NFL Draft Summary

by Devin Cloherty 

Each spring, all 32 NFL teams and their executives gather in New York City to pick the best and boldest prospects in college football.  Some players pan out, others bust, and a few even greatly exceed expectations.  Year after year, teams strive to find the man they can base their organization around.  More often than not, this savior is a quarterback, the hero of the gridiron.

                This year’s quarterback class featured a few elite quarterbacks, expected to make an instant impact, in addition to a few QB’s who have a ways to go before achieving NFL stardom.  The 3 biggest names in the draft were all picked in the first round of the draft; Blake Bortles to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Johnny Manziel to the Cleaveland Browns, and Teddy Bridgewater to the Minnesota Vikings.

                All three of these teams are in need of a franchise QB, and a serious turnaround.  Jacksonville is relying heavily on 3^rd overall pick Blake Bortles , the highest drafted QB this season.  In college, Bortles’s stats were not necessarily outrageous, but his film was more than impressive.  Blake had a knack for winning in college, backed up by his excellent passer rating, decision making, and ability to move both in and out of the pocket.  Most NFL analysts agree that Blake is far and away the most polished and NFL ready of the quarterback class, excellent news for woeful Jags fans coming off a four-win season and 6 year playoff draught.

                With the 22^nd pick in the draft, The Cleveland Browns selected the biggest name in college football, Johnny Manziel.  After just two seasons of stirring the pot on and off the field, Johnny Football declared himself draft eligible.  Manziel won a laundry list of awards his freshman year en route to smashing records for total offensive production.  Though a barrage of controversy swirled around Manziel between his freshman and sophomore years, he bounced back with ridiculous number in 2013.  In his sophomore season, he quietly threw for 37 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards, in addition to rushing for 9 touchdowns and 760 yards.  The Browns have played in postseason since 2002, but with the introduction of walking headline Johnny Manziel, things are looking up.

                The last of the three major QB’s in the draft was 32^nd overall pick, Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings.  Bridgewater has drawn criticism for his fragility and inconsistency, despite boasting a monstrous stat sheet and leading Louisville to 10 victories.  Bridgewater is arguably the most naturally gifted of the QB’s in the draft, noted for his spectacular arms strength and ability to avoid the pass rush and throw on the run.  Since Brett Favre’s retirement in the 2010, the Vikings have struggled valiantly to fill the void at Quarterback.  Only a year removed from the playoffs, the Vikings have the potential to threaten the NFC between Bridgewater and former MVP running back Adrian Peterson. 

                Over the next few rounds, the Raiders, Patriots, Texans, Cardinals, and Bengals all picked decent young prospects to compete for and deepen the quarterback position on their team.  Derek Carr and Tom Savage have a fighting chance to start for the Raiders and Texans respectively.  Even the QB’s picked in the later rounds could prove themselves in years to come.  Unexpected young stars pop up all the time.  Perhaps the next Tom Brady and Russell Wilson will show up in the NFL.  Only time will tell the impact of this year’s quarterback class will have on the NFL.

The Dystopian Craze

by Kylie Romano

The Hunger Games and Divergent have recently become some of the most successful book series and movie franchises.  They, along with a multitude of very successful— but not quite as popular—books, have brought dystopian fiction novels to the forefront of popular culture.  What makes these books so appealing to today’s teens?  The simple answer is that prevalent themes in stories of dystopian societies are directly relatable to American teenagers, while the stories themselves have enough action and creativity in their plotlines to remain interesting and exciting to readers. 

            Dystopian fiction tells the story of a corrupt society or government, and often focuses on one main character whose destiny it is to expose and overthrow this power.  This requires the character to have to break the mold of the society they grew up in.  Most stories end in an uprising of sorts against those corrupt ones in power by the protagonist and a relatively small group of followers made up of common people. 

High school students like freshman Hannah Bolster
can't get enough of Veronica Roth's Divergent.
Photo by Abby Gillis

Such a major part of high school is finding out who you are—your strengths, your weaknesses, what interests you.  Most students struggle with the conflict of being themselves while still “fitting in” with those around them.  Main characters that struggle to fit into their own society and is not sure of their role at first is directly relatable.  Characters that are able to find their role and fulfill it encourage readers that they can do the same.

Students in high school can often relate to an underdog as well.  Teachers, coaches, parents, and other adults are here to help and guide students.  However, at times rules feel restrictive.  Not being able to make all of one’s decisions can be frustrating.  This is especially true with older teens, who are close to college or jobs, where they will, for the most part, be responsible for making all of their decisions.  Characters who are not afraid to stand up and defy authority appeal to such students.

Another element that can be found in many dystopian fiction novels is that of love and relationships, whether between the character and their parents, friends, or girl/boyfriend.  Many characters go through major changes in their relationships with others.  This reflects the constantly shifting relationships of those in high school, especially those preparing to leave home.  Teenage readers are able to relate to the shifting feelings of the characters in the novels.

In reality, the popularity of dystopian novels among young readers is not surprising.  Most teens struggle to some degree with having to listen to or follow authority.  Many are unsure of what they want to do or who they wish to be.  Their relationships with those around them are shifting almost constantly.  Confident, rebellious protagonists with similar insecurities and feelings appeal to a wide variety of readers, but especially to teenage readers.

WMHS participates in all-school, one-take lib dub

Video Transcript:

by Margarita Forbes, Alexander Paladino, Michaela Zelandi and Laura Zakrewski

Woburn Memorial High School seniors alongside the rest of the classes are continuing a tradition begun by last year’s Yearbook club, the Lip Dub.

