Volume CXI Issue 10

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The Parker Weekly, Page 1

The Parker Weekly Class Day

Volume CXI, Issue 10

June 9, 2022

DEI IN REVIEW

Parker Continues Work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; DEI Director Hire and Strategy Plan Postponed to 2022-23

By Arjun Kalra and Tess Wayland

I

President Sam Graines delivers her inagural address.

Photo courtesy of Ivy Jacobs.

EMBRYONIC DEMOCRACY AT WORK

Student Body Elects New Officials n a flurry of QR code campaign posters, PandaExpress-tinged debates, and Tootsie Roll peltings during speeches – the student body elected its Student Government officials for the 2022-23 school year. The 2022 election season marked the first in-person Democrafest since 2019.

Rising senior Samantha Graines took the Presidential title after a close race between Jack Kahan and Mortimer Buckley. Rising juniors Naomi Gross, Arjun Kalra, Sarah Mathews, and Harry Lowitz stand as Parker’s new senate heads. With Gray Joseph as the new treasurer and Rania Jones as the new Director of Committee Affairs, Parker’s elected Cabinet officials for the 2022-2023 school year are sealed.

Eight of the 15 committees underwent a run-off vote. A run-off occurs when one group doesn’t win by a margin of more than 50% of the vote.

“It was a fun experience running this year as there was a lot of competition and cool post-

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2022 SOFTBALL SEASON A HIT

ers,” sophomore Ethan Dennis, a newly-elected Film Committee Head, said. “The run-off was stressful for everyone, but it definitely wasn’t unexpected.”

Appointed positions were released on May 26. Elected Cabinet officials read over the applications and conducted interviews for finalists.

“It was a really long and thoughtful process, especially because you have to be thinking about the applicants both in their positions and as members of Cabinet,” Gross said.“We read through the applications, discussed each and every decision, and came up with a group who we think will be incredibly successful. I’m super excited about this group and all that we can accomplish!”

Sarah Mathews, a rising junior and a part of the newlyelected Senate group said that she is “so grateful that we get to run senate next year and be part of so many conversations.” Their hope for Senate next year is to “make Senate even more exciting, mean-

By Mikhail Satchu

The softball teams shows team spirit after the playoff win against Noble Street Charter on May 16. Photo courtesy of Alex Ostrom.

O

n May 16, the Francis W. Parker girls softball team reached the semi-finals of the IHSA playoffs after winning against Noble Street Charter in the quarterfinals. Less than a week earlier, the team won against Latin. These wins marked a historic moment for the team.

The softball team, which is only eight years old, has faced struggles with building the program through the coronavirus pandemic as well as gaining the attention that other older teams at Parker have. This year, however, they are a program that has

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violent racist statement online will not return to Parker. The investigation found no active threat of violence, after asking that student to stay off campus the previous week and increasing security at County Fair in response to safety concerns.

“I am someone who really is not shy about saying the areas of schools that needs to be worked upon, even if I'm a leader of that school,” Assistant Principal Priyanka Rupani said, “so this, to me, is just another reminder, a pretty intense reminder, that we've got more than we need to do in preparing our young people before they leave Parker around equity, justice, and belonging.”

“Part of that is knowing that no place is perfect,

A Look Into The Growing Athletic Program

By Riya Jain

I

n May 2020, Parker scrolled through stories of racism, sexism, classism, and marginalization on @fwpanonymous, an account that paralleled other accounts across the country. In May 2021, families received an email with the subject line “A Message from the Principal Regarding Racism and Hate Speech.” Black students in the seventh grade were identified by name and called racist slurs by an anonymous student on Snapchat. In May 2022, another email: “Regarding an Incident of Online Racist Hate Speech.”

Another email came on June 3: “Community Update.” After an investigation into the anti-Black hate speech incident, the student who made the

Castaldi page 4

grown massively, and they have really made a name for themselves. Part of this growth came from PE teacher Madeline Maldonado, who came to Parker this year to teach and coach.

“I'm super proud of the team. Hearing about the history and coming in as the new head coach, we had a lot of work to do,” Maldonado said “I am proud of them because they all worked hard at the beginning of the season and dedicated their work to their goals throughout the season.”

Softball co-captain junior Samantha Graines credits this year’s success to Maldonado. “The biggest difference was coach Maldonado. She shared her experience and knowledge to help us succeed.”

Maldonado played Division Three softball for four years while at Kenyon College.

Graines has been a member of the softball team for three years. As an experienced member of the team, Graines has advice for younger classmen: “Work hard and results will come. Trust in the other teammates and the coaches. You can play different positions so you can find ways you are good at.”

Maldonado noticed that the team spirit was really there this year. “We started to get into advanced knowledge of the game. The team has grown in that way,” Maldonado said. “The way we have structured the team in practice and stayed serious. The captains did a good job to bring the team together. They learned how to get along with the

Continued on page 13 Sabir page 5

Alabama page 6

Promposals page 12

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The Parker Weekly

staff

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Online Editor Online Editor News Editor Features Editor Opinions Editor Photo Editor Columnist Columnist Columnist Columnist Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Sports Correspondent Political Liaison Political Liaison Culture Critic Culture Critic

Jacob Boxerman Emma Manley Tess Wayland Sofia Brown Max Keller Sophia Rosenkranz Samantha Graines Eden Stranahan Alya Satchu Caroline Skok Tara Cochrane Naomi Gross Arjun Kalra Eli Moog Riya Jain Benjamin Kagan Harry Lowitz Lucy Wrubel Eli Greenwald Alex Fidler Benjamin Kagan Sadie Gallagher Lucy Wrubel

“The Weekly” is supported by an endowment created in memory of Brad Davis ’98

“Weekly” Staff ’96-’98, “Weekly” Editor-in-Chief ’97-’98

The Editorial Board of “The Parker Weekly” consists of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, News Editor, Features Editor, Opinions Editor, and Online Editors.

writers Jacob Boxerman ‘22 Tara Cochrane '22 Emma Manley ‘22 Eli Moog ‘22 Tess Wayland ‘22 Samantha Graines ‘23 Rania Jones '23 Alya Satchu ‘23

Eden Stranahan ‘23 Lucy Wrubel ‘23 Naomi Gross ‘24 Riya Jain ‘24 Arjun Kalra '24 Harry Lowitz ‘24 Annabel McIntosh '25 Mikhail Satchu ‘25

contributing faculty Faculty Advisor

Kate Tabor

Faculty Advisor

Eric Rampson

quote of “The Weekly” "Diehard."

Jake Boxerman, confidently answering the trivia question "What movie has the characters Hans, Kristoff, and Elsa?"

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Letters From The Editors

Hi everyone,

from JET

We may or may not be holding back tears writing this.

We’ve had such fun and grown so much as your 2021-22 Editors-inChief. “The Weekly” has been a home at Parker and we could not be more excited to pass off that key to the incisive and kind Harry, Alya, and Eden.

We brought the paper out of COVID-19 and back into print, focusing on consistent writers and insistent reporting to stabilize “The Weekly” for another century to come. It was our honor to work with Upper School Head Mr. Arnold to end prior review, reaffirming “The Weekly” as more than a school entity, but an accurate and honest record of Francis Parker.

It’s our belief that the sincerest form of community love is showing that community what it truly is so it can do better. And also, showing that community the joys of Adobe Hebrew, our new font this year. Jake is grateful to everyone who noticed this ‘drastic’ rebrand.

A note on this issue: we made the decision to move the matriculation list off of The Backpage and decided to highlight the future journeys of the senior class there instead. You’ll also find a new way to celebrate our graduates — we collected farewell messages from seniors to share with you on pages 16 and 17.

A final thank you to our supportive faculty advisors, dedicated staff, readers, backpage-only browsers, and all the teachers who let us crash their classrooms during lunch. We’ll be stalking “The Weekly” website next year :) We’re leaving on a JET plane, Jacob Boxerman, Emma Manley, and Tess Wayland

Have something to say about what was published in this issue of “The Weekly”? Email our Managing Editor at mkeller@fwparker.org and write a Letter to the Editors to be published in our next issue!

from HAE

Here's to the end of the school year! As the seniors march on the bright turf field of June with bagpipes playing, let us celebrate 11 wonderful issues of “The Weekly” and get excited for many more next year. If the paper has shown us one thing in the past year, it has been resilience: resilience through the trials and tribulations of COVID-19, an exciting Student Government election season, international crises, and what feels like a million other eventful moments in and outside of Parker. Through this, “The Weekly” has continued with grace, a testament to the determination of every “Weekly” staff member and especially of this year's Editors-InChief: Emma Manley, Jake Boxerman, and Tess Wayland.

Next year, we vow to continue the paper forward as your 2022-23 schoolyear Editors-In-Chief. The three of us–Harry Lowitz, Alya Satchu, and Eden Stranahan–are most likely too excited to lead your way through another year of collaboration, journalism, pitch meetings, and “Singles of the Weekly” (more on that later). As we faced our first pitch meeting last week, we couldn’t help but feel overwhelming pride and hope for the coalition of writers and staffers whose hands “The Weekly” is now in.

This year, we’ve introduced the role of Food Critic, created a spot specifically aimed to produce FWPTV (a lovely production introduced

by Emma Manley), and assigned a role specifically dedicated to running “The Weekly's” every growing social media platforms. It is our hope you will be able to enjoy and be informed by every piece of work done by those staff members – we have no doubts in our minds that you will.

One of our main goals is to renew “Weekly” topics and sections that we love. Already, we have scoured the archives for popular, yet forgotten ideas. By bringing back these signature features and reinventing them to be even better, we hope to capture reader attention and respark “The Weekly” zeal at Parker.

“The Weekly” will also continue to use its voice in the places it is neede. A major purpose of the paper is to support the community and we plan to consider that as we put together each issue. As with all institutions, “The Weekly” also has work to do to become more inclusive and more progressive. We hope you will stay tuned in as we explore what that means.

We also intend to increase student engagement and interest. We want to report on things that Parker students want to talk about and bring in exciting articles that directly connect to the student-body and their lives.

Throughout our time on staff, we’ve noticed a gravitation of readership towards pieces that speak on topics that affect, engage, and prompt discussion among students.

Another goal is to strengthen “The Weekly” community. We are determined to be hands-on, helpful editors that engage with the staff. We will hold more office hours and other events and to make staffers comfortable with us and one another.

In the next school year, we invite you all to join us in producing and furthering the paper. We look to you all to provide articles, interviews, and feedback. It is our hope in the coming year you will once again submit letters to the editors, write when you feel inspired even if you don't hold a role, and be open to the student journalists who might look to you for quotes and stories. This is our paper, no matter who is officially at our pitch meetings and who is not.

Our ultimate goal is to increase student engagement and create a strong, comfortable community among our staff. We can’t wait for another amazing year for “The Parker Weekly!”

