Teacher Spotlight:

Mr. Zambrano

Student Spotlight:

Isabella Perretti

Student Life: iPads!

Match the Teacher!

The Mary Helper October 2016

MH! Contents Student Life

3 iPads at Mary Help

4 MHCA Cheer & Don Bosco Football Game

5 Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Zambrano

6 Student Spotlight: Isabella Perretti

7 Dear Jay: Advice Column

News 8 Nigeria’s Food Crisis

9 Environmental Column: Elephants

Beauty and Fashion 10 Crystal’s Corner: Skincare

11 Fashion Column: New York Fashion Week

Fun Stuff & Art 12 Radio Write-Up With Sophia:

13 Movie Review & Photography

14 Photography & Original Poem

15 On This Month in History...

16 Match the Teacher

Student Life iPads at Mary Help

By Briana San Diego

This past September, each Mary Helper was given her own iPad to use for this

school year. The iPads have made learning in the classroom, completing homework,

submitting assignments to teachers, as well as having resources such as our textbooks

much easier and more accessible than before. For the most part, many students are

very happy with the idea of being supplied with their own iPad and feel that it’s a con-

venient way to have easier interaction with the teachers as well as more hands on work

in the classroom. Here are some things a few Mary Helpers had to say:

Mirka Velasquez: It’s convenient that I no longer have to carry around my textbooks be-

cause I can just take a picture of the pages that I need.

Shannon Tangel: I don’t have to carry my laptop anymore and it makes my backpack

lighter.

Tatiyana Fields: It’s cool that Mary Help is becoming more technologically

advanced!

Mrs. Evans: “LOVE them…!!!”

Angelina Ruiz: Made doing homework and taking notes easier.

Dominique Scerbak: They make learning more productive.

Brittany Nembhard: Interesting but confusing at times- something to get used to!

Carolina Herrerra: The apps help me more with homework and it’s awesome.

Fiona Morrissey: They’re much faster than the laptops and the keyboards work better.

Marie Fitzpatrick: We don’t have to carry as many books around and it’s easier to get a

quick response from the teachers and homework

Skylar Fusco: Convenient and easier to keep notes organized!

3

MHCA Cheer and Don Bosco Football Game

By Marisol Gindhart

The first game of the season started off with a bang. Our very own MHCA

Cheerleaders showed up with brand new uniforms. Bosco had a rough

game, but in the next game they did amazing and beat Depaul with 35 to

21! Our cheerlead-

ers performed

amazingly at both

halftime shows.

They had prep and

sharp moves, along

with a great and

super exciting rou-

tine. Come to the

next Bosco football

game to see our

very own cheer-

leaders and Bosco

play!

4

DATES: -Saturday October 1 @ Delbarton (Morristown NJ) 1:00 pm

-Friday October 7 HOME vs. St. Joe’s 7:00 pm

-Friday October 21 HOME vs. Paramus Catholic 7:00 pm

-Saturday October 29 @ Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) time

TBA

-Friday November 4 @ St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ) @

7:00 pm

** all dates are subject to change **

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Zambrano

5

How did you become a teacher at Mary Help?

After retiring from public education, I decided to continue teach-

ing. I had been educated by the Salesian Sisters, Priests and

Brothers from K-12. I met with Sr. Marisa and Mrs. Manzella to

learn about Mary Help of Christians Academy. Once I was offered

a teaching position, I accepted, and now here I am.

What is your number one pet peeve about students?

Everyone has potential and talents. My one pet peeve is when the

first thing a student says when encountering a challenge is, “I

cannot do this.” or “I am not good at this.” How do you know until you try? This is how

we learn about ourselves. These opportunities help us to become resourceful.

What are your favorites? (Book, movie, store, song, place to vacation, etc.)

My family, friends, and I spend time at the beach. We all enjoy catching up.

If you could have any career, other than teaching, what would you want to do?

I enjoy working with people. There are many who need assistance in securing re-

sources because circumstances, beyond their control, present challenges. I think that I

would have also enjoyed being a Social Worker.

