Graduation Special V97

The Newtonite ◆ Wednesday, June 6, 2018 • Volume 97

Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460

Seniors receive honors at 2018 graduation Samantha Fredberg This afternoon, the Class of 2018 becomes the 158th graduating class of this school, concluding its senior year.

The graduates took their seats as instrumentalists from the Wind Ensemble played “Pomp and Circumstance,” by Edward Elgar, conducted by music teacher Richard Labedz.

The ceremony began with Family Singers, conducted by Adam Grossman, singing “America the Beautiful,” by Katherine Lee Bates, a member of the Class of 1876. Senior Gabriella Avelino then sang the National Anthem and senior Edwin Galatis signed it in American Sign Language.

After principal Henry J. Turner welcomed guests, English Language Learning and EDCO seniors greeted attendees in American Sign Language, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Bengali, Luganda, Spanish, Greek, Cantonese, and Russian.

Next, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, superintendent David Fleishman, school committee member Diana Fisher Gomberg, and president of City Council Marc Laredo spoke to the graduating seniors.

Senior class president Sara Buchwald then presented the class gift, a bench to go on Main Street, and the senior tribute.

Sydney Koo spoke on behalf of the Class of 2018, and special education teacher Linda Fries spoke for the faculty.

Turner presented the Principal’s Plaque to Elizabeth Reilly, vice presi-

dent of programming for the Parent Teacher Association. The award is given to a person or group of people in the Newton community who have made outstanding contributions to the students, faculty, and programs at this school. Reilly received an engraved tray.

Seniors then presented awards to their classmates.

Ilai Gavish presented the Charles

Meserve Fund Award engraved tray and scholarship to his sister Einat Gavish. The award honors an outstanding scholar who has made outstanding contributions to this school.

Chris Matthews and Michela Pini presented the Senior Cups to Kelly Barbieri, and Nathan Harvey. The Senior Cups are awarded for character, scholarship, involvement in the school community, and personality.

Faculty members nominate students for this award and the senior class then votes on the nominees.

Both Barbieri and Harvey received engraved bowls.

Rose Teszler presented her brother Max Tezler the Phi Beta Kappa Award certificate and scholarship for academic excellence.

Noah Neville and Andrew Mah received Dickinson Memorial Award

engraved bowls from Dejanee Miller.

For this award, the athletic department chooses male students who have shown great improvement in athletic cooperation, sportsmanship, character, and skill.

The Helene Breivogel Award was presented by Katherine Ho to Natalie Marshall. The award is given to a female who improves in athletic competition and demonstrates character, skill, and sportsmanship.

The Gary Elliot Prize was awarded to Jonathan Champion and Nora Geffen by Thacher Andreae. Champion and Geffen received certificates for their dedication, creativity, talent, and love for the performing arts.

Michael Lee presented Wendy Li with the Margaret South Award engraved bowl to recognize her courtesy, courage, enthusiasm, and unselfish service to North.

Emma Regan was awarded the Newton Rotary Club William Rockwell Memorial Career and Vocational Technical Education Achievement Award plaque, which was presented

by Daisy Hutter.

Karl Adrianza and Juliette Spitaels presented the Lenny Zakim/ PTSO Human Rights Award to Carrieanne Mamba and Sophie FerreiraIannone. The award honors students who pursue a greater understanding and appreciation of human differences. Mamba and Ferreira-Iannone both received a certificate and scholarship.

At the end of the ceremony, seniors received their diplomas, marking the end of their time at this school.

librarians are present Thursday, and only Dalbec works on Friday.

“With only two librarians present, it is nearly impossible to look over the filled library as well as teach classes,” said Dalbec. “Ideally there should be two librarians watching the library at all times, but we also have to teach classes throughout the day on top of watching the library.”

The lack of available certified librarians on Thursdays and Fridays resulted in what appeared to be more frequent library closings. “We are like other teachers in the school, and we have conflicts throughout the week,” said Dalbec.

She added that with the reduced staffing, what are normal conflicts involving an individual teacher can lead to the closing of the entire library.

These closings caused inconvenience for students, according to senior Claire Campbell. Seniors, who have relied on the library during their time here, were particularly affected.

“Personally I spend a lot of time in the library, and I know a lot of my friends and classmates also do to study or complete homework,” said Campbell. “The main problem with the library closings is that they are so arbitrary, with no warning ahead of

time. I always like to plan to complete work or study during a free in the library ahead of time. However, if I show up at the library and it is closed for the day, there is nothing, and was nothing I could do about it.”

These closures—seemingly random to students—resulted from staff reductions and increased responsibilities for the librarians, according to Kennedy.

“We are very busy doing what we were trained for: teaching, helping students for research, promoting reading material and curating our collection,” Kennedy said. “When we

close, it is never ‘random’; rather, we close because we must maintain not only an academic space, but also a safe space, which we can’t do without adequate staffing.”

Staffing for the library will remain level-funded for the 2018-2019 school year, according to Dalbec.

While the library will not increase in staffing, other departments will receive more staff to accomodate the increase in student population. There will be three new math classes, a new part-time Spanish teacher, and a new school psychologist according to vice principal Amy Winston.

by

Joelle Sugianto

Senior Nathan Harvey leads the Class of 2018 in a traditional victory chant during checkout after Countdown in the SOA last Thursday morning.

Students burdened by cuts to library staffing Helen Xiao Seniors and their underclass peers planning to spend their frees studying in the library sometimes arrived to find a locked door.

Due to budget cuts to the library department, students at North experienced frequent library closures this year and can expect no change in the next school year.

Currently, librarians Erin Dalbec, Lauren Italiano, and Kathleen Kennedy work five, four, and three days per week respectively. Despite having three certified librarians, all three of them are only present on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Only two by

Seniors provide legacy of communal comfort Sophie Murthy In their four years here, the Class of 2018 enjoyed North’s expansive, multimillion-dollar campus. As graduates, they will leave behind a gift to continue that legacy for future classes.

In support of the Student Faculty Administration’s (SFA) plan to furnish Main Street, the Class of 2018 will gift a bench for Main Street. The bench will be painted by art major students and feature a dedication plaque from the class.

“We’re looking for things that the school could use, and that will be helpful to the community,” said senior class president Sara Buchwald.

She added that the idea to paint the bench came from a student art project last year.

“Last year art majors painted a by

bunch of pianos, and they turned out really well. I was just like why not make the bench more interesting and it’s another way to involve people who go to North and to make it more special,” said Buchwald.

Buchwald, senior vice presidents Elizabeth Davis, Amrita Iyer, Chloe O’Neil and Ben Schwartz, and adviser Jodie Cohen received suggestions for the bench from several people.

According to Buchwald, the bench’s arrival has yet to be determined. “If we paint it, it will be in later, towards the end of the year and if we don’t, it will be earlier. It also depends when they put the other furniture on Main Street.”

The bench has been approved and will be ordered along with the rest of the furniture for Main Street.

Joelle Sugianto

Students take a bow after the fashion show during Asian Culture Night Saturday, April 28.

opinion

2 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Redefine success for lifelong fullfillment As we celebrate the range of achievements of the graduating class, we look forward to the diversity of their future plans.

For some who are heading off to college, it is the first time in their education that they are able to exercise control over what they study and to what they dedicate their time.

editorial Many of these students will choose to major in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that five out of the 10 most enrolled-in majors are STEM studies, and the number consistently rises every year.

The increase in popularity seems positive, not just because it is a departure from the negative ‘nerd’ label, but because work in STEM leads to innovation for society. STEM professions are responsible for more than 50 percent of economic expansion, according to Forbes magazine.

Rising enrollment in STEM fields, however, is not purely due to increased interest. In a survey

by Microsoft and Harris Interactive, 68 percent of undergraduate students admitted to pursuing a STEM degree in order to earn a high salary rather than because of a passion for the subject matter. Consequently, many students included in this surge do not earn a degree, possibly due to a lack of interest, but also perhaps due to poor preparation from their high school curricula. CBS News cites an ACT report saying that many students fail to meet STEM benchmarks because they “don’t possess strong backgrounds in science and math before heading to college.”

Fortunately, this is not entirely true for North graduates. North prepares its students well with regards to STEM academics, as

evidenced by Envirothon heading to their national competition in July or Ligerbots being ranked internationally. Therefore, even if students choose to pursue STEM for the salary instead of being driven by a passion, they will still likely find success.

There is, however, no reason to do so.

Students at North are able to prepare for careers in areas of personal interest outside of the hard sciences. For example, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, and Graphics—all STEM-based vocational programs—not only educate students in mechanics, construction, and computeraided design, but prepare them realistically for careers in these fields.

In the humanities as well, students apply themselves to realistic work, and their achievements prove it: Mock Trial placed eighth in the nation this year, students win high honors in national language placement exams, Thoughtprints boasts awardwinning writers, and yes, even here on The Newtonite, students receive honors for their writing.

Likewise, the arts at North provide a real world experience that prepares graduates interested in such careers. Theater Ink, for example, produces shows year-round with a distinct level of professionalism. Theater becomes, in a sense, a vocational education. It prepares students, many of whom intend to pursue acting, directing, or design after high school, in an environment that is not just for fun.

Success can be found in any field, and students from North have the skills to take their pick.

Next year, these graduates will go off to different corners of the world and pursue an array of opportunities. Graduates who are passionate and devoted to their pursuits will succeed. They can achieve not only security, but will find fulfillment and meaning.

The Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the news source of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460.

Editors in chief — Samantha Fredberg and Sophia Zhou Managing editors — Will Kharfen Laura Schmidt-Hong, Rose Skylstad Arts editors — Isabella Lecona, Carolyn McDonald, Amy Xue News editors — Jacques AbouRizk, Sophie Murthy, Hari Narayanan, Helen Xiao Opinions editors — Skyler Bohnert, Tali Falk-Judson, Zoe Goldstein, Rebecca Kellstein, Sophie Ravina Sports editors — Jake Forbes, Nichol Weylman-Farwell Media manager — Joelle Sugianto Graphic designers — Skyler Bohnert, Jai Khurana

Photo editor — Lilah Gentry Business/advertisements & social media manager — Ophelia Baxter Advisers — Tom Fabian, Derek Knapp, Amanda Mazzola Blog staff — Derek Krantz, Jason Alpert-Wisnia Business staff — Isaac Tang Graphics staff — Shaelyn Fitzgerald News staff — Yesha Thakkar Photo staff — Jason Alpert-Wisnia, Molly Potter, Abby Roll Technology staff—Jason Figueiredo

The Newtonite staff does all its reporting and photography to post content daily to its website, thenewtonite.com.

Sign up for The Newtonite’s monthly email newsletter on its website. In addition to the graduation special, The Newtonite publishes a spring special, a first day of school special, a club special, and a midyear special.

To place an advertisement in the online or print version of The Newtonite or to contact us by phone, please call 617-559-6273. Readers can also reach us at thenewtonite@gmail.com.

Letters The Newtonite serves as a designated forum for student expression. Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the thenewtonite@gmail.com.

The Newtonite reserves the right to edit all letters, which must have the writer’s name and a student’s class and homeroom.

Joelle Sugianto

Seniors Maya Krieger, Mason Veroff, and Daniel Baumel race their boat during the annual Physics Phloat on Thursday, May 31.

Read from diverse news sources while countering personal biases, viewpoints Tali Falk-Judson It is safe to say we live in rather turbulent times. Turn on the news and you are immediately assaulted with headline after headline announcing the end of life as we know it. Global warming, political uncertainty, the rising tide of nationalism; with all of these problems, it can be easy to seek out someone to take the blame. The danger of this is how quickly it leads to blanket stereotyping of those one considers “in the wrong.”

by

column The stereotypes for the opposing sides have become so ubiquitous that these stigmas begin to replace the actual arguments they stand in for. Republicans are all “anti-immigrant gun nuts.” Democrats are all “communists with a thirst for abortion.” There is no middle ground.

Instead, political discourse is lost in a sea of screaming and name calling.

To be upfront, I am heavily liberal. My bias, just like the biases of the rest of the world, affects the way I perceive information. I am guilty of committing the sins that are littered through American politics today. I jump to conclusions. I make generalizations. If I don’t like the source, I will often discount its content. In an echo chamber like Newton, it is easy to not only ignore the other side, but to demonize it. This isn’t fair, but it is the reality. We tend to fence ourselves in, ignore any contrarian opinions, and instead cover our ears and shut our eyes.

I would have continued like that, if not for an AP Language and Composition assignment that had me consciously examine both my own biases and the realities that

had overwritten my mind. The assignment was simple: read articles from different news sources with different biases and find out what people are actually saying, not just what I think they are saying. What I found was what might have been expected, but also what challenged my own world view. The conservative sources did not call for the deaths and deportations of all immigrants. To the contrary, most, including the Wall Street Journal, the National Review, and the Hill, were pro-immigration. Similarly, the idea that liberals want completely open borders and would like illegal immigrants to come flooding into the country was countered by sources such as The Washington Post and NPR. So, I conducted more research.

I put down my beloved New York Times and ventured off into the dark and mysterious realms of the conservative internet to find that things were pretty much the same.

To qualify, just as I wouldn’t read a poorly researched, completely biased liberal news source, I avoided the conservative equivalents; there were no Breitbart articles in my catalog, for example. I looked at opinion pieces related to many of the hot button issues: abortion, taxation, the military, and more.

Invariably, I found that both sides approached these topics with the same level-headed, analytical style.

The writers were measured in the ways they conveyed their opinions. They did not go on tirades or insult the other side or call for the downfall of the United States. The big difference was perspective, but I found that as long as a piece was well-researched and fair, it defied all the stereotypes that I had.

In an interview with NPR, psychologist Paul Bloom said, “You

don’t ask a toddler for directions, you don’t ask a very old person to help you move a sofa and that’s because you stereotype.” He’s right.

Though we tend to think of stereotypes only when it comes to things like racism and sexism, their original purpose is to make life simpler.

If we were constantly reassessing everything, nothing would ever get accomplished. That being said, stereotypes are only good so far as those generalizations are helpful. It is helpful to categorize the world in order to make life simpler, but when stereotypes replace political reality, then you run into trouble.

But not everyone is given this type of assignment. Not everyone has the time, the access or the inclination to do the research, find out their biases are wrong, and then change their opinions accordingly.

For the vast majority of Americans, myself included, it is far easier to just categorize everyone of a certain ideology one way and be done with it.

So what’s the alternative? It is impossible to ask every person what their opinion is. I am guilty of basing my evaluation of something on where it comes from. If I like the source, I am more likely to believe it, whereas I try to find reasons why a source from another perspective is wrong. Still, it is important to fight through bias. Despite the inconvenience and the questions it raises, being open to all perspectives allows for both a better understanding of the world and a better appreciation of other people.

Today’s society is seemingly predicated on strong disagreements, but that is not the way it should be.

The biases that help us make generalizations should not decide our political discourse where, by its very nature, everything is nuanced.

retirements

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 3

Wagner cultivates open, welcoming environment

By Jacques Abou-Rizk The sound of drills and air compressors fill the automotive technology room as students, their hands covered in oil, work on a teacher’s car. Guiding them through this work is automotive technology teacher Paul Wagner, who is retiring after teaching at North for 10 years.

Wagner teaches the Automotive exploratory, in which students learn the functions and repair of cars provided by Newton community members.

Since he began working at North, Wagner has prioritized students’ individual interests over traditional academic pressures.

“It can be fun to work on cars, and it can be a job,” Wagner said.

“You can have fun and make a living off the same thing.”

According to senior Caleb Butler, who has taken Wagner’s automotive program for four years, Wagner “has a different outlook on everything. All the teachers are saying these things like ‘go to college,’ ‘go get a job,’ ‘go be successful,’ but Wagner tells us to do what we like and get it done. He encourages individualism.”

At the same time, Wagner has aimed to instill a sense of responsibility and dedication in his students to apply later in life.

“He definitely leaves the necessary skills to go on in a very

successful career in automotive,” Butler said. “He inspired me to go out and get a job and teaches professionalism, work ethic, and time management.”

Wagner said that he hopes these values have inspired close connections between students and their work. “They have a vested interest in what they are doing,” Wagner said. “For example, if they are working on a teacher’s car, their parent’s car, or their car, they can contribute to their learning by relating to what they are doing.”

However, Wagner did not always plan on working in automotive technology. Born in Everett, Massachusetts and later moving to Chelsea, Massachusetts, Wagner attended the University of Lowell, now UMass Lowell, where he majored in electrical engineering. He graduated in 1980 and went on to work as an engineer, then attended the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. He graduated in 1985 as an automotive major.

“I didn’t start off in automotive.

I like to think of it as a natural progression,” Wagner said. “I started in engineering, but eventually came into automotive.”

At the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, Wagner also taught a number of classes in electronics. After graduating, he came to work at North as the automotive technology teacher.

“The first few months were very confusing,” Wagner said. “We were in the old school, and it was overwhelming just because of the sheer volume of people. I came from a work environment, and it was very different.”

“Wagner tells us to do what we like and get it done. He encourages individualism.”

- senior, Caleb Butler

Still, Wagner eventually grew comfortable at North and began organizing automotive-related projects. He has completed many community service projects including work for the Newtonville Homes and the Newton Senior Center.

One of his favorite moments at North was creating a wheelchair for a sidewalk mural artist known as ‘Sidewalk Sam,’ making it easier for him to draw with chalk.

“At one point we did an Assistive Technology Design Fair in conjunction with UMass Lowell, and I was in charge of the whole thing,” Wagner said. “We had Engineering involved, Automotive involved, and Greengineering involved. With the effort between the three programs, we designed a product for a handi-

capped person. It was one of the most memorable things I was directly involved in.”

Courtney Leahy ’12 took automotive for three years and served as a teaching assistant for the class as a senior. She said that although she did not pursue an automotive career after high school, she is grateful for Wagner’s expertise and guidance.

He “taught me everything I know about cars,” she said. “Every time something is up with my car I feel like I have an idea of what is happening, and when I speak with mechanics, I understand them.”

“You always want to pass on knowledge that you have,” Wagner said. “You always want to pass on your ability to do things to the next generation.”

In her speech about Wagner at the retirees’ tea, CTVE department head Kathleen Duff relayed kind words said by faculty members about Wagner. Among them, science teacher Scott Rosenhahn noted Wagner’s focus on students’ best interests and dedication to service projects before and after school.

During his time at North, Wagner has also aimed to make the automotive room a relaxing place for students to unwind. He hopes for that to continue after he leaves.

“The reality of it is that a lot of kids need a place to hang their hats,” Wagner said. “It could be automotive, it could be carpentry,

Joelle Sugianto photo

but it gives them a home base rather than drifting around aimlessly. It can give them a sense of belonging, a place where they can be part of something.”

After Wagner’s retirement, he hopes to teach part-time at a college and continue fixing cars.

He hopes to “enjoy life, take care of the family, and help others,” he said. “That’s the plan anyways, we will see how it goes. What happens is another story.”

Ultimately, Wagner always considered each step in his life to be part of something bigger. As such, he said he would repeat this part of his life without question.

“I’d do it again, absolutely,” Wagner said. “Life is a journey, and you make different stops. College, engineering, the car dealerships, and coming to North—they were steps in that journey.”

Fries’ legacy of Pilot program nutures community

By Helen Xiao Down a long and quiet hallway on the second floor, a community thrives: the Pilot program. Here, special education teacher Linda Fries taught and offered emotional support to students at North for 13 years.

Fries, who is retiring after teaching for almost 40 years, during which time she founded the Pilot program in 1996 with former special education teacher Walter Lyons, who retired three years ago.

Pilot is a therapeutic program that provides a smaller learning community designed for students who need access to counseling support within the school day. Fries’ love for teaching and interacting with kids prompted her decision to found the program.

“Ever since I started teaching, I grew a passion for working with kids, especially those who need additional support,” said Fries.

All throughout her life, Fries worked in the field of special education, with kids with physical or mental disabilities.

“These kids may seem tough to work with, but after getting to know them, they are incredibly nice, and the things that kids say are touching,” said Fries. “While I teach them fundamentals for school, they teach me so much in return, and remind me why I love my job.”

While teaching at North, Fries also built strong connections with Pilot staff, according to adjustment counselor Nora Lord, the current Pilot director.

Lord said, “She always stressed the importance of community building in the program, organized bonding activities, and is incredibly kind to everyone. She was also an exceptional mentor to us.”

School adjustment counselor Amy Heslin, who has worked in the Pilot program for 15 years, noted that Fries was able to connect with students not only in the program, but also throughout the whole school. For instance, Fries has chaperoned the Prague summer

Joelle Sugianto photo

trip for 14 years.

“She was incredibly involved in the school,” said Heslin. “And she absolutely loved kids.”

In addition to working with and teaching students at North, Fries also enjoyed learning from them and admired how they contributed to an inclusive and supportive high school atmosphere.

“My teaching philosophy and routine haven’t changed throughout my time here,” said Fries. “But I have learned so much from the students here: the diversity, the abundance of hard workers, and the spirit that every kid can find their own comfort and do anything “ However, Fries said, she would have never predicted that she would become a special education teacher during the early stages of her life.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Fries soon moved to Chelmsford, Massachusetts and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1973.

Fries subsequently attended UMass Amherst, where she majored in communication disorders and minored in German. She graduated in 1977 and immediately started working as a speech and language therapist at the Baystate Rehabilitation Center.

“I always loved science and kids,” explained Fries. “This prompted my interest for working with kids living with mental and physical disorders.”

Fries worked at the Baystate

Rehabilitation Center for only half a year before teaching at the Massachusetts Hospital School in 1978.

There, Fries discovered her love for classroom environments.

“I soon realized how much I enjoyed working in a class,” said Fries. “With my previous passion for working with kids with disabilities, they lined up perfectly to direct me in the career path of being a teacher in special education.”

After eight years at the Massachusetts Hospital School, Fries worked at Franciscan Children’s Hospital as a special education teacher for six years, then three years as an educational liaison for children with head trauma.

In 1996, finally, she founded and began teaching in the Pilot program at North. She held the position until 2009, when she began teaching at Newton Central High School.

She finally returned to North this year to teach English in the special education department.

Fries said when she began at North, the transition of environments was smooth because she had already been exposed to teaching.

However, working in a large public school rather than a hospital school was a drastic change.

“The community at North was far bigger than what I had originally worked in, but it was a fabulous change,” said Fries. “There were just so many people with visions.”

Fries’ outgoing and friendly personality in particular allowed her to immerse herself quickly at North.

“Linda’s way of building relationships with students is indescribable,” said Lord. “She has a way with people that is so incredible.”

According to special education department head Katherine McCarthy, Fries left a legacy of passion for her work and care for her students. “We will all miss her humor, support, and collaboration,” said McCarthy. “Many of her students consider her to be like a second mother and someone who they will miss very much.”

Her special bonds with students

are lasting, and many of Fries’ past students visit her every year.

“She stressed the importance of community building.”

- adjustment counselor, Nora Lord “It’s sad to see students who I’ve worked with leave every year,” she said. “But many of them come and visit me, and I try to keep in touch as much as possible.”

This year, however, Fries will be leaving North along with her graduating students.

“What I will miss most about North is really the amazing community,” said Fries. “The variety of staff and students is incredible, and I have met many new people who are inspiring and supporting.”

After leaving North, Fries hopes to continue her passion of helping children who struggle emotionally or physically where she currently lives, in Lowell. She also enjoys jewelry-making, reading, cooking, gardening, and hiking.

“Teaching and working with kids who need emotional and physical support has been what has stuck with me my whole life,” said Fries.

“These kids are constantly fighting stigma. It’s a different struggle from what most people experience, and working with them is incredible.”

retirements

4 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Sammett leaves lasting impact of caring advocacy Amy Xue Unlike most high school and even college students, Keren Sammett knew at just 11 years old what career she wanted to pursue: special education teaching.

“Very early on, I felt an affinity for kids who needed guidance and help physically, emotionally, and behaviorally,” she said.

Sammett is retiring this year after working at North for 16 years as both an administrator and a teacher in special education.

Those who have taught with Sammett noted that her calming presence has allowed her to form special connections with students.

