February 2018

Issue 3

1

Notre Data can also be found at

notredameacademy.org

Notre Data Upcoming Events

By Maia Nunez (‘18)

Inside This

Issue

Gators Basket-

ball Season

February

Break

2

Valentines

Day

Minty Gala

3

WOW

Column

4

Book & Mov-

ie Review

5

Teacher Spot-

lights

6

Black History

Month– Influ-

ential Women

7

Recipe

Cartoon

8

As the old year fades away and the new one enters, it

can seem daunting to have to start all over. 2018 stares you

blankly in the face, asking what you would like it to become.

The truth is, a new year is not its own, sentient being. Rather,

a new year is what you make of it, Gators. The act of creating

(as well as committing to) a New Year‘s resolution can be

tricky, so here are a collection of ideas to ensure an even

better school year:

Improve organization - There‘s a method to all mad

ness, but a clearer space produces a clearer mind!

Practice time management - It‘ll benefit you in the

long run.

Stay hydrated!

Get more hours of sleep - Focus is almost unattainable

when you‘re tired.

Strive for better grades. - This includes devoting more

time to studying, reviewing, and practicing.

Seek out service opportunities. - They are not only valuable experiences, but a fantas-

tic way to contribute to your necessary service hours!

Set goals for yourself. - Creating a plan to achieve them will make it easier to reach

them.

Ace finals and AP tests!

Feb 14– Valentine‘s

Day

Feb 15– Junior Re-

treat II

Feb 19 to 25– Mid

Winter Break

A prime example of

organization provided

by a Gator.

New Year’s Resolutions

This January, the National Honor Society

hosted a week long event called ―January for

Jude.‖ They are dedicated toward raising funds

for St. Jude‘s Children‘s Research Hospital, a

hospital whose goal is ―to advance cures and

means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic

diseases through research and treatment . . . No

child is denied treatment based on race, religion

or a family‘s inability to pay.‖ The Hospital re-

ceives the majority of its funding from individual

contributions, making the National Honor Socie-

ty‘s efforts all the more important! During lunch

periods, wristbands were sold for $2 in exchange for a dress down day on Thursday, January

9. An assortment of Popsockets, pens, key chains, and pencils were also given to the girls who

donated. Overall, the National Honor Society surpassed their goal of $1,000. The money will

be donated to St. Jude‘s Children‘s Research Hospital. Keep up the good work Gators!

Heroes Truly Do Come in All Sizes

By Emma Ahlstrom (‘18)

NHS President Caterina Raineri and

member Madeline Carrera work to-

gether to raise money and awareness.

The Gators junior varsity and varsity teams are really

chomping their way through basketball season! The jv team is

currently undefeated at17-0, and varsity is at 12-11 despite being

plagued by numerous ankle injuries and playing with only eight

girls!

One highlight of the season so far was the riveting Silent

Night Game against St. Joseph Hill. In games like this one, the

crowd is not allowed to cheer until their team scores ten points. It

took our Gators a quarter and a half to score theirs. In the second

quarter with the shot clock expiring, Brianna VanCleaf (‗18)

drove to the basket and scored. Our Gators triumphantly won in a

double over time, six quarter game of basketball behind Gianna

Samuels (‗20), who scored twenty-one points, and Brianna

VanCleaf (‗18), who scored twenty points. Hopefully, there will

be more games like this one in the future! The season is not over yet. Our Gators still have many games and here is the schedule:

2

Feb-R-U-READY Break

By Julia Macaluso (‘20)

With February break fast approaching (and somehow, simul-

taneously, not rapidly enough), we start to plan for our glorious five

days off. So, to make these five days the best ones of your life, here

are some pieces of advice. To start off, try to get all of your work done

early so that you can enjoy the rest of your break stress-free — I

know, I know, such a cliché that never happens anyway, but it honest-

ly helps give you more time to relax with friends and family. Second,

try to catch up on some sleep (especially if your sleeping schedule is

all messed up like mine). Make it your goal to keep up with the same

schedule each night so that it won‘t be hard to wake up when school

kicks in again. Third, if you can find the time, get ahead on the school-

work you know will be assigned when you get back — another cliché, but it will allow you to feel more prepared and less

