Spring, 2023

Newton High School graduate takes on Wheel of Fortune

by Christine Ahmad and Shannon Rittie

Liam Oakes, a former Newton High School graduate from the class of 2017, recently won the well known show, Wheel of Fortune. Liam has wanted to be on Wheel of Fortune ever since he was a little kid. He initially wanted to go out for Wheel of Fortune during college week a few years prior, but due to covid his experience was pushed back. “Then, last May, I was sitting at a train station in Baltimore, Maryland, after a long business trip when I saw an advertisement on social media calling for contestants to apply,” Liam stated in a recent interview with The Brave Bulletin. He then applied to be a contestant while waiting for his train.

When asked about the process of getting on to the Wheel of Fortune Liam explained that the process was quite easy. “First, you have to create a video explaining why you want to be a contestant on the show, and then submit it along with an application online. Next, you wait.” He was contacted the following week of his application and then scheduled an audition via Zoom. During Liam’s audition he had to solve tough puzzles and introduce himself to the producers. Coincidentally, on his birthday, Liam received the email telling him he was selected to be a contestant on the show. About four months later Liam was out in California taping his show.

“The experience was everything I dreamed it to be. There was not a single thing I didn’t like about taping the show. Pat Sajak and Vanna White are just as real as they are on television—super funny, and super sweet, respectively,” Liam noted. Putting his nerves aside on stage, he was able to focus on solving puzzles. “It felt like I belonged there. Spinning the wheel—which was, indeed, quite heavy—was so much fun.”

Liam stated that being a champion did not feel real. “Taping my show was the fastest 20 minutes of my entire life. To be honest, it took me almost three days to fully remember what happened, but when it aired, there were still some parts of it that I didn’t remember doing at the taping. I may not get over this moment for a very long time, and there’s still not a single day that goes by without me thinking about it. I’ve been on cloud nine ever since!”

When Liam was here at Newton he was the co-captain of the Newton Robotics team, Editor-in-Chief of the NHS Yearbook, and played The Wizard in Newton’s 2016 production of Once upon a Mattress. Liam also played the tuba in the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.

Liam attended college at Seton Hall University and graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in public relations and a minor in graphic design. He is currently the communications manager for the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education which is a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to create inclusive classrooms and communities.

Liam hopes to attend Rutgers University within the next year to receive his masters degree in Digital Media. He would then go on to start his teaching career and travel as much as he can. When asked what advice he would give the current students at Newton High School Liam stated, “The best things in life happen when you least expect them.”

Newton’s Mock Trial team has their fifth consecutive win at the Sussex county tournament

by Christine Ahmad

Newton High School’s Mock Trial team has recently won the Sussex county tournament making it their fifth consecutive win in five years. “It’s crazy really. I mean if you think about that, in five years that team has totally turned over. It's not like we are relying on the same people,” Mock Trial team adviser Mrs. DaSilva recalled in a recent interview with The Brave Bulletin. Although it was tough, Newton pulled out a win against Kitatiny. “We are the team to beat in Sussex County,” DaSilva stated.

Coming up in March, the Mock Trial team will advance to the Northern Regional Competition. For that competition, they divide up New Jersey between Northern, Central, and Southern regions. The team will be competing first against Essex county on the morning of March 1st. If they keep winning, they will advance to the afternoon competition on March 1st and regional finals the following week. Last year the team got as far as the Northern Regionals finals.

Two attorneys and three witnesses–five different people, each providing their strengths to make the team equally successful. “They are crazy good. People ask me all the time which side of our team is stronger and I cannot tell you. I think we are strong right across the board,” DaSilva stated. “They all have their strengths. And I don't remember ever having a team that was this well balanced where everyone was just terrific at what they do.”

DaSilvia noted that they have new additions to the team, one being a sophomore and one a freshman. The more experienced members had taken them under their wing and coached them to be just as good as the rest of them. Good luck moving on this season!

The empowering growth of young females with Girls Circle

by Kaylee Mangual

Girls Circle is a known program in Newton High School. It is an all girls program, with many girls offered to be in it, and girls who are already in it. Girls Circle is a place where a group of girls get the chance to express what is going on in their life, express their feelings whether that comes with any doubts, negative/positive thoughts and way more that this club has to offer for young females.

The two leaders of this program are Jenn Wrobleski and Natalie Yanoff- Smith who are two counselors from The Center for Prevention and Counseling (CFPC). The club meets every Wednesday as part of a 12 session cycle. Girls Circle has been up and running for several years. The idea of this club was started by the CFPC based in Newton. The book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is the principle of the program. The main purpose of this program is to empower young girls to make healthy decisions focused on increasing the participants’ self-efficacy, perceived social support, and body image, while working towards decreasing substance use, self-harming behavior, and delinquency.

In a recent interview, NHS counselor Ms. Bechtel added that the club “...is designed to foster self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with peers and adult women in the community, counter trends toward self-doubt, and allow genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity.” This program is all about improving young girls' self esteem and getting them on the right path.

