April 17, 2025
Spring Woodburys Impress BH Students Again
By Ben Gong ’26 & Bradford Adams ’26 Panel Staff
Whether it be a tale of a first kiss gone horribly awry or a story about the brotherhood a student found in the Belmont Hill JV hockey team, this year’s Woodbury Public Speaking con test certainly did not fail to disappoint. This year’s speakers, Brady Paquette ’25, Will Achtmeyer ’26, Alex Tosi ’25, Thomas Sheehan ’25, Jordan Summers ’25, and Maksim Roman ’25 all did a fantastic job and provided the Belmont Hill community with speeches that will be remembered for years to come.
The proceedings began with Brady’s heartfelt speech about the bond he found within his Chinese class. As a floundering student in Spanish, he turned to Chinese with Mr. Shen, and formed a bond with his classmates that turned language from a chore into a class that he looked forward to every day. Brady stressed the importance of brotherhood, and finding joy in our work, a lesson that surely resonates with many in the Belmont Hill community.
After Brady’s speech, Will Achtmeyer spoke about the importance of letting things go and showing gratitude. His vivid description of receiving
a scolding from his mother after showing disrespect after a simple question - and his mother’s ability to put that aside to wave to a total stranger on the street - hopefully, touched some of the first and second-formers in attendance. Will emphasized the effect that empathy has on others and encouraged Belmont Hill to show it at every opportunity.
Following Will’s speech, Alex Tosi described his disastrous attempt at a first kiss. Humorously taking us through his planning, the act itself, and his awful quip after the fact, Alex had the entire chapel laughing with heads in hands over some of his 13-year-old self’s poor decisions. In the words of
the man himself: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” a message Belmont Hill students can certainly take to heart with exams around the corner.
Next, Thomas Sheehan shed light on his journey from aspiring hockey star to almost joining strength and conditioning before eventually sticking with hockey. Thomas described rediscovering his love of hockey with the small Belmont Hill JV Hockey team, where he made a number of friends and scored four goals. Thomas’ story highlighted the importance of sports at Belmont Hill and the value they can bring even if a student does not star for varsity.
Jordan Summers’ speech was
next, and he discussed the intense games of “HORSE” he played with his father. Jordan vividly described how he and his father would not just horse around, but rather use the game to practice real shots and improve. His message about pursuing your goals with conviction was one that resonated with the Belmont Hill community.
Lastly, Maksim Roman talked about his harrowing experience of being hospitalized after being hit by a discus. Max talked about how right after he was hit - where he was at his lowest point - the care the community showed for him was never greater. Whether it be Mr. Zellner sprinting - as Max said - for the first time in 15 years or Mr. Chin immediately coming to assist him, Max’s story reminded us that the Belmont Community will always be there for us no matter what.
The field this year was particularly strong, with some teachers calling it the best in their decades of experience. Students agreed and generally raved about the quality of the speeches. After intense deliberation, the judges selected Alex Tosi as the victor. The Panel would like to congratulate each of the contestants for their efforts, and looks forward to the next installment this fall! ☐
BH Students Inspired by Noelle Lambert’s Story
By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff
On Thursday, March 6, the Belmont Hill community gathered to hear the incredible life story of Paralympian and American record holder Noelle Lambert.
Born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Ms. Lambert grew up in a home surrounded by athletic brothers. As a child, she learned to be gritty in the face of friendly competition with her brothers. After a stellar career as a high school athlete, she committed to play Division 1 Lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She had an outstanding freshman year on the field, beginning her college career seemingly destined for greatness. When on a trip with friends in the Summer of 2016 on Martha’s Vineyard, Ms. Lambert mounted a moped for the first time ever. On her joyride with friends, she crashed into a truck, suddenly losing her entire left leg. Rushed to adequate care, Ms. Lambert was put in emergency surgery, and doctors saved her life. She began her re -
covery journey quickly, aiming to play lacrosse at any point in the following season. Months after her accident, she rejoined practice, making clear to her coaches that she wanted to be held to the same standards as her two-legged teammates. In her first game back, she scored a remarkable goal, that she describes as the best of her life.
After college, many track coaches pressured Ms. Lambert to join the sport,
citing her determination and work ethic on and off the field. After graduating from UMass Lowell cum laude, she pivoted her career to become a track and field athlete. Following many trials and tribulations, such as only finishing seventh in national qualifiers, Ms. Lambert was en route to Tokyo for the 2020 Paralympic Games. At the games, she broke her own American record in the 100m for her disability class.
Following four more years of intense training—including picking up the long jump and a stint as the first-ever above-the-knee amputee on Survivor in 2022—Ms. Lambert competed in Paris last summer, placing a remarkable fourth in her new event. Looking back at her Olympic career, she lamented not having won: she promised Belmont Hill to bring a gold back home to Massachusetts after the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Throughout her career, Ms. Lambert has prioritized giving back. Her accident “has made [her] realize what’s important in life.” Accordingly, she founded the Born to Run Foundation, an organization that helps children and adults alike obtain often expensive prosthetics. At the end of her speech, Ms. Lambert reflected deeply, “When I look back on my accident now, I view it as such a positive and I view it as something to be extremely grateful for.” The entire Belmont Hill community is incredibly grateful to Ms. Lambert for offering her honesty and wisdom to make every single member a better athlete, teammate, and student. ☐
Letter from the Editor: A Look Inside The Panel
Page 2: Blood Drive
Sam Leviton ’28 recaps this year’s successful edition of the on-campus blood drive, a highlight of the Belmont Hill community service calendar that brings in many participants.
Page 3: Football Reconstruction
Nicky Jones ’26, alongside Jack Coughlin ’26, highlights recent news in ISL football, including scheduling changes and league design that will be implemented next season.
Page 5: AOTI Mr. Patterson
Patrick Snail ’28 dives deep into Brother P’s artistic life, both in and out of school, highlighting the upbeat music teacher’s accomplishments and interesting life story.
Page 10: Athlete Entitlement
Charlie Maws ’26 comments on supposed entitlement in professional sports, making a strong case that some athletes take it too far on and off the camera.
Welcome to Issue 1 of Volume 74! This month, our news and arts sections spotlight a variety of school events and Performances including the school-wide blood drive, the hypnosis Chapel of David Hall, and the most recent Landau Gallery hosting Gordon Chase’s artwork. Meanwhile, our sports section features Cooper Tarlie ’25 as our Athlete of the Issue and features articles focusing on March Madness at Belmont Hill and the downfall of the Bruins. Finally, the centerspread of this issue highlights the compiled op-eds of this year’s Ad-
vanced Action Research (AAR) team and their findings from data they gathered over the past year on different topics within the school community, as well as their experience at the UPenn SPARC Conference. This issue marks the first of Volume 74 as we transition into a new staff of editors and assistant editors; we thank all of the writers, editors, and faculty who have helped make our previous volume possible. We are truly proud of what we accomplished in this volume, and it would not have been possible without all of you. Thank you, and enjoy Volume 74!
Belmont Hill School
Noelle Lambert Chapel
BH Communications
Spring Woodburys; Brady Paquette ’25 delivered on video JJ Pena ’26
Hypnotist David Hall Leaves Students Wonderstruck
By Adrian Chen ’28 & Ryan Li ’28 Panel Staff
During a Thursday Community Block on March 13, David Hall, a renowned ‘hypnotist,’ came on campus to deliver an unforgettable performance involving twelve Form VI boys. The self-proclaimed ‘mentalist,’ began with some basic mind games that garnered the attention of the whole school with students staring in awe as their hands began floating in the air, per his instructions. The hypnotist then requested that several seniors perform in the upcoming act. With the row of seniors sitting on the chapel stage, Hall initiated the hypnotism by guiding the seniors in relaxing their bodies, slowly but surely, over the course of a few calming minutes. By then, most seniors had slumped into a trance-like state. The hypnotist then called upon the audience for their participation through a game he described as “Cards Against Hypnosis.” During this game, Hall asked the audience to choose two options for
him to mimic with the performers. The hypnotist would describe the selected scenario to the seniors in each instance. Then, on his command, the seniors would enter the situation, appearing as
if hypnotized. Hall then guided them through the hypothetical circumstances, allowing for some funny reactions. The show started straightforwardly, beginning with “sleeping darts” and “laughing
gas.” As the show progressed, the situations became more and more intricate, such as using a shoe as a phone with senior Myles Beckett ’25 or playing slots in Vegas. Through each scenario, the seniors would follow the hypnotist’s every instruction, no matter how absurd. James Keefe ’25, one of the seniors on stage, stated, “You’re aware of what’s going on; you’re conscious of what you’re doing, but you kind of go along with whatever someone is saying to do.” James described the entire experience as relaxing, stating that he felt groggy afterward as if waking up in the middle of the night. When asked about the other seniors in the group, James indicated that their experiences were incredibly varied. While some were entirely in a trance, such as Myles Beckett ’25, whom James vehemently stated was not acting during the hypnotist’s show, others, James recognized, were faking their reactions. Overall, the hypnotist’s performance was very enjoyable for both the audience and the seniors on stage - a truly memorable chapel of the year. ☐
Students Donate to Blood Drive in Lasting Tradition
By Samuel Leviton ’28 Panel Staff
On March 4th, a Bloodmobile from Mass General Hospital arrived on the Belmont Hill campus for blood donations. The Bloodmobile makes its way to campus twice throughout the year, once in the Fall and once in the spring, in an effort to receive blood from students and faculty alike.
