Vol. 39 Issue 2

Vol. 39 Issue #2

The

October 4, 2013

Knightly News

p. 3 Five Minutes with Kieran Lehane

p. 4 Student Council Responds

p. 7 William Pair Climbs to Success

Fall Fair Celebrates 50 Seasons of Success Staff Writer Class of 2014

Pace Academy will host its 50th annual Fall Fair on Oct. 19 to celebrate the autumn season.

The event has grown on an annual basis since its inception, with organizers expecting about 9,000 visitors to attend this year.

The Fall Fair began its life as a Thanksgiving-themed fundraiser for the parents club. It was originally referred to as “The Annual Harvest Dinner,” and it was hosted in the Castle.

This year’s fair will feature a wide variety of attractions, from games and rides, to karaoke, to an assortment of dining options.

The theme, “Raise the Roof,” salutes the construction of the new high school building while capturing the excitement of the fair’s Golden Anniversary.

Although the construction of the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School will alter the layout of the fair, co-chairs Allyson Maske, Cathy Funston and Heather White have worked to cope as efficiently as possible.

“The construction has caused us to think a little differently and move a few things around.

We had to give up some things

-- Knights Grill and the Street Market -- due to the changes,” said Mrs. Maske. “Our focus has been on the kids -- we keep asking ourselves what they will most enjoy,” Mrs. White said.

Visitors can expect to see many of the amusements usually located on the lower field moved to the top of Pace Mountain.

Other attractions will be located at Boyd Gym, the Inman Center, the lower school playground and the Castle lawn. The Academic Village will be used as a food court and will offer many new selections, a few of which were highlighted by Mrs. Maske: “We are excited to have some new vendors we think everyone will enjoy, including Sweet Auburn Barbeque, Yumbi and the Atlanta Burger Truck. We will also have old standbys Chick-filA, Buckhead Pizza, Willy’s and Cafe at Pharr.”

Despite the grand scale of the Fall Fair, its rapid appearance and removal give the perception that it is brought forth with ease. Although the fair comes and goes suddenly, it is able to do so only because of extensive planning and steadfast work by Pace’s maintenance staff. “We’ve actually been on it already for several months,” said Director of Maintenance Robert Wood.

Just before the weekend of

Photo: Debbie Pierce

John Morrison

Like many of the Fall Fair’s usual attractions, Karaoke will return this year despite the construction. the 19th, dozens of companies will arrive on campus, bringing all of the familiar attractions of the Fall Fair along with tables, chairs and tents. Only then can the facilities staff begin the arduous task of assembling a major event in just two days. “All of that happens between Thursday night and Friday night,” said Mr. Wood. “We have all kinds of crews come in. Various com-

panies set up their own tents.

We [also] have a lot of volunteer dads that come in on Friday and help us distribute and set up chairs and things like that.”

After ensuring that the event runs smoothly on Saturday, the team will continue their hard work, this time breaking down the fair before the start of school on Monday.

Although the Fall Fair

emphasizes providing entertainment to younger children, the co-chairs believe that there is plenty of reason for high schoolers to attend. Mrs. Maske expects that Pace’s older students will enjoy the range of dining options. Also, volunteering can mean service hours, and “this year, upper schoolers can earn a late day by volunteering a shift at the fair,” she said.

tors involved to work together to help make Pace a more accepting place,” said Nathan.

“PABD’s main purpose is to promote all aspects of diversity,” Nathan said. “When people think of diversity, many people think of race... but it is so much more than that. Our goal is to create a better, safer and more welcoming environment for all people in the community. Also, [it’s] to make sure that everyone can be themselves completely and not have any worries about not being accepted by others.

We are all different and everyone around us has something to offer, and until you give a person a chance, you may never know who they really are.”

PABD meets every Tuesday morning at 7:15 in the cafeteria and generates large crowds.

The students who attend meetings are diverse in many ways.

“PABD is where people from all walks of life can share their

ideas and make the community more aware,” said junior Carolina Abdullah. Even students like senior Mackenzie Attridge, who considers herself “pretty generic,” attend meetings because they are interested in finding out what it means to be diverse.

“In these meetings you get a lot out of them because we get in groups and plan out different activities that spread awareness of diversity,” said sophomore Malik Staples. Whether students feel that diversity is not a big issue at Pace because everyone is accepting of each other, or Pace is not diverse enough, students come together in a fun and engaging way to help expand their understanding of what it means to be diverse.

Within PABD, there are seven sub-committees, which include communication, technology/art, food/drink, fundraising, service, presentation and activities. Each committee is aimed at

spreading diversity awareness throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. PABD is holding a multi-cultural holiday assembly for the Middle School on Nov. 8, as well as talks with lower school students about diversity, so that the concept of diversity is not new when they enter high school. Nathan thinks that service is “one of the most important ways to understand diversity, whether it be picking up a book that a student dropped or building a house with Habitat For Humanity.”

When asked why students should join PABD, Nathan said, “People should join PABD because it is a chance for you individually to be heard and allow others around you to understand you. All of our meetings are confidential, and it’s a safe zone for everyone around us. We encourage our members to speak up and out, challenging that status quo.”

Diversity Means More Than Race Hayley Silverstein Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014

The Pace Academy Board of Diversity (PABD) wants students

to know that diversity is more than race. PABD, which was officially formed last year by current senior Nathan Sokolic, has redefined the vision of diversity at Pace. “This plan got students, faculty and administra-

Photo: Hayley Silverstein Seniors Alex Bussey, Nathan Sokolic and Jules Zappone hope to help students appreciate their diverse backgrounds.

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Pace News

October 4, 2013

The Knightly News - Page 2

Upper School Welcomes New Juniors Photo: Julia Beck

Julia Beck

Features Editor Class of 2015 At the beginning of every school year, Pace’s Upper School opens its doors to an array of “new kids.” While most new kids are freshmen, this year Pace welcomed into its halls three new juniors. Cassady Greene, Elijah Holifield, and Chase Uter came to Pace for different reasons, but are all excited to be a part of this year’s junior class.

Cassady moved to Atlanta from Knoxville, Tenn. “I looked at the major private schools around here, but Pace stood out for some reason. All the people were really nice,” said Cassady.

Elijah moved from Connecticut, and came to Pace because his dad, Mr. Holifield, was hired as the new director of diversity.

“My dad has been going to the same school as me for a while, because he worked at my old school, too. It has its pros and cons, but it’s really nice when I can leave stuff in his office,”

New juniors Elijah, Cassady, and Chase are excited for their first year at Pace.

Elijah said.