The event, commonly referred to as the Lip Dub, is a trend among high schools across the nation where select leaders in the school lip sync a song while other students cheer them on in a performance of school pride and spirit.

“The inspiration came from last year, actually, because last year, they [Class of 2013 Yearbook Staff] did a lib dub,” said senior Dylan Scott, who spearheaded the entire project.

However, this year’s Yearbook club want[ed] to take this year’s lib dub a step further by including the whole school and more pre-planning.

“This year we’re going to have the whole school involved, where last year they just had the seniors involved. And, we’re going to try to cover a lot more of the school this year so you get to see more of it as opposed to just a few areas they saw last year,” said Scott.

Fine Art Department Head and Yearbook Adviser, Susan Thifault discussed the planning that goes into a project like the lip dub.

“It took Mrs. Getherall probably about ten hours to make the maps upstairs—they’re all done on Auto CAD—and the stations. She had to go find every sixth period teacher and find out how many kids are in each class to designate where the stations would go, “ said Thifault.

The lip dub was filmed throughout Woburn High School on April 16, 2014 and is going to be revealed May 22, 2014. (Click here to see the actual Lip Dub)

Drafting Michael Sam: the NFL makes history

by Tyler Movsessian

Just eight picks before the NFL draft came to a close on Saturday, May 10, Rodger Godell, NFL Commissioner said, “with the 249 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select….. Michael Sam, Defensive End from Missouri University.”

This is when the NFL made history as Sam is now the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL. Clearly, there are many good things that come from this, but there are many layers to this onion. Where do the Rams go from here? 

Just three months before the moment his name was called, the all-SEC defensive end from Missouri University came out as gay. He wanted to let the world know who he was and that he could be an accepted member of any NFL football team, no matter what his sexual orientation was.

It all happened in an interview with Chris Connelly from ESPN’s Outside the Lines. He told the media that he was gay. Then the media blew up. He got many positive responses from most fans, however some negative from anti-gay activists. Many NFL analysts (who remained anonymous) told Sports Illustrated that they expected Sam to fail at the NFL draft due to this announcement.

Later, after the Missouri Tigers defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2014 Cotton Bowl, Sam and other teammates were scheduled to receive the trophy at halftime of a Missouri basketball game. A group of about 15 anti-gay activists went to the game protested his appearance, however, the students protested back in support for Sam, numbering in the hundreds if not thousands.

Then in March, Sam went to the NFL combine where his draft stock fell. He was expected to be an early-round selection, but after a subpar performance in the combine it contributed to Sam dropping to a late-round pick.

Sam was selected with the 249 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Sam, who was not present at the draft, received a televised phone call from the team president informing him about his selection to the team. Sam was immediately in tears, to the point where he was unable to stand up, kissed his boyfriend, and hugged family and friends.

The media was all over the coverage of every angle of his selection and he may have been the most talked about seventh-round draft pick in NFL history. His Ram’s jersey was second in sales only behind first-round selection and Heisman trophy winner’s Johnny Manziel’s for the Cleveland Browns.

The reaction to his selection was mainly positive, including that from President Barack Obama.

“Congratulations Michael Sam, the Rams and the NFL for taking an important step forward today in our Nation's journey…from the playing field to the corporate boardroom, LGBT Americans prove everyday that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are,” said Obama.

The Rams may have put themselves in a precarious position. Suppose they cut Sam from the team due to a subpar performance in the pre-season, will they be labeled as homophobic? Only time will tell. Sam believes that he can be in the NFL for just business and not be a distraction to the teams goals in the 2014 season. It will be interesting to watch for the next big Sam headline. 

Does the dress make the person?

by Erica Rabito

Woburn High has recently reiterated and clarified the dress code guidelines for its students to follow, and it has been highly discussed among students and faculty alike. Its many new rules include the banning of tank tops, shorts or skirts higher than mid-thigh, pajama pants, and, among many other articles of clothing, ones “that cause undue attention to be called to the wearer.”

            Although some outfits, such as those that promote drug use or those that are purposely offensive to others should certainly be frowned upon in schools, it seems unfair and oppressive to limit what a student can otherwise wear to school.

            Clothes, besides their obvious purpose, serve as a way for people to express themselves, and as a way for them to be comfortable in their own skin. If someone feels comfortable in a turtleneck and jeans, that is what they feel comfortable in, and that is ok. If someone feels comfortable in a miniskirt and a tank top, that is what they feel comfortable in, and that is ok. A person’s body does not need to be over-sexualized to the point of banning shorter shorts and skirts, and the person who is doing the over-sexualizing needs to be punished instead of the victim. Teens and people in general are very often uncomfortable about their appearances to begin with, and telling them that yet another thing about their appearance is wrong can only do more damage to their already fragile self-esteem.

            In addition to the harm that can be caused by limiting the clothes a person can wear, the restricted items of clothing are very clearly stated (and it is also clearly stated that these are not the limits of possible restrictions), but the reasons they are needed are not as clearly defined. “Because of health, safety and other reasons,” are what is given as an explanation, but it is difficult to see how either health or safety can be affected by what a person chooses to put on their bodies.

            Safety is the point that is the most troubling out of the two. Is the safety of the school the one in question, or is it that of the student wearing the banned clothes? If it is indeed the safety of the student that is in question, the method of dealing with this safety issue needs to be changed. Instead of telling a student to change what he or she is wearing to protect themselves, tell whomever that is going to harm them that it is not acceptable to do so. Punish the aggressor, not the victim.

            All and all, as stated in the list of banned clothing, “The clothes you wear make a statement about you.” Clothes are usually not chosen to offend, to disgust, or to provoke other people. They are chosen by the wearer as an expression of who they are, and how they want to be seen by the world. The way others view and judge what people choose to wear needs to be questioned, not whether or not the clothes are “inappropriate”. 

