2013 Senior Banquet and Academic Awards

The Senior Banquet and Academic Awards Night was held on Thursday, May 30 in the cafeteria and auditorium.

Many students were honored for their outstanding achievements in their classrooms throughout the year! Check out our photo gallery with photos of all the award winners and thanks to senior Molly Hurley for taking these great photos for the Veritas!!!

Senior Deven Nunn won many awards at the academic awards night.  Photo by Molly Hurley

Matt Anzalone received the “Jimbo” $500 Scholarship from Jimmy Cahill, Rockland High’s biggest fan and supporter.

Jim Cahill and Matt Anzalone at the awards ceremony. photo by Molly Hurley

Ms. Walsh was presented with a yearbook in honor of having the yearbook dedicated to her.

Leah O’Bryan presents yearbook to Ms. Walsh.
photo by Molly Hurley

Final words from the Class of 2013

Seniors’ Final Moments at RHS

Click on this photo to go to our Senior Memories Collage in Photo Galleries!

As May 31st comes closer and closer to us all, the senior class prepares themselves to leave Rockland High School for the last time. May 22nd marked the last day of academics for the soon-to-be-graduates but for the next two days, the seniors will participate in mandatory “senior issues” which include ballroom dancing, CPR training,informational meetings etc.

Seniors begin their last day with a tailgate breakfast!

Following senior issues comes senior week. Senior week for most contains the most nostalgia, the most fun, and usually the most tears. The week of the 31st holds events like Senior Prom, the Senior Banquet, and Graduation Night. Time is truly flying by for these students! Congratulations Class of 2013!

Imagination abounds in Images Magazine

Images Magazine sold out on the day it arrived from the printer!

Devin Gilmore
Veritas Staff

“I have found that the best poetry comes from the unlikeliest of sources,” said RHS English teacher Mr. Neal.
This year, Images magazine, a publication dedicated to revealing the artistic voices of the student body, has been revamped by its newest advisor, Mr. Neal himself.

The magazine used to be published periodically in black and white and occasional color print editions, but now is published on the internet, in a page linked with The Veritas’s website.

The new method of publication allows for more color representation, which is an important aspect of some of the artistic features and also provides easier access for students to see the various pieces.

“My hope is that a more regularly updated and viewed selection of student art and writing might inspire more voices to put themselves out there,” he explained.

Seven students make up the Images staff but the entire student body takes part, as many kids who do not hold a particular role in the magazine submit pieces for publication.

Emily Williams, a junior who has submitted several photos and short stories to Images this year, loves being involved in the magazine.
“It’s an amazing feeling to look up the article online and see your work or writing,” she stated. “Images is a great place to showcase art and I think it could help more kids become artists.”
Submitting personal work can be exhilarating, as Emily described, but many students are tentative to share their creativity.

Mr. Neal explained, “Putting yourself on display by publishing writing or art is not an easy thing to do. It can be a very vulnerable situation which takes courage to put oneself in. I think that as we improve the submission process and post more frequently online, more and more students will be willing to take the risk.”

Currently, Images staff is trying to post as frequently as possible, to show kids their work doesn’t have to appear professional to be appreciated.

Art, whether it be poetry, story-telling, or painting, is a great way to express some of the feelings teens cannot put into words. Images is the perfect outlet for teen angst and creativity to come out and Mr. Neal has done a brilliant job of showcasing some of the talent and expression of RHS students this year.

Senior Athletic Awards Night

Senior Award Winners 2012-2013.  Click on photo to go to Photo Gallery with pictures of some of the individuals and their coaches.

On Monday night, May 20th, the Athletic Department held its annual Senior Athletic Awards Night in the auditorium. The following were winners of Senior Awards. Congratulations!

WOMAN’S COACHES AWARD – Leah O’Bryan
(Senior female student/athlete)

VICKI SOLARI AWARD – Angelica Calderon
(Most inspirational female athlete)

SENIOR GIRL ATHLETIC AWARD – Bailey Olsen
(Top senior female athlete)

MARION MANSFIELD DONOVAN AWARD – Jillian Krish
(Top female student/athlete)

JOHN BELL BULLDOG AWARD – Brianna Novio
(Female who plays over and abilities)

JOHN BELL BULLDOG AWARD – Matt Anzalone
(Male who plays over and above abilities)

PETER J. CROWLEY AWARD – Tyler Gibson
(Top senior male athlete)

JOSEPH DONDERO AWARD – Kevin Strobel
(Top male student/athlete)

LOUIS CIFELLO AWARD – Owen Lund
(Most inspirational male athlete)

MALE COACHES AWARD – Tom DeCecco
(Senior Male Student/Athlete)

BULLDOG PRIDE AWARD – Dawn Bille
(Female athlete that never gives up)

BULLDOG PRIDE AWARD – Alex Mejia
(Male athlete that never gives up)

JOHN DELOREY AWARD – Erin Pratt
(Female athlete that exemplifies sportsmanship)

JOHN DELOREY AWARD –Alex J. Smith
(Male athlete that exemplifies sportsmanship)

ROBERT ELLIS AWARD – Tyler Gibson
(Top Male Student/Athlete Basketball Player)

Band and Chorus judged superior!

Last weekend the RHS Band and Chorus traveled to Hershey Park Pennsylvania to compete in a program called Music in the Parks. Under the direction of Ms. Hartnett and Mr. Harden, the band and chorus did very well, both placing first among 25 bands and choral groups and receiving a rating of superior from judges. Congratulations to all the band and chorus students and to Ms. Hartnett and Mr. Harden. You’ve made RHS proud!!

Ms. Hartnett and Mr. Harden with first place trophies

The band and chorus from RHS received trophies for first place at Hershey Park in PA.

Principal Cron confirms Carchedi and Palana are Co-Valedictorians for the Class of 2013

Veritas reporters Joe Rizzotto and Georgia Panagiotidis contributed to this report.

In an announcement this afternoon, RHS principal Alan Cron, confirmed that the Class of 2013 would have two valedictorians this year!  They are Christopher James Carchedi and Joseph Buckley Palana.

Chris Carchedi

Joe Palana

In addition to their academic success, both young men participate in many clubs and activities at RHS. Carchedi and Palana are both members of the Theater Guild. Palana also plays in the band and the jazz band and runs for the cross country team. He participates on the math team and the mock trial team. Carchedi plays hockey and is President of the SGC. He also is a member of  the RHS band.  He made it all the way to the State Finals in the Poetry Out Loud competition this year.

Palana and Carchedi also participated in the Mr. Rockland competition and the Spellman Oratorical Contest this year and are members of the National Honor Society at RHS.

Both scholars were accepted to Harvard University; Palana will attend Harvard and major in Biology or Psychology. Carchedi was also accepted to Brown University where he will major in Geology.

Congratulations to Chris and Joe!