information about parking and drop-off will be distributed soon. Students can buy tickets for $20 during Spirit Week in the auditorium at lunch. The price of the ticket will help cover the cost of the event and contribute a few dollars to a great cause. The student council general assembly voted to support Project HOME in Philadelphia, whose mission “is to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty”.
HOYLE’S HAVEN ROOTS
The homecoming football game is on October 15. Leading up to the game, we’ll have Spirit Week from Monday to Friday, featuring these 5 school-wide dress-up days: Middle School Monday; Twin Tuesday; Wedding Wednesday (fancy clothes); THON Thursday (wear yellow); and Fandom Friday (wear a jersey/team apparel). The most spirited outfits will be celebrated and rewarded. Because of COVID guidelines, the whole school can’t gather in the gym at once–for the pep rally or the dance. So, student council has tried to come up with some creative solutions. Friday’s pep rally will be split into two sections based on fourth block class location. When classes arrive at the gym, students will head to a specific section of the
MIDDLE SCHOOL MONDAY TWIN TUESDAY WEDDING WEDNESDAY THON THURSDAY FANDOM FRIDAY inside this issue...
the moment we’ve all been waiting for! This year, as with everything else, Homecoming weekend might not look “normal”, but it will be uniquely exciting and filled with Panther Pride.
MEETING MARSEILLE
Homecoming…
The Olympian was introduced to fencing at SHMS by coach Pixie Roane, who is a champion herself.
Photo courtesy Marin Lent, ‘22
Student council’s plans for and approach to this year’s events
Spirit Week Days
bleachers. Student council hopes that juniors and seniors will demonstrate how “hype” a Haven pep rally really is and form some friendly rivalries with the younger grades. The Homecoming dance theme is disco! The Hustle at Haven will be on Saturday, from 7:00-9:30 PM. All of the students, volunteers, and a DJ will be able to gather outside of the Brookhaven entrance, similar to the setup of last year’s senior celebration. The groovin’ “dance floor” will be the sidewalk and the parking lot, and the cafeteria and outdoor tables will be available to grab water and snack. Students need to bring a mask. Student council encourages students to dress like they’re attending a 70’s shindig, but as long as outfits abide by the school dress code, students can wear anything that feels fun. Some procedures will be similar to previous Homecoming dances–everyone will have to check in at Brookhaven, so that they can hand in their ticket, be breathalyzed, and receive a nifty wrist band when they enter the event. Bags will be checked to make sure that the event is safe. More
PantherPress
Sawyer Bock ‘22 Sports Editor
The student council officers and representatives are stoked to put these events together. Updated information will be shared in our video announcements and on the student council Instagram account. Feel free to share any questions, concerns, or ideas. Peace out and see you there!
Homecoming Week 2021
Students respond to the new superintendent’s plans for the district.
Homecoming royalty will be continued this year! After preliminary voting, the 10 HoCo royalty nominees are: Trey Ford, Zach Suico, Kai Lincke, Winnie Stach, Jimmy Jordan, Mark Wang, James Wang, Charlotte Caywood, Dai’Omi Revis-Hill, and Matt Shingle. The whole school can vote for the top 2, who will be crowned at the dance.
Icons by Gabe Lawson, ‘22
THE BAND IS BACK Band students resume full in person practices and performances.
A new kind of first day jitters
My favorite school supply item would have to be my planner. As someone who thrives on organization, having a detailed and accessible planner, along with the trusty calendar app, is essential to feeling togetherstressfulduringdays.
T
Dear readers,
Our student newspaper may not have the same readership or resources, but we remain just as committed to the news. Our team of student writers, photographers, designers, and editors seek to provide a space that students can rely on to stay informed and to find joy; we hope that you’ll pick up the Panther Press when you want to learn about the school board’s latest decision or when you need to escape from reality with a crossword puzzle or
Oliver AaronGiorgiaStockmanMariLoving
film review. And if you see something wrong or have something that needs to be written about, we hope you’ll join us and use your voice to inform and inspire the school community.
Compared to all of the flashy things on Staples’ shelves (the stationary! The colorful pens! The paperclips!), my favorite school supply item isn’t really that exciting. I love a fresh new Tinconderoga No. 2 pencil. There’s something about that pristine eraser, sharp point, and bright yellow paint that makes me excited to start taking notes again.
My favorite school supply is definitely sticky notes. I’m pretty obsessed with them, especially the accordion sticky notes, which I have way too much fun
Oliver
Editors
ArtsHavenMorganEditor-in-ChiefLinckeMcErleanHappeningsCeceOlszewskiandEntertainmentSawyerBockSports
I can’t promise that we’ll know what we’re doing or know where this year is headed. But, I promise that, through it all, we’ll be here. Whatever your purpose, we hope that you’ll find peace within these pages. We’re all in this together.
KaiWarmly,Lincke, editor-in-chief
I have a set of Sharpie fine-point pens in a bunch of colors and they are my prized possessions.
planning with demanding coursework. Sometimes it can feel like everything is in flux and nothing is guaranteed.
with.Istumbled
onto Pentel’s liquid gel ink pens by accident. However, they quickly became my favorite type and I make sure to get a new set every year!
Welcome back to school!
