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Photo credit: Mrs. Ebling
Pick up a book and read!
Pick up a book and read!
By Charley Riley
One thing I’ve noticed since starting high school is the lack of reading. Now don’t get me wrong: there are kids that definitely read, but during most free time or study halls, people are on their phones. I love technology as much as the next person, but I think people should read more. With that in mind, I asked some of my friends what their favorite books are, and I’ve included some of my own, so if you ever find yourself wanting to read, you can look here for a good book. Also, March is Reading Month!
Ender’s Game - Ender’s Game is a Sci-Fi book set in the future, after two wars against an alien species called buggers that nearly wiped out Earth. Andrew “Ender” Wiggins is a six year old genius, who gets accepted into the prestigious Battle School, where the government takes very intelligent kids and trains them for the next bugger invasion. It’s there that he makes friends, enemies, and learns what he has to do to save the human race.
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption - Shawshank is a Stephen King book about a man who gets falsely imprisoned for the murder of his wife, and is told by his friend, Red. It’s very short, so I can’t say much more without spoiling it, but I can say that in 1994 it was made into a movie, which is the highest rated movie of all time (according to IMDB). If you don’t read the book, do yourself a favor and at least watch the movie. Both the movie and book tell an amazing story that is best enjoyed with as little information as possible.
The Wild Robot (Recommended by Freshman Silas Miller) - The Wild Robot is about a robot that lands on an island and learns how to live in its harsh environment. It also learns how to become friends with the animals on the island and help them out in times of need.
The Poppy War (Recommended by Freshman Eliana Inch) - The Poppy War takes place in ancient China hundreds of years ago. Rin the main character is in a poor providence raised by drug lords, to escape the life laid out for her she decided to study for a huge test the empress holds to get into a top military training school. Rin scores the highest on the test, and against her family, she goes to school in the richest province. Now she has to work twice as hard as her fellow classmates who don’t accept her because of her social standing.
Maze Runner Series (Recommended by Freshman Gavin Parsons) - Maze Runner is a Sci-Fi series full of suspense, mystery and action. The ending was very exciting and kept me hooked. It is set in the future, where a group of teens are in a giant maze with no memory of anything. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
Percy Jackson Series (Recommended by Freshman Abigail Anderson) - Percy Jackson is a book series set in the early 2000s, and follows a boy who finds out he is the son of Poseidon. He finds himself fulfilling prophecies, going on quests and saving the world.
Pax (Recommended by Freshman JessLee Williams) - Pax is about a boy named Peter who rescues a fox named Pax, before being separated from him due to a war. It follows as the two try to reconnect with each other.
As the spring days are upon us, and the days become longer, take a half hour out of your day, or put your phone away in I/E, and read a book. It's sure to make an impact!
Creating a Summer Bucket List!
By Chelsea Guan
The end of March is nearing, meaning the end of the third marking period will also be coming to a close soon. Midterms, finals, and graduation are all just around the corner, and many students, if not all, are excited and looking forward to summer break, just merely a little over 2 months away.
Creating a summer bucket list could be something to consider doing this year if you haven’t been doing so, and it’s never too early or late to start! This list could consist of the many activities you would like to get done, places you want to visit, and possibly even new hobbies you want to explore. It could be a great way to stir up more excitement and open your eyes to things you may not even have thought about doing. Your bucket list can involve friends, family, or even just yourself; it’s rather flexible, and you can write down anything big or small that you might have in mind. Below are some ideas to get you started:
Visit the ocean
Go star gazing
Take a road trip
Try cooking something new
Bake with friends
Attend a concert
Ride a roller coaster
Read a new book
Visit a museum
Make a family picture album
Start journaling
Learn how to crochet
No matter what you have planned for the summer, whether that involves stepping out of your comfort zone or perhaps revisiting something comforting and familiar, everyone deserves a well planned, long, relaxing summer break to recharge. Be proud of how far you’ve come and the hard work you’ve put in throughout the school year thus far. Best wishes to everyone at MASH throughout the fourth marking period with summer break very close within reach
Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Photo Credit: MASH Softball Twitter
MASH spring sports show their fight in season kickoff
By Evelyn Hambright
Warmer weather is right around the corner, which means MASH is kicking off the spring sports season. In the spring, MASH has lots of sports to offer. Spring sports include: Baseball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Softball, Boys Tennis, Track and Field, and Boys Volleyball.
Before the Baseball season even started, the Wildcats were predicted by PennLive to finish first in their division. Jr. Jeff Lougee was also given the title of Keystone Division Preseason MVP. The team started their season off strong with a game on March 21, against Northeastern. The Wildcats took the win, beating Northeastern 7-2. Their second game was two days later, but unfortunately the Wildcats lost in a close match, 5-6. The second game was against Elizabethtown. Some players to watch out for this season are Jr. Reese Young, Sr. Will Hummel, Sr. Zach Lochary, and Jr. Jeff Lougee. This team is going to be a force on the field.
On the turf, we have the Boys and Girls Lacrosse teams. The Boys’ season began on high note with two wins. The first win was against Elizabethtown, the Wildcats winning 9-4. So. Teygan Quarles scored two goals alongside Sr. Antonio Zeno who scored two. The boys’ second game was highly anticipated, the Wildcats playing Bishop Mcdevitt. The Wildcats clinched the win, 10-6.
