Community – Page 5 – AHS NEWSPAPER

Andover Debuts in Hollywood Industry

May 6, 2024

By Lojyn Elkotory
STAFF WRITER

Andover stepped into the spotlight of the movie industry as Marvel chose its picturesque locations for filming “Madame Web.” Released on February 14, 2024, the movie showcased familiar Andover settings, adding a touch of local charm to the screen. Andover locals shared their experiences of seeing their town on the big screen.

The movie starred actresses Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and many more. Andover had the honor of providing the setting for the filming of the movie.

Ella Vidoni, a senior at AHS, said she enjoyed the movie. “I’m not very good at sitting through movies, but this one was kind of interesting,” she said. She expressed her amusement with the movie being filmed in Andover, saying, “I thought it was cool. I’ve never really seen Andover in a movie before.”

A local witness of the production, Jackie Salvesen, a Health Education teacher at AHS, shared her firsthand experience of witnessing the transformation of Chandler Road into a movie set. As she drove her husband to work along River Road, a retro diner built on top of Deyermond Field, which is built on a landfill, caught her attention.

“We would [go to] his job through Chandler Road, and we both noticed that there was the structure going up,” Salvesen said. However, to ensure the safety of the production, the film company had to secure its surroundings. Salvesen said, “[she] would… drive by that way and then at some point, they completely shut down that section of the road. I was no longer able to see anything that was going on.”

But why Deyermond Field?

Although Deyermond Field has no previous cinematic history, the field has witnessed multiple changes and usage. According to Jennifer Timpko, a Special Education teacher at AHS and a long-time resident of Andover, in the late 60s, the field was known to be a dump where Andover residents would leave their trash. “It was a field trip every Saturday to dump trash there,” Timpko emphasized. It was later on that the field was transformed from a dumpster into a sports field. The public used it for sports teams such as the baseball and soccer teams. However, in 2016, Deyermond was no longer used.

With all of its rich history, how did Marvel know about Deyermond Field?

Michael Lindstrom, Deputy Town Manager, explained that Andover was approached in May 2022 by a location scout for Sony, one of the world’s largest technology and entertainment companies. “They wanted to film a couple of specific scenes on Chandler Road over by the Deyermond Field, out in the woods around there, and also by the greater Lawrence Technical school on River Road” Lindstrom said. The collaboration between Marvel Studios and the town of Andover not only brought cinematic magic to local streets but also provided economic benefits. According to Lindstrom, the film crew paid close to $70,000 to the town for the privilege of filming in Andover.

Interested in checking out Andover in Madame Web? The film will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray and available for streaming starting this April!

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Murray and Diffenbach Win Close Election for School Committee

May 6, 2024

By Molly Borenstein
STAFF WRITER

In a closely contested election for the School Committee, Shauna Murry emerged victorious alongside candidate Lauren Diffenbach.

The election results showed Murray with 2,391 votes, her counterpart Diffenbach with 1,977, and McCready, a former school committee only around 100 votes below at 1,812.

STAFF PHOTO / Molly Borenstein
A woman poses with a “Diffenbach & Murray” poster.

Murray and Diffenbach are both experienced educators. In an interview with ANDOVERVIEW, Murray specifically mentioned her two decades of service in public schools and believed her background set her apart from other candidates. “Residents recognized the value of having an educator’s perspective on the committee,” Murray said. Diffenbach, also highlighted similar ideas to Murray, believing that her background in education and help from the AEA pushed her toward victory.

Reflecting on her campaign strategy, Murray emphasized the importance of positivity and outreach. “We focused on highlighting my strengths as a candidate and addressing the concerns of our public education system,” she said.

Diffenbach, echoed Murray’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for unexpected community support during the campaign process. “Word of mouth goes a long way, and I will be forever grateful for the outpouring of support that led me here,” she said.

As she steps into her new role, Murray plans to prioritize listening to the community and reflecting on past initiatives. “I want to rebuild the bridge between the School Committee, teachers, and staff,” Murray states, emphasizing her commitment to representing all constituents.

Acknowledging the divides in the community, Murray and Diffenbach express a desire to collaborate with all voices. “As a district, there is a need for intentional work around repairing fractured relationships,” Diffenbach states. “I’m hopeful to increase collaboration and bridge the divides.”

