The Dawn 2023

The Dawn

The Dawn 2022-2023

The Salutation of the Dawn

Attributed to Kalidasa, fl. c. 400 a.d. (as it originally appeared in The Dawn, Volume 1, Number 3 in June, 1927)

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!

LOOK TO THIS DAY

For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the verities And realities of our existence. The Glory of Action, The Bliss of Growth, The Splendor of Beauty: For Yesterday is but a Dream, And To-morrow is only a Vision; But To-day, well-lived, makes Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness And every To-morrow a Vision of Hope. Look well, therefore, to this Day! Such is the Salutation of the Dawn.

-From the Sanskrit

The Buckley School in the City of New York

THEDAWN

2022-2023

LeadEditor

NathanReif,ClassVIII Staff

CharlieAllen,ClassVII

NickAston,ClassVII

OtisEastman,ClassVII

HarryElworth,ClassVIII

SorenHeintz,ClassVII

GusHope,ClassVIII

SconsettJuracich,ClassVII

OscarPaduano,ClassVIII

MatthewTrucano,ClassVIII

HenryWalter,ClassVII

AlfieWayner,ClassVIII

FacultyAdvisor

Ms.Hauschen

FrontandBackcoverart: Luca Walter, Class VIII

History of The Dawn

According to Volume LX (1985) of The Dawn: This little magazine first appeared at Christmas in 1926. It was named by Mr. Buckley after “The Salutation of the Dawn,” from Sanskrit, one of his favorite poems.

The Dawn was originally published three times a year in December, March and May. Originally, these publications included “contributions from parents, alumni, and faculty to round out the bulk of the material contributed by the boys themselves.” “The Salutation of the Dawn” began appearing regularly in the publication starting in June of 1927. Dawn publications from 1927 through 2003 are bound and currently housed in the Walker Adams Room.

Below is an editorial from Buckley’s founder, B. Lord Buckley, from December 21, 1926. Thanks to Elizabeth Manus for sharing this piece of Buckley history with the community.

“The Dawn - what has it meant to me all these many years? It has meant many things - - new strength, higher hopes, a keener brain, a stronger will, a braver heart - - but most of all it has meant “opportunity” A new day hands me a perfectly clean slate with all of yesterday’s failures and discouragements wiped away forever; it brings me another glorious chance to do my job better today than I ever did it before.”

B. Lord Buckley, December 21, 1926 - from his editorial in The Dawn

Thousandsofyearsago,therewaspeaceandharmonyamongallanimals.Kyrochi,the kingoftheanimals,andawolfruledthelands.Hisfurwasfilledwithallcolors.Hewasthe mostbeautifulanimalinallthekingdom.Infact,allwolveshadmajesticfurcoats.Inallthe kingdomtherewasonerule:Nooneistodrinkfromtheraingod’sreservoir,noteventhemost powerfulanimals.NowKyrochi,wasawonderfulkingwhogavefoodhandoutstoanyonein need.However,thisallcametoanend.OnedayatoneofKyrochi’sballs,hespottedastunning, beautifulwolfnamedMoira.Kyrochiimmediatelyfellinloveandaskedhertobecomehis queen.NowMoiradidn’treallywanttobethequeen,butshethoughtofthepowershecould wieldanddidnotstoptothink.ShemanipulatedKyrochitogetheranythingshedesired.

Kyrochi,drownedinlove,obeyed.Oneday,Moiraaskedherhusbandtokilltheironlyson,Yois.

Kyrochididashewastold.Thegodoflifewasshockedatwhattheyhaddoneandaskedthe raingodtostophisrainpermanentlyasapunishment.Soonthewholekingdomdidn’thave water,andeveryonewasstarving.Thekingandqueen,though,hadtheirownprivatereserveof waterinasecretwell.Thiswaterlastedafewmonthsbutthenranout,andtheroyalsthemselves werethirsty Moirawantedwaterandfast,soshedemandedthekingtoprovidewater Soon animalswereponderingtheiroptions:getwaterordie.ThenitstruckMoira:shecouldgetwater fromtheraingod’sreservoir WhenshetoldKyrochiaboutheridea,hiseyeswidened;hewasso seducedbythethirstthatheagreed,andwithhisarmyof48,000andanother63,000thirsty volunteers,trekkedupthemountaintogetwater Ittookthem2weeksand2days,butthey finallyarrived.Oncethereservoirwasinsight,thousandsofanimalsmadeaheadlongrushtoit. Hundredswereinjuredbygettingtrampledandanother100died.Thiswasthemostchaotic eventthatthekingdomhadeverfaced.Assoonasthefirstanimalreachedthereservoir,the cloudsturnedgrayanditstartedtorain.Rejoicehitthecrowd,butinasecondthatlightning flashedeverywhere,andtherewastheraingod. “Howdareyoustealfromme!Youwillbe sorry!”heyelled.Anotherpieceoflightningboltedoutofthesky,andthegodwasgone.When thekingandthepeoplereturned2weekslater,theskywasstillgray,anditwaspouring.A monthpassed,andKyrochiwasconcerned.Hisfuralongwithalltheotheranimals’waslosing itscolor Timewenton,andKyrochiandMoirahadanotherchildnamedNkri.Hisfurwasgray andnotcolorful.Kyrochiwasshocked.Helookedathisfurtocompareitwithhisson’s,andto hishorrortheywerethesamecolor Tothisdayallwolveshavebeenbornwithgrayfur,and nowyouknowwhy.

