Green Horn

April 26, 2010 Volume 30, Edition 7

The Award-Winning Student Publication of Springfield High School

Springfield Theater Will Be Back

3 Screens, Stadium Seating, Digital Projection
By Maria Stern

G
oing to the movies is a typical activity enjoyed
by teens. However, Springfield lost its theater
in a fire on July 8, 2008. This fire was the result
of an act of arson started in the apartments located in the
upper levels of the Ellis Block. In the past two years,
Springfield High School teens have filled this theater
void by traveling to theaters in Claremont, Bellows
Falls, and Lebanon. Recently, their hopes for theater
reconstruction have been renewed.
Currently, a request has been sent out seeking
a company to operate the theater. The building will be
owned by the Springfield Housing Authority and leased
to the company. A popular slogan after the fire was: “We
will rebuild.” But reconstruction has been put off for
almost two years.
“Part of the reason is we know how to do
housing,” said Bill Morlock of the Springfield Housing
Authority. “We didn’t know how to do the theater.”
However, the Springfield Housing Authority worked
with consultants in the theater industry to get to where
they are today.
“Springfield on the Move [a non-profit
organization that is trying to revitalize Springfield’s
downtown] just submitted a USDA grant application

See Theater page 21

The theater in ruins. Although the area has been cleared since the fire that
ravaged the Ellis Block in 2008, reconstruction was halted as research was
What’s Inside: conducted on rebuilding the theater. A movie complex will rise out of the ashes
Apple Blossom of the old theater in early 2011.
blooms for 54th
time,

F
p. 4 iddler John Specker
performed for SHS
Imma Be students April 2nd
reviewing The with his daughter Ida Mae
E.N.D., Specker. The impromptu
p. 14 concert was arranged by
Specker's wife, Susan Leader,
a potter instructing the CATS
Track team back program. The father-
in Division III daughter duo performed
competition, songs such as "Alligator
p.17 Man" and "Buffalo Girl."
Green Horn Interview
By Ashley Richardson

.
Amanda Aberle
Talks About
Student Council
and Her Plans for
the Future

T
his year, Springfield High School student What new things have the student council brought
council advisors Kevin Coen and Liz Goddard, to SHS this year?
along with the student council members, have This year, we’re trying to do more school-wide activi-
planned many new and creative ways to raise school ties. We’re trying to get all students, regardless of age,
spirit. Some of these activities include Winter Carnival, interested in our school. In order to accomplish this,
sports recognition, dances, and the newest addition to we’ve planned activities for the students such as the
SHS, the award for a Student of the Month each month. Winter Carnival, bringing Howard Dean into SHS as
The Student of the Month is nominated and voted on by a visiting speaker, and recognizing students for their
faculty at the high school. achievements. We want the school to be more united
Senior student council president Amanda and have pride.
Aberle has been crucial in planning and organizing these
events. Her idea about an award (half-day of school for What has been the most successful activity?
SHS with fun activities in the afternoon) for students if The most successful activity that we’ve planned this year
they raised a certain number of cans for the Food Drive is our sports recognition. After each sports season, we
on behalf of the Springfield Family Center encour- recognize students that participated in the sports during
aged SHS students to raise over 1500 food items. She that season. We also recognize drama, and any students
continues encouraging students throughout the school, that have participated in extracurricular activities during
both with academic honors and by recognizing student that specific season. Kids want to be noticed for their
athletes around SHS. Aberle’s goal as president of the efforts outside of school, and we notice them.
student council has been to bring the school together,
What are your duties as student council president?
unite the students, and encourage pride in the green and
white. The Green Horn recently sat down with Aberle My duties as president of the student council are helping
and discussed her contributions to the school. set everyone’s ideas into motion. Everyone on the coun-
cil has ideas, and
I help them con-
GREEN HORN STAFF tinue with those
ideas. I do a lot
A shley Richardson..................... Co-Editor of the planning
of activities and
O livia Johnson........................... Co-Editor
bringing every-
J enny Bradley.......................... Co-Editor one together.
S amuel L. Benton.................... Layout Editor How many
K elsey Christensen.................... Layout Editor people are on
student council,
L aurel Porter............................. Photography Editor and how do you
C ourtney Downing.................... Sports Editor get on student
council?
Melissa Tarbell............................ Tech News Editor
There are about
----------------REPORTERS--------------- ten active people
Erika Anderson, Ryan Brady, John Forbes, Sarah Gray, on student coun-
Sam Hensel-Hunter, Holly Hooke, Angelo Jardina, Jill Rushton, cil right now. In
get new people on the student council. In order to get on
the student council, you have to turn in an essay of what
you would contribute to the council and the school. Your
peers will then vote on who they think would be best
suited to run our school. But if you really want to be a
member, and are willing to work hard, there’s always
room for new members on the student council, whether
you were voted in or not.
Why do you enjoy being on student council?
I enjoy being on the student council, and being president,
because I can actually see firsthand how this group of
dedicated students positively affects our school and
our community.
What are your plans after high school?
I am planning on going on to college after high school
to become a nurse. I like to help people and I feel that I
would be of good use to society. After I leave, I hope that
student council activities will become more successful,
and that everyone will truly see our school become more
united and proud.
Do you feel that student council has prepared you
for college?
I feel like student council has really prepared me for
college. Between planning for all these activities, and
doing school and sports, I’ve really learned how to man-
age my time better. It’s been a lot of hard work, and I’m
sure college won’t be any easier.
How have Mr. Coen and Ms. Goddard changed
student council?
Mrs. [Susan] Fog was the student council advisor before
them, and she did an amazing job, and got this program
started. But Mr. Coen and Ms. Goddard are fresh and
new to this school, and they have a lot of energy. They
both came from very active high schools, and they are
helping Springfield do the same. They believe that if you
enjoy more, you will do better, and be more engaged
and active.

See Interview page 22

Maria Stern, and Olivia Thayer the fall we will
have elections to

pg  G r e e n H o r n
 News

Aspiring ballerina Essie Carmichael (Emily Mobus) dances to her husband Ed's
(Sam Hensel-Hunter) xylophone. From top right: Russian dance teacher Boris
Kolenkhov (Ethan Paton); The Kirbys (Lindsay Turgeon and Frank Gould); The
fireworks manufacturers Paul Sycamore (Ryan Gottschalk) and Ms. Depinna
(Laurel Porter) are arrested; Alice (Eliza Pennell) and Tony (Jon Esden) share a
tender moment; Grandpa Sycamore (Matt Domina) says grace.

You Can't Take it With You

But You Can Have Fun
By Holly Hooke

R
emember Romeo and Juliet from way back?
Looking for something along the same lines?
Something funnier, without the tragedy? If
these were your concerns, “You Can’t Take it With You,"
performed by the Springfield High School Drama Club,
would have been a perfect fit for you.
From March 19th-March 21st, the Spring-
field High School Auditorium rang with laughter at
this comic production. “I laughed left and right,” said
SHS senior Erin Graham, who saw the play during its
weekend run. “Everything seemed professional and
well-rehearsed. You could tell they were confident and
having a good time.”
The tryouts for the play occurred in January,
leaving a seven-week rehearsal period leading up to the
performance of “You Can’t Take It With You.”
“We practiced a lot for this production,” said
SHS senior John Esden, who played Tony, a romantic
lead. “We became close like a family or sports team.”
The quirky and comical production cast 15
SHS students in all. Lending their past experience and
talent to round out the show were six seniors--Emily
Mobus, Lindsey Turgeon, Eliza Pennell, Jon Esden,
Jess Watkins and Ethan Paton--who performed in their
final drama production at SHS.
“It hasn’t really set in that it was my last
play with the SHS drama club,” said Pennell. “It was
a really great way to end my role with the club.”
“I’m going to miss drama,” added Mobus.
“I haven’t thought about it being my last production.”
The play, written by George S. Kaufman and
Moss Hart, is a zany tale of one conservative family and
one crazy family who clash when a romance develops
between two of their children. Everything happens
under Grandpa Vanderholf’s (Matt Domina) eccentric
and quirky views. For the Vanderholf family, plays, bal-
let dancing, and even snakes are common occurrences,
providing lively, comic scenes onstage. “How Mrs.
Skyrpeck cast the play is what really made it work,”
said Turgeon, who played Mrs. Kirby, the conservative
family’s mother. “Everyone’s character fit them. The
outcome was hilarious.”
Alice (Pennell), granddaughter of the Van-
derholfs, sought love and normalcy. Alice meets Tony
See Drama page 23

G r e e n H o r n pg 
News
Sophomore Tom Kendall believes the
NEASC visit could help teachers realize
how well they instruct. Science teacher
Bindy Hathorn enjoyed being inter-
viewed when she could talk about her
students' work.
Apple
Blossom Will
Be Summer
Daze
By Jill Rushton
W
ith college anticipation, many high school
seniors focus their Sundays on working,
visiting colleges, or checking out photos
from last night's party on Facebook. But for 40 students
from Springfield, Burr and Burton, and Green Moun-
tain Union High School, their Sunday routine includes
dancing and singing in a gym for two hours to songs of
the summer in preparation for the 54th Apple Blossom
Cotillion to be performed on May 1st.
At the beginning of November, high school
senior girls in communities served by Springfield Medi-
cal Care Systems were invited to participate in the 54th
See Blossom page 20
pg  G
Are You Accredited?
NEASC Visits and Evaluates
By Olivia Thayer
T
he visiting team from the New England Associa-
tion of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) caused
a commotion in the halls of Springfield High
School and within the entire Springfield community.
The NEASC committee graced Springfield with their
presence from Sunday, March 21st, to Wednesday,
March 24th, to evaluate SHS and determine if the school
should be re-accredited. This process allows the school
staff to evaluate the excellence of its teaching. The 14
members of the visiting team, who came from Vermont,
New Hampshire, and Maine, conducted various inter-
views and observations throughout their four-day visit to
Springfield. Their activities included reading self-study
reports from faculty members, listening to presentations
from members of the school community, interviewing
SHS teachers and administrators, interviewing and
shadowing SHS students, touring the buildings, and
meeting with SHS faculty to express their initial reflec-
tions on the school.
“Overall I think the visit went well,” said
SHS Co-Principal Bob Thibault. “The folks that visited
were happy with the amount of honesty here. Our school
didn’t try to hide anything and we showed them who
we really were.”
Meredith Ward, Johannah Boucher, Amanda Aberle, Taylor Thomas, and
Kayla Perham twirl their parasols and anticipate the 54th
Apple Blossom Cotillion.
r e e
Thibault says that a high point of the NEASC
visit was their opinion of the arts department at SHS.
“The arts were a huge success,” he said. “They also
were impressed with the Green Horn publication and
the Green Horn Live broadcast which they thought was
very unique and special.”
“I think the NEASC visit was a good pro-
cess,” said SHS sophomore Tom Kendall, who was
shadowed by a NEASC visiting committee member. “It
made everyone step up their game and it made teachers
realize how well they could teach.”
During their three-day visit, NEASC com-
mittee members were scheduled to shadow 18 students
through various parts of their school day. Sophomore
Tom Kendall was followed by a committee member
during third, fourth, and fifth period. “It [being shad-
owed] went well,” he said. “She sat in on my classes
and asked me how the school was, and about how my
teachers were and how they taught.”
“I feel like it went well,” said senior Amanda
Aberle, also a student who was shadowed. “The teach-
ers planned it well. Plus there were no big fights or
See NEASC page 22
n H o r n
 News
Good Day,
Good Art
Students
Visit Clark
By Erika Anderson

S
aint Patrick’s Day was beautiful. The sun was
shining, the birds chirping, and some stomachs
were heard grumbling audibly. So a trip was
made in search of some pizza. SHS junior Mariama
Roldan and a group of friends were hungry, but hadno
luck finding the pizza. So they followed a group of
Springfield High School guys to Hot Tomatoes. It was
a hike, and they hurried back to join in on the last tour
of the day before packing up for Springfield.
“Thirty-six students went on the trip [to the
Clark Museum],” said SHS social studies teacher Sue Mike Hakey shows gold medal form welding in the RVTC Industrial Trades class.
Fog. “It was wonderful. Perfect weather, complacent

SkillsUSA Competition
docents, great Impressionists, good food, great com-
pany.” The trip was presented free of charge to the
students, and many brought home a rewarding experi-
ence.
“It was a really fun experience and it was

See Clark page 23

Hakey, Chevalier Get the Gold
By Sarah Gray

Marky Hall and Andrew Nickerson
make Pysanky Ukrainian Eggs in their
Precision Valley Program classroom.
T
eachers and students from the River Valley Tech-
nical Center were pleasantly surprised to return
home with seven medals after attending the 2010
Vermont SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Banquet. The
banquet was held at the Sheraton Conference Center in
Burlington, Vermont, in mid-March.
Twelve students received recognition for
their team or individual efforts that contributed to two
gold medals in Welding and Automated Manufacturing,
two silver medals in Precision Machining and CNC
Milling, and three bronze medals in Quiz Bowl, Preci-
sion Machining, and Computer Maintenance.
Industrial Trades student Mike Hakey, who
is a senior at Fall Mountain High School, took home the
gold for welding in Vermont. This is the first time since
2005 that a RVTC student has won gold for welding.
Hakey thought the day of competition was both tense
and exciting.
“I was kind of nervous. But at the same time,
I prepared quite a bit to do it,” Hakey said. “It was a lot
of fun.”
During competition, Hakey was required
to take a written test and then was challenged to show
his skill with three blueprints. Hakey had to decipher
these blueprints and then create a figure using various
welding processes.
“I thought I would do well but I wasn’t
expecting to win,” Hakey said. “I just did my best.”
This achievement has changed Hakey’s fu-
ture plans. He was originally planning to go to school
for heating ventilation and air conditioning. However,
now he is planning to attend Manchester Community
College for welding with a possible focus on pipe weld-
ing.
“I’m extremely proud of Mike,” RVTC In-
dustrial Trades teacher Rich Fuller said. “He went up
there with the intention of doing well so he prepared and
worked really hard. It reassures me that I’m preparing
my students well.”
Gold and bronze medalist and Springfield
High School junior and Engineering student Ben
Chevalier participated on the winning Automated
Manufacturing team and the Quiz Bowl team. Similar
to Hakey’s competition, the Automated Manufacturing
team, which consisted of Chevalier, junior John Wyatt,
and Fall Mountain Regional High School student Tyler
Harding, was given an incomplete blueprint. From this
blueprint, the team was required to design and manufac-
ture two mating parts using specific computer software
such as Solid Works, Master Cam, and CNC BASE.
From this point, a member from the team was required
to put the codes and measurements of the design into
a Computer Numerical Control machine, which would
then machine the pieces.
See SkillsUSA page 23

