The Harbinger

The Harbinger The Harbinger is the student newspaper of Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA.

Hosted by Unified basketball, Across Borders 2025 welcomed the Unified basketball team from Morse High School in Bath, M...
12/22/2025

Hosted by Unified basketball, Across Borders 2025 welcomed the Unified basketball team from Morse High School in Bath, Maine, celebrating inclusion, friendship and the spirit of Unified Sports on Dec. 13 and 14.

Throughout the weekend, both teams participated in team-building activities, shared meals and a variety of Unified sporting events. On Dec. 13, the day began with various introductory activities, followed by a dinner prepared and served by Algonquin’s culinary classes and dance in the cafeteria. On Dec. 14, the Morse team returned for a full schedule of Unified games and activities aimed at building connection, confidence and community.

The idea for this event came about when Culinary arts teacher Zbigniewa Giegucz and her daughter, Educational Support Professional Stefani Giegucz, visited Bulgaria to work with students with disabilities over the summer. It was there where they met the coach from Morse High School, Charlie Bingham, and realized they wanted to carry on the legacy of their experience.

“As we were in Bulgaria, the three of us were talking that it’d be so cool to get the two Unified teams together,” Zbigniewa Giegucz said. “Because they come from different backgrounds, it would be a cool thing for [the players] to meet each other, and see that they’re Unified teams all over, not just in Massachusetts.”

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Hosted by Unified basketball, Across Borders 2025 welcomed the Unified basketball team from Morse High School in Bath, Maine, celebrating inclusion, friendship and the spirit of Unified Sports on Dec. 13 and 14. Throughout the weekend, both teams participated in team-building activities, shared meal...

Princesses, queens and the like took over the stage during the performances of “Once Upon a Mattress,” which ran from Th...
12/09/2025

Princesses, queens and the like took over the stage during the performances of “Once Upon a Mattress,” which ran from Thursday Nov. 20 to Saturday Nov. 23. A musical adaptation of “The Princess and the Pea,” this year’s fall musical, filled the auditorium with emotion delivered by a talented cast and crew.

The musical follows the story of a prince who is looking for a wife; however, the queen sets impossible tests to prevent Princess Winnifred from marrying the prince. After wrapping up a three-night run of shows, senior Ava Guckian reflects on her lead role as Princess Winnifred.

“[Winnifred] doesn’t really care about what other people think of her, which was really nice to be able to play someone like that,” Guckian said. “She’s super fun and energetic, and she is never really sad and she always looks on the bright side of things.”

While the cast and crew put on a successful show, Guckian spoke to the challenges of putting together the musical in the final weeks leading up to opening night.

“Adding in the tech is the hardest part because the whole rehearsal process you’re fake holding these props that you’re supposed to have or you’re supposed to have a dress on that you don’t,” Guckian said. “Putting on your costumes and having those props adds a new element, that’s harder to come together [with].”

read more:

Princesses, queens and the like took over the stage during the performances of “Once Upon a Mattress,” which ran from Thursday Nov. 20 to Saturday Nov. 23. A musical adaptation of “The Princess and the Pea,” this year’s fall musical, filled the auditorium with emotion delivered by a talent...

Assistant News Editor Danica Bai shares her opinion that grade inflation has a negative impact on learning:Everyone want...
12/08/2025

Assistant News Editor Danica Bai shares her opinion that grade inflation has a negative impact on learning:

Everyone wants an A. But now, students expect and even receive A’s for the bare minimum. Even a B is disappointing, and the supposedly average C is now viewed as practically failing. Whether we acknowledge it or not, grade inflation plagues our school and nation. Grades have become everything, yet are themselves a blurring standard.

We’ve all had that one teacher who almost never gives out A’s and have felt personally wronged. I’ve heard many complaints along the lines of ‘I deserved an A’ across a variety of subjects. This mindset of entitlement is fueled by laxer standards and the commonality that an A has become.

At the University of California San Diego, the number of students who needed remedial math classes despite having an A in high school calculus increased from 32 to one thousand from 2020-2025. More shockingly, these students were averaging 3.7 grade point averages (GPA) in math, and a quarter had a 4.0 in high school. Behind these students are teachers with incentives to pass them despite not truly understanding the material. Because a student’s future has become intertwined with their grades, some teachers don’t hold students accountable or the students prioritize GPA over learning. Misled by their high grades, students don’t realize how much they can be lacking. Other drivers of grade inflation include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT. Because of their accessibility, cheating—and as a result, better grades—are easier than ever before.

Read more:

Everyone wants an A. But now, students expect and even receive A’s for the bare minimum. Even a B is disappointing, and the supposedly average C is now viewed as practically failing. Whether we acknowledge it or not, grade inflation plagues our school and nation. Grades have become everything, yet...

Titans of all grades competed and celebrated at the pre-Thanksgiving Pep Rally. Check out the slideshow of highlights: h...
12/05/2025

Titans of all grades competed and celebrated at the pre-Thanksgiving Pep Rally. Check out the slideshow of highlights: https://arhsharbinger.com/44658/news/slideshow-students-show-school-spirit-at-pep-rally/ #

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...

In their most recent editorial, The Harbinger's editorial board asserts why free speech in schools is essential:Free spe...
12/03/2025

In their most recent editorial, The Harbinger's editorial board asserts why free speech in schools is essential:

Free speech has been a constant source of debate in recent times. Since the disheartening murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, the discussion has grown even stronger. However, freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Although the First Amendment protects you from persecution by the government, it doesn’t automatically shield an individual from negative reactions from teachers, employers and peers.

