Issuu

February 2022

WALPOLE HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME XXv, ISSUE III

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

WALPOLE, MA 02081

WHS

plans

its

first

prom

since

2019

Walpole High’s prom is the first major school function in two years By Kristyn Dentremont Graphics and Layout Editor

The prom is a rite of passage for high school students as it is a celebratory night for the upperclassmen to indulge in their adolescent years, but also to learn a certain etiquette for formal events. After two years of cancellations, the 2022 Walpole High School prom committee is currently beginning preparations for the event to take place at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, May 14. After attending primarily virtual events throughout the past two years, Walpole students and staff are thrilled to see a traditional school event return. However, another prom guest that may potentially attend the dance this spring is COVID-19. Approximately 600 students are invited to this event, so there is a high risk of transmission if students do not follow the expected protocols. It may not be “normal,” but after having gone through a pandemic, the world is learning to experience a “new normal.”

“This year could certainly see some restrictions, such as masking, restricted numbers, etc. or even another cancellation of the event should we need to do so,” Principal Stephen Imbusch said. “However, I am trying to be optimistic about this year’s prom, and hopefully we will be able to move ahead with it.” Proms are often separated between the grades, but the Walpole High School combined prom creates a unique experience that allows different grades to bond at this special evening. For the last two years, however, large gatherings have been discouraged in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Knowing this, there was speculation among students as to whether the prom would include both juniors and seniors. “At this point, we are planning a traditional junior/senior prom until such time as we are told otherwise,” Imbusch said. The prom was officially announced on Jan. 28, and students have immediately begun preparations. Hallway conversations consist of where students should buy

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

After months of speculation, WHS administration confirmed a prom for 2022.

dresses and rent tuxes, how girls should style their hair and who is going to be each other’s date. In fact, students have already hopped on the social media trend of creating dress accounts for students to post a picture of their gown. “I think it’s really fun to have this account because we’ve never done something like it before,” an anonymous WHS student

said. “People can go on the account to make sure they aren’t buying a similar dress, or you can look on the account to get inspiration for yours.” Given today’s circumstances, there may be an incredibly high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, the school is putting much emphasis on practicing proper protocols right now in order to have a prom this spring.

Walpole schools reduce COVID-19 restrictions

Declining COVID-19 cases allow schools to reconsider safety policies By Katie Gillis Editor-in-Chief

After nearly two years of health protocols and mask mandates, the COVID-19 pandemic seems never-ending. However, in a calm after the most recent spike of cases, Walpole High School has enacted new COVID-19 policies in hopes of restoring a sense of normalcy to school. WHS has been using a Photo/ Boston Herald

Students

receive

one

box

with

announced a new initiative which mainder of Walpole schools. “I think if the community replaces this former Test-and-Stay program. Schools across Massachu- rate is at 3% or less and the majorsetts can opt for the At-Home Test ity of people are vaccinated, then Method, in which the state would I don’t think it’s a bad idea to get provide any participating staff and rid of the masks, or at least make students with one at-home CO- them optional,” Walpole High VID-19 test per week. Unless the School Nurse Rachel Jackson said. After two years of canceltest is positive, they are able to attend school as normal, without the lations and postponements, Walfear of becoming contact traced. pole High students are desperate “Providing this option for for a sense of normalcy at school. at-home testing will allow school However, the loosening of these nurses to spend more time iden- restrictions seems to bode well for tifying symptomatic individuals the future. In addition, the approvand focus their efforts on other al of a junior and senior prom for aspects of COVID-19 manage- the first time since 2019 has proment in our schools,” Commis- vided students with an enhanced sioner of Elementary and Second- sense of optimism as they enter ary Education Jeffrey Riley said. the second half of the school year. “I think that the way we “It’s frankly a game changer.” Additionally, on Feb. 10, the deal with COVID-19 is changing Walpole School Committee voted and people are really starting to rein favor of removing the mask man- alize that this is going to be somedate at Walpole High. With this new thing that is going to be out there,” policy, masks become optional for Jackson said. “We kind of have to all students and staff members, re- learn how to live with it instead of gardless of vaccination status. This trying to get rid of it because I don’t plan went into effect after Feb. think it’s going anywhere, so we 14 for high school students and have to be more realistic about the every other week. staff and Feb. 28 for the re- way we are going to approach it.” WALPOLESTUDENTMEDIANETWORK @WHSSEARCHLIGHT

Test-and-Stay policy since early in the school year. This program allows students who have been contact-traced to get tested for COVID-19 conveniently through the school. If a student were to be named a close contact, they would be called down to the nurses’ office, where they would take a test before returning to class. They must test daily for seven days, however, they can avoid having to self-quarantine. However, on Jan. 18, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker

two

tests

NEWS

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February 2022

Celebrating Black History Month in 2022 SEARCHLIGHT Ways to learn about Black History this February the

By Grace Ryan News 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 Olivia Carney 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

Carter Woodson designated a week to Black history and culture in 1926 in the second week of February that eventually grew into a whole month by the 1960s. In 1976, President Gerald Ford made Black History Month official. February was chosen as the month because it is the birthday month of both Abraham Lincoln, the great emancipator, and Frederick Douglass, a former slave and prominent leader in the abolitionist movement. The goal of Black History Month is to have African American history to be celebrated yet not seen as different from other American history. The theme for Black History Month 2022 is Black Health and Wellness to acknowledge the legacy of Black scholars and medical professionals of all jobs, especially in a time of COVID-19 where Black people are disproportionately affected. This theme focuses on not only physical well-being, but also mental health and all hospitals, podcasts and books that were created by Black people to help the well-being of their communities. Organizations across the country are holding events for Black History month both in per-

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont Fist is often a symbol of black community.

