The Beacon: Winter 2012

The Beacon

A Student Publication of Shore Regional High School

Volume 49, Issue 3 Winter 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:

Shore HighlightsGreat things happen at Shore everyday! Check out some highlights. See Pages 2 & 3

Do You Know Shore’sRelated ArtsDepartment?Test your knowledge of Shore’s Related Arts department.See Page 2

Curious About Your Future? Winter horoscopes and so much more!See Page 6

Free Time?Check out what your peers think about popular books and TV shows.See Pages 4 & 5

School News

Activities

Arts & Enter.

Living

Sports

2

3

4-5

6-7

8

These Hands Will Touch The WorldBy ANNIE SIEGEL

Photographs By KATY KIRK

Do You Have Devils Pride?Check in with our winter sports teams. See Page 8

“These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will some day touch millions of people’s hearts.” With an idea that originated from Rachel’s quote on the back of her dresser, Shore Regional’s F.O.R (Friends of Rachel) Club dedicated a mural in our school to spreading kindness and motivating students to respect themselves and each other. After school on January 31st, F.O.R. Club had an impres-sive turnout of willing students and teachers who partici-pated in the creation of this mural. The inspiration came from the back of Rachel’s dresser, where she outlined her hands and wrote the quote stated above. In Shore’s activ-ity, students outlined their own hands and wrote inspi-rational quotes as well as kind words in the handprints. Teachers, such as Mrs. Burley, as well as the two F.O.R. advisers, Ms. Burkley and Mrs. Czjakowski, participated

Students Of The Month Our new “Student of the Month” program celebrates individual achievements by creating a culture of learning that values academic success and elevates awareness of student contributions to the Shore community at large. December’s honorees are senior Colleen Bordiuk and sophomore Robbie Mills. January’s honorees are junior Ben Hess and junior Jenna Wyatt. We asked SOTM honorees: “What quote do you live by?”

“I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.”

--Walt Whitman “Song of Myself”

“Why?”-- Unknown

“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.”

--Michael Jordan

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

-- M. Gandhi

in this highly anticipated event. F.O.R. Club hopes this mural will inspire and warm the hearts of the students that pass it. These hand-prints can be seen in the corner of D Hall and E Hall next to the Fitness Center. Next time you are in those halls make sure to check it out, and if you are interested in participating in F.O.R. Club’s next event, speak to Ms. Burkley in room E9.

Coaches vs. Cancer Game Raises over $1,500By KELLY BRODY

The hallways were painted purple on February 2nd, as Shore students donned purple “Coaches vs. Cancer” t-shirts to promote attendance at the special girls’ basketball game that very night. Through the power of social networking, every Shore student was prompted to tweet #SRHSCvC, to spread the awareness for the organization, which is a joint effort between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The basketball game was well attended, with special Coaches vs. Cancer tweaks, such as the cheerleaders and dancers adding purple elements to their ensembles, and the girls’ basketball team swapping their usual warm up shirts for purple Coaches vs. Cancer tees. With an exciting win by the girls’ bas-ketball team, and a total of over $1,500 raised for Coaches vs. Cancer, the night was inarguably a giant success The Coaches vs. Cancer event proved the philanthropy Shore’s student body has, and showed their willingness and promptness to support a cause and the home team.

2 The Beacon Winter 2012

School News

SHORE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Board of EducationRonald O’Neill, President

Nancy DeScenza, Vice-PresidentDavid Baker

Beth J. GarrigalMary Lynn Mango

Diane MerlaAnthony F. Moro, Jr., Ed.D.

