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The student news site of Londonderry High School

Lancer Spirit Online

The student news site of Londonderry High School

Lancer Spirit Online

The student news site of Londonderry High School

Lancer Spirit Online

Marissa McKay

Marissa McKay, Online Chief

From performing on beam to flipping on floor, Marissa is a gymnast who loves to write. When she isn’t writing or competing, Marissa spends her free time drinking Aroma Joes and crashing her car.

 

All content by Marissa McKay
The stars John B., Pope, Kiara, and JJ pose for the cover shot.

Netflix’s Outer Banks is more than just nice abs

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | May 20, 2020

If you haven’t seen Outer Banks yet, I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your life. I know you have the time for it, it’s quarantine, so none of us have anything better to do anyway. Like...

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Ziv and the rest of the varsity hockey team head out onto the ice during a game.

Senior wins scholarship for most improved hockey player

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | April 30, 2020

Playing in cold rinks, skating across ice, and defending the goal, all things senior and goalie Mike Ziv has plenty of experience in after his four years of being on the school’s hockey team. At this...

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The cleanse included six juices, with a variety of flavors.

I tried a juice cleanse, so you don’t have to

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | April 27, 2020

Juice cleanses are supposed to cleanse your body and mind, clear out any toxins, and reboot your system. That is, according to the websites that sell them. Yeah, well, I have to say that was not quite...

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Dinner #1 entailed a sweet potato black bean quesadilla with homemade guacamole on the side.

I went vegan for a week, so you don’t have to

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | April 14, 2020

This past week, I tried eating vegan for the first time. As someone who regularly eats meat and animal products, I wanted to know what it was like to get rid of that part of my diet entirely and quit cold...

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This is the fort that took me way too long to build and caved in way too fast to be proud of.

I had a self isolation slumber party so you don’t have to

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | April 3, 2020

I think we can all agree that we’re lonely and bored during quarantine. I miss seeing my friends every day and hanging out with them every weekend. To give myself a fix of normality and liven up the...

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In addition to her Londonderry family, Suzie Swenson regards her husband, sons, daughters-in-law and new grandson as the most important people in her life.

Women to Watch March 27: Suzie Swenson

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 27, 2020

The Lancer Spirit is celebrating the women of Londonderry during the month of March in honor of Women’s History Month. For each day of the month, LSO will be highlighting an inspiring woman within the...

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Overhulser and Harpster pose together during their visit to Rhode Island to meet with other LLS teams.

Students fundraise for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 25, 2020

Organizing fundraisers, arranging scholarships, and asking for donations, all for a great cause. Senior Amy Overhulser and Junior Grace Harpster set out to run a campaign and raise money for the Leukemia...

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The COVID-19 vaccination is a controversial topic. Will you take the leap and get the vaccine?

Londonderry schools will be closed starting Monday, March 16

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 14, 2020

Updated March 15, 2020 at 3:17 p.m. Principal Jason Parent sent an email to teachers letting them know he will be meeting with other administrators at the district office at 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening to...

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Kerns stands with Willis Auko, the inspiration behind Heal the World.

Woman to Watch for March 13: Kim Kerns

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 13, 2020

The Lancer Spirit is celebrating the women of Londonderry during the month of March in honor of Women’s History Month. For each day of the month, LSO will be highlighting an inspiring woman within the...

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Casey surveys the cafeteria during her lunch duty.

Women to watch for March 12: Tina Casey

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 12, 2020

The Lancer Spirit is celebrating the women of Londonderry during the month of March in honor of Women’s History Month. For each day of the month, LSO will be highlighting an inspiring woman within the...

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Mauceri poses on stage with her award after her big win.

Senior sweeps scholarship competition

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | February 7, 2020

Interviews in front of a panel, questions onstage, public speaking, practiced talents, fitness routines and honor roll academics; all things Senior April Mauceri had to perfect in order to win the Distinguished...

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Beware: Promzillas have  come out to play as prom season creeps closer and closer.

Dear promzillas, put your claws away

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | January 28, 2020

A Pinterest board filled with expensive dress ideas, unrealistic fantasies of a perfect night fit for a princess, and a date that couldn’t care less about what happens at the dance itself: the perfect...

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Instagram: Fun or Dumb? Two senior girls support their views.

‘Gram or sham: Is Instagram worth it?

Marissa McKay and Erin Carlson | January 15, 2020

Instagram is fun. Click below to see why. Instagram is dumb. Click below to see why.

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Juniors Elizabeth Allen, Jordan Galluzzo, Chelsea Mullen, and Lilly Tharrington open up Juster's website in the beginning of class.

Classroom transforms to promote a new age of learning

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | January 3, 2020

Competencies, self-directed learning, a website packed with tabs and links, and an atmosphere that promotes collaboration. English teacher Elizabeth Juster transformed her classroom into a technology-...

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Instagram is dumb: here’s why

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | November 14, 2019

I’m one of a small group of teenagers these days who have never had an Instagram account. While all of my friends spend hours taking, editing, and obsessing over their Insta-worthy pictures and scrolling...

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Hypnotized seniors dance to "Thriller," by Michael Jackson during the show.

