The Harbinger

11/06/2024

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2024-25 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

11/05/2024

Algonquin was filled with with costumed students, faculty and staff on Halloween. Check out the big slideshow of images from the day!

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2024-25 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

11/04/2024

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most divisive and high-stakes races in recent history. As America gears up to cast its votes, students at Algonquin, though many ineligible to vote, are weighing in passionately with their views on the candidates and their visions for the future.

A Harbinger survey of 115 students, conducted via Google Forms, from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27, presented questions on who students thought should be the next president of the United States. The mock election showed an overwhelming support for the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris who received 71% of the votes. Republican candidate Donald Trump received 21% with 8% of votes going to third-party candidates.

“[Harris] has stances I agree with relating to LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and abortion rights,” freshman Zephyr Martin said. “I think she is very good at speaking out against issues that she doesn’t agree with, both within and outside of the country.”

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most divisive and high-stakes races in recent history. As America gears up to cast its votes, students at Algonquin, though many ineligible to vote, are weighing in passionately with their views on the candidates and their visions for the...

11/01/2024

The Harbinger editors are getting to work laying out this year's first print issue of the publication's news magazine. They are planning a 44 page issue in full color, but they are still working to raise the funds to make it happen. As of now, they still need to raise about $200 to make their issue 1 dreams come true.

Please consider donating to The Harbinger in support of student journalism. Visit the publication's home page and scroll down to the "Support The Harbinger" box. Every donation of $40 or more comes with a subscription of the print issues mailed to the recipient of your choice.

The official student news site of Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA

11/01/2024

With the 2024 presidential election approaching on Nov. 5, sophomore assistant news editor Arjun Mukherjee and junior assistant opinion editor and politics coordinator Mia Nicosia offer their opinions on both candidates’ policies.

With the 2024 presidential election approaching on Nov. 5, sophomore assistant news editor Arjun Mukherjee and junior assistant opinion editor and politics coordinator Mia Nicosia offer their opinions on both candidates’ policies. Sophomore Arjun Mukherjee: Through her defense of democracy and lov...

10/29/2024

ARHS choral groups performed at "Songs for the People" on Oct. 22. Check out the slideshow of images from the concert.

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2024-25 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

10/22/2024

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2024-25 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

10/22/2024

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2024-25 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

10/21/2024

On Oct. 11, postgraduate Daniel Mondarres received his diploma from the Community Access Program (CAP) with loved ones gathered to show support.

Mondarres has been a part of the Algonquin community since the fall of 2021 and has been a resident of Southborough after graduating from Shrewsbury High School in 2021. In his free time, he enjoys going to the playground, analyzing traffic signs and cooking. Unified Track & Field and Basketball enhanced his time within the school district due to the community it provided.

Principal Sean Bevan kicked the ceremony off by presenting Mondarres with his diploma followed by a heartwarming slideshow of pictures showcasing his time spent at Algonquin. The photos ranged from Mondarres helping prepare school lunches to wearing shirts with various traffic signals. One thing remains constant throughout the images: a smile stretching eye to eye on his face.

“It’s always bittersweet when we do an event for the CAP program because we have grown to know these students really well; we have known them longer than most other students,” Bevan said. “It’s bittersweet to see them go, but it is also exciting to see them transition into a new chapter of their lives.”

On Oct. 11, postgraduate Daniel Mondarres received his diploma from the Community Access Program (CAP) with loved ones gathered to show support. Mondarres has been a part of the Algonquin community since the fall of 2021 and has been a resident of Southborough after graduating from Shrewsbury High S...

10/17/2024

Nearly every day at 2:25 p.m., just five minutes before students head to their afternoon bus, the school intercom chimes and the latest bus delay is announced like clockwork. As a regional school district, students’ distance to ARHS ranges depending on what part of town they live in, with transportation times ranging from a short walk to a 20-minute drive. This leads to a huge need for reliable transportation, which is so far not present.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, there is a severe school bus driver shortage not just in Massachusetts but around the country. This is due to a myriad of factors, and the authors point out how intense frugality and fractionated budgets led to a 21.8% employment decline nationwide from 2009 to 2019 for school bus drivers.

While the bus shortage problem is not as severe in the Northborough-Southborough school system as it is in other districts, it still is a major issue that impacts students throughout the community.

Sophomore Emma Jones said that there were at least three or four times a month where her afternoon bus would arrive around an hour late. For her, the delays were definitely an inconvenience.

Nearly every day at 2:25 p.m., just five minutes before students head to their afternoon bus, the school intercom chimes and the latest bus delay is announced like clockwork. As a regional school district, students’ distance to ARHS ranges depending on what part of town they live in, with transpor...

10/17/2024

It's starting to get chilly and spooky season is upon us. What are students and faculty thinking about fall and Halloween?

