Volume 3, Issue 5 “The News You Want on Things That Matter” June 2019

DJ Mara ‘22 The continuous cycle again came through SPM. We said goodbye to one senior class, and another class takes the reigns of the student body. The Class of 2019 showed us how to be leaders and how to help peers in their times of need. The Class of 2020 will have big shoes to fill, but many of us at SPM know that they are up for the task. The Class of 2020 brings about a new decade of graduating classes, bringing an end to the teen years of the 21st century. Hopefully, the next decade of graduating classes will be just as accomplished as the last decades. They are also just as diverse as any other class that I have seen come through SPM. Many students are multi-sport athletes as well as being involved with many extra-curricular activities. Not to mention, ten current juniors are members of the Drama Club. Many members of the Class of 2020 have mixed emotions about becoming seniors next year. Some are happy, but nervous at the same time. “I’m pretty excited for my high school career will be done by next year, but I’m pretty stressed to start a college career,” says Aman Qutab. “However, I know the SPM community, especially our teachers, will guide us through the year and I will miss them all so much and my classmates.” At the same time, Jill Barrett had some different emotions: “I’m scared and excited for the new journey. I’m extremely excited for next year’s classes and being able to really focus on what I want to pursue in college.” Overall, Erin Hong had a good summary regarding most of the seniors’ feelings: “I’m really excited to be a senior, but I’m also sad because it means it’s my last year.”

family.”

Meanwhile, Student Council VP, Chloe Beland, feels nervous about transitioning to a senior: “I have the butterflies because time flies when you’re having fun with your SPM Chloe, and her peers involved with Student Council, have the responsibility of uniting the student body, as well as bringing school spirit to each class. Especially as seniors, they will have to spearhead many of these activities. She says that she wants her class to do more community service and other volunteer opportunities throughout her senior year. She also wants her class next year to incorporate days where the upperclassmen can socialize with the younger students to make them welcome, and to make SPM feel like a second home to them. She wants the new students—especially to have an amazing experience like she did. Personally, I can’t wait what the class of 2020 has up their sleeves to make next year a great one for their underclassmen We will have to wait until the fall to see what will happen.

Letter from the Editor DJ Mara ‘22

Dear Guardians,

Thank you for reading our June/End of the Year installment of the Guardian Globe.

Once again, we have come to end of another school year, where we also have to say goodbye to another graduating class.

The Class of 2019 was a unique class, full of stellar academics, and multi-sport athletes. With over 35 different colleges being attended in the fall, the Class of 2019 has been one of the most diverse classes that I have seen during my time at SPM. Also this year, SPM has two co-valedictorians, Caitlin Holmberg and Bonju (Christina) Koo. Caitlin will be attending Holy Cross, and Christina will be attending Cornell University, an Ivy League School.

The 2018-19 academic year was also a great year for the school as a whole, with many accomplishments, both in extracurriculars and athletics. In athletics, the Girls’ Basketball Team made it to district playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The Girls’ Lacrosse Team will also do the same after the regular season ends. In extracurriculars, the Guardian Globe attended the Suffolk University Newspaper Competition for the first time. The Drama Club put on two great plays, and Student Council held many great events, including two dances, and brought back the Mr. Guardian pageant.

This year was one of growth and improvement, and I hope that next year will be the same.

Have a great and restful summer!

~Student Produced~ ~Circa 2016~

THE CLASS OF 2020 TAKES THE REIGNS OF THE STUDENT BODY

CONTENTS

Headline- Pg. 1

School Events- Pg. 2

Profiles- Pg. 3

Athletics- Pg. 4

Nation & World- Pg. 5

Creative & Opinion- Pg. 6

Arts & Entertainment- Pg. 7

Clubs- Pg. 8

I Appreciate- Pg. 9

Games & Puzzles- Pg. 10 DJ Mara

Editor in Chief- Guardian Globe

Freshman Class Trip Thomas Lavin ‘22

On Tuesday, May 14th, the freshman class went on their class trip to the Lowell Industrial Museum, specifically the Boott Cotton Mills. At the mills, the freshman did plenty of fun and academic activities. My group wove cloth at industrial-style looms. In the beginning, we viewed some historical things in the museum. The first thing we saw was the house where all the workers lived. After that, we viewed a couple items that existed before the Industrial Revolution. We then had a debate on whether farm or city life was better. While I was in the pro-farm group, if I had to decide where to live myself, I would live in the city due to more opportunities. Also, in a city, you don’t have to make everything on your own, and you have time to do more things such as going to a play. After the debate, we then got to see the actual machines that were used during this time. After eating lunch, we went to a room where there were many weaving machines that would have been used at farms. In this room, the tour guides split us into two groups. One group was taught how to use the machines, and they got to weave cloth themselves. There were instructions on each type of weave on the machines. At first, it seemed hard and complicated. However, it became easier and fun as time went on. The other group went to see a real cotton drill invented by Eli Whitney. After a few minutes, the groups switched and both groups got the full experience. After the Lowell portion of the trip, we got to go to Kimball Farms, thanks to the Freshman Class President, DJ Mara. He also got us coach buses, so the ride was more comfortable. At Kimball Farms, we could buy ice cream, and it was a fun way for the freshman class to bond with each other. We arrived back at the school around 3:00, and many students had to go straight to other activities. This trip was a great opportunity for the freshman class to bond and have an academic experience, but it was also a fun day at the same time.