Goodbye high school, hello college

by Gabby Lucci

Today is the seniors' final day of school. It is crazy how fast time passes and we are finally leaving. Today when I walked into the school I saw a group of girls crying and guys surrounding them. The guys were trying to comfort them but they didn’t really understand why they were crying. Of course the guys are trying to be a lot tougher than they actually are. Everyone is taking us leaving pretty hard.

Mrs. Gillis read her final essay from high school to us today in class and it was pretty emotional. The journey that we have all been on throughout these four years of high school is over. We are done. It’s time to start a new journey in our long lives. Everyone will be taking different paths but the mixed emotions we are all feeling are the same. We want to leave and start something new but going to school is all we know.

Even though this is our final day of actual school we still have finals and senior week to go through. Prom is next Thursday and graduation still isn’t for a few more weeks. We will be seeing our underclassmen friends still and even though it’s sad to be leaving them, they will stay in our hearts. I have a lot of friends that aren’t seniors and every single one of them have been coming up to me and telling me they want me to fail so I cannot leave. It’s a sweet sentiment and I know they will all miss me and I’ll miss them. My friends were the only thing that even got me through high school and I will have to make all new ones in college.

I’m going to love my friends new and old all the same. These last few weeks of belonging to Woburn High are going to be bittersweet and I will love them. 

Woburn High gets a taste of Thai culture

by Julie O’Melia

Julie O'Melia hangs at Faneuil Hall out with her Thai counterpart Rika.
photo by Lauren McCarthy

It’s no secret that the students of Woburn High are outgoing and are always up to something new. Everywhere you look students are making the front page of The Daily Times for outstanding academic achievements, winning huge games and putting on amazing performances. Not only are students at Woburn High involved, they are also always up for a new adventure. That being said, this past April the students were lucky enough to take part in something worldly.

            The Thai-Student Exchange was set up through the Woburn Public School System with huge help from staff members such as Ken Blazka. The purpose of this “exchange” was for the students at Woburn High to get the opportunity meet students from the other side of the world, and learn from them. Approximately fifteen Thai students were assigned to various students that were to act as “ambassadors” from the Freshmen Mentoring program at the high school.  The exchange students followed their “ambassadors” around for the week and even got to spend some time with them outside of school. More students from Thailand were participating in an exchange just like the one at Woburn High, except at they were at the Joyce Middle School. All of this would lead up to a fun-filled field trip into Boston on Friday, and a special performance was put on at the end of the week. 

            The students were from all over Thailand and many had not met each other until they left for The United States. The students were traveling all over America and were to stay for the month. New York was first on their list, and Boston was the second stop. They thought it would be a great way to better their stay in America by giving the kids the opportunity to meet some new people.

            Those that were “ambassadors” thought the experience was amazing, and felt lucky to have been chosen to take part in it. Junior Shannon Busa was one of the Freshmen Mentors that was assigned a student, Jenny, who she bonded well with and will miss very much.

            “The experience was amazing. Jenny was so fun and outgoing. She taught me all about Thai culture and I’m glad that I was a part of this program,” exclaimed Busa. “I would love to do it again!”

            Not only were the students fun and outgoing, they were also extremely smart and courageous. One can hardly imagine how nerve-wracking it would be to travel to another part of the world with people you haven’t met before. The students brought a sense of optimism to Woburn High that they too could broaden their horizons as much as the Thai students.

            The real fun started at the end of the week when the students were brought into Boston for the day. History teacher Ken Blazka, gave the students a taste of Bostonian culture by visiting Bunker Hill and The Constitution.  After that it was time for lunch and exploring at Faneuil Hall. The Thai student’s fashion sense was impeccable, so they enjoyed strolling through the various shops such as Urban Outfitters and American Eagle.

            The most memorable moment of the whole experience had to be the Thai students performance at the very end of their stay in Woburn. They performed a self-choreographed traditional Thai dance for both the high school and middle school. The amount of effort put into the performance truly showed the compassion of the students, and their respect for everyone they meet.  Even those who weren’t part of the program felt that they benefitted from the experience as well. Junior Jackie Spolidoro personally loved the experience.

            “I thought it was really cool how they came all the way from Thailand to stay here. I talked to a few different girls in my classes and they were just so nice,” shared Spolidoro.

            To cap off the exchange the ambassadors and their students watched Frozen and ate pizza together before seeing them off. It was a sad goodbye because so many friendships were made. A lot was learned from each other, and so many memories were made. The Thai Student Exchange with Woburn High was truly a beautiful thing.

Avoiding the harmful rays of the sun

by Hanna Souhail

The weather is finally getting nice in New England and everyone wants to go outside and do their favorite activities.  Whether it is hiking, bike riding or playing a match of tennis, you will surely be outdoors soaking up the sun.  But wait!  Have you thought about how harmful the sun is to your body?  Of course, we should always protect ourselves from UV radiation, but during the spring and summer months, it becomes even more important.  Obviously, UV rays are strong all year long, but exposure is its greatest during spring and summer (May-August), because that is also the time of year when we spend most of our time in the great outdoors.  Although we enjoy all this relaxing, outdoor leisure time, take into consideration the harm we may potentially be putting are bodies at risk of, and learn some ways of how to protect against them.

            The sun causes plenty of skin changes, most of which we consider beautiful, such as bronzed skin.  But ultraviolet rays also cause skin damage.  For one, UV rays cause skin fibers called elastin to break down, which in the long term causes skin to stretch and sag.  You will also see some wrinkles soon!

