Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 12, 2021 BLACK HISTORY | FROM PAGE 3 MIAA Board: Lynn Classical and Lynn English formally approved to join GBL in Fall 2021 Board votes unanimously to waive 2-year wait rule; Schools will participate in athletics this year a Banner Decorating Contest, where Malden High teacher volunteer to have their Google Classroom banners decorated by students with themes related to Black History Month. In addition, at the end of the month, a school wide, interactive, remote celebration is being planned as a culmination to the month. Mastrangelo also said the MHS community is fl attered that the 2021 Malden Reads celebration rated so highly the 2020 MHS Door Decorating Contest (with Black History Month themes), that it has adopted the contest and put it out as a citywide contest to accompany its book selection, "Born a Crime". "We have been generating a By Steve Freker M ake way for the Rams and the Bulldogs! The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously, 24-0, at their regular meeting on Thursday to allow Lynn Classical High School and Lynn English High School to immediately join the Greater Boston League (GBL) as full participants for the Fall 2021 season. The MIAA Board voted to waive a standing rule where schools usually had to wait two years before leaving one league and joining new one. The Lynn Classical Rams and Lynn English Bulldogs had been charter members of the Northeastern Conference (NEC), over 40 years, before both decided to break away from the NEC at the end of 2020 in December. The GBL board voted unanimously in December to accept the two Lynn schools and the NEC soon followed suit and voted to allow the pair of schools out of their league agreement with no waiting period. The MIAA vote on Thursday sealed the deal officially and the two Lynn schools are now GBLers. The GBL now has no doubled in size in just four years, from four schools in 2017 to eight schools today: Chelsea, Everett, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Malden, Medford, Revere and Somerville. "It is great news for those two schools and also for the Greater Boston League," said Malden High School sixthyear Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Charlie Conefrey, who is also a sitting member of the MIAA Board of Directors, casting his vote alongside his colleagues Thursday. "We as a league were thrilled when we heard last year as early as the fall, that Lynn Classical and Lynn English were interested in becoming GBL members." With the addition of the Lynn schools, the GBL becomes that much stronger and one of the best conferences in the state, according to GBL President Chris Mastrangelo, who is principal of Malden High School. "We were already a strong league. With the addition of Lynn Classical and Lynn English, we are now the premier urban high school athletic league in Massachusetts," Mastrangelo said Thursday. "It will be an exciting future for our league in the coming years." "There is just a lot of common ground between all our urban-based schools, with demographics, geographic proximity and the competition levels," Conefrey said. "Of course there are some schools which are stronger in particular sports, but overall, it will be a very balanced league. All of the GBL schools, including our newest members, understand and look forward to that." The entry of Lynn English marks the entry of the twotime defending state boys basketball champion. English also has a strong track and baseball program. Lynn Classical has been a consistent participant in the football playoff s and also is highly competitive in boys and girls basketball, soccer and baseball. lot of interest in our Black History Month series and a lot of students and their families are taking advantage of what is being off ered," Mastrangelo said.Access to the daily series, which will resume on Monday, Feb 22, after the week-long February Vacation school break, can also be found by using the MPS Black History Month link, at: www.maldenps.org. Supt. Oteri noted Black History Month is particularly topical this year, following 2020, which featured a continual wave of regional and national unrest regarding issues of racial and social equity. "This year, given recent events in our country, and recognizing that Dr. King's teachings are more relevant and important than ever, all of the directors in our district feel that it is important to collaborate on this message," Supt. Oteri said."We believe that the work begun by Dr. King so many years ago continues to inform our mission today. His wisdom, humility, and love for all stand in stark contrast to images our students are confronted with in the daily news." 81 Main St., Everett, Available March 1, 2021 Commercial Property For Rent 600 Sq. Feet, 2 Parking Spots, 2 levels Private Bath, Prime location on Main Street at the top of Broadway Circle - $2K/Month Contact SHEILA: (310) 508-3119 SHEILAMBRUZZESE@GMAIL.COM
9 Publizr Home