September & October Issue

Photo Credit - Mrs. Donley

Clubs for a Wildcat

By Jada Jeter

Transitioning into a new school year is not always easy, especially for the new incoming Freshman. Though while everything and everyone is settling in, it’s important to encourage others to get involved with our MASH community, specifically EXTRACURRICULARS! Here are MASH we have something here for everyone to be a part of. Furthermore, extracurricular activities are very attractive on college applications and are also strongly encouraged by most college admission offices. As previously stated, give these clubs a chance because they're here to create a safe place for our students to further explore creative interests.

Below is a breakdown of many of MASH's clubs, but also keep you eyes open for announcements and flyers around school as well. In addition, check out the next article, which provides the bulk of MASH clubs.

Literature, Arts, & Performing Art Clubs:

Art Honor Society- NAHS is for high school students taking a visual arts class in grades 10-12. Students must be nominated by the current art teacher to become a member of this arts club. Organized by Mrs. Giblin lgiblin@mbgsd.org Ms. Klos lklos@mbgsd.org.

Fall/Spring Productions- Fall Drama Production auditions are open to all MASH students. Contact Mrs. Tyson-Osif catyson-osif@mbgsd.org or Mr. Wyatt Richard wrichard@mbgsd.org for more information on the upcoming auditions!

*Stage and Paint Crew Fall Play Stage and Paint Crew build and create sets.

Project LIT- A “national literacy movement led by a network of students who are committed to increasing access to culturally relevant books and promoting a love of reading in their schools and communities.” So if you have a love for reading, meet others who feel the same. Share book recommendations and read about thrilling topics. For extensive information email Mrs. Rosenberger erosenberger@masdstudent.org or Mrs. Donley tdonley@mbgsd.org.

Religious Clubs:

Muslim Student Association- This club is open to any and ALL students interested in discussing relations to Islam and for other muslim students to be able to make more social connections.

Social Clubs:

Overcome Together- is a student-led club focused on the establishment and protection of racial education. This club will be throughout the school year with a goal to spread awareness on injustices in our school community. Contact Mrs. Chow lchow@mbgsd.org if interested!

Active Clubs:

Indoor/ Outdoor Rock Climbing- “Experience the rapidly growing sport of rock climbing. Here you will have the opportunity to climb outside on real rocks throughout the year.” Email Mr. Pinos jpinos@mbgsd.org for details!

These are just a few of some of the more well known clubs at MASH; though there are so much more ( see the next article for more) to choose from. Check out the Mechanicsburg High School Website under the athletics and extracurriculars tab for Information on all clubs offered at the highschool. We hope to see you there, Go Wildcats!

Clubs for a Wildcat Cont.

By Athena Jones

It is true. MASH has many different clubs to offer for many different interests out there.

Due to the fact that you are currently reading this article, I would like to start with TORCH; this club is about writing and photography. You pick from many topics relating to the school and use your skills to share with others with the same skill se as you show off your writing skills to others and inform students about MASH activities.

In addition to The Torch, there is a similar ELA based club called project lit, which is a book club where you meet once a month and discuss a book that you had read. Students will enjoy eating snacks and talking about the book with their peers and advisors, Mrs.Donley and Mrs. Rosenberger, who are both English teachers. From personal experience, it is a very positive and friendly environment.

Aevidum is a club that focuses on students' well being and their mental health and building a better school environment as a whole. “We’ve got your back” is their motto and supporting each other is their main goal.

Next, Art Honor Society is a club for 10th to 12th graders that are nominated by their art teacher to discuss art and coordinate the paintings of the MASH spring theater. They do many other things like design the senior mural. Chess club, this is a very self explanatory club where you will use your advanced chess skills with others and compete in games to see who is the chess master.

Deutschklub is up next. This is a German culture club that delves into Germany's language, music, food, and culture. to join, you can be any ethnicity, not just German, and you do not have to be taking a German language course to join this fun educational club.

Another club is the fall play stage crew, which is available to all students that are creative and still want to participate in the play without being on the stage. During this club, you create the backdrops for the fall play and help out backstage.

Moving on, Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a club for hard working athletes that have a strong faith in Christianity. You can learn about their sport that they play and also discuss their faiths and beliefs in the religion.

Then there is French Honor Society; this fancy French club is about the study of French culture and creating enthusiasm for Francophone culture.

Next up is Diversey Club; this club is comprised of students of many different backgrounds who celebrate their differences and work on promoting the acceptance of students of all different backgrounds.

GSA is another club that's working on a more accepting and safe environment for all students to talk about their experiences no matter their background, gender, religion etc.

Improv is an acting club that performs plays throughout the MASH community and are drawn together by their love of acting and performance.

Yet another club is Project Launch, which gives people volunteer options that help build leadership skills and gives a safe space to share their ideas with supportive others.

ENGIN is a helpful club about the culture of Ukraine that helps other students that live in Ukraine learn English over zoom meetings.

Fiber arts club is filled with the therapeutic art of crochet and kitting; they work on various projects together and even donate some to others in need, like hats, gloves, scarfs, and other things to keep others warm in the winter.

The German National Honor Society is an academics club that promotes the language skills of these German learners and helps with the study of German literature and language.

Indoor guard is a color guard-like group that bands together to do performances epically inside and competes with other teams nationally and locally here in Mechanicsburg.

Another indoor club is Indoor percussion that is a drill performance group that competes with other percussion clubs locally and nationally.

A very similar club is the jazz ensemble club that is an auditioned group. They share their love of music and jazz together and a musical and nurturing environment.

Then there is marching band and outdoor guard; this is an instrumental group that performs a choreographed halftime show and competes in statewide band and guard competitions.

Model UN members talk about recent issues around the world and think of ways they can be solved; some examples are wars, conflicts, global warming, and thinking about life in other countries and how different it is to ours.

For those who are serious about their academics, The National Honor Society is a club that promotes leadership and service skills. The focus is on recognizing students who have displayed academic achievements and to promote their excellence in scholarship, service, leadership, and character. For students who want to join, they must have a 93.5% cumulative GPA and meet other requirements given to them.

PALS is a group that helps students with special needs meet new people and become active members in the community and overall just be a good friend to these students, within school and out of school activities.

