The Stevens Memorial Library holds many interesting events for people of all ages. If you are looking to get more involved with the town's library, here are the events taking place at the Stevens Library during the month of February. These events can be found on the library's website.

The NAHS Books for Change club hosted a “Read Aloud” event at Stevens Saturday, Feb. 1. This was a great time that supported young readers, ages 1-8.

On Sunday, Feb. 2, North Andover Reads screened a movie from 2-4:30 p.m., which was Temple Grandin (2010), a biopic starring actress Claire Danes. This film highlighted the life of an autistic woman who became one of the greatest scientists in livestock handling. 

Through Tuesday, Feb. 4, the library held a tiny art show. This opportunity ran during the library’s operating days.  Artists of all ages collected blank canvases and then took them home to paint. Canvases were available in the Children's Room, Teen Room, and Reference Desk.

Every Wednesday, the library holds Tech Help. Librarians can show the basics of your computer or smartphone, social media, how to use Libby, and also how to navigate the library's catalog and databases. Tech Help offers the following session times: 10:30-11 a.m., 11-11:30 a.m., 6-6:30 p.m., and 6:30 - 7 p.m., respectively. Registration is required. 

On Thursday, Feb. 6, the library will present an Ebook demonstration. Staff will discuss how to make your Ebook more accessible by showing you how to download ebooks and audiobooks, how to change the size of the font, and how to use the dyslexic font and more. Registration is required to attend.

On Friday, Feb. 7, the library is hosting a game of Dungeons and Dragons for teens through Grades 5-12. Every skill level is welcome. Space is limited, so register while you can.

Next Sunday, Feb. 9, the library will feature a family movie from 2-4 p.m. The movie being screened will be Transformers One (2024) which will run for 1 hour and 44 minutes. No registration is required.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the library is hosting a Teen Crafternoon from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for Grades 6-12. Attendees will be making cloud dough! This is great for creative types. No registration is required.

That same day, the Stitching Circle will meet from 7-8 p.m. This event is open to knitters, crocheters and sewers at any skill level. You can bring supplies you don't want anymore and put them on the destash table. Stitching Circle is held every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. 

On Sunday, Feb. 16, the library will screen the movie Venom, from 2-4 p.m.  In the film, a reporter gets bonded to an entity who has invaded Earth. This being, however, decides to protect the planet. Come check out this work!

On Tuesday Feb. 18, the library will host Tween Mindful Rock Painting for Grades 6-12. If you're looking for a calming activity to do, stop by the library from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registration is required. 

On Friday, Feb. 21, the library will hold an event to make origami bookmarks from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. After making an over-the-corner bookmark, you can decorate your bookmark however you want. Tweens, teens, and children 8+ are welcome to attend. No registration required.

On Feb. 23, movie lovers can attend another Sunday movie. The library will be playing the movie Conclave from 2-4 p.m. In this film, Cardinal Lawrence gets assigned to lead a gathering of cardinals in selecting a new pope when he finds himself in a conspiracy that could change the foundation of the Catholic Church. No registration is required.

On Monday, Feb. 24, the library will hold a Teen No-Book Book Group from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is not like a regular book group. Teens from Grades 6-12 can come and discuss any of their favorite books with other book lovers instead of talking about a certain book. No registration is required.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the library will host a Family Movie from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Come see Finding Dory (2016). The running time will be 1 hour and 37 min. 

As you can tell, Stevens Memorial Library has many events planned for February, and there is an event for every interest. Be sure to stop by the library!

Are you looking to get more involved with North Andover’s Stevens Memorial Library? Note the December 2024 events geared towards teens, adults, and the whole family as outlined on our town library’s website.

To start off the month, the library will hold a Teen Rainbow Group meeting on Monday, Dec. 2 from 5-6 p.m. The Teen Rainbow Group is an inclusive gathering of LGBTQ+ teens and straight allies. In addition to chatting about LGBTQ+ pop culture and media, the group discusses current events that affect the LGBTQ+ community. There will be a craft to do while everyone is socializing. 

