RKA GAZETTE

RKA GAZETTE

Issue 7

JUNE 2013

RIVERDALE KINGSBRIDGE ACADEMY MS/HS 141 GO TIGERS! #TIGERPRIDE

RKaRNIVaL! By Shivon Ramlal and Abby Rugova

On Friday, May 17th, the Parents’ Association held its second annual fun filled carnival. It was a fundraiser held to help support RKA. Admission to the carnival was free and tickets were sold for food and all the wonderful attractions. Some of the activities were face painting, hair decorating, balloon twisting, carnival games, and the famous dunk tank.

The dunk tank was the carnival’s most exciting attraction. It included our very own Coaches Zulaf and Reingold. English teachers Mr. Lang, Mr. McGee, and Mr. Lepetit, Deans Cuomo and Licari, math teachers Ms. De-Silva and Mr. Buchanan, science teacher Ms. Melendez, social studies teacher Mr.Hirsh, and our very own principal, Ms. O’ Mara.

There were performances from Mr. Schiller and his band, along with a special performance by Julian and Tyler. Students also participated in a Zumba Dance activity. There were many fun carnival games for those who wanted to show off their skills. Students were also given the opportunity to enjoy themselves on inflatable bouncers like a 50ft obstacle course, Giraffe Bouncer, and a Titanic inflatable slide.

Special thanks to the RKA community for their dedication and hard work for making this carnival happen.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 2

8

Senior Trip By Chelsea Garcia

The Seniors of RKA got to celebrate their accomplishments with their fellow classmates on a three-day vacation. Their weekend kicked off with some fun at Dorney Park and ended with a chocolate filled day at Hershey Park. Seniors got to get closer with each other as they spent plenty of time on the bus, playing contact and charades. They also learned to face their fears of heights and rollercoasters, as many of them went on their first rides. I bet if you ask any of us seniors, we can tell you that we enjoyed ourselves. At Dorney Park, we got to lucky enough to have a cool day where the park was not too full. By 2pm, RKA had most of the park to themselves and were able to enjoy any ride of our choice. Most of us even got to enjoy all the rides, even though we screamed and cried through some of them. The main attractions had to be Steel Force, Hydra, and the Talon, which were filled with high drops and upside down twists. We also got to cool ourselves down with some really fun water rides and a wave pool while Ms. Shulman, Ms. Saunders and Ms. Concepcion floated down Lazy River. The second day was suppose to be more of a lay back day but by the time we got to dinner at Olive Garden everyone was ready for bed. Mother nature surprised us with 100-degree weather, as we stayed cool in the Aquarium and Dave & Busters. Many of us got to touch the stingrays and starfish, as we took pictures with the cutest hippo and baby turtle, “Ozzy”. We then got to taste a Philly cheese steak and enjoy some arcade games at D&B. Since the heat was deadly, we cooled off in a mall close by and ended our day with a major league baseball game between the Phillies and Red Sox. As the Red Sox beat the Phillies, many of us Yankee fans weren’t too pleased, but that didn’t ruin the fun we had doing the wave and hyping up the crowd. By the time we returned home at midnight, we were all exhausted and got a goodnight’s sleep for our next day adventures at Hershey Park. We had 121 acres of fun, filled with the biggest roller coasters, the best water slides, and plenty of chocolate. This was probably the hottest day of all and the park was packed with thousands of people. Although the rides had hour-long waits, after a few of them we all settled for the water park and had a great time. We even got to enjoy a health event going on with booths filled with games and food to enjoy, and presents at the end if we attended them all. This 3 day vacation was filled with fun, and although we had some down times, the whole adventure was a memory we won’t forget. Thank you to all our teachers who supervised and made the trip worthwhile. And a Happy 18th Birthday to Juwan and Sabrina who celebrated it with us the last day of our trip!

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 3

8th Grade Club Getaway Trip By Jazmine Kerr and Justin Thomas

The 8th grade class took their senior trip to Club Getaway in South Kent, CT on May 30th. Sacrificing some of their sleep, 8th graders arrived at the school around 7:00 A.M to get ready to depart on their senior outing. Teachers Mr. Frankiewicz, Mrs. Dattey, Mrs. Prado, Ms. Franke, Mr. Bibas, Ms. Roberts, Ms. Melendez, Mr. Buchanan, Ms. Prince, and Mrs. Miller served as the chaperones on the daylong trip. After the students were divided into three groups (one for each of the coach buses), we departed from the school around 8 A.M. The 2-hour bus ride was not bad; the students had a lot of things to keep them entertained. From music and games, you could find students entertaining themselves and friends to make the ride more enjoyable. For those who preferred movies, an in-transit film was played on the bus’s TV screens during the drive up to Kent.

