2010-06-15 - Union Catholic Regional High School

U N I O N C A T H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L
The Prophet
Issue 7
June 2010
Underclassmen Superlatives
Freshmen
Most School Spirit
Most Outgoing
Most Outrageous
Most Artistic
Most Likely to Become
Famous
Most Likely to Succeed
Favorite Teacher
Most Athletic
Most School Spirit
Most Outgoing
Most Outrageous
Most Artistic
Most Likely to Become
Famous
Most Likely to Succeed
Favorite Teacher
Most Athletic
Most School Spirit
Most Outgoing
Most Outrageous
Most Artistic
Most Likely to Become
Famous
Most Likely to Succeed
Barrington Palmer; Katie Brown
Michael Curley: Katie Brown
Evan Parisi; Kamera Martin
Trevor Miranda; Pacita Gazary
Tom Wang; Kamera Martin/ Grace Kelly
Tom Wang; Rosa Cuppari
Mr. Bace; Mrs. Doherty
Michael DeAngelis; Grace Kelly
Sophomores
Vito Gagliardi; McKenna Dick
Kevin Hamilton; Allison Almer
Eric Fennik; Allison Almer
Roland Johnson; Nicole Pietrapertosa
Brandon Rotondo; Maeve Lynskey
Annie Cierpial; Dave Schanz
Mr. Becht; Mrs. Doherty
Dave Schanz; Julie Monroy
Juniors
Dylan George; Erin Farley
Ray Hyman; Bryshawna Otto
Ray Hyman; Bryshawna Otto
Miguel Guerrero; Karen Comiso
Mike Marciano; Ella Chamis
Sean Siburn; Colleen Cassidy
Favorite Teacher
Most Athletic
Mr. Wright; Mrs. Franco
Jamaad Nash; Allison Guzman
Table of Contents
Sr. Percylee Honored Page 2
Class of „10 Graduates Page 3
Awards Ceremonies Page 4
Junior Prom/Student Council Page 5
Six Flags Phun Page 6
College Fair/ Club News Page 7
We, The People/ Teen Gov Page 8
Sports Wrap-up/ World Cup Page 9
Memorial/ Father’s Days Page 10
Summer Jobs Page 11
Meet Your New Staff Page 12

Sister Percylee Honored With Award
Brian Hartnett
Around Union Catholic, Principal Sister Percylee
Hart, R.S.M. has always been known as a dynamic leader and
great visionary. Since she became principal in 1980, Sr. Percylee
has been the driving force behind tremendous growth
and development in the school, particularly in the implementation
of laptops for all students. This vital leadership
that Sr. Percylee provides has long been recognized by Union
Catholic students, but it also was recently recognized by
a slightly different audience. On April 29, Sister Percylee
was awarded the Union County Educational Services Foundation
Educator of Excellence Award at a special dinner
hosted by the Union County Educational Services Commission.
The Union County Educational Services Foundation
Educator of Excellence Award is an annual award given to a
person who has made a difference in the area of education.
It is voted on by and awarded by the Union County Educational
Services Commission, who partners with UC by providing
supplemental instruction and assisting students in the
new UC sUCcess center. It is normally awarded to two or
three educators or a corporation that supports education, but
Sr. Percylee was honored as the sole recipient of this year‟s
award.
Sr. Percylee received her award at the Union County
Educational Services Commission‟s annual Awards Dinner,
held at the Primavera Regency in Sterling, New Jersey, on
April 29. Over seventy members of the UC community, including
students, faculty, parents and alumni, were present
in the crowd. Upon receiving the award, Sr. Percylee had the
opportunity to get up and speak. Her speech highlighted the
importance of the partnership between UC and the Educational
Services Commission and illustrated how this partnership
has served the needs of UC students. In recognition of
her award, she was also awarded a plaque, which is currently
on display at UC for all students to see.
In her nearly three decades here at UC, Sr. Percylee
has always been innovative and has continually ensured that
the school remain on the cutting edge in its use of technology.
At the beginning of her tenure here at UC, Sr. Percylee
oversaw the merging of the boys‟ and girls‟ school to form a
co-educational school. In 1997, Sr. Percylee was responsible
for instituting a laptop program that would later expand to
include every student in the school. In recent years, she has
continued to promote the use of technology by incorporating
SMART boards, computer labs, and other technologies into
the school‟s curriculum. These additions have helped to
make UC one of the most technologically-advanced schools
in the entire state of New Jersey.
To all in the UC community, this award simply represents
a great triumph and due recognition of a leader who
has done so much. “Sister Percylee is the vision behind Union
Catholic‟s success, as we move into preparing students for
the future,” said Ms. Piasecki. “She is truly an educator of
excellence.”
Sr. Percylee and the rest of the U.C administration celebrate
her Educator of Excellence Award
The Union Catholic Community would like to say
farewell to
Sister Catherine Carroll
Mr. Allan Bloomfield
on their retirement
and
Mrs. Karen Schurtz
Mr. Allan Wright
as they leave UC after more than twenty years of
service
Thank you for all that you have done!
Congratulations to
Guidance Counselor Ms. Dixon
on the birth of her son
Logan Ries Dixon
May 18, 2010
5 pounds 6 ounces
Best Wishes to Mother and
Child!
The Union Catholic Community would like to
welcome
Custodian Ray Lowerey
as he begins his tenure here at UC
Page 2
T HE PR OPHET

Sen10rs Graduate
Annie Cierpial
On the morning of June 5, blue and white
caps and gowns filled the gymnasium as the Class of
2010 graduated from Union Catholic. At 9:00 a.m.,
197 seniors walked into the gymnasium for the last
time as UC students.