Academic support counselor Jane Kenslea said, “She just has this innate sense of what a child needs emotionally, and that’s been extremely therapeutic for the kids she’s worked with.”

Sammett first began developing her lifelong passion of teaching special education by volunteering weekly with autistic children during her time at Francis Lewis High School in Queens, New York, from which she graduated in 1975. During the summer when she turned 16, Sammett decided to build on her knowledge by working at camps for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.

“There didn’t seem to be any incident or exchange that in particular led me to this interest,” Sammett added. “It just must have been something that I’m convinced was part of my temperament and part of who I am that I just felt this really strong desire to work with kids.”

After graduating from Clark University with a double major in psychology and education in 1979, she immediately started teaching in a middle school classroom in Medford. Sammett then went on to earn by

her master’s degree in Special Education Administration from Boston University in 1988.

“Interestingly, when I started teaching out of college, I thought I would always work with elementary school-aged kids because that is what I got certified in,” said Sammett.

However, after her job at the middle school, she said, “I never went back to working with younger kids, so the rest of my career as a teacher was with middle school and high school students.”

“She just has this innate sense of what a child needs emotionally, and that’s been extremely therapeutic for the kids she’s worked with.”

- academic support counselor, Jane Kenslea Sammet first came into Newton as the assistant principal for Pupil Services, coordinating support services, special education, and guidance at Brown Middle School in 1996. When her daughter was born five years later, she wanted a job that would allow her to spend more time at home with her.

She then decided to return to the classroom as a teacher for kids with special needs and applied for a job at North in 2001. She was hired as an academic support teacher and has since strived to provide support for students in an often highly competitive academic environment.

“One of the most important things for me is to support kids to

find their way, to find what works for them so they can be as successful as possible. And in a high-power high school like North, we often see there’s only one way to be the best,” Sammett said.

“What’s really important in a school like North is to show our students there are many ways to access the curriculum and demonstrate their knowledge,” she added.

According to special education department head Katherine McCarthy, “Whatever a student needs is what she’ll create a lesson around. She really looks to the student to learn what they’ll need from her, so she tries to support them however they need it and makes it fun for students.”

During her time at North, Sammett has served as a mentor with the Dover Legacy Scholars, which is, according to its website, “a community within NNHS of young Black and Latino/a scholars: kids who work hard and are interested in pursuing their academics seriously.” Sammett described the experience as a “very special opportunity” unique to North.

She has also won three awards from the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), which are presented by students and their guardians to Newton faculty who, according to the SEPAC website, “have done exceptional work with students receiving special education services.”

Special education, however, “is not for everybody,” Sammett said, because “you have to have a tremendous amount of patience, and you also have to advocate” for students with special needs.

Kenslea said, “One thing that she always brought to the table is her experience as a mom. She has this emotional insight with students

Joelle Sugianto photo

that is something she has on a personal level as a mom.”

Through her dedication and care for individual students, Sammett has left lasting impressions on both her students and colleagues.

Junior John Ozkol, a student of Sammett’s, said, “She’s always nice and greets you in the hallways and talks to you whenever you want to talk to someone. She always takes care of you, emotionally and mentally.”

He added, “It’s sad to see her go, after having that big connection with her.”

“My first impression of her was that she is very warm and kind, and my thought was she would be a really great teacher for kids who learned differently and needed support in some way,” Kenslea said.

“She’s a very open and honest person who, in teaching and working with students, is very passionate and has a holistic approach to helping them with their educational needs,” she added.

McCarthy added that Sammett not only supports her students but also her colleagues. “We will miss her way of being someone you can reach out to if you need some-

thing,” she said.

Sammett reflected similarly on her colleagues’ impact on her, noting that she developed close relationships with both her students and her fellow special educators.

“The support that teachers give each other is critical to good teaching and learning. In general, when you teach in a supportive environment and your colleagues and you work well together, it makes for a better environment for learning for your students,” she said.

After her retirement, Sammett hopes to continue applying her knowledge to help her community.

“I’m actually looking forward to one last ‘hurrah’ after retiring from North and looking to put all of my counseling, teaching, and advocacy skills into play in another way. I don’t know yet what it’s going to be, but I’m hoping that I can do something in advocacy work for youth and families.”

In addition, she looks forward to building up her “burgeoning garden,” taking art classes, and doing yoga. She is also excited to volunteer at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by holding the babies born premature.

Kenslea said, “After the many years of hard work and contributing to education, there comes a time where you have to leave time for yourself in your life, and this is her time to explore things that she wants.”

Ultimately, Sammett said, “What I’ve always loved about being a special educator is that I can be there to help facilitate the learning process and to help students to see that they can be successful, even if it means they have to approach their learning in different ways than the norm.”

Wadness inspires students, builds close connections Isabella Lecona “I get to know these kids on a one-on-one basis. I’m someone they can talk to, whether it’s about an adult they’re having trouble with or just an outside issue that they want to talk about,” said special education classroom aide Mark Wadness, who is retiring after working at North for 10 years.

“If I can get through to one kid like that, that’s what makes it all worth it,” he said.

Wadness works in the Links program, a branch of the special education department for juniors and seniors which “aims to provide a positive behavioral support and reinforcement system designed to engage and support students’ success.” The program stresses consistent attendance and provides support for its students struggling on that front.

Through this work, Wadness has been able to shape and improve the lives of his students. School adjustment counselor Amie Harris, who serves as the director of the Links program, said, “He is the glue that holds this place together.

He is one of the most dependable people I know.”

Wadness attends classes with an assigned group of students, helping them to work through the curricula and occasionally teaching classes when teachers are absent.

Guidance counselor Alison Malkin spoke about how dedicated and willing to help out Wadness is. “When we moved from the old building to the new building, he was in charge of a lot of organizational and moving stuff, and he by

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helped make that actually happen,” said Malkin. “He even downplays his role in everything and says, ‘oh, I just take care of it,’ but what he adds to this school is so much more than that.”

Born in Boston, Wadness grew up in Brookline. He graduated from Brookline High School in 1970 and went on to the University of Miami on a football scholarship. Soon after, Wadness transferred to Northeastern University to be closer to his father when he was sick. There, he majored in physical education, then later took over his family business, Back Bay Movers.

After his two daughters were born, Wadness moved to Newton and left Back Bay Movers to spend time with them. As his daughters moved through the Newton Public Schools system, Wadness became involved in their schools’ Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) at Cabot, Day, and North.

“His ties to Newton are very deep. He loves his community, and he loves where he lives,” said Harris.

Once both of his daughters had graduated from North, Wadness applied for a job at North because he enjoyed the environment and wanted to help students. According to Adams house dean David Turcotte, “He didn’t need the money or need the job. He just did it because he loved it.”

Wadness explained that he was immediately comfortable as a classroom aide, especially given his familiarity with the staff from his time on the PTO. “I didn’t feel intimidated because I already had a relationship with the people,” he said.

He added that he is grateful for his inclusion by North’s teachers in the classroom environment. “Instead of just treating an aide like a person who just gets coffee, they treat me like a co-teacher,” he said.

Whether working with students in their core classes, or more individually in academic support, Wadness has continued to guide students in achieving their goals and making their way into adulthood. Wadness explained that his main focus at North has revolved around helping students be proactive enough to reach out to him.

“I am of the philosophy that I will do anything for a student who asks for help. I have very little patience for kids who are too lazy to ask for the help that they need,” he said.

He added that he can relate more closely to his students be-

cause of his own experiences and motivations in high school. “I was in school to play sports and socialize, not for academics,” he said. “So sometimes I’ll be the one to tell kids that college isn’t for everyone.”

“He’s a very giving man and has this lovely generosity of spirit.”

- guidance counselor, Alison Malkin According to Harris, Wadness’s presence at North will be missed considerably.

“His retirement is going to leave this huge void. I’m so used to seeing him in the morning and he just makes my day better. He’s a very giving man, and he just has this lovely generosity of spirit,” said Malkin.

After he retires, Wadness plans to play golf, travel, and spend time at his house in Florida.

Looking back on the decade that he spent at North, Wadness said that although he is looking forward to his retirement, he would “do it again in a heartbeat,” and will miss the school community.

“I’m hoping that some of the kids think that I reached them as much as I think I did,” he said.

retirements

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 5

Lelchook helps students achieve academic potential Nichol Weylman-Farwell During his time in the Newton Public Schools (NPS), speech pathologist Alex Lelchook has strived to “develop key connections with students so that they gain a sense of trust, desire, and motivation to succeed,” he said. Lelchook is retiring after nine years at North and 30 years in NPS. Experiences with individual students have proven especially meaningful for Lelchook during his time at North and in the district. He recalled one of his fondest moments with a student who, “as a middle school student having severe speaking problems, continued [speech therapy] upon entering high school because he wanted to be successful and he knew that high school was an important environment,” he said.

“With individual support and then collaboration with his teachers, he developed an excitement about learning and achieved the speaking skills to allow him to communicate freely, energetically, and successfully,” Lelchook added.

Lelchook also said he will always appreciate the special impact of other “hardworking and committed” students. One student with whom he had worked throughout middle and high school often used her free periods to “lend her support and offer her insights into school life at North” to other students, he said.

“Numerous courses she took were at the honors level, and her academic skills were quite strong, by

so she was an excellent resource to other students,” he said. “She was highly motivated to strengthen her speaking skills and always wanted comparison updates from week to week, month to month and year to

“He really ‘gets’ teenagers and is comfortable being with them, talking with them, and encouraging them and helping them to grow.”

- special education teacher, Amy McMahon year.”

Special education teacher Amy McMahon praised Lelchook’s ability to work with students. “One of his many gifts is that he really ‘gets’ teenagers and is comfortable being with them, talking with them, and encouraging them and helping them to grow as both learners and as people,” McMahon said.

“One of the many students we have shared over the years said to me recently since Alex left, ‘I really miss Mr. Lelchook. He really understood me.’ I think that all of his students felt that way,” she added.

McMahon also explained that Lelchook’s teaching experience was “unparalleled by any other teacher that I had ever worked with.” She said that whether it was how to teach kids to write essays or how to utilize certain teaching techniques,

Lelchook “always knew what to do.”

“He had done these educational tasks before and knew how to teach them to me. What a gift he had,” McMahon said.

Lelchook was born in New York but grew up in Newton for most of his childhood. As a teenager, he was fond of learning languages and studied French, Latin, and Russian in high school, as well as spending a year in Israel to learn Hebrew.

He graduated from South in 1969, then attended George Washington University, where he studied French literature and even spent his sophomore year at the American College in Paris. Lelchook subsequently obtained a master’s in communication disorders from the University of Oklahoma.

He explained that his interest in languages added to his desire to pursue this major and later become a speech pathologist. “I enjoyed the challenge and rigor associated with course work in communication disorders related to children,” he said.

After college, Lelchook worked as a speech-language pathologist at Lawrence General Hospital for ten years, helping preschool children, adult stroke victims, and patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Before coming to North, he worked at Bigelow, Burr, Horace Mann, Memorial Spaulding, and Zervas.

Lelchook said that at first he was nervous about working at North, but seeing “familiar and welcome faces” dissipated that feeling.

“I also had very welcoming colleagues at North to assist me in acclimating to the high school teaching environment,” he added.

Over time, Lelchook gradually developed a daily routine centered around improving students’ school experiences. “My daily schedule has always involved working with students, both individually and in small groups,” he said.

Likewise, he conducted language evaluations with students, and held meetings with their parents to discuss the test results.

Lelchook valued the students who would come to him for help.

Although “high school learning and high school years are challenging,” he said, “students do not hesitate to use support teachers as sounding boards and as guidance facilitators to problem-solve dilemmas that revolve around the classroom and the school environment.

I remember students throughout the years, from freshman to seniors, who were comfortable enough to communicate with me as a resource,” he said.

Lelchook said that he will miss many things from his time at North, but the “collegial teaching environment” and the “energy and growth that the students show during their four years at the school” stand out the most.

If he had the chance, Lelchook said he would become a speech pathologist again. “Teaching techniques are always evolving, and the relationship with education is so tight that we are always trying

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to effect changes in students’ learning styles so that students become responsible citizens both in school, in their communities and in society after they graduate,” he said.

After leaving this school, Lelchook said he plans on running more and continuing to work as a vendor at Fenway Park selling beer, peanuts, and pizza, which he has done for the last 19 years.

Lelchook reflected on the pride he has gained from working with students and seeing them develop crucial skills for their futures.

“I leave knowing that the most important part of my teaching job is to nurture relationships between and among students so that they will feel positive about using a supportive learning environment, and knowing that I strengthened and developed skills that will support them both in and outside of school.”

Camilli guides students, faculty through community Jake Forbes Whenever a visitor steps into the main office, administrative assistant Maria Camilli is there to help point them in the right direction.

“I really have a wealth of information about the building because of where I work,” said Camilli, who is retiring this year after working at North for 12 years. Using her knowledge of the school, she directs students and teachers alike to wherever they need to be.

“She’s able to answer any question when someone walks in, no matter how wacky it is,” said vice principal Amy Winston.

When she is not aiding a visitor at the front desk, Camilli coordinates the logistics behind school field trips, organizes building rentals, and works with the theater and custodial departments. “I assist the vice principal with the teacher slips and forward them to the education center, and I do the attendance for the kids on field trips,” said Camilli, describing herself as “middleman” in these situations. by

“She’s able to answer any question when someone walks in, no matter how wacky.”

- vice principal, Amy Winston “She is responsible for a lot of things that require a lot of attention to detail, whether it be related to field trips or graduation, and she is very on top of those details,” Winston said.

As an almost lifelong resident of Newton and someone who has dedicated over a decade to North, Camilli has been an active member of the community, according to Winston.

For many, the tasks that Camilli

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completes on a regular basis would be strenuous. For Camilli, “it’s fun for me because I enjoy doing those types of things,” she said.

Guidance department head Beth Swederskas said that Camilli’s attention to detail is “impeccable.”

Swederskas described her as “very dependable, smart, and able to quickly figure things out.”

Camilli was born in Italy and immigrated to Newton at the age of six. She graduated from Newton High in 1969 and has lived in Newton since.

Having majored in the business course at Newton High, Camilli began working as an administrative assistant at Raytheon Company following her high school graduation.

“Many schools back then didn’t offer a business course, so [students] would have to go to secretarial school,” said Camilli.

The opportunity to attend a business class at Newton High School, Camilli said, “helped me to improve many important skills such as bookkeeping and shorthand. Once I told the interviewers I was from Newton High School, their eyes lit up.”

After working at Raytheon for nine years, she decided to start her family and left work to be with her children, while helping her hus-

band establish a small electrical service company.

Camilli returned to the workforce once her two children were in school and began working as a substitute secretary and health assistant for Newton Public Schools. In 2001, she took a full-time position as the Student Services secretary at Oak Hill, then left in 2006 to work in North’s guidance department as an administrative assistant.

Swederskas, who became guidance department head in 2009, said that Camilli was “there to help give guidance on how things are organized,” which “was a huge help.”

To help give Swederkas a lay of the land in the office, Camilli said, “I explained my responsibilities and the procedures we had in place.”

Throughout her time in the department, Camilli formed friendships with many of her coworkers.

“It was a close-knit family,” she said. “I worked with all of the guidance counselors, and they were a great group to work with.”

Even when they faced challenges in their work, Swederskas said, she and Camilli were able to enjoy themselves in solving the problem together. “There would be various times where, in complex situations, we would just laugh,” she said.

In 2010, Camilli moved to the main office, where she worked closely with the vice principals and developed friendships with new coworkers.

“I love all the girls in the main office,” she said. “We have grown very close and share stories. It’s a pleasure to come into work every morning.”

Registrar Nancy Batt works closely with Camilli, and said, “Her work ethic is spot on and she has a great sense of humor.”

Working in the main office, Camilli has also helped thousands of people, many of them students. Her interactions with the student body

have proven meaningful to Camilli.

“The kids are fantastic. They are really nice, and I respect them highly,” she said. “I’ve worked in the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. The high school is my favorite place to work because you see the maturity. There is this big change that comes over them, and it is phenomenal to see.”

While she will miss her colleagues and North’s students, Camilli is also ready to make more time for other parts of her life once she retires. She hopes to spend more time with her family and in

particular with her grandchildren.

Once her husband retires, she also plans on traveling more, possibly to Iceland. In addition, “I might try something like knitting, do some gardening, and probably get back into cooking,” she added.

Remembering all of her memories at North, Camilli said it will be hard to leave all the faces she has seen every day.

“I’ll take away the friendships that I have made and all the little life lessons that we pick up from each other on a daily basis,” she said.

retirements

6 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Reed champions honesty, diversity through METCO Zoe Goldstein The counseling philosophy of METCO counselor Lisa Reed is all about “being real.”

This year, Reed retired from North after a rich history of supporting the community in many ways, all underlaid by this philosophy. She counseled at North for four years but has been involved with METCO, the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, throughout her career, which has widened her impact to several communities. Her job as METCO counselor at North meant she worked with students in the METCO program to “oversee their adjustment and their time here at North,” said Reed. by

“The people at Newton North, they’re good people,” she said.

“I gave a lot to them, but I really have to say they gave a lot to me.”

- former North METCO counselor, Lisa Reed METCO itself is a program that aims to eliminate racial imbalance in schools by giving students from Boston and Springfield the opportunity to go to public schools in nearby suburban areas, according to the Newton Public Schools website. According to Reed, “it’s unfortunate that we have to have the METCO program. By that, I mean that the students can’t stay in their own communities and get the same quality of education that they receive when they come to school in the suburbs.”

Through METCO, “You’re going to change your community for the better. We’re all going to benefit from this,” Reed said. Her dedication to the program, she said, comes from a belief in its importance, specifically on two fronts: first, it provides students with a quality education, and second, it helps to create a diverse community

within suburban schools.

To illustrate Reed’s policy of “being real,” she shared a story about an elementary school student with behavioral issues who would often be sent to Reed’s office. One such time, the boy became angry and wiped everything off of Reed’s desk. Then, “He just looked at me, waiting for people to scream at him or yell at him,” said Reed.

But Reed did neither. Instead, she stuck to her policy. “I said, ‘I’m not going to yell or scream. But here’s what I know. I know that you’re going to pick up everything off the floor and you’re going to put it back on my desk the way it was.’”

The boy placed everything back on her desk, and his parents came to pick him up. On the way out, “he comes over to me and gives me this big ol’ hug,” said Reed. “And he says, ‘Thank you, Ms. Reed.’”

Reflecting on this moment, Reed said the takeaway was that “he needed to understand what the rules were. Even though he was having a hard time, he still needs to follow the rules.”

Reed, originally from the Bronx, has always dreamed of working with children, and her counseling policy has served her as she has realized that dream in various ways.

After graduating from Harry S. Truman High School in 1980, Reed went on to Boston College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. She then took a job as a social worker at the Walker School in Needham. After three years there, she became a METCO social work counselor for the Bowman, Bridge, and Harrington elementary schools in Lexington.

After a year as the assistant director of METCO in Newton, she became the director in 1999. Reed held the position for 16 years before becoming the METCO counselor at North, which brought her back to her “first love,” which was “to be there with students.” She began working at North in 2014, hired by former principal Jennifer Price.

While working one-on-one with students, Reed’s philosophy of “be-

ing real” shines through, blending with her ability to empathize. To counselor Michele Kennedy, a collaborator with Reed for around 20 years, counseling requires someone who is “real and honest, but also caring and sensitive.”

“It’s this weird balance, this sort of tightrope that counselors in general walk,” Kennedy added.

As such, Reed said, “I come into work each day because I know there’s going to be somebody who needs me, and maybe all they need is a smile.”

This frankness allows Reed to form authentic relationships with students. She said that with students, she has a conversation as if she were talking to one of her friends.

Current North METCO counselor Cheryl Walden, one of Reed’s close friends and colleagues and the former Lexington METCO counselor, highlighted the authenticity Reed fosters in her relationships.

Reed’s capacity to figure out what each student needs and tailor her actions to that need demonstrates this, she said.

“She knows her students. She knows who they are, what their strengths and concerns are, and what baggage they carry.”

- current North METCO counselor, Cheryl Walden “She knows her students,” said Walden. “She knows who they are, what their strengths and concerns are, and what the baggage is that they carry, and because she’s sensitive to their cultural orientation, she can speak with them from that lived experience.”

To achieve that level of comfort, Reed has worked hard to stay connected with students. “During lunchtime I would go hang out in the cafeteria, talk to kids, say, ‘I’m

Fremault works with positivity Carolyn McDonald Custodian Ronnie Fremault retired earlier this year after working at North for 20 years. His legacy of hard work and dedication to his job has shaped the experiences of school community members, who expressed their appreciation for his kind and devoted character. by

“Ronnie is one of those positive, upbeat people who is always ready to laugh.”

- art teacher, Shannon Slattery Head custodian Tim Keefe, who worked with Fremault on a daily basis, said that he will miss their time together. “What I’ll miss is a great friend. We have been working together for 35 years,” Keefe said.

“I was his boss for 20 years, but re-

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ally, we weren’t associated that way.

We were associated by being best friends.”

History teacher Anthony Patelis shared similar sentiments, adding that he will miss Fremault’s dedicated and reliable character. “I will miss seeing him everyday, his hu-

mor, the way I relied on him for so many things,” he said.

Although they did not always work together regularly because of their different positions, Patelis interacted with Fremault when he directed SAT testing at North. “I could always rely on Ronnie to make sure the tests got delivered and the rooms were opened. Nothing ever went wrong when Ronnie was here,” Patelis said.

Art teacher Shannon Slattery further described Fremault’s impact on the school community.

“Ronnie is one of those positive, upbeat people who is always ready to laugh. He is helpful and kind, ready to help me out with any request, which we often have in the art area. I would describe him as a genuine, optimistic, and big-hearted person.”

Slattery added, “I’m sad to not be working with him, but happy that he gets to enjoy time with his family now that he is retired.”

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on the fourth floor, don’t forget about me! Come visit!’” She added, “Everyone is welcome in my office.

I’m always willing to help.”

In the spirit of staying connected, Reed also co-led Dover Legacy Scholars, a program that aims to support Black and Latino/a students in high-level classes. According to Walden, “Those students really loved Ms. Reed,” who was always looking for ways to “take feedback about a situation and turn it into an idea to meet the needs of children,” said Walden.

After Walden took some Lexington High School seniors on a cruise, many were unsure of what to expect in a formal dining room.

Walden brought this back to a staff meeting, and Reed decided to design an after school program for fifth-graders called Watu Wazuri.

The program, which Reed directed during her time in Lexington, taught students letter writing, manners, and the difference between formal and informal communication, according to Reed. All of these efforts stemmed from Reed’s

drive to turn issues and concerns into opportunities for her students.

“Her base is empowering others,” said Walden. Reed shaped the lives of “literally thousands of kids,” she added, and will be remembered as a “strong, committed, courageous black woman who was an advocate for her kids.”

Similarly, South senior Aaliyah Jennings characterizes Reed as “a strong, passionate woman” who “stands up for what she believes in.”

Reed’s reach is even multi-generational, as she has been able to interact with her former students and even meet their children. “I had one mother who said to her son, ‘You see this lady? She really helped me when I was in school. She’s the nicest person,’” she said. “To get that feedback, when people thank you for the work that you’ve done and you see that you’ve made a difference in the family or the children’s lives” has been especially gratifying, she said.

Overall, according to Reed, that is what is most important for her— the people. “The people at Newton North, they’re good people,” she said. “I gave a lot to them, but I really have to say they gave a lot to me.”

As she heads into retirement, Reed hopes to spend more time traveling and with her mother. Still, she will miss the people at North immensely she said.

When she sees students pass her in the hallway at North, “They smile and wave, and I wave back,” she said. “Sometimes that’s all I needed, and that’s all they needed.”

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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Newton North, The Newtonite â—† 7

8 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

community statements

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 9

Effect future change by Build on experiences of education embracing individuality To the graduating Class of 2018: Warmest congratulations on your graduation from Newton North High School! This is an important milestone and a momentous time as you begin another chapter in your life.

One thing I know for sure, as Mayor I have witnessed firsthand that you have learned how to use your individual voices, as well as to form groups to speak with a passionate and effective collective voice.

