Mid-year Special

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Newtonite

◆ Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 • Volume 92

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

District changes curriculum names Maxwell Kozlov After decades of the current course level names, Curriculum I and Curriculum II, the wellestablished nomenclature will be replaced with a controversial alternative next year.

The course level names for this school and South will change to Advanced College Prep for Curriculum I and College Prep for Curriculum II. The change comes after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) denied eligibility status to 11 of South’s Curriculum II courses, according to principal Jennifer Price.

South principal Joel Stembridge said, “The NCAA’s explanation is that the Curriculum II courses in question do not cover as much material as our Curriculum I courses.”

Stembridge said that the district tried to explain to the NCAA “that our Curriculum II courses are on par with other schools’ standard courses and that our graduates with Curriculum II backgrounds are well-prepared for college, which essentially is the entire purpose of the NCAA’s eligibility program — to ensure that college athletes are academically prepared for college––but to no avail.”

Price said, “We were never cited by the NCAA, but since we are a district, we should have consistent names. And who’s to say they wouldn’t cite this school next?”

She also said that she believes that the content of the courses are at a high level, and the name better suits the college-preparatory material of the courses. by

Additionally, many surrounding districts have a similar system, and Price said it made more sense to be consistent with other schools. Wellesley and Weston, for example, have the same curriculum level names this school will have.

While Price said that courses themselves will not be affected, some students still have critical opinions of the new names.

Senior Zane Clark said, “It creates an expectation that everyone goes on to college. Why would you take those courses if you’re not planning to go to college?”

Other students were more optimistic. Senior Juliet Roll said, “If the majority of students go to college, I think there’s little harm in doing this.”

History teacher Susan Wilkins presented an opinion about the potential repercussions of the change.

She said that she worries that it is “more important to clearly communicate” to others the “substance of our curriculum levels,” but that there will be “immediate benefits for students applying for scholarships,” and eventually the curriculum level names “will become familiar and comfortable to us all.”

Despite the sudden alteration, not all of the faculty shared the same sentiment on the changes.

Many faculty members thought that “accelerated” was a better alternative to “advanced,” according to Price.

“It is clear that both this school and South are comfortable changing our current Curriculum II classes to College Prep,” said Price, in an email to the faculty

Josh Shub-Seltzer

Cabaret Troupe: Juniors Julia Techler, Jonathan Gomolka, and Tatum Abbott perform “Princess and the Co-Op” by Gaby Alter and Tommy Newman in Cabaret Troupe’s “Neverland” during a dress rehearsal Tuesday, Jan. 7. earlier this year. “The issue remains what to call our current Curriculum I classes.”

Price announced the decision to go with “Advanced College Prep,” as she, along with Stembridge, assistant superintendent of secondary education and special programs Cynthia Bergan, and some department heads thought that “accelerated does not define our current Curriculum I classes, especially in departments that do not feel that their Curriculum I classes go faster,” said Price in the email.

MLK sophomore speech finalists compete today

Connor Vasu Five finalists will present today for the second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. sophomore speech contest B-block in the auditorium. The contest commemorates King’s legacy and his power to persuade.

Finalists Mirabelle Espady, Timur Gizatulin, Young Hoon Oh, Davio Pena, and Perri Sucoff will deliver their speeches to the three judges: last year’s winner, junior Tommy Mobley, principal Jennifer Price, and Adams housemaster David Turcotte.

The winner will be announced B-block today.

Pena’s speech, “ Who Are You?” details the effects of bullying on students.

Espady’s speech, “America’s Blind Side,” is about racial discrimination in America and the false impression that it is not an issue.

Gizatulin discusses the problems of today’s special education ◆ continued on page 3 by

Stembridge said, “I and others have been uncomfortable with the names of our curriculum levels for some time. If nothing else, why did the levels not start at one, then two for the middle level?”

Sophomore Ashley Brogan, an opponent of the changes, said, “I think saying Curriculum I is ‘advanced’ demeans Curriculum II classes.”

Even though a large reason that the names were changed was due to the NCAA and South’s Curriculum II courses, Bergan “clearly articulated” to Price

that South and this school need to have the same curriculum level names in a two-high school district.

South had already adopted these changes earlier this year, according to Price.

Stembridge said that the students have accepted the changes “very seamlessly, and with appeal.”

He also said that students and teachers like the new names because they describe what the classes are for rather than just saying Curriculum I or II.

ADHD medication used as study aid Students describe experiences, adults comment on drug abuse Alex Feit Note: The real names of the students interviewed for this article have been changed to Chris Donohue, Sarah Smith, and Bruce Thompson to protect their identities.

The SATs were fast approaching. He knew, of course, that the three hour and 45 minute test would require as much concentration as possible. Yet, he also knew that this type of intense focus had always escaped him.

He needed a kick.

“When I explained the problem to my friends, they were like, ‘Oh yeah, Adderall will help with that—it helped me,’” said senior Chris Donohue.

In the past year, the United States has not only seen a rise by

Leah Budson

Davio Pena: “Out of the 100 young men and women that you know in the building alone, 14 have thought about taking their own life and seven of those 14 have actually tried it. It could even be the person sitting right next to you.” (See page 3 for the four other finalists and excerpts of their speeches.)

Check out our online newspaper: t he

in Adderall prescriptions—medication aimed at treating Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—but also an increased prevalence and awareness of Adderall use and abuse.

The media has frequently profiled the dangers of a supposedly pervasive practice and the subsequent fatalities of these Adderall abusers. In schools across the country, study drugs—prescription stimulants, including Adderall—have become a hot button topic.

With mounting pressure to succeed, it seems that a growing number of students have turned towards the illegal use of study drugs. But, does this trend apply to this school? ◆ continued on page 8

Newtonite.com

opinion

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Small actions go far High school is a stressful place. Grades lurk, relationships fluctuate, and extracurriculars pile up. In such a hectic, scrambling time, it is comforting to know that the surrounding community has your back.

editorial Small gestures from those around us often make the difference between tears of laughter and nightly breakdowns. Some teachers—math teacher Smitha Sahadevan is a noted example— begin every year by spending an entire period emphasizing the importance of random acts of kindness. Others encourage their students to build snowmen for extra credit during brutal winter storms and make homework assignments mandating students to go to sleep an hour early—a history teacher Katharine Heidlage special.

For those concerned about students not getting a Newtonworthy education, have no fear; students here undergo a more thorough and rigorous education than in many districts

around the country, so begrudging once-a-semester activities designed to lighten moods is misplaced criticism.

In fact, anything to lighten the load on high schoolers is a welcome break and momentary repose from the constant hustle and bustle of adolescence. According to the 2012-2013 Newton Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 74 percent of Newton high school students “described their lives as either somewhat stressful or very stressful.”

With half of the school year behind us, and in light of recent events, every member of this school’s community should realize the power of a smile and make a New Year’s resolution to brighten the days of others.

High school is hard enough without a dependable corps of friends and family to guide us through the ravines of stress and canyons of despair.

At the end of the day, you never know what hardships classmates and friends might be going through, so reconsider just how much of a difference that one smile can make.

Julia Moss

Random acts of kindness: Sometimes, a student’s well-being is as equally important to his performance in school as formal homework.

Acknowledge, understand social class differences Jared Perlo It’s the Voldemort of Newton North. The He-Who-Must-NotBe-Named of the community.

Nobody dares bring it up in conversation. Nobody dares to even acknowledge its existence.

Yet no matter how blissful ignorance may be, we must realize that there are real socioeconomic differences among students at this school, differences that lead to tension and silent judgement. by

column While the racial divides within this school are clear to the eye, class differences are harder to discuss. Few people are willing to acknowledge that differences among students even exist, not giving the topic a second thought.

Yet while over half of all students at this school achieved “Advanced” status on the past year’s Science and Technology MCAS, only 22 percent of low income students reached the same level, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) statistics from

the last school year.

Outside of the academic sphere, a higher economic status means more opportunities to those who can pay for piano lessons, athletic training and equipment, and the hours of tutelage that some students use to supplement in-school learning.

Acknowledging this gap between the affluent occupants of West Newton Hill, where average family income is upwards of $170,000, according to the American Community Survey, and the working-class neighborhood of Nonantum, with an average familial income of slightly less than $65,000, doesn’t mean that students will suddenly see each other in a different light.

Instead, openly admitting that there are gaps among students’ income levels will help open a dialogue among community members and make the tough topic easier to discuss.

