73, Issue 5
Major Reich: Mr. George Gives a Tribute to Bravery
By T.Z. Snail ’26 Panel Staff
On November 11, Belmont Hill’s Mr. George gave the annual Veterans Day chapel presentation, sharing the story of his brother-in-law, Major Stephen Reich. Maj. Reich attended, and later graduated, from the United States Military Academy in New York, after seeing cadets with the same drive he embodied on a trip to the academy in high school. He explained, “You always hear West Point as, supposedly, where the best of the best go. And so, it became a challenge to see if I could do it.” Maj. Reich joined West Point and quickly impacted his peers. He was West Point’s ace in baseball and symbolized leadership. On and off the field, others were drawn to his focus and determination. After Westpoint, he had a chance to play for Team USA and later on the Baltimore Orioles signed Maj. Reich, but after pitching only two games, he was called back to service by the Pentagon. It was not long before he applied for and ultimately landed in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR): also known as the Night Stalkers.
In June of 2005, a group of four SEALs encountered contact in a mission on the outskirts of Afghanistan, needing immediate extraction. True to his nature, Maj. Reich wasted no time assembling a crew of SEALs and Special Forces and set out from Bagram Air Base as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Maj. Reich did not return that day, as he
along with the other 15 soldiers on board Turbine 33 were killed when a rocket propelled grenade hit their helicopter.
Mr. George first presented Maj. Reich’s story in 2006. The speech, given to Form III students, highlighted Maj. Reich’s high school years. In Mr. George’s words, that talk emphasized “helping students recognize that many of the people we, rightfully, hold up as heroes…are really pretty regular individuals who choose to make a commitment and who are disciplined and focused on achieving a certain standard.”
With this upcoming summer being the 20th anniversary of the loss of Maj. Reich and his 16-man team, Mr. George saw the opportunity to again share Maj. Reich’s story with the school. Mr. George hoped from his speech, that “students might be a little more aware and attuned to what loss really means.”
There was an instance in his speech in which Mr. George could not continue because of the extreme difficulty of the subject. The part discusses
the days following Maj. Reich’s death. During this time, Mr. George and Maj. Reich’s immediate family spent a lot of time at a large land preserve in the town called Steep Rock. On one walk, Maj. Reich’s sister, Megan, reached an old railway tunnel at the same time as a group of horseback riders. One of the horses was spooked by the tunnel, and Megan volunteered to walk alongside as the group went through. Maj. Reich had owned horses throughout his adult life, and had become a very skilled rider. Mr. George and Megan discussed “how upset Stephen would be that he was no longer with the people that he loved and cared about, or the soldiers who he served with.” Walking with that horse through the dark tunnel, towards the sunny trail on the other side, Megan felt a sudden and unexpected connection to Maj. Reich: “I think of that metaphor often, and I certainly don’t walk through that tunnel without reliving it.”
Maj. Reich changed Mr. George’s perspective of who soldiers are, empha -
sized by the Night Stalker creed: “I serve with the memory and pride of those who have gone before me for they loved to fight, fought to win and would rather die than quit. Night Stalkers Don’t Quit.” To Mr. George, while “it’s about battle, it is also very much about brotherhood and the meaning of that community.” In his speech, Mr. George hoped to enlighten the students of this new perspective. His speech, in connection to the 160th’s creed, highlighted Maj. Reich’s long-lasting impact on his family, town, former teammates, and others. Major Stephen C. Reich’s grit and leadership were qualities that Mr. George and anyone around him quickly noticed. Maj. Reich expressed his desire not to miss any opportunity life granted him in an interview while playing baseball: “If there is one thing I am scared of, I am scared to death of looking back on everything and saying to myself, ‘God, I should have done this, I should have taken that extra step, and taken that chance.’ I don’t want to have anything missing in my life when it is all over.” These traits were an essential aspect of Mr. George’s speech and profoundly impacted the students listening in the chapel. Moved by Maj. Reich’s sacrifice, control of situations, and lack of hesitation in the most dangerous scenarios, students and faculty alike clearly embraced Maj. Reich’s character and personality, even in such a short presentation of his life. Mr. George’s speech was received with a standing ovation: a well-deserved conclusion to an inspiring story. ☐
First Veterans Day 5K at Belmont Hill: A Success
By Patrick Snail ’28 & T.Z. Snail ’26 Panel Staff
Starting last spring, Tyler Smith ’26, Fitz Courtney ’26, and Davis Woolbert ’25 have made considerable strides in raising the visibility and broadening the Veterans Club at Belmont Hill. Recently, the club hosted its inaugural Belmont Hill Veterans Day 5K, with over 100 runners and supporters. Other initiatives on campus have also lent support for Veterans Day, including the Veterans Day wristband fundraiser led by Jack Barrett ’25 and the B-Flats performance at the Beech Street Center for seniors, further exemplifying the ever-growing recognition of veterans at Belmont Hill.
Last May, eleven Belmont Hill boys marched in the annual Belmont Memorial Day Parade, carrying banners that displayed information
about every veteran to attend Belmont Hill. Smith, Courtney, and Woolbert led the project and designed matching hats for the volunteers with distinctive years stitched across the back, each representing a class of veterans.
The trio further demonstrated their dedication to the recognition of veterans during the Veterans Day 5K. With additional support from Mr. George, Mr. Trautz, and Grant Hanser ’26, the 5K was a massive success. Over three dozen
volunteers helped organize and set up the course, hang memorabilia banners, and register runners. The group also included a cooking team led by Chef Joshua Smith, father of Tyler Smith. Participants bought Veterans Day 5K t-shirts and entered a raffle for prizes, including box tickets for a Bruins game. Thanks to the plethora of sponsorships gathered by the Veterans Club, the event achieved high-quality marks, raising over $ 6,000 for the veteran’s association in Belmont.
Over 100 Participants at the Veteran’s Day 5K
A Look Inside The Panel
Page 2: 2024 Think Pink Update
Brady Paquette ’25 discusses the success of this year’s Think Pink Campaign and the bright future ahead for the non-profit.
Page 3: Massachussetts Ballot Questions
Tyler Grossman ’27 explores the results of the votes for the Massachusetts ballot questions, and what the impact of each result entails for the future.
Page 5: Faculty Artist of the Issue:
Mr. Fiori
T.Z. Snail ’26 tracks Mr. Fiori’s musical career and his views on teaching and AI in the arts department.
Page 9: Athlete of the Issue: Isaiah Langham ’25
Jackson Hurd ’26 and Jack O’Brien ’26 sit down with Isaiah Langham ’25 to discuss his goals as a leader of the varsity basketball team.
Welcome to Issue 5 of Volume 73 of The Panel ! As we began developing the articles for this issue, I noticed that there was an underlying theme for many of them: service. This fall, the Belmont Hill community has made service a priority, and many student-led initiatives have blossomed. This issue highlights many of these projects, from the Veterans Day 5k, to Think Pink, to the Turkey Drive. Moreover, service has found its way into other aspects of Belmont Hill, such as Mr. George’s Veteran’s Day Chapel. Meanwhile, the past month has
Over 100 participants lined up for the main event. Before the gun went off, the competitors took a moment to listen to the national anthem, and Colonel Micheal Callanan, the director of Belmont Veterans Memorial Club, Mr. George, and Tyler spoke about the importance of Veterans Day to themselves and everyone. In a hotly contested race, Eita Fuse ’26 edged out Sam Leviton ’28 by one second to earn first place, and William Walton ’25 stole third place over Mr. George himself. Then, participants and spectators enjoyed a delicious BBQ lunch, which included tender brisket, tasty pizza, and savory sugar cookies. Finally, once everyone finished eating, they gathered in front of the Jordan Athletic Center for the closing ceremony, where Smith, Courtney, Woolbert, Hanser, and Mr. George announced the podium finishers for the race and the winners of the raffles. ☐
watched the seasons turn from fall to winter, a development reflected in the winter season previews that can be found in the sports section. Additionally, this past month, the executive editors of The Banner , Winsor’s student-led newspaper, and The Panel spent a day living in each other’s shoes in a long-standing tradition known as Switch Day. The articles written by both staffs on their experience at the other school can be found in the centerspread of this issue. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue, and we hope you enjoy! ☐
Student Publlcation of the Belmont Hill School
Mr. George Discussing the Inspiring Story of Major C. Reich BH Communications
Tracy Jolles P’26
Mr. Kaplan ’83 Delivers a Heartfelt Thanksgiving Speech
By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff
On November 26, Mr. Kaplan ’83 reflected on some of the great Belmont Hill teachers in honor of Thanksgiving, his favorite holiday. Mr. Kaplan began by explaining how his relationship with Belmont Hill began at his older brother David’s Fifth Football game; immediately, he knew he wanted to make Belmont Hill his home. “[This speech] is my way of saying thanks for a relationship with this incredible community that has endured for 50 years.”
