2022
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STAFF LIST
Spring 2022
the searchlight
Staff JOURNALISM I 2021-22
Liv Carney
JESS CRUZ
CAROLINE DONNELLY
alana fitzgerald
ciara foley
angel garcia
ashley griffin
kara horne
tommy jarvis
erin malinn
jackson massey
meg mcneil
bruce norwell
becca stern
emily sullivan
aj watson
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPRING 202
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Collage/ Kara Horne
FEATURE
SPR
ING 2022
FEATURE
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PAGE
CONTENT AREA
Spring 2022
Keep Politics Out of the Classroom Politics should be discussed through a neutral tone or not at all By Csroline Donnelly Staff Writer As the political divide between Republicans and Democrats has grown bigger in the last decade, many teachers feel the need to voice their opinions in class in an attempt to influence their students. Teachers are allowed to freely voice their opinions through their teaching and decorations- but how is this affecting students? School should be a safe space for kids to have complete freedom of beliefs and be able to form their
“Although politics can serve a purpose in the classroom, divisive topics being discussed can make students uncomfortable in their learning environment,” says Walpole High School guidance counselor, Ms. Noyes. Political conversations can make students feel excluded or like an outcast subject to their standing on the topic. There is a difference between talking about politics and voicing opinions- teachers should keep politics strictly informational
itical class could be able to discuss current events in a healthy debate while this would be inappropriate for anything below the high school level classes. As political parties have become more divided in the past couple of years, it has made political discussions an even more sensitive subject. Kids in the 21st century have more political knowledge than previous generations because of social media ence to cover the topics. Young
own ions
opinfreely. “I think it’s always uncomfortable when teachers start to voice their opinions on politics or current events,” said sophomore Ella Jackson. “You can always feel the tension in the room whenever politics start to come up.” Many controversial topics such as gay rights, Black Lives Matter, feminism, , anso on have been brought up and voiced by teachers passive-aggressively, and in some cases, teachers have directly voiced their opinion on the topic. Politics in the classroom will only divide students from students and students from teachers whereas school should be a fully inclusive environment. Bringing politics can make students feel anxious or stressed depending on how much they are directly impacted by the situation.
can die down in the future, but for now, political opinions should not be influenced from teacher to student in the classroom. Kids should have a breif knowledge of current events and a delicate overview of politics; howver, we should not stressing out kids over politics and forcing them to form an opinion around events that do not effect them. Taking politics out of the classroom will ultimately reduce stress and anxiety on stdents and bring back the joy of ignorance. Young kids do not have to be stressing about real life issuesthey have the entirety of their adulthood to do that. In order to preserve their fragile outlook on life, it is important to shelter them from the
without voicing their opinion. “When teachers voice their opinions on politics, it only allows for the students to see one point of view and it will kind of control how they view the topics,” said sophomore Dylan Bent Although politics can be beneficial to engage students and spark discussions, it depends on what class these matters are being discussed in. For example, a high school po-
ble to make their own decisions. To separate these kids from their political influence on the internet or at home, politics should be left out of the classroom to avoid inflicting any extra stress upon students. Students should not be able to tell their teacher’s political party because all politics and current events should be spoken about through a neutral tone and perspective. Hopefully the divide between the political parties
media and the political mosters of the world. Although politcs are important and need to be talked about, school and the classroom is not the appropriate time and place, In the eyes of children, all poltics do is create arguement and divide. To keep out schools fully inclusive and enjoyable for students, I believe that opinions on political matters need to stay strictly informational.
