January 2016 Blue and Gold

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

The Blue and Gold maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 101 Edition 4

77 salem street January 2016

Girls Basketball: Dribbling Towards Success pg 21 pg 19 pg 7

pg 10-11 pg 24

O

n Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 Malden High School hosted the annual Winter Concert.

It was a night to celebrate the talents of musically gifted students. The acts featured the Concert Choir, Mixed Chorus, madrigal singers, and the Malden High School Concert Band.

The concert opened with Principal Dana Brown introducing the band where they started the show off with the song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” with words and music by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanaseiff and arranged by Larry Kerchner. They went on to perform holiday classics such as “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Frank Loesser and arranged by John Moss. “A Canadian Brass Christmas Suite” by Calvin Custer was the band’s last song. The band then presented their band coordinator, Erin Mazza, with a gift and flowers.

Mazza then introduced a new section in the concert called the Christmas Carol Sing Along. This idea was brought up by one of Mazza’s students that would include the audience in the concert. In this section the chorus walked down the aisles and led the audience in a holiday sing-along. The audience sang “Joy to the World” Hoyt Axton, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by George Whitfield, and “The First Noel” who was composed by an anonymous writer, lyricist being William B. Sandys, and Davies Gilbert , arrangement was done by G.E. Holmes.The lyrics had been written in the program given to people at the door.

pg 20 pg 23 pg 22 pg 14

Continued on page 15

pg 12-13 pg 17 pg 15

maldenblueandgold.com MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL

Poetry Out Loud: pages 12-13

Volume 101, Edition 4 / 8 January 2016

Editorial

2

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Malden High School

Look Up From Your Screen.

The Blue and Gold 77 Salem St. Malden, MA 02148

Staff Print Editor-in-Chief Lucia Quesada Nylen ‘16 Print Managing Editors Cassandra Reyes ‘16 Manale Zouhir ‘16 Web and Mobile Apps Editorsin-Chief Emma Ceplinskas ‘16 Andrew Cogliano ‘16 Head Copy Editor Nicholas Bramante ‘16 Web & Mobile Apps Managing Editor Jasper Haag ‘16 Art & Design Editor Ashley Leung ‘16 Multimedia Editor Chaimae El Adlouni ‘16 Heads of Local News Felicia Fallano ‘17 Julia Parker ‘17 Heads of Sports News Tatyanna Cabral ‘17 Tenzin Dorjee ‘17 Nedlam’s Corner Karina Matos ‘17 Lead Reporters Abdul Ali ‘16 Alexis Brown ‘16 Liam Elliott ‘16 Marly Loreus ‘16 Haley Mallett ‘16 Megan Downer ‘18 Leila Greige ‘18 Ana Bia Kerr ‘18 Anna Powers ‘18 Lead Photographer Meghan Yip ‘18 Lead Videographers ryan huynh ‘16 Stacey Wong ‘16 Samuel Martinez ‘18 Staff Artist Ziqi Zeng ‘16 Reporters Gabriella Onessimo ‘17 Tatum Skiffington ‘17 Christina Appignani ‘18 Ryan Hames ‘18 Alysha McDevitt ‘18 Ymanika “Monica” Nicolas ‘18 Nada Tuffaha ‘18 Cameron Witham ‘18 Jesaias Benitez ‘19 Neden Bernadin ‘19 Vivian Dang ‘19 Joanna Li ‘19 Cedrina Missamou ‘19 Abhishek Rana ‘19 Sydney Stumpf ‘19 Ailin Toro ‘19 Kristy Yang ‘19 Advisor ryan gallagher

I

was on the train last week and when I got off at Back Bay I looked back to make sure I didn’t forget anything (like I always do) and what I saw stuck with me for some odd reason. The entire car holding about thirty people were on their phones.

Not only that but it’s like their eyes were glued to them; thirty people, and not a single one of them was reading a book or taking a nap or looking out the window. I don’t mean to sound cliche but this sight was something that I have never really paid much attention to.

“The Era of Technology”- that’s what we’re called, this generation. I never really paid much attention to it due to the fact that we were sort of born into it. Our parents and teachers all love to use the excuse of the fact that we’re addicted to social media, that teenagers like to “Instagram” their every single move, when in reality it’s not true. This exaggeration might be a little stretched but I think some changes have to be made.

The cliche saying of “we are consumed by technology” may be overused but it’s hard to argue against it when you see an entire car on a train glued to their phone. Obviously they aren’t going to be making conversation with a random stranger but what draws the line?

I am not anti-phone, I do prefer to write out my notes rather than take them on my laptop, but trust me I love my phone and laptop just as much as any other seventeen year old. But what I do find ironic is how relaxed I feel when I’m not attached to my phone. Sometimes my two hour practice is the one thing I look forward to solely because I don’t have to worry about constantly texting someone back or checking Snapchat every five minutes to see what people are doing.

I love using Instagram to see all the pictures my sister who’s traveling abroad in Spain posts, and find Facebook very convenient to talk to my fam-

ily, so I know how addicting it is, but it’s sad when it’s come down to the fact that people are tweeting about how bored they are because everyone is in school and aren’t tweeting.

Coming from someone who is constantly stressed about things that need to get done, I have tried probably a hundred different methods of relaxing and concentrating on what I need to do.

One method is simply putting away my phone. I love my friends, I love my family, but we all have things that need to get done, and I also know that they won’t hate me if my phone’s in the other room when I’m home and I just want to watch a movie and actually concentrate on it. I strongly recommend this method that may seem cliche, but actually put your phone down, not just turn it on silent but actually just put it away for a little the next time that you’re walking home and notice things that you wouldn’t usually. Taking a break can actually be relaxing sometimes. We all know that you can’t just take a break from everything on Earth, but if you walk home in silence rather than listen to music and on Twitter or sit on the train and look out of the window you might just remember that what you post on Snapchat isn’t the most important thing in your life.

Lucia Quesada Nylen Lucia Quesada Nylen Print Editor- in-Chief Class of 2016

Editorial Policy

The Blue and Gold is an open forum for student expression. It is produced by students for the school and the community. The views presented in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor or the school administration. The views presented in the editorials are those of the editors-in-chief or guests. The goal of The Blue and Gold is to inform and entertain students as well as the community regarding issues that we feel are important.

We strongly encourage readers to respond to material printed in the form of signed letters to the editors. No libelous, malicious, defamatory, obscene, or unsigned material will be printed.

The Blue and Gold reserves the right to edit the letters. Names may be withheld upon request. Not all letters will be printed.

Although The Blue and Gold appreciates the support of advertisers, we may refuse any advertisement that violates the above policy or that promotes products questionable to student use.

Any correspondence concerning this publication should be directed to Mr. Ryan Gallagher’s room in J387 or to his mailbox in the main office.

The Blue and Gold c/o Malden High School 77 Salem Street Malden, MA 02148

Want to submit a let ter to the editor? Email theblueandgold@gmail. com for a chance to be included in the next edition of The Blue and Gold!

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Advertisements maldenblueandgold.com

3

4

Interactive

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

The Blue and Gold Crossword Puzzle

Photo collage done by Alysha McDevitt and Nada Tuffaha.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Opinion

5

maldenblueandgold.com

“Beauty is Only Skin Deep”, Is That Really So? The people featured in the photos around this page are all beautiful, but that’s not all there is to them. They are basketball players, academic geniuses, fashion gurus, great friends, comedians, aspiring musicians…

Cedrina Missamou Reporter

Y

ou walk into a crowded classroom where only two chairs are available. To your left is a chair with a gorgeous girl sporting the latest fashion and a beautiful smile, and to your right is another girl, about the same age as the other one. This girl doesn’t exactly “slay” in the looks department and is wearing some generally casual clothes. She also smiles at you. You’re faced with a choice, where will you sit?

When we first meet someone and try to form an opinion of them, many automatically focus on what is in front of us such as the person’s physical appearance rather than taking his personality into consideration. The Blue and Gold newspaper conducted an experiment and asked 50 students at Malden High School what their choice would be. All but one said they would sit next to the gorgeous girl. It is often said that beauty is skin deep and one should

not judge others based on appearance. But how many of us actually live by this way of thinking? People are somewhat hard-wired to pay more attention to beautiful people for several reasons, whether it be curiosity, romantic interest towards the person or a desire for friendship and social status. Research shows that “individuals tend to find attractive people more intelligent, friendly and competent than others” (Williams).

So, let’s say you sometimes find yourself judging someone on their appearance, does that mean you value superficialities over personality? Not at all. We are in the habit of relying on appearances to form opinions about others at first. This tendency is displayed in findings from a Buzzfeed video titled “Unfair Advantages of Being Attractive.”

The video states that 36% of attractive women have been shown to have a higher callback rate for job interviews. In addition, tall men are paid more on average and attractive candidates in politics have a higher

success rate than others. Furthermore, attractive employees are often viewed as more valuable and will earn about $5,000 more per year.

Even the court is more agreeable to attractive people considering that when charged for a crime, attractive defendants are less likely to be found guilty.

A survey conducted by Yougov and the Huffington Post discovered that 25% of men and around 21% of women take longer than 30 minutes to get ready each morning.The attempt to improve our looks is anything but cheap. Cosmetic products are a part of many people’s daily routine, and Statista reports specify that the cosmetic industry brings in over $55 billion annually since the year of 2014. Between the ages of 16 and 65, a typical woman spends around $43 on a cosmetic shopping trip, and shops for cosmetics at least five times each year. Over the course of a year she spends roughly $215 on cosmetics. Over a lifetime, a typical woman spends $15,000 on makeup

products. That isn’t even near the amount of money spent on plastic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 15.1 millions cosmetic procedures were performed in 2013 which were all very expensive procedures, the cheapest one starting at $330 and the most costly standing at over $8,000. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to enhance your look and better yourself, it becomes a problem when appearance is one’s main focus, “ If you get swept up by what you are on the outside, you can lose who you are on the inside” states actress Cecilia Balagot. If the words you spoke appeared on you skin, would you still be beautiful?

The most attractive thing about you should always be regarding your personality, and the way you treat others… Not how bright your smile is, or even how nicely you dress.

While all those things are nice, they aren’t and never will be as important as your inner self.

Top then bottom, left to right: Sophomore Anthony Volmar and Freshman Johnathan Berlus both love basketball, Volmar currently plays for MHS’s basketball team. Freshman Brenda FandaKova, junior Sabrina Dushinski, and freshman Stela Dushinski are very close friends. Freshmen Miajah Colon aspires to be a DJ. Sophomore Natalia Restrepo loves chemistry and Junior Joy Verdieu is very outgoing and loves to dance, Junior Franshesly Correa is also very outgoing and friendly. Junior Kerlens Balan loves music and food.

