Dawn prior to encapsulation at its launch pad on July 1, 2007. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

At an altitude of 38,000 miles, the Dawn space probe finally started its orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres on Mar. 6, 2015. The space probe is expected to start orbiting Ceres from 8,400 miles away towards the end of April, and will eventually end up at an altitude of 235 miles. 

The Dawn Mission’s goal is to achieve something that has never even been attempted before its launch. This year the space probe is set to explore and discover the conditions of the dwarf planet Ceres, which is believed to have a subsurface liquid ocean. Although the spacecraft is now circling Ceres, the amount of information it can collect is limited due to the fact that Dawn is currently on the night side of the planet.

Attached to a Delta 7925-H rocket and launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the space probe started its journey in 2007 to explore the contrasting Vesta, one of the largest asteroids in the Solar system, and Ceres. As the Dawn space probe observed, Vesta seems to be more developed and rocky while Ceres is thought to be icy.

The new scientific understanding that the Dawn space probe is providing is due to its xenon ion thruster that allows it to move at a maximum speed of 25,635 miles per hour. The space probe is not only discovering worlds that we have never observed before, but it is also able to  achieve a velocity change of more than 22,369 miles per hour which is much more than any other spacecraft has achieved after separating from its launch rocket.

Scientists have already observed pictures taken by the space probe from December 2014, and found that the dwarf planet appears to have bright spots that could possibly be patches of ice or salt. Now, scientists are hoping to

Dawn image of Ceres from 46,000 km, 19 February 2015. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

find out how Ceres has evolved to gain a better understanding of how it formed. The difference between its formation and evolution is interesting to many scientists because they both are believed to have formed early in the history of the solar system.

Since its launch Dawn has experienced a Mars gravity assist, has orbited the asteroid Vesta at both a low and high altitude, and is now in a high altitude orbit around Ceres. Hopefully the space probe will successfully perform its low altitude orbit as predicted, and provide scientists with sufficient information on Ceres and its conditions.

Season 1 Episode 3 of the Day In the Life series follows the members of MHS’s Play Production as they work on Shrek the Musical. Video filmed and edited by Julio Da Silva and Amanda Nguyen.

The final product of the dark chocolate flourless brownie. Photos taken by Lucia Quesada Nylen.

Dark Chocolate Flourless Brownies

Melt the butter, semisweet chocolate, and sugar over low heat. Then turn off the heat, and add in the eggs, cornstarch, salt, cocoa powder, and salt. Once everything is well mixed, pour into a 8×11 pan that was already greased. Bake for 20 minutes or until you can put a toothpick in and it comes out clean.

• For this recipe you will need:
• 2 eggs
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 10. oz. semisweet chocolate
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cups of sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting 

You will need:

• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 package of 8 oz. of cream cheese

Depending on how thick or thin you would like the frosting, add more sugar for thicker and add more milk for thinner frosting. Add the butter (softened), sugar, milk, vanilla and cream cheese. Once mixed pour on top of the cooled brownies. *If preferred, stack a brownie on top another with a layer of frosting and then cover the top with frosting.*

This recipe is from lifemadesimplebakes.com.

Dear Nedlam,

I have been experiencing pressure from my family to become a certain thing, go to a certain college, and do what they think is best for me. But I want to accomplish something different. What should I do? How should I tell them that their dream isn’t mine?

- Under Pressure

Dear Under Pressure, 

It is hard knowing what to say to the people who have raised you, and helped make you who you are, that you want to be the one to determine your own future. But everyone has to do it at some point in their life. Everyone’s families have expectations of them, some more specific and demanding than others, but it is up to us to decide what we want to do and who we want to be, it is part of becoming an adult. I think the first step to telling your family that you have different goals than they do is to figure out what those goals are. If you already know what you want to do with your life, outline a plan for how you are going to get there. Your family will be more inclined to accept your decisions if they realize that this is something you care enough about  and are willing to put real work into. Make sure to include important factors like money, a living arrangement, ways you will stay in contact with your family if you are going far away, and even transportation. Once you have put together all the details, gather your family together and explain, in detail, everything you want to do and how you are going to go about doing it. Make sure to be adamant about your passion for whatever it is you want to do and the practicality of doing it in terms of future income (even if it’s just having a placeholder job for income while continuing to work on what you really want to be doing) and stability. If your family is unwilling to accept your complete plan then sit down with them and work out a compromise that works for the both of you. In the circumstance where you family is completely unwilling to compromise, I would suggest seeing a counselor and asking for their help either convincing your family or coming up with a different plan. Hope this helps -good luck!

