The Class of 2026 found community, friendship, and personal growth in many different places throughout their time at Hanover High School. While many participated in a wide range of activities, a common theme connected nearly every student response to The Hawk senior survey: the people they met and the relationships they built made their high school experience meaningful. Whether it was through sports teams, music programs, clubs, or favorite classes, seniors reflected on the sense of belonging they found at HHS.
Sports
Boys basketball celebrates a playoff win at home.
Football was a major highlight for Brandon Errico and Patrick Leary, who felt the team was like a family. Peter Clarke and Sebastian Brown also loved football for the friends they made on the field. Alongside the football team, Ava Khouri had an unforgettable experience as a cheerleader, especially during the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. Addison Hall, Camryn Carthas, and Gavin Russell thanked their coaches and teammates for the memories and friendships they made on the soccer teams. Hockey was a meaningful experience for Cam Melone, Heather McGinnis, Henry Phillips, and Vanessa Federico, who credited her coach for making the team a success. Katie Jones and Ava Puglia loved playing field hockey with friends, while Tyler McDonough and Noah Marshall-Pelayo will never forget playing for the rugby team. Dean Gomes created indelible memories on the swim team, as Ryan Mutschler did with both his teammates and coaches on the basketball team. Brendan Meagher and Leo Galvin especially appreciated the cross country team experience, and Ben Willis and Joe Lynch found community through track. Dylan Poirier and Tess Madden agreed that the bonds they made on the volleyball team will have a lasting effect on their lives.
Classes
Vox prepares for a concert.
For Ellie Mann, Maddy Hiffa, Sienna Lamond, and Brianna Adams, VOX was not just a class but a valuable community where everyone could grow. Similarly, the band was the highlight for Aine Scanlan. Maddy Hiffa also cited AP Art. Bryan Collins and Joey DaCosta found Sports and Society with Mr. Molloy the most interesting, while Daniel Klos loved gym. Morgan Curtis enjoyed environmental science, especially Ms. McHenry’s class junior year, while Madison Paulicelli echoed that and added marine science as a favorite. Matthew Bell loved Mrs. Molloy’s chemistry class, while Aine Scanlan found biology the most enjoyable. AP Psychology was dubbed the most interesting class by both Mikayla Sheehan and Juliana Minasi. Damaris Mejia-Miller looked forward to Spanish class every day, while Bradlee Dowling eagerly anticipated the new challenges brought in AP English Language. US History 2 Honors was an important yet fun class for Elin Brink, and Maddie Fuller cited AP US History as a class she most looked forward to attending. For Colin MacPherson and Matthew Yan, the opportunities in engineering class outweighed all the rest.
Clubs
DECA celebrates its wins at the District Championship
Sienna Lamond found that DECA gave her the skills and confidence she needed to be prepared for the future. Similarly, Bradlee Dowling discovered an opportunity to find his voice and hone his skills as the captain of the Debate Club. Bella Reed prepared for the future with Career Club, which she ran alongside her friend. Emma Ryan found the Yearbook Club to be a source of community and creativity. Fiona Monahan and Bronwyn Doherty loved expressing themselves with their friends in the Art Club.
Together, the reflections from the Class of 2026 show that HHS was much more than academics or extracurriculars. For many students, the most important part of high school was the friendships they formed, the communities they became a part of, and the memories they created with the people around them.
As their days at HHS wind down, many members of the Class of 2026 agree that what they will remember most is not just the classes they took, the sports they played, or the friends they made. They’ll also remember the teachers and staff members who made a difference in their lives. Seniors who responded to The Hawk survey reflected on adults from every department, from History and English to Music and Guidance, who helped shape their experience both inside and outside of the classroom.
Mr. Harden and students from the school’s music program
For many students, the teachers who stood out the most were the ones who made learning feel personal and engaging. Teachers like Mr. McLean in Science, Mr. Centorino in Math, and Mr. Brown in History were repeatedly praised for creating a classroom environment that students were excited to walk into each day. “Mr. Brown is always motivating me to push myself in order to become a better person every day,” Leo Galvin said, while Sienna Lamond described how his in-class support during a stressful junior year “meant so much.” Dylan Poirier said Mr. Brown “always had the best stories.” For Emma Ryan, Mr. McLean’s Anatomy and Physiology class junior year “made me realize that I wanted to be a nurse.”
