The
Gryphon Gazette
May 2016
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
• Volume XIV, Issue VI
Under the Lights What it’s like to be a thespian at St. George’s Caroline Zummach ’18
H
ave you ever wondered what it’s like to stand under the lights as an audience watches you act out a part that you have never rehearsed before? Well, that’s exactly what junior Elle Vaughn had to do on April 30, the last performance of the upper school spring comedy, “Fools.” Vaughn, the play’s stage manager, had to fill in for senior Ellie Babb after she had to leave for an emergency. This would be Babb’s last performance with St. George’s, and this was the show Vaughn’s parents were attending. Her parents were met with shock when they saw their daughter on stage. “I couldn’t pull off the type of persona that Ellie can pull off, but I heard Mr. McGraw laughing, so that’s good,” Vaughn said. In almost all other cases, a student begins the show process months before the performances, not an hour before. When a student at St. George’s decides to become involved with a production, they must first express their
interest and audition. When auditioning, a student must read parts from a script in front of the director. Freshman Will Brown is a first-time actor and played Gregor Youskevitch in “Fools,” one of the love interests for the lead female role. “[I was] kind of nervous but okay,” Brown said of the audition process. “It was a small group of people.” After auditioning, the actors rehearse for several weeks until dress rehearsals, where they run through the show once or twice a night with full lights, sound, makeup and costumes. The production is put on for three days, and students, teachers and the greater community are invited and encouraged to attend. Sutton Hewitt, a participant in five past plays here at St. George’s including “Fools,” suffers from minor stage fright, but knows that her hard work pays off in the end. “What keeps me going is you get such an adrenaline rush when you are done, and you walk out and take your bow,” Hewitt said. “It’s the best feeling in the
world.” However, actors like Hewitt are not the only ones involved in the play, as there are makeup and costume designers and a full tech staff. Sophomore Margo Valadie joined the sound team during her freshman year and has been producing the behind-the-scenes elements for four productions now. While she enjoys producing the sound, she knows there is immense pressure to get it right. “If you mess up sounds, it’s really noticeable,” she said. During “Bye Bye Birdie,” the fire alarm was set off and Valadie panicked, thinking that she had somehow set off the loud sound. The actors and crew seem to agree that there is more of a reward than just the applause during curtain call. For them, the relationships formed in theater are ones that last forever, and they suggest acting to all students. “I’ve never found it scary or intimidating,” Hewitt said. “I always encourage people to come out and go for it.”
Photo: Caroline Zummach ’18 A student performs on the stage at the Germantown Campus, home of the theater productions of St. George’s, in this posed photo. The Gryphon Gazette went behind the scenes discover what it is like to be in a show at SGIS.
Class of
2016
Senior Wills
Sydney Spadafora: Year-round tan to Lathan Spadafora. Graham Hawthorne: The curl rack to whoever proves themselves worthy. Courtney Tipton: The unsuccessful pursuit of the SGIS geotag (good luck) to Hannah Kate McDowell. Adam Cruthirds: St. Jude Club to Kneeland Gammill. Jared Whitaker: Being Mormon to Cannon Faultz. Will Courtney: Being head of the Bleacher Creatures to John Carter Hawkins. Stephen East: The right to wear a hat into school every morning to Griffin Gillam. Karina Jensen: “Carrying-on” my legacy of always carrying a foam roller to soccer games and practices to Eva Neel. Eric Matula: My knock-down, three-point shooting ability to Johnathan McNeill. My golden ping pong paddle to Graham Sisson. Sophia Quesada: The trail mix I keep in my locker for emergencies to Anna Besh. Donovan Borum: The gift of dab to Fe Novoa. Reese Holmes: Being Colin Truitt’s #1 critic to Nick Bordeau. Claire McCord: My tennis skills to Sidney Marr and Hannah Grace Howell. Mac McGuffee: A hundred dollar bill located in one of the books in the library to any St. George’s student. If you find it, it is yours.
Follow your SENIORS IN PRINT
• Senior athletes pass the torch to underclassmen (p. 4) • Class of 2016 profile (p.12)
ON THE WEB • MORE Senior wills • MORE Senior athletes pass the torch • Interactive senior college map
• Graduating “with distinction” isn’t what • Senior art gift you think (p.10) • Senior t-shirt day • 14 things to do slideshow before you graduate (p.9) • Long time no see, mini me (p. 11)
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The Gryphon Gazette
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STAFF
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Teachers leave St. George’s for new adventures Merryn Ruthling ’18
Sailing forward
Miriam Brown ’17 Annie Vento ’17
Advisor Dr. Margaret Robertson
Layout Editors Katie Boyle ’17 Elise Fong ’16 Laura McDowell ’17 Carolyn Lane ’18 Annie Murff ’18
Copy Editors Kendall LoCascio ’17 Laura McDowell ’17 Rachel Ducker ’17 Annie Murff ’18 Caroline Zummach ’18
Photo Editor Katie Boyle ’17
News Editor Carolyn Lane ’18
Features Editor Kendall LoCascio’17
Entertainment Editors Rachel Ducker ’17 Emma Pounders ’18
Sports Editor
Bayard Anderson ’17
Opinion Editor Web Editors
Elise Fong ’16
Grant Webb ’16 Jacob Peeples ’16 Eric DiNicolantonio ’16
Staff Writers
Photo: Merryn Ruthling ’18 and Pixabay
A
fter spending 15 years teaching at St. George’s, Mrs. Lisa Ayerst, upper school algebra II and geometry teacher, is sailing on to new adventures as she retires from St. George’s. Mrs. Ayerst plans on sailing to destina-
U
pper School English teacher Ms. Jennifer Vasil is leaving Memphis to teach at a school in Washington, D.C. “This is my eighth year at St. George’s, and I love St. George’s and Memphis, but I was just ready for an adventure,” Ms. Vasil said. “I’m at a good point in my life where I have the ability to do that. I have a lot of freedom to be able to pack up and go adventuring places.” Ms. Vasil will be teaching at The McLean School, an independent school similar to St. George’s. One difference between the two schools is that the majority of students at The McClain School have learning difficulties, such as ADHD, anxiety and dyslexia, which Ms. Vasil is looking forward to because it is a new challenge that she thinks will help her grow as a teacher. She will be transitioning from teaching AP English Language to a course called Heroes of Our Times, a senior humanity elective.
tions all over the world, including the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and the Florida coast. While she will be leaving to spend more time on sailing adventures, Mrs. Ayerst is not leaving her home at St. George’s all together.
Photo: Merryn Ruthling ’18 and Wikimedia commons
Ms. Vasil will be leaving Memphis immediately after the school year ends. While in Washington D.C., she hopes to visit every single Smithsonian museum, take advantage of the metro and walk around the National Mall. However, she will miss her home at St.