Another club available to students is the Quiz Bowl, which prepares for and allows participants to compete in competitions answering academic, cultural and popular topics with a buzzer answering system to earn points to help them win.

The Spanish National Honor Society is available for eligible students that want to talk about and promote learning another language and doing service in the community. Being a part of this club allows you to apply for certain scholarships and even study abroad.

Speech and Debate club focuses on proper speaking strategies and techniques and participates in competitions where students can show off their talents in a wide variety of categories and topics.

Spring musical is a popular activity, but you must audition for the musical to perform on stage. Students sing, act, and dance in this musical, enjoying the stage lights and camaraderie of their fellow peers. If acting is not your thing, you can participate by building sets, helping with lighting and painting. In addition, if your prefer the business side of things, you can ramp up your skills and/or learn new ones as you assist with producing this musical; it is a great opportunity for a creative outlet, and you will be in charge of the financial accounting and behind the scenes happenings.

A well-known school club is Student Council. Here volunteers and elected students gives back to the local community and plan event for MASH; as a whole, student council is responsible for the MASH mini-thon and dances.

Technology Student Association is where students have opportunities with technology, design and engineering; students apply science and math to these projects and go to competitions to show off their talents.

TRI- M national Music Honor Society gives opportunity for musically talented students that are committed within the music community here at MASH.

The Wildcat Singers is a choir group that performs in the community with their beautiful voices; an audition is required to join and is open to students in all grades.

Finally, yearbook group designs the MASH yearbook with all its photos and designs, in this club you can also earn class credits.

MASH offers a plethora of opportunities to get involved. It is up to you though to take the steps to become a part of your school.

Photo Credit - Mr. Luttermoser

Photo Credit - Mrs. Heiser

Girls Volleyball fights to wear pink jerseys , support breast cancer awareness

By Macy Kiker

Traditionally, the girl’s volleyball team wears pink jerseys for their pink out game during October breast cancer awareness month. In the weeks approaching the volleyball team's pink out game to honor those, like their coach, in their battle against breast cancer, they received some shocking news. Due to an administrative issue that they were the only team with a third jersey, they were told that they were not allowed to wear their pink jerseys this year. The issue arose when last year the field hockey team was prohibited from wearing new jerseys bought by parents for their state championship game.

The volleyball team already had all of their jerseys from the previous year. Other arguments were made, such as the school did not buy these jerseys again this year, their own coach was a breast cancer survivor, and that pink jerseys have been a tradition for so long - so why stop now? After the conversation continued, they were told again no, and the administration was not going to budge easily.

The team knew if they wanted to see change they needed to take action, so they started a petition led by Sr.Tegan Valente. The petition was signed by 1,120 people in and out of our community. Comments were left by the hundred, saying things like, “I wish this school district would just use common sense, let people gather, join, support around those in our community that need it most.” Others shared comments like, “Stop being afraid to upset a couple people and just do what's right instead of nothing.”

This petition and these comments, along with many more, prompted the administration to hold a meeting with the leader of the volleyball team booster club, our athletic director and many others who had a stake in the decision. After some brief conversations within the meeting, the volleyball team was again allowed to wear their pink jerseys.

On October 9th, they held their pink out game. Both the student section and the parent stands were full. There was a memorial wall for survivors and current fighters of breast cancer, pink t-shirt sales, and many other ways to donate to the cause. After a close game, the 'Cats ended up losing to Lower Dauphin 1-3, but it was considered a win as they were able to wear their pink jerseys, raise awareness, and honor those and their battle with breast cancer.

How do student athletes deal with the pressure of performing well in school and in their activities?

By Althea McEnteer

Here at MASH, we have a considerably large amount of student athletes in our student body. Being a student athlete requires you to work hard in school, and work even harder out of school. The homework students receive is considerably much, even for the average student. However, most of these students have practice anywhere from 3 to 5 days a week. So how do these athletes stay on top of their game - on and off the field? When students of different sports and extracurricular activities were asked how long they spend doing homework, on average, a day, how they cope with their stress with school, and how they get their homework done when they have practice/games, their responses varied.

Based on a survey of different students, the average time spent on homework is 2 hours and 10 minutes per day. However, there are some outliers. So. Audrey Hunt, a member of MASH marching band, spends about 3 hours on homework a night and So. Liv Sprankle, a member of the MASH swim team, only spends about 30 minutes on homework. However, homework can still be hard, even if you have a small amount. They both have coping strategies and ways to help them finish their work on time. Audrey Hunt tries to get her homework done right after school, or getting done when she has time in class. This helps her to have a stress free evening and to have fun and relax at her marching band practice.

So. Penny Lemin, a member of the MASH marching bands, copes with the stress of her activities and getting her school work done by hanging out with her friends. But, maybe you don’t feel like hanging out with your friends, or you just don’t have the ability to. Try listening to music or watching a movie to wind down and relax after practice, like Liv Sprankle does! Some other great ideas include eating healthy/finding new recipes, taking walks to cool down, trying some new self care, taking breaks from your phone/social media, even just spending time with your family, or alone. If you have an animal in your life, spend time with it, take it on a walk if needed.

But how do you get your homework done? Hunt’s strategy with finishing it right when she gets home from school is a great idea. If you have study halls, or free time in classes, use that time to get any work you need done, done. While it can be hard, avoid procrastination. Procrastination only leads to staying up late and doing work, or even turning work in late. Some students use planners. In these planners, you can make a list of what you need to do and when it is due. These help to keep track of your work and to make sure you don’t forget anything. When you are on your way to practices or games, finish up work in your car or on the bus!

Even though schoolwork is difficult, take this advice from your fellow student athletes and try implementing it step by step in your daily life. Every student is different, but every student deserves to have healthy ways to deal with the stress and difficulties that come with being a student athlete. Working hard in and out of school pays off, and you will be so much better to yourself in the end. If you need more help, talk to your teachers, coach, or guidance counselor. They are there to help you and to make sure you can get your work done, because as much fun as sports are, school does come first. Always reach out to a trusted person, family or friend, and talk to them if you are feeling overwhelmed with your activities.

