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Sports

Week 3: Rookie QBs Shine

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Week 3 of the NFL season started off with a Thursday night game from the New England Patriots, who were again the underdog without their star QB, or even their second-stringer. But the Pats found a way to come out on top. Not only did the Patriots win but they defeated the Houston Texans 27-0,  led by a big game from running back LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns. (Week 4 didn’t go as well for the Pats, but we’re not going to talk about that today)

The week was not as action-packed with close games as earlier weeks had been. Only seven games were decided by one possession and none were decided by only one point. One nail-biter was the Miami Dolphins, who defeated the Cleveland Browns 30-24 in overtime after Browns kicker Cody Parkey missed a game-winning field goal to end regulation. In the bitter rivalry between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, the Redskins won 29-27.  Dustin Hopkins kicked five field goals including the game winner with 1:51 left in the game. The Baltimore Ravens  kept alive their hopes for an undefeated season by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-17.

After week 3, five teams remained undefeated: the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. Three of these teams are being carried by rookie quarterbacks: Broncos’ Trevor Siemian, Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo, and Eagles’ Carson Wentz. The Vikings also picked up a new quarterback, Sam Bradford, after their QB Teddy Bridgewater was injured in Week 1.

There were a few other entertaining games from Week 3. The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the New York Jets 24-3 due to a terrific performance from the Chiefs defense, which forced a total of eight turnovers and two fumbles and scored two touchdowns. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick also gave up six interceptions .

Standout players from Week 3 included Detroit Lions WR Marvin Jones, who caught for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the Atlanta Falcons, RB Devonta Freeman had 200 total yards and a touchdown and RB Tevin Coleman had 90 total yards and three touchdowns.

 

 

 

Opinion

College Fair or Unfair?

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Last week was my first experience with a college fair, an event held in the gymnasium where colleges from all over the country (but mostly from New England) set up tables explaining key details of their curriculum. Before going in, I had expected it to be something like an elementary school science fair: trifold presentations littered around seemingly at random. In this aspect, I was gladly wrong. The tables were set up with clear information as to the courses offered, tuition and other important information. The schools were also organized in alphabetical order, with the Army being right near the  door and the Ws at the back of the gym. However this was the only thing about the fair that exceeded my expectations. For such a fairly important event, I had expected an hour dedicated to walking the floor and getting a good chance to speak with the representatives of the colleges. What really happened was a slapdash of running around and collecting pamphlets upon pamphlets upon pamphlets, all within the span of about 10 minutes.

By the start of the next period, my binder was bulging with an excess of stickers and brochures. The representatives seemed to realize that they only had so much time and never stopped to talk about what their school offered. The best experience I had at a single booth was where the representative gave me a list of schools that were better than his for my chosen major (none of which were at the fair).

But, there is still hope. From the sound of it, the seniors and juniors got significantly more time to explore, which makes sense since they will be applying to college before I will. Also, the fair had been going on for a little while and the representatives were probably tired of having to explain why their college is the best choice for everyone. So ultimately it didn’t live up to my expectations, but I can see why and I’m hopeful for next year.

Sports

NFL’s Week 2 is Full of Surprises

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Week 2 of the NFL season did not have as many close games as we saw in Week 1, but it surely was a great week of football.

There was only one game decided by one point, and that was the Tennessee Titans win over the Detroit Lions 16-15. Detroit led for the majority of the game but Titans QB Marcus Mariota clinched the game by throwing a 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Andre Johnson with one minute left.

Eleven games were won by just one possession. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns, 25-20. Cleveland led 20-2 after the first quarter but was unable to score another point for the rest of the game. The New York Jets beat the Buffalo Bills 37-31 in a surprising offensive showdown. The New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24 after QB Jimmy Garoppolo was injured and third string QB Jimmy Brissett went in.

There were two major upsets this week. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 17-14, while star Vikings RB Adrian Peterson suffered an injury that will keep him out 3-4 months. And in the first game that the Rams played in Los Angeles since moving to St. Louis 20 years ago, LA defeated the Seattle Seahawks in a very low scoring game of 9-3.

Some major performers this week included Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton, who threw for 353 yards and 4 touchdowns, Jets RB Matt Forte, who ran for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Vikings WR Stefon Diggs, who caught for 182 yards and a touchdown. If you had any of these people on your fantasy team last week, you were all good.

So far the NFL season has been very interesting and let’s hope it stays that way.

Sports

Cross Country Teams Hitting their Stride

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The Hanover boys and girls Cross Country teams have started their fall seasons in full stride. Both teams have worked under the training of Coach Brown and Coach McLean through rain, sun, and ninety-degree weather, but have kept their pace up long enough and fast enough to pose as serious competitors in the Patriot League.

