Graduating from high school means going in a different direction from the people and friends that you have grown up with. It can be a scary step, but HHS seniors are excited for new opportunities. While they start planning for the next chapter of their lives, many are going to miss their high school experience, and the memories they have made will remain throughout their lives.
Most of all, the Class of 2022 is going to miss being with their friends every day.
“It’s easy to make friends when we’re all required to be at the same place,” said Anna Bucchianeri. “I think sometimes we take this for granted.”
Emma Talbot called it “the sense of home.” Jordan Kennedy said it’s “feeling like you know everybody even if you aren’t friends with them.”
Michael Losordo will always remember “having lunch with my best friends and joking around the table.”
Seniors will not only miss the friendships from within their class, they have also built strong bonds with younger students through sports, music, and all the clubs offered at HHS.
“I will miss my underclassman friends and the community that the music wing provides,” said Karen Bell.
Joe Campo echoed that. “Going to the band room before and after school was a notable part of my day because there was always someone in there to start a conversation with,” he said. “Now, whether they were supposed to be in another class during that time, I don’t know, but if I had a study, the band room was the place I’d go.”
For Bella Kelley, camaraderie and comfort came from the Unified Sports Team, which she participated in since freshman year. “This was my absolute favorite part of high school and I love all the friendships and memories I have made,” she said.
Preston Miller will miss the rugby team most of all. Ray Tschudy has great memories from cross country and track, and attending home games for other sports.
Many students will miss the influential teachers they had in their four years at HHS. Abby Jones and Jack O’Callaghan called their teachers “amazing.” Dan Leskow said his were “incredible” and “helped me get where I am today.” Nora Dailey, Jack Rynning and Robbie Barrett singled out Mrs. “Momma” Pereira for having a big impact on their lives.
In addition to the teachers, class president Jamie Parry said what he’ll miss most about HHS is “the cookies.”
Whatever their plans are after graduation, the Class of 2022 will carry their experience and memories with them. The halls of HHS will definitely not be the same without them.
As the school year comes to an end, the members of the Class of 2022 are preparing for their future. After four years of assignments, a set bell schedule, gym classes and cafeteria lunches, seniors are looking forward to the next phase of their lives.
The majority of seniors who responded to The Hawk’s survey will be heading to college to explore their passions and prepare for careers.
Class President Cara Jenkins will study biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She hopes to get a job in the biotechnology field and “work with others to find solutions for health issues such as cancers and other diseases.”
Cara is among several students who said they plan to enter health-related fields. Jordan Kennedy will attend Temple University to study biochemistry. Molly McGlame will major in biology and continue her soccer career at St. John’s University. Gianna Rizzo is heading to the University of Tennessee’s nursing program.
Multiple graduates plan to pursue psychology in college, including Rose Giordani at Salve Regina University, Tiana Wakefield at Holy Cross, Nora Dailey at Arizona State, Karen Bell at the University of Rhode Island and Olivia Cuesta. Anna Bucchianeri is going to Emmanuel College to major in Developmental Psychology and Speech Communications. She wants to be a child psychologist, conduct research, and hopefully help to reform DCF and CPS. “I want to fight for the rights of children and help as many people as possible,” Anna said.
Many students want to explore STEM fields. Brayden Scott will study applied physics at Trevecca Nazarene College in Tennessee. McKenzie Bottomley will attend Clemson to study math. Carsten Schwarz will pursue computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as will Jamie Parry at Georgia Tech. Daniel Leskow will study mechanical engineering at The University of Florida, as will John Kenney at the University of Tennessee. Jackson Coughlin, famous for getting his 3D printed gliders stuck in the library and cafeteria ceilings is heading to Wentworth Institute of Technology. Joe Campo wants to study computer engineering at Clarkson University. Lauren Casey hopes to be a marine mammal specialist. Vincent Castildini will enroll in Mass Bay’s automotive technology program. Sean Freel is going straight to the workforce, hoping to enter the electricians’ union.
