at battle of the bands 2005. are you in...

Opposing Views of Parent Teacher Conferences

A Look at Boys Hockey

Battle of the Bands; 2005

March 2006 Issue

Saagar Kulkarni, ‘06, performs at Battle of the Bands 2005. Adventures

in RidgefieldAre You Hooked on American Idol?

The Voice of Ridgefield High School

2 The Tiger’s Roar

The Tiger’s Roar is brought to you by...Co-Editors

Sophie Cai, Katie Flaherty, Christine RobertsonEditors

Scott Erich, Nyanza Rothman, Allie RubinWriters

Tara Formisano, Promeeta Ghosh, Jessica Harriton, Rebecca Howard, Jana Kozlowski, Lauren O’Neill, Chris Thelin, Kara Rauscher, James Winter Design and Layout Angela LoSchiavo

Advisor Mr. Tom Mattausch

The Tiger’s Roar is the student magazine of Ridgefi eld High School700 North Salem RoadRidgefi eld, CT 06877

ContentsBest Buddies Meet MarianoBattle of the Bands 2005 Some Hot New BandsParent Teacher Conferences: Good or Bad? Raves for The Family Stone;Movie Review for Match PointWatching FoodAmerican Idol: Are You Hooked?Interact Club Provides ReliefKids in the Hall: The Role of Religion in Politics?Adventures in Ridgefi eld: Allie and Scott Go SleddingWords About Michael PlunkettAmanda Answers: College Selection StressTigers on the Ice

3456

8

9101011

12

1415

15

Correction The November issue of The Voice, now The Tiger’s Roar, omitted Brian Vier, ‘06, from the list of Ridgefi eld High School football seniors.

Order your 2005 – 2006 yearbook today!Through December, the yearbook

cost is $70. From January through March, the

cost is $75.A limited number of books will be

available in June for $80.

Please make checks payable to RHS Yearbook

Mail order form & check to:RHS Yearbook

700 North Salem RdRidgefield, CT 06877

March 2006 Issue 3

A GREAT Fundraiser

for a GREAT Club

By Tara Formisano In December, a club at Ridgefi eld High School may have held one of the greatest fundraisers RHS has ever seen. On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, the Best Buddies Club hosted a fundraiser with Mr. Mariano Rivera. Not only did the club raise a tremendous amount of money, but the event was an absolutely amazing experience for people young and old from all over Ridgefi eld, Dan-bury, Newtown, Bethel, and even Long Island that will not soon be forgotten. You may wonder what exactly the Best Buddies Club does. The club is a group of RHS students who work together with another group of RHS students who are disabled in some way. The Best Buddies website describes the mission of the club as being “to enhance the lives of people with intellectual dis-abilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.” Each member gets paired with a “buddy” with whom he/she forms a special bond. Additional-ly, Best Buddies is an international club, which means that it costs money to keep

this club in our school each year. The club was recently established here at RHS by Laura Kelley, ’06, President, and Matt Harris, ’06, Vice President. Because the club is relatively new, it didn’t have a very large supply of money at fi rst. So, when the club members approached Mr. Angelo Formisano to help them with a fundraiser, he was happy to comply. Mr. Formisano has had a personal friendship with Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankee’s closing pitcher, for over ten years. “When I approached Mo with the request he was simply ecstatic!” Mr. Formisano explained. The Best Buddies club worked together and devoted count-less hours of work to make the fundraiser as successful as possible and it all paid off. On the night of Dec. 15, Mr. Rivera and his two sons, Mariano and Jafett, came to

RHS and spoke to all who came to see him. One of the most unique parts of this fundraiser was the VIP room. Before the actual event began, there was a special block of time for the members of the club, as well as others who had helped with the fundraiser, to meet with Mariano Rivera and speak with him personally. Once that block of time was over, the event took off. People fi led into the auditorium and after brief speeches from Mayor Rudy Marconi and RHS Dean Mr. Kevin Callahan, Mariano took over the spotlight. Within just two and half hours, the Best Buddies Club managed to raise between $15,000 and $16,000. Prior to the night of the fundraiser, Mr. Mariano Rivera proclaimed, “I always do the most I can. It’s an honor and my pleasure to do that. I’ve been blessed enough so I’d like to bless others.” Mr. Rivera defi nitely did just that. He helped to keep this truly life-changing club alive as well as make his mark on countless kids’ and parents’ lives, which is a memory that will stay with them forever.

The New York Yankee’s closer Mariano Rivera came to speak at a fundraiser for Best Buddies Club.

The money raised was used to suport the Best Buddies Club whose logo is to the left.

