Embedded Files
PHS Poll Predicts Next President?
by Donovan D'Attanasio
The Titan Times took a poll from each grade asking who they would rather have as the President of the United States: Trump or Harris. Donald Trump was favored in the poll in all but the sophomore class. Some responses gathered from students were "he went golfing with Bryson Dechambeau and Kamala did not" and "He got shot and got back up." People that voted for Harris had responses such as "she has aura" and "The superior choice. Not a conman. Not a convicted felon." The below pie charts indicate results, with blue blue indicating Harris and red indicating Trump.
Freshman class
Freshman class
Sophomore class
Sophomore class
Junior class
Junior class
Senior class
Senior class
Pembroke Prankster Strikes Again
by Luke Lamar & Marty Ward
Recent occurrences in Pembroke have PHS students shocked, after experiencing indirect encounters with an individual known as the infamous “Pembroke prankster.” Although the name suggests only one individual, those who have been "pranked", suspect a group of mischievous individuals behind escapades on PHS seniors.
Late last year, senior Christopher Doyle woke up with numerous political signs in his front yard, unknownst to the culprit or their motivations. For the next two weeks, pranks took over the Doyle household. One week he was egged, and the next, hundreds of bananas were scattered across his front yard. This was the first known stunt pulled by the prankster. After these occurrences, Chris and individuals close to him theorized that these pranksters ended their thrill-seeking stunts. However, early this school year, the pranksters seemed to make an impactful return and executed mischievous pranks on PHS seniors.
On September 7th, at around 1:00 AM, senior Allie Dwyer had her car ”Cheesed." One week later, on September 14th, Seniors Bella Cucci and Drew Anderlionis were also pranked. Cucci reported having around 30 political yard signs scattered across the lawn lining her driveway, and Anderlionis reported having a rude statement written on his back windshield with a paint marker.
The next encounter with this so-called “Prankster” was the night subsequent. Senior Jayden Leonard woke up one morning prior to school with pounds of silly string sprayed all over his car. Leonard cleaned the car as best he could, still making the 7:30 morning bell for school, and rendering a tremendous inconvenience to his morning schedule. The prank spree that followed this night "hit" at least two more houses. They traveled to senior Michael Perez’s car. In this prank, they used the same paint marker on Anderlionis's car to write “For Sale $1000” on Perez’s car. These pranksters went to Cucci’s house again and appeared to douse confetti cannons throughout her driveway and reactivate their previous silly string prank. Cucci woke up the next morning with her car covered in silly string and her vehicle and driveway littered with thousands of confetti pieces.
The last known prank that this mischievous group of people had accomplished took place at Sean Tracey's house, "egging" his dad's car while Tracey was attending a Patriots game one Sunday evening.
Many seniors in Pembroke have been confused about the motive of these stunts and ask themselves "Why?". The person, or people doing this, are still anonymous, but many have preconceived notions and are beginning to point fingers at various people around the school.
The aftermath of the cheese on Dwyer's car.
Photo by Allie Dwyer
Bella Cucci's driveway after the incident.
Photo from Bella Cucci.
Remnants from the incidents that Cucci gathered.
Photo from Bella Cucci
Drama Club Prepares for Footloose
Drama Club Prepares for Footloose
by Payton Kiefer
The Drama Club is back again with a new musical, 'Footloose', coming December 5-7! Footloose is about a boy named Ren McCormack who moves to a town named Bomont, where dancing is illegal. Ren and his friend are working hard to make dancing legal set in the 1980's.
Over the past couple of months, the Drama Club has been working hard to put together a musical for students to perform and express their musical abilities.
Senior Daniel Noguer has the role of Ren McCormack. According to Noguer, “The show features more dancing than we have done in the past, which is part of the reason for the extended time we have to prepare for it.” Not only is the musical coming together, but the crew as well. Noguer says, “Although the routine is rigorous, everyone's positive attitude makes it seem less difficult.” Noguer has been performing since he was six, but started theater his freshman year, “It was a long road to get to where I am, but I wouldn’t trade away any of it, as it is part of who I am.”
