Andoverview

Seniorities Silently Sabotages School Year

March 12, 2021

By Olivia Janasik

STAFF WRITER

Without social interaction and face to face contact with their peers and teachers, seniors at AHS feel as though their mental health has declined as the unusual switch from in-person school to remote learning becomes the “new normal.”

According to a survey, taken by over 300 AHS seniors, the average answer for a student’s motivation on a scale from one to ten was at a two, due to their lack of social interaction and in-school experience. Many feel as though their mental health has lost priority, and without being able to spend time with friends, they find it harder to relax.

Senior Ben Entner said, “This school year has definitely been one of the hardest in my life in terms of getting motivation; every day feels longer than the last and I’m never certain if I’m going to be remote or hybrid the next day.”

Another senior, Mila Mejia agrees. “I’ve recently just been so unmotivated and remote learning makes it so much easier to slack off,” said Mejia.

So how do these seniors get up in the morning? With nothing to look forward to, uncertainty regarding prom and graduation, and none of the usual fun senior activities, “senioritis” has become a much bigger issue in these students’ lives. Both seniors Cale Flatley and Emma Wiltshire agree that the only things getting them out of bed in the morning are “keeping good grades for colleges” and their fear of failure.

“My alarm clock gets me out of bed in the morning” said Lizzie Jones, “without it I don’t think I’d ever make it to class on time.” The lack of motivation is clear throughout most students. While they still continue to strive for good grades, staying motivated is hard without anything to look forward to.

Along with their lack of motivation, seniors agree that their mental health has been negatively affected throughout this school year. “My mental health has definitely lost priority, unfortunately. With online school and struggling to keep motivated, it’s difficult to find time for myself outside of vacations. I feel a lot more stressed even on weekends, especially since we don’t have sports as often as we did before to distract and distance ourselves from school. Not seeing anyone in person and lacking social interaction has also negatively impacted my mental health and having to spend so much time with my family has been difficult,” said senior, Alex Grenon.

Wiltshire agreed, adding, “For me personally, not being able to see my friends and socialize is a big issue and I think many others can relate.”

“I was looking forward to a senior year, all the activities and fun memories I’d be making, but now it just seems like I’m dreading every day more than the last,” said Lizzie Jones. “I’m just looking forward to graduation and college next year.”

Wiltshire agrees adding that, “People have always said junior year is the hardest and senior year is fun, but to me they’ve been pretty much the same because we can’t do anything”.

Guidance counselor, Edward Abbott empathizes with them. “I feel for the seniors this year. Going into high school, they couldn’t have imagined a pandemic happening in a few years, and how it would affect them– their classes, senior activities, post-high school planning, social connections and personally. While they’re trying to maintain their connections to school, extracurriculars and with others, it’s obviously not the same and it’s emotionally challenging. I also believe that they will get through it all, and take something meaningful from this entire experience.”

Although this situation is hard enough, and students are constantly dealing with uncertainty and Covid-19 through it all, it’s important for us to keep our heads up and face the future. “If there is any advice I would give to the rest of the students at Andover High, it would be to think ahead. Your future self will thank you for doing your work,” said Grenon. “It’s easier to get it over with than to wait until it all piles up. I know it can be hard to start but find someone who will hold you accountable for doing your work and stay on track as best you can.”

“We are halfway through with this school year, end it on a good note and hopefully it’ll be a better one next year!” added Wiltshire.

Articles Community

Snow Day Petition Makes the Rounds

March 12, 2021

By Jacqueline Zhu

STAFF WRITER

Remote learning may have killed snow days this year, but AHS students are trying to resurrect them in the name of mental health.

Students have been unhappy with the change, citing stress, anxiety, and lack of rest as their reasons why. Now a petition urging administrators to make the next snow day a “mental health day” is circulating on Change.org.

The petition for a snow day was started by senior Zack Nepomnayshy. It states, “As students, we understand wholeheartedly the importance of getting a holistic education[.] [H]owever, the stress of hybrid learning, the current pandemic, and other private issues [are] causing increased rates of depression and anxiety.”

Currently, the petition has almost 400 out of the 500 votes needed. Many students and parents voiced their reasons for signing in the comments, often expressing a desire for a break from school.

“I definitely prefer having snow days because they give us a break from the normal, hectic routine of school and a chance to get outside for once,” said senior Katherine Song.

Sophomore Dhriti Motwani said snow days are also an opportunity to take some time on her own to relax: “Having snow days [is] great because you don’t have to wake up so early in the morning like usual. We can go play in the snow or take pictures of the snow.”

