Devon Dialogue Volume III, Issue II

The Devon Dialogue volume

VIII, issue II | December 2016

proudly publishing for five decades

Devon Preparatory School

Varsity Victories

Devon’s Varsity Soccer team sees a successful season, and coach Tim McNally retires on a good note.

See Below

Friends on the Field The Middle School enjoys their first field day of the year.

See Page 2

A Different Kind of Field Trip Devon’s class of 2018 learns different ways to serve the community.

Drama in The Dining Room Vanishing cultures and outlandish family affairs are explored in The Dining Room, this year’s Fall Drama. See Page 7

See Page 7

Surveying Schoology

Varsity Victories

AJ Tiglao ’17 and Ben Lubker ’17

Frank Byrd ’18, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Wit h t he slew of ch a nge s Devon h a s w it ne sse d i n t h is pa st ye a r, one of t he most con se que nt ial rev ision s h a s b e e n t he i mple me nt at ion of a new a ca de m ic i nt e r fa ce. Schoolog y, wh ich h a s re pla ce d t he “ b elove d” E d l i ne of ye a r s pa st , i nt roduce s a va r iet y of new fe at u re s t o Devon’s on l i ne net work , i nclud i ng a more orga n i ze d layout , a more comprehe n sive cale nd a r, a nd a n i mprove d way t o m a n age one’s due d at e s. Howeve r, be cau se we d id not k now how t he school a s a whole t r u ly fe els about Schoolog y, we de cide d t o conduct a st at ist ical ly a ccu r at e su r vey, u si ng t he she e r p owe r of D r. O e ch sle’s m at he m at ical prowe ss wh ich hop ef u l ly h a s be e n i mpa r t e d ont o t he st ude nt s i n h is A P St at ist ics cou r se.

To col le ct t he d at a , t he p opu lat ion of t he school (a t ot al of 306 p e ople, i nclud i ng fa cu lt y, t a ke n f rom t he school’s st ude nt d i re ct or y) wa s broke n dow n by cla ss, i nclud i ng a se pa r at e cat egor y for fa cu lt y.

I n orde r t o conduct t he su r vey a s a ccu r at ely a s p ossible, 10% of e a ch cla ss a nd 10% of t he fa cu lt y we re sele ct e d at r a ndom , produci ng a t ot al sa mple si ze of 31 p e ople.

T he sele ct e d i nd iv idu als we re t he n a ske d a nu mb e r of que st ion s p e r t ai n i ng t o Schoolog y’s fe at u re s a nd qu al it ie s, a nd t hey prov ide d si mple a n swe r s f rom 1 t o 5 (1 b ei ng t he wor st , a nd 5 bei ng t he be st). T h is d at a wa s t he n ag g regat e d t o for m t he g r aph on page 2.

O ve r al l, t he re su lt s of t h is su r vey showe d fai rly p osit ive at t it ude s t owa rd s Schoolog y a mong t he st ude nt body a nd t he fa cu lt y. A s t he g r aph shows, t he re s p on se s t o t he que st ion s conce r n i ng f u nct ion al it y, orga n i z at ion , a cce ssibi l it y, a nd conve n ie nce hove re d a rou nd 4 out of 5. Fu r t he r more, 96% of t hose su r veye d who h ave u se d E d l i ne i n t he pa st b el ieve Schoolog y is f u nct ion al ly bet t e r t h a n E d l i ne. Howeve r, t he re s p on se s t o t he que st ion s about com mu n icat ion , so cial fe at u re s, de a d l i ne s, a nd t he mobi le ap p de mon st r at e d a sl ig htly more negat ive re a ct ion.

T he i nd iv idu als i n t he su r vey broug ht up m a ny sp e cif ic issue s conce r n i ng Schoolog y, most not ably de a d l i ne s. T he most com mon complai nt conce r n i ng Schoolog y’s de a d l i ne fe at u re is t h at t he prog r a m la ck s t he capabi l it y t o ke e p st ude nt s i n for me d of due d at e s, u si ng not if icat ion s a nd t he l i ke. Add it ion al ly, Schoolog y appl ie s due d at e s t o a ny i n- cla ss eve nt , i nclud i ng t e st s a nd h a ndw r it t e n a ssig n me nt s; i f a f i le is CONTINUED on Page 2.

Coming off a historic 2015 campaign, the Devon Prep varsity soccer team began the season with expectations high. Last year’s team managed to reach the District 1A championship game, but with the loss of 11 players to graduation soon following, this year’s side knew it had a demanding journey ahead.

Returning for a second year as head coach this season was Tim McNally, and returning as his assistant for a second year was Mark Leach. The pair led the Tide to an 8-11 record, well short of their 2015 mark of 12 wins. Only ten players with prior varsity experience returned to the team this season; this low number perhaps contributed most to the team’s abbreviated win total. Goalkeeper Jimmy Loftus ’17 captained the team, lending his services in net to the varsity squad for a fourth straight year.

The season was not without its triumphs. The Tide managed a number of hard-fought wins over quality opponents, and coped well with their difficult schedule, ending the campaign with a respectable record and earning a spot in the district playoffs. The team found success with a number of different formations adapted to suit the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent.

Devon finished 6th in District 1A, setting up a playoff matchup with 3rd place Plumstead Christian. The match was intensely contested, as the two teams were separated by only a few decisive moments. These moments, unfortunately, did not fall in the Tide’s favor; they would go on to lose 2-0 to the eventual district runners-up.

Positives continued to follow negatives for the Tide, as a number of Devon players were recognized for their play throughout the season. Forward Nick Bello ’19 and defender Frank Byrd ’18 were named to the All-Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) 1st Team, while midfielders AJ Gardiner ’18 and Drew Maslanka ’18 were named to the All-BAL 2nd Team.

One final negative was, however, to punctuate the season.

A few days after the Tide’s postseason defeat, head coach Tim McNally announced his resignation from his coaching duties due to health issues. McNally, a committed soccer coach for nearly 40 years, departs Devon having led the team to its most successful finish in recent history. Perhaps more important, though, is the impact he has had on the young student athletes he has helped to shape as hardworking and respectful members of the community during his time as coach of the track and soccer teams. For this the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Devon are forever grateful. We wish him all the best in the future and pray for his swift recovery.

Dialogue News

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not d ig it al ly subm it t e d , Schoolog y m a rk s t he a ssig n me nt (or la ck t he re of ) a s lat e. A not he r prom i ne nt d r awba ck t o Schoolog y is t he la ck of so cial u se s w it h i n t he i nt e r fa ce.

W h i le com mu n icat ion b et we e n st ude nt s a nd t e a che r s is much e a sie r t h a n b efore, t he so cial f u nct ion s of Schoolog y a re r at he r la ck i ng, a s st ude nt s a re u n able t o me ssage ot he r st ude nt s, eve n t hose i n t he sa me g roups or cla sse s.

