THE PILOT

Cardinal Spellman High School

November 2013

Rev. Trevor Nicholls- PresidentMr. Daniel O’Keefe- Principal

Upcoming EventsNovember 26— Parent- Teacher Conferences from

2pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm, Dismissal at 1:19pm

November 27— Thanksgiving Mass

November 28-December 2— Thanksgiving Recess

December 4— 1:50pm Dismissal (Faculty Meeting)

December 6– Open Gym Night (7-10pm)

December 9— Junior Retreat

December 17— Christmas Concert

Welcome to the online version of our November edition!Online exclusives include:

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Tips (p. 9)• Why the rush for Christmas? (p. 9)

• Thanksgiving Poem (p. 11)• The story behind Thanksgiving your teachers haven’t told you (p. 10)

• Review of Thor: the Dark World (p. 7)• Thanksgiving Around the World (p. 8)

School NewsFreshman Field Day Results

by Kristen McMonagle

While Sophomores and Juniors suffered through

the PSAT, the Freshmen of Cardinal Spellman were

having a day full of fun and excitement. This year’s

Freshman Field Day included a lot of competition as

students represented their homerooms with pride.

Special thanks to all the faculty and the STARS who

made this day possible, and congratulations to 1A

for taking the gold!

Pro-Life Assembly by Elizabeth Noone

On Friday, October 11, Spellman had a special guest

for its Pro-Life Assembly--Mrs. Gloria Purvis. Mrs.

Purvis spoke to Freshmen and Sophomores first,

and later held the same assembly for Juniors and

Seniors. She spoke about sex, abortion, marriage,

and chastity. One point Mrs. Purvis made was that

society tends to portray sex as something wrong or

dirty, but it is actually a gift of God that is good and

holy, which is why it should be saved for marriage.

She spoke about how marriage is much more than

a piece of paper; it is a commitment that brings

couples together to truly love each other.

Mrs. Purvis also talked about a woman named

Margaret Sanger. Sanger was an ex-Catholic who

targeted minorities. Through her prejudice and

commitment to slowing population growth, she

founded Planned Parenthood and began giving out

birth control to women. I hope that Mrs. Gloria

Purvis made everyone reflect on how all life is

so precious and that everyone deserves to have a

chance to live.

1st Place Overall 1A

2nd Place Overall 1D

3rd Place Overall 1B

Long Jump Winners 1C, 1B, 1A (boys)1L, 1A, 1H (girls)

Volleyball Winners 1A, 1B, 1K

Hockey Shot Winners 1C, 1N, 1D (boys)1H, 1N, 1G (girls)

Soccer Winners 1D, 1I, 1C (boys)1A, 1I, 1G (girls)

Foul-Shooting Winners 1K, 1F, 1A (boys)1D, 1M (girls)

Tug of War Winners 1N, 1H

Obstacle Winners 1J, 1G

Football Winners 1G, 1B, 1N (boys)1F, 1H, 1I (girls)

Softball Winners 1B, 1H, IC (boys)1E, 1G, 1I (girls)

Double Dutch Winners 1M, 1C, 1A

100 m Track Winners 1D, 1A, 1I, 1F, 1N

200 m Track Winners 1D, 1E, 1B, 1A

Track Relay Winners 1K, 1B, 1N, 1F, 1D, 1A

Fifty years ago, Fr. Monaghan was invited to work

at our school by Cardinal Spellman himself, at a

time when things were very different than they are

today. When he first came to Spellman, the school

was co-institutional, meaning boys and girls were

taught separately, something that’s hard to imagine

now that classes are mixed. However, boys and

girls could socialize at lunch, and fifty years ago

they were always supportive of each other’s sports

and came to each other’s games as Spellmanites

today still do.

When asked about something Spellman used

to have that should be brought back today, Fr.

Monaghan did not hesitate to praise our school’s

previous emphasis on forensics. Today we have

forensic science classes, but we’re talking about

forensics in the public speaking sense. Spellman

used to have an admirable debate team, which is

something that Fr. Monaghan would love to see

come back today.

