Spring Break is only about two  weeks away, and you still don’t have anything to do?

Here are some ideas:

• Relax! – We been in school for about seven months and you must be stressed out from all staying up late at night doing homework! So the most obviously thing to do during break is to just chill! Think of some ways that could help to relax you like watch tv or play video games or even sleep!

• Going to the Movies- Many movies are coming out in April, so grab your friends and enjoy it! A comedy or sci fi film could go along for the spring mood. Enjoy the week of laughter and sights of action with friends.

• Water Balloon Fight- Another way to bond with your friends is to simply have fun in your backyard! Having a small balloon fight is both fun and helps you to cool down within the humid weather. Just buy the balloons at any local pharmacy and fill them with water and enjoy!

• Visit places/attractions- Six flags, Canobie Lake Park are some of the few places you can go to with your friends/family. If you’re going to another state or country, find the cheapest airline that is affordable.

• Sports- Get active and take simple jogs around your neighborhood or play a sport.

Every March 25-27, an event is held at Hynes Convention Center and the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. An event during which many fans dress up as different characters from mangas, anime and etc. to have fun with friends and others who encourage japanese animations and comics. At these events people are able to let their inner fan out to buy products that the anime convention has to offer such as mangas, posters, bags, plush, figures, outfits, games, etc.

Attendees must register to get a badge to enter this event by visiting the website to sign up. Then they must personally go to the hotel or convention center to receive their badge on the Anime Boston website www.animeboston.com. Those attending this convention receive a booklet and map of the anime convention’s scheduled events. Attendees must take caution because there are going to be a lot of people who will be waiting in line at the anime convention. It is advised for people to bring enough money to buy food, items such as bags or other merchandise from some of everyone’s favorite shows.

A preview of a show, a presentation and Q&A of famous artists, directors, singers, and actors from other countries was held in a private room during the event. Anime fanatics can get an autograph from famous voice actors or play a once in a lifetime game for free. The building is large and people can walk around meeting devoted fans that dress up as their favorite characters. Some bought their outfit online, while others crafted their own outfits. Ask anyone for a picture of them and they will pose without hesitation.

In the dealer’s room, the vendors are friendly people who sell their own works of art, keychains, accessories, props, outfits and posters. The vendors also make their own comics. People curious about buying their products and are fascinated with their talent. In the convention, there are people who become friends with similar talents and skills. Anyone interested can receive a business card for their website to review online sales.

The anime convention was successful and attracted various visitors to cosplay and visit exquisite works of art and meet people who have a lot of fun and are already looking forward to next year’s convention.

For weeks on end in the recent past there had been one movie people had insistently reminded me of and repeatedly praised without fault: Zootopia. Now to say I was skeptical was an understatement; I was never much of an animation junkie, and Zootopia was no exception. No top of that, I wasn’t exactly too crazy about Disney’s latest animation hit Frozen (while Big Hero 6 came out after Frozen, it wasn’t nearly as big in sales and popularity.) Ultimately it was word of mouth and circumstance that put me in a position to view Zootopia, and it did not disappoint.  

I find it especially difficult to pick apart and judge animated movies; qualities such as directing usually don’t make or break a movie, and Disney had pretty much got their animation quality down to a science. As expected the animation looks great, with non human characters showing emotion convincingly and in a more human way than some physical acting in recent movies.

While the animation is really what you would expect from Disney, it’s the art styles that ultimately give the viewer a breath of fresh air. The city of Zootopia itself in which much of the movie takes place is split into various sections, with each section depicting different animal habitats spliced in with modern technology and architecture found in any major bustling city in the world. I found these locations not only fun to watch, but fit logically within the world they existed it. Said locations were actually believable at times to the point where I forgot I was watching a buddy-cop animation featuring talking animals, and rather was just engrossed in the movie itself.

The voice acting cast of this film knocks it out of the park, with leads Ginnifer Goodwin (as Officer Judy Hopps) and Jason Bateman (as Nick Wilde) delivering both an impactful and convincing performance. Moments in the movie that are intended to tug on the heart-strings rely incredibly so on the performances of these actors, and they don’t fall flat at all. Other smaller voice roles include big names such as Idris Elba, J.K Simmons, and even a well known pop music artist (whose name I won’t release here for sake of spoilers) that left me relatively surprised for most of the movie, watching diligently to see if I could recognize and other voices from other movies I had come to love.

It is not the animation, not the voice acting, nor the art direction that sets Zootopia apart from the rest of Disney’s numerous animated movies in recent years however. And while the concept of a buddy-cop animated movie is also a breath of fresh air from the usual classic fairy tale or magical conundrum, the real kicker for Zootopia is the message.

Tackling difficult thematic elements such as racism and stereotyping, Zootopia offers a brilliant take on one of the world’s most prevalent and terribly dark problems. Said problems are framed expertly, offering an experience that is simple enough for young children to understand, and complex enough for adults to enjoy and actually think about. The comedic relief is crafted well in Zootopia and at times is very much needed, as the film hits at times a tone that leaves the audience’s collective heart sinking.

Racism is a theme often tackled but also often not executed well in recent films. Even if it is executed well, it’s in such a dark and gritty form, it isn’t in good conscious accessible to children. Zootopia breaks down this wall, and crafts an incredibly fun yet sad and thought-provoking movie, with a message that truly is relevant and topical to today’s world.

