Witches Brew

Witches Brew Edition 1, 2009

Angeramo’s “Mission”

Bringing the SHS Mission Statement to Life By Erin Burke As Salem High School settles into the school year, Principal Mr. David Angeramo said he thought our busy September was a positive and smooth start to the year. Students seem to be taking things more seriously and the attendance was really impressive this first month of school. As always there are going to be the challenges that the budget presents, however, we will just need to be careful and creative. Some changes that we will see this year are teachers utilizing the new technology much more. After all the installations last year we now see those smart boards and projectors being put to great use. Another change that we hope to see is more collaboration among administration, teachers, and students. To do this, a solid student government is hopefully going to be brought onto the scene. This will give even more voice to the students and allow for feedback to the administration. Students should take this

opportunity to get involved and use their powerful voices. As for some goals that have been set into our sights this year, we have our mission statement. Angeramo is aiming for a “mission statement that will be real and help to drive the school.” The statement itself is more concrete this year and a lot of work has been put in to establishing the essential objectives that students, faculty and administrators have come together on. Those key points that the mission focuses on are having a safe environment to build positive relationships and training students to have the ability to think critically, problem solve, collaborate and communicate effectively when they leave the school. Speaking of leaving the school, our seniors graduating this year will be the first class to have had Angeramo as their principal for all four years. The message that he would like to send the seniors is to “Work hard this year. Potentially this could be the best year of your life so enjoy it.” Hard work does always pay off.

In The Brew

So, What Exactly Is the Mission Statement?....pg. 2 Maternity Subs Step In.....pg. 2

Class of ‘10 Looks Forward to Senior Events...pg. 3 Editorial: Distracted Driving: Keeping Us Safe? Or Is Big Brother Watching Us?... pg 3 Horoscopes....pg. 3 Consistency: Helping Us Know What’s Expected....pg. 4

Angeramo discusses goals for this coming school year

Aqua Lab Excitement! By Kellie Sacco The SHS science department has recently added a new course to the course of studies. Science Teachers Graeme Marcoux and William Warren, along with O’Connell Plumbing of Salem and Paul L’heureux, Director of Buildings and Grounds, are to thank for putting it all together. Salem High’s new aquaculture and hydroponics labs were donated to the school by Dr. Albright, who is in charge of awarding the money for the Read Trust Foundation. Marcoux has developed a way to involve the students in the upkeep of these labs, as it can be a lot for just two people. “I feel that students will learn a whole lot more when they take ownership of their education,” says Marcoux, who

really wants the students to be able to enjoy science as much as he does. The Science Research Internship is Continued on back

By: Christina Flessas and Stenio Moreira Very often, teachers have other duties and responsiblities beyond what they do in the classroom. In a specific case, one Social Studeies teacher, Mr. Sean McLaughlin, gives himself not only for his students but also for his country. In addition to McLaughlin’s responsibility as a history teacher, he is also a Major specializing in Civil Affairs for the US Army. Joining the Army in 1990, McLaughlin had his college education paid for by the military. While still

teaching at SHS, he had to take his first military leave to Iraq in 2005, leaving his duties at SHS to serve his country. In Iraq, he got the experience of working with the Governor of Baghdad. McLaughlin set up schools, as everyone in Civil Affairs had to learn to work in school systems and city councils. He also got the opportunity to rebuild bridges, sewage lines, water systems and address the needs of the population. During this tough, “frustrating” time, McLaughlin left home a wife and a young Continued on back

The the

14 new

interns pose in aquaculture lab.

Welcome Home, Soldier

New

Teachers

Teachers New to SHS may be new to this environment, but are not newbies to teaching By Christina Flessas

A new school year calls for new teachers. This adjustment is not just hard on the students, but also for these teachers who are either adapting to a new environment or a new profession. Ms. Sandra Roach, a new asset to the Family and Consumer Science department, was all smiles when asked about Salem High School. “It has been a positive experience as the students and teachers have made me feel so

welcomed,” she said. With fourteen years of teaching experience under her belt, Roach is no stranger to this environment. Formerly a teacher in Lynn Public Schools, she has come to enjoy the enthusiasm of the Salem High students in her Child Development, Working with Children and Professional, Social and Individual Living classes. Another new teacher is Ms. Carole Donnelly, who joined our Special Education department. Donnelly spoke of how friendly

