The Knightly News Vol. 47, Issue #1

Vol. 47, Issue #1

The

September 24, 2021

Knightly News

p. 6 New, Returning Teachers

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p. 11 Kenny Selmon Competes in Olympics

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p. 10 Battle of the Burritos

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Pace News

September 24, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 2

Pace Builds Kam Memar Lower School One Swing at a Time!

Photo: Fred Assaf

During the 2021 summer, the Pace Lower School playground finally finished renovation. With new slides, circle swings and more space, the playground is bigger and better than ever.

Second-grader Eduardo De Cock says, “I like this playground a little bit more.” De Cock, along with the other Pace Lower Schoolers are extremely happy about the new playground. “[The Lower Schoolers] love it,” said Interim Head of Lower School Dorothy Hutcheson.

“When they saw on the first day of school that the playground was open, there was such excitement about who was going to get to go on the playground first.”

Second graders Avni Doshi and De Cock both claim that the circle swings are their favorite part of the new playground with the slides coming in a close second.

Even with all the new changes, the playground is still not finished. Pace is constructing a brand-new playground right next to the current one for older students to have room to play as well. It will have more slides, swings, climbers, castles and even more space.

This new playground is part

Lower schooler enjoys playing with the circle swings on the newly renovated playground. of phase one of Pace Academy’s ambitious “Accelerate Pace” campaign that started in Jan. 2020. Phase one of the Accelerate Pace Campaign requires $35 million in order to build the new Kam Memar Lower School and renovate some parts of the current lower school. The Pace Of-

fice of Advancement has already raised more than $24 million.

The Kam Memar Lower School will be a three-story, 36,500 square foot building. It is nearly three times the size of the current Lower School, and it will include a new academic resource center, an indoor gym connected

For the past 18 months, the administrative team has been working with a team of medical professionals to assess how Pace should tackle the pandemic and keep in-person school open. “I was so hopeful throughout the summer that we wouldn’t have to wear masks and we could do school as usual,” said Head of Upper School Michael Gannon.

“Just because I didn’t like what they had to say, doesn’t mean I could ignore it.”

Pace’s ability to stay open for an extended period lies in the cooperation of the students. Dur-

ing the 2020-21 school year, the community’s willingness to stay masked and stay safe heavily contributed to its yearlong success. While students and faculty are returning to normal life and going out on weekends, the administration wants to remind the community to stay smart and take into account everyone’s desire to stay in school.

While masks are required for all students and faculty in the Upper School building, they may be removed when drinking water. Additionally, masks are not required when socializing outside. This rule extends from the Pace campus to Walsh Field and beyond. “Honestly, I’m fine with wearing a mask for eight hours of the day if it means that me and my classmates can enjoy going to football games and stuff like that,” said senior Jack Sieganthaler.

Pace prides itself on its community’s high vaccination rates.

According to Head of School Fred Assaf, as of August 31, the Middle School leads with an 81% vaccination rate, followed by the Upper School with 73%.

Of Pace’s hundreds of faculty members, a whopping 98% are fully vaccinated. These statistics greatly surpass Georgia’s 41%, giving the community hope for the year. Still, the administration hopes to see Pace’s numbers increase as the year progresses.

Mr. Assaf has announced that unvaccinated students will not be allowed to attend any

to the playgrounds, science/ STEAM classrooms and music classrooms.

While the Lower School is still undergoing construction, the lower schoolers are extremely excited about the new classrooms and interior. “I think it will be cool to have a new music

room,” said Doshi. Renovations to the current lower school have already been made including creating a new cafeteria and updating the libraries.

Even though the Kam Memar Lower school is close to finishing construction, the current lower school will still be in use.

“Once the Lower School finishes construction in Sept., the two buildings will be connected. It won’t be the old and new lower school, it will just be the Kam Memar Lower School,” said Hutcheson.

Hutcheson thinks that the new lower school will be a game-changer, “Our Lower School Science Teacher … has to go into each classroom with a cart. But come Sept. … she’s going to have a whole glorious space that will be just dedicated to Lower School Science.” Lower School Science Teacher Jane Choi also believes that the new Lower School will be a great addition. “If you have a space that is completely set up, something about having the ambience of the materials … [will] help them get into the mindset of being a scientist,” said Choi.

Pace Adapts to New Era of Pandemic

Photo: Fred Assaf The senior section cheers on the Varsity football team on Sept. 3 against Westminster.

Photo: Fred Assaf

As the Pace Academy community enters a second school year amid a global pandemic, the administration has made several changes to ensure the safety of all while also welcoming back several well-loved traditions.

The return of senior tailgates, assembly and regular lunch are among the many traditions that students and faculty alike are happy to see return to the Pace campus.

Seniors parade down West Paces Ferry on the first day of school, happy to be mask-free. overnight trips including grade retreats, athletic tournaments and Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) study tours.

“It makes me feel much safer knowing that the person I would be sharing a hotel room with or sitting with on a plane is vaccinated,” said junior Emma Beth Neville.

Unlike last year, the administration has no intentions of canceling plans throughout the school year, even if that means students and faculty will have to remain masked. “One thing I have learned in the last 18 months is that the easiest thing to do is just cancel everything,” said Mr. Gannon. “What I’m trying to do is keep everything happening as safely as we possibly can.”

As we kick off a brandnew school year, students have already had the opportunity to participate in several traditions that were canceled last year. Before school started, the Class of 2025 made the trek up to Camp Skyline to take part in the two-night freshman retreat, which took place on the Lower Fields last year. The senior class happily paraded down West Paces Ferry Rd. on the first day of school and the first football game back at Walsh Field took place on Sept. 3. “I have already had so much fun in the last month,” said senior Taylor Knowlton. “It’s making me really really excited for the rest of the school year.”

Pace News

Vol. 47, Issue #1

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ICGL Introduces the Year of Education Sheep” and “Savage Inequalities.” “‘Savage Inequalities’ was a great expose on the discrepancies between public schools in cities across the country. Though set around the desegregation movement, the parallels to today are shocking,” said senior Leah Fevaro.

You can also look forward to the addition of “Second Floor Screenings.” The first Wednesday of every month, starting Sept. 1, the second floor of the Woodruff Library will be hosting screenings of short films containing different educational topics. “We want every student to take away what speaks to them, which is why we look at so many different pieces of education,” said Mr. Ward.

Community engagement is an aspect of the ICGL program that could not be fully executed last year due to the pandemic.

“We will actually give students here at Pace opportunities to plug into local community partners that are either educational institutions or support learning,” said Mr. Ward. This year’s theme of education will connect the Pace community with the outside world.

Photos: Katharine Nuckols, Ava Piduru, Sophia Resnick, and Emily Segall

The Isdell Center of Global Education (ICGL) introduces the theme of Education for the 2021-2022 school year. ICGL was developed eight years ago in hopes of creating global leaders through programs outside the classroom. Adding ICGL global issues to the standard curriculum not only prepares students for college, but teaches them critical thinking skills, collaboration, and engaging with the community.

The ICGL Advisory Board, composed of Pace parents, decides the annual theme. The global issues are decided years before we actually begin to study them. “The idea of us looking at education is to see how these issues move beyond environmental concerns, not to say that those don’t impact people, but to really shine a light on the human side of things,” said Associate Director of ICGL and US History teacher Ted Ward. “If I were to say what I

would like for all students to at least understand about the theme is that education is a system, but learning is a process that happens outside of it.” The focal point is that learning doesn’t just have to be through a schooling system, but rather students can take it upon themselves to have the desire to learn throughout their life.

There are many projects and programs that help students engage in the study of Education. The ICGL Council is one way to become involved. “That is a group of 11 upper school students who are really sophomores to seniors who serve on this council, and their job is to bring the theme to life through content, through programmings, and through outreach,” said Mr. Ward. These students help engage and notify their fellow peers about the current ICGL events. The ICGL scholars are also vital to the program. “I really look forward to diving in deeply with experts about specific things regarding education and then sharing that with the community,” said senior Ryan Varma. This summer, the ICGL scholars read “Excellent

A group of sixth grade girls drew this year’s ICGL poster.

