Volume 102, Edition 2

The Blue and Gold maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 102 Edition 2

77 salem street November 2016

MHS Students Make Local News H and Overturn Headwrap Ban

Presidential Election pgs. 4, 5, & 15

Pg. 15

Malden Creates Hosts Art Gallery pg. 13 Political Art at MHS pg. 7

Football pg. 18 & 19

MHS Welcomes Writers’ Den

Ana Pirosca Reporter

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arlier this month, Malden High School English teacher Sean Walsh along with other English teachers decided to install a writing room here at Malden High.

Starting November 8th, “The Writers’ Den” will be accessible to students and faculty on the third floor in Boyle House. In this coffee shop style area, students will be able to immerse themselves in writing creatively, tutoring, and hopefully down the line, showcase publications. The room is also an access for the school to strengthen the bond between community and academics through possible readings, programs, and partnerships.

The idea of “The Writers’ Den” came from the nonprofit group 826 Boston.

The room itself will take after the “Writers’ Room” in the John D. O’Bryant School in Roxbury created by this organization. 826 Boston have various programs created for multiple schools mostly in urban areas.

In the Writers’ Room, there were storytelling programs, summer writing workshops, after school tutoring programs, and many many more. Their goal, as well as our school’s, is to inspire students to unleash their creative writing abilities.

The English department at MHS quickly caught onto what the nonprofit group had done. As a result, during June of this year, Walsh, Ryan Gallagher, Yahaira Marquez, and Jennifer Clapp went to go see if the Writers’ Room would ...continued on page 11 maldenblueandgold.com Malden High School Volume 102 Edition 2 November 2016

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The Blue and Gold November 2016

Editorial Malden High School

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

THE STAFF: Editor-in-Chief Tenzin Dorjee ‘17 Web & Mobile Apps Editorin-Chief Tatyanna Cabral ‘17 Print Editor-in-Chief Felicia Fallano ‘17 Managing Editor Megan Downer ‘18 Head of Local News Anna Powers ‘18 Head of Sports News Leila Greige ‘18 Head of Photography Ryan Hames ‘18 Art & Design Editor Tate Skiffington ‘17 Nedlam’s Corner Karina Matos ‘17 Head Copy Editor Gabriella Onessimo ‘17 Lead Reporters Alysha McDevitt ‘18: Local Politics, City Council, & School Committee Christina Appignani ‘18: Local News Ailin Toro ‘19: Local News Neden Bernadin ‘19: Local News Sydney Stumpf ‘19: Local News Abhishek Rana ‘19: Sports News Jesaias Benitez ‘19: Sports News Lead Videographers Nicolle Batista ‘17 Leah Tramondozzi ‘17 Nia Vital ‘17 Lead Photogrpaher Nick Powers ‘18 Manager of Web & Mobile Apps Don Nguyen ‘17 Reporters Subin Bastola ‘17 Rebecca Oliveira ‘17 Toby Pitan ‘18 Kayla Dos Reis Sousa ‘19 Makesha Mercedat ‘19 Rebeca Pereira ‘19 Emraude Bonnet ‘20 Stefany Foley ‘20 Josandy Jeune ‘20 Falyn Kelley ‘20 Sabrina Monteiro ‘20 Man Nguyen ‘20 Ana Pirosca ‘20 Jemisha Syliant ‘20 Michelle Yin ‘20 Sara Zakaria ‘20 ADVISOR RYAN GALLAGHER

A Reality Check maldenblueandgold.com

After almost four years of high school, I’ve come to realize a lot of different things that I should have done differently.

Everyone’s high school experience is different, and I realized that there are so many different factors that change the way we experience high school, but there is one thing that is crucial to a painless (or maybe less painful in some cases) high school experience: self-care. It is important to care not only about surface things like your grades and your friends and your relationships, but that doesn’t mean the importance of your mental health should be compromised just because you need to raise an 89 to a 90. It is also important to realize that your GPA doesn’t define your worth, and that the education system isn’t designed in a way that will work out for every single student.

Ever since I was young, I struggled with academics and focusing on creating a good work-ethic. I never consistently earned bad grades (I was a straightA student up until high school), but when high school rolled around it literally knocked me right to the ground. Not to be dramatic, but high school didn’t just slap me in the face and provide me with endless wake-up calls, but it broke every bone in my body. I am fully aware that I am partially responsible for this; my work-ethic is not the best, I could procrastinate for six years straight, and I have the attention span of a slice of bread.

My grades weren’t necessarily bad, but my days of being a consistent straight-A student are in the past as of now. I’ve always known that getting good grades required a lot more effort and hours than it would for most of my peers, but when I got to high school my motivation to put in that same amount of effort wasn’t entirely there anymore. I think every high school student has felt defeated at at least one point of their high school career, and sometimes we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We all cope in different ways and sometimes we are able to find ways to motivate ourselves to keep going, but this isn’t always the reality for some people.

Our education system, like I said before, wasn’t designed to fit everyone’s needs and ways of life, but that doesn’t mean it is the end of the world. I’m sure those few times I’d completely given up all hope of earning an A in a class would have not happened if I hadn’t let stress and anxiety build up and pushed my mental health aside in order to please my parents and

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

my teachers. Not taking better care of myself over the last few years of high school is the one thing that I’m 110% sure that I regret. I’m sure almost every student can relate to putting their health, even physical health, on the back burner because they didn’t want to disappoint other people.

Allowing yourself to not have a mental break down by the end of the week is not selfish. Every day, I usually hear the majority of my friends tell me that they are tired in every way possible because of school.

School is intense and tiring and of course it is rewarding in the end when you walk across the stage at graduation, but are the grades really worth your own health? I personally feel that the grades mean nothing if you aren’t okay. Many of us know firsthand how it feels for people around you, whether it was with negative intentions or positive intentions, tell you to ignore how you feel just for the sake of education. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “suck it up,” “you have x amount of years left until college,” “you’re being a baby about everything,” etc. in the last four years.

There is not only stigma associated mental illness, but there is also a lot of misunderstanding around taking care of your mental health and avoiding the development of mental illness if it is possible.

From what I’ve witnessed in my four years of high school, so many people whose traditional cultures and religions are more prominent in their everyday lives that struggle with mental illness are less likely to feel the need to investigate their mental health with their doctor and talk about it with their families.

In many cultures and religions, mental health is practically a myth. Mental health, to a lot of people, is something that many people can’t understand because it is not talked about or recognized in their culture. I know so many people who have told me that they have been told by adults at home that their poor mental health “is inside [their heads]” and that “God can heal” the way they are feeling if they focus on their faith. With all due respect to other cultures and the importance of religion to some people, I do believe that if the facts and science are there, then why is it so hard for people to accept that?

Mental illnesses are usually due to chemical imbalances within the brain. There is endless scientific research and discoveries to prove that mental illnesses exist and that they can become just as life threatening as physical illnesses. If the majority of society knows that illnesses like cancer can’t be treated though cultural/religious practices, then why can’t we make the same exception for mental illness? I wish I had the answer to this question, and I don’t think I will ever be able to view an answer to this question as acceptable.

Regardless of the circumstances in you life and what the people you are surrounded by tell you, take it from me: the grades on a report card aren’t even comparable to your worth as a individual and a human being.

Felicia Fallano Print Editor-in-Chief

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

The Blue and Gold November 2016

Interactive

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Nedlam’s Corner Dear Nedlam, I just got my report card back and I failed the first test of this quarter and I didn’t do too well last quarter, so I’m freaking out!!!! I need to get my grades up because I want to get into a really good college and I’m afraid they’ll see how bad I did and I just want to not mess up, and I don’t know what to do!

-FREAKED OUT!!!!

Dear FREAKED OUT, Well, I can tell that you are pretty worried, but don’t worry, everyone has days, or tests like these.

One piece of good news is that the quarter you messed up in was first quarter, which is the perfect time to decide that you are determined to get your grades up since we still have three more quarters to do so.

Just because you failed your first quarter does not mean that your world is over. Colleges don’t tend to look at individual quarters, they look more at the end of the year average and your G.P.A, so if you do well in the next three quarters, then it should be no problem. But how to do better is an entirely different story.

First things first, figure out where you went wrong. Not in what classes messed up on, but why you messed them up. Was it because you always turned homework in late?

Or was it because you didn’t understand what was going on? Or maybe you pulled an all night movie marathon before the next test?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, and have come up with more reasons why things didn’t work out for you this quarter, then its time to come up with new strategies.

If your issue last quarter was with procrastination, reward yourself for doing things right when you get home from school, or, if it’s because you find it harder to do your homework at home due to distractions, go to the library or a coffee shop instead.

Another example is if you never study or study too much you should try to balance your time better by doing fun, creative studying strategies, and getting enough sleep.

If your issue lies in not understanding the work then come after or before school and ask your teacher for help, or get help from a tutor.

The goal here is just to figure out whatever works best for you and helps you improve more. Also,

Sidewalk during the fall. Photo by Ryan Hames.

a big issue many students face when tasked with getting their work done is time management.

I answered a separate question on time management in greater detail, but the gist of it is to simply figure out what you need to do, get an idea of how long it takes to do them, when you need to do them, and what you can add or take out of your schedule.

Creating a simple schedule or even just using your agenda more will help you become a lot more organized and will make it easier for you to have time to get done what you need to, and remember what needs to be done.

Another step you can take is to set a goal for your next grade, or how much you want to improve by

so that way you have something to work toward.

There are a lot of great resources out there that can help if you ever need to know more about improving your grades and your strategies to get them and one of the best is your

school guidance counselors. If you ever need more help in that area, come to them and I’m sure they’ll be able to help you get back on track.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

If you have any questions or need any advice, come check out our Ask.fm! Our Ask.fm link can be found on our website at maldenblueandgold.com Questions will always remain anonymous unless requested otherwise, so don’t be afraid!

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Opinion

The Blue and Gold November 2016

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Why I Will Never Forgive or Forget Gabriella Onessimo Head Copy Editor

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Donald Trump it off as “locker room talk,” which in itself is misogynistic as it boosts rape culture. Is it a requirement to call women fat for a politician to assert their candor? This was simply a conjured up excuse for Trump’s ignorant chauvinism, which he seemingly wears proudly on his sleeve.

Despite the myriad antics and immaturity Trump has displayed, he still has fervent supporters.

A lot of people are roused by his economic plans which are pitched to those who have lost hope in the “American dream,” but the dream Trump has outlined is hardly geared to those who are part of the “inner city”, those who are “bad hombres”,

he 2016 election has been an unforgettable one.

I would not accredit that to the remarkability of each candidate, their visionary goals to mobilize the country, nor their truly promising social, political and economic policies that will surge the U.S. further as that is the demand of the people.

Rather, the most heated topics of this election is Donald Trump’s 12th cases of accused sexual assault and Hillary Clinton’s email controversy.

The real issues that the people of this country face are blurred by, frankly, childish banter between Trump and Clinton at the debates and attempts from politicians and journalists and average citizens alike to prove that Donald Trump is a poor leader.

Many can agree that they are baffled by what this election has turned out to be, but I am primarily baffled by the fact that Donald Trump ever achieved any credible position in this campaign from the start. Although by the time that this article Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waving will be published the 2016 to supporters. Photo from WikiMedia. election would have come to end (and hopefully the idiotic or those who are “radical islamic shenanigans that came with it), all terrorists.” These are the titles he of the abhorrent remarks that left has given to people of color who he Donald Trump’s mouth will con- sees as threats to charity cases, from tinue to haunt me and this nation, when he stated that “a lot of” the 1.6 as it poses a reminder that racism, billion Muslims around the world misogyny and bigotry are alive and have a vendetta against the United States and that black voters have well throughout this country.

