4FOURCAST – September 2019

4FO U R C A S T THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD DALLAS, TX 75229

VOLUME 70

ISSUE 1

SEPTEMBER 2019

TikTok (n.): A social media app used for creating short videos.

To TikTok (v.): The action of making a video on the TikTok app.

TikToker (n.): A person who uses TikTok, shares videos, or indentifies with the app TikTok.

FYP (n.): TikTok’s “For You Page,” a customized tab on the app which displays videos fit for each user.

Read full story p. 12

TikTok Takeover

IN FOCUS: A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF TIKTOK USERS AMONG TEENS

03

CDC

CONSTRUCTION

COMPLETED

FOLLOW US cover art by Kylee Hong

@HockadayFourcast

Sneak peek at the new “CitySlicker” section in our September issue

08

MOVIE REVIEW

SECRET’S OUT

Before I even watched “Can You Keep a Secret?” there were many red flags: one, the trailer was bad; two, there was only one movie theater in the entirety of Dallas that screened this movie, and only once a day; three, there were FOUR people in the movie theater other than me on the second opening day.

Movie Review continued p. 08

21

SEE YOU NEVER, FOREVER 21

PROBLEMS IN THE FAST FASHION INDUSTRY

With the mall giant Forever 21 preparing to file for bankruptcy soon, according to The Wall Street Journal, eyes are on the future of other brands in the fast fashion market. Some Hockaday shoppers may miss the store, but looking at their business practices should make it easier to say goodbye.

See You Never, Forever 21 continued p. 21

02

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

NEWS

RISKS OF VAPING With the risks of teen vaping becoming more evident, Hockaday students and the director of health services are emphasizing the dangers.

p.4

New Upper School Head Lisa Culbertson smiles with her new freshman advisory, shared with Lisa Fisher.

CDC OPENS ITS DOORS After 18 months of construction, the Child Development Center has a permanent home with state-of-the art facilities.

p.3

photo provided by Sarah Roberts

Heading for a Great School Year Lisa Culbertson ’96 returns to Hockaday as the New Head of Upper School

by Kelsey Chen• Copy Editor

S

he rowed for Hockaday, toured prospective students as an H-Club ambassador and worked backstage on tech crew.

She graduated from Hockaday in 1996 and trained for the 2008 Olympics.

Now, Lisa Culbertson is the new Head of Upper School at her alma mater.

After graduating from Hockaday, Culbertson believed the investment banking and consulting route was the one that she was meant to take.

“I wasn’t really following my passion,” Culbertson said, “I was just following something that I thought I was supposed to follow.”

After working as an investment banker in New York, she was inspired to pursue a different route after a conversation with her former teacher, Richard Lombardi, whom she considered a mentor. Culbertson then began teaching math and entrepreneurship in New York public schools, ultimately finding her true passion for education.

In addition to teaching, Culbertson continued to row, and in 2006, she moved to Austin with her training partner. Hoping to make the 2008 Olympics, the two trained rigorously, but ultimately did not make the team.

“It was a really hard lesson, and I stuck with education from there because I knew it was what I loved to do,” Culbertson said.

Assistant Head of School Blair Lowry, who runs the searches for new faculty members, was visiting Phoenix Country Day School a few years ago when she met Culbertson. Because Lowry was evaluating the school for an accreditation study, she got the chance

to see Culbertson in action as the Upper School Head of PCDS. “I was really impressed with her back then, not only for the work she was doing at the time but also for her connections to our school,” Lowry said.

“Whenever I come across somebody who’s a superstar, I tuck that away in my brain if there’s ever an opportunity [for them].”

That opportunity came for Culbertson when Hockaday opened the search for a new Upper School Head. In fact, she had always wanted to return to an all-girls school, so the offer had appealed to her.

“When this opened up, I couldn’t really say no to the opportunity,” Culbertson explained. “This place made me who I am, and I feel like we don’t get very many chances to pay back what was paid forward to us.”

After an international search and many interviews with candidates, the recruiting team decided on Culbertson. Lowry said the feedback from Culbertson’s interviews was overwhelmingly positive, which was a sign that she made good connections in her conversations.

“She has a deep understanding of

students, faculty and the division as a whole,” Lowry said. “Even though she is a quiet leader, she’s got tons of energy, and she was so passionate about Hockaday because she went here.”

In fact, during her time at Hockaday, Culbertson met Will Forteith, current Varsity Crew Head Coach at Hockaday, and they have reconnected at different points since high school.

“I think she is still very much the same person that she was [in high school],” Forteith said. “She’s incredibly kind, she’s incredibly thoughtful, she cares about other people and she wants to make a difference.”

So far, Culbertson has been focusing on listening to the students and faculty before making concrete plans for modifications. She said she intends to make changes, but aims to pinpoint the needs of the Hockaday community before taking action.

“One of the struggles that I’ve heard has been around wellness and about taking it seriously, beyond words,” Culbertson said. “Hockaday does a fantastic job of making this experience rich and difficult. Take advantage of all the richness that is

“This place made me who I am, and I feel like we don’t get very many chances to pay back what was paid forward to us.”

Lisa Culbertson Head of Upper School

here and don’t add any more stress.

Take that self-imposed stress and remove it, because there is plenty of stress to go around!”

Although she is already brainstorming ways to emphasize and refine mental health at Hockaday, Culbertson said the school has improved in that field since she was a student.

To help her address the needs of the student body, Culbertson has an open-door policy and hopes students feel free to talk to her whenever her door is open. In fact, one of her goals is to start moving some of her meetings around to get a chance to talk to students.

“I think I held my tongue more when I was a student because I didn’t know it was permissible to speak my mind, and I felt like I could not effect change,” Culbertson said. “That’s what I am inviting, that students come and tell me what’s going on so we can effect change together. I can use my voice to start moving things forward.”

In addition to reconnecting with the Hockaday community rom another perspective and inspiring change, Culbertson said she enjoys being an advisor and meeting the students.

“The hardest part of being an administrator is that most administrators started off as teachers, and we were teachers for a reason— because we loved interacting with students,” Culbertson said. “When we become administrators, we start to step away from that, which is the reason why we got into the job in the first place, so I love the connection with the students.”

2

2

“

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

NEWS

CONNECTING WITH COUNCIL Upper School Student Council aims to foster connections among the student body with open meetings, communication.

03

We wanted to implement this in order to facilitate direct communication between students and the council.”

p.5

Connecting with the Council, p.5

New facility gives CDC room to grow Doors open after 18 months of construction

by Maddie Stout• Staff Writer

O

n any given morning before classes begin, Hockaday students can see teachers walking their children into the Child Development Center. Only now, 21 years of operation and 18 months of construction later, does the newly-named Ann Graves Child Development Center have a permanent home.

Gone are the days of portable trailers in the field outside Upper School classrooms or next to the Boarding Department. After extensive planning involving the Board of Trustees, administration and center staff, the first brick-and-mortar Child Development Center at Hockaday opened its doors on July 1 to welcome 54 children for the 2019-2020 school year.

The building offers new features for both staff and children, whose ages range from six weeks to preschool.

The amenities include a sick room, six classrooms, two play yards and a large fish tank in the lobby where students can sit for storytime or wait before school.

The building was named after Hockaday grandparent Ann Graves, grandmother to Catherine Dedman ‘19 and Nancy Dedman ‘21.

Angel Duncan, director of the Child Development Center since its opening in 1998, said she appreciates the new building for its ability to accommodate staff ideas that were previously unattainable.

“We’re still our consistent, warm, caring, small community with great goals for the children and the intention of teaching the children,” Duncan said.

“We can just do it in a space that equals the quality of care we offer.”

The space, which totals about 10,000 square feet including the turf play yards, can fit nearly double the number of children as its old location could.

1 photo provided by Margaret Thompson After 18 months of construction, the Ann Graves Child Deveplopment Center opened on July 1. The CDC serves a total 54 children, mostly children of Hockaday employees. The state-of-the-art facilities support children while their parents are at work.

Enrollment numbers have increased think it’s especially nice going from the from 37 to 54, with room to spare for trailers to this,” Hubbard said. “There 10 more students. are a lot of good This new number is teachers, and I think especially important they deserve to have to Duncan, as the a really nice place to Child Development work.”

Center can now New facilities for fit children it the 14 staff members previously could not include a staff accommodate. conference room, a The parents of break and workroom children in the Child and a laundry room, Development Center all of which are fully also appreciate the equipped to meet the new building. Allen staff’s needs.

Hubbard, Upper Last year, the School Physics Child Development teacher, has two Center inspired two children enrolled in CDC Director Form IV students, the center.

Kathleen Roberts “I think the Child and Mia Weathersby, Development Center is wonderful, and I to begin a community service club in

“While they’re pouring out their hearts to the students that they have, they have the reassurance that their own children are getting the quality care that they deserve.”

Angel Duncan

which Upper School students read, play and do crafts with the children. With the addition of the new building, club co-chair Roberts has even more plans for the new school year.

“We’re thinking of doing some projects to go up in the hallways of both the CDC building and the Upper School,” Roberts said. “We love showcasing the relationships formed between the high school students and their new friends at the Child Development Center.”

With the new building, Duncan said the impact of the Child Development Center will only be magnified. “[Faculty and staff] stay because we’re here and their kids are close to them,” Duncan said. “While they’re pouring out their hearts to the students that they have, they have the reassurance that their own children are getting the quality care that they deserve.”

TIDBITS AND TALES

2

1 USA! USA! USA! The annual Student Council Mixer for Upper School students took place Sept. 22. The small gym was piled with students from Hockaday, St. Mark’s and Cisterican, all decked out in red, white and blue for the USA theme.

BUT MAKE IT FASHION!

During the senior graduation dress fashion show during conference period Sept. 18, Form IV students watched as their peers took to the runway, modeling five white dresses. Seniors later voted on their choice of graduation dress.

WORKING TOGETHER The Community Service Assembly for Upper School students on Sept. 4 discussed the community service options students can choose to participate in throughout the school year.

TWO CORNERSTONES During the yearly Character and Courtesy Education assembly Sept. 17, the speaker, Sandra Chapman, focused the conversation on equity, diversity and teamwork.

photos provided by Hockaday Instagram, Sandra Chapman Consulting, and the Hockaday website

04

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

photo provided by Flickr

Juul promotes its brand with bright colors and fruit flavors.

Your World Today

Vaping Among Teens Results in Serious Illness, Hospitalizations

by Sahasra Chigurupati • Views Editor

R

ecent news about hospitalizations and deaths due to vaping has brought more attention to health risks associated with the practice. More than 500 teens across the country have been hospitalized with vaping-related illnesses, including 14 in Dallas County in the past month, according to an article in The Dallas Morning News.

In response, sophomore Haley Coleman has started an initiative as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award to educate middle schoolers about the dangers of vaping. She plans to speak to the Hockaday eighth-graders later this year and is in contact with multiple schools in the Dallas area to help spread awareness of the dangers of vaping.

“A lot of dangers that I came across in my research last year are just now surfacing,” Coleman said.

She said prevention from an early age is the best way to combat nicotine addiction and the long-term effects of vaping in high schools.

