Table of Contents: 2011-2012 1st Edition

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Dear Reader,

We are kicking off another exciting year of the Tower Review, with a new staff and a new mission.  We hope that you enjoy our first edition, and that you find in it something interesting, informative, and entertaining.

Happy reading,

The 2011-2012 Tower Review Staff

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Table of Contents:

Happenings
The Tower Players Present a Winter Wonderland by Alexandra
RFH Respect Week: More Than Just a Week by Megan
Financial Literacy a New Course at RFH by Doug
Bullying Policy Upgrade at RFH by Devan
The RFH Marching Band Takes 3rd  by Kaitlin

Culture at Large
School Clubs: Are You a Part of One? by Brooke
Bulldawg Poetry by Madeline

Media
‘Real Steel:’ Not the Real Deal by David
‘Footloose:’ Not Quite the Original by Devan
Video Games: They May Not Turn Your Brain to Mush After All by Doug
Movie Remakes: Double Trouble by Devan
‘Jerseylicious:’ A Season Finale to Remember by Kaitlin
‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ is Still Alive and Kicking by Doug

Opinions
Friend or Foe-Food in the Classroom by Megan
Bangkok House: Eatontown Meets Traditional Thai Cuisine by Alexandra
Bye Bye, Books, Hello, Kindle by Madeline
‘The Lying Game’ Series by Brooke
New Fairwinds Deli is More Than Fair by Megan
Hillary Clinton: The Woman Who Should Have Been President by Alexandra
Lions and Tigers and Bears invade Zanesville, Ohio…but Why? by Madeline

Final Word
An Open Letter to the Spineless Parents in Aisle 5 by David
Ten Ways to End Writers’ Block by Madeline

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The Tower Players Present a Winter Wonderland

by Alex

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The curtain abruptly parts, and a winter wonderland emerges with carolers, and skaters.  Men and women in long winter coats and mittens are joyously singing holiday carols as snow drifts softly through the sky.  Skaters dance on the frozen pond, holding hands and twirling as townspeople walk and chatter of holiday gifts and plans. Cross-country skiers glide across the ice as they imagine a warm house filled with their loved ones during the holidays.  The smell of roasted chestnuts, fresh-baked gingerbread cookies, and decadent cups of hot chocolate, piled high with marshmallows and whipped cream, flows in with the frigid air.  This is Bedford Falls, otherwise known as the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School auditorium.

On Friday, December 2, 2011 at 7:30, the RFH Tower Players will perform It’s a Wonderful Life in the school auditorium, assisted by faculty, students, and community members.  Set in 1946, It’s a Wonderful Life is a holiday story about a man named George Bailey who is in deep financial trouble.  Clarence Odbody, a soon-to-be angel, is assigned to help him and earn his wings.  The RFH production of It’s a Wonderful Life is sure to keep the interesting plot and cheer of this holiday favorite.  

RFH does not typically perform holiday themed plays.  However, aside from her interest in the twisting plot of It’s a Wonderful Life, Mrs. Sweeney, the director of Tower Players, enjoys producing school plays because it allows student to gain success in theater.

“Every time a student learns something; it is their chance to shine,” Mrs. Sweeney stated.

 With all the preparation for It’s a Wonderful Life, Mrs. Sweeney hopes all members of the cast get their moment to show their talents.

This student-driven play involves participants in everything from lighting to acting to costumes. Members of the cast work diligently as either part of the ensemble or are casted in minor or major roles.  Other students involved either create their own pieces of art for actors and actresses to wear on stage, plan and design the milieu, or execute the lightning.

It’s a Wonderful Life was chosen as the fall production because RFH’s application to produce the play was granted. Also, the play has had a schedule change and will now be performed in December to avoid football conflicts. Hopefully, this change will provide for an increase in attendance.     

Finally, Mrs. Sweeney enjoys producing It’s a Wonderful Life because it gives everyone a chance “to see the community spirit both in Bedford Falls and RFH.”

Kristen Pellizzi, a member of the RFH drama club for three years, hopes the audience will enjoy this “well-known Christmas show with a great message,” as well as Pellizzi’s favorite family scenes.  She also added that the school’s production is similar to the original, but some scenes have been changed for technical reasons and in response to Mrs. Sweeney’s interpretation.