As it stands, Newton’s aboveaverage wealth means that a broad cross-section of affluent students fail to realize that their peers may not have their same material means. That $90

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

Editors in chief — Leah Budson, Samantha Libraty Managing editors — Ryan Condon, Peter Diamond, Amanda Hills, Julia Oran News editors — Maxwell Kozlov, Connor Vasu Sports editors — Jacob Gurvis, Jonny Levenfeld Arts editors — Doug Abrams, Maddie Griswold Features editors — Alex Feit, Elena Schwartz Opinion editor — Jared Perlo Freelance editors — Nicky Kaufman, David Kwartler, Andrew Mannix Talk of the Tiger editor — Robin Donohoe Photography managers — Robin Donohoe, Cheyanne Jackson, Paulina Romero

Graphics managers — Julia Moss, Maria Trias Advertising manager — Adam Rabinowitz Business manager — Camille Bowman Technology manager — Alex Potter Chief cartoonist — Julia Moss Advisers — Tom Fabian, Derek Knapp, Amanda Mazzola News staff — Sophie King, Emily Moss Features staff — Meriel Hennessy Sports staff — MacKenzie Silvia Arts staff — Maya Abou-Rizk Photography staff — Judith Gibson-Okunieff, Josh Shub-Seltzer Blogs staff — Doug Abrams, Peter Diamond, Jacob Gurvis, Kyle Mendelsohn, Paulina Romero

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

Sign up for the Newtonite’s weekly email newsletter on its website.

In addition to the midyear special, the Newtonite will publish a print graduation special, as well as other specials throughout the year.

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

statistics • Only 22 percent of low-income students achieved the “Advanced” level on last year’s Science and Technology MCAS • In this school, 14.8 percent of the students are classified as low income • Just nine percent of low-income students completed a bachelor’s degree in the early 2000s • 54 percent of high-income students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the early 2000s • This school’s graduation rate has increased 3.7 percent among low-income students in the last two years prom ticket isn’t to be taken for granted. That 6th Man shirt isn’t a guaranteed accessory.

The fact is that 14.8 percent of this school’s students can be classified as low-income— students who qualify for free

and reduced lunch. As a senior witness to countless discussions about post-graduation plans, I have seen too many students who seem oblivious about income inequality.

Though many think that high school is simply a pipeline to higher education, not everyone follows the same academic path. Becoming aware and openly admitting that not every student seeks to enroll in a fouryear university would eliminate many awkward conversations and a shocking aloofness in this otherwise conscientiousness city.

According to a recent University of Michigan study, only nine percent of low-income students completed a bachelor’s degree in the early 2000s, whereas 54 percent of high-income students were able to graduate with a bachelor’s.

Whether caused by a limited financial situation or a wider social challenge of implementing a “college culture” in a houshold without any previous university attendance, the numbers strongly suggest show that low-income students have a much harder

time succeeding in secondary school and beyond than their affluent peers.

Thankfully, this school has made significant progress bridging the opportunity and achievement gap. Initiatives like the Global Education Leadership Fund, which provides financial assistance to students participating in an exchange program, and district scholarships for college have had a decidedly positive impact in opening opportunities and encouraging academic pursuits.

In fact, the graduation rate at this school has gone up 3.7 percent among low income students in the last two years, yet still lags behind the average graduation rate at this school, according to DESE statistics.

As much as we might like to, and although we do live in Newton, we cannot live in a la-la land where every family is forever in a stable financial situation. Acknowledging the difference in day-to-day situations is the first step in combating the silent, yet pervasive, class issue that proves more divisive when shoved under the rug.

fore the start of second semester encourages students to sustain their feverish work ethic after their precious deadlines have passed. Without the threat of having third and fourth term grades sent to all schools, many seniors who apply to college lose any further ambition to put in anything more than a passing academic effort. See, it’s not our faults.

We’re simply exploiting the massive flaws in the current education system like the critical students we’ve been taught to be throughout our high school careers.

To strike a compromise between the problems of the college process and current academic goals, teachers and administrators must emphasize to students the fact that third and fourth term grades do, in fact, matter: for college, for scholarships, and, on a larger scale, to give respect to the 13 years of teaching that this public school system has invested in each student.

Yet what we’re currently left with is the fact that for a quarter of our student body, high school comes to a jarring halt as soon

as the clock strikes 2:20 today.

Granted, I’m all for a muchneeded break from the insane stress with which seniors are crushed during their sprint to the finish.

But by completely throwing any hope of higher achievement or advancement out the window, the current system effectively encourages students to relapse and therefore abandon their critical thinking and academic abilities. So, take a break and breathe easy, but make sure you still do that history essay rewrite due next week—being a senior doesn’t mean you can be a slug.

Seniors: Keep working in Semester II Jared Perlo Students love it, teachers hate it. It is simultaneously the core principle of senior year for students and the bane of high school teachers’ careers. It brings euphoric joy to students who have spent years of downing late night cups of coffee and getting accustomed to their laptop’s keyboard as an alternate pillow. It is: the senior slump. by

column As much as administrators and teachers like to pin the problem on high schoolers for slacking off and abandoning the hard-driving work ethic instilled in us since kindergarten, we’re merely following what the American educational system has laid out for us.

Think about it. MCAS ceases after sophomore year (thank goodness); the infamous thesis calls junior year home; and the SATs and ACTs are usually well over by second term of senior year. And then, of course, there’s the whole college thing.

No administrator or educator could rightfully argue that grouping college deadlines be-

Letters 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.

news

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3

Speech finalists present variety of themes

Leah Budson

Mirabelle Espady: “We may have cracked the lens of justice in the past, but we are a new generation.” ◆ continued from page 1 system in his speech, “Special Education: My Side of the Story.”

Oh’s speech, “Confront Your Fears or You’ll End up in Tears,” describes his fears as a 4-yearold, and explains how he overcame them.

Sucoff argues for the need for society to prioritize education and recognize teachers in her speech, “Tackle the Problem.”

Each finalists, as well as all other sophomores, were originally asked to write a speech

Robin Donohoe

Timur Gizatulin: “A human being should not be treated like he is different, just because he is different.”

for the contest and perform it in their English classes.

In preparation for the contest, teachers incorporated public speaking lessons into the curriculum. Some of the lessons included analyzing famous speeches and learning the rhetorical appeals logos, pathos, and ethos.

English teacher Tim Finnegan said the speech unit helps to level the playing field for all students, as each student has unique arguments.

“Martin Luther King was

Leah Budson

Young Hoon Oh: “When you’re afraid of heights, the sky isn’t the limit, you are.”

about giving people equal voices, and this competition is a good representation of his values,” he said.

After the students read their speeches, the best speech in every class was selected to move on to the next round.

These semifinalists then presented their speeches to a panel consisting of English department head Melissa Dilworth and English teachers Finnegan, Maureen Kavanaugh, Mary Palisoul, and Sherri Ziomek.

The top five sophomores, an-

Robin Donohoe

Perri Sucoff: “Give a teacher a note on how much you appreciate their hard work.”

nounced during the homeroom announcements Wednesday, Jan. 8, were chosen to continue to today’s final.

Dilworth said it was difficult to whittle the semifinalists down to the finalists. “The 24 semifinalists should be proud of their accomplishments because they came prepared and delivered terrific speeches. Ultimately, the five finalists were chosen because the speakers moved us to make a positive change—not only were their topics interesting, but their delivery and ap-

peals were the most authentic.”

Mobley, as last year’s winner, is excited to judge the speeches.

“I look forward to seeing which contestants are great performers as well as writers.”

Mobley said he liked the curriculum. “In English class, we learn to develop better senses of reasoning, but with the speech curriculum, a student develops skills to help their intelligence make a difference.”

Visit thenewtonite.com/category/news for the results later today.

Quiz Show team advances from previous round Emily Moss After advancing from the qualifying round on Nov. 3, this school’s trivia team became one of 16 teams scheduled to participate in WGBH’s High School Quiz Show later this month.

The show is an academic competition among 96 teams from public high schools in Massachusetts.

The first round of the show will be filmed on Saturday, Jan. 25, and the team will appear on television March 1.

The team, created by senior by

Alex Feit, includes seniors Ezra Dulit-Greenberg, Ned Martenis, and Daniel Minahan.

Martenis explained, “The qualifying round involved us getting our pictures taken and then being sent to a room with a judge, who asked us a list of questions.

“We had three seconds to respond, and no talking was allowed.”

Seniors Adrian Butterton and Riley Heiman are alternate members for the team who will compete in the show if another

member is unable to, and history teacher Gregory Drake is the coach.

According to Martenis, the winners of the show get $250 and the chance to compete against the winners of New Hampshire’s televised Granite State Challenge in the Governor’s Cup Challenge.

Drake said that winning would give this school “a lot of publicity” because so many people watch the show.

He added that he hopes to make it a tradition to have a quiz

team at this school.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Martenis. “I’ve never been on television before.”

The show features questions on history, geography, math, science, pop culture, current events, literature, and famous quotations, according to the team members.

Dulit-Greenberg added that the show is somewhat similar to Family Feud.

