Gratitude

Spartan Gratitude

By Ms Angela DeLuccia

Oftentimes we are so caught up in the moment that we forget to stop and realize where we are. Covid-19 has thrown many wrenches in so many wheels; but if we reflect on the last few months, what do we see?

Most students were in the building (albeit for a short period of time); the fall athletic season happened! Our athletes were able to participate in a sport they love, and our coaches were able to spend quality time with their teams. Ms Anderson was able to do what she does best, help students become healthier and stronger. 

Google stopped being cranky and virtual/hybrid classrooms began to thrive. Teachers were able to accomplish unbelievable things and build relationships with their students, despite all the obstacles. Cooperative education students were able to work in the building and learn a little bit more about the Athletics Department, Guidance Department, and the Media Resource Center. 

Ms Lucas earned the well deserved honor of Educational Support Professional of the Year. She continues to create videos and prepare for the Sparta Education Foundation’s virtual Turkey Trot (sign up if you haven’t already). While the current state of the world did not allow for the in-person Veterans Day celebration that we traditionally host, Student Council, SHS Choirs, and our local heroes all contributed to a beautiful project that we can look back upon with pride (with the expert video editing skills of Ms Lucas).

Students and staff took advantage of the MRC resources. Pass it Along was able to “adopt” several families; and those families will enjoy a generous Thanksgiving feast. Student Council continues to give back as well, both with the Sparta VFW and the Sparta Rec Department. 

The SHS ORACLE staff has met weekly and shared the great news and accomplishments of our community. Their dedication to and love for SHS is truly admirable. 

The circumstances are not ideal; we all want to be in our building and continue to achieve, accomplish, and embrace all that SHS has to offer. And we will, hopefully, soon. Until then, we can take care of ourselves and those we love, stay healthy and strong, and continue to find the things for which we are grateful. For me, that includes my family, both at home and at SHS.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sparta High School!

Sparta Coronavirus Update

 By Kavya Kamath

At the time of writing this article, Sparta school district has, only a few hours prior, released the news that Sparta Schools will be operating with a “primarily remote instructional model” from November 23rd to January 15th. This decision is a “preventative and proactive measure” regarding the upcoming Holiday season and the resulting increase in covid cases expected, as well as the the NJ Department Health’s reclassification of the Northwest region of New Jersey (Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren County) from a “yellow” zone, where there is “moderate risk “of covid contraction, to an “orange” zone, where there is “high risk” of covid contraction. 

Zoning risk assessment is performed by the NJ Department of Health (NJDH) weekly, and is determined by “number of cases in the past week, percent positivity past week and syndromic surveillance in the past week.” 

Recently the Northwest has been reclassified as orange, and this is before the holiday season really kicks in. Family gatherings, colder weather, and increased travel are all expected to contribute to another wave of covid, and the region is highly likely to progress back into the “red” zone, where risk is described by the NJDH as “very high” and it is highly “recommended that [school districts] implement fully remote learning.”  

And, while this is disappointing most especially for the SHS Class of ‘21, if not every single one of us who want to go back to school, this measure to close schools physically is the smart one, as it will prevent spread of covid-19 and unnecessary upheaval of the Sparta community. Still, it’s sad to see that school as we know it still won’t be returning to ‘normal’ anytime in the near future.

Sources:

NJDH: https://www.nj.gov/health/news/2020/approved/20200813a.shtml

November 19, 2020, Covid-19 Health Recommendations: https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/RecommendationsForLocalHealthDepts_K12Schools.pdf

Ecology Club: Up and Running for 2020-21!

 By: Kavya Kamath

Since March 13, 2020, when school officially closed due to state quarantine orders, Ecology Club has been on an informal hiatus due to logistical issues with social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and graduating leadership. However, Mr. Scognamiglio and Mr. DiNunzio are currently working with a few students behind the scenes to bring back Eco Club with full force for the 2020-21 school year, despite any challenges Covid-19 may present.