Pinning down a job in Maryland
Matthew Blum ’17 Iona Yates ’17 Anna Harbert ’18 Merryn Ruthling ’18
Do you think we missed anything? Feel free to comment on the stories on thegryphongazette.org St. George’s Independent School 1880 Wolf River Blvd. Collierville, TN 38017
Photo: Merryn Ruthling ’18 and Wikipedia
M
r. Jefferson Brant, upper school history teacher and head wrestling coach, has accepted a position to teach global studies and U.S. history at Severn School in Maryland next year. Mr. Brant decided to leave for sev-
“I love teaching math and I love working with students, so I don’t see myself giving that completely up,” Mrs. Ayerst said. Mrs. Ayerst has decided to continue on with her passion of teaching math by launching a tutoring service for students before and during school hours. Whenever she has the opportunity during her trips, she will be tutoring online as well. According to Mrs. Ayerst, this will be a bittersweet experience. Although she will still be around St. George’s tutoring, she will miss being a faculty member. In particular, she will miss things like pulling pranks with the other faculty members, seeing the various wildlife early in the morning and running the Make-AWish club, which is now being sponsored by Upper School Latin teacher Mrs. Forest Imorde. “Making the decision was not easy at all. I still get teary-eyed,” Mrs. Ayerst said. “I’ve been here a long time and I love this place, but this is a logical next step.”
Trading the Pyramid for the Capital
Sam Hyde ’16
The Gryphon Gazette is dedicated to serving as an authentic voice for the students of St. George’s Independent School. We at the Gryphon Gazette strive to be an open forum for student expression, to act in the best interests of the student body and to embody the principles of journalistic excellence.
News
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eral reasons, including being closer to his family and finally living on the East Coast, which he has wanted to do for some time now. Additionally, after five years of teaching and an entire lifetime in Tennessee, Mr. Brant is ready for a
George’s and all of the students and faculty members that she has built relationships with over the past few years. “I’ve loved St. George’s. It really has been the best place that I have ever taught,” Ms. Vasil said. “I can’t say enough good things about this place.”
change and the opportunity to try something new. “Sometimes I think it’s healthy, even when you’re happy at a place, to push yourself and challenge yourself,” Mr. Brant said. According to Mr. Brant, Sevren School is an independent school similar to St. George’s in terms of size and academic standards. He is excited to teach the courses that Sevren School offers because they will differ from the current world history course that he teaches. Mr. Brant is also enthusiastic about taking on the role of assistant wrestling coach at his new school. “I have a lot of mixed emotions about leaving,” Mr Brant said. “I’m excited about living someplace new and trying it out before I get too settled, but at the same time, it’s tough to walk away from a place that you are happy at.”
CORRECTIONS AND RETRACTIONS: The St. George’s Gryphon Gazette strives for accuracy in all articles. However, mistakes are sometimes made. When this happens, you will see corrections here. Issue 5, Page 5: Sophomore Winston Margaritas was mislabeled as the 76th best golfer in the United States for his age group. Margaritas is ranked seventh in the class of 2018 and 61st among high school golfers nationally.
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
News
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School’s in for summer camps
St. George’s plans for a more inclusive summer
Photo: Eric DiNicolantonio ’16 A sign for the Summer at St. George’s program stands on the lawn of the Collierville Campus. the sign was advertising the new summer programs.
Eric DiNicolantonio ’16
W
hile the end of school is in sight, there are a multitude of opportunities to involve yourself with St. George’s during the summer. Director of Summer Programs Mr. Austin Henderson and Associate Head of School Mr. Will Bladt have been working to create a new lineup of summer activities for students. This is Mr. Henderson’s first year as the Director of Summer Programs, and he hopes to create a more wholesome summer experience for students. The programs included in Summer at St. George’s cover a variety of topics, which allows students of all interests to engage with their hobbies after the school year ends. Because of the number of programs offered, the camps available to students vary weekly, and some camps can be mixed together during the same week, depending on the times of the sessions. After participating in a summer program, Mr. Bladt hopes students will be able to answer the question, “What does a nonstructured school day offer?”
One new program available through Summer at St. George’s is Amplify Memphis in which students will take an active role in improving the quality of life of individuals in the Memphis area. During the three-week program, students will travel around the city of Memphis, learn about its problems and attempt to create solutions that will better the lives of Memphians. This program is open to rising high school students and will give students a semester-course credit on their transcript. Rising senior Marshall Shanks is currently considering this program for the upcoming summer. “I’m trying to see [who] the different leaders of the community are and how their groups are trying to change Memphis,” Shanks said. “I hope to get out a better understanding of the communities, whether it is a business area or the suburbs.” Extra course credits are not the only way to help students with their college applications this summer, as the new ACT test prep
Anna Harbert ’18
Online shopping? A+!
S
t. George’s students know that following the dress code is a struggle, especially for girls. “Is this skirt long enough?” “Are these pants too tight?” The questions go on and on. Sixth-graders Bess White and Eleanor Peters wanted to help their peers find the answers to these questions, so they created a website called “SGIS Girls Dress” in order to help girls find clothing that is appropriate for school. Their website was their answer to a project for their Critical Thinking, Innovation and Communication (CIC) class, a sixth-grade course that focuses on problemsolving and communication throughout the school. “The dress code is sort of hard to understand,” Peters said. “It was hard to find things, so we made the website, and we put the links to the stores.” CIC teacher Mrs. Mim Brown said that students have a lot of room for creativity when designing their projects. After being assigned the prompt, students set out and observed different issues in the school, ranging from dress code to practice space for sports and trailblazing clubs. “It becomes a lot of self-teaching, and that’s what’s so cool because they are so interested, and they are learning at their own pace,” Mrs. Brown said. After designing their website, Peters and White received some tips and suggestions
program offers students advice on how to score well on the ACT. A partner from The Princeton Review will be coming to campus during these courses to help teach students test-taking strategies. “It’s incredibly critical for kids to have the opportunity to positively influence their scores,” Mr. Bladt said. He hopes the program will give students their best chance at scoring well on this college admissions test. Director of College Guidance Mr. Timothy Gibson feels similarly to Mr. Bladt in that he urges students to prepare for the ACT as much as possible. “The ACT is a critical part of the college application process,” Mr. Gibson said. “The higher your ACT score, the more opportunities there are for admission and for scholarship, so people should take it very, very seriously.” This summer, the St. George’s Great Outdoors (SGGO) club is partnering with Summer at St. George’s for the first time to organize three new camping trips.
“We haven’t done summer trips [with Summer at St. George’s] before,” senior SGGO leader Richard Kuehn said. “I expect these trips to be more fun than last year’s trips.” The first trip will take high school students to western North Carolina where they will be mountain biking and whitewater rafting, among other activities, but students who attend this trip do not need to have camping experience. The other two trips will take students to Colorado, with one trip for middle school students and the other trip for high school students. During this trip, campers will whitewater raft, rock climb, backpack and enjoy natural hot springs. Summer at St. George’s includes many other summer opportunities as well, including the Gryphon Art Camp and a multitude of sports camps. A complete list of all programs, including additional information such as dates and times, can be found on www.sgis.org under the “Campus Life” tab.