With love and excitement, Harry Lowitz, Alya Satchu, and Eden Stranahan

The Parker Weekly, Page 4

Farewell Faculty

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LONDON CALLING

Lower School

Alexandra Bearman - First Grade Teacher Amy Przygoda - Third Grade Teacher

Meagan Mitchell - Learning Resources Teacher Cathy Davidson - Second Grade Teacher

Middle and Intermediate School Adam Colestock - STEM and Coding Teacher Kathy German - Learning Resources Teacher Edinson Lopez-Flores - Spanish

Upper School Laury Wolf - Math Teacher

Kara Schupp - Science Teacher Betty Lewis - Music Teacher

John Hildreth - Drama Teacher

Yadiner Sabir - Spanish Teacher, Senior Grade Head

Staff

Maggi Steib - Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Giving

Albert Nascimento - Dean of Student Life, MS Rick Dusing - Director of Facolites

Candice Harrison - Business Office Coordinator Karin Nangreave - Controller

Kara Schupp to Teach at The American School of London

By Emma Manley

Rather than being across the science which include biology topics, as well as hallway in her courtyard office, Upper possibly teaching electives on genetics and School science teacher Kara Schupp will evolution. “I was just looking at schools be across the pond in London next year. with a good reputation that were similar Schupp will be a high school biology to Parker because the feeling that Parker teacher at the American School of London is home, and I wanted that to be the case,” (ASL) for the next school year, after teach- Schupp said. ing 10 years at Parker.

While she was browsing the ASL Prior to her five years teaching science website, Schupp noticed an opening for a in the Upper School, Schupp taught biology teacher and decided to apply. She seventh grade biollargely didn’t think ogy at Parker for five the opportu“I am so happy for her about years. Before that, nity until receiving a she also taught in that she's been able to find request for a screenOmaha, Nebraska, ing interview. “It was Los Angeles, and this opportunity that she's kind of fortuitous, Bernard Zell Anshe throwing it to the wanted. She talked about like Emet in Chicago. universe, and then it “I'm going to miss how she wanted to travel worked,” Schupp said. her both as a friend “Before it was just this and as a colleague,” the world and one day possibility.”

Upper School science Schupp received move out of the country, a job teacher and departoffer, even ment chair George so I'm really proud of her before she had told Austin said. “She's her children about been such an inte- that she's been able to do the potential opporgral part of science She was able to that.” – Phoebe Friedman tunity. at Parker, both in the visit London and ASL Middle School and in after the offer, and she the Upper School and met with administrahelping out with other divisions as well.” tion and Science department members Schupp never planned on leaving while she was there. “I'd never even been to Parker prior to her children, who are in 5th London before that,” Schupp said. “Everyand 7th grades, graduating. In the winter thing felt right.” she had COVID-19 and during isolation, Schupp begins her new role on August she began to research schools and update 16 but is unable to enter the UK on a work her resume, with plans to be ready for when visa until August 2. In the meantime, she did want to move on from Parker. “The Schupp and her family are selling their COVID crisis happened, so I said ‘Are home and the majority of their belongyou living your dreams? Are you working ings and visiting family before they move. towards them at least?’” Schupp said.

“What we're looking forward to is just Like Parker, ASL is a K-12 indepen- living more simply, like it's going to be a dent and college preparatory school. smaller flat with just less stuff,” Schupp said.

Schupp will be teaching ninth and tenth “Hopefully we'll do more instead of have grade integrated science classes called “The more.”

Universe - From Atoms to Life” and tenth graders take “Life on a Changing Earth,”

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A SINGING SABBATICAL Emma Castaldi To Take Leave of Absence

By Annabel McIntosh

After four school years of non-stop notes, Upper School choir teacher Emma Castaldi is taking a rest, set to return after a 2022-23 sabbatical.

Castaldi said she made the decision for her family because she doesn’t want to miss out on any important childhood experience for both of her children. She values time spent with her son, Francesco, and in July, she is expecting her second child.

“The choir program is a place where we all know each other so well. It’s a place to be vulnerable, and we are taking risks every day, so it really turns into a family

itself,” Castaldi said. “I get to see all of you uniquely go through your full high school experience.”

Junior Daniel Silets has taken choir all through his high school experience, adding Grape Jam and Vocal Studio this year.

“She is just really good at making connections with her students and making us feel comfortable doing the uncomfortable task of singing in front of people,” Silets said.

The school has not yet chosen her long-term sub, though Castaldi has been hosting sample lessons with potential candidates in Grape Jam, and the Student

Interview Review Board is in the process of holding interviews. Castaldi and her students are also choosing music for next year, as well as planning for important dates and potential concert themes.

“I’m really sad that she’s not going to be there for my senior year because she started my interest in doing more with choir and got me to join Grape Jam and I feel like it comes full circle senior year, that I won’t get to experience with her,” Silets said.

Choral and General Music Teacher Rob Denien, who was involved with hiring Castaldi in 2018, agreed with Silets. “Ms.

Castaldi made Upper School choir a place to be, a space where students didn't only get to share the joy of singing together, but also learned and appreciated how to know, trust, and value one another. Each of her ensembles seemed less like a group of students and more like a family.”

“I'm so excited that Ms. Castaldi will be welcoming a new member to her own growing family at home,” Denien said.

“While she will be so missed, we all wish her the best during her leave and hope to see her back in action soon.”

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Sra. Sabir <3

SABIR SETS OUT

Seven Year Upper School Spanish Teacher Leaves Parker

By Harry Lowitz

“Those are some big shoes to fill,” Upper School Spanish teacher Julia Garner said.

The zapatos grandes in question belong to departing Upper School Spanish teacher, Yadiner Sabir, who has spent the past seven years at Parker. In addition to being a teacher, she has been an advisor, senior grade head, founder of two affinity groups, and a graduation speaker.

At the end of this school year, Sabir will be leaving Parker to pursue other opportunities and take her talents and skills to new environments.

She does not yet have her next job chosen, but she plans on bringing the skills she has gained in her years teaching so far to a new educational organization. “You can’t grow without seeking change,” Sabir said.

“I’m also looking for a community more diverse to a certain extent,” Sabir said. She would like to continue to teach at her next job, with hopes of eventually assuming an administrative leadership position at another institution.

After Sabir received her master’s degree in communications from New Mexico State University, she moved to North Carolina with her husband, who was pursuing his graduate degree. She started teaching at the college level and became a Spanish lecturer at North Carolina State University. Sabir continued to teach college classes when her family moved to Puerto Rico, this time teaching English.

When her family returned to North Carolina, Sabir became an Upper School Spanish teacher at Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina, while also being their cultural exchange coordinator. Her family moved to Chicago in 2015, deciding to raise her then middle schooler and three-year-old children in a city with relatives. Parker came up as Sabir was searching for schools in Chicago and she decided to apply for a position.

“I have had the opportunity to grow a lot as a teacher at Parker and at my former school,” Sabir said. She explained that Cary Academy was a very new school with founding faculty who had more control over which courses they taught. Upon coming to Parker, Sabir was able to teach advanced courses and classes with focuses on Spanish literature.

At Parker, Sabir has also worked on developing language curriculum and aligning it across grade levels to ensure each level of Spanish builds on the previous class. She says that this work utilized her skills gained from working at Cary Academy and at the college level.

In conjunction with Upper School Spanish teacher Julia Garner, Sabir worked on opening up the curricu-

The Parker Weekly, Page 5

lum to include more cultures. “Spanish Four used to be about Spanish Civilization and we talked about Spain,” Sabir said. “We still talk about Spain, but we’re giving voice to the marginalized populations.” Marginalized populations include Sepharic Jews, Spanish Romani, and the history of Muslim Spain.

Sabir’s students are grateful for her teaching style and dedication. “You can tell that she cares a lot about students actually understanding the material,” sophomore Ella Currie said.

After having great experiences connecting with students outside of the classroom as the cultural exchange coordinator at Cary Academy, Sabir wanted to find other community based opportunities at Parker. This urged her to apply to be a senior grade head and start multiple affinity groups at Parker.

“I like to immerse myself in the life of the school or the life of the department,” she said. “It allows me to amplify other voices that I might not have in the classroom.”

Roughly six years ago, Sabir began the Latin American Students Organization (LASO) at Parker and served as their faculty sponsor for several years. Sabir also also assisted in the creation of the Muslim Students Alliance (MSA) and served as their faculty sponsor.

According to MSA head and junior Rania Jones, Sabir will be missed by the organization. Jones said that there are currently no other Muslim teachers in the Upper School.

The graduating Class of 2022 chose Sabir as their graduation speaker.. “I’m very honored and I look forward to sharing with them a reflection and advice about life on graduation day,” Sabir said.

Garner stated that Sabir’s selection by the Class of 2022 is especially significant because it is “very very very rare” for the speaker to be from the foreign languages department.

Sabir has also been a member of the Parker Steering committee, where she has thought critically about how Parker curriculum works and other aspects of student life.

Sabir advisee and junior Kiran Mathew spoke about how Sabir made him feel welcome at Parker when he was a new student. He said that it was “nerve-wracking” coming to Parker but Sabir was very accessible and always ready to give any advice, help, or guidance that he needed.

Mathew said that it was emotional when Sabir announced her departure to her advisory. “She’s always been there, helping me work towards solutions,” he said, “and so I’m very sad to see her go but I’m excited for the cool stuff that she’ll do.”

WHY YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW WHAT MSA MEANS What Mrs. Sabir's Departure Means For Muslim Students

By Rania Jones Parker’s Muslim Students Assoca- pating in Ramadan is a choice.” I bet you tion first banded together when I was a didn’t know that one of my classmates sophmore. There were five members at once said, “Rania, your uncle is a terrorthe time, including me. Yasmeen, Thew- ist.” I bet you didn’t know that there are fic, Nadine, Mrs. Sabir, Mrs. Sabir’s son, still books, conversations, and points and I met once a our curricu" W h e n s h e s a y s in week. Unlike close lum that make the to all other affinity “Salam” to me in the Muslims at Parker groups at Parker, uncomfortable or our agenda was hallways, I know I have my feel forgotten. I bet never robust or you didn’t know people at Parker." extensive. Over the that the first day whole of the 2020of school this past 2021 academic year, the only thing we year was changed because of a Jewish did was make a website on the Uighur holiday. I bet you didn’t even know when Muslims and send it out to the student Ramadan was, despite the fact that it's 31 body. I bet you didn’t click on our link. days long.

I’ve never had Mrs. Sabir for With Mrs. Sabir leaving Parker, Spanish. When I MSA doesn't have first met Mrs. Sabir, faculty advisor.

