Club Day Special V94 by The Newtonite

ub al Cl eci Sp

Newtonite

◆ Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 • Volume 94

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

Wednesday PSAT date raises concerns Maya Metser Faculty and students across this school have expressed anger and frustration about next week’s cancellation of classes due to PSAT testing. The College Board decided last year to administer the PSATs on two select Wednesdays instead of including a Saturday test date. This change created the need to cancel classes and rearrange the schedule, according to interim principal Mark Aronson. “I do not think there are a lot of benefits. I think the majority of our students are able to figure out a way to get to school on a Saturday with minimal interruption to their Saturday’s work, theatre, or athletic schedules,” said Aronson. Aronson, South principal Joel Stembridge, and assistant superintendent of secondary education Toby Romer made a joint decision to open school late for students not taking the exam and to give seniors the day off to work on postgraduate plans. English department head Melissa Dilworth said, “This is the fewest number of school days for seniors that I remember in all my years of teaching.” Aronson said—if he were a teacher— spending part of his day proctoring the test instead of working with students “would be frustrating. I certainly am not thrilled with that.” Advanced Placement teachers, in particular, expressed concern about the loss of instructional time. “Our AP teachers have a much shorter year than most parts of the country,” said interim vice principal Amy Winston. Math teacher Jennifer Letourneau, who teaches two sections of AP Calculus BC, said, “It’s sad to say the loss of instructional time is because of a College Board decision.” Because the test will now be offered during the school day, Aronson said that he expects about 700 students to take the exam. As a result of this influx of students, students not taking the exam will need to stay home in order to have enough testing space, and teachers will come in to proctor. History teacher Anthony Patelis, test site supervisor, usually hires proctors from the community. Teachers will not receive an additional stipend for proctoring this year as the test is during their contracted work hours. Newton Teacher’s Association president Mike Zilles said, “We agreed that we didn’t have a choice because of the fact that if we didn’t do it the students would suffer. It would be an unfair outby

come. We would not want students to be in the position of not taking the test and to deny them the opportunity.” Zilles added, “What the administration and teachers are concerned about is that the College Board made a decision unilaterally, and now we’re basically throwing away a day. I don’t think anyone should be required to do this during school hours.” The plan is that only full-time teachers will be proctoring, according to Winston. The administration hopes to put teachers into teams so they can split up the times among themselves. “We don’t want a teacher to be proctoring for four hours and then have them go teach,” said Winston. According to Winston, the school has traditionally charged $30 to take the PSAT because the school uses extra funds to pay the proctors. This year, students will only pay $16. Every year, the College Board charges $15 to score the test, and online registration and organization—rosters, assigning rooms, and logistics—cost $1.50 per student. Even with the students’ PSAT fees, the school subsidizes the cost, according to Winston. Additionally, the College Board is mandating that students take the test at their respective schools, whereas in previous years, students could go to any test site. On a more personal level, Aronson said he thinks this “is something the teachers should really not have to do. In spite of that, our teachers will do the best they can to ensure that the students have a positive test-taking time.” Winston said, “We are basically asking our teachers to be agents for the College Board for a day. The Newton Teacher’s Association has agreed to it because they knew that we basically had no choice. We’re asking teachers to do work for the College Board without getting paid by the College Board.” Beals house secretary Cheryl Stover has proctored the PSAT for six to seven years. She said she is “very disappointed” that she will not have the opportunity to supplement her salary this year. On the other hand, she said it is not unfair to the teachers because they are paid to be here as teachers anyway. Aronson said, “I think it would be wrong not to acknowledge that this is a business,” contrary to the College Board’s mission statement, which claims that it is a “national, non-profit organization dedicated to preparing, inspiring, and connecting students to college and opportunity,” according to the College Board’s website.

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Ultimate: Sophomore Noah Adler passes the disc past junior Aaron Stone during an ultimate scrimmage Friday, Sept. 25. Winston said the College Board does a lot of good work for low-income school districts in urban areas, as they offer a lot of extra professional development for teachers and AP preparatory courses for students. “But,” she said, “they have such a stranglehold on the country and the college application process that though their mission is a good one, it’s unfortunate that it is such a monopoly. They make a lot of money off of testing, which is really sad.” In the past, the College Board offered a Wednesday and Saturday date, as well as a makeup date. In order to offer three test dates, the College Board created three different versions of the test. Winston said, “the College Board claimed that they did not have enough time to be able to implement multiple days of the test, aligned with the new SAT, which is why the Saturday option is not open this year.” To give students a chance to practice and get comfortable with the new SAT, the College Board had to design new versions of the PSAT. On the website it says,“ Doing this, however, meant we could support only two test dates in 2015, instead of two test dates and a makeup date as in the past.” According to the College Board,

Wednesday testing enables students to take the exam without worrying about transportation or missing extracurriculars that occur on Saturdays, and also avoids conflicts with religious observances. Additionally, over the past four years, there has been an increase in the number of schools requesting to administer the PSAT on a second Wednesday because of scheduling conflicts. Although the College Board decided to administer the test only on a Wednesday this year, next year districts will have the option to choose between a Saturday and Wednesday test date, as in the past. “I think the College Board does have a point. If kids are coming to school anyway, more kids will be able to take it,” said Patelis. Aronson said, “We now have to lose another day of teaching and learning to a standardized test.” Aronson added, “I’m always uncomfortable with the idea of a test being the measure of what a student can do without any feedback from the individuals who work with the student. Ultimately, I know admissions officers look at the test score, and it just goes into the pile with everyone else, and they’re not going to examine who the student is.”

Club Day features diverse student opportunities This year’s Club Day will showcase over 70 clubs, displaying the varied interests and passions of students across the board. All clubs are current as of press time.