Schoolog y’s most pre ssi ng issue, howeve r, is si mply u se r e r ror. T he la ck of t e ch nolog y e ducat ion a mong t he st ude nt body, pa re nt s, a nd fa cu lt y h a s seve rely l i m it e d t he f u nct ion al it y of t he syst e m. A mong t hose su r veye d , t e a che r s h ave ex pre sse d t hei r cont e mpt for st ude nt s’ la ck of ef for t t o le a r n a nd u se Schoolog y appropr iat ely. Howeve r, st ude nt s h ave also cla i me d t h at t hei r t e a che r s h ave ut i l i ze d Schoolog y i n such a way t h at i mp e de s st ude nt s’ product iv it y. It h a s be come cle a r t h at more e ducat ion i n t he prop e r u se of Schoolog y is ne ce ssa r y t o avoid ne e d le ss a nd t i me - con su m i ng con f l ict s ove r a ssig n me nt s, t e st s, a nd due d at e s.

Mov i ng for wa rd , Devon shou ld v iew Schoolog y a s a t wo -way st re et. Schoolog y is cle a rly a n excel le nt

syst e m , a nd most of t he school re cog n i ze s a s such.

Howeve r, Devon m ay not be ut i l i z i ng Schoolog y t o t he f u l l ext e nt of it s p ot e nt ial. A l l pa r t ie s — st ude nt s, pa re nt s, a nd fa cu lt y al i ke — shou ld put i n more ef for t i n orde r t o avoid proble m s cau se d by t he ca rele ssne ss or ig nor a nce of one pa r t y or a not he r. But al l it s issue s a side, at le a st it’s not E d l i ne.

The graph of statistical evidence on opinions of Schoology.

Anticipating Academic Achievement Michael Hinke ’18

E a ch ye a r, Devon P re p, along w it h a plet hor a of ot he r schools i n C he st e r Cou nt y, comp et e s i n t he C he st e r Cou nt y Aca de m ic Comp et it ion , sp on sore d by t he C he st e r Cou nt y I nt e r me d iat e Un it. Devon’s Aca de m ic Comp et it ion Te a m , or ACT for shor t , fa ce s of f agai n st ot he r schools i n a t y p e of qu i z bowl st yle comp et it ion , a n swe r i ng va r iou s t y p e s of que st ion s i n a va r iet y of cat egor ie s. T he Va r sit y t e a m , capt ai ne d by se n ior M ich a el Bon f igl io, h a s gone u ndefe at e d i n it s f i r st t wo m at che s, scor i ng 105 a nd 110 p oi nt s re s p e ct ively wh i le t he Ju n ior Va r sit y t e a m , le d by ju n ior Pa r is Shu st e r fal lou , h a s b e at e n eve r y t e a m it fa ce d by a w ide m a rg i n , scor i ng 95 p oi nt s i n e a ch m at ch.

Fa cu lt y mode r at or a nd coa ch M r. R .

Roge r Me couch h a d t h is t o say about t he g re at st a r t t o t he ACT se a son: “I t h i n k t he t e a m is doi ng ve r y wel l t h is se a son , I’m pa r t icu la rly proud of t he J V I t h i n k t hey’re doi ng a g re at job of hold i ng t hei r ow n aga i n st some re al ly st rong schools.”

I f t he ACT se a son cont i nue s at t h is pa ce, t he t e a m cou ld b e look i ng at a p ossible playof f r u n. T he ACT t e a m cont i nue s t o pr a ct ice i n a nt icipat ion of t hei r next t wo me et s, t he la st one b ei ng playe d at Devon on Ja nu a r y 12t h. T he Devon P re p ACT t e a m is p oise d for a bre a kout se a son t h is ye a r, w it h it hop ef u l ly cu l m i n at i ng i n a ch a mpion sh ip w i n , for bot h t he Va r sit y a nd Ju n ior Va r sit y t e a m s.

Breaking Bread at Breakfast Brendan Kelly ’19

Eve r y Nove mbe r, fa m i l ie s a c ross A me r ica sit a rou nd t hei r d i n i ng room t able s a nd e njoy a del iciou s T h a n k sg iv i ng me al. For me mb e r s of t he Devon P re p com mu n it y, t he re is one ot he r t r a d it ion t o celebr at e eve r y Nove mbe r: t he a n nu al T h a n k sg iv i ng Com mu n ion Bre a k fa st. T h is ye a r, a la rge nu mbe r of Devon it e s a sse mble d i n t he Devon g y m w it h t hei r pa re nt s a nd sibl i ngs t o e njoy t h is wonde r f u l eve nt. A s u su al, it b ega n w it h t he celebr at ion of t he Ma ss. I n most ways, it wa s si m i la r t o a nor m al Ma ss at Devon P re p, but it wa s m a de more sp e cial by t he fa ct t h at eve r yone wa s able t o celebr at e it w it h t hei r fa m i l ie s. T he Ma ss fe at u re d a mov i ng hom i ly f rom Fat he r A isa a nd excel le nt si ng i ng by Mat t Fa su l lo ’17. A f t e r t he Ma ss e nde d , eve r yone wa s e age r t o i ndu lge i n a del iciou s bre a k fa st. A f t e r choosi ng wh at t hey

Friends on the Field Ian McKnight ’21

E a ch fal l, t he e nt i re m idd le school e ngage s i n a d ay de d icat e d t o good old fa sh ione d comp et it ion cal le d M idd le School Field Day. T he d ay beg i n s w it h Ma ss, cont i nue s w it h comp et it ion s t h at t a ke pla ce out i n t he f ield a nd i n t he g y m a nd cu l m i n at e s i n a celebr at or y pi z z a lu nch. T h is ye a r, t he r ivals con sist e d of t wo eig ht h g r a de t e a m s, t wo seve nt h g r a de t e a m s, a nd a si xt h g r a de t e a m.

Field Day is a n eve nt t h at br i ngs m idd le school st ude nt s t oget he r eve n a s t hey comp et e w it h one a not he r. Seve r al t e a che r s, i nclud i ng M r. Br a z u n a s, Ms. Pica rd , M r.

Eva n s, M r. Saue r, M r s. Dok a s, M r s.

G regor y, a nd seve r al who v isit e d whe n t hei r sche du le s p e r m it t e d , help e d t o ke e p t he eve nt s fai r a nd i nju r y f re e. W he n a ske d about how eve nt s a re sele ct e d , M r. Br a z u n a s said , “ We t r y t o pla n a ct iv it ie s t h at ou r Devon g uys w i l l f i nd t o be f u n , e njoyable, st re ss rel iev i ng a nd t e a m / g r a de bu i ld i ng.” He also said “ My favor it e spi r it d ay eve nt is t he donute at i ng cont e st be cau se t he eve nt is f u n for bot h pa r t icipa nt s a nd for t he on looke r s. T h is cont e st is always e njoye d by al l i nvolve d - a nd t he re a re no cont rove r sie s be cau se t he re is always a cle a r w i n ne r - a nd you w i l l always se e st ude nt s e at i ng, h av i ng f u n , laug h i ng a nd al l le av i ng t he eve nt w it h a sm i le.” T h is ye a r af t e r t he p oi nt s we re t abu lat e d , t he v ict or wa s t he wh it e eig ht h g r a de t e a m , w it h a seve nt h-g r a de t e a m com i ng i n se cond , a nd t he g re e n eig ht hg r a de i n t h i rd .

wa nt e d f rom a bu f fet wh ich i nclude d pa nca ke s, eg gs, ba con , p ot at oe s, f r u it , ju ice, a nd more, eve r yone sat dow n w it h t hei r f r ie nd s a nd fa m i ly t o e at , t al k , a nd e njoy t he m selve s.