I’ve admired what you’ve done.

I’ve listened to and watched gifted musicians, actors and dancers. I’ve seen great sportsmanship and state championships. I’ll never forget the exuberance of the Newton North girls’ volleyball team as they ran through the Historic Newton Gala after winning the state title – I loved that. I’ve seen terrific debaters and outstanding academic achievements by honors students, and I’ve seen struggling students and those with challenges achieve so much.

Those of you who wrote to me and met with me to advocate for so many causes were true leaders for gun control and mental health issues. I’ve been struck by a theme in these conversations. You are using your voices to stand up for others, to make this city, this country, this world, a better place for those who

Dear Class of 2018, Please accept my congratulations as your time in the Newton Public Schools draws to a close. I hope your educational experience has been a time of both academic and personal growth.

As you reflect on your high school experience, may you remember the teacher that sparked a passion, the adult in the building that helped you through a difficult time, or the fellow student who inspired you to accomplish things you never deemed possible. We are lucky in Newton to have students, faculty, and staff with diverse

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will come after you.

There is an inscription on a newly restored mural at Newton North. The mural, titled “Citizenship,” includes an oath written more than 2000 years ago. It says in part, “We will strive unceasingly … to transmit our city not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” All of you are making sure elected officials, including me, do nothing less.

I can’t wait to see where you lead us in the years ahead.

—Ruthanne Fuller Mayor of Newton

Take pride in successful community engagement Dear Class of 2018, We are honored to join the chorus of those wishing you success as you continue on your journey to adulthood.

You have had the privilege of spending four years in a beautiful new high school with diverse offerings. You may have started out with trepidation, wondering how you would make your way, but you have gained confidence and a sense of ownership during your time in the school. We hope you have adopted a growth mindset and been willing to experience failures as you attempted new things. You will learn from these setbacks and from opportunities to revise your work and change course.

Newton North has been enriched by signs of your civic engagement; your participation in clubs, athletics, academics, volunteer efforts, theatre, art, and music, among other activities, has strengthened the school community and set an example for younger students. By taking part in Newton for a Better World, many of you showed your desire to be active citi-

­—David Fleishman Superintendent­­

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Apply dedication, meaningful leadership to future endeavors Congratulations Class of 2018 for graduating from this outstanding high school.

Over the past four years you have grown up alongside the diverse group of students in our school, developed new skills, and participated in new activities. I hope that you reflect on how far you have come over the last four years as you begin to plan for your next journey. Also, I hope that all of you remember the adults who have helped you along your journey: the teacher who inspired you, the counselor or mentor who supported you, the teammates and friends who cheered for you, and the loved ones who encouraged you.

Your future is bright and I have every expectation that you will set this world on fire. I look forward

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to learning how you will impress us with all of your acts of charity, your intellectual contributions, your caring leadership, and your efforts to build a better world. As you take on these new endeavors, think about how Newton North

prepared you for these experiences and please pay it forward.

Thank you for your leadership as we continue to grow as a school that supports all students. Over the last few years you have helped our school grow stronger as we engaged in challenging and potentially divisive situations and topics. Whether it was on Main St, in the classroom, on the stage, on the playing field, or any other location at North, I believe that we have learned from you as much as you have learned from us.

In your own unique way you have made Newton North the special place that it is. Best of luck in your future. Go Tigers!

–Henry J. Turner, ED Principal

Seek personal growth on road ahead

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zens.

We hope that you have also grown in your ability to make good decisions through your friendships and through guidance from parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, and counselors. We also hope that the Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices expos and events have helped you realize that there is always a community of support at your disposal. We know that you will carry with you what you have learned in all capacities as you continue your life journey.

We wish you well in the future beyond the walls of Newton North High School.

You have made us, and the families we represent, proud.

Congratulations!

—Sally Brickell and Valerie Pontiff Newton North PTSO co-presidents file photo

backgrounds and life experiences.

I hope that you had the opportunity to learn from them and to view life from a different perspective.

This will no doubt serve you well as you take your next step.

It is our sincere hope that the Newton Public Schools has given you a strong foundation to pursue your passion and inspired you to be a lifelong learner.

Best wishes as you begin the next chapter.

To the Class of 2018, We are so excited to share in the celebration of all of your many individual and collective talents and accomplishments! This is the beginning of a journey that will yield so many exciting new experiences, no matter the path you are choosing.

Be the most authentic, kind and honest versions of yourselves. In this way, you will impact others and the world in ways that may seem unimaginable to your teenage selves. Open yourselves to the unfamiliar, seek growth, find your voice and trust that you have been well prepared to rise to any occasion. If you meet roadblocks in your way,

take heart that nothing is insurmountable if you can find ways to keep moving forward toward your goals, large or small. As you leave Newton North and embark on your next adventure, remember the words of the philosopher Lao Tzu who reminds us that “great acts are made up of small deeds.”

Congratulations and best of luck! We are all very excited to see where the next chapter of your lives will lead you.

—Jenny Chou School Council co-chair

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Focus on overarching ambitions Congratulations seniors. You have not just survived high school, you have achieved and excelled.

Your high school years have been marked by many events at NNHS, and in the world, that have spurred many of you to step up and speak out. Watching you, and supporting you, over these past four years has been a fabulous opportunity to work with young people who are learning how to be leaders and get involved in movements that matter to you and to all of us. Every step of the way I have been impressed by your empathy, drive, and commitment. Thank you for being leaders, being respectful, and taking a stand.

As you head off into the world beyond NNHS, take a moment to reflect on this quote from former

first lady Barbara Bush: “Believe in something larger than yourself….. get involved in the big ideas of your time.” The “big ideas” for each of you may be different, but they are all important for civic discourse and cultural change and take hard work from a wide range of people with varied beliefs. We must work together to make our school, our country, and our world better for ALL people. The commitment to equity is at the core of who we are at NNHS. Take this commitment with you out into the world as you leave your mark and make change beyond Newton.

—Amy Winston Vice Principal

Check us out at thenewtonite.com

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10 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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faculty statements

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 11

Cherish high school experiences Embrace optimism while living in present moment Dear Class of 2018, Congratulations! It’s Graduation Day, a time of celebration and introspection.

This special occasion can bring mixed emotions, as it marks a traditional ending and a new beginning.

Sometimes, when we are enjoying a special time with family and friends, we want the fun and the feelings to last. Like savoring your favorite ice cream that you want to taste forever, this satisfying experience, like all things, comes to an end.

The most important way any of us can live our lives is to be present in the moment, right here and right now. I believe that is the best advice that I have ever been offered and can share with you. In fact, I wish I had grasped the concept and the practice much earlier in life.

We’ve talked a lot about planning for the future in your days at Newton North, and it’s important to plan and to be prepared, but if planning and preparing take all of your mental space, you are missing out on the real deal right here.

This moment is all any of us ever have, and to miss it or to wish it away, especially when times get

tough, and they do and they will, takes away some of the richness of life.

In our Class yearbook, I said that I would remember our Class as one that stands up and sticks out in a positive way. Together, as an entire Class, you have been through interesting times. Some of these times have challenged your social and civic values.

I am proud that you have made an effort to uncover more of what you believe in and to express yourselves in multiple ways, by speaking up for a friend, by attending a rally or walkout, by creating music and writing essays, and last but certainly not least, by voicing your opinion, even if it may have been unpopular, in class discussion.

Reflect on what you’ve learned so far from the world and the people around you and what you’ve discovered about yourself over the four years you spent in Riley house.

Know your own truth and listen to that of others and the empathy you nurture will become something that helps you grow into the person you have always wanted to become.

I love coming to work because of what I learn from you. We get satisfaction in life from doing what

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we love with those we love. Our passions may or may not be connected to our jobs but we can often bring meaning to our own lives through awareness, relationships and service.

I wish you well as you create meaning, make friends, and seek peace in the days ahead. Have fun, Tigers!

—Michelle Stauss Dean of Riley House

Appreciate the future’s novelty Here you are seniors: you made it through your last year of high school and you’re ready to graduate. Now what?

Family members, teachers, and friends have served as models for you over the past several years. You listened, you observed, you reacted, you defined and adjusted your beliefs, you took initiatives. You are ready—even if you don’t feel like you are. Now you get to start that part of your life in which you can become a role model for others to follow.

You took many classes these past four years. My hope for you is that not only the rewards—the good grades, a-ha moments, and cool classmates and teachers—but also the failures, bad grades, struggles, and perhaps even injustices you suffered have helped to shape and prepare you for what’s to come and your role as a leader.

As a language teacher who grew up in another country and have made this one my home, I hope that

you won’t shy away from adventure and that your ambitions will take you far. I hope that you will be curious to learn about others and their ways of life, and that you will form friendships with a wide variety of people. I hope that what you have studied and learned at Newton North will help prepare you for a life and career in an increasingly multicultural world, and that you will see diversity as an invitation to open a door and embrace the rest of the world.

You never know where life can take you. Many of us look back with surprise. Greet each step of the way as a new learning discovery that will accompany you and shape your adult life.

Believe it or not, we teachers will miss you. We will think about you, and dream about where you will go and who you will become. We will cheer for all of you, and hope that some of what we have been able to contribute to your life and learning will stay with you in the years to

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come—in a positive way, and not just as silly stories to tell at your class reunions!

Congratulations, Class of 2018, I wish you all the best!

—Silvia Dupont Italian Teacher

Listen to new ideas, experiences I am honored to be given this opportunity to share my thoughts, advice and feelings to “you” the Class of 2018! First I will say that I am humbled by so much of the beautiful work that is created at North, not just in the ceramics room, but in our Newton North Community.

The kindness, the creativity, and the high expectations, that everyone sets for themselves is inspiring. But being here has showed me so much more than that.

It is amazing to see what happens when kids start to work not for the grade, but for how it makes them feel. We start to build community. We learn to communicate, to talk to and help each other.

When we stop comparing and start connecting we create a space where people feel free to be themselves. It is beautiful to see what happens in the “judgment free” zone. Having an opportunity to help with the creation of these spaces has been one of the greatest experiences in my life.

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OK OK I can’t help myself, I know you are probably sick and tired of hearing me and my most famous mantras: “It’s not what you make, it’s how it makes you feel,” “As long as you try your best, you can’t make a mistake,” “We are in the Judgement-Free Zone,” “Feel free to put a chair up even if you didn’t sit on it.”

My hope for all of you is that

you take all this with you and that you have learned to think and question, why? Remember that whoever you are, where ever you come from, you can learn from anyone AND anyone can learn something from you. Find the thing you love but also learn to find the love in whatever you are doing. When you try your best, you can’t make mistakes because every experience is just teaching you something new.

See the positive in all of these learning experiences. Keep learning to think. Remember that there is more than one way to do something and you might just be the one to come up with a better way, a new way, or just another way. But whatever way you find, never stop connecting. People are important, including you. The future is yours!! I can’t wait to see all that you become.

—Cindy Massoff Art Teacher

To the dear Class of 2018— First of all, congratulations!

You made it!! What an exciting time in your life. You all should be so proud of yourselves. It is totally okay if you do not have a concrete plan for next year yet…

Everyone is different! I know you will all go on and do great things!

It has been such a joy getting to know each and every one of you. I will miss the class and expect visits next year!

Don’t forget to take a chance, and try something new! Always remember to be kind and stay positive! Follow that dream!

Prove them wrong! Don’t give up!

All the best, Ms. Castellano, Miss Leah, Leah : )

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—Leah Castellano Riley House Administrative Asst.

Treasure memories Dear Class of 2018, It has truly been my honor working with this class the last four years. We have had so much fun! I can hardly believe it is over. I am going to miss you all very much.

As you embark on your next phase after high school I want you to think back on your time at Newton North with great joy. I am sure there was a teacher, a special educator, a coach, a dean, a guidance counselor, an aide, an administrator, a house secretary, a club advisor, someone special who made your time at school special in some way. Remember them because, I can promise, they will remember you.

When you are out in the world, remember to be kind to others and use your voices to speak your truth.

Stand up for what you believe in and know that you can make a difference in the world.

No matter what happens, always have integrity about everything you do. That will make more of a difference than you know.

The future belongs to you, Class of 2018. You can do anything you want with it. Believe that you can make things better in life because you CAN. If life is not making

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you happy don’t be afraid to make a change. Life is not about making one decision and the story unfolds.

It is about making a million decisions and sometimes failing.

Those of you who have had me as a teacher may have seen this quote by Samuel Beckett in my room, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” I encourage you all to take as many chances as you can and have some fun while you’re at it.

Congratulations Class of 2018.

Good luck next year and in all you do.

—Jodie Cohen Class Adviser

Find personal calling Dear Class of 2018, What an honor it has been getting to know you these last four years. I have been marked and moved by your sincerity, humor, and authenticity. I am lucky to have explored literature’s and life’s most profound questions with so many of you.

It is sometimes tempting to take our good fortune, such as a worldclass education, for granted and not recognize the responsibilities that come with it. We might be inclined to think we can’t make much of a difference in the world.

But this is not true. We are the lucky ones. And this gives us more power and responsibility than we might want to acknowledge.

Though moved by tragedy, the courageous students from Parkland, Florida have demonstrated that when young people like you get involved, their voices can change the entire conversation and even swing the majority. However you feel about the specific issue, when young people get involved and express themselves, you make a difference. But this is only possible if you engage.

We face so many challenges, including environmental disasters, racial injustice, and refugee crises, just to name a few. My hope for

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you (and all of us!) is that YOU will awaken to your great power and use it to help address these types of issues so that your education can be of benefit not only to yourself, but to all.

Be inspired. Find your compassionate calling. Think globally, then take one even seemingly small action each day. This is how the world is changed.

You are no longer the future.

You are the present!

Congratulations, and may your lives be filled with meaning and love.

—Michael Fieleke English Teacher

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12 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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The Newtonite, Newton North â—† 13

awards

14 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2017

Students receive scholarships, awards Philippe Mazona

Adam London Memorial Scholarship Alisa Caira

The Jason Long Memorial Scholarship Cameron Forster

Barbara Sulkin Lourie Memorial Scholarships Cian McCormack Ciara McCormack Cadence Turner

Richard H. Lovell Scholarships Alejandro Garcia Samuel Hernandez Patricia Kizito Lexus McGlashing Amari Tate

Donna Mandatori Scholarship Award Theodore Robertson

V. James Marini Scholarship Dejanee Miller

Massachusetts Elks Scholarship Matteo Greenberg

Mathematics Department 110% Award Joita Diecidue

Richard Mechem Award Joelle Sugianto

Junior Yunlei Xu performs a traditional Chinese dance at Asian Culture Night Saturday, April 28.

Margherita Acchione Scholarship Abraham Shahrooz Joseph Yerardi

Amp It Up! Challenge Award for Design and Visual Communications Yoonjae Yi

Diane Antonellis Childcare Scholarship Katherine McCormick

Auburndale Women’s Club Jose Joseph

Jason Balfour Culinary Arts Award to Assist in Career Decision Making Noah Shanshiry

Jeffrey M. Banks Memorial Scholarship Avery Wright

David Barboza Memorial Scholarship Lukas Alexander

Bryan Max Bernfeld Theatre Ink Prize Gabriella Matos

Sandy Bartzak Award Antonio Calcagni

Edward Beatty Book Award Athena Zheng

Big Heart Mathematics Award Sloan Ackerley

Coach Jim Blackburn Track Scholarship Luis Godoy

BNI Newton Connector’s Scholarship Matteo Greenberg

Charles E. Brown Scholarship Award Yoonjae Yi

Lt. Stafford Leighton Brown Memorial Scholarships Denis Aleksandrov Timothy Chu Jayden Destin

Marjorie Byers Scholarship Reese Farquhar

Robert W. (Beep) Calabro Football Scholarship Ryan McLaughlin

Cambridge Savings Bank Kevin J. Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Scholarships Connor Flint Michela Pini

David Casavant Culinary Arts Scholarship Awards Noah Shanshiry

Alex J. Castoldi Memorial Scholarship: Theatre Arts Marguerite Quigley Maxwell Huntington

Alex J. Castoldi Memorial Scholarship: Career and Vocational Technical

Education Olivia Struth

John Chaffin Educational Fund Scholarship Awards Naimid Abelenda Rebeca Aro Lauren Bailey Tameek Bray Destanni Byron Alisa Caira Rodney Chan Dori Chancy Timothy Chu Clinton Collins Simi Dalyop Yariana Delgado Jayden Destin Qingchuan Ding Sophie Ferreira-Iannone Cameron Forster Tianyue Hao Almonte Henk Samuel Hernandez Hiroshi Irizarry Intiser Islam Jose Joseph Ashlyn Kelly Diana Khuu Patricia Kizito Teppei Kotake Teodora Lancea Isabella Lavalle Philip Aidan Leary Michael Lee Jasmine Liu Serena Ly Carrieanne Mamba Philippe Mazona Lexus McGlashing Dejanee Miller Ryan Mitchell Rose Mooney Sebastian Morales Katelyn Nguyen Shem Bryan Nsadhu Keyur Patel Ana Perez Polanco Alex Pikul Ashley Rozier Brittney Ryder Nikolas Severino Lixin Song Julianna Standish Cadence Turner Darla Vernet Tamika Vernet Sharon Yang Joseph Yerardi Jiamin You

Greg Chan Scholarship Fund Samido DePina Leora Sammett

Robert Chernis Drama Awards Clare Donohoe Dustin Ledgard Sophie Ferreira-Iannone

Adrian Colasacco Memorial Scholarship for Automotive Nicholas Lau

Adrian Colasacco Memorial Scholarship for Carpentry Lukas Alexander

William Connor’s Team Above Self Award Thomas Byrne Mia Patriacca

Liz Costa Delfino ’65 Memorial Scholarship Emily Catano-Aybar

David Costanzo Award Kyle Randall

Caroline Costello Memorial Scholarship Dori Chancy Isabella LaValle Julia Standish

A n d r ew D e a l y M e m o r i a l Scholarship Michael Claflin

Ro e r t D e p h o u r e E n g l i s h Memorial Scholarship Ilai Gavish

Seth Daigle Memorial/PTSO Scholarship Karl Adrianza

Andrew Dealy Memorial Scholarship Curtis Judd

To m D e Pe t e r M e m o r i a l Scholarship

Karl Adrianza

Good & Plenty Mathematics Award Shem Nsadhu

R e v. H o w a r d H a y w o o d Scholarship

Andrea Jauregui

Mia DiSeglio

Sandy Stover Memorial Newton Educational Secretaries Scholarship

Carmela Hilbert Memorial Scholarship Honey Dew Donuts Scholarship Serena Ly

Horlick Educational Fund/ELL Award Qingchuan Ding

Charlotte Howard/ Claflin School Scholarship Alanna Horowitz

Intrepid Drafter of the Year Award Isabella Lavalle Spencer Notick

Investment Club Appreciation Award Benjamin Leikind Joseph Trias

Abe Jellinek Scholarship for Assistance & Computer Technology Purchase Hiroshi Irizarry

JT Dedication Award

Will Thompson

W. Eugene Ferguson Math Award Aidan Bauer Amy Morrill

Howard Ferguson Memorial Scholarships Thomas Byrne Kira Flegenheimer

Haskell C. Freedman/NTA Scholarship Fund Leora Sammett

John Fuller Second Church Scholarship Sophie Ferreira-Iannone Nikolas Severino

Meredith Ghattas Scholarship Ryan Park Sarah Vernovsky

Bobby Giovannucci Scholarship Award Andrea Jauregui

Golden Hammer Award Trinity Byther

Ilai Gavish

Newton Centre Women’s Club Scholarship

Lanna Kelley Memorial Scholarship

Noah Shanshiry

Nathan Martinez

National Merit Scholars

Avery Wright

Kathleen Henighan Child Studies Achievement Award

Jubilee Alumni Award

Robert Faulkner Career and Vocational Technical Education Student of the Year Scholarship

Mitchell Nathanson Memorial Award

Newton City Council Scholarship

Lexus McGlashing David Hamel-Sellman

Bobby Donahue Scholarship Fund Award

Ian Reid

Robert Mitchell Scholarship

Einat Gavish

Katherine Ho

Patricia Kizito Brittney Ryder

Max Kolb Memorial Scholarship & Book Award Allison Schaefer

Krutter Graphics Community Service Awards Isabella Farnese Colin Hoyt

Edward Lareau Scholarship Achievement Award Andrea Jauregui

Henry Lasker Memorial Music Award

Samuel Kesselman

Yariana Delgado

Michael Mariano

Newton Firefighters Association Scholarship Michael Claflin

Newton High School Scholarship Fund Isabella Antonelli

Newton METCO Academic Achievement Awards Tavaun Aaron Tarell Longsworth Dejanee Miller Darla Vernet Tamika Vernet

Newton METCO Academic Excellence Awards Lauren Bailey Tarrell Longsworth Dejanee Miller Darla Vernet Tamika Vernet

Newton METCO Helen and George Bresnahan Academic and Cultural Award Tavaun Aaron Ryan Mitchell Tamika Vernet

Newton METCO Pacita D.A. Hayes Memorial Leadership Award Lauren Bailey Dejanee Miller Darla Vernet

NNHS Future Business Leaders of America Student of the Year Matteo Greenberg Henry Johnson

NNHS Design Awards Lauren Eckenrode

Dustin Ledgard

Newton Nor th Television Award

Joseph Ratta

NNTV Producer of the Year Award

Maya Krieger

Newton Police Memorial Scholarship

Ryan Park

The Newtonite/Helen Smith Scholarship

Deborah E. LeBovidge Scholarship Thomas Leonard Music Scholarship Barbara Hugo Lira Memorial Music Scholarship Lions Annual Award Katherine Ho

Beverly Logan Scholarships

Philip Leary

William Marsh

Michael Claflin

Rose Bostwick Amy Morrill

awards

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Nonantum Neighborhood Association Scholarship Madeleine Boucher Michael Lee

Nonantum Neighborhood Association Awards Charles Bianchi Julia Camill Christine Collins Brooke Daniels Lindsey Eng Ashlyn Kelly

Dorothy Novak Memorial Scholarship Awards Jesse Corey Brooke Daniels

Oak Hill/Nonantum Children’s memorial Scholarship Rose Mooney

William O’Brien Scholarship Fund Gabriel Kotsonis

Phil Ochs/Alan MacDougall Awards Lily Winton

Mary O’Malley Award Philippe Mazona Heather Krasner

Orr Foundation Awards Erik Brown Luis Godoy Tarell Longsworth William Marsh Wesley Richardson

David Outerbridge English Awards Miranda Eng

Liv Pangbum Memorial Art Award Anna Demko Zoe Lee

Peltier History Award Ilai Gavish

Perkins History Prize Aliya Bloom

Rosanne Perlmutter Scholarship Carrieanne Mamba

David Phelan World Language Award Ilai Gavish

Rober t E. Pill Family S c h o l a r s h i p f o r S t u dy & Awareness of Israel, the Holocaust and/or Judaic Studies Heather Krasner

Nathan Alden Robinson Memorial Math Award Yiyang Zhi Juliette Spitaels

Nathan Alden Robinson Memorial Music Award

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 15

Amari Tate Yiyang Zhi

Ellen Silk Scholarship Shem Bryan Nsadhu

Frank Simmons Award Joita Diecidue

Leslie Solomon Scholarship Seika Ghavidel Nathalie Hart

Raymond Smith Music Award Rose Mooney

Social Science Club Award Darla Vernet Tamika Vernet

Gail Stein Scholarship Joita Diecidue

Saul Stern Music Award Elizabeth Reikine

Robert B. Swett, Jr. Fund Awards Jacqueline Gong Carolina Gutierrez Abraham Shahrooz

John Temperley Graphic Arts Award Piper Mamis

Theatre Ink BacRow Scholarship: Jakob Samuel Backer Kaprow Recognition Fund Juliette Spitaels

Theatre Ink Special Recognition Awards Thacher Andreae Evyatar Gershon Zoe Lee Sophia Wilcox-Warren Gabriella Avelino Maya Gomberg Madelyn Mehrez Sophie Chalfin-Jacobs Jeremy Gordon Rachel Stoia Adam Chapnik Andrew Hastings Sarah Vernovsky

Theatre Ink Outstanding Achievement Awards Karl Adrianza Evelyn Chedekel Finnegan Flaherty Noah Klavens Elizabeth Reikine Caroline Beecher Samidio Depina Ilai Gavish Carrieanne Mamba Ben Schwartz Martha Bennett Anna Fischer Eliza Inder Will Marsh

Joelle Sugianto

Sophomore Helena Dasilva throws clay on the wheel in ceramics Monday, April 9.