"With Mrs. Sabir aThere she reminded me of are no more my grandmother. I leaving Parker, MSA Muslim teachers or know now, nearly adminstrators in two years later, doesn't have a faculty the Parker Upper that I just felt more chool. Mrs. advisor. There are no SSabir safe around her was the only than I did most of more Muslim teachers Muslim member of my other teachers. the Upper School She wasn't in my or adminstrators in the Faculty. I’m sure family. She was just isn’t as absurd Parker Upper School." this a member of my to you as it is to me, community, and I, but to put it into a part of hers. When she says “Salam” perspective, next year MSA will either be to me in the hallways, I know I have my the first club in the Upper School without people at Parker. a faculty advisor, or the Muslims Student But she’s leaving. And no, it’s not Alliance will be run by a teacher who isn’t in pursuit of a higher career or change Muslim. in profession. She’s shared with me I can’t help but look to place a blame that a major part of why she's leav- on the Parker administrators for this. ing is the culture at Parker. Our 2021- In a school community that so heavily 2022 academic year in MSA consisted aims to cultivate inclusive and diverse almost entirely of having conversations communities, why was there only one about how the Parker curriculum is fail- Muslim Upper School teacher? Why isn’t ing Muslims. I bet you didn’t know that MSA listed as a Student Affinity Group there’s a teacher who didn’t let a Muslim on the Parker website? Why do we still boy re-schedule his math quiz when he have only five members? was tired and hungry because “partici-

Sabir gives one last smile with her Spanish 5 class. Photo courtesy of Ivy Jacobs.

The Parker Weekly, Page 6

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Civil Rights Trip OFF TO ALABAMA

Juniors and Seniors Embark On A Civil Rights Tour of Alabama

By Alya Satchu Atop a hill overlooking Montgomery, Ala., stands a candid depiction of violence and a space to reflect on historical horrors.

Eight hundred and five steel monuments are suspended from the ceiling, each one representing a U.S. county where a lynching was documented. Walking through the hanging monuments which symbolize coffins, they rise higher and the floor descends lower. Upon reaching the end, they hang high above a waterfall, and observers are provided a space to think, reflect, and quietly discuss.

The National Memorial of Peace and Social Justice is a space for honesty, reconciliation, and acknowledgment. Lying on the grass surrounding the memorial is a replica of each monument inside. If a county proves they have been working to undo injustice and pursue DEI initiatives, they can claim the monument. It will thus be memorialized and presented in their town hall. So far, no county has claimed one.

The memorial was a part of a civil rights field trip touring Alabama. The trip is an extension of Upper School history teacher Andrew Bigelow’s Civil Rights class curricula. It’s offered to Parker juniors and seniors from May 4 to May 7. It offers an in-depth exploration of the modern civil rights movement, and specifically how Alabama was involved in the U.S. Constitution’s development of principles. The group made stops in Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuskegee, and Selma, all notable landmarks of history and struggle for civil rights.

Part of the first stop in Birmingham was the Bethel Baptist Church. The church was home to nonviolent protests for civil rights during the 1950s and 60s. It played a pivotal role in the Freedom Rides in 1961 and the Birmingham battle for desegregation in 1963. The church was bombed by white supremacists three times in ‘50s and ‘60s. The original church was demolished.

The site remains empty as a testament to the tragedy. A block away stands a new church where people can attend service

2022 Alabama Civil Rights trip students and chaperones on the steps of the historic 16th St Baptist Church. Photo courtesy of Emma Manley.

and educate themselves on the civil rights movement.

“That church was bombed all in an attempt to try and quiet people from expressing their civil rights and making a movement that was going to be helpful for the people,” trip chaperone, Parker P.E. teacher, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Terry Davis said. “It’s a very historical church in that sense, it held meeting spaces and it was a place for people to gather and feel support and help one another.”

That same day in Birmingham, students and chaperones met Dr. Reverend Carolyn McKinstry, a direct witness to the 16th Baptist Street Bombing on September 15, 1963. The direct attack by the Klu Klux Klan caused an explosion that killed four girls and injured several others. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described the event as “one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” At the time, McKinstry, a teenager, worked in the building, and knew the girls that died.

“She walked us through what it was like to be a victim of that violence and to see her friends perish and how she lived her life,” Bigelow said. “I remember reading her book years ago. Little did I know we would get to meet her, and she was so wonderful in so many ways.”

After touri ng Bi r m i ng ham , students and chaperones traveled to Selma, Alabama. The group visited the Edmund Pettus Bridge where on March 7, 1965, John Lewis led over 600 marchers. The march was a nonviolent protest for the constitutional right to vote.

Marchers were met and attacked by armed deputies.

Students march up the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. Photo by “For me it was Emma Manley. instantly emotional,”

gee. Students visited various museums and monuments, including the Freedom Rides Museum. It tells the story of the 1961 Freedom Rides: political protests against racial segregation, performed by riding busses throughout the American South.

Davis described the “courage” of those who demonstrated as “impressive”.

“Life for me is about service,” Davis said. “I think we have to serve other people, I think we have to give back, and I think we have to be an example for someone else.

Those people set the standard. A lot of people lost their lives and it was sad and it was very hard to see. But, I am so grateful for the people that took on that challenge for freedom.”

The trip, an educational experience, also provided a “positive” social environment, according to Radis. She “constantly found [herself] laughing” when students would spend time together after tours.

“It was a very unexpected group of students,” Radis said. “We all became very close no matter what grade you were in or who you were friends with before. The trip

Davis said. “I can visualize people interlocking their hands and walking across that bridge. It was powerful. It was amazing to take that walk into history.”

Students and chaperones then traveled a historic route from Selma to Montgomery. In Montgomery, the group visited various locations such as the Rosa Parks Museum and the Alabama State Capitol. In the afternoon, the group visited the home of Dr. Richard Harris Jr., a neighbor to Dr. King.

When King was 26 years old, Harris, a pharmacist and former Tuskege e ai r me n , lived three doors down. Harris used his home to house many The Equal Justice Initiative National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Photo

by Emma Manley.

Freedom Riders after demonstrations. Specifically, the bonded us in a different way.” group met Harris’s daughter, Dr. Valda H. As the trip concluded, students and Montgomery. chaperones faced unexpected flight prob“We walked literally into her family lems. The group arrived at the airport home where they cook, eat, and sleep and a mere ten minutes before departure. met her whole family,” Bigelow said. “She’s Students and chaperones rushed to the telling the story about her dad and at the terminal, but ended up missing all possiend, she told us that she actually was a ble flights for that evening. That evening, part of SNCC (Student National Coordi- students stayed overnight at the airport and nating Committee). That was amazing. I left the following day, which happened to remember [a student] just turning to me be Mother’s Day. Davis used the experias she walked out and she went, ‘that was ence as a lesson for students to respond to awesome.’” a tough situation, especially after learning Senior Ruby Radis described the about traumatic events.

Harris house as “influential.”

“We know life is hard and it’s going “I was able to see a different side of the to come with challenges and difficulties history that I don’t normally learn about,” and you’ve got to be able to make adjustRadis said. “That perspective really opened ments,” Davis said. “This here is just a fork my eyes to how real the movement was at in the road, things happen for a reason in the time.” my opinion. It was a good moment for the After touring Montgomery, students students to pivot and to handle adversity.” traveled to their final location: Tuske-

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Language + Change

The Parker Weekly, Page 7

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATS Freshman Wins Gold In Russian Olympiad

By Emma Manley

Freshman Annoshae Mirza received a gold medal in the ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian) Olympiada of Spoken Russian, a competition which she participated in on May 7.

Mirza completed the Olympiada in Dean of Student Life Joe Bruno’s office, where she had to present for judges via Zoom. While there were some questions she prepared for, the judges also asked questions that she had to answer on the spot. She also had to submit a pre-recorded presentation on Russian area studies, where she talked about landmarks, and literature, where she talked about Russian authors.

Mirza’s interest in Russian began when sixth grade English teacher George Drury gave her poems to read by Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva and other authors as she got more interested in Russian literature.

“It started as a joke like, ‘Oh, why don't I learn Russian’ but then I actually taught myself the script, and I actually started getting really into it and I fell in love with the language learning process,” Mirza said. After watching some YouTube videos she began using the app Babbel to learn and eventually got a tutor. Mirza hopes to become fluent and read Russian literature in Russian that she originally read in

Annoshae Mirza with her ACTR Russian Olympiada gold medal. Photo by Emma Manley.

English.

“I met Annoshae this year when she became my advisee and I learned about her love for languages during that first parent/ student/advisor conference right before the start of the school,” Upper School Spanish teacher Yadiner Sabir said over email.

“Annoshae is also a competitive fencer and we worked together in getting Annoshae a PE exemption. This frees time for Annoshae to dedicate to her study of

other languages. Before Annoshae comes to school every morning, she has already taken a language lesson at home, while most Parker students are still sleeping.”

This Olympiada of Spoken Russian was Mirza’s first language competition, which she decided to do as a way to push herself. “I always love a challenge, especially when it comes to languages,” Mirza said.

As a Spanish teacher, Sabir describes

language learning as “fun” but also “challenging” and “frustrating.” “It is a lot of mental work, and as your brain learns to function in two languages at once, communicating in that second language becomes easier,” Sabir said. “It totally changes the way you communicate with and relate to others who also speak that second language.”

In the contest, students must complete three commissions. The first commission requires students to talk about themselves in a conversational manner, the second focuses on Russian civilization, and the third includes readings.

Each commission is scored on a 100-point scale which is averaged. To receive a gold medal and certificate, like Mirza did, a student must score between 90 and 100 points.

While most students nationwide compete in the Olympiada as part of school curriculum, Mirza and her family had to register her. Sabir and Mirza’s advisor assisted in finding a quiet place for Mirza during the Olympiada—Upper School Dean of Student Life Joe Bruno’s office— so that she was not disqualified.

Continued on page 13

HELPING CHICAGO’S YOUTH

Chicago Survivors Receives $10,000 Susan F. Berkowitz Grant

By Samantha Graines Against a light blue background, there lives a white dove with a purple olive branch in its mouth. This image of peace is on the homepage of the Chicago Survivors website. Chicago Survivors joined the Parker community this school year when they received the grant allocation of $10,000 from the Susan F. Berkowitz Fund.

The Susan F. Berkowitz Grant is in honor of Dr. Susan F. Berkowitz and aims to support individuals who demonstrate outstanding work to children. Dr. Berkowitz was a clinical- psychologist, parent, and active member of the Parker community.

She also was responsible for important and pivotal changes for Parker students, parents, teachers, and the community at large.

“This award recognizes the other individuals who build hope and optimism in adolescents and citizens in the Chicago area, similar to the way Dr. Berkowitz positively impacted our community,” Joe Bruno, Upper School Dean of Student Life and Berkowitz Faculty Advisor, said at the Berkowitz Morning Exercise on May 20.

The Berkowitz Committee is a studentled organization that conducts research, interviews, and meetings to decide to whom the grant should be awarded. Senior Talia Albert and junior Carline Skok were

responsible for the Berkowitz committee youths in Chicago as we can and reach the for the 2021-22 school year. most groups.”