The Bloodmobile is sponsored by the Kraft Family Donor Center. The Kraft Family Blood Donor Center was founded more than thirty years ago, when Belmont Hill parent Robert Kraft, alongside his wife Myra Kraft, worked with Dr. Kenneth Anderson to found the organization. The blood raised from the organization goes to local hospitals such as Dana Farber and Brigham.
There are two different Bloodmo
biles, both 40 feet long and containing four different donation beds. Each donor is in and out of the vehicle within thirty minutes, allowing the donation process to be swift and effective. Each donor is
provided with snacks and refreshments to make their visit even more enjoyable. The average donor gives just under one pint of blood, out of the human body’s 9-12 pints. While this may
Another Successful PWAP
By Will Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff
PWAP was held this year in the Jordan on March 1st and was run by student leaders: Davis Woolbert ‘25, Henry Hagedorn ‘25, Nick Pellagrini ‘25, TZ Snail ‘26, Scotty Moreau ‘26, and Will Achtmeyer ‘26 with Mr. George as the faculty head. Belmont Hill partnered once again with Dana Hall, Winsor and Rivers to plan a party event at Belmont Hill, the proceeds from which all went to Boston Children’s Hospital. This year came with some exciting changes to the event, including the usage of the ice rink for a free skate which accompanied the classic PWAP events: karaoke, yard games, pizza, and the red carpet for the BCH attendees. Will Hennigar ’26, who attended PWAP said, “It was fun and novel to take advantage of the ice skating ring. Honestly, it had been something I had wanted for a while.” Additionally, the event was moved back to its normal time on Saturday at 6 pm, although the event was moved up to March to avoid conflict with Prom, semi-formals, and exams. While the amount of donation money is yet to be finalized, PWAP has raised money from ticket sales, merch sales, and a Valentine’s Day flower sale.
sored B2B Basketball tournament. ☐
seem like a lot, MGH states that the pint will be self-replenished inside the body within 24 hours of donation. According to the MGH website, the blood gathered during the drive can be used for many different people in the hospital, including someone with a deadly disease, someone receiving a heart transplant, or even a newborn baby. During the visit at Belmont Hill, upperclassmen students and parents alike donated a total of 11 pints of blood. While this number does not top that of previous years, it is undoubtful that the drive made a positive impact. One student’s parent involved in the drive stated the process was, “Smooth, efficient, and an easy way to make an impact.” The semi-annual blood drive embodies the giving and caring environment present throughout Belmont Hill. ☐
Online Editor Ethan Xie ’26
Arts Editor Bradford Adams ’26
Sports Editor Will Hennigar ’26
Visual Media Director Will Sandor ’27
Lead InDesign Editor Ben Gong ’26
Editors-In-Chief TZ Snail ’26
Jaiden Lee ’26
Executive Editors Nathan Zhang ’26 Eli Norden ’26
Assistant Editors Liam McLean ’27 Tyler Grossman ’27
Sam Leviton ‘28
Sean Park ’28
Patrick Snail ’28
Adrian Chen ’28
Ryan Ho ’28
Ryan Li ’28
Staff Artists/writers
Suhas Kaniyar ’28
Jackson Hurd ’26 Jack Coughlin ’26
Faculty Advisors Paige Wallace
Juliette Zener
News Editor Jack Ramanathan ’26
Opinions Editor Will Achtmeyer ’26
Long Form Editor
Rhett Curtis ’26
Back Page Editor Thomas Danahy ’26
Nicky Jones ’26
Charlie Maws ’26 JJ Pena ’26
The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill School. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of the school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright © 2023 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
However, PWAP isn’t over yet and will return later this year with a PWAP-spon -
Hypnotist David Hall Google Images
The Blood Mobile Google Images
2025 PWAP Logo BH Communications
In the Chapel BH Communications
PWAP Flower Sale BH Communications
AOTI: Cooper Tarlie ’25
By Nathan Zhang ’26 & Justin Li ’26 Panel Staff
Framing pitches and launching home runs, Cooper Tarlie ’25 has been a key contributor to the Belmont Hill Varsity Baseball team as both a catcher and outfielder. Last year, Cooper committed to play Division I baseball at William & Mary. This year, his leadership and dedication were recognized when his teammates voted him captain. Despite his athletic accomplishments, he has gone through adversity to get to where he is today. In his sophomore year, even with his talents he did not make the varsity team and spent the season on JV, a tough experience he reflected on in a Woodbury in the fall. He continued to train and work to make the team by his junior year. Ultimately, he committed to the College of William Mary before mak -
ing the varsity team his junior year.
During his first season on varsity, Cooper suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the year. He shared, “When I dealt with injury, I really relied on my friends. One of my closest friends was hurt at the same time, so we spent a lot of time together, just hanging out during practice—and we got a lot closer through that.” He also leaned on his faith and stayed committed to working hard through the recovery process. Through it all, moments of joy and connection have stuck with him: “We went to Mr. Chin’s family restaurant, then had this hour-and-a-half bus ride where we just did karaoke the whole time.”
Now, with a healthy season ahead, Cooper looks to help lead the team in pursuit of an ISL championship before heading off to the next level, and The Panel wishes him the best of luck. ☐
BH Football Realignment
By Jack Coughlin ’26 Panel Staff
The NEPSAC football landscape has seen a variety of changes over the offseason, implementing division shifts that have significantly restructured the field of play. While for the past few years years, the league has used a Class A and Class B ranking system, it has now added a third Class C. As a result, several member schools rose and fell between divisions, and the Independent School League (ISL) as it was once known has officially been dissolved. This move will significantly impact the strength of play for many ISL schools, with the formerly ISL-Large remaining in Class B while losing two historic members in Governor’s and Lawrence Academy who will downgrade to Class C next year and join the ISL-11, made up of 11 ISL schools. As newly promoted Belmont Hill defensive coordinator Coach LaLiberte put it, “It is unfortunate that the ISL has dissolved, but the changes will
help our program grow and develop.” Belmont Hill and the rest of the ISL-Large will remain in Class B, joined by St. Paul’s and Trinity-Pawling, two great match-ups to watch next year. The strength of schedule will also rise for the school over the coming years, with exciting Founder’s League and NE Prep matchups every year, a notable one being Brunswick this upcoming season.
These high-quality opponents should ensure that Belmont Hill players and the overall program will gain rising exposure and visibility beyond the ISL by competing all across New England against programs with strong pedigrees.
Overall, the realignment is a great move for NEPSAC football, as there will be much more balanced competition, which will promote better play and heighten the competitiveness between schools. The Belmont Hill football program is eager to embrace the challenges of a stronger schedule, build new rivalries, and continue developing as a top competitor in NEPSAC football this upcoming season. ☐
BH Spring Varsity Sports Off to a Strong Start
By Suhas Kaniyar ’28 Panel Staff
On March 3rd, 2025, Belmont Hill kicked off its 101st year of spring sports. After capping off a highly successful centennial sports year, Belmont Hill looks to improve its athletic standards.