As for what has already been started, in October 2020, a new club instagram was created, symbolizing a fresh beginning for the club, as well as increased initiative to encourage club involvement. Additionally, the first club instagram post was put up. The instagram, @shs.ecoclub, puts up weekly posts on news highlights of environmental issues both close to home and on a planetary scale, and is a great informal news source to keep you updated on environmental issues around us. Furthermore, on October 27th, all club members were invited to a national discussion held by Ted Ed on the climate crisis and ways to combat it. The webinar connected people from all corners of the globe, from New York City to Pakistan to Germany to Armenia to India, and proved that the climate crisis has no political affiliation and no borders, but instead is something we as a club and we as humanity should do our part to help solve.

Finally, students Paige Sumowski, Kaleigh West, Jake Ryan, Natalie Blaszak, and Kavya Kamath are working as a team to organize cleanups around Sparta in the near future to both help the community become a cleaner, safer space, and to give people a way to give back to their communities even during this time of uncertainty. Join the google classroom (the code is “74fbwzo”) for updates on opportunities that anyone can participate in to help the environment, and updates on how Eco Club is ensuring its prosperity in the upcoming school year!

Key Club and Pass it Along Volunteer Opportunites

 By: Hayley Lane

Sparta High School’s Key Club and Pass it Along have special volunteer opportunities planned for this Thanksgiving. Key Club is partnering with a local group in Sparta donating 1,300 personal Thanksgiving meals! Participants write notes and cards to go into these meals as an extra surprise for the families. Additionally, Key Club is hosting a fundraiser with Color Street nails until December 11 . All the proceeds will be used to run other fundraising events and will be donated to groups in need.

Pass it Along is hosting its annual Family Volunteer Season, where members in grade levels adopt families and donate Thanksgiving food items and cleaning supplies to them. People interested in volunteerism are encouraged to join these clubs, as different opportunities are posted weekly!

Contact Mrs. Kopp for Key Club, and Mrs. Deluccia and/or Ms. Lucas for Pass it Along.

SHS Junior Takes Spartan Logo to a New Level

 By: Emma McNamara

Last year, Sparta High School developed a new logo. Inspired by this, SHS junior Charlotte Rogoff has taken the logo to a new level, personalizing our Spartan for many SHS clubs. 

When Sparta Music Boosters hosted a Logo contest, Charlotte began to brainstorm. Mixing a treble clef, a keyboard, and the new Spartan logo, she created the winning submission for the contest!

Since then, Charlotte has come up with ways to personalize logos for other activities, like GSA and The Oracle.

“My inspiration for these logos were my personal experiences throughout high school since I have been [here]. These are all things that I have become immensely devoted to.” When asked about her creative process, Rogoff shares that a logo can take her “a couple hours to come up with”, but “then takes a couple days to put it on paper and finalize details.”

Charlotte has taken her love for this school and it’s programs, along with her artistic talent, to keep our school looking fun and new!

Humans of Sparta: Ms. Bach

 By Hayley Lane

If you’ve taken orchestra, or have been to an orchestra or even choir concert, you’ve definitely seen Ms. Bach! Ms. Bach is the subject of today’s Humans of Sparta! She is Sparta High School’s orchestra teacher, and has been teaching for 29 years! She has a daughter who also plays violin and sings, and has three cats named Midnight, Star, and Cupcake. One of her most exciting teaching experiences was when the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra visited our orchestra. Students sat side by side with a member of the orchestra and watched them play. Besides teaching, another dream job of hers is playing cello for the broadway show Dear Evan Hansen. “It has a beautiful cello part!”, she says. Her favorite part of hybrid learning is seeing the students play together. Her most difficult part of hybrid learning is not seeing all of her students at once, having to miss out on last year’s senior pin ceremony, and not being able to perform. She looks forward to the day when her orchestra can finally perform together in a concert! 

Ms. Bach conducts students at SafeStock 2019 (photo by Mikayla Bivona)

We Love Ms. Lucas!

