“I’d say that my greatest accomplishment is probably just learning to be okay with me. Freshman and sophomore year, I wasn’t showing people who I really was because I felt like people wouldn’t want to see it. I felt that if I were to put myself out there the way I wanted to, it would be bad. But then, I started to realize that it doesn’t matter and it’s not important, because everybody has something different about them. That helped me see that it doesn’t matter if I’m one way or another, or if everybody else is, because we all have our differences and that’s what makes the world go round really. So I’d say that my greatest accomplishment is just truly being me and it’s what I’d tell anyone who is feeling the same way. No matter what grade you’re in, if you’re entering high school or even leaving high school and you don’t know who you are, it’s okay to be you because being everyone else is boring.” #humansofmaldenhigh

A photo posted by Humans of Malden High School (@_humansofmhs) on Nov 4, 2015 at 2:09pm PST

Altering genetics is a controversial topic as questions about the ethics of modifying genes often arise. But scientists continue to propel forward in genetic engineering and have made progress concerning this touchy topic. At the University of California, graduate student Valentino Gantz “found a way to get brown fruit flies to produce blond-looking offspring most of the time.” Though this discovery may seem insignificant, it “showed that scientists had a very fast and easy way to permanently change an entire species.”

The process used by Gantz is known as “gene drive” in which “a sequence of DNA that [causes] a mutation to be inherited by the offspring of an organism with nearly 100 percent efficiency.” The organism modified to have the particular characteristic then passes it on to its offspring, hence “driving” changes into a species.

Application of the process includes changing the genetic makeup of organisms carrying diseases, such as mosquitos that carry Malaria, as a disease prevention method. Other uses include modifying insects to stop eating crops or engineering bacteria to clean oil spills. These potential benefits are appealing, but what is to happen upon releasing the genetically modified organisms? The unintentional effects are yet to be known. There is concern in disrupting ecosystems that could then introduce different diseases.

Aside from natural disturbance, germ warfare may also develop from the technological advancement. There are as many benefits that could stem from altering genes as there are disasters. Scientists are currently “working on ways to program any living things [modified with gene drive to also have] molecular switches they could turn off if something bad does happen.”

The risks associated with genetic engineering do not necessarily qualify putting an end to the research. Ethics pose an obstacle for conducting the studies as some view the modifying of genes morally wrong. But so weren’t other practices condemned for being “unethical.” I believe genetic engineering will too gain more support and those opposed may soon favor the potential benefits offered by the gene drive along with other genetic modifications.

To read more click here.  

 

“[One of the most challenging situations I’ve been in] was when I did Summer Search. I had to live in the wilderness for basically thirty days. I struggled with adapting at first, but then I started to be more accepting of the environment and the people around me. I used my full potential to fulfill the duties and tasks that I had to do everyday.”

A photo posted by Humans of Malden High School (@_humansofmhs) on Nov 5, 2015 at 6:40am PST

The Maldenism Club is Malden High School’s newest and one of its most unique clubs. The club focuses around resolving controversial issues and advocating resolutions for them. The advisor of the club is history teacher Kerry Veritas. The club meets after school every Wednesday in room BR460 at 2:30PM.

Veritas believes the club is about “mostly gender equality, with women’s and girls’ issues being at the forefront.” She explained that the origin of the club came about from two students, seniors Carri Medina and Marwa Khudaynazar, who are president and vice president of club. Veritas and the students “were having a discussion over these issues, and [Medina and Khudaynazar] told [Veritas] that [she] should start a club.” Veritas responded to them, stating “that [they] should start a club.” Afterwords, she agreed to be the advisor. Along with Medina, and Khudaynazar, senior Sajeanah Cadet was appointed as the social media coordinator, junior Victoria Savini-Burke as event coordinator, junior Gaudenz Brookes as treasurer, and Blue & Gold member junior Tenzin Dorjee as secretary.

