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The
Brewster Browser
November 17, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
Students Spread Kindness Through RAK Club by Molly Kirschenbaum ’26
movement, which inspired many to partake in kind acts. This idea was taken and tailored to fit Brewster’s boarding school culture. “The goal was to make kindness visible and actionable: something that every student, faculty member, and staff member could take part in during their daily routines,” said Mrs. Found. The students played a significant role in this club, as it was created for them to make kindness a central focus around school and empower students to plan and lead events. Other individuals who played a significant role in RAK were Barb Thomas and Lauren Hunter, both of whom participated in RAK for many years. The first major tradition that was created was “RAK Week,” a week filled with activities such as handwritten notes, kindness bingo boards featuring good deeds, and a “free hug” station. These events gained popularity, and more students began participating and devising various ways to spread kindness throughout the community.
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Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) has been a tradition at Brewster since 2016. According to founder and faculty advisor Mrs. Maria Found, it was created by a group of students and faculty with the goal of establishing a movement centered on community, connection, and gratitude. The initial idea was to make small gestures that would give people a small pick-me-up in their day. Mrs. Found said that RAK’s founding ideas were based on the belief that small, genuine acts can have a profoundly positive impact on a person’s day. They wanted to promote empathy, kindness, and appreciation. They wanted to inspire students to engage in a kind act without expecting something in return for doing a good deed, and to teach how the feeling of doing something kind for someone else can be enough to continue empathetic gestures. The club was inspired by the national Random Acts of Kindness
RAK members Wren Baden ’28, Sharlene Francis ’28, Maddy Neal ’28, Madi Fahey ’29, Isabella Levine ’29, Sienna Pursley ’29, Giada Blake ’29, and Joseph Blake ’29 packing candy for Halloween. photo by Ms. Maria Found
RAK Week has since evolved to include three activities per day: morning, daytime, and evening. RAK began with a small group, but has continued to grow; it is now one of the most active groups on campus. At RAK’s peak, over 80 students were involved. Currently, RAK has
Giada and Joseph Blake '29 seen handing out Boo Bags at Esta for Halloween. Quinn Dufort ’29 happily accepts his treat! photo by Ms. Maria Found
Volume 48 Issue 2
Students might receive a RAK gift bag some time this year, for a holiday like Halloween or Valentine's Day. Artwork by Molly Kirschenbaum ’26
50 members signed up to help spread kindness throughout the school through various activities. The same mission has remained throughout the years: to promote kindness, gratitude, and inclusion throughout Brewster. The current leaders of RAK are Anelya Caesar ’27, Casey Shea ’26, Katherine Twombly ’26, Alina Yu ’26, and Sasha Pisarevsky ’27. According to Mrs. Found, these students have been chosen due to their expertise in club planning, logistics management, and ability to maintain momentum throughout the years. For next year, some leaders have already been chosen due to their commitment: Gabi Reynolds ’27, Jason Feng ’27, and Kaaloni Boisvert ’29. Recently, RAK participated in preparing 200 "Boo Bags" for students, delivering bags of candy and treats to students whose parents or friends purchased on for them. RAK Club also hid bags of candy around the school for students to find during the academic day. They are currently planning for November. cont. on pg. 2
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Editorial/Opinion
On the State of Box Office Flops by Wyatt Randall ’27
Think of your favorite movie. Is it recent or a classic, critically acclaimed or a guilty pleasure, gritty noir or romcom? Chances are, you didn’t see it in theaters. More movies have been flopping at the box office than ever. But you can’t blame the quality of new movies; there are still excellent films being produced, according to both critics and mass audiences. There are movies of all kinds trying to find their audience, but haven’t found success at the box office. Most movies that find box office success are sequels or connected to another well-established franchise with a dedicated fan base, such as Inside Out 2, Tron: Ares, and, for the love of God, another Toy Story in the works? However, even the endless routine of sequels isn’t to blame for failing films; it’s streaming services. Streaming services operate on a relatively simple business model, acquiring exclusive movies and TV shows from the past, and consumers can pay for a subscription service to watch them
anytime. This seemed fine at first, but it began to overtake theaters when the first straight-to-subscription movies started to emerge. The model switched to producing movies entirely on their own, then marketing them while cutting out theaters. Consumers realized that there wasn’t any point in driving to a theater, buying a few $20 tickets, then $12 for popcorn and a $6 drink, when they could stay inside for $15.99 a month. When the pandemic arrived, theaters took a considerable hit and streaming services benefited, but the theaters have never really been able to bounce back. Even movies that come out in theaters usually have a plan to get dumped onto streaming right after, creating zero urgency to see the film. While this isn’t bad on its own, it devalues the experience of going out to the theater. But you may also ask, these movies are making hundreds of millions of dollars, surely that must make a profit? Well, yes and no. Even if you hear tons of buzz on social media about
