V36 Issue 2

photobyRileyBreaux

Time flies

“A Wrinkle in Time” provides final swan song for senior thespians

BY | BLAIR BATSON

The play, “A Wrinkle in Time,” featured seniors in their final fall performance on Oct. 18-20, which was organized by Fine Arts Department Chair and theater teacher Dusty Davidson and Technical Director and Instructor and technical theater teacher Lauren Redmond.

“She’s not a perfect character,” Everbach said. “At the end of the show, she learns how to use her flaws to her advantage, which I thought was really cool and realistic. She stands up for herself a lot. She’s protective of her family, and she fights for what she thinks is right.”

BREAK A LEG On Oct. 16, seniors Cole Nugent, Will Minnis and Alexandra Everbach rehearse a scene in which Charles and Meg meet Calvin in the woods. Performances were held on Oct. 18, 19 and 20. “A lot of people, including me, can relate to [Meg],” Everbach said. “She learns to accept herself, which is a great message.” photo by

The time people give us is an irreplaceable gift, so my goal is to make it worth their while when they give us that time.

Dusty Davidson Fine Arts Department Chair & theater teacher “ ”

“A Wrinkle in Time” follows Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin O’Keefe as they go to another dimension to find their father and save the universe. The leads of this play were seniors Alexandra Everbach as Meg, Cole Nugent as Calvin and Will Minnis as Charles.

Each actor and actress went through an audition process where they were required to perform a reading from the script.

“[Everbach] is a strong actress and was able to give depth to [Meg’s] character,” Davidson said. “[Minnis] is a nice, funny guy and really picked up on a lot of the nuances of [Charles]. [Nugent] really fit the part [of Calvin] well; it was almost a natural part for him, one that he’s very well suited for.”

Everbach has taken acting classes both in school and at the Dallas Children’s Theater since she was nine years old. She has also participated in every Upper School play and musical throughout high school.

“I like theater because I love to read,” Everbach said. “I feel like theater is bringing the words to life—it’s a form of expression. I love character study and finding out how people think.” Before auditions, Everbach knew she wanted to take on the role of Meg because of Meg’s charisma and strength.

Nugent did not participate in an Upper School theater production until the spring play of his sophomore year, but since then, he participated in multiple performances his junior year.

“One of [my favorite parts of the shows] has always been the camaraderie with everyone involved in the show,” Nugent said. “You always get super close with everyone in the cast.”

Nugent finds many similarities among himself and his character, Calvin.

“We [have] a joke in the cast about how pretty much everyone [is] almost like their character,” Nugent said. “I can relate to [Calvin] a lot—the way the [he] talks is more relaxed, and I’m not that person that is always using giant words [and] constantly stressing about everything. I just go with the flow, and I felt like [Calvin] is very much the same way.”

The only prior theatre experience Minnis has is as an ensemble member in last year’s winter musical.

“[Being a lead] is a much bigger commitment,”

called [to rehearsal as] often. Now, I’m called [to rehearsal] every day for two or three hours.”

I LIKE THEATER BECAUSE I LOVE TO READ. I FEEL LIKE THEATER IS BRINGING THE WORDS TO LIFE—IT’S A FORM OF EXPRESSION. ALEXANDRA EVERBACH “

Minnis said. “Now I actually have lines, which is fun. [I am] trying to put as much character into my character as I can. When I was doing the musical, I wasn’t a major character, so I wasn’t

In order to prepare for the play, the cast was required to memorize their lines and attend rehearsals for two hours four days a week and for six hours every day during tech week, the week before the play when the cast rehearses in costume with all of the sounds, lighting and special effects.

“I’m used to having a big time crunch [when] I get home [to do homework],” Minnis said. “Memorizing lines [is hard] because I have so many. I [have to] just read [them] over and over

THE SHOW MUST GO ON During dress rehearsal in the Bray Theater on Oct. 16, sophomore Madison McCoy (top) plays the role of Mrs. Whatsit, and freshman Emily Lichty (left) plays the role of a teacher in “A Wrinkle in Time.” Based on the popular book, the fall play was performed for three days. This was McCoy’s second year participating in the Upper School play. “I like that [Mrs. Whatsit] is really animated and bubbly,” McCoy said. “It’s fun to play a character that’s happy all the time.”

and then block off the [lines] that are mine and stumble through [them to] see what I did wrong, and then I read [it] again.”

Because “A Wrinkle in Time” is a show geared toward younger ages, it differs from previous Upper School plays that were intended specifically for a high school audience because of language and subject matter.

“I generally pick [plays] that have substance and meaning to them,” Davidson said. “The time people give us is an irreplaceable gift, so my goal is to make it worth their while when they give us that time, whether it’s the actors in the play or the audience coming to see it.”

photo by Melissa Rivera (top) and Sydney Rezaie (left)

Melissa Rivera

FINISH LINE

Lower School students sign construction beam

Event before football game celebrates construction of new building

BY | LAUREN EGGER

At Family Night on Oct. 12, Lower School students signed a steel beam that will be placed in the roof of the new Lower School at the Upper campus.

Lower School Family Night is an annual tradition that centers around varsity sports, such as football, volleyball or field hockey and features a cookout organized by the Dad’s Partnership and the Booster Club. The beam will not be visible from inside the building, but a permanent plaque will be placed on the wall near the beam location.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for Lower School students and families to feel [like] a part of the construction of the new Lower School,” Associate Head of School Ruth Burke said. “We see [the site] every day, so we are used to it.”

Another addition to the night was the viewing of the construction site from the upstairs track in the Competition Gym. Tables were set up with construction hats and guessing games like “How many tons of steel will be in the building?” and “How many cubic square feet of concrete has been poured?”

“We encouraged students and their families to go to the volleyball game as well and look at the site and the steel frame that is being built right now,” Burke said. “It was a fun, community-building event for the Lower School families to get over [to the main campus] because a lot of them hadn’t seen the Lower School building site.”

The Booster Club and Dad’s Partnership organized the night and staffed the event with parent volunteers. Additionally, the Booster Club donated the meals this year, and a free dinner of grilled burgers and hot dogs was provided for every family that attended.

“Lower School [Family] Night was created by the Dad’s Partnership to get families of Lower School students to support

Upper School events,” Dad’s Partnership President Sloane Teegarden said. “Since we have two campuses, there is often a disconnect between the two communities, and these types of events bridge that gap.”

The Booster Club also hosted the Count the Candy contest, which awarded a large jar of candy to the Lower School student who guessed the closest. This contest raised over $230 for the Athletic Tuition Assistance program.

“The Booster Club donated meals to Lower School families to welcome our young families and friends and let them know that we cannot wait for them to join us next year at Merrell Road,” Booster Club President Alan Schoellkopf said. “The Booster Club participates in this fabulous event in order to serve our school community and raise awareness of the incredible impact the funds we raise have on our student athletes and teams.”

The cheerleaders and wingmen helped Lower Schoolers sign the beam and guided them to the indoor track to see the building site and design a hard hat.

“I want to give a big shoutout and thank you to the cheerleaders and wingmen,” Burke said. “They were a huge help in welcoming our younger students and their parents and in providing directions to the various activities.”

Despite the rain, there were over 300 RSVPs to the event because many parents were eager to see the construction site.

“The rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the night at all,” Burke said. “I saw a lot of smiles, laughter and positive mojo throughout the evening. [There was] lots of excitement about the new Lower School and the opportunity to be together and support our field hockey, volleyball and football teams.”

SAW THE SIGN A Lower School student autographs the construction beam on Oct. 12 before a varsity football game. Lower School students signed the beam to signify their place within the new building, which is expected to open next fall. “It was special to help the Lower Schoolers sign the beam,” junior varsity cheerleader Rachel Morrow said. “You could tell they are so excited to be coming to the new campus.” photo by Sarah Smith

for Team

have done the walk many times and am looking forward to participating again next year.”

Student-led team walks to fund diabetes research

BY | EVELYN ZHAO

Over the summer, senior Karenna Traylor started her own team for the Juvenile Research Foundation’s One Walk, which was held on Oct. 20 in Legacy, Plano, to raise money and help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

During the end of her freshman year, Karenna was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disease that prevents the pancreas from producing insulin, which decreases the body’s energy levels. Her father Tom Traylor, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 24 years, introduced JDRF to her five years ago. In July, Karenna and her family signed up for the JDRF One Walk for the first time and created Team Traylor.

“I love [JDRF] because there’s a lot of teenagers who are involved, and I’ve met other teenagers my age who have diabetes,” Karenna said. “Some of my friends have signed up, and I’m looking forward to them seeing the whole different world that I have to live in and to see other people with diabetes because I know I’m most people’s only connection to diabetes.”

Directors,” Tom said. “We’ve always wanted to have a Traylor walk team, and [we] thought it would be fun to do it together and bring all of our friends into it. JDRF is a big thing for the Traylor Family, and our family gives more money to JDRF than any other charity.”

Karenna’s job includes collecting donations for Team Traylor and JDRF and selling T-shirts to raise money for her team. Currently, Team Traylor has raised $3,870 out of their $5,000 goal, and $730,000 out of a $939,110 goal was raised for the JDRF Greater Dallas chapter.

“A lot of people have donated money, which is really [generous],” Karenna said. “My goal is for more people to raise money to hopefully be able to help fund research to find a cure.”

Friends and classmates of Karenna have supported her by starting their own individual teams within Team Traylor to raise money, with each team raising $30 to $200.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT TYPE 1 DIABETES, AND WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, I GAINED A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON IT. KARENNA TRAYLOR

After Tom joined the JDRF Greater Dallas Board of Directors, Karenna set up a website for Team Traylor and started collecting money from friends and family.

“Karenna and I always wanted to do something special after I joined the JDRF Board of

“For me, my

friends or for people who don’t know Karenna, I ask them to donate,” senior Kathryn Ferguson said. “Helping spreads awareness, and it’s a fun way to get the word out about diabetes.”

Ferguson has participated in the walk every year, supporting both a family friend who has diabetes, as well as her grandfather, who was diagnosed

10 years ago. After hearing about Team Traylor, Ferguson decided to walk with her classmates and friends in October.

“This year, I’m looking forward to my class walking because I’ve only walked it [for] the people who are from my family,” Ferguson said. “It’s really exciting to gather together and walk with people, and it means so much to them. Since [Karenna] is my good friend, it means a lot to me, too.”

For Karenna, living with diabetes hasn’t always been easy, as she has to constantly inject insulin and check her blood sugar levels during cheerleading practices and sometimes inbetween classes during school.

“I’ve definitely matured, and I grew up a lot faster [after being diagnosed],” Karenna said. “I became a lot more responsible because even missing one insulin shot or forgetting it for one meal can [affect my] health, so I have to take the right amount of insulin and do the right calculations. I can’t forget because it will have a long-term effect.”

In the end, Karenna hopes that by participating in the walk, her classmates and friends will become educated about Type 1 diabetes and provide donations needed to find a cure.

“There are many people who don’t know much about Type 1 diabetes, and when I was diagnosed, I gained a whole new perspective on it,” Karenna said. “It’s important for everyone to have a good understanding of the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 and [realize] that mine is a genetic disease that [affects many people].”

Seniors Sydney Rezaie, Karenna Traylor, Ashley Carter, Kathryn Ferguson and Lauren Shilling finish the Juvenile Research Foundation One Walk on Oct. 20 in Plano. The walk raised $3,870 for Type 1 diabetes research. “It was fun to walk

[Traylor],” Ferguson said. “I

photo by Riley Breaux

Pitch

perfect

Five choir members grow as individual performers, share love of music

BY | EMILY DELGADO

SOPHOMORE CLAIRE EVERBACH | SOPRANO 2

After participating in Singers, the fourth grade choir program, sophomore Claire Everbach joined choir in middle school before taking concert choir in upper school.

“Music is one of the main things in my life that has had the most impact,” Everbach said. “I’ve always been passionate about the performing arts, but my first love [is] singing.”

One of Everbach’s favorite things about choir is the annual visit to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital during Christmas time. In the eighth grade, Everbach noticed the parent of a handicapped child in the audience crying during their “When Christmas Comes to Town” performance.

“It made me realize how grateful I am to have the ability to sing, dance and be in choir because I know some people don’t get to do that,” Everbach said.

“The kids at Scottish Rite don’t really have a school that has musicals that they can go watch, so it’s always super special for them when we perform.”

SOPHOMORE JACK BECK | BASS

After joining choir in seventh grade, sophomore Jack Beck realized his love for music and continued participating in both middle and upper school choir classes.

“In fifth through sixth grade, I didn’t really have much interest in music,” Beck said. “It wasn’t until after seventh grade [that] I started liking music and singing. Before that, I never really sang.”

