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Why it's illegal for teachers to strike in Mass. (and why they're doing it anyway)

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Why it's illegal for teachers to strike in Mass. (and why they're doing it anyway)


The Newton teachers strike has dragged on into a 10th day of closed schools even though such strikes are illegal in Massachusetts. As a result, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) owes nearly $600,000 in fines as of Thursday and will owe $50,000 more each day the strike continues.

While the NTA’s strike over failed contract negotiations is reported to be the longest strike the state has seen since the 1990s, it is not an anomaly. In recent years, teachers’ unions in Andover, Malden, Brookline, Woburn and Haverhill in similar collective bargaining ruts have organized strikes and faced fines.

  • Read more: Striking Newton teacher hospitalized after hit by car near union rally spot

Even so, the highest dollar amount leveled against any of them was $110,000, and that was against the Haverhill teachers union, according to The Boston Globe. Thus, both the length of the strike and the fines against the NTA are unprecedented in Massachusetts as of the 21st century.

Here’s a breakdown of the issue:

What the law says about teacher strikes

The law that makes it illegal for Massachusetts public school teachers to strike does not single out teachers.

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A part of Massachusetts General Laws, the relevant section reads: “No public employee or employee organization shall engage in a strike, and no public employee or employee organization shall induce, encourage or condone any strike, work stoppage, slowdown or withholding of services by such public employees.”

This is the norm across the country, with only 13 states allowing public school teachers to strike, according to EducationWeek.

  • Read more: Newton teachers strike fines approach $600K as school canceled for 10th day

The law that made public employee strikes illegal was passed in 1973, according to The Boston Globe. But making public employee strikes illegal was just one part of the law.

Overall, the law wasn’t a loss for unions — it was a boon, Massachusetts Association of School Committees Executive Director Glenn Koocher told MassLive. Public employees had the right to unionize before the law, but the legislation formalized the collective bargaining process, as well as the process of forming a union.

“It created a framework under which collective bargaining could go on, so then everyone could begin to organize,” he said.

What happens if teachers strike anyway?

When a union representing public school teachers implements a strike, to take action against them, a school district must ask the state’s employee relations board to determine whether a strike is actually happening. If the board determines a strike is happening, it then asks a judge to order them back to work, and the order is typically granted.

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If the union doesn’t stop striking after it is ordered to by a judge, the judge can hold it in contempt of the court order and implement fines as he or she sees fit. Importantly though, the judge is supposed to consider many factors when deciding how punitive the fines will be, such as whether the school district is bargaining in good faith, according to The Boston Globe.

  • Read more: Dropkick Murphys cover pro-union song in support of striking Newton teachers

In recent years, fines are the only punishment teachers’ unions have faced for striking, Koocher said. Even so, a judge is permitted to implement other sanctions against them.

In the 1970s, the leaders of the teachers’ unions were often jailed for weeks during strikes, according to The Boston Globe. In one case in 1977, about 80 Franklin teachers were jailed during a two-week strike.

Why the state has a stake in prohibiting public employee strikes

When public employees go on strike, there’s no one to provide vital services, such as policing or firefighting, Koocher said. In the case of teachers’ strikes, children may be left at home alone if parents cannot arrange for supervision during school hours.

The students can also experience learning loss ahead of important tests, Koocher said. “If you’ve been out of school for two weeks during the prime learning period, you’re not going to get to a lot of the material that is being tested.”

  • Read more: National Education Association president cheers on striking Newton teachers

Additionally, under state law, school districts are required to provide students with 180 days of school by June 30. If a strike goes on too long, the district may need to extend the school year into July, but that can only happen if the state education department grants a waiver.

Why teachers choose to strike anyway

Teachers strike when they feel they have no other way of getting municipal leaders to address important issues affecting the school district, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) President Max Page said. In the case of the recent strikes, the unions had been negotiating a new contract for months or even years because district leaders weren’t agreeing to some of the unions’ core demands.

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“In Newton, it’s been 16 months of negotiations. That’s far, far too long to actually just settle a contract,” he said. “They felt like they did not have a fair bargaining partner.”

  • Read more: 5 things to know about the monetary impact of the Newton teachers’ strike

Page also pointed out that the MTA has 400 local chapters, and of those, only six have gone on strike in the past few years. Furthermore, most of those strikes resulted in the parties resolving the contract disagreements within a few days, he said.

