 By Leo Najarro '26
When fewer students showed interest in the Wethersfield High School dance team, Riley Carreiro, a junior and student leader, didn't just wait until the next tryouts. She took initiative and started reaching out to younger students to get them excited about joining. Carreiro and her teammates revitalized interest in dancing with an energetic clinic held last week. The event demonstrated how student guidance can help maintain the longevity of school programs. “I felt that it was important to close the gap between our team and the youth because we were getting less and less interest,” Carreiro explained. “This was because most dancers were not always aware of our team or the type of dancing we do. The clinic allowed outside members to get more info on our team and how we do things.” Carreiro hoped to ensure the team's future and develop new talent by establishing a space where younger students could engage directly with the high school team. “At first I was nervous because I thought I overestimated what I could do," Carreiro said. "But with the support from my team and coaches, everything went just as planned." Beyond learning a new routine, the young participants found a community on the dance floor. "She planned, organized, and created our youth nights; she even managed the Google forms and Instagram announcements," said coach McNeal. When asked about how Carreiro influenced the Wethersfield dance program, McNeal spoke about more than just her skills as a performer. "She represents the dance team positively, both on the floor and outside of dance team," McNeal said. "So she's a wonderful person." Carreiro has done more than just teach a few dance steps; she has built a foundation for the team's future. As these younger dancers look up to her, it’s clear that the Wethersfield High School dance team is no longer just surviving. Thanks to Carreiro’s leadership, it is thriving.
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By Cristina Pikos and Jazz-Lyn Roberts
Wethersfield High School is spotlighting sophomore Melany Serna, who was nominated for her leadership by biology teacher Zappala. He chose to nominate Serna because of her consistency in class and her ability to rise to challenges, assist struggling students, and translate complex concepts into students' native languages. Biology, the study of life, can be a difficult class for students to retain information regarding the structure, function, growth, and evolution of organisms. While it can be easy to get lost in new concepts, Serna shows an exemplary understanding of the subject. This is reflected not only in her grades but in her leadership when assisting peers who need to clarify their understanding. According to Zappala, Serna is one of the most outgoing and responsible students he has taught this year. She often steps in to support her classmates, especially during group work and labs. No matter who she is partnered with, she ensures everyone understands the material and feels included. Rather than simply giving answers, she breaks down topics so others can learn them more deeply. Her ability to help others is especially noticeable when working with students whose first language is not English. Because Serna has a strong Spanish background, she helps peers access the curriculum. "[Serna] has been able to help with that in terms of helping them access what we're doing in class," Zappala said. "As well as kind of helping groups to break down complex topics." Serna naturally takes on leadership roles, even when she isn’t asked. Whether she is working with close friends or students she has never spoken to before, she focuses on collaboration. Instead of doing all the work herself, she encourages others to participate and learn alongside her. Zappala said Serna’s presence positively affects other students. Many classmates ask to work with her because they feel they understand the material better when she is involved. As a result, students have become more confident, more willing to participate, and more comfortable taking academic risks. Above all, Serna is known for her positive energy, respectfulness, and strong sense of care for others. “She's a very passionate and caring person and she always goes out of her way,” Zappala said. Serna was initially surprised by the nomination and the recognition for her hard work. She said her strategies for success include studying and turning her assignments in on time. Serna takes initiative by simply asking peers if they need help and explaining topics as best as she can. When asked what values are most important to her, she said, “Being a good listener, communicator and helping people as best as I can.” Like every other student, Serna has faced challenges in school. She overcomes them by teaching herself the topic, asking teachers for clarification, or seeking help from another student who may understand the topic better than she does.  by Alex Harrison and Leo Escudero '26
