The Lodge - Volume 7, Issue 3

Co-Editors-In-Chief

Sienna Lightman ‘24

Livi VanSteenberg ‘25

Kirklyn Moore ‘25

Arts/Design Editor

Abbi Whitehead ‘25

Photography Editor

Livi VanSteenberg ‘25

Web Editor

Kirklyn Moore ‘25

Copy Editor

Olivia Vitale ‘24

Social Media Editor

Sienna Lightman ‘24

Staff

O’Neal Starrett ‘24

Johnny Bailey ‘25

Ella Coons ‘25

Molly Gorham ‘25

Sydney Murray ‘25

Caroline Wood ‘25

Advisor

Mr. Zack Adcock

Cover illustration by Sienna Lightman

L

About Us:

The Lodge and gryphonlodge.com are dedicated to serving as an unbiased and authentic voice for the students of St. George’s Independent School. We at The Lodge strive to be an open forum for student expression, to act in the best interests of the student body and to embody the principles of journalistic excellence. The Lodge is affiliated with the Tennessee High School Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. The Lodge is funded by advertisers, donors and St. George’s Independent School and is published once every eight weeks during the school year by schoolprinting. com. The Lodge prints and distributes 200 copies of each issue to 700 students and faculty on the St. George’s Collierville campus. Bylines indicate the primary writer(s) of each article, and additional contributors are indicated in the shirttail. All of our content is written, edited and designed by our staff unless otherwise clearly stated. The Lodge provides free advertising for student clubs, events and activities and paid advertisements for local businesses. The Lodge welcomes letters to the editor and article submissions. To submit a letter, article or request for advertising, email our staff at thelodge@sgis.org.

Carson Head

The legacy of St. George’s toughest fighter

By Molly Gorham

As the school year comes to a close, and members of the class of 2024 prepare themselves for college and life after high school, the absence of one of their beloved classmates is felt now more than ever.

Carson Elizabeth Head was a lover of all things pink and purple and a powerhouse of spunk, wit and determination according to her mom, Mrs. Paula Head.

“When she had set her mind to something, she didn’t give up on it; she would keep after it,” Mrs. Head explained.

Despite being the youngest of three, Carson was “mentally ten years before her time…she was so mature,” senior Caroline Ruffin noted when talking about her late friend.

Carson was a normal sevenyear-old girl. She loved stickers, which she frequently shared with her peers at lunch, playing with makeup, especially lipstick, American Girl Dolls and having Nerf Gun fights with her family.

Her contagious laugh and bubbly personality were known to bring people together.

“She was very bright and sparkly,” senior Ava Swords said. “Any room she’d walk in she’d just light up.”

The day before her eighth birthday, after receiving an x-ray due to pain and swelling around her knee, Mrs. Head received a call from a Collierville doctor who was almost certain Carson had a cancerous tumor. Immediately, the Head family was referred to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, where they found themselves later that day for a biopsy, which confirmed their worst fear.

Soon, it was found that Carson’s cancer had spread throughout other parts of her body.

That day, March 7, 2014, marked the beginning of Carson’s 16-month fight. During her time at St. Jude, Carson underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation as well as numerous surgeries. However, through it all, her smile rarely left her face. Even though Carson was so young, she

“[Carson] was very bright and sparkly.” -Ava Swords

handled her diagnosis courageously and better than most adults would be able to. Carson adopted the fierce credo “fight like a kid”—a nod to her adopted theme song, “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.

stances. Mrs. Greenslade’s daughter, Emily, was also diagnosed with osteosarcoma eleven years prior. As a way of giving back to St. Jude for saving her daughter’s life, Mrs. Greenslade joined a pair mentor group that St. Jude was starting in which the parents of previous patients were paired with the parents of current patients to show them the ropes and offer them support during an incredibly hard time.

Through this program, she once again met the Head family. Carson and her quickly began to form an unbreakable bond, and she believes it was God’s hand that brought them together.

On March 7, 2014, Carson was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. Her tumor was located above her left knee and was doubling in size every 21 days.

Mrs. Catherine Greenslade, a fifth-grade teacher at the Germantown Campus, explained that Carson always had a positive and endearing attitude.

She was, “able to tell her mom and dad ‘It’s gonna be okay,’ and even when she knew it wasn’t going to be okay…she still was telling [them]... ‘it’s gonna be alright,’” Mrs. Greenslade said.

Carson and Mrs. Greenslade’s paths first crossed when her older brother, Chandler Head, class of 2019, was assigned to Mrs. Greenslade’s fourth-grade class. Mr. and Mrs. Head had come in for a parent-teacher conference and because Carson was just a toddler at the time, they brought her with them.

“While we were having our conference, she was opening up every one of my desk drawers… pulling things out. I was like ‘Wow, this girl is something else,’” she explained.

However, their second meeting was under much different circum-

Mrs. Greenslade recalls her and Carson’s countless card games, specifically Uno, that they played to try and get her mind off of what was going on around her. Although Carson was hesitant at first, she quickly took to the idea.

“She delighted in beating me,” Mrs. Greenslade noted. “I am privileged to have known her because she was an old soul in a little kid’s body.”

To this day, she still carries an uno card in her wallet from the last round she and Carson ever played.

Eventually, Carson began playing cards with anyone she could and her outgoing personality allowed her never to meet a stranger.

She “was very brave and… was never afraid to talk to anyone regardless of their age,” said Ava Swords.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that when she found herself at St. Jude, she quickly became very well-known around the hospital, according to senior Kiki Finneran.

“She became friends with all the doctors and nurses. She made friends with Adam [Cruthirds, class of 2016], who was what, ten years older than her? She

Carson Head, Gracye Thompson, Ava Swords, Caroline Ruffin and Kiki Finneran pose for a photo at one of their last sleepovers at Carson’s house.

photo courtesy of Kiki Finneran

was making friends with all these different people in a place that’s really uncomfortable and really vulnerable.” Finneran said.

Cruthirds, a St. George’s graduate, and former St. Jude patient, met Carson at the hospital the night he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of sixteen. Despite being much older than Carson, they quickly formed a friendship, and after she passed, during an event promoting her legacy, he described her as the “strongest person…[he] has and will ever meet.”

Towards the end of her treatment, Carson invited her core group over for one last slumber party. Along with her family, Swords, Finneran, Ruffin, and Grayce Thompson spent the night celebrating Carson’s ninth birthday.

“[Because of] the chemo, she felt like crap, but she was… able

to play games with us [and] we watched the Grizzlies,” Finneran said. “I’m happy we got that time with her.”

Carson passed away, on June 26, 2015.

Shortly after her passing, the Head family started Coins for Carson, a fundraiser dedicated to giving back to St. Jude.

