350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478
Volu m e 6 6 , Issu e 1
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Permit #58555 Boston, MA PAID
May 4 , 2 0 1 7
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
WEBB REVISITS HILL
Mr. Roger Webb Returns to the Hamilton Chapel He Brought to Belmont Hill in 1963
Photo (left) by Johhn Gillooly and (right) from Harvard Business School
By Ishaan Prasad ‘18 and William McCormack ‘18 Panel Staff The Spark: Mr. Webb’s Chapel Talk On a wet Tuesday afternoon in early April, Mr. Roger Webb spoke to an intimate group of interested community members on the reconstruction of Belmont Hill’s iconic Hamilton Chapel. Into his 80s but still thoughtful, sharp, and vibrant, Webb provided the attending cohort of middle schoolers, upper schoolers, faculty members, and alumni with an anecdotal recollection of the Hamilton Chapel’s assembly. Mr. Webb’s knowledge of the Chapel
is rivaled by none. Speaking on the stage of the Hamilton Chapel, Webb returned to the space that has come to embody his silent, but significant legacy on Belmont Hill. In 1963, it was Roger Webb who identified a wooden chapel in West Thompson, Connecticut that was nearing its destruction; the United States Army Corp of Engineers had purchased an abundance of property in the region and was preparing to demolish structures for the construction of a dam. Contacted by Headmaster Fred Hamilton, Webb, a general contractor with experience relocating historic structures in the Boston area, led a team of five carpenters that disassembled the chapel’s parts in West Thompson, transported them by
truck to Belmont, and reassembled the onceMethodist church in its present location. The School continues to both symbolically and physically revolve around the Hamilton Chapel, roughly equidistant from the Melvoin Academic Center and Jordan Athletic Center. Webb’s detailed retelling of the Chapel’s reconstruction was followed by an exciting trip to the attic of the Hamilton Chapel. Mrs. Hamilton, a faculty member for over twenty years, as well as all the boys present to meet with Mr. Webb, was making her first trip to the attic. A small door nested behind third form seating in the back of the building reveals a thin, steep set of wooden steps that lead to a long attic. Home to the
Chapel’s original wooden podium, a gallery of photos from its 1963 disassembly and reconstruction on Belmont Hill, the structure’s weathervane, and a bird’s-eye view of the JV soccer field, the attic, unknown to most of the student population, was surprisingly well-kept. In the attic, Mr. Webb continued treating students to tales and narratives from his work on the project, pointing out pictures that depicted the community gathering around the Chapel as its two front columns were placed (an event that seemed to mimic the community’s groundbreaking ceremony when construction on the Melvoin Academic Center began in November 2013). continued on Page 8
Belmont Hill Track & Field Starts 2017 Campaign Hot A Year in America blue dominated their competitors in nearly every event. Noticeable performances include Evan Ricci ‘17 in the 110-meter hurdles and Isaiah Collins ‘18 in the 100-meter dash. By no means satisfied with its initial success, the team continued to work diligently toward their next meet, at home against Governor’s Academy, Groton, and Middlesex. When the day of contest came, Belmont Hill again emerged on top, an auspicious sign for a possibly remarkable season. Although the season has just begun, Belmont Hill has its sights set on two championship titles. If all bodes well, the team will add two trophies to the mantelpiece. ☐
By Matt Smith ‘19 Panel Staff After both a second-place finish at ISTAs and an epic victory at Division II NEPSTAs during the 2016 season, the Belmont Hill track team kicked off its 2017 season poised for success. Soon after the end of the 2016-2017 winter sports season, the squad began to prepare for competition through weeks of grueling practice in frigid weather. After a short break to enjoy the first week of March break, the athletes reconvened at Harvard’s indoor track. With only a short time before competition began, the Belmont Hill team worked as hard as ever. At their first meet, the Thayer Relays, their hard work payed off conspicuously, as the boys in
Look Inside The Panel News 6-7 Navy SEAL Skypes with BH
Lt. Commander Dave speaks with students in Dr. Buckley’s Institute of Policy and Poltics Course
McCormack ‘18 Elected President Carter ‘18, I. Prasad ‘18, and Morris ‘18 round out Form VI Senate team. Rockett ‘19, McHugh ‘20, Walker ‘21, and Bittner ‘22 win other presidenctial elections.
Sports 10-11 Jayson Firmin ‘21 Advances in Jr. NBA National Skills Challenge
By Filip Puljiz ‘18 Staff Writer One day in my beautiful Croatian city of Split, my grandma asked me: “Would you like to go to America like Laura?” Laura had spent a year abroad in Ohio and loved the experience. I messaged Laura and she spoke very highly of her time in the US and gave me all the information on how to apply. After a grueling application process full of interviews and essays in English, I learned I had been accepted, and would be attending Belmont Hill School, in Belmont, Massachusetts. After googling the school to find out where I would be living for the next year, I was excited and a little nervous for what lay ahead. continued on Page 2
Arts 4-5 Artists of the Issue: Kingston ‘17 and Folsom ‘17
How Sixth Formers Chris Kingston and Jonny Folsom have used Instagram to showcase their photography
Win at TD Garden leads to Regional finals in Brooklyn
Opinions 2-3 A Closer Look at the Language Requirement Examining requirements for incoming Form III students
Jazz Band Plays at Ryles Jazz Club An evening of good food and even better music in Cambridge, MA.