In the News 2010-2011
Miguel Morillo
named Bank of America Student Leader
By Sara Brown / The Daily Item
 |
| Miguel Morillo, a recent
graduate of Lynn Classical, was named one of
Bank of America's student leaders for his
continued work in the Lynn community. (Courtesy
Photo) |
LYNN - Miguel
Morillo, a recent graduate of Lynn Classical, was named
one of Bank of America’s student leaders for his
continued work in the Lynn community.
“It was really great that they picked me. It was an
honor,” Morillo said.
Because he was named one of Bank of America’s student
leaders, he got to participate in a six-week, paid
internship and go to Washington, D.C., interacting with
230 civic-minded high school juniors and seniors.
Morillo went to Washington in July where he attended
conferences, learned how to be a more effective leader
and visited Capitol Hill. “It was a great experience,”
Morillo said. “It was one of the best weekends of my
life.”
The experience prepared him for his future in the
workplace. “It really taught me how to network better,”
Morillo said of his experience.
Morillo was chosen for this honor because of his
dedication to civic involvement. He has volunteered at
RAW Art Works and St. Stevens Church as well as
balancing two sports at Classical.
“We picked Miguel because of his dedication to civic
involvement and giving back to the community,” Bank of
America Account Executive Carly Nardella said. “Bank of
America really tries to capture that and help foster the
future leaders.”
Morillo has been a part of RAW for seven years now and
during his sophomore year of high school became a RAW
Chief. He started going because his friends would go
there every Friday. “They would always go and I wondered
where they were going. So finally one day I went with
them,” Morillo said.
After that day, he never stopped going. He decided to
become a RAW Chief after being inspired by an older
chief who mentored him. “They were like an older brother
for me. They were always there for the kids,” Morillo
said. Immediately, Morillo enjoyed the role. “I got paid
to do something I love. It was great,” Morillo said.
Morillo credits RAW for making him more humble. “I can
be a little stubborn sometimes and have too much pride,”
Morillo said. “I have taken criticism better now because
of RAW. It has made me better myself. I feel I can take
on the world now.”
Expressive Arts Therapist Susannah Horwitz of RAW has
watched Morillo grow through the years. “He was really
enthusiastic from the start,” Horwitz said. “I have seen
him go through a lot of growing pains. He is a lot more
confident now.”
Horwitz was impressed with Morillo by how he could
juggle being a Chief and a two-sport athlete. “A lot of
the times we are a little weary if a kid is involved in
sports because it gets too much for them and we don’t
want them to quit,” Horwitz said. “However, Morillo
wanted to do both so he found a way.”
The athlete is thankful for what sports have taught him.
He was a point guard for the Classical basketball team
and a cornerback for the football team. “It taught me
hard work and dedication. If you push through anything,
you can achieve anything,” Morillo said.
Along with RAW, he volunteered at St. Stevens Church
working with the KIPP summer program. While he was used
to working with kids because of RAW, younger children
was a whole new experience for him. “It taught me
patience. Little kids are always running around and get
so easily distracted so I am a lot more patient because
of it.”
In the fall, Morillo will be heading off to Westfield
State University for his freshman year of college. “I am
little nervous. I feel like I have been in Lynn my whole
life,” Morillo said.
The freshman will be double majoring in criminal justice
and business. “I always wanted to be a cop or lawyer
growing up. Also, I have always been good at math and
want to own my own business. Maybe one day I will own my
own law firm,” Morillo said.
Morillo chose Westfield because of the campus and the
class size. “I liked it because it is not too big. I
want my teachers to know my name,” Morillo said. He is
looking forward to meeting new people when he arrives on
campus. “I can’t wait to meet new people from different
environments and be able to get outside Lynn for a
little bit,” Morillo said.
Over the summer, Morillo has been interning at Year Up,
which is a non-profit organization helping people
receive a college education. “The internship has taught
me how to get into office mood,” Morillo said. “I have
been doing a lot more research and my writing skills
have improved as well.” Not only has Year Up improved
his office skills, but he truly believes in what the
organization is doing. “I really like what they are
doing,” Morillo said. “What they are doing is great.”
With college on his mind, Morillo is ready to take on
the world. “No matter what age you are, you can do
something great,” Morillo said.
|
Employers caution young
adults about Facebook postings
 |
| ITEM PHOTO / OWEN O’ROURKE
Jenna Cetrullo, left, discusses Facebook habits
on Friday at the Square One Mall in Saugus as
her friend Samantha Capone looks on. |
By Kait Taylor / For The Item
Employers warn that young adults should be careful
about what they post on Facebook, because more than
their friends could be looking at their pages.
Adam Sherman, Finance Manager at the Brotherhood Credit
Union in Lynn and Marblehead, says though it’s illegal
to deny a job to a candidate based on photos on Facebook,
nothing stops them from searching the person’s name on
Google. Sherman says the first link that shows up on a
search engine is usually a person’s Facebook page.
“If Facebook does pop up [with] your name, we’ll see
what’s there,” said Sherman. “But it’s a quick look. We
look to see if there’s anything public that we have to
know about before we continue the interviewing process.
It’s not just social media, it’s the entire web.”
Sherman advises young adults to “clean up” their
Facebook pages, taking down photos if necessary.
“Get every security feature known to man,” he said. “A
picture is worth a thousand words. If someone who is
applying for jobs is sort of young and new to the
workforce, you might think some of the pictures are
harmless … (But) the person interviewing you might be 61
or 62 and might not understand what’s going on in the
pictures.”
Sherman warns that’s it not just about the photos, but
also about posting status updates.
“Some people swear like sailors,” he said. “We’re not
looking for that. If you’re going to talk like that
about your friends, what might you say about the company
or the people at work?”
Sherman said it’s important to consider not only what
your boss will see but also the customers of the company
you represent.
“A customer could come into the office and I give them
my business card n they have my name and access to my
pictures and quotes. Even when you’re not in the
business world, you really have to watch what you
write,” he said.
But area teenagers offered mixed opinions about whether
they worry about the information they post online.
“I know it’s a possibility, but it’s not the first thing
that goes through my mind,” said Jonathan Walker, 18, on
Friday at the Square One Mall. “Usually you’re smart
enough to not put those photos on Facebook because
they’ll get someone in trouble.”
Jenna Cetrullo, 18, says she never worries about what
she posts on her Facebook page.
“I have a lot of bad stuff but I don’t really care,” she
said.
Even people who are careful with their profile usually
have heard stories from friends dealing with the
downside of digital media.
“My cousin’s friend was a Patriots cheerleader and they
kicked her off the team because of her photos on
Facebook,” said Samantha Capone, 17.
Mary E. Dunn, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
at Salem State University, said her college doesn’t
check Facebook pages while making admission decisions.
“It doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but I have been in
the business for 30 years … and I have never heard of a
college admissions officer using Facebook to look up
students,” she said.
Dunn did say that while she wouldn’t use Facebook for a
college applicant, she would use a search engine to look
up job candidates because of the “life differences”
between the age groups.
Some teens who visited the Square One Mall on Friday
said they were worried about what is accessed from their
Facebook pages not because of users who can see it, but
because they are concerned their images will be taken
and used for the website’s own agenda.
Lynn City Councilor Brendon Crighton, who’s 28, said
Facebook is a useful tool if the user exercises caution.
“Facebook, Twitter, and other social media can provide
great opportunity for networking and ideas, but both
young and old need to know the information can be seen
by the whole world,” Crighton said.
A Facebook user himself, Crighton said he can’t remember
a time when he wasn’t careful about what he posted on
his site.
“There are family and friends on your site, and you
don’t want yourself to be presented in a negative way,”
he said.
Crighton, who is also the Chief of Staff for state Sen.
Sen. Thomas McGee, said he would Google a potential job
candidate, and agrees that Facebook is usually the first
link that pops up.
|
Classical students
happy to spend vacation honing Math and English skills
Friday, July 22, 2011
By Sara Brown / For The Item
 |
| From left to right, Nahid
Hasan, instructor Jackie Burke, Chan Mulyda Huy,
and Janine Nishimwe work on an assignment at an
MCAS/ESL session at Lynn Classical. (Item Photo
/ Owen O'Rourke) |
LYNN - For most teenagers, summer
is about relaxing, having fun and most importantly a
vacation from school.
However, for a group of nine Lynn Classical High School
students, the month of July has been about improving
their English skills and getting ready for the math
portion of the MCAS.
