S L E E P Y H O L L O W S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R I S S U E I I D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7

There’s What?...Where! Understanding the MRSA Scare By Kareem Ishmail Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as Staph, is a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases as a direct result of the infection of various tissues of the human body. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one type of strand of thirty which has been in the news, claiming the lives of people throughout the nation. MRSA is bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the noses of 20-30% of the general population who are relatively healthy. MRSA can be present without caus-ing symptoms, known as colonization, how-ever, when symptoms become apparent, MRSA presents itself as an infection, one that is resistant to methicilin, an antibiotic in the same class as penicillin and amoxicillin, which makes this all the more difficult for doctors to treat. The following are questions and answers about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) covering information you should know:

Q. What type of infections does MRSA cause? Within the community, most MRSA infec-tions are skin infections that appear as pus-tules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful or contain pus or drainage inside. These skin infections luckily can be treated effectively through the use of general antibi-otics. Other serious infections, such as pneu-monia, bloodstream infections or bone dis-eases, are rarely found in healthy people who get MRSA skin infections. These infections

I n most places around the United States, including Sleepy Hollow, jeans are an

everyday necessity, acceptable to dress in year round. Imagine the thought of a po-tential arrest due to exposing undergar-ments such as boxers or bare buttocks. The number of students that walk through our halls each day that could legally be sent to jail for up to six months or given a five hundred dollar fine if this law was enforced is hard to conceive. However, on August 30th of this year, an intensifying push began overtaking lawmakers starting in Louisiana regarding the ban of certain clothing, pants specifically, that exhibit inappropriate views. Sleepy Hollow High School's dress code can be found on the second page of the student agenda book, the twelfth item under behavioral guidelines. It explicitly states that proper attention be given to appearance while in school. This means clothing "shall not disrupt or interfere with the educational process." Items deemed unfitting, (no pun intended), are brief or see-through garments and clothing that

does not cover underwear. Yet, Sleepy Hollow's student body is a perfect demon-strator of rebellion against the code of conduct. It's not uncommon to see stu-dents wearing clothes that are quite oppo-site to how one is supposed to dress. Our school is not alone when discussing the "baggy pants" debate. More and more states are beginning to spend additional time on the subject. Since June 11, a small town in Louisi-ana, Delcambre, outlawed saggy pants. In the same state, another small town, Mans-field, issued the law on September 15 that subjects offenders to as much as a $150 fine or fifteen days in jail. A setting closer to home is Trenton, New Jersey, where councilwoman Annette Lartigue has be-gun drafting an ordinance to enforce com-munity service or fine people whose pants offer an unwanted glimpse. The fashion is also seen as a badge of delinquency, since the walk one provides while wearing pants this way is a thuggish swagger, im-plying disrespect to authority. Not all are in favor of the movement, despite the popularity to ban droopy cloth-

ing that seems to be increasing nation-wide. The opposing argument claims that the wearing of pants this way is a style imitation of the early 1990 hip-hop artists. The trend is also believed to have started in prison, where oversized uniforms were issued without belts to prevent any type of suicide, and it spread to rappers and music videos, from the ghettos to suburbia. With this in mind, the movement to outlaw baggy pants is seen by many as racially motivated because the wearers of such styles are predominantly young African-American men. In Stratford, Connecticut, a recent dress code ordinance proposed by Councilman Alvin O'Neal was rejected, many addressing the law as unconstitu-tional and encouraging racial profiling. Jeans aren't the only item being re-stricted. Many schools are beginning to devise a ban on miniskirts, long hair, piercings, logos with drug references and gang-affiliated clothing including colors, hats, and jewelry. In addition, dress codes are showing up in surprising places. The National Basketball Association makes each person adhere to the following or-

ders: no sports apparel, sunglasses, head-gear, exposed chains, or medallions may be worn at league-sponsored events due to a confrontation that generated major amounts of publicity. The league now enforces a business-casual dress code, arguing that hip-hop clothing allows mid-dle-class audiences to feel alienated. School districts nation-wide are becom-ing increasingly aggressive in regard to enforcing the type of clothing worn in educational facilities. Appearance in gen-eral, is being taken more seriously, so hike up those jeans and prepare yourself for a crackdown.

Let’s Get Crackin’: A Breakdown of School Dress Codes By Jackie Nadile

Moot Court By Lily Schroedel

GUESS WHO? This Hollow senior is notorious for his

baggy jean style.

Continued on Page 2

STAY TUNED FOR THE HOLLOW’S LATEST TELEVISION STARS Eddie Brady, Ronnie Bucci, Kevin Blank, and Adam Becker star-ring in ‘THE CHALLENGE’ airing 2/23 & 2/24, at 6: 30/9:30pm!

On November 14, 2007, Ms. Hunsber-ger’s law class competed in a Moot Court against six other high schools, including Bronxville, Ardsley, Pleasant-ville, Harrison, Gorton, and Rye Neck at the Westchester County Courthouse. The two students who represented Sleepy Hollow High School were Eric Waldman and Taylor Rogers who were

judged by attorneys and judges (some of whom sit on the Supreme Court of New York). The Moot Court Competition was completed quickly in one day. Sleepy Hollow made it all the way to the semi-finals, but lost to Rye Neck. to be placed in the finals. It was a successful experi-ence and one that will be built upon for the future.