Looking ahead, Murray sees healing as a primary challenge facing Andover’s education system. “We cannot move forward until we address recent tensions,” Murray emphasized. “In my experience working in education, the challenges seen by the public are often indicative of more complicated and deep-rooted challenges that exist within an education system. Up until now, I have only known the surface-level challenges as seen by the rest of the public. My first step is to learn more about those hidden systemic challenges in order to formulate a path to addressing them.”

Student-Faculty Basketball Game Upcoming

May 6, 2024

By Minati Thota
STAFF WRITER

The student-faculty basketball game is scheduled for April 3 during H-block and is being organized by the Sophomore Board led by Mary Testa.

Students can either sign up to watch through MyFlexLearning, or volunteer to play. The faculty team of 12 staff members is held secret until the day of the game. “Mr. Bledsoe [will be on] the mic,” Testa provided.

The student-faculty basketball game is an annual event organized by the class boards. The faculty team won last year’s game, but the playing field is level again this year. Testa predicts an exciting showdown and encourages students to join. “We expect a better turnout this year,” she added, referring to the students playing as well as the audience.

Sophomore Perspectives On English MCAS

May 6, 2024

By Samantha Sun
STAFF WRITER

The English MCAS for sophomore students commenced and concluded on March 26 and 27, bringing grumbles, sighs, and relief. Enduring two days sitting in classrooms, facing the computer, and completing questions is a process AHS students have become familiar with.

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is a standardized assessment that aligns with state English Language Arts (ELA)standards and examines student’s abilities in writing instructions and on-demand writing, as well as teacher practices.

“It was extremely boring,” sophomore Anoushaka Nagle said. “The fact that there were three [essays] in total over the span of two days made [MCAS] exhausting.” With term three ending, piles of tests and quizzes added to the stress of MCAS, Nagle said.

Sophomore Jana Leung said she “was glad that it was the last [state test] that we would have in terms of English…but I think there’s a little bit of pressure because this counts.” However, Leung also added that it was nice that she could take a break from the normal schedule and have something change in the week.

While the MCAS is something students are quite familiar with, the overall dislike towards the test is the lack of incentive to exceed. “There’s no motivation to try hard because the MCAS doesn’t affect you unless you fail, so really my entire goal [with] MCAS is to try and get it over with,” said Nagle.

Teachers have made sure to provide students with practice tests and sample essays to adequately prepare students for the test. English Coordinator Stacy Giggie said, “As a department, our goal is to teach beyond the test all the while making sure students have a clear understanding of what to expect.” The midterm exam for freshmen is also a writing prompt that assesses the same skills tested on the MCAS, said Giggie.

Subsequently, it was time that was more of an issue. “In the beginning sometimes a proctor took longer to actually initiate the test so we lost a lot of time,” said Nagle. Along with time, students remarked about the small font size, which was difficult to read.

“This year students seemed to really take their time with the exam, which is what we want to see,” said Giggie. Some students spend more time planning and organizing their essays than others, showing the amount of effort sophomore students have been putting forth.

While the MCAS is a vital assessment, it isn’t a measurement of a person’s skills and abilities. Any exam is one data point on one student on one day and it is not a complete picture, noted Giggie.

“I think it tests stamina more than it does any actual reading comprehension, I’m fairly certain that I did a lot better [at] the beginning of the MCAS [than] I did towards the end,” said Nagle, noting that mood and temper can contribute to the performance on the test.

Leung had similar thoughts, adding that when students are stressed it can affect how they write, read, and comprehend information. Leung believes that cumulative work instead of one standardized test would better represent a student’s capability.

Every Andover Band Plays At All Bands Night

May 6, 2024

By Xander MacKay-Kao
STAFF WRITER

Andover High School hosted All Bands Night on March 28, and every Andover public school band got a chance to perform at the Collins Center.

All Bands Night is an annual concert where public schools in Andover get to have their bands perform a selection from their repertoire. It’s divided into two concerts: One for elementary school and part of middle school, and one for the other part of middle school and high school. Audience members are filtered out in the middle in order to allow enough space for all of the parents of each group. This year the concert spanned two and a half hours, giving every band ensemble a chance to perform at least one song, something that hasn’t consistently been true in years prior.

Senior and saxophonist Alex You said, “It’s an event where the high schoolers get to see their growth as musicians compared to where we came from.”

Not everyone had an experience reflective of the atmosphere of positivity surrounding the event. One senior and trombonist Enrico Panzica said, “It was the [worst] All Bands Night I’ve ever been to. I [messed] up in every single performance, and everyone else did too.”