TheGrayWolf

Felix Deschenes, Class VI

To be a word

Day Dreaming

As I open my eyes

I look out and see The deep blue sea

Calling out to Me

And as I feel the breeze rustle my hair

I smell the salty sea air

And the ocean calls out to me.

As I bask in the sun

I feel the warmth wrap around me like a hug, Comforting as if it were home

And as I glide through the water

There is nothing that bothers

Because the ocean calls out to me

As I feel the sand between my toes

And see children running to and fro

I realize this is where i’m meant to be

On the oceanfront with the sea right in front of me, The ocean calls out to me.

And when it is cold and bare

In the chilly winter air,

I think back to the months between June and September,

And the ocean calls out to me.

This is where I am meant to be.

Nick Aston, Class VII

To be a word, Thrown around without meaning, Is like having your thoughts jumbled up, Or wanting to say something to someone you love, But being a word with meaning, Can let those things come out, Being a word with meaning, can show every feeling, It can show your true self, Inside and out, Peter

Class VII

Chmiel,

Fallen oak Tree

Fallen from the branches

There I was a speck of light

Hidden in the earth like a diamond in the rough

As I blossom with vibrant colors

I became a nimble stick

Small but strong

Grow ever so faster

Becoming a juvenile tree

I bloom with vibrant colors

The pollen filled the air

Children weep and cried

But I bright as green; stretching to the sky

My roots reach out to the world

As the winter nights weathered me

I Lose my beauty.

My Leaves Wither away

My Branches Rot

Until I was left a stump

Dylan Willis, Class VII

“3 Days of Fun”

Onedayduringspringbreak,IcountedtheminutesuntilIwentonvacation.Icouldn’t wait,butitdisappointedmewhenIwasn’tallowedtotakeafriend.Everyminutefeltlikean hourandeveryhourfeltlikeaneternity.Idecidedthebestthingtodotopassthetimewasto playXbox.ThenextthingIknew,Iwas passedoutonthecouch.Thefollowingday,Iwas readytogetontheflight.ItriedtohidemysadnessbecausemysisterbroughtafriendandI couldn’t,butIthoughtabouteverythingthatmademehappyandforgotthewholething.We landedaboutfourhourslater,andIwassoexcitedtoskiwithmyfamily.Attheairport,a

surpriseawaitedme:mybestfriendwasthere!Itturnsoutthatmyparentshadplannedthisall along!Iwasspeechless.Now,myfamily,myfriendBob,andIwereonthewaytothehouse.We gotthereandjustplayedgamesandhaddinner.Thenextday,wewentskiing.Itwassomuch fun!MyfriendandIdidchallengesontheraceslopeandfoundoutwhocouldgofaster.Wethen haddinnerbyourselvesandcheckedoutthetown.Wedecidedtogotothisarcadewitha

bowlingalley,anditwasthebest.Ibeatmyfriendinbowling,buthebeatmeinthearcade games.Wemetsomenewpeople,andthenextday,wewentskiingwiththem.Theywerefrom Coloradoandgottoskithereeverydayinthewinterandspring.Theyeventoldusthatevery dayat12,theyskiednomatterwhat.Iwassoshockedtheywereabletomissschool.Thiswas turningouttobethebestvacationever.

Thedayswentbysoquicklyandwedidsomuch.Weswam,skied,andwenticeskating. WealsometnewfriendsandexploredColorado.Thiswasthebestvacationever,andIhopethis happensagain!

Grayson

Parr, Class VI

Archie Roosevelt, Class VIII

MynameisMarkusEder Iamcurrentlyinahelicopter,abouttojumpoutandbeginthe biggestRedBullskistuntofmylife:TheUltimateRun.Ilookdownattheglacier,MonteRosa, thesecondlargestinEurope.ThisrunstartsinZermatt,Switzerland,andendsatthebottomof anAustrianvalley.NowIjump.

AsIplummettowardtheground,Ichannelallmyfocusintothemostintensenextfifteen minutesofskiingIhaveeverdone.Ilandperfectly.Immediately,Istartdownthenorthfaceof MonteRosa,makingeachturnaspreciselyasIcan.Ijumpoffa50-footicecliff.IknowthatI havetolandeveryjumpperfectly,forifIdonot,it’salongwaydown.Iseemynextdetour,a crevasse.AsIskijustabovethecrevasse,readytoenterit,IsuddenlyfeelnervousthatImight notmakeitthroughandinsteadgetstuckinthemiddle.Butdespitemyfears,Ienter Suddenly, thewholeworldgoesdark,andallIhearisthegrindofmyskisagainsttheice.ThenIrealize thatIamapproachingthelowpointofthetunnel,whereImustnearlysitonthebackofmyskis, orelseIwillbeconcussedwiththeimpactofhittingtheice.IpracticallyliedownasIslide throughthetunnel,seeingthelightattheendofthecrevassegrowcloserandclosertome.