Veritas admitted that “this is an issue that [she has] studied in [her] life, and [she has] incorporated it into [her brand of] teaching history, so [she] thought [she] would be a good fit [as] the advisor.” As the advisor, Veritas believes that the purpose of the club should be to “discuss and share experiences, both from the boys and girls [perspectives] in the club around issues with sexism and gender identity, but ultimately, [they] hope to make some changes in attitudes in the school and locally, [as well as to] participate in events that will help women outside of MHS.”  

Club president Medina explained that during the meetings, “[they] engage in discussions about what is happening in the world and on social media relating to gender equality, such as white feminism and women of color.” “While [they] do talk about [negative] things going on around the world, [they] try to think of ways to improve these [issues] around MHS and beyond.” Medina personally hopes that the club will accomplish a “change in perspective, and a change how people treat others.” She believes people should join the club because “these issues affect everybody, no matter what age, gender or race”.

According to Medina, the club was named “Maldenism” because [she] “did not want to call it ‘feminism club’ [since] it has a negative connotation to it.” Rather, she wanted “to attract people… [specifically those] who are openly pro-gender equality.” And so the club came up with Maldenism as its title “because it is really about the people of Malden,” explained Medina. “If [they] are making a club about change, [they] have to start here, in this school, in Malden.”

Vice President Khudaynazar intends for the club to change people’s perspective on feminism. She notices that “when people think of feminism, they think of ‘man haters’.” She looks “to bring the issue back to equal rights, gender equality, sexual orientation and on what feminism really is.” One of the main topics discussed in the club is gender equality, and she expressed that “[the club talks] about the social construct of what a women is and what her purposes are in society, while comparing them to the roles and purposes of men in society.” The club wants to see “what kind of gaps there are between men and women in all aspects of life.” Khudaynazar hopes the Maldenism Club will “bring feminism back to its true definition and emphasize the importance of gender equality.”

The club does plan on taking action of making change possible. Khudaynazar mentioned that “[their] first purpose is to educate, and through educating the students of MHS, [they] will lead up to [their] action.” In addition, Veritas hopes that the club will be able to “participate in events that will help women outside of MHS.” Medina looks forward to the impact of the club’s actions in hopes of changing certain perceptions that only women have had to face.

The Maldenism Club is open to everyone in MHS looking to end stereotypes against women and to promote gender equality within the Malden High School community and beyond.

The poster for the musical Blood Brothers. Photo by Nicholas Bramante.

From Nov. 19 to Nov. 21, Play Production will be showcasing the musical production of “Blood Brothers.” The play will be held at the Jenkins Auditorium for two hours, starting at 7:30pm. The tickets cost $5 for students and senior citizens, and $8 for general admission. Adult content such as language, suggestive themes, and violence are included in this play. The hit musical was created by the successful playwright Willy Russell.

Production kicked off in September, giving the crew two months of preparation. Sean Walsh, English teacher and director, explained that the musical centers around two brothers born to Mrs. Johnstone, a single mother who is “forced for [non] economic [related] reasons to give up one of her children to a rich family.” The setting takes place in London in the late 1950s with music having “a little bit of an 80’s feel,” added Walsh. “The brothers grew up as best friends never knowing that they are actually brothers” and “the musical follows their different lives,” expressed Walsh. The boys also developed feelings for the same girl and experience issues with education and employment, leading to a tragic moment at the end.

Walsh mentioned that he has been wanting to do this play for long time. One reason is that the department has not taken a strong dramatic story before and the second reason is that the show tackles many issues present in today’s society. Walsh continued, “People are talking a lot about income inequality” along with the topic of gun control. “The characters use guns throughout the play as it [demonstrates their attempt] to escape their economic standing [and] their poverty.¨

The roles present a challenge for the actors because they have to transition from portraying seven year old children to adults in their twenties. All the actors will be using British accents so as to better portray the characters.

Blood Brothers is unique based on its dramatic portrayal, its inclusion of dancing, and the mature content. The target audience is mostly for young adults, making it a perfect choice to feature to Malden High School students. The part Walsh is most  looking forward to is putting all the pieces of the production together so the audience can understand the production. The play arises the question, “Is this faith or is this the sense of what class does?¨

Over the last two years, Massachusetts Public Schools, among them Malden High School, have introduced a new standardized test that assesses the college readiness of students. This test replaces the initial MCAS test that students previously had to pass in order to graduate high school.