Pellizzi cannot be happier about starring in It’s a Wonderful Life and being part of the drama club: “It’s one big happy family. It takes each individual contribution in order to make a production work,” Pellizzi confirmed.

Kevin Karol, a senior and member of the RFH drama club for years, is excited for his last fall play at RFH.  However, he is also upset to leave this “family” behind. 

“They’re the best,” he remarked sadly.

He also said that although he enjoys all scenes, his “favorite are the scenes with Mary Bailey, played by Pellizzi.

“She is a great actress and fun person to work with it,” explained Karol. 

Karol, as well as the entire Tower Players group, hopes the students, faculty, and community come to the show and experience the anticipation.

“The lights turn on, and you’re suddenly transported to Bedford Falls.”

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RFH Respect Week: More Than Just a Week

by Megan

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From October 3^rd through 7^th the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School community participated in Respect Week, a new New Jersey state initiative instituted to promote the awareness and prevention of bullying. All public schools are required to incorporate specific activities to develop awareness during this week, and RFH’s School Climate Team worked together to creatively endorse respect among the faculty, staff, and students.

The Climate Team decided to work with a ticket-bartering system.  Each student was given 5 Respect Tickets to reward other students for exceptional acts of respect.  They would equally receive tickets for their own actions.  At the end of the week,  the most respectful student in each grade level won a prize.

When creating the idea for the ticket-exchange system, the School Climate Team knew that their idea might be perceived as juvenile. “This may be an activity you would see in more of a middle-school setting, but the goal in mind is to just get that one student to commit to being respectful, and cause a chain reaction for others to follow,” stated Ms. Camp, a guidance counselor and member of the School Climate Team here at RFH.

A Respect Week ticket

For many, bullying can be a rather confusing and emotional topic.  Ms. Camp also expressed much concern as to why anyone would ever want to bully. She mentioned how once you were bullied as a child, you are more than likely to become the bully. It’s a learned topic, brought up by those at home and those around us in our school community. This is the main reason why all members of the RFH community are participating, including the faculty and staff.

The staff set a major example to students in and outside of school.  In order to help promote awareness, they too exchanged tickets amongst themselves for respect.  In order to differentiate between teacher tickets, as well as between student grade levels, the tickets were different colors.

Abby Cooner, Respect Week’s student voice and representative for Peer Leadership, shared that the different colored tickets are to demonstrate the interaction between grade levels. All grades at RFH need to learn to work together on this act, because  it won’t last just this week.

Throughout the year, the school community plans to more  action outside of this respect week. To help carry out these respectful deeds, Ms. Camp mentioned several in-school activities such as bringing back the “I got Dawg’d” campaign, nominating a student of the quarter, having Quotes of the Day on the morning announcements, and hanging posters of BULLDAWG acronyms in the cafeteria. Also, there was a Mix it Up Day at lunch, and there will be a Day of Silence and an Art Day to support the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.  All activities throughout the year will reinforce this main idea of support and respect.

“We have all been in a situation [in which someone is being bullied] and you just don’t know what to say, and it does feel uncomfortable,” said Ms. Camp.  “It is so important for all teachers to be models in standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, and to be models for their students to stand up for their peers.”

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School Clubs: Are you Part of One?

by Brooke

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This 2011-2012 school year, Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School is offering students the opportunity to maintain productive by getting them involved in extracurricular activities. Some of these clubs are listed below:

1.      FBLA

Future Business Leaders of America is a club that benefits students by teaching them about business-related matters. In the organization, members sell chocolate to raise money for the club. The advisor is Ms. Cimorosi and the president is Robert Gabriel. The meetings are before school; there are no meetings after school, which would be preferable for RFH students who are busy. If one enjoys new goals, activities, and networking, the club will be interesting.

2.      Gay- Straight Alliance

The GSA organization is a unique association at RFH. Anyone can join this club. Mr. Emmich advises the group, by holding morning meetings and planning activities. It helps individuals show the community that everyone should be open-minded pertaining to straight, gay, or undecided people. All around the RFH School there are posters related to the GSA about tolerance and respect.