As for something that has remained constant over

the past fifty years, Fr. Monaghan stated that he

continues to be impressed by the dedication of

Spellman’s faculty and its students’ desire to learn.

He believes the wonderful faculty and staff at

Spellman now and throughout its history are the

key to its success.

The Pilot would like to thank Fr. Monaghan for all

he has contributed to Spellman.

50 Years at Spellman?!By Kristen McMonagle

Upperclassmen might feel that they know all there

is to know about Spellman because they have been

in the school for three or four years, but they have

nothing on Fr. Monaghan. He’s been working at

Spellman longer than anyone else in the history at

Spellman– 50 years! This experienced is definitely

unmatched, as he is the first person to work at

Spellman for such a long period of time. Before

Fr. Monaghan made this record, it was Sal Schiazza

(yes, the man after whom the fitness center is

named) who had worked the most years at Spellman,

as he contributed 47 years as a part of our school’s

faculty.

Today, Fr. Monaghan is the Audio Visual Manager

of Cardinal Spellman High School, and can usually

be found in the A/V room, a place that holds lots

of Spellman history. One feature of this room is

that it is the center of the cable television feed to

the school. Although the cable does not currently

work after recent storms, Fr. Monaghan recalled

when it was used to broadcast CNN throughout the

school on September 11th, 2001 so that everyone

in Spellman could get the up-to-date information

on what was happening on such a tragic day where

New York was in a state of panic and confusion.

Throughout his fifty years at Spellman so far,

Fr. Monaghan has witnessed the history of the

school firsthand and has acquired a lot of valuable

knowledge on Cardinal Spellman High School.

the second floor, and a bulletin board outside the cafeteria

listing important upcoming events. This Thanksgiving

season, we are especially thankful for the Service Society’s

efforts in the Turkey Toss Up, which allows Spellman

families in need to have a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner

thanks to the generosity of the people in Cardinal Spellman

High School.

Doctor Who: Celebrating 50 Years By Cynthia and Raysa Gonzalez

How does one explain Doctor Who? Trying to

talk about Doctor Who to someone who has never

watched it is like explaining nuclear physics to a

dog. It contains complicated plots and twists, a

multitude of characters, and fifty years’ worth of

history. But if you think about it, the premise is

simple. It stars a character known as The Doctor,

a Time Lord alien, who travels through time and

space in a blue police box called the TARDIS

(Time and Relative Dimension in Space). The

Doctor often travels with companions to help him

in his adventures. He has many memorable foes as

well, such as the Cybermen, the Daleks, and The

Master. Eleven different actors have played the

Doctor, which might confuse new viewers, but it

is because when the Doctor is close to death, he

regenerates into a different person.

On November 23, 1963, the show began in Britain,

starring William Hartnell as the First Doctor,

Pilot SpotlightIn every issue, The Pilot features one ofSpellman’s 50+ clubs. This month, we will

take a candid look at Cardinal Spellman’s Service Society.

Service SocietyBy Michelle Miller

On September 25th, 175 students attended the

first service society meeting of the 2013 school

year. Present at the meeting were returning seniors,

a strong group of sophomores and juniors, and

enthusiastic freshmen. As always, the goal of the

Service Society is to help those who are poor, those

who are struggling, and those who are suffering from

tragedies. In our community alone, there are a great

amount of people in need, which is why the club

primarily focuses on the needs of local people. For

example, Service Society holds the Feeding Our

Neighbors food drive each year. At this drive,

food supplies are gathered and given to nearby

food pantries. This year Ms. Alexander, the club

moderator, wishes to focus on promoting leadership

in all Service Society members. Service Society

provides a chance for students to lead projects

directly and make a change. As a member of the

Service Society, it is very pleasing to know that

you have the power to make a difference by doing

a small deed. Each event allows students to make a

positive change while also having fun. The service

society motto is “living the gospel faith in action,”

and this is exactly what the club does. For more

information about Service Society there is a calendar

posted in every class, a display cabinet on

Entertainment

23rd and will be shown in theatres around the

world. There has been much excitement over the

special since David Tennant and Billie Piper will

return as the Tenth Doctor and Rose. Tickets to

special screenings were sold out within an hour.