“Having no snow days impacts my mental health quite negatively,” said senior David Irza. “I now have to burden the fact my customers in the snow removal business I run may be upset with their driveway being covered all day. This causes me to have anxiety and stress…over the loss of business.”

Sophomore Vivian Tang said not having any more snow days has had a considerable impact on her overall mood. “The daily Google Meets and Schoology conferences usually take up most of my time and energy, leaving me feeling lethargic and exhausted at the end of the day,” she said.

Students hope that administrators will consider their thoughts when deciding whether or not they will have snow days. Tang stated schools should listen to students’ opinions since it would greatly impact their performance in school.

“I think we should have our voices heard in these situations, as our conduct in school depends on it,” Irza said. “I think we are oppressed by school [administrators], and they do not care [about] what we say. It is time that changes.”

Interim Superintendent Dr. Claudia Bach stated the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) sent out a notice this school year that said unless the district had power outages, school districts could all go remote when there was a snowstorm instead of canceling school.

“I think DESE thought a remote day was preferable to a cancellation day, but I have heard students might prefer having a snow day,” Bach said. “I’d be interested in hearing student opinions.”

Articles Sports

Student-Athletes Make Big College Commitments

March 12, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

At Andover High School, we have a strong athletic program that has been formatted for each athlete to learn, practice, and play hard, under the coaching of former elite athletes themselves. With around 10 Division 1 sports offered, students have the ability to grow as athletes, while also developing long-lasting friendships and team building skills along the way. According to an NCAA study, only a little more than 6 percent of athletes who played a sport in high school go on to play in college. For this select group of athletes below, college commitments are a big step and the time to celebrate and be recognized is now.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Captain Kayla DiBenedetto warms up before track practice. DiBenedetto has committed to Brandeis for the fall.

Paige Gillette

Sport: Field Hockey

College committed to: Assumption University

Since freshman year, Gillette has played sports for each season: Field hockey in the fall, basketball in the winter, and softball in the spring. Her favorite part about her field hockey experience at AHS was “winning the North title, junior year, with [her] teammates.” Gillette played goalkeeper, helping lead the team to the Division 1 North final in the 2019-20 season, as well as being on the varsity girls basketball team that went to the State Finals last March at TD Garden. Gillette is most looking forward to a “high level of competition and continuing to be on a team.” In addition to being recognized by AHS as a top performing goalkeeper and leader, Gillete has been chosen two years in a row as both a Boston Herald All-Scholastic and Boston Globe All-Scholastic, an impressive accomplishment that few reach in their high school athletic career.

Amanda Smith

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Suffolk University

Smith has been playing soccer in Andover for more than 12 years and has met her best friends through the sport, gaining powerful soccer skills along the way. Smith is most looking forward to “a more intense atmosphere and more knowledge of the game.” As a college athlete, Smith is excited for the opportunity to travel to other schools and visit new areas outside of New England. She is also enthusiastic at the prospect of playing under Ashley Van Vechten, her new coach, who was one of the most decorated players in Division III women’s soccer. Throughout her high school soccer career, Smith’s motto throughout her high school soccer career has been “hard work pays off in the long run.”

Kayla DiBenedetto

Sport: Track

College committed to: Brandeis University

DiBenedetto has been on the track and field team for the past four years at AHS. Even though track is an individual sport, her favorite aspect of the program has been the family dynamic, as each teammate supports one another and encourages each other as a group. For DiBenedetto, team traditions will also be a missed moment, especially the “pasta dinners and chicken and waffles in Boston post MVC’s in the winter.” During freshman year, she played basketball, but struggled with a knee injury that continued to worsen throughout the season.The following spring, however, she was able to run track and that didn’t bother her injury as much. From this experience, the ultimate decision was made to stick with track, being the best for her body and health. At the collegiate level, Dibenedetto is excited to continue with that team dynamic that was ever so present at AHS. “Since my track experience was cut short here as a result of the virus, I am excited to still have a lot of time to improve and compete,” she said. For the 800 meter race, DiBenedetto ran a 2:25, along with running a 3:11 in the 1000 meter race, both notable times.

Tatum Shaw

Sport: Basketball

College committed to: Southern New Hampshire University

Throughout her four years of playing for the Andover Lady Warriors, Shaw has broken school records at AHS, including most recently joining the small group of athletes to score more than 1,000 points. While Shaw has been a star player since freshman year, she has been putting up hoops for the past ten years, starting out at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Methuen at age 7, and now going on to play at a Division II university. In addition to reaching 1,000 points this past season, Shaw put up a record high of 38 points in one game, a lofty accomplishment. Volleyball was another sport pursued by Shaw, but she referred to it as a “just for fun” sport, not as serious as basketball. Some of her best friends have been made from these teams, and she added that “there is no other feeling than the Jungle coming to your games and cheering you on.” The competition and schedule are equally exciting for Shaw looking forward to the future, as she concluded that she can’t wait to play “and make memories almost year round with people who are equally committed to the sport.”