Senior Devon Vitale has the role of Rusty. According to Vitale, “We are very ahead of schedule. We just finished learning all of the music and are almost done with the choreography/blocking.” Throughout Vitale’s 7 years of theater, being Rusty in Footloose is the biggest role she has achieved. In preperation of the role, she has “Been pushing to work extra hard,” improving upon her singing ability and overall confidence to make her the performer she is today. Vitale has been feeling a mix of emotions for opening night, “I'm obviously super excited to show everyone what we have been working on all year! But I also get nervous before the shows, especially opening night.”
The club has 35 students in the cast and 11 students in stage crew. Both the cast and crew have been working tirelessly so they can make this musical the best yet. All 46 students are working hard to make this a great show.
Trunk or Treat
by JoLeah Dacey
Trunk or Treat was held on Monday, October 28th, between 4:30 and 6 p.m. The event was run by Key Club, NHS, and Student Council. A large number of parents and children attended, but mostly the teachers brought their kids to this event. They were having so much fun getting the treats from the cars and doing all of the activities in the cafeteria. There were about 10 cars that were giving out candy.
Some available activities were donuts on a string, pumpkin painting, and face painting. They also had regular games, like Jenga, corn hole, and more. The students who helped with the trunk or treat part also had an incredible time considering, they could decorate their cars with anything Halloween-related.
The trunk or treat event is run, according to Student Council Advisor Ms. Walls, because “Of the connection of the community." They also like to do it because they like to donate some of the profits they have to the food pantry, especially near the holidays. They raised about $200 this year. Each club receives a portion of the money, the student council will be giving the entirety of their portion to the Food Pantry.
According to Miss Walls, the goal of this event was to help “Students connect with the younger population in the community”
The clubs will be distributing the profits and donating half of them to the Firehouse Food Pantry, Key Club, and the National Honors Society.
Photo by Tyler Kan
Photo by Tyler Kan
Boyce Family Fundraisers Held
Boyce Family Fundraisers Held
by Cam Fryar
In September of 2024, the Boyce family of Pembroke sadly lost both their father, Tim Boyce, and brother, Mason Boyce, within a very short period of time. Mason Boyce was a Pembroke High School Graduate from the class of 2022 and was very well known around the school.
Throughout high school, Mason played various sports, such as basketball, lacrosse, and football. Despite the abundance of extracurriculars, basketball remained his passion throughout his entire childhood. Since the third grade, Mason had loved and played the sport of basketball. His sister, Heather Boyce, a Class of 2024 graduate, recalls how some of her most fond memories of her brother were playing basketball as kids. However, as he grew older, he began to love football as well- perhaps even more than he loved basketball. He played football for a few of his high school years, and even played in a men's league following graduation. Outside of sports, Mason was a hardworking man who was just like his father- hands-on and helpful to the family company whenever needed.
Tim Boyce, Heather and Mason’s father , was a hardworking and driven individual. After graduating high school, he attended a trade school, eventually realizing his passion and following his heart. He dropped out of trade school early in order to open his own flooring business, titled “Tims Floor Covering.” Mr. Boyce was consistently a family man; he strived to be the best dad that he could be for his kids. When Heather and Mason were little, Mr. Boyce would take them to auctions, and subsequently the lego store, spending quality time assembling the lego set they had bought together. Boyce loved his children dearly, and also taught them how to play pool.
Due to the short period of both these deaths, individuals, such as Mikayla Horvath, a class of 2024 graduate, have begun fundraisers to help raise money for the costs of the Celebration of Life ceremony and financial support the Boyce family may need. A fundraiser, started by one of Heather's best friends Mikayla Horvath, is selling bracelets for $3, extending all proceeds toward the Boyce family. A GoFund Me page has also been started, where donations can be accepted to support the family. Any donations are greatly appreciated and we wish to raise as much money as possible for the Boyce Family During this very difficult time.
