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WALPOLE HIGH SCHOOL

December 2021

VOLUME XXv, ISSUE ii

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.8

WALPOLE, MA 02081

WHS faces increasing number of COVID-19 cases

Despite rising vaccination numbers, outbreaks continue to affect schools By Sophia Brownsword News Editor

As the school year goes on, students are unable to forget about the ongoing pandemic. The first COVID-19 case of the school year hit Walpole High in October, and up until the week of Nov. 14, there had been an average of around 5 positive cases per week. But the week of Nov. 14-20 there was an outbreak, totaling 23 cases. Although Walpole High has hit an 80% vaccination rate, the public school mask mandate for Massachusetts has been set in place until at least early 2022 for ages 5 and up. Nurses at Walpole High believe that COVID-19 cases are only going to get worse this winter. “With everyone getting together for the holidays, regardless of vaccination status, we are still seeing more whole entire families come back positive,” Nurse Rachel Jackson said. Keeping COVID-19 out of schools is necessary for students to continue on with learning as nor-

mal as possible. One of the major components that has been able to keep kids in school this year has been Walpole High’s Test and Stay program. This program allows students who have been close contacted to stay in class instead of quarantine for the mandatory 14 days. Students who have been close contacted will get tested for COVID-19 each day in the nurses office, which takes at most 20 minutes. Test results come back within 16 minutes, and positive cases are caught immediately. Students get tested once a day for seven days in order to rule out any chance of developing COVID-19 after being contact traced. Another way proven to keep students in school in-person is getting vaccinated. If a student becomes a close contact to someone in their class, whom they sit three feet apart from, that student is opted out from the quarantine and the Test and Stay if they are fully vaccinated. Walpole has held multiple vaccination clinics for all different ages, most recently for ages 5-11 as the vaccine was most recently approved

Photo/ Walpole Nurses Photo/ Walpole Nurses

Walpole

police

GOFI

dog

makes

for this age group. Vaccine booster clinics are beginning to be held for those above 18 in Walpole as well. “If you’re sick, don’t come to school. And even if your test comes back negative, don’t return to school if you’re still sick,” Jackson said. “What we’re seeing now is people are coming back to school after negative tests, but they’re just not getting better, and then four days later, their tests are coming back positive.” The most promising way to keep COVID-19 out of schools has been to keep students and faculty

appearance

vaccine

clinic.

wearing masks, as well as attempt to continue raising vaccination rates. Students at WHS are still wearing their masks throughout the school day and social distancing during their classes, as well as during lunch. All indoor winter sports participants are required to wear masks during games and practices. While the district has done what it can to protect students and faculty, the presence of COVID-19 in public schools has not completely gone away, as things around the world slowly attempt to return to normalcy.

Field trips return to Walpole High school clubs

Clubs resume field trips for students, after postponing due to COVID-19 By Farrell Raeke Social Media and Business Manager After having almost two school years of cancelled events and changed schedules, students are once again starting to feel a sense of normalcy this school year. Field trips are making a return for many Walpole High School clubs, which gives members a shared opportunity to learn something new or to just have a social experience outside of school. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions during the last school

year, it was difficult to plan field trips to places that will allow visitors, so the French Club was cancelled for the 2020-2021 school year. French club advisor Kathleen Frattasio is hoping that club field trips will give students the opportunity to try certain things that they have been learning about in class. “Having field trips again this year brings people to join and it opens it up to more students,” Frattasio said. “[Field trips] are a nice change of pace and gets students

Photo/ Twitter

PM Club enjoys their first field trip of the year to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum.

out of their comfort zone, so they aren’t just sitting in the classroom, and it enriches the culture that they are learning about.” The Latin Club, similar to the French Club, put the club on hold due to COVID-19 and suspended meetings and activities until the students and staff were comfortable gathering together, since most of their trips include traveling into other towns and cities. Advisor Laura Kay is excited for things to return back to normal and to be able to connect with her students on a personal level as well as learn more about them outside of the classroom. “I hope it brings a positive experience to the students and can broaden their experiences and find cultural things they can relate to things they learn in class,” said Kay. Due to the ongoing mask mandate in Boston and the PM Club had all of their field trips in the city, the club was postponed

last school year until the students and administrator were comfortable bringing a larger group into the city. With hope that students will expand their interests in exploring different places, the PM Club field trips will resume this year with trips to museums and other interesting parts of the city of Boston. “I think taking field trips allows students to have a wider view of the world,’’ club administrator Kathryn Bacon said. “I hope that [the students] gain an appreciation for different aspects of various cultures that they have access to simply by residing so close to a major U.S. city.” Each of these clubs use field trips as a way for students to explore the subject outside of school. As field trips resume, teachers hold high hopes that more students will express interest in joining these clubs and having an out of school experience with teachers and other peers that may not be available in the classroom.

NEWS

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the

December 2021

Speech and Debate returns in-person

SEARCHLIGHT Students excel at the first in-person tournament since Feb. 2020 By Maggie Mahoney Assistant Sports Editor

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Cate Stanton Katie Gillis News Editor Sophia Brownsword Grace Ryan Sports Editor Kathryn Maclean Assistant Sports Editor Maggie Mahoney Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor Isabelle O’Connell Opinion Editor Liam McDonough Graphics and Design Editor Kristyn Dentremont Social Media and Business Director Farrell Raeke

Staff Second Year Writers Toby Moses Annie Cameron First Year Writers Yessica Cruz Caroline Donnelly Alana Fitzgerald Ciara Foley Angel Garcia Ashley Griffin Kara Horne Thomas Jarvis Erin Malinn Jackson Massey Meghan McNeil Bruce Norwell Rebecca Stern Emily Sullivan AJ Watson

