Vol. 48, Issue #1

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The

September 23, 2022

Knightly News

p.5 New Teachers

p. 7 Monkeypox Vaccine

p. 10 Athlete Superstitions

Photo: Fred Assaf

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Pace News

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 2

Students Work Diligently in Summer Jobs so many options!

Numerous students also took on more traditional job settings this summer. Working these types of jobs during the summer gives students both extra availability and summer opportunities to spend their earnings on.

For example, sophomore Nola Shapiro prepared food at Frutta Bowls, a superfood café serving acai bowls, smoothies and more.

She learned the proper way to treat customers and that “if you are polite to everyone they are usually very understanding.”

“The hardest part was probably having to learn so many skills at once, such as professional health protocol,” said Shapiro.

While working exhausting and long hours, she also had fun with her coworkers. “Most of the employees are around my age,” said Shapiro. “Some of my friends worked with me which made it much more fun.”

On the contrary, junior Martin Andra-Thomas, who worked as a host at McCray’s Tavern in Smyrna, explained that “the

hardest part of my job was dealing with difficult coworkers.” While he may not have enjoyed his coworkers as much as Shapiro, Andra-Thomas still had a fun work experience seating customers, and he enjoyed bringing the food out to people.

Working in customer service teaches many important lessons.

“I learned valuable work experience, such as dealing with rude customers,” said Andra-Thomas.

Senior CJ Thomas also learned many lessons about customer service while preparing smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Brookhaven. “If you aren’t vigilant, then someone else has to clean up your mess,” said Thomas. “It’s better just to clean up after yourself so you can make it easier on the rest of the team.”

Thomas loved interacting with customers and particularly enjoyed his well deserved earnings, for his manager would schedule him for 35+ hour work weeks.

alone in the woods is used to think about the semester as a whole and about yourself going forward. Lowry spent this time journaling, writing letters to her friends and thinking about her time at the Outdoor Academy. “I had so much time to reflect on my experience and try to figure out how I was going to reintroduce myself into the world,” said Lowry.

Upon returning to Pace, Lowry has ideas from her classes at the Outdoor Academy that she would like to implement at Pace: “I wish we had more classes outside. I really love interactive classes where it is more like a conversation with the teacher rather than a lecture.

It really makes you want to learn and gets you invested in the topic.”

Photo: Maddie Swartz

As we dive back into the school year, students are reflecting on incredible summers, full of relaxation and exciting vacations. But for many students, this summer was one of hard work and great reward. Take a look at the ups and downs of having a summer job.

While working during the school year can be a great experience, summer brings an opportunity for some fun in the sun. Senior Maddie Swartz worked as a sleepaway camp counselor at Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, North Carolina. She lived with 10-year-olds and two co-counselors in a cabin setting for nine weeks straight.

More specifically, she worked on the activity “powerboating,” teaching campers to drive boats on the river, and

she enjoyed working with other people who love powerboating.

“The hardest part of my job was pushing through the long and tiring days along with taking care of camper issues,” said Maddie. “I learned how to be resilient and show a positive face because people are always looking up to you.”

Similarly, sophomore Dallis Walsh enjoyed summer weather while working as a lifeguard at Piedmont Park. Dallis appreciated watching the kids having summer fun while they played in the pool. “I also enjoyed seeing regulars who loved to chat and check up on you,” said Walsh.

Becoming a lifeguard requires difficult training, and Walsh recognizes that it is not an easy task. “The hardest part was making sure that everyone was safe, especially when the pool was crowded,” said Walsh. “I learned that you must always be alert and ready to act when you see someone in trouble or something that can lead to a problem.”

While these summer-oriented

Seniors Maddie Swartz and Marley Venturi enjoy time off on the beach during their nine weeks as sleep away camp counselors in North Carolina jobs are great, not everyone is ready to take on the higher job responsibilities of caring for children. However, there are still

Emma Lowry Attends the Outdoor Academy

Photo: @emmaklowry on Instagram

Last semester, junior Emma Lowry attended the Outdoor Academy, a semester school for sophomores and juniors in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. The Outdoor Academy is a unique, semester-long program where about 30 students from all over the country come together to live as a community, attend handson classes in the wilderness and develop new skills.

The Outdoor Academy is based on four main cornerstones: intellect, craft, environment and community. The students go on a variety of outings throughout the semester including backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking trips.

Lowry was at the Outdoor Academy from January to May 2022, where she had an amazing experience and was able to meet new people and learn new things. “It was really scary going because no one there knows anyone, but that also puts everyone on a level playing field.

So when you show up, you just have to give it your all and throw your whole personality out there because these are the people that you are going to be living with for four months, so you really can’t hold back,” Lowry commented.

Upon arrival at the start of the semester, the students are split into groups of eight and are sent on a five day trek. “Right off the bat, you are thrown together and immediately sent out to the field to backpack, so everyone bonds really quickly.

Everyone becomes your family and you learn to rely on each other,” said Lowry.

One of Lowry’s favor-

Emma Lowry visits a community art garden in Asheville, NC. ite things about the Outdoor Academy was the community.

“Everyone there is your friend.

The adults, the students, the animals,” Lowry explained.

The whole community grows extremely close throughout the semester, as they live, eat, take classes and spend their free time together.

The Outdoor Academy focuses on connecting to the

natural world. Every morning, the day starts with a short hike to the top of a mountain to watch the sunrise and have time to reflect. Additionally, there is no technology allowed, which gives students a break from screens and the stress that they can cause.

At the end of the semester, every student completes a 48hour solo reflection. This time

Pace News

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 3

Faculty Members Explain How Coaching Helps Them Become Better Teachers

Photo: Fred Assaf

Any Pace student-athlete is familiar with the often overwhelming schedule that managing their sport demands. Balancing practices, homework, tests and games, choosing to play a school sport requires a massive time commitment. Many Pace teachers also coach a sport, and they can sympathize. “Being a coach reminds me to put myself in my students’ shoes,” says English teacher, cross country coach and soccer coach Tamara Neiley. “I’m busy after the academic day just like my students,” she explains. “It’s a nice reminder to be a little more empathetic to my students and recognize how busy their schedules are.”

Teacher-coaches deal with many of the same difficulties players do. Math teacher and tennis coach, Mr. Matt Marsico says, “it’s a lot harder because we have to balance being available to our students… and still be there to manage and run the team.” He often has to schedule extra help meetings in the morning or during break and free periods because of practices after school. “Especially when

students outside of the classroom helps them have deeper connections with them and be better equipped to help them.

Marsico described the unique relationship he is able to have with students who play on his tennis team, saying “it’s easier for me to know when a student is struggling because I know more about them and how they respond to adversity.” Although there is a difference in the formality of a classroom, he thinks teaching and coaching have a lot of similarities. “We’re still just trying to get to know our students or players and make their time at Pace be the best it can be, and a lot of the lessons that we take with us for the rest of our lives don’t occur in a classroom.

They don’t necessarily occur on a tennis court either - it’s in life and interactions.” “Part of being a good teacher is forming relationships,” says Mr. Bryant, and seeing students outside of class has helped with that.

With the time commitments, is it worth it to take on the extra responsibilities of coaching?

“You have to love it and you have to be passionate about it to be fully committed to the team,” explains Ms. Neiley. But if you are, she says, “it can be an incredibly rewarding and fun experience.”

Math teacher and tennis Coach Matt Marsico poses with the State Championship Trophy. we have away matches and we have to leave early, it can get challenging,” he notes.

Computer science teacher and E-Sports coach Charlie Bry-

ant says he’s “there for all the time that the players are there plus a little more” because he’s also in charge of all the planning and logistics for E-Sports. E-

sports can be uniquely challenging because they have “multiple teams going at the same time,” he adds. However, it can also be very rewarding. Knowing their

Knight Card Revamped! Bigger, Better and Bolder

Photo: Andrew Swann

As the world has almost entirely returned to normal, something extraordinary is finally coming back to Pace after its long hibernation since COVID-19 interrupted the world.

Is it individual salt shakers returning to the cafeteria? Is it couches coming back to the commons? Is it chocolate chip Golberg’s muffins coming back to the snack bar? No, no, and no.

It’s the Knight Card!

The Knight Card is a fantastic, functional way to save money while dining at some of the best restaurants around Pace Academy and the West Paces Ferry shopping center.

Purchasable at the low, low price of $25 from the fantastic Pace Student Council, this amazingly designed card from Bianca Vaneri will provide a 10% discount at any of the participating locations. Currently, the Knight Card is supported at various Willy’s restaurants on West Paces, Peachtree, Roswell, Mountain High Outfitters, Frutta Bowls and Menchies on Roswell.

However, it does not stop there.

Student Body President Marit Uyham is hard at work to increase the acceptance of the Knight Card into restaurants

Seniors Aidan Carroll and Jack Schmitt (L-R) smile with their new knight cards. such as Goldbergs, Wing Factory and Jinya. Student Body Vice President David Grice says, “The Knight Card is not only a good fundraiser for the student body, but also a good way to

interact with the surrounding community in a way that can benefit the restaurants involved and the Pace family.”

These cards are already for sale primarily for parents but

will be hitting the market for students very soon! Frequent Buckhead cuisine Yelp reviewer Henry Levenson said, “Man, I am so pumped for the Knight Card to come back. The post-

Coronavirus prices are really mean to my wallet so I am so happy that I get to save money at my favorite eateries while supporting the Pace community!”