What is the best thing about Mary Help?

Everyone that I have met is helpful and strives to provide each

student with the best educational experience possible while at

Mary Help. I get to see the behind the scenes collaboration that

takes place to achieve this goal. The students, in return, interact

well and appreciate what they have.

Please share one other thing about you that students may not know.

I have always wanted to skydive. However, when I was younger my par-

ents had reservations. Now, I am reminded each day that I am not get-

ting any younger. I will need to research ‘healing time’ before moving

forward.

Student Spotlight by Nailah Anderson With the grace and poise of a swan, Isabella Peretti is hard to ignore when she’s on the dance floor.

Isabella has been dancing from the first years of her life. She trains with some of the best dancers

in the world and wins 1st in the toughest competitions! Take a look at her very special talent.

When did you start dancing?

I've actually been dancing ever since I was about 3 years old, on and off, pursuing a variety of different

styles. I began dancing Ballroom 3 1/2 years ago since I wanted to correct my posture and I fell in love

with it ever since.

What made you want to dance or made you want to get where you are

now?

I've always loved to dance and I feel as though I transform into a whole

different person when I dance in front of an audience. Seeing my teach-

ers on TV and competing internationally at a professional level while

earning titles has helped inspire me to reach my current level and start

competing. I always push myself to improve, give all my effort, and prac-

tice as much as I can. This mindset definitely played an important part

of helping me to get where I am today.

How would you describe the feeling you get when you dance?

Whenever I dance, I feel happy and free. Dancing is truly a way I can ex-

press myself and a feeling I can't explain comes over me. Every time I

dance, I have a desire to show my best and give my all.

Do you see yourself dancing years from now? (Are you going to college

for dancing? If so, what college do you have in mind? Will you have a career in dancing? If so, what’s your

dream job?)

I really hope to continue dancing for many years to come! Even though I'm not entirely sure what I want to

do in my future, dance will play a role in it.

What is the most exciting experience you’ve had dancing?

Definitely my competition in New York City this summer! It was such a great experience

and it is one I'll never forget. Firstly, staying overnight in New York City was definitely

exciting. Then in the morning I woke up early to get my hair and makeup professionally

done, put on my Latin dress and my shoes, have a quick and small breakfast, and then I

hit the floor for a short practice with my instructor. The competition started a few min-

utes after and I was really excited. I danced 3 rounds with 4 dances each round. There

was anywhere from 3 people to 20 people on the floor the same time as me. All along

the sidelines, there were judges watching every move I made while also scoring me. It

was tired after it was all completed but the result was definitely worth it!

Who inspires you to keep dancing?

My instructors Katia, Slawek, and Igor definitely inspire me to keep trying since they've been recognized

as some of the top in the world as well as Miss A, all of which whom encourage me to keep going. Many

dancers such as the group BTS have also inspired me to keep working hard and give my all.

What has been your proudest moment in your dancing career?

Without a doubt winning first place at the competition this summer was the proudest moment for me. Also

being able to perform a duet in last year's spring concert and performing each year at my studio's dance

showcase have been proud moments.

6

7

Got a problem? Ask Jay... On her new website www.dearjay.weebly.com!

There’s a mystery Mary Helper on campus with some awesome advice! Let’s call her “Jay”.

Jay is willing to provide advice to anyone with a problem or question. Whether it’s about school, friend-ships, relationships, or just life, in general — Jay can answer it!

Jay’s goal is to give you a new way of thinking about and viewing each problem that you have. Got a problem?

How do I contact Jay with my questions? You can ask your questions on www.dearjay.weebly.com . Jay will either respond to you on the site, fea-ture your letter and her response in the Mary Helper, or both!. When sending in your questions, you have the option of being anonymous. If you choose not to include a name, you are therefore completely anonymous and she will only receive your problem and nothing else.