Socials @whssearchlight

@whssearchlight

For the first time since February 2020, the Walpole High Speech and Debate team competed in-person at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on Saturday Dec. 4. Walpole was among 24 schools making the return to inperson competition, and earned an impressive fifth place overall despite being confined to zoom competitions for the past two years. This strong performance was no surprise as eight Walpole students were finalists in their respective categories. Among those finalists were junior Stephen Bond and senior speech team Vice-President Erin Ledwith who each placed first in their respective categories. Additionally, for her efforts in making the transition back to in-person tournaments smooth for all, speech team President, Sophia Goodsell, was named the MVP of the tournament for Walpole by Coach Emily Murray. While the team’s strong performance was exciting, the team is even more excited to return to in-person competition. Getting to compete together and meet other teams is usually the students’ favorite part of tournaments, so the return to in-person provides an op-

(Photo Mahoney) Photo/ Emily Murray Photo/Maggie Maggie Mahoney

Ridolfi

the

Walpole

students

board pose

during

with

their

portunity for the team to get to know each other and other competitors. “During virtual tournaments, we got very little opportunity to get to know other people outside of our school because it was awkward talking to someone you may not know through a screen, but during in-person tournaments, we can talk before and after rounds and get to know each other,” Ledwith said. Although everyone is excited for the return to in-person competition, there are some advantages to the virtual format team members miss. “I do miss not having to wear uncomfortable heels and practically run to my rounds,” Ledwith said. “During online tournaments, I would just leave one virtual room

his awards

Calculus

after

the

class.

competition.

and go to another through a click of a button; however, during in-person, I have to run around the school to find my other competition rooms.” As the team looks forward to this season, they anticipate competing in many more tournaments and hope to advance as many students as possible into the state tournament later in the school year. “I’m so excited for our team this year! We have some amazing board members, who have competed for three or four years, with great reputations and we also have some incredible novices who are showing great talent in their events. Whether it be speech or debate, we have a wonderful team that is capable of awesome things,” Ledwith said.

JWCW hosts the first festival of trees

Senior center fundraiser supports local organizations By Farrell Raeke Social Media Director The Junior Women’s Club of Walpole has begun a new tradition in town: the Festival of Trees. This event allows people of all ages to enjoy walking through one of the large halls in the Senior Center and admire the decorative trees with different themes and ornaments. The money raised during the event went to the Junior Women’s Club of Walpole, but all of the funds earned will go back to local organizations including the Food Pantry, local families in need, Habitat for Humanity and the Walpole Police Department. Each tree was raffled off to a lucky winner who could take home the tree and any prizes that came with it. The prizes appealed

to people of all ages, making this event extra special for all. Every tree was purchased by a local club or organization that got to choose how it would be decorated. Some of the designs included a date night tree that included gift cards to the movies and various restaurants, the Hometown Pride tree that was filled with Walpole-themed ornaments and clothing, Women’s Defense and Safety that was donated by the Walpole High School Women’s Defense and Safety Club and a Goals for Greyson tree that supports local teen Greyson Beauregard. “We were also happy to do a special tree for Goals for Greyson where we donated all the funds raised from that tree directly to the Beauregard family.” event planner Kristen Muzrall said. The event had an outPhoto/ Farrell Raeke

Photo/ Farrell Raeke

Walpole High School’s newspaper is committed to informing the public, reflecting the students’ views, creating a public forum and serving as an educational medium. To send a letter to the editor, please email jferguson@walpole.k12.ma.us a letter of 200 words or less. Two of the trees sold at the festival supported Hometown Pride and Goals for Greyson.

standing turnout of about 400 people coming to look at the trees. It has received so much positive feedback that the Junior Women’s Club has decided to make this an annual event. Many people who are looking to donate a tree for the next year have shown much appreciation for the event. “All of the trees were popular! There was excitement for every tree as each tree had its own theme and style. We cannot thank the families and organizations that donated a tree enough! These families and organizations really put a lot of time and energy into making their trees special,” Muzrall said. This family-friendly event allowed different businesses or families to advertise their organization in a fun and creative way with unique tree decorations. Prizes were awarded to the trees that were the most unique, most creative, most luxurious and most envied—the tree with the most raffle tickets. This friendly competition for the best tree gives organizations the motivation to put their creativity to the test and create the best tree to support and promote their organization. This fun and memorable event united the Walpole community in support of the Junior Women’s Club in giving back to small businesses and organizations in town.

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December 2021

OPINION

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caffeine

Research

suggests

By Liam McDonough Opinion Editor

For many, coffee is an essential part of their daily routine. Most adults get up around 6 a.m., or even earlier, when they have to work. And in order to wake up and increase productivity, adults turn to caffeinated coffee to start their day. For a lot of teenagers, this routine is no different. When students enter high school, their days become busier and their stress levels increase dramatically because of their heavy workload. Because of this, students

detrimental

caffeine

lose a ton of energy by staying up late finishing their work, which leads them to believe that coffee is the solution that will leave them with no short term or long term problems. Teenagers look at caffeine as something that can provide a surge of energy that will allow them to get their work done, with no side effects included, but caffeinated coffee actually has an array of problems that are barely acknowledged. The debate about whether caffeine is appropriate for adolescents to drink resurfaced after teenager Davis Allen Cripe died from a caffeine-induced cardiac event a few Photo/ Liam McDonough

Many students use caffeine to give them energy to finish their school work.

Students Judgement

from

By Katie Gillis Editor-in-Chief

College application season is upon us once again. For many seniors, this means hours of stress over the Common Application and supplemental essays. This process is undeniably nerve-racking; students must make a decision that will impact the rest of their lives. However, a majority of many students’ stress comes from a fear of judgement from their peers. Anyone who has experienced the college process can relate to the bombardment of opinions that comes from various friends and family members. However, in the age of social media, the pressure to appease others has only increased. Many students make a decision that satisfies others rather than one that suits themselves. Imagine a student feeling excitement upon getting accepted to their dream college, only to have a peer claim that this is not an accomplishment because that school is their safety school. This student then feels pressure to attend a “better” school. However, what defines a good school? Low admission rates? Good reputation? Strong sports teams? It is impossible to name one single best school, because every applicant has different needs and wants. “[Talking about college] can get overwhelming sometimes,