The idea, however, came from Carson herself.

“Every single day that Carson was at St. Jude, she would carry this little bejeweled purse…in her wheelchair beside her and she would ask everybody, ‘Do you have any change in your pocket or your purse?’ If they said no, she would be like, ‘Show me.’ Literally, she would want you to turn your pocket out or show…inside your purse,” Mrs. Head explained.

Soon, the Heads began to see what exactly Carson was doing with this change.

“I am privileged to have known [Carson] because she was an old soul in a little kid’s body.” -Mrs. Catherine Greenslade

“[On] the days that we got to go home…she would put them in her piggy bank and… her daddy and I would talk about [it]...[wondering] why is she doing that? …I had taken a leave of absence from work…[so] I thought maybe she’s worried about our finances,” Mrs. Head said.

Shortly before Carson passed, she called her parents to the couch and requested that they bring her her piggy bank. It was then that she revealed to them her mission: Carson requested that the money she had accumulated in her piggy bank from gathering coins go back to the kids at St. Jude because she believed that her money would make a difference.

Her parents donated the money — all $128.56 — and shared her story, inspiring others to give.

Since her passing, every year across all three campuses, students have brought in their coins in honor of Carson, with the Germantown campus raising over $10,000 every time. As of today, Coins for Carson has raised roughly $1.2 million, all stemming from Carson’s dream.

With their time at St. George’s coming to an end, Carson’s close friends do not doubt that her legacy will continue to live on, even after they leave.

“When we did the pink out day…seeing people that had never had any sort of interaction with Carson, had only heard about her through us, show up and show out…[was] amazing and super touching,” Finneran said. “Her liv-

ing through the GryphServe club and [the school] continuing to stay involved with St. Jude is important, but also just smaller things like having people go out and check on her garden,” she continued.

The garden she is referring to is the butterfly garden at the Germantown campus that was built after Carson passed away. Each of her classmates painted a plaque, now displayed on the posts of bird baths that mark the entrance to the garden. At the end of each school year, members of the class of 2024 meet up at the garden to honor Carson with a butterfly release, a perfect way to honor her memory, as Carson was a lover of nature and spent hours watching butterflies in her backyard.

“As a class, hopefully, we can still come together [after we graduate]…I know it will be tricky but I think that would be a good thing for us to do,” said Swords.

There’s no telling how many lives Carson Elizabeth Head touched during her short tenure on Earth, but it’s safe to say that she accomplished more than most do in a lifetime and she made a lasting impact on both St. George’s and the St. Jude community. She serves as a leader and role model, and her bravery and love for life, despite everything that she had to face, is a testament to all. Through her example, we all are reminded to continue to fight. Fight like a kid. Always.

Seniors Gracye Thompson, Caroline Ruffin, Ava Swords and Kiki Finneran pose for a photo during a pink-out day on March 8 in celebration of what would have been Carson’s 18th birthday. Photo by Molly Gorham

Narrowing it Down

College decisions are all about what’s right for you

By O‘Neal Starrett

Every student who has graduated at St. George’s has also had to decide what they will do after high school. Most students decide to spend the next four years at a college, and must choose from a plethora of promising schools. With so many options to choose from, how does a gryphon decide where they are going to attend?

Mr. Timothy Gibson, Head of Student and Alumni Affairs, explained that he believes a school has to fit the individual student both academically and socially.

“I think for students who know what they want to study, [they should be] making sure that the school has opportunities to focus on that academic area,” said Mr. Gibson.

College is first and foremost about education. If you are seeking a degree in a certain field, you should ensure that the school you will attend offers that as a major and has qualified professors to teach you.

Even if you enter college with an unde-

cided or exploratory major, you should ensure that a school has skilled faculty in an area of general interest, as well as any other resources that you need to reach your full academic potential.

Mr. Gibson stated that in addition to academics, seniors should focus on finding a community that is a good social fit for them. The transfer from high school to college is probably a transition more significant than any that the seniors have experienced in their lives so far — the student will probably spend less time with their family and friends than they have for the past eighteen years, as they now live in a completely different

as comfortable for you as St. George’s does,” Gibson continued.

Maria Sallee, a member of the Class of 2019, expressed gratitude towards Mr. Gibson for encouraging her to go to Ole Miss, a college she described as a “great fit.” However, she does not think that finding a comfortable school should be a priority for College Guidance.

“College Guidance should... encourage [students] to go for schools that may be outside their comfort zone or what they feel is ‘expected’ of them from peers, friends, or teachers,” she explained via an online form.

Emma Thomas-Joyner, a mem-

“Your real friends will remain your friends despite the distance.” -Chloe Lewis ‘22

place. You need to have close connections with those around you, though, so seniors are advised to look closely at the communities at various colleges and find one that they can spend the next few years of their life in.

“Do you see people with whom you would want to be friends?...

It’s going to be a transition, and we want to make sure that your next home feels

ber of the class of 2013, agreed in the same form that a college should have a community that encourages one to grow.

“Find a place that challenges you to grow as a person and see the world differently,” she wrote. “Aside from challenging academics, you need a solid community to help you find yourself as a young adult.”

Finding a community that challenges you and encourages you to grow may seem to contradict the idea of finding a comfortable community.

While academics and community are probably the most

common factors in a college decision, many students must look at finances as well. Jayley Yelverton, a senior who will attend Mississippi State next year, underscored the importance of considering how much a school costs.

“It was definitely a huge decision to come down and see how much FAFSA is going to give you, how much the school is going to give you. Just seeing how much little can cost,” said Yelverton. “A huge part of it was figuring out how I’m going to pay for all of it, having a plan of monthly payments to school, and knowing how much I need to have in my bank account going to school.”

Some students do not consider distance a factor in a college decision. As long as a school fits what the student desires in academics, community, and cost, they may not care how far away a school is from home.

However, some students may seek to stay close to home in order to stay more connected to relationships there, especially immediate family. Others may seek greater independence and a new experience.

Avah Lareau is a senior who will attend the University of Maryland next year, desiring the unique experience that comes with attending a college farther away from home.

“I know I wanted to go far away, but some people might want to stay closer,” Lareau explained. “I traveled a lot and I knew I wanted to... go to a new place to kind of challenge myself a little bit.”

One divisive question asked during college decisions is whether students should follow their high school peers to a school.

A student who has attended St. George’s since kindergarten and has formed strong peer relationships might want to

preserve those close friendships by attending the same college as their friends.

However, some argue that following friends to a school without independently determining whether a school is right for yourself is unwise.

Chloe Lewis, an SGIS alum who was the salutatorian in 2022, shared her thoughts on following friends to college.

“If the college is a good fit for both of you and one of your top choices regardless of who else goes there, it can be okay to go somewhere your friends are going too,”

good choices.

