and warmth. I love the
ocean. I love extensively, and I love hard, but I love
loving.
I carry passion, a desire to learn, the ability to
write copiously, a lack of singing talent, a hidden smile,
a quiet demeanor, a dry sense of humor, hesitation, an
enjoyment of watching movies with other people, a
lack of coordination, a slew of incohesive thoughts, a
high energy, an idealist attitude, a facade of pessimism,
a fondness for words, among other things. You'd think
with all of the things I carry, my load would be pretty
heavy. But it's not. If it is, I don't mind it.
situation will be uncomfortable I hand it over to Mr.
Wight or Mr. Thibault. So far the reaction is good.”
Knight also said that in the few days that she has been
participating in the program she has been given the
chance to meet and introduce herself to many students
at SHS.
“It might help the students see their teachers
in a different light, and the teachers see their students in
ways they haven’t before,” said Thibault. There might
also be teacher-to-teacher changes with the new system.
If one teacher sent a student out of class, it would be
the serving teachers' duty to discipline them. In turn,
Thibault says that teachers may “see their colleagues in
a different light” because they are learning about how
that teacher handles their class and students.
Even though other members of the staff are
contributing their time, Wight and Thibault will still
oversee all the disciplinary issues and will have to deal
with the larger discipline issues such as actions resulting
in expulsion and out-of-school suspensions. As with
all changes made in the school community, this new
system is not completely set in stone.
“We’ll test this system out and see how it
works,” said Thibault. “If there are a lot of concerns
we will re-do it.”
“I hope it can continue,” said Knight. “[The
new policy] stops the feeling of us and them, administra-
tion and teachers.”
“In the end, it’s an overall good,” concluded
Thibault.
21
Manifesto from page 10
events and must guess the event that actually occurred,
Mark Halperin, a political analyst, was quizzed about
world leader Giorgio Carbone, the Prince of Seborga.
The fictional antics of Carbone included making the
official sandwich of Seborga a ham sandwich and declar-
ing war on Antarctica while the truth, and the correct
answer, about Carbone involved encouraging people of
Seborga to smoke.
Prairie Home Companion is another high-
light of NPR. Prairie Home Companion is broadcast
in Minnesota, though it travels around, and features
the qualities of radio from the forties. There are many
different story-telling segments, with old-fashioned
sound effects and many people lending voices.
One of the most beloved segments for me,
and many other listeners is Guy Noir, a parody of hard-
boiled detective fiction, in which a world-weary gum-
shoe investigates convoluted mysteries, encountering
characters typical of the genre along the way. station is entirely for street credit. But, if nothing else,
One of my favorite moments from Prairie
Home Companion, from a few years ago, perhaps before
Hatt from page 14
ball championship and the 2008-2009 state basketball
championship is definitely one of them, and ending my
basketball coaching career by going to Barre in con-
secutive years, 2004 and 2005, by winning 39 out of 45
games. Ending my football coaching career by winning
19 out of our last 22 games, with back-to-back state
championship game appearances are also big highlights
for me.”
With both football coaches leaving at the
same time, the football program will be fresh and new
beginning in the fall.
Coach Jack Cohun has taken on the head
football coaching position, and will take over the Cos-
mos team, after helping out the Cosmos last year as one
of the assistant coaches.
“With Coach Jack Cohun on staff, I feel it’s
a great time to make a transition,” Hatt said. “Coach
Cohun has a tremendous amount of experience, and the
kids really enjoyed working with him last year. He’s a
smart choice as the next Cosmos head football coach,
and as of right now, I plan on staying on as athletic
director at SHS. We have a lot of work to continue to
make our programs something our students want to be
a part of, and we are confident that we will be able to
secure a solid staff for next year’s players.”
During his coaching career, Hatt emphasized
teamwork and hard work to achieve victories and cham-
pionships.
“One of the best things that gets played out
in athletics is that you can achieve great things, without
great talent or resources, when everybody involved
agrees to go in the same direction,” Hatt said. “There
are no secrets or short cuts to success, you are either
trained or untrained.
“My advice for next year's team is the same
as always, work hard, talk to each other, and have a plan
every time you go to the line of scrimmage,” Hatt con-
cluded. “Next year’s team will do fine. There is a solid
nucleus of players returning who know the importance
of being coachable, no matter who the next head coach
is.”
