Sports

Boys Soccer vs. Oxford

Page 3

AG Life

The real “Tell-Tale Heart” Page 4

Inside News Page 2 Sports Page 3 AG Life Page 4

The Devil’s Herald

Avon Grove High School, West Grove, Pa.

ELECTION 2016

Friday, October 28, 2016

Volume 18 Issue 2

STUDENTS CHOOSE CLINTON Clinton tops Trump 44% to 38%; AGHS students want reforms to the economy and immigration

By Lucas Folkert and Chris Rochester Special to The Devil’s Herald

In just eleven days, Americans will vote for the 45th president of the United States of America. Earlier this month, The Devil’s Herald sent out a two-question poll to all the students, asking who they support and what they believe the most important issues are. After about 5 days of voting and 263 responses, Avon Grove High School would choose Hillary Clinton (Democrat) over Donald Trump (Republican), Darrell Castle (Constitution), Jill Stein (Green), and Gary Johnson (Libertarian). The most important issue to students was fixing the economy (43.7%), followed by immigration (31.2%), and gun control (27%). Here is where the candidates stand on the issues: Hillary Clinton is the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. She received 115 votes (43.7%) from students. Her domestic agenda includes support for abolishing the death penalty, an expansion of government funding of Planned Parenthood, a supporter of Common Core educational standards, and she wants to demilitarize the police and end “systemic racism.” Clinton also supports heavier

gun control, and wants an easier path to citizenship for immigrants. She also supports a $12 per hour minimum wage, and raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations. Her foreign policy includes taking in more Syrian refugees, taking stronger measures against Russia, considers China as nei-

ther a rival nor an ally, and opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The most important issues to Clinton supporters were discrimination (47), gun control (44), fixing the economy (39), police brutality (29), immigration (26), foreign pol-

NEW SCHEDULE

icy (23), and abortion (19). Donald Trump is the presidential candidate for the Republican Party. He received 99 votes (37.6%) from students. Trump’s domestic agenda includes support of the death penalty, is pro-life and supports defunding Planned Parenthood, supports school choice, is against stricter gun control, wants to deport illegal immigrants, and wants to build a larger border wall on the Mexican border. The Republican’s tax plan would lower taxes for everyone, and ensure that taxes on corporations would not inhibit job growth. His foreign policy includes developing a stronger military, renegotiating NAFTA, and is against the proposed TPP. The most important issue to the students who gave support to Trump was fixing the economy (54), followed by immigration (48), foreign policy (29), and gun control (22).

Gary Johnson is the presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party. He received 20 votes (7.6%) from students. Johnson’s domestic agenda shows that he is against the death penalty, is pro-choice but favors defunding Planned Parenthood, is against Common Core standards in education, supports demilitarizing the police, and is against stricter gun control. He supports an easier path to citizenship for immigrants, and would support taking in more Syrian refugees (but only after extensive background checks to ensure that they have no ties to terrorists). Johnson would like to simplify the tax code and replace the income and payroll taxes with a consumption tax. He does not support a federal minimum wage. SEE POLL PAGE 2

I/E classes offer students many opportunities By Olivia Kunitsky Staff Writer

What if in the middle of the day, instead of going to math or English, students could go to a class like American sign language, or a logic/ strategy games class? Well, now they can! People in the community have heard plenty of talk about the new schedule and I/E periods at the high school. Some parents may not even fully understand what an I/E period is, or what occurs during this time. An I/E is a time for students to get help in one of their core classes, or to relax and have fun with the different activities teachers provide.

There is a variety of I/Es to choose from. Some activities are hands-on and very interactive, like the Animal Aid Club. “We are trying to spread awareness on why adopting pets is just as important as buying them. We are doing a lot that involves raising money for the shelter pets, such as making posters, collars, and blankets. We are also planning to have a ‘doggie fashion show’ and all of the admission money will be donated,” explained sophomore Cheyla Gomez, who is currently taking this I/E. There are also I/Es for students that just want to use this period to relax or have fun in the middle of the long school day.