A College Guidance instructor can analyze the student’s values and finances, but the individual student is the one most qualified to pick the best college. Yelverton also desires that College Guidance give more aid to seniors at the end of the year, since they are more in need of counsel then.

“I think when we need them

“When you’re excited about where you’re going, then we’re excited for you.”

-Mr. Timothy Gibson

Lewis said. “It should never be your first priority though. It’s really important to choose a college that fits you. Your real friends will remain your friends despite the distance.”

In order to ensure that students choose the right college and complete all the applications they need to do, the school’s College Guidance program meets with students. Jayley Yelverton said that she was grateful for the help she received with applications and paperwork, but wishes she received more aid during the actual college search.

“I don’t think [College Guidance has] specifically [been effective in helping with] college decisions.” Yelverton explained. “I do think they’ve helped us on the path of FAFSA and housing and doing that kind of paperwork. But I don’t think, college wise, they have helped us very much... I think it’s been very broad.”

College Guidance has excelled in providing resources for students to find a college that might suit them. From college fairs and visits to recommendations on the Scoir website, seniors often have no trouble narrowing down the thousands of colleges in existence to a handful of choices.

When it comes to making a more precise decision though, the aid one receives from College Guidance is minimal. To be fair, there is not much help they can realistically offer when a student has multiple

most is at the end of the year, and at the end of the year, they’re trying to help the juniors,” Yelverton said. “I feel like the seniors are left in the dust when we need them the most.”

Even if it is not a perfect program, multiple former students who responded to the previously mentioned online form described College Guidance as extraordinarily helpful. They recounted how College Guidance helped them to both discover colleges and fill out applications.

“I had so much help from Mr. Gibson and Ms. Brooks.” wrote Thomas-Joyner. “If it weren’t for Ms. Brooks’ suggestion to look at Mount Holyoke in addition to Smith, I would have never ended up at my home away from home; MHC!”

Mr. Gibson believes that College Guidance is successful because of its philosophy.

“Our guiding principle is that the college search is not about us as college counselors,” said Mr. Gibson. “The College Search is about you as students finding a place where you’re going to be successful. And we get to celebrate your final choice, whatever it is, because when you’re excited about where you’re going, then we’re excited for you.”

Alum Advice

1. “Do not be afraid to transfer if the school is not right for you.”

2. “It’s okay if life doesn’t go the way you are expecting.”

3. “Don’t wait. It’s never really too early to start looking into schools.”

4. “find out what you are passionate about and study that. What you study might not be your career, but it might help you go in the right direction.”

5. “Make friends with students from other countries and listen to them talk about their cultures, customs, etc. Embrace it!”

6. “It really does make a difference to put yourself out there and join extracurriculars.”

7. “Always go to class!”

8. “College is amazing and it’s fun, but don’t believe everything you see on social media... It’s completely normal to have rough patches.”

9. “Life is gonna throw curve balls your way, but as long as you know yourself, you’ll be fine.”

10. “Just make the decision that is best for you and absolutely no one else!”

Driving Toward Change

New technology and construction in Memphis is leading to a brighter future

By Sienna Lightman

Throughout the past year, commuting around Memphis has become a lot more complicated. Potholes are appearing everywhere, roads and bridges are closing down for months on end and traffic has become unbearable. Drives that usually take 20 to 30 minutes are now becoming hour-long commutes.

Although St. George’s Upper and Middle Schools are nestled in Collierville, the two lower school campuses are in Memphis and Germantown. Due to this, students come from 50 different zip codes, so everybody’s drive to school looks different.

Why is it harder this year for commuters who live in Memphis to get to and from school?

Junior Selena Carpenter attributed the issues to the increase in construction work around

the city.

“I can think of at least three projects [that Memphis is working on right now],” she said. “I’m sure there’s more that they’re doing right now too,” she said.

Robert Knecht, Director of Public Works at City of Memphis, oversees these project operations. He is responsible for wastewater and stormwater operations which involves drainage systems, pipes and ditches. He also works with code enforcement, street sweeping

and street maintenance operations. This involves stormwater operations and keeping the pavement clean and safe to drive on. Knecht was previously Deputy Director of Maintenance and has served in the US Air Force.

He explained how sometimes, lots of different roads and bridges are in need of service at the same time.

“The City always has a responsibility to provide safe and suitable roads to the citizens and traveling

“After the snowstorm, especially on Walnut Grove, it was terrible. There were three potholes lined up, and I had never noticed them before [the storm]”

- Selena Carpenter ‘25

public,” Director Knecht said.

To make matters worse, this past January, Memphis was hit by a snowstorm that took schools and businesses out for multiple days. After the roads melted from the snow, they froze over the next night leading to ice everywhere. Once everything was clear, there was a huge issue left behind — potholes.

“After the snowstorm, especially on Walnut Grove, it was terrible. There were three potholes lined up, and I had never noticed them before [the storm],” explained Carpenter.

Mr. Ethan Sullivan, upper school chemistry teacher, also noticed that the amount of potholes increased. He said, “As much as I want to completely blame the city for [the potholes],...it is the weather, right? So when it gets really cold and it gets really rainy, I mean these things happen, and I think they try to keep caught up, but it’s hard because it’s just a lot across the board.”

Director Knecht alluded to the fact that the snowstorm did in fact damage the road conditions.

“Snow and ice always have a negative impact on our road systems but the City of Memphis is typically able to redirect resources in order to meet the need and maintain our roads,” he said.

Despite this admission, he explained

how Memphis is covering potholes faster than ever although the weather causes certain times of the year to have more potholes than others.

According to Action News 5, there are three different layers on the roads in Memphis — the top is made to repel water, but with heavy traffic, the top layer cannot repel water. This can leave cracks in the surface, allowing water to damage the interior layers. After this, the road can become vulnerable and cave in, leading to potholes. This is why in the winter, with constant freezing and thawing, there is an increase in potholes.

“The demand for pothole repairs is seasonal and mostly stabilized from winter storms and cold weather,” Knecht explained. “The City of Memphis has filled around 35,000 potholes this year with an average response time of 3 days.”

But, because construction is being done so frequently, traffic is getting worse and worse.

Carpenter has about a 30-minute ride to school every day, but with worsening traffic, it is taking longer and longer for her to get to school.

“The way I go, traffic adds 10 minutes usually. So, I have to account for that when coming [to school],” she said. “Lights are really backed up, and sometimes, they will go farther back than the past light. It’s not fun.”

Students are not the only ones

messes me up too sometimes because… depending on other traffic, sometimes Shady Grove is a good way for me to go, but I can’t do that now,” Mr. Sullivan explained.