- Nedlam’s Corner 

Dear editor,

As a student who will have taken fifteen AP exams at the end of this year, I feel a need to respond to the article you published in your last issue. It has spurred some interesting discussion and I would like to add my experience to the conglomeration of opinions that are floating around Malden High School and the world of education.

Within the world of secondary education, college is becoming the biggest defining factor for more and more students. But why do we want to go to college so badly? A job that leads to a good life. That’s the biggest reason why most people want to go to college today. With an economy that is being based on cutting-edge technology, there is a lot of incentive for everyone to become educated. Companies want more people with a college degree so that the supply of laborers can decrease the cost of the hiring. Workers (us high school students) want a college degree for the chance of that big paycheck that can satisfy all of our consumer needs, from buying the nicest clothes to buying the biggest house.

That is the ideal of the American Dream. In a place like Malden, with a large population of immigrants, the American Dream is ever present and many are willing to do almost anything for it. This, I believe, is the heart of the reason why so many students are throwing themselves at AP classes, keeping themselves up through excruciating hours that are extended because of sports and extracurricular activities. They believe this is what will lead them to a good college, the keystone of the American Dream. After all, if someone told you that you do not have to sit through another hour of confusing Calculus or write up another essay for enigmatic English, and you will be able to buy anything you want, would you say yes? I would say yes. But does that mean I will never look back on English or Calculus or any other subject from school again? No. Even if I can buy all the things that I want, I cannot and will not abandon my studies. Are you probably calling me a nerd right now? Go ahead. But I love learning. This is why I force myself to take every AP class available. I don’t do it because I think colleges will like me better (even though they do). I don’t do it because I think it will lead me to a good life (even though it might). I do it because I love learning. Sure, there are a lot of benefits to learning and being successful in STEM fields. But for me, it’s really just a bonus, a cherry on top of the pie. I would not be completely derailed if being academically successful no longer guarantees that American Dream.

I believe that passion should be the primary motivation for any pursuit, not some superficial societal recognition. As a student, I enjoy my learning process. Sure, I’ll procrastinate as much as the next student. During such moments, it is nice to have some external pressures like deadlines and grades to remind me to get my **** together. However, when I make a decision to commit to something like a class or an extracurricular activity, the idea of adding to my resume to impress somebody isn’t what pushes me to do it. The idea that I’ll enjoy the activity whether it’s because it’ll help me grow as a person or a student or it’s because I genuinely enjoy the activity is why I choose to pursue something. If ever you find yourself that you’re doing something because of extrinsic motivations, chances are, you probably won’t do a good job at it and you’ll end up disliking it. This is what I think Jasper was observing in AP classes. Many students aren’t genuinely passionate about the class that they’re taking. If you look hard around you, you might notice those students.

All I have left to say is stop. Stop doing things to gain societal approval. Stop volunteering because it looks good on your resume. Stop taking AP classes because it looks good on your transcript. Sure, those are nice motivators. But let those motivators only be a small factor in why you have chosen to pursue something. Find joy in what you do, not recognition.

So I guess you must want to know how well I have followed my own belief. I admit, it’s hard. All these snow days have certainly helped to infect me with senioritis. But that doesn’t mean I’ll drop all my work. I have every intention to follow through with all my commitments even if that means that I’ll have to procrastinate. But I’ll be able to do that because I truly believe that I have something more to gain than a sticker on my resume.

This letter to the editor was submitted by Eugene Szeto. If you have an opinion or an idea of something to cover that you have intimate knowledge about, or if you simply want to communicate with the school, submit a letter to the editor to J387 or talk to a member of the Blue & Gold staff for a chance to be featured in our next edition!

Season 1 Episode 4 of the Day In the Life series follows the Mixed Chorus class taught by Mr. Cole. Video filmed and edited by Katie Mai and Roberto De Oliveira.

The Blue and Gold has created a new Instagram account @_humansofmhs which unravels the Malden High School community one person at a time. This account is based  on and inspired by the popular photo blog Humans of New York by photographer Brandon Stanton. We hope that students and the Malden community take the time to follow this account to read about the unique individuals that make up Malden. 

