December 2018 Edition

The Blue and Gold maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 104 Edition 3

77 salem street December 2018

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The Blue and Gold December 2018

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Season’s Greetings!

Crossword

If you have paid for a spot on this page and do not see your message, please go to J387 to get your $1 back. We reserve the right not to include any message that can be seen as inappropriate. Thank you.

Julie Huynh (Grade 9): Happy Holidays to all my wonderful friends, you know who you are!

Santiago P. (Grade 12): I want Senior Privileges for Xmas!

Mlyh Thody: Merry Christmas to all!

Pryanna Alper (Grade 11): I love you! Merry Christmas :) Jo. K The Mallett Family: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Enjoy Winter Break Leonardo Z. (Grade 11): Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vincent Lin (Grade 9): Subscribe to Pewdiepie Minh Thu Do (Grade 9): “OMG the sky is so blue today” -@misspeachymaang Leslie R. (Grade 9): #Wafflegang Abhishek Rana (Grade 12): Enjoy life and watch the Cowboys win the Super Bowl (maybe, probably not)

Happy Holidays from the Blue and Gold staff!

Editorial

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The Blue and Gold December 2018

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Nedlam’s Corner Nedlam’s Corner is a safe space to ask about anything you may be experiencing in your life, both academically and socially. Nedlam is here to offer advice. Although I will know who wrote the submissions, you are able to opt out of having your name reflected here.

Dear Nedlam, my friend seems to be really stressed out about his grades recently, and it has gotten really bad recently. He has been talking to his adjustment counselor and a teacher, but it doesn’t really seem to be helping. What should I do?

Dear Anonymous, Thank you for reaching out!

Well for starters, you are already showing a great support system for your friend by wanting to help him out and asking for advice. You’re doing great so far! But if he is really struggling you should advise him to talk to an adjustment counselor or another trusted adult. You should always be there for him and be someone who your friend feels comfortable talking to. That really is the most important thing.

It’s too late to switch classes at this point in the year, so you should talk to your friend about going to sit with his teachers and talk about what he can do to improve his grades. Just talking to them might be beneficial to your friend, and he may feel uncomfortable doing so, so you may want to talk to him about this as well. I myself am struggling with the same problem as your friend, as I’m sure many other people are too. Your friend is not alone in this and you should let him know this, so it may relieve some of his stress on the situation.

Remind your friend that grades are not everything. Our education is extremely important to focus on but it is not the only thing in your life. We are just teenagers.

Life is too short to be stressing out all of the time!

Let me know if my advice worked. We’ll keep in touch!

To submit a question to Nedlam for a chance for it to be answered in next month’s edition of the Blue And Gold, go to maldenblueandgold.com.

The Best Years Of (Some Of) Our Lives

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he words “these are the best years of your life” are nagging.

Family, friends and teachers all claim my high school years will have been the peak of my life. I go to school five days a week (until 5:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays) and I work after school and on the weekends, all while balancing homework and the various commitments made throughout the year. As much as I have fallen into the routine, these years have been far from perfect, far from “the best.” I know that these years are not the best of my life.

There is no one high school experience. My classes, my friends, the teachers whom I most rely on are all different from anybody else’s. Some students have jobs, while others are allowed the freedom of focusing solely on their academic careers.

Some students are involved with a handful of clubs while others choose not to. There is no wrong way to be a high school student. For some students, their time here at Malden High School has been idyllic. These are students with classes they love, friends they treasure and experiences that will remain happy memories for years to come.

Instead of continuing to believe my high school experience has been “wrong,” I have chosen to look forward. I look forward to the future, seeing the “best years of my life” lying ahead of me. Perhaps college, maybe graduate school. Maybe the best years won’t present themselves until I am a mother, or a grandmother or twenty years into my fulfilling career.

Of course, I will look back on

my high school years. We all will. I will remember the classes I had, the amazing teachers who have forever impacted my life. I will remember the plays I went to, the football games on days so cold my friends and I huddled together to watch a game none of us understood. I will remember the last Pep Rally, and the final Spirit Week.

With The Blue & Gold, each edition marks the events in our lives. It tells the story of the good.

The bad aspects of high school are hardly highlighted in the newspaper, but that does not mean we should ignore them, forget them.

It is important for those of us who have had the best years of our lives in high school, maybe the worst, maybe the “just okay,” to remember what was good with what was bad.

To erase our high school years is to ignore where we have come from, to ignore how this will affect where we will go. When we are teachers and lawyers, mothers and fathers, we will remember the inescapable years of high school.

We will remember the tears, that first C sophomore year, that fight with our best friend where we thought our eternal friendship was over. We will remember the Holiday Parties, the musicals, the teachers who we will be forever grateful for.

In every bad high school experience there are great memories lying beneath the surface. In every great high school experience there are tears and fights lying behind the facade of the “best.” To forget the good and the bad, their intertwining nature, is to forget our origins,

where we have grown so much, with crying, with laughter, with the variety of emotions that have stuck themselves to teenagehood.

Some of us will look back on our high school years and wish ourselves back. We will wish to be sitting in the bleachers during a basketball game, a Pep Rally. We will remember the bad only after reminiscing about the good. Others will look back and be forever grateful that the years of high school are over, remembering first the tears, the bad grades, the fights and embarrassments. After remembering the bad, we will also remember the happy times in our high school lives, recognizing the abundance of growth.

Sydney Stumpf

Editor-in-Chief of Print

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Memoriam

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Obituaries Submitted by Rebeca Pereira and Sara Zakaria.

Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation This year, the History and Social Studies faculty are continuing their support of the Stolpersteine project. We dedicate this page to victims of genocide, as it is important to remember them and their stories. Photos courtesy of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Hilde Verdoner Sluizer

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ilde Sluizer was born on November 28, 1909 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was raised in a middle-class Jewish family and was well integrated in Dutch society.

She excelled in high school, especially languages. After her graduation, she studied homemaking for two years, and then took a job as a secretary in Rome.

At age 24, she returned to Amsterdam, where she married a man named Gerrit Verdoner in December 1933, adopting his name.

After her wedding, she and Gerrit moved to Hilversum, a town in the Netherlands. They had three children: Yoka in 1934, Francisca in 1937, and Otto in 1939.

In May 1930, Germany overran the Netherlands in five days. AntiJewish decrees forced Gerrit out of business. When the Nazis confiscated their home, Hilde and Gerrit escaped to move with Gerrit’s parents in Amsterdam, where the underground helped place their three children in hiding.

Hilde and Gerrit were sent to the Westerbork transit camp, as mass deportations began in the summer in 1942.

On February 8, 1944, Hilde was transported to Auschwitz. She was sent to the gas chambers three days later. Hilde died at the age of 34.

Robert Oelbermann

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obert Oelbermann was born on April 24, 1896 in Bonn, Germany.

In 1919, Oelbermann and his brother Karl founded the Nerother Bund youth group in the Cologne region, which aimed to bring youth closer to nature through camping and hiking. In the group, some homosexual relationships developed and the Nerother Bund accepted these relationships, like the other German youth groups at the time.

When the Nazis took power in 1933, all the independent youth groups dissolved as the Nazis urged the youth to join Hitler Youth. Oelbermann refused to obey the orders and continued with the Nerother Bund. In 1936, he was imprisoned along with 13 other members of Nerother Bund, under the Nazi-revised criminal code, in which paragraph 175 outlawed homosexuality. Oelbermann was one of the more than 50,000 LGBT+ men imprisoned during the Nazi regime.

In 1941, he was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp, where him and the other “175ers” (nicknamed after the paragraph) were forced to wear an identifying pink triangle. The “175ers” were segregated, subjected to harsh treatment, and ostracized by other prisoners.

At age 44, Oelbermann died at Dachau in 1941. Details of his death are unknown.

Mirjana Babunovic Dimitrijevic

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irjana Babunovic was born in Bosnia, Yugoslavia in the year 1921. She was the second of three children, born to Serbian Orthodox parents. She was baptized as a child. She attended elementary school in the multi-ethnic city of Sarajevo.

In secondary school, Mirjana studied foreign languages and toured western Europe. She graduated in 1938. That fall, she studied English and English literature at the University of Belgrade. At the university, she met a man named Radoje Dimitrijevic and became engaged.

She married Radoje in 1940 and

adopted his name.

When the Germans bombed Belgrade on April 6, 1941, Mirjana and Radoje left for Macedonia. Two years later, Mirjana returned to Sarajevo, which was controlled by a pro-German Croatian fascist regime. In 1944, Mirjana, along with her mother and aunt, were arrested because they were Serbian. After refusing to convert to Roman Catholicism, she was deported to Jasenovac, a Croatian-run concentration camp.

Mirjana died in Jasenovac in late 1944, at the age of 23.

Jan-Peter P feffer

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an-Peter Pfeffer was born on May 3, 1934 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father was a German-Jewish refugee and is mother was a DutchJewish woman. His parents were frightened of the rise of the Nazi dictatorship, which lead them to immigrate to Amsterdam.

In 1939, the parents and brother of Pfeffer’s father joined them from Germany.

Pfeffer and his brother, Tommy, grew up speaking Dutch as their main language and often spent time in their mother’s family home in the

country.

In May 1940, the Germans occupied Amsterdam. The occupation did not affect Pfeffer’s life that much, as he was only six years old. However, after his ninth birthday, his grandmother was sent to Westerbork. Six months later, Pfeffer and the rest of his family was sent there as well. During the winter, Pfeffer and his family were sent to a ghetto called Theresienstadt.

On May 18, 1944, Pfeffer and his family were deported to Auschwitz. He was sent to the gas chamber on July 11, 1944. Pfeffer died at the age of ten.

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SPIRIT WEEK 2018 Julie Yu Lead Reporter

S Sophomore Ronald Batista dresses up as the “Walmart Yodeling Boy” for Meme Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

Sophomore Brendan Santos on Wacky Tacky Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

pirit week prepared Malden High School students for the optimistic spirit they were going to encounter at pep rally.

This year the National Honors Society (NHS) came up with two new traditions: Twin Day and Meme Day. Paul Marques, the teacher who runs NHS, stated that the officers initially had the idea to have both Meme Day and Twin Day and met with principal, Chris Mastrangelo, to get the new traditions approved before officially announcing the days of spirit week.

It all started on Thursday, November 15th. Students searched through their closets to find clothing pieces to match with their friends on Twin Day. Seniors placed first, juniors placed second, sophomores placed third, and freshmen placed fourth.

After scouring the internet for their favorite memes, students recreated a variety of different memes on Friday, November 16th. Some student chose to imitate more recent and up-to-date memes while some chose older memes that are still popular today. The final score for Meme Day was seniors in first place, sophomores in second place, juniors in third place, and freshmen in fourth place.

On Monday, November 19th, students chose their most comfortable pajamas and showed their spirit. Not only did many students participate but also many teachers were able to teach comfortably.

As a result, seniors were in first place, juniors were in second place, freshmen were in third place, and sophomores in fourth place.

On Tuesday, November 20th, students got creative and thought of the wackiest and tackiest outfit combination they could think of, from wearing unusual accessories to wearing the brightest most colorful clothing pieces. The final scores for Wacky Tacky

Day were seniors in first place, sophomores in second place, juniors in third place, and freshmen in fourth.

Lastly, Wednesday, November 21st, was Spirit Day or Blue and Gold Day. A majority of students wore their class t-shirts and accessorized with all the blue and gold they could find to show off their school spirit.

Every morning on spirit week, homeroom teachers were in charge of counting exactly how many students participated each day. Marques created a google form that was emailed to all homeroom teachers, and they were instructed to record the number of participants there.

Rebecca Corcoran, the class of 2019 advisor, said that the result of spirit week did not surprise her since seniors normally place first and freshmen normally are in fourth place. She expresses that she does not think it “hit [her] quite yet,” that it was her last spirit week with the class of 2019. She thinks that she will realize the difference next year “when [she] is helping a class opposed to it being [her] own class.” Corcoran stated that “[she] was proud that [the seniors] won” without any inflation of points.

