Harbinger The Algonquin
June 2015 vOL. 27 NO.5
The Student Newspaper of Algonquin Regional High School 79 Bartlett street, Northborough MA 01532 | arhsharbinger@gmail.com
McGovern visits Serenity Garden Congressman James “Jim” McGovern praises students who maintain community garden Diana Roy & Jen Fox
Editorial Board Congressman Jim McGovern visited the Serenity Garden Thursday May 28, touring the plots of produce and meeting with the students who made the garden possible. McGovern advocates for better nutrition for students and in schools, and for gardens to be implemented in every American school. “It’s good to come here to see how you did [with the garden],” McGovern said, “so I can use you as a model and get others to replicate what you have done here.” McGovern heard about the garden from senior Ian Rizzitano, an active environmentalist who tends the garden in his free time. Rizzitano became acquainted with McGovern on a trip to D.C., and since their meeting he has expanded the garden with the help of fellow students and volunteers. “[He] was at a Climate Change Summit at the White House a couple of months ago and Congressman McGovern was so hospitable, PHOTO RAFAELA COELHO showing [him] around,” Nutrition teacher Susan Halpin said, “and they made this con- Upper left: McGovern takes a photo of one of several QR codes stationed around the garden. nection and he promised he would come back Bottom left: Students from Susan Halpin’s Nutrition class pose for a selfie with McGovern. before [he] graduates.” Right: McGovern kneels at the edge of one of raised beds in the Serenity Garden, picking a ripe strawberry. “We tried to make as many connections said, “and I really feel like he helped us turn this around wish more medical schools would concentrate on nutrito different community organizations as we could,” Rizzi- so it’s looking much more professional than when you tion, because food is medicine.” tano said. “The more the community involvement, the saw it six years ago. We have a wonderful team here.” “Every school should have a garden,” McGovern better the garden.” The group’s work impressed McGovern, who hopes said. “Every college should have a garden. All of our hosMuch of the work can be attributed to Josh Rich- to spread Algonquin’s excitement for local agriculture to pitals should have gardens, too...I think gardens give you ardson, Serenity Garden coordinator, and Nancy Vargas, different facilities across the country. a better appreciation of the importance of food and how president of the Southborough Gardener’s Club. After “[One] thing I value about this school is that you it’s grown.” seeing Rizzitano and Richardson hard at work in the gar- have a course on nutrition,” McGovern said. “I den, Vargas recruited them to help at her own gardens. “[Josh]has a background in landscape design and botany,” Vargas
“There were people who were takSelby said. “I feel like every year this is getting worse ing shaving cream, going around and putting it in and worse, and then each year the next class feels like people’s faces who didn’t necessarily want that to hap- they need to do something bigger and better than the The administration cancelled this pen,” assistant principal Mel Laughton said. “We had class before them.” year’s Senior Ball in response to the ag- teachers complaining about them going to the doors and When the indoor parade tradition began four years gressive behaviors and destruction of banging on the doors and putting shaving cream on the ago, it consisted only of marching, cheers, and minimal school property displayed at the Senior doors, and there was stuff all over the floor. There were disruptions. Parade. items thrown on the floor, pictures that shouldn’t have “There’s a history behind that march,” Laughton As the Class of 2015 marched through been introduced to the school.” said. “When it was first done, there were no shenanigans the hallways and cafeteria during the school-sanctioned The disruption upset several teachers, some of by any people; no shaving cream, no throwing of things, parade, some seniors sprayed shaving cream throughout whom voiced their appreciation for the administration’s and no going after anyone else. It was a wonderful repthe building and onto teachers, other students and into eventual stance that culminated in a One Call home to resentation of the senior classes.” student lunches. Some seniors shouted profanities and senior parents. This email from Principal Tom Mead deDespite the tense ending to four years of connecdemonstrated rude gestures to members of the staff. scribed the hooplah that went on the day of the Senior tion and education, the staff and administration looks Profane images were also drawn in shaving cream on a Parade. forward to sending the seniors off on a positive note at bathroom wall and on an outer wall of the school facing The general mood became very difficult to con- graduation on June 6. the athletic fields. School property, including a security trol,” principal Tom Mead said. “Consequently, the rest “As always, I wish the senior class the best in their camera, was damaged along the route. of the parade was crutailed. The students were told that future endeavors,” Laughton said. “My hope is that they the parade was over.” learn from this situation and realize that there’s a time “I’m disappointed in the mob mentality and in the and a place for everything, and disrupting a school in “It definitely was unfair lack of respect for the building by some--not all--but such a manner is not the right time or the right that the kids who were not some of the sething.” contributing to it got there “I don’t really care beniors,” science “I think in the end they all senior privileges taken away. cause I’m not a senior.” teacher Aimee need to be punished.They all need to Lydia Buzz Ariel Wilbekin learn the lessons and go from that.” Jen Fox
Editorial Board
Freshman
What’s INSIDE:
Junior
Baseball advances: headed for playoffs
page 23
Kiley Eckler Sophomore
Survey shows ARHS
New schedule on the
girls are more stressed
table for next year?
than boys
pages 12-13
page 3