A Sturgis Alum Out in Africa

Mathew Chamberlain, a 2009 Sturgis Graduate and current Senior at Northeastern University

By Anna Campbell, staff reporter

Here at Sturgis, we constantly hear from teachers and other authority figures that the school, and the I.B. will help us in life; and not only through college, but preparing us for any difficult achievements. Most of us have probably wondered at some point after pulling an all-nighter to write an essay or enviously watching students at other schools glide through easy classes with straight As, where is the proof?

  So finally we found a case study: Mathew Chamberlain, an alum just completed his scientist on a research trip in Africa. He began his sojourn in the first weeks of early September, 2011, and unexpectedly returned in the last week of October. Mat is a fourth-year physics major at Northeastern, and before your eyes glaze over at the mere mention of physics, he has been doing some pretty fascinating research. After graduating Sturgis and attending Northeastern, Mat has traveled to Zambia and Botswana, Africa, with a co-op from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) to detect naturally occurring electromagnetic fields in the Earth’s surface. Electromagnetic fields are physical fields produced by moving electrically charged objects. They are one of the four fundamental forces of nature; their importance to science is something Chamberlain has been studying. Chamberlain got together with WHOI after his co-op advisor at Northeastern’s job database sent his resume to WHOI. “We connect because we have a passion for science and we want to do field work,” Chamberlain said of his relationship with the WHOI scientists.

Sturgis Freshman Raises $12,000 for Cancer Research

By Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

Matthew Cappucci

If you earned $12,000 while manning a lemonade stand for the summer, what would you do with the money? Massachusetts teen Matthew Cappucci used his $12,000 earnings to help find a cure for cancer. 

Since 2006, Matthew has volunteered for the nationwide organization Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer, which was founded by a young girl with cancer.  In his interview with kid reporter Kevin Agostinelli, Matthew shared one personal story as to why he became so devoted to his service for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

“After I went door to door fundraising for the lemonade stand, I decided to stop into a local pizza shop to see if they could donate a raffle prize,” Matthew explained, “I met the manager; but as soon as I mentioned the word 'cancer', she began crying. She explained how her 2-year-old grandson had just been diagnosed with cancer.”

Sign Up for the Holiday Elf Extravaganza!

by Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

Yes, there will be elves in school next month.

Need a way to get into the spirit of this holiday season? The student council is introducing the Holiday Elf Extravaganza, an event centered around gift-giving where you are the elves!

During the week of November 28 to December 2, simply go to Mrs. Yalden’s room, Room 109, to fill out a ticket, which will be used to randomly choose who your “elf” will be. While you are giving gifts to your secret elf, you are also receiving them!

On December 5, the Monday after the end of the event sign-ups, students will know to whom they are giving presents. No one will be allowed to trade students. The most important rule in the event is that each elf must give approximately $20 of appropriate gifts to their student. Please make sure that your presents are different and that your presents match what the student said that he or she likes.

Seniors Cruising to Boston Prior to Graduation

The Seniors will Enjoy a Dinner Cruise on the Spirit of Boston

Key Points

• The Senior Trip is May 31, 2012, three days prior to graduation
• Explore Faneuil Hall, New England Aquarium & IMAX, and a dinner cruise
• Cost of Trip: $130
• Initial Deposit of $50 to reserve spot due Monday, Nov. 28
• Give check to: Veronica Henger, Jessica Pearson, Kaitlin Doherty, Sebastian Rowell, or Mrs. Hyer

By Kaitlin Doherty, contributing writer

The Senior Trip Planning Committee has reached a decision. The Seniors will be taking a bus to Faneuil Hall in the morning for shopping and lunch. Then we will venture off to a new world at New England Aquarium and see a captivating IMAX presentation. To conclude the day there will be a dinner cruise on the Spirit of Boston with a sunset backdrop. It will be beautiful.  What a great way to end the senior year. All of our hard work will be done with and we can have a fun and relaxing day. Remember the date, May 31, 2012, just a couple of days before graduation.

I do not know about everyone else, but I am very excited for this trip. As you walk down Faneuil Hall you may be overwhelmed by all that it has to offer. There are fourteen different restaurants and thirty-five different food stalls for all food lovers out there. You can try numerous delicacies from all sorts of cultures. Don’t feel like eating while you are there? Well you can walk outside to explore all different kinds of entertainment that is bound to catch your attention. Starting from clowns and magicians to mimes and acrobats. There is so much to explore at Faneuil Hall, and you will not leave without a smile on your face. However, the smiling will not stop there because the New England Aquarium and IMAX theater is just around the corner.

Students Give Back During Holidays

An advisory's Turkey Basket for one family in need this Thanksgiving.              Photo by Hannah Driscoll.