must peers

not

especially when I hear classmates list all their huge achievements from high school and talk about prestigious schools, like the Ivy Leagues,” senior Sameera Manjrekar said. “There’s definitely a competitive atmosphere when it comes to the subject of college.” While one applicant might be able to afford an expensive private school, this is not always a viable option for everyone. An education from a state school is just as valuable, yet often comes at a fraction of the price. However, state schools are often looked down upon as less prestigious. Community college attendees frequently face similar reactions. Many students choose to attend community college for two years before earning their Bachelor’s Degree from another university. While this decision may allow students to save a great amount of money, it also comes with judgement, as many believe community college to be for the academically unmotivated. Even students who do not attend college still face the judgement of the college process. It is impossible to deny that there is a societal stigma around not attending college. However, according to a Georgetown study, an approximated 36% of jobs do not require education past high school. For many, attending a university for four years might just be a waste of time if their future career does

teens’

healthy

years ago. Within two hours, Cripe consumed a cafe latte, a diet Mountain Dew and an energy drink. An autopsy was performed on Cripe’s body, which displayed that he had no other outlying heart issues, meaning that the caffeine overdose alone had killed him. Almost immediately after the news, adults began to worry about the effect that caffeine can have on their children. While caffeine provides a temporary energy boost, its negative effects greatly outweigh its positives. Per The Washington Post, caffeinated drinks can contribute to mood swings, sleep deprivation and aggression, while also causing teenagers to become anxious or even nauseated. According to a study done by Gale, caffeine can also lead to developing unhealthy habits, such as consuming too much sugar or fat foods, sleep deprivation and smoking or drinking excessively. If an adolescent drinks caffeinated beverages at a constant rate, they can start facing irregular rhythms in their heart or even seizures and hallucinations. These problems that caffeine causes can be fixed, however, with moderation. Michigan Health recommends that teenagers should only consume 100 milligrams of

stop

causes

December 2021

college

excess

pressure

not demand a college degree. “I don’t really want to go to college, at least not yet, because most of the careers I’m interested in don’t require a college degree,” an anonymous student said. “I wish it was more common to not attend college because I feel like an outsider.” As colleges continue to re-

health?

seems

caffeine on the daily, which is the equivalent to a cup of coffee or two cups of tea. Michigan Health also recommends that students completely stray away from energy drinks, as their high concentration of caffeine deprives students of sleep and causes them to face large bursts of sudden anxiety. While high school students are overworked and are often forced to stay up late finishing their homework, caffeine is not the permanent response that students should look for. Caffeine can be useful in certain situations. If adolescents consume an appropriate amount of caffeine, it can be extremely useful and could help students when they need a little extra time when studying late at night. One cup of coffee daily can serve as a great help to a busy and overtired high school student. But, it is not worth it to over-consume caffeine just because someone wants to stay awake a little longer during the night to watch TV or hang out with friends. When adolescents overuse caffeine at unnecessary times, research suggests that it can lead to a plethora of serious long term issues, and teenagers should not be consuming it at a constant and daily rate.

shaming

students

lease admissions decisions, students must become more aware about the consequences of their words. Even a seemingly passive comment can lead one to feel shameful about their decision. Attending college is a massive commitment that impacts the rest of one’s life. Students should not treat it as a competition.

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

Many students become overwhelmed by others’ opinions when applying to college.

OPINION

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December 2021

Students should not get schoolwork over break Time off from school is necessary for high school students stress levels By Sophia Brownsword News Editor School breaks are exactly as their name defines: a break. This is a time for students to spend time with their families, hanging out with their friends and relaxing. School breaks, contrary to some beliefs, are not the time for students to catch up on schoolwork. If students are stuck doing homework assignments over school break, then what is the purpose of the break? Days or weeks off from school are meant for a reset. A week off from sitting in a classroom for six hours a day, completing assignments and stressing over grades is necessary for the success of students. School breaks are something students anticipate and look forward to, and it is not just because they get to sleep in late. Students hope that during that break they will not have to deal with the daily added stress of school. Students get to spend quality time doing the things they do not get to do during the school year. Families often spend their breaks traveling, as it is one of the only times kids are available. Nobody wants to bring their heavy school backpack with them on vaca-

tion, but oftentimes it is necessary. While many teachers do not assign homework assignments over breaks, breaks are used as time for projects or studying for big tests. A lot of the time, projects will be announced days before a break, and expected to be turned in a few days after students have returned. While this assignment is not technically assigned to do during break, it is usually long enough that it is necessary for students to devote time for it during their breaks. Teachers are able to get away with assigning students homework over break off of the technicality that the assignment is not due until one or two days after students return to school. School breaks are essential because students need specific time during the school year to which they can devote to everything that school might get in the way of. Five days a week, week after week, month after month, is not a plausible solution when it comes to student’s mental health. “During break, I feel relaxed, and it provides a nice gap from the continuous stress of the school year,” said Junior Madison Clark. School breaks act as a reset, where students can catch up

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

School vacations are not meant to be spent doing homework or stressing over assignments.

on missed sleep as well as de-stress from their busy schedules. Weekends are not enough time to provide an adequate break, especially because students often get assigned homework over the weekend. “Coming back from break, I feel more prepared to handle the pressures of school,” said Clark. If the argument behind assigning students homework over breaks is that teachers do not get breaks off from grading, then

students and teachers are facing the same issue. The solution to this collective issue should just be that everyone, including teachers, get school breaks off from work. Breaks from school are meant to be just that, so they should be treated as such. Assigning any kind of homework, studying or review over a school break is unfair to the students, and sets the precedent for students that their entire life truly revolves around school.