Atlast,afterwhatfeelslikeaneternity,IcanstandbackupandmakesurethatIdonot hittheicethatisrapidlynarrowingtobothsidesofme.AsIapproachthenextjump,Igetready toinitiatemydoublecorkscrew.NowasIlookovertheKlausbergskiresort,Ifeelasenseof nostalgialookingdownatwhereIskiedthroughoutmychildhood.Ijumpdownintothe off-piste,rippingthroughthepowderysnowandjumpingovertheexposedrock.Igothroughthe resortuntilIjumpoveranoff-limitssignbackintothebackcountrysnow.Iapproachan avalanchestopper,whichissupposedtobekeptfrombeingskiedon.Ijumpupontoitandgrind therailatthetopallthewayacross.Idothisafewmoretimes,andthenIcontinue.Skiing acrosstherooftopsofmyhometown,Ifeelproud.Ijumpdownintoatruckandstopinside. Aboutaminutelater,Ijumpoffaramp,outofthetruck,andbackontothesnow,heading straightintotheabandonedTaufersCastle.Ispeedthroughthecastleandjumpoutthebackgate. IskidowntheslopeleadingtotheendofmyrununtilIamontopofthefrozenlakeatthe bottomofthevalley Ithinkaboutwhatachallengingandexhilaratingtwentyminutesithas been.Ihavejustcompletedthecraziestsingleruninallofskiinghistory.

TheUltimateRun

Nico Jayanti, Class VI Slumber

In the morning I am mourning, For my lack of sleep

Last night was a foggy blur

And now as I wake up, I find it impossible to stir

As my need for rest is overwhelming.

Finally, I’m able to rise

With only 30 minutes to prepare

For the long school day ahead

As as I gaze upon my bed longingly I wonder, Why last night was such a blunder

And If tonight will be a repeat of the last.

During the day I get a hint of salvation

As I learn my only homework is reviewing citations

With this information I’m given a boost of energy

And sports goes by fairly easily

And when I arrive at home, I know what I must do.

Unlike other nights I get to the work fast, And this time that work doesn’t last

With a final click of a trackpad I’m free for the night

And now all I see is the dim light

Easing its way through my window

As I slowly drift to sleep.

William Oshrin, Class VII

IthadbeenninehourssinceIlasthadasipofwateroratraceoffood.Thehard laborIwasforcedintodoinghadenvelopedmeinsomesortofcoldsweat.Mycommanderhad originallyforcedmetopreparethebunkersincaseofasuddenGermanattack.See,wewere stationedrightinthemiddleofFreyming-Merlebach,asmallFrenchtownonlyacoupleofmiles fromtheGermanborder Afterthesuddenrealizationwemightnotmakeitthroughthecoldand foodlessdaysahead,Idecidedtodisobeymycommander’sordersandprepareeveryoneinmy squadforbattle.WeweredesperatetogetoutofFreyming-Merlebachandreturnhome.Three hourslater,inthedarkestpartofthenight,theGermansattacked.AbulletfromtheGerman MP40submachinegunzoomedrightovermyhelmetandstruckmypartnerandbestfriend, JamesSmith,intheshoulder Afterthissuddenevent,agrenadewasthrownintoourbunker I wokeupsometimethenextmorning.Astrongringinginmyearsgavemethemostexcruciating paininmyheadIhadeverfelt.Iwaspiledundertonsofashanddirt.Astheringingclearedout, IheardtonsofGermanvoices."StellenSiesicher,dasskeineAmerikanermehrübrigsind,"said oneofthem.FrommyyearsoflearningGermanbackinthestates,Icouldeasilytranslatethisto “MakesuretherearenoAmericansleft.”Thiscommandquicklythrewmeintoapanickedstate duetothefactthatIrealizedwehadlostthebattleandtheGermanshadtakenover Mymind quicklyracedthroughallmywaysandoptionstogetoutofthedangeroussituationIwasputin. Finally,Isettledontheideaofhavingaquickyetstealthyescape,asIknewtheGermanswould soonstartlookingforremainingsoldiers.Fightingthroughallmycoldness,nausea,hunger,and thirst,Irolledoverandstartedmoving.Ireachedtheendofthebunker,whereIfounda motorcycleleftbyoneoftheGermancommanders.Istarteditupandrodeallthewaytoacity calledMetz,whereIwassafe.

AttackOfMystery

Max Falenchuk, Class VI

Charlie Allen, Class VII

Napoleon Bonaparte, the Corsican General

NapoleonwasborninCorsica(underFrenchrule)in1769toarelativelypoorfamily He wenttomilitaryschoolinmainlandFrance,wherehewasbulliedforhisaccent.Napoleonhad aninterestinlearningaboutwargenerals.Heprimarilyexcelledinmathandgeography

Unfortunately,itwashardtobecomerecognizedwhenhewasagainstpeopleinroyalty,even thoughhehadmoretalent.Hegraduatedat16andwasgiventhetitleofsecondlieutenantofan “artilleryregiment.”Thisdidn’tsatisfytheambitiousNapoleon,whowantedtoclimbtheranks ofsociety,whichwereclosedoffbecausetheywerebasedonnobility.

LuckilyforNapoleon,theFrenchrevolutioncame,makingmoreequalityandgivinghim achanceforglory.Hedemolishedmanyrevolutionprotesters,givinghimsomuchpopularity thathewasgivenanarmy Suddenly,FrancedeclaredwaronothermonarchiesinEurope.

