THE ABINGTONIAN
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA, 19001
October 2013
The Breast Cancer Awareness Football Game
Photo taken by Anna Fitz
By Sumner Sykes
Friday, October 11th, marked the sixth annual Breast Cancer
Awareness game for Abington Football. This year the Galloping Ghosts
played against Harry S. Truman High School; we scared the Tigers out
of Schwartzman Stadium with a winning score of 31-7. The game
started off with a great pass from Brett Guaglionona to Paul Goerlich
for a touchdown. Craig Reynolds, our star running back, scored the
rest of the touchdowns. However, this was no one- man show. Those
touchdowns wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the
Offensive Line. Coach Sorber intelligently led the team to success,
pushing each player to their personal best, despite how well they were
already doing as a whole.
This year at the Breast Cancer Awareness game, Abington chose
to honor community members who have been diagnosed with and/
or beat breast cancer. If you attended the game, you saw the four
women dressed in pink stand out on the field. On the 50- yard line
stood Ms. Robin Davis, Ms. Janice Jedlinski, Ms. Marion Utain, and
Coach Sorber’s Mother, Ms. Pat Sorber. The courage of these women
filled the whole stadium; Abington is proud to have such inspiring
individuals walk the halls. All proceeds from this game went to
wonderful organizations such as The Susan G. Komen Foundation, the
Terry Hanifin Fund, the Breathing Room Foundation, and the Abington
Hospital Rosenfeld Cancer Center. With our raised funds, these great
organizations can support women and men living with breast cancer,
help with medical bills, and support the research for a cure.
“The Breast Cancer Awareness Game every year gives me a great
sense of pride because Abington and North Penn HS started this
tradition in 2007. We were the first two teams in the Suburban One
League to have a Breast Cancer Awareness Game. It has now spread
to every team in the league. Obviously, the reason I wanted to have
this game is to honor my mother Pat, who was diagnosed with Breast
Cancer in 2006. North Penn’s head coach, Dick Becks, also has a
mother that is a Breast Cancer Survivor. If this tradition can continue at
Abington for a long, long time, this will be my proudest achievement in
my coaching career”-Head Coach Timothy Sorber
Whose Fault Was The Government Shutdown?
By Ryan Grewal
Everywhere on the news, reporters and pundits assign blame for
the government shutdown:
“John Boehner’s Shutdown” – The New York Times
“It was caused by Republicans, mainly Tea Party Republicans.” – CNN
“Yes, It Is John Boehner’s Fault” – Bloomberg Businessweek
Even though these statements are true, they are completely
unhelpful. If the assigning of blame by the media is supposed to
keep our politicians accountable, it’s doing a terrible job. Elected
representation based on the will of the people is the core tenet of a
democratic republic, but the lies spread by the conservative politcomedia complex are subverting the democratic process and preventing
the peoples’ will from being expressed in our legislature.
The immediate cause of the government shutdown comes from the
inability to pass a “Continuing Resolution” (CR), which would provide
funding in absence of a new budget. When this bill is not passed in
time, the government is effectively defunded. This insane method will
Fashion for
the Cure
Page 2
Pumpkin
Carving
Ideas
Page 3
never be reformed as the party in power, currently the Republicans
(in the House), can benefit from it in one distinct way: holding the
government hostage. This time the ransom was the defunding of
the Affordable Care Act (also known or labeled as “Obamacare”).
The House Republican leadership had no interest in shutting down
the government, but they caved to the “Suicide Caucus” of Tea Party
representatives demanding the stoppage of Obamacare at any cost.
The Democrat-controlled Senate understandably refused to pass
the CR with this addition. Neither side gave in, leading to the radical
faction of one party in one house of Congress shutting down the
federal government.
The radical right is fueled by the money of the uber-rich
conservative elite, but its true lifeblood is the misinformation
of supporters who will follow xenophobic propaganda and
fundamentalist-Christian war cries inspired by FOX News and other
right-wing media. Corruption seeps through
[continued on page 5]
Harry Potter
Spin-Off
Abington Girls’
Tennis
Page 6
Page 8
The Abingtonian
October 2013
Page 2
FEATURES
Health Hunters: Jules Thin Crust Pizza Review
Offering delicious thin crust pizza, Jules caters to all different types of diets
By Madeleine Kilimnik and Amanda Daemer
A word from our gluten-free expert (Amanda):
Jules Thin Crust Pizza, in Noble Square, offers gluten-free pizza
for people with celiac disease. They sell many varieties of thin crust
pizzas without gluten or wheat that are always a delicious treat! Jules
has reinvented healthy food that not only tastes great, but also is
great for you as well! Without
any harmful chemicals or
preservatives, the pizza is an
especially low dose of calories
that will fulfill your pizza
cravings. Their thin crusts are
reasonably priced; a small,
gluten-free pizza is around $7
and you receive four slices. The
pizzas take around 7-10 minutes
to cook. The service is top
quality, and the establishment
is open and spacious with
plenty of places to sit, including outdoor seating! You can order pizzas
for there or to go, and if you are in a hurry, you can even order online
to select locations. Before you leave, pick up their gluten-free cookies
A review by our vegetarian (Maddy):
It is hard to be a vegetarian and find foods that are delicious.