Caitlin Quinn, the class of 2020 advisor, said that she thinks that it is “fun to see a friendly competition between classes.” She stated that she was very confident in the junior class against the other classes and she was proud of their enthusiasm.

Cassandra Poole, the class of 2021 advisor stated that she thinks that the sophomore class has good competition against the junior class, given that there were only been a few participants for each day in her junior homeroom. Poole expressed how she was “looking forward to managing everything” for the sophomore class pep rally, and experience her first spirit week with the class of 2021 Spirit week roused up everyone’s moods and spirits right on time for Thanksgiving.

Sophomores Hossam Braer and Suiyenah Chen matching during Twin Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

Seniors Erica Mei and Mandy Lee on Pajama Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

Junior Patricia Desousa Esteves dressed up as Math teacher Ms. Chan on Wacky Tacky Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

Spirit week: Adrienne D’Agostino’s Italian 2 Honors class on Pajama Day. Photo by Julie Yu.

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MHS MHS Brings Brings on on the the Spirit Spirit at at PepRally PepRally

The MHS dance team performing at Pep Rally. Photo by Brandon Wong.

Camille Nommi Nzepa Lead Reporter

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alden High School held its annual pre-Thanksgiving break Pep Rally, which is organized by the school’s National Honor Society.

Although Malden High School has stuck to its Spirit Week tradition for some time, it switched some things up a little this year. In past years, every grade level, from 9th to 12th grade, has represented their class by gathering their best artists to make a banner under guidelines of a specific theme. This year, only seniors were given that opportunity.

The class of 2019 chose to represent their class with a Disney themed banner.

Although some classes were still in session, activities began in the gym at the beginning of the school

day. Students who had free periods could head down to the cafeteria to get their faces painted with designs such as a tornado to go along with their blue and gold attire to represent Malden High School.

As soon as the gym was set up with the volleyball nets, the spirit teams got right into playing. Seniors ended up placing first in volleyball, with sophomores second, juniors third and freshman last.

The Pep rally officially started with a performance by the Malden High School Band, which was then followed by the singing of the national anthem by the Malden High School Choral Arts Society. From then on, the Pep Rally began.

The Dance Team, which is run

by Blue and Gold reporter Senior Cedrina Missamou, opened the

performances with a combination of current Hip-hop dance trends as well as Afrobeats dancing. The dressed up in all black with different color flannels that were tied at their waists.

The Step Team then took over the gym floor, mesmerizing the students with their matching outfits, which were sponsored by Pitbull, a merchandise company that sells clothing.

Before the final games began, the seniors and captains of the football team were introduced. The crowd hyped them up shouting out the phrase “GO MALDEN BEAT MEDFORD.” Their introduction was accompanied by the cheerleaders’ performance.

After the performances, the class representatives got right into

the competitions. The games were basketball free throw, over-and-under, tug of war, human pyramid and pull ups. Seniors lead in all those events except for the pyramid.

Overall, the seniors won with a total of 42 points, solidifying the reputation that seniors win every year.

Junior Nour Chouiki doing the chin-up. Photo by Brandon Wong.

Class of 2021 and 2022 during the Tug of war. Photo by Brandon Wong.

Senior class setting up the pyramid. Photo by Brandon Wong.

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Local News

The Blue and Gold December 2018

maldenblueandgold.com Beebe School honors veterans with a poster; Aleppo the clown entertains the crowd; Malden resident dressed as a dog salutes paradegoers. Photos taken by Jennica Ruan.

Jennica Ruan Lead Reporter

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his year’s 15th annual Christmas Parade began at the Salemwood School and made its way up to the Malden Teen Enrichment Center.

The parade was accompanied by many other events and was followed by a Christmas tree lighting, then a pasta dinner sponsored by the Malden High School Alumni Association.

Kathleen Manning Hall was the coordinator of the event. The mayor typically emcees the event, but this year Superintendent John Oteri hosted the event. The mayor, however, still enjoyed his time at the parade.

The parade began by welcom-

Malden Hosts 15th Annual Holiday Parade ing the mayor and the Malden Police. Then, the city council members made their way up the stage. Mayor Christenson presented the awards for Grand Marshal to Chris Tkach of Idle Hands Craft Ales, Anthony Decotis of Mixx 360, and Town Line Luxury Lanes. Altogether, they contributed over $20,000 for the renovation of the World War I monuments.

The parade featured floats from all the public schools and many other organizations from Malden.

Each schools’ float was a tribute to veterans and featured the students and faculty of the schools. The school with the best float won a cash prize of $350 for their art department, which the Forestdale school won. Many local businesses con-

tributed to the parade as well. The dancers from Paula Terenzi’s Dance Complex performed a number for the parade. The Aleppo Clowns made another appearance this year as well.

The Malden High cheerleaders did a routine in front of the Mayor, they were accompanied by some members from the football team.

Some recreational sports like the Malden Pop Warner football and cheerleading team and the Diamond Divas youth softball team. The high school band marched in the parade with Senior Ari Cohen as the conductor.

After the floats made their way down Salem street the Christmas tree lighting began at four PM on

the lawn of the Malden Public Library. Senator Ed Markey and his wife Dr. Susan Blumenthal made an appearance at the beginning of the ceremony. The mayor then proceeded to initiate a countdown for the ceremony. This year’s tree was purchased and donated by some of the members of the city council.

Another tree lighting was held at Fellsmere Pond by councilor Craig Spadafora. Santa Claus was there for the children and there was got chocolate and cookies provided for the guests.

The pasta dinner began at five and ended at seven. It was held at Anthony’s with ticket prices ranging from $10-15. There was games, dancing, and many other festivities for families to enjoy together.

The Christmas festivities is a way for the city of Malden to welcome the beginning of the holiday season.

For more photos of the holiday parade, visit www.maldenblueandgold.com or the Blue and Gold Facebook page.

MHS Hosts A Dramatic Reading of Christmas Carol Ana Pirosca Head of Multimedia Bah humbug! Malden High and Mary Ann Seager, in association with Malden Reads, hosted the dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed primarily by teachers from the school as well Mayor Gary Christenson.

After the Holiday parade, Malden held the 15th annual tree lighting ceremony in front of the Malden Public Library. Holiday decorations are then hung on street lights and thus, the holiday season officially begins. In the spirit of the holidays, the timeless classic written by Charles Dickens marks the Christmas season specifically.

Between two and four pm on December 2nd, guests including Malden High students other Malden Residents were able to enjoy the dramatic reading of math teacher Evan Mauser, history teachers Rebecca Corcoran and Ellsworth Fersch, business teacher Benjamin Butler as well as Mayor Christenson.

Each were dressed up with accordance to their character in each section of the story. Mauser took up the first role as Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter man who scorns Christmas and is reminded by the ghost of his coworker about the heavy chains he

is burdening himself with by refusing the spirit of Christmas.

Corcoran took up the role of the ghost of Christmas past, who is the first of the three ghosts, that brings Scrooge to recall his childhood.

Butler acted as the ghost of Christmas present, who shows Scrooge what his friends and family are doing presently. Last of the ghosts, of Christmas future, performed

by Fersch, shows Scrooge’s future, where he is dead and unloved.

Mayor Christenson concluded the reading as Ebenezer learned to be joyous and spread Christmas cheer to everyone.

Among the attendance, the Malden choir sang traditional Christmas songs between sections and concluded the event by bringing everyone to sing along with them.

Additionally, there were cookies and snacks provided for attendees during intermission. There was also a raffle for guests, whose seats’ were dressed with Christmas hats throughout the auditorium.

Evan Mauser has participated in the dramatic reading for the past two years, this year marking his third. He felt “pretty confident” standing on the stage reading aloud to the audience since he thought “[his] first year [he] was slightly nervous,” but now he knew what to

Benjamin Butler, Evan Mauser, Mayor Gary Christenson, Rebecca Corcoran, and Ellsworth Fersch. Photo taken by Ana Pirosca. expect. He also noted how it is like working with teachers from other department, “[teachers] don’t get to see many other [teachers] during the school year,” since meetings are normally held by department “so to work with Mr. Fersch and Mr. Butler… that was nice.”

Though this event is not just an opportunity to work with new people, but also a chance to bring a diverse community together over literature. “We’re just teachers and mayors but then again we are also part of a community, [it is] not just the highschool students that we look to inform or entertain or connect with, but also anyone who is interested in [The Christmas Carol],” said Mauser.

Along the same lines, Asmaa

Asousy, thought that the event “[made] it a little more festive at the school” which is something she believes to be unique to Malden High.

There are so few events in which students get to see their teachers outside of class, but Malden High has held its reputation of including teachers in student events such as Dancing with the Teachers, and Poetry Out Loud.

“It was cool,” concluded Asousy.

From the costumes, to the lighting, to the projections and backgrounds. The spirit of the holiday season has entered Malden High, and opened itself up to the city much like Scrooge opened up his windows on Christmas Day shouting “Merry Christmas!”

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GIVE ‘Tisthe and INCLUDE season to Malden Hosts Red Cross Blood Drive

Camille Nommi Nzepa Lead Reporter

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he American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization which provides emergency assistance. A few of the many events they organize to give back to those in need are blood drives. According to the American Red Cross, there is no limit to the donation of blood. Malden High American Red Cross club members and students and teachers have taken it upon themselves to take part in these donations.

For several years now, the American Red Cross Club has been holding this drive. The Club began with the help of advisor Kristen Kirby and was then passed on to Chris Giordano, Math teacher at Malden High School. A member at the Red Cross, Jalen Galen helped them organize the blood drive.

This year the drive was held on Thursday December 6th in the Finn Gym from 8AM to 1PM. In order to have been able to donate blood only few requirements came along to fully fulfill the donation. Every donor had to at least be 16 years old with parental permission or 18 years old without parental permission with the weight of at least 110 pounds. This is because blood volume is in proportion to your body weight therefore if you were under 110 pounds and had blood removed

you may not be able to tolerate the removal.

President of the American Red Cross Club, Joanne Ho, and Vice President, Erica Mei expressed that this drive is very important to them and what their club stands for. “ [Their] club is a little different in how [they] give back to the community. Instead of doing walks, [they] want to make a direct impact by donating blood to those in need” Ho claimed. All the blood they collect (about a pint from each person, and two units of Power Red) go to local hospitals.

Mei persuaded students to donate their blood to the drive during all lunches Monday December 3rd to Wednesday the 5th. Donator Guanhua Ao signed up and expressed that his reason for donating is that “it is simply the right thing to do” giving back to the community that is.

According to Ho, the blood drives are not the only things that Red Cross participates in. They have participated in food drives as well in the past, but the two blood drives they hold each year are the most important.

Although results of how much blood was drawn from students at Malden High have not come out yet, Joanne Ho states that they will be holding another blood drive in April and hope that more people will step up and get involved in helping out their community.

Choose to Include Arrives at MHS

Ailin Toro Beltran Managing Editor

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hoose to Include is a new initiative being promoted at Malden High School. Its goal is to get students with intellectual and/or physical disabilities more involved in activities around the school.

The person behind this initiative is Stacey Sousa, a Malden High Alumni of 2012. She is a current third year Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate at Boston University. In the final year of the program, students have to take part in an academic practicum in an area of interest. When it came time for her to decide what she wanted to do, she “decided to take part in a practical experience related to health promotion to enhance [her] knowledge and skills and took this opportunity to give back to the Malden community where [she] grew up and went to school.”

Sousa said that one of her main influences was participating in the annual Special Olympics at MacDonald Stadium, which is an event that she “enjoyed and loved.” Sousa started this program with the goal to “demonstrate the capabilities of students with disabilities and the important role they play as members of the Malden community.”