these movies, the box office doesn’t always reflect that. For example, One Battle After Another, the newest film from Paul Thomas Anderson starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is set to lose close to $100 million, according to Variety.com. Even a highly popular remake, and a personal favorite of mine, James Gunn’s Superman, was a domestic smash hit, but flopped internationally, barely breaking even, according to HeroicHollywood. com. The thing about movies is that the budget is hard to pin down, from casting actors to set design and CGI. Even the gross profits that you see in headlines are misleading, because that money is split roughly 50-50 between the theater and the actual studio. However, the biggest expense in film production is advertising, which involves the cost of placing the movie’s poster everywhere possible. But more than that, it’s an investment to get a return on the cost of making the film itself. Simply put, advertising is there to get people to refund the cost of the movie. However, there are other factors
November 17, 2025
that can impact advertising, if put into the wrong places, which means less profit at the box office. But too much money spent on advertising can also be difficult to reclaim, no matter how many TV advertisements it can buy. This is also the reason why we see so many sequels, because those films have established brands and premises, they can bank on people’s knowledge and interest in those movies without the need for excess advertising. All in all, what does this mean for the future of movies? Well, if the recent past has shown us anything, it means the continuation of remakes, sequels and trilogies. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, slightly bland, but manageable. But if you really want to see a greater variety of films, you still can! It’s important to show your passion, but you must speak with your money, see odd films, explore new genres, and take a chance on a film you wouldn’t normally be interested in!
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Students Spread Kindness Through RAK Club cont. from pg. 1
The annual traditions of RAK include Boo Bags in October, RAK Week in February, Valentine’s Day Surprises in February, Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and Nurse Appreciation Week in May. Some events that have taken place in the past RAK include Gratitude Week in November involve creating thankyou notes to our dining, housekeeping, and maintenance staff. In December RAK collaborates with dorms for coat drives and other community needs. RAK puts together exam week care packages and spring senior send-offs. Mrs. Found says that these activities change every year due to different ideas that the students come up with. RAK also does a lot with holidays. Throughout the year, RAK creates various events surrounding holidays from different cultures and religions. Last year, there were a total of five holiday events, including a collaboration with the Baking Club to make latkes and play dreidel for Hanukkah. There was a Kwanzaa display, as well as giant Advent calendars with treats, cash, and gift cards, located in the dorms. For New Year’s, students created a resolution chain during a Community Dinner. Mrs. Found said that some of the most memorable and successful projects over the years have included Kindness Bingo, Valentine’s Surprise Fundraiser, World Kindness Day, Random Dorm Deliveries, Teacher Appreciation Week, the Intermission Snack table at the
The Brewster Browser Brewster Academy Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Freshmen and members of the RAK Club Madi Fahey ’29, Sienna Pursley ’29, and Joseph Blake ’29 stapling RAK Boo Bags, which are packages of candy and treats that parents, students, faculty and staff can purchase for Brewster students. Funds from Boo Bag sales go towards RAK's many fundraising efforts and charity events.
winter play, and RAK Week events such as snow cones, a chocolate fountain, and the kindness raffle. This year’s goals are to achieve 60% student participation in each trimester, host four major campus-wide kindness events, recognize 100 community members with kindness shoutouts,
and maintain a culture of kindness at Brewster. If you are looking to support RAK, you can always join the club, which is open to everyone, both students and faculty. You can also spread positivity by volunteering or donating small items.
Editor in Chief: Katherine Twombly ’26 Managing Editor: David Mason ’26 News & Features Editor: Mila Bahr ’27 Sports Editor: Gabi Reynolds ’27 Nameplate art: Shemar Joseph ’19 Staff members: Kevin Duan ’26 James Hatzos ’26 Erin Kenah ’27 Molly Kirschenbaum ’26 Wyatt Randall ’27 Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Metcalfe Dumont From the Editors: The Browser is a student publication, written, edited and proofread by the students under the direction of the faculty advisor. The authors and editors take full responsibility for any errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar that may occur. THE BROWSER IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY THE JON KONHEIM JOURNALISM AWARD.