G r e e n H o r n pg 
Feature
Gettysburg in February
Refreshing Old Facts, Learning New Points
By Sarah Gray

T
he young interns of the Springfield Art and
Historical Society had the chance to witness
American history firsthand when they visited
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in mid-February. This little
town had a great impact on the Civil War since it was
the location of the Battle of Gettysburg fought from
July 1-3, 1863. The overall battle resulted in the Union
defeating the Confederates. It is considered to be the
turning point in the American Civil War.
The intern trip took place from February
18th-February 20th when interns, Springfield High
School 9th graders Jenn Stein and Courtney Page,
and 8th grader Abby Garaffa, accompanied by intern
coordinators John Swanson, Teresa Janiszyn, Emily
Stringham, and a few of their friends and family, visited
historic sites in Gettysburg. These sites included the
Gettysburg Visitors Center and Museum, the Shriver
House Museum, Devil’s Den, and other battlefields of
Gettysburg.
During the time of the Civil War, the Shriver
House was home to George and Hettie Shriver and their
family. Today, the house has been transformed into
a museum dedicated to the civilian experience of the
people living in Gettysburg at the time of the Civil War.
Intern Courtney Page found visiting the Shriver House
to be one of the most memorable aspects of the trip.
Springfield Art and Historical Society interns, along with chaperones, form a
“The tour of the Shriver house was really skirmish line in mid-February as they flank a Gettysburg Battlefield monument.
good,” Page said. “I also enjoyed eating at the Dobbin Besides visiting the Devil's Den, interns and chaperones toured the Gettysburg
House Tavern. It was yummy.” Visitors Center and Museum and the Shriver House Museum.
Interns Jenn Stein and Courtney Page had
both previously visited Gettysburg, as a class trip during
their 8th grade school year. Both enjoyed the chance to families. “My least favorite aspects of the trip were
return to Gettysburg to renew old facts and learn new “Being able to give a tour of the battlefields cold weather while touring the battlefield and not hav-
points of American history. “I went there [Gettysburg] was one of my favorite parts of the trip,” Swanson ing enough time to do and see everything,” Stringham
last year and it was nice to go again and have everything said. added.
refreshed,” Page said. Intern coordinators Emily Stringham and This trip was put together by the intern co-
Stein was able to learn new facts about the Teresa Janiszyn, accompanied by Corey Santagate ordinators not only to give the interns a chance to learn
history of Gettysburg on her recent visit. She discovered (contributor to the Springfield Art and Historical Society about America’s history, but to give them a chance to
a statue of a small dog placed behind a monument in and the intern program), Stringham’s father Ken, and see of what a reenactment group was like in hopes of
Gettysburg that recalled a dog caught in the Gettysburg John Janiszyn, Teresa’s husband, visited the Gibson being able to create their own reenactment group.
battle. The people of Gettysburg believed this dog de- Photography Studio in Gettysburg. There they were “We are hoping to potentially form a sanitary
served a place of honor. Stein also learned that soldiers, able to dress in period clothing and have an authentic commission,” Swanson said. This would involve the
during the time of the Civil War, were not allowed to 18th century picture taken of them. reenactment of a civilian group that was around during
run away from a battle in order to show pride in their Visiting the photography studio was Emily the Civil War to help with the sanitation of soldiers.
country. Stringham’s favorite experience during the trip. Al- “We are thinking about getting a reenact-
This trip was intern Abby Garaffa’s first though this was enjoyable for Teresa Janiszyn too, she ment group together,” Stringham said. “It’s also cool
time visiting Gettysburg. Garaffa believes that the trip claims that her favorite aspect of the trip was “spending to be able to see where the Vermont troops fought in
was fun and educational. “My favorite part was simply time with the interns.” Gettysburg and for the interns to see a place that was
just walking around Gettysburg,” Garaffa said. “I also The group as a whole ran into few problems involved in the Civil War.”
learned what a historical lifestyle was really like, and while visiting Gettysburg. One small issue was that Currently, the reenactment group is still in
that people died in the most awkward places.” when they went out to dinner on the second night of its early planning stages.
Riverside Middle School social studies their trip, their food arrived late and one of their orders Overall, the Gettysburg trip seemed success-
teacher and Head Intern Coordinator John Swanson was lost. Other than the late dinner, the interns’ only ful for interns, intern coordinators, friends, and families.
has traveled to Gettysburg in the past and knew much complaints involved leaving Gettysburg. “A big part of the internship is getting the interns excited
about the town’s history. This gave Swanson a chance “My least favorite part was having to leave about history and by taking the trip it was a good way
to lead a tour through the battlefields of Gettysburg for because we had a lot of fun,” Stein said. “Leaving and to connect something that was fun and educational,”
the interns, intern coordinators, and their friends and going to bed were my least favorite things.” Janiszyn concluded.

pg  G r e e n H o r n
 News
McLaughlin
Is New
Assistant
Principal
By Kelsey Christensen

A
fter an application, an interview, and a site
visit, Zachary McLaughlin, one of eight can-
didates for the position, was selected to be the
Springfield High School Assistant Principal for next
fall. Current co-principal Bob Thibault will fill the
position of principal.
The SHS community was provided with a
type of snapshot of McLaughlin on March 10th when he

T
visited the high school. “My [impression of the] input
from people was that both candidates [McLaughlin and
he STAR team poses with their information board. From left, co-leader
Kevin Freitas] were liked and respected,” said Thibault Janice Izzo, Hali Bailey, Saiana Pianka, Kayla Tyler, Gordon Eglintine, and
about the visit. co-leader Kim Farrar. Photos of shelter animals who need a home appear
McLaughlin received his Master’s degree on the board. The 8 members of this SHS club, which meets every other
from Washington University and Certificate of Ad-
vanced Graduate Studies from Bridgewater State Col-
Thursday, have raised over $1000 for local animal shelters and have donated
lege in Connecticut. He has served in the Peace Corps, food to the family center. STAR is raffling off three items—a quilt, a decorated
and has previously been a history teacher in schools end table, and a basket of goodies—to benefit the animal shelters. Tickets are $1
such as Sandwich High School in Sandwich, Massa- each or $5 for 6 tickets. The drawing will be held May 13th.
chusetts. He currently works at the Hillsboro-Deering
High School in Hilsboro, New Hampshire.

SHS Students Participate in

SHS science teacher and selection committee
member Amanda Frank views this diverse background
as a positive attribute to McLaughlin. “He has a back-
ground that gives him a unique perspective on educa-

UVM Math Contest

tion,” she said.
Thibault agrees with Frank. In fact, Thibault
feels that McLaughlin’s experience with poverty will
serve SHS particularly well.
As well as visiting the school, McLaughlin
has immersed himself in SHS culture. He’s been pres- By Melissa Tarbell
ent at a Springfield School District Board meeting, he

attended the SHS Arts Festival, and has familiarized
himself with the student newspaper, the Green Horn.
SHS music teacher and committee member
Jim Chleback feels that this participation in activities
and McLaughlin's energy earned him the position. “I
think he impressed the panel with his enthusiasm and
research-based approach to his job search,” Chleback
said.
“He [McLaughlin] definitely went through a
lot of prep to get to know us,” Frank added. Frank feels
that if McLaughlin carries this energy and preliminary
research through to his job, he will move SHS in a posi-
tive direction.
“He had participated in school activities,”
said SHS Librarian and selection committee member
Juliet Loutrel. “He’d researched aspects of school and
seemed ready to take on the position with positive
enthusiasm.”
I
n early March, Springfield High School math teach-
ers once again offered students the chance to take
the annual UVM High School Prize Examination in
mathematics. This exam, presented by the University
of Vermont, gives high school students across Vermont
the chance to test their math skills for prize money and
recognition.
The exam, created by a committee of UVM
faculty, is in its 53rd year. Larry Kost, a lecturer in the
Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UVM and
a member of this committee said in a recent statement,
“As far as we can tell, our contest is the longest running
such contest in the country and probably in all of North
America.”
This contest came about in 1956 when N.
James Schoonmaker assumed the duties of chairman of
the Mathematics Department at UVM. After 18 months
of gathering approval and financial support for the con-
test, the first UVM High School Prize Examination was
given on Saturday, March 28, 1958. Over 600 students in
71 Vermont high schools participated in the contest.
Since that day in 1958 the test has been
given every year. “Due to the consolidation of several
school districts,” said Kost, “the number of participating
schools has not changed significantly. But the number
of contestants has grown steadily.” The average number
of high school students now taking this test each year is
around 2000.
SHS math teacher and coordinator for the
test at the high school, Barb Estey remembers that the
test was around when she attended SHS. In fact, this is
the 53rd year that the test has been offered in Spring-
field, since the school has participated every year since
1958.
“The contest was started and continues as
our way to encourage the study of mathematics at the
See Math page 20

G r e e n H o r n pg 
Features
Abstinence Education: A Solution?
By Laurel Porter

A
recent article appearing in the New York Times
revealed the startling results of a new study of
sex education classes. The study, which focused
on African-American middle school students in urban
areas, found that abstinence-only education was nearly
20% more effective than safe-sex education in delay-
ing sexual activity. The abstinence education program
used in the study did not focus on moral reasons not
to have sex, but rather showed the consequences of
sexual activity.
However, Springfield High School health
teacher Ruth Haskell disagrees with these results. “I
don’t think that’s true,” said Haskell. “I get my infor-
mation from the [Center for Disease Control] CDC and
from the Sexuality Information Education Council of the
United States, or SIECUS, and they advise the World
Health Organization. These sources say that abstinence-
only education is not as effective as comprehensive sex
education.”
Students, like senior Silas Farrar, tend to
agree.
“I don’t think that an abstinence-only ap-
proach works,” said Farrar. “You can teach abstinence
at an earlier age to prevent teens from having sex. But
at the older, high school level, you have to have a more
rounded approach. You can say, ‘Don’t have sex, but if
you do, this is what you need to do to be safe.’”
“In some ways, abstinence education might Clockwise from top left: senior Silas Farrar thinks abstinence training doesn't
help, but it depends,” said senior Dan Murray. “You work for high school students; senior Chelsea King believes that sex education
have the students who don’t really care, and they do
will not prevent teens from having sex; junior Cody Filkins thinks it's more
their own thing. They think ‘I don’t need to listen to a
teacher. If I want to have sex, I’m going to have sex.’ important to prevent STDs than sexual behavior; senior Bennett Chevalier
You also have students who think, ‘Abstinence? Sure, believes it is important to stress abstinence when students are young.
why not go with it? It might be a good thing for me.’”
“I think most people are just going to do
what they want whether you teach abstinence or not,” “I think the health class we have here at the “I don’t think abstinence education is effec-
said junior Michael Pianka. high school is a good program. I think [Mrs. Haskell] tive,” said junior Cody Filkins. “You have to let people
Senior Chelsea King agrees. does well with showing you the different types of STDs. do what they want with their lives. It’s more important
“Whether or not you’re going to teach kids We go more in depth.” to keep kids from getting STDs than to keep them from
about abstinence, or other birth control methods, it still Chevalier believes that it is important to having sex. Sex is human nature. It’s going to happen
won’t prevent them from having sex,” said King. “No stress abstinence rather than safe sex practices when sooner or later.”
matter how much we try not to expose kids to the idea students are young. Showing the consequences of sexual activi-
of sex, they’re going to find out about it, and they might “I think that the way we teach sex ed now ties is one of the primary aspects of abstinence educa-
end up doing it anyway.” is good, but I think that during the younger years, it’s tion.
“I think it can go both ways,” said sophomore important to stress abstinence,” said Chevalier. “I think “I wish that students would not have sex,”
Lauren Fountain. “It depends on what you’re teaching that’s important for our society. We have an increasing said Haskell. “That’s my first and primary goal, that
and how you’re teaching people.” teen pregnancy rate, and an increasing dropout rate they not have sex and that they are abstinent. But it’s
At Springfield High School, sex education because of it. If you preach abstinence when kids are equally important to give them information. If I just
is covered sophomore year in a required health class. young, when they get to high school, you don’t have to teach abstinence, it’s not going to be as effective as if I
“We have an Abstinence Plus program,” said preach it as much.” also teach safety.”
Haskell. "This means that though we do preach and teach “If the school tries to get people to be absti- “I think that just condemning having sex,
abstinence, we add on birth control and contraception nent, it might be effective,” said Murray. “It might not. saying it’s wrong, is less effective than actually explain-
so students can be safe.” It depends on the person.” ing the consequences,” said Murray. “You have to give
Senior Bennett Chevalier, reflecting on the Some students are indifferent concerning people a major reason to be abstinent. They aren’t just
sex education he has received in the Springfield school student sexual activity. going to not have sex because you tell them not to.”
district, believes that the health courses are effective. “I don’t think it matters,” said King. “It’s “It’s probably more effective to teach the
“I remember, in fourth grade, we got the their choice, and if they decide to have sex, you just consequences of sexual activities,” agreed Farrar. “If
general overview of the boy/girl genitalia and anatomy. have to hope and pray that they’re going to have safe we just say it’s wrong, no one will care.”
They gave us deodorant,” said Chevalier. “In fifth grade, sex.” “I think that [showing the consequences of
we got more in-depth with sex ed. Through middle “I think most people are just going to do sexual activity] might help, but some kids just won’t
what they want whether you teach abstinence or not,”
See Abstinence page 23
school, we talked about sex in our health class. I think
we do a pretty good job at this school. said Pianka.

pg  G r e e n H o r n
 Features
Marijuana Legalization
For Better or For Worse?
By Jill Rushton

W
ith more states legalizing marijuana, many
individuals debate whether it would be safer
to continue to ban the controversal drug, or
allow use freely for medical purposes. Although Ver-
mont law states that no person can possess more than two
ounces of marijuana for health use, many Vermonters
have spoken at the Montpelier State House hoping to
alter the regulation, causing more debate about changing
the cut-off mark for legal possession of marijuana.
The strongest argument for legalizing mari-
juana involves its use for medical purposes. Marijuana
can be part of treatment for patients with certain ill-
nesses, including AIDS and glaucoma, or can decrease
assorted pain and muscle spasms. Marijuana also
reduces the effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients
since it relaxes them with its main active ingredient,
tetrahydrocannibol (THC), which reduces vomiting and
nausea.
“THC is responsible for the effects of smok-
ing marijuana,” SHS health teacher Ruth Haskell said.
“It [THC] slows down the neurons in the brain so people
cannot think or react as well, which causes users to make
poor decisions.”
Marijuana is prohibited because of its harm-
ful effects on the body. Its long-term effects may include
the loss of brain cells, lung cancer, slow confused think-
ing, memory loss, and blood vessel blockage. Studies
show that a marijuana cigarette contains 50%-100%
more tar than tobacco. Driving while intoxicated on
marijuana involves the same risks as consuming alcohol
while driving. Studies show that children, ages 12-17, if
they use marijuana previously, are 85 times more likely
to use cocaine than any other age-group.
“My biggest concern [on legalizing mari-
juana] would be the behavior,” SHS truancy officer
Kevin Anderson said. “Marijuana has certain effects on
people that can potentially lead them to poor decision
making. It affects your ability to learn and changes your
reaction time. It will be dangerous to have more people
access it.”
“I don’t think it would be good to legalize
marijuana,” sophomore Mike Whittemore said. “It
would influence kids to do it more freely, and they just Jon Esden thinks the money spent on
wouldn’t care. Kids only do it to be cool and brag about enforcing marijuana laws is ridiculous.
it.”
Each year, the United States government
Mike Whittemore believes that
legalization will influence kids to use
See Marijuana page 21 the drug more frequently.