“It’s all stuff high school students could have picked up in class,” said Minahan, “We’re not

EDCO Academic Bowl team awaits national competition Sophie King After a second-place finish at the Gallaudet University Northeast Regional Academic Bowl on Dec. 6-7, the EDCO Academic Bowl team will advance to Nationals.

Juniors Eric Belozovsky, Noah Blankenship, Nikolya Sereda, and sophomore Asma Sheikh competed both individually and as a team in three different rounds of competition over two days in Washington, D.C., led by captain Blankenship.

Sereda, the only team member who competed before, was chosen as the most outstanding player at the Bowl, based on leadership qualities and statistics about the questions she answered, according to EDCO teacher Melissa Phair, who coaches the team with EDCO teacher Joan Dale Siskind.

“I couldn’t believe it; I’m still in shock. All of my friends told me I was going to win it, and I didn’t believe them,” said Sereda in an email. “When I actually won it, it was surreal.”

The team won their first match with a score of 80-18, the most points they had ever scored, according to Phair.

Phair described the competition as “a great experience on

memorizing fact books.”

Dulit-Greenberg said, “We haven’t been preparing yet, but we’re going to meet once or twice a week and play each other in trivia games.”

Drake added that the students are working on answering questions as quickly and strategically as possible.

They might even challenge a group of teachers to a game of quiz bowl, he said.

Drake has learned that “there’s a whole circuit of teams that do this on a regular basis.”

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Buzz in: EDCO teachers Melissa Phair and Joan Siskind support juniors Erick Belozovsky, Noah Blankenship, and Nikolya Sereda, and sophomore Asma Sheikh as they compete at617.795.2560 the EDCO Academic Bowl. (work) 781.244.7224 (cell) all levels” for both the educational motivation and social experiences. The students “meet other deaf kids from all over the Northeast,” she said.

The team lost a close championship match to the Rochester School for the Deaf, with a score of 65-55, according to Phair.

The team will advance to Nationals in Washington, D.C. in April, and resumed practicing after winter break, according

to Phair.

After a team was chosen in late September, they have been practicing since October, according to Sereda.

“We will have to study a whole lot more,” said Sereda.

“The team dynamic and knowledge was excellent at regionals, but we need to step it up at nationals because we will be facing some incredibly good teams.”

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arts

4 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Director, actors respond to musical’s stereotypes Peter Diamond In a number of ways, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Theatre Ink’s spring musical, resembles the quintessential Broadway romantic comedy: showy dance numbers, a sizeable ensemble, slapstick comedy. But unlike most comparable pieces of theatre, this musical features racial stereotyping in a controversial way that students and faculty are addressing in preparation for the production.

Based on the 1967 film of the same title, this musical tells the story of Millie Dillmount, a woman from Kansas who moves to New York City in the 1920s to embrace new opportunities for women in urban environments.

The production highlights her experiences living in the Hotel Priscilla, which is run by the show’s main antagonist, a white actress and landlady named Mrs. Meers who poses as a Chinese immigrant. Mrs. Meers disguises her property as a boarding house with the secret intention to sell young white women into slavery in southeast Asia.

English teacher Bradley Jensen, the show’s director, said he chose this musical to direct because of its female opportunities and numerous dance numbers. He said he recognizes the show’s negative images that reinforce a stereotype of submissiveness among Asian men and plans to address them with the cast and team.

“As the director, first and foremost I want to make my cast aware of the negative images of Asians that appear within our show,” said Jensen. “In order to address them, we must recognize them and have a basic understanding of the historical context of these offensive images and ideas.”

On behalf of this school’s Office of Human Rights, English teachers Charlene Beh and Michele Leong will work with the cast and crew to “bring fully developed, and non-stereotypical characters to life in the musical,” and to help ensure that the by

Robin Donohoe

Rehearsal: The female ensemble rehearses a number from Thorougly Modern Millie. show has “a balance of positive images of Asians and AsianAmericans,” said Leong. Jensen also intends to collaborate with the Asian Culture Club, which Beh and Leong advise.

To respond to stereotypes, actors will be conscientious in their portrayals of racist characters. In the musical’s libretto by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, a stage direction says, “The actress portraying Mrs. Meers should be encouraged to embrace the offensiveness of her politically incorrect rendering of Asian, confident in the knowledge that, when contrasted with the actual Asian characters we meet later on, her depiction of a hateful stereotype will be busted as inauthentic and absurd.”

Senior Kelsey Fox will portray the role of Mrs. Meers in Theatre Ink’s upcoming production. Fox is no stranger to comedy, having appeared in Nitrous Oxide and Spontaneous Generation, this school’s sketch comedy troupe and improvisational comedy troupe, respectively, since her freshman year.

Additionally, Fox is a student in Leadership in a Diverse Society, a course taught by Leong and English teacher Peter Goddard that includes a unit on AsianAmerican identity.

Fox said that her goal is to be an ally to the Asian-American community. According to her, that alliance “means just really, honestly listening, and doing what I can to understand something I will never fully understand,” she said. “‘Millie’ is a comedy, so ultimately, Mrs. Meers is intended to be a comic villain. It’s just my job to make sure the comedy centers around her, and not around making fun of and stereotyping Asian culture.”

As a part of her connection to the white slavery ring, Mrs. Meers manipulates two innocent Chinese immigrant brothers, named Ching Ho and Bun Foo, into helping her by promising them the opportunity to bring their mother to the United States. Ching Ho will be played by senior Hiroki Shibuya, who is Asian-American, and Bun Foo

will be played by senior Ezra Dulit-Greenberg, who is white.

According to Jensen, DulitGreenberg wil portray Bun Foo as a white man who had been adopted into China rather than in yellowface.

According to Shibuya, a proper analysis of Ching Ho and Bun Foo could paint them as something much deeper than a racist stereotype of two Chinese immigrants.

“Whenever Ching Ho is seen with Mrs. Meers, he plays the typical minion role, not speaking much and following his employer’s orders no matter how much he disagrees with them,” said Shibuya. “This is the stereotype that is all too easy to see on the surface, but when you see the brothers by themselves, they are more than quiet, timid henchman.

“They are conflicted characters who are passionate to take their mother away from Hong Kong and to bring her to the land of promise, but must put themselves through this vile job in order to save her,” he said.

Shibuya hopes that his performance will convey Ching Ho’s most universal traits.

“Rather than playing an overdramatic Asian caricature, I hope to develop a character that comes simply from his innermost feelings, especially his desire to see his mother,” he said. “By being honest to the character and his words, I believe the historical context and the show’s humor and story will naturally become apparent.”

Dulit- Greenberg echoed Shibuya’s viewpoint of these characters, describing Bun Foo as “a truly recognizable character whose deepest motive, reunification with his mother, transcends race.”

Both Dulit-Greenberg and Shibuya feel that an honest portrayal of these characters will balance the blatant racism that is used as a vehicle for dark comedy in the portrayal of Mrs. Meers, which Dulit-Greenberg described as “a sarcastic comment on racism.”

“The sense of humor in the show is usually centered around Mrs. Meers’s obscene impression of a Chinese woman,” said Dulit-Greenberg. “Though the joke was probably originally the impression itself, we will try to pull humor by making Mrs. Meers seem ridiculous, and not her targets.”

Jensen is leading the cast through the process by addressing the musical’s difficult content and maintaining an open dialogue. For example, he held a full-cast meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9 to ensure that each cast member was able to articulate the importance of addressing the stereotypes in the musical, as well as the distinction between actual hate and comedy.

“I hope that by discussing these issues now and proactively engaging in socially responsible dialogue, our show will not only be barrels of fun, but it will also be a socially conscious piece that opens doors for further dialogues, bringing light to a topic that must be discussed within our school,” said Jensen.

blogs

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

Snow day snacks: Brownie, hot chocolate recipes to try

By Douglas Abrams This time of year, there’s one thing that everyone hopes for: a snow day. And for the student foodies out there, a snow day is the perfect opportunity to make some wintery treats with a holiday flair.

But before we can really begin cooking up a storm, we need the perfect snow day drink: hot chocolate. Not just any hot chocolate––a cinnamon spice hot chocolate, with an easy shortcut. To begin, follow the directions on any packaged hot chocolate to get the correct ratio of water to hot chocolate powder. If you like, you can replace the water with milk for an extra-creamy texture.

Add about a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon and about an eighth teaspoon of allspice to the hot chocolate powder. Then, add a few squeezes of chocolate syrup.

On top of the hot chocolate, I like to add a few mini marshmallows, some chocolate chips, and a final squeeze of chocolate syrup. The hot chocolate is warm, sweet, and creamy. The spices add a level of complexity that make an ordinary hot chocolate special.

Julia Moss

Topics in American Education: This blog features commentary on issues in education locally and nationally.