Mr. Perry, a history teacher who is retiring after 29 years, is another who has left a positive impact on many graduating seniors. Students including Dan Klos, Joey DeCosta, Tyler McDonough, Juliana Minasi and Mikayla Sheehan described his classroom as welcoming, fun, and supportive, with some crediting him for changing their view on history class – or even learning – altogether. “He helped me realize learning can be fun,” Maddie Fuller said. Fiona Monahan emphasized how he formed connections with students, even ones he wasn’t teaching that year, to create a classroom environment that everyone actively enjoyed. Tess Madden said Mr. Perry “taught her to start each day with a smile” and Noah Marshall-Pelayo said he “taught me not to be afraid of being myself.”
In the English department, students reflected on the lessons they learned from their teachers. Ellie Mann said that after three years with Mrs. Hughes, “her enthusiasm and spark brought me joy every day. Showing up to her class, I was always excited to learn. …When I was stressed out, her class brought me comfort.” Brianna Adams shared how Mrs. Hughes encouraged students to “truly understand how the lessons of literature can be applied to the real world.” According to Cam Carthas, “Mrs. Collins is always so positive and always makes a bad day better,” while Pat Ben Willis called her a “fun teacher.” Pat Leary said Mrs. Cotter “prepared me for college.”
Several teachers in the World Language department were highlighted. According to Damaris Mejia-Miller, Mrs. Gately created “a classroom where I felt comfortable to be myself.” Aine Scanlan said Madame Youngworth “has always been kind and caring” and Bronwyn Doherty thanked her for “always believing in me and being an amazing teacher.” Trevor Leibfarth said that Mrs. Curtis “motivated me to do more than I thought I could” and Vanessa Federico added “she taught us many life lessons and really cares about her students.”
From the Science wing, students cited Mrs. Emerson, “Doc,” Mrs. Parry and Mrs. Molloy as having had a positive impact. Mrs. Molloy is credited with giving great life advice, helping students grow both inside and outside of the classroom, and creating an environment where students could “learn but have fun at the same time,” according to Johanna Marshall-Pelayo. Ryan Mutschler called her “a positive role model” and Matthew Bell said “she gave me great life advice and was always fun to talk to.” Colin MacPherson thanked Doc for “getting me into the engineering field through physics.” Madison Paulicelli said Mrs. Emerson was “incredibly sweet and an absolutely amazing human being” and Joe Lynch thanked Mrs. Parry for helping him a lot after school.
Mr. File with students
In the Fine Arts, many seniors emphasized the importance of teachers and staff who supported them personally. Mr. Wade’s support during both Concert Chorus and VOX provided “a classroom environment that is truly my main outlet of support,” said Brianna Adams. Brendan Meagher cited Mr. Harden “for believing in me and making the HHS Band such a special group to be a part of.” Colin Howard thanked Mr. File for providing “a safe space with a good vibe to relax in the middle of the day” and Bronwyn Doherty said his instruction has made her artwork “more creative and ambitious.”
Mrs. Pereira in Business was always there to help students such as Leah Toner “with both life and school.” Katie Jones said, “From freshman year to senior year, she always supported me and gave me the best advice.” Gavin Russell added that Mrs. P. “is always kind and cares about all of her students.”
Engineering teacher Mr. Faria, also retiring this year, is “by far the best teacher on earth,” according to Matthew Yan. Morgan Curtis thanked Mrs. Tarkanian, a special education teacher who “has been there for me in every moment all four years of high school, guiding me in the right direction to where I am today.” Mr. Rodday, a special education teacher and coach, provided consistent support to athletes both on and off the field, said Addison Hall.
Nurse Nee made the nurse’s office a welcoming space for many students. “She is always so positive and uplifting,” said Bradlee Dowling. “I remember going to the nurse’s office every time I didn’t do well on a test or a quiz and Nurse Nee made me feel much better about it.” For Class President Ava Khouri, office secretary and class co-advisor Mrs. Foster “taught me what it means to be positive, reliable, and organized, and I appreciate everything she does for our school.”
Mr Ciccolo with students at Credit for Life, junior year
The Guidance department helped many students find the right path for them. Maddy Hiffa thanked Mrs. Leonido because “she has made me believe in myself and trust that everything is going to turn out right,” while Bella Reed said Mrs. Kost “helped me with all my college difficulties and with personal issues. Roz Arguinzoni said Mrs. Rapalje “has always been there to talk whenever I needed her the most.”