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News
Longest Ever Government Shutdown Set to End by Katherine Twombly ’26
have shut down the government” and “Americans don’t agree with Democrats’ actions.” Such concise, inaccurate, and grossly oversimplified statements concerning a complicated and impactful issue are in poor taste, especially given what many Americans stand to lose from the shutdown, which was caused by a disagreement between the two parties, not a choice made by one. The most visible and painful effect of the shutdown is the loss of access to SNAP benefits, particularly given that the holidays are fast-approaching. Two federal judges have recently ruled that the Trump administration is legally required to use emergency funds in order to fund SNAP benefits, including food stamps. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that people will receive the same amount as has been typical in recent years due to limited emergency funds that will not be able to cover the full cost of this system, although the ruling requires beneficiaries to receive as much as possible. This will increasingly cost those using this program, given the continuing rise of prices of many common goods, in part due to tariffs imposed earlier this year. President Trump has consulted with his administration's lawyers to determine how to expedite the distribution of these benefits and get them to the American people as soon as possible, although he acknowledges that, given the current situation, their distribution will still face some delay. Also important in the buildup to the holiday season in the United States is the effect that the shutdown could still have on travel, and specifically air traffic control, which has become a growing problem since significant cuts were made to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier in the Trump administration. This has led to multiple high-profile collisions and unsafe landings, as well as a decline in overall flight efficiency and safety. The TSA warns of longer wait times in airports, as the TSA and air traffic controllers will remain operational even though their workers will not be paid during the shutdown. Delays are anticipated due to staffing shortages, as many people are likely to choose not to work without pay. Recently, the Trump administration ordered a cancellation of 4% of flights from many major airports, with the number slated to increase by 1% daily. With the shutdown ending, it is unclear whether or not these cuts will continue at the same rate, but airports may return to their full capacity shortly. Although many lower-income individuals and government agency employees will personally suffer economically due to a lack of resource
Sign outside the U.S Capitol announcing the shutdown.
provisions and payment, the economy as a whole is not expected to be significantly affected. The United States government is expected to lose several billion dollars; however, the United States currently has a $30 trillion economy, so the loss will not create a massive upset that cannot be made up in the near future, as long as the shutdown ends. “We may not see a huge impact in a town like Wolfeboro with a lower proportion of federal workers, but in spaces with a bigger proportion, like the DMV, you may see more pressure on small businesses that rely on consumer spending,” adds Mr. Tessier on how the shutdown could affect our community. It is possible that there is a greater loss than anticipated if the Trump administration does not attempt to make the typical reparations for this situation, including retroactive payment to government employees once the shutdown is over. The reason this is causing concern and uncertainty is that the Trump administration does not appear to be certain that it will honor these payments, despite the law being signed by President Trump himself during his first term in 2019. The Office of Management and Budget is arguing that the law does not guarantee workers will be paid back unless the act is approved by Congress. When speaking on the issue himself, Trump stated: “There are some people who do not deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way.” This seems to imply that many people will not receive retroactive payment for their work during the shutdown. Additionally, the use of the word “deserve” may foreshadow extremely dangerous future consequences. The choice to imply that some people are inherently worth more than others has been used in the past to
Photo taken from the New York Times.
justify severe discrimination and farreaching social crises. As of Monday, November 10, a group of eight Democrats chose to vote with the Republican party to pass the bill in order to end the shutdown. The bill will then go to the House of Representatives where it is expected to pass, though by a potentially slim margin. While there were not any official concessions made by the Republican party on the bill itself, it is said that they agreed to consider passing a bill extending health care sometime in the future. Keeping with the current political climate, this decision has been controversial, particularly in the Democratic party itself. Some see this as a betrayal of the party that ended up giving away what they had been fighting for and making the choice not to vote in favor of the bill in the first place and cause the shutdown, seem pointless; but others see this as a necessary choice that will reinstate many important systems that have been stalled during the shutdown.
