The

Trojan Times Ja n ua ry 1 4 , 2 0 2 2
ms massiah photo needed

GETTING TO KNOW
SHS’S NEWEST
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Trying to adapt to a completely new work environment during
the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is not an easy thing. Our
newest assistant principal, Ms. Massiah, has done a great job
doing so. We got the opportunity to learn a little bit more about
her and her stance on issues around the school.

FULL INTERVIEW: PAGE 2

ALL ABOUT THE NEW LOCAL BUSINESSES IN SIMSBURY

As most students enrolled in Simsbury High School are aware, the town
of Simsbury has bid farewell to quite a few places of interest, especially
those that served food in the town center. In the past year, the ice cream
hotspot J. Fosters, as well as Peachwave, the self-serve frozen yogurt shop,
have closed their locations within a mile of each other in our town. So
where are we supposed to get ice cream to cool off on a hot day?

FULL ARTICLE: PAGE 2

COME SEE THE SHS WINTER MUSICAL!

SHS Girls Basketball’S NEW SEASON
The Simsbury girls varsity basketball team has kicked off their
2022 season to a phenomenal start. Six games into their sched-
ule, the girls have remained undefeated with substantial wins.
CONTD. PAGE 3

OMICRON AND WHY IT’S SO CONTAGIOUS

Information and insights on the new variant of COVID-19 JANUARY 28, 29, 30 & FEB 4, 5, 6
which is the most contagious yet. PAGE 3
BUY TICKETS ON THE SHS WEBSITE
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Special Interview 2

Getting to Know Simsbury High

School’s Newest Assistant Principal
By Ava Curtis & Ela Bansal
Grade 9 - Writers
Trying to adapt to a completely new work environment
during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is not an
easy thing. Our newest assistant principal, Ms. Massiah,
has done a great job doing so. We got the opportunity to
learn a little bit more about her and her stance on issues
around the school.

Where did you attend high school or college?

I attended high school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which
is where I’m from. I went to Central Magnet High School
and I graduated in 2004. And for college, I went to CCSU.
I got my Bachelor’s Degree there in secondary education
and social studies, and then I went to the University of
Saint Joseph for my Master’s Degree. I got my Master’s in
curriculum and instruction, and I got my leadership, or
6 year degree, through a Residency program at the last
school that I worked at, Achievement First. They had a
program for leaders, and that led me to get my 092 certifi-
cation which allowed me to be an administrator here!

What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in school was social studies, which is
why I decided to become a social studies teacher before I of behavior. And then you also get to collaborate with
was an administrator. During my sophomore year of high the adults in the building. You get to observe classes, you
school I met a teacher, Mr. Wade, and he ended up be- get to collaborate with teachers, and work with different
ing one of the most influential people in my high school departments. A lot of the work is observing teachers and
experience. He was paralyzed from the neck down. I think giving and getting feedback from them. There’s some
at first I was so nervous about going into his class, and he logistical stuff that just has to get done, such as lunch and
sensed that nervousness and immediately took me under bus duties. But my day really varies, and I think that’s the
his wing and really pushed me in social studies, developing exciting part of being an administrator. I really love the
my passion for that subject. We have a really good relation- fact that I get to work with both students and adults.
ship, and I went back to see him when I first started teach-
ing and I told him, “You inspired me to become a teacher!” What are some of your philosophies as a
and he said, “I didn’t mean to do that!” He was such a great teacher/administrator?
person, and I decided to become a history teacher because One of my philosophies around being an administrator
of him. is that every decision you make should be done with the
thought, intention, and question of what’s best for the kids.
What is a day in the life of an administrator like? When we’re thinking about what the day should look like
What do you do? for students, when we’re thinking about the curriculum,
The day varies as an administrator, and part of the reason and when we’re thinking about extracurricular activities,
why I love the job so much is because there is a lot to do we really need to be thinking about our students. I try to
with students. You get to interact with them for both posi- approach every dilemma with that mindset of what is go-
tive things, and maybe not so positive things, in terms ing to be best for the students. CONTINUED PAGE 3...
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Special Interview 3

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2...