Frank J. PingitorePaul Rolleri

Tadeusz Szczurek

AdministrationInterim Superintendent/Principal: Renae LaPreteBusiness Administrator: Dennis W. Kotch, CPAAssistant Principal: Harry S. Chebookjian, III

Vice Principal: Vincent G. DalliCardilloDirector of Athletics: Michael Carr

Director of Curriculum & Instruction: Bruce PrestonDirector of Student Personnel Services: Jon Warner

Technology Coordinator: Michael Vaccarino

The Beacon StaffAdvisor: Mrs. Victoria Koontz

Copy Editor: Kelly BrodyDesign Editor: Jenna Wyatt

Staff Photographer: Megan SaccoEditorial Assistant: Annie Siegel

Contributors: Kelly Altenau, John Bazley, Teresa Campbell, Ali Chirumbolo, Nikki Damiano, Danielle DeFazio, Samantha Eng-land, Josh Feinberg, Christian Grainer, Katy Kirk, Jessica Kwok, John Leslie, Becky Long, Paula Matsunaga, Katie Sempkowski,

Annie Siegel, Caitlin Ulbricht, Kayla Valinoti

The Beacon is published several times a year by the students at SRHS, West Long Branch, New Jersey. The staff encourages letters and editorials from interested

readers. Items for possible publication should be submitted to The Beacon Staff, c/o Victoria Koontz, Room A15, Shore Regional High School.

The views and opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent those of the staff or the administration of Shore Regional High School.

Do You KnowShore’s Related Arts

Department?By JESSICA KWOK

See if you can figure out who these fun facts are about.

This teacher was been voted best eyes and most artistic in high school and thinks “Mean Girls” was the best film of 2004.

This teacher was the arm wrestling champion in college for the medium and heavy weight divisions and auditioned for Tylenol, Dimetapp, Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, and milk commercials, but never got a part.

This teacher is a Feng Shui practitioner.

This teacher won most imaginative in preschool and still has the certificate.

This teacher used to be an owner/president of a custom-made wedding gown company.

This teacher has been to Italy four times.

This teacher ran six consecutive New York Marathons, and played both high school and college soccer.

*Another department, and answers for the science department,will be featured in the next edition of The Beacon.

I.B. Corner Applications for the SRHS IB Class of 2014 are now being accepted. Members of the current sophomore class who are interested in participat-ing in the IB Diploma Programme must submit completed applications to Linda Ensor, IB Coor-

dinator, by the end of the school day March 2, 2012. Application forms may be obtained from Mrs. Ensor in A7 or downloaded from the Shore Regional High School website at this URL: http://www.shoreregional.org/domain/23. Anyone who needs more information can contact Mrs. Ensor at [email protected] or see her in A7.

Do you need something to look forward to?

*Check out these upcoming events!*

Battle of the ClassesMarch 30th

Marking Period 3 EndsApril 3rd

Spring Break-School Closed

April 6th - April 13th

Shore Players-Annie Get Your Gun

March 9th-11th, 16th-18th, and March 24th

School Closed-Teacher In-Service Day

March 16th

Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game NightMarch 21st

On February 1st, Shore Regional Field Hockey Players, Aileen Johnson, Hannah Barreca, and Heidi Schaffner signed with colleges Duke and C.W Post. We wish them luck in their future.

Winter 2012 The Beacon 3

Student Council hosted the 3rd Annual Volleyball Tournament on March 1st. In addition to that make sure to congratulate Teresa Campbell as she became the Vice President of the New Jersey Association of Stu-dent Councils at the state election on January 11th and will serve through next January. Chloe Chalakani is our school’s winner in the national “Poetry Out Loud” competition. She will compete in the regional tournament at the Two River Theater in Red Bank later this month. Good luck, Chloe! SADD completed the second filming of PSA warning of the dangers of texting & driving with DCH Honda and Comcast in January. The commercial can be seen on Comcast channels. GSA, Shore Cheerleaders and SADD donated holiday gifts to the local Monmouth DYFS office in West Long Branch. Over 75 items were donated by the 3 clubs. The FOR club recently decorated the wall outside of the fitness cen-ter with handprints and motivational sayings. The club is motivated to spread kindness all over Shore. See the front page for more information and pictures from this event.

Clubs & Activities

Let’s Go Clubbing!Your guide to Shore’s clubs and activities.

Cheers to Cheerleading-Q&A with Coach Pontoriero

By CAITLIN ULBRICHT & KAYLA VALINOTI

KV/CU- Besides the sport they cheer for, what are some of the differ-ences between winter and fall cheerleading?