The Class of ‘21, Three Months Later

Pace’s most recent alumni share their post-graduation experiences.

As Pace upper school students return to campus this year, they are missing a valuable source of knowledge and friendship which has helped guide them: the Class of ‘21. Now, they spread across the country. Since their graduation in May, these former students have gone above and beyond, ventured across the world, begun their college athletic journeys and so much more. While COVID-19 is still impacting them, they are, for the most part, on campus and are experiencing a college year with only slight change.

The New School has taken a hard hit due to the delta variant numbers in New York. However, Jack Brown has been making the most of it, exploring the city that is now his new home. He describes New York as “entirely different to Atlanta in all the best ways” and never misses an opportunity to explore his neighborhood, often going to outdoor markets or thrift shopping. He plans to pursue creative writing, with a minor in Spanish, and already met professors that make him feel “infinitely excited to begin studying.” He feels very fortunate to go to a school that requires vaccination, keeping COVID-19 outbreaks to a minimum and allowing him to experience his college life to the fullest.

Jayden Thomas left for the University of Notre Dame this past summer to start summer workouts for the upcoming football season. Formerly known as Pace’s star wide receiver, Thomas described his highlight of college so far as “meeting my new teammates. It was different to adjust to playing with a whole new set of people, but it’s been working out.” Number 83 on the field, he has also been wildly successful off the field, enjoying his classes and all that Notre Dame has to offer. Exploring his new school has been very exciting since he is on campus and experiencing in-person classes.

The fighting Irish have gained an excellent addition to their student body!

Brown University has not yet begun to welcome its students in, however, when they do, these classes will be in-person, thanks to Brown’s small class size. Laura Romig expressed her happiness at being able to become a resident of Providence, Rhode Island and lives on the lovely campus instead of at home. “Although I’ll miss Pace cross-country, I look forward to going on runs along the river in a new city!” says Romig.

Also a soon to be Brown Bear, Michael Fu, spent his summer in Chicago and running summer camps across Georgia. He and Romig both spent time with their friends and family, preparing to say goodbye to Atlanta.

Meanwhile, over at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Kate Mallard is reconnecting with former Pace students, who are now her classmates and sorority sisters.

Trying to become as involved in student life as she can be, Mallard has joined the pickleball club, intramural tennis and the women’s business club.

However, her favorite club is the healing and harmony club. “This service club allows me to go to hospitals and sing to recovering patients, providing them with comfort and entertainment,” she said. Other highlights of college life have included bid day and meeting TikTok stars Bryce Hall and Josh Richards.

Gus Thomas has already begun his college journey at Boston College, which currently has a hybrid of online and inperson classes. He is “amazed by the level of kindness, intellect and relatability” his faculty and peers portray. Studying economics in the Morrissey College of Arts and Science, he plans to also incorporate his successful past as student body president with a double major in political science. He has picked up sailing, a surprising new hobby, and plans to join the team when it begins later this year. Thomas is excited to explore all of the opportunities that Boston College and the city of Boston have to offer.

Pace News

Several Students Take On Similar Summer Experiences September 24, 2021

of his trip was sleeping under the stars in the desert. “I loved that experience because it was so quiet and there were amazing views,” said Tapper. “I got to do a lot of self reflection and bonding with my friends.”

Moondance Adventures is a common travel company for teens to visit locations across the world during the summer. Their website states, “We believe that the most impactful adventures require getting outside of our comfort zones and away from our hometowns. These are the environments and individuals that inspire us to live in the moment.”

This summer, Junior Camille Caton traveled with Moondance to the Hawaiian islands for two weeks. She spent the first week in Kona and the second week in Kauai, participating in activities like surfing, sea kayaking and hiking. Through difficult hikes, she learned that “even if something seems super hard, just push through because you have so much fun along the way,” said Caton. She was also scuba certified, one of the biggest challenges of her trip. “I learned to get out of my comfort zone because I had to go through hard training to prepare for open water diving.” She also helped the locals in their botanical gardens, which was the most meaningful part for her. “The environment is extremely important to the Hawaiians, so knowing we had helped them with that made the experience even better,” said

Photo: Barri Seitz

From spending a month at summer camp to traveling across the world, Pace students had phenomenal summer experiences, many of them being similar to one another. However, these experiences were seen differently through the eyes of each student.

Her dream about a foreign summer abroad came true for junior Barri Seitz this year. She participated in Alexander Muss High School, a study abroad program in Hod HaSharon, Israel.

For seven weeks, Seitz lived on their campus, taking classes like Jewish History and Israeli Studies and going to beaches in Tel Aviv. “I learned so much about Jewish and Israeli history while also making amazing friendships with fellow Jewish American teens from across the country,” said Seitz. During her trip, she traveled all over Israel, to the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, the Negev Desert and more. She described the most meaningful part of her trip as being in Israel after the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Life in Israel is so different from what the American

The Knightly News - Page 4

Junior Barri Seitz (left) stands on Masada in Israel after a sunrise hike. media portrays, and I’m grateful to have learned how to dispel lies about Israel.”

Senior Jason Tapper also participated in a summer program in Israel. He traveled with the North American Federation for Temple Youth, a Reform Judaism youth movement, and Camp Coleman, which is based in Cleveland, Georgia. For 25 days, Tapper stayed in hostels and

kibbutzim all over Israel with 32 kids from Camp Coleman and 60 kids from other camps. He traveled to Tel Aviv, the south desert, the north and Jerusalem.

“I learned a lot about the history of the land and state of Israel and a lot about the Israeli Palestinian conflict,” said Tapper. He enjoyed seeing the “culture of Israel and how Israelis live their lives.” The most meaningful part

Caton.

Freshman Quinn Culpepper also participated in Moondance and was given the opportunity to travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for two weeks. He went whitewater rafting for three days, and he slept on the beach. “The best part of Moondance was the connection to the people I made,” said Culpepper. He continues to keep in touch with a few of his friends from the trip and would like to travel with Moondance again.

Sleep away camps are a significant part of summer for students, including Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Camp Thunderbird, a residential summer camp for kids 5-15. Their website describes that “When someone comes to YMCA Camp Thunderbird, they can expect unforgettable adventures, a safe and nurturing environment and a place to be their best self.”

Sophomore Vivian Kohn describes Camp Thunderbird as heaven on earth. “It is a place where you can be yourself and meet your best friends,” she said.

Kohn loves all of the connections that she has made through camp, whether it is people her age, older or younger. Camp Thunderbird offers activities including water skiing, sailing, archery, dance, sports and tons more. Kohn enjoyed having more freedom as the oldest (continued on pg 5)

Students, Faculty Reflect on a Summer of Reading enjoyed “Life of Pi.” “It taught me about the power of faith and imagination,” said Uyham.

Similarly, senior Kate Jonas also enjoyed her book, “White Teeth.” “There was a lot of humor, and it was interesting to see how the stories of characters from very diverse backgrounds wove together,” said Jonas.

In addition, students had the opportunity to read parallel books over the summer from the suggested list as an opportunity to get extra credit points added to their English average. Every 100 pages counts as a quarter of a point, with the maximum at 400 pages. Teachers will then assign an essay for their students to write in order to receive extra credit. These books can also be found on the Pace website.

Within about five school days, every English class will take a quiz after discussing their required book. Some of the teachers may assign a paper on the book, but others will move on to the work of the course.

“Summer reading is something that the English department really put a lot of time and thought into,” said Mrs. Durlin.

“It feels like a good way to start the year in English.”

Photo: www.paceacademy.org

Every year, students must read during the summer to ensure that the students are prepared for school in the fall.

Chairwoman of the Upper School English Department Marsha Durlin shed light on why summer reading is so important.

