November 2012 1

By Seth Culp-Ressler ’13

Conestoga Valley School District once again leads the county in academic

growth according to the annual Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS). The scores, which not only lead the county but the state as well, reflect student growth much more accurately than the results from the PSSA tests. For the second consecutive year, CV not only led the state’s “Average Growth Index” for the county, but also placed second statewide for math, and eleventh statewide for reading. This is very different than the recently released PSSA scores, in which CV failed to meet the rapidly intensifying federally mandated AYP (adequate yearly progress) requirements. “In many ways, PVAAS is a more important metric for us than static PSSA scores and AYP results,” said CV superintendent Gerald Huesken in a recent press release. “My

By Brandon Lê ’14

Lunchtime tastes a little d i fferent th is year. Changes, accompanied

with controversy, were made to the nutritional program as several items were changed and/or removed from the va r i o u s l u n ch c o m b o s. These changes affect the entire nation, not just CV. First Lady Michelle Obama has spearheaded a nationwide effort to reduce childhood o b e s i t y w h i c h c e n t e r s around providing healthier food in schools, better food labeling, and more physical activity for children with the Let’s Move! campaign. President Barack Obama

also participated, establishing the Task Force on Childhood Obesity on the same date, developing a plan to reduce childhood obesity. Five goals were established, supported by 70 specific recommendations that schools now have to follow as part of the National School Lunch Prog ram. The 70 recommendations include points such as updating federal nutritional standards, reducing the amount of sodium and fats in school meals, and increasing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)

biggest criticism of No Child Left Behind is that it takes a one-size-fits-all approach to student achievement and school accountability. PVAAS more accurately measures the impact our teachers have on indiv idua l s tudents.” PVAAS is a set of data with which to analyze a schools progress, and unlike using PSSA tests to measure student ability at one point during his or her junior year, PVAAS uses multiple test scores to track student growth over time. That data is used to make projections for how students should be performing, which is then compared to the student’s actual performance. This enables students to be measured by their individual growth from a certain point, not their ability to achieve one uniform mark. That measurement is known as the Average Growth Index, or AGI, which compares students’ progress to state standards,

which are represented by an AGI value of zero. Thus, the more a school’s AGI exceeds zero, the more said school’s students are achieving above average growth. In 2012, CV’s math AGI was 20.1, only trailing the number one school in the state by 0.4, and CV’s reading AGI was 8.3. These scores are in high contrast to the recently released PSSA and AYP scores, in which only one Lancaster County high school, Lampeter-Strasburg, achieved the requirements. This seems to be an increasing trend, as PSSA regulations are becoming increasingly stringent as each year passes—so much in fact, that by 2014, schools must achieve 100% proficiency in order to make the requirements. That said, CV’s PSSA scores were the highest in school history last year, with reading proficiency rates at 80%, versus 70% just two years

Hard Facts by Hondares: The Arab Spring 2

Quick Tips:Stress Relief 3

Movie Review:The Perks of Being a Wallflower 4

Secret Lives of Teachers: Pastor Perkowski 5

New Faces 6

Athlete of the Issue:Sarah Krause 8

November 2012Lancaster, PA Volume 14, Issue 2

Valley VoiceTHE

CONESTOGA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Trait of the Month: Courtesy ”Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.” —Jacques Maritain

In this Issue . . .

Please see LUNCH, page 5

SAT Scores Strong

District Ranks Highest in County for Academic Growth

Students Face New Lunch Regulations, Choices

Please see PVAAS, page 5

The CVHS band room has a new name in memory of Karin Kysilka Kincaid, class of 1991. A $10,000 contribution to the Buckskin Boosters’ “Sound Mind, Sound Body, Sound Future” capital campaign was donated to the school in a ceremony involving family and friends on November 3. The Buckskin Boosters capital campaign has now raised more than $75,000 for a proposed $3.4 million renovation of the CVHS stadium complex.

$10,000 Donation

As state and nationwide ave r ag e s dec l i n e , 2012 CV SAT scores have risen impressively compared to 2011.The 2012 nationwide average SAT score was 1,498, two points down from 2011.The state average score was 1,472 points, one point down from the previous year. Lancaster County as a whole went up four points with a 2012 score of 1,487. Conestoga Valley High School shines with a remarkable thirty-eight point increase from 2011!

Photo Credit: Haley Vandewall ’16Fruits and vegetables fill the plates in the lunchroom.

2 November 2012

Ther e ex i s t i n o u r culture certain phrases that are universally

hated, perhaps the most important phrase of such a sort is: “I told you so.” Not only is “I told you so” a phrase that should be hated by the recipient of the phrase itself, it should be hated by the person who utters the words. When people take time to consider the implications of “I told you so,” they rea l i ze tha t in order to use the phrase, something mus t have g one wrong. O n l y o n e p h r a s e , however, comes to mind when thinking on the current turmoil in the Middle East. You guessed cor rectly: “ I t o l d y o u s o . ” How could the American people have been so naïve so as to assume that the revolutions of the “Arab S p r i n g ” we r e g o i n g t o result in everlasting peace? How could the people h a v e o v e r l o o k e d s u c h c l e a r i n t e l l i g e n c e t h a t sug gested the oppos i te? How could it not have been evident that, as this editorialist continually suggested, the Muslim Brotherhood was the group leading the charge against for mer Eg ypt ian President Hosni Mubarak? How could the American people not realize that the M u s l i m B r o t h e r h o o d ’s P r e s i d e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e subsequently won with 51.7% of the vote in the Egyptian election? Does such a number not reveal the Arab Spring to be what syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer calls an “Islamist ascendancy?” The fact of the matter is that few supporters of the “Arab Spring” did their homework, s o t h e y i g n o r e d s o m e vital information. They ignored the fact that the Musl im Brotherhood is a radical Islamist group. They ignored furthermore the fact that the Brotherhood h a t e s A m e r i c a n s , t h e Constitution, Christianity, and women’s rights. The Muslim Brotherhood