PAGE 2 N E W S / O P I N I O N S HOOFPRINTS

What’s in a Name? By Valentina Guzzo

Getting older never gets easier. If anything, it only succeeds in making life seemingly more complicated. In addition to having to worry about passing your road test without making an illegal U-turn and completing your community service hours at the nursing home, you’re given an even bigger burden… college. Yes, my friends, it is indeed the task that as a junior and senior becomes burned into your brain. You can try to run and hide, every-where you look you see the reference: on school posters, sweatshirts, mugs, pencils, the internet, television, and let us not for-get, in the school announcements. So if hiding isn’t working out for you, maybe the better solution is to face the ugly beast sooner rather than later, and to be well-equipped with the ever powerful weapon: knowledge.

Based on the knowledge and experi-ence of my older sibling, Antonello Guzzo, who is an alumnus of Skidmore University, and useful websites like col-legereview.com, it was easy to gain a better insight into scouting for colleges. First things are first. It is important to know the basics of what to look for in a college. CollegeBoard.com can become your best friend during your junior and senior year because it has everything from information about colleges, to costs and financial aid. If you are interested in a particular subject area, look at a college that has that specific program. A larger university might suit you better because larger universities tend to have specific undergraduate schools for business, medi-cine, or engineering. If you are undecided, like many students, your bet is for a di-verse curriculum, so that you can experi-ment with what interests you. Liberal art schools usually foster diverse curriculums. Mrs. Rosenwasser is one of the most knowledgeable teachers when it comes to informing students about colleges and

their picky requirements. She is so prac-ticed at breaking the news to naïve juniors that getting into college, under her guide seems an attainable goal. Her advice to college bound students is, “You go to college to learn– academics, social skills, about yourself. The single most important piece of advice is from kindergarten: start small to grow tall. Make your campus small: if your schools offers it, enroll first semester in a focus program; opt for entry level courses with low class sizes; join a club that isn’t too time consuming and reflects your high school interests. Club athletics or playing a sport to represent your dorm, for example, is a way to start. Devote one or two hours a week to an organization that does community service. That will bring your college town as well as your campus into sharper focus.”

An important aspect of college is the cost. However, there’s no reason to fret because where there is a will, there is a way. There are many ways to pay for school including applying for financial aid, taking out loans, and working a part-time job perhaps in a work-study pro-gram. The point is, if you really think that a certain university is right for you, you shouldn’t let money stop you, because when you’re working your way up the ladder of success, those loans will pay for themselves over and over again.

If sports and theater mean a lot to you, it’s important to check your choice of a school’s statistics. Are they Division 1, 2 or 3 athletes in football, or do they have a good theatre program? The best way to get a feel for whether or not a school is for you is by spending time there. This means taking a weekend to visit the campus and spending the day there meeting students and getting a feel for life on the college grounds.

Some students don’t mesh as well as they hoped they would their freshman

year and conse-quently transfer. Don’t let this be you! Consider how cultural diversity plays a role in your choice of a school. Sleepy Hollow High School is such a varied place, per-haps attending a non-diverse school would culturally shock you.

Now onto an issue that many students have probably pondered: Ivy League Schools vs. Every other College in the World. The easiest conclusion to draw is that there can be no comparison between an Ivy League School and any other college because Ivy Leagues’ are elite in every aspect. How-ever, it is my pleasure to inform you that that conclusion is presumptuous and igno-rant. Yes, Ivy League schools attract the best professors and students in the world and the caliber of learning is extremely high, but it’s important to remember that as long as you’re driven, you can still achieve whatever you set your mind to. Attaining a high position in your preferred field is definitely possible, which means you don’t have to attend Harvard or Yale to get a good education. You just have to prove that you’re on the same level as someone from an Ivy League School. Instead of employers recruiting you, you have to recruit yourself. If you still firmly believe that an Ivy League college is right for you, then you want to show the col-lege that you’re not just about the grades, but you can contribute something to the university that other people can’t. Science Research students out there who toughed three years of summarizing articles and

endless hours at labs or in the field, give yourselves a pat on the back because you’re just what the Ivy League doctor ordered. That is not to say that you have to partake in a course such as Science Re-search to make yourself stand out; it just means that anyway to establish yourself as a “special” individual works in your favor.

The last piece of knowledge I hope to impart to you, is that in the end where you were educated does not matter. What does matter is how you put your educa-tion to use. So, now that you are armed with this plethora (that’s a good SAT word to remember) of knowledge you are prepared to come face to face with the beast that goes by the name of college and defeat it once and for all. No longer will you feel the urge to run and hide in a locker when you’re asked about it. All your previous thoughts about fleeing the country will disappear because now when you hear “college” you can confidently reply that you know what you’re looking for and that you’re going to visit the school you think is right for you this up-coming weekend.