stressed during your week, especially on top of unexpected assignments and daily homework. Fourth, spend time with

friends and family! With our hectic schedules of school, jobs, homework, and studying for tests, we may forget to

acknowledge and make time for the people who mean the most to us. Take time to make some memories with them! Here‘s

a bonus; if you find some time to spend with friends, you can gain some service hours by doing tasks like shoveling snow or

visiting nursing homes and soup kitchens with them. Lastly, catch up on some hobbies! It is always enjoyable to take some

time for yourself and unwind while doing your favorite activities — and who knows? Maybe you‘ll find a new pastime that

sparks your interest. Have a good February break, Gators!

Courtesy of Google Images

Gators Chomping the Competition

By Kayla McBratney (‘20)

Date Opponent Time Place

2/13/17 Tottenville Junior Varsity 5:00 p.m.

Varsity 7:00 p.m.

SJU

2/17/18 SFP Junior Varsity 4:30 p.m.

Varsity 6:30 p.m.

SFP

Olivia Ferris shoots a shot on the foul line

against Malloy.

3

With Valentine‘s Day around the corner, couples all over the world are making

plans and reservations at their favorite restaurants for their significant other. Partnerless?

Don‘t worry. Being single on Valentine‘s Day doesn‘t necessarily mean it will be a bor-

ing 24 hours for you! Trust me, I‘ve spent many Valentine‘s Days — who am I kidding?

I‘ve spent all of my Valentine‘s Days being single. Despite not having a significant other,

I have enjoyed many eventful and entertaining days on this holiday. So here is a list of the

five best ways to slay Valentine‘s Day while being single!

1. GALentine’s Day! This holiday get your girlfriends together! Go out to your local diner, get your

nails done together, or hang out at someone‘s house and have a movie marathon.

Celebrate how awesome your best friends are and how lucky you all are to have

each other. Remember, friendships will always be there to fix the pain that love

can cause!

2. Celebrate Yourself!

Honestly, this is probably my favorite one. Valentine‘s Day is a day that has made me acknowledge just how

awesome I am and how lucky I am to have MYSELF. So of course I‘m going to commemorate that in what-

ever way I want; whether that means eating all the chocolate and candy in the world, watching Rom-Coms

all day long, or singing along to my favorite playlist, you can find me saluting myself this Valentine‘s Day.

3. Appreciate Your Pet.

Let‘s be honest. Having a pet is way better than any significant other. Pets are always there to listen to you,

cuddle with you, and nourish you with their unconditional love. Can you say that about your S.O.? I don‘t

think so.

4. Have a Spa Day.

Treat Yo Self! Today is the day you use that $30 face mask that has been sitting in your bathroom for a few

months. Whip out those body scrubs, lotions, face masks, and bath bombs and put them to good use. By the

time you‘re done pampering yourself, you won‘t even remember what day it is.

5. Treat It Like Any Other Day.

Happy Wednesday! Who are we kidding? Valentine‘s Day is just like any other Wednesday. We all will be at

school, work, and continuing our everyday routines. The world doesn‘t stop for Cupid‘s lovers. So if Valen-

tine‘s Day bothers you to no end, just ignore it. You probably have a dj or essay to catch up on anyway. So

while every couple is going out to dinner and eating their heart shaped pizzas and chocolates, you will be at

home getting ahead on schoolwork. Who is the real winner here?

By Jenna Saldi (‘20)

By Julie Jastremski (‘19)

How to Slay Valentine’s Day . . . Alone!

On Thursday, January 11, past and present NDA Players gathered togeth-

er at The Nicotra‘s Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn along with the rest of the

Staten Island Catholic high school drama programs for the annual Minty Gala!

Every school year, members of the Minty Association judge each Staten Island

high school show, and in June all of the schools gather at the St. George Theatre

for the Minty Awards. There, many awards are given out for scenery, costumes,

choreography, and the most coveted category of all, best overall show. NDA

Players won this title last year for their fabulous performance of ―Jesus Christ

Superstar,‖ and are of course hoping that ―Xanadu‖ does exceedingly well this

year! Besides the awards in June, the Minty Association also holds a Gala in January, at which all of the Catholic high

school drama programs come together and celebrate their accomplishments with dinner and dancing. Everyone is so

happy out on the dance floor, belting out every note the DJ plays, whether it be a Broadway classic or a radio jam!

