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MONOMOY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Jan. 16, 2015
Student Spotlight
Busy
schedule
for Erin
Prescott
By Laine Kotoski
Opinion Editor
Erin Prescott, a ,junior, is
the Student Spotlight for this issue of Shark Tales. Prescott was
named as the Junior Student of
the Month for October.
LOOKING GOOD--Monomoy Regional High School makes an impressive sight as it faces Oak
Street.
Staff Photo
Laine Kotoski Photo
What has been the best part of the new school for you?
“The best part of the new school has been having more class choices
and being able to meet and interact with new people.”
Do you participate in any school sports or clubs? If so, which ones?
“I am the editor of the yearbook and photo editor for the student
newspaper. I decorate for Spirit Committee, I tutor on Tuesdays after school
with Mrs. Graham in Peer Tutoring, participate in Peer Leads, and I also
run track in the spring.”
What is your favorite quote?
“’Friendship isn’t a big thing - it’s a million little things.’” - Author
Unknown
What is your favorite subject and why?
“Personally, I enjoy math the most because there is a definitive
answer and it will help me in my career path.”
What are you most looking forward to this year?
“I am most excited about prom in the spring as well as looking at
colleges.”
What is something not everyone knows about you?
“I am a member of the American Cornhole Association, which is
a game where you throw bean bags into a wooden board with holes in it.”
What are some of your hobbies outside of school?
“I like to take pictures and hang out with my friends. I also work
at a restaurant in Harwich as a busser.”
What are your plans after high school?
“I would like to go to a college in the Northeast (NYC!) and study
either Accounting or Business.”
New school opens
for students
By Erin Fishman
News Editor
On September 4, 2014, Monomoy Regional High School (MRHS)
opened its doors to students amidst
a wave of novel sights and scents.
Shoes scuffed against spotless linoleum as the antiseptic scent of newness permeated the lobby. Excited
chatter filtered amongst students,
exchanging details of their summers
and comparing schedules.
Overhead, a warm glow of natural lighting streamed through the tall
windows of ‘Main Street’, the long
corridor with a vaulted ceiling that
runs lengthwise from the front to back
of the first floor of the new school
and gives the area almost a mall-like
ambiance. As students gathered along
Main Street, truly energized on their
first day of school in the new facility,
they seemed to embody the vision
that all those responsible for the
new school had in mind: Chatham,
Harwich, and students from surrounding towns joined under one roof as
Monomoy Sharks, ready to take on
the world.
Now that vision has become reality since Harwich and Chatham voted
to regionalize in 2010 and officially
became a district in July of 2012.
Groundbreaking on the campus
of the former Harwich High School
was in April of 2013. While Harwich
High School students and staff had to
put up with the disruption of the new
building being constructed literally
alongside the building in which they
were still learning and teaching, students at Chatham High School dealt
with plans to convert their middle
school-high school campus into the
district’s new middle school.
Early drafts promised a new kind
of school with high tech equipment
and an ambitious mission plan. The
price tag of $59 million for the school
created lofty expectations, and these
expectations have been met and
exceeded. In fact, construction was
completed in under two years, ahead
of schedule and under budget.
Sure, the material achievements
are impressive: state of the art classrooms, Chromebooks for every
student, and ‘team areas’ where students can socialize between classes
and work independently with small
groups during classes. But students
and parents alike are excited about
Monomoy for a larger reason.
Continued on page 3
2
NEWS
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
Candidates share their views
By Liam Smith
Staff Writer
The week before the November
election, US. Rep. Bill Keating, a
Democrat, and his Republican challenger, attorney John Chapman, battled for the votes of residents in the
9th Congressional District in a lively
debate at Monomoy High School.
Although most of the Monomoy
students who attended the debate
cannot vote, it gave students an opportunity to compare the candidates
and what they represent as well as to
see each candidate’s style in answering questions. The Oct. 29 debate,
which was also open to the public,
attracted some community members
and the 650 seat auditorium was full.
Sponsored by Monomoy’s Social
Studies Department and coordinated
by history teacher John Dickson,
the hour long debate covered many
important topics including education,
the economy, the national debt, heath
care, gun control, Cape Wind, and
even the Ebola crisis.
Senior Kalin Schultz moderated
the debate and did a good job keeping
the candidates on topic, reminding
them about time limits and to let the
other person speak before interrupting. Student panelists asked the
questions. The panel included Jessica Wilson, Erika Venie, Meaghan
Welchman, and Dalton Nickerson.
In his opening statement, Keating talked about an experience he
had while visiting soldiers in Iraq.
Keating had an opportunity to meet
an Iraqi informant who told Keating
that he was helping the Americans so
that his children could one day enjoy
a good education.
Keating urged students to have
pride in their school and appreciate
it because many countries around the
world are not as fortunate to have
such a strong education system.
Chapman heated up the debate
right from the start. In his opening
statement, he criticized Congressman
Keating. Chapman talked about how
Keating is really part of the problem in Washington and votes with
President Obama “93 percent of the
time.” Chapman added, “Washington
is broken,” and Chapman said he
could fix it.
The next topic involved the candidates’ plans to improve education
in Massachusetts and was one of the
few areas where candidates generally agreed. Keating said he want to
make college affordable and make
POLITICAL LESSONS--Congressional candidate John Chapman (center left) and
Congressman Bill Keating (center right), meet with students and staff after a formal debate at
Monomoy.
John Dickson Photo
federal loans easier to get for students.
Keating emphasized the need to have
a stronger community college and
said the fact that Bridgewater State
University is coming to Cape Cod is
a good sign.
times that Republicans, in protest
over Democratic spending measures,
have refused to fund the government,
thus forcing a shut down. Chapman
said that spending in Washington has
gotten out of hand and spending cuts
“As the last few debate topics came up, the
candidates were in agreement in their support
of gender equality, equal pay for equal work,
and gay marriage.”
The university is opening a campus in South Yarmouth which will
offer its first courses in January.
Chapman stated that he believes
that the federal government should
be involved in funding community
colleges and state education systems.
On a local issue, Chapman criticized Keating for voting to expand
flood insurance, saying it hurts the
wallets of working people in the
community. Keating and Chapman
then argued about Keating’s position
on this with Keating saying that he
voted to protect the citizens who live
on low-lying land.
Chapman kicked off the next topic
about adding jobs and improving the
economy with his plan to incorporate
workforce training in the public and
private sectors. Keating responded to
Chapman by stating that he was the
co-sponsor of a workforce bill for
Massachusetts. Keating also stated
that he was a “leader in congress for
saving the fishing industry.”
The growing national debt and
the candidates’ plans to reduce it was
another contentious topic. Keating
aimed his criticism at his Republican
opponent, saying that the debt crisis
cannot be fixed by shutting down
the government, a reference to the
are necessary.
Finances also played a role in
the candidates’ next sparring match.
Weighing in on the Ebola crisis,
Chapman said that Congress should
be imposing travel bans and suspending visas for West African citizens.
He also emphasized the need for
hospitals in the nation to be prepared
for the treatment of Ebola.
Keating responded by stating that
American forces are already over in
West African countries combating
the spread of Ebola. Keating also
took the opportunity to criticize the
Republicans for cutting funds for
the National Institutes of Health, an
organization that is part of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Resources, and whose mission is
to do medical research to improve
health and safety in the country. Keating’s criticism was an attempt to put
some of the blame for the Ebola crisis
onto the Republicans.
Next the candidates tackled a
very popular topic with the younger
age groups, raising the minimum
wage. Since many Monomoy students
have full-time jobs in the summer or
part-time jobs during the school year,
this exchange really caught their attention.
