THE JAGROAR! NOVEMBER 1, 2012

ROAR The Jag -

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

ROAR The Jag

OCTOBER 29, 2013

WHS HomecomingPhoto credit to Taylor Mendes

Annual tug of war game at the homecoming pep rally

This Edition:

Remembering Jon Zygmont: WHS students share memories of lost alumni Page 5

Homecoming: WHS wins all its homecoming games, Page 6

NSA Leak: How Big Brother might be watching you Page 11

iPhone 5c vs 5s: What phone is the better choice,

Page 12

Minecraft: Studies show video games improving memory, Page 15

Fall sports: WHS teams are on top this season, Page 16

NH Tech Fest: Robots and remote-control trebuchets, Page 18

JagSAT: WHS’s high altitude ballooning team,

Page 19

By Ram ShethJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. - The first week in October was Windham High School’s annual Homecoming celebration. Many students and staff members participated in the various spirit days throughout the

week, which included PJ day, Twin day, Super hero day, and Hawaiian day. The festivities all led up to the class color day and the school pep rally where the class games began.

This year, the teams consisted of the freshman and seniors on the blue team versus the sophomores and juniors...

Jaguars win their games

Story continues on Page 6

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 2

Dear WHS, The tragic loss of WHS alumnus Jonathan Zygmont has hit local news and rattled the Windham community. Jon was known as a great person in addition to being an amazing friend, and he will always be remembered as such. I give my deep sympathies to the loved ones of Jon during this tough time. On behalf of the JagRoar staff and myself, rest in peace, Jon.

-Ariana Mandra

Hello fellow readers,

Welcome back to the High School. I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the new school year. To the freshman class, welcome to the JagRoar! (Don’t worry, I wont tell you to go home until you give me a good reason.) I wanted to

dedicate this issue to Jon Zygmont. He was a student here and he passed away. We will always remember him. Thank you.

-Alex DeSimone

Jag OpinionEditorials

JagRoar is all about Jag Pride

Photo by Taylor MendesMs. Lanzer

By Katherine LanzerJagRoar Adviser

Jag Pride: that's what this year's newspaper is all about. Whether the JagRoar is highlighting a sports team's big win, celebrating an accomplishment of a club, interviewing a standout senior, reporting on the academic excellence of our students and teachers, or showing support for a worthwhile cause, our stories all aim to put the school's achievements in the spotlight.

Our community has made major efforts this year to illustrate some of those achievements, through displays at open house, bi-weekly assemblies, morning announcements, JagTV and other venues.

Now, the JagRoar is adding its part to Jag Pride by printing a monthly publication that not only covers the hard news of the Windham High School community, but also provides a look at all the things we can be proud of here at WHS. So here we are, Windham - one more reason to have pride in Jag Nation.

Photos by Taylor Mendes(Left) Ariana Mandra and (Right) Alex DeSimone

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 3

OPINION

JagRoar Staff

Ariana MandraEditor in Chief

Alex DeSimoneEditor in Chief

Jillian DiPersioNews Editor

Sophie SamuelsFeatures Editor

Mandy DeFabrizioOpinion Editor

Ashley DomogalaActivities Editor

Ram ShethBusiness Editor

Casey BrennanReporter

Katey VestaReporter

Taylor MendesPhotographer

Kelsey FedericoSports Editor

Erin PrebleReporter

Mitch CampbellReporter

Journalism I StudentsContributing Staff

By Ariana MandraJagRoar Staff

So it is coming to be that time of year again: college applications. The WHS guidance department is preparing while seniors are stressing. If you’re applying Early Action or Early Decision, it’s crunch time. With most Early Action deadlines being November 1st or November 15th, people applying then have to everything together. Even if you’re applying regular admission, the reality is setting in. Essays are being written and applications are getting started (and for some people, even finished!) Some of the best advice for seniors at this time of the year is to just remember to not procrastinate with college applications; the deadlines colleges have set are quite strict! It is recommended that seniors send in everything for their applications at least one to two weeks before the actual

deadline in order to ensure everything is received in time.

Now is also the time to be visiting colleges that you plan to or are applying to. Getting a feel for the campus before making those huge decisions is very important! Some people get to a college’s campus that they thought they loved, but it ends up just “not feeling right.” A lot of colleges are having open houses this time of the year. It is a great time to go because all the current students have settled in and you can experience for yourself what the college is like during the semester.

Overall to my fellow seniors I have to say, it feels awesome to submit an application and to get notified that all your important documents like transcripts, have been sent out. The reality starts to truly kick in that this time next year you’ll be somewhere else, on your own. Last but not least, always remember we have some great resources for learning about college and its application process, our guidance counselors.

To The Editors,The prices for Screeemfest at

Canobie Lake Park this year are outrageously high. The park is aimed towards kids, yet they charge $30.99 for a ticket. Most kids cannot pay for that. Once you are in the park you face even more outrageous prices. Let’s say you get there at 5 p.m. You pay $30.99 to get in. You haven’t had dinner yet, so you buy a meal; that’s about $9. Say later you are walking around and you get thirsty, hope you have some more money because it’s $2.75 for water. Then you decide to play an arcade game

or two that will cost about $10. That comes to a grand total of $52.74. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but that is extremely expensive. You might say “oh well their parents can pay for it,” but no matter who is paying for it, that is a lot of money just to go in a few haunted houses. Screeemfest is fun but not for that price. A $20 ticket would be much better, but not $30.99. I think the owner could sacrifice $10 a ticket. He may not be able to drive his $250,000 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG, but everyone needs to sacrifice a little bit every now and then. - Josh Graham

Letter to the Editor

Senior Column

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 4

Disfavor Over Assigned Parking Spots

WINDHAM, N.H. - Windham High School students are angered by the new assigned parking spots for the 2013-2014 school year. We find the system to be unfair to students; it is too extreme of a measure to be taken. The school has never needed such a system before, and it does not need it now.

