December 2006 THE FALCON �

By Lucas Zavala Staff Writer

Here at St. Joe’s, the students and faculty members form a family, connected by their interactions with each other on a daily basis. For six students and their parents, who are also members of the St. Joe’s faculty, the concept of family takes on a new meaning as they form a family within a family.

“The fact that my dad works here doesn’t make much of a difference in our relation-ship at home,” said junior, Mike O’Boyle. “I don’t see him much at school, but when I do, I say hi just like any other kid would.”

Mr. O’Boyle, Dean of Woodburn Hall and AP Calculus teacher, is also the coach of the varsity soccer team. Being a mem-ber of the team, Mike is held to a different standard. As Mr. O’Boyle put it, “He is always the coach’s son, so I always expect more from him.”

According to Mike, many conversations with his dad during the soccer season are centered on games and practices. However, Mr. O’Boyle said, “At the end of the day, sending my son to St. Joe’s isn’t about soc-cer. It’s about education.”

Senior James Brand agreed that having a parent at St. Joe’s has had little effect on his life outside of school. “Having my mom teach here has its ups and downs,” he explained. “If I ever need a paper signed, run out of money, or forget my books in

my locker, my mom can help me out. On the other hand, I can’t really step out of line because my teachers can talk to her at any time.”

A French and English teacher, Dr. Brand found that sending her two sons to St. Joe’s has made her experience as a teacher more enjoyable. She commented, “Seeing my son everyday has allowed me to become familiar with the people around him. I am more aware of his activities, interests, and friendships.”

In six years, Dr. Brand has only once had to discipline one of her sons. “I won’t say who, but I gave one of my sons a lunch duty for not shaving,” she said.

Being the father of a St. Joe’s student is a new experience for Mr. Scarano, whose son, Bill, is a freshman this year. “I try not to interfere with his daily schedule, but I can’t help but look around for him at break and in the halls,” said Mr. Scarano.

Bill has noticed little change in his daily routine from last year to this year. “There’s no rush to get on the bus in the morning,” he said. “I can take my time because my father drives me to school.”

Bill has always liked history and poli-tics. “I would definitely enjoy being in my father’s class not because he would be teaching it, but because I’m interested in those aspects of society,” Bill commented. “I wouldn’t expect him to treat me any dif-ferently than he treats his other students.”

Ms. Iannuzzo started working at St. Joe’s two years ago as a nurse. She chose to send her two sons to St. Joe’s because she feels the students and teachers form a tightly knit, family-like community. “Working here has reinforced that familiar environment. I am now part of a larger family, just like Scott and Ryan,” she said.

Both Scott and Ryan, senior and sophomore respectively, admitted that they often stop by the nurses’ office, usually to talk to their mom and occasion-ally because they are actually ill. “Mom knows what’s going on at school, so it’s a lot easier to talk to her about school activi-ties,” said Ryan.

Scott, who was a student at St. Joe’s before his mom became the school nurse, felt that having his mom work here has given him a greater sense of security. “It’s good to know that my mom is here if I ever need her,” he commented.

Interviewing Ms. Bonelli’s son was fairly easy, as he and I are one and the same. Being a student at the school where my mom works has been a great experience for me. Ever since my brother was born ten years ago, he’s gotten most of the attention from my mom. Now, I get some attention every day on my way to and from school. I definitely spend a lot more time with her now than I did a few years ago.

Ms. Bonelli, one of several Spanish teachers at St Joe’s, also happens to be my mother. “Having my son go to school where I work gives me a very special feeling,” she said. “I really enjoy seeing him play another role as a student. Up until last year, I had only seen him as a son.”

In addition to being part of the St. Joe’s community, the aforementioned students and faculty members form their own fami-lies outside of school. For these faculty members, having sons at St. Joe’s will be once-in-a-lifetime experiences, cherished among their best family memories.

“When I see my son walking down the hall, crossing the campus, or talking with his friends at lunch, I think of all the memo-ries we’ve shared over the years,” said Ms. Bonelli. “I also think of how different this school will be for me in a few years, when he goes to college. I consider myself very lucky to be able to share a few more memo-ries with him before he leaves.”

Families within a family

By Kevin Corlett Staff Writer

Past and present members of the St. Joe’s community cel-ebrated the beginning of the Advent season with the Advent Mass and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Alumni and present students gathered in the Vincent Maglio Gymnasium on Saturday, Decem-ber 9 for what Ms. Ciktor, from the President’s office, described

as, “The annual gathering of the St. Joe’s family to start the Advent season by sharing the Liturgy and a great meal.”

The evening started at 5:45 p.m. with a bell concert presented by the Saint Matthew the Apostle Bell Choir. Soon after the beauti-ful opening performance, Mass was celebrated by Reverend Rob-ert G. Gorman, the pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Old Bridge. The Advent Mass united everyone in attendance and brought Christ-

mas spirit to the festivities.

The assem-bly then moved to the f ron t

lawn for the annual Tree Light-ing Ceremony and the singing of traditional Christmas carols. With joy-filled hearts and replen-ished spirits, the St. Joe’s family then sat down to a delicious meal while listening to Christmas music played by the New Jersey Youth Symphony String Quartet.

The Advent Mass and Christ-mas Tree Lighting Ceremony were great experiences and both a wonderful success. Br. Richard Leven summed up the feelings of the night when he described the event as, “A perfect way to welcome the Advent season with many friends of the St. Joe’s com-munity.”

InsIde:

Basketball p. 8

InsIde:

St. JoSeph high School Vol. XLIX Number 3 The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, N.J. December 2006

By Michael Varco Editor-in-Chief

On December 8, St. Joe’s continued its annual tradition of holding a Junior Ring Ceremony for all juniors who purchased a school ring. Held in the Vincent Maglio Gymnasium, students, parents, and friends attended the event, which was decorated with poinsettias and candles lining the bleachers.

Traditionally, the ceremony would include a mass. However, it was decided that there would not be a mass held because the event was scheduled on the night of school’s Holy Day of Obliga-tion mass.

The ceremony commenced with a prayer service, in which the Brothers of the Sacred Heart carried in the rings. The rings were then handed to St. Joe’s

faculty alumni. Before being dis-tributed to the students, the rings were blessed by Deacon Rich McCarron.

Afterwards, four stations were manned by the faculty, at which time four students at a time were called up to receive their rings. It was a memorable evening because the rings were handed from the Brothers, to the faculty alumni, and then to the next generation of St. Joe’s alumni -- the students. The ceremony reaffirmed the symbolic affiliation of students within the SJHS community.

The event concluded with light refreshments in the cafeteria for parents, students, and faculty. Mr. Fischer, Dean of Studies, remarked, “It’s an opportunity to formalize a Rite of Passage from one stage of involvement in the St. Joe’s community to another.”