Photo courtesy of http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brew/oct04/265873.asp

Photo courtesy of http://www.ohs.osceola.k12.fl .us/.../jpbestbuddies/

March 2006 Issue The Tiger’s Roar


The icy roads on Friday, Dec. 16 didn’t stop the dedicated fans of the seven groups competing in the Battle of the Bands from coming to show their support. The fans were right up in front of the stage the entire time, dancing, cheering, and having fun. The night was highly anticipated, as it had been postponed due to a snow day the week before, and undoubtedly, the supporters were not let down. “Every band was so talented. Everyone that helped out worked so hard, and I think everyone had a really good time,” says one of Battle’s co-hosts, Meaghan Reilly, ‘06. The night started and ended with high power and energy, with battle veterans Eleven West taking home first place and Seeking Asylum taking sec-ond. Other bands participating included Pachari, Melee in Toledo, Mix 56, Hold-ing Perfect Hopes, and Ten Miles of As-phalt. Each had a unique sound, making the competition hard to judge. “It was definitely a really close call.

Usually when I hear all the bands play, one sticks out, but this time they were all awesome. I’m sure the judges had a really hard time,” Alex Steiger, ‘06, comments. The night began with Pachari. Zach Fischer,‘07, led the group with vocals and guitar, singing two acoustic solos. He was backed up by Mark Rice, ’07, with vocals and bass guitar and TJ Elder, ’07, on drums. Zach ended on an impressive note with a notable cover of Death Cab for Cutie’s Tiny Vessels. Next came the senior-junior band Melee in Toledo. While their sound was very different from Pachari’s, they were impres-sive nonetheless. Kellen Quig-ley’s, ’06, vocals fit the group’s sound perfectly. Matt Aaronson, ’07, put on a show with his distinctive guitar skills and Alex White, ’07, mirrored his skills

on bass guitar. Dave Pierandri, ’06, on drums, successfully kept the beat and brought out Melee’s distinctive person-ality. As Jenna Wilkinson, ’06, relates, “They had really great stage presence, and I loved watching them.” The pace slowed down, yielding to another sound from Mix 56. The acous-tic-vocal duo included Colleen McMa-nus, ’08, as vocals and Dave Rowe, ’07, on guitar. Colleen’s voice soon captured the audience. “Her voice is amazing!” one girl exclaimed during the perfor-mance. Overall, Mix 56 added a unique tone to the mix of the bands, and one that greatly contributed to the night’s success. Next was Holding Perfect Hopes, a senior veteran band with two new addi-tions. Lead vocalist Jordan Moser, ’06, and electric violinist Andrew Boyd, ’06, have mixed their way from band to band over the past four years. Last year, they performed as an acoustic duo. This year, Solaris’ crazy drummer Ryan Brodlieb, ’07, and fervent bassist Spencer Baron, ’08, were both added to the mix. “Jordan and Andrew are really tal-

BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2005By Christine Robertson

Jordan Moser, ‘06, performs at Battle of the Bands

Saagar Kulkarni, ‘06, performs at Battle of the Bands 2005

March 2006 Issue 5

ented musicians. They always manage to come up with something that blows everyone away. I think Ryan and Spen-cer made them better this year than ever before,” noted a junior girl. The crowd swelled at the stage during the group’s outstanding performance. Ten Miles of Asphalt exemplified their talent through inspiring guitar skills, scream-o lyrics paralleling those of Solaris, and a shirtless singer, as vocalist Brian Rettger, ‘07, rocked out on stage to his adoring fans without his shirt. Brendan Butler, ’06, showed an outstanding performance on guitar, as well as Ryan Baxley, ‘06, on bass, and Nishan Rajaratnam, ’07, on drums. Eleven West, after four years of working for it, took home first place. Lead vocalist, Greg Autouri, ’06, produced a unique sound with his raspy vocal range. But his part would have been empty without the dual guitarists Andrew Lipton, ’06, and Scott Erich, ‘06. Saagar Kulkarni, ’06, on base guitar, gave a stellar performance as usual. Kevin Kohart, ’06, on the drums, brought it all together with impeccable rhythm. The group knew how to work the crowd too; Greg came out and touched hands with fans before begin-ning the performance, just like a true rock star. Seeking Asylum blew the crowd away with their cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Their rendition was flawless and won the band second place. Members included Mike Schmidt, ’06, as vocals and guitar, Dave Rhod-erick, ‘06, as vocals and guitar, John Mahlstedt, ’06, on the bass guitar, and Chris Magni, ’06, on drums. Their look, oxford shirts and loose-fitting ties, resembled that of English bands. They were the last band to go, which closed the night on a perfect note. The judges could only pick two bands to place, but the choice was definitely hard. Each band had its own unparalleled skill, which made Battle of the Bands 2005 an awesome show. As Meaghan Reilly, ’06, says, “I think this year’s Battle of the Bands was the best yet. It was definitely a success.” Sam Pollack, ’06, adds, “I thought Battle of the Bands was a fun way to see how talented many of our friends at the high school are and to just enjoy some great live music.”

