Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown, NJ
Friday, December 15, 2023
2023-2024, Issue #2
Opposing Viewpoints Create Tension Around Student Speech The Israel-Hamas war amplified an atmosphere of social pressure that’s been simmering for close to a decade.
By Dinah Megibow-Taylor ’24
In This Issue Six students attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) from November 29 to December 2 Page 2 Get a glimpse of the ad-hoc process through the Intensive Learning Ad-Hoc, meeting each Friday Page 2
Features WordsWorth visualizes Danielle Dayton’s 20 year tenure to celebrate her retirement Page 6 Seniors Foluke Balogun and Chelsea Mohammed signed their Letters of Intent to play DI womens’ soccer on December 1 Page 7
Pop Culture With the return of the original format of the viral video game “Fortnite,” students experienced a wave of nostalgia Page 3 Art Director Chloe Marshall ’26 predicts the hottest fashion trends of 2024 Page 3
Opinion The WordsWorth Editorial Board reflects on this year’s changed Thanksgiving Happening format Page 8
Us When...
...we see papers crumpled in the stairwell on Distribution Day Photo shared by Internet Archives on Flickr with no known copyright restrictions.
On October 7, Hamas inflicted a series of brutal attacks on Israel, sparking an ongoing war that has resulted in the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians from an Israeli counter-offense. Students have since engaged in several community forums to discuss the conflict, but they are still hesitant to discuss their stances freely. This hesitancy highlighted the social pressure that students feel generally when speaking openly on issues ranging from the student government to the international political scale. Since former president Donald Trump’s election in 2016, the American cultural landscape has shifted drastically. Cancel culture looms large, pervasive and effective in stifling speech. Social media compounds the problem for Gen-Z; it has both shifted discourse towards online forums, rendering adolescents ineffective at engaging in productive discussion, and it has made it possible for past words and actions to trail the user. The Israel-Hamas war is simply the most recent issue that exemplifies the general hesitancy to speak openly in public forums. Post October 7, the first message that Upper School students received in response to the conflict was an email on October 10 from the Jewish Student Union (JSU) faculty facilitator Debra Galler, who publicized that an impromptu JSU meeting would be happening that day during lunch, inviting “all Jewish-identifying students” to attend. That afternoon, students received a statement released by Head of School Julia de la Torre addressing the conflict, in which she emphasized the importance of reflecting upon the conflict using the Quaker values. This was the only official statement released by Moorestown Friends. Galler wanted to offer a space for Jewish students to gather because she heard fears from Jewish students in the wake of October 7, and she and Dan Sussman, the other faculty advisor of JSU, believed it was the best course of action. She noted that the Israel-Hamas conflict was a “very fraught topic all around,” comparing it to the topic of Trump’s election: “The reason I make that equivalency is because we’re usually a pretty outspoken community, and in both of those instances it felt like people felt more silenced than willing to speak.” Diversity Committee also functioned as a space in the weeks following the October
7 attacks where Upper School students — regardless of religious affiliation or political position — were invited to engage in a discussion of the topic in a worship sharing format on November 1, facilitated by student Diversity Committee clerks Haila Desai ’24 and Sophia Lalani ’25. Students sat in a circle and went around, where they could speak out of the silence using the ‘I’ perspective to share their feelings about the conflict or choose to pass. After the circle was completed, anyone was invited to speak. This discussion method was utilized to “give people the chance to speak but not force them to speak,” said Lalani. In addition to this discussion, Diversity led a meeting that focused on media literacy in regard to the conflict. Despite these efforts, some students, including Ali Sabir ’26, sophomore class president and Muslim Student Union (MSU) member, are still hesitant to openly share their views with the community, especially following the community’s continued response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. “In general, I don’t [share my views with the community]. With close friends, I do … Bigger spaces, absolutely not … It’s a small school; everyone knows everyone.” Sabir attended the Diversity Committee discussion, but did not choose to share, a choice that he rarely makes in discussion forums, he added. In unofficial school spaces, such as the hallways or public spaces during passing times, Sabir has been confronted with the topic: “I’m just … trying to get to history [class], and somebody will just bring up something about Hamas, which I find ridiculous.” Nicholas Caputo ’24, chooses not to engage with school-sponsored public forums, citing an atmosphere of intense judgment that he finds increasingly prevalent in the community outside of MFS: “I’ve talked to alums who have come here for years and they say, ‘No, this [atmosphere] is a relatively new thing,’ so going off of that, this is something that’s been [brewing] since about 2016, ever since everything got very polarized.” “We really tried to use Diversity [Committee] as a space for students to come and talk about their feelings about Israel and Palestine, no matter what side they’re on and to learn about the conflict from the perspective of other students,” added Desai, who noted that she observed tension between students during the discussion. “Obviously
we are a pretty divided community, and there are some students of the minority opinion who do not feel safe to share.” Most statements shared during the meeting were by Jewish students expressing their fear and anguish; most were ardently in support of Israel’s right to exist and its defense against Hamas attacks. There were also students who expressed their antipathy towards the pro-Israel position. From both sides, there was an acknowledgement of the horrors of war that have occurred, including the deaths of innocent civilians — Israeli and Palestinian alike. Though these community discussions took place in October and November, this hesitancy to share in large forums is endemic. The group setting where this atmosphere is most starkly highlighted is Meeting for Worship for Business (MFWFB), where student engagement with school-related discussion topics is significantly lower than that in smaller student government committees, such as Agenda Committee. As a student government faculty adviser, one of Upper School Director Noah Rachlin’s jobs is to work with the six student government Clerks on devising methods to improve student participation in larger forums. “I observe people who articulate and act in accordance with the idea that there’s a ‘chilling effect’ in the community, such that they don’t feel as though socially, they [can] say certain things,” said Rachlin. In response, in recent meetings, he has worked with the Clerks to “build in some of these lower-lift systems to try to utilize to help people have more positive moments of interaction with each other, which it feels like folks aren’t having in the US right now” to shift away from the model of the ‘turnand-talk,’ — where students talk in small groups and the clerks travel around the room and gather students’ ideas — which is the primary mode of facilitated discussion used in MFWFB. Some students with opinions on either side of any particular issue are hesitant to speak openly, demonstrating that this fear is not specific to one group: “Everyone’s very judgmental at this school...if you don’t agree with the dominant view, you’re an outcast,” said an anonymous student. The student said that they neither wished to share during the MFWFB discussion about Thanksgiving Happening for fear of rebuke, nor openly share their moderate political views in public spaces. Rachlin is concerned with remedying the issue of social pressure rather than building systems for conversation that accommodate that atmosphere: “I would rather we be working to address that challenge rather than seemingly just accepting that as a reality and building a system that matches that thing,” said Rachlin.
