BY NEDEN BERNADIN & JEMISHA SYLIANT 

 This year, Malden High is welcoming back to the English Department, Nierika Nims. Nims is currently teaching Grade 10, 11 and Advanced Placement English Language and Composition. Growing up in Cambridge, Nims was inspired by many teachers who impacted her life and reports that she always enjoyed working with young people. Nims recalled voluntarily correcting her young brother’s homework for him, revealing that her love for the subject of English made it seem that teaching literature and writing was a natural fit for her. Before pursuing a career in teaching, she went to the University of Rochester for her undergrad to major in Psychology and English, then went for her Masters Degree at Tufts University.

Nierika Nims. Photo taken by Neden Bernadin.

Nims had chose to teach English as her career because it’s her passion. She also explains how English class allows students to be able to do almost anything with it still being relevant to the class.

When originally applying to Malden High School, what grabbed her attention was the size of the school and found it to be “a vibrant and exciting place,” between the diversity among the students and staff. She believes that students at MHS are special and doesn’t find that often in other schools.    

Her motivation to continue teaching is the students and hoping they see her as “someone who is open-minded and really values learning and hope[s] to pass that on.” Overall, she is looking forward to experience another year here.

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Recently, Malden High School’s science department, gained a new chemistry teacher, Gregory Simone.

Simone, at the beginning of the year, taught as a student teacher alongside MHS chemistry teacher Katherine Haskell, whom Simone credits having learned what a real “student-teacher connection” is like, as well as social and emotional aspects of teaching including the real application of teaching.

In graduate school, he learned how to create lesson plans, but there was no interaction with students. Simone credits Haskell for teaching him classroom management skills.

Gregory Simone. Photo by Ryan Hames.

From Poughkeepsie, New York, in the Hudson Valley, Simone was not interested in chemistry in high school. In college, Simone took a general chemistry course and “really liked it.”

Simone had a “great professor,” which was a leading factor in why he began considering it as a career. Simone was interested in the experimental aspects of chemistry, “the exciting parts,” such as reactions and fire. As the course went on, Simone became interested in the conceptual math aspects of the field.

Simone originally wanted to work in a lab, but his junior year of college he decided that he wanted to teach. Simone participated in a chemistry demonstration for high school students, and thought that it was “what [he] should be doing: working with students.”

Simone currently goes to Northeastern University, and is finishing his masters program. Simone was at MHS last year, observing classes, taking notes, and writing papers on what he saw for a course. He saw several science teachers teaching, and remembered Haskell, deciding later to work with her as a student teacher.

Not expecting to get a job this year, Simone knew he wanted to work at Malden High School. He expected to come back next year or in the future as a teacher.

From being a full-time student to student teacher was a “manageable” transition for the new teacher. Simone had “a lot of independence with [his classes].”

Now as a full-fledged teacher, Simone teaches five classes, as opposed to the three he had as a student teacher. Simone is ready “for [his program] to end, so [he] can be fully emerged in [teaching].”

“Change is hard,” Simone noted of Haskell’s former classes, which he now teaches. “It’s almost like the first week of school again. [We had] to go through the rules again; restart.”

Simone said that some students still see him as a student teacher, as opposed to their full-time teacher. Simone believes that this perspective will change, “but it will take a while.”

Simone really likes the diversity among students, which he said is “way different from any other school.” He also sees that every student have “one teacher they can go to for non-academic related things, and that’s specific to Malden.”

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Recently, Malden High School has welcomed a new Spanish teacher, Erick Martha-Reynolds. He is replacing Diane Brookes while she goes on maternity leave for the rest of the year. Before taking over, he had been in the school for a couple of weeks, observing Brookes in order to learn the protocols of her class, and then finally took over her classes now that she has officially left on leave.

Martha-Reynolds grew up in Mexico and moved to Los Angeles, CA fifteen years ago. He graduated from the Mexican Institute of Technology. His hobbies are mainly active ones, including rock climbing, racing, and training at the gym.

Erick Martha-Reynolds. Photo taken by Tenzin Dorjee.

When he came to live in Massachusetts ten years ago, he “realized that a lot of hispanic people were living here and they didn’t have the tools to communicate in English, so [he] wants to help those who speak English and do have the tools to learn Spanish, to be able to do that and learn a second language that will help them communicate with a huge group of people they could not have before.”

Martha-Reynold explained that Malden was a good fit for him to teach in because he lives in the area and sometimes when he’s had to take the bus, it has passed by the high school, and he began to wonder what it would be like to work at this high school. That’s why when he heard about the job opening, he was immediately excited. Another reason he was excited to work at the high school was because since learning a language is not required, students at the high school know if they want to learn another language and get to choose which one most interests them, which isn’t true for students in elementary or middle school.