ABOVE: Christina Gambaccini, Emily Wharton, Megan Bushe, and Kate Laffin at Kimball Farms—the new

addition to the Freshman Class Trip.

Graduation Caitlin Holmberg ‘19

Graduation. A night of lasts. The last time with your class. The last time with your teachers. The last time as Saint Peter Marian students. I walked into Mechanics Hall as a guardian. I saw my friends and my teachers sharing some of our last moments together. No longer will Mrs. D’Aquila be yelling at us to stop rolling our skirts in the halls. Mr. Pace will not tell us to “put the phone away.” We will never be students in Mrs. Shea’s math classes again. We have been through it all. And there we were in that hall with the people who have shared the memories with us—good and bad—all of us finally taking our sigh of relief because we made it.

I took time to notice my classmates one last time. I saw them in their medals and tassels and saw how proud they were of all they achieved when they were in high school. There were smiles and tears and hugs and goodbyes. I had never felt this type of experience before, and I did not feel it hit me until I was up at the podium doing my valedictorian speech. Corinna spoke before me with her faith and witty words making a beautiful speech and making me a bit more nervous. After her warm wishes, Mr. Driscoll called my name. I started my speech and when I addressed the class as a whole—taking a second to look at them again—I began to choke up.

Next year I will exchange my school uniform for a different kind of uniform. I wouldn’t be going back to little SPM and I wouldn’t see all those faces in school anymore. I was up there in front of everyone after working so hard to be there, finally reaching my dream after six years, and now I know what it feels like to part with a piece of myself. I know now what it feels like to let go. Ben Kermanian is leaving to join the Marines. Jacob is leaving for Michigan. Lexi is going to Louisiana. Everyone is leaving. And there I was on that stage giving my message to my peers telling them to try and not give up on their own dreams and finally it hit me that this was my last message to them. I hope I left a lasting impression and an impacting lesson for my classmates that they will take with them forever. I hope they will work hard like I did and one day be repaid for all their hard work because it sure feels good to know you gave your all for something. Everyone should experience that feeling.

After Christina’s wise speech, I believe our class, as well as the people who attended, gained some insight for their own futures, no matter who they were. We came to Mechanics Hall as guardians and left as guardians because once purple, always purple. I am very proud of my peers and wish them all well in their future endeavors. I hope they find themselves and what they stand for on their unique journeys ahead. I am glad to be a member of the class of 2019 and I am glad to say that some of the greatest have truly walked through the halls at our small home of SPM.

Baccalaureate Mass Victoria Njoroge ‘22

This year’s Senior Baccalaureate Mass was an incredible night, in which our Class of 2019 was able to come together with the SPM community and express their Catholic faith. It’s a religious ceremony that takes place before the official graduation ceremony. This Mass is seen almost as a rite of passage. The ceremony took place in a church in Worcester. The night started with the seniors processing into the room and taking their seats in their rows. After this, the ceremony officially began. There were two deacons present at the Mass who began with an opening prayer. After this, many of the seniors had prepared readings to perform, including of The Profession of Faith, and Prayers of the Faithful. These are both two important Catholic readings. The profession of faith is an individual’s personalized profession of what they believe according to some prescribed guidelines. This is a big religious step in a person’s life. Also, the Prayers of the Faithful are prayers that show intentions of respect for all human life. These are usually said at very important ceremonies such as weddings or funerals. After the readings, the seniors took the Eucharist and broke bread together. The Eucharistic ministers personally distributed the Body of Christ to their fellow classmates.

Next, Mr. Vilandre, the faculty speaker, gave a rousing speech about the Class of 2019. He talked about the importance of time, and how to use it wisely. Mr. Vilandre included a story, from when he was little, about how you can’t mess with time. He mentioned how it works, not to waste it, what it’s taught us and so much more. Mr. Vilandre made an amazing speech that not only took the time to make some inspiring points to our graduating class, but also took the time to add some quirky jokes in between. When this concluded, the deacons gave the final blessing and afterwards, the seniors processed out. They took pictures in their graduation suits and dresses knowing they would soon be official senior graduates. As the Class of 2019 leaves the SPM community to go off to various colleges, we’re left to pick up where they left off, especially our junior Class of 2020. The best thing we can do is follow the amazing example that they left for our school to follow.

ABOVE: Members of the Class of 2019 at

their Commencement Ceremony at Mechanics Hall on May 22nd.