At Wethersfield High School, juniors have a very important project called the Capstone. This is intended to prove how they have achieved the WHS Vision of a Graduate. The juniors have been working on the Capstone during their WeConnect classes and outside of school. Capstone is a graduation requirement and its own separate credit for all WHS Eagles. If you are in your junior year reading this, you have until April 1 to prepare and finish your visual project. You will have to present your project to a random selection of teachers. This may bring some stress, but don't panic—we have you covered. We are going to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do for Capstone so you are fully prepared and don’t have to retake it senior year. Scoring and expectations: The first important step in preparing for the Capstone is knowing how these projects are graded. You can get a score of 1-12, but you need to score at least 8 to pass. The project is split into three different categories: communication, collaboration, and problem solving, as well as separate grading criteria for body language, fluency, and dress attire. This includes elements such as good eye contact, wearing business-casual clothes, engaging with the audience, not staring at your slides, good posture, and not speaking like a robot. It is important to remember the main idea of the Capstone project is to prove how you have achieved the Wethersfield High School Vision of a Graduate, meaning how you have grown as a student in the past few years. Choosing your topic: If you are stuck on what topic you should choose, we recommend basing your project on something you’re passionate about or familiar with to make it easier to talk about and sell yourself. You want to think about stories or instances within this topic that can directly relate to problem solving, communication, and collaboration. If you have participated in sports or any clubs at WHS, this is a very good topic to choose. Expert advice: We interviewed Mrs. Mucinskas, the organizer of the Capstone project. When asked for tips for the presentation, she said, “Make sure you hit the three main categories, make sure you are a communicator, collaborator, and use specific examples in the project”. As a reminder, she said, “The grade is 8/12 to pass”. She also noted that students should use specific examples and make a good impression as if at a job interview, or else "you are going to end up in a class your senior year that no senior wants to be doing”. Regarding the dress code, Mucinskas said students should wear business casual, such as a collared shirt and dress pants or a business-casual dress. Mucinskas stated she has faith in all the juniors and believes they are all capable of passing their projects. Resources and final tips: This may sound like a lot of stress, but juniors are getting help with monthly meetings in the auditorium and lessons taught personally by Mucinskas. If any students need help, we recommend going to room 336 for person-to-person assistance during an eighth-period study hall or after school. My personal tips to all juniors: do not leave it until the last minute and have to stay up the night before your presentation. It is also perfectly fine to paraphrase what you have written on your visual presentation. The "sweet spot" for length is around nine minutes; I recommend practicing and timing yourself before April 1. Finally, remain calm, speak clearly, and show confidence. You should feel a sense of accomplishment and an understanding of how much you have grown as both a student and a person.  Credit: USA Hockey by Max Lamy and Cayden DeJesus '26
This past weekend in Milan, Team USA won the gold medal with a 2-1 victory over Canada. Team USA center Jack Hughes scored a thrilling overtime goal to win the team its first gold medal since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice". U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck saved 41 of 42 shots en route to the team's third gold medal. Throughout the second and third periods, Canada spent most of the time in the USA zone, applying constant pressure to Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck was all over the crease on Sunday, with his best save being a ridiculous behind-the-back stick save denying defenseman Devon Toews a goal and keeping the game tied 1-1. Team USA did not bring its best game on Sunday, and it was obvious the players were playing scared. On the ice throughout the second and third periods, Canada dominated the zone time; it felt as if Canada were on a constant power play. Without Hellebuyck in net, the conversation about the game would be very different. Even though Team Canada dominated in the second and third periods, the team failed to score on multiple chances, including a 90-second 5-on-3, multiple power plays, Nathan MacKinnon’s wide-open net, and Connor McDavid going 1-on-3 in overtime twice. U.S. men's hockey winning gold is a first for many, but a familiar feeling for others. Generations of kids grew up watching and trying to recreate Mike Eruzione's game-winning goal against the Soviet Union in 1980. Now in 2026, Hughes has inspired this generation of kids and generations to come. When asked what this win meant to the team, Hughes said, "This is all about our country right now. I love the USA, I love my teammates… the USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. I'm so proud to be American". When asked about Hellebuyck's performance, Hughes said, “He was our best player tonight by a mile”.  By Gabriel Rivera '26
