As the spirit week comes to an end, everyone, especially seniors, are pumped for the spirit rally, where all the classes compete in a variety of events. Since freshman year, every senior at WA has waited for the annual spirit rally where they get the chance to come together as a class and participate in games.

This year, the spirit rally has been postponed due to “inclement weather” and students are rightfully outraged. With the sun shining and no rally, approximately 200 seniors left the school shortly after the announcement of the rally.

At the time that the rally would have started, there was no rain and the sun was out. Even if the ground was muddy, it was nothing that the seniors wouldn’t have been able to handle.

Even with the supposed rainy weather, soccer games and  some other practices are still in place. There is no reason for the rally to be postponed if the school plans on holding other outdoor sports activities.

 Following the protest of the seniors, their actions could have an effect on the postponement of the rally. I do not think this is fair because many students came to school not prepared to attend their last couple classes. Without essential binders, books, and other materials, they would not have been able to contribute in their classes any way.

I understand if seniors do not want to stay for the rest of the day, as I would be mad too if I was stuck in class instead of rallying outside with my friends, but many other students of other classes left the building as well, which I believe is pointless since only the seniors really have a reason to be mad.

There is still speculation of whether the spirit rally will actually be postponed to another date. Over the announcement, it was said that they will try to have it on a later date, but were implying that it was not certain. Seniors deserve their spirit rally since it is what they wait for throughout their high school years. 

Recently, the Ghostwriter got a chance to go around the school asking many students their opinions on the most prominent issue in America that needs to change or fix.

Photo by Quinn Dolan

Connor Degenhardt, Senior

“I think that the most important issue in this election is national security, whether it be immigration from Mexico or [the] refugee situation in Syria, the background checks and everything, I think that clearly there’s a lot of issues in our country today. I feel that [what is] most threatening, the most direct threat is, what’s going on with terrorism and the most important issue in our country is making sure everyone is safe before we start moving on to everything else.”

Photo by Prisha Naduthota

Arnav Sharma, Junior

“How we treat each other as Americans, helping each other and others in need, and those that are discriminated against, I think that’s the most important problem.”

Photo by Prisha Naduthota

Alice Yun, Junior

“Definitely just being good people to each other, character, temperament, attitude towards each other, towards groups of people, especially women, minorities and races.”

Photo by Prisha Naduthota

Alison Lakefield, Freshman

“Trump. He sucks. He demoralizes women, he’s going to lose allies because he’s going to bomb everything, what else is wrong with him besides everything? During debates, he doesn’t answer the question! And he interrupts, so he’s very rude and disrespectful.”

The sound of Christmas carols, shouts of students advertising Chinese snacks or Henna designs, and the constant bustle of shoppers moving from place to place: it’s the 2016 Holiday Bazaar, and once again students and artisans alike are at Westford Academy to showcase their talents.

From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on December 3, regular vendors and new arrivals populated the cafe, gym, and bell lobby with unique and authentic merchandise. Student clubs provided everything from temporary arrests to caramel cookies in order to fundraise. The WA Troubadours orchestra, WA Marching Band, and the Honors and Concert Choirs provided live music throughout the day. Here are the highlights from this much-loved Westford tradition:

Every Thursday, students from all grades head to room 222 for the weekly meeting of the Gaming Club. Headed by adviser Jonathan Geary, the club is meant for students to come in every week to play any games they want to play.

According to Geary, the club members tend to come every week with a plan as to what they want to play. Among the games that some of the students play are card games such as, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering. However, Geary says that they also may bring in chess boards, or bring in miniature figures so they can play different types of games, such as War Hammer or Dust.

“It’s just about them having a place to come and hang and have fun,” Geary said.  

Furthermore, although the students can play any game they want, Geary says they almost always play group games. Students may break into groups of their own throughout the room so each students can play any game they wish to play.

“They all do their own little thing, but they’re all having fun and playing together […],” Geary said.

Also, according to Geary, the club started a few years ago with chemistry teacher Jeff Bucchianeri as the adviser. It was formed by students who wanted to meet and hangout with other people who liked to play the same games as them.

Additionally, Geary says that enjoys seeing how passionate the students are about their games and that they come in ready to play their games.

“[The students] come in ready to play their game and want to start as soon as the bell rings at the end of the day, and are here right up until the late bus. […] The biggest thing about game club is that [the students] have fun,” he said.

Most days, the club has a regular attendance of about twenty students, according to Geary. However, sometimes it can be slightly larger, as it fluctuates from week to week.

Currently, the club has a Google Classroom page for the standing members Although, if students are interested and have payed their activity fee, Geary says more members can be accepted.

“We enjoy having people come and hang out, and want to learn about new games, and just have fun,” he said.