AaronGiorgiaOpinionsStockmanMariDetoursLovingGraphics
Clearly, the pandemic has added another layer of complexity to the first day jitters. The school atmosphere can be confusing and overwhelming, especially because of its tendency to quickly pivot and shift. It is a challenging place to navigate for everyone, from our underclassmen struggling to adjust during a pandemic setting to our upperclassmen balancing post-high school
he first day school has always been filled with uncertainty: who will you sit next to on the bus? Will your teachers be nice? Will your classmates recognize you after the *glowup* you had this summer? And, more recently: will your classmates be wearing masks? How will lunch work? Do you even remember how to socialize after a year of Zoom?
Kai Lincke Editor-in-Chief‘22
You know the erasers that you can pull apart? They might be colorful animals, food, or another fun item, but I’m glad I saved the ones I got in elementary school because my green hamster eraser is now a staple (my second favorite school supply).
The Panther Press is first and foremost a reflection of the opinions and inter ests of the student body. For this reason, we do not publish any anonymous or teacher-written submissions, and we do not discriminate against any ideology or po litical opinion. While we are bound by school policy (and funding) and we will not render any article neutral, although individual points may be edited for obscene or inflammatory content. Finally, the articles published in the Panther Press do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or advisers.
Kai
VISIT US ONLINE AT https://sites.google.com/view/thepantherpress/ Page 2 Back to School
I’ve been using them since middle school and they make note taking so much prettier.
We hope that this newspaper will be a steady place in the midst of these unpredictable times. The past few years have helped society to rediscover the urgency of the news. Newspapers and publications across the country have stepped up to provide answers, reliable information, entertainment and comfort when readers didn’t know who else to turn to.
THIS EDITION, WE ASKED OUR EDITORS: What is your favorite school supply item? Morgan McErlean Cece SawyerOlszewskiBock
Panther DisclaimerPress
LEDITOR Mr.Mrs.AdvisorsKaiEditor-in-ChiefLinckeDaniellePerricone-MunnRobertZakrzewskiSTAFFPRESSPANTHER 2021SchooltoBack
Editors’ Page
Photographers and Artists Marin Lent Gabe GeorgiaLawsonGianopulos
Pencil.
YES
What is a close contact?
Quarantine for 10 days after you test positive for Covid-19. negative
Return to school eight days after last day of contact
Photo courtesy of Kai Lincke
By Morgan McErlean, ‘22 ~ Haven Happenings Editor Kai Lincke, ‘22 ~ Editor-in-Chief
Test positive
Quarantine with no test
Note: Day of exposure is always Day 0.
This year, for the first time, Haven has begun to show virtual video announcements in the place of morning announcements. On Tuesdays and Thursdays during third block, teachers show the announcements in their classes to inform students about relevant activities and events happening at the school. Student council members record these announcements twice a week with a smile and a dad joke. To view the announcements, follow the link in the student council’s Instagram bio,@strathhavensc, or go to the Strath Haven High School YouTube page.
Photo courtesy of Strath Haven Student Council
Test
Quarantine for 10 days after you test positive for Covid-19. negative Continue instruction.in-personMonitoranynewsymptoms.
A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
It can be challenging to determine the appropriate actions after exposure to Covid-19. This flow chart provides a visual representation of the school’s gudelines to help you follow the right path. Please refer to WSSD’s website for more information.
Continue going to school but get a PCR test 3-5 days
Over the summer, Strath Haven teacher Kevin Haney helped in the escape effort of Strath Haven graduate Amir Sidiqi, a military contractor with the U.S. Defense Department, after the fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban. Connected through social media when the chaos began, Haney was able to get in contact with a friend who helped Amir, his wife, and his daughter escape from Afghanistan on a military jet, believed to have been flown by another Strath Haven graduate. Amir plans to return to Afghanistan once international flights are available, hoping to help restabilize the country. A more extensive article detailing this story is available on WHYY and the district website.
Test
Are you vaccinated?
Quarantine until you complete a PCR test.
Test results
exception: In the K–12 indoor classroom setting or a structured outdoor setting where mask use can be observed the close contact definition excludes students who were between 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore wellfitting masks the entire time. If this exception applies in contact tracing NO in-person educational time is disrupted.
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*All information from WSSD’s Covid-19 information and resources page
Test positive
As with many usual school events, the activities fair looked a little different this year. Instead of taking place in the gym, the activities fair took place outdoors on the Brookhaven entrance sidewalk of the school. On September 24th, students from the sophomore and freshman classes were encouraged to peruse the over fifty stands representing clubs at Strath Haven. With the breadth and depth of activities present, many were able to find clubs that suited their interests. Upperclassmen could watch Flipgrids from each club to learn more about their goals and purpose.
Quarantine and get a PCR test 5-7 days after exposure.
Photo courtesy of Amir Sidiqi
Haven Happenings
Return to school at least 10 days after exposure (14 preferred by PA DOH)
Test results
Briefly noted...
Do you have symptoms?