People always assume that pizza is junk food-- but not at Jules. Jules
has made a breakthrough with their “Food for Thought” campaign,
making a popular junk food good for you. Who would have thought
that a combination of feta cheese, arugula,
olives, and other veggies on a pizza would
make it taste great? The environment at Jules
Thin Crust is cool and casual. There is no need
to be fancily dressed -- just stop in for a bite.
Jules not only has great pizzas, but also boasts
a friendly staff, and a serene scene. Jules only
has one downfall -- once you start eating, it is
hard to stop. On a spring or summer day, grab
a light, salad pizza; on a chilly wintery night,
go for the hardy potato and pepper pizza. The
variety doesn’t stop there. Jules also carries
a line of non-vegetarian food if preferred by
customer. Also, for everyone who eats kosher, most of Jules’s food is
kosher and okay to eat without any precautions. Jules will certainly be
a wonderful way to have a light snack or a delicious dinner!
Fashion for the Cure
Show your support for the fight
against breast cancer in style
Stylish Student of the Month:
Danae Reid
By Nafissa McClenny
ASHS’ latest catch of the eye is this lovely young lady with an
awesome sense of fashion.
Danae Reid, a sweet 17 year-old senior who is very active in our school
as a cheerleader and part-time desk receptionist, has a radical sense
of style. Danae does not cease to amaze with her nifty trends and
“thrifty” stylings. When asked about her style she said, “I would say
my style is 75% Hipster and 25% me.” She believes it is important to
show personality through apparel. Danae finds herself using her spare
time ‘thrifting’ with her paychecks and searching for prints to mix and
match. She tells us her style inspirations include the singer Solange,
Tumblr, and various Indie music groups. As Danae suggests, do not be
afraid to be individual with what you wear. Your style is part of what
makes you who you are so be as creative as possible!
Think you know a fashionable
student? Nominate a classmate for
The Stylish Student of the Month!
By Carly Baurer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and in the spirit of
fighting for the cure, this month’s Fashion article is “Positively Pink”
in honor of Breast Cancer awareness. After surfing the Internet and
flipping through magazines, I found two great fashion choices that
help fund the fight against Breast Cancer. If you love jewelry, check
out breastcancer.org and treat yourself to the Chan Luu bracelet for
$45. Fifty percent of the purchase price directly benefits Breast Cancer
research. If you’re a sports fan, you should visit nfl.com to order
shirts, hats, or hoodies of your favorite sports team bearing the Breast
Cancer pink logo, with a portion of the proceeds going to research
for the cure. You’ll feel great wearing these items, knowing you are
helping an important cause. They’re also both great holiday gifts (start
your holiday shopping early!) And it can’t hurt that you’ll look good
while wearing them!
The Abingtonian
October 2013
Page 3
FEATURES
All Foods Pumpkin
Pumpkin Carving
By Sidnee Landau
When you think of fall what pops into your head? Leaves, sweaters,
boots? When I think of fall, Halloween comes to mind. And of course
with Halloween comes pumpkins! Pumpkins are a very important
component of fall; They are in lattes, breads, pies, and are even used
for decoration. Pumpkins can be turned into a healthy meal, represent
fall spirit, and be the focus of an enjoyable activity. Spice up the
season with some pumpkin!
There are so many delicious pumpkin recipes to enjoy in the fall.
Pumpkin soups are a great and easy side to make to warm you up on
chilly days. Pumpkin can also be incorporated into dinner time meals.
Pumpkin macaroni and cheese, pumpkin salad, and pumpkin stew
are great entrees to help get into the fall spirit. Pumpkin pie, bread,
cupcakes, and cookies are tasty desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Pumpkins are also a low calorie vegetable filled with rich vitamins that
are known to prevent heart disease. Pumpkin is a must have in a fall
diet and can be incorporated into anything your heart desires!
