The Devon Dialogue Grandparents' Issue 11/2013

The Devon Dialogue GRANDPARENTS’ SPECIAL EDITION

volume v, GP issue | November 2013

proudly publishing for five decades

Devon Preparatory School

Running for Gold Lucas Watson ’15

The Devon Prep cross country team ran confidently into the post-season with an impressive 7-1 record, upsetting two top-ranked teams—Jenkintown and New Hope-Solebury— in the boys single A state division. The Wolf Pack went into the Bicentennial League (BAL) Championships and scored a respectable fifth-place team finish. Senior Jack Roth ’14 received a medal for placing eleventh overall. Jack Roth and Lucas Watson ’15 received the honor of 2013 BAL Cross Country second team.

Devon’s varsity soccer team slides into playoffs, finishing with a 12-6 record, making the team the third best in Devon’s history.

See Page 3.

Up All Night

Features

Devon Prep students stay up and raise $24,000 for St. Jude.

See Page 2

Sunny Trip to Florida The Senior Class takes a trip to sunny Naples, Florida.

See Page 3

A Spooktacular Halloween Michael Lawrence ’14 James Enderle ’15 and Lucas Watson ’15 race to victory at the Church Farm School.

The following week, the District One Cross Country Championships were held at Lehigh University. It was frigid, but it wasn’t anything the Wolf Pack couldn’t handle. They had a tremendous race with captains Jack Roth, James O’Shea ’14, and Andrew Bright ’14 leading the team to an outstanding third place finish, the highest Devon Prep team finish since 2006. Despite being unable to compete due to a head injury, varsity runner Matthew McDevitt ’14 came to support his teammates and keep the team’s spirits high. In the meet, Devon had four runners run under eighteen minutes! Those runners were Jack Roth, Lucas Watson, James O’Shea, and James Enderle ’15. For a team to have even two runners with times less than eighteen minutes is a notable task, but to have four runners is an amazing accomplishment.

This couldn’t have been done without the dedication and support of the team’s coaches, Mr. Paul Sanborn ’64 and Mr. Dave Evans ’08.

The team had all fourteen of their athletes run personal bests that day. Jack Roth said, “There is no better way to wrap up the team’s season than to have the entire team run personal bests for the last race.” Congratulations to Jack Roth who finished fourth overall and qualified to run in the State Championship in Hershey on November 2. The Wolf Pack says good-bye to this year’s seniors and looks forward to a good season next year.

On October 31st, Devon Prep si x t h, sevent h, and eight h g raders enjoyed a successf ul Halloween part y. The fest iv it ies included a costume parade, a pumpk in weight contest, and demonst rat ions by Mr. Fulmer and Devon’s Chemist r y Club, as well as plent y of t reats. Mr. Fulmer dazzled t he students w it h stat ic elect ricit y, using elect rical gadgets including a Van de Graaff generator as well as an ant ique elect rostat ic t herapy machine. Mrs. Lout rel’s Chemist r y Club entertained

t he students by light ing salts on f ire to produce colored f lames rang ing from red to g reen to purple. They also made g reen foam ooze out of a pumpk in and demonst rated an exot hermic react ion which made clouds of steam billow t hroughout t he cafeteria. Sparks f lew as t he Chemist r y Club f inished off by complet ing a small-scale t hermite react ion. The par t y concluded w it h t he announcement of t he w inners of t he annual costume, candy, and pumpk in contests.

The Middle School enjoyed its annual Halloween party. This year’s party included a costume contest, a toiletpaper mummy wrapping game, and science demonstrations from Mrs. Loutrel’s Chemistry Club.