“A moment I was really happy was the last time I was at the swim clinic, and I was teaching little kids how to float, and just the fact that I know that one day they will be able to swim makes me happy…I helped someone take care of themselves and being able to help others and see their smiles makes me smile.”

Follow our account at @_humansofmhs

Everyone claims that every subject has a ‘line’ that can crossed in inappropriate situations. Mostly directed towards jokes, there is a clear distinction between someone being blatantly offensive and plainly making fun of them. In shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Daily Show, the comedians make jokes about current events in a way that is “okay” with the public mostly because of the fact that the show is considered a comedy. Saturday Night Live is another example, the Emmy award winning comedy has been on the air for almost three decades and has one sole goal – to make the audience laugh. Every Saturday night during the season at 11:30pm, a cast full of comedians along with one selected celebrity host and musical performance entertain the live audience and millions watch the various satire skits.

Saturday Feb. 28, 2015 the show was hosted by actress Dakota Johnson, and a while into the show, a SNL skit was played that would soon cause much controversy throughout the nation. The skit was based off the original Toyota Camry commercial that aired during Superbowl 54. In the original commercial, a proud father drops his daughter off at the airport as she leaves to join the US Army. In the SNL remake, Johnson plays the role of a daughter being dropped off by her father as she leaves to join the terrorist group known as ISIS. Other than the Toyota commercial, the emotional farewell by the father was an indirect reference to the case that had happened earlier that week, when three high school girls from England allegedly left their homes to join ISIS.

Immediately that night and well into the next morning, social media was full of comments regarding the skit that mocked the ongoing threat of the terrorist group. The next morning the news was full of the reporter’s responses to the skit. “Fox & Friends” reporter Elisabeth Hasselbeck was full of rage towards the mocking of the terrorist group and accused NBC and SNL of being “insensitive,” according to CNN news, as well as saying that the scene “had insulted the men and women who risk their lives to fight terrorism.”

SNL has been known to satirize current events that are happening, however many are arguing that the producers crossed the line. Others, argue that teasing groups like ISIS that pose a threat to the U.S is a great way to get back at them because people are not living in fear, and are instead laughing at them. The question stands as the situation furthers: did SNL cross a line or were they just trying to ‘lighten the mood’?

There are only two weeks left in The Blue and Gold’s Indie Go Go Campaign to raise funds for the 100th Year commemorative magazine. Thank you to all who have contributed in some way to our campaign, it is greatly appreciated.  If you have no yet seen the page, make sure to click the link below and share or donate if possible. Any small amount helps to reach our ultimate goal! We all thank you in advance!

Mixed Chorus teacher, Todd Cole, playing the piano while the class sings along. Photo by Roberto De Oliveira.

Dozens of students from all grades, who share a passion for music and singing join the Mixed Chorus class, an introductory course taught by the talented and inspiring Malden High teacher, Todd Cole. Mixed Chorus is geared towards teaching students with all ranges of all singing experience how to sing properly, how to practice perfecting that skill, and even training them to sing in other different languages, and also how to read music along the way.

Cole comes from a small town called Elmira, New York. During junior high school Cole was inspired by one of his teachers to pursue a career as a teacher, and additionally with his time in high school he had found more inspiration in another teacher that taught him how he wanted to teach. In his schooling, he gained an opportunity to work in a great music and theatre program, followed with more opportunities of working in musical theatre throughout a series of other high schools. He participated in several musicals, some like the Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, South Pacific, and West Side Story. After graduating, Cole matriculated to nearby Ithaca College where he got his undergraduate degree in vocal performance and music education. Gaining his degree he went and taught for two years in New York before returning back to Massachusetts to pursue further education at Boston University, where he got not only his Masters degree in vocal performance, but met his also artistically talented husband, Johnny Cole. Cole also used to play the cello, but now only frequently plays the piano and says that his “primary instrument is [his] singing, [his] voice.”

The Mixed Chorus class is free for all students to take. Even if you have never engaged with the musical arts at all, Mr. Cole is capable of “teach[ing] anyone how to match pitch or read music.” Through a teacher’s perspective, Mr. Cole mentions that Mixed Chorus is the most fun course, but also a very challenging one. Having to instruct such large classes with incredible energy and excitement, it comes with the difficulty on harnessing it. He works not only on choral literature throughout this time but also solo technique as to know what they need to focus on individually to become better choral singers. One of Cole’s favorite aspects of the course is watching the progression and evolution of their singing abilities, specifically seeing the change from September to June, which he refers to as “night and day.”  The two main events are a Winter and Spring concert, and in between there is much preparation for these two events.  