Another way to celebrate Black History month is to support Black-owned businesses. If you do not know any Black-owned businesses, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has a list of businesses on their website who received grants throughout recent years in an effort to expand economic opportunity. Two programs you can specifically donate to in order to support African American education are Historically Black Colleges or the NAACP

Legal Defense and Education Fund. Over the past few years, African Americans have risen up in the music and film industries, so ways to celebrate Black History Month have become even easier. on mainstream media All of these can be done on your own no matter where you are, but there are also events across the nation including in the Boston area. On Feb. 1, the city of Brockton and the African American Association of Brockton had the African American flag raising ceremony. Similar events are being carried out around Boston including festivals and concerts throughout the month. One activity you can do on your own anytime throughout February is the 1.6 mile Black Heritage Trail that links over 15 historical sites and more homes, schools and businesses of the Black community. Black History Month can be celebrated in all sorts of ways on a national or local level. Educate yourself on past Black history to learn about people like Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King as well as to learn about current African Americans making history. Although Black History Month is the designated month for African American celebration, most of these activities can be all done year round.

Master Plan works on future of Walpole Committee begins planning on next steps for town By Sophia Brownsword News Editor In the Fall of 2021, Walpole Master Plan Steering Committee (MPSC) started their discussions on the town’s next big projects. Previous Master Plans in Walpole have led to the creation of the town’s new police and fire stations, as well as the new senior center. The 202122 MPSC planning will extend into the Fall of 2022. The plans are created in an attempt to establish a better Walpole for the future, focusing on preserving what townspeople already like about the town, as well as improving things that could make the town even better. “The Master Plan is the future vision for how a community will physically evolve. It is mandated by Photo/ FaceBook

@whssearchlight

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.

son and virtually. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is offering a virtual Black History Month festival for the entirety of February of which there are costs for admission. The Smithsonian is also offering virtual education events for free.

The 4 categories of the Master Plan process.

Massachusetts state law and has to cover specific areas including land use and zoning, housing, economic development, natural and cultural resources, services and facilities and transportation. Walpole has added community health, cultural and historic resources and climate change and resiliency,” said Master Plan Chairperson Philip Czachorowski. The last Master Plan outline was created back in 2004 and meant to extend in 2024. These plans are made every two decades or so in an attempt to keep the town up to date as the world around progresses. “With the rapid change in society and our world, plans can quickly become outdated. The 2022 plan will be important particularly in the next few years as it will present many short term and mid-term opportunities for changes,” said Czachorowski. One of the most important aspects of Master Plan is community input. The Master Plan committee looks to receive the opinions from all different communities inside of the town itself. Master Plan is meant to benefit the town as a whole, which makes it necessary to have input as well as representation of all citizens. The committee is made up of representatives from other town committees, as well as one member who represents town businesses and one member who represents the

community as whole. Walpole Public Schools are represented on the Master Plan Committee by School Committee member Kari Denitzio. As teenagers are a large part of the town community their input is also appreciated by the committee. Teenagers represent the future generation of the town, and the whole purpose of Master Plan is to prepare for the future. “Their perspective will be very different than other age groups and is equally important,” said Czachorowski. The next big events will be the Inventory Findings Public Forum on Mar. 15 and the final Public Plan Presentation on Sept. 15. The opinion of community members is required for the committee to come up with projects that will benefit everybody in the town, and the MPSC has been using public forums and surveys to gather this information. The MPSC has met with highschool students as well as heard from parents of students to try and get a better idea of how the committee can benefit the younger populations. Students are still encouraged to give input to the committee so their opinions can be heard and acted on. The Public Plan Presentation will result as the end of MPSC, but from it a separate implementation committee will begin to enact the plans laid about by the previous.

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aDVeRTISeMeNTS

FEBRUARY 2022

FeBRUaRY 2022

OPINION

page 4

February 2022

Music deserves more recognition at WHS

Compared to sports, music receives much less funding and attention By Rebecca Stern Staff Writer

Many schools are known amongst students for their sports. One of these schools is Walpole High School (WHS). The sports teams at WHS have many victories and have made it to quite a few championship matches. Although there is no doubt that WHS has some successful sports programs, that can lead to the music programs being overlooked. The music programs at WHS should be just as important to the school community as sports are. Why does the music department at WHS go so unnoticed? It is because the sports teams have more community support than the music department. Even though the music department is not as widely celebrated, that does not mean that music should be less of a priority.