NDA Player Ginny Geiser (‗18) says, ―The gala is an amazing way to see kids from other schools and to have a sense

of unity in something we all love to do.‖ Not only is the Minty Gala a great way to spend time with students from oth-

er schools, but also a way to celebrate the Staten Island theatre community and its abundant success. ―It is so much

fun to see old and new faces of the Staten Island Catholic high school theatre collide from years gone by.‖ said Gian-

na Nepola (‗18). In the theatre community it‘s always a pleasure to come together and celebrate a shared love for mu-

sic and the arts. The Minty Gala was an amazing night, which only makes everyone involved even more excited for

the Minty Awards in June!

2018 Minty Gala

NDA Players

Julie Jastremski (‘19)

making the most of this

Valentine’s Day!

4

Ms. Winant’s Words of Wisdom (The W.O.W. Column)

Each year around this time, we are faced with what we want our new year to

be. We promise ourselves that this year is going to be our year, but by the end of

January we are back where we started. 2018 is going to be a unique year for us all,

and we have something that is built right into our Catholic Calendars that is going to

help us stay on track to achieve our ―new year, new me‖ goals--that‘s right, I‘m talk-

ing about Lent! Lent this year is from February 14 to March 29. Ironically, around

the same time we have usually given up on our New Year‘s Resolutions (God works

in mysterious ways!). So to help all of us become better people in 2018, here is my

advice for how to turn your resolutions into an everyday practice during the Lenten

Season:

Why give something up? Lent is a reflective journey that Catholics take

during the 40 days leading up to the Easter Celebration. This is supposed to be a

solemn time in our Catholic lives, but many of us have such a hard time sacrific-

ing the things that make us happy, like chocolate, ice cream, or coffee. My

Lenten goal every year is not always a sacrifice, meaning, I don‘t always give

something up. Instead, I spend Lent doing something extra for the people who

mean the most in my life. Pay it forward this Lenten Season and go out of your way to show people you care. This

could mean anything you want, and it doesn‘t even have to cost a penny! Ask your friends how their families are

doing. Ask a teacher if there is anything you can help with. Tell your parents that you love and appreciate them,

etc. Pay it forward!

Remind yourself why you are doing this. With the crazy world we are living in, it is easy to get off track

and distracted from our goals. Constantly remind yourself why you started going after this goal in the first place.

Tell yourself that this will make you a better person at the end of it all. No one said sacrificing something was easy

--sometimes it is the hardest battle we face--which is why self-motivation is key! If you have never been one to be

self-motivated, grab a buddy, and the two of you can bring a lot of greatness into the world just by bettering your-

selves.

Ms. Winant

Midterms are finally over. Get ready to sit down, relax, and

finally breathe! After binge-studying for the past couple of weeks,

you now need to give your brain a rest and chillax for a bit. Have a

nice cup of hot cocoa, coffee, or tea (especially with the freezing cold

weather we have)! Go out to Starbucks with your friends and have a

nice peaceful afternoon with some warm, mouth-watering, sweet

drinks. Whatever you do, don‘t talk about midterms! If you talk about

midterms with your friends or fellow classmates you will stress your-

self out even more! That would destroy the whole point of de-

stressing — wouldn‘t it? Let the thought of midterms drain out of

your mind. Don‘t look back on the past like Jay Gatsby. Just keep

looking forward.

Once you‘ve gotten midterms out of your mind, you should

take a nice warm bath. Lush, a brand that sells bath bombs, bubble

bars, and luxurious bath oils, can help make your bath really soothing and calming. The citrus, lavender, and herbal

scents will ease the tension in your brain from studying. You‘ll be thinking ―Midterms? What are midterms?‖ Once

you get into the comforting bath, you should also listen to relaxing music. That‘ll really block those stressful thoughts

out of your mind. If you‘re not a big music listener, you can watch Netflix. Forget binge-studying. Let's binge watch!