But, because Mr. Sullivan leaves to go to school from 6:45-7 am, there is not too much traffic for him to face on the way to school.

Although, as Carpenter describes, many students are able to wake up much later than those

using new initiatives in order to make the infrastructure as efficient as possible.

According to the Commercial Appeal, Collierville has 19.4 million dollars put aside out of their Capital Investment Projects budget (CIP) for infrastructure projects.

But, according to the Memphis Data Hub, Memphis has doubled their funding for roadwork over the past four years. As of 2023, the city has put 19.5 million dollars towards

“I believe the City of Memphis has cutting-edge initiatives that include AI technology for pothole detection and investments in asset management.”

- Director Robert Knecht

who live in Memphis. Most students that attend St. George’s live in the Collierville and Germantown area, and therefore, they have a much shorter commute to school in the morning.

“It’s always been frustrating for me to hear about people who can get up at 8 am and be here by 8:30 am when I have to get up at 6:30 am. With the roads and stuff, it just makes it harder,” said Carpenter.

It is also very noticeable to see the differences between the roads in Collierville versus Memphis.

“Even though Collierville and Memphis are

just street paving alone.

“I believe the City of Memphis has cutting-edge initiatives that include AI technology for pothole detecting and investments in asset management. These efforts will start to show results in the next few years and allow us to maximize our financial efficiency,” said Director Knecht.

As of the beginning of 2024, AI has the potential to predict

slow down,” he said .

Although Memphis is clearly working on its roads, the question arises of what the future holds.

Director Knecht explained that there will always be work to do.

“Road maintenance is an ongoing and never-ending opportunity for Public Works staff,” he said.

One of the long-term goals that Director Knecht has is to provide Memphis residents with a greater understanding of the amount of infrastructure progress that has been made.

“We would like to add more public-facing maps for citizens,” said Director Knecht. “This would include enhancements to our paving schedule in addition to a sweeping snow and ice web map.”

These maps would help Memphians keep track of the

noticing changes in their everyday commutes. Although teachers such as Mr. Sullivan leave earlier in the morning, he still has to battle changes in his route.

“I feel like maybe Memphis just isn’t as focused on the quality of roads and isn’t putting as much funding into that as Collierville is.”

But, Director Knecht explained that this is not the case. Although it may take a few years to show, Memphis is improving its technology and

“There’s a bridge closed on Shady Grove [Road] that goes over I-240 at that point. That so close, our roads are [different] based on quality,” said Carpenter.

project outcomes, forecast weather patterns and suggest optimal paving work to ensure minimal disruption.

Mr. Sullivan also believes that some of the recent projects that Memphis has finished have made positive impacts on his local community.

With so many students commuting from so many different places, having the ability to know when road construction will occur and how long it will take makes travel to school so much easier. Faculty and students are able to plan their routes around the traffic and have an idea on how long it will take for them to arrive at school on time.

With AI technology being used for new initiatives and potholes being filled faster than ever, Memphis’s infrastructure seems to be improving. Although there will always be projects to do, with better technology being used correctly, Memphis infrastructure seems to be in store for a brighter and more progressive future.

“On my street and some other streets that a lot of families live on, [Memphis has] done a pretty good job of adding the new speed bumps that are actually legitimate in the sense that… people will actually construction that is going on and have an idea of when it will start and when it will be done.

Coloring the Campus

By Sydney Murray

The legacy of the Senior Art Gifts

Photography by Abbi Whitehead

Each year, as the school calendar reaches its end, the St. George’s Upper School community eagerly awaits the seniors’ unveiling of their class’s “senior art project.”

This project is a culmination of the senior class’s imagination, creativity and experimentation. From intricate sculptures to thought-provoking fixtures, each piece tells a unique story and reflects the

tradition within the St. George’s community.

Ms. Doherty highlights the goal of including every student in the project, no matter how artistically able they feel they are.

“Just because somebody’s not going to be the next Van Gogh or a famous artist, everybody has creative talent,” she said.

The St. George’s community strives to promote a space where each student can express their

“The joy of a project is seeing [students] complete it and make something so beautiful and to do it as a group.” - Ms. Rose Doherty

diversity of the graduating class who created it.

The senior art project not only serves as a platform for students to express their individuality but also creates a sense of community and unity within the graduation class. Each student brings their perspective, skills, and visions to the project. By offering various roles and responsibilities within the project, every student is able to contribute their talents.

The tradition of each graduating class creating a senior art project began in 2006 along with the first graduating class of St. George’s Independent School.

Ms. Rose Doherty, the previous St. George’s fine arts department chair, was the faculty member who worked with the students until 2018. Ms. Doherty was a part of the initial development of the senior art project. Along with Mr. Rick Ferguson, former head of school, she guided the first graduating class —the class of 2006—to create the first senior art project, an act that would become an impactful

creativity, no matter what the task is— and the senior project is a prime example of the opportunites that St. George’s creates.

“The project has to be you, and it has to be about what your class represents. I’m not going to do their work,” Ms. Doherty said.

For example, the arch at the end of the boardwalk near the fieldhouse is a great example of the uniqueness of each class. The class of 2018 decided to fill the arch with butterflies customized by each student. The students decided on these animals because the butterflies served as a symbol of themselves and how they were taking flight and leaving for college.

Each graduating class’s project is completely original, and—intentionally—none are alike.

“The joy of a project is seeing [students] complete it and make something so beautiful and to do it as a group,” Ms. Doherty said.

She could not limit her favorite down to a singular year. The tradition of collaborating with each grading class is, in itself, a special

part of the senior art project for Ms. Doherty.

Since 2018, when Ms. Doherty retired, the senior art project has been supervised by Ms. Allison Webb, the upper and middle school artist-in-residence and current fine arts department chair. Ms. Webb aims to merely be a bystander and only intervene when absolutely necessary. This gives the seniors, essentially, total control over how they will proceed with their projects.

Towards the beginning of the school year, a meeting is held where interested seniors gather to discuss and plan the project. The meeting serves as a chance for them to introduce one another to ideas and project objectives.

They take in multiple different variables when planning the project including the theme they aim to portray, available spaces to showcase their work, and participation through the year.

Once the project has been col-

lectively agreed upon, the seniors divide the task among themselves and begin the process.

The amount of time and labor depends on the project itself. Projects such as the puzzle collage displayed in the upper school’s downstairs hallway were less time consuming because each student was able to take their piece home and work on it whenever convenient, unlike the arches on either side of the boardwalk, where students had to individually sit down with a professional and learn how to work with a welding torch.

The supervisors gather the senior class together and offer them advice and possible ideas, along with the opportunity to work with outside artists to create something on a grand scale that would require the expertise. Projects like the blown glass orbs or the arch that sits at the end of the boardwalk are prime examples of where the students had the chance to work with artists.

