Eight times each year, the members of Kelly Hamburger and Jacob Arbor’s newspaper club at Beacon High School publish Breaking Beacon, the first student-run publication at the school in more than 30 years. Here, we share excerpts from the November and December issues.
Editors-in-chief: Annabelle Notarthomas, Kayla Selander. Writers: Maddy Abrahamson, Nadeen Ahmed, Kiera D’Ippolito, Marisah George, Everly Jordan, Ela Lyons, Mikaela Sanchez, Liliana Rybak, Eliza Verdichizzi, Addison Zittel. Photographer: Aron Li
The Impact of No Phones in Class
By Marisah George
We’re all familiar with the new cellphone policy. It’s no surprise to be asked to place our phones in our class pouches; in fact, it’s become a habit by now. But how did this policy come about? Whose decision was it? And what do students in our school think about it, whether it be the freshmen experiencing this in their first year or the juniors adjusting to the new change?
Over the summer, there was discussion by Gov. Kathy Hochul about placing a ban on phones in school. She held multiple meetings with superintendents around the state, discussing the policy, saying: “We can help our young people succeed in the classroom by ensuring they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling.” She continued to mull over the idea of an official law banning phones but has since left the specifics to schools.
On Aug. 20, a superintendent update was sent, which put the phone policy in place. Dr. Landahl shared in the update: “Personal electronic devices will be restricted from individual classrooms at Beacon High School and Rombout Middle School.” As we all know, this has been implemented via pouches.
This huge change brought reactions from the students. Piper Bruno, a junior, was initially annoyed by the policy, but since then, her opinion has changed. She shared that it’s helped her improve her grades given the minimization of distractions. She acknowledges that the policy has increased socializing among students. While one may think reactions would differ between classes, there wasn’t a significant difference. Hayden Wilson, a freshman, also had a negative initial reaction, saying she was upset. However, over the past month, her feelings have changed, stating that she’s “glad to have it” and has been doing “better work.”
In a survey of 44 students, the consensus of thoughts at the beginning of the school year was negative: 60.5 percent said they didn’t like it and deemed it unnecessary. However, as of Oct. 4, that number has decreased to 53.5 percent, with indifference coming in at 37.2 percent. Some students, while disagreeing with the policy, said it helped with screen time and attentiveness.
Students have also proposed alternative ideas, such as allowing students to have their phones in their backpacks but being stricter if they use them, like docking points or having them taken away. What were your initial thoughts on the policy? What are your thoughts on the policy now?
Cracked Up
By Nadeen Ahmed
Beacon High School’s tennis courts suffer from major cracks that run from one end to the other. This can affect tennis players for various reasons: It can change the path of the ball if it lands on a crack, courts can become unusable due to weeds growing from them, and it could pose a danger to people playing on the courts.
Students from the girls’ tennis team were asked about their views on the cracks. Freshman Claire Cumming stated: “They’re irritating because plants grow out of them, and you can trip and fall.” Some described how it can affect their play. Freshman Maysie Doyle said: “Occasionally, balls will land in the cracks and go in a crazy direction.” Junior Isabella Galbo noted she has lost points because of this.
Cumming stated that she’d almost sprained her ankle multiple times while doing laps around the courts.” She feels that they are “unsafe and also just ugly.”
Beacon High School’s tennis teams are proud of their eight courts, which is more than any school they play. However, it’s difficult to showcase them if they can’t all be used. While weeds have been less of an issue this year, problems can still escalate, making some courts unusable.
Perhaps the tennis courts should be considered this year while the Board of Education makes decisions about the budget. Or maybe, because the courts are open to the public, this should be taken up with the city.
Trading Countries
By Annabelle Notarthomas
Have you ever wondered what daily life is like in a different country? For the third consecutive year, students at Beacon High School had the chance to experience this firsthand through an exchange program with the Max Born Gymnasium secondary school in Germering, Germany.
In October, BHS sophomores hosted their German counterparts for two weeks, giving them a glimpse into U.S. culture. The visiting students experienced things that many Americans take for granted, such as riding school buses, celebrating Halloween (American style), and witnessing breathtaking skyscrapers.
In June, the Beacon hosts will become the guests in Germering for two weeks. They will experience the German school systems and culture and take visits to Neuschwanstein Castle (the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle) and Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp, which now is a museum dedicated to history and education.