Pace News

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 4

Catherine Monroe, Nick Bach Become New Varsity Volleyball, Football Coaches

Photos: Fred Assaf

Catherine Monroe joins the Pace community this year as the Head Volleyball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director. Joining a team with a history of success, Coach Monroe looks forward to getting to know the people and the program more. “I’m looking forward to contributing to a strong tradition of volleyball excellence,” she said. “I want to continue to get to know the varsity team, but also the programwide dynamics and culture.”

Throughout her career, Coach Monroe has experienced varied types of volleyball programs, ranging from large Texas public schools to international schools in Europe. She is very passionate about coaching high school athletics. “There’s a great opportunity to teach these intangible skills, like collaboration and work ethic, that students don’t always learn in the classroom but have the opportunity to learn from athletics,” she said.

On the court, Coach Monroe believes that maintaining a balance between discipline and fun is the best way to improve as a team.

“There are moments to laugh and be silly, but there are also

Coach Monroe cheers on her team during the game vs. Marist on Aug. 25.

Coach Bach assesses the game as his team plays Westminster on Aug. 26.

moments to be focused and step up to compete.”

In her role as a female head coach, Coach Monroe also looks to inspire and support girls in athletics. “When I was growing up female athletics were very much in the shadow of male athletics, and I took that very hard and personally,” she said. “Part of the reason I was driven to be a coach of females is to continue to empower and grow the reputa-

act,” he said. “For me, it’s not about what socks they are wearing, but how they are treating people and their priorities in the classroom.”

As Coach Bach looks ahead to the season, he wants to get to know the players and program more. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they react to all the ups and downs,” he said. “Football is a long, tough season with a lot of challenges, and if we can

tion and thought around females and athletics.”

Nick Bach is joining the Pace Athletic Office this fall as the Head Football Coach and GameDay Administrator. Having experience at both the high school and college levels, Coach Bach has a coaching system in place to support every member of the team. “I am a players’ coach and let them take the ownership of the team and decide how we

keep it together it seems like we will have a very special group.”

Coach Bach also admires how supportive the Pace community is to each other and looks to back it up with his coaching.

“I care about where they are going and that they have a desire to be successful. There is a great support system, so it’s a matter of making sure they are on the right path and trying to assist them along the way.”

5 Minutes with Student Body Representatives

Photo: Alice Gash

KN: Hey guys! How are you all doing?

DAVID GRICE: Fantastic!

KN: Why don’t you all give a formal introduction for the readers?

BIANCA VANERI: Sure!

I’m Bianca Vaneri! I’m the student body secretary.

DG: I’m David Grice, and I am the student body vice president.

JACK WAGREICH: I’m Jack Wagreich, and I am the student body treasurer.

KN: How is senior year going so far?

BV: Honestly, it’s been pretty stressful. Teachers want to make sure we don’t slack off and have senioritis first semester. There’s also a lot of work to do for colleges, along with homework.

JW: In regards to the council, we have a bunch of prep and organization to do, with our heavy schedule of spirit week, more food trucks and other exciting events.

KN: How does it feel to be the role models for the entire student body?

DG: It’s a bit stressful. It’s fun talking during assembly and making announcements, and I

David Grice, Bianca Vaneri, Jack Wagreich and Marit UyHam (L-R) are the representatives of the student body for the 2022-2023 school year. think we are all great leaders!

BV: It’s definitely a lot of responsibility to uphold, and with Ms. Barbakow as the new dean of students, she came along with us on the student council retreat and talked to us about working hand in hand with her this year about the dress code and other important factors.

KN: What are your thoughts on the new dress code? Any complaints?

DG: I don’t have any gripes myself. I don’t have to wear a belt. I know Bianca might have some gripes, though.

BV: I do have a gripe, actually. Here are my thoughts. I

think that tennis skirts are not an unprofessional form of clothing, and I think that they could have made tennis skirts to be a specific length and not just cut them out entirely. I really do appreciate that Ms. Barbakow made the dress code gender-neutral.

KN: Are there any new exciting things coming this year that you can hint at for the student body?

DG: We are bringing back food trucks!

JW: Yes, we are returning food trucks for all four grades, baby!

KN: Yay! So exciting. Hey, Marit! Thanks for joining us!

Want to introduce yourself?

MARIT UYHAM: Hi! I’m Marit UyHam, and I am the student body president.

KN: Any advice that you would like to give to freshmen?

MU: Remember to thank your teachers because they work really hard to help you succeed in the Upper School.

BV: My advice to freshmen is to appreciate the grind and if you are in a really difficult class, make an experience out of studying and make friends in that class and make study guides together.

DG: I would say branch out and meet as many people as

you can because when you are a senior, you start to realize that you aren’t going to see everyone again. So really just try and come together as a grade.

JW: Have fun.

DG: Good advice Jack.

That’s good.

KN: So inspirational Jack.

Anyways, how are you going to leave your mark on Pace since it’s your last year?

MU: I think by mentoring younger class members and teaching them how to navigate through the upper school.

JW: Well, being a younger sibling of 2, I am leaving behind a Wagreich legacy. It’s bittersweet. I’ve been here for 13 years, and this is the beginning of the end of my senior year.

DG: We’re coming fresh off COVID-19, so what we leave behind is going to set the new policy for years to come. We want to invent some new stuff, return to the old stuff and just have a great overall year.

KN: Any last thoughts?

MU: We look forward to making it a great and memorable year for the student body.

DG: Go Knights, baby!

JW: So true.

BV: Go knights, and hashtag PK4L.

Pace News

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 5

The Pace Community Welcomes New Faculty

Photos: Pace Acade,my

Upper School history teacher GARY NELSON is originally from the Alabama coast. Mr. Nelson has always loved school.

“I always knew I wanted to teach. I think that I just loved my teachers and wanted to have a similar impact on people,” said Mr. Nelson. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Huntingdon College and then went on to get his master’s from Auburn University. He is excited for his new role in the Upper School along with coaching the football team. He hopes to build strong relationships with his students and inspire them to work hard in and outside the classroom. “I want to be a relationship builder here. I hope to be someone who can get to know our students, and just remind them to work on becoming our best selves.” When he is not at Pace, he loves to read dystopian fiction and explore nature trails.

Upper School chorus teacher CHRIS BARBEE began teaching choir, voice and music theory at a non-profit music education organization in Birmingham, Alabama. After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he traveled to Latvia where he sang in competitive groups and worked with other community choirs. He then went on to work with students in the Tiger Glee Club at LSU while earning his master’s degree. Mr. Barbee is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Pace community. “I wanted to work with highly motivated students who always want to progress and grow while being part of an active and vibrant arts program as I work to help build an active and competitive choral program,” he said. “I hope to help carry forward and grow the tradition of excellence already set in place by seeking out more opportunities to challenge ourselves as musicians via progressively more exciting and interesting choral music.”

Upper School English teacher HOPE ROGERS is thrilled to be at Pace. She is from Lilburn, Georgia and received her bachelor’s degree from University of Georgia. After this, she went on to earn her doctorate at Princeton University. In her spare time, Ms. Rogers likes to play with her dog and bake. Ms. Rogers always loved English from a young age. She said, “I loved when a teacher would talk about books and bring up all of these details I never noticed. I really wanted to be able to do that for students of my own.”

When talking about her goal as an English teacher, she said, “I really want to empower students to be part of that conversation about literature. I want them to articulate those ideas and make their own arguments.” Ms. Rogers looks forward to getting to know the Pace community more and engaging with her students throughout the year.

Upper School math teacher LAURENTIU SEGA was born in Romania and later went on to earn his undergraduate degree at the University of Bucharest.

From a young age, Dr. Sega has always had a love for mathematics. “I had phenomenal math teachers growing up, really great professors and humans, so I ended up loving math and thinking about how to teach it.”

After earning his undergraduate degree, he received his Ph.D in mathematics at Purdue University. He has spent the majority of his teaching career working at the University level, specifically at Purdue, Harvard and Augusta university. Teaching high school students will definitely be a different experience for him, but he is excited for the new experience, and, “didn’t think twice,” he said.

Upper School computer science teacher ALEX ERMIDES is from upstate New York, where he taught middle school students. Describing his love for teaching, Mr. Ermides appreciates sharing his new findings with others. “I have always liked learning a lot. I’ve always just thought that if there’s a really cool narrative that can explain something I just think it’s really interesting, and I love sharing those narratives.” Along with teaching new material, his favorite part of class is when it finally clicks for a student. “I really like helping someone understand something. When you can see when they’re like ‘Oh, I get it!’, like you finally explain it, and they finally figure it out in their mind and they become excited about the thing that you really like teaching people about.” Mr. Ermides believes that computer science should be a welcoming environment for anyone who is thinking about joining. “I think anyone who is interested should take computer science. I don’t want anyone to be intimidated by it. I will make it accessible to everyone. It’s really useful if you want to be an artist, or a scientist, or an engineer or anything; using computers efficiently will help you become so much more productive. And it can be really fun. Take computer science!”

Upper School English teacher LESLIE DEPIETRO knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was a teenager. Beginning as a camp counselor in high school, Mrs. Depietro has always found working with kids to be her passion. Her favorite part of working with high schoolers is the entertaining interactions that she gets to have with students on a daily basis. “Students are some of the funniest people you could spend time with; the conversations we get to have in class, the variety of conversations, the daily experience of there always being something new.” Growing up with Harry Potter books, Mrs. Depietro’s drive to teach English stems from her love of reading. Her favorite aspect of teaching is getting to discuss books with her classes. Not only has she been looking forward to knowing her new students, but Mrs. Depietro is excited to be a part of the Pace community as a whole. “In looking around, Pace is one of the only private schools that has really put diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of their culture. That was the first thing that caught my eye because I feel like the world needs that more right now.” Mrs. Depietro is anticipating what the new school year will bring. “I’m thrilled to be here, and to get to know everyone more!”

