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.

Interview by Sadie Biehl
Mrs. Wang is the Mandarin teacher here at MMHS and this is her third year teaching in Mashpee. The Falconer wanted to sit down with her to explore how teaching has changed since the pandemic. We also learn more about who she is outside of school.

The Falconer: Can you tell me about where you grew up in China?
Ms. Wang: I grew up in Beijing, China. I was born in Beijing and was there until I turned 24.

The Falconer: What inspired you to move to the United States?
Ms. Wang: Nothing, it was because my husband wanted to come to the United States to finish his PHD. The United States has the best university, also research and the best professor. So this is why my husband wanted to continue his education and find this famous professor to get his PHD. So this is why I followed him and came over, by that time I had no plan and I just followed him.

The Falconer: ​Do you still have family in China?
Ms. Wang: ​Yes, my old family, my parents, relatives, my husband's family. They are all in China.

Interview by Maile Biehl
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The Falconer: What have your feelings been like throughout the Covid-19 pandemic?
Mrs. O’Connor: Like everybody, when it first started, it was very overwhelming and from the perspective of a nurse and having experience with public health and communicable disease, it was scary for me because I was thinking about what it may imply and impose on the community. I think it went from overwhelming to a little scary, for everybody. There was a lot of uncertainty. I think whenever we feel uncertain about a situation, we feel a little anxious about what it will mean for all of us.  

The Falconer: How have you been coping with the changes this pandemic has caused?
Mrs. O’Connor: When I think of coping, I think of coping strategies, so for me personally, it's been really important to keep connected with my friends by phone and the internet and staying as connected as I can to my family. My children live far away and I haven't seen one of my daughters in over a year or my grandchildren so I've been trying to keep as connected as I can through those means. I also cope by getting outside, getting some fresh air and exercise. I love to hike and I love to bike. In the summer it was nice because you could do that a little easier than you can now, but even now, I think it's important to get out and spend some time in nature. That's been my coping strategy throughout my adult life, to get out into nature. Those are the things I've done to be more physically healthy and to feel more settled emotionally.

Interview by Alyson Lihzis
These unprecedented times have affected almost every aspect of a student's life, but one of the most significant areas for seniors is the college admissions process. Many of the traditional steps, including standardized testing, are being reformed in order to aid students without access due to the pandemic.

These changes pose notable affects of which students must be aware, so Ms. Kett, director of guidance and college and career readiness, is here to provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding the alterations of college applications.

The Falconer: What measures do you think universities around the country are taking in order to ease the application process for the Class of 2021?
Ms. Kett: So, probably the biggest and most obvious is that pretty much all schools are going test optional, meaning that they're not requiring the SAT or ACT for criteria for admission. Students can still send them, if they took the exams. However, it is not part of the eligibility criteria to actually apply.
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So what's happening is you're seeing it working both ways, some students who wouldn't normally apply to a specific school because they don't meet the SAT criteria are applying now, because they meet the GPA criteria. For example, a school like Boston University got an exceptional amount of applicants, because that SAT criteria has been waived at this point, so more students felt that they were eligible to apply.