are harder to treat since this type of strand of Staphylococcus is resistant to methicilin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Q. How is MRSA transmitted? MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that come into contact with someone else’s infection and contamination. Q. In what settings do MRSA skin infec-tions occur? MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere. The most common settings in which this infection is more susceptibly transmitted are in the settings of crowded environments in which there is a great deal of skin-to-skin contact, compromised skin such as cuts or abrasions or contaminated items, and surfaces that lack cleanliness. Q. How do I protect myself from getting MRSA? Practicing good hygiene by showering thor-

oughly with soap and water after all practices and competitions, washing our hands fre-quently, and the using alcohol- based hand sanitizers, such as Purell, aid in the protection against MRSA. Not sharing personal items, assessing skin regularly for lesions, avoiding contact with other people’s bandages or wounds, and covering all abrasions with clean bandages enables a person to protect themselves from this spreading infection. Q. Should schools close because of an MRSA infection? The decision to close a school for any com-municable disease should be made by school officials in consultation with local and/or state public health officials. Although there has been speculation about students in our school having Staph infections, this is only a rumor like all other rumors that are being spread in our school according, to our school nurse, Mrs. Cohen.

A question for thought…. Q. One way to protect yourself from MRSA is through the use of thoroughly washing your hands through the use of Purell; what is to happen if MRSA is able to become resistant to this self-cleaning mechanism? It can become resistant to antibiotics, why not Purell? Although this question might frighten some, the simple answer is to reassess your use of Purell. Purell is great; however the most ef-fective way to get clean our hands is with soap and water, the old fashioned way, the way before Purell was invented. Now is the time to apply this knowledge and use it to your advantage. Be cautious of MRSA. It is everywhere, and being in a high school setting only adds to susceptibility. Since this is the time when everyone is sick, practicing good hygiene, covering skin trauma, avoiding sharing personal items and

maintaining a clean environment, will protect from an infection that is difficult to treat be-cause it is to antibiotics, which usually treat all our infections. Beware of the dangers of Staph infections, because according the numerous cases, MRSA is becoming more common in the New York area, as well as in schools. There have been rumors of the infection spreading in our school, which a recent letter sent home by the school refuted. Still, many students around Sleepy Hollow are still unsure about whether or not there were any cases of a form of Staph infection present in our student body. Regardless of various beliefs and facts, it is important to do everything you can to prevent the infection. It is deadly, but live life, don’t let it live you! Cited From: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There’s What?...Where? Understanding the MRSA Scare Continued from Page 1

Junior Lily Schroedel, left supporting her

brother, Sam by wearing Binghamton University.

Senior Cassie Lynch, top left, has hopes of

attending Colgate while Wydnne Cadena, top,

hopes to become a member of the

Big Red in the fall.

HOOFPRINTS N E W S / O P I N I O N S PAGE 3

Hollow Ink By Gregory Valdespino What do motorcycle riders, gang mem-bers, rock stars, and Ms. Peliter have in common? The answer isn’t a diehard atti-tude or an affinity for photosynthesis, but tattoos. Yes, even our teachers have tattoos. It’s hard to associate these signs of rebellion with the authority figures of our school, but believe it or not, many faculty members of our school have tattoos, including: Ms. Peltier, Ms. Madani, Ms. Larsen, Ms. Dre-her, Mr. Tompkins, and many others. These tattoos are symbols of something that we rarely associate with our teachers, a life beyond the school, and, a life before teach-ing us. Ms. Madani, the energetic physics teacher, has not one, not two, but three tat-toos. Each tattoo has its own story and each is a symbol of the character of Ms. Madani. Ms. Madani got her first tattoo when she

was just nineteen as a gift for herself. The gift came as a reward for getting through the all too familiar nightmare of finals. It came in the form of the famous work The Melting Clocks, by Salvador Dali. This melting clock presently lies on the hip of Ms. Ma-dani. The next tattoo came a year later in the form of something personal, and something that we will never outgrow: our name and our culture. Madani, in case she ever forgets her name, can simply look at her upper back to see her name in her culture’s language of Farsi. This, might I add, is the only tattoo that her father knows about. Now, guess when the next tattoos showed up. If you said the very next year, you were correct. The next tattoo was actually designed by Ms. Madani’s roommate when she was study-ing abroad in France. The tattoo contains parts of the poem Auguries of Innocence by

William Blake and is located on her lower back. At this point, Ms. Madani was run-ning out of skin and she decided that she had to slow down, a rare change in char-acter. She agreed not to get another tattoo until she was thirty, and now that time has come. Her new tattoo will be the most exuberant one yet. It is going to be a full back tattoo containing Polaroids of the places she’s traveled. It

seems that for Ms.Madani, tat-toos are more than an aesthetic choice, they’re a collection that she can never lose track of. Ms. Peltier, a familiar face not only with science students but with her fellow athletes, has one tattoo placed on her lower back. This tattoo is more than a hobby or a desire to be cool; it is a mani-festation for her love for her de-ceased brother, Chris. Chris Life Peltier passed away in 1999 in a hiking accident in Colorado, at the age of 25. Ms.Peltier had wanted a tattoo since she was seventeen, but she wanted something mean-ingful and artistic for her tattoo, and couldn’t find anything in the books at the stores. Four years after her brother’s death, Ms. Peltier realized the perfect idea for a tattoo, one in memory of her beloved brother. When she finished designing the tattoo herself, she had it made, with a sterilized needle, she assures us, but one that still caused considerable pain. This tattoo is small, but more powerful than the largest mosaics in the world. It is of two hearts, hugging each other, over the word “Life”, her brother’s middle name, and something that she wants to experience to the fullest. This tattoo has many meanings to Ms. Peltier. It takes her back to her child-hood, engaged in made up games and com-petitions with Chris to pass away the hours. It reminds her of the life that she must lead