PARCC, also known as Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, is a multi-state test that has been introduced in public schools to align with the new standards set by the Commonwealth which “[emphasize] the critical thinking, communications, and problem solving skills students need to succeed in a competitive global economy and society.” In order to meet those standards, Massachusetts had to either amend the existing MCAS test by raising the “proficient” designation or adopt the PARCC. Massachusetts chose the latter.

When comparing the tests, it has been found that there are not many substantial differences between PARCC and MCAS. Both serve as accurate and efficient tools to determine potential college grades, and therefore college readiness. However, the only minor difference is that both tests predict college readiness at slightly different degrees. Since PARCC is a technology based assessment, some view this as unfair to the less fortunate students in some high schools because not everyone has immediate access to the internet, or computers.  

Results for the PARCC assessment illustrated that there are more students who did not meet the standard expectation than not. Only 39 percent of ninth grade students received a qualifying score of four or five in the ELA, or English Language Arts, portion of the PARCC. These results suggest that the transfer from MCAS to PARCC has not been a desirable change. The data also suggests that since PARCC is a fairly new test, students might be experiencing a difficult time adapting to the new exam.

Statistics show that both the PARCC and the MCAS “do equally well in predicting college success,” according to Ira Nichols-Barrer, the author of substantial report on the two exams for Mathmatica Policy Research. However, each test possesses its own unique performance standard, essentially meaning that there are different areas that students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in. Since Massachusetts is one of eight states to participate in the PARCC exam consortium, its future decisions will help other states in deciding whether or not to keep their current statewide education assessments.

The girls varsity volleyball team ends their best season ever after a close match up in the first round of states on the 5th of November. Malden High School, the number 4 seed, lost to Arlington, the number 13 seed, three sets to zero. The girls fell behind in almost every set, but fought hard, never giving up, giving their opponents a strong showing.  

In the first set, Malden fell behind right away making it look like it was going to be an easy Arlington victory. The team worked hard to keep each other up and positive in order to let themselves not lose focus on the set at hand.

Senior Michelle Huang about to hit the ball. Photo by Meghan Yip.

They had to work hard on defense diving to their knees defending the spikes of their opponents, so their solid defense enabled the Malden girls to catch up. On offense, the Tortora sisters were the big scorers using their blocks and kills as a weapon against the other team. In the final minutes of the match it was closer than ever, and Malden finally took the lead at the score of 24 to 23. The lead was soon taken back by Arlington and finally Malden lost their first set 27 to 25.

The second set was much like the first and within the first couple of minutes Malden fell behind once again. It did not take long for Malden to catch back up and finally tie the game at a score of 9 to 9. The lead continued to go back and forth. The Tortora sisters both continued to contribute on offense and Malden soon took the lead at 21 to 20.

The two teams kept a back and forth set within the final minutes, making it difficult to tell who was going to take the second set. Each side continued to put up firm defenses and used their communication skills. There was a great amount of energy coming from each team, but after the many volleys back and forth, the set ended with another Arlington victory 25 to 23.

Senior Brianna Grant hits the ball. Photo by Meghan Yip.

The third and final set started out the closest of all three. Both teams were determined to win, which led to the score being close from the beginning minutes all the way to the end of the set. The lead continued to to jump back and forth. The level of competition for the third set was as if it was the final match of the playoffs. Though, it was not until the final minutes that Arlington was finally able to win the set and end the game.

Malden put up a strong fight only losing by two in almost every set. However, this win by Arlington knocked Malden out of the playoffs ending the 2015 season for the girls varsity volleyball team.

