The pink premarin pills seen above have been linked to serious health risks for women who take them.” photo from Wikipedia.

Over the last few years the drug Premarin has sparked concerns over how safe the drug may be for women, but also from many animal welfare organizations. Many people have showed concern for the safety of the Mares and Foals that are involved in the making of Premarin.

Premarin is a drug that replaces oestrogen in women during menopause. The oestrogen for the drug is created by taking the urine from pregnant mares. The drugs main contents are estrone, equilin, and 17 alpha-dihydroequilin.

Recent studies by the Women’s Health Initiative showed that when women take Hormone Replacement Therapy that is PMU (Pregnant Mare Urine) based increase their risk of a stroke by 41%, the risk of a heart attack by 29%, and the risk of breast cancer by 26%.

Some argue that medications like Premarin are not worth the risks or side effects because they only provide a short-term relief, and can’t completely alleviate all menopausal symptoms. Women’s Health Initiative has also found that these specific Hormone Replacement Therapy drugs will not improve a woman’s memory, energy levels, physical or emotional state, or pain level.

This specific form of Hormone Replacement Therapy has been proved dangerous to not only humans, but to the horses that are used for the process of creating Premarin. During the eleven months while the mare is pregnant, it is kept in a confined stall where they can make little to no movement in any direction.

Another part of the process that created controversy over this product is the urine collection bags that the mares wear at all times, which cause lesions and abrade their skin and hair. Their drinking water has been reported to be limited so that they can conserve the amount of concentrated estrogen. When the process is done the foals will usually either replace their mothers, or be sold to slaughterhouses.

Premarin was one of the very first hormonal therapy drugs introduced, and is the only PMU based drug sold. When it was introduced in 1942, there were no alternative Hormone Replacement Therapy drugs that did not involve the use of animals. 49% of women in the United States who use Hormone Replacement Therapy products today are using a PMU based products.

A picture of a team trying to figure out how to get the spaceship running. Photo submitted by CEO of Boda Borg Boston,  Chad Ellis.

A new addition is coming to Malden, and will hopefully attract the attention of a variety of age groups. Boda Borg is an indoor questing simulation, originally from Sweden, where participants take on mental and physical challenges. Boda Borg’s themed quests take place in a variety of places such as an  aircraft, a house, outer space, etc. The Boda Borg experience can be described as being like a real life video game.

Chad Ellis, the CEO of Boda Borg Boston, believes that Malden was the perfect location because of its, “diverse community with families and young professionals.” Malden and many other cities in the Greater Boston area have seen a lot of growth from new businesses to new restaurants in the past few years. Ellis explains that the new Boda Borg in Malden will be, “in the middle of a renaissance that will see continued growth over the next decade.”

The construction of Boda Borg started in the fall of 2014, and is a complex project that needs time, so there is not set date for the opening quite yet. Boda Borg itself has been running for 20 years, and Ellis explains that, “[they are] getting their best Quests from all the other locations.”

When asked about the convenient location of Boda Borg Boston, Ellis expressed, “obviously a lot of fun for teenagers and kids but schools in Sweden travel from hours away because it’s also a place to develop important life skills like teamwork, creative problem-solving and persistence.”  

Not only will Boda Borg attract the attention of kids and teeangaers that live here in Malden, but it will also bring in people from older age groups and from other cities around Malden. Ellis explained that most of Boda Borg’s guests in Sweden are adults.

As a parent himself, Ellis says that he enjoys the fact that Boda Borg, “is one of the only activities [he knows] of where kids and adults can do it together as a team without anyone being left out or having to hold back. Kids are at an advantage in some challenges and adults in others, so family teams are often really effective.”

Once Boda Borg Boston opens, they do plan on creating new quests. Ellis says that, “[they] expect to change five or six Quests every year.” Not only are new Quests being made, but they are also looking to improve the existing ones.

Video from Boda Borg Boston: 

Here are updates for the week of April 20  on current events in Malden.

This is information pulled from morning announcements and the Tornado Times.

• Annual Boston Marathon on April 20 in Boston starts around 8:50.
• MHS will be holding our annual “Fill out your AP Answer Sheet & Booklet for All Your Exams” workshop after school in the Cafe B on TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY, 4/28 or 4/29. This is the week right after break. You do NOT need to attend both sessions, just one, but you MUST attend one.
• On April 29th 6:30pm-7:30pm the MHS library will be holding a public hearing concerning a potential new program at MHS. The program would serve over-age under-credit English language learners. The students can go towww.ideamalden.com to learn more and download the full plan.
•  Special Olympics April 30th, see Ms. Scibelli in the main office for details.
• APRIL BREAK: APRIL 20-24
• Seniors: Pay for cap and gown ($10) and AP exams to Ms. Sullivan at the main office due April 27th.
• Seniors: $40 off a tux rental can be yours when you log on  to menswearhouse.com/prom. Take advantage of this offer! If you have questions ask, see Ms. Valente in the gallery.
• The Starr Center is open every Monday & Wednesday for all of your health needs and questions! Located in the nurse’s office, the Starr Center has a doctor and health counselor available at no cost to you. 

Best of luck to Blue and Gold alumni Lauren Benoit (Class of 2013) running in the Boston Marathon this Monday on April 20, 2015.

In full disclosure, I am both a reporter for the Blue and Gold and a member of the Malden High School Robotics Team.