P.S. - If you would rather be anonymous, try adding a cool name to describe your situation (e.g.:

“Sincerely, Going Crazy”)

How does Jay decide who to feature in the Mary Helper? If Jay feels that others can relate to what you’re going through she’ll feature it in the newspaper. If you wouldn’t like to be featured in the newspaper, please enclose that with your question.

Can’t wait to help! -Jay <3

Environmental Column by Sophia Schneider Feature

Nigeria’s Food Crisis By Grace Labascio

8

“No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can

wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where the

hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs and what you

may call principles, they are less than chaff in the

breeze. Don't you know the devilry of lingering starva-

tion, its exasperating torment, its black thoughts, its

sombre and brooding ferocity?”

-Joseph Conrad

Each year more than 617,000 children die in northeastern Nigeria

due to poor malnutrition.

The small town in Borno, is the worst- affected state. Adults have

wings instead of skin covering their back bones, and children have

bloated bellies instead of healthy stomachs. Camps around the area are

swarming with adults and children, while doctors pump nutrition back

into their weak bodies. About 130 children in Borno die each day without

seeking medical assistance.

Ultimately, the group blamed for this dire food loss are the Boko

Haram. This Islamic militant group desperately attempts to overthrow the

government. Skilled in violence, the Boko Haram goes into small Nigerian

states and holds villagers gunpoint until they give their cattle and food to

the Boko Haram.

Prior to the food dilemma, water became a concern after the Boko

Haram poisoned Borno’s water sources.

Agencies have been called to help Nigeria’s hunger however are ac-

cused of stealing supplies. The government can no longer ignore this

growing issue and has sent in more Nigerian troops to protect the citi-

zens from Boko Haram.

Source: http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21706261-famine-looms-

areas-devastated-boko-haram-hunger-games?

zid=315&ah=ee087c5cc3198fc82970cd65083f5281

Environmental Column by Sophia Schneider

Elephant Lives Are More Valuable Than Ivory

9

Problem: Ivory poaching has become a

major issue. According to CITES reports,

illegal elephant poaching has become

unsustainable in Central Africa from

2003-2014 and in West Africa from 2007

-2014. “Unsustainable” is a very danger-

ous word when describing a species- it

means that the species is being killed

quicker than it can reproduce. According

to WWF, around 30,000 elephants are

slain every year for their tusks, which is

where the ivory is contained. Ivory is con-

sidered valuable for its durable proper-

ties and aesthetic appeal. In Asia espe-

cially, it is often carved into small statues and trinkets. Their ivory tusks are essen-

tial to an elephant’s survival. Elephants use their tusks to protect their trunk, lift

objects, peel bark off trees for food, and defending themselves. They were given

tusks adapt to their surroundings and survive, not to be poached and made into

carvings.

How You Can Help: Many people- but still not enough- have recognized the dangers

that elephants and their environments face due to poaching and have set up or-

ganizations to help combat it. You can donate to one of these organizations, or

start your own! Some charities saving elephants include the World Wildlife Fund

(WWF), Save the Elephants, Ivory Ella, the Wildlife Conservation Network, the

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, WildAid, Year of the Elephant #JoinTheHerd , and

the International Elephant Foundation.

We are all one- we are all a part of earth. It is our job to be kind and do our best to

help each other and our planet. Together we can all make a difference for the

greater good- all we have to do is start.

Sources:

Follow @justbeinggreen on Instagram for daily inspiration and more

ways you can help!

Crystal’s Corner By Crystal Fazzinga

CRYSTAL FAZZINGA @crystalsbeautyxo 10

Skincare: Young and Mature Skin

Skincare is an essential to most people, and sometimes it's not a big

deal to others. Even if it doesn't seem like a big deal, it's important

to take care of your skin because you will be in the same skin for the

rest of your life. I want to share with you the best products to use for

young and mature skin. Let's begin!

Young Skin:

Cleanser (only in the morning)

Moisturizer with SPF (in the morning)

Eye cream (light amount in the morning and/or night)

Cleansing wipes (at night to remove dirt and oil)

Thick moisturizer without SPF (great to sleep with so it absorbs through the night)

Face mask are great to use once a week!