Junior Heresa Guerrier moved to states in the Poetry Out Loud competition where she did a stellar rendition of “Ecology” by Jack Collom.

After another year of Poetry Out Loud at Malden High School, junior Heresa Guerrier recently moved on to the state finals. Although Guerrier is not moving on to the next round, MHS is still proud to be represented at the state finals by her stellar rendition of “Ecology” by Jack Collom.

Catherine Rodriguez reciting Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy.

Sean Walsh, head English teacher at MHS, explained that the performers at the semifinals were successful due to “their ability to embody the poem and clarify what the meaning is.”

Walsh also believes that “there were some great performances of poems that [he has] heard a hundred times.” This Poetry Out Loud season, as always, had a wide variety of types of poems, and every performer brought something unique to their poem when performing. Students were able to put their own individual spin to their poems, making each performance stand out.

Guerrier, who moved on to the semifinals at MHS last year, explained that “[she has] geared towards poems that have some kind of rhythm to it.” Guerrier feels that her poem choice this year really “matches her personality,” which may have been why she was able to illustrate the meaning of the poem for those in the audience through her performance. She believes that she picked the perfect poem for herself before, but she still had “to show everybody who [she] was, though [she did not] succeed” during her classroom performances in her freshman and sophomore year.

David Londino, Guerrier’s current English teacher, expressed that Guerrier “got off to a really good start,” and “very little had to be changed.” Like Guerrier, Londino believes that “her poem selection this year made a huge difference.”

Poem selection was also integral for the two teachers involved in the 2015 finals, David Holland and Evan Mauser. Each took a vastly different approach, with Holland choosing to memorize and present a “longer” poem complete with custom changes to better reach the audience “and humor in it.” Mauser presented his in a short but powerful 10 lines.

“Holland [chose] to memorize and present a “longer” poem complete with custom changes to better reach the audience “and [to add] humor in it.”

For each, the content of the poem was the primary motivation in their choice to perform it, and in putting their beliefs and personal connections above the competition, they embodied the model that they hoped students would incorporate in their own lives.

While most students would not care to compete at the schoolwide or statewide level, all those involved agreed that the most important part of Poetry Out Loud is to better understand oneself and to establish or improve ones public speaking skills, confidence, understanding of poetry and its context with respect to their own lives.

A proud member of Malden High School’s National Honor Society, senior Eugine Szeto is the driving force behind a recent NHS project encouraging public speaking and societal awareness in the MHS student body. To put it simply, Szeto wishes to push students involved in the project to “be more informed.” Located at the Malden Teen Center, he has lead the creation of a variation on MHS’ debate team, where students come together, discuss topics relevant to today’s society and their own lives and form educated opinions and even resolutions to some of today’s pressing societal issues.

In the first few test runs of the project, Szeto took a direct approach, guiding participants in the right direction in analyzing topics applicable first to their own lives (and later worldwide topics,) discussing the implications of said topics. Now that the first few discussions have ran successfully, Szeto is taking a step back from this direct approach by introducing an idea and letting the students take over the discussion. He does not like revealing his own thoughts on the various topics discussed, as he likes to give participants the “chance to form [their] own opinion[s]” free of potential bias created from hearing Szeto’s opinion.

Some examples of topics that have either already been discussed or are hoped to be discussed in the future include the “right to be forgotten from internet searches”; the earthquake that devastated Haiti; and the status, quality, and effects of MHS’ school lunches. Clearly, topics can reach quite a broad spectrum, from only directly affecting MHS’ student body to an issue that potentially spans the globe. Full disclosure: Szeto is also aided by current Blue & Gold member Jasper Haag (co-author of this article) and Omar Khoshafa, former Blue & Gold member, who help host these meetings at the Teen Center, providing valuable assistance to Szeto.

