Issue 1

focus: “redesign” page 10

The Student Voice

PULSE Is getting into college your biggest priority right now?

Yes

No

73%

27%

124 responses collected from September 30 to October 1

School enters “concept phase” for stage three Campaign drivers say full separation of arts and athletics still in the works.

Courtesy of Adam Santelli

PHASE TWO IS COMPLETE Pages 1,2: Where are we now, and whats next?

Pages 10,11: The Math and Science Building

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

Netclassroom gives students, parents full access to grades After running a pilot program during summer school, the administration opened the online gradebook to display student grades year-round.

WHAT THE STUDENTS SAY What do you think of the open grade book on Netclassroom?

28% 67% 4% “Helpful”

124 responses collected from September 30 to Ocotber 1

JoshuaMiller ‘16 assistant news editor The decision to have Netclassroom grades open year-round did not come without controversy.

Some students think that seeing all of their grades benefits them, but others are worried that it may cause more anxiety and that parents shouldn’t be able to see all the grades.

Deborah Monroe, Upper School principal, and Dina Figueroa, Upper School assistant principal, believe the decision will benefit everyone.

“I can’t imagine we would go back after having open access. I think the kids and parents are going to love it and the teachers will learn to love it as well,” Monroe said.

She explained that one benefit of the grade book is that it will prevent students from reaching the end of the quarter with

JamesBernstein ‘14 editor-in-chief The Campus Enhancement Plan (CEP): Our schools trademark era of change that existed only as a vision several years ago has now become a reality. For all those who doubted it, questioned the feasibility of it, balked at the idea it was even possible—they were wrong. Well, mostly wrong.

The crucial phases of the CEP are complete. We have two brand new buildings; one is the 19,500 square foot Academic and Performing Arts (APA) Building which opened in the fall of 2012; and the second is the 15,000 square foot Mathematics and Science (MS) Building, which opened four weeks ago. As far as everyone can tell, all went according to plan.

The total combined cost of both buildings and other campus-wide upgrades (such as the construction in the Hillside Building, which abuts the eastern hillside of the campus, greenery upgrades and several others) was $44 million, $30 million of which came from private donations. Low on funding, the school is still contemplating the possibility of a third building.

“We still have stuff left that we want to do. A top priority for us now is, for example, the separation of athletics and physical education from performing arts, because currently the [Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion] is still used for both athletics and performances and also functions as a space for assemblies and other school gatherings,” Holly Bauer, campaign director, said.

Bauer, Lindsay Newlove, director of advancement, and Lisa Turchan, chief financial officer, are currently running the numbers for the feasibility of a third

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

bad grades and being unable to rebound.

Figueroa, despite feeling good about the new system, is hesitant to pronounce the decision as final.

“We are free to make adjustments, so I feel like we are going to see how it goes and if there are any prolific issues or problems, then we would consider something new,” she said.

This summer, the administration tried the open gradebook policy and decided to use it for the year based on largely positive feedback. Although they are happy with the new system, students are still split on the subject. Sophomore Malcom Mackey believes there are strong cases for both sides.

“I think it’s good because the students get to check their grades and know how they are doing in a class anytime they want,” he said. “It’s also bad [that] parents get to see grades too because kids don’t want their parents seeing if they have bad grades.”

Though some are uncertain about the change, many teachers, including English teacher Michael Jaffe, agree with the decision, and think it is a better system than last year’s.

“I think students and parents should have access to grades at all times. I think it was made to ease the process and make it easier,” Jaffe said.

Jaffe added, however, that any grade book system would be better than last year’s hybrid one.

continued on page 2

“I’m for the decision, but I think it should be open or should be closed. I think the in-between trial from last year added much confusion to students and parents.”

Jaffe also cautioned about potential problems with the system.

“I do foresee [the decision] maybe backfiring, but I hope that it doesn’t have the opposite effect and that students don’t become even more preoccupied and nitpicking with assignments and grades.”

WHAT THE TEACHERS SAY

classes.”

math teacher

science teacher Photos courtesy of Nick Boswell

2

news

friday, october 4, 2013 |

newsin

With two down, Turchan, Bauer assess feasibility of third building

brief

Wright, Gonzalez take on BSC

School to request extension to construction deadline from city. continued from page 1 ...building, which if built would be constructed in place of the current Robert E. Young Library. The library would then probably be moved to the location of the current Quinn Martin Hall of Science, now three general classrooms previously devoted to the sciences.

