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=THE TITAN TIMES=

This will be the drop-off point for all of the titan times related newspaper materials. Mr. Ives will then take them from here and add them to the newspaper for delivery. E-Mail nives@wallingford.k12.ct.us for more information. You may also see Sarah Schlick or email at sarsch1@hotmail.com.

=Issue 10 - The New Layout=

Article #1: Michaela Mendygral & Amanda Barbieri EDITED VERSION: From freshmen to seniors, all the classes at Sheehan are active. But which one is the best? It all depends who you ask. One of the most animated individuals to provide a response to this question would be the Class Of 2015 advisor, Mr. Tyrell. He is taking the freshmen class by storm with many new ideas, hopes, and goals. His enthusiasm is contagious. He hopes for the class of 2015 to be “the best class to walk through the halls of Sheehan.” In March, the freshman class held an assembly about the students’ future goals, plans, and ideas. Mr. Tyrell and the class representatives took part in educating the class while still having some fun. This was all as a result of the much-appreciated efforts of many people, including Mr. Ives. There was also a raffle during which several freshmen received Kiwi Spoon gift cards. There was a softer side to the assembly, too; two former students came into Sheehan to share their experiences and how teenagers should deal with problems properly. The two speakers emphasized the importance of hope and how to try your best in school. The message really hit home for some people and has started to bring the class together more. This year’s freshmen are like no other and have the potential to be the highest achieving freshmen class that Sheehan has ever seen. The freshman class has a goal of amassing the most community service hours ever—they are trying to beat 16,858. They also aim to become a more active, high-achieving class. They are planning fundraisers and activities up until their senior year. The freshman class would not be as enthusiastic, motivated, and successful—it has, for example, the second most Spirit Points and second highest GPA—without Mr. Tyrell. No one quite knows how he does it all, but he the results have been great so far! Maybe this Class of 2015 is a force to be reckoned with. We look forward to seeing where Mr. Tyrell takes this class with their seemingly limitless heights.

**Spotlight on Sheehan's "Before the Fall"** **By Christal Yoo and Taqua Naeem** **EDITED VERSION:** What is your favorite band? You might have one, or two, or ten. But however many favorites you have, it’s time to make room for two more amazingly talented bands: //Before the Fall// and //Under One Sky//. The best part about these groups is that you won’t have to take a two-hour trip out of state to see them--all you have to do is walk down the hall because the members of these bands are right here in Sheehan! Formed about a year ago with the encouragement and praise of Mr. Francese, //Before the Fall// still stands strong with its four fantastic members: Austin Scelzo, who plays the violin; Katie Robison, the keyboard player; Lauren Moscato, the guitar player; and Mallorie Urban, who also plays the guitar. Many of you witnessed the talent of these four at this year’s talent show. However, //Before the Fall// has also performed at many parties and Cabana Café in North Haven. They plan to perform at other places, such as the Javapalooza, The Space, Funky Monkey, and more. //Before the Fall// is an acoustic band with much potential. For more information about the band, please check out their Facebook page entitled “Before the Fall.” Another great local band in Sheehan is //Under One Sky//. The gifted members are Mike Quinonez, who covers the vocals, Sam Krechevsky, the lead guitarist, Tyler Esposito, who plays the bass, Austin Rivera, the drummer, and Joe Estabrook, another vocalist and also the keyboard player. This band found its origins four years ago in 2008 when Joe and Mike were in 7th grade and suddenly decided they wanted to start a band. Their genre has been decided as alternative rock. Currently they are in the process of making “Another Summer” and “Banana JAM” at //Under One Sky’s// studio (also known as Austin’s basement). They are going to release a five-track EP this summer or fall. Although they haven’t been to many gigs, there is one planned for July 7th. To see a performance by //Under One Sky//, log on to YouTube and type in “Another Summer-Under One Sky” into the search box. Both //Before the Fall// and //Under One Sky// are very talented and have much potential. If you give them a chance, they will probably make it to your list of favorite bands. ARTICLE #2: Christal (Sheehan Bands) Video and photos as well Photography Contest: -Announce on announcements and in senior court -- Use club account to pay for prize (need to fundraise later to refill) -Print ad and examples in this issue ARTICLE #3: Kayla Murphy (Prom) By Kayla Murphy
 * The Perfection of Prom**