Chase used to go to Westlake High School and came to Pace to join his older brother, senior Kameron Uter. Chase kept it simple when he said, “I came to Pace for the education and the athletics. I’m glad to be here.”

Being new has its upsides

and downsides. All three new juniors commented on how confusing the Pace schedule is. Elijah said, “I carried my schedule around with me for the first two weeks of school to make sure I didn’t get confused!” Chase said that his favorite part of school is his free periods and his literature

Halloween Highlights Creativity at the Academy Online Editor Class of 2014

Bumblebees, a cow, TAOS and Ms. Tate. What could all of these seemingly random things possibly have in common? They are only a few of the countless memorable Halloween costumes that have made their way to the Academy over the past couple of years. This year, with Halloween falling on a Thursday, Pace students will once again be able to show off their costumes for the whole school to see during morning assembly.

Many proactive Pace students have already begun planning their costumes that will help them take home first prize this year. Sophomore Ethan Schneider admitted that this year he is planning on donning a cheerleader costume and senior

Photo: Kate Morrisroe

Aaron Wasserman

Kelly Brown said, "It might be fun to dress up like someone from Gatsby in 1920s attire!"

However, the early favorite to take home first prize this year is senior couple Jeremy Paul and Mckenzie Kelly, who are planning on dressing up as each other. When asked about their plans, Jeremy responded, "yeah, maybe we will. But then again, it's a lot easier for her to look like me, and I'm not too keen on wearing the kind of clothes she does."

The excitement that surrounds Halloween at the Academy is not limited to the student body and, in fact, the faculty consistently shows their enthusiasm with their creative costumes. Mrs. Dickherber and Mr. Canfield show their love for Halloween with costumes that have included a bird in a cage and the famous Canfield cow costume, among others. When asked

Senior Kate Morrisroe poses with “Canfield the Cow.” about his costume plans for this year, Mr. Newman replied, "I plan on dressing up as the most terrifying thing on the planet... a fraction. All students are terrified of them." If the past is any indication, there are sure to be some interesting costumes at the Academy come October 31.

class with Mr. Player. Cassady said, “I like my sculpture class a lot.”

All three new students are athletes. Elijah plays basketball, and is already doing preseason training in the morning with senior Armani Lashley and Coach Smith. Chase plays football and

baseball like his brother Kameron. Cassady plays soccer and is running cross country for the first time this year.

Pace’s new juniors participate in other activities beyond sports. Elijah, who is involved with the new Bow Tie Club at Pace, said, “I actually started the bow tie club at my old school. I was scared to announce it during assembly, so my dad decided to do it for me.” He is also trying out for Troubadours because he enjoys chorus, and Chase joined the Pace Academy Board of Diversity and PASS. Overall, Chase, Elijah and Cassady have had a smooth transition to Pace. “I love how tight the community is. Obviously it’s a small school, but my old school was even smaller, and it didn’t feel as tight as Pace does,” said Elijah. “The hardest part has been just making friends and meeting people, but I really like Mr. Fleming and his class; they’re all super nice!

They threw me a surprise party in class for my birthday,” said Cassady.

Pace Hosts ACP Exhibit this Month Elizabeth Roos Staff Writer Class of 2014

Atlanta Celebrates Photography (ACP) is a city-wide photography exhibition that has been held every October for the past 15 years. For the 13th year, Pace Academy hosts one of the 109 exhibits that can be seen all over the city. This year Pace is honored to showcase the photography of National Geographic photographer Alison Wright.

Ms. Wright has traveled the world, focusing her photography on the documentation of human rights issues and the traditions of changing cultures. Over 20 of her breathtakingly beautiful photographs are displayed in the Fine Arts Center through Oct. 31. In addition to speaking at

assembly on Wednesday morning, Ms. Wright lectured at an event that was open to the public yesterday evening.

“We are even the only school that has a venue for ACP. We’re kind of a big deal.”

Upper School photography maestro Mr. Dorman is very excited that Pace is part of ACP. "This is largest festival of its kind in the nation. Not all venues are having lectures, so we are very lucky to have one of these featured events at Pace.

Most of the featured events are at the High Museum. We are even the only school that has a venue for ACP. We're kind of a big deal," he said.

‘Srsly,’ Students Invent Their Own ‘Vocab’ Wilson Alexander Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014

“Dancing to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” This is the dictionary definition of “twerking” according to the Oxford Dictionaries Online (ODO). That’s right, the word twerking is now officially recognized as part of the English language.

Coincidentally following Miley Cyrus’s risqué and controversial performance at the VMA Awards, twerking, “selfie,” and

“food baby,” among others, were added to the ODO. These words have been around for years, with twerking in use for nearly 20. Twerking is even mentioned in Justin Timberlake’s hit song “Sexy Back” which was released in 2006. However, these words are just now obtaining viral recognition due to today's fastpaced, Internet-based culture.

While Pace students use these newly recognized words as well, many make up their own words, or adapt words to different meanings. The result is a vernacular unique to Pace.

In a normal day at the Academy, “za,” instead of pizza, “Way Pay” for West Paces Ferry Shop-

ping Center, "vocab," “salty” and other terms can be heard in the halls. Many of these words are Pace-specific; whereas Pace students usually say a form of “what’s up,” just down the street at Westminster, students say, “What’s the move?” according to senior Riley Muse.

English teacher Ms. Barbakow notes that use of these idiomatic constructs is OK, but only in the proper context: “Call me crazy, but I'm not sure why anyone would choose to speak improperly. Sure, I think it's fine to use vernacular from time to time, and we all, on occasion, slip into a more common language, but on the whole, I think

we should aspire to speak properly. Perception is important, and people make assumptions about us based on the way we communicate. I think if we can avoid it, we should.

"However, I do find myself thinking about some of the words I use... for example 'preesh' for 'I appreciate it.' When students hear me use this for the first time, they usually comment on it, which clearly makes my point about perception. They are perceiving me in a way that they hadn't before I used the abbreviation,” she added.

This new slang is associated with the rise of cellphone use and texting, as well as e-mailing.

Originally, texting took time and it was difficult with the old flip phone models. “Urs” and “gr8” dominated electronic conversations. This language has largely disappeared in Pace students’ texts now that a large percentage of students have iPhones or other smartphones. However, this language lives on, especially in social media. For instance, a tweet is limited to 140 characters, which forces the person tweeting to shorten words and use improper speech. This has carried into everyday language, but Ms. Barbakow argues that it’s fine, as long as these words don’t appear in one of her English papers.

Pace News

Vol. 39 Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 3

Wilson Alexander Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014

Photo: Wilson Alexander

Five Minutes with Kieran Lehane KN: So, ‘Kieran Lehane’ isn’t a name that’s heard very often.