            Aside from your newly earned wrinkles, skin can also become discolored.  Freckles and redness are sure to come along after being over exposed to the sun.  Although saggy, discolored skin is unpleasant, the sun can cause even worse problems.

            Consider the diseases and illnesses we put ourselves at risk for, just to achieve a nice summer glow.  UV radiation, especially from the sun, is the number one cause of skin cancers, melanoma being the deadliest.  Please, do not put yourself at risk of cancer to enjoy a nice day out in the sun.

            Even though cancer is at the severe end of the spectrum, there are also milder sicknesses which can occur.  Sun burns happen to almost everyone, especially those with fair skin.  However, your sun burn can be even more dangerous than you think.  Although you may believe you are red from the burn, you may actually have a more sever burn, called sun poisoning.  Symptoms of the poisoning include skin redness, swelling, dizziness, dehydration, nausea, and headaches.  Not fun, right?

            If any of these have already happened to you, remove yourself from the sun.  If not, here are ways to protect yourself from any future outbreaks.  First of all, wear sunscreen, at least SPF 30, but if you can, make the SPF even higher.  Search for sunscreens which are labeled “broad-spectrum,” so you know that you will be protected against both UVA and UVB rays.

            Limit your sun exposure.  Although we can burn from being in the sun for only a short amount of time, the longer we stay, the higher our risk becomes of suffering from any of the above symptoms or illnesses.

            Wear protective clothing.  Hats, visors and sunglasses protect both our faces and eyes from sun exposure.  While at the beach, throw on a cover up while lounging or strolling.  The more clothing we have on, the lower our risk becomes.

            So, although we all enjoy our fun in the sun, we need to take the time to prepare ourselves from the dangerous exposures.  Apply sunscreen before heading out to do any outdoor activity, whether it be going to the beach or having a picnic.  Throw sunglasses and a long sleeve shirt into your bag on the way out the door.  The more precautions we take, the less likely we will suffer, and the more fun we will have.

Bibliography:

"Sun Poisoning: Symptoms and Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

"Sun Exposure, Skin Cancer, and Other Sun Damage." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 29 Apr.       2014.

Your future is in your hands

by Meghan Quinn

The secrets of Palmistry are revealed in this picture.
Photo by Jana from FreePeople.com/CC 

Have you ever wondered what your future would be like? Or maybe your calling in life, or your personality type? The key to all of your troubles might be in the palm of your hands, literally. Of course you use your hands for everything under the sun, but have you ever actually stopped and wondered what all those freaky little lines are for? They must have a purpose.

            From the tip of your middle finger all the way down to the beginning of your wrist holds a secret meaning. This art is otherwise known as Palmistry. Palmistry has been around for thousands of years and has been used by fortune tellers to tell the future.

            Long lanky fingers, or short sausage stubs are all welcome to the Palmistry party. If you have long fingers it means you are detail-oriented, full of ideas, think things through, and tend to be critical. Having short fingers means that you look at the big picture and are more of a realist. The index finger is the most important finger in palm reading. The index finger helps describe a person’s self-image. A long index finger indicates a natural born leader with some high standards. Shorter index fingers signify lower self-esteem and trouble expressing feelings.

            So, let’s get down to the reason why you clicked on this—the palm lines, the meaning of life stuff. Obviously your palm lines are not going to give you the insight to create a golden pathway through life, but they may help you understand yourself a little bit better.

            There are three crucial lines that most palm readers generate towards. When palm reading the dominant hand is usually the one chosen. If you’re a right handed person it would be that one or vice versa. The dominant hand represents your present and past life, while the less dominant hand represents your life ahead.

            The heart line can be found around the top of a person’s palm. It represents love and attraction, along with your emotional living. If you find your heart line under your index finger, you are content with your own love life. If it is found below your middle finger, you are usually most selfish when in love. You fall in love easily if your heart line is found between you index finger and middle finger. A short love line means you might be interested in other things than finding romance in your life. If you wear your heart on your sleeve chances are your heart line is long.

            The second most important line is known as the head line. The head line is located just below the heart line. This line stands for the human mind and the way to works. If you don’t crave the challenge of something fairly difficult and intellectual or you’re not a creative person blame your head line. A curvy head line means you are creative. If it is straight it means you are more practical. If you love psychical accomplishment you must have a short line. A clear and focused thinker? Why of course your head line is long. A wavy line means you have a short attention span; if you have taken various breaks while reading this, don’t even look at your palm, you have a wavy line.

            The third line is called your life line. But don’t worry, if it’s short it doesn’t mean you are going to die. It just symbolizes a person’s well-being. This line is located at the edge of your palm slightly above the thumb and winds its way down to your wrist. If your life line is close to your thumb, you’ve been cursed with low energy and sleepiness. A wide and curvy life line indicates lots of energy. If you have been wondering why you are cautious in relationships, blame your straight life line. A long and defined line stands for inner strength and vitality. Careful, if you have a short and shallow one, you may be manipulated easily.

            Palm reading or Palmistry is not meant to determine the outflow of your entire life, but can be something fun to do. Compare it to that childhood game of mash; did you ever end up even talking to the person you got paired with? Nobody ever knows for sure what the future holds for themselves. Who knows, maybe your palms are the answer to your prayers and maybe they are not.

Bibliography

Linsao, Katy. "How to Read Your Fingers.” 7 Steps (with Pictures). N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

Hall, Alissa. "Timeless Spirit Magazine." Timeless Spirit Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014

Make the money rain

by Jen Yao

For teens, it is so easy to blow all your money for recreational and leisure purposes such as movie tickets, dresses for the nice weather, the newest Call of Duty: Ghost, a Versailles crepe from Appleseed, another cup of froyo, and the list continues. It is even easier to do so when you make your own money. If you study my bank account activities, it’s all credits to iTunes, Hollister, Kohl’s, Dunkin Donuts – you get the idea.