Upper School ceramics teacher TY NICHOLSON looks forward to being a part of the pace community. He grew up in Southern California, and then he went into the Army for four years. Afterwards, he studied studio arts at the University of West Florida. Outside of the studio, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking and crossword puzzles. When he took his first ceramics class, he said, “Immediately, there was a connection between myself and the material. It was above and beyond everything that I’ve ever experienced in art.” After earning his bachelor’s, he received his master’s at Georgia State University. His work has been in many different exhibits such as the LH Gallery in Oregon. Some of the projects he has worked on in Atlanta include the Rosa Parks sculpture near Georgia Tech and the Martin Luther King sculpture at the Capital. Also, prior to Pace, he taught at North Atlanta High School. “Having this creative outlet is such a beneficial way to express yourself visually” said Mr. Nicholson. In particular, he loves the moment where everything clicks for the student and when they are proud of their work. He said, “I hope to pass forward to my students the confidence to believe in themselves.”

Pace Business Club Visits Coca-Cola Headquarters On May 24, 2022, members of the Pace Business Club visited the Coca-Cola headquarters to learn about the global corporation, its consumer products and business life structure. The Upper School Business Club is a new initiative started by members of the junior class and is geared towards navigating through the complexities of career paths and learning about innovation, entrepreneurship and finance.

The club’s first event was a business panel last April with executives from Coca-Cola, Wall Street and WarnerMedia who discussed everything from investment banking to cyber security to law and more. The club plans to hold another business panel in October that students

can attend to learn more about these topics.

While at Coke, students were given a tour of the facility, which included fascinating works of Picasso on the walls, meeting rooms each with its own unique touch and Coke memorabilia from its storied past starting at the company’s foundations. This unique opportunity let students gain a new perspective on the authentic experience of working at Coke and learn the underlying functions of a business.

Junior William Souza said, “I really enjoyed taking a deep dive into many important and necessary functions of Coca-Cola.

This event will be one to remember, and I highly recommend this opportunity for students in the future”.

The overall experience allowed students to understand corporate duties while still in high school, which could help in making decisions regarding class

schedules, summer programs and university major selections prior to graduating from high school.

Towards the end of the tour, everyone was divided into groups and brainstormed ideas on new drink products as well as new approaches to social media campaigns. They used their imaginations to propose four products and promotions that capture what people want and need.

“The Pace Business Club has definitely helped me learn about some real-world experiences inside the business realm.

I especially loved the tour that we took at Coke because we got to learn about all of the different pieces of Coke’s company such as the marketing department, IT and Flavors that work together so smoothly to build a successful company,” said junior Adair Smith.

Current Affairs

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 6

Did God Really Save the Queen?

Photo: : @enews on Instagram

On Sep. 8, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom passed away at 96. Her son, Charles III ascended the throne as King following her death. An icon known for her beautiful waves to crowds and outrageously colorful hats, Elizabeth was a warrior who served as the valiant queen for just over 70 years. She served mainly as a figurehead; however, her infectious smile and irresistible charm factored into her approval among British citizens.

As the initial news of the queen’s medical scare circled the globe on Sep. 8, the royal family was seen rushing to the Palace, leading many around the world to question the severity of the issue.

Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle within a couple of hours, and the devastating news spread like wildfire. Members of direct blood relation to her were present by her bedside, but the Duchess of Sussex and Cambridge did not join, remaining with their children. Sadly, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, arrived too late, unable to wish his final goodbyes upon the queen.

“Operation London Bridge” is the detailed procedure following her passing in Scotland, including future leadership, transportation of her corpse and an overall assessment of how the next 10 days will proceed.

The final day will consist of her funeral, which will be held at Westminster Abbey according to

The Queen pictured in a green dress at Sandringham in the 1980s. tradition. Everyone around the globe felt the far-reaching impact of Her Majesty’s influence, and the English Soccer League has even delayed scheduled games.

Many Hollywood actors have shared posts on social media dedicated to her legacy.

Initially seizing the throne at the young age of 25 in June 1952, she succeeded her father, King George VI. In 1970, Elizabeth led the first “walkout,” a tradition that has continued with the royals through today. She engaged with

the crowd directly, on a personal level, touching the hearts of many people across the world.

Newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss gave a statement acknowledging the queen’s central role in British culture. “Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on

which modern Britain was built.” Quite possibly the best way to describe her: a rock. The strength of the British people, a pillar of stability and symbol of love. May God save the Queen!

Music Midtown Cancelled Due to Gun Laws

Photo: @musicmidtown on Instagram

permits Georgians to carry firearms on public grounds. This idea stems from a 2014 state law that allows Georgia residents to carry firearms in places they could not before, such as a public Every September, tens of park. It resulted in later confuthousands of music listeners sion on whether privately hosted attend Atlanta’s Music Midtown festivals on public grounds had Festival in Piedmont Park. Last the ability to restrict guns from year, the festival had 50,000 their events, so the law was later people show up to the two-day revisited in 2019 by the Georgia event. Fans were anticipating the Supreme Court. Private groups festival’s headliners including now struggle to prevent guns Future, Fall Out from short-term Boy, My Chemical “Due to circumstances events, meanRomance and Jack beyond our control, Music ing the festival White until Music Midtown will no longer had no way Midtown produc- be taking place this year. of restricting ers announced that We ... hope we can all get firearms from the event would be back to enjoying the festi- entering the cancelled this year. val together again soon.” festival because “Hey Midtown Piedmont Park fans - due to circumstances is owned by the city of Atlanta. beyond our control, Music The loss of the 2022 festival Midtown will no longer be not only disappointed attendees taking place this year. We were who had been looking forward to looking forward to reuniting in the upcoming event, but the loss September and hope we can all of revenue caused a big hit to the get back to enjoying the festival local economy. Music Midtown together again soon,” the festival has yet to release a statement announced on its social media on what its plans are for the following years, but hopefully, this platforms. beloved event since 1994 can The reasoning behind this sudden shutdown was because make its comeback. of a Georgia court ruling that

Music Midtown attracts thousands of listeners every year.

Current Affairs

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 7

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Builds New Arthur M. Blank Hospital

In May of 2022, the first case of Monkeypox was found in the United Kingdom. Since then, over 50,000 cases have been reported globally, about 18,500 of them being in the United States.

This viral disease, a part of the variola virus family, provides communities around the globe with yet another dangerous outbreak.

However, Monkeypox was originally first introduced in 1958, when two outbreaks of the pox-like disease were found in monkeys taken for research, but the source of the disease remains unknown. Monkeypox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mimics a milder and less fatal version of smallpox.

With a blistery rash covering one’s body to ashiness and fevers, Monkeypox can take up to four weeks to fully heal and leave a person’s system. Like COVID-19, Monkeypox spreads through direct and intimate contact, allowing even a pregnant woman to pass down this virus to a fetus through the placenta.

Aside from how Monkeypox is spread by someone who has it, scientists continue to experiment

with questions similar to those faced with COVID-19: Can the virus be spread by someone with no symptoms? Is Monkey Pox spread via bodily fluids or purely human touch?

With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 and its vaccine, a quicker turnaround was upheld with the Monkeypox virus. Today, two Monkeypox vaccines are available in the United States: JYNNEOS and ACAM2000. Both JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 were derived from vaccines to treat smallpox and the previous Monkeypox outbreak.

However, the newness of these vaccines leaves room for recommended precautions, as scientists and physicians encourage the vaccinated to isolate themselves from others if diagnosed with Monkeypox.

And as stated by the CDC, “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been distributing the JYNNEOS vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile since May 2022.”

More recently on Aug. 9, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization, recommending a smaller dosage of the JYNNEOS vaccine to increase the number of dosages available by five times while maintaining a similar immune response.

Photo: Choa.org

On May 31, 2022, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) held the topping out ceremony for the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, the highest construction point, has been completed. Over 1500 construction workers were praised for their contributions, and in the next coming months, construction will start on the interior of the hospital. A plan more than five years in the making, the North Druid Hills Campus is the biggest healthcare project in Georgia’s history.

“This new campus is designed to serve our community’s needs now and for generations to come,” said Jonathan Goldman, Chairman of the Board of CHOA. When completed, the campus will span 70 acres of land and include the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, the Outpatient Clinic and 20 acres of green space. The new hospital will have 116 more patient beds than the Egleston location, with larger, private rooms for each patient. As it currently stands, the hospital is on track to open in 2025. On Jul. 24, 2018, the Center for Ad-

vanced Pediatrics was opened.

The 260,000 square foot facility is an eight-floor building with more than 250 rooms in total.

With over 450 employees across 20 pediatric specialties, this innovative center offers top-notch healthcare for children across Georgia. “The opening of the Center for Advanced Pediatrics marks a key milestone in our North Druid Hills campus journey,” said Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Donna Hyland.

“We’re creating a transformative pediatric destination to provide quality care for future generations to come.”

With the Never Settle Campaign launched last April 20, 2022, the ambitious plan is coming closer to fruition. The campaign will last 5 years and seeks to provide the best healthcare for generations of children.

However, the campaign seeks a hefty cost of $3.4 billion. In 2019, the North Druid Hills I-85 interchange was redesigned for quicker access to the hospital.