By Ryan Costello, Luke Curran and Sam Frattasio, ‘27
Social Media Editor, Sports Editor and News Editor
Hanover’s Class of 2026 is taking a wide range of pathways after graduation, from pre-health and engineering to business, public service, and the arts. Seniors who responded to The Hawk survey or posted on the class Instagram @hhsdecisions.26 by our deadline shared their post‑graduation plans, from college majors to careers. While not every member of the class is represented here, their responses highlight just how diverse Hanover’s students’ interests and career paths truly are.
Students pursuing biology, nursing and health sciences include:
Brianna Adams, who is headed to Northeastern University to study behavioral neuroscience on a path to becoming a physician’s assistant; Addison Bean, who will attend Quinnipiac University to pursue diagnostic medical sonography; Talia Beer, who plans to study exercise science in an accelerated DPT program at Elon; Ava Bonfiglio, who is headed to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences for pre-veterinary medicine; Alana Cole, who will attend MIT to study biology and chemistry; Harley Delmonico, who plans to attend Florida Atlantic University to study health science; Bronwyn Doherty, who is headed to Emmanuel College to study biology and psychology; Bradlee Dowling, who plans to study nursing at the University of Tampa; Maelyn Foley, who will attend UMass Amherst to study biology on a pre-med track; Alessandra Francisco, who plans to attend UConn majoring in biology on the pre-med track; Maddie Fuller, who is attending UMass Amherst for biology, with hopes to go to dental school; Conlan Geary heading off to Trinity College to major in biology and compete on the wrestling team; Chloe Hannah, who will attend the University of New Hampshire to study animal science; Ava Jones, who plans to attend Miami University for nursing; Abby Kajunski, who is going to Saint Joseph’s College of Maine to study nursing while playing soccer; Joe Lynch, studying emergency management systems at Mass Maritime; Johanna Marshall-Pelayo, who is headed to University of Rhode Island, where she plans to major in kinesiology and become a physical therapist; Megan McGinnis, who will be studying nursing at Merrimack College; Damaris Mejia-Miller, who is headed to MCPHS to focus on dental hygiene on a predental track; Juliana Minasi, who is off to Stonehill College to major in communication science and disorders as she works toward becoming a speech-language pathologist; Abby Minasi, who will continue her education in nursing at Endicott College; Madison Paulicelli, who plans to pursue college with a focus on pre-veterinary studies; Sophia Rowsell, who is attending UMass Amherst for kinesiology; Emma Ryan, who will study nursing at Saint Anselm College; Aine Scanlan, who is interested in molecular biology or biochemistry and hopes to conduct gene therapy research; Shelby Taylor, who will study radiography at MCPHS; Tim Sullivan, who will study health sciences at MCPHS; Bella Telepak, who is heading to UMass Amherst on a bio pre-med track; and Amelia Wipfler, who is bound for Stonehill College to pursue health sciences.
Decisions day
Students pursuing engineering, physical sciences and computer science include:
Colin Arnold, who is going to Mass Maritime to study energy systems engineering; Elin Brink, who is going to Lehigh University to major in chemical engineering; Matt Costello, who plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute to study engineering; Ben Douglas, who will attend Mass Maritime to pursue marine engineering; Andrew Ellis, who is headed to Northeastern University to pursue mechanical engineering; Adam Elmassadi, who will attend UMass Lowell to study biomedical engineering; Dean Gomes, planning to study mechanical engineering at the University of Rhode Island; Nate Hoyt, who is going to Stonehill College to study engineering; Colin MacPherson, who is going to Wentworth Institute of Technology to study electromechanical engineering; Heather McGinnis, who is going to Massachusetts Maritime Academy to major in mechanical engineering; Tyler McDonough, who plans to study architecture at James Madison University; Kirk Sundberg, who will study computer science at Bridgewater State University; Ben Willis, who plans to study physics at Villanova University; and Matthew Yan, who will attend Northeastern University as a mechanical engineering major.
