Walpole High School TV Studio Undergoes Significant Transformation
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whstherebellion.com facebook.com/therebellion twitter.com/whstherebellion instagram: whstherebellion Volume XVIII, issue I NON PROFIT ORG. NON PROFIT WALPOLE, MA 02081 MA WALPOLE, U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO.8 PERMIT PAID The Rebellion October 2015 Walpole High School Dowd tackles chemical health violations through greater communication Photo/ Julia Adams one thing has remained consistent: the said Mr. Dowd. While Dowd´s separate mandatory Chemical Health Night. talks require more time and effort on his For years, students interested in play- part than the single event, “it’s some- ing a sport packed into the gym with thing I’m happy to do,¨ Dowd said. their parents each fall to hear a lengthy Additionally, Mr. Dowd has coined presentation about drinking, drug use, the term “Seventh Period” to make and staying safe. Speakers like ex-Pa- the topic of teen drinking easier to triots player Anthony Collins in 2014 discuss and understand. In a student and ex-Celtics player Chris Herron athlete’s life, periods one through five in 2012 shared the devastating conse- are the five school days. Period six is quences of drugs in their athletic lives. their sport. “You need to pass Period “One of the changes I’ve made Seven, which is going out on Friday is not necessarily doing a chemi- and Saturday night and doing the right cal health night,” said Coach Dowd, things,” Dowd said, “That’s kind of the “It’s good to hear people talk but motto that we’ve adopted for this year.” ABOVE: Mr. Dowd speaks to team captains I think the message was lost.” To kickstart his Seventh Period con- about school and athletic issues. He plans to Instead of the one mandatory Sep- cept, Mr. Dowd organized members meet with captains monthly. tember presentation, Dowd has or- of the football team to explain the ganized separate team meetings dur- concept in a commercial for the morn- ing which he spoke to each fall team ing news. Dowd also plans to meet By Anna Van der Linden This year, Athletic Director Ron about chemical health. He also plans with the captains of each sport once a Class of 2016 Dowd has a new plan to tackle to hold similar meetings for the win- month to strengthen his relationship the chemical health problem and ter and spring teams later in the year. with the teams. During the first meet- During the 2014-2015 school year, Wal- bring our violation numbers down. “They have the same theme, the ing on September 29, the group dis- pole High School had over 50 chemi- “This is a we problem, not same majority,” Dowd said, “but I cussed how to distance themselves cal health violations by athletes. In the just a student problem. It’s all can kind of tailor it to each individu- from the Confederate flag. The next entire Bay State League, there were of us together,” said Dowd. al group in sports.” With these indi- meeting on October 13 will center over 90 reported violations by athletes, The punishment for a first chemical vidualized talks, Dowd has a better around how to increase school spirit. although two athletic directors did not health offense for an athlete is a sus- chance of connecting with the athletes. Overall, this year’s athletic depart- share their town’s data. These incidents pension from 25% of his or her games. Mr. Dowd talked to athletic directors ment and sports teams will have much in Walpole made up a clear major- For second and further violations, from other schools in his formation of greater communication to close the ity of these reported league incidents. the game suspension can reach up to the new chemical health strategy. ¨Some gap between adults and athletes. “The One major consequence of this data is 60%. These suspension rules change were doing a big chemical health night, next step is to continue to talk about a large amount of athletic suspensions. every few years in the handbook, but some were having it three times a year,¨ it, to reach out to people,” said Dowd. Walpole High School TV Studio undergoes significant transformation By Julia Sandquist Photo/ Mandy Scully technology and broadcasting morning Class of 2016 announcements. Another challenge for the studio this year is the increasing When students walked into the Wal- class size; Mr. O’Farrell now teaches pole High TV production classroom 5 classes with 20-24 kids in each, dou- for the first time this year, they noticed bling the size of classes last year. These something glaringly different: the old statistics reveal that enthusiasm for TV TV room, which functioned as both production is evident among the stu- a classroom and studio in one room, dent body, but it will be a challenge for had completely disappeared. In its Mr. O’Farrell to give students the same place was a new