Lasting around half an hour, these discussions that Szeto forms and leads introduces topics that hopefully help to “develop skills” in debate and analysis of today’s issues, whether they be local, political, societal, global, etc. Szeto has many hopes for the project he has forged, but above all he simply wishes for “it to continue.” Working with a “distinct group” of participants in the Teen Center, Szeto relishes in the chance to help develop the skills he has grown fond of in his own time on the debate team and wishes to create more informed individuals for today’s world. Szeto urges people to watch out for future meetings of the project which may be advertised in the form of morning announcements and flyers posted around MHS (although Szeto has expressed his distaste for said flyers.) One of the various projects of NHS, Szeto is leading participants in a different and distinct direction, aiding in the development of more informed people ready to take part in the daily societal struggles of today’s world.

A preview to the upcoming Malden High School Poetry Out Loud 2015 Finals Documentary, highlighting notable moments from the competitors’ performances and introducing this year’s competition. Stay in tuned for more views of interviews and recitations. 

Filmed by Tenzin Dorjee and Ana Kerr
Edited by Fellicia Fallano and Jasper Haag

Dear Nedlam,

It’s the middle of my junior year and I’m freaking out! I know it’s weird but even though it’s not close enough yet to worry, I keep feeling stressed about college, and tests, and everything. Is there any way you know to beat the stress?

Stressed and a Mess

Dear Stressed and a Mess,

Stress is a common reaction to large, life defining events, not to worry you even more. But let’s be honest, we make decisions every single day that define who we are, what we will do with our lives, and where we will go. I think the important thing to do when you are feeling stressed is to not push away what you are feeling. Bottling emotion can lead to feeling much worse later on. Identify why you are feeling so stressed, what exactly about college and the tests are stressing you out. Do you not feel prepared to take the test? Then take that fear and put it to use, sign up for the, “Lets get ready program,” or study SAT or ACT practice questions. If there is something in the future that is making you nervous, then do something about it, actively work towards reducing that stress and doing what you need to prepare for your future. And if it is because you are nervous about college, visit a campus or two, do some research, talk to your guidance counselor. I think the biggest cause of fear is feeling like you are helpless, and unable to do anything about a particular situation. It always makes me feel much better when I write out what I need to do that is making me nervous, or take active steps to making the future easier for me. Whether that’s as simple as studying more than usual, or if it’s as complex as taking time to make a rough plan of your future, you’ll feel much better knowing that you’re not just sitting there waiting for the future to come to you or that you’re not lying still and letting stress and anxiety consume you. Fight back, show that you are prepared to face your future, no matter what is to come. If you are still feeling stressed, I suggest talking to a guidance or adjustment counselor about what you are feeling, sometimes all you need is someone else there to guide you through the rough patches, and that’s what they are here for. Just take a deep breath and realized that this is only a small part of your life, and there is so much more to life than what we are experiencing now. The beauty about the future, is that no one knows what’s in it yet. Whatever may come, your life won’t be defined by a few years in high school, or even in college, you have so much time to do with it what you want. So don’t stress Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Sophomore Jimmy Em won a silver key award for his portrait inspired by Josh Thomas.

Students at Malden High School were awarded with Gold Keys, Silver Keys, or an Honorable  Mention for their artwork by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. The students submitted their work to the judges in hopes of being recognized by receiving an award.

The Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were established by the Scholastic Corporation in 1923 and have been run by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers since 1994. This program has been recognizing young artists and writers every year with a Gold Medal or Silver Medal for their national awards or a Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention for regional awards. Accepted forms of art are include  architecture, sculpture, painting, photography, poetry, dramatic script, fashion, animation, and video games.

Jimmy Em, a sophomore at MHS, won a Silver Key award for a piece of art that he completed in his Studio II class with Mr. Luongo. He was inspired to do this portrait of Josh Thomas, an Australian actor, by the work of previous students from Mr. Luongo’s class. This portrait is done only in horizontal lines made by a thin sharpie to illustrate the actor. Em admires that with art “you can tell a story, send a message, and show abstract ideas that words can’t explain”. He wants younger artists to “Put yourself into your piece and be proud of what you’ve done.”

Junior Daria Lee, won a Gold Key for a book cover she made for the novel, Ghost Girl. She felt that the book cover for Ghost Girl was too “girly,” so she decided to create a creepier rendition of it with the girl in the hallway where she died by choking on a gummy bear. She decided to make this cover both creepy and girly, so she made the background primarily in a dark pink. This cover was done in her Digital Art class, so she used Photoshop and gathered her images from Google Images to create this award-winning work.