Where did your name come from?

KL: Well, Lehane is French and Kieran is Irish after Saint Kieran.

KN: Very cool. You came to Pace from First Montessori, right? Why did you decide to come to Pace?

KL: Yeah, First Montessori was a small school. Our graduating class only had 13 people. I came to Pace because the other schools I looked at didn’t have Model UN, so that was a major factor.

KN: I’ve heard you say before that Model UN is probably the only reason you’re still at Pace.

Why is that?

KL: I really just like going there.

You learn how to write papers,

Kieran recently changed his hairstyle to a stylish gelled- back do. you meet a bunch of interesting people, you learn public speaking [and] you learn how to get your point across quickly and effectively.

KN: What are some interesting experiences or stories from Model UN? KL: Um, yeah. At GW last year

we were just in the subway and I was talking to this Navy officer.

He was telling me a lot about aircraft carriers, and apparently they don’t tell first-timers that when you fly off an aircraft carrier you instantly drop ten feet.

KN: [laughs] So besides Model UN and being a first-time foot-

ball player, what activities do you do at Pace?

KL: Well, Mr. Holifield and I just started the Bow Tie Club, so that’s gonna be a lot of fun.

KN: Yeah, what do you plan to do in the Bow Tie Club?

KL: We’re designing and ordering our own Pace-themed bow

ties from Vineyard Vines or Brooks Brothers. There’s gonna be a big brother aspect with the Middle School. We’re gonna help start their bow tie club in the spring. And we’re gonna see a movie all dressed up in bow ties with the Indie Film Club at some time. The possibilities are endless, really. I mean, you’re in a tuxedo, what do you wear? A bow tie.

KN: Exactly. Straight tie just doesn’t work, you have to go with a bow tie. Um, there’s been a lot of talk at Pace about your social life and that you may or may not fabricate stories about it. What would you say to these accusations?

KL: Um, I could see where some people might think there are false stories. I guess people just see me as a questionable person.

I mean, I could see that.

KN: But you say they are true.

Are you going to stand behind that?

KL: Yes.

Photo: David Martos

Class of 2013 Alums Share Advice Julia Beck

Features Editor Class of 2015

At the Class of 2013’s graduation, there weren’t many dry eyes. Without a doubt, Pace had successfully led another senior class into the real world and on to college. But the real question is, what are these students currently doing with all that they gained from their Pace experience?

Taking on a whole new world can be difficult, but Pace students seem prepared to handle it.

Jeff Handler, a freshman at the University of Michigan, said, “I think that if one takes advantage of Pace’s academic opportunities they will feel grossly overprepared for college... Anyone who makes it through Pace can handle college level work.”

Not only academically, but also socially, young Pace alumni have made an easy transition into college. Annie Armstrong, a freshman at the University of Georgia, said, “The part that I wasn’t expecting to be so easy has been making friends.

That comes with a big school, I think. You can find people that are like-minded just by getting involved.”

Pace students are known for getting involved in a wide variety of activities. Lauren Schaffer, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, has joined a tutoring program with a local elementary school. Annie is on the music staff at UGA’s radio station, WUOG 90.5, and next semester will get her own radio hour. Also, Annie and Alexander Reckford, freshman at the University of North Carolina, have both decided to join the Greek

life on their campus. Jack Assaf, a freshman at Notre Dame, participates in robotic football.

Like Alexander said, the key to a fun and easy college experience is “find[ing] a way to make a big school smaller.”

Of course, despite its many perks and exciting new experiences, college can be hard. One common difficulty for freshmen at all colleges is learning to manage the sudden very large amounts of free time. Lauren said, “Two days a week I finish my classes at 10:30... It’s hard figuring out what to do! Another hard part is remembering people’s names. I tend to forget them two minutes after people introduce themselves.”

Another difficulty is the separation from the life one is so used to. “I have found myself really missing the people I spent time with back in Atlanta. As a lifer at Pace, most of my good friends I had spent the last 13 years with. I like everyone up here, but I think it will take a while to develop friendships of similar strength,” Jeff said.

Most Pace graduates have realized that one of the things they miss most is the tight-knit Pace community and easily formed relationships with Pace teachers.

“I miss knowing everyone I pass by in the halls, and I miss reading and solving the PAPUBA emails every week,” said Lauren.

College is an exciting but challenging step in life. Jeff said, “Pace kids stress so much about college rankings and prestige. [They should] try to look at college more from the perspective of ‘where will I fit in?’”

Lauren agrees; however, she also had simpler advice for new college students: “I strongly recommend keeping cookie dough in your room as a snack.”

Senior Harrison Halberg and junior Brittany Allen discuss Mr. Holifield’s plans for diversity.

Director of Diversity Holifield Brings Welcome Change David Martos

Sports Editor Class of 2014

Even though Director of Diversity Rick Holifield has only been working at Pace since July, he has already achieved remarkable success. Mr. Holifield started his life after high school playing professional baseball for 10 years. Then, he decided to hang up the glove and study at a divinity school. After he earned his bachelor’s degree in theology, he worked for 10 years as the upper school dean and director of multicultural affairs at St. Luke’s, an independent school in New Canaan, Conn. Mr. Holifield described the school as very similar to Pace, just without the family oriented culture that he believes the students have at the Academy.

Mr. Holifield heard about the job opening at Pace from Ms. McCrary and Pace Director of Human Resources Ms. Hecht at a job recruiting fair. “I chose to apply for the job at Pace because I saw a unique opportunity to continue doing diversity work

in a place that really seems to be improving in the field, and the job gave me the chance to be mentored by a great man, Fred Assaf,” said Mr. Holifield. Mr. Holifield has really enjoyed his tenure at Pace so far, saying, “I love everything about this school, mainly because of the people. The faculty, students, administration and even the alumni that I have met have all been really great people.”

Mr. Holifield’s influence at Pace can already be seen.

Whether it be asking students and faculty to recite the “I Have a Dream” speech at assembly, advocating for moving the Friday night football game to Thursday for Yom Kippur, or arranging for delicious Cuban cuisine and getting the Willie Zaviano & C.O.T. Band to come to Pace to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Mr. Holifield has done a lot.

However, he is not close to being finished. “My main goals for the school year are to create a concrete working definition for diversity, and to dive into the Pace curriculum and make sure classes offer a diverse curricu-

lum and teachers have a multicultural approach to teaching.

On a larger scale, I want to make sure that Pace graduates have high cultural competency,” he said.