Health education is necessary at a high school level

Students need four full years of health to prepare them for the real world By Kristyn Dentremont Graphics and Layout Editor As of 2017, Walpole Public Schools enforced a four-year physical education class requirement for one semester each year in order to graduate from high school. In the 2016-2017 Walpole High School Program of Studies, physical educa-

on skill and effort, but health class provides the educational aspect that includes documenting different units such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexuality and mental health to mention a few. There is a tangible disconnect between physical education and health courses as they are listed to achieve the same goals, yet health is only required

mental health education is easily one of the most applicable topics in health as teen-angst impacts our everyday lives. Homework, afterschool sports and jobs, social conflicts and acceptance prompt a similar anxiety amongst teenagers, but many teenagers are either too scared to ask for help, or are unsure of who and how to ask. The guidance office Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

Health

class

necessary

for

tion and health have the same definition, claiming that these courses produce “healthier, self-confident, more relaxed individuals who are educated in enjoyable and affordable ways to initiate and maintain a healthy lifestyle”. Physical education class at WHS entails the practice of various sport units graded

the

education

students

towards

for one quarter of the time physical education is. Considering the fact that health manages to cover a broader range of topics in the same amount of time as physical education during a single school year, it is a valid suggestion to promote health education to a four year course. As high school students,

the

harms

substances.

is an outlet that the school provides for student support, but teen anxiety can spread beyond the school day, leaving students with lingering stress that never seems to dissipate. Health class, however, not only promotes awareness about mental health, but provides doable techniques on how to deal with these stresses. At

most, only one month is allotted for this unit. Being that there is copious knowledge to be spread about mental health, the opportunity to have four years to learn this information could have tremendous benefits to teenagers’ mental health. In simplest terms, health is always changing. Doctors discover new things about the body and environment every single day. In recent years, much of science has dedicated much of its research to the changing impacts of drugs and alcohol—a concept that teenagers tend to be ignorant of. Studying the negative effects of drugs can be the difference between living until 30 years old or 100 years old, but like mental health, the variety of drug and alcohol abuse cannot be implemented into a semester-long course. By the same token, those who take health in one semester will not be educated on new developments learned in the following months. Therefore, it is crucial to the physical well-being that health be made into a four year class. Health class is classified as a “requirement” at Walpole High School. However, in order for the course to actually educate teenagers, these measures should have been considered when determining the time frame for health class because the ever-changing world of health requires constant education, especially for teenagers.

Feature

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December 2021

Zoe Jagelski enters year-long German exchange Walpole

student

By Maggie Mahoney Assistant Sports Editor After living in Walpole her entire life, junior Zoe Jagelski decided she wanted to experience a new perspective by entering a foreign exchange program. Despite the extensive application process, Jagelski was selected to join a group of teens from across the nation in a full-year abroad in Germany. This August, Jagelski took off for her new home in Gießen, Germany. The first shock was the environment of her new city. Gießen, with a population nearly four times that of Walpole, was much larger than she expected. Considering the size, Jagelski was surprised by the lack of cars used and the amount of biking or walking done instead. “In general, people care more about the environment here,” Jagelski said. “For example, my host family has four different recycling bins and we only use the car around three times a week because we bike a lot here and the buses and trains are way better than in the US.” The most difficult part of her transition, however, was the new language. Never having learned

spends

junior

German before being fully immersed in the language made all aspects of life in a new country even more difficult, but Jagelski credits her host family for making the adjustment to her new life as easy as possible. “I’m really lucky to have an amazing host family and especially a host sister my age who has made my experience of adjusting in school and in general a lot easier,” Jagelski said. While learning German has been very hard and Jagelski intends to start taking a German class to improve her grammar, she has been able to adjust in her first few months largely because of the amount of Germans who can speak English. “Almost everyone speaks great or at least passable English, so if I’m confused or need help, I can always fall back on English,” Jagelski said. “However, this is also a disadvantage because it doesn’t force me to always be speaking German so I don’t learn as quickly.” In school, Jagelski misses the large variety of extracurriculars available at WHS, but otherwise enjoys her new schedule. Students at her school do not adhere to the

year

abroad

Germany Photo/ Zoe Jagelski

Zoe

and

her

host

sister,

strict full day rotating schedule that is used at WHS, but rather go to school when they have classes, which can vary in number and length each day. Jagelski really enjoys all of her classes despite the added difficulty of learning the language most classes are being taught in. “Right now I can understand different amounts of what’s going on in each class,” Jagelski said. “For example, in French and math I can understand most, but Chemistry is much harder.” Overall, Jagelski finds that school in Germany is less stress-

Helen,

enjoy

exploring

the

city.

ful than it is in the US, though she admits that she is lucky to avoid preparing for the Abitur exam, which is a test taken in the last year of high school that can be used to apply to university and causes a lot of stress for many of her peers. Jagelski also credits her stress-free transition to German life to the welcoming people there. “Although there is a stereotype that Germans are cold, I wasn’t really surprised to find this wasn’t true as almost everyone I’ve met here has been very kind and welcoming of me,” Jagelski said.

Scotty Cameron wins DAR Good Citizen Award

Walpole Senior honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution By Toby Moses Staff Writer Each year, the Aaron Guild Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognizes a small number of students to receive the Good Citizens Award. The Aaron Guild Chapter is based in Norwood and awards students in both Walpole and multiple nearby towns. These students have been recognized by their teachers and peers for their inept leadership skills and passionate involvement with their com-

munities. The Good Citizen award is reserved for high school seniors who are heavily involved in aiding their community, both inside and outside of school. On Nov. 10, Walpole High School senior Scotty Cameron received the Good Citizen Award. Cameron was named a great citizen because of his community service involvement through many different mediums and organizations. Cameron has given back to his community for his work leading clothing drives, organizing landscaping events and even being the regional leader of Photo/ Facebook

Cameron

poses

with

family

after

receiving

his

award

Nov.

2021.

Project 351, a statewide nonprofit youth leadership organization. On top of his extensive volunteer work, Cameron is also the National Honors Society President at Walpole High School. “I really enjoy making connections with others and I find service fulfilling,” said Cameron. Cameron’s participation in the community has also brought him opportunities to work alongside several notable figures over the past four years. Cameron has worked with both Governor Charlie Baker and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, as well as former Boston Celtic Kyrie Irving. As an accomplished student and involved community member outside of school, Cameron is certainly a charitable citizen worthy of this recognition. “I am extremely grateful for this award because, when doing community service, it is never just one person. It has always been countless people that have supported me throughout the process,” Cameron said. He recognizes those who have helped him with his numerous projects in the past, as he has worked with many people over time. Even with Cameron’s extensive work within his community, he recognizes others who were nominated for the award.