In conclusion, while Zootopia may seem to some (namely myself before I actually saw the movie) as just another Disney animation, it very much surpasses that title. The production itself is wonderful as with most Disney animations, however it is ultimately the relevant and heart-heavy writing and message of Zootopia that justifies it as the highest grossing film (so far) of 2016, beating out Zack Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman, what was arguably one of the most anticipated films of all time. Disney skeptic or not, Zootopia is 100% worth the watch and even a purchase on Blu-Ray in the coming months; it’s simply one of those animated movies that will be revered for years to come, and is something you don’t want to miss.

April showers have arrived so that means its the perfect time to pick up some rainy day reads.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children –  Written by Ransom Riggs, this book is about 16 year old Jacob Portman. After the death of his grandfather he travels to Wales, where he finds an orphanage for “peculiar children” that his grandfather once lived in. He meets Emma, a girl who can control fire. Emma takes him back in time to meet Miss Peregrine and the other children who live in a time loop. At first all is peaceful, but as unexplained deaths begin to occur it becomes apparent that something may be after them.

If you’re a fan of horror and dark fantasy then I highly recommend it. And with a movie coming out in the fall you’ll have plenty of time to absorb every detail before it hits the big screens.

The Monstrumologist By Rick Yancey – Written in the perspective of a young Will Henry, this book tells the tale of his time as an assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop as he aids in his study of Monstrumology, the study of life forms generally malevolent to humans and not recognized by science as actual organisms, specifically those considered products of myth and folklore.

Fans of gothic fiction will love this. It’s a bit gory at times and you might find yourself questioning the morals of the not so good doctor. Regardless, it’s a great book for anyone who enjoys the darker side of literature.

Ash by Malinda Lo – This isn’t the average Cinderella you’re familiar with. In this rewrite of the classic fairytale, Cindy is replaced with Ash, a young girl left under the care of her cruel stepmother after the death of her father. She wished for the day her prince, or in her case a fairy, comes to whisk her away. However, Ash meets the King’s huntress and happily ever after is no longer as close as she thought.

Lo does a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. Fans of books such as the Lunar Chronicles would love this retelling of Cinderella.

Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream by H.G. Bissinger – The town of Odessa isn’t the best place. Its economic success lays on the shoulders of the oil business and when it suffers, the people in turn also suffer. But the one thing Odessa has going for it is high school football. The team is expected to make it to the championship game. However, the team is facing many hardships. One of the players suffers from an injury and another is dealing with a dying family member. How will the season end up for the team? 

If you’re looking for a nonfiction story about something that’s as American as apple pie then look no further.

In an attempt to combat the rapid spread of the Zika virus, federal officials have decided to shift approximately $500 million from Ebola prevention programs. The shift comes after Congress was bogged down in a two month debate over the approval of a $1.9 billion budget proposed by the Obama administration.

On February 1 of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the spread of the Zika virus in Brazil was a “public health emergency of international concern”. A major component of the spread of Zika is the fact that those infected display serious novel symptoms, which include rash, conjunctivitis, fever, and joint pain. Zika possesses a generally low mortality rate, with those who recover becoming resistant to further infections.

Pregnant women are advised to take extreme caution when visiting Brazil or other Latin American and Caribbean countries where Zika has spread. From August to October of 2015, Brazil’s own Ministry of Health conducted a study to test the relationship between mothers infected with Zika and infant microcephaly, and revealed that in a sample of 35 infants, “71% [of those] infants had severe microcephaly”. Microcephaly is a severe birth defect that causes smaller head size than average, which can lead to developmental issues, including abnormal brain development.

The repurposing of Ebola funds has caused a divisive split in Congress. Representatives from both political parties are torn between funding the shrinking epidemic of Ebola and preventing the spread of Zika. The current Ebola funding is being used to run trials for potential vaccines and continue to fund treatment centers.

Opponents of the fund transfer, like the director of the Center for Disease Control Dr. Tom Frieden, argue that “it would be dangerous to let our guard down.” Ebola has already resurfaced in the African nation of Guinea, where it has killed five people. Frieden continues to argue with Congress that the removal of health systems in Ebola-stricken countries could have deadly implications. Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, one of the many Democrats siding against the fund transfer, says “we cannot abandon this fight simply because the threat appears to be diminished.”

As Zika slowly creeps out of the Caribbean and into American territories, including Puerto Rico, Congress has found itself in an extremely difficult position. Among the groups supporting the fund transfer, Republicans argue that there is already ample funding for both Zika and Ebola. Speaker of the House and Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan says “money that is not going to Ebola, that was already in the pipeline, that can go immediately to Zika.” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy supports Ryan’s argument, adding “now that the World Health Organization has announced an end to the Ebola public health emergency, it is time to reprioritize and use these funds for today’s challenges.”

Currently, there are 700 Americans infected with the Zika virus, according to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Sylvia Burwell. Of the 700, 325 were citizens in Puerto Rico, where health officials are bracing for a serious outbreak; a CDC health center devoted to studying dengue virus has been repurposed to instead study Zika. In a series of recently published maps, the CDC has shown that the species of mosquito most likely to carry Zika, Aedes aegypti, could be found in major US cities in the upcoming summer months, as far north as New York City and San Francisco. “I think it is a concern for the nation,” says Burwell.