Name: 6 Pack DeepLocation: Baton Rouge, LAGenre: Punk/ Ska/ Indie (Ska—punk rock with brass)

A band that has sparked my inter-est for the unique sound of punk/ ska/ indie music is 6 Pack Deep. I first found this band as I was randomly searching through Myspace, and it has proven appealing for many people in my age group, especially since some of the band members are still enrolled in college. The 6 Pack Deep song Down South includes evocative lyrics such as, “Hands up! ‘Cause we’re partying down south. Tilt your drinks back and you’ll see what we’re about. People in the back, make your way up front. 6 Pack Deep’s what you’re about to confront.” Just by this one line, it’s obvious that these people are all about having fun and playing music. 6 Pack Deep released an album, This Party Called Life in 2005, which features some of the band’s new songs. Unfortu-nately, because of college, 6 Pack Deep is not able to tour at this time. Neverthe-less, if you are interested in finding out more about this amazing group, be sure to check out www.6packdeep.com or www.myspace.com/6pd.

Hands Up ‘Cause You’re

Partying with 6 Pack Deep!

By Chris Thelin

Name: High School Football HeroesLocation: Long Island, NYGenre: Punk/ Ska/ Indie Another band that really stands out to me is High School Football Heroes. Over the summer, I worked with a member from a local band, “The Make-out Bandits,” who piqued my interest in punk/ ska/ indie music. “High School Football Heroes” has a distinctive com-bination of sounds that really appeals to me. Two of my favorite songs are “We Need A Miracle” and “A Long Look at a Short Lived Dream.” The band’s power-ful lyrics represent a whole new way to sing about relationships and politics. Over Christmas break, I had the opportunity to attend one of the band’s live shows in Hartford. The electrifying vibe in the air combined with the fact that everyone was excited to be there made it one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. If you want to listen to High School Football Heroes you can go to www.highschoolfootballheroes.com or www.myspace.com/hsfh.

A Long Look at High School

Football Heroes

By Chris Thelin

Photo courtesy of: http://www.purevolume.com/highschoolfoot-ballheroes

Photo courtesy of http://www.6packdeep.com/

The Tiger’s RoarMarch 2006 Issue


The new changes surrounding par-ent-teacher conferences have recently been a topic of controversy here at Ridgefield High School. In earlier years, the students had little to do with the actual conference. Their parents would meet with a teacher and talk about the student without his/her presence. How-ever, this year, the student must attend the parent-teacher conference, leading some to question whether this change is one that will benefit the students or whether it is simply a waste of time. Under the previous system, when parents returned home from conferences, they often shared little if any information about the conference with their children. Any feedback from the teacher that was actually divulged to a student was usu-ally vague and therefore ineffective. For this very reason, the new change to the parent-teacher conferences is definitely a positive development. Another change in the conference system is that the secretaries call in the parents certain teachers want to see, rath-er than the parents asking to meet with any or every teacher. This too is a very positive change. It allows the teacher to focus on each selected student’s confer-ence and therefore be better prepared for a more interactive and comprehensive discussion at each conference. Granted, attending a parent-teacher conference would definitely not be high on my or many other students’ prior-ity list. Nevertheless, it gives a student insight into what the teacher thinks of him/her, both in terms of class participa-tion and character in general. In this way, the new parent-teacher conferences provide students with a better sense of teachers’ opinions on their class performance, which can be a source of motivation for future improve-ment. Another important aspect of the new conference system is the tone and comfort level that parents have with their child that teachers may not have. At

home, students are generally less inclined to pay attention to their parents’ school-re-lated advice, often making mental excuses such as, “They don’t really know what’s going on at school” or, “They were in high school so long ago, how can they know what advice to give.” In contrast, when a teacher tells a student specifically that he/she needs to do home-work or study more for tests, the student is generally more apt to listen because the teacher is traditionally considered an authoritative figure. To some degree, for example, a “D” on a report card can be worse than two weeks of grounding. When attending conferences, students can hear what teachers have to say and question it based on what they feel and know. When only parents attend confer-ences, they may not be very informed about their teenager’s grades and conduct in class, making it difficult to challenge or thoroughly discuss a teacher’s comments even when such would be justified. Under the new system, if the teacher tells a stu-dent that, say, his/her test grades are low, but the student has no recollection of get-ting many low grades on tests, he/she can question the teacher on what is considered a “low” test grade. Many students probably disagree with the recent changes made to the parent-teacher conferences. However, the new conference system ultimately provides the students with more opportunities to assess their personal performance and their relationships with teachers. Speaking one-on-one with a teacher and being able to ask any questions a student may have is a unique opportunity. While it may not be the most enter-taining way to spend 15 minutes of an afternoon, the new parent-teacher confer-ence certainly has the potential to positive-ly benefit a student’s academic life. And besides, 15 minutes could save a student those two weeks of grounding.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: A

Positive OutlookBy Kara Rauscher

Do you like the new Parent-Teacher Conference System?

Yes (4) 17%

No (17) 83%

Total Votes: 24

RHS Poll

Parent-Teacher Conference Poll

ResultsBy Sophie Cai

Thanks to everyone who participated in last issue’s poll about the new con-ferencing system! Above are the results from 24 randomly polled students. Below is a sampling of anonymous comments from those who participated in the poll.

• “The change doesn’t affect me.”

• “It’s so awkward that they ask the student to come in also. No one wants to be criticized…in the presence of both a parent and a teacher.”