Visit past editions of The Green Horn
online at shs.ssdvt.org
pg 22
I was pretentious and superficial, took place during Guy
Noir.
In this episode, Private Investigator Guy
Noir encounters a customer service representative with
whom, in the course of the phone call, he falls in love.
However, because the call is being monitored for quality,
he is separated from the girl forever.
For me, and many others, Prairie Home
Companion is a nostalgic program. Another reoc-
curring facet of the program is a commercial break,
with an advertisement for rhubarb pie. The jingle for
the rhubarb pie advertisement is something I’ve had
memorized since early childhood: needless to say, it’s
very near to my inner-child and satisfies my penchant
for nostalgia.
This nostalgia was once the core of NPR’s
appeal to me. This was clearly a more genuine time.
Now, the appeal of this informative and intelligent radio
you may enjoy the smooth, well-enunciated radio voices
AP from page 7
band and chorus director Jim Chlebak.
Chlebak hopes that by being on the com-
mittee he’ll be able help find an administrator that can
help raise awareness of the importance of music in the
school community.
“Administrators are often much less familiar
with the arts than other subject areas,” said Chlebak. “I
want to be sure our students' interests are well-repre-
sented.”
“I've worked here for a while and seen many
VPs [vice-principals] come and go,” said SHS Librar-
ian Juliet Loutrel. “Hopefully remembering our past
VP experiences can help choose a good fit for this job
opening.
By the end of January, the hiring process was
still in its beginning stages.
“The committee has met twice, and we have
narrowed the field considerably,” said Thibault. “We
will continue to do so until we have the applicants we
wish to interview.” After the committee has selected
their choice, they will recommend that applicant to the
school board.
Unlike in previous years at SHS where the
hiring process was left until the spring or summer before
the new school year, this year the process has already
begun. “My hope is that interviews will be done by
the end of February,” said Thibault, “with an applicant
offered the position sometime in March.”
Bubble from page 24
What does any of this have to do with on?
Nothing. It has nothing to do with on. On is a word. And
sure, words are important but how interesting is on?
Not very. So we decided not to bore you with a forced
piece of writing about on. And guess what? That on at
the end of our last column? Yeah, it didn’t mean a thing.
We have no idea how it got there.
Well, here we are. We have not got out of our
swirly chairs, we have not packed our bags and set off
to save the world. We have continued writing. We have
done what is expected. We’re not surprised, and I bet
you aren’t either. But maybe, just maybe, somewhere
down the line we’ll break course.
G r e e
Budget from page 3
numerous sacrifices in order to complete the budget.
Reductions include half-time English teacher, half-time
social studies teacher, and eighth-time science teacher.
The Precision Valley Program (PVP) was restructured
to have two full-time teachers rather than multiple
part-time teachers. The title of Information Technology
Director was reclassified to Systems Administrator for
a savings. Travel and conference budgets have been
reduced in the athletic department and at PVP.
Over $9,000 was saved because the 2010-
2011 school year will see a principal and assistant
principal, rather than co-principals, after the retirement
of current SHS Co-Principal Larry Wight.
A tactic employed to create savings invovled
funding positions using grants. The Literacy Coach posi-
tion, filled by Kevin Coen this year, received enough
funds to pay 100% of Coen’s salary for 27 months. A
nurse position is 25% funded, and 37.5% of the Student
Assistant Program counselor will be funded through
grants. Overall, $77,106 in grants will be utilized in the
budget.
“I firmly believe that the high school has put
forth a very, very tight budget,” said Thibault, referring
to savings.
One of the cuts that involved much debate
was the athletic trainer position. “There are various
debates on either side,” said School Board Student
Representative SHS junior Kelsey Christensen.
“Coaches don’t have the same experience
as a trainer,” said SHS student-athlete Liza Fontaine.
Fontaine commended athletic trainer Matt Howland
for putting extra effort into helping her by going to
clinics.
As part of the tight budget, PVP will be
streamlined from one full-time teacher, four part-time
teachers, and a paraprofessional, to two full-time teach-
ers and a paraprofessional. PVP’s budget has suffered
cuts as well. But PVP teacher Rebecca Larkin is opti-
mistic.