The problem of funding is further complicated by Congress voting to go into recess for Easter on March 23. While in recess, Congress was unable to vote on the proposed budgets, which spurred federal officials to act in a more aggressive manner. Both Ebola and Zika are very much present and active in the world, and an American response has never been more needed. The public health of nations, as well as the personal health of the infected, relies on effective and expedient action, which Congress as of late has been unable to provide.

By Christina Appignani and Megan Downer

On Thursday Apr. 7, 2016 the Malden High School Art Department hosted the opening reception for the annual Blue and Gold Art Gallery on display at 350 Main St. Some 250 works of arts created by MHS’s very own art students from classes including Studio, Digital Arts, Calligraphy & Design, Printmaking and Ceramics, were displayed in the gallery. The three art teachers, Joe Luongo, Mary Ann Seager and Julie Mullane welcomed guests as they entered the reception. This year’s gallery was dedicated to Principal Dana Brown in recognition of his upcoming retirement.

Seager explained that this year’s art gallery is unique because “the seniors have been studying juxtaposition and there are some nice pieces included in the gallery.” She continued to explain that some of the art classes studied immigration and three phases to creating art was based off of their research. “First, [students] investigated their own immigration story, [then they] investigated what happened to the Chinese and Japanese immigrants in the 1920’s.” Students concluded their research with studying current immigration issues.

A hallway of art displayed at the gallery. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Seager hopes that Brown will be able to see the way “his commitment to the art department is reflected in the level of work that the [students] do.” “Over time, [the art department] has been able to develop a cohesive program that focuses on mastery of skill” and Brown “has helped [the art department] get to where [it is] today,” expressed Seager.  

All of the art pieces included in the gallery were created between the end of the last school year up to now which, according to Seager, is because “there is always one quarter where [students] don’t get to finish their artwork, especially seniors, whose pieces are mostly from last semester.” She further explained that the class is “a year-long process and has four semesters worth of work.” Seager referred to seniors Ziqi Zeng’s juxtaposition work on paper airplanes, Haley Mulligan’s skeleton, Daria Lee’s bicycle and Jade Liu’s tricycle as examples of exceptional work. She also mentioned that there are “beautiful ceramics pieces, interesting digital art and Studio 1 pieces where [Seager] can see the transition of skill level from new students.”

A hallway of art displayed at the gallery. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Along with the art department itself, the students are what make the gallery so successful. Senior Michael Zhao felt honored to be included in the gallery because he believes the show “exhibits so many different art pieces of various skill levels.” He mentioned that he “felt surprised at first to hear that [he] had four pieces in the show and [he] was really happy to hear that [he] was one of the students to be selected to show [his] art pieces to the people that come to the Blue & Gold Gallery.”

To freshman Kelly Zhou, art means “trying new things and experimenting with new techniques and coming up with [her] own ideas because [she] think that’s what makes art, art.” In addition, she thinks that art is important because “it allows people to see the world in a perspective that makes [them] think about why and what it is about and everybody has different opinions and thoughts that can make a piece of art have 1000 meanings.”

When producing new artwork, junior Amy Trinh enjoys “the process of seeing everything come together.” Trinh continued, “Being able to see a piece become what [she] envisioned more and more, day after day is truly satisfying.” To Trinh, “art is a translator… it can capture an image, an emotion or a moment in time.” She believes art has the ability to challenge, and maybe even change the way something is thought about or viewed.”

Visitors of the gallery looking at the art created by MHS students. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Junior Serena Nguyen enjoys “the feeling of expression and release when creating art [and] feels tension and emotion leave [her] and goes into the piece.” She expressed that it “feels amazing [to her] to be included with many other wonderful MHS art students and [she] feels very grateful to be included in the gallery.”

Senior Chu Shi describes the ability to draw and create art as a gift. “People [her age] are finding what do they want to major in college or what to do in the future…but because of art [she] found what [she wants] to do,” expressed Shi. Shi added that her family immigrated to this country and she experiences difficulty communicating sometimes but “through art [she] met a lot of friends that [have] the same hobby as [she does].” Art helps Shi to speak for herself and believes that “art is a language” in itself.  

This year, every senior who applied to an art college was accepted. There were 11 seniors in total who applied, including Kristina Gilbert, Yiqi Huang, Lee, Liu, Mulligan, Matthew Perry,  Shi, Linda Tran, Xiao Ling Wang, Zeng and Michael Zhao. The art department stated that “this is an exceptional class [and] , as always, [they] are proud of [their] students.”

A hallway of art at the Blue and Gold Gallery. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Twenty art students also won Scholastic Art Awards. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Committee chose 22 artworks created by MHS students, which was more than were awarded to the surrounding district high schools combined. The art department revealed that “Malden High School has consistently received Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention awards throughout the years.” “[They] are especially pleased that the two new programs, Ceramics and Digital Art, have made their mark in the Scholastic Awards.” Art continues to be an exceptional and meaningful department at MHS for staff and students alike.

