THE SPINNAKER

By Nikhil Dutta

On Friday December 9th, Cohasset Band and Chorus members traveled on their annual Holiday Tour to the Deer Hill and Osgood Schools to spread holiday cheer and joy. Led by Mrs. Moriarty and Ms. Arenstam respectively, the Band and Chorus performed classic holiday tunes to the young children of Cohasset. Performers were also able to join the Osgood students for lunch and recess for about an hour. Also, on Thursday the 8th, a smaller group of Jazz Ensemble and students from Piano Studio went to Sunrise Living Center and the Senior Center to perform for them as well. Overall, a great success!

By Mia Donovan

Ski season has arrived, and the Cohasset Ski Team is excited to get started in the competition! With a lot of incoming freshmen joining the team, this season is guaranteed to be interesting. Past participants will also play a huge role in this year's team, knowing Caroline Brinzey, Maggie Brinzey, and Liz Blanchard went all the way to States last year.

Leading the team is Coach Dane, along with Captains Caroline Brinzey and Max Wellmann. Although the conditions might be rough at Blue Hills, the Ski Team will cheer each other on at the Wednesday Races. There are also Saturday races at Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire, which take hours on end. These longer races give the team a chance to bond and give each individual a chance to learn something new about skiing. The occasional dry land practices, which help the team get in shape and learn balance, are just as important.

The seeding race is January 7, 2023, which will kick off the season and the beginning of a great new team!

By Santiago Talavera Rubio

Even though every morning was cold, or I happened to be five minutes late, I am glad that I had the opportunity to help out in the food drive. The food drive is run by Coach A each year, who does an outstanding job. The process was slow at first but the back circle soon became a food drop off instead of a student drop off. We had to hold signs and try to encourage people to bring donations for the food drive.

The first two days were in fact brutal; no one seemed to have gotten the memo. If Coach A got five dollars for every time he heard the phrases “I forgot”, “ I forgot it on my counter” and the fan favorite “I'll bring some tomorrow” he would have just gone out to buy the food himself. The third day came around and the amount of food we were able to collect was unbelievable and truly shows the strong community Cohasset has.

The food pantry is a distribution center where hungry families can receive food. For those who donated, you gave someone a meal and helped a family out - thank you! To those who did not have the opportunity to donate, it is never too late to help someone in need!

By Cat Hermann

For this month’s Spinnaker, I conducted a short interview with Mrs. Berkowitz, one of our CHS art teachers. Read along to learn some quick facts about her!

What do you teach at CHS and how long have you taught here?

I’ve taught here for 25 years. I teach all different visual arts classes and mindful art studio.

What is your favorite part about teaching at CHS?

Getting kids excited about art, especially the ones who never knew they had an interest or skill.

What town are you from?

I grew up in New York and I live in Somerville.

What are your plans for the holidays?

To relax. To make art. And to celebrate holidays when people invite me to their houses!

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

Dressing up my dog as a banana every Halloween.

What’s your favorite holiday song?

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan

Any New Year’s resolutions?

Many.

Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom for CHS students going into the new year?

Stay present and be kind to each other.

By Payton Kondrat

The Cohasset-Norwell Gymnastics team is in full swing! The team's first meet will be away against Carver on January 4th. The first home meet will be at MGC on January 21st at 2:30. With over 20 girls on the team, it looks like it is going to be a great season. The captains for this year are Jenny Coletta (Cohasset), Maeve Ross (Norwell), and Casey Connors (Norwell). The Leagues meet will take place on Saturday February 11th at Spectrum Gymnastics in Brockton. With the freshman as a great new addition to the team, it looks like Cohasset Norwell will have a great run this season!

By Peyton Lord

After speaking with both the Boys and Girls Basketball Captains, we should be expecting an exciting season! Senior Jamie Smith has been playing Cohasset basketball for four years and he thinks that this team will be just as good, if not better, than the past years. Smith talks about how they lost a few starting players last year but everyone on the current team has good experience. He thinks that the key to make it to the playoffs this year is to really bond as a team and work collectively as a unit.

Similarly on the Girls Basketball team, Senior Captain Emma Goff talks about how this year's team is very well rounded and there is a lot of potential for the underclassmen. Though last year they lost some important players, the competitive spirit on the team will create the chance to get everyone in. Goff says the goal is to make it past the third round of playoffs and she thinks that there is a strong chance they can if everyone on the team stays motivated.

The Boys and Girls teams had their first game on December 16, 2022 and unfortunately both lost, however both teams looked good in the process and should have very promising seasons. Come out and show support at the next game!

By Kiyah Rollins

It was a busy month for the Cohasset High School Band and Chorus as they also had a successful winter concert on Thursday December 15th and performed the following songs:

Chorus: Abigail Arenstam

Stand By Me

Summer

Carry Light

Hear the Sleigh Bells

Let There Be Peace

Concert Band: Stephanie Moriarty

Sprach Zarathustra

Metrodance

Selections from the Polar Express

Sleigh Ride

Jazz Band: Stephanie Moriarty

Moondance

Hey Jude

Big Band Holiday

Overall, it was a wonderful night of music enjoyed by everyone in attendance!