Sixth graders create dress-code-friendly website
Photo: Anna Harbert ’18 A closet stands packed with options for Students to wear to school. Sixth graders Bess White and Eleanor Peters made a website to help students find dress-code-appropriate clothing. for improvement from their classmates. “They had to understand that in the design process, you are not going to get it right the first time,” Mrs. Brown said. “You have to be willing to put something out there and get that criticism.” For the project, students chose their issue, a plan for completing their project and a
hypothetical prototype. Peters and White created the website and launched the clothing collection on their own. “It was 100 perecent their brain child. I had no idea what that website was,” Mrs. Brown said. “They totally did everything. All I would say was, ‘Oh that’s really good! Keep going!’”
Although it was a school project, Peters and White had loads of fun, and their final product is available at http://eleanorbess. wix.com/sgisgirlsdress for all to see. “It was fun!” Peters said. She jokingly added, “It was pretty easy because we just had to online shop the whole time.”
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Sports
It’s the lax life
Boys lacrosse advances to playoffs as number three seed Carolyn Lane ‘18
I
f you ask any member of the varsity boys lacrosse team, they are bound to remember the bus ride home from an overtime win against Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, La. Senior Spencer Scofield expressed that it was the best experience he had during his four years playing lacrosse at St. George’s. “We were all screaming, yelling, having fun and being excited that we just won a game in overtime,” Scofield said. “We were just having fun being idiots, really.” In previous years, every independent school’s boys’ lacrosse team across the state of Tennessee has played in the same bracket, no matter the size of the school, which put schools with a smaller student enrollment at a disadvantage. Over the summer, varsity head coach Mr. Kyle Slatery worked to develop a two-division system based on high school enrollment, which was implemented this year. Junior Dawson Smith is looking forward to the outcome of the dualdivision system. “We got moved down a division to Division II where we should be, and because of that, we are now the third seed in the state heading into the playoffs,” Smith said. “It is significantly better than we’ve ever been before.” Though the season began with a loss against the Memphis University School Owls, the team recovered during their
Photo: Carolyn Lane ‘18 Head varsity coach Mr. Kyle Slatery talks with the boys during their game on May 4. The team maintained their 9-7 record going into the playoffs. spring break trip to Baton Rouge, La., and carried that momentum through the first few games of the regular season. As the season drew to a close, the team secured their 8-7 record with a win against Arlington High School. Mr. Slatery expressed his excitement about the results of the boys’ regular season. “We’ve had fantastic success, all the
while pushing ourselves to play the best teams out there,” Mr. Slatery said. “I’m really proud of where we’ve come, but I’m really excited about where we are going, too.” Because the team was in the third seed going into the playoffs, they had a bye-week last week, which they used to prepare for their upcoming game. They will play Ensworth from Nashville. Mr.
It’s not just sci-fi anymore Drone racing takes the world by storm
Photo: Jacob Peeples ‘16 A drone, piloted by Ben Eishen, is flown through Freeman ParK in Bartlett, TN. The racing drones used no autostabilization and relied on the pilot’s skill to keep it airborne.
Jacob Peeples ‘16
Have you ever wanted to win one
million dollars for playing with toys? FPV drone racing may be the sport for you! In the past year, there has been a massive uprising for the sport of drone racing, going from “underground” races to world series races, including one in Dubai with a cash prize of $250,000. The winner of this year’s world series was Luke Bannister, a 15-year-old from England. This was the first World Drone Prix, meaning the prize pool can only go up from there.
Drone racing is a sport that takes mini quadcopters of different class sizes and puts them head-to-head on a fast, tightturning course that puts the pilot’s skills to the test. Most racers build their own drones for different styles of flying. Some build them for speed, some for agility and others for acrobatics. These different types of builds all have their place in drone racing and drone competitions, though each build has a heavy startup cost. While most builds can cost well over $500, it is possible to make a cheaper
racing drone. Senior Noah Woods helped build a racing drone and said building his drone took a couple of weekends to finish, but it was “not too bad” to build. Of course, there are drone companies out there selling pre-made competition drones that are ready to fly when they arrive at your doorstep. Junior Matthew Blum, an amateur aerial videographer, said he prefers this to building a drone himself. “I would probably go out and buy a pre-made drone, only because I am not
Slatery hopes the team finishes off the year knowing they worked their hardest during playoffs. “I hope that we end the season with no regrets,” Mr. Slatery said. “I want us to know that we gave our best effort, and that we live from one day to the next getting better as a team to give ourselves the best chance at a state championship.”
good with stuff like that,” Blum said. While Blum, an experienced drone pilot, said he would consider paying up to $500 for a racing drone, Memphis FPV, or first person view, pilot Ben Eishen voices that this is not the best route to go about when emerging yourself into the hobby of fast-flying racing drones. “I would tell all newcomers to buy a $20 drone and get comfortable with it,” Eishen said. “And, if you find yourself always picking it up, then advance forward.” These drones can cost hundreds of dollars for race frames and electronics, so it is not for the faint-hearted. The Memphis Drone Racing Chapter hosts many races and acrobatic competitions throughout the year, and their next competition is on May 22. While these small races are usually not for cash prizes, many throughout the world are. The Drone Nationals is hosting their annual competition in New York City this year on August 5 to 7, an event where many famous YouTubers and competitive racers will be racing their drones for a cash prize. It will also be streamed on ESPN3, an online streaming channel for ESPN. This event will include races, but it will also host a freestyle competition. “I don’t think it will ever be mainstream,” Eishen said of drone racing. “Like billiards, I don’t ever see it being mainstream like football.” While drone racing may never be as large as football or basketball, it has the potential to become a much larger sport than it is now. In fact, it may be the sport of the future.
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Sports
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Source: Mr. Jimmy Oxsalida Upper school math teacher Mr. Jimmy Oxsalida poses outside of the Bridgestone arena, home to the Nashville predators. Mr. Oxsalida has been a devout Boston Bruins fan for many years now.
Behind enemy lines
Away fans’ cheers met with jeers
Bart Mueller ’18
They’re the blue in a sea of orange, the
strangers in a strange land. They stick out like sore thumbs and are possibly some of the bravest souls to ever enter the stands. I am, of course, referring to away fans, those crazy individuals who willingly cross into enemy territory for the sake of supporting their favorite team. This past December, sophomore Graham Smith traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to cheer on the Memphis Tigers as they took on the Auburn Tigers, a team from Alabama, in the Birmingham Bowl. “The game was almost entirely Auburn fans,” Smith said. Smith, who was wearing
his favorite Fuentes-Lynch ‘16 t-shirt, described feeling “out-of-place because there were very few Memphis fans.” Similarly, sophomore Griffin Gillam attended the LSU v. Ole Miss football game in Oxford, Miss. However, Gillam chose to support neither of these teams while attending. Instead, he chose to support his favorite college football team, Tennessee, by wearing a Tennessee jacket and shirt. LSU and Ole Miss, being in the Southeastern Conference with Tennessee, definitely do not have a friendly relationship with the Volunteers. In performing this brave act, Gillam said he “got some boos, was yelled at, but also got some compli-
ments.” This past year, Mr. Jimmy Oxsalida, who teaches pre-calculus and geometry in the upper school, ventured to the Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators, to support his hometown Boston Bruins. “They ignored me until the Bruins were winning, then I got booed,” Oxsalida said. Oxsalida was wearing a Bruins jersey, so it was obvious to the home fans who he was supporting. “I felt alienated,” Oxsalida said on being jeered by the masses. However, it is not always the home fans delivering the verbal harassment. Sophomore Katelyn Grisham witnessed this herself at a recent Memphis Grizzlies game.