Business is also popular with seniors who responded to our survey. Ben Manning will study marketing at Stonehill College, as will Sean Coughlin at the University of Tennessee. Carter Zielinski will attend the Boston College Carroll School of Management for business analytics. Cole Gannon and David Mitchell plan to major in Economics at UMass-Amherst. Jack Rynning is heading to High Point University for business. Michael Losordo will major in finance and minor in business analytics at The Catholic University of America. Robbie Barrett will study finance at Bryant University.
Some students will explore their more creative sides. Michael Greene, the Hawk’s staff cartoonist, will be attending Tufts University to study studio art and animation. He plans to explore film and media studies with English as well. The class salutatorian, Michael said he’s “very honored to be attending this school with such an amazing community.” Cullen Gardner plans to study photography at Emmanuel University. Willow DiGravio will pursue interior design at Coastal Carolina.
A couple of students said they hoped to become teachers. Abby Jones will attend Bridgewater State University as a secondary education major. Bridget Sellon will join her at BSU to study elementary education and art.
A good portion of seniors who replied to our survey will head to college but are still undecided about what they hope to pursue. It’s a good reminder that these years are a time of exploration and possibility.
“I’m unsure, hopefully living though,” said Jason Naughton. “Jokes aside, I do hope to stay in touch with my friends, and get some sort of job that I can live off of.”
We wish all that, and so much more, for the Class of 2022. Good luck on your future endeavors!
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.
The HHS Drama Club received rave reviews for its performance in the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild’s Drama Festival at Duxbury High School on March 19. Presenting the one-act play Badger by Don Zolidis, the cast and crew performed brilliantly with individual awards going to stage manager Karen Bell, actors Ben Manning and Morgan Gentile, choreographer Callia Gilligan and musical composer Jacob Asnes. While the show will not be moving to the next round, the cast and crew did a fantastic job representing HHS.
the 2022 METG logo designed by Jashia Sikder of Brockton High School
The METG Drama Festival is an annual theatrical competition. Schools gather together and each presents a 40-minute one-act piece, with just 5 minutes to put together and strike, or take down, their sets. At the end of the day, each play is scored and three winners are named. Drama Festival is a wonderful and exciting day, an event that HHS Drama annually participates in.
In the past, HHS has presented shows such as The Scheme of the Driftless Shifter, an over-the-top comedy. In 2019, the club advanced to the semi-finals with its production of At the Bottom of Lake Missoula. Last year, due to the pandemic, the festival was moved to a virtual presentation. Hanover still participated with 4 A.M. by Johnathon Dorf, submitting a video of the performance.
This year’s play Badger focused on four women working in a munitions factory during World War II and the challenges they faced as women in the workforce. It is both a heartbreaking and uplifting story that paints a strong picture of the hardships of domestic life during the war.
The cast was led by Sammy Burke (‘22) as Rose, Gentile (‘22) as Irene, Lauren Casey (‘22) as Grace, and Caris Mann (‘22) as Barbara. Manning (‘22) played Tim, another factory worker who takes an interest in Rose, and Rose Giordani (‘22) played Barbara’s husband, John, who is overseas fighting. The Chorus included Erin Shea (‘23), Kendall Sherwood (‘22), Mary Longueil (‘22), Paulina Leskow (‘24), Addy Potter (‘24), Bella MacDonald (‘24) and Kaya Biunculli (‘23). The Chorus is the backbone of the show, taking on various characters and roles within the factory.
Rehearsals began before the fall musical was even complete, under the direction of Mr. Fahey and the stage management of Bell (‘22) and Paulina Leskow (‘24). Asnes (’25) composed original music for the play. A performance for the HHS community on March 17 served as a final rehearsal before competition.
As winter rolls into spring here at Hanover High School, the mysterious disease known as “Senioritis” has officially fallen upon the Class of 2022.