“A third building would allow the Pavilion to be used solely for athletics and then performing arts would be moved to a separate space where we would build a whole new auditorium with adjustable seating. That way you can change the number of seats if we have assemblies there or plays for small audiences,” Bauer said.

This concept is still speculative however, and the decision on whether to build a third building will be ultimately made by the Board of Trustees, according to Turchan. “[James Busby, head of school], will present the programmatic need of why a third building is important for the school in order to elevate us at a certain programmatic level with our competition.

Then I will present the feasibility and what it means to borrow at certain levels, and the Board has to determine whether it makes sense for the long-term benefit of the school,” Turchan said.

Before construction began, the school had to file the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) with the city of Los Angeles, providing detailed blueprints on what the buildings would look like, where they would go exactly, and what would go in them. One limitation of the permit is, for example, that should we decide to build a third building, it would have to go exactly where the library is. Thus we would have to demolish and move the library.

The CUP also requires the school to complete all construction within six years of the date it broke ground in March of 2011. That means we have until March of 2017 to finish. However, Busby said the school is going to make a pitch to the city of Los Angeles to extend that deadline to allow more time for fundraising, which is the biggest obstacle in the way of a third

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

DIGITAL MEDIA: The new digital media room on the second floor of the Math and Science Building features brand new Apple computers, monitors, a touch table and much more. building.

“How much more money we can raise is the real question. We can still renovate and improve existing sites on school like the new windows and doors that have the Buckley Commitment printed on them to make our campus have a more modern look. That doesn’t have to be completed by the end date,” Bauer said.

Neither does improving the campus environment for that matter. The school has what it calls a “Landscape Master Plan” that works alongside and as a part of the CEP. Part of this process has included planting more trees and greenery, and Bauer said the school is still hoping to remove more of the asphalt, to plant more trees, and to give students more spaces to gather.

Turchan said other improvements have been made to existing facilities, including renovations to the Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion, new doors and windows for Lower School rooms, a brand new band room, and

buildingdedication The school held a dedication ceremony for the new Math and Science Building September 15.

After a welcoming from James Busby, head of school, Robyn Field, chair of the Board of Trustees and Carissa Brones, BSC president, also spoke at the event. The student orchestra ceremony’s conclusion.

The event ended with a block party and meet and greet between new and old families.

ramps for wheelchair accessibility.

“We also had to make the campus compliant with the American Disabilities Act. We couldn’t get a wheelchair from the beginning of campus to Disney without going up a steep grade, so that’s why we implemented a lot of steep ramps,” Turchan said.

Bauer also noted that although some parking spaces have been added, there is no plan for further parking expansion—leaving the hope among student drivers and parents for an underground parking lot unfulfilled.

“Even if we had the money to build 1,000 parking spaces, we would not be able to let all students drive onto campus because the city wouldn’t allow it. The neighbors would fight it. That’s why we have mandatory carpooling and bussing,” Bauer added.

Busby said that as he walks around the new buildings, he cannot think of any significant deficiencies or regrets about the renovations—only benevolent surprises, especially with regard to the MS building.

“It’s a hub. I mean it’s just a hub already. And from just a purely aesthetic perspective—you can see some really lovely moments in both buildings as they kind of reflect each other and they kind of work together better than [the APA building] just worked alone,” he said.

Busby added that the MS building naturally provides areas for students to gather, an aspect of construction that was largely up to chance before the building opened this year.

“I mean we hoped it would happen, but it actually has happened,” he said. “It makes my heart just glow when I see kids just hanging out in the senior veranda—as I call it—up there. It’s just such a great spot to be. That’s what we sorely needed.”

UPCOMING IN OCTOBER

4 12

Class Add/Drop Date Assembly: Invisible Children; Pavilion

20

Admissions Open House 9 AM, Lower School 1 PM, Middle and Upper School

Sherman Oaks Street Fair Volunteer, enjoy the activities and support your

8 12

Junior College Evening 7 PM,

30

Senior Dance 7 PM Pavilion

First Quarter Ends Second quarter to begin Thursday, October 31

11 16 31

Latino Heritage Assembly 10:12 AM, Disney Pavilion

Diversity Day Senior College Meeting, 8:30 AM

Halloween Wear a costume to school

History teacher Robert Wright, and Yocelin Gonzalez, co-director of multiculturalism and inclusion, have replaced George Russo, dean of student life, as co-advisors of Buckley Student Council (BSC).

