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Saying goodbye: Mr. Sheehan's retirement
Saying goodbye: Mr. Sheehan's retirement
By Sydney Geist; Published October 10, 2024
Mr. Sheehan, BHS assistant principal, will be retiring at the end of the year after working at our school for over 20 years. In this article, Ms. Northrops and Mr. Sheehan himself will talk about it.
Mr. Sheehan has worked at BHS for exactly 24 years, so many students and families know him from that.
Being at a school for so long can cause very strong bonds, and he has most likely learned how to form them. Before working at BHS, Mr. Sheehan worked at another high school for a couple of years, so he’s been working with students for most of his career.
“You make relationships with people and then something changes and there’s definitely going to be a void,” Mr. Sheehan, assistant principal at BHS, said. “Some of the seniors will graduate and go in one direction and I’ll be going in another direction, so there will probably be some emptiness as a result of that.”
Mr. Sheehan is known for his ability to forge relationships with students, staff, and families. Creating relationships with everyone in the building is important. Furthermore, while students' opinions are pretty easy to find out about his retirement, it was interesting to hear from himself and one of his co-workers.
“My favorite thing about working with Mr. Sheehan is his sense of humor,” Ms. Northrop, BHS assistant principal, said. “Every day he finds a way to make everyone smile and laugh.”
Retirement is a stage of one’s job that seems far until it comes. Many people are happy that they get to retire, while also knowing that they’ll miss that part of their lives. Commonly kids will hear adults in all forms of work say things about retiring to Florida or California, and it’s a big deal once it actually happens.
“I have some mixed emotions in that I never thought I would get to the stage of my career where I would talk about retirement,” Mr. Sheehan said. “You just put your head in the sand and just do your job. It’s definitely a phase of life you could say I’ve looked forward to.”
It is clear that Mr. Sheehan has enjoyed many aspects of his job throughout his time here, but especially the kids. You can find him attending all types of school events, and although that is his job, it seems as though he enjoys it.
“It’s going to come to an end and I won’t have students knocking on my door asking if they can have two minutes of my time.” Says Mr. Sheehan, “If you think about it, in 24 years, I’ve had 12 senior classes come through. So I’ve done 12 senior assemblies, I’ve done 12 sophomore assemblies. I’ve done junior assemblies. I’ve done 12 freshmen assemblies. But that’s over now. It’s kind of weird to say that it’s over. I would imagine it’s not going to hit me until next September rolls around and I’m not standing in an auditorium full of 250 seniors or juniors saying ‘hey guys, welcome back. Looking forward to a good school year. Maybe that’s when it will hit me like, oh, there’s that void of the daily routine I would have here. I enjoy my daily routine. I love it here.”
He has always spent his time around school helping students as much as he can, and we appreciate it. Many people all around the building will be sad to see him go, but he has improved the school while he’s been here.
ms. bonney, pop culture expert, animal lover and, newest teacher here at burlington
ms. bonney, pop culture expert, animal lover and, newest teacher here at burlington
Article and photograph by Greta Mitza; Published October 10, 2024
When walking through the English hall this year you might have seen a new name on one of the doors: Ms. Bonney.
Ms. Bonney is a teacher with an extensive past in teaching. When asking about her previous teaching experiences she stated that she has been teaching for the past fifteen years. She had previously spent most of her time at an alternative school that focused on teaching students with “social emotional needs’’ where she was the only English teacher. Although, last year she had been teaching at a middle school in Northbridge.
She said that something that is different from her past schools is the size of the student population and the school itself. Her past class sizes were a fraction of what she is currently teaching.
She has also noticed and appreciated the diversity and culture here at BHS. She was drawn here due to the school's focus on individual students' learning and interests which she believes is a key to success.
She is very excited about teaching this year. She said that she loves the sophomore curriculum. Storytelling is a big part of what she is going to be teaching this year which is something different from what she has taught in the past.
When asking about her hobbies outside of school she mentioned her love for horses. She jokingly said, “I’m kind of a horse girl.”
