Monthly Archives: September 2008

Boys Soccer Defeats Mt. Hope

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On Wednesday night, the South Kingstown Rebels boys’ soccer squad won an exhilarating 4-1 battle against the Mt. Hope Huskies.

The game, played at Curtis Corner Middle School, was full of tense moments and saw four red and eight yellow cards. The Huskies took an early lead in the game through a goal by Christopher Ferreira.

The Rebels fought back and got two first half goals five minutes apart from Seniors Steve Siravo and Matt Floskis. Floskis and Siravo also tallied a goal apiece in the second half to lead the Rebels to the victory.

Senior Captain Ryan Stone played assisted on two of the goals and playing shutdown defense. Andrew Burnap came of the bench and logged productive minutes on the defense.

The Rebels will get back in action versus the East Division-leading Barrington Eagles on Monday, September 29th, at Barrington High School at 6:00 p.m.

Bomb Threat Alarms School

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On Thursday morning, September 25th, Principal McCarthy informed students and faculty that bomb threats had been scrawled on a bathroom wall.

Students were met as they entered school Thursday morning by police officers.

            Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, September 24th, 2008, students were told that the building was to be emptied by 2:30 that afternoon. All sports practices and other after-school activities were cancelled.

            Later that night, students’ families received a phone call explaining that the school had been thoroughly searched and that the administration felt confident about the school’s safety.

Rebel Football Defeats Coventry

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On September 19th, the boys’ football team defeated the Coventry Oakers 14-12 at Curtis Corner Middle School.

  Down 6-0, return man Kane Noka ran the opening kickoff of the second half back 80 yards to tie the game.

  The Rebel defense, however, was unable to hold back the Oaker offense, leaving the Rebels down 12-6 late in the game.

  Senior running back Tim Hazard, put the Rebels up for good with a three-yard touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion.

   The Rebels’ next game is Friday, September 26th, at Pilgrim High School.

Rebels Topple Undefeated Portsmouth

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  The South Kingstown Rebels boys’ soccer squad won a thrilling 1-0 contest over the previously unbeaten Portsmouth Patriots on Monday night, September 22.
  The game, played at Curtis Corner Middle School, was tied 0-0,until Rebels’ senior forward Matt Floskis streaked to a deflected ball at the front of the net and scored the go ahead goal.
  Rebels keeper Dan Higgins stopped all nine shots he faced.
  Other standouts for SKHS included senior Steve Siravo, junior defender Taylor Readyhough and senior defender Ryan Stone, who locked down the Patriots’ explosive attack.
  The Rebels will host Mt. Hope Huskies on Wednesday, September 24th, at Curtis Corner Middle School.

 

 

 

State Testing Standards Label SKHS Insufficient

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Once known to be one of the best high schools in the state, South Kingstown High Schools reputation has suffered in recent years. Although strong in academics, athletics and the arts, Rhode Island State Test Results have tagged the school with the state’s lowest level of classification, Insufficient Progress.

   According to Principal McCarthy, “having an Insufficient Progress label definitely causes the public to have a negative perception of the school,”however,” adding that, “most people don’t know what the designation means.”

Although labeled Insufficient Progress, South Kingstown High School had the fifth-highest test scores in the state, just behind Mount High School, another school also making Insufficient Progress.

  At SKHS, 72.12 percent of students reached proficiency in English and 58.39 percent met the standard in math. Blackstone Academy achieved Adequate Progress designation yet only 43.25 percent of students demonstrated proficient in English and 22.22 percent proficient in math, according to the Rhode Island Department of Education.

  These schools are not alone as 50 percent of the state’s Insufficient Progress schools are only making Inadequate progress due to the failure of Special Education math students to meet the standards.

  Currently, the Rhode Island Department of Education categorizes schools based on the progress of 21 subgroups. Some of the subgroups include African Americans, Free and Reduced Lunch Students and Special Education Students.

  At schools with large and diverse populations like SKHS, failure to make progress in just one subgroup can give the school a failing label.

  Narragansett High School has too few economically disadvantaged students and non-native English speakers for these to be considered subgroups. Schools that have less than 45 students in a particular subgroup are exempt from that subgroup meeting the standards.

  Last year, South Kingstown High School failed to make progress in mathematics with the Special Education subgroup, with 49 percent of this subgroup meeting the standard.

  McCarthy added that although the state’s system of basing proficiency on specific subgroups negatively generalizes the school, it has some positive aspects because it helps insure that the needs of all types of students are met.