Max Born Gymnasium School connected with our community through DocuWare, a software company that originated in Germering and opened its first North American office in Beacon in 2023.
While families cover the cost of travel, participants have opportunities to fundraise and apply for financial assistance to help offset expenses. Although the program primarily involves sophomores, exceptions have been made for students in other grade levels.
The Beacon Players Do It Again
By Kiera D’Ippolito
The Beacon Players put on yet another fantastic show on Nov. 8-10 with Man of La Mancha. The story follows Don Miguel de Cervantes (junior Jonah Espinosa) and his servant (senior Evelynn Moreno), who are imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition. Fellow prisoners The Governor (senior Messiah Gardner) and The Duke (sophomore Atlas Baltz) hold mock trials for Cervantes to determine who will get the contents of his trunk.
Cervantes pleads guilty to the charges but, as his defense, he tells his story to the prisoners through a dramatic performance, using props and costumes from his trunk. He recounts the tale of Alonso Quijano, a wealthy man who goes mad after reading too many books about knights and transforms into the Knight-Errant, Don Quixote. Cervantes plays the role of Quixote, with his servant taking on the role of Quixote’s squire, Sancho, as other prisoners assume various parts of the story.
Everything about this production was extraordinary — from the acting, singing and orchestra to the set design. Praise is due to all the hardworking people who brought this show to life, including the cast, crew, orchestra members and advisors who made it all possible. Bravo!
Renovated and Ready to Run
By Annabelle Notarthomas
The Beacon City School District’s track and Hammond Field underwent a much-needed renovation over the summer of 2024. In addition to resurfacing the track, the jumps and field event structures were updated. The track closed on May 20 with hopes of reopening before cross-country practice began on Aug. 26, but it officially opened on Sept. 20. The track is open to the public.
Club Highlight: Coolin’ Out
Coolin’ Out is an afterschool club where students can be with friends, play games, do homework, make TikTok videos, draw, dance, talk, or just hang out. We meet every Wednesday in the cafeteria at 2:15 p.m. with Ms. Driscoll.
Did You Know?
By Nadeen Ahmed
Ms. Fisher was born in Milwaukee but moved to Peekskill in third grade. The Peekskill kids laughed when she asked to use the “bubbler.” In the Midwest, a bubbler is a water fountain.
Mr. Haughie worked at Walt Disney World before becoming a teacher (not as a character!).
Ms. Veltri went to SUNY Purchase to study physical therapy but switched to accounting at WCC in her sophomore year. She later changed to teaching at New Paltz (undergrad) and UAlbany (grad).
Mrs. Laurelli worked for AMC Networks before becoming a teacher.
Mrs. Ryan-Ferry has performed in arenas like Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, Barclays Center and Gillette Stadium (hooray for pep bands!).
Ms. Alvarez (ELA teacher) was on a dance team in college for four years.
Ms. Driscoll has hiked all the Catskill peaks with her husband, which earned her the 3500 Club official patch last autumn.
Mrs. Hoben was a ballet dancer in New York City and still dances, acts and sings in community theater musicals and professionally with a murder-mystery theater company.
Boo Bash Concert
By Eliza Verdichizzi
The Boo Bash was certainly a spectacular experience, held on Sept. 29 in the cafeteria. Many students participated, with at least 13 performances.
Jacob Signorelli served as the MC and introduced each performer. He kicked off the night by introducing senior Messiah Gardener, who sang “Fly Me to the Moon.” Evelyn Moreno sang while playing her acoustic guitar. Atlas Baltz performed on ukulele. Charlie Klein and Molly Lyons sang a duet of “Misty,” with Charlie playing the piano. Charlie also performed a solo. Briana Perez-Sample delivered an inspiring original poem, “Am I Good Enough?” Skylar Clair played the piano, as did Alex Browning (Liebestraum No. 3, by Liszt). Ayden Hooten sang and played guitar (“I Am Falling for You”).
Dakota Barden sang “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” Eliza Verdichizzi performed “Wildflower,” by Billie Eilish, on guitar. Everyone’s favorite janitor, Figs, performed poetry and percussion. Desirae Smith sang along with karaoke. And, finally, the band Trip Sitter performed songs by Joy Division and Foo Fighters (“I’ll Stick Around”).
