January 2013 by The Blue and Gold

Megan Kelly on Youtube blogger Alex Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement Life Scouts. Read the full article on page 6.

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Malden High School Volume 98 Edition 4

Our 98th Year January 2013

Boston Scholastic Art Show

In This Issue: Editorial Page 2 Community Bulletin PAGE 3 Opinion Pages 3-6 World pages 8-9 Local Pages 10-19 Entertainment Page 20-23

The MHS Art Department selected 15 students to submit artwork to the Boston Scholastic Art Show in hopes of winning the Gold Key or Silver Key. The selected students are submitting their artwork to compete against 10,000 other art submissions and only 1000 winners. Photos by Amanda Rosatone

The Malden High School Concert Band performs their annual Winter Concert in the Jenkins Auditorium. Photo by Johanna Lai. See page 18 for the full article.

Best of 2012

Sports Page 24-28

Junior Justine Rose preparing for her floor routine at the Malden vs. Fenwick meet. Photo by James Mazarakis

Editorials

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Malden High School

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

Editors-in-Chief: Print: LAUREN BENOIT ‘13 Online: JOSHUA KUMMINS ‘13 Print: SHARON LEE ‘13 Online: CATHERINE POIRIER ‘13 Managing Editors: Online: KAYLA BRAMANTE ‘13 Print: NATALIE FALLANO ‘13 Social Media: MEGAN KELLY ‘13 Head Copy Editor: AMALIA QUESADA NYLEN ‘13 Head of Local: VICKI NGAN ‘14 AMANDA ROSATONE ‘14 Head of Sports: KRISTEN LEONARD ‘14 Head of World: MEGAN KELLY ‘13 Head of Entertainment, Style, and Lifestyle: HALEY DOWDIE ‘13 Head of Business: JOHANNA LAI ‘13 _____________ Reporters: NICHOLAS BRAMANTE ‘16 EMMA CEPLINSKAS ‘16 CARMELLITE J CHAMBLIN ‘14 ANDREW COGLIANO ‘16 AMANDA DE MORAES ‘15 JONATHAN DECICCO ‘15 JESSICA LYNN DEPAULA ‘15 CHAIMAE EL ADLOUNI ‘16 JULIE LAM ‘15 ASHLEY LEUNG ‘16 PATRICIA LUONG ‘16 CASEY LYONS ‘15 JAMES MAZARAKIS ‘15 AREFIN MOHIUDDIN ‘13 SUMYA MOHIUDDIN ‘15 PHILLIP MONTEZUMA ‘15 MYLE NGUYEN ‘15 LUCIA QUESADA NYLEN ‘16 GRACE STATHOS ‘15 MANALE ZOUHIR ‘16 Advisor: Ryan Gallagher Established in 1915 Check out our online edition:

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NHL LOCKOUT SHOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH SPORTS AND EMPHASIZES ALTERNATIVES

hether in large cities or small towns, sports bring people together. However, it does not seem like the National Hockey League got that memo. After its second lockout in less than a decade concluded just after the New Year, fans of the Boston Bruins rejoiced and got ready for their team to take the ice – more than four months later than usual. It was a scenario of billionaires bargaining with millionaires, and as each of the 113 days passed, hockey fans everywhere became restless. Especially in a time of economic recession in the United States, losing more than half of the season is exactly what the NHL (and all those arena employees, souvenir shops, restaurants, etc.) did not need. Locking out the sport is the obvious worst-case scenario for all involved. Not only does the shortened season lose thousands of dollars every game night, but it also risks fans returning when games begin. Because it took so long for the NHL players and leaders to come to a final agreement, many fans contemplated if they would return and to that effect, numerous teams lost customers to assorted ticket plans and packages. Those recent circumstances in the NHL truly show what is wrong with sports today, but for those in the Boston area, there were (and will always be) many alternative ways to fix the hockey craving as there are dozens of minor league, college, junior, and even high school teams that offer affordable games for fans to attend.

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.

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For those other outlets of hockey, it was a time that allowed their products to be shown off on a larger scale – through local newspapers, television stations, and other forms of media. College games showcasing Boston College, Boston University, and other local powers were showcased across national television networks as well as major radio stations that generally cover the NHL. On the NBC Sports Network, several games set ratings records for college hockey, proving just what a formidable replacement it can be. Similarly, this issue also hits home, although with a different sport. On Dec. 18, 2012, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson announced that a letter of intent had been signed to commence building a 6,000-seat baseball stadium across Canal Street from the Stop and Shop supermarkets. In April 2015, the plan is for Malden to be the newest franchise in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball – the most successful independent baseball league in the country. Despite not having an affiliation with Major League Baseball like teams in the minor leagues, those playing in independent baseball still emphasize community family fun and affordability. One can purchase a season ticket to many independent or minor league franchises for a lesser price than one game at a professional stadium. And the most important part, there is no lockout. For whatever the sport, there will always be an alternative to cope with an absence of a favorite professional team. So check out a college hockey or minor league baseball game, it will not leave any disappointment.

Joshua Kummins Editor-in-Chief

Above: With the NHL lockout concluded, the TD Garden will be home to Boston Bruins games this season. Photo by Joshua Kummins.

Corrections: p. 24 - Girls track team practices at Salemwood School, not Malden High School.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

Opinion maldenblueandgold.com

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Augmented Reality: Install “layar” app on your web enabled phone. Then search for the layer “January 2012” Launch the layer and hold your phone over the photo to the left. Use the Layar app on any photo with the icon to the right.

In This Issue: never ending road trip Page 5

wildfires in the Outback Page 8 Teacher Profile Page 10 Poetry Out Loud page 11

Submit a Letter-to-the Editor to be published in our next edition! Email out staff at theblueandgold@gmail.com

instagram contest

Instagram Contest: Submit a photo of your favorite winter sports team to The Blue & Gold for a chance to be published in our next edition. Tag #theblueandgold via instagram to submit your photo!

Scholarships Pages 12-13 Scholastic Art Show Pages 14-15 2013 Horoscopes Page 22 michael Phelps Page 24 Boys Track Goes Gold Page 27 Swim Team On Their Way To A GBL Title Page 28

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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“The Rest is Still Unwritten”

never ending road trip Kayla Bramante Managing Editor

Haley Dowdie Head of Entertainment

t is 11:30 AM and you are seated next to a friend in your elementary school cafeteria. You pull out your sandwich for lunch and take a sip of your juice box. The only concern you have at that very moment in time, is whether or not your mother remembered to pack your favorite fruit snack for lunch; preferably a fruit roll up. These are the days when your focus is not on passing exams, college, the military, the workforce, or more notably, entering into the gray abyss of adulthood, but simply having the most prestigious snack in your lunch box. Up until now, each day has pretty much been planned or decided for you: go to this school, study this subject, or live in this city. Life’s monotony made everything simple, generally speaking. After months of research, hours of applications, finally

Yet that sense of relief quickly fades to the dread of the unknown. What now? What if ? Where will I be? you enrolled or hit submit on the common application: success. Yet that sense of relief quickly fades to the dread of the unknown. What now? What if? Where will I be? These questions instantly slam into the back of your mind because suddenly it has become real. You realize now that after graduation you will have to do something with your life, something you choose to do. Your new responsibilities are now as an adult, taking the steering wheel in your own life. Eventually you grow this deepening sense of freedom with a small hint of nausea, knowing that you are in fact an adult, and are responsible for your own future. Despite the fact that you may be taller than your parents or have facial hair, you still sometimes feel like that little seven year old eating a pudding cup in the cafeteria and think to yourself: Do I really have to grow up? For many, getting away from home and finally having the ability to make the decisions in your life is a gift you have been waiting for since you were

Photo by Haley Dowdie

Ultimately, you end up understanding that growing up is inevitable, something that has occurred since the beginning of time.

ten. For others, having to move on from the life you have grown so accustomed to sends shivers down your spine. Ultimately, you end up understanding that growing up is inevitable, something that has occurred since the beginning of time. Will it be different? Of course. Will it be scary sometimes? Absolutely. Is it essential that you go through this phase of life? Without a doubt. Think back to when you were ten years old, for seniors that’s about eight years ago. You probably remember fantasizing about high school and how eight years from now you will be a senior. Think about how quickly those eight years went by. Now think about eight years from this very moment. You will be in you mid- to- late twenties. Where will you be eight years from now? Better yet, How will you get there? When you were 10 years old you knew you would be in high school, and had a general idea of what your life would be like. At this very moment, however, your future life is uncertain. If you find yourself confused or unsure at this moment in your life, you are not alone. Maybe we are not meant to have it all figured out. No one ever said change was going to be easy, but it is essential for our success in life. Think about your life as a book, Part “High School,” is on its last chapter. The following chapters remain unwritten. Luckily, the pen is in your hand. However, before you begin writing the next chapters of your life, finish up Part “High School,” chapter 4; I heard it is a good one.

t is your 16th birthday! You wake up normal like every other day, brush your teeth, comb your hair. Then you rush down stairs to where your parents are, and later that day you are sitting in the RMV getting your permit (hopefully). You walk out of the building feeling happy as a clam, a huge smile on your face and a sense of accomplishment. You start driving your parents’ cars and sign up for driving school so you can obtain the final goal, your license. But why is it that teens are so adamant in getting their license? Perhaps the freedom to roam wherever they want, go to the mall or the movies. Drive their friends around who are unfortunate enough to not have their license. Fact of the matter of it is not as easy as it may seem. Unless it is your lucky day, most teens will not pass the permit test without studying the lifeless, never ending permit book. Never mind the boring permit book, have you seen the line you are forced to wait in just to have a representative speak with you? Out the door, around the building and out into the wilderness. Okay, so maybe the wilderness is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point. 30 dollars later, now you have your permit (yay) and you find yourself enrolling for driving school with all your friends. 700 dollars and 30 hours in a classroom later and you are finally done! But not really. You still need to get into a car that does not parallel park for you and drive, the moment you have been waiting for since your birthday. Finally, you see your driving instructor pull up to pick you up. You step inside of the car, adjust the seat and the mirrors (do not forget your seatbelt). Put the car in drive and stop. You already did something wrong. You think to yourself that it is going to be the longest hour of your life, and you are right on the money! You forgot to signal before you pulled away. Happens to the best of us. Time for your driving test! 100 dollars for the test and 70 dollars to get your license. Now you are in debt, but you have your license! That is the important thing. Your parents let you take the car for the first time and you are super duper excited. Too bad that was short lived and you find yourself still walking and carless. Was all of that for nothing? A waste of time? Of course not! Because eventually whether you think you will or not, you will get a car (hopefully). Then what do you become? The chauffeur. Depending on the person you could find yourself with a group of new friends or extremely irritated. And when you are driving your whole neighborhood to school, good luck finding a parking spot, another daily struggle. While getting your license has its ups and downs, it is totally worth it in the end. Do not give up, even if you find yourself sobbing after your driving lessons. Push through it and get your license!

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Don’t have snot, get the flu shot! Lauren Benoit Editor-in-Chief

is’ the season for routine trips to the doctor’s office. Or not, if you fall under the category of “sick enough to stay home from school, but not sick enough to go to the doctor’s,” which is the category most people here at Malden High School fall under. No wonder why we all are sick within a week back from vacation. I rarely get sick, and when I do it is usually nothing too serious that a couple doses of Nyquil can’t handle. But when I had a consistent 100 degree fever for a week, Nyquil had failed me. I went to the doctor’s the next day, and without a doubt they told me to stay home for the next two days. Any normal teenager would be thrilled to take advantage of this opportunity to have two excused absences from their classes. But I just smiled at my doctor, took my note, and headed back to school. This all happened the week before winter vacation, which obviously is strategically crammed with tests, quizzes, projects, and the infamous Poetry Out Loud competition. I could not possibly miss a day of school since a major assignment was due each day. So now I will take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone whom I might have infected with my illness, which even to this day remains unknown. Being an AP student puts tons of pressure on the backs of those who are brave enough to take on those classes. If you miss even just one class period, you are behind and doomed to fall into the never-ending-AP-catchup crew. Me coming into school when I am miserably ill is definitely not the first time this has happened in MHS. It seems as if more students and teachers are coming in sick each day, which

then over time creates this disease chamber, of which we are all trapped in for six hours a day. It is a mystery of how all of us aren’t contaminated yet. Why do we all do this? Because there is no time to spare. Teachers who teach AP classes do not want to abandon their students with the AP exam quickly approaching, and in turn the students cannot afford to miss a lesson. Another reason might be that one used up all their “sick” days. But who is to blame for this? The administration who put the strict attendance policy in tact? Or those in higher positions pushing more students to take more challenging classes? Or is it the fault of those who are sick that still come into school? We can point fingers all we want, all I know is that I will not go to the doctors every time I have a sniffle or cough; it is not worth the gas money, copay, or doctors note, for them just to tell me to take a day off and drink fluids. This time of year is very sensitive to the spreading of sicknesses. The flu epidemic is making its way back to the Bay State, and it already has taken well more than twenty lives. Some ways we can counteract this plague is to 1) get the flu shot, there are shortages with the vaccine around Massachusetts, but clinics that offer the medicine can be located with a simple Google search. 2a) Stay home from school/work. Yes, it would put you behind in all aspects of life, but it is worth it, and will help you get better quicker, and prevent it from potentially spreading. 2b) If you are one of the stubborn ones who still come to school sick (like me..) then stock up with tissues and hand sanitizer, because I sure do not want to get sick again this season!