As a captain of the Hanover girls Cross Country team, I can fully attest to the hard work of my teammates. So far, the girls have won two meets out of three, including a victory on their 2.5 mile home course Sept. 20. Hanover beat Plymouth South 26-31 (the lowest score wins in cross country). Their other win, a one-point victory, came against Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. In that 5K meet, senior Niamh Kenney led the way for Hanover with a 22:03 time, and sophomore Alyssa Nee followed close behind with 22:13. Their only loss came in a fierce race against Plymouth North High School on September 7, where they fell short by 12 points.

The boys team has  raced superbly against difficult competition, but is still looking for its first win. At the Whitman-Hanson meet, sophomore Nick Courtney led his team with a time of 18:06 and finished fourth in the race. All of the boys have demonstrated commendable effort and seen incredible results.

Last Saturday, the girls and boys raced 2.5 miles up steep hills and across big green fields at the Big Wave XC Invitational meet held at Apponequet Regional High School. All of the runners did exceptionally well, particularly considering how early it still is in the season.

For any Hanover High School students interested, there is still time to join the Cross Country team. Speed and running backgrounds are completely unnecessary; the goal is progress and joining the fight together as a team. Hanover Cross Country has potential this season for serious victory, and each and every runner on the team is an incredible asset for making that success a reality. I have no doubt that the hard work of Hanover’s Cross Country runners will be evident in all of their accomplishments this season.

News

Which Club at HHS is the Best Fit for You?

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This article has been updated to reflect changes for the 2017-2018 school year.

Coming back this fall as a senior, there are a lot of things I am proud to have been a part of during my time at high school. For all the freshmen this year and even the returning upperclassmen, my biggest advice would be to take part in sports teams, clubs, and school events when you have the opportunity. Not only will you have something to write on your college applications, but you will make some of the best friends you will ever have and have a lot of fun. 

Here are the clubs we offer:

Art Club: Advised by Mr. Crawford (room 108), the art club hangs out after school and finds creative ways to express themselves through art. Whether you like to doodle, sketch, draw, paint or look through the viewfinder of a camera, Art Club may be for you.

Aviation Club: This club was started by a few students who had an interest in planes and flight. Students work with Mr. Matt Plummer (main office) to use flight simulators and work on aviation-related projects.

Be Better Club: Advised by our Guidance Department,  this new club brings students together to bring out the best in themselves and each other. The focus is on doing good within the school and community. Stop by Guidance for more information.

Debate Team: This club strengthens students’ skills in public speaking and developing arguments. Students travel to different schools to take part in debates, where they are scored on several aspects including preparation and delivery. The topic is set by the league and researched in advance, but students have to be ready for whatever argument their opponents throw at them. See the main office if you’re interested.

img_1886Dirty Work: Started two years ago, this club meets after school weekly to use their green thumbs to help better our gardens and communities. The plot they’ve tended, located near the school courtyard, has grown wildflowers as well as tomatoes, zucchini and other vegetables. Advised by Mrs. Emerson (room 215) and Mrs. Curtis (room 208), Dirty Work members have high hopes and big plans for expanding their garden and community impact.

Diversity Club: If you couldn’t tell by the name, this club is for absolutely anyone. This club allows you to express and embrace your diversity with other students in the school, always being respectful of everyone and their differences. Advised by Ms. Wade (room 120), the club provides a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

DSC_1083Drama Club: The drama club puts on a few big performances each year, directed by Ms. Snavely. This fall, students are working on the musical Oklahoma, which will debut in November. If you’re not comfortable being in the spotlight, you can always help behind the scenes as a member of the crew.

Fashion Club: Founded by Class of 2015 grads Haley Martin and Bruna Dacosta, the Fashion Club allows for students to express themselves through fashion, while keeping up on trends and starting new fads within the school. This club, advised by Mrs. Gallagher (Guidance),  put on a breathtaking fashion show just a couple years ago, and all who attended and participated were truly struck by all of the hard work the fashion club had put in.

Friendship Connection:  Advised by Mrs. Gately (room 308), this club is absolutely life-changing, and allows you to make incredible friendships with special needs students. This club participates in Special Olympics and Unified sports, where special needs students and their peers compete side by side. 

Green Team: This club is advised by Ms. Egan (Guidance) and comes together after school each Wednesday to collect all of the recycled materials from the bins all over the school. If you are looking for community service hours or would like to make a difference on our planet, join this club and be an advocate for reducing, reusing, and recycling.

img_1891LitMag: The literary magazine allows you to express yourself through short stories, poetry, essays, artwork and photography. Advised by Ms. Fay (room 208), the magazine is accepting submissions for the first issue.