As for the Girls, they are not off to the same strong start as the boys are. They fell 4-11 in their season opener against Elizabethtown. Goals were scored by So. Avery Harmon (2), So. Brooke Hertz (1), and Captain Jr. Aliyah Quarles (1), but this was not enough to secure a win. The team played again later that week and were defeated by Bishop Mcdevitt 9-13.
Led by Coach Gail Hiestand, the Softball team has started their season with a win. The Girls faced off against Northeastern, ending the game with a 14-4 win. Jr. Emma Rizzuto contributed 3 runs, followed by Jr. Bella Demaio hitting a home run. Jr. Samantha Rybacki and So. Chelsea Heckert each helped out with 3 runs each. The team was supposed to have their second game on Thursday March 23, against Elizabethtown, but the game was postponed and later canceled due to weather. After the first week of the season, Pennlive has opened voting for Mid-Penn Softball Player of the Week. Out of the 13 contestants, four of them are Mechanicsburg players, being Jr. Emma Rizutto, Jr. Samantha Rybacki, So. Chelsea Heckert, and So. Jada Lacey.
On the court, the Boys Tennis team has played four matches, resulting in a 2-2 record. The season began with a match against Central Dauphin East on March 15, the boys winning 5-0. The boys dropped their second match 1-4 against Central Dauphin. The team continued by winning 4-1 against their big rival Northern. The boys ended the week by losing 1-4 to Hershey. The team only has one senior who has committed to play tennis at the collegiate level, Sr. Evan Davis. He has committed to play at Cornell College in Iowa as a part of the 2027 class.
The Boys and Girls Track and Field teams have not had any meets yet, but have been hard at work practicing their events. The teams have practice every day after school, weather permitting, on the track at MASH. With the Girls clinching the Keystone Division title last season, this season will hopefully be a repeat of that, but with the loss of key seniors, it will be a challenge. This will be the second season where Mechanicsburg does not host any home meets for these teams, as the track is in rough shape due to construction. The Track and Field Season will officially kick off on March 28 with the first meet against Milton Hershey.
Lastly, the Boys Volleyball team has started their season off strong. The Wildcats played Elizabethtown for their first match and won 3-1. They then went on to lose a close 2-3 match against Northeastern. Even though the boys lost their second match, they did not go down without a fight. Sr. Christian Marinas led the team with 12 kills and 9 digs. Sr. Brayden McCrea followed with 4 kills and 8 blocks. Sr. Noah Delong helped out with 7 kills, 5 blocks, 7 digs, and 17 assists. Lastly, Jr. Wesley Paris played his part, contributing 5 kills and 3 blocks. This team has tons of talented players and is going to be a hard team to compete against. The boys will take the court again on March 28, squaring off against Northern.
This spring sports season, Mechanicsburg has started off strong in every aspect. All of the spring teams have their share of talented players and we cannot wait to see how fair each team will go.
National Honor Society members continue to serve the community
By Kelsea Harshbarger
National Honor Society, more commonly known as NHS, is one of the many clubs and organizations that MASH students can join. NHS is a well-known organization across the country, as most schools offer some type of Honor Society for students to be a part of, whether that is NHS as a whole or National Honor Societies for specific subject areas.
NHS at MASH is open to juniors and seniors to join, but students must be invited to apply to join the club based on a certain set of eligibility requirements. During their sophomore year, if students have a certain cumulative grade point average and receive recommendations from their teachers to join NHS, they will be invited to apply. The application to join typically involves a short essay. Then, at the end of their sophomore year, students will receive an email letting them know that they are officially a part of NHS and to provide them with information about membership requirements.
Once students become members, the work doesn’t stop there. Every year, in addition to attending monthly meetings, students are required to obtain 15 community service hours while also maintaining a certain cumulative grade point average. As long as students meet all of these requirements each year, their membership will remain in good standing.
Senior students who are a part of NHS have the opportunity to become an NHS officer. Positions include president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. At the end of each school year, NHS members will vote for who they want to become the next year’s officers.
Furthermore, NHS has recently held a couple of events at the high school. On Wednesday, March 8, NHS held a blood drive. MASH students were able to sign up to give blood, and each blood donor received a free donor t-shirt and was able to choose from a variety of snacks that were donated by NHS members after giving blood. Sr. Kamrie Crowell was one of the many students who donated blood, and she comments that those in charge of the blood drive “were really nice people” and that the blood drive “was really well organized and set up.” The smooth operation that was run in the commons definitely helped to calm her nerves when giving blood.
Just over a week later, NHS held their annual induction ceremony in the auditorium on Thursday, March 16. Both Juniors and Seniors who were not previously inducted into NHS got dressed up for the evening, and the NHS officers and faculty advisors led the ceremony. Sr. Lauren Paul, the NHS vice president, explains that “each of the four officers took a turn speaking about the four pillars that define National Honor Society. The four pillars are scholarship, character, leadership, and service.” Later on, Paul shares that “new members [were called up] to receive their certificate and their candle,” which was lit before the inductees crossed the stage. After the ceremony, there was a short reception where the students were able to celebrate their great achievement.