Sophomore Julia Peet has been a After the theme is finalized, the member of the Berkowitz Committee for Berkowitz leaders research organizations the past two years. “Having Caroline and that they believe fit their theme, and then Talia as heads made it so much stronger,” they send out an email to these organizaPeet said. “They were tions with the rules, passionate about and appli“The huge smiles and deadlines, what they were doing cation associated and were very orga- thank yous are when you with the grant as well nized and on top of as who the Berkowitz things which helped realize you are actually committee is. “One the committee run the hardest parts is making a difference for the of smoothly.” finding organizations Each year the youth in Chicago...That that fit the theme, Berkowitz commitwork in youth, and tee chooses a specific was the moment I realized are nonprofit,” Skok theme that they “It is hard to how important this work said. want to focus on as find an organization it relates to the youth is, especially when coming that fits everything on in Chicago. Albert, our agenda.”

Skok, and Bruno from a school like Parker.”

The next step researched ten differafter the research is – Caroline Skok ent themes before picking four finalists having the commitout of the applicant tee vote on the final pool of 10. The 30theme. This year the theme was grief coun- minutes interviews were the only step in seling. “The $10,000 philanthropic grant the process that was conducted over Zoom. will continue to be donated each year,” “Chicago Survivors was the last group that Skok said. “We also try to not repeat themes we interviewed and their interview was because we are trying to impact as many very well put together,” Skok said. “Talia

and I had never heard of an organization that had a response time of two to four hours to any crime scene where there was homicide violence.”

Sophomore Cate O’Connor is a member of the Berkowitz Committee.

“A small group of Berkowitz members interviewed the four fantastic finalists, and I think any of the organizations were phenomenal choices,” O’Connor said. “I am hopeful that our winner, Chicago Survivors, can take the grant and make a change in the city and for the youth who are greatly impacted by their work.”

Skok believes that one of the best parts of the process is seeing the recipients' faces after they told them that they would be receiving the Berkowitz Grant. “The huge smiles and thank yous are when you realize you are actually making a difference for the youth in Chicago,” Skok said. “That was the moment I realized how important this work is, especially when coming from a school like Parker.”

According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), there were 797 homicides in 2021 which is 25 more than in 2019, 299 more than in 2019, and the most homicides on record since 1996. “Talia and

Continued on page 13

The Parker Weekly, Page 8

Columns

THE INBOX

IN MY LIFE

By Arjun Kalra '24

By Naomi Gross '24

Two Years Left But No End In Sight

A few weeks ago, I was interviewing ing language and sentiments that consist a student and asked if the changes they’d of cleaned-up, “politically correct” slurs or seen at the school (with regards to race) other racist sentiments. We often hear that were surface level or actually meaning- words have power but fail to acknowledge ful. The person scoffed and said, “What that this power isn’t only in the overt things changes?” If I were asked that question, I people say, but in the context and way they think I would’ve said the same thing. say them.

Over my five years at Parker, I don’t What you hear about in mass emails think I’ve gone more than a week with- barely scratches the surface of what’s out hearing about some sort of racialized happening. A student or teacher parroting aggression, be it micro or macro. This real- harmful sentiments might not intend to ity has chipped away at my sense of being. harm, but these incidents slowly eat away at How often people got away with these your sense of self worth and individuality. actions made me feel that I’m not wanted Every day, day after day, these incihere. dents amass and you I came in sixth Even though how I quickly find you aren’t grade as part of a wanted here. Despite group that was mark- was being treated and all the correct things edly more diverse being said and somethan the students how others saw me was times being done I saw when school impacted by the color of publicly, there has started. But at the been no wider change beginning of my my skin from a young age, privately and daily, Parker career, race and no successful was less prevalent I didn’t recognize how attempt to change the in my mind. I didn’t important it was in others' underlying culture think about myself as which fosters this perception of me. different because of white liberal racism. the color of my skin.

I feel betrayed by Even though how apparent inaction. So I was being treated All of that changed many of my friends and how others saw feel betrayed. Faculty me was impacted by in seventh grade when a of color are leaving the color of my skin in record numbers. from a young age, I classmate directed a racial Why should we have didn’t recognize how epithet towards me and a to keep on existing in important it was in a place which doesn’t friend. others' perception of value or respect us? me.

Students often A l l of t hat don’t have much of changed in seventh grade when a class- a choice. There are many reasons why I mate directed a racial epithet towards me didn’t leave, but I wish I had. No matter and a friend. how much I have tried, I can’t belong at a I brushed it off. We were in seventh place that doesn’t respect me and people of grade and immature. Even today I don’t color enough to proactively try and make hold this student at fault for what they did. the school more hospitable for us.

We were and still are only kids who are just I don’t have much hope for change. The starting to figure out how to navigate this climate surveys that have been conducted world. What this incident did was bring my at this school have been damning, and yet, race to the forefront of my identity. I paid during my time here, little of substance has more attention to how my race impacted changed. the way I move through this world. I But I have to be here for two more saw the divide between the students that years. I can’t just give up. I’ll keep speaking already were there and those who were my mind and I’ll keep trying to help others new, especially those who had melanin in who can’t–no one can stop me from doing their skin, a divide that only widened as we that. But otherwise, I’m at a loss, knowing moved through middle school.

I can’t put too much hope into change. All What I found here was a shocking I can do is prioritize me and my wellbeing. indictment of the culture at Parker which I need to make sure that I don’t let my sense each and every single one of us is a part of of self become consumed by the school. and complicit in.

Though I’m not often on the receiving end of slurs, I do find myself encounter-

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No Pain, No Gain

This will likely be the last column I ever though our finals ended up being “no hurt” write for the esteemed “Parker Weekly.” It first semester, I had a plan that worked for also happens to be the fifth, maybe sixth me. article I have written this year… out of 10.

As a sophomore, I know that my finals I am incredibly passionate about writing grades are less important than those for my and about “The Weekly,” but I understand junior and senior year, but with that said, that it might not be my defining strength. they are still higher stakes than freshman Instead, it might be something I need to year. Freshman year is all about finding out work on a lot in order to get good at. what works for you, whether that be with Does that mean I shouldn't have been time management, test-taking, clubs, or a columnist this year? Maybe. Kidding. anything else. You have a low-stakes way of I loved writing my columns and I think getting into the groove of high school and it’s important to do things that you aren’t if given the opportunity, should be taking good at, to understand something that a advantage of that, especially when it comes lot of Parker students probably need to to finals. understand: you don’t need to be perfect at I’m aware that I am in no way a everything and more seasoned high importantly, pracschool student, I’m As much as I understand still an underclasstice is the only way to get better. Now you and still figurwhy the freshmen don’t man might be thinking to ing out what works yourself… Naomi, want real finals — they're for me. I also know this is a boring artithat I’m about to cle that’s an excuse for annoying to study for and take my first real your lack of participaat the end of stressful to take — they finals tion in “The Weekly” my sophomore year. and I'm going to stop should take advantage of I wish I had been reading now, but loyal able to learn how to readers, the one or the fact that they have this study for these kinds two of you, maybe just tests and take a year to learn what works of my parents, I encourreal final before I age you to read on and what doesn’t, and take was worried about because I promise that how it's going to I’m about to get to the the opportunity that other affect my grade. point. The only way As much as I classes did not have. to get better at someunderstand why the thing is by doing it freshmen don’t want and sometimes, you need to do things you real finals — they're annoying to study for don’t totally love and that challenge you in and stressful to take — they should take order to obtain valuable skills. The point: advantage of the fact that they have this the administration did the right thing not year to learn what works and what doesn’t, having “no hurt” finals this semester. and take the opportunity that other classes The COVID-19 pandemic hit close to did not have. the end of eighth grade for me, meaning Your freshman year finals might seem that I never experienced the end-of-year small in the scope of your high school test that I had anticipated taking to get the career, but they are pivotal to learning how feel for finals. to take tests and complete projects that When freshman year finals rolled you'll be doing beyond your high school around, I was still doing school remotely career. Finals don’t end when we leave and missed out on the opportunity to Parker and we need to stop being so soft figure out what worked and didn't work about everything we do before our Parker for me when it came to studying. I had no bubbles are popped. cumulative tests freshman year, first or second semester, and subsequently, I had absolutely no idea how to study for those kinds of tests.

This meant that the first semester of this year was my first year of real finals.

Knowing what worked for my sister, I created a schedule for the weekend and Monday with each of my classes, their finals, and the amount of time I wanted to spend on each subject each day. Even

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The Parker Weekly, Page 9

Columns

TARA'S TAKES

MOOGUS BOOGUS

By Tara Cochrane '22

By Eli Moog '22

May Term

Speech to the Board

When May Term was initially The possibilities for what you can do proposed, I, like many other high school- in two weeks are limitless. Plus, I can say, ers, despised the idea of losing the final without doubt, that most people took at weeks of my senior year. I also hated that least one valuable lesson away from these we would be the prototype grade forced past two weeks. to work out the kinks in May Term. After I hope Parker continues with May completing May Term, however, I realized Term next year. While I understand that that there were some some students still positive takeaways are unhappy with that shifted my opinAfter completing May losing the end of ions on the experitheir year, and some Term, however, I realized teachers feel that ence greatly.

There is so much that there were some May Term actually freedom regarding exacerbated Seniorwhat projects can be positive takeaways that itis, I do feel that taken on during May having this time to Term. You can, for shifted my opinions on the explore different example, do somepassions and engage experience greatly. thing silly with your our brains in a differfriends, or develop ent manner is valua new skill, or revive an old interest. able. Plus, I believe the senioritis probHowever much thought and effort you put lem will mellow out in the coming years into May Term will determine how much as students and faculty alike are given time you get out of it. My group chose to build to settle into this new tradition and are not a micronation, which is defined as “a small coming off the heels of nearly two years of area or political entity that claims national online learning. Many of us are going to be sovereignty but is not recognized by other in school for at least four more years after sovereign states.” Our project was defi- high school. What's the harm in losing a nitely more on the goofy end of the May couple weeks?

Term spectrum. Many of the traditions and norms we developed in our micronation consisted of repurposing generally unacceptable ideas into acceptable norms. One of my friends decided to film a movie about her time in high school and graduation.

Another friend decided to create a podcast.

Student Government President Eli Moog's May 23 speech to the Board of Trustees reproduced in full below.

First off, it's an honor to be speaking to you all today, thank you for having me. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Eli, this is my 14th year at Parker, and this past year I have had the pleasure of serving as the Student Government President.

Before I begin, I just want to formally say a thank you to you all on behalf of the student body. The time you all have spent this past year, and for that matter, every year, make this school a better place. It makes it a place that can literally take in 4-year-olds, or 8-year-olds, or 14-yearolds, and every age in between, and make them not only ready for college but for what living in America in the 21st century actually means.

Personally, as I look ahead to my graduation in just a few weeks, I have been reflecting on what this school has taught me. And what stands out the most to me, is that Parker has undoubtedly taught me how to view the world in a way that no other school can. And this learning doesn't start in the high school. It starts in 5th grade when every member of my class did a presentation on a stock. Or in eighth grade, when I got to do a presentation in math class about a math card trick. Or in my freshman year history, where we built a

choose your own adventure simulation of the cuban missile crisis. Or first semester of this year, I got to do an independent study of the Presidency during crisis. Or just this past semester, when my entire history class revolved around reading the New Yorker and the National Review, and comparing them.