Natalie Fallano Managing Editor

s the Australian Open approaches, the tennis season kicks into full gear once again, after a short six week offseason that was full of headlines ranging from Andy Roddick’s retirement, to numerous exhibition matches, to Rafael Nadal’s ongoing knee injury. But all these news stories coincidentally connect, because they are direct results of the often overlooked, grueling and pressuring careers of professional tennis players. Tennis is arguably one of the toughest sports to play and endure for several years because of the high-level of combined mental and physical skills required. I have to admit this opinion is partly bias because I play and love the sport. But my opinion is mostly formed from following the professional careers of several players, from their triumphs to their upsets Tennis is the only sport that requires aerobic and anaerobic conditioning along with hand-eye coordination. Many people claim that hitting a baseball is the most difficult athletic skill to master, but I beg to differ. There is no doubt that making contact with Justin Verlander’s 97 mph fastball is impressive, but returning a 150 mph serve from Andy Roddick not only requires a batter’s contact, but also the ability to sprint and reach for a serve that can be aimed anywhere within the box. Basketball players are fully equipped with the best jumping, running and strength around, but the burden of execution is split amongst five starters, not to mention bench players. The same goes for football. A quarterback, a cornerback and a defenseman have special skills. Tennis is an individual sport in which pros must be well rounded in every aspect of the game. Not having a consistent backhand for example, is career ending because this weakness would quickly be discovered by the opponent and the player will be defeated, whether or not be has the best forehand or serve in the game. When an athlete enters a soccer, football, basketball, hockey game, he knows it will be over in a few hours and this sense of finality can keep him mentally focused. But, as shown in John Isner and Nicolas Mahut record breaking, 11 hour, 3 day long 2010 Wimbledon match, you never know how long a tennis match will last. The only aspect of the game that may top the physical demands, are the mental demands. Tennis is a year round sport with less than a two month off-

season. It is also an international sport and over the course of weeks players are competing in tournaments and matches on different continents. Finally, there is no plainer way to put it: tennis is cruel. It may be called the “gentleman’s game,” but in actuality it is a gladiator showdown. Flashback to the 2009 Wimbledon final. Roger Federer defeated Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set. Federer broke Roddick’s serve only once and that one point is all that set Wimbledon champion apart from Wimbledon finalist. Tennis is so brutal that Isner can win a legendary match, to only lose 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, a day later in the next round. On Aug. 30, 2011, during the US Open, Andy Roddick announced that he would retire after the tournament. At 30 years old he would leave the sport with a 2003 US Open title and as a former number one player rank under his belt. This future hall-of-famer departed on his own terms and told the New York Times, “Frankly, these guys have gotten really, really, really good.” But players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams who are only a year older than Roddick still remain strong and in the game. Why is this, you ask? The difference between Federer and Roddick is simply luck. As tennis has evolved over the years, it has become more and more demanding from the play to the long-season. 15% of pros attain injuries during the season, unlike in any other sport. We may never know if Nadal could live up to Federer because of his never ending tendinitis in his knee. We do know that when Nadal is healthy, he is no doubt the best in world. If the Australian Open started in March instead of this month, we may have known. Serena Williams on the other hand is often criticized for sitting out and choosing her matches to participate in. But it is because of this extra rest, she is a top contender for the 2013 Australian Open title this year, while Roddick and Nadal sit watching at home. Although Roddick does not have a serious injury, he reached his peak early on although he is still ranked amongst the top ten in the world, he can not keep up with the top dogs. Williams on the other hand, has not played as many tournaments as Roddick. The Williams sisters are often criticized for sitting out of matches and taking long recovery breaks, but it is because of this, Serena Williams is still able to dominate the WTA at age 31.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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What Badges Will You Get With Lifescouts? Megan Kelly Head of World

Want to see Alex’s original video? Scan this QR code to get to the youtube video.

sually I tend to avoid the popular youtube bloggers, mostly because a majority of the people that I know who follow them are people that I strive not to be like, and then there is also that fear of being like everybody else--why enjoy things that the rest of society likes when I can let a part of my mind pretend that I’m a main character in a book that will change the tides of culture and think my stubbornness is an admirable character trait? But I have broken down, and have now watched Alex Day. If you are a newbie to the world of youtube bloggers, Alex Day is a young, attractive British man who blogs about inspirational things; he has a touch of sarcasm that is strangely uplifting, and is an aspiring artist who has almost reached number one on several charts. I would tell you the charts, but because this article is going to be telling you to go look up Alex Day for yourself, you will find out later. He also enjoys the TV show Doctor Who, which also makes him a respectable human being in my mind. Now getting to the point of the article: Alex (I’m going to go ahead and pretend like we are friends and refer to him by his first name, because, why not, it is my article) published a video on Jan. 13, 2013 (I decided to go ahead and be standard with the date just to make the copy editors happy, but I could have and probably would have said today) about a new movement he has started, Lifescouts. Alex starts the video off discussing his experience, or lack of experience with boy scouts, as he never joined; he discusses how as a child “you’re respected for the knowledge that you have; when you are an adult you’re respected for the experiences that you’ve had.” He moves on to discuss that you have the ability to prove that you have valid skills, which is true because look at what society gives you for skills: diplomas, badges, sheets of papers, the title of Doctor tagged onto your name, a few lines taken up by words on your resume. But you have nothing to show for the experiences that you’ve had, which, when you think about it, are what really matter. Look at it this way. I have had the experience of dealing with several subjects in math: algebra,

geometry, and now, pre-calculus and trigonometry, I can tell you about how if you don’t pay attention in any of these classes when your teacher is introducing a new topic that you can be lost for the entire year. Now imagine someone reading about taking four, somewhat painful years of high school math. (Yes, I am one of those kids that did not get to jump up to geometry freshmen year and are now sitting with the current junior class in pre-calc.) They can tell you that you have to listen in class to understand. But because they have not experienced falling behind and becoming lost in a dark forest of numbers, letters, graphs, and real world application problems (that in reality do not apply to the real world); they could say that because every skill in math builds off of one another that you can always catch up at a later point in time. Wrong. If you don’t understand the basic points, you are not going to understand the more complex ones in math. Trust me; experience has taught me so. Experience can teach you lessons that you can not learn from reading books or practice; it is a real world problem that teaches you best. The movement that Alex has started, Lifescouts, is a system that allows you to show what experiences you have had in life--and by show I do not mean to wear and unconsciously be bragging to everyone about your experiences and how many you have had, like how a pair of Toms is not only fashionable but shows that you have given to charity and you’re a wonderful, caring person. On the day that this article was written, Jan. 13, 2013, Alex has so far published thirteen badges that you can reblog on tumblr. Oh dear lord, have I mentioned tumblr outside of tumblr? Well guys, the secret has been out for ages--get over it and

go reblog this already. Or, tweet, re-publish on another blogging website (if you are one of those guys), have it appear on screen with you if you publish a vlog (a video blog), heck you can even post it on Facebook. The possibilities are endless because not only are the badges in .jpeg form they also come in a corporeal and collectible pin form. Now this article may sound cynical, cold, and give you this small but growing feeling that I may not like people very much, but while my writing style may convey those somewhat true messages, this article is supposed to be uplifting. If you are like me, when I meet people, I have no idea how to make conversation; no one really advertises what they’ve done in life, or what they like or dislike. People are the opposite of blogs, basically, which is why I like people’s blogs more than people; and so, I struggle to come up with something to say. But this project, if people choose to join it or not, will give the world a better way to get to know other people. Like in the video, the pins Alex wears, allow a friend of his to know that they both have experience with archery. Having something as simple as a pin gives you a faster and more efficient way

to know more about them. You can come to understand them better, to know their dislikes and likes, as well as experiences that you two have both had-experiences that you haven’t had that they can tell you about. These buttons can get people to know each other better. And while this may seem like a lazy way of making conversation, it cuts down on the time that you are sitting there guessing and assuming things about this person, and it allows you to get to the true core of the person. Now that you know more about this, go check it out. That’s really what the internet is for: to give you access to new ideas, and to help you decide whether you like them or not.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Wildfires in the Outback Nicholas Bramante Reporter

The Blue and Gold January 2013

world

t was the beginwith aircraft or somening of January and thing like that in case things were heating the weight of the water up. A week of warmer when it hits the ground temperatures proved sets off any unexplodto be quite the treat, ed ordnance,” Brett during the winter. Loughlin, from the RFS, However, it was not explained. New tactics a treat in all areas of are being put into place, the world. The same as well as the standard heat we on the east water hose. Bulldozers coast felt, was the same and other machinery heat felt in Australia. is being used to put However, it seems that in place walls and this extra burst of heat, ditches around the was enough to send Top: Huge plumes of smoke from bush fires in Australia were range, in hopes of sparks flying, and part visible from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/ carving a path for the of Australia in ash. Chris Hadfield. Bottom: Lines of scorched earth and huge smoke fire to follow, away As a new record plumes from wild fires in Australia were visible from the Interfrom the explosives. for heat intensity was national Space Station on January 8, 2013. Credit: NASA/Chris Cooler temset (40.33C) in Aus- Hadfield. peratures have been a tralia on Monday, miracle and a crucial January 7th, people part in fighting parts all around Australia of the blaze, as some were sweltering in the parts of Australia have heat. Apparently, this cooled down, but not was enough to cause all is under control a real problem for the yet. Fire fighters are people of Australia. confident they can pull A bushfire. This may through this, and stop not seem like a big the blaze, but only problem, but in a blaztime will tell the fate ing, bone-dry environof south east Australia. ment, a bushfire can It was too late start, and spread exfor the Holmes family tremely fast. Once this though, as help could sort of situation quicknot arrive nearly fast ly goes out of control, enough to save their it can turn from a “probhouse located on the island state of lem” to a disaster in a heart-beat. Tasmania. As the fire drew closer For days, Australian firefightand closer to their home, Tim and ers have been attempting to control Tammy Holmes were forced to reand eliminate the inferno they face. treat to the safety of the water near And for days, they have not been their home. Tammy gathered the able to completely stop the wall of couple’s five children, and quickly flame. Using everything from plain moved into the water as a scene fit hoses, to water bombs dropped out for a pyromaniac’s dream. Hiding of airplanes, the Australian governunder a jetty in the water, Tammy ment is throwing in everything it was barely able to keep her children can, to stop the wild-fire. So far, the above the water, and away from most affected area is south-east Austhe swirling mass of thick, toxic gas tralia. Both the “outback” and small above them. All during this time, towns alike, have been affected, Tim joined the aid of local firewith the results being disastrous fighters and atempted to hault the for those who populated the area. blaze. However, when the challenge So far, 20,000 hectares of land proved too great, Tim was forced to and 120 homes have been destroyed, retreat with his family, under the jetty. but no deaths have been recorded Eventually, Tim found a dinyet, thankfully. This blaze has cost ghy and was able to get his family Australia already more than 1 milto safety, moving farther into the lion dollars in damage costs, but water, and further from their home. the number still climbs as the fire Or what was left of it. The Holmes continues to ravage the country. lost everything, and were forced to Some of the pictures shown by watch as their home collapsed to a families and authorities alike caught pile of hot embers and ash. Tammy in the inferno have been truly horexplained that as she watched rifying. Where once-green pastures “tornadoes of fire” move closer in, and small, quiet towns lay, there she “ braced [herself] to lose [her] is now a layer of black cinder and children and [her] parents.” The ash. Nothing more but piles of rufire eventually burned itself out, ined homes and shattered dreams. and Tim brought his family back to As if this were not bad enough, shore.The Australian government the blaze now moves towards an is doing all it can to stop the blaze, old military range, filled to the brim Shaded map of Australia showing areas but only time will tell how much with un-exploded and still very suffering from severe drought. Los An- further the chaos much go on before much dangerous explosive devices. geles Times/MCT 2013 they are able to start rebuilding. “We can’t do any water-bombing

Sandy & her Aftermath Jessica Lynn DePaula Reporter

epublican House Speaker John Boehner has made the move to delay a proposed $60 billion bill that would benefit the victims of October’s Hurricane Sandy. Thousands of Americans in the Northeast, New York and New Jersey in particular, are still suffering the aftereffects of the storm, including the loss of their homes and personal possessions, devastating flooding, and generally low morale. While the bill had previously been approved by the Senate, the Republican-controlled House had to also vote on giving such a large amount of money to assisting the victims of the storm, and the Boehner made the controversial decision to push back the vote until after the new Congress is in-which means that the bill could not go into effect until late January or early February. This move has angered the majority of Northeastern lawmakers, even the House’s fellow Republicans. Rep. Peter King (NY), has blasted the house, saying that “Anyone from New York and New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their mind, because what they did was put a knife in the backs of New Yorkers and New Jersians;” King then went on to call congressional Republicans a “disgrace.” Frustrated New Jersey governor Chris Christie angrily commented, “There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims-the House majority and their Speaker, John Boenher.” To make matters worse for the eastern seaboard, many member of the the House did manage to vote against a $9.7 billion addition to the nation’s flood reimbursement fund to provide aid to storm victims. While the bill still passed, 67 representatives, including former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), voted against this form of assistance; “Unfortunately, Washington’s legislative response fails on both counts. It refuses to distinguish-or even prioritizedisaster relief over pork barrel spending,” Ryan stated.