Director of Health Services Erika Herridge is not only a Hockaday school nurse but the parent of a high school student. Herridge said prevention and an open dialogue could encourage teens to seek help for vaping.

“I don’t want it to become a shameful addiction,” Herridge said.

“We need to help kids and adults stop vaping, and an open dialogue is one of the biggest things.”

While vaping was marketed as a way to help adult smokers stop smoking, the Centers for Disease Control has seen minors as a large part of the consumer base. Critics say e-cigarette ads target young adults, who already face peer pressure to start vaping. Juul ads feature a glamorized picture of people vaping with flavors such as Creme Brulée or Mango.

“I think they are preying on

adolescent kids with these flavors. We don’t know what the chemicals are, and teens are impulsive.”

Erika Herridge

Health Services Director “I think they are preying on adolescent kids with these flavors,” Herridge said. “We don’t know what the chemicals are, and teens are impulsive.”

Enticed by flavors such as cotton candy and berry, along with high school-centric advertisements, students become addicted to nicotine. A recent Food and Drug Administration study noted that about 20.8 percent of high schoolers have used e-cigarettes at least once. About 90 percent of smokers start in high school.

One Hockaday student who used to vape but no longer does said she believes the health risks outweigh the attractive aspects of vaping.

“I felt it was pointless,” she said. “It was a 30-second head rush that hurt me and didn’t do anything for me.”

She said she is glad awareness of the detrimental effects of vaping is increasing.

“All of this stuff is coming out about vaping, and this isn’t new,” she said. “Everyone knew in the back of their head that it wasn’t good for them but we ignored it to seem cool.”

She said raising social awareness and stopping the glamorization of

vaping is just as important as helping prevention efforts.

“There was this idea of being cool, and everyone else I knew was doing it,” she said. “All of these Instagram influencers I looked up to had a Juul in their hand.”

Although vaping companies advertise that there are no proven health effects, it takes the FDA five to 10 years to fully research it. Regardless of inconclusive research data, studies have proven that inhaling substances other than air is unhealthy. Several states have already started to pass legislation to limit vaping. Michigan banned all flavored nicotine products and Texas has made it illegal for anyone born after Sept. 1, 2001 to buy nicotine products until they turn 21. President Donald Trump is backing a nationwide ban on flavored

e-cigarette products, based on the FDA recommendation.

“Being addicted to vaping is a whole lot about getting off of nicotine products and the liquids in the e-cigarettes,” Coleman said.

With the long-term effects of vaping not widely known yet, the teens who have been hospitalized are the first indicators of the longterm consequences of vaping. Vaping nicotine is part of the problem, but teens also are using e-cigarettes to vape marijuana products. Both these marijuana products and other vaping solutions contain ingredients such as oils that can be harmful to the lungs.

“In general, it’s best to not inhale something,” Herridge said. “Your lungs are precious, and when you are inhaling something other than oxygen, you are ruining them.”

TM

Star Tutoring Centers School is hard. We can help.

Academic Tutoring Executive Skills Coaching Improve Grades SAT/ACT Prep

www.StarTutoringCenters.com | (214) 444-3431

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

NEWS

20

officers on Executive Council

2 new freshman elects Photo provided by Eliana Goodman

Executive Student Council officers gather at a lake house in East Texas on Aug. 24 to discuss their new ideas and bond.

24

Connecting to the Council

Student Council starts the year with a retreat, focusing on connecting with each other, US students

by Remy Finn • Staff Writer

S

tudent Council is taking steps to better communicate with students through digital means. Upper School Student Council President Menaka Naidu proposed some of those changes to the Hockaday student portal, BlackBaud, by starting a student council page.

This page will provide all students with information from student council and make what they do in meetings more accessible to the student body.

“We wanted to implement this to facilitate direct communication between students and the council,” Naidu said. “It also ties into our theme of ‘connection’ for the year.”

The on-line Student Council page has already been created, and other goals are expected to come to fruition by the end of the quarter. For example, each board will have its own page with an anonymous survey link where students can provide feedback about something they want to be changed in the Upper School.

“Governing bodies

work best when their proceedings are transparent, and the community takes an active role in shaping their agendas.”

Jason Goldstein Upper School Student Council Sponsor

Sophomore Allison Yang said she thinks the changes will be useful.

“I think it’s great that Student Council is giving us information through OnCampus because it’s nice to have everything going on all in one place,” Yang said.

Further tying in the theme of connection between Student Council and the students is the plan to hold open meetings, during which students could take part in seeing what takes place during meetings.

The move to open meetings and increase student accessibility to their leaders, is backed not only by Naidu, but by Hockaday policies. Article 8.03 of the Constitution of the Student Body states that “[a]ll meetings of the Student Council shall be open to any member of the Hockaday community unless the President of the Student Council announces the meeting as closed.”

Although previous Student Council meetings were not officially

hours at Student Council retreat

“closed,” they were held in locations and at times which would make them difficult for students to attend.

Jason Goldstein, English teacher and an Upper School Student Council sponsor, said he supports the move toward accessibility.

“Governing bodies work best when their proceedings are transparent, and the community takes an active role in shaping their agendas,” Goldstein said.

Details for the open meetings are still to be determined, but Student Council officers said they would announce procedures as soon as possible.

“I think some of my friends and I would be interested in seeing what goes on in the meetings,” Yang said, “because it can be nice to feel more involved when it comes to planning events.”

PLAN ON IT! Form IV Graduation Dress Fitting Sept. 26-27

Fun Day Sept. 27 4:00-7:00pm

Fall Break Oct. 9-11

05

06

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

A

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T POST PLAYS IT SAFE Staff Writer Lea Whitley reviews Post Malone's new album "Hollywood's Bleeding."

RTS&LIFE

p.8

Students participate in a portfolio review with a member of the Southern Methodist University art faculty.

(IM)PRESSED JUICERY Business Manager Catherine Sigurdsson reviews the chain Pressed Juicery, newly opened in Dallas.

p.9

photo provided by Simone Hunter

The Art of Applications

Hockaday hosts event to aid students pursuing art in college

by Kate Woodhouse • Managing Editor

W

hile walking through the Hockaday halls, one seldom hears Germanic opera in one room, a passionate monologue in a second and a mock dance audition in another.

This was commonplace, however, at the first Afternoon for the College Bound Artist.

On Sept. 7, approximately 70 students and parents from Hockaday and St. Mark’s spent the afternoon learning about the many ways to study fine arts in college.

Theater director Emily Gray said she had imagined putting on such an event since she arrived at Hockaday four years ago. Gray wanted to use her connections in the acting business, including actors and directors who also teach at colleges.

“I thought giving high school students access to those people and their information would be great,” Gray said.

When Gray reached out to the other fine arts teachers, they loved the large scale of the event and began to reach out to artists, directors, dancers and other professionals across Dallas. The teachers received an overwhelming number of responses from people interested in speaking on a panel or helping in breakout workshops.

Senior Associate Director of College Counseling Micah Lyles and the college counseling team worked to coordinate the logistics of the program and collaborated with the teachers to plan the discussion topics.

“It was definitely a group effort,” Lyles said. “We worked very closely with the visual and

performing arts faculty.”

On the day of the event, attendees began their afternoon in the auditorium for a panel interview moderated by Gray. Panelists addressed questions from what to do with a fine arts degree to how someone knows they are an artist. Senior AP Studio Art student Simone Hunter’s favorite part of the day was the panel because she got to hear the panelists’ diverse perspectives.

Hunter said she loved the story a panelist shared about telling their parents they wanted to become an artist and attend art school.

“It was funny because it was like if you’re pursuing art, you’re going to be a starving artist; you’re going to be broke all the time,” Hunter said.

“There is a community that’s like ‘we’re okay with that.’”

After the panel discussion, students attended breakout sessions about topics ranging from portfolio reviews and lessons on how to execute a monologue for college, to choosing songs and preparing dances musical theater auditions. Hunter went to the portfolio review first and then learned

how to write an artist statement.

“It was cool to see different perspectives other than the Hockaday community and [what] my parents tell me about my art,” Hunter said.

Both Gray and Lyles viewed the event as very informative for students and parents.

One student mentioned to Lyles that she learned about opportunities in the arts that she never even knew existed until an in-depth conversation with one of the panelists.

The girls in the dance workshop also tried something new because the session was a dance audition for musical theater rather than the typical auditions the girls attend.

“My favorite part of the day was that these students really were placed in some situations of discomfort as they were doing things they had never done before, but in activities they have done forever,” Lyles said. “It was really fascinating to see how that tension was created and to see what they gained from it.”

Parents learned about the opportunities that studying performing and visual arts in college creates and

“It was definitely a group effort. We worked very closely with the visual and performing arts faculty."

Micah Lyles Senior Associate of College Counseling

that their children can make a living as artists. A woman from Big Thought, a nonprofit that works to close the opportunity gap through art, also talked with parents about what to look for in a college art program. College representatives or recent graduates from fine arts programs answered questions for parents while the students attended the workshops.

Lyles said the college counseling department gained lots of knowledge about the nuances of applying to fine arts programs. The college counselors heard directly from the people evaluating portfolios and leading the auditions, which helped them to learn more about what these colleges were looking for in applicants.

“As we are working individually with students who are going through that process, it just informs that process with us so much more,” Lyles said.

The fine arts faculty and college counseling team said they hope to expand the reach of the program for next year, inviting schools like Greenhill, Parish and the Episcopal School of Dallas to participate in the afternoon. Gray said she also would like to bring in panelists from outside the Dallas area, including some of the large colleges in Oklahoma and other states. She encouraged any Hockaday students even remotely interested in the arts to attend next year.

“Come and enjoy the afternoon,” Gray said. “It’s a free afternoon of workshops that you can’t get anywhere else.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

“

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

ARTS & LIFE

CAFFEINATION NATION This issue's City Slicker travels to coffee stops around the DFW area in search of the best (and cutest) coffee shops.

p.11

DIY Fall Food

07

I have been baking ever since I can remember.

BAKE IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT, p.10

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN LOAF

by Elisa Carroll • Staff Writer

Spice up your fall food palate with this chocolate chip pumpkin loaf recipe!

Pumpkin bread is a fall staple and is easy to take on the road for breakfast.

Whether you need to grab a bite to eat while running late for your A period class, or would rather enjoy a slice as an after-school snack, get into your fall groove with this easy recipe.

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups of sugar 2 large eggs 1 and 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1 15-oz can pumpkin 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: Start by putting the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl and whisking it all together.

Step 2: Next, place the butter and sugar into a separate large bowl and combine them using an electric mixer. After combining the butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time, beating them into the mix after each addition.

EXCELLENT EARRINGS

Traveler's Trinkets Sophomore Kate Gillikin enjoys wearing jewelry, particularly earrings. She said wearing fun jewelry is exciting because it is a way to express yourself, and you can be creative with the jewelry you choose to wear.

Wearing wacky jewelry can express the creative and eccentric parts of a person’s personality.

