Harmony at MASH: Fall concert brings students together

By Navreet Dhaliwal

On October 15, the MASH orchestra and concert choir came together to present their annual fall concert, an evening filled with harmony, teamwork and excitement. Families, friends, and community members all gathered in the auditorium to enjoy a night of music that showcased the talent and efforts of both groups. 

The orchestra opened the concert with a selection of pieces that demonstrated both precision and passion. From lively, upbeat numbers to slower, more emotional works, the students performed with confidence and focus. Each section of the orchestra, violins, violas, cellos, and basses, played an important role in creating a balanced and impressive sound. 

Orchestra director Mrs. Willits shared that she was proud of how the group worked together throughout the performance. “Everyone did incredibly well,” she said. “Their teamwork and listening skills really stood out this year. Each student supported the others, which helped the entire ensemble sound unified and strong.”

Following the orchestra’s, the Concert Choir took the stage, continuing the evening with a powerful and heartfelt performance. Their voices blended beautifully as they sang songs that ranged from classic choral arrangements to more modern selections. The choir’s unity and emotions filled the room, creating an atmosphere of warmth and pride. 

Choral director, Mr. Kaslusky, reflected on how deeply the students connected with the music that they performed. “The choir members really understood the meanings behind the songs,” he said. “They were able to express those emotions through their singing, which helped the audience feel every note."

Both the orchestra and choir have been working hard since the beginning of the school year, spending hours rehearsing and preparing for this performance. The fall concrete served as a reflection of their growth, discipline, and love for music. It also gave students the chance to share their talents with the community and support one another in their musical journeys. 

The fall concert not only highlighted the musical accomplishments of MASH but also reminded everyone the importance of creativity, collaboration and school spirit. The night was a success, setting a strong tone for the rest of the year's performances.

C.R.E.W Chaos 

By Alevia Durham 

Welcome to a new school year at MASH! Already, we see a trend that has carried us all the way from last spring to this fall — change. Administrators in our school like to switch things up every once in a while, from promoting a phone-free environment within the high school campus to creating a new group of upperclassmen to help incoming students to MASH! While some think that most changes, like the latest electronics rules, can be annoying while also advantageous, others believe in the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” 

Last year, a new program was introduced to the MASH community called Link Crew. For a bit more of an explanation, Link Crew is a  “nationally recognized program to help our incoming 9th Grade Wildcats”, as the Mechanicsburg website likes to say. Around one hundred sophomores and juniors of good merit were selected to serve as Link Leaders and “guide the class of 2029 into high school life”. What is their purpose besides leading a group of freshmen like a line of ducks across the road, you ask? Promoting school spirit, of course, as well as providing support and guidance. After all, no one knows high school like those who’ve already gone through the experience. 

Though changes like these don’t always come smoothly, no matter how positive their intentions may be. Link Crew meets when those who aren’t involved in the program attend Advisory, or, as the administration decided to call it, for unobvious reasons, C.R.E.W. What those letters truly stand for, no one knows, nor do they understand why the name of a twenty-five-minute period that occurs once a month needed to be changed. Either way, Link Crew has modified the way C.R.E.W functions, not just for the Link Leaders and freshmen involved, but for everyone. 

This year, before school started, students looked at their new schedules with excitement. What new classes did they have? Did they have the same teachers as their friends? During which lunch period would they eat? Only, those questions came to a screeching halt at the sight of something at the top of their schedules—a name change. This was the moment each student at MASH, besides the freshmen and Link Leaders, of course, realized that their C.R.E.W teachers and groups had been entirely rearranged. For what reason, they asked themselves? To make the freshmen comfortable, of course. Only, the answer to that question was almost as unobvious as the Advisory name change. 

“I don’t know any of the people in my C.R.E.W period very well,” said Sr. Riley Strous, a student who isn’t a member of Link Crew this year. “I spent three years with my last C.R.E.W group. I got to know the people there, even if we didn’t become best friends.” 

Indeed, it seems not many people enjoyed the luxury of staying with at least a pair of people they knew and recognized from their former C.R.E.W group. Now, not only are students thrust into a new school year, which can be intimidating enough, but they’re forced to unnecessarily acclimate themselves to new environments. 