“I think summer reading gives a jump start to the class,” she said.

According to Mrs. Durlin, it allows the teacher to immediately dive into the structure of the class: how discussions, essays and tests will work.

Typically, the book also introduces the themes of the course. For example, sophomores read “Purple Hibiscus,” which is set in modern Nigeria, a British colony in the 19th century and early 20th century. Sophomores take European history, so “Purple Hibiscus” helps introduce them to some of the concepts of their history classes.

All of the books that students read this summer can be found on the Pace website under the Woodruff Library section. These

books include “The Hate U Give” for the freshmen, “Purple Hibiscus” for the sophomores, “Life of Pi” for the junior CP and AP classes, “David and Goliath” for the junior honors classes, “The Martian” for the senior CP and honors classes and “White Teeth” for the senior AP classes.

“We put a lot of time and thought into it,” said Mrs. Durlin. “The teachers that teach all at the same grade or class level will look at a list that people come up with that they think will be good for summer reading.”

Last summer, every student read “The Hate U Give,” and Mrs. Durlin explained that they decided to keep this trend for the freshmen class. “It does oddly enough introduce the idea of “The Odyssey,” which is the big book for the fall semester for the 9th grade,” she said. “The main character Starr Carter goes through so many changes that she herself becomes a hero in the book, as she is moved beyond her fear, guilt and silence.”

Students from each grade level also had a lot to say about their summer reading books.

Freshman Claire Jiang was excited to share her passion for

The Pace Academy website holds all of the information regarding summer reading. Photo: www.paceacademy.org “The Hate U Give.” “It addresses real-world affairs that teenagers should be aware of. Angie Thomas emphasizes strong messages throughout the story such as community activism, the importance of speaking out and systematic racism. I appreciate the opportunity to read such an insightful and powerful novel,” said Jiang. Meanwhile,

Sophomore Henry Levenson also learned a lot from his book.

In “Purple Hibiscus,” the main character goes through abuse but slowly learns to speak out for herself more. “The book made me want to try to think for myself more,” said Levenson.

The upperclassmen also had a lot to share about their books.

Junior Marit Uyham read and

Pace News

Vol. 47, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 5

Five Minutes with Cross-Country Biker Samuel Alkire favorite area that you biked through?

Knightly News: Hi, Samuel!

How are you doing today?

KN: Did y’all stay in hotels or camp outside?

Samuel Alkire: Hey Meghna and Megan. I’m doing pretty good. How are y’all?

SA: I think we camped for eight nights, and staying in a hotel with a bed and a shower was always a nice reward after biking all day.

KN: We are doing quite well.

Thank you for asking, Samuel.

KN: What was your favorite memory or part of the trip?

KN: Now for the question everyone has been waiting for: what happened to your knee?

SA: Ha-ha, well, I was at this place called Mormon Lake. We were playing volleyball, and I dislocated it [for the third time].

After that I just biked with one foot clipped in.

Photo: Samuel Alkire

SA: I liked the Grand Canyon a lot and also New Mexico.

There were a couple ski towns that we went through, which was cool. The weather was beautiful, and there were a lot of cool mountains.

in general, just kinda sucked.

KN: Wow, was that a struggle?

SA: Yeah, it definitely was a struggle, but I made do.

KN: Why didn’t you give up after reinjuring your knee for the third time?

Senior Samuel Alkire stops on the side of the road after biking dozens of miles in one day. dreams.

KN: Would you recommend that other people do this?

SA: Yeah, I definitely would.

It was a really cool experience.

KN: Would you ever do this again?

Photo: Samuel Alkire

SA: Probably not. I don’t think so. Maybe in a couple of years.

KN: Yeah, once your knee

KN: That could have ended up in a little serial killer situation.

SA: Yeah, it was a little sketch, but actually a really good time. Oh, and one kid’s bike got destroyed because he went over these spikes ... kinda lame.

KN: Samuel, what would you say if I told you that I can’t really ride a bike?

SA: Well, Meghna, that’s embarrassing. *redacted* Wait,

Alkire and his group celebrate the end of their trip from Tybee Island, GA to Santa Monica, CA. Could you tell the readers about what you did this summer?

SA: Well, I only had five days left, so we were really close. And being able to bike across the country is just really dope, so that powered me through.

KN: Oh goodness, that is far.

How many miles was that?

KN: What was the biggest challenge you faced?

SA: It was about 3200 miles.

It took a little over six weeks.

SA: Probably biking through the desert because it was really hot. It got to like 120 degrees, so that was not fun. Or Oklahoma,

KN: What was the biggest lesson you took away from this experience?

KN: So, what was your

SA: I guess the biggest lesson I learned was just: don’t give up. Keep working on your

Several Students Take On Similar Summer Experiences (Continued from page 4) camper group and becoming friends with the staff. This was Kohn’s last summer to spend a full month with all of her friends because the counselor in training (CIT) and staff experience is very different from a camper’s. “It is so simple, but my favorite memories from this year happened when we would share stories,” said Kohn. “These friends come from all over the

country and can last a lifetime.

The sunny shores have a magic about them that is unmatched.”

Senior Eddi Aronson attended Camp Thunderbird as a CIT for one month. Then, she joined their staff for two following weeks. “It was initially hard to adapt because the environment is so different from my daily routine during the school year, but it was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” said Aronson.

Camp Thunderbird provides a unique atmosphere and is a home away from home for both staff and campers, like Aronson and Kohn. “It shapes my mentality and helps me to connect with who I really am,” said Aronson. The most meaningful part about camp for Aronson is the relationships she has made, and she highly recommends being a CIT to current sophomores.

Photo: Samuel Alkire

SA: Well, I biked across the country this summer. We started in Savannah, GA and ended in Los Angeles.

SA: I liked a lot of the churches we stayed at. There were these pastors who would cook us meals. They had basketball courts and we’d all just mess around there, which was fun.

Alkire stands at a lookout on a trail. has healed.

SA: Haha, yeah. It was definitely a challenge, but it was such a fun time, and I am still really close with all the people.

We didn’t have our phones so we were forced to actually talk to and get to know each other.

KN: Was there anything that happened that was unexpected?

SA: Well, there was this one time when me and a couple other guys got stuck in this monsoon.

Me and three other guys went to this random house on the side of the street we were biking on, and this guy cooked us food and gave us hot chocolate.

don’t put that in! I’m re-answering: you should probably get on that. It will be helpful in college.

KN: Is there anything else you’d like to say to your Knightly News fans?

SA: I have to shout out Union, Mississippi and my boy, JJ, there. They gave us an escort with their firetrucks and police cars. So if y’all are reading this …

KN: I really don’t think they are. Well, thank you so much for your time and have a great day, Samuel.

SA: Pleasure doing business with y’all.

September 24, 2021

Pace News

The Knightly News - Page 6

Pace Welcomes New Faculty Three Teachers

Return to Pace Post-COVID-19

Mrs. Ellye Millaway is joining the faculty this year as a counselor and psychology teacher. Mrs. Millaway likes counseling because of the problem solving aspect of it and the support she can provide to students.

“I like to help them take their problem into their own hands and break it down to figure out a solution,” she said. Mrs. Millaway is looking forward to working with the students at Pace. “I’m most excited about working with very motivated students that are very passionate about learning,” she said. “All the students in my classes are asking good questions and really diving deep into the material, which has been great.” Mrs. Millaway is looking forward to taking her three-year-old son Carter to the football games this fall. “He loves watching football so I think that will be so fun!”

Mrs. Amanda Thornhill joins Pace this year as a math teacher as well as an assistant JV volleyball coach. Mrs. Thornhill is excited for the transition to Pace because of the freedom she is given when teaching her students. “I like the creativity that I get to have in my classroom because I’m not having to do the same thing on the same day as the teacher in the room next to me,” she said. She loves math because of the puzzle it takes to find the correct answer and how there are many ways to do so. “I love seeing all the ways that my students get to the final answer, because there are so many different ways to think about it,” she said. Mrs. Thornhill is also looking forward to working with such a high-level JV volleyball team and getting to watch their progress over the season. “I’m just kind of along for the ride and enjoying every second of it!”