◆ Club listings 2015-2016 ◆ Art Club

Devin Perlo

Theatre Ink Costumes: Sophomore Juliette Spitaels looks through outfits while designing costumes Monday, Sept. 21.

What: Students make creative art projects to benefit charities. When: Wednesdays after school. Goals: “To do art projects and be able to sell them. With the money we earn, we will donate to Horizons for Homeless Children,” said senior Mel Gross, an officer. Officers: Gross and senior Mary Solovyeva. Adviser: Art teacher Shannon Slattery. Contact: Facebook group “Art Club of NNHS (horizons for homeless children)” or marynightingale97@gmail.com. —Amy Morrill

Asian Culture Club

What: Students engage in activities relating to Asian cultures. When: Monday X-blocks in 353. Goal: To create “a welcoming environment that shares and learns about the cultures, lives and accomplishments of the Asian and Asian-American experiences locally and globally,” said senior Fiona Yang, an officer. Officers: Yang, senior Sabrina Ng, and sophomores Wendy Li and Li Shan. Advisers: English teachers Charlene Beh and Michele Leong. Contact: fiona.tae.yang@gmail.com. —Jane Alandydy ◆ continued on page 3

opinion

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Monday, Oct. 5, 2015

New PSAT date can help, betrays values As a pilot proposed by the College Board, the PSAT will be offered on a Wednesday this year instead of the typical Saturday.

editorial The College Board in the past has offered a makeup PSAT on Wednesdays, a date many schools found better fit their students’ needs. It claims it was unable to offer a Saturday date this year, as matching the PSAT to the new SAT prevented it from developing sufficient tests to support three testing dates. The College Board then switched to two Wednesday administrations because of “an increase in the number of schools requesting to administer the PSAT/NMSQT on a second Wednesday,” according to the College Board. Many students in Newton have jobs, and the Saturday PSAT date may interfere with their work schedule. Students around the country may rely on this income, either to help pay for college or to support their families. Having to take the PSAT on a Saturday, for these students, can either require students to reorganize their work schedule or cause a financial hardship for their families. As the test takes place during the school day, students will not have to miss any activities, religious obligations, or family commitments. For example, observant Jewish students will not have to find alternate dates to take the test and are able to observe the Sabbath. H a v i n g a We d n e s d a y date allows students who might have trouble getting to schools to take the PSAT, as regular school-day transportation will still be in place. Offering the test on a Wednesday also allows students who live far from school, like METCO students, to use school-day transportation to attend the exam instead of alternate means of transportation. For these students, getting to school on a Saturday can be a difficult and lengthy trip, making Wednesday a much more accessible day. Yet the decision to hold the test on a Wednesday in-

terferes with students’ education. According to interim vice principal Amy Winston, the only way to ensure that every sophomore and junior who wants to take the PSAT can, is to give it in the classrooms. The SOA, where AP exams are given, is not large enough to house the 700 students North administrators projected would take the PSAT. In order to have classrooms free for proctoring, classes will be cancelled during the PSAT. All senior classes are cancelled, and students not taking the exam only have class in the afternoon. The North community has made many efforts to reduce student stress about college and to prioritize classes and education over testing and college. Teachers last year wore “less testing, more learning” pins as part of a nationwide effort to spend more time educating students and less time teaching for standardized tests. Even we at the Newtonite moved the college list in our graduation special from the centerfold to a less prominent location at the end of the paper to match North’s shift away from emphasis on college as the only postgraduation option. But giving the PSAT on a school day, when students taking the exam must miss classes or schools must postpone classes to accommodate the students, prioritizes the test over the students’ education. Missing classes makes the PSAT and college seem like an essential part of a complete education, despite North’s stated belief in prioritizing classes over testing. The College Board’s reasons for switching to two Wednesday test dates are legitimate. However, the Newton Public School’s choice to administer the weekday PSAT compromises North’s stance on standardized testing and post-graduation plans. This emphasis on college over other future plans undermines its students’ education. The replacement of classes with the PSAT calls into question North’s dedication to its core values, as learning, not standardized testing, sustains the human spirit.

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Running the ball: Senior Trevor Tobin-Martinez attempts to gain yards during a game against Brookline Saturday, Sept. 26.

Newton should make greater efforts to support biker safety Adam Clements Every morning, the three large bike racks on North’s campus are each packed with bicycles belonging to students and staff who bike to school. For many members of the community, as well as for many people worldwide, biking is an easy, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and fun way of getting around that should be encouraged for all. However, more bike lanes and other bike safety improvements are needed to keep bikers safe. by

column This September, columnist Jeff Jacoby wrote an article entitled “Busy streets are no place for bikes” in The Boston Globe. In his column, Jacoby suggests that cyclists simply avoid using dangerous urban roads, and instead use bike paths in surrounding parks. This proposal wrongfully assumes that most people bike for pleasure rather than as a mode of transportation. Jacoby was right in his as-

sessment that large, urban roads are often unsafe for bikes, but entirely wrong in his proposed solution to this problem. On Centre Street in Newton, certain stretches of the road have a clearly-marked bike lane. However, in other parts of the road, the lane disappears for long distances, replaced by a sign claiming that “bikes may use full lane.” This is problematic, as it simultaneously slows down cars and increases danger for bikes. In the long term, more impactful steps should be taken to improve cyclists’ safety and to decrease the inconvenience for motorists. With more bike lanes in place, drivers will be more aware of cyclists on the side of the road and will likely be more cautious. The “share the road” signs and images of bikes painted in lanes, while a step in the right direction, do not exactly solve the problem. In Cambridge, many efforts have been made to create more bike-friendly infrastructure with great success. Certain streets

even have designated wide, clearly-marked, and smoothedout bike paths on parts of larger sidewalks, while others have obvious, green-painted lanes on the sides of roads. In the busier streets of Boston, there are often no bike lanes at all and minimal space for bikers. Other cities in the United States such as Seattle and Washington, D.C. have successfully implemented excellent bike safety programs, with enough lanes and paths in place to make city biking with extremely minimal risk a reality. The City of Boston is already making efforts to join the ranks of bike-friendly cities, with the city’s Climate Action Plan including plans to significantly increase the amount of bikefriendly infrastructure in the next few years. This effort to improve biker safety rather than force bikers off the road is an effective solution towards the safety of community members and the dangers of biking in general.

Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the news source of Newton North High School. 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460. Editors in chief — Camille Bowman, Maxwell Kozlov Managing editor — Jessica Tharaud News director — Jacob Sims Speyer News editors — Jackie Gong, Cate Waters Sports director — Adam Rabinowitz Sports editors — Blake Krantz, Andrew Mannix Arts editors — Rose Bostwick,

Amy Morrill Features director — Emily Moss Features editors — Maya AbouRizk, Maya Metser Opinion/Blogs editors — Adam Clements, Jacob Gurvis, Isabel Joyce On Campus editor — Lucy Lu Talk of the Tiger editor — Nour Chahboun Photography managers — Devin Perlo, Josh Shub-Seltzer Graphics managers — Valeria

Dountcheva, Maria Trias Advertising manager — Astrid Kugener Business manager — Rachel Adamsky Technology manager — Michael Tang Advisers — Tom Fabian, Derek Knapp, Amanda Mazzola Photo staff — Teddy Everett Talk of the Tiger staff — Maria Melissa, Mary Solovyeva

The Newtonite staff does all its reporting and photography to post content daily to its website, theNewtonite.com. They make all content choices. Sign up for the Newtonite’s weekly email newsletter on its website. In addition to the print club special, the Newtonite will publish a first day of school special, a midyear special, and a graduation special. To place an advertisement online or in the 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. Students interested in getting involved with the Newtonite can email us, visit the staff in 273, or sign up for Journalism I in the fall.

Letters

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Concentration: Senior Maya King kicks the soccer ball in a game against Brookline Monday, Sept. 21.

The Newtonite serves as a designated forum for student opinion. Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters should be put in the Newtonite box in the main office or emailed to 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.

clubs

Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 ◆ continued from page 1

Aviation Club

What: Students build and fly remotecontrolled aircraft. When: Thursday X-blocks in 139. Goal: “To learn more about aviation and building flying things,” said science teacher Kevin Brosnan, the adviser. Officer: Sophomore Michael Kann. Contact: kevin_brosnan@newton.k12. ma.us. —Amy Morrill

Badminton Club

What: Students play badminton and compete with other schools. When: Monday and Thursday X-blocks in the SOA. Goal: “To strive toward a victory” in the state-wide badminton tournament, said senior Bonnie Chan, an officer. Officers: Chan and junior Jing Zhu. Adviser: Science teacher Sangeet Srikanth. Contact: Message the officers on Facebook or email bonniechan424@gmail. com. —Jessica Tharaud

Black Leadership Advisory Club

What: Students discuss race-related issues and organize the annual Black Culture Day. When: Monday X-blocks in 268. Goal: “To talk about current issues of race and society and how they affect the community,” said senior Mirabelle Espady, an officer. Officers: Espady, seniors Yohanna Georgis and Sam Wayne, and junior Nattalya Brown. Adviser: Science teacher Jodie Cohen. —Jack Armstrong

Books for Girls

What: Students collect school supplies and fundraise for girls in Ethiopia. When: To be determined. Goal: “To raise a sufficient amount of supplies for girls in Ethiopia to help make their education a bit easier,” said senior Lal Senyurt, an officer. Officers: Senyurt and senior Bersabel Yifru. Adviser: English teacher Michele Leong. Contact: lalsenyurt@gmail.com or bersabel.yifru@gmail.com. —Camille Bowman

Chinese Yo-yo (Diabolo) Club

What: Students practice Chinese yo-yo. When: Monday X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: “To introduce a westernized Chinese art form to the students at North,” said junior Justin Lin, an officer. Officers: Lin and junior Ryan Lin. Adviser: Chinese teacher Gail Wang. Contact: ryanlin19@gmail.com. —Gabby Ferré

Class of 2016

What: Class officers plan events such as fundraisers and senior prom. When: Adams House once a week. Goal: “To bring the class together and plan successful events,” said class president Perri Sucoff. Officers: Sucoff and vice presidents

Newton North, Newtonite ◆3

Amanda Kuo, Sofia Leav, Asma Sheikh, and Alex Weylman. Adviser: Counselor Michele Kennedy. —Jacob Sims Speyer

Class of 2017

What: Class officers manage fundraisers and organize events such as junior prom. When: Mornings once a week in Barry House. Goal: “To organize fun activities for the class together,” said class president Ryan Steele. Officers: Steele and vice presidents Gregory Brumberg, Tamara Kahhale, Devin Perlo, and Emily Szeto. Adviser: Counselor Jerry Etienne and special education teacher Nicole Franchi. —Jacob Sims Speyer

Class of 2018

What: Class officers work toward creating a brand for the class, creating new apparel, as well as scheduling events for the spring. When: Thursday X-blocks in Riley House. Goal: “To fundraise to make prom tickets less expensive and to try to build up what the Class of 2018 really is,” said vice president Sam Kesselman. Officers: Kesselman, president Abraham Shahrooz, and vice presidents Sara Buchwald, Spencer Checkoway, and Carson Takaoka. Advisers: Science teacher Jodie Cohen and Riley housemaster Michelle Stauss. —Adam Rabinowitz