• “The old way was better, where people could set up a meeting if they so wished, regardless of their current performance in class. The old system was much more simple, effective, and easygoing.”

• “[The current system] does not allow everyone who needs a conference to get one.”

Please be sure to take part in our poll for this issue! Just visit our web-site at www.geocities.com/rhs_voice and click on the “Join the Poll!” icon to submit your vote, and any addition-al comments if you so desire! Thanks again for your support!

March 2006 Issue 7

This year, Ridgefield High School changed its parent-teacher conferences to eliminate the long lines in front of the teacher’s desk, with students jockeying for position to lock up that coveted 7:30 p.m. slot on the salmon-colored sheet for their parents. Instead, the high school has insti-tuted a system in which teachers identify a small group of students who they feel would benefit most from a parent-teacher-student conference. The administrative office then calls these parents to set up a time for the parents and the student to see the teacher. The students are required to attend with their parents and each confer-ence is fifteen minutes long, instead of the ten-minute conferences of previous years. Some parents believe that this new conferencing method ignores the majority of students, punishes the dedicated par-ents of Ridgefield who fight for confer-ence time with the teachers, and humili-ates the students who have been asked to attend a conference. The parent-teacher conference method was altered this year because the school wanted to allocate more confer-encing time to the parents of students who are experiencing intellectual or social difficulties in a class. Some teach-ers are conferencing with their very best students as well as the students with problems, but most teachers have not used their limited resources to meet with parents to extol the brilliance, impeccable behavior, and unflappable ethics of their children. Unfortunately, under the new system, the vast majority of parents do not have the privilege of a parent-teacher confer-ence during days specifically set aside for conferences. Individuals in this group often include parents of adequate or average students who are already ignored in the Ridgefield school system. While outstanding students are rewarded with high grades, excellence awards, and other

accolades, and the struggling student receives extra help, tutoring, and encour-agement for improvement, most adequate students receive little recognition and at-tention. Now, the parents of these students are even deprived of the opportunity to speak to teachers during parent-teacher conference days. Ridgefield parents all pay taxes to support the school system and therefore they should all have an equal opportunity to see teachers during conference days. The administration argues that the old sys-tem was never fair to all parents anyway because the conference slots were filled so rapidly that many parents were unable to obtain appointments. However, instead of changing the system to accommodate all parents, the system has been changed to accommodate a significantly smaller number of parents than before. As a result, some parents now feel that they are being punished for taking an interest in their children’s education and that the school is apparently forgetting that they are the same dedicated parents who vigorously campaigned and voted for higher taxes to support the school system. These parents assert that there is some-thing wrong with a system that punishes the voters that feed it. Furthermore, the new conferences system requires that parents who are called in for a conference bring their child with them. In the past, parents were free to choose whether or not to bring their child and since all parents could attend confer-ences, a student seen in the halls on con-ference night with his/her parents would not signal that the student was having difficulties. However, now when students are seen with parents during parent-teach-er conference week, they are stigmatized because it is mainly students with difficul-ties who are being called in. In addition, parents have argued that if their child is having difficulties in a class, it should be a private matter and the school should not dictate the child’s attendance at a parent-teacher conference. The school has taken the position that students are burgeoning adults and must be present at the conference. Yet the school does not treat teenagers as adults and neither does the law or society. Thus, as legal guardians, parents should have the choice whether to bring their child in or leave them at home. Under both the new and old confer-

encing methods, a parent may request a parent-teacher conference at any time during the school year. Hence, the school may feel that it has not taken away the rights of any parent. Nevertheless, setting up conferences with individual teachers on different days and at different times to accommodate every teacher’s schedule is not the same as having all conferences on the same day. In particular, working parents are often only able to use the evening hours during a conference week to see the teachers. Thus, in many cases, forcing a parent to make six or more trips to the school to see the teachers is tantamount to depriving the parent of conferencing rights alto-gether. Also, since dedicated parents will not sit back and be denied a conference, teachers may experience added pressures to accommodate more parents than ever before outside of the regular conference schedule. In light of the fact that under the old conferencing method more parents requested conferences than the schedule permitted, perhaps the school should attempt to increase rather than decrease the number of slots available for parent-teacher conferencing. Some parents have suggested that a better method of conferencing would be to reintroduce the former ten-minute con-ference slots for the majority of parents with average or successful students. The parents of students with problems could then be separately called in by teachers for extended conferencing in order to al-low for longer discussions. Under this hy-brid method, the teachers would squeeze in the majority of parents during confer-encing week and minimally impact their normal schedules by calling in a minority of parents for special conferencing. Indeed, it is difficult, if not impossi-ble, to find a system of conferencing that completely satisfies everyone. Yet given the considerable number of protests from parents as well as students over the new parent-teacher conference system, it is clear that there has to be a better way. As for what that improved method might be, the school administration and The Tiger’s Roar are always open to suggestions from students and parents. So if you have an opinion about the current parent-teacher conference system, be sure to make your voice heard!