Scientists are unsure if Senioritis is a virus or infection, but common symptoms are lack of motivation, fallen grades, tiredness, and overall apathy for all things school-related. Usually, Senioritis falls around the spring and has been known to only increase in symptoms as Graduation comes closer.
Senioritis can manifest in different ways.
Tiana Wakefield said that she suffers most from a lack of motivation. “I can’t bring myself to do work anymore, and I think that’s everyone too.”
McKenzie Bottomley doubted the existence of the sickness when she was an underclassman, but now says, “Senioritis is real, I’m literally just staring at this paper right now. I literally can’t bring myself to even read my notes.”
Jack Dolan couldn’t even give me a quote because “that’s how little I care right now.”
Even the projected valedictorian and class brainiac, Bella Kelley, has taken ill. “I feel like I’m feeling it,” she said. “I feel like I’m still keeping up with all my classes but we’re definitely getting closer to the end.”
Senioritis, interestingly, seems to be in direct conflict with the work of teachers, who have frustratingly taken notice of the widespread symptoms plaguing the Class of 2022.
“Late. Absent. Tardy. Missing. Is there anything else to say?” Mrs. Curtis stated. “Senioritis”
Mrs. Galotti noted in her sixth-period Calculus class that the disease was “definitely affecting this class” but stopped to tell talking students to “do some math.” She added, “this is not my favorite time of year.”
Even teachers who do not teach seniors like Mr. Perry said, “From what I’ve heard, Senioritis is a problem. It seems to start earlier every year.”
Clearly many teachers are frustrated by the yearly apathy that strikes the Senior Class but some aren’t too concerned.
“I think we should wait nine or so weeks and it will all blow over,” said Mr. Henderson. Coincidentally, in nine weeks, the seniors are done with school.
Many are connecting the Senioritis plaguing the high school to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve had senioritis since COVID started,” said Emma Talbot.
Could Senioritis really be pandemic fatigue? Mr.Fahey doesn’t think so. “Senioritis is a disease that gets contracted by students the very first year they come to high school and meet their first senior,” he said.
If you find yourself feeling ill with Senioritis, doctors recommend prioritizing assignments that you might actually like, so you can bring some enjoyment back into your schoolwork. If you feel yourself still struggling with motivation, doctors also recommend reminding yourself that colleges canrevoke your offer of admission if you fail your classes. If even this doesn’t work, you should cut your losses and enjoy your nap.
With college applications completed, Graduation looming on the horizon, and the weather warming up, can you really blame seniors for wanting to take a break? As Mr.Fahey put it, “Senioritis is earned.” Seniors have worked hard to get to this point, so as long as we keep up the good work (or at least some work), we deserve to slow down and enjoy this last stretch of our high school career.
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.
At the gate for the flight to Lima, Peru
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.
Senior Daniel Leskow in front of the Presidential House, home of Pedro Castillo (current President of Peru)
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.
New friends at the marketplace in Cusco
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.
Señora Aborn smiling at the top of Machu Picchu!
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.
SeñoraGately with a local vendor at a Cusco marketplace
“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.
Seniors Andrew Corbo, Ray Tschudy, Dan Leskow and Sophomore Paulina Leskow in front of the LIMA sign.
Although the fall of a new school year typically brings excitement and new beginnings, it can also be a time of great stress for seniors. As many of you know, this time of year sparks the beginning of the college application season. Between narrowing down lists, filling out applications and working on essays, it can seem overwhelming. As I just finished this process myself, I’m sharing some advice on how next year’s seniors can make this time of year less worrisome and more enjoyable.
For the majority of high school students, summer vacation is seen as the time of year with the least amount of responsibilities and stressors. But if you’re heading into senior year, take advantage of the opportunity that summer offers! As fall approaches, many seniors face the most rigorous course load of their entire high school career. To avoid an overlap between applications and school work, summer is a great time to get started on your application to-do list.
