The Hurricane

Inductions | 2

What’s on your mind? | 3

Selective society

Stretch out and relax

Inductee Wade Johnson signs the National Honor Society register

Bring Change 2 Mind Club executes the first “Brain Break” of the year

The Hurricane CAPE FEAR ACADEMY

Wilmington, North Carolina

December 8, 2020

Volume 16, Issue 2

No easy answers

Rising numbers of positive COVID-19 cases show that the end is not in sight

by J.R. Johnston

Hitting the high note. Charlie Murtha sings “What Would I Do” from the Broadway show Falsettos, which was performed during the closing scene in one of three shows in The Light Before We Land. “I am so thankful that CFA was able to put on a fall production. Without the hard work from our directors, none of it would have been possible,” Murtha said. Photo: Jan Reid

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike around the country, students and faculty grapple with the best plan of action.

Many colleges, such as UNC Chapel-Hill and NC State, have sent students home for the remainder of the year, and won’t resume classes until January 2021.

With college students returning to their hometowns and continuing to socially distance, many wondered how their lives would be affected, and if these students would bring the dangers of COVID home.

“My parents and I are a bit nervous about my brother coming back from UGA, not knowing if he has COVID. Regardless of what happens, I will do my part to bring CFA back to a somewhat normal return,” Ben Hearne said.

Protective measures used in the performances of The Light Before We Land, CFA’s first socially-distanced theatre production, helped to

Your vote, your voice

keep everyone safe. Actors wore face shields, while the audience wore masks and sat in socially-distanced rows, resulting in no new cases of COVID-19 in the CFA community.

Those measures were key to the success of the production. “Utilizing the outdoor campus and facilities to integrate the surroundings into the production itself kept the show safe while still maintaining its authenticity,” Technical Director Ben Fancy said.

Holiday travel and family gatherings were worrisome topics. Some planned to travel as usual, while others made modifications.

“My family and I went to Bald Head Island for some of Thanksgiving week. It was a lot of fun, but we made sure to stay socially distant and safe,” Katie Meine said.

Others planned to stay at home or within a small bubble of family and friends.

“My brothers and my parents and I just plan on staying home. I love being home for the holidays,” Chase Stephens said.

Teachers and administrators shared concerns for the aftermath of the holiday season.

“Remembering to stay safe and socially distant is key to school staying in-person. As cases rise, we can’t lose our way in practicing everything that has gotten us to this point,” Head of School Ed Ellison said.

When students returned from the Thanksgiving break, absenteeism rose as more than 15 students reported feeling ill or being exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.

As Christmas break approached, quelling the spread of COVID-19 was imperative, not only to be able to return to in-person learning in January, but so the world will return to normalcy.

Exam schedule in a nutshell

Students reflect on election opportunities

MONDAY 12/14

8:15 am - 3:20 pm A, B, C, D, E, F, G (Review sessions in class)

TUESDAY 12/15

8:00 am - 4:00 pm A, C, E, G (English, Social Studies, World Language Exams)

WEDNESDAY 12/16

8:00 am - 2:00 pm B, D, F (English, Social Studies, World Language Exams)

THURSDAY 12/17

8:00 am - 4:00 pm A, C, E, G (Arts, Computer Science, Math, Science Exams)

FRIDAY 12/18

8:00 am - 4:00 pm B, D, F (Arts, Computer Science, Math, Science Exams)

by Anders Ljung

The 2020 Presidential Election was one of the most anticipated events of the year, with the largest voter count of all United States elections, and demonstrated how passionate the citizens of the United States are about choosing their upcoming President and other representatives.

With COVID-19 being an influence, many Americans chose to use mail-in ballots or drop them off personally, rather than risk exposure by going to their traditional polling places.

“There were so many mailin ballots in key battleground states like Georgia and

Pennsylvania. I initially thought Trump would win, but when the mail-in ballots were being collected and counted, I realized how many Democrats had chosen the mail-in process,” Andrew Basinger said.

This election also gave some students in the Upper School the opportunity to vote for the first time.

“I was initially not that excited about voting. I knew it was something I had to do, but I hadn’t done much research about which candidate I preferred. However, when the election date got closer I got more passionate about

the process. I understood the impact it has on my future, and I went into the voting process with clear intentions,” Bee Karanik said.

What’s inside

Academics.................................2 Activities.................................3

Arts and Entertainment.............4 Lifestyles.................................5

First timer. Whit Stephenson takes a picture with his mother, Kim Stephenson , after they both voted at their local voting center. “I was really excited to vote for the first time. I was prepared and had done the research on who I was going to vote for, and I felt proud of myself after voting,” Whit Stephenson said. Photo: Whit Stephenson

On Tuesday-Thursday, classes that don’t have an exam will meet as scheduled. Make-up exams may be taken during study halls or on Wednesday and Friday from 2:004:30. If a student has three exams on the same day, they may move the 10:00 am exam.

Opinions...................................6 Senior Feature...........................7 Senior Stats...............................7 Sports...................................8

2

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

ACADEMICS

Practice makes perfect

by Liza Collie

Deciphering the details. Adlai Wood, Merrit O’Brien, Eve Berg, and Devon Cavanaugh analyze the dissolved oxygen reading for their Water Quality Index (WQI) test of the Whiskey Creek watershed on November 2. Photo: Cameron Arné

Standardized testing was anything but normal in the COVID age. The practice SAT, a yearly tradition, was altered since students were separated into groups for social- distancing purposes.

This year, administrators decided to offer juniors the opportunity to participate in the practice ACT. “It was helpful to practice something that is such an important part [of preparation] for college and my future,” junior Cole Donner said.