Doctor Who is a beloved show with many devoted

fans. Thanks to these fans, the show has been going

on for fifty years and will hopefully continue on for

fifty more.

90’s Throwbacks by Loribel Peguero

Considering the fact that Cardinal Spellman High

School’s student body currently includes the last

generation of 90’s kids, now would be the best

time to recognize the memories of our childhoods.

Even more than the music, dances, books, movies,

poetry, and artists, the TV shows are the most

memorable aspects of the time. We’ve all had

that conversation with a group of friends where

we reminisce on the greatest TV shows of our

childhood. With that being said, here are 90’s

shows that most of us miss dearly.

The Proud Family: I think the majority of us

believe that Disney lost its touch once they took

this show off the air. Most of us loved watching

14-year old Penny growing up and dealing with her

animated father and hilarious grandmother. The

“Gross sisters,” the three blue sisters, were some of

the most memorable characters, along with Penny’s

best friends: Dijonay, Sticky, Zoey, and LaCienega.

Carole Ann Ford as his granddaughter Susan, and

William Russell and Jacqueline Hill as Susan’s

teachers, Ian and Barbara. The show became popular

right away and over 700 episodes were produced.

Unfortunately, many of these episodes were lost

when videotape and film were destroyed under the

belief that they were no longer needed. Luckily,

some episodes and clips have been recovered. In

1989, Doctor Who suffered another loss and got

canceled. In 1996, the show was unsuccessfully

revived. It introduced Paul McGann as the Eighth

Doctor, which was his only onscreen appearance.

He later performed as the Doctor in many audio

dramas. In 2005, the show was launched and starred

Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie

Piper as his companion, Rose.

This year Doctor Who is celebrating its fiftieth

anniversary. There have been many festivities to

commemorate the show. In January, a series of

specials that discussed a new doctor each month

began. There is also a special three-day event in

London, which will feature many panel sessions

with people who worked on the show. Mark Gatiss,

who has written for and acted in Doctor Who, wrote

a television documentary drama to tell the story of

the creation of the series called An Adventure in

Space and Time. Two of the most important recent

events are the announcement of the Twelfth Doctor

and the 50th Anniversary Special. On August 4th,

Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor revealed that

Peter Capaldi would play the next Doctor. The

50th Anniversary special will air on November,

and having confidence. Oh well, it was still a great

childhood show.

Kim Possible: Although this series also was not

made in the 90’s, seeing Kim Possible and Ron

Stoppable fight the evil Doctor Drakken was a

very big part of our lives. Was I the only one that

secretly hoped Shego, Doctor Drakken’s assistant,

would turn to the good side? She always seemed

too pretty to be evil. Ron and Kim also seemed to

perfect for each other to not be together. I know

it was a great moment in all our childhoods when

Ron FINALLY escaped the friend-zone. We also

can’t forget about Wade, the computer genius.

It’s sad to have to say that although most of us

wished to be as active as Kim, most of us ended up

following in Wade’s footsteps.

The Angry Beavers: I find it immensely depressing

that the next generation will never know the

wonders of sitting in front of a television and

watching these two brothers fight. The show

allowed us to see Norbert and Daggett Beaver fuss

and argue, then later show lengths of brotherly

love. Their adventures always landed them in odd

yet entertaining predicaments. I always felt so bad

for Dagget, as he always seemed to have the worst

of luck while Norbert had the best. Replaying “The

Angry Beavers” episodes was a huge part of my

childhood.

The Proud Family never failed to make me laugh

and I hated to see it go.

Dave the Barbarian: Although it wasn’t exactly

created in the 90’s, I know many of us remember

laughing at this series. Looking in on this

barbarian’s life was one of the most interesting

things of my childhood. It was even more

captivating since instead of trying to conquer

new lands, Dave was mostly surrounded by his

hilarious family. There was his little sister Fang, the

uncivilized tomboy who loves to smash things and

whose most memorable quote was “Not a monkey!”