is no peace-seeking group. Its members are no allies. B e y o n d t h e s h a d o w o f a d o u b t , s t e a d f a s t proponents of the “Arab Spring” wi l l cont inue to s tand behind protesters. They will suggest that this editorialist is stereotyping a n d a s s e r t i n g t h a t a l l Musl ims hate Americans and Christians and women. Such is not at all the case. The suggestion here is not that Muslims are bad people; i t i s that those Musl ims a l igned with the Musl im Brotherhood do not share our values, nor do they wish to. The sug gest ion , more importantly, is that many (if not most) members of the Brotherhood seek to destroy the freedoms of others, thereby disassembling some of the most important pi l lars of the democracy which we have attempted in vain to spread overseas. A spokesman for the Brotherhood, Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed Habib, suggests that the g roup suppor ts “ d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s . ” W h e n y o u r g r o u p ’s first goal is to implement Shari`ah Law, you are not promoting democratic values. W h e n y o u r g r o u p ca l l s for bas ic r ights of women to be cur t a i l ed , you a r e no t p romot ing democratic values. W h e n y o u r g r o u p calls for adulterers to be stoned to death (without a fa ir tr ia l ) , you are not promoting democratic values. The attacks on Americans that began on September 1 1 t h a t o u r L i b y a n embassy, are attacks that we invited by supporting the Arab Spring and the rebels participating therein. There is nothing wrong w i t h t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o l iberate themselves from g overnment oppress ion . Every human being deserves f reedom; my oppos i t ion lies not in their attempts to gain that freedom. Rather, it lies in my understanding o f t h e i r i n t e n t i o n s .

I c a n n o t o p p o s e t h e c o n c e p t o f l i b e r a t i o n . I c a n o n l y o p p o s e the ac t ions that wi l l be t aken w i th tha t l i be r t y. It was clear in the midst of the Arab revolutions that the cause was not one that the United States should h a ve b e e n s u p p o r t i n g. I warned those in support of the movements that we should never have intervened; especially not to the extent that President Obama entangled our nation in the Libyan revolts. However, I was greatly outnumbered by naïve idealists believing in the decency of the human race, believing that these rebels only had the most positive and noble of intentions. This editorialist has always believed that, in general , “decency” and “human beings” do not belong in the same sentence, unless the sentence i s “human beings have no decency.” No propaganda regarding the Arab Spring could change my mind; none could encourage me to support the movement because I realized that these rebels were no proponents of democracy, that they were fighting for something very un-American, something that contradicted the most basic of American values. I r e a l i z ed tha t t he s e rebels were fighting not for freedom, but for the freedom to oppress, the freedom to retaliate against American interference in the Middle East. I issued a warning, but it seemed that no one listened, or at least not until now. Now, my fears do not seem quite so unjustified or irrational. Now is the t ime when I s ay, “ I to ld you so.”

The Arab Spring: Told You So

2012-13

Advisor: Melanie UptonEditor-in-Chief: Seth Culp-ResslerAssistant-Editor-in-Chief: Brandon LêCommentary Editor: Damian HondaresFeatures/A&E Editor: Kendyl LandisSports Editor: Open Photo/Graphics Editor: Corinne Haines

The Valley Voice is student-written and published. The opinions expressed in the paper are those of the authors and not the newspaper or the Conestoga Valley School District.

Winner of Best Newspaper Overall, Division 3 in the Sunday News Student

Press Awards 2005-06

Apathy Not an OptionBy Tiffany Dimm ’16

With the recent attacks on the Un i t ed States embassies, the

American presidential election, and growing attacks abroad orchestrated by Al Qaeda and the Taliban, it is clear that our leaders have reached a critical point in the history of modern civilization. More importantly, it is clear that we, their constituents, have reached that same point, and we have a key role to play. These are world-shaping events, and we cannot ignore them. Now is not the time to be apathetic toward the events that shape our nation and our world. We are not far from adulthood. Someday the problems we hear about on CNN—“their” problems—will become our problems. We cannot wait for everyone else to take care of us. We must stand up and take responsibility and make a change. Free speech is not only a right; it is a responsibility, and not just for our leaders, for all of us. Perhaps we are not so bold so as to stand before crowds to speak; we no longer need to. We live in the digital age, enabled by social media to spread ideas across the globe in a matter of minutes. We live in an age in which it is easier than ever to donate to an organization or a cause that we believe in. Change is that simple. Someday we will inherit the earth, along with all its unresolved problems left by previous generations. Those problems will not go away. We may not have caused those problems, but we nevertheless have an obligation to develop the solutions. We will someday be the shapers of events; we will someday turn the course of history. It is our duty, and apathy is not an option.

A fourteen-year-old girl in Pakistan was recently shot and injured by the Taliban after leaving school. Why? She was shot because she had the courage to speak out and voice her displeasure with the Taliban and their actions. She knew she was endangering herself, and she was indeed hurt, but she took a chance, because she had to. It was her duty. We live in the United States; our freedom of speech and expression is protected by the First Amendment; so if that young Pakistani girl can speak out, why can’t we? Are we an apathetic generation? Do we simply not care about the events transpiring in our nation and the world around us? I recently spoke with several friends regarding political and global events, and it became clear that while there are some students who genuinely care about the issues, too many students believe that they can wait until later in life to pay attention to the events unfolding around us. The time to start caring is now, not later. Many of us cannot vote or even drive, but that does not prevent us from making a difference.Change starts at home. Instead of spending hours doing nothing on Facebook, why not tune into the news? While running through the playlist on your iPod, research a prominent nation or charitable organization. Learn about the issues, think about those issues, and care about those issues. We all have issues that we feel passionately about, and it is time that we take a stand to make our voices heard. We c a n n o t b e c o m e an apathetic generation. We may be young, but we can still make a difference.