NapoleonbecamewellrenownedafterdestroyingtheAustrianarmyhefaced,forcingAustriato surrender HetrappedtheFrenchgovernmentandrewrotetheconstitutiontomakehimselfatits center.HetraveledthroughtheAlpsforasurpriseattackagainsttheAustrians,leadingtothem makingpeace.NapoleonestablishedhimaskingofFrance.Napoleonreliedonspeedtoattack enemiesbeforetheycouldgrouptogether.HebaitedtheRussiantsarandtheAustriankingintoa battlethatheeasilywon,knockingAustriaoutofthewar Russialaunchedanattackon Napoleonandwasquicklyannihilated.

Withmanyenemiesandland,whatwouldNapoleondonext?First,hemadeRussiahis ally.AustriadeclaredwaronFranceagainandgotbeatenbyNapoleonforthefourthtime.He invadedRussiawith650,000men.Russiansranawaywhileburningtheearth,slowingdown Napoleon,andturnedaroundjustbeforeMoscow.TheyabandonedMoscow,leavingitinFrench hands.Napoleonaskedforsurrenderbutgotnoreply.Itturnedtowinter,andheandhismen startedtofreeze.Anestimated500,000+mendidn’tmakeit.Europeanpowersstarted backstabbingtheFrenchemperor.Hegatheredanarmyandattackedthetraitors.Armiesran awayandflankedhim.Duringretreat,aprematureexplosionofabridgestranded30,000French soldiers.HelostParisandwasdeportedtoElba.HethentookashipbacktoFranceandtook controlofthethrone.Theothermonarchiesdeclaredwar specificallyonNapoleon.Hewasthen exiledtoSaintHelenatobewatchedandguardedonthesmallanddepressingislanduntilhemet hisfatein1821.

Alex Conrod, Class VI

If we could find the time

To appreciate those around us, In our darkest hours

There would always be hope,

The world is filled with many wonders, Some small and some large, Some heard and some experienced, Though none are perfect:

For every perfect thing in life

Comes at the cost of that who experiences it, Because with all joy comes sadness But with sadness comes rebuild

In pursuit of the beautiful moment, We strive to become more than ourselves, More than we can possibly dream of becoming And yet why does all our hardship never lead to happiness

And so dear child, I wish you to notice the world

For what it holds, and for the imperfections

That make up the world as we know it

But in pursuit of your beautiful moment, Never waver from your morals:

See what life has to bring you, For with every moment you experience Comes rebirth and the blossom of new beginnings

For the world sees you for who you truly are

Robbie Craigmyle, Class VII

Golden Hour

Harry Elworth, Class VIII

“Learning How to Achieve a GoalLearning How to Jump Into Zero Gravity”

THE BACKFLIP

Afterwatchingavideoofapersondoingabackflip,Ibecameintriguedabouttwo conceptsofthetrickintheair:HowdoIlearntodoabackflip?Whatarethestepstocompletea backflip?Iwantedtoanswerthefirstofmytwoquestionsaboutthebackflip.Ifirstsearchedfor videosonhowtodoabackflipandfoundmoreinformation,butsadlynotwhatIwaslooking for ItwasnotuntilIfoundavideowithdetailedexplanationssayingthatitcouldtakemonthsor yearstolearnthistrick.Iwasdumbfoundedathowlongthismighttake.Still,Iwasdetermined tolearnthebackflip,soIusedmybigbraintothinkabouthowtocompletethisgoalinthe shortestamountoftimepossible.Iwasthinking,Icouldtrainwithmycoachesatschool,who probablyknewhowtohelpmewiththislife-riskingtrick.OnewrongmoveandIwouldbein thehospitalorinjuredbadly,asmymotherwouldsay ThenexttimeIenteredthegymnastics roominourschool,IwenttothecoachestotellthemthatIwantedtolearnabackflip.They werehappytohelpme.Thisiswheremyjourneybegins.

Wefirststartbydoingbackrollsoversomematsandprogresstothematthatslopeson anangletogivemoretimeintheair Thatdaywasmoreofanintroductionday Mynext opportunitytopracticewouldbetwodayslater Iinternalizedtheirinstructionsandwatched morevideosofpeopledoingbackflips.ThenexttimeIhadpractice,mycoachesandIreviewed thedrillscompletedlastclassandmovedforwardtothenextstep–doingthebackflipbymyself ontheangledmat–whichIsurprisinglycompleted.Afterwewenttothefloor,mycoachspotted medoingabackflipandweprogressedfromthere.Afterpracticingacoupleofmoreweeks,I completedthechallengebydoingabackfliponthespringfloorbymyselfandlandingthetrick. Forreference,ittookacoupleofmonthsoflearningandperseverance.

Nowontomysecondquestion:Whatarethestepstocompleteabackflip?Isearchedfor somevideosandfoundonethatexplainedhowtocompleteabackflip.Step1:Makesureyou jumphighenoughsothatyouwon’thurtyourheadandneck(thisisimportantbecausewithout someheight,youcannotcompletethistrick).Youdon’tneedahighverticaljumpbutyoudo requireenoughpowertothrowyourbodyupintotheair Step2:Youneedtocompletemany tucksontheground,justrollingtoyourbacktogetoverthefearofgoingbackwardsand imaginingwhatitwouldbelikeintheair Step3:Aftercompletingsteps1&2,putthem togetherandtrythebackflipintheair,presumablyatrampolineonyourfirstattempts.Progress fromatrampolinetomats,andwhenfeelingcomfortableonthematsandconsistentlylanding them,furtherprogresstojustthefloorwhereyouapplyeverythinglearned.Step4:GOFORIT

ONTHEGROUND.DON’TTHINKABOUTANYTHING;JUSTDOIT!