Dr. Jason Brooks is joining Pace this year as an English teacher. He recently moved to Atlanta over the summer and is excited to get into the rhythm of Pace.

“One of the things that draws me to Pace is the level of responsibility the school expects of the students,” he said. “I think that this idea of teaching responsibility and then holding students to a standard relative to it is awesome.” Dr. Brooks is very passionate about teaching English and likes how he can learn from what his students have to say. “Every time a student sees something that I hadn’t really thought about before, it’s really exciting for me,” he said. Dr. Brooks is excited to attend some of the sporting events at Pace and to experience traditions like Spirit Week. “I’m excited to get in the rhythm,” he said.

Alum Michelle Yancich returns to Pace this year after graduating in 2013 to teach both English and Latin in the Upper School. While many things have changed since they graduated, Magistra Yancich describes coming back as surreal because of how consistent the traditions have remained. “When I was walking into assembly on the first day of school I had this thought like, why am I not sitting in my assembly seat right now,” they said.

Latin and English may seem like very different subjects but Magistra Yancich believes they have similar parts that make them easier to teach concurrently. “Latin classes are like English classes, just with an extra layer on top,” they said. “You are still learning about literature, still discussing themes and literary devices, just in another language.” They are excited about interacting with people at school. “I am most excited about working with the students at Pace. The students here are so incredible.”

Mrs. Brandi Wheeler is new to Pace this year as a ninth grade English teacher. One of Mrs. Wheeler’s biggest passions is reading which makes her enjoy teaching English and share that enthusiasm with her students.

“In terms of my skill set, I always find myself explaining things to people,” she said. “Even if it’s within my family, I’m the one who actually helps to break it down into steps that make sense to people.” Mrs. Wheeler is coming from teaching at a boarding school, so she is excited to transition to a more normal day school classroom. “I am excited at Pace that I really get to focus mostly on my teaching,” she said. Mrs. Wheeler also loves watching sports and cannot wait to attend the fall football games, as well as watching the theater productions this year. “I’m just so glad to be here, and excited to be able to be in person. I’m hoping I get to start seeing my students’ faces more!”

Dr. Wendy Kelly joins the Pace community this year as a chemistry teacher. Dr. Kelly comes to Pace after just being a chemistry teacher at Georgia Tech, where teaching is very impersonal unlike Pace. “I started to crave more time with students and get something closer to a one on one experience.” Dr. Kelly is very passionate about the subject of chemistry and wants to share this with her students. “I like learning about how the world works and sharing that with students,” she said. I know it is not going to be everyone’s favorite subject but I’m hoping that some can at least walk away with an appreciation that it touches our lives.” Dr. Kelly is excited to learn about and experience some Pace traditions like spirit week, and get to know members of the community better.

“It seems like there is a strong sense of community here at the school and that was so incredibly appealing to me.”

Ms. Emily Stevens is coming back to Pace after taking a one year break for safety. During the free time she gained last year while not teaching, Ms. Stevens rediscovered some activities she loves to do. “I started playing D&D again, after decades of not having played,” she said. “I was able to join my nephew and brother’s campaign on zoom and hang out with my family.” Also, because of her enthusiasm for history, Ms. Stevens found the opportunity to sort through her family papers and history. “It was really fascinating to learn about my great grandparents and some of the seriously cool stuff they did,” she said.

Ms. Stevens is very excited to be able to interact with her students again and teach in a classroom setting.

“I am really enjoying the energy in the classroom.

The excitement that students have is something that I didn’t remember in its intensity.”

Ms. Erica Barbakow is coming back to Pace this year after a two year break from having twins and COVID-19. Ms. Barbakow made the best of staying from school for another year and took the time she had to be with her family. “I certainly feel terrible about all the people that have suffered and died with COVID-19, but in some ways, the silver lining was getting to spend the extra time with my family,” she said. Ms. Barbakow has had to adjust to the hard task of teaching students in masks this year.

“It makes it harder to connect with students and get to know their names when before I knew their names before they came in my door for the first day.” Her best advice for students starting the school year is to take a deep breath and give yourself some grace. “If we’ve learned anything from the last 18 months, it’s that we all need to be kinder to each other.”

Ms. Helen Smith returns to Pace for her 49th year after taking a break last year for COVID-19 safety. Although she has taught history classes in the past, Ms. Smith is teaching Comparative Politics and heading up Model UN this year. “Politics is the one thing that affects all of us,” she said. “The two subjects fit together because every year you have to change what you teach because you have to keep learning all the time.” During the time last year when she could not teach, Ms. Smith made the best of her time by taking online classes in interesting subjects like art history and travel. “Having all the time to read was wonderful,” she added. Ms. Smith is so excited to be able to interact with her students again after such a long break. “People seem so happy and enthusiastic, and I hope that lasts!”

Vol. 47, Issue #1

Current Affairs

The Knightly News - Page 7

Atlanta Crime Increases, Impacts 2022 Mayoral Race

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 Co-Editors-in-Chief: Megan Hardesty Meghna Singha

Photo: ABC News

Atlanta continues to be impacted by the “Covid Crime Wave,” as Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms calls it.

There were a devastating 157 homicide cases in 2020, breaking a two decade record. The count has already surpassed 100 victims in 2021. According to The New York Times, the dramatic increase is partly because of the pandemic’s effect on police departments and at-risk populations.

One of the violent crime cases currently being discussed is the murder of 40-year-old Katherine Janness and her dog Bowie. According to 11Alive, Janness was stabbed multiple times at Piedmont Park in the early hours of July 28, 2021. Atlanta Intown reports that detectives have spoken with a potential witness to her and Bowie’s murder.

Rumors of a serial killer on the loose began to circulate as the Federal Bureau of Investigation began working on Janness’ case. The FBI can be called in for other tasks apart from serial killer cases, such as hate crime investigations and assembling criminal profiles, so this does not necessarily mean officials are calling this a serial case.

Also, many connected this case to another unsolved murder that same day. Just a few hours later, 18-year-old Tori Lang was found shot dead in Yellow River Park, and her car was found burned just a few miles away.

Although they happened simultaneously, there currently is no information that links the cases together.

There are no current suspects for either case. According to 11Alive, police might be releasing fewer details to protect misinformation in a court case. “The last thing you want is to come out and provide misinformation,” said former police officer and now attorney Mike Puglise. “A criminal defense attorney is going to jump all over that.” Contact 911, the anonymous Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577-8477 or www.StopCrimeATL.com if you discover any new information on Janness and Lang’s cases.

Gwinnett police Sgt. J.R. Richter wants everyone to stay safe. “That means being aware of your surroundings, staying in well-lit areas, letting friends and family know where you are, not being distracted by your phone and trusting your instincts,” said Richter.

The Knightly News

The reward poster shows Janness and her dog Bowie walking near Piedmont Park before their murder.

Sports Editor: Niko Karetsos Current Affairs Editor Emmy Mininberg

Managing Editor: Amalia Haviv

Web Content Editor: Gabriel Kadoori

News Editor: Mary Amelia Weiss

Multimedia Editor: Stella Nelson

Lifestyle Editor: Jack Wagreich

Photos Editor/Social Media Editor Emmy Mininberg

Staff Writers: Alice Gash, Amdrew Swann, Avery Lipman, Bianca Vaneri, Caitlyn Pinsker, David Fu, Ellie Sisken, Hannah White, Harrrison Leusink, Kaci McCray, Marley Venturi, Reed Millner, Zachary Meyerowitz Faculty Advisers: 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.

This crime wave is a significant political threat to Bottoms and may be one of the reasons she decided not to run for a second term. According to NPR, she explained that there was no single reason for her decision.