“You can stretch, relax yourself, and this I/E makes you feel stress free. Most days, I stretch my body out, which helps after I’ve been sitting for awhile. You can also take a nap. A study shows that if you take a 20 minute nap everyday, it gives you more energy than coffee does,” remarked Haley Allen, a sophomore taking the Meditation I/E. Rebecca LeStourgeon, a sophomore who is taking the Jigsaw Puzzle I/E, commented, “I wanted to meet new people and it’s a good time to connect with others and cooperate as a team to build a puzzle.” Some I/Es even give students the opportunity to work on homework while they do an activity. One of these

I/Es is Tea Time. “We drink tea and relax. Every time we meet, people bring in different types of tea. We have a list of teas we want to try, like chocolate tea. I also get time to study on days I wouldn’t normally have a study hall,” said sophomore Chelsea Kneedler. I/Es like the Sunshine Committee are meant to help the school. “The Sunshine Committee is a way for students to help with the faculty social committee. The faculty social committee sponsors the monthly dress down days which support various causes that are important to the AG community,” explained Miss Prendergast, the English teacher who runs this I/E.

The Sunshine Committee also is also committed to renovating the faculty room. “The faculty room is one place where teachers spend a lot of their time. It was my goal for the Sunshine Committee I/E to redo this area of the school,” said Prendergast. “Right now, it is a blank canvas. We started off this cycle interviewing new teachers and creating posters about them to display in the faculty room. Next cycle, we hope to begin painting the faculty room by adding a giant chalk paint calendar to the one wall and sprucing up the bulletin boards.”

NEWS PAGE 2

Friday, October 28, 2016

The Devil’s Herald

ELECTION 2016

Students express opinion in presidential poll POLL FROM PAGE 1 In his foreign policy, Johnson wants to extract the United States from foreign conflicts and interventions, and is the only candidate who supports free trade agreements like NAFTA and TPP. Of the 20 votes that Johnson received in the Avon Grove High School poll, eight students said that fixing the economy was the most important issue to him/her followed by discrimination (4), and foreign policy (4). Jill Stein is the presidential candidate for the Green Party. She received 17 votes (6.5%) in The Devil’s Herald Avon Grove High School poll. Stein is against the death penalty, is pro-choice (and supports the continued funding of Planned Parenthood), supports the Common Core educational standards, supports the demilitarization of the police, and is an advocate of much stronger gun control measures. She also supports an easier path to citizenship for immigrants, and would like to take in a larger number of Syrian refugees immediately. Her economic plan would include much higher taxes on the wealthy and corpora-

tions, and a $15 per hour federal minimum wage. Stein’s foreign policy includes removing the United States presence from foreign conflicts and interventions, and is against

free trade agreements such as NAFTA and the TPP. The majority of respondents (8) who voted for Stein stated that fixing the economy was the most important issue followed by

discrimination (5). Darrell Castle is the presidential candidate for the Constitution Party. Castle received 12 votes (4.6%) in the high school poll. He has not stated his stance on the death penalty, is pro-life and supports defunding Planned Parenthood, is against the Common Core educational standards, and is against stricter gun control measures. Castle supports stricter control on immigration, and is against taking in more Syrian refugees. His economic plan includes lowering taxes, and bringing an end to the Federal Reserve so that interest rates could no longer be adjusted by the government. His foreign policy includes withdrawing from the United Nations and removing the United States from other foreign interventions. Half of the students who voted for Castle said that fixing the economy was the most important issue to them followed by education. Polls in Pennsylvania open at 7:00a.m. on Tuesday, November 8 and close at 8:00p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL LIFE

Personal advice on college applications By Vanessa Rodriguez Column

This past year all I’ve heard from people is, “What college do you want to go to?” I think many of us do not know the answer, yet when the time comes to apply many of us do not know where to even start. As a high school senior, the process for completing college applications has begun for me. I have talked to many guidance counselors, alumni, and friends to find a place to start, and these are some life and time saving tips I’ve acquired for you. My first advice is to start by looking online. Research a little about schools you think you may be interested in.