Another mindset that I had as a teacher was that we’re all Did you have any ideas of what it would be like to work
growing and learning together. As much as I teach stu- in Simsbury? Are they true? Is there anything different
dents, I have an ability to learn from them, and I think that about SHS than other schools?
mindset really has helped me to connect and build rela- I didn’t have any preconceived ideas about what it would
tionships with them, which is important for me. be like to work here. I knew I was going to be an admin-
istrator here, and I felt prepared because I was one at my
What are your thoughts on the new schedule this year? last school. I think that one of my concerns was that I was
I know there are definitely mixed reactions to it. Do you going to a really big school, when traditionally I’ve worked
have any advice for those who are struggling with it? at smaller schools. At SHS there is a population of some-
I’ve been doing a lot of listening with the schedule, and I where in the thousands, and the schools I have previously
think that the reactions have been pretty varied. The things worked at had no more than 500 students. I was worried
that teachers and students are saying is good about the about how I could build relationships with students, and
schedule is the one hour class time. Having it scaled back how I could get to know people in such a big place. But
from eight periods a day, which it was before COVID, has other than that, I didn’t really have any expectations other
been helpful. A lot of the feedback about the flaws of the than that this is a school where students are going to learn,
schedule is about the varying days. For instance, I might teachers are going to teach, and I’m going to do everything
be free at this certain time on Monday, but I’m not free at I can to support that. I’m happy that I didn’t come in with
that time on Tuesday. If I need to schedule a meeting with any one particular idea of what it was going to be. Oth-
someone else in the building, it gets really tricky. Again, er than that, I’ve worked in urban settings like Hartford,
I’ve been doing a lot of listening and thinking about how Bloomfield, and Bridgeport. The population of students
as we evolve the schedule, or don’t evolve the schedule, at my schools before were mostly students of color, so
what feedback we can take from students and teachers coming here there’s more diversity. There’s white students,
to make it feel like a positive experience. One thing I do Black students, Hispanic students, and Asian students. It is
and find helpful is having the schedule of the month and amazing because it shows more of what students are going
the schedule of the day in my planner. It’s been helpful to experience when they go to college and the real world. It
for me to carry around and have, at least until I get used also allows students to get to know different people. I think
to it. This schedule takes a little longer to get used to with that is a difference in the type of schools I have worked at,
different periods of the day dropping, so you have to wrap but again, it’s been such an amazing experience because
your head around that, but until I get used to it I have my you get to know different people, which is something I
handy-dandy notebook! really care about.

What are your thoughts on the traffic flow issue? What is your favorite TV show or movie?
I actually experienced being tardy today because of the Aaah! I watch a lot of reality TV, so don’t judge me! I
traffic. For me, my organization, and because I am a very would say one of my favorite shows is Married at First
reflective person, I am probably a bit hard on myself. I Sight. I like seeing the focus on marriage and relationships,
would like to avoid this by making sure that I am on the and how people react in really foreign settings. My favorite
road by a certain time, so I can get here a bit earlier. As a movie… I have 2. I really love Love and Basketball, and the
leader, that’s not a big ask, but for a student or a teacher, original Karate Kid.
that’s a whole other world facing different challenges. I’m
just hoping that as the year goes on, we get a better flow of If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
the traffic. We are trying to figure out an answer as to how I’ve traveled mostly to a lot of islands-- Puerto Rico, Ja-
we can make it better. We are coming across a lot of road maica, Barbados… I think one place I would really want to
blocks (literally) to get there. I just hope we find an answer go is Africa. I am both Black and Puerto Rican, and I have
sooner rather than later. Nobody wants to start their day been to Puerto Rico, but never anywhere in Africa. Part of
rushed and overwhelmed, but I think that students are do- my history and ancestry is there, and I want to first learn
ing a good job with making sure that they get here earlier. more about where in Africa I’m from. Maybe do one of
The buses are also coming in earlier and on time so things those DNA tests? To visit where my ancestors are actually
are progressing, just taking longer than we would like. from would be an amazing experience.
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Community 4

Peachwave, J. Fosters and Other Businesses are Gone.