Spirit Week
Students majoring in business fields include:
Matthew Bell, who is attending the University of Rhode Island for finance while sailing on the school’s team; Maia Bonilla, who will attend Mass Maritime to study international maritime business while also playing volleyball; Sebastian Brown, who is headed to Saint Anselm College where he plans to study marketing and continue playing football; Jameson Bryan, who will attend Saint Anselm College to study business; Kellen Campbell, who will attend Quinnipiac University to study business; Peter Clarke, who will attend Shenandoah University for construction management while playing football; Bella Ciccolo, who plans to attend the University of South Carolina to study international business and supply chain management; Bryan Collins, who is headed to Xavier University to pursue finance; Ireland Cronin, who is going to Bryant University for accounting; Morgan Curtis, who is attending the University of Maine to study sports management; Anna Egan, heading to Endicott for marketing; Brandon Errico, who plans to attend Bowdoin College for economics while continuing his football career; Joey Falco, who is going to Bryant University to study business; Vanessa Federico, who is headed to Providence College to major in finance; Robert Frucci, who is attending UNH majoring in business admin and finance; Cole Hendrickson, who will study business and play baseball at Central Connecticut State University; Addison Hall, who will attend the University of Rhode Island focusing on a degree in finance; Colin Howard, who plans to attend UMass Amherst to study marketing; Katie Jones, who is headed to UMass Amherst for finance; Jake Kelliher, who will major in business at the University of Mississippi; Ava Khouri, who plans to attend University of Notre Dame to study business management in the Mendoza College of Business; Patrick Leary, heading to UMass for business; Trevor Leibfarth, who is attending Mississippi State University to study business; Sam Light, who plans to attend Auburn University to pursue business; Tess Madden, going to the University of New England to play volleyball while majoring in sports management and leadership; Cole Madden, who is headed to Keene State College to study sports management while playing golf; Shane Mahoney, who plans to attend Bowling Green State University to study business; Ellie Mann, who is going to UMass Amherst to pursue marketing; Noah Marshall-Pelayo, who plans to attend Bryant University to study business; James McDermod, who plans to attend Saint Anselm College to study finance while playing soccer; Brendan Meagher, who will go to UMass Amherst for statistics and data science; Cam Melone, who will attend Fairfield University to major in finance; Shannon Murphy, who plans to study business at UConn; Ryan Mutschler, who will play basketball at Union College while majoring in economics; Brody Noonan, heading to Assumption University for business and baseball; Brad Peterson, who will study finance at the University of Maryland; Henry Phillips, who will do the same at Fairfield University; Dylan Poirier, who is heading to Villanova University to major in economics and international business; Zach Psychos, who will attend Miami University to study finance; Ava Puglia, who plans to study business at Florida Atlantic University; Haley Ray, who is off to URI to major in marketing; Tommy Regan, who will continue both his studies and his football career at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, majoring in business management and entrepreneurship; Bryan Southwick, who is bound for Bryant University to major in business; and Leah Toner, who will major in accounting at Saint Anselm College.
First days of senior year
Students pursuing political science, international relations and related fields include:
Caroline Brown, who will attend Bucknell University to study political science; Abbey Corbo, who is going to American University to major in international affairs and political science, Peter Cunniff, who plans to study political science and international relations at American; Natalie Frank, who is going to the University of South Carolina to study political science on a pre-law track; Leo Galvin, who will attend Virginia Tech, where he plans to major in national security and foreign affairs while participating in Marine Corps ROTC with the goal of commissioning as an officer; Drew Keith, who plans to attend the University of Vermont to study political science; Finley Nadeau, who is heading to the University of Maryland to study government and politics; and Alex Puzatkin, who will attend George Washington University to focus on international affairs.
Students pursuing psychology, social sciences and education include:
Megan Collins, who plans to attend Emmanuel College to study psychology and neuroscience; Andrew Dunne, heading to Xavier to major in education; Carly Federico, who plans to attend Saint Anselm College to study psychology; Grace Gilligan, who will study Criminology at the University of South Carolina; Addison Goitia, who will enroll at Marist University to pursue studies in psychology; Layla Hurley, who plans to attend Boston College to study psychology; Fiona Monahan, who will attend UMass Amherst to double major in psychology and sociology; Rylee Noonan, who will attend the University of New Hampshire to major in human development and family studies; Alexa Sawin, heading to Westfield State for early childhood education; Mikayla Sheehan, who will study psychology at the College of Charleston; and Elizabeth Winnie, who will attend Grove City College to study psychology.
Students pursuing Communications and related fields include:
Joey DaCosta is attending Saint Anselm College, where he plans to major in communications while playing golf; and Hope Miller, who will study public communications at Syracuse University.