Junior Daria Lee, won a Gold Key for a book cover she made for the novel, Ghost Girl.

According to Lee, the best thing about art is “being able to do what I want, even if it’s wrong, and saying that it is right since it’s all about expression.” She is not sure whether she wants to pursue art in her future or not. If she does, she would want to be an animator for one of the major studios out there such as Pixar or Studio Ghibli. She believes that learning the fundamentals of art is the most important thing to do and that people should go with their gut instead of listening to what other people might say. “If you follow your voice and your heart, then it’s original and what [others] think doesn’t matter.”

Senior Amanda Nguyen, a member of The Blue and Gold, won a Gold Key for her cover of Little Red Riding Hood.

Many other students at MHS won awards for their outstanding work including Amanda Nguyen, also a member of The Blue and Gold, who won a Gold Key for her cover of Little Red Riding Hood. Other Silver Key winners include, Tanqiu Chen, Eric Lee, Emily Mo, Yan Zheng, and Samantha Drapinski. The students who won an Honorable Mention include, Timur Berilo, Gianna Giuliano, Jade Liu, Emily Mo, Chu Shi, Daria Lee, and Timmy Nsubuga.

Joseph Luongo, an art teacher at MHS, is proud of his students that did win an award from the Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Luongo teaches Studio I and II, Digital Art I and II, and Foundations of Art. Students are taught to appreciate their own talents and gain a greater appreciation of art. Winning Gold Keys or any other award will “ make [the winners] look good, makes [their art teacher] look good, and it’s great for the school.” Luongo is proud of his Gold Key winners because they’re both from his Digital Art classes which are barely a year old. Students should be able to develop good habits of mind, they can learn patience, and they learn how to be persistent.

Art students will soon be able to see their artwork from the year at the Blue and Gold Gallery. They will have to wait another year to enter their artwork for the chance to be recognized for their outstanding achievements in art.

There are only 6 days left to donate to our Indie Gogo campaign! In June the Blue and Gold will be hosting a 100 Year Event and will distribute a centennial magazine celebrating the growth of the newspaper. To help fund and support our event and magazine please take the time to read about our campaign on here  and donate if you can! Anything helps and the Blue and Gold staff appreciates all efforts to support our 100 Year celebration. 

Posse scholars Julie Lam, Sumya Mohiuddin, Madina K.

Posse wishes to foster leadership, help students pursue their academic goals, and promote cultural diversity among college campuses. This year, Posse is providing seven  lucky Malden High School students the chance at representing MHS as they attend their new school this upcoming fall of 2015.

MHS Posse scholar Aryzona MacDonald will be heading to Danville, Kentucky after graduation. MacDonald is excited to begin her journey as a Centre College student. At first, MacDonald had not planned to even attempt to become a Posse scholar as she “did not think [she] had any chance” due to “so many kids from [MHS]” and all over the Greater Boston area that apply. However, that all changed when her “best friend made [her] go to the meeting.” The 1-on-1 interview was “really nerve wracking” for MacDonald, but “overall [the process to be a scholar] was good.” When she received the acceptance call, she was overjoyed and “cried [because she] was so excited.” Centre College is a private liberal arts college that MacDonald hopes will accommodate and help her in transitioning from a golden tornado to a colonel. Centre has a similar tight-knit community that  MHS also offers. MacDonald is extremely ecstatic about “a change in scenery” and “to try new things,” as she believes the experience is going to be a “culture shock.” MacDonald describes her posse as “fun, loud and energetic” and “really, really smart.” Though MacDonald is moving onto Centre, she will not forget her time at MHS.

Union College, a private liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York will welcome Nahom Ghile as a fellow Dutchman come fall. Ghile was inspired to apply for the scholarship by “friends [from] last year who got the Posse scholarship and they told [him] how great it was.” Ghile is proud to have won the scholarship, stating that he felt “good to know that among all the people [that applied for Posse, he is] one of the lucky few who was able to get the scholarship.” After his acceptance, Ghile felt relief, as he knew for the next 4 years of his life things were all set financially. Ghile’s family is also proud of him in winning the scholarship to the point where they were “jumping for joy.” Ghile is excited to spend the next 4 years with his posse that he feels is “very energetic” and he says that “they love making jokes [and] they are very family-like.” Ghile will miss the many wonderful memories filled with fun and lasting relationships with all his friends and teachers at MHS.