Unfortunately, as the school year enters the fourth quarter, students are starting to lose motivation and stop caring about school. It’s important to stay present and motivated, even at the end of the year. As a senior currently counting the minutes until graduation, I know the struggle more than anyone. Frequent snow days drain the desire to re-enter the classroom; knowing that you’re almost done and out of here can make it worse. Sometimes when you’re feeling unmotivated, the solution isn’t just to power through blindly; we need to recalibrate. If you start feeling stressed to the point of wanting to give up, don’t be afraid to take a break. Pause the work for a little while and do something that makes you relaxed: Play a game, listen to music, or read a book. When you’re ready, return to your work. Just be careful not to overextend yourself. “I think one of the best ways to help kids stay motivated is just really keep your eye on the prize,” says Pam Harrison, a Wethersfield High School psychologist. “Know what the goal is, and then, sometimes it helps to take that goal and break it into smaller steps.” Harrison states that if you’re stressing about making it until June, break your workload up into small chunks. Try not to pay attention to June; just try your best to get through the week. Prioritizing your mental health over grade-related stress will actually improve your performance on difficult assignments. You might even get better grades because overthinking leads to second-guessing and avoidable mistakes. Remember, school isn’t a competition. If your friend gets a better grade than you, don’t overwork yourself just to one-up them. Just try your best, take your time and keep your eye on the prize. By Jheyly Rojas
Fake news is everywhere on the internet, on social media, in gossip, and in general conversation, but it is especially prevalent in news articles. This type of misinformation causes physical and mental problems, conflicts, and sometimes even death. Misinformation not only confuses, but it also kills. During health crises, fake news about dangerous home remedies has landed people in the hospital, demonstrating that a false headline can have real physical consequences. In society, this can be deadly. Furthermore, some people share gossip about celebrities online, which can generate threats and negative comments. The existence of fake news can generate distrust and insecurity due to false accusations. To combat this crisis, organizations like FactCheck.org suggest that readers practice "lateral reading." Instead of relying on a single Facebook or TikTok post, users should open other tabs in their browser to check if reputable news outlets are reporting on the same thing. It is also crucial to check the date of posts, as many fake news stories are simply old events taken out of context to generate fear or anger. To detect misinformation, it’s also necessary to check the author. If an article doesn't have a clear timeline, or if the website has an odd name that mimics a legitimate news source, the information is most likely unreliable. If a headline seems too good to be true, it probably is. "It's important to verify the source of information. For example, if you see something on TikTok, it might be true, but if you read it in a credible article, it's much easier to believe," said Wethersfield High School counselor Stepka. Stepka also recommends using the school library's databases for reliable information. When searching online, it is crucial to check the website's domain, such as .org or .gov, to ensure the source is trustworthy. Wethersfield High School student Alan Reyes shared a personal experience with misinformation. "Sometimes, when I see relevant things on TikTok, I share them with my friends without thinking," Reyes said. He explained that he is now much more careful because he once shared rumors on social media about a friend that caused serious problems. "Now I first try to verify that the source is accurate and valid," Reyes said. By Jayden Hernandez '26
College sports are practically unrecognizable compared to how they used to be—but is it for the better? In the modern era of college sports, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has taken over. Athletes now have the opportunity to think more broadly about where they would like to go. Coaches and schools know how much has changed, and they know that if they don’t adapt to the times, they will get left behind. The introduction of NIL is controversial. "Name, image, and likeness" are the three components that allow players to grow a brand of their own. Whether it is a highly recruited high school student or a college athlete looking for an opportunity, NIL deals are made to persuade players or ensure an athlete's future. Some argue that NIL has always been a part of college sports and traditional recruiting, but it has only recently been established in its current form. In 2019, California saw the first major case of students being able to profit from their athletic ability. Athletes felt that if they were talented, they should be able to profit from their image and skill. During mid-2021, the Supreme Court passed a law allowing all college students to profit off NIL. This new rule helped players compete in a more advanced way and allowed them to create their own influential spaces. Many students feel NIL can only be a positive; after all, who wouldn't want their hard work to be recognized? For example, a softball student-athlete was interviewed by University of Florida reporters and said, “It’s been great to feel seen and have your hard work in a sport help in other parts of life. It’s really nice to use NIL on a resume as marketing experience.” This shows NIL being positive not only for her softball career but also by providing opportunities for future careers. Like every other student, athletes face challenges. Some overcome them by teaching themselves about financial literacy or asking professionals for clarification. NIL has changed the game, and as it continues to evolve, so will the athletes who use it.  Source: The IX Sports By Omer Turgut '26