Maternity Subs Step In by Zaneta Stepien

With the increased number of teachers going on maternity leave at Salem High, the school has obtained more permanent substitutes to cover classes. Currently, the two teachers who have covered for multiple maternity leaves are Ms. Staci Fleury and Mr. Andrew Hofmann. Both of them started out as student teachers in the building, until the maternity leave coverage was needed. Many can say that it has been a strange and rare opportunity for these substitutes that so many teachers need coverage in their classes. When sitting down with Fleury, she was excited and said it has been a “challenge yet opportunity” for her. Personally she disagrees that it has been a “strange” opportunity because Salem High has such a young staff. Within her last two years at Salem High, Fleury has taught classes that range from health education, to English, and now to mathematics. Before working as a substitute at the school, Fleury was a student at Salem State College studying as an English Major. She states her only

challenge was teaching outside her major. She believes that because of this, it has forced her to become a better and more effective teacher. Last year, Hoffman covered for two English teachers in the Freshman house. He is currently working as a paraprofessional in the building, but hopes to do more coverage as more teachers take their leave. Another substitute, Don Pinkerton is certified for science education and is currently covering a chemistry class for yet another teacher who is out on maternity leave. Surely enough, this many subs can be an adjustment for the students. “It has been difficult adjusting from one teacher to another,” said Rachel Channen, who had Fleury as a creative writing substitute. However, this has also “given the substitutes a chance to get some teaching experience, since the subs were great student teachers before,” said English Head Teacher Lou Wallach. It has been a unique opportunity for the entire school to have such qualified substitutes, and everyone is fortunate to have them.  

Substitute teacher Fleury is ready to teach any subject if called to duty

Adapt everyone is and how great her experience has been. Previously teaching at the Landmark School in Beverly for about fifteen years, she is surprised that “such a large school could create a sense of community.” New teachers include Katie Keeley, Molly Robinson and Robert Strom in the Special Education department, Hollie Jacobs and June Marie Kershaw as Adjustment Counselors, Math teacher Elizabeth Roach feels “welcomed” at SHS Sullivan, Sephainie Majeau in Science, and Tracey Pantapas joining the Salem Prep.

Wait...

What’s The Mission? THE MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Salem High School is to offer all students the opportunity to demonstrate independence, self-motivation, and responsibility for self and others. Provided with a safe learning environment that builds positive relationships between students and adults, students will leave Salem High School with the academic skills, habits of mind, and technological literacy that will enable them to think critically, problem solve, collaborate and communicate effectively as citizens of the local and global community.

THE VISION STATEMENT

Salem High School will become the standard to which other schools strive in preparing and inspiring individuals to succeed in the 21st century. By Erin Burke and Carena Wong Every ten years or so, a public high school goes through the process of reaccreditation. We are observed and evaluated upon a list of requirements we are given by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The process begins with us evalualting ourselves, using the NEASC criteria and our mission statement as a guide. We also evaluate if the students, faculty and parents are aware of the main idea behind the mission and how close to that goal we are. This past year a committee has been meeting to go over our mission statement and revamp it. This committee consisted of a wide range of members including students, parents, staff, and others. Two members of the Mission Statement Committee were Health teacher Lisa Mansfield and History teacher Beth Factor. There can be some confusion over the term mission statement. Mansfield defined a mission statement as “a guideline for the school to acknowledge what the goal is for our students.” However, Factor

stated the definition in much broader terms, saying that “it’s a set of core beliefs that drive an organization.” According to Principal Mr. David Angeramo, the definition of the mission statement is the goals and objective achievements that SHS is focused on and that all students will hopefully reach by the time they leave the school. Our mission statement lists these goals as the following: • to provide a safe learning environment • to pomote independance and self motivation • to have positive relationships with mentors • to develop “academic skills, habits of mind and technological literacy” • be able to “think critically, problem solve, collaborate and communicate effectively” Very simply, the vision is what we and others believe about this school and ourselves. Hopefully, striving for this same goal will enable Salem High School to function as one organization.

The Village Idiot Says... By

It’s No Biggie!

Ashley

Cluck

What’s with the cop that was stationed on our hill during the first month of school? Our school is always honoring us with their care. They are always trying to push us to be on time by giving us detentions if we are late. Then, they patrolled the front and backside of the school, stopping us like great almighty watch guards. A cop was stationed on the hill to help stop those criminals that cut people in line waiting to get into school, making the students late and parents having to take a day off of work to go to court. We love our school for thinking of our safety. We appreciated getting tickets all the time for making a left hand turn into a zone that is only available during certain times just to drop a student off for school. Meanwhile,

What’s in store this year?