“An away fan was directly behind us screaming and being obnoxious, and everyone started yelling at him,” Grisham said. “Then he got kind of violent with the home fans, and eventually we just ignored him.” No matter how unwelcome they feel, away fans continue to revel in passionately supporting their teams. “I would definitely go to an away game as an away fan again,” Gillam said. “Hearing the different reactions and seeing the looks I got was one of the most memorable parts from the whole thing.”
Senior athletes pass their torch to underclassmen
For more go to thegryphongazette.org
Bayard Anderson ‘17
JACOB STILL
Football “I want to pass the torch to the whole offensive line. The offensive line is a special unit within the football team that rarely gets the attention they deserve. The next group of offensive linemen will set the tone for the success of our program. These linemen understand how to work hard everyday and how to be great teammates. They are a special group that will continue to show up willing to do anything for the betterment of the team.”
SYDNEY SPADAFORA Girls’ Soccer
“Avery Whitehead for girls soccer because she is so responsible and always prepared! She also knows how to keep everyone under control, even when someone gets mad over a bad call that the ref made.”
OLIVIA ROONEY
Softball ”I’m passing on the torch of being Coach Brunetti’s favorite player to Channell Cole.”
WILLIAM MCBRIDE
Winter Cheer
“Sarah Thompson. She is an amazing swimmer. Her dedication and leadership will serve the team well this year.”
“Erica Alexander and JR Upton show great leadership. Erica has been on the team since she was a freshman, and they both work well together.”
STEPHEN EAST
SOPHIA QUESADA
Baseball
Volleyball
”I am going to pass the torch to Graham Sisson because he is the most responsible person on the team. I thought about saying Ben Glass, but he would probably forget or lose the torch.”
“Baby Kate Seabrook, because we all always knew that she was the mature one.”
JOHN KUTTEH
Water Polo ”John Barton. His talent and drive will prove integral in the team’s success next year.”
COURTNEY MILLER Track
”To carry on the legacy of the Gryphs’ track and field team, I am passing the torch to freshman Will Johns. His potential to lead the team and break the mile record is about as great as the length of his legs AND the size of his ego. I know he’ll do an awesome job and lead the team to success. Where there’s a ‘Will’ there’s a way.”
ERICA STEVENSON
Swimming
BLAKE NICOLIA Boys’ Soccer
”I am not passing the torch to James Harris, but I think I will give it to Jack Goodman because he has hair on his chest, back and arms.”
JAKE LINDOW Wrestling
“David Fisk. His strong demonstrated leadership and undeniable commitment to the sport of wrestling has allowed and will continue to allow him to develop a broad skill set that will lead not only to his own continued success, but to the success of the team as a whole in coming years.”
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The Gryphon Gazette
Features
BIRDS
The
The
Annie Vento ’17
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t’s hot. The sun is shining, and I can hear the wind in the grass and birds chirping around me. Instead of walking through busy hallways and making my way through the noisy crowds, I am surrounded by nothing but nature: the yellow flowers ahead of me, the hoophouse harvesting new vegetables on my right and the newly-built treehouse across the pond. I’m at peace. In the midst of the serenity, junior Channell Cole and Dr. Rusty Horton, father to junior Shane Horton, clumsily put on their beekeeper suits. They make their way to the bee box on the bench, light the smoker and open up the box. They have one mission: to inspect the bee box and add in the queen excluder, which prevents the queen from laying eggs in the honey super, where the honey is being made. Now when Cole harvests the honey, the bee eggs won’t
be mixed in with it. Cole heads out in her beekeeper suit to check on her bees after school weekly and attends Beekeeper Association meetings at the Agricenter the second Monday of every month. Juniors Cole, Horton, in charge of the chickens, and Anna Besh, leader of the hoophouse, are taking on these new responsibilities for their Senior Independent Study project (SIS), The Birds and The Bees, but their journey to this new leadership started last year with Suburban Farms.
Founding the Farm Before The Birds and The Bees was launched, seniors Harrison Schutt and John Kutteh were leading Suburban Farms as their SIS project. Located behind the baseball fields, Suburban Farms is a hoophouse that was built from the dirt up and is now home to multiple types of vegetables that are
Senior SIS welcomes new vegetables, livestock to campus currently being harvested, maintaining a sustainable garden for the St. George’s community. Schutt brainstormed the idea of building a hoophouse the summer before his tenth grade year and picked the idea back up with Kutteh when he
Photo: Annie Vento ’17 Junior Channell Cole and Dr. Rusty Horton inspect the bee box. Dr. Horton has kept bees in his backyard for two years.
realized he needed an SIS. However, the premise of their SIS shifted from Schutt’s original idea once they began work. “It was pretty elaborate, and I didn’t really know how hard it was going to be to physically build a hoophouse,” Schutt said. “I really wanted to have a solar irrigation system out of the pond and a composting system at school, a lot of great ideas, [but] not realistic for us to do.” Despite the unexpected difficulties, the boys informed students on their progress almost weekly in chapels, whether they had good news, like completing the hoophouse, or bad news, such as when thunderstorms halted their progress. Now that the hoophouse is completely constructed and vegetables are being harvested, the Suburban Farms crew is now shifting their focus to The Birds and The Bees. Cole, Horton and Besh pitched the idea of The Birds and The Bees, a sister project of Suburban Farms, at the end of January. The idea emerged first from Horton after helping her dad with the garden in their backyard, which has been home to chickens for about five years and bees for two years. “I’ve watched him through this process, and I was like, ‘Y’know, it’d be so cool if I got to bring this to St. George’s,” Horton said. “Harrison and John had already had the garden, but I wanted to do something new, and I knew that I couldn’t do it by myself.” Seeking a partner, Horton reached out to Cole with her idea of bringing chickens and bees to Suburban Farms, since she knew of Cole’s love for animals. Around the same time, Besh approached Schutt about bringing bees to Suburban Farms, and a team was born.
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
Beginning the Birds and the Bees Once the three came together, they immediately began meeting with SIS adviser Mr. Jamie Roszel to figure out the logistics of integrating The Birds and The Bees onto the St. George’s campus. “We had to get a lot of initial answers. They were really enthusiastic at first, and then we talked about it, and there were a whole lot of questions,” Mr. Roszel said. “How close are [the bees] to the school? How close can they be to people’s houses? What do we do if all the chickens die? How do we keep that from happening?” After they developed a concrete plan and spoke with Mr. Bill McClain, the Program Coordinator for St. George’s Great Outdoors, Cole, Horton and Besh approached Head of School Mr. Ross Peters about their ideas for chickens and bees. This would become their first roadblock. “Convincing Mr. Peters was the hardest [part],” Cole said. After the first meeting, Mr. Peters agreed to letting them have bees, but he denied the chickens out of the fear that they could all die. But the group would not take that as a final answer.
