The daunting nature of senior year
By Ethan Walshe Editor-In-Chief Three-quarters. I am at this point three-quarters done with my high school career. It seems astounding; I remember my first day here as if it were yesterday. But the fact of the matter is that for the class of 2014 there is still a year left to go. Senior year can seem daunting. The notion of applying to college is so alarming for me right now that I scarcely believe that it is a quickly approaching reality. But before I go gallivanting off to wherever it is that I may go, I have another year of…
Finding a voice
By Anastasha Echavarri News Editor After three years of writing, interviewing, editing and storytelling, I am saddened by the thought that my career as a journalist at Westford Academy has come to an end. My experience as a staff writer and editor has not only instilled in me confidence in my writing abilities, but it has also given me confidence in myself, a gift that I intend to carry with me throughout college and the years that follow. The short four years that I attended WA has changed me in a profound way. Coming to this school has not only…
Living la vida Española
By Ethan Walshe Editor-in-Chief Back in October, a student from Zaragoza, Spain came and stayed in my home here in Westford as part of an exchange program. Between April 6 and 20, I, along with 19 other Westford Academy students and three members of the WA faculty journeyed to Spain to execute the second half of the exchange experience. For many people, this was their first trip overseas. However, this was certainly not my first time abroad. I have spent many a vacation in Europe, as most of my family lives in Ireland. In fact, I went to Spain for…
Showcase: free time not down time
By Kyle Auger Sports Editor As you may know, today Westford Academy hosted its first ever “Student Showcase”, two free periods to let students unwind and decompress from the stressful first three quarters of the year. However, this does not quite sit well with me. Are the last two blocks on the Friday before vacation really the fever pitch of student stress? Clearly not, so it seems it will really not serve any purpose except letting students roam around for two hours. This glorified “field day” will have activities like ping-pong, student-run yoga, a multimedia presentation, as well as a…
Opinion: Cash for K9
By Ethan Walshe Editor-in-Chief Safety has become the talk of the town since December. New measures have been introduced at every school and now, the Westford Police Department is holding a fundraiser to raise money to acquire a new camera and mounting system for the K-9 unit. The project is set to cost approximately $15,000 and is being spearheaded by the police department, Westford Academy business teacher Christine Cournoyer, and Ginni Burgoyne. The full text of the proposal can be read here. I understand that safety is important, but is this really the best use of $15,000 of people’s money, mounting…
Call for reform on gun control
By Kyle Auger Sports Editor Sixty-one. In the past thirty years, there have been sixty-one mass murders with guns in the United States. Of the twenty-five worst mass shootings of the last fifty years, fifteen of them were on American soil; the second place nation had two. If those numbers do not incur motivation to change legislation, I’m not sure what will. People do have rights, and they should be able to defend themselves, but limits to what kind of guns people can own and how they can obtain them is the best solution in my opinion. This debate has…
A bullet in our rights
By Abby Cianciolo Photography Editor We’ve heard our parents and grandparents say it time and time again, that the world is a much different place from when they were growing up. After the events at Sandy Hook Elementary, it can be seen that this has never been more true. What is not agreed upon is that taking away different types of guns and high capacity magazines will keep our society safer. This argument goes completely against the United States Constitution, which states that an individual’s right to keep and bear arms will not be infringed. Even so, many politicians…
Opinion: How the media covers tragedies
By Ethan Walshe Editor-in-Chief We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the horrendous tragedy that happened a week ago today in Newtown, Connecticut, as has every other news source in the country. And that’s precisely what this is about: How does the media cover a tragedy? What do they do to get the “exclusives” or the best angles for any given story? But above all else, when the media covers a tragedy, what is their role? What kind of ethics are involved? These are all questions that have been running through my head over the past week. To be…
Ghostwriter Staff’s top Christmas movie picks
By Alok Ganguly Staff Writer For years, the holiday season has entertained thousands of families with festive-themed movies. As with every year, several great classic movies are perfect for the season. Here are some suggestions to make sure that you spend your Christmas entertained with your family. These movies are the favorites of the Ghostwriter Staff ranking from 1-10. 10. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) In this classic black-and-white movie, an angel visits the businessman who is unhappy with life during the Christmas season. The angel then shows him what the world would have been like if he had never…
Opinion: The Dance Debacle
By Ethan Walshe Editor-in-Chief As you know by this stage, the annual Halloween dance that was scheduled for Saturday, October 27, was cancelled due to a lack of interest – unconfirmed reports say that only seventeen tickets were sold. This is just the latest in a growing trend of dance cancellations at Westford Academy following last year’s controversial grinding rule. The Welcome Back Dance that opened the 2012-13 school year saw an attendance of around twenty people. Last year’s Halloween dance, though 350 tickets were sold, was cancelled after no one wanted to go following a change of date due…
Was Halo 4 worth the wait?
By Alok Ganguly Staff Writer On November 6, 2012, the same day as the election, Halo 4 was released. Halo 4 was a game developed by 343 industries, which is an Xbox 360 exclusive. Its predecessors had made a great name in the world of gaming, and Halo 4 is the next game in the series. The question is, does it live up to the other games in the series? Halo 4 has many different ways to play. There is a campaign, or story mode, a cooperative multiplayer called Spartan Ops, and a competitive multiplayer mode with four different branches….
Opinion: Diwali celebration long overdue
By Anastasha Echavarri News Editor Several families and friends are gathered and celebrate a special occasion to honor their religion. Lamps known as diyas are lit all around the house and fireworks are setting off outside. Families go to pray at temples and special foods are prepared. The celebration just described is known as Diwali and is celebrated by all Hindus. Diwali is one of the most important Hindu holidays of the year, and it is known as the “Festival of Lights”. However, several Hindus cannot celebrate this holiday to the extent that they would like to. Imagine that Christmas had to…
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