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What’s Inside

‘Once a Knight, always a Knight’ Alums return to row on the Charles River

Five thousand meters, one boat, and eight rowers with Upper School (US) graduation dates spanning four decades. When JV Rowing and Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Henry Kasdon ’98 graduated from the US, Bill Clinton was president. When Nick Taylor ’08 graduated a decade later, the country was amid the Great Recession. When Henry Ross ’18 graduated ten years later, it was not long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Adrien Tabor ’24 graduated just last June.

For the first time in US history, a Men’s Alumni Eight boat competed in the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR). HOCR is the world’s largest regatta and takes place annually over the penultimate weekend of October, just across the street from the US campus. This year, the school’s annual alumni reunion weekend was moved from June to overlap with the event, drawing graduates back to Cambridge. From front to back, the US alumni boat featured alums Coach Kasdon (coxswain), Adrien, Lucas Lesburg, Yonathan Ayalew, Ali Gonzalez (all ‘24), Ian Kaplan and Will Nguyen (both ‘21), Nick, and Henry.

After graduating, Coach Kasdon coxed for Tufts before

returning to the US in 2005 and rejoining the team as a coach. Given his familiarity with the course, Coach Kasdon said he felt confident leading up to the race.

“I’m pretty sure I could do it blind,” he said. “I coxed here for my BB&N career, my freshman year at Tufts we rowed out of the Harvard boathouse, and then I coached on this river for the last 20 years. It’s a whole different experience competing in it, but I know this course so well.”

As the coach of every rower in the Alumni Eight boat at some point, Coach Kasdon had faith in his rowers before the race, he said.

“No one is hurting after a couple of days of practice, we did a good taper, and these are smart guys. They’ve put themselves in a position to succeed today— they’ve prepared themselves.”

Returning to the Charles for the first time since graduating 16 years ago, fourth-seat rower Nick Taylor focused his preparation on progressively building up to race shape.

“I started very slow,” he said. “Probably the most frustrating thing about being 34 is that you can’t just hop on and do whatever you want—you’ll immediately injure yourself—so it was like the biggest slow-taper up for several months.”

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Shabbat unites Jewish community, allies JAG hosts third biannual dinner at MS

As the waning sun dipped below the horizon, Eli Kesselheim ’29 lit glowing candles on the table laden with a braided challah and a glistening silver kiddush cup. Joined by the 70 other attendees, 18 students from the Lower School, Middle School (MS), and Upper School (US) led the room in singing the Shabbat blessings and Oseh Shalom, a prayer for peace.

Organized by Co-Chairs Jamie Wacks P ’29 ’32, Dara Kesselheim P ’27 ’29 ’32, and Emily Cooper P ’26 ’28, the Jewish Affinity Group (JAG) hosted its third biannual Shabbat dinner in the MS Big Room on Oct. 18.

Shabbat, the weekly Jewish holiday that begins on Friday night, creates a sense of unity among the Jewish community and invites weekly reflection and family time, Ms. Wacks said.

“One of the things that is special about Shabbat is that no matter where you go in the world, Jewish people know about Shabbat, and it makes us feel connected to each other. It’s a nice way to end the week, take a breath, spend time with family, and have some joy.”

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Pedaling for Prizes Bike Week inspires friendly competition

Jack Reinfeld Contributing Writer

Only 1.1% of Americans commute by bike every day while 91.7% drive, according to the 2022 National Household Travel Survey. Upper School (US) Science Teacher Jay Shah and US Librarian Shawnee Sloop hoped to combat a similar disparity at the US by creating Bike Week, a week-long event challenging participants to cycle, with rewards for top riders: an advisory pizza party, a Dunkin Donuts gift card, and biking swag. From Oct. 6 to 12, faculty and students biked a combined total of 600 miles, farther than the distance from Boston to Pittsburgh.

The goal of the event was to “transform the transportation culture around BB&N and to improve the experience of those commuting to and from school,” Dr. Shah said.

Ms. Sloop and Dr. Shah received an Innovation Grant (I-Grant) to support their plan of encouraging biking at the school. Biking to school is beneficial for many reasons, including avoiding the difficult parking situation, Dr. Shah said.

“I bike to school every day. Ms. Sloop bikes to school every day, as well, so we know how pleasant it is. It’s quick, reliable. You get a bit of exercise, a bit of fresh air.”

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Buckingham Browne & Nichols Upper School, Cambridge, MA
Photo Courtesy of Danny West
Hailey Jiang ’26, Kate Rice, Lucy Forman, and Sophia Chester (all ’25) race past the BB&N Boathouse in the Women’s Youth Four.

It’s time to reach across the aisle (or hallway)

The November presidential election is front, center, and largely unavoidable in the media. Debate has been alive and somewhat well between Democrats and Republicans in the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates and on every news outlet.

Debate may be the wrong term in some of these cases. While the Vice Presidential Debate featured some quality of discussion about important issues, the Presidential Debate was less productive. Partisanship inhibits the ability of political leaders to find common ground and have meaningful conversations across the aisle. It is easy to criticize our leaders’ extremism and their inability to compromise. However, we must also reflect on what extent we, as the generation of future leaders, engage with ideas contrary to our own.

Our school aims to be neutral in its political stance. Teachers are not supposed to share their political beliefs in class to avoid alienating those with opposing views. At first glance, this policy makes sense. No one should feel forced to share their personal beliefs. But, in practice, neutrality has created an environment where political discussion is avoided.

Sharing ideas can feel awkward or embarrassing if you don’t feel fully informed. It is our responsibility to ensure everyone in our community feels included, regardless of their political views. Avoiding discussion may seem like a solution, but this begs the question: Does one person sharing their opinions necessarily have to threaten the beliefs of another?

Within our community, a wide range of political views exist and many are contradictory.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School 80 Gerry’s Landing Road Cambridge, MA 02138 vanguard@bbns.org, vanguard.bbns.org (617) 547-6100 Ext. 2171

Volume 53, Issue 5

Projects Editor Beckett Dubovik

Editor-in-Chief Chloe Taft

Managing Editor Emilia Khoury

But contradiction is not a reason to shy away from debate. We need to be able to listen to opposing opinions to broaden our understanding of each other and ourselves. But if everyone remains in their own belief bubble, we as a school—and as a nation—will never progress.

Our school’s focus this year, is having meaningful (and often difficult) conversations. While it is great to have that goal, we need to implement it in practice (and not just in advisory discussions about whether the MCAS should be a graduation requirement). We must approach conversations about politics with respect and a desire to learn—or at least look at an issue from a different perspective. Talking about politics can be uncomfortable, but the only way to make these conversations less difficult is to practice them.

Grading the grading system

Stress is an undeniable truth of high school, especially at our school. A key source of that stress is grades. In efforts to reduce competition or anxiety among students, some classes have moved away from the traditional grading model.

Take Honors Physics, for example. Students take tests where they are awarded a green light if they understand the material, a yellow light if their work needs improvement, or a red light if they completely miss the mark. In theory, this could work. Students can track their progress without tying their learning, or self-worth, to a letter.

Opinions Editor

Lea Freiin Von Hilgers

Editorials Editor

Kate Rice

On Campus Editor Gabe Cooper

Off Campus Editor

Ayana Karthik

Features Editor

Yancheng Zhao

Sports Editor Matthew Walsh

Arts Editor

Sonja Peetz-Larsen

Faculty Advisor Kim Whitney

Digital Media Editor Doug Zhang

Audio Editor Will Benjamin

Production Manager Kathryn Martin

Asst. Production Manager Charlotte Garrity

Asst. Production Manager Carl Chen

Photo Editor

Krishna Patel

Asst. Photo Editor Olivia Richter

e Vanguard’s mission is to examine and engage the school community by providing news and information about events affecting it and by featuring the diverse range of people and perspectives that comprise it. We strive for fairness and accuracy in our content, and we strive to present that content with integrity and respect.

e Vanguard is the official student newspaper of the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Upper School, which has 543 students, 96 faculty members, and 64 staff members. Affiliated with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the paper is a forum for differing views and welcomes comments from its readers in the form of Letters to the Editor. No anonymous letters will be printed. e Vanguard reserves the right to edit all letters for length. e Vanguard publishes eight issues per annual volume and prints between 600 and 900 copies of each issue. About 200 of those are mailed out; the rest are distributed around campus.

Copyright © 2024 e Vanguard

Staff Writers: Fitzgerald Hung, Aparajita Srivastava, Alex Lev, Tillie Fischoeder, Hailey Jiang, David Xiong, Lucy Song, Annie Zhu, Finn Konary, Vartan Arakelian, Christine Tao, Scarlett Hawkins, Mimi Shaywitz, Ethan Moran

Staff Photographers: Quentin Higgins, Emilia Khoury, Gil Cavalieros, Keenan Billings, Caroline Kovacs, Ash Surati, Ashleen Pierre, Hailey Jiang

Staff Artists: Victoria Nassikas, Isabel Doricent, Kate Rice, Lea Freiin Von Hilgers

Yet, no one received a yellow on their report card at the end of the year. The colors are ultimately converted into a letter grade. The method of conversion is based on progress through the year, which is vague and leaves some students worrying about what grade they will receive after a year of colors. Letter grades are the reality of our school, so why is there so much variety across departments?

It’s natural for grading to vary between subjects. A score on a math test is often more objective—it counts how many questions you got right and how many you got wrong. An essay, however, is a whole other story. Your grade depends on a wide range of variables: who your teacher is, which specific assignment and rubric you are being graded on, and, as some may argue, how well your peers performed.

The process of moving away from traditional grading models has also created a large amount of variation between and within departments. In the English department, an Ais only awarded to students with “outstanding” Junior Profiles. But, in AP Physics, many students fail nearly every test of the year and still receive an A.

A second source of inconsistency is reassessment policies. Some math classes offer a retake for any test for a full replacement of the grade, while others only allow a retake on a test grade below an 80%, and some only offer corrections for a portion of the points back. Some teachers offer edits on papers, and some offer none. This leaves the ability to change a score after receiving a grade up to the lottery of which teacher you have. Some might argue that there is no need for grades at all. You have to gauge your own learning and not seek external validation for your achievements, some claim. Honestly, whoever says that has never gone to our school. As much as we value our own internal validation, grades do have an impact on what we do and where we go after high school.

Attempting to remove stress from school is a noble pursuit. However, changing the grading system simply creates more stress. The best way to lower stress is to use the system we know best.

School community gears up for competition Bike Week prompts mileage race for faculty, students

Bike Week was inspired by Dr. Shah’s experience in college, where his university collectively tallied up their bike miles to match the distance to Jupiter.

“When I was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there was a university-wide ‘Bike to Jupiter,’” Dr. Shah said. His twist on it: “Bike to Bivouac.”

The results from Bike Week far exceeded expectations, Dr. Shah said.

“Having done this, we’ve biked to Bivouac and back three times.”

Although biking to school has many benefits, one reason people might not bike is a lack of solid racks at school.

“We are working with facilities and have given them the incentive to build a big bike storage shed,” Dr. Shah said. “Right now at BB&N, there are a few racks. They’re rickety. Bikes fall over all the time. It’s not that easy to lock them up. Bikes have been stolen.”

