Vol. 42, Issue #4
The
December 9, 2016
Knightly News
p. 5 Netflix Good Option for Winter Break
p. 6 Finstas Vs. Instas
p. 8 Congrats Pace Athletes
Students Explore, Excel in Budapest Amy Butler
Opinion Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Merritt Ann Glass
Embarking on Nov. 19, 10 students from ninth to eleventh grades along with faculty members Jonathan Ferrell and Helen Smith travelled to Budapest, Hungary. This trek, however, was not the typical ICGL global education trip. Although the group explored the history of Budapest, they also participated in the annual Yale Model Government Europe policy simulation. Attendance at the conference requires extreme preparation in advance, including researching a given country and angling one’s paper using that country’s position. “My favorite part of the trip was definitely the model itself,” said sophomore Merritt Ann Glass. “It was very interesting to meet people from all around the world and talk about their opinions on various issues.” Model UN, including Model Government and Model Arab League, is a conference in which students are delegates that represent various countries. Students have to make speeches to their fellow delegates on their
country’s positions regarding specified topics. The model allows students to learn new information about countries that they may have never even heard of. This year Pace did exceptionally well, with many students receiving recognition. Freshman Andrew Miller was awarded the title of Outstanding Delegate for his committee. This is a high honor which very few people receive. Juniors Jeb Carter, Maggie Cushman and Anna Stone received Honorable Mention. “The students wanted to do well and they spent long hours working on their papers,” said history teacher and Model UN sponsor Ms. Smith. “This was the hardest working group I have ever worked with, and they were able to learn a lot about writing and constructing papers.” Even though the process to get ready for the conference was very time consuming, it paid off. “The students actually thanked me for making them rewrite their papers over and over again,” said Ms. Smith. Halfway through the committee, delegates were given an additional crisis. “I had to think of solutions quickly from the top of my head,” said junior Molly Richardson. “Even though it was stressful at times, it was a very
(L-R) Molly Richardson, Nicole Ortiz, Merritt Ann Glass and Anna Stone pose for a photo overlooking the Danube River in Budapest. exciting and rewarding experience.” Although students and chaperones had to spend their Thanksgiving abroad instead of with their families, the multiple enriching excursions made up for this loss. The group attended two committee sessions on
Thanksgiving but later went to a nice restaurant together in lieu of a Thanksgiving meal. Other mini trips included touring the Jewish area of Budapest and learning how it was impacted during historical periods such as the Holocaust. Another facet of Budapest’s
history is its Communist past. “It was really interesting walking around Budapest and learning about the historical events that happened there, because it applies to a lot of the ideas I am learning right now in AP European History,” said Merritt Ann.
Ambassadors Welcome Prospective Families Abby Meyerowitz Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Abby Meyerowitz
The annual Pace upper school open house, held Nov. 19, encouraged prospective families from all over Atlanta to consider Pace and join its community. Hoping to gain their confidence, ambassadors worked hard to greet the families and show them around campus. With a positive attitude and constant smiles, the ambassadors were able to show the new families what the Pace community represents. “I smiled until my cheeks hurt,” said sophomore ambassador Kayla Ross. “I was hoping to give the new families a feel for the cheerful and enthusiastic Pace environment.” The open house showcased the Pace campus and special features of the Arthur M.
Junior ambassador Khaki Loughran shows off the Upper School’s Woodruff library. Blank Family Upper School. “I showed a family the study rooms and library in the Upper School,” said junior ambassador Khaki Loughran. “They were so impressed with our recently renovated campus and awesome study spaces.”
Along with meeting several teachers from different departments, families participated in tours throughout the campus. “Mrs. Wilhelmson and I talked to prospective families about Pace’s math curriculum,” said math teacher Jason Smith.
“[Senior] Prashanth Kumar and [junior] Rachel Ribner came in and talked to families about the student perspective on taking math classes at Pace.” The ambassador selection process consists of a written application along with an
interview and training session. “I was very nervous going into my interview,” said sophomore Abby Ray. “But once it started, I realized I just had to stay calm and be myself.” The ambassadors take prospective families on tours and greet them when they come to visit Pace, during the open house and throughout the admissions season. “It was so fun to show the family around Pace during their tour and tell them how much I love my school,” said sophomore Joelle Zelony.” The families are greeted by ambassadors when they walk in and get to ask questions about Pace before beginning the tour. “Meeting families and telling them about Pace is important to me,” said sophomore Andrew Ladden. “When I was new last year, it really helped me when the ambassadors answered all of my questions.”
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December 9, 2016
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Students Struggle for Slumber Margaret Bethel Staff Writer Class of 2019
ule, even if I have to sacrifice an assignment.” For most students, the decision of letting some homework slide or staying up later can be tough. Dr. Frances Jensen, author of the book “The Teenage Brain,” did a study in April on teenagers’ brain development. He then spoke about it on National Public Radio. Dr. Jensen points out that the brain is the last organ to fully mature, and most of this matu-
ration takes place in the high school years. “They’re too stimulated by computers or cellphones, disrupting their sleep patterns,” said Dr. Jensen. He was adamant about keeping electronics out of teens’ bedrooms: beds are only for sleeping. Other studies from NPR have shown that another dramatic effect of lack of sleep in teens is behavioral issues. Adolescents struggle with
self-regulation and control, along with keeping their brains awake during classes. So, will Pace students’ fatigue ever be alleviated? Should school start later? Should teachers compensate for students’ poor sleep? Will teenagers’ brains continue to deteriorate due to lack of sleep? “Sometimes I’m just so tired that I get kind of upset,” said Paige. “I’m overwhelmed.”