3.      International Club

The international club is popular and engaging. The organization brings culture awareness to the participants. The meetings are in the mornings, but there is involvement with this club outside of school as well. Mrs. Maglione is the advisor. The president is senior Abby Cooner while the vice president is Junior Katie Veasey. Junior, Kristen Sullivan is the historian of the group. International club mainly pertains to languages and traditions of different countires. This allows students to find interests outside of the United States by a school program, Secretary and treasurer Liz Ginalis (senior) has a job that entails making ideas for the club along with planning and organizing events. She also leads the meeting and sends emails to inform members regarding dates. She even explained, “Currently we have 100 people on the email list. We eat a lot of diverse food and learn about many cultures.” Ginalis told that not only is it fun, the group members go out to restaurants pertaining to cultures.

4.      Key Club

Key club is an extremely active club based on volunteering, which supports the community. Meetings are held on Tuesday mornings before school in M-4. Participants are required to complete a total of twenty-five hours of community service by the end of the school year. Also, fifteen hours must be strictly events one can sign up for in the club. The rest of the hours can be outside volunteer work. The club is advised by Mr. Pennetti.  The President of this club is Zach Fendrick with the vice president being Chris Brodsky. The Secretary is Kristen Sullivan and the treasurer is Jen Malone. The volunteering wok can be accomplished through school events, hospitals, walks, and more.

5.      Math League

The Math League consists of students in honors and regular math. There are six away meets during the school year, which are all on Monday. Mrs. Russell is the advisor of this club. RFH competes against Middletown North High School, Christian Brother’s Academy, Red Bank Regional High School, Colts Neck High School, and Middletown South High School. Mrs. Russell has been running this organization for about ten years. Through out the years, fewer students have been signing up. However she stated, “More kids have signed up than last year.” Mrs. Russell explained no matter how many students sign up, twelve are chosen to compete at the meets. She also added that, “At competitions it is basic math through trigonometry.” The basic idea for this club is to have students participate that enjoy math and like solving problems.

 6.      Tower Players

Students that participate in tower players have to commit themselves to it. Mrs. Sweeney directs their play productions. Rehearsals are mandatory in order for the school plays to be the best they can be. The costumes, music, acting, and sceneries have to be all taken into account. RFH has a particularly good drama area. Once a state evaluator stated, “I sometimes forgot I was watching a high school production. It was that good.”

 7.      Tower Review

The Tower Review is a class that is responsible for writing the school newspaper. It is an elective that can be retaken. The staff submits articles to wordpress, which is then taken into consideration by the teacher of the course, Miss Howard. RFH is unique by having the newspaper online, posing as a literary magazine. Also, students can submit their work, even if they are not present in the Tower Review class. Miss Howard explains that, “It gives students a unique opportunity to have work read by different people.” The school’s set up of the newspaper is an advantage because it connects the RFH communities with other areas. This organization reaches out to students who love writing, journalism, and creativity.

8. Year Book

Mr. Wilson advises year book club. Seniors who participate in the club meet every Tuesday at 2:45. Underclassmen meet on Thursdays in the library at 2:45. This is a fun club to take because students get authority of the yearbook designs! Some decisions are: choosing pictures, including quotations, and making the layout.

If you need something to do after school, check out one of these organizations, or the many others at RFH!

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Hillary Clinton: The Woman Who Should Have Been President

by Alexandra

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Ever wonder what is wrong with our country these days?  Is it the issues in Afghanistan or on Wall Street?  Or is it something more?  Does it lie at the heart of our country?  In the depths of the democracy that we have forcefully tried to create and maintain?  Is it an issue of the elected officials at the top of the totem pole?  Or is it the citizens themselves?    

No–it could be Barack Obama, the man who should not have been president.  Obama has little experience as a politician, and his only previous position was as a senator from Illinois.  He lacks expertise in communicating with the senate and other politians in DC and seems more interested in running his family than making monumental decisions for the country.  How can we have a leader like this for our country?  

Hillary Clinton

But then who would be there to take his place?  John McCain?  No.  But how about a successful Secretary of State, New York senator, First Lady of Arkansas, and First Lady of the United States (who assisted her husband in his presidential duties)?   How about Hillary Clinton, the woman who should’ve been president?