The Class of 2015’s senior art gift: a blown-glass sculpture created with guest artists Bill Price and Teresa White.

For these projects, professionals came to campus to work with the students to help them learn, for example, to blow glass or work with a welding torch. These experiences correlate with the special process the seniors get to participate in.

“You know that’s the thing, they are kids from St. George’s and you can do anything as a St. George’s student. That’s what school makes you feel like,” Ms. Doherty said.

There are no boundaries of what the students can do. If they have a vision and plan, it can be done.

The combination of unique personalities encourages students to engage with one another’s ideas, and through this process, students do not only learn about each other’s artistic skills but also about each other on a personal and deeper scale.

Ms. Webb and Ms. Doherty agree that the project is dependent on the class.

“There has never been a class that does something similar to another. The project is indicative of each person’s personality,” Ms. Webb stated.

Gracye Thompson is one of the students of the current senior class of 2024 that has taken charge of the project this year. Along with her peers, Thompson is ecstatic about finally being able to participate in the project, and now, they are finally beginning the work.

“It feels more real now that we’re talking about [the project],” Thompson said.

because it will serve as a reminder of where the seniors will be once they graduate.

Another student in the graduating class of 2024, Emily Zhao, explains how the process went and how she got involved with the committee.

“Ms. Webb sent out an email and said, if you want to be on the committee for the senior art gift to let her know, and I let her know,” Zhao said.

Zhao has a passion for the arts and was ecstatic to be able to have a role in the planning and execution of her classes project.

This year the students have a special task to incorporate into their project. They plan to bring light and memory to classmate Carson Head, who passed away in 2015 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, when she was seven years old. They plan to incorporate the color pink, Carson’s favorite color, whether it be a tile or butterflies. Carson was a part of the class of 2024 and her classmates have ensured that her legacy will be intertwined with theirs.

In a similar act of tribute, when alum Jacob Nabors passed away in March, his peers from the class of 2016 returned to campus to add messages of love and remembrance to their class’s bottle tree.

Along with including a nod to Carson in their project, this year’s seniors have decided to place the mosaic in a location so it will be

“There has never been a class that does something similar to another. The project is indicative of each person’s personality.”

- Ms. Allison Webb

As normal, this year’s students have gathered together and decided their goal was to create a piece that would be very apparent to the community and their class would be remembered whenever it is seen. They settled upon an intricate design that would be placed above the Agape Chapel’s entrance with their graduating year. The project will incorporate a mosaic pattern with their college colors. They decided to use their college colors

The Class of 2009’s art gift: an archway made of steel and bronze on the side of the boardwalk closest to the academic building. The arch was made with the help of guest artists Bill Price and Tim Cowan.

visible daily. The doorway of Agape Chapel is a meaningful spot because it marks the entrance into a reverent space where the St. George’s community goes to praise and worship weekly.

The St. George’s community is proud to have amazing and bright students that are able to bring visions to life. Similar to previous years, the class of 2024 student project is something that everyone looks forward to being revealed.

The Class of 2016’s senior art gift: a bottle tree adjacent to the senior deck, on which each student placed a bottle on a rung.

Student Parking Lot

Dining Hall

Class of 2017

Class of 2019

St. George’s Upper School Wing

A new athletic direction

A look bAck At Ms. York’s first YeAr As AD

By Ella Coons Photography courtesy Mr. Pruett

June will mark one year of Michelle York being the athletic director here at St. George’s. With nearly a year in Memphis, it’s time to take a look back at all she has accomplished.

Ms. York is a graduate of the University of Mississippi — Ole Miss, colloquially — who studied health and wellness with an emphasis on cardiac rehab. She wanted to work in a hospital with cardiac patients who were just coming out of surgery and help them with their rehab.

But she loved athletics more.

Ms. York stayed in Oxford and was the assistant coach for the University Of Mississippi women’s volleyball team. She stayed there for 10 years before moving on.

After her time in Mississippi, Ms. York became the athletic director at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she also coached the high school’s women’s volleyball team. She also held the position as athletic director at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.

Now in Memphis, Ms. York has goals like improving communication and promoting athletes. One of her top priorities is to create a culture of excitement and involvement and promotion for student athletes.

The general consensus is that Ms. York has done a wonderful job.

Ms. Sami Hartsoe, Head Volleyball Coach, commented on how effortless the transition to Ms. York being the athletic director was.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how clear her expectations were for the coaching staff, and how good she was with me at coaching and communicating throughout the season,” she said.

This year, the volleyball team

was the runner-up at the state championship in Murfreesboro. Gryphons flooded the stands at nearly all of the games to show support for the team and part of the newfound excitement for the sport may be from something Ms. York added to their games.

On top of that, changes were happening at St. George’s home gyms.

“We had an announcer at our games. So he narrated the game which was super fun. Just the idea of it making it more of an experience than just a game,” said Hartsoe.

Senior volleyball player, Kiki Finneran, shares the same sentiments as her coach.

“We seemed a lot more organized this year. Especially going to state, we had a lot more… involvement.”

Ms. Hartsoe is thankful for what Ms. York has done and also recognizes that being an athletic director can be difficult as there is a lot to organize, but she felt that she and her team were very supported.

“There’s a lot that she’s trying to do at once, so it’s hard [to support us]. But I feel like every time I need her for a question or a concern she’s always very black and white to the point and doesn’t try to sugarcoat it,” Ms. Hartsoe explained.

likes Ms. York. Dan has been playing football for nine years and has been at St. George’s for 3 years where he was recently part of the defensive and offensive line. Being captain meant that he was able to talk to Ms. York a little more.

“I like her because she’s really cool and she’s outgoing and she’s willing to change things that need to be changed.”

Compared to his junior year, Crutcher felt that this football season was very chaotic and that the team as a whole weren’t at their best this year. He attributed it to having an almost entirely new coaching staff and that having to learn who these people are and their coaching style was difficult. Through it all, Ms. York was there helping the football players in the background.

“She was always supporting us. And… she’s the only athletic director I’ve had that is trying to make changes as far as the culture and everything goes,” said Crutcher.

“She’S the only athletic director i’ve had that iS trying to make changeS aS far aS the culture and everything goeS.” - dan crutcher ‘24

After there being many athletic directors over the past few years, student athletes like Finneran are relieved.

“She’s definitely been a breath of fresh air for the athletic department,” she said.

Additionally, Finneran is impressed by the amount of time Ms. York has put into athletic programs.

She said, “She’s been putting in 110 percent effort.”

Senior, captain, and football player Dan Crutcher also really

Ms. York is also not afraid to make changes when necessary. Something new that she did this year was have a meeting with all of the seniors on the football team.