For years the robotics team has existed as a small part of the Malden Community. Membership has remained in the single digits and as a result, the team has often faced difficulties when preparing for competitions. This year marked a significant change for the team as membership grew to 15, the largest in the team’s history. While previous years have yielded better results in  the competition, they have not done much to improve the quality of the team or the robots. Our 10th place finish is quite a drop from the 4th place finish of last year’s team, but the loss is worth every ounce of ingenuity, camaraderie, and skill that has been built and will remain for years to come. Historically, the team has been composed completely of members who have taken Mr. Marques’ programming classes, but this year’s team expansion has brought individuals with a lesser knowledge of computer science, and with them, a very fresh outlook on design.

To many, the entire process of designing, building, coding, and competing seems daunting, but the structure and composition of the team makes the transition from newbie to guru a relatively easy one compared to many activities. All but three members of our team this year were newcomers, yet all brought a vital talent. We had a dedicated team of coders as well as a team of designers. Some of the most complex issues we faced involved the intersection of coding and design. While the quality on both ends was high, many of the nuances of this type of team based coordination were lost in the excitement of completing our robots. Though it led to many broken robots and disappointing afternoons, this hands on experience was vital to establishing the framework for what will hopefully be a more successful team next year.

The competition itself was an amazing experience for all members of the team. One of the team’s major constraints was finding functional designs for the robots, and the variety of designs at the competition should make the process easier for next year. Other teams had created mechanisms that our team hadn’t even imagined, and they were successful, which showed that out-of-the-box ideas can be successful.

A poster and featured painting by senior Timur Berilo presented at the art gallery at 350 Main Street Malden, MA. All photos by Maria DaSilva.

On Apr. 9, 2015, Malden High School’s fine arts department held its annual Blue and Gold Art Gallery opening reception at Commerce Place on Main Street in Malden. Many students, families, and Malden residents attended to admire the art and hear the speeches made.

The Tuesday prior to the opening reception, student volunteers took a day off of school to help set up for the show. Assembling all of the pieces in an appealing order took up two days. It was a long and tiring process for both the students and the art teachers who did everything in their power to make the gallery showing possible. However, after all the artwork was arranged, “all [the hard work] paid off. Everything look[ed] beautiful,” stated sophomore Dorabela Sousa, a studio one art student that volunteered.

A hallway of students are work presented at the gallery. Photo by Maria DaSilva.

The gallery will remain for a month, holding a variety of unique pieces of different styles. Admirable self portraits are hung up high and catch anyone’s attention the moment he walks through the doors. Unparalleled pottery pieces are also displayed by the entrance of the building, all of them different and creative with their own individual styles. The artwork varies from digital art, caricatures, black and white sketches, calligraphy, landscapes, paintings, and more.

At Malden High School, art has long been a vital aspect of the school. In his speech, Mayor Gary Christenson expressed his admiration for the high school students for their hard work and success. Christenson described that when prospective businesses and companies are recruited to his office, they do not marvel about the mayor or the city, they “just cannot say enough about this artwork.” He joked that he holds the students accountable not only for the beautiful art, but also for “economic development for the city of Malden.”

Assorted pieces hung at the art gallery. Photo by Maria DaSilva.

MHS art teacher Joseph Luongo believes that art helps students grow and prepares themselves for life after high school. He stated that he “is not sure that graduating a generation of professional test takers prepares one for the real world.” Luongo also described that when planning and finalizing artwork for the gallery, there were obstacles such as snow days, which minimized the amount of time they had to accomplish everything. He commented that it is “a testament of the hard work of the students, many of whom stayed after school to work on projects.”

Principal Dana Brown made an inspiring speech expressing his awe in MHS art students. Brown explained that art is not recognized and cherished enough. When he spoke, he mentioned that when students receive high grades on tests, they are considered intelligent, however when a student paints a beautiful picture, it is just considered “a good drawing.” Brown insists that “it is intelligence. It is just a different kind of intelligence.” Through his speech, he made it clear that he believes people need to start capturing art, and measuring it, and that, in his perspective, that kind of talent is just as important as getting a great mark on a test.

The art teachers at MHS and the art teachers in the K-8 programs of the city were recognized several times in the speeches made. The teachers in all of the schools in Malden play an important role in helping young artists grow within the field they love.

Not only are the Malden art departments in Malden adored by the students, but it is also adored by the teachers who partake in it. MHS art teacher Julie Mullane, when thanking the parents, stated that “[they] love having [the] children come to [their] classrooms.” Mullane described that the classes are always lively, and the students are constantly keeping the teachers laughing and on their toes. She added that “it is evident how hard [the students] work with all the artwork” displayed in the gallery.

A great amount of the Malden community attended the Blue and Gold Art Gallery opening reception and many plan to return throughout the following month to admire the students’ pieces. The art department at Malden High School continues to be a  success and produce artwork that leaves the city in awe. The students cherish this aspect of the school, as many of them consider art as “a comfort zone.”

Ceramic projects created by MHS students. Photo by Maria DaSilva.

Ceramic pieces exhibited at the gallery. Photo by Maria DaSilva.

Malden playing against Everett on Apr. 24, 2015. The team’s current record is 3-4. Photo by Tenzin Dorjee.

With the cruel winter weather having ended, many have picked up their sticks to usher in the beginning of the lacrosse season. Under Brenden Maney’s coaching, Malden High School’s varsity boys lacrosse team has prospered more this year in comparison to years past.