By Ava Dunn
Where Do We Go Now? Fosters, you can take a twenty minute delicious place nearby is Rush Bowls that
ride to their Avon location. Otherwise, took over J. Fosters’ building. A selection
Grade 10 - Head of Community there are plenty of grocery stores (such as of themed smoothie bowls with fruit and
As most students enrolled in Simsbury Stop & Shop, Big Y, Fitzergeralds) scat- açaí attracts residents of all ages seeking
High School are aware, the town of Sims- tered throughout town that provide pints something filling but sweet. There are
bury has bid farewell to quite a few places and gallons of various flavors and brands even bowls specifically made with extra
of interest, especially those that served of ice cream to fulfill your cravings. Big Y protein for athletes. Switching things up,
food in the town center. In the past year, is another new addition to Simsbury, as Roux Cajun Eatery, located behind Joe’s
the ice cream hotspot J. Fosters, as well as it opened at the end of 2020. It’s modern Pizza, brings a new taste into town. The
Peachwave, the self-serve frozen yogurt touch of including new technology allows palette from Louisiana includes authentic
shop, have closed their locations with- new ways for families to shop. But, with New Orleans beignets, sliced king cake
in a mile of each other in our town. So business departures comes opportuni- (which is traditionally consumed during
where are we supposed to get ice cream ties for new ones to move in. The new Mardi Gras), shrimp and grits, bread
to cool off on a hot day? There is always town craze, Jersey Mikes, which took pudding, and many more sweet and
the highly praised Grassroots in Gran- over Peachwave, has remained busy since savory items. The variety of baked goods
by for those in northern Simsbury, for its late summer opening. It’s healthier and meals (many of which are gluten free
those willing to take a drive for a creamy variety of sandwich options has become or can be requested to be made so) Roux
treat with unique flavors. In addition to a popular lunch and dinner spot. Many serves allows options for all while visiting
Grassroots, there is Tulmeadow in West classmates and students have seized the (or taking it to go!). So, the next time you
Simsbury and Carvel and Friendly’s in opportunity of the new business to take find yourself craving something different,
Avon. If you are a loyal customer to J. responsibility and work there, often support these new businesses in town!
serving their peers. Another healthy yet

OMICRON AND WHY ITS SO CONTAGIOUS now many vaccinated people (along threatening than other variants like Delta.
By Kate McNair with unvaccinated) are being targeted by Experts have learned that this variant is
Grade 10 - Writer COVID-19, and picking up the infection. not striking at the lung tissue as combat-
In our two years of the pandemic, mil- Whereas, before unvaccinated individuals ively, suggesting that the infection is less
lions of individuals have tested positive were more prone to getting the disease, life-threatening and serious. Nevertheless,
for COVID-19. But just recently, the and fewer vaccinated people would experts need to keep researching, and
United States has broken their record catch the virus. Again, Leifers speaks monitoring this information since this is
with having over 1 million COVID-19 on this topic, and says that this variant all fairly new.
cases per day. This positivity rate is higher has transmuted in a way that allows the
than anything we’ve seen before in the disease to be better at “locking into” our
pandemic, and has left us astounded. So, cells. Therefore, it can affect people who
why is this happening? Well, there is a have taken the vaccine with less difficulty.
new variant of the coronavirus known Along with that, symptoms and positive
as Omicron, which is proven to be the test results are proven to show up sooner
most contagious form of COVID-19. with Omicron, which is a good thing.
Cynthia Leifer, a professor of immunol- Leifer remarks that the variant allows you
ogy at Cornell University, claims that to have less time “...walking around like
the Omicron variant is the most easily nothing is wrong, shedding and infecting
transmissible variant of COVID-19. others”. Patterns noticed with Omicron
Leifer states that with each new variant are not as many vaccinated people are
that has emerged, the transmissibility has getting symptomatic, less people are
increased. For example, with the Alpha, getting critically ill, and there are less
the original strand, the transmissibility people in the hospital. Although Omi-
was low. While, Delta, a newer strand, the cron has been the most contagious form
transmissibility increased. Unlike before, of the coronavirus we’ve faced, it’s less
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times School News 5