In the seventh grade, Beck decided to step out of his comfort zone and audition for the middle school musical, “The Lion King.”

“That was the first time I ever had to do a solo,” Beck said. “For the whole first performance, I was shaking on the stage. I would say I’ve gotten better since then.”

Although he loves to sing, he also joined choir to overcome his stage fright.

“I get really nervous,” Beck said. “I want to work toward getting better at singing in front of people.”

SENIOR EMMA VIQUEZ | SOPRANO 1

Senior Emma Viquez has been in choir for the majority of her life from performing in various school choirs to being a member of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas.

“I [am] really passionate about singing,” Viquez said. “I didn’t have a vocal coach to continue singing, so I was really happy to find out that my school offered choir.”

In elementary school, Viquez’s piano teacher introduced her to music. Her mother was passionate about music and got Viquez interested in joining choir when she performed in a sign language choir with Viquez.

As a junior, she was the only ESD student selected to participate in the All-State choir, and she hopes to qualify again as a senior.

“I was really nervous, but the kids there are so amazing, musically talented and open to everyone,” Viquez said. “It was one of my favorite competitions. It was so nice to see everyone sharing their passions openly and freely.”

Helping ESD families clear the clutter, organize and revamp an office, home or any space big or small. You name it, we are there!

Chaos calms when you clear the clutter~

SENIOR CHRISTOPHER TALBOT | BASS

After attending his father’s Dallas Symphony Choir concerts for many years as a child, senior Christopher Talbot was inspired to join choir.

“I started off wanting to do stuff my dad was doing,” Talbot said. “Initially, I was inspired by him, but after that, I motivated myself. ”

Talbot joined Singers, the fourth grade choir program, and was also a member of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas for two years. He was a member of the seventh and eighth grade school choir before joining concert choir for all four years of high school.

“There’s a big focus nowadays on the STEM field; that’s where the money is and [what] we are most likely to sustain a family with,” Talbot said. “On the other hand, music, along with most performing arts, is important because it shows you are able to project your imagination, creativity and voice onto something more tangible than just yourself.”

JUNIOR SELAM MEKBEBGILLETT | ALTO 2

As a child, junior Selam Mekbeb-Gillett took piano lessons for five years before beginning vocal lessons at the age of 10. She joined choir as a new eighth grader and decided to take concert choir during her freshman year.

“I told my parents that I didn’t want to take piano anymore because I wanted to sing,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “They said I had to learn the classics first.”

It was at her first recital with her vocal coach that MekbebGillett realized she was passionate about singing.

“I’ve never had a day where I’ve said ‘I hate choir,’” MekbebGillet said. “Choir is one of the ways for me to escape from academics.”

Because of her Ethiopian culture, singing has always been a big part of Mekbeb-Gillett’s life.

“My culture has a lot of singing and dancing,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “Being able to implement that into my everyday life, choir is a great way for me to keep in touch with my culture.”

BRIEF

Homecoming

party reunites alumni

The annual alumni Homecoming party occurred on Oct. 26 with more than 200 alumni enjoying the family-friendly tailgate before the Homecoming football game.

The event was located in the senior courtyard and included activities such as face painting and balloon art.

“We have really fun memories of ESD,” College Guidance Coordinator Katherine Montgomery ’10 said. “There is a lot of tradition and pride with alumni. A lot of people want to see what [the school] is like now and how it has changed.”

The alumni Homecoming party started with the first Homecoming in 1998. Although the specifics of the event has changed over the years, Homecoming continues to be a time for former students and their families to come together.

“A nice thing about going to ESD and working here is that I have more appreciation for this school,” Montgomery said. “I get to work with the past and present and see how much has changed and what stayed the same.”

Bonton Farms founder gives Dedman Lecture

Daron Babcock, the founder of Bonton Farms, gave the Dedman Lecture, where an outstanding achiever in a field talks to seniors, on Oct. 10.

Babcock, a former businessman, moved to the South Dallas suburb of Bonton in order to serve the community. He discovered that fresh, affordable and local food is not available, and established a farm to help the community.

Kathryn Bakewell, the Director of Annual Giving and Special Projects, organized the talk and feels that providing such a venue for community leaders inspires students.

“Lots of other Dedman speakers have been civic leaders, and though that is helpful, it is more valuable to get someone who provides a service,” Bakewell said.

“It is more interesting to see how people help a community and learn how they got in that position.”

Senior Walker Lay highly appreciates the choice in speaker.

“It was absolutely amazing; he is a true role model for everyone at ESD,” Lay said. “The majority of us have been blessed, and it’s our responsibility to do what Babcock’s doing.”

JOHN

Band, dance give fall performances

The “Art In Motion” dance showcase and the “Solo Night” band concert both occurred in October and were held at the Frank Center.

Dance teacher Glen Dawson choreographed the group dance for the annual “Art in Motion” performance on Oct. 2, gaining inspiration from the art exhibit in the Frank building.

“We found pieces that speak to us, and we interpret them into dance,” senior Maggie Lipscomb said. “Then we went back to our class, picked out music and started choreographing.”

Upper School dancers started their performance in the Swann courtyard and ended in the Frank building, where most of the performance took place.

“It’s called ‘Art in Motion’ because we are turning the art into dance,” Lipscomb said. “It’s a good way to start the year and ease our way into dance.”

The “Solo Night” band concert took place in the band room on Oct. 24. with both Middle and Upper School students as participants.

Texas Rep speaks to AP Government class

Rep. Pete Sessions visited AP Government teacher Mark Oglesby’s class on Oct. 2.

Sessions, who represents Texas’s 32nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives, is a member of the Republican party and the current chairman of the U.S. House Rules Committee. He is also seeking reelection in the upcoming midterms.

Sessions talked about the role of congressional committees in the legislative process, as well as the ways in which the House decides how to use federal funds.

Senior Walker Lay appreciated the chance to talk with an influential politician.

“I am very interested in politics, so any opportunity to get closer to someone as prominent as Sessions is one I’ll gladly take,” Lay said. “He reaffirmed my thoughts about our government.”

Oglesby, who organized the visit, feels that meeting with one’s representative is an important part of the political process.

CALVERT 1

“What happens at our recitals is that every band member has a solo in front of the audience,” sophomore Kenny Tran said. “I played my saxophone and had a great time.”

ALAN BENÍTEZ

“[Sessions] did a very good job at teaching the students the inner workings of the legislative process,” Oglesby said. “It is always better to hear it from someone directly involved with things.”

JOHN CALVERT

COMING HOME Alumni Sharon Egger ‘82 reunites with her past classmates in senior hall. At the alumni event, graduates connect with former classmates and participate in activities. “Going to alumni events is a balance of both,” Egger said. “I get to see my old friends and also make new connections and business contacts.” photo courtesy of ESD

2 3 4

HELPING HAND Daron Babcock, the founder of Bonton Farms, shares his experience as a entrepreneur with seniors on Oct. 10. Once a year, seniors attend the Dedman Lecture, where an inspiration speaker is chosen to address the student body. “He taught us an important lesson about selfreliance and how you should always endeavor to build your own life through your own labor,” senior Walker Lay said. photo by John Calvert

1, 2 STEP Seniors Ella Varel, Maggie Lipscomb and Allison Herring dance as a trio on Oct. 2. Varel choreographed this piece, and they traveled across the school while dancing. “It makes the experience more interactive for the audience,” Lipscomb said. photo by Taezja Phelan

LECTURE IN SESSION Explaining how Congress works, Rep. Pete Sessions addresses an AP Government class on Oct. 2. AP Government teacher Mark Oglesby has invited Sessions in the past to visit his classes. “We had an engaging discussion about situations he has been working on this past year,” senior William Hargrave said. “It was really interesting to engage with him because I heard his point of view.” photo courtesy of Erin Hansan

AVA HEPPNER

[Doodling]

daze

GRAPHICS BY | VICTORIA WILLOX

Drawing in notes while listening to a lecture helps students focus in class

SVICTORIA WILLOX

I

love the feeling of pen on paper. [Doodling] is like your own mini project...I don’t want my work to look messy, but sometimes I just have to do it, or I’ll fall asleep.

Lily Yandell Sophomore

itting beneath harsh fluorescent lights and listening to her fourth lecture of the day, sophomore Lily Yandell begins to scribble the outline of a dog beside her notes from last period. But her teacher soon commands her to put her pencil down and pay attention to the lesson on the board. However, recent studies have shown that doodling, a mindless habit, might actually help with the processing of large quantities of information and improve memory functions.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, in 2009, psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to “monitor” a two-and-a-halfminute, dull voicemail message. Half of the group doodled while they did this. When both groups were asked to recall details from the message, those that doodled remembered 29 percent more of the information.

Contrary to the popular stigma that all teachers despise doodling and view it as the enemy of class engagement, there are quite a few teachers who believe the opposite. One of these progressive teachers is English instructor, Phil Bryan, who has witnessed a fair amount of doodling in his class.

it keeps their minds engaged and actually works against distractions in some cases.”

Yandell is no stranger to the world of doodling. Ever since she learned to use a pen, she drew patterns, squiggles and flowers everywhere. Yandell’s notebooks are filled with small, disorganized images that she says helps her focus during class.

“I love the feeling of pen on paper,” Yandell said. “[Doodling] is like your own mini project. I prefer to do it in my notebook though because I don't want my work to look messy, but sometimes I just have to do it, or I'll fall asleep.”

Senior Anisa Noor is another

I doodle, I don’t have to think, and it occupies me while still allowing me to listen and pay attention to my teacher.”

Noor is also one of many students diagnosed with ADHD, a disorder that can cause impulsiveness, fidgeting and a short attention span. Doodling helps Noor cope with her ADHD, which sometimes inhibits her from paying attention during long lectures and recalling long-term information.

“Because of my ADHD I really can’t pay attention to a lot of talking for long periods of time,” Noor said. “When I’m doodling, I’m doing something easy that just comes natural to me, but I don’t have to think about it, so I can listen to something that wouldn’t normally engage my attention for a long time because I’m able to channel my energy somewhere else.”

DOODLING IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS...WHEN I DOODLE, I DON’T HAVE TO THINK...IT JUST COMES NATURAL TO ME. ANISA NOOR “

“I generally don't mind [students doodling] as long as they are doing well in my class,” Bryan said. “The way the human brain works is very mysterious, and I'm married to someone whose brain is more active when doodling. I know there is research on people who are easily distracted that found it's better for them if they are doodling while taking notes or working because

students doodle every once in awhile or more during class *

supporter of in-class doodling, who personally uses the activity. Her obsession with doodling has carried out through her entire high school career, and she attributes it as one of the major reasons for her success. Noor stresses that doodling is a natural way of processing information during class, not a sign of distraction or boredom.

“Doodling is the only way I can pay attention in class,” Noor said. “In classes where teachers lecture the whole time, if I’m not doing something with my hands, I absolutely can not pay attention. I’m just staring off into the distance, zoned out [and] not thinking. [However], when

Although some studies point toward doodling’s considerable benefits, others find that it’s not always the best option. According to a 2012 study published by the University of British Columbia, those who doodled while looking at images struggled to recall the images when quizzed. The study concluded that the brain most likely can't process two visual tasks efficiently at the same time.

“In Geometry, when I'm supposed to be looking at the board and listening, [doodling] can be really distracting,” Yandell said. “Sometimes when I'm supposed to be looking at the board and [noting] what [my teacher] says, I end up doodling, but that's just the sacrifice I make to stay awake.”

percent of students doodle feel that doodling during class helps them focus * in *accordingtoanOct.18pollof240students

percent of students that doodle also have ADHD and doodle in class to help them focus *

Teacher talks

“When I [doodle] I get really relaxed, and I can concentrate on whatever people are doing and saying.”

– Marcela Garcini, Spanish teacher

“I know some students process information differently.. however, if grades suffer then I might step in...I take it case by case.”

– Bryan Cupp, U.S. History teacher

“If I’m not doodling, I tend to zone out, but if my hands are busy then my head is clear enough for me to pay attention”

– Dane Larsen, Sculpture teacher

“My students do better when they doodle... it allows your brain to open up to new information in a new and creative way.”

– Tolly Salz, English IV teacher

Haunted Reel

Classic Halloween movies provide nostalgic entertainment

JIAYING FU

“The Nightmare Before Christmas”

30% Rotten Pumpkins

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” feels like a discombobulated clump of mismatched scenes randomly thrown together and shoddily patched up.

Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, aches for something beyond his annual, repetitive routine of organizing Halloween. He embarks on a night-long trek, stumbling upon the bright and colorful Christmasland. Scheming to usurp Christmas, Jack sends Santa on a forced vacation.

I feel like there’s a lesson that we’re supposed to be learning here, but Burton is so indecisive in his execution that I still can’t tell whether we’re supposed to be on Team Christmas or Team Halloween.

