Wildlife Wednesday: The Icy Truth About Warmth

Mary Cope

As many of you have realized, it is still quite chilly outside, the polar opposite of the temperatures we had this time last year. I realize that the majority of us, including me, are unhappy about this, but the snow and freezing temperatures are actually doing unseen good!

Last year’s sudden warm front, as pleasurable as it was, tricked many organisms into thinking that it was later in the year. Plants germinated early, and some started to open their buds, not knowing that it was still March. Once the snow came back after the week of warm weather, all of these organisms froze. The high temperatures also caused damage to a certain special New York crop. How many of you enjoy genuine maple syrup, from real trees? Well, if you do, then you should rejoice about the cold, because it means that there will be a good harvest, this year. Last year, however, maple producers had a very rough year and did not harvest much maple at all, so prices went up. This year, I have been told, the harvest is good, thanks to these cold fronts, so there will be no maple shortages!

Plants weren’t the only organisms to suffer from the warm week. Insects were also tricked into coming out too early! They, too, died when the sudden cold front came through. I saw many dead honey bees from our local hive lying about in the snow around the hive.

Although we may not enjoy the snow and cold, it is a part of living in Central New York and we must accept it. The frigid temperatures ensure that the proper organisms awake when they can thrive. Soon the weather will warm, but for now, be patient with Mother Nature; she is just doing her job.

Nada es Imposible

Sarah Willsey

           Puerto Rican singer, Ennio Emmanuel, stopped by the Homer Bonné Auditorium on Monday, March 25, 2013 to share his inspiring message and music. After several years of teaching the importance of Spanish, and a second language in general, to students around the country, Justo Lamas passed his mission on to the young and kind-hearted Ennio. Students welcomed Ennio with signs, smiles, and loud cheering. The junior high and high school were joined by a handful of schools from nearby, who were all grateful to be in his presence.

​            Ennio shared songs from his new album, Ojalá, and invited everyone to sing along. One of the favorites of the day was "Nada Es Imposible," or "Nothing is Impossible." He invited many students up on stage, including two junior high students, Kelsey and Jake, who joined him for the song "Confiar En Mi" ("Count On Me"). He gathered a group of students from each school, including Adam, Dean, Sophie, and Tighe from the high school, to assist him in the performance of Magdalena. He held a contest called Tongue Twister, which challenged students to speak fast and clear Spanish; Alfón won by a landslide, receiving a free CD as her prize. Kasey and Ashley were the “angels” of the show, as Ennio sang his song, "Manda Un Ángel" ("Send An Angel"), to the lucky girls. He then shared the stage one last time with a group of talented junior high dancers.

​            
Before closing the concert, Ennio made a point to thank the teachers for all that they do. He emphasized that second languages, including Spanish, are extremely beneficial and will help many to succeed. After the concert, he stayed to sign posters, t-shirts, and CDs, and he stood with excited students for pictures. Many thanks go out to Ennio for the motivating performance. Thank you to Mrs. Passigli and everyone else who brought to us this wonderful opportunity. ​​​​​​​​​​

Ag Lit Day

Julia Fouts

On Friday, March 22, 2013, three Homer FFA members traveled to the elementary school to read to second graders. National Ag Literacy Week lasted from March 17th through March 23rd. FFA members read the book, The Beeman, to younger students. The book talked about the work and care that goes into beekeeping while explaining the honey-making process.

Along with their FFA advisor, Kathy Pratt, three high school students, McKenzie Brown, Matt Dewitt, and Julia Fouts,  participated in the event. The students met with a Farm Bureau member, Heather Birdsall, at Homer Elementary to educate young minds on bees and work to the maintain the continuous awareness of agriculture. The students split to different classrooms and read The Beeman, played activities with the students, and gave each child a sample of honey sticks. Through reading and teaching younger students, FFA members were able to share their knowledge of agriculture.

Square Dancing Competition

Jared Pace

On Wednesday, March 20th, Homer High School’s Physical Education Department held a square dancing competition. This unit tied into the PE dance unit, which students have been studying for the past few weeks.

Anyone who was interested was asked to create a team of eight individuals to compete. This year, the contest consisted of three teams: The Flying Squares, Twinkie and the Ho, Ho, Ho’s, and The Squarewolves. The competition included three rounds total, each with a different song containing different moves. Everyone danced with enthusiasm and delight, but there could be only one winning team. Twinkie and the Ho Ho Ho’s placed third, The Flying Squares placed second, and the Squarewolves placed first!

Congratulations to all who participated, and thank you to the staff members who judged the event!

Read to Lead: Book Collection!