Mature Skin:

Cleanser (morning and/or night)

Facial serum

Moisturizer with SPF (in the morning)

Eye cream

Cleansing wipes (at night to remove dirt and oil)

Anti-aging moisturizer without SPF

Thick eye cream

Wrinkle cream (optional)

Tips:

Drink a lot of water!

Get 8+ hours of sleep (if possible, lol)

Exercise and eat right (ask Miss A for great tips!)

Stay clean!

New York Fashion Week Trends by Juleisy Cabrera

New York Fashion Week Trends by Juleisy Cabrera

11

New York Fashion Week was on September 7th to the 15th and left almost all of social media is talking

about the new trends for spring 2017. There were tons of different designers that participated– from

Coach, Yeezys, Marc Jacob to Victoria Beckham, Michael Kors, and Project Runway! I did my research and

discovered some trends that made appearances in the work of multiple designers. According to Pret-a-

reporter.com and fashionista.com, these were the biggest trends revealed during fashion week!

1. Orange and Pink

Surprisingly, these colors were displayed by nearly

all of the models!

2. Ruffles

I love this look– it adds a funky dimension to your

outfit and it's different from what you usually see!

3. Stripes

I love working with stripes! It can be a little tricky because striped pieces don’t go

well with everything- so it's basically comes down to how you style it.

4. Platforms

Designers are making fashion fun and new

through these exotic platforms for Fall and

Spring! They have a throwback feel to them,

and the design is everything.

5. Out-of– This World Sleeves

These designers took sleeves to a whole new level- and it is

goals! These sleeves are different from what we are usually used

to– they are ten times better!

Source: http://fashionista.com/2016/09/new-york-spring-fashion-trends

Radio Write-Up with Sophia!

By Sophia Schneider

Top 3 Songs of the Week: (from

Billboard.com)

“Closer” by the Chainsmokers

feat. Halsey

“Heathens” by Twenty One

Pilots

“Cold Water” by Major Lazer

Artist of the Month:

Coast Modern

Songs by Coast Modern

to listen to:

“Guru”

“The Way it Was”

“Animals”

Quick Facts: -

Coast Modern is an indie pop duo based in Los Angeles.

The duo consists of Luke Atlas from Seattle, Wash-

ington and Coleman Trapp from Denver, Colorado. They

met in Los Angeles and began writing songs together.

Coast Modern’s first live performance was at the

2016 South by Southwest music festival and have toured

with BØRNS, The Wombats, and The Temper Trap.

On their musical influences, Luke has said that “part

of the Coast Modern sound comes from embracing the

music we loved when we were young, even if it's not

‘cool’ now.” He says that the Beach Boys, the Beatles,

Weezer, and Led Zeppelin have all majorly influenced

their work.

Upcoming Shows:

October 2 at Flushing Meadows

Corona Park in New York, NY

October 5 at the Theatre of the Living

Arts in Philadelphia, PA 12

Movie Review: Poltergeist (2015) by Sophia Schneider

13

Poltergeist is the perfect movie to share

with friends on Halloween night! The Bo-

wen family moves to a new suburban com-

munity, but strange things start to happen

in their new house. Kendra, Griffin, and

Maddie ignore most of the occurrences,

either playing with them or blaming each

other for them. One night, Eric Bowen and his wife Amy go to a dinner party, leaving

their children home alone. They soon find out that the suburb they moved into was

built over old cemetery grounds. Griffin finds his little sister talking into her closet,

and later into the TV where hands press up against the screen from inside. He tries to

pull her away, but an invisible force blocks him and Maddie whispers “They’re here.”

Kendra is left to babysit, and a bunch of ghostly occurrences happen that lead to

Maddie disappearing through her closet. When Eric and Amy return, they search eve-

rywhere for Maddie until they hear her voice through the TV. The Bowens turn to Dr.

Brooke Powell for help with the supernatural, but will they be able to get Maddie

back?