6

Money Makes the World Go Round

Jasper Haag Web & Mobile Apps Managing Editor

A

s college applications are being wrapped up, many students feel like they have finished the biggest task of senior year. But when acceptances come and decisions are being made, one final component becomes extremely significant: cost. Too many students are finding their dreams dashed by huge price-tags and less than ideal financial aid, and while loans are often unavoidable, they can be minimized. The key to this is scholarships.

With essays and paperwork reminiscent of the college application process, the task may seem arduous and unnecessary, but the money that is gained by casting a wide net can mean the difference between attending your top choice and your financial safety. While Malden High School does encourage seniors to start looking for scholarships closer to the end of the year, that is by no means the earliest that the process can begin. Scholarships are available all throughout the year, and are often even open to underclassmen who take the initiative to send in an essay and fill out the forms.

This means that with mindful planning, any student can begin preparing for the cost of higher education.

In the past, those interested in scholarships would have to look at the local library, or other similar sources, for binders full of available scholarships. But with the advent of the internet, that is no longer the case. Websites such as Fastweb allow students to customize their profile so that only scholarships that they are qualified for will appear in their queue. This allows families to choose which scholarships seem most sensible to apply for, and also exposes students to scholarships that may have been lost in the research process due to their particularity or small size.

So don’t stop before you reach the finish line; go out, search for scholarships, and ensure that you’ll be able to afford the education that you’ve already worked so hard to prepare for.

Opinion

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Party Analysis: The Republican Party Submitted by senior Terrica Dang. *Disclaimer: The article below was written by taking the ideas of the Republican Party Platform1 and do not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of the author or the Blue and Gold.

I

n modern day politics, the Republican Party is an umbrella that covers all different types of groups or people with one common interest: to run this country under conservative views. Even though there are nine possible candidates this year for the Republicans, they all share the same party and platform.

If the Republicans win back the White House in 2016, they are going to work towards many things, this includes repealing anything that the Democrats have done in the past eight years if they feel like the policy isn’t benefitting the country.

If you go on the Republican website, you will find their party platform for the values that they believe in and stand for. Everything below is a summary of where Republicans as a whole stand on the hottest issues in our country at this moment. It is

up to you to decide whether or not you agree with their stances. As you are reading this, don’t link the arguments to the party. Think of them as individual viewpoints as well as whether or not they align with or oppose your personal beliefs and values.

One of the main goals of the Republican Party is to “Restore the American Dream”. Under this plan, taxes will be lowered, small businesses would be benefitted, and the government budget would be balanced. Republicans want economic freedom. They don’t want the government to control how people conduct their business or make their living.

If the Republicans win the presidency, we would also be living under a restoration of a Constitutional Government. This means that the government will live up to the Constitution our Founding Fathers created and all amendments will be honored including the Second Amendment, which states that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.

When it comes to family life and social matters, the Republican

party believes in a traditional family, meaning that they believe the union of one man and one woman should be upheld as the national standard.

They also want to allow the states to decide on how they want to structure the education curriculum for young students who will be the future of this country.

However, arguably, the most important issue right now that needs to be addressed would be national security. What should we do about ISIS? Should we let more Syrian Refugees into our country? How are we going to vet them? These are the pressing questions that all the candidates are being asked daily.

Every candidate differs in their approach to the war in Syria but they all have one thing in common: they want more military power overseas.

This is only a brief summary of the views of the Republican Party’s beliefs. If you want to learn more about their views in more detail, visit the Republican Party’s site and take a look for yourself. Decide whether or not you agree with these ideas.

vs.

Party Analysis: The Democratic Party Submitted by senior Terrica Dang. *Disclaimer: The article below was written by taking the ideas of the Democratic Party Platform1 and do not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of the author or the Blue and Gold.

U

nlike Republicans, Democrats want to operate the government under liberal beliefs and principles. This year there are only three Democratic candidates running for president and they all share the same platform even though some are more left leaning than others. The goal for Democrats in 2016 would be to keep the White House and win back Congress. To do this they will have to convince as many Americans possible that their platform is much more reliable, progressive, and suitable than the Republican platform.

Remember what you read about Republicans last week. Compare them with what the Democrats believe and decide for yourself who has a better stance on each of the

issues. Here is a quick summary of what Democrats think about what is going on in our country.

Democrats are all about “Moving America Forward.” One of the biggest things that the Obama Administration has worked on in the past eight years would be health care. Democrats believe that high quality heath care should be affordable and accessible to everyone in the country. They don’t believe that Americans should break their bank account just because they got sick.

Under the Affordable Care Act or more commonly known as Obamacare, the Democrats trust that they are improving health care for all Americans.

The Democratic party has a history of supporting LBGT rights as well as women’s rights. Democrats believe that women have the right to decide what happens to their bodies and that their decision is between them, their families, and their doctors. In addition to this, they fully support same-sex couples who want to get married and oppose state and federal legislation to deny these marriages

Now onto arguably the most controversial issue in today’s politics: national security. What are the Democrats doing about ISIS? About terror threats? About the Syrian Refugees? The Obama Administration has been very adamant about strengthening our relations with our allies in addition to using diplomatic strategies in order to promote peace in the world. However, Democrats also believe that military action is not out of the equation and should be used when appropriate.

Like I said about my report of the Republican party, this is only a summary of a few issues that the Democratic party supports. To read more about the Democratic platform, go onto the Democratic website and learn more about liberal viewpoints of the issues. I’ll leave you all with this: now that you know how Democrats and Republicans think, reflect on yourself and figure out what YOU think. Where do you lie on the political spectrum?

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Opinion

7

maldenblueandgold.com

Militia (n.): A Group of White, Domestic Terrorists

Nicholas Bramante Head Copy Editor

O

n January 2nd, a group of armed militia, (predominantly composed of white men) moved towards the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge building near Burns, Oregon. Armed with what is to be assumed firearms, the number of men involved is unspecified. Since January 2nd, these men have held control over a federal building, with any interactions between police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation being strictly communication or a standoff. No shots have been fired, and as of right now, no one has been hurt. While the men have made it clear they do not wish to harm anyone, they have gone as far to say they are willing to not only defend themselves against police or federal forces, but are willing to die for their cause.

What’s the cause exactly? Protesters gathered in Burns on January 2nd to speak out against the 5 year sentencing of Dwight and Steven Hammond, father-and-son ranchers who were convicted of arson.

The two had turned themselves in

to serve their sentences, and this is where the conflict of interests begins.

After the protest the armed group broke into the federal building, and began a sort of occupation, refusing to move unless their demands were met. It’s reported that there were no civilians in the building at the time of the break in.Spokesperson for the group Ammon Bundy has expressed that this “protest” is against government overreach, which they believe is taking away from their rights as American citizens.

While the event itself is troubling enough, the real kicker is this: how major media outlets are covering this event. With almost little to no coverage on main streams of media, the only way I was even able to discover this event, was through trending twitter topics. To my surprise, most outlets are describing the men as “militia,” or even just “armed protesters.” The group itself claims to be the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. If this right here isn’t throwing up red flags to you, I don’t know what will.

We should be calling them what they really are. Terrorists. I know it may sound extreme, but let’s break

it down. They’re using threat of violence (when they explicitly explained they were “prepared to die” during this occupation if assaulted) and potentially (but hopefully not) actual violence to push forward their own social agenda. The Hammonds committed a federal crime, they turned themselves in, and they have to serve their time. This should be the end of this situation. Instead it’s turned into an armed occupation of a federal building, with a standoff between the FBI and a group of fully armed men! But because these men are white, and are fighting for reasons other than religion, they aren’t terrorists in the eyes of news outlets.

My point being, if this group of men had taken over the building, even if they had the same exact reason as the original group, but were middle-eastern, media outlets would be all over this story. They would be labeled as extremists and every media outlet would have constant coverage. People would suspect ISIS and Americans would become even more paranoid of a threat that is as real in the United States as it is in the rest of the world.

It’s a double standard in the United

States; we point fingers at other countries and label them all terrorists, but we justify our “own” (if you can call them that,) when they commit acts of the same genre.

These men are not standing for what America believes in, and they are no less than federal criminals. To label them as anything less is not only ignorant, it’s plain hypocritical.

Whatever the outcome of this event, while peaceful or otherwise, it’s important to remember what these men really were: extremists.

They’re an armed group standing off against federal forces to try and force their own agenda. That’s extreme. There should be no deals, no justifications, and no even attempt at meeting their demands. America does not negotiate or give in to terrorism; we never have and we should not start now, regardless of skin color or agenda. This should be handled as any other terrorist event with an appropriate amount of coverage for such an event. But it isn’t.

And there in itself, lies a problem in the double standard culture of the United States.

haiti, six years later Mary Loreus Lead Reporter

O

n Jan. 12, 2010 at approximately 5:00 PM, a tragic earthquake eradicated thousands of homes and buildings and killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti’s capital, Port-auPrince.

The earthquake had such a devastating impact mainly due to the type of construction of the buildings. Within hours of the earthquake, international help was sent and supporters from all over the United States were donating money to help the Haitian people.

Days after the earthquake, cholera took rampage over the country. Even those who survived could still potentially lose their life.

Now, six years post earthquake, the impacts of the earthquake are still apparent in the social class. Although there has been some improvements in removing the debris from the buildings off the streets, the progress isn’t significant enough to lift Haiti out of its constant struggle, made worse by the earthquake.

Numerous Haitians are homeless. They still reside in tents placed

in courtyards where their safety remains uncertain. When bad weather strikes, their lives become especially difficult because their temporary shelter is fragile and vulnerable to

Haiti to visit her relatives last summer. She stated that, “As you drive down the roads, all you can see are tents on the sides of the streets. The smell is very unpleasant. You can

A neighborhood in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. environmental damage. Limited amounts of food and lack of sanitary water are other major challenges also faced.

Senior Amanda Pierre went to

see young, skinny children running around in dirty clothes.”

The lack of significant changes reflect a corrupt government that delays the reconstruction of buildings.

Haiti has a history of voting fraud, delayed election and dictatorship that have continuously detained its potential ever since gaining its independence in 1804. The haitian governmental system fails to realize that an unstable government will result in an instability in its people, causing an increase in crime and a challenge to progress.

For the sixth anniversary of the earthquake, current president Michel Martelly, first Lady Sophia Martelly, and other officials gathered in Port-au-Prince over a headstone that stated, “12 January 2010 We Will Never Forget,” which represented the thousands of dead, to pay their respect.