         
        Do you have stacks and stacks of children’s books at home? Would you like to donate them to a charitable cause? Youth and Government is collecting children’s books for its 2013 service learning project, Read to Lead. Through the end of March, you can drop off your children’s books in Mrs. Giordano’s room, room 124. Members of the club will be putting a handmade bookmark in each book, telling children of the importance of reading. Then, Youth and Government will send these personalized books to the areas that were hit by Hurricane Sandy. The goal of this project is to replenish lost book collections in these areas and to spread the joy of reading to young children! Help the club reach as many children as possible by donating your children’s books!

Somewhat Blind; Leadership: Honorable Mention - Poetry

Rachel McNeil

Somewhat Blind

At my Sabbath table I prayed with purpose
My family humble and kind,
No one thought that they could hurt us,
We were so innocent and somewhat blind.

For the evil men came to our home
With weapons and waving claims
They said “Don’t worry you’ll be back soon”
But they lied all the same.

With just our most precious things,
Among ovoid jewels and pearls,
We made our way through words that sting
To a cramped dark train, us boys and girls.

Days and nights we wondered and hoped
Until ashy daylight was poured upon us.
Out we stepped to read a sign ever so sloped
That called our destination Auschwitz.

Sorted and separated we timidly walked
They enabled us to clean our skin
Instant death came to those who talked
Our possessions were all rudely taken.

Striped clothes and a number
In return for our worldly goods
Coyness and bravery swept down under
Our heads shaved equally, cautiously
understood.

Assigned horrid games to play
Endowing us with numbered breaths.
Crumbs of bread our only pay
Besides the livid gift of quicker death.

What on earth was our objective?
Who could have let this happen?
Look and see from our blanched
perspective.
The oblong routine never broken.

Only so long ago we slept
In peaceful demureness and passion
Our prayers and rituals were always kept,
In sight, our dreams and aspirations

Now Satan would be happier
Taking that long fall from heaven.
For this is a brutal hell I am sure
Bloody hands stuck in slow motion.

Will I see my brother again?
If ever, let it be soon!
In darkness I call out to heaven.
To the lonely elliptical moon.

Hardly can we remember our hopes.
Our beliefs have been torn and melted.
The crematorium, the pain, and forgotten soap
Investments gone and mounded.

Today we do not cry out to Yaweh.
Too weak to work they herd us like sheep
To the chambers of no return I boldly walk.
Eminent death is to finally mine to claim.

Leadership

This morning awakened many, to their troubles and from their dreams.
Some stretch with pride and confidence, while others denature at the seams.

Each individual arises, different and unique their routines and thoughts.
A spiral of ideas and questions, tied together in endless knots.

The day goes on and one by one, the people live their lives.
Some quiet their tongues of gold, to let others speak their minds.

Each day brings something new yet eerily the same.
Malevolently, the same fears will grip the quietly insane.

For belligerently their minds will fight for silence and for speech,
A strong-willed leader yet somewhat buried is only just out of reach.

Discarded adulation, forgotten and lost at sea,
The minds of seagulls flying away, so foreign to you and me.

The majority smiles and rewards the strong with astounding deification,
Even the silenced must admit that confidence grabs your attention.

It is only when the idolatry wears off that the quiet bring their words to life.
What silent, powerful control they have that perseveres through change and strife.

Inspired and revived, the people stand in admiration for the speaker.
They marvel at the ideas portrayed with the talent of a leader.

Seagulls fly with unquestioning certainty, with no reason for alarm.
The open ocean a welcome sight bringing peace and unknown harm.

Not to be galvanized all stand on edge in undying anticipation.
They wait for their leaders, both strong and weak, to try and lead their nation.

Shame is fiercely doffed from their plumage of feathers.
Clustered wealth and greedy hands not worthy in this kind of weather.

The tortoise wins the race while the mighty hare sits aside.
Hope is ruthlessly abandoned in a tuft of worthless pride.

The night greets everyone once again, their dreams calling them to sleep.
But today the quiet have spoken their minds and the ink will continue to seep.

Academic Challenge Quiz Team

Ali Jenkins

On March 4th, six students from Homer High School traveled to Tompkins Cortland Community College to take part in the High School Challenge. Seniors Jasminique Harris, Sarah Medhi, and Liam Whalen returned for their second year, while juniors Erik Gustafson, Ali Jenkins, and Lukas Pizzola participated for the first time. The students were coached by Mrs. Stokoe and Mr. Patriarco.