Aidan Ritter

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Endicott College

Since kindergarten, Ritter has enjoyed and thrived in his experience with baseball along with building up a tremendous amount of skill with the sport over the past 13 years to be able to play next year at the collegiate level. Ritter loved meeting and spending time with his teammates throughout the season along with learning valuable lessons from his coaches. Although Ritter has played football throughout high school, “baseball seemed like a safer sport and is [his] main sport.” In addition to playing at AHS, Ritter has played club baseball through Show New England for many years, serving as additional practice and competition. Ritter is most looking forward to travelling and getting better at baseball, along with simply learning new things at Endicott, located conveniently in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Ashley Kendrigan

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Stonehill College

Kendrigan has played soccer for the past 13 years and was a leading force of the 2019 MVC Championship team, along with playing in the MIAA North Division 1 Finals. Running varsity in both winter and spring, Kendrigan has also been a powerful force on the AHS track and field team. Yet, Kendrigan has “played soccer every year since kindergarten, and [she] also plays club soccer, so playing in college has always been a goal.” Along with playing for four years at AHS, Kendrigan has played on the New England Football Club’s DPL team, a selective club team consisting of top players from all over New England. When asked what she is most looking forward to, Kendrigan concluded with “working with college-level teammates and coaches to learn and improve my game, and help contribute to my team’s success.”

Other Student-Athletes Who Have Committed:

AJ Heidtke

Sport: Football

College committed to: Brown University

Ashley Smith

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Assumption University

Ben Entner

Sport: Football

College committed to: Colby College

Anthony Teberio

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Wheaton College

Ryan Grecco

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Colby College

Articles Sports

MVC Championship Recap: From Final Win to Plot Twist Season End

March 12, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Over February vacation, five AHS varsity sports competed for the Merrimack Valley Championship in a hard fought battle to defend previous titles and achieve new ones. The winter sports season included boys/girls basketball, boys/girls hockey, boys swimming, gymnastics, and skiing. Many of these athletes were forced to alter the basics of their game, because of the restrictions of COVID-19 and looking out for everyone’s safety, especially in high contact sports. Even despite these alterations and restrictions, both hockey, basketball, and gymnastics teams advanced to the final MVC championship.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Senior captain Paige Gillette prepares to shoot during their game against Chelmsford High
School on January 29th.

Gymnastics (Won, 141.25-137.75)

The AHS gymnastics team won against North Andover 141.35-137.75, led by freshman duo Gabby Bresnick and Molly Foster. Foster placed highest in the beam, scoring a 9.2, while Bresnick placed second in vault and bars, 9.35 and 9.05 respectively. North Andover has a powerful All-Star athlete, Kasey Burke, who won the all around, vault, bars, and floor, yet Andover was able to work together as a team to finish on top.

Boys Basketball (Lost, 39-37)

The Warriors faced off against rival Central Catholic in a highly competitive and anticipated game that ended in a two-point deficit. The game remained close throughout the first three quarters and was tied 36-36 with two minutes to go. From here, Central just barely escaped with the win, allowing them to receive their first MVC Division 1 Cup. The Warriors ended their season 11-1, led by longtime coach Dave Fazio.

Girls Basketball (Lost, 36-33 OT)

The Lady Warriors also faced longtime rival Central Catholic for the second time this season. The Warriors had a successful season, winning nine games and only losing three, including this championship game. Last season, the Warriors trekked their way through the playoffs all the way to the state championship game, played at local arenas such as the Tsongas Center and TD Garden, and made a statement by making it to the MVC championship game yet again. The Raiders were led by breakout star freshman Ashley Dinges, who scored the final three points resulting in their win. The Warriors were led by senior guard Tatum Shaw, and sophomores Amelia Hanscom and Anna Foley.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Team picture of the AHS varsity girls basketball team in the end of their season.

Boys Hockey (Lost, 3-2)

The Warriors took the lead in an intense game against Chelmsford, with senior Ryan O’Sullivan making a goal in the first period to get Andover off on a good foot. Chelmsford made a statement in return, with the Lions scoring three consecutive goals from senior players. Andover made an attempt to close it out, with senior Steve Ingram making it 3-2, but they were unable to overcome Chelmsford, ending their season 2-5-1.