After “Pomp and Circumstance” was played
by Music teacher Mr. Frio and members of the Union
Catholic band, Principal Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M.
welcomed everyone to the ceremony. She called upon
the students for the last time to become “all God calls
you to be.” Assistant Principal Mrs. McCoid then announced
the names of the students who had received
college scholarships. The graduating class received
scholarships totaling an amount of $15,383,219.
The awarding of diplomas was broken up
into three groups of graduates. Speeches and the
announcement of special awards were done in between
each of the groups. The address to the graduates
was made by sportscaster Bob Wischusen ‟89.
Mr. Wischusen is the voice of the New York Jets and
announces New York Knicks and New York Rangers
games, as well as many college sports games. Mr.
Wischusen delivered a humorous, yet thoughtprovoking
speech, in which he encouraged the graduates
to follow their dreams. He assured them that the
most important thing in life is happiness and that it
is “better to make $16,000 doing something you love,
then to make $40,000 doing something you hate.”
Class valedictorian, Jamie Ciocon‟ 10 was the
commencement speaker. She called upon a familiar
Apple ad entitled “The Crazy Ones” from the Think
Different campaign to prove her point. She told her
fellow graduates, as the ad has stated, that the most
famous people, such as John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi,
and Thomas Edison, had once been considered
crazy by others, but now they are the ones that are
seen as genius. She pointed out that, in fact, others
could even consider the seniors as being the crazy
ones because they had done things that people would
have never imagined. As she said, “crazy is not a bad
thing.”
The final speech of the ceremony was made
by Student Council President Nick Malapit‟ 10.
Malapit asked the graduates to ponder their last four
years at Union Catholic and showed how they, as a
group, had changed.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates
made their way out to the gym parking lot to
celebrate by tossing their hats into the air.
The entire UC community would like to congratulate
the Class of 2010 and wish them luck on
their future endeavors.
The Class of 2010 prepares to take their
last few steps as UC students.
Senior Awards
School Consultative Board Award: DJ Thornton
Spirit Award: Gerianna Pinto and Eche Nwizugbo
Jane Albert Award of Service: Jordan Morrisey
Hart Award: Schweta Gohil
Michael Marotti Dedication Award: Alex Bricki
Principal’s Award: Arielle Gonzales
Comcast Leaders Award: Megan Furlong
Key Club Award: Jasmine Evans, Brenda Eke, Brandi Adams,
Amanda Landisi
William J. Kelemen Scholarship: Matt McElroy, Megan Weber
Kevin A. Apuzzio Memorial Scholarship: Richard Tiemann
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Valedictorian – Jamie Ciocon
Salutatorian – Thomas Kaluzny
ART –
Mariah Phillips
ENGLISH-
Jamie Ciocon
Next in merit- Alex Bricki
FINE ARTS – CHORUS
Thamar Nelson
FINE ARTS – INSTRUMENTAL
Michael Goydish
Next in Merit- Robert Magella
FRENCH
Catherine Munkittrick
ITALIAN
Christopher Bruno
Next in Merit- Stephanie Ramirez
MATHEMATICS
Samantha Marques
Next in Merit- Stephanie Leso
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Darrin Benson
Next in Merit- Tyler Keating
RELIGION
Alex Bricki
Next in Merit- Megan Carr
SCIENCE
Jamie Ciocon
Next in Merit- Thomas Kaluzny
SOCIAL STUDIES
Jordan Morrisey
Next in Merit- Matthew
Zalewski
SPANISH
Alex Bricki
Next in Merit- Jamie Ciocon
TECHNOLOGY
John Cierpial
Page 3
T HE PR OPHET

Evenings of
Excellence
Ronald Munkittrick
On May 19, the juniors and seniors who diligently
worked throughout the year were finally rewarded
during the Union Catholic Awards Ceremony.
Alex Bricki ‟10 started the ceremony with a prayer and
Pledge of Allegiance, followed by encouraging words
from our principal, Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M. Shortly
after, the awards began to be announced. The multitude
of students who had made honor roll for the first
three marking periods or achieved straight A‟s in any
class over the course of the year sat patiently waiting to
hear their names.
The Olympiad winners were announced next.
The Olympiad is a test taken by students in particular
subjects, and the ten students who place highest are
given an award. A gold medal is awarded to the student
who receives the highest mark on the test. The
following students were awarded gold medals: Alex
Bricki „10-Advanced Math, Kevin Coughlan „10-
Environmental Science, Sean Siburn „11-Biology Level 2,
Michael Cahill „10-Physics Level 1, Careese Simmonds
‟11-Physics Level 2.
There were also four scholarships awarded.
Vincent LaRocca ‟11 received the Frederick Douglas and
Susan B. Anthony Award. Tara Alves ‟11 received the
Xerox Award for Innovation and Technology. The recipient
of the Bausch and Lomb Science Award was Colleen
Cassidy ‟11. Sean Sarra ‟11 was the recipient of the
Rensselaer Medal and Scholarship.
Finally, the top students of each class for the
year of 2009-2010 were announced, the best of the
best, and the biggest moment of the night. The whole
ceremony was building up to this announcement. For
the class of 2011, second in the junior class was Colleen
Cassidy, while Sean Siburn had the honor of being
first. Second in the class of 2010 for their senior year
was Samantha Marques. Thomas Kaluzny won first in
the class of 2010.
On May 26, the freshman-sophomore Academic
Awards Ceremony took place. As with the juniors and
seniors, there was a large number of students called for
the honor roll awards for the class of 2012 and 2013.
This was followed by the Olympiad testing and the top
students of each lass.
The Olympiad testing revealed six medalists for
the freshmen and sophomores. The Algebra I medalist
was Taylor Diken „13. The Algebra II test had two
medalists, Ann Cierpial ‟12 and Lucy Yoon „12. Andres
Aguiaza ‟13 was the winner of the Geometry medal.