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CONTENT AREA
Spring 2022
Having A Balanced Lifestyle By Liv Carney Staff Writer
There is so much pressure put on everyone to have a healthy lifestyle in every aspect. Physical, mental and social balance is not as easy as people would like to think it is or make it seem. Social media makes you feel like you have to eat a certain way, look a certain way, workout on a schedule, have good grades, play a sport, get enough sleep and even have a job. There are 24 hours in a day and far not enough time for all of this. According to social media accounts, you will feel better and have a healthy lifestyle if you are “balanced” in all these ways. While this may be true, don’t burn yourself out trying to be perfect. You can have a schedule and not stick to it every single day and it will still be valid. I think balance should be more about your mental and physical health. If you are overworking yourself you will end up crashing. You can wake up early, workout, go to school, go to a practice, go to work and do homework then repeat, but you will not feel great because you won’t be getting enough rest, sleep or downtime. Instead of trying to match this standard of a balanced lifestyle, try more to have a healthy lifestyle for yourself. Eat right,
drink enough water, find time for yourself and do things that you want to do. Social media glorifies the world of excessively working out and eating all healthy which in reality, is not too healthy. The real balance to have in your life is between food, exercise, hanging out with friends and family, school work & making money. When people hear they should have a good balance with food, they tend to think that means all healthy. Having a good balance between all different kinds of foods is important because your body needs food as fuel. To get caught up on one specific aspect isn’t a healthy thing to do. Spending too much time on school work or working out too much will just burn you out. If you work too much you will get sick of it and just be exhausted without having a good balance of everything else in your life. You should do things that make you happy while still staying a healthy version of yourself. Another important thing is to surround yourself with good people who have good habits because that will rub off on you. If you are around people who don’t have a healthy lifestyle balance and just don’t care about their wellbeing, more than likely you will inherit that mindset. You want to be the best version of yourself and keep a healthy lifestyle.
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FEATURE
By Caroline Sullivan, and Staff
Ending the School Year with a Bang
Upcoming Events to Close the 2021-22 School Year
As the comes to a clo and staff feel celebrate afte difficulty of th in the Pandem Council has over the past together a se events to raise unify students cent pep rally upcoming pr more and fresh dances have sp throughout th Last F the first pep ra held in the gy Wednesday s lowed so that school could b pep rally with those who cho “The undercla attended a pep before. It was everyone had said sophomo A majority o each grade fil brought excite The pep rally hour and stu ers participa games and ac a hungry hip my rap, musi game in whic blindfolded an the floor in May night of the High Film F and staff wh filmed, and e short films ha hard all year
SPRING 2022
Donnelly, Emily d Olivia Carney ff Writers
2022 school year ose, many students there is much to r overcoming the he past two years mic. The Student made an effort few weeks to put eries of inclusive e school spirit and and staff. The rey, film festival, the om, and sophohman semi formal parked excitement he student body. Friday, April 29, ally since 2019 was ym after school. A chedule was folt the last hour of be dedicated to the h alternatives for ose not to attend. assmen had never p rally at the school s fun and I think d a good time,” ore Sean Kerin. of students from lled the gym and ement with them. y lasted about an dents and teachated in several ctivities including pos game, mumical chairs, and a ch students were nd crawled across search of cash. 3 is opening annual Walpole Festival. Students ho have written, dited movies and ave been working long to show off
Film Festival. Students and staff who have written, filmed, and edited movies and short films have been working hard all year long to show off their work on this day. There are two days of the film festival. On May 3, is the viewing of the show and then in a few days will be the second part of the film festival which is the red carpet night and the movies will be shown again as well. “I thought the movies played well,” said junior Cooper Lawlor. “Lots of laughs. I’m excited to see what the next show brings.” There are 13 films total, all produced by students and staff, shown in the auditorium. The opening night was hosted by chemistry teacher Mr. Mullaney, who introduced each film and those who starred in them. Following the Film Fest, on May 14, Gillette Stadium will be hosting the Walpole Junior/Senior prom for the first time in two years. After a longawaited time, the Junior and Seniors are ready to attend Prom for the first time in their high school career. There are talks around the hall about dresses, what color people are wearing, how girls are doing their hair and makeup, and much more. Teachers are asking questions about dates, and the overall atmosphere and excitement for prom are at an all-time high. Tables for the dinner are set and students who are going bought their tickets. The final preparations steps are in full swing and now students are just waiting for the day to arrive! “The prom is the big topic of the school right now. Everyone is talking about it since it is almost a week away.” Ju
FEATURE
nior Abby Mcdonald said. The next event that will be taking place in early June is the freshman and sophomore semi-formal dances. This will be taking place around June 11 and 12. After the two-year break because of COVID, this is the first dance for underclassmen. A lot of the underclassmen are excited to attend their first dance since middle school. “I think a lot of students are excited for the dance,” said sophomore Kayla Kilory. “The semi has been a big topic for everyone the past couple days.” Girls are ordering their dresses and boys are starting to plan what they are going to wear. Typically, people go with friends and take pictures at a house beforehand. Others may choose to go alone. The steps of planning are in action and the freshman and sophomores are ready for the day to come. These dances school year as the last big event for the underclassmen. will bring a final close to the The steps of planning are in
action and the freshman and sophomores are ready for the day to come. These dances will bring a final close to the school year as the last big event for the underclassmen. The end of the year brings great excitement for Walpole High School students. With all the activities at the High School, many students are excited to go to school to attend these activities to end the year off with a bang. These events are a great way to celebrate the year, as students worked hard all year long. This year is also special because it is the first time in two years that specific events such as prom and semi will be held due to COVID. With all of the stress and anxiety from the past 2 years, the dances and activities are a great way to blow off some steam and celebrate getting back to normal. We hope everyone enjoys their final weeks of school, and congagulations to the Walpole High School graduating senior class of 2022!