So many of the characters are just completely unnecessary. What is the point of the Boogie Oogie man? Why is Jack a pumpkin king if he’s a skeleton?

The songs littered throughout are either mind-numbingly catchy or entirely forgettable. Having more than 10 songs in one movie is ridiculous.

The animation is visually amazing, in a creepy way, but the story falls flat with the overused plot line and undeveloped characters.

“Hocus Pocus”

90% Rotten Pumpkins

“Hocus Pocus” is a charming, creepy movie that is humorous in a dark way. The somewhat unique plot is spiced up with witty oneliners, and the back-and-forth tug-of-war between the witches and the children is both spooky and entertaining.

Max Sanderson, the new kid in the town of Salem, is skeptical of the residents’ magical superstitions. While exploring a haunted museum with his little sister to impress a new friend, Allison, he accidentally releases a coven of witches that seek to suck the life out of children in order to become immortal.

While there are some annoying discrepancies in the plot, it was mostly original and cohesive. To be honest, most of the plot is really strange. These witches are literally smelling life out of small children. Despite the strange features, it’s a whimsical movie that doesn’t fail to entertain. The one song is utilized perfectly. Repeat after me: Less is more. It’s clear to see why this movie has become a Halloween classic— Each character and scene in the plot is used to its fullest potential, all playing a role in the fabrication of this fanciful tale, making for a spellbinding telling.

“Halloweentown”

20% Rotten Pumpkins

“Halloweentown” is about as original as its name. It’s incredibly formulaic, made from the standard potion: a “rebellious” teenager who doesn’t fit in and a mother who doesn’t approve.

When Marnie’s grandmother comes to visit, Marnie discovers that her whole family is comprised of witches. Marnie and her two other siblings follow their grandmother to her home, Halloweentown, where magical creatures live. However, an evil force is present in the town.

When most people get dumped, they just binge Netflix and eat ice cream. This guy tries to take over the whole world. He puts even Kim Kardashian’s pettiness to shame.

The only “magical” aspect of the movie is how absolutely mediocre it was. It’s littered with plot holes, and the special effects and costumes look about as real as a pop-up book. Even the flying bus seems like a wannabe version of the Magic School Bus.

This movie is an hour and a half long, and I just don’t understand why. Nothing happens until the last 30 minutes, and it isn’t even super exciting. Also, all of the characters could really use a lot more substance and development.

“Casper”

70% Rotten Pumpkins

A greedy, money-hungry woman, Carrigan Crittenden, hires ghost therapist James Harvey and his daughter Kat to rid her mansion of ghosts so that Crittenden can look for the treasure she believes is in the mansion. The mansion is haunted by Casper, a friendly ghost, and his trouble-making trio of uncles.

One of the best parts of this movie was the character development. Any viewer would sympathize with Casper’s plight and love the relationship between Kat and her father. The trio of not-friendly ghosts provided humorous moments throughout.

“Casper” barely met the fine line between being a hot mess and a decently action-packed movie. As the movie progressed, it slowly deteriorated. The plot was messier than my middle school locker. How did a nice machine that can bring people back to life just conveniently appear! Also, why do the new ghosts look relatively human-like, albeit cartoonish, while Casper and his gang look like seethrough versions of the Pillsbury Doughboy?

Sadly, the heartwarming ending was not able to tie up all loose ends. What was Casper’s unfinished business? The ending left much unsaid.

“The Addams Family”

50% Rotten Pumpkins

“The Addams Family” is psychotic in an entirely predictable and overplayed way. The family is delighted to be reunited with a man who allegedly claims to be their longlost brother, Fester. However, “Fester” is a con artist, who, with his mother, plans to swindle them out of their family fortune. Though decently funny, I feel like the characters are forced into little boxes of what they can say and do, which stagnates the film. They have this aura of mysteriousness, but by the end of the two-hour movie, it starts getting old fast. It’s not mysterious—it’s just boring.

It’s disappointing how this entirely non-cliché and distinct plot just fell flat. There were a lot of great individual moments, yet as a whole, the movie didn’t flow cohesively.

This film could have been a good 30 minutes shorter and still have the same effect, and the non-cliché moments only last until that horrible plot twist at the end. I get that this movie’s supposed to be unrealistic, but that ending is just way too convenient.

However, the special effects and makeup are great. Too bad most of the rest of the movie isn’t.

GRAPHICS BY| MADISON WILLOX

Paranormal encounters BUZZ the

From seeing dead relatives to ghosts dressed in white, students and a teacher share their scariest encounters with the supernatural

BY | MELISSA RIVERA

MARY GRACE ALTIZER

freshman

“One night at camp, I had ice duty. My friends and I were walking down this huge hill. It was pitch black, and all of a sudden, we [saw] a girl running full speed down the hill in a white nightgown and nightcap. She fell, so we walked over to help her and [asked] if she was okay, but when we got there, she was gone. We had our flashlights [out, and we were] searching around, but there was nobody [there].”

ALI SPARROW sophomore NICK HARAPANAHALLI junior LILLY FRENCH senior

“[My friends and I were] in Seaside, Florida, one night, and as we were walking around, we saw red eyes in the distance. The eyes [had been] following us for a while, so we ran back to our house and left all the lights on. When we got to the house, the red eyes were outside the door, staring at us. We woke up [Lauren’s] mom, and she went outside to look around, but [the eyes] went away.”

“When I was little, I used to go to my grandma’s house a lot. She used to have this box that she told me to never touch. I opened the box against her will, and [there was] a bear jaw [inside]. She said it used to belong to an old witch in her village, [and] if you disrespected her will, [a bad spirit would] follow you through your shadow. I remember always seeing a pair of red, glowing eyes.”

“My friend Olivia, Jack, my mom, her friend and I were all at Beck’s Chapel looking around. I looked at the back of [the] graveyard and saw three people in white robes walking above the graves. The way I know I wasn’t seeing things was because Olivia and I looked at each other at the same time and said, ‘Did you see that?’ and explained it the exact same way. When we looked [again], they were gone.”

MARCELA GARCINI Spanish teacher

“It took me forever to get pregnant. I remember one night I was very sad because the week before, I had found out I wasn’t pregnant again. Around 3 a.m. I felt my bed shaking, so I woke up. My grandfather...was right there, sitting on my bed. He told me not to worry and that I was going to be a mom. He told me [that] I was going to have a boy. I woke up Arturo’s dad and told him what had happened, and five months later, I was pregnant.”

culture CRASH

CULTURE CRASH is a compilation of significant pop culture events made by life editors Emily Delgado and Sydney Rezaie that highlight tech news & other short snippets of info regarding important people and events from around the globe.

1

WHAT ABOUT THE PIG?

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson broke off their engagement in October just after weeks of dating. Although Davidson claims he’s fine, Grande deleted her Instagram for awhile and returned her ring. She said she would keep the pet pig they adopted together.

PIP PIP CHEERIO

2

3

The British royalty know how to keep secrets but let the cat out of the bag, announcing that Duchess Meghan Markle is expecting and will welcome a baby in the spring. This will be her and Prince Harry’s first child together.

MEN IN THE PAST

Chris Hemsworth says goodbye to “Men In Black,” for now. Hemsworth shared some photos Tuesday on Instagram, announcing that the filming for the spin-off has wrapped. The spin-off series will hit theaters on June 14 of next year.

REUNION TIME

4

It’s official that Bette Midler, also known as Winifred Sanderson from the classic Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus,” has decided to come back for the reunion special. Midler will join Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Thora Birch in the special that will air on Oct. 20 as part of Freeform’s “31 of Nights of Halloween” series.

SEEKING HELP

5 6

ACTION Senior Grace Boyd films a shot for her film on Oct. 22. She has published 15 films in her past four years in the class. “I have only worked with Grace once or twice,” senior Miguel Bustamante said. “She’s extremely open to anything you are trying to do and will do anything in her power to make it as easy as possible for you.”

photo by Riley Breaux

Filmmaker creates with class prompts

Senior Grace Boyd finds inspiration in quirky occurrences

BY | SYDNEY REZAIE

Since middle school, senior Grace Boyd has always found the creativity of film fascinating.

“When I was younger, my cousin and I would make videos every Sunday, where we would take fairy tales and make our versions of them into movies,” Boyd said. “We would play every single character, and it was a really fun way to be creative.”

After meeting her brother’s, Kirk Boyd ‘17, adviser and film teacher Bobby Weiss, she joined the class at the start of her freshman year.

“I knew I was interested in film, but didn’t know what film was in high ,” Boyd said. “I signed up and really enjoyed it—it was like a more advanced, artistic version of what I had been doing with my friends.”

heard of,” Boyd said. “It was fun to see the technique and then try and implement it into my films.”

Her class also spent time writing responses to prompts that film teacher Bobby Weiss presented to spark creativity.

“My favorite thing about Film I was the writing prompts,” Boyd said. “Mr. Weiss would give you a random prompt every day, like your life as a penny, and you’d write a short story. It really got your creative mind thinking.”

When Boyd started to create films during Film I, she looked back at the writing prompts Weiss had assigned previously.

PEOPLE ALWAYS INTERPRET THE FILMS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN I WOULD. SOMETIMES I THINK A FILM IS SERIOUS, BUT EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LAUGHS. GRACE BOYD

During Film I, Boyd spent class watching films she had never seen before in the Bell Theater.

“The first class we took was really fun freshman year because it was just sitting in theater and watching movies that I hadn’t even

“I remember being in her class and being super excited about a film I wrote and she would read hers and I would rethink mine immediately,” senior Miguel Bustamante said. “When you are working with her she also brings new ideas which is very helpful.”

In addition to the prompts, Boyd soon began drawing from random occurrences in her everyday life.

“One of my first film ideas came about when I was sitting, eating some type of poultry while my bird was sitting, watching me eat,” Boyd said. “I felt so bad, and I just kept on thinking about what the bird was thinking. I imagined what it would be like if I was sitting watching her eat my cousin.”

This film, “Bird Brain: A Film by Grace Boyd,” won many awards and was shown at ISAS and several other film festivals.

“It was really cool to show my film in front of people,” Boyd said. “People always interpret the films totally different than I would. Sometimes I think the film is serious, but everyone in the audience laughs and interprets it as a comedic film.”

Boyd’s favorite part of the process is scriptwriting and editing.

“It’s satisfying to see your ideas that you wrote down being acted in real life,” Boyd said. “But I also really like editing because it is relaxing finally getting to sit down and try things out with your computer.”

Looking to the future, Boyd plans to continue taking film courses in college.

“If I don’t go to a film specific school, then I will at least major or minor in film or at the very least take [film] classes,” Boyd said. “I don’t want to just stop here.”

Society needs to appreciate musical theater

Blair Batson Digital Relations & News Editor

Selena Gomez’s recent emotional breakdown led her to check into a mental health facility twice in two weeks. Gomez recently checked into a psychiatric facility on the East Coast and is receiving Dialectical Behavior Therapy after finding out that her kidney transplant to help treat her Lupus might not be working as it should.

SUPER TRUMP

On Oct. 11, artist Kanye West visited the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump. West presented the President with a Superman cape to help Trump fight crime. This comes on the heels of West’s outburst on SNL and questionable comments and rants on social media.

Often, when discussing a favorite genre of music, musical theatre is overlooked. I know this because I once ignored it too, as the idea of musical theater never ignited my attention until one night in middle school, when I watched a documentary about Lin ManuelMiranda called “Hamilton’s America.”

I was shocked by the amount of effort that went into the development of “Hamilton” and blown away by the fact that Miranda’s idea for this musical came from reading a biography on Alexander Hamilton.

Inspired by Miranda’s story, I decided to listen to the “Hamilton” soundtrack. At first, it was the music that got me hooked, but then I came to another realization: the content I was listening to was actually interesting. Listening to the people sing about the revolution, Constitution, Federalist Papers and democracy somehow left me intrigued.

I contribute my interest in not only American history and politics, but also global history to “Hamilton.” Miranda’s ability to incorporate the history of our country into something that I found enjoyment in—music—made me realize that history is not just the repetitive

memorization of dates. Instead, it’s a way to understand our way of life.

After seeing “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway, my love for the musical grew beyond the storyline itself. The musical follows an anxiety-ridden teen, Evan Hansen, who lies to please certain people, only to have it harm him. Since my discovery of “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” I have become highly educated in the realm of musicals, but that is not my point. My point is that we often praise specific TV shows and movies for their lessons, but I encourage the appreciation of musicals.

Kombucha craze

Alcohol content in popular fermented teas poses possible risks

BY | SYDNEY REZAIE

ELIZABETH SANDS

interviewed by Madison Willox

How did the alcohol issue with Kombucha start?

