The Chomp
The Online Student Newsletter of GRHS
March 2023 - Happy Spring!
Kicking Off Women's Empowerment Month // By Allison Eckstein
“Be the woman who fixes another woman's crown without telling her it’s crooked.” This is the quote by Leslie Littlejohn that will set the tone for this year's Women's Empowerment Week, as we celebrate Women’s History Month at Gateway.
Why Do We Have a Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month began on March 1st in 1972 when Title IX was passed. The first-ever Women's Empowerment Week was created to support and maintain Title IX, which disallows discrimination due to one's sex in the federally funded education systems.
Going further back than 1972, women have been fighting for their right to educate themselves, vote, and more since 1869 when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the first-ever Woman Suffrage Association. Most of us know that historically women weren’t allowed to vote, own property or money, but here are some things you may not know about our history:
Women weren’t allowed to sue for sexual harassment until 1980
Marital rape wasn’t criminalized
No women were allowed in the military or to serve on juries.
Women were not allowed to attend Ivy League colleges until 1969
Still true today, some states (11) don’t allow women to have abortions, and women only make 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. As you can see historically women have faced many challenges, this is why we have Women's Empowerment Week and International Women’s Day to create awareness.
2023 Women’s Empowerment Week at Gateway
Senior marketing and event planning interns, Mikayla Lee and Brooke Williams, have dedicated their time and attention to planning Women's Empowerment week this year. Women's Empowerment week was created to show young girls and women that there are many more careers we can thrive in, even if they are male-dominated fields.
Other talented seniors lent their talents to this event. As an advanced art student, Taylor Byers designed the Women’s Empowerment shirt. The Gateway Regional Education Association PRIDE grant paid for the shirts to be made.
Shannon Summers, the talented lead of the upcoming Gateway musical, Legally Blonde, created a music video, along with the assistance of Mackenzie Borner and video production students,
Layla Tice-Gellura and Kalise Miller.
Prior to winter break, Mikayla and Brooke researched themes and settled on inviting speakers to attend in the following career areas: Law/Government, STEM, and Sports.
March 6 Law and Government Panel
•Heather Simmons (Moderator) Deputy Director of Gloucester County and longest-serving female commissioner
•Jessica Doheny, First Female Mayor of Wenonah
•Judy Schiavone, First Female Mt. Laurel Chief of Police
•Lateasha Jones, Camden County Prosecutor's Office SVU Detective
•Christine Hoffman, Acting Prosecutor Gloucester County
March 7th STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
•Kelly Read, Quality Manufacturing Management at New Way Air Bearings
•Janis Keown-Blackburn, Flight Instructor and Retired Airline Pilot
•Betsy Payne, Manager of Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Philadelphia Education Fund
•Laura Basara, Lamatek Manufacturing Vice President
March 8 Sports Careers
•Sabrina Isom, NCAA Football Referee
•Samantha Dominy, Accounting Philadelphia Flyers
•Shannon Profy, Season and Group Sales Philadelphia Phillies
•Grace Dollarton, Vanguard, Previously Philadelphia Eagles
Women’s Fundraiser
Mikayla and Brooke also decided this would be an excellent time to give back to the community in honor of Women’s History Month, so they partnered with Gloucester County for the menstrual drive.
At the end of our interview, Brooke and Mikayla had some final thoughts. They said, “We are grateful to Ms. Eckstein for teaching us the ins and outs of planning this,” and quoting Ms. Eckstein who started Women's Empowerment Week, she says, “It’s to promote collaboration over competition,” which is exactly what each member working on this project did. So, we hope you will enjoy and support Women's Empowerment Week 2023!
A special thank you to the Board of Education, GREA, students, and staff who supported the planning and accomplishment of Women’s Empowerment Week 2023.
Spring Fashion Trends // By Leah Storino
It’s nearly spring! The weather is getting warmer, and it's almost time to swap out your cozy winter wardrobe for your light and colorful spring collection! Do you need some spring outfit advice? If so, this article will surely help you pick the best spring outfit for any occasion.
To start, basics are an absolute must for creating versatile spring looks. These items make it easy to recreate any look and will always be in style. These can include a basic white or black t-shirt or tank top, a few pairs of trousers, a belt, a straight-leg pair of jeans, a button-up, or a black dress. Also, stripes or patterns can be a fun spring addition!
For a lazy day look, it can be difficult to find something that is stylish but light enough for spring. I've been inspired by Princess Diana's off-duty 90’s look that is still in today. Throw on a graphic sweatshirt and a pair of biker shorts with a chunky sneaker and a pair of sunglasses. Comfortable and stylish.