  Although some schools “teach to the test,” teachers at SKHS are not particularly fond of this instructional method.

  “I teach math, not a test,” SKHS math teacher Mrs. Eberly said. After one year of teaching in Block Island, Eberly started teaching at SKHS and has been for the past 22 years.        

  “Although we don’t teach to the test directly, many of the concepts that we teach are on the tests,” she added.

  Eberly explained that there are a variety of steps that the math department has taken to help better prepare struggling students for state testing.

  “Many classes have “Problems of the Day” which can help with the problem solving sections on the tests. Also, Eberly explained, the Interactive Math course curriculum has changed and a special Numeracy Course has started with the goal of helping students gain a strong foundation of basic math,” Eberly explained.

  McCarthy said that the school as a whole is taking steps to insure that all students will be more prepared to meet the standards.

  Currently, the state is intervening to make sure that SKHS addresses the issue of inadequate progress.

  “The state funded the school with$30,000 to help address and improve test scores, and the money is being used for teacher training and collaboration,” said the principal.       

  “Common planning time and teacher learning center are also times where these issues can be addressed.”

  If SKHS continues to make inadequate progress, the school will be placed under state-intervention status. State intervention status means that the state will set regulations that the school must comply with to insure that the standards will be met for all students.

  McCarthy explained that he is not completely sure what this would mean for the school. The principal added that SKHS is making extra effort to effectively teach areas that the state test results showed were problematic for students, such as interpreting graphs and diagrams.

  According to SKHS recourse teacher Jim Provensal, many students who are having difficulty are not being academically engaged in the right manner.

  “For better of for worse, socio-economic factors play a big role in the of success of the school,” Provensal explained.

  Provensal believes that it is important for struggling students to see the connection between the work they do in the classroom and their every-day-lives outside of school.

  “The connections between school and life are important, but not always evident for students,” Provensal said. “Lessons for these struggling students,” he added “should be based on student interests and on tangible skills that students use in life, although the connection can sometimes be difficult.”

  Although South Kingstown High School has been labeled Insufficient Progress because of one subject with one subgroup, the school still has made progress in a number of other areas.

  During the 2005-2006 school year, SKHS failed to make progress with three subgroups, but this year the school only missed with Special Education Mathematics students.

  With No Child Left Behind came the goal of having 100 percent of students proficient in English and math by the year 2014.

  McCarthy explained that while a goal of 100 percent proficiency may be unrealistic, it is a worthwhile goal to aim for.

  “It’s like 100% gun control. It may be unrealistic, but it’s still something worthwhile to strive for.”

  Currently, the administration is trying to motivate test-takers by offering well-behaved juniors one point on their quarter average in a course of their choice. This year’s senior class had a pizza party and Escapades viewing as a reward for efforts during state testing last year.

  Although students were told that scores would be placed on transcripts because of a new state requirement they are currently not on high school transcripts.

  Mrs. Majeika, director of guidance, explained that this is because the school is having issues with their new database.

  “Last year’s junior class did an outstanding job,” McCarthy stated.

  “It’s important to remember that we are making progress in many areas and we are working to help those who are struggling.”

 

Adventure Tourism Booms: SKHS Students Travel to South America And Africa

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   Planning for summer: for most people this is a vital part of the final three months of school. Many students sit daydreaming of the two months ahead, planning every beach day and cent they’ll spend. But for two SKHS girls, this summer will not be filled with beach days and summer work.

  While others hit the sand and surf, Juniors Sarah George and Caroline Kelly plan on spending their summers doing daily community service in Africa and South America.

  The two students are taking part in a new type of travel called Adventure-Service tourism. This new tourism style allows teens and adults to travel to another country to perform several days of community service coupled with the immersion into local culture.

  George plans to spend five weeks in Ghana, a country in eastern Africa along the Ivory Coast.

  “I will be doing some kind of community service project in a small village,” said George, “The rest of the time I’ll be doing a home stay in one of the big cities like Accra.”

   George’s trip is facilitated by a foundation called The Experiment in International Living. The group runs summer programs for teens in 27 countries around the world.

   The fees for trips like these, however, soar to the thousands. George’s trip will cost her nearly $7,000. Kelly’s trip, to the mountains of Peru, will cost her close to $5,000.

    “I am going to Peru for three and a half weeks with this group called Broad Reach,” explained Kelly.

  Broad Reach, a company that strives to help teens explore different parts of the world, will be coordinating Kelly’s trip. Broad Reach was founded in 1993 to create summer programs to educate teens.

