Editorial – AHS NEWSPAPER

EDITORIAL H-Blocked: Dead End Data

April 3, 2026

Andover High School introduced the H-block survey last month, asking students to report their plans at the start of each directed study period. According to Principal Jimmy D’Andrea, the goal is to maximize the academic benefits of the period and the data will be reviewed over the summer. Although a reasonable request, we at ANDOVERVIEW feel there are problems with the survey itself.

The options on the survey, as D’Andrea confirmed, are limited to what he called “allowable” options. Each option involves teacher participation except for the last one, the option for students to participate in a “learning activity aligned with a course or program of studies.” The options involving teacher participation include getting extra help, preparing for a test, making up an assessment, or working on a group project. We find the final option regarding a “learning activity” vague in its wording. However, it is the option we expect to be selected frequently by students, because completing homework appears to fit under that category. The survey does not state this explicitly, leaving many of us apathetic to completing the survey.

Of greater concern is that there is no way to determine whether students are using their H-blocks productively because all “allowable” options involve some form of learning time. An anonymous survey would allow for more honest responses and give the administration data that could inform them about how the period is spent. Although the data can differentiate between students who are working independently versus those seeking out teachers, it doesn’t account for those who are not using it effectively. (D’Andrea confirmed that the survey is intended for data collection, not as a behavioral nudge.)

We believe the H-block survey needs improvements to provide clarity for students in order for its data to be useful. A data collection effort that omits the most common categories of student behavior, both productive and otherwise, and that lacks clarity in its language, feels both impractical and eerily premeditated in its futility. Giving students latitude to be honest about how they are using their time would be far more useful to the administration if they want to find ways to protect the much-loved H-block and make it more productive for students and teachers alike. Until then, any conclusions drawn this summer should carry that limitation, because what the survey finds is inseparable from what it cannot.

EDITORIAL: Where is the Line Between Inspiration and Cheating?

March 30, 2026

At ANDOVERVIEW, we believe academic dishonesty is a notable issue. Students are often scared to ask teachers for help, don’t have time to complete the work, or are simply lazy, so they ask AI to do the work for them.

We do not exclude ourselves from this phenomenon. To our knowledge, ANDOVERVIEW has never allowed AI to change the truths that we report, but we know for certain that there have been drafts put forward by students for publication in the past years that have relied on AI. We acknowledge that the problem with AI usage is schoolwide (in fact, nationwide); now, as part of the student body, we want to raise awareness and help solve this problem.

Cheating causes an uneven playing field between those who use AI or cheat in any way, and those who do their work honestly. Academic dishonesty also hinders teachers’ ability to understand how much their students truly retain what is being taught.

We at ANDOVERVIEW believe that within each class at AHS, teachers need to provide a defined line between what constitutes cheating and learning.

Much of cheating today revolves around AI, and many teachers seem to have a different policy regarding it. Students must figure out which rules apply where. Academic integrity in one classroom may be considered a violation in another. Although a schoolwide policy is existent, it is lengthy while simultaneously being unclear at times. More specificity is necessary within the policy to ensure that coursework isn’t a stressful guessing game for students.

So, what are students to do? At ANDOVERVIEW we believe students who use sources for ideas—not as a replacement for their own work and effort—need a solid line to tell them if what they are doing is considered academic dishonesty. We need a policy, we need a line, and most importantly we need consistency.

Until that consistent line is drawn, students must recognize that if, in their eyes, an action comes anywhere near that blurry boundary, they should stop. Reflect on if it is truly worth it risking your reputation and potentially your future. If not, we urge you to choose a different path. Academic integrity starts with each individual student.

CollegeBoard Scores 1/5 on AP Testing Administration

June 9, 2025

“Once you enter the start code, you may begin.” With these words, hundreds of AP Psychology students at AHS expected to start their AP exam. Instead, they were greeted by a laggy, glitchy BlueBook testing app that refused to cooperate. For the students who were unable to coax the app into functioning, the exam was delayed to May 21—a poor solution for students who spent a whole year preparing for that moment.

We at ANDOVERVIEW believe that the fragile testing infrastructure of CollegeBoard is absolutely unacceptable. One would assume that a nonprofit organization that claims to be “paving the path for college success” would ensure that its testing platform relies upon servers that are able to handle the increased traffic on testing day. CollegeBoard provided very little consolation to the adrenaline-crashing students. “Most students have had a successful testing experience, with more than 5 million exams being successfully submitted thus far,” the organization defended. The statement was tellingly short—PR representatives at CollegeBoard couldn’t be bothered to devote any longer than a five-minute coffee break to drafting this “apology.”