After an eventful bus ride, we unfortunately arrived at Club Getaway a little late. Therefore, we had missed our first activity, but we jumped right into the fun when we got into our groups. The first activity for most of the groups was a rock-climbing followed by a zip line, or a nice refreshing hike. For the zip line, you had to climb up a slanted wall, and at the top, there was a huge zip line. The zip line had a small (and quite well hidden) stream at the end of it, so some of us ended up wet. Others didn’t, and became hot. To help deal with the heat there was a water fight.

After this activity, students (and some teachers) were split up into even smaller groups for another activity. One of these activities was archery, and apparently, RKA had a young born archer; Rory Muldoon, who on his first try made a bulls-eye on the target.

After this, everyone was a bit hungry, so we headed to the dining hall. The students sat a tables that were names after different countries. The food was wonderful. There was a wide variety from many different cultural backgrounds. During lunch, there was also a competition of Boys v. Girls to see who could name the most songs from popular TV show and movie. The guys won, but only by one point.

After lunch, the groups continued to participate in other fun activities including bungee jumping, inflatables, 4-way ping-pong and much more! A word of advice to next year’s eighth graders, look forward to Club Getaway; it is a time to make memories with friends and enjoy the fun!

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 4

Spring Arts Festival By Jay Pinilla

On May 16th RKA had its annual SpringFest Arts Festival. The festival highlighted the arts department at RKA that includes the visual arts, dance, and music. Everyone who supports the arts at RKA and those who allowed helped to make the festival a huge success.

Throughout the year, the art department had their students work on their talents, and this was their time to shine. Students of all ages participated in the event to show-off their talents through dance, music or art. A little before the show started and during intermission, the library was opened to everyone to come and enjoy the ceramics that Ms. Kaminski’s class had created. In addition, Ms. Bennett’s class decorated the halls with their drawings. The band’s performance was phenomenal thanks to Mr. Salinas. The modern dance performance Ms. McIver choreographed went exceptionally well.

Art is important to all students at RKA. It allows them to express themselves to their friends, family and the community. One could tell that all the students who took part in the festival put in their blood and sweat into these pieces of artwork and performances.

A Special Message from Ms. McIver and Ms. Thommason to the RKA Dancers:

“Thank you RKA Dancers for your performance in the Winter and Spring Arts Festivals. You made us

very proud and happy with your accomplishments from dancing the Salsa to the Swing and then to The Night at

the Museum. Well done!”

Mr.Stahl’s Message to his RKA Players

This is theater. The theater allows you to stretch your imagination. You may inhabit worlds and characters unfamiliar and unlike, but which, nonetheless, are part of the reality and experience of humanity. You push yourself to explore talents and learn new skills. You accept challenges and take risks, offering your insight, your hard work to an audience of strangers. You are a part of a company. You are not working alone, but in a family that offers encouragement, solace, and support. When you are on stage, there is a feeling of confidence and control, of being totally alive. Finally there is the applause. It is an affirmation and appreciation of the effect you have had on the audience and the unseen hard work that was necessary to achieve it.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 5

8th Grade Cave Trip By Jazmine Kerr

On Tuesday May 14th, two very lucky 8th grade classes (801 and 802) enjoyed a fun filled field trip to Howe Caverns. On the bus ride to the caves, students were given a scavenger hunt to complete. The students were instructed to look for certain types of landscapes and bodies of water. After recording countless mile-markers, and singing fun songs, we finally arrived. As we entered, we were surrounded by a cool gift shop and a delectable sweets shop (but most of us just rushed to the bathroom) . Once we were all checked in, we embarked on our journey… The tour began with a video. We learned about the history of the caves, and how they were formed. Next, we went on a surprisingly short elevator ride into the actual caves. Our tour-guide told us about the two types of limestone (Coeymans and Manlius) on the walls of Howe Caverns. He told us, how if we were to touch the walls (which was strictly forbidden) that the oils from our hands would slowly destroy the walls. One very interesting part of the caves was the underground stream/river. None of the employees knew exactly where it came from, but it was always here. Each class took a boat ride at the end of the tour. In addition, we all visited a more romantic spot in the cave where we all tried our luck by stepping on the good luck heart.