Mr. Kaplan recounted the summers when Mr. Sawyer ’32 drove him and his friends to BB&N’s day camp in an old VW bus. Mr. Kaplan has always respected his “gentlemanly quality and calming presence,” qualities representing Belmont Hill’s mission.
Mr. Jenney, the man behind the famous—or infamous—textbook, was another teacher of Mr. Kaplan’s. His first-semester comment reported, “Steve’s effort in Latin has been minimal,” an anecdote met with laughs from the audience. In contrast to his past work ethic, Mr. Kaplan urged the boys not to do what warranted him this comment.
Mr. Martin ’65, another “Latin
Friends
Rushmore figure,” made laughter a part of everybody’s day at the early morning faculty breakfast table. Mrs. Kaplan and Mr. Martin’s daughter, Kate, now teach together at Fay, and Colter Martin ’28, is now a proud member of the Belmont Hill community.
Mr. Kaplan honored Mr. Gallagher
2024 Think Pink Update
By Brady Paquette ’25 Panel Staff
In the fall of 2021, Daniel Moran ’23 came up with the idea to raise some money to support his mom during the fall of 2021, in recognition of her long battle with breast cancer. Little did Dan know that his vision would grow into what we now know as Think Pink, Belmont Hill’s official breast cancer awareness organization.
Think Pink has just concluded its third year and a successful fall campaign. With club leaders Vince Mezzanote ’25, Brady Paquette ’25, Juan Pablo Fernandez del Castillo ’25, and Jack Kastner ’25, the boys looked to make this year’s crusade the best. During October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they focused on raising funds for the cause and educating the community about the widespread impact of breast cancer.
At Belmont Hill’s annual Homecoming, the team set up a pop-up tent, selling merchandise including headbands, wristbands, pins, and other accessories. With the help of awareness posters and informative Instagram posts, around $8,000 was fundraised this year - some of the highest numbers to date
The campaign was capped off with the annual Think Pink-themed football game when Belmont Hill took on Thayer Academy. With the help of the senior Loop Leaders, it was amazing to see school spirit and community engage -
ment blend in support of a truly great cause. Vince Mezzanote ’25 talked about how proud he was of the steps taken this year and the way the team expanded upon previous years: “At homecoming, the team was very motivated towards doing everything we could to raise awareness and money for a great cause... I am also incredibly proud of the money we raised through merch sales, raffles, and community-engaging games. It is all going to an amazing cause at Dana Farber and I’m glad we could help.”
Looking forward, the current Think Pink team is excited to announce the club’s future leaders: Griffin Vail ’26, Jaiden Lee ’26, Nicky Jones ’26, Giacomo Turco ’26, and Fitz Courtney ’26. The boys are confident that the club is in good hands and are already planning and coming up with new and engaging ideas. Griffin Vail ’26 is “super ecstatic to take the reins and utilize the wonderful community around us to help spread breast cancer awareness and raise money for those affected by the disease.” He follows with his “confidence in this group’s ability to take a major step forward in this extraordinary initiative.”
The Panel would like to thank the Think Pink team and everyone who was able to support the cause for this highly successful 2024 campaign. We hope to see more future success in our goal to wholeheartedly carry on the legacy of Laurie Moran and everyone who has been impacted by breast cancer. ☐
’66, an intense but loving teacher, followed by Mr. Morange, former Arts Department Chair. He contacted Mr. Kaplan to bring him back to teach Senior Panels. The rest is history. Mr. Bridges, sporter of an impressive mustache, personally visited and advised Mr. Kaplan after his brother’s death in the summer
before he began at Belmont Hill: “He had my back when I needed it most.”
Mr. Sherman’s beloved “Animal Ball,” a no-rules form of basketball, created unforgettable memories for Mr. Kaplan. He closed with Mr. Goodband, who exhibited “tough love and an appropriate level of compassion” towards Belmont Hill boys. Mr. Kaplan helped Peter Fiumara ’24 carve his Panel last year, another full-circle moment. The talk ended on a powerful note; “I hope you boys are making your stories…the ones that take you back to a special moment.”
Fitz Courtney ’26 reacted, “He helped remind me of the people I am grateful for…those who have positively impacted me.” It’s clear that Belmont Hill teachers do everything they can for us.”
Using his chance to talk in front of the whole community and reflect on the lives of others and what they offered to Belmont Hill demonstrates Mr. Kaplan’s humility and love for the school. He expressed his feelings, stating, “very lucky to be working in a community that is strong, vibrant, and mission-driven, as well as teaching something I love.” The Panel thanks Mr. Kaplan for his decades of service to Belmont Hill and for offering his perspective on Belmont Hill’s storied history. ☐
Donald Trump: Round Two
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
After securing the presidency of the United States of America, Donald Trump has outlined an ambitious agenda for his second term, which he promises will “make heads spin.” Working in conjunction with a Republican House and Senate, he plans to make sweeping changes in immigration, trade, foreign policy, and climate action. Now, he has his chance. Armed with more experience and Cabinet-nominated officials tailored to his needs, his advisors claim that Trump anticipates an even more ambitious agenda with faster policy changes. Here is a look into several areas of policy and how the Trump administration will affect them. Immigration and the Border: The president-elect has vowed to launch the largest deportation program of illegal immigrants in American history by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport suspected members of drug cartels and criminal gangs without court hearings. While he has generally avoided questions regarding the return of a controversial zero-tolerance family separation policy from his first term, Trump has appointed “border czar” Tom Homan who is expected to carry out the strict approach.
Global Trade : Central to Trump’s campaign is imposing more extreme tariffs than those enacted in his first term as a solution to inflation. He proposes steep tariffs on imports, particularly from China, and has threatened Mexico with tariffs unless the nation takes steps to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Trump plans to justify these tariffs under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, bypassing Congress as in his first term.
Foreign Wars: Trump has strongly criticized the $108 billion of aid that the Biden administration sent to Ukraine and opposes a continuation of the war. He has claimed that the war will end within 24 hours of his term, though he has not explained how this will occur. Trump has blamed Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war and has threatened to stop investment in the country. However, Zelenskyy spoke with Trump days after the election to congratulate him in what he called an “excellent conversation.” In the Middle East, Trump has vowed to strengthen Israeli control over the West Bank—an approach that sharply contrasts the Biden administration. Trump will also look to expand the Abraham Accords - a peaceful Middle Eastern military agreement that he brokered in his first administration - but has expressed skepticism over a two-state solution. Climate and Energy: Trump’s administration intends to dismantle Biden-era climate initiatives, including withdrawing from the landmark 2016 Paris Climate Agreement (Trump withdrew from the agreement in his first term, but Biden rejoined it on his first day in office). He will prioritize domestic oil and gas production, support fracking, and halt the development of wind and nuclear power in favor of sustainable programs. These moves, he argues, will boost American energy independence.
Other Policies: Trump has pledged to launch $4.6 trillion tax cuts. In his first year, Congress and his newly established DOGE - the Department of Government Efficiency - department headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will evaluate which tax cuts are viable. His agenda also emphasizes reshaping federal health agencies and the education system to align with conservative priorities. Trump has not taken a stance on whether he would further regulate abortion but has spoken out against government involvement in healthcare programs. Additionally, the president-elect is expected to yank money away from certain educational programs that teach race-related curricula.
Donald Trump’s presidential plans are historically ambitious. While many experts are trying to predict the impact of his tariff plans, newly created DOGE, and all his other unique policies, only time will tell what the outcome of his presidency will be.
A Young Mr. Kaplan &
Jaiden Lee ’26
Sustainability Club Completes First Trash Cleanup
By Rhett Curtis ’26 and Justin Li ’26 Panel Staff
The Sustainability Club, headed by Alex Zhang ’26 and Thomas Danahy ’26, completed their first cleanups of this school year. Ten upper-schoolers got together to pick up trash at Mystic Lake in Medford and the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Winchester on November 17th. Initiatives like Sustainability Club cleanups are the perfect way to get out there and take action in a fun and productive manner. According to Thomas, the Sustainability Club was “able to make a big impact at both the Fells and Mystic Lakes and I was super proud of the group’s hard work.” Alex also commented on volunteer turnout:
“It was really great to see how many people came to help clean up the Winchester community. I’m really proud of all our guys, and especially those who came and live really far away. We ended up picking up around 75 pounds of trash…Next cleanup we plan to collaborate with another school, so stay tuned.”
