Sturgis Students Attend James Otis Lecture Series in Boston

By Katie Curran, news reporter

Sturgis East and West students pose for a picture at Faneuil Hall

On September 17, 2013, I joined my fellow Sturgis students from East and West to visit Faneuil Hall in Boston for the James Otis Lecture Series. This program was presented to us by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), who created the lecture series. Every year, James Otis Lecture Series' are held throughout the country on Constitution Day. James Otis, a great American lawyer, played a central role in the birth of the American Revolution and in the foundation of our Constitution. On Constitution Day, the ABOTA’s goal is “to have the lecture series inspire us all to remember that one person, armed with courage and reason, can accomplish much in free society.”

We arrived in Boston in the morning and spent time enjoying a walk around Faneuil Hall Marketplace. We then entered the Faneuil Hall Meeting House to listen to the lecture, which was about Lelia Robinson and her quest for equality. Lelia Robinson was a true pioneer and female leader in the legal world who dared to challenge the social convention.  More than 200 students and teachers from across the Commonwealth sat down to hear the story of Lelia's success.   

During the talk, we heard from various distinguished speakers such as the Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court and the Dean of Harvard Law School. Each of the speakers gave us an insight into the progress women have made in law during the course of our nation’s history.  We learned about each speaker’s experiences in the law profession and what we can do to be a voice of change, becoming "James Otis Scholars" in the process. Overall, I had a wonderful time at the 6th Annual James Otis Lecture and was fortunate to attend and hear from such brilliant speakers.  

Experiencing the Czech Republic

By Katie Curran, news reporter

Reporter Katie Curran with her host sister at a Czech Castle

Deep in the heart of Eastern Europe lies Czech Republic. With approximately 10.5 million inhabitants, Bohemia is home to breathtaking sights and extensive history.  This summer I was able to experience such an incredible country firsthand as an exchange student.  I experienced various European countries including Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic with my Danish host family. Spending time in Czech Republic was an unforgettable experience that really changed my life.

I arrived at the airport in Copenhagen greeted by a foreign family that I had never met in person. I could never have imagined how close I would soon become with them, but the moment they gave me a big hug, I felt an instant connection and a part of my new international family. During my home stay, I lived with my Danish family, which included two sisters age 14 and 15 , my host “dad” and host “mom”.  My host mom was a refugee to Denmark from Czechoslovakia in 1968. Their family story of life behind the Iron Curtain was absolutely incredible. I was going to be spending my summer with a family that is living history of what Eastern Europe has endured. The lessons I had been taught in history class were coming alive too.  And so we traveled to Česká Republika, where I was able to meet their Czech family and witness an endless love that has survived through the tests of time.

To begin my Czech adventure, we spent nearly a week in Prague. I remember the first night we arrived at our pension along the Charles Bridge. Glowing lanterns lit up the cobblestone streets and the shadows of breathtaking architecture cast over us. As we took a stroll over the bridge, I could see in the distance the Prague Castle, watching over the city. The warm July air enveloped my skin and I felt a soft breeze. I could hear traditional Czech songs playing down the narrow roads and I instantly felt at home. It never felt as though I was a world away. Everywhere you looked there were countless nationalities, all exploring one of the best cities in the world. Prague isn't like anything I have ever experienced before. It was like I was living in a dream.

An aerial view of Prague (photo credits to Katie Curran)

I definitely didn't see the city as a typical tourist. I got to see the city from a perspective of a native Czech. Everywhere we went, my host “mom” would always speak Czech to the local people.  I didn't seem like a foreigner, but rather a guest into my European family's international world.

In Praha (as we say in Czech), everything was spectacular. We dined at authentic Czech restaurants and ate national delicacies like Schnitzel and Knedlíky. Some of the highlights of my stay were exploring the Prague Castle, taking a climb to the top of the Petrin tower (which resembles the Eiffel Tower), shopping in the main square of the city, visiting cathedrals, going to a Vietnamese market, and spending time at the Jewish Quarter of the city. Being in the Jewish Quarter really affected me. It was hard to keep back tears as I stood in the Pinkas Synagogue which is a memorial to the 80,000 Jewish Victims of the Holocaust from Bohemia and Moravia. I walked along the white walls inscribed in red and black with my host mother.  She took me to the part of the memorial where her hometown in Czech Republic was listed. My heart sank as we read the list of all the lives lost from her city.  Putting the face of a real family to a story was so powerful. I felt like I was part of the Kaderkova family now and that Czech Republic was a part of me. My heart was broken to imagine what this country so dear to me had been through. Afterwards we sat in a Synagogue and I reflected on everything that had happened in history right where I had stood. For one moment in time, I felt like I connected with an entire race.  Looking deep into the eyes of the lost in such a holy place like their synagogues was so overpowering.  I never expected to connect with humanity in such a unique way.    