Prom is often considered one of the best moments at Sheehan, next to Powder Puff, the Winter Carnival, Homecoming and of course finals...just kidding. Proms originated in the early 1920s in America, and with every passing decade they become more lavish than the year before. It’s customary for proms to be held for the junior and senior classes, but some lucky sophomores and freshman are allowed to go if invited by dates or friends. Ashley Sinatra, a sophomore, recalls going to junior prom and senior prom as a freshman. After purchasing a dress from Windsor and a dress from Deb, she danced the night away at both, having a great time. Her favorite part was spending the night with her friends and “being free of your parents...you get the chance to step into adult-hood.” Sheehan senior Kyssandra Perkowski says that “it’s a fun time; there’s a nice dinner and it’s a fun thing to do whether you have a date or are just going with friends,” as she recalls her junior prom at Cascades in Hamden. Katie Bartlett, a senior, remembers Cascades as the place with “too small of a dance floor and questionable meat,” but she enjoyed the music with her friends and date. She is very excited for her senior prom, which will be taking place at the Farmington Country Club on May 26th. For some, it’s their first prom, like sophomore Christina Miller; juniors Katie Asmus, Meghan Leighton, Billy White, Herky Cedillo, Michael Pelletier and Elizabeth Capot; and seniors Kayla Jones and Zack Signore. Zack jokes around saying he “was too cool for prom” but is excited for his senior prom now. Others, like Julia Eldridge, Lindsay Crescenti, and Katie Gill, have been to over 3 proms! Rachel Madej, a senior, will be going to her 5th prom this year! She is extremely excited about it and says “it’s one of the most romantic nights of your life." Often the hardest part about prom for girls is figuring out where to purchase dresses. Christina Miller recommends Atiana’s Boutique. "Let’s say if someone from Sheehan is looking at dress that another person from Sheehan is wearing...tiana’s Boutique will not let that person wear the same dress, so you don’t have to worry about going to prom with someone having the same dress as you,” she says. Ashley Sinatra recommends Windsor because “it’s easier to order the dresses online from Windsor because they have a much wider selection than they do in the actual store at the mall.” Other recommended stores were A La Boutique, Mia Boutique, Dynamite Design, Deb, Macy’s, The Dressing Room, Lord and Taylor and Stylish Impressions. Wondering what you should do after the excitement of prom? Lindsay Crescenti, Julia Eldridge, Chris Zygmunt and Katie Bartlett remember going back to one of their friend’s house for breakfast. Instead of breakfast at home, Ashley Sinatra and her date went out to IHop. Katie Gill went back to a friend’s house and says “it was funnier than prom." Gracie Benson, a senior, had a sleepover afterwards. Junior Lauren Moscato says that she went bowling with friends. Still stressing about prom and need some last minute advice? Katie Gill suggests that you wear a pair of gladiators or sandals because they are comfortable for dancing and still look stylish. If you don’t want to wear sandals, Katie Bartlett suggests small inch heels. For the guys, Chris Zygmunt says Modern Formal is a good place to get a formal suit or just borrow from someone else. Ashley Sinatra’s words of wisdom to anyone who is going: “It’s fun to have a safe night so you remember the experience that you had at prom instead of getting drunk or stoned and not remembering anything at all.” Remember Senior Prom is coming up on May 26th at the Farmington Country Club and Junior Prom is May 19th at Laurel View Country Club in Hamden.

Farmington Country Club

ISSUE #11 (FINAL ISSUE):

