The Eagle
Plymouth North High School Issue 1
November 2024
PNHS Welcomes Comfort Dog, “Sasha”
Sasha is welcomed into the school as an official comfort dog as of the 2024-2025 school year
By Vivian Langton
Sasha was then officially welcomed into the Plymouth Police Department and named a police comfort dog at the end of July 2024 at 8 months old The process of getting her certified took 2 weeks but her training is only just beginning Each day, Officer Ireland works with her and is doing training exercises He also tracks her progress and her achievements in a notebook
Sasha has been involved in the community for only a short amount of time but has already provided comfort and support to many individuals. She has been to different events around the Plymouth area to provide support to every individual possible
Principal Parcellin said, regarding the success of the implementation
Since Sasha has been introduced to PNHS, she has been able to de-escalate situations between students by providing a mediation
According to Parcellin, there have been no challenges implementing the Comfort Dog Program and he gives credit to Officer Ireland for being dedicated to making this happen “Officer Ireland being as great as he is, has helped that happen.” Parcellin said
As Sasha is still a puppy, she has a lot of energy but she is headed toward a lifetime of bringing positivity to our community
“This is the best thing that’s happened at this school,” Officer Shawn
Ireland said, after remembering an encounter with a student, and this is a consensus from teachers and students alike
Plymouth North welcomed Sasha, a comfort dog into the community as of the 2024-2025 school year and is making a positive impact on many different levels
Police comfort dogs serve many roles They are trained to detect high levels of stress and can comfort those affected by this anxiety and also comfort victims experiencing loss and coping with grief The dogs are trained to “interrupt the stress cycle” by providing support. For example, they might put a paw on a person’s lap or nuzzle their face
Comfort dogs, like Sasha, are also able to help connect police officers with the community Some may feel intimidated or unsure about officers but a friendly dog allows community members to feel more comfortable to engage with officers Officer Ireland presented this program to Principal Parcellin and his police captain and from the start, everyone was on board There was then an application for the grant that went through the Police department, to receive funding for this program There was a 6 month to a year-long process to make sure the right dog was chosen not only for the school but for Officer Ireland personally, as Sasha resides with him and his family
Plymouth North High School is Named a “Unified Champion School” by the Special Olympics
PNHS pursues the highest level of social inclusion, student leadership, and school-wide engagement through Unified Athletics to become a Special Olympics Unified Champion School
By Jennifer Cormier-Fosdick
For years, Plymouth North has excelled with inclusion in many aspects of high school whether athletics, whole school events, or everyday activities and tasks
But just recently, PNHS has been selected as a Champion School by the Special Olympics, excelling in areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect PNHS has been recognized as a Champion School by the Special Olympics for outstanding commitment in areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect It highlights North’s dedication to include students both with and without disabilities in all aspects of school life While Unified Sports is a great model for inclusion in the school community, it took every person to achieve and uphold the fundamental principles it takes to earn and even be eligible for this award
“This is not just a Unified award, it’s a Plymouth North award, and we would not have received it without every human in this building being a part of it,” Lauren Allen, Coach of Unified Sports said “It’s not just about including students with special needs into sports; inclusion should be with everybody ” North has received this honor for modeling inclusion across all aspects of the school community
“Being inclusive allows students to be mentors for our unified athletes,” Captain of Unified Track and Field, Callie Flora, said “Through unified programs, students at North can participate in helping and learning about the importance of accepting those who are different from themselves ”
The Unified program is an excellent opportunity to get involved with inclusion at its core Although the title of Champion school is used to reflect accomplishments throughout the entire school, Unified sports have been a major player in promoting inclusivity By teaching students the importance of inclusion and equity within the school community Unified is an extremely valuable program
With the entire school ready and willing to participate in opportunities for inclusion and excellence, North is able to uphold the ten national standards of excellence to
“Unified is transformative in that it brings both students with and without disabilities together to train and compete as teammates,” Athletic Director, Mr Domingos said “If you feel like you belong, you contribute more to the culture, and are willing to uphold and hold others accountable for core values that are shared amongst the school community ”