Students pursuing marine, aviation, and other specialized sciences include:
Bryce Swenson, who plans to attend Eckerd College for marine science; and Gavin Russell, who will train to become a commercial pilot at the Florida Institute of Technology.
Students in the arts include:
Maddy Hiffa, who is headed to Hamilton College, where she plans to major in art with a minor in education; Jack Nadeau, who will attend MassArt; and Sienna Lamond, who is going to Syracuse University to earn her BFA in Musical Theatre and pursue a career as a professional performer
Finally, students who are entering the workforce, a trade, or are currently undecided include:
Rozalyn Arguinzoni, who will work after graduation; Charlie Campbell, who is going to Saint Anselm College; Camryn Carthas, who is headed to Endicott College; John Danick, who is going to Westfield State, and will play football; Anna Parker, who is bound for the College of Charleston; Bella Reed, who intends to enroll at a four-year college; and Daniel Klos, who will attend trade school to become an electrician.
Note: Only seniors who replied to The Hawk survey or posted on the class Instagram decisions page by deadline are represented
With the Hanover High School Class of 2026 set to graduate, seniors reminisced about the experiences that made their high school journey memorable. In response to a survey by The Hawk, they shared memories including winning championships, school traditions, classes, performances, and spending time with friends. Although the experiences of each senior were different, there is one common factor that runs through their recollections, and that is the individuals and moments that made Hanover High feel like home.
Homecoming Court
A very prominent theme in many of the seniors’ reflections this year was their feelings of community that they experienced throughout their time at HHS. Brianna Adams recalled “the end of Homecoming freshmen year, where a huge number of girls hung around until the end of the night, dancing and partying even though everyone else had left,” as something that made her realize “the sense of community that HHS can create when everybody unites and has fun.” Fiona Monahan explained that her favorite memories involved “meeting new people and creating memories that I’m going to remember forever,” while Ellie Mann cited her junior year because she “was lucky enough to have the exact same classes as her two best friends Brianna Adams and Sienna Lamond.”
A lot of students thought highly of their traditions and memories with friends. Peter Clarke, Patrick Leary, Mikayla Sheehan, and Daniel Klos said some of their favorite times were in the library’s senior corner or gym class. Matthew Bell recalled “playing spike ball with friends in gym.” Tess Madden said her highlight will be the senior walkout, because “although it is so sad, it allows us to honor our amazing seniors.” Ben Willis and Madison Paulicelli cherished their prom, and Bella Reed fondly recalled “football games on Friday night.” For Matthew Yan, his favorite moment will be graduation.
Cheer wins second state title in a row
Athletics featured prominently in many students’ favorite memories. Morgan Curtis said her highlight was winning back-to-back state championships with cheerleading. For Cam Melone and Henry Phillips, it was bringing home the 2026 boys hockey state title, while Katie Jones and Vanessa Federico cited cheering on the team during its tournament run and final at TD Garden. Sebastian Brown said his highlight was the football Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, while Noah Marshall-Pelayo cited winning the 2025 Division II Rugby Championship. Ryan Mutschler highlighted the basketball team’s senior year playoff run, and Trevor Leibfarth cited the Elite 8 playoff win as an especially great memory.
Addison Hall’s favorite moment was when he scored during senior night for soccer. Emma Ryan cited beating Scituate in field hockey at home, and Gavin Russell said that his “favorite experiences have been the team dinners we would have with my team members prior to our games.” Leo Galvin said “being a three-sport athlete enabled me to meet many new and interesting people and grow as a leader.” Damaris Mejia-Miller said playing volleyball was her highlight, Tyler McDonough loved playing rugby, and Joey Marshall-Pelayo cited managing the girls basketball team and playing field hockey. Joey DaCosta’s favorite experience was “playing and watching all the sports.”
Boys soccer
There were also some memorable moments within the arts and academics for many seniors. Maddy Hiffa recalled her first time “performing at the Annual Fall Cabaret Showcase,” while Brendan Meagher talked about his performance of “stand tunes and the field show with the band for home football games.” Likewise, Aine Scanlan recalled her experiences during “Friday night lights” playing with the band. Brandon Errico mentioned Mrs. Collins’ class, while Heather McGinnis spoke about her experience taking “Mrs. P’s accounting classes.”
