First Day of School Special V97 by The Newtonite

The Newtonite v Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 • Volume 97

City devises Newtonville facelift plan Jacques Abou-Rizk Construction vehicles and debris have replaced many long-standing businesses along Washington Street as private developers and the city look to revamp the busy corridor. The construction currently taking place along Washington Street is the Washington Place project. This development coincides with the city’s own “Hello Washington Street” zoning proposal for the future reshaping of the area. “We want to have a plan when more Washington Place proposals come up,” said Community Engagement Manager for the Department of Planning and Development Lily Reynolds. She added, “Our job as the city is to layout the choices to the community.” With the zoning plan, Reynolds hopes Washington Street— which has caused concern for many years regarding pedestrian safety, traffic, and functionality— will “enhance what people like about Newton.” CEO of Mark Development Robert Korff said that he hopes the new apartments, small shops, and restaurants of Mark Development’s Washington Place project will help in revitalizing the area. “We are going to have color and vibrancy, instead of what we have now, which is gray and has no vibrancy,” Korff said. Washington Place plans for 140 new apartment units, as well as restaurants or small shops to be added in the stretch between Walnut and Lowell Streets. The project has completed much of the demolition process and is projected to open to the public in the spring of 2020. “I think the community is going to love it,” Korff said. He estimated that roughly 220-250 new residents would move into the apartments. Senior Maya Matthews, a student representative on the School Committee, said she is “a bit worried” to see how the new residents will affect the community. “With hundreds of apartments being built comes hundreds of families and hundreds of kids,” said Matthews. “When it comes to a rising population, we start to see issues on how much we can spend on each student,” Matthews added. “The question is: will the budget grow as fast as the increasing population?” Although “Hello Washington Street” is still in the planning stages, multiple community meetings and surveys have allowed the city to create a vision plan and draft zoning for the corridor, according to the Planning and Development office’s website. The city expects to have a final draft of the plan next spring, Reynolds said. by

Marijuana Dispensaries Newton community members wrestle with the legalization of recreational marijuana.

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

North community reacts to bias allegations Helen Xiao and Sophia Zhou Students, faculty, and parents responded to allegations against history teachers for biased teaching after news outlets published this past August a personal email discussion from 2017 between teachers about how to teach objectively in a tense political climate. Ilya Feoktistov, executive director of the non-profit organization Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT), obtained the email exchange between a group of history teachers, including David Bedar and Insongesit Ibokette, through a public records request. All teacher emails are considered public records. Feoktistov shared his findings in an opinion piece published in The Federalist Aug. 7. Fox News “Insider” picked up the story shortly after, reporting, “Bedar accused the president and his supporters of ‘nativism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc.’ and wrote that he found it difficult to teach other perspectives in early 2017.” In response, principal Henry Turner sent out a statement to all faculty, students, and parents. “The email exchange cited in The Federalist website demonstrates our teachers discussing ways in which to allow thoughtful discussion,” he said. “We support our teachers’ emails and ongoing dialogue about these values, and we support their right to grapple with these issues.” According to Bedar, he wrote the email in response to tensions among students after the 2016 election. “I had a couple of students who told me that some pro-Trump students at our school were emboldened and picking on other people, and the point I raised to my department was that this was a very difficult situation to deal with,” he said. Bedar added that while teaching students to think objectively is im-

portant, balancing hate speech and free speech can be tricky. “We want to respect kids who are liberal, conservative, anarchist, or whatever, to express their beliefs,” said Bedar. “However, what they say can’t be blatantly racist, or homophobic, or anti-any group for that matter.” The Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook mandates that students and teachers must “create an environment where everyone feels known, safe, and valued.” Feoktistov’s criticism of Bedar centered around Bedar’s perceived bias against conservative students. “What happened was that Principal Turner had sent out an email to the history department with guidelines on how to teach current issues in history class,” said Feoktistov. But “Mr. Bedar and Mr. Ibo-

Yesha Thakkar Sophomores this year will receive Chromebooks as part of the pilot “1:1 Technology Program.” The program aims to “equip students with a lot of access to content and encourage them to foster a connection to learning,” said principal Henry Turner. The pilot is an expansion of a smaller one that took place last school year with the junior CP American Studies English and history classes and will determine whether the program will be expanded to the whole school. According to the Newton Public Schools website, all sophomores will receive Chromebooks in early winter, allowing teachers to incorporate more technology in their classrooms. Students will be expected to take responsibility for the Chromebooks and return them at the end of the school year. According to Turner, the idea for the program came from a data analysis of the ratio of computers to the student population across the Newton Public Schools which revealed that Newton elementary

and middle schools have more computers per student than the high schools. The pilot was developed in order to achieve the district’s goal of equal access to technology and to aid in the transition to the new computerized English Language Arts and Math MCAS tests. Shortly after the first stages of the decision-making process, Turner formed a committee to relay information to and collect feedback and suggestions from faculty. “As an English teacher, I found benefits in students having their own device with them everyday, because depending on the day, not having to sign-up for a cart at the last minute was really easy,” said English teacher Kate Shaughnessy. Her class participated in the smaller pilot last year. According to history teacher Max Roberts, teachers are excited about the prospect of using the online version of textbooks in classrooms, which allows them “to update textbook material regularly.” Sophomore English teacher Danielle Johnson added that she