Gaming Club meets after school on Thursdays in room 222.

Senior Colleen Ellis has spent the last four years of her life putting her entire being into sports at WA. From field hockey to ice hockey, all the way up to lacrosse, she has spent hours perfecting her craft and being the best player she could.

“I don’t know who I would even be without sports,” Ellis said.

This wasn’t always the case for Ellis however, who, freshman year, was struggling with success in all of the three sports she plays and was considering quitting.

“I’m really glad that I did [stick with sports],” Ellis said

Ellis has held captain positions in both hockey and field hockey, so she has learned quite a bit about sports and life in general from her experiences in high school.

“The big thing that sports have taught me is time management, she said, “Also, having that atmosphere with different people […] and getting close with different kinds of people definitely helped me.”

Time management has taken a front seat throughout Ellis’s high school life, as she had to balance three sports with a heavy course load. As she moves onto college at Merrimack College, Ellis offers time management advice to students who face the same challenges as her at WA.

“It’s definitely difficult at first because everyone is different and everyone has to find their own pattern. But once you do and you kind of get into a routine […] and stick to it,” Ellis said.

Ellis notes that while teachers are sympathetic to the challenges of student athletes, that they stress the importance and priority of school regardless of any student’s situation outside of class.

“They know that school has to come first and they know that I have to put that first, so that’s what they expect,” Ellis said.

Ellis has found out that she will actually have an expanded amount of free time in college as compared to that of her free time in high school. She has worked with the staff at Merrimack to recognize this difference and has prepared to hone her skills from getting things done quickly, to having more time to complete assignments.

“I have to flip flop how I’ve always had my routine,” she said.

As it pertains to career, Ellis is heading into a health sciences program at Merrimack, with her ultimate goal lying in something related to athletics, most likely physical therapy or athletic training. Her interest mainly sparked from her time spent in the training room at WA.

Ellis leaves on a wise note, advising student athletes how to handle their sports in the coming years.

“If you’re not enjoying it and you’re struggling with it, then it probably isn’t for you. There’s gonna be times where it’s hard […] but in general [sports are] going to be worth it,” Ellis said.

The Ghostwriter was recently able grab a bite of breakfast at Muffins on Main, a Westford bakery that advertises fresh scones and muffins. The atmosphere, food, and service alike were excellent, and the store has earned its place as one of my favorite breakfast places.

The shop is located just past the Parish Center for the Arts on Main Street, taking up the familiar ‘For Rent’ building just past the town center. Parking is difficult due to limited space, and most have to park on the street because the parking lot holds only one or two cars.

Once the Westford General Store, 40 Main Street has transformed its old-fashioned structure and atmosphere into a breakfast bakery. Pictures of the building over the years adorn the walls as well as everything from paintings of pastries to antique coffee machines.

Manager and head baker Pamela Sulka, once a baker at Kimball Farms, was chatting with customers in the front of the shop. A few minutes of conversation revealed that Page has been trying to emulate the close-knit feeling of Westford ‘s past, hence the lack of Wifi and quaint design. She opened the shop just under one month ago on December 13th.

As I entered, I was immediately struck by the shop’s small size and welcoming atmosphere. There were only three or four tables, most of them made for 2, likely because most customers preferred to take their order to go. We were the only sitting customers despite it being a Saturday morning, but the shop itself was quite busy. The fact that someone was constantly ordering from the counter in spite of it only being fifteen minutes after opening attested to the shop’s popularity.

Overall, along with the atmosphere being pleasant and relaxing, the workers and customers alike seemed to be happy to be there.

The menu items were fairly few in number, with a small assortment of scones and muffins as well as some standard hot drinks. I ordered a raspberry lemon scone and peppermint tea for myself, and my companions ordered chamomile tea and a chocolate chip muffin as well as a black coffee and a blueberry muffin, respectively. Most of the baked goods were priced around 2 dollars, with the coffees and teas costing slightly more.

We were served our breakfast and drink together on a small tray, one for each of us. The shop provided milk, cream, and sugar for tea or coffee.

All the baked goods were fresh and delicious. Although sweet and filling, the scone was not uncomfortably heavy and left me satisfied. The outer layer was thick but not burnt or brittle and the chewy inside portion of the scone was dotted with bites of fruit. A taste of the muffins also yielded excellent results. The taste and texture made it evident that all the food was homemade and fresh, as well as made with great care and expertise. The teas were not handmade at the shop, seeing as it is a bakery rather than a tea shop, but my peppermint tea still balanced the sweet meal perfectly.

We enjoyed our breakfast so much that we ordered a cinnamon scone, a raspberry muffin, and another blueberry muffin to go. They kept until that afternoon, when I shared them with some friends for an afternoon snack. I was just as impressed the second time around.