William Thompson III Alisa Caira Lauren Fitzpatrick Ashlyn Kelly Ian Reid

John Boston Scholarship Bailey Eveleth Ezra Savitz

Michael Chilewick Award Lauren Bailey Naimid Abelenda

Joita Diecidue

Daniel Uberti Memorial Scholarship

Michael Kann Li Shandross

T h o r n t o n S wa i n T h o m a s Poetry Award

Emma Regan Olivia Struth

Vo l l i n B We l l s B u s i n e s s Scholarships

Gabriella Matos

Waste Management Company Scholarships

Maria Libera Vallone Italian Cultural Scholarship Alice M. Warren Scholarship Awards

Helen Saunders Fund Award

Sarah Bassett Olivia Eastman Julia Lanfear

Village Bank of Auburndale Scholarship

Alisa Caira

Tranchita Leadership Award Deirdre Boyer

Tr ue Value/Anne Serafin English Scholarship Marcia Tyman Memorial Scholarship Award

Adrian Scott Joseph Varady Joseph Yerardi

Michael Lee Abigail Blay Matteo Greenberg Philip Aidan Leary Charles J. Lewis Michael Mariano Carmen McAuliffe Emma Regan

Hayden Weaver

Teppei Kotake Jacqueline Gong Odin Silawi

Philip J. Wolfe Theatre Awards Madelyn Mehrez Ethan Silberman-Baron Abigail Strayer

Women’s Club of Newton Highlands Lauren Bailey Naimid Abelenda Compiled by Samantha Fredberg

Matthew Rabin

Giovanni and Louisa Rossi Scholarship Fund Alex Pikul

Susan Rosenzweig Scholarship Samuel Duprelien

Ro t a r y C l u b o f N e w t o n Anthony J. Bibbo Community Scholarship Maya Gomberg

Ro t a r y C l u b o f N e w t o n President’s Award Rebeca Aro

Rotary Club of Newton Bell and Flag Scholarship Trinity Byther

Chuck Sakakini Scholarship Award Nathan Harvey

Thomas Schaefer Award

the

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invites you to join our staff!

Emma Richmond

Michael Scheller Memorial Scholarship Diana Khuu

Clinton H. Scovell Fund Scholarships Denis Aleksandrov Amanda Bevis Madeleine Boucher Anson Chan Ashley Donnellan Olivia Eastman Alanna Horowitz SeungYeop Kang Nathan Martinez John Ou Ezra Savitz David Speidel Julianna Standish

Besides reporters, we need artists, ad salespeople, photographers and production people for our award-winning newspaper.

Please leave this form in 273, the Newtonite room.

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What section would you be interested in (ie. business, photo, news, sports, opnions)? _____________________ Have you taken Journalism? _______________________

senior plans

16 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Congratulations Class of 2018

The following is a list of the graduating students’ plans for next year. Students with no information accompanying their names either did not submit information or requested that their information not be included in this special.

Gulley, Tyber—UMass Amherst Gutierrez, Carolina Gutierrez, Cristian

H Hamel, Susanna—U. Vermont

A Aaron, Tavaun—Salem State

University Abelenda, Naimid—UMass Amherst Abou-Rizk, Sophie—U. Wisconsin Ackerley, Sloan—UMass Amherst Adler, Noah—U. Washington Adler-Cohen, Eli—Franklin & Marshall College Adrianza, Karl—Northeastern University Aleksandrov, Denis Alexander, Lukas—Colby College Alvarez, Christopher—U.S. Marines Ancheta, Christopher— Gallaudet University Andreae, Thacher—Skidmore College Antonelli, Isabella—Boston University Aponovich, Jonathan—Lasell College Arbuckle, Alexander—Tufts University Aro, Rebeca—Illinois Institue of Technology Arpino, Emma Asch, Mark Avelino, Gabriella—Emerson College

B Babigian, Ashley—Elon

University Bailey, Lauren Balafas, Eleni Barake, Emma—Carnegie Mellon University Barbieri, Kelly—U. Maryland, College Park Baron, Gregory—U. Colorado, Boulder Barth, Miriam Bassett, Sarah—U. Vermont Bauer, Aidan—Tufts University Baumel, Daniel—U. Rochester Beatrice, Nathaniel—U.S. Marines Beckman-MacIntyre, Liam— Syracuse University Bednarczuk, Oliver Beecher, Caroline—Colby College Beizer, Allison—Colorado College Beizer, Benjamin—Brandeis University Bennett, Martha—University of Manchester Best, Brianna—U. Rochester Bevis, Amanda—Keene State College Bianchi, Charles—U. Arizona Blakely, Arianna—Loyola University New Orleans Blay, Abigail—Villanova University Bloom, Aliya—Babson College Bloom, Kyle—Drexel University Bohm, Madeline—Brandeis University Boloyan, Anna—UMass Amherst Bostwick, Rose—McGill University Boucher, Madeleine— Merrimack College Bourgoin, Thomas—U. Colorado, Boulder Bowman, Spencer—Carnegie Mellon University Boyer, Deirdre—Stonehill College Brabander, Kari—Hobart and William Smith Colleges Bradley, Alyssa—U. Rhode Island Braithwaite, Jacob Bray, Tameek Brodhead, Thomas—U. Maine Brown, Erik—Stony Brook University Brown, William—Franklin Pierce University Bryant, Matthew—Florida Institute of Technology Buchwald, Sara—U. Wisconsin

Joelle Sugianto

Students show off their tiger pride during a home game against the Natick Red Hawks on Friday, Dec. 15.

Buckton, Colin—Champlain College Buras, Angela—Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Burke, Francesca—Boston Architectural College Burris, Brianna—Massachusetts Bay Community College Butler, Andrew Butler, Caleb Byrne, Thomas—UMass Amherst Byron, Destanni—Salem State University Byther, Trinity

C Caira, Alisa—Brown University

Calcagni, Antonio—Worcester Polytechnic Institute Camilli, Julia—Pace University, New York City Campbell Maillet, Gabriel Campbell, Claire—Hamilton College, New York Campbell, Steven— Massachusetts Bay Community College Castellanos, Alejandra—UMass Amherst Catano-Aybar, Emily Chahboun, Nour Chalfin-Jacobs, Sophia— Middlebury College Champion, Jonathan—Carnegie Mellon Chan, Anson Chan, Rodney Chancy, Dori—UMass Boston Chang, Victor Chapnik, Adam—Vassar College Chase, Stephen Checkoway, Eva—Tulane University Checkoway, Spencer—Bard College Chedekel, Bernard—Wesleyan University Chedekel, Evelyn—Oberlin College Chen, Sarah—Simmons College Cherry, Dennis Chu, Timothy—UMass Amherst Claflin, Michael—UMass Boston Clark, Eli—U. Victoria Clements, Adam—University of Edinburgh Cohen, Benjamin Collins, Christine—Nichols College Collins, Clinton—Southern New Hampshire University Condon, William—Vassar College Conneely, Brian Corey, Jesse—Massachusetts Bay Community College Coughlin, Devin—Worchester Polytechnic Institute Courtney, Lee—Massachusetts Bay Community College Crook, Dylan—Emerson College Cruz, Kevin Crystal, Alexander—U. Rochester Cutone, Madaleine—New York University

D Dale, Andrew—UMass Lowell

Dallaire, Elizabeth—UMass Amherst Dalyop, Simi—Wesleyan University Daniels, Brooke—Massachusetts Bay Community College Davis, Elizabeth—U. Michigan Davis, Joshua—U. Virginia De La Rocha, Mia Decina, Miranda—Regis College DeGroot, Catherine—U. Colorado, Boulder Delgado, Yariana—UMass Amherst Demko, Anna Denaro, Victoria—Boston College Depina, Samidio—Berklee College of Music Destin, Jayden—Salem State University DeWitt, Li Diecidue, Joita—Clark University Dietl, Anna—U. New Hampshire, Durham Ding, Andrew—Boston College Ding, Qingchuan—UMass Amherst DiSeglio, Mia—Stonehill College Do, Long—Brown University Don, Noa—UMass Amherst Donnellan, Ashley—Boston College Donohoe, Clare—Trinity College Donovan, Grace—UMass Amherst Dorval, Andrew Dountcheva, Valeria— Wentworth Institute of Technology Drezner, Samuel—Tufts University Dunn, Maya Duprelien, Samuel Dutra, Arthur

E Eastman, Olivia—U. Vermont

Eckenrode, Lauren—George Washington University Elghazzawi, Sam—UMass Amherst Eng, Lindsey—Emory University Eng, Miranda—Harvard University Erickson, Ian—Brandeis University Ersen, Yasemin—Wellesley College Esser, Samuel—U. Pittsburgh Eveleth, Bailey—St. Lawrence University Everett, Edwin—American University

F Falchuk, Brenna—Northwestern

University Farnese, Isabella—U. Maine Farquhar, Reese Fasciano, Theodore—Macalester College Feinberg, Jordan

Feldman, Benjamin—Lesley University Felipe Lopez, Roberto—UMass Boston Feng, Sonya—Northeastern University Ferreira-Iannone, Sophie—U. California, Los Angeles Fischer, Anna—The Ohio State University Fitzpatrick, Lauren—U. Rhode Island Flaherty, Finnegan—DePaul University Flegenheimer, Kira—Ithaca College Fletcher, John—Skidmore College Flint, Conor—U. Wisconsin, Madison Fong, Kelly Forster, Cameron—UMass Boston Fraktman, Alexander—Work Freeman, Cameron—UMass Lowell Friedberg, Spencer—Champlain College

Hamel-Sellman, David—UMass Lowell Hammer, Jonathan—San Diego State University Hao, Gary—Bridgewater State University Hao, Tianyue—Purdue University Harris, Ian—UMass Lowell Harris, Spencer—U.S. Marines Harrison, Courtney—Union College Hart, Nathalie—Washington University, St. Louis Harvey, Nathan—Bridgton Academy Hastings, Andrew Henk, Almonte—Western New England University Hernandez, Samuel—Bergen Community College Heydarpour, Assal—UMass Lowell Heyer Fogelberg, Erick— DePaul University Heyer Fogelberg, Mia— Dalhousie University Ho, Katherine—Boston College Hoben, James—American University Hodgson, William—Bentley University Hoffman, Michael Hogan, Emily—George Washington University Holland, James Horowitz, Alanna—Johns Hopkins University Houston, Tianna Hovakimian, Saribek—Georgia Institute of Technology Hoyt, Colin—Xavier University Huang, Raymond Hunter-Burton, Kyler Huntington, Maxwell— Syracuse University Hutter, Daisy—U. Vermont Huynh, Kayla—Regis College

IInder, Eliza—Tulane University G Galatis, Edwin—Framingham Irizarry, Hiroshi—Wentworth State University Garcia, Alejandro— Massachusetts Bay Community College Gavish, Einat—Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gavish, Ilai—Harvard University Gavris, Christopher Geffen, Nora—Northwestern University Gekas, Gabriel—U. California, San Diego Genis, Adir—UMass Lowell Gentile, Alexis—Endicott College Gershon, Evyatar—Year off Ghavidel, Seika—U. California, Santa Barbara Giang, Brandon—Hofstra University Gilbert, Julia—The New School Gilman, Gershon—Case Western Reserve University Gilpin, Jeremy—Union College, New York Ginsberg, Ingrid—U. Maryland, College Park Gjerasi, Frederick—Lasell College Godfroy, Katelyn—Clark University Godoy, Luis,—Wentworth Institute of Technology Goldman, Ari—Westchester Community College Goldman, Zachary Gomberg, Maya—Wesleyan University Gong, Jacqueline—Wellesley College Gordon, Jeremy—Hamilton College Greenberg, Danielle—UMass Amherst Greenberg, Matteo—Babson College Greenstein, Nathan—U. Vermont Gresser, Michael—U. Texas, Austin

Institute of Technology Islam, Intiser—UMass Amherst Itkis, Esther—U. Maryland, College Park Iyer, Amrita—Tufts University

JJampel, Jacob—Williams

College Jasperse, Jonathan Jauregui, Andrea—Quinnipiac University Johnson, Henry—U. Colorado, Boulder Joseph, Jose Joseph, Victoria—Colorado College Joyce, Lillian—Cornell University

K Kalikow, Shanie—Pitzer College

Kalil, Kyle Kang, SeungYeop— Northeastern University Kann, Michael Kelly, Ashlyn—Framingham State University Kelly, Jah’ray Kelly, Olivia—New York University Kesselman, Samuel—Tulane University Ketchum, Nevin Khan, Sarah Khuu, Diana Kiley, Nolan King, Brendan—Northeastern University Kiron, Lila—Denison University Kizito, Patricia Klavens, Noah—School of Visual Arts Kontchaeva, Lidia—Chapman University Koo, Sydney—Boston University Kotake, Teppei—Vanderbilt University

senior plans

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Kotsonis, Gabriel—Dartmouth College Krasner, Heather---Muhlenberg College Krieger, Maya—U. Toronto Krishnamachari, Shruti—Tufts University Kugener, Astrid Kuikka, Emilia—Year off

L Lancea, Teodora—Boston

University Land, Zoe—American University Landry, Juliana—Bentley University Lanfear, Julia—Wesleyan University Lau, Nicholas—UMass Boston Laukaitis, John Lavalle, Isabella—U. Arizona Leary, Philip—Emerson College Ledgard, Dustin—Indiana University, Bloomington Lee, James—UMass Lowell Lee, Michael—University of Notre Dame Lee, Zoe—Rhode Island School of Design Legatova, Michelle—Fresno Pacific University Leikind, Benjamin—Tufts University Leone, Sofia—Villanova University Levi, Yagev—UMass Amherst Levy, Caleb—American University Lewis, Charles—Fairfield University Li, Crystal Li, Wendy—New York University Liddell, Elizabeth Lietzke, Mia—U. Vermont Lin, Justin—UMass Amherst Lipchin, Evan—U. Michigan Liu, Catherine—Georgetown University Liu, Erik—Syracuse University Liu, Jasmine—UMass Amherst Lizardo, Sebastian Long, Lucas—U. Colorado, Boulder Longsworth, Tarell—Southern New Hampshire University Lowe, Samuel—Rochester Institute of Technology Lu, Chen Bing Lu, Lucy—Harvard University Lu, Robin—Northeastern University Luce, Katelin—UMass Boston Luce, Kristin—UMass Amherst Ly, Serena—Trinity College Lynch, Natalie—Princeton University

M Ma, Emmy—Boston University

MacDonald, Julia—Year off MacGaffey, Sara—Champlain College MacLellan, John Magidson, Sophie---Wentworth

Institute of Technology Mah, Andrew—Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mahoney, Jacob—Skidmore College Mamba, Carrieanne—U. California, Santa Barbara Mamis, Piper—U. Vermont Mandinova, Joanna—UMass Amherst Manguane, Max—Rochester Institute of Technology Mariano, Michael Markert, Sophia—Fairfield University Marsh, William—Savannah College of Art and Design Marshall, Natalie—Wake Forest University Martinez, Nathan—UMass Lowell Mastoras, Cameron— Northwestern University Mastroianni, Micaela—Boston College Matos, Gabriella—New York University Matthews, Christopher—Pace University, New York City Mazona, Philippe—UMass Dartmouth McA’Nulty, Conall—Norwich University McAuliffe, Daniel—U.S. Marines McAuliffe, Carmen—Elon University McCormack, Cian—Quinnipiac

University McCormack, Ciara—U. New Hampshire, Durham McCormick, Katherine—U. Maryland, College Park McDonald, Grace—U. New Hampshire, Durham McGlashing, Lexus McLaughlin, Ryan McMahon, Alexis—Norwich University of the Arts McToggart, Tianna—Fitchburg State University Mehrez, Madelyn—College of William and Mary Mehta, Sheil—New York University Melville, Max—Stonehill College Mendelsohn, Claire Metcalf, Liza—Massachusetts Institute of Technology Meyerhoff, Isadora—UMass Amherst Milet-Carty, Natasha—McGill University Miller, Aaron—Lasell College Miller, Dejanee—St. John’s University, Queens Mitchell, Ryan—UMass Dartmouth Mooney, Rose—Berklee College of Music Mora, Margaret—UMass Amherst Morales, Sebastian Morfin-Beltran, Amayaluna— Loyola University, Chicago Morrill, Amy—U. Chicago Motoyama, Satoru Murphy, Shannon—U. Vermont

N Nardone, Christopher—

Wentworth Institute of Technology Natale-Short, Sophia—Tulane University Nephtali, Emma—McGill University Nesvacil, Jaelynn—Framingham State University Neville, Noah—Bentley University Newton, Nicole Ng, Christopher—UMass Lowell Ng, Samuel—Worcester Polytechnic Institute Nguyen, Katelyn—George Mason University Nikas, Dimitrios Nolan, Drew Norton, Caroline—Colby College Notick, Spencer—U. Hartford Nsadhu, Shem—Wentworth Institute of Technology Nugent, Aidan—DePaul University Nugent, Gabriella—UMass Amherst

Pomper, Lillie—Indiana University, Bloomington Porro-Quintanilla, Jonathan Post, Ian—Case Western Reserve University Pulsone, Theresa—Rochester Institute of Technology

P Paquette, Timothy

Park, Ryan—Tulane University Patel, Keyur—Wentworth Institute of Technology Paton, Benjamin Patriacca, Mia—Assumption College Pavia, Justine—Lehigh University Perez Polcano, Ana Perez, Ernesto—St. Bonaventure University Pikul, Alex—Suffolk University Pikul, Andy Pini, Michela Pitts, Daniel Pollard, Jillian—Colorado College Pomper, Jack—U. South Carolina

Q Quigley, Marguerite—Carnegie Mellon University Quinn, Noelle—Lasell College

R Rabin, Matthew—Case Western

Reserve University Raczek-Hoffmann, Samuel— Wake Forest University Randall, Kyle—Sacred Heart University Ranta, Jack—UMass Boston Ratta, Joseph Regan, Emma Reid, Ian—New York University Reider, Livia—Occidental College Reikine, Elizabeth—U. Rochester Reilly, Anna Renneker, Maya Reynders, Sydney—Swarthmore College Richard, Liliana—U. Maryland, College Park Richardson, Wesley—New York University Richmond, Abigail---Columbia University Richmond, Emma—Wesleyan University Rico, Daniel Riley, William—Vassar College Roach, Madison—U. New Hampshire, Durham Robertson, Theodore—Colorado State University Rodas-deHollan, Vanessa— Sacred Heart University Rodriguez, David— Pennsylvania State University Rodriguez, Paul—Case Western Reserve University Rogers, Campbell—UMass Dartmouth Rooney, Matthew—The Ohio State University Rose, Seph Rosen, Mia—U. New Hampshire, Durham Rosenberg, Simon—U.Vermont Ross, Emma—Simmons College Rossi, Lin Ying—Colgate

University Rousseau, Henri—UMass Amherst Rozier, Ashley Ryals, Evans Ryder, Brittney—Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

O S O’Connor, Anthony—Fairfield Sagan, John—Norwich University O’Connor, Catherine O’Donovan, Annie— Northeastern University O’Dowd, Nicole—Clemson University O’Leary, Vincente O’Neil, Chloe—U. Michigan O’Neil, James—Brandeis University O’Reilly, Jane—Skidmore College Ou, John Oyler-Castrillo, Ana—U. Colorado, Boulder

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 17

University Sammett, Leora—Franklin & Marshall College Sampson, Kyle—Bryant University Samuels, Andrew—U. Toronto Saukkonen, Daniel—U. Michigan Savitz, Ezra—UMass Amherst Sayouty, Omar—The Newman School Schaefer, Allison—West Virginia University Scheirer, Cassandra—Carnegie Melon University Schwartz, Benjamin Scott, Adrian—Emory University Seuch, Kevin—U. Maryland, College Park Severino, Nikolas—Connecticut College Shahnoor, Albar—Boston College Shahrooz, Abraham—Babson College Shandross, Li—UMass Amherst Shanshiry, Noah—Johnson & Wales University, Providence Shapiro, Sarah—Berklee College of Music Sharon, Danielle—U. Michigan Shepard, Christopher Shinde, Shriya—George Washington University Shoham, Maytal—UMass

Joelle Sugianto

Seniors Simi Dalyop, Lidia Kontchaeva, and Max Manguane row in the Physics Phloat boat race Thursday, May 31.

Amherst Siegel, Nicolas—U. Vermont Siegenberg, Hannah—Tulane University Silawi, Odin—Pennsylvania State University Silberman-Baron, Ethan—Sarah Lawrence College Silva, Camila Silver, Charlotte—College of William and Mary Siverhus, Kaitlin Skerlj, Jack—U. Colorado, Boulder Skretas, Alexandros Smith, Lydia—U. California, San Diego Soehle, Hayley—George Washington University Sofer, Julian—Massachusetts Bay Community College Solari, Natalie—Connecticut College Song, Lixin Sotolongo-Serret, Marianne Spector, Sophie—New York University Speidel, David—Eastern Nazarene College Spitaels, Juliette—Worcester Polytechnic Institute Spotswood, Riley—U. California, Davis Srikanth, Arnav—U. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Standish, Julianna Stazesky, Thomas—Texas A&M University, Kingsville Steinberg, Zachary—Boston University Stevens, Christopher—Seattle University Stoia, Rachel—Babson College Stomberg, Savanna—U. New Hampshire, Durham Stone, Kiernan—Oberlin College Strayer, Abigail—Bucknell University Struth, Olivia—U. Colorado, Boulder Sucharitakul, Pornchanit— American University Sullivan, Bella—Binghamton University Sun, Tony—Duke University Swomley, James—Brown University

T Takaoka, Carson—The Ohio

State University Tanasijevic, Katerina—Colby College Tang, Michael—Rutgers University, New Brunswick Tate, Amari Teszler, Max—Swarthmore College Teszler, Rose—Swarthmore College Thayer, Samuel—UMass Amherst Theophanis, Nicholas—UMass Amherst Thompson, William—U. Southern California Thompson, William— Middlebury College Tolshansky, Julia—U. Vermont Trias, Joseph Tsang, Wai Lun Tsicoulias, Alexander—UMass Amherst Tsui, Chun—Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Turner, Bronwyn—Mount Holyoke College Turner, Cadence—U. New

Hampshire, Durham

U Urquiola, Joseph—UMass Boston

V Van Alstyne, Erik

Van Kuijck, Shemara—George Washington University Varady, Joseph—Skidmore College Vasu, Jack—Dartmouth College Velazque, Nicoletta Vernet, Darla—UMass Boston Vernet, Tamika—UMass Boston Vernovsky, Sarah—Brandeis University Veroff, Jason—U. Vermont Visco, Nadia—U. New Hampshire, Durham Vito, Sophia—Lesley University Volostnykh, Roman

W Wakefield, Erynn

Walker, Caitlin—Framingham State University Walsworth, Thomas—U. Vermont Waters, Catherine—George Washington University Watters-Mcmanus, Luke Weaver, Hayden—Wesleyan University Weisberger, Eli—Year off West, Katherine—Barnard College Westcott, Benjamin—Rochester Institute of Technology Whalen, John—Boston University White, Ava—Northwestern University Wilcox Warren, Sophia—U. Vermont Winton, Lily—Elon University Woodbury, Joshua Wright, Avery—Boston University Wright, Ethan—Princeton University Wu, Colin-Dominic Wu, Jia—Wentworth Institute of Technology

Y Yang, Angela—Bryn Mawr

College Yang, Jessie— Tufts University Yang, Sharon—UMass Amherst Yee, Grant—San Diego State University Yee, Nicole Yerardi, Joseph—U. California, Los Angeles Yeung, Jared Yi, Yoonjae—Arizona State University You, Jiamin—Brandeis University

Z Zagaeski, Emil

Zhang, Dandan Zhang, Eric—Boston College Zheng, Athena—Boston University Zhi, Yiyang—Case Western

Reserve University Zhou, Daniel—Tufts University Zhuang, Alicia Zhuang, ZiKai compiled by Helen Xiao

18 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Newton North, The Newtonite â—† 19

2017-2018 20 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Student-led Initiatives

Throughout the year, students organized to challenge assumptions and raise awareness through presentations, guest speakers, and demonstrations to help all students at North better understand their community and the world around them.