Unfortunately, technical glitches are not the only issues that CollegeBoard has encountered this AP season. After a slew of hate comments were slung in author Namwali Serpell’s direction, she discovered that the vitriol was directed towards one particular passage in one of her books. The infamous “Look at Me” passage was recognized by this year’s AP Lang students as an indecipherable jumble of content followed by some seriously difficult multiple-choice questions (MCQs). After learning this, Serpell revealed that CollegeBoard had included the passage in the test without her permission and distorted its meaning in the MCQs that followed. Adding insult to injury, Serpell also clearly stated that she was against standardized testing as a concept. As of late May, CollegeBoard had yet to address these comments.

The negligence of CollegeBoard has created a sorrowful state of affairs for those looking to take advantage of the benefits of AP courses and exams. To no one’s surprise, the corporatization of education has introduced far more harm than benefit to all involved. We can only hope that CollegeBoard will hear and fix some students’ criticisms.

EDITORIAL: Lockdown, Not Exodus, May Minimize Risks

March 17, 2025

On January 24, there was a Snapchat post threatening a shooting at dismissal time. Law enforcement quickly determined the threat was not credible; however, the incident revealed some areas for improvement in our school’s emergency response procedures.

We are thankful for Principal D’Andrea’s commitment to keeping everyone informed throughout the incident. While according to D’Andrea, administration tried to follow ALICE protocol, their decisions caused safety concerns that might have been avoided.

AHS implemented an impromptu system—anyone could leave without dismissal passes. This led to students and parents congregating in the area where the threatened violence may well have occurred, creating exactly the type of crowded situation we should avoid during a potential active shooter scenario. Additionally, because of allowed dismissals, some students were motivated by the opportunity to leave school early.

We might want to consider the following changes in the event of a similar incident. First, students need to understand their responsibility to report threats immediately to school staff rather than allowing rumors to circulate around the school. Early reporting helps administrators assess situations quicker and implement appropriate responses.

Second, the administration should consider whether a lockdown might be more appropriate in similar situations. An expedited early dismissal might seem like the easiest solution given the circumstances, but it can create new risks and logistical challenges that compromise student safety.

Our school community showed both resilience and areas for growth during this incident. AHS can learn from this experience and implement changes that ensure a safer, more organized response to any future threats. As D’Andrea always says, the safety of our student body is always the highest priority, and that means continuously evaluating and improving our emergency response procedures.

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The Empowering Role that Principals Play

November 13, 2024

We are all in different places in our educational careers. Some of us are just starting high school, while others are getting ready to move on to college. But as we walk different paths forward, we have one thing that unites us; one thing that makes us all smile in the mornings, a constant presence in our lives. In the crowded hallways of AHS, we all can stand on common ground: our love of our new principal, Jimmy D’Andrea.

We believe he is the key to raising school spirit and community at AHS. This year will be filled with a continuation of the joy that Jimmy has brought so far, and we can’t wait to see it. His enthusiasm is infectious, as we see him show up game after game and concert after concert, Every morning when we hear Jimmy’s bright voice over the loudspeaker, when he shows up time and again to sports events, concerts, and club meetings, his love for AHS is clear. He has demonstrated true care and commitment to the student body, even in his admittedly short term, and we love him for it.

Jimmy’s legacy at AHS has just begun, and we can’t wait to see him continue to build the school community.

EDITORIAL: AHS Phone Policy Teaches Compliance, Not Responsibility

October 7, 2024

There’s a new phone policy at AHS, and you’ve probably noticed it. Our phones go into what one might call a “phone jail”—those numbered slots where our devices are locked up during class, sometimes with an actual lock and key. The rationale is clear: no phones in class, no distractions. But let’s ask the question: why have we gone to such extremes?

We at ANDOVERVIEW strongly believe that class time is for learning, and phones can be and have been a major distraction. The administration has had enough of our glowing faces, aglow not from intellectual enlightenment, but from under brightly lit phone screens. Our teachers are concerned about our development; it is not that it gives them pleasure to deprive us of our hypnotic devices. But does locking up our phones, as if they’re dangerous contraband, teach us the right lesson?