These experiences are what make a Parker education unique, and special, because instead of focusing on what will be on a standardized test, these activities are designed to instill values. To instill passion and exploration. To instill a sense of Responsibility for the world, and one's community.

And it's on this sense of responsibility that I want to end this speech, because we all have a responsibility to make Parker the best school possible.

I happen to have some feedback after all, Parker teaches you to advocate for what you believe in. Specifically, throughout the past four years, I have noticed that we as a school have some work to do when it comes to student rights. For example, I believe Student Government should be completely student-run and "The Weekly" should be uncensored by faculty/administration. These are two examples of how it seems like the needs of the school are prioritized over the students.

If we can flip this, and put students first, not only will Parker become an even better institution, but we will finally achieve a true model home.

ON HIGH SCHOOL

By Jacob Boxerman '22 Editor-in-Chief

On my last day of classes, I said to my teacher, "Ms. So-and-so, I always heard that high school wasn’t great, but it wasn’t such a bad four years. I guess the media and the movies were wrong." And she told me, sure, Jacob, but not everyone is thinking that.

"...sure, Jacob, but not everyone is thinking that."

I will spare the details but in essence, this teacher made me realize more deeply that yes, not everyone looks back on high school and can say with general certainty that high school ‘wasn’t so bad.’ Same situation with COVID — I enjoyed being home, I enjoyed engaging in my hobbies. It ‘wasn’t so bad.’

This understanding has always been in the back of

my mind, but after hearing different students verbalize starkly different experiences — positive, almost hyperbolic spews of love for classmates and class pride, and deeply emotional expressions of pain from fourplus years.

So as I reflect on the past four, seven, and fourteen years, I realize that while we’ve been together for so long, and sure, have had some shared experiences for which I think we should be grateful, it's worth taking a careful look at two things: 1) your own journey, and 2) the journey of those around you.

If you can look back and feel that your high school years have been ‘generally positive,’ be grateful. But also be observant. Never forget — your experience is not the experience of those around you. How have your peers made their way through school? Happygo-lucky, or burdened at every turn?

Luckily, this is the real world. Things are not black and white. Francis W. Parker doesn’t have its Sith and

its Jedi. You are not the sum of your bad days and bad actions, nor are you the sum of your good days and

If you can look back and feel that your high school years have been ‘generally positive,’ be grateful. But also be observant. deeds. Still, it doesn't hurt to take a day, pause, and see which side you're on — are your days happy or sad, positive or negative?

The Parker Weekly, Page 10

DEI IN REVIEW

Continued from page 1

DEIB DEI Director and DEI Strategic Plan

Fostering and promoting diversity, but at least at this little place, at Fran- equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) cis Parker, when problems do arise, we is one sector of the school’s work, one don't hide under the table,” Principal Dan that’s presented on the website as a part Frank said. We don't ignore it. We take of upholding the school’s mission. Diverit on non-defensively, open-heartedly, sity Coordinators, led by Co-Chairs open-mindedly” Ashleigh St. Peters Rupani said she and Kingsley Tang, is focused on the “promote awaresafety and well-beand under“It might be a first ness ing of Parker’s standing” of DEIB Black community incident for this person, a in each division, following the hate along with addispeech.“We have first incident for that kid, tional programto prioritize our ming like confercommunity that was but it's number 15 for me.” ences, symposiums, directly referenced,” and speaker series.

– Yadiner Sabir Rupani said, “and I The May 25 don't know that we email acknowledgalways do that.” ing the hate speech In addition, that occured came Rupani hosted processing spaces for Black after the newly-created position of DEI and non-Black students. “We all have a role Director was not filled for the 2022-23 in repairing this moment,” Rupani said.“I school year, delaying the release of a DEI think I'm wondering why didn’t more strategic plan that has been under develnon-Black students show up, and what opment since the school’s last climate that's about.” survey. Since the survey was conducted in The community was notified of this 2018 by an outside diversity consultant, incident sooner the school has hired than the last publinew Upper School cized instance Dean Joe Bruno, of hate speech at “While DEI work in Upper School Head Parker, which was Chris Arnold, Interinitially only shared schools often has been mediate and Middle with seventh grade reduced to ‘we're just School Head Vahn families last May. Phayprasert, and “One, w e talking about race,’ I think Rupani. should always learn Rupani previfrom the past,” at Parker, I still see a need ously worked at Frank said. “In this to talk about, and really dig Fr iends S cho ol case, it was public of Baltimore and and made public into, conversations about Un i v e r s i t y of even b efore it Chicago Laboraarrived to my atten- racial identity,” – Priyanka tory Schools as the tion. So we had to Director of DiverRupani have a different sity, Equity, and strategy related to Inclusion. She also something that had works as a principal a life of its own.” consultant for The Glasgow Group, where Rupani added that the administra- she assesses DEI needs in other indepention has learned from not communicating dent schools. One of the first suggestions with the whole school. “We knew this was she typically makes, she said, is to hire a big and it was important to let our entire dedicated DEI Director. community know when something big “When everyone's doing it on top of happened, and that can sometimes cause their full time roles, things fall through the more alarm,” Rupani said. “But I believe cracks and it’s no one's fault,” Rupani said. transparency around what happens, to the “When someone is living and breathing extent possible, is better than silence.” and thinking about this work all day every Though this one incident was shared day, they can respond to things that come publically, Upper School Spanish teacher up immediately. They can be proactive.”

Yadiner Sabir said that individual racist Part of Rupani’s work this year was incidents compound in private for students continuing the DEI strategic document, and faculty of color. which she said she hoped to complete with “It might be a first incident for this the new DEI Director and release at the end person, a first incident for that kid,” Sabir of this school year. said, “but it's number 15 for me.”

According to Rupani, the plan has

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four main sections: creating a deliberately guardian education, one-on-one faculty diverse and inclusive community, curric- support around curriculum, and DEI ulum and pedagogy, vocabulary education climate and commuin each division. She nity engagement, race and gender “So it's like, okay, I said and infrastructure. are two of the biggest Section one focuses understand where you're identity categories on representation, she hopes the director recruitment, reten- coming from, but at the engages with. tion in partnership “While DEI work same time, I wonder how in schools with Admissions and often has Human Resources. much they're doing to been reduced to ‘we're Section two looks just talking about at the scope and understand where I'm race,’ I think at Parker, sequence of DEI still see a need to talk coming from.” – Tristen Iabout, content taught from and really dig JK to 12, as well as into, conversations Tate professional develabout racial identity,” opment.

Rupani said.

Section three looks at the broader sense of belonging outside the classroom, both within Parker and in the context of Chicago-based civic engagement. Infrastructure means the financial and human resources to support “The Weekly” interviewed eight the work in the previous three sections, faculty and students of color about their along with collecting further climate data experience with race at Parker. and examining existing DEI policies and Litzy Tafolla, junior and WOCA head, structure. said the addition of students of color into a Continuing work on the plan in collab- predominately white grade can be difficult oration with the Upper School DEI Task for new students. At each main entry point Force was a part of Rupani’s work as the – JK, sixth grade, and ninth grade – the Assistant Principercent of students pal this year, which that are non-white also includes signifi"The women of color increases. cant disciplinary and “Students of administrative work. color come in [in high at the school have been a “I felt like I was school], but it's like stretched really thin very great support system. they [existing white and not able to dedistudents] weren't cate enough time to And if I didn't have them, raised to recognize, any one part of the I probably would have left and embrace, which job,” Rupani said. often comes out in “When we have a Parker a long time ago.” – sentiments like, ‘oh, I full time DEI Direcdon't see race, I don't Chelsea Njei tor, that's not going see color’, even if it’s to mean I'm going to not so explicitly said just step away from here,” Tafolla said. the work like, ‘Okay, When incidents you’ve got this, not my job anymore.’ I'm such as these happen, they are seen by always going to have that lens, and it's why many students not just as a product of not I work in schools: to make them more equi- having been raised with students of color table and more inclusive places.” but a general ignorance.

From twenty candidates, two finalists “So it's like, okay, I understand where were selected, both of you're coming from,” whom declined the Tristen Tate, a senior offer for the position.

“I don’t know where I’d and founder of BSU, “We were excited and said, “But at the same enthusiastic about be without Ms. Shepard time, I wonder how t he c andid ates,” much they're doing Frank said. “Each has and Ms. Pantoja and the to understand where dynamics going on in other women of color at I'm coming from.” their own personal Over the past lives. It just didn't this school who’ve always two years, microagwork out. But we keep have been been like ‘you matter to gressions on keeping on.” a major focus of DEI The search will work for the school. us." – Litzy Tafolla re-open earlier than “Microaggresit began this year to sions are only micro fill the position for in the eyes of whoever the beginning July of 2023. commits it,” Sabir, a Upper faculty adviRupani said she hopes the DEI Director will be able to focus on parent and

Student and Faculty of Color Experience

Continued on next page

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Continued from last page

The Parker Weekly, Page 11

DEIB + Editorial

senior WOCA head said, “the women of color at the school have been a very great sor to the Muslium Students Association, support system. And if I didn't have them, said. “The aggressions that happened pile I probably would have left Parker a long on top of one another. You are not hear- time ago.”

“I don’t know ing about it. Or if where I’d be without you're hearing about Ms. Shepard and Ms. it, you're choosing not “When I first came to Pantoja and the other to handle them.” women of color at Even when Sabir Parker, I was told that the this school who’ve tries to report an incident, it can be a strug- cohort of faculty and staff always been like ‘you matter to us,” Taffola gle. that was joining that year said. “Especially “Let's say there's an incident today,” was one of the most diverse having someone like Ms. Pantoja who Sabir continued, “and I have to report it to in Parker’s history. In the speaks Spanish and is involved in affinity somebody. I might seven years, I am one of groups was incredibly have to go to a person who might be new the last two people of color important to me staying here.” here. And I have to “They know tell that person the from that cohort. Next you need academic story started seven year there’ll just be one.” support and also years ago. And it can emotional support be overwhelming.

– Yadiner Sabir during that transiAnd you can forget tion,” Tate said, “and things and people get it is hard having to confused. And there deal with student interactions, but the are a lot of questions, and then they're teachers of color especially understand inheriting something that could have been that. Their support has been great for me resolved, but it wasn't.”

Repeated microaggressions, like those especially when I first came and really described by Tafolla and Tate, are draining didn’t want to be here.”

