The Voice - September 2017

THE VOICE September 2017

The Voice: September

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5. PHOTO WRAP UP 8. NIERMANN FOR CONGRESS 11-12. WHERE WE STAND 13. MEET OUR AFS STUDENTS 18. DRESS CODE & 19TH AMENDMENT 19-20. TEACHER FEATURE 26. NEW TEACHERS 27. KC CRAWL Cover BY Macalen Gillespie ‘18

Noah Jean-Baptiste Contributor

BUZZ -SEPTEMBER-

Hurricane Season --There are 5 different types of categories of hurricanes.

Each category is based upon the wind speed in mph.

--Florida is hit by nearly 40% of America’s Hurricanes.

--Hurricane Katrina is one of costliest category 5 hurricane which caused over $100 billion of property damage.

--The term hurricane is derived from the Native American word Taino which means evil spirit of the wind.

Fall Equinox

--Every year there are two equinoxes and two solstices, which marks the start of a new astronomical season. For millennia, these four turning points have played important roles in human culture

--Mayan Snake of Sunlight: At the precise moment of the equinox,

when the Sun shines directly on the equator, an enormous “snake of

sunlight” slithers down the stairs of the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico.

--Higan is a six-day Buddhist celebration in Japan during both

the September and March equinoxes. Both equinoxes have been

national holidays since the Meiji period (1868-1912).

--The Mid-Autumn Festival. or Moon Festival, is celebrated in Chinese and Vietnamese communities all over the world on the day of the Harvest Moon: the Full Moon closest to the September equinox.

--Navaratri is a Hindu festival HONORING the divine feminine Devi (Durga) and is celebrated in the first half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which falls in the months of September and October.

Virgo | August 23- September 22

Strengths: Loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical

Weaknesses: Shyness, worry, overly critical of self and others, all work and no play

Virgo likes: Animals, healthy food, books, nature, cleanliness

Virgo dislikes: Rudeness, asking for help, taking center stage

3

Columns

What’s the Word?

Caroline Salzman Columnist Homecoming is always an important event at the beginning of the school year, but for the seniors it is even more significant with the addition of Homecoming King and Queen. This year the senior class nominated Bella Barnes, Elinor Bortnick, Ella Lawrence, Gina Pepitone, and Caroline Salzman for Queen, and Bert Bean, Matthew Berkley, Michael Innes, Yakini Kassimu, and Jack Ramza for King.

Everyone is excited to be on the homecoming court, and Ella Lawrence says, “it means so much to be nominated with so many other amazing people.” Gina is looking forward to the parade on Thursday “because Yakini [and I] get to ride in a convertible and wave to all the little kids on the lower campus.” On Wednesday, the candidates will play a game during the Pep Assembly which is always fun because it changes every year and is a surprise to everyone, including the candidates. n

Charlotte Henry Columnist The anticipation leading up to homecoming fills the halls. Crowds gather around proposals to read the clever signs and snap pictures of the couples. Meanwhile, groups are busy making reservations and faultless plans so the night can go smoothly. As a sophomore, you know how long you can avoid signing off on a restaurant or how many days you need to plan that perfect outfit. However, eventually, you have to settle on the ideal backdrop for your photos and call the restaurant to reserve a table. It is surprisingly stressful to be tasked with making the perfect plans, but at the end of the evening, everyone is able to have a great time and is left with memories to cherish. As sophomore Elizabeth Banks put it, “one of the most stressful things about homecoming, especially for girls, is [simply] picking the right dress and shoes.” Yet somehow, despite all of the moving pieces, everyone manages to end up at the right place at the right time. n

Jay Mehta Columnist What is the Junior Class’s perspective on Homecoming? Well, for one thing, it’s too early.

When we were freshmen, I remember our grade frantically scrambling to find dates in the first week of school, and the upperclassmen laughing at us. That year, Homecoming was on October 4th. Last year, it was September 24th. This year, it’s September 16th, and many of the freshmen had asked before school even started.

Of course, over the years, we learn, and the weight of the whole affair becomes clearer. Homecoming doesn’t need to be stressful; it’s just a fun night where we get dressed up, take pictures, dance awkwardly as we teenagers do, and have after-parties of varying intensities. It would be nice to have some more time to catch one’s breath between school starting and Homecoming mania, but hey, a dance is a dance, right? I’ve got no complaints. n

Jackson Chu and Rishabh Gaur Columnists After the first few weeks of school, a high schooler’s main focus is Homecoming, but for most freshmen, Homecoming has been on our minds for much longer. Many of them ask within the first week of school, and a few even ask during the summer. I will never know why freshmen ask so early. Most of the talk during this time is about who they are asking, or what bad pun they are going to put on their poster. I believe Homecoming for ninth graders is more about the drama, gossip, and stress, and less about the actual dance and having fun. I wonder what is going to happen when WPA comes around. n

Student Life 4

Which New Teacher Are You Most Like?

Ellie Copaken and Audrey Lu Contributors

START Are you a cat or a dog person?

Would you rather read minds or be invisible?

Dog

Cat

Be invisible

Would you rather win an Academy Award or an Olympic gold medal?

Academy Award

Do you prefer MU or KU?

Olympic Gold Medal

MU

KU

Someone stands on the side of the road. They’re fine, but their car is wrecked. Do you help or drive past?

Disney or Pixar movies?

Disney

Pixar

Help

Dr. Taussig

Read minds

Ms. Dolan

Drive past

Ms. Nibberich

5

Student Life

PHS in Review: September Lilly Edwards Contributor

12 seniors were named National Merit Finalists!

Way to go!

Yakini Kasimu and Bella Barnes were crowned king and queen at the Homecoming game. The football team beat Kansas City East High School in a landslide victory, 18-0!

Bribery with free food is well enjoyed at the club fair.

Spirit week was much enjoyed at the lower school. Students made signs, anxiously awaiting the parade of Homecoming Court candidates!

The Cheer Team posed for a photo at the Gold Out for St. Jude’s Hospital football game, raising money and awareness for childhood cancer

Photo Poll

Student Life 6

Ellie Ruland and Fatemeh Farassati Staff Writer and Contributor

Julia Rosher ‘18: “Greece, because I like all the pretty houses.”

George Embry ‘19 “Fayetteville, Arkansas; because I love crawfish boils and corn dogs and because I have family there”

Caroline Salzman ‘18: “I would go back to Graz so I could reunite with my Graz girl!”

Where would you want to study abroad and why?

Shahim Shahzad ‘19 “Pakistan; because it’s my home country and they have fabulous people, food, and landscapes.”

Maya Keeney ‘19: “Puerto Rico; because the culture is intriguing and the landscape is gorgeous.”

Gracie Beaham ‘19 “Greece, because of no particular reason, I just think it’d be cool.”

7

Feature

A Real Life Batman Ellie Burke Copy Editor Steve P. Quarles: Washington D.C.’s most influential environmental lawyer, former Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and, mostly importantly, Pem Day class of 1960?

While listing Mr. Quarles’ high school diploma as one of the chief accomplishments in his long, illustrious career may seem like an over-exaggeration, there is no denying that Pem Day left a significant imprint on this man’s life. In fact, Mr. Quarles began his Hazard Lecture -- an address given to the high school each year by a PHS alumnus or alumna -- with a quote he discovered in 11th grade English class. While reading an essay written by G.K. Chesteron, Mr. Quarles grasped a piece of advice that would shape the course of his entire life: “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” With these words in mind, he dove headfirst into the controversial field of environmental law, utilizing his unrelenting positivity to protect the wildlife he loves so ardently.

Among other accomplishments, Mr. Quarles drafted sections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), argued successfully for the petitioner in the Ohio Forestry Association v. Sierra Club Supreme court case, and, recently, represented two groups of 15 wind energy companies working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in proposed the largest multi-species habitat conservation motion to date. However, the cause closet to Mr. Quarles’ heart is Bat Conservation International: a program dedicated to “conserving the world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet.” Quarles first became passionate about this coalition after discovering that bats are vital to our ecosystem, consuming many harmful insects, pollinating a multitude of indispensable plants, and even providing a rich natural fertilizer with their guano. Today, Quarles sits as the Vice Chair of the initiative.

