East teacher celebrates Pi Day in style

 

“I never celebrated Pi Day until I came to East,” said Heath. “When I came to East, I felt it was about time.”

Although pi is one of the most well-known mathematical constants, its origin is unknown to most students. To help her students understand the mathematics behind pi, Heath demonstrates the method by which the number is derived.

“Anyone can copy things down, but understanding them is more important,” said Heath.

While pizza pies are the iconic food of choice in celebrating Pi Day, baked foods have become trademarks of Heath Pi Day celebrations. Perennial favorites are perfectly circular cookies and square cornbread. Heath’s cornbread is an intended pun on the area formula for a circle: πr2, said “pie are squared.”

However, students should not expect to gorge on cookies and cornbread for the entire period. Heath prepares a packet about pi for her Geometry students. The packet details the properties and history of pi, which dates back nearly 4000 years.

“I want my students to understand that [pi] is not just some arbitrary number,” said Heath.

Heath uses pi beyond her teaching responsibilities. Using the number, she perfectly measures out the area of dough needed to top her pies. Years ago, she even designed and calculated the dimensions for a skateboarding quarter-pipe using pi.

Although Pi Day may slip under the radar for most of East’s students, at least one teacher’s students are celebrating the obscure holiday without restraint. For the remainder of the school population, Pi Day can at least be an excuse to enjoy a pizza pie with friends.

East hosts annual table tennis tournament

 

The Annual East Table Tennis Tournament was held this past Saturday, February 24.  The tournament took place from 1:30-5:00 p.m. in the East gym.

“It was good [this year], very competitive,” said Mr. Karl Moehlmann, who was the teacher in charge of the event.

The tournament included 25 students from East.  Moehlmann created six brackets from these students, with their seeding depending on how they performed in past tournaments.  The players battled it out for several hours, as sweat poured onto the floor, from both nerves and fatigue.

The eventual winner of the tournament was Andy Yan (’08), who beat Cory Honeyman in straight games, 21-13, 21-13.  It was Yan’s second championship in as many years.

“They should have two divisions: the ‘Yan’ division and the ‘other’ division,” said Ben Rosengard (’09), one of the many competitors who saw both Andy and his older brother, Mike, dominate the field.

Next year’s tournament can hopefully bring the same excitement to the table.

‘Labyrinth’ a fairy tale with a twist

 

Set in 1944’s post-Civil War Spain, the movie merges the real and fantastic with flawless lucidity vaguely reminiscent of Del Toro’s work in Hellboy.  Clearly expressing his fondness for the macabre, Del Toro wrote, produced, and directed this grim tale of a young girl who travels with her pregnant mother to live with El Capitán, a psychotic Franconian fascist controlling a military outpost.  Depending on how the viewer interprets the story, the movie takes a turn for the surreal as Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) descends into an utterly creepy lair and meets a faun named Pan.

According to Pan, Ofelia is the daughter of the king of the underworld, and has at last been found.  Strangely collected, Ofelia continues to listen to Pan as he explains the various trials she must overcome in order to prove that she is not mortal, so that she may

return to her kingdom.  Labyrinth tells the story of Ofelia’s phantasmagoric journey, interweaving the young girl’s fantasy with the horrors of real-life guerrilla warfare and brutality.

On another level, the movie deals with the nature of fascism and the effects it has on a people.  Played brilliantly by Sergi López (Dirty Pretty Things), Capitán Vidal is a ruthless nationalist willing to kill anybody in the way of his pride and fascist dream for Spain.  Though CGI and animatronics are at their best to create some horrendous creatures, El Capitán is by far the scariest of them all.  With no remorse whatsoever, he mercilessly tortures and kills, taking the thrilling plot to places uncharted by most directors.

The story flows well, transporting the viewer back and forth between Ofelia’s magical realm and the gritty world that surrounds her.  The movie, unlike many in the fantasy genre, is not purely a visual feast.  It provides character interaction, and a real plot that satisfies one’s craving for quality entertainment.

At times, however, the movie drags despite its reasonable two-hour length.  While there is plenty of mysticism in the plotline, the characters lack the charm and relatability of those in other great Spanish-language films (Como Agua Para Chocolate, Amores Perros).  This particularly detracts from the film, which features a language more suited to drama and romance.

What the film lacks in charm, it makes up with in stellar performances.  Although she is only twelve years old, Ivana Baquero delivers a performance that rivals those of her American counterpart Dakota Fanning.  Acting equally well, Maribel Verdú brings emotion to the movie through her brilliant portrayal of Mercedes, the caretaker.  Of course, at the core of the movie is Sergi López’s chilling performance.  Of interesting note, Doug Jones, the only non-Spanish speaker on the set, went through incredible difficulty in memorizing his and Baquero’s lines (all in Spanish).

Ultimately, Labyrinth’s clever examination of fantasy as an escape from despotism has its ups and downs.  From great acting to breathtaking cinematography, the movie exemplifies all that a great fantasy movie is.  As a Spanish-language film however, it truly lacks the raw power and mind-stimulating creativeness brought by Almodóvar, Cuarón, or González Iñárritu.  Overall, Pan’s Labyrinth proves to be an entertaining movie, much more than a simple fairy tale, but not one for the ages.

Top albums of 2006

 

With each passing year in the new millennium, the music scene grows progressively worse.  This year is no exception. Only a handful of recent artists (Wilco, Beck, The White Stripes, Kanye West, Citizen Cope, Ben Harper) can be hailed as excellent contributors to the world of music, while other “critically artists” (The Decemberists, TV on the Radio, etc.) are only gaining recognition because there are no others worthy of applaud.  In other words, critics are praising sub-average artists because they sound exemplary compared to other recent lack-luster releases.  I hate to sound like the stereotypical modern-day music basher, but the truth of the matter is, music just isn’t what it used to be—at least not for the past few years.  Maybe I’m being too harsh on modern music, by comparing contemporary bands to the powerful music of the 1960s and 1970s.  Are ideas running out? Or are artists too lazy and/or incompetent to create worthwhile music?

Even hip-hop seems to be fizzling out, as a recent NaS album title pointed out, Hip-Hop is Dead.  Although I do not agree that hip-hop has completely died, its golden age has come and gone, and is long overdue for some creativity.

Nonetheless there were a few exciting and worthwhile albums that were released in 2006, and here they are.

Album # 10: Hip-Hop is Dead

Artist: NaS

In 1992, thanks to a little help from MC Serch, of the old school hip-hop group 3rd Bass, a nineteen-year-old Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, more commonly known as NaS, landed a record deal with Columbia records.  Only two years later, in 1994 NaS released what many believe (including myself) to be the greatest hip-hop album of all time, Illmatic.  Now, over twelve years from that release date, during the late golden age of hip-hop, NaS believes hip-hop has died. Along with many other aesthetic hip-hop artists, NaS has publicly bashed many rappers for not taking the profession seriously.  With one listen to Hip-Hop is Dead, it is quite clear NaS takes his job very seriously

Having recently settled his long-standing dispute with former rapper Jay-Z by signing to Jigga’s Def Jam label, Hip-Hop is Dead has been without a doubt the most hyped album of the year.  The final result is a head-nodding tribute to the founders of hip-hop, is slightly reminiscent of the former greatness displayed on Illmatic.

Listen to: Hustlers, Hold Down the Block and Money over Bullsh*t.

Album # 9: I’m not Afraid of you and I Will Beat Your Ass

Artist: Yo La Tengo

Pay no attention to the ridiculous album title because Yo La Tengo’s 16th album release over the past 21 years is anything but the title suggests.  Founded in 1984 by the husband/wife indie-rock duo Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, the band has gone through numerous phases, ups and downs and changing guitar/bass players.