A goal of the club is high engagement with the sustainability efforts of other schools. Recently, leaders of several “green” clubs from ISL several schoolscame together to form the Independent School Environmental Partnership. Amassing a larger group with different perspectives will expand Belmont Hill’s plans to positively impact the environment. The Sustainability Club urges all Belmont Hill students to consider what they can do to make the local community a more ecologically friendly place. ☐
Sustainability Club Poses With Trash
French Consul Visits BH
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
On November 22, Belmont Hill welcomed Mustafa Soykurt, the current Consul General of France, for an engaging and informative visit to our campus. All students taking French, along with additional curious students, had the unique opportunity to learn about diplomacy from a professional government official. The session - conducted almost entirely in French through the assistance of French teacher Mme. Montanarogave students an immersive linguistic insight into a cultural experience. Mr. Soykurt began by explaining his diplomatic role and how his job is run. He then went on to explain his personal and professional background before delving
into the intricacies of diplomatic life. Some topics that were covered by Mr. Soykurt included his role in supporting over 10,000 French citizens in a region, maintaining efficient communication with Paris, and promoting France’s culture in the United States. Having begun her career at the French Consulate in Boston, Mme. Montanaro discussed her own connection to diplomacy as well. Students actively participated throughout the conference by asking questions in French, which demonstrated their language abilities and linguistic curiosity.
Following Mr. Soykurt’s talk, students enjoyed feasting on a charcuterie board. Rhett Curtis ’26 said “the food was great, and so was his speech,” reflecting the general grateful attitude that boys had about this experience. ☐
Sustainability Club
Massachusetts Wildfires
By Nathan Zhang ’26 Panel Staff
2024 has been an unprecedented year for wildfires in Massachusetts. In October, the state experienced an increase in fires, with 196 reported — over ten times the usual amount. The situation worsened in November: more than 400 brush fires occurred, 20 times the average. In these previous months, around 4,000 acres have burned, surpassing the combined totals from 2022 and 2023.
The intense wildfire activity can largely be attributed to a months-long drought, compounded by the accumulation of dry, fallen leaves. In Lynn, for example, 472 acres of woods were scorched, significantly impacting air
quality across the greater Boston area. The drought has also profoundly affected the state’s water resources for the worse, with reservoirs and groundwater supplies significantly depleted. Water levels have fallen to troubling lows while recent rains have offered some relief, much of the state remains in a rain deficit, with many areas needing more than 10 inches of rainfall to return to typical conditions. The worst of the drought may be over, but this pattern of extreme wildfires, prolonged droughts, and shifting weather patterns indicates the impacts of climate change. Unforunately, these impacts are only expected to continue in the coming years as a result of the climate crisis. ☐
And Faculty Pose With Mustafa Soykurt
BH Robotics’ Strong Start
By Patrick Snail ’28 & Ryan Chang-Wu ’27 Panel Staff
After two deep playoff runs through two tournaments this year, the Upper School Robotics Team continues to show promise. This year, the competition is called “High Stakes” and is centered around scoring rings onto mobile goals and stakes. In the center of the field, there is a ladder that robots can climb, to gain more points. Each game pits two teams of two robots, with one team being blue and the other red. Each competition starts with around six qualifier matches, determining teams’ seeds for alliance selection and placements in the bracket. Belmont Hill boasts five teams this year compared to last year’s two.
In the upper school, Belmont Hill has one team composed of Brendan Kilpatrick ’27, Tyler Jarvis ’27, Ryan ChangWu ’27, Cotter Healey ’26, David Lou ’25, and Adam Shaff ’25. The team has had a successful start to the season, participating in two major tournaments. The first tournament was hosted at Belmont Hill, where the team won all of their qualifier
matches, yet unfortunately losing in the semi-finals. In the second competition, the team left with an innovation award gained by the mechanism for scoring the rings on wall-mounted stakes.
In the middle school, Belmont Hill is represented by four teams: Big Blue, Drift, Dodge, and Z, ranging from three to ten members per team. Big Blue consists of ten Form III students, three of whom earned a World Championship bid last year (Ryan Ho ’28, Suhas Kaniyar ’28, Patrick Snail ’28). They participate in the high school division. Dodge consists of three Form II students. Drift has a mix of six Form I and II students.
Finally, Z is composed of Form I students, all new to robotics at the start of the year. As the Belmont Hill robotics program grows, much talent and potential comes through the Makerspace daily, showing no signs of stopping.
On December 5-7, both the upper school and the freshman team competed at WPI against some of the best teams from across the world. Both teams finished in the top half of the eighty teams, and proved that they could compete with the best in the world. ☐
BH Turkey Drive 2025
By Liam MacLean ’27 & Hunter Steeves ’27 Panel Staff
A staple of Belmont Hill, the turkey drive has been a favorite community initiative since Mr. Trautz brought it to our campus. In 2010, the program’s first year, the school put together 50 meals for local families in need. This year, with help from the greater Belmont Hill community and Mr. George’s leadership, Form III increased that number tenfold, assembling 501 meals.
Third-formers built boxes, collected and sorted food, and delivered the finished meals. Mr. George explained that the goal of this project is to provide a dignified meal with fresh produce for each family on the special day of giving thanks and to give families quality, stress-free meals.
“501 meals, though it seems like a lot, is a way bigger number than most people picture,” said Mr. George. To have the produce needed for that many boxes, almost all students must contribute. Local businesses like Iggy’s and Jessica’s Brick Oven also contributed, donating fresh bread to the Thanksgiving meals.
MA Ballot Questions
By Tyler Grossman ’27 Panel Staff
In addition to the more widely covered presidential elections, Massachusetts voters took to the ballot box to vote on five state-wide ballot questions. These questions provide citizens with the opportunity to participate in American democracy directly. Massachusetts’ questions this year ranged from issues concerning the MCAS to labor unions for ride-share drivers.
The first question proposed the authorization for the State Auditor to have the authority to audit the legislature. The question was approved with significant support, as 71.6% voted in favor— the widest voter margin of all measures.
Question Two proposed eliminating the MCAS, a statewide assessment for public school students, as a graduation requirement. This measure also passed with a 59.1% share of the vote, removing the MCAS as a graduation requirement for Massachusetts public school students. Mr. Bracken ’14, who disagrees with eliminating the tests, explained, “At the moment, our MCAS scores are bad. But that is not a reflection of the tests but a reflection of the structural challenges we face in our schools, particularly ones with fewer resources who are unable to educate our students adequately. Getting rid of the tests doesn’t change that—it just changes the belief of why we are failing our students.”
Mr. Bracken also displayed a study that examined the effects of MCAS scores on relative future success. The study found that students who typically
score lower on the MCAS and attended college typically are less successful than those who succeeded on the MCAS. Mr. Bracken ’14 explained that this direct correlation between scores and later success is just one of the many reasons he is disappointed in the passing of this measure.
Question Three presented an offer for ride-share drivers (from Lyft, Uber, etc.) to form labor unions, allowing drivers to bargain benefits, terms, and work conditions collectively. In the closest margin of all the questions, it passed with a 53.8% majority.
Question Four proposed the legalization of possession and growing limited amounts of natural psychedelic substances for those aged 21 and above, regulated by a state commission. This proposal did not pass, as only 43.9% approved of this referendum.
Finally, question Five proposed raising the minimum wage for tipped workers to $ 15, matching the current minimum wage in Massachusetts for non-tipped workers. If passed, after five years, employers could pool tips and distribute them to all nonmanagement workers. This measure also failed to pass, as 64.4% of voters disapproved of the proposal.
At Belmont Hill, many faculty, staff, and older students considered these questions and how they would impact the future of the Commonwealth. As Alex Laidlaw ’25 explained, “I enjoyed discussing the referendums with other students at Belmont Hill. As a first time voter, I found the ballots questions to be an interesting opportunity to consider ways our state can improve.” ☐
Meghan Duggan Visits BH
Health, churches, food pantries, and local schools. Many third formers delivered the meals, and other volunteers helped complete the project.
