finance classes get taste of Wall Street - My High School Journalism

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Massachusetts Presidential Primary Moved Up to Feb. 5 By Michelle Cree Massachusetts moved up its presidential primary to Feb. 5, 2008, joining over 20 other states on what is known as “Super Tuesday.” Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill on Nov. 26, 2007 to move the state’s presidential primary from it’s original date of March 4. This switch will give Massachusetts voters more importance in the nominating process. According to the Associated press, supporters of the earlier date said that moving the primary will ensure that Massachusetts has some say in a presidential race that may be all but decided after Super Tuesday. With the date moved up, voters have less time to learn about the candidates and decide who to vote for. “Even though I’ll be 18 by the primary, I probably still won’t know for sure who to vote for,” said senior By Kristen Kouloheras In less than a year, some Tyngsborough High students will have the opportunity to change the country; the power to make a difference in how our nation is run. Many of our current seniors and juniors will have the right to vote bestowed upon them. Does anyone know what they want? Does anyone understand the platforms that candidates present? Does anyone know who Christopher Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, or Tom Tancredo are? It seems that the only people students recognize are Hillary Clinton, the woman who would make Bill Clinton the First Husband, Barrack Obama, the first African American front runner, and Mitt Romney, the polished Massachusetts governor with impeccable hair. But what can they do for us? What do students want? “I want a candidate to lower our taxes. I think that they should have a religious background, compassion ,and a stable relationship with Check us out www.THSbridge.com Editor-In-Chief Michelle Cree Features Editor Kyle McCormack Sports Editor James Sheehan Photo Editor David Ziemlak Copy Editors Kristen Kouloheras Matt Wickens Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton signs autographs at a rally at Nashua South High School in Nashua, NH in November 2007. (photo by Michelle Cree) Andrea Darcangelo. “I do know who I definitely won’t vote for though.” According to a national poll by Harvard University’s Institute Students Voice Opinions on 2008 presidential campaign their family,” commented junior Colleen Leary. Although Leary knows what she wants, many students do not. Existing presidential platforms for the 2008 election include abortion, drugs, crime, education, environment, gun control, the war in Iraq, health care, and social security to name a few. “I try to look at the candidates themselves. I don’t know a lot of the policies, so I’m going to take a look at their backgrounds, where they came from, and how they act as a person,” said senior Lauren Peterson. Voting is one privilege that students will remember for the rest of their lives. Once citizens turn 18 years old, they have the opportunity to voice their opinions. “Voting was a big deal to me,” said THS media specialist Ms. Kristine Nazzaro. “I was 18 and I voted for someone who could get us out of Vietnam.” Editors/Reporters Tony D’Annolfo Mike Doherty Jane Freeman Allison Gendron Kayleigh Morrisey Ian Tucke Newspaper Advisor Mr. Tom Varnum Some material courtesy of American Society of Newpaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service. of Politics, candidates Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani lead the polls among 18-24 year-olds. The top concerns by young adults were found to be the war in Iraq, By David Ziemlak As winter reaches its peak at least a few students at Tyngsboro High School are excited. With the cold weather comes fresh powder on the slopes and the ski club is at it once again. The club, advised by teachers Mr. Justin Maslanka and Ms. Kate Capistron, has grown steadily over the last few years. Senior Patrick Ruane, excited about his fourth year in the club said, “I’d say we have almost doubled the number of skiers since I joined.” With 48 participants the club The Bridge genocide in Darfur, and foreign policy issues. The poll results also revealed that fewer than 1/3 of teenagers approve of the way President George W. Bush has run our country. While many high school students aren’t old enough to vote yet, a number of upperhouse students will get the chance to participate in the 2008 presidential primary in February. “ L u c k i l y I ’ l l t u r n 1 8 in January right before the presidential primary,” said senior Ryan Clement. “It will be nice getting the chance to vote in an important election shortly after I become old enough to vote.” I n t h e u p c o m i n g e l e c t i o n , v o t e r s h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o v o t e for candidates who will bring historical milestones to the White House. In 2008, America attracts people of all skill level and experience. “We have skiers, snowboarders and then there are the ones who just sit in the lodge and drink hot cocoa,” added senior Amber Stangroom. Although the initiaition of the co-curricular program didn’t lessen the cost to the members, the increase in members did. With the cost of gas so high, running a remote club tends to be expensive, but splitting the cost among more people