Christmas Tree Lighting and Advent Mass unite school community

Photos by Gary MonteleoneSt. Joe’s juniors show off their new school rings.

Christmas on Campus p. 6

Junior Ring Ceremony

St. Joe’s Christmas tree.

Photo by Dr. M. GubernatLucas and Mrs. Bonelli, his mom.

Photos by Aaron KnowlsonSt. Matthew’s Bell Choir (top); St. Joe’s Liturgy and Worship group (bottom).

� THE FALCON December 2006

By Alex Mosko Staff Writer

My old elementary school has two features that invite student daydreaming. First, it is near the highest point in town, and second, it has at least one wall in each classroom covered with windows. Many days during math class I would gaze out those huge windows.

From that vista I could see clearly the gray, flat rooftop of Perth Amboy High School (PAHS) a block away. This build-ing was mysterious to me, how-ever. I knew that some graduates from my school attended it, that my parents went there (like one hundred years ago), and that my cousin teaches history there.

In October, I decided it was high time to explore that unknown school that I obviously did not end up attending. A perfect opportu-nity presented itself on Friday,

October �7, when we were off but PAHS had school.

With the assistance of my cousin and the school principal, I was set up with a student named Jonathan, who acted as my guide. I went with him to each of his classes, including his journalism class, where students make up the newspaper staff.

The first thing I noticed was how crowded the hallways were. I often complained about how crowded the hallways are at St. Joe’s, but I will no more. At PAHS, the time between classes is extended from four to five min-utes to give the students enough time to get to class.

It was hard to imagine a school day without certain things: walk-ing to different buildings on campus, everyone being dressed similarly, religious images in classrooms, and morning and afternoon prayers.

One thing that I found quite unique was that all the students were required to carry around a flour bag “baby” for two weeks to help illustrate how demanding teen pregnancy can be for the young parents. The most astound-ing thing I experienced was a mere ten-minute lunch, a notion so odd that I was flustered and did not even attempt to eat.

Probably the biggest difference is that it is co-educational, as are all public schools. Having both boys and girls in class elicited interesting behavior; most boys and girls were highly conscious of their appearance. Most students at PAHS had their hair gelled and wore stylish clothes, whereas at St. Joe’s, many students come in with bed-head and wrinkly uni-forms (you know who you are). At PAHS, there are more distractions due to gazing at students of the opposite sex.

All of the students I encoun-tered at PAHS were friendly and outgoing, and were quite surprised when I told them I had never attended a public school before. Frankly, they were as curious about me as I was about them.

Anyway, the mystery is over (though it wasn’t too mysteri-ous).

The Falcon welcomes articles from students, parents and faculty members for consideration for publication. All articles are subject to editing. The opinions expressed in The Falcon do not necessarily represent the opinions of faculty or administration. Opinions expressed in any column except those of the editors are not necessarily those of the editors.

Graphics and Printing by Media Trends, Metuchen, NJ (732) 548-7088

Editor-in-Chief: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Varco Managing Editors: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Polansky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon RamtekeAssociate Editors: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Guidette, Greg Myer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matt Velez, Allan ZhangPhotographer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron Knowlson, Gary Monteleone Sports Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris McGovernStaff Writers: . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Corlett, Mike Ferris, Jack Fitzhenry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Kuchtyak, Michael Lee, Alex Mosko, John Nolan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris McGovern, Russell Pepe, Martin Pico . . . . . . . . . . Michael Pico, Matt Roth, Lucas Zavala, Edward ZukowskiTechnology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. George MilliganFaculty Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Martine GubernatPrincipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. John A. Anderson, ’70President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Lawrence N. Walsh, ’68

By E.J. Zukowski Staff Writer

Under the guidance of Mr. Martin, moderator, the Drama Club’s production of T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathe-dral brought to life Archbishop Thomas Becket’s struggle with the King, the Church, and, most importantly, himself. The play ran four nights from November 9 to 1�.

Set in twelfth century Eng-land, the drama follows Becket, who spoke out against the King and the Church for their overly lenient treatment of criminal clergy as he struggles with his temptations of political power, physical comfort, and the glory that comes with martyrdom. Although willing to be a mar-

tyr, he doesn’t want to do it for the wrong reasons.

The staging of the play was true to the original. “We tried not to change anything if we could help it,” commented Mr. Martin. Only instruments appropriate for the play’s time period were used.

Although the dialogue was sometimes hard to follow due to the thick British accents (which were cultivated by watching Monty Python, according to actor Scott Suleski) and the use of a Greek chorus, the acting was superb. Becket, played by senior Nick Petrillo, the Tempters, and the knights were especially convincing.

One of the most incred-ible features of the produc-tion was that Nick Petrillo

not only starred as Becket (memorizing over 40 pages of monologue and dialogue for the part), but also wrote some of the music for the produc-tion. Whatever compositions he did not write himself he masterfully arranged, trans-forming pre-existing music into an eerie sounding score that foreshadowed what happened to Becket. He composed the music for the play in about two weeks, blending what he calls “pre-Baroque” with Gregorian Chant.

“I took the script and fig-ured the mood of the play and worked with it,” Nick explained. The result was an awe-inspiring musical score complementing an already superb play.

Review: Murder in the Cathedral

Published by the students of St. Joseph High School145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840732-549-7600 ext 261 • www.stjoes.org

Volume XLIX, No. 3 December 2006

Six years in a row, since The Falcon has kept a record, St. Joe’s students continue their generosity for others.

Photos by Aaron KnowlsonNick Petrillo (kneeling) led the Drama Club in an outstanding production of “Murder in the Cathedral.” My day at a

public high school

By Martin Pico Staff Writer

The Fathers Club has always been an influential group in the creation of fundraisers, which have contributed significantly to the St. Joe’s community.

One of their major fundrais-ers was the annual Craft Fair, which took place on November 18 and 19. The Craft Fair was directed and overseen by Mr. Bob Motley.

The event was organized by the Fathers Club members, who worked diligently to arrange the annual affair. Their responsi-bilities included setting up and grouping tables, promoting and selling concessionary goods, and organizing the parking.

Always held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Craft Fair provided an excellent opportunity for shoppers to find

the perfect holiday gift. This year’s tables featured a wide array of items ranging from jewelry and painted pictures to carved imagery and glass-work.

To ensure the quality and caliber of items offered to buy-ers, vendors had to present their hand-crafted work before a com-mittee of Fathers Club judges who selected the finest items. These premium crafts and works of art were sold at approximate-ly 135 tables located throughout the gym, cafeteria, and hallways of the school. The �8th annual Craft Fair proved to be highly successful.

Brother Ronald Cairns, the Fathers Club moderator, com-mented, “Besides the triumph of this event, it was also enjoyable to see the father and son camara-derie that occurs in events such as these.”