Once the cave was over, the students enjoyed the sweets shop “The Fudge” where lots of us bought the fresh fudge. It was great and many took some home. Howe Caverns was an amazing trip full of cool geological knowledge and tasty fudge.

Thank you Ms. Landsman, Ms. Fanke, Ms. Lopez and Mr. Tocci for a wonderful trip!

C

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 6

Teen Action this Year By Mario Staka , Anabel Caceres , Ana Martinez , Hannah Abbabis

RKA started the school year off with a new addition to the curriculum, Teen Action. Originally a club, this year it became an elective for high school students. A few selected students were able to participate in the class.

Teen Action is a class for those who are interested in making a difference in the school, community, and beyond. Over the course of the school year, Teen Action collected and distributed clothes and other essentials for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Another proud achievement of Teen Action was planning a Healthy Relationship Awareness Day, where the class set up multiple booths in the lunchroom and had high school students pledge that they will always expect to be treated with respect and will treat their significant others with respect. Teen Action partnered with Aeropostale’s “Teens for Jeans” which resulted in a successful turn out. In addition to educating students about issues that concern us as a class, we have also educated each other. In addition, Teen Action was also at the core of the Health Fair. For weeks, Teen Action planned the Health Fair, created posters, and helped set-up the booths in the gym. During the Health Fair, students participated in educating other students about different topics such as alcohol awareness, stress relief, and drug awareness prevention. Students were able to snack on healthy foods and relieve any stress they had by taking part in Yoga and finger painting.

Teen Action is also in the process of creating a greenhouse with the help of Health Corps. The hope is to make this greenhouse a symbol for healthy living and respect for the environment. Teen Action is also in works of creating anger management tips for students who have problems controlling their anger. The class members were instrumental in informing students of the many major events taking place in the school including The RKA Carwash, RKA’s Pep Rally, and The RKArnival.

Overall, Teen Action has been a very rewarding experience and we have learned how good it feels to help our school and the community at large. We have learned to appreciate what we have. I highly recommend this class to other high school students.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 7

Where have we been accepted to? SUNY Alfred State College

Albright College Andrews University

SUNY Binghamton University SUNY Buffalo State College

SUNY Buffalo University CUNY Bronx Community College

CUNY Baruch College Colby College

SUNY Cortland State University CUNY College of Staten Island

CUNY City College SUNY Delhi College

Eastern CT State University SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology

SUNY Geneseo State University SUNY Hudson Valley Community College

Iona College Ithaca College

CUNY John Jay Lafayette College

CUNY Lehman College Manhattan College

College of Mount Saint Vincent Mercy College

MCLA CUNY BMCC

Northeastern University New York University

SUNY New Paltz University SUNY Old Westbury University

SUNY Oswego University Pace University

CUNY Queens College Quinnipiac University St. Johns University

Seton Hall University Syracuse University

University of Vermont William Patterson University

SUNY Westchester Community College York College of Pennsylvania

CUNY York College

AND MORE……..

Tips for your First Year in College By Alexis Hernandez

The first year in college will be similar to your experience when you entered high school. You will be lost for the first few days. The transition may be difficult but you can overcome it with a few helpful tips. Here are some tips that will be very useful to you when you start college. The first thing you should do is get to know the people around you. A lot of other people will be going through the same emotions you will since it will most likely be their first year too. The person you really have to get to know is your roommate. This maybe the person you may be stuck with for the first semester, or it could be someone that you want to room with for four years. Something you have to start doing if you do not already do it is to try to be organized and punctual. Unlike high-school teachers, the professors will not care whether you hand in your papers on time or not. They will not give you warnings or feel bad for you. All you will see is an F on your report card. It is important to make sure that you are doing well in the class. In order to do your best you also need time for yourself. If you stress yourself too much, then you won’t be productive in the end. Plan activities that will help you stay focused. Don’t do fun things that will affect you negatively. These tips will help you get off to a good start in college and get to know the best way that you can handle things for the next four years.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 8