Trump’s incompetence has nothing to lose in voting for him as been evident throughout the en- he said that black people were “all tire campaign from his constantly living in poverty, [their] schools are changing political stances to his no good and [they] have no good calling Cara Fiorina ugly (which jobs.” These generalizations are as was not funny whatsoever, sorry condescending as they are detrimisogynists). Some may argue that mental as it serves to propagandize Trump’s “candidness” is an asset rather than educate and blames rather than a sign of fault in his sizable populations of people for character, suggesting he is a can- stereotypes that wrongly associated didate that will not lie to you. This with each individual. Next to his quality was also applied to former frequent bigoted comments, Trump democratic candidate Bernie Sand- is also notoriously celebrated by ers, but he did not have to degrade fellow white supremacists, includwomen and blame Hillary Clinton ing former KKK leader David Duke for the formation ISIS to get credit (who Trump elusively and slowly for speaking his mind. Trump has disavowed) and Rocky Sudhaya, not shown any sign of integrity; he who is currently the chairman of solely promises he has it while en- the American Nazi Party. This is no deavoring to belittle every person anomaly or peculiar coincidence; that challenges his rhetoric and Trump’s convictions must align with those of supremacists otherwise they qualifications.

In addition to that, he con- would have no reason to ungrudgsistently flip flops between social, ingly endorse him. Although he has political and economic stances voters who are people of color, who and denies 100% of the allegations are women, who are LGBTQ+, that against him - even those with solid does not mean that Trump’s outlook proof. Trump’s conflicting views are does not favor the dominance of hardly even appalling in compari- white people. Much of his views son to his comments about women. are nationalist and nativist, which Let’s not even discuss his bragging facts that are only denied by those off assaulting women and writing who share the same discriminatory vision.

It seems that his stances on immigration in particular are the most controversial and most popular among his supporters. Although his opinions on such topics seem to always be wavering, his current standpoint on immigrants has remained consistent -- highly arbitrary and are fundamentally suppressive toward millions of current and future American citizens. No one can try to deny that Trump is extremely antisemitic and islamophobic, regardless of how much leverage Trump has over his supporters. There are several policies that highlight his plans of persecution, from his idea to raid mosques to seek extremists (with the aid of racial profiling) and his ban of all Muslim immigrants who want to enter the country, whether they are refugees or not.

Trump’s racial profiling sadly does not stop there as he has referred to Mexican immigrants as well as other Latin Americans as “criminals”, “rapists” and “drug traffickers.” I can not even begin to express how saddening it is to me that the current GOP leader has publicly made these comments to the American public, truly believing in the fabrications he incessantly spews and that these words render no consequence. This is not a matter of disagreeing with the beliefs of different political party than my own. To me, jabs at Trump are no longer political discourse as even members of the party Trump leads have expressed disdain and condemnation toward his behavior.

It seems that those who are truly

and order” which roughly translates to a continuation of racial profiling and unlawful treatment of citizens by police. Enforcement of stricter law and order is hardly necessary in the first place and is not the root of the issue of U.S. crime, but that is a separate topic that I will not digress on. Trump’s approval of bringing back stop and frisk, which has historically been ineffective and has even been ruled unconstitutional, is another harrowing example of his irrational prejudice toward “inner city people.” Yes, I quoted him on that again because it was such an insensitive statement.

Trump’s running mate, Michael Pence, is also a major perpetrator of the social discrimination in this country. His anti-LGBTQ+ stances are absolutely vile as he supported an amendment that banned same sex marriage and would rather spend government money on conversion therapy (which is known to be extremely traumatic as it is fruitless) than HIV prevention. Pence’s homophobia also reflects that the Trump campaign will not only support the civil rights of citizens of color and women, but LGBTQ+ citizens as well.

My opinion on Donald Trump has been made pretty clear. I don’t like him. As an activist, as a person of color, as a human being, I could never like a man like Trump. When this election is long gone, I will still remember that people favored someone whose social, political and economic views were doused in bigotry, xenophobia, sexism, and utter stupidity. I will remember his deplorable ideas and comments toward people like me and people I know. Much of this country’s cultural achievements and assets were born of our diversity, and without it this country would lose its vibrancy.

Our country was founded on profound principles that promote President-elect Donald Trump giving a speech dur- liberty and justice for all.

We can work toward the ing one of his rallies. Photo from WikiMedia. greatness that visionaries against prejudice and oppression have been dreaming of, advocating rally against Trump, whether you for and even dying for throughout are conservative or liberal. centuries. Promotion of Trump I was never a Clinton supporter and those like him will reverse the myself and was only by urgency, not progress we have worked so hard choice. Trump is trying to portray to create in this nation and strip opher as the scapegoat of all of the portunities from citizens that have country’s problems while arguably fought for them. most of the inequality and inequity The United States will be great in our country are perpetuated by when we all matter, when we are people like Trump. Some examples all represented and when we are can be found in his stance against all truly equal. It is vital to focus on black issues. At the debate, when the future, but we can not forget the asked about his views on the Black mistakes of the past so they are not Lives Matter movement and com- repeated. bating police brutality toward black That’s why we can’t forget people in particular, his answer was Trump, and we certainly can never strengthening the country’s “law forgive him.

The Blue and Gold November 2016

Opinion

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Teens, Trump, and Political Turmoil Toby Pitan Reporter

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n November 9th, 2016, history was made for a reason that a vast majority of Americans had feared.

After a grueling, cringe-inducing presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the latter, Donald Trump became the 2016 President-Elect of the United States of America. Thus, America and many surrounding countries struck with equal amounts of fear fell into a collective state of despondency in digesting this outcome of this very unique election.

What has been decided, has been decided. The past cannot be altered. Many Americans spite the Electoral College for its archaic methods and wish for its removal.

Had it not been for the Electoral College, Hillary Clinton would have won as she had won the popular vote.

Though, our system has ended up electing Trump as the 45th

President of the United States. Now, many Americans find themselves asking questions such as where do we go from here and can the future of our nation be righted in spite of the man who will be spearheading it for the next four years?

After Trump fills Obama’s space in the White House, there may be grave consequences for multitudes of people. People of color, those who find a place in the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrants alike are angered and fearing for their lives. America is becoming a more unsafe place for them by the day. That is not the type of climate the nation should be in following a presidential election.

The main thing that is striking Americans right now is fear. What Trump plans on doing while in office will have large implications that will span over the entirety of the nation and other nations likewise. He has an astoundingly shallow worldview and is using one of the biggest platforms in the world to pursue his own interests. Nothing about him

is telling of his competence for being the next president of the United States, but that is who we elected.

If anything, this election has proven that America is much more bigoted and racist than many people believed. There have been sufficient amounts of evidence that has supported this notion. The racism and bigotry instilled within American culture and society have been the catalyst for racial tensions and tensions among the queer community that have proven to be deadly.

Maybe the so-called progress being made concerning issues such as xenophobia, racism, and homophobia were never truly tangible.

Trump’s voters had the largest say in issues that simply do not apply to them which is exceedingly frustrating for people who will bear the brunt of Trump’s laws, bills, and other political instatements.

It would be dangerous to turn a blind eye toward the motives of the Trump administration and compliantly watch as the country changes; most likely for the worst.

It is important to recognize that young people are much more politically capable than they are given credit for. Young adults had just as much say in this election as anyone else. The results of this election will have the most consequences for us especially. Teens and young adults have educated themselves on the nation’s political climate as the issues are extremely personal.

Politics are important to teens as it poses as a unique outlet for the expression of their views and beliefs. People are currently protesting in the streets against the results of this election just as Trump’s supporters gave their own silent protest in voting for him. Many people who just reached legal voting age in America voted for a change that they may be too young to realize the consequences of. This a change many people extol, but the majority cower at.

But this is democracy. And democracy is most powerful in the hands of those newly exposed to utilizing it.

Why I’m Afraid of Mike Pence

Sara Zakaria Reporter

On November 8, Donald Trump became the President-elect of the United States. This sparked a nationwide outrage by the ones who were opposed to Trump. Many took to social media, and people also took to the streets to protest. As I sat watching the news, and listening to people talk about their concerns about Trump, I couldn’t help but to wonder why barely anyone was talking about Mike Pence, the Vice President-elect. After asking, I came to the conclusion that people were not informed of Pence’s troubling policies and values Pence holds similar views to Trump in areas like immigration, foreign policy, climate change, etc. However, unlike Trump, Pence holds a very conservative view on certain topics. These concern me the most, considering that Pence has a long background of being strongly against abortion and LGBT rights.

Pence’s anti LGBT background has been dated back since 2006. In 2006, according to lgbtqnation.com, Pence supported

Vice President-elect Michael Pence. Photo from WikiMedia. an amendment to ban same sex marriages. He explained the reason why he supported that amendment, saying “societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family.” He also stated that being gay was simply a choice, and that discrimination towards the LGBT was “God’s plan.” Pence also opposed a law in 2007, which would have prohibited discrimination towards LGBT employees in the workplace, stating that the law would wage war on religion and freedom in the workplace, accord-

ing to Time magazine. In 2009, he voted no on enforcing against anti gay hate crimes, according to ontheissues.org.

His most controversial move was in 2000, where he supported taking federal funds that go to HIV resources, and instead use that money for conversion therapy, which is a controversial form of “therapy” that uses practices such as shock treatment to “turn” LGBT members straight. Conversion therapy has been denounced by mental health professionals and it’s even outlawed in states like Vermont, California,

New Jersey, Illinois and Oregon.

Pence also has a long record of being extremely pro life. He has made an effort several times to declare the unborn as people under the 14th amendment, and grant the unborn equal protection under the 14th amendment. Pence is strongly against Planned Parenthood. According to ontheissues.org, he has supported a bill to prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. He also supported prohibiting federal funding to ALL abortions. He’s voted for yes for banning partial birth abortion, forbidding human cloning for reproduction and medical research, funding health providers who do not provide abortion information, and banning federal health coverage that includes abortion.

Donald Trump has a lot of controversial, outrageous policies, however, Mike Pence not only has the same policies as Trump, but he holds very traditionalist views on topics that greatly affect large groups of people. Now that Pence is in power, and the GOP won the Senate and the House of Representatives, many are worrying that certain abortion and LGBT rights will be overturned. Pence is against fundamental reproductive and LGBT rights, and that’s why I’m afraid of Pence.

Local News

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The Blue and Gold November 2016

maldenblueandgold.com

A Look into the

Malden Against Cancer Club Rebeca Pereira Reporter

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he Malden Against Cancer Club is an organization that helps raise money and awareness toward cancer research.

Malden Against Cancer raises money and awareness in different ways. They host events such as the Pink Out Games, where athletes and spectators wear pink in order to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The club sells t-shirts and other breast cancer related items as well. Other events they host are bubble soccer, bake sells, Movember/ No Shave November. During No Shave November, people are encouraged to stop shaving and the club hands out fake mustaches for a dollar, which go to fund prostate cancer research.

The advisor of the club is Kristen Kirby, a science teacher at Malden High School. Kirby decided to advise the club because she has been personally affected by cancer and the club was for a good cause.

Her role as advisor means that she aids with contacts and such, but she also wants the club to the mainly

be studentrun, allowing students to be free with their ideas.

Kirby states “that the experience so far has been great as [she] likes how every year the club seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

[She] is very happy with the turnout this year.” From left to right: seniors Grace Melo and Alinny DeAnMembers drade, junior Tiffany Tortora, and seniors Nathaniel Ilebode of the club this and Giovana Vidal. Photo taken by Josandy Jeune. year include seniors Grace Melo, Giovana Vidal, year when she was more acquainted Alinny DeAndrade, Nathaniel Il- with the school environment and ebode and junior Tiffany Tortora. has loved it ever since.

