We're fortunate to live somewhere where we have access to the resources necessary to have a strong musicianship culture. I'm happy that we were able to get so many people because that really shows how dedicated everyone is.
Jared WangThis year’s Massachusetts Music Educators Association AllState auditions selected an unprecedented number of South musicians. 11 students were chosen to be members across the three All-State ensembles, including five being selected as participants of the 19-member jazz ensemble. In order to participate in the All-State ensemble, students must first audition for spots in their local districts, with top players from each district being invited to audition to play with the All-State ensemble.
This project will enhance the experience of visitors by providing adequate space for current programming while putting into place important environmental and ecological protections.
Ruth Balser State RepresentativeI don't understand why the city is asking for a tax override and prioritizing remodeling Crystal Lake instead of remodeling schools.
Dubi Kelmer Newton Resident
The Crystal Lake construction is set to start development in December 2023. The proposed construction will expand lifeguard areas, picnic areas and the parking lot while building wheelchair-accessible regions. However, opposition comes from residents, as it will build on free sections of the lake, leaving only minimal space for lake-goers. Additional controversy exists over the city’s directing of funding to the project rather than on other matters like the school system.
I'm excited to play in Boston Symphony Hall, which is crazy. To meet other oboists is always really fun because there are not a ton of us around.
Hooper
On Jan. 30, Governor Maura Healy filed a $282 million supplemental spending bill, including an $85 million portion being used for the state’s emergency services for eligible residents. The bill mainly looks to resolve pressing issues like food and housing insecurities across the state. Massachusetts schools are also set to be greatly benefitted by the bill with a $21.9 million portion being used to support underfunded schools.
Our administration is committed to ensuring that families in Massachusetts have access to the shelter, health care, education, food assistance and other services they need.
Maura Healy Governor ofMassachusetts via Associated Press
Through this bill, we’re also seeking to infuse more funding to programs that make sure kids don’t go hungry at school. These are essential programs that must be maintained.
Kim Driscoll Lieutenant Governor via public statement
photo by Eva Shimkus
class of '24
Claire
class of '23
photo courtesy of Mass Live
photo courtesy of newton.gov
graphics by Emily Cheng
The South administration announced the ratification of the Holiday Homework Bill during a faculty meeting on Jan. 10, granting students a homework-free day on the unobserved holidays of Lunar New Year, Diwali and Eid al-Fitr. Tests and projects are also not permitted to occur or be due the day after these holidays.
Senate President and member of South’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee senior Wasan Rafat has worked closely with the South administration to negotiate the bill since it was first proposed in 2021. Rafat said that the bill’s impact will cultivate cultural appreciation at South.
“It’s allowing everyone a chance for religious observance outside of school because we already don't have a day off as it is,” she said. “It’s the least that we can do as a community.”
South’s Asian Student Organization (ASO) was the first to propose a homeworkfree Lunar New Year and has been pushing for the bill for years, ASO faculty advisor and chemistry teacher Suzy Drurey said.
“For a number of years, ASO has been running petitions to have Lunar New Year as not just an observed holiday, but actually a homework-free holiday,” she said. “And from 2019 we have sent out petitions and had club members sign it. We brought it up to the school committee and everything.”
Senior Chloe Yu said that the recognition of ethnic holidays allows students like herself, who have previously felt their cultures overlooked at South, to feel acknowledged.
“I'm all about wanting these cultures to be recognized because for the longest time, even when I was in elementary school, I never really talked about them and why it was important. I learned it all from my parents and the books that I read in my free time,” she said.
The bill allows students to celebrate important holidays without making them choose between their culture and academic success. Sophomore Iswar Madhusudan said that in the past, homework has interfered with his celebration of Diwali.
“I had to write an English essay on Diwali, and I was completely busy the entirety of the day. Diwali is one of the only days of the year that I can truly celebrate my culture, and it's the biggest Indian holiday for most,” he said. “When I had to do an essay, I was a little bit devastated by the fact that I wouldn't be able to practice this holiday because I've been doing it since I was very little.”
Although the bill is a good start, junior Darya Rostami said that the school should take further steps to educate people on the cultures represented.
“I think [the bill] is enough when it comes to schoolwork, but I don't think it’s enough when it comes to educating people
about the culture,” she said. “It's not even just Eid. Even the start of Ramadan, or just the month in general, is so beautiful to learn about. I don’t understand why the school doesn’t at least talk about it if there's not a day off.”
History department head Jennifer Morrill said that she hopes that with greater education and discussion in classes, the community can further appreciate these holidays.
“Now that we are formally acknowledging some of the more dominant holidays in the cultures of students in the school, it
would be a nice opportunity for teachers to pause briefly and say what that holiday is, and certainly in history classes,” she said.
The lasting impacts of the bill on the South community do not only include the cultivation of diversity and cultural appreciation, but also a demonstration to students that their cultures matter, Drurey said.
“You've acknowledged that the students have an identity, you're acknowledging their culture and you're recognizing how important it is to them,” she said. “It's beneficial to all of us.”
ChatGPT can be particularly helpful when used as a resource for students in the writing process.
used to cheat. Ultimately, though, Shanahan said that it is the student’s responsibility to not cheat.
cannot be solved with a simple ban on the website.
Since its launch on Nov. 30, 2022, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, offering users all over the world free groundbreaking resources for brainstorming and creating. The online artificial intelli gence (AI) program that produces written responses to user-fed prompts has sparked debate among students, teachers and admin istrators concerning its role in classrooms and education.
To facilitate these conversations, since Jan. 3, English department head Brian Baron has held weekly WIN block meetings on Thursdays for students and teachers to dis cuss ChatGPT’s potential impacts in their English classes. He said that he created the space to navigate an uncertain future with AI.
“It’s going to have a profound effect, and I don't know that we totally understand what its effects are yet,” he said. “This is going to be part of our lives going forward, and we're all going to have to decide where the lines are for us.”
Senior Audrey Wei, who is president of South’s division of the American Com puter Science League, said that ChatGPT provides many benefits for students strug gling with classwork.
“It can help you brainstorm ideas, answer questions, help you with a practice problem or explain a concept you didn't quite understand during class,” she said.
Senior Vivek Vallurupalli said that
“Whether it’s for a general outline or for an extra idea or two, it can definitely be used responsibly as a creative tool,” he said. Despite these possible positive applications of ChatGPT, some faculty and students like senior Dylan Shanahan are concerned with the program’s potential to be
“Of course, there's the whole conception of ChatGPT being the ultimate cheating tool, [but] I feel like that's mostly on the student,” he said.
English teacher Kelly Henderson said that although the program may make cheating more accessible, the issue of dishonesty
“You can do anything you want to try to avoid it, but people are going to cheat if they want to cheat. The question is more interesting if we think about why people choose to cheat and what they should be getting out of a high school education,” she said.
Baron said that he hopes an external factor like ChatGPT will not affect a student’s moral compass or motivation.
“I generally don't think kids want to cheat. Most kids want to feel proud of what they did,” he said. “They want to feel happy that they're progressing and learning.”
At the end of the day, ChatGPT can’t replicate a traditional, in-person English education, sophomore Grace Santos said.
“English teachers teach so much more than how to write essays. They give you communication skills and life skills, and they teach you how to be in the real world,” they said. There is no way that this machine could ever replace the number of things that English teachers give
Henderson said that overreliance on AI is a symptom of larger trends that take away from the school’s focus on the emotional and academic development of
“The more we focus on test scores and grades, the bigger our class sizes get and the more overwhelmed teachers and students get, the more likely it is that we live in a world where people rely on AI to do their work,” she said. “We need to do everything we can to invest in schools and systems that prioritize our humanity.”
Anearly 15-acre parcel of land across from Newton South between Dudley and Brandeis Roads was recently offered to the City of Newton for purchase. Before putting the property on the open market, the sellers gave the city an exclusive window of time to consider making an offer. If the city acquired the land, they would be able to have some control over how the land is used.
On Nov. 3, 2022, the city reached out to developers to solicit interest from companies who would be interested in developing the land. In late January, a committee of city officials named three finalists from the nine initial plans and one as their leading choice.
The plan would build small-scale housing, both single-family houses and duplexes, in partnership with developing companies Civico and NOW Communities.
The plan for the new housing development would also include a community building or activity area and emphasizes an environmentally-conscious design for minimal disturbance to the land. 20% of the units will be designated as affordable housing.
The three parcels that make up the
Dudley Road Estate include Lot 1, a roughly one-acre plot with a house at 85 Dudley Road; Lot 2, a 13-acre parcel of open space between Dudley and Brandeis Roads; and Lot 3, which has a house at 132 Brandeis Road.
The 15-acre expanse covers the wooded land across Brandeis Road from South, where Wellness classes occasionally frequent and students can gain access by foot to Route 9.
City Council Vice President and Land Use Committee Chair Rick Lipof was a member of the review team that studied the plans and informed the mayor on the various options.
He said that his knowledge of the area as a City Councilor for the ward containing the parcel of land and of the housing market as a real-estate expert helped him to look at a wide range of criteria when examining development companies.
Along with a team of city officials, Lipof said that he interviewed interested developers between Dec. 16 and Dec. 22, 2022.
“We spent hours reviewing them, ordering them, rating them for many aspects including,‘Do they answer our questions? Have [they] done these types of developments before? What kind of diversity, equity and inclusion do [they] have in [their] company and the companies that [they’ll] work with to do this development?’” he said.
After rounds of review, the three finalist proposals included The Abbey Group’s plan for a 55+ adult housing community, Penrose LLC’s plan for constructing rental townhouses, and Civico and NOW Communities’ plan for small-scale housing.
In a Jan. 25 memo, the committee submitted their recommendations to the mayor. The board was unable to consider public opinion during the two-month long process to select a developer, but Lipof said there will be opportunities for the public to be involved in the coming months.
“ If we are able to put the property under agreement, which means we're going to buy it, that is the moment when we will go to the neighborhood, to the public, and have public hearings,” he said. “The public will be involved in the decision of what gets built there.”
Still, Lipoff said that as the review team evaluated the options, they prioritized transparency with the public by posting details of all of the proposed plans on the city’s website.
While the city attempts to increase collaboration, members of the South community have differing opinions about what should be done with the land, especially considering its close proximity to the school.
Librarian Jennifer Dimmick said she supports the need for affordable housing in the area, but recognizes that there may be consequences that affect the surrounding community.
“It would be nice if [the Dudley Estate] could be a mix of housing and include some affordable housing, but also some open space,” she said. “I think their traffic will increase substantially, depending on how much housing you put in there.”
Sophomore Ella Hurwitz said that although affordable housing in Newton is necessary, considering its overall impact is also important.
“I think [affordable housing is] something we really need in Newton, especially with all of the new high-end things that are being built.” she said. “It’ll definitely change traffic and the distribution of people in schools and things like that and the allocation of funding.”
Predicting an increase in traffic, sophomore Sarina Chand said the benefits of new housing would come with drawbacks and that South students would benefit from the land being turned into a public park or recreational space instead.
“Because there's already so much of a traffic jam, they shouldn't really add more houses to the area,” she said. “Personally, I think that they should keep some sort of pathways that South students can get through and make it something recreational, like a park, or leave it as a green space.”
Freshman Shinwon Chang said that she hopes the land will be developed to become more useful to South students.
“Since it's so close to South, if Newton does purchase it, I would love to see it be somewhat tied to our school, and since a lot of students go through there to get home, for a proper [walking] path to be created,” she said.
As proposals continue to be a matter of debate, Lipof said the community’s needs have always been a priority in making the choice for the Dudley Estate.
"We can get land for the school. We can control what's built there, and we want some
Rick Lipof City Council Vice President and Review Team memberopen space. We want some walking trails, and we want the development to be controlled by us in the neighborhood,” he said. “We choose the best that can be there. That's what the city gets."
We want the development to be controlled by us in the neighborhood. We choose the best that can be there. That's what the city gets.
Since it's so close to South, if Newton does purchase it, I would love to see it somewhat tied to our school since a lot of stdents go through there.
Shinwon Chan class of '26graphic by Julie Wang
This fall, seniors Perla Perez and Paris Figuereo were selected for the competitive, full-tuition Posse scholarship, marking the first time that two South students have received the scholarship in a single year. After passing three rounds of interviews, over 800 students nationwide were chosen for the scholarship out of thousands of nominees.
Established in 1989, The Posse Foundation recruits diverse students with academic and leadership potential from over 20 U.S. cities to attend one of its 64 partner colleges. A hallmark of the program is its grouping of 10 students into a “Posse” that meets weekly over the eight months before college to develop leadership skills and build a community.
Perez and Figuereo were nominated by METCO counselor Katani Sumner, who said she was delighted when she heard they would be two of the 50 students selected to attend one of the colleges that partner with Boston through the scholarship.
“[I was] over the moon excited because we’ve never had two. I was shocked,” she said. “It’s kind of big because there are only five schools so there are only 50 kids [from Boston] that get picked.”
Figuereo will attend Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Perez will attend Bucknell University. The Posse scholarship required them to apply through early decision and
will provide full-tuition assistance. Figuereo said she’s thankful that the opportunity will lessen the financial burden of college.