For all of the seniors on the cross country team, Oct. 31, 2015 was their final GBL race for cross country that they would run in high school. Senior captain Jonathan Solomon explained that “[he] was in a mixed mood before the meet, because although [he was] excited about the meet, [he knew] it [was his] last one.” Solomon added, “It [was] so weird because [he felt he was] a freshman a [short time] ago and now [he was] running his last GBL race.” This was the same case for many of the seniors on both the girls and boys cross country team. However, all of them wanted to go out on a high note, as they performed to the best of their abilities.

Senior Jonathan Solomon running alongside a Somerville runner with head Coach David Londino cheering him on. Photo by Abhishek Rana.

Head coach and English teacher David Londino, described that he wished his team to be in a “game time” mindset before the race commenced. Londino went on to say that [the upperclassmen] have to show the younger members of the team why [they] are varsity,” during a team huddle with the older members of varsity. He reminded them to “remember that how [they] perform does not directly reflect the team’s ability.” The boys and the girls were seemingly inspired by what Coach Londino said before the meet, as many of the individuals ran the best time they had all season.

In the end Malden had a well deserved victory. Junior Yining Mao confessed that “[she] did not expect the rest of the GBL teams to perform as well as they did.” Mao added that “while the rest of the teams performed the best they had all season, so did [Malden], stepping up to the challenge and winning a tough race that [they] are not used to having against GBL opponents.”  Londino said how even though “[the competition] was a tight [MHS] showed why [they] are GBL champions,” after the meet.

Sophomore Temesgan Tsige and senior Steven Ao running down the course with Londino giving them encouragement. Photo by Abhishek Rana.

Certainly a big part of this tight victory were the seniors’ contributions, who performed as well as they had hoped in their final GBL meet. This was especially true concerning Solomon, who raced his best personal record time for the first and the second mile. Solomon’s fastest mile before that meet was only five minutes and fifteen seconds, but during the GBL championship his one mile time improved immensely and was only four minutes and fifty three seconds. In addition, his two mile time was only ten minutes and thirty six seconds.

Solomon was not the only senior who performed exceptionally, as fellow senior Gillian Wilcox, who ran the race in only eighteen minutes and forty six seconds, also had stepped up.“The competition in the GBL has improved drastically in the last two years, [as] it is forcing [them] to run the hard way and by doing that it is making [them] a much better team,”expressed Londino.

After the win, the cross country team earned the GBL title for the fifth consecutive year, continuing their dominance in the league. Not only that, but the girls went undefeated for a fifth consecutive year and the boys for a second consecutive year. However, this task has become noticeably more difficult each year based on the improved competition as this year’s GBL championship competitors proved.        

From the left, Seniors Madeline Lam, Sarah Vieira, and Ashley Vieira are pictured performing a singing and dancing trio. Photo by Danielle Copson.

This past weekend on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, Malden High School’s senior class of 2016 partnered with Housing Families of Malden to host an evening of entertainment to raise money for families in need. Housing Families strives to help people who are in need of housing and other necessities. Currently there are 29 homeless students studying at MHS, a number that has gradually grown over the years. The senior class decided that all proceeds from the show would be donated to the organization.

Over the last few months, the backstage crew and performers have been hard at work to put together the benefit show. Principal Dana Brown, Senior Class President Samantha Forestier, Senior Chairs Kelvin Cheng Bo and Wendy Nguyen, and music teacher Erin O’Brien-Mazza contributed to the show’s success.

Cheng Bo commented that putting together the show was a “difficult process” but it had a “rewarding outcome.”

Act one of the show included performances by the Haitian Trio, Marie Sanette, Guetchina Ietang, and Walky Joseph. Other acts included Garcelle Renaud, Maggie O’Callaghan, Madeline Lam, Sarah Vieira, Ashley Vieira, Nick Hames, Carri Medina, and Hoa Nguyen.  Among others were the group No Direction, Giovanna Videl, Hector Hernandez, and Won Andre.

Senior Allen Liang performing in the dance group Airbound. Photo by Danielle Copson.

Nick Hames, an alumus of MHS who is currently attending the University of New Hampshire, performed in Saturday night’s showcase. Hames, who put together his own fundraiser concert back in August for the Julia Vanella fund, did not hesitate to come back. He is well-known around the city for his musical talent and is a crowd favorite as his performances are always a hit.