With the girls lacrosse season just kicking off, stars are rising on the varsity team. One of them is sophomore Isabelle Maraschi. Maraschi started lacrosse freshman year and has been playing ever since. She started playing because “lacrosse seemed like a challenging, yet rewarding sport and [she] decided [she] wanted to try it out.” Not only does Maraschi play lacrosse, but she also plays soccer. When it comes to balancing both academics and sports, Maraschi says that it is best to always keep them separate.

The girls lacrosse team is known for their comprehensive skills and positive attitude. Maraschi is not exception. Maraschi’s favorite thing about being on the team is the “atmosphere [they] create when [they] play together and [their] relationship with each other.”

Although she is a younger member on the varsity team, that doesn’t stop Maraschi from shining throughout practices and games. She notes that “it can be intimidating and challenging at times, but it’s great to practice and play with opponents who are experienced and who give [her] a hard challenge.” Overall, Maraschi says that so far “[the] season has been great and [she] has already been learning and growing as a lacrosse player.”

No matter what level any varsity player is at, it is always important to have some goals set. Maraschi states that she wants to “have goal’s at all times and score without fear.” With these goals set for the season, Maraschi hopes to keep on improving with her own skills. To underclassmen, Maraschi offers the following advice when playing with upper classmen, “they’re trying to scare you, so scare them. Get that ball with no fear and score.”

With the Malden High School’s Girls Lacrosse team’s season just kicking off, the team is eager to welcome the new season. Already the team is putting in their best efforts on and off the field. With new talent on the team, the team expects great things for this season.

As far as things go on the field, players are trying to improve on their personal skills as well as communication skills. Many people who have joined the lacrosse team are rookies as this their first time even learning the game. Thus, knowledge of the rules, strategies, and plays is an important thing for the newcomers to gain if they wish to advance in their lacrosse careers. New players are already getting the hang of things, though only having their first few games.

Senior Sarah Rosatone explained that she wanted to “create a really strong foundation for the girls lacrosse team so in the future we can see it paying off with more wins.” The team is known to a sisterhood as the team always does their best together and always looks forward to helping improving one another’s skills.

Although the season may have just begun, with the help of their many captains practice, every girl managed to be in really good shape. There practices were certainly a workout for the girls, but the players will do anything it takes to be ready for harder opponents they have to face in future games.

This being shown in their first game against Lowell on April 1st. The girls varsity team fought their hardest, in the end Lowell ended up taking the win. Though team isn’t paying attention to their loss, the varsity team is just looking to win future games.

Even with it being just the start of the season, the girls lacrosse team are always looking towards what’s to come. The senior captains are even starting to prep the team for when they will no longer be there, by working hard alongside the underclassmen. Rosatone mentioned that she wants future varsity teams to “continue realizing the importance of building our team up with a strong skill set to be competitive with more advanced teams.” That being said, the seniors still aim to leave their mark on the Malden High School Girls lacrosse team with this season.

Senior Lily Chen added that “[they] want to keep up the energy and not let one bad game or practice get to [them]. With the positive attitude and hard work, [they] look forward to a great season.” The girls lacrosse team’s positive attitude is hopefully going to help them grow. MHS looks forward to what the girls make of the rest of their season.

Already in gear, Malden High School’s boys volleyball team is ready to succeed and make this a memorable season. With it being only the second year for MHS’ volleyball team, it consists of different goals and different team members. This year’s boys volleyball team is led by captains junior Germano Fidelis and senior Lin Wunna.

Junior captain Germano Fidelis serving the ball. Photo by Ana Kerr.

Players have left, but many have come to make new memories and make a name for the team. Although many of last year’s members have now graduated, this year’ team still consists of a talented pool. Various players on the team are made up of basketball players, returning volleyball players as well as new members. Junior Nathaniel Ilebode mentioned that he “wanted to get out of [his] comfort zone and play a different sport besides basketball.” Ilebode added that the team is made up of a great group of players so it is a great way to start off his first year playing volleyball. 

The team is anxious and excited about the upcoming season. Last year their record was 7-9. This year they are aiming to have a record of 10-10 so that they have a chance of being able to compete in the state championship. 

Returning member sophomore Manuel Quesada Nylen sees a significant amount of improvement for not only the team but for individuals as well. He explained that “[he has] definitely improved from last year.” Now “[he gets] playing time, [he makes] less mistakes than [he] used to, and [he makes] smarter plays.”

With a new coach, Dan Jurkowski, the team has a great vision for the season. Expectations and goals are set high for the team. Jurkowski stated that the players “are a group with many different backgrounds and experiences, and coming together as a team has been a fun process.”

The boys volleyball team during their game. Photo by Ana Kerr.

Jurkowski continued, “This year, Wunna and Fidelis really stood out with their willingness to lead the team on and off the court.” With a mutual agreement between Jurkowski and the team, they chose Wunna and Fidelis to lead the team this season.

With three games already down and many more to come, the boys are ready are driven to be able to qualify for the state championship. 

Junior James Calo making contact on the sweet-spot of the bat. Photo by Ryan Hames.

View the entire photo gallery on Facebook by clicking here. 

*DISCLAIMER: The views held by each debater on Debate Night, are not necessarily the views of said debaters held outside of Debate Night.