Upward Bound
New People, College Preparation
Holly Hooke

ment. A typical day for the students in Upward

Freshman BJ Blish thought that
Upward Bound would be awkward,
but found himself enjoying it.
“I learned to be more responsible,” said
Springfield High School sophomore Marissa Keenan,
a participant of Upward Bound. “Not to mention,
it’s an easy step to get ahead for all your high school
classes.”
Bound starts with morning academic classes including
theatre, literature, math, writing, science, computer,
social issues, and SAT prep. Afternoon activities include
community service, recreation, and community meet-
ings. The students also enjoy free time, where they are

L
et’s face it. There’s not much to do if you’re stuck
in Springfield for the summer. So maybe you
should consider spending six weeks in a college
dorm with your friends, taking interesting classes in a
relaxed environment, having free time to roam around a
college campus, and visiting colleges. With the Upward
Bound (UB) summer program at Keene State College,
you get it all.
Upward Bound is a summer program de-
signed to prepare students for their high school classes
and eventual college enrollment. The program is orga-
nized for minority students and physically-challenged
students, according to the Upward Bound information
brochure. The summer program combines diversity,
self-awareness, and responsibility in a fun environ-
Upward Bound started in 1974 and serves 85
high school students each summer. Students from target
schools in Vermont and New Hampshire can participate.
These students come from Vermont high schools like
Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Green Mountain, Leland and
Gray, and Springfield, and New Hampshire schools like
Fall Mountain, Keene, and Monadnock.
For the 6-week duration of Upward Bound,
students live in the dorms of Keene State College and
go home for the weekends. Students attend classes and
participate in special activities, which are individually
chosen. “At first, I thought it would be awkward living
with people I didn’t know,” said freshman BJ Blish, who
participated in Upward Bound. “It turned out awesome,
and by the end I was friends with everyone.”
allowed to use Keene State College facilities or take a
walk downtown. In the evening, events start up again
with mentoring, electives, personal time, movies, sports,
and hikes.
“I usually chose sports for my activity,” said
junior and 2-year Upward Bound participant Max Blake.
“They’re competitive and you’re with your friends.”
At the end of the summer, students plan
an excursion. Each excursion program splits into six
groups, visiting two or three colleges around New
England or in New York City. “My favorite part was
the college visits,” said Keenan. “You go on tours and
even eat the college food.”
See Upward page 21

G r e e n H o r n pg 
Features
Candy
Changes
Is Nothing
Sacred?
By Courtney Downing
W
hat do you get when you combine the bite-
size candy that will “melt in your mouth, not
in your hand” and your favorite candy bar?
You get the new Hershey’s pieces, bite-sized candies
that have taken on the flavor of four favorite candy
bars: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Joy, York
Peppermint Patties, and Special Dark Chocolate.
The new Hershey’s pieces commercial
shows four different scenes in which a person reaches
for the candy bar, and just as they do, the chocolate
treat turns into bite-sized pieces. For instance, the
Almond Joy portion of the commercial involves a
woman sitting in a sun chair by a pool. As she reaches
for the candy bar it turns into bite-size candies. Com-
mercials also show settings in which the candy can be
easily consumed. Despite worries, there are health benefits to
With traditional candy bars, typing, work-
ing on papers, or answering phones can be challeng-
ing. First one has to put down the candy, wipe off
chocolate-covered fingers, answer the phone, and then
begin getting the chocolate out from between the keys
on the keyboard. Hersheys pieces, however, offer less
mess with the same flavor.
According to advertising, the pieces have
fewer calories than the actual candy bar. The pieces
have around 210 calories per serving. But to some, this
is a debatable point. While these offer fewer calories,
many food critics think that snackers will be more apt
to finish the whole bag in one sitting, rather than eat the
suggested serving size.The calories may be fewer in the
pieces, but as critics point out, it’s the volume of intake
that really matters.
According to a New York Times article, the
idea for the candy bits was developed after consumers
became concerned with calories. With American obesity
a significant health topic, people want to eat healthy and
become active. Others believe that while it is important
to eat healthy, it’s also important to include junk food in
one’s diet. The special dark chocolate candy pieces may
be a healthy choice because they contain antioxidants
and a small amount of sugar.
pg 10
Salt
Gold or Just Getting Old?
By Erika Anderson
Mariama Roldan understands health
problems of salt, but remains a salt
fanatic. Lauren Sanderson balances
salty foods with sweet foods.
E
xcuse me, do you consider salt a friend or foe?
This question, asked with sincerity and candor, is
greeted with guffaws and “good luck." But it is a
serious question that is being asked all over the United
States, in varied forms.
According to webmd.com a person requires, on
average, about one teaspoon of salt per day. Mostly,
salt is a fine addition to one’s diet. If one doesn’t have
enough salt, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and
muscle cramps may result. Lack of salt can lead to low
blood pressure and fainting spells.
Salt is also steeped in history. Thousands
of years ago the Chinese were drilling brine wells in
an effort to retrieve salt. Because of its reputation, salt
has been a pillar of commerce and trade, as valuable as
gold to some ancient peoples.
However, the scientific fact of the matter
is this: salt is found in everything. From frozen TV
dinners to cereal, salt is everywhere. Salt is hidden in
some tempting treats: ice cream, chocolate, and soda.
However, salt also lurks in saturated and salty chip
packages as a prime ingredient. These snacks taste
delicious, but their high concentration of salt makes
them unhealthy. No matter, healthy or not, there is no
escaping salt.
SHS junior Mariama Roldan is a salt fanatic.
“I eat salt because salt makes everything taste better,”
G r e e
she said. Roldan acknowledges that salt is unhealthy,
but she still remains fond of salt. However, she also
blames the processed foods today for the amount of salt
in food. “I do feel like I eat salt too much,” Roldan said.
“But it is hard to avoid salt with the foods today.”
1,276 mg of sodium is found in the average
American lunch box. This figure represents a normal
lunch of water, cheese, crackers, orange, cookies, and a
bag of Smartfood popcorn. The average recommended
daily amount of salt is 2,400 mg, according to Web MD.
However, in one lunch box, a person could knock out
more than half of his or her daily recommended dose
of salt. This is impressive without supper, usually the
heaviest (saltiest) meal of the day, figured in.
Sophomore Lauren Sanderson is also a fan
of salt. She said simply, "Salt makes things taste bet-
ter.” Her chosen salty food is potato chips, although
Sanderson feels that she must have something sweet
to offset the salt. “When I eat something salty, I have
to balance out the salty with something sweet," said
Sanderson. "Whether it's Cheez-Its and chocolate chips
or potato chips and marshmallows, I'm a sweet and salty
person.”
salt. Runners and other athletes need a consistent level
of salt and water in their body. Otherwise they can
suffer injuries. SHS science teacher Bindy Hathorn,
who teaches biology and forensics, is aware of salt's
importance to the body. “In your body there is a potas-
sium sodium pump,” said Hathorn. "This pump uses
sodium(salt) to help keep it going, so the cells will keep
hydrated.” The sodium potassium pump’s function is
to balance and lower the cells' sodium level.
“Salt and electrolytes are important to bod-
ies,” said Hathorn. “It’s all about the balance.”
Unfortunately, too much salt can be fatal.
“Too much sodium makes a person retain water, which
isn’t good,” said Hathorn. “Salt can also be a major
factor in individuals with high blood pressure.”
Hathorn appreciates salt and feels that “it’s
a friend and I use it in moderation.”
Some SHS students do not use salt. Many
know it’s unhealthy, but a few just don’t like the taste
of salt. SHS sophomore Emily Emond is one of those
opposed to salt. “I normally don’t add salt to things,”
she said. “I consider it a foe.”
SHS senior Kamryn Sidney is another stu-
dent who feels that salt is an unnecessary condiment at
the dinner table. “I don’t add salt to things. But if it is
seasoned lightly with salt, I’ll eat it,” said Sidney. “It
is on the dinner table at home for other people in the
family, but I don’t use it. I think it's gross.”
Well, there it is. The ins and outs of sodium
chloride or salt, at one point worth its weight in gold,
but now a major health concern. As spring moves on,
one can imagine another New Year's Resolution: to
consume less salt, sugar, and fatty foods. Maybe pass
up the bacon and go for some bean sprouts that would
better lubricate the body's potassium sodium pump?
n H o r n
 Features
No Child Left Behind
Fixing a Broken System
By Jenny Bradley & Olivia Johnson

I
n 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act into law. With this
new act came the belief that by setting high stan-
dards and academic goals for students, politicians would
improve student performance in American classrooms.
Along with NCLB came a deadline to bring every
American student to academic proficiency by 2014. For
Springfield High School students, only four years until
they are expected to be perfect.
However, many think that NCLB needs its
own plan for rehabilitation. They echo SHS senior Silas
Farrar who said, “It [NCLB] is a broken system."
Barack Obama seeks a restructuring of No
Child Left Behind. After a drought of below-average
test scores and failing schools in the past few years, the
Obama administration wants to create an assessment to
check students on the level of the skills they will need
to be successful in college and beyond.
NCLB, agreed upon by both Democrats and
Republicans, demands high test scores from American
high school students. This act groups students together
with similar expectations on standardized tests.
Obama, rather than focusing on what
students are scoring in areas like math and reading
throughout schools, would like to revise NCLB to check
the academic progress each student is making, regardless
of their original level of proficiency.
Students share Obama's worry about the
value of standardized tests. “I feel that a standardized
test doesn’t accurately measure a person’s capability,"
said senior Emily Mobus. "It measures how well you
can memorize things and then spit them back out on
paper."
There are many factors that are important
in the learning process. A specific, one-time test can- Senior Emily Mobus feels that
not truly measure a student's proficiency. Humans are standardized tests, which are used to
different. They learn in different ways, with different
levels of ability.
evaluate learning in public schools
“I’ve always hated tests and almost always under the No Child Left Behind Act,
do poorly," said junior Max Messier. "I feel like a lot only measure one's ability to memorize
of people are in the same boat as me, which is why it things and spit them back on paper.
seems crazy to judge us on a test."
Senior Kayla Perham agrees with Messier.“I
don’t think it’s a good system," Perham said, "because
everyone’s at different levels and it’s not a good gauge See Behind page 22
to measure people’s ability.”
Although nothing is set in stone and the law
is still being revised by the Obama administration, there

Fighting at SHS
Disturbing, but Declining?
By Jenny Bradley & Olivia Johnson

Senior Derek Graham doesn't believe
that out-of-school suspension is an
effective punishment for fighting.
improved. Esden said, “Compared to my freshman and
sophomore year, the amount of fighting has definitely
decreased.” But he still feels that the disciplinary process
is not effective enough. “We’ve gotten better," he said,
"but there’s still a lot to be improved.”
Most fights end with suspension, which senior
All fights and assaults at SHS are recorded by
school officials. An assault occurs when one person
attacks another in a one-sided violent action with the
victim acting in self-defense. Police are contacted in
the case of an assault, though SHS officials make the
decision about when to notify the authorities.

F
ighting is contagious. It spreads like wildfire. Ev-
eryone loves attention and as much as teenagers
hate to admit it, they love drama too. The second
a fight begins, an audience appears.
Regarding fighting in school, Springfield
High School Co-Principal Bob Thibault said, “If there’s
no audience, there’s no fight." But he added, “We seem
to be having a lot of fights lately."
However, Thibault is convinced that fighting
at SHS has diminished over the long-term. He believes
that the decline of fighting is a result of the improved
atmosphere of the school. “It has a lot to do with the
changing climate of the school," he said.
Senior Jon Esden agrees that things at SHS have
Derek Graham doesn’t believe is an effective punish-
ment. Graham said, “If you get O.S.S [Out-of-School-
Suspension] it’s like getting a week of vacation. You’re
not learning your lesson.”
Being suspended from school affects students
differently. Senior Johannah Boucher agreed that the
current disciplinary methods are not effective. “I don’t
think it has the right effect," she said, "but I do think they
have the right idea behind the punishment."
Senior Paige Parker feels that school fights are
ridiculous and provide no solutions to problems. “I think
that fights aren’t meant to happen in school. They are
definitely not worth being suspended for,” she said.
“And they don't solve anything."
Thibault feels that recent fights at the schol may
have to do with spring fever. As the snow melts and the
temperature rises, no one wants to be cooped up all day.
With everyone anxious, people tend to be more irritable
and therefore more fights break out.
“Everyone goes through cabin fever and you
don’t handle situations in the best way you can,” said
Thibault. “But it’s important to be aware of how we
interact with others.”
Thibault feels that students must work
together to improve school climate. School officials
can punish students and make changes. But, Thibault's
message to students about fighting is clear. "It's your
school," he says.