With this goal in mind, Sousa reached out to Malden High, and

Snacks provided by the American Red Cross and Red Cross symbology present at the blood drive. Photos taken by Jesaias Benitez.

faculty members, Barbara Scibelli and Charlie Conefrey, reached out to her. They introduced her to the current programs in place, but she still “wanted to create and implement a program to make further change for students with disabilities and create the foundation to foster greater opportunities.” Conefrey became her mentor, and she says they worked well together, saying he was “open to ideas and willing to help in any way.”

The Choose to Include campaign has already taken steps towards fulfilling their goal. For one, Malden High School partnered with Special Olympics and MIAA to create the Unified Basketball team.

There was also a campaign held on November 14, 2018 which displayed information regarding research related to the benefits of social inclusion, and appropriate use of terminology.

Apart from that, a giveaway of MHS merchandise was held on instagram. Sousa says this was done “to increase participation of students to raise awareness by spreading the word on social media.” Over 70 students participated, and six winners were chosen at random.

Sousa says her overall “vision for this project is for Malden High students to create an inclusive high school where students with disabilities are active members within the Malden community taking part in sports and community service and each individual is respected and treated equally.” She is also “hoping MHS students interested in Special education or who have a similar passion in helping students with disabilities, can take over this project, run future events, and expand available opportunities for social inclusion.”

As far as the ongoing plans with this project, Sousa is currently working on starting a Unified Track team in the Spring, and hopes to create other sports teams including volleyball and football. She also hopes to create a Unified Club where students with disabilities can take leadership roles alongside their peers in inclusive community service opportunities.

For more on this project, follow @ChooseToIncludeMHS on Instagram to see how to get involved.

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Henna Ping Pong Club Tournament at MHS

Jennica Ruan Lead Reporter

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alden High has introduced many new and unique clubs this year. One such club is The Henna Club, which had an information meeting for members to join and learn about the culture behind the club.

The club is run by Juniors Aanchal Kumar (president), and Kayla Cadet (vice-president) with Mary Liberge as the advisor.

Kumar came up with the idea for a henna club due to its importance in Indian culture.

Henna is applied during many important Indian ceremonies like weddings, festivals, etc. She wanted people to “learn more about Indian culture and art.” Cadet hopes the club will be a good learning experience for everyone that is fun.

The officers will teach members “basic techniques on how to apply henna on their hands.”

Kumar is planning to have fundraisers and events in the future for members to be able to volunteer at. The club has come up with ideas to sell henna cones and apply henna on faculty and students, to raise money for the club and its future endeavours.

Cadet’s goal for the club is to “learn and grow in [their] experience.” She hopes by the end of the year, the members will be able to learn enough to apply the techniques in teaching others.

Kumar aspires for the same goal and “for students to learn more about Indian culture.”

As the leading officers of the club, Kumar and Cadet are in charge of teaching “students basic techniques and steps on how to apply henna.” Kumar makes the cones and the henna for the club, as well as buying the merchandise to supply the club.

To join the club, there is a membership fee of one dollar.

Joining the club gives members access to participate in events and activities that the officers will provide. Students who join will be able to practice and learn from each other. Cadet sees the club members as acquaintances helping each other rather than a student, teacher relationship.

Kumar is expecting to “[have] a henna competition and the winner will receive a mystery prize.” She hopes to have the competition by the end of the year. All students are welcomed to join and learn about a new experience.

Cristopher Correa Lead Reporter

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he 5th annual Ping Pong Tournament took place on November 17th in the Malden High Gymnasium, from 8am to 6pm.

The competition was split into four main categories, student teams, adult teams, recreational teams, and open teams. Within these categories it was split into the age divisions for elderly, adult, teen, and kids. In each of these events the top three teams were given medals. In the student competition that the Malden High students competed in they received fourth place, while a team from MATTBC took first.

“Ping-pong playing has been a very popular activity for the Chinese senior citizens in Malden.” says Mei Hung, the Executive Director of Chinese Culture Connection. The concept of having a Ping Pong Tournament began to form eight years ago when a group of Senior Citizens requested that the CCC provide a facility for them to play games of Ping Pong during the off-hours of the Malden Senior Center.

During this time the CCC was housed in the Emerson School Building, and had the use of an auditorium that was suitable for ping-pong playing. The issue was at the time there was no storage space available for the Ping Pong tables.

The solution that was brought to light was that the CCC would create a tournament for the members to participate in.

In 2013, the first Ping Pong Tournament occurred at the Malden YMCA. While the CCC was mainly responsible for the creation of the event, it would not have been possible without the help of seniormember Mr. Feng. Mr. Feng lived in France for about 30 years before coming back to Massachusetts after his retirement to be with his daughter. Feng opened a Chinese restaurant just outside of Paris and in his spare time organized Ping Pong Tournaments that received a great amount of positive publicity, with even local officials taking part in the events.

Feng was extremely important to the establishment and the execution of the first Ping Pong Tournament and it was partly due to his experience that the event ran smoothly during its first year. In addition to Mr. Feng’s involvement, Mr. Yu, an-

other senior member, was also crucial to the Ping Pong Tournament in the last three years, providing useful guidance when it came to organizing the tournament and setting the game metric.

After the first Ping Pong Tournament in 2013, it was decided that the Tournament be held in the Malden High School Cafeteria. This was due to the fact that it was an open space and there was already a Ping Pong Club at Malden High.

“We wanted to encourage intergenerational interaction. And, we thought this would be a great opportunity for the high school pingpong club to interact with the senior members while learning some skills from them” stated Hung. As the event began to grow larger and larger, the past three years the event has taken place in the Malden High Gymnasium. During the first Ping Pong Tournament, there were only fourteen teams, with 56 players in total and by the fourth year, it had doubled to 30 teams and 103 players participating.

This year proved to be the largest turnout yet, with a total of 42 teams and 157 players, whose ages ranged from the youngest at seven years old and the oldest at 76, from Malden and the greater Boston area.

Unlike the earlier Tournaments, the only participates of this event are no longer just Chinese/Asian immigrants and students, the event is now multicultural. The teams now include Asian, American, Russian and Indian teams. This year the MHS Ping Pong Club entered five teams, an all time high for the growing club.

The Chinese Culture Connection will also be hosting a celebration of the Lunar New Year for the year of the Pig on January 26, 2019 at the Jenkins Auditorium from 1-6 PM.

The Blue and Gold December 2018

New Before & After School Director Ana Pirosca Head of Multimedia

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n tune with the new influx of staff, Malden Public Schools welcomed Jenny McGoldrick as the new District Coordinator for the Before and After School Programs on December 3rd.

The position has steadfastly ensured that students in Malden have activities in which to participate outside of school hours.

Some of the activities include homework time, cooking, or reading books, but all have the purpose of enriching students’ lives outside of school.

One of the main goals McGoldrick hopes to reach is to improve the “behind the scenes” of the programs, which would include facilitating registration.

Alongside this, she is looking forward to bringing new clubs to students, finding the ones that are most popular, and making room for new ones by getting rid of more unpopular ones.

After school programs play a significant role in the lives of those who participate in them, as they allow for student enrichment outside of a traditional classroom environment, which, especially through play and fun activities, can enhance students’ learning abilities and creative problem solving, according to Doris Fromberg, a professor and pastchairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Hofstra University. “We do a lot of hands-on activities,” McGoldrick reflects, “it’s not school-like although we do have activities where students are learning.” In the long run, this is seen as beneficial, as students explore their interests in an appealing way, engaging the mind and the body through physical experiences.

What’s more, these programs can be crucial to parents in districts similar to Malden, where the lack of district school buses can make it difficult for some to find an appropriate time to drop off or pick up their children. McGoldrick gives the option of an educational but fun program that grants leeway for hardworking or time restricted parents.

She believes that “it’s an important time when students may not have somewhere to go after school,” she says, “...because [the program] is in the school, it’s also a special thing because some of their teachers also teach after school as well, so they can build relationships with adults, but also have an opportunity to build relationships with peers and keep them safe.”

The Blue and Gold December 2018

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Class of 2020 Prepares to Host 79th Annual Junior Varieties

Rainbow Lions Colors the Extracurricular Scene at MHS Julie Yu Lead Reporter

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Tonijoy Pimental Reporter

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very year for the past 79 years, Malden High school has put on an event full of lively performances, called Junior Varieties or JV’s. This year the class of 2020 has the challenging but rewarding task of putting on this event.

The process so far has been going smoothly, when the 2020 class advisor Caitlin Quinn was asked she said that she is “a little nervous, but very excited as well. [She is] looking forward to playing a hand in students being able to showcase their talents for the community.”

JV coordinator Olivia Santangelo stated that “so far the process hasn’t been too stressful because [they] are only running auditions and picking the theme. However, trying to please everyone and choose a theme that everyone will mostly agree on has been the most stressful so far.”

So far in the planning process for Junior Varieties, the class has already had their audition sign ups which went on from November 13th to November 30th. The class also held their auditions after school from December 5th to 7th. The first rehearsal is scheduled to be held on January 2nd in the Jenkins auditorium.

For this year’s Junior Varieties, the class officers have been working very hard to make sure this year the event goes on with very few to no issues. “Some of the officers goals in order to make JV’s successful is possibly to make certain schedules weekly and check in during [their] meeting in order to monitor [their] process, basically making sure everyone is on the same page and that communication is [their] primary goal,” said JV coordinator Julia Argueta. The class is also already prepared should anything go wrong. “[They] are going to pay someone to standby so [they] can avoid any possible tech issues, and that if [they] have any tech issues [they will] be

able to fix it quickly so the show can go on,” said Santangelo The audience of the 2020 Junior Varieties can expect none less than the great performances seen in years before. The class officers have been very thoughtful in their selection of performances to make sure of that. “This year like any other talent show, [they] have broadened [their] horizons to all types of acts and hope to see a sense of variation,” said Julia Argueta. There is an expected number from 15-20 acts that will perform at the show.

As for the theme ideas they are considering for the 79th annual Junior Varieties, Olivia Santangelo explained that “[they] are still deciding but as of right now [they] are thinking of doing a late night show.” The class is also changing aspects of this show compared to past groups that have put on this event.

This year “the class of 2020 has decided to change things up a bit with [their] theme, setting [them] apart from classes before [them]. [They are] trying to make it less scripted rather much more interactive with the audience,” said Julia Argueta As always the officers as well as the advisor are all very excited and looking forward to putting on this event. “So far the most exciting part for [her] has been the ability to carry out this tradition that has been in Malden High School ever since [her] dad was in High School.

As well as, being able to see all the acts and see the various talents the performers have,” explained Olivia Santangelo. Argueta stated that “with JV’s approaching soon, she “can say that [she is] very excited, yet slightly nervous for what is to come in these next couple months.”

The show is planned to be held on March 8th and 9th, 2019 in the Jenkins auditorium.

ainbow Lions Club is a new and improved version of Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). The new club officially started on September 19th, 2018.

Club President, Ángel Cruz, described the club as “a place where everyone is welcomed.” Co-President, Cheyanne Rivera stated that the club provides “a safe zone for the LGBTQ+ and straight community,” and encourage their members “to express themselves and make new friends while having fun.”

Cruz expressed that ever since middle school he had been excited to join Gay Straight Alliance Club in high school. He explained that he was “very passionate about the LGBTQ+ community and representing them and who they are as people.”

Cruz also mentioned that he “always wished to somehow create a difference for the community.”

As Club President, Cruz organizes and plans upcoming events for club members to attend and participate in. He said that a lot of the time the club members enjoy just being in each others’ presence and talking to each other. Cruz also provides financial help for the club and their activities. As Club Co-president, Rivera is in charge of their social media pages and organizes events and meetings for the club to take part in.

Advisor, Brian Morrison mentioned that the officers and club members have been “looking for opportunities to help the LGBTQ community,” in any way possible.