  Kelly, along with thirteen other teens from around the United States, will be spending several days hiking the Inca Trail and then traveling to the village of Cuzco to stay with the community.

“I’m going to be working with the kids there and teaching them about health and also helping them with their English,” said the SKHS junior

  In recent years, companies like The Experiment in International Living and Broad Reach have boomed. The new world of travel has opened up opportunities for Adventure Tourism and changed the face of vacationing in general.

  “Several years ago there was an increased demand of people telling us that they really wanted to do some community service programs,” said the Marketing Director of Broad Reach, Missy Cook.

  Kelly, for example, will spend several days in a town experiencing the local culture and then set off on a hike through the Inca Trail. The group will hike up to the ruins of Manchu Picchu and then spend the final two weeks working with people in a village.

   The mix of cultural experience and community service has taken the vacation world by storm.

  Though George does not yet know what service she will be performing, she is scheduled to find out prior to her trip.

“In the past they’ve done stuff like building a school or painting or teaching kids stuff,” said George.

  More and more teens and adults have been traveling to other countries, not just for a vacation but for a life experience and companies like these offer these experiences.

 “I think [this trip] will make me more aware of differences in people around the world and more of an out going person,” said George.

   George and Kelly both feel that this is an experience that will change their outlook on the world.

   “[My Parents are]a bit nervous about me going to a country far away,” said Kelly, “but their also excited that I’m going to be learning so much this summer.”

   Both Kelly and George have traveled to other countries in the past, but neither has stayed for an extended length of time.

   “I got my packing list the other day,” said George, “I’m not allowed to wear any shorts that are above my knees and [I have to wear] one piece bathing suits.”

   George feels that the cultural expectations may be strict but understands the necessity of abiding by them.

  “I want to probably major in international development and work with this kind of stuff,” said George.

   George, who plans on going on trips like this throughout her life, recently went to Honduras with her mother over February vacation. She and her mother went with an organization called Sustainable Harvest and completed daily tasks of helping the villagers farm and also lived with a local family.

  Kelly has never done this kind of international service work and feels that her upcoming experience will help her become more educated on the needs of others around the world.

   “I [think I] will learn more about the world and cultural differences from here in Rhode Island and other parts of the world,” said Kelly.

   Though Kelly plans on pursuing a career in chemistry, she believes her interactions with the people of Peru will positively affect other aspects of her life.

  “There has been a real expansion in more meaningful adventure service,” said Cook, “and an explosion of these courses when it’s more than just fun.”

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

Zambonis Electrify ‘Hockey Rock’

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Do you love rock and roll music? Do you love hockey? Do you love hockey rock music? You probably have never listened to hockey rock music if you haven’t listened to the Zambonis.

The Zambonis, a rock and roll band from Bridgeport, Connecticut, are the first and only hockey rock band.  The Zambonis have had a seventeen year career of playing and performing original, playful rock songs that are exclusively about hockey.  Dave Schneider, the band’s singer, guitarist, and songwriter, wanted to do something innovative.

“I always wanted to do something that has never been done before. No band has ever written all their songs about hockey. It was meant to be a silly little joke and it turned out to be a great challenge that lasted 17 years and counting. “

The band has toured all over the United States, playing clubs, N.H.L hockey games, and everything in-between.

Schneider said that the band’s most memorable gig was “playing on the ice of the Staples Center in Los Angeles in front of 22,000 people at the NHL ALL STAR GAME.  Playing in a small punk rock club in Latvia was a close 2nd.”

The Zambonis have also played at Madison Square Garden three times, a venue that the majority of great bands only dream of playing once.

“We played The Garden 3 times. Once in 1995, warming up for the Monster Trucks. You got to start somewhere! I am still smelling those exhaust fumes. Then we played the Garden for two New York Rangers events,” Schhneider explained.

Schneider has written several theme songs for hockey teams with his bandmates. “We wrote theme songs for The Bruins, The Avalanche, The Hartford Whalers, and many minor league teams.”

The band recently produced a ten-song digital release, called “Fight on the Ice,” which is also the name of a song on the album. Additionally, The Zambonis Greatest Hits record is scheduled for release in June.  If that’s not enough hockey rock, a new full-length album called “Hockey Rocks” is scheduled for release in December.  

Schneider seems to have a passion for writing unusual rock music. He spends his winter months with his side-project, The Leevees. The Leevees are a rock band that performs humorous songs exclusively about Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays. The band was formed with Adam Gardner, guitarist and singer of the alternative rock band, Guster. The Leevees have toured nationally, opening for the Barenaked Ladies, and even playing with the Boston Pops Orcheastra.  The band released an album called “Hanukkah Rocks” in 2005.  (For more information on the Leevees, check out myspace.com/theleevees or www.theleevees.com.)