The Quiz Team faced three other high schools from Central New York. Through a series of formatted rounds, the teams each strove to earn the most points. Questions spanned across a broad range of topics, including sciences, mathematics, languages, art, literature, history, and pop culture. The Homer Quiz Team won two out of three matches on the first day, earning enough points to advance to the next level of competition. Returning to TC3 on March 12th, the Homer Quiz Team faced the highest ranked team and, after a well-played game, was eliminated from the competition.

Congratulations to these students for their success in the competition, and thank you to Mrs. Stokoe and Mr. Patriarco!

New Visions

Kennedy George

 

There is a unique program offered here at Homer High School, called New Visions. New Visions is a program for seniors only that can either be an experience in the healthcare field or the environmental science field.

If a student chooses to participate in the program dealing with health care, he or she will spend three to four hours every school day at Cortland Memorial Hospital. The program requires participants to complete essays, technical writing, textbook questions, oral presentations, group projects, quizzes, tests, packets, and daily journal entries. Students who participate in this program receive four high school credits, which may include anatomy and physiology, English 12, government and economics, and health career classes. There are many fields students can explore through this program, including physical and occupational therapy, emergency medicine, cardiology, radiology, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, recreational therapy, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, and biomedical engineering.

If a student chooses to participate in the Environmental Science program, he or she will spend three hours every school day at the Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science. The program consists of six required modules. These are forestry, fish and wildlife, environmental issues, soil and water, land use, and outdoor recreation. This course involves canoeing, backpacking, overnight camping, fishing, cross-country skiing, college visits, and snowshoeing. This program offers up to four credits, which are English, science, government, and economics. In every module, a student is required to have knowledge and skills pertaining to the activity, a daily journal, book reports, essays, interviews, a research project, and poems. All of these assignments are compiled into a portfolio.

There are seven slots for New Vision every year that are divided between the two programs. Students must fill out an application for New Visions. Acceptance is also based on grades, attendance, and teacher recommendation. The programs are only offered to seniors, but students must apply as juniors. This is a very rigorous and competitive program that can be a great step for students interested in careers in health care or environmental science.

#YAGSWAG

Ali Jenkins

The first weekend in March, Homer students involved in the Youth and Government program traveled to Albany for the annual Spring Conference. This mock government program for high schoolers gives students the opportunities to meet students from across the state, hone their public speaking skills, and explore various branches of our government.

Students involved in state leadership arrived at the Desmond Hotel on Thursday, a day before the full conference began. These students included Devon Drake, who was a justice, Erik Gustafson, Secretary of State for the Executive Cabinet, Ali Jenkins, Commissioner of Agriculture for the Executive Cabinet, and Gail VanValkenburg, who served as a committee chair. These individuals went through leadership training and preparation for the conference. The remainder of the club arrived on Friday. Students used this time to run through their judicial cases or meet with committees to discuss and rank legislative bills. At the end of the night, members of the legislative branch met in a general assembly to debate the highest-ranked bills. The night ended with the formal Governor’s Ball.

On Saturday, students boarded the buses and headed to the capitol building. After the Governor’s opening press conference, members of the judicial branch presented their cases in hearing rooms. Arguing their positions, these students attempted to convince the panels of justices to side with their clients. Meanwhile, the legislative members broke into their respective chambers—Senate, Assembly Freedom, and Assembly Liberty. Presenting their researched bills and debating on other students’ ideas, these individuals had the opportunity to experience lawmaking in action and to practice parliamentary procedure. Any bills that were passed in chambers and were signed by the youth governor will be debated by our New York State legislators, and can possibly become law. In fact, there are more than seventy current laws than began as Youth and Government bills! Press members snapped pictures and interviewed delegates for their articles. Throughout the day, students partook in the activities of their chosen branches, improving their critical thinking and public speaking skills. The day ended with an informal dance back at the Desmond Hotel.

Sunday’s agenda included a final session at the capitol, as well as a closing banquet ceremony. New presiding officers were inducted into office, and awards were presented to certain individuals. Homer students received much recognition at the closing banquet. The bill presented by Liam George, Erik Gustafson, Josh Sands, and Aysia Smith, which proposed the re-enfranchisement of convicted felons, was nominated for Best Bill in the Senate. Additionally, Ali Jenkins was nominated for and won Best Debater in the Senate, and Jared LoGurfo was nominated for Best Debater in Assembly Liberty. The program also recognized twenty delegates and twenty alternates from the state conference to attend the Conference on National Affairs (CONA), held in North Carolina. These students will attend a training conference at the Desmond in April to prepare for the week-long national conference, held in early July. From Homer, Erik Gustafson was chosen as an alternate, and Ali Jenkins was chosen to attend the conference as a NY representative. Finally, Homer’s district was honored with a District Exemplar award, a title that recognizes outstanding groups for their behavior, participation, and resect.