In the future, counselors Justine Worthington and Leigh Ann Hodges hope that sophomores will be included in the practice ACT; this year participation was limited due

to COVID. “Although the SAT is the most common college entrance exam, the ACT is widely accepted at all colleges. We believe that students should try to figure out which test is best for them; they will only know if they have the chance to practice,” Worthington said.

What’s in our water?

NHS inducts new members Environmental science students head

Focus on the future. Upper School students take the PSAT at the church on October 24. Photo: Jan Reid

by Cameron Arné

to Trails End Park to uncover the truth

by Alena Gianoplus

Many New Hanover County residents use its creeks for boating, swimming, fishing, and many other activities, but few know about minerals and pollutants contained in those waters. AP Environmental Science students traveled to Trails End Park on November 2 to test the waters of Whiskey Creek for nitrogen, phosphorus, fecal bacteria, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, and more.

“The water testing was very informative and helped me get a real-life application of everything we were learning

in APES for our unit on water; before the testing, I was unaware that our local watersheds contain fecal coliform,” Liam Cannon said.

Some results were quite shocking. “I was surprised that the water quality was as low as it was. I know Wilmington’s water has a lot of issues, but I figured with the lack of giant storms lately, it would be better than what we discovered,” Mason Bouchard said.

“The dissolved oxygen and pH tests really surprised me because some of them didn’t even end up working,

which shows how much work scientists have to do when they conduct thousands of tests to get accurate results,” Charlie Murtha said.

After testing, students wrote a formal lab report in which they discussed the importance of estuaries and watersheds, analyzed results, and drew conclusions about the health of Whiskey Creek.

“They may not enjoy writing the lab report as much as going on a field trip for testing, but it will prepare students for future assignments in college,” instructor Keni Rienks said.

Getting ahead

Juniors prep for college with mandatory flex classes

by Julia Johnston

College Planning Class, otherwise referred to as CPC, is broken up into four groups per graduating class. Each group meets weekly for 40 minutes.

College counselors Leigh Ann Hodges and Justine Worthington start with the juniors, meeting with them from November to February.

“Once Mrs. Worthington and I feel the current juniors are well-prepared for the coming months, we will begin to work with sophomores and freshmen,” Hodges said.

With the need for social distancing, classes moved into

the iCenter.

Worthington and Hodges highlight aspects of the college application process that are applicable to each graduating class. These classes prepare students to set up their SCOIR accounts, develop a profile of interests, search for colleges, and plan tbeir essays.

“The process does not happen overnight, so these courses equip the student with the resources and information beginning in ninth grade,” Hodges said.

Senior Davon Peebles said he found the process of applying to college much

First APs for sophomores “It has been a huge adjustment from regular classes; you have to put in a lot more work, additional time, and effort in order to succeed.”

Aurelia Colvin, AP World History

easier because of the planning classes. “Public schools don’t really offer this kind of preparation,” he said.

National Honor Society inductions took place on December 1 and recognized students for their academic work. The organization selects only certain juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who have been reviewed for their overall service, leadership, character, and academics.

In the past the inductions have been formal ceremonies in the Brown Theatre of the Fine Arts Center.

“We held the induction ceremony in the Cameron Commons, and [limited it] to where only certain students could attend. We made sure to practice social distancing,” college counselor Justine Worthington said.

The ceremony was recorded and shared with parents via

Photo: Julia Johnston

by Ali Blackwell

“You definitely have more stimulus-based work in AP classes, and they are weighted heavier in your GPA which means they [are] more challenging. They can be fun at times but are mostly serious.”

Daley Carney, AP World History, AP Seminar

Taking on responsibility. Amir Shaheen lights a symbolic candle as a part of the National Honor Society induction ceremony on December 1.

Inductees included Kieran Barclay, Corbin Johnson, Wade Johnson, Owen Johnson, KJ Kernan, Kyle King, Anna Knorr, Tanner Macpherson, and Merrit O’Brien. Photo: Cameron Arne

New faces

Upper School welcomes new faculty

by Sara Paige Harvey

Beckie Arné

It’s never too early. Cameron Arné works on his SCOIR applications during a college planning class. “Becoming familiar with the process now will come in handy next year,” he said.

the school’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ CapeFearAcademy/live.

AP Economics teacher Beckie Arné earned her master’s degree in Marketing Education from NC State University. Before joining the upper school faculty, she substituted and served as a teacher’s assistant, a position she still holds. Her hobbies include exercising, going to the beach, sewing, and scrap-booking. Her goal for her students is to learn to maximize their limited resources. Her “superpower” is being able to empathize with others.

Spanish teacher Maria Marquez has been teaching Spanish and French for 30 years both in the United States and abroad. Her hobbies outside of school include baking, dancing and singing. Her class goals are for her students to fall in love with the language and the culture. Her “superpower” is the ability to learn languages with ease.

Maria Marquez

Ninth grade biology teacher Gabriella de Souza has taught biodiversity at UNC Wilmington for two years.

She actually used to work at CFA in 2018 as an after-school teacher. Her hobbies outside of school include taking photos and playing video games along with serving on the New Hanover County Arboretum’s advisory board. Her class goal is to teach her students Gabriella de Souza to find something to love in the world of biology. Her “superpower” is being able to care for plants.

Jerry Head

Physics teacher Jerry Head trained nuclear power plant operators and technicians on a wide variety of topics.

He also taught engineering at many universities. He retired in 2018 and has been a substitute teacher for CFA. His hobbies include improvement projects, woodworking and helping out with CFA’s Robotics team. His class goal is to make science fun and interesting. His “superpower” is making complicated topics understandable to anyone.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

3

ACTIVITIES

Upper schoolers unwind with third annual

Brain break

by Betsy Porter

At times, high school can become overwhelming. As calendars filled up with due dates before Thanksgiving break, students had to prioritize not only their grades but their mental health. The campus chapter of “Bring Change 2 Mind” came up with a way to alleviate stress: a Brain Break.

