2012 and Beyond

www.glencove.k12.ny.us Glen Cove High School’s Newspaper

The Cove-er Times

By: Kevin Lopez

In this issue:Thumbs Up /Thumbs DownBook & Movie Reviews p. 2

Poetry Corner A Valentine Wish p. 3

Sports at GCHS Boys Varsity Wrestling p.3

It’s All Happening at GCHS Author Visit p.4

Senior Fashion Show p. 5 Piece of my Mind Class Ranking p.6 Teacher Feature Mr. Paul Liepa p.7 Photo Contest p.8

March issue 2012

2012 and beyond-a virtual existence…

The holidays are over, and it’s a great time to start Christmas shopping, if you don’t want to get caught in traffic or wait in really long lines at the stores during the next holiday season. Who knows, you might find another new Ipod or the next gaming console during your early, early Christmas shopping. Besides getting a jump on sales for this year’s Christmas season, what else can we look forward to in 2012? Well, let me gaze into my crystal ball…

In 2012, at the rate technology is advancing, we might have many new gadgets and gizmos. I am certain that even the electronic devices that we currently have will continue to get smaller and more portable, be able to run many apps at one time and run faster. Soon the internet will completely take over our lives, possibly even more so than it has already. With all this technology and virtual living, we may not have any reason to leave our homes because of social networking, online shopping and online classes. Although this may seem like a chapter out of some futuristic novel, much of this is all happening right now.

But, where is this all headed, where will all this lead us to? One thing that I am sure of is that no one will escape into a solitary private existence because of all the tweets and other blogs that invade our daily lives. In other words, our private lives will get even less private than they are now.

Electronic book readers, like the Kindle and the Nook, have already replaced many hard copies of printed materials that traditionally could only be read in a book format. In addition to electronic reading materials, movies leave theatres so rapidly that individuals either make sure that they see a show during opening week or they wait until the DVD is released. These movies are often not so original. In fact many movies are following this path that lacks originality and most new releases will continue to be remakes of past classics or animated films. As far as I can see, originality will become (if it hasn’t already) a thing of the past. Really now, isn’t everyone sick and tired of the many sequels, milking the same idea over and over again.

In keeping with this gloomy brain dead/brain drain theme, music will run out of rhythm and it’ll be difficult to compose a song without using a beat or melody that hasn’t already been broadcast around the world and deeply embedded in our subconscious. Dubstep, a compilation of mechanically produced sounds that is currently taking over the music scene as the latest pop genre will have died a natural death. Awesome, because I’m not a fan! The down side is that we will be trading in one terrible genre of music for an even worse one that requires even less talent, but I guess rock had it’s time in the 70’s, 80s and 90’s. (Hopefully it’ll make a comeback!)

In addition to the music world, as I gaze into my crystal ball once more, I see a major battle brewing in this year’s presidential race. Who will be the next person to lead this nation? Will Obama still be in the White House? I don’t really think so, he’s a great speaker and great at making promises, but can he keep them? I don’t really see any changes from 2008, maybe some minor ones here and there, but nothing that has made our lives that much better. So, GCHS students, I’m banking on you to be creative and help save our future from mediocrity.

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Thumbs Up/Thumbs DownMovie ReviewBy James NgTwilight: Breaking Dawn****4-1/2 Stars

Book ReviewBy Brandon MarianaLeviathan***** 5 Stars

Movie ReviewBy James NgWar Horse****4-1/2 Stars

One weekend when I was trying to decide what movie to see (and what theatre to give my $10.00 to) I chose Twilight: Breaking Dawn, over Jack and Jill When I arrived at the theatre and met up with my friends, we waited on a long line with many others who had obviously made the same choice as we had.

This fourth sequel in the Twilight saga starts right where Eclipse, sequel three left off. Bella wants to get married because when she consummates the marriage she will be transformed into a vampire. It’s raining and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) storms out of his house and immediately takes off his shirt and transforms into a wolf. He drops a letter. It zooms into the letter revealing it’s an invitation to Bella and Edward’s wedding.

They’re starting to set up the wedding and Alice Cullen (played by Ashley Greene) is trying to teach Kristen Stewart’s character Bella to walk in high heels, utterly failing. After this, Alice tells Bella to go home and get some sleep. We are then shown Bella walking down the aisle. When she reaches her soon-to-be husband Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) she looks to the crowd to see no one there, she looks back at Edward and sees that they are standing on top of a pile of bodies. Bella wakes up revealing it was only a nightmare.The next day the wedding takes place as Bella and Edward exchange vows. After that all kinds of strange things begin to happen. I’m going to stop before I give away too much of the plot which is filled with excitement , romance, and blood. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes gore and is into vampires.