“Lindsay Lohan introduced the whole alcohol issue of Kombucha because before that, it wasn’t even on the radar. After Lindsay Lohan, the GT brand, the main Kombucha brand, created two separate lines of drinks—the original line, with some alcohol, and the synergy line, with negligible amounts of alcohol.”

What are the health benefits of Kombucha?

In terms of the health benefits, it has probiotics which are the bacterial cultures that people look for in foods. Since it is a tasty drink, a lot of people have picked up on it to get the health benefits. It’s kind of interesting though, because recently even the brands that have the least amount of sugar have started kind of sneaking more sugar into their drinks. The average GTS kombucha will have eight grams of sugar per serving, which is quite a lot for a drink.”

What Kombucha brands do people have to be carded for?

Certified Nutrition Specialist, ELIZABETH SANDS ‘06, discussed the health benefits of Kombucha and how it affects people under the age of 21. A Q A Q A Q

“Generally, if you walk into a store right now you will be able to buy Kombucha anywhere in Dallas. If you go to New York or the West Coast, they have the wider range of Kombuchas and you’ll get carded. The vast majority of the ones sold in Dallas either have no alcohol, or negligible alcohol, to the point that no one has to be carded.”

Stopping at Whole Foods on the way home from school, senior Emma Boeckman grabs a Synergy Kombucha for an afternoon snack. Approaching the counter, she thinks nothing of it, but as soon as the cashier scans her items, he asks for her drivers license to card her, stating that she has to be 21 or over to buy the drink.

“I was so surprised when he asked for my ID,” Boeckman said. “I had no idea that Kombucha had a percentage of alcohol and was caught completely off guard. The cashier told me that not every brand was over the legal limit and that the brand I chose required the buyer to be over 21.”

In the past couple of years, Kombucha has become the newest and possibly strangest drink on the health food market. According to an Oct. 18 poll of 240 people, 52 percent of students have had Kombucha. By adding a culture of bacteria and yeast to a solution of tea and sugar, Kombucha is a fermented drink that creates a naturally carbonated beverage with a slightly sweet, tart flavor. These drinks are infused with healthy components like vitamin B, organic acids, antioxidants and trace amounts of alcohol. Because it boosts immunity, de-stresses and helps digestion, Kombucha attracts many buyers who seek the health benefits.

However, in 2010, Whole Foods and other carriers of Kombucha pulled the product from their shelves after discovering that certain strains of the product exceed the .5 percent limit of alcohol nearly six times over, with some kinds of Kombucha containing up to three percent of alcohol.

In response to the falsely labeled alcohol content on some Kombucha bottles, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau updated its guidelines to highlight that it would regulate any Kombucha products that contain 0.5 percent or more alcohol by volume, even after the product was bottled and continued to ferment.

Because of the drink’s alcohol content, controversies have surrounded Kombucha. Last year, Vikings wide receiver, Michael Floyd, violated the terms of house arrest as a result of a conviction

FOR A DUI MINOR, WHICH IS ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21, EVEN IF THERE IS A .001 ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE DETECTABLE, IT WOULD VIOLATE THE LAW.

JODY TRUMBLE, DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS SAFETY

on a February DUI charge, claiming that the alcohol in his body was the result of neither beer or liquor, but Kombucha.

According to Floyd, he drank “four or five” bottles of GT Kombucha during a late-night movie-watching spree and registered a blood-alcohol content of .055.

“People should be careful with Kombucha and not let it sit in the heat because it will cause further fermentation, creating a higher alcohol percentage,” Boeckman said. “After the incident at Whole Foods, I always check the brand of my drink to make sure I won’t be carded.”

Legally, according to Head of Campus Safety Jody Trumble, if someone under the age of 21 has trace amounts of alcohol, they could be convicted with a DUI. “I can tell you what the law says about driving while intoxicated because that gives you a baseline number,” Trumble said. “For a DUI minor, which is anyone under the age of 21, it says any detectable amount. That means even if there is a .001 alcohol percentage that is detectable, it would violate the law. I don’t know

GRAPHIC BY | SYDNEY REZAIE

Local sushi spots offer creative flavor fusions for fish connoisseurs Standout Sushi

BY | BLAIR BATSON

While it is not located in the most vibrant area of Dallas, Oishii is an ideal, modern, yet traditional location for sushi. The most impressive item that I ordered was the Tribeca Roll for $16. Layered with rice, salmon, avocado and truffle oil in between two triangles of rice chips, the crunchy yet soft texture of the roll and flavor were near perfection. I ordered the crunch tuna roll for $8, which contained tempura tuna, cucumber and avocado topped with spicy mayonnaise, eel sauce and tempura flakes. Upon trying this roll, I could barely taste the tuna, but the sweetness of the eel sauce and spice of the mayonnaise made up for it. Despite the tuna’s lack of flavor, this roll was a creative combination that I would certainly order again.

Uchi’s trendy vibes and friendly staff made for a perfect meal of sushi. I ordered the spicy crunchy tuna roll for $12. This roll was spectacular. The tuna immediately melted in my mouth, and the flakes on the outside added a crunch to the soft contents of the roll. I recommend this roll to those who enjoy fresh fish and rich flavoring but not to those who can’t tolerate spicy foods. The top item I ordered was the shag roll for $12.50. The salmon inside provided a refreshing taste, while on the outside, the tempura batter had a buttery flavor that complimented each other well. This was my favorite place because of the high quality sushi and the welcoming, helpful staff.

Located in a small suite in the trendy area of KnoxHenderson, Little Katana is a pleasant spot for a quick sushi meal. The first roll I ordered was the spider roll for $11 that had crispy soft shell crab, crab meat, avocado and cucumber. I enjoyed how the soft shell crab was warm while the rest of the ingredients were cold, and I thought the varying temperatures balanced out well. I would have preferred the eel sauce on the side because its sweet taste overpowered the flavor of the other ingredients, however, this roll is a great item to order for those hesitant to eat raw fish. The Alaskan roll contained crab meat and avocado on the inside and was topped with salmon and avocado. Its cost was $16, but I did not feel like this roll was worth its price.

Sushi Star is a casual, familyfriendly spot for a not too pricey meal of sushi. Made up of crab meat, cucumber and avocado, the California roll cost $5.95. The avocado and cucumber were perfectly fresh and ripe, and the cucumber added a crunch to the other soft contents of the roll. With no raw fish and simple ingredients, I highly recommend this roll to first-time sushi eaters. Trying to keep this meal simple, I ordered the salmon avocado roll for $6.95. When I first tasted this roll, it was slightly dry and bland. Both the salmon and avocado were relatively fresh, and the flavors and texture of the two complimented each other nicely. This was my least favorite spot because the items I ordered were not notable or impressive.

GRAPHIC BY | VICTORIA WILLOX

|DRINKING DILEMMA_/

DOWN. UP. DOWN.

The 14- and 15-year-olds were headed to a college football game that afternoon and had decided to get tipsy before Ubering there in order to heighten their experience.

“Once I’d sobered up that night at around 12 a.m., I tried to remember what happened at the game, but my mind drew a blank,” senior Naomi Spence* said. “I woke up with chunks of vomit in my hair and the worst feeling in my stomach I’ve ever felt.”

The only way Spence could find out the events from earlier that day was to ask her friends, who showed her videos of them riding in an ambulance to the medic while she was driven behind them in a golf cart.

“I’ve never felt more ashamed in my life,” she said. “I can’t remotely picture what my surroundings looked like. They told me about how I vomited in the Uber and was slurring excuses to the security guards and officers who came by when they saw me falling down.”

“Although her alcohol poisoning was evident to the officers policing the event, Spence fought to convince them otherwise.

“Now I feel so stupid thinking about how much effort we put into nights we’d barely even remember,” Spence said. “Waking up the next day was always the worst part—there was always a horrible feeling in your stomach while you cleaned up messes that you didn’t remember making and tried to do your homework with a brain that felt like mush.”

Although sophomore Emmett Graham* recognizes that certain students may have an alcohol dependence, he doesn’t view drinking as a school-wide issue.

“I maybe drink every weekend with my friends,” he said. “It’s normal. A lot of high schoolers across the nation are [shown] to drink through social media and movies. It’s OK. It’s just a way to relax after all the stress with school. Right now, it’s an out-of-school thing, so I don’t know if it’s that big of a deal.”

Junior Dimitri Nolan* agrees with Graham in that he doesn’t view the school’s drinking culture as anything out of the ordinary.

“It’s controlled,” Nolan said. “People aren’t really stupid about it—they don’t go out and drink in public. It’s always [in] a protected space.”

I FEEL SO STUPID THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH EFFORT WE PUT INTO NIGHTS WE’D BARELY REMEMBER. WAKING UP THE NEXT DAY WAS ALWAYS THE WORST PART. SENIOR NAOMI SPENCE*

“When I was at the medic, it literally took every ounce of my being to just send a single text,” she said.

To her surprise, her mom didn’t yell. Instead, she told her daughter how this wasn’t like her— how could this happen, and why?

The risks of excessive drinking may sound melodramatic to some, but there are more longterm effects than getting a stomach pumped or being arrested for underage consumption— something the officers that day were generous enough to not do, although Spence admits they had enough reason to.

“Why would I, a kid whose parents worked so hard to send me to a private school, risk throwing away my whole future?” Spence said.

THE CULTURE

According to an Oct. 18 poll of 240 Upper School students, 64 percent have drank before. Of that 64 percent, 77 percent started drinking their freshman year or earlier.

Spence is one of that 77 percent, having had her first drink at her friend’s 15th birthday party.

“From there, it escalated to drinking hard really quickly,” she said. “At first, I was a lightweight, but once I began to drink more, I drank so much that I felt like nothing could get me drunk.”

In the time between January and April of her sophomore year, Spence reports drinking almost every weekend, her group’s go-to being Svedka and beer.

“After six weekends in a row of getting wasted, my Saturdays started to blur together,” she said. “One time, my friends and I were so desperate to drink that we actually smuggled alcohol into a restaurant.”

The girls snuck Gatorade and Ozarka water bottles filled with vodka from her friend’s car, whose trunk was packed with oversized bottles of liquor, carefully covered by their sleepover bags in case they got pulled over.

Dr. David Atkinson, medical director of Teen Recovery Program Services at Children’s Health, is an associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. As a specialist in adolescent substance use in the area, he doesn’t attribute these numbers to “just the high school experience.”

“PREPARING FOR COLLEGE”

Senior Darcy Rhodes* started drinking her first semester of high school and sees it as essential preparation for college.

“If you go into college and you haven’t drank any, college is like high school but even more crazy,” she said. “You’re going to try to catch up to everyone and be on their level. If you’re a lightweight and two beers gets you drunk…you’re screwed.”

Nolan agrees.

“If you go to college with no experience, it’s not a good idea because it could lead you to jumping into things too quickly,” he said. “ESD has a really good community. Everybody knows each other really well, so they know they’re safe.”

Along with 54 percent of the student body, Rhodes views drinking as a learning experience, with high school being the ideal environment to make mistakes before college.

“College can be a dangerous environment with new people and [sexual] predators, whereas ESD is a smaller community and you have your friends,” she said. “If I’m really bad at some party, I’m confident I’ll be OK. If you’re like that in college, you can be in a lot riskier situation.”

Atkinson advises against this strategy.

“It’s a silly idea,” he said. “We know that the person who drinks early in adolescence tends to have a lot more problems with their drinking in college than the adolescent who drinks less in high school. A lot of kids that drink heavily end up with this false assumption that it’s safe for them. They can’t see the inner workings, the inner subtleties to their brain that are piling up, use after use.”

Atkinson sees the sometimes delayed, yet very real, consequences of underage drinking as a metaphor.

Teenage drinking among student body poses concern, administration takes steps to curb the issue

BY | ANASTASIA SOTIROPOULOS

“A young person doesn’t drive their car very well, abuses it, hammers their transmission and says nothing has happened until it breaks,” he said. “You don’t see these subtle damages done over time until it gets to be really bad.”

Some argue that the illegality of drinking contributes to the thrill and thus prevalence of it, but Atkinson doesn’t see this as a primary factor.

“It’s something else in the culture,” he said. “In Italy, they have the same laws. People drink heavily but do not get to the point where they are completely obliterated and sloppy. You don’t see people staggering down the streets—that seems to be some kind of distinctly American attitude that this is something you have to do.”

As someone who drank excessively for half of high school, Spence disagrees with justifying high school drinking as college preparation.

“If you’re drinking because you ‘need prep for college,’ you are using that as an excuse,” she said.

Alum Lorraine Mills* ‘18, who began drinking her junior year and currently attends college as a freshman, describes the college drinking environment as different from what her and her peers had anticipated.