and the love that must go with it. This tattoo is a reflection on a grave loss, a great love, and the meaning of the word ‘life’. Our teachers’ tattoos mean a number of things, from personal reflections to youthful obsessions. These tattoos help us to realize we have common ground with our teachers, as hard as that is to believe, a need to express ourselves. Teachers, like us, have stories that they never want to forget, and some choose to make these stories a permanent part of themselves in the form of tattoos. Our teach-ers’ lives are like books, and it just so hap-pens that some of them are picture books, and that can make hearing the story all the more interesting .

“Out of Bounds” Behavior By Maddy Dopico

At Sleepy Hollow, the date of the next football game and the team’s statis-tics are pretty much common knowledge. Who doesn’t know that we were taken down by Rye, our football rival in the sectional championship game at the begin-ning of November? Sleepy Hollow is filled with proud, supportive fans that filled the stands of the football games this past season. At the boys Varsity Soccer sectional games, however, the stands mainly consisted of the spirited soccer moms and dads and a few lonesome, but loyal fans.

Although it may come as a surprise to many, the soccer games are filled with excitement, drama, and are very amusing to watch. This year’s team was an espe-cially unique one. Senior Chris Cornel who won the All Section Honorable men-tion was entertaining to watch while his vibrant yellow cleats danced around the other players, maneuvering the ball around. Carlos Gomez’s incredible foot-work wowed his teammates as he ran through three defenders so swiftly that the spectators were unaware of the difficult and impressive play before their eyes until Gomez’s teammates on the bench jumped up in celebration. Aside from being

skilled players, Nick Carraro and Marco Baran made the games even more fun to watch: Carraro, with his Tae Kwan Do – like grunts during his powerful overhead throws, and Baran, with his enthusiasm both on the field and off. Sure the unre-nowned fun of the games contributes to the uniqueness of the team, but what is not necessarily in front of a spectator’s eyes, are the hardships and prejudice the team had to overcome in order to play like the team they became. The boys’ soccer team displays the diversity of our school, and is proud of that fact. Roughly half of the players’ first language was Spanish, and the other Eng-lish. “I learned a fair amount of Spanish from being on the team”, said defender Kevin Blank. “Our players shouted words in both Spanish and English to each other during the games”. The diversity that the team celebrated and claimed as their own was often something criticized by other teams. Sleepy Hollow spectators and play-ers alike were shocked at comments made by opposing players throughout the sea-son. It sounds outrageous, and unbeliev-able that a player would resort to using such harsh words, but the truth of the mat-ter is that the Hollow team encountered

many denigrations on and off the field. What is even more shocking is that par-ents of many opposing teams were no better. Rather than focusing on the game and supporting their chil-dren, adults sat in the stands almost as guilty as their children, using foul lan-guage to describe our team merely because of the play-ers’ diverse backgrounds. This ludicrous behavior did not go unchallenged, how-ever. Their rude and ignorant behavior was completely out of bounds and the “mommy horseman” had had enough. At one of the home games, several Horseman mothers followed their sons’ example of kicking soccer balls and kicked the preju-diced parents right off the field! The boys weren’t the only ones with sweet victories this past season. It is amazing that even under the cir-cumstances of the twenty-first century at a high school sporting event people can be so closed minded. The language used by some opposing teams seems vulgar and unbelievable. The truth of the matter is, that their team members will never have

the benefit of not only exchanging soccer tricks, but pieces of language and culture, even if only subtly. “I loved playing with these guys, and the diversity made it even more fun. There're too many laughs and memories to count, and I couldn't have asked for a better group of guys to end my career with”, said senior Marco Baran. Whatever boundaries are set in our com-munity and our school because of ethnic-ity, were erased on the unique and lively team, despite the way they were some-times treated. The only lines not to be crossed were those on the grass of the soccer field. As they passed the ball and other players, the boys moved past dis-crimination and completed, and played a great season like a team.

Mendhi Tattoo illustration by Tatiana Amaro created for a line and symbol

lesson for Studio and Media Arts. Ms. Drehrer’s tattoo (bottom left) symbol-

izes the attributes for a successful rela-tionship; trust, honesty, and friendship.

LIFE IN TH

PAGE 4 C A M P U S L I F E HOOFPRINTS

Bitna Kim is one of the most artistic and unique seniors at Sleepy Hollow, which she displays through her activities and fashion sense. She plays the violin in the orchestra and is an active member of the art club. It is a shame that Bitna, along with her musical and artistic talents will be leaving us this year. We were all wowed by her vocal perform-ance of a Japanese song in the 2007 talent show as well as her piano skills, which she displayed by accompanying

the High School chorus for several years. After she graduates, she hopes to go onto college

major in photography and to pursue a career in the fashion photography area. This multi-talented senior also hopes to maybe pursue a career in music. Good luck with all your future plans and never lose your creativity, Bitna!