Girls Hockey (Lost, 3-2)

The girls varsity hockey team lost in a hard-fought battle against Billerica/Chelmsford, ending their season 8-4-1. The team got the opportunity to play at the Tsongas Center on February 21, and scored within the first four minutes, junior Jaqui Haney putting the first point on the board. Billerica/Chelmsford immediately struck back and the game took off from there, a back and forth exchange that lasted until the very end. Senior Kalli Archambault scored within the last three minutes, but the team was not able to score again to overcome Chelmsford.

Lessons, Tips for Motivation

March 12, 2021

In a recent issue of Education Week, two teachers discussed remote and in-person learning in relation to time management and motivation– two skills that often get lumped into the pile of “You either got them or you don’t.”

Students often bear the blame for their lack of time management and motivation. You don’t turn in an assignment and you get a zero. You could have too much homework, or you’re working two jobs plus going to school, or maybe your motivation is low because you’re depressed. It’s not like time management and motivation are academic skills that are taught in the classroom, though maybe now is the time to consider doing just that.

One year has passed since the pandemic was declared. This is a school year most students cannot wait to be done with, as it has required exceptional flexibility and perseverance. Those are tough skills to manage without time and motivation.

So how can you manage your time better and stay motivated this semester? Here are some ideas from our staff:

Study with friends (Masked and social distanced, of course.)
Take a 5-10 minute break every hour. Shorter and more frequent breaks are shown to improve focus and productivity.
Look for forward to those breaks. Plan on a little fun.
Write detailed class notes. Get out those colored pens and get creative.
Write EVERYTHING in a planner. Yes, really.
Train yourself to associate places with a function. Try to avoid working from your bed or in front of the TV.
Do something to relax in your downtime. Take a walk, watch a show, hit a baseball.
To do lists. Break large tasks into smaller pieces. Make early deadlines.

The pandemic has shined a light on gaping holes in the school support structure we’ve become accustomed to. Students, teachers, staff, administrators… we see you all doing the best you can. Let’s take all of these lessons we’ve learned this year and build a better system to make sure we’re all more motivated for our future.

AHS Reflects On COVID-Anniversary

March 12, 2021

By Philippa Konow

STAFF WRITER

March 13th, 2021, will officially mark the one-year anniversary of Andover Public Schools shutting down as a result of COVID-19 in the U.S. This last year has caused a lot of sadness and loss of hope for many, but some positives have come out of this roller coaster as well.

People have tackled this year in many different ways. Some have been taking this time to do a lot of self-care to better themselves. Others have taken on new hobbies or made new friends online. There are so many possibilities for what everyone can do to make this time a bit more enjoyable and this article could help inspire others who are stuck for what to do or just want to try something new.

Some have learned more about themselves, changed their perspective on life, started new hobbies they have fallen in love with, or grown attachments to people. “Personally for me, it has allowed my family to get a lot closer. I feel like it has definitely made our connection and our bond stronger,” said junior Mishaal Khan. Family bonding is a great idea during this long period of quarantine.

Many have also started preparing for college and the up and coming sports season. Senior Matthew Rigazio has been focusing on these specific topics, reflecting that he “got physically stronger, was named a captain for the Andover football team, and was accepted into some of [his] top schools for college.”

During this past year, many have been taking part in the act of self-reflection. This can be done by looking back at how you have behaved, what you have achieved, or how you have changed so far in your life. Some simple questions to activate self-reflection might include:

How has my personality changed?
What are some of my new strengths?
What have I learned about myself?
How has my behavior towards others grown?

Sophomore Avanthika Suryadevara has looked through the lens of self-reflection a lot this year.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself, like that I’m not as much of an introvert as I thought,” she said. “I really do miss interacting with friends and classmates.”

This period is a great time to learn more about yourself and who you really are. Rigazio stated that his self-reflection “was really just focusing on minding [his] own business more and to think how [he] can help [his] community during these tough months.”

Self-improvement is another great thing to do during this time. This can be anything from working out to allowing yourself more free time for self-care and relaxation. Annika Christensen, a freshman, has valued this extra time.

“I get 30 minutes back in my day when I don’t have to take the bus to and from school,” she said, adding that “I’m able to free up my weekends and take time to even plan ahead and look at myself in a better light. I feel much happier now than before quarantine.”

Taking on new activities are great ways of getting through this time as well. It can help you distract yourself from the chaos outside and to actually enjoy this time we have at home. Christensen is in show choir, a cappella, and takes piano lessons from Mondays to Thursdays. These are great activities to take part in as music can be very calming and opening to many different kinds of people. It can bring a sense of community in this time of social distancing.