Every Wednesday in December, the library has Tech Help from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. They help with smartphone and computer basics and also social media basics. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Stevens Memorial Library will host a Family Movie event from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The featured film will be the new Despicable Me 4. Enjoy a movie with your family and friends!

On Thursday, Dec. 12, the library is hosting a Teen Dungeons and Dragons game from 3:30-5 pm. Teen players from all skill levels are welcome. Registration is required.

On Monday, Dec. 16, the library is holding a Teen Book Chat from 5-6 pm. Teens will discuss Andrew Yang’s book I'm Not Here to Make Friends. The story follows two girls selected for an all-Asian teen reality show. The producer pits the two against one other for added drama. No registration is required. Collect a copy of this book at the Teen Desk. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the library will host a Teen Crafternoon from 3:30-4:30 p.m. This event offers a new craft each month and, in December, teens will make cozy coasters. This is perfect for any Grade 6-12 student who is creative or likes to do crafts.

Also on Dec. 18, the Stitching Circle will meet from 7-8 p.m. Anyone who crochets, knits, or sews at any skill level can come, chat, and create. Attendees can also bring supplies they don't need for the “destash table.” 

On Sunday, Dec. 22, the library will offer another Family Movie from 2-4 p.m. This time, Frozen will be shown. This is the perfect movie for the winter holidays and is great to watch with relatives and friends. 

The library will close early on Dec. 24 at 12 p.m. for Christmas Eve.

The Stevens Memorial Library holds many gatherings for all ages. There is an event for everyone. If these events sound interesting, stop by Stevens!

With election time quickly approaching, both of our main political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, have been preparing and getting their names out there through various projects. Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump participated in a heated debate on topics such as the economy, climate change, abortion, U.S.-Mexican border security, foreign policy, and more. They also did many other projects, including giving interviews with journalists and reporters and hosting rallies to gain support. 

These two candidates have been known to give each other competition through the polls. In an Oct. 28 article, USA Today shows the race for president is a “dead heat.” It mentions that “polls from CBS and ABC give the vice president a slight edge over former president Trump. The latest poll from TIPP [TIPP Insights], however, found for the third day straight, Trump and Harris were tied at 48%.” CNN concurs, noting some voters seem to like Harris more because of her stronger personal appeal while other voters trust Trump more on handling important issues like the economy and the border. 

Both of these candidates have proven to disagree with each other on many policy issues. For example, the Washington Post reports Harris’s responses on the many issues that face our nation. When she was asked about climate change, Harris called it an “existential threat” and stated that the U.S. needs to act urgently on this issue. She then brought up her experience with attempting to decrease the effects of climate change, remarking that, in 2019, she released a $10 trillion climate plan that would make it so there would be more of an investment in renewable energy. The bill would also hold polluters liable and provide more assistance to those affected by climate change. The Washington Post additionally highlights her work as California’s attorney general regarding environmental violations on oil companies. It also states, “As vice president, she was the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided about $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below their 2005 levels by the end of this decade.” 

In addition to climate change, abortion is another important issue for many Americans. The Washington Post reports that Harris is pro-choice, meaning she supports abortion access. She has firmly rejected efforts like a national abortion ban and the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, a decision that has led many states to ban or severely restrict abortion. Harris uses the overturning of Roe v. Wade against Trump and blames him for the decision, due to the three conservative judges he appointed to the court. She alludes to the idea that he allegedly knew what was going to happen if proposed to vote in favor of or against Roe v. Wade. She has made being pro-choice one of the main highlights of her presidential campaign, emphasizing that Congress needs to pass a national law codifying abortion rights. She has stated she wanted to “reinstate Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.”

Trump’s policy positions have been reported by the BBC. It emphasizes how important the economy is to voters due to the inflation that has caused high housing costs and high food prices. Although inflation has dramatically decreased from its 40-year high in 2022, various polls show that many feel they trust Trump more with the economy rather than his opponents. The outlet also reports that one of Trump’s promises on his website is to “end inflation and make America affordable again.” The BBC reports that Trump plans to bring down costs by expanding the U.S. energy production which could lead to more oil production. His plan to reduce housing costs, specifically, is to deport undocumented immigrants or restrict them from getting mortgages. He has also mentioned “launching a home building programme on federal land.”