“She [asked] about how our season went and she wanted us to be honest with her so she can go in and make changes,” said Crutcher. Sloan Carruth, junior basketball player, had a really good interaction with Ms. York this year. Sophomore year, Carruth broke the record for most rebounds in

Ms. York poses for a photo with Jordan Thomas ‘24, his family and Coach Adkins in celebration of football’s senior night.

a game and most rebounds in a season. But, those records were not displayed for a long time. She decided to talk to Ms. York about it to get it fixed. When Ms. York did get the records up, Carruth’s name was misspelled so she told Ms. York again.

“I walked back into the gym the next day and just happened to look up and I noticed she had gotten it fixed and back up there in a day with my name perfectly spelled correctly.”

The swiftness with which Ms. York addresses problems is one of the things that makes her great. Carruth also appreciates how her

supposed to be fulfilling.”

Communication and personal fulfillment are two of Ms. York’s biggest goals as athletic director at St. George’s.

“There’s amazing things that are going on here and I want to make sure that everybody sees it and knows it,” says Ms. York.

And she has made people see it. Due to her incredible work in high school athletics and athletic administration throughout the state of Tennessee, Ms. York received the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Associations) State Award of Merit this year.

“ there’S amazing thingS that are going on here and i want to make Sure that everybody SeeS it and knowS it.” - mS. michelle york

coaches seem to have improved.

“I think she’s come in and done a really good job of… encouraging more coaches,” said Carruth.

With nearly one year under her belt as the St. George’s Athletic director, Ms. York really wanted to create an environment where every student-athlete feels supported and that they have personally improved.

“Our goal might be to win a state championship, but our purpose is really to compete at and do our best at every level,” she said.

Students and their personal achievements are what really matter to Ms. York.

“To be a great place of legacy for our student athletes, as something they look back on very fondly of their memories here, that they can tell that they made a difference here, and that people cared about them and valued them and that their coaches poured into them and that they continue those relationships when they leave here.”

The general consensus seems to be that most (if not all) coaches feel better about their programs with Ms. York in charge. Mr. Tyler Gregg, director of strength and conditioning, feels like Ms. York is supporting everyone, both athletes and coaches.

“People actually are finding a purpose, and they know and understand the roles that they’re

This award is presented to a person who demonstrates outstanding leadership and meritorious service and achievement in the vocation of interscholastic administration. This is the highest honor that an individual can receive from the NIAAA and St. George’s is so proud of Ms. York.

Ms. York has done great and will continue to do great things for our community. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Ms. York and Head of School Luke Pruett pose for a photo at the volleyball state championships in Murfreesboro.

Ms. York congratulates the softball team after their huge win against FACS on Tuesday, March 26.

St. George’s 2023-2024

Track One: Volleyball State Championship by Caroline Wood

The St. George’s volleyball team went to the state tournament in October of 2023. No one can prepare you for how crazy the environment was until we got there — the gym we played in was the loudest place I’ve ever been at in my entire life. On the very last day, the idea of our team having the potential to be state title holders truly sunk in once we saw the St. George’s student body arrive to support us. It made me proud of our school to see that there were so many Gryphons willing to wake up at the crack of dawn in order to support us. Despite getting runner-up, having that experience was sort of a “bucket-list checked” thing in regards to my volleyball career and I’m so grateful to have been a part of something as cool as that.

Track Two: Monarchs Choir Concert by Molly Gorham

The St. George’s Fine Arts concert, Monarchs, which took place in late March was a surreal experience for all who witnessed its greatness. The concert honored the kings and queens of music, with pieces by notable artists such as Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Queen, and Buddy Holly. Watching everyone dancing and singing along with us as we performed was really incredible. To see people excited about something that we worked so insanely hard on was such a great feeling. It was an incredible night overall and left a smile on my face that didn’t wipe off for days.

Track Three: Fall Play by Ella Coons

Acting has been part of my life since third grade. This year, the show I performed in was “An Inspector Calls,” a somewhat dramatic murder mystery set in the early 20th century. I had the honor to play Mrs. Birling, a socialite who ends up being the catalyst to a girl’s death. I have many hilarious memories of the show such as doing one run through with horrible southern accents instead of British and shoving a willing Jade Masters into a tiny toddler car we found backstage. I loved this cast and crew and will forever be thankful to Ms. Wilson for bringing this incredible group together.

Track Four: Mock Trial by Olivia Vitale

After years of letting myself take a back seat, I finally had the opportunity to step up as one of the leaders of the team. Despite a few setbacks, I can say this was one of our best seasons yet. I was grateful to be surrounded by so many dedicated individuals, and that dedication helped my final season end with a bang. Both sides won their rounds the final day, and almost nothing could match the pride I felt in that moment. I will never forget my time on the team and will miss all of them for years to come.

Track Five: Homecoming Wagon Wheel by Livi VanSteenberg

I may be a little biased as a cheerleader, but the homecoming football game felt like everything that the St. George’s community is supposed to be. The team played really well — Win for Wes — and the student section felt electric after one of our best wins in a difficult season. That final minute of anticipation when we knew we were going to rush the field as the fight song played and the team started to celebrate on the sideline has become a core memory for me. Being on the cheer team is one of my favorite parts of being a Gryphon and having such a meaningful game with them made me feel really connected with the community.

Track Six: Polar Plunge by Sienna Lightman

The return of the Polar Plunge was my favorite highlight from the 2023-2024 school year. After many years of this tradition fading away, it was brought back as a fun afternoon house day event. Students made their way to Bullfrog Pond dressed in fun costumes. Each house had a chance to plunge into the lake with even teachers and administrators jumping in too. It was a time for everybody to shine and get that adrenaline rush of jumping into the cold pond. When it was my turn to go, I got to jump with some of my closest friends (shoutout to Emily Zhao and Carys Sears!) and then enjoy some postjump smores. This was truly an afternoon to let loose and have a good time with classmates and I hope this tradition lasts forever.

George’s Wrapped 2023-2024

Track Seven: Junior Retreat by Sydney Murray

The junior retreat is a St. George’s tradition where the 11th graders spend two days together brainstorming ideas to advance the St. George’s community. This year we spent our time playing laser tag, singing karaoke, climbing rock walls, and ziplining. But most importantly, we grew closer together as a group while discussing ideas and plans we had for our community. My favorite memory from this trip was when the girls in my cabin gathered on the couch together right before bed and read a devotional together. This was such a serene and genuine moment for all of us to be vulnerable and express ourselves and feelings.