Despite their strange history, Yo La Tengo have established themselves as one of the most diverse and interesting indie-rock bands of our time.  I’m not Afraid of you and I Will Beat Your Ass, covers an extremely wide spectrum of sounds and ideas.  The opening track, “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind,” is a riveting 11 minute fusion of chaotic guitar verses, fuzzy bass beats and moaning vocals.  The third track “I Feel Like Going Home,” could possibly be the most beautiful song of the year as Georgia sings a nostalgic lullaby over a charming piano and violin melody.

Listen to: Mr. Tough, The Race is on Again, Sometimes I Don’t Get You

Album #8:  Fishscale

Artist: Ghostface Killah

With the release of Fishscale, Ghostface Killah has established himself as the most self sufficient solo act spawned from the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.  Although Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and GZA’s Liquid Swords gain the title of best solo Wu-tang productions, Ghostface has been the most consistent and original member of the nine-man crew.

Up to the point before Fishscale was released, Wu-tang member RZA produced not only every beat for the Wu-tang Clan, but for every solo album released by Wu-tang members.  On Fishscale, however, Ghostface teams up with Theodore Unit and other Wu-tang artists to supply the beats, marking the first time a RZA free production was released by a Wu-tang rapper.

Surprisingly, the result was incredible.  The album retained its grimy and raw that is synonymous with Wu-Tang production, despite the loss of RZA production.

Listen to: Jellyfish, 9 Milli Bros, Kilo, Shakey Dog

Album #7: Every Waking Moment

Artist: Citizen Cope

The opening track on the album, “Back Together,” and the third track “Friendly Fire” could have earned Clarence Greenwood, a.k.a. Citizen Cope, a spot on this list, but he kindly decided to add nine more to his third release Every Waking Moment.

Originally a DJ for the hip-hop group Basehead, Greenwood eventually went solo to release his self-titled debut album in 2002.  After taking two lengthy years to switch labels, The Clarence Greenwood Recordings was released in 2004 and earned Greenwood a cult-like following.

On Every Waking Moment, Greenwood continues to infuse R&B, folk and blues into a unique style that he can call his own.

Listen to:  Brother Lee, Awe

 

Album #6: Hell Hath no Fury

Artist: Clipse

Four years after their debut album, Lord Willin’, hit the shelves in 2002, Clipse’s long awaited sophomore disc, Hell Hath no Fury, was released this year.  Aided by the dry accordion, Jamaican and synthesized-driven beats of two of the most respected producers in the industry, The Neptunes (composed of Pharell Williams and Chad Hugo), brothers Gene and Terrence Thornton, a.k.a. Malice and Pusha-T respectively, dropped one of the best hip-hop albums of the millennium.

After Lord Willin’s release, Clipse was put on the back-burner by Jive Records, in favor to more pop oriented music. Due to constant struggles with the label, Clipse subsequently released a series of mix-tapes under their very own Re-Up Records while waiting for Jive to resume recording for Hell Hath No Fury.  It was a long four years for Clipse, but boy was it worth the wait.

Listen to: Mr. Me Too (Featuring Pharell), Trill (Featuring Pharell), Ain’t Cha (Featuring the Re-Up Gang)

Album #5: Modern Times

Artist: Bob Dylan

Since his self-titled debut album was released all the way back in 1962, the world has yet to see a better singer/song-writer than Bob Dylan.  In fact, it’s more than safe to say that Dylan has a greater impact on the music industry than any and every artist since the beginning of time.  For over forty years now, Dylan’s gruff voice, masterful guitar riffs and powerful lyrics have spoken to millions of listeners world-wide.

Modern Times is Dylan’s perception of the world we live in now.  As always, the guitar-work and song structure is simple yet brilliant.  Moreover, his voice seems to be unaffected by the inevitability of aging—it remains as coarse as it ever was.

Listen to: Someday Baby, Thunder on The Mountain, Beyond the Horizon

Album #4: Boys and Girls of America

Artist: The Hold Steady

Titled after the famous Jack Kerouac line from his poignant novel On The Road, that read, “Boys and Girls of America, they have such a sad time together” The Hold Steady’s latest release masterfully captures the tormented psyche of America’s youth.

Front-man Craig Finn, whose vocals sound eerily similar to those of Bruce Springsteen, tells tales of drunken teenage stupors, bad decisions, and reckless behavior.  Each track has a mind of its own and swallows the listener with its pop-hooks and catchy vocals.

Listen to: Stuck Between Stations, First Night, Southtown Girls, Massive Nights

Album #3: The Information

Artist: Beck

For a project that commenced three years ago shortly after Beck’s critically acclaimed Sea Change was released (September 2002), it’s almost surprising that The Information does not encompass a wider landscape of sound than its predecessor, Guero (March 2005).  What is surprising; however, is Beck’s amazing ability to intertwine music genres by creating an oblique and endless abyss of melodious and cosmic noises.

The Information is quite deceptive when coming to terms with a classification.  Having Nigel Godrich (Radiohead’s OK Computer and Kid A) as a producer does nothing to explain the enigmatic nature of the album either, considering the fact that the two have collaborated on both Sea ChangeMutations, both of which have extremely distinct tones.  Sea Change is the musical product of a heart-wrenching break-up while Mutations is a genre-bending folk-pop masterpiece.  Beck’s other albums are usually composed primarily of similar musical tendencies as well. and

What is The Information then?  Who the hell knows?  Who the hell cares?  The Information is another masterpiece from one the greatest artists of our generation.

Listen to: Elevator Music, I Think I’m in Love, Dark Star, Strange Apparition

Album #2: Food & Liquor

Artist: Lupe Fiasco

Food & Liquor is exactly what hip-hop needed.  With an impeccable style, and the ability to rap about politics, lost teenage souls and how good he smells, the sky is the limit for this young talented MC.

On the track Hurt Me Soul, Lupe sings, “I used to hate hip-hop, yep/ because the woman degraded,” which demonstrates not only his boldness to make such a claim, but the unique mind-set he brings to the world of hip-hop.

Every single track on this album contains intuitive lyrics to complement Kanye-catchy beats.

Listen to: Daydreamin’, Kick Push, I Gotcha, The Cool

Album #1: Night Ripper

Artist: Girl Talk

By day, Superman’s nerdy and bashful alter-ego Clark Kent works as a lowly reporter for the fictional newspaper Daily Planet.  When faced with danger, however, Kent would instantly shed his shy persona, via the closest telephone both, in favor of the confident macho-man himself—Superman.  A stark comparison can be made between this year’s album of the year recipient and the most celebrated superhero in comic book history.

Like Superman, Greg Gills, a.k.a. Girl Talk, works a day-job much less exciting than that of his alter-ego.  Instead of working as a reporter, Gills works as a biomedical engineer.  During the night, however, Gills transforms into the head-banging, laptop mixing, shirtless sensation known as Girl Talk.

The term “mesh-up” has been coined to describe a new genre of music that has been popularized by groups such as 2 Many DJs and Hollertronix.  What the genre actually does, is meld hooks and samples from other artists work, into a new life form.  Essentially, “mesh-up” DJs intertwine two or more tracks from other artists, simultaneously to produce an original piece.

Gills doesn’t earn his album of the year award through this, but in his execution.  The well thought out song selection, mixed with a fearless approach to a seemingly impossible project makes Night Ripper one of the most interesting and enjoying albums to be released in a long time.

I highly recommend this extremely entertaining album.  You have to hear it to believe it.

Listen for a radio broadcast that will be up soon on Eastside radio.