Melo joined because “it was really DeAndrade decided to join popular around the school and [she] because she also “saw how popular thought it was for a great cause.” it was and [she saw] how effective Melo wanted to join her freshman it was.” DeAndrade has stated how year because “[she] would always “some clubs are at the school and hear how clubs were a great way don’t really do anything. They are to meet friends and new people.” just there to be there.” Meanwhile, Melo finally did join sophomore the Malden Against Cancer club

Kayla Sousa Reporter

The Veg Club is at its second year running after beginning in October of last year. The club consists of a group of students that discuss vegetarianism and veganism in society.

Initially the club began with senior Ariel Gustowski, president and founder of The Veg Club, who wanted to create a “safe environment” for those “who seek support” in their lifestyle. At the age of sixteen she became vegan for competitive reasons as well as becoming a better athlete. She soon discovered the health benefits and the great effects on the environment as well as how the lifestyle “helps replenish our environment”. Her love for animals also helped her make the decision of going vegan and she has never looked back to return on her past eating habits. Gustowski says her vegan lifestyle has “helped widen

[her] perspective of different foods” and become more prone to trying new foods.

Senior member Matthew Savini -Burke began his vegetarian journey as a bet at fifteen years old. He was an avid meat eater before the transition and didn’t eat many fruits or vegetables. After researching online about animal cruelty and reasons why to minimize meat intake, he made the decision permanent. This bet became a lifestyle. He initially came across a YouTuber who helped with the transition and went vegan at the age of sixteen. At seventeen he went back to vegetarianism due to health reasons. He states that the transition “was difficult for [his] family due to their high meat diet” but was very surprised at how “inexpensive the transition was” and how not all “vegan and vegetarian food is bland and simple” but can be

flavorful. The transition also helped him “become a more independent person” in his eating habits.

Justine Muir, who is also vegetarian, is the club advisor. She states that “the group consists of a passionate group of students who believe in a plant-based lifestyle” and that is what makes this club different from all others. During the weekly meetings they “spend time discussing and sharing resources with each other like cooking or baking while munching on delicious vegan snacks” and often go to farmers markets and food festivals.

The club itself meets every Friday at 2:15 at H410 in Muir’s room. Gustowski states that they are unlike other clubs because they “are friends inside and outside of school” and regularly “go on field trips to Haymarket and vegan restaurants.” Members ultimately want to discuss “the vegan world and educate those who come” and “ try to limit the stereotypes on vegans and vegetarians.” Members of the Veg Club often share recipes and bring in vegan and vegetarian food to try out. Advisor and members say that the club welcomes anyone who is “openminded no matter what diet you have” and are open to new ideas. On November 4th, the library hosted a young adult arts and crafts event. This event focused on perler art. Perler art is created by putting perler beads on plastic pegboards in an arranged pattern and then fusing them together using a clothing iron.

actually works with different organizations and helps people.

Tortora joined the Malden Against Cancer club her freshman year. The reasoning behind it is as well as her peers she “noticed how effective it was and felt that with this club she could make a difference and change things.”

Vidal made the decision to join the club because both her mom and grandma had cancer. She joined the club to help spread awareness and raise money.

These fellow members enjoy the club and have a great time. They love how welcoming the club is to new members and how it doesn’t demand to much from you. Missing meetings are excused because students have obligations such as sports or homework. There is no harm done since there are so many people involved.

They all came to the conclusion that this club is a really great way to meet new people and gain lot of new friends. It’s a good high school experience and any help is accepted.

To join, come by after school to Kirby’s room B431.

Malden Public Library Gets Crafty Ailin Toro Reporter

Patrick Brennan, the information librarian, ran this event.

Brennan is always the host of these events because apart from being the information librarian, he is also the young adult programmer, so it is his job to coordinate these events.

When asked why the library decided to have this event, he said that the library always does “a bunch of arts and crafts events with different focuses each time.” Some of the past events have been on making jewelry, origami.

Brennan adds that this one was chosen because people can use it as a “creative outlet where you can make anything and it doesn’t even take long.” He also mentions that after spending the amount on the original materials, you have enough for many events focused just on this.

Brennan mentions that this same event over the summer had a high turnout and there were requests for him to have another one.

Despite this there was a low turnout at the library but Brennan acknowledges that it could be due to the bad weather.

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Politics Meets Art Sydney Stumpf Lead Reporter

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he week of Nov. 7, Joseph Luongo’s two Studio 2 honors classes exhibited some of their projects outside of the cafeterias.

The projects were portraits of political figures, either serious pencil drawings or comical caricatures.

The portraits were displayed just in time for the Malden High School’s parent-teacher night on Nov. 7, and the presidential election on Nov. 8.

As for the project itself, Luongo hopes that it “exposes the students to different political figures”, and that the exhibition of the portraits “plant[s] a little seed of curiosity” in students who didn’t partake in the project.

Mostly sophomores participated in the project, but there were some juniors and seniors, too.

Luongo hopes people who view the portraits “appreciate how

good a job [the students] did” and understand “how difficult it is to draw someone’s likeness.” Luongo says that drawing portraits takes a lot of patience and focus to make the portrait work “structurally.”

Luongo gives this project to his students every other year, both during midterm elections, and the presidential elections, too.

Sopho m o r e Novia Li exhibited a portrait of Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate during the election. Li especially likes to “draw [...] faces of people” and “human features,” so this project was enjoyable for her. As for the portraits as a whole, Li notes that “most of them were pretty well drawn,” and that’s why so many were displayed.

Another sophomore, Delilah Doleman did two portraits of for-

mer president Richard Nixon, both a serious pencil drawing, and a caricature, which was the portrait exhibited. Doleman likes “that [they] had [the] freedom to interpret the person [they] chose.” In her caricature, Doleman made “Nixon look really angry because that’s what his personality had a lot of.”

Doleman hopes that since her artwork was displayed, it will make people more interested in politics, and is glad that people got to see her work.

The artist of the Elizabeth Warren portraits, sophomore Michelle Nie, chose Warren to draw because “she carries herself with great confidence and is not afraid to voice out her opinions.” Like most students, Nie completed two portraits, a serious pencil portrait and a caricature.

Nie thinks that this project was one of the “best works [she has] done.”

Nie notes how she preferred the formal portrait over the caricature, because the formal one was “easier to draw and shade, since [she had]

a formal photograph of [the politician]”. While completing the caricature, Nie said, “[she] needed to push [her] creativity a little further and create [a] whole new image with several references.” Nie is honored to have her work displayed, and has gotten several “amazing comments” on her artwork, especially on her formal portrait.

Overall, by displaying these portraits of politicians, both Luongo and the artists, hope people view them with respect, and become interested in politics.

Artwork by Mr. Joseph Luongo’s studio 2 honors classes. Photos by Ryan Hames.

Humans of Malden High School

Lauryn Poindexter Junior

Adams Moussaid Junior

Kevin Gilligan Junior

Skylar Miles Junior

“People ask me why I adore myslef so much and I respond with ‘that’s the right thing to do, to love yourself.’

Love the way you look, because that is who you are.”

“The past few years in in high school have been rough, but my brother has motivated me to better myself as a person and especially as a student.”

“In my life, I’ve gone through many hardships, but I always come back to my family and friends to keep me going and to keep my head up. Without my friends, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

“As I walk these halls I realize who I am and who I want to become.

I come everyday to achieve the goals I have set for myself, and the people who come along for the ride with me are on their way to success too.”

Check out the rest at

: @_humansofmhs

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MHS Haitian Club Donates to Haiti Sydney Stumpf Lead Reporter

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alden High School’s Haitian Club is taking action to help Haiti in response to the recent Hurricane Matthew that caused destruction throughout the country.

Paul Degenkolb, the advisor of the club, is collecting donations. He is collecting the donations for the village Matenwa, where Malden High School has a partner school: Matenwa Community Learning Cen- Malden High School Haitian Club. Photo by Sydney Stumpf. ter. Malden High School has raised money and donations for the school easier for him to send the donations. in the community. About 33 families in the past, and especially with the School supplies, tarps, first aid kits, lost their homes in the hurricane, recent Hurricane Matthew hitting and basic toiletries were donated to and tarps are necessary to repair the Haiti, donations now are especially the cause, and three shipping bar- homes. The hurricane made the chilimportant. rels were filled, and a fourth on its dren in the community miss about On Saturday, Nov. 5, Degen- way to being filled. a week of school, and because the kolb and the Haitian Club officially “The school is the center of school is the center of the communiraised donations to send to Mat- the community,” Degenkolb said ty, they wanted to get back to school, enwa, since he visited in 2015, and about the school in Matenwa. Many to get a sense of normalcy. As for the developed a close relationship with families’ belongings were damaged damage directly done to the school, the school. Degenkolb had a direct in the hurricane, and so school sup- there were few, and they were miway to contact the school, making it plies were needed by many families nor. The building “lost a couple of

doors” but the building is still intact.

The damage was really done to the families in the community.

The event that took place on Saturday got about 50 people who came to donate items, and it was mostly spread by “word of mouth,” and Degenkolb feels as though Saturday went well.

The donations are very important to the village of Matenwas because there is “a lot of unknown,” since “people don’t know how bad the damage was.” Communication with Haiti was tough after the hurricane, but Degenkolb kept in contact with the school and community through Facebook. Matenwa, Degenkolb notes, was not the work hit area in Haiti, but it is still concerning, since the village is out of most of the radars of the aid organizations.

Degenkolb sees these donations, and this connection to Matenwa CLC as important, as it reflects Malden High School’s global connections. Hurricane Matthew’s effects in Haiti affect Malden High School, since many students’ families are in Haiti, and MHS has a large Haitian population and community.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Grandson Visits Malden High Sabrina Monteiro Reporter

T

he meeting with Dr. Charles Grandson took place on Tuesday, November 2nd in the Malden High School library.

About 15-20 people attended which included house principals, superintendents and teachers. Everyone introduced themselves and that’s when Charles Grandson took over and went right into discussion, where he began to say a list of things that he wished to discuss because he has realized problems going on in the community.

The importance of this meeting was for the benefit of knowing what they needed to work on as far as helping our students.

Google Classroom has provided much help for both students and teachers. Students and teachers rely on it for many things and is just very useful. Teachers use it for video presentations, do nows, classwork, homework etc. and being able to do that makes life so much easier. Joseph Luongo, one of MHS’ art teachers says “[they’re] very dedicated” and Grandson says that “it offers a lot of support for the students.”

An ongoing problem, not only in our community but worldwide,

is the diversity in teachers. MHS is one of the most diverse school in the state and with that, should come a greater diversity in staff members.

Though the teacher diversity has increased, it can still definitely be improved.

MHS believes this is important because they don’t only want to learn that their students are bilingual, but then not have the option to increase their education in that specific language because their isn’t a class for it.

It’s also important for the students and a good feeling to have when you’re able to connect with a teacher and learn more about them so that you may bond over a common interest.

Class sizes has been another problem mainly because everyone is eager to learn either a new language or inheriting their families language and it has brought a decrease in other classes like ones in business.

The business and english classes have about 10 students or less while classes like French I and II are booming with 30 or more students. Small schools have the problem with not maintaining enough electives or not enough language classes. Having so many children engaged with different languages is essential for getting them into an academic level.

MHS Holland House principal Marilyn Slattery says how “it’s a great problem to have, but it’s a problem.” Teachers would like students to go from ninth grade until they graduate with not only a diploma to say you’ve graduated, but to illustrate what you have learned and progressed in something specific for later in their careers. Teachers are also working hard to make sure they’re getting to every students needs in order to be more successful in the near future. Grandson says, “[they] need to meet the needs of all learners.”

Not every student needs to go to college, but should always have

the option and provide action. Parents starting to talk to their children about college in the ninth grade and schools taking students on field trips to look at different colleges are just a few great ways to appeal to students to learn more about the college process.

Many students don’t know why they go to college. They know ‘to go’ but they don’t know why or where to go in the future. Forty percent of people drop out and fifty percent graduate in 5 years now.

As interim Superintendent, Grandson hopes for the best for the students in the Malden Public Schools system.