Some students feel as if the parking passes and assigned spots are not a bad thing. They feel as if the assigned spots and passes help the school’s parking lot become more organized. Another positive way that some students have looked at the parking passes is that it will help them eliminate wasting time in the morning searching for a parking spot. The parking passes were given out to students on a first come first serve basis. Without parking passes the parking spots are open to a first come first serve situation every morning.

We however do not believe that it is necessary to have a parking pass system at Windham High School because there has never been one. So why start now? This is unnecessary and unreasonable. A majority of students disagree with the policy and so do we! Some

students may argue that it is no big deal, but they are probably the ones who park close to the school! They don’t have to make the long walk from the back of the parking lot to the school in the inclement weather. It is very unfair how the people who got their parking passes early in the year have some of the farthest spots away from the school. This means that they have to walk the farthest to get to their cars before and after school. Several students who have gotten their parking passes this month have better parking spots then students who received their spot at the beginning of the year and that is extremely unfair.

We believe that something needs to be done about the parking pass situation immediately. With all of these complaints and several examples of the passes being unfair we hope to see changes in the policy soon. Next year will bring a new school year and with that we hope to see a new parking pass policy with more appealing rules to us students. Either switch back to the old policy or give every student an equal opportunity to a good parking spot by allowing them to choose their spot. Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. - Kirsten Koch, Mandy DeFabrizio, Luciano “Skippy” Schipelliti and Josh Graham

Students rant about the new assigned parking spot system

Heav’nly Donuts is one of the newest doughnut and coffee shops in Windham. Its existence is not without some debate as to whether it should or should not be in Windham.

Because there are already a multitude of other options within the town of Windham, Heav’nly Donuts should not have expanded their chain into Windham.

Within Windham, there are already two Dunkin Donuts stores (with another supposedly on the way), the Village Bean, and McDonald’s McCafe, to name a few. Because of this, Heav’nly Donuts will not only hurt the Village Bean even further, but will also

probably not succeed in town due to other competition.

Another reason the Heav’nly Donuts should not have been put in Windham is because it further cheapens the reputation of an otherwise nice town by overloading it with chain restaurants.

The location also foreshadows the failure of the coffee shop. Although it is located near the entrance and exit ramps to I-93 North, it is only “on the way” to the highway for some of the town, depending on which way they drive to the highway.

- Graham Smith, Taylor Darcy, Kyle Carbonneau and Andrew Leclair

Debate over the new Heav’nly Donuts in Windham

OPINION

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 5

By Casey BrennanJagRoar Reporter

DURHAM, NH—On September 18, Jon Zygmont, a Windham High alumni starting his freshman year at UNH, went missing.

He was last seen on Tuesday, September 17, at 4pm near Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH.

After several days of looking, Jon’s body was recovered from a river near Prescott Park.

Soon after this information was released to the public, UNH President Mark Huddleston said, “We were greatly saddened to learn that police had discovered what is believed to be the body of our missing student. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time, and will continue to offer our support to the campus community and Jon’s loved ones.”

Although the cause of death was not released to the public, the officials did not suspect foul play.

“He was such an amazing friend and I wish I could tell him that just one more time,” said a close friend of Jon who wishes their identity not to be revealed.

“There was never a bad moment with Jon ever. He was such a great person and I’m blessed to have been close to him and have such great memories with him,” said WHS junior, Rebecca Scott.

Everyone who knew Jon knew what a kind and loving person he was.

On Twitter, WHS Life posted, “RIP to alumni Jonathon Zygmont. A blessing to have had at WHS, and gone way too soon.” This tweet got retweeted and favorited over 130 times, showing how much love WHS had for Jon.Jon, you will be missed. RIP.

Jag NewsRemembering Jon Zygmont

Photo courtesy of 2013 WHS yearbookJonathan Zygmont, WHS graduate, class of 2013

Windham High School students share their memories of alumnus

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 6

(Continued from page 1) ...on the gold team. The gold

team looked like they had the early; lead, however, thanks to the junior’s school spirit and brute strength, the gold team emerged victorious. When asked about the pep rally, Junior Joe Brumaghim said, “The classes were full of spirit and life.” Junior Tim Stap said that “It was good to see all of the classes act as one body. In that room, there were no nerds or jocks. We were all WHS.”

These events all led up to the Homecoming games and the dance. At the WHS varsity football game, one WHS Alumni of the class of 2013 said that, “It was heartwarming to see the spirit if WHS so alive in the air.” All of the teams ended up winning, and the support they received was immense. The dance was also very exciting, DJ’d by Junior Jake

Thomas. All the feedback was incredibly positive. The dance also included a bonfire, where students could go be around.

In all, the WHS homecoming was a big success with school spirit emanating throughout the school. Keep it up Jaguars!

GENERAL NEWS

WHS Homecoming goes off without a hitch

Senior Profile: Alex Fitzgerald Photo by Jillian DiPersioSenior Alex Fitzgerald

Photo by Jillian DiPersioHomecoming football game

By Ariana MandraJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH - Like many seniors, Alex Fitzgerald is very busy with extracurriculars in addition to college applications. Currently, he is interested in pursuing an engineering degree. Alex is considering applying

to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Here at WHS, he is a successful cross country athlete and plans to swim during the winter season. Keep up the hard work Alex!