Ms. P- There are more girls for winter and a more diverse age group. Fall has younger girls. Winter has several juniors and seniors along with underclassmen. Also, being that winter is a competition team, we have longer and more intense practices.

KV/CU- What is the practice and performance schedule for cheering?

Ms.P- We have games 2-3 nights a week, and practices two hours before each game. There is also competition practice an additional 1-2 days per week.

KV/CU- Who are the captains this season, and what do they contribute?

Ms.P- Tyler Sperling and Julia Watts are captains with Madison Chase and Colleen McCarthy as co-captains. Along with all of the other senior girls, they help organize, fund raise, and act as team leaders.

KV/CU- Did the team compete this year, and if so, when and where?

Ms.P- Yes, we competed on January 28th at Lacey Township, and then we have states in Trenton on March 4th. We would like as much support as possible.

KV/CU- What are you looking forward to most about the rest of the sea-son?

Ms.P- Competition, because it’s a new way for the school to perceive cheerleading, and it changes the program a bit.

KV/CU- How has your past cheering experience affected your coaching?

Ms.P- I feel that because of my experience, I can provide more appropri-ate feedback and advice for the girls.

KV/CU- How would you say Ms. DePinho (co-coach) and yourself dif-fer as coaches?

Ms.P- Ms.D (Ms. DePinho) is more artistic, and I am more organized which is appropriate because of our subject areas [Ms. DePinho is the video production teacher, and Ms.Pontoriero is an English teacher]. We both put it a lot of effort, and complement each other very well.

New Jersey’s Winters: even when the sun is shining, it seems cold enough for a blizzard. But wait! All hope is not lost, for the gift of Harry Potter recipes is being brought to you by two of your school’s finest Potterheads!

1. Butterbeer Latte- Melt away your chills with this Butterbeer Latte! Composed of butter, brown sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon, this warm treat is a great way to end a day of play—or fighting off dark wizards in the biting cold, whichever suits you best! Full recipe can be found at HaydenRodgers.tumblr.com*Find full recipes for the following treats at MuggleNet.com

2. Ton-Tongue Toffee- Anti-jinxed to prevent tongue swelling, this tof-fee, which contains sugar, water, butter, and vanilla, is a delight to any who tastes it! All you need is a saucepan, a candy thermometer, and something to use to stir (we would suggest not using a wand)!

3. Quidditch Player’s Pie- Hogwart’s Quidditch players need extra strength on game day, so it is no wonder why this version of traditional Shepherd’s Pie is a favorite for students!

4. Love Potion- Although we don’t advocate using love potions to gain the affections of another (consider the outcome of Tom Riddle and Me-rope Gaunt), what harm can be done from trying a trusted fan’s recipe for such a concoction? We can assure you that the strongest possible effect will be a new-found love for this drink!

Recipes for a Very Potter WinterBy BECKY LONG & NIKKI DAMIANO

The past holiday season is noted as having achieved positive retail sales as compared to previous years. This increase in shopping presents a message to all that people are willing to spend their money on gifts for their family and themselves. However, these high sales resulted from deep discounts from retailers. Still, an increase in shopping demonstrates how people are feeling secure with spending again, a po-tential sign of an economic bounceback. One way of shopping this year that was extremely popular was by using the web. Over $37.2 billion dollars in sales were made by using the internet this holiday season. This shows how the internet is becoming a favored shopping method over waiting on lines at the mall. Overall, this holiday season was a retail suc-cess. Hopefully these flourishing trends will continue into the New Year as people begin shopping for spring.

Holiday ShoppingBy JOSH FEINBERG

4 The Beacon Winter 2012

Arts & Entertainment

Slide Into SudokusLevel: Hard

Winter Word SearchK U C S X W I X S N A R L A W W C F D I H B B G A W R K W U T C E P R I S N N N L O W B O T L B K T T D L M B H O N I F S S R I A E K A L F W O N S A A Z U K E F N D E C E M B E R X A A Z E Z R N W S H F R Y F X D R A O B W O N S N X G B P J I Y I I C E W I N T E R K Y J A N U A R Y A A K C D U Z G L B Q F U T M I F O S O D C N B O N V K I A X L S K D R H G U Q O X K C C D C Y U N W E P T U V C T U Z M I I E L U H Z R W O N D E R L A N D B Q H H