This is actually his first year teaching full-time, but he has been a substitute teacher for the past two years. He feels that the students are dealing with the transition from Brookes as their teacher to him “pretty well.” Martha-Reynolds also added that “the language department is very supportive and have offered [him] help, making [his] success feel like a team effort.”

His goal coming to MHS is to be an “exceptional teacher”, and make sure the kids enjoy the subject and benefit from it in the future. He mentioned that since Spanish is one of the most common languages spoken in the United States, it makes it so that knowing the language could be something that could really help them later in life.

Martha-Reynolds can be found in J266.

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Malden High School has embraced a new Spanish teacher:Cassondra Knudsen. After countless interviews for a new substitute, Knudsen will officially be the stand-in for Sharon Kalagher, who is on maternity leave.

Knudsen was born and raised in Needham, Massachusetts and was educated by the Needham Public Schools system. She recalled that her high school had a great Spanish program which gave her an amazing opportunity of going on a class trip in her senior year to Costa Rica, in which those attending could only speak Spanish. This experience helped her realize how much she enjoyed the Spanish language.

Cassondra Knudsen. Photo by Kayla Sousa.

Knudsen graduated from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. She double majored in politics and government and modern language and culture “with an emphasis on Spanish.” Before graduating, she had interned for a tech security company and pursued it when they offered her a full time job and was a project accountant and sales business data analyst for a while. However, she realized how much she missed Spanish when she “practiced it every second [she] could,” and decided to make a career change to pursue teaching Spanish.

When a job opportunity opened up close by as a long term substitute for Spanish, she decided to apply. It is her first time teaching and has appreciated the fact that there is an “interesting group of kids” and stated that it is amusing “seeing how kids interact with certain material and getting to know each of the students.”

Knudsen described herself as “outgoing, energetic and positive,” and said that she is always excited to learn new things everyday even though she is a teacher. Her hobbies include playing the guitar and ukulele as she enjoys music, nature, her dogs, which she says she is “obsessed with,” and simply trying new things.

Over the course of her life, Knudsen has been to many different countries. She has traveled to Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Netherlands, Ireland and France.

Mar Marjomaa, a fellow Spanish teacher at MHS, described her liking for Knudsen as she believes Knudsen has “a lot of knowledge in different applications for the benefit of the students,” and “her presence has brought a positive [and] energetic environment to the students and they feel welcome in her class.”

Erick Martha Reynolds, another spanish teacher at MHS, stated that he hasn’t known her for long but feels “she is very professional and very friendly, committed to [her] job and doing the best [she can].”

Cassondra Knudsen can be found in J268.

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This year there have been a few new additions to the Malden High staff, one of which is Ray Garcia, the new principal for the Brunelli house.  Garcia was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and this is his first time working outside of his hometown. He graduated from Lawrence High and then went on to major in education at UMass Amherst and Salem State University.  He taught for 25 years and before he came to Malden High, and he was previously a school director at Lawrence High. The reason Mr. Garcia decided to come to Malden were because he “liked the diversity and [he] got some good recommendations from friends and family”. Outside of school, Garcia enjoys cooking, drawing, woodworking, and being outside.

Brunelli House Principal Ray Garcia. Photo by Jesaias Benitez.

Other Malden High staff already has positive things to say about Garcia. For example, Principal Ted Lombardi describes him as a “very terrific and knowledgeable person and [adds] that he is very fair, professional, and welcoming. [Garcia] is dedicated to making kids succeed and will not stop until that happens because [he] genuinely cares when it comes to students succeeding” and Garcia “hopes to support students as well as staff members”.

Another teacher that had positive things to say about Garcia was English teacher, Melissa Macey. She comments that “[Garcia] seems very supportive of his staff, and clearly wants [the staff] to feel like [they] have [his] support”. She also mentions that “[Garcia] is quick to check in and ask if [the staff needs] anything”, and that he is “very approachable and easy to talk to.”

Freshman guidance counselor Taryn Belowsky also had a few nice things to say about Mr. Garcia describing him as “a great and valuable asset with [his] best interest in mind”. She also mentioned that Garcia is “quiet at first, but when you get to know [him], [he] really opens up and gives you some great advice and ideas.”

Malden High School welcomes Garcia to the staff this year.