Abby Roll

Senior Abigail Dobies goes for a shot during a 4-0 scrimmage against Weston Thursday, Aug. 28. kette were having none of it. They wanted to suppress conservative viewpoints.” According to Jennifer Morrill, head of the South history department, the email exchange showed teachers engaging in a conversation on how to objectively teach controversial issues. “What the author of the article was concerned about was the nature of a private conversation, not about a lesson or a thing that happened,” said Morrill. “There’s no evidence that teachers acted inappropriately, and I have a lot of faith in the skills and judgements of the teachers.” Superintendent David Fleishman said,“It was a very thoughtful email exchange that was clearly taken out of context” North teachers’ ability to remain objective, however, seems to be sub-

ject to personal opinion. According to North parent Ed Urquiola, teachers at North clearly demonstrate a lack of objectivity. “My son says teachers treated him very differently after finding out he went to the Trump rally and were cold towards him,” he said. On the other hand, senior Ben Archer said he felt that teachers did not let their own bias and beliefs determine their attitudes or actions towards students. “I believe that teachers are aware of the students’ beliefs, both supporting and opposing their own,” said Archer. “But no, I don’t think teachers favor or disregard students based on their political beliefs.” According to Fleishman, this fall the district will release an informational document on how the schools teach history.

Pilot program aims for equal technology access by

Ruthanne Fuller Fuller highlights her early successes and reflects on future goals in her first year as mayor.

and several other teachers look forward to going paperless. “The eco-friendly aspect of this program is very exciting, especially since we use a lot of paper in this school.” However, going paperless may be more difficult for math and science classes, which often need paper for calculations. Chemistry teacher Brian Gagne said, “going paperless seems extremely unlikely. Incorporating the use of technology seems like a more viable option in that I might ask my students to turn in lab reports and other written assignments online.” Despite its benefits, this program also presents a range of challenges. According to Shaughnessy, students experienced various technical issues such as broken laptop keys during last year’s pilot. “I worry a little bit about the wear and tear. Whether the devices will be able to keep up,” she said. “Chris Murphy was great if a student had a problem. He was very prompt. If we let him know, he addressed it, but on a larger scale we only have one Chris Murphy and a

lot more students.” Johnson added, “It’s very important to strike a balance between the flexibility and distractibility that the use of laptops in the classroom entails.” Sophomore teachers are also apprehensive about bullying and other social misconduct online. “The anonymity that technology poses is already a concern, and students will be exposed to technology even more,” Johnson added. Other alternatives, such as placing a Chromebook cart in each classroom, were considered, but it was “too expensive and did not allow for the flexibility of taking the Chromebooks home,” said instructional technology specialist Chris Murphy. However, Turner added other alternatives are still in consideration. Although a one-to-one program was favored as more cost-effective, according to Murphy, the pilot stage of this program could cost the district upwards of $120,000, excluding the costs of lost, misplaced, or damaged Chromebooks.

Swim Preseason Girls’ swim develops strong camaraderie as they begin the season with new a head coach.

opinion

2 v The Newtonite, Newton North

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

Create space in an overcrowded school At the start of last school year, the Library Learning Commons (LLC) was closed to establish new behavioral expectations, leaving many students without a space to go for printing, studying, or relaxation.

editorial The LLC faced a larger student body than was manageable. A year later, the problem of overcrowding still remains, and while we hope the administration will do more, students can do their part to make the situation more bearable. Many complained that due to the LLC’s conditions, there was no suitable “hangout space” to accommodate the growing student body and its needs. Some students were told just to leave the building. The current North building was finished in 2010 with a capacity of 1,850 students—a perfect fit for the enrollment at the time. However, by 2012, the school had already exceeded that limit. The population has grown 11 percent since then and is projected to grow four percent more in the next five years according to a 2017 school department enrollment analysis report. Additionally, as mentioned on the front page of this issue, a new apartment development on Washington Street is sure to bring in new families, and eventually more students to North. The district and administration, with the current and future populations in consideration, have taken various steps to combat this issue. Plans have been made for a Main Street space where students can do homework or relax. Sophomores will receive individual Chromebooks, in part so classes do not need to compete for computer labs. In the future, North could even expand with more construction.

While students cannot physically expand the school, a shift in attitude can make the population feel smaller, the building feel bigger, and the whole North experience feel much more enjoyable for all. In the first week of school, freshmen will experience student life at North for the first time. Very quickly they will find this often includes crowded corridors filled with students meandering through the halls on their phone, standing in the middle of a hallway, or aggressively pushing their way through. However, this crowding could be easily reduced if all students put forth the effort to be alert, efficient, and patient between classes. The simple act of being mindful is well within every students’ ability and would make a significant difference. For new students it can be daunting to navigate the myriad opportunities and courses that North has to offer. But for the students who commit to trying some of them out, they will often find one or many spaces that create a small home within a big school. In elective courses like graphics, culinary, and automotive, students uncover new corners of the school and make them their home for a semester, year, or—if they really enjoy it— all of high school. These areas not only provide social homes, but spaces for students to be. Instead of reporting to the cafeteria or LLC, many students use passes to their favorite art room, workshop, or publication. These small hangout areas are scattered throughout the school, and though unofficial, they provide self-selected spaces among like-minded peers. Mindful students who discover their niche at North will find that even in a crowded school, it is possible to claim some personal space.

The Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the news source of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460. Editors in chief — Samantha Fredberg and Sophia Zhou Managing editors — Will Kharfen Laura Schmidt-Hong, Rose Skylstad Arts editors — Isabella Lecona, Carolyn McDonald, Amy Xue News editors — Jacques AbouRizk, Sophie Murthy, Hari Narayanan, Helen Xiao Opinions editors — Skyler Bohnert, Zoe Goldstein, Rebecca Kellstein Sports editors — Jake Forbes, Nichol Weylman-Farwell Media manager — Joelle Sugianto Graphic designer — Skyler Bohnert

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

The Newtonite staff does all its reporting and photography to post content daily to its website, thenewtonite.com. Sign up for The Newtonite’s monthly email newsletter on its website. In addition to the first day of school special, The Newtonite publishes a spring special, a graduation special, a club day 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.