James Weyand ‟12 was the Chemistry medalist while
Brian Cattafe ‟13 won the Biology Level 1 medal.
After the Olympiad winners, the best of each
class were announced. For the class of 2013, second
rank was Dara Maguire, while top of the class was Rosa
Cuppari for this school year. Kimberly Esguerra was
second for the class of 2012. Gabrielle Aquino was
ranked as the top sophomore.
The Curtain Closes on
this Season of UCPAC
Danielle Gruskiewicz
The Union Catholic Performing Arts Company Awards were
held this year on May 12 in the UC auditorium. The award
ceremony is held at the end of every year to celebrate the
recently completed season and to announce the shows that
will be performed next year. The night also gives
acknowledgement to certain outstanding members of the
program for their work as either actors, stage crew, and/or
directors. In addition, members of PAC also received awards
that acknowledged their hours of commitment in UCPAC.
The night began with speeches from some of the
senior members of UCPAC. Then, a group of new members
were inducted into the International Thespian Society. The
Thespian Society is an organization honoring student
achievements in theatre; it is named after Thespis, the first
actor. “I am beyond excited about becoming a thespian,” said
newly inducted thespian, Karyn Kiziili' 13. “I feel like all my
hard work and dedication is being recognized.” To become a
thespian, a person is required to have a certain number of
hours participating in any form of the theatre arts. After this
requirement is filled, any additional hours a student has
turns into honorary stars. 600 hours equaled one honor bar,
which several students received. Two students, Arielle
Gonzalez ‟10 and Greg Gedman ‟10, had the privilege of
receiving four honor bars.
This year‟s fall play, Noises Off, was directed by
alumnus John Rotondo ‟07. The play is a British farce set in
England. It is a play within a play where the actors' personal
drama affects their performances in hilarious ways. When the
play was performed last fall at UC, it received rave reviews.
Conor McDonough ‟10 and Justine Mujica ’10 received awards
for best leading actor and actress for their work in the play.
In addition, Arielle Gonzalez ‟10, Sammie Melina ‟10, Greg
Gedman ‟10, and Jordan Morrisey ‟10 received awards for
best supporting actors and actresses. John Rotondo
announced the fall play for next year to be The Nerd. He said
he wanted to choose a play that would relate closer to the
teenage students of UC.
The spring musical, Les Miserables, was also honored
at the PAC awards for being one of the best productions the
company has every put on. The show is sung completely
throughout with no spoken words, which can be extremely
difficult for any actor. Set during the French Revolution, Les
Miserables contains characters with stories of love, loss, and
self- discovery. Many students received different awards for
their work in this production. Moderator of UCPAC, Mrs.
Carolan, announced that next year‟s spring musical will be
The Drowsy Chaperone. This musical is a homage to American
musicals of the Jazz Age, examining the effect musicals
have on the fans who adore them. The show is fairly new; just
having opened on Broadway in the spring of 2006. It is a
musical within a comedy, which is a welcomed change from
the past two years of thought provoking “operatic” like
musicals UCPAC has put on.
(Continued on page 10)
Page 4
T HE PR OPHET

Student Council Board
Elections
Alison Rebozo
The end of the year is approaching faster than expected,
which means studying for finals, preparing for summer,
and the annual Student Council elections. On May 21,
the sheets were passed out; the votes were tallied; and the
winners were announced. As the afternoon loudspeaker
turned on, the candidates waited anxiously to see who had
won executive board positions. After the announcement was
made, there were smiles from the winners and excitement
from realizing that their hard work campaigning really had
paid off. The final winners were: Vinny Larocca‟11
(President), Tim Connell‟11 (Vice President), Ashley Castro‟11
(Media Coordinator), and Megan Gaczynski‟11 (Secretary).
Not only are these four selected students representing
the Student Council Board, but the entire school as well.
These leaders will serve as beneficial contributors to making
Union Catholic an even better place. Each position has its
own specific job and requirements, which the leader must
fulfill. Although they are individuals, each student will work
together and become a team member. All members are expected
to act as mediators between the student council representatives
and the entire community.
The President, who is the leader of the executive
board, has the highest leadership position. This role includes
presiding at each of the meetings and initiating with members
and activities throughout the school year. Along with
these important tasks, the president is required to schedule
special announcements, chair all committees, and assist with
all things Student Council related. This job is not only important
in the sense of holding a main leadership role, but also
in the fact that the individual must represent Union Catholic
with good morals and actions. The second position, Vice
President, performs the presidential and secretarial duties in
his or her absence. This person serves as an executive member
of all committees and is an important backbone to the
President, especially regarding specialized events and activities
in student council. Along with the four positions, the
president and vice-president do work back to back on important
decisions that need to be made.
The Secretary position takes the initiative when the
President and Vice-President are not present. This boy/girl
will record events of all meeting and prepare important information
for the homeroom representative. The holder of
this office acts as a manager with correspondence to student
council as they complete orders for events, record attendance,
and serve as an executive member of all committees.
The final position is the media coordinator. This person acts
as a communicator who will print publicity for activities,
make announcements on UCTV, and also serve as an executive
member of all committees. This elected person will be
responsible for spreading the word of upcoming events and
assuring the participation of the students and faculty.
(Continued on page 8)
Junior Prom
Carolyn Ryan
On April 30, 2010, members of the UC Junior Class
celebrated a night to remember. They all got dressed up
and ready to attend their Junior prom. At 7:00 p.m. ,the
students began to arrive at the Berkley Plaza in Livingston,
where they were greeted with a beautiful entrance way.
The teachers stood at the door way to greet the students
and, as attendees walked in a little further, they got a
picture taken with their date. After this red carpet treatment,
the real party began.
