Farewell to Vanguard

My farewell to vanguard 

I've moved a lot, which means I have been to a lot of schools. Vanguard was my last destination for high school and it has been the best experience. This school has taught me things beyond the academic level and the teachers kick your butt when you need it.  I know I will miss the surge of creativity and and wonder I got as I walked down the halls and admired the art, or being greeted with a genuine smile from a caring teacher each morning. I know that not every place I go will have these qualities but Vanguard has gotten me ready to move ahead. I am excited to start college but will always remain grateful to the teachers who pushed me to work my hardest and become a better version of myself. 

Advice for Vipers

Advice for Vipers who complain too much

A column by emile babrauskaite

As a girl who is doing everything in her power to graduate because she has so little time left, I would like to say a few things to the students who are slacking.
When a teacher gives you an assignment, you don't have to do it. This is a free country, they can't make you do anything that you don't want to do. However, with no work comes no reward, and if you get mad at the teacher for not passing you when you sat and watched youtube videos all year, then you should know that the world is not your oyster. Your reward is a high school diploma, and you should appreciate and respect the people who help you work towards it, because they don't have to. A teacher can sit there and let you watch youtube videos all year, and will still get paid at the end of the month whether you are failing or not, however, they care enough to help and motivate you.
So the next time you want to whine about an assignment, just take the assignment as a suggestion. If you do it, you get your reward, but if you don't, then don't complain about failing because you didn't take the suggestion that was given. It's your choice.

The Twenty Dollar Bill

A column by Emile B.

Recently, a campaign was launched by a group of women activists, called Women On 20's, to put one of America's famous women on the twenty dollar bill, instead of Andrew Jackson. I agree that honoring a woman instead of a man once in a while is a good idea. The argument of currency only depicting men is true, and we have had some fairly important ladies in our history that have changed the lives women live today. I believe that they deserve to be kept in mind while we get to enjoy the opportunities that they gave us. Money is a great symbol for that. Today, women have the opportunity to become as powerful and as rich as they please, with hard work of course. I am not very pleased to say that money is the root of power in society, but unfortunately, it is, and putting the face of a brave woman on something that symbolizes power is a great way to honor the achievements of that woman.

Alice Stokes Paul should be on the twenty dollar bill. She was fighting for women's rights until she had a stroke at the age of ninety two. She fought her whole life to be equal, to be able to vote, to work and get paid the same as a man, to be looked at and seen as another human being, not just a sex object or a way to reproduce. She fought for her rights as a living, breathing human. And she made a huge difference. She had bravery, and that is the true symbol of power.

scholten

taff Interview

Ft. Scholten’s Superiority

Mr. Scholten is the physical education teacher for The Academy at Forest View, but had also made connections with students from Vanguard through his employment at our school. You can easily get caught up in a conversation with Mr. Scholten but be weary bringing up family and relationships if you are planning on having a quick chit chat. Whenever Mr. Scholten gets a chance to bring up his wedding or his wife he seems like he could talk for hours. He could show you pictures, run through the exact story five times, and genuinely make you feel bad about how single you are.

Q: How lucky are you and why?

Mr. Scholten: I’m the luckiest man alive. I’m married to the most beautiful woman in the world. I found a woman who doesn’t mind the fact that I own more shoes than her.

Q: If you were on an island what monster would you run into?

Mr. Scholten: Probably the Lochness Monster, no wait, Mike and Sully from Monsters, Inc.!

Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

Mr. Scholten: The best gift I have given in my entire life would have to be the ring I gave to my wife.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

Mr. Scholten: All the reality shows on E! that I have to watch with my wife.

Q: If you were eighty years old what would you tell your children?

Mr. Scholten: Well let me think what would my grandparents say to me? My grandma used to always say, “Eat dessert first.”

Q: Do you want students to like you?

Mr. Scholten: That’s an interesting question, a tough one at that. Do I hope that they like me? Sure. Do I care or lose sleep over it? No. I hope they like me because then that must correlate to them also respecting me.