The Blue and Gold November 2016

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Massachusetts Reacts to The 2016 Presidential Election Rebeca Pereira Reporter

ary Clinton won the popular vote in Massachusetts more than 900,000 votes ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump. Senator Elizabeth Warren and close Clinton associate represents

belief demonstrated their passionate feelings on the Boston Common in peaceful protest. Chants of “not my President” and posters saying “Impeach Trump” reflected ten-

R

epublican President-Elect Donald Trump, defied odds as a political outsider on the early morning of November 9th, 2016.

Although the election was impossibly narrow, most early polls called a win for the Democratic nominee, former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton. As key swing-states began demonstrating a Republican lean, Trump’s electoral win was called although Clinton continued to hold the popular vote.

Following these results of the 2016, much the nation has dipped into a state of confusion and uncertainty, reflecting majorly in cities regarded as democratic strongholds.

Although both candidates asked for unity when addressing the end of the election, the divide has rippled out rather than remaining contained.

This divisive election has taken a visible toll on Massachusetts. Hill-

Protests against Trump. Photo from Wikimedia.

Massachusetts in the Senate.

On November 9th, more than 4,000 young citizens experiencing a range of denial, frustration, and dis-

sions running high, a very different mood than the one expected for the upcoming Love Rally at the same location planned for this Friday.

While social media has flooded with compassion for those and their families directly affected by Trump’s win, bitter resentment has risen as well from both sides. While the Boston Police Department reports no arrests, Los Angeles police tell a different story, arresting at least 13 people involved in the torching of a Trump effigy.

Although protesters acknowledge that the protests are cannot reverse the outcome of the election, as some pro-Trump citizens have pointed out over social media, the protests have sparked a conversation about the Electoral College and its effectiveness. “Abolish Electoral College” printed on an angry Bostonian’s poster demonstrating clearly the attitude of many towards the body of electors casting the ultimate vote for president.

The Electoral College casts their votes formally on December 19th, 2016 in their respective states finalizing the decision. Until then, more indignant voices will continue to join in protests across the nation in opposition to the outcome of the controversial election that shook the country.

New Arrangements City of Malden Welcomes New Police Station for City Hall Neden Bernadin Lead Reporter

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ecently, Mayor Gary Christenson and the Malden officials have moved into temporary workplaces in preparation of the demolition of the old City Hall on 200 Pleasant St. The new building consists of different departments; Human Resources, Malden Redevelopment Authority, Mayor’s Office and others in another temporary workplace up on 110 Pleasant St. This past summer, 2 or 3 departments relocated out of City Hall into temporary buildings for the time being.

The building is right next to the new Chinese Restaurant Ming’s Seafood.

Although Mayors Christenson’s office is a lot smaller than his old one, he thinks that it was “perfect” and that space wasn’t important to him, but more of trying to “revitalize the downtown area [not what it once was back in the 60s or 70s].”

The demolition of the old City Hall will start up in February of 2017. Mayor Christenson said that main aspect of the development is to, “reconnect Pleasant Street, so it will go straight through” to make it easier for people to travel in and

out to get to Malden Square. It will take about four months for the demolition before the building process starts up.” Christenson noted that the project had an overall worth of a hundred and twenty-five million dollars. The construction is expected to be completed in the year of 2019.

Mayor Christenson mentioned that the Police Station is also in process of being torn down. It will be in a more central-like position in the town. He described that it was a main component in the project since they couldn’t temporarily move the inmates. A benefit of the station removal is that it will create more parking opportunities for the residents or people who want to visit.

The Malden Teen Enrichment Center will also play a huge as it will be the new location for public meetings for the School Committee and City Council.

As the project unravels, Mayor Christenson hopes that this new establishment of the city hall is “something that people can be proud of” and describes as a “shot in the arm for [you know] one of the most important areas in our city.¨ As Christenson would like to say to future colleagues, “in life, hard work and dedication will always be the tendency of success.”

New Malden police station. Photo taken by Neden Bernadin.

Neden Bernadin Lead Reporter

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n saturday, October 29th, 2016, residents of Malden were invited to a tour of the new and improved Malden Police Station on 800 Eastern Avenue.

The huge location change is leading up to the new development of Malden Square, including the demolition of the current City Hall building which will start up in the month of February 2017.

Previously, Mayor Christenson noted that the police station was the main component of this project since moving the inmates to a temporary locations wasn’t easy. The old police department on Pleasant Street is in the process of being torn down

also. Construction started around in August and ended in the month of October.

The state of Massachusetts provided about 9 million dollars for aid with the MassWorks Infrastructure Program funds. An approximate worth of 120 million dollars was invested by Jefferson Apartment Group for the new development on Pleasant Street. Many sections such as the Patrol, Criminal Investigation, and Traffic division are included in the department.

A benefit to this new addition is the community function hall that will be opened to the residents of Malden, which was not offered at the old police station.

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Dancing with the

teacheRs 2016 Falyn Kelley Reporter

disappointed for not winning again. He was “very impressed at how everybody really stepped it n Thursday, October 20th, up. Very proud of my team, but, Dancing with the Teachers still, Mr. Wong came made their 2nd annual debut, here and really brought his in the Jenkins auditorium at Malden A-game” adding that he High School. will be dancing next year Students and parents lined to get the crown again. up to watch their favorite teachSophomore Jason ers dance along to popular songs, Chan went along with and help raise money for the class his friends and thought of 2018. Nothing is better than to that it was “an interestwatch teachers and students rock ing experience.” He out to artists like Justin Bieber, expressed a strong liking Michael Jackson, and Fall Out Boy. to Wong’s act because Last year, being the first year he knew the song and the students have approached Danc“the dance moves were ing with the Teachers, had set the actually pretty accurate. standard high for this year’s show.

I compared [the music Math teacher Christopher Giorvideo] to the dance that dano along with his students had he was doing, and it won first place against the many was pretty accurate.” other groups that year. This year, He also considers doing it was up to him and his group to it next year for the class “defend the crown from last year”. of 2019. Next year he MHS Science teacher Katherine Juniors Harrison Zeiberg and Antonetta Remedihopes to see people step Haskell, having been in charge of the Brown during their performance. Photo by Jesaias up their game, and come show since its birth was relieved that Benitez. up with newer, more this year more people knew about complicated dances. it, however the fun hasn’t wavered Many of the why is new to the MHS staff this year, students were able to see teachwas restless, but he ers outside of the classroom, in thinks that with the a more relaxed, friendly way. amount of practice “Since we were partnered up with they’ve had, that [Mr. Lombardi], it gave us an adthey will do alright. vantage of getting closer to him “[His] group is than other students,” says Chan.

Senior Shannon Hannafin doing it mostly for fun, but it would be stated that “it was pretty interesting, cool if [they] could because [she] didn’t know that those win- but [they are] teachers had moves. [She] thought not expecting it, so it was going to be embarrassing Performance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Photo by Ana if it happens, it hap- but it was actually really cool.”

Pirosca. pens, but if not [they Dancing with the Teachers allowed are] still going to have students to get to know different since the beginning. “This year it’s fun,” Wong said. been a bit easier since people have As he is a new at least heard about it, but it’s been teacher, this is his really fun doing it.” Haskell parfirst interaction with ticipated in the show as well. Three days before the show she stated that students outside of she feels confident about her dance, the classroom. “It and about other groups’ dances. is kind of an enMany of the groups before the trance” he stated.

Once all the show were nervous. “[They were] groups had permentally ready, but not physically formed, it was time to ready, because [they said that] ‘[they were] gonna do this,’ but [they] al- cast the vote on who ways mess up on [their] dance,” said would win Dancing Renet Chan, who danced with Lom- with the Teachers bardi. Many of the groups spent up 2016. All the groups to 6 hours a week rehearsing. Chan’s went up on stage, group, made up of cross country and waited. Conteam members, had to balance prac- sidering how well Brian Wong and students dancing to a K-Pop song. tice and rehearsals, as many other the dance was put Photo by Ana Pirosca. students had to balance their sports, together and repliand academics, with the dance. cated, Wong’s group stole the crown teachers past the normal academia.

The event was considered a sucBackstage, groups were doing from last year’s winner, Giordano. last minute rehearsals, make up Wong stated that he was very happy cess, with laughter and happy faces, checks, and preparing themselves with the outcome, and he’s very almost everyone had a great time mentally for the show. English proud of Emily Chau, Chon Huynh, watching all of their favorite teachers teacher Sean Walsh, along with Selina Zeng, and Sally Zhang, for dance along with their classmates. the Play Production lightened the working so hard to earn the win. The crowd was filled with enthusiGiordano says he was very astic cheers and positive attitudes. mood by singing along to fun songs,

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Race, Culture, and Ethnicity Workshop at Salem State

and dancing. Some other groups were sitting patiently, and others laughing off any nervousness.

English teacher Brian Wong,

Students from the St. John’s Prep and Salem High School 2012 Workshop.

Photo submitted by Erga Dormevil.

Ailin Toro Lead Reporter

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n December 10th The Pharnal Longus Race, Culture, and Ethnicity High School workshop will be taking place at Salem State University. This workshop has been going on for 20 years and was created by Dr. Pharnal Longus, hence the name.

According to Erga Dormevil, a former student of Longus’ and a facilitator and promoter of this event, Longus created this workshop because he “saw the need to create a safe space for students and adults to learn about and discuss issues related to race, culture and ethnicity” as well as “to provide us with an opportunity to step out of our ‘boxes’, to learn about different cultures and celebrate our differences instead of allowing our differences to divide us.”

Dormevil adds to this saying that the workshop’s goal is for people to be informed “on the root of racism and provides [people] with the tools that we need to undo [it].”

Currently the workshop is looking for participants to attend the event. Each high school can have 5-25 participants as long as there is one teacher present for every five students. On the brochure promoting this event it also mentions that the participants should represent various groups at the high school.

At the event participants would be provided with breakfast and lunch. The participants will be mixed with students from different schools and go into smaller groups to learn about different concepts, including discrimination, through different activities.

Dormevil adds to this saying that “at the end of the workshop participants earn a certificate which looks great on college applications and resumes.”

She ends saying that “participants will have the opportunity to experience an invaluable workshop, make new friends, learn about different cultures,and gain knowledge to help undo racism”. If you are interested in participating at this event you contact Dormevil at 1RACEinc@ gmail.com. You can also contact Luz Longo, the head of registrations at LBlongus@comcast.net.

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Ana Pirosca Reporter ...continued from the front page be a good addition to MHS. “When we went, we loved what we saw,” stated Walsh. Soon enough, he was asking Tufts University to partner up with them. Walsh is also looking to collaborate with other community members, such as Malden Reads, and the Malden Alumni Association to help fund some projects, oversee some interns, and publish student works.

Tufts would be able to use the room to train their English major graduate and undergraduate students in tutoring. The new interns will be able to help the students with creative writing projects.

Walsh is confident that MHS will be able to have all sorts of students begin publishing stories and articles, and let their voices be heard.

“The Malden High School Writers’ Den fosters creative thinking and free expression through the written word by providing an environment that supports young writers in their development of their craft,“ explained Walsh, adding that this mission statement will be a driving force on how the Den will function.

Writers’ Den Profile: Larry Evans

Larry Evans. Photo by Felicia Fallano.

Ana Pirosca Reporter

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ith the start of November comes the advent of the Writers’ Den. This coffee shop style room inside the school is hoped to be a place for students to work on creative writing.