For the past three years, BC2M leaders have planned a wellness session during community time. On November 17, students attended one of four wellness sessions: arts and crafts with Aurelia Colvin, dance with Myia Robinson, meditation with Makena Scanlon, and yoga with Anne Frances Frazier.

“All the people who signed up for dance were fully participating and enthusiastic

about the dances I was teaching them. It surprised me when they didn’t want to stop dancing even when the session was ending,” Robinson said.

Club leaders Anna Itzkowitz, Mia Weckel and Kieran Barclay set up a snack table and a station where students could write a note of appreciation and support to someone. Students enjoyed the granola bars, fruit snacks, goldfish, and Play-Doh provided by the organizers.

Like the national organization, BC2M hopes to erase the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging conversation about it.

“I wanted to help lead this club because it’s so crucial to have a place to feel safe and have supportive classmates around you,” Itzkowitz said.

US students gather to

Carve out some fun

by Alden Forkin

During the week leading up to Halloween, season festivities prevailed as students participated in traditions and activities, including a new philanthropic tradition of a pumpkin-carving contest.

“Despite the Fall Festival being canceled this year, I’m grateful there were other avenues and new traditions like pumpkin carving to keep the Halloween spirit,” Cameron Tait said.

During flex, the faculty and SGA put on a charity pumpkincarving contest in the Quad.

“I usually just carve pumpkins with my family.

Being able to carve with my friends for a charitable cause was a fun experience I hope to continue doing next year,” Aurelia Colvin said.

The pumpkins were later displayed in the Commons.

Each pumpkin had a jar where change and bills could be added to vote for the best pumpkin. Adding change

How’s my form? Vytas Nausedas, Chatham Lambiotte, and Evan Marinov try a tree pose at Anne Frances Frazier’s yoga session. “Doing yoga gave me a chance to relax my muscles and have a good time,” Lambiotte said. Photo: William Dahl Between the lines. Jenny Carrera, Ellie Burnette, and Aurelia Colvin use markers and crayons on their coloring pages. “I led the arts and crafts session because that’s what I do to relieve stress and I wanted to help others do the same,” Colvin said.

Photo: J.R. Johnston

Pop, lock, and TikTok. Liza Murtagh, Davon Peebles, and Noel Smith follow along to Myia Robinson’s dance tutorial. “I liked that it was a TikTok dance because I don’t really know a lot of TikTok dances,” Smith said. Photo: Alex Johnson

Stuffed with gratitude Beta Club organizes food drive

by Makenzie Mills

Give ‘em pumpkin to talk about. Will Johnson and Jason Huang work together in the pumpkin carving contest. Students gathered in the Quad during flex on October 29. Photo: Makenzie Mills

counted as positive points in favor of the pumpkin, whereas bills counted as negative points against the pumpkin.

All proceeds went to support the Food Bank’s Thanksgiving Meal program.

“My friends and I carved a classic jack o’lantern for the contest. It was nice to relax, enjoy ourselves, and not worry about school work during the contest,” Cooper Herrett said.

Sydney Cortina, Salem Morrow, Sophie Schroeder, and Riley Lallathin carved the first-place pumpkin. The contest raised over $150 for the Food Bank.

“Winning and also raising so much money was such a great feeling. I was able to use my creative skills to positively impact the community by helping raise money,” Morrow said.

Sharing is caring. To assist those in need, Beta Club leaders organized a Pilgrim’s Promise food drive in partnership with the Sister Isaac Center at St. Mary’s Church. Through November 20, students donated Thanksgiving staples such as canned vegetables, bread rolls, and potatoes.

“I donated aluminum foil because it is important to make sure people can cook their meals,” Alexandra Dugan said.

To motivate students to donate the non-perishable items, Beta Club members encouraged some friendly competition by creating a bin for each House in the Cameron Commons.

The House with the most donations earned House Cup points. House of Pi won by bringing in a total of 115 items.

At the end of the collection,

Beta Club sorted the goods to prepare them for delivery and distribution to families in need.

“It is cool that the whole Upper School is helping families in need to have a Thanksgiving meal. As a Beta Club leader, I think it is important that we help our community during the holiday season because people deserve to be able to connect with family especially during this uncertain time,” Audrey Dahl said.

Place in order. Cameron Arné organizes food donations into meals for families in need. “During the holidays, it is important to give back to our community,” he said. Photo: Makenzie Mills

Don’t fear to cheer

If we could vote

by Kathryn Emmart

The week prior to the 2020 Presidential Election, students cast their own vote in a mock election. The results are as follows:

by Tyler Beacham

Spirit club introduces Jersey Day With no pep rallies, assemblies, or fan attendance at games, members of the FEAR Club decided to have a Jersey Day on November 13 to raise school spirit. Since COVID-19 protocol prevented fans from attending basketball games, members thought wearing jerseys would be a good way to support and recognize the basketball players.

“It’s a really popular theme, and many people have jerseys, so it’s easy for

everyone to participate,” club president Alex Johnson said.

Students wore jerseys that celebrated different players, teams, and sports.

“It gave everyone a way to still be part of the games and have fun,” SGA officer Liza Murtagh said.

Avery Bishop went one step further to support basketball player Vytas Nausedas, who lives with her family as an exchange student. “I wore [his] jersey to show my support for the basketball team,” she said.

4.9%

0.82%

Biden/Harris Trump/Pence

42.51% Get your head in the game.

Avery Bishop and Lilly Scoutelas wear their CFA and Cowboys jerseys in Ms. Liz Mendonca’s room on November 13. Jersey Day encouraged team spirit when students couldn’t attend the basketball games. Photo: Kathryn Emmart

51.77%

Jorgenson/ Cohen Hawkins/ Walker

4

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Let’s take it outside

by Davon Peebles and Cameron Toler

Improvisation was the philosophy of the drama department as they grappled with COVID protocols. On November 6-7, the theatre department presented their first outdoor production, The Light Before We Land, comprised of four shows performed around campus.