Staff: Mykayla Suess, Rachel Ashmore, Rachel Truitt, Brittany Brenner, Tiffany Dimm, Kaylin Garcia, Mai Le, Cheyenne Norton, Morgan Poorman, Haley Vandewall

November 2012 3

By Rachel Truitt ’14

Homecoming season—the most anticipated time at CV! This year, the

audience was captivated by Student and Teacher relays, recognized sports teams, and the entrance of the court and their escorts. Cheers filled the stands as everyone waited for the always-hilarious escort dance. The guys, or shall I say girls, walked out in very small workout clothes. Their shirts were stuffed with large balloons, which awkwardly fell out while they were dancing. The word “Barbie” was written across their chests, accompanied with platinum blond wigs. The entire dance was shocking, but entertaining. In the last few years, the escort dance has not captured the audience’s attention like this year’s show. Every year, students look forward to the dance, due to the fact that it

By Tiffany Dimm ’16

On Friday, October 5th, the high school held a pep rally to precede

the upcoming homecoming. Students streamed into the Rill Gymnasium to see what the student council had prepared for them. After the recognition of the sports players, an amusing game involving shoes, and the official introduction of the homecoming court and escorts, this lighthearted pep rally took a different turn. Something . . . more objectionable. The handsome escorts arrived on the floor of the gymnasium dressed in workout clothes apparently belonging to Barbie. The names of the ladies they were escorting were written on the seats of the bright pink workout shorts. But that was not the real problem. The problem was the ostentatious figure the boys had acquired. Large balloons which served as breasts were clearly visible underneath the collars and sides of the workout shirts. Although they were obviously not real, they were disturbing and sent the wrong

An Indecorous Pep Rally

Barbie Takes the Stage

message to the student population. Although i t might be humorous to some, this display was offensive to others. Pep rallies should be events that all students should enjoy, and they should not in any way make anyone feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. This is school, not the boardwalk. Private body parts are not things for display or jests—they are called private for a reason. The school needs to make a change to provide the students with clean, appropriate entertainment. Make wise decisions, they say. That’s entirely correct. But then the school openly displays women’s bodies—on men—in an entirely unacceptable fashion. There is some hypocrisy in placing upon us a stiff dress code—and then putting on such a display before the entire school. This writer would like to make this request to the authorities of CVHS please provide us with clean entertainment we can all enjoy. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

is disconnected from what is going on in the building. Students worked on the dance to benefit their peers, and in return gained school spirit. For those who found it offensive, the author of the article saw it this way; Barbie is a fictional doll, who most people criticize for being super skinny. I f t h e e s c o r t s we r e acting as real people, that would indeed be offensive. The guys did not actually resemble girls; their buff legs and arms were sticking out! Administration censoring the dances would upset many students. The homecoming pep rally is owned by the students, and is intended for them. Administration controls practically every aspect of the school, as they should, but the student body always looks forward to the escorts’ creation; that is solely their own.

Dolls or Duds? Two students sound off on the appropriateness of Barbie boys

Homecoming escorts perform for the student body.

By Mai Lê ’16

Th e f i r s t m a r k i n g period has ended, and students have settled

into their new routines. However, with that difficult test, upcoming game, and time draining holiday schedule, that routine can be demanding. Here are some quick tips to make this next marking period a little less…stressful. Quick Tip #1 – Do not procrastinate! Get organized! When students procrastinate they end up having to do all of the work in a short amount of time. So, do not cram all that stuff into one day! Then organize your work. According to blog post by wellness coach Elizabeth Scott, M.S., “It’s a fact that clutter causes stress, and can decrease productivity.”

Freshman Mai Le feels the pressure of the workload at the high school.Photo Credit: Brittany Brenner ’16

So, plan your time wisely using an agenda or app, and clean out those busting at the seams binders! Quick Tip #2 – Relax! Take a hot bath or shower. A hot bath or shower will help to loosen up those tense muscles! When no tub is available, try Progressive Muscle R e l a x a t i o n , o r P M R . “This technique involves tensing and relaxing all muscles until the body is completely relaxed. With practice, you can learn to release stress from your body in seconds,” explained Scott. A q u i c k Y o u T u b e search for tutorials will help you master the technique. Quick Tip #3 – Set a timer for ten minutes and take a break to goof off. When the work is piled

up and seeming overwhelming, take a short break to stop thinking about those hard problems and recharge your brain. Watch a funny video, dance to some music, or do whatever works for you. Just don’t use it as a chance to procrastinate! Quick Tip #4 – Exercise. Now, not every person out there is physically inclined; however, exercise is good for both physical and mental health. It releases endorphins, the “happy, feel-good” hormones that can release pent-up frustration and anger. Exercise helps to decrease stress hormones! These tips can really help take that stress off of your shoulders. Try them out! You will end up feeling relaxed and ready to tackle your problems head on!

The Way Our Elections WorkBy Tiffany Dimm ’16

Earlier this month, social studies teacher David Helms held

a mock election to predict the outcome of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. We practiced the democratic process and voted for those candidates we believed should win. It was just like a real election, right? Well, a little less than two hundred fifty years ago, a bunch of musty old men we call the Founding Fathers were in the process of setting down the laws that would govern the new United States. At that time, a government chosen by the people was outlandish. Furthermore, the United States was on the verge of collapse as states quarreled amongst themselves and America and her people were suffering the repercussions of a war with a nation which at the time was the world’s most powerful. The fellows at the Constitutional Convention bickered as they were writing a document that would hopefully serve a growing nation for generations to come. But the whole world watched with amused sneers and waited for the fractured union to fall apart.