Keshav Katkar, Class VI

Superbowl Sunday

The crowd roars as the ball is snapped, The game of football has now begun,

The players clash, their bodies wrapped, In battles fought beneath the blazing sun, The quarterback drops back to throw, His eyes scanning the field for a chance, A receiver streaks past his foe,

The ball thrown with a flick of the wrist, The stadium shakes with every hit, As players collide with a force, Their helmets clashing, the sound of it, Echoing loud like a raging horse.

The running back charges through the line, Dodging and weaving with agility, His muscles bulging, his eyes shine, As he breaks free with great ability

The clock ticks down, the tension high, As the game hangs in the balance, A field goal kick so high, soaring through the open sky, The defense charging with all their might, But the ball soars, already in flight, And boom that's the end of the Night.

James Ryckman, Class VII

The Time Of The Dinosaurs”

Ienteredthecave.Itwascold,reallycold.Thewallsdrippedwithwaterbecausethere wasarainstormbefore.Iwasfreezing.Ifoundeggsinanest,waiting.Thesmellwashorrific, anoverpoweringstench.Itwasveryacrid,burningmyeyessothattheywatered.Itwasonly untilafewhourslaterwhenIheardit.Athumpingsound.Thecavestartedtocollapse.I panicked,andjustwhenthingscouldn'tgetanyworse,theeggsofthedinosaurstartedhatching. Asthecrackingsoundoftheeggsopeningranginmyears,Icouldn'thelpthinkingwhatkindof dinosauritwouldbe.MynameisCoryJacobs,andIamanarcheologist,meaningdinosaur fossilsaresomethingthatIstudy.Iwantedtotakeitastepfurtherwhenmyclosefriendand workcolleague,DoctorBane,createdatimemachine.Thistimemachineallowedmetotravel backintimetoseerealdinosaurs,soIdid.Anyways,astheeggsopened,Ifoundthreebaby tyrannosaurusrexwaddlingoutoftheeggs.Oneoftheirparentsgotbackandroaredinmyears. Iboltedoutofthecave,butwhenIgottotheend,itwasblocked.Icouldsmellthet-rexfrom whereIwas,thesmellkeptgettingcloser Igotluckythough,forIfoundanexit,butitwas extremelyclaustrophobicandwasatunnelthatwentdownusingwater.Thetyrannosaurusrex hadgottentome,soIjustwentdown.Thewaterwasn'tcleansedsothesaltburnedmyeyes. Besidesthat,everythingwasfine,untilithappened.Thedrop,itwassodreadfulthatIbelieve thedropitselfwasscarierthanthedinosaurIwasrunningawayfrom.Ifinallygotdownbutwas soshakenupbythatdropthatIwaitedfortwominutesasIcaughtmybreath.Isaidtomyself, “Ihavetogetbacktothetimemachine.”Istartedoff,trekkingthroughcountlessmoundsof stickymudanddirt.Theinsectsweremuchbiggerbackthen,Ithought.Iencounteredasnake thatwasextremelyhuge,calledtheTitanoboa.TheoneIencounteredwasjustababy,butback then,Titanoboacouldbeuptofiftyfeetlong.IkeptthinkingaboutthisasIwent,untilIrealized Ihadfinallymadeittothetimemachine.Themachinewasonlytwentyfeetaway.Istarted running,butthenIencounteredsomethingthatchilledmetothebone.Apackofvelociraptors chargingatme.IknewIcouldn'toutrunthem,butIfoolishlytriedto.Imanagedtofindahiding spot,buttheyhaddestroyedthetimemachine,whichmeantIwastrappedinthistimeforever

“

Zach Patel, Class VI

Acceptance

Emerging from the deep dark

The barren wastelands

The lifeless town

Seeping into the light

Slowing the burning

Dimming the light

The joy and excitement once there

Disappearing, escaping to another land

The parasite persists

Slowly growing

Consuming the bright

Bringing the dark

A beat starts to grow

Accumulating speed

Faster, faster faster

The light is gone

The night is here

The fear, the pain, the beat

Blocking out all senses

Taking my final breath

Allowing darkness to take over

But, it remains where it is

As if acceptance repels it

Suddenly retreating back to its lifeless town

Where it belongs

Charlie McLellan, Class VII

TheDayintheDeli

ItwasacoldJanuarydayinruralNewJersey,andJohnwaswalkingbackfromschool. Hewasthinkingaboutallofthehistory,English,science,andmathhomeworkhewasaboutto dowhenhegothome.Hewascoldandwalkedintothelocalgeneralstore.Havingbeenthere often,heknewtheshopkeeper,Adam,well.Hehadtwokidsandlivedintheupstairsofthe building.Itwasacozyandfamilyfriendlyshop.Notmuchhappenedthere,butthisonedaywas different.AshewalkedtothebacktogethisfavoritebagofDoritosandaJoe’sLemonade,he noticedhewastheonlycustomerinthestoreandcouldtellsomethingwasoff.