Outside of Washington D.C., Steve Quarles has led a fascinating personal life. He often reminisces on his adventures at Pem Day, excitedly speaking about the teachers and classmates who helped mould who he has become. In particular, Mr. Quarles remembers

his science teacher, called “The Cooler” by students, as the driving force for his pursuit of the sciences. Moreover, he is incredibly aware of how the school has changed over the last 50+ years: “Where are the bells?,” he joked as we walked down the hallway.

“How are you guys ever able to get to class on time?!” Besides high school, Mr. Quarles tells many a tale of his escapades abroad.

Not only did he shock the entire auditorium with his recount of Cambodian prison, but he weaved exhilarating tales of his time spent in Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and beyond. He has led a life most of us can only dream of achieving -- and he navigated it all with the utmost curiosity, spirit, and, most importantly, positivity. For this reason, he opts for a quieter existence today, living on a farm in Maryland with his wife and their family of cats, dogs, and horses.

If Mr. Quarles were to divulge one piece of advice to the youth of our generation, it would remind us that, when it comes to the environment, the glass is half full. Yes, there may be disbelievers in climate change. And, yes, global warming may be threatening to eradicate the ecosystem we hold so dear. It is imperative to remember, however, that these impending tragedies are preventable. All it takes is a willingness to be informed and a determination to fight for one’s cause -- one small victory at a time. Needless to say, Mr. Quarles has certainly fought for his cause; and, although he no longer resides on Capitol Hill, he is doing his damndest each day to ensure our breathtaking environment does not go to waste.

For that, we graciously thank you, Mr. Quarles, and wish you the best of luck in battle. n

Feature 8

NIERMANN FOR CONGRESS

Kat Brown, Mariah Connor, and Mariel Pepitone Contributors

Here at Pembroke Hill, it’s not uncommon to hear about the incredible accomplishments of our peers. Every class brings new National Merit semifinalists, talented thespians, inspiring artists, powerful debaters, skilled athletes and engaging writers. However, the incredible legacy our alumnis continue to add traces back to one source: our incredible faculty. Often their talents get overshadowed by the students they devote their lives to. One teacher, however, continues to make headlines and stir up our student body. Dr. Niermann, a history teacher whose name tends to be iconically sketched into desks around the school, has begun his campaign for Kansan Congress 2018. Although the administration would like us to remain non-partisan on this issue so as not to assume a specific political agenda, we were able to sit down with both Dr. Niermann and Jack Ramza (‘18) to discuss parts of the campaign.

Voice: So Jack, we know you’re involved in Dr. Niermann’s campaign, but what does your job specifically entail?

Jack Ramza (‘18): I mostly just input data. You know, I enter contact numbers, make calls, invite people to events, help manage donations etc. But mostly just data entry.

V: Who else do you work with on this campaign?

JR: I typically work with my buddy Matthew Berkeley(‘18) and some other Pembroke Hill alumni. Some are college freshman and others have already graduated but yeah there’s quite a few of us.

V: What originally peaked your interest?

JR: I’m interested in politics (especially now that I’ll be able to vote) and I enjoy working with/for Dr. Niermann.

V: What would you recommend to those interested in politics?

JR: It’s [data entry] not for everyone but if you really want to become part of something for a good cause this is a great real world instance.

For those of you interested in learning more about Dr. Niermann’s campaign, we highly recommend getting to know some of the talented members of his campaign management crew!

Of course, you can always go straight to source and talk to Dr. Niermann himself.

Voice: What initially made you decide you wanted to run for Congress?

Dr. Niermann: The desire to run was the same desire I had to become a teacher. I want to be able to influence my community for the better.

“

Participation in politics has always been an interest [for me] and I see participation in politics as a responsibility for every citizen in a democracy. Your responsibility is to remain informed and engaged.

”

V: Has working as a teacher here at Pembroke Hill prepared you in anyway? And if so, how?

Dr. N: Yes, work in general has prepared me. Life experiences are invaluable for developing core beliefs, worldviews and a sense of empathy for others.

V: What are you most looking forward to in the campaign process?

Dr. N: The things I like most about running for office are meeting lots of different people and interesting conversations about things that are import in other people’s lives.

V: And what kind of people do you meet?

Dr. N: Wow...all kinds of people. Union members, laborers, business executives, attorneys, students...everyone.

V: Did you ever see yourself involved in politics in the future as a high schooler?

Dr. N: Well, participation in politics has always been an interest [for me] and I see participation in politics as a responsibility for every citizen in a democracy. Your responsibility is to remain informed and engaged.

V:Finally, what advice do you have for students potentially interested in politics?

Dr. N: Get involved! Find a cause that you believe in and join organizations associated with that cause. It’s your duty as a citizen to get involved.

So while you may live in Missouri or you’re not old enough to vote, you can and should make a difference! There are multitudes of non-profit organizations and political organizations around the KC Metro area and volunteering for a cause you believe in helps you rack up those necessary service hours. Best of luck from The Voice! n

9

Student Life

Gold Out Olivia Sabates Copy Editor

S

Play for a cause

chool spirit and athletic enthusiasm are key aspects of the Pembroke Hill community. One of the most invigorating ways to get involved is through the weekly football games, especially the annual school hosted, “Gold Out” game to raise money and support for St. Jude Hospital. The history behind this foundation is quite a significant and contributes to the mission of St. Jude. Danny Thomas, a struggling actor, wanted to provide for his family while following his dreams. He continued to grow in despair, until he prayed to this patron saint of hopeless causes for properity and promised to honor St. Jude’s name through a shrine in return. The saint answered his prayers resulting in the construction of this important hospital. St. Jude’s Mission is to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other foreign pediatric diseases for those of every economic status.

During the game, numerous students from Pembroke Hill exemplified their support by selling merchandise, such as gold

beads, t-shirts, and stickers to support St. Jude Hospital. while the other portion of the student body, watching the escapades of the football game bought the merchandise in order to support this great foundation. The student body sold raffles with prizes including unlimited MOJO Cycling Studio classes for a year and tickets to a Royals game. It was a fantastic representation of school spirit and support for a remarkable cause. In total, The Pembroke Hill School raised over $4,400 and $1,200 during the game for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, showing generosity through spirit and donations. Additionally, before the kickoff of the game, Pembroke had the honor of welcoming Clay Trysla, a survivor of stage four brain cancer, into the arena to receive much deserved recognition and applause for his brave fight.

This game represented the unity of this great school and the type of character students of Pembroke Hill develop throughout these four memorable years. n

Columns 10

Football Traditions

Fans have countless traditions revolving around football, but the football teams themselves, at all levels, have their own traditions. From PHS football to college to pro, traditions define the team.

Jacqueline Kincaid Columnist

Soap to Soup Pembroke Hill

The Last Hit Pembroke Hill After the last game of the season, PHS football has one last practice. This practice gives underclassmen a chance to watch film of the season while reflecting on the team’s strengths as well as its weaknesses. Meanwhile, upperclassmen have chosen teams for touch ball and are play a friendly scrimmage. Once both sections come together, every player, except the seniors, form a tunnel, with a tackling dummy at the end. Each senior selects a coach or younger athlete to hold the dummy as they have the last hit of their football careers.

High School

The Louder, The Better University of Hawaii Most teams run onto the field in dramatic smoke or parade through a tunnel of cheerleaders, but the Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii have their own haka, a traditional war dance of the Maori people of New Zealand. The haka was introduced to the team by Tala Esera, a football player who performed the dance at his high school. After scrutiny for the dance’s political incorrectness, the team created their own haka, called “Ha‘a”, which has been used pre-game and post-game when playing at home. Ironically, it consists primarily of chanting loudly in Hawaiian and little to no dancing.

Sooner Schooner University of Oklahoma

College

Lambeau Leap Packers Lambeau Field is full of history, as it’s the oldest continuously operating stadium in the NFL. Team pride is best demonstrated by Packers by the Lambeau Leap. In 1993, LeRoy Butler scored after a fumble recovery and lateral. He leaped into the end zone crowd, welcomed by ecstatic fans. The tradition has continued ever since, though many rival teams have mocked the Leap by trying it themselves or fake leaping into the crowd after a key touchdown. The ban of excessive celebrations in 2000 was another obstacle for the Lambeau Leap, but players continue to follow in Butler’s footsteps.