Begin writing your college essay over the summer. During the fall of senior year, you will spend your English classes editing and finalizing your essay. For the best results, come into senior year English with a pretty solid draft. You can get topic ideas and sample prompts from the Common App and writing tips from online sources such as Khan Academy.
The Common App opens on August 1st. Used by more than 900 colleges, the common app is a must for most students. Creating an account is straightforward and the majority of the information can be completed prior to senior year. This way, it will be faster to apply to all of your colleges. Your guidance counselor will hold senior workshops to help you complete the common application, so don’t forget to check your email!
Finalize your college list. To make the application season smoother, finalize which colleges you’re interested in attending. Don’t forget to include a range of schools, from those where you’re likely guaranteed admission to those that may be a reach. Although there is nothing wrong with including schools that might be out of your range, it is important to include schools that you should be admitted to and would attend. To sense which schools fall into these categories, the admission scatterplot on the platforms Naviance or Scoir will help. This data is limited to only HHS applicants which gives better and more personalized information.
Secure at least two letters of recommendation. One should preferably be from a STEM teacher and the other teacher should be a humanities teacher. Additionally, try to find a teacher that taught you during your junior year of high school. Although it is best to ask in person before the end of junior year, it is also acceptable to ask over the summer. Just ensure that the teacher knows your first college deadline – often. November 1st for many early applicants – so that you can apply on time.
Keep your grades up! It is a common misnomer that senior year grades are not important. However, poor senior grades or grades that have declined from your usual performance can negatively impact your chance at admission. Sometimes, you can be deferred from or are a borderline candidate for some colleges. Having exceptional grades during terms 1 and 2 can give you the boost needed to be accepted.
Although this portion of high school can be especially stressful, try not to be discouraged or overwhelmed. The guidance department is always available if you have questions or need help with applications. Speaking for myself, I went to guidance on numerous occasions to help me narrow down my list and write my college essays. Just remember you are not alone in this stressful task. Senior year is often cited as people’s favorite time at HHS, so don’t forget to cherish the last memories of high school while focusing on what will come next!
These were some of the comments from audience members who attended the HHS Drama Club presentation of Spamalot the Musical Feb. 11-13. For each of the three performances, the first live shows at HHS in two years, the theater was filled with family, friends, teachers, and students.
Rehearsals began in November for the show, based on the 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Led by Mr. Fahey, Mr. Wade and Mr. Harden, the cast and crew put in many long hours to make the show a success.
“Spamalot was an incredible return to the stage for HHS Drama!” said Mr. Wade, the Vocal Director. “Students performed, ran tech, and played in the pit band, which showcased all of the talent and skill the performing arts has here at HHS.
“All together,” he added, “this was an amazing team effort that resulted in a creative, wacky and fun-filled production that our community greatly appreciated.”
Sammy Burke, a senior in the cast, said the experience was one she’ll never forget.
“I had so much fun in Spamalot,” she said. “The music was so much fun to learn and will be forever stuck in my head.”
Olivia Morin, a sophomore cast member, called her time spent on Spamalot “awesome.”
“After not being in a production for two years because of Covid, it was really nice to be a part of something so fun and exciting!” she said. “Not only did I have so much fun getting to act, sing, and dance, but the cast and crew made it even more memorable.”
New members of the club found out what makes it so special, and many are excited to be a part of upcoming productions.
“This musical was just great and a funny experience, becoming close to everyone,” said Paulina Leskow, a sophomore in the cast. “I can’t wait to do more plays in the future!”
Seniors in the cast were very sad that this was their last high school musical, but they ended with a bang and finished with an amazing and funny show that kept the audience laughing the whole time.
“I am so glad I got to be a part of Spamalot!” said senior cast member Bella Kelley. “It was a super fun experience and I loved being part of such a funny production!”
As Mr. Wade said, “We look forward to continuing our successes on the stage here in years to come. Kudos & congratulations to all involved!”
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.
The Hawk 