We also all remember Dave’s sister Candy, who

was the typical self-centered teenage girl. Although

Candy would prefer hanging out with her friends

and shopping over being in charge of the kingdom,

she was very strong, with her catchphrase being,

“Don't mess with the princess.” Overall, we truly

loved watching Dave’s adventures unravel episode

by episode.

Johnny Bravo: If you have yet to watch this TV

show, please do everyone a favor and dismiss

yourself from any further human interaction. We all

knew the self-absorbed egomaniac Johnny Bravo.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed getting a good

laugh from his failed attempts of approaching a

female. Although Johnny Bravo was most likely a

TV show meant to exhibit what NOT to do, some

people didn’t get the point, because today there are

people who are just as cocky as Johnny Bravo. At

least we can try to believe he taught us persistence

Thor: The Dark World Review by Ryan McMonagle

Thor: The Dark World is the newest installment

of Marvel Studio’s Cinematic Universe and

marks the first time Thor, the Prince of Asgard,

has returned since The Avengers. In this film,

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) fights against the Dark

Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) to save not

only Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), but also the

entire universe. To stop Malekith from turning the

universe into complete darkness, Thor must turn to

his traitorous, imprisoned half-brother, Loki (Tom

Hiddleston) while also betraying his father Odin,

the King of Asgard (Anthony Hopkins). Such

events allow the movie to be filled with non-stop

action that does not disappoint.

All parts of this movie are masterfully done, and

the intergalactic scenes are visually majestic. Since

this is not an origins story as the first movie was,

we see Thor and also Asgard in their full glory.

This aspect is very cool, as it is a first in the Marvel

Cinematic Universe. The Dark Elf, Malekith,

brings dark magic into the mix, and these visuals

are spectacular.

In terms of the portrayal of characters in the movie,

Malekith is a refreshingly imposing villain, and his

motives are actually understandable, especially

when compared to villains in other movies. Thor

and Loki hold their own against him and his forces,

but it does not seem too easy for them. The only

error in the plot is that Jane Foster seems to be an

unnecessary character, as she only serves as a love

interest to Thor.

Of all the positives in The Dark World,

the acting is the pinnacle. Chris Hemsworth

provides the best performance as Thor yet,

and all the supporting characters, even Natalie

Portman as Jane Foster, are wonderful. Anthony

Hopkins gives his best as Odin, and even gives an

interesting Shakespearean twist to the character.

This movie’s titular character may be Thor, but

Tom Hiddleston makes Loki is the star of the show.

No scene with his character is dull, and the humor

is outstanding. One particular scene displaying

Loki’s ability of deception is the comedic highlight

of this movie, just as Loki is the comedic highlight

of all the characters.

If you are to take anything from this review, let

it be that Thor: The Dark World is one of the most

enjoyable movies to be released this year, and is

one of the best super hero movies ever released. If

you are a fan of super hero movies, you will love

this movie. If not, it is a movie that’s still worth

checking out. You can currently catch Thor: The

Dark World in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D in theaters

everywhere. Also, for those of you who are fans

of Captain America, you can catch a five minute

sneak preview of Captain America: The Winter

Soldier during 3D screenings!

“mass”. On this day, people gather at the church

with a loaf of bread from the First Wheat Harvest.

The church then gives thanks to the harvest by

blessing the loaf.

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, but not in

the same way as Americans. The only major

difference is that it’s celebrated earlier in Canada.

The Thanksgiving tradition actually commenced

in Canada, dating back to 1578 when explorer Sir

Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in newfound

land to give thanks. Apart from than that, both the

American and Canadian versions of Thanksgiving

are otherwise very similar.

Black Friday Tips and Tricks by Serrena Singh

Black Friday is the official start of the holiday

shopping season. Make sure you’re prepared to

shop till you drop with these tips:

Safety In Numbers: Always shop with a friend or

two. It’s good to have someone who can hold your

spot in a long line when you need a break; they

might even be able to spot you some cash.