It was going to take a lot to prove them wrong. The Constitution was written, but that was not the end. It needed to be ratified, and some states just did not want to cooperate. For the fragile union, it did not look good. The nation was divided between Federalists, people in favor of the new Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, those opposed (and, by the way, it was thanks to their arguments that we have our Bill of Rights). The Anti-Federalists had many complaints, one such was that the United States was too big of a nation for a democracy. In a democracy, one person equals one vote. The country is too large for each person to travel to the nation’s capital to vote. The solution was republicanism rather than democracy. Contrary to popular belief, America is a republic, not a democracy. Democracy has become synonymous with political liberty, but it is not our form of government, though we are blessed with political liberty. Today, electoral college defines the election, which is swayed by the individual vote majority. Contrary to popular belief, on the “election

day” of November, we are voting for the electors who will vote for president, not for the president himself. Those electors then, hopefully, vote for the candidate they pledged to vote for on the real election day, the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Unfortunately, Americans do not have the right to vote for our president. (That’s probably why Canada has a higher Democracy Index score than we do!) We do, however, have an impact on who becomes president. In many states it is illegal for an elector to vote for a candidate other than the one he has pledged to vote for, and when an elector does go back on his word, it rarely has an effect on the election results. Popular vote still wins—most of the time., but electoral college makes it possible for a candidate who did not win the majority of individual votes to win the election. So, think back to election day. Did your parents vote? They took part in the elective process—the process of our free and mostly equal republic. Oh, by the way, happy election month. And may the electoral college be ever in your favor.

Photo Credit: Haley Vandewall ’16

Stop the StressesQuick Tips

4 November 2012

By Becky Yerak, Chicago Tribune (MCT)

CH I C A G O — M o v e o v e r , m o r t g a g e s . Get out of the way,

Greece. Another economic doomsday scenario is emerging. Student loan debt has reached about $870 billion, exceeding credit cards and auto loans, and balances are expected to continue climbing, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said last month. In February, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys referred to a “student loan ‘debt bomb’” and wondered if it was shaping up to become “America’s next mortgage-style economic crisis.” Such a burden could crimp an already weak economy. “Student debt poses a large and growing threat to the stability of our economy,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan testified March 20 before a U.S. Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing in Washington on the looming student debt crisis. “Just as the housing crisis has trapped millions of borrowers in mortgages that are underwater, student debt could very well prevent millions of Americans from fully participating in the economy or ever achieving financial security,” Madigan said. In January, Madigan’s office sued for-profit Westwood College, claiming it misleads students enrolled in its criminal justice program, puts them deep in debt and awards a nearly worthless degree. She told the Senate last month that since filing the suit, 1,000 former and current Westwood students have come forward to complain about their experiences. A spokesman for Westwood said last week that a motion to dismiss the case is pending. The hearing was convened by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is pushing legislation, the Fairness for Struggling Students Act, which would allow students who borrowed from private lenders for their education to wipe out that debt in bankruptcy proceedings, just as credit card borrowers and many other unsecured debtors may do. In 2005, Congress changed bankruptcy laws and made private student loan debts nondischargeable in bankruptcy, with few exceptions. “It’s clear that too many students have been steered into loans that they will not be able to repay and that they will never be able to escape,” Durbin said. Private student loans often carry higher and variable interest rates and fewer consumer protections than government loans, which are more likely to offer interest rate caps, loan limits, income-based repayment plans and forbearance in times of economic hardship. “While the overall growth in student indebtedness is troubling, the most pressing concern is private student loans,” Durbin

Student Loan Debt Seen as Growing Threat to the Economy

said. “Private student loans are a riskier way to pay for an education than federal loans.” Under Durbin’s legislation, s tudent s wou ld r ema in responsible for repaying g o v e r n m e n t - i s s u e d o r guaranteed student loans and would be unable to discharge those in bankruptcy. Current bankruptcy law treats financially distressed students the same way as people trying to wiggle out of child-support debts, alimony, overdue taxes and criminal fines, Deanne Loonin, lawyer for the National Consumer Law Center, said at the hearing. Danielle Jokela, 32, who lives in Chicago, testified that having the option to clear away student debt in bankruptcy would give borrowers a chip to negotiate with lenders. Currently, she said, there is no incentive for lenders to work with financially strapped borrowers. Jokela said she does feel she bears some responsibility for her student debt of $98,000. “I don’t want someone to wipe my debt clean, but I just want my lender to be reasonable and work with me,” she said in an interview. Others argue against allowing student borrowers to discharge their private loan obligations in bankruptcy court. For one thing, if lenders knew borrowers could escape repayment through bankruptcy, they might raise interest rates to account for that risk and lend to fewer people. It would “result in a dramatic

increase in the cost of student loans for all borrowers, ultimately drying up the availability of such loans for those who need them most,” testified Marcus Cole, a Stanford University law professor. He called it an “unjust transfer from innocent lenders who did nothing more than give money to people in hopes of being repaid someday.” It could also encourage students to be careless about the debt they take on, said Neal McCluskey, associate director for the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom. “Students might be more apt to take such loans if they think that they will be able to unload their debt without repaying it,” he said. But student lender Sallie Mae supports reform that would allow federal and private student loans to be dischargeable in bankruptcy for those who have made a good faith effort to repay their loans over a five-to-seven-year period and still experience financial difficulty, agency spokeswoman Martha Holler said. Holler acknowledged that the economy poses a significant challenge for many of its student borrowers but said only 3.5 percent of Sallie Mae’s private loans are in default, a percentage that has declined six quarters in a row. Sallie Mae has a portfolio of private loans of about $36 billion. (c)2012 the Chicago TribuneVisit the Chicago Tribune at www.ch icag otr ibune.comD i s t r i b u t e d b y M C T I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e s

By Rachel Truitt ’14

If you think being in high school is hard, try being in Charlie’s shoes for a day!