The Man Behind the Music: Steve Kolaris and the Final Friday Bell By Charlotte Nesevich ’25 MFS students’ ears are long accustomed to the ring of the bell that sounds to mark the beginning or end of a period — except for the final dismissal on Fridays, which is always marked by a cheerful tune rather than the traditional rhythmic chime. “I do look forward to the songs, it does make [Fridays] even better,” said Ben Batra ’24. The man behind the music is the Director of Technology Steve Kolaris. Kolaris mentioned that the tradition first began “years ago” when he was experimenting with the newly implemented speakers: “ I thought it would be nice and uplifting to get a song to get us going into the weekend. We started doing it more and more, and then it just became a regular tradition.” Caitlin Bailey ’25 also appreciates the music and the energy it brings to the school on Friday afternoons: “I like it when they play music on Fridays … it’s a nice thing to look forward to on a Friday afternoon when you’re going home for the weekend.” While the weekly songs have become second nature to many students, Kolaris says that the hardest part is actually “trying to pick the songs. Because [the songs] obviously have to be positive, and clean. A lot of the popular
songs aren’t as clean as [faculty and staff would] like them to be. You’ve got to think that whatever you play is appealing to a large range of ages.” Rather than selecting randomly from a
“The man behind the music is the Director of Technology Steve Kolaris.” pool of approved songs, Kolaris tries to keep a certain cultural relevance in his choices: “Some of it is tied into an event that’s going on that month or that week. Sometimes it’s club-related, or related to an activity, or a holiday, or a culture … Sometimes, I’ll play something about rain if we’ve had rain that week. Or I’ll play holiday songs, because the holidays are coming up.” In the past, Kolaris has catered the music to support local sports teams by playing the Eagles’ hype song “Fly Eagles Fly” during
their Super Bowl campaign in February of 2023. Previously, when the Phillies played in the World Series in November of 2022, Kolaris aired their hype song, “Dancing On My Own” by Calum Scott. After singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet passed away at the age of 76 in September 2023, Kolaris played Buffet’s hit song “Margaritaville” in honor of his career. Kolaris said, “Maybe a lot of kids didn’t know him, but they were probably going to hear about it. So it was a neat opportunity to introduce them to new music. A lot of people do come up to me, and they ask me about songs I played.”
Steve Kolaris and his desk set-up. Photo by Charlotte Nesevich ’25.
2 Friday, December 15, 2023
News MFSWordsWorth.com | @MFSWordsWorth | journalism@mfriends.org
MFS Sends Delegation of Students to SDLC 2023
Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Intensive Learning Changes
From November 29 to December 2, a delegation of six students and four advisors traveled to St. Louis, Missouri for the 2023 Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), overseen by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The students who attended were Sophia Lalani ’25, Miles Wilkins ’25, Ali Sabir ’26, Maya Wohler ’26, Jade McRae ’26, and Emmie Huynh ’27 and the advisors were Chanelle Walker, Kenya Barber, Mitali Pande, and Jenel Giles. During SDLC, students participated in family Groups and affinity Groups, where they engaged in meaningful dialogue about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Family Groups served as a comfortable space for students where they could share openly about their past experiences with DEIB in their school SDLC Cohort, pictured in order left to right: and local communities. Sophia Lalani ’25, Miles Wilkins ’25, Ali Sabir Additionally, these groups served as a space for ’26, Jade McRae ’26, Emmie Huynh ’27, and cross-cultural collaboration, as students had Maya Wohler ’26. the opportunity to hear about the experiences of others in their group. Affinity groups were similarly open spaces for collaboration, while based around one common identifier pertinent to all members, as opposed to being randomly assigned in the manner of Family groups. Upper School Diversity co-Clerk Sophia Lalani ’25 expressed her thoughts about the level of DEIB in other schools: “... with respect to a lot of schools, we’re pretty ahead of the game in terms of DEIB, and a lot of schools are really impressed with what’s going on at our school, whether it is Affinity Groups or having a student life committee.” Lalani added that she particularly enjoyed hearing about the experiences of others at the conference, noting the diverse array of experiences with DEIB at independent schools around the nation. Lalani wants to bring back “certain discussion topics and activities [that were discussed at SDLC] for Diversity Committee.” She added, “Additionally, some of the other attendees [from] MFS [including me] are interested in starting initiatives in the Lower School.” Upper School Recording Clerk Miles Wilkins ’25, who was chosen as a peer facilitator (assists with running discussions) within the conference alongside Maya Wohler ’26, highlighted that at the conference, he learned : “more strategies and ideas [for] how to be a better facilitator. Additionally, having this experience has taught me that there isn’t one way to just change diversity and things related to DEIB in one big event or conversation, but there are many different solutions to help slowly implement change.” Furthermore, he discussed his experience in his family group and affinity group, noting the positive collaborative atmosphere of those two spaces: “At SDLC I gained experience [as a facilitator] at Black Affinity. My family group was a zone truly free of judgment, which I think could be an area of growth for some groups that we have at school. … I believe starting a shift in the way that we approach things relating to diversity on a smaller scale will help us express and appreciate diversity and people of different backgrounds as a whole at MFS.” Similarly, Ali Sabir ’26, who serves as one of the facilitators for South Asian Affinity Group at MFS, said: “It was cool to see many kids my age passionate about the DEIB cause across the nation. I met a lot of new people, some of whom asked to stay in touch regarding future school collab[oration]s for specific diversity-related issues.” When asked about the conference from the perspective of an advisor, Upper School DEIB director Chanelle Walker discussed her experience: “I think that it was a great opportunity to be intentional about how you engage with students.” She added that “the conference was a great way for students to be reflective about not only what we do, but how we do it.”