Honorable Mentions:

John Mayer- Continuum

J Dilla- Donuts

Slo-Mo- My Buzz Comes Back

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Stadium Arcadium

My Morning Jacket- Okonokos

The Roots- The Game Theory

Wolfmother- Wolfmother

Eulorhythmics- Extended Play

Lady Sovereign- Public Warning

Rhymefest- Blue Collar

Video: Wing Bowl Recap

Entrances

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Part One

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Part Two
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Instant messaging and homework: the best of both worlds?

 

    “Bing!”

The door creaks open — someone has just signed on.  With tons to talk about and just a button away from saying it, how does anyone get all their homework done anymore?

Instant messaging (IM) is one of the most common ways of interacting with one another these days.  Whether its asking a friend a quick homework question or talking for hours about that new episode of Grey’s Anatomy, students are always online.

Today, it seems like students have so many distractions; IM just adds to it.  Yet, some students at East argue that although it may be a distraction, instant messenger is a great way to get a homework question answered.

“I use IM all the time.  If I need a quick answer or help [with my homework], I’ll ask one of my friends [online],” said Simone Owens (‘08).

With a friend at just a message away, it is easy to get a second opinion on an essay or ask when the next history project is due.  Allowing over 200 people on a buddy list, IM makes for a helpful resource for students.

Typical technology is gaining popularity among teachers as well as students.  Because

of its convenience, teachers use the internet to provide assistance to their student.  IM can aid teachers in providing extra help without forcing student to make an after school or morning appointment.

“[The internet] has been a very useful tool because kids are online all the time and I do spend a lot of time online myself,” said science teacher Mrs. Oh.

Instant messenger has proven to be one of the most popular ways of communication, yet it has some negative effects on a student.

Although IM can be a fast way to get homework help or get a question answered, many students tend to get distracted and spend hours online.  With the excitement of an IM, it can be easy to neglect academics.  The simple task of writing an essay can take up to twice as long if a student is constantly checking away messages or their instant messages.

“IM lingo” has also begun to take over student’s writing.  Many students lack basic grammar because of their frequent quick online lingo.  After a long break from school without writing any formal essays, students forget to use their formal writing techniques and start using quick online phrases.  It may seem much quicker to type “r u going to the movies” rather than “Are you going to the movies?”, but the habit of using quick phrases often transcends into scholastic essays.

“[Because of] the internet, I see even in formal essays students using IM jargon,” said English teacher Ms. Greenwald.

Whether we choose to hit the “sign off” key or just put on an away message on, instant messaging can be helpful or detrimental.  But the only true way to “sign off” from th distractions of instant messenger is to make sure that those quick homework questions do not turn into a three hour conversation about Meredith Grey and McDreamy.

East students’ ice-cream addiction

While many East students think they’re “ice-cream-oholics”, the same, sugar-loving teenagers might be surprised to discover the results of a recent survey of 45 students’ ice cream preferences.

Ice-cream wouldn’t be the same, classic, American treat without its two signature flavors – chocolate and vanilla.

However, surveys indicated that cookie dough is the new staple flavor in students’ ice cream wardrobe.  Many seem to consider ice cream more than simply a matter of black and white (or brown and off-white, if you will). In fact, when given a choice between vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, coffee, and cookie dough, 33% of the students surveyed preferred cookie dough. Mint chocolate chip came in second with 22%, then chocolate with 18% and vanilla with 13%.

But vanilla-lovers, don’t despair: 33% of students chose vanilla as their first or second choice, compared with only 31% who chose chocolate. Still, cookie dough wins by a long shot with 58%.

What do the delicious results mean to ice-cream lovers?  How did vanilla and chocolate become obliterated by the raw-egged giant?

The growing popularity of mix-ins may have something to do with it. Next to flavor, most students say texture is the most important thing to consider when buying ice cream (more important than name, color, and price). Coldstone Creamery, where customers can have their favorite toppings mixed in with their ice cream, received the highest average rating for quality, beating out competitors such as Ben & Jerry’s and Friendly’s, who serve additional candies and sauces on top of the sundae.

While the placement of the add-ins may be important, so is the content of the topping.  The favorite ice-cream addition among East students is a tie between chocolate syrup and Reese’s cups. The second favorite topping is whipped cream.

The favorite brand of store-bought ice cream is Ben & Jerry’s. Jake DuBoff (’09) and Annamarie Zappasodi (’08), who agree that Ben & Jerry’s is their favorite, both eat ice cream more than twice a week.

“My freezer is like a Ben & Jerry’s store,” said DuBoff, who estimates there to be about 15 flavors of ice cream in his freezer on any given day. His favorites are cookie dough and Fish Food, a flavor containing chocolate fish.

Zappasodi’s favorite flavor is Chunky Monkey, which is banana ice cream with fudge chunks and walnuts.

Ice-cream’s appeal comes from its flavor, but also its characteristic temperature.

“I like the coldness,” said Zappasodi.

Matt Stauder (’10), who almost never eats ice cream, is the polar opposite. His feelings towards the apparently delicious dessert can be described in the same way as ice-cream: cold.

“I don’t like the taste,” he said. “I feel sick whenever I eat it.”

Stauder doesn’t care for frozen yogurt either, calling it “the most disgusting thing [he’s] ever eaten.”

Strauder doesn’t mind water ice, though.

In fact, 38% of students would choose water ice over ice cream, and an additional 9% prefer frozen yogurt. Water ice is more popular among females than males: 43% of females prefer water ice to ice cream, compared with only 29% of males.

Another gender-influenced trend is soft-serve versus scoop. 53% of students prefer scoop, while the remaining 47% prefer soft-serve. Males seem to like soft-serve better than females do, however: 64% of males prefer soft-serve, compared with only 36% of females.

Whatever kind of frosty confection you choose, don’t forget the toppings and, please try not to drop it on the sidewalk.

Reading at East: a lost art?

It’s a stormy weekend afternoon and there is nothing to do-nothing on the television, and all of the video games are beat.  Will the boredom succumb to the reading of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations?  Or will it just be shoved away like every other book?  Reading has been a means of entertainment to many students, but it has also been disregarded by others due to their heavy workload, which persistently hinders them.

When reading, the expected reader sensation is the leaving of the regular world to visit a more interesting and fantastic environment, where the mundane does not exist.  It is also used to relax during the sometimes stressful times of the academic year. 

“I like reading because I love to read,” said Mindy Shipon (‘09). 

On the other side, not all students have the same perspective about reading, especially when it comes to in-school reading.  The thought of having too much work has even stopped reading to be done for entertainment and school. 

“I haven’t had time to read since the beginning of sophomore year…and I read more than most and I actually would have read about 20 books by now,” said Ben Branfman (‘09).

Students are also discouraged by the reading materials given out by the school.  The required reading is often referred to as lacking in interest and too lengthy.  Some students also believe that because the school “assigns” a book, it creates an unwillingness to read it.  “The book is talked about in class, I have enough information…I can still get good grades on tests and essays without actually reading,” said Stephanie Eglin (‘07).

Even for the students who do read, it is difficult to manage their time when they feel bogged down with large quantities of work with additional reading, which is definitely not alleviating the situation.  Shipon believes that if the teachers want their students to read, they give too much work, which prevents reading, even on the personal time of the student.  Others blame themselves for the inability to read.

“I think I have enough time to read but I don’t use it,” said Melanie Nijares (’10).

On the other side of the spectrum, teachers are frustrated because students are not reading the books that they assign.  It proves difficult in discussions and assessments when a student or an entire class has not read a book, which usually results in failure or a waste of a class period due to the lack of knowledge on the subject of the book.  Teachers argue that the reading is part of the workload, and should not be regarded as something extra.