“ESD drinking culture is falling on the ground, throwing up on the floor,” Mills said. “In college, you can’t do that because no one wants to take care of you. You don’t have those close-knit friendships you did in high school.”

survey that the school’s social atmosphere promotes excessive drinking.

“I know a lot of schools come to our parties and are thrown off because we’re excessive,” junior Jeremy Ogden* said. “[The culture] should change, but I don’t think it can. You kind of go through ESD high school with this big theme of drinking around you, and that’s really hard to have all four grades change their perspective. It gets passed down.”

THE HEALTH EFFECTS

We’ve heard it all before.

PERCENT OF STUDENTS HAVE FELT A PRESSURE TO DRINK BEFORE STUDENTS WHO DRINK DRINK AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK story continued on page 14

Compared to her high school friends, Mills was a very light drinker, but she was surprised by her results on an AlcoholEdu survey administered by her college in second semester of her senior year. According to the questionnaire, in the past two weeks, she had drank 99 percent more than others who took the test.

“In the private school bubble, hard drinking is normal,” she said. “To know that I am a heavy drinker according to the site was shocking. Senior year, we had something every single weekend— Friday and Saturday.

ESD STUDENTS HAVE DRANK A FULL SERVING OF ALCOHOL BEFORE

stats are according to an Oct. 18 poll of 240 students

Since calendars plastered in the Lower School nurse’s office with illustrations reminding to “just say no,” students have been warned against the dangers of alcohol from an early age.

But according to Atkinson, the effects of alcohol abuse in teens extend beyond what we’ve been taught.

“It’s not plain killing brain cells,” he said. “What makes the brain really complex and amazing is how well-connected the cells are to each other. We have seen in a recent study that, after six years of drinking, you do see a difference in how connected these brain areas are.”

This study reported poor attention spans in kids who drink.

“For someone that young who starts drinking, the brain is trained easier to getting addicted,” Atkinson said. “The brain is trying to learn things in adolescent years, but that means you can learn addictive behaviors as well. You have a brain that’s primed to learn.”

Atkinson also reports changes in the cognitive ability of adolescents who drink.

“It’s very difficult to say what changes are going to be permanent and what changes are not,” he said. “Extreme drinking will put a lot of stress on the brain during the adolescent years and causes it to age quicker— oxidative stress. It’s like putting very rough miles on a car.”

A LOT OF KIDS THAT DRINK HEAVILY END UP WITH THIS FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT IT’S SAFE FOR THEM. THEY CAN’T SEE THE INNER WORKINGS.

DR. DAVID ATKINSON “

We started to party on school nights, compared to other schools that only party [as hard] once every two or three weeks. You have to be conscious in college to not go as hard as you did in high school. We have to learn our limits.”

PREVALENCE: PERCEPTION VS. REALITY

Considering that two-thirds of students who drink have drank with the intention to get drunk, junior Grayson O’Connell* believes that an unhealthy culture has developed.

“There is that atmosphere that you drink to get drunk—you don’t drink because you like the taste,” O’Connell said. “It’s cultivated with huge parties.”

According to a 2018 Freedom from Chemical Dependency survey of 9th to 11th graders, although 37 percent of students think their peers find it cool to get drunk, only nine percent actually do, illustrating a discrepancy between students’ perception of the norm and the reality.

“Say you don’t go to a party,” freshman Beverly Kingston* said. “The impression of that party is that everyone was blackout drunk, when it was only like three people.”

As for perception among the student body, 66 percent of 11th graders reported in a 2018 FCD 2 in 3 30 1 in 3

PERCENT OF STUDENTS PARTY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH

PERCENT OF STUDENTS PARTY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

But what qualifies as “extreme”?

Binge drinking equates to over five drinks in one sitting for males and over four for females. Extreme binge drinking is more than ten drinks in one sitting.

“The amount of alcohol that it takes to damage the body is probably less than most people would assume,” Atkinson said. “For instance, women who drink more than four drinks a week have an increased [chance of] breast cancer. Alcohol in high doses is toxic to memory.”

The effects of drinking are amplified for developing bodies—blackouts included. Of students who have drank before, 44 percent have passed out or experienced a blackout at least once and 16 percent more than once, according to the Eagle Edition survey on Oct. 18.

STUDENTS WHO DRINK HAVE BEEN DRUNK BEFORE

PERCENT OF STUDENTS HAVE A FAKE ID

*Names have been changed to protect the identities of those interviewed.

61*accordingtoa2018FCDsurveyof9th-11thgraders 14 PERCENTOF 11THGRADERS THINKIT’SOKTOBINGE DRINK*

PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO DRINK HAVE PASSED/BLACKED OUT BEFORE

“Teenagers need to know that blacking out is not normal,” Atkinson said. “If someone has blacked out more than once in their adolescence, it’s likely they have a problem with their alcohol use. Most teenagers—three-fourths—do not drink to blackout. But for the few that do, their hippocampus, at least on memory, has been knocked unconscious. That’s a sign that there is some toxic damage being done to the brain.” 67 53 30 5 IN 6 44

PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO DRINK HAVE DRANK WITH THE INTENTION TO GET DRUNK

THE TEENAGE PSYCHOLOGY

Alcohol’s effects span beyond the physical, causing mood swings and aggravating mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

“One of the first things that happens with heavy drinking is it activates a sense of urgency,” Atkinson said. “People that have been using a lot tend to be less patient, more focused on rewards in the here and now and less focused on the future.”

But Rhodes sees drinking as more of a bonding experience.

“[Drinking] brings people together, no matter who you are,” she said. “It makes you more bold and confident when you may not be. If there weren’t parties, people would always hang out in small groups of just ten people. At parties, there’s like 50 people—it created a community.”

To Atkinson, just like pulling out a phone during an awkward situation, teens use alcohol as a crutch against awkwardness.

“Alcohol robs us of the opportunity of a culture of authentic human connection,” Atkinson said. “It’s hard for somebody totally sober to really, truly connect with somebody who is totally hammered.”

Thirty percent of students have felt pressured to drink in some way, with nine percent of them attributing it to not being able to have fun at a party where everyone else is drunk.

For a few months after Spence’s scare at the game, she was too scared to drink more than a few sips. But sober for the past 12 months, she wants to keep it that way until she’s 21.

“

their teens of possible fun, Atkinson says they end up demoting the importance of learning how to work through struggles and connect on deeper levels.

Approximately 72 percent of students who drink report that their parents are aware, and of parents whose teens drink, 32 percent of them are not opposed to their teen’s drinking.

WHAT GRADE DID YOU START DRINKING? 9TH 8TH 11TH 12TH 10TH

STUDENTS WHO DRINK HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL OR THOUGHT THEY MAY HAVE BEFORE

“Parents won’t come downstairs and be supporting it,” freshman Valerie Lu said. “They pretend to be unaware of it.”

LOOKING FORWARD

WE DON’T WANT TO EQUATE DRINKING ALCOHOL WITH BEING A BAD PERSON. IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE.

Since April 2014, the Upper and Middle School has brought FCD speakers five times. The former substance abusers educate students on the risks involved with drug and alcohol use.

HENRY HEIL, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

“Now when I go to parties, I’m the sober one,” she said. “I used to hate it, but now I love the feeling of knowing I didn’t do something embarrassing without remembering.”

Spence regrets her past decisions.

“I wish I’d never started,” she said. “Even when I wasn’t drinking, alcohol clouded my judgment because I would do things I never would’ve done before just to drink it. I’m so mad at myself for actually changing the way my family looked at me just to forget my problems for one hour. If you drink to forget your problems, you’re going to wake up with more of them.”

ACCESSIBILITY

Most of Spence’s parties took place at a friend’s house whose parents were often gone on the weekends.

“Her dad was aware of what we were doing while he was out of the house and sometimes left us ‘stuff’ for when he’d be gone for periods of time,” she said.

Accessibility to alcohol financially can play a role, but to Atkinson, that’s not the main issue.

“Alcohol is not that expensive compared to other drugs—it’s the lack of parental concern,” he said. “There is a strong fear of disappointing their kid. They want to make sure that their house can host the party, that their kids have the maximal, amazing high school experience.”

But to Rhodes, parents are an integral part of the learning experience that comes with drinking.

“In high school, you have your parents, so if you’re in a bad situation, you can talk to them and they can help guide you through it,” she said. “You want to learn and prepare because you’re going to have to start sooner or later.”

Although parents don’t want to rob

Head of Upper School Henry Heil remembers similar speakers visiting his middle school.

“I vividly remember it was very much scare tactics, which for a middle schooler is somewhat impactful,” Heil said. “But we all know that fear is really shortlived.”

With 85 percent of students reporting that the speakers did not influence their decision of whether to drink, senior Floyd Robins* believes that their message for upperclassmen needs to continue to look to the future.

“As we go on, especially senior year, their message should shift from what it was to preparing us for what’s coming in college,” Robins said.

Tackling the issue in a new way, Heil held a live webcast for parents on Oct. 23 to discuss the issue with parents. Eighty-one parents signed up and could ask questions anonymously.

“I don’t want anyone to feel like, parents and students included, that drinking is bad—that it’s evil,” Heil said. “We don’t want to equate drinking alcohol with being a bad person. It’s an opportunity to educate.”

STUDENTS WHO DRINK REPORT THAT THEIR PARENTS ARE AWARE 1 in 3

STUDENTS BELIEVE THAT EITHER OUR SCHOOL HAS AN UNHEALTHY DRINKING CULTURE OR THAT AT LEAST SOME STUDENTS DO 1 in 10 3 in 4

STUDENTS WHO DRINK REPORT THAT THEIR PARENTS SUPPORT IT 5 IN 6 PARENT ACCESSIBILITY 1 in 4

STUDENTS WHO DRINK HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED WITH ALCOHOL BY THEIR PARENTS BEFORE

PERCENT OF HIGH-RISK DRINKERS BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT DRINKING 93

80+ PERCENT OF STUDENTS THINK IT’S EASY TO FIT IN WITHOUT DRINKING

STAFF STANCE |

The issue regarding the school’s involvement in the personal lives of students’ outside of school is on everyone’s radar. But the question raised by most is how far the school can and should go to help students. Nonetheless, in these circumstances, the school is legally obligated to notify parents if a student is participating in something that is dangerous, unhealthy or illegal.

Currently, for all students who are caught vaping or seen purchasing and/or drinking alcohol by a member of the faculty, the school is required to inform their guardians or parents, no matter the circumstances.

Even if a student wasn’t on campus or wearing their uniform, consequences for their actions are necessary to teach the student the importance of preserving their well-being. For one, participation in these activities is illegal, according to the state of Texas, and two, students’ who continue to blame the school for poor choices need to realize they’re putting their health at risk.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention youth who drink alcohol are likely to experience higher absences, poor or failing grades and alcohol-related car accidents including physical injuries to the body. These are only a few examples of the number of damaging health consequences to teens who participate in underage drinking, and if the faculty or administration were to witness anything of the sort,

Administration has the right to get involved with student issues even if it’s off campus

it is imperative that parents are notified and that the student seek immediate counseling and medical attention. The same can be said for students who vape, in that not only is it illegal if under the age of 18, but that there are negative health effects such as nicotine addiction and a condition known as “popcorn lungs” that causes scarring, leading to respiratory problems.

Disciplinary actions taken by the school such as detentions, honor code violations and inschool or in-class suspensions help enforce rules and teach life lessons.

However, if a member of the faculty were to witness a student participating in these activities outside of campus, perhaps they should consider whether or not it’s something that the school should get involved in. If the activity is not disrupting the health and safety of the student or isn’t a liability issue, it’s best if the school doesn’t get involved. Sometimes an individual conversation goes a long way to helping a student—not including some form of punishment. Adults need to think about possible negative repercussions parents might impose such as kicking a student out of the house. Such actions could really endanger a student even more.

We know that students may not agree with how the school deals with liability issues, but administration, faculty and staff only want to help. We appreciate that administration wants to ensure students make

soundoff

“It scares me that anyone could spit in the water hose that’s on the turf because any athlete who doesn’t know that will drink from it.”

– Tori Schmidt, freshman

smart choices and are safe, and there should be consequences to breaking the rules—otherwise students will never learn.

Faculty and administration impose these rules for the safety, well-being and health of students—Head of Upper School Henry Heil has mentioned that

Five overheard conversations, five funny statements

they [faculty and staff] are in no way deliberately trying to find and punish students for their participation in illicit activities— but we believe faculty should consider the significance of these activities and whether their involvement could benefit and help the student in question.

“Running is not only a sport, but it’s also a lifestyle.”

– Reid Moorman, freshman

“Trick question: Do you know how to say ‘It’s raining’ in Russian?”

– Alexander Konradi, junior

“Someone stole my debit card and spent $81 worth of McDonald’s through DoorDash. How do you do that? You’d have to buy like 60 Big Macs.”