(Photo Courtesy Ashley Green of the T&G)

SCHOOL EVENTS

Student Guardian- Victoria Njoroge Thomas Foley ‘22

Our Student Guardian for this edition of the Guardian Globe is Victoria Njoroge, who is currently a freshman. She decided to attend Saint Peter Marian after she shadowed here and discovered the rigorous system of learning that is available here at this school. Victoria also chose SPM for its welcoming students, which make our school feel like her second home, as well as the fact that she lives a close distance away. During the academic year, she has been a member of the Indoor Track team as well as the Cross-Country team. On top of the sports she participates in, she is also a member of the ALANA Alliance club and the Guardian Globe. Outside of the school day, she sometimes helps out with her church as well. Victoria is also in High Honors with her strongest subject being Geometry and her weakest being World History. Her most inspiring teacher is Mr. Wagner as he convinced her to pursue AP European History next year. Victoria also likes how he teaches the class through his methods. After high school, she has hopes of attending her dream college, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In the future, Victoria also hopes to take classes in Computer Science and Business. She hopes to become a Software Engineer like her father. Some interesting facts about Victoria include that she has a 3-year-old brother and she was born in Worcester before she moved to Holden while she was in Kindergarten. Victoria has also been trying to learn Swahili in order to talk to her relatives in Kenya whom she has visited. As a part of the Guardian Globe, Victoria was appointed as Lead Editor in February. Her role consists of fine tune editing each edition. This is a time-consuming position, and we thank Victoria for all she has done for the Guardian Globe. ABOVE: Members of the Class of 2019

at Prom

Faculty Guardian- Mr. Driscoll Abbey MacDonald ‘22

Mr. Driscoll, the former Vice Principal and now oncoming Principal of Saint Peter Marian was born in Winchester and grew up in Stoneham, MA. He earned a BA in English and Philosophy at Assumption College, as well as a MA in Theology at Assumption College. He went on to complete a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Administration of the Boston College Lynch School of Education. He will earn his Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision at Boston College in May 2020. He chose to work at SPM because Mrs. Allain mentored him during his practice for administration. He spent an internship year to get his license, and liked the experience, so when there was an opening, he applied. When asked what sets SPM apart from other schools in the area, he said, “Service. SPM is a truly incredible school and I am so thankful to be a part of a community that is focused on service to others. Their dedication to making the world a better place can be seen in the fundraising that we do, the thousands of hours that our students volunteer at local food pantries, soup kitchens, veteran organizations, elementary schools, and more. Most importantly, our alumni choose to devote their lives to service in education, police departments, the military, fire departments, at hospitals, and it make our mission distinct from other schools. There are many schools in the area that are academically excellent, field great sports teams, and are committed to their faith. I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a school so fully dedicated to service to others.” His current job as Assistant Principal requires him to see the efficient operation of the school when it comes to things like the daily schedule, discipline, and extracurriculars. “This means that I am responsible for the supervision of the academic curriculum and programing at the school,” added Mr. Driscoll, “including building partnerships with local schools and universities to ensure that we offer a rigorous program that prepares students for life beyond SPM.” For next year, he has multiple goals he wants to accomplish as Principal: “My key goals are to build on the great work that Mrs. Allain has done throughout her 36 years as a Guardian. She has emphasized the importance of high standards and relationships. I think two areas for growth for me in the first year are to emphasize the use of technology in the classroom and to communicate with the broader community just how strong an SPM education is in preparing students for college.” We all wish him much good luck in the future!

Something Special Spotlight Aman Qutab ‘20 There are so many established clubs that have been very successful at SPM. One could say these clubs can show the pride we have for SPM and show how much of a family we can be. Looking into this year, the clubs have become a “booming business.” The clubs formed this year have all had meaning, and one in particular is the Something Special club. The Something Special club was established by Olivia Russell (aka Liv). Liv is in the junior class and is a student who cares for not just her peers, but for the whole community, inside and outside of SPM. She is a determined student and a friend anyone would be grateful to have. I sure know that I am lucky to have her as a friend, no doubt here. Liv has always shown compassion for anyone she meets. When we started ninth grade, she seemed to be so bubbly and always reached out and communicated with everyone. She always asks someone if they're okay if she saw that they appeared stressed or worried. This quality is most probably a key factor in her leadership for the Something Special club. Her goal for the club was to dedicate the club members, and her time, to helping special needs individuals live their lives to their fullest potential. In the meetings, she always encouraged others to participate and extend the club to wherever they could help. She has been an active volunteer with a special needs’ baseball team, which is organized by Grafton Challenger Baseball. She has also helped raise awareness for that organization. This year, Liv held a crazy sock drive to help raise awareness for John’s Crazy Socks. This organization is co-founded by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down Syndrome. This organization donates money to other companies that work with other special needs individuals. Liv provided a little benefit for those who shared the same goal as to John and Something Special. She also guided the club to create valentine hearts to children in the Boston College Campus School. There, the members of the club were able to keep contact with those kids and gave the kids the sense that they are loved, and the hope that they will work with the Something Special club members again. Liv Russell hopes that the club can work with the Special Olympics next year and also continue to gain members throughout the years.