“There are some people who do not deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way.” - Pres. Trump
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On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the United States government shut down for the first time in nearly seven years, since President Trump’s first term, and it became the longest shutdown in history. Due to the unprecedented nature of the situation, there is a great deal that remains unknown about its effects. This is touched on by Mr. Paul Tessier, economics teacher at Brewster Academy, who, in reference to any predicted effects, says: “This is assuming a typical shutdown over typical timeframes. As we continue to push into longer territory, we may see an amplification of the initial short-term negative impact.” This shutdown was prompted by a disagreement in the Senate between Republicans and Democrats over a spending bill. The Democrats would not support the bill on the grounds that it did not extend the lower price of health insurance, and it would make cuts to government health agencies. Republicans refused to include these changes because they are under the impression that these healthcare systems are offering free healthcare to unauthorized immigrants, although the United States law prohibits this from happening. The shutdown itself is highly controversial, and as is often the case with these kinds of issues, both sides are blaming each other. However, the American public does not appear to be as divided over the issue of health care. A recent poll conducted by the non-partisan health policy and public opinion agency KFF shows that approximately 78% of the American public believes that the subsidies proposed by the Democrats to be included in the bill should be extended past 2025. These would extend the current tax credits afforded to American citizens and not raise prices as would happen if they are not extended. To further contextualize this poll, the effects of not extending healthcare past 2025 would disproportionately affect Americans in states that supported President Trump in the 2024 election. While this is a complicated issue, it is worth noting that President Trump and a majority of Republican leaders in power publicly do not support extending the lower price of health insurance and modifying the bill to include it. In addition, in an unprecedented show of partisanship by the White House, their official website assigns full blame for the shutdown to the Democratic Party and calls on them to end it. This is achieved by displaying a stopwatch that shows the length of the current shutdown to the second, and below it, the statements “Democrats
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by Mila Bahr ’27
Features
Celebrity Scandals Stir the Pot
going-to-space stunt. If you don't know, back in April, Katy Perry and five other women aboard the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket and went up to space for about 11 minutes. It wasn’t environmentally conscious and Orlando is pretty big on being an environmentalist. He told the Daily Mail that her little trip was brought up in a few of their arguments as a burn. The couple released a statement that said the other reasons were the typical things like their careers pulling them in different directions and their lives were too stressful. Keep in mind that this was their second break up. Other than that Katy literally picked up and left Will Turner aka Legolas aka Orlando and not even a month later started dating Prime Minister Justin.
So far, 2025 has not skimped on the celebrity drama and these are just five of the headliners so far. Ranging from music to celebrity split ups, this is the scoop for each. Enjoy. Warning: These details are most definitely invasive to those mentioned. Taylor Swift's New Album A lot of people have been calling Taylor's new album, “The Life of a Showgirl”, a way for her to milk her moment even after the Eras Tour ended last December. Also, some of the songs seem to be almost shallow compared to her other albums. People on TikTok have made videos over a clip of lyrics from her song Wood stating, “there is no way this is the same girl that wrote Folklore.” Keeping in mind the depth and true emotion she's put into some of her songs, this whole album seems almost superficial and rushed. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Separated? There have been rumors circulating about Reynolds and Lively living separately ever since her whole Justin Baldoni situation. There has been a lack of public appearances from the two of them together, as well. In the past, the couple has been seen endorsing each other on socials whether it's a clever birthday wish or defending each other online. But since her lawsuit, there has been a lack of acknowledgement between the two, and it's like a change in their playful
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Lauren Sanchez Bezos, Katy Perry, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, Gayle King and Amanda Nguyen Photo from Slate.com posing before boarding the spacecraft.
vibe. Though the couple has not officially announced their separation, they haven't denied it either. Since the Baldoni situation, numerous people have come out to say their interactions with Blake Lively have given mean girl vibes. Also, at least 10 celebrities who have worked with Ryan Reynolds have dissed him in public for being insecure and angry while on set and with social interactions. Is he just as much of a mean girl as Blake? King Kylie is back The 2014 and 2016 Kylie era is
making a comeback. Hallelujah. The King Kylie era can be characterized by Kylie’s colorful wigs, vibrant outfits, and the adventurous, bold pics she posted. As an intertwined promo for both her cosmetics brand and her return to a music career, she announced on Instagram, along with a picture that King Ky is back! Katy Perry and Prime Minister Girl separated from Orlando Bloom and then went for the former Prime Minister of Canada. Is that a joke or…? A big part of why they split was because of her
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Just like Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, they have split. She was actually seen smiling after someone brought up the divorce so like, yay, you unbothered queen. She also has gotten almost full custody, having their daughters for 306 days a year and Keith having them for 59 days. Is that crazy only to me, like what’s the ratio? This is her second divorce, as her first husband was Tom Cruise, with the same reason of "irreconcilable differences” as to why the split is occurring. How many more times can we throw out that reason before we think to ourselves that these things should be sorted out prior to marriage?