Honor Society Ceremony By Abby Rugova and Shivon Ramlal

Nearly 250 students were inducted into the Junior National Honor Society on the eve of May 23. The ceremony opened up

with the reciting of the pledge and an introduction from Principal O’Mara elaborating on what it means to be in the honor society. Ms. Shere Tallerman from the RKA Parents Association was also there to congratulate the inductees After the opening remarks, selected students were chosen to go up to the podium to discuss the community service they had performed and how they benefited from it. Luis Perez, Chelsea Gutierrez, Daniel McCauley, and Paige Han were among the new inductees to go up and share their stories. Following that portion of the program, selected students were chosen to light a candle on stage related to the five categories needed to be in the Honor Society. Courtney Segal lit the candle for scholarship, the next candle, Service, was lit by Paige Han, Luis Perez lit the candle for Leadership, followed by Bria Heyward for Citizenship, and Daniel McCauley for Character. After the Candle lighting ceremony, all students being inducted into the Honor Society were told to stand and recited the Honor Society Induction Pledge lead by Ms. Shulman. Once the Pledge was completed students were called up one by one to the podium by Ms. O’Mara where Ms. Shulman handed out the certificates. A select group of students were presented with awards for their outstanding community service achievement. Middle School Gold Award went to Chinadredi Johnson, Silver- Luis Perez and Bronze - Lucas Baruske. The High School Gold Award was given to Maliah Tabassum, Silver - Sabrina Smakovic and Bronze - Shivon Ramlal. Principal O’Mara made the closing comments and afterwards refreshments were served in the gym. Thank you goes out to Ms.Omara, Ms.Shulman, Ms. Velez, Ms. Tallerman, Ms. Landau and Ms.Winston for helping to make the ceremony so special, and congratulations to the new members and award winners.

Who’s in the Paper? Editor In Chief Editors Horoscopes Who Dat? Shivon Ramlal Mr. Seuss Justin Thomas Chelsea Garcia

Ms. Shulman

RKA News Sports Layout Shivon Ramlal Lindsay Maselli Shivon Ramlal Abby Rugova Seo Lyun Son Abby Rugova Chelsea Garcia Hassan Jehan Justin Thomas Danny McCauley Jay Pinilla Jazmine Kerr Mario Staka Anabel Cacares Ana Martinez Hanna Abbabis Alexis Hernendez Courtney Segal Nestor Levin Carlene Fontanez

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 9

Message to Retires By Courtney Segal

As the school year comes to an end, it is important to both acknowledge and say our final goodbyes to

those who are retiring. RKA continues to be a special place because of the dedicated staff that donate their expertise, time, and hearts to the school community. This year marks the final chapter for Mr. Belachew, Ms. Milanos, Ms. Allen, and Ms. Shulman in their lives at RKA. While it is sad to see them go, it is also an exciting time for them as they embark on their journeys post RKA.

Mr. Belachew has spent many years making the environment at RKA both comforting and nurturing. Through his work with students, he has developed many special relationships and impacted the lives of select students in a positive way. We wish Mr. Belachew continued success and happiness. In addition to Mr. Belachew's presence, Ms. Milanos has made many similar contributions to our school. She has worked diligently to ensure that students receive the best possible education. We will miss her friendliness and approachability in the hallways but have confidence that she will enjoy retirement.

The entire RKA family, especially the Multicultural group, is saddened that Ms. Allen, such an integral part of our family, is leaving but also excited for what the future holds in store for her. A special thanks to Ms. Allen for all her hard work and dedication to the show as well as to her students in the classroom.

Lastly, the RKA community must say goodbye to Ms. Shulman. Ms. Shulman does not only play the role of Assistant Principal rather plays many roles here at RKA. She's been there for many students as a friend, confidant, advisor, and an overall support system. We'll miss her but know that she is ready to move on to the next phase of her life.

RKA will have to do some re-adjusting to get acclimated to the losses in our school but will ultimately be able to get back on track because of all the little and big things that those retiring have contributed.

Dear RKA, It has been a pleasure to work with all the students and staff over the past two years. Looking back on it now, it seems to have flown by all too fast. I will carry the memories and experiences with me for the rest of my life and thank all of you who had a part to play in the journey. Moving to a big city like New York, I wasn't sure what to expect at first. But from the very start, the people at RKA exceeded those expectations and made me feel right at home. It is my hope, that everyone feels like a better person after our time together, as I do. All the best, Cromartie

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 10

7th Grade Liberty Center Science Trip By Nestor Levin

During the Liberty Science Center field trip on May 15, the 7th grade students explored the museum and saw the IMAX movie Amazing Caves.

