The Argo Jr – March 2025 Issue by rutgersprep

THE ARGO JR.

Included inthis issue

BehindtheScenesoftheLowerSchoolAssembly

by Arya Pandey, 5th grade

TheLowerSchoolassemblyisafun eventthattakesplaceeverytwo weeks.Itisorganizedandrunbya groupof5thgradestudents.

Thefifthgradersworkhardeverytwo weekstocomeupwithanassembly fortheLowerSchool.Asmallgroup ofstudentsthatwereselectedand pairedinSeptembergiveuptheirP.E. timefortwoweekstomakesurethat LowerSchoolstudentsgetanamazing assembly.

ThefifthgradersmeetwithMs.Tolia inherofficeaboutsixtimes inthedurationoftwoweeks.

Together,theypickathemeforthe assembly,createtheirscriptandplan activitiesandgames.

Thescriptisahardprocesstogo through.Everyoneneedstoputina collaborativeefforttocreateit.The fifthgradersalsorehearsetheskits andthescriptbeforetheactual assembly.

Ms.Toliasaysthat“Itisaprocessand ittakeseffort.Wehavetolistento eachother'sideasandfindthecourage toproposeourownideas.Basically, wehavetocollaborate.”

Ms.Toliaisabighelptotheassembly group.Shemakessurethat everythingisperfectforthe presentationandhelpsthefifth gradersgettheirscriptdone.

Sooverallweshouldgiveabigthanks totheassemblycrewandespeciallyto Ms.Tolia!

The Lower School Valentine’s Dance!

RPS Spirit Week and Prep Rally!

The RPS Swim Team takes on the 2025 season!

LowerSchoolDramaClub

by Amelia Baig, 3rd grade

DramaClubisafunafter-school club.EveryWednesday,we practiceaplaywithMrs.Klinger andonMarch12th,wewillputon theplayforourfamilies.

Mrs.KlingerstartedDramaClub becauseshelikestheaterand performing.Mrs.Klingersays,“I wanttosharethatlovewithmy students.”

Duringthewinter,DramaClub practicesandperformsinthe UpperSchoolinDanielHall.In thespring,theypracticeand performintheRendaBlackBox Theater.

Rightnow,theDramaClubis goingtoperform The Third Grade Detectives, The Clue of the Left Handed Envelope,byGeorgeE. Stanley.Mrs.Klingerwrotethe scriptbasedontheoriginalbook.

StudentsfromtheLowerSchool 3rd,4th,and5thgradeareplaying alldifferenttypesofcharacters. Therewerealotofstudentsthat signedupforDramaClub,soMrs. Klingerhadtoaddmorecharacters toherscriptsomorestudents couldbeinvolved.

TheMadrigalsinAtlanticCity

by Indra Domanski, 3rd grade

Haveyouheardaboutthe Madrigals?TheMadrigalsarea choirgroupintheUpperSchool. Thiswinter,theMadrigalswentto AtlanticCity.Thetriptookplace onFriday,February21st.

Tofindoutmore,Iinterviewedmy sister.SheisinMadrigals.Her nameisLaelaDomanskiandsheis in11thgrade.

ThetriphappenedbecauseMr. Stephens,ourChoirdirector,had anopportunitytosubmitsomeof theMadrigals’concertrecordings tothepeopleorganizingthe NJMEAconference.

NJMEAstandsforNewJersey MusicEducatorsAssociation,and theychosechoirsfromacrossNew Jerseytorepresenttheirschoolsat theevent.

Eachchoirhadanamountoftime toshowcasetheirpiecestoan audienceandthepeoplerunning theconference.Theyhad20-30 minutes,andtheysang8piecesof music.

TheMadrigalsweresoexcited. SomeoftheMadrigalssingers hadneverbeentoachoir conferencebefore.

Laelasaidthatthechoirwas reallycomingtogether.Laelafelt soexcitedforthisbecauseshe hadneverbeentoachoir conference.

TheMadrigalshadsomuchfun attheconference.Theyhopeto doitagain.

SpiritWeekand thePrepRally

by David Zhang, 4th grade

WereyouexcitedforSpiritWeek orthePrepRally?

Let'stalkaboutSpiritWeekfirst. InSpiritWeek,everydayhasa differentthemeforhowstudents shouldgetdressed.