A few of the most popular shows on Netflix right now are ―Gossip Girl,‖ ―Stranger Things,‖ ―Riverdale,‖ ―The Of-

fice,‖ ―The Crown,‖ ―Black Mirror,‖ and ―Daredevil.‖ If none of these appeal to you then just take a nap. A nap will

give your brain the chance to rest your mind and regenerate. Although it is great to relax, you must be careful not to

over relax. School work is always important, so once you‘ve settled down, get back to studying, Gators!

How to De-Stress after Midterm Week

By Abbey Gilman (‘18)

Google Images

5

Movie Review: ‘The Greatest Showman’

“And the Winner is . . . ” Dance concert rehearsals are in full swing! This year, the show is titled, ―And the

Winner is….‖. As you can probably guess by the name, the theme of this year‘s concert is

the glamour and excitement of award shows. From the Grammys to the Oscars to the Tonys,

the concert will be abuzz with award winning music. It will feature just about every style of

dance, including jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and even pointe! This variety will show-

case the unique talent of each and every dancer from ninth through twelfth grade up on that

stage.

Auditions were held in mid-December. It was a long day, but once 2:45 p.m. rolled around,

Gators hurried to H5, changed into rehearsal clothes, and anxiously awaited the opportunity

to showcase their talents. With the help of Ms. Rella, senior captains, Ashley Abbruzzese

and Olivia Saraceno choreographed a spectacular routine to a song from ―La La Land.‖

Dancers were excited and ready to learn the choreography and come together to produce an

awesome show! Once the dance was taught, the girls split up into groups of three. As they

were called to the floor, they danced their hearts out in hopes of showing Ms. Rella just how talented they are.

Our Gators danced spectacularly, and the show is going to be absolutely beautiful. During the next few months of

rehearsal, they will get ready to hit the stage and dazzle the audience. Make sure you come out to the show on April 13, 14,

and 15, when the NDA family comes together to cheer on our Gators as they shine in the spotlight in Ryan Hall. Our danc-

ers are truly talented, and we can‘t wait to watch them radiate that talent on the stage!

By Julianna Meyer (‘19)

By Jenna Saldi (‘20)

Google Images

On December 28, 2017, the smash hit movie, ―The Greatest Showman‖ was re-

leased in theatres across the country. This energetic and upbeat movie stars Hugh Jackman,

who portrays P.T. Barnum, the creative and hardworking mastermind behind Ringling

Brothers: Barnum and Bailey Circus. Starring alongside Jackman is Michelle Williams who

plays Charity Barnum, P.T. Barnum‘s wife. The cast also includes Zac Efron, playing Bar-

num‘s business partner, Phillip Carlyle, who is loosely based on James Anthony Bailey,

P.T. Barnum‘s real business partner. Carlyle‘s love interest, Anne, is played by Zendaya.

The movie tells the story of P.T. Barnum‘s journey to success through multiple mu-

sical pieces. From the electrifying opening number, ―The Greatest Show,‖ to the mesmeriz-

ing trapeze duet ―Rewrite the Stars,‖ sung by Zac Efron and Zendaya, everything about this

movie is breathtaking. It has a great message behind it as well, telling viewers that it‘s okay

to be who you are, no matter what anyone thinks. Vocalist Keala Settle lights up the big

screen with her inspiring song, ―This is Me,‖ empowering people everywhere to stay true to

themselves. The film takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, and is a guaranteed good time.

There is so much talent in this movie. Seeing it on the big screen or even listening to the

soundtrack is a truly mind-blowing experience and one that will leave you begging for

more. As the movie says, ―Impossible comes true. It‘s taking over you. This is THE

GREATEST SHOW!‖

The most recent book read by our book club was ―Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agen-

da,‖ by Becky Albertalli. The novel depicts the story of sixteen-year-old Simon Spier who is

gay. The only two people who know are Simon‘s anonymous pen pal and his classmate, Mar-

tin. His pen pal shares the same secret, but Martin tries to use Simon‘s secret against him.