ThePerksof BeingaWallflower, released on September 21, 2012, is a movie based on Stephen Chbosky’s novel published on February 1, 1999. Chbosky directed, wrote the screenplay, and previously wrote for several unproduced films. Charlie, the main character is a lot like Holden Caulfield, from The Catcher in the Rye. Both protagonists are troubled due to their traumatic experiences dealing with death and abuse and try to bury their issues but are unsuccessful. Like Holden, Charlie is an outcast. The story takes place in the suburbs of Pittsburgh during the early 1990s, when Charlie is a high school freshman. As the story begins, he is shy and unpopular. His English teacher tries to encourage him by saying, “You know they say, if you make one friend on your first day you are doing okay.” To which Charlie responds, “If my English teacher is the only friend I make today, that would be sort of depressing.” Charlie, played by Logan Lerman, better known as Percy Jackson, is first seen writing a letter to an unknown friend, alluding to a troubled past, and a lonely summer. He is hoping that high school offers him a chance at a new start. During his first week he is exposed to the many awkward and horrible moments of high school: trying to find a place to sit at lunch, avoiding cheaters, and surviving upperclassman. These are tasks that he fails at entirely. The audience cannot help but pity him. As the week continues, Charlie’s year seems hopeless

There are Definite Perks to Being a Wallflower

as he painfully counted the days left of high school; that is, until he meets the flamboyant, senior step siblings, Sam and Patrick. Sam, played by Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame, is a beautiful, deep, energetic girl for whom Charlie quickly falls. Ezra Miller as Patrick, is a hilarious, gangly, adorable guy who is always having fun, and trying to forget about his problems. The siblings take him to a party, in which Charlie is exposed to “special” brownies, and he lets it slip that his best friend committed suicide. The pair accepts him into their gang, the wallflowers, when they realize he needs friends. L e r m a n e m b o d i e d Charlie perfectly, portraying a boyish and clueless face. Wa t so n c a p t u r e d h e r character’s sincerity, grace, and fragility extremely well. She has proven to be a versatile actress. Miller served as the comic relief, embodying Patrick’s hilarious personality and the desire to stop being judged for who he is. While the plot line may not be exactly realistic, most seniors would not be willing to string along a freshman as their best friend, story itself was very endearing, intense, and flawlessly acted. The music, lighting, and costume/set design faded into the background, which helped the overall message of the movie stand out. In comparison to the novel, the movie is just as well crafted, or even better. This movie is relatable to any high school student. The film is one of those coming-of–age movies, which accurately captures the teenage high school experience.

Logan Lerman and Emma Watson must cope with the pressures of high school.

November 2012 5

By Kaylin Garcia ’16

Jason Perkowski, gifted education teacher, has expanded his circle of influence from the

classroom to the congregation. “I am currently a ‘Local Lay Pastor’ meaning that I am serving in the role of a pastor, but am not licensed yet,” Perkowski explained. “So, I am not quite clergy yet. I will be a ‘licensed local pastor’ (clergy) in the next couple of months once they finish my paperwork to license me. I will eventually become an ordained pastor over the next 2-4 years once I complete seminary training.” Becoming a preacher is not a new ambition for Perkowski. “I felt called to be a preacher ever since I was young,” Perkowski remembered. “I just didn’t know what form that would take because I also had a lot of other callings on my life as well—teaching, politics, etc. I have always felt that it was my role to take care of people. I am also passionate about trying to discover what is true and to share that truth with others. For me, those are three of the roles of a pastor/preacher—caring for people, discerning truth, and teaching truth.” “In my faith tradition, to find truth we are called to use the Christian scriptures (the Bible), tradition, reason, and experience (Wesleyan Quadrilateral),” he continued. “I enjoy the richness of that blend—and enjoy sharing with others what I discover on the journey. And one other thing that I love about being a pastor is what I get to learn from others—of all different faith traditions. When I get to discuss with other people what they think of the universe and God I try to keep my mind open so that I can learn from them. I

have found it very rewarding to be part of the dialogue of trying to seek truth in all of its complexities. For me, this requires really hearing the beliefs of others so that I can wrestle with them and see if any of it rings of truth for me. If part of my understanding is flawed I would want to know. So, I have to be open to being corrected by others. By being a pastor, I have made myself accountable to that process.” The ideas and morals Perkowski has developed from becoming a pastor has transitioned easily into his school life. “There is not too much of a difference in my roles as pastor and teacher,” he continued. “I use the tools of science to discern what is happening in the natural world via observation and experimentation. The tools of history and literature help me to understand mankind and our past. Theology is the work that I do to study and understand whether there is a God, what God is like, and what God expects of mankind. I bring in all three major areas of study into my classroom and my pulpit. Truth is rich and diverse and can’t be compartmentalized.” Perkowski’s beliefs have been shaped by many different people throughout the world and time. “I have been influenced heavily by theologians like John Wesley, C.S. Lewis, and Brennan Manning. I have been influenced by political leaders who wrestled with what is good and Godly as they established our nation—like Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. I am also influenced heavily by the questions of my students and my parishioners. Good questions sometimes teach us more than

we would expect because they remind us that we do not already have the answers. I am also heavily affected by those who push for social justice: godly leaders in the church, true leaders in the U.S. Government, the UN and the Non-Governmental Organizations (they are there even if outnumbered); those who live with and remind us about the poor: Mother Theresa and Shane Claiborne; and those who bring beauty and brilliance into the world (artists, dancers, poets, and philosophers): Dylan and Morrison to Twain and Hemingway to Angelou and Dickens to Yeats and Coleridge to Leonardo and Michelango to Wyeth and O’Keefe to Graham and Barishnikov.” Like some of his great role models, Perkowski influences his students to use the knowledge they learn in school and apply it to everyday issues. “I love teaching students how the information that they are learning in my class and other classes applies to real world situations—it is not just pedantic book learning,” he explained. “Some of my favorite lessons are Socratic Seminars and Friday Forums that force students to articulate their understanding of local and world issues into their own words. It moves information from pure recall to a meaningful world view.” “Your life is determined by the zeal with which you pursue your dreams and help others achieve their dreams as they travel with you. So, be you and the best version of you possible. I believe that there is a life following this one, but it is shaped by the decisions by the choices and actions of today. So, be wise, seek truth, and enjoy the journey.”