In the world of women’s ice hockey, there is no such thing as a "friendly" game. For over 30 years, the U.S. and Canada have been the top two teams in the sport. Since women's hockey joined the Olympics in 1998, these two rivals have fought for almost every gold medal. When one team loses, the players spend the next four years training to take the trophy back. High school hockey rivalries are equally intense. For Maya Fanelli, a high school hockey player, the biggest challenge is playing against East Catholic. "The team feels different when that game is on the calendar," Fanelli said. "When I see them on the schedule, my team's mindset changes from 'we want to win' to 'we need to win.'” Whether at the Olympics or a local rink, beating a rival remains the ultimate goal. Because these are the two best teams in the world, everyone knew the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan would be a hard-fought battle. The players competed with immense focus and strength, making it the most physical matchup in the sport. The game was a thriller that pushed into overtime. The U.S. was trailing 1-0 until captain Hilary Knight scored late in the game to tie it. In overtime, defender Megan Keller scored the "golden goal" to secure a 2-1 victory. This comeback showed that the U.S. team never gives up, even under high pressure. Many fans in the United States woke up early to watch the record-breaking broadcast. According to Nielsen, it was the most-watched sporting event in U.S. history with a start time before 9 a.m. Eastern time. The 2026 U.S. team featured a mix of young stars and veterans. Knight, playing in her fifth Olympics, broke the record for the most points ever scored by an American. While the offense was productive, the defense was also stellar. Goalie Aerin Frankel set a new record with three shutouts. Experts believe this roster is the best U.S. women’s hockey team to ever play the game. Their matchups are typically decided by a single goal; in a rivalry this evenly matched, a blowout is nearly impossible. This win sent a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. had spent the last four years training specifically to reclaim its spot as the best team on Earth. While the whole team played well, the star was 23-year-old defender Caroline Harvey. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her skill on both sides of the ice. "We’re confident," Harvey said. "We’re going to go back and tear it up." Inspired by players like Harvey, Wethersfield High School student Fanelli is preparing for her own jump to college hockey next season. "Seeing the women's team win gold at the Olympics motivates me to keep working hard to reach my goals," Fanelli said. She noted that the "reward of winning" and the friendships at the rink are what keep her coming back every day.  By Janelle Trujillo and Ashlynn Vernile '26
SAT day approaches on April 22; the time to prepare is now. High school juniors are looking everywhere for help, and we are here to provide a guide on where to look. If you're still wondering what the SAT even is, essentially it is a standardized measurement of your college reading, writing, and math readiness. While submitting scores has become optional in recent years, some universities are again making the SAT a requirement. Universities are looking for a clear way to compare students from hundreds of different backgrounds. A strong SAT score will help you stand out during the college process. Understanding the SAT and its importance is the first step; the second is studying the material through a dedicated routine. Studying does not stop at school. From now until April 22, make it a habit to practice outside of classes. We recommend creating a consistent study routine outside of school hours and visiting sites like khanacademy.org and bluebook.collegeboard.com for tips and practice quizzes. Don’t sleep on the variety of resources here at Wethersfield High School. Between expert teachers and seniors who have already cleared the test, your support system is here. To help you navigate the final stretch, we sat down with WHS teachers and students to gather their best tips. English Strategy Jeffrey Roets, an English 11 teacher for both honors and Level I students, said, "Read the questions carefully, go with your gut, and don’t second-guess. Get a good night’s sleep and come in with the mindset: ‘I’m going to do as well as I can today.’" Roets also mentioned that teachers like Mrs. McKenna have spent time looking over pretesting scores to see where students need the most help, making prep more personalized. Math Strategy Jennifer Kumnick, the Math Department lead and a teacher at WHS, said, “Now is a good time to start—a little bit of time each day for a lot of weeks leading up to it. It is much better than cramming it. Cramming is the most popular studying habit that I would not recommend. You want to make sure you are really understanding and not just practicing problems.” Senior Success If you're still wondering if online testing and studying is worth it, senior Ellijona Advemtaj is a perfect example of success. "Focus on online sources—they’re more efficient," she said. "By using Khan Academy, my score went up by 200 points." Junior Advice Junior Delonnie Williams has spent a lot of time outside of class prepping for the SAT. When asked for advice for her classmates, she said, "Finish schoolwork during the day to save your evenings for prep. Keep sessions to about an hour; if you go too long without a break, it becomes too stressful." The SAT is one test in your academic career, but preparing for your future is crucial. Free online tools are accessible on your Chromebook, and WHS staff are available for tutoring or extra help sessions. WHS Blueprint Checklist