Encouraging Equity with

Students of Color Alliance
Simsbury Public Schools’ equity state- Alliance has grown to include 32 people, was a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High
ment describes the district as “an equi- some of which have taken on leadership School in Iowa. Their intention to involve
table system [that] ensures all members roles within the club. Meetings are orga- the Simsbury High School community
of our community can reach their full nized through presentations intended to with gaining comprehension of racial
potential. For us, equity is the disman- educate students on various cultures and and cultural circumstances locally and
tling of racism and all forms of mar- relevant topics related to the status quo. internationally directly correlates with Dr.
ginalization that impede growth and Guest speakers have also been invited to Batchelor’s mission. During the forums,
harm our community.” First and newly attend. During the month of December, Students of Color Alliance and Dr. Batch-
hired Director of Equity and Access, Dr. meeting discussions included (but were elor composed profound conversations to
Tayarisha Batchelor, hopes to uphold this not limited to) the effects of generational give her more information on the engage-
statement and bring successful mindful- poverty and the racial wealth gap. Chide- ment levels in the Simsbury High School
ness of equity to each and every school ra and Alanys showed videos and shared community. It is proposed that they will
in town. She is described as a “passionate knowledge on the complex subject. They continue their collaboration to bring an
educator devoted to educational equali- also brought attention to the murder of equitable environment to Simsbury High
ty and community renewal”. Her efforts Nohema Graber, a Mexican woman who School.
to abide and exceed this vignette have
already proved triumphant. She offered
four sessions of forums for high school
and middle school students to share their
grievances and concerns about engage-
ment in the school district. The forums
occurred for two high school groups
on December 13th and December 16th,
while the middle school groups met on
December 15th and December 17th. In
addition, Dr. Batchelor also shared her
plan in cooperation with the Board of
Education. It discusses the standards
of reducing the achievement gap, guar-
anteeing that students’ needs are being
met, adopting applications of ensuring
an inclusive school culture, and more.
The co-presidents of Students of Color
Alliance, Chidera Aligwara and Alanys
Rivera, brought the club to participate in
the equity forums. Last June, The Trojan
Times published an exploratory article of
the newly formulated club. Since then, the
members have made remarkable progress
in devising ambitious goals and work-
ing to complete them. Students of Color

To contact Dr. Batchelor: Email [email protected].

You can access a link to her equity plan here.

To join Students of Color Alliance: Email Chidera at [email protected]

or Alanys Rivera at [email protected].
You can also contact advisor Mrs. Hogan - [email protected]

Google Classroom Code: 6vtaikm

January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Science 6

Bringing Back the Woolly Mammoth

By Dylan Grossman
Park. Co-founded by geneticist George to convert the tundra back to grassland,
Church and technology entrepreneur Ben the way it used to be. But Dr. Church
Grade 10 - Writer/Artist Lamm, the company maintains an odd states that it may in fact be more effi-
goal: fabricating their own woolly mam- cient to achieve this with the help of the
moths to help support the environment of mammoths. These extinct creatures are
the Siberian tundra. often dubbed as ‘economic engineers’ in
After recently receiving 15 million the ways that they were able to maintain
dollars in private funding, this back- the grasslands. The mammoths did things
burner project has become a very real like break up the moss, topple down trees,
possibility. Proponents say that bringing and use their droppings as fertilizer. With
back an altered form of the woolly mam- the restored grassland, the soil could then
moth would help combat climate issues, be prevented from eroding or melting,
restore the Arctic tundra ecosystem, as which could possibly lock away heat trap-
well as help to preserve the endangered ping carbon dioxide.
Asian elephant. Colossal has stated that Although it’s definitely not a con-
Bringing extinct creatures from the past the creature wouldn’t necessarily be a ventional experiment, Colossal’s woolly
back to life is abundantly present within clone, but rather a sort of living elephant mammoth projects have caught the atten-
science fiction, and has become quite the and mammoth hybrid animal. However, tion of the entire scientific community.
mainstay within the genre. With modern this does bring about some larger eth- Whether or not it is ethical, or if bringing
and more recent advances in genetics, sci- ical issues. Questions have been raised back the mammoths would actually work,
entists have already been able to do things towards the company on whether or not is still under constant debate among pro-
like cloning endangered animals, as well they should be able to decide to let these fessionals. It’s fascinating how the human
as extracting DNA from the remains or creatures loose, possibly seriously affect- race could even contemplate having such
bones of animals. Although those are ing the ecosystems of tundras. power as renewing a lost species, which
both impressive feats, the bioscience Russian ecologists have already im- brings about the question; should these
company Colossal may be the group that’s ported animals like bison into Pleistocene extinct giants be messed with?
coming the closest to replicating Jurassic Park, a preserve in Siberia. Their goal is

Zoo Animals Are Getting Vaccinated Against Covid

The first ever dose of the animal approved have administered almost 11,000 doses of
By Miriam Post COVID-19 vaccine, produced by an orga- the vaccine to large zoo animals as well as
Grade 11 - Writer/Editor nization called Zoetis, was administered pets.
Zoo staff around the U.S. have begun to to a group of three orangutans and five Zoetis’s donation of vaccines will go on
vaccinate animals who are members of bonobos, including an orangutan named to be administered to many more animals
species prone to becoming afflicted with Karen, at San Diego Zoo in San Diego, in organizations across the U.S. “This is
COVID-19. In February of 2021, the first California in February. Since then, more one way we can keep [animals] safe from
vaccine was administered to an orang- than 70 zoos and other organizations COVID.”
utan named Karen at the San Diego Zoo,
followed by many more throughout the
last 8 months.
In zoos across the nation, including
the Maryland Zoo, Zoo New England,
the San Diego Zoo, the Oakland Zoo,
the Audubon Zoo, and the Philadelphia
Zoo, large animals are getting vaccinated
to prevent illnesses and deaths caused by
COVID-19. Since the beginning of the
pandemic, zoo animals such as monkeys,
tigers, lions, mink, snow leopards, and
cougars have contracted COVID-19 and
had complications such as heart disease,
pneumonia, and even death.
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Science 7