The goal of Bike Week extended beyond mileage, Ms. Sloop said.

“The BB&N Bike Challenge was an event Dr. Shah and I dreamed up in connection to an I-Grant we are working on. The I-Grant’s goal is to transform biking culture at BB&N.”

Ms. Sloop wanted Bike Week to not only raise awareness about the

transportation culture of the school but also to prove that biking can be enjoyable, she said.

“Biking is for transportation, for relaxation, for the environment, and it’s a great way to take a mental break. I hope the participants are having fun and enjoying the many benefits of biking.”

Following this year’s success, Ms. Sloop and Dr. Shah hope the event can become annual. However, funding is an issue, Ms. Sloop said.

“Hopefully, we can do this yearly. Our I-Grant will end June 2025. The culmination of that will be a new biking structure. It will be a place with electricity and lights for people to store their bikes when they are on campus, which would be wonderful because then we could do the BB&N Bike Challenge on a yearly basis.”

Ten students and faculty participated in the week-long challenge. US Math and Computer Science Teacher Mark Fidler and Eli Billings ’28, the faculty and student winners, respectively, each cycled over 100 miles, contributing more than one-third of the event’s total.

Mr. Fidler had no reason not to compete in Bike Week. He has a bit of a “competitive drive” and bikes often, so Bike Week was an ideal competition for him, he said.

“I bike every day to work. I’m getting my 60 to 75 miles just on my

bike commute alone.”

Biking to school isn’t a new routine for Mr. Fidler.

“I’ve been biking ever since I had to stop driving my kids to school,” he said. “My youngest son is 31, so when he was 18, and he could drive my car, I could go back to biking. I’ve been biking the last 13 or 14 years.”

For Bike Week, he decided to bike a little farther and a little harder than usual. During the challenge, Mr. Fidler biked a total of 105.9 miles.

“I racked up the miles, but I’m also kind of a competitive person,” he said. “That week was beautiful weather every day, so I biked every day that week. But the Sunday beforehand, when it started, was one of those gorgeous fall days. Usually on the weekends, I’ll go for long walks to use different muscles, but because of the bike challenge, I said, ‘Instead of a long walk in the woods, I am going to go out and do a 20, 25mile bike ride.’”

Mr. Fidler’s 11-year-old grandson even helped to push him to victory.

“The last day, I was babysitting with my grandkids, and one of them is a serious biker. He’s actually faster than I am now. He’s 11 years old, and I had to work to keep up with him. We went out and did a 15-mile ride that day. He knew I was in this challenge, and he liked to help me.”

Eli biked 112.8 miles during the challenge, primarily as training for races.

“I try to bike pretty much every day—before and sometimes after school if I have to,” he said. “I train and do races, usually on the weekends, and I’d say I bike probably 10-plus hours a week.”

Eli participated for the appealing prizes, he said.

“It was motivating because it seemed like there were good prizes, and it seemed like it would be pretty easy for me to win because I bike a lot.”

While this year’s challenge has ended, Ms. Sloop and Dr. Shah are hopeful that biking will become a more common form of transportation with the implementation of a new bike shed.

School considers after school snack options for students Ms. Keimowitz, Coach Locke hold meeting to collect student input

The Nicholas Athletic Center (NAC) Café once hosted third-party vendors who sold an abundance of pizza, wraps, and sweet treats, providing students with an opportunity to refuel prior to their athletic commitments. During the COVID pandemic, the NAC pivoted to supplying bins of plentiful snacks, often consisting of lemon cookies and Cheez-Its. In recent years, however, the NAC has stopped serving food entirely, meaning some students head into their afternoon commitments with inadequate nourishment.

Director of Athletics Jaye Locke, along with her colleagues, has seen the effects of under-fueling on student athletes first-hand, she said. In an effort to address this issue, Upper School Director Jessica Keimowitz and Coach Locke held a drop-in meeting on Sept. 23 during Community Activity Block (CAB)

to gather student opinions about food options at the school. Initially, the meeting was set to tackle the theme of the snack bins located in the Commons, but the conversation ultimately went in a different direction, Coach Locke said.

“It was a little bit about the snacks, but it was really more about a potential NAC Café and seeing what opportunities we might be able to provide,” she said. “There was definitely an interest in doing more research and looking to see what we could potentially do.”

Despite excitement about the potential revival of the NAC Café, Coach Locke acknowledged that logistics would play a major role.

“There’s a lot of challenges in and around staffing and timing. It’s not an easy thing. We’re not like these boarding schools that have amazing cafés.”

Despite these challenges, Coach Locke believes that increased food options could lead to gradual improvements at the school. She hopes that kids will eventually rely on the school’s own services rather than third-party companies, vending machines, or delivery services, she said.

“Maybe instead of finding a third-party, and now that we have more staffing, could we actually staff it? What else could we offer that maybe is more reasonable than the vending machines? People order a lot, which is expensive, and maybe we could help cut back on that a

little bit.”

Coach Locke acknowledged her aspirations would require a generous amount of time and dedication. She is willing to wait, though, as it could lead to a better experience for students.

“I like to think of the NAC as a hub of activity and a joyful place for people to come, and food adds joy,” she said. “Maybe more people would be happy to hang in the NAC. It would just add more to a community. Food always does. Relationships and connections are often formed around food.”

For now, snack bins in the Commons, which are put out after the last block, remain the sole source of complementary after-school nourishment for students. You-Yan Wang ’26 has not used the school’s snack services since last school year. He said that he remembers being relatively satisfied.

“I actually really like the bins they put out after school. I think those have been helpful sometimes when I’m hungry and didn’t eat enough lunch, and I have to run to practice.”

You-Yan said the snacks typically disappear within a matter of minutes.

“From what I remember, they usually run out pretty fast. If you got held an extra five minutes in class, they’d be gone.”

Nava Galperin ’28 prioritizes snack acquisition and immediately heads for the bins after her last class.

“I’m pretty quick, but I have some friends who can’t get there, especially when a class runs late.”

Elizabeth Velander ’26 has faced the same issue: She often struggles to refuel before an afternoon of demanding physical activity, she said.

“I feel like it’s a lot of quick carbs, and they also run out really fast,” she said. “Sometimes, I’ll come down a little bit late before sports, and every single food option is gone, and I’m left with nothing before practice.”

Maggie Pond ’25 is also not a fan of the snack options, arguing that the variety is rather weak. She would like to see a difference in the types of offerings, she said.

“A lot of times, they won’t have enough food or options,” she said. “I would like to see this change. Maybe a couple more options, such as some sort of protein bar or anything better than SunChips. And maybe slightly more quantity-wise because some people are known to often take more than one.”

The lack of quantity and variety also infringes upon Maggie’s skills on the field, she said.

“It definitely affects my athletic performance,” she said. “A lot of the time, I am really hungry after a lot of hours of working hard, and I then have to go push my body. As an athlete, you need food in between there to fuel your body.”

Photo Courtesy of Mark Fidler Mr. Fidler and his grandson complete a 15-mile bike ride during Bike Week.
Photo Courtesy of Quentin Higgins
A student reaches into an empty after-school snack-bin in the Commons.

Fall ac vi es

Tourists flock to New England every year in the fall to experience a quintessential Northeast autumn or to catch a glimpse of the red and orange foliage. Just last year, over one million people visited Salem in the five weeks leading up to Halloween, a record number. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, autumn in Massachusetts is a time to enjoy seasonal festivities.

Many Upper School (US) students, however, spend fall days cramming for midterms and finalizing college applications, and they hardly have time to think about baking pumpkin-flavored goods with friends, celebrating Halloween, or simply enjoying the last stretch of pleasant weather before winter takes over. There’s no shortage of ways to experience the best of fall outside of the school’s walls, so here are some ways to get out from behind your computer screen and away from your textbooks to enjoy the season while it lasts. —Ayana Karthik ’26

Pumpkin carving

Starbucks releases their fall menu in August because of the high demand for one drink in particular: the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Whether it’s pumpkin spice, pumpkin patches, or pumpkin pie, the orange gourd is inseparable from autumn. One of the most timeless pumpkin-related activities is, of course, pumpkin carving. It’s somehow just as fun now, years after carving with our families. One way to enhance the excitement of pumpkin carving is to make it a competition with friends. Teaming up is advised, as scooping out pumpkin guts is not a one-person job. Then, pick a theme and start carving! Whether you create an intricate masterpiece or a simple design, you are sure to end up with a festive decoration.

Trick-or-trea ng

To those who say high schoolers are too old to trick-or-treat, I say this: Halloween is all about having fun, and everyone deserves a chance to eat as much free candy as their heart desires. New England doesn’t take Halloween lightly—after all, we have the highest concentration of candy stores in all of America. While there are great trick-or-treating neighborhoods across the state, I thought I’d point out a few that are particularly worth your while.

Wellesley’s Halloween claim to fame is that the town hosts the home of the former CEO of Tootsie Roll. In the area, the house is well-known for handing out giant cardboard Tootsie Rolls filled with pounds of candy. For more oversized candy, look no further than Prince Street in West Newton. Packed with hundreds of kids each Oct. 31, the houses not only boast impressive decorations, but they also consistently hand out full-size candy bars. Lastly, one of the most iconic Boston Halloween neighborhoods is Beacon Hill. Famous for its classic brownstones, Beacon Hill’s autumn vibes are enhanced during the spooky season. In this neighborhood, there’s rarely a doorstep without a bowl of candy or someone not in costume come Halloween day.

Fall foliage and hiking

New England falls are well-known because of the vibrant foliage, from the Berkshires all the way to the coastal towns. Whether you’re hiking on a trail or enjoying the colors in the comfort of your car, the state has a diverse range of settings to experience the seasonal beauty. For those more inclined towards the outdoors, the Noanet Woodlands in Dover offer many different trails, as well as leaf-covered paths. The different trails are a total of 17 miles combined, but a short 1.5 mile hike will bring you to Noanet Peak, where you can see a unique view of the Boston skyline. For those who prefer to enjoy nature from the comfort and luxury of a vehicle with seat warmers and reclining backrests, a scenic drive along Route 7 provides a fantastic view of the red, orange, and yellow-hued leaves. You should be sure to make a pit stop in the towns of Lenox or Stockbridge while you’re there, if you’re seeking a little bit of that small town charm.

Wicked Haunt Fest

Although many Halloween enthusiasts travel to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire, for Screeemfest every year, making the lengthy journey and waiting in long lines isn’t for the faint of heart. Attending Boston-based, smaller scale Halloween festivities can be a good alternative. Boston’s Wicked Haunt Fest, located in Charlestown, offers three different haunted houses, food, activities, and an undeniably entertaining environment. As someone who scares easily, each house was sufficiently spooky, even if the workers tell you otherwise. A $40 ticket will get you entry into each haunted house once and the ability to roam around the event afterwards. For no additional cost, there’s music, ping pong, and cornhole, and you can pay for a festive caramel apple or hot apple cider. My friends and I were entertained for a couple hours and ended up enjoying the more low-key atmosphere this event provided. Boston’s Wicked Haunt Fest is a fun and accessible way to celebrate Halloween, offering a perfect blend of thrills and chill ambiance.