Stock Up and Be Prepared: Make sure to bring

snacks and drinks along with you to limit getting

out of line as much as possible. It’s best to hold

your place in line if you want to avoid getting into

fist fights with other shoppers accusing you of

skipping.

Thanksgiving SpecialsThanksgiving Around the World

By Alexa Pena

Thanksgiving is known to be an American custom,

but did you know different cultures around the world

have their own versions of the holiday?

In Southern India, Pongal, a festival named after a

cultural rice dish, is celebrated in January. During

Pongal, the community gathers and feasts; neighbors

share crops and everyone who took part in the

successful harvest is shown appreciation.

The Chinese harvest of Ching Ch'ui, also known

as the ‘August Moon Festival’, is celebrated in the

middle of August. It lasts three days, during which

families honor the end of the harvest season with

traditional feasts such as roasted pigs and moon-

cakes. The cakes signify family, unity, perfection,

and are shared among friends and family as a way of

giving thanks.

In the Jewish culture, families celebrate the harvest

festival know as Sukkot, which has been celebrated

for 3,000 years. During the festivities, a sukkah hut

is built out of branches under which for the Jews

eat. They share meals with their families in the

sukkah for eight days.

The British Isles celebrate a harvest festival that

resembles Thanksgiving known as Lammas Day; it

originates from the Old English words for “loaf” and

Scope It Out: Try to visit stores with high priority

items a day or two before Black Friday, and keep an

eye out for any coupons (but don’t act like a creep).

It’s best to spot where they might be stocking items

that will be on sale, so that way you won’t waste

your time looking for something specific on the big

day.

Plan It Out: Do some research and find out which

stores have the best deals on items you’re in the

market for. Keep a look out for stores that have an

ad or price match guarantee to ensure you’re getting

your money’s worth.

Don’t Forget: There is also Cyber Monday! You

can find great online deals on items that you weren’t

able to snatch up on Black Friday!

Christmas Already?By Melanie Melo

It seems that with every passing year, Christmas

comes earlier and earlier. This is not your

imagination! Stores such as Macy’s, Target,

and K-Mart have already begun their Christmas

advertisements; some even aired long before

Halloween had arrived! I personally find this trend

to be very annoying. In the midst of the early

Christmas advertisements, we tend to forget to

enjoy the Thanksgiving season first. The holiday

of Thanksgiving seems to be almost pushed into

the corner in order to make room for Christmas.

Have we forgotten the true meaning of this season?

It’s not about getting the best deals or beating the

holiday rush! To survive this holiday season, we

need to remember to hold onto our morals.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! By Melissa Melo

For the past 86 years, New York City has hosted

the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I

personally think people should take advantage of

this and go experience it at least once in their life.

I've gone twice already, and have gotten to learn all

the do's and don'ts of attending this parade:

DO: Arrive early. The earlier you are, the better

chance you have a getting a nice view of all the

floats.

DON'T: Forget to bundle up be prepared for the

worst. The weather can always change from just an

icy cold wind, to some harsh heavy snow.

DO: Wear comfortable shoes because you will be

standing up for a while. It’s highly doubtful that

you’ll be able to ignore the pain forever..

DON'T: Forget to wear your glasses/contacts if you

need them. What’s the point of going if you can’t

see?

DO: Bring a snack. The parade lasts a while, and

you will eventually get hungry; it’s best to be ready

for those hunger pangs.

DON'T: Drink too much water! If you end up

leaving to use the bathroom, your spot will be gone

by the time you get back!

DO: Have a charged camera with an empty memory

card! You’re going to need all the space you can

get to take pictures of the celebrities, floats, and

character balloons that pass by.

DON'T: Let rude people push and shove to get in

front. You have your perfect view because you were

there first.

DO: Remember to get hot cocoa afterwards, and

have a great Thanksgiving feast with your family.

DON'T: Forget to be thankful for all you have in

your life this year!