As the BBC further reports, immigration is another important issue for him. His main solution back in 2016 was building a wall to decrease the number of illegal border crossings. During the Biden-Harris administration, border crossings hit record numbers in 2023 but have fallen since. In comparison, as of 2017, the U.S.-Mexican illegal border crossings had fallen to a 17-year low. For context, Trump had taken office roughly three months before this was reported by the BBC. In his current presidential campaign, Trump has strongly emphasized he will seal the border by building the wall and he will put more border patrol agents among the border. He has additionally “promised the biggest mass deportations of undocumented migrants in US history.” Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has also made remarks on this topic. Vance said they would start by removing a million undocumented immigrants from the U.S., but experts told BBC that deportations on that level would encounter enormous legal and logistical complications.

These candidates are in strong competition, leading many to expect this election to be close. Who do you think will win? Do you think one is more likely to win over the other?

As North Andover High School (NAHS) seniors approach the end of their tenure here at the high school, they are excited about their Senior Week, the annual tradition of fun-filled activities and trips before graduation with their peers. Senior Week includes activities such as APEX Entertainment, Kimball Farm, and, of course, the Senior Prom. Here’s the breakdown of upcoming events:

Thursday, May 23: Senior bag distribution + KONA Ice Cream Truck

On the final day of classes for seniors, they received their graduation caps and gowns, yearbooks, and other records. Of note, many yearbook pages are dedicated to the seniors for memorial purposes, such as the Senior Superlatives, Class Favorites, and the “Remember When.” The senior and junior editors are proud to have created a work for the seniors to reflect upon each year. The KONA Ice Cream is also a senior favorite. After collecting yearbooks and other records, the seniors went outside and enjoyed snow cones. What better way to celebrate the last day of school on a hot day by cooling down with a snow cone? 

Friday, May 24: APEX Entertainment

Located in Marlborough, MA, APEX offers nothing but fun with bowling, indoor go-karts, over 70 different arcade games, and even laser tag. Seniors can kick off Senior Week competing in laser tag in a two-story arena, going on bumper karts with their friends, and playing VR Rabbids and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

Tuesday, May 27: Kimball Farm

A popular destination for NAHS Seniors, Kimball Farm in Westford, MA buzzes with fun-filled outdoor activities such as mini-carts, bumper boats, batting cages, and more. Seniors can unwind after having fun on their 50 acres of land with some of their 50 different flavors of ice cream, from classic vanilla and chocolate, to a weekly feature like Chocolate Mint Oreo and Peanut Butter Butterfinger. 

Wednesday, May 29: Senior Prom

Inspired by how this special night looks in movies, many high schoolers dream of the perfect prom night: the dress, the scenery, the pictures. This may be one of the highlights of high school. One last night out of fun with friends dressed up and maybe getting down on the dance floor. This year's senior prom will take place at Danversport, a beautiful wedding venue in Danvers, MA with an outdoor balcony. So when seniors are tired from the dance floor and looking for some place quiet to be, or wanting to take pictures of the site, it’s the place to be. 

Senior David Muir commented, “[The prom] should be fun, can’t wait. Going to have a good time with friends. Hopefully the food is good, but yea can’t… good way to [complete] my high school career.” Just like David said, the prom should be a good time. 

On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed legislation that could lead to a nationwide ban of the social media app TikTok. Although many are not happy with the potential ban, does the government have a good reason to force TikTok to be sold or banned? Well, let’s look into this. 

According to TikTok USDS, TikTok is owned by a company called ByteDance, which was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs. As Backlinko reports, TikTok has over 1 billion active users per month, and the app has been downloaded more than 4.1 billion times.  According to Sprout Social, the U.S. has a larger number of users than any other country. 

U.S. lawmakers and many others are concerned about national security risks since TikTok may be connected to the Chinese government. Additionally, there are real fears over TikTok’s algorithm. As Bob Hoose of Plugged In reports, a study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that TikTok’s algorithm can present negative content to children within minutes. 

 As Britannica ProCon.org contends, “TikTok is rife with dangerous misinformation that the government can and should rightly ban. A ‘tough on China’ approach is needed to safeguard the United States and its citizens.”