Then once you’ve chosen a few schools, go to Cappex.com. The website allows you to choose the colleges you like and it gives you a profile on them based on your information. Another resource is Fastweb. com which is a scholarship website that sends you scholarships options for which you qualify. Guidance counselors are a great source to go if you’re having trouble. For this reason I asked a few guidance counselors for advice. Ms. Cos, the Assistant Director for Delaware Community College in Dual Enrollment and High School Initiatives, believes that for underclassmen the first step is to “try and find what you’re passionate about.” She explains that by finding

what you like, it will be easier to find a college and major you would like to study. She also says that it’s important to have support. Mr. Carroll, the Avon Grove High School Post Secondary Guidance Counselor, advises the upperclassmen that students should be looking at ACTs or SATs during their junior year. In addition, Mr. Carroll advised that juniors attend the Junior Family Night taking place November 1 from 7:00p.m. to 8:30p.m. in the high school auditorium. To seniors Mr.Carroll said, “If you are applying to colleges with rolling admissions do those first,” and “if any student is interested in Penn State have your application in ASAP.”

-Photo by Vanessa Rodriguez College mail can also be a good way to look for colleges.

Sports Schedule

Today

November 4

November 7

November 11

Football vs. Chichester Boys Ice Hockey @ Oxford Boys Ice Hockey @ Downingtown For more information visit http://avongrove.digitalsports.com/

Football vs. Bishop Shanahan Boys Ice Hockey vs. Ridley

Boys Ice Hockey @ Interboro

Herald Sports

Friday, October 28, 2016

BOYS SOCCER

Boys soccer has a thrilling win against Oxford

GOLF

Page 3

Chalupa swings to success By Sean Goodwin Senior Editor

-Photo by Gabby Pino Zach Augustine (#23) fought hard for control of the ball in the game against Oxford on October 6. The Red Devils won 3-1. the season, as of October 6. do the same. By Despite inconsistency in the beginning of Other co-captains, Brent Coward and Gabby Pino the season, going back and forth with wins Evan Anderson, are also very experienced Editor and losses, the team has begun to level out and encouraging players who have been Every time the ball came close to Oxford’s playing for the Avon Grove team since their goal, it was easy to feel the student section with two consecutive wins. “It’s hard to say if we will continue this freshman year. buzzing with anticipation. With an exploconsistency,” said Coach Whitcraft. It’s not just the captains helping the sion of noise, Avon Grove scored their first But Whitcraft said that there is promise team. goal because of a Hornet error. “All the players are playing for one anVery quickly after this own goal, the ball since the boys have been playing the best soccer they have all season. other,” Whitcraft stated. soared passed Oxford’s goalie again with Co-captain and forward, Stetson Fenster, This teamwork and encouragement is a header by Stetson Fenster with an assist plays “a dynamic game and supports other what makes the team work most efficiently by Alex Muller. players,” said Whitcraft. and may be just what takes them to disAvon Grove held off Oxford for the rest This play encourages the composure tricts. of the game while Fenster scored the third goal with an assist from Danny Perkins, the team has shown that has allowed them to become more consistent. ending the game 3-1. Dan Perkins, co-captain and defender, The boys varsity soccer win against Oxford improved their record to 6-5-1 for is another important player who bounces back from mistakes, encouraging others to

Four years on the team and senior captain are just some of the outstanding achievements of golfer Matt Chalupa. Growing up in a household full of golf, Matt was introduced to the game at age seven by his father. As a member of the Junior PGA, Matt participated in a plethora of tournaments around Philadelphia and areas close to home. “Playing in the tournaments definitely prepared me for the high school season,” said Chalupa. He has had an immense amount of support from everyone in the area. When asked about who helped him the most, Matt said “my entire family, close friends and coach are the ones who helped me push to get better and their support was priceless.” Matt was part of the team which set the school record for best score and he has been to districts and the Ches-Mont League Championship. Golf isn’t something he wants to stop as he believes he has a future in the sport after high school. “As of right now I plan on playing in college and have received an offer to play at York and I will more than likely be committing there,” said Chalupa. When asked about the experience of playing in high school, Matt said, “It was the greatest thing I could have done and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

MARCHING BAND

-Photo courtesy of Sam Chalupa

Marching band transforms silence into sound on Friday nights By Stephanie Mirah Column

Silence. Shifting feet, whipping winds, dull murmurs from the crowd, but all I can hear is silence. We meander onto the football field with our hearts pounding, fingers gripping our instruments, and hopes high that this performance will be better than the last, yet there is still silence. The stadium lights illuminate us as we set up in the opening set, make last second adjustments to hats, instruments, and mentalities. I look up towards drum major