Senior year is looking good! More dances with more involvement from the other classes is only one of the many things to look forward to. “We will be working with other officers to plan more functions to get people involved,” says senior Treasurer Michael Collins. He also said that the plan is to “have a productive year with all the classes and to successfully unite the school.” The senior class can look forward to the prom on May 14 at the Crown Plaza (formerly the Sheraton Ferncroft) and the annual Senior Show. Collins is “spearheading” the brainstorming for the show to get a head start on ideas for the skits. Class officers also want to bring back Dancing with the Staff and the Mr. SHS Competition, and hope to reinvent the Black and White Dance as a Highlighter

By: Abby Bedard

Aquarius January 20-February 18: Go for a nice, refreshing drink after being stopped, the student who at the bubbler, and take a piece of was trying to be on time is now late. gum free of charge while you’re Our school is concerned about us there. students being on time but then gave us detentions for being just a Pisces February 19- March 20: minute late because we got stopped Next time you’re thinking about by the diligent cop that wandered buying those new pair of shoes around our school in his cruiser. don’t. Your online homework bill So, because they were pulled is due. by the cop, students were issued a ticket, received a trip to court, and a Aries March 21- April 19: nice pink slip walking into school to Barbizon scholarship called. They ensure an hour detention after 2:02. want to congratulate you on your Why was it such a big new modeling job! deal? We were all just trying to be to school on time, so why make Taurus April 20- May 20: Avoid more complications? I wonder getting chased down the hall for what the rate of tardies were? not throwing your coffee out. Just Have they gone up and through be sure not to knock down your A the roof? I bet!! It’s complicated, block teacher’s own coffee. but really!! Couldn’t they just have given us some slack? At least we Gemini May 21- June 21: Hate were coming to school. Just relax. having to walk all over the place? Join the band; they get a bus to drive down the street.

Hey Seniors!

By Michelle Stanley & Darcy Theriault

HOROSCOPES

Dance. Students would be asked to wear white t-shirts and jeans and to write on the shirts with highlighters, which could glow in the dark during the dance. Uncertainty about the future of Six Flags is causing the Class of ‘10 to think of alternatives to that Senior Week activity. A Red Sox game or a trip to Water Country are two possiblities the officers are considering. Class tee-shirts will get a new look as well. In an attempt to show school unity, the Junior , Senior, and Freshman class shirts will all feature the same matching fronts with class-specific designs on the back. The seniors also want to keep up the same spirit they had last year in order to win two years straight, and class president Zac Broughton feels optimistic about a repeat victory. “I believe that this is a chance for Seniors to show that they can win, not that they should win,” he said.

Cancer June 22- July 22: Say hi to the police officer outside on your way into school, then say hi to Ms. Garrett at your hour long detention.

Leo July 23- August 22: Be extra careful about where you put your Northface backpack. You may find out that it has identical friends. Virgo August 23- September 22: The seniors’ red lockers are in a great spot for your locker - if you have piano lab all eight blocks.

Libra: September 23- October 22: Be careful of going into the bathroom. It’s like survival of the fittest; attack of the last toilet paper roll. Scorpio October 23- November 21: Be wary of walking down the halls without a pass. Salem High’s new attack force will be asking for it every two seconds. Sagittarius: November 22December 21:Have an insane craving for undercooked food? Make your way to the a la carte for some nice half-baked cookies. Yum! Capricorn December 22- January 19: Are you constantly out of breath from running to your classes from your assigned locker in the boonies? Look on the bright sidewind blown hair is in.

Is Distracted Driving A Dangerous Obsession? driving,” such as texting, eating, drinking, talking on the cell phone, An attempt to keep us reading the newspaper, and fussing safe? Or another way for the with a toddler in the backseat, government to control our lives? can take a driver’s attention off “Distracted Driving” is a term the road and cause an accident. Life as we all know it is that has been featured in a number full of distractions, inside and of newspapers and in online articles about concerned parents outside the car. After spending worrying that their sixteen-year- nearly a thousand dollars paying old teenagers are too distracted by for driving school, driving lessons, texting to pay attention to the road.  the road test, license, and spending The U.S Department of endless hours being screamed at Transportation is taking a stand on by paranoid parents, have we teen the issue. A variety of activities drivers not endured enough? linked to so-called “distracted continued on back page By:

Maciel

Brea

The Brew Crew

Erin Burke & Christina Flessas Co-Editors and Layout Design Carena Wong - Photographer Staff - Abigail Bedard, Deanna Bailey, Maciel Brea, Rachel Channen, Ashley Cluck, Alexa Goutzos, Nicole Matthews, Stenio Moreira, Juan Pena, Nayroby Polanco, Kellie Sacco, Michelle Sacco, Michelle Stanley, Zaneta Stepien, Cosima Takis-Welch, Darcy Theriault, Carena Wong Special thanks to Madame Fitzgerald for her all her assistance.

Although distracted driving is a danger, how much should big brother monitor drivers behind the wheel?