Recent statistics show that many are questioning whether Hillary Clinton would have made a better president.  The New York Post conducted a poll asking if Clinton would have made a better Democratic candidate. The results were staggering, with 68% of women and 59% of men holding a favorable view toward Hillary Clinton.

Besides American citizens and voters, politicians have debated this integral question.  Cheney agrees that Clinton would have made the better Democratic leader at the White House for the 2008-2012 term; the former Vice President thinks that Hillary Clinton might have been better at building bridges with Republicans.

Cheney stated, “She might have been easier for some of us who are critics of the President to work with.”

Other items factoring in Clinton’s superiority are highly personal.  When Obama came into office, he was not alone.  He brought his first family with him, his wife, Michelle Obama, and his two daughters, Sasha and Malai Obama.  Holding this position of power has impacted the Obama family.  His wife, Mrs. Obama, misses everyday activities such as “shopping in Target” without being followed by the Secret Service.  How can he concentrate on his presidential duties when he is more concerned with his family’s affairs and vacations?

Although Clinton would also not be alone in the White House, unlike Michelle Obama, her spouse, Bill Clinton, would understand the power and pressure that comes with the presidential title and would be more accepting of Hillary’s position and constrictions in time.  She also has a grown daughter who would not be facing the same conditions growing up in the White House.  Obama already has weaknesses as a politician and President, but without a supportive, understanding, and powerful family, how can he possibly manage the affairs of the United States of America?

Food for thought

Lastly, although Obama was a prior senator from Illinois, he lacks Clinton’s experience as a politician and First Lady.  As her positions as Secretary of State, First Lady of Arkansas, senator of New York, and First Lady of the United States, she understands what changes must be made in America, as well as the role of a President.  Compared to Obama and his family’s reaction, Hillary Clinton would not be bamboozled if she was elected to the White House, but could instead have made the transition easily and started working with the Senate immediately.

With all the issues in America today, can we really afford to have an inexperienced and uncooperative President in office?  If we want to change the country and do not want to become a politician ourselves, our only power is to elect the most deserving and competent candidate.  Then, we can possibly make American the best it can be.  With both my and your help, we can all contribute to this wonderful place and fulfill America’s potential to be a leading nation by using our power as a democracy to elect the candidate in the presidential 2012 election that would be most successful.

Although we cannot change the past, we still have control over the future. Through the help of all American voters, we can change DC and America with one easy step by voting for Hillary Clinton for president. 

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Images from:

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Financial Literacy a New Course At RFH

by Doug

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The 2011-2012 school year at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School has welcomed many changes, including the addition of Financial Literacy, a state mandated course for all sophomores.

Mo money, mo problems

Financial Literacy is aimed toward giving students anI understanding of money, investing, insurance, marketing, and so on. It also teachers students  how and why the stock market goes up and down on a daily basis.  Most teens understand the importance of making money, but not of saving it and planning for the future.

The course seems most suited for sophomores.  Freshman are too young because  most are around the ages of fourteen and fifteen, and are not allowed to have jobs yet.  Sophomores, however, probably around the ages of fifteen and sixteen, may be starting to work for the first time.

This class is offered during 9^th period, and lasts for one marking period.  Mr. Petruzella, Mr. Lanza, and Mrs. Cimerosi all teach the course, and have various experiences and backgrounds with business education.   Mr. Petruzella worked on Wall Street for 45 years and has a lot of experience in the business field, which means he really knows what he is talking about.  Mr. Lanza has taught AP Economics for many years, and has a similar knowledge.  Similarly, Mrs. Cimerosi has taught business courses at the high school, and advises FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America).

Mr. Pettruzella believes in the purpose of this new graduation requirement, as well as the expertise the staff at RFH has: “A necessary requirement for teaching this class is an education in business and the experience of working on Wall Street.”

Mr. Pettruzella also believes this class is an important way for young teens to understand basic things like writing checks, balancing a check book, and doing taxes. “All of basic stuff I am teaching these kids is simple and easy to learn, but they just have to pay attention.”