Eve r yone ag re e d t he food wa s del iciou s, a nd m a ny cou ld not re sist get t i ng up t o get se cond helpi ngs.

A s eve r yone wa s f i n ish i ng up t hei r food , t hey we re i nt roduce d t o t he g ue st s p e a ke r, Joh n R af fe r t y ’01, a n at t or ney who de als w it h hu m a n t r af f ick i ng v ict i m s. He s p oke about h is l i fe, i nclud i ng le a r n i ng a nd s p e a k i ng Spa n ish , h is work , a nd h is t i me at Devon. Fi n al ly it wa s t i me t o cle a n up. T he st ude nt s help e d put t he t able s a nd ch ai r s away, a nd af t e r t hey f i n ishe d , it wa s t i me t o le ave. Eve r yone lef t w it h a f u l l st om a ch a nd fond me mor ie s. A f t e r such a g re at eve nt , eve r yone h a d a s t hei r f r ie nd s, fa m i ly, e ducat ion , m a ny t h i ngs t o b e t h a n k f u l for, such fait h , a nd of cou r se food .

Dialogue Sports

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The Wentz Wagon Wheeling On Chris Muth ’19 and Fred Rullo ’19

T he t i me si nce pa r t 1 h a s i nclude d not h i ng shor t of a f lu r r y of a ct iv it y; We nt z h a s a nd cont i nue s t o exe cut e a n M V P- qu al it y p e r for m a nce. Ca r son We nt z’s ef for t s whe n t he E agle s playe d t he Pit t sbu rg h St e ele r s i n t he Bat tle of Pe n n sylva n ia de mon st r at e d h is h ig h level of at h let ic abi l it y. T he odd s of t he St e ele r s w i n n i ng t he Sup e r Bowl st ood 8 -1 at t h at p oi nt i n t he se a son; howeve r, nobody wou ld eve r subsc r ibe t o t hose odd s af t e r wat ch i ng t he way t he E agle s st e a m rol le d t he m i n t he ga me. We nt z t h rew for 305 ya rd s w it h t wo pa ssi ng t ouchdow n s a nd ze ro i nt e rce pt ion s, a nd he f i n ishe d w it h a qu a r t e rba ck r at i ng of 125.9 for We ek T h re e. Tr u ly, t h is wa s a n exce pt ion al ga me for a rook ie qu a r t e rba ck agai n st a favore d t e a m.

T he next we ek of t he se a son t he We nt z Wagon h it a few bu mps i n t he roa d . O n t he roa d agai n st t he Det roit Lion s, t he E agle s looke d a bit out of sor t s com i ng of f t he bye we ek . T he ga me wa s a blow out i n t he f i r st qu a r t e r, but t he E agle s foug ht t hei r way ba ck t o t a ke t he le a d i n t he fou r t h qu a r t e r. T he n t h i ngs t u r ne d sou r; Rya n Mat hews f u mble d t he bal l t r y i ng t o prot e ct a 23 -21 le a d a nd t he Lion s m a n age d t o k ick a f ield goal w it h me re m i nut e s lef t.

We nt z wa s ba ck on t he f ield a nd h a d t he ch a nce t o be a he ro by scor i ng a t ouchdow n i n t he f i n al se cond s, i n st e a d he t h rew h is f i r st ca re e r i nt e rce pt ion. T h is loss d id not

h ave p e ople ju mpi ng of f t he We nt z Wagon ju st yet. T he next ga me agai n st t he Wa sh i ng t on Re d sk i n s, a d iv ision r ival, a mou nt e d t o a not he r loss. Eve n so, m a ny st i l l h a d fait h i n Ca r son We nt z . We ek Si x of t he E agle s’ se a son broug ht t he u ndefe at e d M i n ne sot a Vi k i ngs a nd for me r E agle s qu a r t e rba ck Sa m Br a d ford . We nt z h a d a sca r y st a r t , t h row i ng t wo i nt e rce pt ion s i n t he f i r st qu a r t e r, but he f i n ishe d t he ga me w it h 138 pa ssi ng ya rd s a s wel l a s a pa ssi ng t ouchdow n t o Dor ial G re e n-Be ck h a m. He re st ore d t he fait h of t he fa n s w it h a com m a nd i ng defe at of t he be st t e a m i n t he N F L , at t h at t i me. Un for t u n at ely, t wo close losse s t o d iv ision r ivals, t he New York G ia nt s a nd t he Dal la s Cowboys, fol lowe d We nt z’s re sou nd i ng v ict or y.

O nce agai n t houg h , Ca r son We nt z help e d t he E agle s fa n s t o not aba ndon hop e so qu ick ly. Ju st la st we ek , t he E agle s playe d t he Atla nt a Falcon s – t he t e a m le a d i ng t he N F L i n p oi nt s p e r ga me w it h a n ave r age of 33.8 p oi nt s. We nt z t ook m at t e r s i nt o h is ow n h a nd s br i ng i ng a 24 -15 w i n ove r t he Atla nt a Falcon s. He t h rew for 231 ya rd s w it h al most a 70% complet ion p e rce nt age, prov i ng once agai n t h at it is We nt z’s World , a nd eve r yone is ju st l iv i ng i n it. Wit h such a r ivet i ng p e r for m a nce ove r t he la st few we ek s, t he fa n s a re excit e d t o se e whe re he t a ke s t he t e a m for t he re st of t he se a son.

Soccer Streaks Luca Miraldi ’20

T h is pa st aut u m n s p or t se a son , seve nt e e n n i nt h g r a de r s m a de Devon P re p h ist or y by b e com i ng me mbe r s of t he f i r st eve r f re sh m a n so cce r t e a m. T he t e a m , r u n by coa che s Kev i n Ca n non a nd E du a rdo Ba r a cco, d id not h ave such a hot st a r t t o t he se a son.

Goal ke e p e r C h r is Ya ngel lo a nd sk ip p e r Luca M i r ald i - who h a d 4 goals a nd 8 a ssist s - br ut al ly col l ide d he a d- on du r i ng pr a ct ice b efore t hei r f i r st ga me. T he re su lt i ng ch a os e nt ai le d hospit al t r ips a nd bot h playe r s m issi ng pr a ct ice t o get st it che s.

