The Newtonite Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460
v Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 • Volume 100
‘Friday Night Lights’ spotlights gender disparity
Dance team performs their routine during the halftime of the Friday Night Lights football game Friday, Oct. 1. Maxwell Lu Students donned 12th man t-shirts that read “The Future is Female” in an effort to support gender equity in North athletics as they watched football face off against Wellesley and girls’ volleyball play Melrose in the annual Friday Night Lights games, Friday, Oct. 1. by
This gender equity initiative was spearheaded by special education teacher Nicholas Capodilupo, the football coach, along with the team’s captains, who released a video the morning of Friday Night Lights. The video encouraged students to support North’s female athletes and attend the girls’ volleyball game against
Rachel Kurlandsky
Melrose that was held in conjunction with their game. Players distributed the 12th man t-shirts in support of gender equity that same day during lunch. Many students wearing these shirts packed the Reggie Gym that night, cheering on girls’ volleyball in their 3-1 victory. “The insane attendance and pos-
itive crowd at the girls’ volleyball Friday night game was an amazing testament to the student body showing up for a team that might not traditionally get that type of support,” said English teacher Kate Shaughnessy, who coaches junior varsity girls’ volleyball. Capodilupo said he became inspired to pursue the gender equity issue after students brought forth their concerns. Many of these concerns were raised last school year, when North’s athletic department administered an equity survey for athletes to complete. “Football has long been associated with toxic masculinity,” said Capodilupo. “We wanted to make it known that we are 90-plus men on a field that support our female athletes.” Capodilupo said that he intended to use football’s influence to promote female athletic programs. “We have the biggest team in terms of numbers,” said Capodilupo. “With that comes a sense of responsibility and influence we can use for the greater good.” According to Capodilupo, he first discussed the initiative with his team, who expressed overwhelming support. Although he came up with the idea, Capodilupo said, “The kids were ultimately the driver of this. If
they weren’t willing to participate, I wouldn’t have done it.” Athletic director Mike Jackson added that the players brainstormed ideas of their own. “We as captains felt that we should have something to push for ourselves. It wasn’t the administration,” said senior Nathan Leone, a captain of the football team. Capodilupo and Jackson met with several female coaches to gather their input. According to Capodilupo, “Our first step was bringing in more voices. We had two males talking about gender equity, so we brought in various coaches and worked with them.” P.E. health, and wellness teacher Lauren Baugher, who coaches girls’ softball, said that Jackson reached out to her for her opinions regarding the Friday Night Lights initiative. She praised the football program’s care in addressing some of North’s long-standing issues. “We have a system that’s broken in many facets––not only as a school, but as a community and country,” said Baugher. “I totally applaud the football team for taking on this initiative.” Shaughnessy added that she reacted with enthusiasm when she first heard the proposal. v continued on page 7
COVID-19 protocols plan to foster safe environment Shira Lobron As more students received vaccinations and as infection rates in Newton decreased, a return to normalcy this fall seemed in reach. However, as summer was ending, the surge in new cases created a need to maintain and add COVID-19 restrictions. Continued protocols from last year include universal mask wearing, encouraging students to eat outside, plans for voluntary weekly testing, setting quality standards for the ventilation systems, and conducting contact tracing. North also instituted new protocols for its full in-person start. In order to participate in extracurricular activities, students must submit proof of vaccination or participate in weekly COVID-19 testing, according to the Newton School Community. Vaccinated students are encouraged to test weekly as well when it becomes available. by
“The whole process for submitting proof of vaccination was really easy. We just had to insert a picture of our vaccination card into a Google form,” said sophomore Sophie Mathewson, a student athlete. “I think it was a really smart idea, because it gave me a lot of reassurance that organized sports are safe.” Teachers are now required to be vaccinated by October 15. “I think it is a good idea. I think it puts people at ease, and I am pleased about the rates we have of vaccination at our school,” said history teacher David Bedar. According to nurse Heidi Bochain, surveillance testing is a definitive way of restricting the spread of COVID-19. “Symptoms can kind of mimic other illnesses like a cold or the flu, so testing takes some of the guesswork out of it,” said Bochain. Weekly testing will also be taking place at some point this year, but will
be administered differently from last year. Instead of students and faculty dropping off their COVID-19 tests at the film lecture hall, employees from Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), the company that manages the tests, will be coming around to English classes Monday through Thursday to test those who gave consent to participate in the pool testing. Students will be alerted only if they have a positive test. However, testing has been postponed indefinitely. “CIC is contracted to do testing in many school districts across the state which means that CIC is providing the staffing and the supplies to do the testing. What they have found is that there are significant staffing and supply shortages,” Vice Principal Amy Winston said. In order for testing to begin, more staff would need to be hired by CIC, and elementary and middle schools would need to be fully staffed first.
“Part of it is that the state mandated program requires that the testing be done at the school building and not at home. At home testing is more efficient, but for now, that is what the state is requiring, that the testing be done in the building,” added Winston. Test and Stay is a new program offered to only unvaccinated individuals who are close contacts, but want to remain in school as much as they can. Through Test and Stay, students receive rapid COVID-19 tests each day they are in school for seven days past their exposure. Students can also be tested if they are experiencing symptoms during the day. “We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to participate so that we can increase our participation,” said Winston. “Newton North had one of the highest [test] participation rates in the district last year, but it still was not considered high enough to be
a successful surveillance program. What the public health people decided was that we really needed to try to bring the testing to the students,” said Winston. Students can still receive vaccinations at most pharmacies and parents can still submit consent to test their students. Ventilation quality verifications have been happening since last fall. “The city brought in an outside agency to measure the air flow in every individual space in the building,” said Winston. To ensure proper ventilation between checks, there are carbon dioxide monitoring devices on the roof, so if any wing of the building has too much, an alarm will go off. The main piece of feedback Winston had for students was to wear their mask properly and over their nose, “If kids want to be able to do fun things, they need to do the responsible piece, too,” said Winston.
Teachers weigh effects of virtual education learning loss Grace Beecher As politicians and educators across the country are facing the problem of learning loss after a turbulent semi-virtual school year, North teachers are working to catch students up before moving on with this year’s curriculum. The district is putting their trust in the teachers’ ability to get students caught up and remain optimistic due to encouraging MCAS scores, according to Toby Romer, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education & Special Programs. “We actually had some improvement in English scores and did not see the level of decline in scores in math that other districts saw, so those scores are helpful to put in context the extent of the problem,” said Romer. “I am completely confident that teachers are going to be able to meet students where they are, by
and meet their needs.” However, teachers are still left uncertain about where their starting point for the year is. “What students do or don’t know requires some diagnosing, and teachers have had to figure out ‘oh, wait a minute, when I say Reformation and they look at me with glazed eyes, that’s because they have no idea what I’m talking about,’” said history department head Gregory Drake. Math teacher Selena Giroux said, “Students were not as focused in online school, and they were distracted by other technology and missing those basic algebra functions, so now I feel like I have to reteach what was taught last year but in a new way.” To compensate, the math department is doing pre-assessments to inform math teachers on where students are before starting a new unit, according to Giroux.
Students had less time to develop essential skills last year, according to some teachers. “Writing is a skill that takes practice,” said Giordano. “Getting students comfortable with different types of writing might be our biggest deficit.” Students also said they feel concerned about the repercussions of virtual learning. “With everything that happened with Zoom last year, I feel like we’re behind,” said junior Isabella Tang. “I think that teachers assume we learned a lot last year, and we didn’t, so they’re expecting us to know things and we don’t,” said junior Molly Bailen. Many teachers are looking at WIN-blocks as an opportunity to catch students up one-on-one. “I definitely already see myself saying, ‘Come to my WIN! Come
to my WIN!’ to help with the gaps in specific students so that they feel that they have some extra support,” said Giroux.