Q: Do you have any good quotes from your parents or students you’ve crossed paths with?

Mr. Scholten: Growing up, my dad would always shake my hand and tell me, “Be cool.” And I would always think, I am cool, right? But as I grew up I realized that “be cool” was his way of saying be safe and make good decisions.

Q: What song best describes your work ethic?

Mr. Scholten: That maniac* song! You know which one I’m talking about.

* I assume he’s talking about the very famous ‘She’s a Maniac’ by Flashdance. But for

Mr. Scholtens sake we can make that ‘He’s a Maniac’.

Q: What is your best and worst purchase?

Mr. Scholten: My best purchase would have to be my Jordan 11 Concords. I wore them at my wedding.

Q: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Do you jam to your music?

Mr. Scholten: Oh one hundred percent I jam to my music. You want to know what I jam to? I got my Michael Buble, John Mayer, SafetySuit, and then I like to mix it up and throw in some Biggie and old school Snoop! Not that Snoop Lion new crap.

Q: How many windows are in New York?

Mr. Scholten: 21,000,752,392 exactly.

Q: Could you see yourself attending Vanguard?

Mr. Scholten: Yeah, I would’ve loved to attend Vanguard.

Q: Do you focuses on strengths or weaknesses?

Mr. Scholten: I like to focus on strengths because while you focus on strengths it helps you develop your weaknesses.

Gustafson

Gustafson in all his glory

Mr. Gustafson is a friendly and well liked “out of school specialist.” He is the president of the ESP Union for the district. His jokes are always well timed and delivered with a smirk. If you know Gus then you know good humor.

Q: How lucky are you and why?

Mr. Gustafson: I am very lucky. I like to think I’ve been at the right place at the right time.

Q: If you were on an island what monster would you run into?

Mr. Gustafson: Big Foot. Definitely Big Foot.

Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

Mr. Gustafson: Ooo! I made a scarf for christmas, for my wife. I arm knitted it all by myself.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

Mr. Gustafson: Prejudice.

Q: If you were eighty years old what would you tell your children?

Mr. Gustafson: Well, I’m almost eighty now! Hmm.. I would tell them to enjoy life; everyday. I hate that saying but it’s true.

Q: Do you want students to like you?

Mr. Gustafson: I want students to respect me. They don’t have to like me but I think that they should respect me.

Q: Do you have any good quotes from your parents or students you’ve crossed paths with?

Mr. Gustafson: I’m eighty, remember? I don’t remember things anymore. Koz always says, “Eat up. Enjoy your meal. It may be your last.”

Q: What song best describes your work ethic?

Mr. Gustafson: “Come Sail Away” by Styx

Q: What is your best and worst purchase?

Mr. Gustafson: My best purchase has to be a projector that I had bought for $1.57. I thought it was $157.00! And my worst purchase would probably have to be a car.

Q: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Do you jam to your music?

Mr. Gustafson: I don’t like talk radio. I do listen to music and I do crank it up a little bit.

Q: How many windows are in New York?

Mr. Gustafson: Five Million

Q: Could you see yourself attending Vanguard?

Mr. Gustafson: No, my parents wouldn’t have allowed it.

Q: Do you focuses on strengths or weaknesses?

Mr. Gustafson: Definitely strengths. If you build off strengths you can fix your weaknesses.

