Lights, Camera, Action: The Oscars are Hollywood's chance to shine

by Nicolette Manzi

The greatest singers of music have already had their day under the stars and it is now time for the next big industry of pop culture to have their time in the sun. The Oscars host the biggest night for movies, allowing for every actor and actress to have their moment in the spotlight. The Oscars aired last Sunday night, which marked the 86th Academy Awards. This memorable event was filled with gorgeous gowns and great movies. With the host being the hilarious Ellen DeGeneres, the night was sure to be a hit right from the start.

        The night began with the infamous Red Carpet event, with every actor and actress dressed to the nines. There was the splash of red from Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams in a flowing navy dress and Matthew McConaughey looking damper in a white suit. The stars were ready for a stunning night.

        To begin, the nominees for best picture were filled with creditable movies and the battle to win best picture were sure to be tough. The best picture nominees were American Hustle, Captain Philips, Dallas Buyer Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, and The Wolf of Wall Street. 12 Years a Slave won best picture.

        DeGeneres started the night off with her typically infectious humor. Throughout the night she walked through the crowd interacting with the audience. She even gave Bradley Cooper lottery tickets and ordered pizza for everyone in the audience. DeGeneres’s efforts to involve the crowd made this year’s Oscars truly unique.

        The nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role also consisted of many talented actors who have been known for their movies over the years. Christian Bale, Bruce Nern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Matthew McConaughey were all nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role.  McConaughey won Best Actor in a leading role.

        The women in the category for Best Actress in a Leading Role were also widespread and talented.  Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench and Meryl Streep were all nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role.  Blanchett won Best Actress in a Leading Role.

        The Academy Awards recognizes not only main actors and actresses but supporting roles as well. A few notable names on the list were Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jonah Hill. Jared Leto from Dallas Buyer Club won Best Supporting Actor and Lupita Nyong'o from 12 years a Slave won Best Supporting Actress.

        Now, many people may wonder how certain movies get nominated and picked to win an Oscar. Well, the people who nominated these movies are not some random people on the streets, but members of the Academy. These members have to watch movies produced for the year and nominated which ones they think are the best.

The nomination process is based on more than just a movie being good, but an intense list that credits the movie artistic merits and the technicality of the film. Once all the votes are in the nominees are listed and the Academy ultimately decides who wins the Oscar. With everything considered, winning an Oscar is very hard to do, due to the fact that the people on the Academy truly know what it takes to make a flawless movie.

        Now, the Oscars isn’t just blockbuster movies and A-list actors but also many other things such as Best Animated Feature,  Best Costume Design, Best Directing, and Best Foreign Language Film.

        The diversity and range of talent awarded at the Oscars is truly outstanding. The categories that range from talented actors and actresses to the unique process behind the Oscars, all contribute to making the Oscars one of the most unique nights in Hollywood.

Uncovering the history of Black History Month

by Margarita Forbes

Black History Month is an annual observance in the United States for remembrance of important and influential African American people throughout history.  It all began in the mid 1920s by Carter G. Woodson.

            Black Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson strongly believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice.   He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925.  This was when Woodson realized that his hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization had were coming true. The event was first celebrated during a week in February of 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming, and many stepped forward to endorse the effort.

            By the 1950s, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and brought more Americans to appreciate the celebration.  The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history. 

            In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Finally, fifty years after the first celebration, the ASNLH held the first African American History Month. Now, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year.

            People who are often remembered each year during this month long event, include the infamous Martin Luther King Jr. who used his nonviolent approach to atrocities of humanity force in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, earning himself a Nobel Peace Prize.  Another black citizen includes Jane Bolin, the first black woman to become judge in the United States (1932), the first black woman to earn a law degree from Yale, the first black woman to pass the New York State bar exam and the first to join the city's law department, opening the doors to many African American women for the future.     

Another significant African American woman in U.S. history was Rosa Parks.  Parks, an African-American civil rights activist in the 1950s, refused to give her seat up on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white man, something that symbolized ending the injustices that she and her race had to endure as a community. 

Many ask “Why is there not a White History Month?” but that is because we essentially celebrate it all year long.  Black History Month is for those who are unaware of, or have simply forgotten, just how many African American people have contributed to making America what it is today.

Teen suicide: an often ignored reality

by Erica Rabito

Earlier this month, the news of the third in a string of suicides among teens in Newton was released to the public. Karen Douglas, Katie Stack, and Roee Grutman were all students at high schools in Newton who chose to end their lives. Their parents have all expressed shock and understandable despair at the loss of their children. A statement put forth by Grutman’s school principal also expressed this sadness.

“There were no indications to any of us — or to his family — that Roee was even contemplating suicide. There are no easy answers. It is simply beyond comprehension,” stated principal Stembridge in an email addressing the community.

Unfortunately, this statement is very familiar. Far too often when teens commit suicide their families are confused as to what caused this tragedy, or shocked at the idea of their child doing such a thing when they hadn’t even seen any signs!

When looked for however, the signs of depression can be found very easily, and are being discovered more and more among teens in the recent years. The Mayo Clinic listed a few of these emotional symptoms:
·         Feelings of sadness, which can include crying spells for no apparent reason
·         Irritability, frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters
·         Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
·         Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
·         Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism

If these sound familiar to you, it’s because you have probably heard them repeated over and over as simply “teenagers being teenagers.” Because these real and difficult to deal with symptoms are often brushed aside by parents and other adults, teens feel the need to internalize their struggles and keep their feelings to themselves.