Some students who partake in both the sports and music programs believe that these two departments should be of equal importance. Sophomore Diza Girhotra, who is both a part of the WHS orchestra and the volleyball team, has noticed how many members of the school community prefer sports to music. “There’s not enough fame in music at schools,” Girhotra said. “People don’t come to concerts and stuff as much as [sports] games but, [both music and sports] should be [of] the same importance.” Due to the lack of funding given to the music department, the school does not have the needed amount of instruments. For example there are six cello players in the WHS orchestra, but only four cellos owned by the school; as a result, at least two students must

transport their cellos to and from school each day. Of the instruments that the school does own, they tend to be older and of lower quality. “[It] would be nice if we had more school cellos and like nicer ones,” sophomore Andrew Miles, a member of the WHS soccer team and orchestra, said. Aside from lacking certain resources, the music program also has very limited space. The band room is shared by over three different classes. Housing all sorts of different instruments in such a confined space causes overcrowding in the already small area which is dedicated to music. “I wish that more resources were invested in [the music program]. The music teachers don’t have [a] very nice office space. [Also] I just sort of noticed that we have only a few practice

rooms and they’re all quite small and crowded,” sophomore Sarah Van der Linden, a percussionist in the school jazz band, said. Comparing sports to music in school is difficult since they are managed differently. The music program is primarily classes during the school day while the sports program is almost all extracurricular. However, funding is not the only issue causing music to go unknown: there is also lack of interest. While many students attend school sports games, very few have gone to a concert. A solution to this issue is having music spread around the school and advertised in the same way that sports are. “The community is starting to see the things the music department does and they will hopefully see us as equal parts,” director of the music department Timothy Fleming said. Photo/ Rebecca Stern

Photo/ Rebecca Stern

The

majority

instruments

WHS

are

old

and

need

updated.

The four cellos, that the school owns, although there are six WHS cello players.

Teachers must limit nightly homework amounts Excessive

amounts

By Caroline Donnelly Staff Writer

Schools and officials always state that teenagers do not get enough sleep on the weekdays, but have they ever considered that many students are up past midnight trying to finish the combined hours of homework assigned? For many athletes and those involved in extracurricular activities, time is sparse when it comes to homework. If less homework was assigned, students would have more down time after school allowing for an earlier bedtime, therefore enforcing a more productive school day the following morning. Teachers often assign an average of an hour of homework per class a night. Together, homework can take hours to complete if done efficiently. Once it has gotten too late at night, many students cannot function properly making any work completed after that time ineffective. Unfortunately, this is when some students begin their homework because of the time crunch after school with other commitments. If teachers agreed to put a 30 minute limit on homework per night, it would reduce the amount of home-

homework

work students are receiving by half. This stress is worsened near the end of each term or before a vacation period because every class has the same deadline, so teachers tend to pile on work in order to finish a unit before the break. For those students who participate in extracurriculars, this workload can become even more overwhelming. “Homework combined with other activities definitely increases my stress levels,” sophomore Meghan McNeil said. “Also, the amount of time given especially to prepare for big tests causes tons of stress and I’m awake very late at night, causing my grades to suffer as well”. In opposition to these beliefs, numerous teachers believe that homework is crucial to the learning experience. Teachers feel that assigning hours of homework is an essential component to retaining and practicing the lessons taught in class. “I believe that homework is an important task for students to regularly complete,” Walpole High geometry teacher Mr. Okolowitcz said. “However, the amount of it needs to be appropriate for the students in regards to both the length

cause

stress

and the difficulty of the task.” Although homework may have some benefits, these benefits cannot be achieved in the amounts given to students on a nightly basis. Assigning homework in smaller doses would motivate students to complete their homework more efficiently because they can spend more time and effort on what was given versus trying to finish hours of homework in one night and rushing through it. Homework itself is not the problem; the amount of home-

and

sleep

loss

work is the problem. By limiting the amount of homework assigned in a night, stress levels will decrease, students will be asleep at a more reasonable hour, homework will be completed more efficiently and students will be better prepared for the day. “If teachers assigned less homework, I’d be a lot less stressed, have a lot more spare time to rest, and be able to get to bed earlier,” sophomore Kamari Hughes said. “I don’t mind homework in general, but it definitely needs to be reduced.” Photo/ Katie Gillis

Students

receive

overwhelming

amount

homework

each

night.

OPINION

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February 2022

Searchlight staff’s Girl Scout cookie ratings With the start of Girl Scout Cookie season, here are our top picks

Lemonades Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste:

Toast Yay! Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste:

Thin Mints Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste:

Caramel deLites Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste:

Lemonades may look like an ordinary shortbread cookie, but underneath there is a layer of lemon flavored icing. The Searchlight Staff rated the cookie’s appearance a five because of its realistic lemon look. The Lemonades are the only Girl Scout cookie available with a tangy flavor, which led the staff to give it five stars for originality, although the name is not as unique. Lemonades are also larger in size than the majority of the other cookies. Overall, this cookie is a refreshing change from the typical chocolate flavor. While the packing may be smaller, the cookie makes up for it with its unique flavor. The Searchlight staff ranks the Lemonades second on our list.