Recently, during the midterm elections, the officers and members gathered together to hang up “flyers around the school with [their] support for question 3 on the MA state ballot,” stated Morrison. He took over the position as advisor this fall after their previous advisor, Christine Grillon, left to teach at the Beebe School.

Morrison explained that Grillon did “excellent work with the club and raising awareness in the community,” which provided

guidelines and a good example for him, given that it is Morrison’s first year as the club advisor.

The club decided this year they would change the name from “Gay Straight Alliance” to “Rainbow Lions” to remember and thank the former advisor for all that she contributed to the club. Last year, she briefly mentioned that she wanted to “change the name [of the club] to Rainbow Lions,” stated Cruz. They agreed that the name sounded more welcoming and fitting considering the school’s mascot is a lion.

Freshman, Aneiry Cruz said that the Rainbow Lions Club is where students “can be surrounded by people who will support [...] all their decisions.” She expressed that she joined the club because she personally “respects and loves [the LGBTQ+ community] the way they are.”

Freshman, Malachi Farmer explained that Rainbow Lions Club plans events to “help out the general community” and plan fun bonding experiences for the officers and the members.

Freshman, Matthew Scott stated that Rainbow Lions “is a club where [people] volunteer, and address community issues.” Scott also mentioned that their main reason for joining the club was to gather information to educate others.

Sophomore, Tristan Baumgartner describes the club “as a place where people can hang out and be themselves.” He explained that he joined the club because he thought “it [was] a good opportunity to learn about the community that surrounds [him] everyday.”

Senior, Nick Edwards described Rainbow Lions as an “inclusive club for anyone [at Malden High] who is interested in LGBTQ politics, events, protests, rallies, and news.” Edwards expressed that the club was a “safe space.”

The club will be hosting a holiday party very soon in hopes to start people’s winter break on a great note.

The Rainbow Lions Club usually meets on Wednesdays in room B444.

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As You Sabrina Monteiro Head Of Local News

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alden High’s Play Production performed the play As You Like It in the Jenkins Auditorium on December 14th, 15th, and 16th. This year, they took a different approach at the start of a new year with a Shakespearean play, as opposed to the usual musicals.

The play is made out to be humorous and romantic. It is set in Manhattan--The Florist of Arden in Brooklyn, where the two main characters, Rosalind and Orlando— played by seniors Jenna Vanella and Dexter Haag—fall in love when they first meet at a wrestling match. Rosalind assumes a male identity and leaves with characters Celia and Touchstone. As it turns out, Orlando flees to that same place without any knowledge that Rosalind would be there. Throughout the play, there are also disputes between brothers, Oliver—played by senior Nour Tafraoui—and Orlando.

There were many mixed feelings about the play at the beginning.

Most cast members were “nervous” at first about doing this play because they were so used to doing musicals and didn’t feel “suited” to the idea of doing Shakespeare. However, members like Haag, expressed that although “many people were reluctant, because usually Shakespeare is a little difficult to adjust to, but as [they] read it,” they practiced it in a way that allowed the play to “be funny, since people think of Shakespeare as Romeo and Juliet—very dramatic and dower.”

The last time Play Pro perAll photos by Jesaisa Benitez.

formed Shakespeare was in 2016.

The upperclassmen were not a part of the play since they were freshmen at the time, so the play this year was “really new for everyone.” Haag thinks that the cast realized “it [was not] as difficult as [they] thought it was going to be.”

Senior Michayla Moody agrees that “it [was not] fun at first because [she] had a hard time with the language” but it became “fun towards the end,” stating that it was a “good experience’ overall. Moody played the role as Celia and says that playing the role was fun as well. “[She is] really sarcastic and funny so it was something [she] could relate to,” Moody adds.

Moody felt that based on the fact that Shakespeare plays are “not really [her] thing,” she was “definitely proud of [herself] for getting through it.” She thinks she did “pretty well considering that the play was a really hard show.”

Tafraoui joined Play Pro this year and says that so far he “enjoys it very much.” Tafraoui was scared at first because this was his first performance and states that “the only problem was that it was Shakespeare and it was very hard to comprehend the story,” but other then that, he thought it was “fun.”

He thinks his performance changed throughout the three shows because “[he] built confidence” as the audience changed within the three days. On Thursday, the audience was “kind of stiff and there weren’t many laughs,” but on Friday “about half the school went” and had “a lot more cheers,”

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Like It which made him more “energetic.”

Tafraoui also found it difficult to act out his character because he finds himself to be “generally a nice guy” in real life, while his character Oliver was the complete opposite. It “took him a while” and even though “[he] did not think [he] did too great, everyone seemed to have enjoyed it so [he’s] happy.”

Sophomore Ronald Batista, was apart of the ensemble in his first ever performance. Batista expresses that “even though [he] didn’t really have a role this time, [he] still feels the family aspect of it.” Batista says that the cast and crew “all still come together and [they] don’t let you feel like you don’t belong.” He adds that even if you were part of the ensemble, they are “always having you do different things,” so “even if you don’t have a role in the play, you’re still there and you still feel part of the cast.” Batista continues to mention that even though the play was difficult, “[they’ve] come so far from a lot of people not really knowing exactly what [they’re] saying, to now being able to incorporate characters and being able to put humor into the play.”

Sophomore Sandra Rivadeneira, also performed for the first time in Play Pro as the ensemble.

She expresses that the cast members “all invite you with open arms and [they’re] all so nice. [They’ll] also definitely give you advice when you need it so that you can learn.”

Rivadeneira’s thoughts on the play was that she found it really exciting because “ [they] got to do whatever [they] wanted with shakeAll photos by Jesaisa Benitez.

speare and [they] got to choose the kind of jokes [they] wanted to make.” She also mentions that people often do not understand it and so they utilized “physical comedy, where it is similar to a movie and [they] do it so people get what is going on.”

Director, and english teacher, Sean Walsh, says that him and english teacher, Jennifer Clapp, “were looking for a challenging show.

[They] have a lot of upperclassman coming back and they dealt with a show last year that had a lot of hard text and [they] were looking for what incorporated many different elements such as music and opportunities for designers to be creative and open up ideas, while also playing to the directors strengths, which in this case is shakespeare.”

Walsh emphasizes that the cast did “a phenomenal job with a very difficult piece. [He] thought they brought a lot of energy and life to the show. [They] definitely made it their own play in the end and [he is] proud of their performance.” He also says that working with Clapp, has brought “a lot of experience and knowledge. The kids really love working with her and [she is] a great collaborator.”

Play Production will be having two more plays this year, so for anyone interested in going to see them, there will be one in March and another in the spring so look out for fliers when the time comes. As for anyone interested in theatre, there is a green room club that is being re-introduced this year, which is an introduction to theatre.

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The Hate U Give

Book Review

Movie Review

Idriss Touati Reporter

Courtney Fitzgerald Reporter

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he Hate U Give is a novel about a young teenager, Starr, who witnesses he Hate U Give, movie accompaniment to Angie Thomas’s bestselling her childhood friend, Khalil, shot after being falsely accused of having young-adult novel The Hate U Give, has moved many people with its a gun in his hand by the police. After having witnessed her friend’s death, message after it’s release date on October 5, 2018.

Starr enters the world of activism. All the while, Starr is switching worlds With a 23 million dollar budget, screenplay writer Audrey Wells, direcbetween school and home and trying tor George Tillman Jr., and producers to find who she is.

Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Robert When it is announced that the Teitel, were able to create a powerful officer that killed Khalil would not be movie with actors such as Amandla charged with murder, Starr’s neighStenberg, KJ Apa, Sabrina Carpenter, borhood becomes a “riot” zone. Khalil Algee Smith and Regina Hall. The was accused of being a drug dealer movie delivers a powerful message. and a “gang banger” when no one THUG LIFE is an acronym really understood the story of. People and song originally created by 2Pac. seem to have little sympathy for his In this song, 2Pac states The Hate U death because how he was perceived.

Give Little Infants F***s Everybody.

He sold drugs for King, who is the This message is shown throughout the leader of the gang, King Lords because movie in various ways, whether it is his mother was in debt since she stole with the main character Starr’s little money from King. King made everybrother or through gang activity going body think that he was a King Lord on in the neighborhood. This is one of because he put a gray bandana on his the main messages in the movie. The casket which implied he was a crucial movie also represented how racism member of the gang, which he was not. can be shown through young people DeVante is a very vital character and old people today. In the movie and I think without him the story can’t black people and white people are be the same. He comes into the story treated differently and this is shown as as a “second Khalil.” First, he comes in the main character is forced to live two when Starr and Seven (Starr’s brother) very different lives: one with her white are playing basketball while riots friends at school and her black friends were breaking out on the other side in her neighborhood. of town. A Garden Disciple (the rival The movie’s soundtrack fits gang of the King Lords) walks up to perfectly with the action and scenery Starr and Seven with a knife and tries going on in the movie. Most of the to mug them when DeVante (a King songs were slow tempoed and had the Lord) walks up and shows a gun to the effect of showing how serious situaGarden Disciple and tells him to leave tions were. Some of the songs on the which he does. DeVante is not really soundtrack have their own special The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas book cover. Thomas’ book was adapted important then. He later becomes vital meaning behind them, but still relate into film in 2018. to the story when Starr and Maverick back to the message of the movie. (her father) are in the store when it is The movie did have its critclosed. DeVante bangs on the door claiming he is “hungry,” when in fact, ics. Coming from major critics such as The Rolling Stones, Variety, and he is really hiding from King because he stole $5,000 from King so he could The Washington Post, the movie was “Elegantly structured”, “Brilliantly send his mom and his siblings out of town.

Modulated Act between dark and light” and “it is impossible to over-praise Starr goes to a school called Williamson High. This school is primar- Stenberg’s incandescent performance…” ily white. Starr’s parents made her and Seven go to this school because The actors chosen for the movie were the perfect choice. From Amanin Garden Heights there is only one high school which is where you go dla Stenberg to Drew Starkly, I have no doubt there would not have been to get “jumped, high or pregnant”. When she goes to Williamson, she has anyone better to play these roles. The actors held emotion throughout the to change her personality totally from “Hood Starr” to “Classy Starr.” She whole movie and allowed you to feel the emotions with them. And some changes her personality because she doesn’t want anyone to think that she actors were put out of their comfort zones. Sabrina Carpenter, as known is “ratchet.” No one knows that she was the witness of Khalil’s death and from Girl Meets World, where she plays the best friend to Riley Matthews, that she even knew who Khalil was. was casted in this movie as one of the white best friend to Starr Carter, Thug Life is an acronym that is made by Tupac which stands for “The the protagonist. In this movie she was no longer the sweet and troubled Hate U Give Little Infants F**** Everybody.” Thug Life is also a big part in teenager from Girl Meets World but a racist friend toward Starr, and even The Hate U Give. Thug Life means “whatever society throws at us when we though I am sure this wasn’t her first choice of a role, she played it very are kids will come back and bite them in the**”. Not only did Tupac have a well. Actors such as KJ Apa, Regina Hall, Lamar Johnson, and TJ Wright, crucial part in this book, but “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” also had a huge were meant for these roles. Their emotions changed throughout the movie part because the story in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is similar to Starr’s life and as the mood of the scene changed, making your mood and emotion change how she switches personality in the different places she is in. as well.

Many in society today think that everything is fine in the United States In my opinion the movie was a huge success. I was not disappointed, and many are unaware of the social issues that are very much apparent and did not regret spending 12 dollars on a ticket. I had seen the trailer back today. I highly recommend this book for young adults to know what is in July and had thought it looked to be a really good movie, and although really going on in the world.