By Will Wildfire

On December 18th, 2022, a passionate Argentinian squad would be set to face a young French national team, who returned to the final to defend their championship from 2018. But before reaching the final match, both teams made incredible runs to get there, and the world was inspired by others as well, who also had incredible tournaments.

Out of the Group Stage, there weren’t many surprises, with the exception of Germany failing to qualify for the knockouts, for the second consecutive World Cup, following their victory in 2014. The round of 16 was filled with many teams from different places, and brought excitement to fans from around the globe. Fueled by an injury-risking goal from Christian Pulisic, the USMNT came into the knockout stages with high hopes. They fell short against a talented Dutch squad, but ultimately, made their country proud. Morocco, a surprise to win their group, upset Spain in the round of sixteen, and then proceeded to eliminate Portugal in the round of 8, ending every fan's hope of a Messi-Ronaldo final.

In the Semi-Finals, Argentina cruised past Croatia, winning 3-0, in a match in which the result was never in doubt. France, while struggling at times, advanced over the exciting Moroccan squad, who made history as the first African nation to make it to the World Cup Semi-Finals.

On Sunday December 18th, the whole world paused to watch Messi’s last international match, as he tried to solidify his position as the best to ever do it. In his way was France, who had returned to the Finals for the second consecutive world cup, despite their huge injury losses, losing four of their top players to injuries. But, they still had the rising star, who some would debate to be the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe. The match from start to finish lived up to its hype, and ended as potentially the most dramatic, exciting sporting event ever. Argentina went into the half-time break up 2-0 after goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. But, Mbappe refused to let the game slip out of his hands. He scored two goals in historic time, within 90 seconds of each other to tie the game and send it into extra-time. He completed his hat-trick to tie the game once again in extra-time, after another Messi goal. Mbappe became the second male to ever score a hat-trick in the world-cup final, the youngest to ever do so.

The game was deadlocked and sent to penalties. Messi and Mbappe both scored as each of their team’s first respective shooters. After those two, Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez showed why he is called the best penalty-saver in the world, as he didn’t allow the next two shots to go in, leading Argentina to victory. Although Messi solidified himself as the best soccer player ever, after scoring 2 goals to lead his team to a world cup victory, Kylian Mbappe won the golden boot for most goals (7). At 23 years of age, he will return next time to claim his revenge, but won’t have the opportunity to beat Messi again at the international level. Overall, the 2022 World Cup, held by Qatar did not disappoint, and ended in unforgettable fashion.

By Mary Williams

So far this year, the Sophomore Student Council has hit the ground running with planning activities and coordinating fundraising events. Members Nathan Askjaer, Caroline Struzziero, Mary Williams, Aydin Tiryaki, Ella Lynch, Mia Donovan, and Will Henle have been working very hard under the supervision of their Class Advisor, Mr. Turner, to coordinate and organize events for the class.

The officers hold monthly meetings for the class on the first Wednesday of every month, to allow all members of the grade to voice their opinions and share ideas. They are also very active on the Class of 2025 Instagram and very often post polls and questionnaires in order to hear feedback directly from class members.

The sophomores have many plans for this winter season, including community service and fun class activities. One activity in the works is a class ice skating trip. A community service project is also being coordinated alongside the Scituate Animal Shelter, to provide donations and provide support for the shelter this holiday season. Be on the lookout for what the Sophomore Student Council does next!

By Johnny Appleton

Swimming is one of the many sports offered here at CHS. This year, the CHS swim team was surprised to discover that it would be led by a new coach for the 2022-23 season. To allow students to get to know him and his goals better, Coach Chuck Hickey answered a few questions.

What is your profession outside of coaching?

I teach middle school science in Weymouth.

What do you think makes a good swim team?

With flexibility, people can do a lot of different things, and it’s nice to have a good attitude as well.

What are your goals for this season?

For the team to repeat its success from last year and for swimmers to see individual success and growth.

Is there anything you think needs some work?

As a team, we can improve in all aspects of the sport.

What is your favorite thing about coaching?

Swimmers doing better…the improvement and growth of the individual swimmer.

Although the team suffered a close loss during their first meet, we are still optimistic for a quick turn around and many successes down the road. Make sure to keep an eye out for more swimming news, as this season is expected to be a great one!

by Mrs. Norton

Natalie is a 14-year old freshman here at CHS who studies ballet year-round. She just completed her holiday Nutcracker performances this past weekend at Thayer Academy in front of crowds of roughly 500 and the last performance they were met with a standing ovation!

Why ballet?

My Mom was a dancer and I was inspired by her!

When did you start dancing?

Aged 2 at Boston Ballet.

Who are your mentors?

Isabella Boylston, who dances with the American Ballet Theater and Marthavan McKeon, the director South Shore Ballet Theatre

What is the hardest part about being a ballerina?

The physical strain, particularly leg pain. The mental strain includes self-imposed stress about making my dancing the best it can be.

What part of being a ballerina brings you the most joy?

It is so rewarding. During the summer, we travel abroad and participate in intensives which is a time when dancers approach the pre-professional level.

Email: enorton@cohassetk12.org
Website: cohassetk12.org
Location: 143 Pond Street, Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781 383-6100