Fathers Club Craft Fair a success

Thanksgiving Food Drive Results

December 2006 THE FALCON 3

By Allan Zhang Associate Editor

Sophomore year is a time for students to broaden their ideas and gain better insight into themselves and others. To aid in this process, Campus Ministry has continued with its annual program of Sophomore Spiri-tuality Day.

Led by Director of Campus Ministry, Ms. Michele Palmer, this year’s activities were held on December 1� in the Cor Jesu Conference Center. The theme,

“Define the Vision,” was chosen in order to help students focus on their lives and choices.

Various activities were planned in order to support the theme. One activity was called “Scenarios,” in which a student was presented with a challeng-ing situation that might arise. Participants discussed possible solutions as well as the reper-cussions.

Following this activity was a game simply labeled “Traits,” which exposed different stereo-types with the goal of encourag-

ing students to go beyond labels in their own lives as well as in judging others.

The day’s activities included a snack in addition to a pizza lunch.

Ms. Palmer noted that the main goal was to remind people that, “God’s love is unyielding and limitless and can provide you with the strength as you journey on this new path in your life.”

By Mike Lee Staff Writer

Most high school juniors have already established a comfortable routine in school. However, looming in the near future are life changing and often unfamiliar events, includ-ing college admissions, career decisions, and personal devel-opment.

In order to help alleviate this uncertainty, the Junior Spiri-tuality Overnight was held on December 5 and 6 at the Broth-ers’ Retreat House in Belvi-dere. Approximately 15 juniors attended the retreat.

The theme for Junior Spiri-tuality Overnight was “Fol-low Your Path.” Ms. Michele Palmer, Director of Campus Ministry, remarked, “Junior Spirituality Overnight gave the juniors the opportunity to think about what they have done so far in their lives, particularly in high school, and to think about their goals for the rest of junior year, senior year, and beyond graduation.”

The juniors participated in various activities during their stay at the Brothers’ Retreat House. They played pool, foot-ball, frisbee, and other games. They also relaxed and socialized

with each other in an environ-ment free of the academic pres-sure of a classroom in which they normally interact.

The juniors engaged in spiri-tual activities as well, including group prayer, group discussion, and personal reflection. Each junior recorded his feelings about the events of the night in a journal.

Ms. Palmer said, “It was an opportunity to open up and share experiences, not only for them but for myself as well. It was really nice seeing different guys come together and spend time with each other.”

JuniorS

‘Follow Your Path’ wherever it leads you

By Greg Myer Associate Editor

St. Joe’s Senior Spirituality Overnight focused on reflection. Student participants were asked to look back on some of their high school memories, includ-ing their happiest moments, worst moments, most embar-rassing moments, and biggest regrets.

The Overnight was held from November 7 to 8 at the Brothers’ retreat house in Belvidere. Ten seniors attended. Ms. Palmer,

Director of Campus Ministry, recognized the overnight as, “an opportunity for guys to come together as a class.”

One memorable part of the night was a prayer service in which students brought one thing that represented their four years at St. Joe’s. “It’s interest-ing to see what guys bring,” said Ms. Palmer. “Some brought their varsity jacket; some even brought the marble they got as a freshman at orientation.”

While the Senior Spirituality Overnight is rooted in reflec-

tion, the group also looked ahead to their futures beyond high school. Ms. Palmer tried to help students to realize what they wanted to do with their lives. To illustrate her point, she gave each student a copy of The Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo.

“It’s a story about a young boy who gives everything up and takes a chance to follow his dream,” said Ms. Palmer. “It gives important messages about your personal dream and the things that are really impor-tant.”

SeniorSReflecting on the past to bridge the future

SophoMoreS‘Define the Vision’ to meet challenges ahead

Spirituality retreats

Photos by Michele PalmerRetreat participants enjoyed time spent with peers while reflecting on their spiritual lives.

By Chris McGovern Sports Editor

When Andrew Bynum was selected by the Los Angeles Lak-ers as the 10th overall pick in the �005 National Basketball Associa-tion (NBA) Draft, he became the youngest player ever to be drafted into the league at 17 years, eight months, and two days old.

Having decided to pass up a full basketball scholarship to the University of Connecticut, Bynum, SJHS Class of ’05, faced a steep learning curve as he prepared to match up against experienced grown men, some twice his age. To expedite his adjustment to the pro game, the Lakers hired Hall of Fame center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as a special assistant to work with Bynum in the summer prior to his rookie season.

Bynum spent most of his rook-ie season on the bench, soaking up knowledge from, among others, elite NBA players Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom as well as leg-endary coach, Phil Jackson.

In perhaps Bynum’s most memorable game as a rookie, on January 16, �006, Bynum went head-to-head with Shaquille O’Neal of the Miami Heat, the most dominant big man of his era. At one point during the game, O’Neal used his 3�5+ pound frame to knock Bynum to the floor and proceeded to dunk the ball through the basket.

On the following play, Bynum used a finesse move, in direct contrast with O’Neal’s use of brute force, to navigate around the Heat center and dunk the ball. The two players then exchanged light shoves, causing both men to receive technical fouls.

Bynum’s best statistical game of his first season came on January 31, �006 at Madison Square Gar-den versus the New York Knicks, when he shot 7-7 from the floor and finished with 16 points in 12 minutes of action.

While continuing his off-sea-son workouts with Abdul-Jabbar this past summer, Bynum added at least �0 pounds of muscle to his �75 pound frame.

Bynum began the �006-07 campaign as his team’s starting center due to injuries to the Lak-ers’ front line. He has performed admirably and has made the most of his increased playing time, averaging over 8 points and six rebounds per game.

On November 7, �006, Bynum played his finest game as a pro, scoring �0 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and blocking three shots in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the game, he reflected on his improvement and matura-tion since entering the league. “I just believe in myself. Day by day I’m gaining more confi-dence out there and growing as a basketball player just by getting the experience from playing all these minutes,” Bynum said in an interview published on the Cana-dian Broadcasting Corporation’s English language website cbc.ca on November 8, �006.

Andrew BynumAt a glance...

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 7-0 / �85

Birthdate: October �7, 1987 (Plainsboro, N.J.)

High School: St. Joseph HS (Metuchen, N.J.)

An early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft. Originally com-mitted to Connecticut. Named a �005 McDonald’s High School All-American.

2005 Postseason All-Star Games: Tallied nine points and five rebounds in 11 minutes in the McDonald’s High School All-American Game. Scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Gray squad at the Jordan Classic.

Senior (2004-05): Averaged ��.0 points, 16.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks.

Junior (2003-04): Averaged 17.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocks.

Strengths: Has tremendous size, soft hands and a nice scoring touch.