On Tuesday Apr. 12, Malden High School hosted its very first Debate Night in the Jenkins Auditorium. Students from all different history classes attended and participated in the event along with teachers, staff and family members of the participants. The event was hosted by the National History Club and the History Department. Each debate was moderated by a reporter from The Blue and Gold Newspaper, including seniors Haley Mallett, Nick Bramante, juniors Tatum Skiffington, Felicia Fallano, and Gabriella Onessimo.

Left to right: Senior Andrew Cogliano and Kamila Regalado debating together. Photo by Christina Appignani.

Several topics were debated by groups of students of two or three people. Some discussions included college welfare, free speech safe zones, abortions, gun control, the Syrian refugee crisis and more. Each debater was given an opportunity to give an opening statement, answer questions asked by the moderators and give a closing statement at the end of the debate. Seniors Terrica Dang and Liam Elliot began the event and made clear that people should be able to get their points across without harsh criticism.

The free speech safe zone issue was debated by sophomores Waymond Szeto, Harrison Zeiberg, and freshmen Felix Li. Szeto supported the safe zones while the Zeiberg and Li were opposed.  Szeto claimed, “If [someone is]  talking in a reasonable manner, then [someone] should have the right to say something. However, if [someone is] being rude and swearing, why should [Americans] defend people’s right to do that? It’s not ideas that we’re trying to silence; it’s the way one person passes on these ideas to another.”

Zeiberg questioned Szeto’s claims by asking, “What good does silencing do if people are still thinking about it? You have to talk about things in order to change things. Our nation was formed on principles where [Americans] can say whatever [they] want however [they]  want. Free speech safe zones go against what this nation was built on.” Li agreed with this rebuttal, adding, “These free speech zones are more general ways of attacking people. Like [Zeiberg] said, we should confront these people who are attacking and are promoting hateful ideas. How can we as Americans stand aside and watch our ideas be plucked away?”

Left to right: Senior Terrica Dang debating with senior Kaitlyn Gibson. Photo by Christina Appignani.

The topic of abortion was discussed by Dang and senior Kaitlyn Gibson. Gibson, who was opposed to the legalization of abortion in the United States, stated,  “Women should not be going to get abortions just because she ‘accidentally’ got pregnant. But women are not alone in being pregnant. What they do with their body now affects the human being growing inside them. People who are having sex and getting pregnant should not be able to rid themselves of a responsibility. Women who cannot afford abortions should not be getting pregnant.” Dang disagreed with Gibson’s beliefs, refuting her in stating, “The government should not intervene in what [women] should do with [their] bodies. Any woman should be able to do what she wants for her own health. Yes, having a child is a responsibility, but it is not a responsibility everyone can handle. The nation’s interest in prohibiting abortion is not strong enough to fight against women’s rights. This defies the definition of liberty, which every woman has.”

The dispute on gun control was argued by sophomores Alicia Tan and Jenny Huynh along with Elliott. Huynh began the debate by reminding the audience of the liberties within the Second Amendment, which is the right to keep and bear arms. She stated, “[She is] in opposition of the gun-free zones. It violates our second amendment as well as other parts of the Constitution. It is not protecting people; it is leaving people defenseless. America needs solutions that is going to

Sophomore Alicia Tan and Jenny Huynh along with senior Liam Elliott debating gun control. Photo by Christina Appignani.

ensure safety not only for students but for parents and the general public.” Tan supported gun-free zones because “they are useful and they have the ability to keep people safe. It doesn’t just apply to everything, it is only in public places, especially those for children. Gun-safety zones are a type of safety net that we need to better the chances of not getting shot, hurt or harmed by others.”

Overall debate night was a success and offered students a great opportunity to be able to civilly discuss controversial topics in today’s world.

Although they have faced a number of hindrances this season, they are running strong, determined to have a great season. Both the boys’ and the girls’ outdoor seasons started March 21, but both meets have been cancelled so far. The Greater Boston League (GBL) opening meet, which was scheduled for April 2, was cancelled due to snow; the team is still unsure of whether or not it will be rescheduled, while the Malden-Everett meet which was scheduled for April 6, was cancelled as well but was rescheduled for Wednesday, April 13.

After a strong indoor season, the track team is running what may be their last season in the GBL. They have set many goals for individual runners, as well as the team as a whole.

Sophomore Allie Russo, senior Deborah Kibazo, and senior Gillian Willcox preparing for the 800m race. Photo by Alysha McDevitt.

When asked how the weather has affected the team, the individual runners gave a variety of answers. Senior, Angus Mo, claimed that “Personally [he feels] that it is important for [their] team, especially some of the new athletes, to compete with other teams. So, when a meet is cancelled, that removes a really good opportunity for [them] to compare [themselves] to other teams and to create new personal records.” However, sophomore Rachel Eaglin believes that “this year [they] have a lot of new girls who are trying to find their place on the team. So, it was a huge help that [they] had more time to figure out who goes where.” Some members of the runners are fairly undecided on where they stand. Sophomore, Kylie Dimaro, “[has] mixed emotions about the delay [of the meets]. [She feels] happy in the moment due to the fact that [they] as a team have more time to train. At the same time, [she feels] worried and confused, because the season is going to be extended and [they] haven’t had much time to practice on the track due to the weather and conflicts.”