 

By Meghan Agostinelli, staff reporter

As the holiday season approaches, many organizations whether religious or secular help the less fortunate in the Cape Cod area. Through Dress A Live Doll and Thanksgiving Baskets, Sturgis students and faculty too are giving back to their community.
Mrs. Botsford said, “I’ve always wanted to organize a charity drive here at Sturgis.” And now she is: Botsford is leading Sturgis advisories in the Dress A Live Doll campaign, and Sturgis involvement in this campaign has been tremendous. Out of twenty advisories at Sturgis East, fifteen are participating in Dress A Live Doll.

Admin. Nukes Additional Microwaves Possibility

OPINION || By Alicia Pollard, staff writer

Senior Matt Kolton heats up his lunch this week before the lunch rush started.

In light of Sturgis’ open lunch policy, the school has provided four microwaves for students who bring lunch from home. However, the number of microwaves and their working conditions leave many students stuck waiting in a long line or eating lunch cold.

“The ratio of students to microwaves...it’s not even possible,” said Anna Campbell, a junior at East.

The ratio of four microwaves to 400 students (not counting those who buy) already felt insufficient, but with two of the microwaves not working in September for a bit, the wait grew that much longer.

Sturgis is Tops with its 2011 MCAS Results

Sturgis is No. 1 in English; No. 5 in Math; and No. 11 in Science

By Meghan Agostinelli, staff reporter

For anyone who doubts the accuracy of the Washington Post’s ranking of top high schools in the country by ranking Sturgis Charter Public School East’s placement as No. 42 on the list, the 2011 MCAS results cemented proof of the quality of the education received at Sturgis. 
“I just think we really deserved this, said Junior Olivia Sequin who sat for the statewide exam last year as a sophomore. “The MCAS results show that we can succeed in the I.B.”

Spirit Week - Costume Day

Spirit Week Continues! Thursday is Costume Day

Photographs by Sara Prygocki, staff photographer

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Sophomores

Sophomores

Mrs. Hyer, master chef, found the perfect potato!

Rrrrrrr........Seniors Joe Brunco, Krystal Cappola, and Cleo Hamptom

Senior Sarah McEwen, junior Haley Johnson and senior Justin Pannell, who is such a joker.

Don't bug Mrs. Watts because she is the state's official insect.

Mr. Hyer's D block HL history class

Sophomores

Decade Day Rocks Sturgis Spirit Week: Day 3

Spirit Week: Decades Day!

All Photos By Hannah Driscoll Staff Photographer

Freshman: 1950's.

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 Seniors: 1980's.

Sophomores:1970's

Theatre Teacher Directs Final Play for East

By Sara Prygocki, staff reporter

Appropriately Mrs. Anna Botsford dressed as a Super Theatre Teacher during Tuesday's Superhero and Super villain theme day

Photo by Hannah Driscoll, staff photographer

 As most of the school knows, our hard-working theatre and English teacher Mrs. Anna Botsford is dividing her time between Sturgis West and Sturgis East. Following this year she will be working permanently at Sturgis West.

One of her many jobs is being the theatre director for Sturgis Theatre Arts Guild of Entertainers (STAGE), which puts on the school plays outside of the academic theater classes. This job will be passed on to the new English and Theatre teacher Mrs. Rachel Ollagnon following the fall play.

Botsford plans to make her last play here a good one with the popular comedy “Rumors,” authored by Neil Simon. It takes place in New York City: Four couples get caught in the middle of a gunshot mystery, and hilarity ensues. The play opens in December.

Spirit Week Starts Monday!

By Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

Starting Monday, October 24 and concluding October 28, Sturgis is celebrating School Spirit Week! Each day features an exciting theme that gives students a chance to show off their school spirit. Remember that a lack of involvement during these five theme days results in fewer points for the respective class.


Here is the list of each theme day:


Monday, Oct. 24 - This day is Twin or Zombie Day. No extra points will be given for “twin zombies,” so choose to dress up as either a twin or a zombie. Remember that masks or other items that cover one’s face are prohibited.


Tuesday, Oct. 25 - On Super Heroes vs. Super Villains Day, students can dress as famous super heroes or infamous super villains. Be creative!


Wednesday, Oct. 26 - On Decades Day, each class will wear clothing that fits their decade. Talk to your class representatives to see which decade your grade has!


Thursday, Oct. 27 - On Costume Day, students can simply dress as anything they please, but remember that masks are not allowed to cover faces.


Friday, Oct. 28 - The final day of Spirit Week is Class Colors Day. The colors for each grade are as follows: seniors dress in blue, juniors dress in green, sophomores dress in red, freshmen dress in yellow, and teachers dress in purple. During this day, several games will be held between the grades, such as the tug-of-war match.