The team is led by seniors Isaac Bethea and Sam Wong. Having spent three years on the lacrosse team, Bethea explained that “it is a great honor” to be captain in his final year of high school. He feels that this recognition “shows that the coach trusts [him and Wong] and [their] teammates trust [them]” to guide the team.

As captains, Bethea described that his role is to “lead [the team] on and challenge them to work harder and focus.” The captains wish for their team to be able to “make the playoffs,” claiming that this goal is more achievable this year because the lacrosse team is  “better than it has ever been in recent years.”

Coach Maney set his goal on a more individualistic way as he wishes to improve the players’ skills “as much as [they] can from when [the season began] to where [the coaching staff] wants them to be [at the end of the season].” Assistant coach and MHS history teacher Jonanthan Copithorne confidently expressed his desire “to win every game [possible]”. Nevertheless, Copithorne enjoys “seeing improvement” in the players and hopes for the players to “try hard and get better everyday.”

The biggest joy of lacrosse to Maney “is teaching” because “it is an opportunity to give back,” since lacrosse has “given [Maney] so much in [his] life.” Copithorne professes that lacrosse is a sport he feels “everyone should play,” as “it is the most exciting game out there” in his opinion.

Captain Bethea explained that he “feels free when [he is] playing.” Bethea enjoys “the physical aspect of [lacrosse]” that allows him more freedom in the plays that he can make on the field.

Regarding this year’s team, coach Maney loves how his players “always come ready to play.” He mentioned that  “new [members] pitch in and help out”  and that the team is “an easy group of guys to like.”

While the future is unknown for this team, Maney feels that there are definitely “some more wins out there for the records.” MHS believes in its boys lacrosse team and wishes it all the best for the remainder of the season and seasons to come. 

Malden facing off against Everett on Apr. 24, 2015. Photo by Tenzin Dorjee.

Faculty and students unloading chromebooks at Malden High School.

 The time has finally arrived for Malden High to become a Google school.

Samsung Chromebooks were handed out to Holland and Boyle house freshmen on Mar. 31, 2015 and Jenkins and Brunelli house freshmen on Apr. 1, 2015. Next year all MHS students will receive Chromebooks. 

After gathering in the auditorium for a short rundown on the schedule for that day, along with introductions from the people who made it all possible,  freshmen were sent to their assigned classrooms where teachers and other faculty members lead them through a series of training, guidelines, and most importantly, getting the Chromebook itself.

“Students will not have to carry a lot of paperwork with them anymore, neither do teachers. Teachers can correct things more easily and have everything at hand,” commented freshman Yuwei Zeng. Zeng added, “Everything will be online; homework, essays, whatever. It will be a lot more efficient and easier for everyone. I definitely feel advantageous to be the one of the first people at Malden High to own a Chromebook. It is a step towards better and greater things at this school.”

Student were then lead to the library for more training and resetting passwords. They had the rest of the time to explore computers for themselves, asking questions about the chromebooks to make their experience with them as enjoyable and efficient as possible.

“We are really lucky to have teachers work this hard for us to have these Chromebooks.” Freshman Tenzin Dechong stated, “It probably has not been a short process, things like this do not take a day. If we could get an upgrade on our wifi, I think that this initiative would be even better. Hopefully these computers will guide our school to success.”

“The initial talks with Sprint happened in May. [The committee] did not get the confirmation and the money until October. So, the work that we’ve been doing with the committee has happened really over seven months,” English teacher and Chromebook committee member Sean Walsh explained.

The committee was made up of English teacher Sean Walsh, English teacher Natalia Brennan, History teacher Gregory Hurley, Math teacher Shereen Escovitz, Science teacher Kathryn Bizier, Science teacher Diem Phan, History teacher Damian Aufiero, Librarian Lucia Musilli, Science teacher Shannon Votaw, Math teacher Kayla Scheitlin, and Science teacher Kate Haskell.

“The great thing about [the initiative] is not letting technology be a burden for people,” added Walsh. “Everyone has access. We do not have to worry about certain logistical things such as laptop carts and students not having internet at home to do work. Everyone has a device so there is definitely accessibility. It also allows teachers to push twenty-first century skills of collaboration, research, and independent learning. We have students doing different projects and students collaborating online.”

“It takes three to five years to do what we did in a year,” stated Brennan. “I was really worried about how teachers and students would react to these devices. Being able to walk into a classroom and seeing students pointing at each other’s screens while they’re working in something is really nice.”

“I’m actually really excited to see how things will change,” expressed freshman Jenna Kelley. “New things could be added to the curriculum and things could be changed. [She] wants to do something in digital media in the future, like photos and graphic design and video and animation, so maybe this will be the start of that for me and a lot of other students. I think a lot of students can benefit from learning those things.”  

As the time passes, Brennan hopes to “distribute chromebooks to the upcoming freshmen and hopefully to the current sophomores and juniors.” The committee is currently working on getting the money to give a computer to every student at MHS. 

For more information about the Chromebooks click here to read another article or here to watch a video. 

Summer has long been a time of relaxation, a time to refresh and to prepare for another year of school. A time where students are free from homework and teachers (save for the inevitable summer reading assigned on the last day). This is a given, a constant, a dependable part of each and every student’s life. I enjoyed my last dependable, constant summer between my Sophomore and Junior years. Unbeknownst to me, that summer constituted the last carefree months that I would enjoy for quite some time. I was not graduating, I was not going to work, in fact I was preparing for my third year of high school. But as I am just learning now, the last two years of school become one giant mission to get accepted to college.