Doctors and therapists usually suggest sharing feelings with others in order to deal with them and move past them properly. Having their emotions constantly disregarded can deepen a depression and even lead to thoughts of suicide. Teens believe that no one will understand or be willing to understand them.

Parents, guardians and adults in general need to recognize that teenagers deserve to be taken seriously and respected when they ask for the help that they need, or show the signs of needing help but are too afraid to ask for it.

If you see any of the previously mentioned signs in a loved one, talk to a guidance counselor, a trusted adult, or go to a website such as www.save.org to find more information on how to help. In order for levels to decrease, teen suicide needs to be recognized as a real and treatable problem, and needs to be treated by everyone as such. 

Love is in the air at WMHS

Students have a variety of ways to show Valentine's Day spirit this week--even if it means shredding paper to make a fun heart on your desk.
photo by Steph Ho

by Emily Crampton

Are you looking for a fun alternative to sitting at home, watching Netflix and whining about how much you hate Valentine’s Day? There are many fun activities run by different clubs at Woburn High to distract you from the love in the air.

                During school on Friday, February 14, Interact is hosting the annual Dating Game. This fun activity can get you out of class for periods 6 and 7 to watch your classmates embarrass themselves. Interact member and senior Dylan Scott explained the format for this year’s Dating Game.

“There will be four rounds including the regular ‘Bachelor Round,’ ‘Bachelorette Round’ and the always fun ‘Best Friends Round.’  A new addition this year will be the ‘Exes Round’ which will add a fun, new twist to the event,” told Scott.

If you plan on attending the Dating Game, make sure you get your ticket as soon as possible! Tickets will be sold for $5 during all three lunches this week and are anticipated to sell quickly. They will not be sold at the door.

                Also, with the spirit of love in the air, the Student Council will be selling both carnations and serenades during lunch, which will be delivered to homeroom on Friday. You can send a flower for just $1, or a serenade for $5. Use these fun Valentine’s Day surprises to profess your love, embarrass a friend, or ask someone to the upcoming prom. All proceeds will go to the Student Council. The Student Council will only be selling these fun surprises until today and they will not deliver serenades addressed anonymously, so be sure to note who the serenade is coming from. 

In the hopes of making Valentine’s Day a little sweeter for some who may be lonely this year, the Keystone Club will be having a bake sale on Friday during all three lunches. They plan to have a selection of Valentine’s Day themed baked goods and candies to support heart health. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross, so help support a great cause and get a treat in return.

If you are looking for something to do this Friday night, attend the Intrepid Keystone Club’s “Have a Heart” event. This event will be held at the Boys and Girls Club of Woburn from 9pm to midnight to benefit the American Red Cross. While admission is only to wear the color red, they are asking you to bring some cash to buy baked goods, drinks and snacks. The activities happening there include playing games, swimming  and other fun Valentine’s Day centered festivities. You will also be able to send your crush a Crush Soda for just $1 that evening, so be sure to bring money. Anyone is able to attend, whether you are a member of the Club or not, so bring your friends and enjoy a fun night, while supporting a great cause!

Whether you are looking forward to Valentine’s Day or not, there is a lot going on this Friday. Between the Dating Game, bake sales, the delivery of serenades and carnations, and the Intrepid Keystone Club’s event, there is no excuse to ignore the love in the air. If you are truly against anything love and Valentine’s Day, look forward to President’s Day, which is right around the corner. Start your February vacation off right and participate in the fun activities happening this Friday. 

The hot new fad for political regimes: censoring media

Editor's Note: Students in Journalism were asked to read Maziar Bahari's memoir, Then They Came for Me, a story of how the Newsweek journalist was arrested and held for 118 days in an Iranian prison for espionage. Students were then asked to write an article inspired by the memoir. One submission appears below.

Maziar Bahari's memoir recounts his 118 days in Iran's Evin Prison. The movie, Rosewater, based on the memoir and directed by Jon Stewart will be released in 2014.
photo by Abby Gillis

The hot new fad for political regimes: censoring media

by Alexander Paladino

The basic freedoms of speech, religion, and the press are fundamental tenets of an individual’s rights in the United States of America and many other modern countries around the world.  This liberty, however, is not as quickly bestowed upon citizens of second and third world nations.  

These countries tend to be ones where the governments are communist or socialist; however, most important is that these governments are almost all run by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.  The dictatorial nature of how the government holds the lives of citizens under a fine scope often leads to the abuse of power and manipulation of the public.  

One stark example of such manipulation is a censorship of media that is commonplace, allowing terrible leaders to remain in power.  Recently, this questionable act has proliferated across second and third world nations, from Cuba to Iran to China.  

The Arab Spring uprisings, a wave of revolts from Northern Africa to the Middle East that started in late 2010, have brought about liberation and democracy, yet at the same time hardship and an increased scrutiny of citizens.  While liberating Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen, the newfound democracies put in place are not all too different in terms of censorship.  