Class of 2019

What: Students fundraise for the Class of 2019 and plan events. When: Elections will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13. Goal: “To support students and get them involved in the school by planning activities and events,” said math teacher Colleen Virgil, an adviser. Officers: To be determined. Advisers: Virgil and special education teacher Tricia Bache. Contact: colleen_virgil@newton.k12. ma.us. —Lucy Lu

Coding Club

What: Students create computer programs that can be applied to real-life situations. When: Wednesdays after school in 217. Goal: “To teach people how to code in real life and write programs,” said sophomore Paul Rodriguez, an officer. Officers: Rodriguez and sophomore David Rodriguez. Adviser: Math teacher Adam Peloquin. Contact: prod00@me.com or drod00@ me.com. —Laura Schmidt-Hong

Comic Book Club

What: Students share their love for comic books and superhero movies through trade and discussion. When: Monday X-blocks in 270. Goal: “To meet other students with the same interest in comics and superhero movies,” said junior Vanessa Gonzalez, an officer. Officers: Gonzalez and juniors Sarah Hamilton and Jimmy Sonia. Adviser: English teacher Kate Shaugh-

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Aviation Club: Senior Adam Rabinowitz demonstrates his personal quadcopter for club members outside Dickinson stadium Monday, Sept. 21. nessy. Contact: vanessagona@gmail.com. —Lucy Lu

Creative Writing Club

What: Students practice creative writing and share work with others. When: Fridays after school in 368. Goal: “To help encourage people to write and to help them improve their writing,” said junior Ariel Cox, an officer. Officers: Cox and senior Katherine Zhao. Adviser: English teacher Maureen Kavanaugh. Contact: creativewritingnnhs@gmail. com. —Ophelia Baxter

Crossfit Club

What: Students train and condition to develop personal fitness. When: Monday and Thursday X-blocks in the fitness center. Goal: “To get excited for exercise, gain energy, and connect with other students in the school,” said physical education teacher Lauren Baugher, the adviser. Officers: To be determined. Contact: lauren_baugher@newton.k12. ma.us. —Ophelia Baxter

Debate Team

What: Students prepare for and participate in debate tournaments. When: Monday X-blocks and Thursdays after X-block in 472. Goal: “To increase the size of the team, improve on an individual and team level, and qualify for nationals at the end of the year,” said senior Adam Rabinowitz, a captain. Officers: Rabinowitz and seniors Edward Ding and David Reiss-Mello. Adviser: Math teacher Dennis Klem. Contact: arabinowitz10@gmail.com. —Jonathan Cohen

Dialogues on Race Devin Perlo

Music Technology Club: Senior Derek Baker and junior Nick Zhang work on a composition in the music technology lab Monday, Sept. 28.

What: Students discuss race and ethnicity through personal experiences. When: Thursday X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: “To raise awareness about the

role that race plays in our lives through discussions and outreach projects,” said senior Amanda Kuo, an officer. Officers: Kuo and senior Eugene Oh. Advisers: English teachers Charlene Beh and Michelle Leong. Contact: Facebook group “Dialogues on Race.” —Lucy Lu

Dreamfar Marathon Club

What: Students train to run the Providence Marathon. When: Monday and Thursday X-blocks and Tuesdays after school. Goal: “To provide an opportunity for students to run a full marathon and be part of a team that is noncompetitive,” said special education teacher Amy McMahon, an adviser. Officers: To be determined. Advisers: McMahon and carpentry teacher Garrett Tingle. Contact: jamie@dreamfarhsm.org. —Josh Cooke

Envirothon

What: Students study environmental science in preparation for competition. When: Monday X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: To “do well at the competition in May,” said junior Iris Liao, the officer. Adviser: Science teacher Ann Dannenberg. Contact: irisl373@gmail.com. —Josh Cooke

Feminism Club

What: Students collaborate with organizations that support feminist issues in order to raise awareness of the importance of feminism. When: Tuesdays after school in 127. Goal: “To create a space for people of different identities and backgrounds to come together and discuss ideas surrounding feminism,” said senior Naomi Forman-Katz, an officer. Officers: Forman-Katz, senior Michaela Morgan, and junior Janey Bombara. Adviser: Art teacher Shannon Slattery. Contact: nnhsfeminism@gmail.com. —Tali Falk-Jedson

4 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Monday, Oct. 5, 2015

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

Club Day displays North’s options Film Club

What: Students view films from a number of different genres and engage in discussion afterwards. When: To be determined. Goal: “To expose students to the various types of cinema and to think critically about a large array of films,” said senior William Bonaventura, an officer. Officers: Bonaventura and senior David Boloyan. Adviser: English teacher Neil Giordano. Contact: filmclub.nnhs@gmail.com. —Adam Rabinowitz

Forté

What: Students practice a cappella songs and perform at various community events throughout the year. When: Sunday nights at officers’ houses. Goal: “To get to know an incredibly talented group of girls, thus knitting a tight community where we all enjoy making and singing music and have a blast while doing so,” said senior Sonia Joffe, an officer. Officers: Joffe and seniors Elise Hausman and Rowan Morrissey. Adviser: Fine and performing arts department head Todd Young. Contact: fortedirectors201516@gmail. com. —Nastassja Holm

Freestyle Football/Soccer Club

What: Students learn to juggle soccer balls, perform foundational freestyle skills, and create unique tricks with their own style. When: To be determined. Goal: “To have the members create freestyle montage videos and perform live, with the ultimate goal of amazing our audiences,” said senior Sammy LeBrasseur, the officer. Adviser: English teacher Derek Knapp. Contact: sammy.lebrasseur@gmail.com. —Adam Rabinowitz

Adviser: Business teacher Robert Kane. Contact: fblannhs@gmail.com. —Nastassja Holm

Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

What: Students discuss current events and issues in the LGBTQ community. When: Thursday X-blocks in 242. Goal: “To spread awareness of the lesserknown LGBTQ issues,” said sophomore Drew Nolan, an officer. Officers: Nolan, senior Julia Dwyer, and junior Njioma Grievous. Advisers: Spanish teacher Dan Fabrizio and special education teacher Lisa Goldthwaite. Contact: nnhsgendersexualityalliance@ gmail.com or sites.google.com/site/newtonnorthgsa. —Will Kharfen

Girls Achieving Leadership and Service (GALS)

What: Students discuss current women’s issues and participate in service projects that support other women in the community. When: Monday X-blocks in 269. Goal: “To create a supportive female community at North,” said senior Natalie Cohen, an officer. Officers: Cohen and juniors Zoe Birnhak and Lourdes Paez. Adviser: English teacher Kate Shaughnessy. Contact: nataliecohen27@gmail.com. —Cate Waters

Girls’ Coding Club

What: Students learn coding skills and collaborate on small projects such as developing games. When: Thursdays 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 454. Goal: “To encourage and inspire girls to explore computer science, a field that is extremely lacking in women,” said junior Winnie Chan, an officer. Officers: Chan and junior Amy Shen. Adviser: Science teacher David Bennett. —Jackie Gong

Future Business Leaders of Greengineering Club What: Students engage in independent America research and group discussion to develop What: Students develop business communication skills and explore aspects of fundraising, business operation, and career planning through real-world situations. When: Wednesdays after school in 319. Goal: “To help students find their strengths in business, whether it be in marketing, customer service, or e-commerce, among other valuable skills,” said junior Tiffany Luong, the officer.

sustainable technology. When: Wednesdays after school in the Innovation Lab. Goal: “To make something big and impact the school in a positive way,” said junior Tharun Kannan, an officer. Officers: Kannan and junior C.J. Thacker. Adviser: Math teacher Adam Peloquin. Contact: greengineering1@gmail.com. —Emma Klein

Hanging Garden Club

thandfabry@gmail.com.

What: Students care for North’s hanging garden. When: Monday X-blocks at the hanging gardens. Goal: “To manage and maintain North’s hanging garden while learning about and supporting individual projects in agriculture,” said junior Colin Kadis, an officer. Officers: Kadis and juniors Emma Brown and Izzy Tils. Adviser: To be determined. Contact: Facebook group “Hanging Garden Team.” —Isabel Joyce

Newton Teens for SEGA

What: Students fundraise for the Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA) school in Tanzania, attend special events, and correspond with students from Tanzania. When: Thursday X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: “To get teens involved with the SEGA school, both through correspondence with students, fundraising for the school, and also to understand the importance of educating teens in third world countries,” said senior Leah Kahane, an officer. Officers: Kahane and seniors Rachel Cooke and Gigi Minsky. Adviser: Math teacher Leigh Paris. Contact: lmkahane@gmail.com or Facebook group “Sega Girls School in Tanzania.” —Jackie Gong

High School Quiz Show

What: Students prepare for and compete in trivia competitions, including the WGBH television show. When: To be determined. Goal: “To improve our individual trivia knowledge and compete in competitions around the state, including season seven of WGBH’s High School Quiz Show,” said senior Andrew Libraty, a member of last year’s team. Advisers: History teachers Albert Cho and Gregory Drake. Contact: nnhsquizteam@gmail.com. —Lucy Lu

Newton’s Teen Voice

Hiking Club

What: Students prepare for monthly hikes throughout New England. When: Hiking locations to be determined. Goal: “To introduce new people to the great outdoors and to have fun going on awesome adventures,” said junior Tobin Gevelber, an officer. Officers: Gevelber and junior Adela Miller. Adviser: Science teacher Ann Dannenberg. Contact: nnhshikingclub@gmail.com. —Blake Krantz

House Management Club

What: Students assist student producers by setting up and welcome Theatre Ink audience members by passing out programs and selling tickets. When: Sign up for a show night on the Theatre Ink callboard. Goal: “To give our audience members the best experience possible while they enjoy our productions,” said senior Maxwell Kozlov, an officer. Officers: Kozlov, senior Amanda Kuo, and juniors Sofia Perez-Dietz and Devin Perlo. Adviser: Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. Contact: teamstuprod@gmail.com. —Camille Bowman

Improv Club

What: Students practice and perform im-

Devin Perlo

Manga club: Senior Jade Lin, an officer, and sophomore Maya Dunn pose in front of a poster during manga club Monday, Sept. 28. Manga club is one of North’s many art appreciation clubs. provisational comedy. When: Monday and Thursday X-blocks in the Little Theatre. Goal: “To teach improvisational skills and prepare for two Improv Jams a year,” said senior Aaron Schwartz. Officers: Schwartz and senior Jen Gately. Adviser: Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. —Wendy Li

Investment Club

What: Students learn how to invest in the stock market. When: Monday X-blocks in 319. Goal: “To be educated on personal finance,” said senior Ethan Heimlich, the officer. Adviser: Business teacher Rob Kane. Contact: ejheimlich@gmail.com. —Rose Skylstad

Italian Culture Club

What: Students discuss and learn about Italian culture. When: Time to be determined, in 258. Goal: “To give our participants an extra taste of the Italian culture,” said junior Rachael Pulsone, an officer. Officers: Pulsone and junior Maria Castaneda. Adviser: Italian teacher Justin Evans. Contact: rachaele81608@gmail.com. —Sammy Fredberg

Japanese Film and Anime Club

What: Students watch several series of anime and attend Anime Boston, an annual anime convention in March. When: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in 363. Goal: To “watch anime and work with Comic and Manga club to fundraise for Anime Boston,” said senior Joanna Le, the officer. Adviser: English teacher Wendy Richardson. Contact: fluorite987@gmail.com or Facebook group “Newton North Anime and Manga Club.” —Jackie Gong

‘League of Legends’ Club

Science team: Senior Bowen He and sophomore Sam Kesselman practice for a competition Friday, Sept. 25.