G r e e n H o r n pg 11
Columns
W
hat do you do when you just can’t take it any-
more? When you’re upset, angry, confused?
What is it that finally calms you down?
Lately, I’ve been provided with ample opportunities to
figure out ways in which to cope with intense emotion.
I used to retreat into music, letting lyrics and beats lull
me back into normality.
Finding Existence
Whales. Sharks.
By Kelsey Christensen & Eliza Pennell
R
emember when you were a little kid how fas-
cinating exotic animals could be? Editions of
Zoobooks were prized reads. Zoboomafoo (the
PBS show with the lemur) was the perfect after-school
television program, and, of course, zoos become the best
destination for family outings. Animal trivia was the best
thing to uplift your mood, and every now and then, you
might recall those bits of trivia and feel somehow in-tune
with your inner child. Well, we still feel that way. We
find that the best thing to enrich your mind and spirit
is a little googling of animal trivia, regardless of age or
interest in science.
Though facts about most animals help pass
the time fairly well, marine animals, like dolphins and
whales (in case you’re wondering, the difference is that
dolphins have teeth, and dolphins are a kind of whale,
while whales are not a kind of dolphin) surpass all
creatures in terms of providing the most unbelievable
information. These are some of the most interesting
specimens we encountered:
1. Blue Whale. The blue whale (Balaenop-
tera musculus) is a record-breaking species of whale.
It is the largest animal ever to have roamed the earth.
pg 12
Accepting Ambiguity
Motion in the Emotion
By Jess Watkins
With the stresses of senior year, college
rejections, and other sources for a less-than-happy self,
I’ve found myself with an insatiable need for motion.
And I must satisfy this need for motion outside. Some-
times being stuck in four walls is too much. Outside,
the world feels open, like I can step into the world and
it can hold me, rather than being in a room and feeling
like I contain it. Inside, I hold the burden, but outside
the world holds the problem. Somehow, I feel like the
outdoors is responsible for me. Maybe it’s because the
world is so big, and a room is so small. Whatever the
reason, outside I feel less trapped. I have the ability to
escape all of the things bothering me, and let the world
take them and disperse them, rather than having them
permeate and overflow in a tiny, contained, indoor
space.
Anyway, when I have an excess of emo-
tion, I am immediately faced with the urgency to be in
motion. It’s fitting. The word motion is even contained
in the word emotion. I need to be on my feet, moving,
running, walking, dancing in the glorious freedom of
the outdoors, rain or shine.
Even their calves rank among the larg-
est animals. A baby blue whale grows
200 pounds each day in their first
year of life. A full grown blue whale
is about three times the length of a
school bus, at 100 feet. Their tongue
alone weighs roughly the weight of
an elephant (consider that African Elephants are among
the largest land creatures.) This whale--at about 80
years--has among the longest life span of any creature
on the planet. And, though their sounds may resemble
dull, pulsating noises, blue whales are among the loud-
est animals, using their decibel aptitude to navigate the
ocean with sonar.
Blue whales are probably the imaginative
image you conjure in your mind when the lookout in
the crow's nest shouts "thar she blows!" They can shoot
water out of their blow holes up to 30 feet, and their
shape fulfills the requisite whale physiognomy. Their
diet consists of massive amounts of krill (tiny shrimp
like fish) which they pack away to the tune of 40 tons
each day.
Blue whales are endangered species, mostly
G r e e
I find a solace, an ability to calm down, an
emptying of everything caught in my head, as I move.
Maybe it’s a feeling of being in control, having the
power to walk away from everything. I can leave it
behind me, if only temporarily.
But I think my feet are getting tired of this
town. They know these streets so well; I don’t even
have to think about where I’m going anymore. They
just know. They’re tired of walking the same paths.
Maybe my thirst for always being on the go stems
from being ready to let go of this town. I’ve lived here
for my entire life, and I’m ready to explore the world.
I’m ready to see new places, try new things, meet new
people. Movement is comforting to me, because I feel
like I’m going somewhere, even if I’m just walking the
same, familiar routes over and over again.
I just find something in the quick steps and
fresh air that is incredibly refreshing. It puts things in
perspective for me, reminding me that the world is so
much bigger than I am, that my problems and worries
are nearly insignificant in the scope of the world. It
reminds me that the world needs help, and I will gladly
threatened by boat collisions and hunters. Occasionally,
an orca whale or a shark will prey on a Blue Whale.
2. Orca Whale. An orca whale (Orcinus
Orca) is more specifically a dolphin; the biggest variety
of dolphin, in fact. While many try to suggest that the
nickname “killer whale” is a misnomer, orcas are vi-
cious predators. When orcas are not swiping a seal off
a block of ice (this tactic should make the recent Sea
World tragedy less surprising) pods of Orca whales work
together to take down larger sea animals.
Orcas travel in pods of up to 25 whales,
though some female orcas travel with just their offspring
their entire life. The whales can be 30 feet long and
weigh six tons.
See Whales page 21
n H o r n

Welcome To...
Rejection
By Melissa Tarbell
D
ear Melissa,
Thank you for your interest in Middlebury Col-
lege. The Admissions Committee has recently
completed its deliberations, and I regret to inform you
that we are not able to offer you admission to next year's
entering class.”
I received this admission decision online on
Saturday, March 27th, early in the morning. For any
studious high school senior this would be a disappoint-
ing statement to read after those long pesky hours of
completing college applications in the previous months.
For me it was especially devastating because just the
night before I had received two more of these sorrowful
college rejection letters.
I decided to apply to eight colleges: Hamil-
ton, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin were
my top choices and Keene, UMass-Amherst, and Paul
Smith’s were my backup schools. Although the top five
schools I applied to are considered to be pretty selective,
I never felt an ounce of doubt that I would get into all
of them. I am ranked in the top 10% of my graduating
class, I play sports, I am artistic, I get straight As, I’ve
never gotten into trouble with either the school or the
law and, I admit, I am somewhat of a teacher’s pet.
Humor
All these attributes gave me reason to believe
L
ast edition I mentioned that it’s possible to main-
tain a public place against zombies, at least tem-
porarily. Now imagine that the building you’ve
chosen isn’t exactly optimal, or maybe the zombies
found a way into the air ducts. You’ll want to get out
pretty soon, which entails picking the sneakiest route and
bypassing as many zombies as possible. When you get
to the parking lot what kind of car will you take?
G r e e n H o r
that I would get accepted to at least most of the colleges
I applied to. When I received acceptances to my backup
schools I kind of overlooked them, never guessing that
I might actually have to rely on them.
Assuming that I would be accepted to every
school, I knew I would have a hard time deciding where
to go. I had three favorites: Hamilton College, Middle-
bury College, and Williams College. I figured if I was
rejected from one or two of the five that would make my
decision easier. Now that I’ve been rejected from three
I feel that the decision really isn’t any easier at all. Now,
with two of my top three schools out of the picture, I
feel forced into one of the remaining ones—if I even get
accepted. As much as it’s hard to decide between five
really great schools, I would take that over my current
situation any day.
My favorite college out of them all was
Hamilton College. I had visited it three times, I have
a Hamilton t-shirt, bag, and pennant, and I absolutely
love Clinton, New York, where it’s located. When I
imagined college life, I pictured myself at Hamilton.
However, since all five schools I applied to are great,
I told myself that if I didn’t get into Hamilton it would
be fine. I would go to Middlebury instead.
When I received a rejection from Hamilton,
Surviving Apocalyptia
Cars, Bikes, and Zombies
By John Forbes
First let me discredit a few crazy notions. A
huge SUV will not protect you from the horrors of the
zombie apocalypse. SUVs and trucks do have something
going for them. Provided they aren’t all that top heavy,
they’ll be able to stand up to a beating from the zombies,
and you’ll be able to push some of the smaller cars right
off the road.
Now imagine driving down a mish-mashed
apocalyptic street. Not really a street so much as a for-
lorn parking lot. Now you’re going to be forced to find
an alternate route, or get out of the car and walk. But
even if this extremely likely scenario doesn’t happen,
you’ll have to make a ton of stops for gas, which means
that the zombies get that many more opportunities to
gnaw on you. Bet that economy coup seems like a great
idea now, huh?
Smaller vehicles trump the others because
they’re usually faster and more fuel efficient than their
larger counterparts. The most efficient vehicle you can
n pg
Columns
though, my hopes went down the drain. I felt that out
of the five schools, Hamilton would be the easiest
to get into, so when I saw that I had been rejected I
automatically knew that the outlook was not good for
the other schools. Sure enough, I also was rejected by
Middlebury and Amherst. I wasn’t so much bummed
that I wasn’t accepted by Hamilton. It was that I saw
it as a foreshadowing of the next week when I would
receive my other admission decisions.
See Welcome page 21
use in the Zombie Apocalypse, however, is a bicycle.
Bikes are silent, faster than a zombie, and don't requite
fuel. If you find yourself in that crowded dead street
riding a bicycle you don’t have to worry, there will be
probably enough room for you.
All of this aside, if you can find some way
around the gas problem there are a number of mobile
behemoths that will make you feel particularly safe,
and they are. The larger varieties of vehicles have the
advantage of being nearly impenetrable and with a lot
of storage space offer more room for supplies, guns, or
people (the non-zombie types).
What it really boils down to, though, is
availability. Therefore, if you are considering anything
that isn’t a bicycle you’ll need to find the keys or learn
how to hotwire.
As with any other advice I’ve given you, just
try and use your best judgment. And remember, zombies
never have the right of way on the highway to hell.
13
Review
I
n 1995 the Black Eyed Peas were formed. At that
point the members of the group were Will.I.Am,
apl.de.ap (both originally in a group called Atbann
Klann) and Taboo. Two albums were released with
this group, Behind the Front (1998) and Bridging the
Gap (2000). In 2003 they released Elephunk, featuring
a more dancy sound and new focalist Stacy “Fergie”
Ferguson. The album was well-received and featured
their first hit single “Where Is Love?” Two years later
they released Monkey Business, which sported two of
their most well-known singles, “My Humps” and “Don’t
Phunk with My Heart.” The album was not as well
regarded critically. Four years passed and then they
released a new single from their upcoming album. The
single was “Boom Boom Pow,” and the album was The
E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies).
Technologese for
the 21st Century
By Kelsey Christensen
F
or many of us, the ubiquity of technology has been
a blessing. No need for going to the library when a
paper is due – there’s Google! Technology seems
to be the ultimate goal in education. And, one would
have to be living in Narnia to miss the triumphant arrival
of the already-beloved Apple iPad, which dominated the
media in late March. However, technology has hastened
a disintegration of the English language.
Even beyond the verbal atrocities of texting
phrases like lol (laugh out loud), brb (be right back), and
omg (Oh, my god), an extreme misunderstanding of the
function of a verb among teens serves as proof of the
disasters of technology.
Thanks to Facebook, the online networking
giant, you often hear people say things like “Guess who
friended me last night?” According to the Merriam-
Webster, friend is a noun that means “one attached to
another by affection or esteem." But, in the Facebok
world, friend is a verb meaning to be able to chat, mes-
sage, and view photos of someone. The word friend
pg 14
The E.N.D.
(Black Eyed Peas; 2009)
By Samuel L. Benton
Since it’s June 3rd release last year The
E.N.D. has been greeted with many negative reviews.
Rolling Stone refers to the songs as dumb, calling the
album “an assault on the senses, and on good taste.” It
would appear that the reviewer, Jody Rosen, never had
good tastes to be assaulted. Ths album is, simply put,
an outstanding piece of work transported into the future,
Terminator-style, landing in speakers wedged in ears all
around the world, and let me tell you, the faces the ears
belong to are grinning, the faces’ bodies are very likely
dancing along to the greatest pop album in years. They
love it. They know how to party.
Designed as a premade dance mix, The
E.N.D. provides nearly non-stop fun for 15 songs,
only missing the beat once (which is impressive as
this album has more beats than you can shake a stick
at) on track 13, “Now Generation,” which attempts to
politically connect the world and only ends up making
the world feel uncomfortable with the knowledge they
are in the Now Generation. Other than that, the songs
are pure gold, supercharged like a fork in a socket, the
first nine songs in particular, each of which sound like
they are single-worthy. In fact, the first five tracks on
the album have been released as singles, all of which
alone can be both someone with whom you communi-
cate via Facebook, or to become communicative with
a person via Facebook, past, present, or future tense. A
reasonable person would realize that they could make
the word friend a verb by simply saying “to befriend.”
But, few realize this. Maybe in the future, befriend will
become archaic and absurd.
For others enchanted by technology, the word
torrent has become a verb. Torrent was once a beautiful
word, which meant a rush of liquid or severe outpouring.
It was not uncommon for people to poetically construct
phrases like “a torrent of emotion” or “a torrent of
abuse.” These metaphors suggested verbal cleverness
and dexterity. However, technology has mangled this
linguistic gem. In the world of technology, a torrent
is a large file compressed to a small size that one can
illegally download, provided someone has offered to
share the file somewhere on the web. This change in
meaning has resulted in technology-obsessed people
saying things like “I torrented a bootleg of Avatar last
G r e e
have received great recognition, each making the top
ten on the Billboard 200 (with the exception of “Rock
That Body,” which has not been released as a single in
the U.S., although it has been a chart topper in the UK
and Australia), and three of them making number one
(“Boom Boom Pow,” I Gotta Feeling,” “Imma Be”). “I
Gotta Feeling” reached number one on almost 20 differ-
ent charts, and is the most downloaded song in iTunes
history (probably to the disapproval of will.i.am, who
dislikes the pick-and-choose approach to iTunes.)
It makes sense that “I Gotta Feeling,” and the
other singles for that matter, are so popular. Everyone
likes a good time, and that’s what the songs are. That’s
what the album is. In the Black Eyed Peas' world, life
is great, there is nothing wrong, they live for the party.
While obviously you shouldn’t craft your life around that
thought, you can take the songs like you welcome a good
party. It’s an “at this time” sort of thing. Listening to “I
Gotta Feeling,” I don’t think that everyday is going to
be great, I don’t think that nothing could ever go wrong
in my life. I just think "hey, tonight's gonna be a good
See E.N.D. page 22
Opinion
night" or “I should torrent that new Black Eyed Peas
album.” What? You should rush-of-liquid a recent album
release?
Facebook has committed even worse crimes
against language. An increasingly-popular feature of
Facebook, called Pages, has diminished adolescent
understanding of a previously-fine noun. Pages allows
you to “become a fan” of pages created by Facebook
users. Sometimes, the Pages' function is promotional.
A page for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland emerged
when the film was released in theatres. However, there
is a page for everything: fried dough, Lady Gaga, Green
Mountain Coffee, trampolines, Angelina Jolie, sleeping,
not being on fire. It may be absurd and superfluous to
express to your Facebook network that you’re a fan of
resting each night,.
Now, though, fan pages are whole sentences.
Here are some recent fan pages that I have observed:
See Technologese page 20
n H o r n