Now, the exit leads directly to the hospital. The campus will have a MARTA bus with a potential shuttle directly to and from the station.

One of the main selling points of the hospital is its emphasis on nature. In fact, more than 75% of patient rooms in the hospital will have a garden view. “Research indicates that

Exemplified is the vision of people walking to the CHOA North Druid Hills Campus. patients who enjoy natural light and outdoor views heal faster, require less pain medication and have shorter stays,” said former

director of healthcare at HKS Bob Farrow.

However, when the Arthur M. Blank hospital finally opens,

the beloved Egleston hospital will no longer be in service. Currently, it is unknown what will happen to the hospital.

New Monkeypox Vaccine Reveals Hope

Photo: Shuttershock

The first Monkeypox patient in Indonesia is treated with the vaccine.

White House coordinator Robert Fenton for the national Monkeypox response claims that this approach to vaccination is “a strategy that is increasing our ability to reach those that are at risk and is being utilized very successfully to increase the number of doses we have on hand,” he said. According to The New York Times, Fenton also

revealed that by September, the U.S. would perceivably receive roughly 5.5 million ordered doses of the Monkeypox vaccine.

But as far as spreading awareness goes, Fenton has made it a point to reach to those most at risk: men who have sex with men. A long history of work on sexually transmitted diseases and early studies of the current

Monkeypox outbreak reveals a pattern of highly interconnected sexual networks within this particular community of men that allow the virus to spread in a way that it can’t in the general public.

That being said, any form of unsafe sexual intercourse between all genders contributes to the possible rise of Monkeypox.

Current Affairs

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 8

Ref lecting on the Search of Mar-A-Lago

Photo: The New York Times

On Monday, Aug. 8, the F.B.I searched former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home in Palm Beach, FL. Federal authorities faced immense backlash from pro-Trump citizens and governors after searching for allegedly classified material Trump had in his home. According to The New York Times, Trump saw the search as an effort to prevent him from running for President again in 2024, calling it a “weaponization of the justice system.”

While Trump claimed to have complied with law enforcement back in June and turned over all archives and sensitive information, an informant notified the Justice Department that secret documents still remained in Mar-A-Lago. Indeed, this information allegedly pertained to nuclear weapons. Around 30 members of the FBI removed 27 boxes of documents, as well as letters and photos. These documents, marked with labels like “Top Secret” and “Confidential,” warranted three crimes, including misuse of national defense information, according to The Heritage Foundation.

In August, Trump began a trial to determine if the search revealed his violation of the

Anti-Trump protesters march in Palm Beach, FL. Espionage Act, the 1917 law that oversees the mishandling of sensitive information. However, Trump considered these items to be “personal” and called the search warrant a “hoax.”

A month later, what seems to be the bigger takeaway from the F.B.I search is the online debate over whether it proved justified and fair. Judge Bruce Reinhart stands by his original decision to issue a search and claims the evidence of sensitive information being in Trump’s possession

was reliable.

FOX News, a historically right-leaning source, published an article stating that Trump is “just another private citizen in his 70s” and thus the search was “justified.” They added that the Justice Department attempted to obtain the documents “peacefully” before, and thus had no other option but to issue a search warrant. On the other hand, members of the House of Representatives have been back and forth over whether the search

was necessary.

Trump has pinned the “break-in” on the Biden Administration, who claims they were unaware, as it is an issue more concerned with the F.B.I. Trump noted that the White House “knew everything” and “led the charge,” calling it a “political NO NO” and a way to prevent him from running in 2024.

Politicians took to Twitter to share their opinions as well.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem called the use of the

justice system in this way “unAmerican,” despite the claimed reasons for the search warrant.

Similarly, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan questioned the F.B.I. for not simply talking to Trump and having him “give the information [they’re] after,” despite previous efforts to do just that.

On social media, opinions on the issue proved as polarizing as those from political leaders. Trump’s supporters called to rally online with arms and threatened political violence, an ongoing issue that social media companies are facing more publicly since the Jan. 6 attacks. These violent narratives and misinformation, as well as the stark difference in opinions between the left- and right-wing politicians on the justification of the search warrant, pose a grim threat for America in the future.

According to Bloomberg, users were distraught over what the F.B.I. did to an “innocent man,” so much so that #CivilWar was trending on Twitter. Overall, time will tell how Mar-a-Lago will affect Trumps’ potential 2024 campaign, but one must note the severity of the spread of misinformation and online violence and threats.

In addition, the politicalization of bureaus like the F.B.I. and its role as a pawn between the left and right in a polarized political climate proves a significant but formidable takeaway from the search.

Abrams and Kemp Face off in Race for Governor

Photo: AP News

Abrams waves to the crowd at political rally.

Photo: CNBC

This year Georgia citizens will elect their next governor.

The candidates are Brain Kemp (Republican), Stacey Abrams (Democrat), Elbert Bartell (Independent), President Boddie (Independent) and Shane Hazel (Libertarian).

After the 2022 Georgia Primary Election, Georgia Republicans chose Brain Kemp over David Perdue and Kandiss Taylor as their nominee. Stacey Abrams automatically advances as her party’s nominee for governor.

Despite her loss in the 2018 governor election, Abrams feels ready and confident as she runs against Kemp. She was a top Democrat in the Georgia House of Representatives from 20072017 and has always tried to be a bipartisan consensus builder.

Abrams’s vision states, “opportunity and success in Georgia shouldn’t be determined by zip code, background or power.” She hopes that through her policies, she can help all Georgians work together and thrive. Some of her experience includes the Fair Fight Action and Fair Fight PAC, the Southern Economic Advancement Project and the New Georgia Project.

Kemp, who is the incumbent candidate, hopes that his

actions over the past four years will encourage voters to re-elect him. Prior to being elected, Kemp built his business, Kemp Development and Construction Company, which was extremely successful. He hopes some of his policies that will win over the voters are his Georgia handgun laws, opting out of school mask mandates, and prohibiting “divisive concepts’’ in education.

Also, right after the primary in May, Kemp approved an income tax cut for state employees and teachers while also temporarily suspending the state gas tax. Kemp’s campaign said, “Kemp is running for re-election to continue putting hard working Georgians first, and ensure Georgia remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family.”

This is not the first time that Kemp and Abrams ran against each other. Kemp won the 2018 Georgia Governor Election.

According to AP News, Abrams said, “Four years ago, I warned about the failure that Kemp was going to be. And four years later I am going to prove he was the wrong choice for Georgia.”

Especially with the political climate today in the United States, the most talked about topics are abortion rights, guns laws and the overall economy in Georgia. The election takes place Nov. 8, 2022, and it is vital that eligible Georgians get out and vote.

Kemp travels on his campaign trail across Georgia.

Current Affairs

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 9

T he D a rk Side of t he Be a ut i f u l Ga me Re ve a le d

Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach

For many soccer fans, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will shine a little less brightly, due to the abuse of the employed workers.

In order to host the teams and fans, Qatar needed to construct a new airport, seven new stadiums and new hotels. This rich but small country is short on workers and cheap labor. Accordingly, to build these structures, Qatar permitted an influx of migrant laborers. These workers, seeking better wages and living conditions, were instead met with the exact opposite.

According to Amnesty International, many workers’ passports were taken upon arrival.

One worker reported, “I remember my first day in Qatar. Almost the very first thing [an agent] working for my company did was take my passport. I haven’t seen it since.” Without passports, the workers cannot leave and

Workers in Qatar pictured building one of seven new stadiums needed for the 2022 World Cup. are forced to perform dangerous work. Per The Guardian, dangerous working conditions have led to at least 37 deaths at World Cup stadiums and projects.

There are reports that the migrant workers’ exploitation continues in their living conditions. One migrant worker told Amnesty International, “There

are eight of us in a room— it is too many.” Another reported, “The work is hard, our camp is filthy and small.”

On top of the lack of freedom, exploitation and poor conditions, workers are not getting paid. One migrant told Amnesty that as a result of withheld wages, “My family is now

homeless and two of my younger children have been taken out of school… Every day I am in tension, I cannot sleep at night. This is a torture for me.”

While some migrants have begun to speak up and protest these abuses, their efforts were met with a strong response by the Qatari government. The

Washington Post reported that sixty workers were detained for participating in a protest challenging conditions and unpaid wages. While Qatar’s World Cup will be full of sport, excitement and pride, these exploitations against the vulnerable and silenced workers are a dark side of the beautiful game.

Conflict in Ukraine Continues After Six Months Duration

Photo: CNN

August 24, 2022 was a contradicting day for the nation of Ukraine. While it marked the day of independence from their Soviet rule and called for celebration, it also marked the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Since this date when Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” and proceeded to invade the Ukrainian border, the attack has continued and displaced millions of people.

Modern-day territorial conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in March 2014, when Putin annexed Crimea, a formerly Ukrainian piece of land on the border between the two countries. Despite taking over land that was not theirs, Russia faced very little opposition, especially from the western powers, possibly encouraging more conflict in the future. Since then Russia has shown signs of reviving its expansionist past, which became very clear on Feb. 24 of this year as Russian forces crossed over multiple borders and explosions were reported in both Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was a source of conflict over the summer in Ukraine.

Since the initial attack, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has rallied his country to fight back against Russia, as they quickly regained control over their capital, Kyiv, and pushed the Russians back. As the conflict continued over the summer, Russia never completely had control over any of the territories, but were still not completely defeated by Ukraine.

Throughout August and September, Ukraine has launched counteroffensives both on the southeastern border and the Donetsk region in the east. It was confirmed on Sep.