Although the government seems to have a valid concern, opposition exists. According to Britannica ProCon.org, some people believe that “TikTok is no more a threat than American-owned social media sites that collect and sell user data.”  Others worry that “[s]ingling out China and TikTok for recriminations is xenophobic and rank political theater.” As NPR writes, some legal experts believe a “ban of TikTok without specific evidence violates the First Amendment.”

As you can tell, there are many different points of view concerning the potential TikTok ban. Do you think the TikTok concerns are valid?

Here at NAHS, there are tons of opportunities for students to get involved in STEM-related activities and clubs. We’re all familiar with the Math and Science teams and Robotics.

People may be less familiar with the school’s engineering clubs, especially one that combines engineering and medicine. 

For this reason, I’m introducing the Medical Engineering Club (MedTech),  a club that stands for medical technology. This past November, Sophomore Class Officer Yash Shrivastavaya founded MedTech because he has a growing passion for both the medical field and engineering. Shrivastavaya notes, “I [want] to be able to combine them both and be able to look at real world experiences/problem solving in the combined field.” His goal for the club is to introduce club members to the field of Medical Engineering, its applications, and its significance to healthcare. 

MedTech runs on Early Release Wednesdays after school in Room 2053.

We are excited to announce the return of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). We are a group of students dedicated to making our school community and our fellow students’ lives safer. Recently, we had our first event as a club during Knights Care Week. At lunch, students were able to make a pledge against a destructive decision of their choice. As a club, we created a poster to display these pledges in the cafeteria during the following days.

Our hope is that students will think twice before making destructive decisions. Many people don’t know what destructive decisions are. One of our goals is to educate people on this topic. Destructive decisions can be big choices such as texting and driving, but they can also be small, subconscious decisions such as negative self-talk. 

In the coming weeks leading up to prom, we are starting a positive self-talk campaign that will include posters around school that promote positive affirmations and phrases for our fellow classmates. Negative self-talk is a big issue during prom season, with many people comparing themselves to others as well as body shaming themselves or their peers. We would love to make prom season easier for those who fall victim to this. Be sure to look out for our posters! 

Our meetings are every Tuesday morning at 7:20 in Room 2014. We hope to see you all there! 

@NAHSLibrary
If you have any questions, please see Ms. Bouhanda or email her at bouhandar@northandoverpublicschools.com.

• Massachusetts Association of Student Councils (MASC) coming soon!

• The senior scholarship program is well under way.

• Math Team competition at NAHS

• Before break, people enjoyed the Valentine’s Day Coffee House and STUCO Valentine’s Day “Candy Gram or Rose” fundraiser. 

• The Environmental Club recently had a bake sale fundraiser to help endangered animals. 

• Juniors are talking about the new Ireland field trip scheduled for next year. 

• Current French students are also talking about the trip to the French Riviera next spring!

• The choir is getting ready for its competition in New York. 

• Beauty and the Beast is happening March 1 through March 3!

• Spring registration and spring sports will begin soon. 

• There continues to be a mixed response around school to the new bathroom policy. 

  • Student Council recently discussed pros and cons of the new policy and brainstormed possible solutions.

  • Student Council’s suggestions include:

    • New Pass System involving a laminated pass or online pass accessible via Chromebooks

    • Focusing on one goal from the new bathroom policy could be more effective. Are we trying to fix vaping, cleanliness, vandalism, behavior? Maybe we shouldn’t focus on all of these things at once.

    • Possibly limiting the number of people allowed in bathrooms at a time to minimize issues

    • Student Council to examine underlying issues and work with administration to build community and focus on issues (e.g., student respect, responsibility, addiction, behavior, relationships with staff and administration)

Our school bustles with anticipation for this Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3.  Everyone eagerly awaits the red velvet curtains rising on this year’s winter musical production, Beauty and the Beast. In the little town of North Andover, the audience will find themselves right along Gaston (played by Ben Tanaki ‘24), the Beast (played by Sam Chittick ‘24), and Belle (played by Kylie Sawyer ‘26), with characters and an ensemble well-known and loved.  

