The ReMarker | December 2021 by St. Mark's School of Texas

REMARKER

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Friday, December 10, 2021 • St. Mark’s School of Texas • Dallas, TX • Volume 68, Issue 3

ANNIVERSARY | Character & Leadership

Boys

At St. Mark’s, we approach teaching the habits of character and the skills of leadership with the same intentionality we apply to teaching the academic disciplines. Our Character and Leadership education curriculum is comprehensive, spanning grades 1-12 and guided by defined learning outcomes for Lower, Middle, and Upper School. Our mission is to develop boys into

good men and to provide our students with essential concepts, virtues, and skills that will help them thrive and will, in turn, allow them to contribute to the well-being of their communities. Lower School. As a starting point of Character and Leadership education at St. Mark’s, the

Men

Lower School introduces students to fundamental concepts, habits, and skills that form a solid foundation for each boy’s growth at St. Mark’s. Guided by a shared vocabulary and defined outcomes, Lower School teachers integrate these foundational concepts into daily classroom activities. By the end of 4th grade, our youngest Marksman will be able to articulate, explain, now in its 15th year, and put into practice essential concepts to help them thrive as boys. Middlethe School. Building school’s emphasis on character and upon the foundation of Lower School, while helping new students transition toleadership St. Mark’s, the development through Middle School reviews essential concepts, habits, and skills while also introducing new ideas to intentional efforts has impacted nurture the development of each boy’s character and capacity for leadership. Through a hundreds of marksmen. See thetheir series of guided, division-wide conversations, boys reflect on key concepts and how record program started and read understandings in the Path to Manhood Portfolio. By the end of 8th grade, studentsstudents’ will be able to reflections. See pages 6, 7

articulate, explain, and demonstrate their mastery of concepts and skills of caregiving. Upper School. Continuing to review the essential concepts, virtues, and skills learned in Middle School

Lower School expands civic responsibility program by Shreyan Daulat s an extension of the Lower School’s civic responsibility and engagement program, for the first time, fourth graders visited the African American Museum of Dallas and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Nov. 18. Lower School Head Sherri Darver believes the trip was meaningful because it directly correlated with what the fourth graders were being taught in their classes. “The boys were learning about being upstanding citizens in their life skills classes, and on the field trip, they learned about upstanders in history,” Darver said. “The trip really brought the class together in a way that is different than if it was just a regular school day. We’ve taken a lot of field trips, but I can’t think of one that has impacted them continually like this one has. They still talk about it.” Director of Civic Responsibility Dr. John Perryman was the catalyst behind the trip, and he is also spearheading the overall Lower School civic engagement program. To Darver, this program plays a fundamental role in the lower schoolers’ growth. “The program is such an important part of learning how to give back and care for others,” Darver said. “Through field trips like this one, we hope to teach the boys from a young age that there’s more important things than themselves. That is developmentally important.”

while also introducing additional ideas, Upper School Character and Leadership education

Two fall teams claim SPC titles

is integrated in both curricular and co-curricular programs. Guided by defined outcomes and

shared resources, teachers, coaches, and Advisors blend essential concepts into their work with RITE OF PASSAGE For Marksmen, the statue in front of Centennial Hall embodies the school’s values.

STORY Keshav Krishna, Zack Goforth, Austin Williams, Peter Orsak, Toby Barrett PHOTOILLUSTRATION Sal Hussain, Jonathan Yin

inside

news & issues 2 discovery & stem 8 life & 10600 10 arts & culture 15 indepth 16 ratings & reviews 23 editorials & opinions 24 health & sports 27

12board of trustees Who governs the school? An overview of what the board is and how they operate.

162021 recap

Highlighting some of the best and worst moments of this year.

t’s been one month since Lion athletic teams swept two champsionship titles over the fall SPC sports weekend Nov. 5-6: • Volleyball team members, only seeded third in SPC North Zone, peaked at the right time as they defeated Trinity Valley 3 sets to 2 in the champioinship finals. • The cross country team, powered by All-SPC Sahil Dodda, claimed its second consecutive SPC title Nov. 6 at Norbuck Park. See complete details of these teams’ championship runs in Sports, page 28.

20literary festival Hear from the sponsor and three visiting writers about the upcoming festival.

2 The Thursday Night Football of politics just went insane

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the remarker december 10, 2021

BIG PICTURE

At the last minute

by Myles Lowenberg It’s a common sight in homes and around campus. A quick look into the library, lobby of the Science Building or t’s easy to forget football Centennial Hall shows Marksmen always studying for something. But studying can vary in stress — and no type is on a Thursday night exists. Terrible teams more stressful than cramming. Studying for anything at the last minute causes varying experiences, and different playing on a day when students see it as more or less effective. They gave their opinions on how much it helps — or hurts. nobody expects a football game will put anyone to sleep. Sure, you can watch the New York Jets and Houston Texans duke it out to see who ends with four wins, but come on. You’re not that bored, right? Local school board elections have always worked the same way— until 2021. In the old days, we had nonpartisan candidates who wanted to help their local schools as volunteers with little to no pay. For entertainment value, it was the politics version of Thursday Night Football. But now? Your school board election is the only thing standing PHOTO Evan Lai in the way of our nation’s children being raised in I had one hour free, and I You don’t retain the information, Sometimes when I’m studying and a Marxist hellscape—or looked at every formula I had to and it just immediately vanishes. something pops up, I’ll just focus that’s what remember and wrote it down as When you’re studying for the next on that. But if I’m pressed for time, the fliers soon as I took the test. I ended up test, you’ve forgotten all that. Not I don’t care about my phone or say. doing way better than I thought. recommended. computer. Highland Jose JiMENEZ Park is michael gao BIJAAN NOORMOHAMED Junior Junior usually not Junior the place MYLES LOWENBERG to go for Issues Editor a close election. It’s one of the most reliably Republican places in the entire Dallas area. of Upper School Colin Igoe qualified for the Small School CHRISTMAS PARTY The LAST month and English teacher GayMarie National Championship after All-School Christmas Party will Then, a poster compared Vaughan. The two classes taken third place finishes in an online take place Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. This two nonpartisan school November 15 December 1 were literature of human rights tournament against over 30 teams will be the first time an in-person Many Texans have been seeking Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. board candidates. It had and Igoe’s AP language and from around Texas Dec. 4-5. The Christmas Party has taken place care out of state after Texas Congressman, announced he is literature. At the Museum, the ‘A team’ was comprised of senior since 2019. Along with the alla checklist— a candidate enacted the S.B.8. abortion law. running for Texas governor. If he classes saw Voices of Courage, Miki Gosh and sophomores school convocation in September, named Kelli Macatee got Abortion clinics in surrounding makes it through the Democratic a film featuring Holocaust Aditya Shivaswamy, Ethan Bosita these events mark the beginning states have seen a 1900% primary, he’ll face Gov. Greg green checks for being a survivors. and Vardhan Agnihotri, and the of a return from a year dominated increase in the number of Texans Abbott in 2022. O’Rourke lost a ‘B team’ was made up of senior by COVID-19. “Christian Conservative in the past month. This falls in Senate election to Ted Cruz by VACCINATIONS EXPANDED Adam Wang, junior Arjun Badi Texan” and “Born and the context of a nation-wide under three points in 2018. To mitigate the spread of the and sophomores Will Bowers FOOD DRIVE More than 1,700 debate, with overruling Roe v. COVID-19 delta variant, the and Arnav Lahoti. The teams will Raised in Highland Park,” pounds of food were donated to Wade possible after the Supreme November 17 school upgraded the air filtration compete again Dec. 18. the Salvation Army as a result among other things. The Court heard oral arguments. Longtime Dallas U.S. system to the level MERV 13, of the Middle School’s annual other candidate, Doug Congresswoman Eddie Bernice the highest possible level, in the SENIOR DONATIONS food drive, held in conjunctioin Johnson has announced her December 2 newer buildings and the level The Senior Class set aside $50,000 Woodward, got red Xs with the Upper School’s Food Texas House Republicans have retirement. MERV 11 in the older buildings. from the Senior Auction’s total Drive. Food was additionally for being a “New Jersey called on a federal appeals court The school also added HEPA proceeds of approximately donated to CitySquare, a Liberal” who “Votes in to strike down President Biden’s November 17 filters in every classroom. $113,992 for the Class of 2022 non-profit organization which COVID-19 vaccine requirement The Electric Reliability Up to 90% of seventh through Scholarship Fund. The money helps to end hunger in Dallas Democrat Primaries.”

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Both candidates condemned the fliers, with Macatee denying being involved with them. But the fliers kept on coming, with outside groups pouring money into the race—a school board election! It’s like paying for Super Bowl ads on that Jets and Texans game. Macatee ended up losing the race, despite, or because of, the ads. But this election was just one example of a local race with outside money poured into it from political groups that should have no interest in a school board. And the trend looks to continue even more. We did it, America. We successfully politicized the most boring and nonpartisan of elections. Now, we can finally witness extreme polarization—and entertainment—on every single level of the ballot. What could possibly go wrong?

through reducing food waste and providing fresh groceries. The food drive saw complete Middle School advisor participation. SENIOR ENGLISH Two senior English classes visited the Dallas Holocaust Museum, led by Head

twelfth graders are vaccinated. Masks were made optional following the Thanksgiving Break following no cases in the four weeks since Nov. 5. ACADEMIC TEAM RESULTS Both Academic Teams have

inside 03family reunification

Over Thanksgiving, families separated by COVID could get back together.

04a new graduation

Hockaday reconsiders its graduation ceremony as schools reexamine tradition.

for your information

from the fund will be used to give scholarships to those without the financial means to pay for the school’s tuition. Seniors cite the overwhelmingly supportive response of the community during the auction as their motivation to create the fund.

Council of Texas relased a report outlining the current grid’s inability to deal with extreme weather. Before Dec. 1, ERCOT will inspect over 300 energy-generating units, which comprised 85% of the lost megawatt hours.

for businesses of at least 100 employees, which takes effect January 4. They are also calling on Governor Greg Abbott to call a fourt special session, so lawmakers can ban COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

in the news... the omicron variant What is it?

Originating in South Africa and Botswana, the Omicron variant got its name due to the WHO’s new naming policy. Just like the Delta variant, it has been given a Greek letter so it does not cause stigma toward the country it originated from.

How is it different?

The Omicron variant seems to be more infectious than others, but like Delta, it has not been proven to cause more severe sickness after someone gets infected. For Delta, higher death count was an indicator of more people catching the virus, not a more severe variant.

What now?

05Other ways to read

Are there alternative ways to comprehend a book in English class or elsewhere?

Much of the variant’s qualities are unknown to scientists due to being so new. One issue is the protection that vaccination grants. The effect Omicron has on fully vaccinated people has cannot be completely examined yet, but it may be possible that COVID vaccines or boosters will need to be applied again. Source: NPR

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Reuniting

A world away This holiday season, some families separated by the pandemic are coming together. After curbs on travel from India were lifted, junior Akash Raghunathan’s grandparents arrived following a two year gap to spend time with their grandson and participate in Grandparent’s Day.

efore, junior Akash Raghunathan’s grandparents would visit every other summer. But this summer was different. When cremation grounds are running out of funeral pyres and mourners are clad in protective gear to say their last goodbyes, or can’t say them at all, death loses its dignity. In such a time, playing Monopoly and gin rummy and watching movies with your grandson takes a backseat. For Raghunathan’s grandparents, Avittathur Venkatraman and Lakshmi Venkatraman from Chennai, India, the weeks leading up to Grandparent’s Day signified a family reunion delayed by the pandemic. Avittathur Venkatraman’s experience during the pandemic was marked with uncertainty and isolation. Confined to their home for over a year, it was just the two of them. For a while, the situation looked dire. “On our own street, there were around 50 to 60 cases,” Avittathur Venkatraman said. “The government helped bring necessities to infected people who were confined at home and helped with sending people to hospitals.” Thousands of miles away from Raghunathan’s at-risk elderly grandparents his parents began to grow concerned. “My parents were worried,” Raghunathan said. “The pandemic response was very disorganized at first. I remember them wondering how people could isolate themselves in such a crowed place. People don’t understand how much space they have in the United States. It’s not like that in India.” After the government instituted lockdowns, Venkatraman got vaccinated and was ready to come to

America, two weeks before Grandparent’s Day. However, as they prepared to leave, Venkatraman faced another unexpected obstacle. “When we left India, there was heavy rain, and the weather conditions were very bad with flooding up to two feet deep in some places,” Venkatraman said. “We couldn’t even get a ride to the airport. Somehow, I was Family isn’t something you really think about. They’re just there. I have a very large extended family, and when you can’t interact with them for a while, you notice how much they really mean to you. Akash Raghunathan Junior

able to get an SUV, and we didn’t miss our flight.” As it turned out, there was a severe cyclonic storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal that struck the coastline the a day later –– right next to the airport Venkatraman flew out of. His flight was one of the last ones to take off. Soon after arriving in America, Venkatraman attended Grandparent’s Day, a semiannual tradition for the family pre-pandemic. Raghunathan was concerned his grandparents weren’t having a good time. “It just seemed like they weren’t having fun,” Raghunathan said. “I thought that maybe they were bored or maybe they were having a hard time understanding what my teachers were saying because of the language barrier.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. “We really enjoyed getting some good exposure to the type of education here,” Venkatraman said. “In India,

there’s no Grandparent’s Day. The closest thing is an annual event where talented students would perform for parents through orchestra or drama. Our favorites were English class and Chinese class. It was nice going through all of Akash’s classes, and we enjoyed coming to visit again.” After two years filled with separation and uncertainty, Raghunathan has started to become cognizant of how grateful he is for his family. “Family isn’t something you really think about,” Raghunathan said. “They’re just there. I have a very large extended family, and when you can’t interact with them for a while, you notice how much they really mean to you.” He’s also noticed the importance of in-person interactions. “It’s been really great to have them here,” Raghunathan said. “Talking over the phone or through Whatsapp just isn’t the same. There’s a lot more things that you can do to bond when you’re together. For my mom, it’s been a relief to see her parents after such a long time.” In particular, Raghunathan has gained an appreciation for the small things he does with his grandparents. “They’ll literally watch anything with me,” Raghunathan said. “Sometimes, they can’t even understand the shows we’re watching, but that’s okay for them. For example, I was watching The Mandalorian. He doesn’t even know what Star Wars is, and he said he liked it. To me, stuff like that is special.” STORY Keshav Krishna, Aaron Liu GRAPHIC Keshav Krishna

School selects builder for new athletic center following national search by Dillon Wyatt annonDesign will be designing a new sports facility for the school,the school announced Nov. 19. The company based in Arlington, VA has designed multiple sports facilities, including many Division 1 schools. With the pool outdated, Hicks Athletic Center destroyed and the Albert G. Hill tennis courts needing to be remade, the Athletic Center Planning Committee met and decided on 10 firms to ask for a proposal. “The committee reviewed the proposals from the eight firms who did respond,” Suzanne Townsend said. “They then narrowed it down to four semi-finalists who were invited to come

to campus and do presentations to the committee.” Each company created its own designs and ideas for what they felt would suit the school well and the athletic program well. “The firms showed us their thoughts conceptually and their vision for the design and how they would go through the process,” Townsend said. “By showing the committee their portfolio, the committee could see their body of work and their experience with similar projects.” After reviewing each companies’ pitches, the committee felt that the experience CannonDesign has designing sports facilities separated them from the

rest of the semifinalists. “Cannon has done extensive work on campuses, lots of independent schools and universities,” Townsend said, “They were a really good fit. A lot of it also has to do with personality because here on campus, we have a very diffident culture, and they were in sync with that early on.” Though the school and CannonDesign are going through preliminary discussions, the school has a firm idea of what they want in the new facility. “We want to have a new pool because Ralph B. Rodgers’ natatorium doesn’t meet all of our needs,” Townsend said. “Obviously, we need a new gymnasium,

new tennis center and new maintenance and security offices. Also, we want to have new locker rooms and server support spaces.” The designs that CannonDesign proposed, however, will not go into effect immediately. Build can start only after the school gets zoning approval from the city. “The Dallas Planning and Zoning Committee has to approve our design before it’s built,” Townsend said. “We’ll start having meetings with our City Council representatives and our neighbors because we want to keep them informed of what we’re doing. We have a real transparent relationship that has served the school well for years.”

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GRADUATION ATTIRE

Tradition under review For many schools, graduation clothing symbolizes class unity. However, with students requesting to wear graduation attire other than the traditional dress for years, change was inevitable at The Hockaday School. Recently, Hockaday administration has created an alternative. We talked with Hockaday’s head of school to learn the reason behind the decision. THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT Two Hockaday graduates standing on Commencement Terrace wear the traditional white dress and hat, while one showcases the graduation robe and mortarboard.

very August, students here gather shoulder-toshoulder for the Opening Convocation, preparing for a new school year. Every December, seniors here walk across the Quad with their Lower School buddies on their shoulders, kicking off the annual Christmas party. Every May, they make the trek across the Quad once again, decked out in white tuxedos and black slacks, taking their positions on the Commencement stage. Students of all grades experience numerous traditions 10600 Preston Road has to offer — many of which have existed for decades. But are some of these customs becoming outdated? Just up the road, The Hockaday School was confronted with the same question regarding graduation dress requirements. In their case, the answer was a resounding “Yes.” The Hockaday School has altered its century-old graduation dress requirement, which called for seniors to wear the same white dress at Commencement. The school has added the option for students to wear a traditional white graduation robe and mortarboard, additionally or alternatively to the white dress selected by the Senior Class. Head of School Dr. Karen Coleman supports this alternative because of what it symbolizes. “We believe introducing the option of the traditional white academic graduation robe and mortarboard aligns with academic regalia,” Coleman said. “It is really reflective of academic achievement. Also, it was something that we could immediately implement.” The Hockaday School usually receives eight to 10 exemption requests per year. Historically, the school has accommodated concerns relating to body image or religion. Common additions to the dress were adding small sleeves or more fabric to cover more of the body. Students would also sometimes ask to wear a sweater jacket to cover their arms entirely. However, more significant exceptions — such as allowing attire that is different from the selected dress — were not allowed until May 2021. “For us at Hockaday, we have been hearing these

ADDRESSING THE CROWD Behind the podium, Coleman speaks to the audience during Hockaday Commencement last year.

concerns from students for many years,” Coleman said. “We have been attentive to those concerns when they came up. It was time for Hockaday to have a bigger conversation about how other schools have tackled this particular concern to help inform our next steps. Graduation attire, particularly at single-gender schools for girls, is very much steeped in tradition, and we are not alone in that. We thought it was the right time to address this, since we have been hearing these concerns raised by students year after year.” Coleman and a Graduation Attire Work Group looked at 44 schools around the nation — 39 of those being single gender schools for girls. They found that Hockaday was the only school that provided no extra dress options at graduation. For Coleman, this was a major factor in the decision. She also wanted to ensure every student can be their true self as they walk across the Commencement terrace. “I want to make sure that every single student that earns her diploma from Hockaday is able to feel embraced, honored and comfortable on that graduation day,” Coleman said. “For me, that was the most compelling factor in this decision. And I believe this reflects meaningful progress for the community.” To Coleman, the unity among classmates caused by the graduation dress is not as significant in the present day as it was in previous decades. She asserts that — first and foremost — class unity comes from the relationships students have with one another. “By the time our seniors are on Commencement Terrace, there is a tremendous sense of connectedness to one another as a Senior Class,” Coleman said. “In the past, while I understand that the dress was a symbol of that connectedness, the students’ connectedness goes well beyond what they are wearing that day.” Similarly, Associate Headmaster John Ashton believes the school uniform and graduation attire are just that: clothing. He contends that character and legacy are much more important. “The philosophy behind the uniform for St. Mark’s has always been that we distinguish ourselves in part by who we are and how we comport ourselves, not by external things such as clothing,” Ashton said. “Similarly, graduation is more meaningful than just dinner jackets; it’s actually a part of something bigger and longer lasting than oneself. Other schools have to think through these things in different ways that work for them.” Ashton also finds value in the same experiences being shared with hundreds of students who have come before.

“We pay very careful attention to ritual over time,” Ashton said. “Because when you graduate, you can look back at a long line of guys who’ve experienced it much in the same way. That ties you to them, and that’s pretty special.” Both Ashton and Coleman understand that by periodically reviewing traditions and their timeliness, the customs can evolve and still have a positive impact. “Traditions are such interesting things,” Coleman said. “Tradition only impedes progress if you are not willing to examine it and ask yourself, ‘Does this tradition today still serve the same purpose for which it was originally intended?’ I hope that with everything that we are doing, we are always pausing and asking ourselves those questions.” STORY Shreyan Daulat, Grayson Redmond PHOTO Courtesy Hockaday Administration GRAPHIC Cooper Cole

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news & READING METHODS

MAKING THE SWITCH Listening to an audiobook while reading along in the text has become a common method of study used by students.

