Spartans Volunteer at Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Written by: Noelle Hanek 

Halloween is a beloved holiday by people of all ages, and even though it is approaching quickly, there are plenty of fun activities in the community. One activity in particular-- Sparta's Trunk-or-Treat-- took place on Sunday, Oct. 28 at Station Park. The dreary weather did not stop anyone from having a good time. There was a generous spread of hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, prizes, and naturally, some sugary sweets! Parents and children arrived dressed in their best costumes and went to collect candy from the decorated trunks of the parked cars to the tune of spooky music.

Sparta High School students participated in all the fun by helping out at this event. Volunteers had a variety of tasks that contributed to the success of the Trunk-or-Treat. First, they helped set up and prepare for the day. Students then collected candy donations from generous donors, while moderating the event. Some student volunteers handed out their own candy and treats at their own decorative car trunk. After the eager children collected their candy, they made their way over to the Munchkin March, where they marched in a line around the turf field at station park with their parents. Volunteers led the marching line and were also at the end of the line to make sure it went smoothly. More volunteers stood in the center of the field along with a couple of adult judges to hand out medals to the most creative, crafty, and interesting costumes the children wore. After the march, students handed out fun Halloween prizes to all of the participants in the march. The event brought smiles to everyone's faces, made possible with the help of the Sparta High School student volunteers!

Families gathering to collect candy from the car trunks.

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How To Study For a Language Class

Written by: Emily Fitzgerald 
Many students at Sparta High School take a world language. Some even take two! With every language comes a plethora of new words, requiring more studying than ever before. Here are three tips to improve your studying skills, specifically in the art of learning a language. 

Tip #1- Flashcards And Quizlet-- Your New Best Friend!

Making flashcards is a great way to learn new material! You can use them until you memorize the terms and while making them you need to re-write everything and that is helpful for learning things.

Tip #2- Converse In The Language! 

Whether it is your super-smart friend or a native speaker, talking to someone that has more knowledge of the language is helpful. They can correct your grammar, teach you new terms, or even just help make learning a new language fun.

Tip #3- Get Assistance From Your Teacher

This tip goes for all classes, but language ones especially. If you feel like you are getting behind or just don’t understand something, go get some help from your teachers. It is their job to help you are every teacher should have an academic assistance schedule so make use of it. 

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Student Poll: "Which Halloween Candy is the Best?"

Written by: Liv Canova

As Halloween is fast approaching, it's time to start buying some candy for trick-or-treaters-- so which Halloween candy is the best? Although we can’t necessarily determine the all-time favorite candy per se, 71 Sparta students were asked this question, and the results speak for themselves:

KitKat- 20

Reese’s- 15

Nerds- 3

Twizzlers- 1

Milky Way- 3

M+Ms- 1

York Patty- 1

FunDip- 1

Twix-4

Dots- 1

Candy Corn- 6

Swedish Fish- 1

Butterfinger- 3

Pop Rocks- 1

Skittles- 2

Sour Patch Kids- 2

3 Musketeers- 1

Almond Joy- 1

Starburst- 1

Hersey’s Chocolate Bar- 3

So if you’re going by Sparta standards, KitKat bars and Reese’s Cups are far superior to the others. But, to those who don’t favor the two favorites, to each their own. Have a happy and safe Halloween and here's to hoping that you get to taste your favorite candy!

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Get Ready For Sparta Spirit Week!

Written by: Emma McNamara 

Listen up Spartans!

Do you have a lot of school pride? Do you want to be recognized for your spirit? Do you think your class is superior to the others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then next week is the week for you! From Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday Oct. 25, be prepared to wear your spirit on your sleeve.

Oct. 21 is 'Merica Monday- wear anything from stars and stripes to red white and blue!

Oct. 22 is Tropical Tuesday- relax all day with a chill island prints and vacation wear!

Oct. 23 is PJ Wednesday- hop right out of bed show up comfy!

Oct. 24 is Sport Thursday- your favorite team's merch or your own jersey will do!

and 10/25 is Sparta Friday- sport your Sparta apparel or even the school colors!

(Remember to follow the dress code when putting your outfits together.)

Participate as much as you can, and let the class with the most spirit win! 

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Tips For New Drivers, From A New Driver

Written by: Sarah Riley

There are many responsibilities and privileges you gain with becoming a high school student. One of those privileges available to you is the art of driving a car. The ultimate goal for many juniors is to obtain their driver’s license. Once you get your license, you gain a sense of independence and freedom, but also a large responsibility. Here are some tips for potential student drivers: 

• Practice before your six hours. Before you can get your driver’s license, you have to practice six hours of driving with a driving instructor in order to get your learner’s permit. Practicing a few times with your parents in an empty parking lot or in a driveway before your six hours puts you in good stead for the experience.
• Keep driving consistently until your driver’s test. For the first month or so after receiving your learner's permit, many students do not find it necessary to drive very much. One is bound to forget all the tips and tricks your driving instructor taught you in your six-hour lesson. It’s important to keep a steady routine from when you obtain your permit to earning your license, so you can be as prepared as possible when it’s time for your test.
• Learn from your mistakes. If you forget to or how to do something, don’t overstress about it. Just make sure you learn and remember what you did incorrectly, and try to improve next time. 
• Take your time; don’t rush. This is more specifically for when you take your driver’s test. You don’t need to hurry to get your test over with, just take as much time as you need and just follow the instructions given to you; take the time you need to complete the instructions of the test correctly. 

