By Grace Van Duyn, ’22

Staff Writer

Looking back on the last four years, it is fair to say that our class did not have a typical high school experience. We all had no idea how much COVID would impact our lives, and for how long. With our sophomore, junior, and senior years affected by the virus, The Hawk asked students to reflect on the experience of living through a pandemic. 

“I learned to be more self-sufficient and independent,” said Gillian Mastrocola. “I became more adaptable and improved my ability to teach myself difficult topics, and I spent more time with my family and improved my mental health.” 

Many of us made similar self-discoveries, like Vincent Castaldini, who said, “I learned who I was as a person from the time we missed (in school).” Emma Talbot gained a “sense of independence and started doing things for myself, not others.” Anna Bucchianeri “learned not to doubt myself and that I could be strong.” Bella Kelley felt “the pandemic put into perspective what is important to me.”

Some students found the pandemic – with remote school, hybrid schedules and online classes – made them better students.

“COVID taught me a lot of time management skills that got me to set my own deadlines and stay on top of my work,” said Ben Manning. Duncan MacDougall is “now able to learn better over a Zoom call and with weekly deadlines instead of daily ones.” Bridget Sellon learned “to divide and conquer my work.”

For Cara Jenkins, COVID “showed us that we are able to adapt to new situations. Although it created many issues,” she said, “we were able to look for the positives and use the time for other things, such as families and hobbies.”

Hobbies picked up by the class included friendship bracelets for McKenzie Bottomley and skateboarding for Rose Giordani. Jamie Parry built a boat. Lauren Salvas “took the time to do things I love at home.”

Many students credit the pandemic for giving them more time with, and appreciation for, friends and family. “It made me realize the importance of spending time with others,” said Michael Greene. “I learned to better appreciate my family,” said Caden Chadwick.

Fitness was a coping mechanism for some students. Pat Callow started working out daily during the pandemic, saying “I learned that  not everything is a guarantee.” Carter Zielinski felt COVID “showed me how important staying active and exercising is for mental health.” Jack O’Callaghan focused on “keeping extra healthy and keeping busy.”

One of the greatest themes among our experiences was learning to appreciate what we have. “Don’t take anything for granted,” said Lauren Casey. “You never know when 

you may lose it.” Nieve Rowlette added that we should “live in the moment and be happy for what is to come.” 

COVID “made me realize how much I take time for granted,” said Preston Miller. “I always used to complain about not having enough free time, and quarantine gave me more free time than I’d ever had and I still felt like I was wasting it.”

Molly McGlame found that after remote school, she was grateful when classes resumed in person. “As much as school can be dreadful sometimes, we are extremely lucky to have such a beautiful building to come to every day to see everyone and interact with our great students and staff.”

This pandemic has definitely been a struggle for all of us, but it also showed us how resilient we can be. No matter how big or small our accomplishments have been at HHS, we should give ourselves extra credit for them during this difficult time. COVID has shown us that we can manage challenging times, and that we can sometimes even turn them into something positive.   

“Things may get hard,” Tiana Wakefield summed up, “but there is a way through it.”

By Caris Mann, ’22

Staff Writer

Four years at Hanover High School have gone by in a blink of an eye. It wasn’t too long ago that the Class of 2022 first walked into the school as freshmen, not sure what to expect. We have learned so much since then and now it is our turn to pass on advice. Here is what the senior class has to offer:

“Don’t be afraid to get involved. Time really does go by so fast, and you don’t want to end up as a senior wishing you did more during your high school career. I’m so glad that I did so much because not only do I have some really great memories, but I have even greater  friends.”- Anna Bucchianeri

“I would advise that the younger students try to get out of their comfort zone as much as possible and to try new things. A lot of kids might worry about being judged or having something turn out poorly, but now is a perfect opportunity to try things.”- Cara Jenkins

“Enjoy your time. One grade isn’t worth stressing over. Balance time between friends and school.” – Carter Zielinski

“Be yourself and put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to be loud and obnoxious. Who cares what others think? Be you and that’s all you need at the end of the day”- Cullen Gardner

“I wish I had known that my freshman GPA mattered more than I thought, maybe I would have tried a little harder.”- Duncan MacDougall

“Don’t take anything for granted because when people say it flies by it actually does.” -Gianna Rizzo

“Don’t spend so much time worrying about homework and grades. Give yourself some time to enjoy high school.”- Jamie Parry

“Get involved as much as you can. Whether it is sports, clubs, volunteer work or extracurricular fun activities, get involved. You make great memories that you’ll remember for years.”- Lauren Salvas