YES NO
So You’re A Close Contact...
response to her statement. She expresses that “it was really nice to know I had been seen.” She believes that “having obvious diverse perspectives on something as impactful as the school board is much needed” and feels “confident” that Dr. Marseille will “[continue] to have important conversations” and work with the community to improve the school environment
Feminist Club founder Emily Pollins, ‘22, is “really glad to hear that Dr. Marseille is taking an interest in student voices.” She feels that “student voices and opinions [regarding] education and our school environment should be valued the most” because students “are aware of how the school environment can really be.” Students get to see parts of the school experience that adults don’t, which makes them the most qualified to suggest areas for improvement to their own education, Pollins says.
Kai
Student voices are having a moment. Last year, a record 40 sophomores and juniors ran for positions in the student council cabinet. Multiple clubs, including the Feminist Club and Young Activists Coalition, have formed within the last few years to allow students to encourage diversity and inclusion and advocate for changes to school climate. Now more than ever, students are harnessing the power of their voices to recognize injustice and encourage change.
Sophomore Meredith Seidman was one of the first students to share her thoughts with Dr. Marseille. At the July 19 school board meeting, she detailed her experiences with discrimination and bullying as a Jewish student in the district. She requested more curriculum about the Jewish experience, particularly the Holocaust, and asked that the district work to make Jewish students feel more comfortable in the classroom. Dr. Marseille commended her for speaking up and requested to meet with Seidman to further discuss how the district can improve the classroom environment for Jewish students. He emphasized that he is looking forward to meeting with more students to discuss their concerns about diversity and equity in the classroom. “‘I want to talk to you. I want to talk to your classmates. I want to hear their story. I want to know what I can do,” he told Seidman.
Seidman was “surprised but pleased” with Dr. Marseille’s
Some students are still a little apprehensive about Marseille’s promises to hear students’ concerns. Senior Jyothi Rao expresses that it is “hopeful to hear [Marseille’s] emphasis on student voices, but that includes taking action and taking their words seriously”. Rao notes that past incidents with racism at the high school have caused “so much pain” and many students felt as though their concerns were “brushed off, adding to the hurt”. She adds that they felt “listened to, but not heard or understood.” She hopes that Marseille will change this narrative by taking concrete action to “face these conflicts head-on.”
the letter incident, and indicated that “when the school is not intentional about having conversations about what our core values are and what we believe”, incidents like this will continue to occur.
As a result, Marseille believes that there need to be more discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom. He notes that “much of the curriculum is a Eurocentric curriculum”, which provides a narrow view of the world. He hopes to expand the curriculum to allow students to experience and celebrate multiple perspectives.
Marseille adds that it’s not enough to say “‘Hey, let’s talk about diversity,’ and then we order 60 books and then we just scatter them through our libraries. I think it needs to be more deliberate and intentional, in terms of the racialized experiences and or experiences of people from multiple identities that go beyond race,” he said. “When you take a look at inequity, it’s more than just about race. We have multiple students in this district with multiple identities.”
MARSEILLE MOVES IN
r. Wagner Marseille knows a thing or two about going for gold. Marseille medaled at several international track competitions and championships. Then, in 1996, he represented Haiti in the Olympic Games. He’s accustomed to raising the bar and striving for excellence. Now, he’s looking to set a gold standard in education as WSSD’s new superintendent.Marseillebrings a unique perspective to the district. He was born in Haiti, the “poorest country in the Western hemisphere” and “landed in Princeton, New Jersey, one of the most prestigious zip codes in the country”. Marseille notes that he often felt out of place, as his parents were “blue-collar, very hard-working, [with] double jobs” while there was “so much affluence” in the rest of the community. He adds that “the percentage was in the single digits in terms of students of color”, and “there were a lot of things that that community said, and didn’t say, that made me feel as the other. So it was very difficult for me to fit into that community.” This experience inspired Marseille to work to improve circumstances for students like himself- and eventually led him to WSSD.
The new superintendent introduces himself and outlines future plans for the district
Marseille plans to perform an equity audit to evaluate “areas in which we are not reaching our potential”.
“The curriculum plays a large role in being able to allow students to see their own history, but what’s more important is allowing students to see another perspective,” Marseille said. “When students graduate from Wallingford Swarthmore, there’s no mistake about it that they’re entering into an extremely diverse community. And it’s not that they have to espouse the same core beliefs as those individuals, but they have to be able to have experience understanding the perspective. And I don’t think there’s enough space in their curriculum that allows that to happen.”
Marseille hopes to evaluate other pieces of the school environment, including mental health. He acknowledges that “we are an extremely rigorous, high demanding school system that pushes students to the brink.” Furthermore, Marseille feels that “mental health, stress, and anxiety [are] a significant factor in this district because we’re pushing the envelope in terms of excellence. It seems to me like we want to be the best at everything. That’s a lofty goal, but it has to be balanced with some intentionality on wellbeing.” His goal is to “figure out a way [to] simultaneously continue to strive for excellence [and] balance that with a healthy lifestyle.”
Morgan McErlean, ‘22, Kai Lincke ‘22 Haven Happenings Editor and Editor-in-Chief
All of these changes will contribute to “the WSSD experience”, the high quality of education that equips students with the “appropriate skills, experiences, dispositions, and attitudes, in order to excel.” Marseille notes that the “WSSD experience is very different for many students in this district”, so he hopes to “provide equity, in terms of ensuring that every student gets the WSSD experience.”
such as women’s roles and treatment, racism, and minority groups. A more diverse and inclusive curriculum is one of the first steps to a more equitable school community, so they believe that this is a promising first step.