This is no bippity-boppity-boo magic but the hard work of dedicated Drama Guild members.  The two co-officers, Sam Chittick and Cat Spinosa, provide a sneak peek about what it’s like being a member of the Drama Guild.  Sam Chittick, actor for the Beast, notes, “It’s ultimately about self-expression, showing your ability and showing your skills… it’s a great way to meet people who have similar interests as you.”  Cat Spinosa, costume coordinator, and actress for Madame De La Grande Bouche, adds, “I definitely think it’s a great way to make friends and it’s not all about acting.  There’s different opportunities you can do within the club, like stage and tech.”   

For the cast and crew, the closing curtains of this year’s winter musical will be, as the title song goes, “Bittersweet and strange,” and a beautiful moment to remember.  Yet, “Certain as the sun, rising in the east,” auditions for the Spring Play will most likely follow the week after, bringing everyone back together for another round of applause, and, hopefully, new members.  Whether you attend this Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m., or Sunday at 2 p.m., be a guest and buy a ticket with the link below.  

For any questions, reach out to the officers, Cat Spinosa and Sam Chittick, as well as the administrator, Ms. Looney.  

It’s a tale as old as time, but this time, by the NAHS’s Drama Guild, Beauty and the Beast. 

Ticket links: https://gofan.co/app/school/MA14668_1?fbclid=PAAaYdvo-TI__X-yfcWxWlxuJyRkBupoIbbb74tAI6DYNIBjv2MrOAXOTO-0g_aem_AbG7MWegyQUqShZBVJ5DTGtbqTDTe2KCmIf9HAoMv2lWPQjK0d2aGp5fF1NryrJIPG8  

Entering high school can be challenging. Certain subjects can be more demanding for others and English can often be difficult for students. Ms. Hirsch is an English teacher at North Andover High School (NAHS) and teaches predominantly freshmen. Her #1 goal is growth.

Ms. Hirsch has been here for 5 years in total and started when she was in her graduate school fellowship to then come in full-time. During that time she tried to figure out where she fit. She experimented with teaching all 4 grades which was a little chaotic to start with, but by doing this she then discovered she wanted to teach 9th grade. “I was gravitating towards teaching freshmen because I liked the material and getting to know all the new students entering high school and seeing them grow up,” said Hirsch. 

She also teaches a senior class and has students that she had as a freshman years ago. She likes seeing the growth and building relationships with students early on and seeing their progress. 

Outside of school, she enjoys reading and joining book clubs with friends. She started to build a passion for reading throughout college that wasn't school-related since she only read for school and that is something she's kept up with, and makes her happy now. She also works as a dance teacher for all grades. “I love the creativity that comes with it,” says Hirsch. She teaches all grades for dance so she has variety.

“My favorite part of teaching, in general, is the students and the fact that every hour I see 20 new people. I'm never bored, very chatty, and love to hear different ideas and perspectives. I love that every class and hour is different,” she says.  “For English, I think reading the stories is the best way to build empathy as a person reading about experiences similar to your own can help understand people so much better. I love facilitating discussions where people can help exercise that empathy. Hopefully, you will learn something new from your classmates and myself when teaching or discussing.” 

Her inspiration came from being extremely realistic as a child. So when asked the classic ‘What are you gonna be when you grow up?’ she answered with “A teacher and a dance teacher in addition, and I'm doing it which is pretty funny.” She doesn't recall where it came from but she thinks she always wanted to be a teacher no matter what level or age group.  She never took AP English due to her love of the subject area so much that she wanted to branch out to the more fun and creative side of things she fell in love even more. 

“My junior year English teacher allowed us to drive discussions ourselves and just be creative with it and think differently than we might if we were thinking with the old basic structure. I wanted to talk to kids about books and see their sides so I pursued it. I didn't think about the grading papers part of it but it's worth it,” she said. She knew she always wanted to teach but that solidified what she was going to teach. As far as her Honors class goes, “The material is on par in terms of where your grade level is and what challenges you look for. I think when it comes to expectations that's when they become high. I want you to feel productively challenged and use your brain in a different way than casually when reading or viewing things. I think the material itself depends on how you take it,” says Hirsch. 