Traditionally, in the first pre-season scrimmage, the price for admission is a bar of soap. After the scrimmage, the players are given the soap to last throughout the season. However, when players started complaining about soap infused with Japanese Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea brought by the female fans, the team thought it better to ask instead for donations versus continuing to receive painfully pungent soap. Now, the price for admission is a few cans of soup, which are taken to Harvesters Food Bank.

Oklahoma is unique in that it has two living mascots: white ponies Boomer and Sooner.

Led by the all-male student spirit organization, RUF/NEKS, Boomer and Sooner pull the Sooner Schooner after every score at a home or bowl game in an arch, nearly touching the fifty yard line. First used in 1964, the wagon is a smaller replica of the Conestoga wagon, which was used by Oklahoma settlers primarily surrounding the time of the 1889 Land Run.

The Terrible Towel Steelers

Pro

Myron Cope, sportswriter and later Hall of Fame analyst, also worked as an analyst for the Steelers’ first radio station. When initially asked to create a gimmick to interest people in the radio show, he was reluctant. With the goal to make the gimmick accessible to every fan, the first rally towel was developed. In 1975, Cope waved the first Terrible Towel. The 70’s proved to be extremely successful, as the Steelers won four Superbowls and two since, totaling more than any other NFL organization.

The Towel, which has been from the peak of Mount Everest to the International Space Station.

11

Columns

Where we stand: Wil Rowland Columnist What separates mockery from celebration? Where does the line between freedom of speech and hate speech get drawn? Do leggings count as pants? These questions have been stirring up controversy for years but have seemed to experience a renaissance in recent months. While these questions do a fine job introducing issues like cultural appropriation, they do not hint at the greater significance and depth of the American melting pot. Discussions of cultural appropriation often become oversimplified by throwing blame on those who wear for instance a Native American headdress.

The phrase cultural appropriation is a difficult term to define. The casual borrowing of traditional cultural garments and styles without regard for their history seems all too simply yet another example of white, oppressive culture. America was a nation founded on the oppression and exploitation of other races, and yet still prides itself on being the cultural epicenter of the world. While Europeans pushed Native Americans further away from their homes, they simultaneously adopted their methods of hunting, and while slave owners relied on the labor of African captives to make their living, they adopted their forms of expression. Today, young women at festivals wear headdresses and exploit the image of the oppressed in order to establish the bohemian-free soul-princess look that is so in right now. This is not to say that these people are the only ones to blame for exploiting others cultures. In fact, some argue that white people rapping or adopting other aspects of the hip=hop world is another form of cultural appropriation. While it is not hard to see their point: the white majority adopting clothing or music of a society that they oppressed or perhaps caused through their oppression, thinking like this can be damaging.

The American dream that is taught to us as we grow up says that not

only are we the land of the free, home of the brave, best country in the world, home to the best people, but that we have been the melting pot for the rest of the world. There is certainly a beauty in the craziness that has been created through the fusion of cultures. Food, music, and film often are at their most innovative and exciting when exploring the results of cultural fusion. The difficulty comes from trying to weed out those who are celebrating other cultures from those who are exploiting it. In a way, this is the quintessential American debate. The conflict between cultures merging to form new ones and maintaining an individual identity dates back to the beginnings of Ellis Island and the self-segregation of immigrants.

In today’s world more than ever we all need to be aware of the dangers of culture grabbing, however, we need to be equally cognizant of the dangers of self-imposed divisions. The violence of Charlottesville, I see as emblematic of the widening divide in society. While no one should allow offensive behavior to be tolerated in the name of “unity”. That idea in and of itself feels like a method of oppression. However, the middle ground between cultural appropriation and cultural fusion seems to me to be very important to define. We are living in an age of identities. For example, the ideas about what it means to be a woman or the things that go along with “womanhood” are in a fluid state, as constructed identities continue to feel more and more silly. However with this rapid shift of definitions and new traits defining new things one can almost see people regressing. While wearing a headdress for trivial reasons is unacceptable, can one say the same thing about white kids rapping? If certain elements of cultures are outlawed to specific groups are we not just putting new labels and definitions on what it means to be a black guy?n

Columns 12

Charlottesville CulturAL APROPRIATion Grace Parkerson Columnist

I would advise everyone to choose their Halloween costumes wisely this year, as the long list of "culturally insensitive" costumes continues to grow. Last year, the news blog "Bustle" released a list of inappropriate costumes; according to writer Tognotti, if you "care about living up to standards of decency, good taste, and anti-racism," you absolutely cannot dress up with Jamaican dreadlocks or Mexican sombreros; going to a party as a soldier or prisoner is also a no-no. Why? Cultural appropriation, of course!

Cultural appropriation is defined as "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture." It's easy to see why people cry cultural appropriation on Halloween - everyone is in costumes, and if you dress up as someone of a different race or background, then there are grounds for others to cite cultural appropriation. But this becomes an issue - should everyone be instructed to only dress up as a person from their own culture? Halloween is supposed to be the celebration of people that we cannot be every day of our lives. Young girls and boys dress as superheroes and princesses. Should a white girl be banned from wearing a Moana costume because she hasn't endured the struggle of indigenous people? In the end, most people are wearing costumes to celebrate and appreciate role models, not to stereotype entire cultures. Lots of times, these role models are derived from movies. For instance, Pocahontas costumes are based off the outfits from the animated Disney movies. Why should kids and adults be criticized for wearing "stereotypical" costumes when Disney is the one producing these stereotypical costumes? Cultural appropriation has now spread to adopting any aspect of a group that has

endured struggles you haven't. The popular costume of an inmate is now getting backlash; a recent UVA "cops and robbers" themed party was shut down after student protesters claimed wearing jumpsuits mocked mass incarceration. How far will this idea of appropriation go? Soon Halloween might only be a day of Where's Waldo and mythical characters.

While cultural appropriation is most policed on Halloween, it is still found and criticized daily. The Kardashian-Jenners are frequently called out for cultural appropriation, whether it be Kim's curves, Khloe's corn-rows, or Kylie's lip injections, people find everything wrong with optimizing features from other cultures, in this case typically black cultures. Actress Amanda Stenberg attacked Jenner for taking "symbols of pain, trauma, and degradation" and using them for "racial fetishization."

Patrice Lee Onwuka, a senior policy analyst at the Independent Women's Forum, thinks differently: "If our hairstyles and clothing are the envy of other cultures and adopted into mainstream culture, that is a net gain in influence, not a loss on our culture balance sheet." Onwuka makes a good point - is it so bad for aspects of different cultures to become celebrated in society today?

This Halloween, there are definitely lines that shouldn't be crossed. Don't mock, don't do blackface. These are good guidelines, but the list of 100 offensive Halloween costumes is not. Do we really have to restrict free speech to stop people from being offended on Halloween? It is one night; I hope that people can be respectful with their costumes, but I also hope that people can handle seeing a non-Japanese person dressed in a Karate uniform.n

13

Student Life

PHS Welcomes AFS Students

Lauren Lee and Claire St. Peter Contributors This school year, Pembroke Hill has gained two students from the AFS program. The exchange has been an integral part of the school’s community. Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Mohammad Abu Ajwa ‘17 and Csenge Peto ‘20. Hosted by the Northingtons, Pflugers, and Cases, Mohammad and Csenge will experience high school life in America during their year long experience abroad. We asked Mohammad and Csenge about their experiences in Kansas City thus far!

V: Why did you want to study abroad?

MA: I felt like it would be a very beautiful and good experience to study abroad. I wanted to try new things, instead of following my ordinary routine every day. From first to tenth grade, everything was the same, and it felt really boring. Going abroad would mean I’d be doing something new, something more than the ordinary schedule I grew up with.

CP: I really wanted to learn more English. I’ve been studying it for nine years, and going abroad was an opportunity to practice speaking everyday.

V: What are the largest cultural differences you have experienced while in Kansas City?

MA: School here is different, there are girls and boys in the same school in Kansas City. Back in Gaza, there is a school for only girls and school for just boys. That would be the biggest difference, I think.

CP: I also think the school system is a lot different here. Back home, we would have a homeroom class of thirty students and we’d all stay together for the next four years, rather than switching schedules every year like you do here.

V: What are the biggest differences between going to school at Pembroke and going to school back home?