ThefirstdayofSpiritWeek, Monday,wasPajamaDay, TuesdaywasCostumeDay,and WednesdaywasRutgersPrep SweatshirtDay.

Thursdaywassupposedtobe SportsDay,exceptitgotcancelled becauseofsnow.Fridaywas SweatshirtandSweatpantsday.

ForthePrepRally,wehadlotsof games.Therewasahula-hoop contest,apush-upcontest,limbo, andmusicalchairs.

IntheHulaHoopcontest,whoever wasthelastonestandingandstill hula-hoopingwins.

ForLimbo,therewasapole,and everytimeyouwentunderit,itgot lower.Ifyouhitthepole,youwere out.

Inthepush-upcontest,youhad oneminutetodoasmanypushups aspossible.

Inmusicalchairs,therewasone chairlessthanthenumberof people,soonepersongotout everytime.

Wehopethatweallhavejustas muchfunatnextyear’sSpirit WeekandPrepRally.

Weallhadlotsoffunduringthis specialweek!

MostPopularRecessGames

Everyonelovesoutdoorrecess. Ihaverunavotetofindoutwhat themostpopularrecessgameisat RutgersPrepLowerSchool.

Iasked3rd,4th,and5thgraders fortheiranswers.Themajorityof voteswenttoGagaBallwhich mostpeopleplayatrecess.

Thetotalvoteswereasfollows:

● Gaga:6

● Soccer:4

● Tag:1

● Basketball:2

● PlaygroundEquipment:2

When it’s someone's birthday, it can be hard to know what to buy. You can give things such as a toy caroradoll.

If it was my birthday I would want makeup, a Husky, a treehouse, and some money. I interviewed some other Lower School students and asked what they would want for theirnextbirthday.

The 3rd grade girls said they would like: a puppy, a Stanley, a kitten,andacar.

One of the 3rd grade girls said she wanted her own car because she likesthesound“VroomVroom!!!”

by Neel Chepuri, 4th grade

Iwasn’tsurprisedthatGagawon thevotebecauseit’sverypopular. I’mnotsurewhyGagaisso popular,butIthinkit’spopular becauseofitsrules.

TherulesofGagaareasfollows: Youcan’thittheballwithmore thanonehanduntilittouchesthe wall,andthenyoucanhititagain. Anotherruleisthatifyouhitthe ballintotheairandsomeone catchesit,you’reout.

IvotedforsoccerbecauseIjust likescoringonpeople.Ihopeyou havefunatrecessthisspring!

BirthdayGiftIdeas

by Shanvi Patel, 3rd grade

The4thgradeboyssaid:ajetpack, a billion dollars, Pokemon cards, and “a motorcycle I can ride but onethatisnottoofast.”

The 4th grade boys said they wanted those things so that they couldflytoschoolfastandspenda billion dollars to buy anything they wanted.

The 5th grade girls said: a parakeet, a hamster, a room renovation, a second ear piercing, cotton candy, and a ferret. When I asked why they wanted these gifts, one of the 5th grade girls said she wanted a pet as a gift because, “I want to take care of and care about somethingthatisnotaplant.”

The 5th grade boys said: a ballsignedbyanNBAplayer orVIPaccesstoaMilwaukee Bucksbasketball game.

One of the 5th grade boys said this was because he loves the Bucks and he hopes tomeetGiannisoneday.

Nowyouhavelotsofideas forpresentsthenexttime yourfriendhasabirthday!!!!

LowerSchoolValentine’sDance

ThisyearonFebruary21,2025, wehadtheLowerSchooldancein theDiningCommons.Thetheme thisyearwasaValentine’sDay dance.

Someactivitiesthattookplaceat thedanceweretakingphotosinthe photobooth,dancing,eating,and takingpartincraftactivities.

TolearnmoreaboutthedanceI interviewedMrs.LipsaPatelwho istheLowerSchoolVicePresident oftheParents’Association,also knownasthePA,aboutthedance andhere’ssomeinformationI foundout.

AquestionIaskedwaswhyMrs. Patel(andotherPAmembers)had hostedthedance.Mrs.Patelsaid that,“Wearehostingtheschool dancetobringLowerSchool studentsandfamiliestogetherfor afunmemorableexperience.”

by Noor Rehman, 5th grade

IalsoaskedMrs.Patelhowthe dancecameaboutandshetoldme thatthedancecameabouttobring familiesandfriendstogetherby meetingatafunandsocialevent.