“We’re good at getting grants,” she said.
“I’m not worried about that.”
SHS Science department team leader Belinda
Hathorn said the course offerings from the science
department would most likely suffer due to the loss of
.125 of a position.
“We’re going to have to teach the bare essen-
tials,” she said. This means that 12th grade scienceand
elective science classes probably will not be offered.
Because of seniority, the teacher who has joined the
SHS staff most recently will probably suffer a reduction
in their teaching duties. However, this teacher is also
the only teacher in the department certified to teach AP
Biology.
“More of us [with the staff cuts] will have
to carry a bigger load or bigger classes,” said social
studies team leader Angelo Jardina. “It can spell out a
few different scenarios.” The reduction will leave the
social studies department with five teachers rather than
the 5.5 it maintained this year. “We’re prepared to do
what we have to do,” Jardina concluded.
The budget will be put before the Springfield
voters on March 2nd.
“It is imperative that we find a way to pass
this budget on the first try,” said Thibault. “If we do
not, more dramatic cuts will mean significantly larger
classes, less offerings, potential extra-curricular cuts and
other impacts that will greatly subvert our attempts for
school improvements.”
n H o r n
VISTA from page 1
“I want the students to have a say.”
Three teams have entered the Project VISTA
contest and have developed unique ideas for their pro-
posals. “Each team has really creative ideas,” Coen said.
“They came up with things that hadn’t even entered my
consciousness.”
SHS chemistry and Precision Valley Pro-
gram teacher Gretel Schuck is a member of the Project
VISTA team, with SHS juniors Adam Lawlor and
Kaleb Noble and senior Owen Ledvina, all members
of the technology course in the River Valley Technical
Center. Community members Bob Morris, webmaster
for the Lovejoy Tool Company, and Larry Traineanu, a
web designer, are also on their team. Their idea for the
contest is to create an iPod application that can tell a
passing traveler all about Springfield. The application
will list attractions and events happening in Springfield.
The purpose is to convince travelers driving on I-91 to
get off at Exit 7 and visit the town.
“I like the project,” Schuck said. “I thought
of the need for people to go through Springfield before
Project VISTA, so when Project VISTA came up, I
thought it would be a great way to convince people to
visit.”
Schuck is enthusiastic about her team's
chance of winning the Project VISTA contest. “[We are
a] very talented and good team,” Schuck said. “I am
really enthusiastic about it [Project VISTA]." If Shuck’s
team wins, they are hoping to get Okemo Mountain Re-
sort to sponsor them and advertise their iPod application
in the resort’s catalog to attract tourists.
Another team in Project VISTA includes
SHS/PVP teachers Rebecca Larkin and John Davis,
SHS math teacher Gigi Guy, and all the students in PVP.
GPA from page 8
about your personality. The GPA is not the only factor
in applying to college, there’s much more to it.”
As far as getting into college, how important
one's GPA is depends on the college. But, when it comes
to school systems and figuring out, it is difficult to judge
the correct way to figure GPA. “Until we can gather more
information concerning a better way to calculate GPA,
or whether we should continue weighted classes, it has
to be used,” said Ryan. “It’s a hard subject.”
“My dream for SHS is to make it cool to be
smart,” said Thibault, who understands how important
GPAs can be to students. “High level academics is
something students should strive for.”
Apocalyptia from page 12
expert because it means one thing: more zombies. The
zombie’s moan usually alerts all other zombies in the
area to your presence, which signifies your death.
Beyond this, a zombie’s otherworldly moan
has a profound psychological effect on human beings.
If you happen to be holed up in your fortress of solitude
with about a hundred zombies outside, all of which moan
consistently and without rest, you tend to get annoyed,
then a little bit more annoyed, and sooner or later you
start thinking that you would do anything to stop the
noise. You would even open the door and let them in so
it will stop. But then you’ll be dead along with everyone
else in your team. So in order to avoid massacring your
team, invest in earplugs and fight the fear.
Basically just remember that you need to
survive, if not for your sake, for the sake of the human
race. One less zombie means one less bullet wasted after
all. In closing: all you have to fear is fear itself.