“Besides,” continues Strous, “my counselors changed every year before, and now my Advisory is different. I don’t know the new people in my class very well, and they’re unfamiliar to me. Too many new things can be harmful.” 

Though it could be argued that being thrust into these “new things” can be beneficial. Growing up means adapting, sometimes to things we aren’t comfortable with or don’t particularly enjoy. As future adults, it’s important to understand that not everything in life will come easily or be warm and cozy. Adapting to new situations with a smile on your face and a positive attitude can help a lot. 

But we’re in high school. Smiles aren’t as abundant here as they were in middle school. 

“I like Link Crew,” commented Sr. Avery Davies, who was selected as one of the Link Leaders for this school year. “Still, I am kind of sad because I feel like having the same Advisory for three years is good. I knew everyone there, and I got used to them.” 

Of course, having people that you’re familiar with can be a big advantage when it comes to new classes. Like Strous alluded to, you don’t have to be best friends with someone to know that you’d be comfortable working with them. Having a familiar face in one of your classes is like knowing your teammate has your back during the big game—you aren’t alone. 

“I didn’t know that when I signed up for Link Crew that it would happen every Advisory, nor that it would carry into the school year after the summer training,” commented Davies. “I think that people who aren’t involved in Link Crew got unfairly switched around. I understand that it made sense to move teachers around who were involved, but not the students.” 

“It would’ve been easier if they just plucked people from Link Crew out of their Advisories to make a new group and combined the smaller Advisories,” agreed Strous. “That would’ve been so much better.” 

It seems that a large majority of the student body’s beliefs align with this idea. Why not just take the Link Crew Leaders from their former Advisories and combine the smaller groups that are left over? More than that, many Advisories are already familiar with other groups after having been switched to new rooms when a teacher was occasionally absent or otherwise unavailable. That way, students wouldn’t be forced to adapt to an entirely new teacher and group of students in one fell swoop! 

While MASH administrators preach listening to the student community, they definitely didn’t ask us about this. Don’t get me wrong—Link Crew is a fantastic program to help incoming 9th graders adapt to a new, and potentially intimidating environment, but not at the cost of everyone else in the school. I think I can speak on behalf of many upperclassmen at MASH when I say that most times, change is good. Other times, we should stick to the motto, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Students share study tips 

By Shahd Khalafalla

 Ding. Ding. It’s a Saturday afternoon, and Jordan switches his attention from TikTok to the college board notification. His PSAT scores just came out, and he’s not happy—932 on the PSAT. He’s taking 2 APs this year in order to look good for colleges, but he hasn’t been able to keep up with the workload. Jordan rolls off his bed and makes his way out of his room, glancing at the stack of work he has on his desk before stumbling down stairs. He stares once more at his phone and searches for studying tips on YouTube. He clicks on the first video and hopes for the best.

The video shows a witty person rambling: Let me guess, you have low grades, a failing PSAT score, short attention spans, and a lack of focus. You’re overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Let’s start by evaluating what a normal day for you looks like. It probably consists of waking up late, going to school, coming home, procrastinating your homework by doomscrolling, and doomscrolling until 2 am. You then decide to do some homework, but give up 10 minutes later and go to sleep. The following morning, you give up doing any work during study hall and accept the below-average grades, saying you’ll study next time, or they aren’t worth many points, so it doesn’t matter. Then your parents wonder why your grades have been dropping, and you swear up and down that you’ve been studying for hours, and it's the teacher's fault.

Yeah, sounds like you doesn’t it? To study effectively and get your work done, you need to be awake and focused. Start by handing your phone to your parents the moment you come home from school, and relaxing for 30 minutes after school (without your phone). Be honest with yourself, you're not going to use your phone to help you study, and your friends can wait. Shower, eat a snack, read a little, or just sit down and do nothing for those 30 minutes. Then, go to your desk and organize it. Studies show that a clean space increases productivity. Take out a sheet of paper and write down all the work you have to do- and the goals you wish to fulfil by the end of the work session. Remember to split your work into chunks to make it less overwhelming. Finally, set the digital timer to 10 minutes and tell yourself you’ll just study for 10 minutes and stop whenever it gets too hard. You will more than likely study past those 10 minutes because your brain gets used to it.