I hadn’t read the book, I was interested to see the movie. Throughout the I really like The Hate U Give because it tells society to wake up and movie me and my friends had been on the edge of our seats and crying. “smell the coffee”. My favorite character is easily Maverick. He is definitely The Hate U Give was hands down the number one movie you could go the strongest influence in the story. I think that without Maverick, Starr see in theaters right now. I had already thought the move was going to be wouldn’t stand up for Khalil and become who she really is. I think that really good, but after watching it it is no long just a really good move, it is people who think that the world is perfect should read this novel. The im- a captivating movie. portance of this novel is to teach you about problems in the world.

I would recommend this movie to the people who follow the news of injustices carried out by police officers. If you have a strong opinion on this and you have read the book I would suggest you go and watch this movie.

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Meet Cute Book Review Daria Shaw Reporter

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hen you first see the book or hear about Meet Cute, you may be surprised to know that it has fourteen different authors, including Jocelyn Davies, Katherine Mcgee, Nicola Yoon and Ibi Zoboi. The book consists of fourteen short stories, each about “how [two lovers] first met” because “every romance has to start somewhere.”

In a couple of these original short stories, you will find yourself as the main character, for example, the first piece of writing, Siege Etiquette by Katie Cotugno. To create this personal effect, the author uses words such as “you” and “you’re” when describing the thoughts and actions the character is making in the story. The other authors use multiple character perspectives, but you can see the distinct styles in each writing piece.

Meet Cute does not just include the standard storyline of boy meets girl, but it mixes it up with female meets female storylines and one story of a girl named Nia who is struggling at school because she is transgender. In Somewhere That’s

Green, by Meredith Russo, Nia’s preference for the girls’ bathroom causes outrage, but Nia is more concerned about a girl at her school named Lexie. Despite the fact that this is a story about how two people fall in love, it tells a message that appearances are not everything. You have to dive deep to get a sense of who people really are.

Another great writing piece in Meet Cute is Click, by Katherine Mcgee. Click tells the story of two main characters, Alexa and Raden, who are matched on a dating app called Click. It may sound a little cliche or ridiculous, but the two go on a whole trip around the city to find Alexa’s phone, which she had left in a taxi. All of her life work was in a memory card she had nervously been snapping in and out. The ending is shocking but great when the two finally get to talk about something other than Alexa’s phone.

One of my personal favorites out of the fourteen stories would be The Unlikely Likelihood of Falling In Love, by Jocelyn Davies. The main character Samara is more of

a logical person who is very into numbers more than anything else, including love.

What are the chances of passing by somebody on a train and falling in love? What about seeing them several more times? That is exactly what Samara thinks when she passes by Demetrius, which is just a name she makes up for him, since their trains only pass by for a quick second. The author makes it an adventurous story as Samara uses this as her AP math project, in which she attempts to discover the statistical probability of seeing the same person twice on a train. The story is adventurous and huMeet Cute book cover by Jennifer Lynn Armentrout morous as Samara tries et al. The book has fourteen different authors and to find her statistics was published in January of 2018. about Demetrious and love.

Meet Cute is a romance novel and young adult fiction novel, but I highly recommend it to anybody looking for an adventurous and funny book. I have only written about three out of fourteen short stories, all of which are based on “how they first met” with a variety of different writing styles. If this book seems interesting to you, but you don’t plan on buying it, then you can find a copy of Meet Cute at the Malden Public Library.

Behind the POLITICAL Caricatures Carlos Aragon Aldana Reporter

See the November Edition for the Political Caricatures. Also available online at maldenblueandgold.com

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round the beginning of November, at MHS, many students began to notice portraits and caricatures of many well known political figures on the wall in between the cafeterias. These politicians included Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Former Presidents of the United States George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and current President of the U.S. Donald Trump.

These portraits were produced in Studio 2 Honors, one of the art classes Joseph Luongo teaches here at Malden High.

The story of these portraits goes way back to 1979, when Luongo was attending MassArt. The mayor of Boston at the time was Kevin White. His wife, Kathryn White, applied for a job at MassArt, and she was seemingly qualified but she did not end up with the job.

The whole fiasco that came after went like this. Luongo says that “a few weeks later, mysteriously, there was a bill in the house to have UMASS take over MassArt. In other words, close Mass College of Art, and make it essentially, the

art department of UMASS Boston.” portrait and one caricature.” The Luongo says one of the standHe says that “no one could ever portraits were graded on things like out portraits for him is the one of prove it, but most people agree that proportion, value, contrast, likeness, Robert Mueller, due to it being the reason why they wanted to close and the same things for the carica- “very complex.” However, he also it was because Mayor Kevin White’s tures. He also says that the “formal appreciates the one of Charlie Baker wife didn’t get the job.” portrait had to be in pencil, but the because it’s “very simple and very The president of the school at caricature could be in any medium well done” and that it looks “just the time, decided that he would stop or color.” like him.” this from happening by proving MassArt’s value. He did that by loading a train with about 40 students and then letting them loose in the halls of Congress where they did portraits and caricatures of a bunch of the well known Senators and the Congressmen there.

With Senator Ted Kennedy and House Speaker Tip O’Neill’s help, the students got to talk to other Senators from states other than Massachusetts, and they got to draw them. When the kids arrived at the school, they had a show with the drawings done of the Senators. The show put the college in a positive light. A few weeks later, the bill just became consigned to oblivion.

In the class Luongo says that the students had to draw “one “Stuff Students Say”, a comic by Carolina Cuevas.

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Christmas Playlist Roxane Leon Reporter

Makesha Mercedat Reporter

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ith Christmas trees decorated, tinsel hung and houses brightly lit, Christmas has come faster than we expected. And one essential element of the holiday season is a Christmas playlist. This Christmas playlist has everything from songs reaching back into the 1950s, such as Rockin Around The Christmas Tree, to modern day pop songs, like Santa Tell Me. These songs will most certainly make your days merry and bright for the Christmas season!

For the full playlist go to maldenblueandgold.com

1) White Christmas - Pentatonix feat. The Manhattan Transfer Pentatonix and The Manhattan Transfer have turned White Christmas into their very own song, a new twist on a classic. These acapella groups added harmony, scats and beatboxing to this timeless song.

All these elements made the song an even more modernized Christmas tune with a jazzy feel to it.

The Grinch (2018): Tyler the Creator Review T

he Grinch is the latest movie released by Illumination Entertainment, the animation studio that brought us movies such as the Despicable Me franchise and The Secret Life of Pets. The Grinch is the 3D reimagining of the classic film, which has been reimagined innumerous times as both cartoon specials and live action movies. Danny Elfman composed the film’s score, which includes a song written by rapper, actor and music video director Tyler Okonma, more commonly known as Tyler, The Creator, called “I Am The Grinch.” Tyler also collaborated with Elfman a new version of the classic song “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”. He also went ahead and released an EP in November, featuring artists Santigold, Jerry Paper, and Ryan Beatty. None of these songs appear in the movie.

Tyler, The Creator is known for

The slow start and crescendo as it continues creates a great dynamic range.

2) Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is an “old tradition” according to Genius, and was sung by 13-year-old Brenda Lee in July. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree was released two times, once in 1958 and once in 1959, and by 1960, the song was #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. This Christmas masterpiece always be a hit.

3) All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas was released on November 1, 1994, at the peak of her career with 1 Million copies sold in the UK. This Christmas classic song is sure to get you excited for the holiday with its upbeat rhythm and drums playing in the background.

4) What Christmas Means To Me - Stevie Wonder What Christmas Means To Me was originally written by Allen Story, Eric Henson, Michael Biancardi, Anna Gordy Gaye and George Gordy. It was covered by many singers, one of them being Stevie Wonder. This covered Christmas song was released in 1967 and is definitely a song that should be on everyone’s playlist. With jazzy saxophones, deep bass guitars and jingle bells playing in the background, it will for sure get you dancing.

5) Jingle Bell Rock - Cast of Glee The Glee cast’s rendition of Jingle Bell Rock succeeded in making this classic a modern, upbeat track. The Christmas classic turned into a pop song by just adding a little more vocal harmony and some more beats making it more appealing to younger listeners.

6) Baby it’s Cold Outside - Michael Bublé & Idina Menzel The Christmas classic Baby it’s Cold Outside was originally released in 1953. Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé performed a cover of this classic and released it in 2014, an iteration with a more classy vibe, very different from the original country holiday song, but equally festive.

7) Santa Tell me - Ariana Grande The pop song Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande was released on November 24, 2014, and is guaranteed to make your Christmas even more festive.

With jingling bells and hyper drums, the song will most likely get you dancing or at least bopping your head. Either way, it’s the best pop song to put on your Christmas playlist to usher in the holiday season.

his creative and innovative twists to his music and has put forth popular albums such as Flower Boy, Cherry Bomb and Wolf. This 6-track holiday inspired EP sticks out in his discography, though it still contains the alternative elements characteristic of the music he normally releases.

Whoville: The EP starts with the song Whoville, which refers to the name of the town of Whoville from the classic Christmas story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” This track is mostly with what sounds like Tyler, the Creator playing the piano. Later in the song, the piano is accompanied by a xylophone, trumpets and strings creating a whimsical holiday jazz sound that places you right in the middle of Whoville at Christmas.

Lights On: This next track, slightly more upbeat and features singers Santigold and Ryan Beatty with Tyler rapping. The two singers trade off verses, singing about coming home to loved ones on Christmas, beating all the flight delays, heavy traffic and snow (“Snow is falling, it’s on the ground / First delayed but it’s cancelled now / Late to the train broke myself off / Am I getting closer? / Now am I getting closer?”). There are synthesizers, an instrument frequently used by Tyler, The Creator. This is personally my favorite track in the whole EP, because it reminds me of Elvis Presley’s classic track “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, and it makes me want to throw on an ugly Christmas sweater. Believe me, it might make you want to do that too.

Hot Chocolate: Tyler, the Creator has said it plain and simple in a tweet: “a song about, hot chocolate”. He raps over the same instruments used in the first track Whoville but played in a different rendition, about, you guessed it: hot chocolate. Hot Chocolate features singer, songwriter and producer Jerry Paper. In the song, Tyler prefers 2% milk, a sprinkle of cinnamon and whip cream in his hot chocolate. Oh, and don’t forget the marshmallows!

Big Bag: “Could you please tell me what you know about skippin’ 24, 25 / ‘Cause your mom was at her 9-to-5 / Still stacking up the dough…” raps Tyler in “Big Bag”, the fourth track in the song. This lyric might strike a sensitive cord for some whose parents aren’t home for Christmas due to work like Tyler’s mother. The song also mentions Max (“Big bag, fill ‘em up with the produce / Quick, fast, big Max with the big bag, I throw ‘em”) which is the Grinch’s dog and accomplice while trying to steal Christmas in Whoville.

When the Gloves Come Off: Ryan Beatty returns to the EP in the second to last track with Tyler, The Creator. Beatty serenades us about the sudden chill of winter once the gloves comes off. Chills really ran down my spine listening to his haunting voice against the musical track that is similar to Whoville and Hot Chocolate.

Cindy Lou’s Wish: And to finally top this Christmas tree off, we have Cindy Lou’s Wish. This song refers to the character Cindy Lou Who, the girl who witnesses the Grinch stuffing the tree up the chimney. This jaunty final track is simply instrumental, just like the first, and it consists of piano, and organs played in a happy, concluding style as if it could be played at the end of the movie.

The Blue and Gold December 2018

Entertainment

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Yasmine Alayan Reporter

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s someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Christmas movies have been my way to relate to everyone who does and learn more about the holiday. It has become something I look forward to doing every December.

When Netflix came out with A Christmas Prince last year, I was unable to get to it simply because of the huge list of other movies I wanted to watch. But this year, I finally got around to watching it.

I can simply state that if you want a cute, light-hearted, Christmas romantic movie that you can binge watch, this is definitely it.

From the very beginning, the two main characters can already be placed in the OTP ship and be sent off into the Atlantic. Their relationship was like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry if Meghan Markle was a journalist and Prince Harry was in line to become King.