                However, when I made my final college decision and paid enrollment and room and board deposits, I realized that I really should have not spent so much money on stupid things. Therefore, I strongly advise all to wisely handle their money. Here are some ways I found helpful:      
A matter of necessity – If you ask yourself, “Do I really need it?” before buying something and you are completely honest in your response, you will find that the answer is no most of the time. 
To be or not to be – Also, ask yourself, “What will I do with it?” or “Is it going to serve a purpose in my possession?” The answer, sometimes, is nothing or no.
Copycat – Another good question to ponder is whether or not you already have something like it. If you do, you don’t need another one!

photo by Abby Gillis

           Winner in the market – Compare prices and see how much you are saving. Maybe you aren’t. You can wait until when that summer dress is pumped down to $20 instead of $60. Afraid that it won’t have your size or it’ll be sold out once it goes in clearance? You’ll find something better and cheaper in the future. No worries. I am a crazy deal scorer. I mean, it’s in my blood. There have been cases where I saved more than I spent. During such times, I feel absolutely invincible.

      Save the little helpers – Coupons and online codes for 30%, 50%, and 70% off? Save them and you’ll be able to save your money AND get a sick pair of kicks or a cute high-waisted skinny jeans.

Not only are this tips helpful in protecting your money, but there are other techniques as well that can shield your bank account from predators. After working as a bank teller for seven months, I picked up some important methods in protecting yourself.

1.       If you have online banking or an ATM/debit card, change your password every 3 to 6 months. If you forget, go to your branch and the customer service representative/branch manager can help you reset it.

2.       I understand laziness can get in the way, but it’s really important to check your account activities every now and then. Make sure you know what is coming through and for what reasons. The bank tellers and managers can always help you with that if you are unsure.

It hits me every now and again that I am 18 years old and am legally an adult. I am in charge of not only my life and education but also my money. It’s crucial to be smart with finances, because it is produced from your and/or your parents’ hard work and time. It’s a major part of taking care of yourself and growing up.

Woburn High comes together for the Lip Dub

by Ally Mann

On Wednesday April 16, 2014, Woburn Memorial High School created their very own Lip Dub. A Lip Dub, also known as a One Take, combines lip syncing and audio dubbing to create one cohesive music video. High schools from all around the world have started creating these high energy and school spirited videos. The tradition began in Woburn last year with the Class of 2013 singing the song “How Far We’ve Come,” by Matchbox 20.

The second annual Lip Dub portrays not only the Class of 2014 but the entire school. The Yearbook Staff thought that using all grades would create more depth and energy within the video. Of course the seniors were highlighted throughout by making them the actual “dubbers.”  The “dubbers” were the ones who got to lip-sync the lyrics to “Best Day of My Life,” by American Authors.

The Yearbook staff shows their Tanner Pride for the Lip Dub.

photo courtesy of Cat Gentile

For the seniors who were not chosen to sing lyrics, they were still able to be seen in the front row as the cameras went by. Teams, clubs and activities all got to stand in designated areas throughout Woburn Memorial High School supporting what they do. Wearing uniforms and holding signs, every team and unique club is featured in the video showing all that Woburn High has to offer. The video was shot two times and only took about an hour during sixth period. Students sported all the black and orange they could fit on their bodies and even through confetti as the cameras rushed through the halls.

Ending the video, the school all gathered in the gym. The camera featured the seniors one last time before coming together as one. Everyone began chanting “Let’s go Woburn!” as the camera was lifted by a fork lift over the crowd. The video is planned on being released during the seniors Yearbook Ceremony on May 21 and then published to YouTube. Hopefully you will all be able to catch a look at what the Class of 2014 and Yearbook staff has put so much time and energy into! 

WMHS students walk the yellow brick road

by Nicolette Manzi

Woburn High has put on yet another great musical this past weekend. Every spring the drama department at Woburn High works around the clock to put on a musical that will dazzle the audience. With the past two musicals being the Sound of Music and Annie, the directors decided to step out of their comfort zone and put on a musical filled with mystery and adventure. With Friday night nearly selling out and Saturday’s matinee being filled with little kids, the Wizard of Oz was without a doubt a success.

            One aspect of this year’s musical that was unique to year’s past was the evident use of special effects and detailed costumes. In order to portray the evil character of the wicked witch, a green light was flashed across the stage to illustrate her entrance. Strobe lights were even used in the haunted forest to highlight the disorientated state of the main characters. Even the twister was filled with loud music and of course the shaking of the house. The costumes of the main characters were also more detailed than years past, which was seen through the Lion’s flowing mane and the Tin Man’s painted face. Senior Dylan Scott has attended the musical for the past few years and agrees that this year’s performance was filled with much more effects and details than previous musicals.

            “I think this year the musical has a lot more special effects and sound effects that really added to the overall performance, from the different color lights to the snow. I also thought all of the costumes this year were really great too,” said Scott.

            This year’s production of the Wizard of Oz was also distinctive in the large cast involved and the different characters portrayed throughout the show. Going from the Dorothy’s home town of Kansas to the mysterious Munchkinland, to the joyous Land of Oz; the audience was truly taken on a journey. Through each scene the audience was met with a different character along the way as the four main characters made their way to Oz. One audience member, Ally Young, agreed that her favorite part of the musical was getting to meet all the different characters as they make their way to Oz.

            “My favorite part of the musical was the journey down the yellow brick road when Dorothy meets the scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion,” said Young.