Photo Credit - Dawn Mongold

A view on the “Maroon Machine”

By Matthew Mongold

The Mechanicsburg Football games are considered the highlight of some people’s entire week. What this is attributed to, some say, is the atmosphere of the student section and their chants. Others say it’s the organized themes such as Paint Up and Pink Night, which support the fight against Breast Cancer. But what is under-looked at games is the Mechanicsburg Marching Band.

Led by and directed by Mr Goldsborough, the Marching Band (Sometimes referred to as the Maroon Machine) practices from June to November. Practices can go from only 3 hours to a little over 9 hours in one day. Not to mention competitions, which can leave the band out practicing and performing for over 13 hours in one day.

The most cardinal part of the band is the students. This year alone, the marching band has accumulated over 100 students ranging from 7th to 12th grade, each contributing a sound to the project, and creating a full sound to the production.

The show is titled “Rule The World,” and takes inspiration from pop songs such as "Take On Me" by Aha, as well as "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," by Tears for Fears. With 4 Movements and over 7 minutes of music, it depicts a fight between nature and industry, which is wonderfully illustrated by the uniforms, music, and props alike.

The marching band is just like any other sport and is very tightly wound together like a family. Even though the Marching band season will finish on November 10th, the music these students make arent going away anytime soon. Students from marching band will go into different programs, such as indoor percussion and jazz band, which both occur in winter. Indoor percussion is incredibly similar to the marching band, though only has the use of pit instruments such as marimbas, synths, and drum sets, as well as other percussion instruments, such as snare drums, bass drums, and quads.

So next time you watch a football game, maybe listen to some of the stand tunes. Songs such as "7 Nation Army" by the White Stripes and "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple are performed during the Football games and are played to hype crowds up during games. If you have any interest in joining the Band, ask Mr. Goldsborough, and don't be scared to ask questions about it!

Fall into autumn - teachers and students share their favorite fall traditions

By Kyle Moreno

- Overview -

As the leaves begin to change and the air cools down, some look back to the summer vacation, and others look ahead to the new fall season. From pumpkin carving to a meal with the family at the turn of Thanksgiving, plenty of activities keep you busy and in the spirit of autumn. Though some traditions are not like others, join us as we dive into student and teacher traditions, so get a sweater and a spooky mask, and get ready to soak up all the autumn goodness!

- Student Traditions -

The fall season brings a sense of warmth and excitement for students of MASH; for instance, a Freshman named Ben stated that he “Likes to take walks around the neighborhood during the nights of Halloween… in costume, of course!” A junior student interviewed says that they prefer to host a small Halloween party with close friends, games, snacks, and a few scary movies. Last weekend, many attended the Homecoming Football game and dance, and everyone seemed to have a great time taking photos and dancing with friends or dates. As for me, I love taking short strolls in Simpson Park; the cool breeze and fresh air make for a truly enjoyable experience. Fall is a magical time of year, and there's no better place to experience it than around the Mechanicsburg Area School District.

- Teacher Traditions -

Students are not the only ones who love to celebrate fall, many teachers do too! Some teachers who were asked about their Fall Traditions shared the following: Mr. Petrillo, who teaches science for MMS, likes to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family of 14! He also likes to watch the Cowboys with his dad on Thanksgiving. There was also Mrs. Heiser, an English teacher at MASH, who always starts the fall season by buying mums at her favorite farmers market and decorating her front porch with pumpkins, grasses, and corn stalks. A few more teachers include Mrs. Shay, who works as Special Ed at Shepherdstown and likes to give out trick-or-treat candy and doing Face Painting at the Fall Fest; next, there was Mrs. Bradley, the Administrator Assistant for Broad Street, who shares that some classrooms have a Fall Harvest Parties Complete with an apple crunch day and a visit from the “Apple Queen.” Finally, there was Mrs. Fesler, who works as Special Ed at MMS, who shared some information about some fall traditions that MMS does, such as the turkey trot, a run that takes place between 8/9th periods to win a frozen turkey, Rocktober, where each day when students behave and follow the cat's code, they can win tickets that are put into drawings, some are selected to win prizes from, supply items to gift cards.

Whether you are a student or a teacher, it seems like everyone at MASD celebrates the fall spirit in some special way, so have a spooky Halloween and a great rest of the year.

Photo Credit - Megan Maxwell

Green, Blue, Yellow, Red?

Which color folder represents which subject, and why?

By Charley Riley

This argument is as old as time. What colors do you use for your school subject folders, and which colors go with which subject? This has been debated for many years, especially with subjects like English and History. So, I was interested to find out what my peers thought, and if there were any colors that definitively match with a certain subject.

Back in around 2021, my good friend, So. Gavin Parsons sent out a google form asking the class of 2026 what colors they used for a wide variety of subjects (however, I will only be covering the four core classes), and gave me permission to look at the results and share them. There were 61 answers, and what I found was both not surprising at all, but also not what I expected.

To start, Math and Science were pretty clear cut. Math was either red or blue, which is what I expected, while Science was green. However, English and History had a wider range of answers, with purple of all colors winning out for both. Green was second place for History, blue for English. My best guesses for those two having purple as the winner are as follows. Purple is very much associated with royalty, which is important to History, and creativity, which is important for English. Personally, I agree with purple being used for History. I feel like other colors don’t match as well, especially because traditionally, the four colors used are red, blue, green, and yellow. History is usually defaulted to yellow, but purple fits it more. For the rest of the subjects, I believe Math to be red, English to be blue, and Science to be green.

This made me interested, ignited the thought: are there definitive answers for what colors should be used? After a little bit of digging, I found that all discussions/articles on the topic were opinionated, and were all subject to change. However, I did find that there are consistent answers that most people would agree on. For Math, most people use red. This is because red is commonly associated with anger, which is a core emotion in the Math community. For Science, it’s green. This is because of plants and biology, which are generally green. For History, it is yellow, because it is typically the last color left, and because old paper turns yellow after a certain amount of time. Finally, English is typically blue, as blue is associated with imagination and calmness, both of which are common thoughts for English.

What do you think? Is Math red or blue? Is History yellow or purple? Do you even care, or do you just randomly pick?