“I was surprised and honored because there were many other well-deserving nominees like Jess Elmhurst, Shaylyn White and Michael Jung,” said Cameron when asked how he felt when he found out about the award. Cameron has involved himself with many community service opportunities through Walpole High School as well. Later this year, Cameron wants to run a fundraiser through the National Honors Society in which they compete with the Community Service Club. Few students are as accomplished in their community as Cameron, making him a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. Given his leadership skills and volunteer work, Cameron is a role model for those around him. Those looking to better their communities or just become more involved can look to Cameron for guidance. “I would recommend getting involved with the Community Service Club, Random Acts of Kindness Club, National Honor Society or Student Council because each group does community service events and projects that also teach students skills such as event planning, project design and public speaking,” Cameron said.

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December 2021

lifeStyle

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december 2021

Best 2021 holiday wishlist ideas for teenagers

Gift ideas that suffice the wants and needs of teenagers for the upcoming holidays By Isabelle O’Connell Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor

multiple different colors and shades. String lights are hanging lights that are also known as “fairy” lights. Both types of lights can be found on Amazon or home decor stores. A classic present that never fails to disappoint each year is a speaker. For Generation Z, music is a big part of daily life, whether that

With the holiday season nearing, the anticipation for the perfect holiday wishlist is significant. Throughout 2021, there have been numerous trendy items serving as gift ideas that could have easily been forgotten about. As teens grow into their adolescent years, it can become harder to shop for gifts that satisfy wants and needs. Here is a wishlist to generate gift ideas for teens this holiday season: First up is the classic Yeti water bottle. Reusable water bottles have become a crucial environ mental need and serve as an ecofriendly gift. Yeti bottles come in all different colors and sizes and keep drinks hot or cold for long periods of time. For example, the Yeti 20 ounce Rambler Tumbler is a mid size bottle that has a mag slide lid perfect for on the go use. It is great for traveling and fitting into a work bag or backpack to be able to take a quick sip from. There are a variety of sizes that can be purchased at many stores or online places such as Amazon. The next gift can add the perfect touch when redecorating a room: LED or string lights. LED lights stick onto the wall and have

Makeup Harry

Photo/Flickr.com Photo/Flickr.com

Photo/Pixabay.com Photo/Pixabay.com

Photo/Flickr.com Photo/Flickr.com

Photo/Stockvault.com Photo.Stockvault.com

Some

Initially known as the teenheartthrob, Harry Styles made his debut as a singer and song-writer for the band One Direction in 2010. After the band’s split in 2016, however, Styles took advantage of his fame only to gain millions of more fans as a solo artist. Once defined as a skinny-jean wearing boy band artist, Styles is now an icon of the era. His feather boas, heart-shaped sunglasses and gold “H” and “S” rings have drawn him into the world of fashion as Styles has modeled for Gucci and introduced his own gender-neutral clothing. Nonetheless, Styles’ tremendous success has not stopped him from branching into other areas in Hollywood. On Nov. 15, 2021, Harry Styles announced the release of his unisex beauty line titled “Pleasing.” Pleasing consists of nail polish in various colors, skin serum, eye gel and lip oil. The question is, however, will Pleasing live up to Styles’ reputation? Styles is infamous for having his nails painted as it is a message about breaking the

the

best

gifts

be on the radio, in music class in school or just relaxing in free time. Music is a way for teenagers to express themselves with different styles and genres. Speakers are a great idea when it comes to teenagers because they last forever and will make parents their money’s worth. Speakers are sold at stores such as Best Buy and Walmart, or even Amazon. When it comes to winter clothing, flannel hoodies have become a staple for all genders over

artists

Styles

By Kristyn Dentremont Graphics and Layout Editor

the past few years. Flannel hoodies are both comfortable and cool. This article of clothing is something that many teenagers either have or wish for. The flannel and hooded sweatshirt combined form a trendy sweatshirt that looks good with any type of pants. This article of clothing can be found at places

drops

for

Photo/Isabelle Photo/IsabelleO’Connell O’Connell

Photo/Flickr.com Photo/Flickr.com

teenagers

this

winter.

like American Eagle, Hollister, Urban Outfitters, etc. Although slippers can be thought to be a “boring” gift, one would be surprised how trendy slippers have become. Slippers are a great gift to give or receive, especially during the winter time. They are an easy, last minute gift that can be picked up at Target, Marshalls, or any similar store. A big gift for teens to look forward to after the holiday season are concert tickets. Although

praise

“Pleasing”

gender-neutral

barriers of gender and sexuality stereotypes, so it would be a crime if there was no nail polish in Pleasing. The Perfect Polish

makeup

enhance the saturation of the polish. Sold at $20.00 for a single polish or $65.00 for the set, wearing this long-lasting pol-

Photo/ hstyles.co.uk

The

Pearlescent

Illuminating

Serum

set includes three different colors: Perfect Pearl, Granny’s Pink Pearls, and Inky Pearl. While fans are disappointed that there is not a wider range of color, the provided colors do not disappoint. Each polish only requires one coat for full coverage; however, some fans agree that including a base coat would

creates

they cannot necessarily be used the day they are given, they are something that receiver can look forward to in the spring or summer season . This gift can be used as the “big” gift . Artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, and Morgan Wallen are all touring now. And finally comes stocking stuffers. Little gifts can be hard to shop for especially if one is trying to stay in their price range. Gift cards never disappoint and can be used for so many different things if one didn’t know what to get from a specific store. In addition, skin care items such as moisturizer, cleanser, face masks are easy and affordable stocking stuffers. Cloth face masks can also be put in to go with the theme or skin care’. As teenagers grow up, shopping seems to become harder and harder every year. Trends always come and go, and what’s in one year will be out the next. One can never go wrong with anything from a simple gift card to clothing that will be worn daily. Even though it can seem like a hassle, one can not disappoint with the suggested items above. The items that are possibly “boring” to adults are gifts that most young adults enjoy the most. Holiday shopping can now be a fun, nonstressful event for adults this season.