Turkey Drive BH Communications
The school connected with needy families through the Boston Board of
In past years, families receiving meals have sent heartfelt thank-you letters, which Mr. George calls one of the most rewarding reminders of their gratitude. He also noted, “This year, having all of the boxes complete and, after, stacked in the library had a great impact on me, seeing the difference that the school will make to the outside community this Thanksgiving.” Mr. George says that as he looks towards expanding the initiative, even past the amazing measures it has already achieved. He hopes to see more main food staples included for families that do not celebrate the holiday and to extend the distribution of food past just one meal, having food for days or weeks after the holiday. The Panel congratulates Mr. George, the third form, and the whole school community for such success with this project, which has impacted many people in the area. As we head into the winter, stay tuned for upcoming initiatives, and as members of the Belmont Hill community, help out in the ways you can. ☐
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
On December 2, Belmont Hill welcomed hockey superstar Meghan Duggan to speak in Chapel about her leadership on and off the rink. An Olympic gold medalist, former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, and former teammate of Mrs. Phinney, Meghan offered insights into her struggles with equality throughout her career through an onstage interview conducted by Varsity Hockey captains Jin Lee ’25, Lindan Verville ’25, and Mikey Sullivan ’25.
Following a video montage featuring her career highlights, Duggan highlighted her journey on ice; she mentioned how tight her bond was with her teammates during her time at the University of Wisconsin and how that positively impacted her performance. She later talked about the hardships she faced in the Olympics— coming just short of the gold medal
in 2010 and 2014—and how that motivated her to do everything she could to win Gold in Pyeongchang in 2018. Duggan showcased her leadership skills as a leading proponent for gender equality in hockey. She led efforts to secure equal pay and improved working conditions for female hockey players of all ages. She played a pivotal role in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s groundbreaking fight for pay equity with USA Hockey in 2017, which resulted in a historic living wage agreement. In closing her speech, Duggan reminded students of the importance of showing care for each other; “there is nothing more important that you can do than show care to people.” Will Jones ’26 remarked that the speech was “especially powerful and thought-provoking.” The Belmont Hill community was fortunate to have Duggan share her lessons in the Chapel, and the boys will look to reflect her advice on both the academic and athletic sides of campus. ☐
BH Robotics Teams Before Competition
Mr. Ziff
Meghan Duggan with Faculty and Students Post Interview
Belmont
December Faculty Artist of the Issue: Mr. Fiori
By TZ Snail ’26 Panel Staff
Many people know Mr. Daniel Fiori as a longstanding staple in Belmont Hill’s music and art programs, and Director of Instrumental Music, but not many know about how he got to where he is now. Growing up, the arts played an important role in Mr. Fiori’s life. Throughout early schooling, Mr. Fiori cherished painting and drawing. His musical journey also started early at the age of five, when the piano became his first instrument. Early influences of classical rock bands like the Beatles, David Bowie, and Peter Gabriel, and later, jazz artists such as Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, led Mr. Fiori to his music teacher, Laurie Altman. This was a turning point in his musical career: “He became an incredibly important mentor to me all the way through high school and even beyond.”
In college, Mr. Fiori pursued the arts, double majoring in art and music at Brown University. He experimented with acrylic painting and charcoal and pastel drawings, while also diversifying his instrument-playing abilities: “I was really doing a lot of visual arts [during college], and studying that was my main thing.” When reflecting on his artistic technique, Mr. Fiori attributes his black-and-white style to the time he spent in the dark room developing photos with his father, a photographer.
The other half of Mr. Fiori’s time at Brown was spent in the music building. Mr. Fiori played a variety of instruments and composed a concert of music for his senior thesis. With six months of trumpet already under his belt from earlier schooling, he quickly grasped the
bass guitar and drums, while also gaining a deep sense of the brass, woodwind, and string sections: “The more instruments you learn, the more you understand about different aspects of music and also about those instruments.”
After finishing his undergraduate degrees at Brown, Mr. Fiori made his Belmont Hill debut. Although Mr. Fiori only stayed for a year, in this short time, he quickly made an big impression on both the music department and the student body. After, Mr. Fiori went back to school at Berklee College of Music, earning an Artist Diploma in jazz composition; the highly selective performance program engages exceptional young musicians who have already started their careers. During his time at Berklee, a new window of music opened, and he explains, “I really learned the craft of
Gladiator II: A Letdown
By Will Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff
writing for larger jazz ensembles.” Jazz, funk, R&B, and fusion bands “opened his horizons” as a musician, and enhanced his musical composition skills.
As a now well-established member of the Belmont Hill faculty, Mr. Fiori has been able to reflect on how music and art have changed during his tenure. In terms of composition, he has seen his personal progression as a writer and now strives to compose scores that incorporate complex and intellectual jazz and funk undertones, while also making his music interesting and groovy. In his current project, he is compiling his previous and ongoing works to create a larger album. The album’s genre, according to him, is a “jazz-funk fusion,” using electric instruments, keyboards, synthesizers, and guitars. When asked about his favorite part of composing music, he re -
sponds, “When you sit down to work on a music project, you never quite know where you’re going to end up.” Furthermore, he emphasizes the joy of switching between means of composing music: “Sometimes I work in notion programs, and will have my headphones in. Other times I’m at the piano with my computer out. Other times I’ll print something out and work on paper by hand.” His working process shifts, but the positive benefit is that if he gets stuck in one area, there are other options to “change gears.”
In terms of his teaching style, Mr. Fiori has reflected on the positive benefits of developing a collaborative and reciprocal relationship with his students. He recalled an instance “when I came into the classroom thinking I understood something but, in the process of teaching it, I realize there’s more to it.” He observes that in teaching to and learning from the students, he has gained a deeper understanding of music and the material he presents, “turning it on its head.”
Mr. Fiori also offers insight into the digital world of music and the role of artificial intelligence in composition. Knowing the potential that AI has, Mr. Fiori hopes to instill a notion that music production and composition are not always as “dull” or “alien” as they may seem. He realizes that many people have not experimented with making their own music, especially using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Music today, while different from classical or jazz, still entails following a “composition journey,” and remains as interesting as traditional music. Returning from his sabbatical, he hopes to “recruit more for music and explain to students what it really entails.” ☐
Middle/Upper School Plays
By Jake Ma ’27 and Adrian Tan ’25 Panel Staff
This Thanksgiving weekend saw massive releases in Moana 2, Wicked, Gladiator II and Red One. Moana 2 was the only film of the 4 that opened on Thanksgiving weekend, grossing $163.5 Million in the U.S. and $221 Million worldwide, putting it just below Wicked ($262.5 Million overall and $97 Million last weekend), just above Gladiator II ($111 Million overall and $37.5 Million last weekend) and far above Red One ($76 Million overall and $16 Million this weekend). So far, Moana 2 is expected to meet its $375 Million dollar threshold to break even with its budget of $150 Million (generally multiply the budget by 2.5. Wicked is also projected to break even and be a phenomenal financial success. Gladiator II and Red One, however, still have a long way to go before breaking even and making a profit. While it is likely that Gladiator will break even, it is possible that it will not be the huge financial success it was planned to be. Red One, on the other hand, is underperforming hard and will likely fail to break even with its $250 Million budget. Gladiator II, although very hyped up because of the first Gladiator movie, turned out to be a direct copy and paste of the first movie with different characters. However, Gladiator II didn’t utilize any of the elements that worked in Gladiator I. Where the first Gladiator movie showed us Maximus’s personality and life story before tearing it apart so that we were actually emotionally invested in it, the second Gladiator movie gives one scene of the main character
his wife before throwing them into battle and killing his wife off in “dramatic” fashion with an arrow through the chest. Although Gladiator II did have a few more twists and turns than Gladiator I, the emotional performance of the actors in Gladiator I could not be matched and Gladiator II ended up seeming dull in comparison. However, it wasn’t all bad. Gladiator II was all style and no substance, but the style was good. The close one-on-one fight scenes and betrayal scenes were spot on, but the overall plot of the movie doesn’t do it justice. ☐
and
The middle school performed three well-received renditions of The Search for Delicious on 11/7, 11/8, and 11/9. Set in medieval times, the play focuses on a man (played by Kyle Ayres) writing an original dictionary. On the word “delicious”, he can’t figure out what food to use in the description, so everyone around him, including the king and queen, tries to butt in with their own suggestion, causing a civil war. He decides to go around the country polling people on what foods they consider delicious. A few highlights from the play were the set, which was creatively made from tubing (trunks of trees) and PVC pipes (clouds), as well as the variety of lighting used. They also made good use of the audience’s perspective, making their “river” setting just pond grass made out of green wood. They had the mermaid lie behind the wood and poke her head out, making it look like she was half-submerged. When asked what his favorite part of the play was, Will Achtmeyer ‘’26 stated, “I really liked the dynamics between characters. I think the actors managed to portray the interactions very fluidly.”
