Belfield Banter 2021-22: Issue 1

Sep 20th, 2021

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BELFIELD BANTER THE

F i rs t E d i t i o n !

The St. Anne’s-Belfield School Student Newspaper

In This Issue:

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS! HEADERS AND FOOTERS: STAB SOCCER THE POWER OF FEM ROCK HOW TO ENJOY AUTUMN IN CVILLE THE CHANGING FIELD of SAINTS FIELD HOCKEY LOCAL BUSINESS: GEARHARTS FINE CHOCOLATES FACULTY FEATURES: MR. ZUNKA AND MS. MILLER THE BANTER 2021-22 STAFF SASHA RINKEVICH, EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome Back!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS

by Brehanu Bugg — With the start of the new school year, it’s important to set goals, both academic and athletic, to learn and train as much as possible. Don’t think of school goals as New Year’s resolutions—for 80% of resolutions are dropped between January and February—but rather small, attainable goals that you can cross off each day. A daily sense of accomplishment can do wonders for mental health. Here are some ideas: I. Create a countdown calendar for each quarter, so you can see steady progress. I highly recommend printing out a calendar and crossing off the days as you go! Online countdown calendars also work.

II. If you’re taking the season off, still stay active!

Take a walk with a friend, go on a run, or do an exercise class on YouTube at home. Getting oxygen to the brain helps with focus and sleep.

III. After school, make a to-do list that has the homework due the next day and work you’d like to complete. Crossing off items as you complete them will keep you motivated. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even get ahead on your work.

IV. Check your email throughout the day! (Your teachers will thank you).

V. Plan moments during the week (and weekend) where you’ll take a break from thinking about school.

Watch that show you’ve been meaning to start, call that friend you haven’t talked to in a while, read a new book, or start a new hobby. If you’re constantly stressing out about school, you’ll quickly start to experience burnout.

As you can see, these items don’t take long to implement. Regardless of your schedule, you’ll be able to spend 20 minutes doing physical activity, catching up with a friend, and gathering your tasks in a to-do list.

Hopefully, your stress levels will decrease and you’ll enjoy the year just a little bit more.

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HEADERS AND FOOTERS:

The Start to a Season to Remember

by Lyra Stewart and Hannah Laufer

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Bikini Kill. The name struck me, so I immediately clicked their icon, not knowing how much I would grow from becoming a punk listener. This genre led me into a rabbit hole of education and intersectionality I had never previously known; a formidable black hole of feminism. After a summer filled with work and new music releases, I somewhat abandoned my love for punk. But,

— As our Saints took to the field to play the Catholic High School Crusaders in the sweltering heat, sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas could be found in abundance. The audience, prepared for a show, was not to be disappointed. Within the first half, three goals had already been scored: an upcoming sophomore, Cole George, secured the first goal, Chris Laing, the Varsity captain, scored the second, and Maxwell Majors scored the third. At the end of the first half, the Saints were up 3-1.

While the second half rolled around, the Saints were ready to face the Crusaders once again. The audience stayed on the edge of their seats throughout the half, all thanks to the players’ excellent ball control and great communication. Finally, to finish off this exciting, fast-paced game, Thomas Jones scored the final goal with a great assist from Kendall Collins, much to the chagrin of a proud dad.

No one could be prouder of the team than the team captain, Chris Laing. “We have a great group of guys who are all passionate about the game… we are going to give it our all until the season is over.”

THE POWER OF FEM ROCK: A Mini-Festo of Feminism Through Music

by Izzy Sanok — I’m a lover of almost every genre of music. From Tom Petty’s Damn The Torpedoes to Doja Cat’s Planet Her, I’m obsessed and mesmerized by it all. Every so often I spend a full afternoon perusing both Spotify and Apple Music for new playlists, albums, and artists. One extremely dull and humid afternoon in May, I came across the band

Art by Izzy Sanok

over the past month, I’ve rekindled this relationship and delved deeper into what is known as the Third Wave of Feminism and/or Riot Grrrl.