Other students have mentioned that some call times were pretty intense, effectively requiring students to be at the building from after school to the end of the event at around 9:30.

Myriads of Joy, Laughter, and Happiness at AHS: How do students practice self care in their free-time?

May 6, 2024

By Grace Wang
STAFF WRITER

As the third term comes to a close, it’s important to continue self-loving. During this tumultuous time of the year, everyone’s enduring through the most difficult portions of their classes. Right in the thick of all this classwork, remember: love yourself.

Personal Fitness teacher Meredith Emery is a particularly avid advocate for self-care. During her classes, she often encourages everyone to practice self-care. “Andrew Huberman is my go-to guy…[I] absolutely love his philosophy.”

“Take care of yourself and take care of others,” says Emery. “Daily investment in the 6 pillars is the way: morning sunlight, daily movement, quality nutrition, stress control, healthy relationships, deep sleep. Re-up every 24 hrs so you can contribute and support others consistently too.”

So, what is self-care? The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability.” Essentially, self-care is taking care of yourself physically and mentally. Hygiene, nutrition, and seeking medical care when needed is crucial. Most importantly though, we mustn’t neglect our mental health. It’s important to love yourself. Be happy. Do things you love.

At AHS people channel their self-love through activities that bring them gargantuan joy. Some people like to focus on physical activities.

Senior Tamar Kojokaru says, “Sometimes I color.” According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, “coloring is a healthy way to relieve stress. It calms the brain and helps your body relax. This can improve sleep and fatigue while decreasing body aches, heart rate, respiration, and feelings of depression and anxiety.” Wow, how relaxing!

Another Senior, Shambhavi Jayakumar, states, “I read.” Reading reduces stress. Studies have shown reading helps reduce stress, likely because it requires concentration and focus. What an academic weapon!

“I listen to music while baking,” adds Junior Micaela O’Connor.

“I like to hangout with people. I like getting outside of the house, and I bake,” summarizes Senior Enrico Panzica.

Meanwhile, others emphasize focusing on themselves and keeping themselves busy with an interest.

Senior Mallaury CarbelZekpa chirps, “I bought so much skincare for myself. I have a 7-step skincare routine.” Delving into the expansive world of skincare is another great adventure one can take in pursuit of joy. With all the brands on the market from all over the world, it’s hard to run out of things to look at. It’s something lighthearted that could give someone an escape from the stressors of school and daily life. Along the same thought process, shopping online is something many teenagers derive joy from. Although it’s not what you think of for a typical hobby, shopping is something many teenagers derive joy from. And that’s great! It might not be making the healthiest impact to your bank account, but it’s something fun.

Senior Emily Packer “[likes] to keep a very organized space because when [she] feels that [her] life is in order, [she’s] happy.”

“If students are struggling to find ways to reduce stress, they can definitely talk to their guidance counselor or health teacher,” says AHS Guidance Counselor Kimberly Bergey. “Maybe go out with a friend outside to get that fresh air and get that vitamin D from the sun. Exercise is always a natural endorphin.”

Amongst these varieties of activities, there is one thing that seems to be the key to happiness. The process of investing time and energy into something you love is important for everyone’s mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Ultimately, Bergey concludes, “it’s really easy to get very caught up…with our schoolwork, our friends, our family, and our extracurricular activities. Sometimes, it piles up so much that we forget we need to stop, breathe, take a break, and take care of ourselves.” Most importantly, “the more we take care of ourselves, the better we’ll be able to perform in all our other responsibilities.” She herself goes to Zumba and watches Modern Family in her free time.

Upcoming Freshman Semi Formal

May 6, 2024

By Jiya Jotwani
STAFF WRITER

The Freshman Semi Formal, technically the first freshman dance of the year, will be taking place at Old Town Hall on May 10th.

This new freshman event is planned by Mokshaa Bhutani, Ashley Barton, Akshara Vijay, Abby Chachus and Rachel Chachus, who are all on the freshman board. According to Barton, about 80-90 freshmen will attend based on ticket sales.

Bhutani concludes that they wanted freshmen to have a dance because they don’t get many opportunities to have events with their grade and they believe that everyone should get to know each other more.

Barton said that although homecoming this year wasn’t that successful based on opinions of classmates, “[she believes the team] can make [the freshman semi-formal] better and [that] this dance should be good.”

Joanna Ganci and Mackenzie Comeau are the staff who run the freshman board. Ganci sent out an email on April 5th to all freshmen asking for music recommendations to customize this experience \ a little more so it can really feel like a freshman dance.