The Upper School performed the popular French comedy Art by Yasmina Reza on 10/31, 11/1, and 11/2 starring actors PJ Nolan ’27, Will Achtmeyer ’26, JP Fernandez del Castillo ’25, Stephen Agular ’25, Tommy Folan ’25, and Jake Ma ’25. In the play, the character Serge buys a piece of modern art, a white painting with white stripes white all over. After showing his new purchase
to his life-long friends Marc and Yvan, he is criticized for paying $250,000 for a blank canvas, and they begin to argue over the value of the painting. Although the play on the surface appears to be a funny argument over a stupidly-expensive blank painting, it actually addresses the differing values and of the three friends as each is dragged into midlife crisis. The actors expertly conveyed the emotions of each character, leading the audience through a journey of anger, sadness, empathy, and depression. A unique aspect of the play was the incorporation of “alter egos,” the mind of each character directly addressing the audience about their true feelings and thoughts, making use of dramatic irony to give the audience an idea of what is happening next without the characters themselves knowing.With the costumes of the play perfectly complementing each character, flawless tech work with the lights and sounds, and the masterful directing of Mr. Conway and assistant Jai Somani ’26, the upper school play was an amusing and exciting performance for everyone that watched it. ☐
Middle School Play Adam Richins
Mr. Fiori Conducting the Symphonic Orchestra
Jaime Campos
Belmont Hill Students Visit Winsor on “Switch Day”
By The Executive Staff
On November 14, The Panel’s Executive Staff, Alex Laidlaw ’25, T.Z. Snail ’26, and Jaiden Lee ’26, had the opportunity to experience a long-held tradition between the Winsor School’s newspaper The Banner , called Switch Day. The Execs went to the Winsor School to experience the daily lives of their Executive Staff, Katina Handrinos ’25, Julia Bae ’25, and Anya Weerapana ’25.
We arrived at around 7:45 A.M. in the morning and immediately noticed a major difference: the dress code. Much unlike our coat and tie requirement, Winsor has a far more relaxed dress code. While students could wear sweatpants, hoodies, and even slippers, we found that most students wore jeans and sweaters, striking a good balance between comfort and professionalism. After entering the school, we had the chance to see the Senior Homeroom, which was basically their Senior Commons. Painted at the start of the year by the rising seniors, the room, far more secluded than the Goodband Commons, was filled with couches and chairs. Before the first classes started, we also visited a fifth-grade classroom where, every Tuesday and Thursday, seniors went to play board games with the youngest students on campus.
Shadowing the three executives of The Banner , Alex, Jaiden, and T.Z. took a variety of classes. Alex’s schedule included Contemporary British Literature, AP Macroeconomics, Musical Theater, and Senior Spanish Seminar. T.Z. took AB Calculus, Politics of Identity, Musical Theater, and AP Macroeconomics. Jaiden went to Contemporary British Literature, Politics of Identity, Information Science, and AP Macroeconomics.
As we all took our seats in our
Additional
first classes, we noticed several differences compared to Belmont Hill. First, every class had more students than the average Belmont Hill class, with around 15-17 students. The majority of the classrooms were set up with desks instead of a big circular table; however, similar to our Harkness table, they were arranged in a surrounding fashion so that everyone could see each other and engaging discussions could be held. Also, the classes did not use Promethe -
an boards, using projectors on whiteboards instead. Lastly, with no bell system, the end of class time was a mystery. Lasting 75 minutes, Winsor classes operate much like our long blocks. However, Winsor’s longer school day (the final class ends at 2:45) allows for four long blocks in a day instead of three. This extra block allows students more freedom in their classes, and many students have more than one long block. On the day we visited, Anya only had
two classes, meaning she had two and a half hours of free time. Much like our long blocks, we found that the extra time allowed classes to be a lot more productive and fostered in-depth discussions. Most classes were primarily activity-based, with students being active leaders. Politics of Identity and Musical Theater were especially student-driven, with almost no teacher intervention. After the first class period, we attended Assembly. Functioning much like our Chapels, Assemblies last 50 minutes every Thursday and feature a variety of programming. The Assembly began with an impressive dance number performed by the cast of the school musical. Then, they moved to the main event, where a student panel interviewed a previous Winsor alumna about identity and the first-generation experience as children of immigrants. Comparing the experience to a BH Chapel, we noticed that Winsor students asked more questions than BH students tended to. Additionally, we noticed that the youngest students sat at the front of the theater.
One of the benefits of Winsor’s urban campus is the school’s vicinity to many nearby shops and stores, allowing students to grab non-school food if they wanted to. During our visit, The Banner Execs took us to grab food at Panera during the lunch block. Ultimately, the Panel-Banner Switch Day was a fun, educational experience for our Executive Staff as they lived the life of a Winsor student and observed the many differences between all-boy and girl prep schools. The Panel would like to thank everyone involved in organizing this event, especially our hosts, the editors of The Banner , and we hope that this tradition will continue for many generations of Panel and Banner editors to come! ☐
BH Students After Switch Day at Winsor
Unnamed Winsor Student
Photos of Winsor Students at BH
Winsor Students With Mr. Schneider
BH Communications The Banner and The Panel Staff at Lunch
Communications
Banner x Panel: Winsor Students Visit Belmont Hill
By The Winsor Executive Staff
One of the highlights of being a part of The Banner’s executive staff is the opportunity to engage in a Switch Day with the Belmont Hill Panel editors. By shadowing the dayto-day lives of Belmont Hill students, we were able to better understand what it is like to attend Belmont Hill.
We visited Belmont Hill on Monday, November 11. Our day at BH began at 8am with Chapel, their version of assembly, which was focused on Veterans Day. There was a moving presentation from math teacher Mr. George about his brother-in-law Major Stephen Reich who served in the US military and was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. Hearing Mr. George’s reflections about the spirit and life of Mj. Reich, and his impact everywhere he went, was extremely powerful and reminded us of Winsor assemblies, especially assemblies in which teachers have shared personal reflections to explore a larger topic.
After Chapel, we embarked on a full day of classes. Katina’s schedule included a wide array of subjects as she joined Ancient Greek, Page and Stage, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, Jazz Band, and AP Latin. Similarly, Julia attended AP US History, AP American Literature, AP Chemistry, Global Economy, and Multivariable Calculus, learning about a variety of topics. Focusing more on language and the humanities, Anya sat in on Ancient Greek, AP American Literature, AP US His -
tory, Global Economy, and AP Latin. One of the biggest differences we noted was the schedule: the Belmont Hill school day ends at 2pm, with required sports practices lasting until 5pm, when their buses depart and students go home. Additionally, BH classes are 45 minutes long while Winsor Upper School classes are 75 minutes long. Three days a week, BH students attend each class for 45 minutes, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, students have each of their classes one time for a 75-minute period. Having attended the 45-minute part of the week, however, we saw that students had little time to dive into new content, as it often took 10–15 minutes to settle down from side conversations, check in with pleasantries,
or even longer to review the homework from the night before. Additionally, Belmont Hill classes begin and end with a recorded bell over the intercom. We appreciated the bell because both teachers and students were aware of the start and end time of classes and timeliness was more implicit. At Winsor, without an explicit announcement of class times, both teachers and students can lose track of time and end up late to their next class. One of our favorite aspects of BH was the large, wooden round tables included in all humanities classrooms, that we now know are called harkness tables. Although a simple piece of furniture, these tables bring all the students closer—quite literally—to foster a connected and familiar environment
during discussions, whether students talk about Sweeney Todd or The Crucible. At Winsor, each room seems to have a different arrangement of desks or tables, and, as a result, students are much more spread out, especially in the larger Connector rooms. The classes themselves are also notably different. Schedules at BH were filled with AP offerings, whether it be in history, language, math, or science, whereas Winsor’s curriculum involves more electives for Classes VII and VIII, typically fitting with a teacher’s area of expertise or interest.
Some other differences were the dress code and parking options. All the Belmont Hill students wore blazers, a far reach from our typical casual outfits of sweatpants and t-shirts at Winsor. Anya was woefully unaware that, despite their formal getup with blazers, BH boys tend to wear sneakers with their slacks — she showed up in heeled dress shoes! We encountered another culture shock when first arriving on BH’s campus; we noticed the several parking lots around Belmont Hill’s campus, as well as one currently under construction. When we told Belmont Hill editors about the senior year struggles to secure a scarce spot in the Winsor parking lot, they were astounded that some students opt for the seriously overpriced Masco spots.