Taylor Swi Chai Cookies

Blasting Taylor Swift’s “Red” in the car on a cool fall evening is an experience like no other. Besides creating an iconic fall soundtrack, one thing Taylor Swift enjoys doing just as much as the rest of us is fall baking. While she has won countless awards for her musical talent, I wanted to see if her baking skills hold up. Her chai sugar cookie recipe is relatively easy, requiring just a single bowl (which means less time doing dishes and more time eating) and about an hour to prepare and bake the cookies.

As someone whose baking experiments never turn out quite how they’re supposed to—probably because I use baking soda and baking powder interchangeably—this recipe is foolproof and delicious. Nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and clove will have you experiencing the same warm sensations you feel when listening to “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).” Even for non-Swifties, getting together with friends to bake and enjoy a spooky movie is a perfect way to embrace the season.

Photo Courtesy of Ayana Karthik
Photo Courtesy of Tillie Fischoeder
Photo Courtesy of Emilia Khoury
Photo Courtesy of Ayana Karthik

Who’s behind the helmet? Bucky Squad suits up Students dress as mascot, promote school spirit at events

Strolling around the Berylson Field at Grove Street during halftime, Bucky the Knight lifted his shield into the air with pride. His cape flowed behind him as he walked, and his polished, silver armor gleamed under the lights at Varsity Football’s Homecoming game. Students left the bleachers to crowd around the edge of the field, vying for a signature Bucky high-five.

Since the 1974 merger of the Browne & Nichols and Buckingham schools, the Knight has served as the school’s mascot. But who is behind the mask? Now, The Vanguard has an answer: the Bucky Squad.

With the help of Middle School (MS) and Upper School Associate Director of Admissions Ryan Glennon, Presley Jacobson

’25 and Lexi Mack ’26 founded the Bucky Squad this summer to organize who would don the Bucky suit. Currently, the Bucky Squad includes eight to 10 students who take turns wearing the knight suit for school events.

Mr. Glennon encourages students to join the Squad to spread Bucky’s spirit, he said.

“Bucky brings energy, spirit, and recognition wherever they go: the fields, courts, ice, river, admissions/alumni events, and even throughout the Quiz Bowl team’s multiple-season run on WGBH’s high school competition,” he said. “The more we can formalize and encourage students to want to be a part of the Bucky Squad, the more we will see Bucky around campus bringing joy to Lower Schoolers at the Circus, energy and passion to Middle and Upper School athletics contests beyond that of just Homecoming, and most importantly, a sense of connection and pride for past, current, and future Knights to come.”

Presley said the Bucky Squad recruited its members through emails, their stand at the annual club fair, and posters around school. The Squad hopes to boost spirit by augmenting Bucky’s presence at different events, she said.

“The goal of the Bucky Squad is to increase Bucky’s presence, a

presence of school spirit not just at sports events like Homecoming and football games, but also at admissions events and arts events.”

Bucky embodies the school’s mission while creating excitement for students and families, she said.

“When we had Bucky at Homecoming, a bunch of kids and even the high schoolers were excited and running around. When there’s a vibe of excitement, people are more excited to support the games. And we also think where Bucky goes, people go.”

Despite warning that the costume is sweltering and stuffy, Presley said she enjoys fostering enthusiasm as Bucky and plans to suit up again this year.

“The suit is really hot and smelly, but it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You have all these kids running up to you, and they’re so excited to see you. They want hugs and pictures, and they want to sword fight you. It’s just really exciting to get to generate the spirit.”

For Lexi, who co-founded the Bucky Squad with Presley, Bucky’s presence at events could heighten school spirit, she said.

“I think our school spirit could definitely be better, but I also think we’re very spirited when we show up for school at games and

Mini Down: 1) Bravery 2) Oil source 3) Fork parts 4) Big occasion 5) Bear’s home

other events,” she said. “He’s reserved for open houses and other events, and he can show up to any school event and be associated with the spirit of the school and not just athletics.”

The challenges of being Bucky include a lack of balance, vision, and mobility as well as the scorching temperature inside the suit, Lexi said.

“The Bucky suit is top-heavy, and you need a lot of people to help you be in it. We have to have at least one or two more people who can change into the Bucky costume if the other person in the Bucky costume gets really hot and also help guide them around because you can’t see a lot out of that helmet.”

For those aspiring to be Bucky, there are no specific requirements other than truly embracing the mascot’s persona, she said.

“I think you need to be ready to embody the character, and you can’t really be shy about it,” she said. “When you’re Bucky, you have to embody what you think a mascot would be.”

The Bucky Squad plans for Bucky to be present this year at the MS Sports Fest, the Admissions Open House, HacKnight, the school’s Debate Tournament, and the Lower School Open House.

Thanksgiving

Across: 1) Cast a ballot 6) Full of energy 7) Material for sheets, tablecloths, etc.

8) Kitchen appliance

Photo Courtesy of Presley Jacobson Presley Jacobson ’25, a member of the Bucky Squad, has dressed up as Bucky for three years.
Second-hand clothing goes from ‘thrown out’ to ‘thrown on’ Fashion Club holds first ever Sustainable Fashion Show

The school’s first-ever Sustainable Fashion Show kicked off on Oct. 10, transforming the Chorale Room into a runway to showcase thrifted and second-hand outfits. The event held on by the Sustainable Fashion Club, aimed to present the beauty and versatility of sustainable clothing to the Upper School (US) community, according to Co-Presidents Leena Wong and Adia Smith (both ’25).

The fashion show was inspired by Thrifty Threads, a consignment store in Brookline. The organization collects donated clothing and redistributes it to thrift stores and charities, helping used items find a second home. Leena said volunteering at Thrifty Threads also motivated her and Adia to hold a two-week-long clothing drive with US students.

“Initially, we knew we wanted to do a clothing drive this year, but we were unsure of the details until we both started volunteering at Thrifty Threads.”

When planning, Leena and Adia wanted to ensure that the event would highlight the possibilities of second-hand clothing.

“The fashion show included

a variety of thrifted clothing and styles,” Leena said. “We wanted to show people how diverse reusable clothing can be. We hope after this event, people will realize all the positives of sustainable clothing.”

The event also aimed to inspire individuality among students. Through experimenting with thrifted pieces, students can express their personal styles rather than conforming to mainstream trends, Leena said.

“It would be great if we could expand BB&N students’ mindset on thrifted clothing. You can find unique pieces that no one else has.”

Adia agreed, encouraging others to get creative with fashion.

“All the outfits we’re showing are so cute, and we want to make it a more widespread thing.”

The pieces in the show were purchased from second-hand stores or bought from resellers on sites like Depop, Poshmark, or Ebay. Typical

prejudices held against second-hand clothing are misguided, Adia said.

“People might see thrifted clothing as something old or dirty, but they might not realize you can get clothing that is brand new with tags that doesn’t necessarily have to be second-hand.”

The student models displayed a diverse range of outfits in various categories, Adia said.

“We hope people realize how versatile shopping second-hand can be. We were able to find a skiing outfit, a day-to-day streetwear outfit, and a gardening outfit. You can see the extent of how the wide range of second-hand shopping can be, and I guarantee you will find something you like.”

While styling outfits, the organizers tried to showcase the models’ individual styles through their looks, Adia said.

“When choosing the models’ outfits, we tried our best to tailor it to each person and the style we envisioned for them.”

One model for the show, Skye Moller ’25, walked in a ski outfit featuring a puffer coat with earmuffs. Skye hopes that the audience was able to learn about thrifting.

“I hope people can realize that thrifted clothing can be so many things, and there’s so many different categories they can fill.”

The backstage experience was particularly special, Skye said.

“I liked seeing the behind-thescenes of the event and how everything was put together, and I really enjoyed preparing for the show.”

Allison Wang ’25, another model who sported a gardening outfit with thrifted overalls and a crochet top, emphasized the importance of shopping second-hand for environmental concerns.

“It’s much more sustainable, and I hope the audience is inspired to go thrifting for clothes as well.”

Erica Biner ’25 stepped in last minute to model a green prom dress. She said she was impressed by the community she found at the event.

“Everyone was so willing to be a part of it and push themselves out of their comfort zone. I think thrifted clothing is amazing not only for the environment, but it turns someone’s trash into someone else’s treasure.”

Knights compete against opponents at Homecoming Team of parents, faculty, students put on two-day event

“Yell as loud as you can, cheer for the team, and just have fun,” Mo El-Nazer ’27 advised Upper School (US) students who attended this year’s Homecoming weekend.

The annual event brought students, families, and faculty together for two days of athletic competition against Governor’s Academy beginning the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 5 and continuing into Saturday, Oct. 6. A team of faculty, students, and parents, led by the school’s Parent Association (PA), planned and organized this year’s event to engage students from all three campuses with free apple cider donuts, two bouncy houses, a cotton candy stand run by the Grade 12 Student Council, and more.

On Friday, Boys’ Varsity Soccer (BVS) faced off against Governor’s Academy, while Varsity Volleyball (VVB) competed against St. Mark’s School. Saturday had Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country racing at Fresh Pond against Belmont Hill, Governor’s Academy, and the Noble and Greenough School, and Varsity Field Hockey, Girls’ Varsity Soccer (GVS), and VVB all playing respective teams from Governor’s Academy.

The Varsity Football (VFB) team faced Thayer Academy in the final game of the weekend. As a player on the team, Mo experienced the school’s enthusiasm firsthand, he said.

“I really enjoyed seeing the whole school come together to support the football game. You could really feel the support from everyone. It made a huge difference.”

For Mo, the highlight of the day was beating Thayer Academy 43-8.

“It felt great beating Thayer Academy. There’s always some bad blood between us, but we went out, played hard, and took the win. At the end of the day, it was all love.”

The goal of Homecoming this year was to create a day of celebration and connection for everyone at the school, according to PA President Katie McCullough P ’28 ’30.

“We have been trying to build a community across the campuses,” she said. “I also worked really closely with all of the affinity groups, and they set up these amazing tables with fun offerings for the kiddos.”

Ms. McCullough said she and the other organizers specifically focused on expanding the event’s outreach this year.

“Homecoming has been primarily attended by the Upper School students, and so we really wanted to shift that and make it an all-school event.”

The PA hopes to host similar events later this year, Ms. McCullough said.

“Not only did we plan Homecoming, we’re also going to do an all-school event during the winter and spring to focus on sports across all seasons,” she said. “We hope to celebrate all sorts of things

that make BB&N special and look into opportunities to get people to gather and celebrate those talents and in such a setting.”

Jack Rossiter ’26, a member of BVS, said that he was “impressed” with this year’s Homecoming.

“The soccer game was really fun. We had an amazing win against Governor’s Academy.”

Jack also attended the VFB and GVS games. He noticed the effort organizers put into this year’s event, he said.

“The apple cider donuts were delicious, and the BB&N faculty were handing out big foam fingers, so it seemed like the school was well prepared for the crowd.”

Despite the overall success, Jack felt that the student turnout at games could have been stronger.

“For the soccer and football games, there could have been a few more fans, and it could have been a little louder, but overall, it was pretty good.”

Lucia Abraham ’28, who played in a JV Field Hockey game against Governor’s Academy, disagreed.

“Our game was so fun, and there were so many people there,” she said. “The night before, my friends and I went to Friday Night Lights, and it felt like the whole school was there.”