Don’t stress/panic! When it comes time for your test, your six hours, or even just practicing driving, remember to calm down and relax. Driving is not as scary as you may think it is, and with time, it will become much easier and even second nature to you. Just keep practicing and learning, and you’ll be a great driver in no time. :)

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Sparta High's Special Olympics Club: A Treat to Join

Written by: Sawsan Srour 

Sparta High School offers a wide range of after school clubs and activities that without a doubt will fulfill your interests. Among the variety of clubs, Special Olympics is one that does not get enough recognition for its positive impact on the athletes and volunteers.

The club itself revolves around assisting athletes in reaching their goals through a variety of athletic activities and competing in competitions.

Despite the presence of advisors Mrs. Schock and Mrs. Johnson, student volunteers are encouraged to take charge and make it a student-to-student experience. This allows for the athletes and volunteers to get to know one another and create a potential friendship between students who would not have had the opportunity otherwise.

The club will occasionally meet at lunch, but will mostly meet after school during the fall and spring. Some events throughout the year include the Holiday Vendor and Craft Fair and competitions at Princeton University with other Special Olympics clubs.

As a student volunteer myself, I can attest to the fact that the Special Olympics club is one of the most fulfilling clubs that Sparta High has to offer. Every meeting, the athletes have a smile on their faces and are ready and motivated to start working out. It makes you excited and eager to help them in achieving their goals as they are so determined to be successful in everything they do. The Special Olympics club is really a life-changing experience that will leave a long-lasting impact on you as a person.

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Sparta Football Commemorates Dover Student As They Dominate Jefferson

Written by: Eric Dau 

It was a great night for Sparta High School football fans Friday night under the lights. Jefferson Township High School came into Sparta and went home defeated. Final score: 62-0. 

Sparta played the entire game almost perfect as they put up big numbers without letting Jefferson score a single point. Freshman quarterback Austen Frattura completed nine out of ten passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns. Frattura's main target was junior slot receiver Brendan Cina who caught the football four times but racked up 134 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Szabo also had a touchdown. 

The running backs did their fair share during Friday night's beatdown. Senior Austen Castorina had another breakout game with 15 carries for 211 yards and three touchdowns. To start the third quarter, Sophomore Sam Esposito rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown. 

The Spartans' defense held their own against Jefferson's offense on Friday night. Jefferson's leading rusher only had six yards. They were held to a total of 16 rushing yards. Through the air, Jefferson wasn't much better. Seniors Nick Broccoletti, Noah Faria, and Nick Remo each had an interception.

A Spartan victory was not the only highlight-- Students and fans were encouraged to wear orange to the game. The school sold orange shirts along with tickets for the game for five dollars. This is in light of the tragic passing of Dover High School sophomore Steven Gomez-Restrepo. In an effort to show support towards Steven's family and the community, Sparta High School went #DOVERSTRONG, and a sea of orange present in the crowd on Friday. Every penny that was collected from the fundraiser was sent to the Gomez-Restrepo family, along with the Sparta community's prayers and condolences.

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The Oracle Launches Kindergarten Literacy Program

Written By: Emma Sears

While still early in the school year, meetings for The Oracle are already in full swing! As the staff works consistently on providing a well-researched, online newspaper for Sparta High School, they could not resist agreeing to an exciting opportunity to interact with the younger members of the Sparta school community. 

On Sept. 26, the members of The Oracle staff video-called Mrs. Gallagher’s Kindergarten class during their weekly meeting. Throughout this interaction, enthusiasm exuded from both elementary and high school students. After a cheerful introduction between the groups, the high schoolers read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day to the younger students.

To the happiness and excitement of both the students and teachers involved in the process, there are future plans for this collaboration to happen twice a month throughout the coming weeks. The staff will be reading Pete the Cat upon request of their kindergarten friends.

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SHS Drama Students Prepare for Fall Drama

Written by: Liv Canova

Sparta High School’s Drama Club is hard at work putting together their latest Fall Drama, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. Although rehearsals have just started, the cast and crew thrilled for what's to come.

“We’re starting to get to the point where things are getting up on their feet and actors are making choices and that’s always one of the coolest parts of a show,” Drama Club advisor and director Mr. Rivers expressed.

The show centers around Richard Hannay, a man who is framed for murder and must carry out a spy mission, played by junior Scott Riley. “I’m pretty excited, getting the lead for the first time which is pretty cool. It’s gonna be really good,” says Riley.

The crew is already working hard. Stage manager Kavya Kamath says, “It's really fun to see the process of how a show starts and then goes all the way to a full show."

Show dates are Nov. 14, 15, and 16.

 

Source: Wikimedia

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