To me, the college application process has always stood as the last part of the long and oftentimes tedious road that is school, but in recent months I have begun to realize that my preconceptions are unfounded. With most applications due by midwinter of one’s senior year, there is not time in the few months that precede it to get all of the testing done, the essays done, the teacher recommendations done, the deliberations on where one will apply done, the process as a whole done. And so like many aspects of the modern world, applying to college has kept up appearances with its senior year deadlines while pushing the growing pile of requisite tasks earlier and earlier into students’ lives.

While I am excited to begin looking for my dream school and planning my college life, I wonder if the whole thing is too rushed. Many do not take high school seriously from the get-go and because of this, they are not prepared when the reality of applying to schools hits them. I can already hear the rumblings of college talk among my junior peers, ranging from the excited discussion of hopes and dreams to the pessimistic rants centered on the tenuous situation that many students realize they are in. It is almost as if these students have been told that they need not worry about the next step of their lives. But have they?

When I spoke to my cousins and friends who were in high school about their experiences, I was often met with long lectures. “Great,” I thought, “I can use their advice to help me through school.” What I heard however, was not to my liking. Protracted declamations of the uselessness of freshman and sophomore years and repeated assurances that one’s post-secondary life would work itself out in the end. And this was coming from people who were generally academically inclined and capable, not apathetic and distracted students. I can only assume that this is what most say about school when asked, as if there is some de facto standard used when giving advice to the next generation of students. And this is a dangerous trend to foster, for it breeds not only bad practices when in school, but leaves many students unprepared for the reality of the post-secondary education system and world in America.

The dreams that many children have of attending top universities or gaining acceptance into highly selective programs should not be squashed, but false hope can be just as crushing as a lack of hope when all is said and done. That is not to say that these dreams are contingent on perfect grades and test scores or any of the other slew of things that are commonly thought of as necessary in gaining admittance. But showing initiative, showing passion and being a present and motivated student are key to what many consider a golden ticket to the American Dream.

In reality, those students who appear to be the smartest or who seem to be shoe-ins for top schools are just the ones who learned early on about the importance of school and the truth behind the education system in the United States. Everything matters. Even if grades are not an issue, planning ahead and being diligent in the pursuit of your education can mean the difference between taking an honors class or an AP class or a Bunker Hill class. It can mean the difference between missing out on an application requirement for your dream school and checking of all the boxes that they look for. It can mean the difference between an Ivy and a community college. And if your dream is to go to a top school, it can mean the difference between joy and defeat when seeing your application results.

Not only does this effect appear, but it is compounded over time. As the saying goes, success begets success, and as time progresses, the divide between the students who meet or overcome the bar for a certain school and those who do not grows. And with an admissions process where a few mistakes and hiccups can make a big impact, each moment that you go on living with the mindset that “everything will work itself out” or “colleges only look at my junior year” is one step closer to the point of no return, from which the chance of admissions at a given college or university is eliminated. And so I implore all those who read this to take a look at your life. Be realistic about your dreams and goals and about what you have done to make them a reality so far. And make a change before it is too late, because it really is over before it began.

Junior Alexis Brown throwing a pitch. Photo by Tatyanna Cabral.

This spring Malden High School’s girls varsity softball team is ready to start the season with a bang. With new coach Rachel Timmons who has “such a love for the game [who] likes to be a positive impact for the girls,” and she wants the girls to be  prepared to play on the field and give it their all.

The team is made up of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors who are have a close knit bond as expressed by freshman Mackenzie Furlong. Senior Jasmine Kelly explained that, “the majority of [them] have played on the youth teams and grew up playing softball together.” They watch each other grow and improve as players and as a team. Senior Jillian Powers believes that “what sets [them] apart from other teams is [their] relationship on and off the field.”

The team had their first home game on Friday Apr. 17, 2015 against Beverly. The game started with a ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Callahan Park. The girls played their absolute best, making the students and residents of Malden proud. Senior Robyn Santo mentioned that when she is on the field she is, “focused and determined and [she gets] to forget about everything else going on and just play the game that [she] loves.” The team beat Beverly with a score of 5-4.

The softball team during their game against Saugus. Photo by Tatyanna Cabral.

During practice and in a game, Timmons wants the girls to remember that, “when [they] are in a game, every play matters,and to notice the little things and know that when something goes wrong, [they] have to move on,” and learn from what they did. One thing that Furlong would like the team to work on is “always staying up and positive.” Timmons wants to push the girls to be the best they can be as well as to develop a strong with each other.  Kelly explained that “you have to be aware of what play you individually have to make before anything happens but you also have to be aware of what your teammates are going to do,” and in that way they can help each other.

Kelly “truly [believes] that this season like all the previous years will be amazing,” and that they are all trying to achieve the same goal. Furlong is also, “very excited for the rest of the season.” The team will continue to make MHS proud with the rest of their games.