Classical teacher Jackie Burke is running the summer
session, which she said "has been very helpful" for
students who attend class Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m.
to noon for four weeks.
The main focus of the summer session is to prepare
students for the math section of the MCAS. The students
range from 15 to 18 years old. Also in the class, there
are students who will be taking the MCAS next fall as
sophomores for the first time as well as seniors who are
taking it, hopefully, for the last time.
Along with mathematics, students are working on English
as a second language.
"They are really thankful for this class. They don't
speak English at home," Burke said.
The students break off into small groups and work on
math problems while speaking in English.
"They work so well in groups," Burke said. "The small
setting really helps them."
"We need to be prepared for the MCAS and we want to get
a good score," said student Nahid Hasan. "If you need
any help, this class helps you solve the problem."
The students practice using a copy of last year's MCAS
and the method is working.
"I have been learning a lot of stuff," said student
Linda Fonseca. "I have learned a lot of stuff I didn't
know before."
Fonseca has noticed an improvement in her math and
English skills, and so has her teacher.
"The improvement is crazy," Burke said. "I give them a
practice test in the beginning of the week and they
learn so quickly."
The group also takes breaks and mini field trips.
"Four hours is a lot of math, especially when they are
used to 45-minute classes," Burke said.
"We will go outside and have relay races as a break,"
she added. "We get all hot and sweaty and then come back
inside and refocus again. It is almost like they
appreciate coming back inside to learn."
The class also takes field trips. This past week, the
class went out to breakfast. It was the first time the
nine students have ever been to an American-style
restaurant.
"It was a treat for them. I said if they do well on
their test I will take them out and they did," Burke
said. The class prepared for the occasion by learning
about different styles of American breakfast food and
even pretending to order with Burke as their waitress.
Burke feels a tremendous sense of pride in her students.
"I am really proud of them. They are not getting school
credit for this. They are so motivated and come in here
with smiles on their faces every day," Burke said. "I
have gotten to know a certain group of my students
better. I have gotten to know them as individuals, which
is great."
Along with getting to know her students better, Burke
has enjoyed watching friendships develop.
"We have students from all over; from Colombia to
Bangladesh. There are so many different cultures here,"
Burke said. "To see them become friends and speak in
English to each other has been nice."
"It has been fun working together," Fonseca said.
While the students have been enjoying their new
friendships, doing well on the MCAS is their main
priority.
"I feel ready and prepared for the MCAS. I think I will
do well," Hasan said.
|
Agganis Scholar
Galeazzi looking for a little down time
By
Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item
It was a
whirlwind senior year for Lynn Classical's Gabbi
Galeazzi. (Item Photo / Owen O'Rouke)
LYNN - After
barreling through the school year at breakneck speed,
Classical High valedictorian Gabbi Galeazzi has slammed
on the brakes, at least for a while.
The Providence College-bound Galeazzi, like any
recently-minted high school graduate, is enjoying some
rare downtime before it all kicks in again only on a
bigger stage.
"The first weekend I was out of school, I didn't know
what to do. Every weekend I've always had so much to do,
to have nothing was a drastic change."
Galeazzi, who is the recipient of an Agganis Foundation
Scholarship, set the bar high for herself. She found
time to take nine advanced placement classes while
playing a varsity sport much of the time. Galeazzi was a
four-year soccer player, three-year softball player and
a two-year basketball player.
"I think when I'm busiest, I get more done," said
Galeazzi, who also works at the Revere flea market and
for Lynn Parks and Recreation (starting this week).
Although her older sister, Brianna, was already at
Classical when Galeazzi was deciding where to go for
high school, donning the green and gold wasn't a given.
The incoming freshman class was the first of two that
would spend their first year in high school at Fecteau-Leary
(the old Classical high) on the common. Galeazzi said
she wasn't crazy about the idea, but she decided to give
it a go.
"I was teetering between English and Classical. Most of
my friends went to English, but I'm definitely glad I
ended up where I did," Galeazzi said. "I wasn't the
biggest fan of it (spending her first year at the
academy). It was like being a freshman two years in a
row, but I do think it brought our class closer
together."
With high school now in the rear view mirror, Galeazzi
has some advice to those just starting out.
"Make as many friends as you can and once you find a
group of friends, stick with them. You have to stay
close with your friends or lose them," she said.
Galeazzi had plenty of options when it came to college -
with acceptances from Boston College, St. Anselm's,
Quinnipiac and Stonehill. Providence College got the
nod.
"They gave me a good package. The school is far enough
away that I can be away. It's close enough that I can
come home on weekends, plus, I love the campus,"
Galeazzi said.
Galeazzi, who went to Costa Rica over April vacation
with a group of students from Classical, said she hopes
to be able to do a semester abroad once she gets in
college. Ireland and Italy are high on the list of
places she'd like to spend some time.
Although Galeazzi and her older sister have moved on
from Classical, there school will still have a member of
the family in its ranks. Younger sister Franki, who
already has made her presence known on the soccer field,
the basketball court and the softball diamond, will be a
sophomore this year. The family also includes little
brother, Nicholas, and parents Dave and Sheila.
This is the 10th in a series of articles on Lynn-area
winners of the Agganis Foundation Scholarships. Since
its inception in 1955, the Agganis Foundation has
awarded $1,436,525 in scholarships to 845
student-athletes.
|
|
Sophal and Sokhema are named
Youth of the Year at the Lynn Community Health Center
 
Sophal Hem and Sokhema Chhorn
were presented the (male and female) “Youth of the Year Award” from
Rep Steve Walsh at the YMCA recently for their work with KAYA (Khmer
American Youth in Action). Tino Hem was also presented with the
180-Degree Award for his personal turn-around this year.
--------------------------------
KAYA Honors Teen Achievers
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
By Robin Kaminski / The Daily Item
LYNN — A group of Cambodian teens were celebrated for
their achievements and personal growth on Tuesday
through the Khmer American Youth in Action (KAYA)
program's annual recognition ceremony.
Designed to encourage teens to become community leaders
and make positive choices through youth-driven events,
more than 60 teens have taken part in the after-school
program since it began in 2009.
One of those teens is Tino Hem, a junior at Classical
High, who joined KAYA last fall.
"It's helped me to stay off the streets," he said. "I'm
not involved in gangs, but they used to approach me
after school and try to scare me, but I just walked away
from all the drama."
Hem said a month after he was targeted by various gangs,
he decided to join KAYA. Shortly after, he recruited his
younger cousin.
"KAYA got me a job at the Food Project and one day I
hope to be a staff member here," he said.
School Committee member Maria Carrasco praised the
program, saying it helps to unify the city's youth.
"The group is like a family with diversity, but we don't
see the colors or the races, we just see students," she
said. "It's a like a rainbow....and I like that."
At the event, certificates were awarded to those who
went above and beyond participation, including
17-year-old Hem, who received the 180 degrees award,
given to an individual who has shown strength in making
positive personal changes. Since joining KAYA, Hem said
the program has helped to open up new avenues for him,
including choosing a future career.
"I want to be a lawyer," he said with a smile.
The program, which is led by Harry Schnur, is a
collaboration between the Lynn Community Health Center,
North Shore Medical Center and PartnersHealthCare,
Greater Lynn YMCA, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma,
Catholic Charities North and Gordon College.
Since its inception, the program has grown to include
four distinct components - recreation, health and
cultural education, tutoring, and study skills building
and peer leadership development.
"It's designed for Cambodian youth, but is open to all
youth," Schnur said. "It's a safe and comfortable place
for teens to get involved in community service with a
main premise for youth needing social change."
|
 |
|
Nehemie Alcindor, 17, of Lynn,
poses with his citation after
being named Massachusetts Youth
of the Year. (Courtesy Photo) |
Lynn
Classical teen
is Youth of the Year for the Boys and
Girls Club
Special to The Daily
Item
LYNN -
Nehemie Alcindor, 17, of Lynn has
been named Massachusetts Youth of the
Year. In a statewide meeting at
Westfield State University, 42 Boys &
Girls Clubs in Massachusetts selected
Alcindor as their 2011 Youth of the
Year. The award was announced at
Westfield State University.
Alcindor has been named the
Massachusetts Youth of the Year by Boys
& Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for his
sound character, leadership skills and
willingness to give back to the
community.
As the new Massachusetts Youth of the
Year, he will receive a $1,000 college
scholarship from Tupperware Brands
Corporation. Alcindor will now vie for
BGCA’s Northeast Region Youth of the
Year title and an additional college
scholarship.