A special thanks to Mrs. Janine Giordano and Mrs. Chris Buttino, the advisors for Homer YAG students! These individuals offered the students incredible guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the year, making it possible for them to succeed. Congratulations to all students who took part in this challenging and rewarding program!

Happy π Day!

Jared Pace

Pi Day is an annual celebration in honor of the mathematical constant, π, which is used to determine the ratio of a circle’s circumference divided by its diameter. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th to represent 3.14, the three most commonly-known digits of Pi. The first official fete of Pi Day was developed by Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium, where he and the staff gathered together to bake and eat massive amounts of pie!  

Today, this holiday has evolved with the creation of Pi recitation competitions. Recently, Homer High School held its own Pi recitation contest, where nineteen students recited as many digits as possible. The second place winner, Dan Beiter, recited 501 digits of pi, and the first place winner, Robby Johnson, recited an astonishing 693 digits of Pi, crushing his previous school record! Congratulations to all who participated, and thank you to the math department for judging the contest!

Are you interested in more Pi Day festivities? Join the math department and your fellow students ninth period today, Thursday, for the pie eating contest! You can also purchase tickets for the chance to throw a pie in the face of a math teacher of your choice. If you would like one of last year’s Pi Day tee shirts, you can purchase one from Mr. Podsiedlik for only $5! The money raised from Pi Day goes toward mathematics scholarships and awards at the end of the year!

How many digits do you know? 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196442881097566593344612847564823378678316527120190914564856692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817488152092096282925409171536436789259036001133053054882046652138414695194151160943305727036575959195309218611738193261179310511854807446237996274956735188575272489122793818301194912983367336244065664308602139494639522…

Shakespearean Society

           Are you interested in participating in the Homer Shakespearean Society? This spring's production will be The Two Gentlemen of Verona!

           Auditions will be held on Thursday, March 9th at 7pm in the auditorium. Rehearsals begin on Monday, March 18th.

           Pick up your audition materials in the choir room or in Mrs. Giordano's room.

           Good luck!

Youth and Government

Youth and Government 

FFA Leadership Contests

Julia Fouts

           On Wednesday, February 27th, Homer FFA members attended and participated in the District 7 Leadership Contests. This event took place at Southern Cayuga High School.

           McKenzie Brown participated in senior extemporaneous speaking and came in fourth place. Emaleigh Perry partook in job interviews. Evan Perry took second in junior prepared speaking. Others who attended were Charles Wheeler, Melissa Phelps, and Danielle Angel.
           The contests helped to encourage interest in FFA and broaden the education of public speaking, as well as agriculture.

Wonderful Town a Wonderful Show!

Tamsin Smith  

If you have been hanging out after school anytime in the past few months and have wandered past the auditorium, you probably caught a glimpse of the drama department practicing for their annual musical.   This year, they performed Wonderful Town, a successful Broadway show, which premiered in 1953.  Despite its success, it is not well known, especially among high school audiences.  Wonderful Town takes place in the 1930s, in Greenwich Village, New York.  It stars Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, who have moved to New York from Columbus, Ohio, in order to pursue their dreams.  Ruth (Lucia Helgren) is older and much more serious than Eileen and she plans on becoming a writer.  Meanwhile, the pretty and popular Eileen (Lexington Swartwood) wants to make it big in the performing industry.  Both sisters find settling into Greenwich difficult and have a hard time finding jobs as well.  Eileen catches a few breaks because of her popularity with men, which later gets her into trouble.  While hunting for a job, Ruth meets Bob Barker (Josh Apker), who works in the offices of a short story magazine.  Eileen bumps into Bob as well, and invites him to dinner, along with Chick Clark (Jake Elkins) and Frank Lippencott (Richie Howell).  Both sisters find themselves attracted to Bob, and the evening takes an awkward turn.  Bob and Ruth have a falling out over her writing, and they both leave.  Ruth goes to a shipyard to report on a new arrival of Portuguese sailors and ends up leading them back to her neighborhood.  The singing, dancing sailors cause a riot and Eileen is arrested.  In the second act, Ruth finds a job at a nightclub and tries to get Eileen out of jail.  Both sisters also grapple with their feelings for Bob, and all the while search for their perfect job.  This musical is filled with memorable characters, including Wreck (David Perfetti), a bum who briefly lives with Ruth and Eileen, and his lover, Helen (Bailey Kote).