Julie and Jason Perkowski in front of the Durban Convention Center with 2 young adult delegates from Africa, in this personal photo. Perkowski travelled to South Africa as a delegate to the World Methodist Council in the summer of 2011.

Secret Lives of TeachersFrom Politics to Pulpit, Perkowski Teaches and He Preaches

Lunch: New rules create changesContinued from Page 1

authority over a la carte food products and vending machines. Regarding CV’s food service, food service supervisor Barbara Hummel commented, “The new guidelines are a learning process not only for the students but also for the food service staff.” A wide range of food options on the menu were changed, most of which have caused confusion among the general crowd of students crammed at the lunchroom doors every day. The chips were removed from the Hot Combo due to their high sodium content, and were replaced with a hot vegetable. This change means that the Hot Combo now includes one sandwich, one milk, one fruit, and one vegetable. The Soup & Half Sandwich combo was suddenly removed, which leaves the Main Lunch, Hot Combo, Cold Combo, Soup & Salad, and Bagel Combo as the only options left. All other food purchased outside these combos are sold at the a la carte price. Other changes included age-appropriate calorie limits, larger servings of vegetables and fruits (meaning each student is required to take at least one serving of produce), a wider variety of vegetables, fat-free/1% milk, more whole grains, and less sodium. Several consequences of these changes included taking salt packets away from the cafeteria and making flavored milk fat free. However, there is an option that gives students some flexibility when choosing their meals. There is a 3 out of 5 rule that applies when buying combo meals. Each combo meal has five components (grain, protein, fruit, vegetable, and dairy) of which at least three must be present to be able to purchase a combo meal. For example, if a student is lactose-intolerant, he/she is able to pick, at the minimum, a serving of grain, protein, and fruit and be able to pay the same price for a combo without buying milk. Regarding this rule, Hummel added, “We are working on making a few further changes to the fruit and vegetable sizes which will make this rule much easier to follow.” One of the other changes that accompanied the nationwide food reform movements was the replacement of an old diagram that represented how much of

each food group to eat, the Food Pyramid. There are actually two food pyramids that were used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) before they were replaced. The older one was a simple pyramid in use from 1992 to 2005 that included grains on the bottom, fruits and vegetables above the grains, dairy and meats on the third level, and fats, oils, and sugars at the top. It was replaced by a newer pyramid in use from 2005 to 2011, which included all of the food groups arranged side by side, with the thickness of each group representing the amount to eat, along with the symbol of a person walking up stairs, a representation of physical activity. That pyramid was replaced with MyPlate, a nutritional guide that used the symbol of a plate and cup to display the various food groups. Food pyramids are now symbols of nutrition in the past, while MyPlate is the new “food pyramid.” To further promote the concept of alternative healthy foods, the school has set up two vending machines that dispense healthy snacks. These vending machines are produced by HUMAN Healthy Vending, a company that was founded in 2008 in Los Angeles. The company was founded on one idea, “Easy Nutrition Everywhere”. The company’s goal is to make healthy snack foods more accessible than junk foods, which is why CV set them up. Currently, they do not operate during regular school hours. They are only available to students staying after school and for students participating in sports who need snacks to sustain them throughout the afternoon. Commenting on the overall goal of the CV food service, Hummel added, “My goal is to make the students as happy as possible while following the mandatory government rules.” Regardless of what is changed, one factor is guaranteed: there will be more change. As the federal government pushes for more reform to reduce childhood obesity, schools will have to conform to the ever-changing regulations, meaning that on the students’ end, lunches will take a dramatic change. It remains to be seen whether or not it will fit all students’ tastes.

ago, and math was up to 85%, almost 25% higher than the first year of exams. Unfortunately, these improvements, while very significant, were not enough to completely fulfill the requirements of 78% in math, and 81% in reading. These requirements are

PVAAS: CVHS makes growthContinued from Page 1

due to the much-contested No Child Left Behind law, which many think should be overturned altogether. There are benefits to the setup though, namely making schools more accountable, and more driven. As Huesken explained it: “One

of the most positive results of the No Child Left Behind legislation is the way it has led us to use student data in innovative ways. Using a variety of assessment data, such as PVAAS, we can differentiate our instruction based on student’s individual needs.”