World War I was considered the war that would end all wars. No one could conceive that weapons would become more terrifying than those available during this period. Nation’s thought that they had created the deadliest weapons with the technology available back then. But what if a war occurred that was even worse? Leviathan portrays such a war where giant walkers are armed with guns, living airships are manned by genetically created monsters that are ready to tear apart any enemy

that gets too close. In this steam-punk novel, the prince of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and a girl posing as a boy because she hopes to join the air service are pushed into the center of the battle. They must learn the secrets of their peace delivery mission in the hope of ending this war. The book does push the limits of historical fiction. The Central and Allied powers become the Clankers and Darwinists. The Clankers use metals, iron and oil, heavy guns and weapons in combat, while the Darwinists thread the DNA of creatures together to form new beasts to use in flight or combat. They do not coexist peacefully but instead are opposed to each other, so a war between them seems ready to break at any moment. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie unleashes this catastrophic event. The book does retain some actual historical facts ,that is, the cause of the World War, the background between the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, and the different sides in the war, but those are some of the only true historical facts. The Archduke and his wife’s deaths occurred differently than in reality, and the main character, Alekzander, doesn’t even exist (they had kids, just not one named Alek). If you are looking for a story about World War I, this isn’t the best study guide, but it really is an amazing tale. Alekzander is on the run with only a few loyal companions by his side after the death of his parents. As he seeks shelter, he tries to escape to Switzerland, running from walkers of all shapes and sizes, all equipped with cannons and guns pointed straight at him. Deryn “Dylan” Sharp, is the girl posing as a boy in order to join the British Air Force. Through a strange turn of events, she winds up serving on the famous ship, the “Leviathan.” With each character on different sides, what will happen if and when the two sides finally meet? The book follows an amazing storyline, and has great artwork to go along with the tale. In my opinion, this makes it a true hit. The characters are believable, and you can really enjoy the story being woven around one of the most famous events in history. While reading this tale remember that it’s not just a great steam punk novel, but one that you really shouldn’t miss.

I had been wanting to see this movie ever since I had seen the trailers for it. I said to myself “Man I’ve got to see this movie.” I tried to get someone to go with me, but no

one wanted to go, so I went alone. You know if there are less people it means that there will be fewer people to distract me from the movie. There weren’t that many people in the theater so it was quiet and I settled back to concentrate on my Cove-er Times assignment. The movie opens with the birth of a horse. That horse is Joey, the subject of the film, and watching this event from afar is young Albert Narracott. Then the film fast forwards and Joey is full grown and is taken from his mother to be sold. He struggles and a farmer named Ted Narracott sees him and buys him. When he gets home his wife is upset because he was supposed to buy a work horse not a thoroughbred. She says that he needs to take him back. But over time he proves his worth as a strong work horse but disaster soon strikes when Britain is thrust into war. Joey is bought by the military. Albert by this time has become inseparable from Joey and naturally is devastated. He decides to enlist and the rest of the movie tracks some disastrous battle scenes in which Albert and Joey are involved. The viewer is kept on edge wondering if Albert and Joey will ever be reunited. The movie takes a lot of twists and turns but, I personally loved it. A downside for me was that I felt that there could have been more violence onscreen. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic movie and very well done. If you want to see a nice family movie, you can’t go wrong with War Horse.

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The Cove-er Times Staff

The Cove-er Times welcomes your comments!

Ms. Munson – Advisor Mr. Lombardo - AdvisorYlenia Elvy Panton- Co-Editor and ChiefLorraine Ballero - Managing EditorKevin Lopez - Secretary

Brandon Mariana– Treasurer

Staff Reporters:Matt KolbertNick GarciaYaqarah Letellier Natasha Miller James Ng Mario SerranoNick Taylor Victoria Zumaeta

To advertise in The Cove-er Times contact Ms Munson at amunson@glencove.k12.ny.us or 516-801-7650