Personal: Was an honor student at St. Joseph High School. Gradu-ated with a 3.6 GPA and scored a 1050 on his SAT. Favorite subject is physics.

source: www.NBA.com

By Chris McGovern Sports Editor

Ms. Melynda Barnhart, direc-tor of Anti-Trafficking Initiatives for the International Rescue Com-mittee, gave a presentation titled “Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery” to junior religion classes on December 1 in the Cor Jesu Conference Center.

Ms. Barnhart usually makes presentations to college stu-dents; however, Ms. Rhomberg, a friend of Ms. Barnhart, was able to arrange for her to speak at St. Joe’s at the request of Ms. Dellatacoma, a junior religion teacher.

The presentation focused on the two primary types of traffick-ing: sex trafficking and labor traf-ficking. According to a study done by the University of California, Berkeley and the group Free the Slaves, 46 percent of trafficked humans enter the sex industry, while �5 percent are forced into domestic servitude.

Ms. Barnhart currently works in New York City and previously worked hand-in-hand with immi-gration officials as an attorney in Arizona. She visits different cities throughout the United States to deal with trafficking cases and helps victims seek prosecution.

Human trafficking revealed

Photo by Dr. M. GubernatMs. Barnhart spoke to religion classes about human injustices throughout the world.

4 THE FALCON December 2006

Cultural Clubs update

By Michael Varco Editor-in-Chief

The French Club, moderated by Dr. Brand, has had a great start for the �006-�007 school year.

The French Club started off the year by holding a French Honor Society induction ceremo-ny on September �1. During the month of October, the club met four times, electing club officers for both the French Club as well as the French Honor Society.

So far, the French Club has arranged two trips. The first had them dining at a French bistro in Somerset on December 8. The second involved them going to a theater to watch the movie Marie Antoinette.

Presently, the French Club is organizing tutoring sched-

ules between St. Joe’s and local elementary schools, which will host the after-school tutoring sessions. Although no official date has been established, the club hopes to start as early as this month.

While the French Club will be tutoring students from other schools, members of the French Honor Society will be tutoring current St. Joe’s students enrolled in French classes.

As Dr. Brand stated, “These organizations provide its mem-bers with ample opportunities to help others. After all, their principal goal is service.”

Now that the French Club has met and organized itself, the members are looking forward to an exciting and adventurous school year.

By Lucas Zavala Staff Writer

On September �9, ten mem-bers of the German Club, modera-tor Ms. Rhomberg, and chaperone Ms. Dellatacoma, traveled by train to New York City. After shopping at Schaller and Weber, a quaint German grocery store on 86th and �nd Avenues, the group visited the nearby Neue Galerie. There, an exclusive collection of paintings and sketches by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt was on display.

Ms. Rhomberg is currently in the process of organizing a two-week trip to Germany and Austria over the summer. For $1,700, ten students will have the chance to visit popular tourist destinations such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, and Salzburg. All the while, they will be completely immersed in every aspect of Ger-

man language and culture.Recently, the German Club met

to design their first comic strip of the year. Two different versions of the storyline were created. Junior Jack Fitzhenry wrote and illus-trated the first edition, which is available in Room 314.

Members of the German Club are planning to go to New York again in December. This time, they will be visiting several exhibits in the recently renovated Museum of Modern Art, as well as the famous Rockefeller Center.

“My hope is that students will be able to grow and learn as part of the German Club, as well as broaden their cultural horizons,” said Ms. Rhomberg.

With the abundance of activi-ties planned for this year, mem-bers of the German Club certainly have many opportunities to do so.

By Matthew Velez Associate Editor

The Polish Club will continue its usual traditions this year under the leadership of Mr. Kuhne, mod-erator.

As always, the Polish Club participated in the annual Asian Club-sponsored Food Fest on November 30, in which students had the opportunity to feast on customary Polish foods. It also plans to hold a Lenten Mass in Polish.

The Polish Club will host a

speaker who will talk with stu-dents about teaching in Poland and the experience of traveling in Europe. Members also plan to face off against members of the Asian Club in a paintball chal-lenge.

Mr. Kuhne is optimistic about this year’s prospects. “The stu-dents are active and enthusiastic. I really enjoy working with them,” he noted.

With a considerable increase in membership from last year, the Polish Club is sure to have a promising year.

By Allan Zhang Associate Editor

The Asian Cultural Club, led by moderator Mr. Tyrrell, is moving forward at full speed this year.

At the Open House on Octo-ber 15, the Asian Club members proudly displayed their great dedication by putting together a fantastic showing, which included dozens of cultural objects, can-dies, books, and pictures.

On October �5, Mr. Ernst showed the members a slide show from his summer trip to Tibet, Hong Kong, and China. The students visually devoured the picture slides while physically devouring pizza.

The beginning of November

sparked excitement when the Asian Club members readied themselves for the annual Food Fest that took place on November 30. The Food Fest has become quite a tradition at St. Joe’s as each year the various cultural club members bring traditional eth-nic food to the event. This year’s Food Fest was truly international as the Spanish, Italian, German, Umoja, French, and Polish Clubs were all invited to join in on the festivities.

The outpouring of support from its members in addition to its continual display of consistency has made the Asian Club perenni-ally popular with students.

Mr. Tyrell commented, “This is a great group of fine young men.”

Food Fest 2006

By Matt Roth Staff Writer

The Umoja Club, encouraged by supportive membership, has planned a year of interesting and exciting events. Regularly sched-uled meetings are the forum where potential ideas for the club are presented and discussed, with the most interesting ones selected.

Members participated in and thoroughly enjoyed the annual international Food Fest, sponsored by the Asian Club.

One upcoming event that members are looking forward to is a discussion entitled, “What is Black?” which will focus on the role of race in society. Plans are already being made to schedule their traditional trip to the cul-tural neighborhood of Harlem, always a popular, well-attended excursion.

The newly-elected officers hope to make the club better than ever through their solid leader-ship. Co-presidents, Darrell Car-roll and Kyan Hiens are taking

an active role in promoting the club, ensuring that newcomers feel welcome any time throughout the year.

The other officers, Treasurer, Nickolai Marquis, Event Manager, Jervis Hudson, and Club Rep-resentative, Lamar Fischer, are each contributing to the group’s accomplishments.

The moderator, Ms. D’Alonzo, emphasized the open atmosphere of the club and encouraged all students to play an active role in the club’s success this year.

By Kevin Corlett Staff Writer

Every other Tuesday during break, students with an interest in Hispanic culture gather in a large, spacious room decorated with maps, posters, and a Spanish-filled chalkboard for a meeting of the Spanish Heritage Club. This comfortable atmosphere is where 15 to �0 students, along with their moderator, Ms. Bonelli, meet to discuss their upcoming activities and plans.

