Overcoming barriers to find a home
Less testing, more learning page 2
Boys’ basketball hustles to post-season!
page 24
pages 12-13
Harbinger The Algonquin
february 2017 vOL. 29 NO. 4
The Student Newspaper of Algonquin Regional High School 79 Bartlett street, Northborough MA 01532 | arhsharbinger.COM
Committee seeks new principal PRINCIPAL as Mead announces retirement PROCESS “I’m requesting two students from the Class of 2017 [to join the Search Committee],” Johnson said. “They Editor-in-Chief know Mr. Mead, they won’t be here next year, so it’s not Following Principal Tom Mead’s announcement of his putting any student in a particularly compromising situretirement at the conclusion of the academic year, Super- ation, because they’ll be off someplace else. They have intendent Christine Johnson is forming a hiring commit- also been here for four years, and they have tremendous tee and involving student representatives in the process. perspective and experience.” Mead revealed that this would be the last of his eight Student Council adviser John Barry decided to help fayears serving as principal of Algonquin at a faculty meet- cilitate discussion between the school and the Class of ing on January 18. 2017 representatives by hosting two open forums for stu“I announced [my retirement] yesterday because June dents to share their opinions. 30 is a long ways off,” Mead said. “It gives the staff, the Barry sees the inclusion of students in the hiring proteachers, everybody ample time to participate [in the hir- cess as an excellent opportunity for more members of the ing process]- and that’s what I encourage them to do, parcommunity to get involved with the appointticipate. Have a voice in this thing, pick somebody who’s ment of the going to take you where you need to “You’ve got six new principal. go as a school.” “My advice months left of to any senior “We are seeking who wants me, so think to be on this the most highly about that, committee is qualified [person] you have to because I’m understand to be the next edfocused on that you’re not ucational leader doing this for that.” your own ediand heartbeat TOM MEAD fication, you’re PRINCIPAL doing it to adof Algonquin.” vance the fuCHRISTINE JOHNSON ture of this institution,” Barry said. SUPERINTENDENT “I want open-minded kids who don’t have a preconceived notion of who Following a procedure similar they want the next principal to emto that for the hiring process of body. I want a senior who can come photos rafaela coelho Mead, Superintendent Christine Johnson plans to put Graphic Jen fox into this room, go to one of those together a Search Committee of fourteen community open meetings, and listen to a very thoughtful members to participate directly in the hiring process. freshman... and take in what they’re saying.” Johnson attended a January 30 faculty meeting to lay out The two Class of 2017 students that are selected have the plans for the selection of a new principal to faculty the responsibilities of participating in Barry’s open stuand administration, emphasizing that representatives dent forums, accurately representing the views of the from every facet of the community, including the student student body, and attending numerous meetings of the body, would be included in the process. Search Committee to plan, discuss, and interview poten-
How exactly will the next leader of our school be selected?
Jen fox
Getting air with flair With hair flying behind her, sophomore Tessa McAndrews demonstrates a move on the balance beam during a gymnastics meet in Hudson on February 4.
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Candidates for principal meet with Committee for interviews.
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Committee submits semifinalists to Johnson.
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Johnson selects final candidate for principal!
Godbout drives AED campaign to state level, with help from media Copy Editor
photo rafaela coelho
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Search Committee prepares selection criteria.
tial candidates. “We are going to be meeting three times before the actual interviews will take place, and our goal is to start interviewing on March 6 and March 8,” Johnson said. “We also recognize that seeking the best candidate might take more than one search, and so we’ve timed our search process such that if we do not find a candidate the first time through, we have enough time until the end of the year.” Mead Retirement page 6
clarissa wong
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Superintendent Johnson creates the Search Committee.
Thanks to the work of social studies teacher Stephen Godbout, all public and charter schools in the commonwealth of Massachusetts will be required to have an automated external defibrillator on site by July 2018. An automated external defibrillator, or an AED, is a device that can diagnose life-threatening cardiac diseases and treat them through electrotherapy. The origins of this new AED requirement can be traced back to Godbout, who worked tirelessly alongside local families for nearly two years to pass Senate bill No. 2449. They went through many obstacles to win over the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives and turn the bill into law. The bill made its way multiple times around the state government before being passed unanimously by the Senate during the last few hours of the legislative session. Godbout credits the media for shedding positive light on the bill and for preventing the delay of its passage. One individual in particular who helped to promote §2449 was Fox 25 reporter Jim Morelli.
His past experiences with heart-health related issues drew him to Godbout’s cause to prevent lives from being lost due to heart conditions. “Back in April 2016, with the help of the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association, we [teachers] put together a press release talking about the good work we were doing at Algonquin,” Godbout said. “Jim Morelli saw the press release and sent it out to all media outlets. Because of his background and personal interest, he quickly picked up on the story and reached out to me immediately.” After having an experience with cardiac arrest just two and a half years ago, Morelli recognized the importance of AED accessibility. “I understood their cause,” Morelli said. “I coach soccer in Holliston and there are no AEDs on the soccer fields. After my experience with ventricular arrhythmia, I became acutely aware of the dangers of heart conditions.” Godbout recognized the role of the media in preventing §2449 from being delayed until the next legislative session. AED Campaign page 6