Copyright 2011

POETRY CORNER By Kevin LopezAngel of Silence

Glen Cove Wrestling, under head coach Chris MacDonald, has won the Cove Cup once again. Winning last year was just not enough. The team vowed to win this year to make a statement. What’s that statement you might ask? The answer is simply that Glen Cove High’s Wrestling team is a force to reckon with. After beating Lawrence High School in a close conference match, they returned to the Cove Cup championship match to redeem themselves. Unfortunately for the Lawrence Golden Tornadoes, they encountered the Big Red

Glen Cove Wrestlers Once Again Are the Cove Cup Champions!Sports at GCHS By Mario Serrano

Knights which jousted them into submission by conquering them completely. Not only did Glen Cove stampeded the Lawrence competitors, but those of Great Neck North and Valley Stream Central as well. They did not stand a chance against Glen Cove Wrestling’s intense line-up. This line-up actually brought Glen Cove to achieve something they had not done in a long time. Since 1999 Glen Cove Wrestling had not reached the accolade of conference champs, but under head coach MacDonald the 2012 Glen Cove Wrestling team was able to achieve

just that. Having a 4-1 record in the conference, they were the Conference 3b Champions giving them a great spot in the playoffs. Jerry Ho, wrestler and MVP of Cove Cup, says, “We are just going to go into playoffs and destroy everybody!” With enthusiasm like that and great coaching by Coach MacDonald and assistant Coach Kopecky, the Glen Cove Wrestling team hopefully will keep moving forward, easily destroying less gifted competitors they encounter.

When I see you in the halls, I try to avoid the places you go to,When I get near you, I never know what to do.I’m afraid that if I open my mouthSomething stupid will come out.Your eyes freeze me in placeSo that I can’t even move a paceWithout you, I’m dead inside.

You are my angel of silence,the one that keeps me quiet.

I don’t know why, I’m just so nervous around you.To see you every day with a smile on your face would make my dreams come true.I don’t know if you care,You might not like me, I think that’s fair.Inside I’m screaming “I love you” but you won’t hear‘cuz I’m the one with all these fears,Without you, I’m dead inside.

You are my angel of silence,the one that keeps me quiet.

When you’re not around, I have lots to sayBut when I see you, I try to stay away.No courage to talk to you,So you don’t have a clueHow much you mea n to meWithout you, I’m dead inside.I just have to keep breathing to stay with my angel.

I wish you knew,I wish I could tell you.Oh, to live in this hellish wayWhere words can’t sayWhat the heart feelsWhat seems so realI’ll just wait, even forever for my angel,the angel that keeps me silent.

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It’s All Happening at GCHS Author Discusses Debut Novel with GCHS Students By Ylenia Elvy-Panton

South Bronx English teacher, Matt Blackstone recently published his first novel, A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie. Although a work of fiction, Mr. Blackstone acknowledged that the humorous tales of high school life described in his work were taken from his real life experiences as a high school teacher. While visiting our school to discuss this and his upcoming second book, he entertained students with excerpts (not to mention a few musical solos) from his first book. The book discussion was followed by a brief, but lively, Q&A session.

Mr. Blackstone has been a teacher of 10th grade students for 7 years and has looked to his classes for inspiration and to critique his book. When asked by GCHS students how his own students felt about having a teacher who is an author of a well-received novel he said, “...they think it’s cool”, and “...they still pretty (much) treat me the same.”

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie is about a student who has an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who makes bad decisions to try to have a “cool” reputation. The story, as mentioned earlier, is based on the teacher/author’s own experiences as well as those of his students’. Blackstone made it clear that teaching in the Bronx is an interesting

experience, to say the least, and many of the events described in the book have actually happened.

Mr. Blackstone’s first career choice was not to be an author or a teacher. However, while trying to pursue his dream of becoming a professional baseball player, he came to realize that there were many better players than him. Upon further questioning, he replied in his characteristic self-effacing humorous manner that “I didn’t make the cut for the junior high team, or the high school team, so…you know… I decided I wanted to be a teacher.” However, Mr. Blackstone made the time while teaching to pursue his passion: writing. Soon the storyline for A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie was born. It is the perfect blend of modern comedy

and relatable (not to mention embarrassing) situations that any student can appreciate. The hilarious tale is now available in our library and, the librarian told me that it’s enjoying a brisk circulation run.