“Some activities I have done to keep me occupied are working out and watching a lot of TV with my mom,” Suryadevara said. These are both great because working out is great for your health, and TV with family is great for bonding. Khan has also taken part in music, much like Christensen. “I’ve been learning to play the keyboard and I can honestly say it has turned into something I do every day!” Khan told ANDOVERVIEW.

Now that we are at one year of quarantine and have many vaccines being distributed each day, the light at the end of this tunnel is coming into view. Even though it will take time and safety is still at top priority, many have started to hope for a bright conclusion to this school year. Many are imagining what it will be like to come out of this pandemic with new eyes. “I am looking forward to walking the hallways of the school with my friends, with no masks,” Suryadevara said.

The Class of 2021 is beginning to get excited for the conclusions of the year activities.

“I’m most looking forward to senior activities at the end of the year,” Rigazio said. “If the vaccine is distributed to the general public by then, I hope the school can put together a true, one last ‘hoorah’ for the class of 21’ that has already gone through so much.”

Writers note:

I know this year has been difficult for many. People have lost loved ones, jobs, and multiple other important things. This year has been a roller coaster of emotions. Mental health has gone down. Stress has gone up. Hope has dwindled. This country has suffered a lot of tragedy, but a reminder; the light is at the end of the tunnel, and it is coming. If you are struggling, find someone to talk to. If you know someone who is struggling, remind them that you are there for them. It may not seem like it now, and I know personally this year is a huge challenge, but it will get better. Just reach out and someone will grab your hand and pull you to safety. We can get through this, and we will all get through this.

Articles Sports

Recapping Most Unusual Fall Sports Season

February 8, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Almost a year ago, there was no hope for spring sports, let alone fall sports. Being able to find ways to allow athletes to safely play was a struggle and topic in question, with many state board meetings being held throughout the summer to decide the fate of these special fall sports. The MIAA board pushed back the start of the fall season to September 14 for all Massachusetts teams, Andover beginning on the 18th due to their delay of start of school. Three categories were created to determine to what extent each sport would be able to participate and what sports would have to be moved to a postponed “Fall II” season in the late winter. In the end, football and cheerleading, along with girls swim and dive were pushed back, deemed the most “high risk” sports for student athletes based on the amount of physical contact they required between player to player. Athletes playing in the normal fall season faced various challenges and difficulties based on the new COVID regulations, but in some cases, it brought the team closer together.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
WELCOMING WINTER SPORTS: Varsity girls basketball is one of the winter sports that continues to practice and compete despite
the pandemic.

Boys Soccer (Captains: Jared Moses, Anton Pace, Anthony Previte, Ryan O’ Sullivan):

The boys soccer team made it to the division 1 north semifinals last year in the playoffs and were going into the fall coming off a really strong previous season, yet COVID had a serious impact on how far the team could make it this year. Captain Jared Moses felt that “one of the biggest restrictions that impacted [the] team was wearing masks as [they] were playing. Running and playing your hardest is tough when wearing a mask.” Moses went on to say that the masks restrict players ability to get as much oxygen as they need, especially when playing competitive soccer. Some staples that were missing from the regular season were the annual New England Revolution games, no pasta dinner, and only playing around 4-5 different teams, not being able to leave the conference. Captain Ryan O’Sullivan rated the season a seven out of ten and added “the only reason I am not completely bummed out is because we had an amazing run last year and I’m just glad myself and the other captains had a chance to go as far as we did. I would have been happy with anything this season because of it.” O’Sullivans favorite memory was beating Haverhill on their senior night, after a 7 game losing streak, and Moses articulated this statement, adding that his favorite part was just “being on the field with some of the best kids in the school.”

Girl’s Soccer (Captains: Ashley Kendrigan, Colleen Shay, Ashley Smith)

COVID had a large impact on the girls soccer team, a powerful group of players who had almost made it to the state championship last year, starting with the number of players able to participate. The roster was shortened to 22 players, and the amount of team bonding the girls were able to partake in was also cut short, with the team unable to do their annual canning, banquet, and end of year celebration. Captain Colleen Shay took an optimistic perspective on the limitations, stating that “We were all going through the same unfortunate experience together, and [she’s] really grateful for the bonds [she] was able to make with [her] whole team this year.” An interesting limitation impacted the technical rules of the game itself; there were no throw ins, no headers, and no taking corner kicks. Also, the team could only play certain, selected teams in the Merrimack Valley Conference, which cut off various non-league rivals and participation in the state tournament. On a scale of 1-10, Shay rated the season a 6, explaining that even though she is normally a really positive person, it was tricky finding the “bright side” of the season. “The nine other seniors on [Shay’s] team and [herself] have been playing together for [their] whole lives, waiting for [their] senior year. After growing up in the sport, it felt really unfair having [their] final, most important year taken away,” commented Shay. A favorite memory from the season was simply having fun with each other at practice and spending time together as not just teammates, but as best friends. Shay ended with “In the long run, it’s not all bad because I know I’ll be friends with these girls for a long time and we’ll have plenty of time together after COVID!”