This subculture added to the feminist movement in America, mostly fixating on sexual assault and abuse, sexual and gender fluidity, and the art of casually smashing the patriarchy. Birthed in the ’90s in the Pacific Northwest, groups like Bikini Kill paved paths for future generations in activism through their gaudy and horrifyingly truthful lyrics. Songs like No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” broke down barriers for women by advocating for the normalization of women’s equality and accepting people for who they are, not what society forms them into: “Oh I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite so don’t let me have any rights / Oh I’ve had it up to here” (No Doubt). After overanalyzing and compiling too many “girlboss playlists”, I’ve come to the conclusion that I would not have the rights I’m lucky enough to enjoy today if it weren’t for these trailblazing queer women. Without a care in the world about judgment from others and the risk of failure, these women wrote a new social constitution: declaring female emancipation from the patriarchal constructs of western life. This third wave, though not perfect, grew intersectional branches of the feminism tree that connected women’s rights to human rights. Being a young person in today’s social climate, I find myself enamored by these Page 2

audacious and abrasive women. Identifying as a queer woman, I see a bit of myself in these fem-patriots. No matter your gender identity, political standpoint, sexuality, etc., anyone can find appreciation for Riot Grrrl. From a punk band rehearsing in a garage to an entire national subculture of music, these artists used their voices for action and advocated for their beliefs. I wish for us all, as students of both school and the world, to find the courage to speak out, even when the world seems to not listen.

HOW TO ENJOY AUTUMN IN CVILLE

by Sasha Rinkevich — I have lived in Charlottesville for my entire life. I’ve seen the same UVA trees turn yellow, orange, and then brown for seventeen years, and I have been lucky enough to experience some of the wonderful fall activities this town has to offer. If you’re looking to spend a day outside in the cool fall air, have fun with a friend, or get some work done while still getting a change of scenery, look no further than this list!

Carter Mountain Orchard - not far from Monticello, Carter Mountain is the in-town place to go for apple picking, an apple cider doughnut, stunning mountain views, and sometimes even live music!

Chiles Apple Picking and Pumpkins - if you’re looking for a scenic drive, and a (slightly) less busy alternative to Carter Mountain, head out to Crozet to Chiles Peach Orchard. Enjoy apple picking, pumpkin picking, and a campfire!

Mudhouse Coffee Shop on the Downtown Mall - Mudhouse is the place to go if you’re looking to get some work done but need to switch up your environment. Order a coffee, meet a friend, and work through that problem set or AmStuds essay!

And if you need to take a break from your work, walk around the mall and check out some of the local bookstores! Bonus points for saying hi to Gizmo, the corgi that hangs out in Blue Whale Books.

Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn - If you have a little sibling, or just want to see some amazing Halloween costumes and beautiful fall foliage, go check out the festivities during trick-or-treating on the Lawn!

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Escape-the-Room - going to an escape room is one of the best ways to exercise your mind and have fun! Charlottesville is home to several different escape room businesses, so whether you’re looking for one that’s inspired by historical events or one that’s just plain spooky, there’s a room for you.

UVA Football - football festivities are no joke here at UVA. The season has officially begun, and one of the most beloved fall traditions is tailgating and cheering for the old orange and blue.

STAB Football go to a STAB football game to cheer on your classmates and friends!

Hiking in Central VA what’s a better way to enjoy the changing leaves and crisp air than going for a hike?

Because we’re neighbors with the Blue Ridge, there are so many different summits waiting for us. Humpback Rock is a must, and if you’re a seasoned climber who wants more of a challenge, check out The Priest or Old Rag! Adventure Farm - what’s more autumnal than corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and hay rides? You’ll find all three at Adventure Farm out by CHO Airport.

UVA Soccer - although not quite as popular and busy as football games, watching the UVA soccer teams has always been one of my favorite traditions. The women’s team is regularly fantastic and well ranked, and the men’s team is also wonderful!