MA: First, I think the biggest difference is at my school, you have the same schedule for the same year and it doesn’t change for the whole year. During the day, we would sit in our class and wait for the teachers to come, which I thought was pretty boring. Here [at Pembroke], everyone has different schedules, you get to move around a lot more from class to class. We also have six days of school, from Saturday to Thursday. Friday is

the only day we have off!

CP: We have ten minute breaks between each class period back home. But, I think I prefer Pembroke’s school system, the teachers here are nicer.

V: What’s something from your home that you miss while abroad?

MA: I miss the different dishes that we used to make back home, like maftul and maqluba. My host mom just made maqluba a few days ago, it was very delicious! I also miss my family, I have around forty cousins/uncles/aunts.

CP: My family and friends are the things I miss the most from home. I have a younger brother back home, and I miss seeing them everyday. I also miss my animals: three dogs and four cats.

V: What’s one part of American culture you’re excited to experience?

MA: I really hope I can go skydiving here, it sounds super exciting!

Halloween also sounds really fun. My house mom already started decorating for Halloween with all these special decorations! Still trying to figure out what I’m gonna dress up as, though.

CP: Thanksgiving! We don’t have that back home, so it’ll be fun to experience that here for the first time. I also heard about the haunted houses here during Halloween, and I definitely want to check them out.

V: After this experience, do you think you will attend college or live in America in the future?

MA: It’s a big possibility. I’m 99% sure I’d want to come here for college and live here afterwards!

CP: I’d definitely want to come back here. Maybe for college, but there’s a chance I’d live here after I’m done with school. n

Welcome! Bienvenidos!

Grace Weber and Jiya Singh Middle School Staff Writers Last year, Señora Ariaza left Pembroke, and a new teacher, Señora Niehus, filled her place. Señora Niehus teaches middle school Spanish, grades 6-7. Before she came to Pembroke, she taught at Blue Valley High School. There, she also taught Spanish to high schoolers. Pembroke is different than the previous school she taught in. First of all, it is a lot smaller. Sra. Niehus said that at Pembroke, it is more of a community than a school, and it is very nice. Sra. Niehus’ first language isn’t Spanish, but in school she loved everything about Spanish, so she decided to learn it and pursue a career in it. She decided to become a teacher, since it combines Spanish with kids, both of which she loves.

When not teaching Spanish, you can find her coaching tennis. Sra. Niehus is the assistant tennis coach for the Pembroke Girls Tennis Team. She also is a leader of the Middle School International Club, where they learn about different cultures, such as French and Spanish. Sra. Niehus had enjoyed her school year so far! n

Student Life 14

15

Feature

Ellie Miller Staff Writer

Water: we can all agree that it is a basic need for survival, and yet in the United States, most of us don’t realize it is a resource many people around the world don’t have easy access to. According to the website Do Something, 884 million people around the world cannot access water that is safe to drink, and waterrelated diseases kill over 840,000 people each year. However, many organizations, scientists, and individuals have been working to find and institute sustainable solutions to the water crisis.

Last year, a discussion about incorporating global education and community engagement into the classroom at Pembroke began to take shape. Principle Hill, along with French teacher Mademoiselle Croibier-Muscat and Ms. Duhig, Director of Leadership and Community Engagement, came up with the idea of having a global theme for the year, and a water initiative seemed like a great place to start.

Though the idea for the initiative initially came from faculty

In an effort to understand the social impact of the water crisis, LAB members are planning to take a four mile hike with limited water, to be used only in case of emergency. On the way, they plan to vlog their experiences while contemplating what it might be like to make this trek every day while carrying a heavy load, sometimes in extreme heat, as many women in communities with no nearby water source must. Allie Jones, ‘18, a LAB member, says that the goal of the hike and vlog is to “put [themselves] in that situation” and share it with the school in order to “connect with the student body.”

There are many other projects in the works, and Ms. Duhig hopes the initiative is “something that can be woven into classrooms easily, so that teachers can talk about it and tie it into their curriculum.”

In correlation with the initiative, Mademoiselle Crobier-Muscat and environmental science teacher Dr. Macgregor have been

members, Mr. Hill believes that “something this big can only work if everyone is on board,” and that “great ideas are going to come from a variety of places,” including from students, club leaders, and even parents. Therefore, to start the process, Ms. Duhig and Ms. Williams-Griffin led club officers in planning a project related to the initiative.

While talking with Ms. Duhig about the initiative, she shared some of her favorite ideas so far from club officers. Community Service Club, for example, is planning to host trips to a local water conservation site to learn about and help carry out processes in place to protect water sources here in Kansas City. “We want to raise awareness of water conservation because it’s obviously a pressing, global issue” says Caroline Salzman, ‘18, president of Community Service Club. She hopes that on the trips to the site, students will “get to see the processes in place” for water conservation which will make the issue “more real” for students.

working with a group of students who teach kids at the lower school about social justice. In the future, they hope to make water a focus of these conversations.

So how does water infrastructure work here, throughout the nation and around the globe? In Kansas City, the large river system easily provides almost all the water we need. Additionally, any water that is disposed of in the sewer system is returned to the river following cleaning and treatment. The real issue in Kansas City has to do with the energy used to deliver, clean, and return the water to the river. However, there are concerns that wastewater is dumped into the river system when there are heavy rains, and though it is cleaned before being redistributed to the public, wildlife and environmental damage from such waste is concerning. The pollution in our water system became such an issue that, in 2010, the EPA gave a mandate requiring Kansas City to clean up its river system by 2035.

Feature 16

Cleaning up rivers is a large, infrastructural issue, but Dr. Macgregor thinks that, while the focus of the initiative is to gain global perspective, students can find direct ways to promote water sustainability locally. For example, landscaping using native plants reduces the need for excessive irrigation, which is a huge source of water loss in the Midwest. Could the school be using excess water in order to irrigate non-native plant life?

Another issue the initiative could tackle at Pembroke are appliances - are they energy efficient? We have the water bottle filling fountains, which are great to reduce plastic bottle use, but what about the toilets and sinks in the bathrooms, how are they using water?

In western Kansas, irrigation, used mainly for farming, depends on underground aquifers, but this source of water is being used up more quickly than it can be replenished. Water source sustainability also continues to be an issue in California

and throughout the West Coast. Much of the water in California is sourced from mountain runoff, but rather than ending up in a river where it can be recycled, it ends up in the ocean. The issue has been aggravated by climate change, which has caused droughts disrupting the cycle in which the snowpack on mountains accumulates, leaving more of the water in the ocean and less as fresh runoff. Many solutions to the West Coast drought have been proposed and are being implemented, such as desalination of ocean water or water collection through fog catchers; most of these solutions, however, are not energy efficient or cannot replace the water already used.

In developing countries, the most pressing issue is lack of access to water, let alone clean water. Students who have had the opportunity to go on JanTerm trips, such as those to Guatemala and Belize, have seen the physical as well as social impacts of the water crisis. Girls often spend hours per day walking to wells or

streams to carry back just enough water for cooking and cleaning, taking away from time they could be spending in school.

Plus, the water available is often ridden with bacteria and parasites that can cause serious medical issues and also result in the death of infants and children. However, new innovations such as water filtering straws, along with the building of wells and rain catchers, have offered new hope. While these solutions are life-saving in the short-term, though, long-term solutions to water access must be found and implemented. Unfortunately, many countries who need such long-term solutions do not have the money to spend on them, so to aid in global sustainability efforts, Astronomy Club is planning movie nights, with proceeds going to organizations helping to make water available to communities in need.

To make the greatest impact, “we need to be supporting science and technology, what we’re built upon,” says Dr.

Macgregor. We need to “keep making innovations to support a changing landscape, a changing climate, and a landscape that is in trouble, whether it’s here or abroad.”

So how will the school be involved in the initiative? Nothing is sure yet. The learning experience will be for students and faculty alike. Mr. Hill isn’t sure of what changes may be made to the school in the future, but remarks that “that’s the benefit of curiosity, the benefit of learning more - you learn more so you can do more.”