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The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Syrian Prisoner Exchange James Mazarakis Reporter

onflicts in Syria briefly loosen as a new crisis is resolved in Damascus, Syria. After the capture of 48 Iranians by Syrian rebels, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has agreed to exchange these hostages for the freedom of 2,130 imprisoned Syrian civilians. “This is the largest prisoner exchange to date,” Umit Somnez, of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, told Global News. The four dozen innocent Iranians were carrying out a religious pilgrimage when they were captured by Syrian rebels last August. While Iran is not committed to the war, the nation has recently been siding with al-Assad and the Syrian government, making them a rebel’s enemy. The prisoners’ release was a surprising move by al-Assad, considering his recent public address in which he declared that he would avoid negotiating with his armed enemies. According to CNN, the swap took three months to arrange. The Syrian prisoners, among them women, men, and children alike, did not leave their prisons

ews of the New Delhi gangrape has caused much outrage by people all over the world, especially those who are in India. Many public protests have occurred over the treatment of women in India. These protests are to make the government strengthen laws over rape in the country, including harsher punishments for those who commit acts of rape. They would also protest that the five men who had committed the crime must be punished by being hanged, or given the death penalty. Police officers have been trying to keep these protests from becoming too violent. However, on Dec. 30, 2012, in front of the historic India Gate, the police hit a crowd of protesters with water cannons, spraying everyone with cold water. The prime minister had called for that day, a Sunday, to be a peaceful Sunday with no protests, but the protested had defied the ban. In order to stop the protest, they blasted the water cannons at the protesters. Along with spraying water at the protesters, they also sprayed tear gas on the crowd. The officers, some with bamboo sticks, controlled the spraying of water, making sure it would hit the thousands of protesters. Some of the protesters were able to break into several government buildings, while many others stood outside and protested loudly with their huge signs, all calling for justice. The sudden attack from the police has left at least 68 protesters and 75 policemen injured, along

without scars. “Many people lost a lot of weight, and there were also many sick people.” stated Bulent Yildirim, a coordinator of the exchange. Many of the 2,130 prisoners had been plucked from the street and have been held hostage since the beginning of the civil war. The Iranian prisoners had not been held in captivity for nearly as long, though they were still greeted at the Iranian embassy with flowers and songs. Despite one pacifist action, the civil war is not over. Bombings are still occurring throughout Syria, including a car bomb in Damascus that was detonated on Jan. 9, 2013, killing and injuring an unrecorded number of people. CNN records that, as of Jan. 2, 2013, the death count surpassed 60,000 casualties 26.6% of Syria’s population in July 2012. Nadim Houry, deputy middle east director for the New York Human Rights Watch, added, “For every person released, thousands remain detained and thousands more cannot be accounted for. Al-Assad has been making offers to end the rebellion - in his most recent address, he presented

a plan that would restructure the government, even create a democratic election system, but he does not plan on ceasing fire “as long as there is one terrorist [rebel] left.” While not all of the UN agrees with the terms of this plan, many see this as progress towards a resolution to the ongoing struggle that is terrorizing the Middle East.

Top: The market at the entrance of Zaatari Refugee Camp in northern Jordan is seen December 13, 2012. (David Enders/ MCT) Bottom: Prefabricated housing is prepared to replace tents at the Zaatari Refugee Camp for Syrians in northern Jordan, December 13, 2012. (David Enders/MCT)

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India Rape Case Sparks Change Ashley Leung Reporter

The candlelight rally was held at Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata, against the gang rape occurred in New Delhi on 16th December, 2012 to a 23 year female physiotherapy student and died thirteen days later in Singapore on 29th December, 2012 for brain and gastrointestinal damage from the brutally assault. Sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Protest at India Gate related to 2012 Delhi gang rape case. Sourced from the Flickr account of ramesh_lalwani.

with 30 barricades being knocked over from the event. The police had fired over 125 tear gas bombs, and several cars and buses were damaged. Many people, however, were left drenched and furious. Some of the protesters left after a while of being soaked, but many of them huddled together, trying to protect themselves from the high pressure water blasting at them all. The rape victim, whose name has not been released, is referred to as “Damini,” which means “lightning” in Hindi, and was also a name of a movie where a sexually abused housemaid was stood up for by the lead female protagonist. Protesters continuously demand for justice to be given to Damini, and that they will continue to fight for her and the protection of women in India. The government is trying to collectively work together to help prevent more tragic cases such as the New Dehli bus rape in the future. Some lawmakers are thinking about treating rape as a capital crime. India’s Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that they will be increasing punishments for rape in a “rarest of the rare” situation. However, when asked in whether or not the five men will be hanged, like the public wants them to be, Shinde says that it will all depend on the outcome of the sentencing. Along with the changes in government, there have also been more safety precautions in public areas for women, especially in public transportation.

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Author of Alice Bliss visits MHS Amanda De Moraes Reporter

n the crisp, sunny morning of Dec. 14, 2012, Malden High School was greeted a very special guest, Laura Harrington, author of the acclaimed 2011 young adult, Iraq war novel Alice Bliss. MHS English teacher Robin Doherty had been reading the book with her senior students, and had the opportunity to meet Harrington through a friend’s book club. Harrington agreed to not only visit with the students, but to interact with them over the class wikispace website, as well as through Twitter. Harrington loved seeing the reactions of her new readers right before her eyes, all made possible through the magic of social media. Through The Looking Glass, a senior elective taught by Doherty as well as James Valente and Constance Halks, is a class that searches to expose students to multicultural pieces and have them assess their perspective in life as well as how they view the world. Alice Bliss was chosen for their unit on war and peace. The seniors in the class had wiki discussions, where they would post all of their thoughts on the book, and Harrington read

Jessica Lynn DePaula Reporter through them all. Her favorite part, according to Harrington was “meeting really amazing readers with thoughtful and fantastic questions.” To her, the discussions were twosided, because she felt as though they learned something from one another. She also states that she is “really passionate about having [Alice Bliss] become part of the curriculum.” The book is focused on a young girl named Alice Bliss, whose father goes to war, and the family must deal with the knowledge that he left them to go fight in a war zone. He is later killed while fighting abroad in the war and Alice Bliss tells the journey of the family who must come to terms with this terrible loss while also trying to lead a normal life. Harrington drew the inspiration for Alice Bliss from her own experiences. Her father fought in World War II and upon returning, war was never a subject discussed in their household. This sparked a curiosity in Harrington as a child which continued to grow until she finally came up with the idea for Alice Bliss. The goal of her first novel was to educate her readers on the

importance of being aware of current events, and also to show people how the soldiers are not the only ones who suffer from the consequences of war. Harrington feels as though citizens have a “responsibility that [most of us] are ignoring.” The main reason Alice Bliss is told from the perspective of 15-year-old Alice, is due to the fact that Harrington enjoys being able to “give a voice to the voiceless,” in situations such as these. The writing process for Harrington was an intense experience. She believes that a writer should not write something unless they are “obsessed” with the story, the characters, and the message. She jokes that she would like to “write a comedy next,” although a sequel to Alice Bliss is already in the works. It is to be called A Catalogue of Birds and deals with a Vietnam War veteran who returns home “very hurt.” Harrington would also like to see this book be integrated into a curriculum but because it will be darker than Alice Bliss, perhaps for college rather than high school. Once those key details were finalized, Harrington researched her topic, and interviewed family members affected by the war. After several months of taking to the families of veterans and

drawing from her own experiences, Harrington became confident that she had sufficient research, and began the actual writing of the novel. Once the novel was concluded, she felt as though it “helped her understand some aspects of war,” but that she is still completely baffled as to why we think it is a good solution to our problems. For aspiring authors she gives advice to “read as though your writing depends on it...because it does.” She also advises them to model the work ethic of musicians who show up to practice each and every day even though they may not feel up to it. Above all, Harrington stresses the need to “be kind to yourself.” Alice Bliss in currently in the process of being turned into a musical with Playwrights Horizons in New York City, who coincidentally also did Harrington’s first musical. For the first time, she will collaborating with the lyricist, Adam Gwon, and will help write the lyrics. Although there are no set plans yet, they’re hoping to have the first workshop to begin planning in May 2013. Harrington states that she is amazed at the journey Alice Bliss has taken her on and that it is “so unpredictable, [there is no way] of knowing where it will take [her].”

Teacher Profile: Christine Day Vicki Ngan Head of Local

f one was to walk past the door of J360, plastered with advertisements, sticky notes, and messages, do not be fooled by the dark--the room is not empty. English teacher Christine Day is indeed still in the classroom, perhaps teaching with the projector, or— if this happens to be after school hours on a Tuesday or Wednesday—in the library of Malden High School, working her part time job supervising the area. An avid reader since she was young, she “secretly always wanted to be a librarian,” Day laughed. With a love of teaching and being able to help develop skills in students who are still “fighting that battle” of high school and have the potential to succeed, Day finds that her favorite aspect of being a teacher is “definitely working with the students.” Growing up in the South Shore of Massachusetts, Day has not always wanted to be an English teacher. Her family moved around to many places, and she sought refuge from her rowdy family of six siblings in the library, where she was able to explore many books targeted for adults, since young adult novels were not as common. Her favorite authors range from Truman Capote, to John Irving, to Curt Vonnegut. As a child, Day was timid, but she fondly remembers her ninth grade English teacher who prompted her to recite poetry. Her “hippie teacher,” who played guitar and wore styl-

Day helping sophomore Omar Ortiz with his writing. Photo by Vicki Ngan. ish clothing, had reminded Day “not to memorize the poem, but to internalize it,” Day recalled. She can still recite some of her poems even now. Day did not know what she wanted to be then, and had majored in European Literature in Boston University in her undergraduate years. From there, she had the opportunity to teach as an Eng-

lish conversation teacher for a year in the Czech Republic, due to the large number of recruiters who were searching for native English speakers. Although Day’s initial motivator was the chance to travel to other European countries because of how close and how many the Czech Republic bordered other countries, Day came to love her role as a conversa-

tion teacher. “I liked the planning,” she described, as well as the challenges, creativity, and autonomy over her class, all of which had sparked her interest to pursue teaching. For her graduate, Day went back to Boston University for a Masters in education. Besides one’s working hours, regular, everyday activities might seem commonplace, but as many eventually learn, it is the simple things in life that makes people happy and unstressed. On Day’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Rufus, cooking ethnic foods, reading, and working out. She loves watching television shows as well, as such as Downton Abbey. Currently teaching grade 10 English and English Secondary Language II, Day likes to switch up her classes every year or so, from teaching freshm‑‑‑‑an to junior classes. Now in her 13th year at MHS, her favorite classes to teach are freshmen and sophomores, because they are the “deciding grades,” or years where students make important choices that affect their high school career. Because of the great diversity at MHS and the many different sorts of discussion topics that can be generated from many culturally unique students, Day finds that MHS is the place where she “could really benefit the students,” and help them “make it.” “I had [Day] freshman year and I thought that she was very compassionate and a great teacher who really made me enjoy English class,” stated junior Sarah Bazir.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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poetry out loud: four years strong Institutionalized for four years, the tradition of Malden High School having all its students participate in Poetry Out Loud continues. By now, MHS students innately associate the end of the year with Poetry Out Loud. The process begins when students choose a poem that stays within the criteria of their teachers, whether it is related to a certain theme the class is taking on, or a certain number of lines. A date is set for all the classes to perform their poem in front on the class. Although many are nervous at first, they, as well as their teachers, are surprised at the courage and power that was used throughout the performance. The class winners then proceed to the period competitions, which are hosted by English teachers Sean Walsh and Jennifer Clapp. This year, instead of one period winner, two proceed to the school wide competition, which will be held on Jan. 29, 2013.