Toast Yay! is a new addition to the Girl Scout cookie list, being released just last year. The toast-shaped cookies, covered with cinnamon flavored icing, brings originality to the table. The Searchlight staff rated its appearance and originality as five stars each because the toast-shape is unlike any other cookies sold at the grocery store. The name was rated a four because it was designed as a play on words for “toasty,” connecting it to the french toast design. The Searchlight Staff rated the taste with two stars; it was a little bland and everyone agreed it could use a little more cinnamon flavor. Overall, the Toast-Yay! was ranked towards the top of our list for its creative name and appearance and mediocre taste.

Since its creation in 1939, the classic Thin Mint has faced multiple name changes. yet has remained a top-selling cookie nearly every year. This cookie’s bland name and appearance do not do its taste justice. Upon one bite, you will be hit with a rich chocolate-mint taste that leaves you wanting more. Plus, they are arguably better frozen; the cold enhances its minty taste and creates a melt-in-your-mouth flavor. The Thin Mints also contain many more cookies per package in comparison to those of Lemonades or Toast Yay! Ultimately, if you are searching for a more unique flavor, you may want to look elsewhere— however, it is hard to go wrong with this tried-and-true cookie.

chocolate, coconut and caramel all in one shortbread cookie. The Searchlight staff rated its appearance as five stars because of the intricate chocolate piping and display. The Caramel deLite cookie has much more going on than the other cookies with all the different toppings and flavors it brings. We also rated its originality as five stars because it is different from any other cookie bought in the grocery store. The name was rated four stars because of the play on words with “deLite,” which can also mean “delight.” Lastly, the taste was rated five stars and it was our favorite cookie. The Caramel deLite was ranked first out of our ratings with a near perfect score.

Peanut Butter Patties

Shortbreads

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Adventurefuls

Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste: Peanut Butter Patties, also known as “Tagalongs,” are essentially vanilla sandwich cookies with a peanut butter filling and a chocolate coating on the outside. Do not get fooled by this cookie’s bland appearance; the tried-and-true chocolate and peanut butter combination is only enhanced by the crispy cookie inside. Compared to the Peanut Butter Sandwich, the other peanut butter based Girl Scout cookie, the Peanut Butter Patties have a much more rich, sweet flavor. The Searchlight staff felt as though the only downfall is the lack of originality in its name and appearance. However, the cookie’s great taste more than makes up for that, which is why the Searchlight staff names Peanut Butter Patties as one of our top selections.

Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste: The Shortbread cookie, also known as “Trefoils,” is the most simple Girl Scout Cookie. They are just plain shortbread cookies, baked in the shape of the Girl Scout logo. The Searchlight staff gave its appearance three stars because of the iconic Girl Scout logo on top. Both its originality and name were rated one star because of its simplicity. The name of the Shortbread cookie could have been more creative, instead of just naming it after the type of cookie it is. Lastly, the Searchlight staff decided to rate its taste as three stars. Although they are plain, and simple, Shortbread cookies are a classic, and can never be overdone. Overall, the Shortbreads ranked towards the bottom of our list because there are other cookies that are more creative.

Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste: The Peanut Butter Sandwich cookie, which also goes by the name “Do-si-dos,” is a crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookie with peanut butter filling in the middle. The Searchlight staff rated its appearance as two stars because there is nothing too elaborate on the outside. We also rated its originality as a two because we felt this cookie is too similar to store-bought Nutter Butter sandwich cookies. We gave it one star for the name, because like the shortbread, it was named after the exact cookie it was. The taste was also one star; the cookie is a bit too dry and we were expecting more flavor. Overall, this cookie was our last ranked because of its similarities with the Peanut Butter Patties, which we thought was the better peanut butter cookie.

Appearance: Originality: Name: Overall Taste: Girl Scouts’ latest cookie creation, the Adventurefuls, have been an instant hit this year. Similar to a salted-caramel brownie, the Adventurefuls provide a unique flavor unlike any other Girl Scout cookie. the cookie’s appearance features a chocolate brownie inspired base, covered in a caramel sauce and a chocolate drizzle on top. However, the Searchlight staff feels that the cookie’s texture is where it falls short. Its chocolate base is more similar to a thin mint (sans the mint) than to a soft, chewy brownie which was supposed to be its inspiration. Regardless, the combination of the rich chocolate, the sweet caramel and the salt makes for a great flavor. Between its great taste and its originality, the Adventurefuls certainly earn their high ranking on our list.

Feature

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February 2022

Erin Ledwith qualifies for NSDA nationals

Walpole Senior will represent Massachusetts in speech nationals this June By Maggie Mahoney Assistant Sports Editor