During April 2013, Bassem Youssef, host of an Egyptian comedy program akin to The Daily Show, made a joke that offended President Mohammed Morsi.  Youssef was questioned for several hours and the channel that broadcast his program was pulled from the air.  

This act raises the question of whether or not some of these democratic countries in the Middle East are merely veiling their authoritarian rules through censoring media that pokes holes at them.  

In accordance with the International Press Institute’s report, the IPI Press Review 2009 Focus on the Middle East and North Africa, the situation regarding censorship is getting worse.  Dozens of journalists have been convicted of crimes without trial.  News blackouts are put on foreign media.  Countries like Iran have arrested online bloggers who speak against them and have cracked down on the online flow of media on a whole.  

While the censorship of civilians for political gain is occurring in the Middle East and North Africa, it is occurring all around the world, and is not due to the Islam religion prevalent in the Middle East.  

In terms of online freedom, in order from least to greatest the bottom three countries are as follows: Iran, Cuba, and China.  Iran is mostly Muslim, yet Cuba is mostly Christian, and China has no one majority religion.  The list follows with the Muslim countries of Syria and Uzbekistan, yet then goes to Christian Ethiopia, and Buddhist Myanmar and Vietnam (Sterling).

The religious lineup of countries with minimal online freedom is erratic and does not point censorship to any one religion.  However, all these countries do have similarities.  Most have communist, socialist, and/or authoritarian governments.  

Governments with these ideals are often malicious to their people. They tend to strip rights away from their citizens in order to stay in power, and those who try to uncover the corruption are the ones who unfortunately get punished.

Works cited

Sterling, Joe. "Report: Mideast, North African Countries Censor, Control Media." CNN World.

CNN. 10 Feb. 2010. Web. 07 Feb. 2014. 

Bibliography

Calamur, Krishnadev. "U.S. Embassy Tweets Jon Stewart's Egypt Monologue; Diplomatic

Incident Ensues." NPR. NPR, 03 Apr. 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2014.

Fortin, Jacey. "The Surprising Truth About Internet Censorship In The Middle East.

"International Business Times. N.p., 12 Oct. 2012.Web. 07 Feb. 2014.

Going for gold: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

by Mairead O’Riordan

Starting on February 6, the Olympic Games will be kicking off in Sochi, Russia.  This will be the first time that the games are taking place in Russia.  There will be many events happening near the slopes like skiing and snowboarding and you can also cheer on your favorite team in the ice rink. 

If you have the need for speed, make sure to watch the events such as luge or skeleton where lugers can reach up to 87 mph.  Freshman Sam Ficociello is counting down the days until the games so she can watch some of her favorite events.

            “My favorite part is hockey, but I like watching sports that I don’t see very often outside of the Olympics like skiing, snowboarding and speed skating,” said Ficociello.

            The United States is sending its largest group ever to Sochi for the Olympic Games this year.  There will be 230 men and women athletes at the games competing in fifteen different events.  When the games took place in Vancouver four years ago, American athletes brought home 37 medals, setting a record for Winter Games and also setting the bar high for athletes in Sochi.  Junior Mark Marshall is looking forward to seeing his favorite athletes compete in the games.

            “I’m looking forward to seeing Shaun White in the snowboarding contest as well as the USA hockey team,” stated Marshall.

            This time around, the USA Women’s Hockey Team has their eye on the gold.  Four years ago they had to leave with silver, losing their last game to their biggest rival, Canada.  The team has put the loss behind them and has headed to Sochi with the hopes of leaving with the gold.

            US bobsled driver Steve Holcomb has made outstanding progress from about seven years ago when he was almost fully blind during the past Olympic Games.  Holcomb was diagnosed with an eye disorder that almost pushed him into retirement.  He knew that he could not give up his passion for bobsledding, and after a life changing eye procedure, he was back in the games.  Holcomb led his four-man bobsled team to victory as they won the first gold medal for this event in 62 years.  Now, four years later, Holcomb and his team are ready to go back and bring home the gold for the second time in a row.

            Mikaela Shiffrin, an 18-year-old slalom skier headed to Sochi has already been crowned the US slalom champion, which makes her the youngest person to ever win a national title.  Shiffrin is getting a lot of attention with the games quickly approaching because Lindsey Vonn, also a US slalom skier, is out of the Olympics due to a knee injury.  Already named Colorado’s Athlete of the Year, Shiffrin has big shoes to fill in Sochi, and if she is able to bring home the gold, she will be the youngest American alpine skier to ever win a gold medal.

            This year is going to be a big year for all American teams participating in the Olympic Games.  Since it is the largest group that America has ever sent to the Olympics, a lot of people will be hoping they can bring home the gold in as many events possible.  Each event has a great competition and the US is going to have to work very hard to come out on top!        

Tips to take on gym class

by Michaela Zelandi

With the new gym requirement plaguing Woburn High, the nightmare of having to take gym class is now becoming a reality for all of those who previously thought that they left behind their mandatory gym days in middle school.  It is now required that every student, graduating with the Class of 2016 and beyond, has to take some sort of wellness class for a semester, which includes regular PE, cardio, weight training and personal fitness.  Needless to say, this requirement isn’t being looked forward to by all students.  So for those who are dreading the gym experience, here are a few tips that can help you get through the class.