While in Prague, we visited my host family's extended family. When we had dinner together, I could just feel the endless love radiating from each one of them. The Iron Curtain had separated them for so many years, but seeing them happy and safe together was one of the best feelings in the world.  Just the simple feeling of having your brother and sister by your side is something so many of us take for granted.  It’s something that has been robbed from so many over the course of history.  My host sisters do not speak the same languages as their little cousins due to growing up geographically divided.  Even simple things like communication have been hindered due to the lasting effects of the Soviet Union Era.

Katie Curran and her host family in Česky Krumlov

Our next stop across the Czech Republic was a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a city called Česky Krumlov. As we drove toward the city, which was not too far from Austria , I could see announcement speakers along street lamps from where the Communist regime once gave daily orders. It was eerie to see them still lined up on the streets, no longer used, but a constant reminder of the country's past. However, aside from that, Česky Krumlov was a fairytale city with exquisite old buildings and rolling hills. My host sisters and I ran around the Royal garden, sharing laughs and taking in the beauty of the landscape.  We climbed castles, ate zmrzlina (ice cream), visited a Czech puppetry museum and went river rafting on the Vltava River.  In the Czech Republic, the sleepy city of Česky Krumlov is a must see for its exquisite views.    

Our last stop on our trip was visiting my host family's mountain cabin in the Jeseníky Mountains along the border of Poland.  The quiet little village was very cozy and friendly.  There was one local restaurant that we ate at that was extremely inexpensive.  I could eat like a queen for under $5.  With ice-cream costing 40 cents a scoop, it was hard not to indulge.  We took an hour ski lift up to the top of a Mountain in Czech Republic.  You could see for miles on end the picturesque view of villages scattered around Poland and the Czech Republic.  It was incredible!

I fondly remember one chilly night under an endless starry sky, sitting with my host family and Czech neighbors singing along to Czech Songs. I began to believe that language isn't a barrier that prevents us from becoming friends because everyone was smiling in the same language.  On that night, I felt as if we were all speaking the same language.  I was laughing with elderly Czechs who couldn't speak a word of English, but we still understood each other.  I sat there looking at the stars, looking at Poland, looking at my new international family, and I saw that we as people aren't actually that different.  I felt like I was being a tolerant, global-minded 15 year-old ambassador for the United States.  My host family that I had met just a few weeks ago was so similar to me, especially my host sister Carolina, and we have continued our international friendship. in my opinion, life is a chance to experience the wonders of the world through global friendships.

Sturgis East Cross Country off to the Races in 2013

By Cooper Heilmann, staff reporter  

Tom Homand (left center), Jon Greeve (center), and Liam Doherty (far right) begin the race at Martha's Vineyard. 

This year’s Sturgis East cross country team has had a very strong start to the season.  Despite losing an excellent senior group last year, which included the Ohm twins, Noah Lonergan, and Mitch Kimber, the Storm have several returning veterans who are quickly and successfully stepping up to form a very competitive squad. This core group includes seniors Jonah Greenberg and Jon Greeve, and juniors Tom Homand, Liam Doherty, and Parth Patel.There is also a large number of new, upcoming runners who have already brought success to the team. One good example is brand-new freshman runner Caroline Sullivan, who just recently recorded one of the top times for girls in Sturgis Cross Country history (In cross country, runners are timed by how quickly they can run a distance of 5 km, or 3.1 mi).

Junior Caitie Pollard amidst a crowd of girls' varsity runners at Martha's Vineyard.

The season started out with an invitational meet on Martha’s Vineyard, where hundreds of runners from different schools throughout Massachusetts came to race. The boys didn't finish as well as they feel they could have, but the boys’ junior varsity excelled, even beating some of the varsity players’ times. The girls’ varsity efforts were highlighted by a superb performance by Caroline Sullivan, who finished with a time just under 22 minutes. The JV girls also ran very well and finished with solid times across the board.

Sophomore Holden Romage (middle) making a furious finish in the boys' JV race.