Hoops for Marilyn

Marilyn's twins benefit from annual basketball tournament

by Emile B

     Almost every viper sported red and white today, Friday the 13th, and it wasn't  for an early Valentine's Day celebration.Today, all of Vanguard participated in a basketball fundraiser in order to raise money for Dr. Marilyn Medina-Perez's two little boys, a cause special to Vanguard.       "I'm happy that we are doing the cause, but I truly miss her, and I'm glad that I actually got to meet her. I'm proud of Vanguard for doing this,"  Zorayda Trujillo stated while preparing to spend the day playing basketball.       About a year ago, Vanguard lost Dr. Medina-Perez, a beloved social worker, to cancer. But we aren't the only ones who grieved for Dr. Marilyn Medina-Perez; her husband and twin boys lost a piece of their family. 
      Dr. Medina-Perez really wanted her boys to go to college, so the school raises money to make her dream come true. "It makes me feel happy to know that her babies are being taken care of, and that our whole school can come together as one and have fun," said Melissa Doron.
      The fundraiser is truly significant for the older students who knew her and who were impacted by her kindness. This cause brings our seniors together by giving them a day to remember her. "Today is important for the people that have been here for a long time, they are the last generation of Vipers that knew Marilyn, so this is very important to me," said Christian Reyes.
     It is on this day, all students give respect to Dr. Medina-Perez's legacy while playing basketball and having a good time. The mood and spirit, overall, is somber, but hope filled, slightly competitive, yet connected. 
     "It's a beautiful thing how people are willing to help each other in a constructive way, " shared Drimitije Markovic.

     If you didn't have the pleasure of meeting Dr. Medina-Perez, Mr. Patrick Kain describes her as, "Everything I wanna be, caring, kind, dedicated and compassionate... And probably smelled better than I do right now," he recounted while taking a water break during our basketball fundraiser, which we held for the second year to raise money for her twins.

Meister fills buckets, by the minute

Staff Interview

with Ecstatic Meistey by Caroleen Cohen

After commencing my interview with Ms. Meister, I quickly had a smile on my face. It must be contagious because when Ms. Meister smiles, I smile! Her quirky yet affectionate personality can put anyone in a good mood. ‘Meistey’ has been a critical and meaningful part of Vanguard for over ten years now! It’s clear for anyone to see how crucial and fitting Meistey is at our school. I couldn’t think of somebody with better intentions or a bigger heart to take her place. During the interview I realized how much she reminds me of my mother; she is both an inspirational and artistic women.  We truly are lucky to have such an optimistic teacher such as Ms. Meister at our school.

Q: How lucky are you and why?

Ms. Meister: I’m very lucky and i’m not sure why. I consider it the luck of the Irish.

Q: If you were on an island what monster would you run into?

Ms. Meister: A bear! I don’t know if you could consider that a monster, but Mr. Kain saw a bear in Canada and I thought it was the coolest thing. Oh! And an eagle! Are those monsters?

Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

Ms. Meister: I got the best christmas present, his name is Joseph Carl Meister, Jr. They gave me him in a christmas stocking. I love to hang up the stocking every christmas!

*I don’t think I’ve ever felt so warm and fuzzy hearing an answer as sweet as that!!

Q: What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

Ms. Meister: Mean people. Mean people suck. There’s never a reason to be mean to a person. It’s easier to be nice and it fills your bucket. Being serious is my biggest challenge. Life is too short to take it seriously.

Q: If you were eighty years old what would you tell your children?

Ms. Meister: Go easy I’m old or I’m not dead yet! You have to live while you’re alive. You can still get outrageous at 80. You’re 80, not dead!

Q: Do you want students to like you?

Ms. Meister: Of course I want students to like me. It’s important. If they don’t like me I don’t think I’m doing my job.

Q: Do you have any good quotes from your parents or students you’ve crossed paths with?

Ms. Meister: My dad used to say, “Good is the day you learn something new” and “ All things in moderation.”

Q: What song best describes your work ethic?

I was startled when Ms. Meister energetically started singing her song choice

Meister: Good day sunshine! I love my job. I get my energy from all these kids. I can’t imagine a better job on the planet earth; even eating chocolate all day. It would be fun but that wouldn’t last too long.

Q: What is your best and worst purchase?

Ms. Meister: My best purchase was randomly shopping all summer long. I ended up storing it away for this past Christmas. It was such a smart move. My worst purchase would be my new iron. It’s really pissing me off. Not a good move on my end. Thanks Bed Bath and Beyond.