Depressed?
Hollywood’s Got You
Covered
By Sam Hensel-Hunter
W
hile politicians complain about the graphic
depictions of violence and the morbidity of
many films, the 2010 trend has been toward
comedies and family pictures. With Avatar knocked
from its perch in the top 10 at the box office in late
March, the top six spots were taken by light-hearted
fare. At the same time, though, Green Zone and Repo
Men have fought to find a place in the box office top ten
while Shutter Island’s box office run reached an end.
Green Zone’s budget is an estimated 100 million, and it
has yet to break even in box office earnings.
Green Zone’s lack of box office success
mirrors that of the Hurt Locker, both war films whose
promotional material tended toward the grit and grime
of a warzone, something that moviegoers don't want to
see. As people are worried day-to-day about whether
their jobs are safe, how they’ll make ends meet, and what
they need to cut back on, they seem more interested in
spending their money on something that can take them
away from the strain and fear of their day-to-day lives.
Not surprisingly, movies like the Hurt Locker and Green
Zone, which show troops fighting and dying in Iraq and
Afghanistan, have been superseded by Tiger Woods’
love life, balloon boy, and the weekly dose of American
Idol.
Taking us out of the world of the stock
market, healthcare debate, and two ongoing wars this
spring are Alice in Wonderland and How to Train Your
Dragon, Disney and DreamWorks’ dueling 3D, CG,
fantasies. Alice broke the Avatar record for highest
grossing opening for both IMAX and 3D viewings, and
continued to top the box office until being replaced by
How to Train Your Dragon. How to Train Your Dragon
is the result of a $165 million budget, and the combined
creative efforts of the DreamWorks team. But Dragon’s
box office dominance was short-lived as the Clash of
the Titans remake was released Easter weekend and
promptly went to the top of the charts. Clash of the Titans
stars Sam Worthington in another hybrid character role.
He performed in Avatar as a human in an alien world, as
a machine in the human world in Terminator Salvation,
and took a crack at playing a mortal trying to challenge
the gods. Titans, much like How to Train Your Dragon,
offered a magic carpet ride to take the viewer away
Light hearted films involving Titans, from everyday life into a fantasy realm where money is
no priority and their wildest aspirations are possible, a
Dragons, and White Rabbits have foreign concept to many who are still feeling the pain of
dominated movies of war and violence nearly ten percent unemployment rates. 3D and popcorn
this spring. seem to be just what Americans need to fix the economy,
at least in the imagination.
G r e e n H o r n pg
Arts
Literary
Magazine
Seeks
Student
Writing
By Sarah Gray
G
ot art? Well then take the opportunity of hav-
ing it published in the Springfield High School
2009-10 edition of the Collaborative Arts
Technical School (CATS) Art and Literary Magazine.
The CATS Art and Literary Magazine is a publication
of student artwork and writing that students have created
throughout the school year in Arts Academy classes and
regular academic classes.
SHS art teacher Lisa Murray and SHS pho-
tography teacher Catherine Moore create and publish
the magazine with help from a student staff.
The student staff for the 2009-10 Art and
Literary Magazine includes freshmen Shelby Reardon
and Alyssa Cooper, and seniors Britney Andrews, Han-
nah Aldrich, and Alicja Antosiewicz. First-time student
staff member Britney Andrews decided to join the staff
to provide her input in the SHS community and the
Springfield community.
“I like getting involved with my school and
my community,” Andrews said. “I’m also already really
involved in the school’s art program.”
Murray and Moore hope to collect student
artwork and writing from teachers and students through
the end of April in preparation for assembling the
magazine. “I would like to continue to get work from a
variety of classes,” Moore said. “The entries of writing
are slow coming. At this point we could create a whole
book of just visual images.”
“We mostly just need people to submit
things,” Murray said.
The staff hopes to meet sometime shortly
after April vacation to begin arranging and editing the
pages of the magazine. Catherine Moore’s husband, Jeff
Moore, works for Springfield Printing and prints out the
SHS Art and Literary Magazine and also assists Moore
with the layout of the magazine.
This year, Moore is planning to keep the
layout simple with the majority of the book in black
and white, including a colorful, center-page spread of
visual art. Andrews plans to help produce a book that
will be hard to put down. “I want to make it so that when
people start reading it, they’ll want to finish reading it,”
Andrews said.
The staff hopes to have the magazine at the
printers by mid-May and distributed to Springfield High
School students and staff and members of the Springfield
community by the end of May.
15
Sports
Bosox
Punchless but Perky
By Ryan Brady

Senior TJ Wallace believes hitter David
Ortiz needs a bounce-back year to
bolster Red Sox fortunes.
A
s the winter ends and spring begins, it means the
start of another major league baseball season.
For those people living in New England, that
means the start of Red Sox baseball.
There are many questions facing the start of
this season for Red Sox Nation. How will David Ortiz
rebound from two consecutive poor years? Who will
catch most of the Red Sox pitchers, Jason Varitek or Vic-
tor Martinez? But the one question that sits in the mind
of all Red Sox fans is this one: Will the Sox be able to
keep up with the billion-dollar payroll of the defending
World Series Champion New York Yankees.
This past offseason baseball experts expected
the Red Sox to sit back and let their farm system build
up. It was expected that Red Sox officials would con-
cede this year since they couldn’t keep up with the Yan-
kees. But General Manager Theo Epstein was having
none of that defeatist philosophy in the off-season.
In order to keep pace with the Yankees,
Epstein bolstered the Red Sox defense and pitching
staff. He focused more on the amount of runs the Red
Sox give up, rather than the amount they score.
The Sox brought in two-time gold glover
Adrian Beltre to take over for the aging Mike Lowell at
third base, while also signing free agents Mike Cameron
and Marco Scutaro. Cameron will help fill the outfield
void left by departed free agent Jason Bay in center
field, while Jacoby Ellsbury will move to leftfield.
Marco Scutaro will take over at shortstop becoming the
seventh starting shortstop since Nomar Garciparra left
in 2004.
The pitching staff will remain similar to
last year, with the addition of one important arm, John
Lackey. Lackey comes over from the Angels and will
likely start ahead of Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka,
or Clay Buchholz. Those three will have to battle it out
in the early going for the 4th and 5th starting spots, while
Josh Beckett, Lackey, and Jon Lester will represent the
top of pitching staff.
These top three pitchers bring proven playoff
credentials to the table. Three years ago, Jon Lester won
game four of the World Series, the clinching game for
the Red Sox. Four years before Lester won his clinching
game, Josh Beckett did the same, as the winning pitcher
for the Florida Marlins. He was also the World Series
MVP. Just the year before that, John Lackey, as a rookie,
pitched and won game seven of the World Series for the
Anaheim Angels.
“I’m excited for the season,” said sophomore
Red Sox fan Kirk Perham. “They definitely reinforced
their pitching staff. They have six great pitchers, and
that depth will allow more durability over the season.
See Sox page 20

Bronx Bombers
Champs Aren't Chumps
By Ryan Brady

J
ust like New England, New York and the metro-
politan area await the start of the spring, a pleasant
time for Yankees baseball. For the 27th time the
Yankees will be starting their season as defending
world champions.
The Yankees bring back key parts to their
lineup this year. Their entire starting infield will return,
along with the top three pitchers who guided them
through the playoffs. The big change will come in the
outfield, along with the bottom of the rotation and the
bullpen leading up to Mariano Rivera.
“I’d like to see Joba [Chamberlain] as the
set-up man,” said Springfield High School Guidance
Counselor and Yankees fan Kelly Ryan, “and Phil
Hughes as the fifth starter. He’s got five pitches, three
that are quality, and I think that’s better suited to be a
starting pitcher than in a bullpen role.”
Yankee fan favorites Hideki Matsui and
Johnny Damon are gone this season. However, Matsui
wasn’t an everyday player in the outfield and was most
notable last summer as a DH. Damon will be replaced
in left by Brett Gardner and Randy Winn, who came
over from the Giants, while Nick Johnson, a former
Marlin and Nationals player, will take over at designated
hitter.
The big outfield acquisition this offseason
was Curtis Granderson, who will patrol centerfield.
Granderson was part of a three-team deal that saw the
Yankees deal Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, and Ian Ken-
nedy away. Coke and Jackson were sent to the Detroit
Tigers, while Kennedy will now suit up for the Arizona
Diamondbacks. “I wanted to see Phil Coke have a big
role in the rotation this year," said senior Yankee fan
Derek Graham, “but they traded him to get Granderson,
which was a good trade. I just liked Phil Coke.”
They did have to give up notable young Kelly Ryan wants to see Joba
See Yankees page 23 Chamberlain as Yankees set-up man.

pg 16 G r e e n H o r n
 Sports
Track and Field
Running, Jumping, Throwing
By Maria Stern

S
pring has come to Vermont. The sap is running.
And so is the Springfield High School track and
field team.
Practices began for the track and field team
on April 15th indoors. However, soon after this start,
the team was able to take advantage of the early spring
and move outdoors to the track.
The SHS track team has seen an increase in
numbers for both the boys and girls this season. Also,
many competitive veterans returned to the squad. “I like
seeing a lot of freshmen coming out for it [track],” said
SHS junior Nikka Bactad.
“Our first goal is to get the numbers up,”
said Coach Josh Dikeman. About 45 athletes signed up,
and Dikeman hoped to have 30 track participants come
midseason.
The SHS track and field team is returning
all three coaches: Josh Dikeman, Kevin Spaulding,
and Tim Wallace. Dikeman and Wallace are optimistic
about the season. “I’m very pleased seeing the number Division III high jump champion
of freshmen coming out,” said Wallace. “It will help us Michael Pianka listens to Coach Josh
build as years go on. It will give us more depth.”
The team’s goal for the season is to use their
Dikeman, sprints towards the highbar,
numbers for a stronger showing at the Division III State and leaps over the barrier. In mid-
Meet slated for June 5th at Green Mountain Union High April, Pianka broke the state high jump
School. record again with a leap of 6'6''.
“We didn’t place real well at the state meet,”
Dikeman said. “So we’d like to improve on that.”
At the 2009 state meet, the Cosmos girls
finished 8th and the boys finished 11th. The girls are
expected to finish higher simply because of greater
numbers. Only eight girls were on the roster last season.
Veterans Bactad and sophomore Holly Hooke will lead
the girls. In the past, the Cosmos girls have been strong
in the 4x100 meter relay.
“[My goal is] to have a good 4x100 girls
relay team,” said Bactad. She runs the first leg of the
relay race for the team.
In 2008 the girls won the state championship
in the relay. They were poised to win again in 2009.
However, an injury a few meters before the finish line
hurt the team’s chances. In 2010, freshmen Rachel
Schleimer and Shelby Reardon are expected to contrib-
ute in the throws and distance events respectively. Also,
sophomores Helen Bearse and Alaina Orth look strong
in the throws and middle distance.
On the boys’ side, the core of senior captain
Angelo Jardina, senior Eric Bolavong, junior John
Errair, junior Cody Filkins, and junior powerhouse
Michael Pianka will undoubtedly rack up points at the
state meet. Pianka is the state champion in the high
jump, in addition to holding the state Division III and