Adam Becker is one student difficult not to notice. With his enthusiasm, positive attitude, and sense of humor, he makes for an entertaining and spirited student. He has been in the drama club since the eighth grade and even won the Outstanding Actor Award for his role as “Snoopy” in the musical “Charlie Brown” last year. He is also a member of four Honor Societies. In addi-tion, Adam is an active partici-pant in sports, having played on the varsity soccer team for the past two years.

When asked what he will miss most about Sleepy Hollow, Adam replied “Just knowing everyone- feeling like I’m a part of something”. After graduat-ing, Adam hopes to go to Princeton, and then figure out what he wants to do with his wits and energy.

SENIOR SPSENIOR SPADAM BECKER  BITNA KIM 

HOOFPRINTS C A M P U S L I F E PAGE 5

E HOLLOW

Scenes from the Fall Play- DROP DEAD JULIET!

To some of us, Kevin Blank is known as our homecoming king, but he is also a friendly face around Sleepy Hollow. Kevin is a participant in the drama club and a semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship (Good luck Kevin!), and has played soccer and lacrosse since middle school. After he graduates high school, he plans to attend college, and although he doesn’t know what career he wants to pursue, he’s positive of one thing; he cer-tainly does not “want to do

anything boring.” When asked what he will miss about high school, Kevin stated, “I’ll miss the

guys in my grade and how ridiculous they are.” Al-though he may not become a King anywhere outside Sleepy Hollow walls, it is clear that whichever “non-boring” path Kevin chooses, he will have a successful future.

POTLIGHTPOTLIGHT We all know Jill Vallo for her athletic talents in countless sports and the infamous “Jill Face” (located above). She has been playing basket-ball and volleyball for four years for Sleepy Hollow. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a career in forensics science and crime investigation. She also hopes to continue playing basketball in college. Throughout her high school career, Jill has won all League in basketball and

All League and All Section Honorable Mention for Volleyball. We will all miss Jill leading out teams

to victory, whether she was spiking a volleyball over the net, or shooting a three-pointer during the last three seconds of the fourth quarter. Jill will without a doubt make us proud in her future victo-ries, never forgetting her Horsemen spirit.

KEVIN BLANK  JILL VALLO 

PAGE 6 L I F E S T Y L E S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T HOOFPRINTS

Drop Dead, Juliet! By Polina Ionina and Katie Wood

Oh, the Places You Go By Nicole London

SSUDUKOUDUKO With all the vacation days this winter season, you may find yourself facing the burden of boredom. Or maybe you’re just looking for someplace different to go with your friends. Here are some suggestions that are sure to make time fly. LOCAL: Lighthouse Coffee Company 222 Beekman Ave. Sleepy Hollow This Coffee shop, which brews coffee pur-chased from Coffee Labs Roasters in Tarry-town, is the perfect place for Sleepy Hollow residents to grab a quick drink or pastry with-out trekking to Main Street. The comfy couches and nice artwork create the perfect atmos-phere in which to enjoy the variety of foods and beverages they offer, which include pan-inis, salads, muffins, smoothies, and “java chillers”. Also, the Lighthouse Company Co. will soon be opening an upper deck with gor-geous views of the Hudson. CITY: Max Brenner’s 841 Broadway be-tween 13th and 14th Street and 141 Second Ave at 9th Street New York, New York “Chocolate is not just about the taste” is the

motto of this chocolate-themed eatery in Man-hattan. At the center of this “holistic chocolate experience” is the chocolate drink bar, famous for the “hug mug” which was designed spe-cially for drinking liquid chocolate and is meant to be “hugged” with both hands while sipping. Other desserts offered include crepes, waffles, fondue, cakes, and parties. Max Brenner’s: the ultimate heaven for any chocolate lover! OUTDOORS: Rockefeller State Park Preserve Pocantico Hills With our first snowfall having passed, your last chance to enjoy some times outside without chilling temperatures and icy grounds is near. This nature preserve is 1,233 acres in size, and is home to 180 different species of birds as well as many other critters such as deer, chipmunks and sheep, which you are very likely to rendez-vous with during any visit. The preserve has many extensive paths and an old system of carriage roads on which you can explore. You can fish in the 22 acre Swan Lake or walk across some of the old stone bridges the park is famous for. And when snow finally does arrive, you can try cross country skiing. Rocke-feller State Park Preserve is a great place for outdoor activities throughout the seasons.

Are you a SUDUKO Master? ENTER OUR CONTEST

RULES: 1. First to submit a complete, correct Sudoku to Mr.

Baxter in person will get his/her picture in the paper as a “Sudoku Master,” as well as a pat on the back.