“It’s an extreme action that members never imagine taking,” Page said. “But clearly, some members, in overwhelming numbers, decided ‘This is what we have to do to have the schools that our students deserve.’”

Ultimately, while a strike may negatively impact students, the teachers feel that the short-term loss is acceptable if it leads to the district implementing changes that will impact the long-term success of the students, Page said. One example of this is the NTA refusing to compromise on the issue of hiring a social worker for every school in the Newton school district.

Why have there been more teacher strikes in Massachusetts lately?

Teachers have felt the need for change in their districts more urgently as society has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and the learning loss and the toll on students’ social and emotional well-being has been realized, Page said. It’s one reason longstanding issues such as better compensation for educational support staff have been coming to the forefront of contract negotiations, he said.

“There’s been a feeling that the educators worked heroically, risking their own lives and making sure that students can continue their education. And so, they have, perhaps, less patience for not addressing the issues that they consider so important for their school,” Page said.

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  • Read more: Newton teachers’ strike closes schools for 9th straight day

But Koocher pointed out that the strikes coincide with a resurgence of union power across the country in recent years. Union leadership in general has become more aggressive, he said.

How the law could change

The MTA has backed a bill that would make strikes legal for public sector employees after six months of negotiations, with the exception of public safety employees.

“I believe that there needs to be a level playing field between labor and management,” state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-27th Middlesex, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Boston.com. “To me, this fundamental right not existing in the public sector results in these really challenging circumstances that we’re finding ourselves in today.”

  • Read more: Newton teachers’ strike update: City Council prez claims ‘considerable progress’

But many stakeholders don’t support this change. Teachers’ unions should not use striking as a means of getting officials to capitulate to their demands, Boston University Joshua Goodman told BU Today. Instead, those changes should be implemented through the democratic process, and unions can make that happen by convincing communities to elect public officials who support their positions, he said.

Additionally, Gov. Maura Healey told WBZ-TV last year that she doesn’t support legalizing teacher strikes. While she empathizes with the teachers, she said it’s “paramount” that children remain in school.



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Kitchen countertops linked to Massachusetts man’s deadly diagnosis

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Kitchen countertops linked to Massachusetts man’s deadly diagnosis


FILE – A man is using a special electric saw to cut a granite counter in a residential kitchen in preparation for installing a new range top. Getty Images

A Massachusetts man has been diagnosed with a life-altering lung disease linked to popular kitchen countertops. 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed this week that its first case of silicosis had been diagnosed in a Hispanic man in his 40s who, for the past 14 years, worked for stone countertop fabrication and installation companies. 

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What is silicosis? 

Big picture view:

Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica, which is found naturally in granite and other stones. Silicosis can become progressively disabling and sometimes prove fatal. It almost always results from work-related exposures.

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Dig deeper:

Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, according to OSHA. 

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Symptoms:

Symptoms of silicosis can include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue. Workers exposed to airborne crystalline silica also are at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. 

What they’re saying:

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“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease – and one that is also absolutely preventable,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust. No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work.”

 Tanning beds could triple melanoma risk, new study finds

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Countertop disease

Big picture view:

Crystalline silica commonly occurs in nature as the mineral quartz, and is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, various other rocks and sand. Cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling and polishing these natural and manufactured stones can release various levels of crystalline silica dust particles that can be inhaled if proper protections aren’t in place.

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Dig deeper:

Engineered or manufactured stone, also commonly called quartz, is particularly problematic since it has more crystalline silica than natural stone. 

By the numbers:

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For example, the average percent of crystalline silica in engineered stone is at least 90% in quartz and engineered stone, vs. a 10-45% makeup in granite, according to an OSHA hazard alert

What you can do:

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Certain engineering controls, such as water spraying systems or remote-controlled tools, can be used to mitigate risk, as well as by wearing proper respiratory protection. 

Silica cases in the U.S.

Big picture view:

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Most engineered stone workers with silicosis in the U.S. were exposed to silica at their jobs for over ten years, although some were exposed for less time.

The backstory:

The first reported case of silicosis in the U.S. associated with exposure to silica dust from engineered stone was identified in Texas in 2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since then, other states have reported hundreds of cases, and dozens of deaths, particularly in California. 

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Dig deeper:

In the U.S., most engineered stone workers with silicosis are relatively young, male, and Hispanic/Latino. This largely reflects the demographic composition of this industry’s workforce.