To really experience the fall, try going to a pumpkin patch! There
you can pick out your own pumpkins to use for decorations. Many
pumpkin patches also include hayrides, corn mazes, haunted houses
and other activities perfect for autumn. Etched pumpkins and painted
pumpkins are also beautiful fall decorations. The simplest and
crunchiest autumn snack is a handful of pumpkin seeds! Pumpkin
seeds are an appetizing, healthy, and easy snack to prepare. When
you purchase a pumpkin to carve, make sure you save all of the seeds
from the inside. Wash the seeds in a sieve and sprinkle them onto a
pan. Add some salt for added flavor and slide them into the oven for
3-5 minutes! Set your potato chips aside because it’s the season for all
things pumpkin!
By Maddy Frazier
Want to stand out in your neighborhood this Halloween? With
these spooky good ideas, you’ll have the best looking pumpkins on
your doorstep!
1. Write It Out
Who says pumpkin carvings have to be faces? Try words instead!
You could carve out your family’s name, your street number, or even
just the first letters of your family members’ names for a change from
the norm.
2. Clever Pumpkins
Carve out glasses around the eyes or a bow tie on your pumpkin to
give it a smart twist. Give your pumpkin its own costume! Why stop at
glasses? Add a lightning-bolt scar and you could have your very own
Harry Potter Pumpkin!
3. The Eyes Have It
Change up the eyes on your pumpkin’s face- give it eyelashes,
change the shapes to moons or stars, or even have it look asleep by
carving thin slits where the eyes would be.
4. Cute Designs
Want a pretty pumpkin instead of a pretty scary one? Carve little
designs just on the surface, like leaves, flowers, or anything else you’d
like.
5. Paint It Up
Your pumpkins can be colorful, too. Add some paint around your
carvings, or even omit the carvings overall, for an artsy look.
Remember to take advantage of such a festive holiday! Take your
family to the pumpkin patch, have a contest to see who can find the
largest one, or even the smallest! Holidays are only as good as you
make them, so carve your pumpkins with imagination and include your
whole family in this fall fun!
From lattes to soups, the gourd-y A piece of pie with these
goodness never ends
suggestions
Waffles and Comedy Galore in NBC’s Parks and Recreation
By Sophia Ricciardi
It’s not every day that a TV show comes along that is absurdly funny
and realistic at the same time. Parks and Recreation is one of those
shows- and it is hilarious! Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur,
Parks and Recreation follows the story of the Parks and Recreations
department in the small town of Pawnee, focusing on the deputy
director Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). Leslie was born to work for the
government, and she puts in 110% into everything she does, from
managing a penguin wedding to making a pit into a park. The lovable
Leslie fears no obstacles and works hard at any given task. From
Leslie’s manly boss, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), to the childish
musician, Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), every character in Parks and
Recreation is unique and vital to the show.
Parks and Recreation is one of the few shows that starts out great
and just gets better and better. Somehow every situation in Pawnee,
no matter how trivial or routine, manages to spiral out of control,
making the show hilarious! But that’s not to say Parks and Rec doesn’t
have its touching moments either. The show is a comedy for sure, but
in those moments where the plot is more sincere, you witness the true
genius behind the show. Viewers feel connected to the characters and
enjoy following their stories through good and bad times.
Parks and Recreating is in its 7th season, airing at 8/7 central on
NBC Thursday nights. If you want to catch up before jumping into the
newest episodes, seasons one through five are available on Netflix. So
next time you are in need of a little recreation, park yourself on the
sofa and dive into Parks and Recreation!
The Abingtonian
October 2013
EDITORIALS
Taking AP Classes
A sophomore’s perspective
By Rebecca Chen
Advanced placement courses, commonly referred to as AP classes,
are designed for high school students who wish to accelerate their
chances of being accepted by their dream universities. An AP class
is taught with the purpose of preparing students to obtain fives on
the AP exam, allowing them to skip certain introductory college
courses. $89 for a single AP exam may seem overpriced, but this
investment can save thousands of dollars for students who may not
receive financial aid. Some may even be able to take extra electives
or graduate a semester early, depending on the individual. Because
AP classes come with “weighted” grades, many students who take
multiple AP courses can boost their grade-point averages.