MHS alumnus Nick Hames performing in the show. Photo by Danielle Copson.

Act two included performances by the Treble Makers, Austin Morrow, Yiqi Huang, Nutthiti Kaewnoy, and Nyckollas Carrijo, Nick Hames, Ashley Vieira, Megan Melanson, Kamila Regalado, Sajeanah Cadet, Jessica Munroe, Ms. Erin O’Brien-Mazza, and Sarah Vieira.

Dance group Airbound, another crowd favorite, concluded the show. Its members include Allen Liang, Matthew Le, Jeffry Georges, An Sheng Tan, Stephen Dang, Raymond Jiang, and Kevin Phan.  For the seniors, this is the first of many upcoming performances they will have during their last year.

The evening was a success that resulted in a large donation made to Housing Families. A special thanks to all those involved, especially Housing Families Representative Patty Kelly who allowed this idea to become a reality.

Before the advent of the internet, and other modern ways of disseminating information, a significant claim made against governments around the world was that there was corruption festering below the surface. While many of these claims were warranted, the truth was hidden by the sheer size of the bureaucracy that was being questioned. Today, we expect even more transparency and honesty from our politicians and governments than we did in the past, and the expectation is that these demands are being met. This is substantiated by the broadcast and publishing of many government events and documents.

Yet this same technology only makes it easier for governments to hide their inner workings and outer influences. This is most visible with wikileaks, where Julian Assange and his fellow moderators publish huge amounts of state secrets — secrets which many believe shouldn’t be kept in the first place, due to the sentiments of the citizens.

Yet the cloak and dagger backroom dealings continue, and corruption is still present. Today more than ever before, single entities are able to control much of a government through donations, which for all intents and purposes are brives. Corporations or people who have vested interests in policy and regulation can easily assert their influence by lining the pockets of influential players in the political arena. Not only is this process hidden from the public’s eye by the very people who receive these private payrolls, but the work that is done for the bidders is whisked away and pushed out of the public eye until the changes are finalized and reform or contention is an impossibility.

The epitome of this is the TransPacific Partnership, or TPP, which has been shrouded in mystery for months. Not only does it contain agreements, regulations, and definitions, or lack there of, which directly benefit the corporations and governments who have been invested in its creation, it goes against many of the beliefs and desires of citizens and organizations around the world who crusade for fairer trade laws and a more open process of passing international agreements such as this..

While the TPP has yet to pass in the United States, it is in the final stages of this process, and a conclusion regarding it will be reached soon. For now, people are hoping that the protests of the many who decry this agreement will overpower the diversions that have been used to appease the public. There is still a chance to prevent this agreement from being pushed through, though it will take immense effort on the part of the people.

To find out more about the TPP, check out this article [http://inthesetimes.com/article/18570/tpp-obama-corporate-interests-open-internet-gmo-foods] , and visit the huffington post feed about the TPP [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/trans-pacific-partnership/].

Malden High School’s Environmental Club along with Preserve Malden have recently started a legislative act to add ballots that have the ability to expand Malden’s outdoor space. The Environmental Club has worked hard to get the act moving, and they put the choice into the ballots that were given out on Nov. 3 2015. The questions on the ballot asked Malden residents for a 1% surcharge on taxes to help preserve ballparks, green space for family gatherings, restore and repair historic historic monuments and buildings in the city, and to add to affordable housing.

The questions on the ballot included funding different environmental projects, but the one Malden really needs a “yes” on is question 3. Question 3, if passed, would fund the Community Preservation Act completely in Malden. The CPA is dedicated to funding four areas of environmental preservation: preserving open space, historic sights, funding affordable housing, and creating new outdoor recreation spaces.