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English teacher Anne Mooney. Photo by Falyn Kelley

New English teacher Anne Mooney, started her first year at Malden High smiling. Graduating from the State University of New York and Salem State University, Mooney went on to teach tenth and twelfth grade English classes at Haverhill High School after finishing college. During college, Mooney received her Bachelor’s of Arts in English from the State University of New York and two Masters of Arts in English and Education.

While in graduate school, Mooney worked as an assistant behavior therapist and behaviorial therapist with children with autism. After hearing amazing things from her friend about Malden High School, Mooney jumped at the opportunity when she saw a position open up for an English teacher. Mooney comes from a long line of other English teachers, as both of her grandparents happened to teach English as well.

Even though she has only taught here for a short amount of time, the amazing things she has heard about the school have come into fruition. The students of MHS are her favorite part so far. Mooney said, “[MHS students] are so nice. Like, crazy nice!” 

According to her, students here have more of a connection with teachers than any other place, which to her is amazing. Mooney teaches eleventh grade CP English class, as well as “Through the Looking Glass” and “Monsters” which are elective English classes for seniors. Mooney explained that “[Through the Looking Glass] is about multicultural literature, which is something [she is] super into, so really [it is] a perfect fit for [her]”. “Monsters”, on the other hand, is another thing entirely. Mooney is actually quite afraid of monsters and hopes the class will allow her to get over her fears.

Although Mooney likes reading, she loves writing, as she stated that “writing is [her] passion”. Mooney used to believe she would be a journalist, but she then realized it was not what she wanted to do. What she wanted to do was share her passion for writing and reading, and helping others grow the same feeling inside of them. Mooney hopes to help all of her students grow a passion for writing. To do this, Mooney has inherited the Literary Society and is very excited for the first meeting.

When Mooney is not pushing kids to be their very best, she is most definitely at home, playing with her wonderful German Shepherd, Malamute mix named River. According to Mooney, “Everyone should come talk to [her] about [her] dog, because [her dog] is perfect.” Mooney is also an active feminist, who tries to stay in the loop wither her social justice and she heavily believes in female empowerment.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Mooney’s parents were English teachers. Her grandparents were English teachers.

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Photo of new special education teacher Madeline Lund. Photo by Falyn Kelley.

Malden High School recently received a new special education teacher, Madeline Lund. Lund is a co-teacher in Math 1 with Brad Gelling and Kayla Scheitlin and also teaches numeracy.

Lund went to undergrad at UMass Amherst for Marketing and Creative Writing. Once she started working for Medical Academic and Scientific Regional High School (MASCO), she realized that she loved math so much and began taking online and night classes at Salem State University to get her Special Education license. Lund is still in the process of receiving her Math teaching license now.

Lund’s first teaching job was as a paraprofessional at Mass Genomic Regional High School, where her mother is a teacher. During her first year out of college, she became a captionist, where she worked one-on-one with a student and typed everything said in that student’s classes. This program was set up to help those who were hard of hearing and did not know sign language. The student that she worked with is now at R.I.T. studying computer science and computer programming.

She says that she “[did not] want to stop working there because it was one of the best experiences that [she has] ever had and so [she] decided to continue working in special education and ended up helping teachers in Math and Physics”.

Lund co-taught a combined math and physics class with a math teacher and a physics teacher, but she does not consider herself a “co-teacher” because she does not have a license for it yet. She describes herself as the “special education support aid”.

Her influence in becoming a teacher was just how much Lund loved being in school and in an academic environment. Lund says that her life was “naturally gravitating towards becoming a teacher.” Lund likes when the students do well and realize they have potential because some of the kids Lund has worked with don’t believe in themselves. and it makes a difference for Lund when she helps them realize they can do anything they set their mind to.

Helping people impacts Lund  “because it’s kind of like if you don’t help people and you’re only kind of in life for yourself, it’s like a downwards spiral. [She] hasn’t always had that experience in other career choices ,but working in an academic environment has always been positive path.” Lund is looking forward to helping students with understanding the criteria being taught and teaching them how to be a successful student, even if she is no longer their teacher.

Outside of school, Lund enjoys being outdoors with nature and exploring the city. She is looking forward to traveling a bit with her mom and sister. A big hobby of hers is skiing and hiking. Lund also enjoys reading, one of her favorites being the Harry Potter Series. Lund also loves karate, as this year, she is hoping to get her black belt in November.

