FROM THE EDITORS IN CHIEF
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading our first issue of The Charger. In this issue, you’ll find articles ranging from the Olympics to the Providence Day Facilities Team written primarily by our incredibly talented editorial staff. Our writers strive to provide a unique voice to the PDS conversation, and we urge you to read, listen, and engage with the articles and their authors Our goal is not only to provide a space for our writers to have a place to express their passions and opinions, but also to provide a new perspective that you may not have seen before. We hope you enjoy this issue!
Meha Khanna and Anish Vedantham The Editors-in-Chief
Note: cover picture courtesy of Evan Albert
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Charger is always looking for dedicated student writers, photographers, and designers. We welcome diverse and varied perspectives and responses to articles If you are interested in joining the club, or if you have a comment, question, or story idea, please reach out to us at pdschargermag@providenceday.org.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this issue and the articles contained within it do not reflect the official policy or position of The Charger, the editing staff, or Providence Day School
BEHIND THE SCENES: A LOOK INTO PROVIDENCE DAY’S AMAZING FACILITIES TEAM
BYALLANAWREN
Providence Day encompasses 46 acres with more than 800,000 square feet of building including a bustling dining hall that serves students from Transitional Kindergarten to 12th grade From clean classrooms to transportation services to weekend events, the school operates smoothly thanks to the dedicated work of the Facilities team.
The Facilities Department comprises six ma groups: custodial and housekeeping, groun and landscaping, infrastructure and building maintenance, construction management, campus events, and transportation Togeth they ensure the efficient operation of the entire campus
Despite its essential role, the department’s contributions often go unnoticed by students and faculty. Mr. Lee Snodgrass, Manager of Construction, highlights their impact:
“Think about what needs to happen to maintain your house We make sure the power is on, the house is heated or cooled, paint when needed, unclog the toilets, clean up all messes, mow the grass, plant flowers, and clean the gutters and windows ”
Mr Snodgrass continues: “We deliver mail, provide moving services, and also catch a snake or two. We also transport people back and forth, and drive them for trips and athletic events. We also maintain top notch athletic fields to play on ” Mr Lee Snodgrass, Manager
of Construction
It’s evident that the responsibilities of Facilities are both diverse and vital Despite the effort, the team finds it incredibly rewarding
Mr Bob McGovern, Head of Maintenance, reflects on the varied nature of their work: “It is something different almost every day; some days are more challenging than others, but I like that it is something different all the time,” he says. “Also, the people I work with are really great people, and I enjoy coming in and working with them ”
Mr Bob McGovern, Head of Maintenance
“Each day is usually slightly different than the previous day,” Robbie Miller, manager of grounds, says “We have a very active campus and as a result we work around the campus schedule as much as possible.”
Each day brings new challenges and jobs. Their work continues after the school day ends, and year round as they work over the summer, as well
Mr Ben Sigg, Manager of Transportation, finds joy in facilitative student experiences: “I love watching kids be kids as they have a good time,” he says “Sometimes it's a fun field trip or an athletic event Being off campus is always fun because, for the students, field trips are their favorite days.”
He adds: “Our schedule is also very weather dependent, so we need to remain flexible each week. Our job also changes seasonally, as the fall sports are different from the spring sports and then we get a slate of summer camps throughout summer break ”
Students can contribute to the smooth functioning of the campus by cleaning after themselves and expressing gratitude to the Facilities staff Mr McGovern emphasizes the impact of student cooperation:
Mr Robbie Miller, Manager of the Grounds
“With well over 2,000 people on campus keeping up with garbage and keeping the school neat and orderly is something everyone can do and helps make our job much easier when they can do that,” he says
Mr Sigg echoes that, saying “I can always spot a good person when I see them cleaning up after themselves in these situations ”
Mr. Snodgrass, who has worked at both public schools and in universities, acknowledges the gratitude of the community “PD students, parents, faculty and staff are very polite, respectful, and appreciative of the services that we provide,” he says “The letters that we receive from students saying thank you are awesome!”