Abby Roll

Construction workers on Washington Street carry out the demolition and reconstruction planned for the area Tuesday Aug. 28.

Language-learning develops empathy, opens doors to new cultural connections By Zoe Goldstein As the plane swooped lower and lower, I blearily cracked open the window shade. I had been traveling all night and below me, I saw Paris for the first time, a cavalcade of lights under the purpling sky. Even from above, the city seemed foreign, old, and alien. A flight attendant spoke incomprehensible French words over the sound system, and suddenly it hit me—I was going to be spending three weeks in Paris on a school French exchange, speaking French, a language I only knew from textbooks and classroom discussions.

column According to the Pew Research Center, over 20 European countries require students to learn at least two foreign languages in school. Many European and Asian students start taking a foreign language at school during the primary grades, as children’s brains are primed for language-learning. My host student said she could generally understand movies in English without subtitles and was taking French, English, and Spanish classes all at once. Many of her friends were learning German as well. The United States lags behind many nations in language-learning. According to a 2006 General Social Survey, only 25 percent of American adults speak a non-English language, and only seven percent of those people reported school as the way they learned that language. Additionally, only 18.5 percent of American elementary and secondary students reported learning a foreign language, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The attitude reflected in these numbers is one that trivializes the importance of language-learning. Learning a language is more than just conjugating irregular verbs and flicking through vocab Quizlets. In class, many students also learn about the cultures that speak this language. In my sophomore French class, we discussed everything from the French perspective on World War II to which utensils to use when dining formally in France. These lessons helped me

gain a greater awareness of a different culture, broadening my ability to empathize with and appreciate what is characterized as “foreign.” Moreover, just the learning of the language itself promotes an understanding of the culture surrounding it—the origin of an idiom or the reason behind a grammar rule can reflect a certain characteristic of a society. As my three weeks in France passed and I immersed myself in the language, I began to understand more and more. Sitting in my host student’s classes at school, I learned about Christianity during the middle ages and different graphing methods. On the car ride back from a week in Brittany, I listened to the news on the radio. At the hour-long dinners of soups, potatoes, cheese and, of course, bread, I could generally keep up with conversations about school, friends, and family. On walking tours of Paris, I picked up facts about the city from tour guides. During Metro rides to school, at lunch, and throughout the day, I got to know my host student and her friends. When I returned, I had not just gained new memories of Paris and a new appreciation of the language, but also a multitude of connections I had made in a language I did not grow up speaking. These types of benefits are especially crucial in today’s political climate. Language is a bridge, and while it may seem like a meager remedy to xenophobia, it jumpstarts connection and encourages a deeper appreciation for different cultures, helping break down stereotypes. It is the first step toward humanizing other cultures. While President Trump’s values and policies certainly embody this xenophobia, this deficiency in global outreach across multiple arenas is a long-standing problem in America, though, not one spawned by Trump. The lack of emphasis on language-learning can be partially explained by geography; European countries are surrounded by many others that speak different languages, but in the United States, it is possible to get by without the need for a language other than English. Furthermore, American history is marked by “America first” attitudes, which assume the dominance

of anything American, including the English language. The only way to combat such fear and ignorance is learning, and language-learning, which establishes connections between cultures, is one way to break the cycle that leads from a benign lack of knowledge to a bitter hatred of the foreign. Learning languages is also important in more concrete ways. Language opens doors to jobs, relationships, ideas, and even increased cognitive development. A variety of studies have proved these various benefits; for example, the National Education Association found that learning a second language benefits academic progress in other subjects, helps students score higher on standardized tests, and enhances career opportunities.

“Language is a bridge...it jump-starts connection and encourages a deeper appreciation for different cultures, helping break down stereotypes.” All these reasons underscore the importance of language-learning. While North may seem like an exception to the disregard for language-learning, math, science, and English continue to be viewed as more important than foreign languages. For example, there is no graduation requirement for a foreign language. Furthermore, only 75 North seniors received the Seal of Biliteracy, meaning they are fluent in English and a partner language. It starts with us to remember the importance of languages in a world that seems intent on closing doors in the faces of people who we may not fully understand. Although agreements in the passé composé and the difference between the imperfect and the imperative may seem tedious and unimportant, if you learn a language, you are gaining a new perspective, bridging a divide, and helping not only yourself, but the world. Right now, that is sorely needed.

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

news

Newton North, The Newtonite v 3

New faculty share backgrounds, ambitions for North This September, North welcomes new faculty to the community compiled by Samantha Fredberg, Zoe Goldstein, and Sophia Zhou Faculty represented on this page submitted their responses as of press time.

Courtnie Daly Speech and language pathologist Background: Daly received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication disorders from the College of Saint Rose and worked at F.A. Day for 10 years. Excited about... “this change and to see my old students.” Fun Fact(s): Daly enjoys tennis and attended an Empire State Tournament.

Alma Notaro English teacher

Madeleine O’Donovan Special education teacher

Background: O’Donovan earned a bachelor’s in English from Fairfield University and a master’s in secondary and special education from Eastern Nazarene. Excited about... “becoming part of the Newton North community.” Fun Fact(s): O’Donovan loves coffee, french toast, bacon, and watching Sherlock Holmes.