As a young woman of Haitian descent, I think for any significant changes to be made, Haiti’s government needs to become more stable so that the people can unite for a positive change.

Many people have contributed to the cause of rebuilding Haiti, yet that contribution has not been effective because no one has taken a firm enough stand to put an end to the misery experienced by the Haitian people.

Advertisements

8

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

AP S cien ce S es sion at M el rose

S at urday, Janu ar y 23

Parent Teacher Night: Thursday, January 28

Grading Folders Close: Monday, January 25

NO SCHOOL Professional Development: Friday, January 29

Poetry Out Loud Finals: Wednesday, January 27

FAFSA Day: Sunday, January 31,

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Advertisements maldenblueandgold.com

9

10

Local News

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

From -bility to Actuality Madeline Lam: Centre college Anna Powers Lead Reporter

M

adeline Lam is one of the few seniors to be awarded with the Posse Scholarship at Malden High School. The Posse scholarship is awarded by the Posse Foundation, and it is given to students who show leadership qualities. Lam was absolutely ecstatic when she won wasted no time accepting her offer to “be apart of Posse Centre 11”. Though Lam describes the college application process as stressful she says that “for Posse itself it wasn’t stressful”.

Lam describes the experience as “intense”, seeing as it is a competitive scholarship, and limited amount of people receive it.

Overall, Lam got through this process by having “a lot of people

telling [her] that [she] had this”. She also had to always reassure herself that she had the skills to do it.

Now that Lam is accepted to Centre College, she definitely is looking forward to the college lifestyle. Mostly, “[she] thinks mainly independence. Also riding horses... there are a lot of horses there and I am so excited! But really just being apart of a community where I can really feel like I’m involved in and where I can make a change. A place where I can really be a light there.”

Lam does not really know what she wants to major in yet but she thinks “something in humanities, music, or something where [she is] able to work with people.”

Lam can not wait for the future but she will never forget her past experiences at MHS. She believes that “when we are in a certain place we tend to not miss things and we take things for granted.” Lam will

never forget the help and support of teachers that helped her over the years and even encouraged her to go for this scholarship.

As her teachers and friends guided her, she also want to advise others to pursue the Posse Scholarship as well. She tells future scholars that “as scary as it is, and as intense as the process is, definitely try.”

Lam offers these words of advice: “don’t ever think that you can’t do something because someone else tells you that you can’t. Never believe that you are not good enough, or smart enough, or that you can’t do anything just because that is the way that you are perceived. Break out of that and do what you want because that is all that really matters.” Overall, Madeline Lam is another example of a star-student that will be representing MHS to Centre College and whatever else the world has to offer.

Photo by Anna Powers.

Samantha Forestier: Bryn Mawr University Haley Mallett Lead Reporter

S

amantha Forestier, a senior at Malden High School, has been awarded with the Posse Scholarship presented by The Posse Foundation. It is the foundation’s goal to “[identify], [recruit], and [train] youth leaders from urban public high schools to form multi-cultural Posses” in colleges distant from the applicants’ hometowns (Posse).

Forestier spoke of the application and interview process saying it was “stressful at times, but overall fun and interesting.” Even though the final days before she received her admission decision were “filled with anxiety,” the Posse staff and other applicants would make “[each other] feel comfortable . . . and proud of how far [they had] come.”

The foundation awarded Forestier with a full, four-year tuition scholarship to Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, only a few miles outside of Philadelphia.

Bryn Mawr caught Forestier’s attention right away because “the [school’s] Posse is made up of women who are interested in STEM fields, and [she] knew that [she] wanted to surround [herself] with students who shared similar interests.” Forestier expresses that “reading about it online helped [her] envision [herself] there” before she

had the opportunity to visit, and it was everything she hoped for.

She also added how “absolutely gorgeous” the campus is from “the old historic buildings” to the “green lawns and Cherry Blossom trees” that create a “serene feeling” and “remind [her] of Hogwarts” from Harry Potter. It’s the “peaceful campus” and “cute town filled with little boutiques and restaurants” that led Forestier to falling in love with the area, more specifically Bryn Mawr. Forestier says “[she] could talk about Bryn Mawr for hours”, which proves how perfect of a fit the school is for her.

Forestier is interested in studying chemistry, biology, and medicine, but has not yet decided which path she will take. Her ultimate goal is to “positively impact the lives of other people” which starts with her studies. Anyone who knows Forestier personally would describe her as extremely caring and passionate.

Her wanting to give back and help other people comes as no surprise, and many would agree that she would be great at it.

Even though she is slightly nervous about leaving her friends and family, “[she’s] excited about moving to Philadelphia” and is “glad [she gets] to experience a different part of the country.” She’ll be far from home, “but close enough”, Forestier says, considering she’ll

only be moving a few hours away.

Forestier loves Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr so much that distance hardly phases her.

As senior class president, captain of the swim and crew teams, and member of many clubs including Chemistry Club, Forestier is likely to continue being just as involved on campus next fall. She is already familiar with nine girls who will also be attending Bryn Mawr through the Posse Foundation who she believes “will become family to [her],” especially when she’s away from her own.

Come next fall, Forestier will be on her way to Bryn Mawr and will surely be missed by many students and staff at MHS.

Photo by Cassandra Reyes.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Local News

11

maldenblueandgold.com

The POSSE foundation is an American non-profit organization that has been giving scholarships to students in public schools around America since 1989. In these 26 years, POSSE has awarded over $806 million dollars in scholarships to students of various demographics. They look for students with strong leadership qualities and academic achievement. This year, four students have been chosen to be awarded the full tuition scholarship for various institutions.

Emma Ceplinskas: Denison University Ailin Toro Reporer

E

mma Ceplinskas, a senior at Malden High School, has been awarded with the Posse scholarship. The Posse Scholarship is given to people who work well in leadership positions and are academically talented.

Emma expressed that “[she] still hasn’t really processed” that she got the scholarship. The process consists of three interviews where the students have to be approved to move on to the next round. After having competed against people who were just as qualified as her, Ceplinskas said it was a relief when she finally found out that she received the scholarship to Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

When asked about her major in college, Ceplinskas explained that she is going in undecided but

does not see that as a problem. “By going in undecided, it leaves [her] with more opportunities to pursue things that [she] might not have otherwise,” expressed Ceplinskas.

Although she is undecided, she is considering majoring in chemistry.

It is obvious how interested Emma is about about the subject seeing as she is involved in the Chemistry Club. Her interest could in part be credited to chemistry teacher, Martin Berryman, her former AP chemistry teacher and current advisor to chemistry club. She talks about his class with fondness, mentioning that “he teaches with enthusiasm that makes the students want to learn more even outside of class.”

That does not make her decision clear though. Another option she is looking at is English Literature. This would be a promising choice considering her involvement in the newspaper and her talent in

writing.

Chemistry Club is not the only club Emma is involved in right now.

She is an Editor-in-Chief of online for The Blue and Gold newspaper.

Not only that, but she is also captain for the tennis team and had played soccer up until junior year, only straying away from it this year due to her busy schedule.

While she is a hard worker she does make sure to enjoy her time outside of school. She advises that “you should enjoy your time at MHS because the four years go by really quickly.” Some of her interests include playing tennis, horseback riding, and spending time with friends.

Come next fall, Ceplinskas will be attending Denison University with a full, four year tuition scholarship provided to her by the Posse Foundation.

pendence and freedom than there is in high school, but it will also be much more academically challenging. For the next four years, Chung has set a few goals: to stay on track in her classes, to find a career path that fits her passions, to be socially involved and to stay in contact with her family as best as she can.

Throughout her years at MHS, Chung has participated in the Malden High School Concert Band, Key Club, YMCA Leaders Club, National Honor Society, and a program called Youth and Government. Adding on, Chung was a sprinter for indoor and outdoor track during her freshman year but opted to take a job tutoring younger kids to pay for college, which ironically, she won’t need as much now.

Ever since she was a kid, she has loved reading literature and writing stories, which helps since Hamilton has many writing-intensive classes.

Chung has also recently gained an interest in statistics and psychology. In her spare time, Chung can be found either volunteering or attempting to learn different instruments.

When asked about her high school experience, Chung said “[her] high school experience was probably a combination of pain, confusion, laughter, and love. [She] can’t tell you the amount of times [she has] pulled an all-nighter to start an essay or finish a project, or the amount of moments [she has] had questioning everything that went wrong in my life. It was all challenging, but at

the same time, [she] loved [her] high school experience. After being able to indulge in [her] passions, become a part of so many different clubs and causes, and make unforgettable memories with some of the greatest friends ever, [she doesn’t] think [she will] regret much. “ Chung shares that her best memory of high school “has to be of the amazing people [she has] encountered over the past four years.

[She has] made so many friends who have made a significant impact on [her] life, whether they taught [her] how to be a hardworking student and athlete, gave [her] advice and made [her] feel less alone, or showed [her] how to have fun and enjoy life once in a while. [She has] also met so many teachers that inspired [her] to follow [her] dreams and be a good person. The people of Malden are great in general and [she’s] going to miss being away from home.”

Chung said that the people who inspired her the most is her parents.

She admires “their amazing work ethic, their courage, and their ability to make [her] feel better with just a hug, especially because of how they came to this country with nothing and worked for years to give [her] sister and [herself] everything [they] could have possibly wanted. Even though [Chung and her parents] might disagree over a lot [of things], [she knows] they’re just looking out for [her]. They’ve done so much for [her] family and [she owes] them everything.”

As for anyone aiming for the

Photo by Meghan Yip.

Michelle Chung: Hamilton college Kristy Yang Reporter

P

OSSE scholarships are a very special opportunity for students at Malden High School, which senior Michelle Chung has taken part of. Chung will be attending Hamilton College in Clinton, New York this upcoming fall. She had first heard of the POSSE scholarship through a few friends of hers who were going through the interviewing progress. She was impressed by how successful her friends were and wanted to try it.

As soon as she got the call, she felt an overwhelming urge to cry out in happiness as a weight was lifted off her shoulders. Chung felt relieved and shocked, but most of all, honored that she could win one of the few spots, expressing that she is now “excited what the next four years of life will bring.”

Chung values moral and social justice, as well as ensuring that the emotional quality of life is better for everyone. Some of Chung’s future plans are in fields like industrial psychology, human resources, or politics. She would also like the write a book one day. Chung is planning on majoring in Psychology and Economics, and possibly minoring in English Literature. Overall, Chung hopes that she can find a path that will make her happy as well as contributing to others’ happiness.