Bubble Popping: Valve Killed the Counter-Strike Market in an Hour by Kevin Duan ’26
On November 9, 2000, the most influential video game of all time was introduced to Windows users worldwide. A simple tactical shooter, pitting terrorists against counterterrorists in objective-based rounds, became the game that redefined the First-Person Shooter (FPS) genre, with over 70 million sold and millions tuning in to watch e-sports tournaments. Counter-Strike has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, with one notable aspect being its virtual market for ingame cosmetics, or “skins”, which, as of October 18, 2025, had a market capitalization of $ 6.05 billion, rivaling real-world financial markets. To understand the crash, we must first comprehend the CS2 market and its operational dynamics. Cosmetics are categorized into different groups, defined by color, ranging from Consumer Grade (white) to Industrial Grade (light blue), Mil[itary]-Spec (blue), Restricted (purple), Classified (pink), Covert (red), and finally Exceedingly Rare (gold). Fueled by rarity tiers, patterns, and conditions, high-end golds (such as knives and gloves) would fetch
thousands of dollars. In September of 2021, a knife was once offered $1.5 million for its purchase but was denied, with the knife increasing in value by around $200,000 every year. This created a speculative bubble, with “investors” hoarding items in hopes of appreciation, much like stocks or cryptocurrencies. Chinese and Russian traders played a significant role in driving the increase in value, often utilizing third-party sites for cash transactions outside Steam’s ecosystem. Out of nowhere, a patch note hit at 19:47 UTC on October 22, 2025, as line #47 in the “Counter-Strike 2 Update” changelog—tucked under “Retakes” fanfare and stability fixes. “Extended functionality of the ‘Trade Up Contract’ to allow exchanging 5 items of Covert quality as follows: 5 StatTrak™ Covert items can be traded up into a StatTrak™ Rare Special Item from the corresponding collections.” No skin wear rating locks. No pattern limits. Infinite supply from ~32 million existing Covert skins.” In Layman’s terms, you can now use the “Trade Up Contract” to swap 5 super-rare purple cont. on pg. 5
The Skeleton knife is a cosmetic knife skin in CS2, this particular one was purchased at $6,299 prior to the October crash. After the update, it was only worth around $4,000.
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Features
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Coming Home for Thanksgiving
by Erin Kenah ’27
school, you likely will have gathered with family quite a few times before the Thanksgiving holiday. People typically think being teenagers we might complain and just want to be with friends all the time. But when you’re away for months at a time, you realize how nice it is to return back to the people who have known you all of your life. It’s the small things that mean the most when you’re back home, like laughing about something dumb with siblings or watching a movie with parents without having to worry about classes the next morning. Of course, I love Brewster, and my friends have, in a way, become my family too, but Maryland will always be the place I call home. My family will always know me better than any new person I meet, and the same old stories, games and movies that remind me of my childhood will always hold a special place in my heart. The holiday only lasts ten days, but it seems much longer than that for some reason when living away from home. It’s not so much the home cooked meals or the days off from school that are appreciated, but more than that, it’s the refresh you get from the quality time with family. I came back to school after break last year feeling lighter, as if my childhood friendships and family reunion literally recharged me. Returning to campus after a break feels better, even in the cold temperatures, because it comes with a little warmth carried from seeing family and friends from home. Every time I head back to Brewster, I realize how lucky I am to have two places that feel like home in such different ways. One gives me friendship, and a door to new experience while the other gives me comfort and familiarity. Going between the two just makes me appreciate both aspects even more. They remind me how much the other means to me and I wouldn’t switch this dynamic for the world.
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Life at Brewster Academy moves quickly. Between sports, extra curriculars, and dorm life, the weeks go by fast. There’s always a friend’s game to cheer for, opportunities for community service, or weekend trips which likely include visits to Target and Chipotle. Boarding school is now my second home. With Thanksgiving break ahead, however, there’s the growing feeling of excitement as it draws closer. Ten days at home might not seem like long, but for boarders, we know to appreciate family time and make the most of our break from school. The funny part about being at boarding school is the way people’s definition of home changes. When you live on campus and stay with friends and teachers who see your face everyday, school becomes its own little island. Students get used to the dining hall food, their roommate’s humor, and the best routes around campus to avoid any more time in the harsh winds on campus because we live by the lake. There’s always something special about the nights before break, though. Most boarders are either quickly planning out activities for their short time home, facetiming friends, or very possibly scrambling to do a major dorm cleanup the night before they leave. Thanksgiving for me is visiting my aunt’s house with my parents, sister and brother. My siblings, cousins and I, all dressed up for our grandparents of course, somehow always end up in the basement playing the same games we have since we were little. While jokingly trying to scare my little brother, Remy, the grown ups are preparing the food and getting the table ready, laughing and telling stories everyone has already heard before. The smell of turkey and homemade stuffing always leads us back upstairs where we sneak cookies until it’s finally time to eat. If you don’t attend a boarding
A depiction of an American family's Thanksgiving dinner.