Changing the routine As consistent reading assignments become standard, some students find them tedious to complete. As a result, many have turned to methods different from traditional reading and have noticed several benefits.

ight after night, assignment after assignment, page after page, many students find it harder and harder to focus on their reading assignments. To mix it up, some turn to other methods, like audiobooks, chapter summaries or even film versions of texts. Whether it’s increased efficiency or better preparation for class, students have noticed unique benefits from adding a new form of input to traditional reading. Teachers also see potential in turning to these additional methods for different genres, depending on their respective obstacles. With so many options to study literature, when can students benefit from adding an alternative practice into the mix? Recently, audiobooks have seen a spike in popularity among students. For certain genres, English Department Chair Michael Morris finds greater value in hearing a text read out loud. “I really like audiobooks, especially for epic poetry,” Morris said. “For something like the Odyssey, it’s actually better heard than read because it was first composed and passed on orally Michael Morris rather than on paper. For any kind of poetry, it makes sense to hear it.” When reading in silence, a student may miss out on smaller details that are highlighted by a speaker. Morris believes that hearing a text can lead to greater comprehension. “If you’re listening to a good reader,” Morris said, “you can understand the syntax more because that reader is going to pause at punctuation, emphasize important words in the main clause and change his tone of voice to reflect the tone of the passage.” For his English readings, senior Sal Abbasi plays the audiobook out loud

while reading along at the same time. “I find that when I use audiobooks I can read much more efficiently and stay on a schedule,” Abbasi said. “I can plan out how much time my reading is going to take ahead of time.” Another popular pair to written literature is a film version, but the two don’t always go hand-in-hand. English and humanities instructor Scott Gonzalez keeps the disparity in mind when watching films with his students. “I don’t mind films, but as I tell my students, film is an interpretation,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes I don’t like the way it’s interpreted, which is fine, but it’s not the text. So, I think if you remember that and you go in with a critical eye, Scott Gonzalez it’s okay.” Morris frequently shows film versions of readings in his classes, yet the nature of the text determines whether he shows it before or after reading. “I think with Shakespeare, with tougher drama, it can be really good to see at first because the text of Shakespeare can be so difficult that if you already have a dramatic interpretation of what you’re reading, I think it makes it easier to get through,” Morris said. “Otherwise, I tend to show the film after because I like students to have their own silent productions in their head, to have that imaginative opportunity and then to compare it with what somebody else did.” Online chapter summaries on websites like SparkNotes are yet another method students use to supplement traditional reading. These sites have surged in popularity recently due to their ease of access and clarity, which is what initially drew in Abbasi. “Sometimes when you’re reading things, you’ll miss the meaning of

something,” Abbasi said. “It’s useful to understand things better going into class. Also, if I’m struggling with the definition of some words, it’ll give me context behind some stories. Gonzalez advises against using chapter summaries for the only purpose of preparing for reading quizzes, as many of his assessments consist of questions only found in the text itself. The text of Shakespeare can be so difficult that if you already have a dramatic interpretation or preview of what you’re reading, I think it makes it easier to get through. Michael Morris English Department Chair

“Many of my colleagues know that stuff because part of our training is to know what’s out there,” Gonzalez said. “When I make a reading quiz, I can guarantee it’s not going to be based on those things that you find online. They’re going to be questions like, “What does this character actually say?” And if you’re reading SparkNotes, it’s not going to be a direct quotation.” Morris agrees students must read and analyze the text itself in order to develop their own analytical skills and be sufficiently prepared to succeed on later assignments. “It’d be like being a baseball player and preparing for the season by watching the Rangers,” Morris said. “You’re gonna learn something, but mostly what you’re gonna learn is what they do. Sal Abbasi You haven’t really learned how to swing the bat. You’ve got to play the game yourself, and, in English, playing the game is reading the text.” STORY Will Pechersky, Grayson Redmond PHOTO Jonathan Yin

School raises thousands for charities during the fall by Aaron Liu ore than $7500 was raised through the October Pink shirts event and No Shave November. Student Store manager Nancy Goldberg worked with the student council to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, selling over $5,000 worth of Pink Shirts. No Shave November was led by the Student Council and was focused on helping cancer research foundations through the No-Shave nonprofit. Over $2,500 of donations were generated from wristband sales. For Goldberg, this year’s Pink Shirts event marked the return of the fundraiser after a one-year break due to the pandemic. “We didn’t do a Pink Shirts event last year because of the pandemic,” Goldberg said. “We weren’t able to gather around for any pink shirt events, so we decided not to host one. Two years ago in 2019, we hosted it right before the tornado hit the school. That was the first year we started the event, and we’re happy to bring it back again.” Despite the challenges of the past few years, Goldberg is optimistic about continuing the annual event and making it one of the school traditions. “We’ll definitely bring back the Pink Shirts again next year because it was so successful and the boys loved it,” Goldberg said. “I love that the boys want to support the good cause and wear the pink shirts. I think it’s definitely a tradition that we want to carry.”

Student Council President Alex Geng drew inspiration from last year’s No-Shave November event, where a guest speaker from the school community was invited to speak about his personal experiences with No-Shave November. Hoping to make a new contribution to the yearly tradition, Geng planned a video from the No-Shave nonprofit themselves. “This past summer, I thought, ‘It’ll be pretty cool if we can reach out to the company itself so they can tell us directly how our contributions impact the organization,’” Geng said. “I reached out in July and told them about what we were looking to make the video for. They did a really good job with that, and the video ended up turning out really well.” During his time at the school, Geng has participated in multiple No-Shave Novembers and appreciates the opportunity to lead the event this year. “For me personally, being here since first grade and watching all of these events happen every year, it’s always been a pretty big tradition,” Geng said. “As I’ve grown older, the event started to mean a lot more to me, and I think that it’s really cool to be able to lead it this year in my own way too.”

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ANNIVERSARY | Character & Leadership Program | continued from page one

Fifteen years

STRONG

St. Mark’s teaches character and leadership with the same outcome-based intentionality applied to teaching math, history, English, science or foreign language. As the program approaches its 15-year anniversary, we took a deep dive into its past and present.

s a sophomore, Headmaster’s Cup-winner Colin Campbell ‘20 didn’t know. He didn’t know the small things. He didn’t know why he did math homework — the Pythagorean theorem and matrices and end-behavior asymptotes — that all seemed completely useless. He knew the simple reason. He would get a bad grade if he didn’t. But why did he really do it? Campbell didn’t know if he could take the leap to collegiate athletics. First off, as a three-sport athlete, which sport would he even play? Campbell just didn’t know. And those weren’t even the big questions. He didn’t know what other people thought of him. He didn’t even know why he cared. “I tried my best not to ruffle any feathers,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t the worst thing in the world — I was unproblematic. But at the end of the day, I knew there was a lot more to me than I was presenting.” That wasn’t to say he was completely lost. After all, he was class president. Title aside, he wasn’t sure what his role really meant. But then Campbell walked into Leadership and Ethics Program Director Dr. Martin Stegemoeller’s tenth grade English classroom, COMMENCEMENT Class President Colin Campbell ‘20, now at Yale University, where he fully experienced the addresses a crowd of faculty, staff, family and students on the graduation stage. school’s initiative in developing the ‘whole boy’ –– the Character and Leadership Program. It was there that he gained a sense of purpose. Before long, he knew.

THREE CONCEPTS

At St. Mark’s, we refer to a student’s Head, Heart, and Hands when referencing comprehensive Character and Leadership Education.

HEAD BOYS AND MEN NEED WISE HEADS: A good man needs knowledge of concepts that help him thrive. He will need to understand a variety of important concepts such as community, virtue, character, and responsibility, and he will need to learn how these concepts relate to him and his community.

HEART BOYS AND MEN NEED RESPONSIVE HEARTS: A good man needs to develop essential habits of thriving. Habits of fair play, resilience, generosity, self-control, empathy, and care. He will need to internalize the behaviors of the virtues and develop a habitual response to the needs around him.

HANDS BOYS AND MEN NEED SKILLED HANDS: A good man will need to care skillfully through many vital roles. Successfully giving care in these roles will require social skills, leadership skills, nurturing skills, and problem-solving skills. Source: characterandleadership.smtexas.org/overview

During the 2005-2006 school year, former Headmaster Arnold Holtberg and former Board of Trustees President H. Ross Perot Jr. began considering a new approach for teaching boys how to lead. Then-Assistant Head of Upper School John Ashton was named director of a fledgling leadership program and charged with facilitating school-wide conversations on leadership. “The school asked a question,” Ashton said. “Could we strengthen and develop leadership skills in the same intentional ways that we teach science, math, history, English and other classes?” Over the summer, the decision was made to include ethics in the program. Furthermore, Ashton helped take an inventory of the formal leadership opportunities the school already offered. “We wanted to build a program and structure that was the right fit for us,” Ashton said. “We felt strongly that we needed something for our boys that was specific to this school.” To design and implement the program, Ashton and Holtberg sought help from Gus Lee, a West Point graduate and author of Courage: The Backbone of Leadership –– a book that emphasizes the role strength of character plays in leadership. Lee, who previously visited campus, met with Ashton to map out a philosophy. Following their meeting, Ashton drew inspiration from several universities to flesh out the leadership program, notably West Point, the University of Richmond and Washington and Lee University. However, initially establishing and integrating the Leadership and Ethics program proved challenging. “There was natural pushback and questioning from boys about why we were asking them to invest their time in this,” Ashton said, “so we tried to tie it in with courage and honor.” After two years of exploring partnerships, studying, reflecting and personalizing leadership learning to apply to each Marksman, Ashton worked with Stegemoeller to finalize the program’s structure and general goals over the summer of 2008.

“It was one of the best professional experiences either of us have had,” Ashton said. “We were in a room with just a whiteboard, hammering out ideas.” With an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Northwestern University as well as master’s and doctorate degrees from Vanderbilt University, Stegemoeller was a natural fit to contribute to the Leadership and Ethics program. He joined the school in 2003, shortly before the initiative’s conception. “In the years leading up to the program’s establishment, there were a lot of corporate scandals,” Stegemoeller said. “Outrageously bad corporate behavior just seemed like it was becoming the norm. There was a real sense that we needed more moral Dr. Martin stegemoeller leadership in this country.” As Stegemoeller’s involvement gradually increased, he aimed to broaden the program’s definition of leadership from a rigid, military-oriented interpretation to something more pertinent to students, an approach welcomed by Ashton and Holtberg. “At the time, there were so many kids who thought school was about grades,” Stegemoeller said. “As opposed to being an incredible time to develop as a person so that you can take care of the people around you.” Stegemoeller was instrumental in the development of English 10 — the academic home for leadership learning, the Path to Manhood Handbook and the Telos program, which began 12 years ago with a limited scope. Over time, the Telos program has expanded, bridging the gap between the Lower, Middle and Upper School. As a 12-year Marksman, Campbell experienced the Telos program as a younger boy. “I had a lot of questions floating around in my head,” Campbell said, “and I was really trying to think about the kind of person I want to be.” Campbell believes the English 10 curriculum helped him answer these, especially through the family history paper. “The paper was a big moment for me because it contextualized my position in the larger world,” Campbell said. “It’s easy to feel small, but once you feel good about where you came from and what your role is, you feel motivated to keep your story going.” Additionally, Campbell believes the program enabled him to form meaningful relationships with his classmates, a vital part of his role as class president. “If anyone was ever sitting alone at lunch,” Campbell said, “I wanted to talk to them and genuinely get to know them. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help them without being patronizing.” Through this new perspective, Campbell learned how to truly guide his class as president. “I learned how true leaders lead,” Campbell said. “I think leaders cannot treat themselves as different from the entity they’re leading. They’re not better than anyone.” Campbell also decided to pursue all three sports, and in so doing he believes he learned the value of community. “I kept playing three sports,” Campbell said. “I realized how much I appreciated being involved with different people and being able to impact the school in different ways.” Despite Campbell’s progress, he insists that he still has a long way to go on the path to manhood. “I feel good about the trajectory I’m on and some of the steps I’ve taken,” Campbell said. “But I’m far from the man that I would eventually like to be, and that’s where the word ‘telos’ comes in. No matter what obstacles I face, I’ve developed a network of people that will support me, and I almost feel like there’s an invincibility shield around me because I won’t be doing it alone.” STORY Keshav Krishna, Zack Goforth PHOTO Courtesy Development Office/Dave Carden

Issues

SA: “I’ve learned that while school is important, it’s not life –– it’s just one part. I learned to take my foot off the gas a little bit, which is weird. St. Mark’s taught me how to live a more complete life, taking a more holistic approach to my endeavors.”

SA: “I try to lead by example — by action. During McDonald’s Week, we were doing poorly in some regions of the event, so instead of messaging people or sitting at home, I went out and did it.

people being angry at each other.”

Murphy paul Eleventh grader

MP: “Teamwork is what makes great things happen — working together, being good teammates, sacrificing and helping others is what it’s all about.”

WH: “Anybody can be a leader — you just have to be

LG: “Definitely perseverance and determination. When I’m super tired, I’ve learned to push through because I know those tough nights will pay off eventually.” LG: “I’ve

2. always known I’m more of a quiet leader,

so I’ve had to push myself to be more vocal.”

lawrence gardner Ninth grader

shrug it off.”

EE: “Be empathetic. If someone falls down and they’re hurt, help them up.”

Brought to the school by now-retired Dr. Henry Ploegstra, the Harkness table is a pillar of the St. Mark’s education, facilitating natural discussion and group learning.

caleb zhang Third grader

We asked students from each grade the same two meaningful questions in hopes of exemplifying the Character & Leadership program’s success:

1 2

During your time at St. Mark’s, what’s the best life lesson you’ve learned? During your time at St. Mark’s, what have you learned about yourself as a leader?

“I like to 2. CZ: help people.

MC: “Always be a good sport and have a good attitude. Don’t bully people. If you win, don’t brag, and if you lose, don’t pout.”

MC: “I try to break up fights if people are fighting each other, and to always hold the door for everyone.”

Mac connatser Fourth grader

BB: “Just because one person does

something, doesn’t mean you get to.

If they do something bad, that doesn’t mean you get to do something bad too.”

Owen hanson Eighth grader

CZ: “I learned to be diplomatic when situations don’t go my way and to always stay positive.”

We have classroom jobs where you have to help people with their iPad problems. When people can’t type or their screens are frozen, I show them how to do it, so next time, they can do it themselves.”

OH: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. I made a club in 5th grade and it didn’t work; again in 6th grade, and finally got it up and running this year. OH: “I try not to care about little things. If something gets in my way, I can

EE: “If I’m doing something with someone, and they have an idea that other people don’t like, I’m not just like ‘No. We can’t do that. That

won’t work.’ I let other people help out.”

Harkness

WH: “You shouldn’t judge Warner Hartnett Tenth grader a book by its cover, and you should put yourself in other people’s shoes to understand where they are coming from. Just because someone’s beliefs don’t align with yours doesn’t mean people don’t have a valid reason to believe in what they believe in.”

elton eagan Second grader

around the

open to new experiences.”

TT: “Be kind to everyone.” CM: “Always try to be kind.”

Tatum Toofanian & Clark Moran First graders

MP: “Most people are good people. No matter what you’re going through, there’s

always going to be somebody there that can help you through it.

TT: “I try to be funny, kind, courageous and brave.” CM: “Listening is important. Also, being nice to the teacher and following directions and being kind. It’s good to be funny. If you make people laugh, everyone’s going to be happy, and you don’t want a bunch of

Sal abbasi Twelfth grader

news &

the remarker december 10, 2021

brennan bosita Fifth grader

BB: “Just because it isn’t your idea, doesn’t mean it’s bad. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

JG: “I’ve learned the importance of character and gratitude — and how it affects the people around you.”

WJ: “To be a good leader, you have to be a good listener. You have to trust people — you can’t just be concerned with yourself.”

JG: “I try to know what people are doing, but also let them do what they want — not micromanaging, I hate micromanaging, but I try to always be on top of everything.

WJ: “In fourth grade, a kid wanted to join our basketball game, but everyone told him, ‘No you can’t play. You’re too bad.’ But I told him, ‘You can play. You can be on my team.’ I’ve learned to always include everyone.”

Julian gerstle Seventh grader

Wes jackson Sixth grader

INTERVIEWS Austin Williams, Peter Orsak, Toby Barrett

stem

the remarker december 10, 2021

Defeated by mountains (or hillls)

’m wearing the wrong shoes. My old, beat-up navy tennis shoes have seen better days. The soles are smooth, worn down completely through years of play on hard courts and clay. My shoes are small, too. Several sizes too small. So small that when I took them off, the sides of my foot looked like a piece of spam. My dad and I are trekking through the Ouachita Mountains, really just some stupid mini-mountains in Oklahoma. They’re tall hills in all honesty, but climbing hills just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Sure, they were hills by elevation. That didn’t make the hike any less challenging. The incline was steep, marked by sharp rises and falls. Plus, we were Keshav Krishna STEM Editor rookies, though my dad’s self-confidence didn’t betray that. Camping equipment? Didn’t need any. A tarp and sleeping bags would suffice. After all, growing up in India, he would sleep on the floor at his grandparents’ house, no sheets or pillows. I needed to man up. Bug spray? Man up. A mosquito bites you, you bite it right back, he said. Water? We’d get some in Walmart. He wasn’t buying some fancy water purification device. Food? My mom would make sandwiches. It was almost fun at first. We stopped by Beavers Bend State Park. It wasn’t hiking –– it was leisurely strolling. Without retrieving our gallon of Great Value Spring Water from our packs, we made it to the end of the trail and took a nice photo at the top. This was easy, my dad said. We should’ve gone straight for New Mexico. On the way down, though, we saw a guy limping along. He was old. AARP-card-holding old. I’dgive-up-my-bus-seat old. We hadn’t proven anything. So, we headed north. I’m guessing you can probably already tell that our little adventure didn’t end too great. You have no idea. We were miserable. Every step was painful. Every sip of water meant a break to get out our gallon-size Great Value Spring Waters. By the time it was nearing dusk, my dad and I realized there was no way we could spend the night. So, we headed to a motel in Talihina. With all that being said, I would do it again. In fact, I will this Christmas break, when my dad and I finally go to New Mexico, more experienced and less cocky. Am I nuts? Probably. But this time, I’ll wear the right shoes.

discovery &

State of the fish tanks with Dan Northcut Even though scores of students scurry by them heading to their science classes, the fish tanks in the Winn Science Center’s front lobby remain largely ignored. However, for environmental science instructor Dan Northcut, the fish tanks represent a fascinating habitat teeming with life. To that end, he delivers a state of the fish tanks address to the community. “The reef tank is all about mimicking coral reefs. It’s the most diverse tank, and it has several different phyla of organisms, from coral to sponges that are growing in some of the rocks. You’ve got different types of fish, invertebrates and snails; you’ve got arthropods and gastropods. Most of the fish in here are carnivores, but some are omnivores and will eat whatever we give them. It’s very diverse. The reef tank needs the most care because we need to ensure that the water chemistry and temperature remains steady.”

id l h c i l C ropica

id l h c i h tC dogtoo

“We’ve also got another saltwater tank called the salt fish tank. For the most part, this tank is for salt water fish. We’ve got some fish in here that are schooling fish and like to hang out together. All of the fish in here are carnivores. There’s a few salt fish that we can’t put into the reef tank because they would eat the coral or other fish, so they have to be in a separate tank. Different species have different ways of living, and I think that’s really exemplified in how the different tank needs the most care because we need to ensure that the water chemistry and temperature remains steady. We have a freshwater tank, which features mostly tropical freshwater fish. There are some variation of goldfish, but it’s mostly cichlids.” INTERVIEW Zack Goforth PHOTOS Zachary Bashour

INSTANT CONNECTION Northcut locks eyes with a goldfish.

STEM in brief PALEOANTHROPOLOGIST VIRTUAL VISIT Dr. Lee Berger, professor of paleoanthropology at University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, shared details of his recent discoveries of ancient hominid remains with a group of sixth graders. His most famous discovery was that of Homo naledi. Berger first discovered the fossil in the Rising Star cave system and quickly ascertained that it was the remains of a child who researchers nicknamed Leti. Berger, a longtime friend of Eugene McDermott Master Teaching Chair John Mead, has been a frequent guest on campus over the last decade. More recently, because of the pandemic, he has been speaking with students through Zoom and Skype. CAMPOUT COMEBACK The seventh grade campout took place on the Texas side of Lake Texoma Nov. 11-12, the first time a seventh grade class had a campout since 2018. The 2019 campout was

canceled due to the tornado and the 2020 campout was canceled due to the pandemic. Students hiked many trails including the Army Corps of Engineers’ trail. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The AI Club is back on campus this year, with a focus on teaching members how to code artificial intelligence algorithms for a variety of applications. Led by senior Matthew Fan, the club is teaching members coding from scratch, with an end goal of helping club members develop their own AI project at the end of the year. This is the first year the club has met in person, with the club being founded last year. ROBOTICS AWARDS The Upper School Robotics Team, led by seniors James Singhal and Tomek Marczewski won the Founders Award for Creative Design, the BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) award, and earned third place at the

for the tech geek Dallas BEST Robotics Tournament at Brookhaven Community College on Nov. 6. Stephen M. Seay ’68 Science Department Chair Fletcher Carron, Founders’ Master Teaching Chair Douglas Rummel, and makerpace director Stewart Mayer sponsor the team. More details can be found on page nine. COVID-19 UPDATE In the four weeks prior to Thanksgiving, the community saw zero new COVID-19 cases. During the break, two cases were identified in the community, one in the Lower School and one in the Middle School. Neither case was exposed while having any contact with school, with each case being isolated within the students’ family. Given the extremely low rate of infection within the community, masks were made optional for the foreseeable future after the break. Globally, the recent outbreak of the Omicron variant has sparked uncertainty and fears of yet another surge.

this page 09HUMBLED BY NATURE

last month

UPCOMING

November 3 NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected its first rocks on Mars. However, the rover won’t make it back to Earth until 2031.

December 12 A meteor shower will be visible in the Hydra constellation. The best time for viewing will be late at night, during the predawn hours. However, some meteors will be visible after sunset.

November 10 Youtube announced that the dislike button would no longer be visible to the public to shield creators from harassment and “attacking behavior.” November 11 Tesla CEO Elon Musk sold nearly $5 billion in stock after his trust sold more than 3.5 million shares over the previous days, his financial filing reveal. November 29 Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stepped down. Then-CTO Parag Agarwal was named CEO in his place.

December 13 The Smithsonian Museum is hosting a virtual STEM session to convey information regarding teacher workshops and student programs for the upcoming year. December 16 Registration for the annual Dallas STEM festival begins. It is the largest STEM exposition in the state of Texas, with over 90 exhibitions on various topics. The event is open for all families and all ages.

what the tech? anti-robocall software

The ReMarker’s Keshav Krishna writes about an unfortunate experience in the wild.

What’s new?

Congress has mandated that sophisticated phone ID technology to be put in place to block spam calls. However many companies have been slow to institute these changes.

inside

What’s the delay?

Many companies do not wish to develop the software as it is potentially costly, and Congress has given several companies extensions past the original date.

10BATTLE OF THE BOTS

A look into the Robotics Team’s preparation for the BEST state competition.

What can you do?

Do not provide gift cards or wire transfers to any callers and do not give personal information to a call you were not expecting, regardless of what the caller ID may say.

10STEM CONFERENCE

Guests for the STEM conference this spring have been revealed.

mona Anglefish

TECH TRICKSTERS Nowadays, many scam calls are automated.