Since Gillikin is a traveler, she buys her jewelry from small boutiques and local businesses to ensure they are one-of-a-kind. When she is in Dallas, her favorite spots are Favor the Kind at Knox/Henderson and Roam at Preston-Royal. She said earrings are currently in style because there is a huge range of styles to wear. Gillikin has earrings in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures. While her favorite pair of earrings are her simple wire hoops because they go with everything, she also loves large statement earrings. In addition, she said she enjoys wearing handmade jewelry from Etsy which makes her feel like she is wearing a piece of art.

Step 3: Once the butter, sugar and eggs are all mixed together, add the pumpkin--the mix should be a light orange color. Next, add the combination of f lour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg from earlier and mix them together using an electric mixer. Finally, pour the chocolate chips into the batter and stir until they are evenly distributed.

Step 4: Add the pumpkin loaf batter to two greased loaf pans and place in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 65-75 minutes.

Step 5: Once baked, allow the loaves to cool. Then you are free to enjoy!

From hoop earrings to statement necklaces, jewelry lets students express themselves even while wearing a uniform. Earrings from Etsy and Instagram and even handmade earrings are becoming very popular right now. Kate Gillikin, Simone Hunter and Kathleen Grip are three students who look forward to sprucing up the green-and-white by wearing different jewelry every day.

by Campbell Harris •Staff Writer

Etsy Aficionado Freshman Kathleen Grip said she absolutely loves wearing jewelry. She even enjoys changing up her outfits to coordinate with unique pieces of jewelry. She also loves being creative with the jewelry she chooses to wear, usually purchasing her earrings from online shops but occasionally buying them from Instagram.

Because there are so many different varieties of earrings on Instagram, the social media app helps Grip find earrings easily.

She loves expressing herself through the earrings and different jewelry she accessorizes with. She said earrings are her favorite type of jewelry because, although they are small, they add some flair to any outfit she wears. She said earrings are trending right now because of the number of people getting double and triple piercings. Multiple piercings give people more opportunities to express themselves through the additional earrings they choose to wear.

Singular Sense of Style Senior Simone Hunter also said she wears jewelry as a form of self-expression. She said the addition of jewelry elevates every outfit, no matter how dramatic it is. Hunter said she usually buys pieces from Urban Outfitters, H&M, Target and Walmart.

She finds uniforms unoriginal because she hates the idea of looking like everyone else. Hunter said the most sentimental piece of jewelry she owns is a silver necklace with a charm in the shape of a colorful paint palette. She said she loves it because it showcases to the world that she is an artist.

Hunter said earrings are easily accessible, cool and edgy, but she doesn’t like the jewelry advertised on platforms like Etsy and Instagram because of their high prices and mainstream attention in the media.

She tries to find loud or outrageous jewelry that no one else would think about wearing. Additionally, she stays away from trends to maintain her individuality.

08

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

Tried & True

Reviews of new books, movies, podcasts and trendy restaurants

Secret's Out:

by Eugene Seong • Web Editor

Before I even watched “Can You Keep a Secret?”, there were many red flags: one, the trailer was bad; two, there was only one movie theater in the entirety of Dallas that screened this movie, and only once a day; three, there were FOUR people in the movie theater other than me on the second opening day.

“Can You Keep a Secret?” directed by Elise Duran and with leads Alexandria Daddario as Emma and Tyler Hoechlin as Jack, is a romantic comedy adapted from a novel with the same title. The movie begins with Emma spilling all of her secrets to a stranger, Jack, on a plane with severe turbulence which she mistakenly thinks will crash. Predictably, the stranger turns out to be her new boss and a romance develops.

Although I cringed throughout the entire 95-minute movie, I will say that the

shots of New York City were acceptable.

One B-roll shot, with the sun setting over the concrete jungle, was especially beautiful and serene.

But, I must criticize the other 94 minutes and 45 seconds of the film. The basis of the movie—that a head of the company holds all of a certain employee’s

secrets—creates an asymmetrical and unhealthy power dynamic in the office. Although Emma and Jack do agree never to expose her secrets, the latter immediately breaks this promise by indirectly alluding to her secrets in every interaction they have. Some might see his actions as flirtatious, but how would you feel if your employer

referred to your deepest secrets at every possible opportunity, despite your visible discomfort?

The ridiculous plot-line dragged out the movie; if the characters had gained some common sense, the movie might have been condensed into a short film. What’s the purpose of making the main characters idiots if it only builds up frustration and screen time? The plot itself was dull already and socially incompetent characters who slowed down the story progression didn’t help.

Overall, I had a terrible experience.

Masterpiece movies either invite the audience to intriguing worlds, draw attention to a social problem or do a mix of both. Films generally do not, and should not, burden the audience with secondhand embarrassment and frustration, which “Can You Keep a Secret?” did.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Don't Waste Your Time on this Movie

OTHER NEW ROM-COM RELEASES

POST MALONE'S TOP HITS

1. “Stay" 2. “White Iverson" The Perfect Date (2019)

3. "Rockstar" 4. "Congratulations" 5. "Better Now"

Isn't It Romantic (2019)

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Post Plays It Safe "Hollywood's Bleeding" classic Post Malone

by Lea Whitley • Staff Writer

PHOTO PROVIDED BY COMMONS WIKIMEDIA

Longshot (2019)

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX ENTERTAINMENT, NEW LINE ENTERTAINMENT, SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

Post Malone: if you’ve turned on the radio or opened your Spotify account in the last two years, chances are you’ve heard the name. The four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter from Grapevine, Texas racked up over seven-and-a-half billion streams in 2018, according to the entertainment media outlet Billboard.

Malone is a star of the internet age. Blending genres like pop, trap, country and rock effortlessly, his unique approach to hip-hop music undoubtedly labels him a trendsetter.

The 24-year old’s last two albums peaked at number four and number one on the Billboard 200, and his fans expect nothing less from his third studio album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding”, released Sept. 6.

Malone somehow manages to cherrypick from numerous genres, merging them to create a vibe you just can’t put your finger on. The album begins on a downhearted note with the title track “Hollywood’s Bleeding”; there, he opens up about losing love, a theme that looms largely over the album.

A pre-released single on the album,

“Circles” speaks with the same melancholy tune. Lyrics like “Seasons change and our love went cold/ Feed the flame ‘cause we can’t let go” express the growth of his sound over the years and his newfound solace in sharing his pain.

The tracks “Saint-Tropez” and “Enemies” follow his classic algorithm: boastful lyrics, strong bass and catchy sing-song choruses. These songs recrown Malone as the unstoppable hitmaker his fans know him to be.

Taking a turn toward bouncy indie-rock,

the songs “Allergic” and “I’m Gonna Be” will have a long shelf life on the charts but are two of the weakest songs on the album.

“Take What You Want” surprised many with features from Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott. It’s definitely not one of Malone’s best songs, but the combination of Osbourne’s ageless voice and Scott’s robotic backing are a

fascinating addition to the album.

Other songs on the record, such as “Die for Me” with Halsey and Future and “Goodbyes” with Young Thug, are far from lackluster. Halsey kills her verse, leaving listeners with the catchy line “I sold 15 million copies of a breakup note.”

Arguably Post Malone’s best single, “Sunflower,-” featuring Swae Lee shows up on the album after hitting No. 1 earlier this year. However, its presence among other soon-to-be top-10 hits after it’s major success seems a little excessive.

The album concludes with the pop-rap song “Wow.” The immensely popular pre-released single has the catchiest chorus of any well-liked rap song released in a while. Post Malone has mastered the art of generating these songs: “Got so many hits, can’t remember ‘em all”, he boasts in “On the Road.”

Besides a few unmemorable tracks, “Hollywood’s Bleeding” is one of Malone’s stronger albums. He knows exactly what his fans gravitate toward, and this album gives it to them. He simply plays it safe relying on the probability that streaming algorithms will reward him once again.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

ARTS&LIFE

Newly Opened Pressed Juicery Exceeds Expectations

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

09

photo provided by Karen Lin

(Im)pressed Juicery

C

by Catherine Sigurdsson•Business Manager

old-pressed juice is a relatively long-standing food trend in America, giving rise to many juice bars and brands such as Pressed Juicery. With more than 75 locations nationwide, Pressed Juicery finally arrived in Dallas in August with its full array of juices, blends, freezes and “functional” shots.

The first thing I noticed about the new location was its limited parking, as many spots were reserved for businesses on the same strip, and other spots were filled. There was a free parking garage according to signs, but I luckily found a spot outside.

Once inside, there was a line of people waiting to get their hands on some coldpressed juice and vegan freezes. The store was full of natural light and felt very open and clean.

At the counter, I ordered a chocolate chip cookie freeze, Citrus 2, a Strawberry Almond blend and a Rose Lemonade.

When I -visited the store, Pressed Juicery was running a “4 items for $20” deal, so once I paid my $20, I took a seat and began to sample the various juices.

I was apprehensive at first about the freeze—a five-ingredient, vegan ice cream— but I was proven wrong: the

FROM THE FOURCAST

KITCHEN

WHISK BY PETER WILLIAMS

vanilla freeze itself was delicious, as were the toppings, though the texture of the chocolate drizzle was surprising at first.

All the toppings were gluten-free, but only the chocolate chips and cookie crumble were vegan. The texture was not as smooth as a typical soft serve, but I did not find myself wishing I were eating anything different. The texture lingered in my mouth afterward, but I felt less sluggish than I would after an indulgent scoop of ice cream. I got Size One, the smaller of the two sizes offered, and this

normally costs $5 for nonmembers, plus $1 for three toppings and 50 cents per additional topping.

Then, I tried the Strawberry Almond Blend and it was not my favorite. The strawberry taste was too strong to be considered subtle and too slight to stand out. The texture was poor, with the almond particles building up in my mouth after each sip. For non-members, this drink costs $8, and the taste definitely doesn’t justify its high price tag. However, I still felt good after drinking it, and later,

my mother enjoyed the drink.

I moved to Citrus 2 and quickly learned the reason behind its popularity.

The drink was full of flavors, without one overpowering the rest. The pineapple and apple were the strongest but were balanced with just enough lemon to add zest without embittering it.

It also had a subtle minty aftertaste, which really made the drink stand out. In fact, I found myself drinking over half the bottle in one sitting. For non-members, the price of juices and lemonades is $6.50.

Finally, I tasted the Rose Lemonade, which was ultimately my personal favorite. One of the newer drinks, the Rose Lemonade was the prettiest of my order, colored with pink dragon fruit.

Although it smelled of roses, it did not taste overwhelmingly floral. The drink wasn’t overpowering or too sweet; instead, there was just enough honey to balance the lemon. Then again, I’m partial to rose. My mother’s favorite drink, on the other hand, was the Citrus 2.

Overall, Pressed Juicery is a great place to go if you are looking for vegan treats or a healthier soft-serve to satisfy your cold-pressed juice cravings. Because Pressed Juicery is both health-conscious and delicious, I will be returning for more freezes and juices!

Business Manager Catherine Sigurdsson's Recipe For Delicious Strawberry Pineapple Smoothies

Ingredients:

Directions:

½ cup fresh pineapple ½ cup frozen strawberries 1 can Dole pineapple juice ¼ cup frozen raspberries ¼ - ½ teaspoon matcha powder to taste (optional) Milk (add to your desired consistency – feel free to use milk substitutes!)