The Varsity Lacrosse team is currently 5-2 and has a five-game winning streak. After back-to-back losses against strong Deerfield Academy and Choate Rosemary Hall, the team got their first win of the season against Avon Old Farms 13-10. On Friday, April 4th, they faced off against Milton Academy at Nickerson Field (Boston University) and won with a staggering 19 goals to Milton’s 4. Last week, the team earned wins over Lawrence Academy and Tabor Academy, and on Monday they faced off against IMG, winning 19-11. In total, the team’s goal differential from seven games is 102-58, and they hope to continue to improve over the season and make another run at the ISL Championship. The captains are 4-year veterans of the team-Preston Evans ’25, Lindan Verville ’25, and Eli Friedman ’25.
Over on the Charles River, the Varsity Crew team has won their recent scrimmage against Kent. They then faced Deerfield, a team praised as the “gold standard” of New England rowing this year by Coach Richards. The team, coming off of three firstplace and one second-place finish at NEIRAs, looks to fulfill their high expectations this year with the leadership of William Walton ’25, Jack Kastner ’25, and Vince Mezzanotte ’25.
The Varsity Baseball team recently beat Tabor 12-5, Phillips Andover 5-4 on a walk-off walk, and lost a 6-5 under the lights at Austin Prep to a tough Lawrence Academy team. Bridgton Academy 7-2, showcasing their brilliance on the diamond. They hope to make another run at the ISL Championship, despite losing a significant number of graduated players who were key contributors last year. This year, the captains are Cooper Tarlie ’25 and Jack Duffy ’25.
On the tennis courts, the Varsity Tennis team has lost their first match, in a neck-and-neck contest against Deerfield, 4-2. They rebounded with dominant win over Thayer before losing to a talented Roxbury Latin team. The team looks forward to making a run at Class A under captains Ernest Lai ’25 and Jack Nolan ’25.
The Varsity Track team is off to good start after their meet at Groton on Saturday, April 5th. They won against Groton, Lawrence and Roxbury Latin. Eita Fuse ’26 and Josiah Gomes ’25 had notable showings. The track team faces off against Thayer, Nobles and Middlesex at Thayer on Wednesday, April 16th. The team is lead by captains Josiah Gomes ’25, Ashton Cruz ’25, Davis Woolbert ’25, and Jordan Summers ’25.
The Varsity Golf team looks to fulfill their stellar expectations. The team has some new additions paired with long-time veterans of the team, and hopes to repeat the success they have experienced in years prior. The Panel would like to wish the best of luck to all competing Belmont Hill sports teams. ☐
Cooper Tarlie ’25
Adam Richins
Belmont Hill Lacrosse and Track Teams
Adam Richins
2024 BH Football Captains
Adam Richins
2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft Preview
By Charlie Maws ’26 & Jackson Hurd ’26 Panel Staff
The highlight of this year’s NFL free agency has been the massive contracts given out. Players took advantage of a relatively weak free agency class with very few household names switching teams to make record-breaking contract extensions. After requesting a trade, Myles Garrett broke the record for the most money given to a non-quarterback with a 4-year, $160 million contract. Less than a month later, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase surpassed this contract with a 4-year, $161 million contract. Chase’s teammate, Tee Higgins, also earned a 4-year, 114-million-dollar contract, the highest contract ever for a number two wide receiver.
While none of the best players in the league left via free agency, there were still a lot of quality players who switched teams this year. The Seahawks retooled much of their offense, including trading wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Steelers for a 2nd-round pick, trading quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders for a 2027 3rd-round pick, and cutting long-time wide receiver Tyler Lockett. In return, they signed a former offensive player of the year, Cooper Kupp, and breakout quarterback Sam Darnold. The New England Patriots made multiple moves, including bringing in the most expensive player in franchise history, defensive tackle Milton Williams, from the reigning champion Eagles, former Lions cornerback Carlton Davis, former Texan Stephon Diggs, and multiple linebackers, including former Titan Harold Landry. Other key players that changed
teams this year include Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil going to the Washington Commanders, Devante Adams to the Rams, and Joe Thuney to the Bears. According to John O’Brien ’26, “I think the weak free agency class leaves room for teams to make more trades and focus on drafting well. “Since this year’s free agency class was relatively flat, many teams will look to address their needs through the draft. Last year’s draft saw an abundance of high-end talent, especially at the quarterback position, but this year looks very different. There are no quarterback prospects who are clearcut talents similar to one of the six firstround quarterbacks of 2024, or indeed many players who are considered true ‘blue-chip’ talents. The top QB this year is Cam Ward of the University of Miami, a player who has a lot of talent and abili -
March Madness 2025
By Jack Coughlin ’26 Panel Staff
The 2025 NCAA March Madness certainly delivered the thrilling tournament that fans eagerly look forward to every year, with countless buzzer–beaters and upsets making for an especially exciting contest. Many brackets were busted early with several first-round upsets, including 12-seed internet sensation McNeese scraping by 5-seed Clemson after holding the Tigers to a mere 13 points in the first half. Another notable surprise was the 10-seed Arkansas run. The run began by knocking off 7 Kansas in a thriller before upsetting 2 seed St Johns in the Second Round. Had it not been for an epic collapse in the Sweet 16 where they led by 13 at the 4-minute TV timeout they would have beaten Texas Tech to advance to the Elite Eight. Finally #11 Drake, a team that had four of its five starters playing Division II basketball the season prior, defeated #6 Missouri in the first round. In surprising fashion, all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four - Florida, Auburn, Houston, and Duke - for the first time since 2008. This rare occurrence made for two exciting Final Four games, where all four powerhouse teams played to the last whistle with the games being decided by a combined nine points. Duke led by star freshman and projected first overall pick Cooper Flagg had an epic collapse against Houston in the Final Four where they only made one field goal in the final 10 minutes of the game. They also gave up a 15-3 run in the final few minutes due to an inability to make free throws or inbound
the ball which contributed to the choke.
Florida and Houston faced off in the championship, where the Gators secured a 65-63 victory in a dramatic victory that went down to the last seconds with Houston being unable to get a shot off on the final possesion due to the stifling Florida defense that did not allow them to get an easy shot. This was in large part due to Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr, who earned Most Outstanding Player and was crowned a national champion along with the rest of his team.
The March Madness bracket challenge is alive and well around the country, with 39 million people crafting a bracket, but no bracket was able to survive perfectly. Form V had its own challenge of who could make the most accurate bracket, with Jack Ramanathan ’26 being named the winner. Jack said that he, “Used TikTok and ball knowledge such as Houston’s elite defense.” ☐
ty but lacks the polished game of a more experienced signal-caller. Despite this, his strong arm and athleticism have led many to predict that the Titans will use the number one overall choice to select him as their quarterback of the future.
Many feel that one blue-chip player in this draft is edge rusher Abdul Carter out of Penn State. He is explosive and already draws some comparisons to high-level NFL players. Another player who has earned this tag is running back Ashton Jeanty. The Boise State rusher was electric this year and racked up 2,601 rushing yards, only 28 shy of legend Barry Sanders’s all-time season record. Despite the recent decrease in top picks being spent on running backs, he is projected to be picked within the first round, with some projecting him to go as high as a top 10 pick. Anoth -
er blue chip talent in this draft class is Travis Hunter. Hunter played both Wide Reciver and Cornerback during his junior and senior seasons at Colorado winning the Heisman Award this past season. Many NFL experts believe that he will be picked in the top three due to his immense talent and verasatility on both sides on the ball. Hunter could fill multiple holes for a team lacking talent at Wide Recover and Cornerback. Those who say, however, that this draft class is shallow are not entirely accurate. Despite the lack of obvious high-end talent, this draft features an impressive amount of players with some high-end potential, including players who will likely be picked well beyond the first and second rounds. This adds an element of excitement to the draft this year, as it feels like almost any draftee could make an immediate impact on their team. This offseason has been full of excitement, and this is sure to continue through the draft. ☐
The Downfall of the Bruins
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
After securing a 5-4 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on April 13, 2023, the Boston Bruins seemed to have reached the pinnacle of the NHL’s storied history. Fans roared with excitement, celebrating the franchise’s record-breaking night that saw the team earn 65 wins and 135 points - both marks that remain untouched in recent years. Coach Jim Montgomery - who had recently become a household name due to the team’s success - said in a postgame interview, “There are numerous statistical metrics you can look at that make the season special, but for me, it’s how much those guys care about playing for each other. That’s what has made this season so special.” Heading into the postseason as the overwhelming favorites to win the Stanley Cup, the Bruins’ players wore nothing but smiles. Everything seemed to be going right. Until it wasn’t.
