China Trip Provides Students With Cultural Insight

 This April, 27 Mamaroneck High School juniors and seniors spent two weeks in China. After years of taking Chinese classes at the Hommocks and the high school, students got the chance to fully immerse themselves in the Chinese language and culture. The group traveled to four major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Xi’an. They visited multiple famous destinations, including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Terracotta Warriors. They bargained prices in Chinese markets and ate authentic Chinese cuisine.          

One MHS senior, Grant Tucker, describes the trip as the culmination of six years of taking Chinese. “I had a great time hanging out with my friends,” he said. “Staying with my host family was very rewarding and gave me multiple opportunities to use my Chinese skills. I had the chance to try some adventurous foods, such as pigeon soup, scorpion, and thousand day old eggs. I enjoyed getting to know Mamaroneck students that I wasn’t very close to before the trip.”

As well as visiting historical landmarks, students attended classes at Shanghai Experimental School, the sister school of MHS, and made friends with Chinese students. The group experienced the dynamic of a classroom in China and were taught about Chinese culture. Students learned about the art of Chinese calligraphy and tried it for themselves. They spent much of their time with their host families, building relationships and witnessing the everyday life of Chinese families. With their hosts, MHS students got to experience parts of China not on the official itinerary, including visits to the zoo where they got to see pandas, trips to amusement parks, and climbs up the Shanghai Tower. Students additionally had the opportunity to teach English classes at a rural primary school, putting their knowledge of both languages to the ultimate test.         

Michelle Liu, a Chinese teacher at MHS, stresses the importance of going to China and the impact it can have on a student’s knowledge of Chinese. “The language flows much more naturally. Some of them don’t even realize it.” Missing that much school can seem daunting to many, but Liu said that, “while some students struggle to get back on track after missing a week of school, the majority bounced back relatively quickly.” Battling jet lag and catching up on work may be a challenge, but the students felt that it was worth it. “Certainly an eye-opening experience,” says Liu.

Many MHS students eagerly wait for the China trip, which incentivizes many students to stay in the rigorous course rather than switching to another language. A sophomore Chinese student said, “I’m so looking forward to going to China. It’s a great opportunity and a highlight of the Chinese program.” This sentiment is shared by many. MHS students hope that regardless of the political climate, this trip to China remain a tradition to build friendships with people on the opposite side of the world.

By Abby Tucker 

2018-2019 at MHS: A Year in Review

The 2018- 2019 school year is surely a memorable one. With successes in sports, arts, science and humanities, many students had opportunities to showcase their talents. This school year began like any other—  a wave of freshmen, new cars in senior lot, and various changes regarding school policy. One change was the new midterms policy. After years of experimenting with different structures for mid-year exams, teachers and administration decided on a whole new approach. There was no set time for midterms. Teachers will now pick when to give exams as well as what material will be included, how long the tests will be, and whether to have one midterm in the middle of the year or several cumulative exams throughout the year.

MHS Honors First-Generation Students

While most seniors across the country and at MHS don the sweatshirts, school colors and in some cases, socks, of the college they have decided to attend after high school, for a select number of students, this day marks so much more.

For the first time this year, MHS “first-generation students,” students that will be the first in their immediate family to go to college, were honored at a special event in the Palmer Gym on May 1st. This event, organized by the head of the guidance department, Ms. Quackenbush, allowed 50 “first-gen” MHS students to celebrate this monumental day with their parents, teachers, and administrators.

Education a Controversial Topic in Upcoming Election

As this school year comes to a close, the 2020 elections are heating up. Over 20 Democrats and two Republicans have officially announced their candidacy. One main issue candidates are focusing on is college. According to Mark Huelsman, associate director of policy and research at Demos, “there is more consensus about the need to go big on college affordability than there has been in previous election cycles.” Under the topic of education, some of the most polarized topics the candidates will be debating are free college, student debt, and college affordability. Not all candidates have released their proposals, but some have expressed their stances on these issues.

President Donald Trump has not personally spoken on the issue of college loans and debt, but his policies show what he supports. The Department of Education under Betsy Devos proposed a plan that would reduce federal loan repayment programs to only two: a ten-year plan and an income-driven plan. Also, the DOE suggested capping the amount of money people can borrow from the federal government.

Valedictorian Roffman and Salutatorian Gonai Excel Musically and Academically

Graduating at the top of their class not only as academic leaders, but as leaders of the Mamaroneck Music Department, and leaders in the way they carry themselves and interact with the greater Mamaroneck community, Valedictorian Leah Roffman and Salutatorian Haruki Gonai have a lot to be proud of.