natural

shine

the

skin.

ish from the Pleasing line is like a tribute to Styles himself. Skin serum is a dermatologist-recommended treatment for those who want to naturally diminish wrinkles and dullness in the skin, so the $30.00 Pearlescent Illuminating Serum from Pleasing is attracting virtually everyone. Floating inside the gel, “en-

line

capsulated pearls” hold a variety of antioxidants as well as vitamin B5 that provide a glow on the surface of the skin. However, these pearls also leave a residual stickiness on the skin that makes for an uncomfortable facial cleanse. After absorbing into the skin, though, the serum does sit well with other moisturizers and sunscreen for an ultimately refreshing glow. The Pleasing Pen is a duo eye and lip cosmetic with a rollerball at each end to eject the products with a cooling tone. First of all, the eye gel has a refreshing quality that feels pleasantly cold after its application, but the fragility of the container makes squeezing the product underneath the eyes rather challenging. Similarly, the lip oil takes a bit of elbow grease to get out of the tube and its loose consistency requires the application to be done gingerly rather than effortlessly. Likewise, the lip oil does not last for a sufficient amount of time based on how often lip treatments are used. Nonetheless, it is a great hydrator and lasts up to six hours on the lips. Its $26.00 value may not be completely reasonable based on the quantity of this product, but it simultaneously does save space when storing cosmetics.

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december 2021

A&E

page 12

December 2021

“House of Gucci” brings action to theaters Gaga and Driver portray the true downfall of By Cate Stanton Editor-in-Chief

Based on the true story, “House of Gucci” presents viewers with the raw, captivating details of how the Gucci family lost their luxury company. Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto and Jeremy Irons, the movie encapsulates the struggles and hardships of running a family business, especially one worth multi-billions. The film is set mostly in Milan, and begins with the love story of Patrizia Reggiani (Gaga) and Maurizio Gucci (Driver). Patrizia and Maurizio meet at a party, when Patrizia mistakes him for a bartender. With her charming and outgoing personality, Patrizia continues to pursue Maurizio, an introvert, studying to become a lawyer. Soon after Patrizia convinces Maurizio to take her out on a date, they fall in love. A problem prevails when Maurizio’s father, Rodolpho (Irons), meets Patrizia and hears about her father’s career, owning a small trucking business. Because of her family’s lack of wealth, Rodolpho believes she is a gold digger, only using Maurizio to marry into the Gucci family. Maurizio marries her without his father’s consent, causing a divide between the father and son,

Adele Adele

and leaving Maurizio without a job. He ends up working under Patrizia’s father for a short stint, washing trucks and seeing how the lower class lives. Maurizio does not return to the Gucci company until his uncle Aldo (Pacino) invites the newly married couple to his 70th birthday party and starts talking business. Aldo reveals to Maurizio that he views his own son Paolo (Leto) as incompetant and unable to be an heir of the family business, and wants Maurizio to be more involved. Aldo repeatedly tells Patrizia and Maurizio to visit him at the Gucci branch in New York, where he spends most of his time. Patrizia, looking for any way to insert herself in the company, sees this uncle-nephew relationship as a smart financial opportunity and pushes Maurizio to get closer with him. It is not until Rodolpho gets sick and passes away that Patrizia gets greedy; she is no longer satisfied with their 50% stake in the company and wants more. Patrizia turns Maurizio against his own uncle, exploiting Paolo in the making. She uses fraudulent tax returns to send Aldo to jail, and convinces Paolo to sell his stake in the company as well. Will Patrizia let the power get to her head or will she achieve success within the company?

makes

finishes

off

By Annie Cameron Staff Writer

Ever since the release of “Easy On Me” by Adele, fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of her new album “30.” After she claimed “25” was her last album, fans were disappointed, but are now excited to see her comeback. The highly anticipated album by Adele was finally released Friday, Nov. 19, and there have been overall mixed opinions regarding the new album. Adele has been releasing music since 2008, and has had an increasing popularity since the announcement of her new album, her first album release in six years. “30”

her

2021

features 12 songs, including “Easy On Me” which was released earlier as a single This album has shocked many, with the songs being much slower paced than her previous releases. “I Drink Wine” and “Oh My God” are two of the faster paced songs in this album, and still do not compare to songs she has released in the past such as “Fire To The Rain.” Many fans in favor of this new Adele believe that “30” is the album Adele was born to release. Adele told fans that this album was made to embody her recent battles with motherhood. Writing to tell the story of her divorce with Simon Konecki, who is also the father of her child Angelo, and her battles with depression, guilt and substance Photo/ smoothradio.com

Adele’s

new

album

was

released

Nov.

Photo/ wmagazine.com

Several

popular

actors

19.

and

Gaga, in just her second major film role since “A Star Is Born,” took on the role of Patrizia extremely well. In the opening scenes, she embodied her character with a thick Italian accent and an expensive look. Driver, famous for starring in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, followed suit. His character changed throughout the film. In the beginning, Maurizio was the shy, future heir of the Gucci brand, heavily manipulated by Patrizia, however, by the end of the movie, he gained confidence and started making decisions on his own. The setting of the movie also helped to portray the reality of the Gucci family at the time. With scenes in Milan, Rome, St. Moritz, and New York City, the film demonstrat-

comeback

exciting

the Gucci family

fans

with

actresses

the

film.

ed the Gucci’s worldwide influence. “House of Gucci” has had success in the box office, already achieving a five-day opening of $21.8 million, including $14.2 million for Thanksgiving weekend, both of which are record numbers for an adult drama in the midst of the pandemic. Analysts attribute some of the success to director Ridley Scott, who has directed several famous movies like “The Martian,” “Blade Runner” and “Alien,” as well as Lady Gaga, who helps in seeking interest from younger adults and teenagers. Part of the success can also be credited to Al Pacino, who has won numerous awards for his acting career and has starred in popular films like “The Godfather,” “Scarface” and “The Devil’s Advocate.”