Elvin Cardona METCO engagement specialist Background: Cardona earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and creative writing from UMass Boston and a master’s in clinical social work from Boston College. Excited about... “building on to a community that I know well. I’m ready to be whatever the community needs me to be.” Fun Fact(s): Cardona graduated from North and is a Latin dancer in his free time.

Selena Giroux Math teacher

Background: Notaro received her bachelor’s in English from the University of Rochester and a master’s of arts in teaching at Western New England University. Excited about... “working alongside such a welcoming and supportive staff and serving a community committed to its students.” Fun Fact(s): Notaro hikes with her dog, Blueberry, has a very protective cat, and is obessed with seasonal candles.

Background: Giroux focused on mathematics and secondary education and received a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Boston College. Excited about... “being part of such a positive learning environment. I love how diverse the student population is and all that North has to offer.” Fun Fact(s): Giroux loves painting, ceramics, and weaving. She also used to be a sailing instructor.

Mark Lutz

Alexis Lugbauer

Automotive technology teacher Background: Lutz earned a bachelor’s degree at UMass Lowell in chemical engineering. Excited about... “my first time teaching.” Fun Fact(s): Lutz has seven grandchildren and a daughter living in New Zealand. He also owns a car that he puts in car shows.

Culinary arts teacher Background: Lugbauer received a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts and food service management and a master’s in culinary education from Johnson and Wales University. Excited about... “meeting everyone and beginning my teaching career.” Fun Fact(s): Lugbauer enjoys reading novels and cooking for her friends and family.

Ben Hoadley

Emily Lew

Background: Hoadley earned a bachelor’s degree from UMASS Amherst in sociology and music and a master’s in education from Lesley University. Excited about... “adding to such a vibrant community where students are given so many different pathways to success.” Fun Fact(s): Hoadley enjoys playing live music and was also a former snowboard instructor.

Background: Lew studied English and Mandarin as an undergraduate student and received a master’s in English from UMass Amherst. Excited about... “getting to know students and colleagues and becoming involved in the community.” Fun Fact(s): Lew enjoys laughing, music, and worked in civil law for five years before teaching.

Kanchan Kant

Michelle DePesa

Special education teacher

Math teacher

Background: Kant received a masters of science in electrical engineering from Boston University and is currently pursuing a masters of education from Lesley University. Excited about... “teaching mathematics and computer programming.” Fun Fact(s): Kant loves reading books, traveling, and solving sudokus.

English teacher

Special education inclusion facilitator Background: DePesa majored in psychology at LeMoyne College before receiving her master’s in severe disabilities at Boston College. Excited about... “meeting and working with students and staff at Newton North.” Fun Fact(s): DePesa enjoys walking in the Arnold Arboretum and baking.

Shaniece Foreman

Sarah Bilodeau

Background: Foreman earned her bachelor’s in Spanish at Framingham State University, and minor in foreign language education. Excited about... “the great clubs and the incredible school pride from the staff and community.” Fun Fact(s): Foreman has been practicing kickboxing for a couple years, enjoys snowboarding with her fiancé and friends, and loves watching The Walking Dead.

Background: Bilodeau earned a Ph.D focused in French Language and Literature from Boston College, along with a master’s degree from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Bates College in the same discipline. Excited about... “meeting new students.” Fun Fact(s): Bilodeau has two children. She loves skiing and snowboarding, and she speaks five languages.

Claudia Carmody

Caroline Vuilleumier

Background: Carmody received a bachelor’s in psychology from the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica and a master’s in school psychology from Tufts University. Excited about... “meeting new people and working exclusively with high school students for the first time in a while.” Fun Fact(s): Carmody is competitive in card games with her kids and has always wanted to be a psychologist.

Background: Vuilleumier earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education and math and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Boston College. Excited about... “getting to know all my students.” Fun Fact(s): Vuilleumier loves working out and teaches group fitness classes. She commissions a fantasy football league and a fantasy Bachelorette league, and carries hot sauce with her everywhere she goes.

Spanish teacher

Special education psychologist

French teacher

Math teacher

feature

4 v Newton North, The Newtonite

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

Residents consider fallout of marijuana legalization, seek ballot question prohibiting future local pot shops Laura Schmidt-Hong Two years ago, Massachusetts voters approved Question 4, a ballot initiative that legalized marijuana possession and consumption for adults over 21. Making “yes on 4” a reality, however, has proven to be anything but a straightforward process. As of press time, no recreational dispensaries have opened in the state—and, soon, city councilors in Newton could potentially take the first step in prohibiting recreational marijuana sales in this city. Newton’s Programs and Services Committee is planning to meet Thursday, SepT. 6, according to city councilor Joshua Krintzman, to consider a ballot question banning local recreational marijuana sales. In 2016, about 55 percent of city voters approved Question 4 while 45 percent opposed it. Still, this issue has embroiled Newton residents in significant debate since then, as some express support for recreational sales while others cite concerns about increased teen use and public safety. by