When asked to define the overall goal of the initiative, Mr. Hill pointed toward “broadening global perspective and extending our important value of compassion to the rest of the world” as key. In future years, the intention is to come up with a relevant, global theme to focus on each year based on the students’ passions and interests, learning about global issues and hopefully making a little difference in the world. n

17

Feature

Modern Misogyny

Ellie Burke, Elizabeth Copaken, and Audrey Lu Copy Editor and Contributors

Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States’ Constitution reads, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” With only these words, every (white) woman in America was given the platform needed to voice their opinions, hopes, concerns, and -- most importantly -- dreams for and about the future of their country. It was a sweeter victory than the suffragettes could have ever imagined. But, how sweet was it really?

The answer to that rather radical question lies 97 years after the 19th Amendment became law. Oh, yes; we’re talking about present day. Although it may seem insane to think women have it “rough” in the wholly privileged world we live in, we consider it our sacred duty as women to come right out and say it: That is not true. Yes, women still retain the right to vote. And, yes, we as a sex have progressed miles from where we once stood 97 years ago. But, nevertheless...we are still plagued by a myriad of issues.

For one, women earn 79 cents to a man’s dollar. Not only is this discrepancy plainly unethical, but it remains instituted for all the wrong reasons: because most women take maternity leave after having a child, men simply assume the entire sex should suffer severe wage restrictions. To put this gross injustice in perspective, consider the fact that the average American maternity leave lasts 10 weeks -- while, generally, a working woman’s career is over 40 years long. In this way, an over 20% gap between men and women’s salaries is vindicated by women missing ~0.48% of their total work life. And, for what? Raising the future leaders of our country, of course.

In addition, women still have very limited control over their own reproductive rights. Many women do not have the power to choose to terminate an unwanted embryo in their womb. This undesired fetus is often created as a result from rape, incest, youthful indiscretion, or many other factors out of the control of a woman. To

make matters worse, most women have no say in the treatment of their unborn child because each state’s representatives decide the ruling on abortion. For example, abortion in Missouri is illegal if the fetus has surpassed 21 weeks and 6 days after being conceived.

Most opposition to abortion is due to religious reasoning, which is an admittedly valid reason to condemn the procedure. But, many of these people don’t take domestic violence and more specifically, rape, into account. In the United States, one in six women has been a victim of attempted or completed sexual assault, and as a result, 94% of these women experience post-traumatic stress disorder for a significant portion of their lifetime.

Fortunately, issues as severe as these, for the most part, do not appear in the community we as students are familiar with. Instead, the young women of PHS are accustomed to less severe -- nevertheless concerning -- cases of sexism. “Mansplaining,” misogynistic comments, and sexual harassment have quietly embedded themselves within the daily life of our school; too often, they pass unnoticed and unconfronted. Admittedly, women are also responsible for this deadly silence because many girls feel uncomfortable confronting their aggressor in public. It is imperative, however, that these injustices are pointed out, for only under public pressure can they truly be resolved. The school can aid in this process, too, by hosting open conversations and lectures about the crime of “normalized” sexism. Moreover, however unpleasant it may be, high school students must be informed about the sexual crises -such as rape, abortions, and unequal pay -- that are present in our country today. It is our duty -- and, subsequently, the duty of the school -- to become informed citizens.

So, yes. American women have come a long way in 97 years. But, trust us: we still have a long way to go. It’s all up to us now. Only we have the power to change the corrupt environment in which we live. And, with that said, we leave you with only one question to ponder: are you willing to stand up and fight? n

Student Life 18

Demilitarizing THE Zara Johnson and Charlotte Henry Contributor and Copy Editor

M

any changes have come with the new school year, but one of the most widely recognized has been the implementation of the Veracross program, which brings with it a new way for teachers to report dress code infractions. This program is seen as a controversial move by some, and there’s no doubt that it brings up issues the student body has long fought regarding the dress code as a whole. to change again soon.

With the new system, teachers report dress code violations at Mrs. Williams-Griffin said, “we aren’t fighting fashion,” and the beginning of class while taking attendance, and students rethankfully the code bends slightly to allow for these alteraceive an email about their violation by the end of the day. One tions, however many still argue that the dress code we follow positive about this system, pointed out by Mrs. Williams-Griffin, now is outdated, particularly regarding its rules for leggings. is the reduction in the amount of time taken away from the classStudents we spoke with often expressed strong desires to elimroom for students who have been written up. This format takes inate the requirement to pair leggings with tops that extend care of an issue people faced last year: feeling that their clothing beyond the fingertips, simply was being prioritized over their because they could not find sufeducation. ficient reason behind this element However, this system also This assumption that certain of the code. results in a higher level of clothes are distracting is probAdditionally, female students anonymity with reporting inoften felt that our dress code centfractions that many students lematic. It raises issues of perers around girl’s clothing rather are upset with. One junior ception and gender stereotypes than boys’, specifically that their we spoke with says, “it’s like -- that guys cannot control themstyle is under scrutiny so that they’re just hiding behind a boys won’t be “affected.” As Mrs. computer screen,” pointing out selves and that females’ bodies Abernathy says, “dress codes, inhow the reduction in human are being objectified. cluding ours, traditionally target interaction can be seen as unfemale-specific items of clothing.” derhanded. Mr. Lips eloquently Pembroke Hill’s handbook spestates, ‘it’s a little mechanical cifically states, “dress [...] should at all times be respectful and to do it in the background.” Though he also commented, “as a not a distraction.” This assumption that certain clothes are dismale teacher, this is a way to report a dress code violation of a tracting is problematic. It raises issues of perception and genfemale student that I [am] much more comfortable doing,” and der stereotypes--that guys cannot control themselves and that added that many of his male colleagues feel similarly. The funcfemales’ bodies are being objectified. tion makes it easier for teachers to enforce the code, a job they’ve However, many students still agree that parts of the dress been especially tasked with this year. code are reasonable, particularly that clothing displaying ofThe new system also raises concerns that the dress code will fensive or obscene language or images should remain banned. not be applied uniformly, because some teachers are stricter or One solution to dress code discord that Mrs. Abernathy projust uninformed. However, the majority of teachers feel that vides is a “dress code [that] comes from a transparent dialogue dress code violations do not disrupt or distract students or learnbetween administration and faculty and students in forming ing in their classrooms. “I simply don’t notice,” a point echoed policies that affect all.” by the majority of upper school students as well.

A code created with influence from students would most We found there was minimal room for debate on the benefits likely go over well because students would have an input on of the dress code amongst upper school students, simply bethe rules that directly affect them. This mentality is also recause every student we talked to, formally or informally, was flected in the petition to update the dress code that recently either concerned about a specific aspect of the code or was inwent around the upper school. Overall, the new Veracross redifferent. Historically, we have seen controversy over leggings porting program has brought to the surface many valid issues paired with shirts of incorrect lengths, and we have encountered regarding the dress code that have long concerned the student difficulties regarding the current fashions. It was rompers in body. n middle school, now it’s off the shoulder tops, and style is bound

“

”

19

Columns

Emma Romick

The first time I left home I was eighteen years old and heading to university. My father packed the car with my belongings (40% clothes, 30% books, 20% fairy lights, 10% out-of-focus pictures I would never get around to putting up on my wall), and drove us 256 miles north from my hometown of Exeter to a place I’d never even Googled, let alone visited. We arrived at my dorms in Sheffield, unpacked, ate fish and chips in the car, and then he left.

And I cried. For a month.

I called my parents every day and tried to negotiate a way home.

My dad wanted me to come back immediately, but my mum, who moved from Malaysia to England by herself at the age of nineteen, knew better. She insisted I stay until the end of the first semester, and then I could go home if I were still unhappy. Of course, when the time came, I didn’t even want to go home for winter break. I had figured out the dining room system, embraced showing up to 8am lectures in my pajamas and, most importantly, made friends.

Two years later, when I moved to France for the first time, I tried to remember that I wouldn’t always feel as lost and as lonely as I did in those first few weeks. I was in Perpignan, two hours from Barcelona in French Catalonia. My neutral French accent was of no help here -- I couldn’t understand anybody, and they couldn’t understand me. It took me 15 minutes and lots of pointing to order a cheese croissant. My apartment had bars on the windows, I got lost on my way to the school I would be teaching at for a year, and my dad refused to visit me because he was worried the dog would miss him too much. It was not an auspicious start.