She also loves pop culture, reading and going for walks with her dog Cora. She wants people to know that if anyone ever wants to chat about 90’s to 2000’s pop culture or sing some karaoke, her door is always open.
Mrs. Crossman, who is the head of the English department here at BHS, had some thoughts about Ms. Bonney. She stated that she is thrilled to have Ms. Bonney as a part of the team. She said, “She is off to a great start and is already making connections with her students.”
Mrs. Crossman also mentioned that she is excited about her past in “social emotional needs” and curriculum development which is something she thinks will be an amazing addition to the department. She feels that the English department as a whole has worked to welcome her.
“We’re a real friendly bunch,” Mrs. Crossman, head of the English department, said.
“Most of us really enjoy collaborating, we meet in grade level teams and often share ideas and resources” Mrs. Crossman said when asked about how the department as a whole has helped her adjust. Her closing remarks were that she is happy Ms. Bonney is here and feels that she will continue to be an excellent addition to the team.
Meet Ms. McDonough, New BHS history teacher
Meet Ms. McDonough, New BHS history teacher
By Sophia Fiorotti; published October 15, 2024
As the school year begins, students at Burlington high school are excited to welcome Ms. McDonough, a fresh face in the history department. Inspired by influential teachers from her own high school days, Ms. McDonough believes that education is about treating students as individuals rather than empty vessels.
“I want my classroom to be a place where students feel valued and understood,” she said, emphasizing on the importance of fostering an inclusive environment.
In her first few weeks of teaching, we had asked Ms. McDonough if she had a standout moment while exploring the causes of World War One with her students.
“I designed a lesson where students pretended to be from different countries and they had to make alliances,” she said. “It was made to be interactive, encouraging students to engage and share their thoughts.”
The discussions that unfolded not only sparked curiosity among the students but also reinforced her commitment to creating a collaborative learning environment.
Building relationships is key for Ms. McDonough, and she plans to achieve this by showing genuine interest in her students' lives outside the classroom since “asking about their day goes a long way.” Despite facing challenges during her student teaching in an underfunded district, she learned to adapt different teaching methods.
“It’s actually been helpful,” she said. “In the age of AI, you can’t use it if you’re just working with a pencil.”
With goals of helping her students become better writers and deepening their understanding of U.S. history, Ms. McDonough is determined to make a positive impact here at BHS.
Her advice to other new teachers? “Don’t be afraid to change your lesson plan halfway through”
Students Speak about the challeneges of managing school work and extracurricular activites
Students Speak about the challeneges of managing school work and extracurricular activites
Article and photo by Tayah Fulciniti; Published October 10, 2024
Students in the Burlington High School community often participate in after school sports and activities, but how do they manage the stress of balancing school work and extracurricular activities?
After talking to three members of the BHS community it became clear that each student had a different mechanism to manage their personal life with school. The ability for students between the ages of 14-18 to manage six hours of school alongside homework and extracurricular activities can be a struggle.
It is often students partake in more than one extracurricular activities and clubs as Burlington offers a wide range of clubs, sports, and activities. Talking to BHS student Cole Waisnor, he explained his after school life and what an afternoon may look like to him.
“Most weeks, I am active in my extracurriculars about 5-6 days a week,” Waisnor said. “Sometimes having more than one activity in a given day, I usually get home around 9:00-9:30 pm.”
Waisnor is an active student participating in many extracurricular activities resulting in late nights out and about while having to worry about the stress of homework. Waisnor’s late nights had also affected his sleep schedule as he stayed up late cramming in assignments.
“There were many nights, especially my sophomore year, where I would be up past midnight hammering out projects,” he said.
Often nights had been long and hammering as students cram to complete assignments late at night. However, with less sleep, motivation can occur.
“During school, I would say that I am even more motivated in school because I know that it may be difficult to have free time, so I try my best to leave school with as little work as possible.” Said Waisnor.