Chloe McGonagle, another freshman at AHS, says she will not be attending the freshman semi-formal because they never have food. “I didn’t even go to homecoming because there is no food,” McGonagle says, but because of how many people are coming, they will be able to attain an ice cream bar at this semi-formal.

Edward Mukalazi Heads to Washington

February 28, 2024

By Jill Slotnick
CORRESPONDENT EDITOR

Eddie Mukalazi, a senior at Andover High School, has always been passionate about politics in his community. He was selected for the American Legion Boys State, a competitive program for boys interested in government who are going into their senior year. There, Mukalazi ran for the highest office possible – the US Senator. This position, won by campaigning and gaining the highest number of votes from the other members of Boys State, earned him a place in Washington DC at Boys Nation. There, Mukalazi learned about another political program, the US Senate Youth Program. The two organizations are similar, but instead of a campaign, he went through an extensive application and interview process. Soon, Mukalazi will travel to Washington DC for a week to take part in this nationally renowned program, where he will meet Supreme Court justices, politicians, and other members of the federal government. ANDOVERVIEW sat down with Mukalazi to discuss these exciting opportunities.

Q: What are you most excited to do when you go?

A: I went to DC for the first time over the summer with Boys Nation so [I got to just be] there and [go] into the Senate rooms. Just being in the places where things are happening is a really cool experience. The thing I’m most excited for, though, is getting to know kids from across the country. I think it’s awesome [to be] around people that are smarter than you that do amazing things in their communities. Being able to learn from and make connections with them is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Q: Who are you most excited about meeting?

A: I think people from places I’ve never been before. At Boys Nation I really liked that. Just meeting people from like the South, because I’ve never been there. I think a lot of people also have preconceived notions about places that they haven’t been to before and I like seeing the preconceived notions being broken down in real time. And also just allowing people to be who they are before judging them for where they come from.

Q: Were you expecting to have these opportunities or were you kind of shocked?

A: I was definitely kind of shocked. I think last year especially was kind of crazy, because I’ve been passionate about politics and social change throughout high school, but I never really thought I could go to DC or be able to do things like this. One thing I’ve learned is if you care about something and you show that and wear your heart on your sleeve, people see [it] and respect [it]. There’s 400 or 500 other kids just from around Massachusetts that equally care about issues in their community and have different struggles and different problems they want to solve and be a part of their solutions. I never really thought that I would be able to represent Massachusetts at Boys Nation or one of those people who made a difference in that way. I think it’s just believing in yourself and the preparation you put in to be in those spaces.

Q: What do you plan to do after high school?

A: I think for college I [will] definitely… major in either political science or international relations. I just want to see what opportunities different majors present me. You know, what internships with politicians in my community at the state or federal level [or]… judges’ offices [exist]… I really just want to see where whatever opportunities I get and where I go to college takes me. Wherever I go I think I can have great opportunities.

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Foreign Exchange Program Returns to AHS

January 25, 2024

By Saarvi Deshwal
PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of students from South Korea is currently visiting AHS from January 19 to 30, and a group of students from Vietnam will visit from February 3 to 13.

The Global Pathways program at AHS works with the Academy at Harvard Square (TAHS) to make the exchange program possible. The organization collaborates with the non-profit Educational Divide Reform (EDR) to promote global education, with a focus on Asian students learning English. One of the major goals of Global Pathways is to foster cultural and academic diversity through enriching experiences.

“In Global Pathways, one of the components is to have an immersive experience, whether that’s by travel or looking at more in-house opportunities like this,” said Global Pathways advisor Rebecca D’Alise. “So we’ve been trying to encourage our students in Global Pathways to host these students so they can have an immersive experience that way.”

Since early November, students have had the opportunity to register to host exchange students from South Korea and Vietnam in their homes, regardless of whether they are a part of Global Pathways or not. It’s an excellent opportunity for students from other countries to learn what it’s like to be a student in the United States. It’s also a chance for AHS students to explore and learn about different cultures. “You just never know how things are different until you have to turn and explain something to them that is normal for everyone else around you,” said librarian Mary Coombs, “and now you know that this is a special thing, and we didn’t know it was special.”

The program hopes for AHS students to be able to share their lifestyles with those coming from abroad because “that’s what this program’s all about; experiencing those cultural differences, finding similarities, finding differences, and celebrating those differences. I only see upsides,” commented D’Alise.