‘Spirit Alive in the Air’

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 7

By Jillian DiPersio JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH – In the past four years of Windham High School’s operation, the Concert Band has made enormous strides virtually unknown to the music world. In April 2012 they made their debut in New York at the World Strides Heritage Festival, performing at Riverside Church and placing as the top group in the festival. In March 2013 they entered the next level, performing at the World Strides Heritage Festival of Gold in Chicago at Orchestra Hall, also receiving the highest score and being selected from their division to play in the encore concert.

In April 2014, the band will yet again raise the bar, performing in

the National Band and Orchestra Invitational Music Festival at Carnegie Hall. This festival highlights the best ensembles nation-wide, each ensemble sending in a recording that is evaluated by a panel of adjudicators. “There were hundreds and hundreds of tapes sent in from around the nation. From there, all the groups that scored a 95 or higher got put into a pool…. Over 400 groups got a 95 or higher. And then, from there, they whittle it down to the top 10 or 15,” explained band director Jared Cassedy. The Windham High School Concert Band received a score of 98.7, placing among the top 15 orchestras and concert bands in the nation.

The students in the Concert Band are overjoyed. Sophomore Kaley Missert said that, after Cassedy told the band that they were accepted to the Festival at Carnegie Hall, “I just freaked out! I was like ‘Oh my gosh I can’t believe we’re going to Carnegie Hall!’ And I started tearing up. It

was so emotional.” Similarly, senior Joseph Zannoni says it feels wonderful to be able to share the excitement with fellow musicians with whom he has become so close. “We’re like a family,” he said.

“To have an ensemble represent not only the school but the state and the region is overwhelming,” said Cassedy. His goal is to make it possible for every Concert Band student to attend this prestigious festival and once in a lifetime experience.

When addressing his band, Cassedy commented that their acceptance into the Festival at Carnegie Hall “is a testimony to your dedication and support for making our program the absolute best it can be.” Year after year, the incredible passion and devotion displayed by these young musicians and their director has exceeded expectation. There is perhaps no greater testimony to this hard work than the opportunity to stand alongside great musicians of the past and future at Carnegie Hall.

GENERAL NEWS

WHS Concert Band invited to perform at Carnegie

Experience of a Lifetime

Photo by Jillian DiPersioWHS Concert Band last year at Orchestra Hall

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 8

GENERAL NEWS

By Sophie Samuels JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH – In October, a new teaching tactic was employed in the Parenting classroom at WHS. Teens who signed up for the Parenting class wanted to know what parenthoodwould be like, so teacher, Janet Robbins, assigned each student a fake baby to carry and “take care of” for either 24 or 48 hours to understand what it would be like to have a child.

These fake babies are quite realistic and approximately 7 pounds each, which, according to WHS sophomore Kourtney Macoul, is “fairly heavy to carry around.” When interviewed about the assignment, Macoul commented that

“she has gotten almost no sleep” because the baby is programmed to start crying at random moments, just like a normal baby.

The students choose from an assortment of keys that have things written on them like “food” or “burping”. They slide this key into the back of the baby and continue to do this until the crying stops.

Sam Percuoco, WHS sophomore, notes that it is “very embarrassing when the baby goes off in class” and “everyone looks at you”. She added that she has learned a lot, and realizes how hard it is to take care of a baby. This project has brought new light to teens: they have learned that parenting is one of the most hardest jobs there is.

Teens Learn about Parenthood

Photo by Sophie SamuelsSophomores Katherine Manter

and Chantal Rodriguez

By Will GillJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H, Internet outage at WHS, a reoccurring issue in the past week, has students and faculty concerned. On Friday, October 18, there were reports of school-wide Internet speed deficiencies and frequent disconnections.

Windham High School’s technology department became aware of the issues the weekend before Monday, October 21; however, the disconnections became

much more severe further into the school week.

“The people that know how to fix it are trying to fix the problem,” said Assistant Principal Bob Dawson this past Wednesday. “It is unlikely to be Comcast, and we think it is something affected internally.”

Early rumors suggest the school’s Internet crash is due to Comcast-related issues, one of the leading media service-providers in the North East. Dawson provided information regarding WHS’s power of the cloud, and how the Moodle and PowerSchool mainframes are backed up on an external source.

Many teachers who rely on wireless internet have struggled to

continue class projects, including A/V expert, Mr. Rick Sweetser. “Because my classes are in the technical area, these deficiencies affect us a lot,” explained Sweetser.

According to faculty and students, homework has been cut drastically. Educators have a difficult time updating PowerSchool and assigning work on Moodle.

Dennis Ireson, 18-year old senior at Windham High School, finds the issues frustrating and says it is difficult to work on projects.

There is no confirmed cause for the outage, but hopefully information will surface soon. Not only will this educate students on computer security, but hopefully enhance the infrastructural database overall.

Internet Outage Technical apocalypse comes to WHS

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 9

A Dying Cat in the Library?

By Luciano Schipelliti JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH, Students at Windham High School have spent years listening to what sounds like a cat dying painfully in the school’s Media Center. This noise has been the cause of many complaints and disturbs countless students and staff members at Windham High School.

For many students, the noise has been an ongoing mystery. Twenty students were asked if they have heard about the noise, and seventeen of them have either heard it in person or have heard about it from other people. Nine of those seventeen people that have heard about it had no clue what made the noise.

