The Vedette | 2021 Upper School | Issue 1

The

Vedette

Issue 1 July 7, 2021

Upper School, 2021

Thank You to The Trimester One Vedette Staff!

Carla Castillo, Deck 1 Sometimes I go by the name of “Carlita.” I mostly enjoy playing tennis and snow skiing during Spring break.

I am from the northern part of Mexico, but I currently live in Arizona. On the weekends, you will find my parents and me sitting on the couch watching football all day long where we can even watch three games per day. My father first introduced me to sports, and it is one of the reasons I would like to be a sports broadcaster in the near future. I have attended several football games, and my favorite time of the year is when the Super Bowl is approaching. I like talking about what is going on in a game, and I find it interesting to interview football players: real, professional football players!

Maria Flores, Deck 4 My name is Maria Flores. I am 16 years old and I am from Guadalajara, Mexico. However, I moved to Cabo one year ago. I needed to do something that I really loved and inspired me so I had the idea of creating a bikini brand. I am a very creative and dedicated person, so it was a perfect fit. I manage the business myself, and although I don’t make the bikinis, I buy them from suppliers and take care of the photos, marketing, packaging, and shipping. My business is called Brisa Blanca and it is going perfectly. I think a lot of people who have a small business should be very proud like me because we are young, we are learning, and we put all the love and effort into this. This is my second year at Culver, and I was in C3 four years ago. Now, I am in Deck 4 and I love it.

Michelle Künzli, Deck 5 My name is Michelle Künzli, although no one in Bogota pronounces my name well. But I am already used to it. Talking about last names, mine comes from the German part of Switzerland, and that is one of the reasons why I am in a Swiss school in Colombia. There, I study French, English, and I perfect my Spanish, my first language. But on the other hand, my English needs help. One of the reasons I came to Culver was to practice English. It is my firstyear here and so far, I’m really enjoying it, even the military part. I like it when we march and how we look perfectly lined up. I like the sound of the steps and when we shout, “Deck 5,” and when we all cheer and chant in sync, I feel military and I love it. Even if I get hit in the nose by the boom of a boat while attempting to sail, I know Culver will be awesome and will have a positive impact on me (and my nose).

Isabella “Isa Rod” Rodriguez, Deck 2 My true best friend. My soulmate. The person who understands me most in this world. This is a very general opinion of what I think about her, but who am I? We’ll get there, I promise. Isabella was born in Mexico City where she is planning to achieve her dream of becoming a psychologist and opening her own school. She knows that she can celebrate and be grateful about lots of things, but the one she is most proud of is her family and friends. Isa has had a lot of nicknames, but her favorite one is “Isa Rod.” As a person who has had nicknames before, she loves creating nicknames. I'm sure that if she would create one for herself it would be Izzie, because she thinks it's cute. Today, Isa is spending her last summer at Culver Academies as a first Classman. She is very excited to graduate, but also a bit nervous. My dear Isa, I hope that you achieve your dreams while at Culver and help others do the same. I believe in you and I am very proud of you, because I am you.

Alex Zhong, The Vedette Editor, Naval One “Will you hold my hand?” That is what I muttered to my mother the first time I went on a rollercoaster. That is what I whispered to the girl dear to me one mellow afternoon. And that is what I now say to fate, praying for guidance for whatever life will throw at me. Whether it be becoming a new high schooler or joining some military camp in the middle of Indiana, I am not afraid of what lies ahead: I have the friends and connections I have made to catch me if I stumble and fate to hold my hand. Unfortunately, sometimes bonding with others around me becomes a bit difficult because, being a violinist and water polo player, I do not share the same hobbies as most people. However, my brothers at Naval One have taught me that relatability does not matter in order to be included in the Culver community. After all, we are a family, and as a family, only by accepting each other can we achieve greater heights. Only by uniting together can we truly have an authentic Culver experience and make the six weeks that we share an unforgettable memory. With that, brothers and sisters, I ask you: will you hold my hand?

Photo Highlights from Week 1 and Week 2!

Possible Course Selections For Second and Third Trimester Basic Sailing Basic Sailing teaches you how to sail, introduces you to naval events like code flags, crew, and wherries, and gives you an opportunity to show your skills and test for a Skipper’s Card. This class is where I met some of my best friends at camp; be sure to introduce yourself and talk to people in the first week, and keep in touch with them. Many of the instructors are very fun, also.

Ledbetter In Ledbetter, you learn the names of different sails and take a test to determine which sail you will be in charge of. I got the Fore Royal, which is super fun if you aren’t afraid of heights. Even if you are afraid of heights, still sign up. The jib sails are fun because you get to relax and be above the water. Also take this class to learn basic functions of the Ledbetter and the commands used to sail it, especially if you want to try to get into the Ledbetter Crew.

Games of Strategy This class is super fun if you are looking to hang out with new friends. I recommend this class for people who like classic board games like Monopoly and Risk. It is a good break from the athletic activities offered at Culver, but it is intense if you are really competitive.

Digital Photography In this class, you get to make your own short film! Take on a filmmaking role and learn how to plan, shoot, and edit a movie. The previous movies can be found on YouTube under the account Culver Digital Media. The movies can be any genre, but it is super fun to do a comedy.

Horsemanship This class is my all-time favorite! You don’t have to be in Deck Seven or Troop to join the class. The first week you learn to tack up a horse and get the fundamentals of riding down. Like walking, the proper hold on the reins, correct stirrup length and all that jazz. After the first week you are already able to tack up in around 11 minutes! In the second week they introduce trotting and you go on trail rides.