“And if I have any questions, I just ask my friends.” Space it out. Studying should not be done in seven-hour crunches. Instead, small breaks are helpful to allow time to process the information. Spreading out the study sessions throughout the week will be much better than cramming. Reward yourself. It’s hard to study when there’s nothing to look forward to, so throwing some candy into the mix can boost motivation.
Study with friends. “Two heads are smarter than one” is completely correct. Also, friends make studying fun and that’s hard to do. Erase all distractions. Turning off Netflix and getting comfy in a quiet place is great for concentration, and concentration is great for studying. Stress can also affect performance. Taking good care of one’s health is necessary for an optimal grade. “If you are constantly
stressed, your body can’t maintain itself and that’s why so many people get sick during exam season,” said psychology and chemistry teacher Stephanie Harrell. “Research has been done showing that it’s harder to recall memories while you are stressed. So if you stress too much you’re not going to be putting your best self out there on the test day.” Keeping that in mind, here are some tips to stress less: Sleep. Getting sleep can be
one of the hardest things for a high schooler to do but it is also one of the best things a high schooler can do. Lack of sleep has been proven to lead to lower test scores so students should hit the hay early. Practice yoga. It’s relaxing and good for strengthening muscles. Eat a breakfast that includes blueberries or dark chocolate. Breakfast helps improve concentration and productivity, especially blueberries or dark chocolate because they reduce stress. Do both and performance will improve. Listen to relaxing music. It lowers stress levels and it’s fun. Hang out with friends. Taking breaks from studying is necessary, and even just going to West Paces with friends will reduce stress by a lot. Do your favorite activity. “YouTube is like an escape from what I have to do right now,” said freshman Andrew Miller. “It gives me a five minute break from that paper I have to write or that test I have to study for.” No matter if it’s YouTube, video games, Netflix or bird watching, everyone should destress by doing things that make them happy.Any students who experience excess or lingering anxiety should find time to meet with Mrs. Eden, Ms. Brubaker or another counselor.
Photo: Margaret Bethel
As junior Paige Demba’s hands slip from her face, her head almost hits the desk. She catches herself before plunging into deep sleep in her English class. Every night, students retreat to their homes after a day of grueling classes. “Ask anyone at Pace,” said senior Kate Bethel. “I don’t think anyone here gets a healthy amount of sleep.” Teenagers sleeping in class is an epidemic in Pace classrooms. But because high schoolers’ bodies are still developing, sleep is crucial. Fifty percent of students in a recent Knightly News survey reported falling asleep at least once in class. “Maybe a couple times a week I see somebody put their head down on their desk and catch a couple of Zs,” said librarian Marty Hamburger. Staying up late and waking up early, students grapple with getting the hours of rest that they need to function for the school week. The first bell rings at 7:55 a.m. so that Pace kids are in their assembly seats by 8 a.m. It rings at 3 p.m. to mark the end of the seven-hour school day. Because most of the time at school is spent seated in a desk, students are bound to become moderately
distracted or drowsy. Their bodies may be awake and moving, but their brains crave sleep. “In class I doze off a lot,” said sophomore Parker Spillers. “I have to blink constantly to keep myself from falling asleep.” Sometimes at football practice I can’t focus either.” Parker usually spends his days after 3 p.m. at practice or keeping up with his schoolwork. “I try to go to bed between 11 and 12 at night, but sometimes it’s different,” said Parker. “I have to wake up at 5:20 because I live so far from Pace.” On average, Parker gets about five hours of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) says on its website that all teenagers need eight to ten hours of sleep for their health and well being. The effect that poor sleep has on the adolescent brain can be serious. Lack of rest can cause general fatigue, as well as headaches and bad coordination. Studies at the NSF show that because students tend to stay up later due to homework or extracurriculars, they naturally can’t fall asleep until late at night. The window kids have for sleep gets smaller and smaller. The NSF also says that a consistent sleep schedule is imperative to healthy resting. “I never get enough sleep,” said senior Barrett Baker. “But, I know consistency is key. Sometimes I know I just have to go to bed so I can stay on sched-
Sophomore John Williams dozes off during his free.
How to Get Through Exams Anna Stone
Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Anna Stone
It’s almost time for winter break, but first students have to get through exam week. Beginning Monday, high schoolers will sit down in Inman (or in the upper school building for extended time) and take a test on everything they have learned the entire semester. To conquer this daunting task, students should prioritize two things: studying and de-stressing. There are many ways to improve scores through better study strategies. For example: Don’t procrastinate. Success does depend on how many hours of work is put in, so starting earlier is definitely better. Use resources. Quizlet and planners are amazing resources that every student can benefit from. Talk to teachers. Teachers have the answers to questions and they are also the ones who make the tests. They are invaluable resources. Make a separate binder for each subject just for exams. Organization is helpful for learning a semester’s worth of material. “I take out all my stuff, go through it all and organize it with folders,” said senior Michael Chen.
Junior Jamaree Salyer (L) and senior Deon Jackson blow off some steam before exams.