1. Assemble your ingredients, making sure your pineapple is cut in easily-blended chunks.

2. Put your fruit, juice, and matcha in your blender and turn to a medium speed – adjust blender speed as needed as you make your smoothie!

3. Add your milk/milk substitute, if you’re using, as you blend. Keep blending until there are no more fruit chunks in your smoothie.

4. Add ice to your smoothie if you’d like a more solid consistency.

5. Once finished, pour yourself a cup of your smoothie and drink up!

10

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

4FOU R C A S T

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Bake It ‘Til You Make It An Interview With Resident Baker Jordan Walker

by Hanna Zhang • Staff Writer

How did you get into baking and decorating?

What inspired you to start baking?

I have been baking ever since I can remember. There is a picture of me when I was four years old helping my mom prepare a pin-apple upside down cake in our kitchen, and we also have a picture of what looks to be me holding a pink William Sonoma spatula I received for my fifth birthday. Every year since I was young I have bake and decorated gingerbread cookies for the family and have decorated custom birthday cakes for my family since I was around twelve years old. At seven years old, I received an EasyBake oven for Christmas, and that’s when I think my passion for baking really took off. I have always loved chemistry and experimenting in the kitchen, so when I got bored with broiling little cakes with the EasyBake oven lightbulb, I graduated to the oven around ten or eleven.

STORES ALICE + OLIVIA BALENCIAGA BANDIER BLUEMERCURY BRUNELLO CUCINELLI CAROLINA HERRERA CARTIER CELINE CHANEL CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN DIOR FENDI FRAME FRÉDÉRIC FEKKAI HADLEIGH’S HERMÈS JAMES PERSE JIMMY CHOO KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 LE LABO LELA ROSE MADISON MARKET MIRON CROSBY RAG & BONE RALPH LAUREN ROLLER RABBIT ST. MICHAEL’S WOMAN’S EXCHANGE THEORY TOM FORD TORY BURCH TRINA TURK VALENTINO VERONICA BEARD VINCE RESTAURANTS BIRD BAKERY BISTRO 31 CAFÉ PACIFIC FACHINI THE HONOR BAR LOUNGE 31 MI COCINA PERFECT UNION PIZZA CO. ROYAL BLUE GROCERY

PARTIAL LISTING

Do you create your own recipes for your treats?

Why did you decide to start selling custom cakes?

I have created my own recipes in the past, but I find it easier to modify already existing recipes. This reduces waste in the kitchen while saving me time.

I enjoy sharing my creations with others, and I wanted to provide people with the opportunity to eat delicious cake and baked goods for a cheaper price than most bakeries.

It also gives me an excuse to make massive and elaborate cakes that I don’t have throw in the trash later because my family cannot physically eat that much sugar.

Do you work at a bakery?

Yes. I have worked at two bakeries, Gigi’s Cupcakes and Tart Bakery; both in Dallas, and have been actively working for almost a year and a half now (1 year approximately at Gigi’s and 6 months at Tart).

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

ARTS&LIFE

11

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

SLICKER 5

1

CAFFEINATION NATION

by Eliana Goodman • Editor-In-Chief

2

Calling all caffeinators! Dallas is dripping with aesthetically pleasing, comfy, cool and drop-dead delicious spots to sip your espresso in honor of International Coffee Day on Sept. 29. The Fourcast has collected a list of the trendiest, best-equipped for homework, most Instagrammable and yummiest coffee shops that you’ve all bean waiting for.

Live by St. Marks or looking for a convenient coffee-to-go before school? Stop by White Rock Coffee. If your favorite color is turquoise and catching up over coffee is your thing, pay Magnolia Sous Le Pont a visit.

Need inspiration to study APUSH? Civil Pour, located in Preston Hollow, will make your study time general-lee go by much faster.

George Coffeehouse and Provisions is a darling house-turned-coffee shop with wonderful wood appliances and a hominess that makes the drive to Coppell feel too short.

Mudleaf Coffee, an up-and-coming coffee shop in Plano, offers unique flavoring options such as Rosemary Lattes. No joke, these coffee spots are the best in DFW; give them a try!

1. Perfect Pour

Civil Pour 8061 Walnut Hill Ln Ste 924 Dallas, TX 75231

2. White Rockin’

White Rock Coffee-Preston Hollow 5930 D Royal Ln Dallas, TX 75230

3. Magnificent Magnolia

3

Magnolia 2727 N Harwood St Dallas, TX 75201

4. Georgious George 462 Houston St Coppell, TX 75019

5. Unbeleafable

Mudleaf 3100 Independence Pkwy #300 Plano, TX 75075

4

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

TIKTOK

TikTok, a social media platform like none other, lets users fall into a trance for hours, laugh at

hilarious videos, see try-hard teenagers

attempting to dance, experience the creation of drawings or even experiment with new personalities. TikTok is anything its

users want it to be; with 75 different languages available in more

s sk sksk ksk ssks sks k sk kssk sksk sk sk sk sk s

12

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

than 150 markets worldwide, viewers can find videos on anything that suits their personality. So buckle up, world—TikTok is

taking over.

by Kate Clark • News Editor and Ava Berger • Sports Editor

Hey, Gen Z, “Why you so obsessed with me?”

Gen Z has fallen head over heels for the popular social media platform, TikTok. TikTok is a lip syncing phenomenon mixed with a seemingly revived version of the short-form video service Vine. The goal is to, as TikTok puts it, “make your day” with 15-to-60-second videos.

On TikTok, users are able to create and share their own videos, along with watch other people’s content. When making a video, a user selects a sound (the background music) and then jumps into filming. Often times, viral dances are associated with the music.

Additionally, users can create original sounds to flaunt their singing voices, talk to their followers, share a funny experience or demonstrate a tutorial. TikTok is designed to show creativity, whether it’s dancing, singing, joking or laughing.

Another key feature on TikTok is the For You Page, known to users as FYP. The page streams the most popular and trending videos. A focus of many TikTokers is to become “TikTok Famous,” meaning that a video would appear on the For You Page. Interestingly enough, the FYP is actually just for you. Based on an account’s likes, speed of swiping, and saved videos, artificial intelligence sorts videos to find the ones that each user would enjoy.

TikTok planted its roots in 2017 when Chinese internet technology startup ByteDance merged a similar app, Musical.ly, with its existent platform to create the viral app TikTokers know and love today. Originally called Douyin in China, the app was renamed TikTok for American markets.

By June 2019, the app reported 500 million active users, more than Snapchat and Twitter alike. Junior Anna Schindel said she downloaded the app ironically, but she has adopted the persona of a typical TikTok user.

“I quote videos in daily conversations, I spend money trying to stay on top of the next trend and I walk the halls doing TikTok dances,” Schindel said. “Why use TikTok, you ask? I no longer use TikTok; I am TikTok.” However, students don’t simply use TikTok to entertain themselves. Junior Clarissa Touchstone, a member of the Convocations Board, uses TikTok’s features to alert students about upcoming Hockaday events or required attire. The night before each event or special schedule, Touchstone sends a TikTok, with information about the event and a popular funny sound, to her grade GroupMe. Touchstone said her TikToks have received a positive response from her classmates, at the same time helping them stay informed.

“I think that people look forward to it, and it helps them [know about upcoming events],” Touchstone said. “A lot of people tell me it brightens their day.”

The love for TikTok is evident in teens such as Schindel and Touchstone, which explains how ByteDance, with the help of TikTok, is now valued at $75 billion and labeled the world’s most valuable startup.

“Woah,” why is TikTok so popular?

TikTok prides itself on the freedom for users to be themselves with its slogan: Make your day. With millions of content creators, the app generates hundreds of different trends and hashtags such as #notamodel and #getswole. All videos including these hashtags are categorized and easily accessible by simply searching the words.

From their website, TikTok claims its mission is to “empower and share the world’s imagination, knowledge and moments that matter. The platform is a home for creative expression through videos that create a genuine, inspiring and joyful experience.”

To put it simply, TikTok is easy, enjoyable and captivating. Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok is the ultimate, non-stressful social media platform where users truly enjoy their experience.

According to a student who responded to a recent Upper School survey, “TikTok is [a] source of happiness. It’s the thing that gets me through the day.”

For now, TikTok is targeted toward teens, but the app considers teens just a gateway audience, with different generations to come. Recently, users have been including older generations to entertain their audience. Often this technique has proved effective in becoming “TikTok famous.”

TikTok famous is a phrase pinned to users who create a video that receives multiple thousand likes and views. People who receive a considerable amount of praise via likes, views and follows can be verified, meaning they are identified with a blue check mark and the words ‘Popular Creator’ under their name.

Although TikTok does not pay these Popular Creators, their followers can send them “gifts” via live stream. As well, Popular Creators can endorse different products on their page in exchange for money, a percentage of sales or free products. Some people constantly strive to become TikTok famous, not necessarily for the fame, but for the money.

Freshman Jocelyn Beard said she enjoys using the app, spending most of her time creating content as opposed to watching others. Beard shows off her artistic abilities through her videos, reaching the artistic TikTok community.

“It is not art that I would be able to use in a portfolio,” Beard said. “It is just fun to do.”

Beard’s ultimate goal is to make money off of her brand through RedBubble, a website for printing original designs onto merchandise.

“I wanted to, once I got enough [views, likes and followers] to open up a RedBubble and make money off of it,” Beard said.

Beard is on track to starting her own RedBubble account, because her TikTok account has 25.8 thousand followers and her top video has received 351.7 thousand views and 114.3 thousand likes.

Though she is seemingly “TikTok famous”, she has yet to be deemed a Popular Creator.

“It would be cool to be labeled as a Popular Creator, but I’m not striving towards it,” Beard said. “Artists usually don’t receive that kind of attention.”

Beard points out there is an algorithm to becoming famous on TikTok. She explains that one’s first video is sent out to 100 people. Depending Art by Jocelyn Beard

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

INFOCUS

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

TAKEOVER

on the people who like the video and the tags that are put on the content, it will get put onto certain people’s FYPs. In this way, the first video gets the most views without any curation.

“I just made sure that my first video was good enough,” Beard said, “but after your first five videos, if it’s not revolutionary, then you will just never get on the FYP.” To test out the waters, The Fourcast staff decided to create videos themselves and see if they could become TikTok famous.

The staff created a video with a popular sound from “Teen Beach Movie”. Within an hour the “Teen Beach Movie” video received more than 1,000 views and 59 likes. Although this number does not make the Fourcast TikTok famous, it gives an idea of the number of TikTok users and the ability for anyone to spread their TikTok videos.

I’m a VSCO girl in a VSCO world TikTok birthed a personality trend often referred to as a VSCO girl. The sound sksksk, pronounced with a hiss, can be heard in a hallway conversation or found plastered on a classroom’s white board. This sound has been associated with the infamous VSCO girls.

The VSCO app was originally created to edit and share photography, but recently, the appeal of the pictures on VSCO has leaked into the real world. VSCO has become less of an app and more of a personality.

The term “VSCO girl” exploded on TikTok and refers to the girl’s material possessions. VSCO girls wear scrunchies in their hair, carry Hydroflasks, wear Pura Vida bracelets, lace up their Vans and of course, use metal straws in their desperate attempt to save the turtles.