The movie follows an ambitious American journalist, Amber Moore, who was stuck mopping up editorial pieces for a magazine company

A Christmas Prince: Movie Review

until she finally got her big break.

She is assigned to go to Aldovia (not a real place) to dig up all the dirt on the irresponsible playboy Prince, who is also rumored to be planning to abdicate his father’s throne a year after his father’s death. The Prince’s coronation is set to be on Christmas Eve and the media is constantly trying to learn more about the Royals, trying to find some big story. The press meeting she was originally assigned to backfires, but the determined journalist sneaks into the Castle and conveniently gets mistaken for Princess Emily’s tutor, the Prince’s little sister. Princess Emily, who suffers from Spina Bifida, acts pretty bitter and feels she is treated like porcelain by everyone including her family. But after meeting Moore the princess finally finds a person to confide in and someone to actually have fun with not treat her like an expensive glass ornament.

Moore meets Prince Richard and is surprised by the person she meets. Throughout the movie, the two slowly but surely began to get closer. Moore’s mission switches from finding dirt on the royal family to dedicating herself to finding out the truth. Sketchy acts by The

Prince’s cousin, Simon, cause eyebrows to be raised and, Lady Sophia, the Prince’s ex-girlfriend, comes running back to Prince Richard hungry to become his wife and along with it, the Queen. Moore attempts to find the scoop while trying to balance pretending to be someone else.

Following the formula of most cliche movies, decisions made by the protagonist with the best of intentions end up coming back to haunt her.

A Christmas Prince had a common lesson that taking a risk in life can be rewarded and you can only find your real purpose in life when you strive away from normal and take on the uncomfortable. The movie did a wonderful job to remind the people watching that regardless to how many interviews, articles, or any type of media out there, you still don’t really know the people you see on those platforms and you can’t really decide what type of person they are that until you meet them.

Because for the most part, the media is more interested in creating an eyecatching headline, then finding out the truth that may not be as interesting. But most of all in true Christmas spirit, A Christmas Prince conveys the importance of family and that

true meaning behind it. And that the people in your life will love and support you through everything regardless of how difficult that is for you as well them.

As a holiday movie, it is very warm. I don’t wanna reveal too much but if you’re looking for a cheesy romantic movie but with a lot of heart, then you should definitely watch it. And if you love Christmas movies, this would be perfect for you. It’s not too slow and the build up was actually really nice.

The writing was really fluid and the acting was well done. The Movie also featured some well-known names like Rose Mciver as Amber Moore who can also be recognized as Tinkerbell from Once Upon a Time and Liv Moore from iZombie.

It also stars Ben Lamb as Prince Richard who some may recognize as Anthony Rivers in The White Queen, Owen Case in Now You See Me 2. It is a great movie to sit down with friends and family and watch together. I would definitely suggest adding it your watchlist on Netflix and when you finish it make sure you check out the sequel released this year, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding.

Top 10 Holiday Movies of All Time Sydney Stumpf Editor in Chief of Print Rebeca Pereira Editor in Chief

Carlos Aragon Aldana Reporter

Sure, Christmas gifts and spending time with family is great and all, but we tend to overlook the true star of Christmas: the movies. There is something about the way a Christmas movie makes you feel that gets you into a holiday spirit so extreme that it is impossible to shake. Here are our Top 10 Favorite Christmas movies of all time.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Whether the original cartoon version or the Jim Carey remake (jury is still out of the 2018 Grinch movie), How the Grinch Stole Christmas never fails to bring the holiday cheer. Discovering the true meaning of Christmas, the Grinch tells the eternally funny tale of a Grinch who’s heart grows three sizes with the help of the festive Whos of Whoville.

2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: A classic, Santa Claus is Coming to Town never fails to cheer me up. Hopper the Penguin, the Winter Warlock, are some of the best characters in any movie. The love story between Kris Kringle and Jessica is the icing on the cake in this movie from 1970.

3. Elf: Elf is one of those Christmas films that is pretty much universally known. Who hasn’t watched Elf? Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human who was raised on the North Pole and believes that he’s an Elf. When he finds out that he’s a human, he goes to New York to find his dad, and build a relationship with him. He ends up building a relationship with his half brother and falling in love with a woman. Will Ferrell provides tons of laughs, and the movie is just really fun to watch.

4. The Polar Express: The Polar Express is a pretty weird film. It centers around an unnamed boy, that did not write a letter to Santa Claus that year, who wakes up in the middle of the night to find a train outside his house.

The conductor offers him a chance to tell Santa in person what he wants, and the boy agrees. He boards the train and makes friends along the way to the North Pole. The movie is still well remembered and watched today because of it’s themes of Christmas spirit and belief, and it’s slick animation.

5. Home Alone: This classic comedy is as much a Christmas fixture as caroling and lights are. Home Alone tells the tale of eight-year-old Kevin

McCallister’s (Macaulay Culkin) antics as he is left to fend for himself, having been forgotten by his family on their holiday trip. His outlandish contraptions and ingenious plans help him thwart the schemes of two conmen, portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Adults and children alike are sure to enjoy this film.

6. The Santa Clause: The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen, is absolutely outstanding. After Santa Claus falls off of his roof, Scott Calvin transforms in Santa Claus, growing fat with a white beard. His son, Charlie, urges him to embrace this role, while Scott’s ex-wife and new psychiatrist husband criticizes his choices to “pretend” to be Santa Claus. The Santa Clause continues on with two other movies, neither coming close to the cheerful movie that is the original.

7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Another classic, this 1964 special, highlights everything Christmas-y and wrong about today’s society. An outcast, Rudolph befriends another misfit, Hermie the Elf, who wants to be a dentist. Dodging the Abominable Snowman, Rudolph and Hermie venture out to the Island of Misfit Toys in this feel-good classic.

8. A Christmas Story: We have all seen the scene where Schwartz is dared to stick his tongue on the frozen pole and being left outside by his classmates. The fear induced by this scene, the fear created by the Mall Santa scene are ingrained in our memories forever. Highlighting a funny approach to a Christmas, Ralphie and his family navigate a Christmas, relatable to us all.

9. A Charlie Brown Christmas: A timeless animation, A Charlie Brown Christmas follows the Peanuts cast as they help Charlie Brown discover the true meaning of Christmas. Struggling to shed his winter blues, Charlie Brown learns to celebrate the biblical origin of Christmas through friendship, carols, and original tunes including “Christmas Time is Here.” The 1965 Christmas Special is beloved by many generations and is certain to make your Christmas brighter.

10. Holiday in Handcuffs: This lesser known film airs on Freeform pretty much every year, never failing to bring me to putting on my pajamas and watching Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez experience the strangest Christmas ever. Trudie kidnaps David when her boyfriend breaks up with her, and, not wanting to disappoint her parents on Christmas, brings David to her family’s home, portraying him as her long-time boyfriend.

Opinion

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Should Capital Punishment Be legal in the united states?

Like most issues in Twenty-First Century America, the issue of capital punishment’s legality is polarizing. The question of whether or not capital punishment should be legal is a loaded question, with several dependent factors that come into play. In this edition, an editorial staff member is taking the affirming view to the question while Sydney Stumpf takes the opposing view. The views represented below may not necessarily reflect the authors opinions. Let us know your opinions on the issue at maldenblueandgold.com.

Yes Sydney Stumpf Editor in Chief of Print

The Blue & Gold Editorial Staff

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n July 1992, Person A, who was then 20 years old, shot and killed 29-year old Theresa Rodriguez for just $2,000. He was hired by the victim’s husband and brotherin-law, both looking to cash-in on her life insurance.

On November 1994, Person B, then 24 years old, kidnaped 23-year old Stacy Errickson and proceeded to rape and strangle her. He then buried her body in a shallow grave in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

On April 1994, Person C, attempted to rob a fast-food restaurant in Alabama. During the robbery, he opened fire on four people, killing three of them.

These were the incriminating deeds of three of the 23 inmates executed in the United States in 2017 (Death Penalty Information Center).

From learning more about each of these criminals, please forgive me for not shedding tears for any of them.

I understand the very concept of capital punishment challenges each of our morals and deep-rooted beliefs. I even sympathize with the sentiment many hold about the death penalty, citing it as an unusually cruel penalty. But I beg to differ, and in no way will I sympathize with the murderers and rapists on death row.

The death penalty is needed and reserved for those who commit the most heinous of crimes. These are the worst of the worst, the filthiest of the filthy, and the most inhumane humans. To put it simply, the death penalty ensures that the gift of life is no longer granted to those who would violate humanity itself.

A mass-murder or a child rapist loses all their claim to humanity.

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 in Gregg v. Georgia, 1,481 people have been executed in the United States (CNN). And as of April 2018, there were 2,743 prisoners on death row.

It is undoubtedly true that there are problems with the way the death penalty is enforced currently in the United States. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, “since 1973, more than 160 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence.”

However, the number of executions that have been carried out has also declined since 1999, when it reached

No

a peak of 98. This suggests that there is a thorough review process, backed up by the fact that it takes years, and often decades, for death sentences to be actually carried out.

Many point to the possibility that someone who is executed may be innocent as a reason why the death penalty should be abolished.

However, for what it’s worth, none of the executed prisoners since 1976 have been granted posthumous exonerations. In addition, this is where the extensive trial and appeal process is so important. To ensure that justice is served, due process needs to be upheld to it’s highest regard.

As Michael Hanisse, Deputy Attorney General of Los Angeles County, points out: “Those in support of abolishing the death penalty point to the possibility of an innocent person being executed... The innocent can take solace in knowing that a unanimous jury of 12 citizens must render the death verdict after an exhaustive trial where the accused murderer is represented by two highly competent attorneys and overseen by an independent judge who ensures a fair trial.”

In addition, many proponents of abolition also cite studies that suggest the death penalty is in fact more burdensome on the taxpayer than a life sentence. However, as American Attorney, Robert B. Evener, highlights, many of these studies fail to factor in the money that is being saved by how much the existence of a death penalty leads to guilty pleas by defendants looking to avoid being executed.

“Claimed ‘cost studies,’ often performed by or at the behest of death penalty opponents, are frequently so incomplete as to be false and misleading...The existence of the death penalty as a possible sentence leads to guilty pleas that save the money spent on trials and limit the opportunity for appeals.

Without the death penalty, criminal defendants and their lawyers will roll the dice and force prosecutors to try many more cases at very great expense to the taxpayer.”

If anything, justice requires for the death penalty to be reformed, not abolished.

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n thirty American states, capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is legal. In the other twenty states, including Massachusetts, it remains illegal. Dating back decades, the implementation of the death penalty has been brought into question. Favored largely by Republicans and reviled by a large number of Democrats, the future of the death penalty nationally remains unsure.

The death penalty is typically reserved for persons who have committed (or accused of committing) violent and homicidal crimes.

In right-wing states like Texas, the number of people who stand on “death row” is the highest. The most prominent issue and contradiction with the death penalty, is that between the issues of abortion and the death penalty. As most Republicans hold certain views on abortion and on the death penalty, it is most often contradictory. The argument of the Right is that abortions “kill babies” and thus should be illegal. As a Leftleaning person, I see this contradiction and feel it unfair for the Right side to hold these opposing views.

I do not believe that an abortion can be associated with killing a person.

If it is immoral to “kill babies” then why are those morals about the right to life thrown out when it comes to capital punishment?

The other side may feel the same way about the Democrats’ positions on either issue. Many agree with the legality of abortion, and many disagree with the prominence of capital punishment in America.

From a Republicans point of view, it may seem as though Democrats are being just as hypocritical. They believe in the legality of abortion and yet many believe that the death penalty is unacceptable. The differences in beliefs cause the perception of hypocritical information on either side.

To talk about the death penalty without the issue of abortion included, is leaving out a major component to either side’s argument. However, the inclusion of the abortion issue is also adding a new dimension of complication to the death penalty question. The question breaks the mold of standard Right/Left polarity.