Period Winners:

Name

Grade Period Poem

Blondel Binyame Samantha Drapinski Isaiah Clemons Sebastian Patino Mirkins Paul Ethan Paiva Marly Loreus Vanessa Morales Djamila Dos Santos Correia Hamza Mena Natalie Melo Danielle Volmar Fitzgerald Eloi Florantine Monica Joseph Joshua Gaviola Efran Himel

2 2

Four Glimpses of Night Ego Old Men Playing Basketball Domestic Situation The Blues Don’t Change Ovation

Football

Immigrant Picnic Domestic Situation Snow Day

The Blues Don’t Change

Cartoon Physics, Part One The New World

Monet Refuses the Operation A Noiseless Patient Spider I Am Offering This Poem

Support MHS POL reciters at the schoolwide competition on January 29th! “Be confident. Make sure you know what your poem means. That way you can feel more emotions and deliver a realistic performance. Ultimately just have fun!” - Senior Ashly Brun, former MHS POL schoolwide winner who also won the state semifinals and competed inthe state finals Her favorite poem is The Blues Don’t Change by Al Young.

“I actually never thought of making it this far. When I perform, all I could think of is how fun it is to be onstage and to ‘do your thing’. All I thought about was the excitement of it. I never really thought I could win for the whole school.” -Junior Anh Dam, former MHS POL schoolwide winner who competed in the state semi-finals. Her favorite poem is Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe.

“My freshman year, I chose Fire and Ice because I really didn’t like the idea of having to recite poetry in front of a class. I thought it wasn’t “cool,” you know, but winning my class [competition] with Fire and Ice said a lot. After that, I just got into it and started practicing with the help of my freshman year teacher, David Londino.” -Senior Blondel Binyame, former MHS POL schoolwide winner who competed in the state semi finals. His favorite poem is Slave Auction by Francis Hrper.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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STUDENTS SCORE SCHOLARSHIPS Junior and senior year are very important times a high school students life mainly because it is during this time that the fear of the stress of the college application process starts entering the mind of 11 and 12th graders. Although regardless of how intimidating this process seems to be, there are many helpful tools that help students manage through this difficult and confusing time. Along with planning ahead, finical aid, and college visits, Malden High School provides a variety of opportunities for student to receive a plethora of scholarship two main ones being Posse and Colby Sawyer. Both of these scholarships provide students tuition money; Colby sawyer offering $19,000 per year and Posse offering $20,000 per year. Along with this the Posse scholarship offers their tuition to one of the six outstanding schools which are Bryn Mawr, Denison University, Bucknell University, Union College, Centre college, and Hamilton college which are all schools focusing on liberal arts. The application for either of these scholarships can become very intense. The application process starts in the month of May in any high school student’s junior year. Initially, 20 students are nominated and are submitted to the Posse Foundation. With these initially recommendations, the Posse foundation has a complex selection process which consists of group seminars, personal interviews, and a thorough examination of one’s transcript and test scores. Generally, 1400-1500 students are nominated for this scholarship yearly and only 10 end up being chosen from the greater Boston area. Amanda De Moraes Reporter

Myle Nguyen Reporter

Julie Lam Reporter

Amanda Rosatone Head of Local

Colby-Sawyer Progressive Scholars

enior Kevin Yang was one of the two Malden High School students to have won the ColbySawyer Scholarship. The scholarship was suggested to Yang by his ESL teacher, Judith Cummings, and was recommended by his guidance counselor, Susan Lessard. Yang was influenced to choose the ColbySawyer scholarship because of his love for nature and small campuses. He “believes [that a] small college provide much greater potential for a well balanced collegiate experience.” Since freshman year, Yang has taken several business courses at MHS and he plans on majoring in business administration and accounting at Colby Sawyer. In order to apply for the scholarship, Yang had to discuss his interest with his guidance counselor, visit the actual campus, obtain two letters of recommendation, build a

strong resume, and write two essays. Yang expresses that the “process [of the applying for the scholarship] was not too hard.” After learning that he won the scholarship, he was excited and in a state of disbelief for an entire week. For students who want to apply in the future, Yang advises to “be yourself, be confident, b e proud o f w h o y o u are!”

Questbridge E Scholar

ver since freshman year, senior Natalie Melo has dreamt of winning the Questbridge scholarship. Finally, after four years going above and beyond in high school, Melo won a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout high school, Melo has been an exceptional student and a determined athlete. Melo has played field hockey all four years of high school and basketball and lacrosse from freshman to junior year. Melo has been a terrific athlete with “determination and [she] always strives to do her best,” senior Caitlin Cala praised. Melo has also been very involved around the school with clubs such as Key Club, Malden Against Cancer Club, “I Know English”, National Honor Society and the student council. Not only has Melo been an active member of our community, but

ue to his dedication to maintaining a good GPA, being the president of the Latino Club for two years, and learning how to improve his English, Kevin Salazar was able to win the Colby-Sawyer Progressive Scholarship. The scholarship was recommended to Salazar by Eun Han, his ESL t e a a c h e r. Salazar was then recommended to Erin Craven, his guidance counselor to start his applications for ColbySawyer. When Salazar visited

Colby-Sawyer campus, he knew that it was the college for him. The programs, clubs, and activities given by the college attracted his attention. Salazar was first planning on majoring in the business world until he discovered his love for Health Management through his work as an assistant for Dr. Bui at Invision Boston. Salazar expresses, “The process I went through to win this scholarship didn’t start [through] my senior year. I have been working really hard all my life.” Throughout Salazar’s high school career he has managed to build up his resume with the help of his teachers. Salazar feels very fortunate to win the Colby-Sawyer Progressive Scholarship. Salazar advises underclassmen to “keep working hard and be an active member of the school.” Salazar expresses, “It’s the best opportunity I have ever had.”

with others as well. With the help of Summer Search and the Amigos program, she has recently been on a community service trip to Mexico. She expressed that it was “truly one of the best experiences of [her] life.” There, Melo learned a lot about the Mexican culture along with their Mayan influences, as well as a lot about herself. Although the trip challenged Melo by having to live with a bunch of strangers and forcing her to speak constant Spanish, it was totally worth it. The trip helped her grow into “the confident, happy person [she is] today, and [she] couldn’t thank [Summer Search] enough for that because now I can finally see [herself] as a leader.” When Melo decided to take a chance with Questbridge and she applied for the scholarship, she had to go through a long and “pretty nerve wracking” process. With the

help of Bottom Line, a program involved with Summer Search and English teachers, Sean Walsh and Robin Doherty, Melo went through the process of writing several essays. After submitting all those essays, she had to wait about two months to see if all her hard work had paid off. Now Melo can clearly see that her work is definitely worthwhile, with a full scholarship for her next four years at the University of Pennsylvania. Now, Melo is excited for college and she cannot wait for what the future has in store for her. At the University of Pennsylvania, Melo wants to study chemical engineering. She cannot wait to have new college experiences, to be out on her own and to be independent. Melo sees college as “one step closer to changing the world.”

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Posse Scholars

self proclaimed, “proud winner,” of the Posse Scholarship for Centre College, senior Valentine Banor states that when asked, any senior will tell you that they hate the college process, simply because it is all about waiting. Banor was encouraged to go for the scholarship because his older brother Victor Banor (MHS graduate of the Class of 2009) received it four years ago, and many of those around him believed he could get it as well. Banor will be attending Centre College in the fall, a liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky. Banor was placed there by Posse because they believed it would be a good fit for him, and Banor claims “they were right!” To him, the most difficult part of leaving Malden High School will be the fact that he is leaving something behind, so it is “bittersweet.” He is however, excited for all of the new experiences that await him once he graduates. Banor believes that “change is difficult but [it is] something we all have to face. [Do not] fear it, be open to it.”

recipient of the Posse scholarship, adventure seeker and senior Teresa La, will be heading out on the biggest adventure of her life yet, when fall comes. La will be attending Bryn Mawr College as part of their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) program, and although she is interested in dentistry, she has not yet decided on a major. La decided to accept her Posse nomination, not only for the financial benefit, but also to “challenge [herself] in a high competitive academic environment.” According to La, the application process was “quite interesting.” All students who had been nominated had to attend a large group interview where they had to “chase invisible chicken, walk in slow motion, and participate in problem solving questions and discuss contemporary issues.” About half of them were called back to semi-finals. From there, they were interviewed by Posse staff around 20 of those students were called back as finalists for one of their top three schools, including La. After filling out an application to the college or university of their choice, they were called back once again for an interview with the Admissions Committee and the Dean of Admissions. La chose Bryn Mawr because of the “environment of freedom and responsibility,” and how it can help her grow beyond the classroom, and aid her in contributing to the world. To La, the experience she will receive in collaboration, leadership and responsibility are valuable because they will push her out of her comfort zone.

enior Mona Cheng is one of the five lucky Malden High school students that has won the Posse scholarship. Cheng will be attending Bucknell University in the upcoming fall. With being very involved throughout high school along with some glowing recommendations from Malden High School teachers, Jennifer Rogowicz and Ann Razzino, Cheng was seen as great candidate for the Posse scholarship. Senior Michelle Dang praised that “Mona has a lot of determination and perseverance that has allowed her to achieve her goals.” Throughout her high school career, Cheng was very involved at MHS with being a member of the Interact Club, community parties for the Newland Street Tenants’ Association, the National Honor Society and constantly helping out with the Class of 2013. At first, Cheng never intended on applying for the scholarship because she did not know a lot about it. After a push from her guidance counselor, Erin Craven and Malden High School principal, Dana Brown, she was inspired to apply. Cheng admits that “[she was] so glad that they pushed [her] to go to apply, [she] wouldn’t have received the scholarship if it weren’t for them.” At Bucknell University, Cheng intends to study global management. She excited for the new experiences. Since her parents never even let her sleep over anyone else’s house, attending college in another state will be a big change and she couldn’t be happier. Cheng is looking forward to meeting new people that will be attending Bucknell from all over the world and learn about new cultures.

ust as any senior will tell you, leaving high school has its ups and downs, and Abdelhak Belatreche is no exception. The Posse Scholarship winner will be attending Bucknell University in the fall, and although he is “excited about taking a step forward into another part of [his] life,” he will also miss the close knit, community feeling of Malden High School and all of its staff and students. A math and science lover, as well as “sports junkie,” Belatreche is still debating on whether he would like to major in Engineering or Neuroscience, two subjects that have always peaked his interest. Despite this however, he also plans to minor in Political Science out of a curiosity for the world and government around him. Belatreche decided to apply for the Posse Scholarship for several reasons, one of the most prominent being the financial aid that comes along with the scholarship, which covers tuition and fees. With rising college costs and a decrease in financial aid throughout the country, Belatreche believes the price of a higher education can sometimes be “flat out outrageous.” He felt that it was important to “take advantage,” of any means he could to achieve an affordable education. Looking towards the fall and his first semester of college, Belatreche is most looking forward to starting his life, a moment teachers have been preparing him for since first grade, and a time which he finds difficult to believe “has actually arrived.” Leaving behind his “last links to childhood,” Belatreche is excited and ambitious.

lthough senior and Blue and Gold staff member Haley Dowdie never considered the Posse scholarship before last year, she has become one out of five Posse winners at Malden High School. Next year, Dowdie will be attending Denison University in Granville, Ohio. All throughout high school, Dowdie tried all kinds of different things, but “sports definitely ruled [her] high school experience.” Ever since freshman year, she ran indoor and outdoor track, and then from sophomore year, Dowdie ran cross country as well. Also during freshman year, she dabbled with clubs such as Rising Star and the Key Club, and starting sophomore year, Dowdie has also became a member Blue and Gold. But now, she mainly sticks with Captain’s Council and National Honor’s Society. Before being nominated for the scholarship last summer, Dowdie never quite understood how fantastic the Posse scholarship is. Even though she has heard about it before, she never thought about applying. She admits that Malden High School principal, Dana Brown, gave her “that extra push towards making one of the best decisions [she has] ever made.” Along with the help from Brown, Dowdie received a lot of help with the scholarship process from her guidance counselor, Erin Craven. She praised “Haley’s charisma which matched with her intelligence, and her altruism also made her a good candidate for the Posse scholarship.” In the upcoming fall, Dowdie will be going to Denison University as undecided. Dowdie wants to “ sort of dip my toes in a few different things and find what [she is] passionate about” because she feels like “college is the time to learn and discover what you’re truly interested in.”