See Track page 23

G r e e n H o r n pg 17
Sports
Seniors Lead Softball Returns 10 Veterans
the Tennis
Team
By Ryan Brady
T
his year the tennis team begins its 7th season
under coach Kim Lewis, and the girls hope it will
be her best season yet. The team has seven se-
niors all having more than a couple of years experience.
Sophomore Lauren Sanderson, entering her second year,
hopes to fit in among the seniors.
“There’s mostly new people,” said senior
Olivia Johnson. “It’s extreme since the seniors have a
lot of experience and we have many new people who
haven’t played before."
Junior Chelsea Howland, sophomore Liza
Fontaine, sophomores Sam Macie and Daniella Burke,
and freshman Angelina Mei are all new to the team, but
will balance well with the experience that all the seniors
bring to the team.
“Yeah, I’m not very good," said senior Kim
Murray jokingly. “I usually hit a few people during
practice and so far I’ve only hit Nicole [Stewart] once.”
On a more serious note, Kim Lewis is hopeful. “We’ll
do well," she said, "better than last year.”
The team’s practices should allow easy
transitions for all the incoming players. To start, the
players free hit with each other, and then move on to
group-based work. “We work in groups based on our
skill level," said sophomore Lauren Sanderson. “We
work on serving volleys and then we do matches of
Canadian doubles, which is two versus one.”
Olivia Johnson returns a volley during
the Woodstock match.
pg 18
By Ashley Richardson
Ashley Richardson unloads heat on a Bellows Falls batter during a 13-3 victory.
W
ith some snow still on the ground, and the
field still wet, the Springfield High School
softball team began indoor practice to get
ready for their first game, April 5th, scheduled less than
a month after their first practice.
“The first few days of practice inside we
bunted and practiced our throwing techniques,” sopho-
more Kristin Cook said. “But this year we’re really
focusing on being a team, and the teamwork aspect of
the game.”
During the first week of practice, the team
practiced as an entire squad, both varsity and junior
varsity teams, and worked on the basic fundamentals
of the game.
“My first week of practice went well. I
adjusted to it fast,” freshman Jill Rushton said. “I have
been excited for the high school level because of the
faster pitching, and I’ve always kind of grown up around
softball so I’m excited to be challenged for the next four
years.”
Head coach Andy Bladyka and assistant
coach Mike Langdon returned to the squad this year,
and welcomed former SHS softball star pitcher Amanda
Osborne to the team. Osborne took the place of Ron
Young as head junior varsity coach.
“The coaches are very encouraging and en-
ergetic, and I have developed a pretty good relationship
with them,” Rushton said. “This has helped me be more
comfortable about playing at the high school level.”
On the first day of practice, the main focus of
the two-and-a-half hour practice was conditioning and
throwing techniques, as well as about an hour of pop-ups
and grounders. The pitching machine was not brought
out on the first day. But the team practiced bunting, as
well as sprinting to bases and playing various games,
in addition to practicing relays.
G r e e
“The first week of practice we worked a lot
on conditioning and throwing,” senior Paige Parker said.
“It prepares us as a team to make better, stronger, and
more accurate throws. Conditioning also helps us get
in shape and be quick runners.”
For the first time in SHS history, the Cosmos
softball team practiced outside on their field on their
third day of try-outs. The field was freshly packed with
new clay in the fall, and was dry enough both on the
clay, and in the field, for a full field practice. The Cosmos
remained outside for the rest of the tryout week.
“We’re making history as a team, being out
on the field this early in the season,” senior Erin Graham
said. “We’re really working on being a team, and having
no fear on the field.”
However, only 21 girls came out for the team
this year, making it a challenge to split the team into
varsity and junior varsity teams. Only two freshmen,
Jill Rushton and Bre Congdon, out of the five 8th grade
students who played last year, came to tryouts. And only
four seniors, Erin Graham, Meredith Ward, Paige Parker,
and Ashley Richardson, will lead the team this year.
“Having such a small team will be a bit more
challenging this year to make two teams,” junior Jessie
Haskell said. “But we didn’t lose that many seniors
last year, and we have a lot of experience as a team this
year.”
Although the team only has four seniors, and
few underclassmen, the talent on the team should win
the squad many games. Ten varsity players from the
2009 team returned this year to lead the 2010 squad.
“This year we’re hoping to beat a lot of the
Division I teams and end the season with a winning
record,” junior Sarah Vredenburgh said. “We’re also
hoping to make it past the first round of playoffs.”
n H o r n
 Sports
Athletic Director Mike Hatt Will Coach
Brattleboro Football Team Next Autumn
M
ike Hatt graduated from Springfield High
School in 1978. Hatt coached football and
served as SHS Athletic Director for 15 years.
He will continue to cheer on the Cosmos, but not from
the sidelines as head Cosmos coach. After coaching
the team to two straight football championship game
appearances, Hatt will move on. In a Green Horn Live
interview, Hatt spoke of his transfer to Brattleboro.
“I want nothing but the best for Springfield,”
Hatt said. “I think the things that I certainly will carry
with me, because of most recent events, are the four
championships we’ve had in dance, football, boys
basketball, and boys soccer. It was our first-ever boys
soccer championship, first-ever championship in dance,
first championship in football in 60 years, and the first
championship in over 40 years for basketball.”
Hatt will leave his Athletic Director posi-
tion at Springfield High School, and become the head
football coach at Division I Brattleboro Union High
School next year.
“I’m obviously very excited to go to Brattle-
boro, or I wouldn’t have taken the position,” Hatt said.
“The program at Brattleboro needs a lot of work, as we
know. Last year we scrimmaged them and did a pretty
good job against them. For a Division III school to take
it to a Division I school like that, it proves that they have
a lot of work to do.”
Hatt was part of two championships in the
2008-2009 school year, in both football and basketball.
Hatt was head basketball coach for a few years while his
two sons were a part of the team, but decided to focus
just on football in 2004. In the 2009 basketball season,
however, Hatt came back to help head basketball coach
Pete Peck lead his team to victory. And they did just that,
beating Vergennes for the Division II boys basketball
championship 59-31, last March.
“There’s been a lot of victories lately, and a
lot of league championships,” Hatt said. “A lot of our
kids, men and women, have done great jobs as far as
statewide and in New England, and some have even
received national recognition. I’m just happy for the
resources we’ve had, and that we were able to be so
successful.”
Part of the success of Springfield athletics’
involves the support of the fans. The football team espe-
cially drew large crowds to Brown Field, and everyone
supported Hatt and his team, even when they had an 0-9
season in 2006. The support from the community has
shaped Cosmos athletics, and brought success to the
town.
“I’m very proud of our Springfield athletic
community,” Hatt said. “I look forward to seeing what
the athletic community is like down in Brattleboro. As
the Cosmos traveled around the state, we realized that
we travel just as good as anybody, and our fans and the
people involved in our community and athletics are as
good as anybody in the state.”
G r e e n H o r
By Ashley Richardson
Mike Hatt has served as SHS Athletic
Director for 15 years. Next autumn
he will teach drivers ed at Brattleboro
Union High School and coach the
Brattleboro football team.
Hatt has been a part of the Springfield school
district for 15 years, and decided that it’s time to move
on, and get back to something he enjoys doing: coaching
football and teaching.
“This is just a new chapter in my educational
career,” Hatt said. “I spent 15 years here at SHS. There
were a lot of challenges early, but a lot of success late.
There were also a lot of memories. Obviously the things
that I look forward to in Brattleboro are some of the
things I’ve already had here: establishing relationships
with players, parents, and coaches. And so I’m just
looking to do more of the same.”
The relationship between Coach Hatt and
students at SHS is something few coaches will experi-
ence in their careers. Not only does Hatt have strong
personal relationships with his players, but he also has
established relationships with students, teachers, and
citizens in the Springfield community.
“Before I even got to the high school I was
excited about playing for Coach Hatt,” senior football
player Bennett Chevalier said. “We had a big football
class, and we started doing the spring football practices
n pg
on Brown Field, and I remember we were all really
excited to be part of the rebuilding of Cosmos football.
And pretty soon, the program turned from an 0-9 season
to an 11-0 perfect state championship season. I’m so
appreciative that Coach Hatt stayed around for all four
years of our football. I’m sad to see him go. But I thank
him for the good times, and wish him nothing but luck
at Brattleboro.”
In early 2010 Hatt decided to resign from his
position as head football coach at SHS. And, after the
opportunity to go to Brattleboro presented itself, Hatt
also resigned from being the SHS Athletic Director.
“Going to Brattleboro is a win-win for me,”
Hatt said. “I obviously like what I’m doing here. I got
into drivers education in 2001, and I really liked that.
I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get back into
that, and the opportunity presented itself after I resigned
from football here.”
Brattleboro High School, located near the
Massachusetts border, hasn’t been in the football play-
offs since 2006, and their last state championship was
in 1973. Brattleboro Union High School is much larger
than SHS, so Hatt will have no trouble finding suitable
players for his team.
“There’s no shortage of athletes down at
Brattleboro,” Hatt said. “They just had a $50 million
renovation. We played down there this fall and their
facility is excellent. I also like the fact that the football
field is 30 seconds from my office down there, so I
don’t have to travel three miles across town to the field
anymore.”
Last year, the Brattleboro Colonels football
team went 2-7 on the season, and didn’t make the
Division I playoffs. But Hatt, who had wanted to get
back into just teaching and coaching, is excited to be
dropping the athletic director’s position to move on and
teach again.
“I’ve been thinking about getting out of the
athletic director's business for a while now,” Hatt said.
“It’s just a lot of time, and where I’m at with my life now,
my wife and I just want a lot more free time. So, I got
in the business to coach and teach again, and I’m going
to do that and drop the athletic director position.”
While the Springfield community certainly
wishes the best for Hatt in his transfer to Brattleboro,
he will be missed by many, as a coach, athletic director,
and teacher.
“Coach Hatt has been a big part of SHS
athletics for a long time,” junior soccer and softball
player Sarah Vredenburgh said. “He's been a coach
and a mentor for many kids in our school. Coach Hatt
took an 0-9 football team to a state championship and
undefeated season a few years later. Events like that
brought our school and community together. It'll be
hard to replace him because he was really committed
See Hatt page 22
19