5, 2022 that they have resulted in Ukraine gaining two settlements as they continue to fight back for their land. Ukraine has received support from countries all over the world, especially the US and EU who have made sanctions against Russia in an attempt to strangle their economic power. They also have funded the Ukrainian armies and sent troops to locations near the conflict for backup. Since the first day of conflict Ukraine has seen major demographic changes, and according to the UN Refugee Agency, 6.6 million Ukrainians have been displaced with many

fleeing to neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary and Moldova.

Over the summer, the conflict was in headlines again because fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant raised global fears of a nuclear accident. When shelling neared the plant and caused explosions, scientists believed that the reaction could cause radioactive material to spread through Europe if the warfare was not stopped.

Despite the United States and many other countries calling for a demilitarized zone around the plant, the fighting and shelling

continued with both sides blaming each other for the damage.

While no harm was done, this event shows how nuclear power could be a pressing issue in the future. In addition, other dramatic fighting stories, such as the massacre in Mariupol and the destruction to the Donetsk Theater, show how brutal the war continues to be.

Freshman Angelika Avdyeyeva has a close and personal connection to the conflict, as her grandmother has lived in Ukraine her whole life. “My grandmother can’t make it over to the United States because she does not have the correct vaccination pass,” she said. “My mom calls her every day because with all of the attacks and uncertainty, she needs to constantly check in to see if she is okay.” Avdyeyeva talks to her grandmother frequently, and has even visited Ukraine when she was younger.

She says that as the situation both in her grandmother’s town and country overall improve, she is hopeful for her grandmother and hopes to be able to see her in person soon.

Although the world’s interest in the conflict has diminished as the duration has increased, it still is altering the life of many Ukrainians and leaving them hoping for it to end soon.

Pace News

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 10

New Dress Code Shocks Student Body On Aug. 24, during an assembly not soon to be forgotten, the 2022-2023 school year dress code was revealed. The new Dean of Students Erica Barbakow gave her presentation about the rules for the school, and much of it was the same as years prior. However, the one big change that everyone is talking about is the brand new dress code.

Ms. Barbakow decided to take a new approach to demonstrate what the student body can and cannot wear to school by using several seniors as models on a catwalk. Ms. Barbakow

announced when each of the models walked up whether or not their outfits were within dress code, which became active as of the next day.

Even though this was presenting bad news to much of the student population, people did find the show entertaining. “I hope that the students enjoyed the fashion show,” said Senior and Catwalk Model Marit Uyham.

Most students were upset over their loss of midriffs, tennis skirts, sweatpants and ripped jeans. They were also shocked by some of the clothes that were considered “academic professionalism,” such as leggings and tracksuits. “RIP tennis skirts,” said Senior Ellie Gabriel.

However, Ms. Barbakow believes that the dress code is

extremely fair. “It actually used to be a lot stricter, but what we decided was that we wanted to be inclusive and let students be able to express themselves the way that they see fit but also in an academic professional way,” said Ms. Barbakow.

“The key takeaway is being covered shoulders to mid-thigh, but the truth is that if you look at the old dress code, even what it was last year and the year before, it’s actually looser now than it was written then. It’s just that it wasn’t really enforced because we were more concerned with making sure you all had masks on your faces, but now that we’re not wearing masks, we can focus our energies back on making sure that we are professionally dressed for school.”

Ms. Barbakow explained

that dress code and discipline will hopefully be more easily enforced now due to Veracross, which is how attendance has always been taken and can now be used to submit disciplinary issues more easily for faculty.

When asked about the students’ responses to losing midriffs, tennis skirts, sweatpants and ripped jeans, Ms. Barbakow responded, “Those are the four actual main things that the faculty and administration felt really needed to be addressed, so it’s not really all that surprising to me that that’s what the students are upset about. I think that’s up to them as individuals whether or not they choose to hang onto that upset. I hope they don’t - it would be silly.”

However, if students really want to discuss something in the dress code, Ms. Barbakow is willing to hear everyone out.

“I’m always open to looking at something through a different lens or having students come to talk to me about why they think something should be changed,” she said. “I’m definitely openminded, but I will say that I

“

I’m always open to looking at something through a different lens or having students come talk to me about why they think something should

”

be changed.

Photo: Didier Brival

Senior Bianca Vaneri models an example of what is now out of dress code.

think if people actually read and look at the dress code, it’s pretty bendy right now. You can wear basically anything that you want as long as you’re covered from shoulders to mid-thigh.”

Ms. Barbakow also believes that Pace students will not have many issues with obeying the new code. “Pace kids want to follow the rules most of the time,” she said. “I think that they will try to do what they think is the right thing. We were trying to give you all a little bit more freedom, so we didn’t want to completely take away athletic wear, even though it does state in the handbook that athletic wear is not appropriate for the school day,” she explained. “As long as you’re covered appropriately, it’s okay.”

Ms. Barbakow doesn’t wish to overstress the importance of dress code, however. “Do I think that dress code is the most important thing we do at Pace Academy? Absolutely not. But I do believe that the way we present ourselves says a lot about this community and who we are.”

Athletic Superstitions Explained and Their Effect On the Student Body Pace athletes often turn to superstitions - whether that be an object or a routine - to bring them luck during a game. The question is: do these superstitions actually do anything? And why do people use them in the first place?

or chance, or a false conception of causation.” While many understand that their “good-luck charms” won’t have any effect on their actual game play, they continue to abide by them. Why is this?

Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth Jane Risen explains how people can understand that their

Acivating a su“ perstition boosts participants.”

performance,” said sophomore Marco Juarez.

As far as what superstitions people rely on, upper school students had a variety of answers.

“I drink a Coke,” said freshman Ford Jordan. “I go through a throwing routine,” said Freshman Dylan Nelson. “It gets me warmed up.” Junior Uma Graz “touches her earrings.” “I always rest my headcover on the bag,” said Sophomore Ben Ellner.

Photo: IMDb

Photo: Photo Illustrated Hockey player Patrick Roy defends his goal after his pre-game routine to make it “smaller”.

Merriam-Webster defines superstition as “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic

sor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University David Kahneman and Professor of behavioral economics and decision making at Yale School of Management Shane Frederick in 2005. They establish that people think in two ways: “fast” and “slow.” When people think fast, they use their intuition and past experiences to make judgments; however, when people think slow, they use logic to correct their fast thoughts. Professor Risen argues that “people can recognize—in the moment— that their belief does not make sense, but act on it nevertheless.”

Professor Risen refers to this phenomenon as acquiescence.

Many people understand that their superstitions aren’t based on facts, but bypassing “slow” thinking allows them to stand by their superstition.

While it may seem like a pair of lucky socks or a certain warm-up routine won’t have an impact on a person’s game, upper school students argue that it brings them confidence and security in their ability.

“It makes me play better, just because it’s routine,” said junior Libby Jonas. “If I don’t do it, I’ll fail,” said sophomore Kate

Cunningham. A 2010 study on superstitions and their effects on performance posits that “activating a superstition boosts participants’ confidence in mastering upcoming tasks, which in turn improves performance.”

In other words, superstitions give a false sense of control, lowering anxiety and boosting the chances of success. “If it makes them feel better, then it’s probably going to improve their

superstitions make no sense, but still act on them. Professor Risen calls upon a dual model of thinking advocated by Profes-

Tennis player Björn Borg celebrates a win with his lucky beard and Fila shirt.

Lifestyle

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 11

Celebrities Speak Out About Mental Health Awareness

Photo: @shawnmendees on Instagram

Discussions regarding mental health have heavily populated the news as of late, especially among young people. Celebrities prove no exception. In the last decade, more attention has been cast on mental health issues, partly due to the growing prevalence of social media and its tendency to promote negative messages. However, mental health’s presence as a hot topic means increased dialogue surrounding these issues, especially those of famous people with large platforms. Just last year, Simone Biles made worldwide headlines for speaking out on the vitality of taking care of herself during the Tokyo Olympic Games, noting that it was time for a medal to be secondary.

“Saturday Night Live” cast member Pete Davidson is among those to open up about his struggles with his mental health.

Davidson, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in 2017, said to actor Glenn Close in Variety’s Actors on Actors series, “I was always just so confused all the time, and just thought something was wrong, and didn’t know how to deal with it.” Davidson sincerely hopes that other people struggling can find a diagnosis in order to move forward.

“When somebody finally tells

Shawn Mendes performs on his Wonder World Tour in June before cancelling the remaining dates. you, the weight of the world feels lifted off your shoulders.”

Actor and A-list singer Selena Gomez makes mental health a key component of all of her recent career endeavors.

Gomez first voluntarily checked into a treatment facility to deal

with the effects of her lupus in 2014, an autoimmune disease that can cause severe depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Over the next few years, this battle continued, with Gomez dealing with the pressures of growing up in the public eye, cancelling the

end of her Revival Tour because of depression and anxiety and enduring a kidney transplant for her lupus in 2017. In 2020, the singer revealed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. “It doesn’t scare me once I know it,” Gomez said about her

diagnosis.

Since then, Gomez put mental health awareness at the forefront of her career, founding cosmetics brand Rare Beauty in 2020 with the mission of fostering self-love and creating the Rare Impact Fund to “connect underserved communities with access to mental health services,” according to Forbes.

Articles and other mental health resources can be found on the brand’s website. Gomez and her mom have also created Wondermind, a media hub where mental health discussion is open and honest and people can hear from health professionals.