Youmightbewonderinghow peoplehostthisamazingeventby themselves,butthesecretisthat morethanafewpeopleare involved.Theteamthathostedthis eventincludesstaff,faculty,dining roomstaff,Ms.ToliaandMrs. Keane.

Thisyearyoumighthave noticedthattherewereno musicalchairs,whichmost studentsnoticed.Thereasonfor thisisbecausethedance planningteamsaidthatthe gameofmusicalchairstookup 90%ofthedance.Thestudents hadalotmoretimetodance, andtheystillhadalotoffun withalltheotheractivitiesthat tookplacethatnight.

Ihopeyouhadfunatthedance!

JoyceKilmerwasafamouspoet. HewenttoRutgersPrep,justlike you! Alsojustlikeyou,he attendedRPSLowerSchool.He startedwhenhewas7yearsoldin 1894andgraduatedin1904.

Iwantedtoknowmoreabout JoyceKilmersoIaskedMr. Cohen,whoisanUpperSchool Historyteacherandisalsothe RutgersPrepHistorian.

JoyceKilmerstartedwriting poetrywhenhewasakidandhe publishedsomeofhispoemsin The Argo.HewastheEditorof The Argo andMr.Cohentoldme thathe“wroteanearlyversionof theschoolsong,‘DownWherethe RaritanisFlowing.’”

HemethiswifeAlineMurrayat RPS.TheirsonKentonKilmer saidthatitwasprobablytheirlove ofbooksandimaginationthatled themtobecomefriends.Aline switchedtoanall-girlsschooland graduatedin1907andmarried JoyceKilmerthenextyear.

Theyhadfivechildren:Kenton, Rose,Deborah(whobecamea nun),Michael,andChristopher. TheirsonKentonsaidthathis parentswoulddodramatic readingsofplaysbyShakespeare withtheirfamilyanddesigned theirowncostumes.Healsosaid thatAlinetypedallofJoyce’s poemsbeforehesentthemtobe published.

JoyceKilmer’sStory

by Basil McGinty, 5th grade

JoyceKilmerbecameavery famouspoet.Hepublished eighty-sevenpoemsandoneofhis mostfamouspoemswascalled “Trees.”Thepoemendswiththe linethatsays,“Poemsaremadeby foolslikeme,butonlyGodcan makeatree.”SomepeopleatRPS believethathewrotethispoem sittingunderneaththetreethat’s neartheflagpole.

Sadly,Joycediedfightingin WorldWarIwhenhewas31. Afterhedied,Alinewrotemanyof herownpoemsandpublished theminmagazinesand newspapers.Shealsowrote children’sbooks.

Mr.CohensentmephotosofJoyce Kilmerthatcomefromabookthat hismotherwroteabouthimafter hedied,andacopyofaschool songthathewrote,andyoucan seethemallhere.

JoyceKilmerwasawonderful poetwhohelpedmakeRutgers Prepthegreatschoolthatitis.

RPSGirlsBasketball

by Ariana Patel, 5th grade

Canyoubelievethatspringis alreadyhere?! Sadly,thatmeans thattheRPSGirlsBasketball seasonisover.Hereisarecapof theiramazingseason.

IlearnedabouttheGirlsVarsity Basketballteamfromtheteam captainsAvaLaMonica`26and CaliMcCoy`26.WhenI interviewedAvaandCali,theytold methattheteam’srecordwas 16-4.

IaskedAvaandCaliwhotheir team’sbiggestrivalis,andthey bothsaidGillSt.Bernard’s School.RutgersPrepusuallyplays Gillthreetimesayear.Calisays Gillhas“atough,talentedteam” thathelpsmotivatetheRPSteam togetbettereachtime.

TheteamhaswontheSkyland Conferencetitlebacktoback.That meansthattheyhavewonmultiple yearsinarow!Inthepast,the biggesttitletheteamhaswonwas thestatechampionship.

Avasaysherfavoritepartabout beingacaptainisbeingableto helpherteammateswheneverthey needit.Shesays,“Beingacaptain issuchanincredibleopportunity thatmycoachhasgivenme.”