“This is the strongest group of student leadership I feel we have had in a while. They can help integrate and educate others as well as welcome in the new co-advisors, Mr. Wright and Ms. Gonzalez,” Russo said.

Wright has experience in advising BSC as director of student activities.

“Currently student leadership at Buckley is growing, and that’s exactly what we need in BSC and around campus. [Gonzalez] and I hope to bring with this fresh start with an open relationship with the administration and the people around campus,” Wright said.

He added that the primary goal of the BSC advidors is to a help carry out the students’ responsibilities such as sales, activities and others, and to promote student leadership.

“That is exactly what we have to do,” Wright said.

PhilipSingh ‘16

Admin curbs tech lounge hours Javy Martinez, director of educational technology, and the administration have reduced the number of the hours when students can be in the technology lounge because students who were performing poorly in classes were too often relaxing in the lounge.

“There were concerns from teachers—saying [about] kids who were struggling in their classes— that they would always see them in the tech lounge playing video games, and there was a correlation to that possibility that maybe they were spending too much time in there rather than in the library or focusing on other things,” Martinez said.

According to the administration, students themselves had requested that during some periods the lounge be a designated quiet study area.

“I think it will definitely make it so that students have another time and location to do their homework.

It’s really helpful to have this new quiet place to study,” freshman Hunter Issacson said.

Martinez said, however, that the hours of the tech lounge could be subject to change.

“It’s unreasonable, and everyone enjoyed it when people were playing video games. Now I never see anyone in there,” freshman Blaire Goldberg said.

3 friday, october 4, 2013

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

New Campus, New Year, New Teachers This year, a record number of nine new teachers joined the faculty in starting the new year on a new campus. english teacher

math teacher

science teacher

dance teacher

english teacher

science teacher

history teacher

math teacher

world languages teacher

Ryan returns after two years in Dubai Math teacher Josh Ryan spent the last two years teaching at the American School of Dubai with his wife. They were able to travel extensively and experience many cultures.

SalimChamoun ‘14 sports editor Mathematics teacher Josh Ryan and his wife, Elena Malone, were constant travelers and thought it would be interesting to teach abroad; a few years later it became a reality.

After moving to Dubai for two years, Ryan has returned to teaching at Buckley.

At first, Ryan was looking to quit his job at Buckley to take a permanent teaching job abroad; however, Dr. Larry Dougherty former head of school, extended an offer that would allow Ryan to travel for two years then return.

Ryan had to decide between two job offers, one from a school in Dalian, China and the other from Dubai. Ryan decided on the American School of Dubai, 15 miles from the old center of Dubai. The school consists of 1600 students, and 30-40 percent of the population is of American citizens who either hold Americans passports or have parents from America.

Ryan’s wife also taught at the school as a ninth grade history teacher. Dubai is one of the more liberal Middle Easter countries; therefore, she did not have to be covered to go out in public. She was only expected to dress modestly.

Ryan’s family did not immediately like the move, as his mother did not know where

Dubai was, and his father-in-law refused to visit because he did not want to be in the Middle East. He did however visit when Ryan’s daughter was born.

Ryan said the school was very welcoming because the community is tight

“I never actually spoke to a local person. It’s a lot of expatriates. I did not get a cultural experience.”

Math teacher and everyone looks out for each other. In contrast to our close community that comes from being a small school, the students leave their home country to study in Dubai leaving their friends and family behind. The school in Dubai almost becomes their family both in and out of school.

“It was a good experience teaching at a different school and seeing how they run. It was also interesting being in a place where kids from over 65 countries were. Having parent conferences was really interesting seeing all of the different cultures that make up the school,” Ryan said.

On December 17, 2012 Ryan’s daughter,

Courtesy of Josh Ryan

ON THE JOB: Ryan holds his baby daugher, Ruby Slater Ryan Malone while teaching abroad in Dubai for two years with his wife.

Ruby Slater Ryan Malone, was born at the American Hospital in Dubai. She received her passport from the United States embassy at three weeks old. She has already traveled to four countries: United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kenya, and Indonesia.