“We meet three pillars: one is having Unified sports, two is having student leadership involving students with and without special needs, then also having whole school engagement, so we meet those criteria every year, but the national status is one step up from that with an application process and we are able to exemplify ten standards of excellence,” said Mrs Allen North has been demonstrating inclusive values for years, but through a special application process, we were able to be nationally recognized for excellence in social inclusion
Mrs Allen said, “It started with collecting evidence throughout all of last school year and in the spring I had to fill out an actual application that was pretty extensive; it ended up being about a four page written application and then including a multimedia presentation with evidence ”
In her presentation, collecting pictures, videos, and quotes from students, Mrs Allen was at the forefront of this whole process
She has created environments for students to thrive and also led the way for North to become a Champion school
“It is all because of her hard work and dedication to all students that North has been able to be recognized as a Champion school,” said Mr Domingos Recognition goes far beyond Unified sports, but it is necessary to remember the driving force behind this achievement, which is the community and opportunity fostered by all students in the Unified program
While there is no physical award for this achievement, North is able to become a part of a new inclusive community
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in these programs and encourage all those who have the time to join!” said Flora Mrs Allen said, “I just hope that our school community can take what we’ve learned from Unified and use that to grow and include all groups of students It's about having a sense of belonging ”
Sasha PNHS Comfort Dog
Photo Courtesy of Amy Lee
Aaron Greenlaw Senior Unified Athlete
Photo Courtesy of Serena Ball
New Social Justice Program Promotes Equitable Teachings for Freshman Students
Understanding Plymouth North’s plan to help freshmen adjust to new social environments whilst teaching equal and just practice in school
By Ava Johnson
For the new freshman class of 2028 Plymouth North s Equity and Justice Club is now rebranding to prepare students for the high school environment through the implementation of a sixweek workshop for the freshman class This will focus on conversations surrounding identity diversity discrimination, bias and microaggressions This program will be called Eagles for Equity, highlighting the equality all Plymouth North Eagles deserve
The founders of the original club are three of Plymouth North’s very own English teachers: Mrs Hildebrand, Mr Fraioli, and Mrs Wilbur
“It came in the direct aftermath of George Floyd it seemed like we were at a really important flex point in society where we really needed to start doing more action-based work towards a more just society,” Mrs Brittany Hildebrand, Co-Founder of Equity and Justice Club, said “It was myself and a former teacher who started chatting and kind of put the idea together to come up with at least a committee where we could look at the culture
This club has only continued to grow over the past four years building traction for the club and its ideas Meetings cover all sorts of topics concerning diversity giving an open space for students to share their struggles or challenges they
have faced However this club is evolving into a bigger project
A new curriculum for freshman students will be introduced this year as part of the club's rebranding to Eagles for Equity
“Eagles for Equity is going to be a freshman curriculum that all freshmen go through ” Mr Fraioli Co-Leader of Equity and Justice Club said They re going to do simulations, activities, and hold discussions on topics such as bias, privilege, microaggressions, and that sort of realm ”
Students a part of the Equity and Justice Club will participate in facilitating the freshman program
“To function well and teach the freshman in February, we need more students ” Jessica Durgin a senior member of Eagles for Equity said
Members are not only needed but welcomed with open arms Students and teachers alike that participate in the club, have nothing but good things to say “I continue to help because I value what we are doing,” Durgin said “Hearing people say awful things about other people is not a pleasant experience and Equity and Justice provides a chance to change the way students at this school interact with each other
This curriculum would not have been possible without the minds of the club’s founders “Last year Mrs Hildebrand, Mrs Wilbur, and myself went to conferences and we thought it would be a great program for [Plymouth] North to adapt,” Mr Fraioli said
However, the passion behind this program is not just powered by teachers “There are students that are in the club that are driven by the fact they are facing some struggles,” Mrs Hildebrand said “ but there’s a lot of students that are also allies they just want people to be more human to one another
Equality is a central topic of discussion for Plymouth North Eagles for Equity and their new curriculum have created a new milestone for the progression of the Plymouth North community What are we doing if we can t accept you know our flaws and just work to help each other to be better?” Mrs Hildebrand said
The future for equality in the Plymouth North community is brighter than ever Eagles for Equity are counting down the days until the first day of this new curriculum, along with Plymouth North who are excited to evolve alongside the club
Manomet Elementary School Begins New Chapter in Education