Track Eight: House Capture the Flag by Johnny Bailey

My favorite part of the year, apart from the resulting asthma attack, was running through the woods having no idea where I was going but just following the colors that I could still see. It was a beautiful day and perfect weather for capture the flag, and we all took it seriously while not taking it seriously at the same time, which resulted in a perfect balance in player investment. It was the first outdoor day we’d had with houses in awhile and it was one of the best ones I’ve had.

Track Nine: By the Lake by The Lodge staff

After our first press party of the year — a get-together to celebrate publishing one of our print issues — we went out to Bulldog Pond to take pictures and get a breath of fresh air. We ran around, ate good food and bonded after countless rounds of copy edits and long days spent staring at computer screens. The end result was a full J.C. Penney’s-style photoshoot in ugly Christmas sweaters and lots of kayak paddles.

Track Ten: Black History Month Event by Abbi Whitehead

On February 22, 2024 there was a huge assembly to celebrate Black History Month. There was a fashion show displaying the different eras of style in the black community. Music played and invited students to dance together, it was so much fun watching the different grades mingle during the dancing event, along with seeing the art gallery with different art pieces shared by students and our art teacher Mr. Broadway. It was so fun taking pictures there, seeing everyone taking time to relax, mingle, dance and enjoy wonderful culture together.

Track Eleven: Valentine’s Day Dance by Kirklyn Moore

The Love at the Lodge dance was a highlight for me of the 2023-2024 school year. As a break from the second semester, it was something I looked forward to and cherished every second of. I was able to get ready with an incredible group of girls, have dinner with another group and dance in the dining hall with all of my closest friends. I danced like no one was watching, which to be frank is the farthest thing from good but makes dances so much fun. I took so many pictures and took advantage of the fun red heart glasses left for people at the dance. It was a great night filled with laughter, dancing, red and pink dresses and friendship.

Track Twelve: Senior Parent Dinner by O’Neal Starrett

On February 25, 2023, the seniors and their parents gathered for dinner at St. George’s. That evening, the academic careers of the seniors were celebrated, and accomplishments were recognized. The menu included chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. There was also a memorable assortment of custom made cookies that incorporated images associated with St. George’s, such as gryphons and the school’s crest. Several students addressed their peers about their experience about St. George’s, and what the school means to them. Head of School Luke Pruett also reminded students how important the school’s community is. The evening concluded with a beautiful violin performance by Catherine McLean ‘21 and a group photo.

What am I Doing Different?

The curse of being a fangirl

By Caroline Wood

When you think of the word “fangirl,” what first comes to mind? Young women screaming and crying from just having gotten a glance of their favorite musician? Maybe you’re picturing a girl who owns every bit of merchandise and knows every single fact about their favorite singer? Often credited as being annoying and obsessive, we all have the idea in our head of what a stereotypical fangirl looks like, but there is so much more to them.

Fangirls have existed for as long as media has been accessible worldwide. Elvis Presley saw large success in the 1950s with teenage girls as his core demographic. In the 1960s, the term “Beatlemania” was coined to describe the hysteric female fan culture that surrounded the Beatles at the time. Teenage girls would sneak into hotels the band was staying at, storm security barricades at concerts, and be seen crying or fainting when in the presence of any of the members. In more modern times, we have people or groups like One Direction, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Harry Styles with large female fanbases, but nowadays, the term “fangirl” is often seen as a degrading term. Whether we realize it or not, certain things are often discredited or mocked if they have a large female fanbase.

Look at bands like One Direction—throughout their time together many people had a hard time taking them seriously primarily due to the demographic they catered to, which was teenage girls. Despite having sold out stadiums multiple times, hitting number one on the charts, and breaking tons of records they still were not taken

seriously.

The Beatles are also a prime example of being discredited based on what their fan base consisted of. In a quote from over 50 years ago, David Susskind, a popular talk show host at the time, said that the Beatles are “the most repulsive group of men I’ve ever seen.” Writer William F. Buckley said that the Beatles were “so unbelievably horrible, so appallingly unmusical…that they qualify as the crowned heads of anti-music.”

Doesn’t it sound crazy to hear people saying that about one the most popular and well regarded bands of all time? It was not uncommon for the Beatles and other popular bands at the time to face criticism, with the motivation behind it being the fanbase.

In the article “‘Mentrification’: How Men Appropriated Computers, Beer and the Beatles” from The Guardian,” journalist Van Badham, she references a conversation she saw on Tumblr, beginning with “When did the group [Beatles] start to be remembered as rock legends, rather than a silly boy band teenage girls liked?’’ Another user answered: “when men decided they liked them,” hence the term “mentrification,” which can be defined as “the process where the achievement of women in creating or developing is overwritten by men.”

Artists that stand the test of time like the Beatles and Elvis Presley are prime examples of this phenomenon. Once the Beatles separated, and once Elvis got older and so did his teenage girl fans, a more diverse demographic began listening to their music, and went, “Hey this is pretty good!” So with all that to say, the pattern could repeat itself with more “modern” artists such a Taylor Swift or Harry Styles.

All of this goes along with a quote

from Harry Styles in his 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, “Who’s to say that young girls who like pop music–short for popular right? – have worse musical taste than a 30-year old hipster guy?...Young girls like[d] the Beatles. You gonna tell me they’re not serious?”

A clear double standard is present in being a fangirl versus being a sports fan — it’s valid for a sports fan to externally display their emotions while watching a sports game. It is completely valid for a sports fan to own multiple jerseys, own an abundant amount of merchandise for their favorite sports team. Engaging in discourse around sports is not questioned either. However, fangirls owning mass amounts of merchandise, buying multiple concert tickets and knowing the lyrics to every song of their favorite artist is more often than not met with judgment of some kind.

Is there really a large difference between someone cheering for their favorite team at a game and someone screaming the lyrics to their favorite artists’ songs at their concert?

Not really, fans of sports and fans of musicians still feel similar emotions towards what they enjoy, just one is met with more backlash than the other. This is not meant to bash sports fans, but it is an unfair for one group that also participates in fan

TICKET

culture through sports, to criticize a group who also participates in fan culture, just with music instead.

Being a fangirl allows for people from all over the world can connect over having the same shared interests. Friendships can be formed around having the same passion, giving a sense of a small community in a large world. A fangirl can feel a sense of belonging in the larger world despite being a smaller community that might not relate to their interests.

Being a fangirl can help guide someone’s future career path. Many fangirls end up getting jobs in the music industry later on, and can gain certain skills from the digital editing and art they create.

Being a fangirl is not something to be embarrassed by or the reason someone should be made fun of, but something to be proud of. Someone on the outside doesn’t need to be able to relate to being a fan the same way a fangirl is, but at least needs to accept that someone else has differing interests, and that’s cool! It’s what makes us all human at the end of the day.