D
Marseille encourages students to speak up and highlight more opportunities to improve their school experience. Marseille emphasizes that student voices are powerful tools, and promises that he will listen to student voices. He understands how harmful it can be when students’ voices aren’t heard. When he was in middle school and high school, Marseille felt that “my voice didn’t matter and that other voices took precedence over mine. There wasn’t a platform for me to have a voice.” Given his past experiences, Marseille is determined to value students’ opinions and “recognize [their] unique identities in multiple ways that make [them] feel valued”.InMarseille’s first 100 days as superintendent, he has taken the time to observe the district and consider how he can improve the school experience for all students. His numerous goals may seem ambitious, but Marseille has been pushing for excellence for his entire life- and he’s not stopping now.
Further progress in student activism could come with the appointment of new superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille. During his first board meetings, Dr. Marseille has frequently emphasized his “willingness and passion for student voice” and encouraged students to use their voices to highlight areas where the district can improve.
“As I started to look deeper into the community and the district, it did remind me so much of Princeton, in terms of… the expectations, the idea about excellence, the idea about rigorous schoolwork, the community,” Marseille said. “And, I realized that, you know what, this might be a place in which I could be of better service and support what the new type of thinking that the board was looking for.” Marseille explains that both districts are “beautiful, wonderful [communities], but when you don’t create the opportunity for others to see themselves within the culture of your community, it becomes extremely, extremely challenging.” Marseille hopes to improve the atmosphere for students who struggle like he did, and ensure that all students feel welcome.
Marseille’s perspective is a necessary addition to a district that has struggled with diversity and equity in the past few years. Marseille acknowledged recent conflicts, including
Young Activists Coalition leader Anjali Robinson-Leary, ‘23, agrees, declaring that Dr. Marseille should “[listen] to the people directly affected by [his] action or inaction.” She emphasizes that his “most important duty” is to hear student voices. She recognizes that Marseille and other leaders have a lot of changes to address to improve the school climate. However, she is glad that administrators “are interested and invested in improving student safety and well-being, and are making steps to rectify mistakes and move forward with newfound respect and knowledge of student voices and demands.” Leary hopes Dr. Marseille continues this agenda, and brings “increased accountability and transparency” to improve the atmosphere for all students.
Students Offer Hopes for New Leadership Lincke Editor-in-Chief‘22
Marseille emphasizes that changes to school climate cannot be just performative. He cites how he and other administrators have worked to create celebrations for Hispanic Heritage month. “We’re trying to figure out what are the most effective ways besides window dressing or besides putting a nice little sticker on the wall that says “Hispanic Month”. How do we think differently about how we support their own culture, not just through the seasonal monthly perspectives, but the way in which we honor all cultures, music, art, science, sports, and literature throughout the year,” Marseille said.
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All of the students included in this article are happy that Dr. Marseille will expand the district’s curriculum. They hope that he will collaborate with students to include topics
Overall, students’ voices can only make a difference if they fall on receptive ears. As Rao expressed, “the most important thing for any adult to do at Strath Haven is to listen and sympathize”. Students are optimistic about Marseille’s work so far- and hope that he’ll continue to listen and learn alongside them.
Meeting Dr. Marseille
Student Voices Address Marseille
Senior Evan Simley expresses that Marseille’s plans to work with students to increase diversity sound exciting, but he hopes that he follows through with them. “I feel like I’ve been hearing that same speech 100 times over, so at this point I feel a little skeptical of it. I hope he makes good on his promises, [but] sometimes I feel like ignorance will kinda just be something me and other students of color will have to deal with regardless,” he said. Nevertheless, Simley and his peers hope that Dr. Marseille’s new leadership will help to shape a more inclusive, equitable school environment.
Haven Happenings
In another sense, test-optional policies may increase low-income students’ chances of admission. Some students are just natural testtakers while others struggle with standardized testing. But one major factor in successful SAT scores is test preparation. Those with the resources to take SAT prep courses perform better. Many low-income students are not able to access such assistance. Now, test-optional colleges are removing this barrier between low and high-income students, giving low income students a fairer chance at admittance.
As students begin their college applications, a popular question on high school seniors’ minds is, “should I still take the SAT?”
GabecomicLawson,
Upperclassmen explore changes to college application procedures
Opinions
Page 5 BTS 2021
Is Test Optional A Good Thing?
to show their skills, no matter the circumstances of their education. Initially, test-optional admissions had been put into place to help lowincome student communities. But due to the pandemic, even less access is being granted to those students, creating fewer opportunities and less testing.
The SAT was initially designed to allow low-income and disadvantaged students
‘22 Detours
While many believe that test-optional college admissions will help relieve the stress of the pandemic, this change may have made the admissions process more competitive.
By choosing to withhold test scores, or skipping the tests altogether, colleges are more likely to focus on other parts of students’ application, including extracurriculars, grades, GPA, and college essay. College admissions officers want proof that the applicant is prepared for college in the application, and will use whatever is presented to them in that evaluation.