And then, just as they had in Sheffield two years earlier, things got better. Catalans turned out to be some of the warmest people I had ever met; they invited me into their friendship groups, their homes, and their families. Despite my very un-Catalan stance of vegetarianism, grandmas cooked for me. Despite my utter lack of coordination and experience, people were brave enough to invite me on their boat outings. I was taken on trips, included in family traditions, and invited to celebrate important milestones. I was welcomed into a new culture, and in the most genuine and generous way.

Two years after Perpignan, I moved to Bordeaux. I was perhaps not as apprehensive about this as I should have been. Bordelais are notoriously unwelcoming and entirely disinterested in adding people to their well-established friendship groups. Of course (because you can surely see where this is going by now), hidden behind those immaculately styled exteriors was a warmth and generosity that meant I extended my year-long teaching contract four times and tried to convince everyone I knew to move there too. It was unfortunate timing that shortly after I convinced my sister to move to Bordeaux, Mr. Romick and I decided to move here, to Kansas City.

This move, too, did not have an easy beginning. My first green card application was denied, and my future in this country looked bleak, as well as short. I was far away from my friends and family, I couldn’t work, drive, or understand who all the different sports teams were, and the threat of never getting the right to stay

Columns 20

Collioure with the Catalans.

Getting advice from the locals in Malaysia.

Our old street/apartment in Bordeaux!

Running on a deserted beach in Mexico.

was constantly hanging over me. But fortunately, as you know, Midwestern people are incredibly friendly. I survived the winter months through interactions with the kind barista at Kaldi’s, the helpful librarian at the Plaza branch, and the guy who didn’t judge me for watching three movies a day at Cinemark. With the encouragement of the people around me, I went to tailgates, tried lots of different fried foods, and learned who Hosmer is. Slowly, just as all the other towns had before, Kansas City became home because of the people who live here.

The experiences I had living abroad are no different to the ones I have had whilst travelling. The beauty of a Portuguese fishing village was only revealed to me because of one inordinately kind

Turkish breakfast with friends made in Bordeaux.

Airbnb host. I fell in love with the town of Fez because of the hospitality of a Norwegian designer, an Iraqi architect, and two Moroccan guides. I have run on a deserted Mexican beach because a fellow runner was willing to share his secret spot with us. Turkish breakfasts will forever hold a special place in my heart -- and stomach -- because of an amazing family-run restaurant a helpful local told us about.

Whether it be moving, travelling, or simply living, relationships are often the defining factor of any experience. Not only can we learn something from everyone we meet, but we, too, have something to share with those around us. And now, more than ever, the exchange of ideas, cultures, and kindness is vital to our future. n

21

Reviews

Ava DiCapo Contributor As teens are put under pressure because of social mediums and this idea of the “normal” way to act, it’s easy for them to lose their individuality and expression in the most important ways. With this being said, there is nothing that every teenager has in common, except a passion for music. Pop and R&B are the genres that overtake the media, but real musical genius is in dedicated effort and beautiful sound. With the coming of fall it’s the perfect time to kick back and listen to some jazz. Classics like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and even Frank Sinatra can instantly bring you chills and change the way you feel about music. It’s rare to hear each individual instrument, mistakes and all, in today’s routine. Not only do you get the sounds of brass, syncopated drum beats, and the slipping of piano keys in jazz, but the lyrics brought to you by real voices in pain and love are so easy to relate to, you feel as though the song is a perfect explanation of the way you feel. I’m sure everyone remembers going to a fancy restaurant as a kid, walking into a dimly-lit room filled with loud music and the feeling of royalty. This is how I feel everytime I listen to songs such as “I Wanna Be Around,” by Tony Bennett. I’m not saying that you should give up Kodak Black or The Chainsmokers, but don’t hold back the urge to dance when listening to classic jazz. n

Katie Kimball Contributor Detroit is the first major motion picture by Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow since Zero Dark Thirty came out back in 2012. The movie centers around the 1967 riots that engulfed the city of Detroit, and it focuses specifically on the true story of the Algiers Motel Incident. On the night of July 23, 1967, a local security guard, played by Star Wars’ John Boyega, arrives at the Algiers Motel, along with a group of local police, in response to what is believed to be a sniper attack. The police round up all the hotel guests and demand to know who the shooter is. It is then that the security guard witnesses the brutal and overall unjust forms of torture one particularly demented cop, played by Will Poulter, subjects the hotel guests to. The movie is exhilarating to watch and brings life and truth to a horrifying incident in American history. The film is a story of victims and villains, and director Kathryn Bigelow certainly makes her villains menacing. While the film is centered around a grim event, the movie’s music brings a lighter side to the story. Detroit features lively music from the R&B group The Dramatics, who were actually some of the victims of the Algiers Motel Incident. The group’s impassioned music not only brings a feel of the ‘60s to the movie, but also gives depth to the characters’ backgrounds before they were turned into victims. Overall, the movie succeeds in displaying the truth of what happened that night in the Algiers Motel, and it doesn’t hold back any of the shocking details. n

Feature 22

“Video Games Will Kill You” - Every Parent Ever Joey Zhang Guest Contributer I was the kid that played video games 10 hours a day, I have heard countless times. Being both falsely encouraged and disproved of, however, distributing these arguments hopefully will shed some light onto both parents and kids.

Similar to different subjects in school, the various genres of video games improve certain skills. With that being said, video games reliant on strategies like Fifa, StarCraft, League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft and HearthStone improve cognitive abilities within the brain. Take StarCraft, a sci-fi live multiplayer competitive strategy game, commonly accepted being a game that requires the most thought out of any. The game places the player with other players being competitors along a vast terrain including water, mountains, and other natural barriers giving each of them a base. As the game continues, players command minions to collect resources, build defensives, barracks, training camps, vehicles, and advanced weapons to destroy each other’s strongholds. The games infinite possibilities train the player’s ability to adapt, memorize, and make decisions quickly, whether it’s what they have to build to counter another or battle strategies.

Fast paced games such as Osu, Call of duty, Destiny, Mario, League of Legends, Geometry dash and CS:GO enhances the user’s reaction and memory. Every person is born with a different reaction ability, but trainable. Within a video game, the difference of a fraction of a second pulling a trigger or casting a spell becomes a matter of life and death. For instance, a video on youtube presents the fastest human world record on the well-known app, Piano tiles, 2 of 13.819 tps (tiles per second), missing 1/14 of a second (about 0.07 seconds) means game over. Unnoticeable valuable information and details in video games are things that are given for players to react to in the first place, making the importance of specific detail polish eyesight and even dyslexia.

Parents normally focus on the violence displayed in video games. Although the clear distinction between “good” and “bad”

are subconsciously applied to decide morals, right and wrongs reduce bullying, also helping kids with the disability of social interaction (autism) to better fit in. Yes, aggravation is sometimes caused by video games, but the violence seen in video games enhances the blurry line between fantasy and reality because your average 14-year-old isn’t going to hijack a car and rob a bank.

Any MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) game requires communication and teamwork, including roles, leadership, and social interaction. The criteria and consequences of efficient or inefficient teamwork in video games are no different from reality. Players learn the importance of all roles and how to properly communicate to be successful. Consequently, novice players who lack these skills learn to improve them when they approach failure which translates into the real world with jobs and projects. Imagine how many friends you have met talking about video games because they connect players to millions of other users throughout the world on social platforms such as Skype and Discord, opening a pool of new friends to make. Interaction and entertainment induced by video games create a safe way to relieve stress more effectively than painkillers or counseling, significantly reducing depression.

After being exposed to these facts, I quickly realized it’s still no excuse to excessively play video games. Despite the multitude of positives, having too much of anything is damaging.

Therefore, I learned I needed to properly apply these skills in the real world, not just through games. It is still important to realize that playing video games releases levels of dopamine, possibly leading to addiction and academic failure. The consensus is that parents should still monitor the amount of time spent on video games by setting proper times, but a little fun can never hurt! n

Illustration by Sloane Withers-Marney

23 Feature

Cรณrdoba to Kansas City

Feature 24

Gina Pepitone and Bella Barnes Editors-in-Chief Homecoming is a season of celebration of all times, both past and present. Pembroke Hill alumni flock from near and far to reunite with those they haven’t seen in decades. After fifty years, Ramon E. Salica returns to Pembroke Hill from Argentina. Graduate of the Pembroke-Country Day School, or Pem Day, class of 1967, Mr. Salica was a former foreign exchange student, who currently resides in Cordoba, a province in Argentina.