Although their musical careers keep them busy, Schneider and the other members of the Zambonis all have day jobs.  

“I work for the Versus network, a hockey channel, and am the on ice MC for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a New York Islanders Farm Team,” Schneider explained. His bandmates have jobs including record producers, music teachers, and web designers.  Schneider feels it’s difficult balancing their jobs and family lives with the demands of being in a touring rock band.

Although it’s been a challenge, the Zambonis have spent seventeen years doing what they love. Schneider sums it up, “We love hockey and we love music and we are a tight team.”

For more information on the only hockey rock band, check out myspace.com/thezambonis, or www.thezambonis.com.

 

 

Focus on the Present

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Why as adolescents are we always in a hurry to grow up but as adults want to turn back time?

As a society we have grown to live our lives for tomorrow, when what we ought to be doing is living for today. For only today is sure, concrete and constant.

As high school students we strive to push forward, to move on to the “real world,” but in reality we should be valuing the four years in our life that define us.

In high school we experience no real failures, aside from perhaps the failure of a class or the loss of a job. We are, however, becoming the people we will be for the rest of our lives.

Adolescence comes hand in hand with responsibility and independence. As teenagers we are opened to a whole new world beyond the backyard and movie theater.  The completion of our high school career (and subsequently our introduction to the adult world) represents not just years of hard work, but the memories created in these years.

Though we will remember these four years for the rest of our lives, we as a society need to learn to live for today. It is imperative to learn to appreciate every second, rather than wish for the next novel experience.

We are not invincible. We are not unbreakable.

That, in fact, is a constant in our lives—that they all eventually must end. So why should we be wishing for years to fly by when we only have so many to live?

As we look at the some 300 graduates that will be stepping forth to a new world, look not with envy, but rather appreciation.

Time is a precious thing, and we still have the power that its possession offers. We have a whole lifetime ahead of us. So stop wishing away the moments.

And as you watch the class of 2008 move on to life after high school, decide to experience life without the desire for time to pass.

For only today is sure, concrete and constant, and tomorrow is no guarantee.

It’s time to live our lives for the present.

 

-Sarah Schraer, Assistant Editor

 

To Prank or Not to Prank

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Almost every year, seniors decide to say farewell to South Kingstown High School by pulling a prank of some sort. Last year, the school was abused in perhaps the least creative way possible: “ ‘07” spray-painted above the gym doors.

This year, the seniors pulled two pranks.

First, the pranksters took the power cords from many of the computers in the school, seriously irritating staff, faculty and administration and rendering common plan useless for many. The students responsible turned themselves in upon hearing a rumor that they needed to do so if they wanted to keep senior exam exemptions.

A few days later two more seniors bathed the culinary hallway in detergent and cornflakes.

First period classes that took place near the incident on the third floor were moved to the cafeteria.

Both pranks, however, were quickly cleaned up, and by third period everything was business as usual. In fact, the only remaining sign of either prank was a clean white line running through the hallway and a much fresher scent.

The students responsible for the pranks were barred from attending their senior prom.

Right away,  many students believed that the punishment was an overreaction of the most serious nature. Nothing bad went on, the area was cleaned quickly, no one was hurt and no property actually got damaged. In fact, some said the second pranksters did the school a favor.

Here’s the administration acting like a bunch of jerks, right?

Wrong.

The reaction of the administration was totally and completely appropriate. If they had merely reprimanded the students responsible, then perhaps another prank of a more serious nature would have taken place, this time seriously disrupting the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere we have at South Kingstown High School.

In all seriousness, it is the administration’s job to maintain a learning environment to their best ability. Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Cronin, and Ms. Guerra took the necessary actions to prevent catastrophe.

Still, the question persists: should the seniors have done it? Was it worth the punishment?

That’s a question only the devilish minds who came up with the scheme can answer. They upheld an age-old tradition, and I’m sure many have applauded them for that. Whoever they are, they probably feel pretty jaded at the moment, missing out on their prom.

At least the pranks stopped there. At least they weren’t sitting instead in front of police officers, facing charges of destruction of property or needing to pay $ 3,000 to cover the damage they inflicted.

So yeah, I’m defending the administration. I know it’s not exactly in-vogue, but they have made the right decision regarding these events. They responded to the situation correctly.

  Why?

  So it won’t happen again (this year at least).