Floating Photographer by Giorgia Mari, ~ Detours Editor
‘22
As of this past year, test-optional policies have been implemented in almost every college, relieving the stress of many students currently working through their applications. And, as fewer and fewer students submit their scores, the field similarly becomes less competitive.
Giorgia Mari, ‘22 Detours Editor
What is it like being back in the building after a year online? We asked last year’s online academy students: It’s good because I get to see and hangout with my friends again. -Jenny Hanna, ‘22 It was a little weird at first but it’s much better being back. -Ben Schmidt, ‘23 I’m just disappointed in myself for not coming into school last year. -Kenny Huang, ‘22 It’s great to be back in the building and be able to socialize with people. -Lexi Bennett, ‘22 It’s exhausting. -Kevin Nichols , ’23 It’s more stressful but I’m glad I’m back and able to interact with other people. -Joyce Huang , ’22
For those who loathe standardized testing, these new guidelines may have put them at ease. But taking the tests and submitting their scores may actually work in their favor.If students’ scores are within or abov ethe college’s range, it could add anotherHowever, some students’ scores do not match the college’s range. In this case, it may be better not to submit them, as students are not punished for not sending scores. Submitting lower test scores may actually hurt applicants’ chances of getting in.
Currently, it is not clear whether submitting or withholding scores will be beneficial to applicants. This is something that colleges should make clear, as the confusion surrounding the SATs may be deterring potential applicants from applying. While the SAT was initially created to give equal opportunity to all students, it has become a major piece in the competitive race to top colleges. Now, as the test becomes less important to admissions, one expects to see more applications, holistic evaluations, and diverse college campuses.
The inspiration for the album came from a twitter account called @sapphobot that posted phrases by the poet daily. Olszewski states that she was “intrigued by these phrases that somehow carried so much emotion in them.” This intrigue caused her to purchase “If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho,” by Anne Carson. Fragment inspired demos created for her own amusement led to more purposeful planning, songwriting, and development, culminating in an album telling “a story of memory, obsession, and honey.” Many students and adults alike found that the limits placed on their previous lifestyles by the pandemic opened up extra time. Olszewski relates to this scenario, stating that it allowed her to learn the guitar. She states that writing the album was a “peaceful and meditative” process for her, and believes the intentionality of her writing, in contrast to the stress of that year, “gives the album [a] contemplative vibe.”
Cece Olszewski will be presenting her George H. Slick Arts Fellowship recital on October 19th at 7:00pm. Her program will include violin and piano performances of Brahms, Barber, and Grieg, along with a world premiere of her original composition, joyride, written for symphony orches tra. The George H. Slick Arts Fellowship and Grant was created to honor Dr. George H. Slick, Superintendent of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District from 1978 to 1996 and 2006-2007. Its intention is to “recognize the importance of the arts in a nation that aspires to greatness.” The recital, which was previously scheduled for the spring of Olszewski’s junior year, will be held in the auditorium for a limited audi ence due to COVID restrictions, but the concert will also be livestreamed for community members to tune in. The You Tube link to the livestream can be found on the WSSD social media pages.
10812354679 I hope you enjoy volume 1 of The Panther Playlist! Feel free to send me an email (thepantherplaylist@gmail. com) with song recs for the next edition. -Cece
Good Days SZA
Someone New Hozier
His
Added some Phoebe to the playlist as a shoutout to the Pharbz (Phoebe Bridgers fans) of Strath Haven.
Oliver Stockman ‘22 Opinions Editor
vibes and the
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Slick Recital offers more of Olszewski’s compostions
for taking a walk in the falll weather or hallways.
MAGIC IN THE MAKING: Olszewski and her ensemble of student musicians assemble in the SHHS auditorium to record her album this July.
Arts and Entertainment
done / With the summer
Motion Sickness
Photo courtesy Cece Olszewski
Some of the participants’ favorite tracks include “fragments,” “honeybee,” “no grove,” and “time passes.” Sentivan describes “fragments” as “encapsulating the vibe of the whole record” while Ventriglia enjoys its “powerful moments of dramatically building and releasing tension.” Emmanouilides enjoys “the simplicity of the cello” in “honeybee,” while Wei defines the track as the highest ranking in boppability. Grossman highlights the power of “no grove” as an instrumental piece, underlining the importance of mixing real instrumentals, rather than utilizing applications like GarageBand. Olszewski herself loves “how the singers all join in at the chorus” in “time passes.” “] tenth muse” is easily accessible on SoundCloud and Bandcamp for anyone interested in exploring deeper into the world these students created.
The Strokes are rebelling against the higher-ups and it is so! catchy!
The development of the project from Olszewski’s compositions to a realized work of art took place over two days, and was reviewed positively by all participants. They all enjoyed the opportunity to work with other passionate musicians. Emma Wei, the violinist, states that “it was making music with other people who love making music, so of course it was just a beautiful experience.” Bella Emmanouilides, the vocalist for the part of Anactoria, praised the “sense of collaboration and openness to ideas,” citing Olszewski’s support of an accidental alteration to her vocal part in one of the tracks. Guitarist Sam Sentivan “enjoyed the workshopping of ideas,” while Sara Ventriglia, the cellist, liked bonding with the other musicians, and watching “Cece’s music and dream of recording it come to life in such an exciting, tangible way.” Eleanora Grossman, the assistant director and sound technician for the project, agrees with Ventriglia, indicating that it was exciting to watch the album come together. “It was really magical to hear Cece’s initial ideas and demos and then finally help mix and edit the final copy,” Grossman said.