Subsequently, juniors socialized for an hour before
finding their respective tables. As the DJ started to
play music that everyone found entertaining, people began
to get out of their seats and dance. With the music playing
and everyone dancing with their friends, it looked like a
great time was being had by all. As the night went on,
more people got up to dance and the dance floor was
eventually packed. Nobody seemed to mind, however,
because they were just
enjoying themselves on a
night free of drama. “I had a
great time, I can‟t wait for the
Senior Prom,” said Jacquelyn
Oathout ‟11.
Members of the Junior
Class enjoy a true “night to
remember” at their prom
The catering choice
that was ordered was also a
hit! Students enjoyed their
food selections, and some
even went back for seconds.
Afterwards, they were given
dessert, which proved to be
an interesting choice.
Everyone was able to create his or her own ice –cream
sundae with a variety of options. Students were given the
choice of chocolate and vanilla and were allowed to
choose whatever toppings they wanted. As the class of
2011 got its food and dessert, each table was seated for a
group picture.
As the night started to come to an end, everyone
continued to dance and have a great time. Groups were
taking pictures together and just enjoying the memories
that were being made. By the end of the dance, it was
finally time for the DJ to play the song that was chosen as
the prom song. The selection was “If I Ain‟t Got You,” by
Alicia Keys. The couples broke apart to share one last
dance before the prom ended. When everything was over,
people left the building, knowing that this night had
different memories for each of them. “It was a memory
from high school that I will never forget,” said Michelle
Kalasin ‟11.
Prom ended up being a great night. It is a moment
that people are going to remember when they get older
and are looking back at high school. Between the dancing,
socializing, and just having fun with friends, what more of
a night could a UC student ask for .
Page 5
T HE PR OPHET

UC’s “Peacemakers in
Progress”
Greg Gagliardi
PHYSICS PHUN AT
SIX PHLAGS Jamie Ciocon
On April 28, Union Catholic offered a unique annual
workshop to seventh graders in Catholic schools
throughout the region. Called “Peacemakers in Progress,”
it was an anti-bullying workshop that targeted middle
school students. A variety of students from nearby middle
schools attended the April 28 workshop; those in attendance
may be bullies, victims of bullying, or school
leaders. This year 13 schools sent 51 students. “Our hope
is that the message of anti-bullying is communicated back
to their classmates and school regardless of who attends,”
says Peer Ministry leader and organizer of “Peacemakers in
Progress,” Mrs. Schurtz.
The overall goal of the workshop is to spread the
message of peace to middle school students. This is the
time when bullying intensifies. The workshop takes
various approaches in accomplishing this goal. One
approach is getting the bully to realize the negative effects
of his or her behavior. Another way is to help victims
handle bullying situations or convince bystanders to speak
out against bullying at appropriate times. The organizers
of the workshop understand that one workshop will not
change the world, but if the message is spread through the
peers of the students who attend, the ripple effect will
make a positive difference.
The workshop has been in existence for seven
years. Faculty organizers and a team of student leaders
reevaluate the program every year. They revise the
workshop to make necessary changes with the goal of
keeping it relevant while still interesting. One major
change the program has made was to incorporate cyber
bullying. It is observed as a growing problem among
middle school students and needs to be stopped by the
same means as any other bullying. The message of peace
is being spread the same way; it is now a critical part of
the workshop.
Another unique approach used by the UC student
leaders to address those in attendance is wearing tee shirts
to the workshop to act as “walking advertisements”
against bullying. The tee shirts are customized by the
group leaders and include anti-violence messages. During
the day, seventh grade students made tee shirts for
themselves to bring the message back to their respective
schools. This is one unique way in which the leaders
ensured the success of the workshop. At the end of the 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. workshop, visiting seventh graders were
required to fill out an evaluation. “The overwhelming
majority of the responses were favorable and positive,”
says Mrs. Schurtz.
UC‟s “Peacemakers in Progress” program has been
successful in helping students understand the negative
consequences of bullying behavior. Educating these
students is helping achieve goal of spreading peace one
student at a time, and this makes a huge positive influence
in schools everywhere.
On April 30, Six Flags Great Adventure became one giant
physics lab. Seniors and juniors from the Conceptual, Honors,
and AP Physics classes ventured to the theme park located
in Jackson, New Jersey, to test their physics knowledge
on the park‟s rides and attractions. Students were able to
experience the concepts that they had learned all year in the
classroom, such as acceleration, rotational motion, and
forces on rides such as El Toro, Kingda Ka, and Nitro.
Physics teacher Mrs. Hofmann along with chemistry
teacher Mrs. Lubin chaperoned the event. Students were
split into groups within their classes for the day. Before arriving
at the park, each group was to complete a packet full
of problems involving concepts that they would use throughout
the day, such as conservation of energy and centripetal
force. Students also armed themselves with their equipment
for the day: acceleration meters to measure the magnitude of
the acceleration due to gravity at different points on a ride,
angle meters to measure angles of inclination and depression,
and stopwatches. They would use this equipment on at
least two rides in order to collect data for the problems and
calculations based on each ride.
Overall, students responded with enthusiasm to the
Physics Day. “It didn‟t feel like a test to me,” said Stephanie
Ramirez ‟10, of the Honors Physics class. The work done on
Physics Day counted as part of the final exam for the Conceptual
and Honors Physics classes, and as a test grade for
the AP Physics class. “I had fun going on the rides and collecting
the data, and we used what we had measured and
experienced to do the calculations. I liked that everything
we learned in physics all year came to life during this trip.”
Others who, to put things lightly, are not as
“phanatic” about physics as some of their classmates, also
enjoyed the trip. “Once we handed in our packet, we were
free to have a great time at Six Flags,” said Jennifer Reis ‟10.
“The lines were short, and the weather was beautiful. What
more could you ask for”
*Note: Are you confused about some of the terms used in
this article That is a sign that you should sign up for a
physics class when you have the chance!