 By Emily Beaupre and Sara Beaupre '26
The number of movies about high school is astonishing: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “The Half of It,” “Mean Girls” — and that doesn’t even scratch the surface. The question is: What are the best movies to see before leaving your high school career behind? Which ones best capture the high school experience? The thing is, high school’s different for everyone. However, there’s a universal feeling all students get during their last year. That’s the time you realize, this is it. People will go to a college down the street or a university across the ocean. Maybe they’ll join the armed forces, learn a trade, get a job, or take a year to travel. Everyone’s lives will change when they walk across the stage. So in high school, it’s important to take some time to reflect. These are some movies that Wethersfield High School teachers recommend as the movies to watch before you graduate. High school movies are important for both adults and current high school students. For adults, they transport them back in time. For high school students, it allows them to see that their own problems, as difficult as they might be at that moment, aren’t the end of the world. There are a lot of options. Here are some of the movies Marc Pfister, a WHS film teacher, picks. On second reference, Pfister suggests the 2010 comedy/romance “Easy A,” where a girl spreads a rumor about herself to see how people react. Then there’s the 1985 classic “The Breakfast Club,” which showcases five kids from different cliques in detention trying to figure themselves out. A more recent 2016 suggestion was “The Edge of Seventeen,” which shows how a teenager deals with a social crisis and gives a look at the many different relationships throughout high school. Our WHS film teacher, Siobhan DeGray also recommends “The Edge of Seventeen,” stating it’s a very good, kind of recent film that applies to high schoolers today and in the past. DeGray said that one of the reasons she loves the movie so much is because adults watching know that it’s not the end of the world. She feels like to kids, when something happens in their social world, they really feel like life is over, and this movie very beautifully demonstrates that that is not the case. High school is full of crazy days that you think are the worst in your life, but Pfister brings up a very good point: “When you’re a teenager you don’t see how things are going to change, obviously, right? None of us know the future. But what typically changes universally, it happens to everybody… you grow up and get older and you then realize things about when you were a teenager that you thought were really important, that really aren’t”. These movies show all of that. They show the high school experience, and that’s why they are so important to see. Most high school experiences are universal, and “they help us start conversations about things that perhaps we’re not really sure how we would start on our own… I think that’s a really great superpower that art has,” DeGray says. In the end, watch the movies. They will bring laughter and maybe tears, but overall, these movies will show truths teens probably won’t find on their own.  2026 WHS DECA at the Aqua Turf to compete in the state competition. By Adeena Aijaz '28
The Distributive Education Clubs of America, better known as DECA, is a business organization with chapters located throughout the world. Wethersfield High School is lucky enough to have a chapter right here on campus. As DECA advisor Heather Sweeney tells students interested in joining the competitive club, she believes DECA helps students in “learning social skills and different aspects outside of the classroom”. DECA serves as a gateway for teenagers to discover how to apply their education to the real world. Current members displayed those skills while competing in the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) this past week. Members traveled to the Aqua Turf Club to compete for a spot at the main event of the year: the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). All members spend months of their personal time crafting presentations for their chosen events, hoping to land in the top three and earn a ticket to ICDC. DECA competitions cover many categories focusing on the core of business, including marketing, innovation and business plans. These are presented in different ways; some require an exam, while others are "role-plays" where students are given a scenario on the spot and have 10 minutes to prepare. However, the most prevalent method is the classic presentation using a creative slideshow or poster board. Over the course of the 12-hour event, members