Lena Hull and anxiously await the prep, the one I have seen so many times before, that will cause the silence around me to be engulfed by a torrent of sound. Five, six, five, six, seven, breath: sound. The field is transformed from a place of quarterbacks and pig skins into a swirling mass of organized chaos. Cascades of rhythms float carelessly through the air bouncing off the bleachers causing the night to become boisterous. We move this way and that way attempting to never break tempo or get out of step. Nine counts, six counts, twelve counts,

we never stop moving. Left foot, right foot, placing our feet, changing all different directions with only a few seconds over nine minutes to put on a show. Nine minutes to not just play our music, swing our flags, and wave our hands, but nine minutes to perform. We have to convey emotion with every move. We have to relate back to the theme of “Hide and Seek” with everything we do. We begin our show with Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek,” then we move onto John Adam’s challenging “Short Ride on a Fast Machine,” next we slow it down with “Creep” by Radiohead,

and finally we close it out with “Running Free” by Coheed and Cambria. With each performance, the expectations build. We are expected to have cleaner drill moves, sixteenth-note runs, dazzling smiles. As a band, we never truly know if this performance will be a flop or a success. So many factors go into both options, but prayers are unconsciously sent between each member that this time will be a success. We continue to play, mesmerizing the audience with the complexion of what we are doing. I tell myself to breathe.

Breath. I continue to play the alto saxophone as I have been doing for the past four years. I’m starting to get tired, but I push through with proper posture and toe heights. Eight counts, eight counts, sixteen counts, halt. I hear the applause as we cut off our last note. Another performance is completed. It is not a bad one, but we have far to go to be exactly where we want to be. In those final moments though, I know I’m exactly where I want to be, in the silence that is once more.

Junior Family First Quarter Night Ends

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 1

Friday, November 4

Fall Play

Thursday-Saturday, November 10-12

Powder Puff Football Game Tuesday, November 15

Friday, October 28, 2016

HALLOWEEN

AG Life

Page 4

THE TICKING TOMB

London Tract Meeting House gravesite is the inspiration for Poe’s ‘‘TellTale Heart’’ By Anton Bilski Staff Writer

Every October, many around this country seek for a local haunt, and you’ll be interested to know that there are many in southern Chester County, one being the infamous Ticking Tomb. So this Halloween season, try and take a roundabout trip down to the London Tract Meeting House near Landenberg, and listen for the ticking in Fithian’s grave, which is located right past the church after you enter through the gate, and next to the old, crumbling heart shaped marker, which bares the initials “RC.” According to Marilyn Flannery, the environmental interpreter at the London Tract Meeting House, the land that the tomb resides on is the former land of the Lenape tribe who lived along the banks of the White Clay Creek. Then in 1682, William Penn “bought” the land after meeting with Chief Kekelappen. Between 1696 to the 1700s, the John Evans family, who were Welsh Baptists, left Newark, Del. to form a new congregation at what is today, the London Tract Meeting House. It is said that the Evans left Newark due to conflicting political

opinions. Members of the Welsh Tract Church were loyal to the crown, while others opposed being loyal to the crown. Flannery has an idea as to why the site is haunted. “Well it goes way back to the 1800s when the legend was brought to the public’s attention by Edgar Allen Poe who visited the grave,” Flannery shared. “And it’s said that his visit inspired him to write ‘The Tell-Tale Heart.’” Flannery was willing to share the legend. Back in the mid-1700s, there were two gentlemen by the names of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. The two gentlemen were sent out to mark the boundaries between the two colonies of Pennsylvania and Delaware. When Mason and Dixon were a few miles from Landenberg, they came across a portly boy -Photo by Anton Bilski named Fithian Minuit. The graveyard at the London Tract Meeting House near Landenberg is where Fithian Minuit is buried. Poet Edgar Allan The boy crawled into Mason’s Poe used the tomb of Fithian Minuit to base his short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart.” tent. One of Mason’s assistance ied in the London Tract Meeting investigation team who did re- and Delaware come here after was frightened by the boy who House cemetery where it is said ceive an EVP (electronic voice they hear the legend,” explained caused the boy to cry. Then the assistant used one of if you put your ear up to Fithian’s phenomenon) from the graveyard Flannery. So when driving around for a Mason’s inventions, a timepiece, grave, you can hear the tick... that said, ‘Do you want to talk to us,’” said Flannery. local spooky legend to see, just to calm Fithian down, which he tick...tick. Even Marilyn Flannery believes The EVP was captured by Dan head on over to the London Tract would then swallow, Flannery told. Fithian got married, and his that the property has some eerie Farber from TriCounty Paranor- Meeting House in Landenberg, mal. and try to see if you can hear the wife would hear ticking coming qualities to it. “Well I do believe that there “I recommend all to come. legend of the Ticking Tomb for from his chest. Then Fithian died and was bur- is something here. There was an Many from this area, Maryland, yourself.