Jo-ann Cassidy, a special education teacher who’s been working here at the Malden High School for fifteen years, is mentoring Lund this year. Lund’s presence here impacts Cassidy as a teacher because “[Lund] is part of the Special Education Department and [she] is one of two other teachers that teach the same class that [Cassidy] does: Numeracy.” In the few weeks Lund has been here, Cassidy says Lund is “enthusiastic, upbeat, positive, eager to learn and willing to take advice and use it in the classroom.” Cassidy also says that Lund is “very sweet and kind”.

Cassidy co-teaches Math 1 classes and two Numeracy classes. Her influence to becoming a teacher was from all the kind teachers she had growing up. “[She] went to very small catholic schools. Thirty-three girls in [her] graduating high school class and [it has] just always felt like home to [her]. School was a second home to [her], that’s why [she] did this and because [she] wanted a family and [she] knew that this would be the perfect job to have a family.”

In the few weeks that Lund has been working here at Malden High School, “[her] experience so far has been wonderful. Everyone that [she has] met has been helpful and everyone has had many tips and suggestions and [it has] been a strong support for [her].”

Corrections: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that Lund was born in Norway. Her grandparents, not her, were born in Norway. Also, Masco is a regional high school, not a Medical Academic and Scientific Community organization. And, finally, Joanne was spelled incorrectly.

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Suzanne Brill begins her first year as a science teacher here at MHS. Photo by Jesaias Benitez.

Hailing from England, Suzanne Brill has come to Malden High School to teach Biology CP and Environmental Science Honors. She is filling in for Kate Bizier for the year, while she is on leave.

Brill was born and raised in Preston, England and went to Penwortham Girls’ High School. She went to both the University of Manchester and the University of London, and majored in Biochemistry.

She has been teaching biology for a year and a half, but she originally started off as a researcher working in a lab for 8 years. She stopped working  after she had her first child, as she decided to be a stay-at-home mom.

Brill says that what made her want to come to Malden High was that “[she lives] in Malden”. Since becoming a substitute, Brill explains how she “has loved teaching and coming into Malden”.

When asked about what she likes about Malden High so far, Brill claims that there is “always something happening [and that] there is so much life, and it is so fantastic”. Some goals Brill has for coming into Malden High is “wanting to encourage more people into biology, wanting to learn a new career, and changing from something to a new thing that [she] has been learning”.

Some methods Brill uses to teach have been advice given from other teachers. Brill loves to make her students think on their own and for them to have their own way in learning the subject. She loves what she does because everyday is a new day. She also loves meeting new people, and seeing kids learn.

Debra Kumar, a Biology, Pathology, and Anatomy teacher, has been working at Malden High School for twenty-two years. Kumar and Brill had met before when Brill started working at Malden High School, when she was substitute teacher during the maternity leave of Shannon Votaw. Kumar thinks that Brill is a good colleague to work with. When asked about Brill, she says “[she] loves that [Brill] brings a different scientific experience to students, that [she] can share [her] knowledge and experience as a scientist with high school students.”

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New teacher Mr. O’Connell poses for a photo. Picture taken by Jesaias Benitez.

As students and faculty members returned to school, they welcomed Daniel O’Connell, a new member of the math department.

O’Connell grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts and graduated from Boston University. He majored in English education, but always enjoyed Math, so when the time came to decide what field he wanted to focus on, he decided to teach Math because “of [his] love of patterns”.

One of the reasons he became a teacher was because he “was a middle child, so when [he] was younger [he] would teach [his] little sister things”.

The reason O’Connell decided to come to Malden High was because he has had experience with students in Malden as he was previously a teacher at Mystic Valley. He had enjoyed his experience there, and wanted to keep working with Malden students.

So far, O’Connell said that what “[he] like[s] about Malden High are the teachers and the community”. One of his goals this school year is to do well with his current students so that they are able to master the material.

Principal Ted Lombardi said that some of the things that made O’Connell stick out were that he has a “very broad skill-set because [O’Connell] knows how to teach both English and Math, which makes [him] a very qualified person for a teacher’s position.”

Some of the other staff members at Malden High such as Ronald Janowicz, the Director of the Pathways program, shared that O’Connell is a “great teacher, who brings a lot to the Pathways program because of [his] skills with computers and being able to set up programs.”

Janowicz described him as a “quiet, respectful person who is a very quick learner.” Julie Fox, a physics teacher here at MHS, added to that by saying O’Connell is “committed and dedicated to [his] students” and that he has “built relationships and cares about [his] students.”

Fox also said that Mr. O’Connell seems to help his students understand the material and that he is good with computers and other electronics. She also added that he seems “committed and dedicated to his work and [his] students” and seems like a “very straightforward person.”

Some of the things O’Connell enjoys outside of school are reading, keeping in touch and playing games with friends, and ballroom dancing.

