Upper School

St. Johns’ Launches Esports Teams

St. Johns was proud this year to launch a new esports program for Middle and Upper School students. Esports, or electronic sports, are a fast-growing form of video game competition. “Many high school, collegiate, and professional teams are forming both nationwide and globally,” said esports coach (and band director) Michael Warren.“Some colleges are even offering scholarships for esports players.”

St. Johns hosts two teams, one for Middle School students, called Kopis, which has 16 Spartan members and offers games including SuperSmashBros, Minecraft, Rocket League, and Mario Kart. The Upper School team, Xiphos, has 5 members and predominantly features Rocket League.

“I came up with the idea of creating an esports team after realizing how the pandemic has and continues to affect our student body,” said Mr. Warren. “The kids were losing most of the ways they connect with each other. I was fearful that we would enter lockdown and distance learning again but thought that at least esports could continue in that situation. And a majority of students currently play video games, so why not come together to try to earn prizes and scholarship money?”

With or without scholarship money, the program seems to be on a fast track for growth. Warren anticipates having more space available on campus next year, which will allow the esports teams to practice both during and after school.

Upper School News

Students Study Biotechnology

This spring, Honors Biology students were asked to take on the role of healthcare providers in a simulated patient diagnosis exercise. See if this sounds familiar—the hypothetical was that a new virus is spreading across the globe. Four patients have just arrived at the students’ clinic complaining of flu-like symptoms. Are they suffering from a typical case of seasonal flu or the new and dangerous novel influenza RNA virus that, through a mutation, recently jumped from cattle into the human population?

By using molecular techniques students were able to determine which viruses infected the patients and arrive at conclusive diagnoses. Students learned how to use micropipettes, PCR, and gel electrophoresis—the same techniques currently used to detect COVID-19—and to diagnose hard-to-distinguish infections.

“We concluded our biotechnology unit with a research project in which the students were asked to present a real-world example where biotechnology tools were used in healthcare, forensics, paternity, cloning, GMOs, or any other applications,” said Dr. Judibelle Román. Disclaimer: no pathogenic materials were used. The experimental protocol engaged students in a simulated patient diagnosis exercise.

Mr. St. Johns 2021 Crowned

On Saturday night, February 27, St. Johns’ Interact Club hosted the 2021 Mr. St. Johns pageant. Eight Upper School boys volunteered to demonstrate their talents on stage in front of friends and family, with all the proceeds going to a very good cause—St. Johns Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society.

After a hilarious evening that featured airline jokes, dramatic origami folding, music, dancing, Dr. Seuss, and even some persuasive argument, the Interact Club raised $2,159.75 for the American Cancer Society and various winners were crowned: ◆ 4th Runner Up Senior Jake Kailes ◆ 3rd Runner Up Sophomore Tripp Vogt ◆ 2nd Runner Up Senior James Wilson ◆ 1st Runner Up Sophomore Hunter Hopkins ◆ And, your 2021 Mr. St. Johns... Senior Alex Dimmick!

Also bestowed was the People’s Choice Award, as determined by the most dollars in his voting box: James Wilson with more than $300, and Mr. Congeniality, as voted on by his fellow contestants, Tripp Vogt.

Hearty congratulations and thanks to each one of the contestants (Seniors Alex Dimmick, Jake Kailes, and James Wilson, Juniors Jack Minners, Robert Morris, and Callum Steiner, and Sophomores Hunter Hopkins and Tripp Vogt) and to the student producers: Amelia Dyer

’21, Avery Baskin ’21, Mary Beth

Garrison ’22 and Lily Weldon ’23; to our faculty sponsors Mrs. Heather Velasco, Dr. Judibelle Román, and Ms. Diane Landers, to our fabulous Masters of Ceremony Mr. St. Johns 2020 John Cabrera ’22 and Miss St. Johns 2020 Julia Schildberg ’21. And of course to everyone who helped out in front of and behind the curtain, in the booth, and everywhere else.