presented the hard work they have been developing since September. During the awards ceremony, students finally found out if they qualified for internationals. This year, seniors Philip and Isabella Korzinski placed first in their respective category, and senior Jessica Basroon placed third, earning them all a spot at ICDC in Atlanta. Furthermore, through the Wethersfield DECA leaders program, two more students will be chosen to attend. “I would say presentation skills,” said co-presidents and seniors Ari Nash and Paxton Smith when asked about the most important attribute of the club. DECA competitions embody this, as every event requires presenting in front of a judge. Sweeney added that confidence is vital and makes DECA the important organization it is. Joining DECA is highly recommended for every Wethersfield High School Eagle. Whether it is to improve presentation skills, gain confidence or expand on skills outside of math, science and history, the club pushes students to their limits. As the DECA slogan promotes this year, “Go the Extra.” If you are interested in joining, visit Sweeney in Room 217; meetings are held every Monday. Congratulations to all members on a great season!  By Norah Majewski '26
Every week since December, the Newington ice hockey rink has filled with excited parents and students to watch the Wethersfield Eagles boys' ice hockey team. Led by coaches Dennis Tulimiri, Eric Fannelli, Nick Rouquie and Kevin Pocaccini, the team's season has been impressive, with an 11-7-1 record. In their most recent win against East Catholic High School, the Eagles won 2-1 with goals from Jack Leahy and Jackson Faber, along with an outstanding 51-save game from junior Nathan Rydecki. This was a major confidence boost as Wethersfield picked up another conference win. A few other notable games this season included a big win against Farmington Valley in overtime, with the winning goal scored by senior captain Nick Socha. Additionally, on Jan. 31, the team held a successful charity game to raise awareness for mental health. They won against Glastonbury 4-3. Senior defenseman Reid Parker describes the season so far as "going good and we’ve been playing well recently. I’m hoping that we can make it into the CCCs". However, now entering the postseason, how are these athletes maintaining motivation to finish the season strong? As the team prepares for states, another senior defenseman, Dylan Cyr, says the team is preparing by "focusing on getting as many wins as possible". "The more points we have from wins, the better we’ll place in the standings," Cyr said. Their first state game will be at Newington Ice Arena on Tuesday, March 10, against Daniel Hand. Come out and support our Eagles as they try to make a final postseason push.  by Rocco Colon '26
More than one-third of U.S. teenagers work a part-time job during their high school years. This gives students real-world skills that help them get jobs in the future. It is important for kids to have a job while they go to school. One reason for them to have a job is because it provides them with money. According to Mrs. Bonfiglio, “Students today spend a lot of excess money on wasteful things such as drinks from Starbucks and Dunkin. They need to work to balance these habits.” In addition, having a job teaches kids to be responsible. They learn how to manage their time. It is important to balance schoolwork, working and having fun. Mrs. Lauren Bonfiglio, a teacher at Wethersfield High School, said, “When kids have too much time on their hands, they can get into trouble. It is critical for them to learn to balance a job with getting their school work done so when they go off to the real world they will have better skills.” Although having a job can be nice, you need to find a balance for work and school because both can have their own stresses. That's why for me working on the weekends helps a lot because I focus on school during the week and then work on the weekend. I highly advise figuring out what works for you. Everyone is different. A very helpful person I’ve talked to is Mark Danaher; he is a career counselor and a teacher at Wethersfield High School. I highly recommend taking his internship class. It helped me greatly. Having a job is important, but it's more important to try and do something that suits you, so definitely look for jobs that interest you. You may not always get the job, but “Every no is an eventual yes,” says Rocco Colon. So keep going and apply everywhere. Learn how to interview and fill out your resume so employers are more likely to hire you. I have friends that work at a Fun City trampoline park and they told me it's a great experience. Overall, it's entirely up to you, but making some money while in high school wouldn't hurt, and it would get you out of having to do chores for money or asking mom and dad for money to do something. Having your own money feels good. You earned it and worked for it, so it not only teaches responsibility but it also rewards you. It is important to remember to find a job that works for you and don't let your job run all over you. You are a full-time high school student and you have schoolwork to do, so find that balance!  By Cristina Pikos and Jazz-Lyn Roberts '26