Pace News
Vol. 42, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 3
Five Minutes with Annabelle Critz Alexis Wilkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photo: Alexis Wilkins
Knightly News: Hey, Annabelle! Annabelle Critz: Hi, Alexis! KN: How has sophomore year been? AC: Mr. Hornor is slowly ruining my life. Other than that, I’m doing fine. KN: Who’s your favorite Pace teacher? AC: Ms. Stevens. KN: Why? AC: She is a fantastic person inside and out. KN: I hear you are on Student Council. AC: I am. KN: How long have you been on it, and what made you interested? AC: I did it last year and this year. I was interested in it because I wanted to represent my friend group who didn’t get a lot of say the last couple of years, and I thought I would do a good job orchestrating Spirit Week. KN: So, what do you think about the presidential election? AC: I am disappointed. I do not support Trump. I don’t like Hillary for a multitude of reasons, but I still respect the fact that she’s a seasoned politician. I don’t like that Donald Trump has
Sophomore Annabelle Critz describes what she’s wearing as her “warm outfit.” Showcase. KN: Oh right, that was really good. AC: Thank you. I was the Duchess in “You Can’t Take It With You,” and we haven’t done anything else. I haven’t been in the one acts yet. KN: What are three adjectives your friends would use to describe you? AC: Uh, loud. Um… Fire, bossy in a good way, and straight forward. Or “topdog.”
climate is being altered and is evolving. This phenomenon has been occurring for the entirety of the planet’s existence, but scientists are now measuring and reporting on the more sudden changes in the environment. Not all climate change is necessarily bad, but in terms of global warming, humans continue to harm the environment. Climate has a serious impact on all life on earth, and young people will be greatly affected by these changes. The effects of climate change are more evident in remote areas than populated ones, but no region is exempt. Additionally, climate change is not exclusive to the scientific world. “It is equally a cultural as well as
a social process,” said senior and ICGL scholar Ross Cefalu. “People don’t realize how much it will influence our lives as we begin to pursue careers.” The ICGL board and scholars alike are aiming to study the issue further and relay their discoveries to the student body in hopes that students and faculty will begin to get involved in a solution. “Everyone needs to get involved if we are going to make a real difference,” said senior and ICGL scholar Max Irvine. The fields that climate change has created and will produce hold numerous opportunities for young people to pursue as they seek their first jobs. “Lots of new technology has to be developed to help fight the problem,” said Max. Bright and innovative individuals can pursue a great degree of success by getting involved. “This [climate change] will directly impact our lives, and it’s not something we can keep pushing off to the next generation,” said Ross. In addition to following the the work of the ICGL scholars, there are other ways to contribute to finding a solution. Students can carpool, conserve energy and compost, as well as learn more information about the issue. Ultimately, though, the most important thing students can do is to recognize that climate change is happening and that their generation must confront it.
Students Aim to Combat Climate Change Sarah Kitchen Online Editor Class of 2017
The phrase “climate change” has received more attention in the past several months and was a topic of discussion during the presidential election. It is also the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s (ICGL) theme for this year. Many students are aware that climate change “is a thing” and is happening right now, but the degree of severity the situation holds is not widely understood. Climate change has become politicized, but the term refers to all types of ways in which the
Photo: Trish Anderson Senior Ross Cefalu engages in research in Manitoba, Canada.
KN: How do you try to highlight your personality through fashion? AC: This is my lazy outfit. I woke up very cold. I guess it just depends on what bases I’m wearing and then how I can extenuate those bases. KN: How much time do you spend designing your nails? AC: [Laughs] Sometimes I Instagram what I’m going to do, and then I’ll figure it out from there. It only takes about 15 minutes of
Photo: Rick Holifield
no experience, and that he’s not going to represent our country well. I just think the riots at this point are ridiculous. We need to be adults about this. KN: What are you passionate about? AC: Theater. KN: Were you in the musicals or plays? AC: I work backstage for the musicals. In the plays last year, I wrote something and acted in something for the Winter
actual work time. KN: What are some of your favorite creations? AC: I had purple ones last week, and they went up in a triangle with a light purple and then there was a star. I like those, mostly because they stayed on the entire week without popping off. KN: So do you do art outside of just your nails? AC: I used to. I just don’t have time anymore. KN: If you could build your own country, making all of the laws and morals for your citizens, what would it be like? AC: I think [America] has a lot of the same morals that I believe in. It’s just that people don’t follow them. I would make it a law for equal pay, because that’s something that I’m still constantly pissed off about. There’s just so many things that I would want, but you can’t control them. That’s what’s frustrating. You can’t control people’s inner prejudice and inner hate, and that’s all that I would want to change. America, although we’re s***y as a population, our laws are really great. Take away the fact that we’re fighting it out for gay marriage and abortions. KN: Right. AC: It’s like we all came to the government like “Women have rights!” and they’re like, “Hmm, we’ll think about it.”
Students hand out sweatshirts and water bottles downtown.
PABD Helps Homeless Alexis Wilkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
At 10 p.m. on Dec. 2, Pace Academy Board of Diversity (PABD) members gathered three trash bags and two suitcases full of jackets, sweatshirts, hats, scarves and socks along with two cases of water bottles and multiple plastic bags of granola bars and bananas. After the
basketball game, 13 students met in the cafeteria to sort all of the food, clothing and hand sanitizers into bags to take downtown. Director of Diversity Rick Holifield and his wife drove the kids to Grady Hospital and Woodruff Park, where they handed out supplies to homeless people. “I felt like I was really making a difference,” said junior Morgan McCullough. PABD plans to lead more “MidKnight Runs” in the coming months.