Julia Moss

The Student Foodie: This blog offers creative recipes that are easy to make. Check out more posts at thenewtonite.com.

I like to keep what I make on snow days simple. After all, the point is to relax. After hot chocolate, brownies are the next thing on my mind. With hot chocolate in hand, it is time to start cooking.

In the spirit of keeping things simple, I like to embellish a boxed brownie mix, rather than make them from scratch.

To do this, try adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts––I like pecans or almonds­—to the recipe.

Another easy way to turn up the volume on boxed brownies

is to add spices. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, clove or allspice for a seasonal flare. Or maybe add some leftover coffee for a mocha flavored brownie. Yum. Instead of plain old icing, try pouring a dark chocolate ganache, which is melted chocolate infused with heavy cream, on top of the brownies for a hit of intense chocolate. Get creative; a snow day is your day off.

I can’t imagine a better way to spend my snow day than in the kitchen cooking. Keep it simple, keep it fun, and keep it delicious.

Baseball sure to excite fans in 2014 Jacob Gurvis Major League Baseball had an exciting 2013 season. The Boston Red Sox showed that they were Boston Strong and won another championship. The Pittsburgh Pirates broke their 20-year streak of losing seasons.

Legend Mariano Rivera called it quits after 19 years. Rookie phenom Yasiel Puig burst onto the scene in Hollywood and stole the attention of the entire country. Baseball agreed on new rules for 2014.

Last season was very entertaining, to say the least. But, the calendar has flipped to 2014, and there is much to look forward to, and much that MLB hopes to change in 2014. Let’s dig in. by

Things to accomplish in the 2014 season

1. Put steroids to rest.

In 2013, Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun made headlines when they were linked to the now-defunct Miami-based Biogenesis of America, an antiaging clinic. Lists leaked with names of players who allegedly purchased illegal performanceenhancing drugs from Biogenesis. It’s time to get rid of the steroids and the lying. This is not going to be easy. Some think that baseball is doomed to have cheaters forever. While this may be true, it’s not an excuse to give up. MLB is trying to find the right way to prevent cheating and to punish players when it happens, and hopefully this year it will finally succeed.

2. Make new rules successful.

Last year, two new rules were decided for 2014 that will vastly change baseball. The full use of instant replay is now in place.

Managers will be allowed to challenge umpires’ calls and potentially have incorrect calls overturned. Secondly, collisions at home plate are now outlawed, to prevent injuries. All opinions aside, it’s important to ensure that the transition is seamless, and that the rules, well, work.

3. Find a worthy candidate to replace Bud Selig.

Bud Selig has been the commissioner of baseball since 1998, and has done a phenom-

Julia Moss

Thinking Outside the Batters’ Box: This blog features weekly commentary on Major League Baseball. enal job. During his tenure, he has instituted interleague play, created the World Baseball Classic, improved baseball’s drug policies, and more. He recently signed a new collective bargaining agreement, so that there will be no lockout in the near future.

He also announced that 2014 will be his last year. With Selig’s retirement, a new commissioner will be brought in to take the reins, and it is important to make sure it’s the right person.

It’s an important job, and baseball needs to choose carefully.

Things to look forward to in 2014

1. Same faces, new places.

Many players were traded or signed with new teams in the offseason; it will be exciting to see players on their new teams. Robinson Cano in Seattle, Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo in Texas, and Ian Kinsler in Detroit, to name a few.

2. More surprise stars.

2013 had its share of breakout players, and 2014 is sure to as well. Who will succeed the likes of Chris Davis as the biggest surprise star of 2014?

3. New managers.

Five teams have new managers heading into 2014, and it will be fun to see how teams fare under the helm of new leaders.

4. Baseball in Australia.

On March 22 and 23, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will play MLB’s opening series in Sydney, Australia. Baseball Down Under. Crazy, right?

5. The Red Sox. In 2013, the Sox overcame a tragedy, went worst to first, won 97 games, and won the World Series. They lost Jacoby Ellsbury to the Yankees but still have high hopes for 2014 as they defend their championship.

6. Exciting rookies.

Puig was awesome to watch in 2013. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper stole the show in 2012.

Which exciting rookies will grab our attention in 2014? Sox rookie Xander Bogaerts, anyone?

7. Instant replay.

With baseball’s new rules, it will be interesting to see how games will change now that teams can challenge calls. Umpires beware: our lack of trust in you will shine through.

8. Retiring players.

In 2013, we said goodbye to legends. Rivera, Todd Helton, and Andy Pettite all decided to hang up their cleats. Which veteran stars will call it quits this year? Derek Jeter? Jim Thome?

9. Key signings.

There are still many good players remaining on the free agent market. Nelson Cruz, Matt Garza, Ervin Santana, and now Masahiro Tanaka are all still available. Where will they sign this year?

10. Another exciting season.

2013 was fun, and 2014 is sure to be better. As teams get richer and players get better, our beloved game is getting more and more entertaining and intriguing. So, get out your peanuts and Cracker Jack and get ready for a great season!

Organization should refrain from attacks on diverse viewpoints Peter Diamond Several weeks ago, a piece of flawed propaganda appeared in several local publications, such as the Newton Tab and the Boston section of the Metro, in the form of an advertisement. The headline asks the question, “What are Newton students really learning?” and the text goes on to ask the reader, “Why have Newton students been ‘learning’ from textbooks that demonize Israel & America while glorifying Islam?” Above a list of so-called “offensive teaching materials,” the advertisement says that superintendent David Fleishman (misspelled as “Fleischman”) and School Committee member Matt Hills “have justified using. . . biased texts in the name of global understanding and critical thinking skills.” And to make matters worse, Hills’s home phone number is included, to add violation of privacy to a long list of offenses, topped off with cultural insensitivity.

Whether or not one sees validity in these claims, I do not deem a variety of sources negative. That’s what the most challenging and important resources are supposed to do. If Open Newton Schools deems these resources biased or inaccurate, its advocates are only identifying more reasons that such sources belong in the classroom. Furthermore, from just a quick peek at that advertisement, the reader will see that Open Newton Schools is guilty of a variety of biases of its own.

South parent Tony Pagliuso was upset two years ago when his daughter brought home an article from her freshman history class that came from The Arab World Studies Notebook, a book of academic writing by Audrey Shabbas that includes articles and commentary on the Arab world.

This particular article stated that Israeli soldiers have been responsible for the torture of Palestinian women.

Disturbed, Pagliuso expressed his concern to members of the School Committee, superintendent David Fleishman, and mayor Setti Warren. In general, these Newton school authorities responded by saying that they saw no issue with using sources such as The Arab World Studies Notebook when studying Islam and the Arab world, a response that left Pagliuso unsatisfied.

Two years later, Open Newton Schools is now active and linked to Americans for Peace and Tolerance, an organization that, despite its title, is notorious for sacrificing educational integrity for the sake of its own biases.

These organizations’ illinformed efforts are, in part, a response to a lack of knowlby

edge of the history education experience that we get in Newton’s public high schools, so I’d be glad to share some of my own experiences as a student.

Freshman world history has a primarily objective curriculum, one in which students study major religions and early roots of modern cultures through textbook readings and lectures, with occasional unit-specific sources to supplement. But first and foremost, freshmen receive an objective, seemingly dry take (courtesy of the textbook Human Legacy

by Steven A. Goldberg, Susan Ramirez, Peter Stearns, and Sam Wineburg) as to ensure that students understand unfamiliar religions at a basic level, hopefully with the goal of providing a basis for enlightening debate.

But in order to lift students from a level of taking notes from a textbook to a level of intellectual challenge, sources such as The Arab World Studies Notebook are necessary.

Whether I personally believe the claims made is irrelevant.

Either way, such sources deserve to be taught. As members of a community that promotes challenging course material and critical thinking, we should explore the value of gathering information and developing our own ideas by reading a variety of sources with a variety of biases. Just about any history teacher will continually stress to their class that the sources we read are not words of law etched in stone, but scholarly works open to our interpretation. For example, in an extreme case, several sophomore world history classes read excerpts of Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler.

Such practices prove that history teachers do not expect students to trust sources word for word. Instead, sources give students a cultural context of a time period and a chance to use their critical thinking skills.

Looking at the instance addressed by Open Newton Schools, a critical thinker will see more validity in an argument that addresses counterarguments than one that denies them, and that’s a principle of intellectual curiosity and scholarship as a whole. If these organizations truly want students to develop compelling perspectives, they should not discriminate against alternative viewpoints. A strong fighter must take on an opponent with grace and integrity.

In this case, grace and integrity constitute acknowledging the complexity of this situation and standing boldly by a cause, rather than censoring information that contradicts one’s viewpoint.

6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Jan.