T he f i r st ga me wa s prom isi ng a s capt ai n A lex Ha rd ie (4 goals a nd 4 a ssist s) score d t he t e a m’s f i r st goal of f a pa ss f rom fel low capt ai n

A id a n R i ng iew icz , (4 goals a nd 4 a ssist s). Subst it ut e goal ke e p e r Ma x For t ebuono (9 goals, 2 a ssist s) eve n r a n ke d on t he score she et w it h a wel l-pla ce d p e n alt y k ick du r i ng t he t e a m’s 5 -1 v ict or y ove r G e r m a nt ow n Aca de my. T he pros p e ct s cont i nue d t o br ig ht e n for t he n i nt h g r a de r s a s t hey b e at t he Ju n ior Va r sit y t e a m i n a sc r i m m age.But t he n , on ly 3 ga me s i nt o t he se a son , d isa st e r st r uck . R ig ht-ba ck Morga n Un r u h s pr ai ne d h is met at a r sals du r i ng a n ext re mely physical ga me w it h T he C hu rch Fa r m School, br i ng i ng h is se a son t o a n e a rly st op. Wit h on ly 5 subst it ut e s, t he t e a m a cce pt e d t wo new playe r s, T hom a s M i l le r a nd Joh n Sm it h , t o a dd some de pt h t o

t he defe n se. T he t e a m cont i nue d on t o set a h ig h ba r for f ut u re f re sh m a n t e a m s w it h a re cord of seve n w i n s, one t ie, a nd on ly si x losse s. T h is a rose f rom t he ext r a ord i n a r y ef for t s of t he t e a m a s a whole, e sp e cial ly t he st el la r defe n sive ef for t s f rom t he l i ke s of C h r is Ya ngel lo a nd t e a m capt ai n Kev i n Hu sa r. T he proje ct , a s de sc r ibe d by Coa ch Ti m McNal ly, is “ t o c re at e che m ist r y a mong t he playe r s t h at cou ld be v it al once t hey m a ke it J V a nd Va r sit y.” O ve r al l, it wa s a n i mpre ssive se a son i n wh ich al l playe r s comp et e d w it h m i nd set pr i nt e d on t hei r pr a ct ice je r seys - -“ Tomor row we w i l l be bet t e r t h a n t od ay.”

Dialogue Profile Mrs. Ciocca Daniel Redmond ’18

It is no secret that this year has brought many changes to Devon’s faculty - but teachers are not the only new faces around. Mrs. Catherine Ciocca will be replacing Mrs. Gavin this year as Devon’s head nurse.

Devon Dialogue: What kind of education do you have?

fourteen, and they are at Notre Dame Academy. My boys are eleven and ten, and they are at St. Aloysius.

DD: And what about you? Do you have any hobbies or other interests?

CC: I do. I play tennis, that’s my hobby. Otherwise, I do like traveling, Mrs. Catherine Ciocca: I have my bachelor’s degree from Gwynedd going to the beach, and reading.

Mercy College, and then I have my school nurse certification from DD: Why did you choose school nursing?

Immaculata.

CC: I chose school nursing because it worked with my family. I always DD: What previous positions have you held? wanted to have a family, but I also wanted to have a career, and this CC: Right out of college I worked at a pediatrician’s office, then I had my worked very well for juggling both. It’s a perfect combination to not children. I worked as a school nurse at the TE District, and also at miss what’s going on with the kids but also have work, and this fits Notre Dame. At Woodlynde, I subbed. the schedule so perfectly. That’s what I found at the pediatrician’s office. It was nice hours, nine to five, but sometimes a little bit later, DD: You mentioned children; would you mind talking a bit about your and sometimes some weekends. Then when I found this possibility family or personal life?

I could get the kids to school and be home when the kids get home from school and not miss evenings and weekends like that.

CC: Sure! So, I have four children: two daughters. They are fifteen and

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Dialogue Profile (cont.)

Mr. Sullivan Chris Perullo ’18

Devon Dialogue: What classes do you teach at Devon Prep?

Mr. Patrick Sullivan: Two, so I have Marketing and Management and Finance and Entrepreneurship DD: What is your favorite part about Devon Prep?

years doing that. I saw that as a marketing job. In my opinion, a sales job is when you need to get someone to sign something before they leave. I honestly took it because it was a good high paying job at the time. Not really sure what it was.

DD: Where did you attend college?

PS: The good kids and good people. There is no politics at Devon PS: Indiana University of Pennsylvania Prep.

DD: Do you have kids? If so, how many?

DD: What made you pursue a teaching job at Devon Prep?

PS: I do, I have a nine-year-old boy.

PS: Mr. A approached me. He said we have never had a business class before, and that I could create the curriculum. I never taught kids DD: How do you spend your free time? Do you have any hobbies? before, but I have taught adults. I finally had a job that gave me PS: A lot of hobbies. My son is a hockey player and a baseball player, the flexibility and it seemed like a great opportunity. so I spend a lot of time coaching. I also rehab houses for fun as DD: What do you enjoy the most about teaching? well as profit. I am involved in the organization called SABR (Society of American Baseball Research). We research baseball PS: I like when there is a difficult topic at hand and we get at the heart topics and statistics. I find it really interesting. of it. We are facing college level material and breaking it down.

It’s really amazing.

DD: Have you always lived in Pennsylvania?

DD: I understand you are not a full time teacher and work in other PS: I lived in Charlotte for a year and New Jersey for a couple years, fields. Can you elaborate on your prior and current work history? but other than that just Pennsylvania.

PS: Sure, so I also work in real estate: buy property, fix it, and sell it. DD: Having experience in the Marketing field, how do you believe Additionally, I work with someone who is buying and selling and Devon could improve in its marketing aspects and strategies? help them with that. I also work as an independent consultant.

PS: Devon is getting there, but I feel a consistency of message could So I go into a business and conduct a one or two day seminar be improved. They have a really good one right now in education on business writing, marketing, etc. Same things I’m teaching at for life, but it needs to be put on every ad and really emphasized.

Devon but to adults at a business.

A consistency of message is very effective, especially with a DD: What made you pursue a job in the field of Marketing and powerful phrase like education for life.”

Management?

PS: My first job was in pharmaceutical sales, and I spent about 14-15

Ms. Haroun Austin Cozzone ’18

Devon Dialogue: How has your time at Devon been so far?

academics can be and how stressful it is being in such a great school and being under the pressure of getting into a good college to be successful. Especially the boys here, they’re very into academics, so I like bringing that moment of relaxation and letting go for 45 minutes to de-stress.

Ms. Sara Haroun: It’ s been really great, I think it’s really fun. I think the guys here are very funny and I’ve been having a good time. I was nervous at first about working in an all-boys school, but I think that it’s a really great fit and that it’s a great school to be in. It’s a fun time to be at Devon, too.

DD: Have you had any other careers besides teaching?

DD: Why did you decide to become a teacher?

SH: When I was in college I was a florist, so I would do flower arrangements. [Laughs] I would also promote concerts for the Electric Factory [concert venue], so I had all these little gigs that I would do to make money because art supplies are super expensive. My summer jobs were always teaching jobs, but during the rest of the year, my jobs included making flower arrangements for a company and also promoting Electric Factory shows.