Cantering in my opinion is difficult. There are so many things you have to remember while on the horse. Like keeping the reins down and leaning back a little while your hips are relaxed but your lower leg is stiff. Remember to keep your heels down! This class is filled with excitement, learning new things, making new horse and human friends, and overall just having a blast.

Flying Drones for Fun This class is great because you get to take really cool pictures and videos of campus while learning how to operate a drone. Students use Tello drones to practice, then get to fly the Phantom 4. You can fly the Phantoms up to 400 feet and capture images of the lake, campus, and surrounding area. This is a fun but serious aviation class.

Culver and COVID-19 COVID / My Country

By Michelle Kunzli I remember the day when we had to take everything out from our lockers and say goodbye to others. A goodbye without knowing it would last more than seven, eight, twelve months. I remember my last day of school, calming my friends telling them that we will see each other again in two weeks or so, and that it wasn’t something to worry about. In March 25 2020, schools were closed, no one could be outside and it was also the introduction of the masks. At the end of that week, we welcomed “virtuality” into our lives. However, after eight months or so, we finally went to school. They were the best days ever. Things weren't as bad as before, things started to change in a good way. Going to school was like a privilege, it meant “liberty” in a way. Now the little things matter and we enjoy things more than before. I never believed that our lives were going to be normal again or that a vaccine was going to exist or even arrive in Colombia (which it did). Finally, In February 2021, Colombia started the vaccination plan, and now those over 40 years old are getting vaccinated.

Schools that were closed are opening, and some schools are going with full presence. Many Colombians had lost faith, but now, things are improving little by little, and our hope is increasing.

COVID/ My Family

By Maria Flores For me and my family, COVID has been really hard. We moved to a new city in the middle of the pandemic, so I could not see the rest of my family (including my dad and baby brother) for months because they live in Guadalajara. At first, we were all scared. We didn’t go out, and my family was very concerned about safety.

We quarantined for eight months and it was extremely frustrating, but we learned and got used to being together all the time. It was hard not being able to see or even hug my grandparents, but now that we are all vaccinated, we are safe. I am so grateful that everyone in my family is healthy and alive.

This pandemic came to teach my family to be grateful for the simple things in life and to enjoy the time we spent together. I learned new things every day, and my family and I were always there to help each other.

Some things that I liked about quarantine was that I had so much fun with my siblings and that I could be in pajamas all day. We did a lot of things together during this quarantine: we watched 1000 movies, cried and got mad at each other, “cooked” a lot, played board games, made tik toks and cleaned the house. During hard times like the pandemic, having your family around you makes it better.

COVID/ My Friends

By Isabella Rodriguez Tomorrow. If you woke up tomorrow with no fear, what would you do first? Since March 2020, we’ve all found ourselves: Uncertain. Scared. Confused. Frustrated. As a teenager, the idea of a new tomorrow sounds thrilling and exciting, full of achieved dreams and accomplishments. However, COVID gave me a new perspective about finding hope when it seems to be far away; you may be asking, how could that be possible?

Well, it all began when I started to rely on my friends. This year brought many challenges to friendships; it made me reflect about the meaning of friendship and how I could support my friends. Whenever I felt tired of fighting the constant feeling of loneliness and depression, they kept pushing me to fight. I want to thank Ximena and Hannia for teaching me the importance of being there for others. One action. It only takes one simple act of kindness to make someone's day better. As my friends and I crossed the path to the finish line, l learned that some thunderstorms are worth trudging through in order to find a rainbow.

COVID/ My School

By Carla Castillo Schools in Arizona reopened in the fall of 2020 as they had been closed due to the pandemic. Ironwood Ridge High School adopted hybrid learning, which meant that students were allowed to attend school two days a week, and the days at home they would be working on online classes. They were divided in cohorts 1 and 2; the first group would go on Mondays and Thursdays while the other one on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Wednesdays were the days for the sanitization of the campus, and everyone had to wear their masks all the time except when eating food.

After the spring break of 2021, students were now allowed to attend full in-person classes, meaning that all students would go to school every single day. In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed because I was afraid to catch the disease and be quarantined because there was a vast majority of people that had to be quarantined for ten days as they were in close contact with someone with COVID. I did not enjoy learning through a screen because it was not the same interaction as in-person classes. The fact that I was finally able to go back to the campus and play tennis for the school team after a year made me realize that I needed to appreciate the smallest things in life. I believe schools in Arizona will remain open. COVID cases and deaths have decreased in the state and now people are safe to do more outdoor activities, such as hiking, visiting parks, and having gatherings.

COVID/ My Community

By Alex Zhong The definition of “normal” has changed immensely over the past 14 months, and although my community was thankfully not hit hard by the pandemic, many aspects of our lives have completely changed. I can not imagine a time when not a single sign said “6 Feet Apart” or “Masks Required,” and I still vividly remember my parents quarantining letters or packages for a day or two. Now, the “normal” for my town, Los Gatos, still includes wearing face masks at all times and some semblance of social distancing, but some aspects of life before the pandemic are starting to return. Restaurants and most stores are now open at reduced capacities, and adults are returning to work in person while their children are returning to parks, playgrounds, and schools.

Although lockdown seems to have started a lifetime ago, there is now an end in sight. It seems like in only one or two more months, everyone can safely return to restaurants and other public spaces without needing to wear a mask or social distance. Maybe, hopefully, when I return home from my time at Culver, the definition of “normal” will, once again, be: “spending time and having fun with friends and other members of the community.”