Keating stated that he believes
Congress should raise the national
minimum wage to10 dollars an hour.
Chapman, on the other hand, does not
support raising the minimum wage.
Instead, he says that investing in
community colleges and vocational
technical schools will give young
people a greater opportunity to earn
more money.
As the last few debate topics came
up, the candidates were in agreement
in their support of gender equality,
equal pay for equal work, and gay
marriage. However, they differed
on their views regarding alternative energy. Chapman thinks that
Congress should create more incentives for environment sustainability.
He is opposed to the creation of the
Cape Wind project because it is too
expensive.
Keating supports the Cape Wind
Project, which he says will create a
thousand jobs. And the wind turbines
would create enough energy to power
three quarters of the Cape, Keating
added.
Regarding the Affordable Care
Act, or “Obama Care,” Keating
ticked off a list of benefits, saying
that it allows students to stay on their
parents’ health insurance until age 26,
gives senior citizens prescription drug
benefits, and is reducing health care
costs. Chapman vowed to help repeal
the Affordable Care Act and said that
it is increasing costs for businesses.
The final question was on gun
control. Chapman stated that he
would not put any more regulation on
guns. He also believes that the state
should be in control of gun regulation. Keating responded by stating
that just limiting gun control to the
states won’t work because guns travel
over state borders. He also believes
that mental health and background
checks should be in place for every
gun owner.
In their closing statements, Keating thanked panelists and asked
the audience to realize that when he
votes in Congress, he always votes
for the people. Chapman closed out
the debate by stating that the country
needs change and Congress needs to
change. He also stated that more jobs
and less spending is the only way to
lower our country’s debt.
While the Monomoy students did
not get to vote in this congressional
election, they did have an excellent
lesson in democracy as they watched
two candidates for national office
present their views.
NEWS
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
3
Principal Burkhead sees potential
By Cecelia Kane
Section Editor
“No stone will be unturned. I will
commit to making sure our school is
the best and that people want to come
here, like coming here, and will enjoy the quality of the education they
receive.” This is the philosophy of
Bill Burkhead, the first ever principal
of Monomoy Regional High School
(MRHS).
The new grades 8 -1 2 high
school opened to students in September after the merger of the Harwich and Chatham school districts
into Monomoy Regional School
District. Although Burkhead did not
officially start his job until July 1st,
from the end of January when he was
offered the position until the end of
June, Burkhead continued as principal of Normandin Middle School in
New Bedford and traveled back and
forth from his home in Plymouth to
Chatham and Harwich several times
a week in order to be involved with
important decisions and planning for
the new school.
As beautiful as the new stateof-the-art school is, there were still
many challenges that had to be met
and obstacles to overcome so that the
school would open on time and offer
its students an extensive academic
curriculum and many opportunities to
participate in sports and clubs. Now
after four months into the school year
with a new district, building, and principal, things seem to be going well for
Monomoy. Principal Burkhead wants
to keep it that way, and in fact, wants
to make MRHS even better.
Burkhead says that to continue
to have a healthy culture here at
Monomoy, there needs to be high
expectations. Students should push
themselves to their limits, Burkhead
adds, and they should enjoy coming
here every day. Since Monomoy is
ON THE JOB--Bill Burkhead, Monomoy’s first ever principal, is enthusiastic about
the new school and is committed to making Monomoy “the best” school on Cape Cod.
Erin Prescott Photo
new, Burkhead believes that everyone
needs to learn about and decide on
new and old traditions.
Two key qualities that everyone
who is part of Monomoy should have
are pride and resilience, Burkhead
health teacher in the Massachusetts
towns of Kingston, Canton, and
Franklin. However, his experience
does not stop there. He has also
worked at Plymouth North High
School where he held several posi-
“No stone will be unturned. I will commit to making
sure our school is the best and that people want to come
here, like coming here, and will enjoy the quality of
the education they receive.”
Principal Bill Burkhead
says as he talks about his vision for
the high school. “Everyone should be
proud of our new district, so when we
are faced with challenges, we will become stronger together,” he explains.
Short term, Burkhead wants to establish more solid routines and a positive culture with high expectations
of success. Long term, he wants to
create more opportunities for students
to learn, such as offering more AP
classes and additional co-curricular
activities.
Working with students for years,
Burkhead has held many positions
in several school districts. He has
worked as a physical education and
tions including adjustment counselor, athletic director, and assistant
principal.
Burkhead graduated from Springfield College, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree and a master’s
degree. Additionally, at Bridgewater
State University, Burkhead earned
a Certificate of Advanced Graduate
Studies in Educational Leadership.
Despite the fact that Burkhead
was perfectly happy as principal of
the Normandin School, he decided
last year to send in a job application
for the principal opening for the brand
new Monomoy Regional School District. Knowing that it was a very
unique position, Burkhead researched
both Harwich and Chatham for weeks
to learn every aspect possible about
this potential opportunity and to determine whether the move would be
right for him and the Monomoy district. Burkhead decided that he was
the perfect fit for Monomoy and that
he could help make the new district
outstanding. While researching the
history and traditions of each town,
he found, “a high value in education.
Both schools were run very well, and
there was community support.”
Burkhead’s love for Cape Cod
helped to reinforce his decision to
apply for the MRHS principal’s job.
He has always enjoyed the Cape as he
has been spending his summers here
for many years.
When Principal Burkhead is
not busy working on school related
responsibilities, he likes spending
time with his family (he has two high
school aged children,) running, exercising, and hunkering down to read a
good book.
Keeping a good tradition alive,
Burkhead assures students and staff
that he will indeed be swimming
with the sharks this year. He loves the
beach and swimming, and last year,
was swimming in the icy waters of
Plymouth Beach up until September
17th, just a week after a shark sighting.
School has been in session for
several months now, and even though
there have been challenges, Burkhead
“couldn’t be happier” and adds, “The
potential of students and staff is even
greater than I thought.” He also thinks
that Monomoy is on the cutting edge
technologically, but more importantly, the teachers and students are
dedicated and invested. “We have
all the tools to make this school one
of the best in the state.”
Monomoy off to a good start
Continued from page 1
MRHS is a totally new environment for learning where students
work collaboratively with teachers.
Four classes each day allow for longer
instruction sessions, whereas in some
schools, students struggle to balance
seven or eight periods in one day
without time to absorb the material.
The library/media center is a spacious, quiet environment for students
to work and think. It offers a dozen
touch screen computers, comfortable
couches, and multiple tables with
laptop charging outlets. Large bay
windows and skylights reduce the
need for high electricity usage.
Everything about MRHS is progressive, including its students. The
diverse student body expanded this
year to include the eighth grade within the high school. Of the school’s 640
students, 85 school-choice students
pour in from the surrounding communities: Yarmouth, Osterville, even
Sandwich to name a few. When asked
why they chose to travel lengthy
commutes, the answer is usually the
same: MRHS offers the most promising benefits compared to other Cape
school districts.
A club fair in the beginning of the
year boasted numerous opportunities for students to get involved. The
newspaper club, fishing club, and
art club are just a sample of the cocurricular choices. Students can also
create their own clubs, as senior Alex
Sequin did.
“I wanted to make a group for
environmentalists like me,” she
explained. Sequin is the founder of
MRHS’ Earth Club, which meets
weekly to discuss ways to make
Monomoy more eco-friendly.
As for the mingling of the two
districts, students seem to be enjoying making friends and meeting new
teachers. “I think a lot of the Harwich
kids are pretty rad, and I’m glad the
melding went well,” junior Tucker
McClain stated.