Often, I am asked by my peers about how I got into my advanced
placement microeconomics/macroeconomics class in the first place
(try saying THAT in a hurried breath as you’re scurrying to your
seventh period class). But besides the fact that AP Econ is a hassle to
pronounce and explain, surviving it is a different story. Prior to the
spring of this year, the term “AP” meant nothing more to me than just
two random letters of the alphabet being glued together. Now that
I’ve been enlightened by Mr. Brown on the law of diminishing marginal
returns and how to calculate the elasticity of a given good, I think it’s
safe to say that economics is far more interesting and practical than I
had originally thought.
From the moment I walked into S108 on September 3rd, I already
knew that this course required determination and diligence. The first
thing I noticed after strolling into the sauna-like classroom was the
number of students. 1,2,3,4…31 kids?! went the voice in my head. Was
that even legal? Apparently. Not only was the aggregate of humans
steadily increasing the room temperature, most of my peers were
seniors, with the exception of one other fellow sophomore. According
to an upperclassman in my class, I was informed that in years past,
sophomores weren’t typically permitted to enroll in advanced
placement courses, which would explain why the seniors were so
bewildered by the presence of two tenth graders in their economics
class.
So...how DID I manage to cram AP micro/macroeconomics into my
schedule? To be honest, I don’t have an exact answer. But from what
I do know, one must be a student with good time management and
decent grades in their current social studies class to be recommended
for an AP class. Students should know that AP classes mimic college
courses in the requirements, the workload, and what’s expected
of the students. However, if the student can handle the strenuous
coursework, the knowledge and life skills obtained are invaluable. And
with over 25 AP classes, from chemistry to statistics, there is sure to be
one to meet everyone’s tastes!
Page 4
Pushing an Elephant Up
the Stairs
By Nate Davis
If you spend a good deal of time with me, you will hear the
sentence “I have just lost all faith in humanity” many a time. Most
often, it applies to a poorly constructed joke, a political ad, or a
grammatical error. Other times, it is spurred by something with more
weight: the government shutdown, the over-sexualization of women,
or hardheartedness towards human rights issues. In all of these, I
make the flippant generalization that human benevolence is deceased.
The sad thing is that this is a viewpoint that many people hold.
It is easy to look around and see the fallible side of mankind. You
have your friend who manages to sing Flo Rida’s “Whistle” at least
once every time you hang out with him. You have my dad, who walked
out of Boston Market without the chicken. You have me, who went to
Opt-Out, forgetting I had double physics. The irritating habits that we
have always find a chance to show themselves, but much rarer are the
appearances of brotherly love.
Recently, however, I have seen this love—this humanity—make
two particularly striking appearances. On October 3rd, my dad’s car’s
starter failed as he was picking me up from marching band practice. As
we were starting to push the car out of the fire lane, a boy, presumably
an Abington student, came over and helped us push. Neither my dad
nor I had ever met him before, but he set down his sports equipment
and put his hands to the bumper. He did not leave until the car was in
a parking spot.
On a much larger scale, the morning of October 6th was
Philadelphia’s “Out of the Darkness” suicide prevention walk. 150,000
people, including me and a few other Abington students, walked from
the Art Museum, down past the boathouses, and back. The sheer mass
of support was stunning: 150,000 people who gave up sleep, religious
services and free time. 150,000 people who wanted all of Philadelphia
to know that life is worth living.
As a fellow human who forgot to shave the right half of his face
today, I firmly believe that the fraternity people share has not died, but
its death is possible. Keeping it alive means fighting against the notion
that we are a doomed race. Upholding the belief in interpersonal
kindness is nothing short of pushing an elephant up stairs. In the
interest of future generations, let us go forth and give that elephant a
great shove on the tush.
Why Program the Programming?
By Andrew Schmidt
Expression is the art of human emotion. Where there is no
expression, there is no life. For years, visual media, such as
television and film, has been a way for people to convey their ideas
and thoughts, and thus bring a sense of fulfillment into everyday
life. All this, said and done, sounds fantastic. There is, however, a
demonic force filtering some of the most essential assets of these
productions, sucking much of the creativity out of them: censorship.
This act of destroying one’s great ideas removes, on a larger scale,
the original passion behind them.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gives movies
ratings for a reason; it warns potential viewers of the content so
that if it is viewed as inappropriate or offensive, they can turn the
movie off. This does not entail filing a complaint with the Federal
Communications Commission! That little box on the upper left
hand corner of the screen at the beginning of a TV show serves
the same purpose, yet so many fragile-minded viewers feel the
need to start unnecessary altercations. It would be more beneficial
if, somehow, the wizards who control television could just make
a separate system of channels for just those who get so uptight
about “regulations” and leave TV the way it is for the rest of us.
