The Witches' Brew
Fall 2021
Greenwich NHS Inducts New Members
by Molly Morse-Belcher
On October 4th, the Greenwich Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 23 new members at a ceremony in the high school auditorium. The National Honor Society “recognizes and encourages outstanding high school students” and promotes community service. Juniors and seniors are eligible and are carefully selected by advisors with input from faculty and staff.
Students Cate Abate, Aidan Armitage, Reese Autiello, Alexander Baker, Nathaniel Baker, Bradley Brophy, Keegan Collins, Mackenzie Dixson, Joshua Ginart, Ava Hamilton, Aidan Jones, Maeve Kelleher, Declan Kelleher, Kaitlyn Lavoo, Grace McFarren, Norah Niesz, Morgan Randall, Jocelyn Spiezio, Roxy Vanderhoff, Brian Wells, Teagan Wright, and Jacob Ziehm all received this honor.
These students were chosen based on their demonstration of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Statements on the four pillars of NHS were given by President Molly Morse-Belcher, Vice President Nina Sgambelluri, Secretary Tayler Cristaldi, and Treasurer Shea Fortier. Scholarship, as recognized by the NHS, focuses on making the most of educational opportunities and service is engaging in a service mindset where one seeks out ways to help others in every aspect of their life. Fortier elaborates on the various forms of leadership, stating, “There are outgoing leaders who are confident and willing to take charge in a group setting. There are more reserved leaders who demonstrate qualities of honesty, accountability, responsibility, and compassion.” Lastly, character is valuing a personal commitment to ethical and kind decisions.
After the initial speeches, the current members went on to tap the new members, while the officers read a biography of the inductees. Each biography details the honors and accomplishments of the individual. The pledge is recited, officially inducting 23 new members into the Greenwich chapter of NHS, making the total number of members 45.
All of those selected to be a member of National Honor Society exhibited their dedication to the four pillars and they will continue to do so while taking part in the various activities the NHS is involved in throughout the year. Member Emily Scieszka remarks on the group, “It really is a great group of people who not only want to make a difference but choose to make a difference in their community.” Whether it is running the blood drive at the high school, offering to volunteer at Breakfast with Santa, or creating a fun night for junior high students, NHS makes an effort to better the school and the community.
Greenwich Spirit Week
by Molly Morse-Belcher
From October 18th to October 22nd, the Greenwich High School participated in Spirit Week. With a class banner competition, themed days to dress up for, and many great games for Greenwich athletics, Spirit Week was a great success!
All of the classes from 7th grade to the seniors participated in a class banner competition. Students volunteered their time painting and decorating their banner; the creativity of the concept and the execution was solely left up to them. From Spongebob to Disney Junior, these banners are proudly displayed by the stairs leading up to the library media center. As for the competition, the sophomores came in first place with the seniors in second.
The hallways were decorated by class officers and other students who took part as well. Streamers and balloons added to the atmosphere of the week.
Each day was themed to promote school spirit: Monday was camo day, Tuesday was twin day, Wednesday was pink day, Thursday was movie character day, and Friday was green and white day. All of the students and staff were innovative with their original outfits for each day. Pictures in the media center were available for those who wanted a chance to be in the yearbook or who wished to take part in the costume competition.
Staff Spotlight: Mr. Ostrowski
By Kylie Young
This year we have several new additions to our staff and I’m here to help you get to know them. Teachers alone, there are around 8 new people including the main focus of this writing, Mr.Ostrowski. Mr Ostrowski is our new 7th and 8th grade history teacher as well as an alumni of our very own high school.
Born in Hicksville, on Long Island, NY, Mr.Ostrowski moved to Greenwich in 3rd grade with his parents and little brother. After getting here, he said an important memory about his childhood was when he realized how great the community was and he enjoyed the atmosphere of his new home.
As he got older, around the age of 15, he began working with the youth in the town of Greenwich, which is where he began to fall in love with coaching and teaching kids, in general. All of this caused him to look at a future career in teaching but was unsure if he wanted to teach his love of history or physical education. In the end, he chose to study to become a history teacher.
The year 2016 is when Ostrowski graduated from Greenwich High School and continued his education at the College of Saint Joseph for two years; where he studied Social Studies Education and played baseball, as well. After two years there, the college was about to close down due to lack of funding, so he transferred to the College of Saint Rose where he continued his studies.