Continued on page 4
4
NEWS
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
Mark Manion tells life & death story
By Erin Fishman
News Editor
He recalled the ticking of the
wheels. The repetitive clicking as the
spokes glided around and around, except the bike was bent and discarded
in the grass. Its rider was bleeding,
flirting with death, listening to that
familiar tick instead of his cousin’s
voice and waiting for an ending
that did not come. Headlights sliced
through the night and silhouetted the
17 year-old passenger of the vehicle.
Tick. Tick.
“You’re going to be okay,” the
boy said. Did he even believe himself? He heard the sound of a phone
call being made, footsteps crunching,
headlights sweeping and fading in the
night. Then, blackness.
When Mark Manion woke up, his
cousin was dead. The cross-country
cycling adventure they had planned
was a distant memory of the past.
More pressingly, he could not move
his limbs. The pieces of a horrifying
story came together: the story of a
group of teens who operated a vehicle
while intoxicated.
The story of a group of teens who
ended the life of one young man and
permanently maimed the other. Manion escaped the accident with a severe
thigh gash, multiple broken bones,
and internal decapitation, in which his
skull separated from his top vertebrae.
On the way to the hospital, the
EMTs restarted his heart after multiple cardiac arrests. Manion lost
mobility, rendering him completely
paralyzed. The once independent,
adventurous, and active young man
found himself having to rely on doctors, nurses, and support personnel for
their help with simple tasks such as
eating and using the bathroom.
It was a state of complete vulnerability, and one he never imagined
himself in. But someone else made
that choice for him. Forty years later,
Manion travels across the country and
COMPELLING STORY--Mark Manion, center, shares a light moment with Principal Bill
Burkhead (back right), School Resource Officer Tom Clarke, and students and staff.
Angelina Chilaka Photo
presents his story at high schools,
military bases, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and churches. The
students of Monomoy High School
were on the receiving end of his harrowing presentation in the midst of
the all-encompassing festivities of
Homecoming Week.
Manion’s story was a living testimony to students that the decisions
they make affect not only themselves
but others as well, and a reminder to
students to stay sober as they enjoy
the week’s Homecoming events.
“Some people ask if I was
born in a wheelchair. I
think if I was, my mother
would have had to have
had a cesarean section.”
Mark Manion
“How many people knew I was in
a wheelchair when I came out here?”
This is the first thing Manion asks,
and students glance around, wondering if it is a trick question as Manion
is very obviously sitting in a wheelchair on the stage in the high school
auditorium. Reluctantly, hands raise
one by one.
Manion is so used to his wheelchair now that it is almost an extension of his body, as natural as any
other limb. “Some people ask if I was
born in a wheelchair. I think if I was,
my mother would have had to have
had a cesarean section,” he jokes.
Despite the tragic content of his presentation, students laugh as he makes
some light of the situation. Manion
effortlessly incorporates the audience
as an active part of his speech; instead
of lecturing about the dangers of driving impaired, he puts students in his
shoes. I want you to imagine what it’s
like to be paralyzed,” he says. “Stare
straight ahead. You can’t turn your
head or move an inch.” He pauses.
“Now, imagine you have an itch on
your cheek. Try to scratch it.”
This was the reality Manion lived
during the first five months of his
hospitalization. Intensive rehab and
a skilled set of doctors and nurses
allowed him to regain enough mobility to use a walker, and then a cane.
A year later, he was discharged from
the hospital. For a while, life seemed
to be regaining some semblance
of normalcy. Manion settled down
Monomoy HS opens
Continued from page 3
His opinion seems to be shared by much of the student body, many of whom socialize with students from outside
of their previous districts. “There’s no reason for division,” junior Charles Kiernan added. “We’re all Monomoy now.”
As for the sports teams, it is business as usual: the athletic department has been combined for several years now
prior to the construction of the school. Student athletes have been showing great collaboration on and off the field.
Students from both Harwich and Chatham also collaborated for some performing arts productions during the last
two years.
Aside from a fancy building, the most impressive aspects of Monomoy include its talented and diverse students
and dedicated, hardworking teachers. Principal Bill Burkhead recently noted in a pep rally how proud he is of Monomoy’s students already. With its first year off to a great start, Monomoy Regional High School offers an exciting and
promising future for its students.
with a wife and had two daughters.
Although he still relied on a cane,
he could perform many actions independently. That all changed one
seemingly ordinary evening when he
went to pick up a pizza for his family. “I didn’t notice that my foot had
caught in the door,” Manion explains.
Because his foot had gone completely
numb, Manion fell forward and into
the counter, breaking his neck.
Manion never regained mobility
in his legs. Again, the rug had been
pulled out beneath his feet as he found
himself faced with a whole new set
of challenges.
Manion reminds students that
had he not been a victim of that first
accident with drunken drivers, there
is no way his foot would have gone
numb if he had caught it in a door.
Everything traces back to that first
accident when a group of intoxicated
teens killed Manion’s cousin and
paralyzed Manion.
It is this candid approach to the
fragility of life that makes Manion’s
words so effective. The nearsightedness during high school and the
invincibility of adolescence are silent
killers.
“But don’t feel sorry for me,”
he tells students. “I’ve had a great
life.” Despite his handicap, Manion
is enjoying a full, satisfying career
as an author and speaker. “At theme
parks, my party and I can skip lines,”
he jokes, again adding a sense of
humor most struggle to find in light
of tragedy.
Manion says he is okay. He is not
perfect; he does not feign complacency with this debilitating injury.
He does not pretend to feel normal,
nor does he ignore the sympathetic
glances or the unanswerable questions. He accepts that they are what
they are. And still, he is okay.
Because in the midst of death,
somehow, Mark Manion found life.
MONOMOY MUSICIANS
STORMED DISTRICTS
Congratulations to the students
who participated in the Senior
Southeastern MA District Music
Festival! The festival was held in
East Bridgewater on January 9 and
10. Students endured a difficult
audition process in November
and seven Monomoy singers were
selected to participate: Lillian McMurrer, Jasmine Vergara-Ullman,
Samantha Minshall, Lawrence
DiNoia, Garrett Sherman, Kyle
Wisniewski, and Christian Pavlakis. Heather Gallant played the
clarinet in the festival.
OPINION
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
5
Editorial
Students
make a
difference
On October 29, 2014, just shy of a
week before Election Day, a 9th Congressional District debate was held in the
auditorium of Monomoy Regional High
School. The debate involved Rep. William Keating (D) and John Chapman (R).
Keating won the election the following week, but in terms of student impact, what was important about the debate at Monomoy is that it helped
open the eyes of teens in our school about a variety of issues that affect them now or will affect them in the future such as the affordability of college,
the economy and the job market, national debt, war and conflicts, minimum wage, gender and marriage equality, health care, the environment, and gun
control.
As high school students, improving education and college affordability are at the forefront of many ofour minds, but unfortunately, young people are
not turning out to vote in large enough numbers to support politicians who will vote for issues that positively impact the youth of this country. With only
13% of 18-29 year olds voting in the 2014 midterm elections, it is clear that young people are the least interested or educated about politics in America.
It is ironic really that 46 million young adults in America are eligible to vote compared with 39 million elderly people, yet 22% of those 65 or older
voted in the 2014 midterm election. Young people are less likely to vote because many are enrolled in school in a place where they do not regularly reside. However, they have the option to file an absentee ballot in the community where they normally live. This enables youth (or any registered voter)
to vote no matter where they are at the time of an election. Some voting districts require a photo ID, but most young people have some form of photo
identification and should not use this as an excuse not to exercise their right to vote.