The VFB game added to the excitement of the weekend, Lucia said.

“It was fun, especially since we won. Everyone was excited and

supportive, and I had a really great time. Homecoming made me feel like a part of the BB&N community.”

Aparajita Srivastava ’25, who attended the BVS game, echoed that sense of community. She admired the collective effort to show school spirit.

“One of my favorite things about Homecoming is that there are people from all grades—seniors down to kindergarteners—and every campus makes an effort to come, which is really nice.”

She also enjoyed celebrating with students from all campuses, including her sibling, she said.

“My brother, who is a few years younger than me, was also there with his friends, so it was great seeing him.”

While the school may not garner as much visible spirit as larger institutions, its communityfocused celebrations make up for it, Aparajita said.

“We have our own version of school spirit, and to me, that’s the best kind.”

Staff Photo by Quentin Higgins BVS players celebrate a goal against Governor’s Academy.
Staff Photo by Quentin Higgins Model Robbie Baker ’25 walks the runway in a thrifted cowboy outfit.
Staff Photo by Quentin Higgins Leena and Adia commence the show.

Families attend Diwali celebration in record numbers SAPA organizes Knight of Lights to observe annual holiday

Knight of Lights, the school’s annual Diwali celebration, hosted by the South Asian Parent Association (SAPA), garnered recordhigh attendance this year. On Friday, Oct. 25, over 180 members of the school’s community gathered at the Upper School (US) for traditional food and student performances of kathak, a style of Indian classical dance, and tabla, a type of percussion using hand drums.

SAPA co-chairs Pratima Patil P ’29 ’34, Gargi Chakrabarty P ’29, Shipra Chadda P ’26 ’31, and Sonia Gowda P ’35 began planning the event in early June. With help from the Facilities team, the Co-Chairs spent Friday afternoon transforming the Community Room with flowers, diyas (traditional lights), a photo backdrop, and themed activities, including arts and crafts and henna.

In recent years, the school, in coordination with the Parent’s Association (PA), has made efforts to expand affinity spaces and events to families of all backgrounds. Head of School Jennifer Price, one of many non-South Asian attendees, gave a welcome speech that noted the importance of similar events, which help increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at the school. The diversity at Knight of Lights was welcome, Ms. Chakrabarty said.

“The unprecedented turnout, 180-plus attendees, including people from SAPA and other BB&N communities, created a warm, multicultural environment that, to me, was the highlight,” she said. “We received so many texts over the weekend, especially from new families who felt welcome and appreciative of SAPA and the school’s approach toward celebrating this festival.”

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is a meaningful day for Ms. Chakrabarty and her family.

“It’s a day to wear new clothes, exchange gifts with friends and family, indulge in traditional food, and decorate the house with lights and flowers. Early in the morning, we organize a puja for Goddess Lakshmi where we seek blessings from her for health and prosperity. In the evening, we usually invite

friends and family over for a dinner gathering where we exchange boxes of sweets and savories, play card games and karaoke, and light sparklers in the backyard.”

Ms. Chakrabarty and the rest of the co-chairs were “truly appreciative of the engagement and support,” she said.

This year, Diwali began on the evening of Oct. 31. In 2023, for the first time, the holiday was designated as a night where tests, papers, and quizzes could not be assigned for the following day. This year, however, it was classified as a no Homework, Test, Paper, or Quiz (HTPQ) night, as it overlapped with Halloween, which has historically been a Head’s Homework Holiday. Moving forward, it will remain a no HTPQ night, according to US Director Jessica Keimowitz. Many who celebrate Diwali also feel that it should be a night off from assignments every year.

“Diwali is a whole-day celebration with friends and family,” Ms. Chakrabarty said. “Since it occurs on the darkest night in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, it could fall on a weekday. Having work due the next day could not only potentially tamp down the celebrations but also impact a student’s performance on a test the next day.”

Ruhan Karthik ’25, the South Asian Student Association’s (SASA) Cultural Community Chair, agreed.

“Considering that a bunch of kids in the school are spending a large portion of their weekend celebrating Diwali, I think it makes sense for it to be a no HTPQ weekend.”

For Ruhan, celebrating Diwali is a way to connect to his identity, he said.

“Diwali means laughing, dancing, and eating good Indian food. Though the celebration lasts for at most a couple of days, I feel that it is a time of year when I feel truly connected with my Indian culture. Growing up, I always had my close circle of Indian friends I can talk to, and I think Diwali is a time where I can connect with people who have had similar childhood experiences.”

Ms. Patil said the SAPA event was particularly special because people of all ages, including the senior leadership of SASA, gathered together.

“We had students attend from all three campuses, along with multigenerational representation in our audience, everyone from babies to grandparents. It was an event that truly centered family and community, which is what the Festival of Lights is about, celebrating the wealth of family and community.”

Shay Patel ’26 said spaces like SASA are valuable because they help US students find belonging based on their respective identities.

“You get to connect with people who have the same culture as you in school. As BB&N is quite diverse, it is nice to have a connection with people at school and be able to celebrate the important holiday together.”

Diwali is about emphasizing good over evil, Shay said.

“Diwali is the festival of lights, and we embrace the past and all the good things that have happened.”

Manan Eckton ’25 and his family make an effort to include those who don’t typically celebrate the holiday in their annual festivities, he said.

“I grew up celebrating Diwali. My family has a Diwali party every year, where we invite lots of people from different cultures to share our Indian culture.”

Although Diwali is now a no HTPQ night, Manan expressed frustration at the school’s prior lack of response to the issue.

“It’s very unfortunate, to be honest. I think SASA has pushed really hard for it for the past two years. We’ve talked about it a lot in our club. So, it was a little bit frustrating.”

Face Off: Junior Assembly MCs

Why did you want to become an MC?

I wanted to become an MC because assemblies have always been a highlight for me. They bring the entire Upper School together, and I wanted to help make those moments even more enjoyable.

I think it’s really important that students stay up-to-date on what’s going on at school. What’s Happening emails are useful, but they can get spammy. Assemblies are more engaging and ensure that everyone hears the message.

What are your honest thoughts on assemblies?

I really enjoy assemblies. They’re a great way to hear about fun events and interesting opportunities. Plus, the games we play always add an extra layer of excitement.

I enjoy them. They’re a nice break from school, and the announcements are more interesting than people often make them out to be.

What is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you while MCing?

One of the most embarrassing moments was during our skits for assembly norms when I forgot my lines and had to improvise on the spot. It was definitely a learning experience.

Mr. MacDonald chewed me out after the skits Matthias and I did at the beginning of this year for saying “action” and “scene” at the start and end of each skit.

What is your favorite assembly tradition?

I really enjoy musical chairs; it always leads to hilarious moments and everyone seems to have a blast participating.

Athletic award assemblies.

When are we playing Chuck the Duck? Eventually. It’s a secret :)

Staff Photo by Krishna Patel
Members of the South Asian Parent Association pose for a photo.
Matthias Paulson
Hailey Jiang

Kulkarni-Kewalramani family pays it forward Head coach of football position endowed

Upper School Science Teacher Mike Willey has been coaching football at the school since 2008 and became head coach in 2013. This year, his role has a new name: The KulkarniKewalramani Family Head Coach of Football. With a gift from the Kulkarni-Kewalramani family, Coach Willey became the only coach at the school to hold an endowed position.

The family donated $500,000 to fund the role of head football coach in perpetuity. The school invests all of its endowments and uses the income to support its endowed positions.

Jay Kulkarni ’23, a former Varsity Football co-captain who now plays for Bowdoin College, wanted to recognize the impact the school’s football program had on him.

“It first started with a conversation with my mom where I mentioned that if I could give to the school, it would be to help someone related to the football program because of my connection to it,” Jay said.

The family was inspired by John Fish, a Bowdoin alumnus, who endowed the college’s football head coach position. Jay wanted to do the same for the school’s program and honor Coach Willey, who remains a big influence in his life, he said.

“I think every senior that’s able to go on and play college football can attribute a large amount of that success to Coach Willey and the role that he plays for his athletes on and off the field. I think that being able to keep someone like that at that position for the years to come is super important.”

Jay’s father, Abhijit Kulkarni P ’23, also noticed the impact being on the football team had on his son, he said.

“The life of a scholar-athlete is challenging,

requiring a constant balance between two demanding pursuits. Throughout Jay’s journey at BB&N, we often discussed the importance of keeping his academics on par with the best. After all, being a scholar-athlete means prioritizing scholarship alongside athletic dedication—‘scholar’ comes first for a reason.”

Football didn’t distract Jay from his academics. Instead, it reinforced his routine, Dr. Kulkarni said.

“It instilled a strong sense of discipline in him. While Jay may have had it before, joining BB&N brought it out in a profound way, as he simply had to rise to the challenge.”

The family wanted to recognize a coach’s ability to affect athletes on and off the field, he said.

“Coach Willey has profoundly shaped how Jay approaches life, and the purpose of this gift is to preserve that lasting influence. The goal is to continually attract exceptional coaches, ensuring there is always a leader at the helm who embodies those same values.”

Coach Willey was touched by the family’s gift, he said.

“I’m very humbled by their generosity. The reason why I do this job is to hopefully have a real impact on young people’s lives. This type of thing just makes me want to double down on the efforts to continue to help people and hopefully impact their lives in a positive way.”

Coach Willey echoed the KulkarniKewalramani family’s sentiments about Jay.

“He is a true student-athlete: great in the classroom, hardworking on the field, in the weight room, in the off-season. He’s a model for what we’re trying to do here.”

Athletes should never compromise their education to play football, Coach Willey said.

“We’ll never let football use us,” he said. “We’re always going to use football. We always want to use football to get a better education.”

This philosophy is what initially impressed Jay’s mother, Reshma Kewalramani P ’23, when they first met.

“He told me that if it ever came down to football or academics, academics would always win, and he just won me over with that.”

Even though the gift specifically endows the role of head football coach, it’s more about recognizing the school’s impact on its students, Dr. Kewalramani said.

“Great schools are great because they’re special in some way. BB&N has a lot of history. Their students go to the best colleges, they’re known to be kind, and it has a long reputation of excellence in scholastic education. We wanted to add excellence in athletics as a firm point of BB&N.”

She hopes this gift will add to what makes the school special and encourage others to do the same.

“My real hope is that this inspires a lot more giving, and I really hope that the next coach that’s endowed at BB&N is to a women’s athletic team.”

Staff Photo by Alex Mohsen
‘First and ten, BB&N’: Student announcers join the game New roles provide more ways to participate in athletics

In the Upper School (US) Athletic Department, students have been able to serve as managers, timekeepers, and even data analysts. Two new roles made their debut at this year’s Homecoming Varsity Football (VFB) game: student announcer and press box spotter.

The student announcer’s job is to address the crowd at the athletic games with key information about the game or plays, while the press box spotter assists the announcer in knowing what players were involved. These roles have been active at home VFB games following Homecoming and plan to remain so for the rest of the season.

Chief Learning Officer Jed Lippard, who initiated the implementation of both roles, wanted to bring the student announcer role to the school because of his experience in a similar position as a junior in high school. “I wanted to provide the same

opportunity to students at BB&N who love sports but may not be as compelled to play at an elite level.”