Most recently, Shawn Mendes cancelled his remaining tour dates in 2022 as well as those in 2023 to focus on his mental health, stating that he “was not at all ready for how difficult touring would be after this time away.” Mendes added that the toll of touring led him to speak to health professionals, saying that “it has become more clear that I need to take the time I’ve never taken personally, to ground myself and come back stronger.” Mendes played seven of his 87 scheduled shows.

One can only hope that the spotlight on mental health continues to grow. If celebrities continue to share their hardships regarding the cut-throat industry and their own personal struggles, it allows them to relate to their fans and put previously taboo topics in Hollywood at the forefront of the conversation.

Pace Students Share Their Favorite Songs of This Summer

Photo: Spotify

Summer is always defined by how good the music is. People are constantly looking for the song that made the summer. This year the most popular song was Beyonce’s “Break my Soul.”

2021’s song of the summer was Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 You”.

Because of Tik Tok, songs can become extremely popular if they become frequently used.

Songs that grew recognition from TikTok are “Armani White” by Billie Eilish and “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy. These songs were popularly used, leading to them soaring up the charts on Spotify and other music platforms. Artists want their songs to be popular on Tiktok so that they drive audiences to their full song on Spotify or Apple Music.

A song that resurged and became popular because of TikTok was

“Cupid’s Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes. This song was released in 2005 and was famous then, but because of TikTok, it came back and is now in the spotlight again.

TikTok is not the only way music is becoming popular.

Tunes that are in famous movies and TV shows can become top hits in just a few days, simply because of the popularity of the program. The song “Running up that Hill” by Kate Bush became popular after its feature in “Stranger Things.” It dominated the top charts for many weeks.

Another movie that was popular in the summer was “Top Gun: Maverick.” The song “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, which plays in the intro of the movie and the most climactic parts, became extremely popular. Lastly, the song “Rich Minion” by Yeat rose to fame due to the movie and jokes surrounding the Minions franchise. The song was an amazing advertisement for the

Spotify released the Top 10 most played songs. movie and boosted viewership.

Pace Academy students love to enjoy music over the summer and they shared some of their favorite songs. Freshman Mac Cannon’s favorite song was also

“Rich Minion” by Yeat. However, Sophomore Jack Mallard’s go-to summer hit was “Sundress” by Asap Rocky. Finally, Senior Ella Berman’s favorite tune of the summer was “I ain’t

Worried” by OneRepublic. TikTok creates a whole new method for music to become popular or to regain fame. The 2022 summer was definitely fantastic largely due to its music.

Lifestyle

September 23, 2022

Let’s Be Real For a Moment.

Photo: Eloise Gaudetl

day, the entire world is notified to “BeReal.” In this window of time, you have to hurriedly snap a photo of what you are doing. You can catch a photo of doing virtually anything: playing sports, making a snack or even sitting on the toilet! Although this may sound boring, many teens find it to be wildly entertaining. Upon capturing your realest moment, the camera takes a selfie and a regular outwards picture simultaneously. Friends, family, and others peek through a window into that moment, witnessing not only the camera’s but also the BeRealer’s perspective. Unfortunately, some are unlucky and either miss the dazzling moment or the app fails to load on their phone. As a result, they can post a “late BeReal.” The shame that follows is devastating, as you see all of your friends catch the glorious two minute window, while you fall behind, forever scarred by being only two minutes late. This time stamp accompanies all posts, revealing who is skilled enough to masterfully time the vexingly brief period.

One of the most creative features of the app is the calendar. This calendar keeps a record of all of one’s BeReal snapshots, beginning from their first flick. Dating each photo, BeReal allows people to reminisce on their greatest and most mundane moments.

The beauty of this social media is the rapid change over. Within 24 hours of an alert going off, the screens clear, leading to a new set of friendly photos. Everyday, the platform resets. The only person who can see their past uploads is that respective user. Otherwise, you only have a brief glance into the lives of your friends. There is an ability to comment and “quick react” to a pal’s post as well.

The BeReal has even inspired new TikTok trends. As people run into celebrities or stumble across a once in a lifetime rainbow, they record a video demanding to know where the BeReal is at that moment. Backstage, before the momentous, inaugural fashion show, hosted by Dean of Students and English teacher Ms. Erica Barbakow during the Honor Code Assembly, Senior David Grice furiously demanded to know the status of the BeReal.

“This is the perfect moment to capture on BeReal,” he remarked frustratedly.

BeReal’s shocking rise to social media popularity proves that technology continues to evolve. Amid the original titans of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and MySpace, BeReal has managed to claim the number one spot on the Top Charts of the Free Apps in the App Store. An impressive feat, who knows where it will go from here.

Camille Caton, Mary Amelia Weiss, Bianca Vaneri, and Eloise Gaudet pose for a BeReal during a late night trip to the local hot spot: Waffle House.

You have two minutes to read this article. That’s right. I said article. You also only have two minutes to snap the momentary, but legendary daily BeReal. Does the newly found social media site crash every time when that notification rages across phones around the globe?

Absolutely. So what exactly is this new cultural phenomenon taking over millennials? By this point, I probably have only 105 seconds remaining, so I’ll do my best.

BeReal rose to prominence among teenagers in the beginning of 2022. Throughout the summer, more and more adolescents have discovered the app. It is a unique form of social media where, for only two minutes each

The Knightly News - Page 12

The Knightly News 966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 knightlynews@paceacademy.org Co-Editors-in-Chief: Emmy Mininberg Jack Wagreich Mary Amelia Weiss Managing Editor: Marley Venturi Current Affairs Editor David Fu Multimedia Editor: Stella Nelson Opinion Editor: Andrew Swann Pace News Editor: Alice Gash

Sports Editor: Harrison Leusink Photos Editor: Zachary Meyerowitz Lifestyle Editor: Reed Millner Social Media Editor: Bianca Vaneri Visuals Editor: Ellie Siskin Layout Editor: Kaci McCray Web Content Creator: Caitlyn Pinsker

Staff Writers: Etan Gerber, Julia Goode, Megan Klinlger, Sydney Lettes, Corey Lochan, Hannah Much, Harrison Silver Faculty Adviser: Tamara Neiley Tech Adviser: Matt Walker

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 600 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor 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.

Sorority Rush Consumes the Media Photo: @ Kylan Darnell on Instagram

In the past two years, the longtime occurrence of sorority rush has blown up on social media. Specifically, on Tik Tok, girls taking part in the week-long process of rush have risen to fame. Posting outfits of the days, what’s in my sorority rush bag and bid day videos.

People all over the world have become invested in the lives of these girls. Taking over a majority of the videos are the girls at the University of Alabama.

With cute southern accents and intricate outfits, Alabama’s prospective new members (PNMs) have gone viral. Their frequent occurrence among people’s For You Page on Tik Tok has awarded them the name of “RushTok,” becoming a popular hashtag and saying. Starting right at the beginning of August, For You Pages across the country were flooded with upbeat, colorful and promotional Bama Rush videos.

The existing sisters of each sorority who were participating in “Work Week” began posting Tik Toks of their sorority in order to increase “hype” around each house.

During “Work Week” the houses prep and decorate for the busy week that follows, Rush Week. Schools across America begin their Rush Weeks around the same time including less popular schools such as the University of Arizona, a school that had previously not appeared on peoples’ For You Page. This year Tik Tok was not just consumed by Bama Rush but countless others.

However, Bama Rush continued to keep its fame as one PNM, Kylan Darnell, exploded in a matter of hours.

A new freshman at Alabama, Kylan began posting daily outfits of the day during Rush Week. Her daily mantra of “Have a Great Day Not a Good Day” has become just

as popular as she has. Viewers from around the world invested themselves in her rush process. According to Narcity.com, people love Kylan for her “Disney-princesslike demeanor.” After many Tik Toks, viewers were ecstatic to find out that Kylan went Zeta Tau Alpha on Bid Day! Considering the amount of publicity Alabama Rush has received in the past couple of years, it comes as no surprise that TV stations such as HBO Max and Vice Studios want to document it. Variety claims that “the full-fledged film directed by Rachael Fleit is currently being filmed in Tuscaloosa, AL.” The documentary wants to “explore college life, sisterhood, and all the joys and complexities of what it means to be a young woman today, following several women from the University of Alabama,” says The New York Times.

Since the announcement of a potential documentary, rumors of hidden microphones and secret cameras have been spreading amongst the sorority houses at Alabama.

With these rumors, it also seems that the University of Alabama themselves “did not know that this production was occurring,” says Seventeen. So, the release date and further details surrounding this documentary remain unanswered. Despite this recent chaos, people everywhere are still obsessing over “RushTok” and with it having just come to an end, the media already yearns for more.

Sorority superstar, Kylan Darnell, poses in front of the Zeta Tau Alpha banner on Bid Day!

Check Out More Stories Online Serena Williams Announces Retirement- Hannah Much NCAA Football Conferences Prepare for Realignment- Andrew Swann

Lifestyle

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 13

Where to Find the Perfect Fry

without it.

The McDonald’s fry experience is reminiscent of biting into a sponge. Finishing a container of fries here presents itself as a chore or a punishment for patronizing the restaurant. The complete lack of salt prevented any enjoyable dining. However, the texture and crispy to soft balance are second to none, and

In recent months, retail clothing store sales have been rapidly declining. Well-known brands such as Kohl’s and Old Navy have been particularly struggling; in the first quarter, Kohl’s sales dropped by 5.2%, while Old Navy’s sales dropped by 13%. Supply chain issues and the rapidly growing inflation are not doing any favors.