Regardless of any disadvantages the team is facing this season, they are continuing to set high goals and run a strong season. Dimaro “[is] concerned due to the fact that a few of [their] top runners are facing injuries. [She feels] that this puts a lot of pressure on [her and her] team as a whole, to work as hard as [they] can to make up for this loss.” For herself, “one of [Dimaro’s] biggest goals is to work up to eventually qualifying for states. [She knows] it will be a lot of work, motivation, and dedication but [she knows her] teammates have similar goals, so [they] can all work together as a team and eventually achieve [their] goals together.”

Sophomores Adeline Ocean and Jasmine Gray running the two mile race. Photo by Alysha McDevitt.

The team is remaining optimistic and determined, still armed with a large number of talented runners. “[Mo believes] that the team’s biggest challenge this season is to pull together talent in the right places to create a competitive team and bring out some extraordinary performances. For [himself], [he thinks his] biggest challenge is aiming to qualify for the state meet.”  

The runners have been practicing hard, in the cold and the rain, preparing hard for the upcoming meets, refusing to let the weather prohibit them from succeeding. Along with the hours of practice he’s put in this season, “[Mo hopes] that with the work [he] put in during [his] past 11 seasons, [he] can qualify for states, if not run a respectable personal best. [He] also [hopes] that this season goes well for the rest of the team since [they] are missing some important scorers that ran in the last season.”

Other than the weather, the team is facing a number of other expected challenges, such as finding everyone’s place on the team and practicing hard. Senior, Daryl Loreus stated that the hardest part of the season “would probably be getting everyone on the same page as far as how [they], as a team, should carry [themselves] and behave whether [they’re] at practice or in a meet. Most of the team is made up of underclassmen so immaturity is usually a problem, but it isn’t something that can’t be changed.”

The team has a number of upcoming meets that they are preparing for but with the team’s dedication and hard work ethic they will be able to overcome adversity. 

On May 6, Malden and surrounding communities came together to celebrate the 14th annual Special Olympics. In a day full of games, crafts, and fun altogether, students and volunteers made it a memorable event.

Over the years, the event has only become larger and greater both in numbers and in itself.  According to principal Dana Brown, there were very few schools who attended the event in the beginning. However, now there are more students, more spectators, and more volunteers.

The day had originally been scheduled for May 5, but the weather had not been cooperative. However, May 6 ended up being much more successful because of the improved conditions.

The day began with a grand entrance where volunteers and faculty lined up to welcome the students to Macdonald Stadium. Smiling from ear to ear, the students both walked and ran down the aisle as the volunteers cheered them on, many giving high fives or blowing kisses. Afterwards, they led on a parade to represent themselves as different school in a lap around the track.

Both Brown and Mayor Gary Christenson had a few words to say before the games began. Sadly, it was a farewell in Brown’s case, given that it was the last Special Olympics he would host as principal of Malden High School. Since this was the case, the volunteers from MHS gifted Brown in letters from every one of them, given to him by Barbara Scibelli, a huge member in the event itself. However, Brown hopes that this will not be his last, and that he will be involved in future events.

The athletic events then commenced, where there were races, tennis ball and softball throws, and long jumps. The students were given medals for their efforts, so excited that they had accomplished what they did. Brown ¨saw a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of smiles on [the children’s] faces¨ as the day progressed.

Even between events, students played around with each other. They could be seen dancing to the blaring music, getting their faces painted, and simply running around. These candid moments were all over the field, and connections were made throughout the day.

Altogether, one great benefit to the event is the message behind it. ¨It proves that Malden Public Schools really does support inclusion¨, and it shows through their participation.

Photos by Cassandra Reyes. Photo collage by Lucia Quesada Nylen.

On May 31, the school committee met to continue the discussion of budget cuts. The city has been trying to create a balanced budget since December of 2015. To start the meeting, any willing person was allowed 3-5 minutes to state their opinions on the topic.

In the public comments, a number of concerns were expressed. The president of the Malden Education Association, Bonnie Page, thanked the committee and stated that we “need everybody from top to bottom, door to door.” A number of people stated their concern for the student to faculty ration, pointing out that while the student population is always increasing, the faculty is decreasing annually. While the public seemed extremely opposed to cutting any faculty around the Malden schools, Superintendent David DeRousi asked, if the city does not cut a classroom teacher or a clerk, “then who? what?” DeRousi continued to say that this money is not something that could be made through bake sales and fundraisers, sacrifices must be made.

When asked if the assistant superintendent who is moving will be replaced, DeRousi claimed that with a new superintendent coming into office, they would need the help of an assistant in order to maintain the efficiency and should focus on education, not working in a “crumbling infrastructure.” Everything in the budget is intertwined, and no matter where cuts are made, someone will have to pick up the slack. Mayor Christenson stated that if anyone were to have concerns regarding the budget, they may go to www.cityofmalden.org and visit the expenses page. He continued to say that “the only way forward [is to] work together.”