PROFILES

Sports Statistics (As of 6/4/19) DJ Mara ’22 (via spmathletics.com) Baseball Varsity: 14-8 JV: 3-8 Freshman: 0-9

Softball Varsity: 10-10 JV: 7-5

Boys’ Lacrosse Varsity: 7-9

Girls’ Lacrosse Varsity: 13-4 JV: 2-0 (cancelled after 4/16)

(Photos courtesy spmathletics.com)

Athletic Guardian- Ben Kermanian Matt Clute ‘22

Ben Kermanian is a senior who graduated on May 22nd. He has been at SPM since freshman year. He played football and lacrosse. He says his favorite part about SPM has been the people he met and how he grew as a person. Being at SPM gave him many new friends and experiences, and he now has friends that are like family who want him to succeed. A teacher that Ben will remember is Mrs. Horan because she let him teach her class occasionally. As a member of the lacrosse team, Ben and his team have to win three of the next four games to make the playoffs. He says if they want to achieve that, everyone needs to play as a team and not care as much about individual effort. He also learned many things while preparing for boot camp, including the mindset that should be implemented to SPM sports teams. Ben is going into the Marine Corps after high school. He says that it intrigued him since he was younger. His friend in elementary school would always take him to air shows, and everyone gave the recruiters respect, and he wanted people to respect him in a similar way. Also, he met the Holmberg family during his time at SPM, and the father served in the military. He always told Ben stories of his military career. His first football coach, Mr. Leary, has been a huge mentor in his life, always pushing him to be his better self. He also says that as of right now, he should not have a sense of pride because he hasn’t gone to boot camp. He also says that pride isn’t why he is going into the military. He is doing this to better himself and the people around him, as well as serving the country that lets his parents have a home and grow happily. He wants others to feel a sense of freedom that we have in the states, for the US is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you, Ben, for leaving an impact on SPM, as well as making the decision to serve our country—one of the most rewarding experiences an American can have. Your sacrifices in this duty will be greatly appreciated by America, especially by the SPM community.

MA Sports Update Matt Clute ‘22

The Boston Bruins will be returning to the Stanley Cup Final, attempting to end a Stanley Cup drought that has lasted since 2011. The Bruins have moved on after a dominating performance against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Bruins held the Canes to only five goals the entire series, and as a result, they managed to sweep the Hurricanes in four games. The Bruins will host either the St. Louis Blues or the San Jose Sharks on May 27th at TD Garden in Boston. Currently, in the Western Conference Final, the St. Louis Blues lead the Sharks three games to two. The main weapon for the Bruins has been their first line. They have been dominant all playoffs long, but recently they have been unstoppable. This trio includes Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand. Marchand is second in the league in points with 18, with 11 assists and 7 goals. Also, Patrice Bergeron has been a huge threat on the power play because 6 of his 8 playoff goals have come on the man advantage. He has a total of 13 points in the 2019 playoffs. Lastly for the deadly trio, David Pastrnak is second on the team for points behind Brad Marchand with 15, who has 7 goals and 8 assists. In playoff hockey, especially in the National Hockey League, one of the most important players on a team is the goaltender. If a goalie is off his game, a series can be lost with a snap of the fingers. However, this has not been the case for Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask. He has had an excellent postseason, 1st in every category for goaltenders in the NHL during the postseason. He leads in goals against average (1.84), save percentage (.942), wins (12), and shutouts (2). My prediction is that if you watch the games played in Boston next week, you will hear the fans chant “TUUUUUU”, short for Tuukka, after every save. If Tuukka Rask carries over his stellar performances from the first three rounds, the Stanley Cup will be in Boston this summer, that’s for sure. The Boston Red Sox are starting to improve, with an overall 25-22 record. They are 4.5 games back from the Tampa Bay Rays, holding 3rd place in the AL East. In their last ten games, they have a good record of 7-3. Players to look for include Rafael Devers, who has dramatically picked up his game with a .314 average, 55 hits and 4 home runs. Michael Chavis was called up from Pawtucket this year and rightfully so. So far, in his rookie season he has a .296 average, 29 hits and 9 home runs. Always a threat is star right fielder Mookie Betts. This season he has a .295 average, 52 hits and 7 home runs.

ATHLETICS

International News Recap DJ Mara ‘22

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, formally known as the Duke

and Duchess

of Sussex, welcomed their first child on

May 6th, 2019. They named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

On April 15th, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

France engulfed

in flames, damaging

much of the

church, including

the roof and the spire of the church. Multiple famous relics, including the crown of thorns and rose stained glass windows were saved from the blaze.

Another school shooting occurred on May 7th, 2019 at the STEM School in Douglas

County, Colorado,

miles from Columbine

High School.

One student was killed, and eight others were

injured. Three students at the school, Brendan Bialy, Joshua Jones, and Kendrick Castillo, were deemed heroes for shielding students and helping to disarm a gunman during the attack.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has unveiled a project

to send a rocket to the

moon by

2024. The

rocket, Blue Moon, is said to launch multiple tiny satellites into the moon’s orbit, allowing for the collection of scientific data by Amazon. This could open up a new window in space travel, allowing large companies to put rockets into space.

Many Democrats have entered the 2020 race to win the nomination to challenge President Trump, including former Vice President Joe Biden and New York City

Mayor Bill de Blasio. Biden says, “We Are

Living Through a Battle for the Soul of This Nation.” Many other 2020 hopefuls are in the race running on issues affecting their states, including Former Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, whose key point is climate change.