Following a devastating firstround loss to the Florida Panthers in that year’s playoffs despite holding a 3-1 series lead, a cascade of events led to the franchise’s dramatic decline. The retirements of franchise icons Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí following their early exit left a gaping hole at center, a position that had long been a strength for the Bruins. Salary cap constraints forced the team to part ways with key players that had helped the team immensely like Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Dmitry Orlov, further depleting their depth. While veterans like Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle remained, the aging core struggled to sus -
tain the dominance of previous years. Goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, who had carried the team with elite performances, inevitably saw some regression, exposing weaknesses elsewhere in the lineup. Meanwhile, the rest of the Eastern Conference continued to grow stronger, making it increasingly difficult for Boston to reclaim its former dominance, and while in 2024 they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a thrilling first-round seven-game series before the Florida Panthers sent them home for a second year in a row. The Bruins then ironically traded away Capitain Brad Marchand to the Panthers, marking the official end of their contending days.
Once the team that embodied excellence, the Bruins now find themselves in a rebuild. While hopefully they can find their way back into the playoffs soon, their championship aspirations have faded as key departures and an aging core take their toll. Furthermore, General Manager Don Sweeney has struggled to find success in free agency and the draft.
Perhaps this decline should have been more apparent to Bostonians, throughout many Belmont Hill boys’ childhoods. For over the last decade, the Bruins consistently found their way into the playoffs, maintaining a level of success few teams could match. Last season, they tied the record for the longest active playoff streak in the league, a testament to their remarkable longevity. But as time catches up with the franchise, the once-reliable formula for success that had worked so well for them now appears to have run out, as on Saturday, April 6th, the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2016. ☐
Cam Ward, projected first overall pick in the 2025 draft
Google Images
NFL Free Agency Graphic Google Images
Walter Clayton Jr. Google Images
Artist Gordon Chase Visits BH Landau Gallery
By Suhas Kaniyar ’28 Panel Staff
On Tuesday, March 11, widely accredited pastel and spray paint artist Gordon D. Chase visited Belmont Hill, offering students the opportunity to meet and learn from him. Chase, who taught at Groton and Milton Academy for a combined 43 years, has a long background in both teaching and independent art.
Although Chase initially aspired to be a scientist, he lost interest due to his poor grades and the “competitiveness” and “judginess” of both school and his peers. It was for this reason that Chase, wanting to rebel against the norm, started experimenting with art.
He built an art studio at age 15 and - after multiple years of hard work and practice - was accepted into every university he applied to. He chose to attend Yale, where he once again found his calling for art and self-belief when the university mandated he take a French class in order to graduate.
Chase originally did not want to take the class, as he had nearly flunked out of the language at Exeter, but he eventually changed his mind after more pressure from the school. He initially struggled but found his footing later as he exceeded his previous expectations, proving to himself that he could accomplish hard things with the right mindset and support system. It was this experi -
ence that showed him that he couldn’t tell what he was going to be good at.
After graduating from Yale, he was torn between attending graduate school and teaching, but picked the latter as a way to give back. He went on to teach for a total of 43 years, in which he became the Head of Milton’s Art Department. During this time, he embraced the theme of “art with a social conscience,” and af -
ter retiring in 2014, began to incorporate this philosophy into his own works. After learning more about the social climate of different regions of the world, Chase decided to illustrate issues concerning humanity in his pieces. While talking about Jina Mahsa Amini, a piece depicting an Iranian woman who was beaten and killed for showing too much hair, he showed the impact of art with a social message. In another piece, Say Their Names, he portrays men with names of wrongfully murdered black people, such as Emmett Till and George Floyd. He stated that art can be more powerful than words and can help depict a more impactful message to a viewer, which is another reason his work with social cause has garnered so much attention.
Gordon Chase’s lessons and insights from his art career were greatly appreciated by the Belmont Hill Community, and The Panel would like to thank him for speaking at our school and displaying his work.
The Problem of Evil Lamont Gallery
AAR: Four Visions for a Stronger
Tradition Can’t Come Before Progress: Sustainability in the Dining Hall
Thomas Danahy ’26, Jack Ramanathan ’26, & T.Z. Snail ’26
At a school that prides itself on tradition and leadership, it’s time we reevaluate one of our most outdated customs: the waiter system. While once a storied tradition that was meant to instill core school values like responsibility, it now does more harm than good - contributing to food waste, inconvenience, and an overall diminished dining experience. If we truly value sustainability and the well-being of students, we need to leave this tradition behind.
The core issue is clear: the waiter system promotes inefficiency and food waste while putting an unnecessary burden on certain students. Often, waiters feel rushed and miss out on their meals or conversations due to the short time that they have. In fact, our research noted that in a 40-minute sit-down lunch
Belmont Hill deserves a lunch room that reflects the future, not the past. Eliminate the Waiter system.
block on a Thursday, announcements commenced just 18 minutes into the period, leaving even less time for waiters to do their jobs. More importantly, they clear and scrape large quantities of untouched food into the trash every day - food that could have been composted or never wasted in the first place. Based on our survey of over 400 students and faculty, fewer than 40% of students show active participation in sustainable practices despite 53% believing it’s urgent. In large part, this is because systems like this make sustainability feel like an afterthought and not a priority. Eliminating the waiter system would be a meaningful and manageable step toward solving this problem. By moving to a self-clear model - similar to systems used in other ISL schools - we would reduce both waste and student frustration. Students could take owner-
ship of their own plates, making them more mindful of what they take and what they throw out. The administration could redirect student leadership toward compost education or sustainability roles instead of table-clearing. Schools such as Milton Academy and Nobles already use similar models and report more efficient lunch systems and better waste management. Some might argue that the waiter system builds character and contributes to a sense of shared responsibility. While those are noble goals, it is apparent that we are not really achieving them; in reality, the system feels more like a chore than a lesson, with no consistent reflection or takeaway. If we truly want students to develop responsibility, why not engage them in environmental stewardship instead - like managing compost bins, auditing waste, or helping run
sustainability campaigns? These roles are more in line with the challenges of our time and the values of our school. In a time when over 76% of students say they care about the climate crisis, but less than 40% act on it, we need systems that make the right choice the easy choice. Ending the waiter system would not only improve the Belmont Hill student experience - it would also align our values with our practices. In conclusion, our goal is ambitious yet necessary. We aim to replace tradition with intention. Talk to your classmates, speak with your class officers, and ask the administration to implement a more sustainable and student-friendly dining system. We can honor the past without being held back by it. The next generation of Belmont Hill leaders deserves a lunchroom that reflects the future, not the past. ☐
A Burn-out Inducing System: Future of the Teacher-Coach Model
“I love it, but you’re also just set up to not be able to do half of your job when you’re doing the other part,”
said a teacher and coach, discussing the drawbacks of the teacher-coach model (TCM) at Belmont Hill. Through extensive research that utilized focus groups, interviews, and a school-wide survey, our AAR group found a common drawback expressed by teachers: time. While over 75% of the student population believes the model is necessary to school culture, teachers expressed difficulty balancing the time commitments of managing teaching, extra help, and coaching within the bounds of the school day while also holding time for their personal lives and obligations. This weakness could threaten the model’s sustainability long-term. We believe that the first step in addressing this is -
To protect the teacher-coach model and support faculty well-being, Belmont Hill must track coaching hours and take action.
sue–and thus, maintaining the model for generations of BH students to come–is to gather more information. We recommend that the BH Athletic Department launch an audit of coaching hours within the upcoming academic year. To do this, the Athletic Department could ask coaches (including theater, robotics, etc.) to record the number of hours that they spend on coaching-related tasks for one week per season. This would allow the Athletic Department to get a clearer picture of how this workload is affecting teachers on a sportby-sport basis and, hopefully, lay the groundwork for changes to make the TCM more sustainable moving forward.