Being named Youth of the Year is the
highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member
can receive.
Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding
contributions to a member’s family,
school, community and Boys & Girls Club,
as well as overcoming personal
challenges and obstacles.
Youth of the Year encourages club
members to reach their full potential by
achieving academic success, leading
healthy lifestyles and contributing to
their communities.
Alcindor is a junior at Lynn Classical
High School. He has been a faithful
member of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn
for 11 years. He plays high school
football and enjoys basketball at the
Boys and Girls Club.
He is also a youth leader at the club
with roles as a coach, peer mentor, and
junior counselor. He wants to attend law
school and become a prosecutor.
“Nehemie and all Youth of the Year
nominees are living proof that Boys &
Girls Clubs across the country are
fulfilling their mission of inspiring
and enabling young people to be great,”
said Roxanne Spillett, president and
CEO, BGCA. “We are most appreciative to
Tupperware Brands for their long-time
support of Boys & Girls Clubs and
providing scholarships to help our
members attain their goals.”
This summer, Alcindor will compete
against other Boys & Girls Club members
within the Northeast Region. If named
regional winner, he will be awarded an
additional $10,000 college scholarship
from Tupperware Brands, the recognition
program’s national sponsor. Five
regional winners will advance to
Washington, D.C., in September to
compete for the title of BGCA’s National
Youth of the Year. The National Youth of
the Year will receive an additional
scholarship of up to $50,000 from The
Rick and Susan Goings Foundation.
Some of the honors bestowed upon
Nehemie over the next couple of
weeks will be throwing out the first
pitch at both a Red Sox game and a
Lowell Spinners game. Later on in
the summer he will do a coin toss at
a Patriots Pre-season game (should
they ever end the lockout).
Additionally, he will make
appearances at the State House and
other venues representing the youth
of Massachusetts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Girls
Inc. Heroes dream big - including
Bolanle Odusanya
By Chris Stevens / The
Daily Item
DANVERS -
Six years
ago, Bolanle Odusanya landed in the
United States from Nigeria, a shy, quiet
girl who was afraid to raise her hand in
class.
She said goodbye to that girl Thursday
at the 23rd Annual Girls Inc. Luncheon.
Speaking to a capacity crowd at the
DanversPort Yacht Club, Odusanya, a
Classical High School senior, said she
might be on the streets or pregnant had
it not been for Girls Inc.
"Instead I will attend the pre-med
program at UMass Amherst," she said.
She plans to finish medical school, then
go back home to Nigeria to take care of
the poor.
Odusanya was just one of five
scholarship winners named Girl Heroes
during the event that celebrates the
strong, smart and bold girls of Girls
Inc.
Lynn English senior Genesis Barrientos
said she was confused about who she was
and who she might become until she found
Girls Inc.
She had a lot of goals but no idea how
to reach them.
So she immersed herself in everything
Girls Inc. had to offer, including
becoming a teen health ambassador, where
she learned to educate other girls on
sexuality health, risk-taking and
healthy relationships.
She said she loved being a THA because
she knew she was making a difference.
"I am a strong, smart and bold young
woman," she said. "I ask questions and
make suggestions. Girls Inc. will
forever be in my heart and in the
choices that I make throughout the rest
of my life. I hope to make you all
proud."
Estephania Villar, an LEHS senior, said
she remembers her first encounter with
Girls Inc. when she was in the sixth
grade.
She knew right then that Girls Inc. was
the place for her.
"They taught me to reach for my dreams
and my dream is to be the first Hispanic
Attorney General in the state of
Massachusetts," she said.
"Being a girl hero, it almost feels like
a dream," said Carrisa Sacherski, also
an LEHS senior. "Because of Girls Inc. I
realize my dreams are possible. I am
proud to be a girl hero."
When she was named a National Scholar
during last year's Girls Inc. luncheon,
Stephanie Hardy-Tondreau fought back
tears during her entire speech. This
year she sailed through with smiles and
confidence.
Along with winning a Girl's Inc. of Lynn
scholarship, Hardy-Tondreau is also the
recipient of a $15,000 Lucille Miller
Wright national scholarship, which she
said she plans to use to attend Boston
College, like one of her heroes,
Patricia Driscoll, the former executive
director of Girls Inc.
Driscoll stepped down last month to take
a job with Girls Inc.'s national
organization after 18 years on the job.
She attended the luncheon and praised
Hardy-Tondreau and all the girls.
The 2011 Strong, Smart and Bold Award
recipient Gail Goodman also had nothing
but praise for the girl heroes.
Goodman said she planned to tell the
girls to dream big, but with a potential
doctor, attorney general, future
president and award-winning author, she
said they seemed to have that covered.
The CEO of Constant Contact, a national
company headquartered in Waltham that
champions the communication and business
needs of small organizations, did,
however, have several suggestions.
She told the girls to love what they do,
be an observer, take chances and to use
their brains.
Lastly, Goodman warned the girls that at
times they were also going to have to be
willing to take a look at themselves,
ask for criticism and more importantly,
learn to accept it gracefully.
"Don't ask for feedback and expect a pat
on the back," she said. "Listen, learn
and grow."
When she was their age, Goodman said she
was not academically motivated.
"I was smart but not motivated, my
parents were worried," she said.
What saved her, she believes, is that no
matter what she chose to do, which in
high school was a youth coffee house and
a mime troupe, she was into it.
"And that was my anchor," she said.
While her road to entrepreneurship was
filled with twists, Goodman said her
passion coupled with lessons from her
father gave her the confidence to dream
big.
"The biggest lesson you can learn is to
dare to give it your all," she said. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Lynn Classical graduate Jasper
Grassa had a successful first
season on the Bentley University
men's basketball team. (Photo /
Sports Pix) |
Grassa wraps up his rookie season at
Bentley
By Joyce Erekson / The
Daily Item
Adjusting to college
can be a challenge for athletes because
not only do they have get a handle on
the academic and social end of things
like every freshman who walks through
the door, they also have to ratchet up
their game a notch or two, or three.
Classical High's Jasper Grassa just
wrapped up his rookie season as a member
of the Bentley University men's
basketball team Tuesday night when the
Falcons lost to the Deacons of
Bloomfield, Ill., 75-71, in the NCAA
Div. II East Regionals at Waltham.
The Item's 2010 Player of the Year came
off the bench for the Falcons and
averaged 5.9 points per game and 14
minutes playing time. Grassa finished
his high school career with 1,440 points
(third on the all-time scoring list
behind Calvin Johnson and Dave Anderson)
and he set school records in
three-pointers and free-throw
percentage.
Grassa was solid in both categories this
season as well. He led the team in
free-throw shooting percentage, hitting
20 of 24 (.833) and he was third on the
team in three-point shooting percentage
(43-for-115 for .374 percent).
Grassa said playing at the college level
is a lot different than playing high
school ball.
"The season is a lot longer and it's a
lot more of a team sport than in high
school," Grassa said, adding that when
you're in high school, you might be the
best player on the court, while in
college, everyone is good.
"Now, everybody is as good as you. In
college it's about how good your team
plays, not how good you play," he said.
As a team, the Falcons enjoyed plenty of
success. They won the Northeast-10
regular season championship with an 18-4
record (24-7 overall) and they made it
to the finals of the Northeast-10
tournament, losing to Adelphi. This was
Bentley's fifth consecutive appearance
in the East Regional.
Grassa said in his role this season, he
would be the first or second guard off
the bench, depending on what team the
Falcons were playing.
"My job was to bring energy, continue
what the starters were doing because
they usually get us off to a good
start," Grassa said.
Grassa did just that in the East
Regional championship game against
Bloomfield when he came in around the
14-minute mark and hit both shots his
first two trips down the court -- the
first was a runner that he banked and
the second, a three-pointer. He hit
another three later in the half to
finish with eight points.
Coach Jay Lawson was pleased with
Grassa's first year.
"Jasper had a really good freshman
year," Lawson said. "I think the hardest
thing for a freshman is learning to be
consistent on the defensive end of the
floor. He made a lot of progress in that
area."
Lawson said Grassa became someone he
could trust at things he hadn't done
well at the beginning of the year.
"We really anticipate him moving up into
a significantly bigger role, even as a
sophomore," Lawson said. "With four
seniors graduating, we think he's got
the ability to be a pretty high-level
all-around player."
Lawson said Grassa has emerged more and
more as the year has gone on.