The service was also more than satisfactory. In addition to the owner’s presence, which provided a sense of connection to the shop, the high-schoolers who took our order were careful and quick despite being new to the job.

Eating at Muffins on Main was enough to put me in good spirits for the entire day. Overall, I would give it a 10/10.

For the first time in WA’s recent history, the underclassmen will be having a semi-formal dance akin to the junior cotillion and senior prom on Saturday, January 28th. The project, founded by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and Project Purple, aims to provide a safe and enjoyable dance for freshmen and sophomores.

According to SADD and Project Purple advisor Melanie Jozokos, they had wanted to run a dance the previous year but were not able to due to scheduling conflicts. As such, they secured a date for this year’s dance early on in order to make the underclassmen semi-formal a reality.

In the past, SADD held similar dances that were well-received by students, according to Jozokos. When WA dances began to taper off some years ago, general interest in the concept seemed to also decline. However, Jozokos states that many are now excited for the upcoming dance thanks to its long absence. She cites both this and the underclassmen’s growing desire for a dance as reasons to begin the project.

“Years ago, SADD ran a semi-formal every year and it was a big hit. Also, we were approached by many underclassmen who asked if we could have a dance,” Jozokos said.

Seniors Abby Benting and Amanda Carrey as well as sophomores Isabelle Vernalia and Ericcson Gauthier, who are the officers of SADD and Project Purple, have been helping organize and run the dance this year. The student-run organization put up posters and made a video that has been airing on the announcements for the past week.

Vernalia, the Publicity Officer, believes that the biggest setback in the process of organizing the dance was encouraging initial interest in the dance. She explained that although ticket sales were slow at first, they had spiked by this past Friday:

“Sales were a bit rusty at first, but it got better by today,” Vernalia said.

Additionally, the club is currently deciding on concessions and decorations for the dance now that attendance is confirmed.

Although far from the first Westford Academy dance, it is the first one strictly for underclassmen. As such, Jozokos feels that the students may not know what to expect, but she is confident that those who attend will enjoy themselves. Since reception and attendance were both high in past years, things are looking up for another such event, Jozokos said.

Tickets will be on sale during midterms this week. Those with questions can ask Jozokos in room 121 or fellow adviser Laurie Rybicki in room 113.

On the morning of January 31st, a WA sophomore was taken in by administration after posting a three-student “hit list” on Facebook the night before.

The incident was brought to the attention by one of the students targeted in the post, who, upon noticing the threat, went directly to the office of Dean Betsy Murphy.

According to his social media post, the student, who declares himself an anarchist on Facebook, had targeted the three students because of their far right-winged political stances. For at least one student of the three listed, his Facebook posts involve affiliation with the Confederate flag.

“Those are the people at WA who legitimately or jokingly use Nazi rhetoric and symbolism,” the student wrote.

His post however later went on to insight violence against these individuals, urging his peers to harm the students, rather than report them.

” […] they [the students listed] deserve to be shot. If you see this going on, don’t snitch. Break their ribs,” he wrote.

Upon the discovery of his post, faculty searched the student’s backpack and locker. Westford Police searched his home for weapons or evidence of a plan to follow through with his threat. Although no weapons or suspicious items were found, in-school Detective Geoffrey Pavao says that he does not believe that the incident should be written-off as a hot-mouthed mistake.

“Any threat, to named or unnamed students is serious,” Pavao said.

“My job is to take all of that stuff seriously, and until we get to the bottom of it, and we figure out what his motivation was, there really is no joking around. Same thing when you go to a movie theater and someone yells ‘fire!’ or if you go to an airport and someone  yells ‘bomb!’ there’s no [asking] ‘what’s his intent?’ ” Pavao said.

Principal Jim Antonelli does not see the student’s act as a serious threat to the safety of our school, but rather a result of poor judgement and uncontrollable anger.

“I think it might be a student who could be calling out for help […] I do not believe it was a serious threat. I have been doing this for twenty years, and I have seen threats that have made me nervous, and then I’ve also seen threats where I say, ‘this kid is angry, upset maybe at the current state of our union and the politics within our country, and I think that some of his anger came out,” Antonelli said.

The student has not yet been expelled and is currently suspended indefinitely as an ongoing investigation being conducted by both the WA administration and the Westford Police Department. After faculty meetings surrounding this investigation, as well as a mass email informing WA parents and teachers of the incident, Antonelli hopes that the situation will be a lesson to students about responsible use of social media.

“Social media is something that does a lot of good, but it also does a lot of negative things, and it is very very easy for things to be taken out of context. It is very easy for people to sit behind a computer or on a phone and snapchat something that really can cause chaos, so I caution students to make good decisions,” Antonelli said.

The members of the Westford Improv Troupe.