SH: I decided to become a teacher in my freshman year of college. I had gotten into art school but I was only a B.F.A., so I was just going to be an artist in general. Then at some point in my freshman year in art school, everyone was so talented and amazing, I thought, “Ok, I’m probably never going to become a super rich person from just making art,” so the only other thing I could think of that I actually enjoyed doing was teaching. In high school, I used to give swimming DD: Where did you go to college and what did you study? lessons, especially to younger kids, and I always really liked that. So, SH: I went to Temple University at the Tyler School of Art, because I decided to combine both teaching and art and make a career out Temple has multiple little schools within, and my major was art of that. Luckily, the school I was in offered an art education major education. I also had a minor in painting because at that time I loved so it was easy for me to transition from being an art major to an art painting. Then, I started taking architecture classes and right after education major. my senior year of college I took a graduate architecture class before I DD: How long have you been teaching? applied to the program. I really loved it, so now I’m doing my masters in architecture.

SH: I started teaching in high school, and I have always had summer jobs. I worked at the Baldwin School running their summer art DD: What interests you the most about art? program for six years, and after I graduated from college, I worked at SH: I’ve always been attracted to the idea of freedom, and I like how art is Germantown Academy for a year and now I’ m here. so freeing. I like to have fun, too. I was never the kind of person who DD: What is the best part about your job? wanted to be tied-down doing homework or something I don’t want to do, so creating always came very naturally to me. I guess I love art SH: It’s super rewarding working with young students, because I think because it’ s really freeing.

I have a child-part of myself, and I like to have fun, make art, and create. And I enjoy sharing that with other people. I also really enjoy DD: Do you have any other interests outside of school? bringing art into an academic setting because I know how stressful SH: I love film and theater and that whole department as well. But outside

Dialogue Profile (cont.) of academics the thing I love the most is hanging out with friends and family. I love going for super-long walks in nature, going to the beach, I’m very nature-oriented, which is why I feel so lucky to have this classroom because I appreciate how beautiful it is in here.

5

and all that. So, the Art Club is basically a free space to create.

DD: Can you tell us about the Art Club?

SH: I envision Art Club as something I would want an Art Club to be, which is a place where kids who are interested in art, and want to do it in their spare time, could come and do whatever it is they’re interested in. The way I run the art program is teaching everyone a lesson and having them learn specific skills to learn more broad concepts of art, so I want the Art Club to be a place where kids can come to me and say, “I’m really interested in painting,” or, “I’m really interested in sculpture,” or whatever and create as they want to create. I’ll be there as a source of inspiration and to give materials

Ms. Sara Haroun helps students load the kiln during one of her Ceramics classes.

Ms. Jenks Tyler Gazda ’18

Devon Dialogue: Ms. Jenks, what classes do you teach?

AJ: I do, all the kids are nice and the faculty members are nice.

Ms. Amanda Jenks: I teach 7th grade writing and English and 6th DD: Are you involved with any clubs? grade English.

AJ: I am helping moderate the Drama Club.

DD: How long have you been teaching?

DD: Do you have any hobbies you would like to share with the student AJ: This is my first year teaching. body?

DD: Where have you taught before Devon?

AJ: I like to act and direct, as well as play the guitar. I would be interested in directing one of Devon’s plays.

AJ: I did student teaching in Baltimore.

DD: Do you have a favorite sport?

DD: What college did you go to?

AJ: My favorite sport is hockey.

AJ: I attended Loyola University in Maryland.

DD: What is your favorite book?

DD: What was your major?

AJ: I majored in English and Theater.

DD: Did you minor in anything? Do you have a master’s degree?

AJ: I have a master’s degree in secondary education.

AJ: My favorite book is the Clockwork Orange but I also enjoy reading Shakespeare.

DD: Would you consider going back to school?

AJ: I would like to get a further degree in English but am also interested in a degree in educational leadership.

DD: Do you enjoy teaching at Devon?

Mr. Mulholland Luca Miraldi ’20

Devon Dialogue: What is your role at Devon and where can students reach you?

to Devon for a potential career?

KM: I would strongly suggest that they come back and support us Mr. Kevin Mulholland: I’m the director of admissions and somebody because they’ll come to realize that they will never really leave can always find me in the admissions office, taking orders from here.

Mr. Kane and making sure kids can visit or enter this school.

DD: What would you tell sixth graders or freshmen about adapting DD: What made you decide to come back to Devon? to Devon?

KM: Well I believe that you never really leave Devon and have a KM: I think the most important aspect is to stay positive throughout connection too, and the opportunity arose which I couldn’t pass everything. Obviously work really hard, because it definitely up. pays off, but also remember to have fun along the way.

DD: How many students from the class of 2002 are you still friends DD: What are your extracurricular passions and hobbies? with?

KM: I love to go to Flyers games in my free time, and I also love KM: Well, we’ll have a look in the yearbook. It would’ve been 23 out to spend time with my friends and family - although I know it’s of the 36 kids who graduated with me. such a cliche.

DD: Where did you go to college and what area of study did you DD: What are you predicting for Philadelphia sport teams? pursue?

KM: It’s been a tough start to the season for the Flyers, but they will KM: I went to the University of Maryland for broadcast journalism. make the playoffs. I think it could be our year in the one of the I was terrible at calculus, but I had two great English teachers in next few years to come, as long as we have good goaltending. But Mr. Schramm and Mr. Marcoon. we must get rid of Andrew MacDonald! I can’t say much about the Sixers besides the fact that they will fail to make playoffs and DD: What were your previous professions? will get the lottery pick again. The Phillies cannot win more than 80 games this season. I don’t want to talk too much about the KM: I used to be an Associate Producer at Comcast Sports Net and a Eagles, but Wentz will be named the rookie of the year.

Participant Services Administrator at Vanguard.

DD: What would you tell any of the graduation seniors about returning

6

Mrs. Frank Frank Byrd ’18, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Mrs. Frank is the Assistant Director of Technology here at Devon and DD: What are your first impressions of the Devon community as a teaches the Introduction to Computing, Introduction to Computer whole?

Science, Graphic Design, and Computer Programming courses KF: From the first time I stepped foot at Devon for my first interview at the school. last spring, I felt like I was home. There is a feeling here that this Devon Dialogue: Mrs. Frank, how long have you been teaching? is the place where the young men who will lead tomorrow are being formed. I wanted to be a part of that from the start.

Mrs. Katherine Frank: 13 years.

DD: What do you like to do in your free time?

DD: Have you taught at any schools other than Devon?

KF: I love to spend time with my family, write screenplays, and KF: I first taught at St. Bernard School in Philadelphia, which was explore state and national parks with my husband. We have actually my grade school before I began teaching there - I started camped in some pretty cool places! as an art teacher and transitioned into the technology role. I also taught at Woodland Hills Private School in Woodland Hills, DD: How does teaching at Devon compare to any previous teaching California, and Holy Trinity School in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. roles you might have had?