For many students, Intensive Learning is one of the highlights of the Upper School experience, providing an opportunity to learn outside the classroom environment. However, increasing concern over inequity in the program’s selection process has prompted the Upper School Agenda Clerks to convene an ad hoc committee, soliciting student input to draft a proposal that could substantially change the selection process. Every October, Upper School students selectheir Intensive Learning Experience through a draft-style process. Each student is randomly assigned a selection number within their grade level indicating when they will pick, and priority is given to students who have not previously taken Ad hoc committee members Zaydan Lalani ’26 an overnight trip. With each trip having a hard cap and Ethan Cohen ’26 with clerks Livia Kam on the number of students that can participate, ’26, Luke Iacono ’25. Photo by Sophia Lalani concern has grown that students who are given ’25. lower picks do not have the same freedom of selection as students with higher picks, particularly if students receive low selection numbers across several years. “In Agenda, we heard from students that they were interested in changing up the selection process for Intensive Learning to make it more equitable, and changing some of the routes of communication, as a lot of students didn’t know about the specific details of the selection process,” said Mason Levens ’25, one of the Agenda co-Clerks. He added, “It was taking a long time in Agenda to reach respective points of unity on the Intensive Learning issue. So we wanted to create a concurrent ad hoc committee that would meet weekly to develop a proposal and outline all the proposed changes.” Ad hoc committees, according to Quakerism teacher and Chester Reagan Chair Dan Zemaitis, who is serving as the faculty advisor of this ad hoc, are “small committees that are formed to address a specific question or issue and allow various voices in a smaller setting to come together and seek unity on a potential path forward that will then be presented to the larger body.” The most recent ad hoc committee, which met last year, drafted the cell phone policy that is currently outlined within the Student-Family Handbook. The ad hoc meets every Friday in the Moriuchi Room. The scheduling and location were elaborate choices: based on a form sent out by the Agenda clerks, Friday was a day that most students indicated they could attend, without interfering with other committees. The Moriuchi room was chosen because the circular table fostered better conversation between participants. In addition to its employment of the Quaker process, the ad hoc committee is almost entirely student-driven. As Zemaitis outlined, “My role primarily is to be both a guide for how to go through the Quaker process and answer any questions that arise from that, and to be a voice for the faculty and give some input into what we as faculty look for when it comes to how we run IL.” During their first committee session, the body selected Luke Iacono ’25 and Livia Kam ’26 to serve as the committee’s Clerk and Recording Clerk, respectively. As the clerk, Iacono’s role, as he described, “is now to discern unity, on what …we [would] like to enter into a discussion about. I’m getting a sense of what the group as a whole thinks and trying to guide us towards that conclusion.” While the committee is certain to provoke strong opinions from students across all grades, Iacono has to largely remove himself from the conversation due to his new role: “There are certain times when I can take my clerk hat off if I feel like we’re missing something, and I can add a new perspective, or I can recommend they ask questions to get more clarity on the matter. I’m pretty neutral in this situation, so I’m content to let the group take us where it takes us. I’m just here to facilitate that process.”
By Mason Levens ’25
By Himanshu Sahore ’24
Where are Students and Teachers Traveling This Winter Break? By Charlie Beetham ’24
3
Pop Culture Friday, December 15, 2023
MFSWORDSWORTH.com | @MFSWORDSWORTH | journalism@
Fortnite’s Flashback to 2017 Creates Feelings of Nostalgia For MFS Students By Zaydan Lalani ’26 From November 3 to December 2, feelings of nostalgia enveloped the Upper School. These feelings were a product of the popular video game Fortnite taking players back to 2017, as a part of their “OG” season of the game. Fortnite, the online video game that rose to fame in 2017, involves 100 players skydiving onto an island, where they then fight to be the last standing. In the game’s November 3 update, developers reinstated the 2017-2019 “Battle Royale” mode map, as well as in-game mechanics and weapons from the game’s early stages. Upon the update’s initial release, Fortnite recorded 44.7 million players online, both a player count record for the game itself, as well as for video games as a whole. For some MFS students, the game has served as a source of entertainment for almost six years, and the return of the OG map four years later brought back memories of a time before COVID-19, Upper School, and for some, even Middle School. “I started playing Fortnite in third grade … It became a big way for me to socialize with my friends and it gave me a lot of memories. Seeing the old map and all of the old stuff return took me back,” reminisced Justin Lewis ’26.
One of the major reasons some players think “Fortnite OG,” as well as the older versions of the game, were superior to the newer updates is their greater simplicity. “I still played a little bit before OG came out, but I thought they kind of added too much with all of the collaborations and new stuff. I think OG brought back the more simple aspects of the game and brought me and my friends back to simpler times in our lives,” explained Bodhi Vance-Harris ’26. In the past 3 years, Fortnite has become saturated with collaborations with popular movie franchises, such as Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. This is contrary to the game’s in-game cosmetics in its earlier stage, which were derived from the game’s original storyline. Although “Fortnite OG” ended on December 2, the company behind Fortnite, Epic Games, announced on Twitter that OG will return in 2024 due to its large success. “I don’t think it’ll be the same or be as big as the first time they brought it back, but I think it’ll be cool to play later next year and if they make it an annual thing … to kind of look back on how much we’ve grown since first playing,” said Dean Simpson ’26.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: MFS Students Share Their Unique Holiday Traditions By Maya DeAndrea ’25
MFS Students share some of their family holiday traditions centered around food, family, and fun.
Three days before Diwali at a specific time each year (based on the lunar calendar), Ava’s family gathers to wash coins in water and milk, a Hindu tradition. After being washed, they dry the coins off and coat them in rice and Indian seasonings. The family then presents them in front of a statue of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, symbolizing giving money to the poor and giving it up for Lakshmi. -Ava Patel ’25
Each of Chloe’s family members has their own menorah in the house to celebrate Hanukkah. Each night, they take turns reading the prayer before lighting a candle. Additionally, Chloe and her mom make latkes from scratch every year, but everyone fries their own latke because they all like it fried to a different level. Chloe and her family also have a gingerbread baking contest every year, and in past years they’ve entered the Moorestown gingerbread house contest. -Chloe Marshall ’26
Since the age of two, it has been a Christmas Eve tradition for Miles and his siblings to wear matching pajamas and listen to Miles read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” In addition to the story, they read aloud a letter from Miles’ grandfather that was written the first Christmas after the family moved into their new house. -Miles Wilkins ’25
On Christmas Eve, Haila and her family go out to buy their Christmas tree and decorate it that night before going out to dinner. Haila’s grandmother, who only cooks a few times a year, makes kielbasa. That night, at dinner, her grandmother decorates the table festively. -Haila Desai ’24
Each year, Andrew’s mom cooks “Longevity Noodles” for the family on New Year’s Eve. These extra-long noodles symbolize living a long, healthy life. -Andrew Zhou ’25
Azaria opens her stocking and one present of her choice on Christmas Eve before opening the rest of them on Christmas. Azaria and her family make hot chocolate topped with fresh homemade whipped cream and crushed-up candy canes to drink on Christmas and throughout the holiday season. -Azaria Coleman-Stokes ’25
Map images licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
GREENLAND (DENMARK)
Norway: Panasonic Digital Camera To many travelers, the best part of visiting Norway and other Scandinavian countries is seeing the northern lights. However, this sight is often a oncein-a-lifetime experience that is hard to perfectly capture on a regular phone camera. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or you just want to cherish the moment, a camera is a perfect gift for creating lasting memories. The camera is slim and compact, perfect for traveling, and designed to accommodate low-light situations, making sure your photos reflect your experience. K.E.