Other notable memories related to travel experiences. Bronwyn Doherty had the pleasure of visiting Quebec with her French class during junior year, where she got to do “so much” new stuff and explore new locations. Colin Howard and Dylan Poirier both mentioned visits to France through the school exchange program. For Ava Khouri, her highlight was closer to home: trips to the Cape for SEMASC student council meetings, particularly their awesome polar plunge costumes and losing their voices at the dance.
Powderpuff
Some moments were both simple and memorable. Elin Brink, Maddie Fuller, and Juliana Minasi selected Powderpuff as their most memorable experience. For Joe Lynch, it was the pizza party in Mrs. Parry’s class.
While the Class of 2026 is preparing to venture into other areas of life, the memories they have forged during their time at Hanover High School will never fade away. From winning a championship to playing a game of football on a Friday night, taking classes that were enjoyable, or spending some time with friends in the senior corner, all of these activities played a key role in making HHS memorable!
With the state of global affairs in disarray, many wonder what will bring the end of humanity. Nuclear war? The Hantavirus? Aliens? Though these issues are pressing, one threat to humanity that is becoming hard to ignore is global warming. Due to its recognition by world governments, despite many deniers, global warming is one of the most talked about topics today. Defined as the increase in Earth’s average air and ocean temperatures over the last couple hundred years, it is at the forefront of international discussion.
Activists have most commonly cited the significant changes in Earth’s climate as the biggest cause for alarm. The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases (CO2, methane, water vapor) trap heat radiating from Earth. This phenomenon keeps the planet warm enough to sustain life. But human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have intensified this process, leading to an increase in the Earth’s average temperature. The year 2024 was the warmest recorded by a wide margin, according to scientists. This has led to the melting of large polar ice sheets as well as the thermal expansion of water, which is the increase in volume and decrease in density that occurs when water temperature rises. Taken together, these have directly caused a rise in sea levels across the globe.
The consequences of global warming can be detrimental to our environment as a whole. Global warming doesn’t just affect animals and plants; it can have devastating effects on human life as well. Rising sea levels and an increase in extreme weather lead to more frequent natural disasters including storms, droughts and wildfires. Rising sea levels can cause flooding and erosion which threatens many coastal areas. Damage to buildings and businesses force the people affected to rebuild their homes and buildings with their own money, which can be costly. Additionally, local animals lose habitats, making them more vulnerable to predation, competition and possibly extinction.
To satisfy needs for monetary gain and convenience, humans have ignored the environmental impacts of industrialization and expansion, and thus have created the current problem we call global warming. Many advocacy groups and political leaders, fearful of Earth’s uncertain future, actively seek strategies to prevent or delay this threat They recommend reducing our carbon footprint — and the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel it — by switching to renewable energy like wind and solar, shifting toward the use of electric vehicles over gas-powered cars, and reducing waste sent to landfills.
Of course, these changes can’t be made in a day, and one person choosing to ride a bike rather than drive a car to work may not seem to make much of a difference. But if the human race can collectively adopt more climate-friendly lifestyle changes, we can preserve the wonderful planet that we all know. Global warming is one of the most important issues of the modern era. Our willingness to act now — or our failure to act — will determine life on Earth for generations to come. By taking steps to combat global warming, we can at least delay the impact of the problem that our ancestors created and many of us continue to ignore.
“I cannot forget Carcosa where black stars hang in the heavens; where the shadows of men’s thoughts lengthen in the afternoon, when the twin suns sink into the lake of Hali; and my mind will bear for ever the memory of the Pallid Mask.”― Robert W. Chambers, The King in Yellow
Most people these days haven’t read about the King in Yellow, an eerie supernatural entity that, legend claims, can drive a person insane. Many authors have written versions of the character, some claim that you go insane just by looking at him or his face under his mask. But the one I have read was written by Robert W. Chambers, who included this story in a collection of supernatural horror tales published in 1895. Chambers’ book includes a play within the book and a series of stories that link together. Sometimes the stories within stories are confusing and mess with your brain, but that’s kind of the whole point of the book. It has inspired a lot of supernatural horror media, including the works of HP Lovecraft, comic books and video games.
Here are two of my favorite stories from Chambers’ book:
“The Repairer of Reputations” — This short story is about a character named Mr. Wilde who basically blackmails his rich and powerful clients to “fix” their damaged reputations. I found this mini story interesting because Mr. Wilde connects to another story called “Imperial Dynasty of America,” where he drove that story’s main character, Hildred Castaigne, insane by making him believe he is the King in Yellow’s heir.