The Boyce family pictured above. Mason and Heather graduated from PHS.
Bracelet Order Form
Go Fund Me
Ms. Elfilai and our french visitors enjoying the International Cafe
Picture Courtesy of Ms. Elfilali
First International Cafe Held
by Navina Bekheit
Our school recently held an event that has never been held before- An international café. On October 17, countries from all over the world were represented by flags, food, and cultural specialties.
People from the town of Pembroke visited this event, experiencing the commodities of what our school had planned. Parents, students, and teachers all attended, with a special visit from french exchange students who were attending PHS that week. The event ran from 6-8pm, however it was unexpectedly shut down early due to the popularity of the event.
According to the teacher in charge and coordinator of the event, Ms. Elfilali, there were nothing but raving remarks regarding the cafe. Elfilali recalled her favorite part as being, “the togetherness”. She mentioned how as she looked around at everyone, witnessing joy and excitedness through the exchange of a smile. This event truly brought the whole community together. “It was a major success” , Elfilali stated, continuing to express her enthusiasm for Principal Talbot’s recognition of the event through a school announcement. Talbot congratulated everyone who participated and stated what a wonderful event it was.
Senior Veronia Awad also had a litany of positive notes regarding the international café.
Awad helped in running the Egypt table, stating her enjoyment of the event, and remarking on returning post-graduation if it runs again. “It was so much fun, I really enjoyed walking around.”
One teacher in particular who played a crucial role in the cafe’s success was Spanish teacher Mr. Silva. Mr. Silva ran a total of 5 tables, including, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Cuba. He stated that although it was a great challenge, he would definitely do it again. He stated how despite Pembroke’s size, iit was impressive to see how many countries were represented. Silva hopes to include more in the future, although applauds the success of the starting representation. Silva even went as far as to say, “I think it was the first time for this but it’s forever, I would be happy to continue”.
The “plan”, according to Ms. Elfilali, is to continue this event for as long as possible and create a tradition of representation and celebration. It truly brought the community together in a world that has so many contradicting opinions and beliefs. PHS hopes to continue this for years to come.
Seniors to Enter Military
by Neil Ward
After high school, there are several options: going to college or a vocational program, taking a bridge year, entering the workforce, or serving in the military.
There are 4 PHS seniors who are in the military already or thinking about it: Marley Knox, Ben Dixon, Alex Fontaine, and Colin Saunders.
Saunders said, "I chose the Marine Corps due to their ability to create leaders and people who can protect those who can't protect themselves. I always respected the idea of joining any branch of the military, but the Marines, are the first ones in and the last ones out. I feel taking the opportunity to help others as much as I can is the best way for me to thrive in my life."
Knox said, “I’ve wanted to join the military for quite some time now. My family is a big military family, mostly consisting of the Marines and Army. My grandfather is a Marine and fought in Vietnam. In around 5th or 6th grade, he told me there was a band in the military and that’s where it began. Ever since then, being in the Marine Corps band has been my dream, I play trumpet.” Knox is passionate about serving her country and continuing to be involved in music.
Fontaine said, “The part of the military I was interested in was the Army's Infantry. I joined the infantry for the Army because they are the nation's protectors and I have always liked guns and shooting at the range because I was good at it. There is a lot of respect towards the infantry because they are doing all the grunt work overseas such as combative missions to save Middle Eastern countries from terrorists. I always wanted to be an 'Army man' and my definition of that was the guy that shoots back at the enemy.” He shows how bravery is a key factor in joining the military.
The adjustment from high school to the military will obviously be a big one. Dixon said, “While I think at first it will be hard to adjust I think that over time it will become easier and easier as most things will eventually just become a habit and become normal to me.” He explained that joining the military is a hard choice because when people join they are leaving their family and friends behind to fight for their country.
A big shout-out to these four students for what they have done so far and what they are going to do in the future.