What other tips might help?  Let's look at some tips from MASH students. So. Kayla Kreitman states, “Study tips? Get a friend; it makes it more fun. Break it up into multiple chunks to memorize. Have a plan and don’t cram in.” Wise words, after all, one of the least effective ways to study is cramming and pulling all-nighters. Rather, as Kreitman mentioned, it's better to spread out the time you study. Study for 1 hour every day, a few days before your unit test. For larger exams like PSATs or SATs, try to prepare at least 2 weeks ahead of time, study a little bit each day, and use sample tests to help. In addition, So. Sadie Janowski literally advised, “Throw your phone.” Also, very important advice: don’t actually throw your phone, but keep it out of sight when studying, and limit the amount of time you use it each day. Over time, this will increase your focus and attention span.

Finally, it all boils down to what you're studying and who’s teaching you. If you're studying for math, studies show students do better if they study solutions to complicated problems rather than just doing practice problems. If it's English (depending on what you're doing), try to sharpen your analytical skills, practice deep thinking, connecting concepts, and finding the underlying meaning of the text. Some teachers make study guides, so be sure to study the concepts you're unsure about there. They will also recommend reviewing models developed in class, explaining them to another person, or just emailing them if you have questions.

The video ends with cheesy outro music and a few more video recommendations. Jordan, feeling a little thrown under the bus, shuffles back to his room. He cleans up his desk, freshens up, and slides his phone under the living room sofa. Two hours later, with some random breaks in between, he finishes most of his homework. Deciding he was productive enough, he got his phone from under the sofa and almost made his way up the stairs, before he heard his mom screaming, “Jordan! You got a 900 on the PSAT and you're still on that phone?!”

Students’ thoughts on Link Crew

By Chloe Luft-Hoover

The incoming class of 2029 this year was the first group of students to experience Link Crew. Link Crew is an opportunity that helps freshmen acclimate to the new environment of high school. It allows students to have a leg up in high school and an overall better starting experience. Link crew consists of leaders, who are older students, that enable small groups of freshmen to become familiar with the ins and outs of high school. This more personal connection between students creates a better environment for new students to learn and grow. 

Link Crew leader Jr. Makayla Waite was asked about why she decided to join the link crew. In response Waite stated, “I joined Link Crew to help the freshmen adapt to the new school. Navigating the new building, friendships, workload, and different routines felt overwhelming and at times, and I wished I had someone to help make these changes a little easier, so I wanted to be the person I wished I had for other people.” This sentiment is certainly one of the motivations behind forming Link Crew and her mindset is part of the reason these leaders can make a difference around our school. Having older students that genuinely care about helping and providing support for the younger grades greatly improves the efficacy of Link Crew. 

Freshmen may have different views on the impact of Link Crew due to their lack of choice when it came to participation. However, when questioned about the nature of her experiences with Link Crew, Fr. Sofia Kevorkova explained, “My experiences in Link Crew have been positive with connecting with upperclassmen and getting to know how the high school operates, as well as what is expected of you.” Kevorkova’s insight helps support the claim that Link Crew is beneficial. The connection between older leaders and incoming freshmen helps facilitate a smoother transition between middle school and high school. 

Although some may argue that there are a large number of students that do not need help with the transition to high school, there are always students who do need this help, and who may always be too scared to ask for assistance otherwise. Waite remarked, “Not everyone will need it or enjoy it, but I know we have helped many freshmen adapt to the new environment, and that's what matters.” 

Her statement is a great example of Link Crew’s mission: help those who need it, but still provide a positive experience for everyone. Kevorkova also shared this train of thought. She commented that despite Link Crew not having a large effect on her personally, she still feels it was a valuable experience that aided others. 

Fall for fun festivities 

By Liliana Mast

Fall is an amazing time to experience the beautiful orange, red, and yellow colors around you, while also embracing the spooky season. So what better way to celebrate the start of fall than embracing some classic fall festivities! 