Mr. Salica presently works as a lawyer, and although he has practiced in all areas, he specifically works on the civil line. Mr. Salica admits that even though he could be retired, he loves his work and the pursuit of justice.

Becoming a lawyer, however, was never his original aspiration; in fact, it was his passion for music that brought Mr. Salica to America. By coming to Pem Day, he had the chance to study piano and guitar.

However, the transition to a different country, let alone a new school, was by no means an easy one. Mr. Salica came to America knowing barely any English and had limited communication with his family back in Argentina. It was hard at first, and Mr. Salica specifically recalls taking the time to translate passages in his huge history textbook word by word in order for him to understand.

Besides the language barrier, Mr. Salica also had to adapt to American culture, which was foreign to him. For instance, in America, our school system requires anywhere from five to seven classes. In Argentina, however, Mr. Salica was accustomed to studying 12 subjects.

Mr. Salica adds that everyone at Pem Day could not have been more kind or understanding. To this day, he fondly remembers almost all of his teachers and classmates by name. When asked what he enjoyed most about his study abroad opportunity, he shakes his head at the impossible question and simply responds, “Everything.”

Mr. Salica is very appreciative to have had the opportunity to

study at Pem Day and thankful to have the chance to return fifty years later to the Pembroke Hill School. Reminiscing on his time spent as a student in America, Mr. Salica admits, “I think I grew up. I was almost a year away from my family and it made me grow up as a man and as a person. I really proved that throughout all these years, the friendship and the understanding among people is possible because my friendship with my classmates is just as intact since the first day … I think that this reunion with my classmates and host family is really a testimony that peace is possible.”

America has always been in his heart ever since returning to Argentina, and Mr. Salica will be forever grateful for all the memories he made at Pem Day. A truly humble and compassionate man, Mr. Salica leaves us with a parting remark: “Try to live in peace and to thank God for everything in life because that is just the way I live.”

Mr. Salica’s story is one of perseverance, determination, and love, and he serves as an inspiration for us all to go through life with an open mind and heart. n

25

School Life

New Teachers Charlotte Lawrence and Louisa Gear Contributors

Dr. Taussig Dr. Rebekah Taussig, Pembroke Hill’s new 9th and 12th grade English teacher, is extremely insightful and charismatic. After teaching English at KU for over six years, Dr. Taussig decided to switch over to high school. For her, the hardest part of the transition to Pembroke is not at all connecting with the younger crowd, but getting used to the schedules. Fortunately, with the help of her wonderful colleagues, she can focus on helping and challenging her students to think critically and engage in their reading.

Dr. Taussig decided to come to PHS after hearing about its focus on academic rigor and the personalized education it designs for each and every student. Dr. Taussig believes that she shares these same values with Pembroke because she would like to push her students to be independent and aware of the world around them.

Other than teaching, Dr. Taussig enjoys making music with her partner, working on her podcast, and eating with the ones she loves. One day, she would like visit and teach in South Korea to experience the difference in core values in not only the classroom, but also in the culture. Dr. Taussig’s ambition and spirit for learning will make her an excellent fit at Pembroke Hill. n

Mrs. Nibberich With her bubbly personality and her passion for teaching, our newest 9th grade biology, 11th and 12th grade human physiology teacher, and JV girls golf coach, Mrs. Laura Nibberich, will be a great fit at Pembroke Hill. After teaching in St. Louis at the Whitfield Academy for over 10 years, Mrs. Nibberich recently moved to Kansas City with her husband and her two kids, Will (4) and Sloan (2). She was drawn to Pembroke Hill because it is an independant school and because of its prestigious reputation. So far, she is loving the dedication Pembroke Hill students have, the kindness and generosity shown by everyone, and the independence given to the faculty. The life of a teacher is extremely stressful and timeconsuming, but she always finds time for family and fun. Mrs. Nibberich’s free time consists of going to Loose Park with her kids, jogging, cooking, and eating at her new favorite Kansas City restaurants, the Mixx and Joe’s KC. If given the chance to teach in one other country, she would chose Italy because of its rich culture, incredible food, and friendly people. Pembroke Hill is so lucky to have a teacher as dedicated and kind as Mrs. Nibberich joining our community. n

School Life 26

Mr. Baber His creativity, curiosity, and humor are already making Mr. Ryan Baber, Pembroke Hill’s newest teacher of 9th grade math and 10-12th grade computer sciences, a wonderful addition to the school. Mr. Baber was born and raised in Kansas City, but he has lived all over the country. After briefly working as a TV writer in LA, as well as an Undergraduate Admissions Officer at Columbia University in New York, Mr. Baber was ready to come back home.

He wanted to continue teaching at an independent school, so he felt very lucky that Pembroke Hill was hiring. He first discovered his passion for teaching working as a tutor many years ago. With the help of the mother of one of his students, he found out that her daughter’s school was looking for a Latin teacher. He applied for the job and has since become an experienced teacher of 10 years.

If Mr. Baber could teach in any other country, he would probably choose Italy or France, as knowing Latin sparked his desire to speak a romance language fluently. Like many new teachers and faculty, Mr. Baber has had trouble adjusting to the schedule; specifically when to start and stop class. Thankfully, he has been strategizing and has found that the best way for him to adjust to this new school is through overeating at lunch and asking Mr. Laible about literally everything. While lunch is definitely one of the best parts of the day for Mr. Baber, his absolute favorite aspect of the school is how helpful and welcoming the faculty has been. The inspiration and talent he sees from the staff make him feel very privileged to be a member of this team. In his free time, Mr. Baber enjoys cooking, reading about history, and travelling with friends.

His most recent adventures have been to Mexico City, Tokyo, London, and Paris. After a long and hard day at school, Mr. Baber destresses by running, playing tennis, and cooking. A go-to dish for him lately has been making pizza! If you ever want to talk to Mr. Baber about your classes with him, or a shared passion for food, history, and travel, he can often be found in the Computer Lab in the Commons (Room 227). Mr. Baber, we are very excited to have you on the Pembroke team! n

Ms. Dolan Pembroke Hill’s new history teacher for 9th and 11th grade, Ms. Beth Dolan is full of curiosity and analyticity: traits that will bring a new way of thinking into her classroom and the school! Being a Pembroke Hill alumna herself, Ms. Dolan feels that this school gave her an incredible education, and that this is her chance to give back to this community. Before coming back to Pembroke, Ms. Dolan worked as a teacher in El Salvador. After college, Ms. Dolan regarded her teaching job as merely a form of service; however, it became much more than that when she moved to El Salvador and taught US History at the American School. She fell in love with being an educator, so she decided to pursue her Master’s degree.

If she could teach in another country, she would work in Italy or Spain because she values their understanding of the importance of a balance between work and rest. Having to race to three classrooms has proven quite challenging, but Ms. Dolan, like other new faculty and students, believes that every week is better than the last. So far, Ms. Dolan is very delighted in her colleagues and students who never cease to enjoy themselves, adding excitement to her busy days! Although Ms. Dolan is very occupied with her school life, she never fails to spend time with her kids, take her dog to the Shawnee Mission Park, and volunteer at her church. The life of a teacher is very stressful, but Ms. Dolan has found that meditating and walking her dog are great ways to relax. Ms. Dolan is often running through the halls from class to class, so if you ever want to talk to her about her time in El Salvador, or her experience as a student at Pembroke, you can catch her in the halls or in her office.

We are very excited to have Ms. Dolan back at Pembroke Hill! n

27

Column

Mildred’s 1821 Wyandotte St. Kansas City, MO

Emma Knopik Columnist

64108

One Sunday, I strolled into one of my favorite brunch restaurants in the Crossroads of Kansas City, Mildred’s, to pick up a coffee and chat with the co-owner and manager, Evan Ashby, about the hustle and bustle in his cafe.

V: I’ve heard that your “standard breakjumped on the chance to move into a build- ing fair-trade, organic coffee. And apart fast sandwich” is a popular choice; what ing that had all of this really great, turn of from that, we wanted to make sure that we makes it so irresistible? the century, exposed brick and big arched had a unique set of coffees that we were E: Well, that particular sandwich we’ve windows over the kitchen. We kept the using. So I sat down with them and tried been doing for twenty years now. We startconcrete floors, and we wanted to keep it a bunch of different coffees, blending them ed the business in 1997, and at that point in as raw as possible so everyone can appreci- together sometimes, and came up with a time the specialty coffee business wasn’t a ate the building’s past. whole lineup of coffees. So I have several mainstream thing. We were sort of pioneers different drip coffees, and then we have esin having an independent coffee shop in V: There are quite a few other coffee presso as well.

