Thursday, December 8th, support South Kingstown High School Art students and attend The Main Gallery at South County Hospital art show from 4-6pm.
Selected pieces from Mrs. Bianchi and Mr. Gagnon’s Art I classes will be shown in honor of these students for all families and friends to see, sponsored by the South County Hospital Auxiliary Art Program.
Take this opportunity and join in the works of these talented artists. There will be refreshments.
Tonight, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD, Rhode Island will be holding their 29th annual Candlelight Vigil at South Kingstown High School from 7-9pm, hosted by the SKHS Students Against Destructive Decisions.
This vigil is dedicated to all the victims who have been killed or injured by impaired driving. It will be a night of music, video tributes and guest speakers.
All are welcome and admission is free. Come support MADD Rhode Island and families who have lost or been effected by impaired driving.
By Sam Vaccaro
Since the initial release of the iPhone in June 2007, smartphone usage in the U.S. has been on a steady incline. Today, 40 percent of U.S. mobile phone users own a smartphone, over 121 million people.
These phones, capable of email, mobile and web communications, are heralded by many as revolutionary, lifesaving and even addictive by their owners.
Scientists reason that this sort of smartphone “addiction” may be caused by a phenomenon known as “Variable ratio reinforcement”.
Never knowing when they will receive a notification, smartphone users oftentimes find themselves checking and rechecking Facebook, Twitter, Email, and other applications, or apps, hoping to find a notification or new piece of mail.
“It’s like slot machines,” David Greenfield, PhD, a nationally recognized psychologist explained to WebMD the Magazine. “We’re all seeking that pleasurable hit.”
“An addiction, by definition, is the compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance,” said Greenfield, and “Although we’re not seeing actual PDA addictions now, the potential is certainly there.”
Even at school, iPhones, BlackBerries, and Android Phones are a common sight, both in the hallways and in classrooms.
“It has made my life exponentially easier,” said senior Madeline Clappin of her iPhone 4. “My email, my texting, my Facebook, my Twitter, everything is right there.”
Senior Aaron Andrews shares Clappin’s sentiments.
“I can talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time,” said Andrews. “And in an argument I can look something up right on the spot to prove someone wrong. It’s awesome.”
Clappin and Andrews are just two of the millions of smartphone users who find themselves hooked on the devices.
“I really do rely on [my iPhone] a lot more than I should,” Clappin admitted.
“I would say I’m addicted, a little bit, yes,” Andrews added. “I don’t think I could live without it.”
Despite all this praise, the smartphone industry proves to be very expensive to the consumer. Besides the cost of the mobile device itself, smartphone users pay an average of $30 extra per month per device, on top of the $200 or more price of the phone itself, making the average yearly cost around $360.
Many wonder, however, whether this hefty cost is worth the price.
“Absolutely,” said Andrews, “it’s 100 percent worth it.” In light of this price tag, the devices’ ease of use and reliability are two of their major selling points.
“I don’t think I could settle for another phone at this point,” laughed Clappin. “I’m in too deep.”
Others, such as Senior Sam Mason, hold a different opinion, however.
“I could definitely live without a smartphone,” said Mason, the proud owner of a Nokia 1100 cell phone, a device which Mason says dates back to the late Renaissance era.
“My phone’s a piece of garbage, but it’s simple, it does the job, and it’s basically unbreakable.”
Mason and many others view the smartphones as more of a status symbol than a useful tool.
“Everyone just buys into it because it’s the cool thing to have,” he said. “Besides, I don’t even see how people can call themselves ‘addicted’. They don’t even need half of those apps.”
Andrews still maintains that it’s more than just ‘a cool new trend’.
“I’m sure if [Mason] had a smartphone too, he’d know where we’re coming from.”
It’s Wednesday morning, and the mood is easygoing at SKHS. Everything seems normal, and everyone is looking forward to the shortened periods the day promises.
But wait. Did someone just howl? And why are there five kids wearing wolf shirts and roaming the halls?
If you haven’t noticed, every week more kids show up to SKHS sporting wolf attire. They huddle together in the second floor hallway gossiping about their latest purchase or newest member. So what’s the deal?
Local founder of the SKHS wolf pack senior Ethan Kulman has much to share on what the wolf pack stands for.
“The Wolf Pack is a [defiant gesture] to school being a boring place,” Kulman said. “It’s just something to smile and laugh about with friends during school.”
“It’s like the light in the dark abyss we call school; it breaks up the normalcy.”
The origin of werewolves can be traced back to Ancient Greek literature and mythology, where references to men turning in to wolves are mentioned.
More recently, werewolves have become prominent in pop culture.
Following the release of the Twilight series, werewolves have become popular characters in television shows and movies, such as, Teen Wolf, True Blood and the Harry Potter series.
“Maybe subconsciously the idea has been rooted in our minds since all this commotion about werewolves has started,” Kulman stated, “but probably not.”
SKHS is not the only place where wolf packs have been formed.
In San Antonio, Texas, there is a Teen Wolf Pack that wear lupine eye contacts and attach tails to their pants.
“Here at SK it’s definitely more of a friendly thing,” says one of the original members of the SKHS wolf pack Dylan McCarty. “That seems overboard.”
“We’re not nearly as hardcore. We’re more about fun,” added Kulman.
Although going beyond the wolf t-shirts and howling in the halls seems an unlikely move for the SK Wolf Pack, the groups expansion is a different story.
“New members aren’t inducted,” Kulman said. “Anyone can join at any time. It’s just supposed to be fun and unite everyone in the school under one idea: to have fun by wearing a funny t-shirt with a wolf on it.”