Unfortunately, that is just not going to happen, so either people
have to pay more attention to the warnings before programs, or
stop watching them altogether.
The Abingtonian October 2013
EDITORIALS
Page 5
What happened during the
shutdown, anyway?
An overview, bias-free
Whose Fault is the Government
Shutdown? (continued)
the entire political system, from the elite donors to the think tanks,
media, Tea Party supporters, and finally to the politicians. From this
self-perpetuating human centipede of American conservatism, a great
smear campaign of misinformation was excreted: the depravity of
Obamacare.
Obamacare is the law. Obamacare may be a good law. Obamacare
may be a bad law. But Obamacare is the law. Like most laws passed
by Congress, the Affordable Care Act is built on a foundation of good
ideas, but it was broken down by committees, perverted by special
interest groups, and misrepresented by partisan debate, all these
actions motivated by the detrimental influence of money on our
democratic system.
Obamacare is not “downright evil,” as Sarah Palin put it. Obamacare
is not “one of the most insidious laws known to man,” as Tea Party
Rep. Todd Rokita told CNN. Obamacare is not “an unconstitutional
taking of God-given American liberty,” as Tea Party Rep. Steve King said
on the House floor. Obamacare cannot “literally kill you,” as Fox News
host Eric Bolling told his audience of over 2 million viewers.
These politicians and reporters are not stupid. They know
Obamacare isn’t as bad as they claim, but they also know that they
will stay in power if they can create an enemy to fear, so they made
promises to their constituents and viewers to end Obamacare at
any cost. That cost happens to be a government shutdown, forcing
800,000 federal workers to go without pay, shutting down national
parks and important social programs, and causing an unknown
economic hazard.
Yet Conservatives are not solely responsible, as Liberals have
implemented systematic manipulation of the American people as well.
In the 70s and 80s, Democrats shut down the government 12 times.
It may be the Republicans currently performing the extortion, but
corruption, deception, and fraud reach both sides of the aisle.
Politicians and the media act in their own interests, whether scaring
citizens for ad money, sucking the teat of big-business for campaign
money, or refusing to reform a method of funding the government
that only serves to hurt the people.
So, who is to blame for the shutdown? The system.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
TELL US BY WRITING A
LETTER TO THE EDITOR!
By Brittany Levy
As midnight approached on September 30th, no lawmakers
on Capitol Hill seemed willing to accept responsibility for the
imminent shutdown of the federal government. So how did we get
to this point?
The controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,
commonly known as Obamacare, has roused several unsuccessful
calls for its repeal prior to its effective date. On September 20th,
2013, right-wing elements of the Republican Party within the
House of Representatives passed a bill that required funding of
Obamacare to be delayed for a year.
The Democratic-led Senate denied the bill, but passed a budget
bill in a revised form on September 27th. The House passed its
version of the budget bill (including the provision to delay funding
of Obamacare) again on September 29th, but the Senate still
refused to pass this legislation. The two sides had to agree on a
budget by the first day of the federal fiscal year, October 1st. They
could not develop a compromise bill by midnight on September
30th, causing the federal government to shut down due to a lack of
appropriated funds.
So what exactly is a “government shutdown”? It occurs
when a government discontinues providing services that are
not considered “essential.” Your mail will continue to come, the
military will continue to fight, and security checks will continue
to be paid, but if you want to get a passport, gun permit, federal
loan, buy a house, visit a national zoo, a national park, or the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, you’re out of luck!
The shutdown may not have a significant effect on students in
Abington because most of the governmental services that we
receive are provided by the local or state governments, which are
not impacted by the shutdown. However, many places in Historic
Philadelphia, such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall,
remain locked as a result.
Members of the House and the Senate, the President, and
troops are still being paid, but 800,000 federal employees in the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Labor,
Energy, Commerce, and Defense were furloughed—in other
words, they were sent home without pay. However, Congress
recently passed a bill that would make sure that the furloughed
workers will get paid for this period once a final budget bill is
approved.
The federal government cannot issue any new debt once they
reach the debt ceiling, the maximum amount of monies Congress
authorizes the United States to borrow. It is said that the U.S
government will reach its debt ceiling on October 17th, 2013. This
could have a severe impact on our economy, as we need to issue
additional debt in order to stay current on our bills and avoid a
default.
Many US citizens are becoming fed up with the inability
of the Republican-led House and the Democrat-led Senate to
work together to pass legislation that would keep our country
running properly. Perhaps the people will resolve this issue
during the next national election in 2014, when the entire
House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are up for
reelection. This could result in a shift in party control of either
body. Meanwhile, the two parties are going to have to find a
compromise.