Malden High is happy to welcome O’Connell as the newest addition to the Math department.

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By NICHOLAS BRAMANTE 

English teacher Abbey Dick is among the many new additions to the Malden High School staff this year. Receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in Worcester, MA,  and her Masters from Westfield, MA, Dick claims that she knew she wanted to be a teacher as soon as she hit college.

Growing up, Dick had always liked the subject of English, so exploring a career in that area seemed almost natural, however there were a few hurdles that she had to pass before she could completely commit herself to her fondness of English.

Throughout a good part of her life, Dick was passionate about singing. It was something that she loved to do, but she had to give it up in order to pursue her greater interest; English. Dick explained that in order to pursue one, she had to give up the other. She expresses that she was more than willing to give up singing when she realized she wanted to be the “best English major ever.”

To fulfill this quest, Dick worked in a few schools before MHS, the most recent one being in Millis, MA, which can really only be described as a small town. Dick claims that the “whole town could probably fit [into MHS].” Going from a miniscule town to a larger school such as MHS overwhelms most people, although it seems that Dick is transitioning well.

Dick had an easy transition into MHS with the help of the students and faculty as she described the students that she has met as “incredibly friendly and kind.” Although the schedule has taken a bit of getting used to, Dick is convinced that she has the best room in the school, so needless to say, it balances out.

Within her classroom, Dick is taking a more modern approach to the customary teaching methods with her students. Working towards the final goal of being a paper-free classroom, Dick employs a broad array of technological tools in order to connect with students faster and easier. Some of these tools include her teacher website and even a twitter page, in which she reminds students of the homework she has assigned that day. Her other ultimate goal within her classroom is to have her students writing as much as possible.

Out of all the English arts, writing has always been Dick’s favorite and because of this, it has become her favorite subject to teach. As far as other publications by various authors, Dick is not very big fan of Shakespeare. One of her favorite books includes The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. All and all, MHS seems to be a pretty good fit for Dick, and she seems more than ready to do her part in dishing out her own very special brand of teaching.

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By MANALE ZOUHIR and CANDELA DIAZ

Jody Comer is one of the newest additions of the Malden High School staff. She works for the Teen Parent Office, and has high hopes for this upcoming year. She was happy that “everyone made [her] feel very welcome.”

Her job helps “influence young women who are parents.” After teaching for 7 years, Comer was “hand-picked” to work at Malden High School’s teen parent office. She went through several jobs before growing an interest in child care, where she worked for 15 years. From working at a restaurant to a personal trainer, Comer has done it all.

Comer’s interests include reading, specifically books about teen parents. She relates personally to them because she was “a teen girl; [she] had all kinds of struggles and want[s] to make sure [the students]are in a strong environment.” She watches TV shows like Law and Order, and CSI, but also has a guilty pleasure for reality television, particularly The Voice and American Idol.

Comer states that Michelle Obama has been influential in her life, but she also is inspired by her friends. She values friendship because they are “people that [she respects]….people that are real to [her].”

Before teaching at Malden High School, Comer attended Northshore Community College, where she studied Early Education. She also attended Salem State, and there she received her bachelors degree in Early Education and is in the process of receiving her master degree. She says that “[teen parents] need support”  and is currently attempting to form a mentoring program for young women.

Although she has only been here for a short time, Comer feels like she is adjusting well. “[She sees herself for] here for a long time,” she stated. Everyone opened their arms to her, and helped her with everything she needed.

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By CRYSTAL DAY

Caitlin Graham is welcomed to the Malden High School social studies department in the Pathways Program. Graham chose MHS because she said, “When meeting the staff and administration at MHS and seeing the dedication that they had to furthering students education in a positive way, [she] knew that MHS would be a great place to work.” Graham attended Johnson State College in Vermont for her undergraduate degree where she played the competitive sport of Rugby and also captained her dance team during both her junior and senior years, “Go Badgers!”

She also attended Cambridge College for her Masters in education, but she originally majored in outdoor adventure education yet switched her major her senior year to an education major with a minor in fine arts, which lead her to her teaching career. Graham previously taught at a Collaborative School in the South Shore and in addition she taught at a high school in Arlington and has taught English in the past, yet her passion is teaching history.

Graham wanted to become a teacher because she was raised by educators who put a large emphasis on education and the importance of everyone having a positive educational experience.

When asked about her feelings about MHS Graham responded that she has found MHS to be “a great school system to work within.”Although Graham supposes that every school has their challenges she remains optimistic and believes all challenges have their reward.