            The behind the scenes, the musical was filled with learning how to accomplish many special effects and making detailed props for each scene. From the ruby red slippers to the snow in the poppy field, the cast worked non-stop to make sure everything was perfect. The countless dance practices with the jitterbugs to even training Toto, had the cast always working hard. Adrianna Manzi, who played the character of Dorothy comments on the challenging nature of this musical that made it much different then year’s past.

“This year’s musical was more challenging than years past because there were fewer musical numbers and more dialogue. The cast had to memorize so many lines while dealing with all the special effects happening on the stage, which made this musical difficult,” said Manzi

            The cast of the Wizard of Oz were extremely proud of their performance and what they got to accomplish in this year’s production. Music director, Brain Gilberite comments on the cast phenomenal job on this year’s musical and his hopes for future.

            As the cast has now put all their costumes away and will no longer be slaves to the wicked witch or a munchkin in the Land of Oz, the cast soon gets ready to begin their preparation for next year’s musical. With the bar set high for next year, the option for this next year is endless. So get ready for next year musical and be ready to for the drama department to awe you again. But in the meantime if you every get lost, just remember to follow the yellow brick road and know their truly is no place like home.

Evacuate the dance floor: the legend of junior prom 2014

by Emily Gill

Most high school students have extremely high expectations for prom. How else would they justify spending hundreds of dollars on their clothes, tickets and flowers? People want to get what they pay for, and more often than not when it comes to prom, they’re not disappointed. Despite this, proms rarely end up being the perfect, magical dream nights people want them to be.  This year’s WMHS junior prom was no exception.

Prom started off just as anyone would expect. Students started arriving at the Woburn Hilton at around 6:30 at night. After waiting to take their professional photos and mingling amongst themselves, everyone was let into the ballroom at 7:00. Students ate dinner and played a party game. By the time the dancing began, everything had gone according plan. Little did anyone know, all that was about to change.

At about ten o’clock, things took a turn for the unexpected. As the prom goers slow-danced in a cliché fashion to “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls, trouble started brewing. Out of nowhere, the fire alarm began to go off. The flashing lights and sirens went unnoticed at first, but people eventually caught on. Woburn prom veteran DJ Dan kept his cool, cracking some jokes and insisting the whole thing was a false alarm. Another slow song was played to make up for the awkward moments students might’ve missed out on. Unfortunately, the uncomfortable swaying was interrupted yet again by DJ Dan, who told everyone to evacuate.

Imagine the chaos that ensued at this point. Barefoot girls in flimsy dresses rushed to find their purses and shoes. When all essential belongings were collected, the crowd poured out of the hotel lobby, into the cold and rainy night. Dates, by a hilarious presentation of either universal chivalry or the domino affect (you decide), quickly fumbled to give their shivering dates their jackets. Selfies were taken. Laughs were had. Then, after some awkward standing around, the okay was given to head back inside.

Thanks to some heroic firefighters, the selfless staff of the Woburn Hilton, and the best and brightest of Woburn High’s own faculty, everyone made it through the Great Prom Fire of 2014. The prom picked up again as if nothing had happened. DJ Dan, keeping it real as always, played “Fire Burning” by Sean Kingston. Students resumed dancing and having fun. There are several conspiracy theories as to why the alarm went off, the most realistic being smoke in the kitchen. Other more imaginative theories include people smoking in the bathroom and the teachers pulling the alarm to search peoples’ bags. What really happened? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? The world may never know. 

The Hunger Games take Woburn: Senior Assassins

by Megan Clark

Senior Kara Razzaboni salutes the fallen senior Mike DaCampo.
photo by Megan Clark

Have you ever heard of The Hunger Games?  Well, Monday marked the first day of the annual Senior Assassins game, which many people on Twitter are comparing to the infamous Hunger Games.  At the end of each day, the Senior Assassin Twitter page even tweets out pictures of the tributes who were killed that day.  Seniors are being extremely cautious about telling people what their plans are for the day and are trusting no one.

            For only $2, seniors could sign up to be in the game and all of the money collected during sign-ups will go to the winning assassin.  This year, 130 seniors signed up to be in the nerve-wracking games, leaving the winner with a $260 pot.  Senior and runner of the Senior Assassins game, Joe Filardo, has a few ideas on who will win the games altogether.

            “When the game first began, I had hopes for Andrew Murphy to win it all, but after what happened on Monday, I think either Brianne Starr or Matt Riccardi will take the winnings,” said Filardo.

            Riccardi and Starr both got their targets out of the game only hours after it started, marking them as the first two to complete the first round of the game.  Riccardi  “assassinated” his target, Cat Gentile, Monday morning while Gentile was walking to her car to go to school.  This marked Gentile as the first person in the games to be killed, and Gentile has mixed feelings about it.

            “Because I was the first one to be out, I am kind of upset that I didn’t get to play and I think it’s just slightly embarrassing,” said Gentile.  “Although I didn’t really get to play, I think it’s fun to watch everyone be so paranoid while I can actually relax.  I also enjoy being able to help everyone get their targets without having to worry about getting out.”

            Seniors are on high alert and are very cautious with whom they form alliances.  Many seniors can say that the biggest part of this whole game is to not trust anyone and plan your day out beforehand.  This game can get very intense at times, but Kara Razzaboni is one senior who believes that this game helps us have fun together and brings us together as a class.

            “I think that Assassins is a fun thing for our class to do.  I don’t really feel like it literally brings us together because we are all treating each other as the enemy, but I think it will bring us together when we tell stories down the road.  I think that it’s one thing that every class should do,” said Razzaboni.  “This game makes you very paranoid, though.  I personally am not very worried considering that not many people know where I live or where I spend my time outside of school and track.”