Ava Portnoy, a student in Hirsch's 9th grade Honors class at NAHS said, "She's super nice and sweet and she's a great teacher. I think she makes interesting lesson plans and keeps them on point and concise. It's not confusing. My favorite was the Hunger Games unit and all of the questions she would ask us and how we were interpreting the chapter. I loved that way of teaching.” She later also stated, “For me the class is a 3/10 difficulty, she keeps it engaging and interesting while making an extremely comfortable space by being able to do things before class to get our thoughts on paper and she makes an effort to talk about some of the students' interests because she is genuinely intrigued by what we have to say, making it a fun class to go to. She also provides very strong materials to help us comprehend better when writing or reading.” 

Another 9th-grade NAHS Honors student Elizabeth James commented, “For an Honors period probably a 3/10. I find it easy and it's my favorite class. The hardest part is thinking deeply and putting thoughts into words which I enjoy doing. I think she makes the class easier because she encourages students to share their thoughts which shows a deeper understanding of whatever we are talking about.” She also said, “I love having Ms Hirsch as a teacher. I think she gives students something to think about when they are reading and is very helpful when we are writing because he gives formats to our reading which I find very helpful. Ms. Hirsch helps the class be more enjoyable because the things we do to learn are enjoyable, and while we are learning we can communicate with one another.” 

Not only do students love her but so do her co-workers. Ms. Bowler is a 9th-grade journalism teacher at NAHS. “I would say Ms. Hirsch is very supportive and she's very collaborative and she's a very good listener. I think those are her strong suits,” said Bowler. “She wants to work with other people she wants to share her stuff with students and hear their stories too she just wants to create a good experience much like she does for her students.” Ms. Bowler was then asked if she believes Ms. Hirsch is passionate about her job and responded, "Very. Ms. Hirsch is a little younger than me but I go to her for everything because she's so driven and passionate and I feel like she knows so much and can teach me so much every week which is a testament to how good she is at her job." 

In general, if you're entering high school, let alone Ms. Hirsch's English class, don't worry. She doesn’t expect perfection. “The goal is growth so prioritize growth and how far you are and how far you've gotten when it comes to any class and just high school life,” said Hirsch. “Know what you bring to the table. Do your best and bring your best every day, and see where that takes you rather than trying to fit into a mold that isn't going to serve you.” 

• North Andover High School Scholarship Program scholarships have increased ($225,000 from local businesses and organizations).

• Science Team Meet on Feb. 13

• NHS Blood Drive on Feb. 17 from 9 - 2 p.m. at the Grace Point Church

• Student Council Bake Sale was very successful!

• At the start of Semester 2, the new bathroom policy started where only the middle bathrooms in the school are unlocked. There’s been a mix of opinions on this topic. Vandalism and vaping in the bathrooms seem to have decreased recently. 

• Recent "School Delay" and "No School" Days: People were very happy because of the extra time to themselves in the morning.

• Sports:

  • Boys' and Girls' Basketball, Indoor Track, Wrestling, Winter Cheer, and Hockey are all doing well!

• The Transition Night for 8th graders was held on Feb. 5 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

• School fire alarms went off a lot in the fall and are now being reworked. 

• The Drama Guild held its cabaret recently as a fundraiser for the musical in March. Students performed many popular musical theater songs, and it was a lot of fun!

I find her sometimes

In crooked hallways 

Or crooked teeth

Shirts from the 2000s

With tank-tops underneath

I find her at a lunch table 

with a diary where she keeps

Doodles of sideway faces

And poems about how skies weep

She wrote them crooked from the tilt of her paper sheets

I find it funny the way she holds her papers

Never straight and sometimes creased

No matter her posture or table or seat

She holds her papers exactly 23.5 degrees

I find her sometimes

In the depths of my dreams

Where I lost my retainer 

And twisted my teeth

Sometimes I find her

In the Christmas list that reads:

"Everyone has black leggings, 

I think I need these."

"I want sweaters with simple words

And white drawstrings."

She wrote them crooked from the tilt of her paper sheets.