Artwork by Erin Kenah ’27
Bubble Popping: Valve Killed the Counter-Strike Market in an Hour cont. from pg. 4
“Covert” gun skins (the ones called StatTrak™ that track your kills) from the exact same skin collection for 1 ultra-rare special item (like a knife or gloves) that also tracks kills (StatTrak™) from that collection—no rules about the skins’ wear level (brand new or beat-up is fine), no pattern restrictions, and unlimited attempts since there are around 32 million of these Covert skins already out there. Within 15 minutes, budget Coverts like MP7 Bloodsport and P250 See Ya Later sold out on the Steam Market, spiking from $3 to $5 to over $70. Steam throttled under listings. Coverts
surged 300–1,000%, with a cheap cover, such as the MP9 Starlight, rising from $5 to over $100 within hours. Gold tanked more than 60% as fear set in. For example, a Butterfly Knife with the Fade fade pattern dropped instantly from $4,700 to $1,900 (-60%). As might be expected, panic ensued in the market in the following days. Russian traders famously liquidated their entire stock in VK/Telegram auctions, and Chinese traders, who were eight hours behind the update, panicked and dumped. Tragedy struck a Chinese university when 3 college students leapt off a building together after their 20k
inventories evaporated into nothing, and several more reports of suicides were announced around the country, with one happening over a Discord call where a trader was devastated that their inventory, traded up over almost a decade, was now worthless. Pros and influencers reeled. Neymar Jr, Olofmeister, and traders like “Coco” reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Third-party sites like SkinBaron saw volume spike 500%, but layoffs loomed. Coverts stabilized as the hot new “fuel,” with some x15 gains. By November 1, the market cap had clawed back to $5 billion, reaching $5.126 billion the following day—75–
85% recovered. The value of previously unaffordable gold has returned to the 1k-4k range, with the price of previously cheap Coverts reaching anywhere from $50 to $500. Valve remained silent during the week, issuing no statements and making no rollbacks. The player base remains strong, with the in-game economy recovering, and players celebrate the newfound affordability of knives and gloves, which are now within reach for casual gamers rather than reserved for wealthy hoarders, ensuring that on its 25th anniversary, CS endures not as a virtual stock market but as a timeless tactical shooter.
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Sports
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A New Era of Patriots Football by David Mason ’26
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The New England Patriots are revitalizing themselves in the 2025-26 season. bringing new life to the Patriots that hasn’t been seen in many years. They are the leaders in the American Football Conference (AFC) East and contenders for the first spot in the whole AFC conference. Currently, the Patriots are on a four-game winning streak, which only three teams have accomplished in the NFL this season. Led by second-year quarterback Drake “Drake Maye” Maye, who has strongly thrown himself in contention for MVP and recently, in his game against the Tennessee Titans, had a 91% passing rating, which is the highest rating for any Patriots quarterback ever, even surpassing Tom Brady’s highest of 89%. Maye, according to multiple Fantasy Football sources, has cracked the top 10 list of quarterbacks. On the books, Maye is putting up astonishing numbers, ranking top ten among quarterbacks in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing rating, completion percentage, passing average, and least amount sacks. His longest completed throw while with the Patriots was a 55-yard heave to Rhamondre Stevenson. The Patriots’ draft class this year consisted of a first-round pick who was the fourth overall selection, Will Campbell from LSU, a 21-year-old rookie coming in at a towering 6’6 “and 319 lbs. A fan favorite of the Patriots heavily supported from draft day when he famously stated he was ready to “fight and die” for his quarterback Drake Maye, who has given Campbell the moniker of ‘Big Country.’ Campbell was previously given a skeptical prediction about his ability to compete in the NFL, citing his hand size and arm length as being slightly undersized in a league full of giants, and not the New York ones. However, he has proven his mettle in his first NFL season, where he has started every game and competed against some of the greatest players in the NFL. Another star this year for the Patriots is Kayshaon Boutee, who was drafted in 2023. He has been having a career season with Drake Maye as his quarterback. They have a generational connection and have been working