Consistency

The importance of knowing what is expected of you. By

Burke by conflicting consequences or consequences changing too quickly As teens grow and to keep up with. There is no way develop we all experience for students to be able to right their change and we learn as we get wrongs, or care to, if they don’t know older how to deal with changes what is going on. that we cannot help but accept Now that there is an established in our lives. These can be attendance policy we are starting to welcomed or un-welcomed see the numbers rise. Now that there is changes but we learn to deal with a no tolerance policy for electronics, them, in our own ways, none the students are lessening this distraction. less. As changes occur in every With all the communication, the aspect of our lives, school is waves are starting to settle. With a one place that too much change solid foundation and consistency can have negative results. among faculty and administration, As a school we have students can work together to amend experienced much change over certain things or add to the structure. these past four years, and now Having consistency is key to being that the construction is finished, able to perfect something so beneficial right on schedule, we can finally to students’ lives. If students can take advantage of our new utilize their school and learn how to beauty of a school. We have make change happen for the better smart boards, projectors, good instead of fighting the system there attendance, and new colors can be much more learning going on. but finally, we are starting, One example of a new positive as students, to understand change; we can use the library what the administration and at lunch without a pass. This is a faculty is after. We are working great opportunity for students to out the last few squeaks get some quiet work time in during in our well oiled machine. the day, organize group projects In an educational place or just catch up on e-mails. Small like a school it is important changes like this are much easier for students to know what to attain when the foundation that is expected of them to fully is being added to is solid and well appreciate and take advantage known. After four years of very hard of the opportunities given to work on this foundation, we are them. There is so much to learn seeing the consistency paying off. here that it can be overshadowed



Erin

Distracted Driving

continued from page 3 When adults think about teenage drivers, there are many words they link with this image, such as “dangerous”, “distracted”, “awful”, and, my personal favorite, “immature”. As much as parents love to blame and scorn children for their inappropriate behavior and poorly thought-out decisions, they themselves are not perfect. Fellow young drivers, listen to my plea. Have you ever caught yourself getting yelled at for the same behavior your parents exhibit when they are behind the wheel? Have your parents ever screamed any of the following: a.) you are a horrible driver b.) you should never get your license c.) what are you doing and d.) STOP! instead of explaining what you did wrong? Adults who assume teenage drivers are all bound to get into an accident fail to realize that teenagers learn by example and most adult drivers are far from perfect. Personally, I’ve witnessed my parents do a number of less than responsible activities while behind the wheel. It is safe to say that at some point all drivers get distracted, not just teenagers, and we can not simply put all the blame on one group. Over the past couple of

years there has been an increase in government control over a number of issues, the latest being healthcare. Whatever happened to that idealistic libertarian society that our founding fathers envisioned? The government is beginning to play too much of an active role in our lives, attempting to monitor everything we do, as if we do not have brains and cannot process thoughts. Living in a house could be equally as dangerous as driving in a car. I mean, sure, we cannot sit on our dad’s favorite couch and travel 50 miles per hour in the hectic streets of Salem. Think about it in theory: the government is trying to protect us and be that “big old brother” that everyone dreams of having. The one who picks you up whenever you fall down and scrape your knee, the same one who intimidates your bullies and buys us ice cream at the end of the day. Here’s the government again trying to give us a big, warm, hug and to say, “Hello America! Even though I will never be sitting in the passenger seat, I’m still going to monitor your every single move.”

Aquaculture Lab Continued from front

a place for them to do so. “We don’t really have one particular thing we have to learn here. We have more freedom to explore things we are actually interested in,” says Connor Dooley, a senior who is participating in the science research internship. The students in this class are learning a lot of skills, from researching topics to conducting experiments in the new labs. Also, they are learning how to effectively communicate science topics, which will be lessons for other science classes in the high school and throughout the middle school and elementary schools in Salem. Marcoux is very passionate about science.  “The students are given the opportunity to ask questions and seek out the answers through research and experimentation.  I personally love the exploration and discovery aspects of science and I have always hoped that I could pass this on to students at a young age,” he said. When it comes down to it, Marcoux really just loves science and has found something he is passionate

about. Creating this program has given students the opportunity to love science as much as he does. The Aqualab is an on-going project that will open many new doors to students at SHS.

McLaughlin

Continued from front

anticipating his safe return. Connor Dooley gives a thumbs up to the Aqualab He returned home and to SHS for about 2 years just before McLaughlin was once again called for his second military leave, this time to North Carolina in 2007.  McLaughlin felt that in North Carolina soliders were being trained better than they were in Iraq because there was a better connection among the soliders. He had to stay there for 20 months and returned to teaching history this September once his assignment was up. A teacher at Salem High for 8 years, McLaughlin had his moments of finding it difficult to adjust again to teaching after his military leaves. His own experiences influence his classroom, as students are able to obtain first hand perceptions of what life was like for people in wars. McLaughlin admits that it feels “unique to tell students what it’s like on the grounds of a hostile environment during war.” Welcome back to SHS, McLaughlin is back at SHS after two military assignments McLaughlin. A military hero! son