– Briggs Jones, junior

“I’ll see Oreos in my pantry and grab two or three for every meal. I usually eat like 10, but on a bad day, I’ll have two out of the three rows.”

– Annie Sawers, senior

GRAPHIC BY | EVELYN ZHAO

letters to the EDITORS

Dear Eagle Edition,

As we find ourself in the midst of a festive homecoming week, I can’t help but reflect daily on the subject of attire. Why, I find myself frequently wondering, do we care so much about what we wear? What difference does it really make if we are dressed “appropriately” during the school day or not?

A button here or there. A corner of that shirt out. A forgotten belt. A rolled skirt. I have to ask, are these capital offenses?

When a visiting family comes through the school and wonders about how our students are dressed, isn’t it the Ambassadors’ job to steer them away from those of us who just don’t feel like tucking or buttoning? Shouldn’t the administration worry more about figuring out ways for the students to have fun than to be concerned about shirt length on a casual day?

I hear all this “science” about how wearing formal attire can help improve study habits and help students focus in the classroom. Nonsense! If we aren’t comfortable, there is no way we can study for a quiz or test, much less take notes for 60 whole minutes.

I don’t see why we can’t just have 150 theme days. They are entertaining. They are creative. And, we can put some more money in Preston and Andrew’s pockets!

Happy Homecoming,

Mr. Heil

Dear Eagle Edition,

It’s no secret that teenagers, especially those in high school, are forced to make difficult decisions. Some of the most difficult decisions the average teen will have to make will involve alcohol, a substance that is restricted to students through federal statutes and the ESD zerotolerance policy. Many penalties that exist for being caught under the influence don’t really do much to deter students from alcohol if you look at the statistics for how many teens drink.

FCD was informative (talking about e-cigarettes given the rise in popularity), but what really caught my interest and prompted me to do some research was when another student in the room asked the instructor what someone should do if a fellow student loses consciousness because of severe alcohol poisoning. All our education about alcohol in school is centered around telling students not to drink, but we are seldom told about what to do or how to react in potentially dangerous situations involving alcohol. More work should be done to inform students on how to react in these situations. After all, alcohol does have the potential to induce certain life-threatening situations if not handled properly.

Junior Zan Haq

Treferring to the media as a representation of the entire journalistic world, they are supporting uneducated stereotypes that encourage a dangerous message that has significantly worsened, thanks to an administration who mocks reporters and calls for their deaths via violent means.

here’s a lot of controversy— not only in America but all over the world—surrounding the media and the role it plays in our society.

Many categorize journalists as the enemy, but the hatred toward all journalists is unjustified. Fake news exists, but it’s often on hyper-partisan websites with writers that have no professional training. However, it should go without saying that just because the facts aren’t liked, doesn’t make they’re fake. And this most certainly doesn’t make journalists evil. Countless journalists worldwide put themselves at risk every day to pursue a story they feel will make an impact on the world. For example, reporters are risking their lives to cover the hugely controversial atrocities taking place in Chechnya against the LGBT community right now. If it weren’t for journalists like Elena Milishina and Igor Kotchetkov— two extremely influential individuals we doubt you’ve

ever heard of—we would not know that gay men in Chechnya are being illegally detained, tortured and murdered. Both of these reporters have received numerous death threats in Russia for their work.

By insulting the journalistic profession all-together, you are shedding a negative light on the accomplishments and sacrifices of men and women like Milishina and Kotchetkov.

This hate fails to acknowledge the important role the press has played historically, from the Revolutionary War to Watergate. The press is the fourth check and balance on our governing system, educating voters about issues in hopes that people make informed choices. Without the First Amendment, we would be no better than countries ruled by unchecked dictators. We are lucky.

When people begin

Where would we be without newspapers, magazines, websites and yes, even broadcast news? Culturally, the news has played a huge role in the development of our nation. But now, the faults of the few have become a divisive issue.

As high school journalists, hearing hateful and uneducated comments about journalism is a personal threat. We know who we are and what we do. We know it matters. But do you?

As a high school newspaper, we work tirelessly to represent our student body’s opinions. We strive to accurately cover issues that are important to our generation. We look to continue the legacy left behind by the editors before us, whose talent is illustrated

by the wall of awards that notes the success of our program and our work.

Next time you think about the media’s role in society, ask yourself how we got here. How did we get from our Founding Fathers indoctrinating freedom of the press, to our nation—our president—openly detesting the media?

Someday, it will be our generation running “the media.” We need to learn to stand up for ourselves, to never give up in pursuit of the truth and to be open to the opinions that differ from our own. Although it is by no means perfect, the media is not evil. The media is not the enemy.

Don’t let individual bias keep ripping apart the shreds of common decency and the respect—yes, even the support—that should be shown to journalists. This profession is a public service, and we aim to serve.

Anastasia & Madison, Editors-in-Chief

Separation of families at the border is unjustified, contradicts American values

Melissa Rivera Design Editor

I remember scrolling through Twitter when I saw a specific tweet that summed up the way I felt about everything I had heard about the separation of

families at the border: “Has everyone lost their mind?”

I retweeted it, hoping that my followers at least acknowledge that this was crazy.

I was disappointed when I saw my classmates liking tweets like one from Homeland Security that said, “News Flash @SenFeinstein: We don’t have a policy of separating families. If you commit a crime in this country, the police will take you to jail, regardless if you have

a family or not. Illegal aliens should not get preferential treatment because they happen to be illegal aliens.”

According to an article from USA Today, a total of 2,654 children were taken at the U.S. and Mexico border under the policy from April up until June when it ended. The Trump administration argued that the zero-tolerance “policy” was justified.

What has this country come to? Nothing justifies separating a child from their parents. Did the Trump administration even think about how the children would be affected? Did they think about the traumatic scars these actions would leave? No. They also made the children present themselves in court all alone, without a parent or guardian.

The policy received backlash in late June, and after two months of being in effect, Federal Judge Dana Sabraw from San Diego issued a Temporary Restraining Order in a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. Sabraw gave the government 14 days to reunite children under the age of five

with their families and 30 days to reunite older children with their families.

Because the administration hadn’t kept records of where the children and their parents were held, the reunification process happened at a sluggish pace.

According to USA Today, as of Aug. 24, 528 children still remain under the care of the federal government and have not been reunited with their parents. Of those 528 children, 343 were separated from a parent who has been deported to their home country, and the other 203 children were released from government custody to a U.S. sponsor.

According to an article from the New York Times, medical professionals warn that the children will most likely have long-term emotional and psychological damage.

I am proud to be Mexican and American, but this made me question whether or not the people in our government have a heart or a brain. This country is making it clear that immigrants are not wanted, but wasn’t the U.S. founded by immigrants?

Polarizing plastic

PRO: A plastic ban is necessary to protect the environment, helps economy

Jiaying Fu

Copy Editor

The increasing usage of plastic all across the world has not only devastated the environment but also negatively impacts general health and the economy.

Every year, tens of thousands of marine animals die from encounters with plastic. They are poisoned from the toxins in plastic or strangled by bags. National Geographic reports that 91 percent of plastic in the world is not recycled and ends up in landfills or oceans, damaging the ecosystem.

Plastic bags are also the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes that are potential carriers of viruses. Plastic bottles often emit harmful chemicals and contaminate water with microplastic pieces, and exposure to these chemicals can cause chronic illness and birth defects.

Contrary to popular belief, plastic bans only bolster the economy. Plastic bag bans create additional employment opportunities and allow for increased business amongst reusable bag manufacturers. These bans also benefit consumers by decreasing the prices of products. When prices are created, stores factor in the amount of money they have to spend on disposable plastic bags. By not using these bags, stores are able to reduce product prices at no cost.

We ought to take whatever actions are necessary in order to protect the environment rather than destroy it because animals are sentient beings just like us, and their lives should be valued equally. We cannot wait until it is too late to take action. The environment around us allows us to live and grow, and if we destroy it now, we will destroy the road for future generations. For those unconcerned environmentally, please realize that you are not the sole inhabitant of this planet. Your actions affect everyone. Inconveniences that occur with the ban are small now, but as the effects of plastic usage accumulate, the aftermath will become much worse.

65 percent of students are in favor of a nationwide plastic ban, according to a poll of 240 students on Oct. 18

CON: A plastic ban is too extreme, hurts impoverished families and the disabled

Liesl Small Staff Writer

Bans and taxes are increasingly placed on plastic bags, straws and bottles. Concerned Americans should begin to think about the negative effects these bans will have throughout the nation, such as causing health problems and economic difficulties.

Plastic bag bans are enforced in California and Hawaii, while states like Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan have a precautionary plastic bag ban. These bans are financially threatening for impoverished families because they heighten their grocery bills by forcing them to pay extra fees for plastic bags. Also, according to a project called Bag the Ban, roughly 30,000 Americans are employed by companies that manufacture or recycle plastic bags. If the plastic bag ban were implemented nationwide, thousands would be left unemployed.

As environmental awareness increases across the globe, plastic water bottles emerge as a threat. Many proponents of the ban believe that taking single-use plastic water bottles off of shelves will benefit consumers’ health because they emit less harmful chemicals. However, according to The International Bottled Water Association, taking water off of shelves could convert the majority of Americans to drinking soda or other sugar-filled drinks, leading to other health problems.

According to National Geographic, plastic straws, which make up 0.025 percent of America’s total plastic waste in oceans, have been banned in Seattle and the state of California and are in the process of being removed from restaurants and chains such as Starbucks and Alaskan Airlines. For people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s, this ban is too extreme. Disabled people often do not have the strength or ability to drink without help from a straw, and alternative choices such as metal and paper straws are not flexible enough.

While cutting down our use of plastic is imperative to protect our planet, the outright banning of plastic bags, bottles and straws is too extreme for our country.

35 percent of students are opposed to a nationwide plastic ban, according to a poll of 240 students on Oct. 18

Kavanaugh fallout perpetuates rape culture, stigmatizes sexual assault survivors

entire sign.

BY | EMILY DELGADO

“[I didn’t report because] I was so young and thought it was my fault.”

“[I didn’t report because] I needed my job. I didn’t know who to go to.”

“[I didn’t report because] I was 10.”

Shortly after Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing, a student at Georgia State University shared a picture on Twitter of a sign that was hung up in one of the women’s bathrooms with “#WhyIDidn’tReport” written in Sharpie at the top. Below, 29 women shared their stories and explained why they did not report their sexual assault, filling up the

According to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, rape is the most underreported crime. One in five women will be raped in their lifetime, and 63 percent of sexual assault cases will go unreported. This means girls in the Upper School, in your grade, in your class, in your family, have a high possibility of being raped sometime in their lifetime, and a majority will not report it. As a woman, it is frightening to know these statistics.

On the morning of Sept. 21, Donald Trump posted a tweet questioning why Dr. Christine Blasey Ford waited many decades before speaking up about her sexual assault. Within hours, rape and sexual assault victims around the globe responded by sharing personal stories and explaining why it is not easy for victims, especially women, to report their assaults under the hashtag “#WhyIDidn’tReport.”

This hashtag, similar to the #MeToo

movement, has become an outlet for rape and sexual assault victims. Whether these stories are from 35 years ago or from yesterday, they should not be ignored.

Not only were rape and sexual assault victims able to relate to Dr. Ford as she gave her testimony, they found it within themselves to also speak up about their experiences. The National Sexual Assault Hotline saw a 147 percent increase in calls the day that Dr. Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

According to the Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine, 15 out of 16 rapists walk free. It’s statistics like these that keep women from reporting. Take a look at the 60 women who came forward about Bill Cosby: It took survivors years to come forward because they didn’t think they could ever get justice—something they finally received with his conviction. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the prevalence of false

rape allegations is between two and 10 percent—that’s not a lot of support for the argument that these women are lying. Not only was Kavanaugh sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice on Oct. 6, but Trump also publicly apologized to him for being a “victim” of “terrible pain and suffering.” What about Dr. Ford’s suffering? Once again, a woman spoke up, and once again, she was called a liar. Once again, a woman put her reputation in danger to recount her assault, and once again, she was sent death threats. Once again, a woman received therapy to be able to publicly speak about her trauma, and once again, she was ridiculed. Once again, a woman said she was assaulted, and once again, she was not believed.

According to a survey of 240 students taken on Oct. 18, 29 percent of students believe Dr. Ford’s testimony; 25 percent of students don’t; and 47 percent of students don’t know. I believe her.

The

best and worst of the month, graded

A modest proposal: courtesy

CORNER HIGHS LOWS

Latinos Unidos Chapel

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, senior and Latinos Unidos President Alejandra De La Cruz gave a heartfelt speech in Chapel about her experiences with diversity in the school community. The Latinos Unidos Club then handed out a variety of paletas, Mexican popsicles, to students and faculty exiting the Chapel.

