Pursell’s donation provided for new bleachers, which seat 380 spectators, a temporary scoreboard and all labor involved in the project.

This season, two varsity games were played at East’s newly improved stadium. The Cougars played against Winslow Township on October 11 and Rancocas Valley on October 18.

Not only do the improvements to the stadium enable the football players to play on their home field, but they may also boost school spirit and attendance at games.          

“For the first time in school history East players will not have to get on a bus to go to a home game and the East student body will be able to attend a home football game on the East campus,” wrote Mr. O’Connor, East’s Athletic Director. “It is difficult for younger students to travel to the West side of town to attend football games.  Now, for these two games, the students [only had] to get to school.”

At one time the only public school in South Jersey with a football program and no varsity field, East’s players can now play proudly for their school.

The typical East student visits family, competes in sports tournaments, vacations in Cancun or catches up on sleep.

Thirty-five students last year built houses.

“Being able to build a whole house in a week is quite an experience,” said Dane Berkowitz (’10).

Since Spanish teacher Mr. Console introduced Habitat for Humanity to East in 2004, students have been able to build homes for needy families during the spring break week-long trips, overnight trips to Baltimore and on “day build” trips.

“Habitat is a lot more than the spring break trip,” said school librarian Ms. Rion.

Indeed, this year students are required to attend one of the day build trips before committing to the spring break trip.  Thus, they will become more experienced with tools and will be able to decide whether they really want to build houses for a week.  Day build trips cost 15 dollars.

Instead of or in conjunction with the spring break trip, students can also attend the Baltimore weekend trip Nov 6-8 for 200 dollars.  In addition to building houses, Habitat also visits Fort McHenry and the National Aquarium.

The spring break trip this year will be April 5-ll in John’s Island, South Carolina, the same place as last year.

“We had such an amazing week that that’s where we’re going this year,” said Ms. Rion.

Like the Baltimore trip, it does not only consist of building houses.

“There’s a lot of stuff that make it a fun trip,” said Brett Levine, East Habitat co-president and coordinator of trips.

Students go into town at night and enjoy the beach.  There are also groups of students from different high schools and colleges throughout the country with whom East interacts.

“(I was able) to see a new community, a new culture,” said Alex Adler (’09), East Habitat co-president and coordinator of day builds.

Of course, the focus of the trip is building houses for needy families.  Students and faculty (last year seven) paint, work on roofs, hammer, shovel, landscape, climb ladders, build walls…

Experience is not necessary.

“For a lot of people it’s their first time building,” said Emily Savoca (’09), East Habitat co-president and coordinator of advocacy and communications.  “I learned how to install a door…that was pretty cool.”

The trip costs about 600 dollars, but the price can be reduced with fundraising.  Participating students must be 16 or older.

See Mr. Console, Ms. Rion or the following students for details.

Elizabeth Park and Brett Levine,
Co-Presidents and coordinators of trips
Alex Adler and Maddie Cattuna,
Co-President and coordinator of day builds
Emily Savoca and Kim Kline,
Co-Presidents and coordinators of advocy and communications
Zack Silverberg,
Co-President and coordinator of fundraising

 

Many of these Ugandan children have been leading lives of perdition, such as fighting in wars and suffering extreme weather conditions without food, water and shelter. On the pamphlet of the organization, a child’s story is told:   “Jimmy Odong, who was abducted by and forced to fight for the Lord’s Resistance Army, will not be able to attend secondary school without a sponsor.”

Another story reads, “Charles Otim, a former child soldier, wants to become a teacher. However, he first requires micro-finance in order to set up a small poultry business.”

These children and many more are suffering to seek the simplicities in life that some of us take for granted. Seibert is not only helping from the outside but on the inside. She will be traveling to Uganda and will be examining the school’s facilities that the organization started to make sure that they are safe and clean for the kids learning there. Seibert would even like to have the public follow her through her journey on her “Exploring Uganda Blog” at www.exploringuganda.blogspot.com/.

She wrote to the public, “Follow my story if you wish, as I travel to Uganda to meet the young man, an orphan with no surviving blood relatives, my seventh grade students and I are sponsoring; as I research one of the longest-running wars in Africa–and what is considered one of the world’s ‘forgotten humanitarian crises.’” 