VSCO girls have also coined the expression, “And I oop, sksksksk.” The phrase stems from the viral video of drag queen Jasmine Masters. Masters said the phrase while filming a YouTube video for her channel. From there, the video exploded on Twitter until VSCO girls snatched the expression and added sksksksksk.

Interestingly enough, the companies associated with the VSCO girl “brand” have used the popularity to endorse their products. With scrunchies and metal straws appearing at the checkout for many stores and different brands creating more “VSCO” clothes, it’s obvious that stores are trying to imitate the original trend.

Schindel sees the VSCO girl trend seeping into her own personality and style.

“The trend has led me to change my style in subtle ways,” she said. “My T-shirts got longer, my ponytails got higher, my scrunchie collection expanded, and I would be lying if I said I haven’t created my fair share of beaded chokers and VSCO girl friendship bracelets.”

Alongside Schindel, 42 percent of Hockaday students who responded to the survey said they consider themselves VSCO girls.

Schindel explains that this trend, like any other, was first a genuine trend and then became a joke.

“I don’t think the VSCO trend with ever completely die out, and I think it has a permanent spot in the TikTok Hall of Fame,” Schindel said.

So is TikTok a “hit or miss”?

TikTok, like many social media apps, has its shortcomings. This tech startup app has been sued, banned and tried in court about safety, privacy and explicit content.

TikTok, under the name of Musical.ly at the time, was sued in 2017 by the Federal Trade Commission for child privacy violations.

The problem with the app was that kids under 13 were posting and sharing videos without their parents’ approval, which was giving away their information. The app shut down mid-2018, only to be revived and merged with an already existent TikTok. But of course this lawsuit did not disappear, and ByteDance was fined $5.7 million for obtaining children’s information without parental consent.

Currently, kids under 13 years are censored to a clean, curated section of the app, restricting the access of liking, commenting and posting.

Additionally, India and Bangladesh banned TikTok in early 2019 over claims of “explicit content and cultural degradation among youth.” However, the ban was lifted after a week, and the app skated by unharmed. The ban merely stopped new users from downloading the app, with little effect to existing users.

Adding other risks to the table, 37.7 percent of Hockaday students are public on Tiktok, meaning anyone can view their page and content at anytime. Jessica Hooks, Upper School Counselor, explained that being public on TikTok can lead to dangers.

“In order to be famous, in order to get those likes and shares, you have to put yourself out there which opens you up to negative content,” Hooks said. “Also [when videos are] share[d], it is out of your control,” Hooks said.

According to an informal Upper School Student and Faculty Survey conducted via email, nine percent of Hockaday students who responded to have met a friend via TikTok. TikTok can be used to communicate with others through likes and comments. Some people even enter their Snapchat usernames in their TikTok bios, allowing anyone to communicate with them on Snapchat. In the survey, 21.5 percent of the 321 who responded said they spend an average of an hour a day on Tiktok.

To encourage use of the app, TikTok provides notifications that invite users into the app throughout the day.

Additionally, artificial intelligence is used to display videos that specific users would enjoy, keeping them scrolling for hours.

With limited use, TikTok can provide a mental break or an unwinding tool. Hooks said there is a significant difference between a brain break and using TikTok for an hour and a half straight.

Beard said making TikToks does help her release stress.

“But I do it before homework sometimes,” she said, “which is a bit of a problem.”

The Fourcast created a TikTok to test the waters and see how easy gaining TikTok fame would be.

Scan this QR code to check it out!

13

14

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

F

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

EATURES

FACES AND PLACES Programs at all Hockaday grade levels work to spread awareness about being environmentally friendly and promote change.

p.15

DAY IN THE LIFE OF LISA FISHER Follow around Lisa Fisher, Writing Center Director, for a day full of writing conferences, advisory time and teaching.

p.16

BY THE NUMBERS

6 HOURS The number of hours Arabella Ware works each school week.

4-6 HOURS photo provided by Annie Herring

Arabella Ware works the cash register during her shift at Toy Maven.

Work Hard, Study Hard Students enjoy rewards of part-time jobs

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor

W

ith Hockaday’s rigorous academic schedule, it can be challenging for students to participate in extracurriculars like sports and theater. Some Hockadaisies, however, manage to add a part-time job to their to-do lists.

Senior Emily Stephens works two shifts a week at Flower Child in the Preston Royal center. She offers advice to others thinking about getting a job.

“Make sure you work somewhere that makes you happy and excited to go to work,” Stephens said. “I got to a point this summer where I didn’t like having more than one day off at a time because I just wanted to be at work all the time.”

She also says to make sure you can fulfill the time commitment and give 110 percent while you are working so it can show in your work that you are focused and dedicated to what you are doing.

Stephens works about four to six hours each shift, one on Thursday and one on Sunday. Being a server, she takes orders both inside the restaurant and out, brings food to tables and cleans the tables after people finish. When it comes to balancing homework and a job, she makes sure to stay productive during the day.

“I have not had to work a lot during the school year so far, but I am definitely more aware of my workload and trying to be productive during the day so that I do not have to stay

6 HOURS The number of hours Gabby Evans works each school week.

“Make sure you work somewhere that makes you happy and excited to go to work.”

1-2 SHIFTS The number of shifts Arabella Ware works each week.

Emily Stephens Senior

up later at night,” Stephens said. “I typically get home from work after 10 p.m. if I work at night so I usually just want to go straight to sleep.”

Another senior, Gabby Evans, gave up some sleep to work as a soccer referee at the YMCA. She has been working since the spring of her sophomore year and said she finds it easy to manage her school assignments and work. Evans takes a four-and-ahalf hour morning shift on Saturdays and chooses one weekday to work an additional hour-and-a-half.

“Before, I slept in on Saturday mornings, so it was not that big of an adjustment for me,” Evans said. “I never really did much homework then anyway.”

Junior Arabella Ware, who has been working at the Toy Maven for a year, usually limits herself to one shift

The number of hours Emily Stephens works each school week.

on Sundays, though she helps out on Saturdays as needed. Although she was not looking for a job when she first started working, she loved it so much that she decided to stay.

Ware helps people find toys, organizes the store, checks people out at the register, prices things and sometimes takes up little projects like making a Power Point to train new employees. Ware got the idea to work there through a family friend and Hockaday mom Candice Williams, who owns the store.

“My parents forced me to get a job, but it was so fun that I decided to work there during the school year,” Ware said. “I get a lot of real-life experiences like dealing with the customers and I think I learn a lot. I like to work not just because it’s fun but it gives me a sense of purpose.”

2 SHIFTS The number of shifts Emily Stephens works each week.

2 SHIFTS The number of shifts Gabby Evans works each week.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

FEATURES

“

CLASSES WITH AN IMPACT Hockaday’s new Institute for Social Impact brings 12 new classes focused on combining service and academics.

15

Make sure you work somewhere that makes you happy and excited to go to work.”

p.17

WORK HARD, STUDY HARD , p.14

Faces & Places

by Anna Gum • Staff Writer

H

igh school students’ lives are filled with soft drink cans and plastic straws.

What they often don’t consider is the destruction these products bring to the environment. To combat these effects, programs at all Hockaday grade levels are working to spread awareness and promote change.

One of these programs is the Form II recycling program. Once a week during advisory, a rotating group of sophomores collects recycling from classrooms. Form II Dean Jordan Innerarity said he is proud to be a part of this program.

“It’s nice to know that Form II is making a significant impact on the Hockaday community,” Innerarity said.

The recycling program not only keeps waste out of landfills but also saves Hockaday maintenance hours of work. In recent years, however, students and faculty have been mixing waste with recycling, so current sophomores must check for waste before collecting the recycling.

For example, items that should be recycled, such as clean cardboard boxes and blank paper, can’t be if they are contaminated with waste like pizza grease or spilled soda.

“A lot of companies will throw out objects that should be recycled if there is too much trash mixed with the recycling,” Innerarity said. “Hockaday has given the community the infrastructure to recycling.

We need to educate each member of the community about what objects can and can’t be recycled.”

Besides the recycling program, students in the All Green Club work to educate people about ways to help the environment through the All Green Club. The club began in 2017 when current seniors Riyana Daulat and Karen Lin wanted another way to effect change.

“I think it is so important that we get younger kids involved because they’re also going to be living in this world,” Daulat said.

The club meets with the Hockaday second grade class and Gooch Elementary School students to discuss recycling, air pollution and water usage.

“Promoting awareness, empowering them to know that they can make a difference, too, is really important,” Daulat said.

In addition to educating young students, the club has succeeded in getting recycling bins in the fitness center and organizing Hockaday’s first Earth Week, which included a lights-free advisory period, a bake sale supporting the Trinity River Audubon Center and an educational Kahoot game. “[Earth week] was definitely a really amazing thing that I’m glad we could get the upper school involved in,” Daulat said.

Also educating students about the environment is pre-kindergarten and second-grade science teacher Lara Guerra. Two years ago, she began a recurring two-year program of planting sorghum, or “broom corn” with fourth graders. Last fall, they harvested the seed heads and hung them to dry; in the spring they will wrap the seed heads around a dowel to make their own brooms.

“I hope that by getting them out, getting their hands in the dirt, marveling over a bug or watching a bird, [those activities] plant an interest,” Guerra said. “It’s hope for tomorrow.” photos provided by velayzia scott and riyana daulat The project ties into their social studies work on pioneers and their science classes, in which they 1.All Green Club Co-President Riyana Daulat teaches a learn how a seed turns into a plant. The project also second grade class about the water cycle. aims to promote awareness and appreciation for our 2. A shrub blossoms in Hockaday’s garden. environment.

3. Growing “broom corn” is part of a two-year project in “If we even hope to have a shred of the earth left, we which Lower Schoolers grow sorghum to make brooms. need to teach our young children ways to tread lightly,” 4. All Green Club members Karen Lin, Phoebe Sanders, Guerra said. “I think that you just have to pass it on or there is no hope for the future.”

Riyana Daulat and Emily Stephens gather at the Club Fair.

2

3

GIRLS GO GREEN.

4

1

16

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

A Day in the Life of

Lisa Fisher

Lisa Fisher is a new addition to the Hockaday faculty. Previously, Fisher worked at the Seton Hall University Writing Center, and now, she is pioneering the brand new Hockaday Writing Center. Fisher said the writing center is meant to be a resource for all students who want to work on their writing skills. Using an OnCampus link to WCOnline, students can schedule 30-minute conferences with Fisher to talk about their writing assignments.

n

+

Rise & Grind!

Q

5:15 A.M. THE DAY BEGINS | Fisher wakes up, eats breakfast and plays with her two dogs, Chief and Cole.

6:30 A.M. RUSH HOUR | Fisher leaves her house around 6:30. Since she is driving from Frisco, the drive time varies depending on traffic.

! g n i r , Ring

1:10 P.M. TEACHING TIME | Fisher teaches a senior seminar, Culinary Experiences in Literature, during C and G periods.

6:00 P.M.

7:15 A.M.

w

EARLY TASKS | She usually arrives at Hockaday around 7:15.