Chung expects college to be an experience with much more inde-

POSSE Scholarship in the future, Chung advises “just be yourself. Be genuine. Be passionate. Be kind. Be the type of person that you’re proud of, and the type of person that best represents you. You don’t have to be a brilliant genius or the most talented person ever--that’s not necessarily who they’re looking for. All of the Posse Scholars I’ve met are people who have a love for what they do, have a sense of servant leadership but are true to themselves, and are dedicated to using those skills with goals to change the world. Be someone that really will make a change in society, because even if you don’t win, you’ll be a better person regardless.”

Photo by Kristy Yang.

Local News

12

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

The Next Stanza in the Annual Poetry Out Loud Competition

Anna Powers Lead Reporter Nada Tuffaha Reporter

O

nce again, Malden High School has successfully held their annual Poetry Out Loud period competitions. All of the competitors surely impressed both the audience and judges. In continuation with the MHS tradition, the competitions were held in the Jenkins Auditorium on January 6th and 7th, 2016, where students finally got the chance to say their poems that they had been practicing repeatedly over and over again.

After the intense and competitive competition during period 3, winner Carine Exume describes her memorization strategy, “ I kept

breaking it down more and more until I knew exactly how I wanted to recite every word in each line of each stanza.” No matter how competitors felt the period before, when they stepped a foot on stage the anticipation and eagerness leading up to their poem was beyond nerve racking. Competitors had to leave everything behind as their names were called to recite their poems. Period 1 winner Jenna Vanella described she “couldn’t feel her legs then and after [she] read [her] poem” Other competitors shared their feelings leading up to their performance as well, Exume says that “ [her] heart dropped… [her] tongue and throat became extremely dry and before I had time to get water, [she] heard Mr. Walsh say ‘Welcome to Poetry Out Loud Period 3”.

After interviewing some of the

winners from the period competitions, most were surprised with their success, and felt absolutely ecstatic. Period 5 winner Jenny Huynh says that “ [she] was shocked when [she] won because all the other competitors were so fantastic.” Jenna Vanella continued and said that she “didn’t even think [she] was going to win”. Obviously the competitors were being completely modest because their recitations all dominated the stage.

Most winners could not have done it without the continuous support and help of their English teachers, and classmates. Mr. Londino has the reputation of being one of most competitive teachers that contribute to the POL competitions. Vanella the winner of period 1 from Mr. Londino’s class stated that “[Mr. Londino] really helped me calm down before

my recitation, and [he] gave me a lot of confidence that I would do good.” Ms. Nyman had more than one student of hers who won class competitions, and continued to help her students after school, Huynh says that “ [Ms. Nyman] helped critique my performance- telling me whether or not I was pronouncing words correctly” Ms . Nyman continued to inspire, Exume expresses, “I knew I was awful when I recited my poem to the class, but [Ms. Nyman] still managed to say ‘you’re going to do great, you’re going to beat everyone’. I thought she was crazy when she said that, but the only crazy thing in that room was how much confidence she had in me, when I had none at all”. Overall, the period competitions definitely left MHS curious to see what is in store for this year’s POL finals!

From left to right: Period One winner freshmen Jenna Vanella reciting “The Lamb” by Linda Gregg, Period Five winner freshman Leticia Sidney reciting “Sanctuary” by Jean Valentine. All photos by Meghan Yip.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Local News maldenblueandgold.com

Clockwise starting from top left: Period One winner junior Nathan Ghebremicael reciting “Zoom!” by Simon Armitage, Period Five winner sophomore Jenny Hyunh reciting “Dancers Exercising” by Amy Clampitt, Period One winner sophomore Nathalia Sousa reciting “The Kiss” by Robert Graves, Period Five winner Birukti Tsige reciting “The Faithful” by Jane Cooper, Period Five semi-finalist sophomore Naomi Brill reciting “For The Young Who Want To” by Marge Piercy, Period One winner freshman Elizabeth Pitan reciting “The Way It Sometimes Is” by Henry Taylor. All photos by Meghan Yip.

13

Local News

14

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Malden city hall relocates

Image of how City Hall will appear across the street at the Malden Center train station. Photo provided by the Mayor’s Office.

Alysha McDevitt Reporter

E

xciting changes are happening in Malden as city hall will be relocating to a number of locations throughout the city. The plans have been in action since 2014 when the city hall was sold for $9.8 million, but the changes have only recently started to become apparent. Mayor Gary Christenson expressed that he firmly believes that the city will benefit from this move for a variety

of reasons.

The current city hall is large and dark with an ineffective layout and limited parking. The new buildings will look similar to those located at Assembly Square in Somerville.

There will be multiple buildings rather than just one, leaving room for parking and allowing traffic to flow with ease. However, these buildings will be more than just the 42,000 square feet of governmental offices. There will be 26,000 square

feet of retail space available as well as 234 apartments and a large parking lot of 276 available spaces.

With the new construct traffic in the area would improve as Pleasant Street would be opened up once again. This would connect Malden Square, a central part of the city, to Malden Station. The city has tried to find efficient ways to revamp the city, and this seems to be a promising method.

Malden’s police station will

also be moving. In replacement of the old station, one is being built on Eastern Avenue. If all goes as planned, the station should be open before next winter.

It takes a great deal of vision to plan a project like this. Malden is taking advantage of the opportunity to have one of the first city halls to be incorporated in a mixed function facility. All these changes are very exciting and will greatly impact the Malden community for the better.

December Family Day with FOOGI Ailin Toro Reporter

F

riends of Oak Grove Inc. (FOOGI) is a nonprofit organization that was formed by Malden residents. It is an all-volunteer organization run by board members which celebrates diversity and run a variety of events throughout the year.

In October, FOOGI organized a 5k Haunt Jaunt run for all ages.

People were encouraged to dress up in costumes and they even had a buffet at Dockside after for the participants. Along with this event the organization also has an annual “Pawrade” and “Plant Swap.”

On Dec. 19, Foogi along with the Malden YMCA hosted a December Family Day. The family day started off at noon in the YMCA gym. From 12:00 to 2:00 the attendants could enjoy an afternoon full of music, pizza, arts and crafts, and games. There was even an appearance from Santa who came ready to surprise the kids.

Later at 2:30 a relatively new tradition for FOOGI followed which was an original puppet show. In the past FOOGI held a book reading until their board member, Julie

The show followed two characters that had escaped from prison and and attempted to steal all the candy and presents from a workshop at the North Pole. The work-

Participants in the puppet show alongside Mayor Gary Christensen at the December Family Day. Photo by Susan Margot Ecker Photography.

Magnan, thought it would be more entertaining to perform a puppet show.This year the puppet was “The Skunk Who Sprayed Christmas” written by Magnan.

shop was protected by the security team formed of skunks who saved the day.

The puppet show was performed by children who had previ-

ously been involved in a free workshop at the YMCA. The children were involved in every part of the process, from making the puppets, to scene design, to performing in the show. This workshop was run by Magnan and Paul Sieswerda .

Magnan expressed that she was incredibly proud of the children’s final performance. She continued, stating that “ [they had] done [their] job of bringing the story to life” and gushed on how happy she was about it.

After the performance there were cookies and hot chocolate available for everyone. The Malden High School choral group then made an appearance to sing assorted classic holiday songs such as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” by Johnny Marks and “Jingle Bells” by James Pierpont. Each child was given a goodie bag with a hand puppet, a skunk tail, and an ornament.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Local News

15

maldenblueandgold.com

Holiday Harmonies

Clockwise: The concert choir on stage. MHS principal Dana Brown saying a few words before the band performs. Concert band performing a song. Madrigals singing. All photos by Meghan Yip. Megan Downer Lead Reporter Ailin Toro Reporter

Continued from page 1 After intermission the Concert Choir and Madrigals walked down the aisles with candles and began to sing “Procession” by Benjamin Britten and then transitioned into “Silent Night” by Franz Xaver Gruber.

The Mixed Chorus then took the stage and performed an array of songs. They began with “Alleluia Noel” by Roger Emerson, and after many lively performances, they finished with “Bidi Bom” by David Eddleman.

The Madrigal Singers took the stage next, starting off with the song

“Sleigh Riders” by Leroy Anderson, arrangement by Beck, and after a few songs moved on to the song “Hanukkah Wish” by Audrey Snyder. Their closing song was “Carol of the Bells” composed by Mykola Leontovych with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. .

The concert choir then entered the room and began with the classic “What a Wonderful World” written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, and recorded by Louis Armstrong. They later sang the challenging French song “Le Train D’Hiver” by Marie-Claire Saindon, which showcased their vocal skills.

Before their last song, some students took the stage to gift Todd Cole, the chorus conductor, with a varsity jacket as well as flowers for Cindy Horsman McKeen, a pianist. Cole then went on to thank certain people including Mayor Gary Christenson and Principal Brown before the

choir closed off with a fast paced song called “The Sleigh” by Kountz and arrangement by Baldwin.

MHS alumni were invited up to the stage to sing with the students.

The Concert Choir, Madrigals, and alumni finished the night off in the perfect way.

Cole gave closing remarks and reminded the audience of the Spring Concert where the students at Malden High will be able show off their musical talent again.

The Winter Concert is a show that Malden is able to pride themselves in because everyone that is a part of this show works tirelessly to deliver a fantastic performance.

Freshman clarinet player, Sebastian Romani stated that in preparation of this concert, “most nights [for him were spent] practicing.” Cole admitted that though the show takes endless time and effort, he enjoys “watching all the hard work pay off

for both [himself] and the students.”

The night was a success and delight for students, faculty and community members alike.

Local News

16

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Colby Sawyer Progressive Scholars Sabrina Harrath

Photo by Meghan Yip. Sydney Stumpf Reporter

S

eventeen year old Sabrina Harrath was one of ten students, two of which are in Malden, to receive the Colby Sawyer Scholarship.

The Colby Sawyer Scholarship is

awarded by Colby Sawyer College in New Hampshire, mainly, to “first generation college students and to bring more geographic, racial diversity to the college” (Harrath).

The scholarship grants awarded students with four years of tuition free college. Colby Sawyer College is a Liberal Arts and Sciences college.

Harrath has not accepted the scholarship as it is nonbinding, and is looking at her other options for school. She has applied to Colby Sawyer for early action and to Boston University, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina and Hofstra University for regular decision.

If Harrath accepts the scholarship and choses to go to Colby Sawyer College she “would graduate with a Bachelor’s degree knowing that [she] will not be trying to pay off [her] debt in the years to come.”

Colby Sawyer College has a good biomedical program which Harrath is very interested in.

After attending whichever

college she choses to go to, Harrath plans to further her college education into graduate school to receive her Master’s degree.