Gateway's March Featured Teacher - Mr. Kennedy // By Leah Storino and Amelia Long
Mr. Kennedy is The Chomp newspaper’s featured teacher this month! This week, we interviewed Mr. Kennedy to learn more about one of Gateway’s kindest teachers. He teaches ninth-grade World history and middle school Model United Nations. First, we asked him why he decided to become a history teacher. Mr. Kennedy responded that he loves history: “History is like making the big picture of the world become clearer. The more you learn, the clearer the picture gets. At one point it almost becomes an addiction to want to learn more and make the picture clearer.” He basically wanted to share his passion for history with others.
Next, Mr. Kennedy explained that he has been married to his wife, Ingrid, for two years. His hobbies include drumming with a few friends at his buddy's home studio. He of course loves to read about history regularly, and he takes his kayak out frequently and fishes.
Then, we asked him to recall his favorite memory. Mr. Kennedy explained it was on his ninth birthday when his uncle backed his pickup truck into the driveway with an entire drum set. He was shocked and bewildered and ever since then, his love for drumming has only grown. His favorite drummer and inspiration is Carter Beauford from the Dave Matthews Band. Carter Beauford has had the biggest impact on his playing and Mr. Kennedy looks up to him as a drummer. His favorite song is “Ants Marching” by the Dave Matthews Band.
After that, we asked Mr. Kennedy if he could disinvent one thing, what would it be? He said he would get rid of artificial intelligence: “I know it can do some amazing things, but it kind of worries me,” he stated. Next, Amelia and I asked him if he could go anywhere at any time, where would he go? Mr. Kennedy said he would want to go back to America before it was colonized to see what the true nature of our country used to be.
Finally, we asked him a very, very, very important question, if he believes in witches. And he does not. I'm so glad we got to learn more about Mr. Kennedy and his love for history! Don't be afraid to stop by his room and say hi!
Meet Gateway's New Librarian! // By Andrea Mistichelli
Mrs. Bially is Gateway’s new librarian this year. She started out as a middle school teacher when she was offered a job as a librarian. She decided to go back to school to get her Master’s in Library Science and has been a librarian for the past twenty-two years. Outside of school, she is running her two kids to practice every night. When she does have free time, she loves hot yoga and exercising outdoors. She is even currently getting a yoga certification! She loves fish tacos and is currently searching for the best. Her top favorite right now is in Vail, Colorado. If you know any places for good fish tacos, make sure to go down to the library to let her know!
Mrs. Bially has two top favorite books. One is The Giver by Lois Lowry. It is the only book she has read multiple times and loved. The other book is The Last Cuentista by Donna Barbra Higuera. The book is about the world ending, and the main character and her family are on a spaceship trying to find a habitable planet. Her current read is Good Girl, Bad Blood. It is the sequel to Good Girl's Guide to Murder, and she started reading it because it was flying off her shelves, and wanted to see what the book was about. A book she recommends that students should read is any book by Gordon Korman. She finds that he is able to speak well to teenagers and is overall an amazing writer. She really likes War Stories and Restart from him. If you are interested in reading any of these books, talk to Ms. Bially in the library!
I asked Mrs. Bially to describe her personality in three words and she responded with open-minded, dependable, and caring. If there were teacher superlatives, Ms. Bially thinks she would receive “Teacher most likely to teach in Gryffindor House."Harry Potter fans will understand that one. Something students would be surprised to find out about her is that she used to shoot hotdogs with the Phanatic for 10 years! That sounds like so much fun! Ms. Bially is such a great person and librarian. If you ever get a chance, make sure to go down to the library and say hi!
National Sleep Day - Why Sleep is Important // By Laurel Barrett
Sleep is something we all struggle with. No matter our age, profession, or daily schedule, we all have a hard time squeezing in those last couple of hours that we know we need. World Sleep Day is March 17, 2023, and to commemorate this day, I will educate you about why sleep is important and how we as students in particular can improve our sleep schedule.
Why Sleep is Important:
As busy students, we often undervalue sleep. We have after-school activities we love, piles of homework to do, and feel we need relaxation time after a busy day at school. We feel there just isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish everything and sleep. A common saying is, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Contrary to this saying, if we don’t sleep we will not live as long as we expect. Sleep is vital in maintaining our brain function and our physical health. For children and adolescents, sleep allows us to grow and become stronger. It also boosts our immune system, protecting us from diseases. If we don’t sleep, we will lack energy, become more inclined to get sick, and will not be able to get through our day.