Students measured the acceleration rate due to gravity
on the mighty Kingda Ka – while racing at the
speed of 128 miles per hour!
Page 6
T HE PR OPHET

Juniors visit National
College Fair
Sean Sarra
May It Please the Court
Adrianna DeGazon
On Wednesday, April 28, Union Catholic students
from the Class of 2011 took an important step in the
long journey toward college when they attended the 2010
New Jersey National College Fair in Edison. The event,
one of the largest in the state, allowed juniors the
opportunity to meet counselors from colleges located all
across the country.
The trip, chaperoned by Guidance Counselors
Mrs. Dixon, Mr. & Mrs. Jakubik, and Mr. McCabe, lasted
over an hour, and students were able to make face-to-face
contact with the people who are in many cases in charge
of admissions for potential students from the north New
Jersey area. Students had the opportunity to take home
information packets, sign up for college mailing lists, and
most importantly, speak directly with admissions
officers. “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet
admissions counselors and learn a lot of different things
about their school,” said James Pereira ‟11. “I also got the
chance to see different schools from many other parts of
the country.” Among the over one hundred schools
represented at the fair were the academic and athletic
powerhouses of University of Connecticut, University of
Florida, University of Miami, George Washington
University, and College of the Holy Cross, as well as local
institutions such as Rutgers University and The College
of New Jersey.
Upon arrival at the College Fair, juniors had one
hour to go to all of the booths that they planned on
visiting beforehand. “Seeing all of the colleges I wanted
was definitely a race against the clock,” said Dominique
Hayward ‟11. “But getting information directly from a
college I could potentially attend was definitely worth the
effort.” Students were not limited to the one hour, school
sponsored tour, however. Students and family also had
the opportunity to attend the Fair and explore college
prospects that night, as well as during the following day.
On April 27, members of the May It Please the Court
Club performed a revised version of the Three Little Pigs for
preschoolers at the Scotch Plains YMCA Kinderwrap program
located next door to Union Catholic. Led by History Teacher
Mrs. Leegan, club members John Friel ‟13, Brian Cataffe‟13,
Greg Gagliardi ‟13, Adrianna DeGazon ‟12, Catie Musa ‟10,
Tricia Green‟10, and Larisa Meredith ‟10 dressed up as Curly
Pig, the Wolf, and other characters in an adaptation of the
famous fairly tale.
In the adapted version the students performed, the
wolf sues Curly Pig for trying to cook him while he climbed
down the chimney. The children, who were four and five year
olds, were able to choose the fate of the pig. They decided he
was innocent, partly due to the fact that they knew the original
story.
The club planned the play since the first club meeting
in September. Throughout the year they sent the children
coloring books and masks, which taught them about the
Three Little Pigs and also about the law system. The coloring
book featured pictures of a judge, a lawyer, and other people
and things seen in the courtroom.
After months of preparation they visited the preschool
and performed the play. The children seemed to enjoy
the story and unanimously agreed that the wolf was the
one who was in the wrong. One of the children commented
that the wolf was a “bad fox,” mixing up the wolf with a fox.
Spring Open House
Adrianna DeGazon
On April 27, prospective students and their families
piled into Union Catholic to learn about everything
the school has to offer. The students came from schools
all over the state and were mostly sixth and seventh graders
getting a head start on the admissions process for
high school. Also, there were many transfer students
who were looking to leave their current schools. Mr.
Luciano, Recruiting Director, said, “The crowd at the
spring open house was the biggest spring turnout I have
seen in my seven years at Union Catholic.”
At the Open House, the UC Admissions Department
showed their recruitment video, featuring students,
May It Please the Court students perform for Scotch
Plains YMCA Kinderwrap program.
teachers, and alumni, and their thoughts about the
school. The Student Ambassadors gave tours of the school to
the families. Afterwards, a speech was given by UC alumna
Shrita Smith, ‟01, who had just graduated from medical
school on that day. She talked about her life after UC and
how the school had affected her. Following the presentation,
prospective students and their parents went on a miniwalkthrough
of classes at UC.
Page 7
T HE PR OPHET

WE, THE PEOPLE
Jordan Morrisey
Welcome to Union Catholic‟s only nonpartisan
student political review. We, the People serves as the
middle ground, and sometimes the battleground, for
political thought. The goal of this column is to provide
the UC community with a presentation of both neutral
and balanced analysis of political ideas, events, and
trends. It has been a good year for politics and I am
moving on from The Prophet to the political hub of our
country, Washington D.C. This is the final installment of
We, the People.
Over the past
school year, We, The People
has covered a multitude of
topics, and this final issue
will pay homage to the past
and look toward the future.
In the first issue, the late
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
was remembered after he
passed away from brain
Thanks for a wonderful
year of We, the People
cancer on August 25, 2009.
Kennedy was known as the
“Lion of the Senate” and
fought strongly for universal
healthcare in the United States. In the second issue,
We, The People held its first Liberal vs. Conservative debate
over the issue of healthcare reform. In addition,
Senator Kennedy‟s dream came to life with the passing
of The Affordable Health Care for America Act by the
House of Representatives on November 7, 2009.
The third issue of We, The People addressed
America‟s presence in Afghanistan after President
Barack Obama announced, in a speech on December 1,
2009, that troops would begin to be removed. The analogy
was made between a ship and Afghanistan and how
the Afghani government had to take the wheel of the
ship instead of the United States driving. For the fourth
issue, we the media in the form of The Prophet, and
more specifically, the We, The People column, discussed
the role that the media plays on the political landscape
of the United States.
Our fifth issue held our second and most intense
debate over the role that the Tea Party Movement
has made and is making on politics today. The liberal
side focused on the harsh negatives of the Tea Party and
the conservative side emphasized the positive aspects.