<< Lookin

Boston Strong Mosaic Orginal Plan

September

9/3 - First Day of School: This marked the

fourth year in the new building, as well as the 154th year of the high school.

9/7 - Italian Exchange: Students from Liceo Scientifico Antonio Gramsci began their two-week visit.

9/26 - Club Day: Approximately 70 student groups showcased their clubs and recruited new members in the cafeteria.

9/29 - Newtonville Village Day: The Jazz Ensemble performed along with other musical groups from around the city.

9/30 - Boston Strong Mosaic: Senior Irina Rojas began work on the commemorative mosaic depicting the Boston skyline, with help from fellow students.

tives visited the school over a two-night span.

10/12 - French Exchange: Students from L’Ecole Massillon began their three-week stay in Newton.

10/18 - Be Bold Be Bald Day: Students and faculty members sported bald caps to raise money for cancer research and promote awareness.

10/24 - Michael Dukakis at Up Close: The former governor discussed his involvement in state and national politics.

10/30 - Red Sox Victory: In six nail-biting games, the Boston Red Sox clinched the World Series title for the first time at Fenway Park since 1918.

10/31 - These Shining Lives: In the first Theatre Ink production of the year, the play describes the story of a working woman in 1920s Illinois as she struggles with radium poisoning caused by her work at a factory.

Girls’ Soccer

11/5 - Election

November

Courtesy of Irina Rojas

October

10/8 - College Nights: University representa-

Football

Committee, and Mayor Setti War 1/15 - Girls’ Soc the State Cham 1999, defeating after two overtim 11/20 - Harves performed in the 11/20 - Fall Dan year in a row, the hip hop category 11/28 - Thanks won 49-8 over B annual rivalry.

Judith Gibson-Okunieff

SEMESTER ONE

Boys’ Basketball

3/6 - 8th Grade Parent Night and Career & Vocational

Technical Education (CVTE) Showcase: 8th Grade students and their parents will be welcomed to the school before they enroll for classes in the fall. CVTE program students will discuss elective courses available to incoming freshmen.

3/12 - Registration Day: Students will confirm all classes for the 2014-2015 school year with teachers and department heads.

3/13 - Thoroughly Modern Millie: English teacher Bradley Jensen will direct the spring musical. The production highlights Millie’s experiences in New York City during the 1920s as she attempts to start a new life.

3/18 - English Language Arts MCAS: Most sophomores will take ELA MCAS on this day.

March

concert featuring gospel music.

2/5 - Book of Days: In the second murder mystery of the theatre season, a small town in Missouri investigates a murder.

2/12 - Asian Culture Day: The day will feature faculty, students, and community members discussing Asian-American culture.

2/13 - Deaf Culture Day: Sponsored by EDCO, students and members of the deaf community will discuss aspects of deaf and hard of hearing life.

2/10 - Course Book Release: Faculty and students will receive information and begin registration for the 2014-2015 school year.

2/15 - February Break.

February

2/1 - Jubilee Singers Concert: The group will perform in its annual

4/2 - Spontaneous Generation: The improvisation troupe will perform games

skits, including audience member participation during its four shows.

4/9 - Springfest: All music groups will be featured in the two night showcase 4/12 - Asian Culture Night: Sponsored by Asian Culture club, students will b perform songs, dances, and skits. Afterwards, a dinner will feature a variety o 4/15 - Spring Jazz Night: Tiger Bebop, Jazz Band, and Jazz Ensemble will per 4/18 - Spring Break.

4/30 - Improv Jam II: The second installment of the all-inclusive improvisa show will feature the work of students in the Improv Club.

Judith Gibson-Okunieff

>> Looking

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 7

. 17, 2014

ng Back << December

12/3 - Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts: In a se-

Judith Gibson-Okunieff

n Day: City-wide Mayoral, School d Aldermen elections were held. rren won re-election. ccer Championship: The team won mpionship for the first time since Minnechaug 1-0 in penalty kicks mes. stfest: This school’s music groups e two-night event. nce Championship: For the second e dance team won first place in the y at States. sgiving Game: The football team Brookline in the 119th year of the

ries of T-shirt and bake sales, the Asian Culture Club raised $1,320 and counting for the Philippines.

12/5 - Freshman Cabaret’s “Brand New You”: The show featured songs, dances, and vignettes centered around self-discovery.

12/10 - Siemens Foundation National Competition: Junior Kavish Gandhi and his Lexington partner won second place and $50,000 for their mathematics research.

12/11 - Bad Seed: The show follows a mother’s journey to the realization that her daughter has committed multiple murders.

12/18 - Improv Jam I: Improv Club members showcased their skills and games.

12/21 - Winter Break.

January

1/3 - First Snow Day: School was cancelled due to

Freshman Cabaret

Josh Shub-Seltzer

SEMESTER TWO 5/1 - Junior Book Awards: Several students, chosen by a committee, will

May

Orchestra

April

ational comedy

g Forward >>

6/1 - Jubilee Singers Concert: In its final performance of the year, the gospel group will showcase its repertoire of songs.

6/2 - Science MCAS: Most freshmen will take physics MCAS on this day.

6/4 - Playwrights’ Festival: The seventh annual festival will showcase studentwritten 10-minute plays.

6/5 - Nitrous Oxide: In its sixth year, the sketch comedy troupe will write and perform original sketches.

6/10 - Graduation: Seniors receive diplomas during a graduation ceremony scheduled to take place on the field.

6/12 - 8th Grade Athletics Night: 8th graders tour the athletic facilities and hear from students and faculty about this school’s sports teams.

6/13 - Step Up Day: 8th graders will visit the high school, giving this school’s students a half day.

6/25 - Last Day of School: Summer break will begin for students on June 25, assuming there are five snow days.

June

receive awards for their academic and community achievements.

5/5 - AP Testing: Advanced Placement testing will occur over a two-week period beginning on this day.

5/8 - Much Ado About Nothing: Students from this school and South will perform at this school for the annual Shakespeare collaboration between the two schools.

5/9 - Art Morning: Student artwork from all arts, ceramics, and photography classes will be featured at the annual breakfast.

5/13 - Math MCAS: Most sophomores will take math MCAS on this day.

5/15 - Pops Night: All music groups will perform in the cafeteria.

5/21 - Senior Scholarship Breakfast: Students who were selected to receive scholarships will be honored at the breakfast event.

5/22 - Blood Brothers: This British musical about separated twins will be directed by seniors Kelsey Fox and Juliet Roll.

s, exercises, and

e. be welcomed to of Asian foods. rform.

Storm Hercules.

1/6 - ToBGLAD: Faculty, students, and community members spoke on panels, organized by the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), relating to LGBTQ issues and awareness.

1/9 - Cabaret Troupe’s “Neverland”: The troupe performed fairy tale themed songs.

1/17 - MLK Speech Finals: Five finalists, selected from 24 semifinalists, will deliver their speeches B-block today.

1/23 - Body Confidence Day: Different speakers will discuss body image during each block.

1/25 - High School Quiz Show: This school’s team will compete in a televised round of Season 5 on WGBH. 1/29 - Winterfest: All music groups will perform in this two-night performance.

Maddie Griswold

Compiled by Leah Budson, Samantha Libraty, Julia Oran, and Maria Trias.

Use and Abuse of Adderall features

8 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

◆ continued from page 1 Note: The real names of the students interviewed for this article have been changed to Chris Donohue, Sarah Smith, and Bruce Thompson to protect their identities.

◆ FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES ◆ For Donohue, reading comprehension was the main portion of the SATs that required his absolute attention.

Normal methods of preparing were wearing thin.

“I needed to be able to read fast, without thinking about other things while I was reading,” Donohue said.

“That was my main difficulty.”

Friends recommended that Donohue try some Adderall before the test last June. He agreed, but told himself that he would only use it once: for the SAT. To test how he would respond to the pills, Donohue said that he took one pill in school on a day that he had tests and quizzes.

He said he received several 20 mg slow-release tablets of Adderall from a reliable friend who had a legal prescription.

“On that day, I felt as if I took better notes, did better on my quizzes, and had more mental stamina,” Donohue said. “It wasn’t like I was somehow ‘twice as focused,’ but I definitely felt something. There was a difference in my academic performance.”

Although he admits he studied more effectively in advance of the SATs the second time, when he took them with Adderall, Donohue said that he received a 120-point increase over his previous scores.

Senior Sarah Smith was in a similar predicament before she decided to take study drugs, specifically Adderall.

One of her Advanced Placement classes had been giving her a lot of trouble.

“For me, it was like, ‘Wow, this class has a lot of work, a lot of material to get through,’” Smith said. “I

Paulina Romero and Maria Trias

had been really used to coffee, and it wasn’t working anymore. I needed something else.”

After asking a cousin with severe ADHD for some of her prescription, Smith said she used the medication to study for a test last fall and for finals at the end of the school year.