2. The Sudoku puzzle must be completed correctly on the newspaper.

3. Submissions may not take place during class; only submissions between classes or before or after school

are acceptable. 4. Only one submission per person is allowed. (Students

Only Please. Previous Winner’s need not apply)

It’s seems like only yesterday that a number of high school students were stand-ing outside of 25 S, frantically preparing for their auditions. All those auditioning had heard was that the play was called “Drop Dead Juliet,” which is a parody of Shake-speare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. Ever since last year’s “Check Please” and “Hard Candy,” the Sleepy Hollow Drama Club cast members wanted something a little more serious. “I’ve been performing Shake-speare since I was in fifth grade. Can’t there be something more important and serious to perform?” said one of the girls, displeased. Standing outside of the audition room you could only hear the rough voice of the direc-tor. “I don’t do it because of the quality of the play, I do it because it’s fun”, said senior AJ Hinds, “You get to hang out and on top of acting you get to perform in front of a big crowd.” The cast soon realized that AJ was

right; it was t h e acting a n d social e x -

perience of these weeks that was most im-portant; not the subject matter of the play. The rehearsals began and everything became hectic the first week of November. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school, the cast members would rush through the hall, crowded with middle-schoolers, with script in hand, trying to cram another line into their already crowded mind. At the door they are briefly greeted by Mr. Kennedy, the director of the Sleepy Hollow Drama Club, who always has something on his mind after a long day of teaching English in the middle-school. Though he is often strict, he goes off on random tangents, ending in sarcastic jokes. It was bizarre the way that he sometimes got away with singing Danny Boy in harmony and beat-boxing along with the cast while still keeping order among its members. Still, he stressed the importance of memorizing lines with unending vigor. All seemed well and in good fun, but a week away from the performance the beat-boxing thespians were hit with several ma-jor crises. The first included losing a young middle school actress, to an unfortunate tackle in gym class that resulted in the frac-ture of her rib. For a few days, the cast members despaired at the loss of Claire

Buckley, h o w -ever, she was able to pull herself together just in time to deliver a great performance. Realizing that a good play was incomplete without good costumes, the cast was hit with another potential setback. It was obvi-ous that no one could just randomly find a Shakespearian dress lying on the floor of their closet. What to do? “First we thought of wearing black with an accessory that would fit the character, but that would be to plain”, stated a member of the cast. When the players asked Ms. Persad for help she, without any thought, rushed in to save the day; renting full Shakespearian garments from Pleasantville. (Thanks a lot Ms. Per-sad!) The performance took place in the Morse auditorium on November 16th and 17th. If you didn’t see it, “Drop Dead Juliet” was a ridiculous and fun play about how Juliet decides not to kill herself, and instead at-tempts to end the tragedy happily ever after. However, this plan does not go quite as well as she intended. The performance also in-

cluded scenes and speeches from several other Shakespearean works such as “Richard III,” “Henry IV” and “Othello.” Though there were not as many people as the cast had hoped for, the show was a big success, with some “awesome reactions to the funny parody”. The players thoroughly enjoyed each performance as they delivered their lines with brilliant emotion as they became individual characters. It was a great event to wrap up the fall.

Congratulations to Mr. Kennedy and his cast for yet another successful produc-tion! Look for the upcoming audition dates for the spring musical South Pacific. Please pester Ms. Persad for the audition packets as soon as they become available so that Sleepy Hollow can get ready for yet another great performance. Hopefully there will be no crises to overcome, and the cast will put on another brilliant performance this year, while truly enjoying their experience as much as the cast of “Drop Dead Juliet” did.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MATT VALLO FOR BEING THE FIRST ISSUE 07-08’

SUDOKU MASTER!

Mr. Mormile would like to thank all the Gamers and the Multimedia Team for creating such a successful and Fun Fundraiser.

Congratulations to the following Gaming Champs:

Charles Kress– Madden Tournament Champ Jackie Li– Super Smash Brothers Tournament Champ

Hector Deleon– Dance Dance Revolution Champ Nick Fanelli– Guitar Hero Hard Level Champ

Danielle Fanelli– Guitar Hero Medium Level Champ Dariel Rodriguez- Need for Speed Champ

HOOFPRINTS S P O R T S PAGE 7

The Final Game:Banner Season Ends With Disappointment By Richie Doyle

Overall Talent Shines in SH Fall Season By Matthew Hammer

Simba: I’m going to be King of Pride Rock.

Scar: Oh, wonderful. Simba: My dad just showed me the whole

kingdom. And I’m going to rule it all!

If a student was to step onto the high school baseball field, all it would require is a glance upward to take notice a rock that was once painted as a large baseball. On September 19th, 2007, members of the varsity field hockey team aroused conflict when they painted the famous rock orange and marked it with large black field hockey sticks. They seemed to have done it as a form of “team-bonding”, light hearted fun used to boost the spirit of the team as it entered yet another hopeful field hockey season. Before a major home football game, however, a small group of people defaced the front of the rock and left it for the field hockey team to “fix”. Repainted by the girls, the rock was once again a symbol of pride for the Sleepy Hollow Field Hockey team until the school took it upon them-

selves to paint the rock white once again. It wasn’t long after the school’s attempt to return the rock to its initial state when the rock was painted as a huge football just in time for the homecoming game. This was once again a fun example of school spirit; the rock be-came a symbol of everything the football players had worked for. The rock was once more painted white after the football game. So, members of the Sleepy Hollow Athletic Program ask: When will it be enough? The school seems insistent to keep the rock a ‘baseball rock’, but students are interested in proposing other solutions. Alee Praino, a junior on the varsity field hockey team summed up the collective opinion of the field hockey team by saying “the field hockey team has made many strides in recent years and painting the rock was just showing everyone how successful our teams have been. With such a young team and such great accom-plishments, there is nothing wrong with show-ing spirit for a sport that we are all very pas-sionate about. The rock is not anyone’s prop-erty. It’s the school’s.” Praino continues, “and