Denison University will be most delighted to welcome Posse scholars and Blue and Gold members Julie Lam and Sumya Mohiuddin along with Madina Khudaynazar. When it came to becoming a Posse scholar Mohiuddin stated that the process “was not pressuring” and that the activities varied. Students applying and seeking to become a Posse scholar had to participate in multiple activities that worked to display students’ leadership and communication skills. Denison University is located in Granville, Ohio, which is quite different from Malden and a good distance away. Khudaynazar explained, “[She] grew up in the city, so [moving to Granville is] going to be a huge transformation for [her].” Besides the difference in where they will live, the Posse scholars will experience a new sense of support through their Posse. With reference to the Posse attending Denison University, Madina stated “I’m so excited to learn from them and offer my diversity as well.” Madina explained the benefit of being a part of this group by saying, “Things we would not normally talk about [they] can talk about because [they] have people from all over the world. Just having that mentorship and that peer support, [she] think[s] is really important.”

Posse scholars Jesse Yu and Jasmine Nguyen will happily be attending Hamilton College. Hamilton College is not too far away, in fact it is located in Upstate New York. “It’s kind of something [he] wanted, to go far away, Upstate New York is not extremely far away but it is enough for [him],” explained Yu. Similar to Mohiuddin’s feeling of a lack of pressure during the process, Yu expressed, “[He] felt comfortable, it was not necessarily easy, but [he is] in this program called summer search and basically every week [they] have a weekly interview.” Hamilton College is an accepting college that encourages individuality and will easily make the Posse heading to it feel included. Yu stated that he “[expects] a lot of support from [his group] and it’s just nice to know that you have people to lean back on when you’re in the middle of nowhere and you do not know anyone else.” The whole experience is completely surreal for Yu and Nguyen and they will be dearly missed by every at MHS.

MHS will surely miss these several lucky Posse scholars.

Malden High School students and faculty battled it out on the court in the Finn Gym in the annual Student Faculty Basketball game on Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015. Though evenly matched, the teachers were able to pull out the win with a final score of 43-36.

Senior Michaela Ilebode preparing for a shot. Photo by Meagan Sullivan

History teacher Jonathan Copithorne who partook in the game stated that the game “gives teachers a chance to interact with students in a way that is much more relaxed than in the classroom.” Students also enjoy being able to interact with teachers beyond academics. He admitted,”There was not much preparation for the game [for the faculty] to be honest.” He added, “The staff had a few shoot arounds about a week before the game, but that was about it.”  Copithorne mentioned that his preparation included “a little bit of running so [he] would not collapse in front of the crowd,” he stated jokingly.

Junior Morgan Pennachio who participated in the game stated that, “[She] decided [to play because] it was another chance to play with [her] teammates again since the [basketball] season had ended.”

The students’ team was “in better shape, faster, and more skilled, but [the teachers] had some important skills that come with age,” stated Copithorne. Taryn Belowski “hit some big shots and the rest of the female staff play tenacious defense to get us out of a big hole, so that certainly helped too” mentioned Copithorne.

This year’s halftime show performance featured the famous MHS dance group, Air Bound. The group performed a stunt filled routine that entertained the crowd as they do time in and time out. After Air Bound’s performance, the teachers and students resumed their heated game.

Principal Dana Brown commented that he “love[s] the idea of students and faculty coming together for a fun game.” Brown has participated each year the game has been run but added that next year he will coach. He mentioned in a joking manner that before the game he had “mentally visualized beating the students.” In MHS student, Danny Perez’s perspective he says, “I didn’t know whether to play because I didn’t know if they would give me detention of not.”

Most faculty team players have participated in the game for years, and are in agreement that it is even more enjoyable each year. Many on the team concur that the game of 2012 has been the the best year yet. In that memorable game the faculty and students were tied, there were a few seconds left on the clock and the teachers won at the buzzer beater. It was an amazing victory for the teachers.

Every year not only students express that the basketball game is their favorite event, but teachers as well. This is an event where the entire MHS community gets involved. Whether one is playing in the game, performing at half time, or watching from the stands, everyone is happy to be a part of the event. Students and teachers are already anticipating next years game that is sure to be just as entertaining.

MHS history teacher Greg Hurley leading the simulation.