Math Team: Math team travels to different schools to participate in meets. The math team director is Dr. DeFranzo (room 219), who helps students practice for the meets which are based around all different math topics including geometry, algebra, trigonometry and calculus. If you have a knack for math, want to sharpen your  skills, or you just like eating pizza with a cool group of people, join this team.

News Club/The Indian: If you’re reading this, you know that the News Club publishes all of its articles on its very own website, www.hhsindian.com. The Indian covers a wide range of topics, from entertainment to sports to politics. Anyone is allowed to submit articles, and there are deadlines every week for writers to follow. Meetings are held in the library every Tuesday. Advised by Mrs. McHugh (library), club members have also taken field trips to learn more about journalism.

blood1Red Cross Club: A few times a year, there is a blood drive that takes place here at our school and allows all who are eligible to give blood. This club organizes and staffs the blood drives and raises money for the Red Cross efforts in the community. It is advised by Mrs. Curley (room 110) and Mrs. Davis (Nurse’s office).

Robotics Club: This club, advised by Ms. Borgeson (room 116), focuses on learning about robots and technology. This club gets to play with our school’s very own robot, Nao, and participate at competitions.

SADD: SADD stands for “Students Against Destructive Decisions” and is a club that works with Mrs. Rapalje (Guidance) to stray from drugs, alcohol, and destructive decisions as a whole. One event the club has done in the past has been a Day of Silence, in which members vow not to speak the entire day to bring awareness to bullying faced by LGBTQ students.

Student Council: Student Council is for anyone and everyone. This club, directed by Mr. Hegarty and Mr. Centorino (room 308), is full of endless opportunities, whether you’re looking to do community service, organize school events, or just be a part of something in general. Elections for class officer and representative positions are held each spring, and students who do not get elected are recommended to attend meetings as honorary representatives.

Yearbook: Although yearbooks are mainly purchased by seniors, the staff includes all of the grades and recaps the entire school year with pictures and captions. Mrs. Coates (room 220) leads the club throughout the year to work on the keepsake that graduates will look back on for years to come.

Sports

Patriots Win But Take A Big Hit

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The New England Patriots came out in their home opener rolling against the Miami Dolphins. The absence of quarterback Tom Brady seemed to be the least of the Patriots problems as, for the second straight week, the offense operated as a strong unit. Jimmy Garoppolo had played beyond my expectations in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, one of the best defenses in the National Football League. Week 2 against Miami shouldn’t have been any different, since the game was at home and against a lesser opponent. Garoppolo and the Patriots’ offense steamrolled the Dolphins, and the defense was the dominant force it should be all season. Even with a second-half Miami comeback, the Patriots were still able to beat the Dolphins 31-24.     

The win came at a huge expense, though, as Garoppolo was hit in the second quarter and injured on the play. He sustained an AC joint separation in this throwing shoulder and did not return to the game. The timetable for his return is still in question as the extent of the injury still hasn’t been announced. Some reports say Garoppolo could be out four weeks and other reports say he could playing in Week 4 in the final game before Brady returns from suspension. Moral of the story is that this isn’t good for the Patriots. They have it tough enough playing the Houston Texans on a short week Thursday night. Jacoby Brissett will start that game for the Patriots, and for a rookie quarterback who is not ready to play in the NFL at this stage in his career, it’s a tough situation to be thrown into.

Garoppolo has truly impressed me during the small sample of playing we’ve seen from him. He seems to operate well in New England’s offense and consistently made great decisions while having the ball in his hand. I don’t want Garoppolo traded after Brady’s suspension is over unless a bad team wants to make an overwhelming deal. Based on what we’ve seen, Garopollo has the makings of a future starting quarterback, and something very radical would have to be offered in the Patriots’ favor in order for me to accept his trade. 

The pressure for long term falls onto Brady’s shoulders now. I don’t think anyone is here to push Brady out the door, but people now know if he’s not getting the job done, there’s someone already on their team who can. For the short term, pressure falls on Bill Belichick. Can he manage to beat a true up-and-coming team in the Houston Texans with a third-string quarterback? Belichick is known widely as the best coach in the league and Thursday night will be a huge challenge for him and the Patriots.

Opinion

Homework: Should It Stay or Should It Go?

