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.