Opinion
December 9, 2016
The Knightly News 966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 Knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association
Opinion Editor: Amy Butler
Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson
Sports Editor: Michael Simon
Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
Managing Editor: Jonathan Rushton
Online Editor: Sarah Kitchen
The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students. The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by Florida Sun Printing. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor
Miles Hsu
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy. Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org.
Move from A to AAA a Good One for Pace Graham Hurley Staff Writer Class of 2018
Just four years ago Pace was in GHSA’s Class A, and now we are an AAA school. In 2014 and 2015 the Knights competed in class AA. But why? GHSA has a new way of determining divisions. This changes everything athletically for Pace because we are now competing in a very challenging classification with much larger schools. The GHSA divisions are decided by school size. However, there is another factor used to classify schools. If 3% of a school’s student body does not live within the county where the school is located, then the school must compete one class above where they would ordinarily be assigned based on enrollment. Private schools previously in AA were either moved down to A-Private based on enrollment, or were moved up to AAA. Division AA was not an option. Pace was originally placed in A based on its size. But Division A, despite having schools closer to its size, is gigantic with over a hundred schools in it. Pace would also have been placed in Region 5-A where it would have been the 22nd school in that region. GAC and Lovett were within the threshold of school size for AAA, so the GHSA immediately bumped those two schools up to AAA. Wesleyan and Holy Innocents’ were placed in A along with Pace. However, Pace appealed to the GHSA to move to a different division. Because the GHSA could not put Pace in AA
Photo: Fred Assaf
Lifestyle Editor: Sloan Wyatt
Staff Writers Margaret Bethel Graham Hurley Sydnie Jiang Eden Kerker Abby Meyerowitz Genna Schwarz George Shepherd Anna Stone
Co-Editors in Chief: Landon Goldstein Alexis Wilkins
The Knightly News - Page 4
AAA brings bigger and better competition for our student-athletes. because Pace is private, Pace opted to move up to AAA. Many of the schools in AAA have over double the enrollment of Pace. Pace made the right decision in choosing to move up instead of down. There are only a few positives of moving down. The Holy Innocents’ rivalry would live on, the Whitefield rivalry would return and the Wesleyan rivalry would be stronger than ever, especially after Pace’s state championship loss to Wesleyan last year in boys soccer. With schools like Pace and Lovett forced to leave their old division, then rivalries and the balance of powerhouse athletic schools changes significantly. The competition for Pace is more balanced and intense in AAA than A. The main argument against Pace moving up divisions is size of school. Pace would and should be in AA based on school size plus the 3% rule, but AA was not an option for private schools. The other uninformed argument was for Pace to move up based on the skill of individual
sports teams. But one cannot base an advancement in divisions simply on competition. Athletic teams change as new students come in and seniors graduate. This argument based on Pace’s astounding athletic performance over the past couple of years does not in any way merit a change in division. Will that performance stay consistent? Would Pace move back down after a bad athletic year? While it is true that the majority of Pace’s athletic teams have been successful in many sports such as cross country, basketball and soccer, Pace’s skill in sports does not imply that the school should be re-classified. Georgia high school divisions have changed drastically now that the GHSA has created a new method of determining them. Pace has become a powerhouse in athletics in recent years, but Pace is now the smallest school in region 5-AAA. The move up has meant a new level of competition, but Pace is up to the challenge.
Lifestyle
Vol. 42, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 5
Netflix Good Option for Winter Break Eden Kerker Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Eden Kerker
Get your computers ready because new shows and seasons are hitting Netflix just in time for winter break. Whether users are into sci-fi, action, comedies or horror, Netflix streams for all. Binging season is arriving as well as new TV shows including “Stranger Things” and new episodes of “Black Mirror,” “Family Guy” and “Vampire Diaries.” After taking a little break, the TV series “Black Mirror” is now back and is getting great reviews. “‘Black Mirror’ has a great storyline,” said senior Laura Shelton. “You definitely won’t see technology the same after watching this.” If users are into mild horror, there are many great options on Netflix. For example, the
Sophmore Lawson Stricker watches his favorite show, “Criminal Minds,” on Netflix. breathtaking TV series “Stranger Things” is raved about by many Netflix users. “Although ‘Stranger Things’ didn’t just
come out, it’s fairly new and I recommend watching it,” said sophomore Regan Bates. “It’s extremely creepy but so good.
tography and plot were memorable. From the very beginning, the movie captured my attention and held me enraptured throughout. I was enchanted with the 3D effects which made the scenes come to life. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie. The movie perfectly blended action and comedic relief in the form of snarky comments by Dr. Strange. It also presented a whole new realm of Marvel. This mystical realm tied into the other Marvel productions with references to “The Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. However, people who have never seen a Marvel movie would definitely enjoy it, too. Originally, “Doctor Strange” was a Marvel comic series made by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. It was first released in July 1963. I have not read the comics so I cannot attest to how closely the movie followed the comic
book action, but I can certainly attest to the movie’s appeal. Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange works at a hospital with his love interest played by Rachel McAdams, who actually acted in a different Sherlock production than Benedict Cumberbatch. Strange, right? The arrogant and brilliant Dr. Strange gets in a car accident and can no longer move his hands without them shaking, ending his career as a famous surgeon. In search of a cure for the nerve damage in his hands, he goes to Nepal for special treatment and unexpectedly winds up in a magical mess. This may be one of my favorite Marvel plots and I recommend it to everyone. Whether you’re interested in the actors, the plot or the special effects, or you’re not interested at all, “Doctor Strange” is a must-see that most everyone would enjoy.