Facilities’ unwavering commitment to PD’s campus and community is evident. It may not always be noticed by students, but they allow our community to thrive from beautifying our campus to supporting the student body. Any action, from throwing away trash to writing thank you letters, is a way of giving back and appreciating those who work behind the scenes to make PD special
The Facilities House
FROM TEACHER TO HEAD: MR. HEDINGER'S JOURNEY AT PD
BYANISHVEDANTHAM
Through Mr Eric Hedinger’s years at Providence Day, he transformed the upper school culture and environment, paving the way towards the next 50 years of the school In his 28 years, he served as a coach, teacher, and administrator and got to know students and faculty in a variety of roles
His experiences and ideas as a teacher greatly influenced his perspective as an Upper School head One area in particular is his belief that faculty should bring their passions into the classroom As a teacher, he developed a river literature course, which explored river mythology and literature that rivers serve as symbols, among other texts and opportunities, including a mandatory visit to the White Water Center. When he became Upper School Head, he continued to support teacher-created classes. This mentality continues in the Upper School to this day, with classes like Personal Finance by Mr Brian Li and Herstory by Ms Thamar Lebrón
“Having that opportunity of creating a pretty unique class–and one with experiential moments– and teaching it, I think you see that as a legacy of me as a leader I want a culture where teachers’ passions can become unique classes that are afforded to students,” he says
He joined Mr Bill Finneyfrock as a soccer coach, serving as an assistant coach for the boy’s varsity programs and leading them to four varsity state championships Later, he coached alongside current Varsity Soccer Coach Dan Dudley
During his tenure, he became the chair of the Honor Council In that role, he created the Honor Code book, where all Upper School students would sign the pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal Remarking on his years as Chair, he recounted the “Webassign Conspiracy,” where upwards of thirty-five students shared answers on that online learning platform. Despite it being arduous, he sat through every single one of the cases, ensuring that the student was heard and proper consequences were handed out
Each of those positions gave him a greater clarity in the Head of Upper School role
Mr Hedinger kayaking at the White Water Center
Mr Hedinger on the ski trip
“The classroom gave insights into what faculty face. Coaching helped my ability to manage and develop different teams. The Honor Council opened my eyes to discipline and shaping students' behavior,” he says “And even today, I am learning more about myself to be a better servant leader ”
Mr Hedinger was tapped by former Head of Upper School and personal mentor Mr Ben Topham as the first Assistant Head of Upper School In that role, he ran exams and developed a community, preparing to serve as Interim Head and then official Head of Upper School upon Mr. Topham's retirement.
Mr Hedinger and students cleaning up trash after the 2017 Presidential Inaguration
All photos courtesy of Eric Hedinger
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Hedinger fundamentally changed the Upper School. Reflecting on his proudest achievements, he says, “Watching how PDS has become intentional in social responsibility [from TK to 12th grade], and the vast impact of service PDS now shares as a community is inspiring ” Mr Hedinger expressed particular pride in the myriad of service groups that have enriched the school's culture of service
The school grew significantly since he took over in 2012 It experienced challenges throughout its growth, including confronting the Covid-19 pandemic Mr Hedinger highlighted the challenges of leading the Upper School through the ever-changing policy guidelines amidst deep concerns about student illnesses or tragedies
Mr Hedinger left PD in May 2024 to become head of school for Augusta Preparatory Day School When asked about future plans, Mr. Hedinger expressed excitement about leading the vision of an entire school, especially given that the school’s values align with his own.
Likening the job of Head of School to that of a superintendent or CEO, he said, “As Head of School, you are giving a clear vision to the school, you are helping in the financial side of the school, and you are helping its vision become reality ”
Mr. Hedinger delivers a message to students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked about advice for his successor and current Interim Head of Upper School Ms. Tosha Arriola, Mr Hedinger’s advice is twofold
He says, “1 Just show up Students will see you care, and that, in turn, creates a caring community And 2 make wise choices Don't rush into a decision ”
He believes his insights are applicable to everyone in the PD community.