Menendez Brothers attend one of their murder trials
Photo credit Sky News
Recent mugshot's of the Menendez Brothers, 35 years into their sentence.
Photo credit DNyuz
Frenzy Over the Menendez Brothers
Frenzy Over the Menendez Brothers
by Kaitlyn Baio
For the past few months, a new resurgence of the Menendez Case has caused new evidence to come to surface, leading the two brothers to have a retrial. New documentaries, tiktok, and TV shows had introduced a new generation to the brothers’ case, where people who were not even alive at the time of the case are fighting and pleading for the brothers' freedom. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon pleaded a petition to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez, opening a possibility for parole after serving 35 years in a life sentences for the murder of their parents.
Why are the brothers in prison? On August 20, 1989, two famous brothers, formally known as the Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez shot and killed their parents in their Beverly hills home. The Menendez were known in the Beverly Hills area for their wealth, good family dynamic, and great success in business by their father, Jose. Jose worked at Hertz and had high success in the music industry prior to his death. The father of the two, Jose Menendez, is allegedly responsible for assaulting his two children. As their mother, Kitty Menendez, allegedly knew about the assault whilst it was happening, but did not do anything to stop it. The case began to gain traction as people began to question why the brothers did it, and what could’ve been going so wrong. A common claim was that the brothers wanted access to the family's high wealth and business enterprise.
The case rose to fame in 1989 because of Hollywood connections, family drama, and being one of the first televised testimony. The popularity of the case made conflicting opinions of what the brothers should be convicted for. Taking place shortly after the OJ Simpson case had risen to fame, Erik and Lyle Menendez were granted a second trial. This trial was different though, because they were not allowed to use any evidence from their past assault, and were not allowed to use evidence from them being sexually abused and assaulted from their parents, setting them up for a conviction. The judge banned any forms of evidence of sexual assault due to embarrassment and humiliation after the OJ trial did not work in his favor. After the two trials took place, the brothers were convicted of murder in 1989 and are serving life in prison without the possibility of parole. They have been in prison for about 35 years, and may have a chance for freedom as early as Thanksgiving 2024.
Titan Market's New Digs
Titan Market's New Digs
by Jack Eva
Pembroke High School’s Titan Market is officially reopened, elevated in more ways than one.
Pembroke’s new business teacher, Mrs. Lang along with DECA CEO Katherine Jasie, have completely transformed the Titan Market, adding new items and moving it to a new location.
The Titan Market can now be found in the art hallway on the third floor of Pembroke High School, with the addition of a slew of new items to the menu, such as freshly baked cookies, mac and cheese, and a large variety of new drinks and snacks. Early feedback suggests that mac and cheese has quickly become a fan favorite, despite being the most expensive item on the menu.
After trying it for the first time, junior Trevor Falk told employees “This is the best mac and cheese I have ever had. What a great menu addition!”
The new Titan Market location includes a couch, themed lighting, a microwave, and more, which was all added to improve the market as a whole. It gives students a vibrant spot to wait on their mid-day snacks.
Students have responded fondly to the new Titan Market, with Senior Jayden Leonard stating “It is a great spot, and the kids do an awesome job splitting the responsibilities to speed up the process.” With anywhere from 2-5 staff employees working at one time, efficiency is the main goal to start off the year.
Titan market manager Elise McKillop says “We are trying to incorporate more items and keep adding specials to make it more exciting and keep up with customer interaction.” Inside sources say that dinosaur chicken nuggets are on the way and will be ready as soon as this week. The Titan Market is also planning on adding a number of new items as the year progresses in order to improve the experience of its customers.
Titan Market behind the scenes
Photo by Jack Eva
AI in Schools Sparking Debate
by Arden Bliss
A senior in Hingham Massachusetts is currently involved in a lawsuit against Hingham High School after he faced repercussions for allegedly using AI on a project. The student claims that he was not aware that he could not utilize AI and that failing the assignment dropped his GPA, making him unable to join NHS or apply for Ivy League schools. This situation has brought more attention to the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom and has raised concerns that the "new generation" is dependent on using AI to pass classes. But has this controversial topic been seen at PHS?