2

Dialogue News All Night Long Pat Blumenthal ‘15

On October 25, Devon Prep dodgeball. Many students raised over $24,000 af ter also played board games like anot her successf ul Up For A Risk and Monopoly. Families Cause. Up For A Cause is an of students donated food and annual event in which each beverages, demonst rat ing student raises a minimum of t he communit y aspect of $175 and stay up all night to Devon. benef it Saint Jude Children’s Up For A Cause is one of Research Hospital, a research t he many f undraisers Devon and t reat ment facilit y Prep students par t icipate in dedicated to researching and on a yearly basis. As par t of t reat ing children’s diseases. t he Piarist mission, students Before t he event, students are ex pected to perform spent t heir t ime raising charitable acts, and Up For A money for St. Jude as well Cause is one of t he many ways as spreading awareness of students do so. Up For A Cause Devon raises $24,000 after another successful Up For A Cause. childhood diseases. Students reinforces t he brot herhood awareness for children’s diseases, asked relat ives, friends, t hat Devon Prep emphasizes most notably cancer.

Students were and neighbors for donat ions t hat went among its student body. Devon Prep not allowed to use elect ronics, and direct ly to St. Jude. cont inues to raise t housands of dollars instead part icipated in f un act iv it ies Students who attended stayed up ever y year to suppor t St. Jude in its for t welve hours in an effor t to raise such as football, basketball, soccer and effor t to help children w it h diseases.

Spread the Word, Speak Up! Lucas Watson ‘15

Speak Up! is an organization that is committed to creating an open, nonjudgmental environment for teenagers and parents to communicate with one another. There are several Speak Up! groups all over the Philadelphia area.

Devon Prep joins with Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Villa Maria Academy, and Malvern Preparatory School to participate in their local Speak Up! event held every January. Devon Prep always has a good turnout of students and parents participating in this event.

Each year, a few students from the respective schools come together as members of the Speak Up! Planning Committee. This committee chooses the opening speaker and the topics that are discussed on the night of the event. The planning committee is a good group to join for leadership roles, team building, and bonding with the other students.

James O’Shea ’14 states, “Speak Up! is a judgment-free forum where students go to articulate the issues they face each day, and where parents go to listen to other teenagers to understand what their child struggles with in today’s society. This type of indirect communication between parent and child is a unique facet of the communication between two generations, that doesn’t make an uncomfortable situation for either party.”

One of the notable aspects of the event is the “breakout sessions,” which are sessions where parents and students gather to talk about topics selected by the planning committee. These topics tend to be Sex, Pressure, Drugs, Alcohol, Bullying, and Handling Stress. At registration, students attending the event select a breakout session they want to attend. In each breakout session, students, parents, and teachers discuss issues relating to the

topic at hand. Everyone leaves with a new perspective, mindset, and willingness to hear another’s opinion. Everyone leaves glad they could participate in the Speak Up! event.

Speak Up! has proven to be an event that provides leadership, team work, and public speaking skills and a great place with a plethora of knowledge for students and parents alike. It is a delightful event for parents to attend to see what their son or daughter is going through by listening to what other teenagers like him or her are dealing with every day. For some this is a life-changing experience where before they saw the world with tunnel vision and now their eyes are open to the whole world around them. Also, don’t forget that the Speak Up! event is a great place to get Christian service hours and gain a wealth of knowledge. Hope to see you there this coming January!

A Window into Devon Life Rieve Bule ’15

On Sunday, October 13th, Devon Preparatory School hosted its yearly Fall Open House for prospective students. This year’s Open House turned out to be one of the best Devon has ever had. A multitude of Devon students from every grade volunteered to come into school, give tours, and represent Devon Prep. This regular gathering of faculty, students, and fresh, interested families, however, was made more unique by a number of innovative ideas and appealing attractions.

Immediately upon pulling into Devon’s campus, people were struck by the ideas and values put forth and taught by the school. The number of decorated signs displaying quotes from various students at Devon certainly made a good impression

After the tours of the classes were finished, many families attended a gathering inside Calasanctius Hall. There was fabulous food prepared by Mrs. Kalivas and her staff inside the dining room, music played by talented artists Mike LaBella ’13 and Tim Crowe ’13 in the activities tent, and Devon parents grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for everybody outside in the garden.