Drake added, “WIN-block does give me a chance to sit down with students and really delve deeply into topics that they’re curious about.”
Check inside for this year’s club listings!
2 v The Newtonite, Newton North
opinion
Monday, Oct. 18, 2021
Student voice must be heard in decision-making processes
Education has undergone rapid changes due to COVID-19 and virtual learning. Many of these changes uncovered inequities that are affecting students in the North community. With North transitioning back to full in-person learning, administrators and teachers have begun to investigate these inequities, for example, in traditional grading practices used at North.
editorial As the school evaluates how to address challenges many students face, it is important that students are involved in the decision-making process. The tendency of the administration to shut out students’ voices and exclude them from decision-making has been a recurring issue throughout the implementation of the new schedule and other significant policy shifts over the past few years. Even when students are involved, it’s usually one or two representatives who are unable to speak for the entire student body. One example of this is the rollout of WIN-block. Its announcement at the beginning of the school year caused confusion and frustration among North’s student body. Many complained WIN-block forced them to stay in school longer. Last spring, The Newtonite editorialized about the planning for the block, arguing that it “would significantly decrease students’ freedom to make choices about the use of their time.” During the first two weeks of school, communication from the administration regarding WINblock seemed like they were on the defensive. The administration struggled to convince students that WIN-block was good for them while students still did not truly understand its purpose. Slides such as “You Win” and “Everyone Wins” were present throughout the administration’s WIN-block introduction video. The administration’s tone was condescending and alienating. Without the administration providing much reasoning or requesting any input, who can blame students for their gut reaction? After all, they were forced to accept a shift from optional to mandated study blocks. Because
students were largely excluded from the decision-making process, they were wary of a new change which they perceived as restrictive and sudden. If a broad range of students had been involved in the WINblock decision, it would have led to increased transparency and established a better understanding of the reasoning behind the policy shift. Additionally, and maybe more importantly, the administration would have avoided tension with students by creating policies that they were comfortable with and possibly even excited about. It is obviously unrealistic that students should be making all their own decisions. However, transparency in the decision-making process for any school policy shifts is crucial, even if the change would be viewed negatively by students. The gender equity focus of this past Friday Night Lights was a step in the right direction. It exemplified the impact student input and voice can have on school initiatives. Student athletes were surveyed last year and involved throughout the process leading up to the games. While the idea began with coaches and athletics administrators, it became a student-run initiative and an opportunity for female athletes to voice real concerns. The largely positive reception of the football team’s statement is due to this inclusion of student voice. The school has some systems in place already to promote student voices, such as the SFA and Leadership in a Diverse Society. These systems should be utilized as much as possible when making decisions for the school and the community. Additionally, the administration should work to receive feedback from a wider range of students across various grades, curriculum levels, and backgrounds. This could take the form of student panels, surveys, or simply asking around in different classes. In the future, whether it be grading equity or unforeseen challenges, student inclusion should be a priority. In this way, students will know that their voices were heard.
Rachel Kurlandsky Senior Subomi Soyoye drops back in coverage against Wellesley during the annual Friday Night Lights football game, Friday, Oct. 1.
Vaccine mandates at North would threaten equitable education experience for students Zach Kwon Due to the uptick of COVID-19 cases in spite of an available vaccine, the question of should universal vaccine mandates by the federal government be established has been running its course for months. by
column One of the most gripping social issues of 2021, the debate between whether the government should value public health or personal liberty has had Americans locked in a fierce, unfaltering battle for almost a year. Here at North, students should do their best to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but not at the expense of the potential consequences of mandates. Newton should not make vaccines mandatory for all students and staff. To be clear, I am fully vaccinated.
The Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the news source of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460. Editors-in-chief — Griffin Bond, Brooks Demissie Managing editors — David Feng, Maxwell Lu, Kathy Mitchell Arts editors — Emma Burns, Sophia Fredberg, Arjun Shatkin News editors — Grace Beecher, Anika Bhawalkar, Emma Brignall, Shira Lobron, Yahel Tamir, Jacob Zalis, Andy Zhou Sports editors — James Dun Rappaport, Anderson
Free, Mark Hemment Culture editors — Antonio Batista-Ciani, Angela Nie, Zach Kwon Graphics Editors — Dani Roach, Purusha Shirvani Business/advertisements — James Dun Rappaport, Zach Kwon Photo staff — Adam Dinjian, Bridget Gilmartin, Hannah Ireland, Rachel Kurlandsky Advisers — Tom Fabian, Derek Knapp
The Newtonite staff does all its reporting and photography to post content daily to its website, thenewtonite. com. Sign up for The Newtonite’s monthly email newsletter on its website. In addition to the club day special, The Newtonite publishes a spring special, a graduation special, a first day of school special, and a midyear special. To place an advertisement in the online or print version of The Newtonite or to contact us by phone, please call 617-559-6273. Readers can also reach us at thenewtonite@gmail.com.
Letters The Newtonite serves as a designated forum for student expression. Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the thenewtonite@gmail.com. The Newtonite reserves the right to edit all letters, which must have the writer’s name and a student’s class and homeroom.
My family is fully vaccinated. I hold pride in the high vaccination rates of Newton, and how we consistently outperform not just the country, but the rest of the state. However, I would be remiss if I were to not mention my belief in the restriction of government power; it is not the place of government to mandate COVID-19 vaccination, regardless of the effectiveness and safety of it. Although asking a populace to get vaccinated is a reasonable, sound request, the implications of mandating vaccination, specifically at North, is a legal and moral rabbithole that could invite a nightmare of opposition and ethical dilemmas. People of certain occupations should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as mandated by the federal government, such as those in the military, healthcare and frontline workers. Certain private institutions should be allowed to enforce vaccine mandates as well, such as private schools and small businesses. However, mandates for North could invite a backlash that the administration is currently not equipped to handle, and is morally unethical. While occupations like first responders or medical workers are freely chosen, public schools for students generally are not, and for that reason any mandate could be considered immoral. With the exception of around half of the senior class, who are over 18 and legally adults, nearly all of North’s students are minors. For a minor to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, they need the approval of a parent or guardian. But that leaves some students, whose parents or guardians disapprove of vaccines, not allowed in school despite being fully willing to be vaccinated. If a parent or guardian denies consent for a vaccine, then their student would not be able to attend school for a factor
outside of their control. To bar students from North, a free, high-quality school, on the basis of vaccination could be seen as unethical. Students who are eligible for a vaccine but choose not to receive one are still, at the very least, entitled to a good education. Alternative forms of education—like homeschooling or private schools—are expensive options that some families don’t have money for. Public schools are the only free form of education available to most Americans. North is an example of that, being one of the top public schools in Massachusetts. The last thing North needs is the controversy that could follow the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, especially in the midst of funding running low, losing staff due to budget cuts, and acts of hate. North could also be potentially meddling with medical and religious freedoms as well. Those with medical restrictions which disallow them from getting vaccinated, and vaccine mandates could violate the religious beliefs of some students. Federal vaccine mandates should not be enforced, due to it being an overreach of government power—and vaccine mandates at North should not either. While I am pro-vaccination, and vaccines are the most effective way to eliminate COVID 19 spread, the possible implications of vaccine mandates at North could invite unwanted consequences for North’s administration. The potential retaliation from vaccine mandates could outweigh the potential consequences of having no vaccine mandates at all, especially in a city with around a 78% vaccination rate. Vaccination is important, but we must be wary of the potential consequences that could come when acting on good intentions.