Basketball battle

During flex, teachers and students faced off in a head-to-head competitive basketball game sponsored by Student Council as part of Homecoming week festivities. With Mr. Chmiel making the final free throw, the teachers defeated the students, 10-9. Shout out to Mrs. Albright for reigning as the team’s MVP.

Spooky season Student Council worked at school

over the weekend to surprise the student body with school-wide Halloween decorations. From fake spider webs draping the staircases to black tape lining Senior Hall, campus is looking very festive.

Push for pep

This year’s pep rallies are better than any previous year we can remember.

The cheerleading routines are intense; the neon, glow-in-the-dark theme offered quirky fun; and the Homecoming rally included a marching band that energized students. We wish we had pep rallies all the time.

SOCIAL STUDIES |

Not-so-easy bake

This year’s NHS bake sale has a twist–students must bake everything that is sold. In the past, students were allowed to bring storebought items. Another change is that students can now only purchase baked goods with cash.

D+

Dress it up or dress it down

This year, Student Council made their best efforts to create an enjoyable spirit week for Upper School students. Unfortunately, they were only able to get a few days approved for full theme dress–the other days, students must wear part of their uniform.

DFoggy fire alarm

Someone in the Junior Lounge messed with the fog machine, interrupting classes and lunch time for the entire Middle and Upper School. Not only was this inconvenient, but the action was irresponsible, bringing firefighters to campus while the student body waited in the cold.

FConference crash Halloween–a favorite teen holiday–is now also Conference Day, which puts a damper on any plans to celebrate. Conference Day should have been moved to any day that’s not a holiday.

Political civility is long gone, prevents government from working

BY | JOHN CALVERT

Bill Clinton was nearly impeached, his tenure saved by a slight senatorial majority. George W. Bush, the next President, was painted by Democrats as some sort of witless ape, a backwoods hillbilly unable to count to 10. Barack Obama was then held up by the GOP at every turn, the Republicans waging a war via the typical means of political conflict—filibusters and party-line voting. They even went as far as to pretend he wasn’t born in America.

Despite all this partisan intrigue, previous administrations were marked with an unspoken sense of civility, an underlying notion that despite ideological affiliation, the president is still in charge. Any opposition has, for as long as most of us can remember, been loyal to politicians from the rival party, begrudgingly agreeing with the executive branch and only defying the president in extraordinary circumstances. But we are, it seems, at a Rubicon.

President Trump is a likely contender for the most polarizing president in American history. No statesman, short of absolutist despots, has attracted as much criticism, vitriol and overall antagonism as him.

cultural commentary

Hollywood is going all out, with actors–people who play pretend for a living–turning every interview and awards show into a childish tirade about how much of a nasty racist the “orange man” is.

Some Republicans are, in the name of losing gracefully, refusing to cooperate, most recently manifested in Senator Jeff Flake’s hesitation to confirm Associate Judge Brett Kavanaugh. And the Democratic Party is currently engaged in a strategy of scorched-earth, its politicians and voters fighting tooth and nail to challenge absolutely anything the President does.

The reputations, safety, privacy and even lives of Trump’s supporters are fair game for destruction, as long as it’s in the name of the “resistance.”

This is not communist Russia, Nazi Germany or any other dictatorship. Trump’s opinions may seem a bit extreme, but they are what about half of the country believes, judging by the current polling numbers (44 percent approval according to the most recent Gallup poll).

The worst Trump has done is make up rude nicknames for enemies: he isn’t destroying the economy; he isn’t killing his own citizens; and he isn’t expanding the powers of the

presidency to become an autarch. Despite his colorful personality, Trump isn’t doing anything that abuses his office, at least not more so than past presidents.

There is, in other words, no need for a “resistance.”

Every republic, regardless of culture or origin, experiences a decline of this sort. Time is disproportionate to civility, and polity becomes anarchy as the years go on.

The left’s ongoing mania, though certainly exacerbated by Trump’s deposition, is a sign that we are in the penultimate stage of this process. Political violence is starting to creep into the mainstream, and influential people are beginning to throw around words like “treason” and “revolution.”

Unless we, as a society, work toward restoring gentility between the two parties, the U.S. and the experiment of democracy is doomed to fail. Political differences cannot cause us to lose sight of the values we all hold in common, and they cannot allow the halls of debate to be filled with bloodshed. So please, be more respectful towards political opponents, just like I am.

BY

| SUMNER WOOLDRIDGE

BY | LAUREN EGGER

Whiting decided to join field hockey for the first time this year and made varsity, despite having no prior experience.

“At first, being a new player was hard, and I was nervous because I was very behind in knowledge and skill,” Whiting said. “My teammates and our coaches taught me so much in a [short amount of time], and I am so thankful to have a team that was willing to help.”

Whiting joined field hockey to meet new people and appreciates the retreat at the ranch, where they worked out in the morning.

Field

hockey players prepare for SPC, recount journey into sport

Working tirelessly in practice last season and during tryouts this season, Neuhoff was determined to make varsity field hockey. She was worried that she wouldn’t be chosen because there was strong competition for a spot.

“I didn’t know if Coach Hudson would put me on junior varsity so [that] I could get more playing time,” Neuhoff said. “I tried to give 100 percent in everything I did, even if it was just stretching because I hoped that would make up for what I lacked. Last year, I stayed after almost every practice to practice moves to improve on my own.”

1

5 1 Sticking together 3

“Everyone was very tired, but we were all going through the same thing together, and that [brought] us a lot closer,” Whiting said. “Being a close team has immensely contributed to our wins because we know we can count on one another to have each others’ backs.”

During the Episcopal Cup, the team played Parish Episcopal School, but the game was delayed because of the rain. Neuhoff sat on the bus, hoping the rain would stop because she was full of excitement that she would get to play the whole game.

“I love playing field hockey because it’s such a great way to get my mind off of the stress of school,” Neuhoff said. “I love the feeling I get when I finally perfect something I’ve spent hours working on.”

Sitting in a circle on the boat dock at Five Points Ranch, the varsity field hockey team spent hours talking at a team-bonding retreat. Here, sophomore Lizzie Kelley felt like she belonged at her new school.

“It was nerve-racking being new to the team,” Kelley said. “When I made varsity, I knew I had to work even harder to prove that I could play with these girls.”

In the first game of the season against All Saints, the offense had the ball in the corner and passed to Kelley. She scored, and the whole team celebrated with her.

“It was incredible [scoring in the first game],” Kelley said. “I did not think I was going to make it at all, and when I saw the ball roll in, I smiled so hard.”

The team is currently 10-2-2, and SPC counter games began Oct. 12. Kelley believes the team is ready for SPC.

“If it wasn’t for our captains hyping us up, I don’t think we would play the way we [do],” Kelley said. “We are going to win SPC because we are a strong team [that] doesn’t give up, and we are the most motivated.”

As one of four varsity field hockey captains, Browne is excited to see the team work together toward winning the school’s first-ever field hockey SPC championship.

“My goal is [not only] to lead our team to a championship but also make this year as [fun as possible],” Browne said. “We are a strong team with our new additions this year.”

The team bonded at a retreat at a teammate’s ranch before school began. They had a large sleepover with lunch, dinner and a sundae bar.

“We did a big sis, little sis buddy reveal, which was good team bonding,” Browne said. “We definitely could win SPC this year, and our team chemistry is one of our best qualities.”

Browne joined field hockey her sophomore year and made varsity, despite having never played before.

“I wanted to try it because I was so bored during fall, and all of my friends played,” Browne said. “I really liked Coach Hudson when I met her, and [I decided to try out].”

Cross country prepares to race at SPC North Zone

BY | MELISSA RIVERA

After tying his shoelaces, senior John Heldman heads over to the starting line at the Lovejoy cross country meet. Performing a few quick stretches, Heldman stops when he hears a voice over the speaker announce that all further races have been canceled because of flooding.

“Although it was cold and wet, I wanted and was ready to race to see if I had improved my time from the season before,” Heldman said.

Of the seven cross country meets scheduled for this season, three were canceled because of the rain, and there are only two meets left.

“I love meets,” sophomore Henry Hobson said. “Day after day, we go to practice, preparing for [meets]. We put in the work, and the coaches push us to our physical limits everyday, so it’s frustrating when meets get canceled.”

Although it has been over a month since the team last competed, they have kept their spirits high.

“It has been somewhat frustrating as we really want to see these kids compete and improve throughout the season,” assistant cross country coach Todd Kessler said. “Nevertheless, we just try to stay positive and keep putting in the work at practice.”

The cross country team has not only had a rough season because of the wet weather, but they also have two new coaches, continuing their five year streak of gaining a new coach each season.

“It’s been difficult over the years because you obviously don’t want to adjust to a new coach every year,” senior captain Auden Rudelson said. “At the same time, however, you can always learn something new.”

The team has practiced outside for the last two weeks in 40

degree weather and rain in preparation for their upcoming, SPC-qualifying tournament in Oklahoma City. The SPC North Zone meet will be held at the Casady School on Oct. 26. The meet occurred regardless of weather because it was required to qualify for SPC, which will occur on Nov. 10.

“We’ve been preparing for the meet by increasing our mileage each week and gradually increasing the intensity of our track workouts,” head coach Evan Hadrick said. “We’ve also started to add some special stretching sessions with our new strength and conditioning coach Sally Ward.”

Although the weather at the meet may not be ideal, the team is looking forward to finally competing.

“I’m excited to showcase everything we’ve been working for this entire season,” Hobson said.

sophomore SAM WHITING

sophomore CLEO NEUHOFF

senior JAY BROWNE

LIZZIE KELLEY

Professional strength coach joins staff after NFL career

Sally Ward felt called to campus position by God, background includes professional gymnastics

STRETCH IT OUT Strength and Conditioning Coach Sally Ward helps Los Angeles Charger’s player Jahleel Addae stretch before a game. She currently works on campus and continues to go to school, studying strength and conditioning.

“I’m still furthering my career,” Ward said. “I’m still learning, I’m still growing, I’m still doing school.” photo courtesy of Sally Ward

BY | EMILY DELGADO

After a six and a half hour flight from Los Angeles to Massachusetts, the Los Angeles Chargers exhaustedly head to the showers at the facility where they will be playing against the New England Patriots. Upon entering, strength and conditioning coach Sally Ward also looks for the showers, only to find that there aren’t any showers or even locker rooms for women. As one of the only female coaches in the NFL, Ward is used to being forgotten in situations like these. She quickly changes in a nearby janitor’s closet before heading out to the field to set up.

After working with several professional football, basketball and hockey teams, Ward is now the Upper School assistant strength and conditioning coach and a fifth and sixth grade physical education teacher. She works with both junior varsity and varsity sports in the areas of agility, flexibility, dynamic warm ups, movement and alignment.

I CREATED MY

“She brings that next level of experience by working in the NFL and can transfer that to any athlete, male or female, on any sport,” strength and conditioning coordinator James Roney said. “She is right there to make sure we are filling in those areas athletes miss like balance, flexibility and mobility. We are super excited to have her.”

OWN

you’re allowed to talk about your faith, especially since my faith has been a rock in my professional career as a woman.”

By the age of 12, Ward was a professional gymnast who trained at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs. Ward trained up until the 1996 Olympics but retired early before the Olympic games, leaving team USA to compete without her.

“I felt as if it was time for me to retire,” Ward said. “The Lord led me to retire at the time, and it was a good decision for me.”

After retiring, Ward went on to coach elite gymnasts on and off for 20 years.

During that time, she attended a New York Knicks versus Orlando Magic basketball game with her brother.

“I was watching their warm up and their flexibility, and I just saw how horrible their form was,” Ward said.

“In my mind,

NICHE. AS A KID, I USED TO WORRY A LOT ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO BE AS AN ADULT BECAUSE ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS SPORTS, AND I FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO JOB FOR ME.

SALLY WARD, STRENGTH COACH

I thought [all] sports athletics were equal across the board for their agility and warm up, but that’s not true.”

EAGLE EYE

interviewed by Sydney Rezaie

How did you get into playing

“I started playing volleyball when I was in Lower School, in third or fourth grade. For most of my life, I thought I was going to be playing basketball because my dad played, and he’s a coach. I started playing club volleyball in sixth or seventh grade and really liked it, so I continued to play and realized I wanted to play in college.”

Why do you play volleyball?

Ward first stepped on campus when her sister, mother of an eighth grade student, invited her to workout with her in the training room. There, Ward met Roney and other staff, and fell in love with the school. Because Ward attended a private Christian school in Florida as a child, she felt comfortable entering the ESD community.