In fact, statistics by UNICEF confirm that about 1.5 million people in Northern Uganda have been taken out of their normal lives and put into poverty. One of these reasons is the continuing violence that is happening from the “Lord’s Resistance Army” and other conflicts happening in Uganda. One child by the name of Dennis was forced to murder someone and later was left in a village. His legs were so impaired due to the equipment he had to carry; he was forced to crawl for three days in order to search for help.

Basic acts can help these children in Uganda, such as purchasing composition notebooks or school supplies that are common for kids and which can be shipped overseas or be given to a fellow volunteer of “Outside the Dream” foundation. Starting small fundraisers can help the foundation as well, such as selling pretzels or baked goods. The website is www.outsidethedream.org/.

The foundation echoes a quote by Margaret Mead to the public:  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

President: Emily Zippilli (’09)

Vice Presidents: Meghan Marro (’09), Madison Back (’09), Brett Marlowe (’10) and Anthony Giannopoulos (’09)

Slogan: 

Like Soulja Boy, I want YOUUUU to vote Todd Hummel for SGA President!

What have you done for the school already (including involvement in SGA)? 

Freshman and Sophomore Class President; SGA Vice President; Varsity Soccer; Blood Drive Publicity and Donor Chairperson; DECA

What are you hoping to change at East?  

When elected, I hope to transform the attitude of the student body.  Basically, I want to encourage students of all interests to participate in and attend school events.

What is your main priority? 

My main priority is to effectively publicize existing school events and develop new activities to spark the interests of all students in order to bring students together and increase school spirit.

How will you accomplish these goals? 

I will accomplish my goals by actively involving the opinions of students in SGA and working tirelessly to fight for the students’ desires when facing the administration.

How do the decisions of SGA affect the school?  Would you consider SGA involved in student life? 

Although unknown to many students, SGA is heavily involved in the school.  Whether it is promoting East to prospective students at Orientation or organizing some of the school’s most highly attended events like Mr. East and Wing Bowl, SGA works hard to improve the lives of students at East.

What do you like about East? 

I am a huge advocate of East.  Our school has a dedicated staff, competitive athletics, a diverse student body, and high-quality educational opportunities.  As a result, I believe East is respected both at a local and a national level.

How are you different than other candidates?  Why should we vote for you? 

I believe that the mixture of my interests allows me to relate to a variety of people, which sets me apart from other candidates.  Whether a love for sports, dedication to academics or diversified respect for the arts, I can bring a broad assortment of perspectives to SGA that would better represent the student body as a whole.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

In addition to my experience in SGA, I have participated in the highly successful Blood Drive, varsity sports and DECA.  I am a firm believer in completely dedicating myself to a few activities in order to put forth my greatest effort in what I am passionate about.

What’s something most people don’t know about you, but you would like them to know? 

Although I may appear as the typical, suburban New Jersey teenager who only listens to Dave Matthews, my taste in music is about as diverse as can be.  I can’t wait for the Rick Ross’s “Trilla” to come out in March.  I am disappointed that I cannot go to the Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban concert this summer.  I listen to techno music while I study.  Finally, I never get tired of some good ACDC, Van Halen or Guns & Roses.  Such diversity enables me to relate to many different types of people on at least one level.

Why did you decide to run for president? 

I decided to run for President of SGA simply because I feel as though after three years of solid experience, it is time to take on even more responsibility and make not only my senior year great, but to leave a lasting mark to improve the experiences of classes after my graduation.

What does the president actually do? 

The President of SGA works closely with the administration, head of activities, class government and student body to organize existing events and propose new ideas to improve the lives of his fellow students at East.

Slogans: 

Make the E.Z. Choice; Don’t be silly, vote Zippilli

What have you done for the school already (including involvement in SGA)? 

This year I served as the Vice President of SGA, which involved putting many events together for the school.  Sophomore year I was VP for the class and freshman year I was a rep.  I am also very involved in sports.

What are you hoping to change at East? 

I think we can all agree that SGA only interests a select group of students in the school and I would hope to change that and expand the reach of SGA in the student body.  

What is your main priority? 

My main priority would be to have more students involved in the school in general.  School spirit is something we lack, and it should be a main priority to change that.

How will you accomplish these goals? 

As you know, SGA hosts many events throughout the year, and I feel like the best way to reach out to more students would be to host a wider variety of events, for example Battle of the Bands.  I believe with more activities, there would be more interest and participation and therefore school spirit.

How do the decisions of SGA affect the school?  Would you consider SGA involved in student life? 

