[VIDEO] School Spotlight for Spring 2024

By Naya AlZarabili, Alexandra Angelo, Ava Belli, Brooke Cheifetz, Ava DeRose, Olivia Di Marco, Sophia Duarte, Evan Hines, Annika Johnson, Lena Korenstein, Carly Levitt, Adelaide Minnella, Justin Misher, Hailey Raymond, Emma Sceppaguercio and Dani Tiegel • April 23, 2024

The apprentice editors and contributors in Journalism II broke out cameras and mics to shine a spotlight on what’s happening in the halls of West Essex for spring 2024. Here’s a roundup of some of the exciting projects and activities that teachers, classes, clubs and extracurriculars have been doing lately!

Features on: Cristina Pivetta, Caesar Diliberto, Anthony Emering, Dean Ratajczek, the Building & Grounds Department and the staff of Pomptonian Food Service

Teachers & Classes:

Cristina Pivetta – Heart and soul of the Italian program

by Olivia Di Marco, Lena Korenstein and Dani Tiegel

Caesar Diliberto’s ‘Glorious Day in Education’

by Ava DeRose and Sophia Duarte

Anthony Emering, the Daytime Grandfather

by Annika Johnson and Carly Levitt

Dean Ratajczak drives students to success

by Ava Belli, Brooke Cheifetz and Emma Sceppaguercio

Facilities & Services

Building & Grounds Department makes an impact

by Ali Angelo, Evan Hines and Hailey Raymond

Pomptonian: ‘The One with the West Essex Lunch Ladies’

by Naya AlZarabili, Justin Misher and Adie Minnella

Behind the Bylines

Naya AlZarabili, Staff Writer

Naya AlZarabili is a Junior Staff Writer on the Wessex Wire and enjoys expressing herself through not only literature, but other artistic outlets like film and music! She spends the majority of her time reading or visiting local autumnal destinations with her cousin. Naya wouldn't be herself without a Chipotle bowl, Arctic Monkeys, and every Greta Gerwig movie to date.

Alexandra Angelo, Opinion Editor

Alexandra Angelo, is an Opinion Section Editor for the 2024-2025 Wessex Wire. She loves baking, shopping, and spending time down the shore. When she isn’t doing any of those things, you can find her hanging out with friends and family.

Ava Belli, Sports Editor

Ava Belli is a 2024-2025 Sports Section Editor for the Wessex Wire. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her friends and family and watch her favorite Disney Channel throwback shows. She spends her summers in Lavallette, N.J., where you can find her favorite ice cream spot, Iceberg.

Brooke Cheifetz, Visual Media Editor

Brooke Cheifetz is a 2024-2025 Visual Media Editor for the Wessex Wire. She enjoys playing soccer, watching the New York Yankees and New York Jets, and spending time with her friends. She loves listening to music, especially Luke Combs, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift.

Ava DeRose, Opinion Editor

Ava DeRose is an Opinion Section Editor for the 2024-2025 Wessex Wire. She enjoys going to the beach, watching shows and listening to music, especially country. She loves anything to do with summer, pumpkin spice and the holiday season. On the weekends, you can find her hanging out with friends and family or going out to eat!

Olivia Di Marco, News & Features Editor

Olivia Di Marco is a News and Features Editor for the 2024-2025 Wessex Wire. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, summers in Long Beach Island, and shopping. You can catch her listening to John Mayer or scrolling through TikTok when shes bored. Her favorite show has to be "Gilmore Girls" and her favorite movie is "Cheaper by The Dozen 2".

Sophia Duarte, Apprentice Editor

Sophia Duarte is an Apprentice for the Wessex Wire. In the summer, she spends time with her family in Portugal. She enjoys watching sports, working out, reading, and hanging out with friends. She also loves listening to country music, especially Morgan Wallen.

Evan Hines, Staff Writer

Evan Hines is an apprentice editor for the 2023-2024 Wessex Wire who specializes in arts & culture articles. He loves listening to music, watching movies/T.V. shows and hanging out with friends in his free time. He is a huge New York sports fan, supporting the Jets, Yankees, Devils and Knicks.

Annika Johnson, Visual Media Editor

Annika Johnson is a visual media editor for The Wessex Wire. In her free time, she'll either watch a hockey game on her couch or at the Devils arena, cheering on her favorite players like Nico Hischier or John Marino. One of her favorite things that does not revolve around hockey is seeing her favorite artists in concert, like Taylor Swift, The Drivers Era, or Big Time Rush.

Lena Korenstein, Arts & Culture Editor

Lena Korenstein is an Arts and Culture Editor for the Wessex Wire. She loves being a dancer and can be found listening to music at any minor inconvenience. Lena makes liking the High School Musical movies her personality, enjoys hanging out with friends and family and loves keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip.

Carly Levitt, Sports Editor

Carly Levitt is the Wessex Wire's 2024-2025 Sports Section Editor. She enjoys playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and rooting for the New York Giants, Rangers, and Knicks. Carly enjoys listening to music, baking, and spending summers at camp!

Adelaide Minnella, Arts & Culture Editor

Adelaide Minnella, but you can call her Adie, is an Arts & Culture Editor for the 2024-2025 Wessex Wire. She loves field hockey, lacrosse, the seasons of summer and fall, baking, cooking, her favorite show is “Friends” and her favorite movie is “10 Things I Hate About You.” Her favorite music artists are Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers. On the weekends you can find her babysitting, reading her favorite books, or hanging out with her core group of friends.

Justin Misher, Sports Editor

Justin Misher is a 2023-2024 Sports Section Editor for the Wessex Wire. He enjoys watching the Knicks, Giants and Mets, hanging out with friends and going down the shore. His favorite food is steak and his favorite TV show is Friends.

Hailey Raymond, Arts & Culture Editor

Hailey Raymond is an Arts & Culture Editor for the Wessex Wire. Her favorite season is fall because Halloween is the best thing to ever exist. If you can't reach her on any platform whatsoever she's most likely ignoring the world with a book in her hand blasting music. FYI movie recommendations are fully welcomed because movies are awesome. Fun Fact: she apparently plays the drums.... I think?

Emma Sceppaguercio, Contributor

Emma Sceppaguercio is a junior contributor for the Wessex Wire. When she isn't playing a sport, you'll likely catch her at the nearest Chipotle! She enjoys listening to music, especially Bruno Mars.

Dani Tiegel, News & Features Editor

Danielle Tiegel, but you can call her Dani, is a News and Features Section Editor for the Wessex Wire. She does competitive dance and is a cheerleader for West Essex. When she is not at the dance studio, she is shopping, napping, or watching “Grey's Anatomy”.