Kathy Maglio, an environmental science teacher at MHS, is a big part of the club. Although the club is student run, Maglio helps plan events as well as provides information and new ideas. The Environmental Club and Preserve Malden receive money from the state to aid in their different proposals regarding Malden’s landscape. Maglio specified that because there is limited available space in Malden, the club is trying to preserve what is already there. “Money is given to preserve what we already have in Malden,” Maglio added.

Preserve Malden and the Environmental Club asked for online signatures to help put the question on the ballot and they acquired a total of 1,518 signatures. The club has been working hard to have the legislation in order, and results will be in soon regarding whether Malden will be able to be preserved. The entire Malden community will benefit from such preservation actions.  

 

“I’ve been on this spiritual journey for a while now and I realize that the most important thing for me is just to be happy. I realize that anything that ever happened in my life is a result of my happiness. The first premise that we have to understand is that we’re whole and perfect as we are already, and then the rest of life is going to be fine. So many people stress out, and I do too sometimes. It’s because we’re all scared that we aren’t good enough. Our whole life we’ve been told we aren’t good enough from our teachers, our parents, ourselves. We’re so hard on ourselves, but you can love yourself and be happy with who you are. You can want all these cliche material things in the world, and while those things seem great, and I want them too, but you’re not going to get that stuff unless you’re happy with yourself first. Then everything will come into form. You just have to be willing to learn, willing to be receptive, and willing to love yourself.” #humansofmaldenhigh

A photo posted by Humans of Malden High School (@_humansofmhs) on Nov 10, 2015 at 12:09pm PST

Cell phones have transformed from a means of communication to a consequential form of distraction that have shown to negatively impact students’ academics. People are addicted to their phones, the youth in society in particular. Studies have shown that cell phones have “been linked to lower quality of sleep and lower GPA” (Kamenetz) for students. I can concur that insufficient sleep is related to extensive cell phone use as I have used my phone late into the night on countless occasions, usually on social media or just texting. They are a distraction both in and out of class and if this trend continues to go unaddressed, conditions will only worsen.

Doug Duncan, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, is part of group at the university that is “applying learning research to improve teaching in science and engineering fields.” Around 75 percent of undergraduates at the university are “reported [to be] texting while in class” which has been associated with a drop in half a letter grade. Duncan has attempted to improve his students’ attention during class by offering participation points for turning off cell phones and leaving them on his desk (Kamenetz). This experiment accounted for a better engaged class, though students should not be rewarded for paying attention as they should already be focused during class.

Research psychologist and professor emeritus at California State University,Larry Rosen, found that “students’ heart rate and other vital signs spike when they hear their phones ring and can’t answer them.” Duncan’s approach may only create more anxiety in students. Rosen instead opts to use “tech breaks” where students may access their phones for one minute every 15 minutes and he continues to lengthen the intervals so as to gradually desensitize his students’ addiction  (Kamenetz).

Cell phones have also created for a condition known as “text neck” caused from peering down at a phone. When a person looks down at his phone, his head lays downward at an angle steeper than the usual zero degrees where the head weighs around 12 pounds. The steeper the angle, the heavier one’s head becomes. Poor posture develops from the stance and can lead to issues with one’s spine, severe cases needing surgery. Other health issues resulting from “text neck” include “reduced lung capacity by as much as 30 percent,” “headaches and neurological issues, depression and heart disease” (Bever).

Students and society in general cannot rely on others to solve their cell phone use problem but instead must take initiative in their own lives to treat their addiction. Simple ways to use your phone less are to turn it off or put it in your bag so that you aren’t tempted to look at who texted you or what other people are posting on social media. Don’t keep it on your desk or in your pocket in class as you well be more inclined to look at your phone rather than pay attention to the lesson. Also, limit your time on social media as well as it is common to lose track of time while scrolling through Instagram or Twitter. Cell phones are useful but too extensive use of them are disadvantageous to students’ studies and health. 

To read more visit [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/20/text-neck-is-becoming-an-epidemic-and-could-wreck-your-spine/] or [http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/11/10/453986816/how-to-get-students-to-stop-using-their-cellphones-in-class].