When this article was written, the resolution of the debt ceiling
increase had not yet arisen, so this focuses on the government
shutdown related to the budget resolution. However, failure
by Congress to resolve the debt ceiling would be much more
devastating because it would force our government to default on
obligations. This could have a severe impact on financial markets.
The Abingtonian
October 2013
NEWS
J.K. Rowling Announces
Harry Potter Spin-off
By Danny Nikander
Three years it has almost been since the cinematic conclusion
to the Harry Potter series premiered, and it could not have ended
more perfectly. However, diehard fans of this multibillion-dollar
franchise were left with an unquenchable thirst for more of the tale. JK
Rowling’s remarkable creation of the wizarding world left an endless
number of adventures untold—until now.
In 2001, Rowling released the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to
Find Them, giving a new look into the world of Harry Potter. Fantastic
Beasts, a textbook which describes seventy-five species of magical
animals studied and collected by Newt Scamander (another character
created by Rowling), reads as the actual textbook used by Hogwarts
students in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Last month, Warner
Bros. Pictures announced that Fantastic Beasts would become a
spin-off film franchise of the Harry Potter series. The film will take
place seventy years prior to Harry Potter’s adventures and will follow
Scamander as he ventures in pursuit of the hidden beasts of the
wizarding world.
No word of an official plot has been released; however, according
to Rowling, the story will begin in New York City in the early 1900’s.
Although fan favorites, like actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson,
will not be returning, some familiar faces could be expected to make
WORDLINK
Hey word puzzle lovers! Frustrated with life? Well, sit back, relax, and
fill out a wordlink. You play by creating a chain of compound words
from the first word all the way to the last. The first and second word
link to make a compound word, like in this example: Guitar and string
connect to make guitar string, string links with band to make string
band, and band and camp link to form band camp. Some of the words
even have letters filled in to help you out!
Think you solved the puzzle? Print your name at the bottom, cut out
your completed wordlink, and drop it off at the Wordlink box sitting
on the Abingtonian box in the library. YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO
A DRAWING TO WIN A PRIZE! Winners will be announced on the
afternoon announcements! Best of luck!
DAIRY
__ U __ __ __
__ __ E
L __ __ __
__ __ __ C __
__ T __ D __ __
__ __ T
__ H __ __
BUSINESS
NAME:____________________
Page 6
cameos as the franchise
carries on. “I can’t talk
really about it yet,”
says David Heyman,
the producer of Harry
Potter. “All I can say
is that it’s great.
[Rowling] had no need
to go back to this
universe or world…
She’s chosen to do
so because she felt a
need to tell a story.
That she’s doing it
means that it’s going
to be very, very
special.” It seems as if
Rowling’s passion will
make for a fantastic
film. Screenwriting is still in process so no date has been set to begin
filming, but Warner Bros. hopes to premiere the film in the winter of
2014.
Can You “C” the Difference?
By Casey Eichelberger
Technology is charging ahead at full speed. Gadgets, gizmos, and
devices are multiplying at an unprecedented rate, making it all the
more difficult to keep track. One well-known leader in the technology
race is Apple, who recently unveiled the iPhone 5S and its partner, the
iPhone 5C. But what is the difference?
The basic functions of the 5C match those of the 5S. They have the
same internal mechanisms. Apple used the exact same Retina Display
screen, software, 4G connectivity, and even an identical processor
engine for both. One difference lies in storage capacity. Whereas the
5S can hold up to 64 GB, the 5C has two options, 16 GB and 32GB.
Additionally, every 5C comes preset with features of the IOS 7 update,
including various camera filters and square screenshot. A feature of
the 5S that has everyone buzzing is the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
This mechanism allows each owner to tie their phone security to their
unique fingerprint.
By far, the most eye-catching feature of the 5C is its colorful
exterior! A slightly less expensive option, the 5C, unlike the 5S, has a
shell made of polycarbonate plastic. Despite making the 5C a tad larger
and heavier, the plastic shell allows for five different colors: white,
blue, yellow, green, and pink.
Although the iPhone 5C may appear inferior to the closely-related
iPhones 5 or 5S, which are made mostly of metal and glass, Apple
intended the 5C for a more easy-going crowd. As with all ideas and
items, there are positive and negative factors, but these depend
greatly on the buyer. Regardless, Apple has succeeded in catering to an
even larger range of consumers.