An insight into the new preschool classroom starting this year at Manomet Elementary School
By Molly Lutz
This year, when Manomet Elementary opened its doors to students, it included a new age group: preschoolers Previously, Manomet was just home to elementary students: kindergarten to fifth-grade However, starting this September they remodeled an additional classroom for preschoolers from the Plymouth Early Childhood Center
The Plymouth Early Childhood Center, located in a remodeled section of the Plymouth middle school, PCIS, is home to preschoolers from across town Meanwhile, the new extension at Manomet Elementary is home to mostly local students
I think that it s really special that a lot of the kids that are coming to this preschool will come to Manomet Danielle Civale preschool paraprofessional said How great is it that they get to be a part of this school walk through the hallways get to know some of the kids and the staff and be familiar with the building and then know that in a year or two they will get to come here for kindergarten ”
Though the preschool has a different schedule than the rest of the school, consisting of two half-day sections as compared to Manomet’s full day, preschoolers are still a part of elementary schoolers' learning experience
“This room was a waste, and I was excited because now there is a preschool in here, and now more kids get to enjoy the room,” Jayk Woodruff, Manomet fifth grader, said Manomet provides fifth-grade students with the opportunity to aid in the end-of-day clean-up in the preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms Ultimately, this builds strong bonds across all grade levels
Jamison Brunelle, Manomet fifth grader, said, “They (preschoolers) feel more comfortable if they know who you are.”
The connections made across grade levels emphasizes the important value of community at Manomet, especially while working with preschoolers in their classrooms
Many students were eager for the addition of the preschool However Manomet faculty first had to create solutions to overcome obstacles with the school layout that could be difficult for preschoolers
“Normally it would be ideal to have bathrooms in the room but here bathrooms are down the hallway ” Dr Patrick Fraine Manomet Elementary School principal, said
“The bathroom is a big conflict,” Danielle Civale said “We started taking them as a group to the bathrooms We take them all at once, and we
clear out one bathroom for the preschoolers, and that allows us as staff to walk in and out of the bathroom, and help them if they need it ”
At Plymouth’s Early Childhood Center in PCIS, their space is much larger than the single classroom at Manomet Allowing the preschool in PCIS to have more room for classrooms, therapists, outdoor play areas, and nurses However, at Manomet they are limited in space, making it difficult to accommodate every child s needs
Some of these students need occupational therapy physical therapy speech therapy we have service providers that come into this school Dr Fraine said Instilling the fact that children are continuing to receive the care they need despite Manomets limited space
As the elementary school continues to adapt to the preschool's needs, Dr Fraine said, “The biggest concern is to make sure everything we do we can do safely, that's the biggest piece To make sure we have a safe drop off and dismissal, that preschoolers are safe when they are going through the building and going outside, and also that they have a safe place to play ”
From Texas to Turned Pages at North’s Library
Plymouth North’s new librarian, Mrs McArthur, hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the library from her time in Texas
This fall, Plymouth North welcomed a new face to its library: Mrs McArthur, a seasoned librarian who is originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area She brings not only six years of experience but also a vision for transforming the library into a more vibrant and accessible space for students
Mrs McArthur s decision to move to Massachusetts came from a desire to leave the extreme heat of Texas and find a new change-ofpace for her professional and personal life
“I've lived in Texas my whole life and I've always wanted to live somewhere else ” Mrs McArthur said “When I saw the opportunity at Plymouth North it just felt like a great time for a change ” One of the other key reasons she decided to leave Texas was the growing threat of book bans in the state “I'm really thankful that I was in a very progressive district, but my husband and I didn’t want to stick around if that was going to be an issue,” she said In June 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act, which requires publishers and distributors to rate books and remove those rated inappropriate from public school libraries Many titles with LGBTQ characters or themes have found their way on district banned book lists
Massachusetts, with its more progressive approach to education, provided Mrs McArthur an environment where the free exchange of information is unrestricted
She brings a solid resume with her as well including building a school library from the ground up She had previously created a library for a magnet school ” Principal Parcellin said “She had to build it out of nothing ” Magnet schools are public schools with specialized curriculum that attract students from across a district based on their specific interests or talents
By Noah Kerr
Mrs McArthur was in charge of creating the library for the “Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy,” a magnet school in Dallas dedicated to supporting young innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives passionate about becoming changemakers
