New law stops some but most students still text and drive

By Paul Hogan

Almost 90% of students who text and drive

had close calls and still text.

Senior Brian Steadman remembers the time, a month ago, when he was driving down Carey Avenue to his friend’s house. He was texting the friend about when he would get there when suddenly he caught a view of two mailboxes directly in his path. He thought for that split second how much money it would cost him if he crashed. He slammed the breaks and the cries of a loud screeching noise followed.


“I swerved to the side, almost crashing,” he said. Luckily he missed the mailboxes. Steadman rode off leaving a trail off smoke behind two untouched mailboxes.

Steadman is not the only student texting and driving, despite a new state law designed to stop this habit. According a recent poll by the Devil’s Advocate, more than half of BHS student drivers are still texting and driving since the new law took effect in September.

Athletes hide concussions, foil purpose of new law

By Gabriel Arcaro
A new law passed this summer aims to protect football players and other athletes from concussions; however, this law may not be doing everything it’s intended to do. In interviews with at least a dozen football players this fall, every one admitted to feeling fuzzy or disoriented from hits taken on the field but none had reported it to the coach or trainer, as the new policy requires.



A dozen football players said they kept quiet about head injuries this year. The hockey coach is certain many of his players do the same. Adam Crowley (above) skates against Reading.



Do anti-bullying measures make a difference? Students disagree

By Kyla Candelino and Kara Amuzzini

With school leaders waging a multi-pronged anti-bullying campaign this year, students are questioning whether BHS actually has a bullying problem, and if so, whether the new measures are the solution.

In interviews with dozens of students from all grades, the majority said that bullying has not been a major issue since middle school. Some said bullying takes place but it tends to be concentrated on social networking websites such as Facebook, where even the newly beefed-up school policy can’t protect students.

“It’s mainly online,” senior Jessica Giannelli said.

Students want in on Mac lab; librarian defends restrictions

By Mike Grinnell
As students walk the halls, many seem to complain about the library’s new Mac lab. The new, more-than-$2000 computers aren’t the problem, though. The problem is getting to use them.

Some students complain the Mac lab is reserved for classes when no one seems to be using it. When it looks that way, the librarian said it is only because no one has had time to move the sign, or a class is on its way.



“I just need to use the Macs, but she won’t let me,” sophomore Joe Berardi said.

New turf field looks to be a hit for all seasons

By Steve Mattos

Fresh off the new field, Junior wide receiver Bill Murphy kicked off his cleats as conversation erupted about the new turf field that the town of Burlington put in over the summer.

“It was the best turf I’ve ever played on,” he said.

Now buried under layers of snow and ice, the school’s new field and stands were an exciting addition to the football season, and are now an object of anticipation for the spring lacrosse and track & field teams.

More time for lunch, less of the (between classes) crunch

By Helly Soni

The school’s seven-day rotation schedule may be irregular, but the complaints about it fall into a nice, neat pattern. Students as well as teachers seem to hate three things: long periods that are too long, a lunch period that’s too short, and barely enough time to sprint between classes.

Now, a radical scheduling proposal from a group of students aims to cure the ills of the current schedule. The proposal, by students in Ms. Janovitz’s Leadership and Social Change class, is getting serious attention from Principal Larkin, who passed it out at a faculty meeting. It includes

New lunch system gets mixed reviews

By Rythm Gade

Three months into the new lunch system, some students are still grumbling about complications of the card-swipe method of payment but most students seem to be cruising through the lines faster than before...

Laptops for all: teaching tool or whole new distraction?

By Helly Soni

They call them laptops, but here at BHS, if students have them, the convenient devices spend their days in school lockers or at home on desks.

Starting in September of 2011, however, laptops are going to be where they belong...

Plan calls for no math, no English every five days

By Kyla Candelino

School today is a lot like a ranch. The bell rings, and students all move along to their next class, herd-like. They grumble. They complain. But they go along anyway.

It’s what they’re trained to do. It’s all they know...

Principal unblocks Facebook, Youtube

By Jaime Gweshe

Note to sneaky students : there is no need to add the “s” to the web address bar to get around the filter to Facebook and YouTube...

Case in point with Natalie Casey

By Allison Jacobs

The new art gallery outside the cafeteria is finally REALLY open. The founder answers questions.

How did you get the idea?

I noticed there was an empty space next to the school store that wasn’t being used. I’m an art student so immediately I thought this space could be utilized...