 

“When I am on the field I feel relaxed which is funny you would think that it would be stressful, but when I’m on the field I am focused and determined and I get to forget about everything else going on and just play the game that I love.” – Senior Robyn Santo

A video posted by @theblueandgold on Apr 17, 2015 at 2:32pm PDT

The Malden High School Senior Fashion show is not only an exciting fundraising event for the senior class, but an entertaining night where the seniors get to show off their favorite casual, formal and prom wear. This year’s fashion show was filled with gorgeous gowns, sleek tuxedos and tons of hilarious poses and selfies. Senior host Elijah Jean-Baptiste, and disc jockey senior Chris Voltaire, kept the show upbeat and ebullient throughout the night.

Senior and Blue and Gold member Julie Lam alongside senior Joshua Bessey posing during the show. Photo by Karina Matos and Felicia Fallano.

Senior Joshua Bessey, who participated  in the fashion show, feels that the show is not just an exciting  fundraiser, but it is, “also something fun,” for seniors to do. He explained that participating in the show instead of just watching it was the best part about being involved with the show because of the opportunity to be with, “all of [his] friends,” while being, “dressed up.”

Senior Nick Hames, another participant, stated that he loves “being a part of things that [his] class does.” He feels this way since his class is “dedicated and hard working,” and he wants, “to be a part of it as much as [he] can.” Hames also expressed that the show was mostly improvisation, so they “did whatever [they] wanted when [they] were on stage, and that was the fun part. It was hilarious.”

Seniors Madina Khudaynazar and Julio Salazar wearing formal wear during the show. Photo by Karina Matos and Felicia Fallano.

This year was not the first time a senior class held a fashion show for a fundraiser. Aryzona MacDonald, the class of 2015’s publicist, explains that “[they] wanted to continue the fashion show because [they] felt it was a tradition important to keep alive. Also, [they] wanted one last big fundraiser to bring the class together.”

The seniors who participated in the show modeled casual wear, a formal outfit, and then prom attire. The many students who participated walked with confidence and had fun with their friends in the process of fundraising for their class.

Paula Valente, one of the 2015 class advisors along with Bernice Diaz, expressed that “[their class has] raised the most money” out of all the other classes in the past 10 years. Valente also explained that the class’s goal was to raise 20,000 dollars.The fashion show was their last major fundraiser of the year.

Expanding on the concept of class funding, Valente explained that the fundraising the class

Seniors Olivia Verdone and Nick Hames wearing prom wear during the show. Photo by Karina Matos and Felicia Fallano.

does, “helps lower the cost of prom tickets, caps and gowns.” The senior class usually pays twenty dollars per student for their graduation cap and gown, but the substantial amount of fundraising that the senior class did was enough to lower the cost of the caps and gowns down to ten dollars. The senior class also gave $2,500 to the Maldonian this year.

Because prom is approaching MHS soon, Valente felt that the seniors modeling prom attire was a great way to “introduce prom wear for this season.” The prom attire was borrowed from David’s Bridal in Danvers, MA and Men’s Wearhouse in Medford, MA, whom they thanked in the program.  

Both Bessey and MacDonald agreed that the fashion show was a great fundraiser, and MacDonald’s advice for future seniors planning a fashion show is to, “really plan it out and rehearse.” She said that this years seniors, “did not get a chance to rehearse until the day of, so it became a bit of an improv show which was fun, but maybe would’ve been better if it was all planned out.” Bessey also recommended that future seniors should definitely participate or help out with the fashion show because it is, “a lot more fun than you would expect.”

 

Congratulations to Mr.MHS Josh Cronin, first runner up Dominic Pappagallo, second runner up Mark Ortiz, as well as this year’s honorary Mr.MHS Alex Gentile!

A photo posted by @theblueandgold on Apr 29, 2015 at 6:59pm PDT

Here are updates for the week of May 4 on current events in Malden.

This is information pulled from morning announcements and the Tornado Times.

• Ask the principal night is on May 4, and will start at 6:30
• Advanced Placement Exams begin on May 4, and are taking place through the week.
• On May 7, the MHS chorus will be hosting their spring concert, which will begin at 7:00 PM
• On Saturday, May 9, the class of 2018 will be hosting their first fundraiser with a car wash.
• The Starr Center is open every Monday & Wednesday for all of your health needs and questions! Located in the nurse’s office, the Starr Center has a doctor and health counselor available at no cost to you.

AP EXAM SCHEDULE

Malden High School’s boys baseball team faced off against O’Bryant on Apr. 13 at Pine Banks. After a well played game on a beautiful day, the team fell short losing 6-4. MHS starting pitcher was junior Brian Batting. Coming in as a relief pitcher in the second inning was freshman Jared Martino who took the mound for the first time in his high school career finishing the game with five strikeouts. To finish the game was sophomore Matt Geer who threw two strikeouts in his first varsity appearance as well. Martino and senior Kyle Gillis helped the team out at the plate both knocking in one run each alongside junior Ronnie Luke who batted in two runs.

The team moved on to their next game Wed. Apr. 15 against Medford High School which was their first Greater Boston League game of the season. Malden included four different pitchers that game including Luke, Batting, Geer, and junior Thomas Hannafin who took the mound for the first time as a varsity pitcher. Luke made one of the two hits that the team had during the game, knocking in junior Robert Collins who got walked and became the only run scored for Malden. MHS fell short 1-9, losing their first GBL game to Medford but anxious for their next game.

MHS played Triton Regional High School on Fri. Apr. 17 at Pine Banks, MHS’s third home game in a row. Geer was the starting pitcher and although the team lost 0-2, they put up a tough fight.

