The final standings may not show it, but the members of the HHS Ski Team had a fun winter. Although the girls team finished 7th in the Ski East League and the boys finished 8th, weekly team dinners and easy camaraderie helped elevate the season.
“We were never really competitive about it,” said Justin Rosko, a sophomore captain. “The point was just to have fun.”
Coach Bob Egan called the season a “building year after losing some seniors.” The size of the team was the biggest obstacle, since teams are allowed up to 10 girls and 10 boys skiing varsity, and an unlimited number of JV skiers. This year, the girls team had four skiers and the boys team had eight.
Rosko and Josh Joy, another sophomore, were their team’s most consistent finishers, Coach Egan said. Sophomore Tom Cleary represented the team on the snowboard course. Seniors Abby Campbell and Stephanie Ruck, along with sophomores Joy Replogle and Annika Rowland, all gave strong performances. Campbell captained the girls team.
The outlook for next year looks bright, despite the loss of seniors Campbell and Ruck, both four-year Varsity Letter skiers. A solid group of returning skiers will hopefully be able to pick up a few new skiers. Practices and races are held at Blue Hills in Canton, and the team races four times a year at Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire as well.
“Next season we are hoping for a larger group of freshmen to bring the team to 20-plus members,” Coach Egan said.
Mr. Perry is a social studies teacher here at Hanover High School. This year, he teaches AP US History and Senior Humanities Seminar. In addition to teaching, Mr. Perry also coaches Cross Country in the fall and Track in the spring with Mr. Brown. Below is a transcript of an interview with him.
What is your favorite part about teaching at HHS?
Well, first of all, my most favorite part of teaching is working with kids. Secondly, I really enjoy US History. We have such an interesting and rich history. I enjoy sharing my love of US History with my students.
Do you have any advice for students once they graduate from HHS?
When I was a graduating senior, I lacked confidence in myself which prevented me from pursuing the paths I wanted to pursue at the time (baseball player, acting, politician). Today, I advise my students to follow their passion and not to let anything or anybody get in their way of achieving their dream.
What is your most memorable teaching experience?
During my 17-year career I have had many memorable teaching experiences in the classroom. So many in fact, it’s difficult to name just one. I’ve also had many memorable experiences outside the classroom especially when traveling with students to Europe.
Why did you go into the field of teaching?
Well, teaching was never a thought when I graduated from high school. However, in 1994, after my dad’s sudden death, I decided to change my career path from sales to teaching. I have never regretted my decision. Yet another life lesson that no matter how sad or difficult a situation might be, something positive can come from it if you’re open to it and work hard to achieve it.
Ask any Hanover High School student about their idea of the Caribbean, and they will assuredly gush about swimming with dolphins and giant sea turtles, laying in the sand at a world class resort, or horseback riding next to the gorgeous cerulean blue sea. Growing up in in a relatively affluent region of the world, our view of Latin America and the Caribbean Islands is jaded by the pristine and secure tourist destinations students in Hanover have visited on cruises or over February break, or have seen on television. Were we to venture outside of the perfectly trimmed and polished gated communities of the hotels, however, many people would be shocked by the poverty of the vast majority living in that area of the world. In Latin America, 57 million people live on less than one dollar a day, and in Guatemala only 48 percent of children are enrolled in primary schools as a result of having to work to help support their families.
In July 2014, a group of 10 Hanover High School Student Council members and chaperones will take part in a week-long service trip through the organization Mir Pace to the rural village of Tamahú, Guatemala. Indigenous Mayan families living in Tamahú are struggling to grow enough food just to nourish their own families, and, to make matters worse, were struck recently by the tropical storm Agatha, destroying much of the village’s food supply. Student Council members partaking in the trip will assist in home construction and repairs in addition to sanitation projects to help improve water quality and prevent diseases. A community garden project will help to feed people of the village during the off-harvest of the coffee season, when the risk for starvation is at its highest. In an educational respect, the students will interact with the children attending local schools. Through students’ efforts, the people of Tamahú will have a more comfortable and safer life.