Whileinthebackbythefridges,heheardsomeonewalkinandyell,“Handoverthe money!Ihaveagun!”Johninstinctivelyhidbehindtheshelvesofbread,wheretherewasan openingforhimtolookthrough.Hesawamanwearingaskimask,gloves,aparkaandshorts. Johnnoticedhehadatattooofasurfboardonhisleftcalf.Johnheardthesoundofagunshotand sawsomeonequicklyopenthecashregister,stealthemoney,andleaveinaredG.M.C.with Californiaplates.

Oncethecarhadleft,Johnrantothecashregisterandsawtwothings:allthemoneyhad beenstolen,andAdamwasincriticalcondition.Hegrabbedthelandlineadjacenttothecash registerandquicklydialed911.Heinformedthemofthesituationandinminutestheywere there.Theycheckedforsecuritycamerasbutfoundnone,andthendiscoveredthattheironly witnesswasJohn,an11-year-oldboywithshaggyhairandnophonetocontacthismother.

Afewdayspassed,andJohn’smothergotacallfromthepolice.Theywereaskingfor Johnbecausetheyhadrealizedthathewastheonlychancetheyhadoffindingthecriminal.John wenttothepolicestationandwasquestionedbythem.Hetoldthemeverythingheknew

Afterafewweekswithstillnoresult,JohncheckedonAdaminthehospitalandsawthat hewasdoingbetter Whileonhiswaybackhomewithhismom,Johnsawamansteppingoutof aredG.M.C.Helookedanawfullotliketheonewhowasinthatstorethatoneday,soheasked hismomtocallthepoliceandhavethemmeetthemhereat22MainStreet.Theyarrivedshortly afterhismomcalledandcaughtthemanwiththesurfboardtattoo.

Harley Frelinghuysen, Class VI

Magic: The Gathering

Mountains are red

Islands are blue

If you play me in magic

I will destroy you

You played your tarmogoyf

Mana cost two

Prismatic ending

Your game plan, unglued

The game’s going on

Without further ado

Glistener elf

Don’t let it get through

Twas your only tarmo

So in its lieu

You played your death’s shadow

To make me lose too

But luckily for me

You don’t have a clue

What the card says

Big hullabaloo

For your life points

It loses value

It is a zero zero

Oh no boohoo

Groundswell, scale up

Ten poison, you lose

Now we shuffle our decks

To start another game anew

Alex Harwich, Class VII

In2017,onacoldwinterdayofskiinginBigSky,afterskischool,mylifechanged.That morning,Iwaseatingbreakfastandgettingdressedforskischool.Atthattime,Iwassixyears old.Then,at9:30,Ijoinedmygroupclass,andwetookachairliftuptooneofthesmaller mountainsfortheday Weworkedonturning,stopping,andsimilarbasicskillsinskiing.Aftera fewhours,westoppedatthemountaincafe/restaurantforsomelunch.Afterdevouringaburger, somefries,andslurpingdownaCoke,wehittheslopesonceagain,nowworkingonsome harderterrain.Wealsowentintosomeglades,dodgingtrees,withouradrenalinepumping.That day,skischoolwasawesome.Imadenewfriendsbutalsoimprovedandhadfunskiing.After mydadpickedmeupataround3p.m.,wewantedtogetafewmorerunsinbecausethe mountainclosedat4p.m.WegotonthesameskiliftthatIgotoninthemorning.Icouldn’twait becauseIreallyenjoyedthevarietyoftrailsonthatpartoftheBigSkySkiMountain.Iwanted toshowmydadwhatIlearnedthatdayandsomenewskillsthathelpedstaymorebalanced.The onlyproblemwas,Iwasexhausted,andthemountainwasmuchcolderandabitmoreicier Afterwegotoffthelift,mydadandIgotreadyandwestartedtoheaddowntheslope.Atthis time,therewerestillmanyskiers.Towardthemiddleofthetrail,mydadwantedtogetapicture ofmeskiing,soheskieddownfurther,andwhenitwastime,toldmetocomedown.Icould barelyseehimbecausehehadtakenacornerdownthetrail.Ishiftedmyweighttothefrontof myskisforsomemomentumandstarteddowntheshorthill.WhenIturnedaroundthecorner,I sawsomethingthatscaredme.Istillsawmydad,buthewasrightnexttoametalfence!For somereason,themountainhadputametalfenceinthemiddleofaskirunwithasmallopening toskithroughforsomereason–soinconsiderateofanybeginnerskierwhoisstillworkingon howtostop!Well,Ididn’twanttocrashintothefencebecauseIwasrapidlynearingmydad,so Iveeredtomyleftandcrashedintoatree.Theweirdthingwas,Ididn’tfeelanypainatthat momentandIwasjustsortoflyingagainstthetreeandcrying.Iwasincrediblyluckybecause

An Interesting Day of Skiing

oneofthelowtreebranchescouldhaveimpaledme.Mydadquicklymadehiswayupthehill andcalledskipatrol.Thenextthingthathappenedwassortofablur Skipatrolarrivedina snowmobilepullingalongsledandloadedmeintoit.Gettingpulledonasledwasactuallysort offunbutwheneveritwenttoofastIwasinpain.Iwenttothehospitalinanambulanceand returnedhomethenextdayinacast.Icouldn’tgotoschoolforthreemonths,whichwasa bummerbecauseIhadmissedmyfriends,butwhenIreturnedtoschool,Iwasinawheelchair, whichwasfuntodrive.Afteranothertwomonths,Igotoutofmycastandwheelchairand startedwalking,withoutacast.