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Bullying Policy Upgrade at RFH

by Devan

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The administration of Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School has stepped up to the plate with New Jersey’s recent bullying legislation.  RFH has always responded to bullying with necessary precautions and consequences, but beginning in September, additional measures will be taken to ensure that RFH is a school of respect and consideration.

New Jersey’s new law states that all schools must have anti-bullying rules established, as well as a protocol for reporting and investigating acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.  Administrators, including Vice Principal Lanzalotto, have responded to this new legislation with full support.

Tyler Clementi committed suicide after being bullied

“Anything helping kids and allowing them to come to school every day is a fantastic idea, ” Lanzalotto stated.

The state’s goal is to keep every child comfortable and safe in school.  However, some question the level to which this invades students’ privacy, as well as their right to it.  Others, still, believe that these steps are not enough.

Regardless, students will be held accountable for their actions at RFH.   “You are accountable for your actions and those should be a loud to question,” commented Lanzalotto.

Mr. Lippart, a guidance councelor at RFH, is working with Mr. Lanzalotto to investigate acts of bullying within the school.  However, other measures are being taken to cultivate this community of respect.  During Respect Week, tickets were distributed to all grade levels as well as faculty and staff. These tickets were used as a way to quantify and reward students’ respectful actions during the week.  The most respectful student and staff member were honored and rewarded for their behavior.

Respect Week, and other initiatives taken by schools across New Jersey, have partially been a response to recent and devestating consequences due to school bullying.  For example, Rutgers student Tyler Clementi committed suicide last year after being bullied for his sexual orientation.   At a conference with the First Lady last March, President Obama stated he was going to take action and make it a country-wide law for every state to follow.

When asked why this was so important, the President responded, “Because it’s something that happens a lot, and it’s something that’s always been around, sometimes we’ve turned a blind eye to the problem. We’ve said ‘Kids will be kids.’ And so sometimes we overlook the real damage that bullying can do,” he said.

Yes, some students may think Respect Week is silly and will not  do anything ,but we must remain optimistic.  New Jersey is one of the first states to embrace this legislation in the hope that  other states will follow in our footsteps.

Do your part-learn more, and help educate others.

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Resources:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/10/news/la-heb-obama-bullying-conference-20110310

Images:  http://www.cbsnews.com/i/tim/2010/10/01/Tyler-Clementi23w.jpg

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The RFH Marching Band Takes 3rd in its First Competition of the Season

by Kaitlin

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The Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School Marching Band took 3^rd place at it’s first United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) competition this September  at Jackson Memorial High School.  RFH competed against Burlington Township High School and Manchester Township High School.

The band during its performance

The Marching Band is a dedicated group; the morning started at 11 am with practice, which lasted until 1:30. The bus was leaving at 2:15, which only gave the color guard 45 minutes to do just their make up. Before you knew it, was time to get on the bus and get going.

When the band got into Jackson, that’s when things went wrong.  The Marching Band got lost, and it took an extra hour to get to the competition.  They then all warmed up together and walked over to the field.  There the marching band waited for their turn to take the field.

“The moment is like no other;  it’s a do or die moment,” said Kaitlin, one of the members in the color guard. “It’s like your heart is beating out of your chest your breathing gets deeper and heavier.  It gets dead silent for a moment.”

 After the performance, the band had a meeting with their band directors, Mr. Grillo, Ms. Marino, and Mr. Mottern. They said how proud they were and how they couldn’t have been any happier with their performance.  Then the band watched the rest of the schools perform.

Mr Grillo stated that he thought RFH we would be on par with the rest of the marching bands. He was sure that we were prepared for the competition that day.  He feels that the band has grown to become a family more then a club, largely because of how much time its members spend together.

When asked if he thought the  judges judged fairly, he said, “ I guess you can say that it was a good day.   We came home with the prize and that was all that mattered.”

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Bulldawg Poetry

by various RFH writers

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This is a Puppy Mill
by Madeline

You open the barn door, letting in a blast of sunlight.
It hurts my eyes and I whimper.
We all start barking, pleading for attention.
You check the babies first, to make sure that they are all still breathing.
Then you walk along the cages, dropping in pieces of table scraps.
We are furious animals, tearing at pieces of food, sometimes getting each other.
The smell is rotten, our coats are ruined,
Many of us don’t have any fur at all
We scratch and we itch,
We whine and we cry
And still we get no relief.