WONDERLANDSNOWBOARD SNOWFLAKE

DECEMBERJANUARY

FEBRUARYWINTER

WHITESNOWCOOLCOLD

ICESKI

The Top Ten Musical Artists of 2011By TERESA CAMPBELL & DANIELLE DEFAZIO

1. Adele: Adele released her second studio album “21” on January 24, 2011, and it instantly melted the hearts of millions all around the world. With show-stopping performances, full of one of the “strongest voices we’ve heard since Aretha Franklin” according to Randall Roberts of The Los Angeles Times, it seems close to impossible not to love the inspirational words of Adele.

2. Rihanna: It is no surprise this pop star has sold more than 20 million albums and 60 million singles, which makes her one of the best selling artists of all time. In 2011 alone, she made number 9 on US charts with her lead single “We Found Love” featured from her album “Talk That Talk,” which was released on November 21, 2011.

3. Katy Perry: Whether Katy Perry is accused of singing songs with meaningless lyrics or not, her disco bounce tunes are catchy all throughout the world, as she is the first artist to not leave the top ten charts once over the year. Along with her hit singles “Firework” and “The One that Got Away,” we can expect to see Katy Perry producing more music we all can’t help but sing along with.

4. Beyonce: After Beyonce’s release of “Single Ladies” in 2008, it was hard to believe she could ever gain more adoration from her fans. Along with the release of “Run the World (Girls)” which was later sung in honor of Beyonce on “Glee,” Beyonce’s pregnancy of 2011 has her in the eye of the public.

5. Nicki Minaj:Nicki Minaj was named the 2011 “Rising Star” by Billboard, and she has certainly played the role with pride. Her unique style and voice, com-bined with both singing and rapping, attracts positive attention, especial-ly with her hit song “Super Bass” that leaves an audience wanting more.

6. Lady Gaga:It wouldn’t be a list if Lady Gaga wasn’t on it. 2011 was yet another suc-cessful year for this pop star. With a chart topping album and hit single “Born This Way” it seems that Lady Gaga is unstoppable.

7. Drake:It’s impossible to listen to the radio and not hear this actor turned rapper. He released “Take Care” and featured hits such as “Headlines” and “The Motto. He is featured on countless hit songs with popular artists such as Lil’ Wayne and Rihanna.

8. Kanye West & Jay Z:These two rappers were put together for a reason. Together these two artists created one of the biggest albums of the year, “Watch the Throne.” The powerhouse duo put their talents together to create the hit “Otis.” This album proved that these two obviously work great together.

9. Lil’ Wayne:Lil’ Wayne released “Tha Carter IV” and not surprisingly, it turned out to be a major success. The rapper was triumphant with creating hits such as “How to Love” and has been featured on other artists singles such as “Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown.

10. David Guetta:This DJ had a spectacular year. He released an album, “Nothing but the Beat” which featured many hit artists such as Usher, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dog. All of this success caused DJ Magazine to name him the number one DJ in 2011.

Winter 2012 The Beacon 5

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins Many readers are familiar with Suzanne Collins’s famous book, The Hunger Games. The sequel to the popular novel, Catching Fire, is as breathtaking as the first. The story begins several months after Katniss’s success in The Hunger Games. However, because she and her District 12 tribute Peeta both succeed-ed, the Capitol is afraid her actions are the start of an uprising. Rumors begin of a rebellion Katniss unknowingly created against the Capitol. The sequel continues Katniss’s story in the future nation of Panem. Although the novel is fantastic, readers would have to read the first

novel to understand the story. Many characters are part of Katniss’s life, and it is easy for a reader to get lost in the different names. The first book also held the descriptions of Katniss’s world. If a reader read this book without reading the first, the locations and settings would be a white blank. The three novels, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, are essentially one large story broken apart into three books. The Hunger Games trilogy may be one of the most popular and well known novels among readers today. Anyone who starts to read the books will fall in love with the story. Catching Fire is an entertaining novel that would be enjoyed by any reader. The Hunger Games series presents an incredible story of government control. The Hunger Games movie, to be released in March 23, 2012, will be just as epic as the books.