This summer will mark the first service trip Hanover High School has participated in. Organized by the senior class vice president Emma Stone and Mr. Hegarty, HHS will join many surrounding towns such as Scituate and Hingham in their efforts to better the world at an international level. I became interested in the trip because it was something new and different. I love learning about new cultures, and being able to experience another part of the world in a safe and beneficial way sounded like the perfect opportunity. I can not wait to help the people of Tamahú and experience what it is like to live among them!
The total cost for the service project is $2,000 per student.To fund raise for the trip, Student Council members have hosted a successful soccer clinic at the Synergy Sports Complex and plan to take part in a “dough-raisers” campaign at Papa Gino’s Pizza and Uno’s Pizzeria on Tuesday, March 4th. The group had also started a page on gofundme.com and all profits collected will benefit the group as a whole.
If interested in donating or learning more about the organization, go to www.mirpace.org
Two little girls who once tromped around in their mom’s stilettos have grown up to do what every fashion-loving girl dreams to accomplish. They created a Fashion Club to take the school by storm!
Every year, new clubs are introduced into Hanover High’s extensive spectrum, and students from all grades are encouraged to branch out and associate with others with similar interests. This year, one of these new and exciting clubs is Fashion Club, founded by juniors Haley Martin and Bruna DaCosta. Interested in fashion since they were little girls, they aspire to bring their love of fashion to Hanover’s student body.
“We think that many people don’t realize that fashion exists in their daily lives,” they said. “Our goal is to bring that to everyone’s attention. We want to get the entire student body excited about fashion. Feeling good about yourself isn’t a crime.”
Every student has probably passed by the Fashion Club display case outside the library, seen flyers for sign-ups, or heard announcements about meetings. But many people are still unaware of what Fashion Club actually does. When asked about meetings, Haley and Bruna replied, “Our goal is to create a welcoming environment for all fashion lovers to come and express their fashion intellect and ideas. We discuss all the latest trends and major fashion moments in the fashion world.” The club currently has about 12 members, but new ones are always welcome.
Things are always kept interesting in the club, and the four officers, Bruna, Haley, Bryanna Gillis, and Haley Kmito, are always coming up with creative ways to involve their members. It helps that the group is not advised by a teacher, providing extensive opportunities and freedom for fund raisers. “There is always something going on! We like to keep our members busy with fund raisers and tasks like choosing a best dressed boy and girl in their grade.” They helped do makeup for the student production of You Can’t Take it With You and are even planning a fashion show at HHS in late May!
Bruna and Haley encourage anyone who’s interested in fashion to give the club a chance, even those who are interested in the different aspects of fashion besides clothes. There are members who are interested in hair, some who are intrigued by makeup, and some who enjoy the marketing aspect. They all have their own unique roles to play in the club. And the club focuses not just on high-end fashion, but on all styles and brands.
It is clear how passionate Bruna and Haley are about fashion. They aspire to grow their club and even expand into the lower grades at the middle school. “We want to get kids excited about fashion at a young age so they learn leadership roles and can continue our legacy,” they said.
They are right when they say how fashion plays a huge role in our daily lives — everyone is touched by fashion in some way, whether it’s the way they style their hair, wear their makeup, or the clothes they pick out in the morning. We all are involved in our own fashion sense, and joining Fashion Club would only flourish that desire to look good. Said the club’s founders: “We hoped that creating this club would lead to a school full of self worth and polished individuals who dressed for success.”
Mrs. Hansen, the Microsoft Office and internship teacher on the first floor, has been teaching since the early 1970s. She started out as a business education teacher in a high school outside of Albany, New York. Her favorite subjects while in high school were English, because she loves reading, and business management.
Mrs. Hansen grew up in Syracuse, New York. When she attended the State University of New York at Albany, she started as a business administration major with a minor in accounting and business law. For a marketing course, she had to present and sell products. She discovered that she loved to present in front of the class, leading her roommate to suggest that she take an education course. Once she did, Mrs. Hansen fell in love with it.Now Mrs.Hansen teaches the internship program, which allows students to create resumes, practice job interviewing techniques and have real-life experience in a career.
Mrs. Hansen’s favorite type of music is classical and it’s the only type of music she listens to while in school because she says “it helps you relax and keep you focused.” But once school is over, she likes to listen to ’50s and’6’s Rock and Roll. Her favorite food is pizza with fresh vegetables on top. Mrs. Hansen’s favorite season is summer because she loves the hot weather, long days and likes to travel. Also during the summer, she likes to read books, go out for runs and visit her daughters in Boston.