“
They have an actual company that’s a real thing, not just a hypothetical class project.
”
“You can’t have The Birds and The Bees if you don’t have both the birds and the bees,” Besh said. “They immediately kind of wanted to give up on it, but that’s where I said ‘just take that as your first obstacle,’” Mr. Roszel said. “‘Now, you need to redouble your efforts and come back and have something else to offer, and know that you can keep pushing through with this because you know it’s a good idea.’” The girls planned to meet with Mr. Peters again, but this time, they met with almost every science teacher, anticipated Mr. Peters’ possible concerns with Mr. Roszel and Mr. McClain and created a PowerPoint presentation with 20 slides. “We were like three slides into the presentation, and he was like ‘Okay, you can do it,’” Cole said. “I think he just needed to see how serious we were about it.” Now, the team behind The Birds and The Bees is proceeding head-on and running their SIS as a real company. Not only do they meet regularly to discuss their progress and talk everyday via their group chat, but they’re also looking for new “employees.”
Junior Ben Stamps was hired on as their financial officer, and he is currently handling their budget, brainstorming ways to make money and even looking to file The Birds and The Bees as an LLC. Now, they are searching for a junior who is looking to tailor an irrigation system for their SIS to support Suburban Farms. “They have an actual company that’s a real thing, not just a hypothetical class project,” Mr. Roszel said. “One of my best friends at Clemson graduated as a biosystems engineer, and then he became an organic farmer. The thing he’s doing now is literally what they’re doing now. … The difference is that they’re 17 or 18, he’s 30, and they’re figuring out the same kinds of problems and solutions.”
Striving for Sustainability One of the foreseeable problems for The Birds and The Bees is making profit and being sustainable, just like a business. This includes efforts that will not only benefit Suburban Farms, but benefit the greater community as well. “The ultimate goal is for us to be growing enough to provide and supplement what’s going on in the lunchroom,” Mr. McClain said. Schutt and Kutteh gave their lettuce to the lunchroom for the first time earlier this year, providing what they had and seeing how much they needed. When they were given quantities, the boys had to figure out how much eight pounds of lettuce really was and how they could continue to grow and provide that. In addition to selling harvested vegetables, specifically radishes, lettuce, hemp, kale, carrots, potatoes and onions, to the lunchroom, The Birds and The Bees crew has also brainstormed a “Birds and the Beads” fundraiser. They are planning to sell beaded bracelets in the coming weeks to raise awareness and money towards research for all cancers tied to reproduction. While Cole, Horton and Besh still have a year to lead The Birds and The Bees in the direction they choose, they know leadership after they graduate will be vital. “If there are any savvy sophomores out there wanting to get on this project, we really set it up for them,” Horton said. “We started it up, but by the time the now-sophomores will be seniors, that’s when there will be a lot of honey, [and] that’s when the eggs will be prime.” “Because they’re creating living things - they have their own biome, they have their own ecosystem, they have actual life there that they’re responsible for - someone has to take this over,” Mr. Roszel said. “It doesn’t always have to be an SIS - a lot of the times maybe it shouldn’t be a senior. Maybe we have a ninth or tenth grader who’s passionate about it.” Until that time, the girls want to increase student participation in The Birds and The Bees and have a consistent group of people out at the farm, leaders or not. While they will encourage fellow students to visit the farm so they can play with the chickens, beekeeper Cole still advocates for the bees. “I promise you they don’t sting!” Cole said. “They’re nice, I promise.”
Meet the
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Features
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CHICKS
Photo: Annie Vento ’17 Junior Shane Horton poses with Doctor and Hedwig. The chickens were introduced to the Collierville Campus as a part of her SIS.
Doctor Chicken Peters
Mr. Chicken Peters Tender Chicken Peters
Roszie Chicken Peters Tupac Chicken Peters
Hedwig Chicken Peters Photos: Annie Vento ’17 Illustration: Katie Boyle ’17
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Entertainment
Photo: Miriam Brown ‘17 Juniors Laura McDowell, Elle Vaughn and Britney Pepper read during their free period. For her suggestions, Brown explored options from fantasy to memoir.
Summer reading you’ll actually enjoy Six books to add to your to-read list Miriam Brown ‘17
Every year students are assigned summer reading, but, let’s face it, it’s not always what you want to be reading. Here are some books that you’re sure to enjoy. “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart
Cadence Sinclair Easton spends every summer with her extended family at their private island off the coast of Cape Cod. She and her three cousins, Johnny, Mirren and Gat, have an unbreakable bond, a bond that seems to fade outside of the island. During their fifteenth summer at the island, something traumatic happens, but Cadence can’t remember what. Her family tells her that some things are better off not remembered, but regardless, she spends the next two years trying to figure out exactly what went wrong. “We Were Liars” is a beautiful book, with a memorable ending, that touches on subjects like race, class, greed, prejudice and love, and ends memorably. Miriam’s Comments: I could not put this book down and thus finished it in nearly one sitting. Tears were streaming down my face by the end, but it was absolutely worth it.
“Warriors Don’t Cry: The Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High” by Melba Pattillo Beals In 1957, as the world watched, Melba Beals and eight other students integrated Little Rock’s Central High School after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. They became known as “The Little Rock Nine,” iconic figures in the civil rights movement. During her time at the school, Beals was threatened by her classmates and their families. She was attacked with a lynching rope, sticks of dynamite and acidic spray. However, Beals continued with courage and dignity, taking a stand against the race lines that had existed for decades. Miriam’s Comments: Everyone should be required to read this. It is an insightful and 100-percent-true story of the Little Rock Nine and the discrimination that took place at the time. Beals truly is a warrior.
“Saint Anything” by Sarah Dessen
Sydney is always in her charismatic brother Peyton’s shadow. Even with Peyton acting recklessly, he receives all of his parents’ affection. After Peyton drives drunk and harms another boy, Sydney feels alienated from the rest of her family. When she meets the Chathams, a fun, chaotic family running the pizza parlor next door, Sydney begins to understand what a family is supposed to be like. Miriam’s Comments: This is a coming-of-age story about guilt and letting things go, and it provides profound statements that any teenager can relate to.
“The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change” by Adam Braun
Adam Braun started a worldwide nonprofit organization with only 25 dollars. He saw a clear need for more educational opportunities in third-world countries, so he founded Pencils for Promise, an organization that builds schools around the world. Less than a decade later, Pencils of Promise has built 344 schools. “The Promise of a Pencil” follows Braun’s journey in the creation of his organization and gives advice on how to turn a dream into a reality. Miriam’s Comments: I received this at the upper school award ceremony last year, and I loved it. I read the book quickly and immediately wanted to go out and do good in the world.