            First of all, students should know what they’re getting into when they sign up for a gym class.  There are different options of classes, so students should sign up for the one they think they will enjoy the most.  The regular gym class is for those who actually enjoy playing games and participating.  This may not be the best class for a person who does not like playing physical games. 

Cardio is class where students do, quite simply, cardio.  Students work out in the weight room and the gymnastics/wrestling rooms.  For students who are more focused on building up their muscles, weight training is the recommended class.  This class makes use of the weights in the weight room, for these students are lifting most of the time. 

Personal fitness explores different types of healthy exercise.  One exercise is introduced and students work out to this exercise for two weeks and then learn a new exercise.  This class is good for those who are likely to get bored with doing the same work-out routine week after week. 

            One of the most dreaded things about gym class is the realization that on must change their clothes – every single day.  This may seem like a daunting task to most people, having to go through the struggle of putting on your skinny jeans or tights every day.  To make this much easier, try to wear clothes that can pass for gym attire as much as you can to avoid having to change.  Girls should try and wear leggings, yoga pants or sweating pants as much as possible because as long as a student’s not wearing jeans, that student will get full credit for changing.  Boys should just wear sweatpants if they want to avoid changing too.  Sophomore Mollie Fraser took personal fitness last semester, and her least favorite part about gym was having to wear different gym clothes every day.

“Changing for gym stresses me out, having to remember another outfit for gym everyday was a hassle,” stated Fraser.

To avoid Fraser’s dilemma, instead of lugging different gym clothes every day to class, simply bring one pair of gym clothes for the entire week.  Also, make sure to bring a pair of sneakers that aren’t important because leaving a pair of sneakers in the locker for the semester will ensure that a student doesn’t have to participate in gym with UGGS or even flip-flops (which the gym teachers don’t appreciate).  By wearing the right attire for gym class, a student will most definitely be on their teacher’s good side.

Each gym student is given a locker and a lock, but sometimes the combination locks given are very difficult to open.  Bring a lock from home instead to make your life much easier.  It’s no fun struggling to get the lock open when the ending bell rings and you’re not even changed yet.

Another essential tip for gym class is making sure to bring perfume, deodorant or cologne.  After gym class, some people begin to regret going all out for whatever activity because they feel sweaty which means they may be smelly.  By having perfume, deodorant or cologne, one can quickly cover up and not have to worry about the smell.

Gym class is now mandatory, so we must make the best of it.  These tips will help make gym as painless as possible.

Sochi not so safe?

by Meghan Quinn

Skiing, luge, ice skating…and terrorists?  I never thought terrorists and louge went together that well, but apparently the terrorists think otherwise. The 2014 Winter Olympics are about to begin, but just where are they being held?

Sochi, Russia, just miles outside of the infamous war zone, has been chilling threats over the past few weeks. Threats like, “as for your Olympics, something that you really want, we’ve prepared a present for you. You do your business and we’ll do ours. We’ve prepared a present for you and all that come over,” have been on all the news stations from CNN to Channel 5 News Boston. Just weeks ago a suicide bombing in nearby Volgograd, Russia took place, killing 34 people by the same group issuing these threats.

Although the bombing in Volgograd had nothing to do with The Olympics taking place or The United States, it is still a serious matter of international relations. According to Joshua Cook, writer for The Ben Swann Newsletter, “Last summer in a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Prince Bandar bin Sultan directly threatened Russia with terrorist attacks to persuade the Russian president to withhold support from Assad’s regime.”  The Saudi Prince then offered Russia a multi-billion dollar arms deal, and along with control over Europe’s oil supply. Cook reported that following Russia’s rejection of the Prince’s offer they also issued threats toward the Russian Olympics in 2014. Among the threats Bandar issued included, “I can give you a guarantee to protect the Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea next year. The Chechen groups that threaten the games are controlled by us” (Cook). 

            With Middle Eastern turmoil striking again, why don’t they just move the games? Whose bright idea was it to have them in Sochi anyway?  Do you think a worldwide event should be held in such a tense area of the world? Judging by the amount of money spent on security, 2 million dollars, Russia was never going to move the games—especially since Russia has spent almost $51 billion dollars on the Olympics, making it the most expensive yet, including the summer games.

Sochi is no stranger to safety concerns. Remember way back when when all the homosexuals of the winter games were feeling a little unsafe? According to BBC News, Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of 2014 Winter Olympics host-city Sochi, said that there are no gay people in his city. If you were gay, would you feel safe or welcomed in Sochi? Pakhomov, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, said that homosexuality is not welcome in his region, but that it would welcome gay people with “hospitality” if they respect Russian laws. It is a little funny that Putin wanted the Winter Olympics to be held in Russia so the world could see the “new” more “welcoming” Russia.

            The Olympic Committee should have never even thought Sochi could host the games safely. But then again, things like the Olympics shouldn’t be compromised because of our differences with other cultures. The entire reason for a lot of these problems is because we do not understand each other. I am not saying you and me, but America, and places like the Sochi area. Does anyone ever think to just calm down with the terrorist threats, the money, and the thoughts of something always going wrong, and maybe just try to understand what makes people like the Boston Bombers, and the Sochi Bombers do the things they do, and vice versa? The Olympics are supposed to be this high, positive energy event that brings the entire world together all wanting the same thing, but maybe if the entire world took some of that golden Olympic energy and used it to try to understand our differences, things like the games could go on peacefully.

