DEVON DIALOGUE , Volume 3, Issue 2

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The Devon Dialogue

volume iii, issue ii | december 2011

Devon Preparatory School

proudly publishing for five decades Pulling Through

Middle School Spirit Day proves to be a contest for the ages. page 4

Musical Mayhem Devon’s music aficionados entertain friends and family alike at Fall Concert, Grandparents’ Day. page 3

Gentlemen, Scholars New members are inducted into the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists. page 2

Fighting for the Title Varsity soccer team finishes season tied for first in league, battles in epic tiebreaker at home.

Varsity Soccer’s Spectacular Season

Political Scholars Speak with Robert Gates

Matt Kramer ’12, Associate Editor for Editorials & Entertainment

Eight Devon Prep seniors recently had the Later in the session, the theme shifted toward opportunity to meet former United States the relationship among the people, the press Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert Gates. For the and the military. Dr. Gates believed that most members of the AP United States Government embedded reporters present an inaccurate and Politics class of Mr. Michael Collins ’68, it was view of the war and the military: “The problem, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Devon was one though, with an embedded reporter is that it’s of the only high schools invited by the National like watching the war through a soda straw. They Constitution Center to attend a question-and- get a very limited perspective.” However, he later answer session with the former Secretary, only remarked, “Congress and the press are the surest hours before he was to receive the prestigious Liberty Medal. When they arrived at the Constitution Center, five Devon seniors were asked to sit onstage with Dr. Gates and Director David Eisner. These seniors were the only high The AP US Government and Politics class with school students on former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates the stage. For the next ninety minutes, audience members asked guarantees of American liberty; don’t think of Gates questions ranging from strategies in them as the enemy. To do so is self-defeating.” Dr. Iraq and Afghanistan to the trials of running Gates concluded the segment with an opinion immense bureaucracies. “This was a very candid on the upcoming United Nations vote on the atmosphere,” Conrad Damstra ’12 said. “Robert statehood of Palestine. He theorized that the Gates was a key figure in the United States vote only deters the cause of peace because the government, and his insights on various issues Palestinian National Authority cannot control were both entertaining and enlightening.” its own territory. The dialogue began with Mr. Eisner asking After Dr. Gates finished speaking, all the Dr. Gates about his experiences serving Devon students had the privilege to shake his Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. hand and pose for a picture with the former Dr. Gates remarked upon how little the military Defense Secretary. For these students who have philosophies differed between the two. This studied American history, it was exhilarating shocked many members of the audience who to meet such a significant political figure. John remembered the significant differences in Damstra ’12 remarked, “We had an incredible political rhetoric between Presidents Bush and opportunity to engage in a discussion with one Obama. The conversation then continued onto of the most influential policy makers of the past the topic of the future of the military. Dr. Gates decade. This was great experience that not many suggested that the United States military should high school students can claim to have had.” not expend all its energies on expensive, high- Hopefully, these future leaders and generals of technology projects such as the F-35 Joint Strike this great country can take the knowledge they Fighter, but instead focus on the preparation for gained from this experience and use it to follow a “range of conflicts.” in the Secretary’s footsteps.

As promised at the beginning of the season, the Varsity soccer team proved to be one of the best squads to play for Devon in recent history. The Tide were among the league’s best in the newly created conference of the Bicentennial Athletic League. By the end of October, the Tide’s transformation from last-season’s worst to first was complete. The team relied heavily on the returning seniors, who were well aware of the dedication and teamwork necessary to be successful. As freshmen, the Class of 2012 players were winless. As seniors, they improved to a 10-7-2 record, the first double-digit-wins season in nearly ten years. By the end of the season, the team found itself in a race for first place. In one of the last games of the regular season, the Tide faced Calvary Christian Academy in a crucial game for division ranking. The Tide was the only team to have defeated Calvary Christian at that time. In front of the largest Pit ever assembled for a soccer game, the Tide defeated Calvary Christian 3-2. Paul Kubat ’12 sacrificed himself in a collision to score the first equalizer. He suffered a concussion on the play, and unfortunately, the season ended abruptly for the captain and third-year varsity player. D.J. Walz ’12 and Luka Zacharczuk ’13 also scored goals in the victory. At the end of the regular season, there was a three-way tie for first place among Devon Prep, Calvary Christian Academy, and Plumstead Christian School. The decision of the Bicentennial League was to hold a tiebreaker to decide the conference league champion. After a lottery draw, it was decided that the games would be held at Devon, and Devon would play Calvary Christian first. Plumstead Christian had a bye in the first round and was automatically in the championship match. The Tide beat Calvary Christian for the third time this season and advanced into the championship game. There, the Tide fell to Plumstead Christian in overtime, after an unlucky goal. Despite the tough loss, the team prepared for its district playoff game against rival New HopeSolebury High School. continued on page 6

Matt Swatski ’12


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