Q: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Do you jam to your music?

Ms. Meister: I don’t really jam. Mr. Impastato said that I’m the only one he knows who blasts talk radio. If I’m not doing that I’m always making a list, planning ahead, what sauce to put on the pasta.

Q: How many windows are in New York?

Ms. Meister: Eleventy Billion

Q: Could you see yourself attending Vanguard?

Ms. Meister: OH YEAH! This is where I belonged!

Q: Do you focuses on strengths or weaknesses?

Ms. Meister: I focus on weaknesses to make them strengths. I’m a viking with my strengths, so I focus on my weaknesses!

As Ms. Meister and I were parting ways I asked if there was anything else she’d like me to include and she placed her hand on her heart and replied, “I’d like to thank my agent!” and walked away with a laugh.

Inspiring and Humorous New"ish" Lady

Staff Interview by Caroleen Cohen

Meet The Lovely Ms. Lavorato

I had the pleasure of getting to know Ms. Lavorato on a bit more personal level by asking her 13 idiosyncratic interview questions. Feedback gathered from my session with Ms. Lavorato left me with a newly found respect for her. She is captivated by her children and family, has a genuine love and interest in her job here at Vanguard, and is overall an exquisite human being. Ms. Lavorato is a model educator for any students eager to be an inspiring and humorous teacher. Please enjoy getting to know Ms. Lavorato and her captivating take on life itself.

Q: How lucky are you and why?

Ms. Lavorato: I am very lucky. I have my health, my family, and my friends. I am so lucky. :)

Q: If you were on an island what monster would you run into?

Ms. Lavorato: It would probably be in a cave, with fluorescent eyes, crazy big teeth, with gnarly claws. I don’t have a name for it, but I know I would run into it in a cave.

“These are tough questions. You’re making me think on a Friday!” she boldly told me.

Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

Ms. Lavorato: I could say my children, but my red headed cabbage patch kid. Back in 1985, I was 10 it was my most memorable gift as a child. His name was Lawrence Lee Roy; I didn’t name him, it came on his adoption papers.

Q: What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

Ms. Lavorato: The disregard of human life. Do you understand what I mean by that?

Q: If you were eighty years old what would you tell your children?

Ms. Lavorato: Please make sure you put me in a good nursing home.

Q: Do you want students to like you?

Ms. Lavorato: I think everybody would like to be liked. Right?

Q: Do you have any good quotes from your parents or students you’ve crossed paths with?

Ms. Lavorato: My dad used to say “Shut the front door we’re not heating the outside!”

She must get her sense of humor from her father, that made me laugh.

This next question seemed to stump Ms. Lavorato and we ended up having to come back to it.

Q: What song best describes your work ethic?

Ms. Lavorato:  “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars! I don’t think it describes my work ethic but my kids and I jam to it in the car!

Q: What is your best and worst purchase?

Ms. Lavorato: My best purchase would have to be my mini van. I honestly didn’t think I was going to be a minivan mom. But a year after my husband and I bought our CRV I asked for a mini van. He was so mad at me. So would my worst purchase be my CRV?

Q: What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Do you jam to your music?

Ms. Lavorato: I do jam, I sing. I have a long ride to work so I listen and sing along to music. On my way home I think about how much I want to be home and how much I want to be out of this traffic.

Q: How many windows are in New York?

Ms. Lavorato: A gazillion! Is a gazillion even a word? Do you know the answer?

Q: Could you see yourself attending Vanguard?

Ms. Lavorato: I liked my home school so I don’t know if I would leave. I loved high school so could I bring myself to leave my friends and the sports I played? I’m not sure.

Q: Do you focuses on strengths or weaknesses?

Ms. Lavorato: Both. I should focus on weaknesses but I focus on strengths. I guess it depends.

Once all my questions were answered, I thanked her and told her she was going to be featured on our Vanguard blog and she replied, “We have a blog?”