“I don’t think there is an excuse for a student to not read…I think it’s a reasonable request to complete his or her own reading,” said Mr. Canzanese, an East English teacher.

The amount of reading increase or decrease depends on the students’ thoughts and the work that they receive.  It also depends on the willingness to read.

East students participate in F.O.P holiday party

On Monday, December 18th, 165 students, from both Cherry Hill East and Cherry Hill West, threw a holiday party for approximately 450 disabled children in the area. For many years, East students have contributed to this worthy cause.
This year, the party at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill was once again a complete success.

“Even if the party [was] a complete catastrophe, it still would have been a success because what we’re doing for those kids is so great,” said Mr. Michael Dappolone, East’s SGA Adviser. Both Dappolone and Mr. C.J. Davis, the SGA Coordinator of Students’ Activities, supervised the event.

Before the party took place, students made several tedious preparations.  Beginning in November, students from all grades began coming after school to make decorations or table settings for the holiday party. East students came right after school until 4:30, or on some nights, from 7:00 to 8:30. Every student checked in and signed out at the appropriate times with the chairperson who was in charge of them. The chair people included Andrew Kanoff (’07), who was overall chairperson, along with Corey Kessler (’07), Becky Kaplan (’07), Britney Linsky (’07), Josh Weinstock (’07), Niyati Desai (’07), Jackie Chang (’08), Andy Cutler (’07), and Grace Yi (’07).

After the students completed the initial preparations, the chair people chose the students who they felt were most dedicated; this decision is usually determined by the number of after-school meetings the student attended.  Those who were chosen came on the 18th to help out with the party.

Some of those who were chosen voluntarily came the night before the party to help put up decorations and set up the tables. For about two hours, these East students were hard at work. Together, they put up decorations inside and outside of the party room.

The party’s tables also contained a centerpiece with balloons, 10 chairs with a table setting in front of each, and three snacks per setting. These specifications took a while to meet, but with the students’ efforts, it was made possible.

Finally, after months of preparation, the party kicked off successfully on December 18. At 9:00, the disabled students, their aids, and their mentors came in, with smiles already on their faces upon seeing the decorated room. As the day went on, more kids came, and more and more kids were made happier. With a skilled singer on stage, the kids danced to their favorite holiday songs.

Throughout the day, East and West students dressed up in various costumes, ranging from Shrek to a dragon to a reindeer.

Also, East brought along some of their talented mimes to play with the children.

“It was fun to interact with them. It was cool that even though we couldn’t talk, they still understood us,” said Emma Simon (’08), who was a mime for the day.

Besides dressing up, dancing and being mimes, East students also were in charge of certain designated tables. The students had to make sure their assigned tables had enough food and drinks at all times.

The last surprise that the kids enjoyed was a visit from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jon Runyan. Runyan came and signed autographs for around an hour, to to the party-givers and the party-goers’ delight.

Overall, the day brightened the outwardly difficult daily lives of disabled children during the holiday season.

“Seeing the smiles on all of the kids’ faces [made the day so special],” said Kanoff (’07).

Italian American Club holds fourth-annual pizzelle-eating contest

Cherry Hill East Dance Team to shine at Regionals

While twenty-four girls from all four grades are a part of East’s Dance Team, only the varsity team, which is comprised of fourteen girls, will compete in the upcoming competition.  Last April, the Varsity Dance Team won the National Hip-hop Championships at the Hershey Park ECDA Nationals, and they hope to have the same luck at the regional competition this year.

“Last year was such a great accomplishment with our first place at nationals…we’re just hoping we do just as good this year,” Shabani Ahluwalia (’09) said.

This year, the Dance Team will compete to a mix of the songs “Ring the Alarm” by Beyonce, “So Excited” by Janet Jackson, and “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake.

Cherry Hill West’s Dance Team will also be competing at the upcoming ECDA regional, heightening the competition.  Although West’s Dance Team beat East’s Dance Team last year, the members of East’s Dance Team feel they have a good chance of being the victor this year.

“We put up a hard fight last year against West, but this year we have a much better chance of beating [West] because we’ve been working really, really hard every week.  We also have a really good mix of songs and a strong team this year.  I hope we’re going to do good, and I really think we can beat West,” Shelby Specter (’09) said.

East’s Dance Team works hard at practice for two hours a day, three days a week, and they hope all of their dedication results in a win at the ECDA Regional Competition.

Cruising the Cherry Hill Mall creates countless gift ideas

Has the thought of not knowing what to buy for the holidays got you down? Don’t worry; the ultimate shopping guide for the Cherry Hill Mall is now at your fingertips.

Problem: Gifts for that mother who always reminds you to clean your room.

Solution- Add more “junk” to one of her favorite rooms in the house, the kitchen; but this time she’ll appreciate it. Kitchen Kapers is the perfect solution. From cooking tools, to appliances, to decorations for the kitchen, there will be something to put a smile on your mother’s face. The hottest gift for the holidays this year is “AeroGarden,” an herb garden that is self-sustainable for every mother who isn’t blessed with a green thumb.

Problem: Never know what is just right for that picky dad of yours?

Solution- Try shopping at RadioShack. With all the latest gadgets, RadioShack will be able to satisfy your dad’s craving for the newest technology on the market. Another possibility is f.y.e. Music and Movies. With the latest movie releases, and music from every generation, you can find plenty of gifts for your dad.

Problem: Can’t find a gift for that special someone?

Solution: Guys, you can never go wrong with casual wear from Victoria’s Secret’s Pink line. With the comfiest pajamas, the cutest sweats, and the most desirable t-shirts, there is plenty to choose from. However, if you are hesitant about buying clothes, why not try perfume?

“Estée Lauder’s fragrance, ‘Beautiful’ is the number one selling fragrance in the country,” said Mimi Glass, a sales clerk at Macy’s.

Girls are notorious for complaining about how hard it is to shop for their boyfriend. Don’t sweat it. This year, try going to stores such as Foot Locker and Finish Line for the hippest athletic shoes, clothing, and sporting goods. Sports related items are always a good way to go when shopping for guys.

“What’s hot right now? Anything and everything Polo,” said Timothy Booker at the men’s department in Macy’s.

Problem: You know everything possible about your best friend, except what to get him or her for the holidays.

Solution: If your best friend is a girl, a minimum gift card of $50 to MAC Cosmetics will allow her to have her make-up done by a specialist at MAC. Another excellent make-up store is Sephora, which has thousands of brands of make-up, hair and beauty products. If your best friend is a guy, all of the previously mentioned stores for males have a wide range of gifts for your best friend.

Problem: Buying a gift for that pesky brother or sister of yours.

Solution: To get them off your back for at least a day, buy them something that they want. For younger siblings, The Disney Store and Build-A-Bear offer a wide variety of stuffed animals that could become their new best friends. For older siblings, try shopping at some of the aforementioned stores because they are sure to put a smile on your brother or sister’s face.

Problem: You are shopping for somebody -anybody- who is the pickiest person of them all!

Solution: Do not dismay because this seemingly impossible feat can be overcome. The perfect solution for the person that is the hardest to shop for is the Preit Mall Gift Card. The Preit Mall Gift Card can be used at thousands of stores located at Preit Malls in the USA, including the Cherry Hill Mall. Let that person decide what they want, and allow yourself not to worry if you bought the right thing!

Now that you have read the ultimate shopping guide for finding gifts at the Cherry Hill Mall, start shopping!

East’s after-school security serves higher purpose

After school, iron gates are set up around the building which serve to repeatedly block an individual’s path. The resulting frustration is very well known among students and teachers alike.

They appear to herd students around school in droves not very much unlike common farm animals. To understand the real purpose behind the apparently meaningless partitions, one must first ask those who are in charge of their presence after school.