Ms. Bonelli describes her usual group as “a great group of guys, with plenty of bright ideas for upcoming activities.”

Members have participated in the St. Joe’s Open House, enjoyed a great meal at the Food Fest orga-nized by the Asian Club, and have listened to Melinda Barnhart, the Director of the International Res-cue Committee and an enthralling guest speaker on illegal human trafficing issues.

The Spanish Heritage Club also has plans for many more cul-tural activities in the future, which could include Spanish movies, museums, and theater.

No matter what nationality, these students come together and have a great time exploring all facets of Hispanic culture.

Photos by Dr. M. Gubernatunder the direction of Mr. Tyrrell, Asian Club moderator, as well as other cultural club moderators and student volunteers, the annual Food Fest was a big success. Over 100 students and teachers attended to sample the delicious, international foods.

uMoJA CLuBpoLiSh CLuB

GerMAn CLuB

FrenCh CLuB

SpAniSh heriTAGe CLuBASiAn CuLTurAL CLuB Merry Christmas!Joyeux Noel!Froehliche

Weihnachten!Buone Feste

Natalizie!Sung Tan Chuk Ha!

Maligayan Pasko!Boze Narodzenie!

Feliz Navidad!Rehus-Beal-

Ledeats!

December 2006 THE FALCON 5

By Russell Pepe Staff Writer

AYYYOOOO! Hey fel-las, we’re back in business here! This is Br. Mike’s Movie Review… once again! Now, eyy, just because it’s a new month doesn’t mean you guys should be ignoring what we’ve already gone over. Some movies from last month are still in theatres and if you haven’t gone to see them yet then you are either (a) going to see one this weekend or (b) a complete cuckoo-boy! Now let’s get down to business here. There are four movies that we are about to discuss right now, some good, some not so good, and some… well, we won’t go there.

First, let’s take a look at Clint Eastwood’s patriotic flick, Flags of Our Fathers. (Crazy Chris, if

you’re reading this, it’s an his-torical film, NOT just a movie! Got it? OK, good… glad that’s out of the way.) Brother gave this one 4 stars, saying that it is one of the best films of the year. Flags of Our Fathers tells the story of three Marines’ patrio-tism and courage in the World War II battle of Iwo Jima. Just a warning to those of you with weak stomachs, this film was very realistic! So, if you are able to put two and two together, that means that it was bloody, I mean c’mon it’s a war movie, now. Let’s be serious here! Overall though, it was just a great movie, very good job directing on Clint Eastwood’s part. ÍÍÍÍ

Another great film out there is Harsh Times, which Br. Mike gave 3 stars. This one is about a Gulf War hero, who, although a highly decorated, accomplished

fighter, returns home a psycho after the war is over. He applies for the CIA, and goes on a killing spree in Colombia. (And you guys thought Crazy Chris was nuts! Well, not to say that he isn’t. The kid’s a maniac, but the guy in the movie is crazier.) The film asks whether or not it was the war that actually made him go crazy. Brother says Harsh Times is an intense must-see this month. ÍÍÍ

The third movie on Br. Mike’s review list is Marie Antoinette. Now, almost everyone knows the story of Marie Antoinette. “Let them eat cake!” and the whole nine yards, but this film also tells more of her personal story from her days before her involvement in the arrogant French aristoc-racy. Brother said that the acting in the film was very well done, yet at times, this three-star movie

was a bit slow.ÍÍÍBr. Mike wanted to make it

clear that he is out for everyone’s safety and well-being, and this is why he is warning everyone to stay away from Fly Boys! Brother was very disappointed with this film. It took a very

interesting topic, World War I fighter pilots, and turned it into a boring, silly, and extremely stupid love story! Bad move! This film was definitely the stinker of the lot for this month, earning a generous 1 star from Br. Mike. Í

BroTher Mike’S Movie revieW

By Jonathan Ramteke Managing Editor

New to the roster of Clubs & Activities this year is Model United Nations, co-moderated by Ms. McNamara and Mr. Longhi. The club draws its inspiration from the actual international orga-nization.

Members are assigned a post on a country’s delegation and must represent its political views at the YMCA Model U.N. Con-ference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from January 5-7. The task is not easy; delegates must exten-

sively research their countries and write papers describing posi-tions varying from the Middle East to sinking South Pacific islands.

Because the current academic year is St. Joe’s first in the Model U.N., members will be represent-ing rather small nations, namely Luxembourg and Fiji. Four stu-dents will work together for each nation at four separate commit-tees: the General Assembly, Polit-ical Section A, Political Section B, and a regional organization.

Luxembourg’s regional orga-nization is the European Union;

Fiji’s is the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. Students represent-ing Fiji have a valuable connec-tion in Mr. Fischer’s brother-in-law, Mr. Filimone Kau, who is Fiji’s Deputy Permanent Repre-sentative to the United Nations.

Others will be participating in a historical simulation. All members, however, are excited about the opportunity to gain an international perspective during their three days in Hershey.

“ I t g i v e s y o u a l a rg e r spectrum of how the U.N. deals with foreign affairs,” said Mrs. McNamara.

By Stephen Polansky Managing Editor

The St. Joe’s Robotics Team has been actively preparing for the upcoming season. So far this year, the team has both welcomed new members and introduced new programs, mak-ing this year’s team the stron-gest yet.

On November 4, the team participated in the off-sea-son competition “Brunswick Eruption” held at North Bruns-wick High School. This event replayed last year’s official game with a few minor rule changes. The event allowed teams to tune their robots and socialize with other teams in a less competitive environment.

Ultimately St. Joe’s was a quarterfinalist and placed 10th on a field of over 30 competi-tors. Additionally, the team was awarded a tiki, North Bruns-wick’s unique form of a trophy, for being selected as the favorite robot by Mike Wade, a local mentor.

The robotics team has insti-tuted a JV program this year in addition to their traditional competition. The new event, Roborocks, sponsored by the Center for Advanced Techno-logical Education, is held at Middlesex County College and requires teams to build their robot using the LEGO Mind-storms Robotics System.

There is also a research and presentation component of the competition that requires teams to study a project being worked on by the interna-tional organization Engineers

without Borders. The JV team chose to study

the installation of solar cells in Mexico, and is designing their robot around that project. The event will be held on December 18 and the team will be compet-ing with other high schools in the area.

The highlight of the robot-ics team’s season is the varsity program, which will once again be participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Instead of competing in the New Jersey regional as the team has done in the past, this year the team will be competing in Boston, Massachusetts.

The team has spent the past several months in preparation

for this year’s season, which has included holding classes for new team members and ensur-ing all of the necessary tools and supplies are in place for the January kickoff.

As the robotics team enters its third year, the members are looking forward to a productive and successful season.