The New Parent-Teacher Conference: Is

Access Denied?By James Winter

March 2006 Issue The Tiger’s Roar


When Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker,) a high-strung execu-tive, decides to spend Christmas with her boyfriend Everit’s family (Dermot Mulroney,) she soon realizes that the relatives she just walked in on have a not-so-hidden agenda. She also realizes how different each family member is from the next; Sybil (Diane Keaton) is the overbearing mother, Kelly (Craig T. Nelson,) the quiet but opinionated father, Thade (Tryone Giordano,) the deaf and gay brother, Amy (Rachel McAdams,) the downright cruel younger sister, Ben (Luke Wilson,) the slacker brother, and Susanna (Elizabeth Reaser,) the older and very pregnant sister. With all of these personalities living under one roof, Meredith often fi nds herself saying the wrong thing and notices that she just doesn’t fi t in. So she soon calls in reinforcements, her sister Julie (Claire Danes,) only to cause even more romantic drama. Then, much to everyone’s dismay, soon after Julie arrives, Everit tells his mother he wants to propose to Meredith and asks for his grandmother’s engagement ring, the family stone. Not surprisingly, Sybil is apprehensive about giving her son the ring she promised him years ago, but not just for obvious reasons. Hollywood often tries to appeal to the family audience, with family movies that are usually both funny and heart-breaking such as this one. Very rarely does Hollywood succeed with this type of fi lm. The Family Stone, however, is different. Not only is there a stellar cast, but the plot line is also equally captivat-ing. Most importantly, it is easy to relate to this eccentric family. Rather than merely focusing on one aspect of family life, The Family Stone movingly portrays both the good and bad. So whether or not you have a mother with cancer, a brother who’s deaf and gay, or a soon-to-be sister-in-law who simply doesn’t fi t in, chances are you’ll still be able to relate to this fabulous movie.

Match Point is about a tennis instruc-tor, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Mey-ers,) who becomes friends with a wealthy student of his, Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode.) After meeting Tom’s family, Chris begins to date Tom’s sister Chloe, but meanwhile falls for Tom’s fi ancée, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johanssen,) a struggling actress. Chris is more than happy to marry Chloe, but his infatuation with Nola and their ensuing relationship continues after his marriage. While the cast is renowned for being incredibly talented, in my opinion luck just wasn’t on Woody Allen’s side. Plus, the soundtrack consisted solely of opera, which may have created an atmosphere of tension at times, but overall seemed awkward to me. Not only that, but the plot was only

The Family Stone

By Jessica Harriton

Match Point: A Fault

By Lauren O’Neill

somewhat believable, and all too familiar. Most scenes were predictable and many of the lines were incredibly cli-chéd. I kept waiting for something unexpected to happen, but it never did. During the two hours and 40 minutes that the show lasted, I often felt restless, and in the end, I didn’t feel particularly able to empathize with any of the characters. In all fairness, the performances weren’t disappointing and nei-ther was the setting in London. But if you’ve been searching for a movie to relax with after midterms, in my opinion Match Point might not be the best choice out there.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.impawards.com/2005/match_point_ver3.html

Photo courtesy of: http://www.nexbase.net/photo-gallery/The-Family-Stone/thefamilystone

March 2006 Issue 9

The Food Network is more than just a channel with cooking shows 24/7. Anything and everything that in some way involves food, from what and where celebrities eat, to food festivals, to where different types of food origi-nated, to ethnic cuisine is fair game. Despite being a cable television channel, according to its website at www.food-network.com, the Food Network reaches 85 million U.S. households and 5 mil-lion Internet users, as well as television viewers in Canada, Australia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Monaco, Andorra, Africa, France, and French-speaking parts of the Caribbean and Polynesia. So what makes the channel so popular? One thing is clearly the per-sonable, entertaining chef personalities who appear on the channel (“hosts” or “celebrity chefs,” as Food Network calls them). Ever heard of Emeril Lagasse? His popularity has grown with the network itself, and his best-known show, Emeril Live, attracts viewers every evening. Part of his appeal lies in the fact that he cooks in front of a live studio audi-ence that gets to sample the different

dishes he prepares. Also, a band called the Emeril Live Band plays live jazz music each episode during breaks and intermissions. Finally, Emeril engages the audience by using his own catchphrases such as, “Kick it up a notch,” or “Bam!” whenever he adds some spicy, unusual, or tasty ingredient to a dish. Emeril acknowledges a variety of cuisines, but specializes in Cajun and French cuisine, the types of foods served in the restaurants he owns in New Orleans, Los Vegas, Orlando, and other cities. Another popular Food Network show is Iron Chef, originally a Japanese twist on a cooking game show. Although new episodes are no longer being created, the show still airs regularly on Food Network. On Iron Chef, the host, called Chair-

man Kaga, selects an exotic ingredient with which the two contestants (the fi rst, a so-called “Iron Chef,” who is one of four men, respectively Iron Chef Japanese, Chinese, French, or Italian; the second, his challenger, often a well-known, accom-plished chef from one of many different parts of the world) must prepare a com-plete meal with numerous courses as well as dessert in 60 minutes, all of which must contain the ingredient featured on the set, called “Kitchen Stadium.” This can prove a diffi cult task, es-pecially if the ingredient is some variety of seafood, such as an eel. Afterwards, a number of individuals, usually Japanese movie stars and other celebrities, taste all the dishes and select a winner, either the Iron Chef or the challenger, for each battle. Since the show is translated from Japanese into English with voice-overs, the dialogue between the celebrity tasters can be quite amusing. A later take off of the original, Iron Chef America, is also broadcast on the network. Other Food Network personalities take different approaches to food. For instance, Alton Brown, host of Good Eats, explores the science and pop culture behind everyday foods. Each show is a

