By Ben Freedman, ’25

Staff Writer

Hello Hanover High School students! This is Ben Freedman from The Hawk to inform you on everything you need to know about this year’s Homecoming.

Spirit Week will be held at HHS Oct. 18-Oct. 22, capped off by the Homecoming football game on Friday night and the Dance on Saturday. The Student Council and Senior Class officers have organized a week of fun with the following theme days:

• Monday: America Monday
• Tuesday: Hawaiian Day
• Wednesday: Western Wednesday
• Thursday: Outsiders Day:
  • Dress as a Greaser or a Soc from S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders
• Friday: Class Color Day:
  • Freshmen – yellow
  • Sophomores – white
  • Juniors – black
  • Seniors – blue

During 7th period Friday afternoon, students will gather on the football field for our first pep rally since COVID. Students from different classes will compete in games during the pep rally for fun and bragging rights. That night, the Hawks will take on rival Pembroke for what’s sure to be an exciting football game. Kickoff is 7 pm, and during half time, the Homecoming Court will be crowned. It will also be Senior Night for football, cheer and band. Make sure to be there!

The Dance will be held from 6-9 pm in the HHS cafeteria and courtyard. Tickets are $40 and will be on sale Monday, Oct. 18; they will not be sold at the door. Dinner will be in the cafeteria and dancing will be outside.

Now I’m sure that the number one thing students and parents are thinking about is whether we will have to wear masks. Yes, masks will be required for every HHS student attending the dance. Most students probably feel irritated by the mask mandate, but if everyone does a good job during the dance, it will help ensure we are able to have other events for students this year.

I wanted to go over a couple of points that students and parents are probably wondering about. The first is food. The food served at the Homecoming dance is still being decided, but it is usually a buffet where students can grab what they want when they want it and sit in the cafeteria to eat. Second is dates. You’re not allowed to bring people from other towns or schools, so most students go with a group of friends. Third is the dress code. Students should wear business casual clothing, which means gentlemen should wear slacks or khakis with a dress shirt or a blouse, and for ladies, the ideal attire would be a dress or skirt.

The Student Council and Senior Class officers have been planning Homecoming festivities since the summer and encourage students to take part. You only have so many opportunities in high school to meet people and get involved. As a freshman myself, something I like to keep in mind is to get involved because I only have four years of high school, and if I miss out on opportunities I know I cannot get them back. The same goes for any other student at HHS. 

Featured Picture: Homecoming Court 2019

By Callia Gilligan, ’22

Staff Writer

You’ve seen him in the hallways and you’ve heard him on the morning announcements talking about “Mission Monday.” From the first email he sent this summer, everyone has been dying to know more about our new principal Mr. Mattos and his plans for Hanover High School. 

Matthew Mattos joins us from Taunton High School, where he served as principal for 16 years. He is enthusiastic about being a part of the HHS community, which he affectionately calls Hawk Nation. 

Born on Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, where his father was stationed, Mr. Mattos graduated from UMass Amherst and earned his master’s degree from Providence College and took Ph.D. classes from Lesley University. He initially majored in journalism, but switched to social studies when he decided he wanted to become a teacher. He was inspired by working with teenage campers during his summers of high school and college. The camp experience was full of energy and engagement, which he tried to carry into his career as an educator. “When I became a teacher, I tried to incorporate a lot of those lively, enthusiastic and energetic lessons,” he said.

While Mr. Mattos eventually became a principal so he could have a greater impact on the student population, it’s evident that this energy and enthusiasm were not left behind in his classroom. He’s committed to making the school environment a positive one and is excited to contribute to a better education for each student. “I like knowing that when people get out of their cars or off the bus, that they’re in a good mood,” he said, “because you need to be in a good mood to elicit proper learning.” 

Mr. Mattos not only values the education of a student but wants them to be an active participant in it. He smiles as he remembers his own teacher, Mr. Phenix, who kept the classroom conversational and encouraged the students to stay engaged. Mr. Phenix was “just a nice dude,” he recalled. “He was very relatable, he was very rational and he involved the students.” 

Mr. Mattos also cares deeply for his students as individuals. He said that his favorite part of the day is standing out in front of the building and greeting every student. “The students are so nice. They’re so friendly and polite. I love being a part of it and I look forward to being a part of it in the future,” he said.

In fact, one thing he misses about being a teacher is getting to know every student personally. “I strongly believe that every student should feel comfortable inside the building,” he said. “They should be embraced by the Hanover High community for the individuals that they are.” 

Our individual personalities are what make up the Hawk Nation, Mr. Mattos said. While this new term for our school population, and the big banner in the office, have been met with some curiosity, Mr. Mattos says school spirit and involvement are vital for a successful student. He jokes about how often he says that “a connected student is a better student.” When students find enrichment outside of their academics, he explains, it enhances their involvement and their love for the school, contributing to a better overall environment. This can look like anything from being involved in clubs or sports teams to attending art shows or performing in concerts. 

“If a student embraces the Hawk Nation and the Blue and Gold, and the pride that comes from being a contributing student to the building, it just elevates your mood and makes you feel like you’re involved and connected and you’re a part of something,” he said.

This sense of community is a way to derive purpose from coming to school every day which can feel tedious, repetitive, and absolutely boring at times. In an even greater sense, Mr. Mattos said, academics and involvement lead to the true purpose of high school, discovering yourself. 

“High school to me,” he said “is where the child finds themselves” and begins to become “an adult and a citizen.” It’s a chance for students to say “This is the person who I now want to be.” 

Mr. Mattos and his wife, Sheri, a third grade teacher, have two daughters who are teachers as well: Jillian and Samantha. They also have a granddaughter named Averie. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, vacationing and sitting around the backyard firepit with his family – even in the winter.

By Adrian Nickerson, ‘25

Staff Writer

Do you like science, technology, engineering and math? Do you dream of someday working in the STEM fields? Or are you like many students, unsure of what you want to do after high school?

Then you should check out the speaker series organized by HHS senior Isma Saleem! Thanks to Isma, we will have guests come in during the day to talk about STEM and other careers about once a month. Administration calls these presentations “in-school field trips.” Teachers can bring down their classes or students can request a permission slip from the main office so they can attend.

Isma came up with the idea for the speaker series last year. “Coming into high school, I stressed a lot about not knowing what I was going to do in the future,” she said. “I didn’t like the lack of security I felt from that.”  After taking Internship class at HHS and talking to others about different careers, Isma had an idea. She approached Mr. Plummer, the HHS Curriculum Director, about organizing speakers she hoped would help others figure out their future plans.

The first presentation was Oct. 1 and featured folks from the medical field, including nurses and acute trauma surgeons. 

One of the guests was Patrica Smith, the Director of Health Services for Hanover Public Schools and a registered nurse. As a nurse, she did great things like working on the cardiac surgery floor. She was also a school nurse before becoming director for the district. She talked about what it has been like since COVID-19 emerged locally in March 2020. She also explained the test and stay program, where students considered close contacts to someone with COVID-19 are tested at school each day instead of sent home for long quarantines. Some advice she had for anyone thinking of becoming a nurse was to work hard, and strive to work even harder.

Another speaker was Dr. Gustavo Bauza, an acute care surgeon who focused on trauma, emergency and critical care. He said his job requires teamwork and a desire to serve your community. No two days are ever the same, he added. If you want to pursue this career, work will become your life. You may miss holidays and family events, he cautioned, so in order to be happy in this profession, you’ll have to really enjoy doing it.  

The next presentation will be Nov. 10 and feature speakers from the computer science and Internet technology industries. If you’re interested, talk to your teacher about bringing your class or, when the date is closer, stop by the main office for a permission slip.