Cross Country (Captains: Charlie Beams, Kayla Dibennetido, Jenna Freeland, Kirsten Muscat, Zack Nepomnashay, Cam Kirn, Owen Salamone)

Cross Country is, and always has been, a no cut sport, meaning the amount of athletes that can participate are unlimited. This year, the team had over 85 kids running, so they put a lot of effort into abiding by rules and different limitations in order to make the most of their season, and they sure did! Many athletes reached a personal record in their races, despite the semi-altered course, and the team made the best of the season that they could. “Some of the restrictions against our training included wearing masks during runs and workouts, we were only allowed to race in dual meets, we were not allowed to directly race with our components, and we had to limit our access to equipment and lifting,” recalled captain Jenna Freeland. Runners were not able to participate in any pre-season training and there were no annual MVC or MSTCA races. Freeland, along with fellow captains Kirsten Muscat and Kayla DiBenedetto, spoke to the lingering disappointment that this was their senior year, stating “No matter how long we did the sport for, whether it be one season or four, we all worked extremely hard. Senior year is known to be the best year where we see all of our hard work pay off.” Big pasta dinners, large meets, post-meet food stops on the highway, and more will be missed next year for the seniors who are graduating. Lastly, the seniors are so grateful that they were able to have an awesome senior night. “We were able to race and celebrate our hard work with our family, friends, and entire time (socially distanced and outside),” reminisced Freeland.

Field Hockey (Captains: Heather Graham, Paige Gillette, Hannah Medwar, Allana Miller)

The returning Division 1 North Champs had to adjust this season as they faced

difficulties with COVID, but that did not stop them from playing as well as they did and ending their fall season undefeated. The first adjustment the team had to make was shifting from a 11v11 setup to a 7v7 setup, meaning that only seven players were allowed to play from Andover at once, instead of the regular eleven. Captain Paige Gillette stated that “Every player on the roster was talented and hard working enough to play at a high level and make an impact on the field,” and was disappointed for younger players who might have not gotten as much playing time as they deserved due to the restrictions. Gillete and her team were heartbroken to hear the post-season was eliminated and Gillete added that she was sure that the team would have taken home the state championship again! “I do, however, understand we are living through unprecedented times,” acknowledged Gillete, “and woke up every morning grateful for another day where I would get to play field hockey with this team.” Gillette and her co-captains rated the season a 10/10, “because any time spent playing high school field hockey for Andover High School is amazing and ‘the best day ever’.”

Volleyball (Captains: Abby Ledoux, Alexandra Papazian, Tatum Shaw)

Girl’s volleyball captain Alexandra Papazian will always remember the team’s Senior Day as a favorite memory from this unprecedented season. Normally, the team practices and plays in the Dunn Gym, but the team practiced in the field house because of desks placed in the gym for lunch. The Seniors were able to play one last home game in the Dunn Gym thanks to the administration helping move the desks. Family and underclassmen were able to help celebrate the seniors and it made the season special since it was the last opportunity for those graduating. The team only played six games this year, instead of the normal 20-game schedule. There was a significant reduction in opportunity to compete, but this didn’t stop the team’s motivation to continue to grow as players. “Girls volleyball always tends to be very close and we have pasta dinners with all three teams, being able to bond with everyone,” Papazian said, adding that although much was missing from the season, she rated it an eight because having her senior season of volleyball is something she has looked forward to since freshman year and she couldn’t be more grateful to experience it.

Articles

Remote Learning: Tips and Trials

February 8, 2021

By Avi Shapira

STAFF WRITER

Opinions on remote learning have been mixed across the AHS student body, but learning remotely, whether in remote academy or hybrid, has been difficult for many.

Online school has caused many health issues because of extended screen time, lack of movement throughout the day, and inability to interact with other students often. Those health challenges are also hindering people’s ability to do well in school.

“I have really bad headaches and it’s gotten so much worse this year due to online school,” said junior Ollie Neilly. “It’s very painful and it makes it hard for me to concentrate or have my camera on.”