For years, Senior Erin Ledwith has been a prominent member of Walpole High’s Speech and Debate team, competing in a diverse set of categories and placing at nearly every tournament. The now Vice-President of the team proved her talent on Feb. 5, qualifying to represent Massachusetts in Dramatic Interpretation at the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National tournament in Louisville, KY this June. Although national competitions are nothing new for Ledwith, who competed in events like the National Catholic Forensics League nationals and Sunvite tournament last year, the NSDA tournament is the biggest stage for speech and debate students in the country. According to the NSDA website, the National Speech and Debate tournament is the largest academic competition in the world with more than 4,500 students vying for a national champion title each year. “It is really crazy being able to represent my entire state!” Led-

with said. “From Massachusetts, it will be myself and two other people competing in my event and there is expected to be 300 people competing in that event. It is very exciting to see new pieces and new people at tournaments and now I get to do that at a national level.” Ledwith’s accomplishments have come at no shortage of hard work throughout the years. The Senior has been practicing her new Dramatic Interpretation piece for weeks while helping her teammates and practicing other pieces. As she competed the piece in numerous tournaments in the weeks prior to the qualifying event, Ledwith took the feedback from the judges to improve her piece by adding new movements and enhancing the emotion behind her performance. “It has been a dream since my freshman year to qualify for NSDAs, and for it to come true is a wonderful and surreal experience,” said Ledwith. “I started crying when they said my name during the awards ceremony because I was just so excited. My whole family and the team was so proud of me too.” Looking forward to June,

Photo/ Erin Ledwith

Erin

Ledwith

poses

with

her

medals

Ledwith is excited for the new experiences competing on such a large stage will bring. Being one of only three Massachusetts students to earn their spot on this stage for her category makes her accomplishment all the more special as well. After years of competing over zoom, traveling to Kentucky for the tournament adds an extra level of ex-

after

tournament

this

fall.

citement, but the travel is not what Ledwith is most excited for. “I am most excited to meet people from other states! Speech and Debate kids are some of the nicest kids I’ve met, so I hope to form some great friendships,” Ledwith said. “I’m also excited to show my hard work to a whole new group of people. I am going to give my absolute best at Nationals!”

Tom Brady announces retirement from the NFL Seven-time

Super

By Liam McDonough Opinion Editor After several days of speculation, Tom Brady has officially retired from the National Football League (NFL). League reporter Adam Schefter had first leaked the news on Jan. 29, supposedly hearing from sources close to Brady.

Brady

during

the

2014

season

Bowl

Champion

Immediately after Schefter’s report, other media outlets confirmed the news and many of Brady’s former teammates congratulated him on social media. Even after Brady’s camp rejected the claim, Schefter stood by his report and his sources. Two days later, on Feb. 1, Brady posted on instagram announcing that he has played his last snap of football in the NFL.

playing

against

the

New

York

Jets.

ends

his

Although Brady’s career came to a sudden and unexpected end, his accomplishments will undoubtedly live on through the football world. Throughout his 22-year NFL career, Brady captured seven Super Bowl victories, more than any other player, coach or entire franchise, while also reaching the Super Bowl an unprecedented ten times. Brady’s performance statistics are nothing short of amazing, either. Brady leads all quarterbacks in almost all major statistical categories, including the most passing yards and passing touchdowns of any quarterback. All of Brady’s record statistics underline his longevity in the league. He performed at an extremely high level, and was always able to will his team to victory in the face of intense pressure. Throughout his career, Brady led his teams on 51 fourth-quarter comebacks, as well as 67 game-winning drives, which rank first in both categories. Even on the biggest of stages, Brady was never phased by pressure. In Brady’s first year as a starter in 2001, the Patriots matched up against the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. With the game tied at 13 apiece with a minute and change remaining, Brady calmly led his team down the field to set up the gamewinning field goal that ultimately captured the first Super Bowl in Patriots’ history. A decade and a half

football

career

later, looking for their fifth Super Bowl title, Brady and the Patriots played the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Although the Patriots were favored heading into the game by a decent margin, it was the Falcons who made the early-game statement. The Falcons jumped out to a 28-3 lead halfway through the third quarter, making a Patriots’ comeback highly improbable. In the face of adversity, Brady executed on every play and led his team back from a 25 point deficit to a 34-28 overtime victory, which became the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. While the numbers display Brady’s success in the NFL, his work ethic behind closed doors was unmatched and transformed him into the greatest player in all of football. Before his professional career, Brady was a part-time quarterback at the University of Michigan. While his college performances were solid, his physique held him back from getting scouts to consider him as a high draft choice. Brady was chosen as pick 199 in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and it was not until former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe was sidelined with an injury when Brady got his opportunity. Once he took over the job, he never gave it up, and proceeded to win seven championships en route to becoming the greatest football player of all time.

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FebruAry 2022

A&E

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february 2022

Mental illness brought to light in “The Fallout”

Dance moms’ Maddie Ziegler and Disney’s Jenna Ortega star in a new film By Annie Cameron Staff Writer After much anticipation, “The Fallout” starring Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler has been released on HBO Max. The movie follows the lives of two high school girls looking to navigate their lives after a school shooting. Vada, played by Jenna Ortega, and Mia, played by Maddie Ziegler, find themselves trapped in the school bathroom during the shooting along with Quinton, played by Niles Fitch. After the shooting is over, they find themselves bonded through the trauma. The film exposes the grip PTSD can hold over a person, as the survivors struggle to get back to normal life. Mia and Vada, two unlikely friends, are now inseparable as they work through the emotional trauma and stages of grief together. Although this movie is not based on a true story, it proves to be relatable for students who have been in similar situations. “The Fallout” brings light to the trauma many survivors fight with in their daily life. Vada draws attention to this throughout the movie as she battles with PTSD following the incident. Experiencing

