Editor ' s Note

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor

' s Note Recovering from COVID Experiences of Students Remote Last Year

Overview of Dorm Life

By Jonathan So

'23

Reflections on Slavery in Deerfield 2021-22 Student Council Members Biographies Contributors

02 03 05

07

22

24

29

Sports at Bement

08

School Festivities

14

Eighth and Ninth Grade Trip

16

After a year and a half of the pandemic, facing uncertainties and risks, Bement opened again with everyone in the community back together. This year is both familiar and different for us. Living under a pandemic situation, many programs are back on track and how it was in our memories. Sports games back on, being with friends and all the traditions that Bement used to do but didn ’t because of the special situation last year. In this edition, like how the eighth and ninth graders started this club, we will be presenting events at Bement this fall. Thank you to every faculty member working hard and bringing the Bement back from our memories; thank you to all the club members contributing to making this issue happen; thank you for taking time and reading our effort. At last, we hope you enjoy this edition brought to you by a whole new team.

Gordon and Fumi '22

E D I T O R S I N C H I E F

By Flora and Rose '23

COVID-19 was and is still a global issue and many people have been affected. Many students last year had to study via zoom and it was really hard to communicate with teachers and classmates. The time zone difference drove us crazy and we usually stayed up until midnight. It greatly altered our life. Fortunately, things have changed and all the students were able to return back on campus. This fall term has gone really successfully and we all enjoyed seeing each other again. -Flora ’23

When COVID-19 hit, all the classes shifted to remote. Students had to use Zoom in order to communicate with their teachers and classmates. Meanwhile, quarantining drove most of us out of our minds. Instead of spending most of our time communicating with others in person, we experienced a different way to communicate with our classmates and friends and were able to spend more time with our families at home. As the risk of COVID decreased, our lives slowly transitioned to normality, step by step. This fall, the online students finally received the opportunity to return back on campus. Not only do we have a complete boarding family now, but a complete great start to our year awaiting the memories we build with each other.

-Rose ’23

EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS REMOTE LAST YEAR

by Vickie

'23

When I recalled my experiences as a remote student last year, the first few things that popped into my mind were my computer, a room with a huge bookshelf in the back, and the cups of coffee that kept my eyes open and my brain functioning. To be honest, remote learning is challenging, especially if you are living in a different time zone. The first challenge is the time difference. Students living in the northern hemisphere had to stay up every night till midnight to participate in the classes, and that did mess up our schedules as well as habits. Another challenge that made remote learning difficult was how the quality of classes greatly depended on the internet connection.

There were several times when I found myself having no clue of what the class was doing on the other side of the globe due to unstable connections. All the challenges made me grateful that now we are all here in person. It is absolutely amazing to see all of my friends and this year.

-Vickie '23

An Overview of Dorm life

-Melanie '25

At the Dorms, the students develop independence by learning responsibilities such as keeping track of their own belongings and keeping their rooms neat. During the weekends, Bements’ boarding students enjoy a variety of fun activities, that can vary from going to Six Flags all the way to kayaking. Bement is also contributing actively to community services, such as serving at Stone Soup by helping the chefs prepare food for people in need.

Sports at Bement

Boys Soccer

Soccer programs at Bement have always been popular. However, this year we faced a

shortage of players. Our soccer coaches worked together and made the decision to

combine JV and Varsity and used this as an opportunity for younger players to have more

time playing on the field. Some sixth and seventh graders even had the opportunity to

experience some higher level of soccer and participated in some of the Varsity games while

they played many opponents at their skill level as JV players. With the shortage of

participants and many new to the sport, Varsity this year has developed into an outstanding

team. With the record of only losing three games this season, everyone improved a lot and

this year’s experience will be important before Bement players enter prep school and play

against stronger and more experienced opponents.