RECENT EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

By Raymond Zhang
Grade 9 - Writer
While it is evident that climate change
is prevalent among us, it is crucial to
understand what exactly the recent effects
are of climate change on our world. Due
to climate change and global warming,
the sea levels and oceans are rapidly
increasing in temperature. The rising sea
levels present a large threat to marine
life. Rising temperatures can lead to coral
bleaching and a decrease in breeding
grounds for marine and coastal
ecosystems all around the world (Conser-
vation.org). survive in their ecosystems. WWF also best thing we can do is reduce carbon
Climate change has also recently suspects that climate change will pose a pollution and prepare for the conse-
proven to impart intense droughts. These fundamental threat to the places, species quences of global warming. As you can
intense droughts are harmful to crops, and people’s livelihood. To address this see, the effects of climate change are real
wildlife, and freshwater supplies in all issue, it is crucial that everyone plays and prevalent; so it is critical that we try
oceans. Without sufficient water supplies, their part in saving the planet. According to stop it as soon as possible.
all animals and plants will struggle to to the World Wildlife Organization, the

Medical Breakthrough in Malaria Vaccine Malaria kills more people than any other spite the COVID-19 pandemic. In addi-
By Raymond Zhang communicable disease in the world with tion, it is also very cost-effective and has
Grade 9 - Writer the exception of tuberculosis. In 2019, helped protect over ⅔ of the children in
there were about 229 million cases of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. None of these
malaria, about 410,000 of which were children had any other form of protection
fatal. Malaria is mainly found in Africa, against malaria, and were thus particular-
with 94% of cases found there. Children ly vulnerable to malaria. However, thanks
under 5 years old are most susceptible to to the dissemination of the vaccine, over
malaria, accounting for 67% of malaria 2.3 million doses have been administered
deaths in 2019. Malaria is transmitted by to date, and layering these precautionary
mosquitoes, and can be easily prevented. interventions-- either insecticide treated
However, in Africa, knowledge to count- bednets or malaria vaccine-- has provid-
er malaria is not widespread, and many ed over 90% of children some sort of pro-
places lack the resources to effectively tection against malaria. The World Health
counter malaria. However, all of this has Organization-recommended vaccine may
changed with the recent development of soon experience a broader rollout and
a new vaccine formally known as RTS, become integrated into several coun-
S/ASO1, made by Mosquirix. The Mos- tries’ malaria control strategies. This new
quirix vaccine is to be given in 4 doses vaccine will save thousands of lives and
and may be given to those older than five potentially pave the way to develop new
months. The vaccine has an approximate vaccines to combat other diseases.
40% efficacy rate on malaria cases and
30% against severe and deadly cases.
While it is far from perfect, this advance-
ment is still a revolutionary step in the
right direction. The vaccine is very feasi-
ble to deliver and easy to distribute, de-
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Crime 8