One reason elderly people are more likely to vote is because it is a habit they have developed over many years, whereas teens might not have the
experience yet to make voting part of their routine. It is also more “socially acceptable” for older adults to vote than it is for 18 year-olds who might
think voting is not important to them or their peers.
Older people generally have better transportation and have more time on their hands so it is easier for them to get to the polls according to USA
TODAY. Additionally, senior citizens are very interested in preserving their Social Security and Medicare retirement benefits, so they make it a point
to vote for candidates who support these entitlements. For 18-29 year-olds, Social Security and Medicare are not big issues.
Although the majority of the students in our high school are not eligible to vote, it is still important that students stay involved and informed. Read
the paper, follow your local politicians online via Twitter or Facebook, and participate in local political events such as town meetings or school committee meetings. Teens often fail to realize the correlation between the issues that impact them in terms of local, state, and national government and the
influence that young people can have on affecting change by taking a stand. Stay involved; small changes add up. You can make a difference!
Roving Reporter
How can students become politically involved?
“Students can pay more attention in history class where they learn about
the process and discover their own views.”
Bitzi Windle, grade 12
“Grouping together and making sure your voice and opinions are heard
on the issues that concern you.”
Gabrielle Hurley, grade 11
“They can keep up with local and national politics and help advocate for
local and national politicians.”
Ben Baker, grade 8
SHARK TALES
the student newspaper for
Monomoy Regional High School
Principal: Bill Burkhead
75 Oak Street
Harwich, MA 02645
(508) 430-7200
http://monomoy.edu
Molly Doncaster
Erin Fishman
Cecelia Kane
Lauren Handel
Laine Kotoski
Samantha Minshall
Samantha Peckham
Erin Prescott
Graphic Arts Editor
News Editor
Arts & Ent Editor
Features Editor
Opinion Editor
Production Editor
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Elaine Aschettino
Rachel Barnes
Faculty Advisor
Faculty Advisor
“Students should have more of a say in the process”
Eddie Goggin, grade 9
Staff
Caroline Atterstrom
Devon Callahan
Sophie Clingan
Sandale Douglas
Jonathan Mede
Michael Pandiscio
Liam Smith
Press Affiliations
American Scholastic Press
Association
The opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the students and do
not necessarily reflect the views of
the Monomoy Regional High School
faculty, staff, and administration.
SHARK TALES welcomes Letters to
the Editor. All letters must be signed
and a telephone number listed for verification. Unsigned letters will not be
published. Please drop off all letters to
Room A219.
SHARK TALES is typeset on Compaq
computers using Adobe InDesign. The
newspaper is printed by LuJean Printing Co. in Cotiuit, MA
6
FEATURES
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
Special Olympics come to Monomoy
By Erin Prescott
Photo Editor
“Let me win. But if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt.” This
is the Special Olympics oath, and
it came to life in September when
The Best Buddies and Peer Leaders
of Monomoy Regional High School
hosted a very successful Special
Olympics.
Schools from all over the Cape attended. The athletes played a number
of games including football, soccer,
and bowling. They also participated
in arts and crafts, which consisted of
coloring and face painting.
All the students who attended had
a smile on their faces and you could
tell they were having a great time.
After the games, the Harwich Fire
Department prepared lunch for all
who participated.
To finish off the day, there was
an awards ceremony at which all students received medals. It was great
to see how happy the athletes were
when a medal was placed around
their neck. Everyone is very excited
for the Special Olympics to happen
again next year.
OLYMPIANS--Special Olympics participants, Best Buddies, and Peer Leaders celebrate the
success of their games.
Devon Callahan Photo
Feature Teacher
READY, SET, GO--The race begins for Olympics participants at Monomoy, which hosted the
regional event.
Devon Callahan Photo
Students earn
computer certification
Several students, with the support of Instructional Technology Specialist Diane Dorgan, have achieved the valuable credential Microsoft
Office Specialist (MOS) certification. In the worldwide job market,
MOS is a primary tool companies use to validate the proficiency of their
employees in the latest technology.
The certification helps employers select job candidates based on a
globally recognized standard for verifying skills. In academia and in the
business world, demonstrated skills in the powerful Office applications
can be effectively used to determine academic preparedness and workforce readiness. Individuals with certification increase their own personal
sense of accomplishment, while also conveying an important skill set for
the competitive college admissions environment and for the job market.
According to Mrs. Dorgan these students worked very hard using a
rigorous certification exam book and an online program called Gmetrix
which simulates the exam. To successfully prepare for this certification,
students must be highly self-motivated and mature.
Look for Mr. Brown’s vest of the day
By Caroline Atterstrom
Staff Writer
If you take psychology, law, or
history, then you might have Matt
Brown for your teacher. He is easily
recognized because Brown wears a
vest almost every day. “I feel girded
for battle,” he says, “and it covers my
kevlar.”
It’s that kind of humor that makes
Brown and his classes popular. He
is excited about teaching at the new
Monomoy Regional High School and
said he is “impressed by the quality of the building.” Some of the
things Brown likes most about the
new facility include the natural light,
green, energy-saving features, and
self-flushing toilets. “You have to
admire a toilet that flushes itself,” he
says. “It’s an example to all of us.”
Regarding the merger of Harwich
and Chatham school districts into
Monomoy, Brown said he is “optimistic” about the continued success
of the regional district. “The joining
of the two schools will create new opportunities for students, for teachers
to teach what they care most about,
and for staff members to create an exciting new place to learn. I am lucky
to teach alongside so many talented
people.”
In addition to his teaching schedule, Brown is also head of the Social
Studies Department. “It has been
a challenge to take on so much this
year, but all of the staff I’ve talked to
who have taken on extra work this
year are excited about the possibilities ahead.”
While Brown’s enthusiasm for
teaching is obvious to his students,
what students also notice is that
Brown loves music. In fact, he is a
professional musician. He plays the
fretless electric bass and the flute.
He leads a jazz band, called “Matt
Brown Jazz Trio,” and he also performs freelance.
READY FOR CLASS--Matt Brown waits for his students at the beginning of a new week at
Monomoy.
Caroline Atterstrom Photo
One other fascinating part of
Brown’s life was that he traveled on
a cruise with his band around Europe.
He said he visited the “Baltic Ports,
England, Scotland, Spain and Italy.”
Before coming to Monomoy,
Brown was a Social Studies teacher
at Chatham High School, and prior
to that he taught in Worcester where
he lived from 1990 to 2007. Brown
studied Social Sciences at Harvard
University and earned a Bachelor of
Social Science degree. Brown also
has a Master of Education degree
from Worcester State University.
Brown is one interesting teacher.
Consider taking one of his classes to
see him in action or stop by and say
hello. You definitely want to get to
know him.
FEATURES
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
7
ALS does not dictate Ellen C’s life
exit the vehicle with ease. On her
blog, Ellen discusses the technology
around her home that enables her
to do many actions mobile people
take for granted: bathing, using the
By Erin Fishman
News Editor
Ellen Corindia is a bilingual master of a language most people never
acquire. A language that requires no
spoken words and cannot be defined
by syllables or variations of letters.
Perpetually humbled by life, Corindia
isn’t likely to recognize this although
her bright and active brain is inhibited by her body. Words fall to pieces
once they’re spoken aloud, sounding slurred or incoherent. However,
Corindia isn’t trapped; in fact, she
has achieved a sense of freedom most
spend their lives searching for.