The rusted iron, it turns out, serve a very viable purpose. They are meant to selectively partition the first floor of East into workable sections that force students to move in a predetermined flow around school once the day has ended. The administration feels there are only two places, if students that are not in an official club meeting, should be after school: the library or the weight room. The gates help to guide students to one of these two locations.

“Students need some purpose for staying after, but certain individuals hang around after school. They don’t go to the library and they don’t have club meetings; they are just there,” said Dr. John Burns.

The gates thus force students into supervised areas, where they are monitored and can be kept safe from harm and unnecessary trouble. Perhaps more unknown due to the lack of enforcement, the second and third floors are meant to be off-limits to students without teacher supervision. This effort further forces students in a trek around the perimeter of the school and away from inner corridors, ultimately leading them to the library or weight room. This then leads to the need for fewer security officers in the building to monitor students’ movement and prevents loitering in the hallways and the destruction of school equipment.

“The gates serve to restrict movement in the building, especially of the certain element that tends to get in trouble,” said Campus Police Officer James Wood. “Since we have run it this way, the areas of the building we have been trying to protect have not experienced any theft.”

The wall separating Germany during the Cold War seriously harmed the nation’s development in the long run. Fortunately, it seems that East’s own iron walls, while a hindrance, serve a more functional purpose than may be gleaned at first glance.

A season lost

John Milton never witnessed a sporting match of any kind. Despite this tiny obstacle, the seventeenth century Englishman might be the most prophetic sports writer ever to pen a single line.

Amidst the extensive Paradise Lost, a single line explains the premature decline of successful sports teams: “our torments also may in length of time become our elements.” Thus, treading down the same miserable path that ensnared the post John Gruden Oakland Raiders, the post Barry Sanders Detroit Lions, and the post Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills, the Philadelphia Eagles have fallen from the upper echelons of the National Football League.

On Sunday, the Eagles suffered a humbling 31-13 defeat at the hands of the lowly 2-7 Tennessee Titans.

Lead by this year’s third overall selection in the NFL draft, Vince Young, the Titans tore through a depleted Eagles defense, totaling three hundred and ten total yards of offense.

The Eagles’ opponent had an early 7-0 lead only six plays into the game.
The Titans never looked back. Tennessee left the field boasting a decisive 31-13 victory over an Eagles team which, prior to the loss, appeared to stand a chance in the bitter NFC East.
Dominated by a rookie led, rebuilding, less than average Tennessee Titans, the Eagles emerged from last week’s loss having more questions than answers; and, unfortunately, what answers they have are not good.

The most pressing issue is Donovan McNabb’s injury. For the second time in two years, McNabb is out for the season. However, this time, the injury he sustained could jeopardize next season as well.

An MRI performed by team doctors confirmed that the quarterback tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Perhaps the most severe injury in football next to spinal cord damage, torn ACLs have routinely ended careers. While the severity of the injury has been blunted by drastic progress in medical technology, McNabb will be out for the rest of the season and cannot have surgery performed on his knee for another two to three weeks because of swelling in the joint. Orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Alabama will perform the surgery, after which, McNabb will begin the eight to twelve month rehabilitation process.

Now behind both the Cowboys and the Giants in the NFC East, the Eagles schedule more closely resembles a sadistic trek to football impotency than something handed down by the league office.

Five of the team’s remaining six games will be played against teams with a five hundred record or better, and four of those six will take place on the road.

Injuries have given this team reason to justify their missteps, but look past the front office press releases and to the mundane whisperings of Andy Reid. The Eagles are not a good team because they have forgotten how to play the fundamentally sound football that carried them to four straight NFC title games.

Yet, this manifestation of poor play is not due to the sudden onset of amnesia. Dating back to their Super Bowl run, the Eagles have continued to make the same mistakes, mistakes that they are now unable to hide.

The third ranked offense in the league seemed befuddled by the thirty-second ranked defense in the league. While Andy Reid never relied upon the running game to provide yardage, preferring the screen pass over the half-back draw, the Eagles running backs have never been so conspicuously absent.

Brian Westbrook’s inability to break through the Titans goal line defense in the first quarter lead to an ill-advised McNabb throw that landed in the hands of opposing linebacker Sam Tulloch rather than those of L.J. Smith. The goal line blunder reveals a startling trend in the number of rushing touchdowns the Eagles have scored.

In 2003, the Eagles combined for twenty three rushing touchdowns, second only to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, in 2004 and 2005, the Eagles tallied a total of twenty one rushing scores. The disparity should have triggered a reaction within the Eagles organization, sparking Andy Reid to correct the problem. The caveat went unanswered and the Eagles continue to struggle rushing the ball for touchdowns, scoring only eight of their second best thirty touchdowns on the ground.

The Eagles flaws are more glaring on the defensive side of the ball.

Vince Lombardi once said that “the best defense is a good offense.” The man for whom the Superbowl trophy is named would scoff at the utter inefficiency of this defensive unit, a group that routinely keeps the ball out of the hands of a prolific scoring threat.

The Eagles rank first in the NFC in defensive time of possession, averaging 31:57 on the field. Stranded in between the endzones for a total of 657 plays through only ten games, the Eagles refuse to stop the run or play disciplined football.
Similar to the 2004 season, over the first five games, the Eagles employed the “shock and awe” tactic, jumping out to a 4-1 record and restoring their reputation as a team to beat in the NFC. However, the last five weeks have proven that we can no longer confound defenses by heaving hail mary after hail mary. The downgraded running attack Andy Reid chooses to rely on has created a vortex which an aging defense to compensate for an offense that routinely goes three and out.

The season is lost. While 2004 enlivened a football crazy city, the 2006 team is lost amidst the competitive NFC. The bad habits have malevolently blossomed into glaring weaknesses, failings that the Eagles must redress in order to preclude another cataclysmic collapse from happening in the future.

Milton once asked, “What better can we do, than to prostrate fall before him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults?” Without anyone to question their decisions, the despotic duo of Andy Reid and Jeffrey Laurie will cursorily dismiss any critics. Their arrogance will not allow them to so much as acknowledge an error in thought or execution. Though we desire it, Philadelphia, we will receive no apology, no admission of guilt from the Eagles administration. Rather, the necessary repairs this team so desperately requires will receive an empty-hearted, eventually ineffectual remedy. Philadelphia, we can hope no higher.

Spirit week pep rally fires up students

Juniors retake Spirit Week lead after crab soccer and tug-of-war

After letting the lead slip following a mediocre performance in the volleyball competition, the juniors took back the overall spirit week lead, by coming in first place in the crab soccer event and picking up second place finishes in both guys and girls tug-of-war for a grand total of 450 points on the night.

The seniors, who were grasping to small lead coming into the competition, only gained a total of 350 points on the night, thus dropping to second place in the overall standings.

The sophomores earned a total of 325 points on the night, while the freshman earned 200.

Being that the race for first place between the seniors and the juniors has been so close, the outcome of the crab soccer and tug of war events could effectually sway the final results in favor of the class of 2008.

The first event of the night was crab soccer, the four-way head-to-head battle between the classes. With tensions brewing and determination radiating throughout the noisy gym, the first few rounds of play were plagued by silly mistakes.

While the first point of the night (remember, points are not good in crab soccer) was not surprisingly given to the freshman, the seniors went on to make two horrible mistakes that inevitably cost them the match, and the points. The next two points were given to the seniors after an own goal was booted in over the senior fortress and an illegal usage of the hands call was made on a senior player.

Ultimately being eliminated from first place contentions after the first three rounds of play, the seniors were lucky to gain a third place finish due to the inexperience of the young freshman squad. The juniors pounced on the opportunity, and delivered a victory on the shoulders of Mark Wickware (’08) and Shivi Cumarasamy (’08).