“It cannot be overstated how much work goes into a production like this,” said Head of School Valorie Baker, “from scripting to choreography, staging and coming up with costumes. It’s clear that all of these students put a ton of effort into this show and I thank them for putting themselves out there to do it and for the fantastic show itself.”

44 Inducted to National Honor Society

In a ceremony held mid-April in the Performing Arts Center, the St. Johns chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) inducted 44 new members. Due to COVID-19 precautions, there was no live audience. The ceremony was livestreamed for family and friends.

“The National Honor Society is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals,” said Senior John B. Linge. “Its purposes are to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to render service to the school and community, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of the nation’s secondary schools.”

In order to become a member of the St. Johns chapter of the National Honor Society, a student must have a cumulative Upper School grade point average of at least 3.6 at the end of the Sophomore or Junior year, must have been a St. Johns student for at least a year, must be an active participant in School activities, and must exhibit the finest qualities of character.

Even through the pandemic, Linge noted, many NHS members have continued the School chapter’s primary service project—that of peer tutors.

With that, James Wilson ’21 called new inductees to the stage:

From the Class of 2021: Alexis Agramonte Landon Brafford Stephanie Constantino Chloe Crews Paige Crews Mykel Frazier Jona Kats Walker Mathews Max Monroe Mia Sadler And from the Class of 2022: Angie Arellano Julia Boaventura John Cabrera Abbie Campbell Kaiya Cooper Lauren Correia Walker Cowherd Addie Ellis Mary Beth Garrison Susannah Goodwin Sean Gregson Kinley Hall Evelyn Hanson Adan Herrera Jude Howell Finn Howell Hannah Lemieux Jeramy “JD” Lewis Jack Minners Kiera Moisan Jonathan Moore Tyce Moore Mia Morin Robert Morris Riley Myers Lillian “Jolie” Ouattara Luke Pardo Maggie Pizzi Nate Rowan Noelle Sanford Ariel Sauer Callum Steiner Matthew Stratton Jordan Taylor

Congratulations, National Honor Society members!

“You are St. Johns,” said Head of Upper School Mary Virginia Fisher to the new inductees, “and I look forward to seeing these young men and women and what they do in their lives in college and beyond.”

11 Inducted into Prestigious Cum Laude Society

In April, eleven seniors and juniors were inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society in the 63rd Annual Induction Ceremony by the St. Johns Country Day School chapter. The Cum Laude Society is modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the collegiate honor society, and works to recognize and encourage true scholarship.

The ceremony was opened by Chapter Secretary Mr. Harrison Sepulveda, who introduced current members, including faculty members Leslie DeStefano, Mary Virginia Fisher, Harrison Sepulveda, Kristin

Hodge Jackson ’00, Jordan Robbins

Rechcigl ’10, and Rachel Robison ’09, and current seniors who were inducted last year: Ethan Albright,

Alexis Drumm, Abbey Lantinberg, John Linge, Julia Nichols, Isabella

Richardson, and Sims Wulbern.

Each year the chapter inducts up to 10% of the current junior class, and up to 20% of the current senior class. “Students selected for membership are not only great students,” said Sepulveda, “but also great people with mature senses of justice and self-discipline.”

New inductees include:

From the Class of 2021: Yashas Aprameya, Fred Cone IV, Desiree Holmberg, Maggie Kent, Allison Korahais, and Julia Schildberg.

From the Class of 2022: Abbie Campbell, Sean Gregson, Mia Morin, Robert Morris, and Ariel Sauer.

Unsung Spartan Award

Presented at the Upper School Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 13, 2021, this year’s Unsung Spartan Award went to Callum Steiner ’22. “The Unsung Spartan Award goes to a rising senior and recognizes that rising senior’s activities and service which might otherwise go unnoticed,” said Head of Upper School Mary Virginia Fisher. “In all of [Callum’s] activities he always goes the extra mile, can always be counted on, and the teachers always ask for him by name.”