clubs
Monday, Oct. 18, 2021
Newton North, The Newtonite v 3
v Club Listings 2021-2022 v
Archery Club
What: Students learn archery and have a space to practice it. When: Time to be determined, 325 if indoors, ouside the SOA if outdoors. Goal: “To facilitate the love of the sport. A lot of students have described it as a destresser, because you get to shoot on the range. It is a nice relaxing and meditative activity,” said history teacher Jamie Bal. Officers: Seniors Cher Li and Nancy Zhang. Adviser: Bal. Contact: nnhsarchery@gmail.com —Anika Bhawalkar
Asian-American Culture Club
What: Students learn more about Asian culture through various activities and events while working with others to create a safe environment for all. When: Every or every other Tiger block, location to be determined. Goal: “To strengthen our relationship with other clubs such as BLAC and HLU in order to build a community with the clubs that celebrate people of color,” said junior Cathy Zhao, an officer. Officers: Zhao and seniors Natalie Taw and Rose Giroux. Advisers: English teachers Charlene Beh and Michele Leong. Contact: asiancultureclubnnhs9@gmail.com —Esha Bhawalkar
Bike Club
What: Students bike to different destinations where they eat and relax. When: On weekends at Tiger Drive. Goal: “To have fun, meet new people, and bike to new places,” said junior Richard Nong. Officers: Nong and junior Luke Andrews. Adviser: Math teacher Adam Peloquin. Contact: lcandrews04@gmail.com —Grace Beecher
Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC)
What: Students of color and their allies come together to have honest conversations about race. When: Tiger block in the Film Lecture Hall. Goal: “To create a safe space that all Black students should know exists in the school that they can always come to and be celebrated and be acknowledged,” said senior Tiana Lugo, an officer. Officers: Lugo and senior Ashlynn Saint-Preux. Adviser: English teacher Pamela Pistiner. Contact: pistinerp@newton.k12.ma.us —Savannah Bond
Body Postitivity Club
What: Students have a safe space to talk about body positivity and discuss how different aspects of life impact the way we view ourselves. When: Fridays after school in A207. Goal: “To make students of all races and genders feel safe and comfortable and share with others how they can think more positively about their bodies,” said seniors Ella Duchnowska and Anna Moughan. Officers: Duchnowska and Moughan. Adviser: PE, health, and wellness teacher Jenna Lashley. Contact: nnhsbodypositivityclub@gmail.com —Anika Bhawalkar
Christian Club
What: Students explore and deepen their understanding of Christian faith. When: Thursday WIN-block in 121. Goal: “To help young Christians find relevance in Christianity in the 21st century,” said senior Joshua Tackie, an officer. Officers: Tackie and senior Ashley Tan. Adviser: Design teacher Sue Brooks. Contact: nnhschristianclub@gmail.com —Angela Nie
Classics Club
What: Students learn about Latin, the ancient world, and have the opportunity to compete on quizzes. When: To be determined Goal: “To give people a greater appreciation of the Roman world,” said junior Emma Brignall, an officer. Officers: Brignall, junior Maggie Quintero, and sophomore Brontë Gow. Adviser: Latin teacher Timothy Lesinski. Contact: emmabrignall@icloud.com —Angela Nie
Class of 2022
What: Students are elected to Student Council to fundraise for the class and plan community building events. When: Before school Tuesdays in 323 or 423. Goal: “To fundraise as much as we can in order to host fun events for the class,” said senior Peter Dukakis, a vice president. Officers: Dukakis and seniors Inez Baxter, Elis Kristo, Ethan Situ, and Angel Wan. Advisers: Special education teacher Melynda Meszko-Cameron and history teacher Caitlin O’Rourke. Contact: staussm@newton.k12.ma.us —Zoe Finamore
Class of 2023
What: Students fundraise for prom through fun interactive class activities, and build a stronger community for juniors. When: To be determined. Goal: “To build up our community and sense of unity among our class and we are going to have a lot of class body activities,” said junior Cathy Zhao, a vice president. Officers: Zhao and juniors Luke Andrews, Aidan Kizito, Clara Lake, and Maria Sofranova. Advisers: Beals House Dean Scott Heslin and TV Media arts teacher Amanda Mazzola. Contact: heslins@newton.k12.ma.us —David Feng
Class of 2024
What: Students meet and discuss different fundraisers and events for the grade based on student input. When: Wednesdays during second lunch in the Adams’ House office. Goal: “To raise $2,500 this year and to have a
sophomore dance,” said sophomore ZZ Sayeed, the President. Officers: Sayeed and sophomores Jack Eagan, Jeffrey Lamb, Ruby Metcalf, Jun Moon, and Maya Sinay. Advisers: Librarian Erin Dalbec and English teacher Brian Reardon. Contact: roulhack@newton.k12.ma.us. —Brooks Demissie
Climate Collective
What: Students discuss and organize events regarding climate related issues. When: Tiger block in 322. Goal: “To be able to have a more sustainable future for our generation,” said senior Natalia Sawicka, an officer. Officers: Sawicka and junior Lucy Waldorf. Adviser: History teacher Jennifer Devlin. Contact: nnhsclimatecollective@gmail.com —Jacob Zalis
Cooking Club
What: Students come together to cook and learn about different kinds of food. When: Second Tiger block of the month. Goal: “To educate ourselves on cooking while making friends,” said junior Roni Horn, an officer. Officers: Horn and junior Katrina Weyhrauch. Adviser: Spanish teacher Shanice Rojas. Contact: nnhs-cooking-club-UG@newton.k12. ma.us —Sophia Fredberg
Creative Writing Club
What: Students respond to writing prompts and work on long-term projects. When: Tiger block in 356. Goal: “To give people a free space in which they can write without restrictions,” said junior Emma Brignall. Officers: Brignall and freshman Mariah Moehl. Adviser: English teacher Jenni Morreale. Contact: emmabrignall@icloud.com —Grace Beecher
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Club
What: Students play Dungeons and Dragons with other interested peers. When: Fridays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in 312. Goal: “To provide a space where anyone can either learn or play Dungeons and Dragons,” said sophomore Adam Kleber, an officer. Officers: Kleber and sophomore Rohan Peters. Adviser: History teacher Jamie Bal. Contact: 201124051@newton.k12.ma.us —Yahel Tamir
Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
What: Students practice critical and creative thinking in subjects such as business, law, and marketing by preparing for competitions hosted by the DECA
organization. When: Every other Tiger block in 102. Goal: “To help students reach their goals and advance in competitions. We also hope to prepare our students for a future in business,” said junior Cathy Zhou, the fundraising leader. Officers: Senior Ian Cotter and junior Haruka Nabeshima. Adviser: Business teacher Andrew Spear. Contact: newtonnorthhs.deca@gmail.com —Shira Lobron
Digital Bridges
What: Students raise money to provide technology to underprivileged schools. When: To be determined. Goal: “To raise money and help out underprivileged communities,” said senior Gavin Stein, an officer. Officers: Stein and seniors Jehan Antia and Eli Blumkin. Adviser: Special education teacher Brian Rooney. Contact: jehanantia@gmail.com —Jacob Zalis
Dreamfar
What: Students train in an inclusive running community with the goal of eventually completing a marathon. When: After school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in 152. Goal: “To start by running 1 mile in the fall and train up to running a marathon in May,” according to North’s club registry. Advisers: Math teacher Ethan Peritz and special education teacher Amy McMahon. Contact: mcmahona@newton.k12.ma.us —David Feng
E-Commerce Club
What: Students manage merchandise sales and apparel in the Newton North store. When: Tiger block in 103. Goal: “To boost the profit from Newton North’s store and make North less reliant on fundraisers,” said junior David Estabil, an officer. Officers: Estabil and junior Alessandro Monti-Guarnieri. Adviser: Business teacher Andrew Spear. Contact: ecommerce.nnhs@gmail.com —Maxwell Lu
Economic and Business Speakers Club
What: Students listen to economic and business professionals speak on the benefits, challenges, and logistics of their professions. When: One or two times per month on Zoom. Goal: “To teach and inform students about different economic and business principles and applications,” said senior Mark Eidus, an officer. Officers: Eidus and senior Benjamin Steinberg. Adviser: Business teacher Andrew Spear. Contact: econandbizclub@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