As students, we don’t always see the long hours that teacher-coaches spend working outside of the spaces where they interact with students. These hours can include preparing class plans, making game strategies, reviewing film, and grading papers. While the academic part of this is true at any school, not all schools require teachers to coach as well. This is an issue because if teachers feel that the TCM leads to too much work to balance with life outside of school, Belmont Hill could, therefore, lose effective teacher-coaches or future faculty members, who may choose to go to another
school with a different model. A teacher-coach that we interviewed believes “the toughest thing is the timepiece, more so if you’re coaching varsity athletics than middle school athletics.” He says his sport “is a time-intensive sport, just in terms of time commitment and sacrifices you make at home, in the fall where it’s like you’re 7 days a week flat out from Labor Day until the week before Thanksgiving.” Not many other schools require this intense of a schedule, which can take time away from families and friends outside of school. Additionally, from our focus groups with the faculty, we found that many members said that there was not enough time during the day to complete their tasks and that the lack of time came with stress. This could also lead to teacher burnout. Auditing hours may help Belmont Hill get a better idea of how the teacher-coach model works for different faculty members.
Gaining more information through an audit is the only way for Belmont Hill to truly understand the intense time commitments some faculty members have for academic and athletic programs–and to address this significant drawback of the model. It would allow the Athletic Department to find trends among faculty members spending the most
time on their respective commitments, and see if there is any commonality. It is worth considering that merely auditing coaching hours will not fix the problem of teacher coaches spending too much time on either of their responsibilities. However, it will raise awareness and provide data on how much time coaches spend on their sports/extracurriculars. Based on that, changes to schedules or responsibilities could be adjusted for future years. This issue has been more behind the scenes and not acknowledged as much as it should be, especially considering the integral part of the teacher-coach model in Belmont Hill’s culture and students’ success. Addressing this issue and allowing the Athletic Department to evaluate the data and make possible future changes is imperative to starting conversations on the topic. The teacher-coach model is a key hallmark of what makes Belmont Hill a unique school that produces excellent results in its students’ academic and athletic development. With the competition of specialization growing larger by the year from outside schools and the possibility of burnout from Belmont Hill faculty, it is paramount for the community to support teachers and thus maintain their healthy work-life balance. ☐
Boston Ezedi ’26, Sammy Flood ’26, Grant Hanser ’26, & Will Hennigar ’26
Stronger School Community
Running on Empty: The Importance of Healthy Sleep Habits
Every morning, hundreds of Belmont Hill students walk into school looking half-awake. According to the CDC, nearly 70% of high school students don’t get enough sleep, and the effects are taking a serious toll. At Belmont Hill where over 40% of students are getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, academic rigor, athletics, and extracurriculars demand high energy and focus. Sleep deprivation is quietly undermining the performance and well-being of students, going beyond a personal problem but a community one.
To resolve the growing issue of sleep deprivation at Belmont Hill, the school needs to push back the start time by at least 30 minutes to better align with adolescent sleep cycles and support student health and success.
A study by the University of Minnesota reports that adolescents struggle to fall asleep before 10:45 PM and are still in “sleep mode” until 8 AM (or up to an hour after waking up) due to the
Aligning school schedules with adolescent sleep cycles is crucial for student performance and wellness.
shift in their natural sleep cycles during puberty, offering a tight window for students to fit in the recommended amount of sleep into their schedules. This is simply the natural way that an adolescent’s body functions for sleep, and it isn’t in their control. Additionally, studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics show that students who start school later get more sleep, perform better academically, and have lower rates of depression.
At Belmont Hill, students in focus groups expressed that they naturally tend to stay up late working ahead, rather than sleeping at a reasonable time leading to chronic sleep deprivation, reduced focus, and higher stress, all of which minimize the potential of their abilities.
Belmont Hill should move the school start time to 8:30 a.m. or later. This simple shift would allow students to get closer to the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep per night, yielding a healthier and greater community.
This isn’t a radical proposal, either. California passed a law requiring all public high schools to begin
only after 8:30, and just recently Florida did the same. Expert research supports it, and the logistics can be managed with thoughtful planning.
While some may argue that pushing start times back may promote a softer culture at Belmont Hill, the opposite is actually true. It may seem that the purpose of this policy is simply here to make school easier for students, however, nothing else would change; classes and the rigor that defines Belmont Hill would remain unchanged, yet students would be able to maximize their potential. Simply put, pushing the school day back renders sufficient benefits and the only downside would be getting out of school a little later. As a health team member said, “If we had more late start days, I think we could provide more opportunities for our whole school day to shift positively.”
Some might also argue that shifting the schedule would make the school day–including sports–conclude too late. It is true that this might cause upper school practices to begin only at 4:00,
and some sports to continue practicing after sunset in the late fall/winter. However, practices as the sun goes down are already happening in many sports–formalizing the change wouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle. The effects of extra sleep, as we’ve discussed above, are too beneficial to ignore and simply outweigh the negative consequences. If we are unable to succeed in passing late start days through the chain of command, a second strategy would be for the school to bring in scientific Chapel Talk speakers, specifically to highlight the effects of sleep, both positive and negative. As a school health team member said, “Maybe we do an assembly in a very scientific way, to understand the need for sleep, possibly having somebody as a sleep expert. This is why you need it and this is what happens when you don’t get it point blank.” By prioritizing student sleep health, Belmont Hill would not only boost academic performance but also set a powerful example of what it means to truly support its community. ☐
Building a Culture of Political Engagement at Belmont Hill
How often do we hear political conversations at Belmont Hill dissolving into a bunch of unsubstantiated claims? In a year like 2024—marked by the election between Trump and Harris and new speakers like Congressmen Pat Ryan (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX), and BH parent/political analyst Peter Flaherty—misinformation can spread easily when discussions lack evidence. Our research this past year revealed a certain trend: many students formed political opinions without thorough research. To foster a better-informed community, we should encourage teachers to assign political research in their classes and incorporate assignments promoting engagement as extra credit. Misinformation is especially rampant when discussions are based on opinions that are not backed by accurate statistics or facts. This issue can
With misinformation on the rise, it is necessary for Belmont Hill to equip students with the tools to engage thoughtfully in political discussions.
affect everyone at Belmont Hill from students to teachers, undermining productive dialogue. A student in one of our two focus groups noted, “I just think that when you’re discussing politics you need evidence to back up your arguments.” Another student wrote in a Google Form survey we sent out for data collection, “I think a lot of kids have these viewpoints, and when they argue points, they haven’t necessarily researched their points to back themselves up, so I think a lot of misinformation can spread.” In the same Google Form survey, we also asked the question, “Which of the following [sources] do you regularly consume news from?” to 417 participants, receiving a vast range of responses ranging from mainstream news sources to podcasts, talk shows, and family members. We observed that not all of the choices that students wrote as their main source of news could be
objectively seen as reliable/trustworthy. The solution is pretty straightforward: teachers should integrate political research assignments into the BH curriculum. For example, history classes could analyze primary sources on current policies, while English classes could evaluate political rhetoric. Extra credit could incentivize students to be better educated on the world around them and how they should form their own political opinions. This change is feasible because it builds on coursework that already exists at BH and encourages thoughtful critical thinking. In terms of execution, teachers and administrators are probably in the best position to carry out this change.
Some people might argue that adding political assignments could increase bias in classrooms or add unnecessary workloads for students in the classroom. However, these extra credit
assignments can always be framed in a neutral way—evaluating evidence, not enforcing certain biased views. As for workload, the assignments could be optional extra credit, and they do not have to be very frequent throughout the year. The benefits of reducing misinformation and encouraging respectful debate ultimately outweigh these concerns. Ultimately, Belmont Hill should increase its focus on encouraging thoughtful and respectful political discourse by ensuring that as little misinformation spreads as possible. By embedding research into classrooms, we can at least ensure that a lot of students are educating themselves and forming views based on facts. In the end, it’s up to the students themselves, and how much they want to generate actual reform–the world will continue to change, and it is imperative that the future leaders of tomorrow step up to take charge. ☐
Ethan Ho ’26 & Henry Ramanathan ’26
Benjamin Gong ’26, Jackson Hurd ’26, & Jaiden Lee ’26
Mr. Patterson: Faculty Artist of the Issue
By Patrick Snail ’28 Panel Staff
On a drowsy Monday morning, over four hundred boys slouch in their seats in the Chapel, wishing that they could have slept in for just one more hour. Ahead of them, a few dozen similarly tired boys line up on stage, with the pressure of hundreds of eyes upon them. Mr. Donnell Patterson, lovingly known as Brother P., or even “The Man” among students, sits at the piano, brimming with more than enough energy to bring the house down. “Y’all ready?”