Cooper Herrett performed a monologue from a play titled Two Rooms. “This production was very different from anything I have done. Weather was the hardest adjustment but it was an awesome and eye-opening experience,” he said.

Performing outside was still a step up from last year’s

spring musical The Drowsy Chaperone which was done over Zoom call.

On the cold, outdoor stage, seniors Delilah Mills and Sasha An performed an excerpt from Detroit. “It was a wonderful redemption since we were cut short of performing live last spring,” Mills said.

Drama finds a way around COVID-19 obstacles COVID-19 forced changes to the winter play as well.

The show was switched, mid-season, from Noises Off, a very physical comedy, to Clue: On Stage, which requires less contact between actors. On January 15-17, the company and directors plan a virtual performance for audiences at home.

“A lot of thought went into the technical meetings concerning basic protocol and technical instructions,” Director Jennifer AveryRobison said. “The cast has been following basic [guidelines] and is determined to put on a show for the experience and not the applause.”

The show will go on. Lilly Chiavetta, Davis Kranchalk, and Nadya Kotlyarevska perform a scene from The Rainmaker while looking at a curtain of rain in front of the stage. •The cast of company 3 (EnterRainment) delivers an opening piece about the impact of COVID-19 on the arts. •William Dahl sings “The Thrill of First Love” from the musical Falsettos as the character Whizzer.• Alex Johnson belts out “I’m Breaking Down” as Charlie Murtha and Anne Frances Frazier dance in the background. •Cooper Herrett acts out a monologue from the play Two Rooms. •Delilah Mills performs an excerpt from Detroit with Sasha An. •The full cast of The Light Before We Land sings a song written by Lilly Chiavetta for the finale. Photos: Jan Reid

Performing miracles

by Anne DeVeaux Trask

The musical members of the fine arts department have had a busy past few months preparing for performances and concerts.

Director Alexa Skelly has been getting her chorus classes ready for their holiday concert. The holiday chorus concert will be a filmed event due to social distancing restrictions. The video of the concert will be open to the public via a YouTube video on Cape Fear Academy’s channel.

The chorus classes will sing seven selections including a finale of “Carol of the Bells.”

“It has been amazing to get to know everyone. There is so much talent here and I am proud of all the hard work that I’ve seen from the choruses,” Skelly said.

The band has also been preparing for their holiday concert, using the theme of thankfulness. Each class will record their own medley of holiday songs during class time.

“Although I am slightly disappointed that we won’t be able to have a live concert this year, I am excited to see the innovative ways that the band has adapted to these strange times,” Amir Shaheen said.

Artists were encouraged to submit the artwork that they made during quarantine for display during the drama department’s fall production of The Light Before We Land.

Artists submitted paintings, works of embroidery, carpentry, and sculptures.

“I was excited that I had the opportunity to show off

Best BIT OF IMPROV

by Elle Harmon If you love to fly by the seat of your pants, this is the club for you. Improv Club meets weekly for anyone interested in experimenting with improvisation. Davis Kranchalk,

Chorus, band, art students find ways to showcase talent the artwork I did over the summer. I was inspired by the civil rights events that were going on throughout summer and wanted to create a painting honoring that,” Aurelia Colvin said.

Tech crew scrambles to make multiple sets

by Megan Connaughton

On November 6-8, theatre students performed The Light Before We Land. It was no ordinary production. Instead of using the Fine Arts Center, they built multiple outdoor stages around campus that the audience walked between.

Different teams worked on different sets located in the sophomore parking lot, the Quad, the courtyard and behind the greenhouse.

Jack Glynn worked on the set for the second production,

which was in the Quad. The different locations made it hard for them to work as one team.

“It was a challenge to work with different spaces around campus,” he said.

Glynn and his team didn’t let COVID stop them. “It was very refreshing to get back to building sets for productions during COVID. It provided a sense of normalcy that I really needed,” he said.

Roll with it. Jack Glynn paints a panel that formed part of a set used in The Light Before We Land. Photo: Liza Collie

Showing off. Aurelia Colvin’s painting inspired by the social unrest of the summer was displayed during the fall production. Photo: Bryan Putnam

Improvisational format lets members test their spontaneity

the leader of the club, explained, “We play various improv games to learn how to work off of each other, and how to think off the top of your head. It isn’t very serious and is aimed more at having fun

Ready set go

rather than competing, which keeps the atmosphere light and fun.” This club varies from solo to group improv and is held during Flex in the Fine Arts Center or in the Boney Courtyard.

The return of Improv Club. Davis Kranchalk, Lillian Chiavetta, Ian Lawton, Cameron Toler, Audrey Dahl, Anne DeVeaux Trask and Anne Frazier sit socially distanced on stage as Kranchalk explains the improv game. Photo: Elle Harmon

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

5

LIFESTYLES

Food, family, and friends

Time to reflect

by Alex Johnson

Thanksgiving is a holiday and opportunity for distant family members to come together, enjoy delicious food, and reflect on things they’re thankful for.

It’s also a time for extended family and friends to see people that they usually aren’t able to see. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has changed normal holiday traditions and made it harder for families to have a normal Thanksgiving, but there are still ways to enjoy this special day. Other than eating together, families found ways to have a memorable and unique Thanksgiving.

“Every Thanksgiving, my family organizes a soccer game. It’s always enjoyable and fun. My sister Gwenyth also comes home from college so it will be nice to see her after a few months,” Finlay Austin said.

Some students still traveled

in-state and out of state to visit families and take vacations over the break. About 31% of the 85 students surveyed said they did not stay home for the holidays and instead visited family and friends away from Wilmington.