Thanksgiving: What They Didn’t

Teach You In ClassBy Raysa Gonzalez

Most people have the understanding that

Thanksgiving originated when The Pilgrims and

Native Americans celebrated their first harvest with

a feast. This story may not be true. Historians tend to

disagree on the true origins of Thanksgiving; some

believe that it began with the massacre of the Pequot

Indians.

The Puritan settlers in America and the Pequot

tribe had a history of conflicts through violence.

However, an outright war was spurred by the death

of an English trader. In response to the trader’s

death, the Puritans attacked and slaughtered about

seven hundred Pequot men, women, and children.

At this time, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay

Colony declared that day a day of “thanksgiving” for

the elimination of the Pequot people.

Many people believe this massacre was the real first

Thanksgiving. The United American Indians of New

England, a Native American activist organization,

has even accused the European colonists of covering

up the genocide and injustice that took place by

fabricating the Thanksgiving story that is commonly

known today.

Every Thanksgiving, the organization does not

partake in the traditional American celebration,

and holds a National Day of Mourning. While

many Americans see Thanksgiving as a day of

being grateful, many Native Americans see it as the

beginning of the end.

Falling Turkey by Tiffany Le

Take a moment outside to look around.

Watch the leaves change and fall down to the

ground.

Breathe in the nice, crisp, chilly air.

Look at the trees - naked and bare.

Let us see what autumn and November bring.

As the change in season is quickly approaching.

Cloudy skies overhead block the sunshine.

No more beautiful flowers or butterflies.

Darkness seems to arrive much earlier.

But the lights inside us all glow stronger.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Bringing families closer together.

Pause and count our blessings.

From trivial to important things.

For all we take for granted, let us be thankful.

Let us take the day to say thank you to our angels.

Why not show gratitude to all those helping hands

lent?

To all those who helped us when our hearts have

been bent?

Love and appreciate life and health.

All the prosperity and wealth.

But most of all, thank the Lord above.

For He does wonders out of love.

Look around and realize, you are blessed.

So, Happy Thanksgiving, and make sure your

gratitude is expressed.

Give thanks to The Lord for he is good; his love

endures forever. -Psalm 136:1

Drake the Type of Person… By Melissa Liriano

• Drake the type of person to go up to the Spellman

girls who roll their skirt and say, "You don't have to

do this."

• Drake the type of person to get depressed when Mr.

Smith doesn't high five him in the hallway.

• Drake the type of person to go up to the lunch lady

and be like, "With you feeding me every day…well

I just feel like we have a connection."

• Drake the type of person to put ice cubes in his soup

when it's too hot.

• Drake the type of person that will never go sky

diving because he's afraid of letting go.

• Drake the type of person that won’t steal the bike at

the beginning of San Andreas.

• Drake the type of person to get a wanted star in

Grand Theft Auto, drive to the police station and

turn himself in.

• Drake the type of person who cries every time his

math teacher asks him to find "x".

• Drake the type of person to make a photo collage

for his homeboy's birthday.

• Drake the type of person to lay under a tree, catch

leaves before they hit the ground & whisper,

“Letting go is the hardest part.”

• Drake the type of person that won't use hand

sanitizer because he feels guilty about killing germs.

• Drake the type of person to volunteer to sit on

somebody when there's no more room in the car.

The Pilot Staff welcomes anyone who is feeling Drake

and wants to come talk to us; we can cry together.

The Pilot Staff

MODERATORMr. RivlinEDITOR IN CHIEFKristen McMonagle ’15

WRITERS

Ryan Gangadin ’17Cynthia Gonzalez ’15Raysa Gonzalez ’15Calayah Heron ’15*Tiffany Le ’16Melissa Liriano ’16Sarah Maymi ’16Kristen McMonagle ’15Ryan McMonagle ’16Melanie Melo ’15

Stay tuned for our Holiday Edition in December!

Melissa Melo ’15Christine Miller ’15Michelle Miller ’15Rebecca Mota ’15Elizabeth Noone ’17Loribel Peguero ’17Alexa Pena ‘17*Also editor