Grafton Globe Newspaper
Winter 2020 Edition
The annual Winter Concert was held a few weeks ago, and all of the students worked very hard to perform a wide variety of pieces ranging from King George to Radiohead’s “Creep”. The Pep Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Workshop were directed under Mr. Trombley. He was extremely proud to see how far each instrumentalists and vocalists have come since the beginning of the year. Mrs. Renner, who directs the Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, was “very pleased with the entire concert. It is always exciting to see all the hard work all the student musicians have put in come together for performance. It’s also exciting to see the growth from performance to performance.” Megan Paluzzi, the six-legged singer, agreed with Mrs. Renner, saying that she thought “it was one of the best repertoires for all the music groups in her time here at GHS.” The students in the Chamber Choir performed with body and percussion, teaching themselves the very complicated, yet intriguing, hand-percussion part. One student said she loves Vivaldi, and immensely enjoying the string chamber’s rendition of it. In addition, she loves how the kazoos in the concert choir added to the general dynamic to the concert. Another student, both in Chamber Choir and Concert Choir said that the Pentatonix/Fleet Foxes cover of “White Winter Hymnal” was her favorite part of the concert. She said that it is always fun to try something new, and she hopes they can keep trying new things for concerts in the future. Students from the band agree that Joe Rideout’s horse-snap and the triangle were great additions to the pieces performed. They can’t wait until the spring performance, where they will be performing several new pieces. Both Mr. Trombley, and Mrs. Renner, cannot wait for everyone to see what they are planning next.
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It is being suggested—however, nothing has been confirmed—that there will be a change to the way that we, as students, are formally tested during the middle and end of the year—our midterms and finals. The suggested plan for next year is that there will be no midterms and a different way to test students in place of a final. No more stressful and intense studying nor last minute cramming. No more impractical stopping in the middle/end of the school year to get assessed on topics that you already learned. The proposed plan also includes getting rid of the 90% or above requirement in order to avoid the final since the standard way of taking an end of the year assessment will be changed.
In our interview with Mr. Pignataro, he explained to us the reasons behind the ideas for what is happening. In addition, there is a board of teachers who suggested the change, and they will ultimately be the ones to decide all of the adjustments. The thought behind the midterms and finals is that there is almost no difference between these huge tests and the normal tests that students take throughout the year. Having a midterm and final is the equivalent to memorizing information, then just repeating it, rather than knowing the information by heart. Mr. Pignataro notes that, “We have found that the grades on finals have been significantly lower,” and that we as a school system “base so much on a grade. Grades are a big thing that is a big focus and it shouldn’t be,” Mr. Pignataro explained. “That’s where our education system is so wrong. Is it about studying or is it about learning?” It is also stressed that by taking away midterms and finals, it will leave more days for teachers to teach students the course material. “With that extra week of school, we would gain more instructional days,” Mr. Pignataro told us. “To me, that’s a beautiful part of it: we are going to gain more time.” Extra teaching days are quintessential for AP courses, since they have more information for their AP tests, and less time to learn it. What is proposed is that we remove midterms and replace the finals with assessments that will properly evaluate a student's knowledge on the course. An example that Mr. Pignataro proposed is replacing the final with an exam such as a lab or presentation. This way, the student’s knowledge is portrayed in a way that is more interactive and prone to showing what the student learned rather than selecting a multiple choice or fill in the blank. “We want kids to be able to demonstrate they don’t understand how [the material] can apply to real life.” By making these modifications to our midterms and finals, Grafton High School hopes to change the way students look at learning in general. Although none of the said above is official, there have been meetings and discussions about what this change will bring and how this will change the curriculum. For faculty, it will bring more academic days to teach the full course. It gives a chance to bring more for students to learn and a chance to fully assess all the material needed to be covered before finishing the year. Mr. Pignataro believes that by making changes like this he is “[giving] kids an opportunity to learn.” It is creating a learning atmosphere based on absorbing knowledge and not just memorizing. He hopes to see a change in viewing how kids perform. Teachers will be given the choice to have midterms and finals. Right now, we are given about an hour to do each, and without the exam weeks, we would have the class period of 45 minutes. If your teacher decides to give you the midterm or final, then it is their choice on how they approach it. Students showing what is learned can be done in many ways and hopefully, in future years, students will be able to express this in different methods. The finals and midterms are well known for being stressful and grade droppers. They are used to prove that children know the information. But it has been proven people need to learn the information to know it, not just memorizing it. To keep knowledge is not to repeat it ten times over; to truly understand a topic is to truly comprehend it. With the changes to midterms and finals, I believe that there could be a change in more than just grades, but to the students as well. Maybe this could be the first step in changing the way kids learn. We have already seen a change in curriculum to try and provide a positive learning space, hopefully we can apply the facts of comprehension vs. memorization to the way it is taught. New faces vault boys’ basketball to strong start