Watching Food

By Nyanza Rothman

story into which he incorporates vari-ous supposed family members and other individuals providing a unique blend of humor and food lore. Al Roker, an NBC Today Show anchor, also has a show called Roker on the Road, in which he travels around the United States studying and sampling regional cuisines, in addition to hosting many specials on Food Network. Yet Food Network is certainly not all about cooking. For instance, on $40 a Day, the bubbly Rachael Ray travels to a new city in a different corner of the globe each episode, and shares clever ways and tips from locals about where to get the best regional cuisine for the best prices. The rule is that she has to eat three full meals, plus a snack or a des-sert, and remain within her budget of $40 (or the equivalent). She also explores local cultural activities in the city, while exuding enthusiasm. Rachael Ray never has a bad day. So the next time you hear someone mention Food Network, remember—it’s not all about the cooking. It is about cul-ture, exploring new places and cuisines, learning about the science and history behind everyday foods, and watching amiable, fun, and exciting hosts. As Emeril would say, “Kick it up a notch!”

Photo courtesy of: images.scrippsweb.com/.../ emeril_la-

gasse_e.jpgEmeril Lagasse, host of “Emeril

Live”

Photo courtesy of: food-network.

com Food Network

Logo

The Tiger’s RoarMarch 2006 Issue


By Jana Kozlowski As I sat down with popcorn to watch the highly publicized premiere of American Idol’s fifth season, I was concerned that maybe Idol was getting old. Many speculated that ratings would start to drop and the concept would grow stale. But as a matter of fact, the premiere raked in a phenomenal number of viewers: 35.4 million, to be precise. The audience was fantastic, Fox’s best numbers for any program (except the Super Bowl). But how did the show’s quality compare to that of past years? The talent was mostly impressive and the format was much the same. As before Of course, there were the pain-ful moments, like when a ridiculously dressed contestant belted out a horrify-ing rendition of Lady Marmalade. Then there were the openly embarrassing

Are You Still Tuned In?

auditions, such as when Simon Cow-ell, the notoriously bitter judge, asked Crystal, a girl drip-ping with mascara, about her suntan, and she responded by introducing herself. When Mr. Cowell repeated his question, Crystal started to say what song she was about to sing. Maybe she wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but to add insult to injury, she was also a terrible singer. Nevertheless, it’s these kinds of situations that draw the crowds. As Ben Murray, ’09, commented, “Usually I watch the first few episodes of American Idol just to see who has the most outrageous audition or if Simon will make anyone cry. After that, I get bored of the show pretty quickly.” So will American Idol’s fifth season keep viewers tuned in? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Interact Club Focuses on

International Relief

By James Winter The Ridgefield High School Interact Club may be located in a small American town, but it tackles the problems of the entire world. While the plight of Hur-ricane Katrina victims took center stage this year for many organizations, the Interact Club never forgot the suffering in other parts of the world. The club’s first project in October was an enormously successful book drive for the new lower-elementary school in Project Mercy, located in the Yetebon region of Ethiopia. The students in this region are only able to go to school due to the generosity of donors who have built a lower and upper school for the region. The school has a small building for a library but no English books since English books are very expensive.

In response to this situation, the Inter-act Club managed to assemble eight boxes of nearly new books that will be shipped by sea to a port in Ethiopia and then transported by land to the school. The shipping has been arranged through excess space on shipping containers of medical supplies donated by AmeriCares in Stamford. This semester, Interact will be continuing its efforts to find donations of history, science, and math textbooks to replace the obsolete sets now being used at Project Mercy. Interact also sold lollipops for the Pakistan and India earthquake relief. Some club members took part in a concert in White Plains, New York that donated its proceeds to the earthquake relief and to Hurricane Katrina victims. Of course, our own local charities were not forgotten and the club conducted a food drive for the Dorothy Day center in Danbury as well. This coming semester, Interact will be fundraising for bicycles for orphans who are being cared for by the Society for Hospital and Resources Exchange. The SHARE organization operates a hospital

and orphanage in the western part of Kenya near Uganda where the spread of AIDS has decimated the population of adults, thus leaving a generation of orphans. The club is raising money to purchase bicycles with carts attached, which will help the orphans deliver bread and tea to the local population each day. At present, the orphanage has a few of these bicycles, but is in desperate need of more vehicles to increase sales. This is the second project that Inter-act Club is undertaking for this worthy organization. Two years ago, the club raised funds for the purchase of goats for the orphans and families affected by AIDS. The effort was so successful that nearly 150 goats were donated to the orphans from Interact. The SHARE Spring 2005 newslet-ter featured one of the families that were literally saved by the donation of these goats. The father of four children was afflicted with AIDS and too ill to walk to the SHARE clinic for medication. The milk from the goats helped the fam-ily obtain enough additional income to transport him to the clinic each week for treatment. The father is now well enough to farm and his children are able to attend school again. Interact Club is one of the clubs at RHS that has truly made a difference in the international community. For more information about this club’s activities, contact the advisor, Mrs. Rachel Black Unger.