Cali’sfavoritepartaboutbeingon thebasketballteamisthesupportive environmenttheyhavecreatedand thefriendshipstheyhavebuilt.She says,“Everydaywepushand encourageeachothertoworkhard, strivingtoget1%bettereveryday. Asateam,wealwayssupportand uplifteachotherespeciallywhenwe faceadversityandthat’swhatIadore aboutbeingapartoftheteam.”

RPSdoesn’thaveaswimming pool,butwedohaveaswimteam! TheRPSSwimteamswimsatthe RutgersUniversityatCook Douglasscampus.Theyswimin themonthsNovemberthrough Februaryandhavepracticesafter schoolfrom4:00-5:30pm.Their meetsareduringtheweekoron Saturdaymornings.

GauriBalasubramanian`25,oneof thecaptainsoftheteam,saysshe lovestoraceandshehasbeen swimmingsinceshewaslittle.

JianningLiu`25,anotherteam captain,saysshelovestheteam becauseRutgersPrephasano-cut policyandtheswimteamisboth anindividualsportandateam sportatthesametime.Sheloves howsomekidsontheteamare swimmingcompetitivelywhile somearejusthavingfun.

Iaskedthembothwhattheyliked aboutbeingateamcaptain.Gauri saysthatshelikesthesenseof teamunityandcooperation. Jianningsaysthatshelovestosee swimmersgrowandreachtheir goals.

Jianningsays,“Sometimeswhen I’mnotswimming,Igetachance tohelpothersontheteamandI likethat. Everyoneontheteamis reallynice.”

RPSSwimTeam

by Iyana Patel, 4th grade

Gauribrokeapersonalrecordin the100meterfreestyle.Herrecord is59.12seconds. Jianningdoesn’t haveapersonalrecordthatsheis proudof,butsheisveryproudof herselfandoftheteamforalltheir progress.

Theseswimmersarereallygoodat swimmingandtheyarealways cheeringtheirteammateson! Swimmingisagreatsport.Ilove toswim!Ithinkit’ssofuntofloat aroundandtestmyselfonmy swimming.

Itriedthe100meterfreestyle, butIamreallyslowcompared toGauriandJianning. Swimmingisverytiring,so beingonaswimteammustbe reallygoodforyou.

GauriandJianningareamazing swimmers,andtheyworkhard towineverymeet.Everyoneon thisteamhasputinalotof efforttodotheirbest.

RPShasastrongBoysBasketball teamintheUpperSchool.I interviewedoneoftheteam captains,DonovanPiggeé`25to learnmoreabouttheteamand theirseason.

IaskedDonovanabouthisfavorite partofbeingontheteam,andhe answered,“Myfavoritepartabout beingontheteamisthatIgetthe opportunitytobuildabondwith myteammates,playingasportthat welove.Webuildfriendshipsand connectionswitheachotheralong withthecoachesandwelearnalot bybeingapartofateamtogether.”

ThenextquestionIasked Donovanwaswhathelikesmost aboutbeingacaptain,andhe answered,“IlikethatIcanbea leaderandshowmyteammates thatdon’thaveasmuchexperience andtheteamthewaysoftheRPS teamculture.”

Next,IaskedDonovan,"Whatis thebiggesttitleyourteamhas won?”Heanswered,“Thebiggest titlethattheteamhaswonrecently isthesectionalchampionship.” Theywonthatchampionshipin 2022.

Ialsoaskedwhotheteam’sbiggest rivalis,andDonovananswered, “Theteam’sbiggestrivalisGillSt. Bernard’s.”

RPSBoysBasketball by Rohan

Nanda, 4th grade

TheRPSBoysBasketballteamhas won20gamesandlost9games thisyear(asof3-9-25).Thenames ofthetwocaptainsthisyearare DonovanPiggeé`25andMyles Parker‘25.

Theteamhasbeengoodevery singleyear.Forthepastdecade, RPShasbeeninthetoptwenty teamsofNewJersey.Forthelast twoyears,theteamwonthe SomersetCountyChampionship.

Theheadcoachoftheteamisalso aHistoryteacheratRutgersPrep. HisnameisMattBloom. Coach Bloomhelpstorecruitrisinghigh schoolers,whoshowgood potentialinbasketballandas students.