Photo Credit - Mrs. Heiser

Photo Credit - Mya Sheesley

MASH’s New Dress Code:

Was it Enough?

By Aryan Sai

With the new school year, a flurry of changes have come, including new principals, renovated parts of the building, and a change that a lot have enjoyed, the dress code. This change allows for hats and hoods to be worn in school. This has definitely helped out the school board; when asked about her view of the people in charge after the dress code change, So. Sohani Patel replied, “Yeah, definitely, since it’s not as strict.”

Patel isn’t alone, as out of the 9 students I interviewed, all of them said they liked the change. Jr. Lucas Welsh felt indifferent about the change, as he thought it wasn’t that big of a change, saying “I personally don't know much about the dress code, and I'm happy with the way it is, but I can understand why some others would still be upset.”

Another question that has risen from this change is if it was enough. For one, a So. Smrity Gautam thinks that it wasn’t, expressing, “I feel like they should change the girls dress code. They said no showing certain stuff, while boys can wear whatever they want. And I don’t think it’s fair; I feel like it should be equal.” This represents the sentiment of most girls as shown in the chart below.

In addition, Torch staff member Fr. Alana McGuffin shared, "I feel the dress code is okay, but it could be a little bit more strict because I still see some of the young ladies wearing inappropriate clothes and short shorts, where you can see their private body parts. I also see some of the young men wearing slippers and slides. Not only that, I see some young ladies and men/boys wearing hoodies with their airpods in their ear, and the teacher doesn’t notice. Plus, I see boys walking around with their pants down, and I also see boys wearing pants that look big and long on them.

So whether you agree with the changes or not, the leniency in the new dress code is evident everywhere you look and evidentially, here to stay.

Best places to visit during Halloween

By Malaika Ahmed

It is finally the time of the year where the pumpkins and spooky costumes are being brought out! Halloween is a much loved holiday filled with scares, creativity, and most importantly sweet treats. You may be wondering what fun activities there are to visit this Halloween, and don’t worry there are plenty of them just around the corner!

The sweetest place on Earth has just turned into a haunted experience for this year’s spooky season. Hersheypark is holding their Dark Nights immersive haunt experience for the second year, from September 15 through October 29. Visit Hersheypark for the day and after 6 pm, watch as the darkness looms over the amusement park. Included in this experience are five haunted houses, Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir, Creatures Uncaged, Twisted Carnveil, Haunted Coal Mine: Curse Of The Tommyknockers, and The Descent: Catacombs Of Decay. The park will transform into three Scare Zones which will have different themed characters roaming the park, interacting with guests. During this time, some of the most beloved roller coasters will be even more thrilling when the lights go dark for the last few hours of operation. You can also try the new elevated food and beverage scene with more than 55 scary good treats and spell-binding drinks.

Just because it is Halloween, doesn’t mean you have to go to scary places. If you are looking for a more friendly activity to do this fall, visit Paulus Farm Market right here in Mechanicsburg. The farm is open 7 days a week, from 9 am to 6 pm. Admission includes many things like a corn maze, colossal corn tent, music garden, hayrides, and many more. While you are there, you can go to the pumpkin patch and get to carve your own pumpkin. Bring friends and family and get to hang out with the cute farm animals like goats, rabbits, turkeys, donkeys, and ducks! Also, there are many great spots at the farm to take great fall photos for your social media.

If you are near the Harrisburg area, visit the annual outdoor Halloween craft and vendor show. This event is for people of ages and interests. During this event, there will be over 50 unique shopping vendors to ensure you get everything on your list. Kids can show up in their costumes and participate in trick or treating while the adults shop around. If you do show up in your costume, make sure to enter into the many costume contests. All this is taking place on Saturday, October 28, from 9 am to 2 pm. Not only is the parking and admission free but there are food trucks, free activities for kids, and so much more! This event is hosted by Utterly Simple Events and if you enjoy going, make sure to check out there many other events hosted throughout the year.

This year’s Halloween does not need to be boring because there are many great places to visit just a couple minutes away from you. There are places for everybody with any interests so everyone gets to participate in the fall fun. Let us know what spooky places you visit this year!

Photo credit - Patrick Grill

Photo credit - Keely Brown

The Student Council Presents: Old Hollywood

By Keely Brown

Homecoming is defined as “a way for students to come together and show their support for their school and their community” and here at Mechanicsburg we definitely do this. Throughout the week of homecoming, events like the pep rally and a football game create excitement and enthusiasm. The Student Council released a survey for the students to take, to find the desired homecoming theme for this year. The options were Barbie, Old Hollywood, and disco. After many votes from the students, the chosen theme for the 2023 homecoming events were Old Hollywood. This built excitement and school spirit.

There were four spirit days the week of October 2nd. Monday was red carpet day, which also happened to be picture day for the high school. Tuesday was “No Paparazzi, Please!” where students could wear pajamas to school. Then Wednesday was stunt double day, where friends could twin with each other. Finally, Thursday was class color day for the students, where each grade would wear a different color.

Thursday during IE, the student council led a pep rally for all students. This pep rally introduced all the different fall sport teams competing , so fellow classmates could cheer them on. Along with all the sports teams, the Maroon Machine and chorus. To keep the audience on its toes, there were games for the students and teachers to compete in. To end the pep rally, the Homecoming Queen and King candidates were officially introduced to the student body. Greta Hostler, Courtney Foose, Sarah Meyers, Madison Stare, and Teagan Valente were the Queen candidates. The King candidates were Calvin Cavada, Ryan Klemick, Jeffrey Lougee, Henry Notarfrancesco, and Benjamin Wenger. Excitement was building to find out which candidates would win Queen and King at the game.

The 2023 homecoming football game was against Shippensburg. The students made sure to show their spirit by wearing pink marking the beginning of breast cancer awareness month. At half time, the Homecoming King and Queen were announced. The candidates walked onto the field, as one of their parents escorted them. After introductions, the announcer announced Ryan Klemich and Greta Hostler as the Homecoming King and Queen. After a very close game, the final score ended up being Shippensburg 14 and Mechanicsburg 7.