I really wish companies would crack down on robocalls as they are annoying and potentially dangerous. I wish it was easier to block them. Tyler tang Sophomore

the remarker december 10, 2021

stem

discovery &

ROBOTICS

Tournaments of tech and tactics

The Robotics Team went up against other robots at reigional and state competitions, winning third place in the reigion and the award for most creative design. They went on to make it to the semifinals in the state tournament and to take home the prize for most elegant design.

he team had built and practiced for months, but there was no amount of practice that could prepare a driver for the stress and pressure of a live tournament. All eyes were fixated on the robot as the driver handled the remote. The robot approached the tower. With a press of the button, its claw turned. “If you knock the tower when you’re trying to do it, the entire thing is going to fall, and you can’t try again.” Junior James Thomson did this at the regional tournament of Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology, or B.E.S.T. Near the beginning of the school year, the Robotics Team got the tournament’s theme for the year: demolition. But the basic requirements for building a robot are the same every time. “We have certain materials we can and can’t use,” Thomson said. “And for most of the ones we can use, we only get a very specific amount of them, except for wood, which is unlimited. We also have size and weight requirements for robots. Then, it’s all about using those materials in any way, shape or form to get as many points as we can from the field, which has a bunch of different tasks to do.” The team needed consider those restrictions while building a robot that could complete demolition tasks, according to science instructor Douglas Rummel. “The theme of the year is demolition, where you break things apart and recover specific items for recycling,” Rummel said. “You also have to move pieces of debris from point A to point B. Within the process, there are a lot of obstacles you have to avoid and different things you have to be aware of.”

Building a robot that can accomplish these tasks from basic supplies was made harder by the requirement for a robot to be completely original. “Everything has to be made from scratch,” Rummel said. “Except for the given electrical wiring and motors, the strategies are up to the teams to figure out how they are going to approach a problem and what they’re going to build.” Senior Tomek Marczewski, a captain of the Robotics Team, helped formulate a basic strategy for the team. “There’s many different ways to score points on the robotics field, and different tasks have more or less points,” Marczewski said. “What we CELEBRATION The Robotics Team members stand with their awards and winning worked on was what can get us robot after the reigional competition. Their results secured a spot in the state competition. a lot of points relatively quickly and what is realistic to do. So, said. “The big thing was we could load all three of the once we decided that, we made teams.” light poles on and drop them, while even the top team Construction starts with designing the part, then could only do two at a time. That was the main thing, making it in CAT, a digital engineering simulator, to but I think in general, we were a little bit more creative see if the robot will physically work before actually in the shapes we used.” building it. Then, production can finally begin. The After making it into the state tournament upon team’s robot won the award at the regional tournament winning third place, the team made adjustments to for best design, which Marczewski attributes to their design and driving techniques. creativity in a specific feature of the robot. “We created a new way to take the top section of “Our light pole dropper was such a specific device, the building off and keep it in one piece, then drop it and no one else built something like that,” Marczewski on top of the dumpsters,” Thomson said. “That was the primary change, and we created a double-ended robot that we could reverse all the controls and control both sides like they were the front.” These new additions helped the team go on to win even more in the state tournament, which had over 80 teams, which each had to compete in their own reigionals. “We most improved on our maximum point value we were trying to get,” Thomson said. “Because we could now take the top part of the tower, it massively increased our potential points per round.” But not everything worked perfectly. Throughout the state tournament, the robot had a hard time working with its remote control. “We had connection issues,” Thomson said. “We had to modify our strategy each round depending on how much time we could lose due to connection, and then in between rounds, we did whatever we could to fix it. A new cortex and multiple extensions later, the team brought home a success. It took lots of work to get there. “State is a lot of pressure on the drivers because the current system requires very precise movements,” Thomson said. “It’s all about making sure we can get it to fully work in design and not letting the stress and pressure ge to you.”

HEAVY-LADEN Donning every third place medal each member received, senior James Singhal, one of the team’s two co-captains, brandishes the victorious robot and both regional trophies in front of the Dallas College Brookhaven campus.

STORY Myles Lowenberg, Dawson Yao PHOTOS Will Spencer

NASA,Google scientists among four guest speakers confirmed for STEM conference by Grayson Redmond he STEM Conference has announced the speakers who will be present at the event on March 24. Speakers include Jeb Beckwith ‘80, Dr. Austin Fowler, Dr. Lizzie McLeod, Rubik Sheth and Leanne Su. Su is a doctoral candidate in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan researching thrusters used for manned space missions. “Leanne works mostly with Hall and ion thrusters that are shielded,” STEM Conference cochair senior Tomek Marczewski said. “I thought her research was really interesting so we invited her to come speak.” Sheth is currently serving as the deputy chief of the thermal systems branch at NASA, where he manages systems of active spacecraft, such as the International Space Station, and develops vehicles and hardware for future missions.

“Rubik [Sheth] was actually a guest on our space podcast during last year,” Marczewski said. “But because the conference is in person this year, we reached out to him again because he was such a great guest.” Beckwith ‘80 is the chief financial officer at Clean Origin, a company which manufactures artificial, lab-grown diamonds. “The intersection of technology and finance is something that I’m really interested in,” junior Will Grable, another STEM Conference co-chair, said. Fowler is a senior research scientist at Google, where he optimizes the performance of quantum computers to decrease both the execution time of commands and the physical size of the computer. “Quantum computing is a really cool, emerging field with a lot of potential real world applications,” Grable said. McLeod is the leader of The Nature Conservancy’s reef work, where she develops strategies to minimize the impact of climate change

on the world’s reefs. “The Nature Conservancy is super cool, and they’ve done really amazing work with conservation,” Grable said. “I’ve been able to clean some corals, so that sparked my interest STEM speakers on the ocean conservation side. Marczewski also hopes • Jeb Beckwith ‘80, Clean to engage more students Origin CFO and thinks the conference’s • Dr. Austin Fowler, Google return to campus should help research scientist generate excitement. • Dr. Lizzie McLeod,The Nature “We want to make it as Conservancy climate change engaging as possible,” he said. specialist “We wanted to give students • Rubik Sheth, NASA division a dedicated slot in which they chief can participate. We’re also • Leanne Su, doctoral candidate, going to have a bigger focus aerospace engineering on the actual work of the guests and try to incorporate a conversation between all of them to see how their fields intersect.”

10600

the remarker december 10, 2021

life &

Hangin’ Out With

The Alfalahis Seventh grader Noah Alfalahi, junior Adam Alfalahi and senior Sam Alfalahi have been given the unique task of navigating school life while coexisting with their brothers on the same campus. We've sat down with them and asked about what it means to share a home and a school.

What’s it like having three brothers at the same school? Adam Alfalhi: I think it’s mostly a positive experience. All of us going to the same school probably makes things easier on our parents because they don’t have to drop us off and pick us up at different places.

bigPICTURE GRANDPARENTS' DAY Latin instructor Claire Strange (right) leads a Classics trivia competition for grandparents. Makerspace Director Stewart Mayer (far right) demonstrates the capabilities of the school's laser cutter. Date Time People

Nov. 19 8:30 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. Grandparents, students

QUOTE “This year, my son's in first grade," Upper School Head Colin Igoe said. "I see how excited my mom is to come and see his life. I've known Grandparents' Day to build community, but now experiencing it firsthand only deepens and affirms that belief." PHOTOS Evan Lai, Will Spencer

Noah Alfalahi: We get to see each other around school sometimes, and that’s nice. What's it like for teachers to also know your siblings? AA: That’s another thing that’s special about having a lot of siblings that go to the same school. Some people get recognized because of their parents, but for us I think it’s because there’s so many of us, and we’re all somewhat alike. NA: One thing I find funny is that most of my teachers don’t even refer to me as Noah; they just call me Alfalahi. What's sort of activites do you all enjoy doing together? Sam Alfalahi: All of us play soccer, so I think that’s a common thread between us at the school. AA: Noah’s soccer coach next year has already coached both me and Sam, so I think it’s pretty cool that he’ll get to coach more than just one or two kids from the same family. NA: All of us really like sports like basketball, football and soccer. We really enjoy talking to each other about sports in school.

10600 in brief DEBATE Seniors Maxwell Chuang and Zayn Bhimani reached 17th place nationally Nov. 19-22 at the Glenbrooks Invitational Debate Tournament. Freshmen John Hohmann and Deven Pietrzak also reached semifinals at Hockaday’s Ed Long Invitational Tournament Nov. 12-13. Chuang and sophomore Ashrit Manduva achieved first place in a tournament hosted by the Westminster High School Nov. 29. Manduva and sophomore Liam Seaward tied for third place at a tournament hosted by the Mamaroneck High School Dec. 5. Debaters will compete in a tournament hosted by the Blake High School Dec. 19. FRESHMAN DRIVE One hundred-fifty Halloween bags were put together by the Freshman Class over the course of a grade-specific community service drive. The Halloween bags were donated Vogel Alcove, a charity that benefits children in

foster care homes. The drive was organized by Freshman Class sponsors and by class president Matthew Hoffman. ACADEMIC TEAM Sophomores Aditya Shivaswamy, Arnav Lahoti and Ethan Bosita came out in fifth place with four wins and four losses after competing at an event hosted by the Academic Competition Federation Oct. 16. The event was virtually hosted from Northfield, Minnesota, and run by the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence. ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE The school held an open house for prospective parents on campus Nov. 10. Over 1,100 people made reservations, breaking previous records by more than 200. The open house was the first since 2019, indicating a return to normalcy from the restrictions of the pandemic. The event was divided into three time

for the Marksman... slots, each slot offering different activities and different previews into the lives of students. The Science Department worked outside of these periods and instead held an interactive tour of the Winn Science Center. The purpose of the open house was to give prospective parents and students a view into the lives of Marksmen. COMMUNITY SERVICE The Ninth Annual Feast of Sharing, a community service holiday dinner hosted by Central Market Dec. 2, was attended by students. During the dinner, free food was offered to attendees. The event was intended to benefit the homeless population of DFW. THE LION'S SHARE The Lion's Share, a business journal run by seniors Pranay Sinkre and Evan Lai, is in its second year of publication. The editors plan to finish and print the magazine at the end of the school year in May.

The story of Lower School instructor Tracey Pugh and her journey through hardships and victories.

UPCOMING

Today Lower School Banner Chapel Lower School holiday parties Middle School and Upper School band concerts

December 25 Christmas Day

Saturday Piano recital at Decherd

January 13 Literary Festival begins

Tuesday Lessons & Carols at 7 p.m.

January 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day No school

Thursday End of community service Gift Drive Choir performance at North Park Mall Lion's Closet at 2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Friday Half school day All-School Christmas Party at 11 a.m. Christmas Break begins

January 1 New Year's Day

January 21 Seventh grade Father/Son Breakfast at 7:45 a.m. January 24 10 community service hours due January 27 TPSMEA All-State Orchestra January 28 Ninth grade Father/Son Breakfast at 7:45 a.m.

say what?

inside 11Tracey pugh

Next week

comments overheard around campus "Hit maxes — evade taxes." Benjamin Erwin Sophomore

"I wish I had a sheep named Gronme." TREY STAGER Junior

12Board of trustees

An inquiry into what the Board of Trustees is, what role they serve and how they impact the community.

14Boy Scouts

Sitting down with two students who achieved the highest award in scouting.

"They call me spondee — the way I'm only stressed." Jacob Grossfeld Junior

"Don't put that banana there." Mason Briscoe Sophomore

"Crocs should only have sport mode." LUKE MARTIN Senior

"Stop calling me Sussy." Reed SUSSMAN Sophomore

the remarker december 10, 2021

10600

life & rebuilding a life

In the blink of an eye Those who know third grade instructor Tracey Pugh say she always has a smile on her face. They say she is a light-hearted, fun-to-be-around type of person. However, most people who see her on campus everyday don't know that her life was almost taken 40 years ago. She didn't know how she survived the car crash, but she did know that she was going to do everything in her power to stop future drunken driving accidents.

orty years ago, third grade instructor Tracey Pugh had half of a face. The other half? Well, it was sitting right in her lap. All that remained on the left side of her face was her eye. Are you okay? What’s your phone number? Pugh looked up at the stranger and opened her mouth. But no words came out. She tried again. Still nothing. After a few more futile attempts, Pugh resorted to the only way she could communicate. Slowly raising her hands, she gestured each phone digit, one by one. It was her senior year, and she had been traveling back from a Homecoming football game just moments before. Nothing made sense to her. Why is there a mob of people screaming and pointing at me? How badly am I hurt? More than anything, she wanted things to go back to the way they were. Because before, she was an AllAmerican with full college scholarships in soccer and track. Now, she couldn’t speak and needed help to walk. Before, she was Senior Class President. Now, she couldn’t go back to school for months. Somehow, she didn’t lose consciousness. Pugh remembers bits and pieces of the scene. Sitting in the passenger seat of her friend’s car as they drove home. The car battery that came hurtling out of the drunk driver’s vehicle and smashing into her face. The corrosive battery acid burning her face off. The sight of her father, wearing nothing but boxers and a t-shirt, anxiously looking over her in the ER. The way friends and classmates visiting her in the hospital would cover up the mirrors and windows so she couldn’t look at herself and feel sorry — worse, disgusted. Without a doubt, that car crash changed the course of her life.

TOTALED The car Pugh was driving that was hit by the drunk driver, who was going over 100 mph. She had nightmares about the accident for some time after.

READING TO THE CLASS In addition to being a teacher, she is a published author and has written a few books herself. On the left side of her face, the scar from the accident is still visible, and, sometimes, it is a conversation starter. She is always open to sharing her story.

Forty years later, Pugh is now a teacher, and has been teaching for over 25 years. While she’s only been here for half a year, she spent the last 19 years at Greenhill, and before that at Dallas ISD and Cedar Hill ISD. She has spoken out against drunken driving multiple times, and she believes those experiences led to her career as an educator. “I spent a lot of years doing things with the courts in Dallas County, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Tracey Pugh local high schools with my children and their friends,” Pugh said. “Every now and then I'll write newsletters and post articles on LinkedIn. I've also worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving. There were also years where I would go down to the city of Dallas and give victim impact statements.” No matter the place she visited or the people she talked to, Pugh always had one key message — especially to teenagers. “To the kids that might be taking part in drinking, I know that the 30 second high can feel good,” Pugh said. “But a

good feeling can cause a whole lot of misery not just for yourself, but also for other people and their families if you don't make good choices. For high school kids, what I really want to emphasize is that I wasn't the offender. I was not the driver. I was doing everything that I was supposed to have done. I had my seatbelt on, I was being responsible and we didn't drink, but my life was still almost taken.” While she will always remain open to sharing her story, Pugh has taken a break from active outreach for now. “I was really, really involved for about 10 to 15 years, but then I needed to take a step back,” Pugh said. “I found myself being almost overprotective with family, friends and other people. It had become a passion, but it was also going a bit too far.” After taking a step back, Pugh gained a new perspective about what's important to her. Being grateful and having a positive attitude are now her biggest goals. “I'm so thankful for the life that I have,” Pugh said. “I want to continue spreading the news about drunk driving, but I also want to focus on other things like being grateful and present, because I'm a living witness that it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye.” STORY Shreyan Daulat, Aaron Liu PHOTOS Evan Lai, Courtesy Tracey Pugh

Honors math students and Math Team take AMC and AIME tests by Nolan Marcus onors math students took the AMC test, a standardized exam that colleges use to find the best high school mathematicians in the nation, on Nov. 10. “The AMC tests are upperlevel math tests for problem solving for students who hope to go to a university with an elite math program,” Math Department Chair Shane May said. According to May, the test is another standardized score — in addition to more notable ones such as the SAT and ACT — that students can submit to colleges. “Typically, if you are applying for good colleges, you have a good SAT score. The AMC is another metric that we can use,” May said. Technically, anyone is allowed to take the AMC. However, the school first and foremost administers the test to honors students. “At St. Mark’s, we do it for all the honors students, and if you are on the Math Team you can take it, too,” May said. There are two versions of the AMC: One for tenth graders and below, and another for twelfth graders and below. “We recommend students to take the test equivalent to their grade level because there are no bonus points for taking a more advanced test,” May said. In addition to the AMC, there is also the AIME test, which is for the those that place the highest on the AMC. “If you do well enough on the AMC, you qualify for the AIME, which is the next level,” May said. “If you take it, then you are in the top percentile that puts you with about 250 people in the nation.” The results from the AMC test usually come out five to six weeks after the test. The test was taken early this year, so the results may be delayed. All in all, May believes if a student is a good problem solver, he should take the test. “You never know, you could be this wonderful problem solver, and you might've never known that you were capable of that kind of math before,” May said. “You might surprise yourself.”

Tracey Pugh is an entrepreneur and the author of four books and a series called 'Lil' Tracey' Pugh founded Sociallywize.com, a website that offers tools and gifts to help foster more confidence in kids. The company offers coaching for a variety of subjects, like social anxiety and academic skills. Pugh hosts online conferences to discuss these topics, such as the recent CalmCon 2021 on Nov. 13. In addition, she has written books about social skills and development. Visit the website @sociallywize.com

Subject: A guide to raising socially and culturally adept children

Subject: Lil' Tracey learns bicycle safety and to listen to her parents

Subject: Curriculum to build social and emotional skills in students

Publishing Date: May 21, 2019

Publishing Date: Jan 8, 2021

Publishing Date: July 9, 2019

Print Length: 173 pages

Print Length: 43 pages

Print Length: 25 pages

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the remarker december 10, 2021

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Who’s calling the shots? Behind the scenes of day-to-day life on 10600 Preston Road, a group called the Board of Trustees makes some of the most important decisions about school life, including the future of school funds, facilities and image. Students’ lack of awareness about the Board, however, is not surprising, and it begs the question: Just what is the Board of Trustees?

o you ever wonder who names the buildings at 10600 Preston Road? Ever look at the empty lot where Hicks Gymnasium used to stand and wonder who decides what it’ll look like in the future? Or to whom the headmaster reports? Who manages the money, who looks over the curriculum or who decides the school’s denomination? Each of those important decisions is made by the school’s Board of Trustees, a 52-person group of alumni, parents and volunteers. Yet, around campus, relatively few students know much about this group. So just who are these men and women? What exactly do they do? Board President Katherine Crow sums it up simply. “We stand with the school during crises,” she said. “We’re there to support the school and to be aligned with the administration as a strong partner, and help them to thrive.” Headmaster David Dini shares Crow’s vision of the Board. “Our Board focuses on governance, which means they oversee the long-term well-being of the school,” Dini said. “They’re charged with the stewardship and sustainability of the school — the strength and stability of the school. They’re not charged with administration — that’s delegated to us as a team.” But that doesn’t mean that the Board and administration are on different pages. In fact, Dini believes they’re working on the same book. “One of the great strengths is we have a strong sense of partnership between our team on campus and the leadership of the Board,” Dini said. “We work in a very, very close, intentional partnership. If you took Mrs. Crow’s goals for the year and my goals for the year and compared them, they overlap and they’re in full concert.” How are these goals realized? For Crow, through the Board’s fiduciary, strategic and generative work. In particular, believes Crow, the fiduciary and strategic work are intertwined. “The fiduciary work is being dedicated to the school’s mission and our goals, i.e. the strategic plan, and then being accountable for that performance,” Crow said. “Strategically, the Board sets school priorities, and then we use our resources to drive the school toward those goals. This year, that means starting the process of getting a new athletic center and working on access and affordability.” Generative efforts, on the other hand, deal more with the school’s future. “Our generative work involves the Board being thoughtful leaders and bringing wisdom, insight and critical thinking to the organization,” said Crow. “Looking at things that are happening on the outside and asking, ‘How do they affect us?’”

The most noticeable recent product of these undertakings stands right outside of the library — the Winn Science Center. Dini remembers the Board’s crucial role in its creation. “It’s hard to even illustrate how important the Board is to the things we enjoy every day because it lives over here in the background,”Dini said. “Our ability to go and build the science center without a penny of debt? It just wouldn’t happen without them. That’s the result of years of discipline and critical thinking.” Dini attributes such successes to the clearly defined relationship between the administration and the Board “One of the challenges in environments like ours is that the lines between administration and governance can get blurred,” Dini said. “That can become problematic in a lot of ways. But here, there’s been a long-standing tradition and commitment to keeping very clear lines of delegated responsibility.” “The day after the tornado, Mrs. Crow called me and said, ‘Can I come up to school?’, and this was even before she had become board president. I took this picture of her standing down in front of the Perot sign without her knowing we were there. It’s vividly etched in my mind — she was thinking, ‘That’s my home.’” David dini Headmaster

With a clear understanding of their respective responsibilities, the Board and school administrators work hand-in-hand without overlapping each other’s jurisdiction. “That focus remains on governance and the longterm well-being of a school, enabling our team to oversee the operations of the school,” Dini said. “They don’t get involved in hiring and they don’t get involved in admission decisions. They don’t get involved in the operations and the daily life of the school because that’s not governance.”

Practically, however, the Board’s governance starts within different Board committees. “There are various committees of the board that are charged with oversight of different things,” Dini said. “There’s an Investment Committee that oversees the endowment of the school. There’s the Development Committee which helps with alumni relations and fundraising.” Some committees are made for one purpose, while others exist as a permanent foundation for the Board as a whole. “We have ad hoc committees, which are committees that are only there for working on the specific goal that they have,” Crow said. “And then we have regular committees.” As new members enter and exit the Board each year, the Education committee typically serves as a foundation for trustees to examine a wide range of facets across the school. “Generally, all new trustees will serve on education because it gives you broad exposure to everything that’s happening — all the programs in campus life and all the academic and co-curricular programs,” Dini said. “Everything from student travel, to Character and Leadership education, to health and wellness, to the Wilderness Program.” Although it’s her second year as President, Crow has served on the Board for almost three decades, fostering meaningful relationships the whole way. These, along with the Board’s commitment to the school, keep the Board going. “There’s a lot of trust and respect on our Board for each other, and I think that people do a really good job of listening to and learning from each other,” Crow said. “Everyone has the best interests of St. Mark’s in mind, and people are really thinking about how we stay on our mission.” STORY Toby Barrett, Will Pechersky, Austin Williams ARTWORK Cooper Cole PHOTOS Courtesy Development Office Archives

ST. MARK’S GIANTS (Front row left to right) Morris Spencer, Tony Roosevelt, Cecil Green, Patricia McBride, Clay Johnson, (middle row) former headmaster Arnie Holtberg, Robert Hoffman ’65, Spencer Taylor, Ralph Rogers, (back row left to right) Barney Young and P. O’B Montgomery, Jr. ’38 pose for a picture after a meeting.