The Westford Improv Troupe (WIT) is back in action yet again for a Valentine’s themed treat. The self proclaimed “group of goof ball disciples” have returned to the WA black box stage for another after school show of improvised puns, jokes and games.

WITentine’s, as it is called, is promised to make fun of bad dates, the famous (or some would say infamous) cupid and love itself.

“Prepare yourself to laugh. We don’t take ourselves very seriously…” said president of the group, Catherine Crimmins, to anyone thinking of coming.

President Crimmins was elected to her position in her senior year and has lead the crew of WIT through many shows, including HalloWIT for Halloween and WITmas for Christmas, and she spoke of how much preparation goes into the creation of these productions.

Meeting for an hour weekly, the rehearsals are comprised of an introductory improv game to warm up and the rest of the time is spent doing routines that may not have worked so well last show or ones that will strengthen the next one.

“There are games meant for show[s]… and there are games meant to strengthen your improv skills.” She said about the different activities that are done.

She also talked about several members of the WIT team, including new comer Caroline Burke and brothers Jack and Harry Laushine.

“Something runs in the Laushine family, something that makes them really really good at improv,” said Crimmins.

The Improv team also holds many well known names in Westford’s theater community: Michael Tricca, Kevin Bičiūnas, Maddie Ross, Daniel Wilson, Matt Doherty and Leah Donovan.

There’s an interesting dynamic is in place when it comes to improv shows. Nothing is set in stone for WITentine’s. All that’s assured is a Valentine’s theme.  As Crimmins summarized about improv: “… it’s off the cuff and you can’t do a whole lot of thinking and thinking can inhibit you from actually doing well…”

The cast is hoping the off the cuff improv will be a sweet treat for the audience. It’s a dollar at the door of the black box room and the Friday show goes from 2:10 to 2:58.

Calling all animal lovers – WA’s newest club, Beyond Animal Rights Club (B. A. R. C.), gives students an excuse to play with canines while also giving back to the community. With a goal of making a difference in animal shelters, Westford Academy juniors Alli Dipietro and Ashya Singh made B.A.R.C. a reality in December of 2016. Every other Thursday, students from all grades are invited to volunteer at Great Dog Rescue in Woburn and dedicate some time to pups in need.

The club stemmed from connections and a desire to give back. Dipietro’s family was already a Great Dog foster family, which opened up opportunities for volunteering. Dipietro described that the animal shelters in Massachusetts are selective with their volunteers, and thanks to her family ties, B.A.R.C. was able to become one of them.

“We wanted the volunteer slots to be open to everyone. The kennel director is great – she trusts me, so we are able to bring in whoever wants to come,” Dipietro said.

The idea for a club to reach out to animals in need was developed in November and became official in December. Singh and Dipietro described the process of starting a club to be simpler than perceived. They attributed some of their success to their club advisor, Kathy Paquette who they described as very supportive and involved.

Upon the club’s first meeting, there was a surprising amount of student interest. Starting in the middle of the school year, Singh and Dipietro were skeptical of the amount of turn out they would receive.

“At our first meeting we were hoping for ten people, and we got eighteen, which was awesome[…] it just kept growing,” Dipietro said.

Since the club’s commencement, B.A.R.C. has students from all grades wanting to join, keying in on the junior class. Most members are friends who have heard about the new club by word of mouth, but Dipietro and Singh explained that they often receive text messages or emails of new students looking to take part.

At Great Dog Rescue, volunteers have a responsibility to complete the daily tasks of a dog owner. Volunteers are truly able to form a connection with the pups by playing and taking care of them during each visit.

“You walk the dogs, you clean their kennels, you help with the puppies, you give them mats[…] it’s a lot of work but it’s definitely rewarding,” Singh said.

Social media has been an outlet for the club’s growth. With their instagram page, @wa_barc, the club shares photos of their experiences helping out with furry friends. The page’s followers have a sneak peak into how open B.A.R.C. is to the students of WA.

Through dedicating some time to this club, students can earn some community service hours. B.A.R.C. provides benefit for not only the animals in need but also the students.

Dipietro and Singh hope to one day spread their horizons past Great Dog Rescue and move to larger shelters with a variety of animals. Until then, they will keep volunteering their time to the dogs of this shelter.

“[It] is really rewarding for us. [The dogs] are finding great homes, and it makes us smile everyday,” Dipietro said.

While the taxing and long month of March rolls on for students and faculty alike, the town of Westford and its residents face an important decision. The issue is one that has been long-debated in the town; teacher salaries.