Business Club
What: Students explore the ethics of business, listen to guest speakers from different parts of industry, and learn about finance, the process of real estate, and budget management. When: Tiger block in 319. Goal: “To provide high schoolers with the knowledge to get started with money-making but in a safe and low-risk way,” said business teacher Robert Kane, the adviser. Officers: To be determined. Adviser: Kane. Contact: nnhsbizclub@gmail.com — Dea Pance
Chess Club
What: Students of all levels practice their chess skills through games and puzzles and compete in tournaments. When: To be determined. Goal: “To have fun playing chess, and to learn and improve our chess game,” said math teacher Colleen Crowly, the adviser. Officers: Seniors Mark Eidus and Sasha Sansiveri. Adviser: Crowly. Contact: crowlyc@newton.k12.ma.us —Aaron Spetter-Goldstein
Rachel Kurlandsky Seniors Maddie Fabry, Fiona Flint, and Danielle Sinay promote their club, One Night Out, to prospective members outside the cafeteria during lunch Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Monday, Oct. 18, 2021
4 v The Newtonite, Newton North
Club Day Directory
2021
We strive to have a club where everyone can get involved and work on an issue they are passionate about,” according to North’s club’s registry. Officers: Senior Rachel Kurlandsky and junior Amelia Kane. Adviser: Art teacher Eileen Gagarin. Contact: newtonnorthdems@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
When: Tiger block in 468. Goal: “To spread love in the Newton North community,” said junior Zoe Kritzer, an officer. Officers: Kritzer and junior Asha Bohnert. Adviser: Math teacher Tracey Stewart. Contact: vibing.kind@gmail.com —Savannah Bond
Goal: “To have fun and share music,” said senior Tal Pemstein, an officer. Officers: Greenwold, Pemstein, and senior Natalia Sawicka. Adviser: Music director Todd Young. Contact: melodirectors@gmail.com —Arjun Shatkin
History Team
Knitting and Crocheting Club
What: Students learn and practice knitting and crocheting in an engaging, low pressure environment. When: Thursday WIN-block in 272. Goal: “To learn a new skill, whether that is knitting or crocheting,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Freshmen Sana Takamatsu and Clara Munumel Medina. Adviser: English teacher Liana Kish. Contact: 201901501@newton.k12.ma.us —Griffin Bond
Mock Trial
What: Students learn about history and compete in history competitions. When: Wednesdays after school in 326. Goal: “To have a great time and win competitions,” said senior Tamara Crawford, an officer. Officers: Crawford and juniors Griffin Hoeschele and Yahel Tamir. Adviser: History department head Gregory Drake. Contact: historyteamnnhs@gmail.com —David Feng
Hispanos y Latinos Unidos (HLU)
Rachel Kurlandsky Senior Talia Manchester, an officer in the Women in Business club, speaks with an interested student outside the cafeteria during lunch Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Economic Challenge Club
What: Students learn about, contemplate, and discuss various economic topics. When: Every other Tiger block in 102. Goal: “To introduce economics as a subject to people in the lower grade levels,” said junior Luca Salerno-Uriarte, an officer. Officers: Salerno-Uriarte and junior Gabriel Lyons. Adviser: Business teacher Andrew Spear. Contact: salernouriartel@gmail.com —Jacob Zalis
Engineering Club
What: Students will work on many projects, including building catapults. When: Monday after school, Tiger block, and Thursday WIN-block in 139. Goal: “To get a hands-on experience in engineering and to practice using creativity to think about how we engineer things,” said sophomore Davis Rattanavijai. Officer: Rattanavijai. Adviser: Science teacher Sumit Majumder. Contact: 201124854@newton.k12.ma.us —Grace Beecher
Envirothon
What: Students study environmental science and prepare for ecologically-based competitions. When: Time to be determined, in 415. Goal: “To recruit new members, create a collaborative environment, and gain new knowledge about the world around us,” said senior Shoshi Tanowitz, an officer. Officers: Tanowitz and senior Aidan Wright. Adviser: Science teacher Christopher Hillenmeyer. Contact: nnhsenvirothon@gmail.com —Sophie Matthewson
Fashion Club
What: Students explore fashion, design clothing, and engage in discussion about fast fashion. When: To be determined. Goal: “To design your own clothing while educating our school on how to be more sustainable when shopping,” said junior Cathy Zhao, an officer. Officers: Zhao and juniors Julia Ma and Christina Schmidt-Hong. Adviser: Art teacher Eileen Gagarin. Contact: nnhsfashion@gmail.com —Maxwell Lu
Fencing Club
What: Students participate in and learn about fencing. When: Every other Thursday after school, location to be determined. Goal: “To bring awareness to the sport and debunk misinformation,” said senior Stacey Low, an officer.
Officers: Low and senior Grace Li. Adviser: French teacher Sarah Bilodeau. Contact: nnhsfencing2.0@gmail.com —Sophia Fredberg
Figure Skating Club
What: Students practice ice skating and compete in competitions as a group. When: Students practice on their own time. Competition dates are unconfirmed. Goal: “To provide an opportunity for high school skaters to compete in a team environment,” said senior Yurika Tarui, an officer. Officer: Tarui. Adviser: Vice Principal Amy Winston. Contact: bostonregionalfsc@gmail.com —Sophia Fredberg
French Club
What: Students celebrate French customs through various media and cuisine. Students can also help instruct French at the Senior Center. When: Thursday WIN-block in 264. Goal: “To improve our French-speaking and listening skills, learn more about the French culture, and hopefully being able to teach seniors at the Senior Center the language,” said senior Emily Wang, an officer. Officer: Wang. Adviser: French teacher Alieu Jobe. Contact: emilywang2482@gmail.com —Dea Pance
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
What: Students promote an LGBTQ+ inclusive school environment. When: To be determined. Goal: “To be more proactive, as well as making the school a safe place for LGBTQ+ students, and the community at large,” said senior Jay SapersSydney, an officer. Officers: Sapers-Sydney, junior Nat Martin, and sophomore Isabella Steenstrup. Adviser: Special education teacher Lisa Goldthwaite. Contact: newtonnorthhsgsa@gmail.com, tommy.p.richmond74@gmail.com —Henri Medernach
Girls Achieving Leadership through Service (GALS)
What: Students read articles, watch videos, and hold discussions and fundraisers about issues regarding feminine-presenting people. When: Tiger block in 463. Goal: “To expand our community outreach,” said senior Talia Manchester, an officer. Officers: Manchester, and seniors Emily Craven and Maddie Fabry. Adviser: Math teacher Colleen Crowley. Contact: nnhsgals@gmail.com
—Emma Brignall
Girls’ Coding Club
What: Students learn how to code and program. When: To be determined. Goal: “To show that everyone can code and participate in STEM,” said senior Cher Li, an officer. Officer: Li. Adviser: Science teacher David Bennett. Contact: cherli3c33@gmail.com —Emma Brignall
Global Buddies
What: ELL students from North and South form bonds while participating in various fun activities. When: Monthly during Thursday WIN-block in 409. Goal: “Our goals this year are to continue to create friendships between students and to possibly do a fundraiser,” said senior Francesca Tapper, the officer. Officer: Tapper. Adviser: ELL teacher Amy Worth. Contact: globalbuddies60@gmail.com —Shira Lobron
Green Society
What: Students help spread awareness of environmental issues through workshops and cleanup projects. When: To be determined. Goal: “To further advance environmental goals in our school and around Newton,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Senior Esther Zhang and junior Cathy Zhao. Adviser: World language teacher Kathyrn Teissier Du Cros. Contact: nnhsgreensociety@gmail.com —Brooks Demissie
Helping Hands
What: Students facilitate a safe environment for introverted kids to play games, eat food, and hang out. When: Tiger block in 452. Goal: “To make a place where shyer kids feel more comfortable interacting with each other,” said senior Anna Moughan, an officer. Officers: Moughan and senior Priscilla Park. Adviser: Science teacher Srikanth Sangeet. Contact: helpinghandsclub333@gmail.com —Shira Lobron
High School Democrats
What: Students engage in discussion and listen to speakers on topics regarding the Democratic Party. When: Tiger block in 129. Goal: “To get students engaged in democratic values and to be excited about democratic politics.