With the oppressive heat of Texas behind her she is settling in nicely to Plymouth North s community already starting to make her mark
Mrs McArthur s main objective is to make the library more user-friendly by utilizing the power of technology She wants to sort books by genre in the fiction section to make it easier for students to find what they need “If you're looking for a suspense book, you'll be able to go and look in a certain section for that rather than just looking alphabetically,” she said This initiative is just one item on the long list of plans she has for the future
Principal Parcellin noted that her visions align closely with his own “She has already started making changes,” he said, pointing out the introduction of digital checkouts and her efforts to organize school-wide events “I think you’re going to see the library become much more integrated into classes and the school’s culture ”
To celebrate the Halloween season, Mrs McArthur held a library competition called “Can You Catch the Rook?” to motivate students to read in a fun and interactive way. From October 21 to 31 students were invited to locate the hidden rook each day inside a random book report to Mrs McArthur as to where they found it and also check out a title of their own to get a sweet prize and secure their spot on the daily leaderboard. With this creative event Mrs McArthur aims to make the library a more engaging space for students to discover new books and enjoy the Halloween spirit
In addition, teachers are also noticing the positive changes and renewed energy she’s bringing to the library Mr Fraioli, a freshmen English teacher, described his experience working alongside Mrs McArthur She was so personable and motivating for the kids he said She helped every single one of them find a book unique to their tastes as well as their reading levels He praised her knowledge of Sora and Gale databases essential tools for his students’ research needs
Going forward, Mrs McArthur is excited to grow into her new role and hopes to extend a welcoming and warm community to North students “I’m really excited to be here,” she said With Mrs McArthur’s evident passion and vision, it’s clear that Plymouth North’s library is in good hands
Mrs McArthur makes herself at home at Plymouth North
Photo by Colleen Johnson
High Schools Tackle The Increase Of Obsessive Phone Use
A look into how high schools are managing the problems of phone usage in the classroom
When the 2024-2025 school year started to begin high schools continued to think about how to deal with the increase of phone use during class time Many schools started to create unique ways to stop the overuse of cell phones in the classroom Plymouth North High School created a 7 step phone policy process that the school believes that they can limit the phone usage during class time
“This year we implemented a consistent electronic device plan across the building At first, students receive verbal warnings, but experience escalated discipline for each subsequent violation within a particular class, including Saturday detentions, exclusions from a day of sports or extracurriculars, or individualized meetings and discipline plans for excessive reported electronic device violations Mr Parcellin Principal of Plymouth North High School said Many teachers constantly deal with obsessive phone use in their classrooms each and every year But with this policy some of those teachers intend to use it to its fullest
“I think it's excellent that we all know what the policy and process is if students are using phones without their
By Nelson Thevenin
teacher's permission ” Dr Farren Plymouth North teacher
said “Most phone apps get students used to paying attention to each item only for a short duration Posts can be consumed in just seconds, and getting used to that pace, to moving on from one thing to the next that quickly, becomes a mental habit, but This is not kids' fault, it's what phones are designed to do ”
Many schools also decided to create a school wide policy that every student follows no matter the class However, some teachers continue to have their own way of handling this problem
“Phone use has been a pain in the butt over the years, and everything I have tried in the past has had mixed results until last year when I tried something that finally worked for me,” Mr Keefe, Plymouth North teacher, said I drilled a phone pouch into my desk; every kid gets assigned a number and they put their phone in it at the start of class; they get it back at the end; I take attendance using the pouches--no phone means you re absent
Having their own system to control phone use in the classroom gives the teachers a chance to mold their class into how they want while having rules that they can make reasonable for everyone
With these stricter guidelines regarding the use of phones there are always mixed reactions by the student body
Students always have reasons for why they should be allowed with their phones during class, which conflicts with how schools view reasons they use them
“Students want to use their phone during class mainly because they are bored, but there are also important stuff that they need to look at that isn’t possible to see on a chromebook,” Nicholas Racette-Delafano, Plymouth North Student, said
“I don’t mind this new policy personally, but it’s obvious that students are using their phones too much during class,” Kalil Landers, Plymouth North Student, said “I think the school could handle this process without the policy by letting teachers just use phone slips and warnings