Proposition 2 1/2 will be voted on this Saturday in town meeting to determine if it deserves a place on the town ballot in May. Known as article 13 at town meeting, Prop 2 1/2 proposes a $1.6 million override with the intent of increasing pay for Westford teachers across the board. This is in response to the fact that Westford teachers are paid six percent less than surrounding schools, while practicing some of the most conservative spending habits as a school system, spending around $1800 per student.

It is in this reporter’s view that voting age students and WA alumni must attend town meeting this weekend and vote Yes to put Proposition 2 1/2 on the town ballot in May. They owe it to the teachers who gave them one of the best public educations in the state and in the upper echelon of the nation.

Those who know me know that I am a staunch economic conservative, believing that high taxes should be avoided at almost any cost. However, it is in this case that the idea of paying more taxes must be forgotten, as voters must remember the statement they are making with the vote they cast during Saturday’s town meeting.

Even if voting age seniors and recent alumni disagree with the idea of town taxes rising in order to fund higher teacher salaries, these citizens especially must vote, as it is essentially a judgement of the quality of teachers in the Westford school district. Many of the teachers they will be affecting with their vote are teachers that they likely had when they attended any of the schools in the district.

Those who share this opinion in favor of the budget override, such as School Committee member Tom Clay, say that this is a common sense decision, that the quality of our school system (ranked highly in many publications nationwide) deems the teachers of the district worthy of a salary increase. In an op/ed in the Boston Globe, Clay admitted the taxes in Westford would rise, but he maintains that this would be a gradual increase in payments over multiple years, totaling no more then $200 dollars per household. Clay fears that without this budget override, Westford’s pay would no longer be competitive.

I share this fear with committee member Clay. I see the majority of our teachers in Westford as prime examples of teachers who care about each student’s success and happiness throughout their years in the system. As the final two years of my life in the Westford school system come and go, I have always felt that almost every teacher I have had in a classroom has shared this work ethic and genuine care, and I believe that this is what makes Westford schools special.

If we are to reject once again the increase of the salaries of these amazing educators, we may lose the school system as we know it. Teachers will begin to walk out the door if they feel that they are not being paid the amount they deserve based on the results that the system pumps out annually. Personally, I would be deeply saddened if I returned to Westford after I graduated and found that our school system is no longer in its former glory. While we are not perfect, we are one of the best systems in the area, but without our teachers, this system would not receive the accolades it does today.

Former Westford Selectwoman Valerie Wormell, a member of the opposition, argued in her own Globe op/ed that the override function in the town government is meant to fund new projects, not to fund those operations that already exist such as the school system. She also says that the increase is too sudden and should be handled by the town manager rather than through a mass budget override. Wormell also argues that, in the past, there has always been a general consensus among members of town government as it pertains to budget issues. She feels that approving this proposition will end the traditional agreement seen in the budget and will make town government less effective.

While many of Wormell’s concerns are warranted, I do not believe that these issues should stop us from saving the fate of Westford schools. The budget override function was developed in order to make major changes in town budgets by way of the voters, when a situation arises that would require such an action. The town is facing one of these times, and it is henceforth justified in attempting to activate the budget override function. One of the town institutions is in need of a budget increase, and in order to save the institution, a budget override is needed.

On the topic of consensus on the town budget, this is an unhealthy worry, as it pertains to democracy and government systems in general. The goal of government at any level and of any size is to work on the will of the people, not to agree on everything and move through issues quickly. For Wormell to be worried about this to the point where she will deny quality educators a higher salary is absurd, and is telling of the type of government she envisions as ideal; an echo chamber to her own agenda.

In preparation for a landmark Westford Town meeting on March 25 at Abbot, where the issue will be handled in a public forum for the first time, Westford residents have a chance to change the course of the school district for years to come. With a Yes vote on Saturday, the citizens of Westford will take an important step to preserving the Westford school district as we know it today. This includes attracting more quality teachers to apply here, as well as preserving veteran teachers who have spent decades in the system. 

Therefore, without this proposition going on the town ballot and subsequently passing in May, the weakening of Westford schools may begin as promptly as next year.

With WATA’s latest play The Gingerbread Lady fresh out of the oven, the Ghostwriter went behind the scenes to see how the stage was set.

The story revolves around Evelyn “Evy” Meara (played by Sami Killian), a recovering alcoholic trying to get her life back together with her two friends Jimmy (played by Ben Holahan) and Toby (played by Caroline Burke). Jimmy, a failing actor and Toby, a vain housewife, have to deal with victories and failures which include dealing with an infuriating delivery boy, Manuel (played by Conor Bellone) estranged daughter Polly (played by Carolyn “Chip” Crimmins and Eva Plankey) and Evy’s ex-boyfriend Lou Tanner (also played by Conor Bellone).

The Gingerbread Lady will be performed in the WA PAC on March 22nd, 23rd and 24th at 3:00 and 7:00. A ticket is five dollars at the door.