Alleged Identification of the Zodiac Killer

By Yilian Jiang
Grade 9 - Writer

Up until early October, the man

linked to the murders of at least five
people in the late 1960s remained
unidentified. Under the pseudonym
“Zodiac Killer”, he was notorious for
his ominous and unsolvable ciphers,
as well as the wave of terror he spread
throughout the San Francisco Bay
Area. His solved ciphers have includ-
ed terrifying messages, including the
referral of his victims to “slaves he is
collecting for the afterlife”.
The Zodiac made his presence
well-known to the public through
publications of his message in news-
left to right: a side-by-side comparison of the Zodiac Killer’s police sketch from
papers, including the San Francisco
1969 and an old photo of Gary Francis Poste, the alleged Zodiac Killer
Chronicle. The papers were forced to
publish the Zodiac’s desired publica- used: name, revealing an alternate message.
tions, as he threatened to harm more - military boot prints in Poste’s shoe Another important factor to their
people if they did not comply. size at the scene of murders conclusion has been the link of the
After the Zodiac Killer’s commu- - similar forehead creases in police Zodiac Killer to the murder of col-
nication with authority figures and sketches of the Zodiac Killer and pho- lege student Cheri Jo Bates in 1966. If
the public died down around 1974, tos of Poste Bates had been killed by the Zodiac,
the killer had already claimed to have - the Facebook posts of Poste’s friend, then vital evidence, including a watch
murdered 37 people, although only who sprinkled the word “Zodiac” and hair, could very well prove Poste
five murders had been directly related throughout all of his posts concerning to be the Zodiac Killer.
to him. The case was closed in 2004 Poste The FBI and the San Francisco Po-
but was re-opened in 2007. Since - the testimonies of Poste’s close lice Department have not confirmed
then, all allegations and claims to the friends and family, who claimed he if the identification is accurate or not.
Zodiac Killer’s identity have been was “violent” and could “kill indis- On the same day the Case Breakers
disproved continually. So, how did the criminately” came through with their claim, an FBI
Zodiac manage to elude the nation’s - the Timex Watch discovered at the spokesperson told CNN, “The Zodi-
best police officers and investigators crime scene of an alleged Zodiac ac killer case remains open. We have
for so long, only to be identified half a victim, Cheri Jo Bates. Investigators no new information to share at the
century later? believe the paint-splattered watch was moment.”
Introducing the Case Breakers, a purchased at a military base in the
group of private cold-cage investi- mid-’60s; coincidentally, Gary Francis
gators who claim to have accurately Poste became a painter after serving
identified the Zodiac Killer. The in the military
group, composed of over 40 former - brown hair found in Cheri Jo Bates’
police officers, journalists, and mili- hand that the Case Breakers attest
tary officers, used new forensic evi- match Poste’s DNA
dence to identify the Zodiac as Gary The Case Breakers have also
Francis Poste, an Eastern Californian claimed that they have cracked one
man who passed away in 2018. of the Zodiac’s unsolved ciphers by
Some key clues the Case Breakers replacing symbols with Poste’s full
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Sports/Opinion 9

SHS Girls BasketbalL Takes on a New Season

Faye remarks that she has been “very The Simsbury Basketball community was
By Paris Albrecht grateful” and she thinks the team will extremely supportive of this achievement,
Grade 10 - Editor In Chief “have challenges down the road, [but] with social media posts celebrating her
The Simsbury girls varsity basketball are ready to step up and meet them”. Due accomplishment. It is important to note
team has kicked off their 2022 season to to COVID-19, the 2021 season was very this team culture has made the program
a phenomenal start. Six games into their different. While the team still performed extraordinarily successful. With encour-
schedule, the girls have remained unde- well, they were unable to complete tradi- aging teammates, coaches, and fans, the
feated with substantial wins. Coached by tional fundraisers like concession stands girls varsity team is sure to make a lasting
Sam Zullo in conjunction with assistant and bake sales. In order to keep the team
coaches Vinnie Cianfarani and Rick running smoothly, Coach Zullo started
Bangs, the girls have a rigorous practice a fundraiser and raised 6,893 dollars to
schedule to hone their skills. Their first raise money for team events, tourna-
game was played on December 14th ments, and apparel. However, each player
against Conard High School, which was has made incredible achievements so
won 47-19. Subsequently, each of their far, notably junior CCC All-Conference
games have been won with ease. During player Lauren Sabia. On December 21st,
a rivalry game against Avon, sophomore in the game against Berlin, she scored
Olivia Jarvis earned the play of the week her 1,000th point for her Simsbury High
on Connecticut Girls Basketball by School career. Lauren says “I have put
making a shot just as the buzzer began in [so much work] for this achievement.
to count down to the second half. Junior The endless hours I have spent in the gym
Faye Kaplinski also achieved a play of with my dad paid off. I have an amazing
the week by performing an impressive team as well that has had my back since I
half-spin, shutting down her defender. met them”. She continued by saying “my
dad is the reason I am the athlete I am”.