Dr. Lippard said the press box spotter lightens the load of the announcer and makes the calls more accurate.

“It’s really hard to announce the game and see all of the action on the field without a spotter,” he said. “Having a second person in the booth allows us to be a lot more precise with the calls, in turn enabling us to announce the names of more of the student-athletes on the field.”

Additional commentary excites both players and fans, increasing engagement at football games, he said.

“Announcing the game and introducing the starting lineups definitely adds a dynamic element to the high school football experience for the players and spectators alike,” he said. “It’s fun to energize the crowd with a signature call. After a big play on offense, I like to say, ‘First and ten, BB&N,’ and the crowd usually responds

Shabbat dinner prompts reflection on past year for Jewish community

Students from all three campuses celebrate weekly holiday

Continued from Page 1

US Director Jessica Keimowitz and Head of School Jennifer Price have regularly attended JAG’s Shabbat dinners. Ms. Wacks said the leadership team’s attendance at these dinners highlights their commitment to supporting the school’s Jewish community.

“It shows that the school’s leadership thinks it’s important to have these events and to attend these events,” she said. “And it shows that these are meaningful opportunities for students and families to get together. Having leadership there is phenomenal and really valuable. It underscores that this is a part of the core mission of the school to celebrate different affinity groups and to share those differences with people outside of our groups, as well.”

JAG’s first Shabbat dinner, which was planned months in advance, was held in late October of last year. Within the same week on October 7, the day on which terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel, reigniting a now year-long conflict. Consequently, many of the first dinner’s attendees used the event as a space to process the attack with other Jewish people, Ms. Wacks said. Over the last two dinners, attendance by non-Jewish community members has been steadily growing, lending support to the Jewish community that continues to grapple with the challenging environment post-October 7, she said.

“This year, we included and invited non-Jewish families to share the joy of Shabbat with others in our community,” Ms. Wacks said. “The Shabbat dinner happened to be a year after October 7, and I think coming together to be in community with Jews and non-Jews was important, given that the last year has been difficult for everyone. It was helpful to be supportive of each other.”

Ms. Kesselheim said JAG, in its second year as an official affinity group, has unified the school’s Jewish community

while also welcoming those who are not Jewish to attend events and learn.

“I think JAG makes people feel comfortable and accepted in knowing that there are others with similar beliefs and values as them in this school community,” she said. “One thing I really like about BB&N is that the affinity spaces seem to be open and there for an educational purpose, teaching people who are not necessarily members of the group but who want to be allies about those histories, traditions, and celebrations.”

While living in Israel for two years and watching the country pause each Friday and Saturday for Shabbat, Ms. Kesselheim sees the weekly holiday as a day of rest.

“In Israel, the whole country stops and rests,” she said. “You light candles at sundown, stores and schools close early, and people really pause between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday. Even though times have changed, and I don’t live in Israel anymore, I still think of Shabbat as a day of rest.”

Leo Saul ’28, who attended the dinner, values the importance of uniting Jewish students and families at Shabbat through their shared heritage, he said.

“Often, people have busy schedules, and Shabbat gives us the time for people to come together who identify similarly and celebrate their culture and identity. It’s important that, as Jewish people at a secular school, we come together as a community to celebrate with each other.”

US History Department Head and Jewish Cultural Club (JCC) Faculty Advisor Susan Glazer, who has attended two JAG Shabbat dinners, said she appreciates the school’s effort to make Jewish students feel welcome through the JCC and JAG. Jewish students can feel excluded or separate from mainstream white culture, she said.

“The school has identified that identity is core to belonging. Especially in challenging moments, having folks that might be in a similar place and who

with a big applause.”

While the announcer position currently exists solely for football, Dr. Lippard hopes to expand the program to cover more teams.

“Who knows? Maybe we can even extend to other sports in subsequent seasons.”

Robbie Baker ’25, the first student announcer this year, said his love for sports sparked his initial interest in the job.

“I’ve always watched sports, and I like to kind of announce at home, like call up plays, but I think this is a great way to kind of get involved with that interest.”

For Robbie, the role allows him to interact with a larger group of students, he said.

“I think it is a great way to get connected with the school community. I think it’s important to have a member of the student body in a position like that where you’re heard by all of your fellow classmates, and it brings the community together.”

The position requires him to keep track of details and stay focused, which can be difficult but rewarding, he said.

“You got to get the tackler, if it’s a passplay with the quarterback and the receiver, you got to get the yardage, if it’s a first down, what down it is. It’s super fun, super rewarding, and super exciting.”

Like Dr. Lippard, he thinks the position is a way to include every student in athletics. He said he takes pride in getting to play that role.

“If you get to call out your buddies for a big play and if BB&N scores a touchdown, it’s super exciting, and I’m the guy who gets to bring the energy and call that out over the loudspeaker.”

can offer support and check in with you is really helpful. While the majority of Jewish students at BB&N are Ashkenazi, of European origin, and white-passing, Jewish individuals can sometimes feel a part of majority white culture and also cannot.”

A year after October 7, Ms. Glazer acknowledged that spaces like the JCC and JAG can help Jewish students to feel heard and welcome, she said.

“I think that’s something that not everybody understands, that there are times when we feel a part of things, and there are times when we feel isolated, and I think October 7 created a real sense of vulnerability,” she said. “Knowing that there are others like you is comforting. I think the school is also committed to making people feel that they belong by recognizing diversity and that the Jewish community has its own experiences.”

JAG plans to host its next Shabbat dinner in April, which will be open to all members of the school community.

Photo Courtesy of Gabe Cooper
Eli Kesselheim ’29 lights candles as students sing the Shabbat blessings.

2024 Election

Donald Trump is a 78-year-old former president of the United States. As president from 2016 to 2020, he reduced federal taxes and regulations, adopted protectionist trade policies, and focused on funding a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump’s 2024 platform focuses on accomplishing past goals: completing the Mexico border wall, cutting taxes, creating more local jobs. He also also advocated for cutting funding for schools teaching critical race theory and securing elections through mandating voter identification and same day voting.

Economy

“Have you ever heard that we’re going to take other countries’ jobs? It’s never been stated before. We’re going to take their factories—and we had it really rocking four years ago. We’re going to bring thousands and thousands of businesses and trillions of dollars in wealth back to the good ole’ USA.” (NPR)

Abortion

“My view is now that we have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint. The states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state.” (U.S. News)

Taxes

“I have often said on the campaign trail that I have a fiduciary responsibility to pay no more tax than is legally required, like anybody else, or put another way: to pay as little tax as legally possible. And I must tell you, I hate the way they spend our tax dollars.” (Politico)

Immigration

“The Republican platform promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” (WBUR)

Health Care

Kamala Harris is a 60-year-old former prosecutor and current vice president of the United States. As vice president, she has placed emphasis on protecting reproductive rights for women by supporting health care clinics. She has also worked to address gun violence as the overseer of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Harris’ presidential platform focuses on lowering taxes for the middle class, lowering health care and prescription costs, and investing in U.S. energy production to lower energy costs.

Economy

“As president, I will grow our economy. And I’ll lower the cost of everyday needs like health care, housing, and groceries.” (X, formerly known as Twitter)

Abortion

“I think we should eliminate the libuster for Roe and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.” (NPR)

Taxes

“[Donald Trump] intends to enact what in e ect is a national sales tax—call it a Trump tax—that would raise prices on middle class families by almost $4,000 a year. Instead of a Trump tax hike, we will pass a middle-class tax cut that will bene t more than 100 million Americans.” (Taxnotes)

Immigration

“We are very clear, and I think most Americans are clear, that we have a broken immigration system and we need to x it.” (Newsweek)

“Obamacare was lousy health care. Always was. It’s not very good today, and what I said, that if we come up with something, we are working on things, we’re going to do it, and we’re going to replace it.” (ABC News)

Health Care

Climate Change

TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

January 15

January 21-23

The Republican Caucuses begin, starting in Iowa. Forty delegates were allocated between the four candidates: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy.

“ e biggest threat is not global warming, where the ocean is going to rise oneeighth of an inch over the next 400 years, and you’ll have more oceanfront property.” ( e Hill)

“Access to health care should be a right, and not just a privilege. e plan has to be to strengthen the A ordable Care Act.” (Chief Health Care Executive)

February 3

The Republican primaries begin in New Hampshire after the final Republican debate is held. Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis face off.

Climate Change

“Across our world, communities are choked by drought, washed out by oods, and decimated by hurricanes. Wild re smoke darkens our skies, and rising seas threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. e urgency of this moment is clear.” (Yale Climate Connections)

The Democratic primaries begin, with the first in South Carolina. Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, and Jason Palmer face off.

March 5

March 12

Democratic Caucuses begin in American Samoa.

June 27

Biden becomes the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. Republican and Democratic primaries and caucuses conclude.

Presumptive nominees

Trump and Biden participate in the first Presidential Debate in Atlanta.

2024 Election

“Democrats have betrayed their promises for working people, youth, and the climate again and again, while Republicans don’t even make such promises in the first place.” (jillstein2024.com)

Jill Stein is a 74-year-old Harvard-educated doctor who became an environmental health advocate after noticing illnesses emerging from pollution. She is critical of both the Democratic and Republican parties, calling them a danger to American democracy, and instead presents herself as an alternative to the “failed two-party system.” She proposes an “economic bill of rights” that guarantees the rights to a job, health care, housing, food, and education.

Chase Oliver is a 39-year-old political activist who began his work opposing the Iraq War under former President George W. Bush. Oliver, who is focused on reducing federal government interference, presents himself as an alternative to the two main candidates. He emphasizes the importance of free speech and choice, green energy, ending all US involvement in foreign conflicts, and adding term limits for all federal officials. “Your body is your body. Your business is your business, and your property is your property. It’s not mine, and it’s not the government’s.” (votechaseoliver.com)

Party for Socialism and Liberation

“Instead of a tiny clique of billionaires and hedge funds running and deciding everything, the diverse working class needs to control the commanding heights of the economy and come up with long-term plans to get out of the mess they created.” (votesocialist2024.com)

Claudia De la Cruz is a 42-year-old former pastor and a lifelong participant in campaigns for various social causes. She pushes for a “mass political movement” to occur independently from the “twoparty system,” a system which she believes gives too much power to the wealthy. Her platform centers around ending capitalism and replacing it with socialism–a system in which major industries would be owned by their own workers. Aside from this, De la Cruz also wants to federally legalize abortion, repurpose fossil fuel companies to generate green energy, and cut the military budget by 90%.

Cornel West is a 71-year-old former Harvard and Princeton professor, and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Princeton University. West presents himself as a candidate who seeks to “empower poor and working people” while opposing both the Democratic and Republican parties, claiming they are a “derelict duopoly” of power. West’s “revolutionary” campaign wants to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $27 per hour, prioritize antiracism, and increase immigration into the United States. He also places the blame for the October 7 attacks on Israel and the United States.

(cornelwest2024.com)

“So much of this campaign really is about trying to touch that 38 percent who don’t vote at all and young people more and more wrestling with cynicism of various sorts.” (cornelwest2024.com)

Trump chooses Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate.

Republican National Convention is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Donald Trump is confirmed as the Republican nominee.