DD: Where did you go to school? What is your educational KF: I have loved every school where I have had the privilege to teach, background? and I have learned from each and every student who has worked beside me. Devon feels like home, and I’m excited to see what KF: I received my Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from lies ahead and what lessons I will learn from my Devon students.

Philadelphia University, my Certificate in Graphic Design from the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, and my Masters in Instructional Technology K-12 from St. Joseph’s University.

Mrs. Kate Frank Additionally, I studied Film Direction and Screenwriting at the teaches Introduction to LA Film School in Los Angeles.

Computing, Introduction DD: What made you want to pursue a career in teaching? to Computer Science, Graphic Design, and KF: My parents were both Catholic school teachers and then Computer Programming principals. I have always admired the lives they were able to here at Devon. influence through this work. Teaching is a calling for me; there is no other profession I know where I would be able to make an impact on the future the way that teaching allows me to do.

Mr. Kane Griffen Steinman ’21

Devon Dialogue: What was your first impression of Devon Prep?

was able to make a connection with all of the students by coaching baseball and made connections with the students which was one of my biggest goals working here. I started to understand more what the school was about, why the students came here any also look at the things that I think we can improve.

Pat Kane: My first impression of Devon was charming. I felt that the buildings were to some extent outdated, but because of the size of the school, was fitting. I had very little previous knowledge of this school, other than it having an academic reputation. I walked into it very open minded and very quickly I learned that it was full DD: Are you enjoying your new position reaching out to alumni and of energized, but committed students that were looking for more our community? than just learning. They wanted their experience at this school to be a part of their lives. I felt that the families that I met were PK: I am, it is a transition, and there are days where I would love to just pick up the phone and tell them why they should consider similar to what you would get at a parish type school. Everyone sending their son to our school. I enjoy my new position, I used wanting to help, everyone wanting to be supportive, and I thought to only work with the beginning part helping families get in, but that that was an interesting background for a private school. now I get to continue with the relationship with the families that DD: what were some of the characteristics for an admissions director are here and how they can make an impact on the rest of their that you looked for in a candidate? son’s life in this school. In regards to the alumni, I have met a lot of educated and successful people in our alumni base. What is PK: I wanted to find someone that had a very outgoing personality amazing to me is how much they remember of their Devon Prep that would be comfortable in speaking to parents, students, experience. I do not remember my high school experience so it is alumni, or any situation that they were thrown into. Someone really neat to go out and talk to them and hear these things about who had the personality to work with people. I wanted to find high school that they remember so vividly. I’m glad I have the someone who was an alumnus because the transition from myself opportunity to go and reconnect with them. to a new director to an alumnus would be an easier transition and provide understanding of what the school was already about. I DD: If you could do any other kind of work, what would it be? was looking for someone that could be professional, so that when they needed to be very firm they had the ability to do so, but they PK: If I could be an artist, I would love to do that. I love to draw and paint. I wouldn’t mind that at all. I always said that if I won the also had the ability to change and have fun. lottery, I would not leave Devon I would give back to the school.

DD: What were you doing before you came at worked at Devon Prep?

I would also love to coach football. Football was my favorite and best sport, not baseball. I always enjoyed that more. If I had the PK: For six years before I worked here I worked for a printing company. time to do that, I would love to do it. I would also love to be a It was locally owned in Broomall. It was named Prosit and the promoter for talent and music, or a DJ on the radio. owner was a Delaware County native and he started the business with a friend. When I came along it had already been going for DD: If you could travel back in time, what would you do? about six to seven years. The primary printing work that we did was for pharmaceutical companies and our secondary focus was PK: I would re-marry my wife and have my kids. I would maybe have given baseball a little more opportunity. Instead I decided private schools. I worked in customer service and then I worked to move on and use my degree. I am very happy with mostly with the owner on his accounts and then I became the General everything else. I always wanted to be a teacher and my degree is Manager. I basically ran the daily operations with accounts and in History and I planned to be a teacher and get my masters, but supervising the production team. then I signed to play baseball and that all ended.

DD: How you like being a Devonite?

DD: Chocolate or Vanilla?

PK: I love Devon, I didn’t go here, I went to public school. So when I got here, this environment was very different from what I was PK: Vanilla. used to, but the students here made it very comfortable for me. I

Death, Drinks, and Dining: A Simple Guide to Cultural Transition

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Tommy Brower ’18, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Barely over a year slipped past in all its uproarious entailments since the wildly talented troupe of actors of the Devon Musical and Drama establishment charmed their audience with a most bewitching performance of The Crucible. On those early nights in November, the cool air of the gymnasium grew thick as the salty fogs of Massachusetts rolled in from the sea, carrying with them all the witchcraft and sorcery of the Old World. Sickly cackling of witches, bitter weeping of the condemned, and the accusatory cries of witchcraft filled the gym to the rafters as the audience found themselves transported to the heyday of the Puritan movement in Salem.

The democratic, affluence-driven culture that birthed the Salem Witch Trials of the Crucible exhibit the very background and exposition for this year’s drama, The Dining Room. Witches and judges alike assumed the guise of an unbridled – even licentious in some cases –cast of affluent families themselves all products of the remaining elements of Puritan culture that worked to shape the AngloAmerican ethnology during the twentieth century setting of the drama. Endless hours flew past in Calasanctius Hall as the actors and actresses rehearsed their multiple roles; any visitors within the vicinity of the building found his or herself subject to the frenzied shouts of romantic entanglement, the pleading cries of an emotionally-overburdened family, and the arrogant quips of an unaware college student. With the broad scope of the drama in mind, gaining a clear grasp of the core themes of the work often proved a difficult task to actors and actresses alike.

The Dining Room consists of a series of eighteen vignettes portraying the happenings of various upper-middle-class White AngloSaxon Protestants all connected by the common thread of a single dining room set manufactured in 1898. Each vignette offers a glimpse into the lives of these WASP families throughout the nineteenth century, displaying

the characters’ emotional attachment to the physical furniture and characteristics of the dining room and their attachment to the psycho-social, familial environment that the dining room incurs. All of these scenes serve to illustrate the dying culture of upper-middle class WASPs in America throughout the twentieth century as evidenced by the transition in family dynamics. The play employs such scenes as that of an elderly grandmother with Alzheimer’s unable to recognize her own children at Thanksgiving and two teenage girls breaking into their parent’s liquor cabinet to snag some swigs of an aperitif, to show this departure from a traditional society based on concrete values derived from Puritanism to a modern culture valuing progress and social liberation.

Made in 1898, the dining set stoically watches the senescence of its own culture, it smiles under the weight of family gatherings and groans under the burden of its owners’ scandalous secrets. The drama serves up a full helping of scenes depicting the traditional WASP culture that soon vanishes entirely.