G r e e n H o r
Community members Joe Cernaglia, who owns and runs
Joe’s Discount Liquor, and Nancy Schaefer, health and
nutrition educator and yoga teacher, are also members
of this team. This Project VISTA team is hoping to cre-
ate a community-wide adventure race, which would be
similar to a scavenger hunt. This adventure race would
take participants to different locations around the town
of Springfield. A task featuring a combination of fitness
and food would be found at each location.
PVP English teacher John Davis introduced
the idea for an adventure race. Davis participates in
adventure races all over the country. He and Larkin
agree that it is a way to combine what their students are
learning in school with a plan to help the Springfield
community.
“It’s a way to connect what we are teaching
and what the students are learning to something bigger
than SHS,” Larkin said.
Larkin believes that her team has a fair
chance of winning the Project VISTA contest.
“I think we can win,” Larkin said. “If one
of the other proposals wins, then that’s good too, and it
would be great if we could combine [our efforts].”
The third team that will participate in Project
VISTA is a group created by SHS senior Sara Paton
with help from fellow senior Dan Christman. Paton
and Christman’s are still finalizing the details of their
proposal. They hope to develop a plan that will benefit
802, the local music venue in downtown Springfield.
Coen introduced Project VISTA to Spring-
field High School because he wanted to give students
a chance to share their ideas to improve the Springfield
community. “It’s easier to pick out what’s wrong with
the community," Coen said. "It’s harder to do something
good to improve it. I think it’s good to get kids involved
Fitness from page 18
at over 300 pounds. If you thought that was frightening,
400,000 of Americans weigh in at 400+ pounds.
Fitness experts suggest there are a few
things that can be done to stop the growing obesity rate
in America. One, people can start eating healthily and
stop relying on the Angus Third Pounders offered at
fast food restauraunts. Second, people can be physically
active. They can join sports teams or a fitness clubs, go
running, do something productive and active.
Prince from page 6
Some students--and adults--wonder what
opera actually is. Many think it is boring and stupid.
Even this reporter’s siblings questioned the sustainabil-
ity and value of her operatic pursuits. So, in an effort
to spread some song throughout the Upper Valley, here
is an operatic definition.
Opera occurs when a musician, usually a
singer, performs a theatrical performance with limited
or no spoken dialogue. Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and
many other classical composers created and performed
operas. Opera involves intense musical interludes, per-
haps the equivalent to a singing Olympics, and is usually
sung in a different language. Opera is so important,
especially for babies, because it develops brain cells,
and helps one to experience a totally different style.
The Opera Theatre of Weston endeavors to
enrich the lives of people young and old by bringing
opera to this small town. A kindergarten class from a
neighboring town became so excited about the opera in
fact, that they became "Princes and Princesses" for the
day, arriving with crowns and opera viewing glasses.
n pg
because they have more energy than we adults and they
[students] are usually forgotten.”
Goddard agrees with Coen. She thinks that
getting high school students involved in Project VISTA
could lead to getting other members of the community
involved.
“I feel that the high school students have a
bad reputation [in the community] and by pairing them
up with community members it will show them that they
[the students] are good kids and spark others' interest,”
Goddard said.
“I think as we look at Project VISTA, it helps
to see all the problems in Springfield. They are problems
that we as students can deal with too,” senior and Student
Council President Amanda Aberle said. “I think that it
[Project VISTA] will have a successful outcome.”
Each team was required to include at least
three students, one teacher, para-educator, or administra-
tor, and one community member who is involved with
a local business and over 18. Each group then came up
with their own idea to improve the Springfield com-
munity and create a proposal, which will be evaluated,
by a group of judges.The winning proposal will then be
selected. The winning team will receive an award of
$300 and also be given $500 to cover the cost of putting
their Project VISTA idea into motion.
Teams’ proposals for Project VISTA were
due by January 31st. The winning proposal will be
chosen on February 22 and the winning team will have
until May 31st to complete their project.
“I want our town to take pride in itself,”
Coen concluded. “I want Springfield to be a nice town
that’s cleaned up and a place where people can have a
say, including students.”
Avatar from page 12
With that said, what’s the point of this mes-
saging? Cameron throws in phrases from headlines like
shock and awe and pre-emptive strike that do nothing
but induce viewer-cringing.