"Now we're going to really see if he can
take it up a notch and go from that
off-the-bench freshman who gave us a
boost with his perimeter shooting to an
all-around player who can play a lot
more minutes and do more than just be a
shooter. We think he has a lot of
potential." |
|
|
|
|
|
Classical Grad picks up 500th career
coaching win
CLERMONT, Fla. -
Bentley University softball coach
Michele (Myslinski) DeGregorio notched
her 500th career win Monday afternoon
when the Falcons defeated Nyack College,
3-0, at Clermont, Fla.
DeGregorio, now of Winthrop but formerly
of Lynn, has a career record of 500 wins
and 273 losses in 18 seasons. After
graduating from Lynn Classical High
School, where she was a pitcher, she
played for Merrimack College and later
went on to coach at her alma mater for
12 years (in addition to three years as
an assistant coach).
While at Merrimack, she coached her team
to the 1994 NCAA Division II national
championship. She was also an assistant
athletic director at Merrimack for 12
years. Her record at Merrimack was
436-271 with seven Northeast-10
Conference Championships. The Warriors
made 11 appearances in the NCAA Division
II regional tournament during her
tenure.
As a player at Merrimack, DeGregorio was
an All-New England pitcher and second
baseman. After three years as an
assistant coach, she took over as head
coach in 1993. She was the NE-10's Coach
of the Year after her first season.
Myslinski is in her sixth year with the
Bentley program.
The Falcons got the win on the strength
of the second shutout in three days by
junior pitcher Tara Fogarty, who tossed
a two-hitter against St. Thomas Aquinas
on Saturday. She allowed only one hit
against Nyack. Kelly Sanborn doubled in
Meghan Carter in the fourth inning for
the only run Bentley would need. Second
baseman Erica Thibodeau provided a
little insurance with a two-run double
in the fifth inning. |
|
|
|
|
|
Classical Athletes in the News
The Bentley College men's basketball team
advanced to the championship game of the Northeast-10 Conference
playoffs Thursday with a 68-60 win over the College of Saint Rose at
Waltham.
Lynn's Jasper Grassa
(Classical) had nine points (3 threes) for the Falcons, who were led
by senior forward Brian Tracey (17 points, 10 rebounds). Bentley,
the tournament's top seed and the 22nd-ranked team in Division II,
will host number seven Adelphi University Saturday at 1 p.m.
Jenny Garrity hit over
.400 and racked up a 9-1 record on the mound for the Northeastern
Conference North champion Classical High softball team last year and
now she's playing for the Emmanuel College women's softball team.
Garrity and her teammates head to Florida today for their first 10
games of the season. Garrity is expected to do some pitching and
play the outfield for the Saints, who return home for a March 24
game against Lesley University. Garrity is an education major.
Jetta Garrity, a 2008
Classical High graduate, just wrapped up a successful season on the
Worcester Polytech swim team. When she swam for Classical, Garrity
did mainly the 100 breaststroke, but at the college level she's
swimming a variety of events including the 1,000, the 500 free, the
100 free and sometimes the 100 breaststroke. Garrity, a junior, is
majoring in biomedical engineering.
Daily Item |
|
Classical
Baseball Stars Succeeding in College
Former Classical
High player
Dave
Waldron played in 19 games
for the Salem State University
Vikings last year and started 12. The
5-8 shortstop is a senior.
The Gauthier
presence is growing on the University of
Southern New Hampshire baseball team.
Bryant
Gauthier, who graduated from
Classical High in 2007, is a senior
pitcher and younger brother Tyler, a
2010 Classical graduate, is a 6-5
freshman who's also looking to crack the
pitching rotation at some point.
Bryant Gauthier made 10 appearances in
2010 (8 starts). He had a 3-3 record and
a 2.95 ERA in 58 innings. He walked 12
and held opponents to a .255 batting
average. Among the highlights of his
season last year were a six-hit, seven
strikeout two-run (1 earned) win over
Dowling and an eight-strikeout
performance in seven innings against
Assumption.
Tyler
Gauthier was a pitcher and
first baseman for the Rams last year. He
hit .370 with three home runs and 17
RBI. He was a Northeastern Conference
All-Star.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Alex Watler (Courtesy Photo)
|
Alex Watler enjoying Harvard without
Football
By Joyce Erekson / The
Daily Item
Deciding not to play
football at the college level was a
tough call for former Classical High
quarterback Alex Watler, but the Harvard
University junior still loves the game
and is finding other ways to enjoy the
sport that was so important in his life.
"Not playing football was a tough
decision, but it worked out for the
best," Watler said. "I know my GPA
(grade-point average) wouldn't be in
such good shape if I did, but I applaud
those who do play."
Academics have always been very
important to Watler and the hard work
paid off when it came time to apply to
colleges. Watler had some pretty lofty
schools to pick from, with acceptances
not only from Harvard, but from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Dartmouth and Worcester Polytech.
"School has been going great," Watler
said. "I think I made the right
decision. Different schools are suited
for different things and Harvard is good
for me."
Watler is majoring in history with a
minor in African-American studies. He
said he's on target to graduate next
year and hopes to spend a couple of
years working, possibly in sales or
finance, and then begin applying to
business schools.
Watler said the biggest thing about
making the transition from high school
to college is learning how to handle all
the newfound freedom.
"You get so much more freedom at
college, but with the freedom you have
to take on responsibility. You don't
have your parents or your teachers or
your coaches checking on you all the
time. It really makes you grow up," he
said.
The other challenge, he said, is
learning how to juggle all the things
that come your way.
"You have to juggle multiple tasks,
keeping up with the workload and try and
find jobs," he said.
Watler said his parents, particularly
his father as his West Lynn Pop Warner
coach, instilled in him the importance
of doing a good job in what you're doing
and taking care of schoolwork at the
same time.
Although Watler has plenty on his plate
to keep him busy, he did find time
during the fall to work with the
quarterbacks on the St. Mary's High
football team. His father is an
assistant coach with Matt Durgin (the
younger Watler's head coach at
Classical).
"Coaching was a great experience,"
Watler said. "Coach Durgin let me come
down and help out, work with the kids
... It was definitely a great
experience. It was my first step into
coaching. You kind of see the game from
a whole different perspective."
Durgin said having his former player
help out was great.
"He's a special kid. He's very mature
and what a great role model he is for
the kids. I was excited to have him work
with us," Durgin said.
Durgin said the whole Watler family has
been great over the years. Harold Watler
has been his assistant since he coached
at Malden Catholic, then at Classical
and now at St. Mary's and he said Alex's
mother, Karen, has always been very
involved in the Boosters.
"Alex is very bright, but he's also very
grateful and that's a direct reflection
on the parents. They're great people,"
Durgin said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Student Athletes
Honored
Yes, they are amongst the best
and brightest female athletes in Massachusetts. Hannah Byrne and
Tashanna Brown represented Lynn Classical High School at the
annual National Girls and Women in Sport(s) Day at Fanueil Hall in
Boston on Friday, 2/4/2011. Hannah and Tashanna are positive,
contributing members to both their high schools and their athletic
teams.
NGWSD is marked annually
with events around the country and on Capitol Hill to commemorate
the achievements of girls and women in athletics. It is also an
important day to promote the continued expansion of opportunities
for girls and women to play sports and live physically active lives.
At the the Sports
Day event, from the left: Athletic director Bill Devin, Tashanna
Brown, Hannah Byrne, and Acting Vice Principal Chris Warren |
 |
|
Classical students cross the
street through the dismissal
traffic Thursday afternoon.
(Item Photo / Owen O'Rourke) |
Sun's glare blamed after Classical
student hit
By Thor Jourgensen /
The Daily Item
LYNN -
Classical High School junior Steven
Petkevitch suffered a broken right leg
when he was hit by a vehicle as he
crossed busy O'Callaghan Way Wednesday
morning.
" ... I crossed O'Callaghan Way, saw the
guy at the light and the next thing I
know I was doing two back flips," the 16
year old said.
He was treated for the break and a
concussion at Salem Hospital Wednesday
before returning to his family's West
Lynn home.
"I'm planning to go back Monday," he
said.
Police Lt. William Sharpe said
Petkevitch was struck at 98 Keslar Ave.
by a driver traveling from O'Callaghan
Way onto Keslar.
"The driver indicated sun glare obscured
his vision. Witnesses stated the
pedestrian was not in the crosswalk,"
Sharpe stated in an electronic mail
response to an inquiry about the
accident.