Of course, none of this would have Dan Azarian ’15 welcomes a prospective student. been possible without the hard work of on interested families right from the start. individuals, such as Mr. Kane and Mrs. The Open House continued to impress Clementi. The nice weather allowed with inspiring speeches from Mr. Iezzi, everyone to see the school in perfect as well as from Devon students, including conditions. Hopefully, next year’s Fall Student Council President Owen Phelan Open House will be as big a success as this year’s. ’14.

Rolling Over Expectations

3

Sean Bevan ‘14, Associate Editor

The Tide’s varsit y soccer team is on a roll. The team had a record-setting season and the third best in school histor y w ith a total of t welve w ins and six losses. It started off the season strong by defeating Haverford High School for the first time in nearly a decade w ith a score of 1-0. The team continued to have success throughout its season, eventually claiming the league title and a spot in the district playoffs.

The team clinched its third consecutive playoff spot w ith a 7-0 w in over Calvar y Christian and was seeded fourth overall in the district. Its first playoff match was held at Devon against the Church Farm School, a team they had played t w ice during the regular season w ith each team tak ing one game apiece. With the Pit in attendance, the team came out of the gate firing. With just seconds left in the first half, the score was tied

one to one. Then, Andrew Shannon ’15 let go a seemingly impossible shot which ricocheted off of t wo opposing players and went in the goal, putting the Tide ahead t wo goals to one. The team then sw itched its formation and dug in, fending off the onslaught of attacks launched by the Church Farm School.

W hen the final whistle blew, the score

Andrew Shannon ’15 slides past defense and fires at the goal.

stood at 2-1, and the Pit stormed the field to congratulate the victorious players.

The varsit y team had won its first playoff game in nearly a decade. Unfortunately, the Tide’s season came to an end about a week later w ith a loss to the top-seeded Faith Christian Academy at Souderton High School.

With such a young team, many questioned whether the varsit y team could surpass the work done by the teams of the previous t wo years. However, w ith practice, hard work, and passion the team pulled it together and exceeded expectations. Next year’s team w ill be even stronger w ith eight of the starting eleven players returning. The sk y is the limit for next year’s team, but it w ill face the same question, “Can the players w in it all again?” With its continued success, the varsit y soccer team has the mak ings of a Devon Prep sports dynast y.

Moguls in the Making

Bookworms Dig In

Pat Blumenthal ’15

Josh Lieberman ’15

Among many of the new clubs this school year, The Investing & Virtual Stock Market Club has become one of the most active at Devon Prep. Members are involved in researching and discussing individual stocks, the stock market, as well as the current state of the economy.

Events regarding current events in the economy or world are open to discussion.

Club members participate in a virtual stock market game in which each individual is given $1,000,000 in virtual assets to put into stocks of his choosing.

This offers an opportunity for members to experience the ups and downs of the stock market and learn valuable lessons while not losing actual assets.

A key goal of the club is to help members

understand the economy and the importance of investing, how it impacts our everyday lives. Another objective is to explain key aspects of investing that help people in their everyday lives and help them to better understand how the world works. Club members receive an in-depth education about investing and finance, preparing them for making actual investments in a highly competitive market with many extremely experienced traders. Investing has become a key aspect of many people’s lives, whether it be in the form of a 401k, Roth IRA, or a personal investment account. The Investing Club gives students a head start in the world of investing and an introduction to making successful investments.

Sun and Fun in Florida Jonathan Liu ’14

At 7:00 a.m. on November 4, t hir t ynine Devon seniors made t heir way onto a plane to Florida for a much needed break. No college essays to t hink about, no school work to worr y about, just t he ant icipat ion of a week of rela xat ion and f un. As t he plane lef t t he g round, t here was only one t hought on ever yone’s mind: Let’s go!