Devin Perlo

—Isabel Joyce

What: Students play League of Legends and compete in tournaments with other high schools. When: Wednesdays after school in 217. Goal: “To help others improve in the game and also to get into the finals for the tournament, which is going to be held in California,” junior Alex Chin, an officer. Officers: Chin and sophomore Sam Lowe. Adviser: Jubilee director Sheldon Reid. Contact: azchinz@gmail.com. —Cate Waters

Ligerbots

What: Students design, program, and build robots, as well as fundraise for the joint North-South robotics team. When: Mondays 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the South engineering room and Thursdays 6:30 to 9 p.m. in 139. Goal: “To compete at a high level in competition” and “to spread the importance of STEM education in our community,” said senior Lily Gomberg, an officer. Officers: Gomberg and South seniors Max Tepermeister and Ilias Vamvakas. Adviser: Administrative technology specialist Phil Golando. Contact: info@ligerbots.com or ligerbots. org. —Matthew Malec

Manga Club

What: Students read, draw, and discuss manga and attend Anime Boston, an annual anime convention in March. When: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays after school in 363. Goal: “To share the Japanese culture through manga and anime, as well as get more people into reading manga and watching anime,” said senior Joanna Le, an officer. Officers: Le and senior Jade Lin. Adviser: English teacher Wendy Richardson. Contacts: fluorite987@gmail.com. —Andrew Ruttenberg

Math Team

What: Students practice for monthly meets in the Greater Boston Math League or for the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament. Where: Wednesdays after school in 465. Goal: “To expose those interested in math to more advanced math problems, new topics, opportunities, and like-minded people,” said junior Christina Cong, the officer. Adviser: Math teacher Elisse Ghitelman. Contact: elisse_ghitelman@newton.k12. ma.us. —Andrew Ruttenberg

Media Literacy Club

What: Students watch commercials and movies, read magazines, listen to music, and talk about the effects of the media. When: Thursday X-blocks. Goal: “To open people’s eyes a little bit to see how media can be helpful and harmful,” said senior Alexa Perides, an officer. Officers: Perides and seniors Samantha Leone and Jacob Roll. Adviser: To be determined. Contact: Message the officers on Facebook or email alexiaperides@gmail.com or sa-

manthamleone@gmail.com. —Cate Waters

What: Students work to fix problems faced by Newton teens. When: Tuesdays 5:30 to 7 p.m. at City Hall and Wednesdays once a month 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. Goal: “To empower youth to identify and solve issues facing the entire Newton youth community,” said senior Benjamin Cole, the officer. Adviser: City youth director Jennifer O’Higgins. Contact: benjamin.cole14@gmail.com. —Jane Alandydy

Newtonite

What: Students write and edit articles to be published in North’s online and print

newspaper. When: Every day in 273. Goal: “To provide coverage for activities at this school and issues concerning the North community,” said senior Camille Bowman, an editor in chief. Officers: Bowman and senior Maxwell Kozlov are editors in chief. Advisers: English teachers Thomas Fabian and Derek Knapp and television and film production aide Amanda Mazzola. Contact: thenewtonite@gmail.com. —Adam Rabinowitz

NNHS Rugby

What: Students practice rugby skills such as passing, tackling, and improve team bonding. When: Three times a week in the spring. Goal: “To grow the sport and have fun,” said junior Rebecca Bianchi, a captain. Officers: Bianchi and senior Sam Goldstein. Adviser: To be determined. Contact: r.bianchi@live.com. —Maya Waldman

NNHS Ultimate

What: Students complete drills and workouts, scrimmage, and participate in tournaments. When: Every day after school at Cabot field. Goal: “To promote the sport, and have a lot of fun,” said senior Zoe Hecht, an officer. Officers: Hecht and senior Benjamin Cole. Adviser: Science teacher Matthew Anderson. Contact: Facebook group “NNHS Falltimate 2015.” —Emma Klein

Melocotones

What: Students create and perform a cappella covers and arrangements. When: Sundays at members’ houses. Goal: “To provide a group of people who love to create a cappella music,” said junior Gabe Jasper, an officer. Officers: Jasper and juniors Jennifer Bindman, David Mapes-Frances, and Elizabeth Wu. Adviser: Fine and performing arts department head Todd Young. Contact: todd_young@newton.k12.ma.us. —Laura Schmidt-Hong

Mock Trial

What: Students act as lawyers and witnesses and argue fictional cases in a courtroom. When: Tuesdays or Wednesdays 7 to 9 p.m. in 356. Goal: “To build confidence in the team and yourself, while thinking meaningfully and logically,” said junior Grace Choi, an officer. Officers: Choi and senior Young Oh. Adviser: Special education aide Meghan Bowes. —Maya Waldman

Model United Nations

What: Students simulate United Nations meetings, debate current events, and compete in conferences. When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5 to 6 p.m. in the Film Lecture Hall. Goal: “To foster a friendly environment for discussion and debate regarding current issues that are affecting the entire world,” said senior Alex Weylman, an officer. Officers: Weylman, seniors Aaron Karasik and Lily Skerlj, junior Jacob Sims Speyer, and sophomore Max Teszler. Advisers: History teachers David Bedar and Katie Connolly. Contact: nnhsmun@gmail.com. —Matthew Malec

Music Technology Club

What: Students compose original pieces using computer programs such as Logic and Garageband. When: During and after Monday and Thursday X-blocks. Goal: To “learn the ways of Dre or The Edge or whichever artist you look up to, and then mix that with whatever you vibe with and you too can sell imaginary swag and invade iPhones,” said senior Brad Davis, an officer. Officers: Davis and senior Jonathan Fabry. Adviser: Fine and performing arts department head Todd Young. Contact: braddavis97@gmail.com or jona-