“It is abundantly clear to me today that it is time to pass the baton on to someone else,” said Bottoms on May 7, 2021.

Former Mayor Kasim Reed, who left office in 2018 after two terms, has decided to run again after Bottom’s decision, making him one of 14 mayoral candidates for the Nov. 2 race. Atlanta’s murder total has almost doubled since Reed left office, and he has received many donors since his announcement to run again. “People remember what the city was like when I was mayor, and they have come to the conclusion that things were better when I was mayor,” said Reed. These “things” allude to crime rates. Reed has expressed confidence in decreasing Atlanta’s crime rate because he has done it before.

Attorney Sharon Gay, another mayoral candidate, disagrees with Reed’s plans. “I think it is simplistic for him to say, and for our citizens to assume, that because he has been mayor before, he alone has the answers,” she said. Others are uneasy about Reed’s possible reelection due to the ongoing federal corruption investigation that

compromised 10 of his staff members. City Councilman Andre Dickens, who is also running for mayor, expressed his concerns about Reed. “We spent a lot of time over the last four years trying to prove to the citizens of Atlanta, ... the state, … employees of the city and others, that we are ethical ... despite a cloud of corruption that was over the last administration.” He does not believe the previous source of corruption should come back into play.

Natural medicine has been observed for millennia, but it only arrived in the United States from Western Europe in the 19th century. After World War II, its practice in the United States declined but was soon revived in the 1970s. According to multiple naturopathic websites, the goal of this type of medicine is to treat the mind, body and spirit of a patient. Although herbal medicines are often advertised as a safe and natural alternative to over-the-counter pills, they can potentially have adverse effects. They can interfere with other medications, especially cardiovascular drugs. In some cases, they may even negatively affect the heart on their own. Some users of natural supplements don’t tell their doctor about their use, either believing it doesn’t make a difference or not wanting to be shamed. However, 100,000 people die every year from drug interactions, so omitting this information could be fatal.

Some supporters of natural health have completely rejected Western medicine. In a TikTok comment, tea and herb seller @thehooddoctor1 said, “We can’t trust these doctors at all! They profit from our demise.”

Online tutorials and testimonies of these remedies have claimed a massive array of benefits, from weight loss to curing erectile dysfunction.

Today, naturopathic medicine continues to be practiced across the globe. However, despite its popularity in the holistic health community, there are only about 6,000 licensed naturopathic doctors practicing in the United

States.

A local practice, Atlanta Integrative and Internal Medicine, answered some frequently asked questions on its website. “A naturopathic doctor must pass rigorous professional board exams prior to being licensed or regulated in a state that regulates the practice of naturopathic medicine,” said one response. “State mandated regulatory bodies oversee standards of practice, complaints, and discipline for all licensed jurisdictions.’’ Even though many naturopathic practitioners go through thousands of hours of classes and hands-on training, traditional medicine practitioners often aren’t licensed at all.

Nonetheless, the holistic health community has now taken over a large part of the debate on COVID-19 treatments. An uncountable number of videos advertising their natural remedies appear with a simple TikTok search. A majority of these remedies consist of ingesting fruits and herbs in a tea to help symptoms and prevent contraction of COVID-19.

However, a small group of accounts claims even larger results. One in particular claims to cure the illness with a boiled drink of lemon, ginger, cinnamon, star anise and honey. Many health experts have discouraged this type of treatment, including Dr. Nyika Mahachi, president of the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians. “We cannot take a chance with traditional medicine that is not proven,” said Dr. Mahachi in an interview.

Natural Remedies Grow Popular Amid COVID-19 Early into the pandemic, the government of Zimbabwe authorized the use of traditional medicine to treat COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, “Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.” The most popular type of traditional medicine is herbal medicine.

There have been some proven benefits to plant-based medicine. One of the most effective treatments for malaria is Artemisia annual, a Chinese herb. For the most part, however, the medical industry has moved past naturopathic treatments, finding newer developments to be more effective. Though studies on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with herbal remedies have been inconclusive or inconsistent, some people claim that several naturopathic solutions have helped them stay healthy during the pandemic.

September 24, 2021

Lifestyle

The Knightly News - Page 8

Marvel Welcomes First Asian-American Lead Photo: @marvel Instagram

Over Labor Day, the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced audiences to Shang-Chi: the first Asian American superhero on the silver screen. Portrayed by Simu Liu, the film follows Shang-Chi on his journey as he reconnects with his past, uncovering secrets about his family.

On opening weekend, the movie brought in a total of over 75 million dollars, according to Box Office Mojo.

With its dominating critics’ Rotten Tomatoes score of 93%, the film pulled in fans for a spectacular superhero experience. Following these outstanding reviews, Marvel enthusiasts quickly agreed and added their reviews, giving the film a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. A smashing success, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” brings much optimism to the upcoming Phase Four of the MCU. The film follows the tumultuous relationship between Shang-Chi and his father, Xu Wenwu. As the story-

line cuts between the past and present, the viewers are exposed to the harrowing upbringing of Shang-Chi and Wenwu’s villainous motivations. The theme of family lies at the heart of this film, focusing not only on the relationship between father and son, but also between siblings. Shang-Chi’s relationship with his sister, Xialing, played by Meng’er Zhang, functions as an important storyline throughout the movie.

The audience follows this mystical, adventure-packed flick with an atmosphere of hope and admiration for the characters. The chemistry between Simu and Awkwafina, best known for her roles in “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s Eight,” completes the film with comedy and a great relationship to build in future films. Together, they steal the show and bring smiles to the audiences’ faces.

The action sequences and computer-generated imagery, or CGI, establish a fantastic cinematic experience for fans. Simu detailed on social media the serious training in strengthening of his muscles and agility for the kung fu fight sequences. “Movement, speed and explosiveness were paramount; we couldn’t just build muscle for sake of bulk,” he reported on Instagram.

After viewing the film on opening day, here are a few spoiler-free highlights. I was delighted by the

balance between seriousness and lighthearted humor throughout the film. The action was spectacular and Simu Liu presented a powerful hero to the Marvel stage.

The post-credit scenes were amazing and will leave you asking a million questions about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Summer 2021 Delivers Several Movies, TV Shows

Pixar released “Luca” onto Disney+ on June 18, receiving a 91% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and starting off everyone’s summer with a bang. Set in the fictional town of Portorosso, Italy, this film takes you alongside Luca’s coming-of-age story. 13-year-old sea monster Luca Paguro, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, dreams of breaking the surface and exploring the mysterious human world.

Filled with despair at the thought of his lost dream, a sudden pull out of the water makes Luca’s whole world change. Looking back at him is 14-year-old Alberto Scorfano, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer, a fearless sea monster already accustomed to life on land. Scales to skin, the pair venture out into Portorosso, immediately enamored by the thought of owning a Vespa scooter.

Luckily they stumbleupon 13-year-old Guilia Marcovaldo, voiced by Emma Berman, and the Portorosso Cup Triathlon. Not knowing about the scales underneath, Guilia joins the boys to defeat the reigning champion, Ercole Visconti, and win the prize money.

Director Enrico Casarosa takes these characters on a journey of friendship and adventure as they train, com-

pete and surprisingly win the Portorosso Cup! Along the way, secrets are revealed as Alberto and Luca, caught in the rain, become sea monsters once again. However, this only strengthens the bonds created throughout the course of the film and forms a sweet storyline.

Luca, now having a new dream of attending human school to live an above water-life, parts ways with Alberto. This bittersweet farewell pulls at the heartstrings and ends yet another wonderful Pixar movie. “Families with kids of all ages will enjoy this adorable addition to Pixar’s excellent list of films,” says Common Sense Media.

“Black Widow’s deeper themes are drowned out in all the action, but it remains a solidly entertaining standalone adventure that’s rounded out by a stellar supporting cast,” said Rotten Tomato critics when finalizing their review on the Marvel Studios’ film.