The injury left Petkevitch's parents
shaken and prompted Classical Principal
Gene Constantino to prepare several
reminders for students to take care
crossing busy O'Callaghan Way.
Classical, Breed Middle School and
Callahan School are located on the
street and drivers crowd O'Callaghan
before and after school, dropping off
and picking up students.
Callahan School crossing guard William
Boudreau was treated last Sept. 10 for
head and other injuries after a driver
struck him at 7:49 a.m. - roughly the
time Petkevitch was hit Wednesday
morning.
Constantino said snow piled along
O'Callaghan Way and the morning sun's
low angle during winter may have
contributed to Wednesday's accident.
He plans to urge students during
upcoming school assemblies and during
the school's morning news broadcast to
be aware of their surroundings and avoid
wearing music devices when they cross
the street.
"It was an accident but we always worry
about it," he said.
Sharpe said police officers are
"routinely assigned" to traffic
enforcement and parking control
assignments on O'Callaghan Way.
"We would always encourage parents to
speak with their children about using
appropriate crosswalks, no matter where
they are in the city," Sharpe said. |
|
|
|
|
 |
| (Item
Photo / Owen O'Rourke) |
Mina Healey Heading for MIT in the
Fall
By David Liscio /
The Daily Item
LYNN -
Classical High School student Mina
Healey is still beaming from news of
her acceptance by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology as an
incoming freshman come September.
No student from the high school has
been admitted to MIT in more than 20
years, according to Classical High
guidance counselor Franlinette Khuon.
"We are very excited for her and for
the school," Khuon said.
The academically charmed 18 year old
lives on Sunnyside Road with her
parents, Tim and Yassamin Healey,
and sister Nadia, 12, a Breed Junior
High seventh-grader.
At last count, Healey was
maintaining a 4.58 grade point
average (GPA) and boning up on
advanced placement courses that will
push her ahead at MIT.
"I'm so glad I went for early
admission," she said during an
interview last Wednesday. "It takes
away a lot of stress."
Born in Cambridge, Healey's family
moved to Lynn when she was in the
first grade where she enrolled at
Sewall-Anderson Elementary School.
Both parents are professional chefs,
her father at MIT and her mother is
currently a server at Boston's Clio
restaurant.
"My parents met when they were at
the Cambridge Culinary Institute. My
mother is from Iran. My father is
from Melrose," she said, seemingly
amused by the family's international
flavor.
Ironically she does not want to
follow her parents' footsteps.
"Not at all. I definitely don't want
to be a chef. I want to become an
architect," said Healey.
She recalled relishing playing the
Sim City computer game that allows
users to virtually design and build
communities on the screen.
"My mother's friend, Nader Tehrani,
has an architectural firm in Boston,
so my interest has been there, too,"
she said.
Healey's favorite classes are
calculus, taught by teacher Chelsea
Christian, and Latin, by Daniel
McNeill.
"This is my third year taking Latin
with Mr. McNeill. I really enjoy the
class," she said.
When not in class, Healey is busy
with other school activities. She is
a member of the Science Club,
History Club, and the Classical High
School College Bowl.
She was treasurer and secretary of
the student government in her junior
year. She was also elected president
of the National Honor Society at
Classical High, president of the
Classical Key Club, and represents
the school on the Northeast Regional
Student Advisory Council.
With such an astronomical GPA, she
is vying with one other student for
the rank of valedictorian.
When not in school, she attends
community meetings to voice her
opinions on education on the North
Shore.
She also volunteers at the My
Brother's Table soup kitchen in
Lynn, the local homeless shelter,
and at Bridgewell, a social service
organization where she serves food,
cleans kitchens and helps to host
dances for mentally challenged
clients.
Additionally, she has worked at the
Tree of Life Pantry, organizing
donations of meals to families in
need during the holidays, and
participated in the Relay for Life
cancer research fund raiser.
Healey's academic accomplishments
haven't been all about math and
science. She attended the film
school at the RAW Art Works studio
in downtown Lynn where she
collaborated on a film-making
project that was shown at the
Peabody Essex Museum.
Most days, Healey hangs out with her
boyfriend, Sokheng Keo, a Classical
High School senior ranked No. 10 in
the class and bound for Boston
College. She studies, but not for
hours at a stretch.
"For fun, I really like to shop,"
Healey said.
Asked what advice she might impart
to younger high achievers, she said,
"Lots of kids slack off in middle
school, but that's when you really
need to start making things happen."
Healey said school has kept her
schedule packed, but she managed to
work delivering the Daily Item in
the eighth and ninth grades.
Classical High Principal Eugene
Constantino described Healey as a
star, a model for others and a
shining example of what students can
achieve.
"She got started early," he said.
"She didn't wait until junior year.
By then it's too late because if you
haven't taken AP algebra you can't
take geometry. She did it right." |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Classical High School
seniors Kayla Wonoski,
Megan
Brady and Jessica Bolduc
wrap gifts for Lynn
elementary school kids on
Thursday. (Item Photo / Owen
O'Rourke) |
Lynn Classical helps bring Christmas
cheer to elementary students
By Barbara
Taormina / The Daily Item
LYNN -
This year the Connery
School was the lucky one to have
Classical High School teachers who
play Santa visit.
Teachers in the lower grades ask
families in need to make a Christmas
wish list for their kids.
Coula Kesanlis, who works in the
front office at Classical, collects
those lists and then hands them out
to the high school teachers.
And the shopping begins.
All gifts are routed back through
Kesanlis to the families and
everything is delivered with a "From
Santa" tag.
All giving is done anonymously, so
that parents who can't afford a
present will have something they can
give on Christmas morning.
This week Kesanlis' student helpers,
Megan Brady, Jessica Bolduc and
Kayla Wonoski, worked to wrap a room
crammed full of presents.
"I like helping out and a lot of
kids don't have much," said Brady as
she tied ribbons on a package.
Bolduc agreed it felt good to know
kids at Connery will have some
surprises for the holidays.
"I remember how happy I used to be
on Christmas morning," she said.
For years, the secret Santa gift
drive was a citywide effort that
drew in teachers from all the city's
schools.
But like a lot of holiday
traditions, it started to fade away
with time. And that's when Kesanlis
decided to step in.
"Coula took the reins and said we
are not going to let this die out at
Classical," said
Hana Walsh, an
English teacher who helps organize
the program.
Kesanlis said without the gift
drive, the holidays weren't the
same.
"So, I made it happen again," she
said. "This is my Christmas."
Kesanlis didn't have any trouble
convincing the teachers at Classical
to jump back on board.
"A lot of the teachers enlist their
families to help with the shopping,"
she said "And a lot of the teachers
go way beyond what's on the list."
Walsh said teachers often spend
around $200 on gifts for a child and
his or her siblings. And some
teachers grab two or three lists.
Those who don't have the extra time
to shop often drop off cash and gift
certificates. And it's not always
that easy.
"Our teachers have jobs, but they
are not exempt from the economy,"
said Walsh. "They have the same
economic problems as everyone else,
but somehow, everyone steps up."
This year, Walsh was able to
convince several corporate sponsors
to lend a hand.
Eastern Bank, Garelick Farms and the
employees at Garelick donated to the
gift drive. Walsh is hoping to get
more local businesses on board for
next year.
The elementary school teachers who
invite parents to make a list know
which kids are coming to school
without socks, or boots, or
sometimes coats.
Walsh said the wish lists this year
were filled with requests for hats,
mittens and scarves.
"More than ever, parents were asking
for the necessities for their kids,"
she said.
Wonoski said the gift-wrapping crew
had packaged up lots of clothes,
scarves and gloves this year. But
there were also boxes of Legos,
packages of play dough, action
figures, princess crowns and plenty
of other toys in the mix.
"It's good to give them what they
need," said Wonoski. "But it's
Christmas and the teachers try to
give the kids something that's fun,
something they want." |
|
|
|
|
|
College
Notebook: Kidney making impact for
Bryant swim team
By Joyce Erekson / The
Daily Item
College brings on change and for former
Classical High swimmer Katelyn Kidney,
it's meant honing her skills in a couple
of new events.
In high school, Kidney excelled in the
200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, but at
the college level, she's making her mark
in the 200 butterfly at Bryant
University (R.I.). As for long distance
events, she still does the 500, but
she's added the 1,000 and 1,650 to her
repertoire.
Last weekend in the Harold Anderson
Invitational, Kidney shaved two-tenths
of a second off her best time in the 200
butterfly and in the process, set a
school record with her time of 2:11.