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Alan Schoellkopf ’91 Chair, Development Committee

Carl Sewell ‘02 At Large Member

Jeffrey Hillier ‘76 Vice President; Chair, Exec. Committee

Board of Trustees, Executive Committee members

Lydia Addy Chair, Education Committee

Paul Genender ‘87 Secretary

Taylor Wilson ‘81 At Large Member

spotlight:

Education Committee

two school programs prepare a presentation for the committee, and each department is covered on a three-year rotation. “The faculty and staff who are going to be presenting each month prepare materials to give us an update on where the department is currently,” Education Committee Chair Lydia Addy said. “We ask questions and engage in discussion. What’s funny is that my biggest job is to keep meetings on schedule — there are so many interesting things to discuss, so they never feel long enough.” As Dini emphasized, the committee pays careful attention to the lines

Clark Hunt ‘83 At Large Member

Ryan Robinson ‘86 Chair, Facilities Committee

spotlight: espite being the only committee without decision-making capabilities, the Education committee is the largest on the Board and typically seen as an introduction for new members. “If somebody is coming onto the board, either as an alum or as a parent, they immediately get immersed in learning a lot more about how the school operates from top to bottom,” Dini said. “And then, if someone has particular expertise, they might also serve on finance or on investment or perhaps on facilities.” The committee’s specific operations are unique — every five or six weeks,

John Rocchio Chair, Investment Committee

Katherine Crow President

Harlan Cohen ‘66 Ex-Officio, Legal Advisor

Eric Kusin ‘00 Assistant Treasurer; Chair, Audit Committee

LEADING THE PACK The 15 person Executive Board meets on a more frequent basis than the full board and has slightly different powers and duties.

Fraser Marcus ‘72 Chair, Committee on Trustees

Lawrence Gardner At Large Member

David McAtee II ‘87 Treasurer; Chair, Finance Committee

Financial Advisor

between governance and administration. “We don’t make recommendations for curriculum,” Addy said. “That’s just not our job. We’re just there to provide the forum, provide the audience and provide the discussions. David [Dini] and John [Ashton] are at every single meeting so they can hear what’s on people’s minds.” Just as the committee is an introduction for board members, it serves a similar purpose for faculty members. “Teachers aren’t really involved with the Board, per se, so it’s really nice to give them the opportunity to engage with us once every three years,” Addy said.

LEADERS PAST Allen Cullum ’64, Patricia McBride, Harlan Cohen ’66, Tony Roosevelt, (back): Ross Perot, Jr. ’77, Robert Sinclair ’74, former headmaster Arnie Holtberg, Carl Sewell ’61 and George Bayoud ’73 share a meal at a past presidents lunch.

arlan Cohen ‘66 holds a unique position in parallel with the board. As an alumnus, Life Trustee and former Board President, Dini emphasizes how significant his help has been. “Harley was valedictorian of his class, worked on The ReMarker, and has had a long legal career,” Dini said. “Now, he provides this service as legal counsel, which he does completely voluntarily. He provides a tremendous amount of pro bono legal advice to both the school and the board, and he’s at every single meeting.” Cohen describes himself as having responsibility for the legal matters that affect the school, both in positive and negative ways. “The recent building of the new science center is an example of helping with positive legal matters — we had to deal with building contractors,” Cohen said. “Other times we might have to deal with problems that arise from inside or outside the St. Mark’s community.” Cohen feels that the role

he plays goes even beyond advisor. “Over the last number of years, in particular with my predecessor Marty McNamara, this role has been as much or more counselor as it is adviser,” Cohen said. “Apart from dealing with legal matters, we’ve acted as somewhat of a sounding board to school administration, and in particular, the headmaster. David [Dini] and I will talk frequently about matters that aren’t specifically legal in nature.” When asked about specific legal matters he’s assisted with, Cohen referenced the development and expansion of the school. “In the past, we’ve been helpful with the financing that’s been used to further the school’s physical evolution,” Cohen said. “We’re also responsive to the auditors with respect to potential liabilities they focus on when they’re auditing financial statements. I think you can say that we’re certainly involved with the business and financial aspects of the school.”

ICONS (Back row) Elvis Mason, Dr. P. O’B Montgomery, Jr. ’38, Barney T. Young, Morris Spencer, Spencer Taylor, Robert Hoffman ’65 and (front) Robert Decherd ’69, Cecil Green, Patricia McBride and former headmaster David Hicks sharing stories in a past presidents meeting in 1988.

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the remarker december 10, 2021

SCOUTING AWARD STANDING WITH HONOR Burke and Perry-Miller stand next to the scout masters who recognized their efforts and awarded them the William T. Hornaday Silver Medal.

The scout’s journey

Sophomore Baxter Perry-Miller and senior Spencer Burke received national recognition for their efforts as boy scouts. They developed massive individual projects in the name of conservation. Both scouts have spent years working towards this award – and they’ve finally achieved it.

enior Spencer Burke and Sophomore Baxter PerryMiller have the same mission: to help save the planet. And they are willing to put in hundreds of hours to accomplish it. They both received the rarest award bestowed by the Boy Scouts of America: the William T. Hornaday Silver Medal. Since 1975, there have been only 168 William T. Hornaday Silver Medalists. To earn the award, both Eagle Scouts had to design, develop and complete four conservation projects. Here’s a look at their projects and coordination with environmentalists, organizations and volunteers. Dawson Yao: Why did you want to win such an award and what did you do to win? Baxter Perry-Miller: I have always been interested in conversation from a young age. I earned the award because I conducted four different conservation projects. One at the Trinity River Audubon Center, where I set up an outdoor trash and recycling system on the trails, a battery drive where I collected over 420 pounds of batteries, quail research, and a conservation project at the lake Lewisville environmental learning area.

SD: What are the most unique skills you have learned along the journey?

DY: How did you get into scouts? BPM: I have loved conservation and the outdoors from a young age. I found the scouting organization to be a great way to get into the outdoors and I find the outdoors so peaceful.

SB: I earned every single merit badge. With that, obviously, comes a variety of skills. I’m pretty experienced in blacksmithing, aviation, electronics, fly-fishing, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, woodworking and so much more.

DY: What have you gained from these projects?

STORY Shreyan Daulat, Dawson Yao PHOTOS Courtesy Spencer Burke

BPM: After completing these projects, I have been able to think more quickly on my feet, and I have become a far better leader because I have learned to delegate, instead of doing everything myself. I have also learned to be more paitient. DY: What was the most difficult Merit Badge to receive? The most interesting? BPM: The hardest merit badge was the cooking merit badge. The most interesting one was the First Aid Badge, and in general, I really just enjoyed all the merit badges I got. Shreyan Daulat: Why did you pursue scouting? Spencer Burke: If you have the ability to change the world in a positive way and make a true impact, then you have a responsibility to do that. SD: Why are you so interested in helping Solitary Bees? SB: Global warming and climate change were the main factors causing the decline of Solitary bees. It is very difficult for a teenager to affect that on a massive scale. What I can change, though, was loss of habitat. SD: How has scouting altered your everyday life, and has it defined you as a person?

HOLDING THE PLAQUE Perry-Miller stands with the plaque that has the medal embedded inside of it.

SB: Every day, I recite the Scout Oath and Law, and I try to live by it as much as I can. It has quintessentially defined who I am as a person.

Baxter’s projects:

About the award:

1. Recovering resourves at the Trinity River

The William T. Hornaday Awards are a series of awards granted by the Boy Scouts of America for work in conservation and ecology. It is the highest service award a minor can earn in the Boy Scouts. Only 1200 medals have been awarded in the program’s more than 100 year history.

Audubon Center

2. Establishing a city-wide battery disposal drive 3. Preserving bobwhite quail habitat at Lake Lewisville 4. Constructing apiaries at Bonton Farms in South Dallas

SCOUT BROTHERS Perry-Miller and Burke were given the award together. They have shared similar scouting experiences over the years, and they enjoy working together.

Spencer’s projects: 1.

Installing 100 Solitary bee nesting boxes

2. Removing invasive plants at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

3. Raising awareness about Pollinator Bee decline, and

establishing Pollinator Bee habitats along the Northaven Trail

4. Raising and releasing hundreds of northern Bobwhite quail into the Blackland Prairie

the remarker december 10, 2021

culture

arts &

my instagram A look at junior Sam Adams’ photography from his Instagram account, @sam_adams_ photography_ In his own words:

FUNDRAISER RESULTS The proceeds from this year’s McDonald’s Week Nov. 15-18 that benefit Austin Street Shelter:

This was shot on a piece of acrylic bottle that allows a really nice reflection. I was seeing a lot of my friends shooting things in black and white, but I wanted to do something different; that’s why I went for something blue. It’s a visually pleasing image, and it’s simple.”

• $15,000 raised, not including dinner nights • 2000 meals donated • 500 t-shirts sold • 200 wrist bands sold • 150 cars washed

MCDONALD’S WEEK Co-Chairs Murphy Paul, Silas Hosler and Trey Stager stand with Roland Parrish, the owner of the McDonald’s on Preston Royal (top left). Junior study buddies Keshav Krishna and Henry Baxter catch up on homework at McDonald’s (top right). Raffling away tickets for prizes such as a Playstation console or Rangers tickets, juniors Jake Bond and Aditya Goel show some of the money they have raised (above).

culture in brief My family and I were driving back from Florida, and there’s a little river in southern Alabama that we’ve crossed over multiple times. The morning I took this photo, we were up early trying to get back home and just happened to stop by some steam that was rising off a river. There was a little sunrise lingering in the back, and it was really pretty, so we stopped, turned around and went back and got a couple pictures of the scene.

CHOIR PERFORMANCES The Upper School Choir performed at Evensong Nov. 14. In addition, the Choir will have Lessons and Carols Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. Led by Upper School Choir Director Tinsley Silcox and Choirmaster Glenn Stroh, the Choir will also perform at NorthPark Mall Dec. 16 in the Dillards Court. CANDY DRIVE RESULTS The Candy Drive received 810 pounds of candy to donate to the Salvation Army, surpassing last year’s 600 pounds. This was the most candy the drive has received since the tornado of 2019. In addition, the gift drive has been taking place. The Community Service Board and Student Council promoted the drive through a video in Upper School assembly. In addition, they are offering incentives such as class points to the grade that brings the most gifts. Community Service Board members stand outside of Lower

School and Nearburg Hall to collect gifts before school. The gift target this year is 2022 gifts, in honor of the Senior Class.

All competitors will play the same material, and they will be judged based on their ability to perform the material.

ORCHESTRA CONCERT The orchestra performed a holiday concert in Decherd Auditorium for the first time in two years Dec. 3. Everyone at every level performed in the concert. The concert returned to its original, in-person format, as opposed to last year’s online concert.

CHRISTMAS COFFEEHOUSE The annual Christmas Coffeehouse will take place 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Black Box Theater. Students will showcase all forms of musical performance, poetry, stand-up comedy and more. Hockaday students and performers are invited. Christmas themed cookies will be provided by the Elevated Cooking Club.

ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA Beginning Jan. 27, the Texas Private School Music Association will hold the All-State Orchestra competition. The TPSMA is an organization that facilitates competition between private schools. This competition serves to highlight individual talent in the Orchestra. Covid-19 forced the TPSMA to hold digital auditions last year. However, this year will see a return to in person competition.

CHAPEL COUNCIL VISITS PLACES OF WORSHIP Beginning Dec. 14, various members of the chapel council will be attending different places of worship. These places include the Potter’s House, a Hindu Temple, and the Temple Emanu-El. These visits will primarily be led by seniors Abhi Jain, Enoch Ellis, Benjamin Gravel and Cooper Cole all the way through May.

inside 18The movie buff

This was a photo that I took in the morning while I was walking on a beach in Florida. I ended up shooting a couple pictures at some birds that were flying overhead. You can see an interesting abstract pattern of the swirls in the clouds. It’s interesting to see two pelicans just alone, going throughout their journey and flying up above.

for the arts enthusiast Next week Today South Dallas Cultural Center presents Arts, Eats, and Beats Aso Rock Market presents Culture Fridays Game Night Saturday Grinchmas at Grandscape — family festival and movie night The Elf on the Shelf at the Winspear Opera House Sunday Annual Posada at Latino Cultural Center Dallas Sightseeing Walking Tour about culture, history and architecture Monday Christmas Lights and sips by Chocolate Tours continues Tuesday Lotería night at Oak Cliff Brewing Company

UPCOMING December 25 Christmas Day Kwanzaa celebration December 31 New Year’s Eve National Fruitcake Toss Day January 1 New Year’s Day Walk Your Dog Month begins Apple Gifting Day January 25 Elton John Tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, at American Airlines Center Opposite Day January 26 Denton Black Film Festival ZORRO at the Rose Marin Theater Fort Worth Mayra’s Noche Latinas at the Round-up Saloon and Dance Hall

headliners videogames

Wesley Irons has seen more movies than the average person. These are his recommendations.

movies Among Us (PS4/PS5, Xbox)

Dec. 14

Rift Keeper

Dec. 17

Rainbow Six Siege

Jan. 20

Spider-Man

Dec. 17

American Underdog

Dec. 24

Cyrano

Dec. 31

The 355

Jan. 7

Gong Splat

Dec. 17

Night Call

Jan. 7

Brightside

Jan. 14

Heavy Steps

Jan. 21

19Newsies MUSICAL

An inside look into the first joint St. Mark’s/Hockaday musical in two years.

22astroworld

Are concerts more dangerous than they used to be?

concerts

albums Gatlin Brothers

Dec. 13

Chris Cagle

Dec. 17

Allen Stone

Jan. 19

New year’s Reflections

Out with the old, in with the new ‘New year, new me’ — a phrase so cliché it sometimes seems to transcend time itself. Setting New Year’s Resolutions is a common tradition in America, though keeping them is less popular. We’ve asked students and faculty about their New Year’s resolutions and the highlights and obstacles of 2021. The first half of last year I wasn’t doing that well in my classes. But after New Year’s, I told myself that I’m going to work really hard to get my grades up. Then, I studied a lot the second semester and I got straight A’s.

The coolest thing I did... My dad and I shot an elk for the first time on New Year’s Day.

The coolest thing I did... I went to a flyfishing camp with a friend where we went throughout Montana and Wyoming fly fishing. It was really fun and changed my view of nature and enjoying the little things in life.

Marshall sudbury 7th grader

My resolutions last year... to read an hour a day. My favorite book is the Warriors series — my favorite cat is Bramblestar.

My resolutions for next year... to learn how to help people, work hard and build a good work ethic in school and in sports.

Next year... I’d like to get even better at reading.

The coolest thing I did... I really enjoyed our Grandparents’ Day Jeopardy games. My favorite part of 2021... not having any hybrid teaching. My least favorite part of 2021... So far, I don’t think I’ve had any yet.

Mac connatser 4th grader

Jack Frary Freshman

Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day

It’s all relative compared to last year. This year has been spectacular — I have no complaints. Especially coming back after Thanksgiving, taking our masks off.

Jan 14 - Literary Festival Literary guests Rhett Miller ‘89, Lauren Groff, Calvin Watkins, Masi Asare and Bob Hass visit campus.

Paul MLakar Math Instructor

Jan. 25 - Short Squeeze Investment bank overextension and organized action by communities such as Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets subreddit causes a monthly stock price spike of 3000%. Feb. 10 - Winter Storm A winter storm system from the Pacific Northwest triggers power failures in Texas.

Jan. 6 - Capitol Insurrection Following the election, protesters storm the U.S. Capitol building.

Jan. 20 - Inauguration Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

Feb. 19 - Paris Agreement President Biden uses the executive order on his first day in his office to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

RECAP | 2021

Looking back As 2022 quickly approaches, we’re obliged to look back and consider the wins and losses, the songs and movies and the many, many obstacles of 2021 — essentially, everything that made this past year unique. We’ve taken a closer look at the year’s events to learn more about what happened, why those things happened and how they might continue to affect our lives in the future.

s the clock ticked over to midnight on the morning of Jan. 1, 2021, the world breathed a huge sigh of relief. With 2020, a year full of controversy and uncertainty, out of the way, there was nowhere to go but up. Sure enough, little by little, things slowly began returning to normal, especially in and around 10600 Preston Rd. As McDonald’s Week made a comeback, Commencement was held in person, asynchronous learning was discontinued and Homecoming returned, smiles got a bit wider all across campus. Eventually, they could even be seen after the school adopted a mask-optional policy after break. Now, entering 2022, we look back on the many events and experiences 2021 brought to campus and beyond. STORY Jonathan Yin, Will Spencer, Grayson Redmond, Ian Dalrymple PHOTOS Creative Commons, ReMarker Photography Staff GRAPHICS Jonathan Yin

indepth

March 1 - McDonald’s Week After being pushed back from November, a modified McDonald’s Week is held on campus with the theme of “McGhostbusters.”

March 16 - AAPI Movement After a shooting spree of three Atlanta massage parlors that killed six Asian women, protesters rally together against anti-Asian hate.

March 10 - State Mask Mandate Texas controversially lifts mask mandates and prohibits local governments from enforcing such mandates.

I made the gold team in basketball. We have a really athletic class, so I was really proud to be on the team since I’ve played basketball for a long time and worked really hard at it. My favorite part of 2021... getting back to school and not having any more online learning. Because I’m new this year, I got to meet a lot of new friends and got to be integrated into our community. My resolutions last year... to get on technology a little less and spend more time with my family. I think I’ve improved on that a little bit and have been more involved in trying to make connections with my family a little bit by putting down the phone. My resolutions for next year... I should not only talk to my family more, but make sure they know I’m thankful for them and show gratitude whenever I can.

I didn’t have any New Year’s Resolutions, but I have gotten a lot faster — now, I’ve been able to get in 10th place when we run in PE. Binders have probably been my favorite and least favorite part of this year. It’s my favorite because it helps us organize our stuff and everything, but it’s my least favorite because it’s another thing to carry.

Mason Coyle 4th grader

I was fortunate to go to Greece for a week for the first time, which was just phenomenal. It was my first international trip in forever because of COVID that messed up travel. To finally get to see the Acropolis and the other sights was a great experience.

Ford Robinson 7th grader

Bijaan Noormahedi Junior

Highlights: the best of 2021 An unmistakably unique year is bound to produce some unmistakably unique happenings. We’ve looked at the past year’s television shows, movies and games and selected the few that we deem to be the most influential and the most memorable.

Butter BTS

SOUR

Olivia Rodrigo

MONTERO Lil Nas X

Red (Taylor’s version)

DONDA

Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve Happy New Year! Nov. 29 - Updated Mask Policy Upon returning to campus after Thanksgiving break, the school has opted to make masks optional. Oct. 23 - Homecoming Upper Schoolers and their dates gathered at the House of Blues for the first Homecoming dance since 2019. Sept. 1 - Demilitarization President Biden pulls military out of Afghanistan. Aug. 29 - Hurricane Ida Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm, makes landfall in Louisiana Aug. 23 - First Day of School All students return to campus.

Aug. 3 - Pecos The sophomore class ventured to the New Mexico wilderness on the annual Pecos trip, which was pushed back one year due to pandemic concerns.

July 23 - Olympics Begin The 2020 Summer Games are held in Tokyo, Japan, after being postponed due to COVID-19.

Kanye West

Taylor Swift

Outer banks SEASON TWO

Shang-chi Marvel Studios

Netflix

Attack on Titan

Squid game Netflix

July 11 - Billionaires in Space Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson goes to space, beating out rival Jeff Bezos by nine days.

Dune

Legendary Pictures

MAPPA

June 1 - Last Day for Faculty and Staff

Retro bowl New Star Games

League of legends Riot Games

CLash ROyale

May 27 - Commencement Commencement is held for the Class of 2021, with Lieutenant General Steven Shepro as the speaker.

Supercell

Chess

Chess.com

Hades

Supergiant Games

May 22 - Marksmen Ball Seeking to minimize risk from COVID-19, the Markmen Ball is held iin Spencer Gym with a modified schedule.

March 30 - STEM Conference The STEM Conference is held in an online podcast format, featuring eight guest speakers.

May 19 - Senate Bill 8 Signed The Texas Heartbeat Act is signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, barring abortions once the fetus’ heartbeat is detected.

April 9 - Spring Play Upper School drama students perform Treasure Island for small audiences and an online live stream.

April 28 - Cum Laude Twenty seniors of the Class of 2021 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society.

May 10 - Israel-Palestine Conflict Tensions between Israel and Palestine result in an outbreak of armed conflict between the two groups. A ceasefire came into effect May 21, but fighting has since resumed.