Speaking of cringing, Avatar’s acting pro-
vides plenty for everybody. Between the simplistic
characters, poor dialogue, and overacting, Avatar makes
clear that visuals, not performances, are the highlights
of this film. Something can be said for the difficulty in
capturing good performances when the actors aren’t
actually on screen. But we’ve seen convincing com-
puter-generated characters in other films such as the
Lord of The Rings. Actor Andy Serkis's performance as
the unnerving computer-generated character Gollum is
proof that Cameron could have done better with Avatar's
use of computer techology.
In fact, Avatar feels more like a video game
than a movie, with its concept of humans controlling
another body in an alternate reality. But video games
lately have emulated reality and humanity in its dark-
est facets, in a way embracing a deterioration of earth
and society. This is something that Avatar ignores in its
adventures in the outer space jungle.
Avatar’s box office proceeds are in excess of
a billion and a half dollars. Therefore, it’s no surprise
that sequels are already planned. Avatar is more justified
in having a sequel than many films simply because the
cost to develop character, environmental, and animal
models for the world of Pandora and the accompanying
animations that comprised so much of the film’s budget,
represent an investment that could be re-used to decrease
the time and money needed for sequels.
23

SHS Speaks Out
W
hen J.D. Salinger died in late January, readers and book enthusiasts mourned the passing of this author who created one of the great American stories, The
Catcher in the Rye, featuring one of the great American anti-heroes, Holden Caulfield. With this in mind, this edition of SHS Speaks Out challenged students
and staff with this statement: "Describe your favorite book."
Senior Melissa Tarbell
“My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, because I
enjoy the classics, and I especially like Jane Austen.”
Math Teacher John Dean
I really enjoy anything by Bill Bryson, because he has
a very lively outlook. He also lives in Hanover [New
Hampshire].
H
ow many of you noticed that our last column
ended with the word on? Want to know why?
Maybe if you keep reading we’ll tell you…
The first definition of on according to Dic-
tionary.com is “so as to be or remain supported by or
suspended from.” Well, that’s exciting.
How many of you actually noticed that on
at the end of our column? What did you think? Did you
think it was a typo? Did you even notice it? If not, go
back and look. It’s there.
Let’s be honest. On really isn’t all that in-
teresting. It’s a word. Sure words can be fun, at least in
our opinion, but on? Not one we’d choose as Word of
the Day.
pg 24
Sophomore Coral-Mae
LaMontagne
“The Deathnote series. It’s romance with some action,
and severe psycho-ness. It’s like psycho-killer romance.
It’s awesome.”
Senior Chris Rosengrant
“Wizard’s First Rule. It’s a fantasy series; it’s
ridiculously long. There’s really good character depth.
It’s an awesome fantasy series.”
Bursting the Bubble
On. Word of the Day?
By Jenny Bradley and Olivia Johnson
Flamboyant. Zealous. Conspicuous. These
are adjectives that would be right at home under the
category of Word of the Day.
Are we really talking about words right now?
Words? Don’t worry. We know that none of you care
and have probably already given up on this column. We
mean, it’s about words. That’s like the absolute worst
column topic ever. Words.
Haiti. We want to go to Haiti. We want to
help. We get so tired of sitting in school and doing things
that will amount to so little. Our $320,000 future college
experiences could feed a country. Sometimes we want
to take all that money and feed a country. But will we?
No. We’ll go to college. Probably have the time of our
lives, graduate, get a job, have a family, spend all our
money on them, die old. Is that what we want?
G r e e
By Laurel Porter
Senior Matt Domina
“My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. I thought it
was a great book. It had a good storyline to it.”
Sophomore Carrie Mobus
“I like Harold and the Purple Crayon. When I was
younger, my parents would always read it to me, and I
remember enjoying reading it.”
Yes and no. We want to do something. Help
someone. Change something. But doesn’t everyone?
And out of all the people dying to change the way things
are, how many actually make a difference? Little to
none. We have these moments when all we want to do
is help. Leave everything and help. But then, we walk
away. We walk away from the TV or put down the
newspaper. Moments later, it’s gone, we’ll be laughing
with our friends, doing homework, or lounging on the
couch. Sure this feeling will reappear from time to time
but will it ever push us enough to break away from our
routines? Will we ever have the power to do the unex-
pected? We hope so. With every fiber of our beings we
hope.
See Bubble page 22
n H o r n