A possible trade war between the US and China is mounting, as Chinese President Xi Jinping put $60 billion of tariffs on goods in

retaliation for US tariffs on

Chinese goods. Many

farmers say that one of

the only reasons that their farms are surviving the trade war is from the $16 billion that President Trump has given them in aid.

British Prime Minister Theresa May says that she will resign as the leader of the

Conservative Party

effective June 7th. The

reasoning behind her

departure includes the

failure to deliver a clean BREXIT deal, something the citizens of the UK voted to do in 2016. She says that “It is in the best interest of the country for a new Prime Minister to lead that effort.”

Taiwan now joins the list of at least 28 nations across the globe to legalize same

sex marriage. This also

made Taiwan the first nation in Asia to do so. On May

24th, the first same sex marriages in Taiwan took place, which may open a new door for Asia.

Partisan Politics DJ Mara ‘22

Many countries across the world, including the US, have seen the effects of partisan politics over the past few years. But what exactly does this mean?

In government, it is said that members of opposing parties should work in a bipartisan way, or agreement and cooperation while working on policy differences. But, many governments across the world have seen the opposite effect called partisanship, where opposing parties hold grudges against each other, and favor one party’s beliefs over another’s.

In the United States, we have seen this between the Senate (Republican majority) and the House of Representatives (Democrat majority). For instance, the House, led by Nancy Pelosi, has introduced multiple bills in the past months, including a Universal Background Checks Bill. Senate leader Mitch McConnell has refused to bring this bill, among others for a vote on the Senate floor. The Senate has also put forward multiple bills, but the House won’t bring them to a floor vote.

We have also seen partisanship between the Executive and Legislative Branches of government, particularly the President and members of the House of Representatives. Multiple meetings have been held at the White House between President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to talk about pressing legislation, including infrastructure and the national budget. But nothing significant has come out of any of these meetings.

Realistically, no matter what party someone belongs to politically, members of government should be able to work with people on the other side of the aisle to produce bipartisan legislation to better society as a whole. Hopefully, the 116th Congress, which lasts until 2020, can think of something to go from a partisan congress to a bipartisan one.

NATION & WORLD

Summer Days Nathaniel Beland ‘23 nnn Strolling in the bright sun carrying my clubs with no problems on my mind. Some music in the background boosting the relaxed mood. I walk to my ball and think about my shot. A hundred and ten yards out, immediately I know, easy wedge on to the green. I setup and swing easily down at the ball making sure I hit it square. I feel the impact of the ball of my club and the small divot flying just ahead of me. I watch in anticipation what my ball is going to do. Flying towards, just left of the pin, drawing in closer, landing with a thud. Rolling to about five feet. Satisfied with my shot, I pick up my bag and walk to the green to make my putt. I pull off my putter cover and toss it near my bag. I look from behind the ball, and line up my putt to the hole. I setup, make sure my clubface is square, and like a pendulum. My arms rock back then through hitting the ball. I see it rolling once again, as it curves in and grabs the side of the hole dropping in to make my birdie. I walk to the cup to pick up my Srixon golf and head to the next tee. Then it hits me, these are the days that make summer. The days where you’re satisfied with yourself and having a good time doing what you're doing. ABOVE: Valentine’s Day cards made by members of the Something Special

Club earlier this year. BELOW: Members of the Class of 2019 at their Commencement Ceremony at

Mechanics Hall on May 22nd.

(Photo courtesy the Catholic Free Press)

Video Game Review- “Rust” Paul Ferreira ‘22

Rust is a game that I like to play in my free time. The style is a first-person survival style game. This game is unique in where you must gather resources to craft items and make a “base” to store all the stuff you get as you progress through the game. Rust is a game where you can’t predict what will happen. A lot of different things can happen, you can fail and not progress at all or “snowball”- to progress quickly through-or you could have random stuff happen. That is one thing I like about the game Rust: you will never know what’s going to happen. The game is a player vs player game, which is where you fight other players to take their stuff to help you get further in the game. The fast pace sometimes can be frustrating, but in order to keep going you need to just get over it and move on. Also, there is a component mechanic, where you go around hitting barrels along the road to collect scrap, which leads to better workbenches or to research a gun to be able to craft it later. This game isn’t boring like some other survival games. You can make it your style whether you don’t want to really fight and chill, or fight everyone and try to get to the endgame fast. While some love Rust and others hate it, it’s so addicting you will always go back to it. You just have to put some time into it, and you will find yourself playing for hours and not wanting to get off. In my opinion, this game is one of the best and hard to top. This game has the potential to make it as a top game, and if it had more players, they would say what a good game it is. This game is very fun in my opinion, but you are either going to love/hate it, love it, or hate it. As I said this game can be very frustrating and if you can’t get through the first part or early game you won’t be able to have a good time.

ABOVE: A depiction (from grist.org) that shows what the effects of climate change could be on the United States.