How Much Sleep Do We Need?
As teenagers, it is recommended that we get an average of nine hours of sleep a night. We are still growing, and our brain is still developing. As we sleep, we go through sleep stages: NREM 1, NREM 2, NREM 3, and REM sleep (stage 4). We are in our deepest stage of sleep when we reach REM sleep. In this stage, we dream vividly and wake feeling rested and healthy. It is necessary that we get enough REM sleep each night. Now that you know how important sleep is, you may be wondering, “How do I get the sleep I need as a busy teenager?”
Ways to Fix Your Sleep Schedule:
The answer to this question isn’t easy. Teenagers today are more involved than ever. We take rigorous classes, are engaged in activities before and after school, participate in sports, have hours of homework, and still want to have time to relax and participate in mindless activities. So, how do you fit all of this in and sleep?
For one, you can create a clear written schedule and evaluate the importance of your activities and when you can participate in them. Can you move some activities around? Are you truly passionate about everything you do? Do you have more to do on a certain day of the week? Are you spending too much time gaming with friends late into the night or falling down the TikTok rabbit hole? Planning is key. Once you are familiar with your schedule and know your commitments, the next step is maximizing your time. Do you have a lot of homework? Tests to study for? Try and get as much done in your school day as you can. Take advantage of homerooms, study halls, and breaks in classes.
Also, remember to listen to your body. If you are exhausted, sick, or upset, sleep is the most important for you to get back to yourself. The bottom line is making sure you have enough time after school to fulfill your commitments and still get enough sleep. Having a sleep routine can help as well. Staying away from technology and televisions for an hour before sleeping is recommended, as well as sleeping in a dark and cool space. In my family, we all use sound machines with white, pink, or green noise to drown out any distracting or jarring sounds, like our cats, who sometimes get the zoomies at 2am!
Remember that we work and feel our best when we are rested, so value your sleep!
Girl's Basketball - Celebrating a Great Season // By Kalise Miller
This month, the Gateway girl’s basketball team’s season ended with a 16 -11 record. They were the first Gateway girl's team to win the patriot division with a 9 -1 record. The team was led by junior Angie Zagone. Zagone scored her 1,000th point this season in their game against Audubon, and she finished the season with 577 points. Sophomore Bella Fini followed Zagone with 185 points. During the season, the team was devastated by the loss of sophomore Molly Sholders. She was a key player in both the team’s offensive and defensive ends. During their Collingswood game, Sholders went down in the first quarter with a torn ACL. However, the team continued to fight during the season, with junior Tabby Bay taking her spot.
Other key players included junior Gabby Gasis and senior Shannon Summers. They were key in defense both in the half-court and during transition. Gasis made her best contributions while in transition defense and offense. Summers made her biggest contribution by stepping up and being point guard for her senior season. In the postseason, the team was the 6th seed in the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs.
In the first round, they pulled off a revenge win against Shalick, who they lost to previously in the season. During the second round, they played Palmyra, who they lost to in the second round last year. They ended up getting another revenge win for the postseason. Their season sadly ended when they fell to Wildwood in the semi-finals. But, they were the second team in the program to make it that far in the postseason. This has been a remarkable and memorable season for Gateway girl’s basketball.
Gateway's Winter Cabaret // By Laurel Barrett
Lily, Alivia, and Mia - "When I Kissed the Teacher"
Allison, Kimmy, and Lily - "Before He Cheats"
Cianni and Harmony - "Diamonds"
There were several beautiful moments in which the audience cheered on students who battled with confidence to finish a song, and as is the Gator way, Gators helped fellow Gators by occasionally standing with each other to support each other through challenging songs or by tackling each other with hugs after nailing a performance. I witnessed peers crying in excitement after their friends finished a stellar solo. Your first solo with an audience can be tough! Students sang with power, with passion, and totally rocked out with high fashion! The bond between theater kids is truly inspiring.
A special shout out to Mr. Straub for being the emcee of the night and to the new Gateway Drama Boosters and all of the extra volunteers that made the night possible, and lastly to those who came out to support our very talented singers! The students would love for Gateway teachers and staff to make it to the next one!