-Gordon '22

Boys V Soccer

Girls Soccer

This year, girls' varsity soccer went against several high schools and some middle schools, including NMH, Vermont Academy, Williston, and many others. We also had a few new players who had never played soccer before but tried their best to learn and practice really hard with the team. Despite the fact that most of our opponents were taller and stronger than us, everyone did their best and we ended strong with a record of seven wins, two ties, and one loss. At the end of the session, the team entered the girls' soccer tournament hosted by the Indian Mountain School, which wasn't held last year because of COVID. We played against other middle schools such as Foote, Fay, Rumsey, and IMS. As the fourth highest-ranked team, we entered the consolation match and lost against Rumsey, ending up fourth out of five schools. However, I’d like to point out that we tied IMS, which got first place, beating Fay by one goal. Even though we lost many games, we still enjoyed playing with other middle schools and we were rewarded with the “Team Sportsmanship Award” at the end of the tournament. Every player in the girl soccer varsity team put effort into this fall session of soccer practice and we all improved a great deal, whether it’s personal skills or teamwork.

-Cleo '23

Cross Country

Bement’s cross country team consists of students from grade 5 up to 9. This

year, we had a new coach, Ms. R.H. She and Mr. Belcher did a wonderful job

coaching us. Cross country may look easy but it requires skills. We

participated in a lot of meets after a year of COVID. Runners challenged

themselves and many got their personal records or seasonal best. I

especially want to point out the Miller Invitational. It is a very tiring and hard

course. It is a hilly three-mile course. However, every runner did a great job

and finished the race. Every member improved through a season of running

and the team all had a great time together.

-Flora '23

Field Hockey

Bement’s varsity Field Hockey team had a wonderful season, with games against middle and high schools. Field Hockey had a few wins and losses, but we did not leave with a negative attitude when there was a loss. This year’s field hockey was completely new, with many players (including fifth graders) joining the team, each with unique skills to improve upon. Two new wonderful coaches joined as well, Coach Carter and Coach Skii; both coaches motivated us during practice and games. They always had a positive attitude and had us see the brighter side of losing; to work hard and remember that it's okay to lose. Everyday Field Hockey goes out into the field and practices stick work and teamwork. Josie ’23 and Campbell ‘22 are our captains, they lead stretches and practice and keep the team together. As some of you may know, the annual Field Hockey Jamboree, which was canceled last year, was hosted once again by Bement. Our Field Hockey team played against four out of the eight teams that came that day; this included Foote, Belchertown, Manchester, and Frontier Junior. We had a wonderful time despite the cold that morning. The players on this team did amazing work and improved so much; we worked as a team and cheered each other on!

-Tianni '23 & Melody '23

Recreational Tennis

Tennis, despite how easy it is at first, requires many skills such as flexibility, balance, agility, and power. Bement’s recreational tennis program is an entertaining and engaging experience where students develop their tennis skills while bonding with others! Though there are players coming from a various skill level, we are able to learn from each other and grasp the basic foundational skills. Through the tennis program, we are able to enhance our knowledge by learning the rules and how to use the courts. A standard tennis practice starts by all players arriving at the courts, rallying or playing mini-tennis. Then we run a few laps around the Deerfield Academy track and volunteer students to lead stretches. As the group improves, we are able to play more competitive matches. Recreational tennis is a great way to learn the basics of tennis for players!

-Jessica '24

Dance

Dance at Bement is very therapeutic; it helps the students relax while they strengthen and train their muscles to become stronger. This year at Bement, we focused more on increasing flexibility and balance. Additionally, we worked together, which expanded our ability to communicate and work on teamwork skills. Students enjoy dance, an entertaining sport!

-Melanie '25

SCHOOL FESTIVITIES

-Vickie '23, Tianni '23, Iris '24

Bement Day is an open day for students to present to their parents what they are obtaining through their Bement education. On this day of the year, we invite our parents to join our classes as well as to watch our performances. Both upper school and lower school bands, orchestras, and chorus did a fantastic job carrying on the pieces they’ve been working on for the last two months. The presence of parents made our community even more lively than usual, even under Covid restrictions! All the classes were held outdoors and the enthusiasm from both students and parents filled the atmosphere.