On Saturday, October 8, the Homecoming dance was held in the gymnasium from 7 pm to 10 pm. As the night began, the students lined up outside the main entrance awaiting for the dance with anticipation and excitement. Once the doors opened, the students walked on the red carpet on the way to the gymnasium. Some fun decor from Student Council included a Hollywood sign as well as paper paparazzi with many more aspects of old hollywood. At the dance, the students crowded near the Dj where they enjoyed dancing and singing their hearts out.

Overall the student body seemed to have a spectacular night full of fun and memories. Jr Natalie Forsythe expressed, “I had a blast at the dance! I enjoyed dancing and singing to the music. I also loved how they incorporated the theme into the dance.” Along with Natalie, I think that a lot of the student body felt the same, as they danced the night away. It was a great week to be a Wildcat.

Commons? More like un-common

By Alevia Durham

Welcome back to a new school year at MASH! Now let’s get down to business.

With the start of a new school year, the Commons area and the Library have been opened up for students to use during their study hall periods. Both the Library and the Commons spaces allow students to do their work, socialize, and improve their studies. The Library provides quiet as well as community spaces for students to use as they choose. Meanwhile, the Commons is a space meant more for interacting with friends than getting work done. No problem; only there is one problem.

Why are the Commons only allowed to be used by 11th and 12th graders?

While the MASH Library is available to all students, the Commons area near the cafeteria is only to be utilized by upperclassmen. Are there reasons other than the amount of people allowed in one space or earning the privilege?

So. Avery Davies explained her reasoning for why 10th graders should be allowed to use the Commons.

“I think that it was a privilege that was given to [the current 11th graders] last year and the year before,” Davies said, “and I think it’s only fair that if they were allowed to do it, then we should be too.”

But what about the capacity of people allowed in the space? There are only a certain number of tables and benches in the open area; what happens when they’re full and we still have sophomores wanting to come down and socialize?

“Even if they do it in a smaller amount, because I agree, upperclassmen should get first dibs, they should do something like the Library where there’s only six students that are allowed to go down that are tenth graders. I think that would be fair,” explained Davies.

But what about the 11th graders? We can’t forget about their side of the story too.

“I think 10th graders should not be allowed in the Commons because there’s not enough space for all of the juniors that want to go down and all of the sophomores that want to go down,” said Jr. Maddison Bitz, an 11th grader who uses the Commons from time to time. “And most juniors should have the right to go down before all of the sophomores do because seniors get Senior Alternative and juniors should get that special privilege.”

Indeed, it is a privilege to be allowed in the Commons, just like it is a privilege to be in the library. So, what can be done about it? There’s always the option of allowing the 11th and 12th graders to keep their ground in the Commons but not allow them into the library, as it becomes a space for only 10th and 9th graders.

As a new assistant principal at MASH, when asked about the privilege of going into the Commons during study halls, Mrs. Roberts had no knowledge of any policy preventing the 10th graders from being in the Commons during their study hall periods. Therefore, two more questions that can be asked are: Where did this rule come from in the first place, and why can’t sophomores use the community area as well?

To sum it up, both sides of the story are convincing and put up a good argument. 10th graders should not be allowed in the commons because it is a space for upperclassmen, they’ll take up too much of the space, and they haven't yet earned the privilege. Alternatively, sophomores were allowed in the commons during study halls in previous years, meaning that they should be allowed to occupy the space now and have earned the privilege.

Which side are you on?

Photo credit - Alevia Durham

Photo credit - Mr. Reidy

New assistant principal: Ms. Mefford

By Emma Farro

This year the MASH family has been growing with the addition of a new assistant principal, Ms. Mefford. She brings her own unique experiences and skill set to our school and we as the student body are excited to see what she is capable of.

Ms. Mefford worked in the Northern York County School District for many years as a teacher and at West York Area School District as an assistant principal. She studied business, marketing, and psychology at Toledo University near the city where she grew up, as well as Elementary Education at Penn State. She is now pursuing a Doctorate in Academic Leadership.

“If I am not working on things for MASH or my Doctorate, I am spending time with my amazing family. I also LOVE to travel and relish a good nap,” Ms. Mefford comments.

She is very involved in the goings-on at MASH and she is excited to build new relationships with teachers and students. “The whole atmosphere makes MASH so different from the other schools I have been at! Even though we have a large student body, we have the small community feeling.”

Ms. Mefford cares deeply about making an impact on every student that enters the building each day. As a principal she has an opportunity to interact with more than just a few kids in a classroom, but with the entire student body. She says that “helping others to truly build capacity within themselves to reach beyond what they thought was possible is what drew me to be a principal.”

Although she has had many jobs in the education field and studied numerous other things, Ms. Mefford has always been fascinated by the difference between right and wrong, and how it can change from person to person. “If I were to choose a second career, I would definitely be an attorney!” she said.

She is honored to become a wildcat this year and is excited to be a part of a school community that cares for one another.

“The leadership team truly wants what is best for ALL students and empowers teachers and building administration to do what is best for them. That is not the case everywhere! I wanted to be in a community that values education and is looking to offer opportunities for students beyond the classroom walls.”

Ms. Mefford has been able to observe many high schoolers over the years and what disappoints her most is when people miss out on opportunities because of fear. “Try the things you have never done before but always wanted to. High School goes by so fast and before you know it, you will be looking back and thinking ‘I wish I would have tried out for that play, or I should have tried out for that team.’ Now is the time to find out what you really like and what you don't.”

Ms. Mefford is proud to be a part of the MASH team and is committed to making our school a better place. We wish her luck and welcome her to our administration.

New Teachers at MASH Part 1

By Chelsea Guan

MASH will be hitting the two-month mark of the start of the 2023-2024 school year soon and this year, not only are there new students in the building, notably the freshmen of course, but also new teachers and staff. Below will be introductions to some of the new teachers joining the MASH community this year!

Ms. Moyer teaches Spanish II and Spanish III this year at MASH. When asked about how she feels teaching at MASH so far, she responded, saying, “It’s been wonderful! Very busy, as there’s lots of new things to learn, but well worth the hard work!” She also talks about how the students in her class are all very “motivated and eager to practice their Spanish…” A piece of advice she has to give to her students is, “Taking the opportunity to learn another language is challenging but extremely rewarding. Don’t give up!” She further mentions that if students ever need anything, teachers will be there to help. Her advice can be applied to all students, especially if you’re taking world language classes. Outside of school, Miss Moyer enjoys reading, thrift shopping, and trying new coffee shops. She highly recommends Corner Coffeehouse.