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The 2012 Senior Runway ExtravaganzaBy Ylenia Elvy-Panton | Photos by Lorraine Ballero & Andrew Vela

The 25th Annual Glen Cove High School Senior fashion show held on February 10 lived up to its predecessors’ reputation as a fun-filled evening of modeling. All the weeks of preparation have now come and gone but for all those involved the memories generated will live on. It was truly a night to remember! My fellow seniors and I prepared to strut our stuff for weeks leading up to the fashion show. Although the stress of preparing skits and acquiring outfits became overwhelming at times, we managed to come out on top and wow the audience. Modeling the latest styles from Annie Sez, Estelle’s, It’s Simply for You ,Parish, S&S Tuxedos, Valley Sport & Trophy and Victor Talbots Formal, our senior class wowed the crowd.

One of my most favorite parts of being involved with this production was watching my fellow classmates and reminiscing about our early school days. For me, it was sort of weird to imagine that these same charming young men and sophisticated women were once little kids, barely able to eat cookies without making a mess. It felt almost surreal to see them now so grown-up modeling suits and gowns, a far cry from their usual attire of jeans and tee shirts. Sadly, this fashion show was not only an eye popping extravaganza but something that once again reminded me that this is yet another last thing that I’ll see and do as my days at Glen Cove High continue to wind down. It certainly served to put the end of the year in perspective. Our graduation is only a few months away! Time surely flies by when you’re having fun.

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Piece of my Mind By Yaqarah LeTellier & Matt Kolbert

To Rank or Not to Rank

Matt: Against High school seems to have become a game of numbers, in which the students are reduced to and differentiated by mere numerical digits, often to a hundredth of a percent. This so-called ranking ritual is far from harmless or inconsequential but rather it plays a major part in determining which college a student may gain admittance. These numbers are taken and used to rank individuals, placing them into percentiles according to grades. Unfortunately, sticking to this arcane system of ranking students by grade is handicapping the majority of our students. Ranking every individual is used purely to show a students ability relative to his school, but to a college admissions office, it is not the ability of your peers that matter, but instead how you compare to all of their applicants. If anything, ranking hurts many more students than it helps. Glen Cove High School is one of the few schools on Long Island that mandatorily ranks its students. We are in the minority, because other schools have realized just how archaic this practice is. Today, ranking at Glen Cove High School only serve to benefit 25 students, and to leave the rest of the class, especially those just a few points from being in that exclusive group, feeling mediocre and inadequate. These 25 students are the only ones continuously praised and honored, leaving the rest of the class essentially disenfranchised. From the moment we enter high school, we are constantly reminded to participate in clubs, join sports teams and discover our musicality, but still our school uses a system that only acknowledges our grades. If the quality of a student is not solely on their grades, why shouldn’t we have a new system? A system based on personal achievement, service, extracurricular activities and SAT/ACT scores in addition to an individual’s grades. If the majority of classes in one school are vigorous and demanding while they are laid back and simple in another, the average GPA of a student in the second school will likely be higher than the first, but the actual measure of a student’s talent would more likely be proven

true by the scores in the first school. It could also happen that the student ranked at fifteen at Glen Cove High School could have a 96 GPA, while number twenty six at North Shore High School has a 98. If both high schools put the students ranks on their transcript, a college might take the Glen Cove student, even though the North Shore student has achieved a better GPA. Essentially, a mere numerical ranking is an inaccurate descriptor of a student because it can vary so greatly from school to school. Not only do rankings have inherent inaccuracies, they can harm students who are trying to get into highly competitive colleges. Some schools will immediately dismiss any students who are not a part of their own schools top 10%, and this only results in an unfair disadvantage to the student. The thought that mere decimal points can result in a student being rejected from his or her dream school is disturbing. This system is effectively hurting the chances of a student to get into certain colleges, which is the opposite of what a high school should be doing. Some might argue that the competition created by the ranking system is beneficial to students, which it is, when it is used in the right way. In our school, ranking becomes a battle of the brightest, pitting the best against the best. Students are either working vigorously for the sake of beating their own peers or working just as hard to avoid taking challenging courses that may drop their GPA. In the end, your grades do not hurt nor help another student; they should only be a reflection of yourself, so why turn it into something that it should not be?