They kept their heads up after starting off 0-4 as they squared off with East Boston on Apr. 20, which was two of MHS’s five wins last season. Martino stepped up that game on the mound and at the plate, bringing MHS their first win of the season. Hitting two balls out of the park that day and knocking in three runs as well as throwing six strikeouts. Coming in to close the game off was Gillis. Martino stated that “seeing the team and coach Carp pumped felt really great” after being their first winning pitcher.

Two days later MHS lost to Lawrence 2-17, their toughest game of the season. Going through three pitchers starting with Luke then Batting and Hannafin. Making the team hungry to redeem themselves and play their next game.

MHS won their second game of the season against O’Bryant with the final score of 6-3. Geer took the mound and put on a display striking out 13 batters that game, the most thrown by a MHS pitcher this season. He also went 2-4 from the plate hitting a double and a triple while knocking in a run. The team went 2-2 during April break. 

To end of the month of April the Malden High School baseball team played back to back games. On Apr. 29 the boys played Somerville High School, which is only their second Greater Boston League game of the season so far, both teams standing in at 0-1 in their league. Sophomore Matt Geer took the mound with junior Liam Elliot behind the plate, winning his second game and the team’s third game. MHS won 10-2, making them now 1-1 in the GBL.

The next day on Apr. 30 the team traveled to Triton to face off for the second time this season. After losing to Triton the first time just 2-0, they seemed to have redeemed themselves when leading 2-0 but as the game unraveled MHS ended up losing 6-2. Bringing their season record to this point, 3-6 needing seven more wins to qualify for the state tournament.

MHS faced off against GBL rival Everett on Tue. May 5 in which it was a heated battle to the finish. 

With plenty of baseball left to be played the team is standing in a record of 3-6, needing eight more wins to qualify for the state tournament.

On Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2015 Malden High School’s house guidance counselors hosted the College and Career night for junior students and their families. The night consisted of counselors Erin Craven and Ann O’Connor speaking about the process of post-secondary planning during senior year, focusing specifically on what students would do when applying to college or laying out the framework for their entrance into the workforce and how Malden High School would be able to help throughout. This presentation was followed by an open panel of representatives from 4 institutions who were there to not only talk about their respective programs but also to answer any and all questions posed by the members of the audience.

Approximately fifty people attended, with most being parents coming alone, however there were a handful of students who came with and without their family. This crowd represented in many respects the people and students most conscious of the journey on which they are soon to embark. Each was wholly enthralled in what was being shown and discussed, with many taking notes or recording what was being said for later reference. This attitude continued into the second half of the night, with many of the parents posing questions to the 4 representatives and diligently listening and taking notes on what was said.

The majority of the time was spent on the guidance presentation, which began by focusing on the general college process, the grades and test scores needed for admittance to various schools, the list of schools in the area and where current Malden alumni are attending, and the timeline for post-secondary planning in Malden High School. This general purpose section, presented by Craven, was followed by a presentation focused specifically on Naviance, the service provided to Malden High School students to help with post-secondary planning, whether it be for college or work.

O’Connor went into great detail about the features that Naviance has to offer students and how students, parents, and counselors could collaborate to take advantage of Naviance and better tackle the process of applying to schools or making a plan for work after school. This includes things such as side by side comparisons of schools in terms of admissions criterias and statistics, financial aid, student body composition and so forth. It also allows includes features that pertain directly to job searches and application.

The night was concluded by a panel forum made up of representatives from four institutions: Salem State University, Universal Technical Institute, North Shore Community College, and City Year. Much of their time was spent discussing the features and appeal of each of their respective institutions or programs and explaining the process that had been introduced during the earlier presentation in the light of their school specifically. They also took questions from the audience which ranged from the difference between Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision when applying to schools to the stance that their respective institutions and programs had on undocumented applicants.

While many pieces of the process were left unaddressed because the meeting served as an introduction rather than an in depth review, the presentation was able to provide valuable insight into the post-secondary planning that juniors will be doing in the coming months and specifically deal with many of the most pressing and major pieces of the puzzle.

Deserts, drought, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions have been a concern for a long period of time, and for a variety of reasons. Most people will point their finger at human activities when looking to place the blame on the negative environmental changes the Earth has experienced lately. But projects such as “The Great Green Wall” in China may just make up for it.

When most people hear the word “desert” they usually associate it with extremely hot weather and dry lands stretched out for many miles. The Gobi Desert, while it is very dry, is a mostly waterless and dry desert that can reach not only hot temperatures, but cold temperatures also.This desert usually gets about 7 inches of rain annually due to the Himalayan mountain range blocking much of the potential for precipitation. It is made mainly of solid rock instead of the typical sand that most deserts have. It is the fifth largest desert in the world, covering approximately 500,000 square miles of land where China and Mongolia meet.

To avoid any further spread of the infiltrating Gobi Desert, called desertification, and to avoid mass deforestation, China decided to grow and maintain “The Great Green Wall,” along the walls of the dry desert land. Their efforts have decreased the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere, and has increased the amount of carbon dioxide stored in the Earth’s biomass by about a few billions of tons since 2003.It has been said by many scientists that China is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitting country in the world. These efforts in stopping greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, helps control climate change because they are decreasing the carbon dioxide count and increasing oxygen.The project is said to take an estimated 50 years to complete, and will cover 32 million acres. Many challenges will be faced while maintaining the the wall of trees because they require a substantial amount of water in order to thrive.