Editorial Abbey MacDonald ‘22 A question that many people ask each other is whether climate change is something we need to be aware of, or not. Some famous people, such as President Donald Trump, ignore that it is an actual problem by means of stating he will pull the US out of the Paris international climate agreement, trying to cut back the US Environmental Protection Agency, calling global warming a hoax and saying that it was invented by the Chinese in order to attack US manufacturing. The Republican Senate is also heavily supported by industries that exploit coal, oil, and gas. His cabinet is also filled with people who deny climate change. On the other hand, scientists who track weather changes are noticing many things, a few of which are that storms are bigger than ever before. Heat is more intense, and droughts are lasting longer. Average temperatures are rising worldwide. The warmer atmosphere triggers changes in regular climate patterns. There are also other effects that you have the ability to easily see, such as coral reefs dying, forests also dying, and ice in the arctic that is melting. It affects us too, including our water supply, and agriculture. Another thing that is easy to track is that trees are flowering sooner. Climate change is not going to stop as long as what is going on with greenhouse gases being produced continues. Temperatures will continue to rise, changes in precipitation patterns will change, there will be more droughts and heat waves, hurricanes will become stronger and intensify, and all the ice in the arctic will probably melt. The sea level will also probably rise 1-4 feet by the year 2100. Many can argue that we don’t know if the earth is actually getting that much warmer because we don’t have ways to track how warm it was thousands of years ago, but in fact, trees store information. Each year, trees form a new ring and become thicker, and the warmer and wetter years cause thicker rings. You can also tell what was in the air and water during specific years by tracking sediment, or dead animals and particles in the air and sea that fall into the ocean and create a layer on the bottom of the sea. Another way to track is that scientists can drill holes in polar ice sheets, and the miniscule air bubbles trapped inside show how the amount of greenhouse gases are higher than ever before. Therefore, climate change is a real and dangerous problem that we need to consider and fix, before the results are disastrous.

CREATIVE & OPINION

Is climate change a real-world problem that governments have to take into consideration?

Avengers Endgame Review Nathaniel Beland ‘23 Recently, a movie called Avengers Endgame came out on May 12th completely taking over theaters. This movie wrapped up all the Avenger movies in the past years, starting the movie off with a connection to the end of Avengers Infinity War. The movie itself took a very long time to make with an exceedingly long battle to try and defeat Thanos again. The two armies fight until Thanos gets the stones again. He was about to snap when Captain Marvel came in and grappled with him, but Thanos made a genius play by using the power stone to punch her off the whole entire screen, shocking the whole theater! Then, just before he snaps again, Iron Man tries to fight him off one last time but fails. Everyone in the theater held their breath in anticipation for Thanos to snap again, but when he does, nothing happens. Everyone's anxiety was getting to them and then the screen pans to Iron Man who took the stones from Thanos when he fought him, and he said, “...and I am Iron Man *snap*.” The whole screen went white and all of Thanos’ troops, including Thanos himself, disintegrated to ash. They whole theater had a sigh of relief, but when they pan over to Iron Man, who in dead lying there, they all go into shock. Iron Man died. This whole series builds up till this moment, which was perfect. Marvel has been waiting for years to do this since their first movie in 2008, Iron Man, until now. The movie, being three hours long, had to entertain people for a long time. I think Marvel did a fine job at doing this by minimizing talking time from action time. One of the best scenes in the whole movie is when we see all of our favorite heroes coming together at the end to fight Thanos. I also liked seeing more of the Avengers’ personal life and the personal challenges they have. We see Hawkeye’s family get killed by the first snap and his emotional trauma. We also see Iron Man as a father and him raising a child and how he has to make a choice for staying with this life or trying to save everyone who died by the snap by risking his life through time travel and fighting Thanos again. One thing I didn’t like that Marvel did was introduce this all-powerful character “Captain Marvel” and have limited screen time just after her own movie “Captain Marvel.” Another thing I didn’t like was when Black Widow dies. She has a death that you could see a mile away. Once Hawkeye and Black Widow were the two to go to planet “Vormir” we knew one was going to die as the sacrifice for the soul stone. Although both are low rated heroes in the Avengers, they both played important roles on the team. With Thanos succeeding in Infinity War and having killed all living things with the snap, it was very satisfying that he dies to the snap Iron Man did in Endgame. Overall, Avengers Endgame was a very good movie and will definitely break box office records, highly recommended to see.

Big Bang Theory Review Thomas Foley ‘22 Recently, the show, The Big Bang Theory had their large series finale after twelve popular seasons. The show first aired in 2007 on CBS and was instantly a major success. The story begins when two scientists, Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper meet their new neighbor Penny. Penny is very different than Leonard and Sheldon as she is very social, while Sheldon and Leonard are very socially awkward as they are extremely intelligent in subjects like math and science, unlike Penny. Over the length of the series, Leonard and Sheldon learn, through the help of Penny, that there are two types of intelligence, social and knowledge. Previously, Leonard and Sheldon had three friends, Raj Koothropalli, Howard Wolowitz and Stuart, but when they met Penny their whole social circle expanded including meeting additional friends Amy and Bernadette. I believe the show was very popular due to the fact that the episodes always seemed to be very fresh and not repetitive which made the uniqueness of the show stand high above other sitcoms that were being produced at the time. The show as a whole was also an outstanding new version of a sitcom that was placing main focus on the fact that the main characters were a variety of people, ranging from scientists to astronaut, instead of the usual plot that focuses on a family and their everyday experiences. Another focal point of the show was how the cast members were able to connect and learn from each other in each and every episode. Most similar shows focus on how the cast members vary in their personalities and how they clash against each other, while the cast members in The Big Bang Theory differed greatly as well, but they were able to overcome difficulties as close friends with a few humorous moments at the same time.