“When we had our baby daughter, people in the school fixed us three meals a day for about three weeks and brought them over to our house. Everyone really looks out for each other,” Ryan said.

The students were less academically driven. What is important to the parents and the students is the sense of community rather than academics. The students want to get good grades and get into college, but it is not their main focus.

Ryan said he originally anticipated having to learn Arabic and being able to interact with many locals of Dubai, but he realized that most locals work in high government positions, so they were out of contact, and Dubai’s citizens speak English.

“I never actually spoke to a local person.

It’s a lot of all expatriates,” Ryan said.

Ryan said he had some difficulty adjusting to was the infrastructure. Dubai does not have a consistent form of addresses and navigation. Some homes have three different houses numbers based on who numbered them and when. Also, street names change depending on to whom you talk.

According to Ryan, the best part of living in Dubai is its central location for travel opportunities; Ryan and his wife traveled to Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Croatia, Jordan, and Turkey.

“Like many things in life, my time in Dubai wasn’t exactly what I expected. Yet, I taught students from over 65 countries, traveled to 10 countries, had a daughter and learned about many aspects of Muslim culture, and I look forward to sharing those experiences with everyone at Buckley,” Ryan said.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

friday, october 4, 2013 4

OutdoorEducation

BUCKLEYBYTES Oak tree removed

Upper School students took to the great outdoors for their annual outdoor education trips, August 28-30. For the first time, outdoor ed took place before the start of the school year due to scheduling of classe, and juniors went to the Russian River in Northern California.

Freshmen in Twentynine Palms, CA “It was a new experience, I didn’t know a lot of the kids. It was fun though, getting to bond. As school started, I didn’t feel awkward because I already knew some of the kids.” new freshman

“I liked [outdoor ed] because there are a lot of new kids in my grade and I got closer with a lot of them. I got to know a lot of new people and I strengthened the relationships I already had coming into the year.” freshman Photo courtesy of George Russo

ROCK CLIMBING: Freshmen prepare to rock climb a mountain with a naturalist.

Sophomores

in Simi Valley, CA “I really enjoyed outdoor ed because I feel that we bonded a lot as a grade, and the CPR exersizes were really informative and made us more prepared for real life scenarios.”

“I really enjoyed the night hike scavenger hunt

sophomore Photo courtesy of Meredith Wells

EMERGENCY: Firefighters demonstrate how to rescue passengers in a severe crash.

in Mendocino, CA “The main part of the trip was the river, and I honestly think I wouldn’t like it as much as I did, but I loved it because we bonded as pairs in canoes and as a team with the grade.” junior

“My favorite part of outdoor education this year was cabin time with my friends because we could hang out and tell jokes to each other.” junior Photo courtesy of George Russo

ON THE RIVER: Juniors take a break from canoeing on the Russian River.

Seniors

in La Canada, CA “I truly felt we had become the Class of 2014 after the bonding experience on the last day because we learned so much more about each other.

We’ll forever be connected as a class because of that one rainy afternoon. “ senior

THE CLIMB: Senior Ben Miller climbs the ritual 12’ wall with the support of his classmates.

G-Cards accepted at sales Students can now use G-Cards to purchase food from on campus sales.

“I’m excited we have a G-Card reader at sales. This idea has been in talks for a long time and senior BSC president Carissa Brones said.

newsin

brief

Voice wins six CSPA gold awards

sophomore

Juniors

The longstanding oak tree in front of the Roy E Disney Family Pavilion was cut down during summer for safety reasons.

“We just found out over the summer that the tree was in a location where it was slowly dying because there was little to no moisture in the area. Unfortunately, the tree just could not be saved,” head of school James Busby said.

Photo courtesy of Susan Sherman

The 2012-13 staff of The Voice earned six Gold Circle awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) —more than the staff has received in the past three years combined. Three of the six awards were first place awards.

Jack Rose ‘13, editor-in-chief, James T. Higgins ‘13, design and production editor, senior James Bernstein, assistant editor and news editor, senior Meher Singh, features editor, and sophomore Philip Singh, photography editor, all won or shared the awards.

“I was really excited. It’s amazing that we won first place best design for page one design,” Dr. Ellen Salas, director of student publications, said.

“Gold Circle includes thousands of entries. I was so happy for the staff and surprised by the number of awards and the categories of the awards.”