SVALBARD (NORWAY)
ALASKA (USA)
Give Kids The World: Disney’s Genie+ Service With only one day to spend at Walt Disney World in Orlando, get through all the desired rides with Disney Genie+. Disney Genie+ gets you access to Lighting Lane entrances for certain attractions and experiences, skipping the long lines and excruciating waits, CANADA and is sure to give you a magical experience to finish out your trip! H.P.
ICELAND
SWEDEN
FAROE ISLANDS
NORWAY
China: First-Class Plane Tickets Since the flight to China from JFK is well over 12 hours, the best gift for a member of the trip is first-class plane tickets. These tickets will provide comfort on the long journey, and will also have them flying in style. This first-class ticket will also give the students a larger menu and seating space, leaving them well-rested and well-fed for their immersive trip. G.H.
RUSSIA
Panasonic Digital Camera, $597.99, Amazon.com
FINLAND ESTONIA
France: Bed Bug Repellent With the recent bed bug surge in France, BELARUS UNITED POLAND KINGDOM members of this Intensive Learning trip need GERMANY UKRAINE KAZKAHST AN in the to watch out for the critters while staying FRANCE Parisian hotels. This sensible gift will provide travelers with a sense of safety and comfort as IT AL Y they explore France. The bed bug repellent can SPAIN PORTUGAL AZORES TURKEY onto beds, carpets, chairs, and any GREECEbe sprayed (PORTUGAL) Dominican Republic: A Duolingo Subscription other surface to make sure that MFS students SYRIA During their service mission to the Dominican Republic, IRAN MADEIRA ISLANDS IRAQ don’t return with any unexpected companions. (PORTUGAL) members of this IL expedition will be talking with locals Check out the link below to purchase the perCANARY ISLANDS almost exclusively in Spanish. While there ALGERIA will be Span(PORTUGAL) LIBYA EGYPT fect gift for anyone heading to France! ish lessons on the island, students can get a jumpstart SAUDI WESTERN SHARAH M.D. ARABIA with a Super Duolingo subscription. With no ads and INDIA LATVIA
LITHUANIA
DENMARK
IRELAND
Disney Genie+, $30.00 per ticket per day, Disneyworld.disney.go.com
NETHERLANDS BELGIUM
CZECH REPUBLIC
LUXEMBOURG
SLOVAKIA
LIECHTENSTEIN
AUSTRIA
MOLDOVA
HUNGARY
SWITZERLAND
SLOVENIA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SERBIA
First-class plane tickets from JFK to London
NORTH KOREA
GEORGIA
MACEDONIA
ARMENIA
ALBANIA
MALTA
AZERBAIJAN
TURKMENISTAN
AFGHANISTAN
CYPRUS
KASHMIR
SOUTH KOREA
CHINA
JAPAN
LEBANON
TUNISIA
PALESTINE
PAKISTAN
JORDAN
KUWAIT
NEPAL
BHUTAN
BAHRAIN
MEXICO
QATAR
THE BAHAMAS
CUBA
unlimited mistakes, the subscription would unlock all MALI NIGER Eco-Defense BedYEMEN Bug Killer, $24.95, Amazon. CAPE SUDAN ERITREA CHAD the features of the incredibly popular language-learning VERDE BURKINA com app. Even better, with a family plan, everyFASO student on the trip can have access to the service at a lower overall cost. CENTRAL NIGERIA VENEZUELA ETHIOPIA CÔTE GUYANA AFRICAN Learning awaits! Just don’t forget yourD’IVOIRE lessons… REPUBLIC COLOMBIA SOMALIA H.S. UGANDA
EL SALVADOR
PUERTO RICO (USA)
Snorkeling Set, $23.79, Amazon.com
Arts and Entertainment: Nutcracker Tickets This local IL trip takes students through many different aspects of the arts in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area. With tickets to the classic holday special, the Nutcracker, students can continue their artistic adventures even after IL ends. Z.L. Nutcracker tickets, from $60, Philadelphia-theater.com
KEY Overnight trips
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
COSTA RICA PANAMA
GUINEA
SIERRA LEONE
LIBERIA
FRENCH GUIANA
PERU
BENIN
CAMBODIA
PHILIPPINES
ADAM AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (INDIA)
SRI LANKA
SOUT SUDAN
BIOKO (EQUATORIAL GUINEA)
SAO TOME
Super Duolingo Family Plan 1 Year Subscription, BRAZIL $119.99, Duolingo
South Jersey Service: Work Boots From the sands of the Bayshore Museum in Bivalve, NJ to the grassy fields of our campus, work boots can help South Jersey Service members trek through a variety of environments. Painting and digging can get very messy, and some jobs require participants to wear closed-toe shoes. Buying a fresh new pair of work boots will resolve all of your issues – and in the name of good service to others! C.B. Red Wings Apex Work Boots, $239.99, redwingshoes.com
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
GABON CONGO
MALAYSIA
KENYA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
RWANDA BURUNDI
CABINDA (ANGOLA)
INDONESIA
SEYCHELLES
TANZANIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON ISLANDS
COMOROS
ANGOLA
BOLIVIA Ecuador: Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs Book Brush up your Spanish with this fantastic resource! PARAGUA Y Barron’s 501 Verbs is a great step for students on the trip to review some basic grammar skills. With the verbsCHILE ranging from basic to obscure, it is sure to give your fluency a boost. As URUGUA Y you will be speaking a lot of SpanishARGENTINA on this trip, keeping this book with you is the perfect way to act like a fluent speaker in this Spanish-speaking country. M.W.
Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs, $24.04, Amazon.com FALKLAND ISLANDS (UK) SOUTH GEORGIA (UK)
Low and Slow: Apron and Spatula In preparation for this magical barbecue adventure, an apron and spatula is the perfect gift for the barbecue enthusiasts! The spatula can be used to strategically (and stylishly) flip their burgers and carry their ribs, while the apron will protect clothing from burger juice and barbecue sauce so wearers can eat their fresh barbecue fashionably. E.C.
ZAMBIA
NAMIBIA
MALAWI
MAYOTTE (FRANCE)
VANUATU
MOZAMBIQUE
ZIMBAWE
FIJI
MADAGASCAR
MAURITUS REUNION (FRANCE)
BOTSWANA
AUSTRALIA
SWAZILAND
SOUTH AFRICA
LESOTHO
Hands-on Science: Small Aquarium The only bad thing about Hands on Science is how quickly the time passes. For the price of $67, your experience can be extended for as long as three years (the average lifespan of the worm itself)! Take home your planariam worms, cut them, and watch them duplicate! With this exciting experiment, the fun never ends! C.M. The Aqueon LED MiniBow Small Aquarium Fish Tank Kit with SmartClean Technology, Black, 5 Gallon, $67.95, Amazon.com
Apron Spatula Set, $30.50, shoppineandmoss.com
Local trips
Gifts Around the World
Folk Art and Living Simply: Beets, Beets, Beets Students in this local IL program aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. From weaving sticks to using natural plants to dye fabric, beets make a perfect gift for these environmentally friendly crafts. For this extremely affordable price of $2.44, participants of this program will be able to dye to their hearts’ desires using a natural (and edible) ingredient! L.K. Fresh Beets, Bunch, $2.44, Walmart.com
For this holiday season, MFS WordsWorth devised a list of gifts perfect for the students of each Intensive Learning trip, both local and abroad. Know any other Northern Lights enthusiasts? Or a family member who enjoys a good barbecue? These gifts can serve as your inspiration. Designed by Sophia Lalani ’25
TOGO
GHANA
42 piece silicone cupcake molds, $9.59, Amazon.com
CAMEROON
SURINAME
ECUADOR
DJIBOUTI
GUAM
VIETNAM
THE GAMBIA
BARBADOS
GUINEA- BISSAU
Belize: A Snorkeling Set With the Belize trip including a snorkeling expedition on the itinerary, a high-quality snorkeling set is the ideal gift inspired by this trip. Not only will a new snorkeling set allow the trip’s participants to explore the depths of tropical waters, but it will also allow them to do so in style. Better yet, the snorkeling set is available at a reasonable price point, making it almost irresistible to adventurous travelers. M.L.
THAILAND
SENEGAL
MARTINIQUE
SAINT VICENT
NICARAGUA
TAIWAN LAOS
MAURITANIA
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS MONSERRAT GUADELOUPE DOMINICA
HONDURAS
MYANMAR (BURMA)
OMAN
HAITI
JAMAICA
BELIZE GUATEMALA
BANGLADESH
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Great MFS Baking Show: Cupcake Molds Create cupcakes in the shape of your favorite flower using this 42 piece silicone cupcake mold. Since this local IL program is a competition, you can use these cupcakes to wow the judges. Using these unique molds, you are able to bake cupcakes in style! K.L.
MONGOLIA to Beijing, $10,610.80, Kayak.com
UZBEKISTAN
BULGARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOROCCO
Solar Powered Toy, $8.87, Walmart.com
ROMANIA
CROATIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Solar Energy: Solar-Powered Grasshopper Toy Enjoy some fun with this solar-powered grasshopper toy. Go outside and watch the grasshopper come alive with the power of solar energy! H.P.
Historical Mock Trial: Wigs and Gavels To break up the serious arguments and counterarguments that take place during Historical Mock Trial, the program’s participants could use a laugh or two. These wigs would help to hide any balding from the stress of forming cross-analysis, while the gavels would give everyone a sense of confidence as they debate their way through the week. G.K. FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARTIC LANDS (FRANCE)
NEW CALEDONIA (FRANCE)
Sacred Spaces: Open Mind With the Sacred Spaces IL learning about different cultures and religions, it will be imperative to keep an open mind. Students will use their open minds to engage with many different experiences and cultures fully. Better yet, an open mind will help the group better discuss and tackle important social issues like homelessness, food insecurity, gun violence, poverty, and school funding. How can you beat that? J.C.
NEW ZELAND
HEARD ISLAND (AUSTRALIA)
WILLBOND White Judge Lawyer Wig Colonial Costume Ponytail Wig with Mini Wooden Judge Gavel, $14.99, Amazon.com Growing for Good: Variety Seed Pack Seeds are vital for growing anything and everything. With this 43-count variety pack of seeds, this IL program will never run out of things to grow. With this variety pack, consisting of a concentration of herbs and vegetable seeds, these gardeners can turn their crops into hearty meals after learning all about how to grow for good during their IL experience! E.S. Assorted Vegetable & Herb Seed Packets - Set of 43, $19.99, amazon.com
Pine Barrens: Hiking Socks The Pine Barrens trip offers students time in the great outdoors to reconnect with nature and learn more about the Jersey Devil. However, students on this trip can learn from last year’s students who faced unpredictable weather and unprecedented puddles. The best way to face these challenges is to show up prepared. REI offers a wide variety of hiking socks, engineered to face any weather conditions that may arise. C.N. Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks, $25.00, REI.com
MFS
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Sports
Friday, December 15, 2023
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“She Bleeds Red and Blue” Danielle Dayton to Retire after 20 Year Tenure By Ethan Cohen ’26 On October 2, MFS announced via email that Athletic Director Danielle Dayton will be retiring after the 2023-2024 school year. “It was time to retire. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love MFS,” Dayton shared Throughout her twenty year career at MFS, Dayton has served as a Lower School Physical Education teacher and Varsity Field Hockey Coach in addition to her current position as Athletic Director. However, Dayton’s love for Field Hockey long predates her tenure at Moorestown Friends School: “Field Hockey is so near and dear to my heart as I’ve had a long relationship with [the sport] as both a player and a coach,” Dayton commented. As a player, Dayton respectably recorded 110 goals throughout her college career at Ohio State University. During her time as a MFS coach, she triumphed in Friends School League (FSL) championships in both 2007 and 2019. Dayon recalled her fond memories with the Field Hockey team: “We’ve seen Field Hockey championships [as well as other] school championships and those are wonderful moments that stay with you.” As the Athletic Director, Dayton is in charge of everything sports-related at MFS. Dayton explained that this entails setting up athletic events, finding officials, coordinating bussing, and hiring coaches. Recently, Dayton spearheaded MFS’s move from the FSL to the Burlington County Scholastic League, which will go into effect this coming winter.