The Pace Academy Board of Diversity, created last year by senior Nathan Sokolic and other Pace students, has also benefitted from the help of Mr. Holifield. The group is planning one main multicultural event for the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Mr. Holifield has decided to take a sideline approach to the group and let the members achieve their goals and promote diversity, and only intervene if necessary.

That being said, Mr. Holifield has been very impressed with what he has seen from the relatively inexperienced group.

“They are definitely on an upward trend. They have a lot of desire to get stuff done and take action. They come up with new objectives after each meeting and they have a lot of plans in store for the future,” he said.

Mr. Holifield has big plans for diversity at Pace, and so far he has accomplished a great deal.

Opinion

October 4, 2013

The Knightly News - Page 4

Student Council Responds In light of last issue’s article, we find this a perfect time to elaborate upon many of the responsibilities taken on by [Student Council] members that can sometimes seem unclear to those not on the council.

To get straight to the numbers, each incoming freshman class starts off with $0 in its bank account, a fairly daunting task for the freshman council. Unfortunately, Pace’s lofty tuition does not cover the costs of class events, Spirit Week, and T-shirts, so it is the job of the Student Council to raise that money.

We try and think of unique fundraisers that will not only raise money but also be beneficial to our community.

The KnightCard is a student body-sponsored fundraiser that provides students with a 10% discount at local restaurants, and helps Student Council generate its much-needed revenue.

Where does all that money go, you may ask. Along with Spirit Week, Prom requires the most significant amount of funds (upwards of $20,000). It puts a noteworthy amount of pressure on grade councils, leaving a tight budget and little room for other expenses. All leftover funds in senior year are used for the senior gift at the end of the year.

The senior cellar has always been supplied with video games

and TVs from donations.

To touch on the sensitive topic of Spirit Week... It’s difficult for any group to manage and organize a class of over a hundred people, trying not only to get everyone involved, but excited over the same theme.

The Student Council is NOT perfect and we all struggle with Spirit Week; we can only try to alleviate the inevitable conflicts that will arise.

We always consult with students and evaluate their opinions before creating the final ballot. Last year, for example, the junior class council realized the overwhelming enthusiasm for “Avengers” and a last minute change was made. The majority opinion was taken into account.

We do normally nominate the themes ourselves, but this is done to maintain order and to ensure themes are appropriate, chosen fairly and are preapproved. Your job as a student is to let us hear your ideas and suggestions loud and clear because we do want to listen, but it can be difficult with so many differing opinions and strong personalities.

On the issue of Student Council promises, we have made a point to try and have more fun events and diversions, like King of Pops, but people often overestimate the power of the council and the speed with which great

The Knightly News

966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 Knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association

feats can be accomplished.

Casual Friday was an idea toyed with at the end of last year, but it was promptly shut down by the administration.

Every student organization has to work within these kinds of constraints -- even newspaper articles can’t be too raunchy.

That’s not to say we don’t try and can’t make changes, but it’s not fair to accuse us of “breaking our promises” when it simply was not within our jurisdiction.

We understand that not everybody agrees with every decision that we make, but that’s how a representative democracy works. We hear your voice, but the decisions we ultimately make are based on the majority opinion. We make ourselves as accessible to the student body as possible by having open meetings, and asking all members for new ideas and suggestions they hear from their grades, ranging from cafeteria concerns to a lack of tissues.

We encourage and welcome your input, so feel free to discuss it with us. We hope that as elected individuals, our peers will feel comfortable bringing concerns to our attention or asking for further information about our activity. Please do consider coming to our meetings on Wednesdays at 3:15 if you have an issue, concern, or new idea to bring to our attention.

Co-Editors in Chief: Wilson Alexander Hayley Silverstein Tech Editor: Dean Papastrat News Editor: Sam Rubenstein Opinion Editor: Wylie Heiner Features Editor: Julia Beck Sports Editor: David Martos

Staff Writers: Josh Blank Grace Francour Max Greenberg Joe Loughran John Morrison Morgan Palmerton Elizabeth Roos Josh Sloan Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Assistant Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker

The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students.

The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by Florida Sun Printing.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and

Snack Bar Lacks Healthy Options

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.

Photo: John Morrison

Academic Village Exceeds Expectations

John Morrison Staff Writer Class of 2014

Hunger is a powerful thing.

So when I felt a wave of emptiness last week after school, I began searching for something to provide me with the stamina to make it through another grueling football practice. I made my way up to the cafeteria hoping to find a leftover sandwich, banana or apple from earlier in the day, but none remained. That left the snack bar as my only option.

Glancing over the assortment of snacks available for purchase, I felt disappointed with my choices. I love a Kit-Kat bar or bag of chips on occasion as much as the next person, but as sweet as sugar and grease are going down, they certainly don’t provide the same level of delight after an afternoon of running under the baking hot sun.

The cafeteria provides fruits to students during lunch and break.

Why can’t the snack bar do the same?

It’s no secret that high school-aged children eat frequently. Many adolescents are still in the process of growing and developing, and the conglomeration of activities that many Pace students take part in keep them perpetually busy, and therefore, perpetually hungry.

But when faced with snack bar options, teenagers eat indiscriminately.

Online Editor: Aaron Wasserman

Senior Shabrea Duffey cools off at the snack bar with a juice.

A 2013 State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control begins by stating, “Fruits and vegetables (F&V) contribute important nutrients for the human body.

Eating F&V lowers the risk of developing many chronic diseases and can also help with weight management.”

The report later reveals that fruits and vegetables are under consumed in the United States; adolescents in Georgia reported a median intake of 1.0 serving of fruit and 1.0 serving of vegetables every day, which falls short of the recommended 2.5.

Over 40% of Georgia teens reported consuming fruits and vegetables less than one time daily. Pace Academy certainly has the resources to provide fruits and vegetables to students by way of the snack bar, yet they are nowhere to be found.

On the other hand, there is no shortage of potato chips, sodas

and cookies at the snack bar.

These seem to be the most popular items among Pace students, and together they are significant sources of fat, sugar and sodium.

According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, “Typical American diets exceed the recommended intake levels or limits in four categories: calories from solid fats and added sugars; refined grains; sodium; and saturated fat.” So why does the snack bar provide these at the highest quantity?

High school students should be free to make their own choices about what they eat, be it an Apple Cinnamon Pop-Tart or an actual apple, but right now, the snack bar doesn’t make such a choice possible. It would be neither difficult nor expensive to make fruits and vegetables a part of the snack bar’s inventory, and it is an addition that could only benefit the Pace community.

Elizabeth Roos Staff Writer Class of 2014

Although many of us miss the dingy depths of the foreign language hallway, the random column with no structural purpose in the middle of Mr. Hornor’s old classroom, doorways that only one student could fit through at a time, along with all of the other quirks of our beloved old upper school building, the Academic Village has definite perks.