if we want our athletic program to excel, we should all support each other.” Jordan James, a member of the varsity football team and also a junior, seems to agree with Alee. He suggested that the rock be a collage of all the sports. That way, he says. “[e]veryone is happy, and the rock won’t be vandalized by another team.” Clare Bucci, a member of the varsity volley-ball team, proposed an additional alternative. “The team with the highest grade point aver-age should gain control of the rock. That way, it’ll be more of a reward and less of a right granted by the school.” Her proposition con-tinued when she said that the teams should hold fundraisers, and whichever team raised the most money towards the athletic program should “…gain control of the rock for that year.” So how should we decide which route to take?

Perhaps these ideas should be proposed to Mr. Chuck Scarpulla, the athletic director. Until then however, the rock remains a “baseball rock” a symbol of the struggle that the fall varsity sports went through this season, and will perhaps continue to go through as we progress into the upcoming seasons. Although the rock is in the process of going back to its original state, it still stands, proud and glorious, as a symbol of Sleepy Hollow’s collective pride. And what isn’t there to be proud about? We’re the home of the Horsemen!

Pride Rock By Dara Brennan

Is the glass half full, or is the glass half empty? Life can depend on your outlook, and your attitude. Am I going to do well on this test or will I fail the test? Am I going to make this free throw and give our team a chance to win the champion-ship, or am I going to miss the shot and be known as the person that blew it? In life, you can think of the positive side of something, or the negative side of some-thing. Sleepy Hollow fall sports can be seen as a disappointment because none of the teams won sectional titles. On the more positive side, the competitiveness of our school can and should be ac-claimed. The Sleepy Hollow Horsemen had four teams make sectionals in the fall. The boys’ football team won their first two playoff games, but failed to win sectionals, as they lost a heartbreaker to the Rye Garnets, 12-6. The varsity foot-ball team will move up to Class A next year because of the size of the school. You have to have 625 or fewer students between grades 9, 10, and 11 if you want to play in Class B. The Sleepy Hollow girls field hockey team ended their long season with a 5-4-6 record. They won their first playoff game by a slim margin 1-0, but lost their second game to Rye 3-0. The Sleepy Hollow boys’ soccer team had a very good season, finishing the regular season 9-7. In the first round of the playoffs, they beat Eastchester 2-1,

but they fell short in the second game with a tough loss to Lakeland, 1-0. The girls’ varsity volleyball team finished off the regular season with an outstanding record of 12-4. The team went on to win in pool play, but lost to Pelham in the semifinals. The varsity swimming team had a record of 5-4, which is four more wins than they had all of last year. Every single team for Sleepy Hollow was com-petitive in the fall. Athletic director Chuck Scarpulla said ,“We had a great fall season, all of the teams were competitive in their sport, and they all improved.” Scarpulla went on further to say “Our program as a whole is improving, and it has consis-tency.” Sleepy Hollow has much to be proud of what they have accomplished so far this year. Sports are huge in Sleepy Hol-low, and the Horsemen will look to continue their success in the winter. The boys’ basketball team will welcome a new head coach this season since Mr. DeMarco has left. Chuck Scarpulla said “I’m excited, the coaches are working hard.” All of the coaches have worked hard this year, and their success has shown. Sleepy Hollow will look to continue their success as the winter and spring sports seasons approach. The glass is half full.

After a tough and emotional loss to the Rye Garnets, the Sleepy Hollow football season came to an end. The game was just as good as any other. Hollow fans drove to Mahopac in the freezing cold to support the team. There was drama and suspense; each play had fans on the edge of their seats. Fans screamed and cheered while Sleepy’s defense halted Rye on almost every drive. In the end however, it just wasn’t enough. The first time Hol-low played Rye was on September 20th. The outcome was 35-20 Rye, but in the

second meeting in Mahopac, Sleepy held them to only 2 touchdowns. The final play came down to a total adrenaline rush that came crashing into a brick wall once the crowd and players saw a yellow flag rise into the air and plummet to the ground. On everyone’s mind was: what was the penalty, and why did the one remaining second of the fourth quarter disappear from the scoreboard. The pen-alty was a snapping-infraction that should have resulted in a 5-yard loss. The final second removed was simply the referee’s

call. Hollow pride will turn to basket-ball and other winter sports until next year, but it’s doubtful that this game will be forgotten. A new rivalry between the Horsemen and the Garnets is surely in the making.

Congratulations to  Ms. Peltier for being awarded the  

2007 Section 1, Class B  Volleyball Coach of the Year 

 and Jackie Mottola for being awarded ALL– STATE  for Field Hockey.  Both awards are firsts for Sleepy Hollow! 