What: Students will plan a gallery honoring the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and organize an all-day HLU assembly to raise awareness about Latinx identity. When: Fridays after school in 253. Goal: “To create a supportive space to talk about Latinidad and plan days like HLU day,” said senior Olivia Helfrich-Tapia, an officer. Officers: Helfrich-Tapia and senior Peter Dukakis. Adviser: Spanish teacher Ana Tellado. Contact: hispanosylatinosunidos@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
K-Pop Club
Improv Club
LigerBots
What: Students participate in improv games and improve their skills to prepare for performances. When: Tiger block and Thursday 4 to 5 p.m. in the Little Theater. Goal: “To create a casual and fun space where anybody feels comfortable to pop in and watch or participate in exciting improv games and improve their skills as improvisers and comedians,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Senior Sam Melville and junior Ella Reid. Adviser: Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. Contact: ella.reid@approachgroup.com —Griffin Bond
International Culture Group
What: Students discuss international events and multicultural happenings from around the world. When: Tiger block in 312. Goal: “To bring awareness to international affairs, problems, and cultures, focusing on perspectives from outside of the U.S,” said senior Stacey Low, an officer. Officers: Low and senior Angelina Kekhia. Adviser: History teacher David Bedar. Contact: staceylow5@gmail.com and angelina. kekhia@gmail.com —Emma Burns
Jewish Student Union (JSU)
What: Students will have respectful conversations and connect with other members of the Jewish community. When: Tiger block, location to be determined. Goal: “To help get rid of Anti-Semetic actions at North, and to spread happiness among the Jewish community,” said senior Kaela Heinstein, an officer. Officers: Heinstein and senior Almog Ankori. Adviser: Art teacher Eileen Gagarin. Contact: Ankori, Heinstein, or Gagarin’s school emails. —Anderson Free
Key Club
What: Students engage in volunteer opportunities. When: Thursdays at 4 p.m. in 430. Goal: “To run several community service projects in Newton and Boston,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Jaemoon Lee and Angel Wan. Adviser: Math teacher Caroline Vuilleumier. Contact: 200920294@newton.k12.ma.us —David Feng
Kindness Club
What: Students participate in acts of community service inside and outside of North.
What: Students dance, perform, and expand the K-Pop community at North. When: To be determined. Goal: “To have fun, meet new people, and grow the club even more,” said junior Christina SchmidtHong, an officer. Officers: Schmidt-Hong, senior Helen Gu, and junior Meghan Taylor. Adviser: Math teacher Derek Hogan. Contact: 201227697@newton.k12.ma.us —Anderson Free What: Students work together to build robots while engaging in marketing, photography, and public speaking. When: Mondays 6:30 to 9 p.m. at North in 148 and Thursdays 6:30 to 9 p.m. at South in 9170. Goal: “To build a good robot, put it through competition, and teach students a lot of technical skills,” said junior Kavya Ajaykumar, an officer. Officers: Ajaykumar and junior Theresa Franklin. Adviser: Administrative technology specialist Phil Golando. Contact: kavya_ajaykumar@ligerbots.com — Angela Nie
Magic: the Gathering Club
What: Students learn and play the card game Magic: The Gathering. When: Tiger block in 323. Goal: “To host various events and drafts,” said Charles Li, an officer. Officers: Li and senior Zak Glick-Macalalad. Adviser: History teacher Caitlyn O’ Rourke. Contact: 200919775@newton.k12.ma.us —Arjun Shatkin
Manga and Anime Club
What: Students get together and watch anime, play games, build community, and compare readings to get recommendations. When: To be determined. Goal: “To get the club up and running, and possibly attend the Anime Boston Convention,” said English teacher Michael Schlegelmilch, the adviser. Officers: Seniors Aliyah Ferreira, Anthony Lee, Katie Lowe, and Kevin Castillo. Adviser: English teacher Michael Schlegelmilch. Contact: schlegelmilchm@newton.k12.ma.us —Dea Pance
Math Team
What: Students advance their abilities in math and compete in local and state competitions. When: Wednesday before school and Thursday after school in 319. Goal: “To prepare for and perform in math team competitions where they will represent Newton North,” said math department head Jennifer Letourneau. Officers: Seniors Jason Jiang and Eric Yu. Adviser: Math teacher Amy Donovan. Contact: hobbse@newton.k12.ma.us —Aaron Spetter-Goldstein
Melocotones
What: Students rehearse and perform a capella music for the Newton community. When: Sunday 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at senior Molly Greenwold’s house.
What: Students will be provided with a fictional court case. The team collaborates, makes arguments and discusses case theories. When: Wednesdays in 356 and Fridays and Sundays on Zoom. Goal: “To do well in our tournaments and advance in the leagues and have students advance in public speaking, friendship, and law information,” said junior Cathy Zhao, an officer. Officers: Zhao, senior Emily Wang, and junior Shyun Moon. Adviser: Latin teacher Timothy Lesinski. Contact: mocktrialnnhs@gmail.com —Surya Thavanati
Model UN
What: Students participate in a mock United Nations by representing countries and discussing world issues. When: Tuesdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in A111. Goal: “To get everyone familiar with the parliamentary procedure and prepare members for participation in college conferences,” said junior Shyun Moon, an officer. Officers: Moon, senior Frank Fang, and junior Asha Bohnert. Adviser: Teaching assistant Brendan Moran. Contact: nnhsmun@gmail.com —Emma Brignall
Music in the Community
What: Students play music at various community events around the city. When: Depends on gig schedule. Goal: “To provide free music for at least 10 Newton civic events,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Senior Williams Goldsmith and sophomore Surya Gopal. Adviser: Music teacher Richard Labedz. Contact: goldsmith.will@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Muslim Student Association
What: Students raise awareness about Islam and have a space where they can practice Friday prayers. When: Tiger block in 364. Goal: “To build a small community,” said freshman Aly Tahoun. Officers: Tahoun, and sophomore Mariam Stewart. Adviser: English teacher Michael Fieleke. Contact: alyttahoun@gmail.com —Emma Brignall
Newton North, The Newtonite v 5
2022 When: To be determined. Goal: “To continue involving students in civic engagement by working on projects,” said senior Olivia Helfrich-Tapia, an officer. Officers: Helfrich-Tapia, seniors Rachel AlpertWisnia and Olivia Pozen, and juniors Hannah Ireland and Haruka Nabeshima. Advisers: Center for Civic Engagement faculty Terry Yoffie and Claudia Wu. Contact: nextgenvoices@gmail.com —Manon Catlin
NNHS Producers
What: Students learn about music and collaborate with each other. When: Tiger block in 419. Goal: “To learn, practice, and collaborate with fellow music producers. We will also hold competitions such as beat battles or sample flips from time to time, but our main goal is to host a platform for learning and collaboration,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Max Goldman and Niall SlackWatkins. Adviser: Music department head Todd Young. Contact: maxalex357@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
NNHS Tutoring Organization
What: Students will tutor elementary and middle school kids from various school districts in Massachusetts. When: To be determined. Goal: “To tutor students, partner with schools and teach them different subjects,” said junior Yahel Tamir, an officer. Officers: Tamir and junior Maxwell Lu. Adviser: Guidance counselor Brendan Amedio. Contact: nnhstutoring@gmail.com —David Feng
NNHSHacks Club
What: Students partake in events organized by the club to expand interest and skills in computer programming. When: First Hackathon Nov. 13 and 14. Goal: “To help high school students prepare for the future while encouraging exploration in computer programming as the tech industry expands,” said junior Jacob Chen, an officer. Officers: Chen, seniors Frank Fang and Rebecca Yao, and junior Jason Chan. Adviser: Math teacher Kanchan Kant. Contact: jacob@nnhshacks.tech —Zach Kwon
Northern Lights A Capella
What: Students will connect and sing a capella in an inclusive environment. When: Sunday nights at 7 p.m. at a member’s house or on Zoom.