Capital Punishment should be illegal in the United States because the role of government does

not include the killing of criminals.

By killing the violent criminals in the United States, the government is acting in the same ways as they had, disregarding motivation. The “eye for an eye” way of conducting government and criminal punishment in the United States is something outdated, unacceptable in 2018.

The implementation of the death penalty, leaves much room for miscommunications or mistakes.

The number of incarcerated black men is greater than the number of incarcerated white men, leaving the opportunity for bias to come into play in determining guilt and sentencing. If people of color are more likely to get arrested, by the same logic, they are more likely to be the men and women on death row at any given point. The penalty also leaves room for innocent persons to be convicted, sentenced, and killed, at the hands of the government. With a set timespan between conviction and execution, there is hardly enough opportunity for the recognition of innocence.

Everyone’s emotional responses to acts of violence, such as mass shootings, such as acts of terrorism and murder, is to wish death upon the criminal. It is important in the United States, to not let kneejerk emotional reactions to dictate the laws in which people are allowed to live or die. It is with a logical, timely response that takes into consideration public opinion, finances, and morale. It is through careful consideration that courts may decide to create unbreakable sentences, lasting until the natural death of the criminal in question.

Even in our emotional responses, many of us may initially think that we want the criminal in jail forever, never to leave the prison gates.

For these reasons, the question, I believe, of the death penalty, should hardly be a question at all.

Beyond a Republican and Democrat issue, this complex event should never take place in the United States of America. The foundations on which America stand, go directly against this practice. For it is not the government’s role to “play God”, just as it is not the rights of the common criminal to do so. To act in such a manner is unacceptable in modern society.

Sports

The Blue and Gold December 2018

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INDOOR TRACK

SWIM TEAM

Michelle Yin Lead Reporter & Designer

W Sara Zakaria Head of Sports News

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The Girls Indoor Track group running against Winthrop and Peabody. Photo taken from the 2017-2018 archives.

hile Malden High students returned to school after the Thanksgiving break, many also started the 2018-2019 season of their winter sport. For those in Indoor Track, the new season also ushered in a feeling of a new beginning, with high hopes for the season both in their races and in their sportsmanship.

Tryouts began and concluded last week, which brought in several new runners to the team. According to Junior Angelina Schorr, the new members of the team are “excited, hardworking” and most importantly “ready to put in the commitment.” Schorr states that she “cannot wait” to get closer to all the new members and hopefully see her as “someone that is always willing to support and help them.” Junior Isabella Machado adds that the new team members have been “pretty great actually,” showing “lots of hard work” at tryouts.

Last season was marked by the amount of talent the team had, according to Junior Omar Asousy. The team had “good runners, throwers, and jumpers in every event.” The highlight of the season last year was how the girls team managed to beat Peabody, one of their prominent rivals.

But for every high, there were

notable lows. Schorr says that there was considerable division in the team, with the “throwers, sprinters, and distance [runners]” forming their own cliques. Tensions also grew between some of the runners, according to Schorr. This year, the team hopes to “dissipate those tensions” and “remember to support one another no matter what.” There was also too much dependence on the seniors, who graduated last year, according to Asousy.

The team’s goals for this season to “create a better connection” amongst themselves and “be more friendly with one another,” Schorr says. Track is a “family” to Schorr, so making everyone feel included is imperative to the team. Asousy says that the boys team are aiming for six wins out of seven, “just like [they] did last year.” His personal goals is to get first place in “most of [his] races” and to “break 4:40 in the mile and 2:43 in the 1000 meter.”

Likewise, for Machado, her goal is to have a personal record of “at least 5:35 for the mile” and “maybe even beat the school record.” Schorr aims to “keep hitting faster times” while also getting new personal records in her events.

The Indoor Track team is ready to sprint into the season.

Coach DeVincentis shaking hands with senior Olivia Forestier. Photo by Carlos Aragon Aldana.

ith the new season starting for the Malden High School swim team, all players within the team are anticipating the upcoming season and are striving to make this season better than the previous seasons.

Senior captain Joanne Ho mentions that the team goals for the season are to “get more swimmers to qualify for states and sectionals” as well as to just enjoy the season and have fun. Senior captain Sebastian Romani states that his goals for the season is to uphold their previous year records especially with the new season, adding on to that he hopes that the team will “maintain the same or more athleticism as last year.”

Ho claims that although the team is gaining new members with different talents, they are also lacking “versatility.” To combat this, the captains have been experimenting with new members as well as returning members, placing them in events that they are not that accustom to.

Although the team is strong as a whole, there are still obstacles that they need to get over. Considering that the MHS swim team does not have a diving team, there is already a disadvantage for the team before the meets even start, since other swim teams that have divers can use points earned at diving competitions in their swim meet. Despite this, Ho explains that the team “[does not] let the fact that [they are] losing before a meet begins to hinder our performances in the water.”

Ho is looking forward to the Medford meet, considering that “Medford is [their] rival and it is always a fun meet.” Romani is look-

ing forward to the Danvers meet since “last year [they] lost due to the technicality.” Senior captain Kevin Ochoa mentions that he is also excited for the Danvers meet since it is a home meet this year. He feels that the team has a chance to “get them back for the loss they handed [the team] last year.” Ochoa describes the Danvers meet last year as “the most exciting meet of the regular season.”

Romani includes that although the team has lost two important seniors last year, Pete Jinapin and Dylan Ha, the team is striving this season to make new memories, along with the seniors attempting to break school records. The team also has many new members that the captains gave shout-outs to, who are Tony Giech, Chloe Akombi, and Abby Tang, as they have already been competing and training with the Malden Crocs, the YMCA swim team. The captains said that the trio already became important members of the team, “fitting right in” and they are all “extremely talented.”

Both Ho and Romani state that the team is really tight-knitted and are really comfortable with one another. The team has already had two games, and they have won both. On December 11, the team had a game against Salem ending the meet with a win. Malden won almost every event, David Lombardi, Tony Giech, Kevin Ochoa, Haoxi Wang, Chloe Akombi, Kevin Sathapornchaisit, Ryan Vasili, Sebastian Romani and Tony Luu all held first place with the events that they participated in.

With the two successes in mind, the team strives to make this season count.

The MHS swim team. Photo by Carlos Aragon Aldana.

Sports

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MHS Cheerleaders Make it Far and Set Set New New Goals Goals and Jemisha Syliant Head Copy Editor

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s the cheering season comes to an end, the MHS Girls’ Cheering team are ecstatic having advanced to states. The team placed first in division one out of the whole league as well making regionals in which they placed second in the whole league. On November 18th, the girls will go to nationals hoping to do well.

Senior Captain Jordan JeanPierre explains that this season overall has been full of hard work but the team has overcome many goals n which she says took “determination.” She continues to say that without every single member on the team, their goals would not “have come true.”

Similarly, junior Shante Simon concludes that this season has been the best season that the team has ever had as she say that her and her The Malden High Cheer team made it to the national competition this year, ending the season strong. Photo submitted

by Shante Simon. teammates “click better together.”

Junior Amy Ngu adds on by explaining how she has had a good “put together” and have a “better that the goal was going to states becoming a positive member on feeling from the start mainly due to bond” which made the season “flow for competition in which she says, the team as she describes how she the teammates having a closer bond easier.” “hardship work payed off and [they] always remained positive prior to as a whole and the fact that they Ngu describes how this season, got what [they] wanted.” becoming captain but her increased were closer which she says, “helped there was a new “vibe” as well. She Jean-Pierre adds that overall the role on the team encouraged her to [them] through a lot.” continues to explain that despite this team performed their best through- raise her attitude.

Junior Ashley Stelmach beseason having the same members, out the season explaining despite Ngu continues to explain overlieves that this has in fact been their new bonds and relationships were what came their way whether it was all she does not regret anything and best season they have had at MHS made. an injury or issue, when they hit the believes they did the best they could which resulted in them making it to Simon believes that skill wise, mat, they would not let that distract as she says “[she] feels good about states as well as growing a bigger the team has tremendously im- them from reaching the goals they it.” bond with everyone amongst the proved in which they had reached set.

The girl’s MHS cheering team team. their goal which was to make it to As for improvements, Jean- looks forward to further improving As for competition, Simon constates. In agreement, Ngu also adds Pierre improved her attitude while their skills in the upcoming season. tinues to explain that she was very “happy” with the outcome. Similarly, Ngu explains how in the the beginning of the season, they were all asked about a goal and now that the season is coming to an end, she believes completion wise, her and her teammates were able to reach the goal they all wanted from the start. She continues to explain how the team has made history as it has been more than 20 years since the MHS cheering team made it this far.

Stelmach describes how she felt excited because they beat teams that they envied last year. Simon also mentions how she was in shock at first because they had been going against teams who beat them by thirty points in the previous season.

She states, “for us to come back and beat those teams was so exciting.”

Ngu describes how she was Neden Bernadid filled with joy from the achieveLead Reporter ments that her and her teammates alden High’s class of 2021 hosted their first an- class of 2017. Northrop explained the aspects of the were able to accomplish. She also nual dodgeball tournament last Monday at the tournament, they decided to “modify it into [their] describes how excitement “rushed” Finn Gym, starting at 2:45 and concluding at around own version to make it a lot easier” as stated by Presithrough her body.

4pm. Students had until the ninth of November to dent Harriet Shane Gerochi.

Similarly, Stelmach believes registered their teams at $35 per a team of eight. TickFor each round, there are 12 balls lined in the that this season, the team is more ets to observe the tournament were just two dollars middle of the field and both teams stand on the opand all the proceedings went to the class of 2021. posite sides of the gym. Once they are instructed to go (Left to Right) Junior, Milton HernanOriginally, the idea was based off of the class of by the referee, they must grab as many balls to take dez, Seniors, Jennifer Crespo, Agatha 2017, who hosted the event before, and so the sopho- the opponents of the other teams. In order to throw Silva, Fidel Laurena, Max Batista, Kathmore class officers sought help of guidance counselor the ball, they must stand behind the white line. erin Machado, Jill Tramondozzi prepare Heather Northrop, since she was the adviser for the Gerochi added that one of the modifications that to play. Photo by Neden Bernadid.

Class of 2021 Hosts Dodgeball Tournament

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Sports

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Girls Middle School Basketball League

Above: The girls middle school teams playing a scrimmage against each other. Right: and a Beebe school 8th grader going in for a layup. Photos by Lulu Harding

Olivia Donahue Reporter y far, one of the most popular sports played, basketball is a competitive and exciting sport, a sport played all over the world.

Basketball is one of the most important winter sports at Malden High School; home games are always a big hit and attract a large crowd of high school and middle school students. Many look forward to playing when they get to high school, but is there a way that we can warm up future players earlier on?

The Malden Public Schools Inner City Basketball League allows for middle school students, grades 6-8, who will be attending high school within the next few years, to have some early on experience in the sport of basketball. In this league, young players have the opportunity to learn the game and develop teamwork skills that will allow them to

mentally connect better on the court.

This league provides two teams, one for boys, and one for girls.

Girls’ basketball coach, Yasmine Alayan, a member of The Blue and Gold, states that “[she is] looking forward to seeing what students have to offer compared to last year when we were dealing with a completely different group of students, all of which brought different talents to the team.”

Students join this program to learn the sport, but what they learn does not get to in depth into all of the aspects of basketball. Alayan states “[she likes] to see what [players] already know, but it is important to focus on the basics. [Players] need to know how to dribble, pass, and shoot to be able to play basketball.”

Being a basketball player herself, and having to perform and complete strenuous drills, Alayan says “[players] are still learning,

but [they] have to start somewhere.

So sometimes trying to get them to understand and complete the drills [Alayan teaches] them can be difficult, considering they don’t all have a wide range of basketball vocabulary. But they do have a couple of drills down, so [she likes] to make those drills more intense for them to improve their skills.”