Though it’s still a work in progress, the Writers’ Den finally

and by extension, think, he will be able to improve a student’s life. “[Evans wants] to has chosen the first Tufts student bring [empathy] to students and to oversee it. Larry Evans was welmake [himself] more empathetic comed warmly to MHS in October. too,” especially to those whose Evans, 22, was born in Boise, interests are centered around math Idaho. He came to Tufts Univerand science, and may not have the sity to major in English and Writsocial outreach to practice empathy ing, though originally he intended that students whose interests are in to major in engineering because he english may have. was proficient in both math and He states that he’s excited to physics. He explains that his reason meet students from a younger genfor majoring in writing is that “in eration that will soon be in the same high school… [he] always had this position he is in of going to college intense internal desire to write” both and exiting the high school lifestyle. creatively, and formally, and that he “Specifically for Malden, it’s rethought he’d reap more happiness ally nice to see a more eclectic as having it for a profession. mix of student body The reason for the and faculty than switch he explains, [his] very hois that in the past mogeneous his parents Idaho backdidn’t enground.” courage him The high very much school to take on is very writing as racially a profesdiverse, sion.

He a n d explained Evans is that “[His] excited to dad is a civil interact with and mechanithe different cal engineer, [and cultures and his] mother is an onbackgrounds and cologist so [he] didn’t rebring them together to ally get much collaborate support from Writers’ Den logo created by Rebecca Oliveira. harmonithem.” They ously. wanted him to take on a more fiIn the Writers’ Den Evans will nancially secure study, and he unbe a guide to the students and facderstands the concern. However, he ulty that will take advantage of the decided that writing was not just a room. It is his belief that “the best hobby to him. way to guide students is to let them Due to the lack of support Evguide themselves.” ans is extremely set on encouraging meaning that in the den other students at Malden High to he will be there to help write creatively, and go after their you with ideas, and dreams. “[He hopes] to inspire stuexpression though he dents to write creatively and follow won’t act like a teacher, the things that they want to do, like with a lesson plan every [he is] trying to do. If [he] had the day. “Workshopping is support in that field in high school the best way to really [he] would have been much more understand how many driven to research colleges and try different sides there are to follow [his dreams] rather than to making a piece of be economically infallible.” There writing, so [he thinks] might be students that have dreams the best way [he] can that their parents don’t encourage, guide students is by not or even know about because they’re guiding them at all and afraid of what they might think. Evact as a facilitator.” He ans wants to create an environment doesn’t want students to for them to express themselves and think that he is in charge. practice what they love, despite the Evans aims for students world telling them not to. to work on themselves, Evans also wants to expose the and have everyone colbenefits of writing to students. It is laborate, read each othhis belief that “reading and writing ers’ work, and exchange both have that sense of understandideas. ing other people that other fields Sean Walsh, being tend not to care about” or focus the person to instigate on. He explains that if he is able the Writers’ Den’s opento change the way students write,

ing explained why he was pleased with Tufts’ choice of Evans to come to MHS. “[Walsh] thought he was incredibly enthusiastic, and incredibly mature… [Evans] demonstrated skills and talents to really work well with students and throw himself into this kind of position [or] this kind of role.” It’s his belief that Evans will be a good addition to the school. The Writers’ Den is meant to be the place for all students, and Evans will be able to curate to everyone’s artistic and creative needs.

The widely known Play Production is one of Walsh’s other projects, where he is co-director with Miranda Libkin. He explains that his role in Play Pro isn’t very important in terms of creating the work, because the the students are the ones that are mostly in charge.

Since he expects Evans will be in a similar position in the Writers’ Den, and he laments how fine the line between editing a person’s work and editing a person’s creative ideas are. “Too much fixing and it loses the student’s [voice], and it’s a difficult balance” Walsh explains. Thus his only advice to Evans, from one facilitator to another, is to “listen to the student, ask a lot of questions, provide students a lot of options to explore their work, [and] really make [the Den] a safe space so they can feel comfortable taking appropriate risks.”

Until the day that the Writers’ Den does open, Evans can be found at the high school most days. For the past three weeks he has been in classrooms getting to know students and faculty. Creative writing is an art that need to be cultivated to all students, and Evans has taken on the responsibility to administer ideas and support to those who seek it.

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MATV Presents : Youngsheen Jhe’s T r u t h o f L i f e G a l l e ry

Sydney Stumpf Lead Reporter

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ATV has been hosting art galleries for some time now, and from now until November 4th, Korean artist Youngsheen Jhe’s artwork is going to be hanging in the establishment.

On Oct. 20, MATV welcomed community members and the artist herself, to a reception for the artwork. Light refreshments were served, and guests had a discussion regarding the art, and what it means to each individual.

Youngsheen Jhe was born in Korea, where as a child, used art to make her everyday life more exciting. Today, she lives in Lexington, Massachusetts, although has connections in Malden, where she participated in a local sketch group.

Jhe calls the city of Malden “very unique,” since it’s community members love to “know something new or interesting.” Malden residents, Jhe says, “know how to celebrate art.” Jhe was “deeply honored to be [there] as an artist,” and truly felt her art was appreciated.

Jhe’s paintings are oil on canvas, and her “Truth of Life” gallery showcased at MATV has a focus on mannequins which were incorpo-

rated within human lives.

Guillermo Hamlin, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for MATV, said that setting up the gallery was “quite easy and simple,” as he had help from Jhe herself, who labeled all paintings. The gallery was set up in a single afternoon.

While searching for potential artists to showcase at the MATV gallery, Hamlin said that the gallery coordinators looked for art that could “resonate with the Malden Community.” The main purpose of showcasing galleries at MATV, Hamlin states, is to “enrich, educate, and entertain the public,” which Jhe’s provocative and intense paintings do.

Associate Director at MATV, Anne D’Urso-Rose, helped coordinate the art gallery. This is only a small part of her job’s entirety, although it is one of her favorites. In

Photos of Youngsheen Jhe’s paintings by Ryan Hames.

To view more of Jhe’s work, check out her website at youngsheen.com

preparation for the gallery, a video was put out highlighting the artist.

Those at MATV working on the gallery had to do a lot of promotion in order for the gallery to be a success.

D’Urso-Rose “loved [Jhe’s] work” calling it “intriguing and very high-quality.” D’Uro-Rose organized a discussion during the artist’s reception, in which guests talked about the art, as the artist sat back and listened to what people thought of her art and what it meant to people. D’Urso-Rose had organized the discussion because of the “narrative [quality] of the paintings.” The paintings “[told] a story although you don’t know what the story is.”

At the reception on October 20, Mayor Gary Christenson was in attendance. Christenson believes that the galleries are a great way to bring together the Malden community, and enrich the community as a whole.

Christenson thinks of the art galleries held at MATV to be a “great diversion for [him] from the everyday, tedious, monotonous life that [he says he] leads in [his] capacity as an elected official.” Galleries like the Jhe’s reminds Christenson that there is “more to life than policies and budgets.”

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Malden creates Hosts Pictures at an Exhibition: A Tribute to Friendships Christina Appignani Lead Reporter

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n Saturday November 5th, Malden Creates hosted an art exhibition at Malden High School in the Jenkins Auditorium called “Pictures At An Exhibition: A Tribute to Friendships.”

The event was apart of a community project celebrating the connections between the arts and the power of friendship. The original idea for the event came from the story of composer Modest Mussorgsky and a fellow artist. 39 works of art were displayed that were created by local artists.

Dalia Zeabi and Lambert Rahming, a community minister, opened up the event. Rahming explains that “[Malden Creates] is a group of eclectic people who really believe that art is convenient for engaging and inspiring people around Malden.” Zeabi expressed that, “[she] hoped that the audience felt the heart of why art, in a gathering like this, connects with music.” She also expressed her gratitude towards many local businesses that have helped enrich the events and have made them more affordable by their generous contri-

butions to Malden Reads.

After Zeabi and Rahming’s introduction, Malden playwright Brian Triber and MATV Outreach Coordinator Guillermo Hamlin recited letters by Mussorgsky to the audience. Then, pianist Yelena Beriyeva performed a piece called “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky. Rahming explained that “[the piano piece] is like a gift. There are different movements in the piece and it’s kind of like putting

the wrapping on a gift, but it’s not really wrapped until the bow is tied. In other words, the piece is not complete without the audience’s full attention and no intermissions.”

Zeabi explains that the event came about because of two people in Malden had an idea many years ago. She describes “one of the people, Ose Schwab, took action on

her long-standing desire to perform pictures. [Schwab] and [Beriyeva] invited other artists to hear music that was performed visually, and other artists received it very well.”

The event was the result of action to create the full expression of creativity.

After Beriyeva’s performance, the audience was taken outside of the Jenkins Auditorium, where several pieces of art were on display.

The art had a wide range of artists; from professional artists to high school students. Many of the artists are from Massachusetts and were deeply committed to creating the work.

Artist Susan Langan from Georgetown had two works displayed at the event: Foret Sentinels and Vigil. She explains that “[she] chose the symbol of the unhatched egg because it represents possibility. [The egg] protects the mysterious ballet of a developing life.”

Sara Gravante from Melrose, who had three pieces displayed, said that, “[her] work is inspired by colors, shaped, moments and transitions in nature. The process of paint-

ing is one of investigation and seeking the truth inherent in each piece.”

Marina Strauss from Arlington, who was the artist of The Color of Friendship, says that “[she] is inspired by nature and the exploratory aspect of creativity. [Her] work is about how people are part of nature, how the natural world teaches us about life, and about change and acceptance.”

All of the artwork displayed at this event will be also be displayed at the MATV art gallery from November 9th thru January 12th. People can still create tributes to friends and submit them to maldencreates. com.

Clockwise: Les Demolselles de I’Exhibition by Lisa Tiemann. Walking through a Piano Composition by Lisa Sears. Dialogue with Nature I by Sirarpi Heghinian-Walzer.

Piano Promenade by Miranda Vitello. All photos by Christina Appignani.

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Fine Arts Club Hosts Zombie Tag at MHS Rebecca Oliveira Reporter Falyn Kelley Reporter

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n friday, October 28, 2016, the Fine Arts Club held a game of zombie tag in the halls of Malden High School to show their Halloween spirit.

Tickets were being sold outside Cafe B during lunch block throughout the week, and after school on Friday in front of Cafe B, where students were lining up to get in on the fun. The Fine Arts club was able to raise $234 on Friday.

Cafe B was packed with the people playing lined up against the wall, waiting to receive their headband that will determine if they’ll be a zombie or human in the game.

There were a total of 78 people playing in the game, and people were huddling together in teams making

MHS students playing zombie tag. Photo by Falyn Kelley. alliances and plans on the best way to stay alive without getting infected by the zombies.

The rules of the game were simple, humans had to wear a yellow headband around their arms to identify their humanity, while the zombies had to wear their yellow

New STEM Director: Shereen Escovitz Christina Appignani Lead Reporter

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ne of the many leadership changes Malden welcome this year was a new STEM director.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Unlike most director positions in Malden, the STEM director not only operates at Malden High School, but also in the five K-8 schools across the city. The STEM director also evaluates teachers, run professional development days, makes decisions about the curriculum that is taught and what the school supplies for students.

Former MHS math teacher Shereen Escovitz stepped up to the position of STEM Director after the departure of the previous STEM Director, Diane Perito. Escovitz was originally on the search committee for the new director, but she explains that “[the committee] only interviewed one person who [they] thought was not a good fit, so [she] stepped up and said ‘[she] can do it.’”Afterwards, Escovitz met with the superintendent and assistant superintendent, who interviewed her and gave her the position.

Escovitz explains that switching from being a teacher to a STEM director is “very different.”

Since Escovitz has to go to all six schools in Malden, she is not just in one classroom so she doesn’t see students as much. She also said that “[she] spends a lot more time talking with teachers about teaching, and [she] considers that an upside, but [she] definitely misses the classroom environment since as a teacher, you are totally focused on your classroom and your students that you don’t necessarily get involved.”

For her goals as STEM Director, Escovitz wants to help the district get a renewed focus on science, technology, engineering and math in grades K-12. She believes, “it’s important to give [students] as much time as [they] are given for reading and writing.” She thinks this is particularly important for “younger students to get a good exposure to math. Because Escovitz’s background is in high school and that she knows so much about it, she hopes “explore the elementary world and make the curriculum as strong as it can be. “[She] wants their STEM programs to run as well as they can.”