Arts & Entertainment‘Wild Flag’By ALI CHIRUMBOLO

Wild Flag is a band consisting of Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss, Marry Timoney, and Rebbecca Cole. Their self-titled debut album came out in late 2011, and it’s the perfect start for this band. Though every member has been in different bands prior to this, they were all acquainted with each other through various musical ties; most of them have already played together. All the elements and styles that each musician brings to the table are cohesive, even though they’ve only recently started working together. The reason they sound so cohesive on this album is because they started touring before they recorded it, giving them time to flesh out their music and see how everyone worked together. You can tell that the energy that is there when they play live, carries over to the record. The sound of this album is unique, in that definitely has a lot of rock in it─you can hear that in the guitar riff on “Glass Tambourine”─but it’s also has some pop and punk mixed in. One thing that makes Wild Flag different is the contrast between the rocking guitars/drums and the pop keyboards. Both Brownstein and Timoney sing lead vocals (with Cole and Weiss singing backup), and though their voices sound somewhat similar, I enjoy the subtle differences in each style. Since this is their first album I think you can expect a lot more from them in the future, because they can only get better from here.

Snow Only in the Shows By KATIE SEMPKOWSKI

Now that we have welcomed the new year, we can anticipate all of the new and returning television shows that will make their way onto out television screens this winter. There are many highly anticipated shows hitting the small screen. “Smash,” a musical drama about life on Broadway and the staging of a play based on Marilyn Monroe, pre-miered February 6th on NBC. “Jane by Design,” which premiered Janu-ary 3rd on ABC Family, is about a sixteen-year-old girl who is mistaken for an adult and now has to juggle two worlds, the fashion world and the teenage world. There is no need to worry if you haven’t been following these series so far, though, because there are many opportunities for you to join in on the action. There are also some returning shows that may draw your atten-tion as well. One highly praised show is “Winter Wipeout.” Everyone needs a good laugh once and a while, so with a show as entertaining as this one, breaking out in laughter is unavoidable. Also, the competition between “American Idol” and “The Voice” has commenced once again, with the premiere of “The Voice” occurring after the Super Bowl, and the premiere of “American Idol” occurring on January 18th. Everyone better clear their schedules this winter because there are many must-see shows on throughout the season.

Warm Up With A BookBy JOHN LESLIE

The Future of Us - Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler Students in high school dream about what their future may hold. They wonder if they will have a successful career, who they will marry, or if they will have chil-dren. In the new young adult novel, The Future of Us, written by co-authors Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, two students get the opportunity to see their future. The story takes place in 1996 when computers and cell phones are just start-ing to become regular household items. A high school girl named Emma receives her own computer, and her best friend Josh is helping her install an American Online

CD-ROM. After the disc loads and Emma signs on, she is automatically logged onto Facebook, even though Facebook has not been invented yet. Emma and Josh are able to see their profiles and lives fifteen years in the future. The idea of being able to see one’s future is a controversial topic. Some may be afraid to see how their life evolves, but an opportunity to see the future is one of the greatest temptations. Anyone who is offered to see what’s to come of their lives is likely to take that opportunity. Although the plot is interesting, reading the novel is like trudging through a large snow bank. The story moves slowly, and does not focus on how Facebook loaded on Emma’s computer from the future. Instead, it focuses on how Josh and Emma react to their future. Josh loves his future while Emma feels her future is depressing. Josh wants to ensure his future is set in stone, while Emma does things to change her path. This novel brings readers to question how they would react to being in a similar situation. Some may wish to see their future while others are afraid to see if their lives are successful. Overall, this book was enjoyable to read. Some parts of the book would be directed for mature readers. High school students who read this book may think more about their future and the actions they take in the present.