The Abingtonian
Update from the
Junior Class Council
October 2013
Page 7
NEWS
By Emma Hill
The Junior Class Council has a lot in store for the Class of 2015. With
the help of sponsors Ms. Shapiro and Mr. Han we plan to make this
year our best yet! Our officers include me, Emma Hill, as President,
Glenn Ma as Vice President, Taylor Spitko as Secretary, and Hannah
Abel as Treasurer. We have many popular fundraisers planned, but
we depend on
all juniors to be
involved; coming
to the following
events will raise
money for us to
hold a Junior Prom
that everyone will
enjoy! Dates will
be announced
ahead of time and
posted all over
school.
The Junior Class
Council welcomes
suggestions
for additional
fundraisers. Any
student who
would like to be a
part of the Junior
Class Council
should come to our monthly meetings and follow us on Twitter @
ASHclassof2015 in order to stay updated on events, meetings, and
important news.
Battle of
the Bands
Candy Sale
Dodgeball
Tournament
H2O for Life
Car Wash Making an impact on the
Movie Night world water crisis
JUNIOR PROM
Calling All Quilters:
Join Quilts for Kids
By Jackie Lee
Those of you who were in the National Junior Honor Society at the
junior high school may remember one after school meeting in which
students made blankets for an organization, Brady’s Smile, to give to
children in hospitals. If you found that event fun and memorable, then
Quilts for Kids will be the perfect after school activity for you to join.
What, exactly, will you do in this club? Instead of simple blankets,
members will be sewing and putting together their very own quilts
all year long. The advisors of the club, Ms. Rodgers and Ms. Anello,
personally buy all the fabrics and batting you need so that you don’t
have to go out and purchase them on your own. (For those of you
unfamiliar in sewing, batting is the layer you put between the top and
bottom of the quilt for insulation.) You can get a neat little bundle
of matching fabrics for just $3.00 and start sewing right away. Don’t
worry if you don’t know a thing about making quilts; all members can
learn how during the first few meetings.
In April, the club takes a trip to St. Chris’s Hospital to hand-deliver
the finished quilts to child patients. You will have the opportunity to
meet and get to know the kid for whom your quilt is destined. If seeing
the smiles of children isn’t enough motivation, then the service hours
received from the club might convince you
to join. If you finish a quilt by April,
you’ll be able to record twenty hours
of service, and an extra five for the
trip to the hospital. For the seniors
out there, creating a quilt could be
counted as your senior project, too.
If you’re interested, talk to either Ms.
Rodgers or Ms. Anello and come to the
meetings on Tuesdays from 2:45 to 4:00.
Don’t forget to bring your own thread!
By Danielle King
H2O for Life is unique among Abington’s many great service clubs.
Led by co-presidents Joe Mernyk and Danielle King, vice presidents
Taylor Sterling and Robert Baranov, secretary Aleks Cvetković,
treasurer Vsevelod Leskin, communications director Jimmy Lennon,
and board members Colleen Lavelle, Shannon Cordero, Dan Seong,
Keshon Guiellmo, and Julie Lee, the club meets most Fridays after
school. This year, H2O plans to raise money to bring water to a primary
school in South Africa. As usual, the club chooses a partner school
in a country greatly lacking in bathrooms, sanitation systems, or
access to clean water. H2O for Life strives to make a difference in the
world water crisis by living up to the motto, “We are the solution.” By
bringing water to these schools, members help to relieve problems
such as gender inequality and water-borne illnesses. The club does
much work globally, but also makes a huge impact on the local
community by educating people to be mindful of water in their own
towns and of the greater water crisis.
This year, H2O for Life has many popular fundraisers and events
planned. The club is currently selling chocolate-covered pretzels, so
be sure to buy some before they’re gone! In addition, the club will
host two benefit concerts, aptly named Soundwave. The concerts will
showcase many local bands and most definitely be a great time. Stay
posted for dates and other information. There are plenty of ways to
get involved in H2O for Life, and new members are always welcome,
so come out to one of our Friday after school meetings. Make a real
impact on the world by becoming part of the solution.
WE WANT YOU!
BE A PART OF THE ABINGTONIAN!
WE NEED WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS,
AND EVEN CARTOONISTS!
COME TO A MEETING OR CHECK OUT
OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. JOIN US!
The Abingtonian
October 2013
Page 8
SPORTS
Lights Out For Girl’s Tennis Abington
Boys’ Varsity
Soccer
By Hannah Abel
For the first time in three years, the Abington Girls’ Tennis Team
brought the Suburban One National title home after defeating their
rival Pennsbury High School.