After settling down in her room on the second f loor of the library next to the Debate Suite, she prepares for her first appointment.

LAST MINUTE TALKS | Every Tuesday, Fisher stays at Hockaday until 9:00 p.m., using this time block to help the boarders.

12:25 P.M.

H

LUNCH BREAK | Fisher eats lunch from 12:25 to 1:05.

8:00 A.M.

u

Afternoon f el

TIME TO CHAT | Fisher has her first appointment from 8:00 to 8:30. The student brings her draft, instructions for the assignment and goals for the session.

Fisher and the student look over the draft and address any problems the student is concerned with. She has multiple appointments throughout the day.

Goodbye!

photos by Sarah Roberts, Sasha Schwimmer and Kate Woodhouse

11:45 A.M. SENIOR SESSIONS | Fisher leaves conference period open for her senior students to meet with her.

H 9:00 A.M. 9:55 A.M. ADVISORY FUN | Fisher is a coadvisor with Lisa Culbertson, the new Head of Upper School. Fisher enjoys this time with her freshman advisees.

STAY ORGANIZED | Fisher uses this time between her second appointment and advisory to write consultation reviews to share with each student’s teachers. These consultation reviews summarize what she and the student talked about.

by Olivia Garcia • Staff Writer

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

photo provided by Kate Woodhouse

FEATURES

Senior Sophia Friguletto interviews a first grader at Nathan Adams Elementary School to gain information about the student to make book for her.

Classes with an Impact Hockaday’s new Institute for Social Impact brings 12 new classes focused on combining service and academics.

by Laine Betanzos • Staff Writer

H

ockaday students have always been encouraged to take active roles in bettering the Dallas community, required to serve at least 15 hours per school year. This year, however, the service will enter the classroom alongside academics.

Beginning last year with Anatomy, Evolution and the Zoo: Intersection of Biology, Design and Community Impact, Hockaday has implemented 12 courses, with at least one course in each discipline, that combine academics and community service.

Laura Day, Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact and Director of the Dr. William B. Dean Service Learning program, helped pioneer these classes and leads their service programs throughout the year.

“If you have a curriculum and you’re making an impact in the community, it means so much more,” Day said. “I want to do them really, really well.”

BOARDER

The following five courses are among the 12 Social Impact (SI) classes. For information on all SI courses, consult the Hockaday Course Catalog or chat with the teachers of the courses.

Before “Me Too”: Literature as a Protest Taught by Jennifer McEachern, the course Before “Me Too” involves discussing novels about the empowerment of women. The purpose of this course is to build empathy for the stories of other women while partnering with the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership Academy, a local public all-girls high school. Students also will work with local nonprofit Attitudes and Attire, which aims to help women seeking selfsufficiency by promoting self-esteem and teaching ethics. Senior Sabrina Fearon, who has just begun taking the class, said she looked forward to these opportunities.

“I’m really excited for the social impact aspect because not only do I get to discuss with girls from another school, but also I can use my education to make a positive impact on the Dallas community

through service,’’ Fearon said.

U.S. Government U.S. Government has long been a required class for Hockaday sophomores, but the class has been refocused on not only the structure of the government but also empowering students to make a positive change in their communities.

Government teacher Kirsten Blevins said the biggest adjustment is changing the traditional three-to-four page research paper into a social impact project.

Much of the curriculum has stayed the same, but there is more of a focus on arming students with the knowledge and skills to engage in the community through political action, Blevins said.

Student Camille Green said she looks forward to this aspect of the class.

“We will analyze current news articles that have to do with local or federal politics and governments,” she said. “ I think that this will give us better insight into what is happening in the communities around us.”

AP Environmental Science Not limited to core courses, social impact has been implemented in AP courses like AP Environmental Science. This course covers environmental issues and the aspects of life which affect them. Teacher Kirsten LindsayHudak said the class has always involved social impact aspects because it relates to people and how they can be better global citizens.

“I really appreciate the partnership with the Institute for Social Impact because Ms. Day gives us avenues to act locally that I didn’t have access to before,” Lindsay-Hudak said. “This is a huge benefit not only on the curriculum level but also on the personal level for the students.”

Race, Class, and Gender in American History Another new class, Race, Class, and Gender in American History, aims to teach the value of developing empathy, engaging in the community and designing solutions, teacher Hollie Teague said.

“By explicitly integrating SI components, students get the opportunity to take steps toward alleviating social problems, rather than just learning about them in a solely academic way,” Teague said.

Chamber Orchestra In the fine arts department, the Institute for Social Impact will contribute to academics through the Chamber Orchestra class, taught by Charlsie Griffiths.

Students will partner with organizations in the area to bring performances, teaching and project-based learning to students outside of Hockaday.

“Music is a universal language,” Griffiths said, “and the social impact aspects of this class will provide the students with the opportunity to investigate the many ways and pathways music is used in our community to create positive change.”

17

LINE

●●●

BOARDING BONDING

Why do you think hall bonding activities are important for boarders?

Paint-ball Pals

Haylee Salopek: I think it’s important because you really get to know the people you live with, allowing you to embrace the boarding community.

Boarding students participated in hall-wide bonding activities on Sept. 22. Lower Morgan played a paintball game and Upper Morgan attended Quiggly’s Clayhouse to paint pottery.

CLAY CREATIONS

Jenny Choi: I hope that we’ve bonded more. I think we’ve gotten close. You know, nothing brings people together like shooting paint balls at one another.

photos provided by Eugene Seong and Haylee Salopek

↠

by Eliana Goodman • Editor-in-Chief

18

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

Sports

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T WE'VE GOT SPIRIT... DO YOU? Delve into the measures being made by certain Hockaday and St. Mark's individuals to promote school spirit at 11600 Welch Rd.

p.18

SERVING UP SUCCESS Hockaday and St. Mark's students collaborate to surge to the forefront of the table tennis world.

p.19

We've Got Spirit... Do You? All-School Spirit Nights, Super Fan Man Shout-outs and more among ideas to encourage growing culture of school spirit

M

by Shea Duffy• Magazine Editor

ost Friday nights of the school year, Hockaday girls flock to 10600 Preston Road, clad in blue and gold apparel and eager to cheer on the athletes of their brother school.

Three miles away from the Lion’s Den, their classmates can be found competing on their home turf—on the fields, in the pool, or on the court— with only a handful of teachers, students and parents present to cheer them on from the bleachers.

Athletic Board Chair Margaret Woodberry recognizes the root of the problem that she is working to change in the coming year.

“It is difficult for Hockaday to mimic the ‘Friday Night Lights’ football game atmosphere that is such a large part of Texas culture,” Woodberry said. “There are social and cultural aspects to a St. Mark’s football game that a Tuesday night volleyball game, for example, cannot provide. This is something we are working to improve.”

Reinstituting a culture of spirit, especially in a school with such a large emphasis on athletics, has been a focus of Hockaday’s Athletic Board and athletic department in recent years.

Acknowledging what has worked in the past, Woodberry and the Athletic Board have begun brainstorming ways to generate excitement about athletics.

“Last year something that worked really well were our Lower School and faculty spirit nights,” Woodberry said. “People may have come for the T-shirts or the free food, but getting people there in the first place is the hardest part. It was really special for athletes to have their hard work recognized and supported by such a large crowd.”

Upper School math teacher Karen Sanchez has been involved in promoting the spirit of athletics since 2014, when she became the faculty sponsor for the Athletic Board.

Throughout her time at Hockaday, the Athletic Board has accomplished a significant amount of progress, but the spirit rallies have been unique in their ability to unite Lower School, Middle School, Upper School and faculty through sports.

“It’s nice that these spirit nights can make [athletic events] into a community thing,” Sanchez said.

“People obviously love sports, but when you are surrounded by teachers or friends that you know, it makes going to games much more fun.”

While measures are being taken within the Hockaday community to increase turnout at athletic events, efforts have also been made at St. Mark’s to generate the same support for Hockaday athletes and performers that students have shown St. Mark’s teams.

Luke Evangelist and Jack Trahan, known as St. Mark’s Super Fan Men, have had a large presence in changing this culture. As the Super Fan Men, seniors Evangelist and Trahan lead the St. Mark’s student section, promote athletic events and news on various social media accounts and serve as leaders around campus.

For years, senior St. Mark’s students have been chosen to serve as Super Fan Men and promote school spirit. But unlike Super Fan Men in the past, Evangelist and Trahan have surpassed their duties in their efforts to bridge the gap between Hockaday and St. Mark’s athletics.

“What we are doing right now will hopefully be the beginning of something special between our two schools,” Evangelist said. “We want to bring our communities together in the spirit of athletics.

"We take for granted the unwavering support and love that the Hockaday girls show our sports teams, and I think it’s time for us to finally return the favor.”

Evangelist said he hopes to be a part of the class that can positively impact the relationship between Hockaday and St. Mark’s from an athletics standpoint.

“I want to change the narrative of the Super Fan Man,” Evangelist said.

“It’s not just about St. Mark’s sports, because without Hockaday’s support, we would not be able to accomplish our goals. Jack and I need to lead by example.”

BY THE NUMBERS

188

Number of Upper School students who participate in a fall sport

13

Number of coaches who coach fall sports

7

Number of athletic trainers

photo provided by Pat Gum

Fans congregate at the Episcopal School of Dallas to support the lacrosse team.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

SPORTS

“

TAKING A STAB AT VICTORY Meet Junior Diana Piovanetti: Hockaday boarder by day, member of Puerto Rico's national fencing team by night.

19

It is just so wonderful to be able to

represent your country. “

p.20

TAKING A STAB AT VICTORY, p.20

Serving up Success Hockaday-St. Marks duo places 2nd at National Table Tennis Championships

by Lacy Green • Staff Writer

D

uring the summer, Hockaday junior Tia Hsieh, and St. Mark’s senior Tianming “Tex” Xie, competed in the Adults Mixed Doubles competition at the 2019 US Nationals in Las Vegas for table tennis. Despite being seeded last for the event, the duo proceeded to make it all the way to the final round before falling to the number three seed.

After a strong showing at the 2019 US National Table Tennis Championships, Hsieh and Xie earned a silver medal in the Adults Mixed Doubles competition.

Hsieh initially took on table tennis as a way to pass time at her after school daycare. Soon after she began to enjoy the game, Hsieh started to practice at QD Academy’s Table Tennis Club in Plano where she met her current partner, Tex Xie. Now, after years of training, Hsieh still dedicates 25 hours of her week to train during the school year, and 34 hours per week during the summer.

Xie began training in table tennis at age 5 and said he has never become bored of it. After the work of high school amped up, he decreased his practice time to four hours per week.

“It’s not enough to improve, but it’s enough to maintain my level” Xie said.

Two weeks before the tournament, the two players communicated and decided to be partners for the Adult Mixed Doubles competition.

“We initially registered with the mentality of a warm-up game'' Hsieh said.

However, the results of the tournament would suggest otherwise.

In the quarterfinals, the duo upset the fourth seed doubles pair— men’s singles semi finalist Kai Zhang, and junior girls’ singles finalist Crystal Wang.

photo provided by Tia Hsieh

St. Mark's senior Tianming Xie and Hockaday junior Tia Hsieh compete in the Mixed Doubles Finals of the 2019 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships on July 5 in Las Vegas. The team took the silver medal.