This is also an opportunity for exchange students to practice their English language skills, and for host families to get a chance to learn something new. “Part of learning a language is figuring out how to communicate when you don’t speak the same language,” added World Language program coordinator Peter Hall. “That is a critical part of the learning process. It sometimes includes gestures, rephrasing using simple language, drawing, or using technology apps for assistance.”

COURTESY PHOTO / Lana Huynh
Sophomore Lana Huynh prepares a guest bedroom for her foreign exchange student. AHS families have been asked to host exchange students from South Korea and Vietnam.

The school is still looking for a few more families to host male students and the visiting teachers. Hosts are excited to show foreign exchange students what it’s like to be a student at Andover High and get to know them. “I’d love to have friends from [Vietnam],” shared sophomore Lana Huynh, who is hosting two Korean students in January and one Vietnamese student in February. “The only Vietnamese people I know are my family, and I’d love to get to know someone from there who has a different lifestyle from me. I was raised in the United States, so I’m excited to share our differences.”

Prior to COVID-19, students from foreign countries had come to AHS for many years. Another goal of Global Pathways was to get this program back up and running again after having been shut down for three years. This is the first year our school has been able to run the program since the pandemic, with students having come from Korea, China, and Vietnam in the past.

Global Pathways also hopes for similar opportunities to be available for AHS students in the upcoming years. Currently, Hall is running a trip to France for French students to have an experience where they’re living with somebody in the country and going to their high school. “I can’t imagine that this is not going to, in some way, gain some attraction,” said D’Alise. “Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we [will] see [a similar] exchange with South Korea and other host schools.”

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Students learn how to “Stop The Bleed”

January 25, 2024

By Julia Rodenberger
STAFF WRITER

AHS students received certificates in stopping traumatic bleeding after training offered by emergency room professionals during H4 on December 5.

Medical Opportunities Club, led by juniors Laksmhi Jayaprakash and Shriyaa Anandakumar, partnered with the Lawrence General Hospital to host Stop the Bleed: a nationwide campaign sponsored by the American College of Surgeons to address death by blood loss. Abigail Wertz, the program general of the trauma program at Lawrence General Hospital, led the free instruction alongside two emergency room nurses.

Attendees were provided the opportunity to step away if sensitive to gore; however, no real images of blood were shown. Trainers utilized rubber tubes with faux flesh wounds to demonstrate how to administer tourniquets and gauze onto severe injuries including lacerations, impalements, and amputation.

STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger
Students listen intently to the Stop The Bleed presentation.

Jayaprakash and Anandakumar began volunteering in the Emergency Center at Lawrence General Hospital this past summer, through which they were introduced to Stop the Bleed. “When I took the class at Lawrence General, there were people of various age groups,” Anandakumar elaborated. “It’s not just for students. Anybody can take it; it’s an important skill.”

The H-Block was open to all, drawing students and staff with varying interests beyond traditional medicine. Attendance numbers surpassed 20 participants.

Junior Dylan Moses participated in Stop the Bleed with aspirations to work for the Coast Guard in Search and Rescue. “First aid plays a big role in those fields,” Mose stated.

Moses expanded on the importance of first aid experience for high school communities.

“Unfortunately there’s been a number of school shootings, and individuals with gunshot wounds could be saved through treatment that is taught here,” Moses added. “I just want to be well vested in first aid in case I encounter problems in my life.”

Wertz repeatedly emphasized that traumatic bleeding is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Following a period of instruction, attendees were able to work firsthand with the faux medical supplies under supervision from Wertz and the two nurses.

While at Lawrence General Hospital, Jayaprakash and Anandakumar also volunteered briefly in the maternity and pediatric centers, respectively. In creating the Modern Opportunities Club in Fall of 2023, they aimed to explore the diversity of careers in the medical field. “We wanted to really delve into that in the club and explore everything else other than just doctor and nurse,” Jayaprakash elaborated.

Medical Opportunities Club meets every Wednesday at 3:00 pm in room 220, with opportunities for members to engage in various research projects. “The first one—you’ll see it on the H block—is a research campaign to analyze vaping in the student body,” Jayaprakash explained. “We’re working with the principal and the school administration to tackle the vaping problem.”
Jayaprakash hopes that Stop the Bleed will become a recurring event for AHS through continued partnership between the Medical Opportunities Club, Lawrence General Hospital, and AHS administration. “That would be amazing,” Jayaprakash said.