TheBasketballseasonhappensin thewinter.Theteamplaysinthe UpperGymandotherschools.The teamalsopracticeseveryweekday.

RPSBoysBasketballTrivia:

HowmanyyearsagodidtheBoys Basketballteamwinthesectional final?

3 years

Whatistheteam'srecord?

20-9 (as of 3-9-25)

Whoistheteam’sbiggestrival?

Gill St. Bernard’s

Whoistheteam’scoach?

Coach Matt Bloom

Whoaretheteam’scaptains?

Myles Parker `25 and Donovan Piggeé `25

TheKansasCityChiefs

TheKansasCityChiefsareagreat andcontinuously-improvingteam ledbyheadcoachAndyReid.The Chiefs’mainoffensivecaptainis PatrickMahomes.

TheChiefshavewon4Super Bowls:in1970,2020,2023,and 2024.TheywonthreeSuperBowls withthestarquarterbackPatrick Mahomes.

TheybeattheEaglesbackin2022, withascoreof38-35,ona game-winningfieldgoal.

TheChiefshaveamazingreceivers andtightends,boastingtalentslike XavierWorthy,TravisKelce,and RasheeRice.Sadly,RasheeRice wasinjuredforhalftheseasonand forthewholepostseason.

The2025SuperBowl

by Rayan Rao, 5th grade

The2025SuperBowl

Thisyear,theChiefswere lookingforwardtotheir5th championship.Mahomesand histeamunfortunatelywere unsuccessful.

IntheSuperBowlrematch this year,theEagleswereplotting revenge,sotheybattledand werevictoriousagainstthe Chiefsinablowoutgame.

TheEagleswon40-22inthe SuperBowlonFebruary9th.

ThePhiladelphiaEagles

Thisyear,thePhiladelphiaEagles becameSuperBowlchamps,led byheadcoachNickSirianni. Jalen Hurts,theEagles’starquarterback, wasawardedtheMVPaward.

TheEaglesweresohappywhen theywonbecausetheChiefshad beatentheEagles38-35justthree yearsago.

Overall,theEagleshavewontwo SuperBowls. Theywonin2018 andnowtheyhavewonin2025, whichisthisyear.TheEagles’two quarterbacksthathavewona SuperBowlareNickFolesand JalenHurts.

TheEagleswerenotthatgoodofa teamafterthewinwithNickFoles in2018,butinthelastthree seasonstheytradedfourstar players:A.J.Brown,Saquon Barkley,ZackBaun,andC.J. Gardner-Johnson.

TheyalsodraftedCooperDejean, whogotapick6intheSuperBowl againstarguablythesecondbest quarterbackofalltime,andhis firstinterception,allonhis birthday!

TheEaglesareyour2025Super BowlChampions!!!!!!

NBAAll-StarWeekend2025

by Nicholas Klonaris, 5th grade

Thisyear’sNBAAll-StarGame willintroduceanewformatof havingthreeteams: TeamChuck, TeamShaq,andTeamKenny. TherewillalsobeaRising-Stars team,whichwillbethewinning teamoftheRisingStars Tournament.Eachgamewillbe playeduntiloneteamgetsto40 points.

TeamShaq

TeamShaqconsistedof: LeBron James,StephenCurry,Kyrie Irving,JaysonTatum,Kevin Durant,DamianLilard,James Harden,andJaylenBrown.

Thisteamisthefanfavoritetowin thewholetournament. Shaq’s teamiscalledtheOGStars, meaningithasmanyolderplayers.

Intheend,TeamShaqwasthe winneroftheAll-Stargame,with StephenCurrywinninghissecond All-StargameMVPaward.

TeamChuck

TeamChuckconsistedofNikola Jokic,ShaiGilgueos-Alexander, VictorWembanyama,Pascal Siakam,AlprenSengun, Karl-AnthonyTowns,and DonovanMitchell.

TeamChuckiscalledtheGlobal Starsbecauseithasmanyplayers fromdifferentcountries.

TeamKenny

TeamKennyconsistedof: AnthonyEdwards,JalenBrunson, JarenJacksonJr,JalenWilliams, DariusGarland,EvanMobley, CadeCunningham,andTyler Hero.