After losing hours of sleep Waisnor tries to complete work during school to prevent draining nights. The idea of worrying about sleep causes an increase in motivation due to not wanting to deal with the stress of staying up late.
Similarly, student Brianna Bogie expressed similar struggles of balancing multiple activities at once such as a job and dance.
“With a job directly after school about every day, which is when most students have sports, and then going to my sport immediately after until what most would call late hours it is very difficult to get quality work done as well as getting enough sleep,” she said.
Bogie is also an active member of the BHS community however participates in outside activities not associated with the school itself. It is common for students to get jobs around town but can result in extra stress. For many students crazy hours of work and activities can be frustrating and difficult to manage at times.
The hours of participation in multiple activities can be draining and can keep students up late. It is important for students to be productive and stick to a routine.
“I usually start my homework around 10:30 pm, after I eat dinner around 9:45 and decompress for a few minutes.” Said Bogie
Bogie gets an often late start to her homework due to her late nights at the dance studio. Late night meals and homework sessions can be draining, but it can be important to “decompress” to give students time to relief.
As a student it is important to take time for yourself and relax and do something you love. Doing something you love can help push through long nights and allow motivation to kick in.
“A way that I cope with my stress from managing my activities and schoolwork is actually doing my activity. Dancing is my form of expression and it is how I clear my head and get my emotions out.” Said Bogie.
Bogie expresses her way of coping is by taking time for herself by enjoying her activities. Dance is a way of expressing yourself through movement to let go of stress which is very helpful for Bogie.
Similarly student Hazel Yiu plays a sport associated with Burlington high school also resulting in long nights.
“On days I have games it varies from getting home at 7-9. This makes me have to sleep later in order to finish my work and studies and makes me more tired to learn in school,” Yiu said.
Yiu is on the Burlington volleyball team, where she participates in games and practices after school. When getting home from sports, Yiu prioritizes school work over sleep. Yiu tries to be productive at night which pushes her sleep schedule back causing a tired brain in school the next day.
“I don’t really have a way to cope with this stress of managing activities and school work, since I enjoy playing volleyball,” Yiu said.
Coping with stress isn’t an easy task, but Yiu focuses on doing what she loves more. The work ethic of managing two different activities can be challenging but what matters is that you're happy.
After speaking with members of the Burlington High School community, it became apparent that stress management is a big thing across the school through management of homework and activities.
The best way for students to manage their stress is by taking time for themselves to ensure mental health and happiness over stress. Students across the community find keeping a productive mindset and taking time to think helps manage their time more efficiently.
Bhs Assistant and Counseling Administration run the school
Bhs Assistant and Counseling Administration run the school
Article and photo by Olivia Bunten; Published on October 11, 2024
The administration here at Burlington High School helps the students and staff with whatever they need or want every school day consistently throughout the year. Many people may not realize how much work is required, from the women at the front desks of the counseling department and the main office to allow the school to run smoothly.
The main office in the BHS lobby is always bustling with people and business that needs to be taken care of. Mrs. Geist and Mrs. Johns are the administrative assistants in the office and are in charge of the majority of the attendance and student-related services. Both women have separate but equal responsibilities.
“Mrs. Johns and I have the same responsibilities for the most part, except that she supports Ms. Northrop and works with the Freshman and Juniors,” Mrs. Geist said.
Mrs. Geist’s job relates generally to any administrative support to Mr. Sheehan, one of the Associate Principal’s at BHS, or to the sophomores and seniors. She sends letters to parents or sets up meetings with Mr. Sheehan if a student's attendance or tardiness become an issue.
Along with dealing with attendance, Mrs. Geist also has many other tasks that she completes before, during, or after school is out of session. During the summer, she has responsibilities such as creating the rotation calendar and organizing the office.
The daily schedule of duties for the administrative assistants includes updating Aspen for absences or tardiness, checking in students for school, and calling parents who forget to call about absences.
“My school day starts out with writing the Daily Bulletin and sending it out to 1,000 plus students, parents, and teachers,” Mrs. Geist said.