16,17

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the remarker december 10, 2021

movie buff

A film fandom spanning decades After hundreds of hours spent in front of the screen, Upper School science instructor Wesley Irons has a movie fascination that eclipses most. We sat down with Irons to dive into his passion and hear some of his takeaways from over the years. Will Spencer: How and when did you really get into film? Wesley Irons: In high school, I went to Blockbuster a lot, when there were Blockbusters. Old movies at that time were from the 80s and 90s, and I would just get Oscar winners. That’s where it started, and then it just spread out from there to movies that were not necessarily Oscar winners. I would get interested in one thing, but then that wouldn’t be enough, so I would get interested in what influenced that thing and then what that thing influenced. So, if I’m getting into Martin Scorsese films, it’s interesting to ask, ‘Well, what films did Martin Scorsese like?” WS: What are some of your favorite genres? WI: If I had to list a personal favorite genre, it would be film noir. I love those seedy, dark expressionist films, mostly from the 40s and 50s. Film noir is postwar American cynicism sort of leaking into Hollywood. I really just love the feel and atmosphere. Some styles of film are super realistic, and some are super crazy and unrealistic, like fantasy films. It’s an in-between world. WS: What’s your preferred method for watching films? WI: I do have a lot of DVDs and Blu-ray, which I wouldn’t claim is antiquated, but people buy DVDs less now because almost everything is digital. I just like to have it as a collection, idiosyncratic as it may be. So I buy them. I’ve got a lot of Criterion Collection DVDs and Blu-rays. WS: Can you tell me a bit more about the Criterion Collection? WI: The Criterion Collection goes back to the 80s. They restore a lot of forgotten, foreign or lesserknown films. They put a lot of money into them and get a definitive edition of the movie and release it. It used to just be DVDs and Blu-rays, but now they have a channel and a streaming service as well. WS: Who are some foreign directors more people should know about? WI: Ingmar Bergman is probably my favorite filmmaker, a Swedish director. He’s had a long career, but his type of film would be more philosophically interesting films — films that make you think. He was an atheist, and his father

was a Lutheran minister, so he dealt a lot with questions of religion. WI: [Akira] Kurosawa’s films are easy to get into. He did Rashomon, Yojimbo and The Seven Samurai, films that were really popular in the West. WS: What are some major differences between older and newer films, beyond the obvious technological difference? WI: Thematically, new films and old films cover the same kind of stuff. The censorship of the Hays Code was pretty strict, so in the 40s, you’re going to get a lot of censoring. After the 60s, anything goes in [American] film, but when you enter into foreign films, anything goes the entire time. WI: Black and white films are just like silent films in that they weren’t just bad technology; they were an art form in their own right. Most artistic black and white films you wouldn’t want to see in color because that would really ruin the aesthetic. It’s the same with silent films: You wouldn’t want to hear them because that would ruin the art that they’ve perfected. WS: What are some of your favorite silent films? WI: My go-to is The Passion of Joan of Arc by Carl Theodor Dreyer. I would recommend all of his films. He’s one of those transcendent filmmakers. If people think of silent cinema as just lacking sound because of technological problems, I would show them that film from 1928 as the pinnacle of silent film achievement — as an art form all on its own. I would also recommend Sunrise by F.W. Murnau as the pinnacle of drama in the silent era. I also love, of course, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films. I can’t get enough of those; they’re fantastic. WS: What is so special about silent films? WI: Without sound, they had to do a totally different method of storytelling and definitely a different method of acting: pantomime acting. A first attempt at a drama film as a silent movie might make a young person giggle, just because it’s weird or different, but, if you allow yourself to get into it, [directors of] silent films can be masters of storytelling. STORY Axel Icazbalceta, Will Spencer PHOTO Evan Lai

KICKING BACK Holding countless movies under his belt, Irons is used to hunkering down with a snack in front of the screen to take in the next film of choice.

films

ranking

Irons’ movie fandom spans almost a century, with films on his list ranging from 1926 to 2005. Here are 15 of Irons’ must-see movies from over the years. Movies

Director

Year

The General

Buster Keaton

1926

The Rules of the Game

Jean Renoir

1939

Out of the Past

Jacques Tourneur

1947

Strangers on a Train

Alfred Hitchcock

1951

Paths of Glory

Stanley Kubrick

1957

Playtime

Jacques Tati

1967

The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola

1972

Stalker

Andrei Tarkovsky

1979

GoodFellas

Martin Scorsese

1990

The New World

Terrence Malick

2005

The ‘Star Wars’ premiere: a unique experience of the classic’s first showing by Aaron Liu ove it or hate it, everyone has heard of Star Wars. The film series has gathered a large following ever since the release of its first film in 1977, and it is still continuing to this day. But before the fanatics, merchandise and spin-off shows, Star Wars was just one movie. Trustee Master Teaching Chair Lynne Schwartz had the opportunity to watch one of the first showings of the franchise—before the film was even released to the public— and has followed the series ever since. When the original film first began advertising, Schwartz recalls the subtle campaign it took. “All you would see in the Star Wars ads was just, in the corner of a billboard or in the newspaper, a small advertiwould say ‘Star

Wars is coming,’” Schwartz said. Despite the lackluster advertisement, Star Wars became a topic of interest among Schwartz and the people around her that knew. “There was a lot of excitement generated about this Star Wars ad, like a ‘What’s going on here?’ sort of buzz,” Schwartz said. Before long, Schwartz was met with a special opportunity: watching the first ever full-length premiere of Star Wars. “One day, my buddy Dan called me up, and he happened to work at the Academy Awards Theater where the Screen Actors Guild used to meet for the Academy Awards ceremony,” Schwartz said. “So he calls me up and says, ‘The theater’s going to have a screening of that new movie Star Wars for the Screen Actors Guild on Saturday. Do you

want to come? I can let you in.’” Joining famous actors and actresses like Sally Field and Charlton Heston, Schwartz watched the first official showing of the film and was amazed by the quality of the movie. “After the movie ended, there were a couple seconds of dead silence,” Schwartz said. “And then the whole audience got up and started screaming and yelling and climbing on their chairs and high fiving each other. They were so amazed by the whole thing because it was so different from any film they had seen before. It was such a cool episode.” Schwartz distinctly remembers how different the movie felt, and the impression it left on everyone present. “It was so different from anything

I’d ever seen,” Schwartz said. “Even the first few seconds of the film, with the slanted introduction that came down, was something we had never seen before. The fighting with the spaceships was the most realistic anybody had ever seen.” While she’s not the biggest fan of the recent installments in the Star Wars franchise, Schwartz remains an avid fan and believes that the film marked an important step in the movie industry. “The production values were just amazing,” Schwartz said. “Nowadays, these kinds of action scenes are pretty run-of-themill, but, at the time, it was so innovative and so different that it astonished everyone. I really loved the first few films, and it was truly unlike anything I’d ever seen at the time.”

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the remarker december 10, 2021

Newsies Musical

A newsworthy musical

Production for the upcoming musical Newsies has begun. We talked to director Marion Glorioso, musical director Tinsley Silcox, choreographer Alvaro Carranza, lead actors Xander Bowles and Eleanor Lockhart and crewmembers James Then and Henry Baxter.

PRACTICING LINES During a line reading of a scene, the cast of Newsies practice a scene where Jack Kelly (sixth from left, played by Xander Bowles) and the other newsies decide to go on strike.

How would you describe your role in the play? Tinsley Silcox: I’m the musical director for Newsies. That means I’m in charge of teaching all the music for the show, assembling an orchestra and getting them prepared to work with the [drama] students in the week before production. What is your job on set? James Then: We build the set for the musical or any props that need to be built, and those can range from large to small. Henry Baxter: I go through the light and sound cues, which is pretty important for run week and the actual musical. Alvaro Carranza: I’m the choreographer. I plan all the dancing involved in the show. I create moves, and then the actors dance those moves. JAMES THEN

What’s the hardest part about your job? JT: I would say the hardest part is conceptualizing the set pieces and thinking about how they interact with the actors. Planning is very hard because we have a small crew, so it’s hard to plan and coordinate on building days. HB: Having consistency with the lighting is important. If I mess up, it’s very noticeable, especially with something like a spotlight. Xander Bowles: My character, Jack, has a solo at the end of Act 1. At the very end, there’s this massive climax note that is just really difficult, so the most difficult part is probably just the singing. It’s a pretty vocally demanding role. Alvaro Carranza: Coming up with a dance. I ask myself, “Does this move show what we’re saying in a moment?” If, in the song, we’re singing about how we’re going to march up to The World [the play’s fictional news publication] and confront them, we don’t want the actors to use an inviting gesture. xander bowles What’s your favorite part about your job? TS: The most rewarding thing for me is taking a group of people that have never worked together and turning them into a group. By the end, it is a beautiful ensemble sound. LIGHTS UP In charge of the lighting and sound cues throughout the musical, junior Henry Baxter operates the lights during one of the many rehearsals leading up to the big show.

Eleanor Lockhart: I’m most excited about the big dance numbers that I get to be in. I can’t tap dance very well, but I’m going to have to learn. Marion Glorioso: My favorite part of the process is watching the cast come together as an ensemble and really start to rely on and trust each other. That happens usually about three weeks into the process, when people are starting to form friendships on and off the stage. JT: My favorite thing is when I’ve completed a set and I start seeing the rehearsals before show week. I can finally see all of the work that I’ve done manifested into something other than just a bunch of wood on a stage. Eleanor lockhart What other roles have you played in the past? EL: For St. Mark’s shows, I was Prudence in Stardust my sophomore year. I was also in chorus freshman and sophomore year at Hockaday shows. AC: I act in murder mystery shows. Some of them are Best Laid Plans and The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. I’ve just recently done a Bollywood performance at PepsiCo. I teach musical theater in theaters around here, and I’m also an instructor at Dallas Summer Musicals. Do you think you would be friends with your character in real life? EL: I think I am my character in real life. XB: I think I could sell some newspapers. I’m a pretty creative person, and that’s definitely an important part of being a salesman. Sometimes, when the headline isn’t great, you have to find a way to sell it. Are there any major challenges with organizing Newsies? MG: The newsies are supposed to feel like a powerful army of kids that are fighting for their rights, so the size of the cast is significant. You have to figure out how you stage the Black Box in a way where you’ve got 30 or 40 people on the stage in a way where the audience can still see the main action of the Marion glorioso play.

STRIKING A POSE The cast and crew of Newsies line up on the set for an after-rehearsal photo. Newsies will be performed Feb. 3-6.

Why choose Newsies? MG: I wanted to pick a show that really highlighted some of the male voices that we have on campus. We have some really strong singers here. I also thought that, in the time we live in, the power of the press is huge, and I wanted us to examine how we use headlines to sway an audience. I also wanted to examine how people who are viewed as a lesser class are treated in the world we live in. What’s your favorite moment from Newsies? MG: I think my favorite song is “Seize the Day.” There’s this wonderful moment where Davey, one of the lead characters, looks at this group of boys and says, “Now’s the time. Now’s the time that we stand up for what we henry baxter believe in, now’s the time that we come together and make our mark and take a stand.” They band together and stick it to the man. TS: “Seize the Day” starts with this amazing solo. The show is at a critical point towards the end of Act 1. It’s about all of the newsies getting the inspiration to do the right thing.” STORY Ian Dalrymple, Will Spencer PHOTOS Tiger Yang

SETTING UP Working together to finish set construction, senior James Then, junior Henry Baxter and choreographer Alvaro Carranza drive in the final screw.

culture

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the remarker december 10, 2021

THE ART OF

STORYTELLING This year’s Literary Festival is set to be chock full of engaging events to attend and interesting people to hear. We’ve interviewed the personalities involved and inquired into how the event is organized.

Leading behind the scenes Though their efforts aren’t always immediately obvious to the community at large, it takes a great deal of effort from many people to make a literary festival like this as good as it can possibly be.

or over a decade, the Literary Festival has connected artists from a variety of backgrounds with students each year. The Literary Festival will continue as a two-day event Jan. 13-14. According to Victor F. White Master Teaching Chair David Brown, these guests will be the main focus as they visit classrooms. “The class visitations happen on Thursday and Friday,” Brown said, “so students have a more direct and personal connection with the writers.” The writers will tend to visit classes that match their specialties, offering students experiences unique to their visiting writer. “A couple of years ago, one of the writers was a playwright, and so he visited the drama class,” Brown said. “This year, one of our writers is also a science writer, so we may try to get him into a couple of combined science classes.” David brown On Thursday night, Brown, Headmaster David Dini, Upper School Head Colin Igoe and the student leadership of the Literary Festival will host the five writers for a welcome dinner off campus. The dinner will lead into an event on campus. “We call [it] the Writers’ Forum,” Brown said. “We hold it in the Science Lecture Hall. It’s open to the whole Dallas community. We will advertise it so that adults can attend, and it will be a conversation that I will have with the five writers.”

The Q&A formatted panel will last from 7:30 to 9 p.m., with copies of the writers’ books provided by Interabang Books. “If you consider yourself a reader, you need to know about Interabang,” Brown said. “They’re a small bookstore that used to be within walking distance until the tornado tore it down a couple of years ago. They eventually reopened over on Lovers in [the Pavillion On Lovers Lane] area, and they have a really fine bookstore there.” After the forum in the Science Lecture Hall, the writers will sign books at the entrance. The event will then segue into a student-led assembly on Friday morning for students and adults. “There will be an assembly for the whole Upper School in Decherd,” Brown said. “Like what I did with the writers on Thursday night for the adult community, the junior leadership, Keshav [Krishna], Aadi [Khasgiwala] and Bijaan [Noormohamed], will conduct the panel discussion with the writers in Decherd.” Keshav Krishna Krishna descirbes his role in the literary festival as one that’s involved in nearly every aspect of the process. “I’m the director, so that means I work in tandem with Mr. Brown, the rest of the co-chairs and the sophomores,” Krishna said. “We coordinate end-to-end: We decide which authors get brought onto campus,

arrange for their travel and accomodations and we host panel discussions.” Three of the writers will also read submissions from the Literary Festival Writing Contest, a collection of student-submitted fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. “The three writers who served as judges for the writing contest,” Brown said, “... will meet one on one with the three winners: the nonfiction winner, the fiction winner and the poetry winner. It’s a great opportunity to talk with a professional published writer.” At the end of the school day, the library will host the writers for a casual reception. “There’s a reception at the end of the day in the library after school,” Brown said, “just kind of an informal tea or cider. It’s a last opportunity for any students and teachers to connect with the writers through the library. That goes from around 3:30 to maybe 4:15.” Brown says he enjoys many different aspects of the event, from talking to the writers to guiding student leadership. “[There are] three things that I enjoy about it,” Brown said. “The first is getting students involved. It is largely student-led, and it was a student initiated event that was started by a student years ago. Second, I get to bring writers to campus that I really like. And the third thing, and this is maybe my favorite thing of all, I get to pick them up and take them back and forth to the airport. I get to talk with them in just relaxed, fun ways. I never would have had that opportunity were I not sponsoring the Lit Fest.”

Writing contest winners

To see the contest winners’ full entries, scan this QR code.

Hoping to snag a winning title, students submitted short stories, poems and essays to the festival’s writing competition. The three winners, who will be awarded audiences with the visiting scholars, sat down with us to talk about their pieces. Nonfiction

Fiction

William Fitzpatrick

‘Among the Mountains’

ccording to senior William Fitzpatrick, “Among the Mountains” relates his experience in the mountains of Chile to the bond he shares with his father. Fitzpatrick says the story’s setting helped him to explore his relationship with his father. “The main theme is about my relationship with my dad.” Fitzpatrick said. “Even though I’m not the biggest into playing catch on the front lawn and that kind of thing. It’s about what creates our bond. It’s about being comfortable with that, and not having to do certain things to fill certain roles.” Fitzpatrick’s initial story involved an incident over eight thousand miles away in Alaska, but the two stories began to merge as he wrote. William fitzpatrick “Initially, I was going to write about a completely different time when I was skiing in Alaska,” Fitzpatrick said. “One of my dad’s skis popped off, and he just started sliding down this ridge toward a cliff. That was going to be my main climactic action.” After some consideration, however, Fitzpatrick decided against the mixed story, opting to tell a more accurate account of his trip at the expense of dramatic suspense. “I didn’t think there needed to be a super climactic ending,” Fitzpatrick said. “I liked how it ended right there.”

Poetry

Tomek Marczewski

Samuel Eluemunoh

‘Neighbours’

arczewski’s preferred writing process normally begins with character building, but for this story, he took a different approach. “My writing process really differs from story to story,” Marczewski said, “but usually, I’ll try and create a character and put them in a situation in which I can slip in their thoughts to give the reader a sense of what kind of their backstory they have and who they are. But for this story, it was a little bit different I just sat down and wrote the first thing that came into my head.” Marczewski believes that the most difficult aspect of the writing process is the execution of his ideas. “It’s much easier to have Tomek Marczewski a good idea than to put that idea down,” Marczewski said. “For this story in particular, I had several great ideas for really deep characters, but when I started to write about them, I realized that I didn’t really know them at all.” His favorite part of writing stories is the freeing feeling he gets. “It’s very cathartic,” Marczewski said. “It’s almost distracting to be able to shut out the events of your own life and immerse yourself in someone else’s. For example, I was very stressed when I was writing this, so the story allowed me to take a break from it all and put myself in someone else’s shoes.”

‘Father, What Did It Feel Like?’

n his poem, “Father, What Does It Feel Like?,”Eluemunoh explores the emotion and struggle of killing another man. “It’s about a father explaining his journey and troubles as a child soldier,” Eluemunoh said. “He was trying to explain to his son what he had to go through, in a way to justify him killing a person.” Eluemunoh took inspiration from his FAMILY MAN Samuel Eluemenoh father’s experiences as cites his father, Francis Eluemenoh as a special influence on the poem. a child in Nigeria. “The poem is based on my own father,” Eluemunoh said. “He was 14 years old at the time of the Nigerian Civil War, and he had lost his arm during the war. I always used to ask him how he lost his arm, but when someone is seven, you don’t really tell the whole story.” Another theme in his story are questions and answers. Eluemunoh said he didn’t have a clear idea of what his father truly dealt with until he could understand his answers. “It never clicked until recently,” Eluemunoh said. “My dad might have killed somebody. He had told me about his regrets, disgust and struggles during the war, but one thing that stuck with me is that he said that he felt free.”

culture

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the remarker december 10, 2021

Meet the Literary Festival panelists The five scholars coming to campus are extremely diverse in their areas of expertise, interests, hobbies, personal projects and backgrounds. We sat down with three of the five and discussed the stories that have made them the literary experts they are today.

Christopher Boucher

n author of three novels, Cristopher Boucher, the brother of Upper School history teacher Bryan Boucher, is the editor of both a nonfiction collection, More Alive and Less Lonely: On Books and Writers, and a literary journal, Post Road Magazine. Boucher’s first writing experience came when he first got a computer, allowing him to explore story-writing through a new lens. “When I was I think 12 or 13, we got our first computer,” Boucher said. “That was when I started writing, and I realized that I could make this object that looked like a book. I wrote what was probably just a long ‘short story’, but I thought it was a novel. I printed the whole thing out, and then I stapled every page into a notebook so that I had this ‘book.’” Boucher attributes his tried and true writing process to a former teacher’s sagely words of advice. “There’s a saying out there that a lot of teachers say to their students,” Boucher said, “which is ‘writing is revising.’ I think that makes a lot of sense. I certainly keep that in mind when I write.” Boucher says his later writings center around the theme of surprise. “I don’t know if you’ve ever read Franz Kakfa’s Metamorphosis,” Boucher said. “He has a character in the first sentence waking up, and he’s transformed it into a gigantic insect, and I always really admired that story. I try to convey that surprise to the reader. My first book has a talking Volkswagen. The first chapter of my most recent book has these big, giant,

MASTER OF SURPRISE Christopher Boucher splits his time between teaching classes at Boston College, writing for novels or in journals and managing the Post Road Magazine.

floating faces in the sky.” Boucher says he also learned to guide readers to ask questions, rather than trying to provide an answer to those questions he found intruiging. “This was a big lesson for me as I started writing,” Boucher said, “because I always thought that the writer has all the answers, and that my job as a reader was to acquire the answers that the writer has. Most writers are writing to try to figure something out, or to try to understand something better, or maybe even just to put words to something that’s difficult to articulate difficult to name.” Boucher asserts that sharing his experience with readers is a highlight of his writing career. “I feel really lucky to be able to write books and to have those books read by readers,” Boucher said. “So I’m really looking forward to the Literary Festival because being able to engage with readers and talk about the craft is a real privilege.”

Sherrie Zantea

Josh Harkinson ‘95

hroughout his life, Josh Harkinson ‘95 has traveled the world to tell stories and leave an impact. From America, to Madagascar, to India, Harkinson loves traveling as much as he loves to write. An avid environmentalist, he has founded a summer immersion camp in India and a sustainable kombucha company to help people reconnect with the world, culturally and environmentally. Even though he no longer professionally writes, Harkinson now spends his time with his family in California. For most of his career, Harkinson has been a journalist. He started writing on campus, taking his experiences to college. “I really started while I was in college, but even at St. Mark’s, I wwrote a few things for the ReMarker,” Harkinson said. “Besides that, I wrote a little bit for the college newspaper at Duke, mostly for the weekly insert that was in long-form journalism.” After earning his undergraduate degree, Harkinson wrote for the Bainbridge Island Review, a small city newspaper before he went to UC Berkley to further study journalism. After a stint for the Center for Investigative Reporting, Harkinson moved on to the Houston Press. “Unfortunately, it’s not in print anymore,” Harkinson said, “but it used to do a lot of long form, investigative and narrative journalism. I worked there for three years before I joined another publication Mother Jones as a staff writer in 2006.” Harkinson felt the need for a break from professional writing, which he attributed

STORYTELLER Josh Harkinson ‘95 has been involved in journalism for over 25 years. He is the Outdoors Director for Camp Cardamom, a culture and nature-based camp in India.

to his misdirected motivation as of late. “Nowadays, I don’t write a whole lot,” Harkinson said. “I just felt like I was starting to write for the wrong reasons. I was looking at how many clicks stories were getting or how much impact they’re having, and I wanted to just take a break from all of that.” Although he has covered a wide array of topics over the years, from anti-logging tree sitters to the Trump campaign, Harkinson has found a common thread motivating his research and story-telling as a whole. “Journalism is interesting for a lot of different reasons,” Harkinson said. “I really like the writing part where, once you’ve collected a lot of great material, you sit down and figure out how to weave it into the story. It gives you the opportunity to do things that you might not do otherwise. The interviewing process and everything is important, but, ultimately, telling a story is the most important. That’s the part that I like the best.”