Background of the debate in Newton Newton, like many other cities and towns, including Brookline, Waltham, and Watertown, has already implemented a temporary moratorium on recreational sales in order to give the City Council time to develop zoning regulations for the new industry. This moratorium only applies to recreational marijuana sales; medical marijuana is still permitted in the city and is being sold at Garden Remedies, a dispensary located on Washington Street. Krintzman said that this moratorium will end Dec. 31, or potentially earlier, if the city develops a zoning ordinance before that date. Still, the debate over whether or not Newton will permit recreational marijuana sales within its borders has polarized many city residents. While some support the rollout of the recreational marijuana industry in the city, others have actively opposed it. In a Newton TAB letter to the editor, resident John Madfis expressed his support for the new industry. “After 50 years of prohibition… the people took this into their own hands and voted to legalize this product for adults,” he wrote. “Let’s keep the tax money in Newton to improve our schools and roads.” Opposing recreational sales in the city, however, is the organization Opt-Out Newton. Formed in April by a group of residents, it aims to opt out of recreational sales by placing a question about a complete ban of sales on November’s ballot. Opt-Out co-founder Karen Sherman expressed the organization’s concerns about hosting recreational stores in the city, in light of the fact that many neighboring municipalities have banned sales. “Newton could become the ‘super center’ for purchasing recreational marijuana,” she said. A lengthy series of events and City Council decisions have set the stage for the current discussion about recreational marijuana. Opt-Out first presented its position on recreational sales to the City Council at a public hearing in June. On July 9, the council voted 13-8 against the full ban question, with

Jason Alpert-Wisnia

Garden Remedies, Newton’s medical marijuana dispensary, services medical marijuana liscense holders. two recusals. It did approve a question that would limit the number of shops to between two and four. The City Council, however, will likely be forced to reconsider the full ban question. According to Sherman, it was decided that the question would be brought back before the council if Opt-Out collected 6000 voter signatures. Sherman said that the deadline for these signatures was by Aug. 22. Not only did the organization meet this date, but also exceeded the required number of signatures. As of press time, The Newtonite does not have confirmation if these signatures have been officially certified by the city. But, assuming that they have been, Krintzman said, the Programs and Services Committee will consider the opt out ballot question Thursday, Sept. 6. “Anything that comes out of Programs and Services” will be discussed by the full City Council a week later, Thursday, Sept. 13, at a special meeting called by the Council President, he added. If the council votes against the ban question again, Opt-Out can collect another 3000 signatures and force it onto the ballot. As the debate persists and November approaches, the City Council and Newton residents involved in this issue continue to discuss and predict the future of recreational sales in the city.

Concerns about teen use A number of decisions about recreational marijuana at the state level have been responsible for shaping decisions on the municipal level. After the November 2016 approval of Question 4, state lawmakers began by revising the original ballot initiative in order to account for concerns and differing perspectives on the issue. According to a WBUR article, this rewrite included crucial provisions: recreational marijuana must face a 20 percent sales tax, advertising to minors must be restricted, communities disproportionately impacted by past prohibition must be included in the new industry, and municipalities must have the ability to locally opt out of commercialization. The last of these provisions, Sherman said, was what prompted her and other residents to form Opt-Out in light of their concerns

about commercializing recreational marijuana.

“If Newton allows recreational sales, we would not be an island. - city councilor, Andreae Downs

According to Sherman, among the biggest of these concerns is teen use of marijuana. “We’re very concerned about youth,” she said. According to Newton’s 20162017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 19 percent of high schoolers reported that they had used marijuana in the 30 days before the survey. Freshmen reported the least monthly use, at 14 percent, and seniors the most, at 34 percent. The proportion of seniors who had ever used marijuana stood at 47 percent. The survey added that all grades from 7th to 12th perceive the occasional use of marijuana to be less risky than the use of other substances: 71 percent of seniors considered it to be no risk or only a slight risk. “We’re concerned that, by hosting stores here, we’re telling the youth that this isn’t anything that bad,” Sherman said. “The young brain is still developing up to 25 or 26 years. Even in adults who are 21 or over who have access to the stores, the brain is still developing and primed for addiction.” A Health and Human Services page on the City of Newton website made similar statements. “Using marijuana as a teen, especially regular or heavy use, can lead to a decline in school performance, increased risk of mental health issues… and higher risk for addiction.” Sherman added, “We are aware marijuana is already in schools… and is being used by our youth.” Opt-Out, she said, is simply concerned that hosting recreational stores in Newton could increase use and “open up more room for addiction.” Krintzman said, however, that he “would actually like to hear from students” on this issue. “I hear a lot of people who seem to be speaking for other people and saying what they think people

want, what they think kids want, what they think parents want,” he said. “And I question the accuracy of some of those statements.” Senior Achille Ricca, who researched use and perceptions of marijuana for an English paper, predicts that teen use in Massachusetts following legalization could mirror trends in Colorado. “Right after legalization, there was a bit of a spike in teenagers smoking weed” in Colorado, he said. “But then it went down because it started to be regulated kind of like alcohol.” A study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health seems to support Ricca’s findings. The survey tracked monthly marijuana use among 12-to-17-year-olds in Colorado in 2013-2014, right after legalization, and in 2015-2016. According to an analysis of the survey by The Washington Post, use dropped from 12 percent to 9 percent over the period, reaching the lowest rate of monthly use in Colorado since 2007 and 2008. Ricca added that he believes legalization will have little effect on students’ overall use of marijuana. “I feel like kids are going to smoke and kids are going to experiment with it either way,” he said. The results of North’s 2016 mock election, organized by the Center of Civic Service and Engagement, similarly reflected student support for legalization: about 68 percent of the students who voted approved Question 4, 13 percent greater than support among registered Newton voters that year.