The series finale tied up the loose ends of the plot while still leaving viewers wondering what was going to happen later on in the main characters’ lives. I particularly enjoyed how there were no major cliffhangers at the end of the final episode, but there was still some material to work off of if a reunion episode was ever scheduled. Overall, the reviews on the finale were very positive from many different critics from all different sources. I would highly recommend this series to anyone because it does not matter if you are only interested in the scientific aspects of the show or only the comedy as there is something for everyone to enjoy in each episode.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Vacationing29%

Day Beach Trips35%

Fishing/Hiking9%

Summer Reading27%

Favorite Summer Activity

Vacationing Day Beach Trips Fishing/Hiking Summer Reading

Student Council Victoria Njoroge ‘22

Student Council, in every grade, has faithfully led our school throughout various activities during the year, and displayed excellent leadership in doing so. Student Council is a club that is meant to benefit the school through servant leadership. The Saint Peter Marian Student Council is made up of elected candidates that we believe in as strong leaders. The Student Council, as a whole, has done so much for the school. All members, younger or older, have worked together this year to contribute to benefitting the school. They’ve worked beside their fellow classmen to better the SPM community.

In order to become a member of student council, from freshmen to seniors, you need to go to Mrs. Shea’s room and ask her for a copy of an application form. On it, you’d need to have all of your teachers sign it, along with your administrator, who could be Mrs. Allain, or Mrs. Andrysick. For 2019-2020, the student class officer elections will actually be this year. Because Mrs. Shea will be leaving next year, the elections will be held before her departure. This way, next year we can start the year off by hitting the ground running.

Throughout the school year, members of student council have organized multiple events and performed community service for the school. They put effort into planning our Homecoming and Winter Ball dances, which were two memorable school events. While the Winter Ball wasn’t a rousing success, the Homecoming dance was much better. Student council members also are in charge of planning our school’s pep rallies and Spirit Days. They’re also in charge of cleaning up afterwards at our rallies and school dances. We’ve had a total of two pep rallies this year that our student council organized. Also, before Christmas Break, student council members were the ones who strung up lights all around the school to make the holiday season cheerier and more festive. Student Council members, from all grades have met together to discuss and plan these events throughout the year and hopefully next year’s members can meet, or even exceed the expectations set by this year’s members.

ABOVE: Members of the Class of 2021 on their class Trip to Boston

Art Club Victoria Njoroge ‘22

Saint Peter Marian’s Art Club is an amazing opportunity to contribute artwork without actually taking the class. Whether you’re in art, AP Art, or neither, the art open studio club can be for anyone who is serious about it. Because not all of us have room our schedules for an Art class, Art Open Studio is a great opportunity to continue art and still pursue other courses. The Art Club was originally founded in 2003, by Mrs. Dewey, so this club has been going on for quite some time. This year it’s called Art Open Studio, as opposed to other years when it was only referred to as Art Club. Calling it Art “Open Studio” was meant to make students feel like they could just come in and do art. Most of the work is on your own, however there can be assignments. Mrs. Dewey says that most kids only need one assignment until they realize what direction they want to go in. Her favorite part of Art Open Studio is seeing what students can do on their own, and what they can accomplish outside of school. This club is open to all grades and for anyone who just loves creating. There is no Art experience needed. Throughout this year members of Art Open Studio have accomplished so much. There are about ten consistent members, including the co-presidents of the club, Emily Johnson and Kayla Connor. Many of the members of Senior Portfolio Club have come in to work on their art as well. The Senior Portfolio Club is for any Seniors, taking AP Art, to finish up their portfolios of their art. At the end of the year, they can get their pictures taken with their art from their senior portfolios and have them displayed in the yearbook. Both the Senior Portfolio and Art Open Studio members jumped at the chance to do something to benefit the community. Earlier this year, Mrs. Dewey asked members of Art Open Studio and Senior Portfolio if they wanted to donate some art to the children of a local Worcester Charity. Together, they happily donated fifteen paintings to the children at the Why Me Organization. Members of Art Open Studio were required to attend at least six meetings this year. As for the art itself, there were many different mediums that they explored. A great tool for working with different mediums is photography. You can use it as a tool or as the art itself, if it’s already beautiful in nature. Some used watercolor, oil pastel, and even some mixed media. Others, who were in the Fashion Club that existed last year, even draw fashion now. There are even some Sports drawings. Anyone who’s even gone into the Art room already knows that “Art is for everyone.”