Corindia was diagnosed with
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(A.L.S.) 13 years ago after reporting
preliminary symptoms to her doctor:
numbness, pain, and occasionally
slurred speech. Sets of tests later gave
her the disheartening news that she
has sporadic A.L.S., which means that
no one in her family was previously
diagnosed with the disease. A.L.S. is
a degenerative disease that attacks
nerve cells in the brain and spinal
cord. The oldest person living with
A.L.S. is Stephen Hawking at age
72, but that kind of longevity is rare.
Like Hawking, Corindia also has
long-term A.L.S., which progresses
slowly but with support from technology and caregivers, enables Corindia
to live longer than those who have
short-term ALS..
One thing Corindia made clear
in a recent presentation to a group
of Monomoy students is that her disease has not put her life on hold; she
enjoys a variety of aerobic activities
most people without a handicap find
difficult: climbing, canoeing, and
hiking, to name a few. She also has
a boyfriend, Leif Moore, who assists
her with many daily tasks. On her
blog, TuesdayswithEllie@Blogspot.
com, Corindia details the incredible
adventures they have together.
During the first half of the presentation, Corindia showed a video she
made with compiled pictures of her
MAKING A DIFFERENCE--Monomoy students and staff donate money to the local ALS
Association Chapter.
Sandale Douglas Photo
friends and family, as well as places
she has visited over the years. In one
frame, Ellen is seen scaling a rock
wall and navigating a canoe. She also
participates in events put on by her
local ALS Association chapter.
After her presentation, Corindia
answered questions from students.
Each answer was heartfelt and sincere, yet honest about the impact of
this disease on her life. One student
asked what Corindia does in her free
time, to which Corindia remarked: “I
have time to reflect...I take two hour
naps each day. I don’t have to justify
this to anyone,” she joked. “‘Hey, I
have ALS. I’m entitled to naps!’”
Corindia’s faith is the most remarkable aspect of her character. She
is devoted to her spiritual beliefs,
which she states have only become
stronger after her diagnosis. While
many people in today’s world struggle to find a support system, whether
in religion or elsewhere, Corindia
has found her anchor and allows it to
center and focus her.
Some might wonder why God
would punish someone with this disease, but Corindia says that she feels
it is part of a plan for her. A plan to
bring happiness to people, to humble
them, and allow them to recognize
their blessings. Everyone who has
met Corindia can agree that she has
achieved and exceeded this goal.
“My speech is still slurred; it’s
kind of my own language,” she writes
on her blog. When Corindia has
trouble responding to questions, this
is when Leif Moore steps in. He often
helps “translate” what she is saying
to students. Moore’s ability to listen
and understand Corindia, speaks to
their inseparable bond.
At one point, a student asks what
her favorite holiday is. Corindia begins to answer, but her speech seems
like a spool of thread that is unraveling in her hands. Instead of becoming frustrated, she looks to Moore, a
simple action that says so much.
“Thanksgiving,” he answers after
a pause. She smiles, a small gesture
of their uncomplicated love for each
other. In spite of her illness, Corindia
says that she has a lot to be thankful
for. ALS is an expensive disease, so
her technology allows her to live as
normally as possible. A speciallydesigned car allows her to enter and
bathroom, or eating. Support from
her friends and family has enabled
her to live the most comfortable life
possible.
At one point in her visit to Monomoy, English teacher Lisa ForteDoyle, presented Corindia with a
check for $300 that had been raised by
students and staff for the A.L.S. Family Charitable Fund. Forte-Doyle, a
friend of Corinida’s, has been inviting Corindia into her English classes
for several years after students have
read “Tuesdays With Morrie”, a
book about author Mitch Albom’s reconnection with his former professor
who was dying from ALS.
“Ellen is definitely our Morrie
Schwartz, but she’s not dying. She is
fully living! Every time she visits, I
am uplifted and inspired. She is truly
a personal hero,” Forte-Doyle says.
Corindia’s compassion is displayed in her words, but more importantly, in what she does not say. How
she watched the students while her
video played, her charismatic laugh,
her lively spirit that almost seemed
too big for the classroom, that wonderful, boundless energy within her.
It’s hard to take just one lesson
away from Ellen Corindia’s presence
because there are so many. A person’s
struggle cannot be defined by “lessons” they teach us, nor should we
exploit them as factories of inspirational quotes. In doing so, we forget
that they are real people.
Corindia’s handicap is plain to
see, yet she doesn’t define it as her
entire person. Her life, love, and passion resonate so much louder. She is a
human: a complete person, who loves
adventure, loves deeply, and laughs
often. This is what is most fascinating
about Ellen; not her disability, but her
love affair with the world in spite of it.
Spirit Week features fun activities
By Lauren Handel
Features Editor
Homecoming 2014 for Monomoy
Regional High School ( MRHS) was
one that many students will never
forget. The week leading up to the
dance was booked with all kinds of
fun filled activities that engaged and
entertained each grade.
Monomoy students kicked off
Spirit Week with Twin Day on Tues-
day. Students and teachers alike
dressed so similarly to their friends
that you could hardly tell them apart.
The Student Council was clever
enough to organize a game of musical
chairs that took place during each of
the three lunch periods.
On Wednesday, students gathered
in the brand new MRHS gym, dubbed
“The Shark Tank” for a spirit filled
pep rally. There were intense color
wars with the eighth grade in yellow,
freshmen in purple, sophomores in
blue, juniors in red, and seniors in
black. Each grade, proudly dressed in
their color, watched a series of exciting events unfold in the gym.
The fall pep rally for 2014 kicked
off with the MRHS band playing
music to get everyone into the home-
coming spirit. The seniors set the
tone of pure excitement as they ran in
like warriors, riding on each other’s
shoulders and patting each other on
the back.
After this, the crowd watched as
each sport showed off a humorous
dance or skit that the athletes themselves had choreographed. The field
Continued on page 9
8
ARTS AND ENT
HAPPY ENDING--Jon and Lindsey re-discover each other at the end of ‘The Fantastics’
Sophie Clingan Photo
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
OPENING SCENE--The moment the curtain goes up, the audience knows this is going to be an
unusual treat.
Sophie Clingan Photo
“The Fantasticks” earns five stars
Board Operator was freshman Sophie
Clingan.
By Lauren Handel
Features Editor
The play features a boy (Jon
Cornet), a girl (Lindsey Agnes), two
Harwich Junior Theater put on a fathers (Daniel Fontneau and Peter
spectacular performance of the play Milsky) and a wall (Karen Stewart).
“The Fantasticks” for Monomoy Hints of humor and the spectacular
Regional High School students. The productions of songs weaved their
romantic comedy featured characters way throughout the play to hold the
that the student could relate to as well audience’s attention. The boy and the
as characters with a sense of humor. girl fall completely in love with each
One actor and a few of the crew- other when the wall, which symbolmen are proud to call Monomoy izes the hate between their fathers,
home. Lilly McMurrer, a senior, separates their houses.
played one of the more humorous
They know that their love was
characters named Mortimer. The forbidden, so they love. Desiring
Production Stage Manager was ju- something just because your parents
nior Grace Fernandes and the Light tell you that you cannot have it is
nothing new to many of the teenagers
in the audience, making the play even
more appealing to them.
When the wall is taken down,
the excitement of their relationship
is lost. The narrator, El Gallo, played
by Ari Lew, then asks the audience
to use their imagination and follow
him into a world of moonlight and
magic. After the boy and girl experience the harshness of the “real world”
the young lovers find each other and
appreciate the love that they have
once again.