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In 2023, over half of workers in this industry were under 45 years old, nearly three-quarters were men, and more than 1 in 3 were Hispanic/Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Dec. 9, 2025, alert from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Background information was taken from OSHA. This story was reported from Detroit. 

HealthMassachusetts
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Where to dine inside an igloo in Massachusetts this winter

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Where to dine inside an igloo in Massachusetts this winter


Outdoor dining is out, and igloo dining is officially in.

While winter makes it difficult for diners to enjoy meals outside, several restaurants across Massachusetts break out heated igloos to give guests a chance to still have an outdoor dining experience.

Here’s where you can get that experience for yourself.

206 North Spencer Road

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Black & White Grille has heated igloos for outdoor dining from now until the spring of 2026. The igloos are available daily for lunch and dinner. The igloos fit up to six people, and dining is limited to an hour and 45 minutes. At least two people are required to reserve an igloo, which also comes with a $30 deposit. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the business at 508-885-5018.

2 Mercantile St.

Worcester’s first rooftop bar has heated igloos that offer views of downtown. The igloos fit up to six people and can be reserved for up to two hours. Each one costs $50 per party and is available from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations, which are required, can be made via OpenTable or by calling The Mercantile at 774-389-5180.

2027 Massachusetts Ave.

From November to April, the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington offers an igloo dining experience called the “INNgloo Wonderland.” The igloos fit up to six people and are available for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, Saturday High Tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each INNgloo features a faux fireplace heater, mini speaker and twinkly lights. It costs $120 to rent. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Inn at 781-301-6655.

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160 Merrimack St.

Take in views of the Merrimack River from Haverhill’s coastal Italian restaurant, BOSA Coastal Italian. Guests can order from BOSA’s full menu while hanging out in the heated igloos, decorated with LED lights and blankets. The igloos will be open until spring. The igloos fit 6 to 8 people and can be reserved Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling BOSA at 978-641-3149.

70 Sleeper St.

Boston’s popular rooftop igloos and iceboxes are back at the Rooftop at The Envoy Hotel in Seaport. The igloos, which offer views of Boston’s harbor and skyline, can fit groups of up to six people. The heated igloos also come with blankets for extra warmth. Guests can try one of the rooftop’s seasonal cocktails, such as the Gin-gle Bell Hot Toddy or Winter Garden Spritz, as well. Reservations can be made online for two hours at a time. The phone number is 617-530-1538.

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2261 Dorchester Ave.

The Bowery Bar in Dorchester has three heated yurts on its private patio available in the winter. The yurts can be reserved for lunch Monday through Friday, for dinner any day of the week and for brunch on weekends. Depending on the experience, the yurts have a food and beverage minimum of $100, $150 or $200 for a two-hour booking. Reservations can be made online, and any changes should be made by calling The Bowery Bar at 617-698-2261.

973 Providence Highway

Mick Morgan’s in Sharon has eight igloos available during the winter. The restaurant does not take reservations, so all igloos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The igloos can fit six people and have no time limit. People can call Mick Morgans at 781-806-0066 for more information.

260 W Water St.

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The igloos at Riverhouse Weir Village in Taunton have returned for the winter season, along with the restaurants’ popular Igloo Gingerbread Nights. The igloos fit up to eight people and cost $50 to reserve. Reservations must be made by calling the restaurant at 774-501-2003.

75 Ferry St.

For $5 a person, you can reserve an igloo at The Tipsy Toboggan in Fall River. The restaurant offers igloos for 5 to 8 people and an igloo cabin with tables for up to 4 people. The winter garden can be booked for brunch, lunch or dinner. Reservations last up to two hours and can be made online. The phone number is 508-567-0550.

Did we miss any? Please let us know at dcifarelli@masslive.com.





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Nine high school sports takeaways from the first full night of the winter season – The Boston Globe

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Nine high school sports takeaways from the first full night of the winter season – The Boston Globe


Browse our players to watch for the upcoming season: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey

Preseason Top 20 rankings: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey

Earning their first coaching wins with their programs were Jesse Mitchell (Canton girls), Liv Robles (Essex Tech girls), Mark Garrity (Malden Catholic boys), Josh Keilty (St. Mary’s boys), Danny Burns (Belmont boys), and Adam Russo (Melrose boys).

▪ The North Reading girls emerged from double-overtime battle with Pentucket with a 52-45 victory thanks to a game-high 23 points from Sophia Gallivan.