Along with traveling and special traditions, there was also traditional and unique food that comes with Thanksgiving. Many common favorites consisted of mashed potatoes, turkey, assortments of pies, and sweet potato casserole. However, some people strayed from the traditional choices.

“I’m a fan of the sides. I’m vegetarian so I don’t eat the traditional turkey. I love mashed potatoes, green beans, and sweet potatoes.

Everyone pitches in to make sure we have a family-filled holiday,” Upper School Office Manager Jessica Gaskill said.

Turkey love. Gina, Jack, Andrew, Drew Reger pose for a Thanksgiving picture on November 26. The Regers spent their day with a morning surf and quality family time, and ended with a grand feast. “Thanksgiving is the best holiday because it’s a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones that live far away,” Jack Reger said. Photo: Gina Reger.

Although there are various things to be thankful for every day, Thanksgiving is a time that specializes in reflecting on these blessings.

“Thanksgiving is a time to see family that I don’t usually get to see. I only see my

Students discuss how their mental health has changed during COVID

Finding our balance

by Delia McFarlane

Teresa Lambe.

To partially compensate for the loss, the senior moms created the Senior Lounge ToGo in the Cameron Commons.

“The to-go bags are super convenient. We get them every other day and they have all the goodies necessary for a nutritious breakfast,” Evan Das said.

Enjoying the distance. Erin Fitzpatrick and Merrit O’Brien eat lunch in the church. “Being able to eat lunch with my friends and socialize has really helped me get through the long school days,” O’Brien said. Photo: Betsy Porter

trying to go outside more; sometimes I will ride my bike to the beach. I also like hanging out with my friends in the safest way possible and getting as much sleep as possible,” Grant Peebles said.

Many students felt pressured by adults. With parents expecting their kids to help out around the house while maintaining good grades, and teachers expecting students to balance

classwork and studying, students felt overwhelmed.

As students approached midterms, the stress levels increased with the pressure to perform well.

“I would love for some teachers to realize that we have more than just school going on. It would be nice for them to take a step back and look at our situation and how it differs from adults,” Anna Knorr said.

US Director Lynne Kenney answers student questions

by Kathleen Moulton

“To keep everyone safe we are trying to limit the amount of people on the stairs.”

Senior lounge to-go For years, the senior lounge was the coolest place on campus: a place for seniors to relax, play games, snooze, and grab a snack between classes.

Senior parents furnished the snacks on a weekly basis, and no senior ever went hungry.

Due to COVID-19, the lounge was transformed into a classroom for English teacher

COVID-19 FAQs Why do we use two different staircases?

--Syriana Pasquantonio

“Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without family and good food. My brother Landon came home and I got to spend much- needed time with him at Bald Head Island, along with plenty of relaxation,” Berkeley Scharf said.

Seniors’ new tradition

by Lilly Scoutelas

When school was dismissed on March 13, 2020, our community thought that we were getting a two-week break from school. Little did we know, students would not see the campus again until the new school year. While being stuck inside, students had to create ways to stay motivated and on top of their work.

The return to school, with its new restrictions, schedule changes, mask requirements, and social distancing has had positive and negative effects on students’ mental health.

“The new schedule has made classes and my workload a little more stressful. It’s basically two classes in one day, so we get two classes worth of homework. I’ve been really stressed out between sports and other extracurriculars, studying for tests, and doing homework,” Ella Forkin said.

As students adjusted to the new modifications, they had to come up with ways to take their mind off the stress of homework, tests, sports, and extracurriculars.

“Recently I have been

grandparents on Thanksgiving so it’s nice to visit them and catch up after not being able to see them in the year,” Caden Bariglio said.

When families are separated, getting back together is important.

Why do we have a new schedule?

--Merrit O’Brien

“We are trying to limit contact, and make it easier for virtual students.”

Why do we walk on different sides of the hallway?

--Jagger Van Vliet

“This guideline is directed more toward the lower and middle school, and is more of a guide and a reminder for upper school students.”

Time to roll. A plastic bin contains individual to-go bags for the seniors to pick up on their way to class. The senior moms decorated the bin and filled the bags with assorted snacks. Photo: Will Dahl

House of Humanities dominates costume contest

All dressed up

by Martha Trask

On October 30 on the Cameron Quad lawn, Upper School students participated in a Halloween costume contest.

The students got awards, won tasty prizes, and earned points for House Cup. “I was at a thrift store and decided to do a hippie costume. It was really fun to do something with Halloween since we did not have Fall Fest,” Havens Adams said.

Best-in-Grade winners were Charlie Vliet (9), Abby Smith (10), November Woditschka (11), and Whit Stephenson

(12).

Overall, the House of Humanities won the most points.

Toy Story twins. Cameron Toler and Cameron Tait won the Best Group Costume award. “I made most of my costume, and it was really fun dressing up with Cameron,” Tait said. Photo: Anna Itzkowitz

6

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

OPINIONS

Letters Editor to the

Our readers write

I would like to express my gratitude for Ms. Becky Clamme and the math lab.

The math lab is practically my second home; I go there every day. Ms. Clamme is very patient and helpful with me as well as other students. There is sometimes an overwhelming amount of kids in the lab, all asking questions unique to their classes, but Ms. Clamme still answers everyone’s questions. I am so grateful to her and the math lab for assisting me when I need it, which is a lot.

Julia Johnston

I’d like to express how I feel about not being able to go off campus for lunch.

If the cheer team can leave campus and come back before basketball games, why can’t upperclassmen leave for lunch and come back for their next class? It seems counterintuitive to allow students to leave school before games if the goal is to limit off-campus interactions. When policies are inconsistent, students might feel like the lunch policy is pointless or that they’re being ripped off.