The 2014 Super Bowl halftime show was a very energetic show with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. First the show started by having children sing parts of the song “Billionaire.” Then Bruno Mars did a drum solo which led into performances of “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Treasure” and “Runaway Baby.” Then after those songs the Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared on stage and with Bruno they sang “Give it Away.” Even though it was a chilly night it didn’t stop lead singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary from their trademark shirtless look. The final song was Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are,” which also had a tribute to military families.
I personally thought it was one of the best Halftime shows I’ve seen in the past ten years. It was more energetic and the type of music the younger generation listens to. I also thought it was cool how The Red Hot Chili Peppers collaborated with Bruno Mars. The only thing I really got mad over was when I found out the Chili Peppers didn’t play their song live. They recorded a live version to play during the show, but couldn’t get all of their own instruments and amps hooked up for the live concert. The Halftime show can only be so long before the football game has to resume.
When Christmas is over and the final seconds of 2013 have passed, everyone partakes in a classic tradition: the New Year’s Resolution. It is that time of year again where everyone strives to set goals for themselves to accomplish during the year ahead, and people make promises that they hope to fulfill before the next New Year’s countdown. These resolutions can contain anything from a distant dream somebody finally hopes to reach, or a simple task one wants to begin incorporating into their daily habits. Some even want to start the new year off with a new way of thinking, or by adopting a new trait that they are trying to weave into their personality. The endless ideas behind New Year’s resolutions are truly unique- they only depend on an individual’s mind, and are only limited by what we think to be the limits of possibility. New Year’s resolutions can really provide a glimpse into people’s minds, and what better way to gain insight into someone’s thoughts than asking them about their goals for the new year?
Hanover High School students gave up a variety of answers when asked about their New Year’s resolution. Jamie Knight, a freshman, said “I want to be more friendly and be more social.” Junior Sara White resolves to “do more things that make me happy.” Emily Hennessy, a sophomore, jokingly had to say, “Mine is to actually study and do my work considering my midterm grades…and get a higher score in Flappy Bird.” Bryan Connors, a junior, decided “to stop procrastinating,” a goal I’m sure many other students could relate to.
Overall, the students of Hanover High School seem to be excited for the upcoming year, whether for improving their grades or checking something off their bucket list. This new year will be a big year and I wish the best of luck to everyone and their future New Years endeavors.
Despite being out for over a month now, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is still making its way through theaters throughout the country and the world. It has now had close to six weeks in the box office, and has been a commercial success- truly living up to the greatness of the first Hunger Games film. A change to the second film of the series was the loss of the director Gary Ross, who directed the first film. Under the pressure to create theatrical work just as great, new director Francis Lawrence did just so. The film follows many of the book’s most unique details, and the setting of the film was completely accurate to the vast and imaginative world fans pictured in their minds. Many dedicated fans to any series will say that the movie is never as good as the book, and however true this may be, Catching Fire did come very close. Today, after six weeks, it currently holds the place of the 36th highest grossing film of all time, trailing behind some of the most famous movies of all time.
Seeing the midnight premiere was a personal highlight for me as a fan, to have a first viewing and finally end the very long wait. To add even more to an already great film, the large amount of additional cast members that were added on to this film were excellent. In Catching Fire, many new characters are introduced and play strong roles through the book, and the movie as well, and continue to be present within the remainder of the trilogy. Jennifer Lawrence, reprising her role as Katniss and a recent winner of an Oscar, came back even strong. Not only did Catching Fire personally impress me greatly, but with the evidence from its box-office success and critical reactions, it left other viewers feeling just as satisfied.
Out of all possible winter break activities, it is not hard to assume which one is most anticipated by the student body- sleeping. It’s understandable, of course, since after long, dragging weeks of classes and tests, nearly two weeks of snoring under warm blankets would sound tempting to anybody. But besides packing away the alarm clock for the duration of the break, there were a variety of other activities that people were looking forward to. I interviewed students before school closed for vacation and learned of the diverse plans they had for winter break.