Some of these issues focus on the particulars of the quality of life for students at North. This year, students combatted overcrowding in the cafeteria and library as well as supported fundraising for the METCO program.

Other issues confronted at North reflect broader national conversations. Students of many affinity groups shared their experiences with prejudice, exclusion, and discrimination, on the one hand, and pride, inclusion, and hope on the other.

In the instance of gun violence, pressing national events galvanized students to act. Students drew attention to this problem and localized it, resulting in direct action.

By taking action during their high school years, students prepare themselves to become the leaders that make the changes they want to see.

The timeline below demonstrates that high school is not just a learning experience inside of a classroom, but an opportunity for students to stand together on the issues they believe in.

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 21

Mayoral Candidate Debate

SFA Tables on Main Street

October 26, 2017 Model United Nations, Mock Trial, and Debate team organized a question and answer forum with the mayoral candidates, Ruthanne Fuller and Scott Lennon, to promote respectful debate in the wake of political disagreement. Students were encouraged to plan the event after witnessing a “tense” and “politically challenged” culture within North, according to senior Sam Kesselman, an organizer.

Ride On for METCO

November The Student Faculty Association recommended a new bill that provided cafeteria tables on Main Street for students to eat at during third lunch. The move came in response to student complaints about overcrowding in the cafeteria. According to senior lan Reid, an SFA member who proposed the bill, there was not “any designated student space.” Starting April 2, Main Street also opened during free blocks after lunch as a hangout space for students.

BLAC Day

December 11, 2017 A group of students in the Leadership class created ‘Ride On’ sweatshirts to sell in order to raise money for a METCO bus after cuts in funding. According to senior Jayden Destin, the project’s point was to “continue to fund METCO and continue the good things that METCO does for students of color.” The idea came from a class assignment to design a product that is both desirable to the public and benefits the community.

ToBGLADD Day Body Confidence Day

Gun Violence Walkout International Day

April 13, 2018 Members of the GSA organized Transgender, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Advocacy Day (ToBGLADD) to celebrate LGBTQ+ history and culture while informing people who aren’t members of the community of the everyday issues they face. Audience members were encouraged to ask questions throughout the presentations. According to sophomore Alex Kolodney, a GSA member, the goal was for everyone to go away with a “general education of the community,” adding that the LGBTQ+ community “isn’t anything special” and should be treated like other students.

Asian Culture Night

April 6, 2018 Members of the Body Confidence Club organized Body Confidence Day to promote self-love, and help students feel confident in their bodies. Presenters encouraged students to be themselves and focus on achievements rather than appearance. They also explained the flaws of the clothing sizing system and Body Mass Index (BMI). Senior Anna Fischer, a club member, said during her presentation she hopes students won’t “idealize one type of body” and won’t “see clothing size as a part of their personality.”

Middle East Day

March 22, 2018 Junior Joelle Sugianto organized International Day, featuring student panels and cultural expositions to represent the ethnic and cultural diversity of North’s student body. Important topics of discussion included stereotypes and experiences that minorities in America might face. Students also operated booths with information and food from countries around the world. Freshman Gabriel Sanson, who ran the Mexico booth, said he wanted students “to take away from International Day an understanding of the diversity of cultures around the world and especially in this school.”

Beyond Kindness Day

March 15, 2018 Students and faculty walked out of school at 10 a.m. to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of the Parkland shooting and to protest gun violence. Juniors Madeline Ranalli and Maya Lozinsky, the main organizers of the event, led chants such as “the NRA has got to go” and “enough is enough.” The event inspired future efforts such as a march to City Hall on Thursday, April 26.

Sustainability Festival

February 2, 2018 Members of the Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC) organized BLAC Day to promote understanding of racial discrimination and experiences as students of color. The day’s presentations—by former Mayor Setti Warren, BLAC club members, and faculty—tackled a number of issues, such as cultural appropriation, the use of the “n-word,” reverse racism, colorism, and white privilege. According to senior Tamika Vernet, a club member, the day “unifies us together, it shows black power, black excellence, working together, getting to the top, and doing our own thing.”

Asian Culture Day

February 14, 2018 Asian Culture Club (ACC) organized a day featuring independent speakers and student panels to discuss the experience of being Asian-American. Important topics discussed included activism with respect to mental health, racism, and the media’s portrayal of Asians. “In American media, Asians are dismissed as the least attractive minority,” said senior Sheil Mehta, the ACC public relations manager. “In new movies, there are Asian-Americans that are represented as powerful, attractive, and talented, and I want to see more of that.”

Feminism in Action Day

April 28, 2018 Asian Culture Club organized Asian Culture Night is an annual event that “allows Asian-American students at North to showcase aspects of their identity and culture,” according to senior Michael Lee, treasurer of Asian Culture Club. It encompassed a talent show, a fashion show, and a dinner with food from various Asian cultures.

May 2, 2018 Students in the Middle East Asia Latin America (MEALA) class organized Middle East Day to promote Middle East culture as well as inform students and teachers about the region. Student panelists and presenters from the Boston area shared Middle Eastern culture and discussed their experiences. Students were encouraged to think critically about media claims regarding Middle Eastern regions and to avoid stereotyping, as that would be “ignoring the fact that we are all individuals,” according to senior Bella Sullivan, a panelist.

May 3, 2018 Junior Nathan Persampieri, with the help of the Special Education department and other faculty, organized Beyond Kindness: Understanding Our Differences Day for B-block and C-block. Persampieri said that he wanted to encourage students to “be more compassionate towards people with disabilities” and make sure students are not “afraid of people with disabilities.”

May 4, 2018 Students from the Leadership class organized Sustainability Festival, which, according to senior Sophie Chalfin-Jacobs, an organizer, “is a fun and educational event that raises money for environmental charities.” The event featured live music, a North thrift shop, student clothing vendors such as Indigo and Garment Finds, and educational booths from organizations including Green Newton and Drumlin Farm.

May 25, 2018 Feminism club organized Feminism in Action Day, which featured panels on topics ranging from women in politics, including Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, to dating violence and sexism at North. The day “enables North students and teachers to engage with feminism in a hands-on way,” according to senior Abby Richmond, an officer of Feminism Club.

Compiled by Jacques Abou-Rizk, Samantha Fredberg, Zoe Goldstein, Hari Narayanan Photos by Joelle Sugianto, Lilah Gentry Designed by Shaelyn Fitzgerald, Joelle Sugainto

22 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Congratulations to the Class of 2018!

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

senior statements

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 23

Challenge yourself by pursuing new opportunities Your horizons can never be too expanded.

On the first day of freshman year, principal Jen Price told the freshman class that high school will go by in the blink of an eye. It’s true! A second ago, I started high school.

Another thing that she, many teachers, and older students told me was to not be afraid to try new things. Upon hearing this, I knew this was important to keep in mind, but I didn’t really take action right away.

I started out with just being a member of Theatre Ink and Melocotones a cappella. I had such a good time with them that I felt confident these school activities were all I needed alongside my course load.

But by the end of sophomore year, I felt my horizons were not as wide as they could be. I realized this might have been because I didn’t attend

Club Day due to being scared of crowds. Either way, I knew that I had to try and expand my horizons in my last two years here.

I got myself to attend Club Day junior year and eventually became a regular member of Asian Culture Club. Realizing that I never had an outlet to express my racial background and connect with others of similar backgrounds and experiences, I knew joining this club was a start to expanding my horizons.

Come senior year, I really wanted to make the most of my last 10 months in this building and as part of this community. I went to Club Day and put my name on even more email lists­­—but didn’t become active in all of the clubs that I signed up for, as many can probably relate.

However, I found a platform for discussing social and political issues in Tiger’s Eye and further realized

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how much fun dancing is by joining South Asian Stuent Association and performing at Asian Culture Night.

This year, I did something far from anything I’ve ever done before

Explore interests, take chances Congratulations seniors, this is it. We made it!

Looking back to September, I am sure we all remember the sophomores, juniors and our own classmates watching new freshmen running through the hallways in fear of being late to their next class.

However, just a few years ago, I was that freshman. As a 14-year-old in a school full of over 2,000 students, it was so easy to get lost and confused. It was such a daunting task trying to find my place in this big, complex, great, scary, friendly school.

However, the fear, anxiety, and worry soon went away. And the reality is that at Newton North High School, there is a place for everyone.

Some may think it sounds a little cliche to say such, but anyone stepping in the doors of this great institution will see it.

Ask my friends—the absolute best actors and performers who make me laugh, cry and engage at every performance; the all-state athletes who make me cheer my heart out as they win championships; my debate team members who push me to think outside the box as they

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make me better (and more thoughtful) than I ever could be; and so many more. Indeed, I look back and think just how many more opportunities, groups, and friends I could have embraced, because at Newton North High School, there are just so many different interests that students explore and enjoy.

And now as a senior, I reflect on my past. I look back and see the specific moments where I put myself ‘out there’ and then found my place. I remember putting myself out there during Club Day, and trying to figure out what I wanted to explore. As one example, I made

the decision to join Model United Nations, though none of my friends joined me, and few thought it was cool. But over the past four years, I have so loved every minute of it. As a freshman, I found myself reaching beyond my comfort zone as I joined the boys’ soccer team, a sport I hadn’t played in years.

So here are my conclusions— if I could go back and give advice to my freshman-year self, I would actually tell him to take even more chances. Put yourself out there even more than you would like. Everyone in high school has moments of success but also failure, but use your time to learn, grow and make yourself something you didn’t think you could be.

High school is so much more than just a compilation of academic classes. High school for the last four years has been my life. And to those entering freshmen next year, it will fly by so fast. Just make the time to enjoy everything it has to offer, and make yourself more than you think you can be!

—Lukas Alexander

Learn from every new relationship Ah, high school, where do I begin? It definitely has been an unbelievable roller coaster that has changed me for the better.

Starting high school freshman year, I had a completely different friend group than I do now about to graduate. Newton North is so diverse that you find many types of people with different identities.

With this, I got introduced and opened my eyes to a variety of things. With this exposure, in high school, I learned you will walk out the building doors a stronger and better person than you walked in. I grew, changed and learned about who I was and what I wanted in life. You’re surrounded by so many different types of people and

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experiences that impact you as a person. Friends are a huge part of this lesson of learning who you are. Whether those friendships last

or not, you learn something from that relationship. With every single person you meet, there is a specific reason you met them. You will love, hurt, cry, laugh, etc… but it’s all for a purpose as a lesson for the long run. Not everyone will be in your life forever, or even through high school. This is OK! Simply enjoy the times you had and meet new people, you’d be surprised the friends you make!

I guess what I’m trying to say with all the great people at North, with time you spent here, learn why you met these people and went through these experiences and understand why.

—Dori Chancy

by helping with the planning for the anti-bias lessons and then helping to facilitate the 9th grade lesson.

When I heard about the opportunity last year, I neglected it due to the fear of the time commitment. But I decided that if I think dealing with and recognizing bias is important and this is my last year, I shouldn’t neglect this wonderful opportunity.

I definitely put too much on my plate, on top of schoolwork and what I was already committed to from previous years, but I found myself starting to care less about the stress and time consumption that I faced and more about what I got out of it.

I’ve made new friendships, developed existing ones, built memories, and have developed an infinitely long list of lessons that I will take with me to infinity and beyond.

Never forget about the things you love. Never stop pursuing those sorts

of opportunities—but also never stop expanding your horizons; they can never be too wide. Yes, schoolwork is important. Yes, you should put forth your best no matter what.

But no, you should not forget about having fun and trying new things, especially at Newton North. I barely remember the junior thesis process, but I do remember the shows I was in, the songs I sang alone and with a group, the discussions I’ve had about race and social issues, the people I laughed/had a good time with, etc.

At NNHS, you’ll never run out of things to do or people to meet. As Ms. Albert said to my Personal and Group Awareness class, “the best things in life happen outside your comfort zone.”

—Thacher Andreae

Dedicate yourself to meaningful passions Whoa, finally writing for the Newtonite after four years! My eighth grade self is probably wondering why exactly it took me this long. Back then, I had this big idea that I was going to be a writer. I still hold a similar idea, but back then I didn’t understand the strange directions in which opportunity can take a person and the new passions those same chances can create.

Newton North has shown me the importance of following what you love, but embracing every new chance offered to you at the same time. That strange place I found myself in allowed me to unlock new passions. I found joy in costume design, the school magazine, feminism club, and many other activities just as I had found an initial love in writing. Then, like many of us, I was able to combine these interests to make something far greater than the initial one dimension I started in. I found I could write about feminism, use graphics to advertise club events, and explore so many other unique crossroads of what could be created with all I had learned.

I believe that moving forward we must do what we have a genuine passion for to be successful.

We must dedicate ourselves in order to gain a real sense of satisfaction. Yet, that does not mean we should not try, explore, and interact with the unique circumstances we are presented with daily. At Newton North, we are pushed to this zone of experimentation constantly, by a teacher giving a lesson, by a friend asking you to join a club, by one of the many student presenters on our educational days. Through this, I know we have all found a little bit more of ourselves than

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we came here with. I expanded on my own ambitions, and I am sure our education helped form parts of yours too.

Don’t lose that.

While it may seem obvious to keep your sights on a singular ambition, it is much wiser to never forget the valuable education we have received within and outside of the classroom.

By remembering our education, from the math you loved or hated to the viewpoints you embodied or disagreed with, we can apply what drives us to the larger world with ease. When we keep an open mind, our own beliefs become easier for others to engage with. When we keep an open mind, our philosophies become necessarily malleable to the changing world around us.

To everyone moving on from this high school, to everyone remaining here, and to everyone far beyond this moment, potentially engaging with this paper by chance at the graduation ceremony, remember the lessons you have learned and make room for the many still on their way. It is only in embracing this duality that we, as the people we have always been, can grow into the best versions of ourselves.

—Alisa Caira

Welcome all stumbling blocks on journey to success My wide-eyed freshman self would probably tell you to try out for a sport or join a club. It’s easy to get lost in a place as big as Newton North High School, and it’s a great way to have fun and meet people. My anxious sophomore self would probably give you a checklist over the word count. Don’t eat the school lunches. Work at a clean desk. Go to bed early. And my frazzled junior self would probably say

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he doesn’t have time to be writing this even though I know he does.

Finally though, as a senior, I just want you to know that you should never give anything less than your best, but it’s okay to fail sometimes.

What I’ve learned from my four years at Newton North is there will be ups. You could get into your dream school. Your race could win the meet for your team. You could have a great time playing Catan

with your friends.

And there will be downs. You might get an essay back covered in red ink. You might get passed in the last hundred meters. The girl you like might go to prom with someone else. But even though failing is embarrassing, frustrating, and overall sucks, it will be okay. Hopefully, you’ll learn more than anything I could tell you in 300 to 600 words, it will motivate you to work harder,

and like a freshman complaining about how much homework he has, you’ll later realize your failures weren’t really that big of a deal.

North has a lot of incredible opportunities even if they’re hard to find sometimes, but four years go by quicker than you think, so don’t waste them. Just do what you’re passionate about and don’t forget to fail.

—Andrew Mah

24 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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senior statements

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 25

Follow passion over Forgive yourself after setbacks conventional track High school is full of lessons. I can’t define for you how important each of them are, but I can tell you the lesson that was most important to me: follow your joy. It’s cliché, I know, but that hasn’t stopped it from helping me grow.

I, like many others, would call myself a people-pleaser. I like making people laugh, I like making people happy, and I like making people proud. Of course, doing things for others is a great thing, and is important for your well-being, but so is doing things for yourself. Ideally, everyone finds their balance between helping themselves and others, and everything is absolutely peachy. However, a trap that a lot of high-schoolers, myself included, fall into is believing that being a source of joy for others will inherently bring joy to ourselves. In my experience, that’s just not true.

It’s dangerously easy to get sucked into thinking that taking AP classes will make you happy just because it makes your parents proud, even if you have to sacrifice sleeping as much as you should. Or thinking that making varsity will fulfill you just because it’s what your older sibling did in high school, even if that means you have to work out for hours and hours every day instead of doing homework or spending time with your family. Or thinking that your worth rests on whether or not you get cast as the lead role in a show, just because your friends do, even if the mounting pressure keeps you up at night.

Let me be clear, I’m not saying not to chase your dreams—if you want to take tons of AP classes, or do varsity sports, or anything else, you should go for it! What I am saying is this: if there’s something you’d rather be doing than what you’re doing right now, don’t ignore that itch. Follow your intuition; try that club you’ve always been curious about, feed your soul at an

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art show, pick up a hobby you’re interested in. If you find that you try something new and you discover that you’d rather be doing what you did before, that’s good too! Regardless of the path you take, let the little mental break you took reinvigorate your passion for whatever you do in your free time, invest in building healthy habits around your interests, and recognize that your mental well-being has value.

When you follow your joy, you allow yourself to discover who you are and what you enjoy without feeling tied down. The periodic changes of scenery, or even just a change in mindset, do wonders in preventing you from getting burntout, and enable you to experience the world more awake and eager to see what’s coming next. That feeling of pure excitement about the world is precious, and has been worth more to me than anyone else’s approval because, in the end, a happier me is a more productive, more creative, and more caring me.

My hope for all of you is that, as you move through life, you follow your joy—in ways that can be big or small­—and find things that truly, deeply excite you.

—Sophie Ferreira-Iannone

We all screw up at one point or another in school. Clearly, it is just a part of life. Here are some of the times in which I have messed up at North, and I am sure others have similar stories: 1. Submitting the answers to the wrong Schoology quiz, and having to explain the error to the teacher the next day (darn technology!)

2. Accidentally leaving a binder in the airport and having to restart an entire English project from scratch (a surprisingly common yet still devastating mistake).

3. Coming home from a long day of school and practice to turn on Netflix, postponing all homework assignments to the wee hours of the morning (yes, it is true that sometimes the sheer amount of homework is so daunting that it becomes difficult to even know where to start).

4. Misremembering the date of an exam and flunking it (believe it or not this has really happened, just like the movies. Cough cough

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statistics). And finally, 5. Calling oneself out from a class and then accidentally running into the teacher that teaches that class in the hallway (oof, that one hurt).

I have learned a fair amount of lessons from these mistakes: to be more careful, more responsible, more organized, etc; but what allows me to truly move on from these slip ups is the idea of forgiving yourself. It is telling yourself that despite the lost time, or the embarrassment, or the effect on your grade, there is still hope–you

are still a capable person who can recover. This first step of forgiveness is the most important one, and can sometimes be the hardest to take, because it represents your will to move on, or to continue working hard. So no matter what tries to derail you in high school, it is essential to stay even-keeled, and let go of everything that went wrong, or that could have been. It is not the mistake that will hurt you, but the wrong reaction to that mistake that will.

At North, students spread kindness all the time: helping each other through difficult assignments, supporting a teammate through a defeat, or complimenting each other on getting accepted to a certain college. But never forget to be kind to yourself, and to forgive yourself, no matter how many L’s you might take.

—Jacob Jampel

Recognize differences, reflect by appreciating moments of growth Roughly 720 days either down the drain, or incredibly impactful. It can also be a mix of things; some ups and down, twists and turns, side to sides, maybe planet to planet, or universe to universe. Whatever it may be for you, once you get to this point as a senior, you know what I’m talking about. Nothing feels so far yet so close as graduation and a new beginning. But reflecting on these past few years, you can’t blame me for yearning for that moment.

In a place such as North, you may encounter and experience almost absolutely anything and everything. So many different people, different courses, different mindsets, different dreams, different backgrounds, you are bound to find someone like you, or no one like you at all. And that happens to be the most comforting thing of all.

We embrace and reject differences, we appreciate and despise opinions that aren’t our own, we create and breakdown barriers for ourselves, and that’s what makes us so ready for the outside world today.

Shout Out to the haters, the drama makers, the troublemakers, the snitches, the spoilers, the tattletalers, the go-arounds, the big mouths, the devil’s advocates, all y’all who

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people don’t seem to have appreciation for. You guys are worth something. You made us stronger, you made us brighter, you made us more intelligent, and much more wiser. You made us, us.

As a matter of fact, we made us, us. We’re all those things whether you want to admit it or not, and that’s the scary, but liberating thing.

We’ve turned ourselves inside out.

We did that. We had that much power within ourselves to change a whole person. Imagine what we can do for others. The teachers and administrators are amazing at that too. For all the frustrating moments of either being pushed too hard, or not being pushed at all, not that that was an issue but it could’ve been,

you have created that space for us.

We don’t even realize that. You allowed us to have emotions, and express that freely. You’ve taught us that it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be upset, it’s okay to explain to someone how you feel. With that space and our devolving mindsets, we have then established a safe way to be emotionally invested. And for that, I am extremely grateful.

I know those in our place want to be us kind of badly right now, not to toot our own horn, but I think it’s best to really indulge in that moment. Indulge in our awkward freshmen selves, indulge in that embarrassing sophomore speech, indulge in that junior thesis. I can’t count how many breakdowns we’ve probably all had around just those specific moments. But guess what?

It’s much easier to do them again, isn’t it? We’ve grown and sprouted in those moments, learning much more about ourselves than we thought. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Maybe a few, but most definitely not most. Honestly, to be frank, sink in that moment, don’t over think it, and remember: everything will be just fine.

—Josie Joseph

Be appreciative of useful life lessons—even from Vines It’s 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday, and I forgot that the deadline for these statements is tomorrow. After staring at a blank document for twenty minutes, I decided to go to bed and watch a Vine compilation. For those unfamiliar, Vine was a social media platform where users could share seven-second video clips, often in comedic nature. It unfortunately shut down in late 2016, but the content it has left behind continues to be a staple of youth culture, especially for high schoolers like me. Now, you may be wondering how much content can be stuffed into seven seconds. To answer your question, let’s take a journey through four iconic vines that will help you in life. If you’re not familiar with these vines, I highly recommend finding them on YouTube to fully appreciate the lessons that are paired with them.

1. “What up, I’m Jared”- This Vine follows a simple premise: A teacher calls on a student, Jared, to read a question, which is fol-

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lowed by Jared declining and announcing that he is nineteen years old and never learned how to read.

The takeaway from this Vine is that sometimes you just have to say no.

Not everything will be in your capability, and it’s okay to admit that.

Being honest with himself, Jared takes complete ownership of his illiteracy and admits that he can’t read.

2. “THAT’S MY OPINION!”This Vine features a distorted video clip from The Real Housewives of Orange County, where a woman asks, “How do you know what’s good for me?” which is followed by another woman screaming, “That’s my opinion!” Treating opinions like facts often limits the thoughtful conversation and disagreement that is necessary to improve both ourselves and society. Instead of becoming defensive when our opin-

ions are questioned, we should aim to listen to each other with a willingness to discuss and build upon what others say. But that’s just my opinion.

3. “Marlene, Your Speech Was So Good”- In this Vine, one girl gives Marlene a compliment about her speech. Marlene then tries to deflect the praise by saying that her speech wasn’t that good. Frustrated, the girl then screams for Marlene to just take the compliment.

The takeaway here is in the Vine itself: accept praise, don’t pretend like you’re better than it. If someone wants to genuinely give you recognition, it doesn’t make you look modest to deny or belittle their appreciation. Take the compliment and live your life. Don’t be Marlene.

4. “When There’s Too Much Drama At School”- To quote this Vine, “When there’s too much dra-

ma at school, all you gotta do is walk away.” What a perfect Vine for high school. Everyone knows there is a mountain of petty drama, both in school and life. We all partake in it to some extent, however, we don’t need to drown ourselves in the craziness. It can be beneficial to take a break from others and spend time doing things for yourself.