WHAT HAPPENED TO JAZZ?eventually evolved into swing, and the able music took its place, which is why
By Matthew Picoult previously mentioned big band, only to classic rock and so many other genres
Grade 10 - Writer be replaced by bebop, hard bop, free jazz, rose in popularity. In this way, jazz’s own
In the early to mid-twentieth century, jazz and fusion. There are countless other natural progression effectively under-
music was one of the most popular musi- sub-genres, but these are some of the mined itself.
cal genres in America. Big band jazz was most important due to the fact that their It is sad that a music genre that filled
a phenomenon that launched stars like introduction actually aided in the decline the better part of the twentieth century
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis in popularity of most jazz. is now almost non-existent, but many
Armstrong into national fame. However, Big band jazz was popular because people still believe that jazz is too messy,
jazz’s popularity has since waned. In part, of its lively groove and catchy melodies. and they are too set in their ways to give
this is due to the more mainstream music People could hum or dance along to the it a chance. As someone who previous-
genres that emerged in the 70’s, such as music without much effort. But in the ly hated jazz, I understand the aversion
disco and classic rock, but, the decline in 1940’s, bebop was invented. With figures to it. But frankly, this narrow-minded
jazz’s popularity can be seen as mostly the like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane approach to music causes most of us to
fault of jazz itself. at the forefront of this movement, jazz miss out on its great diversity. It can be
To understand the downfall of jazz, became complicated. The intense and a struggle to remain open-minded and
one must first understand what jazz is. wildly fast stream of notes that was a be- not block out the unfamiliar. But with
Jazz is generally considered to be a genre bop melody departed further and further streaming services like iTunes and Spoti-
of music that originated as an Afri- from the “danceable” music previously fy, it is easy to explore new music. So give
can-American art form in southern states being produced by jazz musicians. The it a try. Add some Miles Davis to your
like Louisiana. In the 1920’s, Dixieland general public stopped listening to jazz next playlist. You might be pleasantly
jazz became very popular in New Orleans because it was too hard to casually listen surprised by what you hear, and you’ll
and developed the sound of what most to and required more effort to under- be helping to keep a great American art
people consider early jazz. This music stand. Without jazz as a mainstream form alive.
genre, the simpler and more understand-
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Opinion 10

Your Valedictorians are Exhausted

By Amanda Kelly college so overwhelmingly long. One as these don’t cut into these children’s
Grade 10 - Writer junior explains, “It’s just not enough homework time, they will get the
to get good grades, colleges want homework done regardless, instead, it
I interviewed six of the hardest work- more-- everything”. cuts into their sleep.
ing people I know, and when I say “I’m doing all of this to get into But what can be done? I asked one
hardworking, let it not be understated. college. Why can’t I get into a great student if they ever consider quitting
Between these six students, 17 AP college and take care of my body and their sport to make time to sleep and
classes are taken this year alone, 28 mental health? Why would they make relax. They responded, “If I could
clubs, and 11 sports. These students it so I can’t have both?” quit sports I would but it is my only
are excelling, it can not be denied, but Pressure from home is an addition- exercise. I don’t think I would ever go
at what cost? al pressure for these high achievers. outside if I didn’t have practice”.
The average hours a night these Most of them are just doing as their Concluding each interview I
students sleep is five. Five hours a parents did. Four out of six of these asked if they thought this draining
night, each student ranging from students have parents who attended system could ever change, and if so,
three hours to seven. None hit the Ivy League Universities. That com- what they would propose. Half of the
recommended 8 hours a night, most pletely ignores the hundreds of other students said no. They had little hope
not even close. These students are excellent and top rated universities in change, arguing, “even if Simsbury
exhausted. At only 14-17 years old, that their parents also attended. The did something to help, it wouldn’t
they are staying up so late not because stress put on by themselves is only change the way college applications
they want to, but because they have amplified by the example of their are wired”, another said, “It’s difficult
no other choice. highly successful parents. These chil- especially with AP classes because the
“I’m always studying for at least dren can not be expected to live up to College Board decides the work, not
two quizzes a night. I end up doing the pressure without consequence as really the teachers”.
homework for like 4-5 hours a night,” a result. Some of them, however, are more
one sophomore states. This lifestyle results in sacrificing optimistic. Many suggested putting in
As a result, falling asleep in class is time with family and friends, proper stricter homework limits for teachers.
a shared practice between these six. nutrition, and free time, in order to The Simsbury Highschool Student/
“In the morning I regret staying up so complete everything required of them. Parent Handbook states that, “stu-
late, and throughout the day I’m fall- Dinner is often eaten while working dents should expect approximately
ing asleep, but then I do it all again, it through biology notes, calculus pack- two and one-half hours of homework
has to be done.” ets, or chapters of an assigned novel. per academic subject per week de-
I asked if they ever dealt with One sophomore stated, “That’s really pending on the level, including Ad-
breakdowns, if they ever felt like they what it is, how far are you willing to vanced Placement (AP) courses”. This,
couldn’t do it all. One senior de- deprive yourself of basic human needs of course, is rarely obeyed in many
scribed their experience with reaching for your GPA, that’s what highschool high level classes. One student argued,
a breaking point. They depicted feel- is for me”. “there is no point in ‘suggesting’ if
ing, “mostly a fear of failure, but also This way of living is even more se- they are just going to assign me an
anger at school for not realizing that vere for the student athletes. “If it was hour or two a night, at that point just
kids can’t handle everything that gets just school, I think I could do it all delete it from the handbook”. A few
thrown at them”. Some students even and be healthy, but I have sports. I’m of these students argued to make this
described dealing with anxiety, OCD, at school for like 10 hours a day.” The a policy instead of a suggestion. “And
and other mental illnesses that they reality is that colleges are not looking enforce it!” one student pleads.
associate with the pressure school for someone with just good grades. My point in writing this article
brought on. That is not good enough anymore, is not to largely complain or even
I was in shock at the uniformity and with such competitive application to change the system in its entirety.
of their responses. Every single one pools, these students are doing every- Instead my hope is that these hard
of them described feeling anger at thing they can to stand out. For many, working student’s valid struggles are
colleges for making the lists of re- that means playing up to three sports brought to the surface and discussed.
quirements necessary to get into their a year. Such large time commitments
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Poetry 11