Brother P.’s music journey began as a young child. Living in North Carolina, he attended church with his grandmother and was exposed to church and gospel music. He fell in love with the music, so he joined the children’s choir, taking on the task of learning piano. At first, Brother P. learned by ear and simple chords that his mother knew, mainly playing gospel and blues. As his skills developed, many others encouraged him to take piano lessons, and he settled on a teacher from the local music store. Stubbornly, he soon quit the lessons: “I thought that I would take a few lessons then take off. I didn’t realize that it would take years upon years.”
Brother P. recounted. However, his piano journey did not end there. Through elementary school, he continued playing in the choir and on his own, but once he reached junior high, teachers again urged him to take lessons. Luckily for him, the high school band teacher offered their services to Brother P., and introduced him to the polarizing highs and lows of classical music. This discovery sparked his ultimate passion for piano.
Every day, Brother P. would spend all of his free time playing the piano. Brother P. stated that he often “ate, slept, and woke up on the piano.” As Brother P. graduated junior high and moved into high school, he joined the high school chorus, accompanying the sing -
ing with his piano. His craft excelled, and in his junior year of high school, he was invited to study piano at Phillips Andover for six weeks in the summer, which he accepted. Still living in North Carolina, Brother P. boarded on campus while practicing piano, learning the harpsichord, and developing his newly found singing voice, and by the end of the camp, Brother P. was invited back for the following summer. At Andover, he performed weekly, playing chamber music with other musicians. Additionally, the teachers at Andover suggested that Brother P. should apply to play for the New England Conservatory (NEC) located in Boston.
In his senior year, Brother P. transferred to the North Carolina School of the Arts, over 200 miles away from his hometown, to continue his pursuit of music. While his musical life continued in North Carolina, the teachers at Andover inquired about college. One of his previous piano teachers encouraged him to apply to Howard University, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, commonly referred to as HBCU.
However, Brother P. decided to apply to NEC and NEC only. Fortunately, Brother P. was accepted, but he had to move to Boston. “Who’s in Boston? Nobody I knew!” Brother P. recalled. In fact, he only knew basic facts about Boston, such as the events at Beacon Hill. Still, Brother P. loved the mystery of moving to a new city. As he studied at NEC, he fell in love with Boston; however, with the support of NEC, he applied to Howard University, located in Washington D.C., and was accepted. He completed his undergraduate in piano and music education, and immediately went to graduate school at the University of South Florida, studying choral music and conducting.
Despite the much warmer weather, Brother P. longed to be back in Boston, so as soon as he graduated, he moved back to search for jobs. His first teaching experience was at Cambridge Public Schools, where he initially taught kindergarten through third grade, but soon middle and high school students. He worked for seventeen years in Cambridge as the Assistant Director of Music, until he received a job inquiry from the
Roland Hayes School of Music in Roxbury. At the same time, Brother P. was working at Tufts University as the conductor of the choir. One day, a former Belmont HillsStudent who was in the choir asked Brother P. if he would like to bring the choir to sing at Belmont Hill, and he happily accepted the challenge. While on stage Brother P. spontaneously decided to teach the students the song God Has Done Marvelous, having the Upper School sing the lower part, and the Middle School sing the higher part.
After the performance, Dr. Melvoin, the headmaster at the time, offered Brother P. a position in the Music Department at Belmont Hill. Although he originally passed up on the opportunity, after Dr. Melvoin followed up with the offer, Brother P. decided to visit Belmont Hill. Following a tour with, at the time, B-flat member and current teacher Mr. George Sullivan, Brother P. joined the Belmont Hill Community as the Director of Music, and for the last nineteen years has consistently provided beautiful piano accompaniments and energetic music lessons. Outside of Belmont Hill, Brother P. stays active in the music community, serving as the Director of Church Music in Cambridge, a former leader of Saint Paul AME Church, and singing in two choirs, Sharing a New Song and Joyful Voices of Inspirations, directing the latter.
Although Brother P.’s knowledge of music is vast, he continues to learn every day. “One of my favorite courses I teach here is my music appreciation course, and what’s so wonderful about it is the music that the students teach me. As a music teacher, people assume that I know all the songs in the world. Whether it is the discussions or the weekly blog we do where we write about something music-wise, I learn many things about new genres of music or underground artists.” Brother P. stated, “That’s why I love Belmont Hill. I love learning, and I can’t think of a better place to do so.” ☐
Tommy Folan ’25: Student Artist of the Issue
By Jaiden Lee ’26 Panel Staff
Tommy Folan ’25 has been a long-time contributor to the arts in the broader school community by acting in plays and leading the Improv Club. Tommy first got into theater in Form I, wanting to try something new without any previous experience before Belmont Hill; he stated, “When I first came into the school, I was constantly looking for things to do that were outside of my comfort zone, and the prospect of trying something completely new excited me. Theater seemed like a great choice at the time, so I just dove in.” Tommy added, “I didn’t really do anything related to the arts before coming here, so that was also a world I wanted to step into and get a feel for. It was really my first close experience being an active member of the arts community.”
When asked about his favorite parts of theater at BH, Tommy emphasized that it was the people who made theater so special, including faculty advisor Mr. DiResta, fellow theater members, and collaborators from sister schools like the Winsor School: “It’s definitely unlike any other community at Belmont Hill; it feels really diverse, and directors like Mr. DiResta always make the experience so much more rewarding and fulfilling. The people in theater are
what makes it so appealing to me, and it’s honestly just fun to be around them.”
Some memorable outside theater experiences for Tommy throughout his career include attending shows at the Improv Asylum, an improvisational comedy theater in Boston that produces multiple shows per week and spotlights a critically acclaimed mainstage perfor-
mance. Tommy believed hosting a collaborative activity between the Improv Club and the Purple Crayon of Yale was one of his highlights of the year. The group, the oldest collegiate long-form improv group in the country, participated in a few warm-up exercises, provided a short performance joke/narrative exercises, and improvised with audience members.
In terms of improvements to the theater sphere of BH as a whole, Tommy mentioned, “It’s generally a great experience, but I would say there could be some fixes to some scheduling issues. I think everyone should try it and that it should be advertised more, but the current system makes it harder to do both sports and theater, especially in the winter. They should also have ISL championships not interfere with our performing show days so we can get maximum attendees. But these are pretty minor issues, and as a whole, it’s a very rewarding experience for anyone who tries it.”
When asked about Tommy, fellow senior and Improv Club co-head Stephen Agular ’25 stated, “He’s been super involved in theater for his entire time at Belmont Hill, and you can tell how much he puts into every play; I think he’s a great figure to look up to for a lot of the younger theater guys and he’s obviously done an awesome job heading initiatives and leading the Improv Club with a lot of passion and energy.”
This fall, Tommy will attend Boston College, and is excited at the prospect of discovering new activities to participate in to broaden his horizon, whether in the arts or other spheres of art. The Panel wishes Tommy luck in his artistic endeavors and thanks him for the countless contributions he has provided to the wider theater community.