PAGE 9
A&E
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SPRiNG 2022
Upcoming Music: What artists you should look out for this summer
The
next
up
and
coming
albums
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THE SEARCHLIGHT
SPRING 2022
page 12
Met
FEATURE
Gala
2022,
June 2022
Celebrities astound viewers of the Met Gala this year with unique looks t
By Ciara Foley, Erin Malinn, and Meghan McNeil Ranging emotions from disappointment to absolute awe, Met Gala watchers experienced what is described to be one of the most “off-topic” of the event’s history. Anna Wintour, known for choosing the event’s themes, had even been claimed to go off her own topic with this year’s Gilded Age theme. Even with widely known stars ranging from each member of the Kardashian Clan to younger emerging stars such as Emma Chamberlain and Olivia Rodrigo, the internet has yet to back off from the supposedly “uneventful” night. To start the night off, the Kardashian-Jenner appearances came as a shocking disappointment to audiences as model Kendall Jenner, along with her sister, Kylie Jenner, and mother Kris Jenner, are known for their annual jaw-dropping emsebles. Leading the family into the event, Kim Kardashian appeared in Jean Louis—alongside Pete Davidson—modeling Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress from 1962. To top off her look, the second oldest Kardashian child had undergone 14 hours dying her hair a platinum blonde to pay homage to Monroe. Many viewers felt that this look disrespected Monroe, including Met Gala attender Lili Reinhart. Reinhart, vocal about her strained relationship with food and her body, stated “To walk on a red carpet and do an interview where you say how starving you are... because you haven’t eaten carbs in the last month... all to fit in a f*cking dress? The ignorance is other-worldly disgusting” on her Instagram story. Following her sister, Kourtney Kardashian and her fiance, Travis Barker, walked hand-in-hand— into their first Met Gala—wearing matching skirts by Thom Brown.
Along with her black-and-white maxi skirt, Kourtney Kardashian finished off her look with a cropped white button down and black pumps. Also attending her first Met Gala, Khloe Kardashian sported a sheer gold beaded dress by Moshino. Said Kardashian completed her piece with black opera gloves along with a dramatic black shawl. Considered to be one of the most underwhelming looks of the night, Kylie Jenner went over the top with a white wedding dress by Off-White. The dress featured a lengthy ruffled skirt and fishnet T-shirt sleeves. The youngest Kardashian topped off her look with a backwards baseball cap—displaying a fishnet veil and white flowers atop it. Model Kendall Jenner received mixed reviews on her Prada black tulle top paired with a full black skirt. Her above and beyond appearance, however, is overshadowed by her fans’ confusion surrounding her blonde eyebrows. Finishing the family’s night, Kris Jenner appeared— along with boyfriend Corey Gamble—in Oscar de la Renta, modeling her yellow one shoulder gown paired with long silk gloves. Blake Lively, along with her husband, Ryan Renolds, appeared at the Met Gala wearing a bronze dress—with a bow on the side—that would eventually change to a green color to represent the oxidation of The Statue of Liberty. Her designer, Versace, created this beautifully cultivated gown. Along with the dress, Lively’s nail artist, Elle Gerstein, created a design to match the star’s dress as it changes from a bronze to a green color. The accessories and detail Lively took into account for her dress has been highly improved since her first Met Gala in 2008, when she wore a black dress with feathers on the end, a classy but not as meaningful as her 2022 look. Taking a close look at the clutch Lively held while walking the carpet reveals the first letters of her husband and three children. More accessories include her bronze and green colored crown, which Lively told to Vogue
that included seven spikes, which are meant to appear like the Statue of Liberty, and created by jewelry designer, Lorraine Shwartz.To pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty fits the Met Gala theme of the Gilded Age, which Lively expresses through her dress and specifically New York City, which during this period the iconic monument was built. Moving into the night, the rising music pop star, Olivia Rodrigo, attended her second Met Gala at just nineteen years old. Rodrigo appeared with a Versace’ lilac off the shoulder dress, decorated with glitter all over.