As we all move beyond the North community, many of us will be immersed in new places that may not necessarily be the suburban bubble of Newton. I hope that these Vines will stay with you in the years to come. You may think that I’m pulling nonexistent meanings from these Vines, and, while you’re definitely right, I think that drawing genuine meaning from things that matter to us is a valuable part of engaging with the world.

—Michael Lee

26 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

senior statements

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 27

Cultivate support systems by appreciating friendships High school forces you to be selfish. In the unending swirl of AP classes, college applications, athletics, jobs, and extracurriculars, it ends up feeling impossible to lift your head out of your own world of grades, teachers, coaches, practices, and competitions.

Sometime in the middle of junior year, I resigned myself into thinking that there simply wasn’t the time to do everything I wanted to do, and my ‘responsibilities’ came first. Subconsciously, I began to close off from my friends; I thought I didn’t have the time to support them, and I couldn’t expect them to support me if I couldn’t re-

ciprocate, so I slowly drifted away.

This line of thinking was, by far, my worst decision of high school.

For one, I felt uneasy sharing the things I was proud of because I was suddenly afraid of how it would come off, and on top of that, I didn’t have as strong of a support system for when things didn’t go well. I could see it happening to my friends and peers alike; nobody wanted to force their problems onto anybody else because everybody else had their own unending problems to deal with.

As senior year winds down, I can see clearly the error in my thinking. When things were the

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hardest for me, I wish I had taken more time to support my friends, whether by sending them a nice text, or buying them a burrito, or even just asking them about their day. I wish I had stepped out of my own world, no matter how difficult that may feel, and just been there for friends who were in the same position. At the same time, I wish I turned to my friends more often for help and trusted that I wasn’t just a burden on them.

High school is really, really hard sometimes. Throughout all the endless business of day-to-day life, find ways to support your friends, to go to the stuff that’s important

to them, to hug them. Even if it’s not in that moment, or that day, or that week, they’ll thank you for it.

Understand that they have as much going on as you and that they are far from perfect, but that ultimately they care about you and your successes and your failures and even the mundane stuff in between.

Share your life with them, and they will share theirs with you. Listen to them, support them, and cut them some slack when they need it, because high school is so much harder for everybody if they’re by themselves.

—Einat Gavish

Recognize value in Embrace changes in self-identity lifelong learning Think about every sheet of paper you’ve received and written on from preschool to senior year. Every dissection lab, every analytical essay, even each and every first day of school colorful contract you had to bring home for your parents to sign.

So many of those sheets of paper have been lost, thrown out, or just plain forgotten about over time. Now think about how all of that has eventually culminated into the the fanciest piece of paper you will have received thus far: your high school diploma.

You’ve come to place so much importance on obtaining that gold stamped piece of paper, and very little on the graded math assignment sitting torn and dirty at the bottom of your bag, but it is just as important.

You’ve heard it before. The annoying mantra at the end of every school sanctioned speech and homeroom announcement: “Learning sustains the human spirit.” What if I told you that I’ve found that saying less and less annoying over the course of my four years? The way I’ve come to see it, “learning” applies to more than just polynomials and the Spanish subjunctive.

Learning also means stopping to take a mental health day so that you can breathe. It means finding people who have your best interest at heart and dropping those who don’t, no matter how hard that may be. It’s about managing your time, knowing when to go to X-block, and it’s even being embarrassed your freshman year because everyone calls it a Lofter,

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not a “bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel.”

The learning doesn’t end after you walk across that stage and get handed that glorified piece of paper. It’s all the labs, essays, and real-life learning that have gotten you here, and it’s the labs, essays, and experiences you have yet to procure that will teach you even more about the world. This little Newton bubble has taught you so much already, and for that, be grateful. But as you expand your horizons to life outside, realize that there is absolutely no limit to what you can achieve.

And remember… need I say it?

—Carrieanne Mamba

“No one ever injured their eyesight by looking at the bright side” —Author Unknown I may have only spent a year and a half at Newton North, but it has certainly been interesting. At first I did not know how to feel. I was leaving a class of 223 students where I knew almost everyone. If I didn’t know someone, a friend or a friend of a friend did. Even though I am graduating, I still have not gotten used to this massive school. I like to think of my time at North as a rollercoaster. When I first walked into NNHS I thought that I was going to jump right in and continue life as it always had been. I did not know how to be the “new girl.” As the VP of the class at my old school, I knew who I was and how I was at school: fearless and outgoing. I was not going to change, I wanted to be exactly who I was before. When I didn’t start making friends immediately like I always had, I was surprised, a little hurt, and somewhat intimidated. I was convinced that Newton North was the worse place on earth. This downward plunge of the roller

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coaster came to an end at exactly a year after I moved to North. Looking back, changing schools in the middle of junior year, to a town where everyone knew each other or seemed to and I knew exactly Zero of them, would have been hard for anyone. When I first started, I did not think I would be spending most

of the rest of my junior year complaining and having pity parties.

I didn’t realize that was what was happening. By then it was too late, I was too busy putting on a facade and pretending I was happy, then complaining and feeling sorry for myself, no longer thinking I was ready to take on the world. I wasn’t the confident, outgoing girl I had been, and that I had thought of as who I was. North helped me grow.

North will forever be the place that humbled me and also taught that what you expect is not always going to be reality. Life changes, a lot, and will change often, but at the end of the day it’s how you react, and how you learn from new experiences.

No matter what we are going to be doing next year it definitely won’t be high school! Looking back I am happy and grateful I had my NNHS experience, without it I would not be ready to go to college.

“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it is going to be a Butterfly”- R. Buckminster Fuller

—Tianna Mctoggart

Explore road to personal growth High school was a crazy mess.

Four years in which everyone scrambled blindly to find a personality and become the person they wanted to be. Every year presented itself with new challenges and endless opportunities to embarrass yourself. I can’t say I remember every lecture, and the moments that stick aren’t necessarily life changing.

Instead, I remember vividly how small I felt in freshman year. I remember thinking the seniors were so cool, and that they had everything figured out. I know now that that is far from true. I remember be-

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ing in the dark room during photo class and the quiet happiness that came with dipping my prints into the developer. I remember watching Asian Culture Day and feeling so empowered by the students sharing their life experiences and insights to the whole school, counting the days ‘till it could be me up on that stage.

When I think about high school I recall sitting on the bleachers during a warm day to eat lunch with a group, and how great it felt to finally get outdoor privileges and bask in the sun. I can still feel what it’s like to wake up at six in the morning and drag myself to the pool, and the insanely cold waters of a.m. swim starting my Mondays. I also have to remember the late nights and 1 a.m. Facetimes with friends who were equally stressed about the upcoming bio test. I remember sitting in the Newton Free Library sharing a pizza we snuck in, and editing my junior thesis; feeling like the weight of my GPA and college acceptances resting on my knuckles as they typed. I remember feeling more stressed than I’d ever been before. If I met the freshman me, I’d call him out for trying so hard and making so many avoidable mistakes, but I’d also have some words of advice.

Firstly, I would assure him that despite what he believes, no one is scrutinizing him as much as he believes. No one noticed you trip in the hall, and if they did, they won’t remember it by the next block. I’d advise him to stop being so hyper

focused on people’s opinions and perceptions of him and try to enjoy his days there. It took a long time to learn that you can’t really please everyone at the same time and that being happy with the person you are at the end of the day is ultimately the most important thing.

At the other end of the spectrum, I would ask that he be kinder to those he cares about. It seems cool to be distant and cocky, but in the end the friends you make are your safety net and much needed companions through the four years.

In relation to academics I want to tell him that he needs to focus and really put his all into the work he turns in; for the longest time I was embarrassed to seek out help and saw it as a personal shortcoming. My ego hindered me and only after realizing that I was denying myself the full education I could be having did I swallow my pride and make an effort to better understand what I couldn’t on my own.

In the end though, I am glad that I got to learn all these lessons and have these little moments in the community that our school provides. I feel blessed to have been provided with the endless resources and the company of many kind, intelligent, and driven people. I can confidently say that the freshman and present me are two distinct personalities, and I’m happy to have undergone that transformation at North.

—Sheil Mehta

28 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

senior statements

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Build confidence for journey ahead To the Class of 2018, First off, I would like to say congratulations! We are finally getting to walk across the stage and receive our diplomas. As soon as we step off that stage, it’s like a blank slate. The next chapter of our life is ready to be written! A lot of us will be writing our next chapters while furthering our education. I wish the best to everyone!

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It’s hard to believe four years have gone by so fast. It feels like we were all freshmen yesterday and in the blink of an eye, BOOM we are now at graduation. Over the past four years, I can say there have been challenges and successes, but if you are saying, “Finally, I can get out of here”—I can admit it, I have said it too—think about this for a second: there are a lot of uncertainties ahead! This is not a bad thing, though. It will give us time to grow as adults and start to live our independent lives!

It’s okay to be worried about next year. This is totally normal.

College will be a new, different, and exciting experience for us!

Take these worries with a grain of salt, though—culinary major, see what I did there? There are many good things that can come out of the worries. We will gain more independence and make new lifelong friends! There’s so much ahead for us!

Anyway, I can definitely say there have been times where I have thought about furthering my education, and I’ve had some

doubts. “Will I really make it in the culinary industry?” I ask myself. “Am I really ‘good enough’ to make it? Also, I’m not ‘mean,’ so if I enter management will people actually listen to me?”

My future career is unclear at the moment, and I think this is why I’ve had these doubts. Some important things North has taught me over the past four years are to have confidence in myself, and it’s okay to not have a plan all the time.

Throughout our four years at North, I’m sure we have all found our home, whether that be in an elective, a CVTE program, a club, or while playing a sport. I found my home in the culinary program. The staff and my peers have helped me tremendously with my self-confidence by always encouraging me to try new projects. I am extremely grateful for this because it has definitely helped me reflect on my personal growth and not doubt myself. College is a learning environment, just like high school. I’ve learned I cannot have doubts about my abilities in my future career because I still need to learn more skills before starting to work.

This has also helped me realize that plans are not always necessary. In high school, we all had the same routine: wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, and start again. This is not the case now. We each will be going on a different path, one that is best for each of us individually. These plans can change and that’s okay! I’m learning to tell myself this and that I do not need to know exactly what I want to do in my future right now. My goal is to have fun and get the best education while enjoying myself!

I hope everyone can as well!

In conclusion, I would like to extend a big thank you to the Class of 2018 for your positivity throughout our journey, and remember, have confidence in yourself, find your home in your future endeavours, and most importantly, smile and find time to enjoy yourself.

—Noah Shanshiry

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 29

Maintain enthusiasm through challenges, join extracurriculars If you’re reading this you have no respect for yourself. Why would you read a 379-word essay about high school by a kid who hated high school? Sure, I was always laughing while at school, but that was all thanks to me. It’s hard to find something funny about everything, but I did to survive in the jungle they call Newton North. I mean, the whole place really puts a damper on any mood. In a place as dull as this you are forced to find the lamest thing funny. And I know what you’re thinking “hey dude, you’re not supposed to like school.” Well, you’re wrong! You’re just as deprived as I am, but you’re just not woke.

The kids are supposed to love learning. The teachers are supposed to ignite the curiosity in their pupils. The things we learn in school are supposed to sustain the human spirit! But no, instead they drill us into the ground with pointless papers, worksheets, labs, and all that other nonsense. I’ll never use any of that stuff in the real world. And did you notice the work got harder and

harder as we advanced? Joke’s on them because this guy got smarter and smarter! All that work probably negatively impacted my growth due to lack of sleep, but “that which does not kill us, makes us stronger” - Friedrich Nietzsche. I’ve become proficient in googling, skim reading, and finessing.

Luckily enough, I was involved in extracurriculars. Those were fun—shoutout to my extracurriculars. Extracurriculars often provide participants with a group of people to relate to which is a tremendous boon while trying to juggle all the difficulties we face in high school.

At Newton North, there are so many extracurriculars ​​ and not enough time to try them all. That’s an embarrassment of riches. But don’t be embarrassed because you are rich, take advantage of these rich opportunities. My approach to extracurriculars was to not be scared to try new activities, and my advice for you for extracurriculars, is to not be scared to try new activities. Sounds familiar? My bad,

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don’t step out your comfort zone, you’ll get really good at whatever is in your comfort zone.

Non-sequiturs confuse some and humor others. Congratulations to my fellow graduates of 2018 YURRR!

—Will Thompson

Create meaningful global connections

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My interest in the world began when I was born in a small village in Guangxi, China. At a year old I was adopted by my mom and joined a family with two older brothers in Newton, MA. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was my first small step towards the path of global citizenship. As I grew older, I knew I was a part of Newton, yet I also had a sense of belonging to a world community.

In 2013, I traveled to my

birth city and visited the orphanage where I lived. Spending time with the children still living there opened my eyes to the idea of interconnectedness and human rights.

Through this trip, I came to empathize with the struggle of these older children in government care and felt a yearning for something more, for change to ensue for these children. A couple years later, I traveled to China again as part of the Newton-Jingshan Exchange and realized the value of cultural diversity. In a lot of ways, these two experiences were very similar regarding this contrast between my birth culture and the American one I had adopted, or had adopted me.

Yet they were also quite different in the sense that my homeland journey was to allow me to understand how I fit into the world whilst my exchange trip was an opportunity for cultural and academic growth.

My classmates at North inspire me everyday to work towards becoming a global citizen. I’ve witnessed first hand classmates taking charge to make an impact on both the national and international level.

I’ve seen peers organize, rally and march for change; raise money for different charities; carve out time to

discuss crosscultural issues of the world; and help the environment through classes like Greengineering that teach sustainability. As young adults, we have the opportunity and responsibility to help make our world better and to connect with others in the spirit of humanity.

I still don’t know how I can make an impact in our world, but I do know that my classmates, my curriculum, and my teachers at Newton North have encouraged and allowed me to nurture this idea, to find my place in this global community.

So, congratulations to the class of 2018! As we graduate today and step out into the big world, let’s try to be the best people we can for ourselves and for others. Let’s try to continue to practice kindness and acceptance for people in the world at large. Let’s try to make significant contributions and take action when needed. Global Citizenship takes many forms, so find one that fits you best. With the world at our fingertips, we have the power to initiate change. The possibilities are endless.

—Ying Ying Rossi

Pursue new passions by finding external motivation

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Before I begin, I’d like to thank all the friends I’ve made throughout my four years at North. There are times in high school when things are pretty stressful—college applications, for instance. Yet because of the love and support of my

friends, I’ve been able to remember what’s really important in life. I simply cannot express my gratitude enough—you know who you are.

With that said, I suppose this is where I reflect on my high school experience. Where do I start? I could tell you how I went from being shy and quiet to the person the teacher always has to tell to stop talking, or how I went from being a STEM person to someone who loves history and English, or how I went from being too afraid to share my opinion to someone who shares their thoughts perhaps a little too much.

Still, I don’t think any single story could capture all four years of high school. There was a lot that I accomplished, but there’s a whole lot more I regret not doing. So, that thing you’re planning for or thinking about—just dive right in and get to it. Maybe it turns out to be exactly what you hoped for. Fantastic!

Or maybe it turns out to not be your

thing. That’s OK as well! The point is, you’ll never know until you get started.

Now, the “just do it” mentality is much easier said than done. There were a lot of times—be it a certain club I wanted to join or some goal I wanted to reach—where I felt it was just too much of a risk to even try.

I worried about failure and embarrassment, which I think everyone does. I’ve really struggled to get myself past this anxiety. So in addition to your own intrinsic desire to do something, I’ve learned it helps to have some kind of external motivation, some reward outside of yourself to push you that extra little bit.

The difficult part will be finding that motivator. It could be the desire to make your friends and family happy. It could be wanting to win a certain game or competition. For the non-seniors out there, it also could be the desire to get into college. A lot of people say that you shouldn’t do things just for col-

lege—which is very true. But if you want to use that as your extra motivation, that little thing you keep at the back of your mind to push you forward, by all means, do so! The whole point is that any external motivator isn’t the primary reason for doing something—it’s just that small piece that helps you get over the hump.

Of course, never forget your central motivation for doing anything—do things because you love

them. Eventually, you may not even need that external motivation anymore, and you can do things simply because you know they’ll bring you joy. I’m still searching for that kind of self-confidence—and maybe I’ll never find it. Even so, there’s no better inspiration in life.

—Max Teszler

So prou d of yo u, w e are.

M ake i t s o Number One!

30 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

editors’ column

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Appreciate opportunity for academic ‘grind time’ No one is going to check up on you, you are insignificant. What it takes so many people years to end up realizing is that the girl you like in the back of the class does not care about your new shoes, your teacher is not and will not do anything if you don’t do that homework, and you are just a speck in their lives.

The low down is, you gotta do your thing and not be a meany. Stop caring what people do because that’s only going to make you salty and distract you from what you need to

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do because THIS IS THE PRIME TIME GRIND TIME SO YOU BETTER GET TO WORK. Do things because you want to do them to better yourself, stop subscribing to this mantra of “oh my teacher assigned this I need to do it because I don’t want to face the consequences.” If you’re skipping because you decided to not study for a test, grow up, take the L, and move on. Be real with yourself, because if you don’t go to class, nothing is really going to happen in the grand

scheme of things. Think about why you are skipping class; I am sick of this herd mentality to act the coolest. Take a mental health day, start a business, take a trip, but for the sake of my sanity, do not skip class and sit halfway down the hall on your phone or go home and watch Netflix. Nothing is going to work until you work (and no, ‘you’ does not mean your parents). The people out here crazy enough to say they can change the world are the ones that’ll do it. So, enough of this ‘I’m

too cool attitude’ because no one cares, and go make yourself worth my time.

If this feels like I am talking directly to you, good. Now work on it. PUT YOUR MIND TO IT PUT YOUR GRIND TO IT AND YOU’LL DO IT.

—Valeria Dountcheva Editor-in-Chief Volume 96

Combat stress, insecurity with genuine enthusiasm For those of you who also ride a train of frequent insecurity and selfdeprecation in this journey of taxpayer-funded education, it seems important to share that aside from knowing which bathroom stalls don’t lock (shout out to the classic door-crack-tissue-jamming technique) and why to avoid staircase E, one of the most valuable things to keep in mind from this $197 million building is that it’s very much okay to nerd it up.

Too often we base our sense of self worth on our productivity, whether it’s in the number of textbook pages we get through or the speed at which we memorize French vocabulary. In an effort to

chase a sense of accomplishment, we create mountains of uncompleted to-do lists to feel in control because every procrastinated minute falls short of our idealized expectations. The ugliest part is when we look around and worry that everyone else has it figured out better than we do.

What’s helpful to remember in all of this worry is that no one else knows what they’re doing either. No one has an answer key to how you should organize a clothing drive or whether you should call out the slacker stealing credit on the group project. Despite what execution may show, every organized effort in this school contains some

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degree of uninspired brainstorming, panicked crisis-averting, and uncertain execution.

In these somewhat unglamourous moments, we are presented with the opportunity to separate

a weak effort from a strong one through genuine enthusiasm.

Sometimes that looks like staying at X-block for an extra half hour or coming in early to squeeze in a group project meeting, but “nerding it up” about the “dumb” stuff is important too. In fighting the soulvacuuming parts of high school, caring about the endeavors we love is one of the most effective combatants out there for both ourselves and those around us. Did you think that chem lab from D-block was actually pretty cool? Are you excited to dress up in tourist gear for your team’s next spirit day? Embrace that excitement! Is your best friend about to shine on stage next week in

the auditorium? Support them and celebrate their star power!

High school can sometimes feel like you’re just mindlessly hopping from one stressor to the next because there’s always something on the calendar for you to overanalyze and under-prepare for. Taking the time to push against that mentality with the love and appreciation of a thousand suns for the little things can help you find your way through it all. And, if it counts for anything, I am certain beyond doubt that you are up for the challenge.

—Jackie Gong Editor-in-Chief Volume 96

Develop passions by embracing uncertainty of future “What do you want to be when you grow up?” That was the playful, light-hearted question adults always asked when we were younger to hear the sweet naivete of our childhood dreams. On the playground, our imaginations led us to be Harry Potter characters one day and British royalty the next.

Only now that we have grown up and are in our high school years, this timeless question has morphed into an endless cycle of expectation and pressure that we are somehow set on the path we want to take in life.

But I know I’m not. I still remember doting on the idea of becoming an astrophysicist in fifth

grade—all I knew was that apples fell to the ground from trees— and my interests have continually changed every year since. In high school, I found myself passionate about a multitude of interests ranging from journalism to education policy to environmental activism.

High school was the place where I had the opportunity to explore everything and become anything, until I was asked the question of what I dreamed to do for the rest of my life.

What I’ve realized is that believing not in a singular dream, but rather, believing in limitless possibility, has gotten me through the ups and downs of these four years.

The notion that there were a million doors the world was waiting for me to open allowed me to look beyond the expectations of everyone around me, to cope with the inevitable loneliness of hard work, to rise above the stress of competition, and to embrace failure with open arms. Unrealized potential meant that I could push the bounds and take initiative without fear—I confided in it as a source of strength and power.

While I hope to someday realize this potential, it is empowering to know that everything I have done has in some way contributed to whatever I am destined to accomplish—my high school activi-

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ties and experiences have honed my skills and better prepared me for what’s to come, regardless of how diverse and irrelevant they seemed.

The most difficult part is being

able to accept this uncertainty in the future, in where you will end up or what you will do or who you will be, for it is daunting. But for me, it was the most exciting and rewarding part of high school, too.

I urge you to cherish that uncertainty and with freeing imprecision, allow high school’s limitless possibilities to shape your future.

One thing you should be certain of, however, is that the world needs the power of your potential.

—Lucy Lu Editor-in-Chief Volume 96

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

editors’ column

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 31

Appreciate present moment, complexity of experiences “I can’t wait until I’m a senior,” I said.

I was sitting in the Newtonite room as a freshman, listening to a group of second-semester seniors chronicle their amazing, stress-free lives. Predictably, they all burst into laughter at my naiveté. As a freshman, I should have expected this (gentle) ridicule for my comment.

Clearly, I had a long way to go.

Now, as the days until graduation rapidly disappear behind us, I wonder: was I right about senior year? Is it everything I dreamed of ?

It turns out I should have taken that old adage to heart: be careful what you wish for. Senior year can mean working a moderately soulcrushing job after school and getting home late to study for three tests the next day. It can mean getting rejected from your top choice

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school. It could mean experiencing real loss for the first time, and you could be wishing you could go back in time and enjoy somebody’s presence while you can.

Senior year may mean that you give up things that matter to you in order to cope. You may find your-

self with time, for the first time in years, and you realize you don’t quite know what to do with it. Maybe it will feel like walking out into a room filled with twenty people to audition for a play for the first time, beginning your monologue, and realizing your mind, in its panic state, can no longer find the lines. (Or, if you’re like me, this actually just happened yesterday).

If you are waiting for senior year, know that it could spell out death, rejection, failure. It did for me. Stop waiting for the weekend, because Saturday does not prohibit bad news. Stop waiting for summer, because you might not get that internship—I didn’t!

This isn’t to say that nothing good will ever happen in the future, but rather to say: do not exclude yourself from everything happen-

ing right now in the hopes that it might benefit you later. Next year is not certain. Fortunately, today is.

It is fine to plan, but not when you allow planning or waiting to consume you. The week can feel like an airport terminal, waiting for the weekend. High school can feel like a stepping stone for college, and life can feel like surviving for one more day.

That freshman-year iteration of myself might be waiting for a few years, but in the meantime she meets people she will remember forever. She writes a few things that she is proud of. She travels to a foreign country and finds out that she is lost. She runs a few good races.

She definitely does not get enough sleep.

Today, she writes a final message that she hopes isn’t too much

of a downer. In short, congratulations, my fellow classmates of 2018!

Each one of us has gone through so much over these past four years, and we have all come out the other end better for it. I hope you’re all feeling the same way as I am: amazingly, blindingly excited for next year, for change, and for all the ups and downs that the future will bring. But before then, we should remember to fully experience the end of senior year, the joy and pain that finality can bring. We will never live through it again.

—Rose Bostwick Managing Editor Volume 96

Set personal standards of success for high school goals Most of us can picture the typical “perfect” high school student.