Just like Plymouth North other schools like Brockton High School created their own way of controlling phone usage for the new school year Brockton High School launched their Yonder pouch cell phone policy during their first day of school and it’s still ongoing
This policy requires students to put their cellphones into a Yonder pouch and then place those pouches into their lockers or backpacks This policy isn’t a new one either as other schools such as Fall River, Northbridge, Springfield and more also use this method
If you look outside of Massachusetts, High schools in states like California either follow traditional rules like students keeping their phones in their backpacks, or are more laid back and don't enforce the phone rules at all
In June 2024, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, had recently passed a proposal that would ban students from using their cell phones and social media during the school day This decision was aimed to enhance academic focus and concentrate on mental health concerns among students Although there are lots of mixed reactions stemming from this decision being able to stop distractions in schools to concerns about communication during emergencies this proposal has yet to be required However the board seeks to have this policy in place by January 2025
With technology advancing more and more, many believe high schools will always have to deal with the problem of obsessive phone use As of now, these new phone policies seem to be working for these high schools, and look like they will continue to be in place
German Student Attends Plymouth North
A closer look into the transformative power of studying abroad
Lily Meyer is a junior at North but she is not from Plymouth Massachusetts or even the United States Meyer is from Munich Germany where she has lived with her parents for her whole life up until a few months ago Over the summer Meyer boarded a plane and came to Plymouth where she moved into her grandparents’ house and began preparing for a year of American high school
This is not Meyer’s first time in The United States She first visited Plymouth when she was just four months old, and has been returning in the summers since to visit with her American family members Meyer’s grandparents, Mrs Linda Lepera and Mr Michael Lepera, were thrilled to provide her with the chance to study in America
“Exposure to the American education system can give her new perspectives on learning and opportunities to study different subjects,” said Mrs Lepera, who grew up in America
Their daughter - Meyer s mom - is a Plymouth North alum so Mr and Mrs Lepera were familiar with the environment that their granddaughter was being thrown into unlike some foreign students Nevertheless an initial feeling of unfamiliarity seems almost unavoidable when one is studying abroad
“People already have established friend groups so it’s sometimes hard to fit in,” Meyer said
Even so, it did not take long for Meyer to adjust to the social life in Plymouth
“Everyone has been welcoming and I’ve felt included,” she said
One way she was able to meet people at Plymouth North was through school events and clubs
“Everyone is super involved in sports and clubs here,” Meyer said “Most people join sports clubs outside of school School sports are a much bigger deal [in America].”
Another difference Meyer has noticed is that American school lunches differ from those in Munich In fact, most German students wait until the school day ends at two to go home and eat lunch
It s very different here where school lunch is more of a thing Meyer said
By Ellie Rogers
In Germany it is atypical to eat in school at all Although their day starts about an hour later than ours it is still shocking from the American perspective to imagine getting through an entire 6 hour school day without a meal
“It’s kind of nice how we can just eat snacks during class here,” Meyer said
Academically, German schools such as Meyer’s are heavily focused on exams and performance Their teachers tend to be much stricter, and every class moves at an accelerated pace that would be equivalent to (or harder than) Advanced Placement classes at Plymouth North
Even Meyer’s gym class is more rigorous in Germany; German students must be able to run for forty minutes and demonstrate skill and ability in their units If a student is not talented enough in a sport, then they are expected to practice outside of school or risk a failing grade
“Here, homework, participation, and effort seem to play a bigger role in overall grades Meyer said In Germany we are expected to review our lessons for homework but it isn t graded We just have to prepare in case of cold calls
By cold calls Meyer is referring to the teaching tactic commonly used by her teachers in Germany: They call on a student at random and expect them to recite the previous day’s lesson They are graded on their ability to recount the lesson
Despite the changes, Meyer has adapted well to academics in the U S “Having Meyer in class is truly a giftshe is able to offer unique cultural perspectives,” said Mrs Michelle Lewison, the AP French teacher at Plymouth North
Because of the different academic standards in Germany, Meyer is taking AP French despite only being a junior Mrs Lewison hopes her other students can learn from Meyer’s decision to study in America
“A study abroad experience can be very effective at pushing us out of our comfort zone,” Mrs Lewison said