Betsy Porter

I would like to express my gratitude for Ms. Hodges and Ms. Worthington. They have put so much time into helping the seniors with their college applications while also working with the juniors by teaching the weekly College Planning

Course sessions. Their devotion to our success is truly appreciated and reminds me how fortunate I am to attend CFA. Makenzie Mills

I would like to thank Mr. Fancy, Ms. Avery, and Ms. Kanzinger for helping students put a production together unlike anything CFA has done before. Although it took a completely new process, the teachers and cast hung in there and made it work. This experience is something that will stay with me forever and I’m thankful we could find something like “A Light Before We Land” to get our minds off of this difficult time.

Alex Johnson

I would like to address the problem with the staircases in the Upper School. When changing classes, we are only allowed to go down one staircase and up two other ones. Usually the ones we have to use are the most inconvenient; people rush to class and then social distancing is lessened. We should open all staircases for up and down use during class time and if things go smoothly then we can open them in between classes. This is no different from the staircase in the math building where students are constantly going up and down and passing each other during and in between classes.

Lillian Scoutelas

The Hurricane Staff Editors-in-chief: J. R. Johnston, Bellamy Koonce, Anders Ljung Activities: Editors: Makenzie Mills, Betsy Porter Reporters: Tyler Beacham, Alden Forkin, Kathryn Emmart Academics: Editors: Alena Gianoplus, Julia Johnston Reporters: Cameron Arné, Ali Blackwell, Liza Collie, Sara Paige Harvey Arts & Entertainment: Editors: Davon Peebles, Cameron Toler Reporters: Megan Connaughton, Elle Harmon, Anne DeVeaux Trask

Lifestyles: Editors: Alexandra Johnson, Lilly Scoutelas Reporters: Delia McFarlane, Kathleen Moulton, Martha Trask Sports: Editors: Campbell McFarlane, Liza Murtagh Reporters: Rilee Bahner, Ally Raible, Whitson Weinberg Senior Stats: Editors: Anna Itzkowitz, Jack Reger Senior Feature: Will Dahl Adviser: Jan Reid

The Hurricane is published five times a year for Upper School students and faculty

by School Paper Express of Wappingers Falls, New York.

Unsigned opinions are those of the editors and do not reflect the opinions of faculty or advisors.

We invite our readers’ opinions.

You can e-mail your letters to jreid@capefearacademy.org.

Please limit your letter to no more than 200 words.

Unsigned letters will not be published.

All letters are subject to editing and condensation.

Giving thanks. In Jean Leon Gerome Ferris’ painting The First Thanksgiving, 1621, the pilgrims and the Native Americans give thanks for their survival and share a prepared feast. While much has changed because of the pandemic, the chance to express gratitude remains the same. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Can’t thank you enough We have much to be grateful for Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to your loved ones and friends. It allows us to reflect on the year we have had and share our thanks with others.

COVID-19 has made Cape Fear Academy as a community more thankful.

As always, family is one of the first things that everyone says they are thankful for. We are thankful for our parents and all that they do for us especially by re-enrolling or enrolling us at CFA this year. We are thankful for our grandparents and that they have remained healthy during these times. We are thankful that our siblings have been there for us and that we are not alone in these difficult times.

Of course, we are thankful for all of our pets because of all the love and joy they bring us. Our pets are how we stayed sane during quarantine and they are the reasons we always have a smile on our faces.

Another topic that always makes its way into our list of

‘Sup Guys

thanks is our friendships. We are thankful for our friends for keeping in touch with us during quarantine. We are thankful for all of our friends that have been safe and taken the extra precautions so that we can continue to stay in school.

Normally, school is not something that is on our list of thanks. However, this year, it made it. Everyone has heard the expression “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Quarantine made us realize that being in school is something to be thankful for because being remote hindered our educational opportunities.

We are thankful for all of our teachers for coming to school every day and teaching us to ensure that we are still able to get a great education. We are thankful for Ms. Kenney and Mr. Ellison for ensuring that we have a safe environment to learn in. We are thankful for all of the faculty, staff, and students for maintaining social distance. We are thankful for

the maintenance workers who work to keep our school as sanitary as possible on a daily basis.

New to our list of thanks is sports. We are thankful that Mr. Meehl and Ms. Green helped us to have a successful fall season. We are thankful that we were able to have a fall sports season and that it ended with no COVID-19 scares. We are thankful that we still got to do the sports we loved despite everything going on in our community and in the world.

Last, but certainly not least, we are thankful for the doctors, first responders, nurses, and emergency workers for putting their lives on the line to care for others in these times of chaos and illness.

Overall, we are thankful that the community of CFA is safe and well because we plan to be here all year. Our hope is that everyone will have a safe and happy holiday season.

a column by Anders Ljung

This year has been far from normal, and I believe I can speak for all seniors when I say that I don’t even feel like a senior this year. Overall, this year has been filled with guidelines, rules, and other precautions that have tampered with the normal schedule.

However, I am still very thankful to be back at school.

Online classes back in the spring just weren’t beneficial for me. I need to learn in an environment that is designed for learning, and I enjoy coming to school and seeing everyone even during a time of chaos.

I want to express my sympathy to the Class of 2021.

We have lost so many things that normally would have made our final year of high school so special.

We have not been able to use the senior lounge, go off campus for lunch, go to athletic events, or attend Holly Ball: some of the privileges that made senior year stand

out, and now everything we looked forward to as seniors seems to have disappeared.

The question we are all wondering is if we will get to enjoy any of those privileges at some point this year. It’s hard to guess what the future holds when COVID-19 case numbers are surging, and I don’t want to make any estimates. When COVID became big during the spring, I remember everyone thinking this would blow over and we would get to go back to school in May. Now look at where we are.

When all is said and done, I want to remind my fellow senior classmates to be grateful that we get to spend our last year together. Most schools and academies across the nation are still online, and while we may feel weird going to school in such an abnormal way, at least we get to spend it together.