Visit our website to read full articles on all of the Posse Scholarship winners at www.maldenblueandgold.com

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The Blue and Gold January 2013

Boston Scholastic Art Show

Artist and name of piece clockwise from top left: Timothy Nsubuga-Crucnhy Granola, Makara Suy-Scratch Board, Kristina Gilbert: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wrap!, Bon Hoang: Starving, and Tracy Tran-The Wicked

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Artist and name of piece clockwise from left to right: Rachel Malcolm-A Decent Man, WeenschesterFils-aime-Halloween, Danielle Musasa-Paul Ryan caricature.

Above: Malden High School art students whoes art work was submitted into the Golden Key competition. All Photos by Amanda Rosatone.

Above: Zhuang Sudan-Shh..

Amanda Rosatone Head of Local

alking along the hallways in the third floor of A-house throughout the months of January and February, one would come across many magnificent pieces of art work that consist of overexaggerated self-portraits, paintings and drawings of still-life’s, and more amazingly, the ever so rare occurring piece of inspiration that appears to be true artistic vision. These wonderful eye-catchers were created by the one and only Malden High School art students

who not only find art work a passion but a way of life. One would wonder what type of recognition these pieces would get outside the hall of MHS and in answer to this question, the art work created by the students not only pleases the many students at MHS but also, the panel of judges that will essentially be judging these pieces in the Boston Scholastic Art show. This show casing of thousands of students art work starts in Feb. 11th and lasts throughout Apr. 19, 2013. Having

art work in this showcasing has a very significant meaning for not only the students but the individual teachers as well. However, regardless of this the process of selection by the teachers can be very agonizing because, “each teacher has 170 students so it was hard to choose the individuals whose art work was submitted,” stated art teacher Julie Mullane. However, all of the art teachers are, “really proud because all of the students work really hard,” stated Mullane with a smile.

The Boston Scholastic Art show consists of 10,000 pieces of high school art work and from these, 1000 are chosen. From this group, students receive different awards such as the Goolden key, the Silver Key, and an Honorable mention. With all this excitement and anticipation for the results of the contest, art teacher Mary-Ann Segar, has high hopes that, “MHS will bring in a few keys.”

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Personal Finance: How to Use Credit Beth Horwitz, the teacher of Malden High School’s Personal Finance class, took the time to teach her students about the importance of credit, and how to establish and maintain good credit. She strongly encourages high school students to take the time to learn about good credit. What is credit?

Why do you need credit?

Credit is the money that is available for a client to borrow. The client is able to buy items and services without requiring them to pay immediately, as long as they have the intent of paying it back later in the future.

Credit is necessary for someone who plans to use money to make a major purchase, such as a car or a house, or want s to be able to take advantage of the convenience that credit can provide.

How do you establish credit? 1. It Open a checking or savings account. It is an easy way to demonstrate if you are able to handle money responsibly. 2. To Get a credit card. To qualify, you need to be 18 years or older, and have either a steady source of income or a savings account.

How do you build and maintain good credit?

What’s the difference between secured and unsecured credit?

At the beginning, make a budget for yourself and keep up with it. Also, making regular transactions without overdrawing the account will begin to build a good record.

Secured credit is a loan given to someone, that will used for a great purchase, such as a house or car. Unsecured credit is a loan that is extended to you with no collateral. For example, if you lose money on a credit card, there is no guarantee that is can be saved.

Is it important for every high school student to learn about credit? “In my opinion, it’s necessary for every high school student to learn about credit because like I said before, credit can be a valuable addition to your financial tool box if you use it carefully and sensibly. Every student should learn the common types of credit, [such as] credit cards, installment loans, student loans, and mortgages. I think every high school student should learn more about mortgage in personal finance class to get a basic understanding of it and learn how to establish credit to buy a home with mortgage.” -Wilson Nguyen

“I think that it is necessary for every high school student to learn about credit because it prepares them for the real world.” -Julia Vanella

“Yes, it is very important [for high school students to learn about credit.] This way when the student does get a credit card they will know how to use it.” -Elizabeth Beaton Ms. Horwitz’s Personal Finance class enthusiastic to learn about establishing credit and maintaing good credit. Photo by Catherine Poirier

For additional information about credit, please visit our website maldenblueandgold.com.

All information gathered by Horwitz and her period 2 Personal Finance class.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

Local news maldenblueandgold.com

Trivia night in question Andrew Cogliano Reporter

commonly heard proverb is that “knowledge is power.” It has stood the test of time, earning its very own competition at MHS. On January 10, 2013, Trivia Night took place in Cafeteria A. Questions in categories ranging from history to pop culture were given to a vast assortment of teams, who would then scramble to answer and bet points, from one to twelve. If you got the question right, your team got the points. The illustrious grand prize of $100 dared all who entered to try and claim it. “It [was] fun. I didn’t even think it [would] be this much fun!” remarked Kelsey Conti, a senior and member of the team “The Purple Hippos.” Enthusiasm filled the air as friendly rivalries bloomed, a testament to a team’s true intelligence. Some questions were nobrainers, one of which asked about PSY and his hit song “Gangnam Style,” while others proved quite difficult, including one about the position of Secretary of State. When asked about her favorite category, Hannah Calderone, another “Purple Hippos” member, replied “It [would] be pop culture, because face it, who doesn’t like pop culture?” Some teams shined in a bout of well-roundedness, while others were applauded for at least trying their hardest.

Above: Seniors Kelsey Conti, Mary Carrozza, Hannah Calderone, and Mohammed Amwar answering a question. Below: The judges collect answer tickets from teams. Photos by Andrew Cogliano.

Chinese NEw Year Celebration

When: Saturday, February 2, 2012 from 1-4pm Where: Jenkins Auditorium at Malden High Celebrate the Year of the Snake with us! Taste of South East Asia Culture and Cuisine When: Thursday, Jan 31, 2012 from 7:00-8:30pm Where: Malden Public Library Sponsored by the Malden Arts Council

Chinese Culture Connection Offers:

After school program is for kids, age from K through grade 6. It offers a Chinese immersion experience, with homework and math support, as well as Chinese language and rich cultural activities. Cultural Education include Chinese chess games Paper folding (origami), dough figure making, and more! Saturday Class is for kids from K through 5th grade. It includes the study of Mandarin, Math, English, Creative Arts, Chinese Dance, Music, Gongfu and Chinese classics, from 8 – 4 PM on Saturdays during the school year.

Registration starts now!! For more info please contact us at: 781-321-6216 mei@chinesecultureconnection.org Visit our new office at the Malden YMCA 99 Dartmouth Street Malden, MA 02148

While MHS students made up the majority of the pack, another group of adults also joined in on the fun. Team names like “Breakfast Pizza” and “Old Direction” brought smiles to faces but also hid a secret; the knowledge behind age. In fact, “Old Direction,” a team composed entirely of history teachers, Kevin Kilbride, Jamie Green, Gregory Hurley, Richard Tivnan, and Jonathan Copithorne dominated for most of the night and threatened to steal first place. Trivia Night wasn’t completely random. “This was a great idea hosted by the class of 2014!”, said senior Valentine Banor, a member of “Bro Talk 2.0.” All profits did, in fact, go to funding for the MHS Class of 2014. As the night came to a close, the winning team was finally announced, “The Fab Five” consisting of seniors Amanda Ramsey, Joyce Ly, Fricya Silva, Melissa Light and Danielle Aguinaldo. The team eagerly clamored to the front of the room, posing for pictures and splitting the spoils. It will never be forgotten during the silence when the answer was to be announced, people would shout lewd things like “Iron,” “Hillary Clinton”, and a high pitched “The letter A!”. Considering the event was such a great success, the class of 2014 eagerly awaits next year’s Trivia Night.

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The Blue and Gold January 2013

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MHS Winter Concert Pops the Holidays

The MHS Concert Band and Band Instructor MatthewTavares take a bow after their performance at the Winter Concert.

Johanna Lai Head of Business

very year before Malden High School goes on winter break, the halls are filled with anticipation for the holidays, but students also eagerly await the MHS winter concert. The MHS winter concert is performed by the MHS Concert Band and the MHS Choral Arts Society. The concert took place on the night of Dec. 20, 2012, just before winter break. Both the audience and members of the band and the choral arts society were excited for the performance to begin that night at 7 PM. The winter concert started out with the MHS Concert Band performing “Winter Wonderland.” This song was accompanied by a reading given by senior and president of the concert band, Devon Moran and senior and vice president, Caitlin Cala. The next two songs were “Winter Dances” and “Simple Song” which were accompanied by readings that was given by secretary and senior Simon Roger,

and treasurer and senior Jonathan Drapiniski. The band also played “Chanukah Is Here” composed by Calvin Cluster, accompanied by a reading given by Cala. After the next song, the band officers, Moran, Cala, Rogers and Drapinski took a moment before the last two pieces to give band instructor Matthew Tavares a gift. The gift is a way that the officers give thanks to Tavares. This year, Tavares was given tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and he jumped in excitement on stage. After the last piece, the Concert Band gave way to the Choral Arts Society’s performance. The Concert Choir began by singing “Silent Night” as they held candles that illuminated the auditorium. Next, they sang three musical pieces of the “Christmas Cantata,” which was composed by Daniel Pinkham in 1957. These three pieces were “Que, vidistis pastores?,” “O Magnum

Mysterirum,” and “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” “Christmas Cantata” was Pinkham’s most famous choral work of his career. These three pieces in the “Christmas Cantata” were accompanied by the Occasional Brass which included trombonist Clayton Dewalt, co- trumpeters Bryan Hilliard and John Feitor, tubist Michael Stephan and French hornist, Neil Godwin. This is the first time that the concert choir was accompanied by the Occasional Brass group. Next, the mixed chorus sang four songs which were the “Colors of Winter,” “Gloria,” “Chanukah Flame,” and “Wassail.” Then, Madrigal singers stepped up to the stage with MHS music teacher Todd Cole to sing “April in my Mistress’ Face,” “Die Nachtigall,” “ Fum, Fum, Fum,“ and “Carol of the Bells.” Senior Hannah Calderone stated, “I thought that this was a great winter concert becaue everyone worked so hard to get to the level

Music teacher Todd Cole welcoming the audience and introducing the MHS Concert Choir at the Winter Concert. All Photos by Johanna Lai

that we were on. It was great to see how well Mixed Chorus sang and how much they had improved since the beginning of the year- that going for Concert Choir and Madrigals as well. It was great, for me to see the final product of ‘Christmas Cantata’ and to perform it all together. Also, it was so great to do something so fun and different in Madrigals when we changed up the Carol of the Bells.” To finish the concert with a high note, the Concert Choir, Madrigals, and Mixed Chorus joined together with the Concert Choir alumni from MHS to sing “O’ Holy Night.” This piece also featured section leaders and soloists, seniors Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Joshua Gaviola. With much support from the audience, the MHS Concert Band and Choral Arts Society gave another wonderful and memorable winter concert that anyone from the audience of that night can remember.

Music teacher Todd Cole conducting as the Concert Choir enters the auditorium performing Silent Night.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Bread Of Life Gives BAck To Community Andrew Cogliano Reporter

Above: The upper floor of the church, crowded with guests. Below: Synagogue volunteers help to serve food. Photos by Andrew Cogliano

hristmastime. The time for giving, the time for family, and the time for cheer. But what happens to the less fortunate? Those who can barely afford food, let alone gifts for others? Well, the Bread of Life thought of that, and has been holding a Christmas dinner every year for those in need during the holiday season. On Dec. 25, 2012, the homeless, impoverished, and hungry citizens could finally find repose from the trouble of daily life. The event was held in the upper area of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Malden, and hosted by the Bread of Life. Two local synagogues also helped clean and prepare the meals for those who showed up. The main attraction was, as stated on the flyer, “roast beef with all the fixings,” but guests were also offered many other things, like fruit and bread to take home with them. Joan Meader, a local volunteer, says that the event has been held for “years and years and years! We’ve been doing this for more than seven years!” The entire upper level of the church was packed, with a massive line of people wanting food. Meader and her partner, Paul Mongeau, said that the turnout “has stayed the same, [but] the number of delivered meals has grown.” The Bread of Life also deliv-

ers countless meals to the disabled, or to those who cannot be at the church. Meader also says that the two synagogues “do it all” and the fruits of their combined labor is seen very easily. About 200 people were able to escape the cold and finally have a good, warm meal. Saugus native Ruth Berg, a member of Temple Tifereth Israel in Malden, gave her opinion on the meal as well. She said that this year was the “busiest year [we have] had in many years,” which is something coming from a 31 year veteran! Her synagogue was in charge of cooking and decorating, showing up at 3 AM to prepare, and not leaving until 8 PM that night. She explained how since the Jewish community does not celebrate Christmas, they can organize the event, allowing people who do celebrate it to spend it with their family, and with good food. When they have finished eating, the attendees can leave downstairs, where another surprise awaits them. A table covered in gloves, hats, scarves, and other winter essentials otherwise unavailable to them, and all of it for free. With full stomachs and warm bodies, the festival truly showed the good in peoples hearts. Berg even said “only the bad [people] make the news. We never hear about the good ones.”