You Invi
- Met G 202
Gilded
FEATURE
Age
page 13
Theme
that sparked the interest of the public, some positively, while others negatively
u’re ited
Photo/Nina Westervelt
Matching with purple heeled platforms, Rodrigo also included her outfit with light purple gloves and butterfly clips all over her curly hair. The outfit seems to be an homage to her three time grammy winning debut album, SOUR. Although some argued it was off theme, Rodrigo’s fans absolutely adored the look as it was described by many to “fit her style more.” Compared to her Met Gala outfit last year, where she wore a black off the shoulder lace jumpsuit, her 2022 stylers Chloe & Chenelle Delgadillo managed to pull off a purple attire that fit Rodgrio’s personality and accomplishments, yet was chic and polished.
Attending her second Met Gala, influencer-celebrity Emma Chamberlain made her appearance representing Louis Vuitton— a brand she has been an ambassador for since 2019. The recent 21-year-old walked the red carpet in a cropped cream yellow top and a white mermaid-tail skirt. A white undercollar was also used as an added accessory under her flat collar along with a Louis Vuitton necklace paired with a matching tiara. Her look went viral among her fans, as her ensemble was finished off with her newly blonde hair. Changing her hair color from brunette to blonde has been a trend with Chamberlain since the beginning of her YouTube career in 2017. Since she recently announced she will be taking a break from her famed Youtube account on her podcast, Anything Goes, fans have been missing her appearance on their feeds. Chamberlain became one of the most talked about looks of the night as her audience got to see her true self in the media once again. Modeling in Versace and Burberry, sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid joined celebrities on the carpet in corset featured outfits. Back for her now seventh
Met Gala, Gigi wore a deep red corset with matching leather pants and pointed-toe heeled boots, topping the look off with a gigantic floor-length red puffer coat over her outfit. A newer mother to her and Zayn Malik’s daughter, Khai, the model still stunned viewers, also wearing a wine colored lipstick and ruby necklace, along with her hair tied back in a low bun. Contrary to her sister’s matching wine colored outfit, Bella Hadid appeared in a tight, black leathered dress, paired with black heels with pearls. While wearing her hair in a half-up half-down style, the twenty-five year old model wore matching lace gloves and tights to go with her classic look. Despite more debates about whether or not the two supermodels followed this year’s dress code, the sisters were said to have some of the most classy fits this year, as the family has been known throughout the years. This years Met Gala was one for the books, whether in a negative or positive way depends on the view of the beholder. With some fantastic and jaw-dropping looks, along with some of the most controversial of the year, the Gilded Age 2022 Met Gala was memorable.
Gala 22
Co-host Blake Lively at the 2022 Met Gala wearing her Statue of Liberty inspired gown created by Versace.
LifeStyle
PAGE
Spring 2022
SUMMER IN NEW ENGLAND
A
TOP 5 SUMMER LOCATIONS
s the days get warmer and the end of school fast approaches, summer vacation is on the minds of most. Making the most of their short 3 months away from school is a goal of students across Massachusetts. New England offers a wide array of outdoor activities and is littered with old towns and bustling cities making it a great place to be when the summer months come around. Here are my top 5 New England day trips to plan for this summer.