HALLOWEEN

Decorate your home with cheap Halloween projects that cost a dime By Cheyenne Lauesen Editor

With just a few days before Halloween, have you decorated your house yet? Here are some tips to complete an affordable, spooktacular house. Yarn pumpkins are a simple, cheap, and an incredibly adorable idea. To make them, blow up a balloon and tie it shut. Cut pieces of yarn to no longer than 36 inches and soak them in white Elmer’s glue. Run the yarn through the tines on a plastic fork to get rid of the excess glue. Wrap the glue-soaked yarn around the balloon. Press the yarn firmly to the balloon. Let the balloons sit and dry until they are stiff. After the yarn has dried and is stiff, use your thumb to detatch the yarn from the balloon. This part is critical. If you don’t remove the yarn first, when the balloon deflates, the yarn may follow the balloon and collapse in. Cut a small hole near the knot of the balloon so it slowly deflates. Wrap a brown pipe cleaner around your pinky finger and either glue or wrap around the yarn. Loosely wrap green pipe cleaner

around your finger and a watered-down, dark attach in the same way. brown with a sponge or a Milk gallon face lights small mop brush (a subcan be super cute as well. stitute would be an eyeTo make these, save up shadow brush). some empty gallon jugs. Do the same with a rust Cut a circle in the back color, and then a pale orbig enough to fit a fake ange-yellow color. The efcandle in. fect should come across With a permanent as a fading color. If you marker, draw the outline want to make the paint of faces on the opposite last, coat it in a matte side of the candle hole. clear coat. Color in the faces. Place The stoppers can be the faces where you want anything the crafter wants them. Place the candle in them to be. Using cork as and watch them glow. stoppers, decorate the Making an eerie glowcork with woodsy details ing jar with spiders is into complete the witchcredibly simple. look. Gather as many maTo make a bleeding son jars as you want. candle, find yourself a Fill them with a mix of tall, white candle. Find a stretched cotton balls and shorter, red candle. Light fake spiders. Gently slide the red candle. As the a glowstick of your choice wax melts, pour it onto -Photo by Cheyenne Lauesen the top of the white caninto the very center to This is one example of the many Halloween decoration make it glow. dle, avoiding the wick. Be DIYs that you can make for a small fee. Apothecary bottles take careful as you will be in Take a marker and draw a dea little bit more work than close proximity with hot the previous DIYs, but they are sign and/or words on the bottle. wax, which can burn you. Let the worth it. Find small, empty bottles Using a hot glue gun, trace the red wax dry. that won’t be reused. Remove the marker and let the glue dry. Want to freak out your friends Coat the entire bottle, includ- as they walk up to your door? paper label and use sandpaper to give the bottle texture—it will also ing the glue, in black chalk paint. Glowing eyes that you can hide in Once the black is dry, dab on your yard will do just that. help the paint stick later on.

Find and collect toilet paper rolls. Cut out the shape of eyes in the very middle. Insert a few of the same colored glow sticks into the middle. Cover the ends with black construction paper. To make eyeball roses are a simple feat. Find fake roses—the darker the better. Cut ping pong balls in half and draw eyes on the outside. Glue the ping pong balls into the center of the rose. To make cheesecloth ghosts, all you need is cheesecloth, a two-liter soda bottle, some pliable wire, a ball, and starch spray. Stand the two-liter bottle up on a flat surface. Attach the ball on top with glue. Attach the wires to the sides of the bottle with glue after molding them into the shape of arms. Drape the cheesecloth over the figure you just made. Spray it with starch and let it dry. Once dry, the cloth will be stiff enough to stand on its own. Glue black puff balls where the head is to give it the appearance of eyes. All of these ideas will give you a creative edge to all the spooky houses in your neighborhood. So get to creating to make your house the spookiest of them all.