To end off with a quote from Harry Styles in the same Rolling Stone interview in regards to fangirls, “They’re our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going. Teenage-girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act ‘too cool.’ They like you, and they tell. Which is sick.”

OPINION POLICY: The Lodge opinion section is a venue for the free expression of the student views at St. George’s Independent School. The opinions represented in this section are those of the authors alone and do not necesarily reflect those of the Lodge staff or of the St. George’s community at large. The Lodge strives to be an open forum for the thoughtful and deliberate exchange of comment and criticism and therefore welcomes letters to the editor. Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper, should not exceed 300 words and must be signed and accompanied by a verifiable email address. These letters will not be printed if the content is judged obscene, violates the privacy of others or encourages physical disruption of school activities.

Letter From the Editor

Dear fellow staff members and readers,

To say that the past three years on staff of The Lodge have been some of the best years of my life is an understatement. I came as a sophomore, not knowing what to expect, became a co-editor-in-chief my junior year and am now serving my third year as senior co-editorin-chief.

When I put Newsmagazine on my course request list, I truly thought it was going to just be another class, but boy was I wrong.

What began as me not knowing anyone or even what The Lodge does and being taken in by the one and only Dr. Robertson and past seniors such as Madeline Sisk and Ellie Christie became me getting to know new underclassmen and helping them learn the ways of Newsmagazine.

We wrote stories about Wes Smith’s legacy, new heads of school, how our school budget works and my personal favorite: the best places to study in Memphis. We laughed, we ranted, we cried, we got closer, we supported each other and we ate a lot of food.

Of course, this class is about publishing important stories, photographs and illustrations, but it is also about the people that you learn to work with in the process.

During my junior year, after Dr. Robertson left and Anna Schmiedicke and I were tasked with being co-editors (I miss you Anna!), Mr. Adcock stepped in as our new advisor. I did not know what to expect from this, but after getting to the point where he wrote my college recommendation letter, it was clear that this was one of the best decisions ever.

Mr. Adcock, keep being the epic adviser you are and please keep

Livi and Kirklyn in check after I am gone. I know you will.

When I chose the extraordinarily talented sophomore Livi VanSteenberg as my fellow co-editor-in-chief at the end of my junior year, I never knew that we would not only end up being fellow leaders but also best friends.

That is what this class does to you: it brings you together with people who will be life-long friends. You come in the first day not knowing anyone and you leave not wanting to let go. Livi, you are amazing. Keep being your goofy, sarcastic, hardworking self and please never stop laughing.

So, as I am passing The Lodge down and finally letting go after three unforgettable years, I am so happy that I get to let it go to Kirklyn Moore and Livi VanSteenberg. Kirklyn, you are so hardworking, funny and genuine, and I know you will keep Livi in check as her fellow co-editor-inchief. Also, please keep up the quote board!

This year was by far the best and most memorable year for me on staff. We had almost a com-

pletely new staff and with a new staff came new ideas. The people that I will call my closest friends from St. George’s when I graduate in May are the people in this class. I will miss Ella Coons’s daily words of affirmation, Caroline Wood’s sarcastic comments and Sydney Murray’s crazy stories.

We made a TikTok account, we got sweatshirts, we found new stories to write and we revitalized the Instagram account. After walking into period two after a long day, I knew I would always be greeted by smiling faces and people who cared about me.

My favorite memory was when everyone was stressed out during exam season so we went outside to the treehouse and just hung out as a class. We took corny holiday photos, laughed and got to know each other better than ever. It was the best day of my life, also probably because I got into my dream school that day. (Go Mules!)

To all my fellow staffers and new ones to come: thank you so much for putting in the work to keep this class going and understanding the importance of

journalism. Something you all will never probably forget is the fact I cannot spell (congragulations!), but also the fact that I was almost always in the newsroom. I get to school at seven in the morning to stare at computer five until 8:30 and do not leave school some days until 5:30, continuing to stare at computer five. (The Keurig is a life-saver)

Why, may you ask? Because working hard makes even better work. Trust me. If you put your heart and soul into this class, it will very much pay off.

Another piece of advice I will leave you with is to always ask for help if you need it. There is not a single person in this class who would not help you or at least attempt to if you needed something. We care about you.

And, finally, to the St. George’s community as a whole: Thank you for taking me in my 8th-grade year and allowing me to thrive as a student. Thank you for highlighting me through my work at The Lodge, my athletics and my research.

Keep thriving, SGIS. Thank you, Ms. Malott, Mr. Sullivan, and of course, Mr. Adcock for always being there for me through my worst moments and my best moments. They truly do not lie when they say that St. George’s has the best teachers out there.

So, saying that I am the last staffer who had Doc Rob as a newspaper advisor, I just have one more thing to say: Turn off the lights and shut the door before you leave. I love y’all.

Signing off, Sienna Lightman

p.s. Dr. Pepper Peeps are superior.

Senior Wills

Class of 2024

Roselyn Higareda wills her title as Premier Mexican of SG to Melissa Villa

Sofia Delahoussaye wills the title “Calc heckler” to Johnny Bailey

Becca Denzer wills being a killer witness to Alex Dunn

Emily Zhao wills being sassy to Carys Sears

Olivia Vitale wills Helen Beaudoin using the word “purr” in every conversation

Kelsey Connor wills her Converse to Ella Coons

Kiki Finneran wills SG’s best curls to Grace Allen

Gage Getman wills the next AME MVP to Will Getman

Daryl Cooper wills Jasper Rhodes a hat trick

Brandon Hayden wills his sister Brooklyn Hayden the title of most attractive student at SGIS

Avah Lareau wills the best Lareau at St. George’s to Makenna Lareau

Kewan Randolph wills never being in class to Kinsley Coleman

Michael Davidson wills the middle name “Danger” to Sam Davidson

Taylor Crutcher wills her ability to wear high heels at dances and keep them on the whole time to Ionna-Success Wilkerson

Anna Claire Lindow wills the best double name to Mary May Luton

Jared Ruth wills a charger to Jaydon Smith

Gracye Thompson wills her infinite yapping skills to Tyler Bergin

Batie Casey wills “Casey Pond” to Cort and Connell Casey

Jayley Yelverton wills being the best Yelverton to Livi Yelverton

Jordan Thomas wills DN to Zeke Cowell

Chase Cavitch wills his running spikes to Mitchell Holder

Caroline Ruffin wills her sass to Kinsley Coleman

Jordan Smith wills colored clothing to Mr. Link. May he always be colorful and bright and not dark and depressing

AnaLu McDonald wills Abby Albonetti her love for music, theater, joy and determination to get through all the hardships that come her way

Thomas Densford wills being the most talented musician to Alex Smith

Sienna Lightman wills The Lodge to Kirklyn Moore and Livi VanSteenberg