Crazy Hat Day

As Halloween approached, upper school and lower school students wore crazy hats and participated in trick or treating around campus. Our fifth through ninth graders paired up with their lower school buddies and accompanied them to different parts of our campus where faculty members greeted them with heartwarming smiles and treats. It is such a fun experience to watch students walk through the door with different crazy hats on. Even with the pandemic, Bement still finds a way to continue past activities in a safe way.

Upper School Halloween Dance

On the 29th of October, with Halloween coming up, there was a fall dance for sixth to ninth graders at Bement organized by Ms. Temby, Ms. Keddy, ninth-grade advisors, and other students. Unfortunately, in the year before, this event did not happen due to COVID-19. However, this year we had a chance to host it outdoors. The ninth graders arranged music while many other students volunteered and helped with the preparation. There were several Halloween-themed activities along with the dance: ‘Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin, ’ where students calculated the approximate weight of a pumpkin and the closest one won, and ‘Guess the Number of Eyeballs in the Jar, ' where students needed to guess the number of candy eyeballs in a jar to win the candy. Students also enjoyed two games of Man-hunt. There were snacks, drinks, and candy set out for the teachers and the students. Everybody had a fun time and enjoyed hanging out with their friends on the dance floor!

GETTYSBURG

The Battle of Gettysburg is known as the crucial turning point of the Civil War. Every year, our 8th graders have a trip to Gettysburg for a few days and explore the grounds of one of the most historical places in the world. Due to the global pandemic last year, the 9th graders came along with our trip this year to gain back an exciting experience for what they missed. As the 8th graders learn about the Battle of Gettysburg throughout their Monument Projects and the book The Killer Angels, they are given the amazing opportunity to see the battlefield with their very own eyes where the soldiers sacrificed their hearts on the grounds of the bloody battle.

-Serena '23

Day 1

Our buses departed the campus at 7:30 in the morning. That afternoon, we arrived at our destination after the lengthy nine-hour bus ride. Following our delicious pizza night, we enjoyed our evening at All-Star, filled with great excitement and spirit. Students spent about two hours entertained by various activities, such as volleyball, laser tag, arcade games, basketball...etc. Overall, It was a great end to our day but only a fresh start to our trip!

by Richard Yu-Hwang

Day 2

B A T T L E F I E L D Most started their day with a refreshing morning run around the battlefield while experiencing the pleasing sunrise at Gettysburg. Later on, we visited the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center including a short film and the delicate Cyclorama Painting. Students had lunch around the town while exploring souvenirs from local shops. After that, everyone had a walk around the battlefield to take a look at the monuments that would be presented by the eighth graders on the next day. The day ended with a tasty taco Wednesday dinner as well as a few late-night ghost stories in a circle. A portion of students also enjoyed the swimming pool after the stories before getting rested for another day.

Day 3

Monument presentations by the eighth graders ran from early morning to sunset. Students shared the honorable stories behind their monuments, dedicated to the soldiers and armies who sacrificed their lives fighting in the bloody battle. On the other hand, the ninth graders get to spend an exciting day in Washington, DC. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at General Pickett’ s Buffet, followed by a fascinating tour around Shriver ' s house having the opportunity to view the battle from a civilian ’ s point of view.

Time passed within the blink of an eye. This trip to Gettysburg would remain to be the highlight of our fall of 2021. Seeing the monuments that stand before us today not only reminds us of the stories of these brave soldiers that fought for their lives but also to forever keep in mind their valuable blood that fled the battlefield to create the history we see today. The beautiful views of Gettysburg would always go with our unforgettable memories made at the battlefield. Pieces and pieces of our fun times spent together during those 4 days would be forever stored inside our hearts.

The day began with finishing up the last few monument presentations from students. Afterward, the buses swiftly departed as we said our last goodbyes to the historical battlefield.