After winning three
out of the seven
matches, there was only
one left. The final match
was doubles with senior
Ashley Lyons and junior
Jeannie Van Buren.
The intense match
continued for four hours
of play. In a third set tiebreaker, the girls were
up 2-0. However, due to
darkness, Pennsbury’s
coach halted the match
and scheduled its muchdesired ending for one
week later. Abington
packed up their rackets
and headed home with
a two-point lead.
Both Van Buren and
Lyons agreed that the
next week dragged on. Their nerves were at an all-time high, but they
were eager to get back on the court. At the end of the day, their one
match would determine which team would hold the Suburban One
National Championship.
Ashley stated, “Though we lost momentum while entering the
end of the tie breaker, we and the team worked so hard to get there
so there was already a sense of accomplishment. The team was so
supportive which made it even easier.”
Jeannie also said, “The team is made up of such a great group of
supportive girls that we knew we could be proud with any outcome.
We really couldn’t have done it without the team’s encouragement.
Tennis is always labeled as the underdog team but winning the league
really showed how strong we are. I couldn’t have done it without my
teammates.”
The girls have worked rigorously since the early mornings of August,
and it has been a successful season. Once again Abington is proud to
have the Girls Tennis Team bring home another piece of hardware to
show that hard work and determination breeds champions.
SuburbanOneSports.com
Featured Athlete - Nicole Bonacci
“Nicole is a very hard worker,” coach Kristy Heyser
says. “She never moans and groans about anything
and sets the tone for practice. She’s respected by her
teammates, she’s easy to get along with, and she’s
competitive on the court. She’s a joy to coach.”
Favorite athlete: Kim Clijsters
One goal before turning 30: Travel to Europe
Favorite team: The Phillies
Music on iPod: The Foo Fighters
Favorite memory competing in sports: Two years ago, my teammates and I won the
girls’ advanced league for AAYTE, and my match was the deciding match!
Most embarrassing thing that has happened while competing in sports: Last year,
during a practice, I was running for a ball, and I tripped over my own foot, cut my
knee and I was bleeding all over the court.
Future plans: I want to go to art school and become a high school ceramics teacher.
Words to live by: ‘Conceive-Believe-Achieve’
By David Arroyo
Approximately a year ago today,
the Abington Boys’ Varsity Soccer
team was busy running through the
competition en route to their first District One championship in school
history. Although this team was great, it was lead by seniors who
would soon leave holes throughout the roster. So how was the season
after the championship? It has been a real challenge for the boys.
However, there are some positives to take away from this season. To
say the least,the future is bright.
The team has eagerly welcomed freshman Juan Castillo, a shining
star with an already impressive start to his high school soccer career.
According to sources, Juan has an estimated fifteen goals this season,
an amazing achievement from a starting FRESHMAN! Now for the
next three years of his playing career, all of Abington can watch as this
young star becomes a superstar. Another asset to the team is junior
Matt Tracey, who despite not having the goals, still plays a vital part on
the team. Matt is the junior leader of this club and has a strong chance
at being a captain his senior season. As a midfielder, Juan can credit
most of his success to Matt as he is the one who helps push the ball up
the pitch, which eventually finds its way to Matt. Other players such
as Aiden Coyle, who plays a big role in setting up the defense to help
protect goalie Austin Brotman, and Matt Bachman who has notched
several goals this season, will have increased roles in their junior and
senior years. With this young group of talent, look for the Abington
Boys soccer team to be making pushes at District One titles and State
titles for the next few years!
The Abingtonian, 2013-2014
Published by: Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA
Editors-In-Chief:
Alex Rosenbaum and Aleks Cvetkovic
News Editor:
Sabrina Farmer
Editorial Editor:
Rebecca Kruger
Features Editor:
Elana Waldstein
Sports Editor:
Blake Friedman
Writers:
Sumner Sykes, Madeleine Kilimnik, Amanda Daemer,
Nafissa McClenny, Carly Baurer, Sidnee Landau,
Maddy Frazier, Sofia Ricciardi, Rebecca Chen,
Nate Davis, Andrew Schmidt, Brittany Levy,
Emma Hill, Jackie Lee, Danielle King,
Danny Nikander, David Arroyo, Hannah Abel,
Casey Eichelberger, Ryan Grewal
Faculty Advisors:
Mr. Bryan Quigley & Mr. Albert Saylor
Administration:
Mr. A. Berrios, Mr. R. McCuen,
Mr. E. Johnson, Mr. C. Fiorino