 

“I have been through so much in the past few years in high school, and at some point felt like I wouldn’t make it through. However, a friend once told me the best thing to do is to make sure that I am happy. There are times in life where things may be hard and stressful, but you have to make some time for yourself and reassure yourself that everything will be okay. Eliminate all the negativity, and surround yourself with those that bring positivity into your life because your well-being should be your first priority.” #humansofmaldenhigh

A photo posted by Humans of Malden High School (@_humansofmhs) on Nov 12, 2015 at 11:14am PST

AP Capstone is a new program currently being introduced to Malden High School that is recommended for students looking to challenge themselves academically. The branch of AP Capstone, taught by Jennifer Clapp, at MHS is AP Seminar. The course is related to International Baccalaureate (I.B.), a non-profit educational foundation. “Though AP Capstone is new, we are not sure what it means for college,” expressed Clapp.

The course is a program for students to be eligible for a Capstone diploma, and in order to take the class a student must have taken and passed four AP classes. In addition, they must have taken and passed four AP Seminar and AP Research. Though the course is available to juniors and seniors, next year, juniors who are in AP Seminar will be applicable for AP Capstone.

AP Capstone consists of multiple subjects and is said to be “a course for students who would like to challenge themselves and are academically curious” mentioned Clapp. Next year, AP Research, another branch of AP Capstone, will be offered, though it is uncertain as to who will be teaching the course. Sophomores will have the opportunity to take the course next year as well.

This year, AP Seminar is focused around disease where students research and analyze disease through different lenses. Aside from the usual papers assigned in English classes, AP Seminar also requires students to do frequent presentations.

Junior Manel Soltani described the class as “like no other course [she’s] ever taken” because “there is more freedom in the topics [they] research.” Senior Terrica Dang mentioned that the class “relies on a lot of group work so it’s important to have good relationships with [her] classmates.” “[They] have already presented a few projects and [her] and [her] group have improved each time [they] do presentations.” This is an important part of the class as each student must do an individual and group presentation as part of the AP exam in the spring.

The AP Capstone course has a promising future here at MHS and is sure to attract more students in the future.

During the month of October, Malden High School became a fully running Google school. Google Chromebooks were distributed to all the students with Google softwares such as Google docs, Google drive, etc. One important resource is Google Classroom where students can complete and turn in their assignments online.

Heather Northrop, the Boyle house guidance counselor, described the update as “challenging at first,” though the Chromebooks were able to offer more resources to students and teachers. When asked about the benefits of the updates, Northrop stated that it “limited [the amount of] paper used¨ and allows students to become “digital learners’’. A drawback she mentioned is the responsibility on the students in taking care of the Chromebooks.

Shereen Escovitz, an algebra teacher at MHS, had a feeling that in five years that the school would stop using textbooks. Escovitz thinks the updates are ¨really great and [she believes] teachers are getting better and better at MHS.¨ It has also helped her with giving feedback to the students much quicker, like for example, the students do an activity called the ¨exit ticket,¨ and they pass it in via classroom and she can email them the results right after. Not only that, she added that it helps the school ¨close the digital divide,¨ because most people here were incorporating technology already and now the students are joining in. Another benefit for Escovitz is how  she can now gather info on topics “where students are struggling.¨

Escovitz believes there are pros and cons to using the Chromebook. Since she teaches math, one difficulty would be doing graphs since she so used to drawing them on paper. She added that teachers and students are just getting used to it to using these devices and technology is not coming as quickly as we expect it to be. Escovitz said that depending on what on topic she is teaching, it can be easy to do on the device and then it’s not. Improvements she would like to see is ¨students helping other new students because we get so many students all the time at MHS,¨ as so it may be difficulty for some to catch up with the pace.

A prior version of this article neglected to mention Heather Northrop’s full status as the MHS Holland and Boyle freshman guidance counselor. 

Senior Giancarlo Andre Leon dribbling the ball. Photo by Abhishek Rana.

The Malden High School boys varsity soccer team faced Medford as their second opponent in the playoffs. Click here to check out more photos from the game.