TeamKennyiscalledtheYoung Starsbecausetherearealotof youngplayersonthisteam.

TheDunkContest

TheDunkContestisoneofthe mostprestigiouseventsofthe All-Stargame,featuringmany famousplayerslikeMichael JordanandHakeemOlajuwon.

Therewillbetworookiesinthis contest,MatasBuzelis,theBulls’ youngandincrediblytalented player,scoopedupatthe11thspot inthedraft,andStephonCastle. TheyoungSpurisguaranteedto giveithisalloneverypossession withhissignaturebeingthe windmilldunk.

OurnextcontestantistheBucks veryownAndreJacksonJr,an electrifyingyoungtalentthatwill bringthepainoneveryfastbreak slam.

Thislastdunkcontestcontestant needsnointroduction-atwo-time dunkcontestchampioninarow: MacMcClung!

Intheend,thewinnerofthisyear's DunkContestwasMacMcClung, winninghisthirdDunkContestin arow,with50marksinevery singleround,beingtheonlyplayer toeverthree-peataDunkContest.

Soccer-PremierLeague&ChampionsLeague

by Nicholas Greiner, 5th grade - Premier League, and Bodhin Sarkar, 5th grade - Champions League

WhoherelikesMajorLeague Soccer?Welltodaywewillbe tellingyouallaboutthestandings andstatsofteamsinthe ChampionsandPremierLeagues!

Aftertodayyouwillknowall aboutthesetwoleagues,solet’s getstarted!

Standings-PremierLeague

Whatarestandings?Standings mean:whereteamsare intheleagueelimination.

1. Liverpool

2. Arsenal

3. NottinghamForest

4. ManchesterCity

5. Chelsea

6. Newcastle

7. Bournemouth

8. Brighton

PremierLeagueFormat

PremierLeagueisasoccerleague inEurope,includingteamslike Liverpoolandtheothernineteen teamsclosebehindthem.The bottomteams,LutonTown, Burnley,andSheffieldUnited, weremoveddownoutofthe leaguein2023-2024.

Thereasonteamsmovedownand upissotheleaguelosesthreeold opponentsandgetnewopponents toface.IftheteamsintheEnglish FootballLeague´standingsstaythe same,thoseteamswillmoveback uptothePremierLeague.

InthePremierLeague,thelead goal-scorerisMohamedSalah, with25goalsforLiverpool. ClosebehindhimisErling Haalandwith20goalsand AlexanderIsakwith19goals. Theplayerwhohadthemost assistswasalsoMohamedSalah, with17assists.Afterhimis AntoneeRobinsonandBukayo Sakabothwith10assists.

Standings-ChampionsLeague

Whatarestandings?Standings mean:whereteamsare intheleagueelimination.

1. Liverpool

2. Barcelona

3. Arsenal

4. InterMilan

5. AtleticoMadrid

6. Leverkusen

7. LOSC

8. AstonVilla

ChampionsLeagueFormat

Alright,let'sgetstarted. This seasonfortheChampions League,wehaveanewsystem replacingouroldknock-out system. Theoldsystemhad groupsthatindicatedwhich teamswenttothenextrounds. Now,thetop8teamswill automaticallyadvancetothenext round.

Mypersonalopinionisthatthis newsystemisadowngrade. Why,youmightask? BecauseI likedthehomeandawaysystem. It'sjustnotthesame.

Thisseasonofthe ChampionsLeagueisgoing tobedifferentfromany other.Liverpoolisthe numberoneteamrightnow. Lastyear,RealMadridcame outontopandwerethe ChampionLeaguewinners, butthatmightnotbethecase rightnowbecauseLiverpool isontopandwantsthe polishedtrophy!

Someofmyfavoriteplayers areintheChampions League.Forstarters, MohamedSalahismy favoriteplayer.Let'sbegin withhowmanygoalshehas rightnow.Hecurrentlyhas3 goalsand4assists.From Barcelona,there’s17year oldLamineYamal,with2 goal-assists.At17yearsoldCrazy!FromArsenaltaking thefamein,wehavetheone andonlyDavidRayaasa goalkeeperwith15savesand 0goalsallowed-zero!

Overall,thiscompetitionis onetowatch,asitfeatures thebestteamsfromaround Europe.Keepaneyeoutfor thisstar-studded competition!