El Gallo explains that hurting the
lovers was a necessary part of their
growing. One line of the song “Try
to Remember” summarizes this very
well. “Deep in December it’s nice to
remember / The fire of September that
made us mellow.”
Near the end of the play, one father suggests they tear down the wall
again and El Gallo responds, “No.
Leave the wall. Remember—you
must always leave the wall.” By this
he means that the appeal of love is lost
if there are no obstacles to overcome.
The pacing of this production was
perfect and the actors were exceptional. The crowd seemed to follow
the plot and they laughed at each
and every joke. The Harwich Junior
Theater’s production of “The Fantasticks” is recommended for anyone
looking for an entertaining evening.
Students drink in African dance culture
Community College who is enthusiastic about sharing her love for
African dance and music with others.
The rhythmic beat of drums and
Students and teachers were quick to
fast paced musical selections kept stustart clapping their hands and stompdents and staff tapping their feet and
ing their feet as the program seemed
for some, dancing on stage, when Tara
to draw in the entire audience.
Murphy and her African Dance and
The presentation was part of the
Drum Troupe presented a program at
Wednesday Enrichment Program and
Monomoy on Nov. 5.
was coordinated by English teacher
Murphy is an African American
Lisa Forte-Doyle, who knows Murdance and drum teacher at Cape Cod
phy and invited her to Monomoy.
By Carly Holzricther
Features Editor
DANCING AND DRUMMING--Tara Murphy and her African Dance and Drum Troupe present
a lively program to students and staff at Monomoy.
Sam Peckham Photo
ARTS AND ENT
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
TWINS--John Vagenas and Erika Venie enjoy some double fun on Twin Day.
Erin Prescott Photo
9
SENIOR PRIDE--Seniors show their enthusiasm during Spirit Week pep rally.
Erin Prescott
A Spirited Week at Monomoy
Continued from page 7
hockey team definitely stood out this
year with their neon orange shirts,
silver fin headbands, and an unforgettable performance. The girls and boys
soccer, boys golf, and the cheerleaders also had fun performances.
This year, instead of ‘ pie­ing’
a teacher in the face, the school
decided to raise awareness for the
ALS Foundation(www.alsa.org) by
having a teacher take part in the Ice
Bucket Challenge. Four teachers were
nominated, and the one to receive the
most donations in their name got the
icy surprise. This turned out to be
Andy Matheson, one of Monomoy’s
beloved History teachers.
On Wednesday evening the bright
lights lit up the turf for some more
excitement. Competitive games of
capture the flag were held for all
grades and the junior girls had their
traditional Powderpuff football game.
There was no slowing down on
Thursday. Students came to school
dressed as something we all see daily
in the summer: tourists. Ridiculous
hats, ‘Cape Cod’ sweatshirts, binoculars, cameras, maps, and socks with
sandals were just some of the accessories that could be seen that day. The
junior class arranged for the Harlem
Wizards to come to the Shark Tank
for the evening. They certainly added
to the excitement with their use of
audience participation, spontaneous
humor, plus wild dunks that cannot
even be seen in NBA games.
The big dance started at 7 p.m.
on Saturday and lasted until 10. The
theme this year was “Out of This
World”, and The Shark Tank was
decorated accordingly. There were
alien themed backdrops, paintings,
and even balloons. The gentlemen
were dressed in shirts, ties, and dress
pants, and ladies wore beautiful,
classy dresses.
Students had so much fun that the
three hours just flew by. The DJ got
the crowd excited and kept everything
moving with good quality, upbeat
music. By the end of the night, almost everyone there was dancing and
jumping around to the music. Sadly,
when it was all over students had to
come back down to earth.
The first Spirit Week and Homecoming held at the new Monomoy
Regional High School was a great
success, and students cannot wait for
next year!
Wampanoags perform Native dances
By Erin Fishman
News Editor
On November 20th, the Native
American Wampanoag tribe visited
Monomoy High School to demonstrate native rituals, dances, and talk
about the first Thanksgiving.
Although most people assume
that Native American practices
are a thing of the past, many tribe
members still live and practice their
spirituality on Cape Cod. Mashpee
contains a concentrated group of
Wampanoag tribe members, and
their offices also exist there. Many
Wampanoag members descend from
the Nauset Indians, many of whom
live in Hyannis and Osterville. The
town, school, and many landmarks
on Cape are named after the Nauset
tribe.
The Wampanoag demonstration began with the introductions;
one of the tribe members is from
Mashpee, while the others come from
the Middleboro area. Each brought
a unique element of Native American culture to the group, and they
all fit together as a tribe seamlessly.
The tribe members also listed their
spirit animals, and what their name
translates to in their language. For
example, one member is referred to
as “Flowing water”, or Danielle.
The first half of the presentation
demonstrated a ritual that involved
using sound to convey emotion. The
Wampanoags and other tribes use
song to communicate, even without
words. A unique pattern of high and
low notes came together to form a
song. Tribe members hummed as they
moved around the stage, incorporating movement and speech. Music is
a vital aspect of Native American
culture; without it, Natives lose a
part of their identity. Many sounds
are created without instruments, using the voice or clapping of hands to
create rhythm.
Another critical aspect of their
culture is dance. The tribe briefly
demonstrated simple dance moves,
then asked for student volunteers to
participate on stage. The feedback
was overwhelming as students eagerly took up the opportunity, to the
point where they had to cut off the
number of students on stage. However, the program was still interactive
for members of the audience. One
tribe member led a chant, to which the
audience responded by singing back.
The first dance was simple, involving
a group linking hands to form a circle
and singing Native American chants.
Next, volunteers were asked to partner up for a more challenging ritual.
There was a bit of a learning curve
to the next dance moves; students
often stumbled as they mastered the
“Mosquito Dance”. This involves
dance partners linking hands and
kicking their feet on alternating sides.
Should the partners brush legs, it is
said that they will be eaten by mos-
quitos. Some attempts were more
successful than others, but the experience was still enjoyable to watch and
participate in.
Senior Alex Sequin commented,
“The show was a fun experience. I
learned a lot about Native American
culture.” She also noted that she has
Blackfoot Indian roots, so it was an
especially significant experience for
her. The hour flew by, and the experience seemed all too short to pack in
the fascinating aspects of this native
culture. It is important for students to
examine cultural diversity on Cape
Cod, especially since our home is
such a historically significant landmark. Hopefully, this Native American presentation helped everyone
think about the importance of the
Cape’s first settlers, and their impact
still today. We can also take a lesson
from their book: sometimes, song,
dance, and togetherness are enough
to fulfill ourselves.
10
SPORTS
READY TO PLAY BASKETBALL--The Wizards demonstrate fancy footwork and other cool
moves as they prepare to take on Monomoy’s Sharknado Team.
Erin Prescott Photo.
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
ALL STARS--Sharknado team members from left included David Alexander, Social Studies
teacher; Sam Hein, Harwich Elementary School Principal; Angie Chilaka, health teacher; and
Monomoy Principal Bill Burkhead.
Erin Prescott Photo
Wizards take on Sharknado
maica, King Arthur, Dp, and Rocket
came onto the floor. Introduced last
was the oldest Wizard on the team,
When the Harlem Wizards come
Tojo, who has been a Wizard player
to town, everyone has fun. And that
since 1967!
was the case when the legendary
Sharknado then brought out their
Wizards came to Monomoy Regional
starters: Scott Carpenter, SuperintenHigh School (MRHS) in October to
dent of Monomoy Regional School
meet Sharknado, a Monomoy team
District; Bill Burkhead, Principal of
made up of teachers, staff, administraMonomoy Regional High School;
tors, and some MRHS students.