“The Lost Hero” by Rick Riordan
In this first installment of the “Heroes of Olympus” series, a boy with amnesia, a girl whose father has gone missing and a boy who keeps seeing ghosts are whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, a place of protection and training for demi-gods, the children of the Greek gods. All demi-gods have powers, but the three teenagers don’t even know who their real parents are, much less what powers they possess. Likewise, they are clueless to the fact that the fate of the world will soon ride on their shoulders. Miriam’s Comments: The “Heroes of Olympus” books are an extension of the “Percy Jackson” series, but with new characters and plotlines. When I first decided to read these books a while ago, I was already a fan of the “Percy Jackson” series, and I loved this series just as much. Every chapter is packed with action, and because the writing and plotlines are not incredibly complex, the book is easy to follow. I read this series while taking Latin, and the infusion of Greek and Roman culture into the stories helped teach me valuable information for class about the religious, political and cultural lives of the ancient populations.
“A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson
“A Walk in the Woods” is Bill Bryson’s tale of his hiking the Appalachian Trail, including the history and ecology of the trail, the people he meets along the way and his experiences while trying to live on a trail for several months. Bryson interjects humor into a trite journey, turning a nonprofit book into an entertaining piece that anyone, even people who don’t consider themselves readers, would enjoy. Miriam’s Comments: I haven’t finished reading this yet, but it is already one of my favorite books. I guarantee you will be chuckling to yourself as you read it.
May
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School • Entertainment 9
Yes, Tyler the Creator, “Zootopia” IS about black people Iona Yates ‘17 Disclaimer: This is full of spoilers. Please do not come crying to me.
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pon viewing the trailer or watching “Zootopia” in theaters, you may not guess that this cute movie about animals would touch on subjects like racism, LGBT rights and the war on drugs. Zootopia uses cute animals to convey tough social messages in this new breed of Disney films. The city of Zootopia prides itself on being a melting pot between two class divisions, predator and prey. The main character of “Zootopia” is a smalltown bunny named Judy Hopps (prey), who moves to the big city and tries to make a name for herself on the police force. Like any Disney movie, she is bound to come into some conflict with another major character, and this time it’s with a con-man fox named Nick Wilde. Judy and Nick become an odd pair when they are forced to work together to find 10 missing mammals for the mayor. The two divisions of the Zootopian society had me thinking of the divisions in human society. Predators directly resemble racial minorities, while prey can be seen as the “white” majority in human society. Just as the Zootopian society has problems between its class divisions, the same can be said about the society in which we live. One scene in “Zootopia” reminded
me of the struggle against discrimination in the era of Jim Crow, in which blacks were denied service in many establishments in the South. Nick, who is a predator, is denied service at an ice cream store. The store manager whips out a sign that states he is allowed to deny service to whomever he wants, and our poor Nick does not fit the bill. The main conflict in Zootopia is the disappearance of 10 mammals within the city. Judy, who can do it all, takes on the job with only 48 hours to crack the case. What she and Nick uncover is something neither of them ever expected: Judy informs the Zootopian civilians that the 10 missing mammals had been shot with an unknown substance that caused them to act as “savages.” When the city is enlightened of the panic, it only causes the relationships between the predators and prey to become even more hostile. The weight of the pressures of the Zootopian society finally gets to Judy at this point, and she decides to quit the police force. This comes as a shock to everyone because of how badly she worked to get to where she is. Judy states that her reasoning for leaving the police force is the fact that the world is too broken for
Because the Gryphon Gazette seeks to avoid publishing profanity wherever possible, we have omitted the twitter handle above.
her to actually make a change. Chief Bogo, head of the police force, says to Judy what I think is very true about the world we live in: “The world has always been broken. That’s why we need good cops.” The Zootopian police force tries its best to combat the issue at hand, but it all becomes too much for them to handle. After solving the case of the 10 missing mammals, Judy Hopps returns to the police force to combat the issues of her community. Thanks to Judy, the corruption in the city had been uncovered, and Zootopia could now work towards a collective harmony. In light of the Ferguson riots, the
deaths of many black male teenagers and the troubled relationship between police and the communities they serve, I believe this is just the message America needs. The fact that this message was communicated via a children’s movie makes it even better. It demonstrates that, in order for any civilization to work, it must have honest, moral and upstanding citizens in powerful positions. Creating a meaningful, tangible change to societies isn’t an overnight process. Getting America to where we want it to be is possible, but it will take many brave people like Judy Hoops.
14 things to do at St. George’s before you graduate r. e l l i d b e y Mr. C ris M icknam h Be n e ga m e
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a grand slam in Ms. D Hit esire eA ore all-out m o llen for G ’s W spi rit orld Watch a Leon we Histo ardo D ry Baseb Bea ek all. iCap t t M r. rio ha Pa t mov n McGraw in a battle Ms Test i e of wit w out . ith La s. Be men M u Ms tion s. ri J P e e . ns e n . d in ag Pla Jenn e yu o ne ifer M Vasil lti of cM m . Mr u at .T ll e e o m n’ fri s s b Mo r su ee ri’s pe Par rs ticip w spir on ic ate in it it w h an SGGO event. ea e e rin ke M g m r. . ails Et . ha n Su Text: Miriam Brown ‘17 and Rachel Ducker ’17 lliv an Photo: Rachel Ducker ’17 . Illustration: Laura McDowell ’17
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10 May
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Opinion
Graduating “with distinction” isn’t what you think
Photo: Miriam Brown ’17 Sophomore Carolyn Lane poses in a cap and gown. SIS alone determined graduation with distinction this year.
Carolyn Lane ‘18
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his year, valedictorian and incoming Harvard freshman Sope Adeleye will be graduating from St. George’s without distinction. The reason? Her SIS received a grade of “pass” rather than “pass with distinction.” St. George’s is perhaps the only school in the region to base the status of graduation with distinction entirely upon a single grade. This needs to change. When I was younger, I always as-
sumed that those wearing the ropes around their shoulders during the graduation ceremony earned that right by making a certain overall GPA, something similar to the St. George’s Scholar List which I strived to be on as a child. However, the truth is that students receive distinction based on their SIS, a student-driven, year-long senior project, and it has no correlation to the overall GPA. Adeleye voiced that she was
frustrated by the importance that one project had in consideration for distinction. “What made me upset about it is the idea that I’ve worked so hard for four years, and I’ve really put myself into the school and been really involved,” Adeleye said. “Just because I didn’t do well on one project doesn’t mean that I don’t merit graduation with distinction.” Director of College Guidance Mr. Timothy Gibson cautions against valuing the label of distinction too highly. “It takes nothing away from a student’s accomplishments and efforts in the classroom at all,” Mr. Gibson said. “When all is said and done, our students who do well academically graduate with wonderful college options and go on to do great things, regardless of if they were distinctive through the SIS project or not.” Though Mr. Gibson raises a fair point, the current rules for distinction ignore the sleepless nights, early mornings, missed social events and other sacrifices academically-minded students have made over the course of their high school career. As previously stated, St. George’s is perhaps the only school in the area that bases distinction on one project rather than GPA. Briarcrest Christian School requires students to maintain a seven-semester GPA of 3.8 and have five credits in honors or advanced
placement (AP) courses in order to earn distinction. Similarly, students at Houston High School must graduate from the Houston Honors Academy with a minimum B average and complete one outside-of-school requirement to graduate with honors. This approach rewards students for work completed over the course of four years, rather than work completed during one, and promotes consistent dedication to academics. Completing SIS with distinction is a major accomplishment, but it shouldn’t be the only path to distinction. Distinction should be based on either a student’s past academic record at St. George’s or on a student’s SIS. If both are included as ways to graduate distinctively, then more students can be rewarded for individual excellence. Upper School Director Mr. Tom Morris said that he is open to changing the distinction requirements in the future. “We’re at a transition point looking forward about exactly what distinction should be based on,” Mr. Morris said. “It has worked well for the past 10 years, but we’re not the same school we were 10 years ago, so maybe we need to look at different criteria.” I hope other administrators will join him in reconsidering what merits distinctions as I think we can all agree that students like Adeleye deserve it.