But hey, I, along with many other people, will probably be thankful to watch the games from the comfort of their couch, rather than standing out in the stands.  

Works Cited

Cook, Joshua. "Volgograd Bombings: Who’s behind the Terrorist Attacks in Russia?"

Benswan.com. N.p., 1 Jan. 2014. Web

"Sochi 2014: No Gay People in City, Says Mayor." BBC News. BBC, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Jan.

2014.

Kicking off award season with the SAGs

by Hanna Souhail and Steph Kerrigan

            In the midst of winter and the bitter temperatures, television fanatics at least have award shows to look forward to.  Kicking off the award season, only eight days before the Grammy’s, were the SAG (Screen Actors Guilds) Awards.  The 20^th annual SAG Awards episode was aired January 18, 2014 on television stations such as TNT and TBS.

The three major categories of the SAG Awards are Theatrical Motion Pictures, Television and Honors for Stunt Ensembles.  Each category is then divided into subcategories consisting of five nominees and one recipient.

            American Hustle, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper, actually contains scenes filmed in Woburn.  The film took home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.  The recipient for the Outstanding Male Role award went to Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyer’s Club while the Outstanding Female Role went to Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.  Supporting role awards went to Jared Leto in Dallas Buyer’s Club and Lupita Nyong’o in 12 Years a Slave.

            As for television shows, the two major winning series were Breaking Bad and Modern Family.  Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad actually took home one of the Outstanding Male Role award for a television series while Ty Burrell took one home for Modern Family.  As for the female recipient, the award went to Maggie Smith of Downton Abbey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus of Veep.  Television miniseries awards for outstanding actor and actress went to Michael Douglas of Behind the Candelabra and Helen Mirren of Phil Spector.  Lone Survivor and Game of Thrones each took home an award sub-categorized in Honors for Stunt Ensembles.

            As for fashion on the SAG Awards red carpet, among the Best Dressed list was Lupita Nyon’g in a turquoise Gucci gown and Sofia Vergara in a strapless, sparkling silver Donna Karan Atelier gown.  Unlike the women on the Best Dressed list was actress Gabourey Sidibe, who was criticized for her unconventional body image.  However, Gabby did not let the criticism ruin her mindset.  Instead, the famous actress only used the words to her advantage and used the harsh words to empower her.  (For more on body image, stay tuned for The Bull’s Eye February edition.)

            For more on the SAG Awards, head over to www.sagawards.org were you can find plenty information regarding the 2014 Awards as well as years’ past.

JV girls basketball: Shooting for victory

by Hanna Souhail and Steph Kerrigan

            The JV girls basketball team is having one of their best years yet.  The team has proven their athletic ability and talent by winning a total of seven of their nine games.  Co-captains, juniors Julie O’Melia and Victoria Heath, have worked well together and continue to lead their team to victory.

            According to Captain O’Melia, the team has shown plenty of promise and potential.

            “The team is doing well.  We are really aggressive and athletic.  We all just really like to play basketball,” said O’Melia.

            Heath agreed with her co-captain and believed that the team continues to make new achievements every day.

            “We are doing great and we are getting better every day.  This season is so much fun,” stated Heath.

            Although the team improves in different ways each year, the players have made huge improvements with scoring baskets and having a competitive offensive line this year.  O’Melia felt like the team’s greatest advancement is in fact their offense.

            “Each year, we’ve seemed to improve in a different way.  This year, we’ve really improved on our offensive skills,” expressed O’Melia.

            Heath explained just how much the team’s offense has improved but felt like the technical skills need to be worked on.

            “We’ve really improved on offense.  We get a lot of offensive rebounds now, but we need to work on handling the ball more,” explained Heath.

            The friendship between the two captains plays a huge role in the success of the JV girls basketball team.  Both players admire one another and helped each other improve in every aspect of the sport.  O’Melia feels like Heath has helped her enormously.

            “Tori and I have been playing together since I started in the seventh grade.  I was new to the sport, and knowing teammates like her really helped me to improve.  She is very hardworking and a great leader,” said O’Melia.

            Noting her friend’s progress, Heath expressed how well they really get along.

            “Julie and I have been playing together for a long time now.  I think she has improved tremendously throughout the years.  She is a great teammate, and she always keeps me laughing.  She’s a great leader,” said Heath.

            At the rate the team is going at, they should have no problem in finishing a successful season.  The two captains work together to lead the team to victory. 

JV boys hockey: prepped for success

By Kellie Herbert and Meghan Quinn

            Hockey fans are you looking for a new team to watch? The JV boys hockey team is that team. They are here for the long run. Sophomore Brian Kenton commented on the strong aspects of the team.

            “Our team is doing alright. We have a strong offense but struggle on defense. Our strongest offensive player is Declan Newman,” said Kenton.

            Although the JV team is strong, coaches Mike Bonish and Larry Parece choose to bring down varsity players to make the team even stronger. Sophomore Chris Kenton said that bringing down varsity players are a benefit to the team.

            “Our team is doing pretty good. I’m very confident that we will do well the rest of the season. I think that it is good that varsity players are being brought down to play on JV, like freshman Christian Brinkley and sophomore Chad Connolly. They really add to our team,” said Kenton.