Mr. Murry currently teaches two classes of Level 2 English to juniors and one class of English 9 Level 2. He comments that it’s been great teaching at MASH and he “...loved getting to know all of [his] students and all of the other teachers in the building.” He also talks about how he can see how great of a community MASH is through the students and staff. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, listening to music, playing board games and Dungeons and Dragons, as well as telling stories. Isn’t it shocking that an English teacher loves to read? To his students he says, “Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you have a question on an assignment or missed a day and feel like you are struggling to catch up, don’t hesitate to let me know either in class or virtually.” Mr. Murry is beyond delighted and excited to be joining the MASH faculty this year.

Mrs. Powery is a new ESL, or English as a Second Language teacher here at MASH this year. She used to teach Spanish for four years and although she’s “...getting used to teaching a new subject with new students,” she’s also found it exciting and is looking forward to getting to know the staff and students. She wants her students to “...know the importance of hard work and being patient with yourself.” She also said, “Learning a new language is hard, but [just like] with anything else, practice makes progress.” In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, trying out new restaurants with her family and friends, as well as cooking and baking.

Mr. Notario has both Career Development and Introduction to Business classes. He expressed that he’s enjoyed his time teaching at MASH so far and every staff member he’s met has been “...very welcoming and helpful.” Regarding his Introduction to Business classes, he talked about how it’s extremely helpful for students who may want to go down any kind of business field in the future. Career Development classes are important as they help prepare students for their graduation project, but also helps plan their lives after graduation. When not in school, Mr. Notario enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also loves traveling, experiencing new things, watching sports, and listening to music. In the summer, he likes going to the beach.

Mrs. Northey teaches reading (not the same thing as ELA!). When asked about her experience at MASH so far she said, “So far teaching at MASH has been an enjoyable experience. I’m enjoying getting to know what makes MASH so special.” Additionally, she hopes her students will be able to learn that they can do hard things and continue to preserve and improve despite facing difficulties. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids.

Last but not least, Ms. Motter teaches 10th Grade Biology. So far she’s “thoroughly enjoyed [her] teaching experience…at MASH.” She further mentions that her students have been very eager to learn and “…the other teachers have been very welcoming and helpful.” Overall, she notes that the whole MASH community is amazing. She comments that though her class is challenging and requires extra effort and time to understand material, she advises students to “keep up and [not] get left behind.” Since the “...material builds throughout the semester…when students fall behind it’s difficult to make up for what they missed as well as keep up with the new material that is being covered in class.” Ms. Motter likes to spend time with her family and friends outside of school and enjoys traveling when possible as well.

These are only a few of the new teachers at MASH this year, but hopefully if you have classes with them currently or will during the next semester, you’ve come to know them a little better. Big reminder that teachers are there to help you! Like many of them mentioned, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions when needed.

Photo credit - Ms. Moyer

Helpful tips for taking the PSAT/SAT

By Eliana Inch

The PSAT and SAT can be very stressful for students in high school. This test will help colleges to decide whether to give students scholarships, and also is under consideration when accepting or declining applications. Although there is a lot of pressure that comes with this test, there are some very helpful tips to hopefully allow students to feel more at ease and prepared.

Process of Elimination

When answering a question, begin by eliminating the answers that you know are incorrect. As you work through the possible options by the end, you may only have 1 or 2 answers that are viable. This gives you a higher chance of selecting the write solution.

Make a Guess

For each question on the PSAT/SAT, you have a 25% chance of getting it right; it is better to at least have every question bubbled in with a chance of getting in correctly than leaving some blank.

Don’t spend too much time on each question

I don’t mean you should rush through every question on the test, but if you come to a question you don’t know, try to eliminate as much as possible and fill in the most likely answer. You need to move from question to question rather quickly because of the time limit on the test, so don’t overthink your answer too much. Your first thought is the correct answer.

There are so many strategies to follow when taking a test, and ultimately it comes down to what works best for the test taker and the amount of time you put into studying and preparing for the question. It is important to remember to remain calm and trust your information.

Wildcats sports start the year strong

By Evelyn Hambright

Now that the colder months are approaching, so is the end of the fall sports season here at MASH. From the track to the court to the field, all of our teams have proudly sported their maroon and steel, so here is a recap of all of the successes, and struggles, of the season.

Boys and Girls Cross Country: On the track, both cross country teams have been running into challenges. Last year, many of the top runners were in the class of 2023, so filling in the gaps has been an adversity this year’s team has faced. The boys and girls teams started at Hershey, falling short 15-48 and 25-31 respectively. The next week, the teams faced off against Red Land, coming up short again, with the boys finishing at 26-33 and the girls at 20-43.

Field Hockey: On the turf, the pressure has been turned up for the girls field hockey team. Finishing last year as PIAA AA State Champions, the team has been faced with the challenge of keeping that title. The team has a 8-8 record so far, but they have bonded together as an effort to come out as champions once again. They have been victorious against Central York, Dover, East Pennsboro, State College, Red Land, Shippensburg, and Big Spring.

Football: Under the Friday -- and Thursday -- Night Lights, the varsity football team had some ups and downs, only winning three out of eight games thus far. Coached by Mr. Rose, the team started off with two losses, winning their first game against Red Land at home with a final score of 49-30. The Cats took that momentum into the next week, coming out on top in a nail-biter against Susquehanna Township 14-13. They struggled to recapture that winning magic again until this past game against Waynesborough where they won 35-31.

Golf: The golf team has been doing nothing but swinging for success. To finish off another solid season, Jr. Zach Rengen and Sr. Dillon Yinger both finished in the top four scorers for the Keystone Division, which earned them both an All-Star Award. Rengen and Yinger were also both automatically sent to Mid-Penns. Additionally, Jr. Luke Bencivenga and Jr. Dylan Andersen qualified for Mid-Penns. After tying for first place Mid-Penns, Rengen was sent to Districts where he earned himself a spot in States. Rengen finished second at States, bringing home some hardware for the Wildcats.