Escovitz is very excited hold the STEM Director position and is excited to do great work this year in Malden Public Schools.

headbands wrapped around their necks. The goal of the game was to try to stay away from the zombies, and throwing socks at them to freeze the zombies, which would buy them 30 seconds to escape capture.

Students playing the game were only allowed to run around

on the second and third floors from Holland house to Jenkins house and finally to Boyle house. No one could hide in the classrooms, nor the bathrooms. Some members of the Fine Arts club were monitoring the students on the cameras in the main office to oversee that no one was breaking any rules, while some of the others monitored the hallways.

After club advisor and MHS art teacher Joseph Luongo and the Fine Arts club officials explained the rules to everyone in front of the cafeteria and everyone got their headbands, the masses raced around the school trying to hide from the zombies whose identities were unknown.

People were sprinting to hide behind corners, doors, stairwells, and just about any nook and cranny they could find with their ammunition of multicolored sock balls.

Socks went flying left and right as the air was filled with the sound of fierce battle cries.

New Humanities Director:

Abbey Dick Christina Appignani Lead Reporter Sydney Stumpf Lead Reporter

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bbey Dick is a well-known English teacher at Malden High School. She has been teaching here for 3 years and currently teaches English 10 CP classes and one AP Language and Composition class.

Dick recently acquired a position as Humanities director of Malden Public Schools.

As Humanities director, Dick will be leaving the teaching environment and applying herself to coordinating curricula in the English, Foreign Language, History, and Fine Arts programs in the K-8 schools as well as MHS. Dick admits that when she read the job description, she thought “[it] is a huge and challenging role. But [she] would like to give it a shot.” Although Dick got the position on her own will, she believes that, “the superintendent and assistant superintendent made it happen.”

Dick said that “[she] really likes working on curriculum so helping teachers, and not just design dayto-day lesson plans but long term

picture”. She frequently asks herself “where’s the district going in the next five years? What assessments do we need to show that display how students are making progress?

What does [the district] do? What does [the district] brainstorm when [students] are not making progress?”

Dick really likes the scope of work that Humanities Director offers her. She says that “being a Humanities Director is obviously incredibly different from being a teacher, and it will be very very challenging, because it’s not just English, it’s social studies, art, music, and foreign language.”Despite these challenges, Dick is feeling confident because of the many people there is to help her along the way.

This will be a major transition for Dick, as her “whole life [was] tenth grade English and AP Language.”

“Meeting teachers in the district [Dick has] never met before”, is one the more exciting aspects of her new position. Dick feels like “we can all learn something from every person we meet, and there’s so many people [she] hasn’t met.”

Dick recalls the “2-3 years [it took] to learn all of the names of Malden High School teachers.”

Local News

The Blue and Gold November 2016

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OPINION Why Local Politics Matter Too

Alysha McDevitt Lead Reporter

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overnment officials and city workers are always highlighting the importance of political activity and staying involved in your community. They claim that every voice is heard and that they are working in the benefit of the people and the city. However, when there are no voices to be heard, who should the government listen to?

The fact of the matter is that the citizens of Malden are anything but involved in their community; this could be for a number of reasons, ranging from language barriers, to busy schedules, to lack of knowledge on the occurrences in the city.

As a reporter in Malden High’s Blue and Gold newspaper, I have been more frequently attending City Council, Malden High’s School Council, and the School Committee’s meetings -- or at least attempting to. It is difficult finding out about the meetings, as you have to venture through the city of Malden’s website to find the dates and locations of meetings, so to those with less reason to attend these meetings, it is often not worth the trouble.

Every City Council meeting I have attended so far has had no more than 10 citizens in attendance, and the School Committee meetings consisted of all teachers and one or two parents; on some days, both meetings will take place within close times, or at the same time, on the same day.

The issue at hand is much bigger than simply feeling like a community. The majority of Malden residents have no idea what is happening within their local government, and what decisions are being made at the meetings they are missing.

For example, at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 1, the Council discussed the City Hall renovations as well as the construction and reparation of streets around the city, as well as the financial information needed to make these decisions. Chances are, most Malden residents had no idea these decisions are being made.

It is extremely important to participate in the government and in politics, whether it is nationwide or local. Not being a part in the decisions around your city takes away from your freedom; as Americans, we are entitled to vote and be active in our government-- the wonderful thing about democracy.

However, democracy means nothing if nobody other than government officials are willing to participate in it.

MHS Students Tsige, Missamou, and Bilimo Overturn Headwrap ban Alysha McDevitt Lead Reporter

make the change [they] saw fit. Ultimately, [they] offered supports to the girls but they really did the work alden High school is the most themselves and left everybody at the diverse school in the state of school committee meeting in awe Massachusetts. The students and of what thoughtful, intelligent stufaculty pride themselves in being dents [there are] at Malden High.” exposed and extremely acceptant to After being advised to adcultures of all kinds. With that bedress the School Committee, Ruthie ing said, back in October, a student Bilimo, Birukti Tsige, and Cedrina wearing a headwrap, a cultural Missamou gathered to speak to the tradition in her family, was told that School Committee and the Superinshe was not allowed to wear tendent. Tsige stated her headwrap. that “[they] were a The student wore her little nervous but headwrap, and was told by a this was very imporfaculty member that she was tant to [them] and not to wear it, or she would [they] weren’t backface suspension. Naturally, in ing down.” She cona school that prides itself in tinued to state her being culturally diverse, this amazement at how caused some outrage among quickly the School the students, which led to a Committee changed group of girls organizing a the rule, which happrotest in which they all wore pened right in front their head wraps to school, of them, rather than proudly representing their months later, as the culture. girls had expected.

Around the halls of The girls’ acMalden High, dozens of complishment made girls were seen wearing their it to Wicked Local, headwraps. Many of the Sophomores Birukti Tsige, Cedrina Missamou, and Ruthie Bilimo WCVB, and other girls’ parents were called and wearing headwraps. Photo by Tenzin Dorjee. local news channels. informed that their daughters Tsige said addresswere not following dress code. The stated that “from the moment they ing the School Committee and seeschool handbook strictly states that came in to talk to [him that he] ing the rule changed was an incredhead wraps may not be worn except thought this was a great opportu- ible experience for her, and that she for religious purposes, which in the nity to make a positive change. To truly felt what it was like to make a eyes of the stated administrator, was [him], this was an area of the dress change. Students are now allowed not the case for these girls. code that was unaddressed, so the to wear headwraps in Malden High When asked, Malden High chance was there for [them] to work because these students decided to student Birukti Tsige gave some together as a school community to take a stand.

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insight. “Head wraps have been a style worn by many black girls for generations,” she stated, “In Malden High, most teachers don’t say anything because they understand that it has a meaning. It’s not a cap or a hat; it’s more than that. But one day, a group of girls came to school wearing a full head wrap and were told to take it off or face suspension.”

MHS principal, Ted Lombardi was a key part in this change. He

SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUB Rebeca Pereira Reporter

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ecent events have brought social equality to the forefront and Malden High School’s Social Justice club is making sure to address these social issues, shedding light on a much needed conversation.

Newly formed at Malden High School, Social Justice club works to create a safe and welcoming environment to talk about social injustices and how to address them.

To the club officers, this type of club was almost a necessity. Senior Gabby Onessimo recognized early on Malden High’s diversity and the need for a club that both celebrates this diversity and allows students to talk about the struggles related with being so diverse. Onessimo, the president and founder of the club who is also the Head Copy Editor of the Blue and Gold, wanted to build a space that would support a community interested in talking about social justice and making change.

When Onessimo approached seniors Deborah Deapherne and Robyn

Jones, both immediately expressed their eagerness to attend and help lead the club. The plan was to create a club where new topics would be addressed every meeting, giving members a chance to contribute to ongoing conversations about recent events, justice movements, and issues in school.

Deapherne, one of the club’s officers, explains that “as [they] start off small and [they] have the conversations in [their] little classroom it’ll eventually grow out and grow to everyone else and people will start feeling comfortable and start correcting others, especially when they are being rude or derogatory.” At its core, Jones, the club’s final president, knows the club is all about the feeling that “they get where [she’s] coming from, and [she gets] where they are coming from,” and what people choose to do with that feeling. While continuing to hold weekly discussion meetings, the club plans to set up posters about appropriation to educate others about the importance of standing up not only for yourself, but for others as well.

To inform and educate, the club

also urges members and students to use social media for their benefit by following others who advocate for social justice.

The club is also hoping to take the conversation outside of the classroom, bringing the topic of social justice to the forefront in school assemblies and even outside of school events. They want to engage in peaceful protests and other shows of civil disobedience, historically the most influential form of social action, not just to show the importance of the issues being spoken of, but the importance of student’s voices.

Now, the Social Justice club is using student’s voices to address social injustices by providing a space for students to “vent and learn without being completely judged, pushed out, or ignored”, as Deapherne puts it. This is especially important to MHS students, Jones concludes, because “[they] want to have Malden High be aware of everything that’s going on and not be one of those schools that is really diverse but [they] don’t talk about it.”

The club meets every Wednesday in Ms. Brown’s room, B328.

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Sports

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Boys Soccer

Subin Bastola Reporter

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s the fall sports come to close, the Malden High School boys soccer team has finally come to an end with their final record of 7-9-3.

The team is led by junior captain Patrick Pereira and senior Samuel Pettigrew. This years team has participated very actively in every game. The season was inaugurated with the game against East Boston.

Coach Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith. Photo by Ryan Hames.

Subin Bastola Reporter

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alden High School soccer coach and English teacher Jeremiah Smith has been passionate about the sports his whole life.

Smith has been coaching high school soccer for 17 years and this is his thirteenth season as a head coach. Smith’s father, who was a high school and college football player, is his greatest role model and biggest inspiration.

So far, Smith describes the season as “not too bad. [The team]

The team is coached by MHS English teacher Jeremiah Smith. This is the seventeenth year of coaching for Smith in his high school coaching career.

This year’s team had an escalatng amount of new, young players. Smith mentioned that one of the challenges for this season was “integrating so many new players into the team.”

The new players feel proud of the hard work and talent they get

to bring on the varsity team. Junior Eric Toh stated that it feels good to be part of the team, since “[he felt] like [he was] playing with lot more purpose than when [he was] just [on the] JV or freshmen [team].”

Although the players have a hard time balancing school and the game of soccer, they explain that it helps to relieve a lot of stress now that [they] have more time to get things done.

Despite the hard work and ded-

ication, the MHS soccer team was not able to beat Everett in both their confrontations, but they were able to defeat their greatest rival, Medford, with a score of score of 4-3 at their home conference game. Though, the second time around the Golden Tornadoes lost the away game against the Mustangs with a score of 1-0.

As a result, they could not make it to the state tournament this year, but look forward to trying to go back to states next season.

certainly [has] had some ups and downs in the beginning, but we dramatically won against Medford, Melrose, and Peabody to help us to get back in track.”

Around 24 players have graduated during the last two years, which resulted in a bunch of new players on the team that have to become accustomed to each others skills. Smith mentioned that it is a lot easier when the soccer team has had the same player for a couple of years, but “integrating so many new players onto the team has been a little challenging as kids come from different athletic backgrounds.”

For a team to prosper, it is vital that they put their individual success at a side and work for team goals.

Smith believes that “dedication is really important to [their] craft.”

“It depends on the opponent” says Smith. The defensive and offensive team tends to lean more towards using their defensive skills while playing with a strong opponent. They wait for the opportunity, whereas the team is offensive when they find their opponent’s back line weak. According to the Smith, Somerville, Medford, and Everett are tough to face off against.

Besides soccer, Smith is also interested in wrestling. Being the head coach of the MHS wrestling coach, Smith finds the “absolute difference in coaching soccer and wrestling.”