Charles Jia, Class VI Luca Walter, Class VIII

The Plod

The early sun shines over the white caps on the Rhode island coast

As I saw a bodiless figure slowly

Creep up to my door

I knew it was coming;

It sauntered

Slow, Then fast

And faster

The plod

Scared the birds

Scared the very grass on the fields

It came without fright

With kin around

I knew;

I crawled the hall

Walked down the street

To live alone

At peace with the world

Without fear of what

Was at the door

Alec DeFusco, Class VII

TheLongCave

Wordsarelikealongcave,whenyoutrytogoamorecruelwaywithyourwordsyouget rejectedbythecavewalls,butifyoufindamorekindwaywiththemyoucankeepongoinginto thelongcave.

Youkeepongoingonwithyourlifeuntilyou'rereallydeepintothecaveandsaysomething meantoanotherperson,nowyoucan'tgoback,you'realreadytoofarintothelongcave.

Thewallsheardyousaythatmeanthingandnowaresaying”Goback!”,butyou’retoofarinto thelongcave.

Nowthewordsarebeingtoldtoeveryone,thecavesarenowbouncingthewordsbackandforth untileveryoneknowswhatyoudid,nowyoutrytogetoutofthecave,you'rerunningasfastas youcan.

Finallyyouseelight,yougetoutoftheangrycave,buteveryonealreadyknows,youcan’tgo backnow.

Gardner Perkin, Class VI Jake Paduano, Class VI

MynameisRoyalMcDarryl,andIamarepresentativeofthePineappleRepublicin 2073.ThePineappleRepublic,basedinLosAngeles,isamovementforlesspineapplewastein thePacificOcean.Pineapplewastestartedappearingintheoceanabout15yearsagowhen WholeFoodsmadeadealthatifyoubought 10pineapples,youwouldget2forfree. Surprisingly,manypeopletookupthisdeal;manyotherstoressawanopportunityandstarted offeringcheappineappledeals,too.Bynow,everyonehadtoomanypineapplesandstarted throwingthemawaybythedozen.SincethewastemanagementinLosAngeleshasgone downhillinthepastfewyears,toomanypineappleshavebeenendingupintheocean.Thisisa bigproblembecausemanynativefishliketunacandieiftheyconsumetoomuchpineapple. Alsomanypineappleshavebeenappearingontheshoreanddrivingawaytouristswhowould usuallylovetoswimintheocean;ithasintotalbroughtdowntouristrates73%,crashedLos Angeles’seconomy,andisturningmanypeopletoliveonthestreets–nottomentionthatallof LosAngelesisstartingtosmelllikepineapples.Ifstoresdon’tstopsellingandpeopledon’tstop buyingpineapples,wecouldhaveaworldwidecrisisonourhands.Yousee,ifthereistoomuch pineappleintheoceanitwillkilloffthefish,whichwillgivefishersnothingtocatch,restaurants nothingtosell,andpeoplenothingtobuy.Asyoucansee,thiscouldbeamajorproblem.Our firstwayofsolvingthisisupgradingthewastemanagementinLosAngelessothatthe pineapplesneverendupintheocean.Oursecondoptionisneverbuyingthesepineapplesinthe firstplace.Ifyouarereadingthis,nexttimeyougoouttobuytwelveorsopineapples,consider, “AmIreallygoingtoneedthese”and“Wherewillmyleftoversgo?” Ifyoufallintothe categoryof99%ofpeoplewhodon’tneedtwelvepineapples,don’tbuytheminthefirstplace. Finally,Iwouldliketoaskthesestoreswhoaresellingthesedeals,“Isthisreallynecessary?” and“Thinkaboutwhereallthiswasteisgoing?”IhavesaidwhatIhavewantedtosay,andif youwouldliketo,weatPineappleRepubliccanalwaysuseyoursupport.

Thanks,

RoyalMcDarryl Will Howard, Class VI

A Message From the

Pineapple Republic

Iam300yearsoldandwasbornandraisedintheCanadianprovinceofOntario.Ilive withmyfamilyandfriendsinalushevergreenforest.Mybodyisgrayandmyhairisa multicoloredshadeofgreenwhichreflectstheglisteningsun. Myarmsaremodestlystoutand mostlyhairless.Duringcertaintimesoftheyear,myarmsgrowwithflowersthatmakemelook extraordinarilybeautiful. Eachday,Iamsurroundedbychirpingbirds,agiledeer,andbearswith strengthbeyondmanyoftheirfellowcreaturesintheforest.