lowers the individual payment. “It’s $100 for the winter could have the chance to put the first woman in office, Hillary Clinton, or the first African American, Barack Obama. Although Americans can vote in elections as early as age 18, voter turnout has been weak among young adults ages 18-24. Reasons for the low level of participation include not knowing how or where to register to vote, thinking your vote doesn’t count, and being away from your hometown while in college. With many 18-24 year olds away at school, they need to fill out an absentee ballot for elections which many young adults may not know where to get. “I won’t be old enough to vote until the end of August next year which leaves me with alot more time to decide on who I’ll vote for in the presidential election,” said senior Sarah Mills. Ski Club Hits the Slopes By Ian Tucke In early December 2007, student government members and National Honor Society officers were asked to be a part of a conference that involved the Superintendent search. “I really liked it, I thought it was nice we got to take part in that,” said senior Treasurer Tom Doyle. The students were asked to participate a week before the meeting by principal Don Ciampa. Most of the selected students attended the meeting with a representative from New England School District Consultant (NESDC), Ken Debenadictus. In the past Debenadictus has been a superintendent, principal, and a classroom teacher. The meeting consisted of two topics that students voiced their opinions on. They were asked which qualities they think a superintendent should have, and what he or she should accomplish right away as the superintendent. The answers students shared included being a kind person and having a strong educational background. The meeting was very activities fee, plus $109 for the bus, and $103 for Mt. Wachusett,” explained Ms. Capistron. For the first time ever, the club will be hitting the slopes eight times on Tuesdays after school, up from it’s original six times, something many students have been hoping for. “It’s awesome that we get more time at the mountain this year, it goes by so quick,” said senior Scott Record. The ski club is ready for another successful season and the only one holding them back is Mother Nature. Selected Students Participate In Superintendent Search successful and students’ comments were very precise and helpful. Senior class secretary Hannah Adams thought that the meeting was great stating, “I thought it was cool we got to be involved in the decision process.” There won’t be anymore meetings involving the students. The School Committee and Mr. Ciampa felt it was necessary that a portion of the student body was involved in this search, seeing how it effects the students as well as everyone else. Senior Nick Jacek,left, carries milk gallons to be delivered to families. NHS members, right, help load trucks with food and gifts for the Adopt-a-Family participants. (photos by Tom Varnum) 2
The Sound-Off Four years is almost over By Kyle McCormack Four years. It sounds so simple when said, but the last four years have come and gone as fast as light itself. It is hard to come to grips with the fact that this period of our lives is all but over. Granted there are still a few months left, with many good times hopefully among them. Yet it has occured to me that the next phase of our lives is right on the doorstep, and time isn’t slowing down for anyone. Four years ago we w e r e a l l l i t t l e w i d e - eyed freshman eager to discover what many wonders high school would bring us. Then we learned. We learned the ins and outs of high school life like scientists trying to cure an incurable disease, striving for every last truth and every last answer. Yet time never stopped. It was easy to say “I can’t wait to be a sophomore.” Then it turned By Michelle Cree Tyngsboro High School senior Brian Murphy has hit the music scene with his band, In Harm’s Way. With weekly performances at different venues and an appearance on a local radio station, Murphy is on his way to stardom. Murphy joined In Harm’s Way in September 2007 after playing in a previous band called Overtone. In Harm’s Way was formed in 1998 and is based in the Greater Lowell Area. The band consists of five men from Dracut, Lowell, and Tyngsboro with ages ranging from 17 to 32. “Our band’s music is mostly metal and progressive rock,” said Murphy. “All the members help out with writing all our songs.” On Thursday, January 3, 2008, Murphy and his band hosted the radio show, “The Stress Factor” on the Lowell-based radio station 91.5 WUML from 6 to 9 p.m. Their songs “Guilt” and “Three Wishes” air frequently on the station. In December of 2007, In Harm’s Way was featured in the “Steppin’ Out” section of The Lowell Sun. With their own page in the weekly newspaper pullout, the band discussed their music and upcoming performances. “This year and in 2009 we plan on hitting up Canada, the into “Man I just want to have AB prep.” Always looking into the future and never appreciating the past. Many people have told me that you never fully appreciate what you have until its gone. Only now, when my four years are almost up, have I started to really understand what that person meant. Nearing the end, it is said that one’s life flashes before one’s eye’s. I think that is what has happened with me. In the past few weeks more and more memories