Throughout the novel, Albertalli not only focuses on Simon‘s struggle, but also on a diverse

cast of characters who help make the high school setting feel realistic. The storyline encour-

ages readers to empathize with Simon as he worries about how people will react if or when his

secret is revealed.

Overall, ―Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens‖ is a realistic but lighthearted look at some se-

rious issues. It is an entertaining and sometimes even comedic read. The book has been

adapted to a screenplay, and the movie, ―Love, Simon,‖ is due to release in March 2018.

Notre Dame Academy‘s book club enjoyed the book immensely and is excited to see how it is

represented in the upcoming film.

A Great Read: ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’

Google Images

NDA Gators posing at last

By Elena Lofrenno (‗21)

6

Teacher Spotlight– Get to Know Our New Faculty!

Interview with Mr. Matrangolo

Tina: What inspires you?

Several things. Video games inspire me because I have always wanted to become a video game programmer. I origi-

nally went to college to become a computer science programmer, but became interested in tutoring kids privately, thus

beginning my teaching career. Both of my parents inspire me in various ways. My dad inspires me because of his

drive towards business and entrepreneurship which interested me in starting a tutoring company. My mom was a

teacher, so I look up to her regarding those skills. The idea of eventually having a house and a large family also moti-

vates me to continue working toward my goals.

Where did you graduate and what did you major in?

I attended Wagner College, earning a computer science degree and graduating last May.

What’s your favorite holiday?

My favorite holiday is definitely Halloween! I enjoyed my Halloween experience here

this year with the different costumes, characters and dressing up as Mr. Barral.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy playing video games and tutoring students who need help with computers or

mathematics.

Do you play any sports?

Yes, in high school at St. Joseph by the Sea, I played basketball.

Favorite Dessert?

Cake batter milkshakes from Cold Stone!

Favorite movie/genre?

―Nightmare Before Christmas‖ is my favorite movie, and horror is my favorite genre.

Fun fact: I drive four hours upstate to Whiteface Mountain to ski during winter break

and scuba dive in Puerto Rico during the summer.

By Leila Pollio (‘18) and Tina Ahuja (‘18)

Mr. Matrangolo

Leila: What compelled you to become a college counselor?

When I was pursuing my Master‘s Degree in school counseling, my initial thought

was that I would like to do college and career counseling. I knew that was where I

would best be able to use my skills. The opening for this particular position was

very opportune. A friend of mine told me about it, so I sent my resume to Mrs. Jae-

nicke. She called me in during the summer for an interview, and the rest is history.

Is it a fulfilling position?

Yes, I find a great deal of fulfillment in being able to help students realize their po-

tential, explore different colleges, and find a career path.

What inspires you?

I think what inspires me are the students and my desire to help them. They drive me to be the best possible counselor I

can be.

What hobbies do you have?

Reading, adult coloring books, ―Game of Thrones‖- it‘s not just a TV show. It‘s a lifestyle. I also watch baseball and

college basketball quite frequently.

What did you major in at college?

My undergrad major was psychology. My graduate major was in school counseling.

Did you always know that’s what you wanted to do?

Not quite. When I was applying to grad school, I found myself very indecisive about what I wanted to pursue. I didn‘t

necessarily want to stick to psychology, and I thought school counseling would be a good branch off from there into

the realm of education.

Favorite novel?

Ooh. I feel like I have so many. (after taking a few minutes to think) Alice‘s Adventures in wonderland. That‘s my fa-

vorite.

Ms. Huben can be found in the

guidance offices in the upstairs

library.

This month, editors Leila Pollio and Tina Ahuja interviewed two new members of Notre Dame Academy‘s

beloved staff, Ms, Huben and Mr. Matrangolo. Ms. Huben is the junior and senior guidance counselor who is helping

students prepare for and apply to colleges. Mr. Matrangolo is a new teacher at Notre Dame who teaches freshman,

sophomores and one class of juniors computer science and web design skills.

Interview with Ms. Huben

7

Black History Month

By Julia Macaluso (‘20)

During Black History Month, it is important to recognize all

of the influential and innovative female black leaders of our time.

