By: Maryjane Donohoe

Questions:
Q: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
A: I'm from Chelmsford Mass, about a 1 Hour and 45 minutes north from here. I grew up there and attended all of my elementary and high school years there.

Q: Where did you go to high school and college?
A: I attended High School at Chelmsford High  and when it was time to come to college I went to Assumption College in Worcester for my grad and undergraduate degree.  

Q: In high school/college did you always know that you wanted to work in a school environment? If you had any other professions, what were they?
A: I always knew i wanted to work with high school students and people in general, and I've always liked helping people go through their problems, i'm a good listener. I’ve always been in school counseling. At one point I worked with middle schoolers, then just specifically high schoolers and then just seniors. Now i work with almost everyone, it’s always been a job inside a job.

Q:What's your job position? What's your role in the school?
A: My position is College: College and Career readiness/guidance director. My job is to ensure that early as possible students are aware of opportunities outside of high school, maybe even as far as 6th grade teachers and other people should always be willing to be open to helping their students and let doors open for students. We make kids prepared so even if they wanted to go straight to a career in the beginning of their high school journey, but want to switch when they are a senior they can because we prepared them for that.

Q:Did you teach anywhere prior to mashpee? If so was it the same job?
A:I was a school counselor at Plantation Key School in  the Florida keys and I was able to teach psychology at the community college there.


Q: What do you like about  your job, what are the benefits about it, any cons?
A: What I like about my job is the students, I love my job, my biggest passion and goal is to help students. I want them to have the best future they can have. Some cons however are having to travel to school in the winter, I hate cold weather. Another may be that there isn't enough hours in a school day to help all the students I want. I don't have much cons, this is a great field to be in.

​Q:Since you work with students and try to give them the best high school experience and prepare them for their life, do you have any advice for students going to college? How about a career?

A: My best advice and probably most useful is; It takes no more time to see the positive side to people than the negative, so many people think negatively and it blocks them from doing what they love, don't let anyone tell you can’t pursue your dream. Too many people focus on the negative ..life’s too short! Another small advice I would give is to try not to focus on the “distracting”  elements of high school, like drama, focus on your education and have learning be your number one priority.

​​Q : What was it like growing up in the Midwest, and how does it compare to now living in New England?
A : “I always got to play with my brother and sisters, and I remember a lot playing outside, and because we didn't have street signs or a lot of traffic, you could kind of get lost and do whatever you want... We would just get lost in our entire town because it was so safe at the time that you could just do that, and the parents, you never had to check in… here, now, you have to ride in a car to get from point A to point B, and if you do walk it's pretty dangerous, things aren't close... The style of houses was different, that was probably the biggest thing that drove me nuts, it looks like they are unfinished with the shingles on 3 sides.. And all my friends when they come out they are like what's wrong with "New Englanders", are they poor? Why don't they finish their houses? And i had that same concept too.”

By Stella Bold
Q: A simple question to start off with: How are you liking Mashpee Middle-High School so far?
A: It’s been great, so far everyone has been very welcoming, and it’s local, the commute is not bad at all. Mr. Brodie has been incredibly welcoming and very supportive of everything that I’ve done, along with Mr. Valentine and Ms. Reynolds. The kids have been great, I haven’t been disrespected, and everyone’s been treating me with the utmost respect. I only have a couple more weeks but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far.
Q: Did you grow up in this area or elsewhere?
A: I did not grow up on the Cape, but I did grow up in Massachusetts. I grew up in Andover, which is about 20-30 minutes outside of Boston, kind of near the New Hampshire border. I lived in the same house all 18 years.

By Adam Henschel
​In the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting that sent shockwaves through the nation, students and faculty alike have taken it upon themselves to stand up for what they believe in and fight for a change. Mashpee joined the movement on Friday with a student-run assembly, part of the national #enough walkout.

Initially organized by the Women's March Youth Empower, the main message of the #enough walkout was to make a powerful statement to lawmakers about the growing issue of gun control. However, as different organizations and school systems have jumped on board, both the purposes and intensities have been formatted to fit each individual communities needs.

The idea was to have students walk out of class at ten o'clock A.M. on March 14, as both a tribute and a protest that shines light on the resurfacing issues of recent tragedies.

Organized by sophomores Stella Bold and Peyton Dauley, Mashpee High School decided to participate in the national movement two days later due to school being cancelled on the 14th. This delay, however, took no attention away from the power and purpose of this protest.

By Ross Smith
On February 12, twenty four members were formally inducted into the Ted O’Rourke Chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the senior project of Mashpee’s own Meghan Howard. She  was approached by Mrs. Brodie with the idea last year, and the past year has been dedicated to organizing a way to set it up properly.

The club serves the purpose of a math honor society, something the school had previously lacked. They also offer “low-stress” group tutoring (referred to as a workshop) to students who seek it every Thursday after school. It primarily consists of juniors.

By Letícia Medeiros
The main office has experienced some changes since November of last year, when Ms. Leonard, former Administrative Assistant to Mr. Balestracci, resigned. In December, Mrs. Vinitsky took over the position, while welcoming a brand new face to the main office shortly after in January. 

Mrs. McGrory, the new Administrative Assistant, is not completely new to the Mashpee Public Schools system. She was a long-term substitute Administrative Assistant at the K.C. Coombs School when she applied for the position of Administrative Assistant at MMHS. “I am just super excited to be a part of the Mashpee family,” she says.

By Adam Henschel
On Wednesday, February 14, Mashpee High school will be  hosting its inaugural career fair.

The highly anticipated event, part of student Grace Whipper’s senior project, has entered the limelight in recent weeks as teachers have began breaking down the intangibles of the fair in homeroom classes. However, many questions have arisen among students as to exactly what this career fair is and how it will benefit those who participate, as the date is fast approaching.