Sophomore QB Jared Martino looks for a receiver. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Sophomore Jared Martino has helped lead the Malden High School football team to the playoffs. Though only a sophomore, Martino has already accumulated 12 passing touchdowns this season. His success is attributed from his work ethic and skill set, something that he constantly works to improve throughout the year on and off the field.

Martino began his football career at 5 years old, playing for the Malden Pop Warner football program, and has since progressed through the ranks. He only began playing as a quarterback in middle school. Before that, he explained that he was “always a running back and a linebacker and for two years [he] was even an offensive lineman”.

He accredits coach Martinez for teaching him the duties of a quarterback. The biggest lesson he learned about being a quarterback was that “[more than throwing] the ball, you have to be strong mentally and physically, and be able to lead the other 10 players in the huddle.”

Football is a family tradition for the Martino family. His older brother, Jake Martino who graduated from MHS in 2013, was a starting quarterback for the football team. His father, Joe Martino, is currently the the Golden Tornadoes’ junior varsity football coach and co-offensive coordinator for the varsity football team. Martino views his father as his biggest motivator in his life since he “pushes [him] to be the best all the time because he sees the potential [he] has”.

Football isn’t all that comprises Martino’s skillset though, as he is also an avid baseball player. Last year he started at every position on the diamond besides first base. During the football offseason, Martino plays baseball for the highly competitive East Cobb Baseball New England team. From January to August, Martino plays in tournaments and showcases fighting for the attention of scouts from colleges and pro teams while on the East Cobb team. Martino mentioned that playing for East Cobb has taught him that hard work yields success. “No college wants a talented kid who doesn’t work hard, you have to have the full package,” Martino expressed. He hopes to be able to play both baseball and football while in college.

This is just the start to Martino’s athletic career at Malden High School and there is sure promise that he will continue to be a star athlete throughout his years at MHS.

As of October, 2015, Singapore’s first Mermaid School is attempting to create the nation’s first pod. The founder of the school, Cara Nicole Neo, is a mermaid performer who also operates under the name Syrena. Singapore’s Mermaid School includes a curriculum centered around mermaid theory, which Syrena herself teaches, that has four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. People of all ages are invited to come and learn about mermaid culture, proper tail care, and participate in mermaid core work exercises “to strengthen and tone the muscles [they will] need to swim with [their] mermaid sisters,” according to the school’s website. Syrena herself also says that “we [at the school] believe that to truly be a mermaid, we must immerse ourselves in the mermaid world, learning all there is to know about these beautiful creatures.” It is also possible to book Syrena for appearances at birthday parties and corporate events. In total, tuition costs for Singapore’s Mermaid School total at $490 for five sessions, depending on whether or not the student wishes to purchase a tail from the school.

For more information on Singapore’s Mermaid School, click here.

History and English teacher Dana Marie Brown with other helpers at Boys and Girls Night Out. Photo by Andrew Cogliano.

Malden’s Teen Enrichment Center held their third Girls & Boys Night Out event on Nov.12, 2015. The night included food, music, and free clothes. The event was a huge turnout, with some 60 boys and 100 girls. 

Dana Marie Brown, history and english teacher at Malden High School, organized the event along with others who help at MTEC. Around 75 to 100 girls usually attend each Girls Night Out event. Brown added that the numbers have increased since the first event they held. In addition, she mentioned MTEC is thinking about keeping some of the donated clothes in the center for people who cannot wait until November and/or April.

Junior Ariel Gustowski attended the event with expectations of unorganized piles of clothes that people would have to sift through. “The clothes were really neat and organized, and it was an overall successful night,” Gustowski expressed.

Marie Brown, another one of the helpers over at MTEC, stated that the event went “crazy good” and that the numbers of people attending continue to grow.

MTEC is becoming better known to Malden youth. MTEC members are constantly brainstorming new ideas for fundraisers. Another Girls & Boys Night Out will be happening in the spring with promise of more success.

Helpers organizing clothes at Boys and Girls Night Out. Photo by Andrew Cogliano.