July 15 July 15-18 July 21-22 August 6 August 19-22

Biden suspends his campaign and endorses Kamala Harris. Within a day, Harris launches her own campaign and becomes the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. Harris chooses Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Democratic National Convention is held in Chicago. Kamala Harris is confirmed as the Democratic nominee.

September 10 October 1 The Vice Presidential debate is held between Tim Walz and JD Vance in New York City.

The second Presidential Debate is held, this time between Trump and Harris in Philadelphia.

Green Party
Libertarian Party
Chase Oliver
Claudia De la Cruz
Cornel West
Jill Stein

2024 Election

Students reflect on voting

What do you consider to be the three most important issues in America today?

I think definitely environment is number one, then foreign policy, and then finally, the economy. Why are you voting in this election? It’s my first time. I’m excited to utilize the rights that I’m finally old enough to act upon.

Do you view this election as a critical turning point for America?

I would say yes. I think tensions are rising in the world, and both Trump and Kamala have very strong but very different ideologies on how to act upon these tensions, especially when considering the current escalations in Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, possibly Israel and Iran, and there’s always the looming threat of China invading Taiwan. A good policy and a bad policy could very well be the difference between financial ruin and economic prosperity.

In your own opinion, does voting lead to any positive social change?

I think very much. Yes. At the end of the day, I feel like assuming you’re in a democracy without voting, there’s no way to reform the status quo. And therefore, if you can’t reform the status quo, it is, by definition, impossible to progress forward.

What do you consider to be the three most important issues in America today?

I would say probably immigration, political division, and then also the Supreme Court. I’m not a fan of the Supreme Court. I feel like they’re doing a bad job. They don’t represent what just people want, like Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas taking bribes and that kind of thing. Supreme Court justices aren’t being impartial. Why do you believe in voting in the election?

I don’t know why you wouldn’t. Because if you have a chance to influence what your life looks like, I would just always take it. It can’t hurt. If you do your research and do it, even in Massachusetts, when your vote doesn’t really matter for the Electoral College for president, vote. There’s still other questions on the ballot. Do you view this election as a critical turning point for America? I feel like every election is. Every four years, everyone’s like, “This is a critical turning point. This is the end of the end of the world.” So, this election is just like any other year but not more important than any other election.

In your own opinion, does voting lead to any positive social change? I mean, I would hope so. I would say it’s positive social change if that’s what the majority of people want. Then, those policies that the majority of people support are gonna pass. The people will get what they want.

What do you consider to be the three most important issues in America today?

Gun control, democracy itself, and international conflict. Why are you not voting in this election?

I’m also not interested in voting because whoever’s running is not gonna change much. It’s gonna be bad, regardless. I guess if I had to vote, I would probably go for Kamala. I would never vote for Trump, that’s for sure. It just doesn’t matter who’s in charge. They always say the same stuff, and they always just do the same stuff. Do you view this election as a critical turning point for America? Yeah, because on one hand, we got Democrats being extremely progressive and centering around inclusivity, and on the other side, we’ve got people trying to destroy democracy. I think if Trump wins, democracy goes out the window. And I don’t think America will be the same. If Kamala wins, then there’s going to be much more liberal focused change, with a larger focus on a bunch of DEI stuff.

In your own opinion, will not voting lead to any changes in the country?

I don’t know many people who actually vote. For instance, my dad has to be convinced to vote. I don’t think it’s gonna change much if I don’t vote. What’s one vote gonna do? We’re in Massachusetts. We’re always going to vote Democrat anyways.

What do you consider to be the three most important issues in America today?

Education, immigration, and public safety.

Why do you believe in voting in the election?

Any vote is better than no vote at all. I mean, part of being in a democracy is having your choice to freely express your opinion, and the ballot box is one way to do that.

Do you view this election as a critical turning point for America?

I don’t think so. Trump came in 2016, and he’s on the ballot again, and Kamala was just vice president in 2020, so I think it’s really gonna come down to which administration people like better. In your own opinion, does voting lead to any positive social change?

Politicians don’t keep their promises. In an ideal world, yes, I would like to think so. And also, I think, with the fact that, especially for things like Congress, there’s no term limits, people can stay in there for however long they want. And it’s sometimes hard to bring accountability. Another thing I would say is that social change is great, but not all social change is good. There are things we want to keep, and what people believe should be kept or changed all depends on what angle they view it from. Student 1

Who would you vote for in this election?

2024 Election

What values should the United States government embody?

The United States government should maintain frequent, fair, and free elections.

A fair justice system should be essential to the United States.

It should be the duty of the United States government to equally protect everyone’s civil rights.

The ability for citizens to participate in a democracy should be an essential characteristic of the U.S. gov system.

Freedom of speech should always be an essential characteristic of the United States.

A capitalist economy should be an essential characteristic of the United States.

The United States government should uphold the right to bear arms

What values does the United States government embody?

The justice system in the U.S. is fair.

Elections in the U.S. are held frequently, are fair, and citizens are free to participate as candidates and voters

Everyone’s civil rights are equally protected by the U.S. government.

All US citizens are allowed to participate equally in the democratic system of the U.S. government;.

Freedom of speech is properly protected by the U.S. government.

The right to bear arms is properly protected by the U.S. government.

The government plays too big a role in the economy.

Donald Trump voters Kamala Harris voters
Donald Trump voters Kamala Harris voters

Opinions

Reclaiming the past

From the pictures on our mantels, the radio stations we listen to in the car, the books we read, or the movies we watch, our families shape who we are. Until we reach a certain age, and with it a threshold of consciousness, our minds absorb parental advice and the topics discussed around the dinner table without much thought. Growing up in a Turkish household in Istanbul, I am naturally familiar with the dramatic ups and downs of Turkish TV, authors like Orhan Pamuk, and the patterns in the kilims decorating our floors. Even if the effects feel subtle to us, our family history impacts our everyday experiences.

Every family carries the backstory of different cultures, relationships, and hardships, and they each adopt distinct ways to deal with the past. These transgenerational influences, stemming from race, religion, and class, are portrayed in “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by James Baldwin.

The novel is framed around John’s 14th birthday and his first religious experience. John is a young boy from an African-American family in Harlem. Following a frame narrative, the story includes flashbacks to the lives of John’s stepfather, Gabriel, his aunt, Florence, and his mother, Elizabeth. Gabriel, a preacher, strictly imposes his religious ideology on John and his brother, which only creates tension in their relationship. John is burdened with the tacit assumption that his future is fixed and his religious fate is inescapable. He detests his father’s brutality and understanding of religion, where sin is central in what brings him joy. Baldwin explores John’s ties to his family, sexuality, and the church with intense, poetic, and vivid prose. The novel depicts the sociology of guilt through John’s internalized need for salvation and his father’s pietism.

Through these flashbacks, Baldwin intricately paints the person behind the persona. We witness the effects of the Great Migration on John’s three elders and the past that shaped each of them. The legacy of slavery adds poignancy to John’s identity, as his family members have all suffered the same obstacles: racism, poverty, and the search for selfhood. By the end of the book, John reconciles with his family history by achieving salvation through an intense religious experience at the church altar, yet others in his family confront their troubled pasts differently. So, what does it mean to redeem our history—the events that mold, nurture, and define us? How does this “salvation” manifest itself in our lives today?

By the end of the novel, John is “saved” by his religion, the very thing that has afflicted him and widened the chasm between him and his father. John initially strives to escape from his family as a whole, garnering hostility for his father and everything he represents. As the story progresses, however, John discovers ways to work with his family history instead of against it. Although his relationship with his father remains distant and cold, John accepts his religious identity and alters it to fit his needs. He embraces the world he comes from with a sense of internal compromise and finds the midpoint between his imposing family culture and evolving identity.

In many situations, our family traditions are like pre-established guideposts. They shape the ways we celebrate, mourn, overcome problems, approach new relationships, entertain, and are entertained. Especially throughout high school, when our identities are fickle and easily influenced by the world around us, having such guideposts can make self-discovery feel steadier. As much as Baldwin’s novel portrays heavier themes, such as race, religion, and class, it also illustrates a young man’s coming-of-age story—a story we can all relate to. And much like John, who discovers ways to work with his past instead of against it, we can learn to balance our evolving identities with our complex, unique, and rich family histories.

Golden melodies: Leon Bridges delivers

“Leon” is the only album I’ve reviewed for this column that I’ve listened to all the way through in one sitting. Leon Bridges’ eponymous fourth album is a honey-sweet trip through a sunblitzed 70’s soundscape reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Al Greene’s summer tunes. I listened to “Leon” on a long solo car ride through New England as the leaves changed colors on a friend’s recommendation. It’s a beautiful piece of art that is cohesive in a very different way from albums I’ve reviewed recently (remember “Bando Stone,” anyone?). Every song aligns with the same aesthetic.

Bridges’ album is the result of a decade-long creative journey for the 35-year old singer. Leon Bridges’ professional career began at the Del Frisco Grille in Fort Worth, Texas, a decade ago. Bridges had been playing for years at the Grille before he was signed by Columbia Records in 2014, a move that allowed him to release 2015’s “Coming Home” to a broad audience. Although Bridges has slightly declined in popularity since 2015 in terms of chart positioning, his music has only matured with time.

“Leon” is a culmination of everything Bridges has ever written. “Panther City,” for example, combines Bridges’ usual upbeat, sunny style without sacrificing the truth of where he grew up: “All the crackheads and prostitutes on Rosedale/My father said, ‘Go straight home’ or I’d catch hell/‘Don’t walk around them streets at night.’” For me, “Panther City” represents the beautiful duality of Leon Bridges’ music. On the same project, he’s able to seamlessly deliver the perfect song for a relaxing day at the beach and also a whole host of melancholic slow tunes. What’s even more special is that, in doing this, Bridges is playing with nothing more than chord arrangements and lyrics. His backing percussion and soundscape stay relatively similar throughout.

The album begins on a melancholic note. “When a Man Cries,” the opening song on “Leon,” begins the 43-minute project with this: “Feel my world split in two/I know you hurt so bad/You gotta hurt me.” Love (or lack thereof) isn’t the only theme in “Leon” like it’s been for albums I’ve reviewed in the past, but it does sneak its way into many tracks, especially the more reflective ones. “When a Man Cries,” “Laredo,” and “Ghetto Honeybee” are just a few examples of Bridges’ profound ability to encapsulate a specific emotional moment and relay it through music. His songwriting ability is powerful, but his guitar and backing band carry him through some of the most emotional music I’ve ever heard.

I think “Leon” is the best album I’ve reviewed for this column. Although many of the songs follow a similar style, this lends itself well to Bridges’ guitar and songwriting abilities. Each song feels like a continuation of the last, a syrupy-sweet mashup of summer memories and dreams Bridges himself has left behind in the Texas sun. More than anything else, “Leon” makes me want to hop on a plane and go to a beach in the tropics. In the air, I’d listen to “Panther City” and “Ivy,” both beautiful moments captured through Bridges’ hazy, golden world of song. Overall

Diba Demir Words with Wings
keenan Billings Keenly Attuned

Opinions

I love (Jane Austen novels) most ardently

Jane Austen’s take on feminism is subtle yet powerful, especially in “Pride and Prejudice,” where she masterfully critiques marriage norms while still working within societal constraints.