1. BOSTON
Obviously, at the top of the list is the capital of Massachusetts, Boston. The city has countless activities and restaurants to explore. Boston is surrounded by water on three sides offering amazing water views from most places. Popular activities during the summer months are Red Sox games, outdoor dining in the North End, and touring the museums and historical sites that make Boston special.
2.WELFLEET
Ranked in the top 10 beaches on the East Coast, Cahoons Hollow offers an amazing experience and views of the National Sea Shore. Sitting atop the famous dunes that make the beach so special is the famous Beachcomber Restaurant which offers amazing seafood and views of the beach below and the Atlantic.
3. ACADIA
Being the only National Park in New England, Acadia doesn’t disappoint. Acadia, with a wide range of trail difficulties, has something for everyone. Located 5 minutes from BArharbor, Maine, Acadia offers some of the best natural views in the country. Acadia is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast in the Boston area.
OPINION
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Page 15
OPiniOn
SPRING 2022
May 2022
Fluctuality of College Admission Competition
Students Are Under Pressure From College Admissions
By Meghan McNeil First Year Writer Students are under overwhelming pressure about colleges, and what’s lighting the fire under this pressure is the normalizing of colleges’ low acceptance rates. There is a number of reasons for this low acceptance rate, it can be to lure students through marketing their low acceptance rate, or to cut costs on the amount of money spent recruiting accepted students. According to a study by CommonApp application volume through the middle of February increased nearly 10 percent from last year, which from the year before was up 10 percent. This is just one of the reasons for students’ stress and clearly the amount of applicants is rapidly increasing yearly, adding pressure to students and to lower the schools acceptance rates. Recent worldly events must also be taken into account when talking about the changes
in college requirements that affect the competition of admissions. According to data from Fairtest over 1,050 colleges in Fall of 2019 have gone test-optional for admissions. The COVID-19 pandemic can be held accountable for these test-optional efforts, specifically because during the pandemic there was confusion and difficulty accessing ACT and SAT test scores during that period. Another reason can be the aim to reduce the role of standardized testing as a large role in the admissions process. Another cause for these low acceptance rates can be credited to the idea that low acceptance colleges are somehow more elite or mean you have a high level of intelligence. However, this is not true, just going to college is an achievement in itself, and everyone is still working hard toward a degree. Not only are low acceptance rates pressuring students, but the unhealthy thinking surrounding where you go to college defines your
intelligence. The word intelligence itself is very ambiguous, as the way you measure it depends on your mindset. “Mental activity directed toward purposive adaptation to, selection, and shaping of real-world environments relevant to one’s life”, said Psychologist Robert Sternberg. Intelligence is based on many categories of one’s own life, therefore it is near impossible to define the word. The normalcy of this word in comparison to colleges leads to unnecessary stress for students and the way they think of themselves and the schools they go to. College admissions are based on many categories, specifically the soft and hard factors. A soft factor being the college essay, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and interest shown in the college. A hard factor for example is a students GPA, overall grades, and test scores. All together the hard factors are what most colleges look at
first, which is the reason for this academic pressure students put on themselves that leads to continuous stress. Recent events such as the more test-optional colleges have brought hope to lower the idea that colleges only look at your grades and nothing else such as who you are as a person, shown through your essay. Or that even if you put in work over your high school career it does not matter because your grades were not as high as others in your school. As more events go on over the years, it will become obvious that college admissions are fluid and can be changed in a few years. Similar to the idea of what is defined as a “safety school” can become a elite college in a matter of years. Preparing for college is a stressful time and knowing that colleges are starting to be more open to testing optional and that admissions looks at other factors besides grades is important to remember .
Feature
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May 2022
Wicked Dishes in the Boston Area 5
Boston
By Jackson Massey Staff Writer
Boston is a cesspool of many different cultures and lifestyles from all across the globe. Whether you are from the North End or from Chinatown, you are bound to find different dishes and drinks that will suit whatever cravings you may have. From pizza to peruvian, here are some of the very best restaurants that are essential to try if you ever visit the Boston area.