“I've always prayed that I would be going to college for free,” she said. “I'm really appreciative of Ms. Sumner for seeing something in me and pushing me to go ahead and do this program.”
‘12 graduate Raymond Farmer, the first South student to be selected for Posse and now an optometrist, said the program looks for students with strong interpersonal skills who demonstrate growth and commitment to their passions.
“They want someone who's going to excel by themselves, but then around others, they make the whole group better,” he said. “You want to find what you're passionate about … and then stick with that.”
Figuereo embodies many of these qualities, her guidance counselor Christina Brown said.
“Paris is an incredible student and person, just [a] wonderful personality,” she said.“Posse really works to create a cohesive group, and I think Paris in any group would be an asset.”
In addition to the scholarship’s financial component, the Posse Foundation supports its scholars by providing mentorship at college and professional development opportunities. ‘21 graduate Maya Hernandez said that her group of Posse scholars helped her find a community when she began college.
“When you go to college, you're not going to know anyone … but I knew going in that I was already friends with nine people,” she said. “Once school actually started, I already had people that I knew, and I had people in my corner.”
Perez said that this strong sense of community played a part in her decision to participate in the program.
“It's more than a scholarship,” she said. “You're not alone and you're constantly being supported. Posse also gives you connections around the country. … It's great for life experience.”
Perez’s work ethic helped her stand out in the application process, senior and longtime friend Mary Lareau said.
"She puts a lot of time and effort into everything that she does, and when she's passionate about something, you can really tell because of the amount of work she puts into it,” she
said. “That was one of the things that probably drew their attention to her."
Figuereo said Posse’s resources will support her future career in nursing, her intended major. Through nursing, she said she looks forward to working with children while exploring science and making an impact.
“Nursing was really the one thing that I was like, ‘I know I could do this and I could help change a child's life,’” she said. “We don't have many people of color in medical fields, so I wanted to be a part of that percentage. I wanted to know that I was going to work and I was making a change in someone's life and in society.”
Perez also plans to pursue the medical sciences. With interests in neuroscience, she has a goal of becoming a doctor.
“I've liked science throughout my years, and the brain has always been interesting to me. I'm taking both psychology and neurobiology right now, but neurobiology speaks more to me,” she said.
Figuereo said she is grateful that her Posse cohort will support her throughout her time at college.
“I'm going into college with a group of people, and I know I'm going to leave with them as well,” she said. “My Posse, I'm already really close to them. They're amazing kids.”
As recipients of the Posse scholarship, Perla Perez and Paris Figuereo make history as the first two South students in a single year to be selected for the prestigious honor
Ava Ransbotham, Suvi Talvitie and Lily Zarrphoto contributed by Perla Perez
I'm going into college with a group of people, and I know I'm going to leave with them as well. My Posse, I'm already really close to them. They're amazing kids.”
Paris Figuereo class of '23
[Perla] puts a lot of time and effort into everything that she does and when she's passionate about something, you can really tell because of the amount of work she puts into it.
Mary Lareau class of '23Scholarship recipients and seniors Perla Perez and Paris Figuereo at a Posse event.
issuu.com/thelionsroar
Volume 39, Issue 6
Vote Yes: Override ensures quality education
On March 14, Newton residents will face three questions on their special election ballots. The three ballot initiatives will decide whether or not the city increases its tax levy to override the 1980 state law Proposition 2 ½, which limits the amount of property tax revenue a community can raise each year.
Question One asks to raise property taxes for a general operating override of $9.175 million, half of which will go towards funding for Newton Public Schools (NPS). The remainder will help fund senior services, road and sidewalk improvements, park and playground maintenance and tree planting.
Questions Two and Three ask to raise property taxes to fund two debt exclusion overrides that would provide funding of $3.5 million and $2.3 million to the Franklin and Countryside Elementary Schools construction projects, respectively. Debt exclusion overrides cease once construction of the projects is complete, so once the construction costs are paid (around 2030), the annual tax increases of an average of $183 will be removed.
If the general operating override is passed, the median homeowner would have to pay $290 more in taxes each year.
The City Council’s Nov. 21 decision to hold a special election on these measures comes at a historic moment for Newton due to the rarity of overrides in our city, relative to our neighboring communities. Since 2000,
Brookline has passed five overrides, Lexington has passed nine, Needham has passed 11 and Wellesley has passed 14.
In Newton, successful overrides passed in 2002 and 2013, the latter providing the funding for the construction of Zervas Elementary School and the Fire Department Headquarters. It also led to street repairs and the hiring of 51 new educators and aides in schools, as well as four police officers.
Newton is long overdue for a tax increase. Pandemic inflation rose from 1.4% in 2020 to 6.5% in 2022, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s data. The NPS budget saw $5.1 million in new expenses in areas like health insurance, gas, utilities and transportation. Franklin and Countryside are crumbling. We all bear witness to the deteriorating infrastructure in Newton, especially during this winter season — roads need to be fixed, sidewalks improved and parks maintained.
To ensure this spending doesn’t become another heap to the pile of our city’s debt of $25 million, we need to secure an increase in tax revenue for a better Newton for everyone, especially its youngest residents. By concentrating the bulk of the revenue from this override into public schools, the city government shows their commitment to education, perhaps Newton’s biggest drawing factor.
periences at Countryside and pre-2013 Zervas with leaky pipes, broken temperature systems and a general deterioration straying from the shiny public image of this town’s school system. After Zervas’ renovation, younger siblings of our staff report having a more pleasant school experience.
Countryside, on the other hand, is in high need of improvements. Built on wetlands in the 1950s, the school has experienced significant flooding and relies on sewage pumps to keep its basement above water, according to its existing conditions report. Without the additional taxes for Countryside and Franklin, Mayor Fuller reported that the city will not have the debt service capacity to gain state funding that will pay for the bulk of the construction projects.
In regards to our own school, South would stand to gain a lot from the override; or rather, it would stand to lose less than without it. South would be able to avoid overcrowded classrooms, teacher and supply cuts and class fees like in art classes. We could keep small electives, specialty programs that allow our school to thrive in unique and engaging ways.
to return from pre-pandemic normalcy would suffer higher taxes, despite many store owners not living in Newton and not having a say in the vote’s outcome. And adding to taxes in an already expensive city seems, to some, excessive. Even so, increasing taxes is valid if it goes to improving the community. Not only is our city built on the promise of a strong education, but our state relies on education as an investment into future income. With the prospect of new direction under a new superintendent, these new funds will provide a fresh start as our community exits pandemic restrictions. As a community, we cannot afford to give up on funding our children. Schools have always been and must remain a top priority.
Conditions in those public schools, however, are worsening. The Roar staff recalls ex-
However, there are two sides to the override to take into account — elementary schools’ enrollment is on the decline, with a projected drop of 8% from now until 2027, raising questions about investing further in smaller schools like Franklin.
Small businesses that are still struggling
Improve your technique by shooting sports games, school events and staged illustrations.
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Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper
Conduct interviews, report on compelling topics or write about your own opinions.
The Lion’s Roar, founded in 1984, is the student newspaper of Newton South High School, acting as a public forum for student views and attitudes.
The Lion’s Roar’s right to freedom of expression is protected by the Massachusetts Student Free Expression Law (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 71, Section 82). All content decisions are made by student editors, and the content of The Lion’s Roar in no way reflects the official policy of Newton South, its faculty, or its administration.
Editorials are the official opinion of The Lion’s Roar, while opinions and letters are the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Lion’s Roar The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submitted content, to reject advertising copy for resubmission of new copy that is deemed acceptable by student editors, and to make decisions regarding the submission of letters to the editors, which are welcomed.
The Lion’s Roar is printed by Seacoast Newspapers and published every four weeks by Newton South students. All funding comes from advertisers and subscriptions.
In-school distribution of The Lion’s Roar is free, but each copy of the paper shall cost one dollar for each copy more than ten (10) that is taken by any individual or by many individuals on behalf of a single individual. Violation of this policy shall constitute theft.
140 Brandeis Road Newton, MA 02459 srstaff@thelionsroar.com
Editors-in-Chief
Emily Schwartz
Eva Shimkus
Managing Editors
Sarah Feinberg
Julian Phillips
Section Editors
Sarah Wei
Message The-Lion’s Roar on Facebook or email srstaff@thelionsroar.com for more information. Scan this QR code to register to vote by March 4. You are still eligible if you turn 18 by March 14.
News
Grace Dempsey
Jaesuh Lee
Julia Lee
Lily Zarr Centerfold
Bella Ishanyan
Matan Josephy
Features
Sanjana Deshpande
Ella Hou
Molly Johnson
Emma Zhang
Photo Managers
Gianna Burgess
Maureen Caulfield
Ines Koci
Opinions
Danielle Berdichevsky
Ahona Dam
Annika Engelbrecht
Risha Sinha
Melinda Yung
Sports
Marisa MacDonald
Zach Rhein
John Timko
Clare Tourtelotte
Pawdcast
Ari Gordon
Faculty Advisor
Ashley Chapman
Graphics Managers
Caitlin Ang
Emily Cheng
Adrienne Lirio
Julie Wang
Grace Dempsey
We know to look for you in the Strand, or Boston’s version, at least. We love living vicariously through our resident city girl and we’ll Forever & Always be rooting for you.
Jaesuh Lee
Most loyal Wegmans employee and Roar’s spirit. You truly embody Mr. Wegman’s mission statement,“Never think about yourself; always help others.”
Lily Zarr
The true MVP. A natural leader — without you, no news would be broken. Your Cheerios in Lang are iconic and always make our mornings.
Julia Lee
“Heyyyy Julia!” It’s always a joy to run into you in the hallways, and your clarinet playing lights up early Wind Ensemble rehearsals.
Julie Wang
The GOAT. Could come up with a jawdropping graphic in the span of two minutes. A constantly flowing waterfall of creativity, you help bring the paper to life.
Emily Cheng
Starbucks’ leading barista. Where would we be without your entertaining stories during advisory? Your art and Instagram graphics never fail to wow us.
Adrienne Lirio
Our baby and the future of the graphics section. Your smooth graphic style and digitals clean up any page.
Caitlin Ang
We know you’re going to make it big in the big city. We so appreciate your input and enthusiasm in graphics meetings. Keep being the O.G. gamer girl.
Behold our five previous masterpieces, the fruits of our labors!
Annika Engelbrecht
Thank you for “Rolling in the Deep” with us through it all — from that last-minute design debacle to helping us perfect our yearbook page, you’ve stayed steady with us even on one leg!
Risha Sinha
Your rants about John Mulaney and middle school relationships on two hours of sleep never cease to make the whole staff produce a hearty chuckle. We will be cheering in the front row of all your future stand-up comedy shows.
Ahona Dam
Queen of the‘Dale, your Dreamfar feats and unrelenting optimism inspire us all. Neither Ops nor Fold would’ve been the same without your thoughtfulness. Four cheers to four great years!
Melinda Yung
Sharing looks of desperation with you gets us through every class. Your wholesome personality and amazing ‘fits bring a ray of sunshine to each advisory, Roar meeting and hallway run-in.
Dana Berdichevsky
Shrek would be proud of the #womaninSTEM you’ve become. We don’t know how your articles are always on track, but something might be in the crab rangoon.
The photo section would not run without you. Whether it’s being the third wheel to a steamy fold photoshoot during summer break or amazing us with your creative shots, we love your down-to-earth vibe and creativity.
Ines KociThose top-tier cafeteria food photos would make editors of cookbooks fall over themselves drooling. Thanks for all of your energy in advisory — when C block tests are canceled, we know it’ll be a good day.
Maureen Caulfield
Headshot photographer extraordinaire. Thank you for being the lifeguard of our paper — with and without your hoodie. You lighten up advisory.
As Volume 39 wraps up our time on this glorious paper, the time has come to appreciate all of our wonderful staff members who made Roar the great paper it is today. We love each and every one of you.
Thank you for a great year and here's to many more great years for the future Roar!
Emma Zhang
Your knack for design shines through your fun page layouts, your colorful power suits and beautiful Instagram posts. We’ll always be cheering you on and can’t wait to see all that you do!
Molly Johnson
Representing the Roar on the track national stage, you put 100% into your articles and page layouts, which always pop off. Your consistency and hard work makes the features section sparkle.
Sanjana Deshpande
The stage is calling! And wouldn’t run without our stage manager <3 Whether you’re on stage or doing real-life reporting for feats, you are a bona fide and creative journalist in every way.
Ella Hou
You’re everything we could ask for in a journalist and leader. Your continuous hard work and commitment never fails to deliver a fascinating and entertaining article.
Dear youth pastor, our eyes well with tears when you speak with such eloquence. Remember us when you’re sitting in the Oval Office one day.
Bella IshanyanFrom running away from tornadoes in Kansas to baking the most ~exquisite~ chocolate cake (Julian sends his compliments) to being a volleyball legend, you seem to have lived a hundred lives. We are excited for the 101st.
John Timko
Your calm demeanor could comfort a vicious chihuahua. The tennis courts are lucky to have you — as are we.