Concerns about the number of licenses The debate over recreational sales in Newton is not limited to perspectives on teen use, however. Opt-Out, Sherman said, is also concerned about the sheer number of potential recreational marijuana stores in Newton—eight, calculated by taking 20 percent of the city’s liquor cap. “All these cities and towns have opted out,” Sherman said. If Newton hosts recreational dispensaries, “we could certainly become a very easy go-to place for recreational marijuana,” she said. City councilor Andreae Downs, however, predicts that this would not be a problem with nearby communities like Boston and Cam-

bridge hosting stores. “If Newton allows recreational sales, we would not be an island,” she said. “While Needham or Dedham may not have marijuana stores, Boston is just a short drive away,” as are other communities that will likely host recreational stores. Still, Sherman said Opt-Out believes “the town would incur a lot of social cost” overall by hosting recreational dispensaries, and that more money will need to be spent on security around stores and for other public safety concerns. Sherman added that Opt-Out does not oppose medical dispensaries. “They are here to stay,” she said. “This is solely about hosting recreational stores in Newton.” To Krintzman, there exists a potential solution to concerns about traffic and the number of stores in the city: the ballot question about limiting the number of establishments to between two and four. “I thought that it made sense to want to give the city more flexibility in terms of how many shops to open and how quickly or slowly to roll out the new industry,” he said. “That was a common-sense solution to the concern that was raised about how many licenses there would be in the city.”

Medical marijuana in the Newton Community This debate over recreational marijuana sales in Newton is recent, but it is not unprecedented. In the past, discussions about marijuana in the city often involved the city’s current medical marijuana facility, Garden Remedies, located on Washington Street. Garden Remedies first opened its doors in Newton in November 2016. Its mission, according to its website, is “to provide convenient access to safe, excellent-quality medical marijuana that helps patients find relief from a wide variety of debilitating symptoms and live fuller, more enjoyable lives.” When it first opened, some city residents raised concerns about North being located just blocks away—and, today, it is entering the discussion about marijuana sales once again. In March, when Newton’s City Council approved the city’s moratorium on recreational sales, it exempted Garden Remedies from its provisions, according to Downs. As such, Garden Remedies was permitted to apply for a recreational license from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) and has since done so, according to a message sent by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to city councilors, published in Village 14 in May. Six dispensaries in the state as a whole have been licensed by the CCC to sell recreational products. However, they cannot proceed with recreational sales because all such products must be lab-tested— and no labs in the state have been licensed yet for this purpose as of press time. According to a recent Newton WickedLocal article, Garden Remedies has since received approval from the city’s Land Use Committee on Aug. 7 to ask the full council for a special permit amendment that would allow it to sell recreational marijuana. This exemption for Garden Remedies, according to Newton Cerk of the Council David Olson, as quoted in a March MassLive

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Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

article, would serve a useful purpose. If Garden Remedies is able to start recreational sales, the city would “have one facility that would test things out and see how things were going on the recreational side before going full-blown recreational,” he said. However, according to Krintzman, the status of Garden Remedies if Newton were to implement a ban is unclear. According to state law, “medical marijuana facilities that were licensed prior to July 1 could not be prevented from converting into recreational facilities,” he said. But, “if the city were to pass a ban, or any city or town were to pass a ban, I believe the consensus legal opinion is that a citywide ban on recreational marijuana can prevent a medical facility from converting to recreational.” However, he said, “if Newton were to grant the license to Garden Remedies prior to us passing some sort of citywide ban, it is unclear what the legal status of their license would be”—whether they would “have some sort of monopoly” or would have their license revoked, for instance.

Expectations for the future As residents and city councilors continue this discussion, many are considering the future of marijuana commercialization in Newton— and Massachusetts as a whole. Downs predicted that, if the council votes on the ban question again, “it’ll be a close call. It looked to me like it was close at the last vote,” she said, “and I think 6000 might just meet some of my colleagues’ definitions of enough signatures.” Sherman said that Opt-Out has contacted Newton’s city councilors, and “enough have committed to put opt out on the fall ballot” if the organization collects 6000 sig-

Newton North, The Newtonite v 5

Samantha Fredberg

Residents of Elliot Street protest a proposed marijuana dispensary on their street, expressing nearby traffic, children, and homes as concerns.

natures. To Opt-Out, Sherman said, voting on commercialization again “is our democratic right.” Krintzman said he views this matter differently. “In 2016, I think the people spoke loud and clear that they wanted to regulate and tax recreational marijuana and that they fully knew that this meant there would be shops,” he said. He added that he believes “for the City Council to want to put this on the ballot, it also suggests that the City Council wants to opt out or prohibit sales.” If the council does not approve the ban question, Opt-Out could continue collecting signatures in an

attempt to force the question onto the ballot. Either way, voters will be able to consider a question about limiting the number of recreational establishments to between two and four due to the City Council’s vote this past July. If the full ban question does not make it onto the ballot or is not approved by city voters, the City Council will also have to continue developing zoning regulations for recreational marijuana sales in the city. This process in Newton and the state as a whole follows in the footsteps of the eight other states and the District of Columbia that have rolled out a recreational mar-

ijuana industry. According to an October 2017 Gallup poll, 64 percent of Americans now support legalization, the highest level for over almost half a century. In Massachusetts specifically, according to a June report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, roughly 21 percent of adults in the state use marijuana regularly. Krintzman commented on the wider significance of voters’ perceptions of marijuana. “The people of Massachusetts and the people of Newton have expressed a strong desire to legalize a substance that they clearly do not believe contains the stigma or the harm that it contained in the past,”

he said. “If that is the case, then I think it makes sense for the city to not treat it the same way it was treated in the past.” Overall, he hopes that “we’re able to take a big picture view of what’s happening and try to be as safe and responsible as we possibly can,” he said. Ultimately, Downs encouraged all Newton residents to research and stay up to date with the issue locally. “You don’t need to be voting age to come to public hearings. You can register to vote if you’re 17. If it’s something you feel strongly about, you should definitely get educated and get involved.”