This is high school. We’re constantly being told to act maturely and take responsibility for our actions. Some of us are already 18—legally adults—yet we’re treated as though we can’t be trusted with even the smallest responsibility. By removing the temptation completely, the administration is not teaching us how to manage it. It is just kicking the can down the road. Very soon, many of us will be heading off to college or entering the workforce. In those environments, policies like this one don’t exist. There won’t be phone jails. No one will force us to lock up our devices. It is up to us to learn to make responsible choices.

The phone policy creates a false sense of order. It’s easy for students to follow the rules because we don’t have a choice. But the moment the structure is gone, those who never learned self-discipline may be the first to revert to bad habits. What if, instead, we were trusted with our phones? If someone is caught using their phone during class, they face immediate consequences, as well as potentially being singled out for phone jail—with no parole—for the rest of the year. This is about accountability. We learn by making mistakes and facing consequences. If we’re shielded from making mistakes in the first place, we’ll never learn.

The new phone policy does enforce compliance with rules, but one should remember that we are expected to follow rules, even without heavy-handed enforcement. We need to be treated like the almost-adults that we are. It’s time to trust us to learn from our choices, not lock them away.

EDITORIAL: You Choose: Pen and Paper or Touchpad and Keyboard?

December 5, 2023

The SAT—the most widely standardized test for college admissions in the Northeast—is going digital. This overhaul aims to make the SAT easier, shorter, and more accessible. However, paper testing remains our preferred option.

Standardized tests take multiple hours. When staring at a screen for so long, reading dense passages in minuscule font, it is inevitable that the words will blend together. As our eyes are flooded with blue light, our ability to concentrate deteriorates due to eye strain and fatigue. Being tired and distracted is not the ideal state to take an exam.

We will lose the ability to annotate with a pencil. Navigating an exam with a touchpad is not the same as graphite grinding on a test booklet. Ferris Jabr, in the Scientific American, notes that digital formats fail to replicate the tactility of reading on paper—a physicality that aids with retention and absorption. When we read e-texts, we tend to move on to the next page without reflection, a process key to ensuring we understand the presented material. There is a reason your teachers hound you to take notes on paper—you’ll forget much of the material otherwise.

During any math exam, doing work out on paper is essential. Many of us choose to do work right in the booklet to see the answers, questions, and our scratch work simultaneously. Even if the digital SAT provides test-takers with three to four sheets of printer paper—and more on request—it is impossible to look at the question and answer choices without tilting your head up at the screen. Losing your train of thought or accidentally selecting the incorrect answer just became much easier.

Despite all the drawbacks, we can all agree that a shorter test is always for the better. The new digital SAT combines the Reading and Writing sections into one while cutting down the duration of the test from over three hours to two hours and 14 minutes. It will adapt to your performance—the questions you receive for Module Two (each section is split into two modules) will be generated based on how you do in Module One. The length of reading passages has significantly shrunk, and each text corresponds with one question, thus removing the need to flip back and forth between the text and the question. We all know the wait for scores can feel like years, but with the switch to digital, scores will be sent out in a few days instead of weeks.

Unlike the SAT, the ACT will keep a paper option available when it goes digital. With many of us preferring the paper test, while others are comfortable taking it digitally, this is the way to go.

EDITORIAL: Chat GPT Usage In School

March 20, 2023

We’ve all had classmates whip up an essay in barely five minutes with the “help” of ChatGPT, while you actually write yours, only for them to get a better grade. It can be frustrating to see your hard work have a less fruitful production than the AI-generated essay, but in the end, the choices people make say a lot about their sense of honesty and integrity.

Some students think that ChatGPT is a perfect alternative to actually writing their assignments, because it is undetectable cheating. However, AI-detection softwares have been in development and catching some students. This emphasizes that ChatGPT is highly formulaic, so much that it can be picked up by other softwares. Not only could you get caught, the work will also be of worse quality.

And, of course, if you let the AI do your assignments for you, you aren’t actually doing the work. While that may be the point of using it in the first place, and it definitely can get your homework done faster, it may not be done as well, and you will be lacking the actual learning and comprehension skills
gained from completing the assignment.

In the end, it is not worth it to expect the same quality of work from ChatGPT than if you do it yourself, and if you do use it, you could be at risk of getting caught. The benefits don’t outweigh the negatives in this case, and if you really don’t have time for finishing an assignment, try talking to your teacher or guidance counselor about it instead of relying on an AI program to do it for you. The point of writing assignments is to apply your skills and knowledge. People who do put in the work deserve to take pride in it, rather than getting a worse grade than someone who put in close to none.