The 7th grade got the chance to watch a movie in the high-tech IMAX Dome. The IMAX Dome is a theater shaped like a gigantic dome that makes you lose sense of direction. The movie, tied in to the earth science curriculum, was about explorers trying to find life-saving bacteria in different caves around the world. It was so realistic that it felt like you were taking part in the hunt for these bacteria.

The gift shop was amazing. There were many items of interest. The students debated whether they should purchase stuff or not. Plasma balls, books, coffee mugs, and tee shirts were among the things most commonly purchased. AirZooka, an air gun, was also very popular, but that may be because of the constant promotion by the store employees.

Lunch took place in the museum’s cafeteria. Some students brought their own lunch while other purchased it. The food selection was great. Chicken fingers, sandwiches, hot dogs and pizza were on the menu along with plenty of beverages to choose from. For dessert, there was ice cream, cookies, and other goodies. Though it was expensive, it still worth it.

The field trip was fun and we learned about many scientific concepts, stuff that is difficult to do in a classroom-setting. Thanks goes out to Ms. Prado and Mr. Seuss for arranging such a great trip.

http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/museums-attractions/liberty-science-center http://lsc.org/

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 11

Athletes Banquet By Lindsay Maselli

This year’s athletic banquet took place in the library where every player of the nine teams that RKA has to offer received recognition for their contribution to their team. Ms. O’Mara and Ms. Orozco served pizza and salad to the athletes who had the opportunity to socialize with their teammates. Teams such as basketball, soccer, wrestling, and volleyball have not played or seen their teammates in a while so it was nice to see and talk to them again. In addition, the coaches socialized together and got to share ideas on coaching and managing teams with fellow coaches.

“We are so proud of our athletes,” Ms. O’Mara said while serving the wonderful athletes.

When Mr. Edmond was ready to start announcing awards, the teams were so excited about being there that they could not calm down. Mr. Edmond started to talk about all the teams and their accomplishments. Each coach of each team came up to talk about the three awards, Most Improved, MVP, and Coach’s Award. Mr. Reingold (coach of Volleyball and Boys’ Baseball) said, “The coach’s award is the most important award because it shows the kind of individual they are.”

Many awards were given out, the most important and touching awards were to the seniors that are leaving us this year. In golf, Rishi Ghosh got MVP and Steven Sanchez got Coach’s award. In boys baseball, MVP was given to Sage Cheren and Coach’s award was given to Daniel McCauley. boys basketball, Chris Williams got MVP, Jaylen Edwards was awarded Most Improved, and Julian Rachko received Coach’s Award. Girls softball awards were MVP given to Courtney Segal and Coach’s Award went to Salveira Gonzalez. Salveira also was awarded Coach’s Award in volleyball. The Boys’ soccer award for MVP was given to Daniel McCauley and Coach’s Award was given Tawfiq Alhamedi. In girls basketball, Coach’s Award was given to Naje Rowson and MVP was given to Giovanni Jackson. Mr. Reingold was also rewarded as Coach of the Year, which is such a great accomplishment.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 12

Middle School Basket Ball Game By Seo Lyun Son and Hassan Jehan

Riverdale Community Center provides a variety of after school programs at RKA. Among

these programs is the Middle School Basketball League. The league provides the middle school students with an opportunity to play each other in a friendly game of basketball.

The little league was divided into a minor league and a major league. 6th graders were in the minor league while the major league included both 7th and 8th grade student. The students met every Friday after school to participate in the activities. On May 17th the All-Star Tigers and the Bomb Squad went head to head for the championship title in the RKA gymnasium. The game took place on the day of the RKArnival. The game was intense; both teams played their hearts out on the court. They were matching each other point for point until the last minute of the game. Osiris from the All Star Tigers took a game winning shot 10 seconds before the game came to an end. Coach Lang said “I enjoyed the middle school league. It was great to see students participate in non-academic settings and the games were very competitive.”