Someone with good grades who is a three-season athlete, finishes all of her homework, spends lots of time with friends, volunteers, and maybe even has time for a few hobbies outside of school, all without breaking a sweat. When I was younger, I used to watch TV shows featuring those types of characters, and I got it into my head that that was who I wanted to be in high school—someone who did everything “perfectly” and

made it look easy.

However, when I actually got to high school and tried to stick with what I thought I was supposed to do—joining sports teams and clubs, spending hours on homework, and always pleasing other people—it wasn’t fun. Moreover, it was not possible to fulfill the expectations I had set for myself. The realities of high school showed me that “perfection” is overrated. I finally figured this out by junior year when I let go of the superfluous and only did activi-

ties I enjoyed. I took classes that I found interesting and hung out with people who made me happy.

I wish I had known freshman year that there is no magic formula for what you should do to have a successful high school career. To those who want to strive for “perfection” in high school or in life my advice is this: don’t bother. Instead, find people and activities that challenge you while still giving you joy.

Choose the path that works best for you. For me, this meant focusing

my energy on a few key activities that I loved and only taking classes I wanted to senior year. Other people might have different formulas that work best for them. Regardless, the message stays the same: don’t hold yourself to impossible standards and stay true to what makes you happy.

—Amy Morrill Managing Editor Volume 96

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Brand New You Congratulations THEATRE INK SENIORS! This is where it all started!

Thank you for being a part of Theatre Ink whether it was for 1 show or 4 years!

Love, Mr. Brown, Ruth, Jay, Mike, and Mr. Fabrizio

Karl Adrianza Thacher Andreae Emma Arpino Gaby Avelino Sarah Bassett Caroline Beecher Martha Bennett Madeline Bohm Alisa Caira Nour Chahboun Sophie Chalfin-Jacobs Jonathan Champion Adam Chapnik Evelyn Chedekel Samidio DePina Clare Donohoe Sophie Ferreira-Iannone Anna Fischer Lauren Fitzpatrick Finnegan Flaherty

Ilai Gavish Nora Geffen Evyatar Gershon Ingrid Ginsberg Maya Gomberg Jeremy Gordon Andrew Hastings Maxwell Huntington Daisy Hutter Ashlyn Kelly Samuel Kesselman Brendan King Noah Klavens Sydney Koo Zoe Land Dustin Ledgard Carrieanne Mamba Will Marsh Gabriella Matos Maddie Mehrez

Maggie Quigley Emma Regan Ian Reid Livia Reider Elizabeth Reikine Emma Richmond Ben Schwartz Kevin Seuch Ethan Silberman-Baron Sophie Spector Juliette Spitaels Rachel Stoia Abby Strayer William Thompson, III Sarah Vernovsky Sophia Wilcox Warren Eliza Inder Mia Patriacca Madeleine Boucher Alyssa Bradley

Jacob Braithwaite Anna Demko Jayden Destin Zoe Dissanayake Teddy Everett Ben Feldman Kelly Fong Einat Gavish Seika Ghavidel Mariana Gomes Danielle Greenberg Grace Harrison Nathalie Hart Katherine Ho Tianna Houston Esther Itkis Olivia Kelly Lila Kiron Annika Lee Sofia Leone

Mia Lietzkie Julia MacDonald Jake Mahoney Sheil Mehta Rose Mooney Alex Pikul Lydia Proskauer Maya Renneker Abby Richmond David Rodriguez Paul Rodriguez Ashley Rozier Sarah Shapiro Arnav Srikanth Julianna Standish Christopher Stevens Hayden Weaver

32 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Newton North, The Newtonite â—† 33

34 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

fine and performing arts

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Theatre ink shows could write great sketches like that, but we can and anyone can,” said junior cast member Rene Miller. “It’s really cool to see, and it makes people so happy to have other people enjoy their sketches.”

‘Cinderella’ transports audience into fairytale with set, costumes

Joelle Sugianto

Juniors Nia Hyppolite, Andy Bean, senior Maggie Quigley, sophomore Josh Lev and junior Kylie Smyth rehearse for Cabaret Troupe Tuesday, May 22.

‘Clyborne Park’ contemplates racial tensions in past, present Clybourne Park showcased the persisting racial tensions in Chicago over 50 years with two acts, one set in 1959 and the other in 2009. Spanish teacher Dan Fabrizio directed the play, which ran Nov. 2 through Nov. 4 in the auditorium.

The story takes place in a fictional Chicago neighborhood, Clybourne Park. Invented

by Loraine Hansberry in her play A Raisin in the Sun, Clybourne Park is reflective of real neighborhoods in Chicago at that time, according to junior Imani Bibuld, who researched for the show.

With this play, Theatre Ink made use of its center stage to start a conversation about racism, the controversial theme of the play. The awkward laughter, sudden hushed silence, and confusion woven throughout invites the audience to talk about important issues in the past and present.

“Our job is to create group discomfort, not individual alienation,” said Fabrizio.

Fabrizio and Theatre Ink director Adam Brown decided to put on Clybourne Park this fall to “break the pattern of not being able to converse” about racial instances that North has experienced, he added.

‘Fly by Night’ takes on complex emotions, darker subject matter Fly by Night, a play directed by seniors Nora Geffen and Emma Richmond, ran Dec. 6 through Dec. 9 in the Little Theater.

Set during the Northeast blackout of 1965, the show centers around a sandwich maker, Harold, played by junior Amar Ahmad, and two sisters who change his life: Daphne, played by sophomore Sarah Bottino, and Miriam, played by senior Gabriella Avelino. Besides the drama and love triangles, the show is also about death, darkness, and grief. Bottino said that the show “is a story that beautifully mixes themes of love, grief, and the belief in fate and destiny like no other show I have ever seen before.”

The show makes use of every aspect of theater—lighting, set, music, staging, costumes—to create an immersive and moving experience that reminds audiences of their connections with one another.

According to junior Kiley Smyth, an ensemble member, “the show leaves the audience with the idea that no matter how different you are from a person—whether it’s gender, race, religion, sexuality, age, ethnicity—we can still all understand each other and help each other out.”

Freshman Cabaret introduces new generation to Theatre Ink This year’s Freshman Cabaret, On Our Way, featured lively and spirited performances from dozens of talented young actors.

Directed by sophomores Rachel Bindman, Emma Davis, Tatiana Jackson-Saitz, Rachel O’Brien and Casey Weaver, the show ran

Dec. 13 through Dec. 15 in the auditorium.

The show served as a creative environment for freshmen to meet new people and become introduced to Theatre Ink. “The whole cast became friends,” said freshman cast member Talia Zalis. “I went into it not knowing anyone and by the time the production was over, I was friends with all my castmates.”

According to Weaver, “The show was incredible. We had so much talent this year, and we were so happy to see freshmen giving it their all with acting, singing and dancing. I’m so happy to have been able to bring On Our Way to the stage.”

Improv Jam excites, engages audience with theater games Improv Jam, which ran Jan. 19 and May 2 in the Little Theater, wowed audiences with comedic jokes and original skits. An interactive show, the audience members participated in improv games such as spin-offs, which features a host who commands the actors, telling them what to act out, and when to switch scenes.

“Any type of scene is expected to happen,” said senior Andrew Hastings, a co-officer of the Improv Club. “It’s not a scripted show. It’s just comedy. There are no lines,” he explained.

Audience members who participated were entered into a raffle for a chance to win prizes such as Theatre Ink season passes, t-shirts, and water bottles.

“It’s just really fun being able to take the scene where you want it to go,” said Freshman club member Emma Bradshaw. “I don’t know how to describe it but it’s really interesting to try and think of things on the spot.”

Nitrous Oxide explores current, challenging topics using comedy

North’s oldest sketch comedy troupe, Nitrous Oxide, presented An Evening of Sketch Comedy in the Little Theatre Feb. 8 through Feb. 10. The show was directed by senior Andrew Hastings and junior Andrew Ruttenberg. The 15 cast members wrote and performed a collection of hilarious skits during the night.

From ridiculous sketches, involving the cast hitting each other with food and screaming, to controversial topics like racism, the group covered a diverse series of issues and activities.

According to junior Laila Plaster including skits about racism “challenges the way a lot of people think about things. Like, from last night’s audience there was a pause between the end of the sketch and the laughter, as if people had to be like ‘Oh, is it okay if we laugh at that?’ It’s meant to be funny. It’s meant to show how ridiculous these things are.”

Overall, the enthusiastic acting and clever sketches made Nitrous Oxide one of the most impressive productions all year.

“You don’t really think that people our age

North’s spring musical, Cinderella, directed by Kevin Kline, ran March 15 through March 18 in the auditorium.

The show’s intricate costumes, fascinating sets, and inspiring songs came together to portray an updated story of Cinderella, played by junior Maddy Ranalli. The show, while based on the original story, was adapted from the original Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. It included original themes of the fairytale, mixed with a new theme of revolution. It also showed many of the characters through a different lens, including Cinderella.

According to junior Rachel Skidmore, a cast member, “Ella is a stronger female character and doesn’t just wait for the prince to come rescue her.”

Senior Max Huntington, a lighting director, said “The set, lights, costumes, sound, hair, makeup, and the acting all coming together to make a complete show is one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.”

Spontaneous Generation brings laughs, whimsical baffoonery Spontaneous Generation, Newton North’s annual improv show, ran April 4 through April 7 in the Little Theatre and was directed by seniors Clare Donohoe and Andrew Hastings.

The show included a variety of performances, from theatrical games to hilarious musical numbers. It featured moments of spontaneity, such as when cast members danced in the middle of the stage to songs like “Womanizer” by Britney Spears. The cast was composed of 13 actors and two instrumentalists.

Donohoe said, “My favorite part of directing has been being able to so clearly see how much everyone has improved and grown.”

Senior Will Marsh, a cast member, added, “There’s definitely something so fun and invigorating about going on stage with the sense of complete freedom and fear that comes with having absolutely no idea what you’re actually doing. I’ve never had a process that can or will ever compare. The people there have really changed my life.”

‘Julius Caesar’ features classic plot with contemporary themes The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, directed

by North theater teacher Michael Barrington-Haber and put on by Theatre Ink and South Stage, ran May 10 through May 12 in the Little Theatre.

North and South’s theater departments joined forces to perform a contemporary version of the play, which included themes of

feminism and the media’s effect on society. The detailed costumes and props, along with the actors’ evocative gestures and facial expressions, portrayed the show’s modern subject matter.

Overall, an immersive performance from all the actors brought the show to life.

Senior Evelyn Cheveldek, who played Decius Brutus and Varro, explained that quick costume and character changes pushed the cast to stay in character. “After a point, it’s not you controlling the scene. It’s the scene controlling you.”

Cabaret Troupe explores value of decisions in ‘Crossroads’ Cabaret Troupe: Crossroads, directed by senior Rebecca Lev and junior Rene Miller, ran May 23 through May 25 in the auditorium.

“The theme of crossroads actually came from my own decision to apply to direct the show,” Lev explained. “A crossroads is a point in someone’s life when they have to make a decision that will impact the rest of their life.”

“These crossroads moments are present in everyone’s lives, especially at this point in our school careers where people are beginning to look to the future and where that will lead them in the long run,” she added.

Directing and acting in Cabaret Troupe required significant hard work, both in and out of school, according to Lev. For junior Maggie Quigley, a cast member, the most rewarding parts of the show were the relationships formed between those involved. “The entire cast is so supportive of each other, truly creating a collaborative environment where we can make some great music,” she said.

Playwright’s Festival to present student-run theater productions The 11th Annual Playwrights Festival, featuring 10 student-written plays, will run June 7 through June 9 in the Little Theater.

Directed by seniors Adam Chapnik and Emma Richmond, the festival will showcase several plays with two to six actors in each scene.

Casting began in April while the writers, all of whom are North students, submitted their plays for revision in late November. The plays could be about all kinds of scenarios, people and experiences. According to Richmond, the entire process is student-led, from the directors to the designers of the show’s posters.

“This year specifically, there are a lot of plays about communication and relationships,” said Richmond, “That’s because these are things that high schoolers think about a lot.”

“There is a really nice moment for a firsttime playwright who has never seen their work legitimized in that way,” she continued.

“There’s something so special about putting something very personal in the world that you just thought up in your brain.”

Joelle Sugianto

Junior Anna Jones rehearses for her part as Crabble in the musical ‘Fly By Night’ Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

fine and performing arts

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 35

man, the concert consisted of the Family Singers, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, and the Orchestra playing the highly renowned melodist’s anti-war compositions.

Each piece featured rich vocals from soloists, with the choir, ensemble and orchestra backing them up.

“I was excited to be singing. I was excited to be up there,” said sophomore Lara Saouli, “We worked really hard to get the notes down during the rehearsal, but it felt amazing to push through and perform.”

Overall, the performance was a testament to the teamwork of the choir and band, making it one of the best concerts of the year. “It was breathtaking. I was nervous but really excited at the same time. It was really nice being in a small group and being able to sing,” said senior Rose Mooney.

Jazz Night brings pep to North’s step with lively musical exhibit

Joelle Sugianto

Senior Ryan Park, sophomore Ben Ryder, and and Sophie Spector play with Jazz Ensemble Friday, April 6.

Battle of the Bands showcases students’ impressive music skills

The Class of 2019 held a Battle of the Bands fundraiser Nov. 9 in the school cafeteria. Four bands played their sets and then audience members voted for their favorite performances.

“The idea behind the battle was that we noticed there weren’t any big events for the school,” even though the school has “a crazy amount of musically inclined individuals,” said junior Maya Mathews, president of the Class of 2019.

The band Just a Phase—consisting of juniors Jonathan Cole, Dylan Evans, Jacob Moustafa and Meadowbrook Middle School eighth-grader Will Goldsmith—came in first place. “We were very grateful that we won, especially against such great bands,” said Evans, drummer for the band.

Throughout their set, Just a Phase showed enthusiasm and presented dynamic, engaging songs, including the crowd favorite, “Guess What?” an original song.

According to Evans, “It was fun to watch the other performers because they were all so talented. We played really well and it was an overall good experience.”

Harvestfest displays variety of talented musical groups, genres

The music department kick-started this year’s performance season with Harvestfest, the annual two-part fall concert, which showcased the students’ range of skills and styles.

Harvestfest I, which took place Nov. 15, featured Jazz Ensemble 1, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Tiger Bebop, all directed by music teacher Richard Labedz, and the Jubilee Singers, directed by music teacher Sheldon Reid.

The second night of Harvestfest, Nov. 16, showcased the talents of Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir, Family Singers, Orchestra, and String Ensemble in a unified concert directed by music teacher Adam Grossman.

Overall, the night was inspiring for everyone due to the pleasant variety of musical talents and the impressive pieces performed.

“By the end of the show, I hope people felt thankful for everything they have in their life, especially music.” said junior Rene Miller, who sings tenor in Jubilee. “These concerts are a nice time to come together and appreciate each other’s’ company.”

MASF Concert raises money for student musicians’ trips abroad Newton North and South musical pro-

grams came together to hold a concert to raise money for the Newton Music Ambassadors Scholarship Fund (MASF) Dec. 1. at Hibernian Hall in Watertown.

North music teacher Richard Labedz and South music teacher Lisa Linde created MASF to help students pay for music trips, provide equitable opportunity, and address a lack of domestic travel scholarships. The concert raised $10,000 for the fund, according to Labedz, a director of the concert.

North and South jazz groups performed a selection of jazz music, such as “Brasiliance”

by Duke Ellington, and “Tippin’ on the Q.T.”

by Buck Clayton.

Labedz said, “The best part is everybody coming together, and it really being a fun community event of people seeing each other, playing together, hearing each other, and having a good evening.”

Winterfest unites North’s music ensembles for Haydn rendition

Eighty-five students from four different ensembles came together on Jan. 25 to deliver a charismatic rendition of Joseph Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War” for the annual Winterfest concert. Conducted by Adam Gross-

Five of North’s music groups performed at Winter Jazz Night Feb. 1 in the Performing Arts Center, including Jazz Ensemble 1, Jazz Ensemble 2, Tiger Bebop, Jazz/Rock Workshop, and Advanced Jazz Combos.

Each group demonstrated their musical ability with original performances and melodious tunes.

The highlight of the night was the Jazz Ensemble’s rendition on “Take Five,” by Dave Brubeck.

Jubilee concerts share diverse music, emotional performances

The Jubilee Singers performed Feb. 3 and June 2 in the auditorium. The concerts were directed by music teacher Sheldon Reid.

The performances included songs full of emotion, with a wide range of genres “from hymns to upbeat pop songs,” according to junior Drew Bookman.

Acording to senior Thacher Andreae, “While it’s sometimes hard to conceptualize the meaning of a song right away, we find ways to dig deep and find ways to connect with the lyrics,” he said.

Junior Arianna Azadzoi added that the group’s diversity allows it add depth to the music, “We have students of different styles, backgrounds, ranges and yet we can all come together and create something beautiful and that’s what Jubilee is all about.”

The Jubilee Singers also performed in Harvestfest I, Springfest I, and at Pops Night.

Art Morning illustrates hard Arts Awards highlight students’ work, passion of student artists impressive artistic achievements Art Morning, a celebration and display of North student artwork, ran May 11 in the art rooms.

The day was an opportunity for art students to share their work in mediums such as clay, paint, or pictures with their community.

Attendees also had the chance to make their own art, drawing with chalk and making pinch pots, pottery bowls shaped by hand.

Senior Zoe Lee said the chalk mural is her favorite part of art morning. “We’ve done one for the past three years, and it’s my absolute favorite tradition at North. I think that it’s the perfect piece to make art interactive for people.”

Lee, who was among the many student artists showcased, displayed pieces in the art hallway. One collection consisted of four paintings of North students, all in watercolor.

“What inspired me to make these pieces was my friends,” Lee said. “Each panel is a portrait of one of my friends from the senior art major class. I added elements that I felt like showcased them.”

Sophomore Ella Bailey said, “I think that Art Morning is a great opportunity for students to share their passion for art.”

The National Scholastic Arts Awards presented awards to 12 of North’s own students for their exceptional artworks, including ceramics, drawings, paintings, printmaking, sculpture, and photography.

An awards ceremony was held at Tufts University, March 17.

The awards were Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention. From North, seniors Ella Bailey, Anna Demko, Noah Klavens, Emma Meier-Ewert, and Cassie Sheirer, and junior Maia Alberts received the highest honor of a Gold Key. Gold Key winners are eligible for national-level awards and recognition.

Demko, who won a Gold Key for her self-portrait said, “I’m honored that I won because the portrait I did took a while.”

Some students’ work was made in past years and only submitted recently, like Alberts’ linoleum print inspired by Shel Silverstein’s poem, “The Gooloo Bird.” According to Alberts, “Winning the award was a pleasant surprise.”

According to art teacher Cindy Massoff, students from North have received awards every year since 1997, when she first started teaching at Newton Public Schools.

Lilah Gentry

Freshman Naka Kondo works on her cardboard mask for an art projectWednesday, April 4.

Pages 34 and 35 compiled by Isabella Lecona, Carolyn McDonald, and Amy Xue

sports

36 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Fall teams achieve success, see improvement the season’s difficult start united the team in an effort to end these early struggles. “The biggest thing was to stay together and remain confident, and within doing that, the season began to turn around after those games,” said Neville.

A highlight of the season was the team’s victory over rival Brookline in the annual Thanksgiving Day game. Neville said, “Beating our rivals on their field Thanksgiving Day and playing for our seniors,” is what made the win special.

According to Neville, “Winning the league and getting deeper into the playoffs than last year,” was an important goal the Tigers accomplished.

Byrne, Harvey, McLaughlin, Neville, along with seniors Anthony Calcagni, Thompson, and juniors Kyle Ray-Canada and Joseph Torcasio were all named Bay State All-Stars.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Wendy Li

Tigers line up on defense against Framingham during Friday Night Lights, Oct. 20.

Boys’ cross country places in AllStates, achieves successful season Jacques Abou-Rizk Boys’ cross country, 9-1, finished second in MIAA Division I Sectionals, as well as fifth in the All-State Meet. The team had a strong season, according to senior Andrew Mah, a captain with seniors A.J. Arbuckle and Ilai Gavish.

According to Mah, the team “beat Brookline and Needham, our rivals, which was definitely a highlight.” He added, “The guys really stepped up at All-States.”

Assistant coach Shawn Wallace said, “From the beginning, I thought we had a chance to win the league.” He said, “We just fell a bit short to Wellesley.”

Mah, along with Gavish and sophomore Ian Horsburgh, were able to continue onto Bay States, with Mah progressing all the way to Nationals, finishing in 42nd place.

Gavish, Horsburgh, and Mah were all named Bay State All-Stars. Horsburgh and Mah were also named Boston Globe All-Scholastics and Boston Herald All-Scholastics.

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Boys’ soccer creates success, qualifies for state tournament Carolyn McDonald Boys’ soccer, 8-6-7, ended their season in the first round of the MIAA North Division I Sectionals tournament, losing 4-1 to St. John’s Prep. The team found success, finishing fifth in the Bay State Conference and completing seven shutouts, according to senior Adrian Scott, a captain with senior Alex Crystal.

“Highlights from this season include beating our Brookline rivals in the annual Kicks for Cancer game and beating state-ranked Wellesley at home,” said Scott.

The turning point for the Tigers was when they qualified for the tournament for the first time in seven years, according to Scott.

Coach Roy Dow said the team’s “main goal every year is to make it to the postseason and we did that.”

“We set goals for them to get better in specific areas of their game and for them to be open and honest with us and each other,” Dow added, “You can never be 100 percent with these sort of goals, but I think the players came a long way over the fall.”

Senior Matt Rooney and junior Filippo Menozzi were named Bay State All-Stars, while Scott earned an honorable mention. Rooney was also named an Eastern Massachusetts AllStar. Senior Erik Brown also won the Athletic Department Sportsmanship Award.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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“Our main goal this season was to create a cohesive, supportive team. We valued that all members of the team felt respected and supported to reach their established goals,” said coach Briana Hogan.

The coaches also highlighted the commitment and effort of the team members, including their ability to learn new skills, work with new members, and their capability to handle themselves in the most pressured situations.

At the Bay States competition, “the Newton North cheer team performed a perfect routine, hitting all of their stunts,” said Hogan.

She added that “the minute they walked off that mat is definitely one we will never forget.

We were overwhelmed with pride.”

The cheer team was faced with high-level, competitive teams, but still managed to dazzle fans and secure a strong third in States, according to Hogan.

“On any given day, the cheerleading athletes continued to surprise us with the complexity of their skills and willingness to push themselves to be the best they could be. Whether it was at practice, a game or a competition, we were proud to coach the tenacious, talented and hard-working athletes of the Newton North Cheer team,” said Hogan.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Dance succeeds in competitions, comes together as cohesive team Hari Narayanan Dance had a successful season, qualifying for states and placing in the top three in all their competitions.

The team placed third at the Endicott College dance competition and second at the Emmanuel College Dance Competition, which was its highest place of the season. The team also performed at a number of football games and eventually took third at States.

According to junior Eliana Zuckernick, a captain with seniors Justine Pavia and Danielle Sharon, the team “really accomplished the goal of becoming better dancers while coming together as a team.” Zuckernick attributed the team’s success to it’s “shared confidence and team identity.”

Zuckernick said that the “highlight of the season was the team’s performance at States, which felt like the best performance by everybody, and it all really came through then.”

Coach Caroline Nunberg said that the turning point was one “pivotal” practice.

“Through explanation and focus, the routine came together.” Zuckernick said that “everyone really wanted to win, worked harder and added a new trick into the dance that really transformed it.”

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Cheerleading creates camaraderie Football wins Thanksgiving Day game, finds success in season with addition of new athletes Skyler Bohnert Cheerleading finished third in the Bay State Conference and second in the State competition for the third year in a row, after the addition of new coaches and the performances of athletes like the team’s captains, senior Nai Abelenda and juniors Morgan Britt-Webb and Kenison Winton.

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Jayden Destin Football, 6-4, ended their strong season in the MIAA South Division I Quarterfinals, losing to Catholic Memorial, the number five-seeded team.