“I love that this is a Christian based school,” Ward said. “I love that

Afterwards, Ward bought the Knicks versus Magic game on Apple TV and carefully observed it in slow motion. She made notes on what each player individually needed and sent it in a letter to the Knicks.

“I wrote the letter because someone that is in my area of expertise doesn’t exist in the sports world,” Ward said.

“If you have the skill that meets the need of a team, you can create your own position, and someone will hire you to be yourself because [you] are valuable.”

The representative for the Knicks

immediately called her, and Ward began her first professional job with the NBA. Ward worked as a contractor, only working with the team at away games and by appointment.

“I created my own niche,” Ward said. “As a kid, I used to worry a lot about what I was going to be as an adult because all I wanted to do was sports, and I felt like there was no job for me.”

She became a contractor for three NBA teams, three NFL teams and one NHL team over a period of six years.

Ward accomplished her goal of being hired full time by a team before the age of 40 so that she could work full time with the team and not by appointment.

“It was a total dream come true,” Ward said. “When I was younger, I didn’t see myself fitting into the normal compartments that existed for women at the time, and I didn’t realize until I was in my 30s that I [could] create my own job. It wasn’t until then that I had the confidence to start going after what I really wanted.”

From having to wear men’s clothes that didn’t fit to having to change in janitor’s closets, Ward experienced challenges being a female coach in the NFL.

“Even though our society says that we support women, there’s a lot of judgment,” Ward said. “Overall, the NFL as a whole is still on the rise of welcoming women.”

Ward is currently working on an intensive course, recommended by the head coach of the LA Chargers that focuses on speed, strength, motivational science and nutrition. She will complete the course before the end of the school year.

“I’m still furthering my career and still learning and growing,” Ward said. “If you follow your own personal convictions and you focus on yourself, [trying to] thrive and succeed to the best of your ability, that’s true success.”

“There are so many reasons why I love the sport. Throughout the years, I have made so many good friends from playing volleyball. I also like how the sport makes me feel when I do a good play. Since I had played basketball for so long, volleyball was also the first sport I played seriously and fully enjoyed. It’s also a very active sport—you can use any body part to play the ball and have to hustle every second, on and off the court.”

What is the difference between school and club volleyball?

“For the girls who play club, volleyball is their life and they really want to play in college. Also, most of the girls I play with go to public school, so the vibes for both teams are totally different. At ESD, the coaches are a little more strict and have specific rules for uniforms. On my club team I could forget to wear my warm-up shirt and it wouldn’t matter. But at school, I can’t do that.”

“I really want to. I am looking at Division I and Division II schools and have had interest from both. For my position, most girls are really tall. I am only 5’8” and a half. For Division I, most of the girls are 6’6” to 6’8”. For Division II, they get a little shorter.” A Q A Q A A Q

Do you want to commit to play in college?

Mens volleyball club sparks interest in official school team

BY | VICTORIA WILLOX

In an effort to diversify the athletics program, the volleyball club is pushing to reinstate mens volleyball as a fall sport. In a year, the club has grown from a small group of students training together to nearly 40 active members, all of whom are promoting mens volleyball as a sports credit.

The volleyball club was cofounded by senior Evan Zheng and junior Amanda Park last year. The club was originally started as a volleyball club, but as interest from boys grew, Zheng and Park were inspired to branch out and start a mens volleyball team.

“It would be great to have a mens volleyball team,” Park said. “So much emphasis is on football, and there are a lot of sports...that don’t get a lot of fan support or interest, which really needs to change.”

a former Olympian from the Chinese national mens volleyball team, and he convinced me to try it and trained me. As I got better at it, my interest grew. It [is] really fun activity.”

Zheng hopes to reignite an interest in volleyball among young men and change their current perception of the sport.

“Some people think volleyball is a girl’s sport, but it’s really for everyone,” Zheng said. “I know the Middle School tournament was really huge and changed a lot of peoples’ opinions about the sport, which was really exciting to see.”

Up until 1999 mens volleyball

were undefeated in everything. Volleyball is the perfect team sport...it’s a power sport without any contact, and when its done well, it’s an art form. Students get excited for the girl’s matches so I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be excited about the boys.”

Although there is a growing interest in the club, there is still a lack of interest in certain demographics, which could be disastrous for the club in the long run.

“Most of the serious players who are active in the club are juniors and seniors,” Zheng said. “I see a lot of potential in underclassmen, though. We really need more interest from younger grades to be able to turn the club into a sport.”

IF THE STUDENTS AND THOSE INTERESTED WERE ABLE TO WATCH A MENS TEAM PLAY VOLLEYBALL, IT WOULD CHANGE EVERYONE’S PERSPECTIVE.

Zheng, who started playing volleyball outside of school two years ago, is the president of the club and is leading the movement to bring volleyball to all students.

“[Volleyball] recently became my passion,” Zheng said. “I became interested in the sport because I’m good friends with

AMANDA PARK “

was offered as a fall sport on campus. The team was successful, and they were even SPC champions the very year the team was discontinued. The team was especially memorable to former womens volleyball coach Mike Schneider, who was impressed by how successful the team was.

“The mens volleyball team that won SPC is probably the most dominant team I’ve seen at the school,” Schneider said. “They

In addition to difficulty generating interest, adding a new team is a arduous process, which the athletics department takes seriously. Although it seems simple to add a new sport to the fall roster, there are numerous details which must be considered before this idea can be turned into a reality.

“Adding [mens volleyball] is certainly a possibility, but it’s much core complicated than people realize,” Schneider said. “When football was brought in it killed volleyball, that wasn’t fair to the volleyball players. So, if

you bring in volleyball it could kill cross country, and that’s not fair to cross country players.”

Despite the difficulties of establishing a new team, Zheng and Park are still optimistic about the possibility of reintroducing mens volleyball to the school.

“The impact the team would have could only be positive,” Park said. “If the students and those interested were able to watch a mens team play volleyball, it would change everyone’s perspective, and students would be more open to the idea of it.”

FURNITURE & DECOR

DIGGING IT Jumping to set the ball during a mens volleyball club meeting in the Auxilary gym, senior Adam Bland practices new skills and techniques. The school had a men’s volleyball team in the ‘90s, which was discontinued when football became an official sport. “Volleyball club brings out everyone’s competitive side as we play games against each other [and] learn the game,” Bland said. photo by Riley Breaux

Male cheerleader embraces self, overcomes obstacles

Weston Hargrave makes squad as second-ever male cheerleader

BY | RALEIGH TOLEDO

After joining football in middle school and discovering that when he wasn’t playing, he loved dancing with the cheerleaders, freshman Weston Hargrave became the second male cheerleader in school history.

“Being the only guy on cheer is probably the [most fun] thing about being a cheerleader at ESD,” Hargrave said. “I get the spotlight, and people can’t disrespect me because they sound ridiculous making fun of a guy who’s around girls at the end of every day.”

The junior varsity backspot joined the cheer squad because he wanted to be himself.

“

not to be alone,” Hargrave said. “I learned how to cope with loneliness, and instead of fearing it, I started to accept it.”

Hargrave played middle school football for the sole reason of trying to fit in. He wanted to be “one of the guys” but soon realized the sport was not for him.

“The guys in football weren’t really welcoming—they were overly competitive,” Hargrave said. “I really only did football because I thought it would make me cool and [that] I would be accepted.”

In eighth grade during recess, there was a presentation for people who were interested in cheer. Hargrave went to the presentation with a male peer, who only attended as a joke.

I HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WHAT TYPE OF PERSON I WANT TO BE. [I WANT TO BE] SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T GET DISTRACTED BY WHAT PEOPLE THINK... WESTON HARGRAVE

After being bullied in sixth grade, Hargrave maintains his belief that pretending to be someone he wasn’t made him unhappy.

“I started getting bullied because I was ‘chubby’,” Hargrave said. “I thought it was my fault for being bullied, and my whole sixth grade [year] was me hating myself. I thought that being bullied is what should happen to people who are different.”

After being bullied, Hargrave only wanted to fit in and be accepted [in the school community], so he tried to act cool, but instead, gave up his only reliable friends for the short-term attention of his bullies.

“I [realized I] had sacrificed too much of my dignity trying to be accepted and trying

With a few weeks until tryouts, Hargrave signed up on the list of people who wanted to join the cheer squad.

“During that time, I did get some hate for being interested in cheer,” Hargrave said. “I couldn’t care less about what people in my grade thought about me because none of them were my friends, and none of them actually cared about me.”

Hargrave trained about 30 minutes a day to prepare for tryouts.

“When I walked into that gym, I was welcomed,” Hargrave said. “People were nice to me, they talked with me and showed interest in being my friend, and I didn’t feel like I was being pressured to be someone else. Something in my mind told

me I should stick with cheer.”

Hargrave was nervous trying out.

“When I found out I was on the team, I was so happy because I knew that I wasn’t going to be alone freshman year,” Hargrave said. “It’s also the first time in nine years that I feel like I belong somewhere at ESD. Doing cheer was the best option for someone in my situation because I made friends, and I don’t have to be and act like someone else to feel like I belong.”

JV Cheer coach Ashley Little said the cheer girls welcomed Weston and treated him like family. She hopes this will open the door for other males who want to try cheerleading.

“[Weston] is doing fantastic from the first time I saw him at tryouts until now,” Little said. “He has definitely progressed from never cheering before, and he has amazing talent and great enthusiasm; he is so excited to be there, and he loves being a part of the team.”

JV Cheer captain junior Kate Flanagan said Hargrave brings new energy to the squad.

“Weston is a great leader, and he is really good about helping out with captains,” Flanagan said. “He makes sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to, and he is in touch with what’s going on.”

Although Hargrave has thought about cheering in college, he’s choosing to focus on the present.

“I have a strong sense of what type of person I want to be,” Hargrave said. “[I want to be] someone who doesn’t get distracted by what people think of me and isn’t afraid to be different—someone who isn’t afraid to speak up against hate.”

TALONS OUT At a junior varsity cheer practice, freshman Weston Hargrave motions the cheerleaders’ popular “talons out” symbol. Hargrave joined cheer because he wanted to find a group he could belong to. “If guys want to do cheer, there’s not a reason why they shouldn’t,” Hargrave said. photo by Lauren Egger

Hey, Rodin. Do you think H.L. will be finished sometime soon ?

Dunno, Rocky. Maybe we will all be finished sometime soon.

Q

AWhat effect does music have on you?

Music for me is another means of communication with others. Sharing piano and [my] compositions allows me to express emotion in an authentic fashion. My goal is to have listeners enjoy my music and have them feel the emotions expressed in each piece.

Do you continue to attend piano lessons? Q

AYes, definitely. I am still learning how to play the piano—it is such a complex instrument, and there is still so much to learn. I can’t wait to improve more and share my music with the community.

Q

ANISBET INTHEHOTSEAT DANI

Has piano been a part of your family?

The piano I play at my house [is one] I inherited from my grandmother. My aunts played piano on the piano I use now but not as intensely as I do. In a way, I am continuing the legacy. It’s nice to have a family connection.

Q

A How many compositions have you composed?

I have created four compositions: Yearning, Happiness, Remembrance and Cascade Happiness, my first composition, took me about seven months to compose. That is because it was my first piece, and I was getting the just of it. But [for] the rest of my pieces, it took me about three to five months to compose.

Q

AWhen did you start playing the piano?

I started piano lessons in October of second grade, and I found it like a chore and task to go to piano every week. Then, I started listening to classical music, and I started messing around with [chords and melodies] on the piano. Eventually, playing the piano went from something that I had to do to something that I wanted to do.

Q AWhen did you start composing pieces?

I wanted to start composing pieces when I started playing the piano. When I discovered that I loved music and was inspired by composers, I wanted to try [composing a piece] on my own, and I messed around with a few different chords. My style of composing pieces is [picking] a certain theme, and building off of that.

Carnival commotion

BY | EMILY DELGADO

The annual lower school carnival, Spooktacular, took place on the upper school baseball field on Oct. 20.

“I liked that it was moved to the baseball field this year,” junior Kate Flanagan said. “There was more room for kids to run around and enjoy the area.”

The beloved Halloween-themed festival included volunteerled carnival games, bounce houses and food trucks. The Eerie Emergency Room and the Teacher Fortune Teller tent made their appearance as traditional Spooktacular activities. New additions allowed students to dunk Lower, Middle and Upper School teachers at the dunk tank and scale a rock climbing wall.

“I loved that I was able to spend time with my little brother,” Flanagan said. “It was fun to have a school event that we could both go to and enjoy.”

PHOTOS BY | EMILY DELGADO & KATE FLANAGAN

LOOKING SHARP Freshman Dani Nisbet leans against a piano at the Collora Piano studio after practicing for his recital. “I love to learn music from various cultures,” Nisbet said. “I just finished the first movement to Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.” photo courtesty of Dani Nisbet