The Model United Nations simulation began on Feb. 24, 2015 for the junior class at Malden High School. It was an opportunity for all MHS students enrolled in Modern World History to experience what a United Nations conference would be like and it allowed students to solve current problems in the world today.

At this simulation, different groups discussed varying topics relating to world problems and then proceeded to figure out solutions for those given problems. A majority of the students are in agreement that the most interesting part of the simulation was being able to discuss the world’s needs and process of recovery in developing countries. MHS history teacher Gregory Hurley held a vital role throughout Model UN and stated that he does not simply “like Model UN–[he loves] it!” He also added that “it not only engages students to be good diplomats,” but it also allows them to “use good critical thinking skills, good persuasive writing skills, and good research skills.”

Model UN is important to the students “because it is a real world application of skills students are learning.” Topics that were discussed included current issues in the world today, such as climate change, peacekeeping, and maternal health. Since these topics are currently being debated through the United Nations, Hurley added that they are all “critically important as the world has not yet solved these problems and we need the help of young people to come up with innovative new ways to solve problems”.

The first simulation took place on Feb. 24, 2015; it was dedicated to maternal health, which gave students the opportunity to communicate with other countries who were also suffering from the same problem and to also communicate with countries that could help to minimize casualties.

The second simulation took place on Feb. 25, 2015; it covered the topic of climate change. It included the problem of excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and explained that through the collaboration of countries, they concluded that excess greenhouse gases affect not only endangered animals and plants but humans as well.

Students that discussed peacekeeping on Feb. 26, 2015 wanted it to be more effective and available because it reduces corruption. The UN decides to send in troops and military groups to corrupted countries government conflicts to maintain a safe environment and government.

After the class simulations in the library, select students from each class were sent to Northeastern University on Mar. 6, 2015 to participate in a larger simulation with students across Massachusetts. Of sixteen possible awards, MHS students were awarded six.

Students presenting their issues/solutions.

Michelle Chung and Tri Pham were awarded Best Public Speakers in the Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) on maternal health. Deborah Kibazo and Blue and Gold member Chaimae El Adlouni were awarded Best Position Paper in the ECOSOC committee on maternal health as well.

Kaitlyn Gibson and Richard Melgar received the Best Negotiators in the General Assembly award discussing peacekeeping operations. In addition, Collin Ivany was given Best Position Paper in the UNEP Committee concerning climate change and the Kyoto Protocol.

To add to the great success, Samantha Forestier and Arnaldo Silva were awarded Best Negotiators in the UNEP committee who discussed climate change and the Kyoto Protocol. Blue and Gold member Andrew Cogliano and Marwa Khudaynazar were given the Overall Best Delegates award for their work in the UN Security Council discussing ISIS and the world’s response to Islamic Extremism.

Through Model UN, students gained a larger awareness of the problems surrounding the world and improved both their problem solving and social skills.

Dear Nedlam,

I’ve been best friends with my friend since third grade. Ever since she got a boyfriend three months ago she’s been pretty distant. We hang out sometimes but not as frequently as we used to. The other day though, I saw her boyfriend kissing another girl that I have never met before. I’m scared of telling her because I don’t want her to think I’m just trying to ruin the relationship so I can have my friend back. She also seems really happy so its hard for me to want to tell her and ruin her happiness. However, I am scared that she’ll find out and be upset with me for knowing but not saying anything. Any advice? What should I do??

From

Single Friend

Dear Single Friend,

I know this might not be what you want to hear, but sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing to do. You have to tell her. I know, I completely understand why this seems like the worst piece of advice ever, and that she might get totally mad at you, but not telling her is much worse.  There is a good chance that when you tell her she will  get mad at you or accuse you of trying to win her back by lying to her. Stay calm. Tell her the truth and how you feel, that you do miss her, but would never lie to her about something like this. Even though she may be mad at you now, when she finds out that her boyfriend really did cheat on her, she’ll be grateful that you risked her wrath to tell the truth. It will be much worse if she finds out that you knew the whole time and never told her. Imagine how you would feel. I also totally understand that you want your friend to be happy, but do you really want her to be with a guy who cheats? Think about how much worse she’ll feel if she’s been dating him for over three months and she finds out that he cheated on her. Temporary happiness isn’t worth it if it means long-term heartbreak. Besides, even though it isn’t your intention for telling her, you’ll still be able to be there for her and help make things better once it’s over. I hope this helps and I seriously wish you the best of luck.