Marisa MacDonald
You might be the Roar’s personality hire, but we’d argue that your St. Louis expertise, Nordic ski athleticism, graphic design and photojournalism make you so much more.
Master email-er. Your moments of joy bring US joy every Monday morning. Thank you for making the sports section what it is — never again the last page of the paper!
Zach Rhein
Record-setting salesman — you have a future in marketing. Thank you for always being quick on your feet to keep the paper moving. We’ll be cheering the loudest when you’re on ESPN!
You are the anchor of our paper. Thank you for keeping us on track and informed, and of course always being ready to edit pages, even minutes before the deadline. Every morning, you make our days a little brighter with your moments of joy, and your room 1201 has become sacred to all of us on Roar. You put up with 30 of us in St Louis over four days, giving us all an experience we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. We’ll save a bowl of African Chicken and Peanut everytime we visit New England Soup Factory. Send Nick our love.
Clare TourtelotteWhether you’re brand-new to relationships or have gotten around more than Pete Davidson, here is a complete guide to help you navigate this Valentine’s Day
By Risha Sinha
It has been exactly one year since my last Valentine’s Day article, and I am peeved to announce that I am still single. Last year, I declared to the world that I was single and ready to mingle, alone and ready to bone. 365 long, lonely days later, I am older, wiser and I can finally get my learner’s permit.
I might now be officially too old to date Congressman Matt Gaetz, but I still have nine years before I’m out of Leonardo DiCaprio’s range. There’s always a silver lining.
While my relationship status has not changed in the past year, I have. I am delighted to announce that I am now totally in love with being alone. As an added bonus, I have the distance needed to objectively solve all relationship problems as an unbiased third party. As the saying goes, coaches don’t play. Call me Tinder, because I will help you find your perfect match.
First, let’s begin with the issue of finding a significant other. Whether it’s a hallway crush or your new chemistry lab partner, look around for a potential target. Maybe you have someone already in mind, or maybe you find choosing a worthy crush to be as difficult as finding a working water fountain at school.
Assess a probable mark’s hobbies and clubs. If you’re looking for a conversationalist, try a member of the speech-and-debate cult. For camaraderie and competition, an athlete will
be your perfect match. But if you’re searching for someone who’s super hot, totally hilarious and hella interesting, look no further than the staff of your beloved student newspaper (or the byline of this article *wink*).
Next time you see them, try to talk to them. Ask them questions about themself to figure out if they’re worth any significant time investment. What are their hobbies? Do they prefer cats or dogs? Is the dress white and gold or blue and black? (It’s blue and black).
You can gain more intel by stalking their social media. Classify their social media presence: how creepy are they on a scale of Tom Hanks to Jared Leto? Anything above a Jack Harlow level of ick is a red flag.
Once you’ve adequately vetted the subject, ask them out! Rejection sucks, but as philosopher Michael Scott said,“you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” On a date, getting coffee is a safe bet, but I recommend going to a haunted house to prepare them for the terror of someday meeting your parents.
Once you are an official item, the real work begins. High-school relationships are notoriously short and fickle. For longevity, try to build trust. Conversations, trust falls and shared experiences will make you feel confident in your connection as a couple. If all else fails, tracking your significant other’s every move will
definitely make you feel better. Try the Life360º app or plan a date to the vet to get them chipped. Kidding. Kinda. Keeping things new and exciting can also be a challenge. Avoid clichéd gifts: instead of flowers, try a cactus; instead of chocolate, try brussel sprouts; and instead of writing poetry, try a freestyle rap battle.
Similarly, you’ll want to plan new and inventive dates. I recommend bowling for its fun, competitive nature. Go to an arcade, museum or movie theater. For a power move, take a walk around your local cemetery and point out the headstone of the last person who broke up with you. If your s/o thinks pineapple belongs on pizza, visit the zoo. They’ll feel right at home with all the other animals.
Even if you take all of my advice, sometimes a relationship just doesn’t work out. In that case, knowing how to break up with someone is paramount. If it’s your fault the relationship fell apart, your best bet is to push through the awkward break-up phone call and then make yourself scarce for the next couple of weeks. If it’s your soon-to-be-ex’s fault, begin by assessing the level of damage — this will help you determine the necessary next steps.
For mostly mutual break-ups, keep your response tempered. You don’t want to seem outright hostile, but you’ve got to get your point across. A short, to-the-point conversa-
tion followed by a strongly-worded email or text will suffice. Cheaters must be dealt with differently. Choose a form of retribution that speaks to you. I recommend listening to the song “no body, no crime” by Taylor Swift for inspiration. Alternatively, you could also wait for karma to come back to bite them — revenge is a dish best served cold.
Perhaps the most difficult part of a relationship is getting over your ex (or a crush). Equip yourself with tissues and prepare to ride it out. You’ll go through the five stages of relationship grief —
1) Denial: you’ll convince yourself you’re better off alone, but no amount of ice cream will fill the gaping hole in your heart.
2) Anger: the best music comes out of this stage. It’s why we have “Lemonade,”“Before He Cheats” and Olivia Rodrigo’s entire discography.
3) Bargaining: this stage is a test of strength. Although they promise they’re different, getting back together with your ex is almost never a good idea.
4) Depression: this one sucks. Not only are you upset about losing your ex, but you’ve also got to come to terms with the fact that you’re no longer any better than the rest of us single folk.
5) Acceptance: welcome to the single club. It’s actually pretty rad.
graphic by Lynn KimMy ideal date is to have dinner and then go to an arcade with someone who is funny and sweet (preferably Tom Holland).
I would like to go skiing in the Alps and have dinner at a fondue place with some random person I meet at the airport.
My ideal date would be to go bowling (and win) and then go to dinner at a hibachi restaurant with Harry Styles.
I want to walk around somewhere fun and pretty in Boston with someone who is funny, nice and likes physics.
Early last year, I, a young, innocent and carefree freshman, engaged in a conversation with an upperclassman that entirely redefined my perception of South. Carina Bagdasarian, at the time a junior, shared an epic odyssey of her ingenious seizure of a mouse that had evaded capture all day in her math class.
After a great struggle, she finally trapped the mouse between a wall and two binders, at which point the entire class brought it outside to set it free.
The story itself was humorous and presented lightheartedly, but I was shocked. In that moment, I learned what all wide-eyed freshmen at this school inevitably learn: the fantastic students and teachers that contribute to South’s formidable reputation are not the only entities that populate the building.
We are joined each day by another lifeform, one that is much less welcome. I am referring, of course, to the plethora of rats and mice that have taken up residency in this school.
Spend enough hours here and you will certainly discover one of these abhorrent creatures. The first time I saw one at school
was early last year in the universally-beloved advisory. Everyone was sitting on their phones, completely aloof, when a mouse suddenly scurried across the room and wove its way between tables and chairs.
There could have been no better way to get a room of teenagers off their phones. Screams and shouts of horror ensued. Everyone lifted their legs high up into the air, putting as much distance between themselves and the floor as possible.
Since my encounter, I have heard stories of rodents in every part of the school. Sophomore Elad Levy told me about a time that a rat found its way into the closet in his health class, upsetting everyone so much they had to move to another room.
As I heard more and more stories, I realized that not only are we forced to coexist with the rodents at our school, but they maintain the upper hand against us. We established this school for the purpose of human use, but it is the mice and rats that have truly staked their claim here.
At this point, they are not invaders on our territory, but quite the opposite. We have let them in, and now we must pay the consequences.
A re-creation of the average rodent's path as they pawtrol the halls looking for students to scare.
A little naturally existing metaphor for the disinvestment in our public education system scurried toward me and ... ran his dirty mouse feet over my shoe. Thankfully, I don't grade barefoot.
Kelly Henderson English teacherThey're always around –watching, waiting to strike until they think no one’s gonna see them. There will be ebbs and flows, ups and downs, but the struggle of man vs. mouse is eternal.
Ryan Normandin math & physics teacherThe atmosphere at South is surely competitive: 63% of students participate in at least one AP class and 71% describe their lives as somewhat or very stressful. South’s history invokes an essential question: has the administration done enough to help its students’ mental health?
In an effort to reduce academic competition, the administration got rid of the National Honors Society (NHS) and valedictorian titles — academic honors that heavily relied on GPA. The administration’s efforts have included the creation of the Senior Cup to reduce student stress.
South shifted to prioritize dedication and leadership in considering the highest honor given to graduating seniors. The school encourages students to shift their focus from obtaining a perfect GPA to placing more value on character.
In the spring of 2020, continuing its attempts to deemphasize the value of grades, North and South administrators removed weighted GPAs from transcripts.
By maintaining the GPA on a 4.0 scale, students won’t feel the pressure of taking harder classes; now, students’ GPA reflects their proficiency within a more standard level that doesn’t consider “harder” classes. Still, students continue to take “hard” classes to appear impressive to colleges and their peers, creating a schedule that they cannot keep up with.
In another effort to improve factors impacting mental health, the administration switched the school start time in 2021. In previous years, school started at 7:40 a.m., but the administration chose to delay it until 9:00 a.m, following research that a later start would improve students' learning and stress levels.
All of these attempts to aid student’s mental health have fallen on deaf ears. Students still take on just as much and continue to perpetuate South’s stressful and competitive atmosphere. It falls on each student to change this culture. We must take responsibility to manage the difficulty levels of our classes.
We can’t blame the “system” or the administration for a personal decision to four AP classes just to best a friend or classmate. How would the cycle ever end?
The school even has support in place for these personal decisions: guidance counselors who remind students to choose courses fit for them and require students to sign consent forms when they take on too much. When a student signs their course registration form, they are taking responsibility for their own workload and acknowledging their opposition to the school’s recommendation.
I know it’s hard, but we must stop comparing our courses and grades. We have to do whatever we can to cut out academic competition — wheth er that's walking away from a conversation, biting our lip before habitually saying “whatd’ya get!” after a test or physically plug ging our ears. There will always be academic pres sure, but it's up to us as to how we choose to respond.
I would be lying if I told you that I’m not immersed in our competitive atmosphere, but I’ve learned that one of the most crucial life lessons is to stop comparing yourself to others. You are enough. As cheesy as it may sound, you are not your grades.
I’m more than familiar with those sleepless nights; yet another hour ticks by as I hold my sore eyes open to the incessant blinking of my cursor. Often, I am left wondering how many hours I spent actually learning, rather than appeasing my teachers with the evidence of effort. And I’m afraid of the answer — encouraged by our society’s grind-hustle culture, I may have sacrificed actual understanding for arbitrary completion.
Who are the cogs in this relentless machine? It’s the administration — only they can change this system to protect students’ sanity.
The root of the problem that keeps us up all night lies in our school’s fundamental pedagogical methods. Teachers assign homework to assess understanding of the material, but too often it becomes busy work for students.
This heavy coursework is ineffective in helping students learn; busy work and monotony drowns out key concepts and actual comprehension. When it comes to tests, students are already so hard-pressed that they tend to study last-minute by memorizing information they’ll forget within two weeks.
It’s like trying to use a ruler to measure around a cylinder. It’s not the cylinder’s problem that its circumference is round, but the issue with using a straight edge. It’s not that the students don’t understand the material, but that the curriculum’s structure isn’t effective. When it comes to existing procedures, the current policies regarding
assessments fall flat. The Summer ‘22 Orange Lion Update merely states that “Students with more than two major assessments occurring on the same day are encouraged to appeal to their teachers as early as possible to reschedule one
By Angela Taoof these assessments.”
Keywords: ‘students’, and ‘encouraged’; this policy relies on the student. Rescheduling can be an incredible hassle; WIN block spots can fill up so rapidly that the students who most need to visit their teachers are unable to get in. As WIN blocks are also meeting times for instructors, not all days are available. If a student has multiple teachers to see but not enough time, it can become a cycle of lateness and hurry. This tedious process renders the whole policy useless in practice.
Many students also have extracurricular activities to consider. According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, Newton Public Schools (NPS) aims to “educate the whole child by striving for excellence in academic, artistic, physical, interpersonal and vocational pursuits.” This description would include extracurricular activities, but the current lack of effective policies when it comes to academics makes it so students hardly have time to pursue non-scholastic activities.
Teen specialists warn of the dangers surrounding academic exhaustion and general mental health crises. Rather than enforcing attendance policies demanding students’ constant presence, which can damage their will to learn, the administration should let them take a break from burnout.
Instituting mental health days is yet another tool at administrators’ disposal to keep students from drowning.
Since 2019, several states, including Connecticut, Maine and Virginia, have been allowing students mental health days off from school. These efforts were often initiated and supported by students themselves; clearly, the issue of student mental health is present far beyond South.
“School” shouldn’t be a word uttered with dread. We, as students, try to make it work at the expense of our well-being. For too long all the responsibilities have weighed on the individual student’s shoulders, leaving administrators’ stronger backs light as a feather. It’s time for the administration to balance the scale.
Past protesters and through the metal detector, I arrive at Planned Parenthood, where I train to teach sex-ed. Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m., when the Get Real Teen Council (GRTC) meets, have quickly become my favorite part of the week.