He explained that “soccer is a team oriented sport in which 11 people work together for success, whereas

wrestling is the ultimate individual sport.”

Smith’s favorite part of coaching the boys soccer team is being able to interact with the players. He mentions the bus rides, practices, and games which goes “far beyond wins and losses.”

An unforgettable game for Smith was the one against Medford, which they won in the last few minutes of playing time.

The team has had a distinguished and exceptional season, and will continue to make history for the boys soccer team here at MHS.

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Field Hockey Michelle Yin Reporter

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fter a long season, the field hockey team at Malden High School ends the season with 1 win and 17 losses. Although the team did not make it into nationals, this was one of their best seasons yet, creating an unbreakable bond with one another. The team has become more like a family, their determination and endless days of practice resulted in their first win in 2 years against Lowell.

Senior captain of this year’s field hockey team, Erin Mulcahy said “this season was one of [her] favorites. The amazing will, determination, and spirit of all players on the team made this season amazing.” Mulcahy adds that it was definitely a highlight of her senior year.

“Although [they] lost, [they] won in so many ways.” She added that their communication and bonding with each other led them to become a family. The field hockey team is proud of their win, because they worked really hard and put all the effort into that game.

This has been a long and difficult season. For the following years

of field hockey, another senior team captain Caitlyn Leonard gave some advice, “For those returning and new that are going to be playing field hockey next year, [she] believe[s] that they should never stop working hard.

Even in the off season.” Leonard adds that even going to camps or just getting together with other teammates to play will help you improve.

These activi- Junior Shakyra Antoine bringing the ball up the field. Photo by ties that help Michelle Yin. you warm up before the season will only lead to grow even closer to new and older a more successful outcome. “[She] players. Having great relationships advise[s] them to keep their heads with teammates will lead to a better up no matter what and to always season and will make connections support each other. [She] also that will last even after the season is hope[s] they stay like a family and over.”

The last out of the captains, Julia Cocuzzo, stated that “for this season, [she has] to say that [she is] very proud of the field hockey team and what [they] have achieved. Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have as many wins to prove the hard work, but [they] all know [they] did achieve great success.” Cucuzzo added that there was a struggle in the beginning of the season due to the loss of much of the varsity team last year, however, this team had the best communication compared to the previous ones. Some advice that she had suggested for new and returning members next year was, “For next year’s members [she] would advise the players to make sure they continue playing during the off season. [She] also highly advise[s] them to stress communicate among each other. The team achieved and improved so much this year, [she] would hate for them to have to start fresh next season.”

With all the support given frm family, friends, and coaches, the team has improved no doubt.

Spending hours practicing, and learning many new strategies their hard work has paid off. Having thiyear been so successful, next year’s season would be even better and make the team even stronger.

Sports

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Football Abhishek Rana Lead Reporter

The Malden High Football team have had a season of ups and downs. The Golden Tornadoes have a record of 4-6, with just the annual Thanksgiving rivalry game against Medford left to play. The Tornadoes will finish the year below .500, but despite the record, William Manchester’s first year as head coach can be looked back upon with optimism.

Throughout the season, the tornadoes went on multiple streaks, but their season started winless.

After losing three straight games to begin the season, all of which came down to the wire, the Tornadoes

bounced back.

Losses at Methuen, Malden Catholic and versus Peabody were followed by two straight victories when they hosted Somerville and Lowell. The only difference between the victories and defeats were that in the victories, the Tornadoes were able to execute in late game drives. In fact one of these victories came in a dramatic 48-42 game with the win coming in triple overtime against Lowell.

However just Malden High School offense getting ready to punt. Photo by Tenzin Dorjee. when it seemed that MalHigh a playoff berth. However, second year as head coach. den High had turned its Sophomore Reginald fortunes around, they were faced throughout the season, the Tornadoes showed their potential that Charles stated that the most positive with a tough two game road trip at Catholic Memorial and Lawrence. can be maximized in Manchester’s aspect of the season “was [them] be-

Junior captain Jared Martino running the ball. Photo by Abhishek Rana.

On both away games the team was not able to produce much, both offensively and defensively. The two losses made their record 2-5, essentially eliminating them from playoff contention.

Despite this, the team still fought on, winning their next two games versus Lawrence and Newton South. This included their 42-20 win against Newton South, their largest margin of victory this season.However, just like the rest of the season however, the Tornadoes were not able to extend their winning streak, losing 27-21 at Lynn Classical on November 10th.

Inconsistencies and the inability to win close games early in the season may have cost Malden Junior Isaiah Likely going for the catch.

Photo by Abhishek Rana.

Team huddling before the start of the game. Photo by Abhishek Rana. coming a team and playing together to win.” In addition, it was also their impressive overall home record of 4-1, with their only loss coming in their home opener, back in week two.

Charles mentioned that their impressive home record is due to “[their] fans cheering [them] on” which gives them the added “confidence to play better” Their 4-1 record at home is a particularly important stat as the Tornadoes will play the annual Thanksgiving rivalry game at home, hosting Medford on November 24th. The Medford Mustangs are currently 3-7 and both teams will look to end their season on a high note.

The Blue and Gold November 2016

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Top to bottom, left to right: MHS offense trying to gain yards. MHS defense tackling the ball carrier. Martino running the ball.

MHS about start the play. MHS defense running towards the ball carrier. All photos by Abhishek Rana.

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Boys Cross Country

Ameen Anwar Toby Pitan Reporter

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ophomore Ameen Anwar will soon be embarking on his first States meet as a member of the cross country team. Anwar is among the team’s top five runners which means that he is one of the fastest runners on the cross country team in the entire state division. He is excited to compete against other so-called legendary runners that he has heard of but has yet to race against.

He also says that in an event such as this, a lot is expected of him. The Coaches Invitational, more commonly referred to as States, is very different from the typical cross country meet. It is a qualifying meet that brings together the fastest runners in the state and puts them into one competition.

He describes that he became interested in long-distance running on whim. One day he starting running with a friend and his passion flourished from there. Conversely, Anwar admits that when he initially joined the cross country team he did not expect to “like all that running” but eventually his attitude toward the sport changed. He now admits that it is “so much fun” and describes his experience on the team as “amazing.”

Anwar also reveals that cross country is “not as lonely as most people think”. He explains how cross country is a difficult sport to attract members to as the team members could not just “run laps in front of” aspiring team members.

This will be Anwar’s debut as an athlete who qualifies for States.

He describes this occasion as “the big meet”, an event many runners “look up to”. But in joining the cross country team he says he has “learned to take pressure of [himself].” He has become accustom to the spotlight that being a runner brings in invitational meets such as States. He is mainly excited to compete against his fellow competitors that will be meeting during this particular competition.

Of course, holding such high rank on a sport as arduous as cross country can be intimidating. Anwar admits that cross country Coach David Londino does “expect [him] to score,” but overall, he does not apply an unbearable amount of pressure to him and his teammates.

He describes his role on the team as “just to run as fast as [he] can” and “hopefully outrun [the other team's] fastest runners.”

Toby Pitan Reporter

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he Boys cross country team began their season strong and finished it off with equal amounts of victory and potential.

Senior Jason Chan was not only proud of what the team accomplished, but also of “how far he [came]” compared to the commencement of his cross country career at Malden High School. Chan describes that one of his best meets of the season was the GBL, Greater Boston League, Closing meet. He says that he “felt so much joy crossing the finish line” and as a novice runner, he promised to challenge himself more in order to improve.

Chan met all of the goals he set for himself at the beginning of the cross country season. He describes that in the GBL Closing, he put all of his power into triumphing over the very runners who once defeated him thus he reached his main goals as a team member.

Although this was one of the major goals set for Chan, he had also established many more objectives for himself. One of them was to make the list of the team’s top three runners after facing defeat by three “very good” runners. He voiced that he “had a feeling” his goals would be reached if he employed the necessary hard work to his training and competitions. He expresses a sentiment told to him by cross country coach David Londino; “if [one] has the determination to do it, [they] can meet [their] goal”.

Overall, Chan expresses that he had “a pretty good season” compared to what his first meet in the GBL tournament, when he had no prior experience with long-distance running.

Junior team member Juan Buenrostro had similar additional thoughts regarding the conclusion of the boy’s cross country season.

His personal record for this season was 5-1 for Malden. He placed first in five of the six races he ran in for the team. Although the sole meet he did not place first in was the GBL Opening, he did succeed in placing first in two out of three GBL races (against Somerville and Medford).

He describes that in a meet verse Everett he placed third. He had thought it “was supposed to be an easy win” so by the end, after falling behind, he had to “force it” in order to pass his fellow competi-

Ameen Anwar, far left, with his fellow teammates and coach David Londino.

Photo submitted by Ameen Anwar. tors. He gives credit to fellow team member, sophomore Ameen Anwar, for pushing him to place as high as he did during the meet.

Altogether, Buenrostro felt “not perfect or great, just good” about the season in its entirety. He says that

Junior Juan Buenrostro running during a meet. Photo by Toby Pitan. given it was his first time running for the cross country team, he “ran his [hardest]...and tried really hard to make [his] coach happy”.

Contrarily Buenrostro admits that there are still areas as a team member that call for improvement.

He says in one particular meet, Londino believed he could have ran the five miles in under seventeen

minutes, despite the fact that it was his “first ever 5k race”. He ending up running the span in no less than eighteen minutes. He describes how this came as a disappointment considering his “perfect first mile”.

He says Londino “didn’t deserve those results” especially after “all the training he gave [him] and the team”. Besides those few hitches, he says it “was a good season”.

In regards to personal goals, Buenrostro says he only had a couple for the season. He was proud that he was able to defeat a senior runner from Medford who previously outran him. He also says that as the season progressed, he was able to meet the remainder of his goals such as beating top runners from Somerville and “trying to stay with the best runner in the GBL in a race”.

Lastly, he talks about his favorite meet of the season, Malden verse Everett. He says that he “really made a difference in [this] race” and that this particular meet had very powerful impact on him. He describes how his Coach depended on him and his fellow teammates and top runners, Ameen Anwar, Kyle O’Brien, and Brian Tran Le to secure a win for Malden. He simply “was not going to let Everett win”.

He says that the his favorite part of the race was “being the reason [they] won” as he placed third for Malden securing the team a hard-earned victory after an intense race.

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Girls Cross Country

Adela Dzaferagic

Senior Adela Dzaferagic posing for a photo. Photo taken by Sara Zakaria.

Sara Zakaria Reporter

Sara Zakaria Reporter

Girls cross country team with head coach David Londino. Photo by Sara Zakaria.

admitted she felt like However, he girls cross country team’s quitting. she gained a new moseason has reached its end, and the team could not be more prouder tivation, “[she] knew of themselves. Along with the boys quitting was for losers, cross country team, they have be- and [she] wouldn’t get came the GBL champions, which better if [she] quit. So was a perfect way to end their last [she] stuck with it.” season in the Greater Boston League. She had her doubts at According to sophomore first, when coach DaBirukti Tsige, there was a feeling vid Londino said that of nostalgia in the team, since they she could be a varsity were moving to a new league the cross country runner. next season. Tsige added that be- She proved herself cause of that, everyone fought to wrong, saying that she Senior Yining Mao, junior Alexandra Russo, and senior win every race they had, and many was able to finish each Blue & Gold member Leah Tramondozzi. Photo by players had individual personal varsity race she was in. Sara Zakaria. records. There were some setbacks Due to an unfortunate rived in Medford’s team, coach and challenges, since there were injury, she only participated in three races.