Premiering in theaters July 9, 2021 and directed by Cate Shortland, “Black Widow” stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. She “confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises,” says Internet Movie Database (IMDB). After the battle between the Avengers at Leipzig, Romanoff is declared a fugitive by the government. She escapes from US Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross and flees to a safe house in Norway, where she reunites with her contact Rick Mason.

Elsewhere, her arranged sister Yelena Belova, played

by Florence Pugh, is still working for an operation called the Red Room, in which mentally gifted girls, Black Widows, are selected from birth to be trained, controlled and fight under their leader Dreykov, who is still alive in

spite of Romanoff’s attempt to kill him in an explosion.

Belova comes in contact with a substance called Red Dust that removes the Red Room’s control over her. She sends the antidote to Romanoff’s safe house in hopes that she will return to help her. Romanoff and Belova then reunite in Budapest, where they decide to track down their former arranged parents in order to defeat Dreykov and save the Black Widows once and for all.

Receiving an 80% score, “Black Widow” had some negative and positive feedback from movie critics. “It’s a strange movie: front-loaded with its best action, its zippiest writing, its canniest pleasures, then derailed by exposition that only serves to let the air out of the room for being so obvious rather than deepening what’s there,” said Rolling Stone critic K. Austin Collins. Whereas Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal claims that “Black Widow” is full of “superb and perfectly complementary performances in a story that is, in its essence, about sisterly love.”

While critics’ opinions were mixed, the movie received a 91% audience score. The movie does adequately portray a more personal, familial and surprising look into an Avenger’s past while also continuing to deliver an adventurous and thrilling film.

The long-awaited second season of the quarantine hit, “Outer Banks” finally hit Netflix on July 30.

Written and directed by Jonas Pate, the first season introduces two groups of teenagers living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The focal group is the Pogues, the working class, led by John Booker Routledge.

Seventeen year old John B., played by Chase Stokes, has been a Pogue his whole life. Having unexpectedly lost his father, he is now an orphan searching for answers surrounding the mysterious death.

John B.’s fellow Pogues are JJ Maybank, played

by Rudy Pankow, and Pope Heyward, played by Jonathan Daviss. The crew is completed by Kiara Carrera, played by Madison Bailey, a rebellious Kook who has been adopted by these Pogues. Together they discover the sunken Royal Merchant ship, finding a possession belonging to John B.’s father on board. Now knowing of the hidden gold that once was on the ship, only one thing stood in their way, the Kooks.

The Kooks are the rich class, living in their own world of luxury. The show focuses on the Cameron family. The father, Ward Cameron, played by Charles Esten, is portrayed to be a rich family man with a wife and three kids. However, his seemingly perfect life is used to cover up the fact that he is actually evil.

His children also take on big roles, mainly focusing on 19-year-old Rafe Cameron and 16-year-old Sarah Cameron. Rafe, played by Drew Starkey, takes after his father in every way. But, Sarah, played by Madelyn Cline, is the opposite.

The first season, consisting of 10 episodes, takes you through an ever twisting quest for lost gold. The Pogues find, lose and rediscover the gold again as the Kooks are always plotting against them. Unexpected romance, juicy drama and exciting cliffhangers are what make “Outer Banks” such a hit!

The first six episodes tie up loose ends and finally, spoiler alert, finding the gold. After that, the show pivots into a new, more heightened treasure hunt. They introduce new characters, such as Cleo, played by Carlacia Grant, a friend sought out by Sarah and John B. in the Bahamas who helped them get back to their friends in the Outer Banks.

“It’s a heightened version of season one,” said Madelyn Cline in an interview with Glamour Magazine.

“One thing Outer Banks never fails to be is fun, and with a plot so far-reaching, this counts for a lot,” said Daily Express (UK) movie critic Loma Codral. Fans are hopeful that they will see an “Outer Banks” season three.

Lifestyle

Vol. 47, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 9

Pace Provides Resourses to Manage Stress and Mental Health Photo: @paceacademy_sab on Instagram

able to you, so take advantage of it now while you have it,” said Mrs. Harmon. These resources include the Academic Resource Center (ARC), extra help with teachers and using sports or Ms. Millaway’s preferred copphysical activity as an outlet ing and mindfulness activities from stress. include exercise, deep breathing Upper School Counselor and Science Teacher As a student at Pace, or doing something every day Ellye Millaway you have resources that makes you also provided some and support at your happy, whether tips on managing stress and mental fingertips. Do not that be walking your dog, calling health throughout be afraid to ask for a friend or listenthe school year. help and utilize these ing to music.

She included being The Student open to new experiresources.

Advisory Board ences, not ruminat(SAB), a group composed of ing in the past and practicing gratitude. “Remember that stress students dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, is anisn’t always a bad thing! Acute other resource for Pace students stress helps us perform better, to use. “We have lots of fun keeps our brain alert and helps events planned to engage with us to manage daily challenges. the Student Body this year,” said If you get to a point where the senior Allie Campbell. “We hope stress becomes unmanageable to have one to two mini events or chronic, reach out for help. each month.” These events Ask your teacher for support or In honor of anxiety awareness, senior Hannah Genser poses with a poster of facts that the SAB posts include Love Your Body Week, utilize the ARC or one of the around the school. counselors,” said Ms. Millaway. which takes place in the spring, and Happy Tails, when dogs visit Regarding perfectionistic As the 2021-2022 school year the US. Internalized problems couple of ways to improve stress campus in December to give evthinking, Ms. Millaway advises begins, stable mental health is account for the increase in management and create a more eryone a break from exam prep. to abide by the ‘Rule of key to a successful and upbeat mental health struggles among positive school experiRemember The SAB hopes to have speakers 5.’

“Ask yourself-will student body. According to a school-age adolescents, from ence. “As a student that stress come educate students on certain this matter in 5 days?

5 study from researchers at the 48.3% in 2005-06 to 57.8% in at Pace, you have isn’t always a mental health topics, while also months?

5 years?

UsuJohns Hopkins Bloomberg 2017-18, a 19.7% increase. resources and support providing students with tips on ally, you will find that School of Public Health and Upper School Counselor at your fingertips. Do bad thing! how to manage stress and imthe answer is no.

If the Columbia University, there has Amelia Harmon, says that not be afraid to ask for prove their mental health.. answer is yes, then this is a probbeen an immense increase in thinking positively, practicing help and utilize these resources. lem that you might need some anxiety, depression and suicidal self-care, eating healthily and You will not always have this support in managing.” Some of thinking among adolescents in making sleep a priority are a much support so readily avail-

How Do I Survive Freshman Year?

everyone and if you feel like it is not working, then try something else. A helpful place that is open to students is the Academic Resource Center (ARC). In the ARC, tutors and teachers help you manage your time and navigate your work.

Seniors, juniors and sophomores have grown comfortable with the ins and outs of the Upper School. The class of 2025 has yet to learn the tips and tricks that can help them navigate their first year of high school. As a freshman, you may go to the wrong class, forget what period it is and accidentally enter the commons. Do not stress! Here are a few pieces of advice to help you:

4.

Photo: Kaci McCray

It is essential to get involved with clubs and extracurriculars early in your high school career. The Pace community has so much to offer and getting involved helps create intergrade friendships. “I love extracurriculars where I can interact with people I usually would not,” said sophomore JD Maske. Upperclassmen friendships can provide guidance, advice and sometimes even a ride.

1.

Always talk to your teacher if you have any questions or concerns. “I think it’s important for students to seek out their teachers for help or to check in on their status. First, we teachers are at Pace to help you: whether Freshmen play ping pong during their free period. you want to do practice problems, or brainstorm an essay, or Besides, extra help with no one assign a large workload at the breakdown a chemical process, to help is just sad,” said Upbeginning of the year. They want we like helping you! Second, per School Math Teacher Jason to gauge your effort level and see seeking out help Smith. Pace teachers how skilled you are. Make sure breaks the ice, helps First, we teach- want every student to get all your work done effius get to know you ciently The most important thing ers are at Pace to find their own better, and makes and reach is learning how to manage your to help you...we strengths the class experitheir highest potential. time. Using your free periods to ence more comfort- like helping you! do work will cut down unnecesable for everyone.