Goal: “To make a capella fun and inclusive,” said senior Naomi Wolfe, an officer. Officers: Wolfe and seniors Tyler Bean and Luka Ross. Adviser: Music teacher Richard Labedz. Contact: northernlightsnnhs@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Old Grannies
What: Students learn how to knit and sew in a friendly enviroment. When: Wednesday WIN-block in 129. Goal: “To teach the world to sew and knit,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Freshmen Hedaya Person-Mighty and Ava Shufelt. Adviser: Arts teacher Eileen Gagarin. Contact: 202104897@newton.k12.ma.us —Griffin Bond
One Night Out
What: Students help care for kids in The Boston Ability Center. When: The first Saturday and Sunday of each month at The Boston Ability Center. Goal: “To provide a night of care and activity for kids at The Boston Ability Center. We also want to help high school students gain experience working with children,” according to Noth’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Maddie Fabry, Fiona Flint, and Olivia Helfrich-Tapia. Adviser: Special education teacher Brian Rooney. Contact: oliviaht04@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Politics Club
What: Students contact and volunteer for local politicians, work with activism clubs, and have joint club meetings. When: Tiger block in 312. Goal: “To teach about large current events and having unbiased safe debates and discussions about them,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Juniors Erik Shin and Max Zuckernik. Adviser: History teacher David Bedar. Contact: politics.nnhs@gmail.com —Brooks Demissie
Programming Club
What: Students learn to program games, apps, websites, and more. When: Mondays after school in 468. Goal: “To create a safe and enthusiastic community of coders who work together to solve challenging problems,” said sophomore Betina Kreiman, an officer. Officers: Kreiman, junior Angela Bai, and sophomore Jennifer Li. Adviser: Math teacher Adam Peloquin. Contact: betina1620@gmail.com —Zach Kwon
Newton North Stage Crew
What: Students work backstage to create props, design costumes, and regulate lighting and sound during shows. When: Everyday after school in 185. Goal: “To design, do all the prep and run the tech during the shows for Theatre Ink,” said senior Lily Renneker, an officer. Officers: Renneker, and seniors Daniel Borhegyi and Aidan Vahey. Adviser: Performing arts teacher Michael Barrington-Haber. Contact: barringtonm@newton.k12.ma.us —Shira Lobron
Newton Socialist Club
What: Students use the club as a platform to express left-wing opinions. When: Wednesdays at 2:35 p.m. in 314. Goal: “To give left-wing students a voice to facilitate left-wing political organizing,” said senior Max Zatlin, an officer. Officers: Zatlin and senior Ava Harrington. Adviser: History teacher John Fitzgerald. Contact: nnhssocialsit@gmail.com —David Feng
Next Generation Voices
What: Students learn about their rights and duties as citizens and how to engage in their communities.
Rachel Kurlandsky
Students grab free lollipops while browsing club tables outside the cafeteria during lunch, Tuesday, Oct. 7.
clubs
6 v The Newtonite, Newton North
Red Cross Club
What: Students work with the Red Cross Association and perform community service. When: Every other Tiger block in 270. Goal: “To support the Red Cross Association by hosting food drives, writing holiday cards to veterans, and other activities,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Audrey Rougeaux and Gloria Shepherd. Adviser: Math teacher Allegra Atkinson. Contact: audrougeaux1@gmail.com or g.shep1024@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Resell Club
What: Students learn to make money through reselling merchandise such as clothing and shoes. When: Mondays in 319. Goal: “To teach students how to make money and learn business skills through buying items such as shoes, clothes, and cards and selling them,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Senior JP Norton and juniors Keegan Kelley, Nathan Seto, and Gabe Xu. Adviser: Business teacher Robert Kane. Contact: keegan.kelley.391@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Science Team
What: Students participate in a variety of science competitions suited to their interests. When: Fridays after school in 352. Goal: “To get people interested in sciencerelated topics, get them excited about discussing science, and have fun,” said senior Steven Gao, the club president. Officers: Gao and junior Asha Bohnert, the vice president. Adviser: Chemistry teacher Sangeet Srikanth. Contact: stevenruidigao@gmail.com —Emma Burns
South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) What: Students celebrate and discuss South Asian culture. When: To be determined. Goal: “To support every South Asian student in school and our community and also to spread more awareness about our culture,” said math teacher Kanchan Kant, the adviser. Officer: Senior Rose Ishaq. Adviser: Kant. Contact: kantk@newton.k12.ma.us —Jacob Zalis
Speech and Debate Team
What: Students work together to build various remote control flying models such as planes, drones, and helicopters. When: Tiger block in 148. Goal: “To build and fly model aircraft in a fun, supportive, and collaborative environment,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Nick Strymish and Cole Abbott. Adviser: Science teacher Kevin Brosnan. Contact: nstrymish@gmail.com —Brooks Demissie
What: Students learn public speaking skills and prepare for debate tournaments throughout the school year. When: Tiger block and Thursdays after school in 327. Goal: “To create a positive environment for all kinds of people to work on their writing, researching, and speaking skills,” said senior Ava Harrington, an officer. Officers: Harrington, senior Sarah O’Reilly, and junior Yahel Tamir. Adviser: History teacher Kathryn Codd. Contact: debate.newtonnorth@gmail.com —Kathryn Fine
Rock Climbing Club
Spikeball Club
RC Club
What: Students learn and practice rock climbing techniques such as top-roping and bouldering. When: The Central Rock Gym on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. Goal: “To introduce more people who haven’t rock climbed before into the rock climbing community,” said junior Justin Yang, an officer. Officers: Yang and junior Naveh Gershon. Adviser: Math teacher Vu Ha. Contact: justinjiyang@gmail.com —Jacob Zalis
Rocketry Club
What: Students compete in a nationwide competition called The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC), where they work in a competitive environment to engineer a successful rocket prototype. When: Tiger block and Thursdays before school in 148. Goal: “To use our videography and editing skills to produce an entry for TARC,” said sophomore Isabel Salgado, an officer. Officers: Salgado and sophomore Zachary Galdston. Adviser: Science teacher Kevin Brosnan. Contact: nnhsrocketry@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
Sailing Team
What: Students learn to sail in a supportive environment. When: To be determined. Goal: “To be able to learn in a good environment that is not super competitive, but that still pushes you,” said senior Alex Olhava, an officer. Officers: Olhava and senior Aviva Sachs. Adviser: French teacher Sarah Bilodeau. Contact: alex.olhava@gmail.com —David Feng
Science Discussion Club
What: Students discuss and debate various scientific topics. When: Tiger block in 443. Goal: “To aid students in garnering a better understanding of the current events in the scientific world, and improving their research and debate skills with various topics,” said senior Jonah Fein, an officer. Officers: Fein, and seniors Dante Sanchez, Tae-Sung Smith, and Rhys Thomas. Adviser: Science teacher Paul Martenis. Contact: martenisp@newton.k12.ma.us —Emma Burns
What: Students relax and collaborate by playing Spikeball. When: Tiger block on the turf or grass next to Dickinson Stadium. Goal: “To take a break from their busy academics or athletics and get active and competitive by playing Spikeball,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Senior Max Klein and junior Noah Goldhagen. Adviser: PE, health, and wellness teacher Michael Bower. Contact: maxrk04@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
STEMentors
What: Students mentor elementary and middle school students with engaging math and science lessons. When: A few times a month before school in 454. Goal: “To provide an accessible, equitable, and impactful program for young students,” said senior Rachel Kimball, an officer. Officers: Kimball and senior Peter Dukakis. Adviser: Science teacher David Bennett. Contact: stementors.nnhs@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
Students Against Institutional Racism
What: Students discuss race and how to counteract institutional racism here in the North community. When: To be determined. Goal: “To make North a safer community, along with educating it about these social issues,” said senior James Dun Rappaport, the officer. Officer: Dun Rappaport. Adviser: History teacher John Fitzgerald. Contact: james.crawford.dun.rappaport@gmail. com —Griffin Bond
Students for the Second Step
What: Students raise awareness for domestic and sexual violence, and volunteer with the Second Step, an organization that provides counseling, shelter, and childcare to those experiencing abuse. When: Every other Tiger block in the International Cafe. Goal: “To help survivors of domestic violence as they transition out of abusive environments into safer futures,” said senior Grace Davis, an officer. Officers: Davis and senior Sage Pollack.