            Staying low on the radar and keeping your squirt gun with you at all times are some of the biggest things that seniors can do to stay alive in this game. 

Tonight at midnight marks the end of the first round, meaning that if you do not get your target out by midnight, you are disqualified from the game.  Also, you cannot shoot your target on school grounds between 6:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. or during practice for the school play or for a sports team.  There are many rules, regulations and exceptions in this game, so make sure to follow the Senior Assassins Twitter page, @WMHSassassins, for more information.  Remember, trust no one and may the odds be ever in your favor.

*Senior Assassins is not run or regulated by Woburn Memorial High School.

Captive in IranMaziar 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

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

by Kellie Herbert

Like Maziar Bahari, two women from Iran were sent to Evin prison for crimes against the Muslim god Allah. These women though were sent to the torture prison for spreading the word of Jesus and Christianity. Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh were captured and sent to Evin and kept there for 259 days.

            Both women are originally from Iran and grew up under Muslim faith but converted to Christianity as young women. Rostampour and Amirizadeh were part of a Christian group that preached Christianity to the people of Iran and handed out pamphlets and bibles. They started safe houses for prostitutes and ran an underground chapel.

            Iran was not happy with these women praising another god other than the Muslim Allah and especially not happy with them trying to evangelize Muslims. After the women’s houses were raided and their Christian possessions detained and they were both in custody they were charged with "apostasy", "propagation of the Christian faith" and "engaging in anti-government activities". These charges made the women eligible for long prison sentences and possibly death. Elam Ministries, an Iranian group that supports the growing Christian church in Iran tells BosNewsLife about the conditions Rostampour and Amirizadeh faced while in Evin which sounds a lot like Bahari went through during his time in Evin.

"They faced repeated interrogations, weeks in solitary confinement, and unhealthy prison conditions. Both became seriously sick during their imprisonment and did not receive the treatment they needed which greatly increased their suffering. Senior judges and officials also intimidated them," Elam Ministries told BosNewsLife.

Even though these women went through this torture they still managed to believe in their god. Rostampour and Amirizadeh were blunt and firm in their response to the judge who was overseeing their case.

“We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith,” professed Rostampour and Amirizadeh.

Both women believed that this ordeal was only a part of their god’s plan for them and did not doubt their god at all. Romstampour states this belief.

"I believe our arrest, imprisonment and subsequent release were in the timing and plan of God, and it was all for His glory. But the prayers of people encouraged and sustained us throughout this ordeal," said Rostampour.

These women are not the only ones to fight for their religion in Iran, at least prominent Christians have been killed in Iran since 1979, Elam Ministries estimates.

After their 259 day horrid experience the women fled Iran and took refuge in an unnamed country. They were received by joyful and relieved family and friends. The two women were met at the undisclosed airport by Sam and Lin Yeghnazar, founders of Elam Ministries. L. Yeghnazar describes the homecoming.

"It was very emotional when we first saw them," said Lin Yeghnazar. "Now, we want to see them rest and recover."

Happily away from Iran and able to spread their religion freely, the women are spreading their experience with many people. They have been on many news shows and have held many seminars. They also have written a book about their time Evin called Captive in Iran.  They still are in danger and fret for their lives. Bahari and these women are great examples of how to count your blessings every day.

Previewing the NBA playoffs

by Devin Cloherty           

With the NBA season coming to a close, the playoff push is heating up and the post season bracket is beginning to solidify.  The eastern and western conference teams are playing their hardest going down the stretch to try to earn their desired seeding.  In the eastern conference, second place Miami Heat are once again favored to win.  The Western conference, like recent years, is wide open due to all of the talent throughout the bracket. Let’s see how this year’s playoff picture is looking.

                First, let’s start off with the eastern conference standings.  Leading the pack are the Indiana Pacers, led by strong rebounding and consistent scoring.   The Pacers feature two of the league’s premier scoring big centers in Roy Hibbert and recent acquisition Andrew Bynum, as well as the breakout star Paul George.  With a strong supporting cast including Tyler Hansborough and Lance Stevenson, as well as a deep bench, the Pacers are poised to make a deep playoff run.

                The next few seeds show a major dropoff in talent following the second-seeded Heat.  The Heat, while not having the best regular season this year after a myriad of injuries and a barrage of close losses, have maintained a great record.  They’ve been an absolutely unstoppable force the last three years in the playoffs, steamrolling through whatever teams have stood in their way with their unfair trio of Lebron, Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh and a cast of sharp-shooters.  In third place sit the Toronto Raptors, about ten games behind the Heat.  The Raptors have shot up in the standings since last year, led by young up and comers Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.  Despite a decent starting line-up, lack of postseason and overall NBA experience will likely make them struggle.  Finishing off the bottom half is the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls, who’ve recently struggled and dropped in the standings.  Their former MVP-point guard Derrick Rose is injured for the third year in a row.  Second-tier big men Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer along with point guard D.J. Augustin have maintained an above average team in Rose’s absence.  The Bulls recent playoffs struggles are likely to resurface again this season.

                In the bottom half of the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets lead the pack with strong rebound, the conference’s best point guard in Deron Williams, and shooting guard Joe Johnson.  This year’s recruitment of veterans Paul Peirce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry significantly aided the Nets’ chances to make a deep playoff run.  In the Western conference, the San Antonio Spurs are leading the pack once again.  The Spurs feature perhaps the league’s most experienced and championship tested trio in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.  Since 2000, this squad of veterans has played in four NBA Finals and won three, in addition to being a perennial contender in the Western Conference.  It would be no surprise to see the Spurs in the finals again this year.