The 13 of us learn unbiased, medically accurate information about sexual and reproductive health. The first half of the GRTC year is dedicated to this training, and after January, we lead in-school sex-ed workshops around the state.
In just my first year, I’ve been able to remedy my knowledge gaps and break down stigma and misconceptions around sex and sexuality — after all, sex is not a bad word!
Talking about sex will help us move
toward a more inclusive future. So, in pursuit of spreading information and bettering our futures, as your resident sex-educator, I’ll answer your questions about reproductive healthcare.
Q: Can you tell me about the abortion pill?
A: Yeah! If somebody is seeking an abortion, a medical (or pill) abortion is one option. A medical abortion means taking a regimen of Mifepristone and Misoprostol (or Misoprostol on its own) to end a pregnancy.
You can get the pills from your medical provider, an abortion clinic or telemedicine. In terms of efficacy, using both pills is ideal, but Mifepristone is generally more legally restricted than Misoprostol because Misoprostol is not strictly an abortion pill.
If the person looking to terminate the pregnancy has a need for secrecy, they should spit out any remains of the Misoprostol tablets to ensure no remains of the pills can be found in their system.
The difference between Plan B and a medical abortion is that Plan B prevents pregnancy, and medical abortions terminate pregnancy. Medical abortions are valid and safe, and according to FDA statistics, by 2021, over half of abortions in the US were medical abortions.
Q: What services does Planned Parenthood offer to minors?
A: Such a good question! I’ll answer in regards to in-person services available at the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
(PPLM), but keep in mind that services are dependent on where you live.
PPLM offers routine pelvic, cervical and breast exams. Additionally, PPLM offers vaccines for HPV and Hepatitis B. You can get tested and treated for sexual transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast or vaginal infections at PPLM clinics. Every center also offers many different options for birth control as well as emergency contraceptives. Other PPLM services are Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy for LGBTQ inclusive care, pregnancy testing, acne treatment and referrals for adoption. Abortion healthcare (medical and in-clinic) is a key PPLM service. You can find a full list of PPLM services on their website.
The first “Avatar” was the highestgrossing movie in 2009, earning over $2.74 billion. “Avatar” was a smash hit, so the buildup for its 2022 sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water” was massive, as it took over 13 years for it to be released.
In the first Avatar movie, we meet Jake Sully, a paraplegic Marine living in the mid-22nd century, who is sent to the planet of Pandora on a mission to scope out the life of extraterrestrials on the planet and obtain their trust. Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a humanoid species whose livelihoods are threatened by human presence. Because the Pandoran atmosphere is toxic to humans, humans are able to survive on Pandora by adopting Na’vi avatars.
Director James Cameron does an excellent job of adding complexity to all the characters, and the movie is well-paced, amazingly animated, and overall worth a watch.
“Avatar: The Way Of Water,” takes a closer look at Jake and Neytiri’s post-marital life as well as the looming threat of human colonization. The film centers around their four children, Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk, and Kiri, exploring the value of family and the lengths
one would go to protect it. A threat surrounds Jake and his family, so they seek shelter from the water Na’vi, the Metkayina. “The Way Of Water”, also comments on the importance of respecting and preserving the environment and the creatures that inhabit it, describing the dangerous impact humans can have on their surroundings and the benefit of appreciating different cultures.
This moral was transmitted seamlessly in a mature connotation unlike some other movies with cheesy dialogues. This depth renders the movie more likeable since the viewer feels like the message actually pertains to the plot and isn’t just randomly added.
Overall, the characters in this movie are much more likable than in the first one, especially the children. The script is much more entertaining, revolving around one world and central story; however, Cameron manages to balance multiple subplots, tying them together in a more ambitious and seamless way.
My main issue with the movie was its length. The movie ran for three hours and 10 minutes long, which made sitting down to watch it take up an immense chunk of my day. Yes, it was thoroughly entertaining, but for people with short attention spans like myself, it was a bit trying at times.
Building on its predecessor’s impressive visual feats, the movie’s animation was incredible: Cameron is well known for his innovative use of special effects, and this film is no exception.
From stunning landscapes to spectacular underwater scenes and intricately-designed creatures, the animation far surpasses the
first movie and any other film I’ve ever seen. Cameron’s use of motion capture technology is particularly noteworthy, as it adds a level of realism to the actors' performances that is truly remarkable.
However, it’s hard to overlook Cameron's enjoyment of the human hardware sequences, which have a rough physicality that starkly contrast with the light computer-game visuals of the rest of the film.
Despite minor flaws, like the run-time, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is truly a stunning and thought-provoking film that will leave a lasting impression on audiences. Its environmental messages, phenomenal use of visual effects and captivating storyline renders the movie a must-watch. It has been revealed that a third, fourth and fifth Avatar movies are in the making, with the third already filmed, as Cameron did not want the child actors to age too much. Both the script for the fourth and fifth has also been created. Cameron has stated that the first two movies set the stage for the next three, so if he keeps his promise and continues the precedent he has set, I’m very excited to see this franchise grow.
By Anonymous“The Yale Admissions Committee has completed its evaluation of single-choice early action candidates, and I write with sincere regret to say that we are not able to offer you a place in the class of 2027.” Rejection sucks, to say the least. When I got the notice from Yale in December, the disappointment I felt at not being admitted almost equaled my agitation at the promise of another round of arduous and time-consuming essays — more words added to my to-do list. I dreaded opening the Common Application page and seeing all the work I had to do layed out in front of me. I had intended to apply to Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education, but by the end of December break, I was too burnt out to bother with its additional three essays.
Yale introduced me to the opportunity of becoming a molecular biophysics and biochemistry major. As someone interested in biology, physics and medicine, the major’s phenomenal program became even more appealing to me after thorough research. After my rejection, I looked at schools like Boston University, Northeastern and Tufts more closely, and I discovered that I could attribute the same passion I had for Yale to those schools as well, if not more.
Yale was never perfect for me — after researching the school’s distressing mental health issues, I began questioning if I would genuinely be happy at Yale. This uncertainty was furthered when I visited New Haven: after building up an image of the town, when I finally got to Yale’s campus, I realized I was actually more disappointed than excited. It’s true that the campus is gorgeous, flaunting gothic architecture and numerous dining halls; however, compared to Boston, I felt cramped and trapped in New Haven. With Yale as the city’s central focus and its main claim to fame being a half-way point between Boston and New York City, I realized that New Haven doesn’t offer a lot on its own. However, I would be lying if I said that Yale's brand didn’t affect me. Its prestige and status allow for eye-catching programs, but the flaws stuck out to me more and more as time went on. A dream school is blinding to both the realities of a school and other opportunities, and it took me a while to see that. Although getting rejected did hurt, what frustrated me more was the aftermath. Distant acquaintances with whom I had never discussed college texted me asking whether or not I got in; though, not as a friendly check-in, but rather as a means to sleuth out who got in and who didn’t for their own egos. The condolences of “any school would be lucky to have you” are nothing more but a pitying motivational slap in the face.
As this process advances to decisions being made and essays submitted, South’s facade of being a relatively positive admissions environment crumbles.There are individuals who constantly one-up others; those people have become more noticeable. Whether it’s jumping on tables after acceptances, giving unasked-for interview advice, joking about people not getting into programs that they did or copying exact essay topics from accepted students, some seniors only see applications as a competition to win. This mentality only fosters a much more degrading community for everyone involved. Ivy may be pretty, but it’s also toxic.
Its environmental messages, phenomenal use of visual effects and capturing storyline renders the movie a must-watch.
Yes, it was thoroughly entertaining, but for people with short attention spans like myself, it was a bit trying at times.
The red shirts have turned blue, sported on Tuesdays by educators around the building — a sign that contract negotiations are underway. The Newton Teachers Association (NTA) leadership wants their members to increase engagement amid negotiations between the NTA and the School Committee, which officially began in mid-October, amidst a tenser backdrop than usual.
While the teacher strikes in neighboring towns have not yet faded into the public's memory, a drastic increase in the cost of living in the city due to pandemic-related inflation, Newton’s first override since 2013 and recent developments regarding the School Committee’s negotiations sub-committee have mounted pressure to come to an agreement during an especially unstable time in Newton’s education system.
While the current contract does not expire until Aug. 31 and negotiations are still underway, NTA President Michael Zilles said that both parties have taken an interest in concluding negotiations as quickly as possible. However, he said, the School Committee has
not responded to NTA proposals with the requisite urgency. He said that negotiations are moving slowly as a result.
“When we [first] sat down at the table and negotiated ground rules, they were concerned about fast-tracking the negotiations to get it done by February,” he said. “It's confusing because they haven't even put their focal points on the table yet and they haven't responded to us.”
Negotiations are regulated by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a written legal contract between an employer and an employee union that itself must be negotiated. The terms of a CBA include any element of work pertaining to the compensation of conditions of employees.
While no regular public updates on negotiations from the School Committee are available, regular summaries of each negotiating
session posted on the NTA’s website depict the sessions as tense and riddled with conflict.
In a Dec. 3 update posted following the conclusion of the third negotiation session, Zilles, along with NTA Vice President Elizabeth Del Porto and Treasurer Christine Walsh, described the School Committee’s initial proposals to the NTA. Among these were limits on the employee usage of sick days, restrictions on access to special education services by children of educators living outside of Newton and a proposal for the district to return students prior to Labor Day — all of which the NTA labeled as “ill-conceived… punitive concessions.”
Zilles said that much of the NTA’s focus throughout the negotiations has been toward promoting an environment of respect and positivity.
“Across the nation, there has been a decline in morale in the teaching profession … The feeling that ‘I'm not respected and valued’ is here in Newton too,” he said. “[The School Committee] is not recognizing this is an issue — morale in that way of not feeling respected as a professional.”
In separate interviews, members of NPS’ negotiating team from both the School Committee and central administration said that the district’s negotiating proposals came from a place of financial necessity and are designed to limit spending amidst a tumultuous forecast.
and build a sustainable budget over time,” he said. “We have to, within this really tough financial situation, negotiate with the NTA and figure out a fair raise for teachers to keep up with the cost of living and recognize their good work at a time when inflation is really high and the cost of everything is going up.”
Amidst rising nationwide inflation and projected financial shortfalls, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller put forth a multimillion dollar tax override designed to raise funds for municipal services, chief among them NPS.
School Committee Vice Chair Kathy Shields, who is a co-chair of its negotiations subcommittee, said that there is no room in the budget for certain expenses.
“We are in a budgetary position that is very tight,” she said. “We can’t spend money we don’t have.”
Other members of the School Committee on other negotiations teams were unavailable for comment.
Toby Romer, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and Special Programs, said that the district has to balance competing priorities when pursuing a contract with the NTA.
“Our budget goal was to maintain the current level of service provided to students
The March 14 vote poses Newton’s first override since 2013. Proposed by Fuller and placed on the ballot by the City Council, the override would allow Newton to bypass statemandated restrictions on annual property tax increases to bolster funding for NPS and the city’s other operations. It would infuse an approximate additional $4.5 million into the NPS budget.
An unsuccessful override would create a budget shortfall of between $6 million and $8 million ― a deficit that would require sweeping cuts across the district.
In a Jan. 23 presentation to the School Committee, Interim Superintendent Kathleen Smith and Chief Financial Officer Liam Hurley proposed two budgets for SY 20232024 contingent on the override vote’s result. If the override fails, Smith and Hurley said that
between 40 and 50 educator positions would be eliminated, and NPS would see increased class sizes, decreased elective options and reduced academic and social-emotional support.
Irrespective of the override’s outcome, NPS will still face a budget gap. A successful override, however, would shrink the deficit to approximately $2 million — low enough for the district to maintain its current level of services without major educational cuts.
Along with School Committee member Paul Levy, labor attorney Elizabeth Valerio, partner at the law firm Valerio, Dominello & Hillman, is a new face on the negotiations team. In the summer of 2022, she was hired as outside counsel for the School Committee, after working in several neighboring towns.
Valerio was unable to respond to interview requests for an interview; however, the Roar confirmed her presence in at least half a dozen districts throughout Massachusetts, including Ashland, Arlington, Beverly, Brookline and New Bedford.
In interviews with out-of-district union officials, teachers and School Committee members, the Roar found dueling portrayals of Valerio: one as an effective and experienced lawyer skilled at bringing negotiations to an efficient conclusion, another as an inflexible counsel whose rigor hampered progress.
In Arlington, School Committee member William Hayner praised Valerio’s conduct and status as a nonpartisan counsel versed in state law.
“She’s excellent. She’s able to bring a good perspective,” he said. “Some attorneys push themselves on you, but what she does is provide information. If she doesn’t think you’re making the right decision, she explains to you what the consequences might be. If you still want to go there, she’d let you go and then you discover it.”
Still, Hayner — a former teacher in the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District — acknowledged that many may view Valerio less favorably.
“If Liz Valerio would have come to Groton-Dunstable 20 years ago, I would probably be saying the same things because the attitude in [the negotiating room] was toxic from both sides,” he said.
The Arlington Educators Association declined requests for an interview, but said in a statement that negotiations with Valerio have been “rigorous, but ultimately fair and reasonable.”