Graham thinks that the staff and students at MHS have been great since she began teaching and enjoys her time here. Like most Bostonians, Graham anticipates going to Red Sox games at Fenway and also likes to go antiquing, she enjoys shopping for  things that resemble certain times in history. She collects different things like “sewing machines from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, Native American wool blankets (pendleton) and memorabilia from the 1980’s and early 1990’s.”

We are very happy to welcome Graham to the staff at MHS.

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By LUCIA QUESADA NYLEN

For the past three years Jonathan Copithorne has been teaching here at Malden High School. The first two consisted of student teaching for Michael Lightbody and Dana Marie Brown and last year Copithorne was a long term substitute for Wendy Bendle and Carol Mastromauro. This year is the first official year that Copithorne is officially teaching in a classroom, ninth grade US History I being his only class that he teaches. Before teaching at MHS, Copithorne “student taught in Rogers School in Newport Rhode Island” while going to Salve Regina as well as substituted at Arlington High School.

Growing up in a few cities over in Arlington, Massachusetts, Copithorne had a great experience at Arlington High School for which “[he is] grateful for.” For Copithorne high school was full of “ups and downs but luckily more ups than downs”.

Copithorne has always wanted to teach. “In high school, [he] had some amazing teachers that made [his] experience special, and [he] always wanted to repay them by doing the same for future generations,” Copithorne stated, explaining why he has always had a passion for teaching.  “The reward that [comes] with helping others solidified [his] decision to become a teacher.” added Copithorne. Copithorne attended Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island for undergrad and Tufts University for graduate school.

Though Malden is different from Arlington, Copithorne “loves it here at MHS.” Copithorne “couldn’t think of any other school he’d think of being at other than here.” One of his favorite things about MHS is the school pride and enthusiasm that the students have. “Students here at MHS also make up a group of young adults that provide an experience that very few schools in the world can, and that is tremendous” Copithorne adds. He enjoys the faculty as well, they “provide such warmth, support, and enthusiasm, that they make new teachers like [him] feel like [they] belong to a truly special community.” In addition, he enjoys Spirit Week, Junior Variety’s, and the Student-Faculty basketball games.

The best piece of advice Copithorne can give to any high schooler is “to always be true to yourself and always embrace you unique.” “The quicker you can find what you enjoy in life the quicker you can enjoy your life.”

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By ASHLEY LEUNG

A new member of the Malden High School’s teaching staff, Julie Fox, has much to look forward to in her new teaching career. Fox is the new math teacher in the Pathways program at MHS. This year will be her first year of teaching in a classroom, but already has a long teaching history ever since her teen years with “first job teaching tennis lessons.” She was the Aquatics Director at the YMCA for her last job in Malden, where she taught swim lessons, coached the swim team, and taught Red Cross lessons.

Fox decided to work at MHS because Malden “is a great city and its schools have gotten better and better in the past eight years since [she has] been working in Malden.” She feels honored to be able to work as a part of MHS with “such great faculty, staff, and students.” It is surprising that although she has a strong involvement throughout Malden, Fox actually came from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois. She graduated and went to Tufts for college.

Teaching is something Fox enjoys because she gets to help students learn something new and help them be able to overcome difficult material that they might come across. However, outside of teaching in a classroom at MHS, Fox also coaches the swim team at the YMCA, and the softball team in Melrose. She also enjoys playing softball and tennis herself, as well as doing photography and listening to music. Fox also enjoys playing trivia weekly at a restaurant in Melrose. Fox even enjoys going to Fenway to support the Red Sox, especially during seasons, “[when] the team is fun to watch.”

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By PHILLIP MONTEZUMA

Malden High School welcomes back former student teacher Elizabeth Gibbons, native of State College, Pennsylvania and graduate of State College High School. While in high school, Gibbons was on the newspaper and the yearbook but her favorite hobby since her childhood was figure skating. Gibbons feels that figure skating is more popular around here than it is in Pennsylvania. To carry on her love of the sport, she coaches figure skating for the Boston Common Skating School in Boston and Saugus. One of her favorite movies is Blades of Glory.

Gibbons attended Boston University for both her undergraduate and graduate degree school. And that is when she learned that she wanted to pursue teaching in the math career.

Gibbons now teaches Algebra 2 and Geometry. Two years ago she was a student teacher for Cara Joyce and Sarah Jones, which helped pave the road for Gibbons to become the teacher she is today. She sees familiar faces in the faculty and students that can help a new teacher feel welcomed. Junior Huy Vo said “she is very upbeat and enthusiastic about teaching. She enjoys helping others.”