Richard Houston, Social Studies
While the Wizards came away
teacher; Officer Tom Clarke, Monowith a 65-54 victory, everyone was a
moy School Resource Officer; and
winner in this game where fun was at
Samantha Rafferty, Social Studies
the top of the agenda. The Wizards
teacher;
visit to Monomoy was a fundraiser
When jump off began, the Wizplanned by the junior class, which
ards got the ball first and it was an immade out very well on ticket sales
mediate dunk by Air Jamaica to start
as the Wizards attracted a big crowd
the game off strong. Team Sharknado
to Monomoy’s new gym, the Shark
had the ball, but it was intercepted
Tank.
by King Arthur who passed it to Air
The Harlem Wizards are a basketJamaica for another dunk. Third shot
ball team whose history goes back to
was by the Wizards’ Rocket who had
a nice jump shot to make the game
6-0.
Air Jamaica scored two more
times for the Wizards. Sharknado
grabbed the ball and Rafferty turned
the game over by putting the first
points on the scoreboard for Sharks
making the game 8-2. Air Jamaica
brought the game into double digits
with another dunk.
Burkhead then took a shot but
missed. However, he got the ball
back and did an underhand toss for
Sharknado’s second basket. King
Arthur then gave the alley-oop to Air
Jamaica. Clarke then grabbed the ball
KEEPING THE BALL IN PLAY--Principal Bill Burkhead, left, and Social Studies teacher Sam
and made a shot, but the ball got stuck
Rafferty keep the ball away from the Wizards, while Superintendent Scott Carpenter, right, is
in between the rim and the backboard,
ready for defense.
Erin Prescott Photo
and that was the end of the exciting
1962 when it was created by sports your head, elbows out, and shaking first quarter.
promoter, Howie Davis. Unlike most your hips or some variation of this.
Second quarter started with the
The Wizards’ newest players
basketball teams, the Harlem Wizards
score 14-4 for the Wizards. The vetare not primarily focused on win- were introduced first and included eran Tojo then shot a proud one for
ning games; instead, their aim is to Mr. X- cellence and Zero Gravity. ‘Murica’ (America). Sharknado’s secentertain the crowd using a variety Then the older players like Air JaByJonathan Mede
Staff Writer
of basketball tricks and alley-oops.
The Wizards get the crowd involved,
often bringing children out onto the
floor to be part of a basketball trick.
In a warm-up before the game,
David Alexander, Sharknado player
and Social Studies teacher, said, “I
feel nervous, but it will be a good
game.”
The teams came out at 6:44 after
a wonderful rendition of the National
Anthem by senior Lily McMurrer.
Sharknado and the Wizards both
received a warm welcome from the
crowd.
It was immediately apparent that
besides being a basketball team, the
players are also dancers! The Wizards showed off their dance skills by
shmoney dancing, a popular movement among professional athletes
these days. Shmoney dancing involves raising up your hands towards
ond group started the second quarter
and made a nice shot. Air Jamaica
then put up two more baskets.
Sam Hein, Harwich Elementary
School Principal, was the third player
to make a basket for team Sharknado.
The Wizards then put two more shots
in. Sharknado’s Alexander who attempted to shoot a three and missed,
got a second chance-- missed it-- but
got the ball back for a beautiful layup.
Mr. X- cellence then passed the
ball for an amazing dunk. Team
Sharknado then scored back to back
points by math teacher Jodi Kelly
and science teacher Bethany Schiller.
At the end of the second quarter, the
score was 28-19.
After halftime the team did not
get back to playing right away. Dp
demonstrated his ‘sneaky’ basketball skills by doing a ‘You’ve been
Tricked” with children in the crowd.
This is a game where the little children are not supposed to drop a ball
that Dp throws at them. This was a
crowd pleaser for the fans and the
children.
When the game started back up,
the young Sharks got to play. The
first one to make a shot was Maddie
Kelly. The Wizards then made two
dunks, one by Air Jamaica and one
by Zero Gravity.
The second half of the game was
a lot more on the funny side than
the first half and included several
humorous moments like the “Let It
Go” segment from the film Frozen.
Although Sharknado did not win the
game against the Wizards, everyone
had a good time.
After the game, wellness teacher
Stacy Yarnall, who served as referee,
said, “It was fun and not that bad to
do.”
SPORTS
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
11
Cross Country team finishes strong
By Michael Pandiscio
Staff Writer
Both the boys and girls cross
country teams had good seasons.
The boys ended with an impressive
10-1 record and the girls team had a
competitive 7-4 record.
The one team the boys lost to,
Norwell, has been the undefeated
league champions for 16 years. The
team also ran and did well in the
league, state, and twilight meets.
Monomoy’s cross country team
is made up of a boys team and a girls
team, all coached by Don Bates (not
to be confused with history teacher
Kevin Bates.) Bates also coaches
the spring track team and has been
coach of both cross country and track
for decades. Before he was a coach,
Bates was an amazing runner. He
ran marathons and super marathons,
which are 50 miles or more. He has
been credited with more than100
wins. Bates uses his extensive experience to help the Monomoy runners
achieve their goals.
Although the cross country team
is rather small compared to most
teams in the school, the runners make
up for small numbers by working
hard. This year the boys team had
three of its members--Cam Jackson,
Matt Hall, and Ryan Richer--and the
girls team had one of its members, Saray Dean, nominated as South Shore
League All Stars.
Cross Country is a lot of fun, even
if you are not a person who enjoys
running. Since the team runs with
students from CapeTech, it gives the
runners from both schools an opportunity to meet friends that they
otherwise would not have met.
In season, the team practices every weekday unless there is a meet on
that day. At these practices, students
either do distance work, speed work,
or just work on their running form.
The workouts can range from four
miles of sprinting to 10 mile long distance runs. The practices are difficult,
but they help the runners to improve
quickly and become more confident
in their ability to run.
Cross Country is a sport that
involves all of the participants from
each team running competitively on
their own across a roughly three mile
course. The courses are outside and
provide opportunities for running in
the woods and running on pavement
such as a street or a bike path. It is
scored by giving each of the top 10
runners a certain amount of points
(1st gets 1, 2nd gets 2, 3rd gets 3, and
so on.) Then, when the scores are
tallied up, the team with the runners
who have collected the least amount
of points in total, wins the race.
The Monomoy Cross Country
LOOKING GOOD--Monomoy’s cross country team makes a strong run in home meet.
Erin Prescott Photo
course is a 2.89 mile course that starts
at the church graveyard in Harwich
Center and goes around the half mile
of road, through the bike path and
through the trails in between them and
ends where it begins, in the cemetery.
The cross country runners are a
close team since their numbers are
few. The teams were sorry to see the
season end and had an emotional and
fun awards ceremony. At this time,
the students said good bye to their
captain and good friend, senior, Ryan
Richer. He has been a great runner, a
strong captain and leader, and, above
all, a good friend and mentor to all of
the athletes who have participated in
Cross Country.
All of the runners on the cross
country team will be seeing each
other again in the spring because
they are coincidentally all on the
track team as well. The cross country
team is made up of a small group of
intelligent students who are talented
runners and all around good people.
If you’re looking for a good time with
fun people and a great way to stay in
shape, the Monomoy Cross Country
Team in the fall (and the track team
in the spring) is definitely the team
for you.
Sharks Football just keeps on swimming
By Jonathan Mede
Staff Writer
Some people think football is a
matter of life and death. It’s much
more serious than that for true football fans. For those who love this
sport, this year’s Sharks’ season might
seem disappointing on paper with
only one win and nine losses.