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Actor Carolyn "Chip" Crimmins taking a moment off of dramatic acting for a silly photograph.

As April approaches, so does the Day of Silence 2017. The Day of Silence is a day specifically to help the LGBTQ+ community and raise awareness for the discrimination the LGBT community receives. This is a huge day nationwide, because every year, thousands of schools are remaining silent.

Students will remain silent to squash the harrassment and bullying of the LGBT community. To simulate the effects of this harassment, students choose to remain completely silent for the entire day. This is a program run by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) which is an organization created to stop LGBT discrimination. They are activists who encourage schools and students to stand up to bullying and start GSA (Gay Straight Alliances). They believe it is important for students to learn about these issues and address them with a safe community like a GSA.

This is a completely student-run day started by GLSEN to silence anti- LGBTQ+ name-calling and bullying. GLSEN helps schools nationwide by encouraging them to participate. They help give the support and help for schools. For example, a card that students hold to show that they are participating and will not talk to you during the day.

WA’s GSA is planning to hold another Day of Silence routine by accepting donations and giving out cards for people to hold that tell people that they are participating in the Day of Silence. Wednesday morning’s GSA meeting will be giving out the cards to people who sign up.

This year, GSA is using Google Forms for sign ups. If you aren’t sure if you would like to sign up, then you can still sign up to save your spot.

The Day of Silence on the national level is on April 21st, but it was moved up to Wednesday, March 28th at WA. GSA decided that this day was best because everyone can participate while seniors are still around.

For more information, visit: https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence

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WA players pass the ball around in the offensive zone

On Thursday March 30th, WA Girls’ Lacrosse team won their first home game of the season against Newton South, with a final score of 16-10. The game took many twist and turns with Newton making a slight comeback near the end.

In the first half, WA quickly started off with two quick goals, combatted with one goal by Newton. Soon after, WA racked up five more swift goals. However, Newton finished off the half with two goals.

This ended the first half of the game with a score of 7-3.

Newton kicked off the second half of the game with a goal. WA was not willing to give up their lead, as they followed up with six more goals.

Newton was not willing to give up either as they made a slight comeback with three more goals, making it a score of 12-7.

Westford then scored another goal, but Newton still had hope, as they ended up scoring three more goals. The game finished with a win from WA, 15-10.

Overall, it appeared WA dominated the offensive end of the field and it allowed them to take the victory.

Both teams played great in their first opener game of the season, WA remained in the lead the entire time, but Newton South’s comeback in the second half was commendable.

On Wednesday, April 5, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team won their game against Boston Latin with a score of 16-4. Displaying strong teamwork and strategies, WA had other team members and the audience cheering with every goal they scored.

The first half started with WA scoring the first goal of the game in the first minute. They dominated the beginning of the game with a strong offense, and continued to score regularly as much as Boston Latin tried to stop them.

An overwhelming majority of the goals in the first half were scored by WA, with players such as sophomore Abby Katz and senior Cat Mahanna excelling on the field. Boston Latin managed to score with three minutes left, and the score at halftime was 12-1 with WA in the lead.

The Ghosts once again scored the first goal of the second half, in the first four minutes. Boston Latin put out a stronger game this time, with the teams alternated possession a lot more in contrast with the first half. WA was not able to score as much in this half because of the stronger defense Boston Latin displayed.

Both teams scored a few points throughout the half and showed strong offensive and defensive skills, especially by the goalkeepers junior Britta Cianciolo and senior Katarine Franz. However, WA did not allow Boston to get by too many times, and the Ghosts ended up victorious.

Coach Julie Olivier was satisfied with how the team played. She recognized Katz and Mahanna, as well as sophomore Morgan Freud for playing well. She also noted Cianciolo and Franz for excelling in goalkeeping.

Olivier mentioned that Boston Latin was a team they had played before and that their lacrosse program was relatively new, so WA had to adapt to their playing style.

“We needed to work on our plays, our spacing, our fundamentals, and the girls, I believe, did do what I had asked them,” said Olivier.

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Sophomore Morgan Freud, Meghan McGee, and Senior Megan Lawlor prevent a Boston Latin player from passing

Last Wednesday’s WA Boys’ Varsity Tennis match brings the team one match closer to winning the state championship. Winning over the Newton South Lions, WA’s current ranking has been brought up to 11 and 2.

Meeting at Robinson Elementary, the Westford team entered with enthusiasm, with smiles on their faces and jokes being made between the members.

“Probably the closest team I’ve ever had. There’s obviously infighting like brothers, but [a] very close team. By far the most fun I’ve ever had with a team…” Coach Paltsios said.

Paltsios also predicted about how the match would go.