with

new

abuse following the divorce. Throughout this new album, Adele reveals to fans that her reason for her divorce was because she did not like who she was and who she had become. “30” reveals an extremely vulnerable side to this beloved artist and evokes lots of emotion for listeners. She even writes the song “My Little Love” as a token of her love for her son, and as an apology. Since the divorce, the beloved celebrity admitted to experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, and apologizes for expressing her sadness in front of her child. Throughout the album fans have noted moments where listeners can hear Adele crying throughout certain songs. Furthermore, listeners have agreed her voice throughout the album expresses true, unfiltered emotion making this album even more relatable for some listeners. Adele is known for her strong revenge songs, and reveals a new side of herself to fans with this new album; rather than singing from anger or regret, she comes from a place of sadness and loneliness. She demonstrates a new maturity in both herself and her music with the somber mood of this album. On the other hand, some fans are disappointed with the sad tone of this album, and miss the

star

album

“30” release

Photo/ wonderwall.com

Adele

London

show

typical fast-paced revenge songs they are used to hearing from her. However, Adele has made it clear she is unphased by the backlash. Currently, Adele has two concert dates planned in London’s Hyde Park for the summer of 2022. Unfortunately, she has no concerts planned for the US yet. Fans in the US are disappointed, and hoping for a US concert soon. This album was highly anticipated, and the majority of fans were not disappointed. Adele revealed raw emotion and humanized her music unlike she ever has in the past. Her six year leave between “30” and her last album “25” was highly climatic, and exceeded the expectations of many.

page 13

December 2021

page 14

December 2021

Sports

page 15

Walpole

cheerleaders

December 2021

qualify

for

nationals

After two years without competition, the team comes back better than ever Photo/ Maggie Mahoney

The full team together after their performance at Worcester State University.

By Maggie Mahoney Assistant Sports Editor When the fall sports season started, Walpole’s cheerleaders were eager to return to competition after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19. Despite their extended time off, Senior captains, Cara King, Brynn Norton and Alexis Gay, returned to lead a team better than ever before. Competitions began late this year, but on Nov. 2, the team started their season off strong by claiming first place in their division at the Bay State Conference competition. The team carried their momentum into the South Regional

competition on Nov. 14, where they placed fifth in Division 2 stealing the last bid to the state finals with a score of 80.8. This would mark the first time since 2017 that the team would qualify for the state competition, but even greater than that the Timberwolves surpassed the nationals qualifying score of 80, proving they had a real chance to qualify from states. “Moving on to states was so exciting. It was definitely a turning point in our season,” Junior flyer Abigail Cunningham said. “It gave us the confidence we needed to realize what we are capable of as a team. We worked hard and it paid off. It was a good remind-

er that I think we all needed.” At Worcester State University on Nov. 21, nine members of the team performed their routine to a Walpole remix of Industry Baby, by Lil Nas X for the MSAA judges. Improving on their regional score, Walpole earned their best score of the season, 83.4, also punching their ticket to the national competition in February 2022, hosted at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. In addition, the team placed 9th in the competitive Division 2, marking the first time in 9 years that the team has scored high enough to qualify for nationals. Senior captain Cara King credits their success this year with their hard work every day in practice. “During practice we were always trying new stunts or tum-

bling passes as a way to improve our difficulty to get higher scores. We would spend our practices doing the more difficult stunts until we hit them, and then we would keep practicing until we couldn’t do them wrong,” King said. “We had our best performance at states because the week before the competition we were hitting everything at practice so we all had confidence that we would get through our routine.” Due to COVID-19 restrictions on out of state travel and the timing of the national competition the cheer team is unable to compete at nationals. While the inability to move forward is disappointing for the team, they remain optimistic about their accomplishments this season. “We overcame so much this season and we really left it all on the mat,” Cunningham said. Photo/ Maggie Mahoney

Junior flyer Emily Botelho performs stunt during the teams performance on Nov 21.

Field hockey falls to Andover in state final

Porkers lose by one to the Golden Warriors in conference finals By Kathryn Maclean Sports Editor On Nov. 20, the Walpole Porkers faced the Andover Golden Warriors in the Division 1 field hockey state championship at Burlington High School at 12:00. The Warriors were the first seed and the Porkers the second. The game ended as a 1-0 loss for the Porkers. Despite the loss, the Porkers won 21 games in the regular and playoff season, finalizing their record as 21-0-1. “We’ve worked so hard and grown so close this season to get where we are,” senior Lauren Wong said before the game. “We’ve spent months preparing for this. Their best player is in the middle, so we’re planning on working the ball on the sides and away from her.” From the beginning of the first half, both teams passed the ball effectively. As the half continued, the Warriors attacked relentlessly, creating scoring chances for their forwards. Although they took many shots and were given multiple corners, the Warriors were not able to get the ball past Wal-

pole’s goalkeeper, Maddy Clark. “Andover is a team very similar to ours,” captain Jess Tosone said. “They’re very skilled, they’re fast, and they have good athletes so it was challenging to figure out how we could slow them down and stop them.” The one goal of the game came from a penalty stroke awarded to the Warriors midway through the first half. Andover junior Emma Reilly stepped up to take the shot, placing the ball in the corner for the only goal of the match. She played all over the field, both offense and defense, keeping Walpole’s forwards from getting many shots and helping protect the goalkeeper from having to make any dangerous saves. Andover played with a strong defensive line throughout the game, allowing little to get by them. “Our momentum really picked up in the second half,” Tosone said. “We started off a bit nervous but we pulled it together and started to play much stronger and connected on everything.” By the second half, the Porkers looked as though they were close to finding the back of the net. Instead of putting their

Photo/ Joe Mahoney

Seniors

Whelan

and

Wong

work

together

heads down, they stepped back on the field ready to try to win one back. They played physically and fought to keep the ball among their own players. They moved the ball throughout the field, dominating possession. senior captain Caroline Whelan and Wong kept Andover’s defenders busy with multiple fast breaks and scoring chances. For the duration of the second half, the teams battled competitively, neither able to finish any scoring opportunities. The buzzer sounded and the game finished as a 1-0 win for the Warriors.

take

possession

the

ball.