All in all, we enjoyed our time at Belmont Hill as an opportunity to explore the experience of a Belmont Hill student and appreciate the welcome from The Panel editors and their advisors Ms. Wallace and Ms. Zener! ☐
Comparison Between “Typical” Aspects of Each School
Winsor Students at Veteran’s Day Chapel
BH Communications
Letter to the Editor: Fixing the Panini Machine
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
------ Dear Editor, ------
I am writing to you to make you aware of widespread support for returning the panini machines to the dining hall. It has now been three years since they were removed. Current lower-school students have never even experienced what boys had often referred
to as the “best part of lunch.” Nevertheless, there is a popular sentiment among students to bring back what was so integral to Belmont Hill’s dining experience.
As a student who has long supported the many changes made by Mr. Maws and the kitchen crew, the decision to remove the panini machines to begin the 2022 school year appalled me. Prior to their removal, the machines had offered an alternative to daily entrees for
myself and many other students. Whenever I assumed that I would not enjoy a meal, or if I needed a simple food that I could easily assemble myself, knowing that the option of making a sandwich at the panini machine was just a few steps away. was relieving The wide selection of bread, meat, and toppings provided me with endless options to choose from.
Now, three years later, the removal of the panini machines has left an appar-
ent dent in the overall morale of the dining hall. Students, sometimes begrudgingly, are forced to pick between limited food options, leaving the thought of paninis a wishful, helpless idea. The addition of the machines would improve the flow of lines in the cafeteria, provide more food choices to students, and bring back eager excitement toward the dining experience. I strongly encourage and support their comeback. ☐
Debate of the Issue: Crutches vs. Scooters
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 and Rhett Curtis ’26 Panel Staff
Recently at Belmont Hill, students have begun to adopt a new tool to deal with various leg injuries: scooters. This fun and mobile device can often be seen in use by students going full-speed throughout the campus. Hence, the question of whether this new innovation has surpassed the usefulness of crutches has arisen. Read this article to evaluate the pros and cons of crutches and scooters!
Crutches: -
For centuries, the advent of crutches has provided millions of people - including historic leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte and Franklin D. Roosevelt - the ability to easily transport themselves despite their disabilities. Today, the crutches’ importance in the world is just as prevalent and essential to the many who have leg impairments. Recently on the Belmont Hill campus, the emergence of scooters as an alternative to crutches has picked up some traction. While they may look fun to ride in, the benefits of crutches far outweigh those of the scooters.
To begin, lightweight crutches can be used in almost any environment, whether that be uneven terrain or extremely tight spaces like the stairs near Mrs. Rupley’s office. Their versatility allows students to easily move from one place to another with -
out having to navigate through the many obstacles that someone with a scooter would need to. Furthermore, crutches are especially necessary here on the hill, as the many stairs and uphill paths can cause significant trouble to the scooter-users. For instance, in the math building, there are no elevators or ramps. In such an essential building at the school, only students with crutches would be able to access the classrooms.
In addition to their versatility, crutches also excel in their portability; they are easy to transport, fit into cars, and don’t require much storage space in comparison to the bulkier scooters. Additionally, crutches are more
reliable and practical than scooters, as they never encounter issues with their brakes, wheels, or height adjustments. Moreover, people with scooters have to wait out the long period of time it takes to get into and out of elevators and draw attention to themselves from requiring the assistance of the notoriously loud platform lift in the library.
Scooters:There’s a reason scooters have become so prevalent on campus, and it’s because they’re a better product than crutches. Crutches have been around for centuries, but there’s a reason why we need innovation. Scooters are a better alternative for those
with leg injuries as they’re faster, easier to use, and conveniently accessible. Crutches are slow and impractical for daily life, especially as a student. The crutches themselves fit uncomfortably under your arms and make it impossible to use your hands while walking. They also require you to hold your leg off the ground, constantly making it harder to rest the injury. Crutches’ odd shape makes them hard to put away during class or lunch, further decreasing the crutches’ practicality. Scooters were designed to ensure that the speed and mobility of a person shouldn’t be hampered by a leg injury. That’s exactly what they do; it takes far less energy to move on a scooter when compared to crutches. The helpful brake feature makes traversing rises or drops in elevation significantly simpler and safer. Crutches lack this feature since they’re so slow to begin with. Luckily on campus, there are many sloped paths like the one from school to the Jordan Athletic Center or the path from the Science Building to Melvoin. The archaic crutches can’t take advantage of the paths at Belmont Hill and, therefore, aren’t suitable for our fast-paced modern world. The scooter has been around for only a fraction of the time as the crutch but it has already shown its ability to make life easier for people with leg injuries. There’s a reason why we see them so often on campus: they ultimately work the best for students at Belmont Hill. ☐
A Student Exchange Experience: Derek Meyer ’27
By Derek Meyer ’27 Exchange Student
Traveling overseas to a foreign country is one of the largest endeavors that a teenager can perform. When I landed at the Boston airport, I had little idea what was waiting for me at Belmont Hill. Although I was putting on a brave face, I was beyond terrified. What was I getting myself into? What kinds of people would I encounter? But, I’m glad to say that those worries were 100% unnecessary.
My time at BH has been incredibly insightful and has taught me many things about myself. The community welcomed me with open arms, and I felt like I belonged in this foreign space. My hosts, the Marth and Clifford families, were extremely welcoming and allowed me to integrate seamlessly into the BH routine, which is much different than the South African model. An example of this is the Harkness table, where you learn from your peers, allowing you to view material from another perspective. For example, in a standard South African literature class, you would just be lectured by the teacher, with little to no discussion on the content. This immediately stuck out to me here at BH and is something I wish was done back in my native country. Another difference is in the relationship between students and faculty.
In South Africa, the relationships are more formal, with the students calling faculty ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’, an unexpected difference from Belmont. Dr. Calloway wanted me to stop calling him sir, and I just couldn’t because it had been rooted in me! The staff-student relationship here is a lot more friendly and informal, where you can speak your troubles to almost any faculty member, a welcome change from South Africa.
I had two host brothers, Riley Marth ’27 and Luke Clifford ’27, who were extremely supportive and showed me the best the United States has to offer. They extended their utmost hospitality and not only provided me with unforgettable experiences but also delicious food to accompany them! I especially enjoyed the Head of the Charles Regatta with Riley and the St. James Squash Gold with Luke.
On the sporting side, I couldn’t understand many of the USA’s major sports, such as American football or basketball, but my inexperience with these sports added to my experience greatly. In a nutshell, South Africans pride themselves on their rugby, cricket, and football (soccer). During my time here, I ran cross-country and played squash. I’m incredibly grateful to the teams for making my experience so memorable. From cross-country team dinners to bantering on the squash courts, I will always cherish my short time with
each team. Back at Bishops, each team has a very different brotherhood vibe, most likely because of cultural differences. I even got to take on new subjects that aren’t offered at Bishops, which was a nice change of pace. Some examples are AP Chemistry and Photography II, taught by Mr. DeCaprio and Mr. Duarte respectively. At Bishops, unless you do the international Cambridge syllabus (A-Levels), you can’t take standalone chemistry courses, and photography is not a professional subject in the South African curriculum, despite it being a common pastime for many South Africans.
My experience has been magical, and I’m eternally grateful to Belmont Hill for hosting me over the last two months. There’s a high probability that my exchange brothers, Riley and Luke, may come to join me in South Africa during the summer, and I would love to see them again! To any Form III students reading this, I would highly encourage you to consider hosting an exchange student during your time at Belmont Hill. It allows you to see a whole different world, and you will not regret it!
Thank you, Belmont Hill!
- Derek Meyer
Crutches vs. Scooters Cartoon
Staff Artist: Will Walton ’25
Derek Meyer with Fellow BH Students
Ronnie Du P’27
Athlete of the Issue: Isaiah Langham ’25
By Jackson Hurd ’26 & Jack O’Brien ’26 Panel Staff
Over the last 3 years, Isaiah Langham ’25 has been a crucial member of the Belmont Hill basketball team. After joining the team as a freshman, Isaiah quickly ascended into a critical leadership role. He became captain of the squad during his junior year and has high hopes for this upcoming season. Despite his ability to lead by example throughout his time at Belmont Hill, Isaiah said that one thing he wants to improve off the court for this upcoming season is being more of a vocal leader in the locker room.