Once voting began, a number of decisions were made. For one, in the Parent Information Center, one position would be cut, and replaced by 3 part time positions. They considered cutting one of the Malden High School house principals but it was voted against because with Principal Dana Brown leaving, they decided the new principal would need as much faculty help as possible. The idea of cutting one of the assistant principals was not entertained, as nobody made a motion for it to be discussed, let alone voted for or against. Cutting 2 custodians was voted against, because they felt that the sanitation of schools is vital. The council also voted against the cutting of a MHS business teacher and school clerks. The council voted yes on local transportation such as school buses, a nursing supervisor, a buildings and grounds manager, a business clerk and decided that a number of resignations around the city will not be replaced. Principals and non-union faculty will receive a 0% pay increase next year.

Although not enough cuts were decided to have a balanced budget, the topic will continue to be discussed and debated about, and the next meeting will be on Monday, June 6, at City Hall.

Graduating Malden High School a mighty ninth in her class of over 400 seniors, Trisha Truong is ready to face the future, while reminiscing on her time at Malden High School. Truong is known to never take herself too seriously, and notes that her friends would describe her as “lit, and [she] would describe [herself] the same”. Truong credits Key Club, Malden Against Cancer, and crew as extracurriculars that have immensely shaped her high school career.

In the fall, Truong will be joining a few other MHS students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She says that “the greatest decision factor was cost, but it still is a great school”.  She adds that she also is excited to “spend time with [her] sister there”, as her sister, MHS class of 2014 graduate Tracy Tran currently attends UMass Amherst.

Entering the new and inviting environment that was Malden High School, Truong’s goals were to “meet people and make friends that [she] can see being in [her] life for a long time.” This “required [her] to be a lot more outgoing and become more comfortable talking to people that [she didn’t] know already.” In terms of motivation, Truong states that her “parents” as well as “the future, [and being able to] help them motivates [her] to work hard”. She explains that her “strategy to success was to always compare myself to only myself” because she “knew what I was capable of achieving in terms of grades, so not reaching [her] own expectations made me work harder.”

However much she has relied on herself for encouragement and furthering her academic pursuit, she also gives credit to her cousin, senior Wendy Nguyen. She says that Nguyen was always “inspiring [her] to do [her] best and being [her] number one supporter.”

As for most people, Truong notes that her experience “was all over the place…there were so many good times, like getting to see some of my best friends five classes a day, but there were also a handful of bad times.” She notes that “lowest point was almost failing AP language junior year,” but one of her favorite memories was “freshman year bio class” with science teacher Dana Bowers since she “can’t remember any bad times [she] had in that class.”

When asked if she would go back and change anything if she could, Truong simply responds “no”, without hesitation. She has established strong bonds with many of her teachers and coaches. As a two year member of the MHS crew team, Truong notes that she will most of all miss math teacher and crew coach Sarah Jones.

Truong also expresses her fondness of Malden’s “diversity”, and says that “being part of [MHS], you become more open minded and accepting of other people. It teaches you the importance of this without really even having to teach it.”

For any underclassmen, Truong has a few words, and a famous song lyric: “just have fun, and don’t think about it too much, too much.”

This past March, the majority of MHS Latin students participated in the National Latin Exam. Of the students who participate, 29 of them won awards ranging from Cum Laude certificates to the Cum Laude gold medal. An award ceremony was held in the Jenkins Auditorium on May 18th to recognize the winners for their achievements.

MHS’s Latin teacher Julie Snyder has been giving her students the exam for the past three years. She believes that Latin is an important language to learn because “there are so many things you can learn from it! It helps with writing, speaking, using literary and participating in debates”. She claims that “people come to [her] all the time saying ‘[they] talked about what we learned in Latin in another class and [they] already knew about it’”

The National Junior Classical League runs the exam every year and chooses its winners. Snyder explains that the league “takes a look at the national average, and any student who got a grade that was or was close to the national average would receive a particular award”. The exam is created by the Steering/Writing Committee, which consists of Latin teachers across the country who apply information from their textbooks and teaching methods into the exam. A rough draft is written in August and the final exam is determined after much revising and proof-reading. Other awards that are given out include Ribbons and Certificates of Achievement and the NLE Certificate of Merit for each school participating in the exam. Gold medal winners who take more challenging Latin courses are eligible to apply for $1,000 scholarships.

The National Latin Exam website states that “The philosophy of the National Latin Exam is predicated on providing every Latin student the opportunity to experience a sense of personal accomplishment and success in his study of the Latin language and culture. This opportunity exists for each individual student since, on the National Latin Exam, [he] is not competing with his fellow student on a comparative basis, but is evaluated solely on his own performance on the exam”.

When asked about her students, Snyder claims that “[they] work really hard in and out of class. [They] also improve their skills and grow as Latin students over their years of taking the course. For example, [her] first year at MHS, only 6 awards were given out compared to the 29 given out this year.” Snyder hopes that the Latin Exam “helps students with their skills in Latin and provides them with the experience of taking an advanced level Latin test.”

As a senior preparing to graduate high school a week from now, I have started to reflect on my experiences over the course of the last four years. I am fortunate to have had a positive high school experience, and I owe part of this to Principal Dana Brown.

For the past few months, The Blue and Gold has covered Brown’s every move leading up to his leave, though not retirement, from Malden High School. Frequently covering events such as the City of Malden’s school committee, and MHS’s school council, has allowed me to have an inside perspective on how students, parents, and faculty, especially at MHS, feel about Brown being replaced.