Overall, the little league basketball game ended with a blast. RKA All Stars Tigers came out on top. Nevertheless, the Bomb Squad received recognition for reaching the finals. Everyone should look forward to the games next year because each year the players grow and the intensity of the games get stronger.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 13

Sports Wrap Up By Danny McCauley

Coach Krause: Girls Soccer

1 win 11 losses

“The scores were definitely not reflective of the work our

girls put in. Despite losing 7 seniors, I am optimistic. We

know the work that needs to be done, and that with the right

attitude, and anything is possible. “

Coach Cushing: Boys Soccer

7 wins 3 losses 2 ties

“We were a young team with a lot of new players. Part of me

didn’t know what to expect, but I was confident that the small

group of veterans would lead the way. Though we’re losing some

key seniors, we still have a core group of experienced players that

are more than ready to take things to the next level, Leaving me

optimistic for next season.”

Coach Dicanio: Wrestling

5 wins 5 losses

“We came into the season with 20 kids, 16 of which had zero

wrestling experience at the varsity level before this year. The

2013-2014 team will consist of many up and coming middle

school students as well as remaining high school students led

by Steven Cook, David Medina, and Adis Radoncic. With

the help of Coach Freddy, I look forward to continuing the

success that RKA wrestling has proved itself to be worthy

of.”

Coach Cushing: Girls Basketball

8 wins 10 losses

“The season before, we had an entirely new group of players.

Many of our wins were in overtime, or won by one or two points.

We are losing a couple of key seniors, but I am optimistic in the

direction this team is going in, and more than happy with the way

we finished the season.”

Coach Lang: Girls Softball

3 wins 13 losses

“We had more talent than the record shows, and though we

didn’t play to our potential, our young team has a bright

future. With many players returning, we’ll look to get

stronger and climb that much closer to the level I believe

we’re capable of playing at. When all is said and done, I’m

proud to have the opportunity to coach these girls.”

Coach Reingold: Baseball

8 wins 8 losses

“I believe we lived up to expectations this year, considering the

sentiment was that, with losing three of our best players, we

wouldn’t do as well. The fact that we have an even better record

than last year says a lot. There will definitely be spots to fill, but

the program always carries on.”

We witnessed the Girls Volleyball team return to the City Finals, Chris

Williams break RKA’s record for most points in a four-year basketball career, and

Adis Radoncic becoming the first ever PSAL State Champion. One also cannot forget

the insane swag our RKA golf team has sustained throughout the years. Most

importantly however, we continue to see the commitment and mentorship coming from

our coaches and teachers who make it all possible. We are truly grateful.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 14

Seniors Say Their Final Goodbyes By Carlene Fontanez

As the school year begins to wind down, everyone in RKA is becoming anxious for summer vacation. However,

for Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy seniors reality is setting in, High school is almost over. Whether or not their overall high school experience was a good one, the emotions of moving on and starting a new chapter in their lives floods the bodies of every senior.

Some seniors have spent the last seven years in the RKA building and others have spent the last four. Students all over the world always criticize the school they come from. However, when it is time to leave a school you have invested so much time in, it becomes sentimental when thinking about all the memories you made in that one building. RKA seniors have each made a name for themselves throughout high school. They have made many great friends, bonded with their teachers, excelled in sports and academics, and became masters of roaming the halls. Each senior has a love/hate relationship with RKA that accompanies the bittersweet feeling of leaving it.

Being one of those seniors, I find it difficult to grasp the idea of graduation. I feel as if the beginning of my freshman year was yesterday, and to be honest I am feeling a little old. However, my fellow members of the Class of 2013 can all agree that we are ready to get out of here! We have all worked hard to get to the point in our lives where we are the “Top Dogs” of RKA. We have made it through all the stress and drama of high school and that is something to feel proud about.

Some may find it more difficult than others to leave their comfort zone. High school has been our comfort zone for the past four years and this chapter in our lives has officially reached its conclusion. The RKA Senior Class of 2013 would like to pass the hat down to the Class of 2014 as we leave high school behind us and begin our new adventure with an open mind. Have a rockin’ senior year!

What a Year!

I would like to thank all my students who contributed to making the four products of Journalism class so great. The editors of the newspaper, Courtney Segal and Shivon Ramlal, have done a wonderful job of bringing the newspaper into

the future. The new design has received very positive reviews from students and staff. It takes a lot of time and effort to put the newspaper together and many people do not know what goes into producing the gazette.