When Deb Tharp, Windham High School librarian, was asked

what causes the noise, she said, “I think that the noise is caused from the lamination rollers. I am not sure if they are too tight or just need to be adjusted.”

Tharp says that the laminator has made the wailing noise for as long as the school has been open. She says that a repairman has looked at the laminator, but reported that there seems to be no issues with the way it runs.

When Tharp was later asked if it personally disturbs her, she replied by saying, “It used to bother me, but I guess I am just use to it now. I do feel bad when I need to get a job done and students and teachers are working quietly. If there is another adult in the media center I will close the door so I don't disturb the students or teachers that are working.”

According to Windham High alumni Josh Hebert, 19, the laminator has personally disturbed him when he was trying to get work done in the Media Center. Hebert says, “When the noise appears, it causes other students in

the media center to start talking and laughing about it and the noise level rises, ultimately disturbing everyone. The media center is supposed to be a place of quietness and the only noise you should hear are pencils on paper and keyboards clicking.”

WHS student Brendan Mullen, 16, agrees that the noise disturbs students trying to work, but is just a joke to him and he personally thinks that the laminator sounds like a little girl screaming.

The laminator has been and, with no plan to be fixed, will remain a disturbance to Windham High School’s students and staff for time to come.

GENERAL NEWS

Laminator revealed to be at the root of the noise mystery Graphic by

Luciano Schipilleti

By Casey Brennan JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH—Windham school board members are torn over the idea of adding on an addition to the middle school, or building a new school to combat the overcrowding issues.

Many parents are in favor of building a bigger school, one mother claiming that she is concerned with the traffic at the middle school. Others “don’t feel it

is in the best interest of the children to be moving from school to school to school,” added Windham resident Nancy Lafferty.

Most residents are torn—they want to fix the overcrowding issue at the schools, but do not want to pay for new facilities.

Most residents are torn—they want to fix the overcrowding issue at the schools, but do not want to pay for new facilities.

School board member, Mike Joanis, estimates three portions to

be paid, the first to cost $9.99 million. The new high school cost approximately $27.4 million when it was finished.

“There might be a better way to spend our money,” Michelle Farrell, another board member, added.

No decisions have been made yet, but there are many talks of what will happen at WMS, if anything at all.

Brand new Windham school or an addition?

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 10

Washington Naval Yard TragedyBy Casey BrennanJagRoar Reporter

WASHINGTON D.C., Aaron Alexis, a 34-year old contractor, went on a deadly rampage at the Washington Naval Yard on September 24. Alexis, who was under “the delusional belief that he was being controlled or influenced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves,” had served in the Navy up until a few years ago. “Ultra low frequency attack is what I’ve been subject to for the last three months, and to be perfectly honest that is what has driven me to this,” read an electronic document found by the FBI that Alexis had wrote, according to the investigators.

Alexis died after a shootout with officers at the Naval Yard. He killed 12 people and injured four others. Aaron Alexis’ mother added, “His actions have had a profound and everlasting effect on the families of the victims. I don’t know why he did what he did, and I’ll never be able to ask him why. Aaron is now in a place where he can no longer do harm to anyone, and for that I am glad.”

Government Shutdown

By Casey BrennanJagRoar Reporter

WASHINGTON D.C., On October 1, the US federal government shut down because the president and congress could not come to an agreement on a spending plan for the US government.

Stated in the constitution, Congress has one major role—to pass spending bills to fund the government.

Congress would not approve the

spending bills for the upcoming year because House of Representatives refused to pass the bill unless Obama agreed to dislodge all forms Obamacare.

Obama believed that there are enough votes to pass the bill, but Speaker of the House John Boehner would not let the bill pass.

“I didn’t come here to shut down the government,” Boehner said in a public speech.

Obama, in a short response, said that they must end the government shutdown; then they would talk.

There were a lot of effects on the country from a huge government shut down. All national parks, zoos,

and museums were closed. Federal employees were not getting paid, but had to continue to work normal hours or they would risk being fired. U.S. postal workers, tax collectors, active military members, NASA, and many more were not paid during the shutdown as well.

Also, researchers for life-threatening diseases and other areas stopped service at the National Institutes of Health.

During the shutdown, the Congress’ salary was not affected, nor was President Obama’s.

The shutdown ended on October 16th, reopening the government until February 2014.

GENERAL NEWS

Two-week event causes panic for many

Photo courtesy of businessinsider.comCandle light vigil on Freedom Plaza to honor victims of the shooting.

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 11

Big Brother?

By Jillian DiPersioJagRoar News Editor

WINDHAM,NH- Edward Snowden, former NSA (National Security Agency) contractor, leaked classified information to the New York Times that caused uproar this past summer. Among this information is some disturbing news: the Sunday Times reports that the NSA has changed its policy and is allowed to use public and private sources such as social media, insurance, and tax records to enhance their ability to analyze phone and email records. They hope this information will help them map connections between American citizens and foreign terrorists. According to the Washington Post, the NSA collects information using a system called “PRISM,” which allows them to obtain information directly from service providers such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube among others.

So… maybe George Orwell was on to something after all.

While teaching his Modern World Literature class about Orwell’s 1984, Mr. Ken Naroian asked if “Big Brother” reminded them of anything happening in the news. Most of his students had a vague understanding of the Snowden leaks, and after Naroian explained, his students had mixed reactions. The most prominent of their sentiments was, “if I’m not

doing anything wrong, why should I care?”