Many scientists doubt the belt of trees will be helpful to the environment, and if the project does not succeed then groundwater will be wasted. Another worry that scientists have is that the amount of groundwater the trees will soak up will affect other vegetation in negative ways, especially grass and shrubs which are important because they are less resistant to drought than trees.

Chinese government officials say that 2,236.94 square miles of farms and grassland have been encroached by the spread of multiple deserts, including the Gobi desert. Millions of residents of the towns and cities that were taken over by desert lands seek refuge, and have lost their land and homes. The economic loss due to these situations is an estimated 50 million dollars per year. Many people are hoping that “The Great Green Wall” project will help stop the desert from expanding further, and protect the cities and towns nearby.

Malden High School’s boys lacrosse team faces off against GBL rival Everett High School. As soon as the game began, Malden had the advantage, scoring quickly. This stayed true throughout the game as MHS held off EHS. Malden won with a final score of 13-0.

Malden High School’s mock trial class partook in investigating the case of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Stephanie Hardee in a mock criminal case in the library on Apr. 29, 2015. The case consisted of a the defense, prosecution, judge, jury, and witnesses who were all portrayed by mock trial students. The defense looked to prove Stephanie Hardee’s innocence whereas the prosecution sought to prove her guilt.

The case concerned Stephanie Hardee, reenacted by Sarah Rosatone, who killed her son to supposedly protect her granddaughter Hanna Kumar, played by Kaitlyn Gibson, who was a victim to Hardee’s son’s abuse. Senior Ajla Talic, lead council for the defense, explained that “as a class [they] spent about three to four months preparing…[by] reading and taking notes on [their] trial packet that had all the affidavits, and basically gave a detailed outline on what the case was on.” Talic further stated, “After [they] understand the case, [they] are assigned roles based on what [they] like, and then… you … work on questions, practice with your side, and basically build a case for your side.”

Senior Jackie Munroe acting as an interrogator to sophomore Anna Truong who played Morgan Dexter. Photo by Julie Lam.

Talic did the opening statement along with a cross examination of the police officer Sergeant Sam Bush, reenacted by Jovante Pullum, who was one of the witnesses at the scene of the murder. The defense also included seniors Cheyenne Dow and Jackie Munroe, juniors Stephan Fequiere and Terrica Dang, and sophomore James Mac.

The prosecution included Seniors Brianna Duffy, Alyssa Figuerido, and Jonathan Decicco along with other members of the mock trial class. Duffy gave the prosecution’s opening statement as well as performed a direct examination of Sergeant Bush.

The trial examined several witnesses as well as the medical examiner of Hardee’s son. The jury determined that Hardee was guilty of manslaughter but not first degree murder.

Talic commented that “mock trial helped [her] with [her] confidence as well as public speaking.” “Mock trial allows you to step out of your own life, and take on a role larger than you could have imagined.” She gained a better understanding of the way the court systems work and “ most importantly the class taught [Talic] lessons that [she] will be able to use for the rest of [her] life.” Duffy is in agreement with Talic that the class teaches about “working together with other people to become better in debating.” “It made [Duffy]  realize that law is something that [she is] really interested and may want to pursue more during college,” added Duffy.

Mock trial has a great impact on students and aids them in public speaking as well as inspires them to further their knowledge of law.

Malden Reads, a community reading program, announced it’s book selection for 2015 as Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Solan. The Great Recession has led Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone and into a night-time shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour bookstore.

After a few days of working, Clay begins to notice something strange: only a few customers come into the store repeatedly, but never actually buy anything, instead “checking out” obscure volumes located at the back corners of the store. Curious, Clay gathers a group of his talented friends to investigate and analyze his clients’ behaviors, coming to discover the secrets of the store — and Mr. Penumbra — that unfold through his investigation extend far beyond bookstore’s walls to something greater.

According to Roxane Gay from the New York Times in his Sunday Book Review, Solan “dexterously tackles the intersection between old technologies and new with a novel that is part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem.”

A copy of “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan. Photo by Katie Mai.

In conjunction with the book, the reading program includes book discussions, film series, and other social activities that welcomes all ages and backgrounds to explore the ideas pulled from the novel, such as the power possessed by both technology and books.

One of the events held was a presentation: “Malden High in the Digital Age” held at the high school, featuring the Google chromebooks initiative, which permits students to access information at the tips of their fingers by giving out chromebooks for them to use; the Tufts Makerspace; the Robotics Club, a club where students work together to build, design and create robots to enter into tournaments; the Blue and Gold Archive project, a project aimed to produce 3,000 copies of a full, color 64-page magazine with archives and old newspapers dated as far back as 1915, and more.

Many of the groups that presented showed great insight on the technologies Malden high is utilizing, as well as prompt reflection on how “our devices and gadgets hold an illimitable dominion over us.” (Roxane Gay, New York Times, Sunday Book Review)

(Left to right:) Ricky Cordero, Blue and Gold member Jasper Haag, and Mohsin Qureshi presenting the different aspects and applications of MHS’ Programming Club. Photo by Katie Mai.

Natalia Brennan’s presentation on ELL students and digital literacy at MHS. Photo by Katie Mai.

“Nedlam’s Space”, a underutilized makerspace located in MHS. Photo by Katie Mai.

Joe Luongo gives a presentation on his digital art class in MHS. Photo by Katie Mai.