Kidney said she found herself doing the
butterfly after her coach put her in the
event in the first meet against Boston
College and she ended up winning.
Kidney logged a ton of hours in the pool
as a member of the YMCA of the North
Shore Sharks when she was in high
school, which was good preparation
considering at the college level
swimmers start training in September and
that can mean putting in up to 20 hours
per week. The season ends in February.
"It's a lot of time, but it's worth it,"
Kidney said. "It's good for time
management."
After years of having to get a ride or
drive to the YMCA at all hours, Kidney
likes the fact she just rolls out of bed
and she's at the pool.
"It's easier because you're on campus.
You walk a couple of feet and you're
there," she said.
There's another benefit of logging all
those hours in the pool. Kidney doesn't
have to worry too much about the dreaded
freshman 15 -- the extra pounds that
seem to creep up on many first-year
college students.
A couple of other athletes who attended
Classical High are now playing in prep
school with aspirations of competing at
the college level.
Brothers Jared and Jake Fay, who played
basketball at Classical High School, are
on the Brimmer and May School varsity
boys basketball team. Jared is a senior
and Jake is a 6-5 sophomore. Both are
shooting guards. In the Hoop Mountain
Classic at Marianapolis Prep last
weekend, Jared was 6-for-6 from behind
the arc in a game against Wilbraham and
Monson. He finished with 22 points. Both
are looking to play college basketball.
Readers are encouraged to submit
information about local athletes now
competing at the college level. Joyce
Erekson can be reached by email at
jerekson@itemlive.com. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Homecoming queen Leonora Ngo and
king Anthony Tham were announced
at Lynn Classical’s Thanksgiving
game pep rally last week. Item
photo / Owen O'Rourke |
Classical king, queen first Asian
students so honored
By Karen Chretien /
For the Item
LYNN -
Students at Classical High School filled
the gymnasium last week with chants of
"We love Asians!" as the school's first
Asian homecoming king and queen accepted
their crowns and roses.
Seniors
Anthony Tham and Leonora Ngo
were named the 2010 Homecoming king and
queen at Classical's annual Thanksgiving
pep rally and are the first Asian
students to have ever been crowned.
In several conversations via e-mail, the
students expressed what the title means
to them and their opinions regarding the
diverse population of students at
Classical.
Ngo said the chant that echoed from the
student body was "quite fun and loving"
and represents the acceptance of
diversity that Classical exhibits.
"We are a very accepting and diverse
school," says Ngo. "Whenever a new
student comes, we're always making them
feel like they fit in."
The students said the chant was "far
from offensive" and instead made them
feel celebrated and honored.
"Race doesn't matter at Lynn Classical,"
says Tham. "We have a wide range of
diversity and everyone was very
supportive."
He adds that he has accepted
congratulations from students and
faculty every day since he won.
Principal Gene Constantino says Lynn
schools have always been supportive of
diversity.
"Classical students represent 26
different languages and students are
always welcoming and supportive of
differences," he says. "Classical is
overall a very supportive school and it
has been that way for a long time."
Students also congratulated Ngo and Tham
and the rest of the Homecoming royal
court, which included seniors
Sophana Chau, Nicky Huon, Marilyn Chan
and Samnang Oum.
"All of the winners of the court had a
very jubilant moment," says Ngo.
She adds that she was pleasantly
surprised by the win knowing that she
was up against some strong competitors.
"When they announced my name, I was
surprised and thrilled," says Ngo. "I
really didn't expect to win after seeing
some of my competition."
In addition to being named homecoming
queen, Ngo was inducted into the
National Honors Society last year and
takes several honors classes.
Ngo and Tham are in the same Honors
History class taught by Greg Washington,
who is also the senior class advisor.
Washington commended the students for
their academic achievements and was not
surprised that Ngo and Tham were named
king and queen.
"They are both very personable and
intelligent and are always participating
in class," says Washington. "They're
great students."
This year, the winners were chosen
through a fund-raising voting system
where seniors paid one dollar to cast a
vote. The money raised goes toward the
senior class.
Washington says the voting system was
"very unlimited" and any senior could
have won. "Students didn't choose from a
list or make prior nominations for who
they thought should win," says
Washington. "They could write down a
name of any senior that they thought
deserved to be king and queen, so I know
for a fact that students really respect
Anthony and Leonora."
Tham says he is proud of the students'
accomplishment.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Lynners mark World
AIDS Day with a twist
By Karen Chretien /
For the Item
LYNN - More than
100 individuals formed the first-ever "human ribbon" on the steps of
Lynn City Hall Wednesday evening in an effort to raise awareness about
HIV/AIDS in honor of World AIDS Day.
Following the formation of the "human ribbon," they marched down to
Central Square for a candlelight (and glow stick) vigil before a brief
reception was held at the Lynn Heritage Museum.
Unlike years past, when Lynners also held a candlelight vigil and museum
reception, this year Lynn Community Health Center's youth group KAYA
(Khmer Americans Youth in America) decided to plan something different.
"We wanted to do something unlike previous years to make a difference,"
says Sodany Mau, a member of KAYA and a sophomore at Lynn English. "It
was a huge community effort and it took a lot of people and
organizations to allow this to happen."
Angelica Veloz, senior at Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior High School in
Lynn, says she found out about the event on Facebook and wanted to
attend to show support for a deceased family member who died years ago
from HIV/AIDS.
"Being here gives me comfort," said Veloz. "It's nice knowing that other
people are in my boat and it gives me a sense of relief to know that we
all support each other."
KAYA members
served Mexican hot chocolate inside City Hall while students danced and
socialized before progressing outside to form the "human ribbon."
Major Judith Flanagan Kennedy called the event a "collaborative effort"
and was impressed by the turnout. "There are a lot more people who came
down tonight than I thought," she said. "The dedication these kids have
exhibited is extremely commendable and I'm happy to be a part of it."
The event was put together with help from CAB Health and Recovery
Services, Project COPE, Girls Inc. of Lynn, Health and Education
services, Strongest Link HIV/AIDS Services of Lynn, Catholic Charities,
Lynn YMCA and Lynn Museum and Historical Society as well as many
individuals via Facebook and word of mouth.
Antonio Gutierrez of Catholic Churches says the students who organized
the event deserve all of the recognition.
"It's amazing
what kids can do," said Gutierrez. "We owe all of this to the kids for
putting their minds to something and being compassionate of others. I'm
extremely impressed."
Upon reaching Central Square, the marchers gathered on the island
underneath the elevated train station for a candlelight vigil where
names of individuals who died from HIV/AIDS were read and HIV/AIDS
statistics were shared to spread awareness of the disease.
Lynn resident Tisha Sterling made a brief speech about how the disease
has taken the lives of more than 100 of his close friends and is
currently affecting members of his family as well. Sterling, a drag
queen, says one of his friends was "like a sister" to him and passed
away from HIV/AIDS two years ago. "I know so many people that have been
affected by HIV/AIDS and it breaks my heart every day," he said.
Sterling advised young people with the illness to take care of
themselves and spread awareness. "If you have HIV/AIDS, take your
medication, visit with doctors and please take care of yourself.
HIV/AIDS claims the lives of too many innocent people."
Following Sterling's speech, Girls Inc. of Lynn and members of the Lynn
English chorus led the group in a "Lean on Me" sing-a-long. Many
individuals hugged each other, shed tears and reminisced about the lives
of those lost from HIV/AIDS.
|
A tree was recently planted in the front of
Classical High School in memory of Salim Fort.
When the plaque arrives, there will be a formal dedication .
(Photo by Zachary Culp)
 |
|
Classical’s Jeremias Jimenez,
left, and English’s Caleb Michel
in their Lynn recording studio
Monday. Item Photo / Reba M.
Saldanha |
Lynn
students enjoying hip-hop rivalry
By Karen Chretien /
For the Item
LYNN - Lynn Classical
senior Jeremias Jimenez and Lynn
English senior Caleb Michel have
responded to the long rivalry between
Lynn English and Lynn Classical High
School in a way that has their fellow
peers singing along.
Jimenez and Michel have each recorded a
song about their respective high school
and what they believe makes each one
better than the other, under the
management of Jason Jimenez - Jeremias'
older brother - and friend Shaun Bryson
at Pure Sound Management recording
studio in Lynn.
Both teens are performing the songs at
their pep rallies this morning.
Ironically, however, this competitive
musical duo describes themselves as
"best friends."