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Debate: Senior Ruthie Jia practices for an upcoming debate tournament Friday, Sept. 25.

clubs

6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Old Grannies Club

What: Students crochet, knit, and crossstitch while enjoying snacks and music. When: Mondays 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the house of senior Gloria Singleton-Kahn, the officer. Goal: “To talk with members of the club and come up with places that we want to donate blankets, hats, scarves, or sweaters to,” said Singleton-Kahn. Adviser: Art teacher Cindy Massoff. Contact: gsingletonkahn@gmail.com. —Emily Moss

One Night Out

What: Students provide free babysitting services for families of children with special needs. When: One Saturday a month 6 to 9 p.m. at the Boston Ability Center. Goal: “To provide parents with a night out,” said senior Jackson Wade, the officer. Adviser: Special education teacher Brian Rooney. Contact: Facebook group “One Night Out.” —Emily Moss

Partners in Kind

What: Students collaborate to perform acts of kindness around the community. When: The second Wednesday of every month after school and the last Thursday X-block of the month in 463. Goal: “To make sure that throughout all the stress of school, everyone in the community is still feeling happy, encouraged, and appreciated,” said junior Anna Porter, a member. Officers: To be determined. Advisers: Math teachers Allegra Atkinson and Tracey Stewart. Contact: Partners in Kind is accessible as a class through Schoology. The access code is F53HZ-NRWHF. —Maya Abou-Rizk

Peer Mentors

What: Students serve as advisers to new and prospective students. When: Mentors are assigned one student a few times a month. Goal: “To help students feel less nervous and more comfortable and excited in the new environment,” said senior Masha Levit, an officer. Officers: Levit and junior Lily Winton. Adviser: Counselor Kyra Slawski. Contact: kyra_slawski@newton.k12. ma.us. —Maya Abou-Rizk

Recycling Club

What: Students discuss and implement solutions for the lack of recycling at North. When: Thursday X-blocks in 265. Goal: “To get a recycling program up and running in our school,” said sophomore Wendy Li, an officer. Officers: Li and juniors Danae Lally and Ava Waitz. Advisers: Parents Claudia Wu and Terry Yoffie. Contact: Facebook group “NNHS Recycling.” —Jackie Gong

Rock Climbing Club

What: Students boulder, top rope, and lead climb. When: After school at Central Rock Gym in Watertown. Goal: “To build a community of climbers from all skill groups so that they can enjoy climbing together as well as teach and learn from each other,” said senior Danny Roberts, an officer. Officers: Roberts and senior Elizabeth Gibbs. Adviser: English teacher Nick Grant. —Matthew Malec

Science Team

What: Students study all types of science to prepare for competitions. When: Times vary based on competition schedule. Goal: “To build, learn, and have fun with science,” said senior David Reiss-Mello, an officer. Officers: Reiss-Mello, senior Bowen He, and junior Nick Zhang. Adviser: Science teacher Barbara Gibson. Contact: bowen.a.he@gmail.com or davidreissmello@gmail.com. —Will Kharfen

Ski and Snowboard Club

What: Students attend weekend ski trips and occasionally day trips. When: Two overnight weekend trips, one to Sunday River, Maine in January and one to Stowe and Sugarbush, Vermont

Monday, Oct. 5, 2015

in March. Goal: “To have a good time with other people that have similar interests in skiing,” said sophomore Gabe Gekas, an officer. Officers: Gekas, junior Ladue Leger, and sophomores Liam MacIntyre and Sophie Spector. Adviser: Special education teacher Stephen Hess. —Jack Armstrong

Squash Club

What: Students compete in squash matches and practice squash skills. When: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. at the squash courts in Harvard’s Murr Center. Goal: “To improve our squash game and play competitively against other high school squash teams,” said senior Samuel Shereda, an officer. Officers: Shereda and senior Matthew Hass. Adviser: To be determined. Contact: samash98@gmail.com. —Adam Clements

Student Library Advisory Club

What: Students help the librarians with jobs around the library. When: Free blocks and lunches. Goal: “To maintain the library and make sure everyone follows the rules,” said senior Marisa Ng, an officer. Officers: Ng and senior Gina Joseph. Adviser: Librarians Lauren Italiano and Annette Tate. Contact: nnhslacers@gmail.com. —Jonathan Cohen

Theatre Ink

What: Students produce up to 13 productions annually. When: Rehearsal and production schedules vary. Goal: “To educate about all realms of theatre,” said senior Amanda Kuo, a student producer coordinator. Adviser: Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. Contact: theatreink.net or adam_ brown@newton.k12.ma.us. —Hannah Liu

Theatre Ink: Costumes

What: Students design and craft costumes for Theatre Ink productions. When: Every day after school in 179. Goal: “To create and teach others the skills they need to create high quality costumes for theatre productions while having fun,” said costumes teacher Ruth Talvacchia, the adviser. Contact: ruth_talvacchia@newton.k12. ma.us. —Maxwell Kozlov

Theatre Ink: Props

What: Students assist the props master and handle props backstage during productions. When: Varies based on production schedule. Goal: “To enhance the production and help the actors through props that add to the world of the show,” said junior Josh Shub-Seltzer, props coordinator. Adviser: Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. Contact: jshubseltzer@gmail.com. —Camille Bowman

Theatre Ink: Stage Crew

What: Students design and build set pieces and manage lighting and sound for Theatre Ink productions. When: Every day after school in the theatre shop. Goal: “To design and create the worlds of each show we work on. Additionally, we want to teach students the many techniques and skills we use in each show,” said senior Natalie Bohm, a student technical director. Officers: Bohm and senior Samantha Notick are student technical directors. Adviser: Theatre Ink technical director Michael Barrington-Haber. Contact: michael_barrington-haber@ newton.k12.ma.us. —Maya Metser

Theatre Ink: Student Producing

What: Students create the program, coordinate with parents and cast members, manage the house, handle all Theatre Ink finances, and order apparel. When: Every day after school in 170. Goal: “To help run the theatre program smoothly and give the audience the best possible experience,” said senior Maxwell Kozlov, a student producer coordinator.