together since being on the scout team, even though they didn’t know each other. Boutee is becoming one of the biggest threats in the league with his accuracy and athleticism. Newly signed Stefon Diggs, who previously played for the Houston Texans, was traded to New England on a three-year, $69 million contract. He is coming off an ACL tear, which left him out for a long period of the previous season. He has found a rejuvenated stride and his rhythm with the New England Patriots. He is well on pace for a 1000-plus yard season. The Patriots this year are coming out strong, especially in their October 26th match against the Cleveland Browns. After a slow start, they came back with a field goal by the Patriots and a touchdown from the Browns, and went on to a strong 32-13 win. In the second quarter, the Patriots’ defense was impenetrable. Because the renowned Browns defense was effective in stopping multiple Patriots possessions from reaching the end zone, the Patriots settled for two field goals. In the second half, the Patriots came into rhythm with Hunter Henry, Stefon Diggs, and Kayshon Boutte scoring touchdowns. This was also Diggs’ first Patriots touchdown of his career. Rounding out the game, the Browns managed to score a touchdown, but failed to score the two-point conversion. In the final seconds of the game, the Browns were within five yards of their end zone, and on the snap, the Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel went into his end zone and spiked the ball into the ground to end the play, but got called for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety for the Patriots, soon thereafter ending the game. Through the Patriots’ drought after the departure of beloved Tom Brady, the addition of the Rookie Mac Jones and the veteran Cam Newton, to now, a new and revived Patriots with serious Super Bowl potential, a new era of patriots football is formed. “Drake Maye will be the 2025 NFL MVP,” said the esteemed and incredibly handsome class of ‘25 Salutatorian Randall Preston. All that is left is for time to tell if a new dynasty has been formed.
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Gillette Stadium before the New England Patriots vs. the Cleveland Browns game on October 26. photo by David Mason ’26
Patriots Remaining Schedule Patriots @ Bengals 11/23/25 Giants @ Patriots 12/1/25 Bills @ Patriots 12/14/25 Patriots @ Ravens 12/21/25 Patriots @ Jets 12/28/25 Dolphins @ Patriots 1/4/26
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 9. photo from patriots.com
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Sports Turf Fields: The NFL Can Deal
November 17, 2025
by Gabi Reynolds ’27
Winter Trimester Calendar DECEMBER 12/2/2025 First Day of Winter Trimester 12/9/2025 Tree Lighting & Community Dinner 12/18/2025 December Break Begins
Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury on September 11th, 2023, in MetLife Stadium in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
league. Although that might be the current state of the thirty stadiums, as renovations ensue, further fluctuations to the surfaces will be made. And they should, as even the teams that host games on turf fields aren’t all playing on the same type of turf. In fact, the only form of consistency the NFL has seemed to agree upon is that all teams must have practice on fields of grass, despite its knowledge that the less sustainable option is safer and should be implemented on every field of play. As the International Federation of Association Football is calling for grass fields during the World Cup in North America this year, fans are especially enraged. If the grass surface is truly that easy to implement and is safer, there
JANUARY 1/13/2026 First Day of Classes 1/19 - 1/23/2026 Equity Week 1/21/2026 Junior College Kickoff FEBRUARY 2/2 - 2/6/2026 Winter Carnival
should be no logical reason for the NFL or team owners to remove the grass after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament. However, if they do promptly remove the grass fields, there are several measures that players of any sport can take to reduce their risks. Warming up with ACL tear prevention training helps players prepare their muscles to reduce their risk. Additionally, players can purchase turf-specific cleats to equip themselves properly for the surface on which they will play. And if there is no hope of ending the reign of these green killers, then the next best technological advancement would improve the qualities of turf to better suit the players who put their bodies on the line over the time and effort it takes to create it.