1.JUSTSHOWUP 2.MAKEWISECHOICES
Mr Hedinger's departure from Providence Day School marked the end of a 12-year transformative chapter characterized by service and student leadership His impact on the Upper School community will continue to be felt
As for his legacy, he says, “I hope I leave a legacy that students and their voices are central to a school culture ”
Ms Tosha Arriola, Interim Head of Upper School
Mr Hedinger with students at the inaugural Clash of the Carolinas football game
INSIDE THE RETRO GAMES CLUB
BYCOOPERKAHN
From Wii Sports to Super Smash Brothers, the Retro Games Club offers a nostalgic journey through classic games. For some, playing these games brings back memories For others, it fosters exciting new experiences Regardless of one’s level, the club continues to provide a sense of community through gaming while also encouraging an engaging environment for all students
Though seniors Austin Skeete and Ben Stengel founded the club in 2022, their involvement with retro games started at a young age
“I grew up playing a lot of these games with my cousins and siblings,” Austin says. “It was always the best part of family get-togethers ” His favorite part about the club is playing and sharing experiences with people who share his love for retro games
The club’s second year was remarkable. With meetings once every two weeks in The Exchange, along with tournaments and competitions for the Upper School community, engagement in the club soared Toward the end of the last school year, the club hosted a Wii Swordplay tournament that accumulated more than 50 student signups, the biggest event in its history
Looking ahead, Austin envisions more tournaments this current school year He also plans to expand the club by participating in local Esports tournaments and competitions.
Above all, Austin wants people to have fun in the club “These games were made to be played with other people,” he explains “They create some pretty unforgettable moments when you play with your friends ”
The winners of the Wii Swordplay tournament From Left to Right: Hudson Clavin (‘26), Paige Thompson (’27), Jacob Neuwirth (‘25)
Here’s a playlist to listen along while you read
1. KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND: “BOOGIE SHOES” (1975)
Genre: R&B
Released at the height of disco, this song’s smooth base groove combined with the jazzy trumpets is instantly recognizable. In 1977, it was featured in Saturday Night Fever, catapulting it to #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and making it one of KC and the Sunshine Band’s most famous songs While the song is fairly short (just over two minutes), its constant, upbeat lyrics about dancing with your partner, and incredible groove harken back to warm summer nights
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube
2. THE CLASH: “SPANISH BOMBS” (1979)
Genre: Punk
In a departure from some of the more typical, punk-sounding songs that precede it in The Clash’s 1979 album London Calling, the upbeat instrumentals of Spanish Bombs completely alter the album’s tone The lyrics, however, maintain the punk roots of the album, comparing the revolutionaries during the Spanish Civil War (“The shooting sites in the days of ‘39”) to the Basque nationalists of the 1970s, who used similar bombing tactics throughout Spain and the UK Though the subject might be slightly academic and a little gory for summer, the upbeat nature of the track and broken Spanish throughout are reminiscent of bright summer afternoons.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube
3. VAN HALEN: “PANAMA” (1984)
Genre: Hard Rock
The song of the summer will put you in a good mood yearround. After being criticized for only singing about partying, hot girls, and cars, frontman David Lee Roth responded with Panama: a song about a car that’s heavily implied to be a hot girl Lyrics aside, Eddie Van Halen delivers a signature guitar performance But what makes this song special are the harmonies While Eddie Van Halen and bassist Micheal Anthony often harmonize in the background, the buildup to the end of the song where they perform one of the most iconic harmonies in all of rock just feels different Panama is the perfect song for driving around on a warm summer day with the windows down and the seat eased back.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube
OLYMPICS RECAP
BYCHARLIEHITT
On August 11, the Summer Olympics closing ceremony marked the end of the games. The first summer games since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that actually took place in 2021 did not disappoint It began with a Lady Gaga concert by the Seine and concluded with a classic Tom Cruise stunt, supplemented with two weeks of actionpacked moments and fierce competition In the end, the United States and the People's Republic of China tied for the most gold medals at 40, but it was the United States dominating in the overall medal count The U S ended the games with 126 total medals, with the People’s Republic of China being the next closest at 96.
Women’s 400 meter hurdles repagage.
The track and field team was responsible for a large portion of Team USA’s overall success, with household names Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Sydney McLaughln all winning gold Sixteen year-old Quincy Wilson made headlines becoming the youngest American to compete in the Olympics for track and field, and he also won a gold medal in the 4x400 relay. In Providence Day news, Anna Cockrell (‘16) earned a silver medal for her incredible 400 meter hurdle performance. She earned a PR with 51.87 seconds, finishing behind only Sydney McLaughlin.