“The Mask” — This mini story is way different from the last one. It is about two sculptors who are in a love-ish triangle with another girl. The group finds a cool liquid that turns living things into marble, but when they find The King in Yellow book, one of the characters is turned into marble. That drives one of the trio to suicide before the other learns that the transformation is only temporary. At least it’s a happy ending for two of them.
When my mom asked me to see this movie with her, I was not expecting the stunning cinematography or the absolute emotional rollercoaster that I was sent on while watching. Now I am among the many who are rushing to buy the book and experience this story again and again.
Music had a huge impact on this movie’s success, from the film score by Dainel Pemberton to songs from artists including Harry Styles, The Beatles, Ike & Tina Turner and Prince. The music was absolutely breathtaking, and incredibly important to one of my new favorite characters Rocky; he communicates through echolocation that sounds like and is music. This was not just a small detail to the book’s author Andy Weir. In a recent interview, he explained that he chose to have Rocky communicate with echolocation because of Rocky’s home planet’s relative location to a star. “Since the atmosphere is so thick, light doesn’t reach the surface so there’s no need to evolve vision,” he explained. “If you cannot evolve vision, I’ve got the obvious answer — echolocation.”
Even though the book Project Hail Mary only came out in 2021, the rights to it had already been sold in 2020 to MGM. Ryan Gosling, who stars as Dr. Ryland Grace in the movie, saw this book as an amazing opportunity to pursue a passion project, and he helped develop the film before the novel’s release. Unsurprisingly, the book was an immediate success upon its May 2021 release, debuting at #3 on the New York Times bestseller list and quickly becoming a popular and critically acclaimed sci-fi hit. Since its release, this bestseller’s popularity has only grown. As of today, Project Hail Mary has sold millions of copies and become one of the most-read books on Goodreads.
Another factor of Project Hail Mary’s success is the work of its clever marketing team. Synchronizing the movie release with the Artemis II launch was a great marketing strategy. Using the buzz around the Artemis II launch prompted multiple companies such as Lego to hop on this opportunity and make a couple new sets inspired by the Artemis II launch and Project Hail Mary. The timing of both events created more revenue for both Lego itself and the Project Hail Mary franchise. Lego developed the Project Hail Mary set rapidly after the film team showed designers a 10-minute preview. The Project Hail Mary set, an 830-piece model focusing on the spaceship’s rotating gravity configuration, was released in March. The Artemis II set, scheduled to be available in May, features 3,601 pieces.
Speaking of the Artemis II, NASA was quoted saying “amaze amaze amaze” to commander Reid Wiseman during the mission. This echoes a line that Rocky says when he is overjoyed in one of the scenes from Project Hail Mary. Before they left, the crew of Artemis II had a private viewing in their homes with their family members of the movie team. And just like the rest of us, their hearts were captured by the pure joy that Rocky emitted throughout the movie.
This movie is one of my personal favorites so far this year and I know a lot of people would certainly agree. The film had a wide range of scenes from heartwarming moments with Ryland Grace and Rocky to action-packed moments where we were left on the edge of our seats. If you were going to go to any movie in theaters, and not wait for it to stream, Project Hail Mary would be the movie to see.
Hanover High School students have earned recent accolades in the areas of music, art, and public speaking. Whether on the stage, in the studio or at the podium, these Hawks have shown that hard work, creativity, and passion can help you soar.
Vocal and Instrumental Music
After being postponed by the Blizzard of 2026, the HHS Jazz Ensemble finally got to perform at the MAJE Cape Cod-Coastal Jazz Festival at New Bedford High School on March 3. After extensive rehearsals, sectionals, and individual practice, students performed for three adjudicators. The ensemble received a Silver Rating, improving by several points from our last trip in 2024 and a hiatus due to budget constraints last year. After the performance, the band received a clinic from George Murphy, retired band director and decorated jazz educator from the Foxboro Public Schools. The band will incorporate feedback from all of the adjudicators as we prepare for our spring performances and beyond. Special awards were given to juniors Maria-Rita Silva, Daniel Freedman, and Ronan Blum for outstanding musicianship.