aggressive nightmares, having extreme difficulty returning to school, and even in one scene the sound of a soda can being crushed gives her flashbacks sending her into a panic attack as a result of the PTSD. “The Fallout” also brings attention to substance abuse, as Vada and Mia look to alcohol and drugs as a way to relieve themselves from the memories that continue flooding their heads. In one scene, Vada buys drugs from a dealer at school to help her make it through the day. After taking too much, she is seen hallucinating throughout the school day, rolling down the stairs, and eventually being brought home by one of her friends. There are also several scenes of Mia and Vada smoking marijuana together, and drinking alcohol to avoid reality. Throughout the movie Vada continues pushing away all family and friends except for Mia and Quinton, the friends she survived with. Vada is afraid to scare her family or let them see how badly she is struggling, so she pushes them out and lies to them, doing what she thinks will protect them. As her mother forces her to attend therapy, Vada lies to her therapist throughout

Photo/ IMDb

Vada and Mia overcome the trauma of a high school shooting to form a lifelong bond.

the first half of the movie trying to prove that she is okay when she is not. Vada goes through a series of emotions, and spends a long period of time feeling numb to any emotions. Scared to accept her reality, or disappoint her family, she continues on looking to substances as a coping mechanism and spending all of her time with Mia. As Mia’s parents are on a business trip throughout the whole movie, she has no one to guide her through the grieving period other than Vada. Their dependency on each other, although in some cases toxic, allows them to

build a seemingly unbreakable bond. The Fallout follows the severe trauma and effects of a school shooting on two teen girls. As school shootings are still increasing throughout America, it is important we bring attention to not only the lives lost, but also the lives of the survivors, who continue living with the trauma everyday. The Fallout depicts the causes and effects of school shooting related trauma on survivors, evoking a series of emotions in this heart-breaking film, as two survivors learn to navigate their trauma together.

Sequel “Sing 2” outshines its predecessor

The film engages an audience of all ages with popular songs and voice actors By Cate Stanton Editor-in-Chief

A sequel to the 2016 familyfriendly comedy about an ensemble of singing cartoon animals, “Sing 2” does not disappoint. With a variety of well-known actors and actresses including Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson, playing the voices behind these animals, the “Sing” series creates an appeal to an audience of all ages. “Sing 2” continues this appeal with the addition of U2 lead singer Bono, as well as Halsey and Pharrell Williams taking on roles. The film opens with theater owner Buster Moon (McConaughey) trying to impress a talent scout from the city with their musical. The scout leaves halfway through and tells Buster they would not fit in with the talent in Redshore

City, the equivalent to real-world Las Vegas. Offended by the scout, Moon gets his group together and convinces them to travel to Redshore City and prove the scout wrong. The group initially gets rejected once again, until the hotel owner Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale) overhears one of the singers, Gunther (Nick Kroll), talking about an idea for a sci-fi musical. Crystal ends up loving the sci-fi idea, but only agrees to it when Moon says he can get famous singer Clay Calloway (Bono) to star in it. Moon knows he is taking a large burden upon his shoulders, knowing Calloway has not been seen by the public in over 10 years, but directing a musical in the famous Crystal Tower Theater is a dream come true, and he will do anything to make it happen. Similar to the first movie, Photo/ Animation Express

“Sing

2”

was

released

Dec.

22,

2021.

Photo/ Chicago Sun Times

Calloway

(Bono)

singing

duet

with

Moon comes across several problems including issues with his singers learning their roles, Crystal’s daughter wanting the lead part, and the biggest complication: getting Calloway to star in the musical. Johnny (Taron Egerton), the singing gorilla from the first movie, has trouble learning how to dance for his performance, while Rosita (Witherspoon), the singing pig, has to conquer her fear of heights if she wants to fight Porsha Crystal (Halsey) for the lead role. Will the group get their act together before the performance deadline or will they crack under the pressure? A huge contributing factor to the film’s success is the variety of music on the movie soundtrack. With pop hits like “Can’t Feel My Face” by the Weeknd, “Boyfriend”

Ash

(Johansson)

the

final

concert.

by Justin Bieber, “Break Free” by Ariana Grande, and “Cake By The Ocean” by DNCE, viewers can not help but sing along. The movie also plays two songs by Shawn Mendes, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” and “Señorita,” as well as other hits like “...Ready For It” and “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift, “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys, “A Sky Full Of Stars” by Coldplay, and lastly “Your Song Saved My Life” by U2. Released on Dec. 22, 2021, “Sing 2” has already made $293.6 million at the box office, being the first purely animated movie to surpass $100 million since 2019. With the combination of popular music and a wide variety of wellknown actors and actresses, the success can only go up from here.