At the end of the 2020-2021 for students of color. When that happens, school year, 70% of faculty who left the many turn to faculty of color. school were people of color. While the “The faculty of color,” Chelsea Njei, a

pace of FSOC leaving the school has been he’s interested in the subjective experience increasing over time, it’s seen a dramatic of belonging. “How do you know whether increase in the past few years. they have that experience or not?” Frank “When I first said. “How do you came to Parker, I was find out what people told that the cohort of are really feeling? So “Whether it's this it's multiple layers, faculty and staff that was joining that year the aim is that we school, or any other school, but was one of the most want the culture to diverse in Parker’s America lives in us and we be as committed to history,” Sabir said. humanity as possible, “In the seven years, I live in America." – Dan and how do we have am one of the last two the structures in place Frank people of color from to get us there?’ that cohort. Next year “Whether it's there’ll just be one.” this school, or any “We have had revolving doors in other school, America lives in us and we terms of administrators,” Sabir continued, live in America,” Frank said. “There's good “and a lot of faculty things about America of color that go and and then some probthen we bring more “While schools are a lematic things. What faculty and staff of can we do to help color that then end reflection of society, and students in an ever up going At some there’s no way that we can growing way, underpoint somebody stand something as needs to precisely avoid that, there’s nothing fundamental as kindlook at the experiness and respect?” ence of these individ- to say that we need to “While schools uals, and be firm and reflect the worst of society.” are a reflection of willing and take the society, and there’s risk of implementing no way that we can – Yadiner Sabir accountability and avoid that,” Sabir said, support and face the “there’s nothing to say consequences of that.” that we need to reflect the worst of society.”

Frank, an alum, is currently the longest tenured administrator at Parker. He said

EDITORIAL

Community Update: The Whole Community Needs Updating.

By The Parker Weekly Community Update. Message from the Principal. New post from @fwpanonymous.

Hate speech happened in our community. It happened this year, it happened last year, and it's been happening each year.

Last time an incident went public, last school year, the perpetrator was anonymous. The slurs couldn’t be attributed to a single student, meaning no specific disciplinary action could be taken — there were only restorative measures that looked at the whole seventh grade and Middle School.

But the violent words said this time – words that, because of the smallness of our community, you may have seen – were traceable and provable. The result was simple: the student will not be returning.

But read the “student and faculty of color experience” section in “The Weekly’s” piece on DEI work this past year. Read “The Inbox” or Rania’s piece on MSA. Go into our other issues – read our coverage on the racist Kahoot names in Student Government, overdue creation of a BSU, and faculty of color retention. Or better yet, don’t just read something in ink – look at what’s around you.

There’s Hate Speech, and then there’s

hate speech – the casually violent and hate- these conversations because you feel the ful jokes or remarks that populate the space hamster wheel of conversation is futile in in between all school emails. “The culture” this climate, that’s one thing. But if you may seem like a broad, nebulous term, hide behind that critique to miss a Student which is what makes a seemingly ‘open- Government or a lunch meeting, that’s and-shut’ incident like this one so much another. more appealing than going into the nebula.

When Parker’s reflection of broader Discipline is one indication of culture, society mirrors the people making racist but the legal restricremarks and shartions on what can be ing hate speech, the shared, the predictunwilling to D o n ’ t j u s t r e a d people able community be present, and the gossip, and the something in ink – look at lack of support for case-by-case policy the people doing the what’s around you. that can’t always be work, the mission of applied equitably teaching students to make it a complicated become “responsible indicator. citizens” fails.

Update. Refine. Deepen. Understand.

While there’s so much more that Anticipate. All school announcement must come from the Parker commuemails typically take on a certain posture, nity and administration, the community with a familiar set of verbs that make updates this year showed a slight shift in sense coming from administrators. But as the addressing of hate speech. They served students, we have access to more textures, as actual updates, ressassuring families of a different mode of accountability that can safety at County Fair and announcing that be a lot less opaque. the student will not be returning. It's not a Attendance at community process- lot, but it’s more than before. ing spaces is low, and SG DEI Dialogues The thing is, there’s no guarantee the are mocked. If you’re going to mock Parker community will receive the same

amount of updates for future incidents, because the community which creates a space of casual racism cannot be kicked out of Parker if it is Parker itself.

How can the students who are desperately waiting for their Parker experience to be over find a “sense of connection and closure to the academic year?” How is that possible for anyone because when one part of the body is hurting we all are, right?

There’s no one solution, one DEI action plan, or one “update” that will fix this. The culture fostered in our community is reflected and caused by more than just administrative inaction. Notice how female students of color gravitate towards student spaces. Notice the lack of diversity in “The Weekly” staff. Notice the power dynamics present in every classroom space. Notice the affinity spaces that should have existed sooner and the ones that are worried they’ll no longer exist.

Notice might not be a strong enough word, because you probably have noticed at some point. It’s not just about noticing, but remembering and holding what you notice.

The Parker Weekly, Page 12

Visit us at parkerweekly.org

Prom, Popcorn, and Paletas LOVE LOOKS LIKE A POSTER BOARD Parker Recounts the Overlap Between Dating and Prom

By Eden Stranahan

What does love look like? Well, for many students at Parker, love presents itself in a 22 by 28 inch poster board adorned with a clever pun which ends in “Prom?” It’s sometimes embellished with neon markers and photos, most likely in a precisely thought out hallway or room within the school, and always well photographed, group-chatted about, and eagerly anticipated. With sparse “normal” high school traditions, Prom at Parker opens the door for an uptick in conversation about dating, love, and how students express it outside of Parker’s campus.

“Sad,” junior Kiran Mathew said when asked to describe the dating scene at Parker.

Mathew did not provide any further explanation. On the contrary, junior Evan Sato described dating culture to be “really good” and explained that he was excited to go to prom with his girlfriend of nearly 18 months.

Prom is one of two Parker-sanctioned attire,” and stop in Upper School Coordidances held during the school year. Differ- nator Rolanda Shepard’s office for ticketsentiating itself -each ticket from its councosts $85 terpart: homeand must be coming, Prom purchased in is the only cash. dance with This dates and ticket is does not have price y in a theme. This comparison year Prom will to any other be held June student 8 at The Pentevents held house Hyde at Parker EIC Jake Boxerman's prom ask. Photo by Tess Wayland.

Park. Students and creates will be provided with trolley transportation debate amongst students on who should to the venue. As the school year concludes, be paying. “I have developed a feminist the buzz around Prom picks up. During complex,” junior Anya Landolt said. “For the month of May it is common to observe me, it makes me feel liberated to buy my Prom proposals, or “Promposals” in the own prom ticket and not have my date buy hallway, plan out your required “formal it for me. It just makes me feel good.”

COUNTY FAIR CRAVES

Junior Annabelle Garelick takes an opposing side. “Despite barely even liking me and refusing to do a prom ask, [my date] still managed to buy a ticket for me. I was completely shocked.”

On Thursday, May 26 alone there were six recorded “Promposals” that occurred between the hours of 8am and 3pm. One took place in the library and involved the announcement system, a handful happened in classrooms and hallways, and one was witnessed by everyone in the cafeteria and those who followed five shirtless junior boys whose stomachs spelled out “Prom?” to the courtyard.

When it comes to Prom, many Parker students see little connection to Parker relationships. “I think people mostly go with friends,” senior Ava Roseberg said, “or with people they want to hangout with at

Continuation on page 13

I Ate Every Food I Saw At County Fair

By Lucy Wrubel

For the past 13 years, every year it was held, I have gone to County Fair. As a lower schooler, I saw this schoolwide tradition as one of the best days of the year. Now, as an upperclassman, I see it as a day with no classes and a few underwhelming activities.

I think it’s a wonderful concept that every single person at the school has a role in County Fair, whether that’s singing, cooking, or face painting. As I get older, however, I find this annual event becoming less and less engaging. I’m not sure if it’s just less appealing to an older age group or if the actual aspects of County Fair are getting worse. Either way, this year I participated almost solely in the stands that captivate me most: the food stands.

There was pretty much food everywhere I turned my head at County Fair.

Candy on the field, the junior tea room in the cafeteria, and sophomores and third graders in every crevice with some type of food in the Sheridan Cafe.

Naturally, I knew I had to take this critiquing job extra seriously. I made it my goal to try as many different foods inside the walls of Parker as possible. This challenge wasn’t without obstacles — the lines were off the charts. I think there were more people in line for cotton candy than the number of seniors who actually showed up at County Fair.

I peeked into the Small Cafe an hour into County Fair and was surprised to see that the line had disappeared. I obviously jumped at the opportunity to try the cotton candy with no wait, but once I came up to get it, a sophomore squashed my excitement with the information that they ran out of cotton candy. What cotton candy

stand runs out of cotton candy?

Because I associate cotton candy with County Fair so much, it would be wrong of me not to include a review in this article. I have brought in reinforcements who were lucky enough to try the confection before they disappointingly ran out. “The cotton candy was very fluffy and flavorful,” sophomore Quinn Kass said. “I feel like you can’t mess cotton candy up though because it’s such a classic.” I am skeptical of Quinn’s ability to be unbiased, however, as she was one of the people making the cotton candy and running the booth. It’s too bad they ran out, leaving me few sources to question about it.

I also tried the snow cones from the sophomores, and I don’t have any interesting comments about them. It was the average snow cone. Ice, sugary syrup, melts before I finish it. No complaints, but also no oozing compliments.

Moving on to a more positive review, I want to talk about the walking tacos. These were being served in the courtyard by Parker’s Quest cafeteria staff. While it’s quite the sight to see after so many years of Seniors Wieners (rest in peace) dominating the courtyard, I was pleasantly surprised. This might’ve been the highlight out of everything I ate. While I’m slightly upset I can’t report back that my favorite was something made by my classmates, Quest is never here to disappoint. The line was short, possibly due to the time being a ripe 10:32 AM, but I was thankful for the brief waiting time regardless.

The walking tacos started with a choice of regular Tostitos chips or Doritos. I went with Tostitos, which I honestly ended up

regretting a tad, but I wanted to keep my base simple. As for the rest of the assembly line, I went with pork, nacho cheese (obviously), cilantro, onion, pico de gallo, and corn. It was all delicious and went together so well, but my one complaint was the measly amount of nacho cheese. That’s supposed to be the star component, and I was struggling to find any in my walking taco! Still, it was delicious, and I hope that the cafeteria will one day serve that for lunch. Something about a walking taco comes across differently than when they brand the nachos as “nachos.” Maybe it’s just the excitement I find from eating them out of a chip bag.

My next stop was the popcorn, which was unfortunately underwhelming. I got excited for the nostalgia that I usually feel eating buttery, salty popcorn out of a brown bag, but I did not have that feeling this year.

Although I felt the popcorn could have had more of the classic buttery flavor, I loved the note that they handed me along with my bag. It read, “Q: What kind of jokes would cheddar popcorn make? A: Cheesy and corny jokes :).” Cute and personal, but I wish this popcorn had some cheddar.

Brown bag in hand, I went to try the paletas. I was disappointed when I heard that the eighth graders would no longer be serving root beer floats. I have never been one to crave root beer floats, but not once did I resist one from County Fair. I tried to give the paletas a chance, but my paleta did not meet the standards I had for the eighth grade root beer float booth. I chose the bubble gum because the flavor stood out to me, but after the first lick, which was good, the flavor was too strong for me (but

that’s on me, not the eighth graders).