Right now we are all under stress because of a wide variety of things: college

applications, standardized testing, and extracurriculars.

However, I want to point out to everyone that we’ve come so far in spite of all the problems, and we don’t need to let COVID influence our overall unity. We only have a small amount of time left together and we need to make the best of it.

S

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

SENIOR STATS Natasha Matt Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

My nicknames are Tash and Tasha. They are just shorter versions of my name.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

Any song by One Direction.

Their music always puts me in a good mood.

What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Procrastinating.

Noel-Christian Smith Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I’m a night owl. My bad side is in the morning, and at night is when I’m motivated.

Describe your favorite t-shirt.

I don’t have one, but my favorite sweatshirt is a Virginia Tech one that I wear all the time.

What’s a childhood fear or toy that you’ve never outgrown?

I’m scared of squirrels.

Bellamy Koonce

Anna Itzkowitz

Jack Waldrop

Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

One of my many is Queen B. I just started calling myself that and my mom picked it up.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

Any song from Mamma Mia, especially “Lay All Your Love On Me.” What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Getting stressed about everything.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I fall asleep between12-3 every night. It’s terrible. But I’m always up for Waffle House! So I’m a night owl.

Describe your favorite t-shirt.

Bonsu’s t-shirt from his basketball team in Canada.

What’s a childhood fear or toy that you’ve never outgrown?

My orange stuffed koala named Brudder. It’s a she.

Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

Yes, it’s “Spender” because my xbox user name is bigspender and I spend a lot of money on video games.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

The Beatles and “Day in the Life.”

What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Cracking my knuckles.

William Dahl

Noah Durham

Davis Kranchalk

enior tats

By Jack Reger and Anna Itzkowitz

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I’m an early bird. There’s nothing like getting the day off to a great start!

Describe your favorite t-shirt.

My favorite T-shirt says “It’s just too EZ,” which has Evan Zhang’s face on it.

What’s a childhood fear or toy that you’ve never outgrown?

The dark. It isn’t all the time, but it can be pretty spooky.

Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

I have often been called a Human GPS for my navigation abilities.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

Most of the time I just listen to NPR in the car. However, I do enjoy swing music and classical music.

What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Staying up too late on weekends.

Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

A lot of people call me Amir.

I’m not really sure why.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

The Ratatouille soundtrack. I like to imagine that I’m a rat in Paris who enjoys cooking for scary food critics.

What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Thinking about how small I look standing next to Mr. Adams

Lilly Chiavetta

By William Dahl

When did you start writing music?

My songwriting journey started with a choice novel project in Mrs. Vanscoy’s eighth grade English class where one of the options was to write a song. Having a strong love of music, I wrote my first song called “I’m Breathing.” After writing that song, I realized how enjoyable songwriting could be. I experimented with different chord progressions until I understood what sounds good, although I am still figuring it out to this day. It has now come to the point that whenever I have spare time I will find myself at the piano jotting down a random melody that has popped up in my head.

Devon Cavanaugh Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I’m a night owl.

Describe your favorite t-shirt.

It’s a Black Pitt Lacrosse T-shirt with H2P across the back What’s a childhood fear or toy that you’ve never outgrown?

Spiders and any sort of bug.

How were you involved in The Light Before We Land?

Out of all the ways you are involved in the production, which was your favorite and why?

My favorite was teaching my music to the cast. I had never done anything like it before and it was a big learning experience. After all the hard work teaching and learning the piece was done, we got to practice performing it.

My favorite memory from the rehearsal process is during tech week when we were told that it was too cold to sing outside. On our way back to the theatre, someone started singing the song, and soon enough everyone joined in. By the time we got inside, we were all singing, creating a beautiful mixture of

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I’m definitely a night owl.

Describe your favorite t-shirt.

It’s a baseball shirt with Fat Daddy’s Pizza on the front (open in Burgaw now).

What’s a childhood fear or toy that you’ve never outgrown?

I still haven’t gotten over my fear of roller coasters.

Amir Shaheen

Getting to know...

I was involved mainly in three ways: writing and helping direct the music, building the sets, and acting in the production.

7

joyous voices. When we finished the song, I was amazed that what I had written had come to life and I believe that I felt the happiest I had ever been. My cast-mates’ voices gave me hope and were my own version of finding the light. I am endlessly grateful to the entire cast for that experience.

What advice would you give to any young artist at CFA? I would tell them to not be scared to try something new and show their talents. High school is about experimenting with what you want to do and finding your passions. Failure is never something to be afraid of; treat every failure like a learning experience, examine what you did wrong and work on improving it in the future.

Campbell McFarlane Do you have a nickname?

How did you get it?

My nickname is Cam. I got it because it’s an abbreviation that my dad uses.

Who’s at the top of your playlist?

Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness.”

What’s a habit you wish you could break?

Falling asleep way too late on school nights.

8

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

SPORTS

Playoff replay

by Campbell McFarlane

The fall sports season was categorized by managing the many protocols and regulations to ensure safety while playing. Despite the canceled games and delayed practice, teams competed at the highest level statewide.

The boys’ varsity soccer team posted an undefeated regular season record of 10-0 with big wins coming against Fayetteville Academy and Greenfield School.

The team advanced to the state semifinals after cruising past Grace Christian 8-1 in the quarterfinals. Their season ended in a hard-fought battle against Concord Academy in the semifinals, where they lost 1-3.

“I was proud of the way we battled for each other the whole season,” Coach Meade McFarlane said.

COVID-19 dealt a challenging card to the varsity field

hockey team, who was only able to play two games due to cancellations and postponements.

However, they qualified for the playoffs and faced a formidable opponent in Ravenscroft in the first round who ended the Hurricanes’ season with a 0-7 loss.

The varsity girls tennis team dominated every opponent during the regular season.