6 The Beacon Winter 2012

Music Review: Together/Apart--Grieves In early 2011, after coming home from months of touring and supporting a relatively small fan base, Seattle-based rapper, Grieves, also known as Benjamin Laub, entered the studio to record what became the most under-rat-ed release of 2011. After vigorous writing and recording sessions, “Together/Apart” was born. Above all, “Together/Apart” is a painfully honest autobiography of Laub’s life. Every struggle is chronicled in the album’s 16 tracks. Laub’s lyrics, especially in tracks like “Light Speed” ques-

Living

Aquarius (January 20th-Feburary 18th)-Winter is looking especially busy yet opportunistic for Aquarius. Make sure not to get too stressed out and make the best of the opportunities coming your way!

Pisces (February19th- March 20th)-Long-term thoughts and self-awareness await Pisces this winter. Many great decisions will be made very soon, but be sure not to let others varying opinions negatively affect what you truly want

Aries (March 21st-April 19th)- Many obstacles will soon be coming at you, and things may seem a bit unstable. Be sure to keep your chin up though, because you will have the chance to take charge of these situations.

Taurus (April 20th- May 20th)- This winter will represent a large strong point for Taurus. People will be trying to knock you off your path or gain something at your expense, but you will have the strength to brush them aside.

Gemini (May 21st- June 20th)- Look toward spring, Gemini. If winter has presented some rough patches, they’ll all clear with the sun-shine and warm weather. Keep your head up; good things are on the horizon!

Cancer (June 21st-July 22nd)- Others may be having you feel a little low at first this winter, but with a little self confidence you can easily overcome this negativity.

Leo (July 23rd-August 22nd)- Try not to start too many projects at the beginning of winter because you may find your plans getting a bit blocked. However, as the winter progresses you will have the perfect opportunity to start new projects.

Virgo (August 23rd-Spetember 22nd)- Winter is going to bring Virgo some conflicting feel-ings and emotional turmoil, however you will have an opportunity to move forward to bigger and better things.

Libra (September 23rd- October 22nd)- You may feel a bit suffocated by restrictions and con-straints at the beginning of this winter, but as time goes on, these will ease up, leaving you with new freedoms

Scorpio (October 22nd-November 21st)-Stop procrastinating, Scorpio. If you’ve been plan-ning a creative endeavor or an important conversa-tion, stop putting it off! Now is the time to make a move and cross it off your list.

Sagittarius (November 22nd-December 21st)-A time of relaxation and spiritual growth lie in the months ahead for Sagittarius. You may be a little out of sorts for a while, but this will leave you feeling strong and self assured.

Capricorn (December 22nd-January 19th)-This winter is looking pretty positive overall, just make sure to watch out for taking advice from the wrong person, as it could lead to emotional distress.

Winter HoroscopesBy ANNIE SIEGEL

Things You’ve Never Heard Of...By GAIL WYNAND & JOHN BAZLEY

tion the choices he made throughout his life and look back to a simpler time. However, the album does have lighter lyrical themes, namely in standout track “On The Rocks.” Aside from the lyrics of “Together/Apart,” the instrumental production is unmatched. The drum loops and synthesizers found in popular rap are nowhere to be found on this independent release. The album’s multi-instrumentalist, known only as Budo, shows a stel-lar performance, playing instruments ranging from trumpet to guitar to keyboard. The live instruments make the whole album feel natural and seamless, and truly stands out. Through extraordinarily real lyrics and mind-blowing production, Grieves and Budo have set the bar for indie-rap high. “Together/Apart” blows away anything previously released by the duo, and is sure to attract some attention.

of each song. While the band has never confirmed it, it is widely believed, and quite evident by the lyrics, that the album was written about Ho-locaust victim Anne Frank. In each song, the amount of effort and care that went into craft-ing every lyric and every note is astounding, and more than noticeable. Though the album does use lo-fi (low fidelity, meaning of lower quality sound) tracks for many of its songs, it blends marvelously with the crisp vocals, and even includes an accordion, brass instruments, and an organ, creating an ingenious musical experience unlike any other. It is highly recom-mended that you give this glorious masterpiece of folk rock a listen; love it or hate it, it’s an experience that you simply cannot miss.