Since Halloween is coming up soon, let’s talk about the spooky seasons and all the fun activities we can honor. Obviously, it wouldn’t be Halloween without pumpkins. A fun and classic tradition we can all take a little time out of our day to enjoy is pumpkin patch picking and carving. I remember as a kid this was my favorite fall tradition, and my parents always allowed me to have a carving pumpkin and a weird looking one as a decoration. Not only is it a good way to be social and get outside a little more now that we’re in school, but it’s also a way to embrace your creativity and go wild with it. I know my friends and I love carving pumpkins together and always have the best time, even when we accidentally carve out a wrong shape!

Pumpkins aren’t the only thing that add to the spooky season. Haunted houses are also a fun tradition that’ll get your heart racing! A popular attraction that is decently local is Field of Screams and Dark Nights at Hershey Park. Each attraction is designed to scare you so if you decide to go, make sure to be prepared and have the time of your life! Haunted houses are a tradition that are always something fun to do with friends, so you should definitely try it even once. 

Now, if we take off the Halloween costumes and start digging into that turkey dinner, there's a couple of traditions and activities that you can make lasting memories from. A classic would be apple picking. This is always a fun activity to do with friends and family, and ensures that you get a glimpse of that beautiful fall weather. Apple picking is great, not only for the social aspect, but also because you can get the best homemade apple pies, apple cider, and apple crisp ever! I love whenever my family and I go out apple picking and then help my mom make her best (at least in my opinion) dessert yet, an apple pie. You can have the best time picking the apples, and have an even better time baking and eating them!

Last but not least, who doesn’t love a scenic drive through the beautiful fall leaves and trees. In
Pensylvannia, we get some of the best views yet, especially during the fall time. One of my favorite things to do around this time is roll down the windows, put some jazz music on, and just enjoy a beautiful car drive. I enjoy it even more with a pumpkin drink and treat in my hand (shoutout to Starbucks for their pumpkin chai). The best part is, you can enjoy this time alone and just have some peaceful silence. Of course, being around friends and family is the best, but sometimes you just have to soak up that time alone and especially because fall comes and goes so quickly. So, enjoy it! 

Awareness: 

Do We Really Understand Our Peers?

By Ethan Moreno

We all think we know what “awareness” means. Teachers talk about it, we see posters about it, and we probably know classmates with ADHD, Autism, OCD, or other learning differences. But sometimes, I wonder. Do we really understand them, or do we just say we do because it sounds nice?

In school, it’s easy to notice when someone seems “different”. Maybe a classmate gets distracted easily, blurts out answers, or doodles during lessons. We might think, “They are not paying attention.” But what if they are trying, just in a different way? That's what ADHD can look like. The brain is doing a hundred things at once, and focusing on one can feel like trying to catch a butterfly with your hands tied.

Peers on the Autism spectrum might see the world in a way we don't. Some may love routines, quiet places, or specific topics they are super passionate about, like cars, trains, movies, art or math. Others might get overwhelmed by loud noises or basic objects. It is not that those on the spectrum don't like people; it’s just that their brains process everything with the volume turned up.

Then there are people with OCD. It is not just “being neat” or “liking things clean”. It is having thoughts that won't stop, and doing specific actions to calm themself down. Imagine trying to concentrate on a test while your brain keeps whispering, ‘Did you forget something?’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Check again.’ THAT IS EXHAUSTING!

The truth is, awareness is not about memorizing what these conditions mean. It is about paying attention to How Our Peers FEEL. If someone needs to step out of the classroom to calm down, that is not “weird”. It is brave. If someone ask to work alone, that not rude; it is SELF CARE.

We can all help by being KIND in small ways. Smile, say “Hey”. Do NOT tease someone for stimming, tapping, or needing a break. If you notice someone having a rough day, you don't have to say much; just being patient can mean a lot. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is sit down next to them, work quietly, and let them know they belong.

At the end of the day, everyone is fighting battles we can’t see. Some are loud; some are silent. True awareness means understanding that our brains are as unique as our fingerprints. So next time we think, “ I know what they are going through,” maybe we should pause and ask, “Do we really?” Because the moment we start listening, that is when we stop just knowing people and start understanding them.