2/14 - 2/20/2026 RAK Week 2/19/2026 Winter Musical & Community Dinner 2/23 - 2/27/2026 Assessment Week MARCH 3/2 - 3/6/2026 Interim Studies & March Break Begins
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One of the most heavily debated topics in the National Football League today isn’t related to the players or their games, but rather the surface on which they play. As the 21st century has advanced, playing surfaces, ranging from grass to turf, have had an impact on player safety, which has been a source of controversy. Several researchers have investigated the statistics regarding injury percentages on turf fields versus natural fields, and the results are certain: turf fields pose a higher risk. The National Football League Players Association states that players have a 28% higher risk of injuring a lower extremity due to non-contact motions on an artificial field compared to a natural grass surface. That’s not to say players haven’t been seriously injured due to tweaking a lower extremity on grass, but the rate is substantially higher on turf for these athletes who don’t give a second thought to the ground below them. These injuries have spanned from hamstring strains to Achilles tears, which is plausible when detailing the properties of turf and hybrid-blend fields. ATFs (artificial turf fields) are composed of three layers: a base layer, the cushion layer of recycled rubber to infill, and the top blades of plastic grass. Each company produces its own type of infill, varying in size and material. While the most popular brands use small nuggets of rubber exclusively or with sand to help with absorption, it still does not provide the same support that natural grass does. As muscles contract and relax during play, stepping on these non-absorbent surfaces increases the chances of spraining or tearing a lower extremity. Some sources even claim that as players land on this surface, their heads are better protected by the absorption of grass than by
turf (although this theory remains inconclusive). Tragically, every year, top players and those who barely made the 53-man cut have gone down alike due to these injuries. Especially with the modern quarterback-favored game today, players at the helm of their teams can suffer these potentially career-ending injuries, posing a risk of nullifying any success their billion-dollar franchise had previously achieved. All in all, lives have been drastically altered due to the impact these injuries have on players, who give everything they have to make it in the big leagues. Notable players have already suffered serious or season-ending noncontact injuries halfway through the season. Austin Ekeler, a running back for the Washington Commanders, has already been out for over two months now due to an Achilles tear he sustained running a route, at least five yards away from the nearest Green Bay Packer defender. Even a young star wide receiver for the New York Giants, Malik Nabers, has suffered a season-ending ACL and meniscus tear on a deep jumpball against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both of these players had undergone their injuries on either hybrid grass or artificial turf. Not to mention, these were only two non-contact injuries that occurred on turf as of Week 10 in the regular season, and several more contact-related injuries have taken place in which the surface could’ve been a determining factor in the cause of injury. Many fans have asked why team owners and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, have yet to require grass, or at the very least, regulate these surfaces. The state of the league’s consistency is poor, as there are currently fourteen entirely grass fields, two hybrid fields, and another fourteen completely artificial fields around the
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W OR D O N THE STREET 1) What's your favorite Thanksgiving food or tradition? 2) What will you do over break? Wrong answers only. 3) If you were placed off status, what would it be for? 4) What's one thing people do that you just don't understand? 5) Blondes or Burnettes?
Tommy Larsen ’26 1) Popeye's Thanksgiving Turkey 2) Eating Healthy 3) Homework 4) Driving slow in all lanes 5) Both
Zack Linscott ’28
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1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
THE turkey Take a mile long run Homework BMP E-Sports Brunette
Lucca Schmieding '27 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Pumpkin Pie Getting a boyfriend Having people in my room Be straight/play lacrosse Brunette
Ms. Harrison 1) 2) 3) 4)
Stuffing from mother Letting my dog in the house Messy dorm room Running across the road with no street lamp 5) Brunettes
Annika Webster '29 1) 2) 3) 4)
Family Reunion Get tan Missing assignments Saying they are good at things they are not. 5) Brunettes
(left) Evelyn Heppler ’27
Turner Flood ’26 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Turducken Pinch a baby Missing work Like chocolate Black hair
1) Stuffing and Thanksgiving bingo 2) Go swimming 3) Escaping to Esta 4) Saying SYBAU 5) Blonde
November 17, 2025
Hall Talk The Victoria’s Secret fashion show? There’s a lot of controversy this year. Their hair is not as bouncy? – MB Bruce should be a genie. – PO I slept in the common room of Sarge 2 last night.- AS I identify as a moose. – FD I am a bad B but I’m getting bad B’s. - LF Although silica gel isn’t likely to harm you, this isn’t a license to eat it. - TL You could probably eat like 5 packets before you need to go to the hospital. - MJ What is an anonymous capybara doing in my google doc? - SB I’m a mandated reporter, if you do something stupid in my presence, I need to know. - PT I drank it. What? It just says, “Don’t eat it”. – CC You’d take stolen goods if a guy you liked gave it to you? - TL I am not a diddy blud! – MS I would kidnap on Halloween – CH Perfect. I love shady cloaked figures. - TL Only speak Spanish to me if I'm wearing these. – BH The Browser should be called the “Browher”. – JB Pepperoni is a fruit bro. – MW Do you think Travis and Brian will last? – JD DEUTSCHLAND! - JG Illinois is the Czech Republic of America. – JG I'm overdosing on peppers here. - FD If Illinois were a number, it would be 68. - JG Chicago is Iraq. - TP I thought that was common ball knowledge. - TP Lowkey the devil himself. - WR *shakes plant* Does it sound like it's raining? - SB Have you thought of O-Zem-Peak? - PO
Happy Turkey Day! Enjoy Your Break!