    On September 17, the cross country team had their first head-to-head race against Pope John Paul II at Bayberry Golf Course. This course is traditionally the most challenging course of the season, but Sturgis experienced a crushing victory nevertheless, taking the first five spots as well as seventh and eighth place. Jon Greeve took first place in the meet, while Caroline Sullivan and senior Cadance Sullivans helped lift the girls to victory.

Senior Jonah Greenberg (middle) and Tom Homand (behind) help the Storm defeat PJPII. 

The Storm cross country team is currently preparing for its next race on Tuesday, September 24, against Mashpee and Carver.

Boys' Soccer Coach Discusses Upcoming Season

By Peter Keefe, sports reporter

The Sturgis East boys’ soccer team has kicked off the season with two wins against Sturgis West and Cape Cod Academy, a loss against Nantucket, and two draws against South Shore Christian and Cape Cod Tech. As the Storm aim for their fifth consecutive state tournament berth, Stormwatch sports reporter Peter Keefe met with boys’ soccer coach Brian Hastings to talk about the team and the coach’s hopes for the rest of season:

1) First of all, what are your goals, as a coach, for your team this year?

Every year our goals are to help each player reach his potential and do his best.  As a team, we'll always have "ups & downs" so our overall goal is to leave a game knowing that we did all we could to win.

2) With a loss of so many valuable seniors last year, how are you filling their roles on the field in games and practices?

        Each year, the "holes" get filled.  Players step up and improve to the point where they can fill what needs to be filled.  

3) Have you seen any new rising stars this year?

Even as we fill the holes, there are always some surprises.  This year we have three very skilled freshmen on the varsity:  Sawyer Gibbons, Mark Agostinelli and Jake LaMotte.  These three players have all contributed to our success so far.

4) What do you think is the toughest team to beat, and how do you plan to beat them?

Nantucket is always tough.  Last year, we tied them for the first time in school history.  In our first meeting this year, we didn't do so well (4-0 loss) but, we're all looking forward to a rematch in October. Our plan to beat them is to score more goals than they do !!!

5) What are your hopes and plans on getting to the tournament?  

This year, we have the toughest schedule that a boys’ soccer team has faced at Sturgis.  We've added Cardinal Spellman, Falmouth Academy  and Mashpee.  That said, we still have a reasonable chance to qualify for the states.  Only time and effort will tell.

6) How do you find each player's best position and the best starting lineup for the team, without disrupting team chemistry?  

It's important for a coach to define roles and communicate them clearly.  Some players are asked to play a different position because of a need in our system.  Kevin Agostinelli is a good example of this.  This year I've ask him to play a sweeper position because he is very talented and can "anchor" our defense.  Although I sure Kevin would really like to be in another spot, he's doing is best to help our team.  A starting lineup can vary depending on injuries and effort.  It's still important to define roles and communicate changes ahead of time.

7) In your time as a coach here, do you believe that the talent level at Sturgis has increased year after year? If so, how has it improved?  

That's a really tough question.  In my first year we only had 16 players total and most of those players were freshmen.  What I think is more appropriate to point out is that as Sturgis athletics finds success in many of its sports, the pride & tradition that athletes bring to the fields of play make them better as a team.

8) Finally, what do you feel is the most crucial aspect of a team to achieve success in a game?

I'm a firm believer in the fact that athletics can teach things that can't be learned in a classroom.  While "winning" is always the goal of an athlete, nobody "wins" all of the time.  That's as true for life as it is for athletics.  The best that we all can do is to give our best (not almost best but BEST) effort in all that we do.  We can't always control the outcome of things but we can control ourselves.  If we've done all that we can, there is some success in there, just maybe not a "win".   Over my career at Sturgis, I have seen "milestones" in the soccer program such as our tie with Nantucket.  Just last week, we came from behind to tie South Shore Christian with 5 minutes left in the game.  Was it a win...no.  However we proved to ourselves that if you don't give up and work together, good things can happen.  That's success.

The Sturgis Storm (2-1-2) continue their season with an away game against Cardinal Spellman on Friday.

Fiddler on the Roof: An East-West Production!

By Dan Souza, feature writer

The famed Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof, written by Sholom Alcheim, is now being performed at Sturgis! It is being put on by Sturgis’s theater department, otherwise known as S.T.A.G.E.

