Inklings 2023 Breaking Barriers Supplement

CONT ENTS

Staples High School

70 North Avenue

Westport, CT 06880

Psychological Barriers

3 Students learn to cope with mental health

A Staples student demonstates coping mechanisms for dealing with mental health.

4 School support systems discuss vital role in student well-being

Several Staples support systems answer questions regarding mental health.

Cultural Barriers

5 New student procedure lacks information

Ava Coyle ’25 advocates for new Staples students.

6 Foreign trips provide meaningful cultural and educational experiences

Staples run foreign trips and offer students a deeper insight into different cultures

Academic Barriers

7Clubs strive to bridge gap

Take a look into Staples’ clubs that have created diverse community bonds.

8-9 Wynston Browne flourishes with spelling board

Browne ’25 discovers spelling board to accommodate the challenges of Apraxia and autism.

More About Us

Political Barriers

10 Staples clubs demonstrate civility

Learn about how Staples clubs bring politics and civility together.

11 Politically diverse homes

During a politically divided time, Conn stays positive and gives advice on how to approach political differences.

Societal Barriers

12 Girls’ Rugby

The girls’ rugby team has grown and establishes themselves as a team that combats gender barriers.

Inklings Staff

Editors-In-Chief

Lucy Dockter, Julia Herlyn Managing Editors

Talia Moskowitz, Paige Tighe, Talia Varsano

Creative Directors

Mia Bomback, Alex Gaines

Psychological Barriers Editors

Cassidy Gutman, Anna Kercher

Cultural Barriers Editors

Sage Cohen, Olivia Signorile

Academic Barriers Editors

Charlotte Berner, Siena Petrosinelli

Societal Barriers Editors

Audrey Curtis, Lily Hultgren

Political Barriers Editors

Story Ahl, Ava Coyle Advisors

Joseph DelGobbo, Mary Elizabeth Fulco

Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by administration, and does not allow for prior review.

Opinions

The Editorial Board determines editorial opinions that are authored by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.

Advertisements

Inklings News reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health.

Membership

Inklings News is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

The decisions of Inklings News and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex,religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

Front cover photo by Preston Siroka ’25 Cover design by Mia Bomback ’25 and Alex Gaines ’25

Psychological Barriers

Students learn to cope with mental health through communication, acceptance

Phoebe Miller ’23 Associate Managing Editor *Name has been changed to protect anonymity

As her fingers slide across her phone, the colored squares move perfectly into place. *Sara feels momentary relief, if only for an instant.

Sara is a Staples junior who struggled with her mental health and finding ways to cope with her feelings. There are numerous ways that individuals can cope with their mental health. However, one of the things that she found she likes to do is play puzzles on her phone, such as Block Puzzle and Ilovehue, as outlets when she is under stress.

“I was very much in control of all of the pieces coming together,” she said. “It also just builds confidence in yourself that you’re able to kind of take control again.”

Sara was diagnosed with clinical depression around the time COVID-19 began and feels that the loneliness of quarantine exacerbated her symptoms.

“I struggled a lot with maintaining relationships and being productive, and kind of just motivating myself to do anything, like social or even school work and things like that,” Sara said.

Melissa Sportini, a Staples licensed master social worker and Teen Talk counselor from Kids in Crisis, said there are an infinite number of ways to deal with mental health. These vary from unhealthy and healthy.

“Life can be stressful so it’s important to be aware of the individual ways we cope with life’s challenges,” Sportini said. “Our coping mechanisms can have a direct effect on our mental health and our ability to tolerate distressing emotions.”

Coping mechanisms are ways that people deal with heavy feelings of stress, according to Sportini. They provide individuals a way to adjust to challenges they may be facing.

Before Sara learned of more positive coping mechanisms, she struggled with feeling in con trol of her life and began to rely on more destructive ways to deal with her emotions.

“I used to think that further isolating myself to focus on myself was a good way for me to cope,” Sara said. “I kind of just thought, ‘Oh I need to take time for myself,’ and then in that time for myself, I just wasn’t able to bring myself to do anything, or to take care of myself, so it was kind of like just fueling the fire.”

It is common for people, especially young adults, to want to be alone when dealing with mental health issues. However, there are better ways for one to deal with their emotions.

“[A person can] put on lotion that smells good, spend time in nature, take a bath, drink tea or take care of [their] body in a way that makes [them] feel good,” Sportini said, “such as painting your nails, doing your hair, putting on a face mask.”

