SLEEP DEPRIVED IS NOT DERIVED

By BROOKE HARTLEY

As many teachers sip on their coffee and begin their carefully constructed lesson plans each day, they often feel a sense of defeat as they watch many of their students slowly close their eyes and lay their heads on the edge of their desks due to a lack of sleep and concentration. It seems as if sleep deprivation is plaguing the student body and faculty alike in the classrooms of Washingtonville High School and something needs to be done to put an end to this horrific affliction.

On average, only eight percent of high school students get enough sleep on any given school night. Other high schoolers get only about 5-6 hours of sleep, probably due to the fact that they are loaded with tremendous amounts of homework, as well as after school activities, and their social lives outside of the classroom. Sleep deprivation is not something that is taken seriously, but it should be, as we constantly catch ourselves complaining about it.

BROOKE HARTLEY FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

Many students work through this issue by opting for early release. Jennifer Shute, a senior at Washingtonville High School is one of these students.  She expressed, “If I have early release, I have more time to finish my homework, so when I get home after all of my sports, activities and clubs, I can go to bed when I get tired right away.” Seniors have an advantage being able to leave early, so it’s nice to hear that they are using their time well.

Kael Leonard, a junior from Washingtonville High School, responded, “I get between only 4-5 hours of sleep usually every night. The average day is pretty rough for me because I am usually tired for the first half of the day before lunch. I’m usually so tired because you should be getting between 7-9 hours of sleep per night.” Junior year is one of the most stressful years in high school, especially when students are constantly falling behind in class due to sleeping and a lack of paying attention. In order for students to be able to stay caught up and have full concentration in class, using the skill of time management could overall benefit underclassmen. 

Students are not the only ones suffering from this deprivation. Ms. Bancroft, a chemistry teacher at WHS, distinguished, “I am tired in school, but not in the morning. I start getting tired at 1pm. Being tired in school affects the decisions I have to make, how I handle student behaviors, remembering what I have to do, as well as where I place items.”

From freshmen to seniors, and even teachers, people are starting to notice that students and faculty are making a concerted effort in their time management skills to improve their sleeping patterns and schedules. Sleep deprivation can overall effect the mental and even physical aspects of their lives. When asked how she manages to be ready to teach each day, Mrs. Connolly, an English teacher at WHS, replied, “I embarrassingly go to bed at 8:30 every night.  It is the only way to survive teaching three different classes each day and then going home to my family.  It’s what keeps me sane.”

Sleep deprivation affects us all. As a community, let’s look out for one another’s well being. Encourage friends and family members to put down the phone at night,  shut off the TV, close their eyes, and get to sleep! 

IN OCTOBER WE WEAR PINK

By DANIELLE IMPERATO

It is safe to say that everyone has been affected by breast cancer in some way, shape or form. One of the amazing things about the Washingtonville community is the way residents come together to support breast cancer awareness in every way possible.  Whether it’s by  students wearing pink to school, athletes wearing pink during their games, or even creating a Wizards Against Cancer Club, there is no shortage of love and support for all those afflicted.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is an appalling disease that kills over 40,000 people each year.  Out of the people who died from breast cancer, 40,920 of them were women. The reason why awareness for breast cancer is so important is  because it recognizes the importance that early detection and regular health visits should be taken seriously because they could save a life.  

DANIELLE IMPERATO FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

It is not uncommon during the month of October to see Wizard athletes wearing pink while playing their sports so that everyone watching can see the awareness and support Wizard Nation is trying to emphasize. Not only do the athletes wear this bright and encouraging color, the student section does as well.  There is nothing like seeing the swarm of students cheering in unity to spread awareness for such an important cause.

The Wizards Against Cancer Club, otherwise known as WACC, was created by one of our very own students so that more awareness could be disseminated.   WACC was started in September of 2014 by Lucia Dugan.  She had good reason for wanting to begin such an important club.   “In 2006, my dad was diagnosed with stage 3 small cell bladder cancer. He had to go through 6 months of chemotherapy before having a surgery to remove it. When I got to High School and saw how cancer was affecting the school, I remembered how I felt when my dad had cancer and it made me want to create a safe haven for people being affected by cancer and help raise money towards cancer research.”  