Kohl’s has had a rough start to 2022. In early May, Kohl’s chief merchandising officer Doug Howe left Kohl’s. Chief marketing officer Greg Revelle left Kohl’s on June 1, and Chief Technology and supply chain officer Paul Gaffney left on Aug 1. With the changes in leadership, the merchandising team has created issues for the company. “[Kohl’s] has lost the plot in terms of merchandising and range planning and appears to be taking a seemingly random approach to buying. The result is a jumble of disjointed products

in stores,” said GlobalData retail analyst and managing director Neil Saunders.

Additionally, there is a major inventory problem. The company is sitting at 48% more items than it had at the same time last year. Kohl’s Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass attributes this issue to high inflation rates; the higher cost of products is making shoppers less eager to purchase items. As it currently stands, the company is expecting annual sales to drop around 5-6%.

Unfortunately, Old Navy has not seen much success either.

Similar to Kohl’s, Old Navy is sitting at 34% more inventory than it had last year; an unsuccessful inclusivity campaign created major inventory issues.

Last summer, Old Navy did away with the plus-size section and, instead, offered all women’s clothing from 0-30. Additionally, larger outfits no longer cost more than other articles of clothing. The company overestimated consumer demand for larger sizes and was left with a $162 million loss.

The future for both Kohl’s

Photo: Corey Lochan

Crafting the perfect fry is a challenging and lucrative endeavor. From the potato to the cut style to the seasoning on top, a 10-out-of-10 fry seeks the perfect balance. Such a task cannot be taken lightly, and out of all the fries in the world, one must reign supreme. Some of the most respected players in the game are in contention: Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s and Zaxby’s.

The Chick-Fil-A waffle fry is a timeless hallmark of food.

These fries are made by cutting Washington-grown potatoes into thick, waffle-shaped slices. The balance of a crispy outside and a soft inside is perfectly complemented by a variety of sauces.

However, to judge the true quality of the fry, one must forgo sauce. Upon biting into a ChickFil-A waffle fry, one discovers a new world— a world that can be likened to a UPS shipping facility due to the pervasive taste of cardboard. The cardboard slabs are either hidden with an excess of salt or left without. They have an almost magical ability to get cold within 30 seconds, leaving the customer with greasy, flavorless discs.

For many, a traditional fry can be found at McDonald’s.

These Russett potatoes, cut thin and coated in sugar before being fried and salted, seem as simple as it gets. But that is not all; they are infused with beef fat to enhance their flavor. This is a relief, as they lack flavor even with the beef fat, so it is hard to imagine how bad they might be

Chick-Fil-A Fries Pose in front of West Paces Ferry Location. unlike Chick-Fil-A, they can be enjoyed for longer than 30 seconds as they cool to room temperature.

A contender from the crinkle-cut market, Zaxby’s provides a superior flavor on their fries.

Because they use seasoning salt instead of sea salt, the fries are made to be enjoyed both with or without sauces. When the fry is

placed in one’s mouth, the experience is impressive.

However, it quickly fades away as you bite down on the fry; The dense, thick texture fails to deliver the crispy outside and soft inside one comes to expect. The dryness of each fry makes your mouth yearn for water with every bite. Yet, despite its shortcomings, each fry also

makes your mouth yearn for another, and then another until they are finished.

The Chick-Fil-A fry remains unmatched for the realistic fry eating experience, dipped in sauce. However, this does not mean that they are of a higher caliber, and for a true quality fry, one should venture to Zaxby’s instead.

Retail Clothing Sales Take a Hit

Photo: Khol’s

Customers shopping for jackets at Kohl’s. and Old Navy is looking more positive. Kohl’s partnership with Sephora back in Dec. 2020 is turning out to be very successful. With more than 200 Sephora at Kohl’s stores, the company has seen an increase of more than 1 million customers. Kohl’s

plans on having 600 Sephora shop-in stores by the end of 2022.

Old Navy is also finding ways to combat the low sales.

“We are packing and holding fashion inventory that we can sell next year,” said Chief Finan-

cial Officer Katrina O’Connel.

The company has successfully implemented this strategy after the pandemic and looks to try it again.

Additionally, the company looks to open 30-40 more Old Navy stores in the next year.

Lifestyle

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 14

Blockbusters Break the Box Of f ice

Photo: chunky.org

This summer, many notable movies were released such as “Top Gun,” “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “Elvis,” “Thor: Love and Thunder” and many more.

Some of these movies were major hits such as “Top Gun” and “Elvis”.

“Top Gun” followed the story of Tom Cruise (Maverick) as he makes his way back to Top Gun pilot school and back to his past as a fighter pilot. He is forced to teach a group of hot-shots how to become stronger pilots and train them for a top secret bombing mission.

The star studded cast included Miles Teller as Rooster, Jennifer Connelly as Penny Benjamin, Val Kilmer as Iceman and many young rising stars.

While venturing back to Top Gun, Maverick reconnects with his long lost Penny Benjamin, who he mentions in the original 1986 “Top Gun” as the admiral’s daughter. Rooster is the son of Mavericks former co-pilot, Goose, who died in an accident in the first film. Rooster still blames Maverick for his father’s death.

The film received a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is very impressive for a sequel.

There is a fan favorite scene where the whole cast plays football on the beach. “Top Gun

really inspired me to become a pilot myself,” said junior Jaden Mock.

“Elvis” was another top film among movie lovers, as it scored a 94% audience rating, but critics were not as pleased, rating it 78%. This film dives deep into Elvis Presley’s life and career, highlighting his relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker, portrayed by Tom Hanks.

“It was an amazing film, and I enjoyed every single second, and it gave me a whole new view of Elvis,” said senior Ella Berman.

Actor Austin Butler blew fans away with his performance as Elvis, all the way from his rise to fame to his subsequent fall into addiction.

The film starts with Elvis’s life in the mid 1950’s when he started making music. Elvis joined a music tour and gained a strong fan base, but the tour did not think he would succeed and thought about dropping him.

Elvis became a major star and skyrocketed quickly to fame, but people were not happy with his inappropriate attire and performance. He was forced to dial back his clothes and his dance moves. The film concludes with his death in 1977 and Tom Parker’s death in 1997. The two started as a great duo, but over the years grew distant and at one point, Elvis fired him.

“Minions: Rise of Gru” was also a big hit. Even though it only received a 71% from Rotten Tomatoes, fans loved it. A new trend also came from the movie,

“Elvis” scored a 94% audience rating this summer. where large groups of people dressed up in formal attire and attended the film. This trend went viral on Tik Tok, and the film was an overall success.

Actor Steve Carell voices Gru, and the film shows how Gru grew up to be the notorious

criminal. The film starts with a young aspiring Gru, whose goal is to become the most notorious villain ever. Gru, wanting to become a major supervillain, tries to join the Vicious 6. They deny him, and in retaliation, he steals from them, becoming their big-

gest enemy. Gru turns to another bad guy, Wild Knuckles, for guidance and ultimately defeats the Vicious 6.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” was not a summer hit. “Thor: Love and Thunder” scored a 65% by critics and a 77% by fans. “It was nothing more than just okay,” said sophomore Drew Thompson, “It tried to be a comedy when it was not necessary.” The movie begins with Thor traveling across the galaxy to help planets and people in need of protection. He quickly learns about a mysterious man whose motive is to kill all the gods. This man is Gorr, and his life goal is to eradicate gods, because they did not help him in his time of need.

Dying from cancer, Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, learns that Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, will keep her from dying, so she becomes Thor. Together, they fight Gorr and stop him on his quest. Thor takes in Gorr’s daughter, who has come back to life, and raises her. Jane does not make it, but Thor will always keep her in his heart.

This summer had many major hits and a few major misses.

Overall, the best movie of the summer had to be “Top Gun.” The ratings were off the charts, and 99% of fans loved the movie.

It was entertaining, thrilling and even had some romance. It had all the great characteristics of a movie. Make sure to go watch the movie for yourself.

Vic Blends Uses his Platform for Good

important life lessons that many tend to forget.

Even though Blends primarily makes his videos about people without any form of social media

Blends says, “I’m a barber and I thought that was all I had to offer to the world, that’s what everybody knew me for. I was cutting celebrities and it was something cool to look at. But the one thing I was good at got [taken] from me . Then I realized God blessed my hands. You gotta reinvent yourself.”

Photo: National Association of Barbers

TikTok celebrity Vic Blends is leaving a unique mark on social media. Blends is a 21-yearold barber from North Carolina who is using his skills in cutting hair to spread positivity in the world.

Blends explained on the Nick Cannon Show the impact that COVID-19 had on his life, saying “I’m a barber and I thought that was all I had to offer to the world, that’s what everybody knew me for. I was cutting celebrities and it was something cool to look at. But the one thing I was good at got [taken] from me. Then I realized God blessed my voice long before he blessed my hands. You gotta reinvent yourself,” he continued.

Blends decided to develop a social platform, where he finds people on the street and gives them free haircuts while asking them questions about themselves and giving them advice, thus sharing his motivational words with his 13 million followers.

On an app that is often used to spread fake news and negativity, Blends’s account is refreshing, and people can use it to learn

Vic Blends cuts hair for one of his customers.

platform, he has also featured some major TikTok celebrities, including Bryce Hall and Josh Richards. Hall and Richards were willing to share some behind the scenes of their lives that fans have never known and even talked about the process of becoming influencers.