Overall, SGA is involved in student life.  We always have an opportunity to do more involving new students, and I don’t think we have taken full advantage of this power.  The decisions made as SGA officers do not have a major impact on the learning aspect of school, but in an extra-curricular sense, we have an impact on the activities students have the option to participate in throughout the year.

What do you like about East? 

I love East.  We have such a great school, and I think that is taken for granted a lot.  CHE has a diverse student body.  In general, teachers are so helpful academically or in activities.  The best part about this school is the students that go here…we, the students, make East a more exciting place to be.

How are you different than other candidates?  Why should we vote for you? 

I believe I stand out as a candidate due to how much I care about student government.  I have worked so hard for the past few years as VP, and have become quite passionate about what I want to see done in this school.  You should vote for me because I can guarantee I will work the hardest as President of this school to improve your high school experience.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

Besides student government, I have been a member of DECA for the past three years.  I play both softball and field hockey.

Do you think East has enough school spirit?  If not, how would you, or would you not, address the lack of spirit? 

No, as I have said before, East does not have nearly enough school spirit.  This is a very hard topic to address, but I think the best way to change this would be for students to like their school more in general and want to express it on their own accord.  Personally, I think it would be awesome if SGA worked with the athletics to increase school spirit on a sporting event level.

Why did you decide to run for president? 

I have decided to run for president because after serving as VP of the school, I have realized that this is something I really, genuinely want to do.  I want to make a change in this school because there are changes that need to be made.  I know, given the opportunity to serve as President, I will do everything in my power to serve the student body.

What does the president actually do? 

The President of SGA does many things and has many responsibilities.  He/she represents the student body on an administrative level and voices the opinions of students to the principal.  The President organizes or oversees all SGA events.  In doing all of these things, the President is doing his/her primary purpose: to serve the student body.

Slogan: “I’ve got your BACK”, “BACK by popular demand”, etc.

What have you done for the school already (including involvement in SGA)? 

SGA representative (11th grade), organized spirit week dance (9, 10, 11 grade), participated in various clubs and activities (see #8).

What are you hoping to change at East? 

I’m hoping to amp up the school spirit and increase student involvement.  I’m also hoping to make East a place where everyone feels like they belong.

What is your main priority? 

My main priority is to ensure that everyone has a great 2008-2009 school year and to establish good relationships between each grade.  I want East students to look back on their highschool years and think “Wow, that was an incredible experience.”

How will you accomplish these goals? 

I will accomplish these goals by constantly staying focused and dedicated and always looking at things from a different perspective.

How do the decisions of SGA affect the school?  Would you consider SGA involved in student life? 

I would definitely consider SGA involved in student life because it is the voice of the student body as a unified whole.  SGA affects the school by making it more than just a place one goes to learn in a classroom- it provides opportunities for students to get involved and learn on another level.

What do you like about East? 

I love that there is truly something for everyone here- and if there isn’t, one has the opportunity to create it.  I also like how East enables its students to be independent individuals.  I think we have a lot of freedom here in comparison to other schools.

How are you different than other candidates?  Why should we vote for you? 

I am different from other candidates because I haven’t had as much experience in actual SGA, but my experiences thus far in life and at East have prepared me fully for this position.  You should vote for me because I’ll provide a fresh outlook and I really care about everyone who attends our school.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

East activities include dance team, Eastcast/Cable 19, Adopt-a-Grandparent, and Eastside.  I also dance in the Jazz Unlimited Dance Ensemble outside of school.

What’s something most people don’t know about you, but you would like them to know? 

If you don’t know me, you probably wouldn’t know that I am extremely passionate about all that I do and I am very fun-loving.  I thrive off of entertaining others and making others happy.  I am loyal and I look out for the best interests of others.

Do you think East has enough school spirit?  If not, how would you, or would you not, address the lack of spirit? 

I think the school spirit is there, it just needs some serious boosting.  I would address this issue by trying to make easier and more appealing ways for everyone to get involved.

Why did you decide to run for vice president? 

I decided to run for VP because I realized that I love SGA because it combines two of my favorite things: using my creativity to create solutions to problems and enrich life, and helping other people.  Being VP would enable me to make East more enjoyable for everyone.

What does the vice president actually do? 

A VP helps run SGA meetings, organizes school events, aids in making decisions for SGA and the student body in general, participates in activities going on at East, brainstorms ideas to solve problems and enrich the East community, and actually makes things happen. A VP speaks for and serves the student population.

Slogan: Nothing is better than a Greek god.

What have you done for the school already (including involvement in SGA)? 