“This is, unfortunately for Newton, probably the weakest team I’ve ever seen them have. They’re missing [some important positions] which in our league kills you. So today’s match we’re missing [one of our positions]. So, should be a close match today, as a great equalizer.”

Junior, Matt Vlach was very clear about the goal of the team.

“We’re trying to win the state championship this year…” Vlach said.

Both teams put up a good fight for a win. Westford’s Coach Paltsios spoke of the important Westford players, including Freshman Oliver Davey, who plays singles, and Saudip Manna.

Davey puts his heart into the game. Hitting the ball with impressive power and precision. Each stroke was met with a powerful grunt, and each missing stroke was met with a noise of frustration. But his work wasn’t enough, losing both sets to Newton’s Ben Kurland 2-6 and 0-6.

Manna on the other hand, was able to win his sets, but he was well matched by Newton South’s Troy Manditch.

Manna is a true expert at the game. He darts across the court making strokes with great power and skill. It seems that his strokes sometimes get out of hand, but he was able to keep control of the game to win both sets: 6-2 and 6-1.

The last singles match was WA’s Karthik Prakash versus Newton’s Ethan Chow. Though fast on his feet, he was having an off day, losing both sets 2-6 and 3-6.

During the matches, the opposing coaches weighed in on the way the score would turn.

“It’s a tight match-could go either way.,” said Newton’s Coach Palilunas. Coach Peter Paltsios thought the same thing.

“It’s a very close match. It’s all gonna come down to the doubles.” Palmists said.

And the doubles’ sets didn’t dissappoint. Westford Academy’s Shray Gurtata and Tommy Welham faced Michael Dunayerskiy and Kavi Sabery. The match began with enthusiasm and humor from both sides of the court. Welham and Gurtata laughed and joked between strokes and Dunayerkiy once turned to me, smiled and said something along the lines of: “If I do a trick shot, get the picture”.

But as the match dragged on, this good humor turned to aggression. Welham muttered under his breath in frustration after missing a stroke. But all the work payed off with a WA win in two of the three sets: 6-0, 4-6 and 6-0.

But perhaps the most evenly matched pair was the doubles match between Westford’s Matt Vlach and Eric Han versus Newton’s Gabe Nissenbaum and Jake Schwartz. Han’s strokes were either perfect or a little lacking and Vlach had some trouble against Newton as well.

Han was frustrated with his some of his imperfect shots, but Vlach managed to keep moral up with a friendly fist bump and a few words of wisdom after each couple of strokes. Newton put up a fight but WA overcame with a win in all three of their sets: 6-7, 6-2 and 6-2.

Coach Paltsisos seemed proud of the pairs’ peformance, saying:

“Eric Hand and Matt Vlach were the hero[e]s today.” Paltsios said.

With an overall win for WA the team is brought one step closer to the state championship.

Brenda Mahar is a friendly face seen by almost every student at WA everyday. She manages the snack shack that serves breakfast in the morning and additional snacks in the morning. Known and loved by many, Mahar has dedicated herself to the students of WA since her career the hotel industry.

“I feel that my purpose on earth is to serve God by serving others. That makes me happy, just getting to see people’s faces everyday”, said Mahar. “And it’s always a pleasure in drive down here every day[…] I’m so happy to get here and to see you guys’ faces and I’m really happy I chose to spend my last years working here.”

Mahar is says she is passionate about her job, especially making sure to brighten students’ day, considering all the stress she sees on students’ faces.

Mahar is also well loved by students, especially seniors as they leave for college and other future career options.

Mahar has seen the class of 2017 come in as freshman and leave as seniors, “I’ve seen three graduating classes leave, so I see them looking like babies to me because both my children are in their 30s. I see them [students] more than I see my own children,”  said Mahar.

Mahar holds onto memories of past students fondly.

“I just wanna make sure that I have these wonderful faces up on the wall,” she said, referring to the wall by her register, decorated with cards from students past and present.

“It makes me smile, it really does. I like to remember things we either joked about or other little funny things that had happened throughout the day.”

Mahar is a former director of catering sales in the hotel industry, where it was  a high-stress    environment, taking care of big corporate meetings and their numerous sessions. After thirty-five years, she left the industry for a more relaxing job here at Westford Academy.

“When I did come here, the director of Westford Schools said to me ‘Brenda, with this resume I think you’re going to be bored here.’ and I said that I was all for being bored and I’m ready to make that change in my career,” she said.

“I feel like I’m mothering,”said Mahar “I’m a mother still feeling the love of mothering. I love you kids, I just see all the hope in your eyes. You guys are going to be our legacy,” she said.

Tommy Welham and Oliver Davey aren’t just new to the halls of the WA, but new to the tennis courts of the boys’ varsity team. However, the work it takes to get onto a varsity team in freshman year doesn’t happen overnight, but through years of practice and preparation. Oliver Davey was inspired to take up the sport by watching professionals play.