But one of the most simple yet effective ways for someone

to cope with issues they are dealing with is to talk to someone else. This is something that both Sportini and Sara agree Gen-Z has done a good job at: reducing the stigma of a topic that was previously viewed as taboo.

“People understand that it’s not just an emotional thing, it’s not just a phase, it’s an actual illness,” Sara said. “More people are becoming more comfortable talking about it.”

Sportini works with students at Staples every day to provide free, confidential counseling services. “In my role, I have the privilege to see students make meaningful changes every day to improve their mental health,” Sportini said. “I am awed by my students’ efforts and commitment to improving their ability to cope with life’s challenges.”

While beginning the mental health recovery journey can be difficult and intimidating, Sara believes that starting small can provide a clearer path to recovery, so healthy coping mechanisms are utilized, rather than harmful ones.

“Take a step back and calm down [...] try and find what they need right in that moment, do they need to go and talk to someone, do they need physical touch,” Sara said. “Start slow, start in the moment, and then start working towards ways to pick themselves back up.”

Graphic by Jordy Greenspan ’24

Q & A

School support systems discuss vital role in student well-being

Ava Cordella ’24 Opinions Editor

High school can be a challenging time for students as they tackle academic pressure and social and emotional changes. Luckily, Staples is equipped with faculty who are highly willing and qualified to support students in any area they may need. Guidance counselor Deborah Slocum, nurse Kristen McGrath and social worker Kathryn Brown provide insight towards coping mechanisms.

Q: How do you support students at Staples?

McGrath: We try to support students at Staples by providing a safe space to come to if they need to rest and regroup. We can also lend an ear and help them work through something whether it is academic, physical, social or emotional.

Slocum: SHS counselors focus on three domains: academic, college/career and social-emotional [...]. Counselors also attend 504, IEP and response to intervention meetings to support students who are struggling or have an identified disability.

Brown: The majority of my time is spent meeting with students for counseling sessions to help support them with any stressors they may be experiencing.

Q: Why do you find it important for students to seek help when they need it?

McGrath: It is important for all people to seek help when they feel they need it rather than try to push through something. Often there are easier solutions. [...] It’s okay to ask for help. In fact, sometimes just talking about an issue can make it seem much smaller.

Slocum: Nothing is more important than a student’s well-being. [...] The most important message is that if a student is concerned about themselves or a friend, there are resources available and we encourage them to reach out to their individual counselor or stop by the Counseling Suite as a starting point.

Brown: If a student is willing to seek support when things start to become difficult or overwhelming, it can prevent a manageable challenge from having a more significant negative effect on academics, personal life, family life, etc. We are all here to support students, and we want to hear from you if you’re struggling.

Kristen McGrath - Nurse

Deborah Slocum - Guidance Counselor

Kathryn Brown - Social Worker

Photo by Zoe Alpert ’25

Photo by Anna Kercher ’25

Photo by Cassidy Gutman ’25

Cultural Barriers

New student procedure lacks genuinely useful information

As I got ready for my first day at Staples, I had a pit in my stomach full of worry, excitement and unanswered questions. As everyone was in the company of their friends, I felt like an outsider on my first day at a new school.

I am no stranger to picking up my life and starting all over in a different setting. I have moved schools six times and now have it down to a sci-

ence. But this time, even as a seasoned new kid, I could have used more support from the administration in order to help me adjust to my new environment.

Having lived in Europe for many of my formative years, moving to a big, American high school was definitely a culture shock. Navigating high school while trying

to adapt to the new behaviors at Staples took a long time. Had the school helped to find someone I could connect with and seek out for help,

my integration to this school could have been far easier.

Staples conducted a new student orientation and a freshman orientation. While I went to both, I found they lacked information about how to find your classes, clubs and sports you could join to make friends, as well as how to use the Saturn app.

Going from a school with 40 kids per grade to a school with 500 kids per grade was an enormous change. It was chal lenging to find friends who I connected with and shared the same interests with. I had to in troduce myself to everyone and put myself out there, which is expected, but still difficult.

The school should im plement a club where a group of new students all come together and introduce themselves. Even if the students do not end up be coming friends, it

would bridge the gap between new students from all over the world and allow for the opportunity to spot a friendly face in the hallways. In addition, if the school had introduced the new students to their future teachers, it would have helped greatly on the first day of school.