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It’s a dreaded part of the school curriculum. It’s long, arduous, repetitive, and you just want it to be over with. No, I’m not talking about standardized testing (I’m saving that for another day), I’m talking about homework. If you’ve watched the news recently, you’ve probably seen stories about Cherry Park Elementary in Oregon. The principal has joined a handful of others across the country in banning homework. While this isn’t the most relevant school to acknowledge, it is the most recent. It also shows that the number of schools dumping homework is increasing, although most of these schools are elementary schools. There has also been research done that shows that there are many benefits of having a regular homework schedule aside from reinforcing learning. To try to sort through the issue, I have interviewed parents, teachers, and students on how they view homework and read the latest research. 

Go:

In 2007, a group of researchers conducted the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This study involved interviewing students from 59 countries worldwide about their academic experience. The study showed that US students are right in the middle of the 59 countries studied. But the most interesting result was that some of the highest scoring countries on the TIMSS’ math exam – Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan – were shown having ‘heavy workloads’ below the international mean. This trend was common with most countries studied; there was no correlation between high scores and extreme homework. Excessive homework was commonly seen in countries with lower income and higher inequality. There have also been links found between excessive homework and sleep deprivation and a negative attitude toward academic achievement. Policies that completely eliminate homework have also been cited as problematic, and are almost universally disparaged. However the main takeaway from all of this research is that homework has no conclusive effect on grades and learning.

Stay:

While homework has no conclusive benefits on grades, there is evidence that it is beneficial in other ways. One of the most influential effects it has is that it teaches work and time management skills to younger children. It also lets children learn which way they study best and how to become independent. Homework itself is split into two smaller subcategories, instructional and noninstructional. Instructional homework is standard rinse and repeat, practice-practice-practice work that primarily reinforces what students are learning in the classroom. The other type of homework, noninstructional,  is assigned for interaction between students and parents, or students and their classmates. This type of homework has been tested far less, but has been shown to very effectively allow students to socialize with others in order to complete a task, thus building teamwork and other character-building traits.

The Verdict:

All in all, this is a very tough question to answer just yet. There hasn’t been conclusive research done recently enough to make a call and what research has been done has been focused on younger grades where students are beginning to develop and need the extra practice. High school is a much different story about much different people who are very much different in their own ways. The best answer anyone can give right now is that homework should be treated on a case-by-case basis. Students who aren’t being challenged don’t need more homework, they need time (and motivation) to challenge themselves. Students who are being challenged don’t need the extra stress of daily assignments. But the average U.S. student should be able to handle the current level of homework assigned in this country. Until grades start dropping like flies and the main culprit is Undesirable #1, there’s nothing we can do but accept that homework will be homework.

Works Cited

  1. LeTendre, Gerald K. “Homework Could Have an Effect on Kids’ Health. Should Schools Ban It?” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
  2. Pawlowski, A. “How a “no-homework” Policy Is Working for These Schools.”TODAY.com. TODAY, 08 Sept. 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
  3. “What Research Says about the Value of Homework: Research Review.” What Research Says about the Value of Homework: Research Review. Center for Public Education, 5 Feb. 2007. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
News

Students Like Later Mornings, But Not Later Dismissal

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We all know and love it: the controversy of the later start time. Though widely opposed by the student body, the start time was pushed back 30 minutes in the morning this fall, moving dismissal back 24 minutes in the afternoon. The controversy has transferred over as the start time has graduated from theory to practice, and opinions continue to pour in from both camps.

Mr. Paquette, HHS principal, had nothing but good things to say about the change. One point he made was on morning traffic. “We have seen our traffic problem in the morning almost disappear because people can trickle in throughout the morning thanks to the flexibility as well as the organization of student parking,” he said.  Mr. Paquette also noted a drastic decrease in tardiness as well as a more relaxed feeling in the mornings. Upon being asked about the widely negative reception by the student body, he attributed it to simply being a side effect of change, and one which will diminish as the students adjust.

As for student opinions, the sentiment is generally the same.

“I feel more rested in the morning but crash midday,” said senior Hannah Lee, encapsulating one of the the most common reactions across the board. Alissa Tofuri, another senior, was also able to capture the students’ general feelings. “Getting out at 2:40 sucks,” she said, “I’m always rushing to go from one place to another because we get out so much later.”

Others find the later mornings to have almost no effect on their routines. “I still get up at the same time, so all I really notice is that we get out later,” said a sophomore who chose to remain anonymous.

Students with afterschool jobs find the 2:40 conclusion of the day to be hurtful. “I’m losing so many hours at work,” said exasperated senior Hanna Cameron, “It’s making me so mad.”