She holds Londino gave “the best pep talk that some injuries, and some were even her head up though, knowing that [she’s] ever heard him give,” Tsige days before races. Nevertheless, the “[she] was only a beginner distance states and every girl on the team team “managed to pull it together runner, and [she] had a lot ahead of “no matter what injury [they] had, and unite for every since race, and me to improve.” ran with everything [they] had.” come out as winners,” and as proud The proudest moments for the The girls ended up winning the Malden High School winners. girls cross country team, was the race. The GBL closing was a proud Another cross country runner, meet against Medford, and the GBL moment for Dill. The freshmen imsophomore Taylor Dill, described closing. Tsige said that the team proved a lot, and the older runners did as well, which contributed to the win. Dill sites juniors Allie Russo, Jasmine Gray, and many other girls on the team as the core to helping the team win. Gray became the first female GBL champion for Malden since 2006, a moment that made the team and coach Londino feel very proud, because they’ve achieved so much as a team from all the hard work they’ve put in.

Both girls applauded coach Londino. “Without Londino,” Dill says, “[she] honestly wouldn’t have become a better runner nor a better person. He believes in [her] and the team, that they can do better. Even though he may be a very tough coach, he’s a genuine person who cares about [her] present and my Team prepares to run. Photo by Sara Zakaria. future as a runner and as a person.”

The team has done a phenomher own challenges in the season. seemed like “it was falling apart, enal job at keeping their championAs a beginner distance runner, she and that the mentality didn’t seem ship title.

They finished the season stated that the beginning of the to be great.”

When the girls heard strong, and not only as a team, but season was “very challenging for that a couple new runners had aras a family. [her].” For the first two weeks, she

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How long were you on the team for?

I jumped on the bandwagon a little later than most people on the team and joined the cross country team my junior year. Before making the transition into running all three seasons, I was a member of the indoor and outdoor track team since my freshman year.

What made you want to join Cross Country?

I’ve been a member of the indoor and outdoor track team since my freshman year, running the longer-distance races. I never considered running cross country until a few of my teammates persuaded me to join, telling me my endurance would improve and that the training would benefit me in the track seasons. Their persuasion worked; junior year I made the decision to give cross country a shot and became a three season runner -- which quickly becoming one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Do you want to continue running after high school?

I don’t plan on running at on a collegiate team after high school; that being said, I do plan to continue to run on my own. After spending four year dedicating so much of my time to running it would feel wrong to just to stop.

Being a member of both the cross country and track team I fell in love with running; I don’t run simply because i’m on a team, I run because I genuinely enjoy doing it.

What do you love about cross country?

I would need an entire week to answer this question properly.

Cross country isn’t just ‘running for a long time,’ as I once believed. It’s running in the trails with the leaves crunching beneath your feet feeling nothing but content with life; it’s a sport that teaches you to push yourself to accomplish something you didn’t think you were capable of -- and do even better; it’s a place that creates a memorable bonds between people who enjoy the sport just as much as you do.

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Girls Soccer Jesaias Benitez Lead Reporter

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fter a long and competitive season with ups and downs, the Malden High School’s girls soccer team said farewell to the seniors, as well as the season. With a record of 5-11-1 the girls played their senior game of the season on Wednesday October 26 against Medford. The girls all shared that they had mixed emotions, being sad at the results of the game but proud that they had given all they had.

Senior Natalie Rodriguez shared that one of her fellow teammates she will definitely miss on and off the field is sophomore Francesca Reyes. After 17 games, she still kept determination and along with everyone else, kept going until the very last minute. For Reyes, she felt “really nerve racking” right before their last game because the season as well as their last game, did not turn out how they had expected.

Underclassmen like Angela Tejada-Soliz and Reyes both shared that they already miss the season and can not wait for the season to start all over again next year.

One piece of advice senior captain Felicia Lombardi shared with Reyes before the game started, was “no matter what the outcome [was] of the game, [she] had to be confident and [that she has] potential.

When asked what she would miss the most about the season, Reyes said “the seniors [because] a lot of the leadership would be lost, [however Reyes] know[s] that others will fill in their place.” Now that the season is over, the seniors are really missing the season more than ever.

Senior Natalie Rodriguez stated “all [she] can say for the girls is to make every moment count because four years goes by so fast.” Senior Cleverina Cong along with Lombardi both added on, saying that “playing soccer has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences in high school. The only advice [Cong wants to] leave [her] fell o w

athletes with is to embrace challenges [Lombardi] went further on by saying that “whether on the field or off it is important to continue to challenge yourself.”

Coach Rick Caceda, who has been coaching the girls soccer team for several years, will definitely miss the seniors a lot because he has been coaching a few of them since they were freshmen. Although he is excited to see what new talent the underclassmen will bring, he will always remember the memories the senior girls have brought to the Malden High soccer program.

From top to bottom, left to right: Senior Felicia Lombardi looking to pass the ball. Junior Izabelly Barros. Senior Desiree Delgado. Angela Tejada-Soliz. Genny Murphy throwing the ball. Barros about to kick the ball.

Lombardi scanning the field. All photos by Jesaias Benitez.

The Blue and Gold November 2016

Sports

The Blue and Gold November 2016

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Cheerleading

Man Nguyen Reporter

Jemisha Syliant Reporter

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s the Cheering season comes to an end, the cheerleaders have worked their very best.

According to Senior Gabriella Amisano, who is one of the four captains, says although this season had many ups and downs, the team has been working hard through it. Now that the season comes to an end, Amisano says preventing all the injuries is something she would have done differently. “[She wishes] [she] could have done more to prevent all the injuries that really threw [them] off track this season,” she says.

Amisano also says that this season, “there were a lot of challenges and [that they] were not able to overcome. [She thinks] [they] suffered a lot of injuries, and a lot of strong personalities on the team sometimes made practice hard, but when it came down to it, [they] worked hard at practice and always tried to be [their] best self on the mat and as this season proved it isn't always enough, sometimes there are circumstances that you can't overcome, but that didn't stop [them] from trying extremely hard to make it work.”

MHS cheerleaders getting excited after a touchdown by the football team. Photo by Abhishek Rana. hard sometimes though because these are [her] friends but sometimes you have to ‘lay down the law’ because [they] need to get things done.

Being captain makes [her] push myself that much harder because [she wants] [her] team to succeed and [she wants] to set a good example for the underclassmen,” she explains.

Senior Gianna Giuliano, who was also one of the captains this season, says this sea-

MHS cheearleaders during a football game. Photo by Abhishek Rana.

Being one of the captains of the team comes with a lot of responsibility, and Amisano expresses that she loved being captain of the team. “It's

Golf

son went pretty well. “[They] had a strong start but [they] ran into a few things that created a big challenge that [they] got through throughout

the season,” she says. She also expresses how working harder during the season to achieve their goals faster is something she would do differently.

Giuliano’s biggest challenge this season for her is fracturing her Giuliano also explains how her overall experience with the sport was awesome and that she loves her team. She also says how she plans on trying out for a college team, to continue with the sport.

Senior Janae Rodriguez, who is also one of the four captains, explains that, “[they] had things that made parts of the season difficult for [them] with girls getting hurt throughout the season, but [they] pushed through it all no matter what.” She also says that this season, the main challenges were how many girls were getting injured.

“Everyone on the team is talented.

[They] overcame [the challenges] by with working with the girls [they] had left,” Rodriguez explains.

Rodriguez also explains how becoming captain for the team was an honor and her experience with it was great. She expresses that “[she] wouldn't ask to cheer with any other team [her] senior year of high school.”

Rodriguez’s advice for others is “always try your hardest. Never give up on anything your heart desires! Just because you may not be as good as other girls doesn't mean you can't try... what matters is that you are giving it your absolute best!

The most important thing to remember is to always have fun with it!”

he season has ended for the fall sports, including the golf season.

“It was a rewarding and growing season, with maturation occurring both personally and golf skillswise for all of our student athletes,” explained coach Richard Malatesta.

Throughout the season, there had been many obstacles and setbacks for the team. The overwhelming amount of new members proved to be quite problematic for the captain and the coach.

For the first few weeks, many members struggled with the sport as this is their first hand experience with this.

However, after many practices and face-off with other local teams, the Malden High golf team has “improved substantially [as a whole],” said Malatesta.

This year has been a fun ride for the golf members. Besides from being better players on the course, the members also became better teammates as well. According to the members, they have a lot of fun together and that the season, overall, was “alright,” explained freshman Simon Daponta.

As for the coach, he enjoyed seeing the players’ “enthusiasm for golf, their dedication and commitment to improving.”

For him, “to see the studentathletes putting into practice what they learned was very rewarding for both them and [himself].”

Despite the difficulties at the beginning, the players did not give in the obstacles they faced as new members of the team.

So, through their hard work and passion for the sport, the players, Malatesta said, “made tremendous progress, both individually and collectively.”

It was understandable that for a team full of new players, setbacks and delays are inevitable.

By the end of the season, their greatest achievement was when the team got “better score than Everett in the second MVC tournament,” said Malatesta.

“Golf is in many ways a metaphor for life. There are successes and setbacks, ups and downs, good breaks and bad breaks and hard work always pays off in personal growth and oftentimes success,” explains Malatesta.

“It teaches you that things don’t always go your way and it is the process that is what is most important, not the numerical score,” Malatesta concluded.

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The Blue and Gold November 2016

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Girls Volleyball Jemisha Syliant Reporter

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lthough the season comes to an end, the team has tried their very best during all their games.

Senior Sarah Beaton, who was one of the three captains says the ending record for the season, was not what the team had hoped for. “[They] honestly enjoyed all that [they] could out of it while also creating such a great bond with one another. So in the end, the scores didn’t really ruin how [their] season went,” Beaton states.

She says that becoming captain was one of her greatest accomplishments in high school that she has worked really hard for. “It also has inspired [her] to one day coach a high school volleyball team.”

Beaton also says that some of the challenges that the team faced was

not giving up or getting their hopes down. “[They] reminded [themselves] that it doesn’t hurt [them] as players as long as [they] continued to try [their] hardest.”

Now that the season has came to an end, Beaton says that one

thing she wishes she would have done differently is enjoy every moment on the court despite of the outcome of it.

She mentions how she feels proud of all that has been done this season. “As a senior, it was the best thing [she has] spent four years doing despite the outcomes.” She says that playing volleyball was one of the greatest and most memorable things that she could have

done.

Beaton says how although it was difficult winning games, she just took everything she knew about volleyball into consideration and tried her hardest for every game while still remembering how much fun she and her team has while playing.

Senior Grace Melo, who is also one of the three captains says that being a captain was a lot of respon-

s i b i l i t y, “[she] had to always maintain a level ahead and keep everyone working well together and feel comfortable to enjoy playing.” She says that this season really tested the team, “even though the outcome was not what [they] had hoped for, none of [them] gave up and so [she thinks] that was an important lesson to learn.”

Melo says that the biggest challenge the team has faced was the attitudes and mindsets. Melo states that, “[they] had a few really uplifting talks in which just [they] would share [their] thoughts and together fix the issues [they] had. By the end [they] fully supported one another and built trust.”

Melo also says, that this season, she gave her very best and has no regrets, “[she feels] like [she] put in [her] best effort every game and practice and also supported [her] team members throughout.” Melo also mentions how she will miss volleyball although the season could have been better, “[she] couldn’t wish for a better team to go through t h i s experience

with.”

The last of the captains is Junior Tiffany Tortora, who says it was an honor to be captain, but required a lot of responsibility. Tortora states that “[she feels that she has] become a much better person and role model to the future Malden High volleyball players.”

Tortora states that, “[they] all put [their] hearts out on the court, but unfortunately [their] record didn’t reflect that.” She says although the team lacked communication on the court along with a

strong bond, towards the end of the season, the team began to play not for themselves but for the seniors and their last year playing.

Tortora’s advice for others is that “even there may be challenges, keep pushing yourself because you will get through it.”

Clockwise: Junior captain Tiffany Tortora hitting the ball. Tortora about to return the ball. Senior captain Sarah Beaton about to serve. Senior Julia Parker waiting for the ball. Senior Reanna Pinheiro getting ready to serve. Pinheiro trying to get to the ball. All photos submitted by Daisy Depina.