This is a puppy mill.

I hear the click of the food being thrown in the metal dish,
I waddle over to it.
Empty.
The others have, and left nothing for me.
I slurp a bit of murky green water, a
I try to find a clean spot to lay my matted head;
but there is no such place.

This is a Puppy Mill.

My babies have been gone for a week now,
I don’t know where they went.
I never know.
I am grabbed with greasy hands,
Roughly placed into another pen
I am scared.
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‘Real Steel:’ Not the Real Deal

by David

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'Real Steel' opened last September

In director Shawn Levy’s Real Steel, hulking robots fight each other in back alleys and sports arenas as raving crowds cheer them on.  It’s fast-paced and exciting, and certainly takes advantage of a large special effects budget.  However, if you’re looking for a film with a little depth and a little soul, you’ll be disappointed by this film’s impenetrable steel exterior.

The blending of science fiction and fantasy makes the robots more interesting than the human characters in the film.  I don’t know if this flaw can be attributed to the film’s concept, which I think is a tad overzealous in its spirit of fun, or to the filmmakers, who were clearly influenced more by their appeal to audiences in hope of making a quick buck than by actual storytelling.

There’s no denying the technical merits of this movie, but more to the point, there’s no doubt that it’s more a cash cow that will inspire a very marketable line of toys and action figures.  That’s perfect timing, too–seeing that the holidays are just around the corner.

Loosely adapted from Ricahrd Matheson’s short story, “Steel,” the film takes place in the future in which specially designed robots have replaced humans as boxing champions.  People have grown tired with ordinary human matches; they now want to see figters tearing each other apart.  This is pivotal to the short story, which comments socially on people’s growing tolerance for violence and destruction.  So bring in the robots, which by definition have no legal rights and are unburdent by any sense of morality.  You can break as many as you like, as another one can always be built.

A routine, predictable, and sometimes unpleasant plot populated by characters the audience feels nothing for quickly overshadows any social commentary in the film, however.  At the heart of the story, though, lies Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), in his heyday a boxing contender, but now a base, economically desperate promotoer of low-grade robot fighters.  When he isn’t making poor decisions on bets or black market robot purchases, he tries to woo his old flame, Bailey (Evangeline Lilly), the daughter of a boxing coach who once had Charlie under his wing.  She finds that she can’t make her monthly payments on her father’s old gym.  This is mostly Charlie’s fault; he hasn’t been paying Bailey his rent.

Shadow Mode

He suddently gains custody of his hardened, technically-incined 11-year-old son, Max (Dakota Goyo), whose mother, Charlie’s long forgotten ex-girlfriend, has died (did you get all that?).  Despite having no previous relationship with the boy, and wanting nothing to do with him, Charlie agrees to take Max for the summer.  However, it’s because it will benefit him financially.   He begins by blackmailing the wealthy husband (James Rebhorn) of Max’s aunt (Hope Davis) for $100,000, half of which will be delivered when Charlie’s services will no longer be needed.

It becomes clear that the film will be in large part a father/son bonding story. I am forced to question the logic of bringing them together through robot fighting, though, specifically Charlie’s shady dealings within it.  It isn’t long before Max is making bets of his own with some very dangerous people; this is innately unfunny, but Levy just writes it off as comic relief.

While searching through a robot junkyard one rainy night, Max literally stumbles onto an old robot model dubbed Atom.  After claiming it as his own and fixing it up, Max discovers that Atom was built with am unusually strong metal that is able to withstand the toughest of abuses.  It also has a “shadow mode” which allows it to mimic a person’s movements as he or she makes them.  Max and Charlie put two and two together and eventually use Charlie’s boxing history with Atom’s capabilities to try to better their situations.

While there are numerous twists throughout this plot, its main premise is hackneyed and flawed.  While it means well, the film is too far removed from Matheson’s original vision.  Without a convincing emotional anchor, without a human element, Real Steel is just a piece of machinery.

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