As a senior, I have to say that I was disappointed to learn that my final year at Pace would be spent in trailers. However, the trailers have far exceeded my expectations and preconceived notions. In the words of senior class president Wylie Heiner: “We are not trailer trash, but trailer treasure.”

The Academic Village is truly a treasure. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that the trailers have completely blown us away with their opulence.

Not only are the rooms twice the size of the classrooms in the old Upper School, but they are also organized in a way that makes sense to everyone. There is no more walking outside and up the

hill to get to Spanish class. The quad is also very pleasurable; the lovely wooden chairs are perfect for studying outside while soaking up rays. I feel as though I am on a college campus a year early, when students indulge in frisbee on the green lawn. How collegiate!

If I could change anything about the trailers, I would add more natural light. I do not think that one window is enough in a room. But, the trailers are still a huge improvement over the old Upper School. Many students complain about the long trek from the trailers to Inman. But I enjoy the walk, especially now that we have a 20-minute break.

The walk gives you time to eat two of the coveted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at break.

Many upperclassmen have started "snack tailgating" during break, complete with lawn chairs and games of cornhole. Thus, the trailers have only broadened students’ creativity.

I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to spend my final year at Pace in the Academic Village. Being in trailers has made my senior year all the more memorable. I've even heard a few faculty members say that the trailers are so awesome that they won't want to move into the new Upper School next fall.

Lifestyle

Vol. 39 Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 5

Grace Francour Staff Writer Class of 2015

Now that students are settled into the new routine each school year brings, it may be time to consider kicking it into high gear to make sure your year is off to a strong start. Already overwhelmed by the increased workload? Are the trailers messing up your mojo?

To help you put your best foot forward and tackle the new academic year, here are some helpful hints and tips from some of Pace’s most highly effective students and faculty: 1. Be a strong self-advocate: “It’s important to maintain control of your life and not let yourself get into trouble. Make sure to stay on top of things and take ownership of your problems,” advised Mr. Bradley.

2. Put yourself out there: “Always ask questions!” said Mrs. Lewis. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers or peers for help.

Collaboration and teamwork are important values of the Pace community, and two heads are often better than one. “Effective

Pace students do a good job of finding the help that they need, when they need it,” said Mr. Bradley.

3. Stay organized: “All successful students have some method by which they are able to keep track of all the things that they do,” said Mr. Bradley.

It might not be the same for everyone, but every good student has a plan for juggling their time for all of their different activities and homework.

4. Take care of yourself: With all the time spent doing school work and extracurriculars, it’s necessary to carve out time for yourself. A balance between mind and body helps students be more productive in their everyday lives. “Make sure you have one person in your life that you can really rely on, that you can vent to and get advice from. Also, exercise gets the brain going, and stay hydrated,” said junior Maria Grenader.

Dr. Pontes agrees, telling her students, “Water is life!”

5. Keep yourself busy: While it’s easy to become overwhelmed, sometimes the busier you are, the more you accomplish. “A lot of people keep themselves busy with extracur-

Highly effective juniors Anna Brown and Annie Butler discuss the meaning of life with Mr. Smith.

riculars, so they don’t have time to procrastinate,” said senior Cory Bush. “There’s always something to do. You can always get ahead,” said Maria.

6. Help others: “Community service opens up your mind to new perspectives, and helping others makes you feel nice and warm inside. It makes you more

Three Looks with Mrs. Agront-Hobbs Wylie Heiner

Opinion Editor Class of 2014

One woman, eight closets, over 200 pairs of shoes and a sense of style beyond compare.

Mrs. Agront-Hobbs is the first teacher to be featured in "Three Looks," and she did not disappoint.

A teacher of Spanish and a woman of mystery, Mrs. AgrontHobbs arrives to school wearing only her best. In the four years that I have been in high school, I honestly can say that I have yet to see her repeat an outfit.

Mrs. Agront-Hobbs was fashion conscious starting at a young age. "It was something my mom taught us -- to always dress nice and be presentable, because people can tell who you

are by the way you dress when they don't know you," she said.

Obviously, this has become her life motto, because many Pace students agree that Mrs. AgrontHobbs is no slob when it comes to getting dressed.

Mrs. Agront-Hobbs describes clothes as more than mere objects. "Clothes to me are diversity, because they tell me who the person is and identifies that person," she said.

Photo: Wylie Heiner Choosing three looks was difficult when every outfit is better than the one before.

cultured and well-rounded, and you can write a lot of good papers inspired by service. Academics is not everything,” said junior Morgan Baker. Community service is highly valued at Pace and students will find that reaching out to others is always beneficial.

7. Begin with the end in

mind: “Have a plan. The most successful students at Pace plan their days, weeks, semesters and years. They come up with shortterm and long-term goals and map out how to get where they want to go,” said Mr. Callahan.

“It’s simple,” said junior Mark Grenader. “Don’t procrastinate.”

‘Adequate’ Sums Up Gio’s Chicken Josh Blank Staff Writer Class of 2015

Giovanni Di Palma’s plan of creating a “Little Italy” is coming together with his new restaurant, Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano. Mr. Di Palma opened Gio’s back in November after his burgeoning success with Antico Pizza. Although the menus are different, Gio’s vibrant, authentic atmosphere is comparable to Antico’s. Like Antico, hungry customers place their order at the front counter.

However, Gio’s lacks the same excitement. Most of the dishes on the menu involve chicken and usually are paired with pasta or other authentic Italian foods. The portions at Gio’s are very large, so you better be hungry when you arrive.

When you first walk into Gio’s, you are welcomed by Italian music and a not-so-friendly staff. They did not appear very happy for customers to be there and looked very somber. The food and drink will roughly cost $17 per person, which is not a bad price considering the portion size. The only problem is that drinks, including water, cost money for refills, which can get expensive if you are thirsty.

Shortly after placing your order, a delicious loaf of bread covered in cheese and an Italian salad is served to you at your table. The salad is paired with a vinaigrette which has the perfect amount of flavor.

My family members and I

ordered an assortment of main dishes. I tried the Al Forno, which is a lasagna-like dish containing meat and cheese with a marinara sauce. I would give this dish a 6.5/10.

Second, I tried the Sorrento Lemon. This is a chicken dish topped with freshly cut lemons and served with potatoes in an olive oil broth. I thought this dish was OK, but it lacked flavor (6.5/10). I also tried the Napoletana, which is a rigatoni pasta that’s mixed with Italian sausage, spinach, and broccolini and covered with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I thought the dish contained a lot of great flavor, and the add-ins to the pasta were delicious. However, some of the pasta seemed slightly overcooked (8/10).