An affluent father (Connor Galarneau ’17) begins by lecturing his son (Seamus Slattery ’19) on the values of family life, politics, and education in response to a new teacher’s controversial remarks of government action in the Great Depression. While touring a house, a potential client (Ben Rufo ’17) emphasizes the importance of a dining room in family dynamics. Michael (Thomas Brower ’18), the son in a wealthy family, begs his housekeeper Agatha (Lainey Nordone ’17) to stay while failing to grasp her desire to seek more profitable employment. Similarly, the grandson (Seamus Slattery ’19) of a wealthy grandfather (Ben Lubker ’17) visits his grandfather seeking to extract the necessary funding to attend a High Episcopalian boarding school in Connecticut.

Standish (AJ Tiglao ’17) vows to defend his brother’s honor upon incident of insult at his brother’s own club much to the dismay and

concern of his wife (Lainey Nordone ’17).

Soon the drama heats up as the previously traditional dealing of family life grow complex with social depravity and deteriorating family dynamics. Howard (Ben Lubker ’17) harangues his wife Ellie (Mary Tomcavage ’17) for her audacity in occupying the dining room to write her term paper. Kate (Abrah Katzman ’17) finds herself interrupted after intimacies with her travelling husband’s best friend Gordon (James Coffey ’17). Meg (Emily Steinhardt ’18) begs to return home with her children after a string of failed affairs with both men and women alike. Margery (Mary Tomcavage ’17), a recently-divorced housewife flirts with the repairman (AJ Tiglao ’17) that comes to repair her dining room table. Tony (Thomas Brower ’18) unknowingly mocks and belittles the Puritan culture of his great aunt (Bridget McCann ’18) in constructing a project on vanishing cultures. Two mischievous teenagers (Catherine Conroy ’19 and Victoria Gauntner ’18) break into a liquor cabinet to sneak swigs of vodka and gin mixed with Fresca. Finally, the dining room becomes hosts a morbid discussion of a father’s (Connor Galarneau ’17) funeral arrangements with his son (Ben Rufo ’17) as well as a topic of complete removal by an architect (Alex Leicht ’19).

The drama ends with a touching scene involving the recurrent dreams of a woman (Mary Tomcavage ’17) wishing to return to the unity, comfort, and stability of her WASP culture. In all the hustle and bustle of modern life, this woman wishes to stop for just a moment, to pause the mundane happenings of the world and relive the meaningful traditions of her now-dead culture. She wistfully longs to gather together all the people she has ever known for one last dinner party, one last sliver of familial and friendly unity before it forever fades into the background to be crushed under the wheels of progress.

Dialogue Editorials

Enduring the Election: Outcomes of the 2016 Presidential Race Matthew Drauschak ’18

T he 2016 P re side nt ial Ele ct ion is f i n al ly ove r af t e r 10 long mont h s of debat i ng a nd a rg u i ng, a nd Don ald Tr u mp e me rge d a s t he v ict or i n a h ist or ic m at chup. No one eve r t houg ht t h at t he bi l l ion ai re bu si ne ssm a n wou ld h ave be e n able t o pu l l it of f, but he d id . Wit h seve r al sca nd als, m a ny Re publ ica n s doubt i ng h i m , a nd H i l la r y Cl i nt on’s at t a ck s, m a ny bel ieve d t h at a Tr u mp P re side ncy wa s absolut ely neve r goi ng t o h app e n. Eve r yone t houg ht t h at it wa s goi ng t o be a n e a sy w i n for H i l la r y Cl i nt on. Howeve r, he r pa st broug ht m a ny p e ople t o t h i n k t h at neit he r of t he t wo ca nd id at e s we re re a dy for t he pre side ncy. Cor re sp ond i ngly, m a ny p e ople vot e d for t he be st of t he wor st i n t hei r opi n ion s. A lt houg h t he

p ol ls d id not favor Tr u mp before t he ele ct ion , he m a n age d t o se cu re n a r row v ict or ie s i n m a ny key bat tleg rou nd st at e s. Ma ny p e ople worldw ide we re st u n ne d a nd sho cke d whe n t hey saw t he eve nt s u n fold on ele ct ion n ig ht. For some, it wa s a n ig ht m a re; for ot he r s, it wa s a m i r a cle. Eit he r way, h ist or y wa s m a de on Nove mbe r 8, 2016. Don ald Tr u mp m a de h ist or y by be com i ng t he f i r st non-p ol it icia n t o be come P re side nt , a nd H i l la r y Cl i nt on m a de h ist or y by be com i ng t he f i r st wom a n t o le a d a m ajor pa r t y t icket. A f t e r Tr u mp’s v ict or y, t he re wa s sho ck a mong t he world . Foreig n le a de r s, such as t he Ru ssia n P re side nt V la d i m i r P ut i n a nd Isr a el i P r i me M i n ist e r Be nja m i n Net a nya hu ,

expre sse d t hei r cong r at u lat ion s t o P re side nt- ele ct Tr u mp wh i le ot he r s such a s t he G e r m a n P r i me M i n ist e r A ngela Me rkel mo cke d t he newly ele ct e d bu si ne ssm a n. O n t op of t h is, re a ct ion s a c ross t he cou nt r y h ave caug ht m a ny by su r pr ise. P rot e st s i n m ajor cit ie s, such a s New York Cit y a nd L os A ngele s, h ave t h row n t he cou nt r y i nt o a Civ i l-Wa r l i ke st at e.

I n fa ct , Cal i for n ia h a s eve n m a de awa re t o t he gove r n me nt t h at t hey wou ld l i ke t o se ce de f rom t he Un ion.

De spit e t he se prot e st s, most A me r ica n h ave st a r t e d t o come t oget he r a nd st a nd beh i nd P re side nt- ele ct Tr u mp w it h m a ny hopi ng t o se e wh at he w i l l do i n h is f i r st 10 0 d ays i n of f ice.

8

Engineering Expectations Chick Hallinan ’18

O n Oct obe r 5t h , roug h ly t we nt y Devon st ude nt s of va r iou s age s gat he re d i n Cala sa nct iu s Hal l t o pa r t icipat e i n t he mont h ly i n st al l me nt of t he Devon A lu m n i Me nt or P rog r a m. T h is pa r t icu la r eve nt wa s ge a re d t owa rd s e ng i ne e r i ng. T he Ca re e r For u m re se mble d a n i n for m al “Q & A” se ssion , i n wh ich st ude nt s who we re i nt e re st e d i n a ce r t ai n profe ssion al f ield h a d t he opp or t u n it y t o d iscove r wh at t he col leg iat e exp e r ie nce s a nd ca re e r pat h s of Devon it e s now o ccupie d i n said f ield we re l i ke. A l l i nvolve d also we re able t o e njoy some Be r w y n Pi z z a . T he prog r a m is orga n i ze d by M r. Dav id Eva n s ’08: “I t h i n k t he alu m n i a re re a ct i ng ve r y wel l. Most alu m s bel ieve t h at af t e r t hey g r a du at e, t hei r i nvolve me nt i n t he school is 90% f i n a ncial a nd 10% volu nt e e r i ng, coa ch i ng, et c.