Science Behind Procrastination in School

By Kyle Moreno

Procrastination is more than laziness; it is a complex psychological behavior rooted in how our brains handle reward, emotion, and time perception. Scientists have found that procrastination occurs when the limbic system, the part of the brain that manages emotions and pleasure, overrides the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning and decision-making. When a task feels stressful or tedious, the brain’s instinct is to avoid the discomfort by seeking short-term rewards, such as scrolling through social media or watching videos. Effectively, procrastination is the brain’s way of choosing immediate comfort over future success. Join me as we dive deeper into procrastination within our schools.

This issue is especially noticeable in schools, where deadlines and responsibilities constantly hammer the students. At Mechanicsburg Senior High School, procrastination has become a shared struggle among students trying to balance academics, social life, and personal interests. After interviewing many students across MASH, a large majority found it an issue, and consistently told me how many others also suffered from it, showing how widespread the problem is. Many students, including myself, fall into this trap of delaying assignments until the last minute, often leading to late nights, stress, and lower-quality work. Jr. Elijah Gochenaur puts it simply: “It’s a bad thing, (in a southern accent) it’s a terrible thing, I have it, my friends have it, heck even my dog has it.”

However, procrastination isn’t always harmful. Some people experience what psychologists call “active procrastination,” where they intentionally put off assignments but still manage to complete them under pressure, often performing well due to the adrenaline rush. This form of procrastination can sometimes boost focus and creativity, but it’s a risky strategy that doesn’t work for everyone. The key difference between active and passive procrastination lies in control; whether you’re consciously managing your delay or letting it slip away.

To overcome procrastination, students can use several strategies ingrained in behavioral science. For example, taking larger, difficult tasks and breaking them into smaller, more manageable tasks helps reduce anxiety, while using rewards and time limits can boost motivation. Removing distractions and setting specific goals also trains the brain to favor productivity over short-term pleasure. As Corban Smith, Jr. jokingly said, “I would tell you all about procrastination, but I will have to tell you about it later just because I don’t feel like telling you right now.” His humor captures the truth that procrastination is easy to fall into, but with awareness and discipline, it can be controlled before it controls us. 

Fall Recipes (students’ favorite fall foods/baked goods)

By Isimeme Okebhagbe

Falling leaves, crisp air, and the scent of something sweet in the oven; fall is the perfect time to bake. From cinnamon-flavored goods to old family recipes, fall comes with the best treats. Baked goods, from gooey cinnamon rolls to the perfect slice of pumpkin pie, are some of the best pick-me-ups, especially after a long day of school. I’ll be sharing some of the favorite fall foods and baked goods of some students at MASH.

So. Vaishnavi Devulapalli says,” My favorite fall food has to be pumpkin pie with whipped cream.”

 I agree— pumpkin pie is a fall staple and one of the most popular. It’s not too sweet, but so comforting at the same time. I was able to find an amazing recipe for pumpkin pie if you would like to get in the fall mood: Pumpkin Pie Recipe.

So. Katie Hahn tells me,” My favorite baked good for fall is apple pie.” 

Apple pie has the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. The flaky crust with soft apples and cinnamon spice make one of the best fall baked goods. If you would like to capture the taste of fall by making apple pie, here’s a great recipe: Apple Pie Recipe.

So. Caleigh Cowan thinks,” The best thing to eat during fall is definitely apple cider doughnuts.” 

I haven’t tried them before, but I’m sure they taste great! From what I have researched they have a sweet cinnamon sugar coating, with a tangy apple cider flavoring. To anyone who loves to make new treats, I found a good recipe for this: 

Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe

So. Mathilda Oshiomogho says, “Cinnamon rolls are so good and they kind of match with fall.” As a cinnamon-roll lover, I agree! Cinnamon rolls are warm, gooey, and sweet. They are the perfect fall themed baked good, if you enjoy something buttery and classic. If you would like to make them for yourself, I have the best recipe:

Cinnamon Roll Recipe

In the end, fall comes with the warmth and comfort in everyone’s favorite foods. From, pumpkin pies to apple cider doughnuts, these student favorites remind us that fall is more than just the changing weather— its about sharing good food and comforting moments. Each recipe shows the spirit of this season, making simple ingredients into memories that make fall so special.

 -- Fall Festivities --

Poll around MASH

By Chloe Querry

Fall is a very busy time of year for many in MASH. Whether it be sports, like baseball, cross country, or football, marching band, clubs, the Fall Play, and many different musical ensemble performances, lots of students at MASH take the opportunity to participate in many of these fall favorites. 