Opinionated American Idol judge Simon

Cowell

Photo coutesy of http://www.tvenvy.comLogo courtesy of http://www.premierpartners.tv

The Tiger’s Roar

Politicians like George W. Bush reevaluate public issues based on their religious beliefs. In a democracy, is this fair? Here are the opinions of some Ridgefield High School students on this issue:

“I don’t think you can extract one’s religion from what one does. Policy is based on morals, and where do you get your morals? From reli-gion.” -Amaka Nneji, ‘06

“Religion and politics don’t mix well because not every one has the same morals as other people. People should have their own choice on issues that could possibly take a religious stance.” -Koti Zantay, ‘09

“I think political leaders should be religious in a sense based on morality.” -Chad Stewart, ‘06

“While the phrase ‘separation of church and state’ is not literally found in the Constitution, adhering to this implied tenet of a republican govern-ment is the only way to ensure the full spectrum of spiritual and secular freedoms for all people with whom the government interacts. So there.” -Jon Haines, ‘06

“If everyone agrees, [then yes, religion should play a role in poli-tics.] If everyone has the exact same beliefs, it could happen. But, unfortu-nately, that’s not the way it is.” -Bridget Nyland, ‘07

“It’s important to separate reli-gion and government because reli-gious beliefs interfere with a nation’s political stance. Also, it influences our justice system to rule in a specific way. Furthermore, it divides our country into those of certain religions and distinguishes the United States as a country in the world that governs by a higher power rather than a democratic government. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” -Jimmy Haber, ‘09

“It is inevitable. People’s religions overflow into their every day lives, so it’s not something you can cut off and say, ‘this aspect is religious, and this aspect is my life-style.’” -Sarah Chain, ‘06

Kids in the Hall: Should Religion Play

a Role in Politics?

By Katie Flaherty

March 2006 Issue 11March 2006 Issue


2. Well, snow-punk, for this segment, Scott and Allie

will remind you about all the winter-snow fun that you

can have in case you forgot. So, mow down some 4th

graders at Veteran’s Park and attach a line on your favorite snow-tube to the back of you

Jeep and enjoy!

3. You too can be king of the ridiculously tiny hill in your backyard or at some ran-dom construction site. Look out for any

workers on your glorious descent down the pile with your 99-cent sled from Stop ‘n’

Shop.

Adventures in Ridgefield: Sledding

1. Remember those days before CAPT, SAT, and AP tests? You probably do. In fact, you probably still watch Disney

channel. Don’t lie.

4. No Snow? No Problem! Scott will show you

how to sled your way into

snow time bliss!

March 2006 Issue 1

March 2006 Issue March 2006 Issue 13

5. Sick! **Caution. Do NOT use real snowboards for these tricks. Allie rec-ommends cruising dump-

sters for your ride**

6. Don’t be afraid to fall. Wipeouts are the best part of sledding, especially if you take lots of pictures and turn

them into a slide show labeled “How I broke my leg” for your friends and family to watch over and over!

7. The fall might hurt at fi rst, but it’s totally worth it to show everyone your BATTLEWOUNDS!!!

8. Have fun and don’t forget to take turns! *Disclaimer: Allie and Scott are NOT responsible for any public may-hem or child injuries that may result from overexcited high school sleigh

riders.

The Tiger’s Roar

March 2006 Issue

To Any and All Who Knew Mike Plunkett:

Michael was one of my most personable students. He also was mature beyond his years in terms of outlook and insight. I felt close to him in that we had both arrived at RHS for the first time this year. It was amazing how contagious his sense of humor was. Even in my sternest moments I would often defer to one of Mike’s anecdotes because of the wit and humor with which it was conveyed…. Even when he tended to be moody, there was a certain logic that he had that was indisputable despite whatever issue he was being faced with. Many of the students in my class took a genuine interest in Mike’s artwork, which he kept in a folder or notebook. I got to take a peek at it and was also impressed with his ability to capture images and cre-ate interesting designs. He was very excited about being allowed to paint a “Tiger Mural” on a school wall. I did not know that Mike was an athlete and a swimmer. That is something that shows me what a well-rounded young man he had become…. [Mike’s loss] is hard for me, but I’m sure it’s harder for [those students who knew him]. Those that were friends are thinking, “What could I have done to prevent this?” There is nothing to do but to make your own life special out of his memory. Know that as painful as it is, it is a lesson of life in growing up. We will all lose people during our lifetimes and it is a hard thing to deal with. I have hopes that others will use this loss to make their own lives more special out of memory of Mike and the joy he brought to life. Mr. Kevin Michael Javillonar