But we wa nt t o i nve r t t h at model. We value t hei r t i me a nd t ale nt more.”O n Nove mbe r 16t h , t he Me nt or P rog r a m also held a wel l-at t e nde d se ssion fo cu si ng on bu si ne ss, f i n a nce, a nd e conom ics. T he f ut u re of t he prog r a m look s

br ig ht , w it h law a nd i n for m at ion t e ch nolog y se ssion s i n t he work s. T he p ossibi l it y of a Ca re e r Day on wh ich st ude nt s wou ld sp e nd t i me of f- ca mpu s i n a work pla ce is also bei ng d iscu sse d . “It’ s re al ly up t o t he st ude nt s wh at d i re ct ion t he prog r a m is goi ng t o go i n ,” d isclose d M r.

Eva n s, “ We wa nt t o k now wh at d r ive s st ude nt i nt e re st s.”

Students interested in engineering gather for insight from professional Devon alumni.

A Different Kind of Field Trip Caelan Coyne ’18 and Matt Koskinen ’18

Two d ays of com mu n it y se r v ice i n Ph i la delph ia is not a t y pical rout i ne for a ny of Devon P re p’s ju n ior s.

Unde r st a nd ably, t he re a ct ion t o he a r i ng t h at t hey we re goi ng t o be doi ng ju st t h at se e me d t o be r at he r negat ive. It is t oug h t o be i m me r se d i n a n e nv i ron me nt t h at you a re n’t u su al ly fa ce d w it h. Howeve r, up on a r r ival t hey we re g re et e d w it h a n exp e r ie nce t h at w i l l h ave l i fet i me i mpl icat ion s for t he m. T h roug h t he help of seve r al orga n i z at ion s, t hey we re able t o prov ide much-ne e de d se r v ice s t o t hose le ss for t u n at e l iv i ng i n com mu n it ie s on ly a shor t t r ip away f rom t hei r ow n. T he g r a de wa s spl it i nt o t wo g roups, one goi ng t o t he Sai nt Vi nce nt DePau l Ce nt e r i n G e r m a nt ow n , a nd t he ot he r t o t he Aqu i n a s Ce nt e r i n Sout h Ph i la delph ia .

For t he St. Vi nce nt DePau l g roup, on t hei r f i r st d ay t hey we re g re et e d by v isit i ng t he SH A R E Food P rog r a m , whe re t hey we re able t o st u f f let t e r s w it h orde r for m s for schools so t h at fa m i l ie s of ch i ld re n i n t hose schools wou ld be able t o orde r f re sh foo d a nd produce at a n af ford able pr ice, al low i ng low budget fa m i l ie s t o e at he alt hy. A f t e r wa rd s t hey pa cke d more t h a n f i f t y boxe s cont ai n i ng T h a n k sg iv i ng d i n ne r s t o se nd t o fa m i l ie s t h at ca n not af ford a T h a n k sg iv i ng d i n ne r. A f t e r complet i ng a n af t e r noon of work at SH A R E , t he st ude nt s we nt t o t he St. Vi nce nt DePau l Ce nt e r, whe re al l t we nt y st ude nt s we re spl it i nt o g roups of f ive, a nd set out t o prov ide a me al for t hei r “ fa m i l ie s” on a budget r a ng i ng bet we e n $6.0 0 a nd $8.0 0. T h is gave a n e nt i rely d i f fe re nt p e r sp e ct ive t o a la rge g roup of k id s who h ave neve r h a d t o prov ide for so m a ny p e ople w it h so l it tle money t o work w it h. A f t e r wa rd s t hey we re lef t w it h a ref le ct ion t o m a ke on t he eve nt s of t he n ig ht , a nd conclude d t hei r f i r st d ay. T he fol low i ng mor n i ng, t hey we re once agai n spl it up. T h is t i me i n f ive d i f fe re nt g roups, t hey spl it up t o a ch ieve va r iou s t a sk s

a rou nd t he a re a , i nclud i ng work i ng at a soup k it che n , v isit i ng a home for t he elde rly, a nd re pai r i ng a ya rd a nd cou r t ya rd for a home t h at prot e ct s dome st ic abu se v ict i m s.

Fol low i ng t hei r mor n i ng of work , t he g roup ret u r ne d t o Devon , ca r r y i ng w it h t he m wh at t hey h a d exp e r ie nce d ove r t he pa st t wo d ays, mold i ng t he m i nt o more g r at ef u l i nd iv idu als.

T he g roup t h at t r avel le d t o Sout h Ph i la delph ia st aye d at t he Aqu i n a s Ce nt e r, a bu i ld i ng once u se d t o hou se nu n s for t he next door St. T hom a s Aqu i n a s C hu rch , t he Aqu i n a s Ce nt e r is now a com mu n it y hub t h at h a s af t e r school prog r a m s, e ducat ion al cla sse s for al l age s, a nd eve n a home for some p e ople ne e d i ng a pla ce t o st ay. T he cla ss d id a lot of work du r i ng t hei r t i me i n Ph i la delph ia w it h t h i ngs eit he r at t he Aqu i n a s Ce nt e r or at ot he r se r v ice lo cat ion s. O n t he f i r st d ay, t he cla ss spl it i nt o t wo g roups, one st ay i ng at t he ce nt e r t o help c re at e a mu r al i n t hei r com mu n it y ga rde n , a nd t he ot he r goi ng t o Ph i labu nd a nce, a non-prof it food ba n k t h at fe e d s about 90,0 0 0 p e ople a we ek . A f t e r a long d ay of work t he st ude nt s we re ke pt i n t hei r g roups a nd t a ske d w it h pick i ng up food for d i n ne r, e a ch g roup w it h d i f fe re nt cu lt u r al food . O nce t he cla ss at e, t hey we re able t o rela x , play ba sketbal l, a nd h ave ref le ct ion t i me before goi ng t o be d . T he se cond d ay, t he cla ss wa s spl it up agai n. T he g roups d id va r iou s t h i ngs such a s se r v i ng at a food k it che n , helpi ng at a Habit at for Hu m a n it y ret ai l st ore, a nd cle a n i ng out t he ba se me nt of t he chu rch. A f t e r t he jobs we re f i n ishe d , t he st ude nt s said goodbye t o t he Aqu i n a s Ce nt e r st af f a nd t he p e ople t hey worke d w it h , a nd he a de d ba ck t o Devon. T he exp e r ie nce op e ne d t he st ude nt s’ eye s up t o pa r t s of so ciet y most h a d neve r se e n before, a nd broug ht t he m close r t oget he r a s a Devon fa m i ly.

Editorial Board

© 2016 Devon Prep

Editor-in-Chief: Ben Rufo ’17 Co-Deputy Editors-in-Chief: Michael Bonfiglio ’17 Frank Byrd ’18 Tommy Brower ’18 Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lawrence Theuer Several members of Devon’s Junior class stand outside the St. Vincent DePaul center in Germantown, during their service trip in early October.

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.