COVID-19 has made finding a new Class of 2023 advisor very difficult, and although the Sophomore class started off the year without one, they recently found a teacher to take on this role. Michael Lightbody, a past graduate of Malden High, is the new advisor for the Class of 2023. Lightbody was given permission to become the class advisor before the COVID-19 break in March, but the class never got to elections, leaving this role empty. Although he didn’t know that school would be cancelled, he said regrets not starting earlier.
Lightbody has been teaching history at the high school for 25 years. Before that, he spent two years teaching middle school. With this many years of experience, it’s not his first time being class advisor. Lightbody helped in advising the class of 1998 and assisted the advisor for the class of 2001. He thinks that there will be some challenges with this year having missed time due to Covid-19 and that there will definitely be a lot of restrictions with fundraising, but he is looking forward to advising this class.
Saura Rathore, a Sophomore at Malden High, believes that Lightbody’s experience and 25 years of teaching at Malden High will be an advantage for the class of 2023. She is looking forward to having fundraisers to make money for things like Junior Varieties and prom so that the class doesn’t “lag off completely.” Rathore hopes that Lightbody will make the class feel comfortable and at ease and that he manages the class even through this virtual-formatted year.
The first thing that needs to be done is the elections. As of now, class elections will be finished before the holiday break. Right now they are seeking students that want to run for various positions like president, vice president, secretary, historian, treasurer, and social media advisor. From there, the class will begin thinking about how they can start doing some basic fundraisers to plan bigger events.
Lightbody hopes that school will open back up soon, regardless of whether it’s a hybrid “every other day” schedule or everyday of the week. He thinks that once that happens things will be easier, and that seeing people will make it “more exciting” and “more real” as far as being an advisor.
When Lightbody was younger, he says that he really enjoyed the events, from Junior varieties to prom and graduation. During his time at Malden High School, he adds that they used to have lots of small events “that were nice.” He really enjoyed the craft fair that the class of 1998 ran. Lightbody is hoping to hold events that will bring the rest of the school together. Not just “your typical candy sales and car washes” but events where they can “mingle” whether they are part of the sophomore class or not.
Having fundraisers will be difficult due to the pandemic and newest restrictions, but Lightbody thinks that “the challenge is worth it.” He doesn’t think that it will be impossible to hold fundraisers. He said that if we take care of the restrictions, “the rest will just take care of itself and the events when they come up we’ll deal with them as they come or as they get here.”
Lightbody is hoping to have class elections finished by Monday, December 21st. He mentioned that once the officers are intact, events can start being organized and money can start being raised for the class. Lightbody says he has been getting a great response from the sophomore class as well. Students that want to run for a position on the class of 2023 student council are required to make a campaign poster to advocate for themselves, and the deadline to do this is by Friday, December 11.
Class elections are going to be held online at electionrunner.com.