Boys and Girls Soccer: With only a few games left, the boys have a record of 7-8-1 while the girls have a record of 13-2-1. The girls have been blowing away the competition as they have ended games with up to eight goals. With seniors Gaby Eckroth, Mia Loran, and Alayna Willams leading the team, and wanting to reclaim the District title, the girls have stayed hungry and consistent. While the boys have faced a bit more adversity, they are looking forward to a strong finish to the 2023 season.

Girls Tennis: Only losing four matches this entire season, the girls tennis team has been on a roll. While regular-season competition has concluded, Sr. Helena Henderson, Jr. Taryn Zerby, and So. Ryma Saha have all advanced to Mid-Penns. Zerby finished second in Mid-Penn #1 Singles, and will be playing in the District Doubles finals.

Girls Volleyball: With just two games left in the regular season, the girls volleyball team has been dominating the competition, only falling short four times. Most recently, the team faced off at home against Shippensburg, beating them for the second time this season. Led by Sr. Courtney Foose, Sr. Greta Hostler, Sr. Sarah Myers, Sr. Makayla Scholsser, Sr. Emma Rizzuto, and Sr. Teagan Valente, the team has been nothing but positive and determined. Notably, Foose recently hit 1,000 assists. Additionally, after much fight, the team was able to play in pink jerseys for their annual pink-out game.

Photo credit- @GoMechanicsburg on Twitter

New school year, new me!

By Olivia Hopkins

As we all begin the new 2023-2024 school year, it’s a perfect time for a fresh start with academic, as well as personal, goals for the semester! As I’ve asked around, a few students at MASH have given insight into the goals they would like to set for themselves for this year. In addition to this, they have also been willing to provide advice to freshmen and their peers about things that they have learned throughout their time at MASH.

Sr. Andrew Stauffer reflected on his goals for the year. “One goal I’ve set for myself this year is to look for ways to help other students, specifically those who are younger than me. As a senior, I feel that it is my responsibility to do this, especially thinking back to how challenging parts of my younger high school days were.” A piece of advice that Stauffer gave to students who may need a bit of encouragement this semester is to “consider changing your mindset about school. I get it, sometimes school just stinks and you can’t stop thinking about all the things you’d rather be doing…” He goes on to say that it’s important not to take the opportunity you have to be at school for granted and that you will thank yourself later if you just live in the moment.

Sr. Teagan Boone discussed her personal goals for the year. “I am setting a goal to work on creating/writing more music, and getting it out there.” One piece of advice that Teagan would give to the current freshmen is to “take opportunities as they come by.” She adds, “Putting yourself out there is hard but worth it; It leads to so many valuable experiences and growth.”

Jr. Mariah Babski stated, “One academic goal I’m setting for myself this school year is to try to apply the things I learn in my classes into my everyday life.” In addition to this goal, she adds one more: “Another goal I have for myself is to stay on track with my work so that I can continue keeping great grades and take time out of school to do things I enjoy…” When prompted with the question about advising freshmen, she tells them to “remember that there’s always ups and downs and it’s different for everyone. Knowing how to bounce back from the downs and celebrating the ups is something that can keep you going…” She also states that it’s important to ask for help from teachers or peers. Lastly, she tells freshmen to “distinguish a separation between school and home life. Don’t let school become your whole life that you have to shape everything around…that’s how you don’t enjoy what’s going on around you… instead… be sure to give yourself either breaks or ample time to relax as well.”

When asking So. Daniel Wenger about his goals for the semester, he responded, “I want to get all of my work done on time and not procrastinate.” He continues with, “I also want to be bolder in my choices and to be less self-conscious about myself in general.” One piece of advice that Wenger would give to his peers is to “make sure to build positive relationships with everyone and be kind. Also, don’t wait until the last moment to do anything and use free time effectively.” When prompted with the question about his goals for the semester, So. Evan Rynex states “An academic goal I have for myself this year is to have work turned in timely and accurately and also to be able to have good grades this year.” One piece of advice that Rynex would give to his peers is, “Don’t be afraid to ask teachers or students in other grades for help. 9 out of 10 times they will be willing to help you, especially if you need a little extra tutoring.”

Fr. Alex Earley had a few goals herself. What she shares is that her goals include “getting A’s and possibly B’s for every class,” as well as “trying hard to not let myself fall short when it comes to my fullest potential.” She also adds that she wants to work on, “Becoming more independent and doing more things on [her] own.” Some advice that Alex would give to her peers is to “try your hardest and do your best; don’t be discouraged when you can’t do what everyone expects of you… Set reasonable goals for yourself, and try your hardest to fulfill them.” While talking with one other freshman about their goals, they answered, “Goals for this school year are getting A’s in all my classes, meeting a lot of different people, and participating in a sport or activity such as basketball, baseball, or musical.” When offering advice to their peers, they stated, “I’d tell them that school has its ups and downs and just to fight through it even when it gets tough, because, in the end, the hard work will pay off; even if it’s hard to see the benefits of working hard now.”

All of these students encourage you to give your best efforts this semester! Try to set realistic goals that will challenge you, and never be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers want to see you succeed! You can do this MASH!

Kat's Guide: Pizza Tower

By Kat Hausauer-Morgan

Hey Y’all. Kat Here! Welcome to a Kat’s Guide, a column meant to review and recommend video games for people to play. Most of these games will vary wildly, so expect there to be very little overlap in what types of games I will recommend. The only thing that ties these games together is the fact I have played all of them.

Starting off with a game that has taken over a lot of my life, we have Pizza Tower!

Pizza Tower is a 2D platformer made by the indie studio Tour de Pizza. You play as Peppino Spaghetti, an Italian chef who runs a pizza place called Peppino’s Pizza.

Pizza Tower is a game that looks simpler to watch than it is to play. It’s even harder to describe how it plays.