The seniors stayed at t he Ramada Inn in Naples, which was f ive minutes from t he beach. Each day, t he Class of ’14 marched onto t he sand and claimed t heir place on t he beach. The shining sun and t he hot weat her gave t hem litt le doubt t hat Naples was t he place to be. Beach volleyball, basketball, and tennis were offered to t he students as addit ional act iv it ies. A g roup of seniors also went f ishing Thursday morning, and each f isherman in t he g roup was successf ul. On Saturday, t he Senior Class headed to t he Everglades for an airboat tour. The scener y was beaut if ul, w it h t he occasional alligator being

spotted. A f ter each long day, dinner was ser ved at restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factor y, Sophia’s, and Longhorn Steak house. A big g roup of teenage boys may seem like a recipe for disaster, but t he g roup’s stellar behav ior resulted in a letter from anot her customer of Sophia’s, lauding t he class for t heir conduct. A f ter dinner, t here were st ill act iv it ies to do, such as t he ever important Wal-Mart shopping t rip, t he mov ies, mini golf, and t he mall.

Each night ended back at t he hotel w it h t he seniors look ing for ward to t he nex t day’s adventures.

A n early wake-up call on Sunday meant t hat t he f ield t rip was nearing t he end. To beat t he church g roup present at ever y airport, t he g roup arrived at 5:00 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. f light. A lt hough t he Senior Class had to get back in t he rigorous academic mindset t hat Devon demands, t he members were able to look back, smile, and recall t he good t imes t hey had toget her.

“Devon has a book club?” is a question probably a lot of students would ask.

Though not the most populated of Devon’s extracurricular activities, the book club is an important intellectual outlet in which students with interest in the literary arts may go to read up on some of the best works of literature. Despite being a relatively new club, the book club has already read such works as Orwell’s 1984, Stephen King’s The Shining, and other books ranging from thriller novels to dystopian pieces. The small size of the book club is what makes it all the more intriguing and distinct. It allows for close conversation and critical discussion of themes and ideologies presented in the material. One couldn’t get lost in such a small group!

This analysis of literature truly helps to stimulate inquisitive thought and critical reading capabilities that can help any student from high school to college and professional life. There is no doubt that there is nothing to lose from being in book club, but there certainly is a lot to be gained.

The Senior Class enjoys a much-deserved break in Naples, Florida.

4

The Freedom of Tradition Andrew Bright ’14, Editor-in-Chief

The leaves are falling off the trees, the days are getting colder, and the Christmas songs are beginning to play on the radio. We k now once again that the holiday season is upon us. This brings w ith it family gatherings, presentbuying, and time off from school. Yet, there is more to the holiday season than gifts and free time. There is a meaning that transcends consumerism and comfort, calling us on to a unique reverence.

The holidays unite us in tradition. The ritual of a Thanksgiving feast, sitting around a plump turkey before an array of dishes—mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, yams, apple pie and pumpk in pie, croissants and cranberries, foods of all sizes and colors—unites us in communion. The act of sharing a meal along w ith stories and traditions gives us a deeper understanding of our family, allow ing us to pass dow n a piece of ourselves.

Similarly, the Christmas season brings us happiness and peace. For many of us, Christmas is a time of both giving and receiving. Christmas morning still calls to me, whispering a forgotten song of childhood. I still feel inclined to rush dow n the stairs to see the presents under the tree and wonder what lies beneath the shiny outer w rapping of the rectangular box. However, beneath this surface of giving consumer products lies a giving of spirit and comfort. The act of giving a gift, rather than the gift itself, is where the true power of Christmas lies.

Just as the holiday season reminds of what we have, it also reminds us of a not-so-distant past when the fate of our liberties hung in balance. In 1939, a fascist government in Germany had disrupted the balance of power, dragging Europe into a long, brutal war. In the Pacific, an imperialist government in Japan, hungr y for land, had begun tak ing over territor y throughout Indochina and China, subjugating the native people and draining the land of resources. In Januar y of 1941, in a bold State-of-the-Union address to the nation, President Frank lin D. Roosevelt outlined his vision of a world based on democracy and four inalienable freedoms, the antithesis of t yranny represented by the Japanese and Nazi governments.