Living in Malden and learning at Malden High School has helped Harrath socially interact with people from all different backgrounds, since MHS is the second most diverse school in Massachusetts. She has always lived in Malden and cannot imagine going to any other high school other than Malden High School. On MHS Harrath says: “Malden High is a great school, with an enjoyable atmosphere and a remarkable educational system. Mr. Brown has done a phenomenal job in welcoming students and keeping the place under control. I honestly couldn’t imagine my high school career being anywhere, but at Malden High.”

Sabrina has lived in Malden her entire life, and had recently been trying out looking at the brighter side of situations instead of looking negatively on things.

Kenia Maldonado

Photo by Megan Downer.

E

very school year marks a new journey for students, especially high school seniors as some begin to depart from their homes. Many seniors are currently discovering their future as they open letters in hope of their acceptance. Malden High is happy to be home to many scholar recipients such as senior Kenia Maldonado.

Maldonado was one of the many to apply for the Colby Sawyer scholarship and was fortunate enough to have the honor of receiv-

ing the scholarship. She was encouraged by her guidance counselor to apply for this scholarship because she wanted to “keep [her] options open”, stated Maldonado.

When learning of her acceptance and receiving the Progressive Scholarship, Maldonado recalls being “ecstatic” and she “couldn’t believe that out of everyone who applied [she] was one of the chosen.” The Progressive Scholars Program at Colby Sawyer college in New London, New Hampshire works to supply students with educational opportunities, mainly firstgeneration students. The program also provides greater diversity to the college in several different ways.

College is an exciting experience and Maldonado expresses she is most “excited about learning to become self sufficient and independent.” Maldonado also expressed that “the new environment [she] will be in is also very exciting since [she] will have the opportunity to learn new things.”

Having a history of playing soccer, Maldonado is unsure yet whether or not she will continue pursuing the sport again in college but she says she is “definitely thinking about it.” College is a great place to make new friends and join new

activities and Maldonado is surely excited to partake in that experience.

However, if Maldonado is to decide to go to Colby Sawyer college in the fall she will not go in alone because she knows of some students that previously attended Malden High and currently attend the college.

Choosing the right college is a tough decision to make and Maldonado is definitely putting great consideration into this process.

With Colby Sawyer being only two hours away it is not a hard decision for those wishing to remain close to home. For Maldonado, she is not as worried about being far from family but she is still anxious about the change of daily life.

Maldonado was inspired to look further into this college and its programs due to the campus she described as “beautiful”. Another benefit of this school that caught Maldonado’s eye was that they “have a lot of great and fun activities to do there”, as described by Maldonado.

Although college is still months away, Maldonado has many options to choose from, from which she will graciously choose the place most suited for her.

ELL Tutoring Program Returns to MHS Megan Downer Reporter

N

ew things are happening here at MHS, the latest being an after-school ELL tutoring program.

The program offers ELL students access to help in subjects ranging from history, computer literacy, ELA, to biology.

This club has been offered in previous years as well and the advisers, Christine Day and Jessica Haralson, took brief time off from meeting last year due to other commitments but they have recently started up again.

Teachers are able to refer their students for this program by completing a referral sheet online and submitting it for consideration.

There is a variety of MHS teachers available to help those in need from Tuesday to Friday every week. Sessions begin directly after school for any ELL student, whether they are current or former. After teachers fill out the form to refer their student they are contacted by a tutor to schedule a time with the student.

Paired with the ELL tutoring program is the ESL Club which meets on Tuesdays after school in co-adviser Haralson’s room (BR490).

Haralson expressed that the goal of ESL club is “to provide a safe, welcoming space for English language learners to meet, practice English, and organize social activities outside of school. Generally, their meetings are “relatively informal,” explained Haralson.

The club plans various fun activities to experience together inside and outside of school. Members can propose any ideas they have and the club will make decisions as a team, voting for the events they wish to partake in. Their plans can vary from activities such as a movie night to a day of ice skating at Frog Pond in the Boston Commons. After they do their planning, students are welcome to stay for extra help on homework. They are also able to stay and play board games and simply socialize with friends in a “safe environment,” as described by Haralson.

Both Day and Haralson have share a great passion for “giving students authentic opportunities to practice English and strengthen their ties to MHS with supportive mentors who understand the unique challenges of learning a new language,” stated Haralson.

The ESL Club and the ELL tutoring program are helpful groups for ELL students to join as a way to involve themselves in the community. Teachers with ELL students should contact Day or Haralson in order to recommend their student for tutoring help.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Local Politics maldenblueandgold.com

Election Results for Student Government Day Sydney Stumpf Reporter

O

n Jan. 8, 2015, Student Government Day elections were held at Malden High School. The Student Government Day program was first introduced in 1947 and is run by the Massachusetts State Government.

The election is held to determine who will sit in with our state government and meet with government officials to represent Malden High School on Student Government Day. One representative and an alternative, the runner-up, are elected.

The elections were held in homeroom as the candidates read their statements on the morning announcements. Four students ran against each other to represent Malden High School including: seniors Terrica Dang, Efran Himal, juniors Tori Macdonald, and Gaudenz Brookes.

The representative for Malden High School voted for was Dang.

The runner-up, who will serve as an alternate for Dang, is Macdonald.

In the spring, Dang will represent

MHS at the State House where she will participate in a simulation to debate a proposed bill that will potentially be passed. Dang “believe[s] that winning this election will help [her] learn more about our government and help [her] with AP Governemnt.” Dang added that “[she] think[s] spending the day meeting real government officials and other students just as passionate about the government as [she is] will give [her] a lot of insight [into the way the government works] from all different perspectives.”

Lead history teacher Gregory Hurley is in charge of the election and thanked the students for voting.

He stated that “every time you vote you make your community stronger, so keep voting!”

Dang also thanked those who participated in the election everyone for taking part in the election. She explained that “voting is such an important part of our society and doing it in something as small as this election, makes a difference.”

Dang added, “It’s good practice for our upcoming mock primary election in February.”

Senior Terrica Dang who will represent Malden High School on Student Government Day poses for a picture.

Photo by Emma Ceplinskas.

Malden’s 2016 Inaugural Ceremonies

Haley Mallett Lead Reporter

O

n Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, the 2016 Inaugural Ceremonies for the City of Malden took place at Malden High School in the Jenkins Auditorium. Mayor Gary Christenson and new members of the City Council and School Committee were sworn in while outgoing members were congratulated for their duty in their former positions.

State Representative Steve Ultrino, along with Adam Weldai, former Vice Chairman of the School Committee, opened up the night as the masters of ceremonies. Malden’s City Messenger, Jerry Foley, admitted the honorable city elect into the convention. As the officers of the Malden Police Department filed in, the City Council elect, and finally the School Committee elect followed behind.

Proceeding their admission, Christenson, who has served as mayor of Malden since 2012 and will continue to for the next four years, was admitted to the convention by Foley. His niece and nephew, Cassandra and Nicholas Israelson, were present on stage as his guests to assist him in reading the oath.

The Malden Girl Scouts Troop then led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Malden High School junior Maya Hayes who sang the national anthem. The youth of Malden were heavily involved in

this year’s inauguration, including performances by the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy, Elisha Lebeau from the Salemwood School, the Malden Golden Tornadoes Band led by Erin O’Brien-Mazza, and the MHS Choral Arts Society led by Todd Cole. Weldai commented on the “talent that comes out of this system,” describing it as “truly remarkable.”

Pastor Dan Ko of the Seven Mile Road Church in Malden offered a prayer before Christenson was sworn in for the people of Malden. He asked “God to … bind the hearts of the many diverse people in this city” and to “bind our hearts together to pursue the greatness of all.” Immediately after his prayer, Christenson was sworn in, pledging his allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Christenson then swore in all of the elect of the City Council and School Committee.

Christenson began his speech reflecting on his life in Malden.

“Four years ago, [he] stood in front of [the people], a humbled and honored MHS graduate about to fulfill his dream of becoming mayor,” and “four years later, [he is] still that same MHS grad.” He is “grateful … to the thousands of residents across [the] city, for believing not in [him], but rather believing in this city’s potential.” Accomplishments Christenson touched on included the demolition of the City Hall site and reconnection of Pleasant Street,

the new Malden Police Station on Eastern Avenue, the opening of the Malden Teen Enrichment Center, a seven percent decrease in crime, and many more. Now, “not only are we realizing our potential, but others are as well.”

As Christenson concluded his speech, he reminded the elected officials that “[they] have the ability to make a difference in the lives of those [they] serve. [They] will not always agree, but [their] differences will only serve to challenge [them], and to ensure that [they] arrive at the best possible solutions.” He again thanked the people of Malden with his “deepest gratitude” for their “support and commitment to our city that has [him] waking up every day, seven days a week, and wanting to do everything [he] humanly can to help Malden be a better place for all.”

To conclude the ceremonies, the outgoing officials were recognized. Many of them spoke of their time spent in office, all commenting on their shared pride for the accomplishments made as a team.

Principal Dana Brown was also recognized for his work and on his retirement from the audience. The ceremonies ended with all officials sworn in, Christenson in office for four years, and all other officials for two. Congratulations to all of the new and returning officials on their election.

17 School Committee Meeting 1/11/16 Haley Mallett Lead Reporter

T

he School Committee, composed of new and returning members, met for the first time this year on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. The majority of the meeting was focused reflecting on the progress made in Malden, which is continuing to be made, as 2015 came to a close. As always, the public was allowed to address the committee.

First, teachers from the Ferryway School in Malden addressed the committee on behalf of their previous requests. The exponentially increasing number of students in the Malden Public Schools system produces larger class sizes, which can become overwhelming for teachers, especially in the elementary grades.

The city has worked towards finding both short and long term solutions to this problem that is evident in all of the schools, not only Ferryway.

Superintendent David DeRuosi discussed the interview process that occurred over winter break for these extra positions. Even though seven people have committed, the city is still on the lookout for more new hires. The schools need as much help as they can get, and “as fast as [DeRuosi gets] them, [he’s] plugging them [into]” the schools. Next year, the city and committee hopes to “work towards budgeting [the extra positions], and putting the information out early on...pulling people in earlier than December.”

Next, Principal Carol Keenan of the Salemwood School in Malden addressed the committee on behalf of the sixth grade’s annual Nature’s Classroom trip. This is the thirteenth year students will be attending the camp, and this year they will travel to Maine for a week of outdoor learning. The goal of Nature’s Classroom is “to meet the common core sixth grade curriculum through an outdoor classroom setting,” explained Keenan. An eighth grade student present reflected on her experience at the camp, saying that it taught everyone to interact with “people [they] wouldn’t interact with in school usually.” As always, the committee approved the trip.