Despite the many intimidating cultural differences, studying abroad is a worthwhile experience
“Studying at North has helped me to grow both personally and academically,” Meyer said Studying in a foreign country has the power to transform a person in unforeseen ways It is important that students expose themselves to varying peoples and ideas as soon as possible Don t put it off Mrs Lewison said we regret the things we didn’t do far more than what we do ”
Lily Meyers competing for Plymouth North Track and Field
Voters Protect Servers Pay with No Vote on Question #5
By Caelan McNiff
For the voting that happened on November 5th in Massachusetts there was a new ballot question that would’ve allowed servers to get paid minimum wage However, much to the happiness of restaurant workers, this new bill did not pass
Usually servers get paid $6 75 an hour but if this law passes then that will change The minimum wage is $15 in the state of Massachusetts This law may sound good, but servers all over Massachusetts are fighting against this question
The servers that are currently in the restaurant business understand why this law did not pass While for others, it is hard to understand why the question did not pass It is hard for people who don’t work in the restaurant business to fully understand what it will be like
Current state laws require restaurants to ensure that servers and bartenders earn at least minimum wage, including tips, but in reality, many servers earn two to three times that amount, often earning even high pay,” Jen Eori, CJ’s Bar and Grill owner, said
At this time servers don’t get paid a lot when working hourly However, that necessarily doesn’t mean that they don’t make money They make a lot more money with the tips they get now, even with the hourly rate being as low as it is
What is question #5? “Question 5 is aiming to gradually increase servers’ minimum wage over the next 5 years until it reaches 100% of the state minimum wage in 2029,” Kayla Steen, server at Cabby Shack, said “Once it reaches 100%, tips would be pooled among all employees at the establishment regardless of whether they work in tipped positions
But there are always more sides to every story Some people believe that this will be a good thing, so then there is less money coming out of their pockets
While many citizens of Massachusetts don’t want this law to pass very few of them think it’s a good thing that it passes Thousands of servers are leaving the restaurant industry until they get the state minimum wage according to One Fair Wage Campaign
“I believe that restaurant workers deserve to have a consistent and fair paycheck like the entire rest of the state Tipped workers are forced to work themselves out from beneath the floor of a minimum wage that the state decided on Furthermore, customers have been forced to unknowingly subsidize employers’ labor costs ” Grace McGovern One Fair Wage Campaign member, said
If this law did end up passing, it would have affected the local restaurant owners, making them have to increase menu prices just so they were able to pay their employees “It could lead to skyrocketing prices that would discourage patrons from dining out ” Jen Eori, CJ’s Bar and Grill owner, said
It can influence a lot more than just the workers there As for owners of restaurants they must work harder to get more business to make up for the funds being spent on paying the servers
With the voting coming up soon, most people are leaning towards voting no on this question There are servers all over who are voting no, and they are wearing and putting out all sorts of things to make it known that they don’t want this to change
With this law not passing, servers don’t have to worry about the thought of their minimum wage increasing They also won’t have to worry about pooling their tips with other people
Roughly 64% of Massachusetts citizens voted no on question 5, leaving their minimum wage at the same rate as before
The 2024 Presidential Election
What Plymouth North seniors thought about heading to the polls for the first time
This year, students around the country prepared to cast their ballots for the first time, finally participating in America’s unique democratic process that they have witnessed for so long Whether students see voting as just one in a sea of opportunities that come with becoming an adult or feel strongly about their new civic responsibility, it is impossible to overlook such a milestone
The 2024 election was a historic one; former President Donald Trump faced off against Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to run for president Harris stepped up as the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden announced he would not run for reelection
By Maeve Geary
Never before had a presidential nominee dropped out of the race so close to election day In the end, Donald Trump would win the presidential election with 277 electoral college votes
There were many seniors at Plymouth North who were tasked with deciding whether or not to take part in the election process Senior Grace Franzoni who turned eighteen on election day, described feeling a newfound sense of responsibility prior to the election
“It's important for people to vote in this election, even if they feel like their vote doesn’t matter because I believe your vote does matter, especially when it comes to local policies,” Franzoni said “It's important for young people to be heard We have the power to make change just as much as any generation ”