THE CHANGING FIELD OF SAINTS FIELD HOCKEY

by Cadigan Perriello — Our St. Anne’s-Belfield School Varsity Field Hockey team is heading into the season with confidence, a persevering attitude, and new players. The last time the Saints played a game was nearly 2 years ago, due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the 20202021 season. The team got off to an excellent start, as we were eager to get back on the field. When we first gathered, we had never played with this specific group of people before. We quickly began building an unbreakable team spirit. cont. page 4

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LOCAL BUSINESS: AN INTERVIEW WITH TIM GEARHART, OWNER OF GEARHARTS FINE CHOCOLATES — We started pre-season in early August and have been working to improve ever since. With every practice comes a positive attitude and a determination to sharpen our skills. This helped us win our first game against Western Albemarle. The game ended 2-1, with goals from Abi Shim and Chloe Paget-Brown. Our team starts every practice with a wo-rd-of-the-day, presented by a coach or player.

Each word describes one value that we work hard to achieve in every moment of that practice. Some words players have shared include: leadership, commitment, precision, and outlook. Our words might only be for one practice, but we constantly use them to become our best selves.

Our senior captains, Channing Shilling, Hannah Miller, Tilly Matheson, Abi Shim, and Eden Block help us embody these values and lead our team. From the beginning, we have worked on building an inclusive team environment. One of the players, freshman goalie Chloe Miller, described our team environment as “focused on building each other up, and having discipline when we make mistakes. We are like a big family: we love each other, but also push each other to play [our] best game. We are a team, through and through.” We are forced to face our challenges and work through them, whether that is by learning a field hockey skill or by facing a personal issue.

Even though our last game against Albemarle didn’t go as planned, it didn’t slow us down. We got back to work the next day, correcting all of the mistakes from the game.

Our perseverance helped us win our recent game against Saint Gertrude. All in all, our team is excited about this fall season and can’t wait to see where it leads.

an interview by Ally Alvarez

AA: Since you started your career as a chef for the Marine Corps, what led you to leave that style of cooking and study pastry?

TG: A few things; one is that I viewed the Marine Corps as a stepping stone. I was always into food, and I was always someone who liked seeking out the unusual, even as a kid in the eighties. After graduating high school, working in pizza places, and gaining exposure to cooking, I wanted more. I joined the Marine Corps as a cook because it seemed like a good way to gain formal training, even though it was a different kind of training. The Marines helped me develop a sense of attention to detail and repetition, which translates to what I do today. Whether preparing a thousand omelets for the Marines or 10,000 chocolates for Gearharts, these qualities are crucial because each product has to be the same every single time.

AA: Have you always wanted to be a chef?

If not, what led you to become one?

TG: I have always been passionate about cooking.

No matter your profession or interests, passion and exuberance for your work is half of the battle; if the passion is there, that is what drives you. My love for cooking evolved as I went through the Marines, and I went to culinary school to take the next step. In culinary school, I began focusing on bread, pastries, and desserts; that’s what I did for the next seven years. I worked in a lot of small, luxury hotels and restaurants where we would give chocolates at the end of the meals. This involved very beginner chocolate work that allowed me to realize chocolate could be an actual business model.

AA: After attending culinary school, where did you work?

TG: The great thing about cooking is, again, that it’s a craft—you can do it anywhere in the world. I took advantage of that and tried to seek some unusual jobs because cooking is a great gateway to experience different places. I worked at a luxury dude ranch in Wyoming for a season, which was a great experience. You not only get to expose yourself to different kinds of people but also different chefs who influence your style of cooking. It’s funny be cause where I worked in Wyoming was about 7,000 [cont p5]

feet above sea level, and I never realized this before, but your setting severely affects what you canprepare and the ingredients you use. I also worked at a castle in England, which was relatively safe in the sense of language barriers. But, I was just looking for something new. When you put yourself in unusual places, you see what you’re made of.

AA: What made you decide to start your own business, and why did you choose to establish it in Charlottesville?