After the blueness of my tongue faded (thanks to the bubblegum popsicle), I was finally ready to return to the cafeteria to face my fellow juniors. At the junior tea room, there were a lot of selections including bagels, donuts, coffee, juice, and more.

For the first time, the tea room offered freshly cooked pancakes which turned out to be a big hit. Pretty much everything was store bought, so there isn’t much to criticize here. It’s all of the usual suspects. Starbucks coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts, etc. However, the one thing I did notice was the interesting price points. There were mini brownie bites which came in a tub, and one brownie bite was three tickets. Next to that, Insomnia Cookies were sitting at three tickets per cookie. Considering that an insomnia cookie probably costs around half as much as the entire tub of brownie bites, this was an interesting choice. But hey, I’m not complaining. I got a gluten-free and vegan insomnia cookie with three tickets I took from my friend's little brother. What a deal.

I hope that for my senior year, I can once again feel the magic that my younger self once felt once every year on this day.

That could mean bringing the root beer floats back, but it could also maybe mean forming new traditions. Maybe one day the current lower schoolers will look back and feel an attachment to the paletas they used to get every year at County Fair. I hope to return to County Fair next year for one last time and look at it through a different lense that allows me to welcome the changes being made. And Chef Zac, if you’re reading this, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to ensure the return of the walking tacos.

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SOFTBALL

Continued from page 1 team.”

Maldonado was welcomed in by assistant coach David Fuder. Fuder has been the assistant coach for six years and has witnessed the struggles in previous years.

“Yes, we have had some tough years. This year, however, is different. It has been one of the best teams I have coached.”

Fuder said he was very pleased with the performances of the team, especially against Latin. “It wasn’t so much that we

SCHUPP

Continued from page 4

When she decided to leave, the first students Schupp told were her advisees. “She was gone for a week and we were so confused. It was very unlike her to just not be there so when she was like, ‘I didn't want to tell you guys because I wanted to tell you this in person,’ it made sense,” advisee and junior Phoebe Friedman said. “I am so happy for her that she's been able to find this opportunity that she's wanted. She talked about how she wanted to travel the world and one day move out of the country,

BERKOWITZ Continued from page 7

I also realized that this kind of grief work is really needed in our system right now,” Skok said. “Chicago Survivors are there to support the families which is super important when they are grieving a loss of a parent or a child. It is important to have someone around them to make sure they are paying all of their bills and doing okay emotionally, mentally, and staying on track while also grieving.”

The last stage in the Berkowitz

MIRZA

Continued from page 7

Part of the language learning process for Mirza is being able to talk with other speakers. Through fencing, Mirza is able to practice her Russian with Slavic friends.

Mirza also knows Spanish, English, Urdu, and Hindi, and is learning German,

PROMPOSAL Continued from page 12

Prom.” When referencing dating alone, “It’s dramatic,” was Rosenberg’s only statement.

A portion of upperclassmen decide to take underclassmen as their dates to prom. While you can't go alone as an underclassman, if you are somebody's date you are allowed to attend. “I think a lot of

Continuations

The Parker Weekly, Page 13

beat Latin. It was that we played a really great game,” Fuder said. “We were down early and came back. We played great defensively and offensively. We should play like this all of the time. Let’s not make it an unusual thing, let’s make it normal.”

Team member sophomore Kyra Mathew was also excited about the win and the team’s performance over the season.

“It was nice to win a game people would recognize. It is overlooked over the history.

I think a lot of people on the team are naturally positive. The only thing I'm worried about is losing our star players. But we have other well-skilled players,” Mathew said.

This spring saw the inaugural “Spring Showcase,” a homecoming-like sports day for spring athletics. There has been some speculation that the spring athletes don’t get the credit they deserve since winter sports have White Out and Blue Out games and fall sports have homecoming.

Athletic Director Bobby Starks says he is dedicated to making sure all student-athletes are recognized equally. “Yes, I’m all for the highest recognition for my student-athletes. We want to make sure we have a signature event that is consistent, so we always want to highlight and showcase all of our teams. I want them to get as much

recognition as possible and as many fans as possible to come support them and come out.”

The softball team's journey was cut short after a playoff loss to Depaul College Prep.

Maldonado only wants the team to improve and get ready for next season.

“I’m all in. We have work to do. I think it’s important for them to recognize that we have five people who are graduating. We need the people to step up next year. To show up and also get better so they can have an opportunity to play because there are a lot of positions to fill. It’s up to them.”

so I'm really proud of her that she's been able to do that.”

Though in Schupp’s advisory, Friedman has never had Schupp in a class and was disappointed that Schupp would not be returning to teach her as a senior in a Biology II class. “Even before I switched into her advisory, we'd had this connection, like she would come up to me in the halls and we would just talk even though I've never had her as a teacher. She just has this contagious energy,” Friedman said. “There are teachers like her that truly love what they do, and you can clearly see it just in there.”

“We wish her the best and know that it's going to be exciting for her when she goes to London, it’s something she's always

wanted to do so I'm glad she has the opportunity to do it,” Austin said.

Schupp will miss the students and her colleagues, but the memories will “always have a special place” in her heart. “I'm going to miss so many things. I'm going to miss the students. I've gotten to know students over the years and I love to see when they come back and get to hear about their lives,” Schupp said. “These teachers helped to raise my own kids, and I have so much respect for my colleagues. I’m going to miss the people and the community and just truly feeling a part of the Parker family.”

yearly agenda is inviting the recipients of the award to come to Parker to share their work during a Morning Exercise. JaShawn D. Hill, the Director of Clinical Services at Chicago Survivors, and Michelle Gennaro, the Director of Program Operations at Chicago Survivors, represented the organization at the Morning Exercise on Friday, May 20.

“I am very moved whenever I realize that a community, especially youth, finds value in what we do at Chicago Survivors,” Hill said.

Hill and Gennaro outlined what their organization does to support families of homicide victims. Their programs include

immediate crisis response services, case management support, criminal justice advocacy, and ongoing support for the community of survivors. The organization also provides counseling services for families suffering from grief, trauma, and PTSD, as well as for the special needs of youth. “What we know about violence and the ripple effect in our city is that it does not take a holiday, so our responders are there 24/7,” Hill said.

Junior Litzy Tafolla is a member of the Social Justice committee. The Berkowitz committee “includes wonderful students that I believe did a great job in choosing this year's winner,” Tafolla said. “The

Berkowitz award includes all of the values that Parker prides themselves the most on.

I hope that the MX inspired others students to be even more involved in social justice the way it inspired me.”

“It is super exciting to see what work is done with that 10,000,” Skok said, “Chicago Survivors told us some of the work that will be done and how many kids will be impacted, so it is super exciting to receive emails from them and hear how they are doing. We continue to keep in touch with the past recipients, so I am excited to see the work they do and continue to support them.”

French, Italian, and Arabic. “Russian was the first language that I went out and actively was like, ‘I want to learn this,’ and I fell in love with the process so much that I started learning a ton of other languages as well.” Mirza adds a new language “every once in a while” and uses the language learning app Duolingo to discover new languages she would like to learn.

Learning Russian has also increased her support for Ukraine during the

Russian-Ukrainian crisis. “My Russian skills have really helped me and helped me appreciate Slavic culture,” Mirza said.

“Language can be a bridge between people.”

Sabir believes learning three or more languages changes approach to life, values, and empathy. “It is another whole set of values and way of life that you then eventually adopt, enriching your human connections, your reflective skills, your deep analysis and interpretation. You are able to see

what others cannot,” Sabir said. “Being able to communicate freely with others in their mother language without relying on a translator gives you the best, most authentic human experiences possible.”

“For me, language is really fun,” Mirza said. “I view it as something that can be a challenge, but something that you can also be really passionate about.”

my friends are taking sophomore girls as dates because they don't have an obvious connection with someone in their own grade,” anonymous junior boy #1 said. “It just sometimes works out that way. It's not that deep.”

On the Francis W. Parker school website under “History,” an italicized quote in the color royal blue tops the page: “A school should be a model home, a complete community, an embryonic democracy –

Colonel Francis Wayland Parker.” In response to why many students don't date at Parker, this sentiment of being a model home is reflected--maybe by accident but true nonetheless. “As a lifer at Parker,” Landolt said, “I don't think a lot of people date because it's kind of weird that we all grew up together.”

Reflecting this same idea was senior Ivy Jacobs. “You either have to be okay with dating someone you've known since you

were four or find somebody else, I guess,” Jacobs said. “Most people here are like your siblings.”

Upper School English teacher Mike Mahany has been around to witness more than a few Parker prom seasons. “I feel that love is in the air in the spring,” Mahany said. “I just wish that girls would not bail out boys. I wish that boys would do their own prom asking, their own design of posters, and come up with their own ideas.”

ELECTIONS

Continued from page 1

ingful, and useful next year with our ideas and dedication,” Matthews said.

Speaking on the process of running for Senate, Mathews said that her “group spent countless hours figuring out what we truly wanted to change and improve. Once we had our main goals and ideas, we were able to expand on them and have some fun with campaigning!”

The Parker Weekly, Page 14

Election Results

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President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate • President • DCA • Treasurer • Senate

t e n i b a C Meet The

Secretary: Annabel McIntosh

President: Samantha Graines Director of Committee Affairs: Rania Jones

Inclusion Coordinator: Payton Pitts

Treasurer: Gray Joseph

Parliamentarian: Lola Yee

Senate: Naomi Gross, Arjun Kalra, Sarah Matthews, Harry Lowitz

Editors of The Student Voice: Ryan Bottjer and Gabrielle Silverman

Executive Advisor: Daniel Silets

Student Government Media Manager: Saroya Ornelas Pagnucci

Directors of Cross-grade Communication (DOCC): Evan Sato and Davu Hemphill-Smith

Head of 360 Review: Rocque Lipford

COMMITTEES + APPOINTED POSITIONS *Additional appointees in the fall

American Field Service

• Julia Peet, Quinn Kass, Natalie Drake, Caroline Skok

Community Committee*

• Head: Wyatt Chatalas • Reps: Devon Chatalas, Annoshae Mirza, Spencer Dunbar, Hanna Bilgin, Suhani Aggarwal, Quinn Kass, Lyric Nelson, Connor Elligan, Yazmin Velazquez, Hudson Lin, Caleb David, Henry Weil, Fernando Degante, Max Keller, Luca Lennon

Computer Technology Committee

• Jack Adee, Gabby Druger, Grant Koh, Warner Vance, Henry Weil

Curriculum Committee

• AJ O’Toole, Ben Rachel, Monet VanVooren, Annabel McIntosh

Environmental Committee

• Phoebe Friedman, Pau Maset, Anika Gehani, Ella Currie

Film Society

• Ethan Dennis, Calan Scherer, Natalie Drake, Gemma Franco

Food Council*

• Head: Lucy Wrubel • Reps: Birdie Goldblatt, Benjamin Graines, Julia Josephson, Judah Solomon, Allison Berger, Alex Fidler, Benjamin Kagan, Eva Vitacek, Annabelle Garelick, Rocque Lipford