HHS Jazz ensemble performs at MAJE
Anna Dillon and Avery Porro, both juniors, were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival. Anna qualified for the Treble Choir and Avery made the Mixed Choir. They were chosen from more than a thousand Massachusetts students who auditioned in January. The festival will take place March 20-21 in Worcester, where top students from across the state will work with collegiate and professional conductors at the top of the field. The ensembles will perform an afternoon concert at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on March 21.
Anna, Avery and 20 other HHS students were accepted to the SEMSBA Senior Festival after auditions Feb. 7, a record number for our school (see image below for full list). SEMSBA, which is the Southeast Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association, will combine students from the region’s schools for performances to be held March 13-14 at Plymouth North High School and Plymouth Memorial Hall.
Junior Maria-Rita Silva and sophomore Ben Smith were selected for the High School Honor Band, an annual program run by the UMass Amherst Music Department. Ben played principal Baritone Saxophone in the Bronnenkant band and Maria-Rita played principal/solo flute in the Westgate band. The students had sectionals and master classes with UMass applied faculty and current students, and then rehearsed with other students from across Massachusetts for a performance on Feb. 21 at the UMass Fine Arts Center. A highlight was the chance to work with Michele Fernández, a professional composer and conductor.
You can hear these talented musicians and more in performances at the Hanover District Arts Fest on April 7 and the Spring Concert on April 30, both at HHS. Congrats to all the performers, and to music teachers Mr. Harden and Mr. Wade for their instruction and support.
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Scholastic Art Awards
Juniors Siena Oliver and Owen Cleary were recognized by the Scholastic Awards, a competition among teens across the United States and Canada. Siena won a Silver Key for her piece “Beach Day,” rendered in colored pencil on paper. Owen won honorable mention for his pieces “Monster” and “Empty,” which were both made with graphite on paper.
The Scholastic Awards is the nation’s longest-running and best-known recognition program for creative teens. Each year, more than 100,000 students in grades 7-12 enter their art and writing for a chance to receive recognition, exhibition, and scholarships. While students submit their own work, they are guided at HHS by art teachers Mr. File and Mrs. Curley.
You can see more work from these and other talented artists at the Hanover Schools District Arts Fest at HHS on April 7.
Click on an image to see a larger version and a caption.
Lions Club Speech Contest
Junior Siena Oliver has advanced to the state round of the Lions Club Youth Speech Competition, the first HHS student to do so in recent history. The annual contest, sponsored by the international service organization, gives high school students a chance to write and then present publicly a speech on a topic of general interest. This year’s prompt was “what can past America teach future America?” Siena spoke about how letters from historical figures such as Abigail Adams, Martin Luther King Jr., and ordinary people teach us to stay connected today despite technological advancements. Her speech included a story about writing to President Barack Obama when she was little and asking him to be her pen pal; he wrote back! Siena won the school and district competitions to advance to states, which will be held March 28. About 400 students from across Massachusetts take part in the speech contest each year.
I bet that most people have read R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps by the time they’ve gotten to high school, but I don’t think you’re ever too old for them. Stine wrote the original 62 books in the series in the 1990s. But since then, the series has been re-issued, spun off and made into movies countless times. They’re the first scary stories for many children, and even fun to read when you’re older — and harder to scare. Here are a few of the books that I’ve read recently:
Diary of a Dummy: This book was a fun adventure to read. It involved Slappy, the evil ventriloquist’s dummy found in many stories, and two other characters. The other characters found Slappy’s Diary which contained the dummy’s different thoughts. The diary also had clues to find a treasure of gold. The book showed Slappy in a better light than previous books he has been in, which might make readers see him a little differently. Overall the book was really good.
Bride of the Living Dummy: This was a really funny read. The book is about Slappy finding a supposed love, so instead of one dummy making trouble for the main characters, it’s an evil doll and a dummy. I really liked reading this book because it showed what happens to Slappy’s victims when he wins. There were also many funny interactions between characters both bad and good.
Slappy’s Tales of Horror (graphic novel): This book has multiple stories including some of the classics like Night of the Living Dummy, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, A Shocker on Shock Street, and Ghost Beach. This was also a fun read since I actually got to see some of the characters from classic Goosebumps. After every story, Slappy talked to the reader, acting like a funny, but scary friend.
Slappy, Beware!: This book was interesting to read because it explained some of Slappy’s backstory. One surprising thing about this story is that Slappy lost, even though in most of the stories he usually wins. It was a great read and learning about Slappy’s backstory was really fun.
The Hawk 