“Keep room for passion within the school work”- Jackson Coughlin

“…Try and enjoy more of the simple moments. It can be very easy to be consumed in being a perfectionist with grades, but I learned that the relationships that I made with my friends and teachers are so much more important in the long term.” -Michael Greene

“Take your classes seriously, but enjoy your time in them; have fun and take the time to appreciate the little things that make your experience great.”- Michael Losordo

“Success is not handed to you. Work for what you want to accomplish in your career.”- Robbie Barrett

By Ashley Stracco, ’24

Contributor

Have you ever wanted to give back to the community, but you just did not know how? The Outreach Club found a way. They made it their goal to spread as much Easter cheer and love to the community as possible, by acting as assistants to the Easter Bunny. This past weeked, members of the club, along with some friends from other schools, put together 43 Easter baskets for children in Friends of the Homeless shelters and for the Hanover Food Pantry. In addition, they created 100 Easter treat bags for senior citizens in need.

The Outreach Club previously completed a Valentine’s Day service project for the Hanover Senior Center, in which they made 100 treat packages full of candy, gift cards, and essential items. Those involved say the project made them feel like they were making a difference, and they wanted to get further involved, so they volunteered to help with the latest endeavor. 

The Easter project involved a great deal of organization, effort, and generosity. Supplies were very costly, and the club raised more than $2,000 from the community, which led to the project’s great success.

Hanover students who helped with this project include Ashley Stracco, ’24, founder and president of the Outreach Club; Brody Leibfarth, ’24, vice president of the club; Baylor Speckmann, ’24, treasurer of the club; Nunzio Minasi, ’24; Caden Fly, ’24; Thomas Perkins, ’25; Trevor Leibfarth, eighth grade and Chris Stracco, fourth grade. Students from other schools included Jack Faggiano, a junior from St. Sebastian’s; Anna Sheppard and Gabby Bethony, sophomores from Notre Dame Academy; Ciara Leonard, a freshman from South Shore Tech; Finn O’Gara, a junior from Marshfield; and Tommy Scully, a freshman from Norwell.

Hundreds of people benefited from this project, including the volunteers.

“It’s always great to help out those less fortunate than I am,” O’Gara said. “I was lucky enough to be blessed with friends and family in my life so I wanted to help out. It is truly humbling to make a difference in so many people’s lives.”

Brody Leibfarth, vice president of the club, was a great help to the project, which he said have been very rewarding.

“They make me a better person,” he said. “I’ve made so many great friends by doing these projects, and I truly have fun while helping the community at the same time.”                       

Treasurer of the Outreach Club, Baylor Speckmann, said he’s inspired by how the community comes together for these projects.

“It amazes me how many great people there are that donate their time, money, and effort into creating a better community for all,” he said. “It inspires me to try to be the best person I can and try to do my part as a citizen.”

Participating in projects like this is a great way to earn community service hours, and club members are already thinking about their next event. New members are always welcome, as helping the community truly has more benefits than you can imagine. If you would like to donate to, or participate in,  future projects, please email astracco24@hanoverstudents.org.

By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

After a year of delay due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, a group of Hanover High School students finally got to take the trip of a lifetime: visiting the mysteries and wonders of Peru. Led by Spanish teachers Mrs. Gately and Mrs. Aborn, seven other students and I were able to experience the extraordinary Lima, the mountainous Cusco, and the mesmerizing Machu Picchu. 

The trip began February 18th, with some unfortunate mishaps. The plane from Boston to Miami, which would connect us to a flight from Miami to Lima, broke down before taking off, so we were all forced to deplane until it was fixed. This delay, which was expected to last about two hours, lasted 11 hours! We used that time to walk around the airport and buy snacks and beverages. Mrs. Gately and Mrs. Aborn remained calm through it all, figuring out how to get a new flight to Lima once we eventually arrived in Miami. 

Once we landed in Miami, we had dinner in the airport since there were four more hours until the new flight to Lima. When we made our  way to the check in gate, we discovered another problem: the Boston airline messed up the tickets and ended up not buying all the necessary seats for the upcoming flight. After another 45 minutes trying to figure out ticketing, we were finally set and had to run to the gate, just barely catching the flight to Lima at 1 in the morning. 

After 27 hours in various airports, we finally met up with Boris, our tour guide, and arrived at the Lima hotel about an hour before our first tour. When we thought nothing else could go wrong, it was revealed that our checked luggage was stuck in Miami and would not arrive for another two days!