In the semifinals, Hsieh and Xie defeated the first seed doubles pair — former Chinese National Team member, Zhou Xin, and five-time women’s singles national champion and two-time Olympian Lily Zhang. After winning a close first game 1-4 in deuce, and being down 1-6 in the second game, the partners set goals for their next round. “ We focused on setting up a strong third-ball attack and hard forehand counters deep into their

backhand”, Xie said.

The pair then proceeded to win the game with a final score of 3-0.

In the live-streamed finals, after executing upset after upset, Hsieh and Xie lost to third seed and current Pan-American junior mixed doubles champions Nikhil Kumar and Amy Wang. The two players won a close first game and came back from a score of 1-7 in the second game. After a long series of close games, the pair

eventually fell to their opponent, ending the game with a score of 2-3.

“Nationals have been a very valuable experience to me because I am able to see myself grow stronger mentally each time,” Hsieh said.

Hsieh and Xie represented Hockaday and St. Mark’s well.

“Our ability to play mixed doubles and win silver at Nationals may exemplify the bond between brother and sister schools,” Hsieh said.

TIPS & TRICKS

SWING BACK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH EASE Check out these tips and tricks to help you start the 2019-2020 school year on the right foot.

2

1 Study Efficiently While juggling school work and extra curriculars, many high school students find staying focused while studying difficult. Give yourself something to look forward to while studying. Use the Pomodoro method: for every twenty five minutes you spend studying, take a five minute break.

Choose Power Foods Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Eating a healthy breakfast high in fiber and low in fat, sugar and salt can form part of a balanced diet, and can help you get the nutrients you need to maintain good health. Also, try to stay away from junk food. Eating healthy keeps your mind sharp and your body ready to stay active.

3 Make Good Habits Stick When you are trying to get into a routine, beginning can be hard. Try starting small, focusing on establishing the behavior slowly but steadily. For example, if you are attempting to go to bed earlier, start by going to bed 15 minutes earlier one night and steadily increase the time each week. photos provided by wikimedia commons

20

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DIANA PIOVANETTI

4FO U R C A S T

Taking a Stab at Victory

On Aug. 17, Junior Diana Piovanetti trains with Aldo Montano, Italian fencer and four-time Olympic medalist.

Junior Diana Piovanetti balances her role as Junior Sabre Team Captain on Puerto Rican National Fencing Team with her Hockaday course load

by Sasha Schwimmer • Staff Writer

S

abre gripped tightly in her hand, Diana Piovanetti tunes out loud cheers circulating through the gym and directs her focus to the opponent standing high in front of her. Laser focus is a key component to her sport; one second off focus and her opponent could strike her.

Piovanetti runs triumphantly off the platform-—coaches, parents and teammates embrace her with warm hugs and applaud her improvement as a fencer. With just three years of practicing, Piovanetti became number 72 in the world in the Cadet category, the No. 1 fencer in her division

in Puerto Rico and broke history by ranking her team as number eight in the Pan-American Games, a record for the female sabre Puerto Rican team.

“I am so proud of this accomplishment and so thankful to my coaches, family and Hockaday professors for supporting me through this last season,” Piovanetti said.

Piovanetti, representing her country as she competes for the Puerto Rican National fencing team, marked her second competitive season and her

“The camaraderie and competitive spirit is a very hard feeling to explain.”

Diana Piovanetti Junior

third of year fencing during the 20182019 school year. She began her fencing journey in Puerto Rico under the training of Coach Rafael Omar Nieves and uses the sabre weapon, a device that requires aggressive motions and fast decision making.

During the school year, Piovanetti trains at Globus Fencing Academy with Coach Hyo Kun Lee, the former Korean National Women’s fencing team coach, and Coach Ariana Klinkov, who was Head Fencing Coach at Wellesley University and Phillips Exeter Academy.

Piovanetti fought to make the Puerto Rican National Team because of her passion for the sport, the opportunities the team would open up and the opportunity to represent her home.

“I think the camaraderie and competitive spirit is a very hard feeling to explain,” Piovanetti said.

“It is just wonderful to be able to represent a country.”

To make the Puerto Rican National

team, Piovanetti qualified for the Cadet (under 17 years old) and Junior (under 20 years old) categories by placing in the top three at four national qualifiers. She became a member in March of 2017.

The following year, Piovanetti won the position of Junior Sabre Team Captain. She had the opportunity to represent her team in Costa Rica, Colombia and Poland.

Piovanetti said she works hard to juggle Hockaday’s rigorous academic schedule while spending an average of 10 hours a week training to maintain her fencing skills.

“It is not easy at all to excel academically and compete at the highest of international levels,” Piovanetti said.

Training constantly to match the level of her opponents and teammates, who have been training for at least five years, Piovanetti says her enthusiasm and passion for fencing have helped carry her to success.

“I am a very competitive person,” Piovanetti said. “I have always taken sports seriously. I think my best skill at fencing is my ability to make smart and quick decisions.”

Although Hockaday fencing Coach Hector Maisonet hasn’t had the opportunity to directly train with Diana, he has followed her success in the sport.

“I have seen how she develops new skills in each competition,” Masionet said. “Diana’s skills are good and very advanced… This girl can give Puerto Rico extraordinary international results.”

Victoria Li, a freshman who shares a passion for fencing with Piovanetti, has studied her techniques and looks up to her work ethic.

“Diana is strong, fast and has good tactics,” Li said.

Piovanetti said she is looking forward to this year’s season, which started Sept.

14, and competing in select events of the European Cadet Circuit. Events will be held in Konin, Poland; London; Eislingen, Germany; Moedling, Austria; and Meylan, France. If she qualifies to represent team Puerto Rico in competition again this year, she will compete in San Salvador at the PanAmerican Championship and the World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Diana will be the one who will give Puerto Rico the glory in fencing,” Coach Maisonet said. “You are the will of fire from your country, and I believe in you.”

PLAN ON IT! Head of the Oklahoma Regatta Oct. 4

Varsity Volleyball vs. Greenhill 6 p.m.

Oct. 15

Varsity Field Hockey vs. ESD 4:45 p.m.

Nov. 1

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

VIEWS

by Niamh McKinney•Arts & Life Editor

W

“

21

Why has everyone taken their voices to social media? After seeing others post their opinions, do you do the same?”

TO POST OR NOT TO POST, p.22

See You Never, Forever 21

The Future of Fashion ith the mall giant Forever 21 preparing to file for bankruptcy soon, according to The Wall Street Journal, eyes are on the future of other brands in the fast fashion market.

Some Hockaday shoppers may miss the store, but looking at their business practices should make it easier to say goodbye.

The company, which brought in $4.4 billion in sales during its peak in 2015, has faced growing competition from other fast fashion brands like H&M and has now begun closing down some locations in an effort to downsize.

While Forever 21 has had problems over the years ranging from struggling to sell products on line to offering out-of-style graphic T-shirts, my main, long-standing complaint with the brand has been the environmental impact and human rights violations, not their recent questionable collaboration with Cheetos or the messy state of its stores.

In 2016, one glaring example of its many workers’ rights violations was exposed in the Los Angeles Times, which found that Forever 21’s factories in Southern California paid workers as little as $4 an hour, in a state with a minimum wage of $15 an hour.

Forever 21 is not unique in its practices. Unfortunately, many other similar fast fashion brands are only growing in sales and scope as the fashion industry expands at a rapid pace each year, currently estimated to generate $2.3 trillion annually.

As recently as the 1960s, U.S. companies were still making 95 percent of clothes American consumers bought.

Today, the country only makes about 3 percent of what American consumers buy. This shift is due to the outsourcing of clothes manufacturing to primarily developing countries where minimum wages are much lower than those in the U.S. This extreme outsourcing is only

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

VIEWS

one example of the effects of the trend towards the fast fashion business model.

According to the book “Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes”, 60 percent of fabric is synthetic, which is derived from fossil fuels. Synthetic fibers, much like plastic items, take hundreds of years to decay, meaning landfills will only grow more, since 85 percent of textile waste goes directly to landfills. Some of the largest purveyors of synthetic textiles are these fast fashion brands, mainly due to the low costs of materials like polyester and nylon.

Sustainable brands such as Outdoor Voices, Everlane and Reformation are gaining traction in the mainstream and with environmentally conscious shoppers. These brands generally focus on the longevity and quality of their pieces in order to have a more sustainable business model, one that is not built on quickly circulating trends.

Environmentally conscious brands are thus a great option for those who want to have an environmentally friendly wardrobe, but may not enjoy thrifting or buying second-hand clothes.

However, these brands are not completely accessible in price. Everlane, one of the more affordable brands in the movement, still sells basic T-shirts for $18-$25. In a society accustomed to under $5 T-shirts from H&M, it is hard for some to work that into their budget or to remember the reasons for higher prices. While these clothes cost more because dirt-cheap prices are not possible without the use of things like sweatshops and pollution, today’s consumers may find it hard to stomach Reformation’s $150 tops.

Unfortunately, there is no clear, easy solution to the problem because a complete change in the pollution and abuse the fashion industry creates would ultimately require a cultural

photo by Niamh McKinney

Clothes shopping choices can have implications for society and the environment. shift. In 2012, the American Apparel and Footwear Association researched the issue and found that Americans purchase an average of eight pairs of shoes and 68 pieces of clothing every year. No doubt that number has grown since 2012 and I do not see the majority of consumers stopping their habit of constant purchases.

For these reasons, thrifting and online resale websites appear to be the best way to replace fast fashion for those who like to have a rotating, affordable wardrobe (which statistically seems

to be the preferred method of most Americans). Fortunately, it’s becoming easier to sell clothes you do not need or only plan on wearing once, whether it is at a place like Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet, or through a website for thrifted clothes, like Depop or Poshmark.

Hopefully in the future, a higher consumer awareness and demand for sustainable and ethical practices will mean more brands like Forever 21 will be replaced by alternate ways of shopping.

LIKE & COMMENT

Soc Med ial Spo ia tligh t Anna Senior Cayle a “sco Sanders doe e Marks rpion” at St. s cheer practic e.

A group of end sophomores att the “Party in the mixer.

USA” themed

GRAPHIC BY SHREYA GUNUKULA

22

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

REEL PEOPLE OR

Lately many Disney live action remakes have come out or are scheduled for release. Do these remakes do the originals justice or fall short?

REEL ORIGINALS?

Stick With What We Love

Some of the most distinct memories from my childhood are from watching Disney animated movies with my cousins at my grandmother’s house.

I’ve watched a few of them in the past few years, and they bring back a lot of nostalgia and happy feelings. The catchy tunes and songs are like riding a bike-—fun and easy to remember. The animation is so pure and happy, and the movies themselves do not contain much drama.

Disney and other animation companies are taking advantage of people like me by remaking these movies in live-action form. When I see a movie in theaters that I watched during my childhood, I certainly will take the chance to see it again. While it’s nice to see variations of the classics, these movies differ from the originals in a way that takes away some of the overall experience.

Take “The Lion King”, for example.