This year, over 20 MHS seniors culminated their high school careers with a GPA of 97 or above, making the competition between the school’s highest achieving students extremely tight. At the very head of this group, Roffman and Gonai not only managed to maintain their near-perfect GPAs but also took on highly rigorous course loads and a wide array of extra-curriculars during their time at Mamaroneck. 

A Look into the Class of 2019’s Future

 

 

Fire Devastates Local Businesses

On Wednesday, December 19th, just half a mile from Mamaroneck High School, Excelsior Cleaners in Mamaroneck was the victim of a recent fire. CVS Pharmacy, Cosi and neighboring stores remain closed and in critical condition as a result of the fire.

Debate Team, In Third Year, Succeeds at National Tournaments

The MHS Debate Team is a great opportunity for students to get involved in the school and learn valuable skills, while also making friends and connections. The team of over 25 committed members goes to competitions all over the U.S., debating government policy. The debate team has grown immensely over the past three years. They have traveled to Washington D.C, Atlanta, Georgia, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and many more areas of the country.

Rory Sheppard, ‘19, joined his sophomore year when the debate team was first created. He joined due to an interest in government policy and since has become president along with captain Susanna Weber, ‘19, and novice coordinator, Charlie Randall, ‘19. Rory expressed that his favorite part of the team is the trips the team goes on and discussing, as a team, how they can improve on their arguments. They work together to enhance their skills resulting in numerous awards and achievements.

Mrs. Porter Honored by Human Rights Commission

On January 13th, the Larchmont Mamaroneck Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Mamaroneck Public Schools and the Coalition for Undoing Racism through Education (CURE), hosted the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program. Every year, the Commission honors someone who they believe embodies the ideals of Dr. King and his legacy.

This year, the Commission awarded the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award to Mamaroneck High School’s Mrs. Shannon Turner-Porter. Mrs. Porter has been a member of the MHS Social Studies department for over 45 years. She has organized the MLK assembly at MHS for the past 30 years and is the advisor for the Multicultural Club, which hosts the event. She has been a supporter and a mentor to students of all backgrounds for decades, including Yasmine Arnwine ‘19, who wrote and delivered Mrs. Porter’s dedication.

Mamaroneck Schools Foundation Announces Grant Recipients

The Mamaroneck Schools Foundation (MSF) has recently announced the winners of its student grant initiative. The MSF board has divided its $10,000 grant fund between nine different organizations at Mamaroneck High School, with awards ranging from $600 to over $1,500.

Grants were awarded to the MHS Culinary Arts and Photography programs, Multicultural Club, Physics Club, Beekeeping Team, Calliope Literary and Art Magazine, Aeronautics and Rocketry Society (MARS), Community Outreach Through Lacrosse and a new theater program that will bring professional performing artists to MHS.

The grants will help fund the purchase of supplies and technology to be used by these organizations, as well as several out-of-classroom experiences that will be available to MHS students.

Funds will be used to construct a new photography studio for use by students inphotography classes at MHS, as well as to acquire new, adaptive kitchen equipment that will make the Culinary Arts elective more accessible to special needs students. They will also enable the Calliope Literary and Art Magazine, Mamaroneck’s oldest club, to purchase a new computer and software that can be used to enhance its production and publishing abilities.

One of Mamaroneck High School’s newest student-led organizations, the Physics Club, plans to begin competing annually in the U.S. Invitational Young Physicists Tournament (USIYPT), a national physics research and debate competition in which high school students work on projects including the development of a pneumatic tube mail system and the study of extraterrestrial rainbows. Not only will the club use its grant to purchase materials for the competition, but it also hopes to be able to host a one-day visit to MHS by USIYPT founder and president Greg Jacobs.

“We’re really excited to see what we can do with the grant,” said Physics Club president Tommy Wiesenberg. “Hopefully, it will allow us to create some really cool projects.”

The Multicultural Club intends to use its award to fund a collaboration between MHS students and the youth performing ensemble Epic Theater, which will include performances at Mamaroneck’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly, a student retreat during the winter vacation, and other settings throughout the community.

Another grant will be used to fund a series of Master classes at MHS led by professional performing artists and college professors, aimed at introducing students to the world of professional performing arts and providing them with tools and opportunities that they can use to further their future careers.

Other grants will be used by the Beekeeping Team to obtain new beehive monitoring equipment and beekeeping suits, as well as by MARS and Community Outreach Through Lacrosse to meet the clubs’ supply needs and enable more students to participate in their activities.

“I’m excited to apply this grant money towards improving STEM-based extracurriculars in our highschool,” said Leo Ferrisi ‘19, who received grants for both MARS and the Beekeeping Team. “As someone with a general passion for science, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to improve upon our projects and enjoy science!”