Naroian tried to get his students to see beyond the personal implications of government surveillance. “We have a right [to our privacy] and it starts to erode,” he explained. “We have certain standards now [in regards to our liberty], but who’s to say that if we give the government this right to look at our personal lives, what if the government changes? What if their criteria for good and bad changes?” Naroian mentioned that history has proven that leaders can become corrupt and governments can change quickly.

The greatest fear among citizens is that, if the NSA has the ability to track Americans through cyberspace, they could abuse that power. Fox News reports that there have been 12 cases of abuse in which NSA employees have used technology to spy on their spouses.

Student Emiline Sundman agrees that the government has gone too far. “That’s scary and I don’t think it’s right,” she said.

Fox News recently released a story that NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander denies that the NSA tracks Americans on social

networking sites. According to the Washington Post, major Internet providers supposedly involved in PRISM reject having any participation. But what about the Snowden leaks? Citizens are left confused and without solid answers to their most pressing questions.

Though it is disconcerting, if

nothing else the government’s ability to use this technology is a reminder to be careful on the internet. WHS student Cassandra Salafia comments that, “People should already expect the government to access their information by now; so if they don’t want the government to have it, then they shouldn’t put it out there.”

Whether one believes the NSA is justified or not, technology is a very powerful tool. One can’t live in fear, but it does not hurt to exercise caution with “Big Brother” watching.

GENERAL NEWS

What do you think, George Orwell?

Photo courtesy of abcnews.go.comFormer NSA Contractor, Edward Snowden

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 12

By Bryan DeranianJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H.- For years technology has been constantly evolving and developing greater abilities. As a result, society as a whole has come to form an excessive fondness for technology.

From the original iPod Nano to the new Google smart cars, that can drive themselves, technology is constantly evident in modern culture. The new iPhone the 5s and 5c, are an example of this evolution. The release of these new phones includes new styles and new features has created quite the

hype in the community.The new iPhones were

released on September 20th, 2013. Within the first weekend, approximately 9 million models were sold in the US. Most of these sales were due to the innovative, improved features and designs of these new iPhones.

Many customers reported that the primary reason for buying the new model was not only to keep up with the constantly evolving social status or technological status but also because of the features included in the new phones.

Mike McDade, a student at Windham High School, who

bought the iPhone 5s about a week after it came out said, “I was looking forward to the new features on the new phone such as the slow motion camera and finger print scanner.

Another student, James Baiguy, who has the previous 4s model, stated that his reason for buying the new iPhone 5c “was the new technology and features such as the front facing 1.2 megapixel camera and the iO7 operating system.”

It seems that this time around, Apple really grabbed its consumer’s interests with its new colorful phone designs, faster and better service connections, and nifty little improvements such as the 5s’s fingerprint lock or the new A6 processing chip in both the 5s and 5c. All the people interviewed seemed happy with the new features. Zach Byers, who has yet to get the iPhone 5s but has access to the phone said, “The new features are incredible! I can’t wait to get mine!”

However, all reviews of the new phones were not positive. Sam Kauhl, who has the iPhone 4s currently, went to get the new model but ultimately decided against it saying “It’s overrated. I didn’t see enough impressive new features to warrant me spending $200 on a new phone”.

How people are responding to the new 5c and 5s

Jag Features

Photo courtesy credits of www.device.com

New iPhones Cause Debate

Story continues on Page 13

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 13

Also Brandon Dreyfuss, who currently has an Android was quoted saying, “ I agree with Sam; I understand with keeping up with the ever-changing technology but the new iPhones are simply over-rated.”

These two accounts are examples of a small minority and the support of the new phones vast outweigh its opponents.

Overall with the impressive, unique features of the new iPhones along with a clever marketing department, Apple can call its release a huge success. It all comes down to society’s constant need for innovative, bar pushing technology and the company’s ability to market this technology. Photo courtesy of www.imore.com

By Matt NoelJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. -In recent years, a new fashion trend has been emerging among high school students, and has grown so popular that it has even been seen on the runway.

Wearing socks with sandals has become more and more popular, but is it really a wise fashion choice? Or is it coming to be seen as the biggest fashion faux pas of all time?

When asked about their opinion on the subject, Dalton Pellitier, a sophomore at Windham High School, believes that wearing socks with sandals is stupid.

Similarly, Michael Welch, a teacher at Windham high school,

stated, "I disgust the attire; [it’s] lazy".

The common opinion is that wearing socks with sandals is not a

good idea. However, some people are fans of the style. Junior Samantha Crichton wears them because "they are comfortable." When asked about why he wears socks with sandals, sophomore Jack Higgenbottom said "I wear socks with my sandals so that my feet don't

sweat." However, math teacher David

Gilbert feels that it is the "biggest fashion faux pas of all time."

Socks with Sandals: Fashionable or Lazy?

Photo by Taylor Mendes

FEATURES

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 14

Riding Boots: The Growing Trend

By Elle Caruso JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. – Riding boots have made quite the impact on fashion trends in the last few years due to their appearance in almost every girl’s closet by 2013.

Riding boots have been the most basic, yet rapidly traveling fashion trend in the last few years and it does not look like they are dying out before this fall.

When asking Tess Buxton, a 2013 Windham High School graduate, her opinion on them she replied, “I think they’re pretty overrated and boring. Every girl is wearing them both in Windham and in Philly where I’m going to college.”

No matter what the latest fall trends are, riding boots always seem to still be present. Riding boots add a simple, classy touch to any outfit and can match virtually everything. They can make an outfit look laid back or extremely professional depending on how they are put together with the outfit.