Robotics prepares for upcoming seasonPhoto by Dr. M. Gubernat

St. Joe’s mascot has been recreated with 228 crushed soda cans.

Chris Egiziano’s Fal-CAN project

By Chris Jacques Staff Writer

Among the many student-cre-ated art projects that adorn the school’s halls, one piece seems to stand out from the rest. Senior Chris Egiziano’s “Fal-can,” is just one of his numerous artistic accomplishments.

With the help of fellow Art Honor Society members Alex Wexler, Salvatore Forgione, Enrique Hernandez, Joseph Nyitray, Art Club member Jaime Carpena, and club moderator Ms. Melinda Hands, Chris was able to construct the school’s mascot out of ��8 crushed, green-colored Sprite and ginger ale soda cans. Four plastic water bottles were also used to support the three-foot wingspan and body of the “Fal-can.”

Chris started the project at the

beginning of the school year and dedicated two hours a day solely to crushing the cans and gluing them together with a hot glue gun. At the end of three weeks of hard work, the “Fal-can” was finally completed.

“Building the Fal-can was tedious,” said Chris, “but I enjoyed working with Alex, Sal, Enrique, and Ms. Hands, who made the job so much easier.”

Chris’s project was displayed during the Open House to pro-mote both the Art Club and the Art National Honor Society. Cur-rently, the “Fal-can” is hanging on a wall in the main lobby.

“It was a great collaborative project,” remarked Chris, “and the end result was truly amazing. It is rewarding to see our hard work hanging on the wall for everyone to see.”

ModeL uniTed nATionS updATe

Photos by Mr. Salernorobotics Team members create each year’s robot based on specific contest specifications. The 2007 contest will be announced on January 6. robot building will begin immediately.

Veterans Day 2006St. Joe RemembersStudents and faculty honored veterns in their annual memorial service.

photo by Aaron knowlson

Harsh Times (2006)

By Matthew KuchtyakStaff Writer

Following an important traditionat the school, Christmas on Campuswas again held at St. Joseph HighSchool on December 10. This year-ly event, all about supplying chil-dren in need with a good time, is oneof the many charitable events held atthe school.

Setting up for the event was one ofthe most grueling parts of the expe-rience for everyone involved. All ofthe volunteers participated in themany fun and entertaining aspects of

the preparation. From shopping forgifts then wrapping them, to bakingtreats and bringing them to theschool, all of jobs that the volunteersworked on provided them with arewarding experience.

With everyone so well preparedfor the affair, the day’s events wentsmoothly. Young boys and girlscame from various shelters and pro-grams throughout Middlesex Countyto experience their very own holidaycheer. They were able to meet theschool’s very own Santa, along withhis helpful elves. In addition, thechildren also met with some of the

school’s faculty and students.After the event was over, the visit-

ing children as well as the volunteerswho participated in the event, agreedthat Christmas on Campus was trulya great achievement.

“In my opinion,” said Ms. Palmer,the school’s Director of CampusMinistry, “this year’s Christmas onCampus was the biggest success inthe history of the event. Everyonehad a good time, especially the vol-unteers who viewed this as a remark-able experience for themselves.”

With a sense of community exist-ing amongst everyone who attended,the true meaning of Christmas, suchas charity and togetherness, waspresent at the event.

Neil MerchantStaff Writer

At the end of each calendaryear, people begin to think ofNew Year’s Resolutions for thefollowing year. Many facultyand students have resolutionsranging from academics to ath-letics as well as other more per-sonal ambitions.

Students like David Arva,junior, are resolved to committo athletics. David hopes“to rain hard, with hopes ofmaking the varsity volleyballteam.”

Others such as William Chan,junior, want to strive for excel-lence in academics. Williamhopes “to receive a five on all

three of his AP exams.”Many students are resolved to

commit to things outside ofschool. Anthony Lazaro, sopho-more, wants to “give support tothe sick and unfortunate duringtheir trying times.”

Students such as AnthonyFaria, senior, wish for some-thing personal. Anthony wishesto “save up enough money tobuy himself a new car.”

Teachers such as Mr. Martinand Mr. Powers, like many ofstudents, have their own ideasabout resolutions. Mr. Martin isvery determined “to reduce mystress level.” Mr. Powers said,“I am resolute to take myfamily and dogs skiing onthe highest east coast mountain,while cavorting and eating.”

New Year’s Resolutionsaround Campus

Matthew VelezAssociate Editor

As the holidays approach, everyone’s thoughts are turning toChristmas and the bounty it will bring. These are what someof the St. Joe’s community are hoping for this Christmas.

Mr. Whittington: “The 2007 Swimming State Champions Banner.”Mrs. Brennan: “A new Burberry pocketbook.”Andrew Soares, junior: “To see Mr. Santiago in his penguin suit again.”Mr. Wash: “An airplane.”Ms. Wesp: “A brand new TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator.”Earl Halasan, senior: “A PS3.”Brett Ambrose, junior: “An ‘A’ in Mr. Powers’ class.”Mr. Cabrita: “A class of brilliant incoming freshman.”Dr. Gubernat: “Some windows in the Admissions Office.”

Photo by Aaron Knowlson

CChhrriissttmmaass WWiisshh LLiisstt 20062006

Christmas at St. Joe’s

6 THE FALCON December 2006

Photo by Aaron Knowlson

December 2006 THE FALCON �

Mystery revealed inside Brothers’ residence By Jonathan Ramteke

Managing Editor

Prior to writing this article, I had been in the Brothers’ Resi-dence only twice. I entered the “forbidden” territory for the first time during my sophomore year, in order to retrieve the backpack of the French exchange student I was hosting. Later that year, I attended career counseling in its solarium. Fate, however, would provide me with a third chance to step inside.

My opportunity arrived when I decided to explore the history of the Brothers’ Residence. One week later, I found myself being summoned by Br. Aldric Smith. Handing me a digital camera, he told me that he would give me a guided tour around the Resi-dence.

Accessing the building from the second floor of O’Neil Hall, I felt semi-rebellious crossing the threshold that is prohibited to stu-dents. Br. Aldric led me through the wide, sunny corridor where many Brothers are greeted by students. Passing through a thick door and descending a few steps, I was officially there. I stood on the landing near a grand staircase leading downstairs, near an office where Br. Ronald Cairns was working and where two hallways led to the Brothers’ rooms.

After taking advantage of sev-eral photographic moments, Br. Aldric and I went downstairs. Once there, he showed me the parlor, solarium, and the common room where we sat down. Using a book of records, he recounted the

history of the beautiful building we were in.

In 1901, a group of Brothers emigrating from France wished to have a house near New York. They purchased a seventy-five acre tobacco farm from a Mr. Allen. The farm included a large boarding house (the current Resi-dence) where, according to Br. Aldric, a superb boxer is rumored to have trained. Unfortunately, he could not recall the name. As if on cue, Br. Michael Yerkes entered the room and gave us the name: John L. Sullivan. (Trust me. He was superb.)