Having lost six seniors from last season, you could understand the boys’ basketball team getting off to a slow start. Apparently, the team forgot they were supposed to slip after seeing several starters graduate. The Indians have rocketed to a 4-1 start, winning their games by an average of 22 points. Kyle Sawtelle, averaging 19 points a game, and Will Herndon, adding roughly 14 of his own, have been at the forefront of the team’s hot start to the 2017-2018 season. The team is a perfect 4-0 at home in the Grafton gymnasium, the team’s only loss coming to Tantasqua on the road by the score of 70-58. The boys’ next home game is against Burncoat High, at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, January 10th. Lacking any seniors, girls’ basketball in playoff hunt The girls’ basketball team is coming off its best season yet, having come within a single point of its first division title in history last year. But, much like the boys team, the girls team lost many of their seniors. No matter. Thanks to strong performances by juniors Abby Rogers, Anya Kopyra, Jenna Gordon, and Taylor Paulauskas, the Indians find themselves 2-3 after five games, in the middle of the playoff race, just as in the two seasons prior. Rogers has scored the fifth-most points in the Southern Worcester County league so far this year, averaging almost 14 per contest. Kopyra adds slightly more than 10 per game, while Gordon averages almost nine. The girls look for their first victory at home on Tuesday, January 9th at 6:30 p.m. against Millbury, a powerhouse SWCL team that is a perfect 6-0 so far. Looking to go back-to-back, GVT boys strong out of the gate Last season, the boys’ hockey team took home their first-ever state championship. Now, after a strong start to this season, a second straight title looks like it may very well be in the cards. Much of the strong core from last year's championship team has returned to compete this year. The success has returned with last year’s talent. The boys are off to a 6-0 start, ranking fourth in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette’s media poll taken on January 2nd. The team is complete from top to bottom. Starting goalie Cam Powell is tops in the Coughlin Conference with a 1.8 Goals Against Average(GAA) and a .915 save percentage. The trio of Tyler Hart, Jake Baker, and Charlie Farrah is ever-dangerous on offense. Hart and Farrah are tied for the team lead with six goals apiece. Baker has five goals of his own and leads the team in assists with six. The hockey team’s next home game is at Buffone Arena in Worcester on January 24th, in which they’ll face Oakmont. Right now, the internet is in peril.
Not more problems, you may think. Do we not already have enough? But this is big. This may change the internet as we know it. A monstrosity of an issue, if you ask me. More people need to be made aware of the impending doom that may be situated on our technological orbit forever. This issue is Net Neutrality. Ajit Pai is the head of the U.S Federal Communications Commission(FCC), an independent government organization overseeing the regulation of the radio, television, and phone industries. In November, the FCC confirmed dropping government oversight of ensuring unregulated access to content by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Net Neutrality is a basic right and principle that bans internet service providers, such as Comcast or Verizon, from arbitrating speed with any applications, websites, or online content. It is the way we have grown to use the internet since its existence. Without Net Neutrality, ISPs have absolute freedom to manipulate speed, costs, and content access. If successful, America will soon face repercussions, including possible slower internet speeds, additional costs, or the blockage of certain websites. Daunting? I agree. Net Neutrality, simply put, is a violation of the first amendment—our right to free speech. In the absence of Net Neutrality, social activists operating online may not be able to function anymore, due to providers removing any political verbiage in order to keep customers and avoid the idea of political bias. Small business owners may not be able to network, grow or promote their brand anymore. One of the newest additions to Grafton High this year is the SWAT club. The club’s name is an acronym for “Student Wellness Advisory Team”. SWAT consists of a group of students who are concerned about mental health and would like to spread awareness about it.
“The reason this club was formed was for mental [health] awareness to be spread around the school and to break the stigma so that it’s not as taboo to be talked about,” said Brenda Ruiz. For a new club, SWAT has done extraordinarily well in attracting new members. At the school’s club fair, one of the best opportunities for a club to recruit members, SWAT took a creative approach in their display booth. In fact, SWAT team leaders, Megan Paluzzi and Brenda Ruiz claim that their booth was one of the biggest accomplishments of the club so far. Many students were surprised with how serious and common mental health issues are in society. “A lot of people read this board we had. It was covered with celebrities and it had a brief description of some of the problems they had” said Brenda Ruiz. SWAT is always looking for opportunities to reach out to the community and spread their message. In fact, one of their recent club activities included members writing letters of support and appreciation to teenage patients and their clinicians at Arbor Behavioral Care, a hospital that provides mental health services for children and adolescents, in Worcester. “It’s a good way to give to the community while promoting our message” said Megan Paluzzi. SWAT club leaders are excited with how successful their club has been so far this year. Although their club is new, they have put a lot of dedication and thought into forming SWAT. “I like that people are taking an interest in it, it’s not just being pushed to the side anymore. Students want to learn [more about mental health]” said Brenda Ruiz. SWAT is always looking for new members to join them in their quest to spread mental health awareness to the community. If you are interested in joining, contact the club’s secretary, Ryan Lewis, to get more information about the club. Grafton High School’s GSA is one of the many gems that our school possesses. The GSA, or Gender Sexuality Alliance, holds the values of acceptance for everyone despite of their gender and/or sexuality.