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aving been involved in slam poetry competitions for over a decade, Sherrie “Candy” Zantea is also the CEO of Dallas Poetry Slam. “I have coordinated five international events for the COORDINATOR Zantea began country’s Women of the World Poetry Slam,” Zantea Brent P. Johnson’89 her literary said, “as well as the international team poetry slam. I am career by Guest Writer also the founder of the Poetchella International Festival.” writing Zantea first discovered poetry during school, where poetry and Rhoda Janzen is the competing in she spent her time playing with words. #1 bestselling author of slam poetry “I was 12 years old, and I was bored in one of my Mennonite in a Little Black competitions junior high school classes, as most kids are,” Zantea said. herself. Dress, which was Publishers “Some kids doodled, some kids wrote letters and I was Though she Weekly Best Book of 2009, Indie Next Pick, and finalist continues to writing poetry. I didn’t know anything about literary for the Thurber Award for Humor. Translated into write poetry devices, but I just liked to put these words together. five languages and released in twelve countries, the on a frequent As she got closer and closer to graduating, Zantea memoir spent fifty weeks on the New York Times basis, her role became increasingly interested in poetry and engaged in slam poetry bestseller list. Janzen has authored Squeeze the Sponge: with other poets. competitions The No-Yawn Guide to College Writing and a collection has shifted “I would do little poetry events on campus as a high of poems, Babel’s Stair. She has contributed many to that of a schooler,” Zantea said. “I started to get more serious essays, interviews, and reviews to anthologies, team coach about it, and I put on events in my university. Then and a contest magazines and radio. Her poems appear in journals I started performing at these local clubs and poetry organizer. such as Poetry, Southern Review and Yale Review. venues in Dallas.” Though slam poetry competition rules vary from area to area, Zantea says that a spirit of informality is shared by most slam poets. “It’s very informal,” Zantea said “We select five Slam poetry initially sprung up in informal poetry random people out of the audience. They’re the judges, recitations in Chicago. Since then, it has evolved into its Author no qualifications needed. current organized form. The Dallas Poetry Slam team Each participating city creates a team, with members originated in this way, but has since expanded into a Sam Kean is the New York chosen through smaller competitions. center for culture and service. Times bestselling author “Individual poets compete all year round to be a part “We have a teaching artist program. We have of six books, including of that city’s poetry slam team,” Zantea said. “So Dallas community service. We also have nonprofit partnerships The Icepick Surgeon, The has a slam team that is created every year, competing with companies and literary organizations,” Zantea said. Bastard Brigade, The Dueling Neurosurgeons and The against other teams in the country in a national “That’s what we’ve grown into, and the team is a part of Disappearing Spoon. His books have won multiple competition.” it.” international awards for literary science writing, and The poems can’t be mastered in a day, so Zantea Just as the slam organizations grew in the United his work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “All works with her team to hone each performance over States, competitions begin to grow, altering the slam Things Considered” and “Fresh Air.” His podcast, The time. poetry landscape. Disappearing Spoon, debuted at #1 on the iTunes charts “I’ve been coaching for 15 years now, so I’ve “It started from a small scale, locally,” Zantea said, for science podcasts. coached 15 teams,” Zantea said. “They have to write “and now it’s international, with the same type of rules certain pieces, rehearse those pieces and use strategy and formats. I‘ve changed it some since I’ve taken over in terms of placing certain poems in certain places the National Poetry scene in terms of STORY Will Spencer, Nikhil Dattatreya, Morgan Chow in the competitions. All of that goes into some of the putting on the events, but the basis PHOTOS Will Spencer, Courtesy David Brown, Sam Eluemunoh preparation that I’ve seen over the years.” [stays the same].”

Rhoda Janzen

Sam Kean

culture

arts &

the remarker december 10, 2021

Live Music

Mosh pit danger for concertgoers? After the tragic outcome of a recent Travis Scott concert, the safety of attendees at live music events sparked concern among the public. With a largely young audience, concerts hold significant popularity among students like junior Blake Backes and Rockwall junior Amelia Dare.

en dead. The youngest was 9 years old. At Travis Scott’s music festival Astroworld Nov. 5 in Houston’s NRG Stadium, concertgoers’ worst nightmares came true, with nearly a dozen deaths and hundreds more being treated for injuries. With such terrible consequences at a widely popular festival, can people feel safe going to concerts in the future? For junior Blake Backes, who was at the Head in the Clouds Festival when the news of Astroworld broke, the concert experience was still new. “The first concert I went to was this summer in Montana,” Backes said. “We only went because it was ten miles from where we were staying over the summer. Head in the Clouds was my second.” Backes says he kept up with the news of Astroworld as the festival began, taking note of security measures at both Astroworld and Head in the Clouds. “I heard the news the day after, on Saturday, which was the first day of the festival, and that was very tragic,” Backes said. “I also knew that just from pop culture in the past, that was going to happen someday, with constant reports dating back years of [Astroworld] just being out of control.” Once he passed the checkpoint, Backes felt much safer seeing the security measures put in place by the venue organizers. “The second I got in, I wasn’t as worried because I saw that it was a much larger space,” Backes said. “There was more space to breathe. I wasn’t crowded in by barricades. I felt pretty safe once I looked around and saw that wasn’t going to happen here.” In addition to adequate space for the crowd, the venue reminded concertgoers to distance themselves, fielded EMT teams in advance, and kept security at the front to prevent people from rushing the stage. Despite a heightened awareness of what could go wrong, Backes said that concert planners overlooked flaws in security. “There was a safety concern at the metal detectors,” Backes said. “We saw people with gigantic video cameras walk right through. There were two guards for all five [detectors] … it did feel a bit unsafe. If a weapon was brought in, these detectors would not go off.” Seventeen-year-old Amelia Dare was excited to go to Astroworld after she got the tickets last spring. She didn’t really expect anything out of the ordinary for this concert, other than a more intense atmosphere SHOULDER TO SHOULDER Rockwall junior Amelia Dare watched the event from further back than most as artists Travis Scott and Drake performed at Scott’s music festival Astroworld in Houston’s NRG Stadium. than she was used to. “I was kind of excited just because I knew it would be fun,” Dare “That was a different dynamic,” Dare said. “People wouldn’t let me out and people said. “I’ve seen Lil Baby, and I only had lawn seats, but there was still somewhat of a pit. were giving us dirty looks and stuff. Somebody even said, ‘You guys can’t rage’ or I knew it would be a different dynamic at Astroworld. I didn’t know what to expect, but something stupid like that.” I did know probably to stay towards the back because I knew it would be crazy.” Four days later, Dare went to Tame Impala’s concert at the American Airlines Center. Even before Travis Scott took the stage, Dare felt in another artist’s set some of the At first, her parents weren’t on board with her going, but after some conversation, she tight spaces and danger that would eventually come. convinced them she would stay safe at the concert. “We’d gone to Don Toliver’s set at around four, it started at “I saw Tame Impala on the ninth [of November], and I was pretty anxious going 4:30, I think,” Dare said. “We’re trying to get closer to the front, into it, considering I had floor seats,” Dare said. “But I knew Tame Impala’s music is a and it gets super tight, and there’s a lot of people in there, it’s different kind of thing. People aren’t going to necessarily be moshing and going crazy gated in. When you go to a concert and they make a big circle and like at Astroworld. I was very anxious going into it. I knew nothing was gonna happen. then everybody jumps in. They did it in two spots, and people But there’s always that worry in the back of your mind like, ‘Oh, my god, what if I get were pushing from in front of us and behind us, so it was super trampled to death?’” tight.” Luckily, her concerns turned out to be misplaced and she had a good time at the Dare immediately felt the threat of staying in the crowd for concert. much longer. “But after the show started, I had my own personal space,” Dare said. “I wasn’t AMELIA DARE “We couldn’t breathe,” Dare said. “Some girl had a fanny touching anybody and I was considerably close to the front. [Astroworld] did change my pack across her chest, and I had to help her put her phone in. She couldn’t reach, that’s perspective a little bit, but after seeing Tame Impala four days after that had happened, how tight it was. We were like, ‘We have to get out of here, we can’t breathe.’ After that, and having a good time and being safe, I felt good.” we stayed towards the back.” Unlike at other concerts, the fans at Astroworld were less sympathetic to people STORY Nikhil Dattatreya, Axel Icazbalceta trying to leave the crowd due to feeling unsafe. PHOTOS Amelia Dare

PACKED TOGETHER Dare also saw artist SZA perform live from afar along with a large pack of viewers during the event.

the remarker december 10, 2021

reviews

ratings &

MOM & POP CHRISTMAS SHOPS

Small stores, big contenders

When the annual Christmas shopping season rolls around, it’s often easiest just to retreat to Amazon to find quick and easy gifts for your friends and loved ones. For those who might appreciate a small-time shopping feel, however, we’ve reviewed a few local shops. HOLIDAY WAREHOUSE

Pricey products, professional vibe

didn’t expect the parking lot in front of a family-owned Christmas decoration store to be full in the middle of November, especially given the lackluster look of the front. But when I walked in, the shop’s interior spoke for itself. From ornaments to trees to lights to sculptures, the Holiday Warehouse offers just about everything a Christmas decorator could ask for. The main section of the store includes the typical home decor like snowmen and nutcrackers. It also includes more well-designed and expensive collectible figurines. Through a doorway on the right side of this room lies the Christmas trees, ribbons, and lights. The ribbon offerings could not have been more extensive, with every conceivable design paired with every conceivable color.

Also, the melody and lyrics of Christmas classics rung through the store, enhancing the holiday atmosphere. The Holiday Warehouse also has an online shop, where customers can find the same products that they could find in person. These purchases can either be picked up from the store or delivered. The only drawback of this warehouse is the cost of many of the items. Even though the merchandise is high-end, I do not think they warrant multiple hundred dollar price tags. In conclusion, if you are looking for a holiday decorating store with friendly staff and exceptional products and are willing to pay the prices, Holiday Warehouse should be your first stop.

Holiday Warehouse 2819 W 15th St. Plano 844.835.6725 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Weekdays

Grade:

APATTON’S CHRISTMAS TREES

fter I stepped out of the car and began to approach the large tent on Mockingbird and Abrams, I hardly had time to see a single Christmas tree before I was greeted by a friendly man who identified himself as the manager of the store. He began to tell me about the store and the Christmas trees they sell and eagerly answered any questions I had about the place. It was obvious that he had been there a while and only reaffirmed my impression that I had found a store with longtime Dallas owners and longtime Dallas employees. As for the layout of the store itself, it’s about what you’d expect. Inside the tent were a bunch of Christmas trees arranged in a grid so that there was walking space left in between. Every appliance in the shop was purely functional. The interior

BISHOP STREET MARKET

Diverse offerings, but not much else

f I hadn’t researched Bishop Street Market before I walked into the store, I would have automatically assumed that it was a chain. That is, in some ways, a good thing: The store’s layout was neatly arranged, but it lacked some of the charm one would expect from a small-scale store. Out of holiday season, the Bishop Street Market is a general gift store, but the the switch that occurs at the beginning of the Christmas season is dramatic. When I was there in midNovember, the store was already converted into full Christmas mode. I couldn’t see anything anywhere that wasn’t red, white or green. The store sells most things that one would want to decorate a house with. There’s enough variety—from candles and soaps to miniature snowmen and themed coffee mugs— that most could find something

appealing, and the items that the store stocks are unique enough that just browsing around is an enjoyable experience, even without buying anything. Tucked away on a table in a corner of the crowded Bishop Street Market is a small sign that says “No Pictures.” I would recommend any prospective shopper to heed this warning. If you don’t see the sign and take out a camera, like I did, you will soon experience the wrath of the owners. Overall, Bishop Street Market is a fine place to go to if you just want something nice to put up in your hallway. However, the store lacks some of the friendliness and charm unique to small-scale establishments. If you’re in the area, it might be worth a visit, even if you don’t bring anything home.

STORY, PHOTOS Will Spencer, Darren Xi

Bishop Street Market 419 N Bishop Ave. Dallas 972.983.7313 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m Monday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m Wednesday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m Friday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m Saturday

Grade:

B-

Simple store with a friendly feel of the store ironically lacked any ornamentation at all. There was one employee who was quietly stringing up white LED lights on one of the largest trees in the building. I asked him what he was doing, and he told me about the company’s service of stringing up the lights for you before it leaves the property. So, if you’re feeling lazy, the store is more than willing to accommodate you for an added charge. Speaking of charge, the cost of the shopping at Patton’s Christmas Trees is probably the biggest drawback here. It seems like the small-scale nature of the operation and the professed quality of the product come at a cost to customers. If you’re strapped for cash this holiday season, you might be better off going to a larger place like Lowe’s instead.

Patton’s Christmas Trees 6444 E Mockingbird Ln. Dallas 214.232.7587 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Grade:

B+

opinion

editorials &

MAIN EDITORIAL

Keep our books challenging

Recent statewide challenges surrounding ‘obscene’ books in school libraries reinforce the importance of keeping books that challenge traditional narratives and open students to different perspectives in our curriculums

t the beginning of November, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to state education officials asking for the introduction of statewide standards to ensure “obscene content” is not found in books available to students in Texas public schools. Later, Abbott asked for criminal investigations of “pornographic books” in Texas public schools. This letter came after similar calls from other state officials, such as Republican State Reps. Matt Krause and Jeff Cason. At first glance, these objections from Abbott and other state officials appear reasonable and desirable. The problem arises when their accusations are put under scrutiny. The books called into question — along with the 850-book long list Rep. Krause sent to the Fort Worth Independent School District — were overwhelmingly written by women, people of color or LGBTQ authors. Beyond this first fact, looking more closely at the books on Krause’s list reveals that informational books — books teaching about puberty, the Roe v. Wade case and the history of racism in the United States in an education manner — make up a noninsignificant portion of the list. Furthermore, Abbott’s calls for criminal investigations into these books simply will not hold water in a court of law. Texas Penal Code Section 43.24, titled “Sale, Distribution, or Display of Harmful Material to Minor,” states: “It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the sale, distribution, or exhibition was by a person having scientific, educational, governmental, or other similar justification.” The Penal Code also requires

that the material in question be “utterly without redeeming social value for minors.” Under both these subsections, any criminal investigation would crumble. Under the first quoted section, the “educational justification” defense is clear: these books were put in libraries so students could learn from people with different perspectives. Thus, there is “redeeming social value for minors” in these books, as the second quoted section requires. The flimsiness of any criminal case against these books suggests that the governor did not make this call for criminal investigation in good faith, but as a campaign stunt as he enters election season. Such political expediency by Abbott and other state officials has been a disturbing trend the past few months. Beyond the political aspect of these letters, these efforts represent a wanton attack on the representation of historically silenced voices — voices that have worked for decades to find their way into American literature — in school libraries. The need to hear these different voices is obvious: by listening to and learning from those with different experiences, perspectives and worldviews from our own, we learn and grow to be better, more empathetic people. Obviously, no one advocates for

pornography or other obscene content to be in the books offered to children. The issue comes when politicians hide behind the excuse of “protecting the children” to silence voices. Oftentimes, the more explicit passages in books serve the purpose of more clearly illustrating underlying themes in the book, and the discomfort that results from that passage is intentional. Only outside of comfort zones do people grow. We are fortunate to attend a school independent of the regulations and politicking of the public school system. We are fortunate to attend a school that challenges its students in the classroom so that they may grow to be better people by listening and understanding the perspectives of those different from them. In light of this recent outrage from state officials, we applaud the school’s continued dedication to provide students with books that may discomfort but will ultimately help us grow. We urge the school to stand strong in this crucial educational mission.

BANNED Two books central to the controversy, In the Dream House and Gender Queer were banned by Keller ISD and Leander ISD, respectively.

EDITORIALs

Thank you, English Department, for great senior English electives

e commend English Department members for their forward-thinking choice to create interesting, single-topic electives for fourth-year English students. These electives have allowed for true passion-based learning as students selected courses that best suited their interests. We’ve heard positive remarks from the teachers of these electives, who have enjoyed the opportunity to create curricula around topics they’re personally interested in. This passionbased teaching only adds to the deeper learning students have experienced. Moreover, these electives have served as a

great introduction to the college-level world of broad, unique course selections that many seniors are looking forward to as they research and apply. The diplomatic rollout of these electives was also admirable — students were able to narrow an extensive list of options through a simple vote, leaving a more class-size-friendly number of courses. Those unaware of the curriculum change might wonder how it was able to take place. Originally, alongside standard-level English classes, juniors could take AP English literature and composition and seniors could take AP English language and composition. Starting in the

2020-2021 school year, however, the two courses were combined into a single junior year class, paving the way for senior year electives. The Class of 2022’s AP exam scores speak to the success of this decision. AP English language scores were above the average of the last four years. AP English literature scores were just below the four-year average, but this course was traditionally taken by seniors before last year’s course change. Ultimately, we hope this is a permanent change and look forward to equal levels of success as students in the Class of 2023 and beyond make their own selections.

No masks after Thanksgiving good call, but must maintain vigilance

n light of promising public health conditions in our greater community, the school opted to become mask-optional after Thanksgiving break. We applaud administrators constant monitoring of our community during COVID-19, and their careful consideration in our return to normalcy. First and foremost, we would like to stress that the most important part of this new development is that masks are now optional — it is not required to wear a mask, nor is it required to not wear a mask. We strongly urge all members of our community to respect each others’ decisions, beliefs and potential health concerns. Under no circumstances should you feel pressured to either mask or unmask, either by others or this new policy. Of course, we applaud our community’s continued dedication and optimism in these trying times. This new policy is a result of our

collective efforts to normalcy. As the school year has progressed, students and faculty alike have done a phenomenal job vaccinating. In addition, as of Nov. 2, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine has been fully endorsed by the CDC for individuals between five and 11 years old, with full distribution of vaccines rolling out Nov. 8. And booster shots, available to all individuals 18 years of age and older as of Nov. 19, only serve to further protect our community. We strongly encourage any and all yet-unvaccinated individuals to seriously consider getting vaccinated if at all possible — it is our responsibility to help protect those in our community that are not able to receive the vaccination themselves. The effects of these new developments have been apparent: in the week of Nov. 21, Dallas County has reached a seven-day average

of just 152 cases, demonstrating a significant downward trend in new cases. However, the future of the pandemic remains uncertain — Dallas remains the second most unvaccinated major city in the nation, with 19.7 percent of the population that intend to remain unvaccinated. As we proceed in the school year, we urge the administration to continue this same careful consideration, and to not hesitate in reinstating stricter policies if necessary.

ON-CAMPUS VACCINATION STATISTICS Faculty/Staff: 98% 12th Grade: 80% 11th Grade: 75% 10th Grade: 86%

9th Grade: 85% 8th Grade: 80% 7th Grade: 82%

Source: Nurse Julie Doerge, as of Dec. 2

the remarker december 10, 2021

student newspaper of st. mark’s school of texas 10600 preston road dallas, texas 75230 214.346.8000 Editorial Board editor in chief AUSTIN WILLIAMS assignments editor WILL PECHERSKY editorials & opinions editor AXEL ICAZBALCETA head photographer EVAN LAI indepth editor JONATHAN YIN managing editors TOBY BARRETT PETER ORSAK publications photo editor EKANSH TAMBE Section Editors arts & culture, life & 10600 SHREYAN DAULAT WILL SPENCER health & sports ARJUN KHATTI DILLON WYATT discovery & stem, news & issues KESHAV KRISHNA MYLES LOWENBERG Focus Magazine editors MORGAN CHOW IAN DALRYMPLE Creative graphics director COOPER COLE Advertising business manager IAN MIZE Writers BEN ADAMS AARON AUGUSTINE NIKHIL DATTATREYA ZACK GOFORTH GRANT JACKSON AARON LIU NOLAN MARCUS GRAYSON REDMOND MATTHEW REED DARREN XI DAWSON YAO Photographers ZACHARY BASHOUR HUDSON BROWN CHARLIE ESTESS PATRICK FLANAGAN SAL HUSSAIN AKASH MUNSHI LARS OCHS OWEN SIMON NEIL SONG TIGER YANG Adviser RAY WESTBROOK Headmaster DAVID W. DINI audience The ReMarker is intended for the students, faculty, staff and alumni community of St. Mark’s School of Texas. Press run is 4,000 copies, with more than 2,600 of those mailed out to alumni, courtesy of the school’s offices of External Affairs, Development and Alumni divisions. opinions and editorials Editorials represent the views of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily those of the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty or staff. All personal opinion columns, bylined with the writer’s name and photo, represent the views of that writer only and not necessarily those of The ReMarker, Board of Trustees, administration, faculty or staff. online viewing www.smtexas.org/remarker podcast @focalpointpodcast instagram @remarkernewspaper reader involvement The ReMarker encourages reader input through guest columns and story ideas. Contact the appropriate editor for suggestions. letters to the editor Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged. They must be typed, signed and not exceed 300 words. E-mail submissions are not accepted. advertising Contact the business staff at 214.346.8145. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Inclusion of an ad does not represent an endorsement by the school’s administration, faculty, or staff or ReMarker staff members. membership The ReMarker maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, New York City, NY; National Scholastic Press Association, Minneapolis, MN; and the Interscholastic League Press Conference, Austin.

opinion

Defining the undefinable: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

ohn Koenig is one of many people I admire. No, he’s not the lead singer of Vampire Weekend. No, he wasn’t in Star Trek. And no, he isn’t Sarah Koenig, who narrated Serial. This Koenig is the creator of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a depressingly — but aptly — named attempt to fill the holes of the English language. It’s a website full of new words and definitions — and a book as of Nov. 16. I found it on YouTube, where he made the words real with pictures and videos. Here are a few of the ones I felt the strongest connection with: sonder - n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Watching this video again gives me chills. It’s so easy to get trapped in your own world, drudging through minuscule tasks like sliding your car’s gas cap open or scanning the refrigerator. But when you have that little moment — sonder — it makes your brain spin circles. Austin Williams Editor-in-Chief It happened to me on a bench in Central Park. When I was visiting at 12-years-old, I found myself in front of a pond called Conservatory Water, watching the little remote-control boats soar back and forth. When I looked up, I saw an older woman and her child, strolling across the pathway. To my right, I saw an old man petting a small dog tucked into the side of his light brown overcoat. I found myself surrounded by mazes — the complicated lives of the people around me. Each one was full of inside jokes I’d never learn, brainless rituals special to only them and deep emotions unique to their individual experiences. Thinking about all the absurd, meaningless things I do every day, it feels so impossible that every person I see does an equally enormous amount. dès vu - n. the awareness that this will become a memory. A small excerpt from the video: You were born on a moving train. And even though it feels like you’re standing still, time is sweeping past you, right where you sit. But once in a while you look up, and actually feel the inertia, and watch as the present turns into a memory — as if some future you is already looking back on it. The way Koenig captures feelings is ridiculous. I have a vivid memory of eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from a very specific ceramic plate with a blue circle around the outer edge, seated at the dinner table in my old house in Hong Kong. Looking up at the wall, I felt exactly as he describes, experiencing the inertia of something totally mundane as it became a memory I’d never forget. It was like I was filming the moment with my eyes, and I was aware of it even though it was completely unintentional. Having this defined in such a simple phrase is so satisfying. I could write for hours about what I’ve learned from these words. But I’ll never be able to capture the emotions they make me feel. If anything you read piqued your interest and you want to know more about Koenig’s extrapolation of life, you can find his YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/obscuresorrows The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows — thank me later.

editorials &

the remarker december 10, 2021

Familiar faces on stage: the importance of representation in media

ne Sunday, fourth-grade Morgan walked out of the barber shop with a particular bowl-shaped haircut that wasn’t perfect, to say the least. I didn’t think it was that bad when I looked at it from far away enough, but my classmates thought different. At school the next day, I was christened with a new nickname — Kim Jong-Un. I’m not even Korean. The phrase “Where are you really from?” has been thrown around a fair amount in my life, a hurtful statement that MORGAN CHOW Focus Editor spawns from the view that Asians are outsiders. But I’m American; I was born here, I was raised here, I live here. I belong just as much as any of my classmates. My heritage might be different, but isn’t that what being American has always been about? Think about movies you’ve seen and songs that you’ve listened to. How much of that content came from AsianAmerican artists? It goes without saying that the numbers are lacking. When I was younger, the situation was only worse. On-screen, I saw no Asian actors. The ones that existed played either anti-social nerds or master martial artists able to knock out entire armies with a single kick. On the radio, it was no better. The closest thing to representation was Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” a song still used exclusively for laughs. As a primarily music-focused artist, this lack of representation began to deteriorate my confidence. Everyone who looked like me became a doctor or a lawyer, so I thought that meant I had to become one too. Honestly, I started to

believe I was an anomaly because there was no one to tell me otherwise. There were no inspiring stories, no I did it and so can you speeches, no role models to mold my path after. Eventually, music didn’t seem worthwhile to this Chinese boy seemingly meant only for academic achievement. That was until I discovered the media company and record label 88rising.

person was a meaningful part of the trip, but the most unforgettable moment was when I first stepped foot on the festival grounds. Looking around the stadium field, the only thing I could think was, They all look just like me. The crowd, the stands, the artists on stage, they were all people like me. And for the first time, I didn’t feel alone.