However, those statistics do not
tell the whole story behind a team
that demonstrated lots of effort, teamwork, and an improved level of skills
throughout the season while faced
with many obstacles along the way.
This was only the Sharks’ second year
as a varsity program. Yet, with every
game, the Sharks took away lessons
they would use to improve future
performances and dove head first into
the ocean without looking back.
The Sharks had an entire new
lineup from last year including new
quarterback Drew Senatore who did a
great job filling a big role. The team
pushed forward facing many losses
of players from concussions and injuries including senior captain Dalton
Nickerson who was a key player for
the Sharks.
Despite the record of more losses
than wins, the team’s spirits remained
high during the season. Coach Terence Roche is supportive of his team
and said, “Overall, the season was
positive and the wins and losses are
not what’s most important. Being
undefeated or losing does not really
matter; character is what makes a
team. Building a football team takes
time. This foundation is still being
done, and I am proud of the players.”
Senior Captain Sean Andreasson
said, “Not the best record, but I’m
not disappointed because of the effort
everyone put in and everyone showing up to every practice and game.”
A highlight of the season was the
Sharks 26-14 win over key rival Cape
Tech on Monomoy’s home field on
Sept. 26. This game had several he-
roes including quarterback Senatore
who threw three touchdown passes.
Senior tight end Dalton Nickerson
was on the receiving end of two of
those passes and Senatore ran for
the other. Junior linebacker Garrett
Sherman had multiple tackles much
to the dismay of the Tech Crusaders.
Senior defensive lineman Pat Kampersal made it difficult for Crusaders
quarterback Tim DiPrete to complete
many of his passes. Tailback Quentin
Barrie ran a total of 20 times for 117
yards. After the game, Coach Roche
praised his Sharks, saying that both
the offense and defense played well.
Although the win against Tech
put the Sharks back in the swim, they
were not as successful in subsequent
games. The Sharks had a disappointing 34-18 loss to Mashpee on
the Sharks’ turf during Homecoming
Week in late October. The season
ended for the Sharks at home just
before Thanksgiving when they suffered a 32-6 loss to Holbrook/Avon.
The Sharks came out on fire but were
no match for the tough Bulldogs who
dominated the game.
With the season over, the Sharks
are looking forward to the future. The
team is still young and includes many
underclassmen with lots of potential.
Although things did not turn out as the
Sharks had hoped, the players agree
that it was one exciting season.
ON THE RUN--Sharks look for the advantage.
Erin Prescott Photo
SPORTS
SHARK TALES Jan. 16, 2015
ANOTHER GOOD YEAR--Once again, the field hockey team has an awesome season.
Erin Prescott Photo
12
STICK HANDLING--The field hockey team is noted for being able to control the play.
Erin Prescott Photo
Girls field hockey is a model of fight
By Samantha Peckham
Sports Editor
When the field hockey season
starts at Monomoy Regional High
School, lots of people believe it is too
early. Starting the week after school
ends in June, alarms are turned on
and the field is set up for Reach
Camp.
Young girls across the Cape
meet at the field hockey field for
early morning day camp to learn the
skills and tricks of becoming a star
field hockey player. From Monday
to Thursday of two weeks, bonds are
formed between all the girls, with
buddy time and all- camp games. The
current high school players are the
camp counselors, leading groups and
showing off their love for the sport.
Conditioning starts the week after, and pre-season is soon to follow.
The fitness that the team achieves
during the summer is a big part of its
success. The players build up their
strength and endurance early on so
they are then able to carry it into the
season. Scrimmages are also part of
the summer performance, as students
re-gain game sense and learn new
corner plays. The varsity and the
junior varsity are selected then, and
skills that need improvement are
pinpointed and improved on.
All of that pre-season training
pays off as the Monomoy Field
Hockey Team continues its record
of excellence. This year the team
made it all the way to the state tournament. The Sharks played their first
and final game on Halloween at 2:30
against Old Rochester. Although the
1-0 loss to the Bulldogs was a tough
one, the fighting spirit of the team
helped to make the final bus ride “Playing field hockey for Monomoy close to Coach Poore when trying
home memorable. The players sang has taught me more than just the to precisely replicate her unique for“America the Beautiful” louder and
better than they ever had.
Senior Captain Madison Richardson said, “This year was definitely
my toughest season. We faced really
tough and aggressive teams, we didn’t
win our league title, and we were
beat in the first round of tournament.
Despite the disappointing outcome of
the season, I became closer with all
of the girls than I have throughout all
three years of playing on this team.”
Ask anyone of the field hockey
team, and they will tell you how much
of a family they are. When you spend
so much time with a group of girls
who all share a passion for a sport,
how could you not be a family? Team
dinners and breakfasts are a big part
of that. The night or morning before
every big home game, the parents of
one of the captains very graciously
opens up their home for the whole
team. Coming with food and drinks,
the whole team piles into the living
room, laughing and talking like it is
the last time they will ever see each
other. The atmosphere of these team
meals is not able to be replicated. The
get together is always after a practice,
and the joy of being all together in
a more social environment creates
something very special.
The coach of the team is Cheryl
Poore. She is one of the most dedicated people to this sport. Planning
out every practice the night before,
she leads her team to battle and makes
them as strong as they can be. While
some do not understand her methods,
those who do are forever grateful for
her.
Jodi Gould, a senior captain said,
game. Cheryl Poore has taught me
respect, responsibility, loyalty and
commitment. My past five years on
this team has created friendships with
an amazing group of girls. As a team
we did so much more than just play
together, we were a family. I will
continue to use this seasons’ motto
and the rest of what I have learned
throughout my field hockey career for
the rest of my life: ‘be bold.’”
Coach Poore teaches her girls discipline and to work hard for anything
they want. JV coach Addie Weeks
played for Coach Poore while she was
in high school, and has since played
in college and come back to where it
all began for her. “It’s a challenge to
put into words how grateful I feel for
the opportunity I’ve had to return to
my hometown and coach alongside
Cheryl Poore. Her teaching style goes
beyond that of any other coach I have
ever player for or worked with. Coach
Poore’s dedication and passion for the
sport of field hockey is unsurpassable for anyone who thinks they can
compete with her. She really isn’t a
coach I suppose, but rather an artist.
She can take girls who have never
played a sport a day in their life and
turns them into not just a field hockey
player, but a quality athlete.”
Weeks added, “Coach Poore
creates an atmosphere that is total
magic...I don’t know how else to try
and explain it. Her ability to mold
girls into the best versions of themselves both on and off the field is
something I admire so much and is
ultimately what drove me to coach
and teach. No one will ever come
mula of artistry and magic she uses to
coach. I think I can speak for anyone
who has ever been coached by Coach
Poore or worked with her when I say
she is unquestionably the best at what
she does. She’s one of a kind.”
At the end of every season is
the annual Monomoy Regional
Field Hockey banquet. Three hours
of slideshows, skits, and heartfelt
speeches makes the banquet one of
the best times of the season. Put on by
the junior parents, each year there is a
different theme. Tribe Monomoy was
the theme of this past season, with
driftwood, plants, and homemade
mini teepees.
As a whole, the Monomoy Regional Field Hockey team is a unique
group of girls. Ranging from three
sport athletes to single sport artists,
the team takes the best from everyone
and uses it to create a dynamic unlike
any other. Each season has its ups and
downs, but at the end, it is viewed
as a success by everyone who took
part in it.
Check out
Shark Tales
online at the
Monomoy
Regional High
School Website
www.monomoy.edu