Jane Austen’s novels are set in an odd time when it comes to marriage. A word she often uses to describe women is “agreeable,” meaning that she is pleasant to be around, but the deeper meaning is that she is malleable to any type of situation. It seems like the “gentry,” or upper-class English folk whose marriages are commonly arranged, are trying to create a onesize-fits-all woman to present for marriage. It’s very clear from Austen’s text what makes a lady good and agreeable: Calm and well-spoken with enough education and musical training, usually in the pianoforte.

Jane Austen is often championed for her feminist takes on the 1800s with characters like Elizabeth Bennet or Marianne Dashwood, but her approach is unique. While Austen creates strong and independent female characters that primarily challenge marriage norms, all of the women get married at the end of her novels, solidifying their place in society. They might not marry society or their family’s first choice, but both Elizabeth and Jane Bennet marry into families who are wealthier than theirs, socially advancing. The subtle feminism comes out in what Austen chooses to emphasize in the theme of marriage.

Austen emphasizes partnership in marriage. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth come together to find their match, rather than Elizabeth molding herself into a societallydeemed “good wife.” They build mutual trust together over time. This emphasis on duality and partnership is also enhanced by other characters and plotlines. For example, the proposed partnership of Mr. Collins and Elizabeth is short-lived and seen as a joke to most because Austen makes it obvious that their marriage would be a preposterous suggestion. The failure of the engagement is not seen as Elizabeth’s fault but as an understandable disconnect between their personalities. Mr. Collins is plain weird and meant to be a humorous character but also serves the crucial role of being a foil for Mr. Darcy.

The lives of unmarried, unspoken-for women was a major topic in the 1800s. One of the premises of “Pride and Prejudice” is that the Bennet family has five daughters and no sons. When Mr. Bennet dies, the estate go to his closest male relative, not any of his daughters. Therefore, it is essential that all the sisters be married quickly and to wealthy men to ensure their financial security and well-being. Today, the premise that women need a man just to survive in society is outrageous. However, Austen accepts that premise. How can Jane Austen be a feminist if she does not challenge the most obviously sexist norm in society? The truth is she picks and chooses which parts of society she wants to challenge. She lets the inheritance go but fights for the love marriage, and this approach is actually quite powerful. Austen’s feminism is not all-encompassing, but it tells a valuable story about the time. She intelligently chooses a subtle approach to giving Elizabeth justice in an unfair society. Austen pays the price for not challenging every single gender norm to produce a novel that would be more widely accepted. Now, more than 200 years later, Jane Austen is a revered writer because she was well-known in the 1800s. If she had taken a more direct approach, none of her stories would have been told. The passage of time leads us to be more critical of archaic views, but every once in a while, we find a hidden gem like “Pride and Prejudice” that gives us some hope.

Orange is the new pink

After my parents’ half-joking discussion about what to do with my room when I leave for college, I found myself thinking about the history of my room and its walls. On paper, it’s not very interesting. When I was 3, I “helped” paint my room’s walls white. Days after, I once again “helped” paint the walls pink. A few years later, my parents split, and I painted my new room orange. I guess painting something three times isn’t much of a history—in one year of toddlerhood, I painted parts of the couch in far more than three colors with some Sharpies. As a teen, I’ve managed to paint the ceiling of my father’s house red, yellow, and green with those sticky toy jelly hands you get at the dentist. Yet, I always find myself coming back to the colors on the walls of my room.

The first time I painted my walls, I used a white that was almost the color of untouched snow—so close yet so, so far. Maybe it was not quite white because it covered whatever was there before. I can’t even remember the before color, probably because I didn’t care much for thinking about it. Instead, I clutched my favorite piggy-pink colored blankie and looked forward to the vibrant walls I wanted.

The next color to adorn my walls was, and still is, pink. The same piggy-pink of the blankie I clutched and treasured so dearly. At the time, I loved the color of my walls. I loved it just as much as I loved my blankie or playing “My Little Pony” during recess. (I’d never seen the show, but my friends told me I could be a dragon, so I was all for it.) Over the next few years, my love of dragons, as well as a newfound appreciation for football, knights, and Batman, grew as my interest in “My Little Pony” waned. I played more with “the boys,” although I was a little too eager to please: letting myself get buried in the sand with a bucket over my head, playing the hunter in hide-and-seek, and eating a cucumber of questionable quality that someone tried to grill on the school’s heating vents.

By that age, I think I was 7 or 8, my blankie was so well-loved it started to tear. My grandmother, who was far better at sewing than I was, helped me make a new one: orange on the back and a collage of various yellows and reds on the softer side. Despite my grandmother’s graciousness, I always favored the well-worn softness of the original. The same could not be said for my piggypink walls. I started to resent them a little bit, probably because I felt they were “too girly.”

across the house at all hours or accusations of disloyalty. Instead, there was emotional fatigue, and my mother sleeping in the guest bed. Instead, I was called up to and they

As I grew older, my love for my blankie and girly things started to wear out. My parents’ marriage also wore out. There was no yelling across the house at all hours or accusations of disloyalty. Instead, there was emotional fatigue, and my mother sleeping in the guest bed. Instead, I was called up to my parents’ room and told that they thought they were better off as friends. I think I was sad and maybe a little angry over the divorce (I remember crying once or twice), but, at the time, I took it pretty well. After all, divorce meant another home and a new room with not-so-girly walls!

I had my heart set on a disgustingly bright Cheeto-orange for my new room’s walls (in honor of my new blankie). My mother, bless her, managed to talk me down to two Cheeto-colored walls, and two, more palatable, orange cream walls. I will never admit that my mother was right, but my bed is positioned so that I only have to look at the cream-orange walls.

Unlike my younger self, I don’t think I’d ever want to change the color of my walls. Maybe because they are a reminder to listen to my parents occasionally, or because the walls have seen me through my ugliest cries, or because I can’t find my piggy-pink blankie anymore, or because any other color would feel not-quite-right. Or maybe it’s because, no matter what my parents decide to do with my room once I go to college, I know that they’ll never repaint the walls. I’ll always have it as a little history for myself.

Miley Chen
Miley’s Mayhem
Aparajita Srivastava Spoiler Alert!

Knights represent school in world’s largest regatta Students and alumni reflect on HOCR results

In the bow seat, former captain of the Tufts Boys’ Crew Team and competitor in the 2021 HOCR Men’s Collegiate Eights Henry Ross prepared for the race differently.

“I actually ran the Chicago marathon last weekend, so I’ve been training for that for a while. Luckily, a lot of the fitness is transferable, but my legs are definitely not as fresh as I’d like them to be.”

In the stroke seat at the front of the boat, co-captain of last year’s US Boys’ Varsity Crew Team (BVC) and two-time HOCR competitor Adrien Tabor saw the race as a chance to relive positive memories from his time at the US, he said.

“For me, it was to bring back those memories. Having this Head of the Charles experience, reconnecting with the community, experiencing this moment

again, I’m really enjoying it.”

In addition to an alumni eight, the Boys’ Varsity Crew team also raced a Men’s Youth Four (U19) boat in this year’s regatta. From stern to bow, the boat included BVC Co-Captains James Foote and Max Crafter (both ’25), Weston Tregay, Lukas Wellesley (both ’26), and Coxswain Captain Haley Hicks ’25.

Having rowed with Adrien last fall to requalify, Max rowed in the three-seat of this year’s Men’s Youth Four boat, his third consecutive HOCR for the school. The group’s attitude set the tone for their training, Max said.

“We’ve been able to create a crew and an environment where there’s no downwards. No matter what happens, the boat is lifted up. Training gets better, our fitness gets better, our technique gets better, and our power gets better. Everything improves.”

The Girls’ Varsity Crew Team also raced two boats. From stern to bow, the Women’s Under 17 Four included Aggie Grant, Julia Wang (both ’26), Sydney Ruiz, Myriam Lai, and Coxswain Ella Harlev (all ’27). For Aggie, the crew’s strongest quality is the environment they’ve created.

“Rowing is a very mental sport and oftentimes, team environments are unhealthy, which leads to issues on the water,” she said. “Our team focuses on enjoying rowing and enjoying each other’s company rather than what each person does wrong.”

The Women’s Youth Four featured Girls’ Varsity Crew Co-Captain Kate Rice, Sophia Chester, Lucy Forman (all ’25), Hailey Jiang ’26, and CoCaptain Lea Freiin Von Hilgers ’25 as coxswain. Sophia agreed with Aggie that their strengths as respective boats are in their attitudes.

“We’re really supportive of each other,” Sophia said. “We will be honest with each other if something doesn’t feel good, but we’ll keep our cool, keep our patience, and try to bring it back together even when things aren’t going well.”

The Men’s Alumni Eight boat finished with a time of 17:54 minutes, and at the end of the weekend the rest of the crews’ results varied. The Men’s Youth Four placed 49th out of 90, the Women’s Under 17 Four finished 18th out of 32, and the Women’s Youth Four came in 21st out of 90.

Other members of the US community also raced on the Charles: BVC Head Coach and seven-time HOCR champion Adam Holland competed in the Men’s Senior Master Eights [50+], GVC Head Coach John Codder and GVC Coxswain Anshika Chadda ’26 competed in the Men’s Grand Master Fours [60+], and Eliza Cohen ’27 and Emma Kirk ’26 competed in the

Women’s Youth Singles (U19). Coach Holland’s boat finished second, Coach Codder’s Four finished eighth, Eliza placed seventh, and Emma won her event by a 22-second margin.

Students and families weren’t the only ones cheering on US rowers. Faculty and alumni also crowded the BB&N Boathouse’s rocky riverbank to catch a glimpse of the school’s boats. Head of School Jennifer Price and US Director Jessica Keimowitz also attended this year’s race—both annual spectators since joining the US seven and three years ago, respectively.

HOCR is a unique opportunity for community members to support each other, Dr. Price explained.

“We’re sitting here, and we’ve got students cheering for their coaches. I mean, how cool is that? Where else do you see students cheering for their coaches?”

For Ms. Keimowitz, the regatta provided a moment of unity for the school and beyond, she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to support our athletes and to support athletes from around the world.”

Former BVC Captain Matthew Brown ’88, coxswain of the 1984 US Men’s Youth Four boat, appreciated the inclusion of a Men’s Alumni Eight in this year’s regatta. He noted how the event has changed over the last 40 years.

“I think the alumni boat is a cool idea.

It’s great to get people back, particularly on a day like today. It’s a great event. When I did it, it was a single-day event, and now it’s grown to three days.”

Director of Athletics Jaye Locke was excited by the school’s alumni presence over the weekend.

“So much of our community is not just about the current students but about all of the people who have been here,” she said. “I just spoke with Susan Dole ’55, and alums really feel like they’re a part of it on a special weekend like this, so having the men’s alumni boat is really special and awesome.”

To Coach Locke, graduating doesn’t mean saying goodbye: “Once a Knight, always a Knight.”

Photo Courtesy of Danny West
The Men’s Youth Four boat departs from the school’s dock.
Photo Courtesy of Danny West
Crew boats race on the Charles over HOCR weekend.
Photo Courtesy of Danny West
The Men’s Alumni Eight makes final adjustments before launching for their race.
Staff Photo by Olivia Richter Parker Willet and Hale McGivern (both ’25) support rowers on the water with posters.
Photo Courtesy of Danny West
Spectators crown the Eliot bridge to catch a glimpse of passing boats.