Disney remade the 1994 animated masterpiece into a live-action movie in 2019. It was difficult for CGI artists to convey as much emotion as the animators did through the animals’ expressions during dramatic scenes.

When you watch both the CGI and the animation, this is definitely noticeable.

One of the best things about the animation in the 1994 movie is the way everyone, even young children, can easily understand the feelings that are integral in the scenes without a lot of extra thought. In these new movies, it’s difficult to see and understand the emotions in the movie if you lose context. This requires more maturity from the audience and takes the magic away from young children.

Additionally, some characters in recent remakes (for instance, “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”) like monkeys and lions are much more frightening in semi-live action movies.

These movies, originally intended for children, seem scary and less accessible for kids to watch, understand and like.

Another example of a movie that contains less of the “magic” is “Cinderella.” In Disney’s 2015 live-action remake, when the fairy godmother transforms Cinderella’s outfits and thus creates a magnificent a carriage out of a pumpkin, there is less of a magical moment with the fairy godmother’s wand. Instead, it is portrayed with darker CGI animated clouds swirling around Lily James who plays Cinderella.

Overall, while these movies may bring back nostalgic and happy memories for some viewers, the effects of the live-action remakes take away from classic elements of the old animated movies.

by Libby Hill• Photo & Graphics Editor

s, e i v mo e and w e e n to se tions s e h In t ficult he emo ou lose if and t if y d s it’ derst movie ext. un the cont in

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

We Love It, We Love it Not

“By rem hese classic movaiekis, nstgortie shared and the orig s are audience expandins atlo much larger scale.” a Fall Break

Real People, Reel Great

VS

Everyone can recall their anticipation rising as Tinker Bell spelled out the words “Walt Disney Pictures” in the intro to the newest Disney movie on their grainy childhood TV. These movies established their mark on popular culture, and recent recreations of these and other movies bring back fond memories and feelings of nostalgia. From Walt Disney’s classic “The Lion King” or Stephen King’s spine-chilling “It,” remakes give all movie buffs a chance to reminisce.

For years, large-scale film production companies have played into fan sentimentality, developing movies into updated remakes. Recently, movie remakes have captured the attention of Hollywood and audiences around the world.

People naturally yearn for the past and positive memories from that time period. In particular, Disney movies remind many audiences of the animated movies of their childhood. By creating remakes, film production companies build upon their viewers’ nostalgia but make revisions so the movies do not become repetitive.

With advancements in CGI technology, film companies are able to create more realistic depictions of the story than they could originally.

These technological enhancements attract a large audience because of the modernized portrayals that differ greatly from original movies.

Additionally, some movie remakes update plotlines and mix up the casts to keep up with modern reasoning and inclusion standards. For instance, Disney’s cast for the remake of “The Lion King” included people from several races and backgrounds, whereas the cast of the original was predominantly white. This is an example of the increasing diversity in Hollywood and film production companies, and often viewers are interested in movies that leave a lasting impact on society.

Movies depict stories from one generation to another, one country to another and one audience to another.

By remaking these classic movies, stories are shared and the original audience expands to a much larger scale. Remakes are something for viewers who watched the original and for new spectators just being introduced to the story—perhaps even the children of the original viewers. Movies connect people; by recreating beloved films and sharing their timeless stories, film production companies foster warm, fuzzy feelings of love and nostalgia.

Before labeling a remake as “uncreative”, remember all that goes into its production. Look past supposed unoriginality and notice what’s different, what’s changed and what has, luckily for the nostalgic viewer, stayed the same.

by Erin Parolisi • Features Editor

A few days to relax and re-charge is just what we need after a busy start to school. Five full days to look forward towards.

Club Fair

Opportunities to try new things and meet new people are everywhere! Get some brownies and join the CDC or Netflix Original Movie Review club.

1/2 Way Through First Quarter

We are still full of that new year motivation but slowly losing steam as the school year progresses. The end of first Quarter is so close but the end of the year not so much...

Cold Season

Sniffling and tissues and cough drops galore. It’s that time of the year - everyone’s busy and has the classic slightly-congested-bit-deeper voice.

College App Season

The first round of apps comes upon the seniors and waves of stress can be felt radiating from the senior commons.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

VIEWS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eliana Goodman MANAGING EDITOR Kate Woodhouse WEB EDITOR Eugene Seong COPY EDITOR Kelsey Chen MAGAZINE EDITOR Shea Duffy BUSINESS MANAGER Catherine Sigurdsson NEWS EDITOR Kate Clark PEOPLE EDITOR Erin Parolisi ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Niamh McKinney SPORTS EDITOR Ava Berger VIEWS EDITOR Sahasra Chigurupati CASTOFF EDITOR Julia Donovan PHOTOS & GRAPHICS EDITOR Libby Hill STAFF WRITERS Laine Betanzos, Elisa Carrol, Remy Finn, Olivia Garcia, Lacy Green, Anna Gum, Campbell Harris, Libby Hill, Charlotte Rogers, Sasha Schwimmer, Catherine Sigurdsson, Maddie Stout, Lea Whitley, Hanna Zhang STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Margaret Thompson, Simone Hunter, Annie Herring, Velazyia Scott, Sarah Roberts, Haylee Salopek, Karen Lin, Anne Rubi, STAFF ARTISTS Kylee Hong, Jocelyn Beard

Students are posting more and more about political issues and social issues on Instagram, but does this do more harm than good?

illustration by Kelsey Chen

4F To Post or Not to Post Political comments on Instagram do little to promote understanding

by Charlotte Rogers• Staff Writer

It’s May 15, 2019, the day the Human Life Protection Act was passed, enacting a near-total ban on abortion in Alabama beginning in Nov. 2019.

You’re at school when you check your phone to find that social media has been flooded with posts about the act. You see perspectives you agree with and others you strongly do not.

Why has everyone taken their voices to social media? After seeing others post their opinions, do you do the same?

Social media, whether it be Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Snapchat, has become an integral part of daily life, especially among teenagers. Social media allows people to stay in contact with one another, see what others are doing and easily access news sources.

It’s interesting for me to think that one no longer needs to turn to Channel 5 or open a newspaper to find out

what’s going on in the world. Reallife issues—and in turn, your peers’ opinions about them— completely blow up on your phone. So the real question is: is posting on social media

“You see perspectives you agree with and others you strongly do not.”

Charlotte Rogers Staff Writer

about world issues productive?

Although there are some positive results from posting about world issues, the majority of results are negative and the posts aren’t effective. Posting or tweeting about politics or an economic

23

issue on social media tends to cause even more peer pressure amongst teenagers than there has been without social media.

Teenagers feel forced to agree with certain politics or the opinions of their friends just to fit in.

One productive result of posting about world issues on social media is that after a natural disaster or an act of terrorism people create a hashtag on social media for the catastrophe, gaining attention and much-needed resources for the calamity. Even though these hashtags are positive effects of posting on social media, posting about world issues on social media is not effective and is dangerous to the world’s youth.

Samidh Chakrabarti, a product manager who is responsible for politics and elections products at Facebook, shared his stance on people posting about global controversies.

Chakrabarti expressed that a common criticism of people posting about world issues on social media is that it creates an “echo chamber” where people only see the viewpoints they agree with, further dividing us as a nation and society.

Therefore, he argues, posting about the issues on social media is not productive but quite the opposite.

There is an active debate about how much false news from social media has tarnished people’s opinions, facts and even behavior toward one another.

The information teenagers tend to receive from social media, which they’re reposting, may be fiction, or the teenagers who are discussing the global issues may not have access to the resources they need to understand the material. If the people who are posting about global issues also believe or agree with false news, then these posts can even be harmful to people who read them. Some sources, like Forbes magazine’s A.J. Agrawal, argue that these posts can be positive and somewhat productive. Agrawal said news alerts from social media are important because they let teenagers feel connected to the world they’re living in. He said social media allows teenagers to follow their favorite organizations or clubs on line.

Instead of relying on social media, however, we should discuss these topics.

Although I can see the ability of political posts to unite and educate teenagers, we should discuss these topics. Posting on social media about world issues is not productive and creates more problems than solutions.

A Letter From the Editor

FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

EDITORIAL POLICY The Fourcast is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, its faculty and staff. The Fourcast has a press run of 1,500 and is printed by Greater Dallas Press. It is distributed free of charge to the Hockaday community.

Businesses who wish to advertise in The Fourcast should contact Catherine Sigurdsson, Business Manager, at csigurdsson1@ hockaday.org.

We reserve the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate to the Hockaday community. Opinions will be clearly marked and/or will appear in the perspectives section.

Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any member of the Hockaday community. Unsigned editorials that appear on the opinions page will reflect the official position of The Fourcast, but not necessarily the position of the Hockaday community.

The Fourcast staff may cover student, staff, faculty or alumnae deaths as the staff is made aware. We reserve the right not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness and circumstance.

Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found as designated in the news section.

Any questions or concerns about should be addressed to Eliana Goodman, Editor-in-Chief, at egoodman@hockaday.org.

Fourcast goals tie in with Student Council’s connection theme

H

ockaday friends and family, I am so excited to be writing this to you.

On behalf of the entire Fourcast staff, I wanted to thank you for supporting our publication and hope you have enjoyed our first issue of the year.

We certainly had fun producing it!

I wanted to write this letter for a few reasons. First, I want to thank the Fourcast staff and our adviser for their hard work this issue—it was a huge time crunch to publish this week because of the school year’s late start, so please congratulate a Fourcast writer if you see one.

Secondly, I mainly wanted to relay to our readers The Fourcast’s goals for the year. Because Student Council’s theme this year is connections, we are trying to use the Fourcast as a platform to foster growth and interactions among the student body, staff and members of

Editor-in-Chief Eliana Goodman

other schools.

Hopefully, this space in The Fourcast can act as a way to do so: it will be reserved for letters to the editor, teacher articles, guest writers’ articles and stories that readers request. We want our paper to be open, interactive and something that members of the Hockaday community look forward to reading. We hope setting aside this space will help to do that.

If you ever are curious about anything that happens in the Journalism room, want to share to the Upper School about your JRP topic or something that you researched, have an idea for a story or would like to comment on anything we’ve published, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

The Fourcast stands for intellectual curiosity, integrity and giving Hockaday—and our greater community of readers—a voice, and that is why

I love it so much. Working on The Fourcast has helped me find my voice, and I want to pay it forward and hear about all of the amazing things you do. I want to hear what makes you passionate, what makes you cringe, what makes you excited and especially, what makes you doubt. In short, we all want to hear your voices!

The official Fourcast email is fourcastsubmissions@ hockaday.org and you can also reach me directly at egoodman@hockaday.org.

4F 24

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

The Fourcast The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

1 2

Ecuador

and

Galapagos

Juniors Avery Savage and Molly Clark went on a National Geographic trip this summer that lasted for 18 days. Looking for a new experience, the two picked the trip because of its educational opportunities. Here’s an inside look at their trip.

3

1 After waking up at 5 a.m., the group watches the sunrise.

2

A local boy holds a pet parrot.

3

Three boys in the group swim in a freshwater ravine.

4 Three local women perform a

traditional dance before a hunt.

5

The Nat Geo group travels down the river on a day trip.

4

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor

5