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The Blue and Gold January 2013

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2012’s Most Memorable

hree...Two...One... Happy New Year! As the clock struck 12’ and the ball in New York’s’ time square dropped, echoes of this chant were heard around the world. With the year 2013 on it’s way, everyone is excited for a fresh start in their lives. But before we begin our New Years resolutions and gear up for the next 12 months, let us take some time to reminisce on what happened last year. From the Summer Olympics to the reelection of president Obama, 2012 was filled with a number of social media headlines and political affairs. With all of these things that happened in 2012 it is impossible to remember them all. No worries, we did it for you! Below is a timeline of different memorable events of the previous year, from January to December.

Super Bowl 2012(Feb. 5): The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots, 21-17, on Feb. 5, 2012. The game was held in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Stadium. After the patriots lost to the Giants in 2008, many fans were eager to see the team redeem themselves. Although the team did not defeat the Giants the score was nail-bitingly close. The Giants were behind 2 points, until tailback Ahmad Bradshaw scored the winning touchdown with only 57 seconds left in the game.

Academy Awards (Oscars, Feb. 24th): On Feb. 24th 2012 the Academy Awards, more commonly known as the Oscars, was held at the Dolby Theatre located in Hollywood. The event recognized all cinematic achievements of 2012. Ryan Seacrest got ashes dumped on him by the character Sacha Baron Cohen from the movie The Dictator. And who can forget about Angelina Jolie’s leg appearance? Also The Artist ended up being the big winner leaving the filmmaker with five awards total.

The Hunger Games (March 23rd): Based on the top seller series, The Hunger Games set records hitting $67.3 million on opening day and $685 million worldwide. With stars such as Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth fans were more than satisfied with the movie results and are anxious for the upcoming sequel.

Gangnam Style (July 15th): Breaking records with his hit song, “Gangnam Style,” Korean performer PSY reached the 1 billion view mark on youtube, making it the most watched video.

Spring

Winter

Golden Globes (Jan. 15th): The 69th Golden Globe event was held on January 15th 2012 honoring the best in movies and in television. Awards were given to the following: The Descendants for best movie drama, The Artist for best movie musical/comedy, Homeland for the best t.v. series drama, Modern Family for the best t.v. series comedy, and Downton Abbey for best t.v. mini series.

The Avengers (May 4th): The sixth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hit the screen May 4th and included stars such as Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansson. The film was ranked number 1 out of all the movies in 2012 because it set a box office record of $1.44 billion worldwide. It gained a lot of positive reviews and lived up to a lot of expectations.

Trayvon Martin Case (February 26): George Zimmerman, resident of Sanford, Florida, shot and killed 17 year old Trayvon Martin on February, 26. Zimmerman claims self defense and that it was a “life or death struggle.” Now facing second degree murder charges, Zimmerman pleads not guilty and that self defense rights apply under the Florida’s “stand your ground” law. The case has struck major controversy around the nation, having many plead that the murder was a hate crime.

Whitney Houstons’ Death (Feb. 11): Beloved music icon Whitney Houston passed away at age 49 in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Houston was best known for her performance in, “The Bodyguard,” and her rendition of the song, “I Will Always Love You.” Houston left behind her family, including 19 year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston.

Call Me Maybe (June 23): Summer sensation, “Call Me Maybe,” by canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen, released her song in America for the first time in 2012. The 26 year old singer topped the billboard hot top 100 for 9 weeks making it the longest song at the #1 spot in 2012.

Kony (Ended in April): A youtube video stikes major controversy over African Warlord, Joseph Kony receiving over 2,493,074 views. A Mental breakdown by the creator of the video damages the integrity of the operation, cancelling the promoting event on April, 12.

The Dark Knight Rises (July 20th): Grossing $448,139,099 million worldwide The Dark Knight Rises was a worldwide favorite and impressed fans. The movie was directed and written by Christopher Nolan whose brother, Jonathan Nolan, also helped write the screenplay. Christian Bale returned as batman and many other actors such as Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, and Joseph GordonLevitt, played key roles.

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The Blue and Gold January 2013

maldenblueandgold.com Casey Lyons Reporter Jonathan DeCicco Reporter

The X Factor (Sep. 12th- Dec. 20th): Simon Cowell has successfully created another show that was a huge hit. With judges like Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid, and Britney Spears viewers are eager to watch The X Factor to see what interesting aspects each judge can offer to the show. Season two ended with winner Tate Stevens but runner up, 13 year old, Cary Rose also had high chances of winning.

2012 Olympics: (July 27th- Aug. 12th) The Olympic games were held in London England this past summer. Showing off the best athletes from around the world. The London people have also anticipated this event to display their proud heritage to the world and out do previous hosts. The U.S. ranked number one in the games with 46 gold, 29 silver and 29 bronze medals.

Hurricane Sandy(October 29): A powerful hurricane struck the U.S., hitting New York and New Jersey the hardest. Water levels hit record highs in New York, flooding the subways and other public transportation. The Jersey Shore was ruined, destroying theme park rides and most of the board walk. A relief concert was held for the victims of the storm featuring performers like Christina Aguilera, Bon Jovi, and Aerosmith. Many people living there are still rebuilding and recovering from the storm.

American Horror Story: Asylum (Oct. 5th): What returned to FX in October? American Horror Story did and has more twists than ever. The series hit a record of 3.85 million viewers the day it premiered. It takes place in 1964 at the Briarcliff Hospital and portrays the stories of the doctors, patients, and nurses who are involved in it.

Kate Middleton Pregnancy (Dec. 3rd): On December 3rd Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, announced that she was pregnant and is due around March/June. Although her and Prince William had to announce the news early because of her severe morning sickness, it is a relief that she is doing a lot better and seems to be eating lavender biscuits as a remedy.

Hostess Cakes Going Out of Business (Closed Nov. 21st): Are you familiar with Twinkies, Wonder Bread, Sno Balls, and Donettes? Then you must know what the Hostess company is and how it has declared its closing. It has been forced to close by a Bakers Union strike and will no longer be selling its products any longer.

Fall Summer

Aurora shooting: A mass shooting occurred on Friday July, 20th 2012 during a midnight screening of, “The Dark Knight Rises,” in Aurora, Colorado. The shooter was identified as James Holmes, who set off a tear gas grenades before shooting into the crowd of movie-goers. Protected by a gas mask, Holmes killed 12 people and injuring 58 others. Holmes was later charged with 24 counts of murder and 116 counts of attempted murder.

The Walking Dead (Oct. 14th): The Season 3 premiere of The Walking Dead broke records with a total of 10.9 million viewers at 9 p.m. and 15.2 million viewers after factoring in the encore. The show is “the most watched drama in basic cable history” according to its website and has some of the best records for viewers. It portrays a story of survivors seeking refuge in a world of the walking dead.

Modern Family (Sep. 26th): Hit comedy series, “Modern Family,” won 4 awards at the 2012 emmy’s including supporting actor and actress, director, and overall best for a comedy series. The show is centered around an ordinary family of our “modern” culture from divorced parents to a wild child high school graduate. Many of of their viewers can relate to the show and the hilarious mishaps have entertained it’s audience for their fourth straight season.

Breaking Dawn Part II (Nov. 26th): Being the 5th highest grossing film in 2012 with $812.1 million worldwide, the final installment of the Twilight Saga left their audience in awe. The movie was definitely jaw dropping with their shocking twists and surprises.Yet most of the audience was thrilled with the last edition to the saga they were also saddened by the thought of the end of the series.

Reelection of Obama (Nov. 6th): After long debates and hours of anxiety President Barack Obama was reelected and returns as president for another four years. Obama had 332 electoral votes and 62,615,406 popular votes leaving Romney with 206 electoral votes and 59,142,004 in the end.

Newtown Shooting (Dec. 14): On Friday December 14, 20-year old Adam Lanza opened fire in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. After killing his mother in her home he traveled to the nearby Sandy Hook school where he killed 20 children and 6 adults before eventually killing himself. With Christmas around the corner this horrible act took the country by surprised causing national mourning.

maldenblueandgold.com Aries

new year means a fresh start. It is never too late to add to your New Year’s resolutions! Many people make resolutions for self improvement and goal achievement. Resolutions are usually acquired from past experiences but a great way to receive insight on what to improve on is the horoscope of your astrological sign. Based on how the year is predicted to turn out for each sign, these are some resolutions to consider for an unforgettable year!

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Capricorn

Cancer

2013 Resolutions and Horoscopes S

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Sc o Libra

Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 21 - Feb 19)- Trust your emotions more and realize that not everyone deserves your time. If you’re unsure about jumping into something, like a relationship or applying to a college, trust your gut feeling and it should turn out right. Try to develop your tolerance as you will need it in 2013. Try to be patient if a friend is annoying you and don’t blow your top. You do not want the consequences to bounce back. Patience is virtue in making 2013 a positive year. New people may come into your life and new activities will keep you busy and happy this year.

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Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 - Jan 20)- Try to be more accepting and more generous to who/what you give your time and attention too. You may be putting a lot of effort in a friendship or relationship and feel like you aren’t getting the equal amount back. Focus more on people that pay attention to you and make you happy. There will be changes that you will have to adjust to as a midterms and finals approach and before you know it- the end of the school year will have arrived. You may not have time for some clubs or people anymore, but many new friends will come your way. This is the year you will be able to showcase your skills; go out on a limb and audition for performances!

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Patricia Luong Reporter

The Blue and Gold January 2013

Vir

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All pictures from Wikipedia.com.