Throughout his time at Belmont Hill, Isaiah has been an elite scorer. Last January, in a game against Deerfield Academy, Isaiah surpassed 1,000 career points at Belmont Hill and hopes to grow it more this year. Even with this impressive accomplishment, Isaiah is not satisfied. When asked about his
biggest personal goal for the season, Isaiah responded, “My biggest goal is getting Massachusetts Gatorade Play -
er of the Year.” While this is an ambitious goal, it is well within his reach. Throughout his stellar play these
last 3 seasons, Isaiah secured an offer from Brown and officially committed this September. When asked about his commitment, he stated, “I want to come in and make an impact on and off the court. At Brown I know I can maximize myself athletically and in the classroom, so just trying new things and building new relationships is something I aspire to do.” But before he leaves for Brown, Isaiah wants to leave a final impact at Belmont Hill. His ultimate goal of his senior season is to make a deep NEPSAC Class A playoff run after falling short last year. He believes the team has the talent and the drive for it, but it will be challenging in a competitive division.
Isaiah has accomplished so much in his Belmont Hill basketball career, and we can’t wait to see what he will do this year. With an impressive high school career and an elite work ethic, Isaiah’s potential is limitless. We wish him the best as a captain for our team this season and at Brown next year. ☐
Hockey Season Preview Varsity Basketball Begins
By Nicky Jones ’26 & Jack Coughlin ’26 Panel Staff
After coming up short last season in the large-school tournament, the hockey team looks forward to the 20242025 season with high hopes of making it to the Elite Eight. The team has many experienced players this season with 11 seniors, as they look forward to a great season with the high goal of winning the NEPSAC tournament at the end of the season. Tryouts just wrapped up at the end of November, and we’d like to congratulate all who made the team and wish them an amazing season with some hardware to show for it at the end. The hockey team first has two tournaments over Winter break before we get into
the real gritty parts of the season in the dead frigidness of winter. First, the team has the Lawrenceville Tournament in New Jersey right after exams. The team won this tournament last year and look forward to repeat last year’s outcome. The team then travels to Buffalo for the Nichols tournament later in December. The hockey team started off their official season against Northfield Mount Hermon, winning 7-3. Prior to the game, there was a series of scrimmages to get the boys ready for the season against Middlesex, St. Sebastian’s, Upper Canada College, Proctor Academy, and the Winchendon School. The Panel wishes Coach Phinney and the rest of the team good luck for the season, their quest for the ISL Championship, and more. ☐
By Jackson hurd ’26 Panel Staff
This year’s Belmont Hill Basketball team is attempting to regain momentum after an early exit in last year’s playoffs, led by captains Isaiah Langham ’25 and Giacomo Kaplan ’25 and head and put egos aside, the more successful we will be.” This focus should be helped out by the nine seniors on the roster for this season. With many returning players from last season, the team should play more as a unit come playoff time. While the team is skilled enough to make a deep playoff run, it will come
coach Coach Cofield. While they had a disappointing end to last season, the team seems destined to bounce back this year. Captain Isaiah Langham stated, “Last season left a bitter taste in my mouth; my teammates and I felt like we underachieved, and together, we’ve been working overtime so that doesn’t happen again.”
When asked
what lessons he took away from last year, Coach Cofield emphasized chemistry. He mentioned that “Chemistry is important. The faster we come together as a squad
down to team composure. When asked about his goal for the team, Isaiah stated, “Our biggest goal this year is to make a NEPSAC Class A playoff run. We’ve had our eyes set on that throughout the off-season, and we’re pretty confident that we have the team to do so.” With the talented veteran roster that the varsity team has this season, it would not be a surprise
if they made a deep playoff run. The Panel staff wishes Coach Cofield and the rest of the basketball team luck in this upcoming season. ☐
Alpine Skiing Looks to Repeat Successful Season
By Bradford Adams ’26 Panel Staff
Coming off of a strong 2023-24 season, the Belmont Hill Alpine Ski team looks to maintain its status as the preeminent team in the ISL. Following a second-place finish in the ’22-23 season, the team was hungry to recapture its ISL crown and did just that in the ’23-24 season, narrowly claiming first place ahead of Nobles and Milton. A commendable performance at the NEPSAC Championship followed, and despite the expected stiff competition, the squad is eager to race and confident of retaining their crown
While several key members of the squad graduated last year, and multiple-time All-ISL racer Charlie Crowley ’25 suffered an injury that will see him miss several races, there is a large pool of talent ready to fill the gaps, as several members of the JV team that won every
race by a landslide look to take their place. This season, the team appears to be a mixture of seniority and youth. Captain Vincent Mezzanote ’25 and fellow senior Alex Laidlaw ’25 will be supplemented by Hugh Wylie ’28 and numerous juniors - including All-ISL racer Topher Batchelder ’26. The squad’s energy was expressed by Griffin Vail ’26, who stated, “One word to describe this team: swagger. This team is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread. We will win the ISL.” Jack Coughlin ’26 expressed similar sentiments, stating, “A good chunk of last year’s team is returning, and we are looking to repeat the ISL and do well at NEPSACS.” Time will tell whether the Alpine Ski team can bring home another championship this year, but the athletes will most certainly be up to any challenge that stands in their way. The Panel Staff wishes the Alpine Ski Team good luck with their season! ☐
Laidlaw ’25
Adam Richins
Isaiah Langham ’25
Miles Sandoski ’24
Varsity Hockey
Adam Richins
Varsity Basketball JJ Pena ’26
End of Fall Athletic Season Sports Awards
Varsity XC Awards Varsity Soccer Awards
School Awards
Cross Country Award (Team MVP):
Will Trautz ’27
Most Improved:
Fitz Courtney ’26
Timothy Snail ’26
League Awards
ISL All League:
Will Trautz ’27 (ISL MVP)
Fitz Courtney ’26
ISL All League Honorable Mention:
Eita Fuse ’26
Sam Leviton ’27
Davis Woolbert ’25
All NEPSAC: Will Trautz ’27
All NEPSAC Honorable Mention:
Davis Woolbert ’25
Globe All Scholastic: Will Trautz ’27
School Awards
Soccer Coach’s Trophy (MVP):
Sam Lawrence ’26
Most Improved: Beckett Britt-Webb ’27
League Awards
ISL All League
Adonai Samuel ’26
Jack Bartlett ’26
Sam Lawrence ’26
ISL All League Honorable Mention
Colby Rice ’26
Will Umscheid ’25
All NEPSAC
Will Umscheid ’25
All NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Sam Lawrence ’26
Varsity Football Awards Other Sports Awards
School Awards
William E. Croke Trophy (MVP): Luis Kuehberger ’25, Sampson Onuoha ’25, and Tommy Rupley ’25
Dr. Robert Saterlee Hurlbut ’29 Memorial Football Trophy (Most Improved):
Nick Pellegrini ’25 and Thomas Sheehan ’25
League Awards
ISL All League
Tommy Rupley ’25
Luis Kuehberger ’25
Sampson Onuoha ’25
Myles Beckett ’25
Jordan Summers ’25
ISL All League Honorable Mention
Dylan Doherty ’25
Thomas Sheehan ’25
Réis Little ’26
Nick Fiumara ’26
All NEPSAC
Tommy Rupley ’25
Sampson Onuoha ’25
Jordan Summers ’25
Luis Kuehberger ’25
All NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Myles Beckett ’25
Dylan Doherty ’25
Réis Little ’26
Wrestling Season Begins
By Declan Woolbert ’27 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill varsity wrestling team, led by Coach Bradley, has had a history of dominance in the ISL, winning the ISL tournament the past eight years in a row. The team is also one of the top programs in New England, having won the New England championships six times and placed third the past two years. Last year the team finished with an ISL championship and a record of 23 - 3. Looking toward this year, the Belmont Hill wrestling team appears to have another championship-level team,
with two returning All-Americans, Isaac Novod ’27 and Jack Dragoumanos ’26, and seven returning Graves-Kelsey champions. When asked about how the team looks this year, Captain Alex White ’25 responded, “The outlook for the season is exciting. A lot of talent in the room but a lot of dedication too, people that are willing to fully commit to the sport and are always looking to get better.” The Belmont Hill Wrestling team’s history of dominance appears likely to continue this season, and as always The Panel wishes Coach Bradley and the rest of the team luck for the rest of the season and their quest for an ISL title. ☐
Nordic Skiing Preview
By Will Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff
The Nordic Ski Team is looking to build on their spectacular 37-3 record from last season. This year the team is captained by Jack Kastner ’25 and Will Walton ’25. The cross-country skiing team begins their season on December 11, where they will compete in the Lakes Region race in New Hampshire. With
hinderances due to weather constraints, the team has been limited to off-snow training. Despite this, the team maintains that regardless of troubles, they will outwork all others teams in the Lakes Region conference. T.Z. Snail ’26 adds, “We are looking forward to competing this season and hopefully taking home the Lakes Region Championship”. The Panel staff wishes the Nordic Ski Team team the best of luck this season! ☐
Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Awards:
Cross Country: Tyler Smith ’26, Davis Woolbert ’25
Football: Myles Beckett ’25, Dylan Doherty ’25, Jordan Summers ’25
Soccer: Emerson Walker ’25
Team Accomplishments
Football: Bob Souza NEPSAC Championship Bowl
Soccer: 13-2-3, ISL 2nd Place, Mr. Montoya ISL Coach of the Year
Cross Country: Will Trautz ’27 ISL Champion
Online Editor Brandon Li ’26
Arts Editor Adrian Tan ’25
Sports Editor Ben Gong ’26
Visual Media Director Nathan Zhang ’26
Editor-In-Chief Alejandro Laidlaw ’25
Executive Editors TZ Snail ’26
Jaiden Lee ’26
Assistant Editors
David Luo ’25
Eli Norden ’26
Bradford Adams ’26
Will Hennigar ’26
Ethan Xie ’26
Will Achtmeyer ’26
Staff Artists/writers
Henry Buckley-Jones ’25
William Walton ’25
Rhett Curtis ’26
Ryan Chang-Wu ’27
Patrick Snail ’28
Faculty Advisors
Paige Wallace
Juliette Zener
News Editor Jack Ramanathan ’26
Opinion Editor
Brady Paquette ’25
Back Page Editors
Alex Tosi ’25
Thomas Sheehan ’25
Chris McEvoy ’25
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.