“We’re infinitely expanding,” says senior Ben Congdon.
The wolf pack has in fact grown over the few shorts weeks since the start of school by approximately 500 percent, according to its founder.
On the first Wednesday of this year, only three kids were spotted wearing wolf shirts. Recently, on October 5, the fourth Wednesday since school commenced, there were a reported 14 people all sporting wolves on their t-shirts. The trend has yet to expand past the Senior class, however.
“I feel like I finally found a home,” says senior Olivia Mattyasovszky when asked how it felt to be the first female to be a part of the Wolf Pack.
“I wasn’t just a one woman wolf pack anymore,” added senior Halle Fox.
The idea for the Wolf Pack has roots in Kulman’s family history. Growing up in Forks, Washington, a town with notable werewolf populations, Kulman was born a mutt; his mother, a human, fell in love with the chief of a local Indian tribe. Kulman acquired a gene specific to the tribe that allowed him to do incredible things.
“One night on a full moon I experienced a sudden change,” Kulman says. “I turned into a wolf. With these powers I attempted to protect the love of my life, who will remain unnamed.”
In truth, Kulman confessed, “It really just happened when I bought a random wolf hat in Pacsun. The next day at the beach I received countless compliments and amongst my friends we created Wolf Pack Wednesday.”
Wolf Pack members can be seen together frequently each Wednesday chatting excitedly and showing off their newest wolf attire.
“I hope that people will just want to have fun,” Kulman said, “You might hate someone, but if you both agree that wearing wolf shirts and howling like an idiot makes school a less boring and friendlier place, then I’ve done my job.”
Last Wednesday on October 26, Italian Club held its first meeting of the 20011-12 schhol year.
“We are one of the biggest clubs in the school,” said Italian teacher Signorina Magliari.
This comes as no surprise to many students here at SKHS. With great food, soulful music and enthusiasm, the world languge meetings continually have good turn-outs.
Many events have been planned by the current executive board of the Italian Club.
These events range from karaoke to full-blown festivals for the Italian holidays such as Carnevale and San Giuseppe.
If you are interested in the events, calenders can be found posted around the school. See either Signora Coutcher or Signorina Magliari for more details.
Boo! Paranormal Activity III flew into theaters this Friday morning, October 21, at midnight. However, following the first two installments, students appear to be losing interest in the series.
Junior Sheamus O’Rourke described how the series is progressively getting worse, and how the third one is not worth his nine dollars.
“It’s just the same movie with different characters,” O’Rourke said. “I’ll probably just wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix®.”
According to IMDb, Paranormal Activity III is about two sisters in 1988 that “befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home”.
Only time will tell what students think of this haunting “threequel”.
Many people in South Kingstown are unaware of the radio station WRIU, 90.3, URI’s college radio. WRIU is a non-profit organization with volunteer DJs from the community with a vast array of musical tastes.
The radio station located out of URI’s Union building plays everything from Classical to Electronic.
Two Co-workers at the Alternative Food Co-op, Allie Philips, a URI college student, and W. Brendan Kelly, a Narragansett resident, are both weekend DJ’s and both are a part of WRIU’s electronic scene.
Both DJ’s are volunteers and provide a pretty good example of what the staff is like. Half the radio station is comprised of students or faculty and the other half is members of the community.
One thing to note is that the radio station is non-profit which means there are no commercials, therefore none of the DJ’s get paid.
The radio station is able to survive is through donations from the community and its listeners.
To find a full program listing of WRIU shows go to http://wriu.org/proguide.php.
Last year's Sadies Hawkins Assembly
Sadies has been a tradition at this school for decades, so naturally the idea of not having it this year angered many students.
After much talk of the assembly being cancelled, Principal McCarthy anounced that the assembly may be on after all.
“If kids reduce the amount of cuts that we have,” McCarthy said, ”then we will have the assembly,”
The assembly was orginally thought to be cancelled because of the ‘food fight’ at the close of last year’s assembly. The dance was also in question, but senior class officers have worked hard to convince administration to hold the event.
However, whether or not the assembly will take place is still in question.
The plays will range in genres, showcasing many different styles of theatre.
Sami Avigdor, seasoned actor for the CTC, promises a night that will not soon be forgotten. “It’s gonna be fun,” said Avigdor.
The admission will be on a “pay-what-you-can basis,” according to Avigdor, “But our recommended donation is eight dollars.”
These admissions fees will cover the costs of materials and various other things that keep the CTC up and running. The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. both nights.
This Friday, September 30, Project Venue will be hosting their annual Open Mic Night event at the high school. Open Mic Night is a night of music, poetry and more. Junior Emma Bivona talked more about the club’s profits and what students actually pay for by supporting their events.
“Project Venue is a group focused on [advertising] local artists and bands,” Bivona said. Last year the group raised a total of over $400 that Bivona said went to charities supporting Japan victims.
“Proceeds also go to getting new material we need,” continued Bivona, “but we have our non-profit license, so no one gets paid [for our events].”
Last year’s show featured performances by local bands, poets, and the highlight of the night, senior Matthew Belke in a banana suit.
Project Venue encourages students to come out and support, and Bivona insisted that Project Venue is open to all suggestions about event ideas. “We are always looking for new stuff,” Bivona said.
“Everyone is welcome to join; we’re all about the people.”
Open Mic Night will be this Friday from 7-10pm in the cafeteria. Admission is $2 at the door, and it is reminded that the appearance of Matt Belke is not promised.