Freshman year was definitely tough. Ultimately, I had to step out of my comfort zone to find my way around, which made me more resilient and flexible in the face of adversity. However, I would have felt more integrated into the school community, and more united with my peers, had the school offered more help.

Had the school helped to find someone I could connect with and seek out for help, my integration to this school could have been far easier.

Photo dramatization by Poppy Harrington ’25

Ava Coyle ’25 Opinion Editor

Photo by Zoe Alpert ’25

LARGE SCHOOL Ava moved from a school in Europe with 40 kids per grade to a school with 500 kids per grade which left her feeling out of place without proper support.

“The biggest challenge would have been finding someone to communicate with at the school for basic questions about how Staples operate.”

“I had a great amount of support when I moved to Staples from both my teachers and friends.”

Foreign trips provide meaningful cultural, educational experiences

Ella Shi ’23 Managing Editor

Students sit in their first period Spanish class, admiring the culture of Spain through photos in textbooks or projected on a SmartBoard: of tapas, bullfighting and elegant cathedrals. They imagine themselves standing on the cobblestone steps of the Alhambra or tasting the jamón de serrano.

But at Staples, students have been able to turn their travel dreams into a reality as Staples offers trips to foreign nations such as Spain, Panama, Canada and more. The goal: immerse students in a new culture while providing educational meaning.

Jack Whittle ’23 attended the 2022 Spain tour this past April. He and a group of juniors and seniors toured major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, visiting popular tourist sights.

“Being in a foreign coun-

try where they speak a different language, it really forces you to adapt,” Whittle said. “The best way to learn is by applying your skills.”

They also got to experience a more nuanced aspect of Spanish culture.

“We were there for a traditional Easter procession,” Whittle said. “So it was really interesting to see life in Spain versus life back in the States.” More tours are upcoming. In 2023, trips to Germany, Canada and Panama will be held. Some trips are even planned for 2024, including a STEM trip to Ecuador/Galapagos.

Science teacher Dominick Messina is one of the teachers attending the STEM Panama trip—facilitated by EF tours—along with 13 students.

“The purpose of the trip is to explore different cultures, ecosystems, engineering marvels (such as the Panama Canal) and conservation efforts that are underway to preserve the beautiful

world we live in,” Messina said. “My hope is that students become inspired by what they see abroad and also get some experiences that will last a lifetime.”

While science is the main focus of the trip, there will be a balance between learning STEM and learning about the culture.

“We are also going to have some time getting to know the local communities and having traditional Panamani an dinner and entertainment. The main benefit of partnering with an experienced tour com pany like EF tours is that they set up and facilitate a mean ingful, well-rounded itinerary.”

Tavan Bhatia ’23, a stu dent attending the Panama trip, looks forward to this unique chance that offers a variety of learning opportunities.

“I can never imagine having this opportunity again to take a unique vacation and explore a

passion for science through the lens of the environment,” Bhatia said. “I’m not going in with any expectations or specific things to learn about the culture. I’m just looking to take in anything I can and try and see a new perspective of a day-to-day life.”

My hope is that students become inspired by what they see abroad and also get some experiences that will last a lifetime.”

- science teacher Dominick Messina

Graphic by Alex Gaines ’ 25

Graphics by Shivali Kanthan ’24 Photos contributed by Artison Liu ’23

WITNESSING HISTORY Max Ardrey ’23 and Artison Liu ’23 along with their group attend the largest women’s soccer game in history where Barcelona defeats Wolfsburg.

STUDENT EXPLORATION Group of students tour the Alhambra, a fortress located in Granada, Spain.

Academic Barriers

Clubs strive to bridge gap between communities, build appreciation for diversity

Paige Miller ‘24 News Editor

Fostering a variety of unique academic clubs, Staples allows students to connect with communities outside of their usual reach. Participation in these clubs can hone communication skills, promote creative thinking and diversify relationships between peers.

American Sign Language

Started last year by co-presidents Tessa Cassell ’24 and Talia Moskowitz ’24, the American Sign Language (ASL) club is designed to teach basic ASL through video and picture lessons. In addition to educating students on basic signing skills, the club spreads awareness and knowledge of the deaf community. Casell and Moskowitz are eager to share the significant impact of learning ASL with their peers.

“Everyone should have some understanding of sign language skills,” Cassell said. “The ASL club not only teaches sign language but encourages partnership and communication skills through its inclusive and fun environment.”