The B Word (No, not that one) Why I’m reclaiming the word “bossy” Laura McDowell ‘17
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have been called “bossy” since I first started talking at eight months old. I have heard it from everyone, ranging from my brother to classmates I barely know. For most of my life, I have accepted this adjective with a sense of pride. It was not until recently that I began to shy away from it. For example, I have begun to speak up less in class and in group discussions. I am less likely to give my opinion if it is not directly asked for or if I am not comfortable with the people and my surroundings. I made the decision to let my voice be silenced for the fear that if I spoke up, I would be disliked. Time Magazine staff writer Susie Poppick says in “Getting Mad at Work Can Cost Women $15,000 in Annual Pay” that a recent study reports that assertive women are rated 35 percent less competent than more subdued women. Is the work I do, and other women who speak their minds, truly worth 35 percent less? Similarly, Catherine Pearson from Huffington Post writes in her article “This Is How We Talk About Female Leaders (Hint:
It’s Not Pretty)” that women are twice as likely to be labeled as “pushy” than men. Pushy is characteristic respected in male leaders. Pushy men get things done. A pushy man is looked up to by both men and women, as it is not just men who are guilty of labeling assertive women with unfair adjectives. But, women are pushy because we have to fight for our voices to be heard in a crowd that doesn’t want to listen. Whether we are fighting for rights to our own bodies or equal pay and treatment, the voices of women are silenced by the voices of the uninformed and unimpacted. It is our right to be opinionated, to be bossy, to be pushy. We have to be for both ourselves and the future. If I am opinionated, it is because I am passionate. If I am bossy, it is because I am a boss. If I am pushy, it is because you haven’t listened yet. So, maybe I should take some advice from my more confident, younger self, who would tell her brother that, sure, maybe she was bossy, but she also has the same right to have her voice heard as anyone else.
Photo: Miriam Brown ‘17 The word “bossy” labels junior Laura McDowell’s forehead. McDowell used to be more confident in herself and her labels, but that changed over time.
OPINION POLICY: The Gryphon Gazette opinion section is a venue for the free expression of student views at St. George’s Independent School. The opinions represented in this section are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Gryphon Gazette staff or of the St. George’s community at large. The Gryphon Gazette strives to be an open forum for the thoughtful and deliberate exchange of comment and criticism, and therefore welcomes letter to the editor. Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper, should not exceed 300 words, and must be signed and accompanied by a verifiable email address. These letters will not be printed if the content is judged obscene, violates the privacy of others or encourages physical disruption of school activites.
May
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School •
Long time no see, mini me
Opinion
11
Writing a letter to a younger me
Photos: Elise Fong ’16
Elise Fong ‘16 Dear younger Elise, Lately, all I can think about is what I should have done. Even though I am about to graduate and leave this school forever, I keep wondering: what could I have done differently? Maybe if my actions were different, it would result in a life-altering change. But, let me tell both of us now: it won’t change. You don’t need to try to do things differently. You are doing things for a reason, you are following your intuition and what will happen will happen. Instead of spending countless late nights thinking of what you could have done, just stop, breathe and think about what you have done. One thing everyone struggles with in high school, including you, is opinions. It’s nearly impossible to not care about other people’s opinions of you. There will always be negativity towards what you do, but you can’t let it weigh you down. Stop trying to do what everyone wants you to do! It’s your life and your choices, so don’t ever let anyone else make your choices for you. Trust me: not caring about people’s opinions of you is the best choice you can make. You’ll
Polaroids capture moments of our lives. Whatever phase of life you’re in, make those moments count. learn that by not caring, you are admitting the fact that you are already an amazing person, which couldn’t be more true. Young me, right now, you may be struggling with your surroundings and missing your old friends. But listen to me when I say this: don’t be afraid to take a risk and try something new. Changing schools won’t be the worst thing, I promise, and it will actually benefit you in the end. You may not know who your real friends are now, and you may not even know who you are, but things will get better. I know that now, and you do, too. How else do you keep smiling even during the worst situations? It’s because, deep down, you know things will be okay in the end, and they will. It’s weird - change can be such an terrifying thing, but, strangely enough, it can also give you the best outcome that you could ever hope for. Who would have thought that just changing your surroundings and going to St. George’s could lead to one of the most incredible experiences? I don’t want to spoil things for you entirely, but one thing I do want you to know is that, even when
you seem unsure of yourself or your future, you are approaching some unforgettable experiences. The people you will come to care about more than yourself, the people you can’t even imagine living without, are going to walk into your life so soon. I promise that soon you will find yourself sitting at that table in the dining hall, looking at each person and smiling, wondering how in the world you seemed to find such irreplaceable friends. Change, Elise, is beautiful, and though it seems terrifying at times, it will bring you into an even more beautiful place than before. You will find people who love you for who you are, for your love of video games, clothes, reading, everything. You’ll love everyone you meet in your new surroundings so much that it’ll be impossible to even consider leaving it behind. When you become a junior at St. George’s, you will make the most precious memories; you will meet the most amazing people, both your age and older role models; and, most of all, you will grow into yourself and learn to love getting out of
your comfort zone. Experience everything, young me. Take in every moment and capture it. You’ll find this poem by Tyler Knott Gregson later on, but I want to tell it to you now because it will change your life.