“I’m proud of the team for making it this far and for pushing it through all the doubts of missing one of our most valuable players,” senior Brianna Fruci said. “I’m going to miss how we worked as a team. We always continued to work as one to overcome the obstacles when it mattered the most.” Despite the goal differential, the Porkers worked tirelessly until the final whistle, unwilling to give the Warriors the win without a fight. The state final ended as 1-0. They stepped off the field and never once hung their heads.

SPORTS

page 16

New Coach

WHS

boys

Galster

brings

her

December 2021

basketball expertise

coach

By Grace Ryan News Editor

Walpole Photo/Grace Ryan

Walpole High School (WHS) welcomes Coach Jenna Galster as the new boys basketball coach. She has over a decade experience coaching basketball, first coaching in the Holliston boys basketball program and working her way up to the varsity head coach where she stayed for six years. Over the past two years, Galster was an assistant coach for Dover Sherborn boys basketball. This October, Galster was hired to replace Coach Oliver Vil who moved to coach Oliver Ames Basketball. Of many applicants, Coach Galster won the position with help from her experience. “We had a proccess with many applicants, but we feel we have the right person for the job,” Athletic Director Ron Dowd said. Galster has loved basketball since a young age and knew she always wanted to be a coach. Growing up, she always took opportunities to practice on her own or join any teams she could and this passion later translated into her passion for coaching. “I actually started coaching soccer in sixth grade and then picked up coaching local basketball camps

Galster

coaches

during

scrimmage

when I was in high school...It quickly became obvious to me that coaching allowed me to combine my love for basketball with my passion of being an educator,” Galster said. Walpole’s coaching position was the first head coach position she applied for after leaving Holliston largely due to her feeling that Walpole’s style of play aligned with her own. She wants to have a seamless transition as the new coach, yet is prepared to bring her own opinions and experience to the program.Gal-

against

Bedford

December

ster hopes to build off of the team’s four and six record last year and the hard work they put in over the offseason. She is confident in the team’s abilities, but more importantly, she hopes to build a strong community surrounding the sport. “[I hope to see] the stands filled with WHS students supporting their peers. Also, in the stands, a large group of youth fans watching their role models leave it all on the court as they dream of their future chance to be on

hired

Basketball

the varsity court,” Galster said Galster has a precidious career thus far and Walpole is ready to take her in as the new face of the boy basketball program. The boys team excitedly awaits the start of the season with their new head coach. “I see Coach Galster having a very successful season this year coaching us, she has a great group of guys with a lot of talent. I believe she can be the coach of the future for Walpole Basketball,” captain Ryan King said. The Walpole sports community has adopted Galster into their own community and have high hopes of the future corresponding with her own hopes. “I think the program is in good hands with Coach Galster. I would expect them to compete nightly and improve throughout the season. Anytime you have a talented group that is willing to work hard, you will have some success,” girls varsity coach David Wall said. Galster is excited to start the season within a new community with the first game of the regular season on Dec. 14. “I walk away each time so happy that I have the opportunity to become part of this community,” said Galster.

Revolution competes in conference semi finals First

seed

New

By Kathryn Maclean Sports Editor The New England Revolution won the majority of their 2021 league games, with a record of 22-7-5, placing them in the playoffs for the Major League Soccer conference. They had the best playing record of the league, awarding them the Supporters’ Shield, which indicates that they had the most points out of all the teams in the MLS. This was their first time winning the award. They looked to take the championship for the first time in the team’s history. Since January of 2021, the Revolution made a few crucial changes to the roster to help ensure their claim of season. They added a

York

defeats

forward named Emmanuel Boateng to the team, a free agent from Columbus Crew. They recruited A.J. DeLaGarza, a free agent defender from Inter Miami, as well as Arnor Traustason, a transfer forward from Malmo FF. They also recruited two players from their Revolution II team, the backup team of substitutes. Maciel and Jon Bell stepped onto the team as new roster members as midfield and defenders. The Revolution played their first playoff match on Nov. 30 against New York City Football Club, the first place seed versus the fourth. The game started off with quick goals, both teams scoring early on to make the score 1-1 in the first half. Santiago Rodriguez scored for NYCFC in the third minPhoto/ David Butler

New

York

teammates

celebrate

triumph

over

New

England.

fourth

seed

New

England Photo/ Charles Krupa

Revolution

congratulate

each

other

ute, a shot into the top left corner past the goalie Matt Turner. The Revolution followed with a goal in the ninth minute from Adam Buska, a header goal into the bottom left side of the net. They continued to battle for the rest of the match, fighting to maintain possession of the ball, finishing as 1-1 and causing the game to go into overtime. Shortly into overtime, NYCFC was able to score for a second time. Valentin Castellano finished a cross with a header, giving New York a 2-1 lead in the 109th minute. Four minutes after his goal, Castellano received his second yellow card of the match, causing him to be sent off the field and forcing New York to play with ten men instead of eleven. They lost another player to a leg injury, right defender Tayvon Gray was unable to continue

their

efforts

throughout

the

match.

playing and got taken off the field. Because of New York’s lack of substitutes, they played the rest of overtime with nine players versus New England’s eleven. This helped the Revolution to make a crucial comeback, as Tajon Buchanon finished a volley into the back of the net in the 118th minute, tying up the match. Overtime ended as 2-2, sending the game into penalty kicks. NYCFC scored all five of their penalties, while the Revolution was only able to complete four. Buska’s goal was saved by New York’s goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Alexander Collins drilled the final shot for New York past Turner, finalizing the game as a 3-2 loss for the New England Revolution. NYCFC will move on in the playoffs to play the Philadelphia Union on Dec. 5, the fifth seed in the league.