The sixth and penultimate issue focused on a subject
that is very important to the security of every country
around the world: nuclear proliferation. Specifically, a
focus was given towards Iran who currently is openly
pushing towards obtaining its own nuclear weapons.
And, that was our year in We, The People. Thank
you very much to all those who have followed the column
and to those few who never missed an issue.
Students really can
make a difference
Erin Farley
If there is something you don‟t seem to like in your town,
why not speak up On May 18 th , I was chosen to participate in
Woodbridge Township's “Youth Leadership and Government
Day.” I, as well as other juniors selected from Mother Seton,
Bishop Ahr, Colonia, Woodbridge, and John F. Kennedy High
schools, met in town hall on Main Street. My day, which was
dedicated to conveying a better understanding of the
government process to the township's youth, started at 9:15
and ended roughly around 1:30.
Our first task was to observe a town council meeting. Next,
we had the opportunity to watch a judge conduct a courtroom
session. The main event of the day followed when all of the
attending juniors were asked to use what we had obtained
from the morning council meeting and discuss our personal
ideas for the township at our own council meeting.
We all presented topics that really meant a lot to us. I
talked about recreational sports in Woodbridge Township and
how important it is for teenagers who don‟t make the high
school teams to not stop playing. Township officials
supported my idea as an excellent opportunity to get others
involved in sports teams, and the Recreation Director even
agreed to put links on his website for students interested in
playing recreational sports.
Hopefully, more teenagers will take the opportunity to get
involved in their local governments and communities. Over the
course of the day, I heard many great ideas. One in particular
focused on making teenagers more aware of drugs and
violence. Subsequently, all of us juniors shared our stories
about drugs and violence and how we feel this topic should be
addressed in the high schools. I got a lot out of this day, such
as realizing that Union Catholic really needs a club that
focuses on educating younger students about drugs and
violence.
This youth council meeting was only 45 minutes long, but
after the 45 minutes, the Vice President of the township
council had a lengthy page of notes and was ready to make
changes in Woodbridge Township. In the next few months, I‟m
looking forward to seeing these changes take effect in my
community thanks to the many ideas of twelve junior students
from all over the Township.
This day was proof that it doesn‟t matter how old one is,
today's youth are the future, and we the students make the
difference.
Student Council Board (cont’d from page 5)
“The best way to ensure a good school year is to have
an executive board that works well together, cooperatively with
the larger student council body and has the support of the entire
school” said Student Council moderator Mrs. Leegan. “The
way they get that is by getting students excited about events,
listening to input and showing leadership not only in student
council but in every other aspect at being a student here at
Union Catholic.”
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Lacrosse Love from a
New Recruit Gabrielle Aquino
At the start of the spring sports season, a small
group of girls took a chance and decided to tryout for
the Union Catholic Girls Lacrosse team. These girls included
new freshman, curious sophomores, and even
some interested juniors. They didn‟t know exactly what
they were getting themselves into, but even with the
doubt of even making the team, they took the chance.
With equal amounts of surprise and joy, the entire
group made the team. Although the new additions to
the team were shaky at the first practices, they made it
through the getting-to-know each other phase and went
on to be contributing players.
The UC junior varsity team had its first win
against Hanover Park. The victory seemed to bring everyone
together, and what made the moment even more
special was the fact that it was the first junior varsity
lacrosse game ever won in the history of Union Catholic
High School, even though the program has been running
for four years. The varsity squad won its first game of
the season against the Boonton Bombers. Although this
was a night game, the lights of the field did not keep the
team‟s stars from shining brighter than ever.
By the end of the season, thanks to the guidance
of their senior captains, a group of inexperienced young
girls had turned into a team of lacrosse players of whom
the whole community within Union Catholic can be
proud. The rookie players worked hard all season and
devoted a great deal of time and effort to the team. Most
of them would probably admit to having grown somehow
through this program; at the very least, they all can
say that they have made new friends along the way. One
thing everyone can learn from the UC Lacrosse team is
that sometimes it‟s worth taking chances.
The Road to the 2010
FIFA World CUP
Mark Osores
The biggest tournament in the world is heading to South
Africa this summer. It involves the most popular sport in
the world and is more popular worldwide than the
Olympics. It is the FIFA World Cup. After a long four
years, the clock is winding down until the first match
whistle blows and the journey of 32 nations begins in a
quest to obtain soccer‟s most coveted trophy. 32 nations
will be pitted against each other this summer to see who
will be crowned as Champion of the World. The question
is which nation will that be There are many contenders
for the Cup, but here are just a few that stand out from
the rest:
Team Spirit
Erin Farley
There is nothing to which an athlete looks forward
more at the end of the season than the Athletic banquet. The
banquet took place on May 18 at the Westwood in Garwood
and honored members of the tennis, golf, baseball, softball,
and the track and field teams. The event led off with teams
taking pictures together
and videos showing
highlights of each team.
The videos, made by the
digital film classes, received
very positive reviews
from those in the
audience.
Members of the Varsity Softball
Team celebrate their successful season
at the spring sports banquet
sports varsity teams.
After each video,
the coach of each team
came up, announced
each player, and said a
few words about the
team in general. Students
received awards based
on the number of years
they have been on the
For first year varsity winners, the athletes were
awarded UC letters. Second year varsity winners received a pin
containing the name of their sport. The third and fourth year
varsity winners were awarded plaques. Smiles shined around
the room as each player was called up to receive these
prestigious awards.
While speeches were being made, dinner and dessert
was served to parents, coaches, and athletes. At the very end
of the banquet, the parents were asked to stand. A big round
of applause spread throughout the entire room, as many athletes
showed gratitude to their parents. The athletic banquet
ended the very successful season on a high note.