DUEL IN A MIRRORBy Anonymous

I stare
Why do I stare?
It’s the same in every gaze

Same ghastly flesh

Same blurred water line
Same hatred in your eye

I look at you like a stranger

I look at you like I’ve never looked at you before
But I have

Oh, how I’ve looked at you before

Studied you
Scrutinized you

We standoff
A western movie with myself
I, the hero and villain

We narrow our retinas

Ready your pistol
A duel once again

When will we learn?

This does no good for us

The more I stare
Study
Scrutinize

The more the image of you distorts

And distorts
And distorts
And I hurt but I never learn

When I pass the reflection I stop, again

I stop, again
And stare, again

And I whisper to you,

We have to stop meeting like this
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Poetry 12

BURNOUT: PENDING By Anonymous

I could blame society for the way it is Test(s) day aches

My parents for sending me into it Scantron numbness
The school for being built on it

I could blame the teachers for assigning the work My leg shakes
The work for being assigned My brain is fried
I could blame anything, everything else We don’t have a choice do we?

I could, but would be a lie Do we?

I am the sole face of fault Powerschool purgatory

I know I am
I never liked waiting games
Me, and my cravings for achievement I never wanted this
Me, and my lethal work ethic I don’t want this
Me, alone and obsessed
I wait.
1 AM and I am awake
Grade update, silence ensues
Studying, reading, calculating The pain, the aches, the vibration
A symphony of scribbles and clacks All gone
The overture of my sleepless years to come All gone
All gone
Its pain and it hurts
Another hour passes The pain was worth it
My permanent headache: a shredder in my skull The itch satiated
Achievement soothes the shake in my leg
Its pain and it hurts The ever present headache quells to a hum
But I let another pass Every moment of pain, forgotten in a single moment of
Think about the future, you’ll thank me later contentedness

Its pain and it hurts Temporarily

Just one page more
What am I chasing after? For here it repeats
Its masochistic, I know
After 3 am, my eyelids begin to bob
“Very” is spelled with two ‘r’s Now the next chapter, next unit, next book
The To-Do list doubles
It’s gonna be a late night tonight.
College looms
January 14, 2022
The Trojan Times Credits 13

Thank you!
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Editors in chief
Paris Albrecht
Jack Grossman

faculty advisor
Mr. Hunter

CONTRIBUTORS
Momin Ali Lola Larsen
Ela Bansal Kate McNair
Jameson Bodenburg Aarushi Mohanty
Clara Casabal Jolie Monier-Williams
Audrey Chung Grace Myers
Ava Curtis Molly Pane
Rebecca Diaz-Matos* Emma Pastor
Ava Dunn* Marina Perevozchikova
Elijah Edwards* Miriam Post
Hannah Granger Rohan Rajappan
Alexa Green Jordan Sher
Dylan Grossman Elle Sparacio
Nate Grossman* Maggie Sullivan
Colin Hamilton Christina Zhang
Yilian Jiang Rachel Zhang*
Amanda Kelly Raymond Zhang
*leadership role