Finally, DeRuosi addressed the Malden High School principal search. Before winter break, the search committee narrowed down the candidates to two. After further interviews, they have decided to bring Edward Lombardi in for a more in depth conversation about what the role of principal at MHS entails. The committee will soon be making a decision, which will be announced to the community once it is made.

The committee agreed that the community of Malden is doing well, especially in the school system at the moment as they wrapped up the meeting. The next meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, and is open to the public.

entertainment

18

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Fun in the Cold

maldenblueandgold.com

Customize Your Ride Ryan Hames Reporter

H

ave you ever seen a car with its wheels slanted outwards?

Don’t worry, it’s not broken; the car was actually purposely built like that. People spend countless hours perfecting their stance builds. Stance is when car-owners “drop” or lower their cars, so low that almost the whole car is touching the ground.

Along with dropping the car, creative owners add their own special touches, making every stanced car it’s own unique work of art.

One of the biggest promoters of stance cars is Stancenation. Stancenation was founded in 2010 by Elvis Skender. Stancenation travels along the Western United States, Japan, and Europe hosting car meets and shows for all car-lovers to attend.

‘Customization’ is a very familiar word with stanced car owners.

The amount of personal touches that exist are endless. However, there are some modifications and customizations that have become quite popular in the stance community. One of, if not the most popular mods is negative camber. Negative camber is the outwards slant of tires, resulting in increased lateral grip and traction. The amount of negative camber, or how diagonal the tires slant, just depends on the owner’s preference. While some people may like their tires at almost 180 degrees, others may not want negative camber at all.

Along with negative camber comes wheel spacing and stretched tires. Stretching tires is the process of fitting a narrower tire on wider

rims. The sidewalls stretch from the lip to the tread. Stretching tires does not have negative effects on a car’s performance, and can prevent the tire from rubbing against the fenders.

Wheel spacing, on the other hand, can cause tires to rub against fenders. Wheel spacing, or using wheel spacers, push the wheel further away from the car, resulting in a wider look. The way this is done is by installing wheel spacers on before the wheel itself.

Another modification that is highly popular is also one of the most expensive. Bagging is the safest, most apt, and overall best way to drop a car. Bagging gets its name from the air bags installed into the struts of the car. These air bags replace the coils in the suspension.

These bags allow car owners to personally raise and lower their car.

Some people have remotes, switches, or even apps to control their ride height. Bagging is effective for stancing cars in states like Massachusetts where there are harsh winters with a lot of snow. Driving a lowered car in snow is highly dangerous, and very difficult. Bagging may be expensive, but overall, it is a necessary modification if looking for a lowered car.

It is common for people to question why some car owners choose to stance their cars. There is no real answer for this question, but stancing is just a way people customize cars to get them exactly how one likes. Creativity drives owners to make their cars their own art piece, to show off during every drive.

Manale Zouhir Print Managing Editor

If you find yourself bored in the Boston area this winter, don’t just stay home because it’s too cold to do anything else! Embrace the cold weather and get outside--just make sure you have a few layers on first. Here are some fun, inexpensive things to do in Boston during the winter.

Ice Skating It’s hard to find a Bostonian who’s never gone ice skating at Frog Pond. But if you find yourself among that rare bunch, head over to Boston Common for ice skating until March.

Admission is free for anyone under 58 inches tall and $5 if you are taller. For skates, it will cost you $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Frog Pond, Boston Common, Boston.

Visit a Museum - Many museums offer student discounts or will let you in for free with a student ID. The Museum of Fine Arts is free for those under 18. You can also check out the Institute of Contemporary Art, one of my favorites, for free on Thursdays after 4pm until January 24. You can also stop by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a place I like to think of as a hidden treasure of Boston.

Admission here is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $5 for college students. Oh, and if you’re under 18 or your name is Isabella, you’re in luck--you can get in for free! If you are interested in any museum, go to their website and see if they have any special hours for students or for everyone where they offer free admission.

Yoga At Back Bay Yoga Studio on Boylston Street, you can take a yoga class for $15. If you are looking to release some stress or try something new, this might be the place for you.

364 Boylston St, Boston, MA Rock Climbing If you’re feeling adventurous, spend some time rock climbing at Rock Spot Climbing in Boston. There are a few locations, each open 10 am-midnight, seven days a week.

Each holds thousands of square feet of climbing, and over a hundred boulder problems, which are reset every six weeks. A day pass will be $16, or $25 with gear for adults.

67 Sprague St, Boston, MA

30 Old Colony Ave, South Boston, MA Check Out a View If you’re looking for a great view, visit the Top of the Hub in Boston to see the Skywalk Observatory. At $16 for adults, $11 for children, and $13 for students and seniors, you won’t really have to break the bank for this one. Check out Boston 52 floors above, snap a few photos for Instagram, and take in the amazing city.

Top of the Hub, 800 Boylston Street., Prudential Tower, Boston.

From top to bottom: Lowered mini cooper on runway with slight negative camber. Lowered Nissan 370Z about 45 degree camber. Photos from Jourdan Smith photography.

Shopping With post-holiday sales brewing throughout different stores, make a day out of shopping around Boston and visiting some stores you’ve never been to. Whether you’re checking out Primark at Downtown Crossing, walking through Newbury Street, or visiting a safer bet such as the Cambridgeside Galleria, shopping is an activity that can never get old for some.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Entertainment

19

maldenblueandgold.com

A Box Office Awakening Nicholas Bramante Head Copy Editor

I

n the not too distant past, in the same exact galaxy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens took both the country, and the world, by intergalactic storm. Releasing on December 18, 2015, The Force Awakens quickly shattered many box office records even before the movie itself had actually released. Post release? It’s become the biggest movie in the U.S, beating out James Cameron’s Avatar, and it is quickly rising through world records with steady pace.

With the final opening weekend estimate sitting around 250 million dollars, and world wide sales reaching nearly 2 billion dollars, it’s safe to say that The Force Awakens has been relatively successful, or a smash hit. Either or. Directed and co-written by acclaimed director J.J Abrams, the film had quite a reputation to live up to, with standards for the movie rising far higher than one could possibly hope to satisfy.

So the question is: what is it that has made Star Wars such a cultural phenomenon yet again?

To begin: the writing. One of the biggest concerns surrounding The Force Awakens was the quality of the writing and the level to which the story would compel audiences to love the characters of the series once more. After creator George Lucas stepped away from Star Wars, Disney acquired the brand and all the rights to creating future movies.

To say this raised anxieties regarding the possibility of making Star Wars only for young children would be a massive understatement. Not to mention anxieties were already high regarding writing after the notso-well received prequel movies, which were mercilessly torn apart for their various plot holes, terrible dialogue, and lack of coherent story.

Stepping up the plate was returning writer Lawrence Kasdan (who had worked on original trilogy Star Wars films), Michael Arndt, and even Abrams himself. The group turned out to be a near perfect fit for the film, capturing both the old essence of Star Wars that so many fans hold near to their hearts while still making the film extremely relatable and approachable for newcomers to the series. The Force Awakens is thrilling from beginning to end, with drama that will leave audience members in tears, and laughs that will just do the same. The characters all have unbelievable chemistry, carrying out scenes in quick, believable, and most importantly fluent fashion. There’s plenty of easter eggs for old fans as well, that are constructed well enough that new members won’t feel left out at all in

the middle of a scene. The franchise hasn’t seen writing this well done since the original trilogy, and even then, some claim it soars above even that.

Almost as important as the rich storytelling, the special effects in The Force Awakens are a natural blend of both Computer Generated graphics as well as realistic practical effects that create a nearly seamless and absolutely beautiful piece of cinema. Even the original release of Star Wars saw groundbreaking special effects that dazzled audiences everywhere; this film is no exception. The environments in The Force Awakens are mainly actual sets found around the world, meaning that desolate deserts and flourishing forests alike are as beautiful in the film as they would be in actuality.

Even the inside of ships are as spotless and luminescent as one could imagine they would appear. This is a refreshing return to the series, as the prequels saw mainly CG environments. Some films may be able to pull it off nowadays, but at the time of the late 90’s and mid 2000’s the technology had just not come far enough, and often left environments looking undetailed and flat.

While some imagery in the film has been criticised due to its overuse of Nazi tones, it’s really an aesthetic preference that comes down to the individual watcher, and is not reflective of poor quality in the imagery of the movie. Thankfully it’s not only the environments or imagery of The Force Awakens that capture the beauty of the Star Wars universe, as intense and varied color palettes throughout the film steal the audience’s gaze. It’s easy to lose track of the beautiful environments when deep and bright shades of green, blue, and red race across the screen, often erupting into beautiful flashes of light that dazzle. Everything feels just as vintage and familiar to the series as it does fresh and adapted to 2015. The lightsaber scenes alone stand on their own as astounding works of art, as brilliant flashes of light dance both gracefully and dangerously across screen. This, coupled with the intense realism that comes with practical effect explosions and stunts creates both ambient and action-heavy imagery that is as pleasing to the eye as it is engaging.

Returning to Star Wars is composer John Williams, who introduces both re recordings of classic and iconic pieces from Star Wars, but also new pieces that capture the feelings of grandeur that are often associated with the franchise while adding new and creative twists. WIlliams is known for crafting some of cinema’s most iconic

music, such as the pieces found in of course Star Wars, but also Jaws and Jurassic Park, so it’s no surprise that his new compositions are just as impressive as they always are known to be. Compositions by Williams breathe life and feeling into The Force Awakens, drawing upon the deepest of human emotions, in order to create both atmospheres of pure dread and oppression, but also exhilarating moments of triumph and adrenaline. To say that Williams brings his all in his compositions for The Force Awakens is a massive understatement. Sound design for The Force Awakens is equally as eloquently pulled off. Familiar and classic sound effects such as the high pitched shrieking of a TIE fighter or the energetic hum of a lightsaber have been tweaked and adapted for 2015, creating high definition sound that feels fresh for a new trilogy. Everything from the ascending tones of engines whirring to life to the sharp bangs of a blaster bolt hitting a wall resonates deeply with the eardrums they hit, and immerse the audience just one level deeper into the Star Wars universe. Attention to sound design such as this is rarely found in cinematography, and is quite an achievement in itself.

Possibly one of the strongest aspects of The Force Awakens comes in one of the most human elements of the film: the acting. The Force Awakens sees the return of many of the franchise’s beloved actors, including Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

Even “lesser” original characters see the return of original actors; a treat for veterans of the franchise. While the old cast holds just as much chemistry as they ever did with each other, it’s the new cast and characters that steal the show. Actors Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) expertly execute their roles. Even less seen characters such as Domhall Gleeson’s “General Hux” or Andy Serkis’ “Supreme Leader Snoke” are executed well, with performances that leave the audience wanting.

