Students Are Excited for Upcoming Ski / Snowtubing Trip

By Caroline Kothari

Staff Writer

 

Sophomore Craig Mechanic is very excited for the upcoming ski/tubing trip, so that he can hang out with his friends and just let loose.

“I’m excited about this trip because it is a good chance for me to hang out with my friends.”

The ski trip to Bear Creek has become an annual tradition. This year’s trip is taking place on Friday Feb. 21. Students can pick and choose from different options, all of which vary in price.

Craig says he doesn’t ski, he snowboards. “I have been a snowboarder since I was eight.”

He added, “To me, snowboarding isn't scary, it’s fun. The hardest part of snowboarding may be keeping your balance and trying to turn.”

Josh Cameron Profile: Freshman Has Acted in 33 Plays

By Jacob Montenegro

Staff Writer

When Josh Cameron was 7, he saw the shows Oliver  and Annie and he was amazed. He loved the drama, how suspenseful the shows were and how well the actors played their characters.

He decided he wanted to try acting, but there was a problem. “I wanted to start acting, but my parents said that I would be too shy.”

But Josh was determined, so his parents said that they would let him give it a try. They signed him up for a show and he has turned out to be a great actor.

Now a freshman, Josh has been in a total of 33 plays, both inside and outside of school, including Emperor Jones, Fiddler on the Roof, 13, and Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. Last year, he played a main role in Woodlynde’s high school production of Footloose, even though he was still in Middle School. Dr. Simmons said "Last year for the upper school play, the main actor who was going to play a huge role, stepped down and Josh stepped up to the role and learned all of the lines and he was a great actor."This year, he is going to act in Grease, which premieres March 6.      

Josh enjoys acting because he likes to be in character and be someone different every time he is in a play. He also loves the thrill of acting.

“I used to get butterflies a lot, but my director said that getting butterflies was good,” Josh said, “because when you get butterflies, you are more cautious on stage and you can channel your nervous energy to remember your lines and ques.”

Josh’s favorite play that he has been in is Ragtime. He liked the story and there were excellent actors in it and it was emotional. “The play was historical and it was very dramatic,” Josh said.

Josh has other hobbies, as well, like watching his favorite T.V. show, “Everybody hates Chris,” which he thinks is hysterical. The main character Chris reminds him of himself. “I can see myself in the same situations and I can relate to the show,” Josh said. “The show gives me the chance to laugh at the stupid things a kid my age would do.”  

Josh has been attending Woodlynde for seven years. He plays basketball and runs for the Cross-Country team, which he likes because he gets to talk to his friends on the team while he runs. “I find cross-country interesting because I get a lot of exercise, and not a lot of kids do cross-country and it’s a great experience,” Josh said.

He added: “Cross-Country builds stamina [and] endurance, and it teaches you not to give up.”

Caroline Kothari: Going Gluten and Dairy-Free Works Wonders

By Caroline Kothari

Staff Writer

I have psoriasis on my scalp. Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that produces raised, reddish, and often scaly patches. It can spread beyond the scalp to the forehead, back of the neck, or behind the ears. I have had this ever since I was little and it’s really annoying. 

My doctors have always told me not to drink milk because it affects my health. For the last 17 years of my life, I have not been following the doctor's advice because I have always thought that just changing my diet wouldn’t help my psoriasis. However, it turns out that it really does make a difference.

Recently, my mom decided what if this would actually work? So, after we got back from Italy in August, my mom told me that we should go on a gluten and dairy-free diet for a month and see how it turns out.

Being gluten free means I can’t eat bread, pasta, pastries, donuts, bagels etc. Being dairy free means I can’t drink milk, or have yogurt or butter, etc. Many of these gluten foods I used to eat all the time. My favorite foods that are gluten that I can’t eat are bread and pasta. 

So as I went through the month, things started to turn around for me. My psoriasis started clearing up and my head started looking like normal. It was like magic and I was thrilled. 

In addition, I felt so much more energetic and happy. I felt like I was drinking multiple cups of coffee a day, but I wasn’t. It was the change in diet!  I loved how I felt, so my mom decided we should do this for the rest of our lives. Sure, sometimes we may go off it for holidays, but other than that, we will be completely gluten and dairy free.

Not only does this diet help my psoriasis and my energy level, it also helps my mood. Now, trivial situations that used to seem like a big deal are actually not at a big deal at all. Being less sluggish helps my mood regulate because when I am not exhausted, I can actually function and feel good about everything in life. 

I think becoming gluten and dairy free has absolutely been the best thing for me. In fact, I think everyone should try it. This diet will make you feel like you’re Superman or Superwoman. It may be a bit more work, but it is worth it.

Student Profile: Will Boswinkel Enjoys Food and Japanese Entertainment

By Daniel Fink and Nikki Goldman

Staff Writers

           Will Boswinkel has a strong interest in food and Japanese entertainment, such as video games.

When asked what he likes about video games, he responded, "Because it takes me to another universe -- it’s really fun and it takes you away from reality.”

Will also likes anime and manga. “I do manga in my free time and constantly go to comic book stores," he said.

In fact, he goes three times a week because "it’s a fun and interesting place and you can talk to other people in the store who also like exactly what you like and know about it. While there, Will does the following: "I read comics, talk to other comic book fans, and play the games that are there.”

Will is not just into anime and manga, he also strongly enjoys food. His favorite is tacos because, "There are so many options to tacos and there are infinite possibilities, but my favorite is guacamole, cheese, and beef".  