I can’t stop watching it. There’s mystery, humor and horror so everyone should go watch it.” If Netflix viewers want to get
a good laugh over vacation, Netflix is airing new episodes of the classic “Family Guy.” “The show is just hilarious,” said sophomore Max Appel. “If you want a good laugh, I promise you’ll get one watching this show.” In addition to these many great shows, for seven seasons Netflix has been streaming the mythological “Vampire Diaries.” “Everyone should definitely watch ‘Vampire Diaries,’” said freshman Lucy Ferry. “It doesn’t strictly follow the book but it doesn’t stray too far from the plot. The mythologies of all the different powers are so cool, too. Also for the “Gilmore Girls” fans, the new Netflix original “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” is now available to watch online. Whether people are relaxing by the beach, on a flight or just lounging around, with just a click they can watch an endless amount of quality TV with Netflix.
‘Doctor Strange’ Enchants Audiences Anna Stone
Staff Writer Class of 2018
Landon Goldstein Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photo: marvel.com
“Doctor Strange,” directed by Scott Derrickson, was a smash hit at the box office when it opened on Nov. 4, and recently broke the record to become Marvel’s biggest single-character intro film worldwide. I consider myself a Marvel connoisseur and I was pleasantly surprised by “Doctor Strange.” The cast was impressive, featuring people like Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who are all award-winning actors. The lead character, Dr. Strange, is played by Benedict Cumberbatch from “Sherlock,” and he plays the egotistical smart aleck perfectly. In addition to the impressive cast, the special effects, cinema-
Students Share 2017 Resolutions
Photos: Landon Goldstein
(L-R) Junior Joseph Mathias, freshman Kennedy Tate, junior Jaden Steagall and senior Lizabeth Frohwein share their 2017 plans.
Lifestyle
December 9, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 6
Teens Use Social Media Questions That To Embrace Imperfections Keep Me Up At Night
Genna Schwarz Staff Writer Class of 2019
Jonathan Rushton Managing Editor Class of 2018
As the holidays approach, I become restless thinking about the upcoming exams, religious celebrations and New Year’s resolutions. These are some of the questions that keep me up at night during this season.
Photo: Adara Anthony-Jones
Instagram is one of the leading social media tools used throughout the world. Typical users turn to Instagram for advertising their businesses, publishing their personal lives and sharing intellectual posts. However, the trend has changed. It is becoming increasingly popular for Pace students to create a personal “finsta.” A finsta is a fake Instagram used to post embarrassing pictures that would otherwise be inappropriate or exposing on a normal Instagram account. “It is so much more entertaining to have a finsta, because I can post hilarious pictures and videos of me and my friends that I would never post on my real account,” said sophomore Madeline Janki. “I love looking at others’ finstas, because they are so entertaining. It allows us to just be ourselves and show our sense of humor.” Even though Pace finstas are most widely used by girls, many guys also enjoy it. For example, sophomores Patrick Thurman and Brogan Smith share a finsta named “trick and brick,” combining their two names. The most common way of creating a personal finsta name is by taking first names and finding a interesting way to fit it into a word, common phrase or an acronym. For example, sophomore Devan Johnson’s username is “pgmoohiahtsm." The meaning of this name, which is an acronym, is a mystery to everyone in the high school, and she claims she will not tell anyone the
1) Does anyone actually drink eggnog?
Devon Johnson posted and wrote on her finsta post, "When bae won't love u but it's cool bc he's going to the NBA." not get on any other social media site. It allows the kids at Pace to control who follows them, and it shows their followers a unique outlook on their life. It enables people to hide their imperfections, while also embracing them. “I feel like I've gotten to make new assumptions about my friends through their finstas,” said junior Khaki Loughran. “I love how it doesn’t just show the perfect pictures that took hours to take and edit, but it shows the real lives of a Pace teenager. I end up spending more time looking at the people I follow on my finsta than my real Instagram feed.”
arises from future technology. The eerie thing about the show is how realistic each episode is. While a few episodes are extremely futuristic, most prominently "San Junipero" and "15 Million Merits," other plot lines are so plausible it is scary. For example, take the first episode of Season 1, "The National Anthem." In this episode, the Duchess of Beaumont (basically Princess of England) is kidnapped, and the only way for the prime minister to save her is to elope with a pig on live television. The prime minister thinks it's fake at first, but the episode ends with him legitimately doing the deed. While the premise is sort of funny, the show does not make it seem funny at all. "I like that 'Black Mirror' has interesting viewpoints on technology that can be good or bad," said senior Eno Reyes.
"Black Mirror's" best aspect is the fact that the episodes do not surround the technology, but rather the drama unfolds because of the technology. The first season's "The Entire History of You" is centered around a husband who is slowly realizing that his wife had an affair. The technology aspect of this episode is that everyone has a device that allows them to record and re-watch all of their memories. The episode doesn't waste time explaining the device, but rather jumps right into the relationship, showing the device in action. While a device like this is still far into the future, "Black Mirror" does a great job portraying the everyday problems that may arise. "It could happen in real life," said junior Harrison Lewis. There are currently three seasons out with 13 episodes total, and Season 4 is set to premiere in 2017.