“It’s been difficult to get outside and get fresh air, or interact with friends, pets and family,” added Atlas L., a junior.

Anya Lazar, a junior, also said that remote learning negatively affected her posture.

“We worried even before this pandemic about how much screen time students are getting, it creates a sedentary lifestyle… you’re not moving around and being social,” said health teacher Candice McVeigh.

During remote days, students interviewed said they have to spend between six to eight hours on a computer just for school-related work, and in remote academy or when hybrid is all remote teachers hold class-long meets. Most homework also requires going online to complete, and most teachers spend the entire class lecturing.

Abby Clement, a sophomore, said “A lot of the time, after spending a day completely online without much of a break, I do not want to go back online and do more school work so I put it off, procrastinate, and end up becoming more stressed.”

Teaching online is also difficult for teachers, whose health is affected and have to design “more engaging activities [online], while also considering the time that students need to look at the screen,” according to Chinese teacher Lin Wu.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Ms. Wu teaches in-person and remote students at the same time during an H Block.

Despite all the challenges with online school, it’s possible to make it easier for both students and staff.

Some students said they prefer having independent work rather than a live remote class.

Neilly said it’s easier to concentrate on independent work, and Google Meets can be stressful.

L said both types of classes have benefits. “It’s easier to learn when I can hear the teacher talking about a subject, but I overall spend less time sitting in front of my computer and it’s easier to get work done when it’s independent work… it’s easier to go at my own pace.”

Sophomore Shannon Chu suggested a mix of both would be good. “My French teacher… gives the beginning of class off for us to do some [independent work] and then our actual class is only 45 minutes.” Other students expressed similar ideas.

To make remote classes easier, McVeigh mixes independent work and lecturing, and also makes sure to include group work in her health classes. “I heard from some kids that they appreciate that,” she said.

Many students said that mask breaks, or any short break in the middle of class, were helpful for them.

“Our brains can’t focus for long periods of time so having a ten to twenty minute break in the middle of class would help our productivity and focus levels and give us time to get away from the screens and stretch,” said Neilly.

Students said it would be helpful if they got less homework in general.

L said less homework would mean they wouldn’t “burn [themself] out by spending all of [their] time focusing on school work.”

Chu questioned whether homework is necessary. “If homework is making kids more stressed how is that helping at all?” she asked.

“Our education is already being affected by our mental health and the inability to concentrate,” Neilly explained. While he agrees that some homework are necessary, many teachers could give lower amounts of homework.

Because of these challenges, many students have had to skip or miss classes because of technological issues or headaches. Due to the online platform, making up this work is more difficult, and students interviewed suggested that teachers post an agenda and don’t take points off late work to make making up work easier.

Some students thought having physical textbooks and getting more assignments on paper would be helpful.

I think physical books [are better than] online books, for the reading experience,” said Chu. Physical books would also mean students have to look at screens less.

Lazar had a mixed opinion. “I actually hate doing assignments on paper because writing hurts my hand, so I prefer being able to type everything. Physical textbooks would be great because I have a lot of issues with loading the online ones.”

Multiple students suggested teachers should change the way they grade assignments.

“Teachers could not rely on tests and quizzes for grades as much as they do right now, since it’s very hard to learn an entire topic when everything around you is a distraction and you can’t pay attention,” said L.

“[Teachers should] give more opportunities to improve grades, be more lenient, etcetera,” said Clement. She suggested teachers grade on completion rather than accuracy of homework assignments.

Articles Arts

AHS Community Illuminates Favorite Media

February 7, 2021

By Alana MacKay-Kao

ARTS EDITOR

Whether it’s video, music, literature, or something else, media is undeniably helpful in times of turmoil. It can be a pathway to distraction, an oasis of momentary calm, a drop of joy, a way to process current events, and much more.

Many students turn to a platform like YouTube, which is accessible to everyone and seemingly has videos to suit every taste. Anya Lazar, a junior at AHS, said some of their favorite channels are Unus Annus and Strange Aeons. You can still find Strange Aeons on YouTube. Unfortunately, Unus Annus has been deleted (the concept was a channel where a video would be posted every single day for a year, and then deleted upon the completion of this goal). It encouraged making the most of the time we have, an idea that hit close to home for many viewers while quarantining. Lazar said about the channels: “They are entertaining in a way that somehow caters to my hyper specific sense of humor.”

Senior Griffin Caruso enjoys watching the YouTube channel, “Fire of Learning.” He is taking college courses, classes at AHS, and VHS classes. Each format has a completely different feel and pace, and switching between them constantly is exhausting. “It’s a good break from the duel my high school and college work is having,” he said.