Educate the Elementary

Educate the Elementary is a club promoting positive diversity teachings for elementary school students. Every month, members will choose books to read and record based on that national month’s topic, such as Women’s History Month, Pride month and more. Then the recordings are sent via flipgrid to Westport elementary schools. President Anya Nair ’24 started the club in 2020, as she felt diverse education for younger ages had been lacking in past years.

“Educate the Elementary is a great way to make an impact in our community as well as make an impact for K-fifth graders,” Nair said. “It gives the younger generation a more accurate world view.”

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code (GWC) creates a community for females and non binary people to learn and engage with coding and computer science. The club utilizes various programming languages to code specialized projects, participate in coding-related volunteer opportunities and compete in coding competitions such as FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Hackathon and more. Co-presidents Sharmila Green and Rhea Choudhury share a passion for fostering an inclusive community for others who share an interest in coding and computer science programs.

“We try to cultivate a supportive community to get more girls involved,” Green said. “Anyone can join—experience or knowledge doesn’t matter, as long as you want to learn to code and help diversify the tech industry.”

Scan this code for an informational video about GWC:

Graphics by Mia Bomback ’25 and Alex Gaines ’25

Graphic by Siena Petrosinelli ’25

SPREADING AWARENESS President Anya Nair ’24 and other club members read “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman, to educate elementary students about self empowerment.

Photo contributed by Anya Nair ’24

Wynston Browne flourishes with spelling board, transcends communication gap

Mia Bomback ‘25 Paper News Editor

Imagine what it would be like to have a thousand thoughts swarming around your head without the ability to voice them. For 14 years, this is what life was like for Wynston Browne ’25, the science-loving, basketball-playing boy with Apraxia and autism.

Apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by an inability to speak or perform skilled movement despite having the desire and physical capacity to do so. Although little is known about this condition, it is estimated that as many as one to 10 children in every 1,000 suffer from Apraxia; for every 1000, one to 10 are trapped inside their own mind, with thousands of thoughts to express and no means to express them. Still, hope remains.

A world of communication recently opened at Browne’s

fingertips. Up to a year ago, Browne was restricted in his ability to communicate. Much of his young life was spent in virtual isolation: observing, hearing and seeing so many goings-on in his life, but not being able to take part in any of it.

All of this changed for Browne when his family discovered a new device that could aid in speech disorder treatment: the spelling board, a piece of paper containing letters and numbers to which Browne points. In the spring of 2021, Browne began training on the spelling board under the tutelage of his longtime behavioral therapist Elisa Feinman, seeing astonishing results. Within months, the formerly non-speaking teen was finally able to lend his thoughts and ideas to the world. For the closeknit Browne family, this was transformative, emotional and overwhelming. To finally be

able to communicate with Browne was a dream come true, one they never thought possible.

“Before I learned how to use the spelling board, I felt isolated because only a few people understood me,” Browne said, eagerly pointing to each letter of the phrase on his spelling board. “Now I am excited to use the board to talk to everybody.”

Browne’s communication journey began by answering basic multiple choice reading comprehension questions with the spelling board. In a matter of months, he could eloquently express complex open-ended dialogue. For years, Browne had longed to show his parents how much he truly loved them. On Father’s Day of 2021, he finally had the chance. He spelled out a card to his dad.

“I like to give my dad hugs,” the card reads. It remains proudly hung on the family’s refrigerator to this day.

Since learning to utilize the spelling board, Browne has taken classes, both in person at Staples and online independently. He has shown impressive development, picking up on sophisticated academic concepts. He finished with an A in his biology class and developed a love for science, a passion that inspired him to think about his future career.

“I want to be a neuroscientist so I can help other people like me,” he said.

For years, Browne has battled biting stigmas from class-

mates who have struggled to look beyond his disability. As he reflects on his future at Staples, he wants nothing more than to connect with his peers, to feel as though he belongs and maybe even enjoy a lunch date or two.

While the spelling board has given him a means of communication with fellow students, he still feels like an outsider in his own community.

“I wish to be included more and make new friends,” he said.

Even before learning to use the spelling board, Browne has always had a built-in best friend in his brother, Harrison Browne ’24.

Harrison has supported his brother throughout his journey and is proud of all he has accomplished.

“He’s able to get his thoughts out more and he enjoys learning more,” he said.