And I find myself thinking

What if it wasn’t her posture or table or seat

What if it was the Earth

That was tilted 23.5 degrees?

That every face that she comes across

And every person she’ll ever meet

Is sideways and crooked

With tight jaws and straight teeth

Today, I found her diary where she keeps

Doodles of sideway faces

And poems about how skies weep

And I cry because I know 

That one day she'll leave

And in her place

Will be me.  

Author’s Note:  As I look back on the seventeen years of my existence, I become nostalgic for simpler days.  It’s an unidentifiable emotion, somewhere between bitter and sweet.  This poem is dedicated to those grieving for a time in their lives to which they can never return.

Wow! It is already the last week of the regular season of the NFL! We have seen amazing comebacks, shocking upsets, and surprising records. There have also been many astonishing games, like the Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. According to ESPN.com, before the game, the Eagles were favorites by 12.5 points, and the result ended with the Cardinals defeating them by 4 points. 

A few breathtaking comebacks in the 2023 season were the Denver Broncos @ Chicago Bears. ESPN.com reports that Denver trailed by 21 points in the 3rd quarter but came back strong scoring 24 more points with a final score of 31-28. Another astonishing comeback occurred during a divisional game, Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs were behind by 14 points in the 2nd quarter but came back to score a whopping 31 points with a final score of 31-17. 

Some astounding upsets included the Houston Texans @ New York Jets. ESPN.com reports that the Texans were favorites by 3.5 points and the Jets defeated them by 24 points with a final score of 6-30. Another appalling upset was on Thanksgiving with the Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions. According to ESPN.com, before the game, the Lions were favorites by 8.5 points but ended up being defeated by 7 points. The final score was 29-22. 

Last but not least, many were also stunned by some teams' current records. For example, many are surprised by the Houston Texans’ record, especially considering they have a rookie quarterback. As of Week 18, their record is 9-7. Another astonishing record are the Baltimore Ravens. As of Week 18, their record is 13-3. According to NFL.com, they are currently the AFC favorite to be in the Super Bowl and are the number one seed in the AFC. 

What are your thoughts on the regular season? Whose record are you surprised by?

(Now through December 17)

Please see details in the accompanying flyer. 

When it comes to school events such as Homecoming or sports games, it seems a lot of the school is uninformed or confused about the details such as times or locations of these events. Student Council President, Makenna Dube, has done some thinking and talking with other Student Council members on how to maximize correct information and attendance of such school events being spread in ways that won’t be forgotten. 

At Homecoming this year, only about 700 tickets were sold, which is about 53.9% of all students at North Andover High School. Dube said the Student Council board has plans to increase knowledge about these events. 

“This has been a topic of much debate recently and we are working on increasing publicity through exposure to our Instagram account, which has information about upcoming events,” said Dube. Moreover, the Student Council wants to spread event information through means additional to Mr. Jackson’s weekly emails, mentioning how they suspect many students don’t [sufficiently] read or acknowledge them. “I believe we lost the ability to increase sales even more than last year,” she continued.

Dube also mentioned that a lot of juniors and seniors said they didn’t attend Homecoming because they had SAT testing the morning after, saying that going to the dance might tire them out the day they were supposed to take the test. In the future they will try to plan it on a day that is more suitable for all students.

Senior and girls’ volleyball captain Katherine Crateau said she was disappointed by the date and time of Homecoming. 

“The first time I heard about Homecoming was through my teammates and that it was right after one of my games,” she said. Crateau felt the timing was unfair for students with sports. “Most fall sports had games beforehand which made it very inconvenient to go straight from a game to the high school,” she said. “For me personally, I only had 30 minutes to go home from my volleyball game, shower, do my makeup, put on my dress, and go back to the school before the doors closed, which was very stressful.”

Overall, perhaps better planning and considerations should be utilized the next time a dance or event is organized, giving students the time and leniency they need to enjoy their time at dances made for them.

• STUCO Thanksgiving Food Drive - Mr. Dellechiaie got most donations with over 100 donations so he got “turkeyed” which means he had to wear a turkey onesie the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The food drive had a total of 306 donations. 