Over the past four years, the club has only evolved even more. There are many fundraisers within the club throughout the year that raise a tremendous amount of money to be donated to hospitals like Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital located in Westchester. Some of the fundraisers to look out for are Cuts for a Cure, Trivia Night, and Team shirts. 

Mrs. Lynch, one of the club advisors, is very enthusiastic about this club. “My favorite experience/activity is just sitting back to observe.  I love when a fundraiser occurs.  All the hard work that Mrs. Constable and the club put into making an event happen comes to fruition and I love seeing everyone participate.” She went on to express, “I make sure to walk the halls during color outs, and I participate in every event. It feels so good.  Even better, handing over the checks to the Hudson Valley Resource Center, and delivering holiday gift bags to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital warms my heart.” This club and all its members are very energetic about the  charity that it brings to support the cause. 

The Washingtonville Central School District and community is always so enthusiastic about coming together for significant causes.  Breast cancer awareness will always be a big part of the Washingtonville community during the month of October. The more awareness that is spread the better the outcome! 

WIZARD GIRLS’ SOCCER TEAM: FINDING A WAY TO WIN

By DILLON SULLIVAN

From home games being switched to away games, not being able to practice on an actual soccer field, and losing tough, nail-biting games,  this season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Washingtonville girls’ varsity soccer team.  Through all this adversity, this team has been resilient and the girls have shown this throughout their incredible playoff run, as they find themselves in the section finals.

With the season off to a good start, the girls were optimistic at their chances for the rest of the season. Then the weather hit. Torrential downpours ruined the upper fields at Washingtonville High School, where the boys' and girls' soccer teams played their games. Due to practices being cancelled because the field was too rough to play on and the gym being booked, the team was not well prepared for their next stretch of games. Most of the girls’ home games had to be switched to away games due to the unplayable conditions on the field, giving the team more obstacles to overcome.

DILLON SULLIVAN FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

After all the misfortune, the team’s hard work finally paid off one fateful day in Warwick. The first time the girls had played Warwick, it was a blowout loss of 5-0. The second time around was not so similar, as Wizard’s midfielder Catrina Maltes scored in the middle of the game to give Washingtonville the 1-0 lead. Dropping back to play more defensively, the Wizards did not let up a score to Warwick and won the game with all the momentum in the section on their side.  

This win truly brought the team closer than ever.  “Our game against Warwick is what changed our whole season. We went from losing 5-0 to winning 1-0.  After that, we knew we could beat anyone,” voiced freshman midfielder, Amber McDermott. “That game is what made us the team we are right now.” 

Heading into the final few games of the season, the girls needed a few things to go their way for them to make it to the playoffs.  They did. The Wizards needed Monroe to beat Warwick. That happened.  Kingston and Monroe needed to tie. Check.  Everything fell into place as the Wizards slipped into the playoffs as the 6 seed, the lowest in the tournament. 

Their first playoff game was in Kingston, the 3 seed, a team they lost to 2-1 in overtime earlier in the season. Once again, the Wizards overcame adversity and ironically won 2-1 in overtime by a goal scored by junior forward, Tara Bendsak. “We started playing with more heart.  We realized how bad we wanted this and we put everything on that field,” expressed sophomore centerback, Sofie Sorensen. 

In the next game against 2nd seeded Valley Central, the girls went on the road again and came out with the victory with a score of 2-0. “In the postseason it really comes down to the team that wants it more will win. We by far have the most heart and I think we’ve definitely shown that through these past few games,” exclaimed Sorensen. 

The Wizards look to ride their momentum into the title game where they will matchup against Monroe. No matter the result, the team had an incredible season, and one everyone should be proud of.