Their only close game was a 5-4 win against St. David’s School.

Their undefeated record led them to the #1 seed in the East, as they progressed past the first three rounds of the playoffs.

The team faced off against other #1 seed Asheville School and lost a close one 5-2 in the finals.

Varsity volleyball finished the season with a 4-5 record, resulting in a playoff

Five teams make the playoffs; two make it to semifinals

appearance against Coastal Christian.

The team lost in the first round 0-3 on October 20.

Moving to the turf to the greens, the varsity girls golf team qualified to

compete in the NCISAA State Championship on October 26.

The team came in fourth place in the championship and finished with a #3 ranking in the state.

Both the girls and boys Cross

Celebration station. Senior Campbell McFarlane and freshman Eric Dyer celebrate after Tate Shealley scores a decisive free kick against Concord Academy in the state semifinals on October 27. The boys went on to lose 1-3, but had their best regular season in recent memory, posting an undefeated record of 8-0 in the shortened season. Photo: Delia McFarlane

Up in the air

Basketball teams maintain positivity

by Rilee Bahner

by Liza Murtagh and Whitson Weinberg

Cheerleading changes involve no stunts Throughout the school year, COVID-19 has restricted a number of activities and cheer is no exception. Following the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) approval of all winter sports, JV and Varsity cheer started on November 2.

For some cheerleaders like McLain Adams, the sport has completely changed.

“The most difficult thing about cheer is the inability to stunt because that was the main thing male cheerleaders can do,” Adams said.

In the future, the whole team is hopeful that the rules will relax. “If COVID restrictions ease up, I am really looking

forward to being able to stunt,” Myia Robinson said.

It’s still uncertain if the middle school cheer season will happen. The Varsity and JV cheerleaders have made the best of this bizarre situation but look forward to cheering without restrictions.

Feelin’ the spirit. Erin Bradley, Riley Lallathin, and Sophie Schroeder cheer on arrivals to school on Game Day. “I think this was a great way to keep the CFA spirit up,” Schroeder said. Photo: Anna Itzkowitz

Country teams placed in the top third in every regularseason race. On November 2, the squads competed in the NCISAA Championship, where both the boys and girls finished sixth out of 13.

The ball keeps bouncing Many fans looked toward winter sports with hopeful anticipation of a return to normalcy. However, with the lingering presence of the corona virus, athletes have been forced to adapt to changes yet again and have learned to cherish what they have been able to do so far.

“We are finding ways to get the most out of the situation.

Everyone has had to adapt and it’s tough not being able to do certain things because of COVID but we are finding ways to push through and win games,” varsity player Isaiah Gibson said.

The basketball teams have dealt with cancelled games,

limited spectators, and safety protocols. However, these elements haven’t stopped them from finding success early on in the season. In their opening matchups on November 13, all three basketball teams won their respective games against Liberty Christian Academy.

The varsity boys won 73-50, the varsity girls won 30-22, and the JV boys won 29-22.

“This team has that sort of drive and work ethic to get us there and win. We’ve been resilient throughout the pandemic and are determined to bring home a conference championship,” JV player Walker Morrow said.

Fast break. Bella Erichsen charges down court in the game against Liberty Christian Academy. “We are so lucky to have the opportunity to play right now, so we are working together to make the best out of it,” she said. Photo: Jan Reid

Signing the dotted line. Devon Cavanaugh signs her National Letter of Intent on November 12 in the Fine Arts Center with the support of her dad Nathaniel Cavanaugh. She plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh where she will play Division 1 lacrosse.

Off she goes. Liza Murtagh signs her Letter of Intent on November 12 in the Fine Arts Center with the support of her dad Gary Murtagh. She plans to attend Boston College of the Division 1 Atlantic Coast Conference where she will continue to swim. Photos: Cole Dittmer;

Just keep swimming Swim team pushes through

by Allison Raible

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the swim team. They have been faced with a shortened schedule, including only one home meet on November 16 at the YWCA. Swim team is used to traveling as far as Raleigh.

Due to COVID-19, the team won’t be traveling as often as they hoped. Not only is travel limited, but no outside spectators are allowed at the meets besides timers and officials.

“The lack of meets is inconvenient, but we are finding ways to still have fun

Conference All-Stars

by Whitson Weinberg NCISAA All-State: Girls Tennis: Julia Johnston Girls Golf: Isabel Bellamy Boys Cross Country: Tanner Macpherson Boys Soccer: Tate Sheally, Campbell McFarlane

and stay motivated,” Leah Murtagh said.

The team practices socially distanced with one group of students practicing on Tuesday and Thursday, and the others practicing on

Monday and Wednesday.

“Having fans is always nice, but we are making the most out of the situation. I’m just happy to be able to get in the water and compete when we can,” Dakota Snyder said.

One stroke at a time. May Boney swims the 100-yard freestyle at CFA’s Intrasquad meet on November 16. “Practice has been super-challenging so far, but it’s been so fun to be able to swim with my friends,” she said. Photo: Liza Murtagh

CRC All-Conference Boys Soccer: Tate Sheally Campbell McFarlane Tommy Morton Cameron Arné Ben Glickauf Joey Politi Honorable Mention: Davis Kranchalk Henry Steven

CRC All-Conference Girls Tennis: Julia Johnston Liza Wells Elle Harmon Tyler Beacham Taylor Garriott Honorable Mention: Isabel Bellamy Alex Johnson

CRC All-Conference Volleyball: Carolina Bariglio Ali Blackwell Kathryn Emmart Katie Rudow CRC All-Conference Girls Cross Country: Avery Bishop Fraley Kelley Cameron Tait Avery Block

Sasha An Caroline Houston CRC All-Conference Boys Cross Country: Tanner Macpherson Collin Hinson Davon Peebles Erik Head Kieran Barclay