Mr. Talbot, the principal at Pembroke High School, says that he has noticed an influx of students apprehended for using AI on essays and other assignments, “ I think like every other school we are muddying through it.” In the last few years, different social media platforms, such as Snapchat, have been adding new AI features that are easily accessible for every user, making it easier for students to plagiarize through AI.
With cases of AI use skyrocketing all across the country, Mrs. Talbot, an English teacher here at PHS, says that there are growing concerns that students will depend on using artificial intelligence when writing essays in class. In lieu of this, Talbot has begun to find other ways for students to complete their work, “Yes, I do worry about that which is why I have students doing a lot more handwriting instead of on the computer.” Mrs. Talbot has also been making students aware of how she checks for AI, in the hopes that they would reconsider using it, “I have also tried to show them how I check for plagiarism, so I think letting them know that I’m aware of it also makes them aware that they shouldn’t be using it.”
In the PHS Student Handbook, AI is categorized under plagiarism. This means that when students first get caught, they will fail the assignment, get a warning, and adults at home will be notified. After a student is caught a third time, they will lose credit for the course, and be unable to participate in auriculars for the year, following a conference between caregivers at home and administrators.
While some people believe that students are unaware of how it is unethical to use AI on schoolwork, Mr. Talbot believes that students are aware of it, “I want us to stop the nonsense that says kids don’t know when they can and when they can’t. I think that’s insulting to kids. Our kids are smart and they know when they are cheating and when they are not.”
Tuition Waved at Community Colleges
Tuition Waved at Community Colleges
by Joey Dauphinee
This upcoming year, Congratulations are in order..
Noteworthy news for the class of 2025 and years to come: all Massachusetts community colleges have announced that any student accepted to those colleges will not have to pay.
Senior Joe Butler said, “I think its awesome, I'm not going down the community college route anymore, but I for sure was thinking about it, because it such a great opportunity to advance with your academics for no costs.”
Senior Andrew Hancock says “i can't wait to take advantage of this opportunity because cost was a big part I had in mind for school but if I go to community college I won't have to think about it.”
Sophs and Juniors Take PSATs
Sophs and Juniors Take PSATs
By Michael Sears
In high school, the SATs are arguably the most important test students will take. However, students are required to take a test beforehand that will help them prepare for the SATs. As fall approaches, sophomores and juniors recently took the Preliminary SATs. The PSAT is a test that assesses students’ math and English skills. If students perform well enough, they have the opportunity to receive the National Merit Scholarship, which gives them $2,500 towards their college education. The test serves essentially as a practice for the SATs and the SATs could potentially determine whether or not you have the opportunity to get into certain colleges.
The PSATs occurred throughout the first three periods of the school day on Tuesday, October 29. However, they were nearly postponed to the following Thursday after the school experienced issues with the wifi. They were scheduled to last two hours and forty-five minutes. The test consisted of two sections; the reading and writing section, as well as the math section. The exam was taken on the college board website.
Students were expected to bring a fully charged Chromebook, a calculator, and a pencil. Additionally, students could bring a Chromebook charger as well as a snack. Phones and earplugs weren’t allowed to be used during the test.
Not only do the PSATs allow students to potentially obtain scholarships, but they also serve as great practice for the SATs. Although the two tests are nearly identical, there are a few differences between the two. The PSATs are fifteen minutes shorter and don’t include an essay. Besides this, the two tests are the same. If students do well on the SATs, they can obtain scholarships and get into great schools. For juniors, they will take the actual SATs in the spring of this year in local schools. They are scheduled to take about 3 hours. Juniors will also have the opportunity to take them again in the fall of next year in an attempt to try and get a better score.
The test received mixed reviews, especially on the breaks in between sections.
“The test itself was very easy,” said junior Kyle Tracy. “They should give us more breaks though.”