Adviser: School counselor Nancy Decoteau. Contact: nnhsstudentsforthesecondstep@gmail. com —Kathy Mitchell
Theatre Ink
What: Students write, produce, and act in various performances throughout the course of the year. When: Schedules vary depending on show involvement. Goal: “To allow students to make friends and build a community through the love of Theatre,” said Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. Advisers: Brown and Theatre Ink teachers Michael Barrington-Haber, Ruth Talvacchia, and Jay Zawacki. Contact: browna@newton.k12.ma.us —Sophia Fredberg
Thoughtprints Magazine
What: Students write, create artwork, and compile a literary magazine. When: To be determined. Goal: “To produce two magazines this year, and host a ton of events for our club members,” said senior Aviva Sachs, the editor-in-chief. Officers: Sachs, seniors Abby Caputo, Alex Fitzgerald, Samantha Stewart, Sauria Stewart, and juniors Adam Dinjian and Naomi Goldstein. Adviser: English teacher Neil Giordano. Contact: thoughtprints1213@gmail.com —Leah Ziskin
Tiger Buddies
What: Students play games, do homework, and converse in a welcoming community. When: Tiger block in 330. Goal: “To create connections between regular education and special education students, and create a space for friendships to form,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Juniors Yalda Hedayat and Amelia Singer. Adviser: Math teacher Selena Giroux. Contact: yalda@kaynam.com or ameliamsinger@ icloud.com —Griffin Bond
Tiger Investment Management
What: Students discuss investment, pitch stocks, and learn about important topics in the business world. When: Tiger block, location to be determined. Goal: “To teach everyone about the stock market, get practice, and share ideas on investment,” said senior Jude Aber, an officer. Officers: Aber and senior Andy Park. Adviser: Business teacher Robert Kane. Contact: tigerinvestmentmgt@gmail.com —Maxwell Lu
TigerDocs
What: Students learn about the medical field and listen to guest speakers discuss their experiences in medicine. When: Monday after school and Tiger block in 414. Goal: “To continue to expose club members to a wide variety of career paths in the medical field that they would like to pursue after high school,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Seniors Tia Joseph, Rachell Kimball, Esther Zhang, and junior Maxwell Lu. Adviser: Science teacher Mary Vallo. Contact: nnhstigerdocs@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
TigerUnicef
What: Students organize fundraisers for UNICEF and volunteer within the Newton community. When: Every other Tiger block in 265. Goal: “To fundraise money for UNICEF, host events within our school to raise more awareness, and help out our local community by volunteering with local organizations like Cradles to Crayon, Christmas in the City, and Newton Food Pantry,” said junior Hannah Ireland, an officer. Officers: Ireland, senior Luana Espinoza and junior Karen Matsuoka. Adviser: Chinese teacher Ming Lu. Contact: nnhstigerunicef@gmail.com —Antonio Batista-Ciani
Unified Irish Dance
What: Students dance together, rehearse, and prepare for a schoolwide performance around Saint Patrick’s Day. When: Tiger block in 330. Goal: “To bring the joy that comes with dancing
Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 to the North community,” said junior Bridget Gilmartin, an officer. Officers: Gilmartin and senior Alba Jordan. Adviser: Math teacher Selena Giroux. Contact: bridget.gilmartin12@gmail.com —Maxwell Lu
Walk-N-Talk
What: Students go on walks around the community and build connections with peers. When: Wednesday 3:50 to 4:30 p.m. at the Theater Entrance. Goal: “To foster outdoor-centered, social community building,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Juniors Ariel Mooney and Katrina Weyhrauch. Adviser: History teacher Jennifer Devlin. Contact: nnhswalkntalk@gmail.com —Kathy Mitchell
Water Polo Club
What: Students learn how to play water polo and improve their swimming skills. When: Thursday WIN-block and Tiger block in the pool. Goal: “To not only teach swimming but the sport of water polo. Eventually we hope to scrimmage other school’s water polo clubs or teams,” according to North’s club registry. Officers: Juniors Alex Morefield and Chris Thompson. Adviser: PE, health and wellness teacher Kristen Smith. Contact: chrisjthompson12@gmail.com —Griffin Bond
Women in Business Club
What: Students learn how to join the maledominated business world through listening to guest speakers, engaging in discussion, and planning for a Women in Business Day. When: Day to be determined, before and after school in 319. Goal: “To empower young girls to learn about the business industry and to inspire the next generation of business women,” said senior Serena Chuong. Officers: Chuong and seniors Talia Manchester and Rebecca Yao. Adviser: Business teacher Robert Kane. Contact: tazmanchester@icloud.com —Sophia Fredberg and Andy Zhou
Womxn in STEM
What: Students encourage and engage womxn in STEM and learn from guest speakers and networking sessions. When: Every other Tiger block in 428. Goal: “To raise awareness of the gender inequality in the STEM field,” said junior Shyun Moon, an officer. Officers: Moon, and junior Lily Siegelman. Adviser: Science teacher Allison Newton. Contact: nnhswomxninstem@gmail.com —Emma Brignall
Workout Club
What: Students exercise together, work to become stronger, and improve their athletic ability. When: Tiger block and Friday after school in the gym. Goal: “To improve each other’s health in general,” said junior Vassily Dudkin, an officer. Officers: Dudkin, and junior Chen Shen. Adviser: Math teacher Derek Hogan. Contact: vassily.dudkin@gmail.com —Emma Brignall
3v3 Basketball Club
What: Students play three on three basketball in a fun and competitive environment. When: Tiger block in the Reggie Gymnasium. Goal: “To have fun playing 3 on 3 basketball in an exciting and competitive environment while developing basketball skills and meeting new people,” according to North’s club registry. Officer: Freshman Luca Peterson. Adviser: Graphics teacher Tom Donnellan. Contact: 201329599@newton.k12.ma.us —Griffin Bond
Check out our most updated list online at thenewtonite.com. If you do not see your club listed, please email us at thenewtonite.com.
features
Monday, Oct. 18, 2021
The Newtonite, Newton North v 7
North focuses on gender equity in athletic activites v continued from page 1 “Football has traditionally been elevated, so I was excited that a program with that type of platform used their platform to support others who did not share that same opportunity,” said Shaughnessy. After receiving advice from coaches, the football team met with various female athletes, who provided input on the initiative. “There were some young women who were willing to come forward and speak with us,” said Capodilupo. “Some of our players asked questions that demonstrated vulnerability.”