At Wethersfield High School, faculty members and students are debating the role of phones in school. It is one of the most important discussions in the building. The policy states that when in classes, students’ phones should be placed in a box in a slot with their respective number. While teachers believe phones are a major distraction that hurts learning and teaching, many students argue they need them for communication, safety in case of an emergency and even schoolwork. According to Vice Principal Ms. Hasler, the cell phone policy was created a couple of years ago when administrators at WHS and other schools throughout Connecticut realized how much time students were spending on their devices. Initially, the governor issued a statement wanting schools to reduce cell phone usage, which led to a press conference at WHS to discuss the policy. While other schools leaned toward Yondr pouches, WHS implemented caddies, eventually leading to phone lockers; if there were ever a need for an evacuation, teachers could grab the portable boxes. When asked about changes noticed since the policy was implemented, Hasler said, “Definitely, I’ve seen an increase in the amount of productivity in classes.” She explains that when she first started, students were often texting and not paying attention, with little communication between peers. Compared to now, there is much more conversation between students and teachers, even in hallways where phones are allowed. “I think this is something that is important not just for schoolwise, but for quality of life-wise,” Hasler said. If a student does not follow the policy, consequences can follow. While there are not many students who cause issues, repetitive behavior can lead to a “cell phone vacation” in the office vault until the end of the day. Continued violations can result in detention or even in-school suspension. Hasler says there are currently no plans to change the policy, although a complete ban on cell phones in schools was recently brought to the legislature. “The cell phone policy affects the classroom in a positive way,” said teacher Mrs. Castellanos. Although it takes time at the beginning of class for students to put their phones up, she finds it worth it because students are not distracted. Before the policy, she felt like she was fighting a losing battle competing with phones for students’ attention. Recently, she has noticed students using Chromebooks to substitute for their phones, but she noted they are easier to monitor. Castellanos believes students spend so much time on Chromebooks and cell phones that taking a break can be beneficial. She compares school to a job, saying that at work you cannot be on your phone and students should learn responsibility. In the past, when students were given the opportunity to use their phones responsibly, many took advantage by playing games, watching TV and scrolling on TikTok, which puts their education at risk.  Our writers wanted to show us what they looked like during their Grade 9 years; starting with senior Alex Harrison. By Leo Escudero and Alex Harrison '26 Eighth-grade night was held Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Wethersfield High School. With a new wave of freshmen arriving next fall, many are likely nervous about the changes and the new chapter they are starting. Being over halfway through the school year, we interviewed current students to see how they have changed and what advice they can offer incoming ninth graders. To start, we interviewed juniors to see what they have done differently since their freshman year. “From my freshman year to my junior year, I’ve learned to not let homework assignments build up," said track runner Sam Martin. "It affects your grades significantly, even if you do well on tests and in-school assignments.” DECA captain and varsity swimmer Ephram Powers added, “Don’t take more than one study hall per year because you will want to be able to stack them up by your senior year.” There are roughly 200 to 300 new freshmen every year. Being the new group in the building can be nerve-wracking. You have new stresses, like 18-year-old seniors with full beards who are over 6 feet tall, as well as having to genuinely worry about your GPA. On top of all this, you have schedule changes, a brand-new building to figure out and the loss of the "color teams" from middle school. Personally, I remember as a freshman wanting to fit in and not seem like the odd one out.  Senior Leo Escudero as a 9th grader The key to not being the "odd kid" is a simple list of dos and don'ts.
First, do not use a backpack with wheels. You will find it impossible to navigate the crowded WHS stairwells, and you’ll likely end up knocking people over. Second, bring deodorant to school—especially after gym class. You don’t want to be the reason the hallway stinks. Third, stop wearing pajama pants every day. This is high school; you want to wear real clothes and not look like you just crawled out of a 20-hour slumber. Most importantly, make sure you get to school and your classes on time. You do not want to have to retake a class, file a credit appeal or spend your summer in a classroom while everyone else is at the beach. To the upcoming freshmen: We wish you the best of luck. In all seriousness, high school is stressful when you first start, but we have faith in you. Don’t be lazy or give your teachers a hard time. Just try to fly through your classes and get good grades. High school is, as they say, "some of the most fun years of your life," so enjoy them as you go. |
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