Amari Moe provided the buzzer-beating basket as the Lexington boys nipped Burlington, 64-62, despite a big night from the Redmen’s Matty Gray (29 points). Charlie O’Brien paced the Minutemen with 23 points.

▪ Eighth-grader Jackson Hines drilled a tying 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, then scored 4 of his team-high 13 points in the extra period to give the Arlington Catholic boys a 62-55 road win over Revere.

Our first Top 20 team to get taken down was the No. 17 Abington boys, who lost an 89-80 barnburner to New Bedford despite getting 30 points and 10 rebounds from Kingston Maxwell and 24 points and six rebounds from Tyler Staiti.

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Noah Bayersdorfer, Winthrop — In a 54-43 win over East Boston, the senior posted 30 points and seven rebounds.

Ashley Cox, Barnstable — The junior led all rebounders on Friday night, pulling down 15 boards to go with 12 points in a 53-28 win over Bourne.

Hannah D’Angelo, Pembroke — Our one hockey entry of the night, the senior paced the Titans to a 5-1 win over Norwell with two goals and two assists.

Kayla Dunlap, Natick — The sophomore saturated the stat sheet with 25 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals in a 62-43 triumph vs. Brookline.

Anna Kanders, Swampscott — The sophomore did a tremendous job sharing the ball and looking for her own shot, scoring 20 points with eight assists in a 58-40 win against Gloucester.

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Eileen Lowther, Hingham — The junior dominated the paint, blocking seven shots, grabbing 10 rebounds, and scoring 13 points to beat Middleborough, 43-19.

Diego Montanari, New Bedford — The senior dropped 31 points, leading the Whalers to an 89-80 upset of 17th-ranked Abington

Elian Rodriguez, Salem — The junior notched a double-double, scoring 21 points and dishing 10 assists in a 73-51 triumph over Saugus.

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman — The senior filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks ina 68-44 win over Nashoba Valley Tech.

Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn — The junior posted 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 56-44 win over Nipmuc.

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▪ St. John’s Prep has a new volleyball coach: Pamela Benzan Leete. Leete coached both the boys’ and girls’ programs at Essex Tech, qualifying for the postseason for 10 consecutive years, capturing seven Commonwealth Athletic Conference crowns, and producing nine CAC MVPs.

“I am thankful and excited for this incredible opportunity,” said Leete in a statement. “I look forward to working with the boys and helping to mold this program’s future.”

Leete has also served as an assistant at Endicott and has spent more than a decade as a clinician at the Jumbos Volleyball Clinics at Tufts. A Danvers resident who grew up in Malden, she is the English department chair at St. John’s Prep, where she has worked since 2018.

“Pam embodies the kind of educator-coach who strengthens the heart of St. John’s Prep,” said athletic director Jameson Pelkey. “She understands how athletics can deepen a student’s confidence, character, and sense of purpose, and she has a remarkable track record of helping teams achieve at a high level while building a culture rooted in integrity and individual growth.”

Leete takes over an SJP program that has reached the Division 1 quarterfinals in two of the last four seasons.

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▪ North Andover announced that former assistant Caitlin Enright will serve as interim girls’ lacrosse coach this spring. A North Andover alumna, Enright played three sports for the Scarlet Knights and went on to play lacrosse at Merrimack. A math teach at North Andover, Enright also serves as a JV soccer coach and freshman basketball coach.

▪ Former Catholic Memorial running back Datrell Jones has entered the transfer portal after three years at Boston College. He played in five games in 2024, with eight carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, but didn’t see the field in 2025.

▪ WPI sophomore Myles Lakin, a Reading graduate, and graduate student Lauren Meinhold, an Acton-Boxborough graduate, were named to the NFHCA Region 1 First Team. Meinhold is a two-time selection after leading the Engineers with 10 goals and five assists. She finished her career with 27 goal sand 26 assists. Lakin, who was named NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year, logged 14 wins in net with an .863 save percentage and .955 goals against average.

▪ On Tuesday, the United Soccer Coaches released its All-America lists. Massachusetts was represented on the boys’ side by Emmanuel Marmolejo (Berkshire School), Alex Hensch (Longmeadow), Luke Dougherty (Natick), Bless Jeremie Mbuyi Kasongo (Northfield Mt. Hermon), and Garrison Murphy (St. John’s Prep). Honored on the girls’ side: Emmy O’Donnell (Concord-Carlisle), Sarah Tressler (Central Catholic), Emily Burnham (Wellesley), Sidney Heavey (Medfield), Addison Kalaw (BB&N), Tyler Martens (Groton), Nicole Proia (Natick), and Wylie Roossien (Phillips Andover).