6 November 2012

By Tiffany Dimm ’16

Many books out there have words on what i t means t o b e

free, but one among them stands out as expressing the very soul of freedom. In plain words we can a l l unde r s t and , “Free ? Stories of Human Rights” does not pollute the story with cloying sentiments or give personal opinions, b u t s i m p l y t e l l s i t w i t h c a n d i d o p e n n e s s and g ives the r eader a thorough understanding of the nature of liberty. “ F r e e ? S t o r i e s o f H u m a n R i g h t s ” i s a collection of short stories written by various authors, s u c h a s E o i n C o l f e r (“Ar temis Fowl” ser ies) and Patricia McCormick (“Sold”) , and edited by Amnesty Internat iona l . Each of the fourteen stories is based upon one o r more o f t h e th i r t y rights and freedoms stated i n t h e a r t i c l e s o f t h e Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document written in 1948 and the first to declare that every human is entitled to certain liberties. A few of the aforementioned rights in the book were that all people are born free and equal (Article 1), that no man has the right to make another his slave (Article 4 ) , t h e r i g h t t o p e a c e (Article 28), the right to an education (Article 26), and that nobody can take these rights (Article 30). From a story of some adolescent self-proclaimed

Authors Highlight Human Rights

“Bad Lads” to the t a l e of a young bird learning a b o u t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , f rom a h i l a r ious po l i ce interrogation of a marbles-loving boy to a moving account of a family fleeing their homeland for fear of violence for their political bel iefs, the stories have many different approaches on what it means to drink the ambrosia of freedom—a l l o f t h e m t h o u g h t -provoking and eye-opening. Ever y s tudent in CV shou ld r ead th i s book . I t w i l l g ive the r e ade r an apprec i a t ion o f the f r e e d o m a v a i l a b l e i n the United States and a realization of how people all over the world fight for it, whether they are fighting the autocratic government itself or a gang of teenage bullies. With gifted pen, fourteen authors have given us a sense of the meaning of liberty, the broken chains of tyranny, and the hope that one day everyone will be able to say, “I am free.”

Katelyn Coleman, who descr ibed herse l f a s “ o r g a n i z e d ,

f r i end l y, and focu sed ,” i s t h e n e we s t a d d i t i o n to the math depar tment.

Valley Voice: Where did you attend high school and college? K a t e l y n C o l e m a n : “Donegal High School and Mi l l e r sv i l l e Un ivers i t y.”

Self-described as “hard-working, nerdy, and athletic,” Rachel Loya

has the right chemistry for the sc ience depar tment .

Valley Voice: Where did you attend high school and college? Rachel Loya: “Penn Hills High School (Pittsburgh, PA), and Messiah College.”

Zesty, vibrant, and ulma Gonzalez is not a stranger to CV. Before coming to

the high school, Gonzalez taught science at CV Middle School.

Valley Voice: Where did you attend high school and college? Zulma Gonzalez: “Lancaster Catholic High School and Mi l l e r sv i l l e Univers i t y.”

New Faces or New PlacesQ&A with three teachers new to CVHS

VV: What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of ? Why? Please explain. ZG: “Going back to college and f inishing my degree because it required a lot of sacrifices and dedication.”

VV: What is a weakness or flaw that you would like to eliminate? ZG: “I am impa t i en t .”

VV: What is something that people might be surprised t o k n o w a b o u t y o u ? ZG: “I shook hands with Julius Irvin, Charles Kuralt and Donovan McNabb.”

VV: Who would you choose to be the star of a movie about your l i f e ? What would the movie be called? ZG: “It’s Never Too Late star r ing Jennifer Lopez”

VV: What is the best advice you have ever rece ived?ZG: “To each their own.”

V V: W h a t i s o n e g o a l tha t you wou ld l i ke to s o m e d a y a c c o m p l i s h ? ZG: “Learn a third language.”

V V : W h y d i d y o u c h o o s e t e a c h i n g ? ZG: “Because I be l ieve children are our future…(can you hear the music?).”

Rachel Loya helps a student with her science work.Photo Credit: Brittany Brenner ’16

VV: What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of ? Why? Please explain. RL: “Winning the Division III Women’s Soccer National Championship in 2008 and 2009, both with undefeated seasons. It was a phenomenal experience just to be able to do something and be a part of something that is much

bigger than myself. There was no way I could ever do that on my own. The team effort and servant leadership attitude was just amazing with that group of girls.”

VV: What is something that people might be surprised t o k n o w a b o u t y o u ? RL: “I made my high school football team my senior year.”

VV: What is the best advice you have ever rece ived?RL: “Do the right thing for the right reason all the time.”

V V: W h a t i s o n e g o a l tha t you wou ld l i ke to s o m e d a y a c c o m p l i s h ? RL: “Find a profess ion where I never have to work a day in my life (found it).”

VV: Why did you choose teaching?RL: “I get to talk to teenagers about science. Best job ever.”

Photo Credit: Brittany Brenner ’16Katelyn Coleman demonstrates how to solve an equation.

VV: What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of ? Why? Please explain. KC: “Graduating from college with honors and immediately finding a job at a school with a great math department. This is a great accomplishment because there are not a lot of open teaching positions right now.”

VV: What i s someth ing

t h a t p e o p l e m i g h t b e surprised to know about you? KC: “I was in an accident my junior year of high school and was told I would never be able to run or play sports again. I finished off my senior year of high school as one of the top female tennis players in the league, and I now run three times a week.”

VV: Who would you choose to be the star of a movie about your life? What would the movie be called? KC: “Kris ten Be l l…she looks nothing like me, but she is my favorite actress because she is always so witty.”

VV: What is the best advice you have ever received?KC: “Be productive and strive to accomplish your goals, but don’t forget to stop and enjoy life.”

VV: Why did you choose teaching?KC: “I love working with young people and I like to show others how exciting and logical math can be.”