            The varsity players like being brought down to play alongside the JV players as well. Each team member gets enough playing time so everyone can enjoy the game. Connolly enjoys his time with the JV team.

            “The JV season is looking great. I like getting pulled down to the JV team because I get a lot of playing time in the games. Everyone on the team gets to play at some point in the game,” commented Connolly.

            With sophomore Justin Cushing in net the team has come out with a 4-2-0 record so far this season. With their next game this Monday, January 20, the Woburn High JV boys hockey team is sure to keep your eyes on the ice.

            Next time you want to watch a good hockey game, stop by the Ned O’Brien hockey rink and see these boys take a victory for Woburn. 

WMHS boys JV Track team strides to victory

by Ally Mann & Megan Clark

On January 8, the boys JV Track team had their third meet of the season. Through these JV meets, athletes who show extraordinary performance will make it to the varsity level, so these meets are important to look for future varsity members. Not only do the coaches and captains look for athletes for the present season but also for seasons to come. Current captain, senior Christian Lundin, spoke of what he thinks is most important during these meets.

“We have a lot of promising athletes who are showing some potential which is important. In the future, we’re going to be losing a lot of our best guys and we need a lot of people to step up and it’s looking like some of these guys are going to be able to fill these roles,” said Lundin. 

Track athletes spend much of their time improving on their running skills throughout the year in hopes that they will graduate from the JV team to Varsity.  Many members of the team have shown hard work and dedication which has helped the team succeed. Senior Ricky Metters, who is not only a member of the JV team, but also an alternate for the Varsity team wishes he could dedicate all of his time to one team only.

“We have to do pre-meets when the JV does workouts and we can’t run during the meets, and end up missing double the workout which is not fun.  I think each of us [alternates] has missed the equivalent of six or seven workouts this season because of being alternates.  I’d rather do either Varsity or JV rather than be on both teams at once,” said Metters.

The boys JV Track team may be considered the underdogs compared to the Varsity boys, but in the future, they are going to be very useful team leaders.  The boys are without a doubt a very strong and determined team and many of them are definitely going to lead the team to victory.

"Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" scares up mixed reviews

by Ally Mann

The Paranormal Activity series has existed since November 2009. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this “found footage” series, these movies are all based off of one another eventually reaching a common goal of what this “paranormal activity” truly is. Some may be sequels or even prequels to the others, keeping paranormal fans on their toes as to where they are within the series. With that being said, when going to see the newest installment of the Paranormal Activities series, The Marked Ones, it is suggested to see the previous films.

The Marked Ones is the fifth movie for the Paranormal Activity creators.  Some viewers say that it should end now. This film has had various reviews ranging from “a terrible waste of time” to “brilliantly terrifying.” Those who are avid Paranormal Activity film watchers will understand all of the hidden points and characters from the previous films that appear in The Marked Ones. As the series goes on, the viewers find out more information and gain further knowledge on the “paranormal activity” that has been going on throughout the series. Without seeing any of the other films, this movie can seem to be boring, and basically is a waste of your time. You need to have an understanding of what has been found out before to understand what is going on now.

The scenery for The Marked Ones is a good change from the usual middle class suburban neighborhood the previous films were set in. Also unlike the previous films, the format of the film itself is much different from the others. Those who have seen the first four Paranormal Activities know that all of these movies are set up in a “found film” sort of format. They are all filmed from home videos and self-made footage, instead of a professional made movie. Unlike the others, The Marked Ones is missing the format of “Day 1, Day 2” type of film clips, and instead is just flowing day to day with no title interruption. The subtle differences do give it a different feel, but still connect with the rest. 

Like all scary movies, whether it is The Goonies or The Conjuring, it depends on the viewer as to how scary or not the movie actually is. Someone can scream at every move the main characters make, or one could only think that a few moments here and there really got their hearts pumping. Whether you consider it a great movie or a flop, it would be advised that if you’ve seen the other four installments, then The Marked Ones is a definitely a must see. 

The 71st Golden Globes results are in

by Megan Xie

The aftermath of the 71^st Golden Globes is here. The Hollywood Foreign Press once again has highlighted the best television and film of the year, showcasing the best of both worlds. Back to host the show this year were the brilliantly clever Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who with their razor sharp wit, entertained Hollywood’s biggest stars.

American Hustle (which includes scenes filmed in Woburn!) and Twelve Years a Slave led with seven nominations each. American Hustle took home the awards for Best Motion Picture Comedy/Musical, Amy Adams for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical, and Jennifer Lawrence for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical. Twelve Years a Slave ended up winning one of the night’s biggest awards, Best Motion Picture Drama.

Other notable lead roles that went home with a globe statue were Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club, Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine, and Leonardo DiCaprio for his outrageously wild performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Already securing a large fan base, Frozen also won Best Animated Feature Film. One of the year’s most buzzed about movie, Gravity fell short of its wins, only receiving one award for Best Director, Alfonso Cuaron.

Nelson Mandela was recognized by popular band U2 for winning Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Mandela- Long Walk to Freedom. The band spoke about Mandela’s constant love under tough circumstances.