A second thank you goes to Shivon Ramlal for taking on the Literary Magazine, The Paw Print. The amount of time it takes to collect, edit and layout pieces for the magazine is very time consuming. He has dedicated many hours to working on the magazine so that RKA students have an outlet for their artwork, and literary works. My third thank you is for Lindsay Maselli, Courtney Segal, Shivon Ramlal. The three indiviuals who have slaved and toiled to create a fantastic yearbook for the graduating senior class.Shivon deserves extra recognition for taking on the middle school yearbook and serving as a mentor for the 8

th graders designated to work on their yearbook.

Thanks to Hassan Jehan, Kevin Alicea, and Storm Sofer for wearing the tiger outfit for the team and club pictures. Those pictures look great and make the yearbook even more special. Finally, to the best co-editor of all the publications of Journalism class, Ms. Shulman. The proof-reading you did saved me from developing those extra grey hairs that I don’t need. Thank you to many others that have helped everything come together, but there are just too many to name.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 15

WHO DAT ? By Chelsea Garcia

Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy has welcomed our new middle school teacher, Mr. Tocci.

He started his job here at RKA as a replacement and was able to continue this school year as a science teacher.

Mr. Tocci is new to the teaching profession. Prior to teaching, he worked in finance. However, during the last few years the financial industry took a turn for the worse and he decided to make a change. During the last few years, he went back to school and earned his masters in Science Education at Lehman College.

He has spent most of his life living in Westchester County where he also attended college. He attended Pace University and got a degree in business and finance. When he was younger he played soccer and baseball, but for the past 10 years he has become passionate about rock climbing. He truly enjoys it and is fortunate to have some of the greatest climbing locations here in New York.

Aside from rock climbing, Mr. Tocci enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, and trail running. He is a fan of rock and roll music, especially the Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones. He also enjoys relaxing and playing some Bob Marley or modern bands like Green Day and Linkin Park. On the other hand he HATES spiders! Mr. Tocci even thinks he might have a mild addiction to peanut M&M’s.

Since Mr. Tocci’s first day at RKA, his favorite moment has been his trip with his 7th grade science classes to Albany. He and his students had the opportunity to meet with Senator Jeffery Klein and learn about his Teen Health Awareness Campaign at a press conference. He hopes that by the end of his first year he could inspire some of his students to follow a career path in science and establish a strong curriculum to use with his future classes.

RKA GAZETTE | Issue 7 16

Horoscopes

By : Justin Thomas

AQUARIUS (Jan.21-Feb.19) This month may be distraught with obstacles in your path. Carry on with your normal days but take note of what’s troubling you. Knowing your weaknesses makes you stronger.

PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) You're going to be very

busy this month and

juggling school and house

work may be a difficult

task. Always be ahead of

your work so you won’t be

slowed down later on.

ARIES (March 21-April 20) You may be short on money this month and you can barely make ends meet. This financial deficit might frustrate you but if you push through, prosperity is just around the corner.

TAURUS (April 20-May 21) Tons of new opportunities are present for you this month. Take action of your advantages and you’ll be proud of your accomplishments.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You might be doubting you and your capabilities. You think that reminiscing might be a good remedy, but you need to focus more on your future than on your past.

CANCER (June 22-July 23) You feel more in touch with all your acquaintances this month. You will reconnect with an old friend later on. Keep in touch as they might aid you on an assignment.

LEO (July 24-Aug.23) You feel the need to raise your grades this month. However, it will take time. The work may seem to never end and this will lead to stress. Remember to take occasional breaks to relax.

VIRGO (Aug.24-Sept.23) Lots of distractions will arise this month and you’re going to want to find a place to get away from them all. Consider going to a quiet and peaceful place to recollect your thoughts.

LIBRA (Sept.24-Oct.23) People are expecting a lot from you this month and you can’t risk to let them down. Make it your best effort to impress everyone with your skills.

SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) You might feel as if you can’t do anything this month but you can’t believe this feeling. Be the most productive you can possibly be this month.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) A lot of important events will come your way this month but you won’t be able to handle them all. Manage your time to reap all of the rewards of these events.

CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.20) You feel disconnected from everything this month, but you need to fix that. Start to pay attention to all the little things as you might realize something from them.