Because I needed to catch a bus, I bade farewell to Br. Aldric. The next day, I met with him dur-ing lunch. He continued the histo-ry, explaining how the building’s role as a religious and educational institution grew swiftly. Brothers from both France and the United States filled the rooms, and nov-ices lived in a large dormitory on the third floor of O’Neill Hall. Br. Exupère, from France, set up the 1,400-pound statue of St. Joseph on the Great Lawn, transformed the property into a vineyard, and worked the land into his nineties. During Prohibition, wine produc-tion ceased but the Brothers still sold grapes to the surrounding residents (who probably enjoyed them immensely).

Many aspects of the Broth-ers’ life have changed. They no longer grow their own food and prepare their own meals. Instead, a native “Brooklynite” prepares hearty meals that, according to Br. Aldric, comfort them after a “long day’s work of stamping ignorance

from the world.” Cows no longer drink at the pond at the back of the property. A faux cave no longer surrounds the statue of the Virgin Mary behind the Residence.

The Brothers’ routine, how-ever, remains largely the same, according to Br. Aldric. The Brothers gather to pray the Psalms every morning at 6:30. Br. Peter Murphy then says Mass. After breakfast, the Brothers go to work in the school. In a later interview, Br. Matthew Scanlon began where Br. Aldric left off: the Brothers assemble for evening prayer at 5:45 and then eat dinner. Following that, they watch the news, converse, and do school-work.

I asked Br. Matthew what living there is like. “I’m always struck by the noble beauty of the Brothers’ Residence,” he said. “I really think it’s a great house. I think it’s amazing; it was here to welcome the Brothers in 1901, and is still serving the Brothers so many years later.”

As I looked at the clock, I real-ized that my task was completed. Somehow, I had expected to learn wild stories about the residence. More importantly, however, I had gained an interesting perspec-tive into the life of the Brothers and their charism. I had observed how worldly possessions mean nothing to them; instead, they focus on God and the students. Their peaceful home plays an integral part in their life of devo-tion, love, and grace. According to Br. Matthew, “It really makes me feel totally connected with the St. Joe’s family, �4/7.”

By Stephen Polansky Managing Editor

As the f i r s t semes te r

approaches its end, the academ-ic teams are just beginning their seasons. The academic teams allow students to demonstrate their scholastic abilities and compete against fellow high schools in the area.

The Computer League, under the direction of Mr. Costanzo, competes in the American Computer Science League that includes over �00 other high schools from around the world. Each high school competes against other teams in a 10 point contest, in which the first five points are earned by correct answers on a writ-ten test, and the remaining five points are awarded based on the performance of a comput-er program that each member must write. The league took their first contest on December 15 that covered topics ranging from the LISP programming language, Number Systems, and Recursion. The members fared well in the first contest with the top three scores being sent in to represent the school. The Computer League members look forward to the remaining three contests that will deter-mine their overall ranking.

The College Bowl Team competes against other area high schools in a Jeopardy-style game in which teams must try to earn the most points. Top-ics for these questions include a variety of scholastic sub-jects ranging from science to religion to history. The team meets weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays after school to prepare for the tournaments. The first competition of the season was held on December 9 in West-chester County. This tourna-ment included sixteen other teams from the tri-state area. Team captain, Nicholas Berzan-

skis, commented, “I think we have an excellent team this year and will be able to continue our tradition of success.”

The Math League has seen tremendous performance in the season thus far. On November 15, members took the Catho-lic Conference exam, a test with ten questions with the top five scores representing St. Joe’s. The Varsity Math League achieved a perfect score with seven students answer-ing every question correctly. This year, the Math League also competed at Seton Hall University on November 16. The Seton Hall Competition was considerably more difficult than most contests, yet the team still performed admirably.

The Chess Team has been meeting Wednesdays after school and twice a week during break since the beginning of the school year. The team consists of ten members and two alter-nates, and is led by co-captains Roel Mercado, Patrick Fasano, and John Bufe. Members were selected through try-outs held in the beginning of the year. The team opened the season at Christian Brothers Academy on November 15. While the event wasn’t officially recorded, it provided an opportunity for the area teams to meet each other prior to the actual competition. After Thanksgiving break, the team began official competi-tions to determine their ranking in the Shore League. “We got off to a rocky start at CBA, but I think we have a good chance of winning the state champi-onship in the Shore League” commented Roel Mercado.

With the high standards St. Joe’s sets, it is clear that the academic teams have a great deal of potential. So far, all of the teams have performed quite well, and have high expecta-tions for the remainder of their seasons.

By John Nolan Staff Writer

St. Joe’s draws students from seven counties in New Jersey and one all the way from Africa.

Freshman Courtney Field, a fifth-generation South African, was born in the capital city of Pretoria in 199�. When Courtney was four years old, his father’s job was reassigned to Singapore, causing the Field family to leave behind their friends and relatives.

The Fields lived in Singapore, an island city-state and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, until Courtney’s father was again transferred – this time to New Jersey. The family has resided in Franklin Park since April �001, which is the longest Courtney has ever been settled in one home.

Over the years, Courtney has lived in six different homes, attended six schools, and experi-enced a variety of cultures. He finds life in the United States to be very similar to that of South Africa, where he still visits about every two years.

“I think the biggest differ-ence between the two countries is that South Africa has a lot more crime,” Courtney said. He added, “Singapore is an extremely safe place to live. Despite being so small, it is a very international country with great schools. The climate is also much warmer than both South Africa and the U.S.”

Courtney’s expectations of the United States were formed from the movies he watched as a

young boy. How-ever, Courtney said, “You don’t really know what it’s like ‘til you experience it first hand.”

One aspect that has aided Courtney’s adjustment to life on three different continents is that he and his family have trav-eled to seventeen countries around the world on vacation.

When asked about his feel-ings regarding moving so much, Courtney replied, “It’s upsetting to leave behind people, places, and things that you love and may never see again, but at the same time, moving is a way to meet new people, try new things, and start over.”

Photos by Jon RamtekeBr. Aldric Smith gave personal tour of the Brothers’ residence, with a glimpse inside their foyer, com-munity room, and guest room.

Academic Teams off to strong start

ACAdeMiC TeAMS updATe

“...moving is a way to meet new people,

try new things, and start over.”

Out of South Africa

Photo by Dr. M. Gubernat

Sloppy Joe’s Consessions

Ms. Katlack greets students at the newly opened consession stand. Hours: 1:20-3:20Food Features: Hot dogs, nachos, fruity snacks, Sunny D, homemade muffins, and candy.