On the television spectrum of the night, Breaking Bad took home two awards, Best Television Series Drama and Best Television Actor Drama for Bryan Cranston, making it a worthwhile way to end the acclaimed show.  The new television series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine also surprised viewers with two statues.

As if the night could not have gone any more smoothly for host Amy Poehler, she surprised herself by winning Best Actress in a Television Series for Parks and Recreation. Displaying her surprise, Poehler exclaimed, “I never win anything!”

However, the award most coveted of all, the honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award was awarded to legendary Hollywood director, Woody Allen. To display the vast number of movies Allen directed, produced, starred in, and wrote, the Hollywood Foreign Press put together a sentimental video montage of Allen’s first film to his very latest.

A very big year for film and television resulted in a night filled with memorable moments from the world’s favorite stars. Award show season is just beginning with a bang from the Golden Globes. Can’t get enough? Keep your eyes open for the Academy Awards airing March 2^!

Rocking around the dance floor at the senior Holiday Ball

by Julie O'Melia
The annual senior Holiday Ball at Woburn Memorial High School was once again a smashing success.  The halls were filled with an air of excitement as the senior class eagerly anticipated a night full of dancing, and holiday-themed fun.  The senior activities committee out did themselves this year by literally decking-the-halls of the main lobby.  Red garland, streamers and twinkling lights gave the room a radiant glow and festive touch.  To top of the holiday-themed décor, a Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner of the room to complete the holiday-theme.  The presents underneath the tree added a little something extra to the room.  This dance is strictly for seniors, but underclassmen are allowed to attend if asked by a senior to accompany them as a date.  If a student wishes to bring a date from outside of Woburn High, this is permitted as well.  The dance is a semi-formal, girls wear gorgeous dresses, and the boys look sharp in a shirt and tie. 

                Senior Nicole Gangi exclaimed, “it was really fun to dress in holiday colors and I think that’s what made it so exciting.  My friends and I looked so festive.  It was pretty awesome.  Looking for a Christmas colored dress was tough but I stuck with red and that was a good choice.” 

A good choice it was indeed.  Most of the ladies dressed in winter toned dresses of blue, red, silver, and pearly white.  Aside from the décor and attire, the actual dance itself made for a great night.

Senior Brett Duran said, “the dance was a good time. However, I was disappointed to find out that the DJ was not DJ Dan.  Also, Mr. Fowle’s appearance at the dance took the night from a five to a seven on a ten point scale.”

Making sure that this dance is a blast is important because as senior year winds down, the students want to make sure that this last half of the year is their best one yet. Senior year can be hectic, with applying for college, waiting for acceptance letters, and being captains of various sports teams.  This night is so looked forward to because it is a nice distraction from all the stress that they have been put under this first half of the school year.  The Holiday Ball is one of the last dances that the seniors will have just for them, and it is apart of one of the many senior activities.

Senior Chris Connolly shared, “the dance was fun because we didn’t have to deal with any of the underclassmen.”

It seems like the seniors really enjoyed dancing the night away together without any interferences from the younger students.   Everyone looks forward to the holiday season, and the joy that comes with it.  The senior Holiday Ball is a great way to get the students of Woburn Memorial High School in the holiday spirit, while rewarding the senior class for all the hard work they have done. 

Seniors Ally Mann and Cassie Magro are ready to tear up the dance floor at the Holiday Ball.
photo courtesy of Cassie Magro

WMHS students participate in Pulsera Project to help Nicaraguans

by Kate Sweeney

Community service, getting involved, and expanding the horizons of learning are extremely important aspects here, at Woburn Memorial High School.  Students and faculty are always on the look-out for new ways to make a difference in the world.  Recently, this means participating in the Pulsera Project.

“Pulsera” is the Spanish word for bracelet. The Pulsera Project is a non-profit organization taking a small idea and making a big difference. The project started when a group of friends went down to Nicaragua for a vacation and discovered the people there where in immense need of help. Nicaragua is a poverty-stricken country; the conditions they saw the people living in were devastating and fueled their desire to help. 

In Nicaragua there are not a sufficient amount of jobs available. The existing jobs are generally factory work which requires long, grueling hours in unsafe, unfair working conditions while providing very little pay. This leaves many families having to live on the streets, without food, shelter, or means to get an education. Emerging from the dark dreariness off the streets was a beaming ray of colorful hope, the Pulseras. The friends noticed the Nicaraguans had this fascinating skill to make beautiful bracelets, and that’s where it all began. 

      Four years, 150,000 Pulseras, and over 750,000 dollars later the Pulsera Project is rapidly growing and continuing to change a nation. The organization has been successful for the reason that everyone involved in the process benefits; it’s the simplicity of the concept is what makes it so smart. The Nicaraguans can make the Pulseras when time permits and under fair working conditions, putting them in control of their own incomes. Mothers with children now have the ability to stay home and take care of their families while still being able to provide financially. There is no financial burden placed on the seller of the Pulseras, the foundation just sends a box of Pulseras in the mail, the individual sells as many as (s)he can then sends back the extras. There is no fee and one is not responsible for providing money on account of unsold merchandise.

It is also relatively easy to get people interested in buying the Pulseras as they’re only five dollars; they’re for an amazing cause and they even make great gifts! The money earned from the sales goes to helping Nicaragua in so many ways. From providing an income for struggle families, to setting up safe shelters, providing food, clothes, medicine and books, to providing educational opportunities, the possibilities are endless.