Dayton’s presence will be missed in the Athletic Department and throughout the school. Debra Collins Williams, Administrative Assistant the the Athletic Director, shared that “[Dayton] has been a true friend and a great mentor. I am going to miss her terribly, but I am extremely happy for her in her next pursuit.” Middle and Upper School Physical Education and Health teacher Erick Cotter shared the same sentiment. “There’s going to be a huge void,” he said. Dayton will also be missed throughout the student body, not just among the staff. Varsity Cross Country captain Isaac Linden ’25 commented, “It’s going to be sad to see her go, she bleeds red and blue. Hopefully we’ll be able to find someone who cares about the school as much as she did.” Varsity Girls Tennis captain Ava Patel ’25 expressed her appreciation for Dayton’s constant attendance at matches. “Dayton has always been one of our biggest supporters throughout matches each season,” she commented. While Dayton is stepping away as the Athletic Director, she is not leaving MFS behind. Dayton promised the community, “I’m not going far, and I know wherever I am, whether I’m physically standing on that sideline or not, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be cheering on the Foxes.” Danielle Dayton to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Photo from MFS Smug Mug.
Dayton’s Fox Tracks Follow the fox tracks to see major events and quotes from Dayton’s time at MFS.
2004 - Dayton comes to MFS “I felt like I found home.”
2016 - Dayton creates adopt-a-team program “Athletics is about teamwork, athletics is about community, athletics is about partnership, and we wanted to find a way to bring the youngest members of our community into the fold.”
2023 - Dayton moves MFS from the Friends School League to the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) “The Friends League was an amazing home for a long time and served our student athletes really well. Our job in athletics is to provide the best possible athletic experience for our student athletes, [and we thought that] the Burlington County Scholastic League would be a better fit.”
2005 - Dayton becomes field hockey coach “When I got the head job, I was super pumped.”
2006 - Dayton is promoted to Athletic Director “[Athletics] is an area of school life that was so important to me as a student, and being able to give back to other student athletes and help create an environment where they can do what they love feels amazing.”
2019 - Dayton wins second field hockey championship Twelve years after her first school title, Dayton leads the Varsity Field Hockey team back to another Friends League Championship.
2007 - Dayton wins first field hockey championship In her third season as Varsity Field Hockey Coach, Dayton led the team to a Friends School League Championship.
2019 - Dayton steps down from coaching “Stepping down was so incredibly difficult because coaching has been in my heart my entire life, but I knew it was the right thing for the kids and the community.”
2023 - Dayton retires “Everyone’s career comes to an end, and I’m glad that mine gets to end here. I will miss Moorestown Friends because it is in my heart, will always be in my heart, and I have truly loved being here.”
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Features
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New Class Teaches Life Skills to MFS Students By Keva Elie ’26
Recognizing the need to educate students about life skills applicable outside of the classroom, MFS introduced an exciting addition to its minor curriculum for 11th and 12th graders in the 2023-24 year — the Essential Life Skills course, taught by Julie de la Torre and various faculty members.
Life Skills class students cooking. Photo by Meredith Godley. According to Meredith Godley, Academic Dean, the course was created in response to “feedback from parents and guardians.” She explained, “Several years ago, we started hearing that there was an interest in the school providing more education
on topics like finances and other basic life skills.” This interest expressed by the school community was key to shaping the course. As a result of this feedback, the course was designed with a clear and impactful goal: to give juniors and seniors the real world skills directly applicable to their future experiences in college and early careers. The next step in approving the course for its addition to the course catalog was consulting the Academic Council that includes the department chairs who approve courses. Each of the faculty members teaching the course brings their own expertise in different life skills areas, from personal finance to cooking to interview skills, making it one of the first courses in MFS history to do so. Each module focuses on a different skill that involves talking to their families about their financial situations to apply their learning to the real world. As described by de la Torre, the class is characterized by a sense of lightness and energy, fostering a highly engaged and excited atmosphere among students. Jack Cranmer ’25 noted, “It’s a great environment with students, including juniors and seniors, who are really interested in learning.” Furthermore, the class incorporates a unique mentorship aspect, pairing students with MFS alums in fields aligned with their interests. De la Torre said she hopes this course will “have staying power at Moorestown Friends School”
Two MFS Girls’ Soccer Players Sign to D1 Schools
By Charlotte Nesevich ’25 and Makenna Wakahia ’26 On December 1, the MFS Girls’ Soccer Team said goodbye to two of its most powerful assets, Foluke Balogun ’24 and Chelsea Mohammed ’24, who signed letters of intent to play Division One (D1) soccer in college. Balogun will be playing as a Northeastern Husky, while Mohammed will become a University of Rhode Island Ram. Balogun said that her mindset regarding
Athletic Director Danielle Dayton gives a speech at the Signing Day ceremony. Photo by Charlotte Nesevich ’25. this achievement was forged by her earliest years playing: “Ever since [I discovered Divison One], I started looking into schools, going to seminars, and training constantly to reach my goal … because my mindset was D1 or nothing … I started playing soccer because of my dad. We’re from Nigeria, so my family is a big soccer family, [meaning] I grew up kicking a ball around as a way to bond and have fun with my dad.” Mohammed echoes similar views, saying, “For me, it always felt really good to be able to say that there was something I was really good at … When [The University of Rhode Island] reached out to me I knew that was the dream I was meant to pursue. To be able to say that I’m capable of following my dreams and that I’m able to play a sport at this level is an extreme honor.” Balogun and Mohammed contributed immensely to the team’s success from opposite sides of the pitch, excelling in their respective fields. Balogun, the striker, holds the record for most goals in a single season (32 goals) and most goals in a career (93 goals). Mohammed, the goalie, has achieved comparable success, with the record for most saves in a single season (168 saves) and most saves in a career (457 saves). Balogun’s offensive domination was also
recognized in several other ways as well. Last season, she was named Second Team AllState Non-Public by NJ.com. Additionally, she was part of the Friends League First Team in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Similarly, Mohammed’s lights-out performance garnered outside attention. Mohammed was named All-Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Friends School League — one of only two girls soccer players to do so. She was also selected to participate in the South Jersey Coaches Association Senior AllStar Game. Finally, Mohammed was named Friends League First Team in 2021, 2022, and 2023, alongside Balogun. To recognize these achievements, MFS hosted a signing ceremony, welcoming Balogun’s and Mohammed’s families while the athletes signed their letters of intent. Head of the Upper School Noah Rachlin reflected on everything that Balogun and Mohammed had brought to the team throughout their high school career: “Anyone who knows them knows what they bring to the table. Not just in terms of athletic performance, but in terms of character.” Girls’ Soccer coach Lisa Cotter also
“Balogun and Mohammed contributed immensely to the team’s success from opposite sides of the pitch, excelling in their respective fields.” acknowledged the honor of coaching both Balogun and Mohammed: “It’s been a really incredible experience, personally, and as a coach, just seeing them thrive and fulfill their dreams.” To close the ceremony, Athletic Director Danielle Dayton wished Balogun and Mohammed the best of luck in their career, emphasizing the support they will always have from the Foxes, saying, “We may not be there for you on the field in person, but we sure are there for you in spirit. And we will be, every step of the way.”