The one phrase I have heard more than any other is “Brown’s shoes are big ones to fill.”  Even though Brown, without a doubt, has completely transformed MHS from what it used to be over a decade ago, and yes, has incredibly big shoes to fill, the people must learn how to accept this change in leadership to ensure the environment of the school is maintained.

Here are some ways we can all accept Brown’s leave, and welcome the new leadership to come:

1. Change is emotional, but embrace it.

Unfortunately, we all have to accept that Brown cannot run MHS forever. For the past thirteen years of his life, he has actively been present at almost every high school event from beginning to end after a long day at work. As a senior, I am selfishly glad that Brown decided to “graduate” with my class, but coming back to visit next year will feel different. Although, this is not something for me, or any student, parent, or faculty member still part of the school system to dwell on. Brown knows it is his time to move on, and take the next step in his life just like I am, and we all will eventually in time, so we must accept the path he has chosen to take, and embrace it too.

2. Put the change into perspective.

To reiterate, Brown has been the principal of MHS for thirteen years now. But ultimately, the high school’s new principal is neither inexperienced or new to the world of administration. Edward Lombardi, who will take over as principal officially on July 1, 2016, is currently the principal of Lawrence High School, which shares many similarities with MHS such as its urban location and wide range of diversity. He went through the entire principal search process to the very end, and is clearly well qualified for the position, hence why he was chosen without hesitation by the committee.

3. Understand that even though someone great is on his way out, someone just as great in his own way is on his way in.

I personally met Lombardi at the April school council meeting after hearing him address the people present, and I can say in all honesty that he is a great fit for MHS not only because of his background, but because of how he plans to approach taking on such a large school: not alone, but together. Like Brown, he is also a family man, and shares close relationships with many of his students. He too often finds himself in his office after hours, or at many of LHS’s school events, usually with his family present.

4. Adapt to the change made.

Remember, just because Brown will not be roaming the halls of MHS everyday next year, he has played a significant role in all of our lives, and knowing him, will continue to do so without a doubt. Rules and policies may change, but the relationship we all share with him will not. Also, Lombardi is entering an entirely new environment, and has to adapt to this change too, probably even more so than the rest of us. Even though this may take some time as it would take any person in a new position to do, especially Brown’s, I can guarantee that every person attending or working at MHS will form their own individual relationship with him because of the unique and individual qualities that he has to offer.

Thank you Mr. Brown for making MHS the greatest high school to possibly attend, or work for, on behalf of all of the students and staff who will miss you as we all progress into this next stage of our lives.

And Mr. Lombardi, welcome to MHS. Even though I will not be here when school begins in August, many students and staff will be waiting eagerly to welcome you into the next part of their lives.

As her time at Malden High School is finally coming to a close, senior Ziqi Zeng will leave behind years full of memories. These irreplaceable memories will be ones that she will cherish for the rest of her life as MHS truly shaped her into the person she is now. With her memories comes the added knowledge and achievement of having earned a seat within the top ten of MHS’s class of 2016.

Currently, MHS is one of the most diverse high schools in the whole entire nation, a notion that has not gotten past Zeng. One of the biggest things she will miss about MHS is “definitely the sense of diversity” as she “does not know of many places that can top how many different kinds of people [MHS] [has].” She believes this type of exposure that she was able to receive at MHS was important lesson for her as she it allowed her to become a lot more open-minded.

Zeng will also miss the friendships and bonds that she has forged throughout her time as a MHS student. As she graduates, Zeng reminisces about these ties and says how she “loves [her] friends because [they] are really funny and they have brought her a lot of joy.” She can’t imagine not being able to see them everyday like she has been at MHS, so “definitely [she] will miss [her] [friends] the most.” MHS taught her to “have fun and accept one another for who [they] are,” a lesson that let her be able to make the many friends she has made.

As a student who has made her way into the top ten of her class, Zeng has done extremely well in her studies, something she attributes all of her teachers. Zeng has always loved art and has taken advantage of the artistic opportunities that MHS has offered in order to better her skills. Zeng even joined the Blue & Gold, MHS’s newspaper, as a staff artist and Play Production, focusing mainly on set design. While Zeng is known for her love for art, she feels “every single one of her teachers has had an impact in [her] life.” So even though she is a self-proclaimed “art/design person, [she] [has] come to notice that even [her] math teachers, [her] English teachers, etc. influence [her] to become the type of person that [she] [is] now,” because of how helpful they have been.

She credits her parents for teaching her how “to be really ambitious because [one] can always aim to be better.” The knowledge that no matter what she chooses in life “they are proud of [her].” Their support is wholehearted as Zeng never feels any pressure from them as they have always let her follow her own path. With her parents in mind, she can not help but “push [herself] harder in order to make them proud and justify the sacrifices they have made for [her].”

While it may be end for Zeng here at MHS, she will soon start a whole new adventure at the College of the Holy Cross, a private, undergraduate Roman Catholic, Jesuit liberal arts college situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. Currently, she is undecided about her major, but is leaning towards art a likely choice. The future holds much for Zeng; so although she may not be a Golden Tornado any more, MHS wishes her all the best at her new home as a Crusader.

Photo submitted by Ziqi Zeng.