Francis Forever Mitski
for this playlist.
The Adults Are Talking The Strokes
Fragments of Sappho
Where Is My Mind?
stand to be / Where you don’t see me” Pulaski
If you’ve ever seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, you probably remember the iconic art museum scene. It’s one of my favorite scenes of all time, and the instrumental version of this
Photo courtesy Cece Olszewski
Like most of Phoebe Bridgers’ songs, the lyrics are devastating but the beat is sick!
I Hozier, Hozier. whole discography fall grand finale
Phoebe Bridgers
your choice.
Senior Cece Olszewski releases concept album titled “] tenth muse”
O
n August 28, 2021, senior Cece Olszewski released a concept album titled “] tenth muse.” The twelve track project, inspired by the Greek poet Sappho, was written by Olszewski during the winter and spring of last school year and recorded in June. Fellow Strath Haven High School students Bella Emmanouilides, Emma Wei, Sara Ventriglia, Sam Sentivan, and Eleanora Grossman contributed to the project’s vocals, instrumentals, and execution.
Fun fact: The members of Vampire Weekend met as Columbia undergrads, so a lot of their lyrics/songs contain Columbia references.
“Then I see you / You’re walking cross the campus / Cruel professor / Studying romances…In the afternoon you’re out on the stone and grass / And I’m sleeping on the balcony after class”
“Francis Forever” is one of my top favorite Mitski songs and it deserves more recognition. The first time I heard this song was in an episode of Adventure Time (s8e10) when I was in 6th grade and I’ve been a Mitski fan ever yet passing could at Night
by, but / I don’t think I
Mykonos Dream Academy Smiths pointillism painting of
Andrew Bird I listen to this song religiously every fall without fail. I love all of the violin in Andrew Bird’s music, especially here.
love
The Panther Playlist~ 10 songs, 39 min 8 sec
After a year and a half of Zoom classes, many of us are asking this same question.
cover is its soundtrack. Have fun blasting this song and staring into the
When asked about songwriting, Olszewski confidently replies that “it is [her] favorite thing in the world.” From melodical creation, musical themes, and distortion to worldbuilding and empathizing, Olszewski cites the combination of elements involved in the process as the primary reason why she finds songwriting so thrilling. Her advice to other young composers is to start experimenting until it feels right, listen to a variety of music, and remain confident in one’s abilities. Olszewski finds “developing the world of the piece [with] . . . a bunch of voice memos, a pinterest board, a spotify playlist . . .” is a strategy for getting started that works well for her.
THE PANTHER PLAYLIST vol. 1: back 2 school
Campus Vampire Weekend
Fleet Foxes Put on literally any Fleet Foxes song and you’re guaranteed to feel like putting on a big sweater and sipping chai. See also: Ragged Wood. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want The
Here SZA reminds us to stay positive and have hope for better days ahead. If you’re going through it right now, good days are just around the corner :-) “Still wanna try, still believe in / Good days / Always sunny inside / Good day living in my mind”
we all love
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Pixies
MORE MUSIC MAGIC
“Andsince.autumn comes when you’re not
The Band is Back
#SETTING THE STANDARD: Drum majors Sawyer Bock, Cece Olszewski and Alyse Wicentowski prepare to lead the band throuigh the first football game on September 3, 2021.
There’s nothing sweeter than the sound of 320 instrumentalist and bandfront students eagerly hutting and ho-ing their way into the stands to the tune of the cadence. That’s right- the Strath Haven marching band, the pride of Strath Haven, is back. And they’re ready to #set the standard.
“It brings a new energy to everyone. Everyone is really putting in a lot more work, and everyone really wants to be here.”
Bock expresses that he is incredibly impressed with the band’s progress and determination this year, and “proud to be a part of and a representative for a band that brings such positive and supportive energy to everything we do—this year more than ever. It’s a surreally welcoming environment that I’ve been lucky to experience,” Bock said.
Nothing- not even a pandemic- could break this community. Now, the band marches on, stronger than ever, setting the standard for a new generation.
Making it through Covid was not easy for the band. Last year, its practices were primarily online, and all in person sessions were very carefully planned and monitored to keep students safe. It was challenging to feel the connection through virtual and limited in-person rehearsals, so the band’s mini-season at the end of the year was a welcome return to the field for many students. Though the band lost some members during the pandemic, the majority of band students returned to their band family.
New Leaders Step Up to the Podium
“There’s proof that they work,” senior snare captain Zoe Feinberg says. “And I would wear my mask outside if it meant I could go to games. I don’t care- I’d do anything.” Feinberg remembers that last year’s seniors didn’t get a full season, so she emphasizes that the band- especially seniors- are being “really careful” to ensure that their season can continue.
-Cece Olszewski,‘22
So far, the executive council has worked tirelessly to produce two separate halftime shows. They have led the band through fan favorites such as Mr. Blue Sky, Blinding Lights, and I’m Still Standing.