Each associate principal or principal has an administrative assistant in the main office to help them with responsibilities for their assigned grade or daily jobs.
“My administrative assistant duties include general office help for students, teachers and parents which can often take up a good portion of some days,” Mrs. Boari, administrative assistant to Mr. Sullivan, said. “I organize many assemblies, and luncheons/breakfasts for the staff,”
Mrs. Boari, along with having tasks related to general office help or scheduling meetings and interviews, is also in charge of all the financial budgets for the school and for clubs.
She makes arrangements with O’Connor Studios for picture day, runs supply orders, and other things related to finance for the school.
The women in the counseling office front desks work the magic behind student enrollment, scholarships and transcripts. They handle all the information and work that goes into dealing with students changing schedules, to changing schools. All students are welcome in the counseling office for any of their needs
“Basically, whatever walks in the door, we have to take care of,” Mrs. Cavanaugh, registrar, said.
Students can also visit the counseling office if they ever need to have a meeting with anyone in that department, especially with their assigned counselor.
For Mrs. Cavanaugh, the “big thing” right now that they are working on in the counseling office is dual enrollment, a program that gets students Middlesex Community College credit.
Being the first people that students and faculty go to for help can have its ups and downs. There are 936 students here at BHS and an addition of lots of teachers, staff, and parents who go to the counseling or main office with needs.
“I was working alone in the office today and had a student who needed a door unlocked, a teacher who needed the copier fixed, and a parent calling my phone all at the same time,” Mrs. Geist said.
There are also thousands of duties that need to be completed by the administration before the end of day, so helping everyone can be challenging to do all at once.
“I try to prioritize which task needs to be done first, while also letting everyone know that I’ll help them as soon as possible,” Mrs. Geist said.
Despite the stress and overwhelming work that comes with working in the main or counseling office, there are still some ways that these women enjoy their jobs.
“It’s very fulfilling to have the right answer for someone, thus lessening their burden for that moment,” Mrs. Boari said.
These women also have a job that is centered around being a resource for both faculty and students, so they help anyone who has questions or concerns. The main office is widely considered the welcome center of BHS.
“I love working with students! One of my favorite things to do is help new students figure out their schedules, find their classes, and settle in at BHS,” Mrs. Geist said.
What Seniors Want In Colleges
What Seniors Want In Colleges
Article by Jason DeRosa; Photo by WOKANDAPIX via Unsplash
The fall season is usually when highschool seniors begin the college application process. Seniors have to decide where they want to go to college, apply for those colleges, and write their college essays, all in just a short timespan.
So what do seniors look for in a college when applying for colleges? The most common factors that seniors consider when deciding where to apply for college are Affordability, Student Life, and Academics.
A survey conducted by the company College Match Point stated that students that chose in-state schools did not have the same main factor as students who chose out of state schools. College Match Point stated that more than 50% of students who attended an in-state college said that financial stability, or affordability, was the most important factor that pushed them towards the college that they attended. The highest percentage of students who attended out of state schools valued the school’s reputation or academic quality more than anything else.
According to BHS counselor Ms. Murphy, the first thing that BHS students do when looking at a college is make sure that the college offers the major that they want to study.
“The major that they plan on studying,” Ms. Murphy said. “They want to go to a college that offers what they are going to study.”
Ms. Murphy also stated that Student life is an important factor that seniors consider when looking at a college.
“Student life also appears to be important [like] the size of the school and the amenities,” said Ms. Murphy.
An article on crossedsabers.org also stated that the first thing students look for is if a college looks for their major. This article also explained how the different aspects of student life are important to seniors.
One way that seniors care about how a college is academically is what majors and classes the college offers, as students often look for a college who offers or even has a good program in the major that they have chosen to study.
It seems that there is a consensus that student life is an important factor that seniors look for in a college that they want to apply to. Some things that students think makes a college have a good student life are the size of the school, the area that it is located in, its atmosphere, and the perks that the college offers.
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