SCARECROWS AND FALL DECOR

By JADE CURTIS

As the leaves begin to fall from the trees, and the smell of pumpkin spice radiates through the town, the residents of Washingtonville know that, arguably,  the best season of the year is upon us: fall. This year, Washingtonville has tremendously improved their level of success with decorating the village and making it feel like the long awaited season is finally upon us.

JADE CURTIS FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

This year, on the first day of fall, the village of Washingtonville’s Beautification Committee, community members, and Washingtonville High School volunteers decorated the town with scarecrows to spice up the spooky season. The creatures were made over the past few weeks by various individuals and civic groups in Washingtonville including Girl Scouts and children from all three elementary schools in the district. Scarecrows were also made by local businesses to reflect their shops and they were quite festive. 

The Beautification Committee was first established when Mr. Bucco was elected mayor in March of 2017. One of his main goals was to upscale the quality of the town. Mr. Bucco stated, “I think it’s awesome how people come together and volunteer their time. We always have meetings where volunteers and leaders bring in new ideas and the whole committee has revitalized the community.” His wife, Mrs. Leanne Bucco, is the head of the committee along with trustees Val Laudato, Diane Mack, and Linda Steinberger. The committee has been around for two years, and is continuously flourishing as new volunteers become more involved. Through the leaders and volunteers, Washingtonville is always festive during the holiday season.

The Beautification Committee has gotten a very positive response from the community. Mrs. Bucco expressed, “We put up flyers allowing anybody to come make a scarecrow. We had stakes donated by Felix Versweyveld that were available for pickup at the village hall, and volunteers even made their own when we ran out. We always try to make the community look great, and the committee has truly brightened the village.”  The village of Washingtonville regularly posts on Facebook informing residents when volunteer opportunities are present. This information can be found on The Village of Washingtonville Facebook page, or the We the People of Washingtonville Facebook page. 

With the presence of this committee, the atmosphere in the village of Washingtonville has vastly improved, and is especially cozy during the upcoming holiday seasons.  Thank you to all of the volunteers who put in their hard work to make this happen. Washingtonville can’t wait to see what you have in store for us this winter!

THE BISTRO IS BACK!

By ELIZABETH ALLEGRO

ELIZABETH ALLEGRO FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

Everyone recognizes the warm feeling and sweet smells that fill the hallways on Friday mornings at Washingtonville High School. When the aroma of cinnamon buns and breakfast burritos float throughout the school, students and teachers alike flock to room 160 where they know they will be greeted by the hardworking students who run the Breakfast Bistro.

The Breakfast Bistro is a tradition that began during the 2009-10 school year and has been welcomed and continued every year since. Mrs. Angelillo, lovingly known by most students as Mrs. A, explained that the Breakfast Bistro was modeled after a program similar in nature to one developed at Minisink High School.  “It was created to give our students vocational training and skills they could use in the future.”  Aspects of the program include culinary skills, socializing and taking orders, as well as  working a register, which are helpful learning tools for the motivated students of the Aspire classroom. 

Wildly popular among the students and staff of WHS, the Bistro has tons of customers each week, but many wonder what the money earned is used for.   The profits are used to continue running the Bistro and all of the excess revenue is money well spent.  For all of their hard work and dedication, the students are rewarded with field trips to places like restaurants, and the movies. Just recently, the kids and a few teachers took a field trip to Betty’s. This year in particular,  profits will also be put towards the Food Pantry and the Food for Kids Backpack Program.  

The Washingtonville students and faculty love the Bistro.  Mrs. A expressed that her favorite part of the program is the interaction of her students with the rest of the building and community. “It's how relationships and friendships are made.”  Mrs. Wakham agreed by saying that “we are all there for the same reason; to support one another.  Our cohesiveness as a school community is so evident when you’re at the Bistro!”  

The food draws in the crowd and the cheerful environment keeps them coming. Student Meaghan King expressed,  “I love the Breakfast Bistro because it brings a smile to my face when I smell the sweet cinnamon buns.”

The Breakfast Bistro is a beloved and appreciated part of Washingtonville High School and will be up and running for the remainder of the year and, hopefully, for years to come.  If you can, be sure to check it out next Friday!