When I first discovered them two years ago, I was opened to a world of I know I wasn’t the only one who felt people like me. I finally had the stories, that way. Out of the 30,000 people in the the speeches and the role models to guide crowd, there was someone else like me me along my own musical path. It was a who was inspired by their idols in front breath of fresh air, and their existence has of them. encouraged me to create and do things But maybe there’s another someone I had only imagined before. I created a who wasn’t at the festival, feeling stuck soundtrack, performed at a coffeehouse, between expectation and identity, waiting wrote my first song; I would have to find a familiar face on the stage. And never had the confidence to try any of it maybe someday I’ll be that familiar face, without them. encouraged by the familiar faces that In the first week of November, I had came before me. Maybe one day I’ll carry the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles on that legacy. and attend the company’s third annual music festival Head In the Clouds. This two-day event featured over 30 AsianAmerican and Asian artists from around the globe and catered food inspired by the open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia. Of course, getting to see ‘HEAD IN THE CLOUDS’ 88rising was founded in 2015 by Sean Miyashiro my favorite and Jaeson Ma as a music collective, connecting up-and-coming internet artists for the musicians. Since its founding, 88rising has become the premier label for Asian and Asian-American musicians in the United States. first time in

CARD

report rep ort Return of panini press, salad bar

Right side lunch line

Paninis always a great back-up and the salad bar offering greater freedom of choice, the return of these two greats of the cafeteria after nearly two years of absence is greatly appreciated.

Though it can serve to speed up the line when an entree dish takes up the right-most lunch line, when it’s occupied by a side dish, it proves to be a pretty big disappointment after waiting in line for a few minutes.

New Great Hall chairs

No faculty, student chapel talks

An unexpected surprise, seeing new chairs in the Great Hall added a nice degree of novelty to the lunchtime routine.

around the quad

STUDENTS AND FACULTY ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS

I would like to see the facility have a new weight room, locker room and competition gym. I would love if the gym had some sort of big screen where they could show graphics or pregame hype videos to bring more energy to the gym. Tate Laczkowski Senior, basketball small forward

The team will be ecstatic to be back indoors after two years practicing outside, and it would also be great if we had dedicated aluminum or rubber fencing strips with scoring equipment, as well as some new blades. Branden Song Junior, épée fencer

Always a welcome surprise, the lack of faculty and student chapel talks recently has been noticable and their return would be a great change of pace for the weekly service.

Q: What are some things you’d like to see in the new athletic center that will replace Hicks Gym? I really want to see a new 60-meter pool, but I also want to keep our current conference room in the natatorium. BRETT HONAKER Senior, swimmer and water polo center defender

The wrestling guys would like to see more mat space and a new and improved area to lift. Elijah Ellis Senior, wrestler

I want to see the return of the net between the two teams that kept the volleyballs from going to the other side. Will Shoup Senior, volleyball outside hitter

arly this month, our ReMarker editorial board sat down in the publications suite for our cyclical pitch meeting. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what was running through my head when I was brainstorming, because, in a moment of partial insanity, gross overconfidence and flat-out stupidity, I thought: I bet I could go vegetarian for two weeks and write about it. And, as you can tell by the title, the pitch was a smashing success. Frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen our Editorials & Opinions Editor Axel Icazbalceta as enthusiastic about an idea. Right then and there, Axel gave me a new name — Veggie Man. At the time, I thought of my becoming Veggie Man like being a superhero with incredible powers (which, in actuality, were extraordinary grumpiness and an enormous iron deficiency). I’m sure literally nobody else saw it that way, though. But, yeah, I actually ate no meat — no food products of any kind that contain beef, chicken, fish, pig or any other critter — for two weeks. Thankfully, I’ve now hung up my Veggie Man cape and retired. But every superhero’s got a backstory — here’s mine. I’d like to preface by saying that going vegetarian wasn’t a moral, religious or health-conscious choice. I completely understand the many reasons people are vegetarian, and I have a lot of respect for those reasons. No, like I said, not a whole lot of thought went into it. I think it was more something I wanted to try out of my own curiosity, like sticking my finger into an electrical socket to test if I could become the Flash, or maybe licking my hands after rubbing hand sanitizer on them to see if hand sanitizer tasted like Sprite as much as it looked like Sprite. Not that I’ve done those things. Who would? Definitely not me. Despite my haphazardness going into the process, I decided from the moment I left the pitch meeting that if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. No shortcuts, no cheating, no excuses of any kind. This meant weighing myself daily, recording all my meals and snacks, writing down notes about how I felt physically and keeping progress reports in case anybody wanted to check me. I soon found that the hardest part of being vegetarian, by far, was not giving up meat but finding anything to eat at all. Even with the school’s wide selection of

CARTOON Cooper Cole

opinion

editorials &

the remarker december 10, 2021

COLUMN

Toby Barrett, Veggie Man

For his own edification and the edification of the greater school community, Managing Editor Toby Barrett experimented with a vegetarian diet for two solid weeks. This is his story.

greens and savory non-meat options, finding things to eat at lunch without meat was tough. Plus, on the weekends, when I went to hang out with friends or went out to dinner with my family, I was limited to two or three salad options. So I — as a certified health genius — decided I would not really eat for the first couple of days. I dropped from my initial weight of 183.22 pounds to 178.84 pounds in two days. And that was no good. First of all, I’m 6’2”, so not eating is especially dangerous for me because when I have no energy I’ll fall asleep mid-walk and ram into something or I’ll simply keel over (which I did several times, as evidenced by the four different places where I skinned my knees the first week). Second, I still had schoolwork to do and found it extremely difficult to concentrate in class when my stomach growled loud enough for everyone in the Tri-State Area to hear. So, I think the vegetarian selection at lunch could use an upgrade. And not for vegetarian tourists like me — for people I’ve talked to who are committed to their diet but have a hard time finding something substantive to eat. Sure, I could always count on a trusty banana or a packet of carrots to satisfy my hunger, but after even 5 days, it got a little old. Thankfully, my family

accommodated me (although grudgingly) at home, meaning that dinners, breakfasts and snacks at home were all vegetarian. These included (but were not limited to) an impossible meat vegan nacho supreme, pinto bean stew, a soba noodle tofu dish, an impossible burger and good ol’ fashioned Papa John’s. Eventually, as the weeks went on, my weight rose a little bit, and I leveled out at around 182 pounds.

Toby’s homemade vegetarian eggs: scrambled eggs, fox point seasoning, Cholula, shredded cheese

Energy-wise, though, I noticed a huge lapse, particularly mentally. For the most part, I’m not a big napper, but in my free periods, I frequently found myself dozing off facedown on a table in the journalism suite or drifting off spread eagle on the beanbag in the senior lounge. This meant that I needed to adjust my schedule during the day to maximize the sleep I got at night. I got used to it around the end of the second week, but it was a tough hurdle. Physically, though, I did feel pretty good: I got very restful sleep, had more endurance when I worked out and generally felt a little more motivated. It’s possible that last part was because I procrastinated some things and had to get them done, but I’ll chalk it up to my Veggie Man powers. At the lunch following my 14-day sabbatical, the cafeteria was serving chicken breast, mac-n-cheese and brisket sliders. When I sat down at the lunch table with all of it piled on my plate, the

guys sitting near looked at me excitedly, waiting to see what my reaction to finally having meat again would be. I won’t lie — it was great. Fantastic. Boy, I missed it. But I don’t think my reaction really excited anybody. Honestly, it tasted just how I expected it would. The meat still tasted like meat. The world kept on spinning. So was the whole thing a waste of time? In terms of being productive, probably. In terms of my health — also probably. I’m glad I did it, though. That could be hindsight talking, but I don’t think it is. Because now I know that being vegetarian is hard. To the people out there who switch from eating meat to not eating any at all — you’re the real veggie superhero. I’m just an imposter. And there’s also something rewarding about knowing that vegetarianism isn’t for me after being vegetarian myself. I don’t have to take anybody’s word about it, nor will I have to wonder what it’s like. I did it, found out I don’t like it, and that’s that.

Beyond meat fries supreme: fries, jalapeños, fake barbacoa, tomatoes, vegan cheese

To me, experiencing stuff like this on your own is worth it. At the end of the day, we do only live once, as cliché as it is. So why not swap your usual burger for some broccoli for a couple of weeks and see what happens? Veggie Man out.

Follow The ReMarker on Instagram at @remarkernewspaper Also follow Focal Point at @focalpointpodcast and listen on most major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts

Sports

health &

LENNIE THE LION

Hangin’ Out With

Arav Rawat From winning state championships to training among Olympic athletes, this seconddegree black belt in taekwondo breaks down his tenured career in the ultracompetitive sport.

The face behind the mask

We all recognize it — the dark orange fur, bright blue eyes and fierce set of abs. After much speculation on who has been operating under the costume, Hockaday senior Sophia Rose LaCrosse reveals what it’s like to be Lennie the Lion. With 100-degree Texas weather, how did you manage the heat? I had an ice vest, but it’s so hot that it didn’t really help. If you even just start jogging for a few seconds, you’ll start hyperventilating, so I took a lot of breaks. I’d just go out every other quarter instead of being out there the whole time because I probably would’ve passed out.

Lions can also run at speeds up to 50 mph and leap as far as 36 feet. Do you have a similar athletic prowess when you put the suit on? I barely finished the three miles, so I would say no. But when I’m in the suit, I can do a few cartwheels, so that’s pretty athletic. The suit also gives me super strength.

What’s your favorite part about being the mascot? My favorite part about being Lennie is definitely when the little kids get really excited to see me, and they give me high fives. One of the games, I probably took like 200 pictures with kids in a span of 20 minutes.

What’s your best move combo? Because I’m tall, I like to keep my distance with a cut kit, which is like a side kick, and then combo that with a roundhouse kick after. Have you ever used your taekwondo skills outside of the dojo? I’m a pretty passive person. I don’t really try to get into fights. Taekwondo would somewhat help if I did, but kicking people in a real fight would be dangerous because they could just grab your leg and make you fall, unlike in taekwondo. What’s something most people don’t know about taekwondo? My friends always think you use your arms a lot, but taekwondo is 90 percent kicking. The only time you really use your arms is to push them off of you. Your socks have magnets in them, and your chest plate has a sensor. So, you connect with enough power, then you get points. Three points for a kick in the head, two points for in the chest and one point for a punch. What’s the craziest or funniest story you have from doing taekwondo? There’s this move called chopsticks. Pretty much, you kick the other person in the head and wrap your ankle around their neck. Then, you jump up with your other leg and snap your feet together. And someone actually pulled it off in a real match and won. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? That I have a blue belt in jujitsu. I pretty much just fight grown men on the daily and can beat anyone up. It gives extra depth to Lennie. Was there any specific moment from any game that you’ll always remember? One time at an away game, a group of 20 middle school boys beat me up, and it was really traumatic. One of them grabbed my tail, so I couldn’t move. I wasn’t able to escape for about five minutes until a parent intervened. I had to get an escort for the rest of the game.

On the bus before the game, you put your headphones in. What are you listening to? “Roar” by Katy Perry. Are you a cat or dog person? Definitely a cat person. I mean, Lions are big cats. Lions sleep up to 20 hours a day. How long do you sleep on average? I try to get 10 or 11 hours every night –– quite a bit.

Sophia Rose LaCrosse

sports in brief ALUMNI GAMES The Alumni games will make their return Jan. 2 after being canceled last year due to COVID-19. The games invite alumni who played for their respective sport to come back to campus and compete against the current varsity team. Alumni who played for the soccer, water polo and basketball teams will have the opportunity to come back to campus and look to defeat the current varsity squads. NEW SHOT CLOCK A new 35-second shot clock will be implemented in the 2022-2023 basketball season after the SPC Board of Directors approved it Nov. 4. This change will make the SPC the only conference in Texas and Oklahoma to use a shot clock. With the rest of the country having a 30-35 second shot clock, the SPC felt it was necessary to match that length. In a poll released by

the conference, 84 percent of basketball coaches approved of the shot clock. LACROSSE HIRE Trey Whitty has been appointed Lions’ varsity head lacrosse coach for the 2022-2023 school year. Whitty played lacrosse at St. Paul’s School for Boys and the University of Virginia, where he won a national championship as a team captain. After losing in the state semifinals last year, the team will play under Assistant Head of Upper School and interim head coach Jason Leneau for the upcoming spring season. SENIOR COMMITMENT Senior varsity basketball captain Tate Laczkowski committed to continue his playing career for Northfield Mount Hermon in a post-graduate year, announced Nov. 6. A post-graduate year is an extra year after highschool, before college, where student-

How both cross country and volleyball came out on top in SPC competition.

29THERAPY REVIEW

A look at three forms of physical therapy and if we think they’re worth it.

30MENTAL HEALTH

Tackling the psychological factors that play a role in an athlete’s performance.

STORY Peter Orsak PHOTO Evan Lai

for the sports fan athletes can better prepare themselves for the next level of competition. Northfield Mount Hermon has won five New England Championships in basketball over the past eight years and won the National Prep Championship in 2013. ALUMNI UPDATE Several winter athletes have already begun to hit their stride in their respective sports. Harrison Ingram ‘21 was named Pac-12 freshman of the week Nov. 14. Ingram has led Stanford in scoring in nearly every game so far this season. In addition to Ingram, Knobel Hunt ‘21 has started his soccer season with SMU and has helped the Mustangs become the 25th best team in the nation. Andrew Laczkowski 20’ has begun his first official college basketball season for the University of Pennsylvania after his freshman year season was canceled due to COVID-19.

inside 28FALL SPC CHAMPIONS

What character from the Lion King do you most identify with? Pumbaa.

What’s your favorite martial arts movie? The obvious one is Karate Kid, but I’d say probably Kung Fu Panda –– the first one.

Next week Today Varsity basketball vs. Bishop Lynch at home at 8:00 p.m. Varsity soccer at St. Mary’s Hall at 5:30 p.m. Saturday Senior Sahil Dodda competes in Eastbay Cross Country Championships at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA Varsity soccer at St. Stephen’s Academy team at 10 a.m. Varsity soccer at St. Stephen’s School at 3 p.m.

Next month January 2 Varsity basketball, water polo and soccer Alumni games at home at 2 p.m. January 4 Varsity soccer vs. Covenant School at home at 8:00 p.m. January 6 Varsity soccer vs. John Paul II at home at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday Varsity soccer at Greenhill at 6:30 p.m.

January 7 Varsity soccer vs. Prestonwood Christian at home at 7:30 p.m. Varsity and JV wrestling DISD Open at Hillcrest High School at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday Varsity swimming vs. FWCD at home at 5:45 p.m Varsity basketball vs. Yavneh Academy at home at 7:30 p.m.

January 11 Varsity soccer vs. FWCD at home at 7:00 p.m. Varsity basketball vs. FWCD at home at 7:30 p.m.

scoreboard 12/3/21

varsity soccer

3 St. Mark’s

points averaged at Mavs Fall Classic

Prestonwood

8.2

varsity swimming

283 St. Mark’s

21.1

12/2/21

rebounds averaged at Mavs Fall Classic

169

5.4

Lake Highlands

assists averaged at Mavs Fall Classic

12/3/21

varsity basketball

St. Mark’s

Arlington

points scored by senior captain Corvin Oprea in season opener Corvin Oprea

the remarker december 10, 2021

Sports

health &

Two for two

the remarker december 10, 2021

FALL SPC

As the only two Lions teams to make the SPC tournament this fall, both cross country and volleyball delivered exhilirating performances, bringing home two new first-place trophies.

Despite coming in as North zone third seed, volleyball triumphs over rival squads

ince 2018, Trinity Valley and the Lions each hold one SPC championship over the other. With no championship being held in 2020, these two powerhouse squads will have faced each other three straight times in the most important match of their seasons. Now, Nov. 6, the Lions have a chance to gain the upper hand. Fresh off of celebrating cross country’s dominant SPC victory earlier in the day, fans crowd the gym as the first set gets under way. Moments later, the Lions land the first set, 25-10. As eager fans continue to fill the bleachers, the Lions take the second set, 25-15. But Trinity Valley climbs back, closely winning the next two sets. While the teams trade points early in the all-deciding fifth set, a couple of clutch serves and defensive rotations for the Lions prove unstoppable. As the ball thuds on the opposing side’s net for the final time, the crowd erupts for the Lions’ second SPC championship victory of the day. Defeating the Trojans 3-2, the same score as in their 2019 SPC championship loss, the Lions have finally gained control over one of the SPC’s most enticing rivalries.

DROPPING THE HAMMER Senior captain Miller Trubey sends a fierce spike toward Trojan territory in the fifth and final set of the SPC championship match.

While the Lions ended up victorious, they still faced immense challenges throughout the season. After the team

experienced a rough loss to Fort Worth Country Day Oct. 26, they sat down to reevaluate their goals for the rest of the season. “Our coach sat us down the day after and just talked to us, which he has never done,” senior captain Will Shoup said. “He had never lost to them in 13 years of coaching, and we just had a conversation about what we wanted to do with our remaining season. It put us in a great mindset for the rest of the season and was definitely a turning point in our SPC run.” The Lions had the opportunity to play both Greenhill and Trinity Valley, who they faced in the last two rounds of the SPC championship, multiple times over the course of the regular season. “The advantage of not playing against very many teams during the season is knowing the teams we do play very well,” Shoup said. “We know their main weapons, what they like to do and how to shut them down. I think that helped a lot in the tournament.” While the Lions saw familiar competition for most of the championship, they faced the South Zone’s number two-seeded Kinkaid in the first round. “Kinkaid performed pretty much how we expected them to,” varsity volleyball head coach Darren Teicher said. “We knew that they were going to

be extremely athletic. They had several high fliers on their team, so we were hoping that our skill level would take over and be the difference maker in that first tournament game. In the end, our execution was a little cleaner, and we had less mistakes. That’s what got us that first win.” After two dominating wins in the first two rounds, the Lions still had to address some of the difficult aspects of Trinity Valley’s game plan. “They had a couple of really good lefty hitters, which is a personnel that can be hard to play against.” Teicher said. “Our main strategy was just to make them uncomfortable. We tried to serve at those guys as much as possible and did what we could to throw them off their game.” With COVID-19 disrupting the Lions’ aspirations for revenge against Trinity Valley last year, Shoup is glad that the picture has come full circle. “It feels great to finally beat them,” Shoup said. “We played them in the championship in 2018 when we won, but that was before my first year on varsity. Ever since I made varsity we have always been neck and neck with Trinity Valley, and to finally beat them after three years feels amazing.” STORY Arjun Khatti PHOTO Sal Hussain

Cross country comes out victorious on home course

very Monday and Wednesday afternoon of the season, 4:30 sharp, the varsity cross country team has travelled to one location — Norbuck Park. Stomping through tall grass, stray roots and impossible hills, each runner has grown accustomed to this place as if it were the back of their hand. So when Nov. 6 rolled around, the team knew just what to do. Every turn, hole and bump was accounted for. This was their home course. But simply knowing this course would not be enough. It would take an extreme amount of teamwork — the same teamwork it took to finish each one of those endless interval workouts — to pull this off. And after being stripped of the opportunity to compete for a championship in 2020, the Lions refused to waste this chance. With countless classmates howling from behind, the runners get ready to go. The five kilometers ahead was the only thing on their minds. Then, they delivered. Seniors Sahil Dodda and Fisayo Omonije and sophomores Raja Mehendale, Clark Cooper and Asa McCaleb all placed top 20 in the race, handing the Lions a 41 point victory over the second place St. Andrew’s squad. Head coach John Turek has won quite a few SPC titles during his time here, but he knows each championship was the result of hours and hours of hard work. “I think that we never get complacent in regards to our effort to stay at or near the top of the SPC every year,” Turek said. “That is a testament to the athletes who know they’re part of a program that breeds success. They feel obligated to continue that trajectory of success.” Senior captain Sahil Dodda, who placed second running in his second SPC meet, was happy with the results of the meet and thought the meet itself was an amazing experience. “It was electric, every time I came through a group of people there were definitely a bunch of St. Mark’s guys cheering me on,” Dodda said. “So it was just a lot of fun.” The abscense of Dodda and several other seniors leaves the team with big shoes to fill. However, Dodda is hopeful for next year’s squad. “I think that the team is going to be just fine

without us,” Dodda said. “As long as they find a leader on their team and someone that they can go to, I think they’re gonna do well.” Turek is sad to see the seniors go and acknowledges they will be hard to replace, but he shares Dodda’s belief that the team will continue to prosper. “Losing the seniors affects us in that they were not just good athletes, they were good leaders and role models,” Turek said. “But a part of their responsibility on the team is to develop the next generation, and they’ve done a great job doing that.” The Sophomore Class especially boasts a prominent group of runners that can take SPC by storm for years to come. “One of the encouraging things about the next couple of years is this consortium of sophomores that I have on the team who are really the nucleus around which we’ll build the team next year,” Turek said. “It is certainly something that gives us stability in the next couple of years.” With only a 20 minute drive time from school to the Norbuck Park course, many marksmen came to support the team. Turek believes that speaks to how special the school’s community is. “To run to participate in SPC in your backyard is a huge advantage,” Turek said. “The other huge advantage is being St. Mark’s. There’s something to be said for an all-boys school. The brotherhood and our support, intensity and love for each other are unmatchable.” Turek believes the help the team got from the encouragement from the fans cannot be understated and knows the support contributed to their SPC win. “When the team sees that kind of support from their brothers, it just gives them that much more strength,” Turek said. “Obviously, it worked for us pretty well.” STORY Ben Adams PHOTO Sal Hussain

HARDWARE Senior captain Sahil Dodda accepts his second-place medal from Athletic Director Sean Lissemore after cruising to the finish line in a time of 15:28.