In classrooms, on social media and across the United States, people are questioning what free speech means and what its limits are. In academic settings, free speech remains one of the most crucial tools for learning, growth and understanding peers.

When students have the freedom to express their opinions, education suddenly becomes more than learning grammar rules or memorizing algebraic formulas. It opens the door to self-expression, encouraging students to think critically, ask questions and challenge their own beliefs. It creates a place where students can learn not only to be great students but also virtuous citizens.

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Free speech has been a constant source of debate in recent times. Since the disheartening murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, the discussion has grown even stronger. However, freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Although the First Amendment protects you from persecution b...

Assistant News Editor Amy Zhang took a close look at girls in STEM-related classes and organizations. Check out her cove...
12/02/2025

Assistant News Editor Amy Zhang took a close look at girls in STEM-related classes and organizations. Check out her cover-story for The Harbinger's first print magazine this year:

Women have been historically overlooked in science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) fields, but girls are finding their power and voice, with Algonquin bridging the gap every step of the way through its curricula and extracurricular opportunities. While the number of women in STEM is rising,...

Students and faculty share what and who they're thankful for this year...
11/26/2025

Students and faculty share what and who they're thankful for this year...

“I’m really thankful for my family because they’re very supportive of me. Freshman year has been really stressful and I have a lot of homework and they have helped me out.”

Algonquin, given its larger size, needed a revised map to help students navigate. As a junior, senior Clara Lin dedicate...
11/25/2025

Algonquin, given its larger size, needed a revised map to help students navigate. As a junior, senior Clara Lin dedicated herself to creating an intricately crafted map that fit the needs of the student and staff community.

The map started as the final project for Lin’s Graphic Design for Publications class. The teacher, Michelle Sheppard, gave an assignment on school branding and how to incorporate the school’s core values and Titan Spirit into a product.

The students brainstormed several options, like banners and window decals. Eventually, the class met with Assistant Principal Janet Brown and Principal Sean Bevan to discuss ideas and parts of the school that needed improvement, and the school map was mentioned. Lin was immediately interested in creating a new map as her project.

“The old map was really bad when I first got it freshman year, and it wasn’t really usable,” Lin said. “I saw that I had this opportunity to fix it, and so I wanted to take it [as my project] for that reason.”

Lin worked on the map for the rest of the semester, and from January until June, she worked on it independently. Brown believes Lin’s initiative and passion for the project were remarkable, and she is always glad to see when a student’s work can impact the larger community.

Read more & see the map: https://arhsharbinger.com/44498/profile/inspired-student-cartographer-tackles-complicated-school-map-problem/ #

Algonquin, given its larger size, needed a revised map to help students navigate. As a junior, senior Clara Lin dedicated herself to creating an intricately crafted map that fit the needs of the student and staff community. The map started as the final project for Lin’s Graphic Design for Publicat...

Junior class president Izzy Miranda is using her ambitious goals and commitment to inclusivity to make this year another...
11/25/2025

Junior class president Izzy Miranda is using her ambitious goals and commitment to inclusivity to make this year another successful one.

Miranda, who was class president last year, decided to run again because she really enjoys the role and couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else.

“I felt like my job wasn’t finished and there was so much more that I wanted to do,” Miranda said.

Last year, Miranda played a major role in planning the successful car wash fundraiser and the Pep Rally. This year, she hopes to make class events even more inclusive.

“I want to expand and involve more people,” Miranda said. “I want to do more events for our class, and do what I did last year better.”

Read more:

Junior class president Izzy Miranda is using her ambitious goals and commitment to inclusivity to make this year another successful one. Miranda, who was class president last year, decided to run again because she really enjoys the role and couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else. “I felt l...

Culinary arts teacher Zbigniewa Giegucz and her daughter, Educational Support Professional Stefani Giegucz, promote full...
11/24/2025

Culinary arts teacher Zbigniewa Giegucz and her daughter, Educational Support Professional Stefani Giegucz, promote full-inclusion both locally and abroad. Last summer, they visited Bulgaria to collaborate with the Bulgarian Sports Academy for students with disabilities.

Ten years ago, Zbigniewa Giegucz—with a grant from Special Olympics—founded the Algonquin Unified Basketball and Unified Track teams, where students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) can participate on teams alongside general-education students, just as her daughter did during her own childhood.

Stefani Giegucz’s passion behind this work is deeply personal. Born without her left hand, she grew up believing that independence builds strength, something that she achieved through sports. In high school, Stefani Giegucz played on the varsity unified basketball team and the unified color guard team where she twirled flags while dancing.

“People look at me and they’re like, ‘Oh you can’t do that,’…Yes I can!” Stefani Giegucz said. “I like to prove people wrong.”

Zbigniewa Giegucz believes all students deserve opportunities like her daughter had.

“I see kids and I see potential, but you have to give them somewhere—an ‘avenue’—to learn,” Zbigniewa Giegucz said.

Read more:

Culinary arts teacher Zbigniewa Giegucz and her daughter, Educational Support Professional Stefani Giegucz, promote full-inclusion both locally and abroad. Last summer, they visited Bulgaria to collaborate with the Bulgarian Sports Academy for students with disabilities. Ten years ago, Zbigniewa Gie...

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