Peyton - "All I Want"
Will - "We'll Meet Again"
Ariana - "If I Loved You"
Kehnnah - "Flashlight"
Kayla - "There Are Worse Things I Could Do"
Spencer - "Listen Before I Go"
St. Patrick's Day Crafts // By Amelia Long
St. Patricks Day is a fun-filled holiday observed on March 17th! Everyone is familiar with the green, four-leaf clover day, but there's a holiday no one is quite as familiar with: National Craft Day, which was March 1st! I say we celebrate it all month! So, grab your chocolate gold coins, craft glue, and a pot of gold. Buckle up your fairy shoes, and let’s talk about craft ideas to make this St. Patrick’s Day!
Shamrock Wreath
You can create a festive St. Patrick's Day wreath with a green foam wreath, some green ribbon, and shamrock cutouts. Cut out some shamrocks from green construction paper or felt and glue them to the wreath, and tie some green ribbon to the top of the wreath to hang it up. There you have it! A beautiful wreath to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and spring.
DIY Shamrock Shake
You swing by McDonalds, but their ice cream machine is broken again! Don't worry! If you want a St. Patrick’s Day treat, there are several recipes available to make it cheaper, tastier, and customizable. Here are some links to easy recipes:
https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/shamrock-shake-recipe/
Rainbow Pot of Gold
Do you have younger siblings desperate to be entertained? Want to add a pop of color to your desk to celebrate the holiday? Make this easy rainbow pot of gold craft! Cut out a rainbow shape from construction paper and glue it to a piece of white cardstock. Cut out a pot shape from black construction paper and glue it to the bottom of the rainbow. Add some gold glitter to the pot and some cotton balls for clouds. Beautiful!
Leprechaun Hat
Want to go all out for St. Patrick’s Day at school? Attending a holiday party? Make this cute and easy leprechaun hat! Create a leprechaun hat with black construction paper, green construction paper, and a yellow buckle. Cut out a circle for the top of the hat and a long strip for the brim. Glue the two pieces together and add a yellow buckle made from construction paper.
Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Book Club's Book Character Costume Contest // By Laurel Barrett
Middle School Winners!
High School & Staff Winners, Amelia and Mrs. Kane!
High School Winners!
Also, on Friday, students could sign up to visit their old elementary school to read and play with the students! The volunteers were served pizza upon their return to Gateway and watched a movie in the auditorium. At the end of the day, Gateway's Book Club held its annual book character costume competition judged by the Book Club officers. It was open to all and everybody had a great time. Snacks were served, games were played, and great prizes were given out to the top three winners from middle school and high school.
Middle School Winners:
In first place were Thomas Brown, Anthony Yocko, Aiydan Brown, Albert Harries, and Jim Cheadle as the Socs and Greasers from The Outsiders.
In second place was Riley DeFrank as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In third place was Lily Freeman as Boris Pavlikovsky from The Goldfinch
High School Winners:
First place went to Amelia Long as Pete the Cat from Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons
Second place went to Gianni Presley as Kenny from South Park Guide to Life
Third place went to Autumn Engle as Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist
This year's staff winner was Mrs. Kane as Pete the Cat! Also from Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons.
Thank you to Mrs. Desmond, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Bially, Mrs. Buehler, and everyone else who made Friday a blast!
Come See Gateway's Spring Musical! // By Allison Eckstein
Lights, camera, action! If you love being enthralled by a hilarious and upbeat show, come see Legally Blonde with senior Shannon Summers as Elle Woods! Opening night is Thursday, March 23rd, and shows run until Saturday, March 25th! Get tickets now!
Legally Blonde follows the story of sorority girl, Elle Woods, as she tries to win her ex-boyfriend, Warner, back by following him to Harvard Law School. Along the way, she overcomes stereotypes against women and blondes and prevails as one of the most successful lawyers in her class. With our amazing cast, Jason Straub directing the music, Erin Galcsznski as the dance instructor, and Paul Sommers directing, it will be a show to remember!
Ant Man and the Wasp - Quantumania Review // By Lily Hoppe
Are you an aspiring photographer or writer? Think about joining The Chomp! We are always looking for passionate new members.
If you know of any new news from the Swamp that you think should be featured in our April issue, please reach out! As our staff grows with the new Journalism course next year, a goal we have is to cover even more of what matters to students, staff, and the entire Gateway community. In the meantime, we want to work towards meeting that goal now, so please share your ideas, success, and events with us! You can email the editor-in-chief, 2025LBarrett@student.gatewayhs.com, or The Chomp's advisor, Mrs. Barrett at KBarrett@gatewayhs.com. Whenever possible, please include photos if you have an article idea for your club, sport, class, or event! We also have a drop box outside the library and on Mrs. Barrett's door (415) for original poetry, artwork, or other tips if you prefer a non-digital submission.
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