Overall, members of NHS have remained committed to doing what they can to serve others. From working hard in the classroom to putting in the time to help those in the local community, through NHS, students have been able to change society for the better.
Photo credit: Mrs. Donley
Photo credit: MASH Theater instagram
Spotlight on MASH Musical–
Mary Poppins
By Kenna Fake
Mary Poppins is a well known play and movie watched globally. No wonder it was created into a rousing musical that was head-turning in the process. The show ran from March 2-5 here at the MASH auditorium.
MASH based the musical on the P.L.Travers version and the Walt Disney Film. The popularity of the title encouraged the new freshmen to jump in and join the experienced upper classmen in this eccentric and colorful musical. Many students were a part of Mary Poppins, both on stage and behind the scenes. Stage Crew and Paint Crew worked hard to create the fantastic set that included the house, the shop, and the park.
The process of creating the set for this year's fall musical was an interesting way to captivate the audience with color-popping attitudes on set and enthusiasm behind the scenes. Many students from the Class of ‘26 had joined in and have set a high bar for future productions.
With ticket sales rocketing further than expected, there were a plethora of people who watched this MASH Musical. The Wildcat Production Website further displayed their appreciation by conveying: “Thank you to all of the patrons, volunteers, and parents who made this year's production possible. You are greatly appreciated,” which fully demonstrates the generosity of the Wildcat Production Team and others.
Next year's much anticipated musical will be announced at the MASH Spring Choir Concert in May. It will be then that Wildcat Productions invites you to another curtain call!
Student opinions on I/E
By Bekka Kreitman
I/E is a staple here at MASH, and offers an opportunity for students to get help from their teachers, and an opportunity to get homework done before they even leave the classroom. It is a valuable resource that many students utilize every day, and was clearly implemented with students’ best interests at heart. But what do the students think is the real question, and is it better than the flex periods that MASH used to have at the end of the day?
Let’s start with the Freshmen. The Freshmen that I interviewed had very mixed opinions on Freshman Academy, a required “class” at the end of the day that teaches freshmen valuable skills that they will use in life, similar to advisory. While many freshmen had the expected response of “I want to leave like everyone else,” I was surprised by the number of positive comments I received.
“I think it definitely has its purpose,” explains one freshman, “it’s kind of like an add-on to advisory and I think that it's beneficial and helps us get the message.” Another freshman, Johanna Runkle shares, “I think it’s good in theory, but I wish we had more study hall time to actually get work done.” Another freshman shares similar views stating, “I like that we have structured time at the end of the day, but I wish I got to have I/E with my friends.”
Next, let’s move onto the Sophomores. Sophomores generally have a “thank goodness I don’t have Freshman Academy” viewpoint, and are overall glad to leave. “I like that I can just leave at 2:45, it gives me an extra hour than if I would have taken the bus,” one sophomore shares. On the other hand, many Sophomores enjoy the time that I/E offers. One sophomore, Collan Osif, explains how he uses I/E time. “It is a good resource for studying if you have a quiz or a test the next day,” he shares. Additionally, one sophomore shares, “I don’t have any study halls, so I/E is a good time for me to be able to get things done.”
Juniors have very mixed opinions on I/E. Some agree that it’s a valuable opportunity, and jump at the chance to meet with teachers and get work done. One junior shares, “I don’t have a study hall, so I use the time to make-up work that I’ve missed. Most students don’t want to come in to school super early to make things up so having that 30 minutes is perfect at the end of the day.”
Other Juniors, on the other hand, agree that I/E is valuable time, but have some recommendations on how to make it better. Junior Amir Wahba shares that I/E is good, “however it would be better if we were able to go to the commons.” Many other students across 10th, 11th, and 12th grades agree that the commons, while hectic, were a great place to spend I/E in previous years, and a great place to socialize with friends. They agree that when they didn’t have work to do, the commons was a good way to spend time and talk to friends that they don’t normally talk to.
Finally, let’s talk about the Seniors. While most Seniors I interviewed shared that they don’t stay for I/E, I did find a few who stay. One senior shares, “I like using I/E to visit my favorite teachers from previous years; I can talk to them about my future plans and bounce ideas off of them.”
However, most Seniors that I talked to expressed that they missed the flex periods that MASH used to offer. For the underclassmen, Senior Alex Bonilla explains that “in the past we had a flex period, you could decide what you wanted to do for the last bit of school. You could play ultimate Frisbee or talk about today's issues, play dungeons and dragons or watch a TV show.” Talking to teachers, I discovered that students signed up for flex classes twice a month, and if they didn’t get what they wanted they were then placed into a study hall. Many Seniors share the idea that “I liked flex better.”
However, one senior offers an interesting take. She shares that “flex was great because you could unwind at the end of the day, but I/E offers a unique opportunity to get work done, which means less homework for when I actually get home.” Many Seniors shared that with dual enrollment and internships, I/E was beneficial to help them with their workload.
Well, there you have it. The exclusive inside-look into how students really feel about I/E. What are your thoughts, and how would you improve it?
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