Wynston enjoys going to the Y to play basketball with his brother nearly every day. With his older sister, Sevie Browne ’19, he enjoys listening to her sing and play guitar. Prior to last year, each song, meal, hug and high-five was his only means of communicating to his siblings what he couldn’t actually say: “I love you.”

Now, he can.

I want to be a neuroscientist so I can help other people like me.”

- Wynston Browne '25

Graphic by Maya Hruskar ’23

BOARD BREAKS BARRIERS The spelling board was created in the 1980s to help people, including Wynston Browne ’25, who uses his spelling board to enhance conversation.

FATHER’S DAY COLLABORATION Elisa Feinman, behavorial therapist, aides Browne in his communication. Feinman helped deliver Browne’s heartfelt Father’s day card.

BUILT-IN BEST FRIEND Harrison Browne ’24 and Wynston (top left), have a strong bond. Wynston and Harrison consider each other as built-in best friends.

Photos contributed by Browne family

ACADEMIC BREAK THROUGH Wynston gains stronger connections with peers through the use of his spelling board that helps him manage his diagnoses of Apraxia and autism.

Political Barriers

Staples clubs demonstrate civility in politics

Henry Watson ’25 News Editor

In recent years, members of both major political parties in the United States have increasingly leveled blame against the other for the nation’s issues. If one were to turn on CNN or Fox News, they would be bombarded with anchors calling out politicians and analysts revealing their personal feelings on divisive issues.Though it seems the political divide is only growing nationwide; some political clubs at Staples have dedicated themselves to attempting to bridge political differences and to bring people together regardless of their political views.

Your Vote Matters (YVM) Debate Club

Students can learn about local elections, become civically engaged and have the opportunity to volunteer at a polling place. They also meet with local government officials to discuss election procedures and laws that impact the local community.

“Our club is working to inspire learning through greater civic engagement and knowledge of elections and candidates and we provide an environment where every student can put aside their political ideas and instead focus on exploring the complexity of American democracy. It’s important for all Wreckers to know and to learn how to make their vote matter.”

“JSA acts as a safe space for people of all political backgrounds to find common ground, learn from others and voice their beliefs. This is crucial to the civic engagement of our youth because if students can’t express their opinions in an open-minded setting, there is no place for them to learn and ‘break barriers’ through bipartisan cooperation.”

Junior State of America (JSA)

Students practice political debate and civic engagement on local, state and national levels. Each region of the nationwide organization holds yearly conventions where students have the opportunity to debate over peer-written legislation that attempt to mitigate political controversies and every week the club gathers to allow for civil discourse.

Students engage in thoughtful, respectful and inclusive discussions about various contemporary issues while developing vital public speaking and argumentative skills. Members are encouraged to join monthly tournaments held by the Connecticut Debate Association, where participants can discuss what resolution the Association should adopt in response to a modern issue.

“The majority of our polarization stems from a lack of understanding where both Republicans and Democrats end up attacking the person and not the stance. By helping people become better debaters, we can understand the argument while not having to resort to attacking the person and their beliefs.”

Graphics by Mia Bomback ’25 & Mischael Gill ’23

- Spencer Yim ’23, YVM President

- Maia Gubitz ’24, JSA President

- James Cao ’23, Debate Club President

Photos by Alina Gurevich ’25 & Caitlin Jacob ’24

Politically diverse home expands political empathy, perspective

Hannah Conn

Web Managing Editor

and recent Supreme Court rulings have caused terse conversations and stale moods. However, considering all I have gained from my family’s situation, I am grateful for the discourse.

My family is diverse in many ways: our hair colors, our movie requests on movie nights, our pizza topping preferences, but most of all, we find ourselves in a divided house regarding our political opinions. When there are elections in the nation, active Supreme Court cases or social issues in the media, the political diversity of my family is made clear.

Sometimes, the mix of opinions can cause clashes between us. The 2016 and 2020 presidential debates, elections

Political conversations with my family have opened my eyes to be equally understanding and critical of all political views in America. I consider both sides, perhaps even a third, before I declare my perspective on any matter. I consult my parents and learn about their experiences on the topic to get real-world stories. Because of my family, my political perspective has grown naturally with influence and consideration from both sides of the aisle.

In such a divided time, I have especially appreciated my divided family because it has

provided me with an incredible perspective on the world around me. More than just bolstering my political opinion, being exposed to various opinions has enabled me to become open-minded and understanding. I have learned not to jump to conclusions about the people around me despite the labels placed on them by society.