Will is constantly seen with a bag of potato chips and when asked which kind he prefers, he said, "Jalapeño Heat. The burst of flavor is great.”

Although he loves food, Will can't stand fondue, saying, "I don't like dipping cheese and bread together."

           Will's favorite movie is the Avengers because "It gets better everytime you watch it." His favorite character is Thor because he was the first superhero Will ever read about.  

When asked what super power he would like to have, he said to "duplicate" Then he could do several things at once “like chores around the house".

Since the age of five, Will has had an interest in and played soccer. Having friends on the team also impacted his playing. "If I'm on the field with them I do better because I know what they are going to do. It's fun to play with your friends."  

Since Will started soccer, he has always played midfield. Will takes the sport seriously and even without his friends on his team he would still play.

Getting along with everyone is important to Will so he can make friends.  "The team supports you most of the time. Because sometimes you make a stupid move and they are like -- are you kidding me?"  

Will is inspired by soccer and enjoys being a part of the game, as well. "Soccer is a fun and exciting sport that you can play all around the world."

Student Profile: Daniel Fink Loves Hanging Out with His Cousins

By Nikki Goldman

Staff Writer

     Ever since sophomore Daniel Fink was a child, nothing has been more enjoyable for him than spending time with his cousins.  

"They'll always be there for you," Daniel said. He has at least forty cousins and they are all very important to him.  

Seven of his cousins are the closest and they meet twice a week. One of their favorite activities is having a comical conversation and joking around.

"I'm happy with them as cousins [rather than brothers] because if you know someone too well, then they'll start to drive you crazy," Daniel said.

On vacations they usually go to Mexico. "My family is Hispanic, so we love going to Mexico all the time."

However, Daniel hasn't gone to Mexico in three years, because, "Recently, because Northern Mexico is getting really unsafe because of the drug cartels."

Going to Mexico with his family has always been entertaining. Daniel and his cousins mostly hang out in the hotel. They also walk around the city together or visiting family members. "I have some family in Mexico, so it sort of feels like a vacation but it also feels like home, as well," he said.

Daniel also has many loyal pets.

In his household, there are two dogs, two birds and eleven fish. One dog, Leah, is a border collie and the other, Ginger, is a shih tzu. Leah is mostly shared between Daniel and his father, but Ginger is mostly his dog and they spend a lot of time together.

Daniel would like to have another pet --  a golden retriever, and he would name it Luke. "They are very smart, very gentle and a lot of fun to be around and they also don't cause much of a ruckus like a border collie." Daniel said.

His birds are named Keko and Jimmy. Jimmy is more Daniel’s sister's pet and Keko is more Daniel’s pet.

Daniel’s love for animals and his family mean the world to him and he enjoys spending free time with them. “I can’t imagine my life without them,” Daniel said.

Student Profile: Liam McNeil Enjoys Homework and Soccer

By Elizabeth Carney

Staff Writer

When students are asked what is appealing about school, a probable answer would consist of hanging with your friends, or that the teachers are nice.

Homework would normally be at the bottom at the list.

However, that's not the case for freshman Liam McNeil. He said that homework is, in fact, one of his favorite things about Woodlynde. "It's not too challenging, but not too easy, either," Liam said.

        This ends up being a good thing that it doesn’t take up all of his after-school time, because for his extra-curricular, Liam played Varsity Soccer. 

"I get to hang with my friends and I get the extra-curricular points," Liam said. “It’s a sport I’m good at.”

Liam has been playing soccer for four years, all thanks to his parents, who forced him into playing.

In addition to playing soccer, Liam hangs out with his two dogs, Charlie and Lilly. His family got Charlie, a chocolate lab, in 2007. In 2010, they got Lilly, who is a mixed breed.

Liam also enjoys playing video games and has been doing so since 2005. “...I like the experience that comes with [playing] them.”

With so many video games out there, choosing one as your favorite can be a difficult decision. But for Liam, he has one in mind, “Arma 2, because I’ve had so many great moments, and it’s a game that I can never get angry at.”

Student Profile: Elizabeth Carney Is a Talented Musician

By Liam McNeil

Staff Writer

Elizabeth Carney is a talented musician who wants to be in this year’s play.  

Elizabeth, or "Lizzy" as she likes to be called, is planning to try out for a lead role in the play, which will be Grease, and she is excited to have the chance to be in it. Elizabeth has said that she wanted to be in Grease after she saw the movie. She is hoping to be a member the Pink Ladies.

Elizabeth clearly likes music, which is shown by the fact that she can play the piano and that she wants to be a singer when she grows up. Elizabeth enjoys playing classical music.

If Elizabeth had to be stuck in an elevator with anyone, it would be a musician named Avril Lavigne. Elizabeth really likes rock music, which led her to discovering the singer.

Elizabeth is a sophomore at Woodlynde. When asked what she likes about the school, Elizabeth said, "I really like this school because it has such nice and helpful teachers."

Another interesting thing about Elizabeth is that she has a dog named Jagger who can stand on his two hind legs, but only has three legs total.

Elizabeth has a younger sister named Alison, whom she gets along with quite well. Her mother is her role model and someone whom she looks up to. Elizabeth has said that her mom is such an important figure in her life because she is kind and brave.

Finally, Elizabeth is a follower of the TV show, Doctor Who. She really enjoys the show because she likes all the different monsters and the different doctors that change every few years.