With the overwhelming amount of information that comes with making an educated vote on all aspects of the ballot, there is research that students will have to do themselves if they plan to vote Mr Steven Moore, a history teacher at Plymouth North, noted that schools can only do so much
“Being prepared to be a voter means taking that responsibility into your own hands The readiness of any voter relies on recognition of the great responsibility that it is,” Mr Moore said “The only way to truly understand anything is to be open to all views Read and listen to sources that represent a broad range of perspectives and talk to different people Democracy is about listening and finding common ground ”
Bartender seen at Mama Mia’s in downtown Plymouth
What many students, whether they are of voting age or not, find themselves confused by is the election process itself Since 2018, public schools in Massachusetts have been required to provide a course on civics in eighth grade, with a focus on how the United States government functions, the election process, and the importance of voting
While this is widely seen as a step in the right direction toward promoting civic engagement and preparing students to become voters, this year's seniors took the course during the 2020-2021 school year, which saw a majority of Massachusetts schools switch to hybrid or remote learning due to challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic According to students this affected their ability to retain the information taught to them about the election process in America Despite this setback, students are finding ways to keep themselves educated
“Every single day I am reading newspaper articles and watching the news I m keeping myself up to date with the election and I think everybody out there should too,” said Plymouth North senior Nora Contrino “I think the school system should take a little more time to educate students on how elections work, because right now I feel like we haven’t spoken about the election at all ”
Additionally, many people around the country look at the United States Electoral College system and wonder how much impact their vote truly has Some students with concerns have taken research on politics to the next level, aiming to find solutions Some students, such as senior Joana Torres, question whether the Electoral College upholds democratic principles and show support for alternative voting systems
“I think it’s a system that has the ability to be flawed like for example a candidate can be more popular in overall votes but still lose the election because of the Electoral College I think it kinda goes against democracy by making some votes worth more than others, in a way I believe that we should switch to ranked-choice voting ”
Ranked-choice voting is a system where instead of voting for one candidate, voters rank candidates in order of preference If a candidate gets more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win If no candidate does, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and their votes are passed to the second-choice candidate This process continues until a candidate has more than 50% of the votes
Many seniors at Plymouth North seized the opportunity to make their way to the polls this year, their preparations and research showing dedication to bettering their country and community through voting and making the voices of their generation heard With the continued support of the school system in keeping students educated and informed on their civic duty the United States can keep democracy thriving
MCAS Exit Exam - No Longer the Ticket to a High School Diploma
Raised score requirements for MCAS prompts ballot action to remove standardized testing as a graduation requirement
By Caitlin Richer
In August of 2022, Massachusetts raised the score needed to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) for math and English Currently in order to graduate, students must pass the MCAS, which may create another barrier for students to receive their diploma on time This November, the fate of the MCAS exit exam has been determined by the 59% of Massachusetts citizens who voted yes on question 2
“Yes, the raised standards for the MCAS, particularly for the class of 2026 and beyond, have made the test more challenging,” said PNHS math teacher, Mr Alex Cardoso “Some reports suggest that more students are finding it difficult to meet these new benchmarks especially in math and English ”
This decision was made by the Massachusetts Department of Education in 2022, causing more students to not earn passing scores on standardized tests They are now asked to reach a level of proficiency more demanding than before, which is impacting student achievement at Plymouth North and around Massachusetts
Mrs Elizabeth Laz, an English teacher at Plymouth North, said that “The kids that are at the bottom already, it just unnecessarily beats them down further They’re already trying very hard just to pass high school, and then they have this test hanging over their heads It just maximizes their stress ”
For the 2024-2025 school year, students prepare for the increased difficulty of the MCAS exams As many struggle to meet these new standards school administrators and teachers must find new strategies to support students with difficulties in Mathematics and English
“While the MCAS may pose challenges to students the test is designed so that students have multiple opportunities for success, said Ms Jillian Furtado, Vice Principal of PNHS “With every opportunity, educators are able to review student assessment data, and supplement the child's education ”