By Caleb Arzt

California Fires Rage On

Over the past few weeks, California has witnessed some of its worst wildfires in recent years. Although wildfires are a seasonal event across the state, this year’s fires have been especially destructive. The Camp Fire, which ravaged Northern California for much of  November, was the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state’s history.

Several other fires, including some in Southern California, have also been started and measures to eliminate them are underway. At the peak of the fires, over 250,000 people had to be evacuated, seeking refuge in emergency help centers and hotels. The fires spread over 150,000 acres, which made it difficult to bring in enough fire control specialists and firefighters from the get-go.

During the fires’ height in November, over 400 people were recorded as missing; at this point, 85 people have been confirmed dead and over 240 are still yet to be found. These are record numbers and a bleak but telling illustration of the harm the fire has caused.

On top of that, over 19,000 buildings have also been destroyed. These buildings are mostly homes, and processes for people finding new permanent shelters have barely begun. A large reason for this can be found in the fact that all gas and power distributors that were damaged need to be properly fixed before anyone can safely approach these neighborhoods.

Fortunately, as of November 25, the fires have been almost entirely contained, as firefighters have been working tirelessly in the areas affected for weeks. Also, thanks to the first signs of winter weather, 7 inches of rain recently hit many of the affected areas. Lasting for three days, these showers significantly assisted in putting out many of the fires.

By Rory Sheppard

Artists Paint Larchmont Murals

During the last week of October, spray painted murals will be created in Larchmont to celebrate the village’s vibrant, pioneer, abolitionist, and creative history. Hosted by Street Art for Mankind, six murals will be painted by prominent street artists to form a walk, which will be supplemented by an app called “Behind the Wall.” The walk will shed a positive light upon aspects of Larchmont’s history that many people may be unaware of.

The murals will be painted by talented street artists BTOY, Iljin, Jo Di Bona, Kathrina Rupit, Kinmx, Victor Ash and Loic Ercolessi Art. Street Art for Mankind is a non-profit organization “uniting prominent street artists from all around the world to raise awareness on child labor & trafficking.” The non-profit works with over 40 prominent street artists and major organizations to fight against child slavery through street art. Some of their most notable projects include the United Nations exhibit, the Miami Festival in Little River and FIAF in New York City. Street art classes and workshops are also offered.

The company raises money through donations, art sales and street art exhibitions, such as the one in Larchmont. All of the funds go to awareness child slavery campaigns, “especially the raid and rescue programs operated by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi and its KSCF Foundation.” To find out how to contribute to their cause, go to Street Art for Mankind’s website.

The event opens November 4th at 2pm, and will include speeches, music, and a chance to use the new app designed by these street artists. You won’t want to miss the incredible opportunity to experience this combination of art and technology, and a chance to learn about the rich history our town has to offer. If you can’t get enough, the following week, the same artists will begin working on projects in Manhattan.

Please see our Multimedia’s coverage of this event for an insider perspective!

By Julia Shapiro and Lindsey Randall

Ralph’s Reopens in Mamaroneck

This spring, Ralph’s Italian Ices and Ice Cream will be reopening in Mamaroneck. The village Zoning Board of Directors recently approved an application by owner Scott Rosenberg to open a new location on Mamaroneck Avenue, over a year after the popular dessert shop was forced to close over a zoning dispute with the village government.

Since its opening in May 2016, Ralph’s contended with zoning issues caused by the Building Department’s classification of the shop as ‘retail’ instead of ‘food’. When the village realized that it had made an error, it offered Rosenberg the opportunity to continue operating under a special permit. Last year, however, it determined that Ralph’s had not met the standards for such a permit and ordered it to close.

Rosenberg filed a lawsuit against the village shortly after closing, claiming that the village’s decision was “improperly and maliciously motivated.” He contended that modifications were made to the shop’s layout, including the areas where customers stand and the parking lot, in order to meet the requirements for the permit.

However, the case was ultimately dismissed and Ralph’s remained closed for over a year. Although Rosenberg has also opened another location in White Plains, he is glad to be able to return to Mamaroneck.

“Although I was unfairly treated before, I’m happy to put it behind us,” Rosenberg said.

The new location will be at 407 Mamaroneck Avenue, formerly the site of a Payless Shoe Source, and will include a small snack bar alongside the ice cream shop. The snack bar will be open year-round, and the ice cream shop—unlike its previous, seasonal iteration—may be as well.

By Caleb Arzt

Hurricanes Worsen Due to Climate Change

The United States is currently in the midst of 2018’s hurricane season and its climax is

approaching. Two major storms—hurricanes Michael and Florence—recently devastated the East coast and caused widespread, deadly flooding.

Over the last few years, many have begun to notice that such powerful hurricanes seem to be increasingly common. Scientists have warned for a long time that with the progression of climate change, we will see more catastrophic storms much more often, which have the ability to debilitate entire states and regions. Hurricane Irma of late 2017, for example, left Puerto Rico without electricity nor available food and these problems still persist.