The Newtonite, Newton North v 7

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

6 v The Newtonite, Newton North

Tigers give tips for surviving North Man

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Advice to freshmen “The murals on the walls are like landmarks. If you’re lost use the murals!” — junior Charlotte Carter “Don’t hesitate to ask for directions and help! Upperclassmen don’t all gang up on freshmen.” — senior Benjamin Archer “Join some sort of sport or extracurricular, but most importantly, try something new.” — junior Emily Davis-Morin “If you’re stressed about homework and have loads of work to complete, I recommend listening to wordless music while you complete your homework. It’s really helpful because it doesn’t distract you and it’s supposed to keep you focused and on task.” — sophomore Dea Cela Although freshman year grades aren’t factored into your GPA, they are still shown on your transcript. Colleges notice them, and some recalculate your GPA to include freshman year grades. Still try to do your best this year!” — senior Rachel Slater

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Advice to seniors “Don’t stress too much to ruin your last year of high school. It may be hard at the moment, but time doesn’t stop, and you shouldn’t either. It’ll eventually pass, so you might as well use the time wisely.” — Josie Joseph ‘18 “That the old ‘senior year flies by fast’ wasn’t a joke.” — Brandon Giang ‘18 “Start your supplements early. No one wants to write 10+ essays in one day during winter break.” — Gabe Kotsonis ‘18 “The meetings with the college counselors really help to form a manageable list of schools. Take their advice.” — Deirdre Boyer ‘18

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N +W Rule The Withdrawal Rule, or “W-Rule,” is used to mark dropped classes on transcripts. The dropped class will be marked with a ‘W’ on a student’s official transcript. The ‘W’ mark is simply meant to be an accurate reflection of the classes a student takes during his or her high school career. No W will be given for classes changed in Arena Scheduling due to errors, omissions, or resolution of conflicts.

Compiled by Sammy Fredberg, Rose Skylstad, and Sophia Zhou Designed by Maddie Antonellis and Jeannette Chau

The “N-Rule” is used to mark terms in which students have too many tardies or absences. For a class that meets four times per week, that means either nine tardies, three unexcused absences, or nine total absences. All absences, except those as a result of MCAS, Close-Up, AP exams, Special Education testing/meetings, and school-sponsored exchanges will count toward an ‘N’. If a student receives an ‘N’ for two terms in a one semester class or an ‘N’ for three semesters in a year-round class, they receive an ‘N’ for the year. Having an ‘N’ for a year grade means that the student will not receive a grade or any credit for the course.

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8 v The Newtonite, Newton North

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018

Fall teams build fundamental skills during preseason

Samantha Fredberg

Girls’ swim practices kickboard drills in the pool Wednesday, August 29.

Abby Roll

Senior Emma Mckee dribbles down the field during field hockey practice Friday, Aug. 24.

Abby Roll

Joelle Sugianto

Football lines up at the line of scrimmage to practice a play during a preseason session Friday, Aug. 24.

Cheerleading executes a stunt during a cheer practice in the SOA Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Girls’ swim chooses coach after challenges Jake Forbes Alex Raasch was named the new head coach of the girls’ swim team Tuesday, Aug. 28. Creating chemistry with her team is a critical part of joining the program, according to Raasch. “I’m super excited to join this team as a newer coach and really be able to bond with the girls,” she said. At the second practice in her new position, Raasch said she was already impressed with the team. After hiring Raasch and gaining new freshmen talent, the team has high expectations for the season and hopes to build off of last year’s success. “They have a great winning record and I’m hoping that we can maintain that this season,” said Raasch. After former head coach Emily Manion could not return for this season, the administration struggled to find a new head coach. As a result, administrative executive assistant Anna Ford stepped in as interim head coach. The team faced another difficulty, as they lost 19 graduated seniors from last season. “A lot of them were state swimmers, so losing them was a big challenge,” said senior Maia Alberts, a captain along with seniors Rachel Donnellan, Kat Filipova, Claudia Flint. She added, “We are trying to foster a very welcoming environment, and want to make it clear that we are a great team with great people, and that we have a great time.” Alby

berts said that the team hopes the sense of community will attract more freshmen. During the preseason, the team focused on developing comradery. “Bonding is a very important concept of the team,” Alberts said. “We have a new batch of freshmen coming in and a core group of returning swimmers,” Alberts said. “We are really looking forward to the season and expect to do well in our dual meets.” When Manion was unable to attend a match and multiple practices last season, last year’s captains were forced to assume many of her responsibilities. “We were informed at the end of the season that she would be leaving us which was very sad,” Alberts said. Ford completed her first season as assistant coach last year, but played an important part in keeping the team organized during the preseason. Alberts said Ford took on more responsibilities before Raasch arrived. Ford supported the team’s morale during the coaching change. “She helped us emotionally during the period of transition between coaches,” Alberts said. “She has taken a lot of time out her busy job to help us.” Alberts added that the team enjoyed the chance to “really bond” while doing a car wash fundraiser last week. The team will host Weymouth on Sept. 14.