Many top fashion designers believe that riding boots will never go out of style since they are so simple and versatile.

When asking senior Allison Bench her opinion, she said, “I love them. I wear them all of the time in fall. They look perfect with every outfit.”

As much as high school girls love the trend, they are not the only

ones. When going into Boston or any city, you can see women of all ages wearing them: From college students who are taking the subway all the way to middle aged women working for high-end companies.

Riding boots also vary greatly in price. They can range from $20 all the way up to the thousands depending on the quality, leather, and designer. However, many women are willing to spend a

fortune on the boots since there is no sign of them going out of style any time soon.

This is very good for majority of the girls out there who are still obsessed with their riding boots, but unfortunately for the few who are not as happy with the trend, it does not look like it is going out of style any time in the near future.

FEATURES

A constant fad that’ll never get old

Photo by Taylor Mendes

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 15

By Katey Vesta JagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H.- Playing video games has almost always been frowned upon by parents. By their logic, why would their kid spend time killing goblins when there’s homework to do and educational television to watch? While there certainly aren’t many life skills to be learned in Grand Theft Auto, there may just be some in the popular game Minecraft.

Eric Klopfer, director of MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program, says that Minecraft can help kids develop a sense of morality. Klopfer says, “When they play Minecraft, kids have to think about establishing rules for society.

It’s like 'Lord of the Flies', but hopefully with happier outcomes.”

Klopfer has also shown that Minecraft can help kids with impulse control and collaboration. “If one kid blows up another kid’s house online,” he says, “they have time to think about how they deal with it and how to confront them. If something goes wrong on the playground, they might be reminded of how they worked things out in Minecraft.”

Around the world, teachers have actually begun using Minecraft as an educational tool. They’ve figured out how to use it to keep kids engaged while teaching them about science, languages, history, etc.

The possibilities in Minecraft are virtually limitless, and this potential can be harnessed and used in so many positive ways. Windham High School student Andrew St Cyr says he’s not surprised that Minecraft is being used to educate kids. He says

“Minecraft affects [kids] in a positive way because it makes them more creative.”

Creativity is, after all, the main point of the game. Fighting and killing gets pushed aside in favor of building and creating in a game where “craft” is literally in the name. It may be amazing that a video game can be used to teach kids, but Minecraft’s potential doesn’t stop there.

A study by S.R.I. International showed that playing Minecraft improved kids’ memory, problem solving skills, and cognitive learning by as much as twelve percent.

Another study at Iowa State University showed that surgeons performed better at the operating table when they regularly played video games such as Minecraft.

All considered, Minecraft may just be the building blocks of a shining new generation in the digital age.

Game for the BrainCan a video game actually be good for you?

Photo by Taylor Mendes

FEATURES

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 16

By Kelsey FedericoJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. - Windham is known for its sports—there’s no doubting that. But this year is completely different. No team has lost more than two games, bringing in two undefeated falls teams thus far in the season.

Girls’ field hockey remains strong after a tough1-0 loss with Portsmouth, but maintains a solid record of 10-1-1. They remain in a solid 1st place in the standings and hope to make it back to the championship.

Unsurprisingly, boys’ golf remained undefeated this season with an outstanding 20-0 record, maintaining their everlasting standing of 1st place with another championship under their belt.

Our own boys’ football team suffered one tough loss against Plymouth early on in the season, but has been successful with a 6-1 record.

Girls’ soccer has been incredible thus far with their “Unfinished Business” motto motivating them through this season with a record of 14-0-1, falling just a little short of 1st place.

Boys’ soccer faced a small

hiccup in the very beginning of the season with a 2-1 loss over Souhegan, but the boys’ resilience was incredible, finishing with an 14-1 record to hold 1st place. The boys were state champions last year and hope to maintain that title again this year.

The girls’ volleyball team is

currently tied with Coe-Brown for 1st place, proudly defeating St. Thomas, which brings them a 12-2 record.

The basis of our school spirit comes from the athletics of Windham, and this year they have tremendously outdone themselves in every single fall sport.

Jag SportsFall Teams On Top

Photo courtesy of nh-highschoolsports.comThe WHS boys soccer team won the Division II State Championship in the 2012 season with a penalty stroke to determine the winner. Here, Alex Whitehead, Andrew Pesci, and Mike Sheehan proudly hold their trophy.

WHS has been dominating in all aspects of athletics this season

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 17

Time to Rise Above

ByKelsey FedericoJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. - After a devastating 3-1 loss at the DII Field Hockey State Championship in 2012, the girls’ field hockey team is hungry for it again this year. This year, they will not settle for 2nd place. This time around, they are fighting for a cause.

With the new addition of Coach Katie Bourque, the team has just about everything a championship team needs—a great

coaching staff, an incredible team of talent, and undeniable spirits.

The team suffered a loss against Portsmouth eight games in with a final score of 1-0. The game was tied for the entire 60 minutes until, in the last five minutes, Portsmouth answered with a goal to win the game. Coach Bourque says, “We take this loss as a good thing. It’s a reality check to remind us that we are not invincible. I’d rather have us lose in the regular season than have this shock us in the payoffs. It’s humbling for our team.”

A week later, Portsmouth challenged Windham again, this time on Windham’s own ground. Knowing that they need to make statements this year, the team

answered back with a 5-0 win. With 10 shutouts in 14 games and only four goals against in total, the team continues making their way to the top space.

