May 27, 2015
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News A5
Slam Poetry team places 3rd at finals By Sabrina DeBrito My Word, the upper school student slam poetry team, was a finalist and came in third place overall out of 40 schools May 2 at the Get Lit Classic Slam Southern California competition. This is the first time that the team has made it to finals since its creation two years ago. Last year, the team took second place in semifinals. The finals were held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. English students and teachers supported My Word, resulting in a full-house audience. Team coaches and English teachers Eric Olson and Caroline Miller accompanied the Slam Poetry team members. Jensen McRae ’15 and Alex Copeland ’15 performed
an original response titled “Trumpets” to the classic poem “For Black Poets Who Think of Suicide.” Katherine Calvert ’15 recited the classic “I Cry,” by Tupac Shakur and in response delivered an original slam poem titled “I Smile.” “I think that [Slam Poetry] is the most supportive thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Calvert said. “You’re clapping for others and giving people hugs that you’ve never met because everyone has something so incredible and personal to say.” Matt Beyer ’15, Hannah Dains ’16 and Liz Yount ’17 also performed. In their dressing room, the team members and faculty advise rs rapped the lyrics to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” to loosen up before the show.
SABRINA DEBRITO/CHRONICLE
SLAM DUNK: Matt Beyer ’15 performs at the Get Lit Classic Slam Southern California Competition. My Word, the slam poetry team, placed third out of 40 schools at th`e finals May 2.
Film crew interviews slam team By Carmen Levine
Six members of the Slam Poetry team were interviewed for an independent documentary about the importance of spoken word poetry Friday. A small film crew from Ruby Films is currently investigating the impact slam poetry has on the lives of high school students and is interviewing Get Lit poetry competition finalists for its documentary. Team coach and English teacher Caroline Miller approached several slam poets to reflect on their experiences, including Hannah Dains ’16, a poet on the Harvard-Westlake team and
Department heads to leave middle school By Liz Yount
Three middle school department chairs will leave the school at the end of the year. Spectrum adviser and English teacher Steve Chae will replace Middle School Communications Department Chair Jen Bladen, English teacher Amanda Angle will replace Middle School English Department Chair Jen Dohr and Spanish teacher Edgar Jurado will replace Middle School World Languages Department Chair Melissa Strong. Bladen plans to move to Oklahoma to return to school to be a nurse. Chae said that he intends to build up the communication department’s online presence through websites and broadcasting. “I’m really excited about being able to be involved in more of the bigger-picture decision making,” Chae said. “I think that this year and in past years, obviously I care a lot about how the [Spectrum] is, but now I get to step back
a Get Lit player. She particiJensen McRae ’15, who pated in both this year’s and has been a slam poet for last year’s classic slams. two years, was also invited “In general, it’s a very to share the importance she exciting thing sees in slam to be seen poetry. with poetry,” “I really I really like the Dains said. like the idea “I love beof shedding idea of shedding more ing able to more light light on slam poetry tell stories. on slam poThat’s mainly etry because because it’s becoming what I want it’s becommore popular.” to do with poing more etry.” —Jensen McRae ’15 p o p u l a r , ” The film McRae said. will be di“I think that rected by Linda Goldstein the more publicity it gets, Knowlton, who is part of the and the more visibility it Ruby Films crew, and will gets, the more people will be feature students from the helped by it. It really is an four schools who were Get amazing thing for self conLit finalists. fidence.”
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I look forward to learning a lot in this new opportunity. That said, I have been at Harvard-Westlake for 11 years, and I’m proud of our programs, love our community and will miss my colleagues and students dearly. —Melissa Strong World Languages Department Chair
and look at the publications department as a whole.” Dohr will leave school in June to found Beacon School for Boys, a middle and high school without religious affiliation. She said that she plans to open the school in the fall of 2016. Angle said Dohr has inspired her to focus less attention on the curriculum and more on the act of teaching and on the individual student. After teaching English at Harvard-Westlake for 18 years, Angle understands the program and is confident that she can lead the department. “Ms. Dohr had us focus a lot on our teaching process and practices, so I definitely want to continue with that and push our department to experiment, take more risks and try new things,” Angle said. “I’ve always been very interested in making some
CARMEN LEVINE/CHRONICLE
READY TO SLAM: A small film crew from Ruby Films interviews Jensen McRae ’15 about the impact of slam poetry on the lives of high school students. Harvard-Westlake came in third place in this year’s Classic Slam finals.
Alum returns for 31st season of ‘Survivor’ in Cambodia By Jonathan Seymour
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changes to our book selection.” Strong will join Viewpoint School as Assistant Head of the Middle School. “I look forward to learning a lot in this new opportunity,” Strong said. “That said, I have been at Harvard-Westlake for 11 years, and I’m proud of our programs, love our community and will miss my colleagues and students dearly.” Jurado said that he knows that he will face many challenges in the future, but is confident that he is surrounded by teachers who will support him and the students. “My main goal for the first year is to make sure we continue on the current track that we’re on,” he said. “I would like to improve some elements of our teacher observation and feedback process and expand our access and communication exchanges with schools outside of the U.S.”
the show’s commercial breaks, host Jeff Probst announced the Alumnus Stephen Fishbach link to a CBS online poll that ’97 was one of the 20 former listed the names of 32 former contestants on the reality show contestants. “Survivor” voted Wednesday He said that the 10 men night to return as a contestant and the 10 women with the on the show’s 31st season, most votes would be given a “Survivor: Cambodia – Second second chance to compete for Chance,” according to a CBS the $1 million prize that awaits entertainment press release. the winner of “Survivor.” Fishbach was the runner- Fishbach was one of the 16 up on “Survivor: male contestants Tocantins — The listed in the poll. Brazilian Highlands”, At the end of the the show’s 18th season, live finale of the 30th making it to the finale season May 20, after before losing to J.T. this season’s winner Thomas, who won in a was crowned, unanimous jury vote. Probst announced Fishbach was a that after two fan-favorite on his weeks of voting, he CBS Studios first season and was would reveal the 20 Stephen nicknamed by his winners of the poll, Fishbach ’97 fellow contestants as who would leave the “The Wizard” for his finale immediately strategic play. by bus to begin filming for next “Survivor” is a reality season. television show in which Fishbach, who has been contestants are placed in a blogging about “Survivor” for remote location and compete People.com since competing each week to remain in on “Tocantins,” won the poll the game. Contestants are for the men and left on the eliminated by vote and the last bus with the rest of the newlycontestant wins $1 million. announced cast. He is currently Two weeks ago, during one of filming in Cambodia.