The last dish I tried was the Arancia Di Capri. This was my favorite dish out of the four. It was a chicken dish with sliced oranges on top, served with potatoes in garlic, olive oil and rosemary broth. Compared to the Sorrento Lemon, the Arancia was extremely flavorful and very well cooked (8.5/10).

After dinner, you might want to make your way over to Caffé GIO, the gelateria and pasticceria owned by Mr. Di Palma next door. It serves authentic Italian gelato which is imported from Naples, Italy every month. Although the gelato is tasty, it also is very pricey; for three people it cost us $16! Also, even at that high price, you can’t try a taste of any of the flavors before you order. Overall, I would give my experience at Gio’s a 7/10.

Photo: Grace Francour

Seven Habits Make a Successful Student

Lifestyle

October 4, 2013

The Knightly News - Page 6

Netflix Thrives at Pace Academy News Editor Class of 2014

“No! You cannot have a TV in your room!” This response, commonly used by parents to deny their children the privilege of having a personal TV, is dead.

Many, if not most, Pace students need not ask for a TV because they already have one: their laptop. How, you may ask, does a laptop double as a television?

The answer: Netflix.

Netflix began in California in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail service, with the idea that customers don’t even need to leave their house to watch hit movies.

Fifteen years later, Netflix has three primetime Emmy nominations and tends to eat up about a third of the United States’ bandwidth nightly.

This increased popularity has not excluded Pace students.

“When I get into a show like ‘Lost,’ I watch five episodes

Photo: Sam Rubenstein

Sam Rubenstein

Senior Jared Datoc watches a shocking episode of “Game of Thrones” on Netflix during his free period. before bed, then when I wake up, I watch five more,” said senior Tripp Conrad. Don’t be surprised if you see students watching “Friday Night Lights” on their computers during a free period.

The streaming service, which is the biggest contributor to Netflix’s success, began in 1999 and has thrived ever since. In the second quarter of 2013 alone the company gained 630,000 new subscribers. Netflix has

become the go-to location for binge-watching shows, and it costs less than $8 a month.

Some shows which are not even on the air anymore, like “Friday Night Lights,” “Freaks and Geeks,” and “The Wire,” have

experienced renewed success as a result of their popularity on Netflix. Also, Netflix has reached deals with several major movie producers and premium channels like HBO to stream tons of major motion pictures and hit shows, only expanding the viewing options.

This year, Netflix premiered their first original series, “House of Cards” featuring Kevin Spacey, which can only be viewed by subscribers. They have continued the trend, adding new series “Orange is the New Black,” “Hemlock Grove,” “Lilyhammer,” and “Bad Samaritans.”

They even offered exclusive access to the new season of “Arrested Development.” One of the big perks is that you can watch an entire season in full, without having to wait a whole week to see the next episode.

Even after all this success, Netflix has continued to grow. In the past year the stock price has gone up by almost $250. It will be interesting to see what they do next.

Photo: Wylie Heiner

Apple’s iPhone 5S, 5C Debut Successfully Dean Papastrat Web/Tech Editor Class of 2015

Many seniors enjoy spending their time in the senior cellar playing video games.

New Year, New Senior Cellar Wylie Heiner

Opinion Editor Class of 2014

Many perks come with being a senior: off campus privileges, sitting outside on the patio and, of course, the senior cellar. Year after year the cellar is inhabited with a new class of excited seniors ready to take on a mess of challenges ahead of them.

Where can one find a comfortable resting place after a long day of classes or a difficult test?

Why the senior cellar of course!

Full of GameCubes, Xboxes, PlayStations and fun, the cellar offers solace to the tired seniors across campus.

What is the first thing that one notices when they walk into this year’s trailer trash-themed room? Is it the camo wall? Or the trailer fresco? Maybe it’s the bright orange hunting logo that catches one’s attention?

While you are answering these questions, why don’t you think of another question to answer: who is responsible

for this mighty feat? Look no further than senior classmates Jaclyn Lund and Pate Hardison.

Without the help of these two talented artists our cellar would actually be trash.

Starting early in the summer, it took them the entirety of the break to complete the room.

The process is harder than it looks. It takes layer after layer of primer to cover up yet another year of paint from the previous class. One can only imagine how many different colors, layers and secrets those walls carry.

Jaclyn and Pate came up with the design and layout on their own, and combined their brain power to create a room that the seniors love.

Senior Arden Carlton thinks that the room is beautiful. “I actually like hanging out in here because it feels so welcoming,” she said.

Though some are concerned with the theme of “trailer trash,” I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the room. On behalf of the entire senior class, we thank you!

Apple is at it again, releasing not one but two phones that are sure to catch the eye: the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5C. With over nine million phones sold, Apple has broken their previous record, making it their best-selling iPhone launch to date.

The iPhone 5C replaces the iPhone 5, sporting bright colors and a glossy plastic shell. Take a look inside and the same chipset that powers the iPhone 5 sits alongside a new steel frame that doubles as an antenna, built

for the polycarbonate back. For people searching for a high quality phone at a cheaper price, the iPhone 5C is the perfect solution, at just $99. However, be wary of buying this phone for the long term, because future iterations of iOS may run slowly on this older processor.

The iPhone 5S is Apple’s “most refined phone to date” and contains a brand new processor, camera and fingerprint sensor for Apple’s new Touch ID. The fingerprint technology works as advertised, and is very easy to use. For those suspicious of people hacking Touch ID, the only way that it has been broken so far is by lifting fingerprints

off a glass surface, photographing them at a high resolution, laser printing them onto a special paper and then putting wood glue into that paper to make a mold of a fingerprint to be used on the sensor. The processor, Apple’s A7 chip, runs a 64-bit architecture and is twice as fast as the A6 chip, which means that there is greater support for high-intensity applications. As for the camera, it uses larger pixels to capture a better quality image, and utilizes two LEDs, amber and white, to create a new flash that preserves skin tones in photos. At a price of $199, it is quite expensive, but well worth the price tag.

Is Eating Well at West Paces Possible for Students?

Max Greenberg

Staff Writer Class of 2014

After a long day of learning at the Academy, many Pace students like to celebrate with a snack from one of the various restaurants surrounding West Paces Ferry Rd. With so many choices, though, it is hard to decide which one to go to, or which restaurant has the healthiest options. Here are some facts about two popular dining destinations to help you make the right decisions.