“I think I am going to be Rapunzel, but it hasn’t been fully decided. It’s going to be a group costume where we are princesses.”

10/16/2024

Support Algonquin’s award-winning student newspaper with a donation of $40 of more, and we’ll mail this year’s print issues to the recipient of your choice.

Student-journalists are currently hard at work on the next issue, which will report on a variety of topics, including the findings from last year’s Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey along with students' thoughts and reflections on teen drug/alcohol use and mental health. There will also be profiles of students and faculty, sports and arts news, reviews, opinions and much more.

Visit arhsharbinger.com for the latest news and to subscribe!

10/15/2024

The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams ran around Algonquin picking up trash to help the environment and create an enriching experience for the team as a whole.

On Sept. 12, groups of eight cross country runners ran for 30 minutes around Algonquin and its surrounding streets to win a competition of who could collect the most trash; the winners received two bags of candy. Senior captain Karma Bebawy brought this idea to the team, and alongside senior captain Alex Shaw, they followed through with this environmental run.

The event was smooth sailing, and there weren’t many bumps in the road.

“The ex*****on of the fundraiser went a lot smoother than I thought it would,” Shaw said. “There was no miscommunication on anything. When the day came, we got everything done and everyone was situated in their groups.”

The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams ran around Algonquin picking up trash to help the environment and create an enriching experience for the team as a whole. On Sept. 12, groups of eight cross country runners ran for 30 minutes around Algonquin and its surrounding streets to win a competiti...

10/15/2024

Photos of the action from the ARHS football team's most recent win.

A donation of $40 or more includes a subscription to the 2023-24 print issues of The Harbinger. We will mail a copy of our fall, winter, spring and graduation issues to the recipient of your choice. Your donation supports the student journalists of Algonquin Regional High School and allows our extra...

10/15/2024

How's term one going for ARHS students and staff? Read our most recent Roving Reporter to find out!

“Mr. Bevan’s initiative of community and school spirit. It has been missing from Algonquin. There is a lot to be proud of.”

10/11/2024

The girls’ field hockey team has continuously succeeded, opening their season with a 12-game winning streak.

As the defending Midland Wachusett A-League champions, the girls’ field hockey team has begun their season with an impressive 12-1-1 record. Coached by Daniel Welty, the team has witnessed a parade of victories. Welty credits their wins to a strong batch of players.

“The team’s highly skilled,” Welty said. “You’ve also got people stepping up in their roles this year that are excelling too, so that’s always a good thing.”

The skill of the entire team has benefitted from mass improvement and key players.

“It’s been great to see players step it up like [junior] Abi Southey stepping on at midfield and [senior] Laney Halsey stepping up as a midfielder as well,” Welty said. “Those are a couple of girls from last year that didn’t get a ton of playing time or a ton of starts, so to see people stepping up from one year to another is great. That pushes everyone else to get better too.”

According to senior captain and center forward Meredith Wu, the team’s camaraderie has facilitated the growth and teamwork necessary for their standout season.

“The word we emphasized this season is support, and I think supporting each other on and off the field has really helped bring us together and build a closer bond,” Wu said. “On the field, we will bring each other up and say, ‘It’s okay. You’ve got it next time.’ Then off the field, we will support each other with anything, whether that’s with school or with our personal lives. We’re just always there for each other.”

The girls’ field hockey team has continuously succeeded, opening their season with a 12-game winning streak. As the defending Midland Wachusett A-League champions, the girls’ field hockey team has begun their season with an impressive 12-1-1 record. Coached by Daniel Welty, the team has witnesse...

10/09/2024

New Assistant Principal Matthew Gitkind is excited to be joining the Algonquin community.

Gitkind graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and received a master’s degree in education from Simmons University. He taught at The Norwich Free Academy and Walpole High School before accepting his position as an Assistant Principal at Algonquin. The shift to a new role has posed some challenges.

“I was a classroom teacher for 11 years, and now I’m moving to a role where I’m a school administrator,” Gitkind said. “There is a great degree of overlap between those roles in the sense that the jobs still involve developing relationships with students, developing relationships with families and improving the educational process, but there are new things in this role that I did not do as a teacher.”

Despite having to adjust his work, connecting with others has remained a key part of his job description and is an essential aspect of education that draws Gitkind to work in schools.

“I was really looking forward to coming to a new school this year and meeting the student body,” Gitkind said. “I feel like I had a lot of good opportunities seeing everybody at the football game and in our first couple assemblies. Coming into a new school, the heart of the school is really seeing all the students that we have here and getting to meet the teachers.”

New Assistant Principal Matthew Gitkind is excited to be joining the Algonquin community. Gitkind graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and received a master’s degree in education from Simmons University. He taught at The Norwich Free Academy and Walpole High...

10/08/2024

“Pajama day because at this point every day could be called a pajama day with how many people already go to school in pajamas.”