“Nobody on Earth is going to make sure my legacy will be remembered. So I’m grinding, just using my voice to be something that this generation will look up to, because that was really my motivation from the beginning,” said Blends to ULTRA NYC. With his 13 million followers backing him up, it is safe to say that Vic Blends and his positive messages to the world will not be soon forgotten.

Opinion

Vol. 48, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 15

The Demise of Democracy: America’s Post-Roe Reality

Photo: Anna Moneymaker

Reproductive rights activists react to the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s health organization ruling in front of the Supreme Court Building.

In a historic decision to reverse reproductive rights set in place for nearly half a century, on June 24, the Supreme Court ruled to eliminate a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. Since then, nearly one in three American women, over 20 million, have lost access to safe abortions. This number continues to rise as state courts set “trigger laws,” into place (laws designed to ban abortions before Roe v. Wade was overturned).

The magnitude of this ruling cannot be understated. This decision goes against the will of the majority, with over 61% of Americans defining themselves as pro-choice, according to the Pew Research Center, and nearly 85% believing that abortion should be legal “at least in some circumstances.”

Mass confusion has swept the country as we try to understand exactly what this means.

For example, would emergency contraceptives be banned? According to NBC News, in Louisiana, legislation “would classify abortion as a homicide and define ‘personhood’ as beginning from the moment of fertilization.

Contraception methods like Plan

B and certain types of intrauterine devices, or IUDs, could be restricted under the bill.”

Fears over the criminalization of abortion are another concern, as it would see both patients and medical providers prosecuted, regardless of cases of rape or incest, thanks to one of the archaic “trigger laws” in Texas, which was passed in 1925.

According to the Marshall Project, the Dobbs decision has also been incredibly harmful to patients seeking non-abortion healthcare, for example the methotrexate prescription used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders has been halted, as it can also be used to terminate ectopic pregnancies.

The Dobbs vs. Jackson Women Health Organization ruling has opened a pandora’s box of judicial issues, and each argument restricting abortion or attempting to define “life,” only triggers a list of contingencies that are near impossible to tackle.

Reproductive rights remain one of our nation’s most polarizing issues, and the bipartisan divide in our country has arguably reached an all-time high in light of this recent decision.

Many believe the Supreme Court is unrepresentative of our nation’s views, as seven out of nine justices were appointed by

the party which hasn’t won the popular vote in over 30 years. As Zeeshan Aleem, a reporter for MSNBC news put it, “Increasing numbers of people are sensing that our crisis is bigger than any one terrible policy. The public is now fully in the throes of questioning American political institutions and the capacity for people to pursue the good life in a country that makes democratic governance immensely difficult.”

This monumental case has been met with apathy rather than action from the Democratic party. Shortly after the ruling was announced, Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez published a scathing Twitter thread, sharing her thoughts on the Democratic party’s inaction, “The President and the Dem[ocrat] leaders can no longer get away with familiar tactics of ‘committees’ and ‘studies’ to avoid tackling our crises head-on anymore.” Ocasio-Cortez also criticized the court’s overreach.

“Compared to the Exec[utive] and Leg[islative] branch, checks on Court overreach and misconduct are little to none. Leaders must share their plans for Roe AND a rogue court.” Many progressive candidates have suggested several measures to take effective action, which would assure access to safe abortions, including restraining judicial

review, expanding federal access to abortion pills and opening clinics on federal lands. With midterm elections approaching in November, both Republicans and Democrats are desperate for seats in Congress, which will impact how President Joe Biden will be able to govern in the second half of his term.

Republicans were optimistic about their chances to take back the House and Senate earlier this year, with record-breaking inflation and extremely low approval ratings for Biden (as low as 36% according to a May poll). However, the recent ruling has completely changed these elections, energizing left-leaning voters and suggesting a higher voter turnout.

According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, over half of U.S. voters say abortion “is a ‘very important’ issue to consider when deciding how they will vote in November’s midterms” and 54% of voters said, “the demise of Roe has made them ‘more likely’ to consider a candidate’s stance on abortion.”

With the issue of abortion weighing so heavily on voters, both parties have changed their campaigns in a bid to appeal to the public. According to The New York Times, at least ten republican candidates have scrubbed or modified previous

statements on abortion to take a softer stance. Meanwhile, Democrats are turning reproductive rights into the central issue of the midterms, distracting from concerns over inflation and immigration. However, they have also faced criticism from the more progressive public, who believe they have not done enough for the cause, rather they continue to gain votes from false promises without completion.

Going against the will of the majority of the country, the Supreme Court has made our democratic government start to feel quite the opposite. As Representative Ocasio-Cortez said, “The ruling is Roe, but the crisis is democracy. Leaders must share specific plans for both.” It’s likely that as we enter the next few months, waiting patiently for further news and viewing the results of the midterms, confusion will begin to settle and anger will take its place.

Millions of women have lost bodily autonomy, miscarriages could potentially be investigated as crimes, and victims of rape are forced to carry to term. Politicians must be held responsible for executing effective action rather than using human lives as campaign points in a bid to get reelected. The stakes have never been higher.

Sports

September 23, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 16

Fall Sports Prepare for Successful Year Football:

Cheerleading:

Photo: Dave Quick

This year’s cheerleading squad is led by five senior leaders: Ava Byrne, Bea Chadwick, Brienne Hingst, Josie Swain and Reese Williams. Sophomore Gabby Haviv said, “cheerleading has allowed me to make friendships in other grades and bond with people I usually don’t talk to throughout the day. I am looking forward to all the football games, home and away, because I enjoy bringing positive energy in the stands and on the field.”

The team is looking forward to having as many fans as possible at the games to support the cheerleading team as well as the football team.

The football team begins the season hoping to continue their success from the previous year. After going 6-5 in the 2021 season, including a record of 6-2 in region play, the Knights prepare for a new season under recently hired Head Coach Nick Bach. This year, the Knights started off with a strong 20-17 win against Holy Innocents.

Junior Terrence Kiel said, “How you begin is how you finish, setting the tone for this season was extremely important for us as a team. We still can’t get too full of ourselves, there are still many more games to play.” Along with the Holy Innocents game, the Knights traveled to Westminster and played a hard-fought game, ultimately trumping the Wildcats with a score of 21-19. The Knights continued their season with a statement win over GAC, 31-0.

Junior Terrence Kiel stiff arms an opposing player attempting to gain extra yards.

Softball:

Flag Football:

The softball team is already off and running with four games under their belt and impressive wins over Whitefield and Pepperell. Last year, the Lady Knights made an appearance in the playoffs, ultimately falling in the elite eight. Out of the 12 players on the roster, the team is led by four seniors: Madison Hadley, Victoria Hadley, Sara Mazur and Emma Beth Neville.

Under the leadership of the four seniors, the team plans to repeat its successful season and hopes to make it further in the state tournament.

The flag football team begins the program’s second year with 24 players on the roster, coached

by Ty Johnson. Last year, the program made history by advancing to the State Championship Quarterfinals as well as being named the area champions. Junior Sydney Vincent said “The team spirit in Flag Football is unlike any other! The bond on the team makes it so much easier to fit in as a new player this year.

I love it.” This year, the girls will play in 11 regular season games including three tournaments.

After the regular season, the team hopes to name themselves three-time area champions and make it through all five rounds of the state tournament to finish with the trophy.

Volleyball:

Photo: Fred Assaf

This year’s volleyball team has a lot of pressure building since the 2021 team won the state championship for the fifth year in a row. The team is off to an early start currently sitting at a record of 21-0 with impressive wins over Lassiter High School, Whitefield, St. Vincents and Allatoona, under new Head Coach Catherine Monroe. The girls are led by three seniors: Briea Craft, Riley Alkire and Sophie Shapiro. Alkire said, “The volleyball team is lucky to have an extremely close-knit group of girls under the instruction of Coach Monroe. We are always striving for success on and off the court.”

A Lady Knights softball player swings for the fences.

“The volleyball team is lucky to have an extremely close-knit group of girls under the instruction of Coach Monroe. We are always striving for success on and off the court.”

The Esports team is a solo squad this year, senior Jay Foster plans to compete as hard as they can in order to bring glory to the program. Under the coaching of Mr. Charlie Bryant, the team hopes to win as many competitions as possible in its second year.

The cross country team is fresh off of both 2021 state final appearances with the girls and boys team claiming their place on the top podium. This year’s girls team is led by five seniors who plan to respite their achievements from last year and win the program’s 14th title. Senior Maddie Swartz said, “I’m excited for this year, the past four years have taught me a lot about what it means to be on a team and now I get the chance to pass down what I know.” On the boys’ side, there are big shoes to fill from last year, as the team lost a majority of their roster from last year’s seniors including the individual champion, Edward Blaha. This year, the team is led by just two seniors: William Cummings and Will Delmonte. Additionally, junior Matthew Wells is a bright spot for the team as last year he placed extremely high in the “Garmin Running Lane Championship,” ending the season on a high note. The goal for the team is the same as any previous year, to win another State Championship for Pace.

Water Polo:

The Water Polo squad looks to have another successful season under coach John Ague. Last year, the team went off to the state tournament and placed first overall in their division as well as fifth in the state. This year, the team plans to play 15 regular season games under the leadership of six seniors who are all focused on bringing another state championship to Pace Academy.

Junior Lane Canova said, “After a great season last year, we are really looking forward to getting after it and doing even better this year. We have been putting in a lot of work and now we have the opportunity to show it. I’m excited.”

Photo: Fred Assaf

Photo: Fred Assaf

The volleyball team huddles to get hype before a game.

Esports:

Cross Country:

Goalie Quinn Culpepper makes a spectacular save.