Dishes
that
You
Need
to
Try
5.) Toro - 1704 2.) Brewer’s Fork - 4.) Dumpling Cafe 7 Moulton Street, - 695 Washington Washington Street, Boston MA Charlestown, MA Street, Boston, MA Since opening in early 2015 in a section of Charlestown mostly devoid of restaurants, Brewer’s Fork has brought a pizzaloving crowd to the quiet block with their classic bar feel paired with their excellent food. They specialize in wood-fired pizza, but there are also hearty brunch sandwiches and delicous oysters
Chinatown is known to be one of Boston’s great food neighborhoods, and there are so many restaurants from the neighborhood that are good enough to be on this list. Dumpling Cafe’s Taiwanstyle dumplings and Taiwan-style 1.) Celeste - 21 eggplant help this Bow Street, Somer3.) O Ya - 9 East Washington Street ville, M Street, Boston, MA eatery make such an impact on the Chinatown scene. Pork soup dumplings and garlicky sauteed string An Eater Boston beans are also a Restaurant of the Sushi lovers who few more menu Year, Celeste is a have not yet emoptions sure to cute little spot in Somerville’s Union barked on O Ya’s leave you asking iconic 20-course for more after your Square, serving meal. flavorful Peruvian grand omakase in a neighborhood are missing out. that already has its The tender wagyu fair share of Peru- beef strip loin is vian options. All and for are worthy destina- stunning such a low price, tions, but Celeste no place can beat is the spot for exO Ya. Hidden in travagant dishes such as ceviche and the Leather Dislomo saltado, just a trict, this tiny spot few of the Peruvian has accumulated classics that grace numerous awards the menu of Ceover the years leste.
Toro, open for over a decade in the South End, serves modern and traditional tapas ranging from simple grilled corn to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up at the energetic spot. I personally have been to Toro and experienced why it is one of Boston’s most popular spots, and it surely didn’t disappoint. Boston is flooded with restaurants ranging from large to small, each serving their own unique dishes and authentic atmosphere. No matter where you travel in Boston, you are sure to find tasty entrees around every corner. Don’t just take my word for it, go try it out for yourself!
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FEATURE CONTENT AREA
SPRING2022 2022 SPRiNG
Graphics/ Angel Garcia
FEATURE
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SPRING 2022
The WHS Film Festival:
A Tradition Like No Other By Tommy Jarvis, Jackson Massey, and Bruce Norwell Staff Writers Every year as the weather begins to warm and the trees begin to bloom, a tradition like no other is under way. In room 2113 settled in the middle of the English wing , thirteen teams are hard at work to finalize their
“Dirty Discing 2: Ultimate”, take the stage as two of the thirteen short films to flood the screens on May 3rd and 12th. Students and faculty from all four grade levels star in these short films, providing the whole school with laughs and spooks. Each year the film festival seems to improve in all aspects, from screenplay to editing, with this year looking to improve yet again upon previous years. This is not to say that the old films made in prior
Photos/ Jackson Massey
Students
learn
programs
such
as
Adobe
films, which have been under production since. Their end goal, The Walpole Highschool Film Festival which is an annual film making competition in which students create 8-12 minute short films to present at the annual red carpet and award ceremony. The festival was created by students and faculty members in an extracurricular club who viewed amatuer film making as a creative outlet. It was originally funded by a local computer foundation and has been running since 2003. The film festival has been recognized nationally for its success in teaching students the full process of digital filmmaking. WHS finds itself in the heart of the film festival every spring with teachers and students starring in the school productions ranging from horror to comedy. This year, films such as “Hyper O’’ and
Premiere
Pro
to
edit
their
ers gather in the early weeks of May to view the films and then again on the night of the awards. The process of organizing the festival and making the film requires a great amount of teamwork which the students are enabled to demonstrate. Making these 8-12 minute films involves a multi-step process which requires precision and cooperation. The process of filmmaking which has been demonstrated by those involved fall into three categories; The first is idea and screenplay, the second being pre-production, and the final stage is production and post-production. Alan plans on having a very strong field of competition in this year’s festival. It is safe to say the WHS film festival is a school tradition like no other and every spring it attracts crowds of students and supporters form the community.