Valerio's most recent contract negotiation was with the Brookline School Committee, which led to a teacher strike in May 2022
after three years of negotiations. The strike lasted a day and resulted from an impasse in negotiations between the Brookline Educators Union (BEU) and the Brookline School Committee.
Andy Liu, vice chair of the Brookline School Committee, said that Valerio is known for her skill and persistence at the negotiating table.
“She’s an extremely, extremely competent [and] forceful advocate,” he said. “She has a lot of institutional memory, far more than any individual school committee member, probably.”
Members of the BEU painted a far more critical picture of Valerio. BEU President Jessica Wender-Shubow said that, throughout
One of the key negotiation points that Valerio will work on is the NPS contract’s cost of living adjustment (COLA). COLAs are a regular increase in educator pay designed to address the impact of inflation; as prices hit record highs, such adjustments have only achieved more prominence. COLA increases, alongside other benefits, ensure that salaries in Newton remain competitive and that the district continues to attract talent.
"When you look at how we stack up against surrounding districts, ... you can see that we look pretty good on those tables. But over time, those other districts will have increases in their teachers’ pay, and so remaining competitive with other districts is something that's really important because we don't want our educators leaving simply because of monetary issues,” she said.
At their Jan. 2 negotiating session, the district’s team presented NTA representatives with comparisons between teachers’ salaries within NPS and those of 24 other neighboring school districts. The NPS presentation found that NPS has higher rates of teacher retention than nearly every neighboring school district, and salaries consistent with its peers.
the union’s negotiations with the School Committee, Valerio was known for employing increasingly aggressive tactics both inside and outside the bargaining room on behalf of the Brookline School Committee.
“[Valerio was] cutthroat,” she said.“She’s used every single possible legal strategy and every single element of the law and regulation that favors the boss. She’s leading with it.”
However, Wender-Shubow said that Valerio’s presence in Brookline’s negotiations formed just one part of a larger trend in which contract negotiations become increasingly dominated by lawyers de-
In the last year, Massachusetts teachers have achieved substantial COLA increases: an agreement struck in July will ensure Boston educators receive extended benefits and a 9.5% pay rise throughout the contract’s three-year span. Brookline’s May 2022 contract will include a 6% raise through 2023, an 8% raise from 2023 to 2026 and an additional 1% in the fall of 2026.
The NTA’s Nov. 21 bargaining proposal outlined a 7.5% COLA effective September 2023, followed by dual increases of 4.5% for 2024 and 2025.
As Newton faces rising costs, inflationary pressure and an uncertain financial future, Shields said that COLA increases may only come with sharp reductions elsewhere.
“We need to have a balanced budget. And so it may be the case where … in order to afford COLAs, that means a reduction in
In a statement published shortly after the presentation, the NTA said that its justification for COLA increases rests not on comparison to other school districts, but on inflationary pressures and that the comparisons brought forward by the district were incomplete.
A Roar review of figures provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education verified many of the comparisons made by the district’s presentation. However, it also found that when examining salaries in nearby districts most comparable to Newton by demographics and income, such as Brookline, Needham and Wellesley, average salaries in Newton ranked uniformly last.
As educators returned from winter break, the NTA announced plans to mobilize its membership. In addition to encouraging educators to wear their union t-shirts, the NTA is planning further steps, like rallies and community outreach.
tached from the realities inside school buildings.
“It’s no different than hiring unionbusting lawyers to break up [unionization] attempts, say, of Starbucks workers,” she said. BEU negotiations chair Eric Schiff said that despite Valerio’s controversial status, her behavior is only reflective of the school committee that hired her.
“The School Committee hires her, so anything she’s doing is at their behest,” he said.
“She can be very condescending, she can be very dismissive, she can make people feel bad, but they hired her. So I placed my anger and my displeasure with the School Committee, not with Ms. Valerio. If I had a lawyer, I’d want her. She’s good at what she does.”
the number of staff, whether it’s classroom teachers or other staff,” she said. “I think it’s too early to say at this point.”
Zilles said that the district’s proposals fail to meet the standards of treatment granted to other teachers across Massachusetts.
“Other districts are finding the means to pay their teachers and educators reasonable cost of living increases,” he said. What is [Newton] thinking?”
Meanwhile, Shields said that Newton’s educator salaries and COLA increases have been the gold standard when compared to that of neighboring municipalities and that the city is working to maintain that standard.
In response, Romer said that unions have a right to support their membership — but the focus remains on the negotiating table.
“Teachers unions have a right to advocate for their positions and mobilize their membership to advocate for higher wages. We welcome people to do that. That’s part of the collective bargaining process,” he said. “And we just continue to negotiate, trying to come to the table with fair and thoughtful proposals, trying to try to reach an agreement. That's the bottom line.”
Should the discussions intensify, Zilles said that he expects Valerio, the School Com-
When you look at how we stack up against surrounding districts, ... you can see that we look pretty good on those tables.
Kathy Shields School Committee Vice Chair
Other districts are finding the means to pay their teachers and educators reasonable cost of living increases. What is [Newton] thinking?
Michael Zilles NTA President
mittee and the rest of the negotiating team to remain resolute.
“We think they are going to fight harder,” Zilles said. “And they’re going to fight.”
However, in an update published following a Jan. 25 negotiation session, the NTA said that progress was made. In a statement, Zilles, Del Porto and Walsh said that “This week we felt, for the first time … like we were really bargaining.”
Smith, whose term as Interim Superintendent concludes prior to the contract’s Aug. 31 expiration, but who remains involved in the negotiating process, said that the Jan. 29 negotiations signaled a positive shift.
“I do agree with the union that we made significant progress,” she said. “I thought the tenor was good … so the discussion was healthy.”
The NTA said that agreements had been reached on pay for entry-level administrative and coordinating staff and that the negotiations teams were close to agreeing on sick day allowances for illness of friends and family. However, its leadership cautioned that much more is to come — and that many elements of the process may remain unknown until the override vote’s conclusion.
Still, Smith said that headway is being made despite the challenges schools nationwide have been facing and that the foundation of the negotiations are strong because of both parties’ mutual interest in resolve.
“I am so pleased with my relationship with the President, the members of his executive team of the NTA, and the teachers … We always
put the best interest of our students first and look at the concerns of our community,” she said.
“It's a challenging time right now in education.
I’ve been in education for 45 years, and I have seen some of the most challenging times in my career during these past three or four years. It's challenging serving as a superintendent, as an elected official, and you have to find that common ground, keep the lines of communication open, and develop strong relationships.”
We think that they are going to fight harder. And they're going to fight.
Michael Zilles
NTA President
You have to find that common ground, keep the lines of communication open.
Kathleen Smith Superintendent
By Laura Feng and Ira Singh
Filled with pictures of students and teachers at South in unintentionally matching outfits, the Instagram account @nshs_matching has amassed over 400 followers since it was created by an anonymous South student last school year.
Ariel Thomas*, the creator of @nshs_matching, said that in addition to its amusing posts, part of the account’s appeal is in its simplicity and the escapism that it offers from the
monotony of the average school day.
“There's just something so fun and funny about people matching,” they said. “It’s just so simple and stupid, but it's something that pretty much everybody can find funny.”
Senior Dylan Shanahan said that the depiction of spontaneous moments of joy in an otherwise monotonous school day has boosted the account’s popularity.
“It’s a quirky fun thing that we can all get a little fun out of during our day,” he said. “That's probably why people like submitting [photos] too.”
Freshman Hana Futai said that even though there are many funny school Instagram accounts, @nshs_matching is unique because all photo submissions are voluntary, and people are excited to be included.
“A lot of the other ones will take them when you're not paying attention. A lot of the time, you're getting humiliated,” she said. “For @nshs_matching, you can see what picture you upload, and you know that you're not going to be embarrassed, and you get to choose whether you want to be put on it or not.”
Teachers are featured on the page as well, including Wellness teacher Patrick Jordan-Quern. He said the account was introduced to him after coincidentally matching with one of his students.
“It's nice that they follow the rules and ask for permission, and it's a good way to start a conversation with other people who you otherwise might not speak to,” he said.
In addition to connecting South students online, JordanQuern said it has also created great opportunities to meet new people in person.
“I've talked to a few people that I've never spoken to before just because we were wearing the same shirt and similar pants,” he said.
As anyone with an Instagram account can submit photos, senior Rose Plottel said she feels that the page has become an inclusive and positive environment for all students.
“It's something everyone has in common, and they kind of post people from all these different friend groups, so it's not just for a specific group of people,” she said.
To maintain the suspense, Thomas said they intend to keep their identity anonymous.
“I think it adds to the fun of the account when there’s some intrigue and mystery around who runs the show. It makes me feel so famous when my friends tell me that they overheard somebody speculating about who runs the show,” they said. “I feel like a micro-influencer, and I'm living a double life.”
Thomas said that they are excited the account has grown to the point where it is able to bring together students across South.
“At the beginning, it was just two followers. And then eventually, other people started paying more attention to the account and following and submitting stuff. Now, I feel like
people from all four grades are engaged with the account, which is cool. It's definitely the most engagement I've ever had.”
Shanahan said that while he doesn’t have an Instagram account, he feels the impact the account spreads beyond just social media and into hallways. Despite not being able to see the account himself, he said that he sees and hears about the page through students who can and that it is a positive step towards school connectivity.
“I definitely think it's good for connecting people,” he said. “And I think that's good because the Student Leadership Council was talking about how South needs more spirit, so we need to connect more with each other in the school. So, this maybe isn’t the biggest thing ever, but I do think it's a good step in the right direction.”
After running it for a year, Thomas said they are proud of what the account has achieved and hope that it has had significance in others’ lives.
“The account has been one of the most consistent things and one of the most successful things that I've done in the last year,” they said. “It's made me very happy, and I hope it's also made other people happy.”
*name changed to protect student’s identity
I've talked to a few people that I've never spoken to before just because we were wearing the same shirt and similar pants.
Patrick Jordan-Quern Wellness teacherFrom top to bottom— Jordan-Quern, Shanahan, Goldfarb and Plottel photos contributed by @nshs_matching
Junior Neena Tarafdar can speak five languages. A true lifelong language learner, she has mastered English, Chinese and French, is proficient in Spanish, and recently started studying Arabic. Last summer, she furthered her knack for languages by founding“The Lotus Project,” a virtual tutoring program that builds English skills with students in Tibet and China.
The idea sparked after helping her younger cousin weekly with English schoolwork for years. Her cousin lives in Lhasa, Tibet, and word spread.
“As time went on, [my cousin] mentioned that she had been talking to her friends about it, and [they] were really interested in it too, so I took them on. After a while, I realized that it was something I could extend beyond myself, so I started recruiting [tutors],” she said.
Tarafdar reached out to her close friend Linda Xue, a junior at North, to expand the organization to handle the growing number of students. As an outreach officer for The Lotus Project, Xue said that Tarafdar is dedicated to ensuring that tutoring sessions run comfortably and smoothly.
“She sits in for the beginning class for most new tutors and new students. I think it's a pretty big time commitment to put that time aside,” she said.
Seldron Geziben, Tarafdar’s mother, said that her daughter’s compassion shines through
her empathetic tutoring approach. During one of the first sessions, a student started crying because she was nervous, so Tarafdar switched from English to the student’s native language of Mandarin to put her at ease.
“[As a tutor], you do need to try hard and adjust to different types of students,” Geziben said. “[She cares] about other people, and she wants other people to benefit … This compassion, this doing good for other people, is very important.”
For Tarafdar, sharing languages is immensely rewarding.
“What I appreciate the most about this
language acquisition process is not just the language itself, but the huge array of new people that you can connect with as soon as you learn that new language,” she said.“I really believe that languages are meant to be shared.”
Suzy Drurey, Tarafdar’s sophomore year chemistry teacher, said that Tarafdar’s dedication towards fostering intercultural dialogue is inspiring.
“The Lotus Project really showed [that] she's careful and thoughtful about what she wants to do to help bring awareness to the
biology and bioengineering, and she brings an infectious enthusiasm to the club.
“She's always looking to convey her excitement and passion to other people and to cultivate an interest in medicine,” Krishnamoorthy said.“Everyone who's at the club and around her is always absorbed by her positivity, and she's such a great person.”
Tarafdar goes steps further, always willing to help and support others, friend and classmate senior Wasan Rafat said.
“She just has so much knowledge and she doesn't just keep it to herself. She's always out there trying to help others, trying to explain whatever she can,” she said.
“You know you can ask her for help. She's always willing to take the time to do that. She's very selfless.”
Tarafdar’s enthusiasm and passion will take her far, Krishnamoorthy said.
“She deserves everything that's coming for her, and I know that she's going to continue to do amazing things,” she said. “The one thing about her is [that] if she's genuinely passionate about something, [and] she puts her mind to it, she'll get stuff done.”
Every winter during South Stage’s Student Directing Festival, student directors are given the opportunity to direct a play of their choice. This year, seniors Willa Foster, Audrey Jung and Naomi Metcalf have assumed the directing roles as the production has finally returned to its typical structure after being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two one-act plays, “Circle Mirror Transformation” and “Horse Girls,” ran from Feb. 9-11.
