By Maile Biehl
As school comes to a close and summer starts, many students look into getting a job if they don't already have one. With desires for money, relationships, and connections, many students have gone out into Mashpee’s local businesses seeking employment.

This summer, many businesses that remained closed last summer are starting to open back up. With COVID regulations lifted, many places are starting to get back to normal. The restrictions due to the pandemic were lifted in Massachusetts at the end of May, which means that places no longer have the strict limits that they did previously. As people look ahead at the jobs scene this summer, has anything changed, or have most things remained the same? 

Seven Mashpee Middle-High School students were asked about where they work and eleven jobs were named. While many students only work one job, many work two different jobs, splitting their time between working, and being with friends.  Some of these places included restaurants, retail stores and athletic clubs.  Many of these places are located in Mashpee Commons and in New Seabury.  

The Falconer: Interview by Sadie Biehl
Mr. MacDonald is the Dean of Students for grades 10-12 here at Mashpee High School. He is retiring at the end of this year so The Falconer wanted to ask him a few questions about his career, this past year, and his plans for retirement.

The Falconer: Can you tell me about your career leading up to working in Mashpee?
Mr. MacDonald: Sure, thirty years ago I started out in a grants funded program at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. The grant funded program had to do with working with adults and trying to locate them jobs. Retrain them, and find them jobs. Once I got into Cape Cod Tech, I ended up making relationships with the superintendent and the principal. When a physical education job opened up, they ended up hiring me for Physical Education, which is my degree, Health and Physical Education. So, I was there for maybe seven or eight years. Then, I went back to school and got my license as a school administrator. Then, I got a job at Nauset Regional High School as an Assistant Principal, where I worked there for almost eight years. I was looking for another opportunity, and somewhere along the line I met Mr. Ballestracci. He was becoming a principal at the same time I was and we just happened to hit it off. He had said to me that if I was ever interested, to see if there was ever a position open to look him up and see what was going on. So things didn’t work out at Nauset High School the way I thought they would, so I met up with Mr. Ballestracci and we had a great talk. A position opened up here, the Dean of Students position, so I came and interviewed, he hired me, and I have been here ever since.

By David Kelley
Graduation is just around the corner.

The seniors at Mashpee Middle High School have already left and are no longer attending classes. Now pretty soon they will be coming back for what may be the last time.

The class of 2021 is set to graduate on Saturday, June 5 at 10:00 AM in a tent outside at MMHS. Graduation typically lasts about 90 minutes.

"The class of 2021 has experienced an entire year under this pandemic," Principal Balestracci said in an email to The Falconer. "They have persevered, been resilient, and have taken on this challenging experience very well. Superintendent DeBoer has been advocating for a full senior experience, and through her outstanding leadership, we are able to provide that to the best of our ability. Being able to hand out the diplomas this year is very special for this class."

By Ava DeSimone
Now that most Mashpee Middle High School students have returned to in person learning for the remainder of the 2021 school year, it has been a big change. Although there is excitement about seeing friends and being able to learn somewhat normal in a classroom, there is also some anxiety for students. The six feet distance that was followed during hybrid learning, has now become three feet. With more students in the classroom and less distance between, is this something that should cause worrying?

District Covid-19 Health Coordinator Stacey Schakel has had a prominent role throughout the return to school full time and since the start of the pandemic. She is in charge of tracing close contacts along with keep track of many of the Covid regulations the schools must follow. With the thought of mostly everyone being back in school full time in over a year, I could sense the anxiety that would come along with it, which is the main reason that I reached out to our health coordinator.

By Sadie Biehl
All through the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have known that people can contract and spread the virus even if they don’t show symptoms.

Now, using a new COVID testing program, Mashpee Public Schools is trying to help stop the spread of the coronavirus by people who don’t know they have it. The school district has recently begun offering the opportunity to participate in pool testing to students and staff. More than 80 people are participating in the program so far.

Superintendent of Mashpee Public Schools, Mrs. DeBoer, explained to The Falconer why pool testing is important, saying that, “Early detection is key in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Pooled testing also allows us to continually monitor for asymptomatic individuals.”

By Alyson Lihzis
As the Class of 2021 has endured an extremely nontraditional final year of high school, many pondered if they would get to experience a prom this spring. Although their year has not consisted of the classic senior activities, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they will in fact get to celebrate a prom. Of course it will be modified to be Covid-friendly and abide by state guidelines. 

“I think prom will be fun this year," said class of 2021 cabinet member Alinna Hanna. "It’s definitely a little sad that we have to do it at the school, but it’s going to be really special and pretty regardless. We are incredibly lucky to have one at all, and the person who will be decorating is going to make it super magical. I also like the idea of food trucks because it is more common food that everyone likes."

By Conor Baron
​A few weeks ago the National Honor Society (NHS), and the National English Honor Society (NEHS) chose one teacher each to honor and give their appreciation. The NHS chose Mrs. Reynolds, and the NEHS chose Mrs. Finn.

Both these teachers play a large role in the community and their students’ lives.

By Maile Biehl

After the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed the 2019-2020 school year and left juniors in the dust when it came to their SATs, many rising juniors from the class of 2022 were left worried. Would the SATs still be happening? Would colleges still be requiring it? Will I still be able to get a spot to take it?

All of these questions were valid and concerning for many students. They watched their peers struggle through their test dates being cancelled and being moved and watched them try to get new dates. What should they do to be prepared for their tests?

That’s where two honor societies here at MMHS stepped in.

By Conor Baron
Mashpee Middle High School is right now in the midst of a major transition as the hybrid schedule used so far this year will come to a close and most students will return to school full-time. This change is particularly big for this year's seniors, who are now in their final months of high school.

Grade 12 students made the schedule change starting on April 5, while other grades will return gradually during the weeks immediately before and after April vacation. About a quarter of the class of 2021 will remain fully remote, according to information shared by Superintendent DeBoer in one of her weekly updates at the end of March.

For the students who started back in school, it has been a mix of emotions but they have  a positive outlook. For the seniors, their first day back had very similar observations.

Senior Steven Theodorides said, “It was strange seeing most of the people in my grade back but it makes me happy to be all reunited as a grade again.”

Interview by Ava DeSimone
The Falconer: What has been your favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School?
Ms. Kelly: My favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School would be you guys, the kids. You’re the best part of my day. I always love to talk to you guys and hear your stories and just hear your insights on the books we’re reading and what we’re discussing in class. So by far my favorite part is working with you guys.

The Falconer: Has there ever been a time when you got home from work one day, and thought “I wish I hadn’t become a teacher?” If so, what was the occasion?
Ms. Kelly: No, I think you have bad days in every job, but no, there’s never been a specific day where I’ve gotten home and thought that I didn’t want to be a teacher. I think some days are more stressful than others, but pretty much every day, even on a hard day, the good outweighs the bad.