“I felt that I was more engaged, and I really wanted to read my textbook,” Smith said. “I was wired up until 5 a.m.”

Due to the demand for Adderall, senior Bruce Thompson thought that he could make some money by selling some of his prescription for Adderall to students

◆ NEGATIVE However, for students, the stimulating effects of Adderall can often be terrifying.

“Your heart goes insanely fast, and you can feel your heartbeat in your head—you feel jittery,” Smith said.

“One effect is that you get really social, and then the other is that you feel really introverted and you don’t want to talk to people, so you feel like you’re in a box.

“Taking it at seven at night is not good—it can feel scary. I didn’t feel like I was going to have a heart attack, but it definitely was an intense feeling,” she added.

Donohue also noted that he got headaches the few times he used Adderall.

Contrary to Thompson’s belief, Adderall, if abused— which is highly possible due to its chemical structure— can become a much more physically and mentally damaging substance.

According to Dr. Jonathan Benjamin, a Newton pediatrician who commonly prescribes ADHD medications, amphetamines such as Adderall affect the chemistry of the brain by increasing the release of the

◆ EXTENT Despite the volume of national coverage on Adderall and the perception among students that illicit Adderall use does exist at this school, the popularity of it as a useful and widely used substance appears somewhat limited in scope.

According to the 2012-13 Newton Public Schools (NPS) Youth Risk Behavior Survey, roughly five percent of Newton high school students have self-reported using these study drugs to “stay awake” at least once in the past 12 months.

Similarly, Thompson estimated that likely more than 50 current students at this school can admit to taking Adderall at some point during their time in high school, which roughly corroborates the statistics released by NPS. “I definitely think that as you get older in high school, you start to realize that more people do use Adderall,” Smith said. “It’s definitely common, but I don’t think it’s a majority.”

However, Thompson suggested that users do not regularly abuse such substances, but rather take them in a controlled manner on certain occasions.

“People understand what Adderall is,” Thompson said.

“They know what it’s used for and they

who wanted it last year.

“Other people knew that I had taken it in the past and were interested in it for themselves,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t really worried about getting caught because I trusted the people. It’s not a drug of addiction, it’s not a drug you get high on, so I felt that there was a low risk for me.”

Thompson sold a full pill for five dollars and a partial pill for three dollars to around ten students, whom he said “wanted it because they exhibited symptoms of not being able to focus,” Thompson said.

“It takes some stress away,” he added.

EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES

neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for controlling focus and concentration.

Those with ADD are generally thought to have a deficiency in the amount of dopamine within synapses in the brain, leading to an inability to sustain focus for an extended amount of time, Benjamin said.

With proper dosage and supervision, medications such as Adderall can help those individuals improve their concentration to normal levels, Benjamin said.

However, he added, when someone who does not have ADD takes Adderall, the surge of dopamine and other stimulating neurotransmitters within the brain can cause that person to have an above average level of alertness.

In addition, according to drug counselor and social worker Alison Malkin, anyone who uses a prescription drug that is not his or her own runs the risks of developing serious complications including insom-

◆

nia, decreased appetite, increased anxiety, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate, among a litany of other potential side effects. The risk of addiction to or withdrawal from Adderall is also prevalent, she said.

Similarly, Benjamin noted that “when used in the wrong doses, or taken via injection or snorting, Adderall can be fatal.”

There are also legal implications for using or selling substances illicitly. Under Massachusetts law, if a student uses a prescription that is not his own or sells his prescription to a third party, public schools within Massachusetts have a right to intervene and take disciplinary action.

However, the administration has not had many disciplinary infractions over the use or selling of Adderall or related medications. Principal Jennifer Price said that the last case that rose to her level was six years ago.

OF USAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS ◆ know the times you’re supposed to take it.”

And while the statistics report a five percent rate of usage at this school and South, the overall Adderall use over the years does not indicate a significant upward trend, if any at all.

In the cases of Smith and Donohue, they used Adderall in preparation for high-stakes testing or for an important project that needed to be completed for school. However, both were turned off of using it any further after deciding it was not that effective.

“I realized it really didn’t do that much,” Donohue said. “It does help you access what you already know more efficiently.

But it doesn’t help you know more, like in the movie Limitless, where y o u just get unlimited brain potential.”

“It was a one-time thing,” Donohue added.

Thompson similarly said, “If someone were to not study for a test, and take an Adderall, he or she would not score better than someone else who didn’t put in the work.”

In addition, Smith felt that any sort of reliance on Adderall would be detrimental in her pursuit of academic achievement.

“I just felt like it wasn’t an appropriate medication considering that I don’t have ADD,” Smith said.

Given the other legal substances that students can use to increase their focus in school, determining a position on how to treat Adderall may only be able to be discussed in shades of gray, said Price.

“We have things in our country like Five Hour Energy, or Red Bull, and they’re advertising this all over the nation,” Price said. “They supposedly help get you through those tough times. So where’s the line?”

Price added, “We don’t have an honor roll, we don’t give A+’s, we do a lot of things to not try to increase the stress, but the reality is, in our world, especially as students are thinking about what happens after high school, kids feel stress. I don’t know how much a high school can combat that.

“We try to give a lot of information, mental health support, and counseling,” she said.

In the end, if a student needs to go through that late night cram session before a test, Benjamin recommends a tried and true method.

“Drink a cup of coffee,” Benjamin said. “Caffeine has similar effects to Adderall, but because you take it as a drink, you limit the dose you take. It’s more safe.”

Malkin still urges caution in portraying the misuse of prescription drugs as a non-issue.

“I think it’s an issue in a lot of communities,” Malkin said. “There’s definitely a part of me that says, ‘Hey, it is only at five percent.’ Is that still more than I would like? Yes, of course.

“I’m hopeful because the rate isn’t increasing, but I’m still worried about those students that continue to misuse.”

Malkin also insisted that no pill can completely solve any problem.

“There is no magic bullet,” Malkin said.

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 9

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Semester I Crossword

Across

2. This junior won $50,000 in a competition last December.

3. This show was Theatre Ink’s only all freshman-inclusive show.

5. This team captured first place in the hip hop category at States for the second year in a row.

7. This production was directed by a senior and a junior.

8. Students had this many days of winter break this year.

9. The stars of These Shining Lives worked for this company.

Semester II Wordsearch

Down

1. The football team won the Thanksgiving game against this school.

2. This team earned the Division I State Championship title for the first time since 1999.

4. This person won the Newton mayoral election.

6. Sophomore Ellie Strayer starred in this production.

Compiled by Leah Budson, Samantha Libraty, Jared Perlo, Alex Potter, and Connor Vasu.

Words AP Exams April Break Baseball Blood Brothers Book of Days

February Break Finals Graduation Lacrosse Nitrous Oxide

Physics Boat Races Playwrights’ Festival Shakespeare Softball Spon Gen

Spring SYP Tennis Track Volleyball

Note: Words may appear vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forwards, or backwards.

Evolution of a High School Student

Cartoon by Julia Moss

Check out our daily website t he

Newtonite.com

sports

10 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Girls’ indoor track aims to build on early success Jacob Gurvis Girls’ indoor track, 3-0*, has begun the season strongly, according to coach Joe Tranchita.

The Tigers value focus, which has translated to success during meets. “Our team’s work ethic and chemistry have been our strong points,” he said.

According to senior Maeve Greeley, a captain with seniors Evie Heffernan, Sunny Lehmann, and Michaela Smith, individual members’ ability to focus on individual skill and excel has been crucial for the team.

“Considering that this team by

is very young, the way that each member has been adjusting to their event has been quite impressive,” she said. “It is sometimes hard to find what event you want to specialize in and many of the new members have easily found their niche and are passionately executing what needs to be done to improve.”

Despite the success, there is still room for improvement, according to Tranchita. He said the team needs to work on “consistency of performance and development of depth with each event.”

Greeley said that the Tigers need to focus more on teamwork, not individual, success.

“In track, you can have a few standout runners, but if you want to succeed as a team, you need a strong middle ground that can displace other teams in competition. I think that aspect is really what the team is lacking at the moment and what we are currently trying to rectify,” she said.

Some athletes have stepped up, according to Tranchita.

“Smith is number one in the state in shot put, Greeley and

sophomore Cristina Galvagno are among the best in the state in the 600 and 300, respectively,” he said.

Greeley also noted Smith as one player who stands out.

“Michaela recently broke two meet records and is a real force in the state. Sophomore Annie Greene has been doing fabulously in the high jump,” she said. Other great performers have been Heffernan, senior Elizabeth Koch, Lehmann, juniors Adriana Batista and Kayla Hatcher, and freshman Orenna Brand, according to Greeley.