Article #1: Sarah Schlick---Senior messages Article #2: Eric Tiedemann--Spring sports Article #3: Photos: Video? Print winners of photo contest in this issue EDITED VERSION SPRING SPORTS ARTICLE: Sheehan’s Spring Sports  By Eric Tiedemann As we all know, this year’s spring sports season at Sheehan is coming to an end. This spring we've been introduced to the sport lacrosse for the first time here at Sheehan and have witnessed many accomplishments from all of our athletic teams. We congratulate many of these athletes on their efforts to help us achieve more titles in Sheehan sports history. Many teams have set goals for their members to accomplish over the season; some teams have reached their objectives while others still have time to do so. Distance, sprinting, and throwing are some of the events in which student-athletes participate. But track and field doesn't just happen during the spring; athletes also train during the indoor track and field season so they can get ready for the spring. Girls’ team captain Tara Lee had a set of goals that she and the team had created before the season started. She and her teammates had worked to fulfill these goals by “practicing each day after school and on the weekends. The amount of time [they] put in helps the team to improve.” Tara said that she and her fellow captains believed that their team had a great chance of making it to the state championship. “Will to win starts within.” This is the motto that the softball team lives by, and both the softball and baseball teams have made that motto come true. Since the Sheehan baseball team has already won a state championship in the past three or four years, it has some big shoes to fill. Baseball coach Mr. Altieri had “no doubt this year will be [their] year. [The baseball team has] enough talent to beat everybody if [they] practice right.” Coach Altieri says that the team’s methods were to show up on time, to not make excuses, to be a good teammate, to work hard and to be responsible. The same confidence shown by the baseball team is also emphasized with the softball team. Their training starts with conditioning pre-season and hard work at regular practice. The softball team felt this would be their winning season, and they definitely had the spirit to see it happen. Sheehan's very own tennis team has also made some bright changes this year, one of them being Mr. Dailey’s move up to the new position of coach of the boys’ tennis team. Coach Dailey's goal was to “have good team success in the state tournament and to accomplish it with hard work.” He also adds to that by explaining that, “We’ve really come together as a team and we believe in ourselves.” The girls’ tennis coach, Mr. Ives, hoped that he and the team would “go deeper into the state tournament since last year [they] lost first round and wanted to have a winning year.” Hopefully both tennis teams will realize their aspirations and will both have a winning season. And finally, last but not least is our Sheehan golf team. Golf coach Mr. Ainsworth made it clear that the objectives for this year’s season were “to make the state tournament, qualify for the SCC tournament as a team, and have fun.” The team practices at the Farms Country Club on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with a round of nine holes to prepare themselves for upcoming matches. So far they have been having a good season with a win against Lyman Hall. Coach Ainsworth says about the state tournament that “at first in the season [he] had [his] doubts, but now [he] believes [they] will definitely make states.” Hopefully this year carries out Coach Ainsworth’s positive predictions for the golf team. If you have a certain team you would like to follow and learn more about, go to [|www.ciacsports.com] or just catch up on scores and stats in your daily newspaper. A special thanks goes out to all of the coaches and staff members who help students complete even better seasons each year. And a very special thanks to Mr. Sarullo, Sheehan's athletic director, for assisting all year round with our school's sports teams.