”Well I saw [tennis] on TV one time and I thought I might like to play. Then I started playing from there,” Davey said.

Davey’s interest soon developed into a passion. He began by playing at a swim club and then moved on to All Seasons Tennis Academy. In middle school, Davey played for junior teams in the United States Tennis Association, (USTA) where his team won matches on a regional scale. His passion for the sport lives on to this day.

“Yeah, I love the game, it’s really fun. It’s competitive,; it’s only you out there so it’s a nice feeling when you win because you know it was all you,” Davey said.

Like Davey, Welham too enjoys the individuality of the sport, but for a bit of a different reason. Welham’s first experiences with it were when he was around five, but his first real interest was soccer.“[Later] I [became] less interested in soccer, so [I] moved to tennis,” said Welham.

Finding soccer players to be too overbearing, he moved on to spending his time on the tennis court instead of the soccer field. This switch happened about four years ago, and he has been playing about twice a week since then.

“[… ]I guess it’s a little bit natural ability, but you’ve got to work on it,” Welham said.     

Their passions serve them well on the varsity team. With no seniors, the rest of the team is made up of juniors and sophomores. Just because they are underclassmen, it does not mean they can’t play. Coach Peter Paltsios first pointed the pair out, at the team’s first match this season.

”We have some really good underclassmen, so I’m thinking it’s gonna be pretty good for us this year. We got a couple of really good freshmen… Oliver Davey [and] Tommy Welham,” Paltsois said.

Davey and Welham see the skill in each other as well. Davey referred to Welham as a “good player” who he practices with. Welham returned the compliment, saying also that he’s “probably a little bit better than me.”

Whether playing singles or practicing in pairs, they’re all a part of one team. Davey sees the difference between life on the varsity team, compared to his days in the junior league.

”It’s a team setting which is a lot different… it can get nerve racking at times when it’s an important match,” Davey said.

But the skills they’ve learned on the court have also helped them in the classroom. The boys note how the teacher and the coach have a similar goal in mind.

“In school [or in sports] you have to make sure you’re paying attention to what your coaches or your teachers say to better you in, either your sport or just your knowledge about the subject.”

In both athletics and academics, these two have plans for the future. Davey wants to continue his tennis career, possibly even into college, along with pursuing his interest in golf.

Welham, too, enjoys tennis but thinks he may want to go back to soccer in senior year and may do tennis in college “just for fun,” ideally at Notre Dame or Tufts, which he has his eye on with the hope of a future career in medicine.

But before they begin looking at colleges, they have the current varsity team to worry about. Welham seems hopeful not only for this season but for the next.

”I’d say we’re doing pretty well, especially next year we’re gonna do good, ’cause we’re not losing anyone, and we might gain a couple kids. So I’d say we’re gonna be pretty good next year,” Welham said.

Brenda Mahar is a friendly face seen by almost every student at WA everyday. She manages the snack shack that serves breakfast in the morning and additional snacks in the morning. Known and loved by many, Mahar has dedicated herself to the students of WA since her career the hotel industry.

“I feel that my purpose on earth is to serve God by serving others. That makes me happy, just getting to see people’s faces everyday”, said Mahar. “And it’s always a pleasure in drive down here every day[…] I’m so happy to get here and to see you guys’ faces and I’m really happy I chose to spend my last years working here.”

Mahar is says she is passionate about her job, especially making sure to brighten students’ day, considering all the stress she sees on students’ faces.

Mahar is also well loved by students, especially seniors as they leave for college and other future career options.

Mahar has seen the class of 2017 come in as freshman and leave as seniors, “I’ve seen three graduating classes leave, so I see them looking like babies to me because both my children are in their 30s. I see them [students] more than I see my own children,”  said Mahar.

Mahar holds onto memories of past students fondly.

“I just wanna make sure that I have these wonderful faces up on the wall,” she said, referring to the wall by her register, decorated with cards from students past and present.

“It makes me smile, it really does. I like to remember things we either joked about or other little funny things that had happened throughout the day.”

Mahar is a former director of catering sales in the hotel industry, where it was  a high-stress    environment, taking care of big corporate meetings and their numerous sessions. After thirty-five years, she left the industry for a more relaxing job here at Westford Academy.

“When I did come here, the director of Westford Schools said to me ‘Brenda, with this resume I think you’re going to be bored here.’ and I said that I was all for being bored and I’m ready to make that change in my career,” she said.

“I feel like I’m mothering,”said Mahar “I’m a mother still feeling the love of mothering. I love you kids, I just see all the hope in your eyes. You guys are going to be our legacy,” she said.