The next activity to take place was the tug-of-war competition. In the first round of play, the sophomore girls upset the senior girls to make it to the final match against the juniors who easily defeated a much weaker freshman squad.

The sophomore girls proved that their first round victory was not a fluke by defeating a tough junior squad in another upset for first place.

Surprisingly, the match of the night was the battle for third place between the senior girls and freshman girls. A much smaller freshman squad gave the seniors a run for their money, by putting up a valiant effort for a third place finish. In the end, however, the senior’s endurance and strength prevailed over the freshman’s determination.

There were no surprises on the guy’s side of the tug-of-war competition. The seniors, lead by Sam El Sherif (’07), Kevin Giunta (’07), Mo Alkiyal (’07), Francis Longo (’07) and Mackenzie Dadyan (’07) easily beat both the sophomores and the juniors to take first place. The rest of the classes finished in their respective order.

What makes Spirit Week tick?

This year, the theme is Supermarket Aisles. The seniors, who get to chose first, picked the “Beauty and Cosmetic Aisle” for their theme. The juniors opted for the
“Pharmacy and Health Food Aisle”, while the sophomores selected the “Check-out Aisle”. The freshmen, who were stuck with last choice, agreed on the “Candy Aisle”.

“It’s not the theme that matters: it’s the ideas the class comes up with that really counts,” says Marissa Josephs (’09).

Using the given theme, each class is instructed to create an eight to ten minute dance, a booth and a banner. The dance is performed at the Spirit Week Dance, which was held on Friday, November 17^th. The booth, which is a new addition to Spirit Week, is expected to be a hit.

“Because we can’t [have] floats at the new stadium, we decided to get each grade to create a booth,” says Mr. Davis, the Coordinator of Student Activities.

Each grade will create a booth with a “carnival” game, and whichever game raises the most money will win. Not only are the booths another form of entertainment at the football game, but all the money earned will be donated to a specific charity.

This week, there are a variety of activities set up during the lunch-time and after-school hours. This year there will be volleyball, crab soccer, tug-of-war, and milk drinking contents, as well as others that are being kept as a surprise. The Pep Rally is held the Friday before the homecoming football game in order to get the students excited about the upcoming game. At the homecoming game, current students, alumni, and parents cheer on East’s football team and get to see the banners, booths, and a performance by the East Dance Team.

Both teachers and students agree that Spirit Week is exciting.

“[Spirit Week] gets many kids involved, raises school spirit, and allows class competition,” says Davis.

Who will win this year? Will it be the “beauty”-ful seniors, the “health”-y juniors, the “checking-out” sophmores, or the “sweet” freshmen? Each class may have their predictions and hopes of who will be the winner of Spirit Week 2007, but only time will tell who will dominate this year.

Scorsese turns out another American cinema classic

Whenever a Martin Scorsese film debuts in theaters, the American public reacts in one of two ways. Recently, the majority has sheepishly fallen in line with the words of misguided critics who Scorsese’s works as more spectacle than film. While this reaction is understandable given Scorsese’s resumè includes classics like Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Casino, it often subverts the essence of Scorcese’s newest work; all critics are happy to slaughter the film’s quality, exaggerating every inadequacy – flaws that would go unnoticed in any other film. For those salivating at the opportunity to do just that, take heart and choose the second so-called “typical” reaction to Scorsese’s films: pop open a bag of Orville Redenbacher, relax, and enjoy a nearly flawless film.

The Departed opens with a title card that reads “Boston: some years ago”. From this point forward, Scorsese ushers the audience into a guttural universe where the line between good and evil is not only blurred, but doesn’t exist. Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio star opposite one another as Colin Sullivan and Billy Castigan. Sullivan (Damon) rises quickly from the rank of a state trooper to the slicked suits that head the Special Investigations Unit for the Massachusetts State Police, using his smooth Johnny Hooker charm to snake his way up the hierarchical police ladder. Sullivan’s clean-cut veneer hides the truth: he is a mole for Boston Mafioso Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson.

On the other side of the coin is Billy Castigan, a genuine cop assigned the task of infiltrating Costello’s operation. Aided by family ties to the mafia lords of South Boston in his mission, Castigan struggles to come to terms with his identity in life, while popping pills to numb the pain of not knowing who he really is.

As the film progresses, both characters struggle to maintain their cover and begin to unravel from the stress of maintaining identities opposite their true selves. DiCaprio and Damon give justice to their incredibly complex roles with a burning intensity that climaxes when both men share a silent phone conversation that begins the final act of the film.

The sparkling performance of Damon and DiCaprio are only overshadowed by that of the eternally brilliant Jack Nicholson as Irish mob kingpin Frank Costello. More conniving than Lionel Barrymore’s Mr. Potter, more cunning than Pachino’s Michael Corleone, and more intrinsically base than Ralph Fiennes’ Amon Goeth, Nicholoson transcends boundaries, achieving a new plateau of unmercifully sadistic heathenism. Regardless of what he’s doing (a list which includes cocaine, bribery, robbery, and murder), Nicholson abandons his characteristic “Jack” devices, the eyebrow tricks and all but one funny face, to create a lasting vision of evil.

Accompanied by the reliably superb Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga – and a surprisingly good Anthony Anderson – Nicholson, DiCaprio, and Damon enliven William Monahan’s unsparing adaptation of the Hong Kong thriller “Infernal Affairs”. Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus captures a vibrantly visceral Boston, the golden dome of the statehouse overlooking the rat’s den. As for the master himself, Scorsese spares nothing, summoning his entire cinematic repertoire to construct an unremittingly violent tale of two men unable to trust, and unable to escape.

From the web of corruption that entangles its characters to the latent irony in the Catholic burial rituals, Scorsese’s The Departed provides a resolved vision of a decaying social order. The byproduct is a remarkable film that is undoubtedly one of Scorsese’s best.

Seniors take the lead after big volleyball victory

What a night it was for the seniors.

After an upsetting loss in perhaps the most prestigious spirit week event, the all-mighty spirit week dance, the seniors regained their pride and the overall lead after stellar performances by both the senior guys and girls.

The freshman guys had the comeback of the night, after they were losing 8-2 to the juniors late in the game. It seemed as if Alex Saltzberg (’08) and Adam Zaken (’08) were going to dominate the much smaller freshman team, when Andrew Pursell (’09) and his teammates took control of the match leading their team to a 15-12 upset.

The sophomores never threatened the much bigger and more talented senior squad. Although Brain Zaun (’09), Jeff Bohus (’09) and Todd Hummel (’09) put up a valiant effort against a better senior squad, James Pursell (’07), Josh Wirtshafter (’07) Mike DiMedio (’07) and Hormatullah Abdali (’07) were too much for the sophomores. The seniors won the match easily 15-7.

In the consolation match, the sophomores stepped it up against the lackadaisical junior team, to pick up a surprising 15-10 victory for third place.

The seniors towered over the freshman squad as they both took their places on the court for the final series. There were no surprises in the match. James Pursell once again, dominated game one of the three game series. The second match was no different, and the seniors marched their way to victory.

The senior guys won 250 points for their efforts, the freshman were given 200 points, while the sophomores picked up 150 points and the juniors were awarded 100.

The results were very similar on the girls side of the table. Senior girls Katie Taylor (’07), Jill Koller (’07) and Stephanie Waties (’07) dominated the competition while the senior girls earned 250 points of their class. The juniors came in second place and produced 200 points for their class. The sophomores received 150 points and the freshman only gained 100 points.

With only two days left in spirit week here are the standings.