By: Liv Canova and Emma McNamara

 If you've taken part in any Sparta High School event, or any Sparta event really, you've probably met Paige Lucas. She is not only involved in everything she can be in this town, but she gives so much to the community behind the scenes. Ms. Lucas can be found fixing chromebooks in the MRC, choreographing the Spring Musical, running events with the Sparta Education Foundation, taking part in Pass it Along, teaching at Elisa Girlando Studios, Co-directing the middle school's show, and so much more. This Sparta Alumna has shown her love for this school and this town by giving back every day. 

“Paige cares more about you than you care about yourself, She will devote hours and hours to the happiness of other people. The smartest thing I ever did was to get her working at the studio”. - Elisa Girlando (owner of Elisa Girlando Studios)

“Since I met her and started performing, [she] has been my number one supporter” - Jenna Halkyard (junior)

“She gives the best advice and she’s really easy to talk to” - Natalie Demuth (freshman)

“Whether it’s pushing me with singing or talking about Broadway with me, or even just hanging out at the studio together, I enjoy every minute” - Megan Armstrong (freshman)

“Without her I would never be able to get up on a stage and do all these crazy silly things” - Tessa Gori (senior)

“I don’t know what I’d do without Ms. Lucas. She’s one of the most hard-working, kind, inventive and inspirational people I know. Whether it’s the school musical or the annual Turkey Trot, [she] is always happy to help people all over Sparta.” - Scott Riley (senior)

“Ms. Lucas has always been an incredibly kind and helpful person. Her devotion to selflessness is clear through her consistent support of the SHS Pass It Along club and the Sparta Education Foundation.” - Kyle Neuwirth (senior)

“Every time I see her she’s working on a project. She deserves way more recognition for the extra hours she spends making something perfect. You can definitely tell when something was put together by Ms. Lucas” - Emma McNamara (senior)

"Ms. Lucas is one of the most fun-loving, caring and inspirational people I have ever met” - Charlotte Rogoff (junior)

 "Her presence just makes everything better. She's so fun and great- honestly, I would've loved my time in the musicals a whole lot less if she wasn't there" - Alex Fontes (senior)

"I love Ms. Lucas because she pushes us to work harder while still making things fun for us. She always makes our time enjoyable and she just does so much for the Sparta community. Ms. Lucas has changed so many lives and we all love her so much!" - Suvaani Ranasinghe (senior)

“Ms. Lucas is the best. She is always there to offer encouragement, to have a laugh, or to help you with anything” - Liv Canova (senior)

Thank you so much Ms. Lucas for everything you do for the school and the Sparta community. We love you!

SHS Seniors Decorate Parking Spots

 By: Liv Canova

This week, Sparta High School began their first two days of hybrid in-person schooling and the senior class of 2021 was able to show off their Spartan Pride by decorating their parking spots! Students in cohort A (last names A-K) were allowed to decorate their spots on Monday and cohort B (last names L-Z) decorated theirs on Wednesday. 

Take a look at some of the coolest designs!

Girls Varsity Tennis Takes Home a Regional Championship!

By: Liv Canova

 

This Monday the SHS girls Varsity tennis team beat out Hanover Park for a Northwest B Regional Championship win! The team is comprised of Alexa Matkiwsky (first singles), Reagan Rech (second singles), Jenna Bargfrede (third singles), Jordan Bucenec and Gabby Canzoniero (first doubles), and Sarah Bargfrede and Isabella Sportelli (second doubles). For their win, the team won third singles, and both doubles matches. Congrats varsity girls tennis!

Sparta Choirs Dedicate Songs to Veterans for Veterans Day

 By Hayley Lane 

As Veterans Day approaches, Sparta High School choirs are coming together to celebrate by creating a video commemorating our veterans. The video will include all students across many different choirs singing “Homeland,” along with pictures displayed of veterans from Sparta, or family and friend veterans from around the world! Those in and out of choir are welcomed to email photos of veterans they know for a chance to be a part of this project! Photos can be emailed to Mrs. Lopez. As part of a different video, Blue Night’s choir will be recording “A Tribute to the Armed Services." Sparta choirs are so excited to share these projects with the rest of town!