"Jeremias and Caleb have been friends
since elementary school," said Jason
Jimenez. "They're just using their
musical talent in a fun, innocent way to
stir up the historical rivalry between
Lynn English and Lynn Classical," he
said.
Classical Principal Gene Constantino
said he agreed to allow Jeremias Jimenez
play his song, "Green and Gold" at the
pep rally because it does not personally
attack English and is a harmless way of
supporting the school.
"The song has no foul language and is
just a song about Classical so we
allowed for it to be used at the pep
rally," he said.
Michel approached English Principal
Thomas Strangie on Monday morning with
the lyrics to "English Anthem" and asked
if he could play the song at the English
pep rally.
"At first I was a little scared because
the first thing Principal Strangie told
me to do was tuck my shirt in," said
Michel.
Strangie approved the song after
examining the lyrics and verifying that
there was no explicit language used.
"It's not so much a song about the
rivalry, I think it's more so a song
about English and going to high school
here," said Strangie. "I think it's
pretty innocent."
Both of the students have been
practicing their musical talents since
they were 10 and had their first chance
to record music at the after-school
program at the Gregg Neighborhood House
in Lynn. Jason Jimenez and Shaun
Bryson started Pure Sound Management
and signed the two students to a
recording contract two years ago in
order to manage their talents for
writing and recording their own original
music.
Jason Jimenez then advised his younger
brother to record a song that would
appeal to his age group and local
community.
"I first told Jeremias to write a song
to focus on his school (Classical) so he
could start with a fan base there," said
Jason Jimenez. "After his song gained a
lot of popularity and the response from
students was huge, we told Caleb to
write a song about English because of
the ongoing rivalry between the two
schools. We wanted to get some buzz
going."
Jeremias Jimenez spent two days writing
and recording the song titled "Green and
Gold," which refers to Classical's
school colors.
"The whole song is related to my high
school and what makes Classical, in my
eyes, the better of the two schools,"
said Jeremias Jimenez, who is referred
to as "Nova" in the hip-hop world.
"Jason came up with the idea and I
thought it would be a fun way to show my
support for Classical."
One set of lyrics in "Green and Gold"
support Classical's athletics and
states: "Other teams with your minds
full of false starts, thinkin' you could
win a game in our ball park, never did I
stutter, now all together, we better
than any other."
Michel said it's always fun to enjoy "a
good, friendly rivalry," who responds to
"Green and Gold" in his song titled,
"English Anthem."
"If there is a song supporting
Classical, of course I felt like I
needed to represent English," he said.
The chorus of Michel's "English Anthem"
celebrates the English school mascot,
the Bulldog, and English's school colors
and states: "I got Bulldog blood running
through my veins, even when I graduate
I'm still reppin' (representing) maroon
and gray, we own the city and we make
the rules, we don't make it easy, not
like the others do, put the sweater on
wearing only English, these other
schools begin it so of course we had to
finish."
Michel said a week ago after Jeremias
Jimenez's song started to get attention,
he stayed up late in order to craft his
"response."
"I couldn't just leave English hanging,"
said Michel. "I wanted to write
something that showed my support for the
school on top of being catchy and
something that students could relate
to."
Both Jeremias Jimenez and Michel
succeeded at writing songs that appeal
to their peers, as many students from
each school have downloaded the tracks
onto CDs that they blast at high school
sporting events. Some students have even
made the songs their cell phone ring
tone.
Jeremias Jimenez said last weekend after
English defeated Classical at the high
school girl's Powder Puff game, the
Classical girls held their heads high
and sang along to "Green and Gold."
"After the game people were getting in
their cars and just blasting the song
out of their speakers," said Jeremias
Jimenez. "Aside from the loss, the girls
were still excited to have a song that
represented their school and their
team."
Michel said he found out later that
night that the winning English team had
done the same.
"It was a great feeling knowing that a
song that I wrote was being played
during a time of celebration," said
Michel.
Jeremias Jimenez and Michel have
uploaded their songs using MP3 Twit on
Twitter, which also allows individuals
to post the URL on their Facebook page
so friends can listen and download the
tracks.
Each song already has a hefty fan base;
"Green and Gold" currently has 928 plays
and 395 downloads, while "English
Anthem" has 695 plays and 426 downloads. |
|
|
|
|
|
Carnaval de San Miguel:
Belleza
y alegría
Salvadoreña
Belleza salvadoreña.
De izquierda a
derecha Estefany (
Stephanie ) López,
Zulma Romero,
Kimberly Salazar y
María Valle.
Recientemente se
realizó con todo
entusiasmo la
elección de
coronación de la
Reina Carnaval de
San Miguel Boston
2010-2011, donde fue
coronada Zulma
Romero, de 15 años,
estudiante de High
School en Worcester,
perteneciente a una
feliz familia
salvadoreña. La
tercera versión de
este carnaval contó
con gran
organización y
nutrida asistencia
en el Polish
Political Club en la
58 Broadway de
Chelsea.
El
segundo lugar fue
ocupado por Estefani
López, tercera quedó
Kimberly Salazar y
cuarta María Valle.
Realmente, el gran
ganador fue el
público que tuvo una
velada sensacional.
La
reina 2009-2010,
Melisa Márquez
entregó el cetro a
Zulma, en medio de
los aplausos. Melisa,
de 18 años, hija del
puertorriqueño Jesús
y la salvadoreña
Gladis es hoy una
buena estudiante de
Suffolk University.
La
delegación de
Massachusetts estará
en El Salvador el 23
de noviembre para
participar en la
edición 52 del
majestuoso Carnaval
de San Miguel, donde
se reunirán más de
1,000,000 de
visitantes de
diferentes partes
del mundo.
Al
día siguiente,
Massachusetts tendrá
presencia en la
aldea San Antonio de
la ciudad de San
Miguel, donde los
delegados llevarán
alegría a los niños.
Para
conocer más sobre
las realizaciones
del Carnaval escriba
a
carnavaldesanmiguelboston@hotmail.com
This e-mail address is being protected from
spambots. You need
JavaScript enabled
to view it o llame a los teléfonos 781 888 1769, 781 913 3793 ó 617 884
3238 ext 350.
Belleza salvadoreña.
De izquierda a
derecha Estefany
López, Zulma Romero,
Kimberly Salazar y
María Valle.
Reprinted from El
Mundo Boston
ps - We hear she
came in 2nd Place
|
|
|
Behavioral study of Lynn high school kids full of Good
News
By Barbara
Taormina/The Daily Item
LYNN -
Lynn teens are drinking less alcohol,
smoking less marijuana and they have shown little
interest in abusing prescription drugs, according to
results of surveys taken by high school students.
That information is part of a snapshot of Lynn teens
captured by the Lynn High School Youth Risk Behavior
Survey that was adapted from surveys taken by the state
Department of Education and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Since 1991, health officials and educators have used the
anonymous surveys to gauge teen involvement in behaviors
that compromise health and jeopardize futures.
According to the CDC, it is easier and more effective to
intervene and change those behaviors in children and
adolescents than it is to convince adults to change and
avoid potential long-term risks and consequences.
School Superintendent Catherine Latham said last May was
the first time in a number of years that Lynn students
have participated in the survey.
A total of 2,691 teens, or 68 percent of Lynn’s high
school students, took the survey and their answers are
being analyzed by the entire school staff, led by Dennis
Thompson, assistant director of curriculum for health
and physical education.
“The results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate
areas of celebration where school and community efforts
are making great strides and areas of concern where
future efforts need to be concentrated,” said Latham.
The survey, which asked kids about their perceptions as
well as their behaviors, showed that parents have made
it clear that cigarettes and alcohol should be
off-limits. Seventy-nine percent of Lynn high school
students reported their parents believed smoking was
inappropriate and a risky behavior, and 78 percent said
their parents disapproved of drinking regularly.
However, only 61 percent of the students surveyed said
their parents disapproved of smoking marijuana.
Latham said families had done a good job reinforcing the
message about the risks of tobacco and alcohol, but she
was even more encouraged that the vast majority of kids
surveyed felt they had adults in their lives who they
could turn to. Eighty-six percent of students said they
had a parent, guardian or other adult they could talk to
while 59 percent said they knew teachers and school
staff, in whom they felt they could confide.
Compared with the state 2007 average of 44 percent, more
Lynn students, or 53 percent, said they have had sex.
That total includes 39 percent of freshmen, 48 percent
of sophomores, 62 percent of juniors and 70 percent of
seniors.