Many teachers sary stress.

2.

3.

Study and organizational skills tend to be different for each person. “Taking detailed notes and rereading them is the most helpful way to study for me,” said Sophomore Avi Narula. The only way to figure out what works best for you is to try out different strategies.

Not every strategy works for

5.

Sleep is crucial to your success. Do not stay up and waste the night away when you could be getting sleep. It is essential to put your phone away at bedtime. You will get distracted and end up staying up the whole night.

Freshman year can be very difficult and stressful, but these tips will lighten the load. Always try your hardest and do your best because that is all anyone asks of you. Remember, when in doubt, ask for help!

Lifestyle

DaBaby Canceled for Homophobic Comments September 24, 2021

light in the air either. These statements, offensive to both the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS community, have led to the “canceling” of DaBaby.

Pop star Dua Lipa took to Instagram to speak out against DaBaby’s hateful words. The two had previously collaborated on the song “Levitating” which spent weeks at the top of the charts, but Dua Lipa said, “I really don’t recognize this as the person I worked with. I am surprised and horrified at DaBaby’s comments.”

On August 22, DaBaby made his first live appearance since the Rolling Loud scandal.

This took place at the Hot 97’s Summer Jam concert in New Jersey, the first festival to refrain from dropping the artist from its lineup. Prior to his performance, DaBaby played a montage in which he apologized for his comments. DaBaby then essentially negated this apology by saying to his crowd that “Other than the people that, you know, was truly offended, I feel like the rest of y’all ... being crybabies.”

Photo: Gabriel Kadoori

Baby’s own record label Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment.

“Baby on Baby” debuted at 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US, and “Suge,” the most popular song on the album, reached the Billboard Top 10 a Following his homophobic few months later. The album’s remarks at Rolling Loud Miami, success earned DaBaby a feature numerous music festivals have on the cover of XXL magazine dropped Jonathan “DaBaby” as a part of the Freshman Class Kirk from their lineups. Lollaof 2019. palooza, iHeartDaBaby Radio, Parklife, “If you didn’t did not slow The Governor’s show up today with Ball, Austin down after HIV, AIDS, any of City Limits, Day this album.

In them deadly sexuN Vegas and 2020, his song ally transmitted “Rockstar” feaAtlanta’s own diseases that’ll Music Midtown make you die in two turing Roddy are all among or three weeks, put Rich went viral these festivals. your cellphone light on TikTok and KS107.5 canceled reached #1 on in the air” their Summer the Billboard Jam altogether, Global 200. citing “various factors, including “What’s Poppin’,” “Bop,” “For DaBaby’s recent comments.” the Night,” “Beat Box,” “Baby” The Charlotte native quickly and “Crybaby,” all by or featurrose to fame following his 2019 ing DaBaby have reached the top album “Baby on Baby,” which 15 on the Billboard Global 200 contained features from esas well. tablished rappers Offset, Rich The recent backlash stems Homie Quan, Rich the Kid and from Mr. Kirk’s controversial Stunna 4 Vegas, a signee on Dawords as he addressed his audi-

The Knightly News - Page 10

DaBaby debuted his first album, “Baby On Baby,” in March 2019, just about two years before his scandal. ence in July, 2021. “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks,

put your cellphone light in the air,” said DaBaby. He followed this up by stating that those who engage in homosexual acts should not put their cellphone

Battle of the Burritos Students and Faculty Debate the Best Mexican Chains

Photo: Meghna Singha

If you enjoy eating at popular southern Mexican food chains such as Willy’s, Moe’s and Chipotle, you most likely have a favorite. This is a common argument of those who enjoy eating at these Tex-Mex spots. Each restaurant has its pros and cons; however, everyone thinks their favorite is clearly the best option.

Die-hard Chipotle fan Frank Caldwell said, “Chipotle all the way, it’s not even close. Their meat is juicier and more flavorful than any other.” Chemistry teacher Matthew Smentek said, “The white rice with the cilantro is definitely a deal-breaker ... the guacamole is absolutely the superior of the three.” Clearly, you can see how passionate customers are about their preferences.

The common rebuttals found against Chipotle are its price, lack of sauces and their queso.

Many would say this is the detriment of Chipotle, lacking taste, and paying triple the price you would to the marvelous Moe’s Southwest grill. Cheapskate Chipotle also makes you pay extra for chips and salsa. This is disgusting. Any authentic

Senior Margo Kaye poses with her favorite menu items from Willy’s Mexicana Grill: a chicken burrito and chips with queso.

Mexican restaurant you will eat at provides these complementary since it is a cuisine staple. Anyone dining at a Mexican eatery knows that this is a big no-no and earns Chipotle the privilege of not deserving business.

On the other hand, queso

enthusiast Porter Kendall said, “Moe’s queso is the best queso ever and it’s not even close, especially when paired with their crispy chips.” This is a strong point for Moe’s as well as their friendly staff. Many consider Moe’s to be the best, which it

clearly is, for the strict quality control of their food. Such as every time you indulge yourself into a Moe’s corn tortilla chip, your mouth is met with a strong, present crunch, explosion of flavor, and perfect sprinkling of sea salt. However, when you eat

at Willy’s, you will frequently receive chips, dripping with oil, which are flimsy and bend when you attempt to eat them, precisely the opposite of what you want from these vessels of flavor and sauce. When you walk into a magical Moe’s establishment you are instantly greeted by a warming “Welcome to Moe’s,” from one of their friendly food artists, and quickly noticing the appetizing ambiance of the joint, with their welcoming colors and furniture.

The fan-favorite Willy’s is the most popular among Pace students likely because it is down the street from the school.

“Willy’s is good because they incorporate fresh ingredients to give an authentic Mexican feel while still being in proximity to the Pace campus,” said by radical Willy’s bandwagon Davis McMillan. Although it is quite popular, many fans of Moe’s and Chipotle believe Willy’s wins due to its location and not because of its food, which is a nice way of saying the food is trash.

Similarly, their drink selection is basic and underwhelming compared to supreme selections offered by Moe’s with their Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, which contains any drink you desire.

Sports

Vol. 47, Issue #1

Pace Alum Kenny Selmon Competes in 2020 Tokyo Olympics This past summer, Pace alum Kenny Selmon competed for the US track team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Selmon competed in the 400-meter hurdles on July 29 and advanced to the semifinals.

After graduating high school in 2014, he continued his running career at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At the Olympics, he finished second in

nice,” said Selmon. “There were people on the corners waving at us to enter. The love was very much felt.” Even with all of the COVID-19 restrictions, the feeling of support was one part of the Olympic experience that never changed.

Typically, a large part of the experience is socializing with athletes from other countries, but COVID-19 prevented much of this from happening. Since families could not attend The Games, socializing and supporting others became extremely im-

Photo: @kenny_selmon on Instagram Selmon competes in the 400-meter hurdles in the 2020 Olympics. heat two, but unfortunately did not advance past the semifinals.

Before the Olympics, there was a lot of uncertainty as to whether Tokyo citizens actually wanted the Olympians in the city. “The people were very

portant. “Yeah, so that’s kind of where the dining hall came into play, and we were able to mingle and talk,” said Selmon.

The athletes found a way to work around the language barrier while still following

From Julio Jones being traded to a new head coach and general manager, the Atlanta Falcons offseason has set the team up for a season riddled with disaster. The management team fired Head Coach Dan Quinn in the middle of the 2020 season, leaving the team in disarray and in search of strong coaching.

According to CBS sports,

after Jones requested a trade earlier in the offseason, the newlyinstalled GM Terry Fontenot began actively looking for offers and taking calls for Jones. He was later traded to the Tennessee Titans.