After more than a year of virtual and reduced masked band sessions, the band has resumed full in person practices and performances. Though band members are excited to be together again, they recognize that their season isn’t guaranteed. The band hopes to avoid suspending full in person activities, so leaders have made a few adjustments to ensure that it can continue to practice and perform safely. Students are primarily outside and distanced, and they continue to wear instrument masks indoors to decrease the risk of exposure. Attendance and seating arrangements on buses to away games are both carefully tabulated to assist with contact tracing. These procedures require a lot of work, time, and careful consideration, but students feel that they are worth it if they allow the band to continue playing together.
In addition to procedure changes, the pandemic has shifted the band’s mentality. Drum major Sawyer Bock explains that a resurgence of the pandemic means “it can go away at any time.” The band’s uncertain future makes the students “grateful” for the time that they have together, and “brings a different attitude” to their work, Bock says. Drum major Cece Olszewski agrees, adding that the uncertainty “brings a new energy to everyone. Everyone is really putting in a lot more work. And everyone really wants to be here,” she said.
Arts and EntertainmentPage 7 BTS 2021
Olszewski similarly feels that her time in band has passed too quickly, so she is determined to appreciate each moment. “We made it through Covid for this,” she emphasized.
#Setting the Standard
As hundreds of students returned to the fields for their first practices of the 2021 season, drum majors Alyse Wicentwoksi, Cece Olszewski and Sawyer Bock stepped up to the podium for the first time, joined by student directors Avery Cavanagh, Sarah Elmer, Celest McConnell, and Henry Stockman.Atthe end of last season, drum major Talia Gold emphasized that their job would be to “rebuild the band” and help it grow after the pandemic. Wicentowski conveys that “it’s a little intimidating [because] we’re the people that are setting the standard.” However, Olszewski acknowledges that “it’s kind of every drum major’s job to prepare the band for the next year. I don’t know how different it is just because it’s always a huge task. And it’s always a lot of people. And it’s always trying to get everyone to get to that next level.”
Shay adds that he’s enjoying “showing the underclassmen how [band] works” and “passing on” the spirit to the next generation of band students. Lynch advises underclassmen to appreciate each opportunity that they have with the band because time passes so quickly.
“I remember sophomore year I was on bass drums- and now I’m a captain. That’s crazy to me,” he said.
Bass drummer Sam Shay, ‘22, notes that the pandemic has reinvigorated band students’ everyday activities. “It’s funny how much you take it for granted,” Shay noted. “You don’t notice a lot until
you take it Seniorsaway.”Ryan Lynch and Adam LaFountain express that they are excited to have regained drumline traditions like “put em up boys”, when the bass drums lift their drums after the football team scores. “You can’t do that stuff online,” LaFountain said. “I’m just so happy to be back with my boys again.”
Editorial Board
BACK TO BAND
The executive council inherited a difficult situation, a complex band limited by pandemic circumstances, but in just three short months, they have helped the band to regain many of the traditions and events lost to the pandemic. Though it’s not what they expected for their leadership, they’re making the most of the circumstances- together.
Haven Band Marches Into a New Year with Renewed Energy and New Student Leaders Kai Lincke, Editor-in-Chief‘22
All photos courtesy Kai Lincke, ‘22
Photo courtesy Kai Lincke
Scenes from the marching band’s September performances
Tenor saxophone section leader Caitlin McManus, ‘23, believes that the band’s return shows students’ passion and dedication to the band. “The resilience that our band has, that’s something that other bands don’t have. I bet you a bunch of smaller bands just collapsed and don’t have a season because they couldn’t make it [through the pandemic],” McManus said. “At Haven, band is such a big thing [that] I don’t think that would ever happen.”
Roane’s coaching and Hoyle’s hard work allowed him to walk on to the fencing team at Columbia University, where he led the team to two consecutive NCAA Championship victories. After graduating in 2016, Hoyle continued to impress in the World Championships and Pan American Games. Finally, in 2019, he qualified for the Olympic Games. Even as he climbed the ranks in the sport, Hoyle never forgot his first coach.
In a USA Fencing interview, Hoyle emphasized that he “would’ve never gotten started if it weren’t for Pixie”. During his convocation speech, he expressed that “I feel like people say all the time, ‘Oh you changed my life’, blah blah blah. You hear it a lot. It’s a cliche, but I feel like in this case, that makes a lot of sense. I was
Racing to Victory
Girls cross country records another successful season
But it paid off. Roane qualified as the youngest and shortest competitor in 1988 US fencing Olympic trials, and simultaneously qualified for the classic nationals for gymnastics.
Roane was discouraged. She left fencing to serve in the military, and was injured in combat. She didn’t think she would ever return to fencing. “My fencing had every right to quit,” she said. I had every right to never do anything ever again.”
On August 30, Hoyle returned to the district to address staff members during Convocation ceremonies. In his address, Hoyle expressed that his time in the district had a lasting impact on his future. “WSSD didn’t just prepare me for the games the night before my eventthe biggest day of my life. WSSD has probably been the single biggest part of my life. This school district is undoubtedly the reason that I was able to get myself through the games.”