Pisces Horoscope (Feb 20 - Mar 20)- Be more concerned about your own problems and feelings, and stop doubting yourself. This year is the year to concentrate on you and what makes you happy. It is important that you keep your emotions under control this year. Try not to let the little things get to you. If a friend makes a mean joke or you get in a small argument with someone, don’t let it get you down. Your supportive and understanding personality will be very important; you’ll be very helpful to friends that need advice. If you make these resolutions, 2013 will be an exciting and satisfying year. Aries (Mar 21- Apr 20)- Being more adventurous and self-reliant this year should bring big strides in both your personal work life. You want to jump at any chance of success. This year will be very active for you with midterms, sports, finals, and the end of the school year coming up. Keep in mind that with all the new opportunities coming up, you need to think things through and not be impulsive. Your natural ambition and drive will shine this year and grades, work, and relationships will come with ease. Taurus Horoscope (Apr 21 - May 21) - Lately you’ve been spending a lot, whether it be for Christmas or just on yourself! This is the year you need to learn to spend less and save more. Make it a resolution to tackle your bad habits early on in the year. Stop procrastinating on homework and start studying for midterms! Try to be more outspoken this year, take on a leadership role in a club or talk to someone new. This could attract a potential special someone. Although there might be problems that arise, if you keep this in mind 2013 has the potential to be a highly fulfilling year. Gemini Horoscope (May 22 - Jun 21) - Be more thoughtful and steady. This will allow you to think with more clarity and transparency allowing you to make better decisions in school and your personal life. If you learn to be more patient this year, you should be able to move forward and become happier. Patience and steadiness will prevent you from making rash decisions and will bring stability to your love life as well! Some things may go wrong like a fight with a friend or a bad grade but overall this year will bring progress to your personal and professional life. Cancer Horoscope (Jun 22 - Jul 23) - Be more active and participate in more activities! It’s never too late to join a new club or join a spring sport. This will help you get out of your comfort zone and meet influential people. You never know if a coach or team member could end up changing your year for the better. This year, you’ll realize new objectives and attain greater heights of success. Midterms are going to be a breeze if you study and you may end up with a better grade than you were expecting. For seniors, be mindful to live in the present and plan for the future as big things are coming up. This will make 2013 a successful and gainful year for you. Leo Horoscope (Jul 24 - Aug 23) - Be more accepting of criticism and find confidence with yourself. The criticism in your work will only make it better, so don’t get offended if a teacher or classmate makes some constructive criticism on your project or essay. You may have felt like your efforts were wasted last year, but it is guaranteed that if you keep up with your efforts and aim high, it’ll pay off! There will be lots of new opportunities this year but also some ups and downs. There will be growth and development in the relationships you have with the people and yourself. This is the year you will become more confident in who you are. Virgo Horoscope (Aug 24 - Sep 23)- You may have been stressed out lately with studying for midterms and being fed up with some of the people in your life but this year, learn to express your emotions more and stop overworking yourself! Make it a resolution to lighten up this year and you will be likely to receive more appreciation for your efforts. Luck is coming your way in 2013 especially in the money department; just make sure you watch lending and borrowing with friends and family. Libra Horoscope (Sep 24 - Oct 23) - Be more blunt, kept it real and take time to reorganize your thoughts. This will allow you to make decisions more firmly, which will play an important role in 2013. If your sibling wants to spend time with you or your family wants to go out, your friends and you can hang out the next day. There will be renewed energy and enthusiasm in your activities this year and this will bring you success. Maybe you haven’t been feeling like you’ve been doing your best in school or in a sport, but don’t worry! This is the year your talents will be showcased. Remember to keep a positive outlook! Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 24 - Nov 22) - Try to be healthier and take care of your body. You want to be healthy because 2013 has lots of opportunities and activities in store. If you didn’t make the cut for a winter sport, although it seems like a while spring tryouts for sports are coming up sooner than you’d expect. Work hard and you’ll definitely have a better chance in getting in! Make it a resolution to be more open and don’t be so secretive and hide what you’re doing. This year will be healthy and happy if you keep these resolutions in mind. Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 23 - Dec 21) - Learn to enjoy the outdoors more, it’ll make 2013 more thrilling and you may come across new opportunities. Go camping or join a new sport this year. New opportunities will come to you if you take these initiatives. Try new activities for eye opening experiences to make 2013 unforgettable. You may have been getting sick lately but you will be healthier if you make being more active a priority this year.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

ENTERTAINMENT maldenblueandgold.com

2013: A YEAR IN ENTERTAINMENT Carmellite J Chamblin Reporter

Out with the old, in with the new! From Movies to music, 2012’s pop culture was outstanding! This year is sure to follow up in success! Already, albums, movies, and tv shows are scheduled for release. Take a look at 2013’s upcoming movies, books, albums, t.v shows, and concerts.

Movies Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters on Jan. 25. Warm Bodies on Feb.1. Oz: The Great and Powerful on Mar. 8. G.I Joe: Retaliation on Mar. 29 The Host on Mar. 29. Oblivion on Apr. 19. Iron Man 3 on May 3. The Great Gatsby on May 10 Star Trek: Into Darkness on May 17. Monsters University on Jun. 21, the prequel of Monsters Inc. Lone Ranger on Jul. 3 The Wolverine on Jul. 26, One Direction 3D concert Movie on Aug.30. Carrie on Oct. 18, Thor: The Dark Worlds on Nov. 8. Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Nov. 22.

TV SHOWS The Carrie Diaries - Jan.14 on the CW.

Community premieres its fourth season - Feb. 7 - NBC. The Walking Dead picking up its third season mid season break - Feb. 10 on AMC. Nashville- ABC Doctor Who 50th anniversary (BBC America) - Nov. 23. Do No Harm - Jan. 31 on NBC. Body of Proof- Feb. 5 on ABC. The Voice - Mar. 25 on NBC. Games of Thrones - Mar. 31 on HBO.

Albums Justin Bieber- Believe Acoustic EP - Jan.29 Azealia Banks-Broke with expensive tastes on Feb. 12. Paramore-Paramore on Apr. 9, 2013 fourth album, first since 2009’s Brand New Eyes. J.Cole-Born Sinner on Jan. 28. Tim McGraw-Two lanes of Freedom on Feb. 5. LL Cool J-Authentic Hip Hop on Feb.12. STRFKR-Miracle Mile on Feb. 19. Bon Jovi- What about Now on Mar. 26, the 12th studio album Lady Gaga-ARTPOP. Olly Murs- Right place, Right Time on Ap. 9. Britney Spears- her eighth studio album. Beyonce- The Diva’s fifth studio album, for a release early in the year. The Black Keys- Set to release their eighth album later this Spring, as a follow up to their critically acclaimed 2011 album ‘El Camino’. The Wanted- Third Strike on March. Mariah Carey- Slated for a release on her fourteenth studio album . Kid Cudi- Indicud, set for a release in March. Jonas Brothers- Planned for an unknown release date.

Concerts Lady Gaga - TD Gardfen Feb. 27 Rihanna - TD Gardfen Mar. 10 Jay-Z Bruno Mars - Boston Paradise Rock Club Mar. 7 Miranda Lambert - Fenway Park July 12-13 Justin Bieber - TD Garden July 20 Kanye West Keith Urban - Comcast Center Aug. 10 Mumford and Sons - TD Garden Feb. 5 Taylor Swift - Gillette Stadium July 26-27

Books Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins The Program by Suzanne Young Divergent by Veronica Roth The Archive by Victoria Schwab Marbles by Ellen Forney Oddly Normal by John Schwartz Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Hush, Hush by Becca FitzPatrick The Host by Stephenie Meyers

24 Michael Phelps: The End of an Era Lucia Quesada Nylen Reporter

his past summer at the 2012 London Olympics we bid our farewells to another great athlete that will forever be remembered as a figure that made history in the pool -- Michael Phelps. Although Phelps decided to retire did not stop him from giving his all this summer at the Olympic games. Phelps went into the games with 14 Olympic gold medals from previous competitions, and left the games with 18 gold and a total of 22 medals, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time, beating Larysa Latynina, a Soviet gymnast who won 18 medals from 1956-64. In 2000 at the age of 15, he became the youngest male to enter the U.S. Olympic swim team in 68 years. Although he did not win a medal, he made finals and came in fifth in the 200-meter butterfly. Only a year later, in the 2001 World Aquatics Championships, Phelps became the youngest male swimmer ever to set a swimming world record, in the 200-meter butterfly, only at the age of 15. In 2003, Phelps won four events at the World Championships in Barcelona and once again made history, becoming the only swimmer to set world records in different events on the same day. A year later at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Phelps won six gold medals and two bronze, missing the record of most gold medals won in a single Olympic game, by only one medal. Then in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, Phelps won eight gold medals, not only setting a record with the most gold medals won in one game, but set seven world records in the pool. Then in 2011 at the Shanghai World Championships, Phelps won four gold medals. Entering the 2012 Olympics all eyes were on Phelps, and his competition including U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte who beat Phelps in the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China in two individual events. With a rough start where he was out-touched by 20-year-old Chad le Clos of South Africa in the 200 meter butterfly, which was an event that many including Phelps had confidence was his, he placed second by five hundredths of a second. However, like any great athlete Phelps overlooked his defeat and later that day coming in first in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay swimming with Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, and Ricky Berens. Later that week he won gold in the 200 meter Individual Medley (IM), 100 meter butterfly, and the 4x100 meter Medley relay. Phelps also placed silver in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay, and fourth in the 400 meter IM.

sports

The Blue and Gold January 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

Girls basketball Hangs Tough during rough patch Joshua Kummins Editor-In-Chief Online

he Malden High School girls basketball team has just a 1-8 record in the early going of the 201213 winter season, but with a strong, positive attitude about the game, things are certainly headed in the right direction under John Furlong, who is in his first year as varsity head coach.

After losing in an away game to Lynn Classical to open the season on Dec. 11, 2012, the team bounced back with its first win of the season six days later, beating Haverhill, 3727. MHS played its first home games against Danvers and Wakefield as part of the annual Christmas Tournament on Dec. 27-28, 2012. Despite losing, the team has been able to measure its strengths and weaknesses while looking toward the future. “When we played Danvers, we played hard,” said senior Christina Ascolillo. “We only gave up 17 points pretty much the whole entire

game...When we played Wakefield, it was tougher. We kind of did not have the enthusiasm [we would have liked] in the second half, but overall, our team is doing OK.” The team came into the season with a core of returning varsity players, including senior captains Lisa DeLacey, Norma Bourque-Pimentel and Bridget Furlong, as well as heavy group of players moving up from the junior varsity level. “We could not ask for anyone better [to lead the team],” Ascolillo said. “They are there for the underclassmen and for anyone who needs help. They are there when we need to lean on them and also when they need to be on top of us, which is good.” Ascolillo considers the contributions of sophomores Jaime MacDonald and Caitlin Applin as “amazing” for the team as they take on key positions on the roster. Specifically, Applin replaced fellow sophomore Michaela Ilebode at the center position while she recovered from a recent surgery and was also inserted to the starting lineup during some of the first few games. Although the team has struggled to find the wins column, defense is considered to be one of the team’s

strengths, while scoring the ball is an area to be improved upon. “We have a lot of drive to play good defense [because] we put the work in,” Ascolillo stated. “We have a lot of strong girls, especially down

in the post, which is very good for the team.” Since the Christmas Tournament, the team has struggled in losses to non-league opponents Salem and Lynnfield, as well as in their first two Greater Boston League games against Somerville on Jan. 8, 2013 and Everett on Jan. 11, 2013. With the majority of the season still ahead, including nearly a full schedule of GBL games, Ascolillo notes that the team just needs to “tighten up some things” in order to ensure more wins down the road.

Clockwise: Sophomore Jaime MacDonald awaiting a pass. Senior captain Bridget Furlong running down the court. Junior Regine Exume and senior Lisa DeLacey guarding Wakefield players. Malden strategizing during a timeout. All photos by Joshua Kummins.

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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tumbling for Success Julie Lam Reporter

hope to lead the team into a successful season. From uneven bars to the vault, the blooming gymnasts train inishing last season as the Great- to the best of their ability for their er Boston League champions, upcoming meets. the MHS gymnastics team is back Head coach Vanessa James and ready to keep their title. With hopes to train these young gymthe winter season progressing, the nasts in becoming as strong as MHS gymnastic team is training for teams in previous years. James has their regular season. The gymnastic been in the gymnastics world since team consists of ten dedicated gym- she was about 5 years old and has nasts, mainly underclassmen. So been the head coach at MHS for two far, the MHS gymnastics team has years. Coach James expresses, “my a record of 0-1. Captains junior Jus- expectations are that that new memtine Rose and senior Andrew Phu bers on the team work just as hard as our team did last year. I want them to live up to our title as GBL Champions through sportsmanship and character at our competitions, not just in skill and performance.” Although it is clear that Bottom left: Junior captain Justine Rose poses during her Coach James floor routine during their meet against Fenwick. Top right: Freshman Kiley Ruelle performing her floor routine. Photos d e m a n d s high expectaby James Mazarakis.

tions for her team, she believes they have great potential in maintaining their GBL title this year. T h e sport of gymnastics itself is not only about physical fitness, but also mental. The majority of the current MHS gymnasts have years of experience from gymnastic clubs they have participated in throughout childhood. Captain junior Justine Rose, who has been doing gymnastics for about seven years now states that the team “[gets] to challenge [themselves] and try new things while still having a lot of fun at practice. ” Even though the team lost key gymnasts last year, Rose believes the new gymnasts with experience are still going to benefit the team greatly. Rose also expresses how they work exceptionally hard through practice, but also is able to enjoy their time together. Throughout their practices, the gymnasts seemed to be improving and are creating a great bond within

the team. Their training involves numerous of hours on the beams, vault, uneven bars, and floor. This dedicated team is on their way for a great season. Captain Rose reveals, “Our team is very small but I still expect great things out of us.”

Scan to watch our video of the gymnastics team on our website!