page 13

FEBRUARY 2022

page 14

february 2022

Sports

page 15

February 2022

Girls basketball team leads Herget Conference Varsity

team

By Toby Moses Staff Writer In the 2021-2022 season, the Walpole Girls Varsity Basketball Team has had an extremely successful season thus far. They sit at an impressive 13-3 record on the year in a competitive division two with many strong teams. The team also won the Bay State Championship for this year, defeating Needham in a close game. In the smaller Herget Conference including nearby towns like Needham and Braintree, Walpole holds an undefeated record. With nine wins and one loss as of now, Walpole is comfortably ahead of second-place Needham, who has won seven games and lost three. Led by senior captain Natalie Griffin and junior captain Brooke Walonis, Walpole looks to end the season strong and keep their impressive record. Juniors Catie Hurley and Haley Brigham are consistent offensive contributors, and freshman Izzy Adams impressively leads the team in scoring. Walonis attributes part of the team’s success this year to their chemistry. “We have been able to do a lot of team activities and spend

sits

undefeated

a ton of time together which definitely has translated to how we work on the court,” Walonis said. Alongside a talented roster, strong coaching is an additional factor contributing to the success of the team. The head coach, David Wall, encourages a strong connection between teammates, and it shows in the team’s on-court chemistry. “Coach Wall has known a lot of us for a few years and knows how to get us playing our best which has played a huge role in our success,” said Walonis. From the start of the season, Walpole showed signs of their success to come and set the tone for the remainder of the year. They opened their season with a commanding 21-point win over Needham. Walpole beat strong Herget Division competitor Braintree by 18 with strong performances from Walonis, Hurley, and Grace Ryan. Walpole also blew out Milton by 34 points, the final score being 52-18. Walpole has shown their dominance outside of the Herget Division as well, handily beating Newton North by over 30 points. Walpole consistently beats opposing teams by significant margins, defeating towns like Hanover and

amongst

nearby

towns Photo/ Twitter

Walpole

girls

varsity

basketball

team

Brookline by more than 10 points. Walonis called their game against Brookline the best win of the season. “We came into it expecting the game to be close the whole time, but ended up going up by 30 in the early 4th quarter and finished the game ahead by at least 20,” said Walonis. Coming off of their regular season success, the girls varsity team has big hopes for their postseason. After already winning the Bay State Championship, the team

hopes

make

deep

playoff

run.

looks to win as much as possible “In the postseason, we definitely are hoping to make a far run and to keep playing as long as we can,” Walonis said. Another goal for the postseason is to beat Norwood, a rival town that narrowly got the best of Walpole in a regular season matchup. “In order to win the state championship we will definitely have to face them again and that is something I think we are all looking forward to,” said Walonis.

Fans wear read in support of 4 You I Will Fight

Varsity

teams

host

By Kathryn Maclean Sports Editor At a few of the varsity sports events, the fan sections contributed to the “Red-Out Night” by sporting a sea of red shirts. Walpole High School students and spectators showed their support and willingness to fight alongside Tara O’Brien O’Brien more commonly

games

known as ALS. As of currently, there is no cure for the disease. Two weeks after the news was broken, O’Brien and her three children, Allie, Sophia, and David, founded a charity in hopes of spreading awareness and raising money towards research and eventually a cure for the 12,000-15,000 individuals in the United States with the disease. 4 You I Will Fight just celebrated its Photo/FaceBook

honor

ALS

“Red-Out Night” against Milton, while the boys team was set for Feb. 19. 4 You I Will merchandise is sold at the games, including long and short sleeve shirts, tank tops, hats and sweatshirts, all in the signature red color with the slogan “4 You I Will Fight”. All of the profit goes directly toward ALS research. “Getting to play in front of a packed crowd like that really gets myself and the team going,” basketball captain Ryan King said. “It’s a great atmosphere to be part of.” O’Brien’s foundation emphasizes the importance of appreciating the smaller components of life, specifically things that are often forgotten to be luxuries such as taking walks, hugging loved ones and spending time out with friends. She attributes her ability to keep a posi-

awareness

tive mentality to her gratefulness towards her family and all they do for her on a regular basis. Her goal in the long term is to ensure that her children have reasons to feel proud of themselves for their efforts to initiate change. In addition to donations and 4 You I will Fight merchandise, the organization has also hosted road races, bake sales, yard sales, raffles, bottle drives and polar plunges. She explains that continuing to raise money keeps her fighting and benefits those who are dealing with similar battles. O’Brien refuses to stand down to ALS and her efforts to help others have not gone unnoticed by the Walpole community, who show their willingness to fight alongside her through each event hosted. Photo/FaceBook

Boys

varsi-

and her non-profit organization “4 You I Will Fight” by wearing red as they cheered on their classmates at hockey and basketball games. “We always want to have the same mentality going into a game, but when we get a huge crowd to support 4 You I WIll Fight it means so much more,” senior Jack Walsh said. On Jan. 6, 2020, O’Brien was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly

third year in the making on Jan. 21. The boys basketball team hosted the first “Red-Out” night on Jan. 6, at a home game against their rival, Norwood. Both students and parents were seen clad in red in the stands, many with the title “4 You I Will Fight” across their chests. The boys and girls hockey team have their own events scheduled throughout February. On Feb. 5 the girls hockey team had their

Walpole

shows

support

for

Tara

O’Brien

road

race

charity

event.