Seniors get wild during Hypnotist Show

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | October 31, 2019

Dancing, playing hide and seek with themselves, conducting an entire orchestra with only legs, and finding local ‘celebrities’. This year’s Hypnotist Show on Oct. 24, made 18 seniors act out...

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Juniors Gabrielle Page and Evie Brunette pose as creepy twins during last year's Haunted Woods.

Haunted Woods creeps up: Prepare for the scare

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | October 23, 2019

Monsters, ghosts and skeletons: No, this isn’t the release of this year’s big horror movie. It’s Haunted Woods, the Drama Club's annual Halloween-themed trek through the woods, which...

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Protesters gather in Boston with their signs to protest the change in climate.

LHS students protest global warming at Youth Climate Strike in Boston

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | October 10, 2019

Clever signs, chanting, thought-provoking speeches, and taking a stand for what they believe in. On Friday, Sept. 20, seniors Sage Dieffenbach and John Kircaldie skipped school to go to Youth Climate Strike...

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Though more on the snacky side, this flavorful, guilty-pleasure lunch will brighten your day and make others reach over for a bite, as well.

New back to school lunches to try this year

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | September 23, 2019

I don’t know about you, but personally, I’m tired of seeing people hastily open up a Cliff Bar or an Uncrustables sandwich in class or in the cafeteria. It’s time for students to eat something that...

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The two new yearbook chiefs pose in Times Square during a yearbook convention in New York.

New yearbook co-chief steps up

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | June 6, 2019

With taking pictures, gathering information, designing layouts, editing pages, and more, this year’s yearbook chief junior Rhiannon Black could use some more help. To divide all of this work up and...

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Nelson poses with her graduating seniors on the set of the Addams Family.

Drama director decides to step down

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | May 29, 2019

After nine long years of directing shows, choreographing dances, and leading the program, House 4 guidance counselor Valerie Nelson leaves the drama club. Nelson came to LHS in 2007 and decided to take...

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The robotics team poses with The Chairman's Award, after winning it at their last competition.

Robotics team inspires community

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | April 30, 2019

Between programming, computer designing, manufacturing parts, planning events, and spreading the STEM message to the community, there is a lot more to the robotics team than just cool robots. Though...

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Robbins gets ready to dance with her team at the Make-A-Wish Benefit Performance.

Senior Hailey Robbins shows what it takes to be a Lancer

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | March 28, 2019

After a long day of school, senior Hailey Robbins spends her afternoons rushing from activity to activity, trying to get homework done, and looking for time to relax in between it all. With two dance teams,...

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Poster hangs on a wall in the school to spread the word about Granite State Respect Week.

LHS spreads awareness during Granite State Respect Week

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | February 18, 2019

Last week, the halls of LHS were covered wall to wall with posters and sticky notes displaying words like “respect” and “speak out” as a part of Granite State Respect Week. From Feb. 11-15,...

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Zach Ford records a podcast during Radio Club.

New multimedia class inspires students to explore creative outlets

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | February 15, 2019

     Filming videos, watching Youtube, editing, listening to podcasts, if any of these things pique your interest, then the new Multimedia class is for you.      Basic video teacher Karen Robinson...

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Students will see orange posters throughout LHS during the week of Feb. 11-15 to promote Granite State Respect Week, which is "a teen-centered campaign that takes place in high schools across New Hampshire during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month," according to the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Granite State Respect Week starts Feb. 11

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | February 10, 2019

Next week from Feb. 11-15, LHS will be participating in the Granite State Respect Week to raise awareness of violence in teenage relationships. There will be posters up on the walls and a variety of...

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New House 4 secretary Mrs. Brown says she is excited about her new position at LHS.

House 4 welcomes new secretary

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | January 2, 2019

From signing dismissal notes to helping with attendance, Mrs. Brown has a lot on her plate in her new position as House 4 Secretary. Before she got this new job, Brown was a secretary for a company,...

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The plaque of Tenney now hangs in the House 3 Conference Room.

LHS remembers angel Becca Tenney

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | December 19, 2018

As the last Day of Giving creeps closer this year, another special event comes along with it. The House 3 Conference Room will be dedicated to Rebecca Tenney on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 3:00 p.m. Tenney...

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Math Team members Tim Gore and Katie Lacerda celebrate after home meet Wednesday, November 7.

Math Team starts season off strong

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | November 28, 2018

After winning fourth at states last year, the LHS Math Team is looking forward to another great season. Although extra math sounds uninviting to most students, the honor and pride after a successful...

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Club members Maya Lincoln, Marie Duffy, and Haley Hines research in the library during a meeting.

Model UN develops real world skills

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | November 13, 2018

Education is an essential detail when developing real world skills, but clubs outside of the classroom also contribute to building a student’s learning experience. The LHS Model United Nations club offers...

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Rowers race at the Textile River Regatta in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Crew unites rivals

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | October 4, 2018

Mack Plaque is the time when sports teams from Pinkerton and Londonderry battle it out on the field, court, and mat. However, on the water, it’s a completely different story and the two opposing sides...

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Top movies to get you into the Christmas spirit

Top movies to get you into the Christmas spirit

Marissa McKay, Online Chief | December 13, 2017

As Christmas creeps closer, people sit down in front of the TV, snuggle up with a cozy blanket, drink some hot chocolate, and watch some of their favorite holiday movies. There are so many good ones to...

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Marissa McKay