I spoke with one of the girls from the program and she gave me insight into what it is like. Deb has been a part of Girls Circle for a while. Deb likes the club because you can explain your feelings or anything you would like to share, also an add on would be the new friendships being made. While asking Deb questions, one of the questions I had asked is if she recommends this club to others and she went on to say, “Yes, the people that need to let things go, they can tell the group because it stays in the group only.” Being a part has such a positive effect, being a part of the group has changed Deb and what she has thought about herself in a positive light. She continues to smile everyday and live her everyday life and I believe Girls Circle was a major part in that.

The Spectrum Diversity and Inclusion Club unites students and staff from all walks of life

by Logan Daingerfield

For years, The Spectrum Diversity & Inclusion Club has been a pillar of support for the LGBTQ+ community in Newton High School. Many students are constantly having to face challenges regarding their own self-worth, the harsh opinions of peers, and rejection from family members. Thanks to Spectrum, queer students can have a moment of relief from all of the stress that plagues their day-to-day lives. In Spectrum meetings, students have the chance to meet with likeminded people who share similar experiences and receive support. Spectrum also provides resources for the students after they leave school, for example, recommending support groups.

Spectrum as a club was challenged with the COVID-19 outbreak, having to essentially build their club from the ground up after the lockdown ended. Now that Spectrum has once again found its footing, the group wants to focus on expanding both in numbers and in impact. While groups like Spectrum may make life easier for queer people, it cannot single handedly fix all of the struggles that its members face. There are plans in the works for community outreach initiatives, and while not much is set in stone, there will be more information to come.

A significant amount of time and energy from Spectrum members is put towards advocacy in Newton High School. This year, Spectrum encouraged students and staff to wear red on December 1 to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. Additionally, Spectrum has been and continues to advocate for gender neutral bathrooms in order to better accommodate transgender students.

Clubs, such as Spectrum, have been proven to have a positive impact on Newton High School, as people from several different walks of life come together into each other's lives. Being in Spectrum gives students the opportunity to not only receive support from their peers, but to be introduced to experiences and struggles they might never have encountered themselves. In a recent interview, club advisor Ms. Bechtel commented, “I learn a lot from these kids that I didn’t know.” Spectrum seeks to educate everyone in Newton High School about the everyday life of people in the LGBTQ+ community, including those in the club. Even those in the community may have a limited perspective on the life of their peers.

Spectrum brings everyone together, and sheds light onto the darkness of the lives of queer people, but also encourages people to share the joy of their lives freely and openly, even if it may not be safe to do so anywhere else.

Newton’s Honors Choir participates in workshop led by Grammy-nominated choir

by Logan Daingerfield

On February 17, Honors Choir participated in a singing workshop led by VOCES8, a Grammy nominated a cappella group from Britain. The workshop was hosted by Montclair State University, where VOCES8 was staying for a few days for a residency.

VOCES8 currently consists of two sopranos: Andrea Haines and Molly Noon, two altos: Katie Jefferies-Harris and Barnaby Smith, two tenors: Blake Morgan and Euan Williamson, one baritone: Chris Moore, and one bass: Dominic Carver. Barnaby Smith is the artistic director of VOCES8. Their album, The Lost Birds was nominated for a Grammy this year. VOCES8 was founded in 2005, and has had many members join and many leave. They tour globally and regularly collaborate with a variety of musical talent.

The workshop ran for two hours, and Newton High School was far from the only school to participate. Over 700 students participated in the workshop. After the workshop, VOCES8 performed a concert with the Montclair State University’s choir. The University Choir performed one piece on their own, and one with the a capella group. Many members of the Honors Choir expressed admiration for the performance.

Newton FFA update for the winter edition
by Karlee Reid

In a recent interview Ms. Tallamy commented, “We just finished setting up aquarium tanks and putting a variety of aquarium fish in them. We just received baby chicks that we will be raising and building a coop for. The last couple of weeks we installed raised beds in our greenhouse and have various vegetables in those beds. They are doing very well. Our greenhouse is finally getting some shipments in for soil and plants so we will be working on planting starting this week.”

Ms. Tallamy also added, “We are going to the outdoor show in Harrisburg February. We are also preparing for 10 CDEs coming up in the spring that range from poultry, mechanics, livestock, to floriculture.”

Interested in writing for The Brave Bulletin? Please see Dr. Caruso in Room G5

The Brave Bulletin
Volume 1. No 4: Spring, 2023

Produced by the students at Newton High School; 44 Ryerson Avenue. Newton, NJ 07860; 973-383-7573. Copyright, 2023
Find our website: https://sites.google.com/newtonnj.org/thebravebulletin

Staff:

Editor-in-Chief: Christine Ahmad
Assistant Editor-in-Chiefs: Shannon Rittie and Madison Trimmer
Managing Editor: Logan Daingerfield
Photography Editor: Jordan Short

Reporters: Aisling Gill, Allison Iliff, Kaylee Mangual, Karlee Reid, Loretta Samples

Advisor: Dr. Caruso

Editorials do not represent the views of Newton High School. All inquiries and letters to the editor can be directed to lcaruso@newtonnj.org

Credit: Olivia Leigh (logo design)