By Chris Jacques Staff Writer

The Debate Club’s season is in full swing as the members pre-pare for the highly anticipated Vincent J. Apruzzese New Jersey Bar Association Mock Trial. The Debate Club meets twice a week to practice for the Mock Trial, which will take place in early February.

“I think we are very prepared for the competition,” comment-ed Thomas Vajtay, a sophomore member of the Debate Club. “We are improving greatly on our weaknesses and are focusing on the insights that we obtained from last year’s competition.”

The Mock Trial pertains to a fictional case in which a teenager, Ian Fectious, is suing a restaurant manager, Tagen Burgers, for serv-ing him a hamburger that was tainted with E. coli. Coincidently, this case is very similar to that of the recent Taco Bell E. coli outbreak in N.J.

Debate Club members were assigned a position as either an attorney or witness, and have to memorize all of the information found in the Mock Trial Work-book. After the Mock Trial is completed, the Debate Club, under the coordination of mod-erator Ms. Christopoulos, plans on debating other area school about various topics.

deBATe CLuB updATe

8 THE FALCON December 2006

By Michael Pico Staff Writer

Mr. Wayne Fischer, who has been the bowling coach since 1981, and Ms. Nicole Wesp, who is in her first year as assistant coach, head this year’s team.

Finishing last season with an exceptional record of �1-7, the squad is very optimistic about the upcoming season.

Eight of last year’s twelve bowlers returned to try out for the bowling team this year. The void left by graduating captain John Baginsky may be filled by the talents of Patrick Drumm and Tom McLaughlin, who both average over �00 points per game. Other prominent return-ing seniors include Mike Loda and Tim Hagan.

The team will open the season with a match against its rival, Woodbridge. The Falcons will be tested throughout the season by a difficult schedule, which includes multiple matches against East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Edison, and other highly ranked teams.

In their history, the Falcons

have been sectional champions three times and have won the county title three times. The team’s annual goal of winning the state finals is one that has yet to be fulfilled.

By training individually dur-ing the off-season and practicing diligently three or four times per week, the bowling team should be able to tackle any challenge they may face.

According to Coach Fisch-er, “Our team this year has the potential to do as well as, if not better than, last year’s successful team.”

Falcon

St. Joseph High School

By Michael Ferris Staff Writer

The hockey team finished with a 13-8-3 record last season, earn-ing the squad �nd place in the Central Red Division. The junior varsity team had a 8-5-2 finish last season. Under the leadership of Coach Pete Kolodney, the teams will work on improving upon their records from last year.

The team lost many talented seniors to graduation, such as George Helock, Phil Linder, Ryan Herits, James Colline, and Sean Gahagan. The junior varsity play-ers will begin to work on filling the holes left by the loss of these players.

“This year’s team is small in stature, but they are quick,” said the Athletic Director, Mr. Jerry Smith, who sounded confident in

this team’s ability. He also spoke of how this team’s strong work ethic was their key to a success-ful season.

The hockey team opened their season at home against Montclair on December 6. The squad exhib-ited their strong work ethic in their two games against Bridgewater on the 13 and 15 of December, which Mr. Smith firmly believes “will decide their season.”

By Jack Fitzhenry Staff Writer

The winter track season began on December � with the annual developmental meet at St. Joe’s against Christian Brothers Acad-emy. It was just the beginning of a long season that culminates with the State Group Championship in February.

The team’s prospects look good for the season. County champion and school record holder in the triple jump, Carl Luxhoj, looks to be a top point-scorer for the team. Also returning from successful spring track seasons are hurdlers John Bufe and Albert Bastien.

The track team’s most impor-tant meets will come in January, with the County Relays being held on the sixth of the month and Catholic Conference Relays on the seventh. Both will be run at the Jersey City Armory.

February brings the County Individual Meet on the second and the State Group Champion-

ship on the eighteenth. According to Coach Trojanowski, “We’ve changed personnel, but we have the capacity to do well in any event.”

The shot put team looks to figure heavily into the scoring with their top returning throwers, Brad Moran and Dan Schiavo.

Coach Ernst hopes for a strong start with the Holiday Relays at West Point.

A strong start is important, but like the rest of the team, their goals are primarily focused on the late season championship meets.

Speed and agility distinguish this year’s skaters.

hoCkey updATe

Photo by Yearbook staffSt. Joe’s swimmers hope to maintain their champion status.

SPORTSBy Chris McGovern

Sports Editor

The objectives of this season are clear: Capture the school’s �9th consecutive Greater Middle-sex Conference title and �3rd state championship. Because of the Falcon swim team’s tradition of excellence, expectations are high-er than those of most teams.

“The goals don’t change, just the people,” remarked Coach Steve Whittington.

Tryouts began on November 15, and approximately 40 athletes made the squad.

The team started the season off

with a win at the Raider Sprint Relays on December �. The Fal-cons held a 3-0 dual meet record as of December 13.

According to Coach Whit-tington, the most challenging regular season match-ups will be against LaSalle (Pennsylvania) and Greenwich (Connecticut).

Traditionally, East Brunswick has served as the team’s best com-petition in Middlesex County, but the coach now sees South Bruns-wick as the team most capable of mounting a challenge for the county crown.

St. Augustine and Christian Brothers Academy are the most talented teams St. Joe’s may face in the Non-Public A state tour-nament, where the Falcons will attempt to win their fifth state championship in six years.

SWiMMinG updATe

WinTer TrACk updATe

St. Joe’s runners sprint to the finish.

The squad expects another exceptional year.

For more sportsgo to www.stjoes.org

click on athletics

BoWLinG updATe

BASkeTBALL updATe

By Michael Ferris Staff Writer

Two seasons ago, the bas-ketball team finished with a mediocre 16-10 record with the future draft pick for the Lakers, Andrew Bynum, as its center.

The following year, Coach David Turco gave this injured program a shot of life, leading the team to a 21-6 finish and a GMC Red Division Champion-ship. Although the team suf-fered a 57-51 defeat to CBA in the state semifinal, their season was still one of triumph and remarkable improvement under the new coach.

The program looks for con-tinued success in this upcom-ing season. The team will rely heavily on many young play-ers to fill the holes left by the losses of key players such as Sean Baptiste and Kenny Wid-

geon, both of whom scored over 1,000 points.

The team will contain only two returning players from last year, allowing new players to rise to the challenge and pro-vide this squad with another successful season.

The Athletic Director, Mr. Jerry Smith, stated he was “hopeful” about the talent new players, such as senior Andrew Colon, could bring to the team. “In order for this team to be successful in the top ten of the county this season, they will need a total team effort,” com-mented Mr. Smith.

With high hopes and expec-tations, the team starts its sea-son on December 15 at home against South Brunswick. The team will strive to continue the improvements it has made over the past year. Talent and enthusiasm mark this

year’s squad.