**Cool Activities in Connecticut**
By Kayla Murphy Summer is just around the corner, and as soon as school is over, we students are going to have the time of our lives! Time in the sun, hanging with friends, partying, summer reading...(as if)...are all the fun things we teens look forward to! To help keep your summer busy and entertaining, I’ve created a list with the top ten things you should do before the summer ends!
 * 1. Rocky Neck State Park**: Located in East Lyme, this beach is probably one of the best beaches in Connecticut. The park contains excellent camping grounds and great views of the Long Island Sound. Recommended: If you’re into fishing, Rocky Neck is home to schools of herring, mackerel, flounder, striped bass and blackfish.
 * 2. Downtown Mystic**: This village is perfect for market shopping. Shops sell amazingly delicious fudge and beautiful pieces of artwork, and there is even a cool store that offers clothing whose designs show up full color only in the sun. Recommended: If you like marine life, I suggest going to Mystic Aquarium or taking a tour to see beluga whales.
 * 3. Mohegan Sun Arena**: The arena inside Uncasville’s Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino holds many performances. You and your friends can purchase tickets and see the beloved ventriloquist comedian Jeff Dunham. Other shows this summer include The Wanted, Hot Chelle Rae, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez, LMFAO, and Enrique Iglesias. Stevie Nicks and Jimmy Buffet are also playing.
 * 4. Beardsley Zoo**: Located in Bridgeport, this zoo contains tigers, bison, wolves and monkeys. Although it might seem childish, it does give you something to do, especially if you have a younger sibling who is looking forward to seeing some animal wildlife during their vacation.
 * 5. Lake Compounce**: Home to the first wooden roller coaster that is built on the side of a mountain (Boulder Dash) and several other roller coasters, Lake Compounce attracts many visitors each year. Filled with thrills from the Wildcat and Zoomerang coasters to classic rides like the bumper cars, Ferris wheel and carousel, this theme park has a lot to offer. Recommended: Need to cool off? No worries, this place has a water park too, so remember to bring your bathing suits.
 * 6. Rock Cats Baseball**: This team (affiliated with the Minnesota Twins) can be seen playing ball games over the summer in New Britain at Willow Brook Park. Recommended: If you’re interested in baseball and want to catch a local game, meet Rocky the Rock Cat, or just have ice cream in a baseball hat cup, then come check out this team. THESE CATS ROCK!
 * 7. Hammonasset Beach**: Located in Madison and titled as Connecticut’s largest shoreline because of over two miles of beach, Hammonasset allows swimmers, sunbathers, campers, fishers, hikers and bicyclists a chance to enjoy the beach and its surrounding areas. Recommended: Do an all-day beach trip and head for dinner to Lenny and Joe’s, which is less than a mile away.
 * 8. Quassy Amusement Park**: Quassy, located in Middlebury, offers more than 22 rides with two roller coasters. This classic fair-themed park offers foods like hot dogs, soda and cotton candy with a scenic view of Lake Quassapaug, which does allow swimming. Recommended: Again, you should bring a younger sibling--that way the whole family can have fun!
 * 9. Sleeping Giant State Park**: Located in Hamden, this legend of the Quinnipiac Tribe has amazed hikers and nature-goers all over the country. The scenic hike is highly enjoyable; if you’re lucky you might spot some deer or the occasional bat. Recommended: If you need a good hike, then head up to the tower on the top for the best views.
 * 10. Shubert Theatre**: All music-loving fanatics will love to see the amazing performances at the theatre in New Haven. During the summer they’ll be performing //In the Heights// and //Jersey Boys//. Recommended: Try to schedule an afternoon showing so you can explore the local stores and restaurants in the morning.

Since several items on this list are State Parks, it is important to note that there is a pass you can purchase that allows you to enter any park as much as you want for free for the entire season! I have done most of these activities and hope you enjoy them as well. Have an awesome summer everyone!





A Closer Look at the Sophomores By Sarah Schlick

Sheehan’s class of 2014 has kept busy this year and plans to continue that path in its next two years at Sheehan. As the last semester draws to a close, the sophomore officers would like to highlight some of their class’s efforts during the 2011-2012 school year to clear up any misconceptions about the state of its account funds and future plans for proms. Even with its recent fourth-place finish in the competition for the “spirit stick,” the sophomores are looking ahead to activities for the fall. If the spirit of the class elections held Friday, June 1st is any indication, as juniors the class will have a lot to look forward to. In their nomination speeches, the officers encouraged students to come together as a class more in the coming years and to contribute ideas to officer meetings so that well-planned fundraisers can help bring prom costs down and support other class expesnses. The officers for the class of 2014 ran unopposed in the elections, with Robert Violette repeating his role as president and Daisy Lopez again as vice-president. Carl Verch will continue filling the position of treasurer, with Tony Chen stepping in for Matt Stasiewski as activities chair and Danielle Richetelli as the new secretary position. At this point, both proms have been booked for the next two years. The junior prom will be held at the Laurel View Country Club and the senior prom at the Farmington Country Club, the same as this year’s events. The recent car wash held on Saturday, May 19th at the Volunteer Fire Department was a huge success, with profits of about $600.00 going towards the sophomores’ account at the end of the day. More than fifteen student volunteers came out to help, with special thanks to Danielle Richetelli, Tony Chen, Jackie Duran, Cassie Moses, Sam Peck, Kristen Bartlett, Gabby Fazzina, Tyler McPherson, Adam Filkins, Sarah Danko, Elana Walker, Chris DellaCamera, and Justin Wood. Due to the results of this past car wash, we can expect to see more fundraisers of the same kind next year. But one may arrive sooner than you think: this upcoming Saturday, June 17th, will in fact witness the sophomore class sponsoring another car wash at the Volunteer Fire Department. They hope to receive as much support as the last time to end the school year with a bang....and a lot of hoses and soap suds.