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Ultimate: Junior Isaiah Milgroom attempts to pass the disc as junior Isaac Appel guards him during a scrimmage Friday, Sept. 25. Officers: Kozlov, senior Amanda Kuo, and juniors Sofia Perez-Dietz and Devin Perlo are student producer coordinators. Contact: teamstuprod@gmail.com. —Camille Bowman

Thoughtprints Magazine

What: Students discuss art, writing, and music submissions to the biannual literary magazine. When: Sundays 7 to 9 p.m. at members’ houses. Goal: “To showcase students’ art, literature, and music through the magazine,” said senior Natasha Yunen, an editor in chief. Officers: Yunen and senior Michaela Morgan. Adviser: English teacher Neil Giordano. —Wendy Li

Tiger Docs

What: Students discuss current medical news, conduct dissections, interact with guest speakers, and visit a hospital at the end of the year. When: Every other Monday during Xblock. Goal: “To get people interested in different areas of the medical field and the many different paths you can take to go into medicine because there really are so many,” said junior Grace Choi, an officer. Officers: Choi and senior Westly Joseph. Adviser: Science teacher Albert Calderone. Contact: westlyjoseph@gmail.com and gracejchoi9@gmail.com. —Nour Chahboun

Tutors in Action

What: Students provide math help for fifth graders at Cabot Elementary School. When: Mondays 3 to 3:45 p.m. at Cabot Elementary School. Students meet at the theatre entrance at 2:45 p.m. to walk there. Goal: “To create a positive environment for tutors and tutees,” said sophomore Shruti Krishnamachari, an officer. “By working together, both members of the partnership can develop beneficial skills.” Officers: Krishnamachari and sophomore Lucy Lu. Adviser: To be determined. Contact: shruti.lkc@gmail.com and llnature4@gmail.com. —Emily Moss

Unicycle Club

What: Students of all skill levels learn how to ride and practice tricks on a unicycle. When: Members meet one or two Xblocks a week in the fall and spring on the tennis courts. Goal: “To challenge students to step

out of their comfort zones and hop on a unicycle,” said senior Benjamin Cole, the officer. Adviser: Science teacher Deborah Lund. Contact: Facebook group “NNHS Unicycle Club.” —Rose Bostwick

Up Close in Local Government

What: Students discuss current events and politics. When: To be determined. Goal: “To hold invigorating discussions that are fun and informational,” said Nicky Kaufman ’15, a former officer. Officers: To be determined. Adviser: History teacher Ty Vignone. Contact: ty_vignone@newton.k12. ma.us. —Hannah Liu

Veterans History Club

What: Students interview veterans and discuss their war stories. When: Tuesdays once a month in 369. Goal: “To add to our understanding of veterans,” said senior Thomas Wittrup, an officer. Officers: Wittrup and seniors Clifford Jewett and Shay Lynch. Adviser: History teacher Ty Vignone. Contact: tomwitt17@gmail.com. —Jacob Sims Speyer

Video Game Club

What: Students play and discuss video games together. When: X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: “To unite like-minded people, specifically those who like playing video games,” said senior Omkar Shinde, an officer. Officers: Shinde and senior Layon Araujo. Adviser: Science teacher Sheila Eghbali. —Rose Bostwick

Zambian Education Outreach Club

What: Students organize fundraising efforts to support Communities Without Borders, a charity providing basic education and healthcare to orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. When: X-blocks, location to be determined. Goal: “To support Communities Without Borders and to aid in the process of giving all children access to basic education,” said senior Lauren Moriarty, an officer. Officers: Moriarty and junior Emma Brown. Adviser: Art teacher Cindy Massoff. Contact: Facebook group “ZEOC Fundraising 2015-16.” —Rose Bostwick

Monday, Oct. 5, 2015

Newton North, Newtonite â&#x2014;&#x2020; 7

Did you read the Club Day special?

Down

1. Students in this club build and fly model aircrafts. 2. Green bins mark this type of reusable trash, which is the focus of a new club. 3. This type of singing group does not use accompanying instrumental music. 5. This club is a sport that requires ropes and a good grip. 6. Participants of this club send supplies to school-aged girls in Ethiopia. 8. This club publishes two literary magazines per year. 10. Members of this team participate as lawyers and witnesses in a simulated court case. 11. This club studies environmental science to prepare for an annual competition.

Across

4. Students in this club learn about careers in the medical field. 7. Learn about personal finance and the stock market in this club. 9. Share your love for superheroes at this club. 12. This team collaborates with South to build a robot. 13. This club discusses LGBTQ issues. 14. Students play this racket sport at Harvard.

Newton

Aroma Nails

Business Hours Mon-Fri 9:30-7:00 Saturday 9:00-6:00 Sunday 10:00-6:00 617.340.6613 899 Washington St. Newton, MA 02460 (Next to Newtonville Post Office) www.NewtonAromaNails.com

How to Make a Club... 1. Decide the type of club you want to start.

4. Talk to club coordinator Michael Hazeltine.

2. Find friends who want to join.

5. Have a preliminary meeting to gain members.

6. Pick when and where the club will meet.

3. Find a teacher to be your adviser.

7. Start meeting regularly.

Congratulations, you have successfully made a club!