TG: When I started the business in 2001, I was at the point in my career where I was ready to do something on my own. During the eighties and nineties chocolate was undergoing a bit of a change, and what America was looking for in terms of taste was also beginning to change. People like me who grew up in the sixties and seventies were used to mass production like Reese’s cups and M and Ms, and, while there is nothing wrong with that, they began to realize that there can be alternatives to these products.

I noticed this unfulfilled niche in the food world and chose to start Gearharts in Charlottesville because it seemed like an easy pick. It’s a great food town, and I more or less grew up here.

AA: What is the process of creating new chocolate like?

TG: I’ll generally go through phases where I’ll focus on one part of the business at a time, such as our internet presence or the wholesale business. Then, maybe six months later, I’ll have a creative period where I’ll test and create five new products at once, and we’ll have a slew of new items. Part of making new products comes from inspiration, whether it be travel or something I eat, and part of it is ingredient or experience-driven. But, you never know—one of the best products I ever made was our peanut butter pups, which was something that just came to me while I was driving home one day. I had this revelation as I realized we did not offer any items for kids or anything fun and whimsical. A few months later, the peanut butter pups became one of our most popular items.

AA: What makes Gearhart Chocolate different from ordinary chocolate?

TG: It’s certainly the ingredients we use, but it’s also the relationships I’ve built with chocolate companies over the past 20 years. These relationships have been a great advantage because it allows us to have a say in our number one ingredient. Also, our general experience sets us apart—making chocolate isn’t rocket science, but it’s not the easiest thing in the world. It’s a craft that takes time and, even with the new culinary machinery that has been

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developed, I still have to be thinking about humidity, temperatures, crystallization, and all of these crazy elements that come into my world. And you don’t want to lose that; it’s important to not veer too far from this attention to detail, even 20 years later.

AA: What is your favorite menu item and why?

TG: While I go through phases, the malted milk hazelnut chocolate is my current favorite because it reminds me of when I was a kid and got malted milk milkshakes. It evokes these memories and inevitably becomes something you think about when you eat it.

Gearharts Fine Chocolates can be found in the Charlottesville Downtown area, central Richmond, and in stores across the United States.

FACULTY FEATURES: MR. JIMMY ZUNKA

by Jack Dozier —

JD: What are you looking forward to most in your new role as Interim Dean of Students?

JZ: I’m excited to engage with a broader range of the student body in new contexts. For example, I enjoyed working with student leaders, elected and otherwise, to welcome the new Upper Schoolers during Orientation. It’s critical that we lean on students to help shape our school culture, so I’m eager to work with students to strengthen our community through programs like Clubs and Community Forum. While it’s a little strange not to be in the classroom all day or have an advisory (please come visit!), I’m thankful that I was able to return to the Upper School this year.

JD: How has STAB changed since you were a student in the Upper School?

JZ: My graduating class was in the low 60s, so the School has definitely grown in size in the last 20 years. There has also been a ton of building and renovation, such as the LV, the Annex, the Dining Hall, and Grisham Hall. Actually, the SCAS used to be the Middle School (my History 7 classroom is now the Blackbox Theater!), and Walker House held all of the art classes. I think the main part of Randolph Hall is really the only building that has stayed somewhat the same, although we had a Library and used RH Auditorium (which didn’t have stadium seating) for Chapel, dances, and plays.

In addition to this physical expansion, we have many more opportunities for student expression and voice than when I was here. For example, we Page 5

now have a more robust Arts program; welcome student voice and/or performance in Chapel, Community Forum, and Community Meeting every week; and offer more student leadership and mentorship opportunities.

There have been many other changes, but one thing has stayed the same: this school has talented and dedicated faculty who care deeply for students and this community. As a student, I treasured my relationships with my teachers and coaches. They were our mentors, guides, advocates, and friends. Now, as a faculty member, I see the unwavering commitment of my colleagues (some of whom were my teachers and coaches!) to connect with and support students every single day. That’s the magic that endures.

JD: What was your favorite subject when you were an Upper Schooler?