Among the Lynn students who admitted they have been
sexually active, 57 percent said they used a condom the
last time they had sexual intercourse.
However, while 58 percent of freshmen and sophomores
said they used condoms, only 49 percent of juniors, and
54 percent of seniors took that step.
Latham also saw some progress in the students’ responses
to questions about violent behaviors and experiences.
“In comparison with state 2007 high school survey
results for violence, the percentage of Lynn high school
students involved in fights, bullying events or the
carrying of weapons was consistently lower than state
percentages,” she said.
While 22 percent of students across the state reported
being bullied more than once over the course of a year,
16 percent of Lynn high students said bullying had been
a problem.
However, 24 percent of Lynn students also said they had
been involved in a physical fight within the last year,
and 10 percent admit carrying a weapon to school
sometime within 30 days of when the survey was taken.
While many may find those numbers alarming, the survey
answers that may be the most surprising, and most
disturbing, for the majority of parents and adults came
in response to a series of questions about suicide.
Thirteen percent of Lynn high school students said they
have seriously considered suicide over the past year.
The same percent of students reported they had planned
out a suicide and 13 percent also said they had tried to
kill themselves. Another 18 percent said they had
intentionally injured themselves.
Latham called those last set of figures “troubling” and
“seriously noteworthy,” and said that Lynn schools with
will continue to work with outside agencies such as the
Department of Children and Families, the Lynn Community
Health Program, Girls, Inc., Help for Abused Women and
Their Children, HAWC, and other community groups to
support kids and encourage them to develop healthy
behaviors.
She also said the entire survey and all results will be
posted on the school department’s website sometime this
week.
|
|
|
|
Alan Palm, the
New England Lead Educator at ACE
(Alliance for Climate Education),
lectures students at Classical High
Tuesday on environmental issues.
Item photo / Owen O'Rourke
Climate education group visits Classical
By Karen Chretien /
For the Item
LYNN - The
Alliance for Climate Education (ACE)
visited Lynn Classical High School
Tuesday for the second time.
ACE is dedicated to educating America's
youth about the science of climate
change and how to make a difference in
preserving the earth and its resources.
Through an interactive audio/video
presentation, ACE speaker Alan Palm
alerted students about the state of our
planet and what the consequences of
burning fossil fuels at such rapid rates
will do to the environment in the
future. He invited students to make
small changes in their lives that can
largely impact the future of our planet.
"Do not doubt the power you have as an
individual and as a powerful group,"
said Palm. "Things we do today and
decisions that we make will affect the
world you live in for the rest of your
life."
ACE's presentation last year sparked the
start of Classical's Environmental Club,
run by AP Environmental and Marine
Biology teacher David Winchester.
The club's mission is to promote the
cleanliness and care of the earth,
starting within the high school.
"We want students
to understand that it's not their fault,
but they can make changes," said
Winchester.
Along with Winchester, a group of
students helps to oversee positive
changes that can help transform the high
school. The Advertising Club also
contributes by creating eco-friendly
posters that are hung around the school.
Since the formation of the club,
Classical now has various recycling bins
located in hallways and classrooms to
encourage students to recycle.
Student Zachary Culp enjoys the fact
that students get yelled at now when
they try to throw bottles into the trash
bins.
"A lot of
students are now bringing their own
aluminum water bottles instead of
plastic ones," said Culp. "The amount of
students that now recycle has gone way
up."
The Environmental Club meets every
Tuesday after school in Winchester's
classroom. Along with brainstorming
ideas to create a healthier high school,
the club also maintains a small aquarium
and is raising turtles that will
eventually be released into a local
freshwater pond.
ACE also gives schools grants to start
eco-friendly projects and offers various
scholarship programs.
To learn more about ACE's science
sponsored programs, visit
www.acespace.org.
|
|
|
|
|
$100
netbook not quite a prescription for success
Courtesy of
the Boston Globe, written by Hiawatha Bray
I
expected the first $100 laptop to emerge from a lab at MIT. Instead, it turned
up at the drugstore.
Nicholas Negroponte, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
began talking five years ago about building ultra-cheap computers to help
educate kids in developing countries. His One Laptop Per Child project made a
clever little machine, but wasn’t able to get it below that magic $100 price
point. But the idea inspired companies like Taiwan’s Asus to develop netbooks —
mini-laptops priced at around $350.
Now a little New York firm called Digital Gadgets has cobbled together a
super-cheap netbook, labeled with the familiar Sylvania brand name and available
for $99 at
CVS pharmacies. It’s a remarkable achievement that would be even more
impressive if it were a better computer.
The Sylvania netbook is about the size and weight of a hardback book. It’s got a
7-inch screen with a couple of small, predictably tinny speakers mounted on
either side.
The keyboard is pretty much what you’d expect: cramped and confusing. To save
space, the right shift key has been mixed in with the arrow keys, and our friend
the apostrophe has moved down a couple rows. In short, it’s hard times for touch
typists, made worse by the reduced size of each key. The netbook’s mouse puts
left and right buttons on either side of the touchpad, rather than underneath.
It’s a little off-putting, but I got used to it.
It’s harder to deal with the Sylvania’s primitive software and sluggish
performance. The first bit of bad news is its operating system: Windows CE, a
low-end product from
Microsoft Corp. It’s basically the same software that drives the current
line of Windows smartphones, which are being clobbered by Apple Inc.’s iPhone
and
Google Inc.’s Android phones. If Windows CE isn’t good enough to run a phone
properly, imagine how it performs on a netbook.
While most netbooks run
Intel Corp.’s respectable Atom processor, Sylvania went with a low-end chip
from Taiwan’s Via Technologies Inc. The average netbook has a gigabyte of
memory, but the Sylvania has only about 128 megabytes, an eighth as much. The
latest smartphones have faster processors and more memory than this. No surprise
that while the netbook boots up in less than 30 seconds, it takes its time doing
pretty much anything else.
There’s no hard drive, of course, but that’s not a problem. The Sylvania is
nicely equipped with three USB ports and a slot for SD memory cards, so you can
plug in more storage space in seconds.
The basic software suite includes WordPad, Microsoft’s familiar text editor, as
well as tools for viewing documents created in
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as a reader for
Adobe PDF files. There’s also a photo viewer, and a custom-built application
for finding and watching YouTube videos. But with its slow processor, the videos
look more like slideshows. They jerk and stagger across the screen.
Still, a user would probably spend most of his time with the netbook’s Internet
Explorer browser, hunting up interesting websites. But not too interesting. The
netbook browser will not support the most recent version of Adobe Systems Inc.’s
Flash software, which is used to play videos and animations on many of the
world’s top sites. Forget about checking out the latest news videos on
CNN.com.
But you’ll be lucky to get CNN, or any other website for that matter. The
highlight of the netbook is supposedly its Wi-Fi feature, which should enable
wireless Internet service. Well, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t.
I
tested the Sylvania in multiple locations — at work, at home, even at a local
McDonald’s. Sometimes it worked, hooking me up to the Internet without any fuss.
But sometimes it didn’t. And the failures were quite unpredictable.
My
gripes to the manufacturer produced a disheartening reply. While investigating
my complaint, they found a bug in the netbook’s Wi-Fi software that causes
intermittent failures. A company employee said they’ll soon put things right
with a software patch.
I
can wait, and so can you. A skimpy screen, a narrow keyboard, and slow software
are all problems you can live with. But even a $1 netbook isn’t much use if you
can’t connect to the Net.
Negroponte informed me by e-mail that he hadn’t heard of the $99 Sylvania
netbook and is eager to try it out. Well, hold onto your money, sir. And that
goes for the rest of you, too.
Classical MCAS Gains are
Encouraging
By Barbara Taormina / The Daily
Item
LYNN - Lynn schools made some solid gains in the MCAS scores
released this week by the state Department of Education.
Although city educators admit there's a lot of work
ahead, they also saw some encouraging numbers as well as reasons to be
optimistic.
"With a couple of exceptions, we have made progress,"
said School Superintendent Catherine Latham. "I am pleased with the results and
that progress."
At the high school level Classical saw a big bump in math
scores with 43 percent of the Class of 2012 earning the highest or advanced
score. English language arts scores saw some small fluctuations, but 74 percent
of students who took the test last spring were in the top two brackets.
"Overall, we've made some gains,"
said Principal Gene Constantino. "We have a lot of work to do, but we have a
plan in place and we have a lot of strong support."