Do you know your news? By Livia Kam ’26
Test your knowledge of important MFS and real-world events as of December 7, 2023. Answers are at the bottom of the page.
school did MFS go against 1. What at the Boys’ Soccer Non-Public B Championship game?
3.
Which of these GOP candidates 2. dropped out of the presidential race (as of December ’23)?
a. St. Rose High School
a. Tim Scott
b. Gill St. Bernard’s
b. Chris Christie
c. Germantown Friends
c. Asa Hutchinson
d. Franklin High School
d. Vivek Ramaswamy
Who was named TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’?
new MFS teacher was 4. Whichformally a cop? a. Maxwell Bogaert
a. Donald Trump
b. Chris LaTempa
b. Noah Rachlin
c. Bryan Wright
c. Taylor Swift
d. Onastazia Mullen
d. Drake
What Thanksgiving Happening 5. changes caused backlash from the community?
was the first woman to sit 6. Who on the Supreme Court that recently passed away?
a. Group changes
a. Hattie Caraway
b. Closing ceremony
b. Sandra Day O’Connor
c. Showcasing the crafts instead of donating
c. Elena Kagan
d. Not inviting alumni
d. Cynthia Lummis
What is the name of the
7. OpenAI’s chief executive that recently got fired and rehired by the company?
How many saves did Jonah 8. Bierig ’24 have this season of Boys Soccer?
a. Sam Bitman
a. Over 190
b. Sam Altman
b. Exactly 100
c. Samantha Wang
c. Over 230
d. Samantha Smith
d. Exactly 300
Musk recently attacked 9. Elon the CEO of a company for removing their ads on X. What company was it? a. Meta
d. November 29, 2023
d. Disney
word did Oxford English 11. What Dictionary prize as the Word of the Year?
c. Cap d. Bruh
a. December 1, 2022 c. October 7, 2023
c. Apple
a. Sus
invade Israel?
b. November 25, 2023
b. Amazon
b. Rizz
10. What day did Hamas
has a self-automated robot 12. MFSto lay paint, usually for field lines. Which maintenance staff operates this robot? a. John Barbadoro b. Cody Ambacher c. Kerry Slimm d. Joseph Carrubba
If you struggled with MFS-related questions, consider reading WordsWorth news content at mfswordsworth.com! Answers: 1. b- Gill St. Bernard’s 2. a - Tim Scott 3. c - Taylor Swift 4. c - Bryan Wright 5. a - Group changes 6. b - Sandra Day O’Connor 7. b - Sam Altman 8. a - Over 190 9. d - Disney 10. c -October 7 11. b - Rizz 12. c - Kerry Slimm
Friday, December 15, 2023
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Opinion Friday, December 15, 2023
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Thanksgiving (Not)Happening: This year’s “THap” Isn’t the Final Answer, but It’s A Step in the Right Direction By the WordsWorth Editorial Board It is difficult to shake the thought that something was lost as a result of this year’s Thanksgiving Happening overhaul. On a surface level, the feeling has at least some backing: a tradition deeply ingrained within life at MFS (something many community members probably assumed to be more or less untouchable) has been altered drastically, seemingly without much warning, in a direction that, to many, felt much less fulfilling that what had been done in previous years. It is undeniable that Thanksgiving Happening was a massive part of the Moorestown Friends School experience; it is, therefore, understandable that any changes to the program will be met with controversy — any group attempting to reform the tradition is faced with an impossible task in this regard, as there is seemingly no way to change Thanksgiving Happening without inflicting some sense of loss on the community. The situation is more complicated than this, though, because there are very real reasons that something like Thanksgiving
become more cognizant of the fact that the “Thanksgiving” version of indigenousColonial relations is untrue, traditions like Thanksgiving (and more pertinently to MFS, Thanksgiving Happening) are inexorably linked to this version of history. Beyond a superficial appeal to political correctness, the breadth of communal celebrations should respect the communal collective expected to celebrate them — this includes taking greater care in how Moorestown Friends School approaches the glorification of Colonial/ American interaction with indigenous populations, and Thanksgiving Happening is a prime candidate for re-examination in this vein. Discourse around Thanksgiving (and Thanksgiving Happening) becomes more difficult when a theoretical push to revise treatment of the celebrations faces the reality of what these things actually look like in the modern era. On a concrete level, Thanksgiving is more evocative of a series of values, feelings, and traditions than it is of any celebration of past atrocities. While the
This year’s T-Hap format still allowed for gathering across divisions, an important aspect that fosters a sense of community. Photo by Dinah Megibow-Taylor ‘24. Happening should be revised to incorporate a more complete picture of cultural identity at Moorestown Friends School. Ultimately, the dissonance surrounding the issues with Thanksgiving the holiday, and Moorestown Friends’ Thanksgiving Happening are nearly identical. A critique of Thanksgiving’s existence as a national holiday is based on its blatant disregard for the experience of Native Americans — it is arguably at their expense that we even have a Thanksgiving Holiday to begin with. To paint relations between Native Americans and Settlers as a mutually beneficial relationship of cooperation and respect is factually incorrect and irresponsible in its understanding of American History and its modern implications. While our country has certainly
historical “Thanksgiving” event, at its point of origin, is entwined with the exploitation of North America’s indigenous populations, modern Thanksgiving means family gatherings, expressions of gratitude, and the enjoyment of good food with the people we love. Celebrations of Thanksgiving don’t feel problematic; they feel like great traditions that bring people together in a way that not many other things can. Yet, to reckon with Thanksgiving’s problematic historical context (which ought be confronted) necessarily cuts very close to the Thanksgiving Holiday as well; revising the celebration to abide by a more responsible understanding of history in a way that would, to many, feel like losing Thanksgiving. As it existed in previous years, Moorestown Friends’ Thanksgiving