                Next in the standings is the Oklahoma City Thunder featuring the 3-time NBA scoring champion forward Kevin Durant.  Durant’s supporting cast is not too shabby either; the Thunder boast the league’s greatest scoring point guard in Russell Westbrook.  OKC also has solid defensive presence with guards Sefolosha and big men Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka.  The third seed in the Western Conference are the LA Clippers.  The Clippers have never been able to break out of the first round of the playoffs in recent years, despite having an explosive and high flying offense.  Chris Paul is universally recognized as the league’s premier Point Guard and Blake Griffin is unstoppable in the paint.  With the addition of swingmen Danny Granger and Jared Dudley and former NBA champion coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers might finally be ready to make a push for the Finals.  Rounding up the top half of the West are the Houston Rockets, my personal dark horse pick to win the west.   The Rockets gave the Thunder just about all they could handle last year in the first round of the playoffs, and have since developed greatly.  James Harden is a full blown NBA superstar, and the addition of the league’s best defensive center, Dwight Howard definitely didn’t hurt.  Houston has a legitimate chance at making a drive.

                  The bottom half of the bracket in the West is competitive as always.  The fifth seeded Portland Trail Blazers have been on a slide as of late, after starting off hot and in first place.  LaMarcus Alderidge and friends have been putting up impressive performances regardless.  Portland may struggle in the first round when matched up against Houston or the Clippers.  Next, in sixth place are the Golden State Warriors.  The Warriors could match up well with the LA Clippers, due to their strengths being in the same areas.  Guard Stephen Curry and Forward David Lee are both stars and could help Golden State out in the first round.  In seventh place sit the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost in the conference finals last year to the Spurs.  The Grizzlies have some strength in the big man department with 4-5 Zach Randolph and huge center Marc Gasol.  Despite strong defensive contributions from the backcourt and guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen, the Grizzlies offense is unimpressive and likely will fail them in this year’s postseason.  At the bottom of the bracket, the eighth seed is currently a tie between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns.  Though the Suns have been hot this year, the Mavs have been a staple in the Western Conference playoffs, and have a more real chance of qualifying.

                Now it’s time for the fun part; the picks.  Miami is too good not to win the eastern conference once again, and much to the dismay of many basketball fans, they’ll make their fourth straight appearance in the Finals.  To get out of the East, they’ll have to first get through the Brooklyn Nets in the conference finals.  In the West, the Spurs are my pick to represent their conference in the NBA Finals.  The Spurs will play the explosive Thunder in the conference finals.

                Finally, The Bull’s Eye’s prediction for the NBA Finals: Spurs over Heat in seven games.  It’ll be exciting to watch the postseason play out.  Happy watching NBA fans!

What’s your sign?

by Laura Zakrewski

What if it was possible to accurately know everything that was in store for the future?  That type of knowledge would bring with it an invincible power.  The world has not yet been able to construct a time machine to provide insight into the future, instead we have horoscopes, psychic readings and Farmer’s Almanacs to entertain us until that technology is invented.

            Horoscopes were considered an important science in ancient times and were used as a way to predict weather patterns, wars and natural disasters.  The whole system was based on the stars in the sky and their alignment with the sun or moon during the twelve months of the year.  Eventually, the Greeks adopted the trend and philosophers such as Sophocles and Aristotle began studying astrology. 

            Today, horoscopes are still regarded as a topic of interest and many people religiously keep up with astrology.  The signs of the zodiac are Aries, Sagittarius, Leo, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Aquarius, Gemini, Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo.  Your sign is determined by your birthday.  For instance, if you were born on May 10^th, then your sign is a Taurus. 

             Horoscopes are so popular that they are often featured in magazines and apps for your phone.  In magazines, horoscopes give a brief synopsis of the week ahead and some lucky numbers.  The horoscope could tell you what to watch out for in the upcoming week.  This entertainment section may also include celebrities who share your sign.  As far as apps go, there are so many free selections that you could make like Love Horoscopes and The Daily Horoscope to make yourself prepared for the next week.  Some people even keep up with these horoscopes daily and believe in everything they say. 

            Psychic readings are another form of fortune telling. These readings are available to anyone who has the money to pay to see a fortune teller, and it can be a very amusing experience.  In this attempt at seeing the future, you become more connected to the psychic because you are talking face to face.  Also, in this circumstance, you are able to ask more personal questions rather than focusing on the broad nature of a horoscope.  Therefore, whatever destiny that you are told during this reading seems more realistic than other methods of fortune telling. 

It is easy to see that Americans have recently become more obsessed with psychics and their abilities simply by looking at what they watch on television.  America’s Psychic Challenge is a reality television show that airs on Lifetime network.  In each episode, the contestants must compete against one another in challenges that only psychics could complete.  There are doubters who do not believe in the show and call it a fake, but it is obvious that it is a form of entertainment more than anything. 

Farmer’s Almanacs have been in publication in North America since 1818.  They are books that can foresee months into the future. These almanacs are well-known for their long range weather predictions and yearly advice.  With almost two hundred years using this method of seeing the future, their weather predictions have an 85 % accuracy rate.  Considering that today’s news stations have a hard time predicting weather a day in advance, this is a pretty impressive reputation. 

No matter which method you try and tell the future with, it’s clear that it is impossible to know every detail with absolute certainty.  One day, maybe it will be possible for scientists to create a time machine or some other form of fortune telling.  Until then, we can use these other ways of seeing the future in order to satisfy our desire to know what is next.                  

           

Work Cited:

"History of Astrology." American Federation of Astrologers. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.