Gibbons looks forward to the the rest of the school year at MHS. Her goal is to make sure her students to use the math they learn in the real world.

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By JULIE LAM

As all Malden High School students adjust to the new school year, so does adjustment counselor Julia Rosen. Rosen specifically works with MHS students to help with their personal, emotional, social, and academic concerns. Rosen reveals that she had always wanted to become some sort of social worker. What inspired Rosen to be an adjustment council? Rosen always took interest in working with adolescents and believed that she was always an excellent listener.

Rosen had grown up in Connecticut and had attended Tufts University for her undergraduate years. After her years at Tufts University, Rosen then attended Boston College for her graduate degree. When asked why Rosen picked MHS instead, she expressed that she is very familiar with the Boston area and, “Malden is diverse; it is its own community.”

During Rosen’s spare time, she likes to teach herself how to paints canvases in her apartment. Although Rosen is not the most coordinated person and did not play any sports during her school years, she was a part of the yearbook committee. Rosen also declared that she is an enormous reader and also loves to cook.

As a new teacher at MHS, one of the challenges that Rosen faced was, “meeting everyone and adjusting.” Rosen also stated that learning how to fit in was also a challenge for her. For her first year at MHS, Rosen hopes to, “make connections with people” and also to, “make sure students are in a good place.”

More than anything, Rosen appreciates the “good support system [at MHS],” and she hopes to grow with every new person she encounters.

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By EMMA CEPLINSKAS

Transitioning from student teacher to full time educator, Caroline Lorenz is a bright new asset to the foreign language faculty at Malden High School.

Lorenz grew up in the panhandle of Florida in the city of Pensacola. During high school, she played on her school’s varsity basketball team. She was also the editor of her school’s newspaper, which, ironic enough, is also called The Blue and Gold. She “loved writing opinion columns,” as well as completing the layout for the newspaper.

After high school, Lorenz attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where she majored in history. During that time she also studied film as well as Spanish. In time, Lorenz fell in love with the language. As her passion for Spanish grew, Lorenz decided to study abroad in Spain in her junior year. Her taste for travel continues as she returned to Spain a few years ago, and just this past year she journeyed to both Ireland and France.

How does one end up at MHS after attending a college in Maine? Lorenz’s adoration for the Spanish language carried her to her current career as a high school foreign language teacher. As it happened, Lorenz’s roommate in college attended MHS, so “[Lorenz] knew it was a good school [to work at].”

When she arrived at MHS, Lorenz expressed that she “was fortunate enough to find Mrs. Kalagher and work with her… she prepared me well,” commented Lorenz. She described her transition from being a student teacher as “a lot to handle at one time,” she added,  “but it is also fun so that [she] can figure out [her] own way of doing things.” Spanish teacher Sharon Kalagher believes Lorenz is “a great addition to the department” as she is “quick with technology and has a nice demeanor with the students. [Kalagher thinks] she fits right in at MHS.”

Outside of work, Lorenz takes satisfaction in being active. She enjoys bowling and is a member of a league that she described as “really fun.” She is also part of a softball league and bowling league.

Coming from a homogeneous high school, Lorenz “[loves] how diverse all the students are at MHS.”  Her main goal for this year is to “help all of [her] students love learning Spanish, whether they want to or not,” she laughed.

With her spunk and enthusiasm, Lorenz has much to offer to her students and MHS as a whole.

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By KARINA MATOS

Rosa De Los Santos has recently joined the ranks of Malden High School teachers, by becoming a teacher for the Practical Academics and Community Experience program, also known as PACE, a program for kids with special needs. However, this is not the first job she has had in this area, she has been teaching kids in special education for five years. Principal Dana Brown mentioned that she is not only “very nice,” but also “very qualified,”and that “ [he] had to convince her to work here, the other job she was working at was very good too.” De Los Santos used to work in Waltham, Lawrence, and Lowell, as a special education teacher for a self-contained classroom. She stated that she enjoys working with children who are in special education because “[she enjoys] helping people that really need it.” Another reason for her chosen field was that her son was born with hearing difficulties, which lead her to learn sign language.