Beginning the New Season With A Goal Arefin Mohiuddin Reporter

including the Lisitano Tournament, hosted in Wakefield, which was held on Dec. 15, 2012, and the Round Robin Tournament in hrough the Malden High School Brookline, also held in December. wrestling team’s season is off to a Arraheffege placed 1st at each tourslow start, a lot of it is due to the fact nament, Hishmel 2nd at Wakefield that they do not have every weight and 1st at Brookline, and Gedeon class filled. The team still boasts 1st at Wakefield in their respecsome very strong individual pertive weight classes. The trio has set formers, such as senior captain Ruquite a benchmark for the rest of the fus Arraheffege, who have already squad, and making them hungry to taken numerous podium finishes emulate the success that these three this year, and plan on continuing to have already tasted, while the trio smash the rest of the competition as themselves hope to find more sucthe year progresses. cess at tournaments. This year’s squad feaDue to the lack of tures a mixture of upper and competitors needed for underclassmen, led by Arraeach weight class, the heffege. In addition, seniors team has lost numerous Thuan Banh, Eliel Lau, and meets, including to BilDaniel Vo, and juniors Nidal lerica and Shawsheen, Hishmeh, Philip West, and but they will make sure Jean Gedeon are returning to win their meets against this season. With many of schools that are matched the members looking toward up more fairly to them. making the sectional and, They have a chance to do hopefully, state cut later in this at upcoming meets the season, everyone on the against Milton, Waltham, team pushes each other to and their historic rival Evstrive for more. Everyone is erett. Although the team “pushed to their limits” durpush and compete against ing practices, as described each other to the brink of by Banh, the team’s longest exhaustion, when they tenured wrestlers. While the have their hands raised team has dropped numerous at the end of a satisfying meets, they have racked up Senior Eliel Lau standing in neutral position with his opponent. Photo by Arefin Mohiuddin win, it is all worth it. numerous first, second, and

third place finishes within those competitions. Wrestling is listed as a team sport, but ‘’when it comes down to it, wrestling is really just an individual sport. It’s just you and the other team’s guy out there, and whoever is the better wrestler gets their hand raised,” explained Banh. This is not to say that there is no unity amongst the team, as they constantly push and compliment each other. Although every person on the team is talented, it is without a doubt that the trio that is Hishmel, Gedeon, and Arraheffege shine

especially bright. The trio has combined for a staggering 48-11 record between them, with Hishmel and Gedeon grabbing 13 and 15 wins respectively, while Arraheffege already has an astounding 20 wins. Members of the squad both praise Gedeon and Hishmel for their consistent production in churning out wins time and time again. Arraheffege is especially impressive considering this is only his second season, and has improved exponentially since last year. The team has already participated in various tournaments,

26 New Year, New Victories

sports

The Blue and Gold January 2013

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Boys Basketball:

Manale Zouhir Reporter

ear to year, Malden High School’s girls indoor track program has stayed the same, but this year is like no other. Sophomore and varsity member Victoria Hannafin stated: “There [are] definitely a lot more girls than last year.” This year the team seems more energetic and together. Freshman sprinter Michelle Chung confessed, “When I first joined the track team, I was surprised about how spirited everyone was. We would always be rooting for each other at meets or just in practice, and cheering each other on. I didn’t expect for us to be that close-knit, especially since [it is] such an individual sport.” The first meet against Everett, held in the Salemwood middle school gym on Dec. 12, 2012 was an easy win for the girls. There have also been invitationals, where individuals had the opportunity to qualify for the Division 1 state meet. Freshman sprinter Carine Exume, along with junior Jacqueline Bouley, and senior Blue and Gold member Lauren Benoit, are the only three girls to qualify for the state meet so far, an impressive accomplishment as it is only the beginning of a long season. Exume, her first time qualifying, said, “It [felt] amazing... with some support and belief from my teammates, I did the one thing that I convinced myself that I could never do, and that was qualify for states.” The team recently had a meet on Jan. 11, 2013, against Lowell Catholic, a school that has a first year track program. Although the meet did not count in their records, the coaches feel that it was good practice for the girls, especially since they are just coming off a four week meet break due to vacation. The MSTCA Division 1 state relays were just one day after on Jan. 12, 2013, in which the girls met coach Londino’s high expectations for the several relays he put together. The girl’s 4x4 relay qualified for states. The next GBL meet the team is preparing for is against Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, a tough matchup for the team, but the girls are optimistic for the challenge. As opposed to last year, the girls MHS track team are full of energy for the meets coming up. So far it has been a great season of hard-workers who are clearly extremely determined. With team members like this, it is a given that the rest of the season will hold nothing but success for MHS girls track team.

Phillip Montezuma Reporter

he Malden High School boys basketball team started off their season with a bang, winning their first game against Winthrop on Dec. 11, 2012, 98-48. Sophomore Anthony Gilardi dropped 45 points in the game to surpass senior teammate Terrance Massineuve’s 43 points in last season’s opening game against Westfield. However, Gilardi’s score is just three points away from MHS’ all-time record of 48 scored by one player in a game, which had happened before Don Nally became the head coach. The record of most points scored in a game by a single player in MHS history is held by Bill Hanifan. Nally stated, “Anthony was in the zone. The ball just seemed to be flying off his hands.” Nally feels that

Gilardi did not force it, his points were just in the flow of the game. Gilardi had hit eight three-pointers in that opening game. Gilardi knew he was in the zone after he had hit his third three pointer. “It felt great, I had been working hard on my shot,” said Gilardi. On Gilardi’s performance, senior co-captain Rodney Morton stated: “I think it set off the season just right as a team, we’ve been working so hard together and also individually it was unbelievable. It showed hard work pays off.” Gilardi put on another show against Belmont, scoring 28 points in a 7759 victory. Gilardi is not intimidated by being the only sophomore on the team as he also played on the varsity team as a freshman. In which he had a spectacular season proving

Top: Senior LJay Long throwing the ball inbounds. Above: Sophomore Anthony Gilardi laying it up during a fast break. Right: Head Coach Don Nally talks to team during a time out. Photos by PJ Montezuma

The Blue and Gold January 2013

sports maldenblueandgold.com

Shooting by the competition

Above left to Right: Sophomore Anthony Gilardi, Senior Co-Captain Rodney Morton, Senior Jason Surpris, and Junior Raymond Sainristil shooting free throws during the game on Jan. 14 against Boston English. Senior Co-Captain Tommy Steele calling for the ball. Below: Senior Co-Captain Rodney Morton shooting a three pointer as Sophomore Anthony Gilardi goes in for the rebound. Photo by PJ Montezuma

he deserves to be on this team. He is grateful of the seniors’ support, “I love them. We are all like brothers, we [have] each other’s back, always.” Morton has also been having a great season so far as the team’s leading scorer. Morton had backto-back 20 point games earlier in the season, before following that performance with 41 points in the Greater Boston League opening game against the undefeated Somerville on Jan. 7, 2013, crushing them at a final score of 84-51. Morton said, “It felt good [that] I could help my team to get our first GBL win on the road, it’s tough. [It] gave us hope we got a clear run at the title after overcoming Somerville at the time.” Others who are doing very well

this season so far include seniors Willy Metellus, Massineuve, Jason Surpris, and junior Bryan Mitchell. Nally cannot choose one team that seems to be their biggest competitor in the GBL because he feels that the whole league is talented. MHS currently has a 6-2 record after beating Winthrop, Westfield, Swampscott, Belmont, Somerville, and Boston English. However, the team fell short to Wakefield, 70-49, in the annual Christmas Tournament, and to Everett on Jan. 11, a well anticipated game, 61-52. The team put on a show agaisnt Boston English on Jan. 14 infront of a huge Malden crowd. The boys will keep on pushing towards their goal of winning the GBL and making it back to the state tournament.

Upcoming games Tues 1/22 @Cambridge 7:00 Fri 1/25 Somerville @Home 7:00 Tues 2/1 medford @home 7:00 Wed 2/6 @Belmont 7:00 Fri 2/8 Cambridge @home 7:00 Sun 2/10 West Springfield @Tufts fri 2/15 @boston english 7:00

boys track team goes gold Chaimae El Adlouni Reporter

ith a strong upperclassmen base, and new supportive faces, the boys track team has expectations to come out on top. The team has been progressing well even with the cuts for the first time in eight years. The meet on Dec. 27, 2012 against Everett marked the first win for the team. Sophomore Nahom Ghile along with many others “think that the season is going really well, and many are going to states” which is an honor for the boys track team, and a great accomplishment since it is still early in the season. On Dec. 29, 2012 approximately 50 athletes went to the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston to compete in the annual Winter Festival Invitational. The majority were distance runners, however, a few sprinters and hurdlers tagged along. On Jan. 11, 2013 Lowell Catholic came to MHS’ home track, the Salemwood to face the Tornados. Lowell Catholic is new to the track scene, and wanted to scrimmage a competitive team in order for their runners to get familiar with the feeling of racing. And that meet was yet another win for the team. The 4x200 qualified for the boys track team, a great race for the boys.

sports

The Blue and Gold January 2013

maldenblueandgold.com

MALDEN DEFEATS CAMBRIDGE: TEAM ON THEIR WAY TO GBL TITLE Emma Ceplinskas Reporter

wim season has started off with a splash. The Malden High School swim team’s first meet was against their biggest rival; Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS). Anxiety and excitement coursed through the veins of MHS’ swimmers, coaches and rivals. The meet went back and forth in points with Cambridge inching away from Malden, but Malden swam on and the score was soon tied at 70 points after the 100 yard backstroke. Swimmers, coaches, fans and even officials became antsy to see who would pull ahead in the final events. It all came down to the 400 freestyle relay. Malden needed to place in first and third to be the victors and finally squash CRLS. The two teams were neck and neck, but freshman Alex Lombardi exalted the last ounce of energy she had left in the final lap to put an end to CRLS’ reining victories. Lombardi’s final strokes allowed her to be the big finisher for the girls 400 freestyle relay, pulling the team ahead from behind CRLS, and cinching the team’s needed first and third place finishes. The officials announced a final score of 87-83 with Malden as the winners. A flood of triumph washed over MHS’ swimmers, coaches and fans. MHS’ swim team’s

thirst for victory against CRLS had at last been quenched. Captains seniors Caitlin Cala, Blue and Gold members Catherine Poirier and Amalia Quesada Nylen and junior Bestine Cong waited several years for the moment when CRLS was no longer the top dog and it had finally arrived. Cala expressed

Top: Senior Elyse Valente swimming the 500 yd freestyle. Above: Senior captain and Blue and Gold member Catherine Poirier swimming during the 200 yd freestyle. All photos by Emma Ceplinskas. it “was like a weight had been lifted senior captain Poirier qualified for will either tie as GBL champs or win off of [her] shoulders” after hearing states in the 100 yard breaststroke. GBL’s all together. the final score. Assistant coach Jes- Other qualifiers include: seniors MHS’ swim team has “put sica Bisson expressed “[she] was ex- Cala and Quesada Nylen, seniors their best foot forward” in the previcited and proud because [the team] Michelle Dang and Elyse Valente, ous meets and have as a result “put has been trying to beat CRLS for the sophomores Kelvin Nguyen, To, them in a good position” as said by past few years and we were always Vinny Silva and Nick Tang and DeVincentis. “[His] sincere hope falling a little short. It was amazing freshmen Samantha Forestier and for all the swimmers on the team is to see how excited [the] swimmers Blue and Gold member Lucia Que- for them to take a love of MHS and were, even the new swimmers who sada Nylen. With 14 qualifiers, this swimming.” Bisson also stated that have not had to deal with a loss to is the biggest state and sectional if “the team or anyone puts in the efCRLS yet. The win against CRLS team in MHS’ history! fort [then] great things will happen,” also gave [her] a boost to see what MHS’ swim team is on a win- and so far what she said is true for else [the team] can ‘throw’ at CRLS ning streak as they pulled out three the team because they, herself and when [they] go to more wins from the second meet DeVincentis put in countless hours their pool.” against Somerville, the third meet of grueling practices in order for the This season against Malden Catholic High wins to keep raining in. Swimming has perhaps “the School and the fourth meet against “pushes limits” and “teaches dedibest freshmen [the Arlington. It has been shown that cation” and “perseverance” as said team has] had in a “there is a new sheriff in town” as by Cong, DeVincentis, and Bisson. long time,” stated DeVincentis puts it. He adds that “The team’s bond does not end at DeVincentis. His “this team in particular has the the pool though,” mentioned Cong. statement proves to potential to be the best out of the Captains and coaches agree that the be true as freshmen whole league” and “it is not out of team is super close and not ‘like’ a Lombardi and Ryan the realm of possibility to take GBLs family, they are a family. Luu have quali- or have an undefeated season.” As fied for states. Both of now it looks as though the team Lombardi and Luu qualified in the 200 yard individual medley and Lombardi also qualified in the 100 yard butterfly stroke. Luu qualified for sectionals as well in the 100 yard breaststroke. In addition, sophomore Tristar To qualified for sectionals in the 50 yard freestyle stroke and the 400 Left: Senior captain Amalia Quesada Nylen embraces freshman Alex Lombardi after yard freestyle stroke relay. winning her race. Above: Malden celebrating after learning that they defeated longCong qualified for states in time rival Cambridge. the 100 yard backstroke and