One of the main food groups on the West Paces food pyramid is McDonald’s. This long-standing establishment offers a variety of options, from double cheeseburgers to differ-

ent salads and smoothies. For those who don’t know, a regular Big Mac meal with a Coke as a drink, adds up to 1090 calories.

On a 2000 calorie per day diet, this is over half of your daily consumption already. Let’s say you want to go with a healthier option like a smoothie. This has 210 calories, which is almost the same amount as a small order of french fries. It also contains 44 grams of sugar, which is more than a Sprite of the same size.

On the whole, it is very hard to eat healthy at McDonald’s.

Chick-fil-A, which many believe to be a healthier option than McDonald’s, is not much better. A regular chicken sandwich meal with a Coke adds up to a total of 906 calories. When comparing 10 piece chicken nuggets from McDonald’s to

12 count chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A, the McDonald’s nuggets have 70 more calories than Chick-fil-A. On the other hand, McDonald’s chicken only has 900 mg of sodium while the Chick-fil-A chicken has 1,590 mg. In terms of nutritional value, the McDonald’s chicken nuggets have only 22 grams of protein while the Chick-fil-A nuggets have 41 grams.

While neither can be considered truly healthy options, Chick-fil-A appears to have healthier options on its menu.

Both restaurants do offer salads and soups as alternatives to fried chicken and burgers, but when the dressing and additions such as bacon and chicken are included, the options are still not very good for you.

Sports

Vol. 39 Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 7

Dr. Pontes Helps with Confederations Cup Sports Editor Class of 2014

Spanish teacher Dr. Pontes was given an unbelievable opportunity in June to work as a volunteer coordinator for the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. The job was especially significant to Dr. Pontes because she got to help out at a huge event in her home country and contribute to its success.

When Dr. Pontes heard that the Confederations Cup and World Cup were going to be hosted by Brazil, she was ecstatic. When she first moved to Atlanta in 1996, she witnessed how much hosting the Olympics meant to the people of Atlanta.

Because she still hears people today talk about how awesome it was to be a part of such a big event, she decided to take action and apply for a job at the Confederations Cup in her home country. After watching hours of mandatory videos about the history of FIFA and the countries

participating in the tournament, she had to take a quiz. Once she passed the quiz, the last step was an interview via Skype.

Along with 10 other volunteers, Dr. Pontes’ job at the cup was to make sure that the VIPs got to the games safe and sound and that they had a memorable time. The job was rigorous and demanding; they all had to put in hours upon hours of preparation to make sure the VIPs were well taken care of. The diverse group of VIPs included FIFA president Sepp Blatter, governors of Brazil, and Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo. “I got a chance to talk to some of the VIPs and help them out, and it was a cool experience. They were all very kind and grateful for all the work the volunteers put in,” said Dr. Pontes. Once the games actually started, the volunteers got a chance to relax more and enjoy the free goodies such as ice cream and other delicious foods from the corporate sponsors Having a chance to watch the Brazilian national team, Seleção Brasileira, felt surreal for Dr. Pontes. She had only seen one

Photo: Dr. Pontes

David Martos

Dr. Pontes enjoyed her role as a volunteer coordinator. She hopes to work at the World Cup in 2014. game prior to the Confederations Cup, but it was just an exhibition. When she finally got to witness her country’s team play, she got to do so in the best seats in the house, the VIP section.

The fact that Brazil won the tournament made the whole

experience even more incredible for Dr. Pontes: “Seeing them play and win was awesome.

When it’s your national team, it’s pretty exciting.”

By the end of the tournament, Dr. Pontes was very glad she got involved because she had

a great time, but she can’t wait for the real deal: the World Cup. “I’m going to apply to be a volunteer again at the World Cup, and I hope I get picked again, because the experience was very interesting and exciting,” she said.

Josh Sloan

Staff Writer Class of 2014

“The Diamond Knights are looking exceptional this year, and are always improving,” said Coach Palmerton of the Pace varsity girls softball team. The players have had to face an array of problems throughout this season, but they have met those hardships and overcome them.

A major challenge was the complete demolition of the infield with the loss of four starters. “I think the entire team was a little worried we would be lost this year without the four infield seniors who left, but that clearly is not the case. Everyone has risen to the challenge, being moved around in the field to new positions and filling in the lineup with solid hitting. Knock on wood, but I think that the chances of making it back to state

this year are in our favor,” said sophomore player Sarah Werner.

“We definitely didn’t know what to expect,” said Coach Palmerton. “A couple of players have moved around position-wise, and they have done very well.

Our infield seems just as good as before, and with an outstanding pitching staff, we really are a big defensive threat.”

Last season the Diamond Knights were able to make it all the way to Columbus, Ga. in an attempt to extend their playoff hopes in the GHSA State Championship Series. They made it to the Elite Eight before ultimately falling, so expectations this year run high. “The playoffs and the future are a huge focus for us, and we’ve constantly been improving this season in hopes of making a big run this year.

There are a bunch of players who were on this team last year and experienced the Elite Eight loss, and this year we’ve learned from our mistakes and I think

have become a better team,” said senior Sarah Jacobson. Sophomore Lauren Pickman agrees, saying, “We have gotten stronger as a team after being in state last year, and we have even more drive to go back and go even further. Everyone’s stepped up to produce big hits and our defense has been solid as well.” “I have high hopes for us this season, said junior Maryellen Malone.

“We have a solid defense and offense. We can most definitely make it back to state this year.”

“This Knights team is by far the highest run scoring team I’ve had. We have a great offensive attack and we’re hitting over .300, which is an extraordinary statistic. This season is huge, as we’re improving with every game and we’re going to go as far as we can in this year’s playoffs and try to win it all.

With exceptional leadership and great players, we really have a chance to do well,” said Coach Palmerton.

Photo: Tom Werner With the help of a great pitching staff, the Knights are moving up the leaderboards in the state rankings.

Photo:William Pair

Pace Softball Soars to New Heights

William Pair’s favorite type of climbing is bouldering.

William Pair Climbs Beyond Expectations Grace Francour Staff Writer Class of 2015

Junior William Pair is known around the Pace community for his skill in an adventurous and often risky sport: rock climbing.

He has been rock climbing since the age of eight. His love for rock climbing began when his family went to one of his older sister’s rock climbing competitions. He grew bored, and since he did not have anything else to do, he decided to compete and ended up getting third place.

Since then he has won countless competitions and has been to Nationals nine times.

William’s parents own Stone Summit, the rock climbing facility where he practices, so he has grown up in a rock climbing community and can climb whenever he wants. He practices three or four times a week for three hours at a time. William says he loves rock climbing because of “the challenge and

hard work,” but his favorite thing about climbing is the people he meets, specifically his girlfriend.