      The Pulsera project caught the eye of Spanish teacher Katherine Bolcome-Owen and she became inspired.

      “We were looking for a way to incorporate new cultural components into the curriculum. I just stumbled across the project and thought it would be a really great thing to get the whole school involved with. The rest is history,” said Bolcome-Owen. “The Pulsera Project has been spread across forty-two states so far which is amazing but there has only been a handful of Massachusetts schools involved so far. I thought it would be great for Woburn High to be one of the firsts to start the trend.” 

      If you are as enthusiastic as Bolcome-Owen and the students already involved with the project, here is what you can do to help. WMHS students will be selling the Pulseras Monday, December 9 through Friday, December 13 before school in the lobby, in the café during all three lunches, and before and after school in Mrs. Bolcome-Owens room (E306). If you’r not interested in purchasing a bracelet but still want to participate, any kind donation would be appreciated.

Lastly, if you don’t attend Woburn High but are still interested in supporting the cause you can contact Mrs. Bolcome-Owen at kbolcome-owen@woburnpublicschools.com.

Spread the word and support the cause! For more information on the Pulsera Project go to www.pulseraproject.org. 

Disney Channel stars: where are they now?

by Laura Zakrewski

Recently, Miley Cyrus has been back in the limelight for her choices of clothing, hairstyles, and song lyrics.  While the public has kept close tabs on Miley’s actions over the years, many of her Disney peers have slipped through the media cracks and gone into obscurity.  The burning question here is, where have these childhood stars disappeared to? 

            If you are anything like me, then you know that The Suite Life of Zack & Cody truly was a sweet Disney show.  The stars, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, were adorable and fun to watch.  However, since the end of the spinoff sitcom, Suite Life on Deck, we haven’t heard much from the Sprouse twins. 

            It’s hard to fathom, but Dylan and Cole Sprouse are now twenty-one years old.  After their extremely successful television run, the boys decided to enroll in college.  In 2010, both Dylan and Cole were accepted into New York University.  Nonetheless, the boys wanted a more “free” approach to schooling and decided to attend the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. 

            We could assume that Dylan and Cole would be studying subjects related to film or acting, but that’s surprisingly not the case.  Cole Sprouse is making his curriculum focus around humanities and archaeology. His brother, Dylan, is working on video game design.  Both Sprouse brothers have websites related to their new hobbies and seem to be all grown up.  Luckily, they’ve both become responsible young men over the years.  On the contrary, it will be impossible to forget them as two young boys messing with Mr. Moesby in a hotel in Boston.          

            Do the names Lizzie, Miranda, Gordo, and Matt ring a bell?  The Disney Channel television show Lizzie McGuire aired from 2001-2004 and certainly grasped the attention of its young viewers.  The lead cast member, Hilary Duff, played a clumsy teen who wanted to fit in at school.  Since then, Duff hasn’t made a huge splash in the media.

After her childhood acting career, Duff made herself available to more grown up roles, away from the Disney scene.  Her most memorable films included Cinderella Story, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Raise Your Voice.  Recently, she has even guest starred on television shows such as Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, and Two and a Half Men.  

Duff also ventured into the music industry after Lizzie McGuire ended.  Duff’s debut studio album, Metamorphosis, did well despite its mixed comments from critics.  Her song “So Yesterday” is a rather unforgettable tune that I still hum to myself in the shower.  Any aspect of entertainment that Duff experiments with is a success. 

As of August 2011, Duff has been married to her husband, professional hockey player Mike Comrie.  Together they have a son named Luca and seem to be very happy.  Despite having a family now, Duff plans to continue with singing and acting in the near future.  She’s arguably one of Disney’s greatest success stories, and it’s likely that she’ll go on and do more great things. 

Can you gaze into the future?  The Disney Channel television series, That’s So Raven, is my personal favorite out of this bunch of sitcoms.  It kept you waiting around wanting to view another episode.  I loved Raven’s quirky personality and psychic abilities when watching it on television.  However, Raven Symone, the main actress on the show, hasn’t been in the public eye lately. 

Symone acted on The Cosby Show and then on That’s So Raven, so her childhood was spent mostly on a set.  Her most successful Disney production, The Cheetah Girls, also came out around this time.  The movie was very successful and spawned two sequels, although Symone didn’t appear in the third movie.  This star spent her childhood working on these projects, but after her television show ended in 2007, she faded into obscurity.   

In recent years, Symone made an attempt to get back in the saddle and star in a new television show.  Sadly, her new show, State of Georgia, aired only twelve episodes before being cancelled by ABC family. 

Although that was a failure, Symone has other plans up her sleeve for the future.  She plans to release an album, although there is no set date or title.  Either way, it seems that Symone has remained out of the spotlight for once in her busy life, and she seems content with it.  

There are so many people who got their start on a Disney Channel television series.  After their childhood success, however, they tend to stray away from their stardom.  The Sprouse twins, Duff, and Symone are perfect examples of ex-Disney stars that have been out of the limelight in recent years.  Hopefully, they come out of the gutters and show their faces once again.  Not all Disney television stars have gone on to be extremely successful, but they certainly have not been forgotten by the audience that watched them.