“We choose two plays typically when we have a student directing festival, but in the past few years, we've only had one student director interested, so we [have] had studentwritten, student-directed full-length plays,” Jeff Knoedler, acting teacher and fine and performing arts interim department chair, said. “This year is back to when we had one-act plays student-directed, but written by published playwrights.”
Foster, co-director of “Circle Mirror Transformation” along with Jung, said she was excited to get the chance to direct a production for the first time.
“It was an opportunity that is just not really available many other times in your life,” she said.“I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to try something new.”
After being selected to direct, the directors chose their one-act plays. Metcalf directed “Horse Girls,” a dark comedy starring a group of horse-loving middle schoolers who are devastated when they find out that their stables are being sold. She said she landed on this show after struggling to find a script that resonated with her.
“I was looking through a million [shows] and none of them were really speaking to me, and then [a director] described this one that was hyper girly, super dramatic ... and a comedy,” she said.“I have a lot of experience with comedy and building from my own girly experiences in my comedy. That's the play I can direct.”
Jung co-directed “Circle Mirror Transformation,” which takes place in a six-week acting class and tackles the characters’ internal struggles through harmless drama games. She said that she and Foster picked the play because of its ability to connect with the audience.
“[Willa and I] wanted to go a more serious and ‘real’ way, as opposed to all the other
shows that South Stage has been doing in recent years,” she said. “We thought that it was a really good way to connect with the audience in a way that's not this big adventure, but actually something that we would see in real life.”
Working with Foster and Jung has been a bonding experience for sophomore and cast member Asher Navisky said. He said that it has been especially fun to be directed by Foster and Jung, who are only two years his senior and are some of his close friends.
“What's great is that the student directors who I've gotten to work with this year and last year have been friends of mine,” he said. “They're super knowledgeable and so fun to
work with, so in the end we're all just friends making a show together.”
Freshman Mia Dalzell who acted in “Horse Girls” said that student directors created a connected cast community in the production.
“We're a lot closer as a cast, even with the directors, because some of them are our age, so it's a little easier to be friendlier with them,” she said. “They still get stuff done, but it's a much less strict environment than with an adult.”
Metcalf said she loves watching her actors develop and make her ideas come alive.
“Seeing the girls grow, I get so proud,” she said. “I love this play, and I had so many ideas starting it. My favorite thing about student directing is seeing that come to life, and being able to celebrate what the actors are doing.”
It was an opportunity that is just not really available many other times in your life. I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to try something new.
She's always looking to convey her excitement and passion to other people and to cultivate an interest in medicine. Everyone who's at the club and around her is always absorbed by her positivity, and she's such a great person.
One day when leaving school, junior and Early Childhood Education (ECE) II student Avi Kuperman walked past the playground near the baseball fields. One of the preschoolers playing there saw her and ran up to the fence, begging her to play.
He started chanting her name, and soon his whole class had come to the fence saying, “Avi! Avi! Avi!” Just walking past the playground, Kuperman is reminded of her love for connecting with the preschoolers.
Whether running on the playground, building block towers on the rug or playing with toys at the sensory table, high school students who intern at the South preschool get the chance to relive their childhood days while learning the responsibilities of taking care of young children.
The South preschool, located in the 1100s, was opened in 1961 to allow high school
preschoolers are just learning that.”
The preschool’s unique learning opportunities drew senior Yuval Ailon to work at the preschool three times a week before school.
“In the class you learn about all sorts of teaching techniques, and then you also get to be in preschool and apply everything that you learned,” he said. “I also thought it would be a fun change of pace from other classes.”
One of the best parts of working with preschoolers for senior Maya Shavelsky is watching them grow.
“I just love helping them build up their self esteem, proving to themselves that they can do things,” she said.
Shavelsky said she first joined the preschool in ninth grade because she loves working with children. Her time majoring in the preschool, which will grant her a state early education and care assistant teacher license, has created a path for her future, she said.
“I came into [the preschool] thinking I wanted to be a teacher. Now, I definitely know I want to be a teacher, and I'm majoring in education and psychology next year,” she said.
Q: What's your favorite thing to do in the preschool?
A: Playing in the sensory table.
Q: What do you like to do at the sensory table?
students to gain experience in a youth learning environment through electives and internships.
Preschool Assistant Director Nicole Maloney, who also teaches the elective Early Childhood Education, said the preschoolers love their time with high school students.
“[High school students] are this magical in between where they're not a teacher, they're not authoritative at all, but they're also not preschool kids,” she said. “They know how to play, they know how to negotiate and they know how to treat each other, whereas other
There are five different preschool courses offered to South students: Child Development (CD), ECE I and II, a minors course and a majors course. While CD and ECE students take classes during designated blocks, minors and majors spend time in the preschool before school and during free blocks. All courses have set time in the preschool except for CD, which is a prerequisite.
This year as majors, Shavelsky and senior Sunny Tian will each spend a total of 150 hours in the preschool creating lesson plans and helping in the classes.
Always having a toolbox on hand of flexible and creative ways to support each preschooler individually is one of the challenges of working with preschoolers, Shavelsky said.
“It's hard because each kid is so different, so meeting each kid's needs can sometimes
be challenging because they all need different things,” she said.
Tian said she appreciates how her psychology and neurobiology classes bring a scientific perspective to her time in the preschool.
“These three courses connect really well together because you can see what you're learning in psychology and with the development of the brain in neuro and apply it to the kids, and it'll help you understand their actions and what they do in the preschool,” she said.
While preschoolers learn motor, social and emotional skills from high school students, Tian said the relationship is reciprocal. She said that she, as a high school student, has learned patience and seen diversity of thought when working with young children.
“I've realized that I've learned to meet the needs of different kids, especially at an early age. The kids have different needs and different requirements that they need for them to be successful,” she said.
One aspect of teaching preschoolers is helping them understand new perspectives. Ailon said that while the children can sometimes have a hard time listening, he has learned how to expand their understanding.
“Usually I do cause and effect. I'm like, 'Okay, I see that you want to take off your snow shoes right now, but then your normal shoes are going to get really cold.’ Giving them a reason rather than just saying 'No, you can't do this because I said so' usually makes them a little more receptive,” he said.
Other than classwork and the occasional challenge with preschoolers, high school students like Ailon said that the preschool is fun and relaxing. More than a necessary break from the stresses of school, the preschool transports high schoolers back to days of play, Maloney said.
“[Students aren’t] worrying about their math test that they have next block, and they're not worrying about some fight they got in with their friend. They're able to really focus here and just be with the kids,” she said. “Research shows that young children learn through play, but everybody needs some form of play in their lives. It's nice that our high school kids are able to have that in their day as well.”
A: Digging!
Q: Do you like trains?
A: Yeah!
Q: What do you like to do at the preschool?
A: Play.
Q: What do you do with the high school friends?
A: I like playing tea!
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A unicorn!
Q: What's your favorite thing to do in the preschool?
A: Playing. Drawing my family.
Q: What do you like to do with the high school friends?
A: Playing tag outside.
Q: Is there anything you want to tell the high schoolers?
A: I love you.
Q: What's your favorite thing to do in the preschool?
A: I do not even know. Have snacks.
Q: How old is an old person?
A: 1600
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I do not even know.
“[Students aren’t] worrying about their math test that they have next block ... They're able to really focus here and just be with the kids."
Nicole Maloney South Preschool Assistant Director
I just love helping them build up their self esteem, proving to themselves that they can do things."
Maya Shavelsky class of '23Sunny Tian gives Eleanor a high five on the playground outside South preschool.
I saw a Ben & Jerry’s bumper sticker a while ago that read, “If It’s Not Fun, Why Do It?”, and I’m thinking of it now in midwinter, in the depths of the school year, with months to go before ice-cream season really kicks in. The message is simple enough: only do things that are fun, or more broadly, live fully and live for pleasure. As Ben might have said to Jerry, “Let’s make ice cream the symbol of a life happily lived.”
And yet these two men, who created a brand that supports significant social justice causes like voting rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights and climate justice, know well enough that there are many things worth doing other than fun. So let’s make that bumper sticker a real question, an invitation to think deeply about the things we must do that are not fun.
This is a profound question of human purpose and action: Why do we do things that do not give us pleasure? And then, of course: When should we do them?
One reason is that there are secondary pleasures that lead to primary ones. Primary pleasures are the immediate ones satisfying our appetites through activities we often see as joyful, like eating ice cream, listening to or playing music or riding a roller coaster.
Secondary pleasures are the joys in the hard work that goes into obtaining primary pleasures, like having the job that earns you the money to buy the ice cream, the iPhone, the saxophone or the Six-Flags entry ticket.
The practice — training, studying or drilling — that goes into a final product isn’t fun, but we put in the time to reach that primary pleasure that comes out of the effort. So there’s one way to answer Ben & Jerry’s question: some less-than-fun activities are necessary in order to get to the fun. You need to work to pay for the cone — or at least beg your parents.
Another secondary pleasure comes from making the world better, even if there is no primary pleasure at the end of the effort. There is the work and sacrifice that goes into helping those in need, fighting for justice, disciplining a child, cleaning up — the necessary discomfort that makes up a life worth living and exposes the ignorance of asking why doing anything that’s not fun is worth it.
There are things that must be done that are not fun, and Ben & Jerry understand this intuitively, I’m sure, as we all do. They might have thought twice before approving the bumper sticker. An obsession with fun, only doing things that are fun, neglects the heavy lifting that both the world and our lives within it require.
We should always be on the lookout for moments of joy and opportunities for creating it, even seeking it within those tasks that may seem devoid of fun. Slogans like “Find time for fun!” or “Choose fun when you can” or“Ice cream is fun. Have fun!” send the same message to drivers and potential customers that life should not only include joy but be driven by an insistence for it.
Life is a gift spent in the “pursuit of happiness,” yes, but to ignore the necessary periods of struggle that make up all of our lives is to misunderstand both the nature of fun in particular and the human condition in general.
At dusk on Jan. 28, over 150 people gathered in front of the Lion Gateway in Boston’s Chinatown to remember the victims of the shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, which had taken place several days prior. Attendees leaned in to listen to the hour of speeches and then to raise their phone flashlights in a moment of silence for victims.
At 1 p.m. the next day, another crowd filled Chinatown’s streets, covered in red confetti, lucky orange peels and used firecrackers. Lasting for five hours, the parade took place on the second weekend of Lunar New Year.
Lion dances blessed each business storefront, vendors sold toys on street corners and a crowd of cameras huddled around a martial arts demonstration and dragon dance. The loud noise as the celebratory firecrackers exploded meant to scare away bad spirits shook my insides, too, echoing the gunfire heard just a week earlier in the Monterey Park ballroom.
The Jan. 21 shooting interrupted the first day of Lunar New Year celebrations in a
photos by Emily Schwartz
popular ballroom frequented by the majorityAsian community of the L.A. suburb.
After killing 11 people at the first venue, the suspect was tackled by the owner of a second ballroom to finally end the shooting spree. A chill ran through Asian communities and Lunar New Year celebrations nationwide.
At the Boston vigil, District Attorneys (DAs), elected representatives, mayors and community organizers expressed outrage, consolation and conviction at the tragedy.
Massachusetts has among the most restrictive gun laws, the politicians said, and the DAs referenced their renewed focus to prosecute hate crimes. It seemed there was not much more our government could do — our country’s obsession with guns and epidemic of hate are things not easily fixed.
What are we to do, then, other than jump the gunman and take a bullet for a stranger, like the first ballroom owner did, and the second risked?
It falls on our individual acts of humanity to protect each other. We must confront hate, check on each other and work to advance gun control outside of Massachusetts.
Before all else, we have to remember. Don’t think the brave, joyous and resilient Lunar New Year celebration granted permission to move on. Don’t let your heart callous and succumb to the next news cycle. In order to “fight,” rather than “run” or “hide,” like the active shooter drills taught us in school, we begin by remembering.
"If it's not fun, why do it?"photos 2, 4, 5 by Emily Schwartz; photos 1, 3 by Gianna Burgess
In order to “fight,” rather than “run” or “hide,” like the active shooter drills taught us in school, we begin by remembering.
After 24 years leading the girls varsity soccer team together, head coach Doug McCarthy and assistant coach Owen Pennant-Jones announced their departure from the program in January. During their reign, the coaches led the team to an impressive record, winning or tying 356 of their 469 games and qualifying for the state tournament 20 times.
In the past seven years, the program ranked third best in the division, won four of the last six DCL Championships and reached the state semifinals in 2021. McCarthy, who began coaching at South in 1994, was named Massachusetts State Coach of the Year in 2018 and was inducted into the Massachusetts Soccer Hall of Fame in 2020.
McCarthy said that he credits these achievements and successes to the hardworking mindset and intensity he has tried to instill in the team.
“Our mantra has been ‘Strive for excellence.’ We asked these girls to have the heart of a lion and take that to the field each day,” he said. “If they do that, over the years, they're going to be successful, and the wins and losses [will take] care of themselves.”
Sophomore Jacquie Ginsburg said that this environment fostered collaboration and improved her game.