Auditions for the School Play

By Sara Prygocki, staff reporter

Auditions for the school play, "Rumors" by Neil Simon, had a very successful turnout. For a cast of eleven, nearly thirty confident students showed up for the event. After the greeting, she chose excerpts of the script and divvied the roles between the actors.

Following the usual routine, the hopefuls assembled into a theatre circle while the stage director Mrs. Botsford gave a short summary of each of the characters, and an overall gloss over of the play.

Although there were some ‘old faces’ in regards to theatre auditioning, incoming freshman and once-shy upperclassmen decided to participate.

Hold it! Boys Bathroom Vandalized Again

Hold It! Boys Bathroom Vandalized Again with Graffiti 

By Ben Bressette, staff reporter

Photo by Hannah Driscoll, staff photographer

Picture this, you’re in science class, or music class, and you really have to use the second-floor bathroom. Well, girls, you’re all set. But guys, that’s a different story.

The door just used to be locked with no sign. But now there is a sign that says: “Closed for repairs.”

But what repairs? The bathroom was recently vandalized with graffiti. They originally closed it at the beginning of the year and painted over the damage, and re-opened it hoping that it would teach the lesson. But, it didn’t. It increased in the past week and a half and it remains closed while they do a full re-vamp of the space by placing mud over the damaged area, leveling it, and then repainting. It has been re-opened this week.

Mandalas Quilt to be Presented at C.A.S. Night

By Sophia Mitrokostas and Madeline Arnault

A Generation In Mandalas

Photo by Hannah Driscoll, staff photographer

The newest piece of art to grace the walls of the SCPS Reference room has arrived. There is now a large quilt comprised of mandalas drawn by the class of 2012. These mandalas have been screened onto fabric by The Graphic Jam of Wellfleet and quilted into a colorful block of Sturgis pride. The designs range from abstract to dinosaurs to stars and hearts. Of course the quilt would not hang in the Reference room now if it weren't for the generous grant from SPA who paid for the quilt to be framed, and of course, a large thank you goes out to Marjon Framing, Hyannis who was actually able to frame our undertaking. Both businesses have been very supportive of Sturgis activities and we are grateful for their expertise and help.

Creating this quilt was a CAS project for Madeline Arnault and Sophia Mitrokostas. We would like to give a shout out to Diane Klaiber who was our tireless advisor and from whom the idea for the quilt originated. The Mandala Quilt will be officially presented on April 12th at the Senior CAS Night.

Students Form Fundraiser to Support Japan

On March 14 Sturgis students formed “Cranes for a Cause” to help support Japan’s relief efforts as its people recover and rebuild from last week’s devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Ten students met at lunch on Monday, March 14 and began "Cranes for a Cause" to help support the earthquake relief efforts in Japan.

The students met during lunch on Monday and quickly decided on a fundraiser based on the ancient Japanese legend that maintains that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish or the ability to recover from accident or injury.  The students decided that they will fold a 1,000 paper cranes, which will be displayed in the school’s front window.

Junior IB Theatre Class Presents Two One-Act Plays

Junior IB Theatre Class Presents Two One-Act Plays

All photographs by Hannah Driscoll, staff photographer

A scene from "Frostbite." Juniors Amanda Rose as Kira, Anna Lieberman as Shiela, and Kai Smith as the Kid.

The Junior IB Theatre class presents an evening of one-acts. This will include two one-act plays "Frostbite" and "Detective Sketches" as well as some delicious desserts in between. Admission is $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults. The show will take place on March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Cape Cod Cultural Center in Yarmouth.  This is a one night only engagement and seating is limited so get there early. Contact Marsha Yalden at myalden@sturgischarterschool.org with any questions.

Plot Synopses for Detective Sketches and Frostbite

By Connor Read, staff reporter

Frostbite by Lisa D’Amour is a drama based on old Asian theatre methods with a modern twist. Matt and Kira, a committed teenage couple, decide to go down to the clearing with Kira’s friend, Sheila. Matt would much rather enjoy his time alone with his girlfriend, but Kira invites Sheila as a sympathetic gesture. Sheila’s been known to have depression. However, a strange “kid” finds them at the clearing and may just hold a few interesting secrets that affect the future of these typical teenagers.

Student Council Elections to be Held in May

By Meghan Agostinelli, staff reporter

It’s a year of firsts for Sturgis: a new school, the first girls’ field hockey win in school history, and the first time Student Council elections will be held in May.

From the founding of Sturgis’s Council to the 2010-2011 elections, officers and representatives were elected at the start of the school year. However, Student Council moderator Mrs. Yalden notes that, “In the past, elections took up the whole month of September, and we had no plan to prepare for Spirit Week properly and any other early events.”