Blossom from page 4
annual Apple Blossom Cotillion. Nineteen girls took
the opportunity to join this venerable tradition to raise
money for the Springfield Hospital Auxiliary. Money
raised by the event will be used for college scholarships
for students interested in pursuing in the health care
career.
Since January, the senior girl contestants and
their escorts have spent two hours every Sunday rehears-
ing for the event. “Apple Blossom is just something you
do when you are a senior,” participant Melissa Tarbell
said. “I’ve wanted to do it for a while. It’s the last chance
you get to spend with [some of] your senior class.”
This year's theme for the cotillion is Sum-
mer Daze. Participants will be performing to summer-
themed songs from High School Musical, Grease, and
other popular films that depict teen culture. “I’m really
Technologese from page 14
“When I was a kid, I used to race raindrops on car win-
dows,” “I never want to leave my bed in the morning,”
and “No matter how far we’re seated in class, we’ll still
talk.”
In the real world, you can’t be a fan of no
matter how far we’re seated in class we’ll still talk.
You could maybe be a fan of talking when seated far
away, because the whole phrase becomes a noun. In
Facebook-land, it’s too much trouble to make a fan page
noun-like.
It’s a frightening vision when one contem-
plates the impact of technology on the development
of the English language. Some people walk around
professing their fanhood for I hate waking up in the
morning, and discussing who they recently friended.
We should consider the power we surrender when our
speech is diminished. Remember Newspeak in George
Orwell's 1984. The technology pit, regarding the cor-
ruption of language, is dark and deep. No one who has
ever appreciated parts of speech or word-smithing can
fathom where the bottom lies.
Sox from page 16
Maybe we’ll even see a six-man rotation.”
Their deep starting rotation will be aug-
mented by an experienced bullpen. Over the past few
years the strength of the pitching staff has been their
bullpen and its ability to bail out the starters. This year’s
bullpen offers no new names as Jonathan Papelbon, and
Hideki Okajima will again anchor the bullpen that will
also feature Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, Daniel
Bard, and Michael Bowden.
The one question that remains about the Red
Sox lineup this year involves the offense. It’s clear that
there are good hitters on the team. But the lineup isn’t
as frightening as it has been in the past.
“It should be real tough for teams to get
going against us,” said senior Matt Mitchell referring
to the Red Sox. “And we have a good shot of getting a
bigger bat later in the season so we can go deep in the
playoffs.”
The Sox certainly have had recent playoff
successes winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007.
But they won those titles with power lineups. Every
hitter in the ’04 lineup was a deep threat, and in ’07 the
pg 20
excited to do some of the songs,” senior Jenny Bradley
said. “I’m excited to start rehearsing the girls’ solo
piece “Summer of ‘69” and “Summer Nights” from [the
movie] Grease.”
For the 10th consecutive year, Springfield
Hospital Foundation Director Larry Kraft will be the
master of ceremonies for the show. Co-directors and
choreographers Pam Church and Carrie Jewell will
devote their talents and creativity in their 6th cotillion
to bring summer to life.
“The group of seniors this year has been very
positive,” director assistant and former Apple Blossom
participant Nicole Snide said. “They are moving along
very fast and we find ourselves very pleased with the
progress. They seem to be picking up the dances very
quickly and are very attentive.”
Out of the 19 girls, one will join the select
group of Apple Blossom Queens. The queen candidates
are interviewed by a panel of judges and evaluated on
Math from page 7
secondary school level,” said Kost. “We also wanted
a way to acknowledge and reward those students who
excel in this area.”
However, Esty has a theory that the test
began as a way to get the US involved more in the "race
for space” waged against communist Russia. This test
began around the time of the Cold War, so Esty guesses
“this was an outcrop [of the Cold War] to recognize math
and get ahead of the Russians.”
Either way, the test has definitely been suc-
cessful in promoting math and recognizing students who
excel in math. “I have been involved with the contest
for 36 years and it is one of my favorite activities,” said
Kost. “It's a lot of work. But from what I hear, well worth
the effort.”
The exam, which consists of 41 questions
involving “the traditional subjects of algebra, geometry
and trigonometry as well as probability, combinatorics
and problems involving reasoning skills,” according to
Kost, was to be completed in an allotted time of two
hours. The number 41 was chosen because “it is a prime
number,” said Kost, “and it was easier to have the same
lineup was more balanced with the three, four and five
spots displaying plenty of power. Those lineups also
possessed great contact hitters and speed at the top.
The common theme in both of those line-ups
involved David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in the three
and four spots. Ramirez is long gone to L.A. and his
replacement, Jason Bay, is playing in Queens for the
Mets. David Ortiz has only been a shadow of his former
self the past two years.
“David Ortiz definitely needs a bounce-back
season if the Red Sox want more power to their lineup,”
said senior TJ Wallace. “There’s no doubt that Youkilis
and Pedroia, and Martinez are great hitters. But they’re
different hitters than Ortiz and Ramirez were.”
Ortiz and Ramirez were feared by oppo-
nents. At any point, they could completely change the
momentum of the game with a homerun. Current Red
Sox hitters hit their share of homers, but they aren’t
considered power hitters. Power hitters may not get
on base as much as the likes of the Ichiros, Jeters, and
Pedroias, but they bring that game-changing swing to
the game.
The Red Sox lack the power they’ve had
G r e e
their poise and appearance in the shows, which will
culminate in the crowning of the queen.
“It’s like a beauty pageant,” Tarbell said.
“You get judged by your qualities and you get to dress
up while the judges pick somebody to be a role model
for younger kids.” Along with the queen, four other
contestants will be chosen for the court. Other awards,
including Director’s Choice, and Mr. and Ms. Conge-
niality will also be given to participants.
The lights will dim and the summer heat
wave will roll inside Riverside Gymnasium as the shows
begin on Friday, April 30th, at 7:30 pm. The crowning
of the queen and her court will be announced at the last
show, Saturday, May 1st.
“I decided to do Apple Blossom because I
thought it would be really fun,” Bradley concluded. “It’s
the last senior thing you get to do. It’s two hours every
Sunday that you are forced to be with your class. It’s
something you usually wouldn’t do.”
number of questions each year because of the difficulty
of type-setting in the earlier days of the contest.”
Although Springfield High School students
have done well in the past, having overall and regional
winners, only 10 students took the test this year.
To see how hard the test is, Esty said that
SHS math teachers take the exam themselves. “We have
an informal contest going on in the math department,”
she said.
For those students who do well, they have
a chance to be one of eight statewide or ten regional
winners. These winners receive a modest amount of
prize money as well as recognition for their outstanding
skills in mathematics. An awards ceremony is held in
early May on the UVM campus for winning students,
parents, and teachers.
However, no regional winners were found
among SHS students when scores were evaluated.
However, the Best in School award will be given at the
end-of-year assembly at SHS when most individual
awards are given out. Until then, the identity of the top
mathematics student at the high school will remain a
secret to the general public.
before. But they should have a potent lineup. Starting
at the top they’ve got Jacoby Ellsbury, who posted a .301
average last year, while also setting a Red Sox record
with 70 steals. Next will most likely be Dustin Pedroia,
the 2008 American league MVP. Following him will
be first basemen Kevin Youkilis, who may flip-flop
with the number four hitter. Fourth will be catcher/first
baseman/designated hitter Victor Martinez. Matinez is
widely regarded as one of the best-hitting catchers in
the game. Batting fifth will be long-time DH Ortiz. He
will be followed by new acquisition Adrian Beltre in
the sixth spot. Beltre has regularly hit over 25 homers
per year. However, he hit only eight last year, due to
injuries. J.D. Drew, who had his best season in a Sox
uniform last season hitting 24 home runs, will hit 7th.
Eight and nine will be filled by Mike Cameron and
Marco Scutaro, the new free agent acquisitions.
The Red Sox batting lineup may not be
as power-packed as in previous years. But they are
certainly in the running for the American League East
title and may take another trip to the World Series with
their deep rotation, bullpen, and defense.
n H o r n
Whales from page 12
3. Hammerhead Shark. Sharks are actually
a type of fish. Their streamlined skeleton is made up
completely of cartilage. Shark fossils, believe it or not,
date back to times before dinosaurs existed. One shark,
the hammerhead, is a particularly interesting specimen.
Of course, you have seen pictures of these strange-look-
ing creatures, with their wide, hammer-shaped faces
and wide-set eyes. Their unique eyes give them a larger
visual range than most fish, making it easier for them to
find food. Another sensory organ helps them find their
prey. Ampullae of Lorenzini are organs that detect
electrical fields created by other marine animals. Their
favorite dish is stingray, which they can pin against the
Bubble from page 24
to understand why anyone would do that. We do now.
And you will too when you’re a senior. Luckily, we’re
smarter than that. We’ll continue to write our columns
and articles, do our physics homework, and try to un-
derstand what poetry means (most likely failing). But
in our minds, while we’re pretending to understand the
content of what we’re being taught, June 19th will be
flashing neon as we approach the finish line.
Oops, we probably shouldn’t have told you
that. But as you can see, we’ve kind of let ourselves go.
But that’s cool because we’re leaving anyway. You re-
ally need to understand how delicate we are as seniors,
and how much effort it literally takes from us to come
to high school every morning. Still. OKAY? Okay.
Upward from page 9
Upward Bound can allow students to get
ahead in their classwork and prepare for college. Par-
ticipants acknowledge these advantages to the program.
“You won’t know everyone there. You will join clubs.
You’ll live with people you don’t know, and it will be
filled with different people,” concluded Blake. “That’s
what college and life is all about. UB just brings it
closer.”
Theater from page 1
for a downtown marketing initiative [called] Operation
Jump Start,” said Springfield On the Move member
Carol Lighthall.
“The select board is simply just approving
the grant funding,” said select board member John
Swanson. When approved, the project will be granted a
permit. “There are various service organizations worried
about it that are trying to get things going,” Swanson
said.
Once reconstructed, the Springfield Theater
will boast three screens, an increase from the two found
in the Ellis Theater that burned in 2008. Three major
film distribution companies will each have a screen. One
theater will have stadium seating. “We hope to have
some type of digital projection,” said Morlock. Nine,
two-to-three room apartments will also be added, which
will be an improvement over the previous boarding
house arrangement in the Ellis Block.
A work crew from the Southeast State Cor-
rectional Facility began clearing rubble in late February
in preparation for construction to begin this April. The
revitalized theater is projected to open for the beginning
of 2011.
“We’re hoping construction will be com-
pleted by the end of this year,” said Morlock.
G r e e n H o r
ocean floor with their strange, wide heads.
4. Humpback Whale. Humpback whales are
famous for their songs. They are the musical artists of
the ocean and their songs carry great distances. They
use these magical songs to communicate with each
other. The guys, in fact, sing to the lady whales they
want to mate with. Their sound is soothing, voluptuous,
and simple. They're also graceful in movement, often
breaching high above the surface of the water, twirling
and spinning before slapping the water on their way
down. This characteristic may illustrate their playful-
ness, or may be a useful tool in removing parasites from
their skin.
Humpback whales are about the size of a
Marijuana from page 9
spends about $8.26 million dollars trying to get marijua-
na off the streets. However, many teenagers and adults
still use marijuana as a getaway drug, and continue to
rebel against the enforcement of marijuana-use laws.
“The amount of money that the U.S. gov-
ernment spends on trying to stop people from smoking
marijuana is ridiculous," said senior Jon Esden, who
opposes the legalization of marijuana. “The system
obviously isn’t working. The money could be spent
towards schools, roads, or public transportation.”
In 2009, both Massachusetts and California
passed bills to regulate the commercial production and
distribution of marijuana, while imposing tax revenue on
retail sales. According to a January 2009 Mason-Dixon
poll, 63 percent of Vermont voters support “a change in
the law to provide for a $100 civil fine without jail time
for those who possess an ounce or less of marijuana for
personal use.” With this rate, could marijuana freely be
used in Vermont in the next few years?
“Whether it is behind the wheel of a car or
someplace else, one situation can lead to another crime,“
Anderson concludes. “Anyone’s life is in danger when
you are under the influence. I don‘t think it will hurt for
the government to evaluate more [about marijuana]. It
would be a better way to do business.”
“I’m hoping they maintain the historical
integrity of the building,” Swanson added.
Springfield On the Move is hopeful about
the construction. “I think that the theatre will add to
the energy of downtown,” said Lighthall. “I'm hopeful
that we can work with the theatre owner/operator to tie
in promotions and other connections to our downtown
businesses.”
The theater will also provide an activity for
teens. It will become a vital part of the community. “The
theater was, and will again be, part of the heart of the
community,” said Executive Director of the Springfield
Regional Development Corporation Bob Flint. “It's a
social hub as well as a primary source of entertainment
for the region.”
Like many teens in town, Springfield High
School senior Kayla Perham compensates for Spring-
field’s lack of a movie theater by going to Claremont.
“It bothers me because there’s nothing to do in our town
anyway,” she said. Although she likes making the trip
to Claremont, the longer drive has made going to the
movies an infrequent luxury.
SHS senior Paige Parker thinks going to the
movies now is “not as big a deal as in middle school.” look forward to getting it back,” he concluded, “that’s
“Everything is interrelated. To maintain and
n pg
school bus. Considering this, you might assume they
eat other large creatures. They don't. They eat small
fish, krill, and plankton. They find their meals, for the
most part, near coastlines around the globe's poles. In
the summertime, this is where they make their general
home. For the rest of the year, they stay closer to the
equator. These warmer, equatorial waters allow them to
breed. Pregnancies in humpback whales last close to a
year, and the bond between mother and calf lasts much
longer. Calves are nursed for a year, but mother and calf
stick together for at least a year after a calf is weaned.
Humpback whales are considered an endangered spe-
cies, a tragic fact considering a world without the song
of the humpbacks.
Welcome from page 13
The last month or so I have been unsure of
my plans. One day I want to go off to college, live in
a dorm, study German, and go abroad. The next day I
want to stay at home, work, take classes, and do my
craft fairs. It’s when I got rejected that I knew what it
was I really wanted. I knew I wanted to go to college;
it is the experience that I want. I can get my education
anywhere, but I want to go off to college, play college
level sports, meet people from across the country, and
just have the overall college experience.
The whole college application process se-
nior year is a pain in the butt. I got stressed getting the
applications all together on time, then I stressed about
having to wait so long to find out my answers. I stressed
about where I’m going to go, but then told myself to
wait for the decisions before I start stressing out. Then
the decisions came and I could officially stress out all
over again.
Since I was rejected from three schools, I
have been looking into my backup schools. Now that
I’ve accepted that I may be going to one of those schools,
I don’t know what I’ll choose if I do get accepted to
the last two colleges I haven’t heard from. But as I told
myself to do before, I’m not going to stress out until I
know what all of my options are.
grow our economic base, we need a strong infrastructure
not only of physical pieces, like roads and water [and]
sewer, but of culture,” said Lighthall. “The theater is
a vital part in making this a healthy vibrant commu-
nity.”
SHS junior Ryan Gottschalk works at the 802
music venue on Main Street, just a few doors away from
the Ellis Block. “Even if we still had the movie theater,
I think business would be okay at 802,” he said.
"I don't necessarily know that it's because
there's no movie theater,” VideoStop worker Michelle
Lachapelle, "but we have been busier the past few
months.”
“Any time an event or activity increases foot
traffic in our downtown, we have the opportunity to offer
additional services,” added Lighthall. “For our down-
town businesses, this can mean additional sales.”
Morlock has set up a Facebook page for the
Springfield Theater Reconstruction to keep the public
informed about the progress being made. “I think people
will like the end product,” he said.
But it may be Swanson who best summed
up the opinion of the entire Springfield community. “I
for sure.”
21
E.N.D. from page 14
night” (which they chant throughout the entire song).
Nothing else matters. You’re living in the moment and
the moment’s good.
“I Gotta Feeling” is a great little diddy, but
it is not quite as well-crafted as songs like “Imma Be,”
which begins relatively slow (as slow as this album ever
gets. It’s turtle-ish. If the turtle is on rollerskates.) and
picks up to the point where techno-inspiration shows
and the term electropop seems more fitting than ever
for the album.
Perhaps the true gem on the album (they fit
together so well it’s hard to pick) is “Rock That Body,”
its meaning clearly stated in the name. It sports some of
Behind from page 11
are parts of the old NCLB Act that SHS Co-Principal
Bob Thibault favors. “I originally didn’t like NCLB,"
he said. "However, there are some things in it that are
good. I think it's important for us to be held accountable.
Just because NCLB hasn't been working, doesn't mean
we stop. We just need to find a better way."
Perhaps other state assessment could help us.
In Massachusetts, for example, high school students are
required to pass a standardized test, the MCAS, similar
to the Vermont NECAPs. Unlike the NECAPs, which
students often don’t take seriously, the MCAS are con-
Hatt from page 19
and he was always looking out for his players, and SHS
students, best interests.”
When Hatt decided in early 2010 to resign
from coaching football at SHS, coach Jack Cohun from
Bellows Falls Union High School took over his position
very quickly, and was well-prepared for the job. Now
that the coaching position is filled, SHS will focus on
finding a new athletic director.
NEASC from page 4
anything. Both Kendall and Aberle are confident that
SHS will get the accreditation it needs.
However, a visiting committee member did
not accompany some students who were supposed to be
shadowed to class. One of these students, freshman Jill
Rushton, felt that the NEASC committee should have
shadowed more students so they could understand the
school community more.
“I was supposed to be shadowed but the
committee member only sat in on one class and didn’t
ask me any questions,” said Aberle. “I didn’t see any
committee members in my other classes either.”
Aberle agrees that the visiting committee
may not have been able to get a true perception of the
school from a student's view with such minimal shadow-
ing.
Thibault said that the visiting committee cre-
ated their own schedule for their visit. However, when
there were available members to shadow students, he
tried to pair them with a student.
Another large part of the NEASC evaluation
involved teacher observation and interviews. Most
teachers at SHS were interviewed by a NEASC com-
mittee member or had one sit in on their class when they
accompanied a student.
pg 22
the best lyrics on the album, such as “you could be the
model type, skinny with no appetite,” and probably is
the best-crafted of all the songs on the album (although
my personal favorite is “Meet Me Halfway.”) I’m going
to be honest. I don’t know much about the mechanics
of electropop. I know when it sounds good, but I have
trouble pointing out sounds so forgive me for the next
sentence: “Rock That Body” is the most futuristic of
the songs, filled with slaps, claps, sonics of all types,
tweaked voices (Fergie is essentially chimpmunked)
filtered with autotune, all on top of a grooving beat that,
when you crank up the decibels, can rock your body and
become one with your heartbeat.
My favorite, “Meet Me Halfway” (which
sidered high stakes. In other words, until students pass
the MCAS, they cannot graduate from high school. you planning any more activities?
With so much depending on one’s future
students are forced to take the MCAS seriously. When
they work well on the MCAS, students are rewarded. with new activities, but we did very well planning and
“It’s hard to take the NECAPs seriously
when we never see the results. Therefore, we are never
rewarded for what we do,” said senior Erin Graham. “I
hope that the new act changes this situation. Otherwise,
why should we take something seriously that has no
effect on us?”
“There have been preliminary discussions
with Mr. Thibault about the athletic director’s position,”
Hatt said. “We’ve had some RIFs [Reduction-in-Force
notices] in the physical education department, but I think
probably half my job, the physical education part, will
probably go to a physical education teacher. Nothing
is set in stone. They’ll do what they need to do, but I
think right now they are looking at the athletic director’s
position as a half-time position with benefits. Hopefully
we’ll be able to find someone to do a good job.”
SHS science teacher Belinda Hathorn, who
was part of the School Resources for Learning self-study
faculty committee, was interviewed by a NEASC visit-
ing committee member and had someone observe her
class.
“I didn’t mind [having someone sit in on my
class],” said Hathorn. “We did our normal stuff and
didn’t put on a show. We are what we are.”
Hathorn also said that she very much enjoyed
having the NEASC member interview her individually.
Hathorn said, “It was really nice to be able to take the
time out and talk about the students' work. Usually
we’re too busy.”
Hathorn thinks overall that the experience of
having the NEASC Visiting Committee come to SHS
was a positive one. “I think that they saw the good things
and they saw what we need to work on,” she said.
The one setback that SHS faced during the
visit was the all-school lockdown, due to administrative
concern about school security, which took place on
Wednesday, March 24th, the last day of the committee
visit.
“The major low of the visit was probably the
lockdown on Wednesday,” said Thibault. “Even though
they [the NEASC committee] were sitting in a closed
room writing their reports, no one enjoys being locked
G r e e
made it to number 7 in the U.S.) is comprised of verses
provided by each of the three males of the group, with
a synth-heavy chorus provided by Fergie, singing in a
style based off one of her idols, Madonna.
The E.N.D. is without a doubt one of the
best albums of the New Millennium, one of the most
defining of the New Millennium and even future genera-
tions, and--yes I’ll say it--one of the best pop albums
ever released. I cast a disapproving glance upon those
who claim this album to be a dud (er-hum… Rolling
Stone) and I fully intend to party with those who realize
it’s wonderocity. In spirit at least. The closest I get to
partying is listening to The E.N.D.
Interview from page 2
Overall, how did student council do this year? Are
Student council did amazing this year. The first year
is always the hardest when you’re trying to come up
organizing new events. We’re not planning any more
large activities this year, but we will do another student
recognition for the spring sports teams. Hopefully the
years to come will be even better, so we’re hoping
everyone will continue to get into the school spirit, and
make our team more united and proud.
Mike Hatt has touched many lives during
his time at SHS. He has changed Cosmos football and
basketball. “In my four years at Springfield high school,
Coach Hatt served as my coach, teacher, and mentor,”
SHS graduate Grant White, who is currently at Kimball
Union Academy to prepare to enter Bowdoin College
and play football and basketball, said. “He has done
so much for the entire Springfield community over the
years. He’s an excellent coach and individual. He will
be missed greatly in Springfield.”
in a room for over an hour.” While some students and
teachers contemplated the timing of the lockdown and
worried if the lockdown was an act perpetrated for the
committee, or if the safety scare would threaten the
chances of Springfield being re-accredited, Thibault
assures that neither of those situations were the case.
The NEASC group ended their stay at SHS
with a general faculty meeting on Wednesday, March
24th, after school. At this meeting the committee Chair-
man Warren Galway dropped rhymes like Run DMC to
vocalize his opinion of the school.
“The last meeting was very positive,” said
Hathorn. “I think they saw the goods things here but
we also have things to work on, like all schools do.”
Thibault added that the full and public report from
the NEASC Accreditation team will come later in the
spring. It will include commendation about the school
and recommendations that school officials must follow
to be re-accredited.
“The main thing people need remember
is that we are accredited. This process is just to get
re-accredited,” concluded Thibault. “They will tell us
things that we need to work on. It won’t just be a yes
or no answer. At this point, I think we will probably
get re-accredited.”
n H o r n
Yankees from page 16
relievers to get Granderson. However, this is just the
way the Yankees have always preferred their lineups.
They often choose offense over defense. Last year,
though, they proved the importance of pitching when
they brought in two top-of-the-rotation starters, C.C.
Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.
The top of the rotation will, for this reason,
remain strong, assuming that Burnett doesn’t suffer
with injuries, something that has plagued him his entire
career. The rotation will also need another big year out
of the 38-year old Andy Pettite. “A lot of the rotation
comes down to Andy Pettite," said Ryan. “People expect
him to do well, but he’s getting up in age so he’s not a
sure thing”
Former Yankee Javier Vazquez has now
Clark from page 5
very interesting,” said SHS sophomore Samir Mann.
“I found it inspiring.”
This was free for students because the Ster-
ling and Francine Clark Institute, as well as the Williams
College Art Museum, will pay for the buses and admis-
sion. “It is really incredible that these two museums are
willing to do this,” said SHS Art teacher Lisa Murray,
who organized the trip. “Both of these museums offer
a generous stipend for students to come and view these
great works. Our students are so well-behaved that
they’ve invited us back again. And we already went in
December.”
Williamstown provides a home for Williams
College, a prestigious Ivy League Institution. The arts
museum was equally impressive.
“My favorite part was definitely the modern
museum,” said SHS sophomore Eibhilin Whittemore.
“The Moby Dick fabric sculpture was really cool.”
Whittemore, however, would have liked to touch this
unique sculpture,but due to its texture and size this was
not allowed. Roldan also had a favorite sculpture. “I
really liked the Degas sculptures of the ballerinas, and
the potraits in the Clark,” said Roldan. The sculptured
ballerina was dressed in a tulle skirt and ribbon. concluded Watkins. “I’ve learned to increase my capac-
Abstinence from page 8
care,” said King. “People will just give in to impulse
and end up having sex.”
“I don’t think you can control anything,” said
Chevalier. “I don’t think you can keep kids from doing
anything. I think that it is important to keep kids from
getting STDs and becoming pregnant. Kids are going
to do what kids do, and if they’re going to have sex we
have to at least show them how to keep from getting an
STD or becoming pregnant.”
SkillsUSA from page 5
“I enjoyed getting to compete in something
that I’m learning how to do,” Chevalier said. “Also the
competitive aspect is fun.”
Vermont Adult Learning junior and Manu-
facturing and Engineering student John Wyatt also
enjoyed the competition. “The day of competing was
quite a bit of fun,” Wyatt said.
Manufacturing and Engineering teacher
Chris Gray, who is also the co-advisor for the RVTC
chapter of SkillsUSA along with Carpentry teacher Erin
Hunter, was proud of his students and their achieve-
G r e e n H o r
returned to strengthen the rotation. Joe Giradi is hoping
that Vazquez will have a season closer to his previous
two seasons in the National League rather than his last
season in a pinstripe uniform when he struggled. Sab-
bathia is a sure thing, and will continue to put up Cy
Young numbers, probably in the realm of 200 strike-
outs, and an ERA around 3.00, with well over 200
innings logged.
The pitching staff aside, the Yankees of-
fense should be just as potent as it was last year. A few
changes will be made, most notably with Robinson
Cano in the five spot. At the beginning of his career
Cano hit behind Jeter in the second spot. Last year Joe
Girardi experimented with Cano in the five spot, but he
had difficulty with runners in scoring position. Girardi
now has confidence that Cano has matured enough as a
player to fit into the spot.
Track from page 17
SHS record in this event. It is likely this season will
see more key performances added to Pianka’s athletic
resume. Freshmen Kodi Andrews and Chris Whaley are
expected to contribute in the distance events.
“As a team, I’d really like to see us place
higher with some of the running events,” said Wallace.
“I think we do pretty well in the field events.” The team’s
training regimen has been altered this season to improve
the athletes’ performance. They added, according to
Wallace, “more endurance stuff.”
“That’s going to make us better,” said Wal-
lace.
Wallace, who coaches the throwing events,
sees every meet as an opportunity for progress. “Goals
for this season would be [for] kids [to] get a lot more
out of it and each week to improve with PRs [personal
records],” he said.
A factor that hinders the Cosmos team per-
formance is the absence of a pole vault. Wallace believes
the team has athletes who could be talented in the event
and earn points for the team. However, SHS no longer
has a pole vault pit, though fundraising efforts to buy a
pit began last summer with a car show.
“It’s hard to tell kids not to have sex, but
you can teach them safer methods,” said Fountain. “It’s
important to teach students about the risks, so that if
students do start having sex, they know how to protect
themselves.”
Haskell, when asked to explain why students
should remain abstinent, said: “There’s physical harm
associated with sex, like getting a disease, but there
is also the emotional harm of not feeling good about
yourself,” said Haskell. “Teens are more susceptible to
ments. “They are not only my students but I design
and run the competition,” said Gray. “So it’s always
a nice surprise when my students perform above my
expectations.”
The RVTC students who achieved gold are
now preparing themselves to compete at the national
SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, Missouri, in late
June.
“I anticipate that the students will do equally
as well as their counterparts did in former years,” Gray
said. “My goal is to repeat our national gold medal
n pg
The lineup will probably look like this:
Derek Jeter SS, Nick Johnson DH, Mark Teixeira 1B,
Alex Rodriguez 3B, Robinson Cano 2B, Jorge Posada
C, Curtis Granderson CF, Nick Swisher RF, and finally
Brett Gardner LF. Randy Winn will see time off the
bench in either RF or LF for Gardner or Swisher. How-
ever, Granderson could also hit in the two spot, with his
speed and power, but he may stay lower in the lineup
because of his high strikeout rate.
The lineup will be strong no matter where
Granderson hits, and the Yankees should again make a
good push for the playoffs, the American League East,
and even the pennant. “I think they’ll make the playoffs,"
concluded Kelly Ryan. “I’m not sure they’ll get the East.
It’ll come right down to the wire as to who wins the East
with the Red Sox. And 28 is the number.”
Drama from page 3
(Esden) and their wacky romance begins. A string of
events and circumstances between the families almost
separate the couple. Luckily the Vanderholfs teach
Tony’s father, Mr. Kirby (Frank Gould), and his mother
(Turgeon) the meaning of love, life, and happiness which
allowed the couple the right to marry.
The SHS Drama Club also recently attended
a drama festival/competition in Lyndon, Vermont. The
top two performances would advance to a regional
competition. Springfield High School Drama club came
in 3rd place and performed “God’s Honest: Evening of
Lies.” a series of three vignettes.
“We performed around 10:00am, then
watched and also went to an acting workshop,” said
Esden. “We didn’t win, but it was good to have the
experience and meet new people and have fun.”
The challenge of playing different characters,
getting onstage, and working as a team provided growth
for the members of the SHS Drama Club. “SHS drama
has given me the opportunity to work on shows with
a supportive director,” said Mobus. “I’m comfortable
working with everyone and getting onstage.”
“Drama has helped me develop as a person,”
ity for empathy and balance what I love.”
depression and suicide," she added, "and bringing sex
into a relationship at such a young age can bring terrible
emotional consequences.
“So I tell students about all the reasons that
they shouldn’t have sex, and that I believe that it’s for
the best of their physical, mental, and emotional health,”
Haskell continued. “I tell students that sex isn’t healthy
for them at such a young age, but in the end, it’s their
decision, and their parent’s decision. We try to help
students no matter what decision they make.”
performance from last year.”
Wyatt, who also competed last year and
earned a silver medal at states, hopes to add to the win-
ning tradition. “We took home gold at nationals last year
so we are going back this year to maintain our title,” he
said.
Hakey is hopeful for nationals and is prepar-
ing for the tough competition. “I expect to do well,”
Hakey said. “It will be different competing against the
rest of the people that won gold and it will be tough.
But it will still be a fun experience.”
23
 By Erika Anderson
SHS Speaks Out
A
s Spring comes into full swing, Sunny weather will melt away your winter tears,
All Vermont is glad to sing. Smiles around to be remembered for years.
When spring comes to town, Wrapped up in fluffs of white in the sky so blue,
Happiness goes 'round. It comes every year, but it feels so new.
It is the season of life, Beauty blooms in the fields of green and gold,
Never strife. Flowers of all colors, shining and bold.
Soon in the warm weather we will bake, Sunny sights to put your mind at ease,
The changing seasons are no mistake. Wrapped in the cool of a spring breeze.
Into the mud will sink our pain,