Dance has high hopes for winter

Girls’ gymnastics eyes Bay State league title Camille Bowman Girls’ gymnastics, 3-0*, defeated Braintree Dec. 20 and Framingham Jan. 7.

According to senior Julia Wang, a captain with senior Jen Davis, the team’s strength is beam, an improvement from last year.

Davis said that the team’s all-around competitors, Wang and junior Amara Lutwack, are doing well.

Wang said that she is happy with the team’s newcomers. “All of the freshmen except for Katy Monico, who is injured, competed against Braintree,” she said. “I don’t think that’s ever happened before, especially at the first meet.” by

Davis and Wang cited execution as an issue in the first meet.

“Execution is important because it can pick up a few tenths of a point here and there that really add up,” Wang said.

The Tigers’ goals for the season are to qualify for Sectionals and earn a Bay State title, according to Wang.

Wellesley is the team’s greatest competition, Wang said.

“Wellesley keeps getting in the way of our Bay State title,” she said.

Both captains are confident that the team will do well. Davis said, “The team already seems to be improving, and it looks like we’re on our way to a successful year.”

Jonny Levenfeld After a year filled with challenges and disappointment, boys’ gymnastics started off 1-0* with a win against Burlington.

The team finished last year with a 1-5 record, with the sole win coming against a strong Braintree team.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, many of their struggles were out of their control. The MIAA voted to terminate recognition of boys’

gymnastics as a state sport, and coach Steve Chan was arrested last August for possession of child pornography.

However, the decision to drop boys’ gymnastics has since been overturned, and the team now has long-time state gymnastics official Bill Martin at its helm.

According to Martin, the transition has not been difficult because the team saw him at numerous competitions when

Judith Gibson-Okunieff

Leap: Sophomore Calley Dias performs a split leap during her beam routine Jan. 7 against Framingham.

he was a judge. Senior Eric Weiss, a captain with senior Gabe Bibuld, praised Martin for doing “a great job taking over the position.”

With six seniors returning to the squad, Martin believes that the team is capable of doing some damage this year. “With that many seniors, it gives you a solid base,” he said.

The ultimate goal for Martin this season is for the team to

have a good showing at the state meet. “For that to happen, everybody has to hit their routines,” he said.

Weiss has lofty goals for the Tigers, saying they hope “to place high, if not first, at States.”

Ultimately, the team’s success will depend on its effort over the course of the season.

“With a lot of hard work, we could surprise a lot of people at the state meet,” Weiss said.

Boys’ track continues long history of success Jacob Gurvis Boys’ indoor track, 3-0*, has begun successfully, according to coach Jim Blackburn.

This school has a history of success in track, and so far, this season has been no different.

Senior Gabe Montague, a captain with seniors Nick Fofana, Jackson King, and Mike Schlichting, is optimistic about 2014.

“The team is doing everything well right now,” said Montague.

“We’ve been winning all of our dual meets and plan to keep by

winning throughout the rest of the season.”

Reviving the team’s past success in relays is crucial for a successful season, according to Montague.

“Our relays probably need the most improvement right now, looking ahead to the state meets. In the past, our relays have traditionally scored us a lot of points in the championship meets, but this year will be tough because of injuries,” he said.

The Tigers have high expectations for this season. Both Blackburn and Montague noted state-level success as a goal.

“Our goals are to win the Bay State Conference title and finish our 17th consecutive undefeated season,” said Blackburn.

Montague said, “Winning the All-State meet comes down to our coaches strategizing which athletes are placed in which events. On the athletes’ end, we have to race hard throughout the season.”

Blackburn said Montague, Fofana, and Schlichting are doing especially well.

Montague echoed that Fofana has been performing extremely well for the team.

“Nick is still our number one point contributor, and he’s the best in the league in multiple events,” he said.

Montague has the fastest mile time in the country with an impressive 4:15 mark.

The Tigers next meet is against Needham Wednesday.

Alpine looks forward to second meet, season Jonny Levenfeld Alpine began the season with a solid showing Jan. 9 at Ward hill, facing off against several Eastern Massachusetts opponents.

Senior Julie Chan, a captain with seniors Lee Moriarty and by

Brian Tong, was the top overall performer for the Tigers with a 12th place finish in the girls’ race. Tong led the team in the boys’ race, finishing 18th overall.

While it is still early in the year and the team just hit the

slopes for the first time Thursday, Tong believes the team has the tools to have a successful season.

“Several of our athletes seem to be experienced skiers so we hope to do well in our races,” he said.

After last year’s state meet was cancelled due to lack of snow, coach Scott Mighill hopes the Tigers will send at least one skier to the meet.

Mighill also hopes to “form a well-oiled unit” over the course of the season.

Boys’ swim, dive stays hopeful despite setbacks Adam Rabinowitz Boys’ swim and dive has high hopes, despite this year being a rebuilding process, according to senior Sahil Desai, a captain with senior Liran Bromberg.

“We lost a lot of seniors from last year. A lot of them were club swimmers who swam year-round, and it led to a loss of experience for the team,” Desai said. by

However, Bromberg still expects the team to do well. “I think this year’s team is up to the challenge,” he said.

Bromberg also added there was a spirit of camaraderie between the veterans and the rookies.

“It is nice to see the returning swimmers initiate the new swimmers into the sport. Hopefully this will lead to these

Ryan Condon Dance team comes into the winter season with high hopes, striving to carry its fall success into competitions throughout the coming months.

The squad captured first place at States in the fall, and according to senior Sarina DiDino, a captain with seniors Thalia Jimenez and Mariajose LozadaOliva, this season’s goals are similarly ambitious.

“We strive to win first place and Grand Champions at our competition at Emmanuel College. We also hope to win or place well at Bay States, States, and Regionals,” DiDino said.

The winter team is very similar to last season’s, according to DiDino. “We have dancers who are returning from previous years and only a few completely new members. If we live up to our potential, we can be state champions again,” she said.

This season is especially difficult because of a lack of time to prepare for competitions, according to coach Stephanie Hubbard. “With winter break and snow days we have less time to perfect our routine,” she said.

Despite the challenges that winter brings, Hubbard saw many strengths in this season’s team. “We have a large number of upperclassmen on the team who are extremely strong dancers and have dynamic personalities when performing,” she said.

DiDino said that the team’s strengths lie in its coaching.

“Our coaches are amazing choreographers. They know how to visually impress the audience and the judges.

“We also have a diversely talented team, with each dancer having their own strengths in tricks and techniques,” she said.

To be successful, the team needs to stay focused during practice, according to DiDino.

“While we are learning, we must perform the dance with our full energy,” she said. “By doing this during practice, it is much easier to keep up our energy at a competition. We perform well if each team member is pumped up and excited before we perform.”

DiDino asked that students help support the team throughout the season. “We hope that we can get more fans to come to our competitions, because we represent North and have an amazing reputation at these competitions,” she said.

The team will perform at various basketball games throughout the season, a good opportunity for students to catch a performance. by

Boys’ gymnastics overcomes many struggles by

With many state championships already under his belt, Tranchita expects no less from this year’s squad. “Our goal is the league title,” he said.

The girls are on the same page as Tranchita, and their goals are consistent throughout.

Greeley said, “I think our main goal for this season is going to be obtaining the Bay State title.

What is going to make that happen is growth in the middle ground for displacement, but strengthening our distance team will also be imperative for success.”

guys coming back the next few years,” he said.

According to Desai, the rookies are all excited to be there.

“They all seem very enthusiastic and come to practice ready to go,” he said.

He added that the “veteran swimmers set a model for the new swimmers.”

Desai said that he is hopeful that the team will finish at least

fourth out of the six teams in the Bay State Conference.

Bromberg also has high hopes for the postseason.

“I really want to bring a sizeable group to States and have them do well,” he said.

Desai said that “the team really wants relays to make States.

I also want as many individuals as possible to make state qualifiers and do well there.”

*Team’s record as of Saturday, Jan. 11. Visit @NNHSSports for daily scores and updates.

sports

Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 11

Boys’ basketball finds immediate success, chemistry Jonny Levenfeld Coming off of a deep postseason run last year that saw the Tigers fall just short in the South Sectional Semifinals, boys’ basketball opened this season with six consecutive victories and one loss.

After outlasting Natick in double overtime on Monday, Dec. 3, the team captured the Garden City Tournament title with wins over crosstown rival South and perennial powerhouse Catholic Memorial.

According to coach Paul Connolly, team chemistry has been crucial to the Tigers’ success. “This is a tight knit group that has developed a team-first attitude,” he said.

Junior Tommy Mobley, a captain with seniors Jack Boucher and Liam Bruno, said the team by

has “great camaraderie on and off the court.”

The Tigers’ strength is team defense, according to Connolly. “We have done a great job guarding the ball and keeping teams out of their comfort zone,” he said.