“Our job now is to prove that we mean what we say–that’s what I mean when I say this is a long term process.” - Special education teacher Nicholas Capodilupo
Senior Uche Okonkwo, who is a member of the cheer team, spoke directly to the football captains and discussed the lack of recognition female sports receive. “I spoke about how they never show up to our competitions, but we are at every one of their games, win or lose,” said Okonkwo. “They don’t really see what we do in our practices and the work we put in.” Capodilupo added that the players mainly relied on this feedback from female athletes to improve their overarching goal. “It’s not on us to tell others how we want to support them,” he said. “It’s on us to tell them that we want to do better and ask how we can be supportive.”
Baugher added that the athletes spoke from their hearts. “I’m so proud of the female athletes who spoke in front of the football team,” said Baugher. “It’s obviously something personal, but they were strong, courageous, and honest.” According to Baugher, female athletes brought up a wide range of concerns including limited time on the turf, less turnout at their games, and less team funding. Baugher said that some problems are inevitable, while others could be addressed. Despite a generally positive reception, some athletes expressed criticism. Senior Riley Raker, a captain of the girls’ volleyball team, added she felt the football team did not have a clear-cut goal. “Where’s the project? What did they do? We just sat down and talked about it,” said Raker. She added the event could have been improved if the team took more time to plan it out. “The issue was that it was rushed,” said Raker. “Maybe if they created a multi-step action plan, it would’ve been better.” Senior Ava Bottino, a captain of the girls’ volleyball team, said she supported the goal but recognized it was difficult for one team to accomplish. “It was a really good idea to get behind something like this, but I also think it’s a challenging topic for a high school football team to do a lot for,” she said. However, Bottino added that she values the football team’s efforts to support females. “It’s important to recognize that it’s a big task,” said Bottino. “While some people think they didn’t do enough, it brought more positives than negatives.” Bottino added that she hopes other sports teams will follow football’s successful lead. “It should be expanded to other sports teams and more of male athletics,” said Bottino. “But, with what they could have done, they did it well.”
Brooks Demissie Senior Riley Raker blocks a spike attempt from a Milton hitter during their 3-1 victory, Friday, Oct. 7, in the Reggie Gymnasium. Shaughnessy added that she sympathizes with the doubts that some female athletic teams may have towards the sincerity of the initiative. “It’s valid for some of our female athletes to be skeptical,” she said. “If one program wants to take a stand on this, I would at least hear them out.” According to Capodilupo, he told his players to brace themselves for backlash even before the event was announced. “You have to be prepared that people might question your motives,” said Capodilupo. “We aren’t defensive about that at all.” Aside from the criticism, Jackson believes that the event was an overall success in sending a message. “The success is that the message is out,” said Jackson. “People now know that we are having these conversations and we do appreciate our female athletes.”
Capodilupo added that it is important to realize that one initiative cannot shift an entire culture instantaneously. “Just because we promote this doesn’t mean every kid is going to do the perfect thing,” said Capodilupo. “But there may be a freshman that is blown away by this, and over time, those individuals will become our leaders.” Okonkwo added she hopes that after these events North’s athletic program will honor its promise to promote gender equity. “I would like to see more sexual assault and harassment protocols. Disciplinary action would be very supportive to female athletes because it would make sports teams a safe place to come forward to their team,” said Okonkwo. The athletic department’s long term goal is not only centered around support for female athletes, but other underrepresented groups
including the LGBTQ+ community and METCO students. “You have many underappreciated groups that we would want to highlight,” said Jackson. “It just happened to be females this time.” In fact, Capodilupo said he has begun to discuss future endeavors with the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA). “The LGBTQ athlete is a voice that isn’t heard very often, so we want to target that in some way,” said Capodilupo. Reflecting on the entire process, Capodilupo added that the Friday Night Lights event marks a strong start in a larger endeavor. “I felt like this was important because we were able to converse and hear from critics,” said Capodilupo. “Our job now is to prove that we mean what we say–that’s what I mean when I say this is a long term process.”
North adopts new protocol for COVID-19 exposure Emma Brignall Since the first day of school, at least 44 students and ten staff members district-wide have tested positive for COVID-19. Following each positive case, a number of students were identified as close contacts and either stayed home or remained in classes based on various procedures new to North this year. “There’s kind of a flow chart for close contacts in terms of what has to happen, but generally it’s divided by whether the person is vaccinated or unvaccinated,” said Vice Principal Amy Winston. Students are notified via email of their exposure once the administration has identified who could be considered a close contact. The administration notifies close contacts, students and staff in class with a positive case, and the school community separately. Close contacts are the only students required to test or quarantine. For vaccinated students, the protocols are relatively simple. If a student is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms, they do not have to quarantine. They will only be notified of the positive case and asked to monitor their symptoms carefully. For unvaccinated students, however, certain criteria must be met before they can return to school, according to Winston. If students opt out of the new Test and Stay program, they must quarantine for ten days. If they test negative on day 5 or later, their quarantine will be reduced to seven total days. by
In the Test and Stay program, students receive a free rapid COVID-19 test each school day for seven days from their exposure. If each test is negative, they are permitted to remain in class. Any students who develop symptoms during school will be tested by North, regardless of vaccination status, and are recommended to get the molecular PCR test rather than a rapid test. If a symptomatic student refuses to take a COVID-19 test, they will be sent home. “It’s important for students and families to understand that when we have a positive case, it takes me somewhere between one and two days to do all of the tracing necessary before we can communicate,” said Winston. “I think sometimes people are like, ‘well, why didn’t you tell me sooner,’ and it’s because it’s a very complicated process.” To identify close contacts, health officials interview the student about when they were in school and when their symptoms began, as well as who they ate lunch with. Administrators also check classrooms, the library, and cafeteria seating for close contacts in the 48 hours before symptoms began or a positive test was taken. In the case that a student has to remain at home, teachers are prepared to support them from a distance. Close contacts are not required to disclose their exposure to teachers, and the absence for close contacts and positive cases will be treated like
a long-term absence was pre-pandemic. The same protocol applies to students who test positive. “That’s the reason why we’re offering Test and Stay, so that they don’t have to stay at home,” said Winston. Some students were surprised by the positive cases. “I was like, ‘oh wow, that’s really early in the school year,’ because it was on the tenth, which was literally the second day of school,” said a close contact notified shortly after school began and who preferred to remain anonymous. Close contacts were advised on how to proceed, but told few specifics. “They said that I didn’t have
to quarantine or get a negative COVID-19 test or anything because I was fully vaccinated, and also because apparently, I was sitting outside of three feet of the person,” said the close contact, who added they do not know which class had the positive student. The student felt the administration should emphasize testing more, regardless of vaccination status. “They should still implore people to go get tested if they’re a close contact, even if they are vaccinated or if they were far enough apart,” said the student. “I definitely wasn’t as worried, because I was vaccinated and I knew that even if I did get it, it wouldn’t
be as bad.” School nurse Heidi Bochain said, “I think we have an eighty percent vaccination rate with the high school at Newton North so that’s definitely going to help more than anything.” Winston said the safety measures appear to be effective so far. “Last year we had no transmission in school. This year, we have not, to my knowledge, had any transmission,” she added. “Masks really do work, and one of my biggest challenges right now, honestly, across the building, is getting kids to wear their masks over their nose, because if they don’t wear their masks over their nose, it doesn’t work,” Winton added.
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8 v The Newtonite, Newton North
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Monday, Oct. 18, 2021