Despite all of the travel struggles, we were ready to enjoy our trip. During a guided tour of Lima, we were fascinated by the beautiful museums, catacombs (containing the bones of Fransisco Pizarro among others), and the President’s house, which was so close to other buildings that it didn’t even seem like his house.

The people indigenous to Lima are very friendly, however they did as much as they could to make the travelers buy their products. Although that seems a little stressful, the crafts and other items were fascinating and the people were very willing to negotiate. Overall, Lima is a beautiful place filled with rich Peruvian culture. 

The next day, we took a flight to the wondrous mountains of Cusco, where luggage was waiting for all but two members of the group. Cusco has an elevation of 11,000 feet so many can suffer high altitude sickness. Mrs. Gately and I were among the unlucky ones, forced to miss a day of the tour but fully recovered the next day. During our two days in Cusco, we hiked some of the beautiful mountains, explored the ancient ruins of Incan Civilization, and ate some of the best meals we’ve ever had (including the famous sweet Chicha Morada beverage). At one marketplace we visited, the local people were so happy to see tourists that they invited us to join in a traditional Peruvian dance. It was so much fun singing and dancing with them.

Next, the group boarded a train to our final destination and the climax of our journey: Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The train took about two hours and followed along a river and through incredible mountains. We were fascinated by the views we had from the glass ceilings of the train.

Machu Picchu is a beautiful village, and it takes a 20 minute bus ride to reach the Incan ruins. The route consists of many twists and turns all along the mountainside. Once the bus reached the top of the mountain, we were in awe at the gorgeous scenery of Machu Picchu. This was my favorite part of the trip.

After a day exploring the ruins, which date to the 15th century, we took a train and flight back to Lima for our trip home. Our final night consisted of one last dinner and dessert, a workout at the gym, card games, and lots and lots of packing, trying to fit all their souvenirs in the luggage. 

The flight home went pretty smoothly, at least better than the trip to Lima. Although we were happy to come home to our families, all of us wished that we could have stayed in Peru just a bit longer.

“Peru was more than just a vacation for me – it was an adventure, a check off my bucket list and the trip of a lifetime,” said Mrs. Gately. “I was not only awed by the truly magnificent beauty of the Andes Mountains and its surroundings but also the mathematical and engineering geniuses that were the Incan people.”

Dan Leskow, a senior, said his favorite part of the trip was visiting Machu Picchu. “I was just in awe of how incredible it was,” he said. “I was additionally thrilled to be able to try unique Peruvian foods such as Ceviche, alpaca meat, and of course Cuy (Guinea Pig). It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.”

Senior Andrew Corbo created a video of the experience using some of the hundreds of pictures he and the other travelers took.

This really was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Thank you to everyone who made this trip so wonderful and memorable. It is an experience I will never forget.

By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

The year is now 2022. It has been almost two full years since our world shut down due to the coronavirus. The virus, however, has not stopped. With new variants continuing to emerge, the mask policy remains in effect in Hanover schools. Whether vaccinated or not, all students and staff must wear a mask in the school building and during sporting events. 

The new year brought about some new policies, which include the town of Hanover strongly recommending that people wear masks in common areas like restaurants. In addition, the state extended the mask mandate in schools until the end of February; it was initially set to expire in mid-January. The Centers for Disease Control has also shortened the quarantine time for asymptomatic people.

Although these are important policies, many would say the most significant one is that a school with 80 percent of students and staff fully vaccinated can go mask-free. Several schools in the surrounding area no longer require masks, including Norwell High School, Cohasset Middle School and Cohasset High School. Hanover High School is at 77 percent vaccinated, according to a recent email from Patricia Smith, the district’s director of health services. Cedar School, Center School, and Hanover Middle School vaccination rates are currently less than 60 percent, Mrs. Smith said. Once a school reaches the 80 percent mark required by the state, local officials can decide whether to drop or continue its mask mandate.

HHS students have differing opinions on masks at school.

“It would be safer to keep them on for a bit longer,” said junior Melissa Manning. “Even with everyone wearing masks, many people continue to get sick and having masks off would increase that rate of sickness.”

Another student, who asked to be anonymous, said that when enough people are vaccinated, Hanover schools should go mask-free. ”Once we hit that vaccination rate, those who received the vaccine will be protected, and those who did not can choose to either wear a mask or face the consequences of the virus,” the student said.

No matter what opinions you have about the vaccine, masks, and the coronavirus, it is always important to stay safe and help keep yourself and others healthy. The school district continues to administer pool testing and has begun at-home testing for students and staff who opt into that program.

Featured image: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-does-the-cdcs-new-mask-recommendation-mean-for-schools/2021/05