“The atmosphere that they made and the mindset that everybody had helped me get better,” she said. “All the girls supporting and trying to help each other get better was probably the best thing.”
Junior and next year’s captain Sienna Masood said that the coaches prioritized team community.
“Doug and Owen made us focus on how to be the best as a team working together. Even though practices and games were tough, we
always had great coaches on our side telling us how to be better,” she said.
Senior Lily Paltrowitz said that the coaches’ message was clear as they led by example.
“They set a standard for practice every day that they were holding everybody to the highest level. It was very motivating to come to practice and want to do my best and want to be the best,” she said. “And while they expected that of us as players, they also definitely held up to those standards as coaches.”
McCarthy and Pennant-Jones’s commitment to coaching motivated the team to try their hardest and succeed, captain senior Jessie Lee said.
“They truly believed in us, and they gave us all the resources we needed to succeed. They [didn’t] just give 100% on the field for us — they would leave practice immediately, and they would go scout other teams, they would go watch games,” she said.“Because they sacrificed so much to coach the team, it made us want to work harder.”
Her mother, Jennifer, whose two older daughters also played under McCarthy and Pennant-Jones, said that the coaches’ dedication meant that they took the time to appreciate each individual player.
“[I had] three different girls in the program, and they're all different, and their soccer's different. I really felt like Doug and Owen really understood them all as very different people and appreciated [their different] skills and personalities,” she said.
For McCarthy and Pennant-Jones, the program has always been about more than soccer; they’ve hoped to teach players life lessons that extend beyond the field.
“For me it's always been about more
than just the soccer — it's been [about] trying to prepare girls for the next step,” McCarthy said.“Hopefully the program would help them to be leaders and to overcome obstacles that they may encounter.”
Pennant-Jones said that he hopes these skills will help players face future obstacles.
“They really learned [that] the hard work and practice they put in really ended up paying off,” he said. “They're going to have a sense of confidence, a sense of belief in themselves — when adversity comes in whatever form it is that they will have a strength in their soul to say ‘Okay, how do I go about handling this? What help do I need? Who can help me and how do I go forward?’”
‘09 graduate, former freshman team coach and varsity captain Nicole Jacobs said that her time in the program did just that. 14 years later, she said her experiences on the team continue to inform her ability to respond to challenges.
“I can say 100% that this program taught me what it means to work in a team and push through hard challenges to the end — learning how to hone in on your skills and push through any … feeling of ‘I can't’, and just blasting the door down. I have used those lessons and memories to get through a lot in my life,” she said.
As she wraps up her time on the team, Paltrowitz said she’s already seen her perseverance strengthen.
“It taught me a lot about work ethic and what it means to really show up every day and to have something that you really want and be willing to put in the effort, even if you don't see [immediate] results,” she said.
Pennant-Jones said that it has been gratifying to witness players graduate from the
program and pursue their own paths.
“We've been able to set really strong, confident young women out into the world. We were coaching soccer, but there was a lot of life stuff going on in there,” he said. “They're prepared to sweat to sacrifice for each other, and it's been tremendous being able to see them as they become older and end up getting married and having families.”
Jacobs said that McCarthy and PennantJones have become life-long friends of hers, continuing to support her as she moves forward in her journey.
ily. Having them at and meeting my was something that second nature,” she said. “I am for ever grateful to them for the time and passion they put into the program because it made me the strong woman I am to day. I can't imag ine the program without them, but [I am] happy they had just as amazing of an experience as I know so many of us have.”
Before his 22 goals led the boys varsity soccer team to its first-ever state tournament berth in the 2022 season, captain senior and Boston Globe All Scholastic Kamar BurrisKhan considered playing for a private high school.
In August, he officially committed to play soccer at Bowdoin College, although he said the process of applying to college could have run more smoothly had he attended a private school in the area.
“I could have been recruited twice as much, which could have doubled my chances,” he said.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, when many Newton students left the Newton Public Schools system for private schools, Newton student athletes assess the differences between private and public schools’ college recruitment guidance.
Maddy Genser, captain of both the girls varsity soccer and basketball teams, committed to play both sports at Colby College. Before her success on the soccer field took the team to the final four of the state tournament last year, she too considered attending a private school for both the academic and athletic advantages.
Genser visited showcases and ID clinics to get on the radar of college coaches, but she said that she still could have capitalized on the support offered by many private schools.
“Private schools can be higher on coaches' radar, and they recruit better,” she said.
Caleb Tomson, the enrollment manager, director of admissions and varsity soccer coach at The Fessenden School in Newton, said that
Kamar
private schools often have the resources to offer stronger sports programs. Playing at higher competitions with more connections, their athletes have more of an opportunity to be seen and recruited by colleges, he said.
“Sometimes in the independent school world, the coaching staff at the varsity level has really strong relationships and connections with collegiate coaches,” he said.
Sophomore Pete Luecke said that he transferred from South to Boston College High in 2020 because of the higher competition the private school team faces.
“South has a really good hockey team, but I just like playing at BC High because we're playing really good competition,” he said.
Similarly, junior Claire Puffer said that she transferred to Worcester Academy in 2020 seeking exposure and opportunities to play at a higher level.
“There’s a lot of support and a lot of good opportunities to work with really good
athletes,” she said.
As vice president for MCW Starz, a high level AAU club, and head coach of the Acton-Boxborough girls varsity basketball team, South campus aide Jesus Rodriguez has helped dozens of high schoolers get recruited for collegiate sports, including Genser and ‘18 graduate and current-WNBA player Veronica Burton. Club sports, Rodriguez said, are essential for college recruitment, but to play in college, athletes don’t necessarily have to attend a private school.
“You don't have to go to private school to get recruited. It's mostly your club team that puts you out there,” he said.
Instead, public school students can look to clubs, which provide athletes with strong connections to college coaches and greater exposure during the recruitment process as an equal ly-important and potentiallycheaper alternative.
For example, Ro driguez said that his club travels throughout the country during the sum mer, ensuring his athletes have the opportunity to play against the nation’s best teams and to be con sidered by many schools.
“We go to these showcases where we're gone the whole month of July. We're going to Kentucky, Chicago, Ohio, Indiana,” he said. “Hundreds of coaches are there watching the game.”
Genser’s father Reese, who
founded Boston Prime Baseball, a Watertownbased club, said that participation in club sports is significant in preparing athletes for college.
“We have systems in place where we can reach out to get to the best tournaments to try and get you exposure,” he said.
Tomson said that during the recruitment process, it’s most important to stay informed and choose a school and program based on research, as there are a myriad of pathways available to high school athletes wishing to play in college — whether private school, public school or traveling with a club team.
“You just gotta get out there and find what's going to be the right fit for you,” he said.
While juniors and seniors typically fill varsity rosters of high school sports teams, this year, Coach Steve Matthews has changed course by giving six freshmen coveted spots on the boys varsity basketball team. Matthews said his choice has paid off so far.
“We have more freshmen on the varsity team than we've had in a while,” he said.“They've done a nice job. Even though they're young, they’re definitely earning their spot on the team.”
With six freshmen, three sophomores, six juniors and two seniors, the team is younger than expected. After multiple stars from last year’s team graduated or transferred to private schools, Matthews was left to build from the ground up, a decision that surprised — and in some cases frustrated — the student body.
Captain senior Itai Rotem said that some of his upperclassmen teammates who were cut struggled with the decision.
“I know some of the guys who got cut — they were frustrated,” he said. “It probably hurt a little more since a freshman got a spot over them, but at the end of the day, that's what the coach chose and you kind of have to respect it. I certainly did.”
Juniors and seniors got cut not only from the varsity team, but also the JV team, which only recently has become limited to just sophomores and freshmen. Instituted last season, this rule is specific to South.
Like many of the new recruits, freshman Tyson Robinson said that he was excited when he found out he had made the team.
“I was definitely super excited. I've only
really been playing basketball seriously for [around] a year and a half,” he said. “For me, all the hard work I've put in is really paying off. I was just super stoked.”
While the transition to varsity level was difficult at first for the six freshmen, freshman Cainan Weeresinghe said that he has grown more comfortable as the season has gone on.
“It's definitely a big jump,” he said. “I feel like at the beginning of the season all of us felt the [age] disparity, but just getting more and more experience, it gets more and more natural playing with bigger kids.”
Freshman Jacob Tubman said playing at the varsity level has been a new experience from competing in other leagues.
“It's definitely different, but our town basketball coach prepared us a lot to compete at a higher level like this,” he said. “It hasn’t been as bad as I thought … but it’s more serious and physical.”
As a team captain, one of Rotem’s roles is mentoring the freshmen throughout the course of the season, and he said that the players have made impressive progress so far.
“In the beginning, they were all kind of unsure about how much they would play, what their role would be on the team, but by now every single one of them has a chance to win us the game,” he said.
Despite the wider age range, Tubman said that the team plays as a unit. He said that he’s learned from those with more years on the team.
“It's fun to be able to compete with people who are older than you and are more experienced. They teach you a lot, and I think we're all getting a lot better playing with them,” he said.
Robinson said that the team's chemistry contributes to their cohesive play on the court.
“It's easier to play with someone that you know, [especially when] you know their strengths and you are friends with them,” he said.
Weeresinghe said much of the team was surprised at how well the team worked together. In addition to building teamwork on the court, he said that team dinners and bonding activities have cultivated a positive environment for learning and playing.
“I feel like the team chemistry is actually a lot better than what most people expected,” he said. “Over winter break, there was a team Minecraft server, and we would play Fortnite
Creative with each other, which was hilarious. Those small things like that really brought the team together.”
Rotem said that even though the underclassman-heavy team was unexpected, he prioritizes fostering as inclusive of an environment as possible.
“I've talked to my coach about it, and there's a reason for everything,” he said. “The coach has a job to make the best team possible, [and] this is the team he chose to make it the best possible.”
Through the challenges and adjustments of the season, Matthews said that the team has remained positive.
“[The team] generally seems to be excited every day when they come in to get work done. They have a really good energy about them.”
No matter the controversy, composition, or competition, the boy’s varsity team is young, aggressive and ready to compete. Only time will tell what’s in store for this group in 2023 and beyond.
It definitely would have helped me to go to a private school because then I could have been recruited twice as much which could have doubled my chances.Burris-Khan boys soccer captain senior and Bowdoin soccer commit graphic by Emily Cheng Freshman Avi Burmenko brings the ball up photo by Timmy Trotman
“In the beginning, they were all unsure about ... what their role would be on the team, but by now every single one of them has a chance to win us the game,”
Itai Rotem captain senior
Nordic ski takes to the slopes at the state meet on Feb. 14 at Prospect Mountain. The team is looking to bring home their first-ever state title.
After winning the Dual County League title, the gymnastics team will take on Sectionals on Feb. 25.
Indoor track team will race its way to Divisionals on Feb. 17, before taking on All State on Feb. 25. In March, Amelia Everett, Molly Johnson, Ellie Jolly and Christine Zong will compete in the Sprint Medley Relay at Nationals.
Divers competed in Sectionals on Feb. 10, and the coed swim team raced in Sectionals on Feb. 11-12. The team looks forward to the State Championship on Feb. 18-19.
On Jan. 27, the wrestling senior captain won his 100th career match. Ranked 2nd in MA and 2nd in New England, he led the team to their 1st DCL Title.
Q: How did you feel before and after your historic 100th win? I try to stay consistent with every match and my 100th win was no different. I just went out and wrestled to the best of my ability. Afterwards, I was definitely hyped up, because only three others before me have been able to achieve such a feat.
Q: What was it like competing in the Grand Prix, a professional, invitational meet?
It was awesome. It was really fun. It was such a cool environment. There were so many very talented athletes there.
Q: What are you looking forward in the postseason? Going into the postseason has me extremely excited. Our team has the opportunity to win our first sectional title in school history. On the individual side, I’m looking to take home a state title, and then a New England title.
On Feb. 4, the indoor track captain senior got 7th place in the Girls International Junior Mile. She looks foward to Nationals in March.
Q: What's it like knowing that this is your last year running at South? It's such a routine just to go to track at the end of the day, so it definitely hasn't sunk in that once the season is over, I'm never going to have a indoor season again, not at high school.
At a Feb. 7 game vs. Bedford, the captain senior scored her 1000th point. She will continue her basketball & soccer career at Colby College.
Q: What was it like to score your 1000th point? What went through your mind?
It was the best feeling in the world because it's been building up for these past four years. It felt like the biggest accomplishment I've ever made.
At Sectionals on Feb. 9, the swim & dive captain senior met the standards to be considered for AllAmerican honors. His 3rd place dive was a personal best.
Q: What was Sectionals like?
It's an endurance contest because you have to stay mentally locked in between each dive ... But it was fun.
Q: You said you only started diving last year. What's the learning curve been like?
It's all because of Coach Kennedy. He's a fantastic coach. He pushes us really hard while also making sure we're all having fun. I think he's probably one of the best coaches in the state … When I tell [other people] I just started diving, they're like, 'How is that possible?' I think it's mainly because of Mr. Kennedy. He really knows what he's talking about.
Q: Anything you'd like to add?