▪ North Attleborough will retire Mike Babul’s No. 43 in between the boys’ and girls’ games against Attleboro on Jan. 20. Babul was a standout player for the Red Rocketeers before going on to play at UMass. After several stops as a college assistant, Babul was in his second season coaching Thayer Academy when he died of a heart attack at age 47 in 2024.

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Diego Montananri, New Bedford, 31

Alex Ste. Marie, Manchester Essex, 31

Noah Bayersdorfer, Winthrop, 30

Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 30

Matty Gray, Burlington, 29

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Cal Atherton, Newburyport, 28

Justin Flores, Lynnfield, 28

Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 27

Liam MacPhee, Stoneham, 27

Jovani Melendez, Norton, 27

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Caleb Haynes, Brookline, 26

Nate Lane, Salem, 26

Leticia Castro, Greater Lowell, 25

John Chareas, St. Mary’s, 25

Brandon Doherty, Lynnfield, 25

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Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 25

George Howell, O’Bryant, 25

Mathaios Stamm, Newton North, 25

Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 24

Cam Santos, Bridgewater-Raynham, 24

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Tyler Staiti, Abington, 24

Malikhi Tavares, Wareham, 24

Rolky Brea Arias, St. Mary’s, 23

Ethan Elie, Braintree, 23

Sophie Gallivan, North Reading, 23

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Sarah Michel, Blue Hills, 23

Charlie O’Brien, Lexington, 23

Jonny Sullivan, Tewksbury, 23

Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn, 23

Harrison Burbine, Winchester, 22

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Allie Danis, Newton North, 22

Savvy Eriksen, Abington, 22

Olivia Gaynor, Peabody, 22

Jordan Oliver, Acton-Boxborough, 22

Aiden Richard, Tewksbury, 22

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Lily White, Dracut, 22

Weston Bunnell, Stoneham, 21

Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 21

Amare Rose, Wareham, 21

Meredith Gibbs, Dover-Sherborn, 20

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Shane Harrington, Walpole, 20

Adyxandra Jimenez, Fenway, 20

Anna Kanders, Swampscott, 20

Ashley Cox, Barnstable, 15

Kelsey Hudon, Dracut, 12

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Aboubakar Nimaka, Malden Catholic, 12

Bobby Taku, Malden Catholic, 12

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 12

Paige Morrison, Sandwich, 11

Sophia Coburn, Peabody, 10

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Jeremy Hernandez, Catholic Memorial, 10

Eileen Lowther, Hingham, 10

Ava Martin, Somerville, 10

Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 10

Cassidy Saindon, Dracut, 10

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Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn, 10

George Howell, O’Bryant, 9

Katie McMahon, Natick, 9

Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 9

Kate Suneson, Apponequet, 9

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Lizzy Bettencourt, Peabody, 8

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 8

Jackson Farrington, O’Bryant, 8

Matt Kenney, Salem, 8

Erin Langone, Shawsheen, 8

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Lily White, Dracut, 8

Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 10

Anna Kanders, Swampscott, 8

Domenic Paniello-Torres, Beverly, 8

Bridget Pole, Natick, 8

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Dom Torres, Beverly, 8

Sienna Miranda, Seekonk, 7

Kaylee Maier, Dracut, 6

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 5

Grace Goudreau, Seekonk, 5

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Amari Kergo, Somerville, 5

Rex Satter, Ipswich, 5

CC Curran, Natick, 4

Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 4

Hanna Kuriscak, Apponequet, 4

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Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 4

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 4

Vin Winter, Ipswich, 4

Caelen Mahoney, Seekonk, 7

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 6

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Lala Gomez, Shawsheen, 6

Amari Kergo, Somerville, 6

Tori White, Canton, 6

Avery Bettencourt, Peabody, 5

Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 5

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Kelsey Hudon, Dracut, 5

Olivia Gaynor, Peabody, 5

Aliana Ryan, Peabody, 5

Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 4

Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 4

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Cece Levrault, Apponequet, 4

Sienna Miranda, Seekonk, 4

Denai Williams, Natick, 4

Eileen Lowther, Hingham, 7

Sophia Coburn, Peabody, 5

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Carson Sarpong, Winchester, 5

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 2


Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.





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