Photography by Sophia Schneider

Photography by Marisol Gindhart

14

Would you like to

submit a poem,

comic, or photos?

Email

lgraceffo@maryhe

lp.org

Poem: Quietly Dreaming by Amaya Estrella

The dark encloses you, as you close your eyes.

Your mind is finally quiet, with no stray thoughts.

No more floating in and out of conciseness .

You can't draw the line between fantasy, and real-

ity.

Dreaming begins to take over.

Quietly in the dark you return to a place,

Where everything is to your liking.

People's faces from reality pass by in a blur.

Quietly dreaming, of somewhere better.

Quiet dreams are the best dreams.

No one to interrupt.

You can stay as long as you want.

Quietly dreaming.

Www.lovethispic.com

October 1, 1971- Disney World's First Premiere

Walt Disney World, officially titled "The Happiest Place on Earth", had its first grand

opening on October 1st. The visionary and mastermind

behind the entire theme park, Walt Disney,

unfortunately died of lung cancer in 1966

and never got to see his work. It consisted

of Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Contem-

porary Resort, and other major attractions

that are still popular today.

October 24, 1901- First Woman to Attempt & Survive Niagara Falls Trip in a Wooden

Barrel

Annie Edson Taylor, an adventurous, free spirit, decided to

take a trip across Niagara Falls in a barrel on her 63rd

birthday. In efforts to financially secure her later years,

Taylor wanted to make headlines by risking her life at-

tempting a dangerous daredevil stunt and gaining public

attention. In under 20 minutes, she was found relatively

uninjured, except for a small wound on her head. She

later told the press, "If it was with my dying breath, I

would caution anyone against attempting the feat. I

would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing

it was going to blow me to pieces than take another trip

to the Fall." Don't try this at home kids!

October 24, 1929- Wall Street Crash of 1929

America's first stock market crash, commonly referred to

as "Black Tuesday", occurred in October of 1929 after

rapid bank withdrawals caused the stock market imme-

diate failure, ultimately leading billions of citizens to

bankruptcy, unemployment, and poverty. This led to the

infamous Great Depression, which took place in the

1930s. During this era, President Herbert Hoover was be-

lieved to be the root of the cause, and thus gained a dis-

honorable reputation.

On This Month in History… by Alondra Brito

Would you like to

submit a poem,

comic, or photos?

Email

lgraceffo@maryhe

lp.org

Source: www.history.com 15

Match the Teacher! By Loretta Graceffo

This month’s theme for Match the Teacher is favorite movies! Match the teacher on the left to

their favorite movie on the right . When you think you’ve got it, check your answers on page 20!

Jaws

Mrs. Barrett

Answers can be found on

page 20!

Mrs. Hess

The Count of Monte Cristo

Sister Guerline

Mrs. Kirt

Mrs. Reenstra

Mr. Skibitski

Mrs. Evans

16

Mr. Bliss

Mrs . Manzella

Cool Runnings

Breakfast at Tiffany’s The Shawshank Redemption

The Martian

Dirty Dancing

Last of the Mohicans

A League of Their Own

Editor-in-Chief: Loretta Graceffo

Advisor: Mrs. Kirt Staff members:

Sophia Schneider Crystal Fazzinga

20

A school newsletter rooted in

beauty, truth, & joy.

Amaya Estrella Juleisy Cabrera Grace Lobascio

Marisol Gindhart Alondra Brito

Nailah Anderson

Mrs Evans– Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Mrs. Reenstra– The Shawshank Redemp-

tion

Mrs. Hess– The Martian

Mrs. Manzella– The Count of Monte Carlo

Match the Teacher Answers!

Mr Skibitski– Jaws

Mrs Barrett– Dirty Dancing

Mr. Bliss– Last of the Mohicans

Mrs Kirt– A League of their Own

Sister Guerline– Cool Runnings

The Mary Helper is brought to you by:

A school newsletter rooted in

beauty, truth, & joy.