I naturally like to pass the ball and give my teammates opportunities so I thought it was really cool that I was able to do both. I love getting assists because I think an assist is just as good as a basket. It was really cool that I could do both on the court.
Clare Tourtelotte
Sports EditorThe swim and dive team has doven in headfirst, bringing together both new and seasoned athletes in a collaborative and familial community.
Junior diver Nadia Mustafa said she learned to dive in high school after swimming on the Newton Bluefish swim team when she was younger.
“Mr. Kennedy taught me all the basics within the first week,” she said. “It was a completely different sport than swimming, and it worked my body out in a totally different way.”
Freshman diver Jazmine Green said the team is always supportive and encouraging.
“I could ask anybody if I don't know how to do something. Sometimes you belly flop and it can be embarrassing, but everyone just laughs it out,” she said. “Nadia is really helpful. She gives me one-on-one sessions and helps me learn.”
Green, like most divers on the team, did not know how to dive before the season. Mustafa said that learning how to do the sport together is what makes the team so special.
“Since I’ve been diving, no one has known what they’re doing before they get to practice. We all have these little quirks of the way we jump, or the way we flip,” she said.“It’s really fun to watch everyone start from knowing nothing and then now that we're at the end of the season everyone can do all these tricks automatically without any warm up.”
In meets, divers are scored based on multiple factors, Green said.
“You have six dives, and there's a theme
per week. It could be back dives or reverse dives for example, and the first dive you do has to be in that category, and then you can pick your next five,” she said.“There’s also a DD, or degree of difficulty. They use that with how well you did on your dive and then add it up in total.”
As the dive team grows in size — now eight divers compared to four last year — it is also becoming more connected, captain senior Noah Gonzalez said.
“Last year it was just me, one other boy and two girls. We're a lot closer this year. We sometimes try to hang out and get lunch after practice, which we never did last year,” he said. “We're already saying that we're going to go to a trampoline park after the season ends and see what we can do on a trampoline.”
The swim team has also grown, and captain senior Eleanor Bacon said she is excited about the number of newcomers.
“We have a lot of diversity on the team with people that are new to swim and feel comfortable joining,” she said.
A member of the South team since sophomore year, captain senior Sunny Tian said that the team’s camaraderie has grown stronger over the years.
“It sounds cliche, but for me, Newton South Swim and Dive feels like family. It's something and somewhere that I feel like I can get away from academic school but still be with my school peers,” she said.
The nature of competitive swimming contributes to its close atmosphere, Tian said. Boys and girls individual events are scored separately, yet they all compete at the same meets and practice together.
“It adds to the community building be-
cause we're not gender separated. We can just experience doing athletics and sports in general with other genders and other people that we normally don't get to do things with,” she said. “It just builds a family-type community.”
Through meet days spirit and Friday night dinners, the team forms a tight-knit bond, Mustafa said. At the team dinners, the team comes together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
“The captains have a little certificate that they print out, and they announce one girl swimmer of the week, a boy swimmer of the week and a diver of the week,” she said. “They’ll give a speech saying why they deserve it.”
The regular season ended with the Dual County League meet on Feb. 4, where the boys team placed third and the girls placed sixth. Divers competed in sectionals on Feb. 9, where Gonzalez placed 3rd. Swimmers competed in sectionals on Feb. 11-12, and the team looks forward to the State Championship Feb. 18-19.
Tian said that everyone should consider joining the team next year.
“The nurturing, welcoming environment that South Swim and Dive provides is really nice,” she said. “For anyone reading this, you should join South Swim and Dive for a future year.”
In the past school year, South’s athletic teams have seen high turnover in coaches, with nine resigning employees, nine new hires and four currently open positions, according to South’s athletic department.
As the 2023 spring season kicks off, two teams will play under new coaches, and athletes adjust to shifts in the athletic program while looking forward to the promise of future stability in South sports.
This year, the girls lacrosse team saw the introduction of coach Taya Latham, who is set to take over the varsity program following former head coach Molly Estrada’s move to another state. Senior Tali Schwartz said that in the past three years, the team has had to adapt to constant transition, with a different coach leading the team each season.
“It would definitely help us a lot if we had a coach that was here the whole time,” she said.
Her teammate, senior Jackie Holt, said that having a new coach last year posed some difficulties for the organization of the team.
“Last year, we felt like we were a little bit mixed up because we had a ton of new players, and Ms. Estrada didn't know us for a year before,” Holt said. “She wasn't really able to organize us the way we had been playing together before, so that was a little bit challenging.”
As the upcoming season approaches, Holt said she is optimistic about the possibility of a longer-term coach for girls lacrosse at South.
“Having a consistent coach for all four years is nice for anything at South. Having someone that you're familiar with makes it easier because you can build a relationship over the four years,” she said.
Following long-time girls tennis coach Bob Jampol’s retirement, previous assistant coach Noura Guermazi is taking over as the new head coach. Junior Zoe Hong said that while girls tennis will look different this season, athletes are receptive to the new coaching style.
“I think it's going to be a really fun team environment. And I think [Guermazi] is going to bring a lot more to the team, which I'm really excited about,” she said.
graphicbyEmilyCheng
the departure of Danny Wang last December. Athletics Director Patricia Gonzalez said that filling the position is an objective for this upcoming spring season.
“For the first time in a long time, we’re having a period of instability with the athletic trainer,” she said.“We have advertisements out, and we’re looking for people.”
Without a full-time athletic trainer, the position is currently filled by multiple substitutes, leaving injured athletes like sophomore and track team member Aoba Fujita without a regular to figure monitor their recovery.
“When we don't have a set trainer, you really don't understand what's going on with your body because everybody says different things,” she said.
The girls indoor track team is among the three teams that took on new assistant coaches. James Vance, ‘07 graduate and new chemistry teacher, joined the running program this fall as an assistant girls cross country coach and returned in the winter, as an indoor track coach.
“Our team is big, so it just makes sense,” Fujita said. “If we only had the head coach, we would be in a lot of trouble because it’s hard to do anything on our own.”
To fill openings, Gonzalez said that she keeps several criteria in mind as she searches for new coaches.
indoor track team, said that supportive coaching can help determine the success of the team.
“For both assistant and main coaches, the coaches who look after every single player on the team and listen to what we say are good coaches,” she said.
Equally important in unifying teams is a coach who creates an environment that uplifts athletes, Holt said.
“My favorite coach that we've had so far was Brittany Woodrow. I like that she was just very enthusiastic and excited to come to practice every single day,” she said.
Despite the changes in the program, Holt said she looks forward to the upcoming season.
“I've liked the coaches that we've had so far, and even though I'd rather have a coach I've known for years, I'm still excited for this year,” she said.
As the athletic department looks to fill positions, Gonzalez said she remains optimistic. “Success is a measure of the program’s impact on students,” she said. “Newton South is lucky to have such dedicated and committed coaches.”
Mr. Jose Camacho (Boys Volleyball)
Mr. Trey DePalma (Unified Basketball)
Meanwhile, in the athletics department, the athletic trainer’s position remains unfilled following
“A coach is really a teacher first. We look for coaches who can lead their teams while also guiding athletes through each step of the process, and we look for JV coaches who we can develop into varsity coaches. We’re always looking for people who we can identify as someone who will move up in the program,” she said.
Natsumi Fujita, a sophomore on the girls
Mr. Eric Dolan (Boys Hockey)
Ms. Abby Donnellan (Girls Volleyball)
Mr. David Foster (Boys Basketball)
Mrs. Noura Guermazi (Girls Tennis)
Ms. Taya Latham (Girls Lacrosse)
Mr. Tary Scott (Boys Basketball)
Mr. James Vance (Girls Running)
“It sounds cliche, but for me, Newton South Swim and Dive feels like family.Sunny Tian class of '23 photos by Eleanor Bacon Mustafa [above] at Jan. 30 meet; Ben Shaar [below] swimming butterfly
2) How did the orca ask the humpback to be their Valentine? "_____ you be mine?"
4) Name of the scholarship won by Perla Perez and Paris Figuereo
5) Newton may purchase the land between ______ Road and Brandeis Road.
6) One of the student-directed plays performed at the festival last week.
7) World’s most popular video game; South’s basketball team has a shared server
9) Mice, Rats, etc.
10) Swim & Dive team’s chosen day for weekly team dinners
11) The ____ Project is a tutoring program created by Neena Tarafdar for students in Tibet.
13) Last name of the director of the Avatar movies and Titanic.
16) Shorthand for a preschool course offered to South students who have taken CD.
17) Sneeze sound
1) The second holiday listed in the Holiday Homework Bill
3) Cheaters’ AI homework help. English teachers’ worst nightmare.
8) Tax issue that will be on the ballot during the March 14th special election
a b
Do you like Star Wars?
Because Yoda only one for me. Do you like fun?
Because this is the puzzle for you.
12) Milk's favorite cookie
14) The Oscars and Grammys are popular ____ shows
15) Couples’ favorite holiday. Single-pringles’ doomsday.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s the time for self-discovery. Fun fact: you have may have been conceived on Mother’s Day.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Show gratitude. Bring your favorite newspaper staff cookies... (cash is acceptable too).
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Trigonometry is easier to understand when you actually do the homework. And if Pluto is in retrograde or whatever.
Aries (March 21-April 19): Every day can be pajama day if you have the right attitude.
c d e
Gemini (May 21- June 20): No one expects you to be perfect, so cut yourself some slack. Strive for mediocrity and you’ll exceed everyone’s expectations of you.
Cancer (June 21- July 22): Prioritize your sleep schedule. Ask the nearest sophomore to perform their speech –you’ll be snoring in no time!
Leo (July 23- Aug. 22): Pro Tip: you have a better chance of getting your crush to fall in love with you if you actually talk to them. Or just stare and look away quickly when you make eye contact.
Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22): Keep your mind and heart open to new possibilities. Try the fish sticks during lunch.
Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 22): Be purposeful with your actions. Ignore those intrusive thoughts just like you’re ignoring that essay due tomorrow.
Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21): Avoid cabbages and short kings. Thank me later.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21): Candy goes on sale after Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is better than a significant other anyway.
Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19):
Is your Instagram feed as boring as history class? Follow @nshslionsroar to spice up your timeline.
By Bella Ishanyan
LEGO. Since its creation in 1932, these plastic bricks have dominated toy boxes around the world, constructed a world of cinema and infiltrated many a carpet, unbeknownst to an unsuspecting foot in its path.
Many childhoods, myself included, were shaped by the hours of back-breaking work dedicated to butchering LEGO sets and creating whatever monstrosities we desired. It still amazes me that such a simple invention opens the door to a plethora of creative opportunities, and I was reminded of that amazement at Nathan Sawaya’s exhibit,“The Art of the Brick”.
The first of its kind,“The Art of the Brick” focuses exclusively on the potential of LEGO creation through the use of large sculptures. On a global tour, Sawaya’s work has been found in exhibits in over 100 cities in 26 countries across six continents.
Previously showcased in Faneuil Hall in 2014, his work has made its way to Boston before; however, his new exhibit located on the city’s iconic Newbury Street creates an immersive, total LEGO experience.
Sawaya and the intent behind his work, the curtains lifted to reveal stark white wallpaper and glittering chandeliers contrasting colorfully bright sculptures, all with a distinct angularity.
An ode to real life, the exhibit, forged by an assemblage of childhood joys, serves as a pathway into the human mind. The collection of imaginative sculpture weaves together various emotions of love, loss, and joy, along with the pleasures of art and pop culture.
Sawaya accredits this nuanced interpretation of life to the variation of interests he’s had throughout his career, and that the exhibit reflects the journey of his career, he said in an interview.
However, my favorite piece exemplifies Sawaya’s concept of emotion: “My Boy”, which can be found in the back section of the first floor. Although the specificities of the narrative are ambiguous, I was shocked by the emotion it invoked within me. Illuminated by an overhanging spotlight, a vibrant blue father cries as he holds onto the limp body of his smoke-gray son.
The bricks, monochrome and inert, radiate personality and passion, a feeling I only thought I could find in classical art such as“Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan” by Ilya Repin, which I immediately associated“My Boy” with.
As I joined the small crowd in the lobby while waiting for the grand opening to commence, I was accompanied, not only by fellow art enthusiasts and press, but families of all ages. Children clung to the line dividers in anticipation as all of our eyes gazed at a smaller model of Sawaya’s emblematic “Yellow” in the center of the tiled floors, opening its heart to curious onlookers, contents spilling out in a golden puddle of geometricity.
Following a short video introducing
The piece shows that contemporary art, despite the vast opportunity it provides for mockery of meaning, is not limited to a deeply personal splatter of paint on the wall, or even to a massive LEGO construction of a T-Rex (which I think is still incredibly awesome), but holds great opportunity for a fresh perspective on the moments we so often do not associate with modernity.
“The Art of the Brick” will remain on 343 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115 until April 23, 2023. General admission tickets can be purchased on the exhibition’s website.
From top to bottom— "Yellow," "Kiss," "Green" and "My Boy".
the Trans Kids Okay?" by Tierney Gode von-Aesch and Alex Levitan "The Woman Running Newton Behind the Scenes" by Emily Schwartz and Lily Zarr