GSA leader, Kali Eames, who has been a member of the club since her freshman year says that “having a leadership role in a club that is constantly positively influencing GHS and making changes to make GHS a better place for everyone, is her favorite part of the GSA. “It makes [her] happy to know that because of [the GSA], kids will always have resources and a place to be themselves.” Eames notes that the GSA “always promotes inclusivity and is a place anyone can come to have fun and feel comfortable.” Members of the GSA like to celebrate their individuality by holding fun events, such as a HoliGay party, where they have coloring plates, food, music, and overall, good company to be around. The GSA prides itself in the club’s many accomplishments. In the last few years, the GSA has “changed the graduation gowns from being color coordinated based on biological sex to a gender neutral gown, so those who are gender fluid or non-binary can feel comfortable on one of the most important days of their life.” Additionally, the GSA has “instated a gender neutral bathroom, and every year all the money [they] raise gets donated to an LGBTQ+ charity.” Like many clubs here at GHS, the GSA has its own special bond between each of the members. “We have a strong sense of community,” Eames says, “We often do educational and fun activities to better the friendships made in this club.” Members can choose how involved they would like to be in the GSA, since some aspects of the club do take up students’ time. The GSA speaks in health classes once a semester, sells club merchandise, and participates in school events. However, these are all voluntary, and the GSA is a non-committal club, which means that there are no obligations when a student joins. The GSA meets the first Friday of every month in the library. If you are interested in joining, you can contact the GSA through [email protected] or [email protected]. The raging blizzard danced viciously around the peaks of the mountains, causing small vibrant shakes throughout the valleys of the biting frosts. One woman, however, was using the terrifying storm to her advantage, as she ran from certain death.
Using the cloak of the night, the young woman pushed through the barking winds, trying to escape those who wished her harms. The snowy mountains of Aislinn were no longer safe, and the Frost Forests, which once served as the woman’s only place of freedom, now have became a living nightmare. Her limbs aced from the biting cold and her legs felt numb but nonetheless she kept trudging through the snow. The gruesome barking of dogs was heard from not to far behind. The woman groaned to herself. “How do I get myself into these messes?!” She did not feel fear, just an empty sorrow that her once beloved mountains had turned too cold for even her heart to love. And now, she needed to leave. For if she was found, all hope would surely be lost... The woman was pulled from her thoughts when she noticed the faint flicker of a torches glow in the distance. “They’re too close!” She panicked. Turning towards the horizon, the woman pushed herself harder, faster, stronger. She began to run. She felt the sting of an ice shard as it cut her rosy cheek. But she endured it and kept going. She thought she had made it, but to her horror a shaking erupted from the mountain once more. This caused the woman to trip and fall, her scream was muffled by the howling winds as she violently fell down the mountain. Narrowly missing every giant pine tree. When she finally stopped the woman found herself in a snow covered clearing. She was covered in bruises, scrapes, and cuts, but she had finally escaped. Breathing a sigh of relief she took a step forward to only hear a giant snapping crack. Before she could cry out in shock, the woman plummeted into the ice cold waters, to now be trapped again within the watery tombs. This was the end to her young life. “It’s funny...The home I have fallen in love with has eventually become my grave.. My beautiful mountains, what has he done to you?” “I’m so sorry I failed to protect you...” “It’s all up to you.” “My dear Ksenia.” To be continued... From “Believer” by Imagine Dragons to everyone’s favorite, “Sweet Caroline”, Pep Band traces modern pop, rock, and anthem songs to cheer on home sporting events. Conducted and advised by Mr. Stephen Trombley, Pep has played at Grafton High’s football games, always ready to sound their arrangement of “We Are the Champions” in celebration of our school’s victories. This winter, the Pep Band will be jamming out on the bleachers of the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball games.
For young musicians, Pep Band has served as a relaxed environment which allows students to grow and further develop a fun and positive attitude towards the music making. Pep Band meets after school in the band room on Thursdays and welcomes all instruments, presently featuring: trumpet, clarinet, baritone, trombone, guitar, percussion, vocals, and saxophone. This ensemble gives enrolled students in band and chorus a chance to play a different kind of music, featuring shorter selections with more frequent performances. “You get to play outside of a concert environment,” says clarinetist Nathan Waltham, also referring to the group as “closely knit” together. Fellow trombone player Josh Fiore also mentioned seeing Pep Band as “an opportunity to play upbeat and very fun music in front of live audiences”. Pep Band gives members more time to play and learn music while still enjoying themselves. If you play an instrument, or are interested in joining Pep Band, you can stop by the band room or email Mr. Trombley! Pep is not only stress-free and fun, but always open to any students interested in music! |
Grafton Globe NewspaperStudent created articles in a student run digital newspaper. CategoriesArchives
February 2020
CategoriesHumans of Grafton High |