Roane still wonders what would have happened if she had given up, chosen to take a different path, or went to the correct gym on her first day of high school. Roane marvels that “the mistake [I] made in 1985 put someone in the Olympic Games in 2021, in the next century.” Because of that mistake, she encouraged a sixth grade boy to dream big and start training hard. She can now join the ranks of her fencing family, a long line of coaches to produce an Olympian- her coach was an Olympian, who was coached by an Olympian, who was coached by an Olympian. Now, Roane has produced an Olympian of her own.
However, Temple offered her a scholarship and persuaded her to re-enter the sport. After she began competing again, Roane excelled. She made it to the National Championships several times- earning a bronze medal twice in the DIII competitions- and was one of the first members of the Epee Championships Gold Medal Team.
Fencing itself wasn’t even part of Roane’s plans. In 1985, Roane started at a new high school after receiving a gymnastics scholarship. On her first day, she and her training partner accidentally went to the fencing gym instead of the gymnastics gym. She eventually realized her mistake, but by then, she was intrigued. No one expected her to stick with the sport, and she faced many obstacles during her training. “I was not meant to be on that team,” she said. “I was the only girl in the fencing program for four years. [Fencing] was not the reason I went to that particular high school- I went to that high school because of my success in gymnastics. I was setting myself up to go to college on a gymnastics scholarship. Fencing was supposed to be a fad, according to my parents.”
STARTING STRONG: The cross country team starts their September 22 race at Rose Tree Park.
Photo credit Georgia Gianopulos
Roane and Hoyle have cemented the legacy of the Panther Fencing program, allowing Strath Haven to be nationally recognized as a fencing powerhouse- and “all because two little girls went to the wrong class.”
QUICK SPORTS STATS
Olympian’s Panther Pride
Even after years of successful coaching, Roane is “in disbelief that all of this has happened”. She notes that, “No one who begins coaching [says] ‘I’m going to make Olympians’... We come in for enrichment, fun fitness, friendships, and opportunities to further education. [I] did not begin coaching with [that] thought. Here the fencing was an after school club.”
“The programfencinghere is amazing, and I don’t know where I would be -JakePixie.”withoutHoyle,‘12
On October 1, the girls cross country team placed fourth in the High School Girls’ Brown 5K race at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University. Expected to place fifteenth overall, Rowe Crawford, Winnie Stach, Hannah Prokup, Chloe Browne, and Morgan McErlean placed first through fifth on the team, respectively, contributing to the score of the team. All the Strath Haven girl runners in the varsity race achieved a personal record. Then, the girls won the Delco Championships on October 9. They hope to perform well at the Central League Championships next week.
day [and] was instantly knocked out.” The next week, she “missed qualifying” for Nationals at the gymnastics trials “by 1/100 of a point” .
A Swinging Success
This summer, hundreds of red, white and blue clad athletes entered Tokyo’s Olympics Stadium to represent the USA in the Olympic Games. Among them was Strath Haven alum Jake Hoyle, ‘12. Hoyle made both the nation and the district proud with his 26th place finish in the épée fencing competition.
At the fencing trials, she “scored two points all
Photo credit Chrissy Smith
During his first match, Hoyle held off an experienced opponent and lost by only one point. “We all knew then: if he continued, he would be highly, highly successful in the sport,” Roane said.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE: The golf team poses together after winning their second Central League Championship in the past three years.
COACHING AND COMRADERY: Hoyle poses with Roane after Convocation ceremonies on August 30, Photo2021.courtesy Kai Lincke
After an undefeated season, the Strath Haven golf team won the September 29 central league championship, their second championship win in the last three years. The team was led by seniors Colin Beucler, Paige Brown, Michael Hassell, Grace Smith, and Jackson Voshell. Beucler expresses that it was an “electric season” because “we were underdogs this year and then ended up being really successful.” He adds that the team’s success was especially exciting because it allowed the seniors to come back for one last championship and “end [their] careers on a high note”.
SportsPage 8 Back to School 2021
Hoyle thanked teachers and staff and noted that he still carries the lessons they taught him. “You inspire people in all these little moments that you might not even [recognize],” Hoyle said. “You’re all heroes.” One particular staff member has made an incredible impact on Hoyle. SHMS health and physical education teacher Ms. Pixie Roane introduced Hoyle to fencing in gym class and coached him through numerous victories in his high school career. Roane expresses that she knew Hoyle was destined for greatness soon after he started fencing.
Golf team wins another Central League Championship
Roane had to work extremely hard to balance her gymnastics and fencing careers. “Life changed. I couldn’t hang out with my friends anymore. Because I had fencing in the afternoon, I had to do the evening gymnastics workout. I had very long days,” she said.
Roane didn’t expect anything to come out of her coaching, especially because she thought it would be a “temporary” position. Coaching “was not part of my plans,” she said.
introduced to fencing here at the middle school, and then I fenced in the Olympics, like, you can’t argue with that,” he said. “The fencing program here is amazing and I don’t know where I would be without [her]”.
Hoyle is just one of the many successful fencers that started their career under Roane’s guidance. Since she started the Panther Fencing Club in 1998, Roane has produced several junior olympians, US Fencing All Academic Scholar Athletes, and finalists and medalists at prestigious competitions such as the US Fencing Summer National Championships.
Jake Hoyle and coach Pixie Roane reflect on path to fencing glory Kai Lincke Editor-in-Chief‘22