have come back to me. I find myself laughing in class at the oddest times, much to the horror of everyone around me. Until recently, it was easy to say that I couldn’t wait for college, and for high school to be over. Yet now I am wondering what life will be like when our four years are over. High school is the Photo by Kyle McCormack only thing we know, and life after is the unknown. We joke that we live in a bubble called Tyngsborough, far outside the rest of the world. It is unbelievable how true that joke really is. In a few short months our four years will be in the past and our precious bubble will Murphy rocks the music charts East Coast, and maybe California. Manchester, NH. We were offered a couple “I thought I could handle shows there,” said Murphy. playing my first show but it Since the age of 13, Murphy took a few minutes to adjust,” has been playing the guitar and said Murphy. “It freaks you out loving every second of it. He when you see a big audience in front of you but I don’t get nervous anymore when I perform.” O n e o f Murphy shows off his guitar skills on stage (photo courtesy of www.returntothepit.com) Murphy’s favorite venues to play at is Good Time E m p o r i u m i n S o m e r v i l l e , M a s s a c h u s e t t s because of the large size of their concert stadium. Among the different songs he can play on his guitar, “Master of Puppets” by Metallica is his favorite. The band has performed at various venues including T h e B r e w e r y Exchange and The Worthen in Lowell, MA, and Mark’s S h o w p l a c e i n now owns 4 electric guitars and Bedford, NH. one acoustic. After watching “Brian Murphy is an idol videos of Steven Vai, a Grammy to me with his guitar skills,” Award winning guitarist and said junior Don St. Hilaire. listening to Slipknot guitarist I n t h e f u t u r e Mick Thomson, Murphy was Murphy hopes to get a inspired to play the guitar. record deal with his band and His first guitar performance become a famous guitarist. was at Band Aid in the THS For upcoming shows auditorium in 2006. His and music by In Harm’s first performance with In Way, check out http:// Harm’s Way was in November w w w . m y s p a c e . c o m / 2007 at Billy’s Tavern in inharmsway666. The Bridge be no more. The real world is beckoning, and we have no choice but to answer its ominous tone. Imparting wisdom is never an easy thing to do. What I am trying to get across to my fellow seniors, and in fact all the students at this school, is simply this, do not take for By Kyle McCormack When the Red Sox won the World Series, the first things they got were championship hats. To show your support for your favorite team, you wear the team hat. There are stores in the mall dedicated to selling all different kinds of hats. So why would something so widely accepted by the American population be banned in schools across the country including our own? Among the clothing items on our school’s dress code are “barely there” c l o t h e s a n d clothing with obscenities or other lewd things on them. Also on the banned clothing list are hats. Since when is wearing a hat the same as wearing skimpy pieces of cloth that girls wear? A hat covers up part of your body and (except for a select few) doesn’t have any obscenities printed on them. Also it is hard to believe that a hat could disrupt the school day in such a profound way as to warrant a school wide ban on it. Teachers even stand at the door in the morning and tell students to take off their hats. There is the respect issue to take into account. It’s a tradition stemming way before our time to take your hat off when you walk into a public building, but it just doesn’t work anymore. It’s a tradition stemming way before our time to take your hat off when you walk into a public building, but it just doesn’t work anymore. Hats are more socially acceptable today then they were back then. granted how ever long you have left in high school. You may be a senior or you may be a freshman, but this advice rings true to everyone. Time is something you will never get back, yet it is so easy to waste. Four years is all we have. All you have. Make it count. Time to change the hat rule Hats are more socially acceptable today then they were back then. Everyone has a hat or two and most people wear them all the time. Some people are known by the hat they wear at all times. The hat is more a way to express yourself now with teams and logos. It used to be a way to get the sun out of your eyes, but now it is almost like a t-shirt. Schools like Lowell High School might be a different story, due to students in gangs and wearing their symbols on their clothing, but Tyngsboro High School is a small school a n d g a n g s aren’t a major issue in day to day activities. The rule is pointless and o u t d a t e d . T h e r e i s nothing wrong with hats, and they shouldn’t be banned in our school. In the school handbook there is no rule about hats. It states “Attire, costumes and physical presence that is lewd, exhibitory or in gross poor taste will not be allowed during school hours, on school property or at school functions.” This line about acceptable dress does not say anything about not being able to wear hats in school. So, if there is no written rule, then why are we not able to wear hats in school?
Page 1: Volume VII, Number 2 25 Cents Janua
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