Brazil
Having won five titles already, Brazil is no surprise to being a
top favorite to win it all. The fact that it has won the most
tournaments just adds to the ability of the Samba team to
handle the pressure and competition on the World stage. The
Brazilian National Team has qualified for every FIFA World Cup
since its inception. The team looks like a tough competitor
with a world-renowned squad, which includes Real Madrid
midfielder Kaka, Inter Milan keeper Julio Cesar, and Barcelona
right-back Dani Alves.
Italy
The Reigning FIFA World Cup holder poses a threat to any
team that gets in its way. With a talented and renowned
European squad, it is hard not to expect Italy to go far. What
really makes Italy stand out from the rest Well, it is the fact
that it has chosen eight players from Italian powerhouse
Juventus on its preliminary Squad.
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Best ways to celebrate
Memorial Day!
Danielle Gruskiewicz
Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off of summer, is
traditionally the last Monday of May. This year, the holiday
was celebrated on May 31. Formally known as Decoration
Day, it commemorates all the U.S. men and women who
died while serving in the military. With the important
cause that Memorial Day represents, Americans need
fabulous ways to celebrate. Here are some ways to have a
fun Memorial Day every year, while remembering the
reason for celebrating.
Watch the Indianapolis 500–
Next year, invite your whole family to
the house and watch the Indianapolis
500. This is an American automobile
race held every Memorial Day at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The
cars that race are Indycar classics or
Formula One cars. These cars‟
features are different than those of
regular cars because their wheels are
open and not under the car like
normal stock cars. Next year will be
the 95 th race of the Indianapolis
500. While you are watching this
The Indianapolis 500–
a staple of Memorial
Day
race, bake a pound cake and shape it into the profile of a
car. Then frost it with white icing, use blueberries to make
the stars, and split strawberries for the stripes. Then, you
can celebrate Memorial Day with a sweet and patriotic
treat.
Take part in a Memorial Day parade- Instead of
just watching the same old floats and people pass by in
your town parade, ask to be in it. Go to your local town
hall and ask to take part in the parade as a message for
people to remember the reason for the celebration. Have
ideas prepared of what you want to do in the parade. For
example, you could dress up as Uncle Sam and hold
posters that say, “Today I am remembering the Marines.”
You can give out candy or small American flags to help
people remember why they are at the parade. Just
remember to communicate clearly the reason you want to
participate in the parade, and you will be surprised what
people will allow you to do.
Have a pool party- Have all your friends and family
over your house for a Memorial Day pool party! If you do
not own a pool, ask your local community center or YMCA
if you can rent a pool. Decorate the pool and surrounding
area with red and blue lights, small flags, and red and blue
table clothes. Cook foods that will go along with your
theme, such as mashed potatoes, grilled red peppers, and
blueberry muffins. At the end of your party, ask your
guests if they can give a donation to a veterans‟ fund. This
will really help the people who give you the reason for
celebrating Memorial Day.
Father’s Day
Megan Roberts
.When we hear the word “father” what comes to
mind Someone who gives us money Someone who gives us
a home and a bed Someone to whom a person is biologically
linked The word “father” can mean all of the aforementioned,
but it means so much more.
A father doesn‟t only have to be the person to whom
you are linked by birth. A father is someone who loves and
cares for you with all his heart. A father is someone to whom
you can look up and know that he will always be on your
side.
Father‟s Day is not only a greeting-card, companymade
holiday. It is a holiday dedicated to those dads, for
whom we would give our lives. It is a day that we can set
aside to let these men know how special they are to us.
Even though we should tell these men how much we
care about them every day, we sometimes neglect to do so.
Father‟s Day reminds us how much our dads mean to us and
reminds us to let them know, more often, how much we care
about them.
While it may be traditional to give your dad a card, a
tie, or something for the backyard grill, a simple “I Love You”
is all that is needed to make this day special. No need to get
fancy with power tools and electronics, all you need is some
time put aside, to spend with your father.
No matter what happens in your life, your dad will
always be your dad, and nothing can change that.
UCPAC (continued from page 4)
There was a new
category added this
year, celebrating the
fabulous production of
UCPAC‟s first original
play, Love Awkwardly.
Many students were
awarded for their work
in this production also.
It was announced that
the writers of Love
Awkwardly, alumni
The cast of Something About
Friendship
John Rotondo ‟07 and English teacher and UCPAC moderator
Maryann Carolan, have written another play called Something
About Friendship. This original play, staring Katie Brown ‟13,
Brandon Rotondo ‟12, Conor McDonough ‟10, Rob Krienke
‟10, Justine Mujica ‟10, Sammie Mellina ‟10, Maeve Lynskey
‟12, and Jonathan Sagendorf ‟11, will be performed at Union
Catholic on June 24, 25, and 26. With the conclusion of the
‟09-‟10 PAC season and school year, many are excited to begin
productions for next year.
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FIFA World Cup
(Continued from page 9)
Mark Osores
The chemistry between the players could play a
vital role in their advancement throughout the
tournament. Because of its teamwork, the Italian
National team has always shown an “iron” defense,
which led it to World Cup glory in 2006.
Spain
Although it has never won a World Cup, Spain
appears to show some true potential to have a
crack at the title. It won the Euro 2008
tournament, which pitted all the European nations
together, and it continues to have some very
accomplished players. Xavi Hernandez ,the 2009
Midfielder of the year recipient, will look to create
havoc for other teams with his
excellent play at the midfield.
Adding to Spain‟s defense,
Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes
will be battling for the role of
starting keeper. Both famous
for their quick reflexes, they
also play for Spain‟s top and
most successful teams:
Barcelona(Valdes) and Real
Madrid(Casillas). Along with
countless other top players,
Spain certainly has the
potential to reach the top.