Not all conserva-

tives are evil and not all liberals are unhinged socialists - though I know that can be a hard pill to swallow for some. While the division in the country is not surprising, it can be very disheartening and painful for our society. It is hard to come together when each party is absorbed in defending their beliefs by attacking others’.

Many people enter political conversations, believing that the other is there to fight them on a topic, instead of coming to the table with an open mind and ready to converse peacefully. One of my favorite pastimes is to sit down with people, learn about their lives and how specific circumstances have impacted the growth of their political views. With just a simple conversation, I can find myself immensely more able-minded politically, as I consider opposing viewpoints when considering my own. This process is something I recommend everyone has these kinds of conversations. Regarding the political divide in our society, if we tried to understand each other and bridged the gap with humanitarian empathy rather than just spitting criticism at the opposing position, we could progress easily into the future as a connected society.

’23

Not all conservatives are evil and not all liberals are unhinged socialists.

Societal Barriers

tackles

barrier of male-dominated sport

Genevieve Frucht ’24 News Editor

With the program only being announced in 2019, girls’ rugby has already tackled the stigma that rugby is a male-only sport. For the 2023 season, the Staples girls’ rugby team will be combined with Wilton High School in order to give girls throughout Fairfield county the ability to play.

Staples has broken a major gender barrier by forming a girls’ rugby team. It is not a common sport for schools in Fairfield Country to offer to girls. Natasha Malino ’24 began playing rugby her freshman year. At that time there were only nine girls on the team, which later dropped to seven.

“When we play games, I feel we play against the same four to five-ish schools because it is not very common at many high schools for girls to play,” Malino said. “Even if a school offers it, not many girls are willing to play.”

Coach Jane Kim believes that because Staples does not yet have enough players for a full team, the school’s openness to combine with other schools has

been crucial to form a team with an adequate number of girls to play.

“A sports conference doesn’t grow overnight - it takes several schools to pool resources and sometimes stitch and duct-tape teams across the state to get games and awareness in the community,” Kim said. “Fortunately, unlike some other schools, Staples understands that new sports need grassroots support and flexibility to increase participation.”

The presence of the accomplished Staples boys’ rugby team has allowed the girls team to practice playing 15’s, where there are 15 players on either side of the ball playing an 80 minute game. Captain Parker Pretty’s ’23 goal for the upcoming season is to have 20-25 girls on the team and match the number of boys that play on the field at one time.

“I think the fact that we warm up and do preseason with the boys allows us to raise ourselves to a higher level,” Pretty said, “especially when we don’t have the numbers to do it properly yet on our own.”

Rugby is often seen as a brutal sport, which is one reason it is hard to attract enough

girls to make a full team.

“Most people have the idea of [rugby] being a very rough sport,” Pretty said. “And while that is true, the Staples program makes sure to properly train and prepare all of their players before letting them step into a real game.”

With Kim’s coaching and playing experience, the girls on the team have learned how to tackle in practice and in games.

“When game time

gain the confidence to run hard and go into tackles to fight for the ball,” Kim said. “Then they have the biggest grin on their faces when they realize that they have what it takes to sprint down the field to score and take down a girl one-on-one.”

During their first game against Darien in Spring 2021, the girls’ team decided to wear eye black, often worn by mens sports teams, as a symbol of team spirit. This created a bond between

and Darien, who were also excited to take part in the eye black.

“After the first half, two Darien players ran over to compliment the girls on the eye-black, and then asked if they could borrow some so they could wear it too,” Kim said. “After the game, the teams clapped each other off and then selected an opponent from each team that they wanted to honor for playing a great game, and then we took a group photo to celebrate the competition.”

Even if a school offers it, not many girls are willing to play.”

- Natasha Malino ’24

CAPTAINS Jeni von Bartheld ’23 (left) and Parker Pretty ’23 (right) lead this year’s girls’ rugby team. Von Bartheld is playing her fourth season of rugby and Pretty has been playing since February 2022.

Photo by Preston Siroka’25

comes around, fight-or-flight kicks in, and suddenly the girls to Staples

GraphicbySienaPetrosinelli’25

IN ACTION The team warms up before their games against New Haven and Trumbull during their spring 2022 season.

OFFENSE The rugby team moves up the field in an attempt to score against New Haven.

DEFENSE Players tackle a Darien player a game where Darien won with a score of 31-10.

Barrier Break Down

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Graphic by Mia Bomback ‘25

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