“Black Mirror” Dominates TV Show Competition Landon Goldstein Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Rarely do I find a show so good that it is all I can think and talk about. It happened with "Breaking Bad," "House of Cards," "Narcos" and "Stranger Things." Now it's happening with "Black Mirror," a British TV series available on Netflix. "Black Mirror" is a modern-day "Twilight Zone," with each episode having its own story, actors and director. "It's really different from any other show," said junior Jennifer Spalten. "I especially like how they use different people in each episode." In fact, the only similarity between the episodes is the “when tech goes wrong” vibe, meaning that each episode is based around a problem that
Yakitori Jinbei Disappoints Will Movsovitz
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
If nothing else, I am a man of many habits, and one of these is frequenting many of the same restaurants every week. Last Saturday, the lunch line at my favorite taco place was out the door, so with my stomach growling, I knew I had to improvise. After scanning the shopping center, I spotted a sushi restaurant that I had previously overlooked. With Yelp reviews calling it a “hidden gem,” I walked into Yakitori Jinbei with an open mind. After eating there, though, I left disappointed. When I first walked into the restaurant, it looked promising. There were specials written on a board in Japanese, and I was hoping for an authentic dining experience. The dining room was not large but was fairly crowded. I sat down at a table and looked over the rather small lunch menu. The sushi selection was not extensive, and most of it was cooked. I decided to go with their chirashi don, a chef’s selection of different types of fish served over rice, to get a good feel for the quality of the fish. The chirashi was part of a lunch special that came with
soup or salad. I asked for a salad, and it came out almost immediately. I noticed quickly, though, that something was wrong with it. The lettuce and other produce seemed to be fresh, but the dressing looked oddly like storm runoff. The whole thing also tasted a little bit like peanut butter. Needless to say, I did not finish my salad. Nevertheless, my hopes were probably too high for my incoming chirashi bowl, which arrived shortly after. The chirashi was a small portion of fish in a large bowl, and it was garnished sloppily with strips of nori. The presentation may have been haphazard, but the taste was worse. Each piece of fish was covered in a thin layer of water and did not taste fresh at all. The salmon. especially, left a bad aftertaste. The rice was very cold, and this alone led me to believe that the entire chirashi was premade and refrigerated prior to my ordering it. Out of fear for my own health I declined to finish my lunch and asked for the check. The price was an unreasonable $15 for one objectionable portion of fish. There are certainly better lunch deals for better quality at most other sushi restaurants in Atlanta, such as Sushi Huku or Hoki. Yakitori Jinbei should be avoided at all costs.
Photo: Will Movsovitz
meaning “until she is lying on her deathbed.” The difference between an Instagram and a finsta, besides the difference in content, is the effects it has on a teenager’s state of mind. For example, Instagram is always fun, but it can cause self-esteem issues in teens because of the unrealistic happiness that is prevalent in so many pictures. Users look at the perfect pictures and moments in a post, and sometimes immediately begin to wonder why their lives are not as extraordinary. A finsta on the other hand, despite its name, is anything but fake. Finstas provide a real look into a friend’s life that you could
2) Who is Hanukkah Harry? 3) How does Santa fit down my chimney? 4) What do teachers do for New Year’s Eve? 5) Why can’t we exempt winter exams? 6) Why is school starting so quickly after New Year’s? 7) Who eats the cookies I leave out for Santa? 8) Does Mike Wazowski wink or blink? 9) Will it snow this year? 10) Is it true that cannibals don’t eat comedians because they taste funny?
Sports
Vol. 42, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 7
Football Season Ends Shy of Dome George Shepherd Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Fred Assaf
The Pace Academy Knights’ football season concluded in a close battle against the Spartans of Greater Atlanta Christian on Nov. 11. Despite having the smallest high school enrollment in class AAA, the Knights finished with a winning record both in the region (4-3) and overall (6-5). The Knights played fierce competition, including Thomson (#4, AAAA), GAC (#2, AAA), Cedar Grove (#8, AAA), Westminster (#9, AAA) and Lovett (#12, AAA). Despite a commendable season, there is no doubt that Pace did not live up to the high expectations put forth by high school football fans statewide. Maxpreps: High School Sports had the Knights ranked as the #4 team in the state of Georgia regardless of classification in the preseason and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution had the Knights as #1 in AAA after week one. Pace bids farewell to six seniors: Trey Blount, Deon Jackson, Jordan Payne, Justin Rayman, Mark Sommerville and Andrew Thomas. The Knights will look to the class of 2018 which will include ten seniors. “Pace football has been very special to me,” said Justin. “Playing all six years has taught me what it is like to be a true teammate throughout all circumstances. I went from a
The Knights shake hands with the Spartans after the playoff loss to GAC on Nov. 11. winless season in seventh grade to winning a state championship my junior year, which was an incredible process.” “We played a lot of young kids this year and the experience they gained will lay a strong foundation for next year,” said wide receiver coach and Assistant Dean of Students Joe Sandoe. “Depth was definitely something we struggled with this season.” Pace will be back next season with 14 returning starters and an impressive and mature senior class. But the Knights have big shoes to fill as Andrew, Trey and
Deon have already committed to major Division I programs and Jordan and Mark were both vital defensive starters. Football players are already training for showcases, 7on7 teams, camps, and most importantly, next season. Freshman Mbiti Williams and junior Realus George have received invites to the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl Combine and sophomores Patrick Markwalter and Jared Rayman will compete in the Georgia Sophomore Elite Classic. Andrew, Trey and Jamaree were named First Team 5-AAA Offense, Realus was
named First Team Defense, and Deon was named Second Team Offense. “Going back to the playoffs for the third year in a row was probably the best part of the season,” said head coach Coach Slade. You have to have good senior leadership. Best players are not always the leaders and that is where we lacked.” “Next year I am going to identify the leaders even if they are younger guys,” said coach Slade. “When the best players are not the leaders that causes a lot of trouble.” Coach Slade said that good leaders are more
important to him than talented players. “I think this was a learning year for the returning players, he said. “Next year I think they will value achievement, the school, and our staff. We will focus on being bought in for Pace.” Coach Slade is “extremely excited” for the class of 2020 and he sees parallels between those players and the class of 2015. “They are both trustworthy, reliable, accountable, and care about Pace,” he said. “They are team players and are happy to be around each other on and off the field.”