After he graduated, he began teaching here in Greenwich, but teaching isn’t all he does. There are a lot of things he does for fun outside of work as well. In his time off he enjoys hiking, camping in the Adirondacks, as well as coaching football and baseball. Over summers he coaches at Frozen ropes in Albany where the baseball teams were made up of students from multiple larger schools in the Albany area.
Fun facts
Pets: A dog named Brett and 3 cats named Cole, Oliver and Moose.
Where’s the next place on your travel bucket list? Nashville
Favorite season and why? Spring, because of baseball
If you could have any superpower in the world what would it be? Teleportation or time travel
Favorite Animal? Dogs
Lunch in the LMC
By Lipsha Stark
The past year and a half have been filled with changes. Mask mandates and social distancing policies have been lifted and restated, and because of this, the way we function as a school has been everchanging. Students and teachers started off in March of 2020 by going from fully in person schooling to fully virtual in just a weekend. The following September, students spent either half or the entirety of their schooling at home. Now, everybody is back in school full time, but not without adjustments.
One of the major accommodations made this year is the change in mask mandates. Last year, students were seated six feet apart in classes so that they could take mask breaks. This year, mask breaks are no longer allowed. The only time that students are allowed to have their masks off is during lunch periods, gym classes held outside, and band lessons.
Another change that Greenwich and the state of New York have made since the start of the virus is the policies students and teachers have to follow when they have symptoms that may be related to COVID-19. Anyone that is sick must stay home until they take a COVID-19 test and have negative results. In contrast to last year, most teachers are not offering virtual classes anymore, however, getting in contact with teachers and working out a plan to catch up on work missed is always an option with the extensive access we have to communication.
The way that lunch periods function this year is completely different from lunch periods from two years ago. While some students still eat lunch in the cafeteria, others eat in the library media center. In prior years, the cafeteria has offered sitting at tables and booths, but with the social distancing rules, desks have been moved into the cafeteria instead. While some people don’t like not being able to sit in larger groups, others enjoy having their own spaces for lunch.
These adjustments are unique to our time, and while the change that COVID-19 has forced upon us is sometimes difficult, we are privileged to be able to go back to school, and to be able to communicate efficiently with technology.
Poetry Corner
Perfection
In a perfect world there'd be no racism
because, about colour, people simply wouldn't care
In a perfect world there'd be no hunger
because everybody would share
In a perfect world there'd be no homophobia
and all would be accepted
In a perfect world there'd be no pollution
because human decency would be expected
In a perfect world there'd' be no war
In a perfect world I'd always read
and everyone would love my writing
In a perfect world I'd never have writer’s block
and my work would be published
In a perfect world there'd be no body shaming
and people would eat what they wish
In a perfect world there'd be no internet
and people would talk to each other
In a perfect world there'd be no politics
and no one would harm one another
In a perfect world social anxiety
simply wouldn't exist
neither would depression so everyone
could have the strength to persist
In a perfect world the singers of favorite bands
are actually good people
and in a perfect world our favorite actors
are never evil
In a perfect world bands never break up
and shows never end
In a perfect world everyone would have a friend
and in a perfect world the most important thing I see
is that everyone is just simply happy
-anonymous
As the trees turn red, orange and yellow
As the trees turn red, orange and yellow,
Sing a whisper and you'll make an echo
Dancing leaves in the wind
And the sun has dimmed
Colors in the trees
Match the colors in the sky
While working bees
Try to stay alive
Then once summer has vanished,
And now we have to salvage
The remains of life
Remain unselfish
As apart of us has been consumed
And now we are anew
Look outside
The trees are in a slumber
Try to remember
All is not lost
But we must pay a cost
Of a winter in view
So while the sky's still blue
Make sure no homework is due
Go outside
For even just for a second
If you have a second
So the trees turn red, orange and yellow,
The Witches' Brew
Molly Morse-Belcher
Contributors
Isabelle Miller
Lipsha Stark
Kylie Young
Advisors
Robin Bristol
Nicole Carner
Email: ncarner@greenwichcsd.org
Website: https://www.greenwichcsd.org/
Location: 10 Gray Avenue, Greenwich, NY, USA
Phone: (518) 692-9542