“It was harder to sit and wait and not move ahead when I finished a section,” said sophomore Daniel Gallagher.
Students felt mixed on the numerous breaks in between sections. Each section of the PSAT gave students a 30-minute timer. Once students finished each section, they would receive a break for however much time was left on the timer. While some students seemed to enjoy the breaks and wanted more of them, others felt like it was a setback.
Although they serve as nothing more than practice, the PSATs are still important. They serve as the best practice for SATs, and provide some Junior students with scholarships. This test should be taken seriously by everyone, as it comes with a lot of advantages.
Today's Slang Explained
Today's Slang Explained
by Brianna Palmer
Forget all of the textbook terminology; high school students have created their own unique language to articulate their daily experiences. From words that affirm their friends' outfit choices to descriptions of food, the evolving lingo isn’t just a form of slang, but a cultural revolution. Here is your guide to understanding what students actually are saying.
With each new school year, high school students' slang changes. While some words acquire new connotations, others slowly drift into the past. Whether its an acknowledgment, a new way to say hello to a friend, these words help students build connections with their fellow peers. Here are some of the more popular slang words used today:
Bet: An agreement or affirmation.
Slay: To do something exceptionally well
Drip: A sense of style that stands apart from the crowd.
Skibidi Toilet: good, bad, evil
Tweaking: acting irrational, overreacting, or doing something strange.
Crash Out: To get aggressively angry at something or someone.
Cap: A lie or an exaggeration, “no cap” means to not lie.
Bussin: Used to describe something great, usually food.
Rizz/Rizzler: Used to describe someone with a charming or flirtatious aura.
NPC: Someone who lacks originality.
Sigma: Male who is popular but who separates himself from the crowd (a loner).
Ghosting: Cutting off communication without explanation.
Simp: Someone who does way too much for the person that they like.
Mid: Something that is average and not great.
The next time you hear someone complimenting their friends “drip” or saying “bet” to agree with someone else, maybe you can join the conversation. However, high school students constantly change their language, allowing for new words to make everyday mundane activities a little bit more fun and exciting.
Students May Get Senior Lounge
Students May Get Senior Lounge
by Brooke Loud
PHS is taking into consideration giving its seniors another senior privilege: a senior lounge. This will give seniors another opportunity for more freedom during their studies. I talked to principal Talbot about when and where this opportunity for seniors would take place. If the senior lounge becomes a reality seniors will be allowed to sign out of their study class and go to the senior lounge which will be in the DECA store.
Mr. Talbot said, “The school store was moved as you know, It is now in a much bigger space; I was thinking there is room for about 3 or 4 round tables with chairs.”
Seniors will have to make sure that they still are able to use their senior privilege before asking to sign out to the lounge. This is still a work in progress and was only talked about here and there. If it happens it won’t be until at least after semester one.
Europe Trip Slated for April
Europe Trip Slated for April
by Arden Bliss
During the 2025 Spring Break PHS students will have the opportunity to travel to Europe. On the trip students will travel to Switzerland, Austria, and Germany and will learn about the different cultures. The trip will last seven nights and will provide a full time tour guide to show them around the capital cities. In an interview with the Titan Times Mrs. Ruka, the organizer of the trip, answered some of the most common and important questions to know if you are interested in this experience.
Q: Is there a limit to how many people can go on this trip?
A: “No, any student who is interested is able to attend.”
Q: How much does it cost?
A: “It now costs $3,600, this includes airfare, hotels, food, and all the excursions.”
Q: What activities will there be?
A: “We will visit marketplaces, Concentration Camps, Palace Gardens, eat traditional German and Swiss dinners, visit Olympic sites, see different monuments, and travel to different castles in Germany.”
Q: Do you have to take a language class to go on this trip?
A: “No, anyone can go.”
Q: How/where can students sign up for this trip?
A: “Students should either go talk to me and Mrs. Mrowka or go to explorica.com/Ruka-9084.”
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