Music Review: “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea”- Neutral Milk Hotel Chances are, upon listening to this album, you’ll either fall in love or want to throw it out of a window. This indie folk rock masterpiece seems to strike either amazement or hatred in the hearts of its audience. However, this album is still most definitely one that every man should listen to at least once. Jeff Magnum, the founder of the band, has a true talent in song writing, not only writ-ing lyrics that, although nonsensical at times, are superbly well written and poetic, but also include wonder-fully catchy melodies and choruses that add tremendously to the quality

Winter 2012 The Beacon 7

LivingWinter ConcertSchedule

By ALI CHIRUMBOLOThe Stone Pony:

2/14 Rehab

2/16 Chris Webby

2/17 B Street Band

2/18 Bobby Bandiera Band

2/24 Steel Pulse

3/2 Lights

Starland Ballroom:

2/16 Hanson

2/19 Steve Aoki & Datsik

3/3 Children Of Bodom

3/10 Mindless Self Indulgence

3/16 Zoso - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

3/21 Childish Gambino

Count Basie:

2/15 Foreigner

2/17 Blast!

2/18 BeauSoleil and Marcia Ball

2/24 Patrizio Buanne

3/3 New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Pucker up for ValentinesBy SAM ENGLAND & PAULA MATSUNGA

Around 270 AD there was a man named Valentine. Around that time in Rome young men were forbidden to get married, as it was believed it would distract them from fighting. Valentine sympathized with young lov-ers and performed secret marriages. Soon he was discovered and was sentenced to death. While in jail he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. On the day of his execution he wrote a love letter with the signature, “From Your Valentine.” Soon it became a tradition to write letters of love and admiration to a partner. This tradition soon spread to other countries, such as France and Spain, and eventually evolved into the holiday we know today. The significance of Valentine’s Day is contained in many popular symbols. Cupid, the most famous sym-bol, represents the goddess of love in Roman culture. Popular culture often capitalizes on the hype surround-ing this holiday, and this year’s anticipated film, “Valentine’s Day,” does just that. Students, like sophomore Natalie Toro, are very excited about the film and holiday. “I like Valentine’s Day because it’s the day of love, it’s chance to express your feelings and just be happy.

Award ShowSchedule

By STAFF

A Look Back At the Senior Fashion Show Collage By MEGAN SACCO

With this year’s Grammy’s and Golden Globe Awards behind us, look for these upcoming award shows:

The 84th Annual Academy Awards

February 26th 2012@ 8 pm on ABC

The Academy ofCountry Music Awards

April 1st 2012

MTV Movie AwardsJune 3rd 2012

on MTV

8 The Beacon Winter 2012

SportsA Busy Winter For Our Blue Devils

By KELLY ALTENAU Our athletic department has had a very busy and exciting winter! Every team shined brightly, games were won, and championships were brought to Shore. The bowling team did well this year having over a dozen wins. Some of the victories came over Monmouth Regional and Red Bank Regional. Both swim teams had an exciting year. The boys only had one divi-sion loss throughout the season. There were only sixteen girls on the team this year, but they still had a winning record of six wins and five losses. Nine swimmers qualified to compete in the Shore Conference Championship meet. Despite being the smallest team in years, the boys and girls winter track teams have had a strong season. From the beginning until the end, the team had top finishers at almost all meets. Two team members placed at the Central Group I meet, which qualified them for the Group I State meet. The boys basketball team had a thrilling year on the court. They fought some hard battles and came up with huge victories over Raritan and St. John Vianney. Senior captain RJ Bohnert lead the team to many victories with pride and poise. This young girls basketball team is making a name for themselves this year. Behind team leaders, senior Dana Kelly and junior Gina Ruscil, the girls have won many games. Their biggest victory came over highly ranked Rumson-Fair Haven in overtime. Lead by seniors Chris Graham and Derek Arnette, the wrestling team has had a very successful year. Even early on, boys were placing very high in many tournaments, including Derek Arnette and Sam Koenig winning the Buc Classic. Derek Arnette had his 100th career victory at districts, placing second and qualifying for the region N tournament.

All teams are ready to start their strong spring seasons early in March.

Support our Blue Devils!

Check back next issue for our spring sports check-in!