Moreover, these same women should be celebrated and revered

throughout the year. The following are just some of the individuals,

past and present, who changed our world for the better.

First and foremost is Harriet Tubman, an American aboli-

tionist and a scout for the United States Army during the Civil War.

Tubman escaped from the bonds of slavery, but she did not stop

there. She invented a secret system used to help slaves achieve liber-

ation known as the Underground Railroad. Constantly putting her

own life and freedom at risk, Tubman escorted over three hundred

slaves to freedom.

Approximately 125 years after the establishment of the Un-

derground Railroad, another civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, ignited

the spark of the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott. But it was not

just for standing her ground on this one occasion that Parks receives

this recognition. She was also the secretary to the president of the NAACP until 1957. She worked with Planned

Parenthood, and even founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development, which provides bus

tours educating the public about black history.

Mary Mcleod Bethune was another civil rights activist and a leader in education reform. She believed equal

education was essential in moving society forward. She founded Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro

Girls, which later developed into the Bethune-Cookman College. In 1924, she became leader of the National Associ-

ation of Colored Women after years of experience with the organization. She worked with many presidents to ad-

vance child welfare and minority relationships. She also worked with the NAACP and became the director of the

Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration, aiding in job searches for young people.

Thirty-one years later, Oprah Winfrey made her breakthrough as a daytime talk show host and quickly be-

came a household name. She is one of the most involved and influential people in the world of media, and one of the

few female billionaires in the world. Winfrey became a producer and philanthropist, raising over fifty-one million

dollars for charity. She is the owner and publisher of her own television network magazine, and one of the most re-

spected interviewers and talk show hosts of our time.

Finally, Michelle Obama, our country‘s first African American first lady, is not only one of our most influ-

ential first ladies but also one of the best educated. A writer and a lawyer, Obama graduated from two Ivy League

universities, Princeton and Harvard. In 2010, she launched her Let‘s Move Campaign bringing the nation together in

order to fight childhood obesity. By 2013, more than ten thousand childcare professionals had vowed to implement

new regulations for nutrition and physical activity. That same year, Obama instituted a school lunch program to pro-

vide lunch at reduced or no cost to more than 21-million children from low-income families. In 2014, Mrs. Obama

established the Reach Higher Initiative to encourage young people to think about and prepare for their futures

through higher education. The establishment assists students in understanding academic planning, financial aid, and

leadership opportunities. But Obama didn‘t stop there. In 2015 she joined her husband in creating Let Girls Learn,

which reaches out to young women and encourages them to stay in school. They are invited to share their stories of

struggle and hardship in order to show other girls around the country that they are not alone.

These are just some of the African American individuals who have shaped not only our nation, but also the

world! During this month of February, let‘s take a moment to commemorate their remarkable accomplishments.

Happy Black History Month, Gators!

Black History Month is an opportunity for

us to recognize the leaders who have

changed the world.

8

Notre Data Notre Dame Academy

President

Sister Patricia Corley

Principal

Ms. Jaenicke

Faculty Advisor

Mrs. Carp

Co Editors-In-Chief

Leila Pollio

Tina Ahuja

Junior Editors

Julianna Meyer

Charlotte Pasko

Staff

Makenna Athanassiou

Emma Ahlstrom

Amadea Collado

Lindsay Hall

Charlotte Pasko

Julie Jastremski

Abbey Gilman

Shefali Janorkar

Maia Nuñez

Amelie Galvez

Grace DiGiacomo

Jenna Saldi

Julia Macaluso

Elena Loffreno

Gabriella Venditti

Allison Dempsey

Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

By Lindsay Hall (‘21)

Ingredients: ⅓ cup of peanut butter 1 egg ½ cup of butter 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar ½ tbsp vanilla Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Line a baking sheet with a

piece of parchment paper.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat

your softened butter with your

sugars.

4. Now, mix in peanut butter,

egg, and vanilla.

5. Then, mix in your flour and

baking soda.

6. Scoop out your dough and

place evenly on baking sheet.

7. Bake for 10 minutes.

8. Let cookies cool for about 5-

10 minutes.

Above: Courtesy of Google Images.

Below: The finished product!