There is so much here and how often I feel there’s not enough of me To breathe it all in. What I wouldn’t give for Deeper lungs, Wider eyes, And a heart that can hold Just a bit more Blood. P.S. I will give one thing away for you: Believe it or not, you will end up doing a sport your senior year, and it will actually be fun! Don’t be scared of trying out for it. Sincerely, Senior Elise
Staff Editorial
Thank you, teachers Dear Teachers, Thank you. Thank you for spending hours with us before and after school to review material. Thank you for being flexible with assessment dates when we were having mental breakdowns. Thank you for being patient during those Friday classes when we can’t pay attention. Thank you for always working, listening and caring. At this time of year, it’s easy for us to be negative. With exams, graduation and checkout all on the radar, the weight of the world is heavy on our shoulders and the stress consumes us. Yet, although we may not be quick to show it, we are grateful for you and the extra time and effort you spend to help prepare us for the rest of high
school, college and beyond. Teachers can make or break a class, and while we are quick to complain, we are slow to praise. Extraordinary teachers play a special role at St. George’s because they teach students, like us, to love and care about a subject that we may not have thought we wanted to pursue after high school. And, even if we don’t love the subject, teachers teach us life lessons of powering through obstacles, staying positive and valuing education. We know many teachers that have made a difference in our lives will be leaving after this year, and before they leave, it is important for all students to take the time to acknowledge the legacy they have left
here. We sent out an email to all grades, middle and high school, asking students to write a thank you note to a teacher that has impacted them this year. Our hope for this project was that students would jump on the opportunity, but we did not receive any responses. Teachers dedicate time out of their lives every year to write report card comments and college recommendations for us, so why don’t we do the same? Thus, our offer to write a thank you note to a teacher still stands. If you send your thank you note, ranging anywhere from 100 or 1000 words long, to gryphongazette@sgis.org, we will publish it on our website.
And, even if you don’t write a thank you note for us, make a conscious effort to reach out to a teacher and say thank you, not just today, but on a regular basis. A little bit of gratitude can go a long way. If a teacher receives thanks from even one student, it can remind them why they come to work and do their challenging job every day. So, teachers, thank you for putting up with our complaints about your class. Thank you for understanding when we breakdown about homework. Thank you for doing the hard work without asking for recognition. Sincerely, The Gryphon Gazette Staff
The Gryphon Gazette
12 May
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Features
2016:scholars, artists, public servants and athletes
Annie Murff ‘18
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emorable. Fun. Innovative. School of Champions. Those are just a few words and phrases that describe the class of 2016. With creative SISes like The Teenage Experiment, Suburban Farms and Adam’s Army, this year’s seniors have paved the way for more impactful projects to follow. The class of 2016 has not only been unprecedented in academics and school involvement, but it has been strong in athletics as well. As leaders of the school, the class of 2016 helped their teams gain state championships in football, golf, baseball and basketball. The Bleacher Creatures, with their email and twitter reminders, kept the school excited and informed on upcoming sports events. They are diverse, creative and spirited, and they truly care about “the lodge.” With all of the accomplishments that the class of 2016 has made, there is no doubt that the senior class is definitely Going to New He16hts. The class of 2016 will undoubtedly leave their mark on St. George’s. To paint a picture of the variety of students that the senior class holds, the Gryphon Gazette interviewed an artist, scholar, public servant and athlete to hear their thoughts on the St. George’s experience and their class.
THE SCHOLAR
THE ARTIST
Photo: Miriam Brown ‘17 Senior Carter Burgess works on AP Latin homework. Burgess took five AP classes this year.
Photo: Mrs. Sarah Cowan Senior Teddrick Boyd plays a doctor in the winter play “wit.” Boyd was an active participant in the school’s performing arts.
“I
f I really put my mind to it, the work will get done,” Academic All-Star Carter Burgess said about his busy extracurricular schedule, in addition to the five AP courses he is taking this year. Burgess, who will be attending Emory University next year, credits his academic success to his teachers, who are “surprisingly understanding,” especially upper school math teacher Ms. Page McMullen. “Pre-Cal with Ms. McMullen was probably the best class,” Burgess said, even though he also said it was the hardest class he had taken until that point. Burgess also credits the St. George’s academic “environment of students and teachers, as well as the options [of classes] that you are given,” for making his scholarly work easier and more interesting. Outside of school, Burgess plays tennis and is on the mock trial team, which can be difficult when the multiple extracurriculars overlap. “The most difficult thing is trying to balance that,” Burgess said. In regards to what he will take away from his time at St. George’s, Burgess said the ability to approach teachers with questions will take him far in life, as well as being able to engage in conversations with students about material. However, Burgess said that the best thing he has gained through St. George’s is a great group of friends and getting to meet new people throughout high school, from other swimmers on his team to fellow classmates during class trips. “Having a tight-knit group of friends to hang out with has been great,” Burgess said.
The class of
THE PUBLIC SERVANT
Photo: Caroline Zummach ‘18 Senior Katherine Clayton plays with a child during this year’s MedLife trip to Peru. Clayton has dedicated herself to different service projects including Ali’s Way and Serve901.
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volunteer for Ronald Mcdonald House, Ali’s Way, Streets Ministries and Serve901, as well as a member of the Citizenship Institute, Katherine Clayton is the embodiment of a public servant in the St. George’s community. Clayton credits her interest in service and volunteer work to her love for her hometown of Memphis. “Growing up here, I have been able to see the progression we’ve made already, like developing Midtown,” Clayton said. “It creates a better environment.” Clayton was also the only senior to attend the MedLife trip to Peru earlier this year. The trip gave her a way to make friends she wouldn’t normally be friends with and to “meet a small group of people who also love to serve.” She used the trip as a chance to incorporate two of her interests, traveling and service, into her life. “I hope I will help pave the way for what [underclassmen] will do in the future and [help] make a lasting impression,” Clayton said.
“I
love it to death,” Teddrick Boyd said about his choir and theatre experiences within the fine arts program at St. George’s. Boyd has been singing since he was in second grade, and he began acting this year. He said that his school experiences as an artist have been fulfilling as well as challenging, and it has been a constant struggle for him to balance extracurriculars and school work. However, he admitted that choir has brought him out of his shell, as he describes himself as quiet and a listener rather than a talker. “[St. George’s] has been a place where [there] was a lot of growth for me,” Boyd said. “Coming from a smaller school, I had to learn to adapt, and I didn’t really come out of my shell until I joined choir.” Boyd joined the choir freshman year and has been doing it ever since, but this year, he decided it was time for a change and joined theatre. “I always thought my first play would be comedic and funny, and this play was serious and about cancer,” Boyd said. Despite the intensity of the play, “Wit,” Boyd loved the experience and regrets not participating in plays earlier. “I loved it,” Boyd said. “The rehearsals were great, [and] the people were great.” Boyd, who is attending the University of Tennessee next year, hopes to pursue the arts in college. “My love and appreciation for the arts impacted me a lot,” Boyd said. “They have helped me be more outgoing and helped me make new friends.”
THE ATHLETE Photo: Carolyn Lane ’18 Senior Jake Lindow points to the crowd after the football team’s state victory. Lindow was a three-sport athlete.
“B
eing involved in something is good for anyone’s development,” Jake Lindow said, who has wrestled and played football and lacrosse for the past six years at St. George’s. Lindow has enjoyed playing sports at St. George’s because he has loved playing sports with people he knows. As a senior, Lindow has noticed “strong senior leadership leading the team in a positive direction,” both on the field and on the mat. “We are leaving trophies in the trophy case,” Lindow said of the senior athletes’ greatest impact this school year. Lindow also credits St. George’s athletics for helping define who he is as a leader and for fostering leadership among other students. “Sports at St. George’s have helped me learn more about who I am,” Lindow said. “[Athletics] help define school culture in a positive way. That is reflected on the athletic field as well as the academic environment.”