Mr. Patterson with the B Flats
Adam Richins
Tommy Folan ’25
Adam Richins Photography
Tech Titans: Apple and Samsung in Focus
By Ethan Xie ’26 Panel Staff
The debate between Apple and Android has been going on for many years. People have strong opinions about which system is better and the discussion covers many details. Some people like Apple because of its easy-to-use design and security. Others prefer Android because it offers more customization and a wide range of devices. The choice between Apple and Android is not only about how the phones look or work. It is also about which operating system fits a person’s needs and style. Both platforms continue to improve and offer new features that make the debate a lively one. Apple works hard to create devices that blend the hardware and the software together. The iPhone, for example, is made with high-quality material providing a sense of luxury in its product. Apple makes its own chips that run very fast and use the battery well. This means that everyday tasks, games, and apps can run smoothly on the iPhone. Apple has also been a leader when it comes to phone cameras. The cameras on the iPhone are continuing to improve picture quality, and the camera capabilities are enhancing every year. Apple also makes sure that its many devices work well together. For example, one can easily move from their iPhone to their iPad or Mac. The security of data is very high because of regular updates and strict rules on how apps work on the App Store. However, all this quality comes with a high price tag and a limit on how much one can change the system. People who like to change things on their phones may not enjoy the fixed nature of the Apple system, which is well-structured but strict. Android takes a different path and offers many choices. Many companies such as Samsung, Google, Huawei, and OnePlus make Android phones. This means that there are many kinds
of phones with different features and prices. Some Android phones work as well as the iPhone, while others may have differences that suit a person on a budget. High-end Android phones often come with the latest chips and can do complex tasks very fast. Android phones also have advanced cameras, which for the most part are still far ahead of Apple. These features give users options to choose what is best for them. Android also lets people change the look of their phone very easily. Users can set up the home screen the way they like, use different app stores, and even change the
operating system if they want to. This freedom is a strong point for Android users. But the variety of devices and many different updates can also lead to problems. Some phones do not get updates on time, and the level of security may differ from one device to another. Even with these issues, many people like the choice they have with Android. Both Apple and Android have built strong families of devices and services. Apple works best when all of its devices are connected to one system. One can move from the iPhone to the iPad easily and use services like iCloud to keep
their files in one place. Other devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods work well with the iPhone and make life simpler. Android has its own way of con
necting devices, especially by linking with Google services like Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Assistant, but Apple has these capabilities as well. Many manufacturers also offer other products like smartwatches and home devices that work well with their phones. Although the Android way of connecting different products is not as unified as Apple’s, it still gives users many choices. People who like Android appreciate that they can mix and match devices the way they want. Both Apple and Android continue to add new features such as better battery life, improved security, and smarter ways to use cameras and sensors. This constant progress shows that both companies listen to what the users want and are ready to improve over time. In the end, the choice between Apple and Android depends on what is more important to the person using the phone. If someone likes a system that works together very well and does not require a lot of changes, Apple is a strong choice. It offers a smooth experience, a high-quality design, and a very secure system. If someone prefers having many options, liking to customize their device, and the freedom to choose from many kinds of phones, Android can be a very good option. Both systems have strengths and weaknesses that come from the way they are built and the choices they offer. The debate between Apple and Android shows that both have made significant progress and have helped push each other to be better. The competition between them is good for everyone because it brings new features and improvements that the user can enjoy. Today, whether you choose Apple or Android, you will receive a powerful smartphone full of features to fit anyone’s needs and style. ☐
“A Minecraft Movie” is an Absolute Dumpster Fire
By William Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff
“A Minecraft Movie” is truly a cultural touchstone. Never before has a movie so utterly awful had so much hype and made so much money. “A Minecraft Movie” has been in production since 2015, going through dozens of scripts and directors, before finally beginning filming in 2024. After all this time, “A Minecraft Movie,” starring Jack Black (good lord), Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Danielle Brooks, came stumbling out into theaters, bringing the whole brain rot-obsessed internet with it. Mr. Bracken, who took the boarders to see the movie last Thursday, called the movie “the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”
The “movie” centers around a young boy and his group of misfit friends who find themselves transported into the world of Minecraft. There, they find Steve, portrayed by Jack Black in one of the most baffling casting decisions ever made, who has been trapped in Minecraft for quite some time. They must now band together to find a magical orb to transport themselves back to the real world, all the while evading Pig mobs and various Minecraft-related obstacles. Along the way, Jason Momoa fights a Chicken Jockey, Jack Black sings about lava chicken, and the characters interact with animated objects in what might be the most
unconvincing use of special effects and greenscreen that I have ever seen. It baffles me that $150 million was
comes down to the initial decision to make it “live action.” It would have been so easy to have just made a fully ani -
Jockey
spent on this absolute dumpster fire of a movie. The plot is idiotic, the acting is absolutely atrocious, and the special effects are sub-par at best. The beginning of the movie’s problems, however,
mated film, much like the “Super Mario Bros. Movie,” with the plot mimicking the rough plot of the game: a man and his female counterpart go on a quest to kill a dragon. Simple. But no, they just
had to cast El Nacho as Steve and Jason Momoa as a Pit Viper wearing burnout. However, while it is undeniable that the movie is objectively bad when you evaluate the script, directing, and acting, I cannot say that it was boring. Maybe it’s because of the memes, but at one point the movie itself just becomes so bad it’s funny. Even in parts that hadn’t yet become memes, I would let out a laugh. It wasn’t funny because it was trying to be, but the whole film is so awkward and strange that it’s hard not to find it comical in a purely ironic way. It’s like watching “Sharknado.” It’s clearly not good but I found myself enjoying it. That having been said, the funny factor will be short-lived. This is not a movie I ever plan on revisiting, and I only went to see it because I played Minecraft as a kid and because of the movie’s current relevancy. I would only reccomend going to watch this movie with friends. But, honestly, it’s relevance will be gone in a couple of weeks. While it’s true that the movie has some ironic entertainment value, the memes are the biggest thing that make it fun, and they won’t be around much longer. But with Netflix producing a new animated Minecraft series, I anticipate that fans will have plenty of better Minecraft content to satisfy them.
Final Rating: 100000000 “Chicken Jockeys” / 2340.000999880 “The Nether”s. ☐
Apple and Samsung phones
Google Images
Chicken
Google Images
Should Students Use iPads or Laptops at BH?
By Nicky Jones ’26 Panel Staff
A spark has been lit at Belmont Hill as many are now questioning whether students should use iPads or laptops. Most high school students across America use laptops for their school work, though some students prefer iPads, and some schools even require iPads instead of laptops.
Laptops have been the industry standard for schools across America since the 2010s and as technology advances, it would seem that the industry would shift towards the more portable, convenient, touch-screen-based iPads. However, the iPad and other tablets have many faults, putting laptops in first place as the most student-friendly device. Many different reasons are factored into why the laptop excels over the iPad in almost every category, such as user interface, software, browsing, research, accessibility, power, and creativity. The only two categories where the iPad may reign supreme over the laptop are creativity and accessibility. The Apple pen and touch screen of the iPad allow for the iPad to become a creative landscape, for drawing, editing, and even notetaking. Furthermore, the accessibility of the iPad at any location to take it out and power it on quickly is far better than laptops that take longer to boot up and promptly get to your objective. The laptop excels in all other categories by being more navigable, with more excellent storage allowing for the download of various software and programs that an iPad can not. The laptop also excels in long work such as research as the more powerful and easily navigable tool with a larger screen can do many more things at once than an iPad can, paving the way
for more efficient research and any work in total. With the laptop, you easily have multiple windows running which you can switch between easily or line up side by side. Additionally, the processing power of the laptop can allow for faster work and more advanced work on 3d modeling and other softwares that the iPad cannot handle. The laptop’s success in the various categories ultimately allows for more efficient work and lifestyle, and establishes the laptop as a foundational tool for American education. In response to the possibility of Belmont Hill switching to iPads instead of laptops, three iPad-using Belmont Hill Students gave similar answers. Jai Somani ’26, stated robustly, “If we end up switching to iPads, all of the tools that students use at this school will be severely limited due to the lack of various software and navigability on an iPad that the laptop excels in.” Another iPad user, Jayden Chen ’26, said, “There’s nothing an iPad can do that a laptop can not do, but there are many things that a laptop can do that an iPad can not do.” Noah Gleason ’26, a user of both an iPad and Apple MacBook, also stated profoundly, “The iPad is an assistive tool rather than a core tool [like the laptop computer].” All three students expressed that they will continue to use iPads as assistive tools in class rather than foundational tools. In the end, the choice between iPads and laptops all comes down to what the student wants, and what the student needs. Some people may not need the software and processing power that comes with a laptop, and prefer the creativity and notetaking elements of the iPad. It is clear that both options provide thier own benifits, leading some to even choose both. ☐
Are Professional Athletes Becoming Too Entitled?
By Charlie Maws ’26 Panel Staff
Lately, it seems like professional athletes have become more and more entitled. We’ve seen this a couple of times recently in Boston sports alone, especially in two main cases: Rafael Devers’ insistence on playing third base despite the presence of a clearly better defensive third baseman, and Matthew Judon’s near-holdout in search of a contract extension despite the fact that he was actively under contract at the time. In both cases, there is a strong element of entitlement present — these athletes feel that they have enough sway for their wishes to be heeded by their team.