It was during this time of turmoil and uncertaint y that Norman Rock well reminded the American people of the precious liberties which were in danger. In what has become a masterpiece of American art, Rock well’s Four Freedoms collection manifests the ideals outlined by Roosevelt, creating an outpouring of color and emotion into pure “Americanism.” These paintings depict scenes from daily life. Beneath the surface of simplicit y, however, the paintings radiate idealism. Rock well encapsulates the mundane aspects of American life into something powerful. The things we take for granted ever yday— the act of eating a filling meal or the abilit y to enjoy a restful night of sleep—are liberties passed down from generation to generation.

His first painting, Freedom of Speech, depicts a work ingclass individual proudly articulating his views. Arguably, the most strik ing aspect of this painting, and a testament to the artistic talent of Rock well, is the perfectly captured expression on the middle class audience’s faces, one of genuine interest and meditation. The individuals in the audience, despite being of an apparent higher economic standing than the work ing class speaker, value his opinion. It is a great privilege to be allowed to share one’s thoughts w ithout fear. The freedom of thought and opinion is integral for Freedom of Speech simple aspects of the holiday

by Norman Rockwell

season, from Christmas songs, to the promulgation of the Christian religion itself.

In Freedom to Worship, Rock well shows a group of individuals coming from multiple races and both genders bent over in prayer. Inscribed upon this painting are the words “Each according to the dictates of his ow n conscience.” The freedom of religion granted by the First Amendment in the Constitution allows for people to exercise their religion w ithout restraint. This allows for a multitude of religions and cultures in America, strengthening “melting pot” aspect of American societ y.

However, this freedom extends past worship to ideas themselves. Each person is entitled to an opinion according to his ow n logic and moralit y. This freedom of thought allows for dissenting opinion and creates a f lourishing of culture and progress.

Freedom from Want represents a family united together for a meal. This painting characterizes the abundance we have in our modern world, a fact which many of us take for granted. In many areas throughout the world, food is scarce, medical supplies are almost nonex istent, and education is a privilege restricted to a select few.

Freedom from Want

by Norman Rockwell

Rock well’s Freedom from Fear shows a mother and father tuck ing their children into bed. The father’s attention is focused on the children rather than the newspaper he is holding describing the horrors of war. Rock well juxtaposes this symbol of childhood innocence w ith atrocit y. Ever y night, we Freedom from Fear are much like this child. We go

by Norman Rockwell to bed w ith no fear. The thought that we may not wake up in the morning never crosses our minds.

Ever y thing we have has been given to us. Through peace and bloodshed, k nowledge and ignorance, negotiation and barbarianism, the human race has moved for ward, sometimes at great leaps and sometimes inch-by-slowinch. These freedoms are the greatest gift we have been given, passed dow n by our parents and their parents before them. People gave their lives to gain them, and others, their lives to defend them. The most important tradition of the holiday season is these freedoms, for we are able to enjoy them in all their splendor and glor y.

So, this holiday season, remember the great abundance around you and be sure to pass it on.

Editorial Board

© 2013 Devon Prep

Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Bright ’14 Deputy Editors-in-Chief: Patrick Shields ’14 & James Stanish ’14 Photography Editor: Michael Lawrence ’14 Digital Editor: Michael Lawrence ’14 Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lawrence Theuer Associate Editor for Entertainment: Jefferson Toro ’14 Associate Editors for News: Michael Horbowy ’14 & Soham Bharne ’15 Associate Editor for Editorials: Jackson Misko ’14 Associate Editor for Sports: Sean Bevan ’14 All photos, unless otherwise noted, taken by newspaper staff or Ms. Rose Lombardo, for Devon Preparatory School.

Special thanks to Fr. Shea for his tireless assistance and guidance.