SPORTS

The field hockey girls are back at it again this 2013 season

Photo courtesy Denise SweenyThe WHS field hockey team “pulses”

before at their away game, as they do before every game they play.

ByKelsey FedericoJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, N.H. - Sports teams have been aware of the danger that goes along with running in the trails at the high school. Students are asked to use caution to avoid rolled ankles as well as the typical scraps and scratches. But this year, it’s more than just the average roots and rocks that form the trail itself. The greatest threat has been the bees nesting there that have managed to attack several athletes this fall

season. One of the top runners on the girls cross country team, Lindsay Maffei, describes her experience: “It was a casual run in the morning with about fifteen people from my cross country team. Halfway through the trail we were attacked by bees, and three people ran forward and the rest of us ran back to the school. The bees followed the three people who ran forward. Our morning run through the trails turned into a morning sprint out of the trails.”

The girls field hockey team encountered the same problem

when they were about halfway through their trail run with about thirty-three girls in tow. Almost half of the team was stung at least once. This is extremely dangerous considering that there are several people who are allergic to bees. Also, the location of the rails is inconvenient because if one runner goes through and gets stung, it will be difficult to retrieve help in such an isolated location. Be careful, Windham, before you go on your next run; make sure the trails are clear and it is safe to go.

People questioning safety of running on trails

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 18

By Ashley DomogalaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH- The day kicked off with a 5k run. Only 31 runners arrived, but the team was happy with any and all donations. The money from the run and concessions goes directly to the Windham Windup to fund trips to competitions. Fortunately, the team’s sponsor, Veloxion, pays for most of the robot.

In the gym, the team along with three others from around the area set a robot arena to show off their robots from this year’s challenge. Robots had to shoot

Frisbees and climb a pyramid. The Windham team’s robot is one of the fastest robots in the world able to climb the pyramid. Some robots do not even attempt to earn their points through climbing, instead opting to throw Frisbees to get all their points. Mr. Houde, a previous parent volunteer and a soon-to-be programming mentor, said that the robotics team “is all a learning experience.” Before displaying their robot, however, the Windup had to fix and reprogram the robot, as it had fallen from the pyramid in a previous competition.

A trebuchet competition also

took place on the turf field. Six teams from around the area shot water balloons at boxes in the center of the field for 7 rounds. One notable team had their trebuchet running on a remote. Mr. Kaplo, the physics teacher at WHS, commented, “it’s funny [the trebuchet has a launch remote] since it’s a 500 year old device.”

The Techfest has been hosted at WHS for the past three years in the gym. Dan Savukinas, a member of the robotics team, described it as an event where “tech-related companies show stuff off and explain how they work.” TechFest is a great opportunity to check out some cutting-edge technology. If you didn’t make it this year, check it out next year!

Jag Activities

NH TechFest

Photos by Ashley DomogalaTop: An employee shows off a 3D printer from Formlabs.

Left: The trebuchet competitor looks on as his water balloon flies.

Technology, robots, and trebuchets

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 19

By Ashley DomogalaJagRoar Staff

WINDHAM, NH- The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team, also known as the Windham Windup, started just four years ago in 2011. The team started off with a bang, winning the Rookie Award at the Granite State Regional Competition their first year. Last year, the team was the victorious 2013 Pine Tree Regional Winner.

This season, on January 5, the team will find out what challenges they will have to overcome with their robot. They have six weeks to build a robot that will complete tasks such as shooting Frisbees or climbing pyramids. According to Jackie Hoenisch, a senior, it’s just “your brain and your hands.” Members of the team learn engineering and business skills by creating the robot and presenting it to judges at competitions.

All grades are represented on the team. Team members join for

fun, companionship, and scholarship opportunities. Most of all, however, members join because they are interested in engineering. As Jackie Hoenisch concluded, “If you want to be an engineer, do this.”

So what happens at competitions? There are about 40 teams in a giant arena. The match is 3 on 3, with 2 minutes and 15 seconds to get the tasks done. “It’s the most exciting thing in the whole world,” Amy Caron, a senior exclaimed. She added that while it’s technically a competition, teams are supportive of each other, and it’s more like a “co-competition” where the atmosphere is friendly and supportive. If the team wins this year, they can go to the World Championships in St. Louis. Teams from everywhere in the world show up to compete at the

competition. “We go head to head with the greatest robots in the world,” said Mr. Westwood. Check out a competitions and experience it for yourself!

Club of the Month: Robotics!Engineer a robot and compete

Photo courtesy of evilmadscientist.com The setup of this year’s competition, with a pyramid

and holes to throw frisbees through.

Photo by Ashley Domogala The Windup’s robot hooks onto the pyramid,

ready to attempt its climb.

Club StatsAdvisors: Mr. Kukshtel Mr. Westwood

Meetings: Tuesdays 2:30-5:30

Years: 4 years, starting in 2011Accomplishments:- 2011 Granite State Regional Competition Rookie Award

- 2013 Pine Tree Regional Winner

Image courtesy of

team3467.comWindham

Windup logo.

ACTIVITIES

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

PAGE 20

Yearbook ClubAdvisors: Ms. Lanzer and Ms. GaudetMeetings: Tuesdays @2:30-3:30pmStudents in the club ultimately create a quality yearbook that reflects a history of the campus activities for the school year.

A Cappella ChoirAdvisor: Mrs. CuneoMeetings: Mondays @ 7am, Wednesdays and Fridays @ 6:45amThe choir is preparing for the upcoming concert season where it will be performing at several venues including the Winter Choir concert.