Oneday,agroupofpeoplecametomyforesthomeandwithasmalllightweight chainsaw,sodeceivinglypowerfulandhorriblynoisy,cutdownoneofmydearestfriends.The workersalsocamewithlotsofheavymachines.Weallsharedfeelingsoffearandworryabout theforest.Everyweekthereafter,someoneelsegotcutdownandtakenaway.Onerainy,stormy daytheteamofmenarrivedasthesunjuststartedtoappearintheskyandtookmyyounger brother,leavingmyfamilyandIheartbrokenwithourloss.Icouldnottakeitanymore.Finally, thedaycamewhenitwasmyturntobetakenaway Therazor-likebladesofthechainsawdrilled throughmybody,andIwasloadedontoaflatbedtruck.Iwasscaredofwhatwasgoingto happentome,andIdidn'tknowwherewewereheaded.Iarrivedatalargefactory,whereIsaw manytreessimilartomyself. Mylegsandarmswerecutoff,andmybodywastrimmeddown. ThenIwaspowerwashed,myholeswerefilled,andIwassandeddownuntilmyskinwassilky smooth.Lastly,Iwassprayedadifferentcolorandwasgiventwostrong,thick,sculptedlegs.I likedmyself. Iwaslighterandfeltmorefree.Eventually,Iwasbroughttodryinadryingroom. Aweeklater,itwasmyturntoleave,andIwasloadedintoamovingtruck.Wetraveledfor sixteenhoursbeforearrivingataplacesurroundedbytallbuildingsandcrowdsofpeople. Ihad neverbeenanywherelikethisbefore.Atoneofthelargebuildings,Iwascarefullyunloaded fromthetruckandgentlybroughtinsidetoahugemovingmachine.Withaclickofabutton,we wererisinguptotheskies.ThenIwasplacedinacozyroomsurroundedbynewfriends,from manydifferentforests,untilthedaycameformetobesoldtoafamilywithtwochildrenandthe mostfriendlydog.

Everyday,atsettimes,thefamilygatheredaroundmeandplacedfoodanddrinksontop ofme. Iwasusedasaworkstationsupportingcomputers,laptopsandiPadsthroughouttheday. Othertimes,theysat aroundmeandjusttalkedandtalkedandtalked. Therewasamom,dad, andtwochildren.Theyalsohadalittledogwholaidunderneathme,alldaylong,andkeptme company AlthoughImissedmyfamilyintheforest,thisnewlifewasexciting,andthepeople whosehomeIsharedmademehappyinmanydifferentways.Imarveledatmygoodfortuneof beinginvitedintotheirhome,sharingtheirspace,andbeingtreatedkindlyandalsowellcared for.

TheLifeofaWhiteOakTree

Tyler Mayer, Class VI

“A lost battle”

World collapsed into doom

The survivors hoping to see the next day

Vegetation refusing to bloom

The warm months always on delay

Every being stripped of their pride

Environments once beautiful now plagued with heat

Whenever they think their minds are filled with genocide

Every mind filled with anxiety of defeat

Past events sending everyone to their tomb

The sky always gray

Fields unable to produce even a single legume

Survivors still struggle to find their way

All remaining cattle stripped of their hyde

Surviving in this time is no easy feat

Major powers used their privilege and became allied

Supplies running low forcing family and companions to compete

All hope fades while a hero urns to escape his mothers womb

The boy will arise soon turning predator to prey

Predator and prey waiting to collide

Alone stand his followers hoping that history does not repeat.

Jack Hiscoe, Class IX

“Through the Dangerous Skies”

MynameisMatthewFergurson,andIamaCanadianfighterpilotbasedinOttawa.Ifly

NATOBritishTyphoonEurofighters.Iam25yearsoldandcompletedmyflighttrainingone yearago.IaminCanada’stop50pilotsintheNavycategory,andIamonlyimproving.Ihadno engagementindogfightinguntilmysituationearlierthismonth.

AsIstartedmydailyroutineonJuly25,2024,Iwastalkingtomyfellowpilots,andwe heardanirritatingringingnoisethatsoundedclosetous.Weblewitoff,believingthatitwasa testatthenearbynavaltrainingcamp.Surprisingly,thealarmssoundedoff,anddozensof Russian5thgenerationSukhoiSu-57’shurtledpastthebase.Werealizedthatthiswasnotadrill, andweallrushedtoourfighters.Wescrambledandrushedthroughourflightsafetyprotocols andtaxiedtotherunwayasfastaspossible.Our56Typhoonfighterswerenomatchfortheir nearly100fighters.AsIlookedleftandrightthroughmyvisors,Isawexplosionsandnotonour side.Weweretrueunderdogsinthisbattle.Withlesseninghope,Ipersevered,shootingdown threeenemyfighters.Ourfleetwashurt,losingnearlyonethirdofourfleetastheywereshot down,soweretreatedtotheMontrealbase,hopingtheRussianjetswouldnotpursueus.We barelymadeittothebaseandwarned theotherpilotsthereofwhathadhappened.Weall swiftlybutcarefullyrefueled,completedoursafetyprotocols,andwerewaitingonthetarmacfor thejetstoswoopby.Wesawthemonourradarsandimmediatelydepartedonebyoneuntil everybodywasairborne.Wenowhadabout70fighterscomparedtotheir50.Wecircledbehind them,gettingoutoftheirradarspace,andambushedthefighters,whichwewatchedcrumbleand detonate.Ourambushwassuccessfulandagainstalloddssurvivedtheirsurpriseattack.

Allofthesurvivingpilotsreceivedmedalsforoureffortsagainsttheambush.Afterthis event,Iwithdrewfromthenavywantingtopursueanotherjob.

Dax Keller, Class VI