George Holland, a graduate of Malden High School’s class of 1955, cherishes the school and community of Malden immensely and continues to be an active participant. Holland believes that schools, especially here in Malden, give great opportunities to students to try a variety of different things, not only in the classroom, but also with extracurricular activities. He stated that “you are lucky if you find something [you love],” and for him personally, it was science and math.

Holland expressed that some of his fondest memories here at MHS were in the extracurricular articles offered. He  participated in many things, such as sports, theatre, and the Blue and Gold newspaper as a sports editor. Holland believes that through his experiences at MHS, he has grown and the school has helped shape him into the person he is today. He explained that there are “things that even though no one says you are learning it, you do learn it. If you pay attention it helps you down the road.” All of the different aspects of the school “help kids reach their full potential.”

Following his high school career, Holland went on to study at Boston College, being the first one in his family to attend college. Majoring in physics and minoring in math, he attained his masters degree and taught chemistry for a couple years at MHS. After some time, he went on to graduate school at Yale University, receiving a PhD in physics. After graduating, he worked at Yale to teach and research for several years before returning back to Malden.

First, he became head of the math department for two years, then assistant superintendent, onto superintendent of Malden. Holland explains that he enjoys these fields because it “suited [his] personality to be in the educational system. [Although], financially, it maybe was not the best choice, but [he] felt fulfilled with young people.”

As an active participant in the alumni association, Holland has watched the school grow both from the inside and outside. He believes that ever since he went to school up until now, the purpose has not changed, that “the fundamentals never changed, the goals remains the same.” Holland described physical changes to be the most significant changes the school has gone through. Most importantly, the diversity has developed. “Just incoming populations, now it is Chinese, Brazilians, new nationalities, the school tries to provide a pathway for students to go onto a successful career.

Holland greatly expresses his pride in the school and its growth. He encourages students to be grateful that they are living in this community, and have the chance to do great things. “They are given several opportunities, and whether they grasp it or not it is up to them, but it is in their reach.” Holland believes that the school is successful only through the students. One of the things the Alumni Association does every year is recognize the alumni who have succeeded, to show the students that “there are people who made it through Malden High School, and these people continue to be successful.”

To read another article about a different alumnus click here or to watch a video on the Hall of Fame click here.  

Kevin McGlinchy, a Malden High School graduate, is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1999-2000 with the Atlanta Braves. He described his experience as an MHS student to be “fun, adventurous, [and] with a serious business approach.” The teachers and classmates of his class created an enjoyable atmosphere for him.

Directly after high school, McGlinchy moved to Ocala, Florida to play baseball for Central Florida Community College (CFCC). He attended for one year, “to experience the college life.” Shortly after playing for CFCC, McGlinchy signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Growing up in Malden, baseball always occupied a big part of McGlinchy’s life. His journey began when he was a kid playing stick ball down the school yard. He stated, “It was all about having fun until the street lights came on, which meant it was time for dinner.” When playing at Devir park, McGlinchy described to have been trying to mimic one of his favorite Red Sox players, Dwight Evans, when standing up at bat.

As a big fan of the Boston Red Sox team, McGlinchy’s father took him to baseball games regularly, especially when Roger Clemens pitched. He explained that his father would always emphasize on Clemens’ form and mechanics, and reminded him to pay close attention. His father taught him that “[he] would be capable of doing what [Clemens did] on the mound, if [he put] in the work and dedication.”

Once McGlinchy reached age twelve, he began to be recognized with his name in newspapers. He commented that “[he] seemed a lot taller than [his] fellow teammates, and could throw the ball fast.” He worked with his father consistently on his pitching mechanics. McGlinchy explained that his father showed him all there is to know, when it came to ball control, the ability to throw strikes, and, especially “how to be a fierce competitor.”

It reached a point where his pitches grew too fast for even his father to catch anymore. McGlinchy became dominant and continued throughout high school. Around his junior year at MHS, his coach, Coach Freck, would take him to various workout camps, where many college and professional scouts were present. By his senior year, he was throwing balls at 90mph. Before he knew it, there were a dozen scouts at Pine Banks, clocking his velocity with radar guns. McGlinchy “was getting more and more recognition, but even still did  not know how good [he] really was. [He] just acted like any other kid on the team.”

McGlinchy’s experiences as an athlete and a student have led him to who he is today. There are many ups and downs to being an athlete such as feeling pressure and dealing with injuries. He explained that“overnight success led [him] to the Major League Baseball, which was very exciting, but at the same time [he] felt like a small person in a huge world.”

Looking back, McGlinchy describes that he often thinks about how things would be if he did anything differently, but he “cannot live [his] life with regret.” He believes he has accomplished great things in his life. He learned and experienced that with his talent, it was easy to get to where he was, but it was hard to maintain that level.

McGlinchy now lives life aware of what he attained and feels proud. He tries to pass on his knowledge and experiences to other student athletes, hoping to help fulfill their dreams. He believes education is a priority. He encourages these athletes to never give up, to be well rounded, and to make good choices, surrounding themselves with people who really want the best for them and will lift them up. McGlinchy’s motto is, “only you can determine your destiny.”

To read another article about a different alumnus click here or to watch a video on the Hall of Fame click here.  

Seven Malden High School alumni were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame on May 1, 2015. 

To read an article about alumnus George Holland click here or to read an article about Kevin McGlinchy click here.