Others have a hard time seeing the benefit. Nick Jones, a junior here at HHS, said “I’m not a huge fan to be honest. I just end up feeling more tired at school and they had to change a lot of things they wouldn’t have had to if they hadn’t changed the time.”

“I don’t see how 30 minutes in the morning benefits us,” said a confused sophomore. “It feels like the day drags on longer and it doesn’t seem to benefit anyone. In the morning it’s just adding 30 minutes for me to get coffee or eat breakfast. I hope they change it back, I liked school so much better last year.”

Flustered sophomore Anna McCarthy struggles to see the benefit of the extra 30 minutes to sleep. “I’m just as tired! Can you see the creased concealer hiding the bags under my eyes?”

Those who enjoy the later time in full are few and far between. One sophomore said, “I get to wake up 45 minutes later and I love it, I don’t really notice the afternoons.” Senior Molly McCarthy said, “Everybody hates it but I’m excited. I don’t really feel pressure in the afternoons unless I have to work.”

All in all, however, every student agrees on one thing: The HHS School day is incredibly long. Statistics in last year’s presentation describing the benefits of the start time revealed HHS’ school day as one of the longest in the state and the longest on the South Shore.

“Somehow towns all around us go to school after us and get out before us,” said one exasperated sophomore, “I want to know Hanover’s reasoning for being 7 hours.”  

State law dictates that students must be in school for a minimum of 180 days, with a minimum of 990 instructional hours for high school students (http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=6682). The Hanover High school day sits at six hours and 45 minutes, which when multiplied by 180 days reaches 1,161 hours of instructional time. Though this does not account for the time lost in half days, those initial calculations place Hanover High at 171 hours over the statewide minimum. With 18 half days in the calendar, the instructional time drops to 1,125 hours, approximating two hours lost on each half day. Still, this sits 135 hours above state minimum.

All in all, the feelings on the start time are mixed, but students are more worried about another problem… why so long?

Sports

‘Tis the Season: Week 1

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Football is back! I don’t know if you’re as excited as me, but I spent all Sunday on the couch watching football and eating anything and everything that  I could.

The first official game started off on Thursday night. The matchup was the Denver Broncos vs the Carolina Panthers, a rematch of Super Bowl 50. The Denver defense held off the Carolina Panthers just enough to help their rookie quarterback, Trevor Siemian, win the game. Panthers kicker Graham Gano didn’t help when he missed a 50-yard field goal.

In addition to the Broncos-Panthers game, there were three other games in the first week that were decided by only one point! The Cincinnati Bengals beat the New York Jets 23-22 due to a big game from Bengals receiver AJ Green, who received for 180 yards and a touchdown. The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 20-19 and the Oakland Raiders tok down the New Orleans Saints in a high scoring nail-biter 35-34.

A total of 11 games in Week 1 were decided by only one possession! There was the shocker in Indianapolis, where the Detroit Lions upset the Colts after a big game from Detroit running backs Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah. The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 21-point deficit against the San Diego Chargers to win in overtime thanks to their second string running back Spencer Ware. Ware rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown and received for 129 yards.

There were four quarterbacks who made their first NFL start last week. Jimmy Garoppolo of the New England Patriots threw for 264 yards and a touchdown in defeating the Arizona Cardinals. In the Broncos win over Carolina, Siemian threw  for 178 yards and a touchdown. Carson Wentz led the Philadelphia Eagles over the Cleveland Browns in one of the few blowout games of the week while throwing for 278 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott lost his first game in a very close game against the Giants, but threw for 227 yards.

Week 1 was certainly very exciting with many close games and outstanding individual performances. Lets hope Week 2 can be even better.

Opinion

School Start Time Pushed Back 30 Minutes

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After serious consideration about a later start time for Hanover High School, administrators have come to a decision. In the fall, the first bell will move from 7:25 am to 7:55 am, and dismissal will be 2:4 pm instead of 2:16 pm.

A few weeks ago, each grade was called down to have a discussion on the topic of start times. Mr. Paquette explained how waking up early has been scientifically proven to cause a multitude of problems for teenagers such as getting to school late, a decrease in grades, and even discipline issues. High schools across the country have adopted later start times, with elementary schools starting earlier because younger children naturally wake up early.

The most common argument students had was that a later start time, and therefore later dismissal time, would affect sports. But many schools in Massachusetts have start times as late as 8 am and their sports don’t interfere with schoolwork. The more controversial part of this new plan is how early release days may work. One proposal is to have half days start for students at 10am, and still end at the normal time. The teachers would go to meetings before the students come to school. Could this lead to weaker teacher performance on early release?

 

Whatever happens next year, remember The Indian will be here to keep you updated.