Everyone [who] knew Michael had such wonderful things to say about him, all true of course. I really enjoyed having him as a part of my class, and I miss his cheerful presence, as I think all of us do. Mike was truly a charming individual. It is funny, but he had made an impression on me before I even met him. On the first day of school, Dr. Dorsey-Mott came up to me to tell me that she had just met a lovely person who was going to be a student in one of my classes. She proceeded to tell me that while she was moving boxes from her old classroom to her new classroom, Michael saw her and offered to help her, and did so for the remainder of that period. While he helped Dr. Dorsey Mott, he chatted with her, telling her how he was new to the school and did not really know anyone. Dr. Dorsey-Mott was very touched by his gen-erosity and friendliness. I was anxious to meet Michael afterhearing about Dr. Dorsey-Mott’s encounter with him, and was glad to know that I was go-ing to have such a nice person be a part of my class. My impression of Michael never changed, from hearing of his kindness to knowing him as a member of our class. It is difficult to find words that truly embrace the kind of person Michael was; he truly was a joy to have known. It deeply saddens me that he is no lon-ger here with us. He is very much missed and will never be forgotten. Ms. Aine Kapell

A few words from

Michael Plunkett’s

teachers remembering his kind heart, sense

of humor, and insight.

14 The Tiger’s Roar March 2006 Issue 15

Photo courtesy of http://www.boostercommunity.com/bcs_1.aspx?ac=aaaf

With 11 wins, and a mere two losses, the Tigers are dominating the ice this year. So far, the team is anticipating success in the upcoming post-season match-ups. As Captain Paul Cerone, ’06, puts it, “We’re ready. I’m excited, and I know the rest of the team is as well.” The game on Thursday, Jan. 19 versus the Wilton Warriors was somewhat of an anticlimax. Of course, the team and the fans were psyched about the win, but what a lot of people were wondering was: are the Wilton games what they used to be? Our match-ups with the Warriors have always been an intense rivalry, since the two teams share the ice at Ridgefield’s

Winter Garden. However, on Thursday afternoon, a poor showing of fans and an even poorer showing of competitors led to a 4-0 slaughter of the Warriors. The following Saturday, Ridgefield took on the New Canaan Rams. With goalies Bryan Craig, ’07, and Captain Gary Garofalo, ’06, the game was tied up. With fewer than six minutes left, Captain Danny Larson, ’06, scored the closing goal of the game. Ridgefield held on for the intense final seconds of the game, and our record advanced to 11-1. On Monday, Jan. 23, however, spirits ran low as the Tigers were defeated at an away game against Darien. Ridgefield fought to the end and was leading in the first two periods. Unfortunately, the Blue Waves came through with three goals in the third period, which led them to victory. In other hockey news, a new policy has been instituted that is known only as “The Box,” or the penalty box for unruly fans. There is just one thing that the Tiger fans need to remember: don’t yell any-thing about the opposing players or what they do during certain activities. (“Hey number 18, you cry during sex,” is a perfect example of something that will get you thrown out of the game, and not just put in the The Box.) However boisterous the crowd may get, the players do appreciate it. Support is the key to victory – positive support, anyhow. “The fans are great,” says Paul. “Keep coming out…we love having you guys behind us all the way.” You heard it, Tiger fans. Come out to the games. Scream and yell. But please – keep it PG.

Tiger Hockey Battles

Through the

SeasonBy Scott Erich

Dear Amanda Answers, I am a junior and I am really stressed out about college. I really have no idea where I want to go or what I want to do. My parents are pressuring me to make a decision about where to look over the Febru-ary and April breaks, but I have no idea where to start. There are so many choices to pick from. How do I go about deciding what colleges and universities to look at? ~ Overwhelmed

A

manda A

nsw ers

Dear Overwhelmed, Deciding which schools to look at can be very stressful and confus-ing. But, it is possible to make it an organized and bearable process. Start by asking yourself a few crucial questions. For example, do you want a small or large college? Would a private or public school be best for you? Do you want to stay close to home, or go far away? Do you prefer the East coast or the West coast? Asking yourself questions like these can help narrow down your search significantly. Then you may want to consider meeting with your college counselor to discuss schools that will fit your academic abilities. Also, there are many websites that can help you search for colleges, such as www.myroad.com and www.col-legeboard.com. Buy a college book that lists some of the colleges and universities in the country to help you get an idea of what the schools you are considering are like. Once

you have decided on the schools that you are interested in, be sure to book tours so that you can get a feel for the campus and atmosphere of the college. Good luck searching, and remember that almost every junior and senior has the same worries that you do about choosing a school!

Amanda Answers Your

Problems

The Tiger’s Roar

16 The Tiger’s Roar March 2006 Issue

at battle of the bands 2005. are you in...

Documents