Argentina
Who will take home
the trophy at this
year‟s World Cup
Being led by inspirational striker and 2009 FIFA
World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, Argentina
will be a force to be reckoned with. Along with
Messi, Argentina will be fueled by Javier
Mascherano and the experienced Juan Sebastian
Veron in its pursuit of the world crown. If
Argentina‟s impressive lineup is not convincing
enough of its high chances of winning, then the
fact that they are coached by legendary player
Diego Maradona should be. Legendary for his
performances in past World Cup tournaments,
Maradona will look to motivate the Argentinean
team to victory.
The World Cup will feature a lot of other notable
and well-renowned stars from other nations. Filled
with action and excitement, this World Cup could
exceed all expectations. As in the past, surprises
will probably arise and, there could be a handful
of underdogs that may create quite a stir. With
every team using the time at hand to tune up its
skills, the excitement continues to grow. The
journey to reach the top begins this summer on
the biggest stage on earth and promises to be a
remarkable spectacle to behold for soccer
enthusiasts, and non-enthusiasts alike.
Fun Summer Jobs
Allison Rebozo
Retail – Although the retail industry is extremely competitive,
it gives workers a great experience in a very upbeat environment.
Many stores are looking for young, innovative
individuals who are willing to interact with customers and
grow in a business aspect. The down side is that because of
the overwhelming amount of applications, the decision making
process becomes more competitive for managers when
deciding who they should hire. But do not worry; there is a
benefit for teenagers! During the interview process, make
sure you are personable, talkative, and very knowledgeable
with your words. The most important thing to do is making
sure that you present yourself in a mature manner so that
you can balance responsibility in a store environment with
an energetic disposition.
Babysitting – This is a classic first job for many teenagers.
The best part is that this job creates much flexibility. First,
search for families and friends you may know in your
neighborhood that have young children. After you have settled
the important necessary information, be aware of the
responsibility that comes with this job. Most of all make sure
that you are patient and you always have a positive attitude!
Camp Counselor – There is nothing better than having a job
that requires you to have fun and be out in the wonderful
summer weather. Most camps have a surge of kids that are
enrolling in the summer and with that abundant number, the
staff will most likely be hiring new members. Being a counselor
requires you to be a leader and to enjoy yourself while
doing so. This position allows you to take a leap into the role
of being a leader. This will also look great on an activity
sheet as you prepare for the application process for colleges.
It will show universities that you have great determination,
patience, and responsibility which are key aspects of life.
Amusement parks, zoos, and attractions - Face it, every attraction
and park that is located outside receives the most
visitors during the warm summer days. This is the peak season
when parks become very crowded and when most managers
are looking for new employees. The jobs entail cleaning
up, working the concession stands, selling tickets, or running
the games. Although it can be hectic, the fun environment
makes up for the busy moments. The best part is that
majority of these parks will allow employees to receive a
discount, which will be beneficial for a day off with your
friends!
Dog Walking/Pet Sitting – During the summer, many families
are preparing to go on vacation which means that, just like a
babysitter, someone needs to assure that their pets are safe
and being watched. This can be a very favorable job for a
teenager., especially one who is an animal lover. Dog walking
is also great exercise and allows you to get up and be
active. By posting flyers and asking around your neighborhood,
you will get the word out that you are willing to take
on this exciting job.
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Class of 2011 Celebrates their “Passage” into
Senior Year
Brian Hartnett
One of the greatest thrills of being a teenager is finally earning
the special privileges and perks that come with adulthood. A variety of
ceremonies and traditions mark this “rite of passage” and on a much
deeper level, symbolize the transition from boy to manhood and from girl
to womanhood. These symbolic passages occur in schools as well and is
no stranger to UC, as seen in the annual Junior Rite of Passage ceremony
held on June 8. With the graduation of the class of 2010, the class of
2011 all dressed up and gathered together to symbolize their transition
into senior year and being at the top of the heap in terms of rights, privileges,
and leadership.
A group of juniors celebrate their Rite of
Passage ceremony in the UC Courtyard.
The students finally gained access to the
senior privilege of using the courtyard
The event started with a small prayer service held in the UC Auditorium.
Class leaders Vinny LaRocca ‟11, Tim Connell ‟11, Lisa Birritteri‟
11, and Meghan Gaczynski ‟11 each lit a candle to symbolize the class‟s
four years here at UC. This was followed by a small reading from each of
the leaders, as well as remarks from History Teacher Mrs. Leegan, Principal
Sister Percylee Hart, R.S.M., and Assistant Principal Mr. Reagan. After this, the class made its way to the school cafeteria,
where an extravagant breakfast of French toast, eggs, potatoes, bacon, and
sausage had been prepared by hard-working members of the UC Kitchen Staff.
Upon receiving their food, class members then had the option to finally step
out onto the grassy oasis in the middle of UC and eat their breakfast at one of
the many benches or tables that line the courtyard.
Most students could not hold back their enthusiasm at finally being
awarded one of the most important senior privileges. The courtyard truly represents a place where the seniors can
gather as a class and spend some time together, free from the distractions inside the building. More importantly, it
represents just one of many privileges that will be bestowed upon this class in the upcoming year. Along with the courtyard,
the class will also receive Senior polo shirts, Senior hoodies, and Senior parking lot privileges. These special honors
truly represent their arrival as valuable members and leaders who exemplify the values of the UC Community.
Thanks for a Great Year!
See you in September
The Prophet 2010– 2011 Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Brian Hartnett
Co-Editor: Adrianna DeGazon
Copy Editor: Danielle Gruskiewicz
Assignment Editor: Allison Rebozo
Contributors to this issue: Anne Cierpial, Ronald Munkittrick, Carolyn
Ryan, Greg Gagliardi, Jamie Ciocon, Sean Sarra, Jordan Morrisey,
Erin Farley, Megan Roberts, Gabrielle Aquino, Mark Osores
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