Connolly acknowledged that the Tigers need to cut down on their turnovers going forward.

Mobley, the reigning Bay State Conference MVP, has “picked up where he left off last year” and embraced his role as a leader, according to Connolly.

In addition to the expected core of Boucher, Bruno, and Mobley, several other players have assumed a larger role this year. Connolly praised junior Sam Jefferson’s play on both offense and defense, and he believes senior Ezekial Franciso is

“taking his game to a new level.”

Sophomore Nate Hollenberg, a starter and first-year varsity player, has also been a major part of the team’s success, according to Mobley. “He has made some big plays in our games so far and we may not have won a few games if it wasn’t for him,” Mobley said.

This year in particular, there is a lot of hype surrounding the team, as the Tigers are currently ranked third in the state in ESPN Boston’s weekly rankings. Mobley is pleased that the team’s success is being recognized; however, he also emphasized the need to maintain a strong work ethic and avoid becoming complacent. “ We don’t overlook any teams, and we try to play our best, no matter what,” he said.

Girls’ basketball starts undefeated MacKenzie Silvia Girls’ basketball, 7-0*, has begun the season undefeated, which should pave the way for a successful season.

The Tigers crushed South 7228 Dec. 30 to keep their streak alive.

Coach Linda Martindale is very happy with the way the team has been coming together.

“Teamwork is critical, and we are starting to see some great chemistry on and off the court,” she said.

“My goal is for all 11 players to feel good about being a by

part of something bigger than themselves, to have fun, and to maximize their potential.”

Senior Infiniti Thomas-Waheed, a captain with senior Maddie Bledsoe, predicts, because of its talent, the team will have very few losses.

Martindale said that Bledsoe is leading the defense and guarding the most challenging players.

Some new players, such as sisters freshman Sayawni Lassiter and sophomore Ednaija Lassiter, have provided a spark to the team.

Girls’ hockey playing well on defensive end Jacob Gurvis Girls’ hockey, 4-2*, has begun the season well, according to coach Bob MacDougall.

The Tigers are playing well on both sides of the puck, which is crucial, according to MacDougall.

“We are playing very well defensively. We’ve done a great job in our system and are getting great effort and execution from all of the players. Offensively, we are getting great chances from all of our lines, and to have that depth is important,” he said.

Senior Leah Howard, a captain with Hannah Gallogly and Caitlin O’Hanley, also said that the team is performing well in all areas.

“Each line has been working really well together. Having that chemistry makes a huge difference and that has been a big part of our success,” she said.

MacDougall said that the team needs to be more thorough during games. “I would like to see us play consistently for three periods.

“We seem to have a letdown in our games, and while it hasn’t had an effect on our record to date, our opponents coming up have the ability to make us pay if we don’t play our best.”

Howard said that the Tigers need to be better in transition. “We’re working to improve our breakouts. We sometimes get stuck in our defensive end for way too long, and that’s when our mistakes are made.”

MacDougall said that every player is performing well, but noted a few who have stood out.

“Gallogly is one of the top-tier players in the Conference. Junior Nicole Quinn by

has elevated her game in all three zones and with Gallogly, makes for a very tough line to play against. Sophomore Amanda Smith has made great strides from her freshman year and provides the depth we need with our forward lines. O’Hanley has proven to be a shut-down defenseman with a lot of offensive skill,” he said.

One of the Tigers’ greatest strengths this season has been stellar defensive play.

Having a strong force in goal is a huge piece of that, according to MacDougall.

“Sophomore Natalie Cohen is becoming the kind of goaltender teams need in the state tournament. She has made the big saves when we’ve needed them and her play gives the team confidence,” he said.

Both MacDougall and Howard said that constant improvement is key for the team’s success this season, and hopefully into the tournament.

“Our goal is to keep improving,” said Howard, “We’ve never started out this strong, so we want to keep moving forward from this point and stay humble. It’s a great place to start, so we want to continue living up to our potential and see improvements in those weaker areas.”

Playing as a team, qualifying for the state tournament, and contending for the Bay State title are the team’s other goals, said MacDougall. The Tigers will finish off January against tough competition, said MacDougall.

The team plays at Dedham Tuesday, at Wellesley next Friday, and at home against Norwood Tuesday, Jan. 29.

“Sayawni is running the offense at point guard and Ednaija is playing very aggressively at both ends of the floor,” Martindale said.

Bledsoe attributes the team’s success thus far to solid coaching, in addition to hard work from the team.

“I think that we have seen early success as a result of being pushed by our coach and each other,” Bledsoe said.

Martindale said, “Our goal is to peak at the right time and maximize our opportunities in every game.”

Judith Gibson-Okunieff

Shoot: Junior Tommy Mobley takes a shot while junior Sam Jefferson and senior Liam Bruno look on.

Boys’ hockey expects turn around Andrew Mannix Boys’ hockey, 3-4-1*, has endured many ups and downs so far this season. After beginning with two wins on the road, the Tigers lost one of their captains, senior Cory Chin, to injury, and have had four straight losses since.

“We lost one of our best players and now we need other kids to step up and fill the role and battle through the adversity if we want to achieve our goal,” said senior Alex Joyce, a captain with Chin and senior Thomas Gresser.

The team’s goal is to qualify for the state tournament, which the Tigers have not done since 1998. However, according to Chin and Joyce, the chance of by

that happening this year looks bright.

“This year seems like we have the highest chance in recent memory,” said Chin.

Unlike other teams, the Tigers do not have superstars.

However, according to Chin, that is not a problem.

“Our coach has talked about how hockey teams don’t just win because of having a few superstars. They win because they get contributions from up and down the lineup. When we were on our winning streak, we got contributions from all players on the team. When we didn’t get those contributions, we lost.”

According to Joyce, chemistry is one of the team’s ad-

vantages. “The team’s strength this year is communication and bonding. It’s a pretty close team this year and everyone is working on the same page.”

Despite the talent the Tigers have, they have had difficulties winning games.

“Some of our weaknesses are that we struggle translating all of our talent into success and sometimes we play nervous in uncomfortable situations,” said Chin.

With 14 games remaining, the Tigers will have to go 8-6 to qualify for the tournament.

Some upcoming key games include playing on the road against Brookline Saturday and at home against Weymouth Wednesday.

Nordic values unity, camaraderie MacKenzie Silvia Nordic ski team is prepared for a competitive season, according to coach Bryan Collier.

Collier is coach with assistant Anna Ford.

The captains are seniors Ned Martenis, Rafi Razzaque, Brewster Taylor, and Kelly Wang.

The team hopes to be recognized for their sportsmanship, according to Collier.

“For many of the student athletes, our goal is for them by

to have fun and experience a supportive team atmosphere,” Ford said.

Taylor predicts a strong season, with everybody working hard to reach their potential.

Collier said, “It has been really fun to have some new faces on the team and bring them into our goofy ski family.”

Razzaque said, “We have historically been known as a family, and the team chemistry this year has not failed to deliver.

“ We’re looking for that strong bond in order to have more experienced skiers teach the newer ones who are less comfortable on their skis.”

Collier said, “I believe that we have a great group of determined student-athletes. We could be in contention to win the Mass Bay-East Division title.”

In their first meet, the boys came in second to Wellesley, and the girls came in third to Dover-Sherborn and Wellesley.

Wrestling establishes season goals Adam Rabinowitz Wrestling, 6-5*, has had a satisfactory start to the season, according to coach John Staulo.

However, the team’s large size has caused problems so far in the season, according to Staulo.

“We have 52 kids on the team, and it is difficult for the kids to find good leaders to follow,” he said.

Despite this problem, Staulo added that there is a core group of wrestlers who are a strong by

influence on the others.

“There are about six or seven kids who did some preseason training, and their hard work is really affecting the other players,” added Staulo.

According to Staulo, senior Scott MacDonald, a captain, and sophomore Brandon Altieri have been doing especially well this season.

Staulo also noted that junior Joseph Arcuri has been having an especially successful season, with a 9-1 record and nine pins.

The team’s goals for this year have remained unchanged from previous seasons, according to Staulo.

“Our goal is to get everybody to have an understanding of hard work,” he said.

Staulo said he does not want the team to focus on the postseason, but would rather focus on the regular season matches.

“We should have more than five wins,” he said.

The team next faces Weymouth Wednesday.

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

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Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

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Contact CHUNGDAHM ReadWrite to learn how our Critical Reading and Writing program can prepare students for the rigors of academic testing.

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Donate paintings, sculpture, poetry, ceramics, photos, crafts, jewelry, music or art of any sort to the cause!

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Contact: Asya Grozdanova agrozdanova96@gmail.com Homeroom: 312 Mr. Kane Office: 319 Or submit art through Instagram: @artforcancernnhs Join NNHS FBLA group on Facebook to get involved

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