Bursting the
Caught in the ectasy of the rain.
Bunnies will play in the grass so green,
Kitties will catch birds (oh they're so keen.)
Winter clothes are shed for the season,
Spring clothes are the reason.
Looking at the stars, pinholes in the night,
This spring everything will be alright.

Bubble
Bikes come out, children will play, Opinions abound on such a wonderful thing,
Trapped in the 24-hour beauty of a spring day. What is your favorite part of spring?

Neon Lights
So Close, Yet
So Far
By Jenny Bradley and Olivia Johnson Social Studies Teacher Sophomore Jake Sargent
David Slivka "My favorite part of spring is the star of the

I
t’s almost Apple Blossom. You know what that "My favorite part is getting the Harley out of the barn soccer season."
means? That means it’s almost time for prom. AKA and out on the road for the frist time."
it’s ALMOST June. Once it’s June, it’s almost JUNE
19th. We get to graduate. SEE YA SPRINGFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL.
We’re ready to blossom. Spread our wings.
You know what they say? Time to experience “the real
world?” So we’re going to do that. We’ll start this sum-
mer. Swimming every day, fires every night, smores,
Summer Place, Summer Place… and more Summer
Place. Okay, this probably sounds more like a routine,
not really a new experience. But we’ll get there. Basi-
cally what we’re trying to express is that we’re ready
to move on, start our lives, live.
Every day is harder than the last. Wake up
and do the same thing we’ve been doing for the past
four years. Same faces, same classes, same path. We’re Sophomore Victoria Molden Sophomore Savannah Pellerin
ready for some new things. Meeting new people, learn- '"I like seeing all the flowers pop back up." "I really like all the flowers and things coming up."
ing outside the box that we have been trapped in for our
whole lives.
Right now we’re sitting staring at this com-
puter screen doing everything possible to force these
words. We’re tired of forcing things, of just barely
scraping by. Don’t get us wrong. We love SHS. We love
most of the people, but…we’re ready to close that book
and start a new one.
Maybe it’s senioritis. Maybe it’s spring fever.
How about it’s just I-need-to-leave-for-college-now
syndrome. Too bad it’s April. We still have ten weeks,
but why stop now? We’ve made it four years. What’s
ten weeks?
It’s a lot. You know those kids that make
it this far and then drop out of school? We never used
Junior Terrry Reidy
See Bubble page 21 "My favorite part of spring is swimming and
Freshman Abi Cox
"I like spring because it gets warmer and the snow
traveling." goes away."

pg 24 G r e e n H o r n