Prep students react to the Paris attacks.
Page 3
Get the full recap on the best Tolo asks of the year. Page 7
Find the Top 10 Xmas Gifts of 2015 for friends and family. Page 10
The Seattle Prep Panther December 18, 2015
seapreppanther.org
Volume 71 No. 6
Seattle, WA 98102
“Oh, What Fun” the Prep Christmas Concert Was
Prep Campus Undergoes Change
JEFFREY PELAYO ‘17
ALEXIS LOSSE ‘16
The Seattle Prep Choir performs at the recent Holiday concert under the direction of Dr. Beyer ‘Twas the night before Tuesday, when all through the school, Seattle Prep students sang songs of the yule. On Monday, December 6, the Prep choir helped to spread Christmas cheer throughout the Prep community with its delightful performance. About 70 students were “falalalala-ing” tunes to Christmas classics directed by Mr. Beyer and accompanist Mr. Kechley as families, friends, and faculty gathered in the theater to indulge this winter wonderful experience. The concert was a combination of whispers, hums, and loud “bahs” that would come together beautifully when the basses, tenors, altos, and sopranos sang their different parts in peaceful harmony. The students sang Christmas carols such as “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Mary, Did You Know?” and
“Bell Carol of the Kings.” They even sang Christmas songs that the audience might have not heard before and songs that are not very “Christmasy” at all, including “Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring,” “People Look East,” and “Loch Lomond.” Every once in a while, some of the students would even perform solos. The audience was gifted with the unique voices of Tieran Sweeny-Bender ‘16, Lillie Brown ‘16, Juan Bernal ‘16, Sam Eco ‘16, Lily Dowling ‘17, Anna Petgrave ‘17, Matt Seib ‘17, and Erin O’Driscoll ‘18, who sang songs like “Winter Wonderland” and “Let it Snow.” In addition, the students looked very dashing (through the snow) in their classy tuxedos and dresses as a representation of the overall elegance that the concert delivered. The concert received the help from talented musicians such as Daniel
Sullivan on the violin and Mr. Kechley on the piano. This was also the first time that transitions were used between each song, all thanks to accompanist Mr. Kechley. The Prep Choir is very grateful to have a talented pianist like Mr. Kechley because, “it takes a musical prodigy like him to read, create, and play notes like that on the spot,” said Mr. Beyer. The choir had been preparing for the concert for about three months and it is evident that all of that hard work was worth it in the end. This year’s Christmas concert was a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit as the Prep Choir wished the audience a merry Christmas with their angelic voices. Al Bernal ‘17 said “This Christmas concert was definitely ‘Oh, what fun!’”
Ski Bus: Sign Up for Fun Times on the Slopes of Crystal Mountain ALLISON KEARNEY ‘19
As the temperatures start to drop and the rain begins to fall in Seattle, the mountains are sure to get some great snow. Luckily for Seattle Prep students, Prep has their very own ski bus. For five Sundays starting in January, Prep is taking a bus up to Crystal Mountain for a day of skiing and snowboarding with fellow Prep students. The bus costs 115 dollars for all five days and lift tickets are only 41 dollars for fifteen year-olds and younger, or 65 dollars for sixteen year-olds and older, per day. Ski bus is a fantastic way to enjoy a fun day on the slopes. Crystal Mountain is already open and expecting a promising season. Therefore, ski bus spots are limited. Some Prep students talked
about their positive experiences with ski bus. Anna Fotheringham ‘16 shared her thoughts on ski bus saying, “I thought ski bus was a really great way to get out on the mountain with friends! Skiing with friends is super fun and ski bus is also a useful way to get outside and enjoy the mountains!” Fotheringham ‘16 has fond memories of ski bus. She recalled: “I loved eating on ski bus and skiing with friends! Meghan Kearney and Ellie Giesa and I would bring Oreos, peanut butter, celery, and other snacks. The food at Crystal is really good! Also, skiing with a big group of people always made for some laughs and good times.” Some may be weary about joining ski bus but Max Rothrock ‘16 “would rec-
ommend people to do ski bus because it is a good way to make friends.” Rothrock went on to say that “the best part of ski bus is the people you meet and the bus ride up is always fun. Just talking with new people and watching whatever movie is on in the bus is a blast. Also you never know what kind of trouble or fun stuff you will get into on the slopes and that was always a good way to get closer with people.” To sign up, one can go to Seattle Prep’s News and Notes, scroll down to “From the Parent Association” and look for a link to find all the information and necessary forms for ski bus.
Although it is already December and Prep is almost halfway through the school year, new changes are still happening every day to the evolving Seattle Prep campus. Two major new additions are the Mary and Jesus statue in the plaza, and the new turf field behind McDonnell Hall. The new statue of Mary and Jesus is called “The Embrace.” This work of art was put in towards the end of October between Ignatius and Adelphia, until Prep realized it would better serve the campus in the rose garden. This specific arrangement was chosen according to Mr. Hickey because “Mary is a central figure in Catholicism and a big part of the spirituality of St. Ignatius. However, we wanted it to be very special and very different. “The Embrace” is not Mary on a pedestal, unreachable and distant. It is the love of a mother and her child, the child running into the arms of the mother a symbol of the kind of love that God has for us.” The statue uses the talents of many Prep faculty members. Mr. Danielson took a picture of Mrs. Dold with her daughter, Harper, running towards her, which served as the model for the statues. When talking about “The Embrace,” Mr. Hickey showed its importance on the Prep campus by saying, “That love of parent for child and child for parent is something we wanted to emphasize as a school. The idea is that students don’t leave the love of their parents when they are on campus; they carry that love with them throughout the day. “The Embrace” is a tangible reminder of that love. It is personal, not distant.” “The Embrace” was donated by Prep graduate Joe Shephard and his wife Elaine Shephard, who dedicated it to Mr. Shephard’s father and mother, as he is still grateful they sent him to this wonderful school. The other new change to the Prep campus is the turf field behind McDonnell Hall, named Rudolf Field, which has been under construction over the summer and first few months of the school year. Although not regulation for any actual games, the field is perfect for practices, PPD, or for students who may want to kick around a soccer ball with a friend during their free period. This field is named after John and Nancy Rudolf, former Prep parents, who helped through the construction process, and as Mr. Hickey puts it, “[Prep] wanted to share our gratitude to them through this gesture.” With a goal and a view of Lake Washington, this turf field is sure to be a hit with the students. The additions of “The Embrace” and Rudolf Field continue to improve the beauty and usefulness of the Seattle Prep campus.