In 2023, the Boston Red Sox signed homegrown star Rafael Devers to an 11year, 331-million-dollar contract, investing in him as the centerpiece of the team. Since breaking into the league in 2017, he has demonstrated elite hitting talent but played poorly as a defensive third baseman. Every year of his seven complete seasons playing third base, he has statistically been the worst defender at his position either in the American League or the entire MLB. Then, in the most recent offseason, the Sox signed free agent Alex Bregman, the reigning AL Gold Glove-winning third baseman. It seemed that the clear roster choice was to move Devers to designated hitter and give the hot corner to Bregman, but initially, Devers refused to give up his spot. Speaking through an interpreter, he said, “Third base is my position,” as well as saying that when he signed his
huge contract, the agreement was that he would play third base for the Sox. However, the front office that signed him has since been replaced, and it is clear that Bregman is the better choice. While Devers did give in after a brief standoff, the initial stubbornness is not immediately forgotten. Why did he feel that he was in a position to make such
a call, one that is clearly a decision for the coaching staff and front office? The evident answer is an overgrown sense of entitlement, as Devers is convinced he should be playing a position that Bregman is much more qualified for.
Before the 2024-25 NFL season, Matthew Judon was coming off a series of productive seasons as a Patriots edge
rusher. During the offseason, multiple Patriots — not including himself — had agreed to contract extensions, but Judon and the team were unable to reach a deal. Prior to training camp, he initially said that he would play out his last season under contract, but he quickly changed his tune. He expressed that he would hold out until he received a new contract and was seen at Patriots practices multiple times not wearing pads and talking animatedly with Eliot Wolf, the exec who would negotiate for the Pats, and new coach Jerod Mayo. He made it clear that he would not play without signing a new contract. However, the fact remained that he was, in fact, still under contract. And as with such contracts, it stipulated that he had to play football. The idea of contract holdouts goes against a fundamental part of signing a contract: the promise to play for years to come, whether or not you feel that the contract aged well. So, again, where does this contradiction come from? I believe that, once more, this is the result of entitlement. Judon, and other athletes who engage in holdouts, feel that they are entitled to a right not to play, despite signing a deal that specifically says that they must. Clearly, there is a strong presence of entitlement in professional sports. Athletes seem to think that they deserve rights and privileges beyond what they do, which are really closer to those of what they fundamentally are: employees of a large business enterprise that serves to entertain its fans. Athletes must recognize this.
Laptop vs. iPad
Will Achtmeyer ’26
Rafael Devers Google Images
A New and Meaningful Ramadan Experience
By Babikir Saeed ’26 Panel Staff
This Ramadan was truly a transformative experience for me and helped me take my Islamic faith to a higher level. The presentation that I did in chapel prior to Ramadan encouraged me to learn more about why Ramadan is important and how I should be taking advantage of the holy month. I listened to Muslim Scholars, read online, and took short clips from social media to help me set a clearer plan for what I was going to get out of Ramadan. I established a goal that instead of feeling sorry for myself for going without food, I would remember the people who have no choice but to fast as a lifestyle because of their circumstances, or remember that I am fasting in order to receive the blessing of [God]Allah (swt). If you are wondering, “SWT” stands for “subhanahu wa ta’ala” in Arabic, which means “may he be glorified and exalted,” a title-like phrase that muslims say after mentioning his name in their respects. I also learned about the Ramadan specific prayers called “Taraweeh” and “Tahajjud”, which I decided to integrate into my schedule. The Taraweeh prayer is a non-obligatory prayer that Muslims during Ramadan perform in congregation after both breaking their fast and the last mandatory prayer of the day. The goal is to listen to the entire Qur’an over the 30 days— meaning we would pray for an additional 2 hours every night. Tahajjud was an even higher level of worship— prayers
during the night time during the last 10 exalted nights of Ramadan. This prayer took place from around 2:30-5 AM; then we would share the “suhoor” meal together on a blue tarp over the rug of the mosque, enjoying phool (An Egyptian Fava bean dish) and a peculiarly delicious combo of “honey & [cream] cheese” before fajr (morning prayer).
Since a lot of Ramadan was during spring break, it made many of these long nights of praying a lot more feasible which I am grateful for—otherwise, I wouldn’t have experienced any of these things. However, the struggles with fasting during school, spring break double-practice sessions, and long prayers are what made the Muslim holiday Eid
all the more special for me relative to other years. Instead of just being happy I could go back to eating, I was blessed with the ability to reflect on the month and rejoice with the others who endured with me. I was thankfully able to leave Ramadan a better Muslim—taking new habits, experiences, and a love for Islam/Allah into the rest of the year. ☐
How Will Trump’s Tariffs Affect The Country?
By Will Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff
Ever since Trump has taken office, one of his most controversial policies has been his sweeping tariffs on foreign imports. Just recently, the tariff on Chinese imports was increased to 125%, effectively making trade with China extremely financially unfavorable. China, Canada, and other nations have all expressed outrage over the tariffs, with Xi Jinping saying, “For more than 70 years, China has always relied on self-reliance and hard work for development…It has never relied on anyone’s gifts and is un -
afraid of any unreasonable suppression.”
The fact of the matter is, what Xi Jinping is saying is very true. China has been in a great position in the world of international trade because of their “self-reliance.” So why doesn’t the U.S. do the same? But are these tariffs the way to achieve this? What will they do for the economy? What will they do for American business and manufacturing? Will they work?
The short answer is yes. If you evaluate the tariffs as a method to bring production back to the U.S., they will certainly accomplish the task. If it becomes financially unfavorable for
American businesses to outsource labor and materials, the only option is to source and produce domestically. This is the overall reasoning behind the tariffs, and it’s certainly a reasonable one. The trade deficit (when a country’s imports outweigh its exports) has been sitting at over a trillion, and our supply chain has become reliant on foreign nations. This is a recipe for disaster in the event of a global conflict, especially if it involves China, one of the U.S.’s major suppliers. But why so much so fast? The answer to that question has somewhat been answered in the past couple of days when Trump enacted a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs except those on China, to negotiate with foreign nations. This move shows that the tariffs were clearly not only a way to bring production back to America but were also a trade tactic to get other countries to lower their taxes on the U.S. For a long time, many of our trade partners have imposed much higher tariffs on the U.S. than the U.S. has; an example being India whose tariffs had been 20% higher than the U.S.’s tariffs. The resulting trade landscape renders US exports less affordable to the world while the US consumes cheap imports. This practice has increased our reliance on outside countries for everything from car parts to gasoline, to plastics of all kinds.
A solution to this problem is reciprocal tariffs. The term “reciprocal” is stressed here. The point is not simply to keep constant high tariffs on all countries until production becomes localized. This strategy, as many on the left have pointed out, would indeed be illogical as a return to a self-sustaining manufacturing America would likely take longer than Trump has in office, and would have to happen under awful economic conditions caused by market
drops from high tariffs. However, by coming out so hard, so fast with the tariffs, Trump has essentially forced other countries into trade negotiations. The result of these negotiations will be lower tariffs from other countries on U.S. exports, creating a favorable trade arena for the U.S. to begin exporting more. However, the tariffs on China still remain extremely high, and likely will for quite some time. This, again, may seem harsh, but let’s look at our current relationship with China. China and the U.S. have had rising tensions in recent years, with both the Biden and Trump administrations denouncing CCP actions such as their involvement with Russia in the Ukraine War or their actions against Taiwan. Given that China seems closer and closer to invading Taiwan, with frequent military tests and Xi Jinping talking of “reunification,” it would make sense that they would at one point want to cut off economic ties with the U.S. so as to smoothen the impact of their invasion, and the U.S.’s inevitable freezing of imports/exports and Chinese bank accounts in the U.S. In the event of a sudden conflict with China, the U.S. would be put in a very vulnerable position, especially if we were still reliant on China for goods that contribute to medical supplies and even nuclear plants. Instead, it’s best that we take the initiative in cutting off our reliance to China, focus on building back domestic manufacturing, and use imports from other countries for vital supplies in the meantime.
President Trump’s tariffs are an extreme action. However, in a world full of tension, their effect will ultimately be to put the U.S. in a more secure position, with a better ability to grow domestic manufacturing, export U.S. goods, and be less reliant on countries like China.
Babikir Saeed ’26, Yaseen Saeed ’29, and their family
Babikir Saeed ’26
President Trump Holding List of Reciprocal Tarrifs Google Images
Student Awards
Bradford Adams ’26 Award
The Bradford Adams ’26 Award goes to that boy, who, in the eyes of his peers, is Bradford Adams. This year’s winner, Bradford Adams.
Mr. Bradley Joyfully Embraces Bradford Adams ’26
John Gillooly