Every moment of drama, suspense, joy, and fear feels real in The Force Awakens, and often times it’s easy to forget that these actors are actors at all. Chemistry between characters is not only present where needed, but is used effectively and not over saturated in the film. The actors not only present their characters in expert fashion, but also play off of each other seamlessly, with interactions feeling as real as any conversation between two people in public.

Some characters with great potential are unfortunately wasted, their actors’ performances left something to

be wanted. Beyond these few characters, performances are solid at the least and exquisite at the best, creating a cast of characters that are just as important to The Force Awakens as any special effect or plot point is.

To end: the directing. J.J Abrams brings his all in The Force Awakens. There had been some controversy leading up to the release of The Force Awakens regarding the reception of some of Abrams’ other recent films, such as the very similar reboot of Star Trek in 2009. Abrams himself admitted he didn’t do as well as he could have with said film, though pledged to really give Star Wars his all, as he has always been a massive fan of the series. This pledge shows in The Force Awakens, as the film takes Star Wars in different directions in almost every aspect than anything from the likes of creator George Lucas; different directions that were very much needed and make all the difference in this film. Everything from the cinematography of action scenes to the intense shots of dramatic scenes screams “Abrams,” and is something that Star Wars has never really seen before. Abrams was heavily involved in various aspects of the film, and approached it from not only a director’s standpoint, but also that of a fan. The end product is without a doubt some of the best design and cinematography the franchise has seen since the original trilogy, most likely even topping some of that.

All and all, The Force Awakens is at the least a very worthy continuation of the Star Wars franchise, and at the most a masterful blend of both classic and fresh elements that really breathes new life into the series as a whole. Almost everything in The Force Awakens is a hit, from the story to the execution and cinematography of scenes, dramatic and comedic alike. It offers an absolutely beautiful spectacle of an experience that when accompanied by the incredible talent involved and the classic thematic roots of the series creates one of the best films of 2015, no questions asked. The Force Awakens’ extremely rapid ascension into the number one spot in domestic box office grossing of all time speaks volumes for the film’s quality and popularity; however it does not speak nearly as much for the film, as the film does itself. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll absolutely love the ride The Force Awakens has to offer.

And even if you aren’t already a fan, this film may very well be the one to turn you over to the “light side.”

Whether you love it or you hate it, there’s no denying that The Force Awakens has taken not only the U.S but the world by storm, and has rightfully done so.

Sports

20

maldenblueandgold.com

Leila Greige Lead Reporter

Shots Fired

Abdul Ali Lead Reporter

Balancing Out the COMPETITION Christina Appignani Reporter

M

alden High School’s boys basketball team is starting the season fresh off the court. The boys are expected to go far this season, and are looking to advance in the playoffs. Senior captain Simson Liberis reveals that he is “looking most forward to [the team] having a good season and retiring into the playoffs.. Last year unfortunately [they] didn’t make the playoffs, but with a great group of hardworking guys [he feels] that [their] season this year will be a good one, which will allow [them] to return into the playoffs.”

Although they admit there are some challenges they will face in the long run, such as “finishing the season with away games,” according to junior captain Nathaniel Ilebode, the boys know they will step it up this year in hopes to make it to the playoffs.

Sophomore Daniel Perez explains how “[he has] a way bigger role as the starting point guard, so there’s a lot more pressure for [him] and [his team], and being so young, everyone has weight on their shoulders.” The underclassmen look up to upperclassmen players and captains. “[He] can always ask them for advice and they know how to carry this team and just take control over games and they know how to be calm at all times. [He feels] like that’s key to winning during this season; patience and staying calm” says Perez.

Compared to last season, the team set their mind on one thing.

They have been preparing for the upcoming season, by working offseason. Liberis explains that, “ [he] preached to these guys that working as a team and having a lot of ball movement would be key for [their] season last year.” Also to their passion for basketball would add to their success. He believes that the key to advancing far this season is to continue playing as a team. “[He] strongly [believes] that if [they] continue to play team basketball like [they] have for these last couple of games, [they] will be a very hard team to stop.”

Coach Don Nally carries the basketball team this year. “He understands [their] situation that [they’re] young and nobody expects [them] to do anything this year, but he’s the only one that believes that [they] can go far and do it as the underdogs” claims Perez. “Coach Nally always pushes us to work our hardest so it will be strong” adds Ilebode.

The Malden High school basketball team continues to keep their heads up, and in the game. Members of the high school look forward to seeing the boys advance through the season, and wish them luck in making it to playoffs.

The Blue and Gold January 2016

A

From top to bottom: Senior captain Simson Liberis shooting a free throw. Sophomore Isaiah Likely shooting. Sophomore Fern Berard shooting. Senior captain Mark Rogers passing the ball to a teammate. All photos by Abhishek Rana.

lthough the gymnastics team has only had one meet so far this season, they have demonstrated great ability. Despite their limited season last year due to the poor weather conditions, coach Vanessa James expressed that “ the team’s spirit remains the same as last years; with great attitudes and dedication to accomplishing their goals in every meet.”

In gymnastics, there are four events: vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise. Six gymnasts compete in each event. The four highest scores are added together to accumulate the final score. The four events only last about ninety seconds and only six gymnasts can compete at each meet. Each gymnast must perform a different routine than the gymnast before or after him. If one or more skills are put together, it increases the value of the routine.

James mentioned that “[the team] has been practicing really hard this year to combine skills as much as possible. [They] have been practicing several times a week to perfect their routines as well as giving each other their opinions of each other’s routines.”

Last season, the gymnastics team was not able to attend many meets because of the frequent snowstorms that occurred during their season, which takes place in January and February. It was difficult for the team to reschedule their meets, but they remained hopeful nevertheless. Senior Bianca Alves stated that “[Coach James] really encouraged [the team] to not be let down by the shorter season. So [the team] carried that spirit over with [them] this season, and so far it’s proven to be helpful to all of [them].”

Although the team had lost their first meet, Alves commented that “[the team] did really well and [they] came really close to winning.”

She acknowledges this because most of the members of the gymnastics team, both boys and girls, have never had any sort of experience with gymnastics until this season. Alves added that “practices have been really productive because everyone works their hardest and are always trying new things.

Coach James’s goal for this season is to make sure that “[team members] leave the season as a better gymnasts and athletes than they were at the beginning of the season, whether if it’s that they gained a new skill or a better attitude.” Alves hopes to “have a great season, since this is [her] last season on the MHS gymnastics team.” Sophomore Max Weng’s goal for this season is “to not let the team down and to aim for the GBL championship”.

Sports

The Blue and Gold January 2016

Coach Lydia Coverdale

21

maldenblueandgold.com

SCORING FOR VICTORY

T

he girls varsity basketball coach, Lydia Coverdale, is entering her fourth year of coaching. She discovered her love for basketball in middle school and played while attending Malden High School. As a former student-athlete, she learned important lessons about life and had the opportunity to create lasting friendships with her teammates.

During her time at MHS, Coverdale played on the basketball team for three years. The team she was on won a Greater Boston League Title and made history as the first women in Malden High School to score 1,000 points. Coverdale later went on to attend the University of Massachusetts Boston where she majored in psychology and sociology, which has helped her in coaching.

After college, Coverdale wanted to share her passion for the game with the next generation of female basketball players and so she decided to become a coach. She believes that “learning to play a sport and being part of a team is important for self confidence, camaraderie, and teaches you to understand the competitive nature of the world we live in.” Her very first coaching experience was with third graders for the Malden Youth basketball program. From that moment on, Coverdale knew she wanted to be more involved.

Principal Dana Brown and Malden Recreation Director Joe Levine were her coaches when she played on the MHS team. Coverdale thought it was important to coach in Malden so she could give back to her community. Both Brown and Levine were her motivation to join the girls basketball program and contribute to Malden.

Her favorite part about coaching is teaching the players to cooperate together and try their best on and off the court. When working with the girls, she can see that they are determined and focused which is what she loves the most. Seeing how they work as a team and the support they have for each other this season brings excitement to Coverdale most of all. The team is focusing on both their defensive and offensive skills as well as becoming more aggressive.

Coverdale does not want to limit her influence to sports but for it to transcend beyond basketball so that the girls will be good people, not solely good athletes. All in all, she wants to see them become “responsible young women, who stay motivated to improve in all that they do.”

Alexis Brown Lead Reporter Neden Bernadin Reporter

T

he girls varsity basketball team currently stands with a record of 1-8, but between all the ups and downs so far this season, it is evident that the team’s dedication has helped to keep their hopes high for the remainder of the season. The girls are still trying to adjust to a new team, and as for the newcomers: they are still adjusting to the varsity level of competition. Despite their losses, the girls keep a positive attitude as they continue to practice and improve their skills. From Saugus to Triton, the girls have put up a fight in every matchup that comes their way.

One main skill the girls are focusing on during practice to apply during games is communication. “[They] are trying hard to communicate on the court,” stated junior captain Caitlyn Leonard.

The communication improves their chemistry on the court and better enables the girls to come together and work as a team. “When [they] all work together [they] can achieve great things” added Leonard. Coach Lydia Coverdale mentioned that another skill the girls are trying to perfect is defense so that they are more aggressive on the court and play more offensively when they are trying to minimize turnovers.

Basketball is a very team oriented sport and luckily for the girls team, each individual player has something unique to contribute to the team. Their individual skills combine together on the court and create something great. This combination of skills along with their positive attitudes has pushed the team to work harder. “[They have] had to learn to never give up no matter what the outcome of the previous game was,” expressed senior captain Tishida Stroud. They are able to take their mistakes from previous games and learn from them.

As the season progresses, the girls are now excited to have begun

their Greater Boston League games as they will try and compete for the GBL title. Practice has paid off as the girls acquired their first victory against the Somerville Highlanders on Jan. 8, 2016. Though it was a close match, Malden won with a final score of 50 points and Somerville was off by just two points.

Sophomore Tiffany Tortora scored the last two points for Malden from free throws during the fourth quarter. The girls showed a tremendous

amount of improvement both defensively and offensively.

Leonard and Stroud look to encourage the girls to help each other out on and off the court. Leonard believes that they have the ability to become an all around well rounded team. The girls continue to persevere and are holding themselves accountable for their mistakes but only to fix them.

Overall, the team is ecstatic to start their new GBL season.

From top to bottom: caption, Junior LaDaveya Moise preparing to shoot a free throw.Junior Caitlyn Leonard passing the ball in. Sophomore Mackenzie Furlong shooting a free throw. All photos by Neden Bernadin.