Place	Grade Level	Total Points
First	Seniors	1500
Second	Juniors	1460
Third	Freshman	1100
Fourth	Sophomores	1180

Juniors take lunchroom competitions – again

 

 

Milk-Drinking Lunch Competition

A female student from each grade level held a baby bottle while the male student in the same grade drank from the bottle.

4^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Juniors
Second	Seniors
Third	Sophomores
Fourth	Freshmen

5^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Juniors
Second	Seniors
Third	Freshmen
Fourth	Sophomores

6^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Seniors
Second	Juniors
Third	Sophomores
Fourth	Freshmen

Milk Drinking Competition final results:

Juniors: 80

Seniors: 60

Sophomores: 40

Freshmen: 20

Updated Total Scores:

Seniors: 1500

Juniors: 1460

Sophomores: 1100

Freshman: 1180 

Video: Eastside’s Spirit Week 2006 coverage

Class of 2007

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Class of 2008

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Class of 2009

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Class of 2010

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Spirit Week dance diagnoses Juniors with a win

After a night of anticipation and excitement, the classes of Cherry Hill East were finally able to hit the dance floor and showcase their long-awaited performances at the Spirit Week Dance Competition.

This year, the Spirit Week theme was supermarket aisles; the seniors chose the beauty aisle, the juniors pharmaceuticals, the sophomores check-out, and the freshmen candy. Each grade was to create a skit/dance to their theme, which was judged based on some of the following categories: organization, creativity, costumes/appearance and presentation.

The freshmen started the night off with their Spirit Week debut. Usually it is always interesting for upperclassmen to see what the freshmen have come up with, considering they have never participated in such an activity before. This year, the class of 2010 really surprised the audience. With a combination of songs such as “I want Candy” and “Sugar,” the dance really fell into place. However, the freshmen came out in fourth place.

Next came the sophomores with the check-out aisle. Considering how well the Class of 2009 had done last year, many people wondered if they had the potential to beat the upperclassmen, which has been done many times before. The beginning of the dance started off with a supermarket setting with carts going in and out of the “aisles”. The sophomores took third place.

The junior class of 2008 was up next, all dressed in medical gear. They used songs such as “How to Save a Life” and “Fever”. Their dance really demonstrated their theme, which was a big component in the judging, and along the way went through creative costume changes. The juniors took first place with pride.

The seniors were up last. With the theme of beauty aisle, the seniors really took it a few steps up from previous years and put in their all for their very last Spirit Week competition. With a decent amount of people and a lot of time and effort, the seniors were able to hold on to second place for the second time in a row. Even though the seniors were disappointed to come behind the juniors, they were very excited about their accomplishment.

Even though the Spirit Week dance competition has come to a close, there is more spirit to come next week.

Dance Competition:

First: Juniors

Second: Seniors

Third: Sophomores

Fourth: Freshman

Current Spirit Week Totals:

Seniors: 1010

Juniors: 1060

Sophomores: 780

Freshman: 810

Eastside Radio takes a look at Spirit Week 2006

Many have compared the heated rivalry between the class of 2007 and the class of 2008 to the brutal hostility between the perilous L.A. street gangs, The Bloods and The Crips. Others have speculated that the gap separating a victor from the lowly position of second-place might be so indiscernible that a recount, similar to that conducted following the 2000 Presidential Election, is ultimately inevitable.

Nevertheless, comparisons and speculations aside, the events that occur during this scholastic year’s Spirit Week will undoubtedly alter the lives of all of those involved.

Spirit Week update: 11/17

College Day

East students dressed up in their favorite college apparel. The class with the most individuals dressed took first place.

Place	Grade Level	Points Awarded
First	Freshmen	100
Second	Sophomores	80
Third	Juniors	60
Fourth	Seniors	60

Candy Games

A female student from each grade level held a piece of licorice above a male student from the same grade. The male student’s task was to eat the licorice without the use of his hands or outside aid. The grade levels earned points for a first, second, third, and fourth place finishing of the event. The games were conducted during each lunch period.

4^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Juniors
Second	Freshmen
Third	Sophomores
Fourth	Seniors

5^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Juniors
Second	Seniors
Third	Freshmen
Fourth	Sophomores

6^th Period

Place	Grade Level
First	Seniors
Second	Juniors
Third	Sophomores
Fourth	Freshmen

Candy Games Overall Totals:

Juniors: 80
Seniors: 60
Freshman: 40

Sophomores: 20

Tags: Features

Sheltered environment drill protects East

November 16, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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As students around East prepare for the weekend, the school prepares for the future. On Thursday, November 16th, East experienced the first sheltered environment drill of the year.The drill is conducted annually; it is initiated in the event a situation exists that would require students and staff to be relocated from the classroom setting to a centralized location. A modern example of this necessity would be in the case of a biological emergency.

The school district website writes that the drill involves classes being lead to the gyms and locker rooms to be more protected. Students are also told to remember to not panic and to be as silent while they are being ushered into rooms with many other students.
Students expressed distinct opinions as to the day’s drill.

“[The exercises] are useful because if we were to be in a situation that we needed to use [it, the students] would be freaking out, so its good that we practice them so were not all chickens running around with our heads cut off,” Megan Willette (’07) said.

While some students believed that the drills were appropriate for our school, others believe it is just a waste of time.

“It’s a nice idea, but in the case of the real emergency, you can’t control panic. There are other things kids will have on their mind [when lives are at stake] rather than file ‘quickly and quietly’,” Rachel Packer (’07) said.

Fortunately, there has not been an incident where the drill has turned into a realistic event. As East continues to stay prepared, students continue to stay safe.

Tags: Features

“Borat”: Controversial perspective or perspective controversy?

November 15, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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The now controversial character “Borat” was originated by the character actor Sacha Baron Cohen (Talladega Nights) on the HBO “Da Ali G Show”. As Borat, Cohen gives us one of most brilliant comedic performances in film history, joining the performances of Steve Carrel in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” or John Belushi in “Animal House.” His actions appear fictional, but Cohen’s fake accent is purely and electrifyingly hilarious; he never shifts character throughout the entire work.

Surrounding this film are many fans and even more opponents. “Borat” was a “mock”umentary, which, is a film which purposely feigns the appearance of a documentary. The people featured throughout the film, except for the fictional Borat and Bagatov, were real and totally unaware of that the two were, in actuality, mere imposters.

A news reporter, who was deceived by Cohen’s unique acting and his fake credentials, interviewed Borat on a talk show and was fired for taking the fictional character seriously. Many are furious at the film’s criticized super-sized bowl of racism and crude humor, showing no mercy to every religion and race in the world. Adding to the controversy are the films’ “players”, who were unaware that the documentary was actually a “mock”umentary, and that Borat was the product of a comic genius’ imagination. The most angered were two members of a fraternity, who were oblivious to Borat’s lack of credibility and said racist and sexist comments on camera.

This film is without a doubt one of the greatest comedies ever made, joining “South Park: Bigger, Longer, And Uncut” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” as some of the best modern “simple enjoyment” films. This movie is, potentially, of the most talked about and beloved of the year.

As Borat said, “Please, you come see my film. If it not success, I will be execute.”