renovated studio with individualized attention as last year. three rooms featuring a state of the art “The renovation of the studio is control center, a new carbonite model a step in the right direction for our video switcher, a PreSonus 32 chan- school system. The art of television nel digital board, and a green screen. ABOVE: Junior Justin Walsh demonstrates production allows students to find In 2013, Selectmen cut off Walpole how to work the equipment in the new control relief from their largely academic center in the TV studio. Community Television’s (WCTV) workload and exercise their indi- revenue from Comcast and Verizon viduality,” said senior Matt Moriarty. because the station refused to make for the WCTV workers who are now their favorite songs and record their mu- WCTV’s money will allow the TV changes in its management of the working at the school with students. sic, and it allows students to feature ad- studio to purchase more new equip- money, and they suspected that WCTV TV Production teacher Peter O’Farrell ditional segments, such as weather and ment to increasingly improve its workers were using the money for said, “It has been fantastic to be able sports, on the morning announcements. quality and efficiency. For example, personal profit. For WCTV to sur- to work with the WCTV workers be- “I have begun planning a new Mr. O’Farrell plans to purchase a vive, it had to merge with Walpole cause they have the ability to teach the sports show to be played during the drone that can film sports games High school’s Television studio, and students the complex art form of TV Rebel Report in the morning. I will and practices from an aerial angle. the remainder of its funds funded production, which allows the students’ provide coverage of all the week’s “Every time a student or teacher sets the studio’s $300,000 renovation. skills to extend beyond the technical as- sports and conduct interviews with foot in the new studio for the first time, The funds have allowed TV production pect of it.” Working with town workers sports captains and prominent play- they are amazed at the transformation teacher Mr. O’Farrell and WCTV work- will also give students more internship ers. None of this would have been that has occurred,” said Mr. O’Farrell. ers to equip the new studio with profes- and job opportunities outside of school. possible without the new equip- “My main goal this year is for kids to sional equipment. The brand new con- Mr. O’Farrell urges students to take ment,” said senior Loveindjy Salvant. use their talents to develop the pro- trol center, which came with a 100,000 initiative to put together their own news As expected, there have been diffi- gram into something bigger and better: price tag, is the prized possession of the stories. The new audio board creates culties with the new studio, including the success of the new studio depends new studio. It also features new offices opportunities for student bands to play figuring out how to operate the new on student initiative and creativity.” Photo/ Kaitlin Brown Photo/ Ellie Kalemkeridis New Staff p. 2 Confederate Flag p. 4-5 Best of Summer p. 6 Field Hockey p.7 Page 2 The Rebellion OCTOBER 2015 News Walpole High School welcomes new staff Photo/ Kaitlin Brown Tobey takes over as bey and her students are embracing her new role. “We will definitely miss Mrs. Tobey in the class- Assistant Principal room, but we know that she will do great things By Melanie Weber in administration,” said junior Chris Donnelly. Class of 2017 Tobey has become occupied with her many re- sponsibilities around the school, such as handling When asked what she hopes to achieve as assis- student discipline, conducting parent conference tant principal at Walpole High School, Lee Tobey meetings, planning school improvements, and ob- facetiously responded “total world domination.” On serving teachers in the classroom. “Mr. Hand and a more serious note, she stated that her true mission I take care of all of the things that are taken for is to make a significant impact on students’ lives. granted—both the good and the bad,” said Tobey. Following Edward Connor’s departure to be- Along with the respect Tobey offers to every student, she also brings a sense of humor to administration. come Bird Middle School’s Assistant Princi- ABOVE: Lee Tobey is settling into pal last year, Superintendent Lincoln Lynch her new role as assistant principal. When asked what her favorite part about the job was, appointed Tobey as the new vice principal. Tobey responded “the air conditioning.” All jokes Since she was first hired at WHS in July of 2004, To- During her time as a history teacher, Tobey de- aside, she truly enjoys being able to deal with stu- bey has had a knack for making students feel comfort- veloped individual relationships with each of her dents on different levels.