National Honor Society Victoria Njoroge ‘22

The National Honor Society is a club dedicated to community service. One part of our SPM mission statement talks about service being one of the pillars that our school was built on, and this club embodies that, and the guardian way. Saint Peter Marian prides itself on its service, whether it’s our dress downs, or other clubs that donate to local charities. The National Honor Society, however, is committed to solely to serving the community. These generous, giving people are some of the best and brightest of our school, who reflect our school’s core values. The National Honor Society is somewhat exclusive and is open to juniors and seniors with an average grade of at least 86%. Along with relatively good grades, anyone interested in joining, needs to have at least some history in community service, and an overall good personality. A good character is important when representing our school in the Worcester community. For more information, contact the faculty advisor Mr. Vilandre. There are currently over fifty members of NHS who have each performed at least 27 hours of community service this school year. Members of the National Honor Society are required to serve for 7 hours of service during first semester, and another 10 hours of group service in the second semester. The total amount of service hours committed, this year alone, shows just how much good this club is doing. The National Honor Society meets once a month in Room 217 to discuss monthly events. Some of the more popular events include the Great Christmas Giveaway and visiting the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The Great Christmas Giveaway takes place at Faith Church in Auburn. On the first Saturday in December, a total of 50 members, 25 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon, come to wrap, and deliver presents to underprivileged families. Santa’s elves got nothing on these helpers! Also, the Habitat for Humanity Organization was originally founded by President Carter after he was elected. He started this organization in order to provide better housing. Habitat for Humanity uses ReStores, or stores with gently used items that were sold at much lower prices. Many NHS members volunteer at a local ReStore here in Worcester. The National Honor Society has recently had its elections, and the votes are in. The President of NHS is Quinn Fuller, the Vice President is Julio Del Valle, the secretary is Katie Misiaszek, and the treasurer is Jillian Barrett. These new leaders are qualified individuals who will make great leaders in the coming school year.

LEFT: Members of the Something Special Club.

SPM CLUBS

By: Aman Qutab ‘20

I APPRECIATE

I appreciate my friends!

~Erin Hong

I appreciate Ms. Landers. ~Kellie Bushe ‘20 I appreciate my supportive boyfriend

who has undying faith in me and my abilities.

I’m grateful for my family!

I appreciate Ms. Goranson for being the bright personality she is! Also, I appreciate all the seniors that are graduating this year, they’ve all been mentors for us one way or another.

I appreciate Mrs. Shea! ~ Katy Misiaszek

I’m very grateful and thankful for all the teachers who’ve taught me this year. They’ve helped me keep my grades up and take extra time to make sure I understand what they teach. ~Valerie Mensah ‘21

I appreciate how much the SPM community has grown during my time here so far. I am extremely proud of everyone, especially my class. I can’t wait for what the future holds for us. ~DJ Mara ‘22

I appreciate Applebees’ grilled cheese, Chloe Beland, Jason Ayik, and Mason Gigliotti. ~Erin McKay

I appreciate all my teachers, especially Mrs. Allain, and the weather because when it is above 75 degrees, AP US History can go on a nature walk. I also appreciate the softball team—only two wins until districts!

~Kaitlin Sundstrom ‘20

I’m grateful for my parents who work hard to pay for my education! ~Aysha Chin

I appreciate my parents, honestly I’ve been low key blessed. ~Sophia Croft ‘20

I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given. I have been able to travel to many different parts of the world and meet many different people. I find that when I switch from fear to love, God gives me these opportunities and experiences. I am eternally grateful for that.

~Sigrid Hiser

I am grateful for my parents because they work hard each and every day to help support my siblings and me.

I am very thankful for my dog! ~Emily Wharton ‘22

I’m thankful for my friends and family that have helped me get through high school. I am also proud to call SPM my home!

~Jeet Patel

What I love about the school is the athletic atmosphere of how all the teams are bonded. The great sports mentality and catholic leadership instilled is amazing. ~Aidan McEvoy ‘20

Most people will say family and friends when talking about appreciating life because it’s a basic thing to say. But truly I do appreciate my friends I have that have turned into my family as well. ~Lexi Barnes ‘20

I appreciate Miss Goranson because her positive energy always makes the Media Center a positive place to be! ~Clare Krug ‘20

I very much appreciate the enthusiasm and entertainment Mr. Vilandre brings to his classroom. ~Mike Clark ‘20

I’m grateful for my education. ~Kirsten Naughton

Appreciate all the members of the SPM community for being so supportive of the senior class of 2019!!! ~ Ricky Reyes

I appreciate Ms. D’Aquila and stoichiometry! ~Chloe Beland ‘20

I’m grateful for my family and sports. ~Megan Bushe ‘22

I’m grateful for SPM and the amazing community. ~Nate Beland ‘23

I’m grateful for everyone at SPM who has made me laugh! ~Mary Traylor ‘19

I appreciate being part of such an amazing community. ~Tommy Lavin ‘22

GAMES, PUZZLES, & COMICS Summer

Emma Grieb ‘22

AUGUST BEACH FRIENDS

FRISBEE ICECREAM JULY

LAKE RELAX SUNSCREEN

SUNSHINE TRAVEL VACATION

Summer Emily Wharton ‘22

Across

1. ripples in the water

3. edge of the ocean/sea

5. sandy area with a large body of water

6. protects your skin from the sun

7. suit- clothes you wear in in the water

8. protects your eyes from the sunshine

9. hard outside of crustaceans

Down

2. long narrow board used to ride waves

4. cream- cold treat usually in a bowl or cone

5. walkway on a beach usually with games and food

By Morgan Hewes ‘23