MusicalityAdvisor: Mrs. CuneoMeetings: Tuesdays and Thursdays @7amThis is a student run group who will be singing pop music, adding choreography and dancing. No audition - anyone is welcome. Contact Alexa Monfette or Sarah Zanonni if interested.

Peer LeadersAdvisor: Mrs. LichtmannMeetings: 2nd Tuesday of the Month @7:15amWe are always looking for students who would like to mentor younger students at the Middle, Center, or Goldenbrook Schools.

WHS FIRST RoboticsAdvisors: Mr. Kukshtel and Mr. WestwoodMeetings: Tuesdays @ 2:30-5:30Engineer a robot and compete!

SMILESAdvisors: Mr. Mancinelli and Mr. BryantMeetings: Tuesdays @2:30This club completes random acts of kindness, including visiting soup kitchens, helping out at the Manchester's Kids Cafe, senior citizens breakfast and Christmas concert.

WHS Rap ClubAdvisors: Mr. Baribeau and ConfrinMeetings: Wednesdays @ 2:20-4pmCome rap with us!

Wait! It’s not too late to join!These clubs want YOU!By Ashley DomogalaJagRoar Staff

ww

w.cl

ipar

thea

ven.

com

ww

w.go

ttas

ingg

otta

pray

.blo

gspo

t.com

ww

w.m

oste

rwor

king

.com

free

.clip

arto

f.com

ww

w.us

d394

.com

lifew

ithat

titud

e.bl

ogsp

ot.c

ompi

nefo

rest

scho

olof

thea

rts.c

om

ACTIVITIES

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

PAGE 21

Student Athletic Leadership TeamAdvisors: Coach Blair and Coach RaycraftMeetings: Thurs @ 7:15am in the AuditoriumSALT is a student-run club that promotes good character, respect, and sportsmanship on and off the playing field. We organize school-wide events and go to leadership conferences.

WHS Book ClubAdvisors: Mr. Naroian and Ms. TharpMeetings: Thursdays @ 7:15amWe’re always looking for new book suggestions!

Rock Climbing ClubAdvisor: Mr. GilbertMeetings: ThursdaysStudents can join any time throughout the year and get a Vertical Dreams membership.

Art ClubAdvisor: Mrs. ColeMeetings: Friday @ 2:20-4pmCome create art or just hang out with creative people! Either make your own designs or create something for a class. All are welcome.

Jaguar ArcheryAdvisor: Ms. WongMeetings: Fri @3-5pm, Pelham Fish and GameArchery is a sport that is rapidly growing in popularity. You do not need to be a typical athlete in order to participate in this sport! You do not need your own equipment to try the sport out. Contact Marissa Yost if interested.

WHS MathletesAdvisor: Mr. LatvisMeetings: Flexible- any day after school that Mr. Latvis is hereJoin the math team to compete on all types of math problems. All skill levels can join.

Gay-Straight AllianceAdvisor: Mr. NethercottMeetings: TBDThe GSA is a safe environment that is open to all students at WHS.

Book BuddiesAdvisor: Mrs. DunnMeetings: TBABook Buddies is a club that encourages young children to read. Members of the club travel to local preschool classrooms to read to the children. Contact Olivia Bono if interested.

ww

w.lz

95.o

rgve

hicl

evin

yls.c

omw

ww.

drea

mst

ime.

com

inte

llige

nceo

fper

suas

ion.

blog

spot

.com

ww

w.sh

aref

aith

.com

art.p

hilli

pmar

tin.in

fow

ww.

kiel

.k12

.wi.u

sla

ptop

clip

art.c

om

ACTIVITIES

THE JAGROAR OCTOBER 29, 2013

! PAGE 22

ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy of JagSATThe team is excited to launch jagSAT-1.

JagSAT

Announcements

Food Drive:Receive .5 service hours for bringing in goods for the Sunshine Soup Kitchen, which include, but are not limited to:

- pickles- canned fruit- applesauce- cold cereal- olives- bread crumbs- canned soups- canned vegetables- canned chicken- mayonnaise

Just drop these by Mrs. Londo’s office, Room C110, by November 15.

French Help:Check out the “All Things French” Moodle page with vocab practice and links to French sites, run by the French Honor Society.

Don’t see your club here? Email adomogala16@windhamhighschool.org about what is going on with your club!

By Ariana MandraJagROAR Editor in Chief

WINDHAM, NH- Last year jagSAT-1, the first launch ever, was able to reach an altitude of at least 65,000 feet. JagSAT is a club, supervised by Mr. Kaplo, which creates high-altitude ballooning systems with the goal of reaching higher than 100,000 feet. Currently there are about 30 participants that meet twice a week in order to develop jagSAT. While last year most of the jagSAT members were physics students, the 2013 team includes non-physics students as well.

The 2013 jagSAT team is planning to have three separate launches, with the first in early December. This launch, jagSAT-2, is supposed to overcome the technical glitches of last year’s launch: a failed GPS system. Mr. Kaplo estimates that there is about 500 hours of work that goes into launching one of the club’s high-altitude ballooning devices. While Mr. Kaplo does supervise, jagSAT is mostly student-run and operated. It is divided into “teams” for different areas, like software, GPS, and parachuting systems.

JagSAT has received a lot of mentorship from Windham community members, who have helped the team learn more about antennas, electrical distribution systems, and troubleshooting. The team is very thankful for everyone who has participated and helped jagSAT and is excited for this year’s launches.

Create and launch high-altitude ballooning systems!