Sports

22

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Back on the Ice

Wrestlers Rise Again

Tenzin Dorjee Head of Sports

C

urrently, Malden High School Joanna Li does not offer an ice hockey Reporter program of a its own. Fortunately, ince the beginning of December, MHS hockey players are still able the wrestling team has been to sharpen their skills because constantly practicing on the basics MHS partnered up with Revere High School to let students from and boosting their stamina. HowMHS play hockey. MHS has had a ever these past matches have been history of teaming up with other difficult. The team has been losing high schools to allow its students to their matches as a team, though not play hockey. Previously, MHS had all their individual matches. MHS teamed up with Pope John XXIII tied against Minuteman Tech with High School to create a combined a score of 36-36, lost against Biland co-ed hockey team. Back then, lerica with a score of 32-12, and lost MHS was able to play in the North against Saugus with a score of 62-18.

Massachusetts Catholic Conference The team might lack on their skills, with substantial success. Now, with but they are determined to keep tryRevere, MHS plays in the North- ing and be better. There are mostly first-year wrestlers on the team, that eastern Conference.

On the team, there are seven lack some experience or are unfit MHS students have contributed to a degree. The team practices for to the team. Eldest of the group is junior James Pandolfo, a 3 year high school hockey veteran, having previously played for Malden Catholic before transferring to MHS for his sophomore year. Among the sophomores of MHS, Paul Gennetti, Michael Giordano, and Michael Goroshko make up those who play for the Patriots. Freshmen include Marc Giordano and Zachary Rufo.

While the group of MHS students is small, Pandolfo expressed how he “[wants] to improve [their game] and hopefully clinch a berth in the state tournament.”

Leading the co-op team is head coach Joe Ciccarello. Under his guidance, the Revere Patriots done well so far, as they are currently standing at a record of 5-4-2. The Patriots play their home matches in Revere’s very own Cronin Skating Rink. So far, the team has had 4 home games, and 7 away games. Each match was hard fought as every player played until clock hit 0, never letting up. Up until now, RHS/MHS has faced Lynn twice, and Gloucester, The Voke, Bourne, Swampscott, East Boston, Saugus, and Salem once each. The team has also played in the East Boston Cancer tournament.

The co-op team is still relatively new, as Pandolfo expressed how when the “[came] into the season, the coach put on a lot of pressure on [returning members] to really step up and get to the next level.”

Pandolfo loves the sport because it is a “brotherhood, and a true team sport, [because] in order to succeed [one needs] to be on the same page as the team.”

While MHS does not have a program of its own, these seven students have proven to to the community that interest for such a thing is well and alive. MHS wishes its hockey players all the best for the rest of the season.

S

3 hours each day of the week and sometimes on Saturdays.

In the beginning the team had struggled to memorize the necessary tactics, struggling to perform them in a match; a real roadblock for the team depending on the opponents they face. Most of their matches were a defeat. Personally the wrestlers believe they are inexperienced and are nervous, making them hesitant in their actions, so they may struggle but will undoubtedly learn from their mistakes.

Most of the wrestlers’ share the goal to win their own match and for the team. Senior Fabrice Nabosse says, “[he wants] to get better this year.” Junior Captain Anthony

Johnson wants “to get more wins than last year; and for the team, to have a good year, have fun, get wins, and have [the team have] more confidence in [themselves].”

The wrestling team may still make the same mistakes from the start, but they are on their way to being a better team.

The team mostly needs to improve on their confidence in themselves and each other. To learn and perform in a match is difficult to manage, due to the process and lack of time they posses to learn about their opponents. However their own determination to improve stamina and techniques is the right direction for an improved team.

Sports

The Blue and Gold January 2016

23

maldenblueandgold.com

Tracking New GOals Tatum Skiffington Lead Reporter Gabriella Onessimo Lead Reporter

N

ow that it’s the mid-season for winter sports, congratulations to the girls’ track team two wins of the season so far. A win against Everett with the score of 66-20 and a win against Somerville of 4442. Consistency in teamwork has caused the team to excel extremely well for these last few meets.

ing immensely since the season’s started and their way to GBLs is just around the corner. With a strong relationship between the teammates, Qian Ren, Sophomore, thinks that “the girls on the team are amazing and though running isn’t an easy thing to do, it get’s better when people are giving you motivation

Sophomore Allie Russo warming up for a meet. Photo by Vivian Dang.

To accomplish their goals of winning GBLs this year, for Sophomore, Jasmine Gray she believes that “with the progress and performance we’ve been doing so far, I’m confident that we’ll be GBL champs.”

The team has been improv-

and cheering you on. The girls on the team as well as our coach-Mr. Londino-has helped me improve a lot.”

With the team’s confidence in teamwork and sportsmanship, Freshman Renet Chan thinks that

“Sense now we’re in the mid-season, everyone knows each other and we have each other’s back. Because we’re so supportive to each other, I’ve never had a team like this before and they’re a significant part of my life now after school.”

“The season has been absolutely amazing so far and maybe that’s why it has gone by so fast. Coach Londino is always asking us to reach inside ourselves for “depth” and I think, together as a team, we’re all beginning to understand what he means by that. Hopefully by the end of the season we will all have accomplished it.” says Freshman, Birukti Tsige.

The team hopes to accomplish many goals this season. “I hope to accomplish my goal in becoming a faster runner.” says Sophomore, Imane Quachyryni. “My goal is to become a better runner as well increase in my running speed.” says Freshman, Ranya Boufaida. The team hopes to complete goals and make higher records for the year.

The success of the team has been exceedingly well, best wishes for the rest of the season from MHS.

Racing for Success Tatum Skiffington Lead Reporter Gabriella Onessimo Lead Reporter

S

ince the start of the winter season, Malden High School’s boys indoor track team has tenaciously applied their adept athleticism and complete concentration to achieve shared and personal victories.

For the first half of the season the team has encountered both wins and losses. With a current record of 1-1, the team has had an overall excellent performance streak, but they still have a common objective to continue improving. Additionally, girls indoor track has been performing exceptionally well with statequalifying scores. The boys recent loss to Somerville has not hindered their abilities. To the track team, there are always more opportunities to succeed.

Coach David Londino is satisfied with the consistent success and the progress of the team.

Reflecting on the season thus far, he said that “the season is going well.” “[They] opened with a strong win over Everett and had a number of athletes qualify for states at the GBL open.”

Junior runner Sam Pettigrew and senior shot putter Allen Liang

Senior Jonathan Solomon leading the team in a warm up for a meet. Photo by Vivian Dang. have displayed great skill this season. Pettigrew has placed first at meets to propel the team forward and Liang’s throw of 48’ 3.25” is one of the best throws in shot put this season.

Londino also expressed the fact that when the team had their first loss in three years, the team demonstrated “great maturity in defeat.”

He added that “the boys look to improve, reach personal bests, and qualify for the Division 1 state meet on Feb. 14.”

Junior Gus Brookes is one of the many track members who demonstrated perseverance that

will help the team reach their goals.

Brookes is fueled with optimism and purposefulness to follow up with last year’s undefeated season.

Brookes described the great effort invested in enhancing the team’s performance. “[They] only want to be the best [they] can be, which means never giving up,” he stated.

He believes that if one has already established themselves as a great athlete, there is still room to train and improve. With this philosophy, Brookes believes that there is no limit to the team’s capabilities.

This season, junior Pedro Lugo has faced physical obstacles

that have hindered his full performance, but he hopes he will reach his goals due to his steadfast determination to recover. Regardless of the setbacks he has faced with his injury, Lugo is “very pleased with the team’s performance” as everyone is “giving all they got in every race”. He believes there is always room for improvement and thinks the team can improve the way the team starts and finishes a meet as it often determines the outcome of the race. Lugo’s goals for the rest of the season include getting healthy and “coming back with a fire to really improve [himself], and start to build a momentum for the team to win more.” Although Lugo finds areas where boys track can improve, he and the team have confidence in their abilities.

The team has demonstrated their talent and skill since the start of the winter season. With the combination of teamwork, devotion, and focus, the team is sure to go far.

They have managed to stick together, continuing to persevere through the ongoing season.

Sports

24

The Blue and Gold January 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

Reaching Deeper Depths The Golden Tornado swim team remains undefeated with a record of 4-0.

Ana Kerr Lead Reporter

W

ith a strong start of four wins and zero losses against Milton, Melrose, Medford and Somerville, Malden High School’s swim team is off to nothing but a great start. The members of the swim team are all excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for them.

MHS’ swim team is one of the largest teams at MHS. Freshman Kevin Ochoa expressed, “If [he was] to talk about the diversity of our team, [he’d] say it’s quite vast. [His] team comes from all different backgrounds ranging across the world.”

He added that “[their] diversity re-

ally makes [his] team special.”

Three words to describe MHS’ swim team would be united, resilient and humble.

Senior captain Ryan Luu explained that “[they] don’t look at [them]selves as any greater when [they] come out with a win.” Rather, “[they] just want to improve and move onto the next meet.” They are resilient because no matter what happens, the team comes back twice as strong as before. Junior Kevin Luu added, “Malden is a city that not many people know about and every year [they] find ways to make a name for [them]selves. Somehow [they] string together undefeated season after undefeated season.”

Nothing can stop the swim team

from a successful season.

Many improvements have been from the past year but “many key members were lost from last season to the current season,” mentions captain Luu. But this season, a lot of talent and potential for the team was gained. The team grows stronger bonds with the new additions to the team, making them even more successful.

This season has will be one that the team will not forget with the various memories and moments that have been shared between the members. Junior Brynn Kankel stated that one her favorite memories was when “one day after practice some of the team stayed after and had a diving contest in the pool. It

was so funny and people were really getting into it and showing off their dives.” Being part of a team does not only bring a lifetime of memories but also a loving group of people to consider as second family.

With more than a month left for the initial competition season, the team already has a variety of sectional and state qualifiers. Those who qualified include senior captains Samantha Forestier, Alexandra Lombardi, Ryan Luu, Matthew Perry, Blue and Gold member Lucia Quesada Nylen, juniors Felicia Lombardi, Cleverina Cong, Vivian Nguyen, Kevin Luu, sophomore Pete Jinapin, and freshmen Joanne Ho and Kevin Ochoa.

From top to bottom, left to right: Junior Viivan Nyguen swimming the 200 yard Individual Medley. Freshman Kevin Ochoa finsihing his leg of the 200 yard Idividual Medley relay. Freshman Pamela Coleho diving off the block for her leg of the 200 yard fresstyle relay. Sophomore Pete Jinapin swimming the 200 yard fresstyle.