When asked what his least favorite thing about climbing is, he replied, “It’s a huge time commitment, so it’s hard to balance school and climbing. Most competitions take full weekends, too, and I have to travel all over the country.” The farthest he’s ever traveled for a competition is California.

There are three main types of climbing: bouldering, speed climbing and sport climbing.

Bouldering is rock climbing without ropes or harnesses.

His favorite type is bouldering because he “doesn’t have to worry about ropes or anything, he can just climb.” Even though he is a veteran at competitions, William still gets nervous before each one. He listens to music to calm his nerves, but the anticipation and adrenaline also help him focus. William works as a route setter at Stone Summit and hopes to continue climbing well into the future.

October 4, 2013

Sports

The Knightly News - Page 8

Who Will Wear the SEC Crown?

Staff Writer Class of 2015

Saturdays in the fall bring a sense of excitement to all avid southern football fans as they look towards a new season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The SEC has by far some of the toughest football teams in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Many fans would consider the SEC Championship a more coveted victory than the BCS National Championship.

This is because of the great rivalries, and the high intensity of Southeastern Conference play.

The Alabama Crimson Tide have been the powerhouse of the SEC, winning the national championship three times in the past four years. For Alabama fans, they believe winning another national title won’t be any harder than it has been the past two years.

However, being the toughest conference in the country, there

are many other teams in the SEC that have a fair shot at the title, including the Georgia Bulldogs, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Florida Gators.

Last year, the Georgia Bulldogs were four yards away from winning the SEC title against the Crimson Tide and playing Notre Dame in the national title game. Could there possibly be a rematch between the two teams in the SEC championship again?

This would depend on how the ‘Dawgs play in the first month of the season when they play three top-ten teams in four weeks, two of which are conference games.

Unfortunately for Gamecock fans, losing to the Bulldogs earlier this year may have dashed their hopes of making it to Atlanta and leaves Georgia controlling their destiny in the Eastern Division. In the Western Division, the highly favored Crimson Tide are very capable of having a perfect season as we have seen in the past, as long as they can pull off a victory against the

Photo: Morgan Palmerton

Morgan Palmerton

Juniors Zachary Kerker and Harris Quiner fight over the dominance of their SEC teams.

LSU Tigers. LSU will travel to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 11 to face off against the Crimson Tide for one of the most anticipated games of the year and one that will likely decide who represents the Western Division in Atlanta. Alabama and LSU are undefeated at

press time.

College football is one of the most competitive sports watched and followed. The SEC holds some of the best teams in the nation, which they have proved after winning the last seven national championship games.

This year the teams of the SEC are very competitive and will face their toughest tests against each other. Will Alabama continue their dominance?

Or, will a different team rise to the occasion and make their way to the forefront of the SEC?

Photo: Donice Bloodworth

Water Polo Aspires to GHSA Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016

Mr. Bloodworth proudly displays his love for the Atlanta Falcons.

Teachers Like Sports, Too Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016

and tries to go to “at least two of the Bulldogs and Falcons games each year and many more Braves games, along with many high school football games.”

Teachers also use their interest in sports to connect with their students. Last year, Ms. Barbakow made a unique wager on the SEC Championship game with her freshman students.

Current sophomore Jack Dwyer was one of her students. “She bet us that if Georgia won the game, then she would give us all five points on our exam,” he said. Ms. Barbakow said that she was very confident that the Tide would beat the Bulldogs, even though it was closer than she would have liked.

The love of sports by many of the faculty members at Pace creates bonds with the students beyond academics, as sports is discussed throughout the halls of Pace on a regular basis.

Photo: Tom Werner

Students around Pace Academy love their sports teams, both college and professional.

People are not shy about showing their allegiances by wearing sweatshirts, polos, T-shirts, and other apparel. However, teachers also have their favorite sports teams. Mr. Whyte proclaimed his love for the Tampa Bay-area teams, saying, “My favorite sports teams are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Rays. I have been a Bucs fan my whole life and a Rays fan ever since they came to Tampa.”

Ms. Barbakow, despite going to The University of Georgia, said, “I’m a huge Alabama fan. I went to every Bama home game (as a kid) because my parents

went there, so even though I went to Georgia, when Georgia plays Alabama, I root for Alabama.”

Even though he is not a huge sports fan, when asked, Dr. Link said his favorite teams were the “Crimson Tide, Longhorns and Tar Heels” and he likes to watch the “big rivalry games such as Michigan-Ohio State.” Perhaps the most succinct response came from Mr. Gannon. When asked about his favorite teams, he simply said, “The New York Football Giants. There are no other teams worth mentioning.”

Mr. Canfield supports the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers, while Ms. Robinson proclaimed her love for the Auburn Tigers, Atlanta Falcons, and everything else football.

One of the biggest teacher sports fans is Mr. Bloodworth.

He loves all of the Atlanta sports teams and the Georgia Bulldogs,

Football, basketball, water polo, one-act play. Which of these is not a GHSA sport or activity? That’s right, water polo.

This sport, which resembles a mixture of swimming, handball and rugby, is part of GHSWPA (Georgia High School Water Polo Association) instead, a club league started in 2006. It is currently comprised of 18 teams, including Pace.

While Water Polo Coach John Ague enjoys the current league, he said that there is an “imbalance,” since some teams are county/district teams while the makeup of other teams, like the Pace team, are students from only one school. Joining the GHSA might flatten this imbalance, but a union of the GHSWPA and the GHSA seems unlikely in the near future. Coach Ague said, “I think everybody in the league is in favor of it.

The GHSA has represented the notion since the league started eight years ago and has given us some guidelines to possibly get that accomplished. The problem is, some of these schools don’t have the resources financially to start adding programs, since

a lot of them are cutting back, so it’s kind of an uphill battle because of that. They have given us guidelines that say we need ‘X’ percentage of schools across the state before they consider it as a varsity sport.”

In an email, GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin explained the process: “High school sports begin from the local school level and then can possibly grow to become a state championship sport... When there are schools across the state (a minimum of 32) participating in a sport, those school(s) may petition the GHSA to allow the sport to have an ‘invitational championship.’ After several years of growth (numerically and financially), the schools participating in that sport may petition the GHSA to have the sport considered a ‘state championship’ sport.”

Even though water polo is on its way to making this happen, Swearngin said the main reason why it is not possible right now is because “school administrators are reluctant to institute new sports because of the money required for coaches, equipment, facilities, etc.” Though it has heavy support from across the state, it looks like water polo will have to wait for GHSA approval.

Senior Phillip Werner was on the GHSWPA preseason watch list.