Knights Set Tone for Powerful Preseason Sloan Wyatt Lifestyle Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Marc Mitchell
Injury prevention, conditioning and performance enhancement are the core values of Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Clement Rouviere’s 2016 preseason program. It is no simple task to develop 11 spring sport programs in the heart of the winter season, yet Clement manages the two schedules with ease. “There’s a huge demand and enthusiasm from kids in every sport, girls and boys,” said Clement. “I’ve noticed a sense of pride in the weight room.” As long as the athletes make a commitment to train and maintain a tenacious attitude, Clement is willing to coach them. When athletes walk into the weight room, the staff expects a positive attitude, strict discipline and a sense of camaraderie from each and every team. “Great athletes give me everything they have every day,” said Clement. He puts athletes through a rigorous routine that involves a rotation of warm ups, stretching, weightlifting and conditioning. Each workout is structured in a similar format but the exact workouts vary daily.
Athletes perform a variety of movement exercises to activate the nervous system and warm up the muscles before strength training. Athletes begin with a soft tissue exercise to loosen muscles followed by movements to activate the nervous system. From box jumps to medicine ball tosses, student-athletes gradually use heavier weights, increasing the overall difficulty of the workout as their performance improves.
Next, the students shuffle to the second section of the weight room to focus on weight training and strength. Concentrating on core stability and creating a strong, balanced foundation, students perform squats, pull ups, planks and band resistance drills among other exercises. The workout finishes with condition-
ing on either the indoor track or around the campus. To meet the demands of practice and games, the weight room staff says it is imperative to be healthy and stay in shape. “Winning is third on the list,” said Clement. This emphasis on a productive, healthy environment has
been replicated in the weight room with its new additions. Equipment was moved around to maximize square footage and upgrades were made to obsolete gear. Lifting platforms were traded for rubber floors, cutting edge dumbbells were purchased to maximize weight and rep efficiency and college-grade “Sorinex” racks were installed. This equipment has been featured in programs at Penn State, Auburn and the Denver Broncos. Nevertheless Rouviere has taken a more minimalistic approach this year, ensuring that there is sufficient free space for his movement exercises. Accompanied by Athletic Director Troy Baker, Clement is ushering in a preseason that encourages all athletes to participate. Nevertheless, each team may focus on different aspects of the workout and take away different outcomes. Although sports such as boys lacrosse have been known for their intensive workouts, Clement has been impressed by the girls this year in preseason. “I just like the attitude of the girls lately,” said Clement. “They’ve brought a real positivity to the weight room and are not being intimidated anymore by the environment.”
December 9, 2016
Sports
The Knightly News - Page 8
Knights Look to Pin Competition Jonathan Rushton Managing Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Fred Assaf
As winter approaches, fans can expect the beginning of one of Pace’s most grueling sports: wrestling. During the first few months of school, any wrestling prospect is asked by head coach Mark Sommerville, “Will I see you wrestling this year?” but only few students accept the challenge. This year the varsity wrestling team will be made up of 12 student-athletes. “We have a heavy load of juniors, making the team quite strong with a combination of leadership and experience,” said Coach Sommerville. “Most have been in the program since middle school and are desperately desiring to improve last year’s top 10 place in State.” The team will be led by their sole senior, Jonathan Boss. “Senior captain Jonathan Boss appears ready to have a break out season for us,” said Coach Sommerville. Jack Walsh, the only senior from last year’s squad, finished second in the state in 2016 and continued his wrestling career at the University of Virginia. “We may
Current junior Justin Morris sets himself to wrestle his opponent in the 2015-2016 season. never be able to replace Jack’s leadership and strong passion, but I have learned over the years there will always be a ram in the bush,” said Coach Sommerville. Jack had 122 career wins, the second-highest number ever in Pace wrestling. He also made the state tournament four times. “Leading the way this year is [junior] Frank [Houser],” said Coach Sommerville. “He is
the captain, and although he is injured right now, his presence alone seems to motivate others.” Frank finished second in state and won 34 matches in 2016. Although the team consists of 10 upperclassmen, the Knights have high expectations for two younger wrestlers. “Sophomore Charlie Warren and freshman Blaise Reyes have been working out since about
Equestrian Team Rides to Success
Congrats Athletes! Varsity Football: Made the first round of the GHSA AAA playoffs Trey Blount ‘17 (football): Verbally committed to University of Georgia; Pre-Season AAA All-State team Deon Jackson ‘17 (football): Verbally committed to Duke University Jamaree Salyer ‘18 (football): Pre-Season AAA All-State team Andrew Thomas ‘17 (football): Verbally committed to University of Georgia; Pre-Season AAA All-State team
