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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit No. 54523
Volume 30, Issue 6 140 Brandeis Road Newton Centre, MA 02459
Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · March 7, 2014
Perrin to resign as AD Sasha Kuznetsov Sr. News Editor
Kayana Szymczak for The Boston Globe
Lila McCain, mother of Karen Douglas, with Mayor Setti Warren (center) and Superintendent David Fleishman.
‘It’s multi-faceted’ After the death of junior Roee Grutman, the third Newton high schooler to commit suicide this school year, the community attempts to answer the question: “Why?” and officials implement an action plan.
By Nathaniel Bolter, Yonatan Gazit and Kylie Walters
O
n Feb. 6, what started as a normal school day was transformed as the news of junior Roee Grutman’s suicide reached students and faculty members. South officials were notified first in the morning and teachers informed students who had yet to hear during advisory. Grutman became the third Newton high school student to commit suicide in the 2013-2014 school year. North senior Karen Douglas and South sophomore Katie Stack committed suicide last October. In immediate response to Grutman’s death, city and school officials hosted a community forum on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at South. At the meeting, the superintendent, mayor and mental health professionals announced South’s plan to address the recent tragedy and the issues of mental health and suicide. Both high schools will follow the
protocol of support and prevention decided provide some support just to focus on this.” upon after the suicides of this fall, yet some in Along with several other mental health the South community question the scope, di- initiatives, South also scheduled student-run rection and effectiveness of the city’s response. suicide prevention workshops that were set to take place Feb. 25-28, four months after Stack’s death. “There’s a general feeling among most What was done after Stack’s death? Upon the advice of Dr. Susan Swick, of us who’ve done the work that we want to Chief of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry at make sure the environment is kind of stable Newton Wellesley Hospital, and Dr. Larry enough that people are over the initial grief Berkowitz, Director of Riverside Trauma, reaction and the intensity of that grief reaction South provided extra support and counsel- so that we can start carefully and planfully ing following Stack’s death. The school also doing some education,” Berkowitz said, in engaged in a partnership with the Riverside explanation. But following Grutman’s death, Trauma Center to help manage the extenu- the workshops have been delayed indefinitely. One of these student presenters, senior ating circumstances. “Riverside has a lot of Alex Cohen, however, said that four months expertise. So one of the challenges is everyone was too long to wait. “Four months does seem in Newton Public Schools (NPS) already like it was a bit excessive,” he said. “I think has a job to do — we don’t have a staff solely devoted to this issue,” Superintendent David SUICIDES, 4 Fleishman said. “So Riverside is going to
Athletics director Scott Perrin has announced his resignation as head of the wellness department and intention to resume his former position as a special education teacher for the 2014-2015 school year. A South alumnus of ‘88, Perrin was first hired at South in 2003 in the special education department. He replaced Ron Lanham as athletics director in 2007. Ac c o r d i n g to Perrin, the job’s time requirements conflict with his current family lifestyle and professional interests. “I have many different things in my life that take priority Regulus — my family, my desire to get back into the classroom and other things.” he said, “It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s time for a change.” Wellness teacher and volleyball coach Todd Elwell said that Perrin’s post change is understandable considering the busy schedule of the athletics department. “I certainly can understand, respect and appreciate where he is coming from. It is a demanding job in so many different ways,” Elwell said. “It’s really hard to be an athletic director — really hard.” Perrin was also on good and personal terms with students, whom he helped manage their athletics commitments, senior Jake Alexander said. “He was someone you could talk to, and for me personally, he was a good role model,” he said. “He [is] from South, he played sports, he knows the deal, he knows how to have the balance between a social life, academics and athletics.” According to Elwell, both the new athletics director and the athletics and wellness departments will need to be ready for change. “Whoever comes in new will have to get used to the coaching staff, the wellness staff, the facilities,” Elwell said. “Whoever comes in next may have some different expectations, so you’ve got to be ready to change.” Regarding new leadership, Perrin said that he foresees a successful future for the athletics and wellness departments despite inevitable changes. “Things will change, for the good, for the bad, for the different, for the sake of everything, everything sometimes has to change,” he said. “But I leave this place in very good shape and I think that it has a bright future ahead of it.”
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Literary Hit
English teacher Jodi Daynard’s self-published book acheives great success. page
New Nicotine
2
Hookah pens are on the rise as more students experiment with e-cigarettes. page
12
Pinning Passion Three standout wrestlers talk to The Roar about their love for the sport. page
20
NEWS 2 GLOBAL 5 EDITORIALS 6 OPINIONS 9 CENTERFOLD 12 FEATURES 15 SPORTS 20