Many of Malden High’s best players, past and present, have all had to start somewhere. Not everyone is born with skill. It is important to get a head start, especially to be

able to make goals for yourself and to gain skill, to try and overcome what you already know.

Alayan has some goals for her team as well, she indicates “[she would] like them to have more fun with the game itself. Lots of the players take it too seriously, it is supposed to be fun not torture.”

Through the efforts of fellow teammates and coaches, this league is a great way for young players to be able to open their eyes to basketball, regardless of whether they have any prior knowledge.

they made was limiting down the number of jailbreaks. A jailbreak is when an individual is able to catch the ball and got all the others to came back into the game. They cut most of that out due to a concern of the rounds dragging out for too long.

The group of students that won the entire tournament went by the name of Dirty Dodgers that consisted of seniors Samantha Duragano, Gustavo Silva, Kevin Phan, Antonio Ferreira, Hamzah Halaissi, Cristobal

Marey, Douglas Oliveira and junior Shruti Pokharal.

All of the Maldonian Yearbook Staff including Duragano “wanted to come together as a group and have a nice, fun bonding experience“ along with lending a hand to support the sophomore class so she felt that “it was no brainer“ to participate. As for herself, Duragano was looking forward to “seeing how the tournament would go“ because she “never been to anything like that before“ to which she found that

to be a cool thing because there was so much support upon the students and “how everything played out.”

Upon finding out that her team had won, Duragano “was a bit shocked“ although she sense a possibility of that outcome especially since the competition was tough.

She would like to give thanks to her teammates for doing an “amazing job.“ Regardless, it was a great experience whether they won or not.

Although they were hoping for a bigger outcome of students to par-

ticipate, they were however, please with the audience amount and the fact that “everyone enjoyed it.”

In the future, the class of 2021 is planning to host another tournament before the spring sports begin so it does not get in the way of students getting involved. Vice President Kenny Phan explained that “[they] raised a lot of fundraising” and that it “will contribute to a lot to all of [their] money that [they] have so far” and with the springtime coming up, the popularity will increase.

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Boys’ Basketball Begins Ushering in the Winter Sports Season Jemisha Syliant Head Copy Editor

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s the MHS boys basketball season begins, all members on the team are looking forward to the season and putting forth their best efforts.

Senior Christian MonahanDaSilva described that this season, he hopes to see the team make it back to the state tournament while ending the season with a winning record. Adding onto that, to prepare for the season, the team has been practicing all off-season throughout the summer and the fall.

Senior captain Robens Garcia explained that he wants this season to be better than seasons in the past. Despite the previous seasons not going the way he intended it to, he concluded that the team still managed to accomplish a portion of their goals.

Similar to the comment made by Monahan-DaSilva, in preparation for the beginning of the season, Garcia said that the team has been running a lot as well as practicing together to get comfortable with each other.

Junior Guilherme Lopes, who transferred from Malden Catholic, explained how he hopes to obtain a winning record by the end of the season and to potentially go further than the team did in the previous season.

Monahan-DaSilva elaborated that in the past seasons, “[they] did not work too well as

Senior Christian Monahan-DaSilva ready for the free throw. Photo taken by Jemisha Syliant. a team together” but believes that this season they will be much more “together.”

Junior David Mervilus, who is a transfer from Canada, mentioned that he initially transferred to make his dream come true which is to win the championships as well as the whole league. He explained how his goal for this season is to win the league in which he says his teammates and himself put in the work.

When asked how playing basketball in Canada differs from MHS, he claimed Canada is easier due to the fact that they do not have practice everyday, whereas he believes MHS is “harder” because they

Senior Captain Robens Garcia shooting the ball. Photo by Jemisha Syliant.

have practices everyday along with “no breaks.”

Similarly, Lopes commented that when he attended Malden Catholic it was solely focused on winning whereas he believes MHS is a bigger opportunity in which the coaches and teammates are pushing him harder. He continued to explain that not only are they trying to see them win as a team but he is also improving on his skills.

Monahan-DaSilva also commented that his skills have improved in terms of his ability to dunk.

Lopes also added that his skills have improved since transferring from Malden Catholic, elaborat-

ing that head coach Don Nally has been giving him motivation giving him the opportunity to play.

As for strengths and weaknesses, Garcia explained that his strength is his playmaking. As for weaknesses, he claimed that he needs to be a “better” leader for the team. He also hopes to lead him teammates to the tournament and go really far because “people are doubting [them] and [he] want[s] to prove that [they] could play to the next level.”

Lopes comments that as a whole team, he wants them not only to get better but to win the championship as well. Aside from winning, he wants the team as a whole to be united. He stated that “regardless if basketball season is over, [he] want[s] to have that mentality as well,” and to “become one on and off the court.”

Both Monahan-DaSilva and Lopes are looking forward to playing against Everett considering it is a rivalry.

Although the team looks forward to playing every game, Garcia looks forward to playing against St. John Prep which was the team eliminated them from the state tournament last year.

Monahan-DaSilva believes that Mervilus is a new comer on the team that stands out. Lopes continues to add that although he is a newcomer himself, Mervilus makes his teammates laugh and regardless if he messes up, he continues to learn and improve. He stated, “[Mervilus] is a great teammate and so is everyone else.”

All members on the MHS boys basketball team are looking forward to the new season as well as hoping to make a deep run in the postseason.

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Girls’ Basketball Begins the season A Changed Team Jesaias Benitez Managing Editor of Photography and Design Abhishek Rana Editor-in-Chief of Web and Mobile Apps

With the start of the winter sports season, the MHS girls basketball team looks to stand out in the league early in the season and make it into the state tournament. Third year Varsity coach Scott Marino and the team have developed new strategies and game plans to assist them this season, from the starters to the new captains and players, they have been able to achieve their first victory against Snowden.

Senior captains Salma Bezzat, who is a returning starter, and Audree Carleton, who is a returning starter from last year, are looking to “identify themselves as leaders and people who can pick the team up and score, which is a little different” compared to last year. Marino went on to explain they “they bring a little bit of stability to the group coming back but they are also finding their ways because they were not given the role of scorers or leaders last year.” Along with the new captains, the team also has two additional players who are freshman who were in the starting lineup in their opener. Something Marino has “not done in [his] 25 years of coaching.”

Despite their setbacks, he explained it is “going to be work in progress as [they] start to get used to a brand new team and a brand new style of play.” Captain Bezzat also explained “[they] are taking it practice by practice, game by by,” but as the season continues they will learn from their mistakes and learn their game plans.

Freshman Navaeh Cherilus getting ready to take a foul shot. Photo by Jemisha Syliant.

Based on their first game, Marino and the team are reflecting on what their mistakes are and trying to strategize during practices while trying to teach their new players how to play the game and learn new strategies. With new and returning players, there is always nervous feelings right before the start of a game, especially the season opener.

Making their debuts, the new players including freshman were able to set the bar higher for the girls basketball team this season and execute Marino’s strategies and game plans.

Despite a loss of three starting senior players last year, Marino highlights their quickness and hunger for the ball is a key skill the team has obtained this year which will help in the long run this season.

Compared to last year, the team has changed stylistically according to Marino. Being a coach for the past three years at MHS, Marino has had

Junior Meley Ephrem shooting a free throw. Photo by Jemisha Syliant.

the opportunity to take notice of the different players and their role in the identity of the team. This year in particular, the team is working on “[finding] different ways to score points” and transitioning rapidly from defense to offense to get points easily on fastbreak layups. This year the team has implemented a manto-man defensive strategy, with a focus on pressing their opponents full court and creating turnovers. In the first game of the season alone, this switch in strategy this year has allowed the team to have double the amount of possessions they had on average last year and maintain a similar amount of offensive production. Their victory over Snowden showed them their hard work and the long hours they put in each practice daily is a small victory and one step closer to making it into states this year. Marino also went on to say “it will be more difficult based

on change in personnel and lack of experience, but it is definitely an achievable goal” with determination.

Senior captain, Audree Carleton, explained that because of the strategic and personal changes this year, “it has been difficult adjusting” this season. However, the team is finding it easier this year than in the past because “[they] are building a strong bond on and off the court.”

Carleton continued to say that the team “[needs] to concentrate” and that the “biggest part (in succeeding) is just staying focused and knowing what [they] are doing.”

She concluded that “even though most of the girls are new, [they are eager to learn.”

The girls will look to adapt and shape their own unique identity this year in their pursuit of a run in the state tournament.

Head coach Scott Marino giving a pep talk to the team. Photo by Jemisha Syliant.

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maldenblueandgold.com

Thanksgiving Football Game: Malden Wins!

Abhishek Rana Editor in Chief of Web and Mobile Apps

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n one of the coldest Thanksgivings in recent memory, The Malden High Golden Tornadoes defeated the Medford High Mustangs 28-22.

MacDonald Stadium hosted another classic game between the two rivals. It was the 131st annual football game between the two teams, the second longest continuous rivalry in the country.

Both teams came into the game after having relatively disappointing seasons. But none of that mattered, as just as always, the game was a contest to secure bragging rights. Ultimately, it was Malden who came out victorious for a fourth straight year, extending their lead in the all-time series to 66-55-10.

The game was played in freezing temperatures and perhaps the elements played a role in the general play. There were numerous turnovers committed by both teams that proved costly. But both teams fought throughout in a very competitive and back-and-forth game that reflected how important the contest was for both teams.

It was the Tornadoes who started the game on the front foot.

Junior tailback Jerry Mervil opened by scoring with a five-yard rushing touchdown, putting Malden up 8-0 after a two-point conversion. Medford responded with two straight touchdown runs by senior quarterback Keith Barrasso, whose threat as a scrambler from under center troubled the Tornado defense all game. Barrasso ended up gashing Malden’s defense for 230 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

Not to be outdone was Malden’s sophomore quarterback, Justin Nortelus, who lead the way on offense for the Tornadoes with his three total touchdowns in the game, two in the air and one on the ground.

An 11-yard touchdown pass from Nortelus to sophomore wideout Matthew Bessey tied the game at 14 to conclude the first half.

Malden came out firing in the second half and seized on opportunities offensively while containing Barrasso and the Mustang offense for much of the half. Nortelus continued his stellar day with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mervil. This followed by a six-yard touchdown scramble by Nortelus gave the Tornadoes a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

However, Barrasso and the Mustangs mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. A six-yard

touchdown scramble by Barrasso followed by a two-point conversion brought the Mustangs within sixpoints of the Tornadoes with just minutes left to play in the game.

The Mustangs held out defensively on the ensuing Tornado drive and quickly gave the ball back to their offense.

With a chance to win the game with a touchdown and an extra point conversion, Medford’s offense drove the length of the field and was positioned in scoring territory.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, Barrasso went down with an injury with less than 2:30 left to play and inside Malden’s 30-yard line. His replacement, senior quarterback Joel Disla, mishandled a snap and fumbled the football just three plays later which proved to be one too many turnovers for the Mustangs.

The ball was recovered by Malden’s freshman defensive lineman, Justin DeSimone, who essentially sealed the Thanksgiving Day victory, along with all the bragging rights, for the Golden Tornadoes.

Senior captain, Tyler Martineau reflected on the game with “pride” on his final outing in Malden’s uniform. He explained that for everyone and the seniors especially, the game was a must-win situation as “[they] had to get it done in order to

end our careers undefeated against Medford.”

“There was such a variety of emotions I felt after the game. I was so happy to finally win a game this season but also sad to see four years come to an end. What I really took away from the game was that when you have a whole group of people that are invested [in] a common goal it will get done.”

Malden’s Mayor Gary Christenson was in attendance of the Thanksgiving Day Football game between Malden and Medford. The Mayor live-tweeted the event with videos.

Photo from Gary Christenson’s Twitter.

Download the MHS Sports App!

maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 104 Edition 3 December 2018