Sydnie Jiang Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Michael Yoffee
Every once in awhile, there’s an announcement from the Pace equestrian team about the latest horse show they just competed in or one that is coming up. These announcements are often overlooked, but the equestrian team works hard to prepare for these shows. Horseback riding is not as common as other sports such as basketball or football and people usually don’t know the specifics about riding, which may be why the team does not attract as much attention. Pace has one equestrian team, consisting of nine middle and upper school riders. Pace is associated with a horse barn in Smyrna, where the riders typically practice together two times per month. In addition, the riders practice with their individual trainers on their own time. Horseback riding requires a lot of time because horse shows usually last from 7 a.m. to 4 or 5 in the afternoon. These shows aren’t just your average 15-minute drive either. “The shows in our region are closer by than others,” said faculty sponsor and biology teacher Meredith Carpenter. “But they are still pretty far away.” Ms. Carpenter is new this
Junior Caroline MacRae canters in a routine at the Georgia International Horse Park. year to Pace and to serving as faculty sponsor, taking over the job from former middle school teacher Emily Camp. The team is required to have a faculty sponsor in order to become an official team. Faculty sponsors are important because they help integrate the equestrian team into the Pace community by making announcements and recognizing the riders for what they do. The time it takes to prepare for these horse shows pays off. Recently, Pace hosted a show at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, where they defeated both Lovett and Westminster. Last year, the middle school team qualified for Zones,
one month prior to the official start,” said Coach Sommerville. “They seem to be prepared to be more than ready as we start the season.” Charlie enters his second season on the team looking to improve on his freshman campaign. “I’m excited for the season to start up again, as I want to emulate Frank and Jack by getting to State, and hopefully win-
ning a ring,” said Charlie. Blaise will be the youngest on the team, but will have plenty of experienced teammates around him.”I can already tell that I’ll learn a lot from the older guys, and I’m looking forward to building up my own reputation as a standout wrestler,” said Blaise. The fitness required for wrestling is second to none. In order to compete among the best competition, wrestlers are required to cut their own weight, lift weights and endure long cardio workouts. “I think wrestling is one of the toughest sports at Pace Academy; no one ever fully appreciates how much work we put in each and every week,” said Frank. During their pre-season workouts, the wrestling team runs on the track and works daily with fitness coaches Clement Rouviere and Sekou Walton. Wrestling also provides a way for athletes who consider other sports to be their main focus to stay in pristine shape. “Wrestling is one of the toughest sports to stay in shape for, without a doubt,” said junior Justin Morris. “It’s important for me to keep my fitness and quickness at the highest level possible in the offseason.”
which is one step above Regionals and includes riders from six neighboring states. “Competing in horse shows is nerve racking,” said freshman Emily Caton. “There isn’t a lot of room for mistakes because you only get one opportunity to show your skills.” The Pace equestrian team does not have any seniors, but there are two juniors, Caroline MacRae and Ashley Yoffee, holding leadership roles. The majority of the team is on the younger side of the spectrum. “I think the younger riders will do a really good job as team captains when the time comes, and the team will be in really good hands,” said Ashley.
Varsity Volleyball: Region 6-AAA champions; GHSA AAA state runner-up; First ever volleyball team to make State Championship Summer Brown ‘17 (volleyball): Signed to Duke University; Named GHSA AAA player of the year Meghan Botsch ‘17 (volleyball): Verbally committed to The College of Wooster Water Polo: Finished 9th overall in the state tournament Schuyler Drose ‘18 (water polo): Division 2 All-State Second Team Harris Greenbaum ‘20 (water polo): Division 2 All-State Honorable Mention Andrew Jenkins ‘19 (water polo): Division 2 All-State First Team; Broke Pace record for most goals scored in a season with 100 goals Mitchell Zwecker ‘17 (water polo): Division 2 All-State First Team Varsity Girls Cross Country: Placed 3rd overall in the GHSA AAA state championship meet Payton Payne ‘20 (cross country): Placed 10th overall in the state meet; Invited to Meet of Champions Paula Sandoval ‘20 (cross country): Placed 24th overall in the state meet Julia Ross ‘17 (cross country): Placed 26th overall in the state meet Varsity Boys Cross Country: Placed 6th overall in the GHSA AAA state championship meet Jack Douglass ‘18 (cross country): Placed 10th overall in the state meet; Broke Westminster’s all-time course record; Placed 1st in the region meet; Invited to the Meet of Champions Rob Warren ‘17 (cross country): Placed 18th overall in the state meet Max Irvine ‘17 (cross country): Placed 24th overall in the state meet Lizabeth Frohwein ‘17 (softball): First Team All-Region 5-AAA Sari Leven ‘17 (softball): First Team All-Region 5-AAA Presley Marxmiller ‘18 (softball): First Team All-Region 5-AAA Caitlyn Murphy ‘19 (softball): First Team All-Region 5-AAA Julia Robison ‘17 (softball): First Team All-Region 5-AAA