Some, like sophomore Kayla Maslow, were headed to spend the holidays in tropical destinations. When I asked what she was looking most forward to, she responded with “going to Florida.” I’m sure these are the most enviable kind of plans, for nothing says school vacation like dipping your toes into the hot sand. Instead of building snowmen and having snowball fights, surely Kayla, along with others, would be making sandcastles and tanning on the beach.
A good fraction of the student body was excited to partake in winter sports and snow-related activities during their days off from school. “I’m going skiing and riding my horse in the snow!” said sophomore Colleen Dowd. For junior Emily Bartone, winter vacation meant going snowboarding. These and many other students looked forward to spending two weeks on the slopes, some even in competition with ski teams- whether it be on Hanover High’s own or on a club team. Max Shelly, a freshman, was one of those club skiers who anticipated coasting down the snow peaks for his team at Cranmore Mountain in New Hampshire.
Other school sports besides skiing also excited HHS’ athletes, like junior Chase Coogan who said that he was “looking forward to hockey over the break.” The HHS fan base would surely agree, for even on the coldest days, a high school hockey game can easily draw a generous crowd.
But most HHS students were simply excited to have a stress-free vacation where they could hang out with friends and do away with thoughts of algebra or biology. I think sophomore Mike Cratty put it best when he decided “not going to school” was the best part of vacation. Whether it be by sleeping, vacationing, skiing, snowboarding, spectating, or spending time with friends and family, this year’s winter break promised endless opportunities for the students of HHS. I hope I can speak for all students when I say that winter break truly fulfilled its potential.
The Auditorium came alive on December 19 for the annual Hanover High School Winter Band Concert featuring Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble. All of these instrumental groups rehearsed during and after school in the months leading up to this concert.
Concert Band is Hanover High School’s traditional “school band” and it started off the concert as it always does with five pieces. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson) started the concert because it is a classic holiday song that most people are familiar with even if they do not recognize the name. Next was Farandole (Georges Bizet), in which the flutes and clarinets had a brief solo. After that, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring is a famous Bach chorale. All chorales are known for their relatively simple melodies, what makes a chorale special is how the rest of the Band comes together with separate harmonizations to support it. In fact, almost every person in the Band played a separate part in order to make the piece come together as beautifully as it did. The relative calmness of the chorale was a perfect contrast for the excitement of Bugler’s Holiday (Leroy Anderson). The trumpet section really took the lead in their rousing performance. Concert Band’s final song of the night was ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas (arr. by Bill Holcombe), which featured the narration talents of Superintendent Ferron. He narrated the famous poem while the Band played music to set the mood. Out of all the songs Concert Band played, this was the song that the most work and practice went into. While everyone was nervous of how it was going to sound going into the Concert, everyone in Concert Band was overjoyed at the performance.
After Concert Band left the stage to a standing ovation, Percussion Ensemble quickly took the stage. Percussion Ensemble is an afte- school group of the Concert Band percussionists. For the Winter Concert they performed an arrangement of O’ Holy Night. The uniqueness of their chosen arrangement quickly captivated the attention of the audience.
Jazz Lab followed. Jazz Lab is a group that allows any interest student to join and play solos over traditional jazz standards. For this concert, two standards were played: “Red’s Good Groove” by Red Garland and” Listen Here” by Eddie Harris. During the performance of” Red Good Groove,” Chris Clarke (alto sax), David Raab (clarinet) and James Burke (guitar) all performed solos. Soloists for “Listen Here” included Nate Hanrahan (soprano sax), David Raab (clarinet), and James Burke (guitar). It was clear that the audience was impressed with the variety of instruments and solos that were made from these two jazz classics.
Immediately after the applause died down for Jazz Lab, Jazz Ensemble performed. Jazz Ensemble is an audition-based band which emulates a 193os era Big Band. Big Bands are composed of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and various percussion. In addition to performing at concerts, they are available for community events (gigs) and compete in competitions in the spring. For this concert they played two Christmas songs: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and a medley of famous Christmas Carols called “Christmas Joy and Spirit.” Their traditional jazz standard was” Second Line (Joe Avery Blues),” which featured soloists Bobby McDermott on trumpet, Jake Prescott on alto sax, and Brian Meehan on tenor sax.
The Hawk 