Sports

page 16

February 2022

Walpole track athletes qualify for nationals

Six athletes will attend New Balance Nationals in New York this March By Cate Stanton Editor-in-Chief

For the last two years, there has been no national meet for high school track and field because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored by New Balance, nationals is the last track meet of every season, where the best high school athletes from all over the United States can compete. In the indoor season, New Balance Indoor Nationals is held at The Armory in Manhattan, New York. The New Balance Nationals has rigorous qualifying standards that the majority of athletes can not attain, however, during this indoor season, Walpole High School already has six runners qualified. Senior Sophie St. George was the first to qualify from Walpole on Dec. 23, at Bay State Conference Meet #2. She ran the mile with a personal record of 5:14.04,

taking first place among the entire conference. The qualifying time for the women’s mile in the Rising Stars Events at nationals is a 5:15, which she just made. St. George has had a successful season thus far and looks forward to finishing her last few meets in post-season with divisionals and all-states coming up. The next athlete who qualified from Walpole was another senior, Nolen Beauregard, who qualified in the men’s 60m hurdle race. On Dec. 27, in the 55m hurdles, he ran a personal record of 7.75 in the first heat at the Boston Holiday Classic and then a 7.74 finals, placing third. Since there is no 55m hurdles race at nationals although it is the only hurdles distance run here in Massachusetts, athletes are allowed to use their 55m hurdles time to qualify. In the Rising Stars Events, the qualifying time for the 55m hurdles is a 7.79, which Photo/ Cate Stanton

St.

George

the

mile

Dec.

23,

which

she

qualified

for

nationals.

Photo/ David Forester

Tashjian,

King,

Mahoney

and

Feener

he made in just 0.05 of a second. “I can’t wait to run against some of the fastest in the country,” Beauregard said. “It will be a fun experience and I can’t wait to go.” The last athletes from Walpole to qualify was the 4x200m relay team, consisting of seniors Cara King, Maggie Mahoney, Lynsey Tashjian and sophomore Meri Feener. On Jan. 21, at the Division 3 Relay Meet, the relay team broke two school records with two first place finishes, scoring a total of 20 points for Walpole. In the 4x50 yard shuttle dash relay, they ran a time of 25.43 and in the 4x200m relay, they ran a time of 1:50.18. The Rising Stars Events qualifying time is 1:51, which they got less than a second under. The relay team consisting of majority seniors brings experience and smooth handoffs, since they have been doing it for four years. “Cara, Lynsey and I have

after

4x200m

relay

qualifier.

been running together since freshman year, so even though we weren’t all in this relay together at that point, I think going to nationals with the people I started track with is the perfect way to end,” Mahoney said. “Now every time we run this relay I think we take it a little more seriously knowing that if we don’t run it well it could be our last time.” New Balance Indoor Nationals will take place from Mar. 11-13 at The Armory in New York. Qualifying for nationals is a huge accomplishment and each athlete should be very proud of themselves for achieving these goals and going to compete against the fastest runners in the United States. “I am excited about everything with nationals,” King said. “Running at a completely new place in New York City, against some of the best teams in the nation, it’s something to be very proud of.”

Gymnastics team defeats Needham on senior night Loosening of

COVID-19 restrictions allows for a normal season

By Katie Gillis Editor-in-Chief For their entire 2020-2021 season, Walpole High School’s gymnastics team was unable to compete at a single in-person meet due to COVID-19 guidelines. Instead of opposing teams competing at the same gym, each team would compete at a separate location and then submit their scores afterwards. While this gave them the opportunity to compete, it was not comparable to a normal season. Fortunately, due to the reduction of COVID-19 restrictions over the past year, the 2021-2022 season has proven to be a much more traditional experience. All

of the team’s meets have been inperson this year, including the Bay State Conference meet, which allowed Walpole to compete against eight other teams. Although masks were required the majority of the time while in the gym, the team was able to take their masks off while they competed. “This season has definitely been much better than last season with COVID-19,” senior captain Maddie Folan said. “Especially since this was my last year, it was exciting to have a normal season again.” The opportunity to return to a more traditional format helped prepare the Timberwolves for their senior night victory over Needham on Jan. 28. The team

credits much of their success to their head coach, Julie Anderer. Anderer began coaching at the start of last season, however did not have the opportunity to coach at a traditional meet until this year. For seniors Folan, Julie Blake and Allison Conley, this meetwas particularly bittersweet. Because none of the three plan to participate in gymnastics during college, this senior night meet was the last home meet of their gymnastics careers. “Gymnastics has given me some of my best memories and it is definitely hard to say goodbye, but it was nice to win on senior night and end on a high note,” Folan said. However, Folan, Blake and Conley feel confident that they are

leaving the team in good hands. The cutback on COVID-19 restrictions over the last year has allowed the team to build a much stronger bond and connection than they did during last season. Plus, Walpole is fortunate to have a talented group of underclassmen, including freshman Kate Verderber and sophomores Emma Bianculli and Kate Graham, who are among the team’s highest scorers. “We think that this team has a bright future,” Blake said. “The underclassmen have proven themselves time and time again as great competitors. Throughout the whole season, the team was welcoming and happy, which we hope carries on for years to come.”

Photo/ Katie Gillis

Folan,

Blake

and

Conley

celebrate

their

senior

night.

Photo/ Katie Gillis

Sophomore

Kate

Graham

competes

beam

against

Needham.