YouTube isn’t just for consuming media, it’s great for creating media as well. Senior Anderson Hsiao has been working on videos to post on his channel. He posts both music and comedy videos, which can be found under his name, Anderson Hsiao.

Speaking of music, musician and senior Declan Woodring said, “I find music of all kinds just generally soothing and overall fun to listen to. Finding that right song, album, or artist makes all the difference in my day and I hope that it will help others too.” He’s spent the pandemic listening to various music that improves his mood.

Digital media isn’t all there is though, Spanish and French teacher Peter Hall has found that old-fashioned books have been the most important form of media to him during the pandemic. “Reading can be my form of escape, a way to learn about other people or cultures, or gain a new perspective,” Hall said. Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman, and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead are some of his favorites.

Although we have entered a new year, we’re not out of the woods yet with regards to the pandemic and other stressful events. But the media surrounds us, whether it’s digital, like a TV show, or physical like a book or art. It is a gift to be taken advantage of, whether you share it with others or use it as a time for yourself.

Articles Arts

The Show Must Go On(line)

February 7, 2021

The work behind this year’s Broadway Cabaret

By Alana MacKay-Kao

ARTS EDITOR

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Gio Coppola sits on the edge of the Collins Center stage with his laptop. He was one of many volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring the Broadway Cabaret to fruition.

Andover Vocal Music Association’s annual Broadway Cabaret took place virtually last month, due in no small part to the tireless efforts of several student and teacher volunteers including junior Juliana Kaufman, senior Gio Coppola, and teachers Chris Desjardins (Mr. D), Daniel Brennan, and Beth Kennedy.

The Cabaret consisted of performances by all of the Show Choir groups, smaller groups, and soloists. Each performer had to submit videos of themselves performing their numbers. Emcees also had to record themselves and send in their videos. Having the most members, the Show Choir pieces took the most coordination and work.

Mr. D was in charge of mixing the audio to make it sound like the groups were actually singing simultaneously. “I use a program called Logic to put all the voices together. Normally the way I do it is I actually group all the recordings by voice part,” he explained. “Then I mix down all the voice parts and then I put the voice parts together with the pre-recorded music and try to line everything up, but it is tedious at best.”

Coppola was responsible for pulling the final Cabaret video together and making it presentable for that Friday night. He also put together the video of “Unruly Heart,” one of the group numbers, being performed.

While it isn’t a craft he usually spends much time on, Coppola enjoys filmmaking and editing. He has been editing videos since middle school when he created videos for YouTube.

“I started on Windows Movie Maker and I just kind of started playing around with different things,” he explained, describing how he got started. “It was a lot of getting practice with it.” Coppola has also made a promotional video for Show Choir and works at AYS, where he is the instructor for the Movie Makers program.

If you’re looking to learn video editing, he recommended YouTube tutorials. “YouTube honestly is like the best place if you want to learn how to do almost anything. It’s definitely really helpful because these editing softwares can be ridiculously complicated and not fun to look at.” If he was looking for a specific effect, he said, “I knew what I wanted it to do, but I didn’t know how to do it. You just look it up on YouTube and there are 8,000 people who’ve done it who will show you.”

Finally, once all of the individual numbers were edited, the video and audio clips for each number and emcee could be put together to become the ultimate video that encompassed the entire Cabaret. This wasn’t the end though. Coppola downloaded all of the videos and put them into Final Cut in the running order and inserted the intros done by the emcees.

That was when he realized that his laptop wasn’t powerful enough to process the video. The night before Cabaret, Coppola and Mr. D discussed this on a Google Meet. They had to come up with a solution fast. Mr. D remembered that Juliana Kaufman, a junior at AHS who also did some of the video editing, had borrowed an iMac from the school. They called Kaufman to ask if they could borrow the iMac so that Coppola could finish the video, and Mr. D drove it from one side of Andover to the other at 10 p.m. It was this dedication from the team that allowed the Cabaret to happen.

Here’s the way Mr. D described it: “We’re all kind of trying to put the ship together while in the middle of the ocean, if you will.” The final video was finished at 4 a.m. on the Friday it premiered, just in the nick of time. Coppola alone spent 26 hours working on the Cabaret.

“Everyone’s been affected by this,” Coppola said in regards to the pandemic, “[but] sports games still get to happen. You get to do your meets and your games…. We don’t have that right now. We can’t perform. Chorus, band, orchestra, Drama Guild, Show Choir, we’re kind of at a standstill and are very much relying on doing these virtual things because it’s quite literally our only outlet right now to do any of it. So next time we do something, maybe go hop on.”