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EDITORIAL: Prestige or Prejudice?

November 22, 2022

In a wealthy town like Andover, there is often pressure to go to a prestigious college. Whether it’s Andover’s proximity to Phillips Academy, family pressure, friends who take seventeen AP classes, or the general vibes, it often feels like in order to be considered a “smart” person you need to go into debt to attend a top ten college. You need to go to a prestigious school instead of prioritizing somewhere that would fit you better socially or financially. Many adults around you emphasize that where you go for your undergraduate degree is the be all end all of whether you will be successful in life.

State schools and especially community colleges get a bad reputation, but they are not bad schools and can have excellent programs. They also have a great program called “$30,000 a year tuition.” Community colleges are awesome—you can pay a manageable tuition for two years and save money for living at home. In 20 years, no employer will care where you got your associate’s degree. If you go to community college then transfer to a four-year state school, you can even receive special Massachusetts scholarships.

Instead of trying to get into a college that will probably cost a kidney, focus on going to a school that has awesome programs, is in a cool city, or wants to give you a huge scholarship. Or maybe you don’t want to go to college, which is also awesome! Go to trade school, which is probably the most economic choice.

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EDITORIAL: Outlook is Confusing and Annoying

October 24, 2022

Andover Public Schools consolidated all student and staff emails onto the Microsoft platform over the summer, prompting mixed reactions from students and faculty.

According to Paul Puzzanghera, chief information officer of the Town of Andover, the process of transitioning to Outlook involved a multi-week procedure of “seeding” student mailboxes by copying their contents from Gmail to Outlook. Addresses were then updated from @k12.andoverma.us to @student.andoverma.us. Google applications remain in use, with the exception of Gmail and Google Calendar.

Many students were displeased with the change, having been accustomed to using Gmail. “Gmail is easier to use than Outlook,” stated sophomore Gavin Cleary. “Everything is right in front of you, and I’m used to it. I mean, Gmail was working fine, I don’t really know why we changed it.”

Vivian Tang, senior, agreed. “I’m a little reluctant to switch to Outlook,” she said. “I’ve been used to having all my emails and accounts in one place. Now, I have to switch between two different websites just to look at emails.”

Opinions among faculty are more varied. Bettyann Iannuccilli, who teaches chemistry, enjoyed the switch. For her, it has made getting in touch with students easier. “Before, some students sent their emails to my Gmail account, and since I didn’t use Gmail, I wouldn’t see their emails,” she explained. “Now that everyone is using Outlook, I’m able to receive all of my students’ emails.”

Dr. Derek Voigt, orchestra director, stated that he likes Outlook’s accessibility and the desktop app’s compatibility on all of his devices. He does, however, miss having a @k12.andoverma.us account, which “made [him] appear as a teacher at an accredited institution, as opposed to just an employee in some branch of the government” with his current @andoverma.us address.

Voigt also believes that there are certain features of Outlook that could be improved, namely grouping messages. “It’s often difficult to find an email from an individual person within a message chain,” he said. “For example, when I send a group message out about musical instrument rentals, it goes to hundreds of people. However, all the responses go to an individual message chain, and it’s very difficult to find a single person’s message within everybody’s responses.”

Jennifer Starr, executive director of technology integration and digital literacy, explained that the primary purpose of the switch to Outlook was to bolster security. Outlook works well with single-sign on, which enables applications and systems to interact with each other more securely. “If you think of it like a house with lots of different doors, that’s more doors you have to lock at night,” she said. “Whereas, if there’s just one door to take care of, you can take really good care of that.”

Additional reasons included cost and efficiency. Puzzanghera stated that previously, staff had both a @k12.andoverma.us and a @andoverma.us address. Teachers were using separate Outlook and Google calendars, which made it impossible to schedule meetings between faculty.

Since the transition to Outlook, there has been some confusion regarding signing into school accounts. “When I signed into Microsoft, I didn’t know that there was a single sign-on option, so I signed in with my @student.andoverma.us email,” said Tang. “Then, it said that they couldn’t find an account associated with this email. It took many times, but I eventually found the single sign-on button, and I was able to get in.”

“I think some students and teachers had trouble with logging in to their accounts after using ‘Sign in with Google’,” said Starr. “They needed to log in and switch their email addresses to their new @student.andoverma.us accounts.”

If students are having trouble with accessing their accounts, email infosys@andoverma.us.