Zulma Gonzalez prepares for class with enthusiasm.Photo Credit: Haley Vandewall ’16

November 2012 7

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8 November 2012

By Damian Hondares ’13

Living in Pennsylvania, the New York Jets seldom come up in

conversation. However, as of late, perpetuated by overblown media coverage on the part of ESPN, the Jets have become one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL, but not for their play. The Jets have had a dismal start to the season, getting off to a quick and optimistic start with a win against the Bills but then quickly receding. Admittedly, the Jets have been plagued by injury—most significantly to wide receiver Santonio Holmes—but this is no excuse for mediocre play. More importantly, it is no excuse for mediocre coaching. Rex Ryan, in his first couple of seasons as the head coach of the Jets, spent a great deal of time in press conferences boasting about his team’s chances and guaranteeing Super Bowl victories. Now in his fourth season as head coach, Ryan has zero Lombardi Trophies and his team looks worse than ever, especially on the offensive front. Last season, the scapegoat was Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. He was promptly fired and replaced by an even more incompetent Offensive Coordinator in Tony Sparano, the former head coach of the Dolphins. Sparano is a proponent of a Wildcat offense, but up to this point in the season, his system has been an utter failure. No one should be surprised. In the offseason, the Jets picked up former Broncos starting quarterback Tim Tebow, who has become perhaps the most famous backup quarterback in the history of the NFL. To prepare for the season, Ryan and Sparano designed a top-secret “Tebow Package.” This has consisted of mostly inefficient attempts to redundantly run Tebow up the field. The offense is stalling. No one player should have to take the entirety of the blame for the failure of an entire team, but the fact of the matter is that starting quarterback Mark Sanchez must go. Jets management

The Tebow Planobviously does not have any idea how to run the team, as they signed a $58.25 million contract extension with Sanchez in the offseason but cannot guarantee he will remain the starter. Here is the bottom line: the Jets should have never signed a contract extension with Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is just another inefficient NFL quarterback, a product of USC, like equally mediocre quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Even if Sanchez is not the central problem for the Jets’ offense, it is becoming clearer and clearer that he is not the solution. When it comes to being a successful quarterback in the NFL, numbers matter, but so does leadership. Mark Sanchez cannot say that he has either on his side. Sanchez, in his first five games this season, had the lowest completion percentage of any starting quarterback since Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell; this obviously is not a positive comparison. So his numbers have done nothing to help his team. Nor has Sanchez provided sufficient leadership to help his team win. Looking back to the Jets’ season-ending loss from just a couple months ago, Sanchez’s inability to play a vital role as a motivating force in the locker room became clear. He began to bicker with receivers and spent his time on the sidelines eating a hot dog rather than paying attention to the game. He is no great leader. The Jets lack a strong leader. Their quarterback is no leader; their coaches are not only incompetent, but they also lack leadership abilities. There is just one natural leader in that locker room right now, and his name is Tim Tebow. Tebow does not always have the numbers on his side. He, like Sanchez, is no great passer. In fact, statistically, he may be slightly worse; but the numbers, regardless of what ESPN may assert, often lie. Tebow is not an entirely terrible passer, though the numbers seem to suggest such is the case. Even if Tebow were

the worst passing quarterback in the history of football, his leadership and his ability to reclaim momentum is invaluable. Last season, still with the Broncos, Tebow was benched in favor of Kyle Orton, a statistically better quarterback. After a 1-4 start to the season, head coach John Fox opted to put in Tebow, and the results were clear. Even with some poor passing numbers, Tebow led his team to countless comeback victories, miraculously getting the Broncos to the playoffs, in which they beat the Steelers in one of the most memorable endings to a playoff game in recent football history. Tebow will not be the miracle cure to the Jets’ ailments. Ultimately, it is going to take some stronger coaching and more contributions from the rest of the players on the team’s roster, but putting in Tebow at starting quarterback just makes sense, and it can help a great deal. One of the many problems that the Jets have is they lack strong wide receivers. So, even if Tebow cannot pass, is it not true that he has no one to whom to pass? Neither does Mark Sanchez, but the difference between the two is important. Tebow is a dynamic runner and accumulates yardage for his team simply by keeping the ball when the play breaks down. As Sanchez has shown so far this season, when the play breaks down, he is simply sacked, or fumbles, or makes an ill-advised pass. He provides minimal spark, provides little yardage. The Jets ultimately have to make a decision. Yes, they gave Mark Sanchez $58 million in the offseason, but that is their fault. It was a bad investment. They have to decide whether they will let that money prevent them from making him the highest-paid backup quarterback in football or if they will choose wins over money. Even if Woody Johnson and the Jets choose money over football, they would be wise to remember that Tebow fills seats. He also wins games. Maybe one day he will win a championship.

By Kaylin Garcia ’16

Most people now know Sarah Krause as the 2012 Homecoming

Queen, but before this October, Krause was best known as a killer field hockey player. To say this girl has spunk would be an understatement. Every night before a game Krause watches the movie Miracle about the USA ice hockey team to get hyped up for the next g ame. “It’s so inspirational and gets me excited to play the next day!” said Krause. Away f r o m t h e b i g s c r e en , an i n sp i r a t i on that is closer to home for Krause is her grandmother. “She volunteered all the time, was a great woman of God, and I hope to grow up just like her,” stated Krause. A l o n g w i t h h e r grandmother, Lori Miller, CV alumni, has been a huge influence on her sports career. “She has taught me a lot and it is so cool to watch when she plays,” exclaimed Krause. H e r m a j o r h o c k e y inf luence, however, has been Coach Lee Gerdes. “She has taught me pretty much everything I know and

Athlete of the Issue: Sarah Krause Has Goals

Krause, #37, joins her team before a game in this personal photo.

Krause shines at the 2012 homecoming dance.

Photo Credit: Haley Vandewall ‘16

Miami Dolphins defender Jimmy Wilson wraps up New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for a sack in the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, October 28, 2012. The Dolphins defeated the Jets, 30-9. (Robert Duyos/Sun Sentinel/MCT)

still finds ways to teach me more at every practice,” said Krause. Krause has received a scholarship to West Chester University for field hockey, and she is majoring in education. “I plan on becoming a teacher, and hope to coach on the side!” explained Krause. Sen ior Sa rah Krause has a bright future ahead; one that is fit for a queen.

By the Numbers558

The number of CVHS and CVMS students participating in fall sports and marching band.