Yaqarah: For Is the world becoming a place where everyone wins? Should we just eliminate events such as awards ceremonies in order to ease the conscience of those who didn’t work hard enough to earn one? And hey, while we are at it, that is, worrying about everyone’s delicate psyche, what about just eliminating scoring at sporting events ? For me, the answer to these questions is an emphatic...No. Wanting to be the best is not a crime and neither is competing for a top spot. We live in a country and a world where competition and achieving go hand and hand. Where would Apple, Inc. be without other competitors to keep it on its toes? The use of a class ranking system, apart from other influences and motives, pushes most students to work their hardest and, in my opinion, any incentive that pushes students to want to achieve more is a good incentive. In addition, such a system readies teenagers for a more competitive world, in which the competitive atmosphere is more intense than it is in high school. However, the necessity of class ranking that fosters peer competition has come into question. When class ranking time comes around, it can either be a time of joy and pride or one of disappointment coupled with feelings of inadequacy (or indifference). The system of class ranking is a reward system; acknowledging those who have had an outstanding academic career. One’s class ranking is often included on high school

Continued on pg 7

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Teacher FeatureBy Nick Garcia

transcripts to help indicate a student’s potential for success in college. In various high schools across America, the value of class ranking has been debated and in some places opponents have been successful in eliminating this system. One of the noted reasons is the added pressure on students, however, it exerts no more pressure than students place on themselves in order to succeed in high school. No student has to take an AP class or tryout for basketball or work at

their local nursing home. But they do it because they want to, then any extra pressure is their responsibility. It is up to them to prioritize and use time management skills to organize their lives. In addition, any added pressure from parents is the fault of the parents, not the students. Weighted classes such as APs and Honors classes compensate students who take harder classes and don’t quite get As all the time. These students have to compete with those who take regents classes or easy electives simply to get higher grades. The more challenging classes better prepare you for

college while rewarding you with extra points on your GPA, as well. Although I must admit that in a more academically prestigious high school where a good 70% of the students have a 95 or above average or a 3.6 GPA, this system is can serve as an injustice, ensuring that some students with a mere 95 GPA that didn’t make it into the top 15% goes unrecognized by some colleges. But in Glen Cove High School where the success rates are not always that broad, the ranking system can provide the necessary incentive for a student to achieve more.

To Rank or Not to RankContinued from pg 6

Mr. Liepa is quick to let his students know that one’s path in life usually takes many unforeseen twists and turns. In Mr. Liepa’s case, his path to Glen Cove High School and the teaching profession was not the usual straight and narrow one followed by some of his colleagues. Instead, he dabbled in other fields, working as a copywriter, before returning to college to get his teaching certification. He arrived at the Glen Cove School District in 2001 as a substitute teacher and started as a full-time teacher the following year. In addition to his college teaching courses and preparation, Mr. Liepa’s work in the advertising publishing business gave him much experience in editing and helping writers’ improve the

quality of their work. According to this Liepa, it was a natural development for him to move from the publishing world as a copywriter to a career teaching high school English classes. During our interview session, I asked Mr. Liepa about his most memorable teaching experience. He told me about a time where he creatively disciplined two students that were giving him a hard time. “...these two guys would sit in the back of the room yelling two words that are… that are very insulting…. …but then at one point, it occurred to me to use my best Beavis and Butthead impression and tell the young man ‘that word is so naughty, say it again, it’s just so naughty,” and with that I turned it around on the kids….” Sometimes, he continued, you have to beat someone at his own game. That is, you haveto take what seems like their ammunition and use it against them. Since his early days at Glen Cove high, Mr. Liepa has seen a lot of changes. These changes are not just in the standards and curriculum but also in the students. We are now teaching the “Electronic- Age” students, many of whom cannot function for a second without an earplug or a cellphone in hand. This can be very challenging. As the interview continued, I discovered that Mr. Liepa was born in Queens, but lived in Franklin Square until he was twelve years old. The Liepa

family then moved to Huntington, NY where he has lived ever since. When asked about some favorite things he enjoys doing in his spare time, Mr. Liepa responded that he loves going to plays and watching the New York Giants . He also likes to play Volleyball, although he says he’s losing some of his skills. Also during the interview, Mr. Liepa revealed that when he met his wife, an elementary school teacher, he thought that it would be ideal if they both had the same work schedules. In this manner he credits his wife with influencing his decision to become a teacher. The Liepas have two daughters, one in ninth grade and one in seventh grade. As far as his personal philosophy of life is concerned, Mr. Liepa thinks that as a nation we need to shift our values so that we reward creativity and place a higher value on altruistic endeavors and not just on monetary accumulation. Further, he believes that we are becoming as a nation more reliant and wholly dependent on technology. We need to figure out what and who is driving and, whether we like the direction it is leading us in.

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Photo ContestHow many of these Glen Cove locales can you identify?

Bring your responses to Mrs. Anderson in the library.