PAGE 8 T H E B A C K P A G E HOOFPRINTS

N e w s p a p e r S t a f f Editors-in-Chief: Maddy Dopico

and Jenny Kessman Writers: Kevin Blank, Maddy Dopico, Richie Doyle

Melanie Ferriera, Raquel Folkes , Valentina Guzzo, Matt Hammer, Polina Ionina, Kareem Ishmail, Nicole London,

Jackie Nadile, Lily Schroedel, Gregory Valdespino, and Katy Wood.

Photography: Maddy Dopico, Danielle Fanelli, Jenny Kessman, Laura Kirschner, and Jake Rosen. Illustrators: Polina Ionina and Donna Jang

Teacher Advisors: Mr. Baxter and Mrs. Langston

Meetings are held every TUESDAY and THURSDAY at 3:00pm in Room 26N.

New members are always welcomed!

Season’s End By: Kevin Blank My last soccer season is over. For the past four years, the rest of the soccer team and I have spent the first two months of each year running, sweating leg-lifting and doing bad impersona-tions of our British assistant coach. As the Sectional playoffs came around, I realized that for most of the seniors who play a fall sport, this would be the last time playing on an organized team. From linebackers to setters, this season would be the conclusion to what has been an accomplished four years. The class of ’08 is an active one, whether it’s on the field or in the stands cheering the athletes on. I know the rest of our seasons will be just as successful as the fall one, and their ends, too, will be bittersweet. So to those basketball, baseball, la-crosse and tennis players, wrestlers, runners and golfers in their final season: Go Hollow! And good luck!

Corner

Senior

AARTRT G GALLERYALLERY

ILLUSTRATION AT RIGHT BY DONNA JANG. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE PHOTOS BELOW BY STUDENTS IN STUDIO IN MEDIA ARTS. THE DIGITAL IMAGES WERE CRE-

ATED FOR AN ABSTRACT ARCHITECTURAL ASSIGNMENT BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION HERE AT SLEEPY HOLLOW. TOP LEFT BY LANDON BECKER-PARTON, BOTTOM LEFT

BY KERRY OLIVEIRA, AND BOTTON RIGHT BY JOHN SAMPAIO.

Christmas By: Raquel Folkes

The holiday time is cheery with joy even though there’s a lot of noise.

The holidays are a time of family gathering; hopefully someone will get a kiss under the mistle toe!

The holidays are a time that people see each other with everyone…so happy with the fun and gifts

or sitting down by the fire with hot cocoa ; take a whiff!

Everyone enjoy this wonderful time of year Until next holiday season when more joy will appear.

C A P R I C O R N - December 22-January 19: Sometimes you will be very stubborn . It is impor-tant to listen to what people say instead of charging at them with your temper. Sometimes your loved ones will have a good point, even though you probably won’t admit it. It you don't let that temper get in the way, these months will be a good start to a new year.

A Q U A R I U S - January 20-February 18: This is a time of pure romance , even though it will seem like “the one” isn’t paying much attention to you. It your heart you know that he or she cares for you. This month is also your month of inspiration, so be open.

P I S C E S - February 19-March 20: This may be a painful month for you. You must realize that the pros do out weigh the cons. In life, you should be open to new ideas and stay positive. Happiness is on its way. If this year wasn’t your year, the next certainly will be better.

A R I E S - March 21-April 19: The month of December is going to be tough, it’s

important that you have time for rest to relieve most of the stress, and you will feel like a new person if you do. This could be a good time to make few new friends, however it is vital that you do not forget your old ones.

T A U R U S - April 20-May 20: This month seems clear with new opportunities; you will find accomplishment at last.

G E M I N I - May 21-June 21: Your energy will have an upswing this month. Things will go as you have envisioned. Despite the good, watch out for unexpected surprises. They will hit you like a wave. Keep up with your school work and enjoy the ride.

C A NC E R - June 22-July 22: You might have been having trouble at home this month. Things will go slightly downhill. However, this is a time to show your talent. It’s time to put what you have learned into practice. Summon up all your courage and get into the game!

L E O - July 23-August 22: You are lucky this month. It will seem like you are showered with gifts and pride. Enjoy it while you can; there will be heavy windfalls down the road. Don’t forget what’s important in your life. This month you will set a goal and accomplish it.

V I R G O - August 23-September 22: Things will start to come your way. All the planning will finally pay off. You are ready for a late harvest. This could also be a time to find a love interest and

pursue it; if you already have a love interest, this will be a careless sweet time with your loved one.

L I B R A - September 23-October 22: It will seem like nothing is going as planned in the near future. It is important to know that not every-one keeps up with everything. You have been so busy taking care of business that you haven’t had any time to take care of yourself. Make some time for relaxation and everything will be better. Remem-ber that to unwind does not mean to unravel.

S C O R P I O - October 23-November 21: The mix of work and love will somehow seem to blur this month. Enjoy this unique combination. You will have enough time for the things that you would like to do. Just remember that there are limitations to your happiness.

S A G I T T A R I U S- November22-December 21: Don’t get too discouraged by the way things are looking. You will find life getting to its comfortable pace. Keep your spirits high and remember the moments that you enjoy.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 Researched by Polina Ionina

THE STAFF OF ‘HOOFPRINTS’ WISHES YOU A

SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!