Senior Noah Neville, a captain with seniors Thomas Byrne, Nate Harvey, Ryan McLaughlin, and Will Thompson, said he believed that by

Girls’ cross country overcomes struggle through team dedication Gwen Bankmann Girls’ cross country, 6-4, finished eighth at the Eastern Massachusetts Championships, after a strong season, according to coach Brandon Mogayzel.

Senior Lillian Joyce, a captain with seniors Grace Donovan, Einat Gavish, and Jill Pollard, said, “One goal was to have the team qualify for the Eastern Massachusetts Championship, and we did.”

According to Joyce, several players sustained injuries in the middle of the season, but that only made the team work harder to make sure they reached all of their season goals.

“We had members from all parts of the team trying their best in every practice, workout, and race,” said Joyce.

Gavish was named a Boston Globe All-Scholastic and Boston Herald All-Scholastic. She was also named a Bay State All-Star, along with senior Rose Tezler. Sophomore Helena Teixeira received an honorable mention.

Next years captains are juniors Jane Alandydy, Olivia Micalizzi, Iman Sayeed, and Natasha Sharma.

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Field Hockey develops confidence with support from new coach Jake Forbes Field Hockey, 2-14-1, had “a huge reboot this year with a new coach,” according to senior Angela Buras, a captain with senior Ashley Babigian.

Buras said, “The team improved a lot on their skills this season and came together both on and off the field.”

“Although it might not have shown on the scoreboard, the season as a whole was successful,” she added.

After a challenging season last year, the team hired Kristy Moore as the new head coach.

“She helped to reshape the team and make a much more positive environment for the players,” said Buras.

Next year’s captains are junior Emma McKee and one other to be determined.

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Girls’ soccer achieves growth in more unified, confident season Jackson Lake Girls’ soccer, 7-10, improved this season, but were still unable to make the postseason.

According to senior Lydia Smith, a captain with senior Lauren Eckenrode, “Our positivity as a team got us close to the playoffs.”

After winning the first game of the season against Weymouth, the team gained confidence, setting the tone for the rest of the season. They “were there for one another,” Smith said.

According to Smith, “The highlight of the season was an under the lights game that we won at home, which proved that we weren’t a bad team.”

Junior Abigail Dobies was named a Bay State Conference First Team All-Star and was also named an Eastern Massachusetts Second Team All-Star. Junior Annie Tobin received an honorable mention.

“There was good team chemistry, people wanted to win, and people encouraged one

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another,” Smith said.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Girls’ swim and dive wins Bay State Conference in strong season Trisha Patel Girls’ swim, 12-1, were Bay State Conference champions, for the first time in North’s history.

Senior Serena Ly, a captain with seniors Caroline Beecher, Claire Campbell, Ciara McCormack, Katelin Luce, and Kristin Luce, said, “At the end of the day, our goal is to improve individually and to do well at our postseason championships. We more than definitely achieved both of those this year.”

According to Campbell, the team had to overcome not having a head coach during an important part of the season. “This situation taught us how supporting each other is more important than winning or losing,” she said.

According to Ly, there were many highlights of the season, but “the best had to be when we beat Brookline at our dual meet towards the beginning of our season. We lost to Brookline last year and the year before by two points and it was a great comeback.”

Kristen Luce, Ly, McCormick, senior Lillie Pomper, junior Kat Filipova, sophomore Emily Pan, and freshman Karen Tong were named Bay State Conference All-Stars. McCormick, Filipova, Pan, and Pomper were also named Boston Globe All-Scholastics.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Girls’ volleyball accomplishes impressive season, wins state title Helen Xiao Girls’ volleyball, 23-1, ended their season by defeating Hopkinton in the MIAA State Finals.

According to senior Julia Lanfear, a captain with seniors Olivia Kelly, Miska Legatova, and Jessie Yang, it was during a game against Framingham when the Tigers gained this mindset and determination. “Early in the season, we lost a set to Framingham, a team that never really stood out as a threat to us,” said Lanfear. “Losing that set forced us to focus better as a team, and we ended up playing with more focus helping us win the meet.”

Another significant highlight of the team’s season was its semi-final game against Barnstable, according to Lanfear. Barnstable was the former state champion and the only team that beat North during the regular season. The Tigers were able to defeat Barnstable 3-0, with the help of leading scorers junior Ashley Wang and Legatova.

Wang and Legatova were named Globe and Herald All-Scholastics. They were also named Division I All-State players along with Lanfear.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Golf places third at Bay States, focuses on building experience Sophie Murthy Golf, 5-8, finished third in the Bay State Conference Tournament.

The Tigers, led by coach Bob MacDougall, were unable to qualify for the state tournament despite their success at the Bay State Conference tournament.

“The turning point was the first time we played against Needham. We lost, but we played well, and it showed a lot of potential,” said junior Sean Fitzgerald, a captain with senior Henry Johnson and sophomore Pete Delmonico.

A highlight of the season was when the Tigers went on to defeat Needham in extremely challenging weather conditions.

“For this season, we had a really young team, so our goals were less focused on competing and more focused on getting everyone experience,” said Fitzgerald.

At the end of the season, the team sent their top three golfers to represent North at the Bay State Conference Championship. The team placed third overall.

“We had players step up and play great rounds of golf,” said Fitzgerald.

Fitzergald was named a Bay State Conference All-Star.

Next year’s captains are Fitzgerald, Delmonico, and others to be determined.

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sports

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 37

Winter teams consistently able to find success

Ming Tam

Senior Ethan Wright shoots a free throw during a 55-47 home game against Needham on Friday, Jan. 26.

Alpine focuses on cooperation, embraces support of coaches Jake Forbes Alpine completed a strong season with the girls’ team finishing fourth and the boys’ team finishing 12th in the state meet.

“The season as a whole went well,” said senior Evan Lipchin, a captain with senior Caroline Norton. The teams “improved a bunch and there was a lot of camaraderie,” he added.

According to Lipchin, the team dinner in the middle of the season “brought the team a lot closer.”

Lipchin added that juniors Matt Geis and Jonathan Rosentrach were strong leaders on the boys’ team and junior Miki Shibuya for the girls’.“Miki was always there and put her heart into the races, motivating the rest of the girls,” said Lipchin The coaches also had an impact on the teams’ success, according to Lipchin, adding that “they were always there for us to provide helpful insight and support.”

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Boys’ basketball succeeds again, athletes show leadership skills Jake Forbes Boys’ basketball, 19-5, finished their season in the third round of the MIAA South Division 1 Tournament.

“We have success every year because we all play the right way and buy into the system,” said senior Ethan Wright, a captain with seniors Noah Neville and Thomas Byrne.

The turning point of the season was the first game against Mansfield, according to Wright. “We realized we could play with high level teams and started playing like it,” he said.

Special education teacher Paul Connolly, the team’s head coach, was also integral to their success, Wright added. “He’s a big part of why we succeed every year,” he said.

Wright was named Boston Globe Athlete of the Year, a member of the Boston Herald Dream Team, Bay State Carey MVP, and a Bay State Conference All-Star. Senior Noah Neville and sophomore Aaron Cooley were also named Bay State Conference All-Stars.

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Boys’ gymnastics finishes year undefeated, wins state title Nichol Weylman-Farwell Boys’ gymnastics, 9-0, won the MIAA Division 1 State Championship for the fourth consecutive year.

According to junior Steven Tan, a captain with junior Michael Mitelman, going undefeated, as well as winning the state championship were “the biggest highlights of the season.”

The injuries of many of the team’s performers also played a central role in their season. According to Tan, “The turning point of the season was when some of our injured teammates came back from injuries, just in time to train for and eventually [help us] win the state meet.”

Tan explained that the team set goals for the individual athletes, which were to “perform to the best of your ability.”

Coach Bill Martin attributed the team’s success to such young players as sophomore Jake Forbes and freshman Matthew Hassan.

“The Jakes and Matthews of the world have come in and really helped bring our program by

to where it is now,” he said.

Forbes and Hassan were named Boston Globe All-Scholastics and Boston Herald All-Scholastics.

Next year’s captains are Forbes, Mitelman, and Tan.

Boys’ hockey sees progress, overcomes challenging season Will Kharfen Boys’ hockey, 7-10-3, just missed the playoffs after a challenging season due to injuries, according to senior Will Thompson, a captain with seniors Mikey Claflin, Kyle Sampson, and Kiernan Stone.

The season’s highlight was “beating Braintree, one of the strongest teams in the conference and a rival of ours,” said Thompson, adding that, “it was an extremely hard fought game and gave our team tons of confidence.”

The Braintree game was also a turning point for the team. “We showed that even though we lost a lot of players from last year and some players were out from injuries, we could still rise up,” said Thompson.

Claflin, the recipient of the Matheny Award, an award given to an athlete who shows bravery amidst adversity, is also representative of the team’s unity. “The kid has a heart of a lion,” said Thompson. “He battled cancer all season and still managed not only to play, but be a crucial part of our team.”

According to Thompson, the team’s bond also played a central role in their performance.

“We always pushed ourselves, and there was a constant positive energy inside and outside the rink. It was this year especially that the team was a really close-knit group,” he said.

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Boys’ swim maintains record, grows from guidance of coaches Sophie Ravina Boys’ swim and dive, 1-6, had strong individual efforts.

Although “it wasn’t the season we were hoping for, we still had a good time,” said senior Theo Fasciano, a captain with seniors Brandon Giang, Will Riley, and Joey Yerardi.

One of the most memorable moments of the season was when sophomore diver John Ryan Byers broke the school record for the six attempt dive, giving the team their only win of the season over the Xaverian Brothers.

According to Fasciano, the team had successful swimmers in both sectionals and states.

Riley and junior Jonathan Qian both placed in the top ten in the 100 meter breaststroke. Byers placed third at sectionals and seventh at states.

The team had a new set of coaches this year, as guidance counselor Pat Manning became the head coach. “He had never swum, but he knew how to coach,” said Fasciano.

“Our assistant coach worked more with us on technique, so they balanced each other out.”

Byers and Riley were named Bay State All-Stars.

Next year’s captains are Qian and junior Jason Wang. by

Boys’ indoor track dominates league, finds individual success Jake Forbes Boys’ indoor track, 5-0, finished undefeated in the Bay State Conference for the 21st straight year before going on to win the by

state title.

“I think there was a bit of a target on our backs at the beginning of the season, but everyone just performed phenomenally,” said senior Andrew Mah, a captain with senior Devin Coughlin and junior Theo Burba.

At Nationals in New York, Mah placed fifth in the Championship 5000 meter and 15th in the Championship two mile. Sophomore Ian Horsburg competed in the Emerging Elite division of the two mile and placed 17th.

Despite losing head coach Jim Blackburn for the season to an illness, math teacher Shawn Wallace, the assistant coach, took control of the program and “did a great job stepping up,” according to Mah. “Wallace basically took on a workload of two people, but he was clearly able to produce results,” said Mah. Burba, Coughlin, junior Forrest Kaplan, and sophomore Raghav Kadambi were named Boston Globe All-Scholastics and Boston Herald All-Scholastics for their efforts in the 4x800 relay. Mah was named a Boston Herald All-Scholastic.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Girls’ basketball emphasizes team unity throughout season Jake Forbes Girls’ basketball, 10-10, finished their season in the first round of the MIAA South Division Sectionals Tournament.

“As the season progressed we grew as a program and came together,” said senior Kelly Barbieri, a captain with seniors Elizabeth Davis, Joita Diecidue, and Julianne Landry.

Barbieri attributed much of the team’s success to the coaching staff. “They taught us not only how to play basketball, but how to build the program,” said Barbieri.

She added that the team’s turning point was towards the end of the season. “We won four or five games in a row to make the tournament which gave us a lot of confidence and helped with the pressure of making the tournament,” she said.

According to Barbieri also felt Diecidue played a large role in the team’s success because she was considered a role model for the team. “She always brought positivity and always worked hard,” said Barbieri.

Davis was named a Bay State All-Star.

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Girls’ gymnastics triumphs with Bay State Championship win Jake Forbes Girls’ gymnastics, 11-0, won the Bay State Championship in addition to winning the league title for a second consecutive year.

“Even with a thin team, we still had a lot of depth,” said F.A. Day Middle School science teacher Jim Chin, the team’s head coach.

According to senior Sonya Feng, a captain with senior Shannon Murphy, the team succeeded despite losing several gymnasts to injuries because “those obstacles only made our team bond more.”

The team relied on their two freshmen Liz Elvin and Nina Varady, who primarily competed in the all-around competition throughout the season. Both had already competed in club gymnastics but decided to compete on the high school team as well. According to Chin, this decision was “extremely beneficial to the team.” He added, “They have been doing what we have expected of them the entire season.”

Elvin was the Bay State Conference champion on the vault and placed second in the all-around, while Varady came in third.

Next year’s captains are juniors Morgan Britt-Webb and Lexie Chu. by

Girls’ hockey strives to improve performance, remains motivated Nichol Weylman-Farwell Girl’s hockey, 1-18, despite its record, established a “culture that will hopefully bring us back to winning games,” according to head coach Robert MacDougall, a physical education teacher.

MacDougall cited senior captains Natalie Lynch, Isadora Meyerhoff, and Nadia Visco, as being “fantastic for the rebuilding effort.”

He added, “They led the team through some tough times and games this season and helped by

the girls stay motivated and keep on skating.”

MacDougall explained that the team established a mindset that helped the team during the season. “They didn’t let small things get in their way. Results didn’t really matter, it was really just about how they played,” said MacDougall.

Macdougall said that the team’s main goal at the start of the season, that was accomplished, was to “make hockey fun again, get everyone to play, and get everyone to enjoy playing as part of this team.” Next year’s captain are to be determined.

Girls’ indoor track embraces newcomers, appreciates coaches Jake Forbes Girls’ indoor track, 5-0, placed third in the state meet and second in the Division 1 Meet.

According to senior Elizabeth Dallaire, a captain with seniors Dee Boyer, Catherine DeGroot and Einat Gavish, “The season got off to a rocky start because we had a lot of new members,” adding that “a lot of people who do high school track are first-timers or have never been to big meets.”

Dallaire credits much of the team’s success to the coaches. “They do some much for us by planning our workouts, writing up the rosters, and encouraging us to try new events. We are very grateful to have both of them,” she said.

DeGroot, Gavish, and senior Natalie Marshall were named Bay State All-Stars.

Next year’s captains are juniors Gigi Downey, Yahni Lapa, Ali Roberts, and Ava Waters. by

Nordic bonds together during training, grows from guidance Jake Forbes Nordic ended the season with the girls’ team placing fifth and the boys’ team placing seventh at states According to senior Jacob Jampel, a captain with seniors Alex Crystal, Victoria Joseph, and Rose Teszler, though the season was successful, it was also very bittersweet.

When discussing the turning point of the season, Jampel said, “Our team training trip to Bretton Woods for a weekend because we all bonded through pain and suffering since there was no chairlift.”

This season was head coach Chandra Wisneski’s final year with the team. “We will miss her dearly and we don’t know what we will do without her,” said Jampel.

Many members of the team found success as individuals. ampel and Teszler were runner-ups at the state meet, and they were both awarded Boston Globe All-Scholastics and Boston Herald All-Scholastics honors.

Five team members also qualified for the Eastern High School Championship: Jampel, Teszler, senior Max Teszler, and sophomores Serena Jampel and Sophie Wax. Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

Wrestling has successful season, builds close team environment Nichol Weylman-Farwell Wrestling, 13-5, had a successful year, as players found success in the postseason, according to campus aide John Staulo, the team’s head coach. Senior Kyle Randall, a captain with seniors Nathaniel Beatrice and Michael Mariano, placed at Nationals in Virginia Beach.

According to Staulo, another highlight was seeing the more inexperienced wrestlers find success. “Braintree was a great match as we expected them to win, and it came down to the end, but one of the freshmen kids got a huge win and put it out of reach for them,” he said.

Staulo said that he instructed the newer players to treat the veterans as role models.

“I got the experienced kids in the center and said, ‘Anyone who’s new, or semi-new, or inexperienced, look at these guys you have right in front of you.’ I told the new guys to watch them and focus on how they conduct themselves if they wanted to be successful.”

Randall was named the Bay State Conference Wrestler of the Year, while senior Anthony Calcagni and freshman Nate Chandler were named Bay State Conference All-Stars.

Next year’s captains are to be determined. by

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38 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Spring teams rise above tough competition

lights, adding that it was “redemption for losing earlier in the season, as they are one of the best teams in the league.”

Another highlight of the season according to Shinde was when two of the doubles teams, senior Lindsey Eng with junior Kat Filipova, and senior Aliyah Bloom with sophomore Sophie Ravina, qualified for the state tournament.

The main goal of the season was to establish “a fun environment to combat the competitiveness that comes with playing on a varsity team,” said Shinde.

According to Shinde, by “understanding the pressure of the sport,” the team’s successful efforts alleviated a lot of stress.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Girls’ track completes perfect season, succeeds in postseason Jake Forbes Girls’ outdoor track, 5-0, won the Bay State Conference and qualified for the state meet.

“This season was a success and we were able to immediately become one cohesive team,” said senior Elizabeth Dallaire, a captain with seniors Deidre Boyer and Catherine DeGroot.

According to Dallaire, the team relied on their seniors throughout the season. “We have a lot of seniors who are star players because they help contribute to our team’s success.”

The underclassmen, according to Dallaire, were also a key component in the team’s success this year. “Some underclassmen took larger leadership roles,” said Dallaire.

Dallaire said the team showed great spirit at their meets this year. “The cheering this season was phenomenal and a lot of girls helped set up and take down the event for the meets,” she said.

According to Dallaire, the coaching staff encouraged the team to bond and support all team members emotionally and academically.

Next year’s captains are juniors Emily Evangelakos, Yahni Lapa, and Ali Roberts.

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Joelle Sugianto

Senior Brenna Falchuk steps up to the plate during a 3-2 home game against Milton Monday, May 21.

All wraps are current as of press time. Please see thenewtonite.com for updated post-season results and awards.

Boys’ baseball faces difficulties, relies on pitching performances Jake Forbes Baseball, 7-12, struggled at the beginning of the season, but “could easily have had a winning record if a couple of balls bounced our way,” said senior Ryan McLaughlin, a captain with seniors Thomas Byrne, Spencer Checkoway, and junior Cole Whitehouse.

According to McLaughlin, the team relied on several players throughout the season.

Whitehouse and junior Dante Taylor were key on offense because of their hitting strength.

As the season progressed, so did the team’s pitching. Juniors Justin Butera and Kenny Schechter “pitched stellar against some of the best teams in the state,” said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin added that “Justin has a strong voice on the bench and has been a consistently tough pitcher throughout the season.”

Much of the team’s success can be attributed to the coaches, according to McLaughlin.

“They have done a good job preparing us for games,” he said.

Next year’s captains are Whitehouse and others are to be determined.

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Boys’ lacrosse improves skills, qualifies for state tournament Nichol Weylman-Farwell Boys’ lacrosse, 15-3, focused on “one game at a time” to find success, according to senior Michael Claflin, a captain with seniors Jack Ranta, Kiernan Stone, and Will Thompson.

Claflin said that having two overtime wins against Cohasset and Wellesley early in the season were crucial. The win against Wellesley helped the team clinch a spot in the playoffs.

According to Claflin, a win against Catholic Memorial was a turning point in the season. “We finally played as a whole team, instead of just as individuals and came out with a huge win,” he said.

During each practice, each individual on the team looks to improve one aspect of their game, he added. “We come into practice everyday knowing that everyone needs to get better at something, whether it’s small stick skills or understanding more about the game, and that something needs to improve for everyone,” he explained.

According to Claflin, going into the tournament, the team hopes to advance far, and must not take any team they might play for granted.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Boys’ tennis completes strong season, beats tough competition by

Will Kharfen Boys’ tennis, 14-2, qualified for the state

tournament as the second seed, after what senior Jack Vasu, a captain with senior Lukas Alexander and junior Ben Archer, described as “our strongest year yet.”

Despite tough opponents, Vasu cited the improvement of various areas of skill as the reason for the team’s success. “The competition has been really strong, but we’ve gotten a lot better as a team since the year before.”

According to Vasu, the play of freshman Leo Kaluzhny has been a large part of the team’s great play as well. “He’s won some clutch matches,” Vasu said. He also commended the Tigers’ doubles teams as being “really reliable.”

A highlight of the season for the team was its victory over Needham, which, according to Vasu, is “one of our biggest rivals.”

Two wins against Wellesley were also an important turning point for the team, he added.

“We’ve beaten two of the hardest teams in the state,” he said. “We hope to beat Brookline in States, who were our only two losses during the season.”

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

Boys’ track finishes with strong season, wins conference title Jake Forbes Boys’ outdoor track, 5-0, won the Bay State Conference title in what was a really good season, according to senior Andrew Mah, a captain with senior Devin Coughlin and junior Theo Burba.

Math teacher Shawn Wallace, a former assistant coach, stepped into the head coaching role after former head coach Jim Blackburn was forced to take a leave of absence due to an illness.

“Wallace has done a really great job taking over as head coach,” said Mah. “He loves track and always motivates people to work their hardest.”

Mah added that the team’s success was a result of the entire team’s effort. “Everyone has been running really well this year,” he said.

Next year’s captains are Burba and others to be determined.

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Girls’ lacrosse has enjoyable season, overcomes losses Nichol Weylman-Farwell Girls’ lacrosse, 8-10, has had “fun as a team,” according to senior Natalie Lynch, a captain with seniors Carmen McAuliffe and Lexi Gentile.

Lynch also mentioned that the team “definitely achieved the goal of having fun as a team and being goofy,” which the team had set out for themselves at the beginning of the season.

The two biggest highlights of the season, according to Lynch, were beating Weymouth and introducing Abby Ananian as head coach, who Lynch described as “amazing.”

A turning point of the season was when junior Fia MacDonald, a key midfielder, had her season ended due to an ACL injury, Lynch said.

“It forced us to work hard to fill the gap that her injury left in our midfield and attack, and made us have to work harder and more cohesively,” Lynch explained.

Overall, Lynch was proud of the effort that the team put in during the season. “We have worked diligently in practices and film sessions to try to build up our team as we lost many key seniors last year.”

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Girls’ tennis maintains team success, accomplishes goal Nichol Weylman-Farwell Girls’ tennis, 11-3, has had a “pretty consistent” season so far, according to senior Shriya Shinde, a captain with seniors Aliya Bloom, Lindsey Eng, and Courtney Harrison.

Shinde explained that she is “very confident” in the team’s ability, and believes that the they have a “really good shot of winning the tournament.”

According to Shinde, a win against Brookline has been one of the team’s biggest high-

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Softball makes state tournament despite losses to talented teams Jake Forbes Softball, 15-4, finished a season where they kept improving as the season went on, according to physical education and wellness teacher Lauren Baugher, the head coach.

Baugher attributed much of the team’s success to the team’s spirit. She said, “The bench has contributed a lot of energy throughout the whole season.”

When asked about key players from throughout the season, Baugher said, “All of the seniors have made an impact.”

The team faced a turning point during the season when it lost to Milford. “The loss made people realize that we need to work a bit harder to get to where we want to go,” said Baugher.

Despite having four losses, Baugher said the team played strongly throughout the whole season. “All of our losses came against really good teams who will make deep runs in the playoffs this year,” said Baugher.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Boys’ volleyball optimistic heading into state tournament Nichol Weylman-Farwell Boys’ volleyball, 12-4, is “getting better everyday,” according to senior Kevin Seuch, a captain with seniors Chris Gavris, Henry Johnson, Jack Pomper, and Sam Thayer.

The team’s only goal is to “win the state championship,” and according to Seuch, the team has already started “gearing up for it.”

Seuch cited two wins against Framingham as the team’s biggest highlights.

“Beating Framingham twice has been huge for us, as they’ve really been a powerhouse for the last few years, ” he said.

For the playoffs, Seuch said that the team must “work hard during these high intensity practices” in order to find success.

Next year’s captains are to be determined.

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Joelle Sugianto

Senior Chris Gavris spikes the ball at a 3-0 game against Framingham Wednesday, April 25.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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Newton North, The Newtonite â—† 39

40 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018