In the pool, the Americans did what they typically do in the summer games: dominate. They won eight gold medals, along with 13 silver and seven bronze medals. Katie Ledecky continued her individual dominance, winning two gold medals and setting the Olympic record in the women's 1500 meter freestyle
Simone Biles and the USA women’s gymnastic team continued their team success, winning the individual and team allaround gold medal respectively Team USA’s men’s and women’s basketball teams won gold after each having thrilling goldmedal-games against France. The Americans have now won a combined 15 out of the last 16 Olympic gold medals in basketball
As the curtain closed on the Paris Olympics, we couldn’t help but look ahead to the 2028 games, which will take place on the biggest of stages: Los Angeles, California It’s been 32 years since the summer games took place in the United States, so 2028 cannot come soon enough.
Anna Cockrell, silver medalist in the women’s 400 meter hurdles. Courtesy of Carol Lawrence.
MEET THE EDITORS
Meha Khanna is a senior at Providence Day School, and the Editor-in-Chief of The Charger She has been writing for the newspaper since her freshman year and editing since her sophomore year. Meha loves The Charger because it exposes her to a variety of different perspectives and gives her an opportunity to help students write about their own passions. Outside of writing, she is an Indian classical dancer, aerialist, and orchestral violinist She is a passionate environmental and political activist, and she helps lead the schools sustainability and SAGE clubs and serves on the GSD leadership team
Anish Vedantham is a senior and the Editor-in-Chief of The Charger He has been writing since sophomore year. Anish is a part of the Global Studies Leadership Team, Model UN, Science Olympiad, Students for Students, and the Cross Country andTrack teams. As a participant in both academic and athletic facets of the school, Anish enjoys watching writers display passion for their interests and seeing their successes highlighted for others to enjoy.
Elizabeth Pritchard is the Arts editor for The Charger and is a current senior at Providence Day Elizabeth started writing for the newspaper her freshman year and began editing her sophomore year. Outside of the newspaper, she is the founder of National Art Honor Society at Providence Day and Project Palette, a non-profit where she teaches art to children.
Maddy Padmanabhan is a sophomore at Providence Day, and the editor of The Charger’s Arts section This is her second year working with The Charger Outside of the newspaper, Maddy participates in PD’s theatre productions, writes for the STEM Journal, and does martial arts outside of school. She has a passion for working with others and loves helping people improve their skills and development; this year, her goal as editor is to make sure writers can feel skilled and confident in their craft
Cooper Kahn is a junior and is the editor for the Features section of The Charger This is his second year writing for The Charger and first year as a section editor. In addition to writing for the newspaper, Cooper is involved in Cross Country and Track, Men’s Acapella, serves as a teaching assistant at Temple Beth El Religious School, volunteers for Freedom School Cooper’s hope for the Features section is to share articles that highlight the hard working Providence Day School community
Charlie Hitt is the editor of the Sports section for The Charger and has been writing since his junior year. Charlie loves watching sports particularly Boston Celtics and Carolina Panthers games and is the play-by-play broadcaster for varsity football, basketball, and soccer games at PD. He has also been a film/TV actor for over five years, having most notably acted as a lead character in Lifetime’s murder-mystery “Secret Lives of Housewives,” as well as upcoming indie film “The Grand Strand ”
Austin Skeete is a senior at Providence Day School He is an editor for the Trending section and has been writing for The Charger since his sophomore year This is his first year on the editing team of The Charger and he looks forward to working with the other editors to make this year's paper the best one yet. Outside of writing, he is a captain of the Cross Country and Track teams and enjoys reading science fiction books
Julia Maybry is the editor of the Trending section for The Charger, and she has been writing since freshman year. At Providence Day, Julia participates in the Track and Cross Country team, and outside of school, she plays piano Julia takes a strong interest in current events, whether they are pop culture or major political events As the editor of the Trending section, Julia hopes to see writers learn about and take interest in whatever is happening at the moment, as doing so only broadens their world perspective
Allana Wren is a sophomore at Providence Day, who joined the newspaper club in ninth grade. She loves writing, in both journalistically and creatively writing. Allana started off writing in the Student Life section of the paper, and she is now editing for Opinion. Allana is loves the Opinion section and enjoys seeing all the different passions students have Aside from the being a newspaper editor, she is one of the tenth grade leaders for Providence Day’s Global Studies Diploma She also is a part of the cheer team and loves to dance outside of school.
Mr. Matt Spence is the faculty editor for The Charger.