Peppino’s moveset is similar to that of a traditional platformer, like Mario, or more accurately, Warioland-- a game Pizza Tower is heavily inspired by. He has a jump, the ability to crouch, the ability to grab, and the ability to run at mach 3! Peppino’s moveset encourages a lot more speed than it does precision. While there are times precision platforming is necessary, they’re often replaced by rooms where the precision is maintaining your speed rather than actual platforming. Peppino also has a lot of moves that you learn for yourself, like the uppercut, the ability to stop your momentum on a dime, and the shoulder bash. Peppino is a super polished playable character. All of his movement feels clean and polished. There’s almost no time where you do not know where Peppino is going to end up or where he’s going to go.

To match his amazing gameplay, all the levels feel amazing to play and all have their own gimmicks which make all feel unique. Even the bad levels still have a few good parts to them.

Also, the soundtrack is absolutely amazing! I’m a video game nerd but I’m also a music nerd at heart! If you want any examples, look at Unexpectancy Parts 2 and 3, There’s a Bone in my Spaghetti!, Celsius Troubles (and it’s calmer version Don’t Preheat Your Oven Because If You Do The Song Won’t Play), ALL the Secret themes, The Death I Deservioli, and It’s Pizza Time!

About the phrase “It’s Pizza Time!”, It’s what’s seen at the end of all the levels*. After breaking down Pillar John, Pizza Time starts, and your goal goes from “Have Fun!” to “GET OUT!” When Pizza Time starts, you immediately have to run all the way back to the entrance of the level to escape. You are also now on a timer! The game encourages you to get out quickly because if you don’t, Pizzahead wakes up. While it isn’t an instant loss*, it makes the level a whole lot harder since now you have an instakill threat that ends the run the second he touches you.

Regarding death in this game,-- while you will be blasting through enemies, Peppino himself can only lose when Pizzaface catches him*, and any hits he takes that aren't Pizzaface will only lower his score. His score determines his rank at the end of the level. The ranks include D, C, B, A, S, and P.

D-S are simple to understand, you just have to get a certain score. P-rank is difficult to explain.

P stands for Pure Perfect**, and in order to get it, you must meet the following achievements, which I will describe in further detail below:

You need to get EVERY secret eye. Secret eyes are placed in hidden places usually hinted at with an eye icon, The first level will make it very clear while the later levels will hide them a lot. However, they can also require you to notice odd things in the environment. Whatever it is, you don’t just have to find them, you also have to complete the challenge within them. These usually reference a gimmick in the level or general skill you need to learn. These award a high amount of points.
You need to get the amount of points you need for an S-Rank. This varies with each level but they are decently lenient at the start of the game and become very strict near the end of the game.
You must get the secret treasure. Now as for how you get them, it requires you to find two different things. The first thing you need to find is Gerome. As BumbleMcFumbles says, “He’s the Janitor, and he probably hates me.” Gerome is often hidden in levels behind breakable walls meant to blend in with the main level textures. Once you find him, you have to find his door. This is often hidden off screen or behind hidden breakable walls as well. Once you open the door, you can go in and get the treasure, which gives a lot of points. However, this being out of the way most of the time means that the last condition is at risk when you get it.
You need to have a combo from the very start of the level, to the very END. This is way harder than it sounds. Your combo lasts for 6.5 seconds and the time resets any time you kill an enemy or collect enough points. Now you can see how the secret treasure affects it. You have to get back to the main path after collecting a treasure and refill your combo timer so you don’t lose your P-rank. This also makes secrets harder as well, since you need to also get to and do the secret without losing your combo.

Oh and let’s not forget:

LAP 2, After getting to the end after starting Pizza Time, there is usually a place where a pizza portal spawns. Entering this portal causes LAP 2 to start. This makes you have to do the entire escape sequence again. You get no extra time either***. In order to get a P-Rank, you must do Lap 2 and keep your combo while on the return trip.

IF EVEN ONE OF THESE IS NOT DONE, YOU ARE NOT GETTING A P-RANK.

Luckily, boss fights just require you to collect all of the health pickups that spawn and not get hit at all.

The Boss Fights are also amazing as well. I don’t want to mention them to not spoil you but they’re some of the best boss fights in any video game I’ve played.

As for levels, a lot of them are amazing, with my favorites being the levels called WAR, Don’t Make A Sound, and Bloodsauce Dungeon.

While we’re here, let’s talk about Chef Tasks!

Think of them like challenges for levels. These can go from so easy that you get them the first time you play the level to requiring you to play the level completely differently. There are two types of challenges that I like to categorize. There are definitely ones that don’t fit into these categories, but these are the common ones.

Normal Challenges: Challenges that are more natural and are more or less the simplest out of all of them. Ones like this include “Beat John Gutter in 2 minutes or less,” “Parry 10 forknights,” and “Beat Bloodsauce Dungeon without getting hit by the slicers.”

Specific Challenges: Challenges that are more “out there.” These include ones like “Don’t get hit in the first secret of Peppibot factory,” and “Take a picture with all of the civilians in the Pig City.”

Now with all of this praise, it sounds like Pizza Tower is perfect, right?

Yeah, no. Pizza Tower is not perfect and there are plenty of reasons I can see people not liking the game for reasons other than “It’s not my type of game.” There are some levels that do not work as well as others, which is obvious, but the truly bad ones stick out like a sore thumb. Pizza Tower is also not an easy game. While you cannot necessarily “lose” in Pizza Tower outside of Pizza Face*, the game’s ranking system doesn’t have much leniency.

For example, losing your combo at all still makes you lose a P-Rank, even if you don’t start another combo before exiting the level. The point decay after Pizza Time starts also means that you can’t just barely make it through getting a S/P-Rank, you have to get enough for it to stay even with the point decay.

But anyway, I will rate Pizza Tower a 9.5/10. It is an amazing game, and even in its worst moments, it is an amazing game.

The game is 20 dollars on Steam and if you like platformers, then it will be an amazing fit for you.

Have a good time and see you again in another article of Kat’s Guide!

Asterisk 1# - In WAR, you do not see “It’s Pizza Time” at all, and in TCTOP, you see it at the very start.

Asterisk 2# - In WAR and TCTOP, when the timer hits 0, that’s it.

Asterisk 3# - Refer to Asterisk #2

Triple Asterisk #1 - In WAR, you do get extra time to make it fair. However, Lap 2 does not exist in TCTOP.

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