Sports

health &

the remarker december 10, 2021

SPORTS REVIEW

Physical therapy: what really works? After a long week of sports, Lion athletes often look for ways to relieve their bodies of stress and pain. Health & Sports Editors Arjun Khatti and Dillon Wyatt and staff writer Darren Xi explore common therapy options in the area — from cryo to chiro to acupuncture. CHIROPRACTIC THERAPY

Cracks and pops ease temporary pain

by Dillon Wyatt he NFL and NBA jerseys hanging from Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine’s wall are a testament to the hard work and dedication they put into their practice, which in turn has attracted many pro athletes, including Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown. For anyone feeling the slightest pain in their body, this is the place to go. Opened by Dr. Camille Reagan, the clinic provides chiropractic, dry needling, shockwave therapy and many more ways to alleviate your

sports-related or general pain. I felt in good hands given the chiropractor’s extensive knowledge of the human body. With attentiveness and precision, he adjusted my body until I heard the satisfying crunch of my bones being realigned. Just so I wasn’t hearing random crunches all around my body, the chiropractors told me what just cracked, and why it is important to make sure I am at peak condition. Even though customers fill out a form before their appointment indicating where their pain is, the chiropractors make sure everything else is aligned and working properly. As my chiropractor continues to pop and twist my joints back into place, I begin to notice the pain subside. In order to continue feeling as good as new, the chiropractors set me up with a check-up a few days after the appointment to make sure everything went well. While the popping and crunching of one’s bones certainly feel uncomfortable, the temporary feeling flees, and you’ll feel as good as new leaving the clinic. Reagan Integrated Sports Med. 13396 Preston Rd. 214.948.4747 Call for hours Closed Sunday $185 for 45 minutes

ACUPUNCTURE

Grade:

A-

A nice nap and some improved mobility

by Darren Xi y doctor flicks my back as he sticks the sterilized needle into my skin. I hardly feel it. Five more flicks later, and he takes off the latex gloves and leaves to help another patient. I drift to sleep, the Thursday afternoon exhaustion getting to me. I wake 20 to 30 minutes later when I feel the slight pinch of my doctor pulling the first needle out. Five pinches later, and I groggily climb off of the foam bed. I put my shirt and jacket back on before scheduling another appointment with the receptionist. I found out that I had mild scoliosis back in June. I don’t experience any pain, but my back looks completely misaligned. My dad recommended that I get physical therapy, which included acupuncture. When done by a trained professional, acupuncture involves no pain, only slight discomfort, as long as the patient remains nearly motionless. And evidenced by my nap during each session, the slight discomfort fades quickly. If it were not for me laying on the bed so that my back faces the air, I would be able to

The Sports Pod 4302 W Lovers Ln. 214.862.1469 Call for hours Closed Saturday, Sunday $125 for 45 minutes

use my phone as long as I did not make large movements. I go to these sessions right before a climbing practice and, during the drive to the gym, the feeling of needles in my back lingers. Honestly, I can’t tell if I climb better during the practices after acupuncture, as my scoliosis almost never causes any pain or irritation in the first place. I do feel a bit more loose, and it takes less time to get warmed up, but that could also be the work of placebo. Similarly, I’m not sure if acupuncture really helps with my scoliosis, or whether other preventive measures have stopped the worsening of my mild condition. While acupuncture can provide benefits like improved sleep and pain relief, if it weren’t for my dad’s insistence, I don’t think I would be having needles stuck in my back every three weeks.

Grade:

B-

trainer

student

TAPING ‘EM UP Junior Silas Hosler has actively served as a student trainer this school year. Hosler (left) tapes up a wrestler’s ankle in the training room before practice.

“Seeing my brother go through all his surgeries and physical therapy inspired me to get involved and learn those types of things to be able to heal people. I’ve always been interested in sports, so this is just one way I can stay involved.” “I typically show up in the training room and assist anybody in there with either physical therapy or getting taped up. But I would say athletic training has opened up new opportunities for me. For example, this year, I’m the official trainer for the varsity wrestling team.” “My favorite part about it is it’s kind of a passion of mine that’s unique to me. I was kind of one of the kids that was able to help revive the program.”

INTERVIEW Ben Adams

CRYOTHERAPY

Quick and easy icy relief

by Arjun Khatti hile my experience with weekly ice baths over the course of the fall season certainly helped my mindset going into my first cryotherapy session, I was still very skiddish as I stepped into the chamber. But despite my fears, the three-minute session went by in a hurry. Before I knew it, I was back outside with a rejuvenated and energized sensation flowing through my body. Having done plenty of ice baths before, I can confidently say that cryotherapy is a step up in multiple ways; it targets the whole body, is way less time consuming and achieves drastically lower temperatures — anywhere from -166 to -222 degrees Fahrenheit — which provides much deeper muscle relief. While ice baths typically bring the body’s surface temperature down to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of 15 minutes, cryotherapy can get the body’s surface temperature down to 30

degrees Fahrenheit in less than a minute. Not to mention, ice baths are much more painful. Unlike the cold water of an ice bath, the super dry nitrogen gas used in the cryotherapy chamber provided a cold sensation on my skin without causing significant discomfort or pain. Another major factor to consider is the price — $25 for just three minutes of therapy. While this is easily one of the quickest ways to spend $25, it is also one of the better ways, especially for a student-athlete. After a tiring week of sprints on the basketball court and a long-distance run on Sunday, the muscle relief I felt was well worth the time and money. Stationed just minutes away from school, Cryo1one is the perfect place for student athletes to quickly and efficiently get the muscle relief they need. Cryo1one 6025 Royal Ln. 214.447.9727 Call for hours $25 for 3 minutes

Grade:

Sports

health &

the remarker december 10, 2021

Mental Health

Bearing the weight

The school offers numerous types of sports, many of which require athletes to carry a unique skill set. Aside from the physical skill, the mental skill of a sport can be drastically different depending on the sport. How athletes deal with this mental strain can control their success on the playing field.

aomi Osaka. Simone Biles. Calvin Ridley. Ben Simmons. While they each play sports with vastly different dynamics, they’ve all recently spoken out on the same issue: the draining mental challenges of being a professional athlete. Even though mental health in sports is certainly not new for many athletes, in recent months, the topic has gained much more attention in the media than ever before. According to experts, such as tenured clinical and sports psychologist Dr. Yolanda Brooks, this attention has caused a dramatic shift in the perspective of mental health in the athletic world. “Issues with mental health in sports have not necessarily been an upward trend,” Brooks said. “They’ve existed before, but there’s just been so many biases and barriers with these athletes to the point where it was never really exposed until recently. These superstar athletes speaking out on their issues has helped a number of athletes be willing and able to acknowledge their own mental health.” While the enduring psychological effects of sports are highest at the professional level, many high school athletes can experience similar issues. And as more and more star athletes continue to reveal their own struggles, this recent situation begs the question of how studentathletes on campus deal with the stresses of playing a sport. The athletics program here offers numerous types of sports with drastically different dynamics. Brooks believes that an athlete’s mental health can sometimes correlate to whether or not his or her sport is teamoriented. “I think the challenge for individual sport athletes is not so much a matter of the inability to make substitutions or get rest,” the mother of D.J. Brooks ‘02 and Corey Brooks ‘12 said. “The challenge arises when the individual is in an all-or-nothing Dr. Yolanda Brooks situation, which can feel more pressuring and more distracting when you don’t have someone else like a teammate actively supporting you while you play. On the other hand, teams are a social thing. Being connected with other people and having to fight in the trenches with that camaraderie is helpful for a lot of athletes.” Junior golfer Logan Johnson, who has been competing both individually and for the school, notes that a positive aspect of playing an individual sport is his autonomy. “I started playing an individual sport because it was

something I could do on my own,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have to go throw a football with other players or have set practice times. I can get work done on my own time.” Although Johnson has found success and enjoys golf as his main sport, he also has experienced the struggles of feeling isolated on the course. “Playing an individual sport is hard because it’s very easy to get bad thoughts and trip myself up mentally,” Johnson said. “Every single decision I make is on me, especially in a sport like golf. I started noticing experienced coaches watching me at tournaments when I was younger, and I would get super nervous. Now that I’ve gotten used to that feeling, I see it as good nervous energy and turn it into excitement.” There are days that I miss playing middle school sports because of how much fun I had. I was able to have a bond with teammates outside and in the sport itself. Logan johnson Junior

Brooks has worked with countless athletes from popular team sports such as basketball and football, as well as unique individual sports such as bull fighting. She notes that especially with individual athletes, it is important to constantly analyze the situation they are in. “The first things I ask are, ‘What do you see in yourself in terms of your strengths and weaknesses? How do you capitalize on the UNDER PRESSURE One of the many factors that can affect an athlete’s strengths and overcome some of the weaker mental health is the dynamic of his or her sport: individual means and team means. areas of your game?’ From there, we use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Brooks believes in the end, the most important thing Relevant, Time-Bound) goal model. My objective is to to address in an athlete’s mental health is the person’s life help the athlete understand how to not only be selfas a whole. aware but also complete self-analysis. This could involve “What I find so intriguing is that even though a talking to coaches, parents and teammates to get a full person might choose an individual sport as opposed to a understanding of their situation.” team sport, the issues that they’re dealing with are going Johnson sees himself doing his own form of selfto be pretty much the same because they’re human after analysis as he competes. Even if it’s just small thoughts of all,” Brooks said. “I try very hard to address the person encouragement to himself, he benefits from being his own in the player. People go through stages and phases of life, coach when there’s no one else to help him out. and sports are carried with that. Athletes transition from “I tell myself that I can’t let one bad score get in my high school to college or college to professional leagues. head and make me think that I need to do something That transition piece is really where a lot of the distinction different,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, the putts that I’ve experienced is exposed. From there, I’m able to that fall will fall. If I miss putts, it’s not the end of the see if something is really a life issue or a sports issue.” world. If I lose a golf tournament, it’s not the end of the world. It gives me good motivation to practice for the STORY Arjun Khatti, Dillon Wyatt next tournament.” PHOTO Sal Hussain

Fantasy football expert Senior Elijah Baker reveals his strategies on how to build the perfect lineup to Sports Editor Dillon Wyatt

1A good draft is key to success

“A good strategy going into any draft is to get a running back early who is not only a good running back but also good at receiving. Then, in the next couple of rounds, get good receivers that are going to be consistent every game. Get a quarterback a little bit later because a lot of guys will make the mistake of trying to take a quarterback in the second or third round and waste the pick.”

2Lock in on a tight end early

“Draft a really good tight end because there are good tight ends and then there are drop-offs. There are only four or five guys that are going to be putting up big numbers, and then everyone else shuts down at eight points per game. If you really want to have an elite team, in the round that everyone goes for a quarterback, get a really good tight end.”

3Who they play is important

“A major thing I look at when making trades is strength of schedule. I traded away Najee Harris and in return got Elijah Mitchell. I was looking at Elijah Mitchell’s remaining schedule going into the fantasy football playoffs. He plays some pretty bad run defenses in those weeks such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texas and Atlanta Falcons. I’m looking for making trades not just for the best player, but for the guy who has the easiest weeks.”

thing thin gs to know

4Look for diamonds in the rough

“I hate to see it, but by the time playoffs roll around there’s a lot of injuries. I’m always looking for guys that are backups. Earlier in the season, Chubba Hubbard on the Panthers, a nobody, replaced Christian McCaffrey when he went down. All of a sudden, he was breaking off 20 points per game. So going into playoffs I’m trying to grab backup players who can fill roles.”

5Getting last is not an option

“A lot of it is luck, but don’t panic on your team. Every team is going to have down weeks. Sometimes you have to ride out the rough stretches. If you’re trying to avoid a punishment, you have to check your lineup every week. Be active on waivers and make trades. Stay true to your best players and you won’t get last.”

< Elijah Baker

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Back in action

winter sports preview

After many athletes had their winter sports cancelled last year due to COVID-19, the return of winter sports has athletes and coaches excited to get ready for the upcoming season. Many of the althetes, too, will have to step into new roles with limited amount of experience.

Basketball Guiler eyes back to back SPC titles

Soccer Young team looks to new leaders

fter winning the last official SPC basketball tournament and losing only one game in SPC last season, the Lions basketball team hopes to finish with similar results this season. While they no longer have former stars Harrison Ingram ‘21 and Andrew Laczkowski ‘20, varsity basketball head coach Greg Guiler believes his team can compete with their star-studded SPC rivals. “I’ve only ever coached against really talented teams in the SPC,” Guiler said. “The habits don’t change, you still have to be habitually great at the things that you agree with as a program that makes you the best you can be on the court.” While Guiler believes the Lions can compete with the best of the best in the SPC, he also acknowledges winning an SPC championship is very difficult. “Championships are hard to come by,” Guiler said. “If you look at SPC basketball, there’s so much variety in the championships in the 17 years I’ve been here. I think eight different schools won a championship in that period, which is very different from other sports.” Guiler thinks in order for his team to compete to the best of its ability, they must focus on doing the gritty things that win basketball games. “One of the things I’ve seen from us early in the season is that we have not been giving up a lot of easy baskets,” Guiler said. “Some of that’s attributable to our size, but I think this group has shown some toughness early in the season. That’s really remarkable. And so I

IN THE PAINT Junior Rapha Mitterer-Claudet charges downs the court as he makes a layup in the Lion’s 59-51 win over Hillcrest Nov. 13.

really believe this could be one of the best rim protecting teams we’ve ever had. I’ve seen guys take charges and just do some of those little gritty things that are very, very necessary.” Guiler wants his players to be great basketball players, but he also puts a huge focus on being a great teammate and the path to manhood. “I think the number one goal we talk about is being a man built for others,” Guiler said. “Being somebody who cares about the people around you; a boy is cared for, a man cares for. The only goal that I have outlined for this team so far is to lead the country in high fives. I really, really want to see this group of guys care for each other and root for each other.” STORY Ben Adams PHOTO Sal Hussain

Wrestling Team returns after one year absence

HEADS UP Senior Lars Ochs heads the ball to his teammate off a free kick as the Lions defeated John Paul II 4-1 Nov. 29.

take a little pressure off of the new varsity players. “The difference is going to be for the individuals who are not used to having so much attention and pressure placed on them,” Martin said. “You don’t adapt your players to a system. You adapt the system to the players, so for me, it is making sure I put our boys in a situation where they can be as successful as possible.” But one thing Martin can assure is the team has potential to compete with anyone in SPC. “I think of the promise we have,” Martin said. “We have a lot of young, enthusiastic players, and we have a lot of veterans, so it is just a question of putting all that promise and potential together.” STORY Nolan Marcus PHOTO Camden Reeves

Swimming Swimmers seek to defend SPC championship

ust one quick glance. That’s all it takes to admire the Lions wrestling team’s historical success, proudly displayed on the banners on the back wall of Spencer Gym. Last year, however, the team was forced to take a hiatus from competition due to COVID-19. Now, the Lions wrestling team is looking to take to the mats and dominate the competition. Senior captain Sal Abbasi believes this year’s team is the best group of wrestlers the program has seen in recent history. “We’ve had some stars in the past,” Abbasi said, “but I don’t think we’ve had as full of a team as this one in a very long time.” Returning to the team this year are three state champions: senior captains Elijah Ellis and Jedidiah Kim and junior Hayward Metcalf. “This is my fifth year here,” head coach Reyno Arredondo ’87 said, “and to have three guys that have had the experience of being on the championship part of the podium is amazing. It really impacts us in the practice room because having state champions who have actually been able to beat guys at a high level impacts our level of execution.” In addition to experienced veterans, the team also features a new crop of eager wrestlers. “Our heavyweight, for example, is a new guy,” Abbasi said, “but one thing about our team is that, if you’re new, you’re only new for a day. After that, you’re drilling with the team to get incorporated, and you’ll be working so hard that you won’t feel fresh for long. We have so many tournaments

he Lions soccer team gears up for another season after losing eight seniors from last year’s squad. The team only had 13 games last year, much less than previous years, but head coach Corey Martin is optimistic. “We lost some significant talent last year, but we also have some young players who I hope will step up,” Martin said. “I think the key will be players who were not the main guys last year transitioning to become our primary players this year.” In addition to new players, the team will also compete in more games and tournaments this year than they did last year.  “Last year we had 13 games. That’s the fewest since my first season coaching at St. Mark’s,” Martin said. “This year, we are also going to Austin, San Antonio and Oklahoma City which is something we could not do last year.” According to Martin, the practice habits will also be different, as the varsity team is allowed to practice more often and use holidays to practice, a luxury the team was not granted last year. “I am most looking forward to the normalcy in training. We train six days a week and even on holidays,” Martin said. “It’s really important for us to have that rhythm, and last year that was disrupted when we would go remote for a couple weeks and couldn’t train.” Another difference between this and last year is the system that the team will play with. Because there are a lot of new faces on the team, Martin wants to try to

PINNED Freshman Wyatt Loehr beats his opponent in the Lion’s win at Lovejoy Dec. 1.

between now and state that I’m confident everyone will be ready.” During these tournaments, the wrestling team will face off against some of its biggest rivals, such as St. John’s School in Houston. “They’ve won state for the last couple of years in a row,” Metcalf said, “and we’re looking to change that. This is the last chance some of our guys, who have been big names for the program in the past couple of years, will have to compete, and we definitely want to make an impact.” Support from students plays a large part in that impact, according to Abbasi. “Wrestling isn’t the most mainstream sport,” Abbasi said, “but we definitely appreciate guys coming out to support us. It makes the younger guys especially feel really good, and it’s just good to cheer on your brothers.” STORY Zack Goforth PHOTO Hayward Metcalf

or the 2021-2022 winter season, the Lions swim team features a host of young talent looking to fill the shoes of last year’s powerhouses, such as Leo Ohannessian ‘21, Jack Palmer ‘21 and Mason Westkaemper ‘21, and build upon the team’s success. “Last year, we graduated most of our big point scorers,” head coach Trent Calder said, “so the team is going to look very different. However, we are still bringing back some powerful guys like [senior] Nico Gomez and [senior] Brett Honaker.” In addition to the seniors, many underclassmen are looking to contribute as well. “Junior Sammy Larkin was a guy who scored points for us last year, and we’re happy to have him back,” Calder said. “We have a lot of really talented swimmers who were sitting behind some excellent swimmers last year, so I think that, in a sense, we’re an underdog, but that’s a place we thrive in.” Junior captain Sammy Larkin believes the team looks promising and he is confident in its abilities. “We have a lot of freshmen that look very fast,” Larkin said, “and I’m sure everyone will get better throughout the season.” With a full season ahead, the team is excited to compete against rivals and put its talent on display. “The last meet of the year is against Greenhill,” Calder said, “and that should

FINAL SPRINT Sophomore Adam Kappelman begins his final lap as the Lions win their first meet of the year against Lake Highlands Dec. 2.

be a really good one. Southlake Carroll is another strong team we’re going to swim against.” Larkin believes support from students goes a long way in fueling the team’s success. “It’s always good to see people show up for meets,” Larkin said, “even if it’s just to stop by and watch a couple races. We don’t have too many meets, but when we do they’re all at home, so it’s great when people can come out even if it’s just for a couple of minutes.” The Lions swim team has been remarkably successful in the last couple of years, and Larkin believes this year’s team will continue the legacy. “We’ve only lost once in the last couple years,” Larkin said, “and we’re hoping to keep that up. I feel good, and I think we can definitely challenge for SPC again.” STORY Zack Goforth PHOTO Dillon Wyatt

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ST. MARK’S SCHOOL OF TEXAS 10600 PRESTON RD. DALLAS, TX 75230

BE LIKE MIKE The 2021 Gift Drive’s theme has been revealed to be Monsters, Inc. Seniors Sam Alfalahi and Toby Barrett were the primary features in its advertisement video.

Giving Back

Gift Drive kicks off The Community Service Board and the Student Council joined forces Nov. 29 to lead one of the largest school-wide community service events: the Gift Drive. Over the course of three weeks, the entire student body will come together to attempt to reach this year’s goal of 2,022 gift donations. The gifts will benefit the Salvation Army and be distributed to kids who wouldn’t normally receive holiday presents. GIFTS Hundreds of gifts lie in boxes outside the office of Community Service director Jorge Correa.

DONATING Freshman Aidan Lannen supports the Salvation Army by donating a toy to the Gift Drive. The drive collects donations at Nearburg and the Lower School carpool entrance every morning.

MONSTERS, INC. Leaders advertise the Gift Drive and its Monsters, Inc. theme to any and all passing through.

BRING GIFTS TO THE GIFT DRIVE Senior Ian Lin encourages Marksmen to donate as students filter in at the start of the school day. Each morning, two members of the Community Service Board or Student Council lead the morning gift collecting.

COMPILATION AND PHOTOS Ekansh Tambe