Happening felt like an important tradition, something the community could come together around at the start of every school year. The “Thanksgiving Happening Experience” felt moreso akin in impact to the “Thanksgiving Holiday Experience,” but the same problematic historical links are present, regardless of how the celebration feels. Moorestown Friends School is built on formerly indigenous land and was founded in an era where conflict between the United States and the native tribes inhabiting much of its claimed territory was a major part of life in America. Considering the present diversity of our school community and the values it reflects, the historical context of Thanksgiving is fundamentally opposed to anything our school community would champion; this presents a fairly poignant call to the administration to re-evaluate our treatment of the holiday. The result was this year’s “T-Hap.” Concerns surrounding “T-Hap” reflect feelings of loss around the spirit of the event itself, with many believing that the dissolving of previous Thanksgiving Happening groups reduced the day’s overall sense of community. There is also a more nebulous concern that moving away from the explicit celebration of Thanksgiving and toward the exploration of various global harvest festivals, including an innocuous “USA Harvest,” reflects a broader loss of the Thanksgiving holiday at Moorestown Friends School. Such sentiments are compounded by the general feeling that these traditions are completely absent, with the global harvest celebrations serving as an uncompelling substitute for the deeply ingrained traditions some members of our community have spent the majority of their lives participating in. There is a very real critique to be made with respect to the fact that by specifically highlighting certain harvest festivals, others are naturally left out, in some sense making the celebration more alienating to certain community members. Beyond individual gripes with the event itself, the reality of the situation appears to be that nothing could have matched or exceeded Thanksgiving Happening in terms of the MFS’ readiness to accept an alternative. Simply by virtue of our community’s being wed to it for so long, anything attempting to take the place of the beloved tradition would fall short, consumed by the multi-decade shadow of the celebration, now elongated by its relegation to the realms of nostalgia and reminiscence, failing to match its predecessor both in immediate enjoyability and in communal value, one can imagine it is incredibly difficult to make several different “fun” activities for a first time around event without a real trial-run. A first-year “T-Hap” not only operates without the traditional grounding that made Thanksgiving Happening so powerful, but it also arguably
WordsWorth Staff 2023-2024 Editor-in-Chief - Dinah Megibow-Taylor ’24 Associate Editor-in-Chief of Blog - Charlotte Nesevich ’25 Associate Editor-in-Chief of Broadcast - Hannah Puc ’24 Associate Editor-in-Chief of Print - Sophia Lalani ’25 Managing Editor - Elina Shah ’24 Chief Copy Editor - Maya DeAndrea ’25 Opinions and Editorials Editor - Luke Iacono ’25 Chief Social Media Director - Katherine Lee ’25 Podcast Producer & News App Director - Vikram Verma ’25 Chief Sports Editor - Charlotte Nesevich ’25 Chief News Editor - Mason Levens ’25 Art Director - Chloe Marshall ’26 Deputy News Editor - Zaydan Lalani ’26
comes into direct conflict with that grounding due to its being seen as a replacement for the original celebration. Obviously, the first year will be the most difficult. The T-Hap Committee’s openness to feedback and the community’s engagement with that dialogue makes it clear that “T-Hap 2023” is not the version MFS will let itself settle on, but is rather the first and most important step in reaching a better version of the prospective tradition. Through discussion and revision, the good of our community’s moving away from the problematic aspects of the Thanksgiving Happening celebration can be enjoyed alongside those things that make us so hesitant to move away from it. There is immense value in an evaluation of the Lower School’s role in T-Hap, for example, with an interesting dynamic at play between the desire to keep the younger members of our community more comfortable and the myriad benefits posed by better integration into the larger Moorestown Friends Community. The best thing about these conversations and any project of cultural revision at our school is that they are entirely ours (the MFS community’s) to have and carry out. Thanksgiving (holiday and history) does not hold proprietary rights to “meaningful gatherings with family around shared values.” In this same sense, Thanksgiving Happening does not hold proprietary rights to “meaningful gatherings within the Moorestown Friends community around shared values.” If the value of Thanksgiving Happening lies not in its glorification of the Thanksgiving story, but rather in its existence as a conduit for communal gathering, then nothing about our enjoyment of it is inexorably tied to that problematic narrative — it is entirely possible for us to find better traditions without conceding the values constituting the most important part of those celebrations. Contrary to losing anything of particular importance, preserving the underlying values of these past traditions while making their celebration more accessible only serves to amplify our capacity for communal engagement. This necessitates time, ready engagement, and open-mindedness, ultimately a small price to pay for our achievement of a more inclusive community. T-Hap, or whatever it may be called next year, in a more real way than Thanksgiving Happening ever was, is our tradition to mold and form — moving forward, it is what we make it. With iteration and calibration, the event’s positive vision can be connected to those practices that made its predecessor so beloved, inducting new traditions not as a replacement for, but as an extension of, those values we champion as a community for future generations at Moorestown Friends School.
Deputy Social Media Director & DEIB Coordinator Makenna Wakahia ’26 Deputy Sports Editor - Jack Cranmer ’25 Deputy Sports Editor - Gabriel Harvery ’25 Features Editor - Livia Kam ’26 DEIB Coordinator & Weather Correspondent - Charlie “Cyclone” Beetham ’24 Staff Writer - Ethan Cohen ’26 Staff Writer - Keva Elie ’26 Staff Writer - Gauri Kulshreshtha ’26 Staff Writer - Himanshu Sahore ’24 Adviser - Diana Day Adviser - Debra Galler