Model Home

• Henry Weil, Malcolm LarisDjokovic, Jack Hughes and Nate Manilow

MX Committee

• Communications: Ben Graines, Harry Lowitz • Tech: Warner Vance, Arjun Kalra

Music

• Clay Glazier, Kiran Mathew, Leo Auerbach, Quentin Stauber, Annoshae Mirza

Performing Arts

• Pau Maset, Wren Dudney, Phoebe Friedman, Naomi Geller

Phaedrus

• Luca Lennon, Brooke Marsico, Maggie McPharlin, Lyric Nelson

Pride

• Gabby Druger, Litzy Tafolla, Anna Swanson, Samara Boyd

Social*

• Heads: Eden Stranahan, Annabelle Garelick, Payton Pitts, Kai Contractor, Evan Sato • Reps: Ella Marisco, Izzy Parsa, Franny Adami, Hanna Bilgin, Owen Stepan, Jack Kahan

Social Justice*

• Head: Desi Molina • Reps: Emma Kling, Audrey Tai, Uma Morris, Riana Gehani, Harper Horn, Libi Horn, Zarin Mehta,Alex Fidler, Riya Jain, Saroya Ornelas Pagnucci, Genia Jefferson, Chloe Buckley, Lucas Daskal, Lydia Blasko, Mollie Gross, Diana Llamas

Student Athletic Council (SAC)*

• Heads: Lucas Daskal, Anya Landolt • Reps: Mikhail Satchu, Audrey Smith, Ben Kagan, Sam Forst, Quinn Kass, Jack Hughes, Lavanya Goyal • SAC Media Managers: Lucy Wrubel, Max Keller, Oliver Cahnman, Ana Franco

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

• Julia Peet, Sloane Demetriou, Charlotte Harris, Julia Josephson

Student Interview & Recommendation Board (SIRB)* • Head: Caroline Skok

The Weekly

• Harry Lowitz, Alya Satchu, Eden Stranahan

Board of Trustees Reps*

• Simon Levin, Kyle Feitler, Zarin Mehta, Sophia Rosenkranz

Ed Council Reps

• Lily Moss, Max Keller, Danni Kaplan

Senate Reps

• Grayson Pendry, Chase Wayland, Zoe Gary, Beckett Selikow, Calan Scherer, Alex Fidler, Ben Rachel, Lavanya Goyal

Sergeants at Arms

• Plenary: Henry Weil and Anika Gehani • Senate: Malcolm Laris-Djokovic and Gannon Holt-Hall

Visit us at parkerweekly.org

GIRL

by The Internet, KAYTRANADA

The Parker Weekly, Page 15

pLayList

ULTIMATE ULTIME

by Jonah Siskel

DIGITAL LOVE

SAVIOR

by Daft Punk

by Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem & Sam Dew

MILEAGE

by Playboi Carti, Chief Keef

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

By The Beatles

UNSTOPPABLE

scan to listen!

XO

by Teminite

by EDEN

679

Memory Band

by Fetty Wap, Monty

by Ryan Porter

untitled 05 | 09.21.2014

by Kendrick Lamar

The Parker Weekly, Page 16

Senior Love Letters

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Visit us at parkerweekly.org

Senior Love Letters

The Parker Weekly, Page 17

The Parker Weekly, Page 18

Visit us at parkerweekly.org

the not bacKpage bacKpage

What’s

out?

in?

all school email threads

lost airpods

found prom dates <3

parker mission community

embryonic democracies

senior micronations

oprah mentions at parker

mr. bruno

"look under your seat for a tootsie roll"

running out too soon :(

poke bowls

cotton candy

junior boys

talking during plenary

running for president

hot weekly (wo)man

Alya Satchu

Harry Lowitz, Alya Satchu, Eden Stranahan

barr advisory

a cult

cabinet

Visit us at parkerweekly.org

The Next Page <3

The Parker Weekly, Page 19

AND THEY'RE OFF! THE CLASS OF 2022 Talia Albert........University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Kat Holtz..........................................Tulane Univerity, LA Suzanne Alden..........................Denison University, OH Ivy Jacobs...................................Stanford University, CA Kate Allen-Study.....Washington University in St. Louis, MO Kavee Kirschner-Alvarez...University of Colorado-Boulder, CO Jackson Antonow....University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI Leilani Kulkarni..................Northwestern University, IL

Julia Ashworth..........................Vanderbilt University, TN Gianni Baglivo...University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Tashi Bapu..................Illinois Institute of Technology, IL Lily Becker..............University of Colorado- Boulder, CO Rebecca Bellick..............Franklin & Marshall College, PA Alicia Berger....................Johns Hopkins University, MD Isabelle Biehler.....................Georgetown University, DC

Sam Laser.........................................Tulane University, LA Darragh Lawless........................University of Denver, CO Cece Lopez......................Columbia College Chicago, IL Tyler Maling....................................Tufts University, MA Emma Manley.......................Northwestern University, IL Xander Mesires...............................Tufts University, MA Eli Moog..........................................Duke University, NC

Jack Bowers.....University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL Dale Morrison....University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

Jacob Boxerman......................Columbia University, NY Chelsea Njei...........................Wake Forest University, NC Mia Bronstein..........University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Alex Ostrom.............George Washington University, DC Colin Brown..............................Creighton University, NB Othel Owen..........University of Southern California, CA Sofia Brown....University of California-Los Angeles, CA Aydin Ozbek................................Clemson University, SC Cooper Bruce...................Michigan State University, MI Tommy Pandola-Goldstein....University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Alex Carlin..................................Harvard University, MA Saia Pettis......North Carolina A & T State University, NC Tara Cochrane.........................University of Virginia,VA Noemi Ponce...............................Middlebury College, VT Sammi Coleman................................Tufts University, MA Phoebe Radis..........University of Colorado-Boulder, CO Lorenzo Collier........................Chapman University, CA Ruby Radis.......................................Elon University, NC Ben Currie...University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL Elsie Rattner.......University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Destiny Degante........................University of Chicago, IL Reed Rodman......University of Southern California, CA Minnie Dennis................................Tulane University, LA Sophia Rogers......University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI Owen Dudney..........................University of Chicago, IL Ava Rosenberg....University of Wisconsin- Madison, WI Evan Ehrhart......University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL Star Rothkopf....Washington University in St. Louis, MO Hiba Elabassi.................................................Senior Year! Ryder Selikow.........................Lewis & Clark College, OR Charles Famakinwa.........................Grinnell College, IA Chloe Shah..........................Northwestern University, IL Mason Gardner..............................Colorado College, CO Jonah Siskel..............................New York University, NY Pierce Geene............................University of Denver, CO Ryan Soren.......Oxford College of Emory University, GA Daisy Glazier................................Syracuse University, NY Tristen Tate..................Claremont McKenna College, CA Ashley Golden.......................University of Vermont, VT Julie Test........................University of San Francisco, CA James Grove.......................University of Notre Dame, IN Ryan Toulouse.....................Northwestern University, IL Finn Hall...University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL Ella Tsonton......Washington University in St. Louis, MO Jaydra Hamid............................Vanderbilt University, TN Ava Utigard...............................University of Denver, CO Ari Harris..........University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI Tess Wayland.............................Harvard University, MA Yaleigh Harris...................................Grinnell College, IA Mia Wichman............................Wesleyan University, CT Jalil Hassan........................Michigan State University, MI Mohini Yadav....................................Tulane Univerity, LA Jonah Henschel........................University of Denver, CO Fabian Yanez................................Cornell University, NY Talia Holceker...............................Colgate University, NY Aidan Young.............George Washington University, DC Sage Holt-Hall...University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, MI Jack Zoller...........................Northwestern University, IL

81 ADVENTURES, 46 SCHOOLS, 24 STATES, 1 MODEL HOME

The Parker Weekly, Page 20

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miles

Talia Albert, 205

Ben

Suzanne Alden, 29

6 miles

iles

266 m Kate Allen-Study,

Jackson Antonow , 121 miles Julia Ashworth, 40

2 miles

s

205 mile Gianni Baglivo, Tashi Bapu, 6 mile

s

miles

Lily Becker, 928

Rebecca Bellick, 604 miles Alicia Berger, 604

miles

Isabelle Biehler, 59

3 miles

Jack Bowers, 130

miles

Jake Boxerman, 713 miles

5 miles Mia Bronstein, 20 Colin Brown, 432 miles

Sofia Brown, 1752

miles

0 miles Cooper Bruce, 17 Alex Carlin, 846 miles Tara Cochrane, 55

2 miles

Sammi Coleman, 845 miles

Lorenzo Collier,

Currie, 130 miles

1731 miles

Destiny Degante,

miles

Ivy Jacobs, 1850

verez, 928 miles

10 miles

s e Dennis, 839 mile

Kavee Kirschner-Al

Leilani Kulkarni,

9 miles

Minni

iles

Owen Dudney, 10

Sam Laser, 839 m miles

0 miles

Evan Ehrhart, 13

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45 miles

Reed Rodman, 17

Sophia Rogers, 12

1 miles

Ava Rosenberg, 12

1 miles

, 918 miles

Darragh Lawless

6 miles

Star Rothkopf, 26

Cece Lopez, 3 mile

s

Hiba Elabbassi, 4,2

52 miles

Charles Famikinwa, 262 miles

927 miles Mason Gardner, 8 miles

Pierce Geene, 91

Tyler Maling, 845 miles Emma Manley, 9

miles

Xander Mesires, 845 miles Eli Moog, 621 mile

s

1 miles

Daisy Glazier, 59 Ashley Golden,

747 miles

James Grove, 74 miles

iles Finn Hall, 130 m Jaydra Hamid, 40

2 miles

iles

Ari Harris, 205 m

Yaleigh Harris, 262 miles

miles

Jalil Hassan, 170

0 miles

Dale Morrison, 13

Jonah Siskel, 712 miles Ryan Soren, 609 m

iles

Tristen Tate, 1713

miles

iles

Julie Test, 1852 m

miles

Ryan Toulouse, 9

miles

Othel Owen, 1745

miles

Ella Tsonton, 266

miles

Ava Utigard, 918

miles

4 miles

Aydin Ozbek, 56 Tommy Pandola-Gold

stein, 205 miles

Nsaia Pettis, 584 m

iles

Tess Wayland, 846 miles

2 miles

Mia Wichman, 77

9 miles

4 miles

Mohini Yadav, 83

8 miles

Fabian Yanez, 57

9 miles Talia Holceker, 61

Phoebe Radis, 92

, 839 miles

s

Alex Ostrom, 595

Noemi Ponce, 74

Katherine Holtz

Chloe Shah, 9 mile

miles

iles

5 miles

53 miles

Chelsea Njei, 562

918 m Jonah Henschel,

Sage Holt-Hall, 20

Ryder Selikow, 17

Ruby Radis, 593 m

iles

Elsie Rattner, 205

miles

2 miles

Aidan Young, 595

miles

Jack Zoller, 9 mile

s