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Newton North, The Newtonite v 9

Mayor Fuller discusses her progress in plans for future student safety, accessibility, high school starting times Hari Narayanan After being elected last November, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller set an ambitious, multi-dimensional agenda for her administration. Ten months later, The Newtonite sat down with Fuller and other community members to check in about her progress and remaining goals, particularly with regards to the future of Newton Public Schools. by

Goals for Newton’s schools Newton’s school system is a priority for her administration, according to Fuller, especially in light of recent local and national issues affecting Newton’s high schools. Among Fuller’s goals for Newton’s schools is to implement later start times at North and South, she said. Keeping with this aim of “supporting the sleep habits of adolescents,” Fuller said, the High School Start Time Working Group is currently brainstorming new schedules for the district. Newton Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Yeo added that the policy will not go into effect for a few years. Still, the working group plans to make a recommendation to the School Committee in the fall. Fuller is also prioritizing the safety of all students on their commutes to school. “Making it safe for students to get to school, whether they’re walking, biking, driving, or on the bus, is critical,” she said. “We’re working hard to improve the condition of our streets and make sure that they work for all modes of transportation” in order

“She is very interested and engaged in public education. She’s a quick learner. She’s been very visible in the community.” - Newton Public Schools Superintendent David Fleishman

Wendy Li

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller works at her desk in her office at City Hall, which she has occupied since her swearing-in as mayor last January. intendent David Fleishman commented on Fuller’s overall commitment to Newton’s schools. Fuller is “very interested and engaged in public education. She’s a quick learner. She’s been very visible in the community.” Turner shared similar sentiments about Fuller’s work with the city’s schools. “I’ve been really impressed by her ability and willingness to listen, to learn, to meet with students and participate in our events,” he said. “Her goal is to really immerse herself and understand and build these kinds of relationships with the community, and she’s accomplishing that well.”

Improving all aspects of Newton to realize this goal. To this end, Fuller’s administration is considering adding sheltered bike lanes around the high schools and rebuilding the curb and sidewalk systems on Washington Street and in Newtonville, she said. Recent national events have also shaped Fuller’s priorities for Newton’s schools. In light of recent gun violence at schools across the country, she said, “making sure students feel safe at school is absolutely critical now.” School administrators will continue to implement protective measures such as the locked doors policy, she said, and “the police department continues to train extensively for a potential situation here, whether in the schools or in the community.” Fuller added that she admires how students, faculty, and school administrators have discussed and approached these issues. They “have very proactively used the language of social and emotional learning and courageous conversations,” she said, to “reach out to each other in a very thoughtful and civil way.” Through her efforts across the city, she hopes to bring that spirit into Newton’s broader community. Newton Public Schools Super-

In addition to striving to better Newton’s schools, Fuller said she remains dedicated to protecting its environment. Reflecting this are her administration’s new municipal renewable energy plans, she said. “When we replace passenger or safety passenger vehicles, we are going to be buying all electric.” Recently, she implemented dockless bike share programs—programs that provide access to public bicycles without docking stations— and introduced “Newton Power Choice,” an electricity aggregation program to increase renewable en-

“Whether we are upgrading a school, changing a curb cut, or redoing a police station, physical accessibility has to be one of our primary goals.” - Mayor Ruthanne Fuller ergy use by the fall. Fuller also emphasized that she aims to make Newton accessible to

residents of all physical abilities. Her administration looks at all new projects “through the lens of those with mobility impairments,” she said. “Whether we are upgrading a school, changing a curb cut, or redoing a police station, physical accessibility has to be one of our primary goals as we work on the infrastructure of our city.” Expanding affordable housing in the city is another issue Fuller’s administration hopes to address. According to junior Kendra Abbott, who campaigned for Fuller last year, “Newton is a great place to live, but it’s not financially possible for many people. Creating more affordable housing would allow people to move here who might not otherwise be able to.” Fuller acknowledged that housing is a “difficult problem” and “the market forces are conspiring against us” due to rising home prices. Still, she added that she is employing a variety of techniques to resolve the issue. For instance, her administration aims to ensure that locations near mass transit stops include affordable housing. In addition, the city plans to “provide funding and resources to support small-scale affordable housing units.” More holistically, the city is rewriting its zoning ordinances to “encourage any new homes that are built to fit in with the character of the neighborhood, so that we don’t have the ‘McMansions’ replacing moderately scaled and priced homes,” she said. In just a few months, the new administration has also made progress on a number of municipal infrastructure operations. For instance, Fuller said, the city is “underway on planning for a new senior center, the Newton Center for Active Living.” Yeo said that the city is also considering a number of potential future projects: renovating the old Aquinas School building into a new school, for instance, and relocating

the police headquarters. According to Director of Planning Barney Heath, the city’s ongoing Washington Street reconstruction is symbolic of how Fuller’s administration operates. Heath said that involving the surrounding community in the project is among its central goals. To this end, the city plans to open a storefront on the street where “residents can come to offer input and the city can facil-

“It took a lot of time and effort to deal with, but [Fuller] worked long hours and can focus on many different things at one time.” - Newton Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Yeo

itate conversations with residents.” A working group will subsequently use that input to formulate a plan and implement zoning regulations for the City Council to adopt, Heath said. “For young people and future voters,” he added, “this is really exciting to be able to get in and see the project come to life.” However, making this progress has not been easy for the administration, according to Yeo. “The budget is always a challenge,” he

said. “We certainly never have enough money to make some of the investments we think would be good for the city, but that’s a challenge that has always been there.” In particular, the winter storms of the past year placed significant strain on the city’s budget, according to Yeo. The storms “were very costly in terms of both snow removal and all the trees that came down,” he said. “It took a lot of time and effort to deal with, but [Fuller] worked long hours and can focus on many different things at one time.”

Community and student engagement in Newton Throughout the projects Fuller has undertaken so far, community involvement has featured as a central part of her approach. Into the future, Fuller said, she aims to continue to be accessible to all Newton residents with open hours at City Hall and meetups throughout the city. Fuller said that she considers Newton students’ similar involvement in their community and local and national politics admirable. “I’ve been so impressed with the students that I’ve heard from both Newton North and Newton South about gun control and school safety as well as social issues and human rights,” she said. Ultimately, Fuller encouraged students to continue to “get organized, be articulate, write the letters, make the phone calls, show up, and engage.”