films.
years are any less impressive, but with the hype and quality of equipment building each year, films are bound to be improving throughout the years. The film festival has been a tradition on going for the past 19 years. It separates itself from other film festivals as it was one of the first public school film festivals in the country. Since its founding in 2003 it has received national recognition in the Principal Magazine and Marshall Memo as one of the best student lead art programs in the nation. Alan, who has lead the program since its beginning has molded the festival into what it is today, ,each year he is progressing the program and its expectations. Alan has over 400 unproduced screen plays in his possession from years of writers generating unique ideas. The festival’s history attracts a large audience from the community, hundreds of support-
Alan
displays
past
film
posters
on
the
wall.
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political cartoon
SPRING 2022
What’s next,
USA?
Cartoon/ AJ Watson
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THE SEARCHLIGHT
SPRING 2022
PAGE
CONTENT AREA
Spring 2022
Why Summer Vacation Should Be Longer
New Opinions on Why School Should Have More Breaks Year Round By Emily Sullivan Staff Writer Over the school year, teachers and students look forward to one similar thing in general. That thing is summer break. It is a time to connect with family and friends and recharge before the next school year. Many people argue that the summer break is too short and that there is not enough time between the old school year and the new school year. The school year can be a complex and challenging stretch for students and teachers. From September to June is when students go to school for seven hours a day and then go to sports just to come home to do homework for a couple of hours. Doing that constant schedule for months can get very exhausting, so, therefore, a summer break is vital for one’s mental and physical health. Summer vacation can be a beneficial time to grow as a person and a student. For example, people in high school who are near graduating will do internships in the summer to get them ready for ideas for the future. It is also a time for students to make money to get them ready for
what post-high-school plans they have. Only having two months is not enough time for students to balance getting enough time to change as a person but also enough time to rest. While students will work in internships or summer jobs it is also important for them to be able to enjoy the summer after a stressful school year. “Summer is my favorite part of the year because it is a time that I do not have to worry about schoolest group by members that represent the subdiscipline of psychology. They found in a study
that summer breaks can improve moods and also reduce stress by removing people from activities that cause them stress and anxiety. The Canadian study which included 800 lawyers proved that a vacation will decrease depression against school and job stress. “School can be a very stressful time, especially with college admissions and the pressure that you need to do well in school. Having a long break in summer or more frequent breaks year-round would be beneficial to not only students but teachers too.” Meghan Sullivan said. Overall, when looking at the effect of mental and physical
health on teens in school, the two months should be expanded for a longer time period. There are a lot of studies that show school can have an increase mental health in mostly bad ways. According to the CDC, a study was done in 2019, and more than one in three students have felt a feeling of sadness or hopelessness which increased by forty percent from the year 2009. The overall study proved how academic stress leads to less well-being and an increased likelihood of developing anxiety or depression. Even though the solution to make summer vacation longer may not be as easy as it seems, another alternate solution may be more beneficial. Instead of having week breaks every couple of months, having more regular breaks every month could have a positive impact on students. It would allow students to get their homework and school work done on the weekends but then an extra day here and there would help students relax after stressful few weeks at school. .
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Graphic/ Kara Horne
FEATURE
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ING 2022
FEATURE
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THE SEARCHLIGHT
SPRING 2022
Feature
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Spring 2022
Teacher Crossword puzzle Name:
Complete the crossword puzzle below 1 2
4
6
3
5
7
8 9
10
11
12 13
14 15
Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.net
Across 2. Statistics is her forte 4. The man behind the daily news 6. If your looking for him you might want to check the weight roon 9. Power tools and projects 10. Ireland lost a good one when he came here 13. We can thank him for film festival 15. One in English, one in history; double the fun!
Down 1. A computer science genius 3. Hopefully you bought a prom ticket from her 5. The Searchlight mega mind 6. If your tardy he can print you a pass 7. Chickens and Norwood 8. Former Revs girl 11. Student council connoisseur 12. Don't worry if there is a murder, she'll slove it 14. Hes how you'll want to ask for help with any sculpting projects
CONTACT US Website: walpolestudentmedianetwork.com
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