The drama department put on an extremely fun show with Wonderful Town.  In my opinion, some of its best moments were “Conga”, sung by the Portuguese sailors, and Wreck’s character.  The costumes were fun and appropriate to the time period- there were quite a few costume changes as well!  Good job, Mrs. Votra!  Of course, the singing was great, with excellent performances by the seniors: Lucia, Lexi, Josh, and Richie.  Although you could not see the pit band this year, they did a good job.  Mr. DiGennaro could be seen when the lights were down, conducting enthusiastically!  The sets were great, thanks to Louise Felker.  Mrs. McLaughlin should be proud of putting on such an enjoyable, wonderful show! 

                                   

Win a Prom Ticket!

          Spring is coming! 

Would you like to jump start your fitness routine and possibly win a free prom ticket, After Prom Party ticket, or another great prize? 

       The After Prom Party Committee is having a fitness night 

Friday March 8th from 6:00 PM—7:30 PM. 

Any Homer student may attend this Zumba and Tabata workout in the large gym. 

Every student who attends will have a chance to win! 

Earn extra chances to win for every family member or friend from outside of school who attends as your guest! 

Cost: $5 at the door. 

Get to Know Alfonsina!

Julia Fouts

           ¡Beinvenidos Alfonsina Tarsetti! Welcome to Homer High School! Alfon is a foreign exchange student from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is currently a junior attending Homer Senior High School. An Olympian writer interviewed Alfon about her life at Homer and her life back home.

Q: Can you speak any other languages besides Spanish and English?
A: No; I wish. Only Spanish and English, though.

Q: Are there major differences between Argentina and America?
A: Yeah-the food. And the school
Q: How is the food different?
A: We have more meat and pasta. Empanadas, milanesas, asado, dulce de leche (like caramel), mate, and there is different candy.
Q: How are the schools different?
A: We have a uniform, no sports, we don’t have study hall, and the classes are different. We have five periods and eleven subjects- history, biology, math, Spanish, English, health, geography, gym, or P.E., music, bible, and computer class.
Q: Which classes in Homer are your favorites?
A: Spanish and art

Q: What is your favorite part about America?
A: The life the people live
Q: And what’s your least favorite?
A: I don’t really like school. I like the people and the classes, but it’s over too late. I usually go home at 1:00.

Q: What do you miss about back home?
A: Seeing my friends on weekends. And summer. It is summer now in Argentina and my friends have off from school.

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: 3 sisters
Q: What about pets?
A: A dog and a bird

Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I cook; I play with my dogs. Most of the time, I’m with my friends. Every Saturday night we have dinner together and go to disco around 12:00am. I also spend time with my family.

Q: Do you have a role model?
A: My mom

Q: Is there something you learned in America you didn’t expect?
A: Yeah, I learned to ski.

Q: How do you stay in touch with your family and friends back home?
A: I speak on Facebook and sometimes Skype.

Q: Have you visited any other countries?
A: Yeah, I visited Chile once.

Q: What do you plan to do when you grow-up?
A: I want to be a chef or an architect.

Q: Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
A: Because I think it is a good experience. I like to meet new people and learn English

Red Cross Blood Drive

The Red Cross blood drive 

Friday, March 8th. 

You must be 16 years of age or older 

AND 

have a signed permission slip to donate. 

Students AND teachers wishing to donate MUST sign up for a time. To sign up, please see Alexis C., Deanna L., or Alex F.

Don’t Miss the Youth and Government Spaghetti Dinner!

What? A fundraiser with delicious food, sponsored by Homer Youth and Government.
When? TONIGHT, March 4.
          5:30-7:00 pm.
Why? The funds raised at this event help club members afford the annual State Conference.
Tickets: $5 per person, $15 per family

Tickets will be available at the door.

What is Youth and Government? Youth and Government is an educational program, composed of various branches in which students can participate. Through a series of local YMCA meetings and one state-wide meeting, high school students come together to learn how to turn a problem or an idea into a piece of legislation. Students may also choose to explore the court system, by becoming involved in the judicial branch of the program. After months of preparation and research at the local level, students travel to Albany for three days to debate their refined bills and argue their researched court cases in the hearing rooms and chambers of the State House. This program offers students the ability to explore various aspects of our government, to learn invaluable leadership skills, and to make their voices heard.

Important: Contact Janine Giordano with any questions, at JGiordano@homercentral.org.
        Any donations are welcome!
        Thank you for your support!

Wonderful Town!

Join the cast and crew of this year's musical, Wonderful Town, for their last two productions!

There will be a Friday show at 7:00 p.m., as well as a Saturday show at 2:00 p.m. The shows will be held in the high school auditorium. Come show your support for the arts and enjoy a wonderful show!