the
PHARCYDE
THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
@thepharcyde_tbs
4875 Grandiflora Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
4 November 2022
@thepharcyde_tbs
Volume 44
Issue 02
For 14-Year Club, Homecoming Ends With Halloween Parade Matt Marasco Sports Editor On Halloween, the Fourteen-Year Club visited the Lower School with a wide variety of costumes for the annual Halloween Parade. The Halloween Parade features Lower School students dressed in their Halloween costumes and walking around the football field with their classmates as they are led by the Upper Schoolers. Dean of the Senior Class Dr. John Perrugia organized the high schoolers’ involvement in the parade and valued the importance of tradition. “The tradition of the Fourteen-Year Club has existed since the beginning of the school, and it is always nice to incorporate the high schoolers in the parade,” he said. Arriving at the lower school at 7:45, Dr. Perrugia made sure that the Fourteen-Year Club had plenty of time for photos before they split up into their individual classrooms. The pictures will be a key memory for many of the high schoolers. “Taking the pictures in front of the Banyan tree reminded me of all of my years at the Lower School. Even though it’s been about seven years since I was at those trees, it was a great feeling to be back to a place where I spent so much time when I was younger,” said Fourteen-Year Club Charlie Spungin.
Lower School teacher Mrs. Anne Kearns believes the parade gives high schoolers a chance to connect with the younger generation as well as revisit their roots and see what they used to look like when they were younger. “Soon, these students will be saying goodbye to Benjamin for good, as they start new chapters in their lives. Revisiting their happy childhood memories is vital as they move forward into their futures. Also, it gives us, their old teachers, a chance to hug them once more, tell them how proud we are, wish them well, and let them know we believe in them and love them,” said Mrs. Kearns.
It’s like going back home but everything has shrunk while you were away. -Charlie Spungin It is an important event for the Lower School students as well as the Fourteen-Year Club since many of the high schoolers are happy to be able to provide some joy to the Lower Schoolers. “My favorite part of the parade is seeing all the excitement from
Ten members of the Class of 2023 have called Benjamin home for their entire school lives. As is tradition, the members of the 14-year club help lead the annual Halloween Parade. Before the event, they gather before the Banyans for a group picture. (Photo by Jeremy Ferris)
the Lower School and how happy Halloween makes the students and teachers at Benjamin. It allowed me to go back to where I grew up for 14 years and see the teachers who helped shape me,” said Fourteen-Year Club member Nicole Nicklaus. During the actual parade, the homerooms were led by their teach-
ers and one high school student as they marched around the football field. The parade consisted of two complete laps around Kennerley Field. Fourteen-Year Club member Hailey Ende’s favorite part of the parade was walking with the students. “My favorite part was seeing all of the younger kids dressed up. So
many of the kids had such creative costumes,” said Ende. Not only is the parade a core memory for the high schoolers, but many of the Lower School students also love being able to see the high school students as it gives them a chance to engage with students who were once in their shoes.
Homecoming 2023: A Royal Honor Moffit, Marx Crowned King and Queen, Underclassmen Elected to Court
A Spectacle for the Ages Showcase Highlights Singers, Musicians, Dancers On Mon., Oct. 24, underclassmen showed off their talents under the bright lights of Benjamin Hall. First, Performing Arts Department Chair Mrs. Sara Salivar introduced the Showcase. She thought that Benjamin Hall was like the “Field of Dreams” for the students to perform in. “We had beautiful talent displayed,” said Salivar. “We really have some incredibly talented students and the fact that they were able to perform in Benjamin Hall was great.” First in the showcase was freshman Catalina Sánchez, who danced to “Dance of the Bridesmaid.” Then, sophomore Sage Sorensen sang “Before it’s over,” while sophomore Vhibav Kartik played “Day Tripper” on his guitar. Freshman RJ Pierman followed with “In a Sentimental Mood” on saxophone, and Han Tang with “Aragonise” on the piano. After, Junior Asia Cohen danced to “Ashes.” Freshman Alina Zheng performed “Nocturne”
on the piano. Finally, junior Skyler Hoben danced to “Barracuda.” Music teacher Mrs. Kirkland Austin loved how the showcase went. “The underclassmen showcase was really amazing,” said Austin. “We had a great display of talent with all the different kinds of art represented, with visual arts in the lobby and vocal arts on stage. It was a really great showing of Benjamin’s artistic talent.”
This year’s Homecoming Court brought about its usual excitement when announced at the football games and Dance on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, respectively. The student population, as always, voted for their class representatives. A change from prior years was the elimination of couples, as those on the Court were voted for individually. This change, according to Student Council Advisor Mrs. Anne Franzen, was something that she had seen other schools execute. “I learned that people in school were using the Homecoming Court as an opportunity to pair people together who had either broken up or didn’t like each other,” Mrs. Franzen said. “It was kind of a way to pick on people, and that was unacceptable to me.” During halftime of the football game on Oct. 28, the representatives were announced. For the freshman class, Terrion Ivy-Akins was the sole representative. Easley Hughes and Giancarlo DiLeo represented the sophomores, and Gianna Demerski and Luke Wise represented the juniors. The six seniors who were in the running for Homecoming king and queen were announced at halftime as well. The three boys were Andrew Moffitt, Leo Bryne, and Jackson Brindise, and the girls were Sophie Marx, Riley MacDermott, and Alexa Beriro. The winners, announced at the end of the Oct. 29 Dance, were Andrew Moffit and Sophie Marx. “It was very cool to be elected Homecoming King,” Moffitt said. “It was definitely something I never expected, and it was definitely an honor.”