Tags: Features

Spirit week point distribution

November 12, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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Date	Activity	Point Distribution
11/16	College Day	100-80-60-40
11/17	Superhero Dress Up Day	100-80-60-40
11/17	Candy Games	80-60-40-20
11/17	Booth Judging	250-200-150-100
11/17	Dance – Best Attendance	400-300-200-100
11/17	Dance Contest	600-450-300-150
11/20	Pajama Day	100-80-60-40
11/20	Dairy Games	80-60-40-20
11/20	Volleyball	250-200-150-100
11/21	Wacky/Tacky Dress Up Day	100-80-60-40
11/21	Grocery Games	80-60-40-20
11/21	Tug of War	250-200-150-100
11/21	Crab Soccer	250-200-150-100
11/22	Color Day – Red/White	100-80-60-40
11/22	Booth Fundraising	200-150-100-150
11/22	Pep Rally Processional	250-200-150-100
11/23	Banner Judging	250-200-150-100

Tags: Features

ETI returns to Eastside

November 9, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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Excuse the Interruption, a show created by Eastside last year, returns to Eastside Online, available through the host website and as an international podcast.

In the first episode, Editor-in-Chief Josh Weinstock (’07) talks to panelists Jeff Bennett (’07), Andrew Newfield (’07) and Jason Seher (’07) about the NHL, NBA and the big NCAA football match-up between Louisville and Rutgers.

Tags: Eastside Radio, Features

Spirit week dance practice kicks off

November 7, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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As Spirit Week at Cherry Hill East nears, so does the annual Spirit Week dance competition. The dance competition, held on the Friday before Spirit Week, involves each class creating a ten minute dance using a variety of songs all relating to each class’ sub-category within the main Spirit Week theme. The dance competition will be held on Friday, November 17 this year, and practices are already underway.

Participating in the Spirit Week dance appeals to students for a variety of reasons, one of which being the people to which they are exposed.

“It’s so much fun working on [the dance] after school because it brings [the class] together and is a great way to meet new people that you don’t see during the day.” said sophomore class vice president, Emily Zippilli (’09).

Out of the many students that get involved in the dance competition, the majority does not know how to dance, but rather they do it for the experience.

“Even though I don’t normally dance, I do the Spirit Week dance and have a great time,” said Taylor Franks (’09).

The quality of each class’ Spirit Week dance is not affected by whether or not its participants dance well, rather it is judged based on creativity and presentation more than the presence of complicated dance moves.

As after-school practices become more frequent and Spirit Week nears, the competition among the class’ for the best Spirit Week dance heightens. For now, each class can only hope to be the most creative and prepared in their execution of their dance.

Tags: Features

East students missing on Halloween

November 2, 2006 by mrgagliardi  
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On October 31, many East students were missing. These absent students had been replaced with witches, superheroes, ghosts, and a variety of not-so-frightening creatures.

Cherry Hill East students embraced Halloween this year by dressing up in a variety of outfits. The halls were filled with a mixture of personas, from famous figures from the past to scary monsters from the present.

Age didn’t appear to be a factor when it came to which grade level chose to dress up. A large number of people from each grade affectated a different personality, but the seniors undoubtedly embraced the holiday. While, superficially, is appears that the older an individual gets, the more “immature” Halloween becomes, this was not the case for East’s seniors. The school’s oldest class actually embraced the freedom to dress differently on the day.

“You can wear whatever fun stuff you want and not care about what other people think,” said Brenda Arrojo (’07).

Liz Chung (’07) agrees with Arrojo, who acknowledges that Halloween is, simply, a day to be whatever you want and have fun doing so.

“You don’t have to worry about anyone saying anything about you,” said Chung.

While students may see the day as an opportunity to express themselves without concern for their reputation, class goes on. Normal classes ran on schedule with, generally, only minor interruptions for teachers to comment on a student’s costume.

“[My teaching philosophy] is no different than any other day,” said math teacher Mr. Jeff Killion. “I keep a tight ship running no matter what.”

Whether Halloween is a chance to express individuality or if it is just another day, East may never know for sure. Watch out, though – next year comes frighteningly fast.

Tags: Features

FOP prepares for December celebration

October 25, 2006 by admin  
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With holiday season just around the corner, FOP begins its preparation for their famous holiday party in December. Students involved in FOP, which stands for Fraternal Order of Police, work together to decorate, plan, and operate a successful holiday celebration for underprivileged and challenged children in the area.There are three sections that students can sign up for and participate in: Santa Claus Room, Ballroom, Table Decorations.

In the Santa Claus room, there is a big chair set up for Santa to sit in. Kids are able to line up and sit on Santa’s lap and receive a gift. Usually, the wait to see Santa could be up to thirty minutes. However, it is always worth the wait for the children.

In the Ballroom group, students create and design various festive banners and posters. The decorations light up the room and bring smiles to the childrens’ faces.

Finally, in Table Decorations, the students make decorations for the many tables in the ballroom. They plan things such as center pieces and table cloths to create a celebratory atmosphere in the room.

Usually, FOP’s sole purpose is for the December holiday party. However, this year the FOP Chair people have decided to continue FOP throughout the whole school year. They plan to hold several fundraisers such as skating parties and bowling nights to raise money for their cause. Also, this year will be the first year that FOP will be selling T-shirts.

With two meetings down already, FOP is on its way to another successful year.

Check the schedule below for FOP meetings:

FOP HOLIDAY PARTY SCHEDULE

AFTERNOON SESSIONS (2:30-4:00)

Tuesday, Oct. 24th (9th and 11th)

Thursday, Oct. 26th (10th and 12th)

Monday, Nov. 6th (10th and 12th)

Monday, Nov. 13th (9th and 11th)

Thursday, Nov. 16th (10th and 12th)

Monday, Nov. 20th (10th and 12th)

Tuesday, Nov. 21st (9th and 11th)

Wednesday, Nov. 29th (9th and 11th)

Thursday, Nov. 20th (10th and 12th)

Monday, Dec. 4th (10th and 12th)

Wednesday, Dec. 6th (9th and 11th)

Monday, Dec. 11th (9th and 11th)

EVENING SESSIONS (7:00-8:30)

Wednesday, Oct. 25th (ANY)

Monday, Nov. 27th (ANY)

Tuesday, Nov. 28th (ANY)

Tuesday, Dec. 5th (ANY)

Monday, Dec. 11th (ANY)

Tags: Emily Coben, Features, FOP

East introduces colorful cafeteria

October 10, 2006 by admin  
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Turquoise, red and orange: Has East decided to change its school colors?Over the summer, East’s cafeterias have received a make-over that has incited mixed emotions in students.

“It looks like someone got bored and painted the cafeteria,” said Niyati Desai (’07).

Some veteran East students wonder why the colors of the cafeteria are opposite from those of the school. Even those who do not have a lunch period, like Helen Mac (’07), have noticed the change of colors in the cafeteria.

“I don’t understand why the school picked these colors, because it just confuses freshmen about the colors of our school,” said Mac. (’07)

However, according to Mr. Charles Martine, Vice Principal of East, the colors were not chosen by the school, but by Aramark, an organization that provides food service management to over 420 public and private school districts throughout the United States. Martine says that Aramark had carefully researched their decision before coming up with the conclusion that red, orange and turquoise would help East’s students relax.

“At first, I didn’t even like the colors of the cafeteria, but now, it has… won me over. It just takes time to get used to,” said Martine.

Martine said that he would not want the whole school to be painted in these colors, but that the cafeteria was painted with a plan. Professionals sent by Aramark needed only a few days to paint the cafeteria and the school paid these professionals about 5,000 dollars for East’s new colorful cafeteria. The cafeteria, however, is not the only renovations East will undergo. One of the main focuses for the administrators this past summer was to make improvements throughout the school.

“Making these new renovations were not options, but laws and we’re looking around to see what improvements could be made,” said Martine.

Not only is the school renovating the cafeteria, but little by little, other parts of the school such as the auditorium and the second- and third-floor bathrooms. Little by little, East attempts to improve the building to live up to its title of being not only a blue-ribbon school, but also one that wears all of its colors well.

Tags: Cafeteria, Features, Grace Min

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