Since being drafted in 2011, Jones has been the centerpiece of the Falcons offense. His career has been among the strongest that the NFL has seen and his absence will truly disrupt the flow of the Falcons offense.

Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith, previously the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee

protocol. “There are always limited barriers, but it was cool to kind of break that down,” said Selmon. “An easy way to do so was trading pins. They give you a bunch of pins that have your country on it, so you know, you’re supported. And so the thing to do is just to trade those.”

This way athletes could cheer each other on from afar.

“I think Pace has built me to be the outgoing and accepting person I am,” he said. While in Tokyo, Selmon used skills Pace taught him to communicate with the other athletes. “I know Pace has shaped me as a person and I think that person fits very well into these kinds of environments,” said Selmon.

Selmon has many memories at Pace Academy, but some of his favorites were with the track team. “I think that when our four-by-four relay won state, it was pretty special that we had gotten that far and were able to pull it out,” said Selmon. He loved the track team and the community around it. Selmon remarks about how diverse the team was and how “it was really cool to just kind of just go to practice and see everybody and the talent from all over.”

Selmon is excited to see what his future holds. Right now, he is training full-time with the Georgia Tech Track Team and is preparing for the next season.

When asked if he is going to compete in Paris 2024, he said, “As it stands now, 100%.”

The Knightly News - Page 11

Senior RJ Austin Plays With 18U National Team

On Aug. 31, USA Baseball announced their 2021 18U national team. Senior RJ Austin was one of 26 players in the country selected for the team.

“It is just a dream come true,” said Austin. Shortly after the roster was announced, the team traveled to Bradenton, Florida to take on Team Canada. Team USA won the series with a 5-1-1 record.

The national team schedule is packed with dozens of

exciting games and travel but Austin is particularly looking forward to one tournament. “I am excited to play in the fall World Championship because I love playing against great competition,” said Austin.

Although he has accomplished his childhood dreams, Austin wants to remind players to stay humble that there is always work to be done. “My best advice for younger players is to always set difficult goals for yourself, even if they seem impossible, because it will make you work harder,” said Austin.

Falcons, Braves Look Ahead to New Season Photo: @atlantafalcons on Instagram

Photo:USA Today

Star Braves player, Ronald Acuna Jr. slides into third base.

Titans, came from an offense focused on 2,000-yard rusher, Derrick Henry. It will be a large adjustment from being reliant on a running back of his strength to not having a clear-cut lead back on the offense.

Optimistically, fourth overall pick Kyle Pitts and receiver Calvin Ridley are two young stars with amazing potential and a chance to lead Atlanta to a Super Bowl. Pitts was a dominant prospect coming out of college.

“Pitts absolutely dominated the competition in the odd 2020 season, catching 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns from only eight games,” said Charlie Campbell on the Walter football scouting report. Additionally, last season, while Jones was injured, Ridley stepped up, putting himself in a position to be a successful wide receiver 1 this year.

Throughout the summer, the Atlanta Braves had many ups and downs. The future of the franchise, Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL and recently signed left fielder Marcell Ozuna broke his hand. The team also made trades

Tight end Kyle Pitts runs routes at Atlanta Falcons training camp 2021.

for Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler.

The injuries of Acuña Jr. and Ozuna diverted the gameplan for the 2021 season. They were two of the top batters and fielders on the team and were projected to enter the playoffs with strength this year. “Acuña, 23, is simply one of the best players in baseball, taking a .281/.392/.593 batting line with 24 home runs and 16 stolen bases into Saturday’s game,” said CBS

sports. “Fans voted him into the All-Star Game as a starter, and he’s having the type of season that would have earned him serious MVP consideration.”

Aside from major injuries, the addition of Pederson and Soler has proved helpful to the team. The Braves finished August with a commanding record of 18-8. They now lead the NL East and are projected to make the 2021 playoffs.

Sports

September 24, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 12

Fall Sports Prepare for Successful Year Football:

Photo: Fred Assaf

The football team begins the season hoping to continue their success from the previous year. After a 5-5 record in 2019, the team improved to a 6-3 record with an impressive win over Lovett and an appearance in the first round of the 2020 GHSA AA playoffs. This year, the Knights played on ESPN2 against the current second seed in the AA class, Rabun County.

The final score tallied to 47-14 in favor of the Wildcats, but the non-region game had many lessons as the boys begin playing region games. “There’s only lessons learned from the losses so you know the things that didn’t work in your favor the first time so you know to avoid it the next,” said senior leader and Harvard commit, Xavier Agostino. Along with the Rabun game, the Knights fell short to Westminster by 10 points and Columbia High School by only a touchdown. The team hopes to close out their region play undefeated in order to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

The defense runs off of the field after recovering a key fumble against Westminster. After a tough start, the team needs to win out in order to secure a comfortable playoff position.

Cross Country:

The cross-country team is fresh off of its 2020 state finals appearances with the girls team claiming their place on the top podium and the boys right behind in second place.

The girls team has big shoes to fill losing two senior runners who placed in the top 10 at the state meet, Hannah Vincent and

Kathryn Hood. This year’s team is led by 10 seniors who plan to respite their achievements from last year and win the program’s 13th title. On the boys side, the team returns some of their best runners from last year including Edward Blaha, the individual winner of the AA state meet.

The eight senior leaders plan to take state after falling just short

the year earlier. Along with this goal though, the team also has other lofty measures of success.

“Our main goal is to win state as a team, but we would also like to qualify the team to Nike Cross Nationals,” says Senior George Blaha. “This is going to be difficult, but if we have 5 guys under 16 minutes in the 5k, then we should have a good shot.”

Photo: Fred Assaf Photo: Fred Assaf

Edward Blaha hopes to defend his individual state championship and secure a state title this upcoming season.

Softball:

The softball team is already off and running with six games under their belt with impressive wins over Mcnair High School and Kipp by an average margin of 19 runs. Also, the team defeated their Buckhead rival, Lovett, by a score of 16-14 in a crucial region game. Out of the 11 players on the roster, most players come out of the junior class with five players: Madison Hadley, Victoria Hadley, Sophia

Mador, Sara Mazur, and Emma Beth Neville. Marissa Goodman leads the girls as the team’s only senior. “My expectations for this season are for us to build the softball program up,” she says.

“In past years, we have fallen short of our goals but I see the potential within this team to go farther than we have before.”

Last year, the lady knights made an appearance in the playoffs ultimately falling in the second round to Pepperell High School.

The softball team charges the mound celebrating their win against Lovett.

Volleyball:

This year’s volleyball team has a lot of pressure building since the 2020 team won the state championship for the fourth year in a row. The team is off to an early start currently sitting at a record of 8-6 with impressive wins over Westminster, Fel-

lowship, Marietta High School and Holy Innocents. The girls are led by two senior captains, Taylor Knowlton and Megan Hardesty. Knowlton specifically projects to affect her team through positive energy. “Energy is everything,” she says.

“As a senior, I feel like it is a re-

sponsibility to make sure it never drops.” While they are a usual at the state championship game, Knowlton mentioned a different goal for the season. “I expect us to grow, bond and work together to have a great season.”

Photo: Fred Assaf The team claimed the area championship in their first year.

16 regular season games with rematches with Decatur High School and Dunwoody High school. Along with those, 7A powerhouses such as Milton and West Forsyth are marked as key games on the schedule. After the regular the season, the team hopes to name themselves backto-back area champions and make it through all five rounds

zthe finals.

This year, the volleyball team hopes to achieve a goal that no other team at Pace has, to win five consecutive state titles.

Photo: Fred Assaf

Flag Football:

The flag football team begins their second year as a program with 28 players on the roster coached by Ty Johnson. Last year, the program made history by advancing to the sweet sixteen, going undefeated throughout the regular season, and being named the area champions. This year, the girls plan to play in