Kansas City, but business was tough. So in shops here in The Crossroads, and new order to pay the bills, we had to have food. ones are popping up all the time, like MesV: Do you have a signature coffee?

My mom used one half of her espresso masenger and Spokes. How does Mildred’s E: Our Mildred’s blend is our house roast, chine for coffee and one half to steam eggs. find itself in the context of this coffee cul- and it’s been designed to be really smooth.

The eggs are cooked with steam power ture?

It’s about a fifty-fifty blend of beans that only so they’re fluffy but there’s no oil, E: Overall, one of the biggest things were grown in Guatemala and beans that butter, or grease involved. Then, we threw about Mildred’s that’s different from most were grown in Nicaragua. bacon in the oven for twenty-five minutes coffee shops is that we make everything and-boom-we’ve got hot bacon and eggs. from scratch. Another way we stand out is V: Lastly, why is it called Mildred’s?

You just throw all that together on a couthat we use a different design than many E: Oh good story, so there’s a movie ple slices of toast with some cheese and a of the other coffee shops in Kansas City. from the early 40’s called Mildred Pierce, house made spread which is dijon, mayo, We want to seem less like a coffee shop and Joan Crawford starred in it. It’s about and black pepper, and it’s a winner. and more like a fun, high-energy, hustle a mother who opens up her own cafe, and

and bustle type of downtown joint to get the place is called Mildred’s. She starts it V: I love all of the natural light and food. But we also have a much better coffee from scratch, and it becomes wildly popuexposed brick in the interior of the cafe; program than you would at any breakfast lar, so this is kind of a homage to that. n what’s your favorite thing about the physirestaurant. cal space?

E: Thirteen years ago when we first V: Where do you get your coffee? moved in, First Friday’s had just been gearE: We partner with City Market Coffee ing up. The downtown, urban, warehouse, Roasters, and they do all their own roastlofty feel was really popular, and so we ing. They’re very diligent about only serv-

v o F

R

O

D e A R

Column 28

i

E a S o N

c E

,

I’m a senior and college apps are consuming my whole entire life. I am trying to work hard so my grades look good this semester, but I never get to see my friends. How do I balance everything that is going on?

Senior year is the worst, right? Sorry Juniors, the worst really is yet to come. I mean, first you’re trying to manage the five hours of homework thrown every night, plus standardized testing, and college visits, and interviews. Parents constantly asking if you have written your Common App essay, or if you’ve finished your supplements. Every time you see a relative or old family friend, they ask you to recite your college list. Even better is when that same acquaintance gives their own commentary on the schools you like, whether it is positive or negative. Overwhelming, to say the least. And you know what’s worse than being overwhelmed? FOMO. The fear of missing out on something quintessential to your high school experience is terrifying. I mean, one football game usually results in tons of Snapchat stories and a handful of finsta posts to represent how much fun everyone had (or pretended to have). There is nothing worse than scrolling through a feed of pictures you were not a part of and being told second-hand stories that you could have experienced.

I think this time is an occasion where we all need learn what is most important to us. Maybe you find football games boring, but you go just to show face. This could be something you don’t really need to do, and can fill that with time to do work. But, maybe it is your best friend’s birthday party, and he/she is turning 18. This might be the thing you don’t want to miss. If you give and you take, you can avoid not being prepared when deadlines start popping up in November and January. But every once in awhile, save the supplement you’re working on, log out of Naviance, and take a break. Don’t let applying to college ruin your high school experience. Let yourself do the activities that you really value, and cherish those fleeting moments. College Board has already taken enough of your money. Don’t let them take your ~memz~ as well.

Or, you could ignore all of this advice and wait until the night before to write your essay and your supplements. That’s probably what most of us will do anyway. n

x

o

x

O,

t

H

e

V

O

i

C

E

Have a question you’ve been dying to ask?

Email voice@pembrokehill.org and we might answer...

Illustration by Sloane Withers-Marney

?

Drawing the Line

By Sam Hrabko

Crossword

ACROSS 2. The Equinox will occur on Friday, September 22nd.

3. Name of Voicer who student-directed Protest Objective Reality by Isobel Shaffer as part of the One-Acts this fall.

6. The Raiders won the Homecoming football game against this team.

8. Last name of teacher running for position on Congress.

9. Group of dolphins.

DOWN 1. First name of the Homecoming King 2017-2018 3. Name of the hurricane that struck Houston, Texas.

4. Hazard lecturer, Steve Quarles ‘60, spoke about his passion for these winged mammals.

5. The theater department will produce , Maine as the fall play this season.

6. A film adaptation of this famous authors’ book, It, just came to theaters.

7. The Nelson is featuring a new exhibit of this famous Spanish painter’s work.

30

Letter from the

Editors

whispers the girls volleyball team . . . took first place at the midway tournement.

Dear Readers,

We are proud to present to you our first Voice of the 2017-2018 school year! Our focus for this issue is examining global issues through a narrow lens specific to Pembroke’s student body. With the club fair earlier in the month, we are thrilled to have many new members joining our publication.

Our cover was designed by the talented Macalen Gillespie ‘18, who used water colors to interpret this issue’s feature, an investigative piece on the launch of Pembroke’s new clean water initiative. Additionally, our Teacher Feature highlights Ms. Romick’s experience as a global citizen, and we take a closer look at gender equality, reviewing the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and examining the controversial dress code enforced at Pembroke Hill. Our writers also discussed Charlottesville and the tenuous relationship with our shared history.

We also had the honor of interviewing Pembroke Hill alumni, both Hazard lecture speaker Mr. Steve Quarles ‘60 and Mr. Ramon Salica ‘67, who returned from Argentina to reunite with his classmates after fifty years. Our ultimate goal for the school’s publication is to feature quality content that equally interests and challenges our readers. We want to spark conversation, and we would love to hear your thoughts. We look forward to continuing to make this goal a reality in this issue and the ones to come.

Sincerely, Bella Barnes and Gina Pepitone

The Voice Podcast

erin lowe ‘18 . . . won first place in the Senior Individual Performance category at National History Day competition in D.C. this summer. dasha mcdonald ‘20 & ridley angrist ‘20 . . . are traveling to Zermatt, Switzerland to participate in the annual Swiss Semester program. jay mehta ‘19 and mr. knopik. . . travelled to Normandy to document the life of a fallen WWII soldier from kansas. He shared his research at the smithsonian in washington, d.c.

By Jay Mehta

iTunes

Soundcloud

THE VOICE

The Official News Publication of the Pembroke Hill School The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertinent events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves.

As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Letters to the Editors. The editors reserve the right to not publish letters. The Voice also accepts advertising and like articles. The editors reserve the right to not publish advertisements.

Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice.

The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.

Editors-in-Chief Bella Barnes and Gina Pepitone Business Manager Graham Boswell

Head of Design Hunter Julo

Head of Photo Julia Rosher

Copy Editors Zandy Swartzman Ellie Burke Paolo Laskero Olivia Sabates Charlotte Henry

Managing Editors Baylor McCrary Catie Franano Jacqueline Kincaid Lily Jiang Lauren Washington

Staff Writers Ellie Ruland Ellie Miller Ava Sweeney Kaitlyn Storm Eliza Shaffer

Designers Middle School Ellie Burke Coordinator Baylor McCrary Jacqueline Kincaid Catie Franano Carmela Nunez Illustrator Jane Markley Sloane Withers-Marney

Comic Jane Markley

Podcast Jay Mehta

Columnists Anonymous-”Dear Voice of Reason...”

Charlotte Henry, Jay Mehta, Caroline Salzman, Jackson Chu & Rishabh Gaur – “What’s the Word?”

Jaqueline Kincaid- “Kickin’ It with Kincaid” Emma Knopik –”KC Crawl” Grace Parkerson and Wil Rowland – “Where We Stand” Faculty Sponsors Dr. Matt Clothier and Dr. Kim Banion