I am the vice president of the class of 09’. I contribute to all the events of CHE.

What are you hoping to change at East?
I don’t think the East needs any changes, I like the way it works, if anything I’d like to add more ways to get SGA to interact with the rest of the students. 

What is your main priority? 

My main priority is to remove clicks from East. I want everyone to be friends with everyone, so that we can work together on anything we do.

How will you accomplish these goals? 

I plan to accomplish this by adding a variety of events so that everyone in the school can relate to it in one way or another.

How do decisions of SGA affect the school? Would you consider SGA involved in student life? 

The decisions of SGA affect the school very much. They plan every event and are the backbone of school spirit. I believe that SGA IS student life. When I think of school I think of SGA.

What do you like about East? 

I enjoy everything about East. The friendliness of classmates, the drive to do well that surrounds you, and the excellent teaching staff.

How are you different than other candidates? Why should we vote for you? 

There is not one candidate that even compares to me. I care more for this school than any candidate could possibly. I think that everyone should vote for me, because I can connect to everyone, which means that I can help anyone at anytime. Anyone who knows me as Vice president of 09’ knows that I never miss anything.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

I am on the baseball team and a club called world awareness.

What something most people don’t know about you, but you would like them to know? 

I have a BIG heart.

Do you think East has enough school spirit?  If not, how would you, or would you not, address the lack of spirit? 

I think that the certain kids that have school spirit, have a lot of it. There are some that don’t have any though. My plan to get more spirit is to make awards of all sorts and have several ceremonies to give them away.

Why did you decide to run for vice president? 

I love my school, and I love helping it as much as possible. I like knowing what is going on way before it happens. I most of all like helping my classmates, that is why I am running for vice president.

What does vice president actually do? 

My belief is that the vice presidents aid and assist the president with whatever he needs help with.

Slogan: Show a little love, Vote for Dov

What have you done for the school already (including involvement in SGA)?

I am a varsity lacrosse player, two-time SGA class representative, DECA regional finalist, DECA state representative, FOP holiday party 

What are you hoping to change at East?  

My hopes are to change the outlook of the student body, and to have students be more enthused to participate in school activities, also to inspire school pride and spirit.

What is your main priority? 

My main priority is to make students feel safe in the east community and encourage the student body to become more involved in school activities and functions.

How will you accomplish these goals? 

Eliminating the lack of school pride and the negative connotation with school functions can accomplish theses goals.  In addition encouraging respect for our school as well as fellow students. This would translate into better inter-student relationships and decreasing/eliminating vandalism of our school property.

How do the decisions of SGA affect the school?  Would you consider SGA involved in student life? 

SGA is the voice and opinion of the student body.  The SGA is very involved in student life because the “student government” influences lives of the students.  It is the students’ opinions that are being heard and therefore effect the decisions that the school make.

What do you like about East? 

I like the diverse atmosphere of the student body.  Secondly, the dynamic role that the teachers bring to the learning community of East.

How are you different than other candidates?  Why should we vote for you? 

I am different that other candidates because I have an energetic and unique approach to changing the spirit of the school.  A very important quality I possess is listening to peoples’ different opinions and bringing theses different opinions into a working and productive learning environment.  You should vote for me because I have insight in the academic, athletic, and creative communities at East and can voice the opinions of the students thoroughly to blend them into making a comfortable community for everyone.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

I am involved in Varsity Lacrosse and sports debate team.

What’s something most people don’t know about you, but you would like them to know?  

Most people don’t know that I am actually dyslexic, although I am very intelligent, I have trouble reading and writing.  I understand the difficulties of balancing school with social aspects of our lives and therefore I can relate with the students.

Do you think East has enough school spirit?  If not, how would you, or would you not, address the lack of spirit? 

I do not think East has enough school spirit.  In order to address the lack of school spirit I would create an atmosphere in east that students will be proud to support their school.  Also by eliminating negativity and supporting interesting events and functions that students will want to partake in.

Why did you decide to run for vice president? 

I decided to run for vice president for many reasons. Firstly I feel that I can make a difference in the student community.  I care about the students’ opinions and want their ideas to be heard.  I also represent a majority of the student body and therefore can relate to the students.

What does the vice president actually do? 

The vice president assists the president and other SGA board members to make decisions that affect the students.  Also the vice president works with the School Board to plan events and school functions for students.  Lastly the vice president voices the opinions of the students to that their ideas are heard by the school board.