JZ: Definitely English. I was fortunate to have a group of incredibly passionate and engaging English teachers—Mrs. O’Neil, Ms. Highland, Dr. Erb, & Mr. Amos—who challenged us to grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. I loved those small, discussion-based literature courses, which ultimately inspired me to major in English in college and venture into teaching English after graduation. Believe it or not, I still have my notes, tests, and papers from those high school courses, and I feel blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to teach in the same classrooms (RH 313 and RH 400!) in which I found so much joy as a student.

But while English was my favorite subject, I must give huge shout-outs to Ms. Van Liew and Mr. Johnson for making those science classes so enjoyable.

Two of the G.O.A.T.s!

JD: What is your favorite pastime outside of school?

JZ: I grew up canoeing and fishing with my dad and friends on the rivers of Central Virginia, and I continue to turn to rivers to find peace, ease, and delight.

Whether fishing, canoeing/kayaking, or just camping out on the banks, spending time around rivers is restorative for my soul.

MS. BETH MILLER

by Jack Dozier —

JD: What are you most excited about in leading the Upper School community?

BM: I am most excited about bringing back more active and collaborative learning, whether through student-led clubs, field trips or Intensives that provide for more learning experiences outside the classroom. Last year we were all so isolated, I think

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it is important for us to make safe connections across student groups, teams and even campuses a priority. I am excited about reinvigorating mentorship opportunities and highlighting the many voices of St. Anne’s-Belfield students.

JD: What made you interested in becoming an educator?

BM: I’ve loved my interaction with children since I was a teenager. I did a lot of babysitting as a teenager and enjoyed being part of athletic teams with multiple age groups like the YMCA swim team I was part of from age 5-18. The opportunity to learn from younger people and mentor them has always been a source of joy for me. My mom was a high school Spanish teacher, and though she wasn’t my favorite teacher, I developed great respect for the work of an educator watching my mom’s dedication to her craft and lifelong development.

JD: What was your favorite subject when you were in high school?

BM: Latin. I had an amazing teacher who embodied many of the same values we hold at St. Anne’s-Belfield School. Mr. Vachon built close relationships with his students, inspired us, and made us laugh.

He understood that teenagers face a number of stressors and practiced grace and flexibility with his expectations. I appreciated the way he approached the study of Classics with precision and humor and allowed us to learn from our mistakes.

JD: What is your favorite pastime outside of school?

BM: Spending time outdoors is what fills me up when I am feeling tired or anxious. I enjoy urban hikes as much as long hikes in the Blue Ridge.

Even small escapes to the O-Hill trails at UVA or Colthurst Farm help center me. I feel my best when I can combine exercise and time outside regularly throughout the week.

2021-22 BANTER STAFF Sasha Rinkevich - - - - - - - - - - - - - co-Editor in Chief Jack Dozier - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - co-Editor in Chief Emma Finley-Gillis - - - - - - - - - - - Managing Editor Hannah Laufer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Column Editor Ally Alvarez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Features Editor Qiming Fu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Creative Director Izzy Sanok - - - - - - - - - - Assistant Managing Editor Sonia Kamath - - - - Director of Student Outreach Page 6

EDITOR’S NOTE: SASHA RINKEVICH

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— Hello wonderful Banter readers, Welcome to our first issue of the 2021-2022 academic year. It’s hard to believe that we’re already back on campus, walking amongst new and old community members alike. If the past year-and-a-half has taught us anything, it is that community is incredibly important. In the past few weeks, we’ve felt the strength of our school community in so many ways: in Chapel, in the classroom, and in every extracurricular activity.

Our goal at The Belfield Banter is to foster a sense of community through articles by and about students at STAB. We have a very wonderful year ahead, with bimonthly issues and incredible student-written articles.

We are incredibly grateful for the community that we have the great privilege of working with. As always, we love feedback and contributions! We can be contacted at newsletter@students.stab.org if you ever have any inquiries or comments.

Best regards,

Sasha Rinkevich co-Editor in Chief

Look out for our regular editions continuing this fall!

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