Along with these activities, I asked numerous students at MASH to explain to me what their favorite things to do in the fall were when they weren’t in school, and many expressed an interest in pumpkin picking, enjoying the nature surrounding them, and spending time with friends and family. Fall is a time of year to see the beauty within the trees as their leaves start to change colors, all the warm smells that come with apple cider and pumpkin pie, and a favorite holiday among many: Halloween. 

Below are a few answers from the students I talked to:

• So. Kaylee Witters enjoys participating in the marching band during the fall months. She plays the clarinet in the band section of this ensemble.

• So. Jillian Weedn enjoys reading with the windows open in the afternoons during the fall months.

• So. Amelia Chuckalovcack enjoys baking, watching Gilmore Girls, and going on fall walks/runs, aligning with her participation in MASH girls' cross country. 

• So. Sarah Bisbee enjoys having campfires with her friends as it starts to get colder during this time of year. 

• Fr. Hannah Stauffer enjoys taking a walk in the park near her house and admiring the beautiful nature and its vivid colors in the fall.

• So. Lily Kelly enjoys apple picking, pumpkin carving, and watching Halloween movies to get into the fall spirit! 

• Fr. Averie Longwell enjoys going to pumpkin patches or apple orchards as part of her fall plans. 

• So. Kipton Krick explains, “I think my favorite part of fall would be reading a book while admiring the foliage or playing Halloween music on my violin.”

• So. Campbell Shover enjoys watching Halloween movies as part of her fall festivities. 

• Sr. Piper Freeman likes to watch football games during the fall, including our very own MASH varsity football games on Fridays. 

• So. Milana Smith likes to bake fall-themed desserts, including pumpkin cupcakes and anything with apples in them. 

• So. Libby Howell enjoys going through corn mazes, which provide a fun challenge in the fall!

• Sr. Aubrey Dissinger describes her love for scary movies and eating candy during this season. 

• Sr. Genna Smith enjoys crunching the leaves during the fall months as many piles start to build up of beautifully colored leaves.

• So. Emily Miller loves to have a campfire and roast marshmallows to get into the fall spirit!

• So. Elyse Moll enjoys watching many different Halloween movies during the fall season!

• So. Claire Sterling expresses her love for “reading a book inside and lighting a candle. I also love to participate in fall activities with my friends, such as pumpkin picking and corn mazes.”

So get out there and enjoy these splendid autumnal days before they fade into the winter blues.

How To Combat Procrastination

By Campbell Shover  

Procrastination is something that everyone experiences at one point or another. With overwhelming schedules, preoccupation, perfectionism, and anxiety weighing us down, it may become easy to hold off certain tasks.

 Oftentimes, procrastination is linked to poor impulse control and high levels of anxiety. People receive short-term benefits and relief from procrastinating, such as a brief period of reassurance- when a certain task is not on our list of priorities, we don’t need to worry about it at the moment. However, the long-term consequences outweigh the short-term benefits. We tend to hold off on tasks that may seem boring or evoke fear. People with low self-efficacy and a lack of faith in their abilities procrastinate more often. 

So, what can we do to escape periods of procrastination?  “I try to focus on putting myself in a quiet room and taking the time to fully focus on getting tasks done, and make sure to take plenty of breaks in between,” advises So. Chloe Querry. 

A helpful tip from So, Rilynn Spradlin highlights avoiding procrastination before it arises: “I do it as soon as I get the opportunity to, while I’m motivated, so I get it started before I lose motivation.” 

What do the professionals have to say? Psychologists advise keeping your goals in mind. Start by reminding yourself why you should accomplish the tasks, and then outline the benefits of completion. For example, completing a homework assignment aligns with the goal of good grades and reaps the achievements of feeling accomplished, receiving credit for your work, and staying on top of class material. 

Other tips include minimizing distractions, setting and sticking to deadlines, and rewarding yourself for a job well done. It is important to give yourself breaks while working on a large project. To make the task more manageable, try breaking it down into smaller sections and completing them chronologically. 

Whatever you choose to do, it is important to take the first steps, even if it is just baby ones.