Princeton a cappella group serenades Upper School audience

Daniel Wang ’22 returns with Old NaSoul to sing soul, R&B

From “Loves in Need of Love” to “Just the Two of Us,” Princeton’s a cappella group Old NasSoul performed a wide range of songs celebrating Black music for a Chorale Room audience during a special daytime performance at the Upper School (US) on Thursday, Oct. 17. Alum Daniel Wang ’22, a member of the group, coordinated the CAB performance with US Chorale and Music Teacher Joel Sindelar.

Daniel became interested in music at the US, as a member of the school’s jazz ensemble. The jazz scene at Princeton was competitive, however, so Daniel looked for other ways to pursue his musical interests, he said.

“I saw a lot of a cappella groups perform, and I decided, ‘Wow, this is really cool. I want to be a part of that.’”

Daniel said he enjoyed returning to his alma mater and seeing familiar faces.

“These are teachers who really inspire me a lot. And you know, seeing them come see me sing, there’s a side of Daniel they haven’t seen before. That was super exciting.”

According to the Princeton University website, Old NasSoul was founded in 2006 and is the only a cappella group on

campus to sing specifically R&B and Soul. During the set, Old NasSoul members stated that it was founded by Black men who wanted to create a place at Princeton to sing Black music. Although Old NasSoul has changed since, the group is still led by a love of music and a desire to celebrate Black voices, Daniel said.

“The founders thought that there should be a space where Black artists are celebrated, specifically artists who sing R&B and soul, so it started off as that,” he said. “We have a lot of different gender identities and are obviously a very diverse group. Our group right now is just whoever wants to join us and sing R&B and soul music.”

Some members of the audience, including Princess Adeoye ’27, specifically noticed the group’s makeup.

“I would say the diversity was something I liked, but at the same time that was kind of something I disliked,” Princess said. “They stated it was a club by Black men to celebrate Black music, and I feel like a lot of the soul part of Black music wasn’t there.”

While Princess enjoyed the music and said “R&B soul stuff is basically my favorite genre,” she still thought their performance felt incomplete.

“I feel like something was

missing in certain stuff that they did. It almost felt like a mockery even if they didn’t intend it to be.”

Old NasSoul’s performance began with “If I Ain’t Got You” soloed by Chloe Hartwell, a student from Las Vegas. Background voices varied in pitch but harmonized together to supplement her part. After the first song, the group, featuring students from all over the world, introduced themselves to the audience. US Math Teacher Sarina Simon enjoyed how interactive the performance was, she said.

“I think the movement piece is something I haven’t seen a lot of a cappella groups do,” she said. “It wasn’t a lot of choreography, but their choreography of moving back and forth, and when to snap and clap, and for how long really enhanced the songs, and I liked that piece of it.”

Ms. Simon thought seeing an alum return to perform at the school was meaningful for current students, she said.

“It shows you it’s cool to do something that’s out of your comfort zone, and it shows current students a glimpse of what they could do outside of high school.”

US Math and Computer Science Teacher Amelia Mattern appreciated the group’s unique take on well-known songs, she said.

“I liked that the students seemed really into the music they were singing and that the songs were celebrating Black musicians and Black music. I liked that the soloists took their own takes on the songs. It didn’t sound exactly like the originals, which is fun.”

Parker Willett ’25 said she thought their performance was entertaining. However, she also found it interesting how the group’s demographic has shifted since its founding, she said.

“I found it really interesting that it was originally formed to give Black men the space and opportunity to sing in a group at Princeton, and yet there was only one Black man in the group and only one other Black woman,” she said. “It’s great to see other people expressing a love for this genre of music, but a little weird to see how few Black people are in the group today.”

Ms. Glazer sings Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with BSO US students, faculty attend performance as Petropoulos event

Onstage at Symphony Hall, Upper School (US) History and Social Sciences Department Head and member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus Susan Glazer performed Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Mahler’s Eighth Symphony is also called “Symphony of a Thousand” due to the large number of performers it requires. The audience included some familiar faces: US students and faculty members attended as part of the Petropoulos Art Scholars Program, coordinated by US Chorale and Music Teacher Joel Sindelar.

Ms. Glazer has been a part of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the official choir of the BSO, since she was 15—the youngest member at the time.

“I joined in my sophomore

year of high school,” she said. “It was a huge deal for me. I even wrote my college essay about it.”

She has been involved with the chorus on and off since but rejoined as a full-time member in 2012.

Due to her longstanding participation, she has sung many pieces, but she said Mahler is particularly special to her.

“I’ve sung a lot of Mahler’s works, and I really appreciate how he writes for the human voice.”

Even though Ms. Glazer has already sung Mahler’s Second and Third Symphonies, performing his Eighth felt even more significant, she said.

“Mahler threw everything into this piece–a boys’ choir, double chorus, an organ, four harps. I mean, that’s insane! I didn’t have a full sense of the grandeur until our orchestra rehearsal.”

The rehearsal process was challenging, as the chorus had a relatively short amount of time to learn a complex piece, she said.

“We had a few five-hour Sunday rehearsals and met two to three times a week after the BSO management decided that we were going to perform it. It was a very, very sophisticated piece, requiring double the size of our normal choir.”

The sound they created was very overwhelming, Ms. Glazer said.

“I even had to wear earplugs the whole time. And I never wear earplugs in a concert.”

The Petropoulos Exhibit, which honors students who have made a serious commitments to arts, was founded in 1984 by Peter Gergely ’72 and Andre Balazs ’75 in honor of former US Ceramics Teacher John Petropoulos. Then, former US Photography Teacher Parrish Dobson and former US Visual Arts Teacher John Norton started the Petropoulos Art Scholars Program to provide ongoing opportunities throughout the school year for students in the arts. Now, Mr. Sindelar coordinates the program’s performing arts events, and Visual Arts Teacher Ian Koopman organizes the visual arts events.

Ms. Glazer was grateful to Mr. Sindelar for organizing the trip.

“I was so touched to see familiar faces in the crowd and the fact that Mr. Sindelar put everything together. I received such nice feedback. It was an unforgettable experience.”

Sari Goldberg ’27 attended the performance through the

Petropoulos program.

“The acoustics of the performance were extraordinary. It was very exciting to see Ms. Glazer singing on the stage, which showed a whole new side of her beyond just being a teacher.”

Mr. Sindelar was also impressed by the scale of the performance, he said.

“With my conductor hat on, all I could think was, ‘Holy cow, what a huge number of people to manage.’”

He highlighted a specific moment from the symphony.

“There are breathtakingly powerful moments in this piece like the soprano soloist who appeared on the balcony in the last movement. What a beautiful moment.”

He decided to make this performance a Petropoulos trip because of how rarely Mahler’s Eighth Symphony is performed.

“It’s not something you see every day,” Mr. Sindelar said.

“How wonderful to see Ms. Glazer in this different context. It was a great chance to build the school community by bringing faculty and students together to support her.”

The Petropoulos program has helped Jasiri Cash ’28, among others, find community.

“Being a part of Petropoulos gives me a better sense of belonging. I’m seeing and supporting something that means a lot to other people and, in turn, means a lot to me.”

Staff photo by Olivia Richter Old NasSoul performed in the Chorale Room on Oct. 17.
Photo Courtesy of Joel Sindelar
US teachers watched Ms. Glazer perform.
Photo Courtesy of Joel Sindelar
BSO performs Mahler’s Eighth Symphony in front of US students.

The Back Page

The US is having a ‘Gilmore Girls’ fall

“Hey, it’s freezing.” “Oh, what do you need? Hot tea?

Coffee?” “Lip gloss.”

“Breathe in deep, folks. Smells like

fall.”

“So what’s the verdict?” “ I… am an autumn.”

“It’s my favorite time of the year. The whole world changes color.”

NotaBle

QuotAbleS

Paris pandemonium

Sometimes, you have to know when to quit.

In the summer of 2012, my family decided to travel to Paris. We spent a week seeing sights like the Louvre and stuffing ourselves full of croissants. But on our last night, my parents were upset to realize we still had not taken the Bateaux Mouches, a boat tour down the Seine. And so, they wrangled my five siblings and me, and we set out to do one last Parisian activity.

As we arrived at the dock, the man in the ticket office sadly informed us that we had just missed the cutoff to buy tickets for the 10 p.m. cruise, but if we stuck around, he could get us on the 11 p.m. Though this news may have deterred other parents with six young children, my parents remained steadfast in their commitment to the Bateaux Mouches, and we waited.

We sat around for an hour, tiredly awaiting the 11 p.m. boat, until finally we were able to board. We bestirred ourselves to stand up and we all slowly shuffled our way onto the boat. Though I was excited to see Paris one last time, once I boarded, I fell promptly asleep. As I slept through the sightseeing, my brother Robert had an even more exciting ride than he had bargained for.

After using the bathroom, he found the lock had jammed itself in place and would not open. Luckily, after some banging and screaming, someone came to his assistance. Less luckily, the man only spoke French and therefore was unable to communicate enough to figure out what was wrong. My mom, who does speak French, could have come to his rescue, but my sister had traded shoes with her, as her own were giving her blisters, and my mom was rendered helpless.

“That’s inappropriate on five different levels.”

Upper School Dean of Teaching and Learning

Michael Chapman in response to Olivia Richter’s ’26 request for a ride to Grove.

Diego Abadie ’26: “Millie, would you do a buzz for ISL’s?”

Assistant Cross-Country Coach Millie Paladino: “Nomy hair is all I have!”

Charlotte Garrity ’26: “I speak in InDesign. Right click, up arrow...”

Kate Rice ’25: “See, that wasn’t even a full sentence.”

Ethan Miner ’25 on the Spice Girls: “Women but seasoned!”

Luckily, after some time and some help, Robert finally got out of the bathroom. He came back to join the rest of us, and we soon got off the boat. This was, unfortunately, just the beginning. We tried hailing a taxi to no avail, and it became clear that our best course of action was instead to take the metro. Upon arriving at the station, we discovered the pay station was broken, and we resorted to jumping the turnstile one by one. After making my father lift me over the turnstile, we made our way to the platform only to discover, that it was, of course, packed.

After a considerable 45-minute wait on the stuffy platform, the train eventually came. After lots of pushing and shoving (at some point I was used as a human battering ram to make room for the rest of my family), we made our way onto the packed train car. After the train trip, we finally made our way back to the hotel. We all quickly came to the same conclusion: We absolutely should not have ridden the Bateaux Mouches. As we each wandered into our rooms and collapsed into bed, none of us were excited for the early wake-up awaiting us in the morning before our flight.

This entire experience taught me a valuable lesson: I should not push myself to do every last thing. It turns out that, sometimes, you just have to admit you don’t have time to stop and smell the roses. It’s important to recognize the value in taking a break and putting something off if it feels like too much to fit into your schedule. Sometimes, you have to realize that you don’t need to go on the Bateaux Mouches.

Photos Courtesy of Olivia Richter, Danny West, Delaney Jones, Emilia Khoury, and Viena Desai. Quotes courtesy of “Gilmore Girls.”
Martha Balson Moments with Martha

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