Originally, De Los Santos is from the Dominican Republic, and has lived here in the United States for 23 years. “The hardest part,” she confessed, “was learning to speak English, before [she] came here [she] didn’t speak any.” That is why a person she admires is her friend, who also came from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. Like De Los Santos, when her friend came here thirty years ago she [could not] speak a word of English, and is now a successful teacher.
For high school, De Los Santos went to Seward Park in New York. However, she has attended three colleges, Laguardia Community College, Middlesex Community College, and Fitchburg State. In college she studied not only special education, but also psychology and science. She said the one thing she really liked about college was that it was a different experience,” and that she seemed to learn a “little bit of everything.” However, if she did not study to be a special education teacher, she would have liked to become a lawyer, working in the area of criminal justice. De Los Santos explained that shes always loved law, since she was little.

But here at MHS, she is considering that in the future, she would like to get involved with one of our many clubs, dance. She is a professional salsa dancer, and when in high school, she took three years of ballet and modern dance as well. Another one of her hobbies is riding motorcycles De Los Santos smiled, “[She] thinks [she] learned how to when [she] was fourteen.”

One of her major goals in the future is to have a center for young children with disabilities. “For kids who are deaf, or have other disabilities,” she added, “like a pre-school.” While that is a virtuous and ambitious goal that hopefully she accomplishes in the future, it is lovely to have her teaching here at MHS.

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By CASSANDRA REYES

Kate Haskell, a former student teacher at Malden High School, is expanding her teaching experience at MHS this year. Haskell, who was a student teacher at MHS one year prior to teaching in Chelsea, is returning to the school after one year of teaching at Chelsea High School. After having experiences in both high schools, Haskell said that they are both very similar. The biggest difference Haskell notices in the two schools is the schedule. While MHS has a different schedule every day and runs on a seven-day rotation, “the schedule at Chelsea is very set,” stated Haskell.

Along with the seven-day schedule, Haskell likes the diversity of MHS. Growing up in a farm town, Dighton, MA, with a younger brother and sister, Haskell graduated from Rehoboth High School, which is “very, very different from Malden High School.” Haskell graduated in a class of 192 kids that lacked diversity.

When asked her favorite subject in high school, Haskell responded with “chemistry! That is why [she] majored in it.” Haskell also displayed an interest in band and has attended a few performances by MHS band. Haskell simply described them as “amazing.”

After graduating high school, Haskell left her hometown to chase her dreams. For undergraduate school, she attended Sacred Heart University for her chemistry degree. The now College Prep Chemistry teacher practiced law for four years and attended Boston University. After law school, Haskell went on to receive her master’s degree in teaching at Northeastern University. Haskell claimed that being a lawyer was “very unfulfilling.”

With an abundance of education under her belt, Haskell also wants to “make a positive impact on every student [she] encounters,” which she sees as a “very lofty goal.” A student of Haskell, sophomore Stephan Fequiere, claimed that “[Haskell] has a sense of humor, which makes chemistry less dreadful.” Haskell’s return to MHS is exciting for her and many more members of the school. Her journey at MHS has just begun.

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By TATYANNA CABRAL

Julie Snyder is a new addition to the Malden High School staff this year. Snyder is the only Latin teacher in the whole school. Before she joined the MHS pack, she was a student teacher at North Quincy.

In high school, Snyder’s favorite subjects had been Latin and Physics. She had a passion for Latin and loved learning other languages as well. Snyder graduated from Boston University majoring in Latin and Classics Education, and she “loved it there.” Latin and Classics is a combination of Latin, ancient Greek, philosophy, and history. If she had the chance to study abroad, Snyder would most likely take that chance.

Snyder attended Brockton High School, and was a member of the drama club, something she enjoyed very much because she was able to build and designed the sets for plays. Snyder had been one of the head members of the drama club. During shows, she was the stage manager, directing everybody on where to put things and how to set up the lights. When Snyder attended Brockton High School, being a stage manager had been her job, but she dealt with more of the lights and sound for the concerts and plays at Boston University.

For some people, it takes a while to figure out what they want to do with their life, but not with Snyder; she knew, since high school,  that she wanted to teach Latin. She has always loved Latin and mythology. Snyder believed that Latin “is an important thing for people to keep up with.” One of the factors that had helped her decide to teach Latin in high school, is that she thought tutoring in high school was enjoyable.

In class, Snyder wants the students to be more active with one another. She loves the kids at MHS because “they are awesome,” and MHS is a “wonderful school.” She thinks that “every student should learn a foreign language at least once in their life.” Snyder said that Latin is a great language to learn, because most languages are based off of it. Learning Latin would help students with their grammar, which is helpful because “most people [do not] understand the difference between who and whom, but when you take Latin, it helps straighten it out.”

Snyder hopes to stay here for a while, and her advice to all students is to “join a club or a team” and ”enjoy high school while [you are] here, and do your homework, study and have fun while [you are] doing it.”

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