The show, famous for such numbers as “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker,” follows a poor Jewish milkman named Tevye, played by East junior Liam Prendergast, as he struggles to maintain the traditions of his village, while at the same time dealing with the oppression of the Russian government in the early 20th century. He runs into such struggles when his three oldest daughters, Tzeitel (Rachel Walman), Hodel (Hannah McLaughlin), and Chava (Ella Hunt) fall in love with three unexpected men, forcing Tevye to bend his morals and decide between tradition and the happiness of his family.

Commenting on the overall message of the play, senior Hannah McLaughlin, remarked, “Sometimes breaking traditions brings out the best in us.” Love, which helps to bring about this tradition-breaking in Fiddler on the Roof, is a recurring theme in the show. 

Liam and his daughters, as well as his wife, Golde, played by Ali Waithe, will be supported by a large cast including Sophia Braddel, Jack Watters, Ethan Bailey, Chris Dumont, Dan Souza, Claire Thomas, Rebecca Mann, Johnny Travers, Danny O’Connell, Connor Mahoney, Molly Brennan, Ethan Michael Piers, Maddie Williams, Jennifer Suslo, Dominic Fucile, and Daniel Kamb, as well a remarkably talented ensemble!  This is the first combined theatrical effort between Sturgis East and West, with the play being directed by one East teacher, Rachel Ollagnon, and one West teacher, Anna Botsford. 

When asked about how she feels to be part of the first S.T.A.G.E. collaboration between East and West, ensemble member Zoe Neal explained, “I think it's a wonderful opportunity to bridge the gap between the cultures of both schools, and that it is a great way to share a common love of music and theatre with other students.” 

Sophomore Anna Rohlf, also a member of the ensemble, agreed with Zoe that the production will be "a really exciting show with a huge variety of talent!”

The music is being taken care of by Ms. Moore from West, and the pit orchestra will be directed by Mr. Lee, also from West. The show will be performed at Nauset Regional Middle School on November 14th, 15th, and 16th. Be sure to make the trip over and watch your talented Sturgis students light up the stage!

Sturgis East Girls Beat West, Lose to Nantucket

By Jacob Tobey, sports reporter

It’s that time of year again, and the Sturgis Storm girls’ varsity soccer team is back on the pitch and ready to begin the soccer season. After a disappointing loss last year in the first round of the Division 3 South State Tournament game, the girls look to have another impressive season. Senior Captains Brittany Gayton and Kaleigh Fallon hope to bring great leadership to the team and to build chemistry with all the young talent.

Gayton commented about how she wants to lead the team in her final soccer season at Sturgis:

“Both Kaleigh and I hope to just pull the team together and push them in the right direction. We both want the same thing (states) and we know that in order to achieve that, we have to lead by example and play hard during every practice and game.”

Sturgis played its first game on Wednesday, September 4th against rival Sturgis West at Old Townhouse Field in Yarmouth, the team’s home field. The East girls won the match 2-0, as Gayton scored the team’s first goal of the season with a shot to the top left of the net, assisted by her co-captain Kaleigh Fallon. Senior April Schaefer scored the second goal for the Storm in the second half of the game, juking the goalie with a couple of moves and finishing on a wide open net to lengthen the Storm’s lead. Gayton assisted on Schaefer’s goal to improve upon an already productive offensive day. Sturgis East’s defense, anchored by junior Rowen McEnaney also put on a stellar performance, not allowing the ball to be deep in their defensive zone. Rowen Mcenaney had a very good game as she played solid defense.  

The girls next traveled to Nantucket on Monday the 9th  for what always is a very tough game to play. The Storm’s defense was not as it was in the season opener against West, as they let up 6 goals en route to a 6-0 loss.  The offense for Sturgis was shut down by a very skilled and intimidating Nantucket defense. Gayton, on the boat ride home from the island, voiced that it was a “disappointing game.” For historical reference, Sturgis East, between both soccer programs, has never beaten Nantucket, although both squads have tied the Whalers in previous years. Sophomore Tess Puopolo had an impressive game against Nantucket as she held the midfield position, while Sarah Clifford did well in goal against one of the top offenses in Division 3.

Senior Captain Kaleigh Fallon talked about her objectives for her final season at Sturgis, “A few goals for the season are to obviously make it to states but to also make sure the upcoming lower classmen are ready to take the role of the seniors next year because more than 8 of us on the varsity team are seniors this year. But overall I'm looking forward to a really great season and I think we have what it takes to make it to states again!”

Overall, the first week brought a solid start to what hopefully will be an entertaining and competitive season for the Sturgis East girls.