Despite the changing standards, schools across Massachusetts have been requiring standardized testing to graduate ever since the class of 2003 Just recently, the 2024 ballot questions included an initiative to eliminate MCAS as a graduation requirement altogether Ballot question 2's results will repeal this exit exam as a requirement for graduation
The MCAS exit exam affects some people more than others Take, for example, those who are learning English as a second language These students are still required by Massachusetts law to participate and pass the MCAS exam for graduation
These students are put at a disproportionate disadvantage compared to those whose first language is English While they can use a dictionary on the exam the high stakes standardized tests puts them more at risk of not meeting the proposed standards
Since November 5th when voters took to the polls, the fate of the MCAS exit exam was only supported by 41% of Massachusetts voters Massachusetts isn t the first state to propose the elimination of standardized testing as a graduation requirement Only the following eight states still require this type of testing: Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and Louisiana
As of November 5th 2024 voters took to the polls to support their take on MCAS exit exams Following the election, voters have determined that students will not be required to pass the standardized test as their ticket to receive a high school diploma Students educators, and administrators will soon see the effects of this termination of the MCAS exit exam in relation to it being a graduation requirement
Students at Plymouth North High School voting in school’s mock election
Survival of the Funniest
Plymouth North’s comedy play increases competition among VPA actors
By Amy Lee
“Cut! That’s a wrap ” Plymouth North’s Visual Performing Arts program employed “cuts” during the casting process for the first time in years for the fall play
Suite Surrender is a play set in a hotel in Palm Beach during World War II The comedic farce highlights the feud between two celebrity divas accidentally placed in the same presidential suite, and the hotel staff struggling to accommodate both of them With a small cast of only nine, the production is an artistic endeavor that actors and directors have faced the challenge of navigating
“This is a cast of nine after doing plays of forty people It was a hard hurdle to jump over to think that ‘oh, maybe some of the people I’m used to acting with won’t be in it or maybe I won’t get to act,” Lily Caple, who played the role of the diva, Claudia McFadden, described
Auditions in September were the beginning of the highly selective casting process So selective, in fact, that callbacks were not even necessary The first, and only, round of auditions functioned as both the typical open casting call and callbacks
Logistically, Mr David Grossman claimed a smaller cast is easier to manage, considering the play’s quick turnaround, “The way the calendar shakes out for the fall our only option is to do these plays in 6 weeks, with about 18 rehearsals total When you're juggling more schedules, you end up with more and more situations where you have to block or rehearse a scene with people missing ”
There are benefits that cast members have experienced with a smaller production, as well “Small casts can be very nice because you get to do more interpersonal character work There is more time dedicated to figuring out your relationships with other characters,” Caple stressed
Aside from the change in social environment, one of the biggest concepts for participants to navigate has been the theater program’s switch from tragic dramas to light-hearted comedies
Mr Grossman said, “I love a good farce fast pacing, mistaken identities, innuendo, people constantly running in and out of places, they're just funny The last two years, our plays have been a lot more serious it seemed right to balance that out with something that was just a good time ”
While the timing may have been right, some actors found the transition to comedy difficult
Emma LaPierre, playing the role of Dora Del Rio, a gossip columnist, said, “I think comedic plays are so much harder because anyone can act out an emotion but, at least for my character, it’s a lot of physical acting and just getting jokes to land ”
Even though competition is increasing for sought-after roles, actors and directors hope that the selective casting process does not deter potential stars from auditioning, despite seven out of nine of the actors being seniors for the fall play “I know that a lot of underclassmen trying to get into the theater world opted out of auditioning,” LaPierre remarked, about the production
However, the program’s need for students in other capacities, such as stage management, costume design, and lighting design should not be overlooked “I truly, truly believe that there's a place for everybody in the process of putting on a show I think that looking at the non-performing jobs of a production as a sort of consolation prize takes away from the absolute necessity, artistry, and creativity of those roles,” Mr Grossman emphasized
Moreover, he encourages interested performers to display their talent in other showcases, such as the coffeehouse on December 13th at 7pm in the Blackbox Theater at Plymouth South High School Sign ups open in midNovember
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EmmaLaPierreasDoraDelRio
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AllyChamberlainasAthenaSinclair EllaDunlapasMurphyStevens
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