• NEMASC (North East Region of Student Councils) conference at North Andover high school a few weeks ago. Lots of fun, delegates from each school came to present their cool workshops they’ve been working on and there was Rob Surrette who came as the keynote speaker. 

• STUCO Elves will start soon. In this activity, student council volunteer to clean teacher’s rooms during the holidays to show appreciation.

• Science team 1st place for November

• Robotics triple crown in November 18 competition, taking home excellence, tournament champions, and skills champions - first NA team ever to receive three awards at one comp

• Alex Havemeyer selected as 8th grade Project 351 ambassador

• Plymouth State University on the spot decision meeting

• College-bound Juniors Night on January 9 - Through this opportunity, juniors and their parents will hear from college admissions counselors and guidance counselors about the application process.

• NHS Induction Night happened a few weeks ago on November 15 with over 100 inductees from the junior and senior class.

• Winter sports are starting with boys' and girls' basketball, indoor track, wrestling, gymnastics and ski team starting up for the season.

In an upcoming issue, please visit our "Senior Spotlights" page for exciting news about the Class of 2024. 

In the meantime, enjoy these wise words from three of last year's seniors, Senior Class President Hannah Martin, Salutatorian Jenny Bartlett, and Valedictorian Leo Nachamie.

You might be hearing many unpleasant accusations about former President Donald Trump on the news. Trump was indicted or formally charged with a crime on Aug. 1, 2023 for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol incident. During the attack, which followed Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election, the U.S. Capitol building was stormed by upset Trump supporters, some wielding guns and other weapons. Some protesters chanted “Hang Pence,” referring to Trump’s vice president Michael Pence. People may wonder, “Why did this attack happen? Why is a former president being indicted?” This article will explore these questions. 

When Trump found out he was defeated by our current President, Joseph Biden, he did not believe it. He claimed the election was fixed. Many supporters agreed with him, but there were also citizens who found this claim insulting to the election system. In early Jan. 2021, the vice president was scheduled to go to the Capitol Building and preside over a Congressional session to confirm the presidential election results. According to The New York Times, Trump wanted Pence to stop the electoral college count. Pence refused. Later, at Trump’s rally, Trump discussed this situation with his supporters. 

According to NPR, Trump said, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.” He also told his supporters, “Republicans are constantly fighting like a boxer with his hands tied behind his back. It’s like a boxer. And we want to be so nice. We want to be so respectful of everybody, including bad people. And we’re going to have to fight much harder.”

Trump watched footage on TV of crowds approaching the Capitol. Some read this tweet, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done,” as encouraging violence. Shortly thereafter, protesters broke into the Capitol building to find Mike Pence. Congress members had to stop their duties and hide. Capitol police locked down the Senate and House chambers. 114 Capitol police were injured, and five people died after the incident. 

After the storming of the Capitol, Pence declared Biden as President-elect. According to the Associated Press, Pence, later on, acknowledged he “did not have the power to unilaterally throw out electoral college votes as Trump and some of his attorneys had wrongly insisted.” This statement was believed to anger Trump and some supporters. 

The January 6 riot was widely covered on the news. There was much discussion about the repercussions of Trump’s actions and words. Two and a half years later, Trump was indicted on multiple counts, including alleged interference in the 2020 election. He is the first president to be indicted for criminal charges.

As The New York Times reports, Trump’s other federal indictment case is the document case. He possessed top-secret documents and information that were not returned when he finished his presidency; he is charged with deliberately concealing these items. Trump’s home in Mar-a-Largo, Fla. was raided in August 2022, and 27 classified documents, including six documents that were at the highest level of classification, were seized.

Trump’s other two indictments are at the state level: Georgia and New York. CBS News reports that, in the Georgia case, he is accused of pressing the Georgia secretary of state to “find 11,780 votes” to try to say he won the presidential election against Joe Biden. Additionally, an investigation is currently examining whether fake electors were used in Georgia. According to CNN, in the New York indictment case, Trump is accused of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. 

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all four cases. 

While our former president faces serious legal trouble, do you think he will go to prison? This is an unprecedented story. It’s important we consider multiple viewpoints on this developing topic.