Varsity XC Award Recipients
BH Communications
Varsity Soccer Award Recipients
BH Communications
Varsity Football Award Recipients
BH Communications
Fall Season Trophies
BH Communications
The Big House Experience Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
By Charlie Maws ’26 Panel Staff
Earlier this fall, I was at the University of Michigan for a college tour, and I had the privilege of attending an important rivalry game at Michigan Stadium, or the Big House: Michigan vs. Michigan State. Many of my family members have attended the U of M, so naturally we were rooting for the Wolverines. It was a close game, and Michigan pulled it out in the end.
The experience was very special. The Big House is the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere, with an official capacity of 107,601 people, and for a rivalry game such as this one, it was packed. This year, neither team is particularly good in the wider college football scene, but those games are always very competitive and both sides are very spirited. This was particularly clear to us when my family and I walked through campus the morning of the game, seeing everyone dressed in their University of Michigan ap -
parel and clearly excited for the game.
The game itself was fun to watch, but the atmosphere in the stadium was beyond special. Being surrounded by that many people and seeing the student section so enthusiastically singing along to “Mr. Brightside” as it blasted through the speakers was such a memorable experience for me. Everything about the game was amazing, and it was easy to see how much fun collegiate sports truly are. ☐
By Rhett Curtis ’26 Panel Staff
The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing event on Friday, November 15th may be remembered as the largest, and possibly the strangest athletic event ever. Months of excitement boiled over as the YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul rode out to the ring on the back of a truck wearing a one million-dollar pair of shorts decked out in diamonds. As Paul made his extravagant and excessive entrance, the legendary Tyson, who many regard as one of if not the greatest boxer to ever live, walked down to his corner in plain black Everlast shorts. The event was hosted in front of 70,000 spectators at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The round started and it seemed for a moment that the past-his-prime, 58-year-old Tyson hadn’t skipped a beat and may have a chance at beating a 27-year-old in his athletic prime. This intial outcome soon faded as Tyson’s dominant start continued on a downhill trajectory after the first round: his
punches got slower, and he struggled to move his legs to create distance between him and his opponent. The show dragged on for 8 two-minute rounds with Paul showing mercy to Tyson who looked exhausted and slow. Tyson landed just 18 punches in what is likely his last-ever professional boxing match. While the fight itself disappointed its 108 million viewers it’s a marvel in itself that Tyson was able to compete. Tyson just two years ago was left wheelchair bound after suffering from a nerve disease called Sciatica. Then in the middle of his training regime, Tyson was struck with a near-fatal ulcer flareup pushing the date of the fight from June 20th to November 15th. It wasn’t just the matchup which sparked controversy though, as technical errors arising from unprecedented viewership resulted in a fight that was almost unwatchable, making a poor debut for live Netflix streaming. As Jaiden Lee ’26 put it, “I don’t think a scripted fight would ever live up to the expectations of eager fans who wanted an actual exciting fight.” ☐
Football Wins Bob Souza NEPSAC Bowl Game
By Nicky Jones ’26 & Jack Coughlin ’26 Panel Staff
On Saturday, November 16th the varsity football team competed in the postseason 2024 NEPSAC Bob Souza Bowl against what looked to be a tough matchup in Worcester Academy. This out-of-league match-up was one of the many postseason football games played between the ISL and the Evergreen League, featuring many competitive games from some of the top teams from both leagues. A postseason matchup was familiar to the team, as many key players had competed in last year’s 14-27 bowl loss to Deerfield Academy.
The first quarter proved to be a defensive stalemate on both sides, with both teams going scoreless. The Belmont Hill offense showed flashes of explosiveness but was held back by key mistakes--interceptions and fumbles--preventing a complete scoring drive. This changed in the preceding quarter, as the team began to find its
rhythm. Although the quarter quickly started with an unfortunate, long Worcester touchdown, the team rallied by scoring in just two offensive plays, with an explosive rush from quarterback Réis Little ’26 that set up for a goal line rushing touchdown from Marcus
Griffin ’26 that tied the game at 7-7.
Following the touchdown, the defense was not on the field for long, as on just the third play of the following series Trey Clayton ’26 made a key interception that set the offense in the red zone. The positioning the interception
provided was capitalized on by a Dylan Casillo ’26 field goal, with BH taking a 10-7 lead. After another defensive stop, Captain Jordan Summers ’25 broke away for an 80 yard passing touchdown that demoralized the opposing team, which was displayed after a failed Worcester fake punt that gave BH the ball with good field position. This soon turned into a touchdown from Captain Luis Kuehberger ’25, who went into the endzone untouched on a sweep. This made it a 24-7 game going into the half.
The second half was more of the same domination, and Little quickly found Kuehberger for another passing touchdown, soon followed by a Myles Fritz ’25 rushing touchdown making the score 38-7. This was the final score as time expired, with an astounding 38 unanswered points being put up by the BH offense with Worcester seeming to have no answer on either side of the ball. Congratulations to Coach Fucillo and the rest of the varsity football team on their 2024 NEPSAC Championship win! ☐
Fantasy Football’s Presence at Belmont Hill
By Jack O’Brien ’26 & Rhett Curtis ’26 Panel Staff
Fantasy Football has become a hallmark of the fall football season, just as synonymous with American football culture as the Super Bowl or NFL Draft. The game has grown massively popular since its humble beginnings in 1962, with 29.2 million people playing Fantasy in 2022. To summarize, Fantasy Football works by creating a league with your friends, selecting players, and becoming the manager of your own team. ESPN and Yahoo are the most popular online sites for Fantasy as they feature in-depth rankings and draft processes. The goal in Fantasy is to have a roster made up of a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, a defense/special teams, a flex (WR, TE, or RB), and a kicker score more points than your opponent by recording stats like receptions, yards, touchdowns, or for defense sacks and interceptions. The complicated real-world nuances of professional football like matchups,
injuries, and coaching make drafting a team and setting your roster a challenge. The highs and lows of Fantasy provide steady entertainment to fans
throughout the season making NFL games seem more important as they have a direct impact on your success. Many people raise the stakes even more
by putting large sums of money in a pot at the beginning of the season and giving it all to the winner. They sometimes even up the stakes by making the loser, with the worst record, do a punishment determined by other league members. At Belmont Hill over 87% of students polled admitted to taking part in fantasy football, with almost 75% playing in more than two leagues. However, students at Belmont Hill still have mixed feelings about fantasy football. Eli Warn ’26 said, “I like fantasy football. It’s a lot of fun to be in a league with all of your friends, but it’s frustrating when you draft a player key to your team that ends up getting hurt or doesn’t perform well.” Frustration is an accurate word as many responses to our poll had people lamenting the injury of a star wide receiver. Meanwhile, others replied with messages reveling in the success of their team in stringing together a 4-game winning streak. Ultimately, Fantasy is becoming more popular than ever, cementing its place in modern sports culture and the fabric of fall conversations at Belmont Hill. ☐
Post-Game Celebration
Adam Richins
Michigan Stadium Google Images