Shakespeare: “To Be or Not to Be?”

The Bard is back! The newly dubbed Mamaroneck Shakespeare Troupe (MST) is the club that will be carrying the legacy of a 45 year old program. Some students had thought the program was shut down permanently after the discovery of a “scavenger hunt” list that the administration interpreted as hazing during the production of “As You Like It” in the Spring of last year.

Pep Rally 2.0: A Welcome Change

On October 4th, Mamaroneck High School hosted its first evening pep rally in three years. At the last nighttime pep rally, the girls’ tennis team dance was not deemed “school appropriate,” and Ms. Clain changed the rally to a daytime event. Alison Zerbib ‘19, the captain, said that “Because tennis had the reputation, the blame fell on them.” Sophia Psaila, the former captain, commented, “I don’t think it was right of the athletic department to punish all the teams for pep rally when it was tennis’ dance that was seen as the most inappropriate.”

Valedictorian Mancuso and Salutatorian Hilden: Two True Intellectuals

With 57 students with GPAs 95 and up and 6 students at 98 and up, the MHS Class of 2018 has an exceptional number of deserving graduates. But at the very top stand Rebecca Mancuso, this year’s valedictorian, and David Hilden, this year’s salutatorian. Each one has rounded off their MHS career with an outstanding academic record, an impressive lineup of extracurricular accomplishments, and a remarkable spirit of humility towards their peers.

Rebecca Mancuso lives in White Plains but was able to go to school in the district because her mother is a teacher at Chatsworth, where Mancuso went to elementary school. Her sister, Emily Mancuso, was salutatorian in 2013.

This year Mancuso was the co-president of the Chinese Club and the Quiz Bowl Club. She is also a lifelong Girl Scout. She took PACE for all of high school and played the viola in the the local St. Thomas Orchestra and the MHS Chamber Orchestra. For her senior internship she helped Ms. Rosen teach orchestra at Murray. Next year she will attend Temple University to study music education, and she intends to become a music teacher.

Mancuso’s APs this year were Physics C, BC Calculus, Literature, and European History, and last year she took AP U.S. History and Physics 1. She engages deeply in all her classes and does not lean towards any single academic area. “I find myself very interested in the topics that I am studying,” she told the Globe. Mancuso says that although she tries not to, she ends up spending most of her time studying so that she can feel she has mastered the material for every test. “She sits in the front of the room and she’s always on top of it, always answering all the questions, always helping her classmates,” said Ms. Valdez, the BC Calculus teacher. Valdez added, “I think she got a hundred on just about every test.”

Mrs. Groninger Named Hommocks Assistant Principal

Next year, Mrs. Groninger—an English teacher who has taught many classes including AP Language and 9th grade English—will be moving on to bigger and better things. Leaving many of her students with a mixture of shock and excitement, Mrs. Groninger has revealed that she will step in as the assistant principal of the Hommocks next year!

“We’re Here for the Students”: The End of Midterms

Principal Clain has announced that the 2018-2019 MHS midterm policy is changing drastically. After receiving backlash from the past year’s “summatives,” the Mamaroneck School Board decided to eliminate all midterms. Going forward, the teachers will decide how they test students at the end of the second semester.

Principal Clain hopes that teachers will think of “creative” ways to assess students. In an interview she questioned, “Why is our learning so disconnected? I am puzzled by this idea that we break things up into units.” With the new policy in place, she hopes that teachers will “build” upon previous units learned. For example, a test given in the third quarter may incorporate ideas learned in the first quarter into questions. As part of the new plan, the MHS administration has created a testing period of up to 12 days before the end of each quarter to reduce stress. This schedule will assign one or two subjects the ability to test per day.

Before the 2017-2018 school year, Mamaroneck High School stopped classes for one week of midterm testing. The week took days out of the school year and as a result did not meet New York State’s required number of school days for receiving state aid. The Mamaroneck School Board came up with “summatives” as a solution. Summatives lasted from the middle of December to the end of January in which there were several block days with 90 minute periods devoted to mid-year testing. After sending out a post-summative survey, Principal Clain said that the feedback received was “overwhelmingly negative for both teachers and students.” Many students reported that they crammed and felt even more stressed because they studied for the exams over the course of two months.

Most colleges and universities reserve a testing period for midterms, and many MHS students question if this new “no midterm” policy will prepare them for that. Others are skeptical of their teachers following Clain’s idea of “building” on material and instead sticking to their traditional ways of testing. Ms. Clain states that MHS is “here for the students” and hopes that this new plan will create a healthier and less stressful learning environment for the future.

By Lizzy Kaplan