The front page from the March 6 issue featuring the boys basketball CIF title won three of the six awards: Rose a first place for best sports article, Singh and Higgins for the headline, and Rose, Higgins and Bernstein for the overall design of the page.

“I’m really proud of our entire staff and everyone who worked o the pieces that won awards. It’s a testament to the talent we had on the staff and a validation of how hard we worked,” Rose said.

Bernstein also won awards for best news tabloid page design for a page titled “DMI Initiative” from the November 6 issue, and also received a certificate of merit for his news page design portfolio.

Singh and Higgins received an award for the Focus spread from the February 5 issue entitled: “Frailty, Thy Name is Woman.”

JamesBernstein ‘14

5 friday, october 4, 2013

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with...

PeterReinke

assistant head of school Voice: Why did you choose to come to Buckley?

Reinke: When I came to Buckley last spring, I was really struck by how similar it was to my old school. The Head Royce School is a K-12 private school, located in a canyon, about the same size as Buckley, and we had just finished a building campaign. I was really quite pleased by the students’ kindness, good nature, and scholarly attitude. I have also found Buckley students to be deeply curious both in their academic classes and their elective classes, such as choir and debate. I was also really impressed with the faculty because I saw teachers who really cared about what they were teaching and were deeply invested in their curriculum.

Voice: What short term goals do you have in the first month of school?

Reinke: I am in a unique position because I spent 17 years teaching at Head Royce. There were kids who I had known since pre-school and even some kids who I new since they where born. I was able to then watch these kids grow from pre-school all the way up to 17. I knew everybody. It even got to the point where I was going to be teaching a student who was the child of another student who I had also taught. So, my big challenge coming to Buckley is that I don’t know anybody. I am slowly getting to know people, but it will take me a while and is probably the biggest short-term problem.

Voice: What do you hope to accomplish as assistant head and what impact do you hope you might have on students?

Reinke: The reason I became an educator was that I believe that a school, outside of one’s family, is the most important institution to build a healthy society. You need to have a place where young people can figure out what it means to be a citizen, what it means to learn from someone, what it means to collaborate, and what it means to even rebel. It’s crucial for young people to understand how to make friends, be on a team, and develop a love of learning. I think that Buckley is a wonderful community, but I would love to leave a culture here where students see themselves as citizens and that this was really their school. Dr. King called it “the beloved community.” It is this idea that even if there is tremendous disagreement, we all learn to say we are one human race and we are all having one human experience.

Voice: How did your role as a teacher and as a department head prepare you to be an assistant head of school?

Reinke: I think the work in the classroom truly prepared me to be a senior administrator.

Having spent so many years as a teacher, I really understand what goes into designing a strong class and a not-so-good class. I suppose that if I was a baker and became the administrator of a bakery, the time that I had spent actually in the kitchen would be very helpful. As chair

I had a number of personal challenges and people who were leaving or needed a teaching load change, so that was very important too.

Voice: What were you like as a high school student?

Reinke: In terms of being a student, I worked very hard. I was terrible at math—absolutely terrible. I loved history, and I loved English. I played volleyball for my four years of high school. I was somebody who read a lot and loved to read. I grew up in a very small, rural town in western Massachusetts where my parents had a farm, and at my high school, which was about the same size as Buckley, everyone knew each other. The town did not even have a movie theater. I was a difficult student in that I was always challenging my teachers.

So as a teacher it really made me have a respect for students who challenged me and did not just tell me everything I wanted to hear. I was always challenging authority and, for example, attempting to get the dress code changed.

Voice: What activities did you partake in when you where in high school?

Reinke: The city that I grew up in was called Royalston, which had 900 people, and the city next to us, called Athol, had 9,000 people. We were outside a lot. When I was a child and then a teenager, we were always out. Since I grew up right next to a state forest, so my friends and I loved to take my ponies out hiking. We would just take the ponies out and just ride for hours among all of these old trails. In addition, Royalston was founded in the 1760s, so what was really wonderful was going out and stumbling on the old, crumbled foundation of colonial farmhouses and old farms that nobody had lived in for at least 100 years. Of course, my parents were weekend farmers, so I spent a lot of time doing chores. It was my job to feed the chicken, the geese, and goats. I had to milk that goats, which was very hard, clean the chicken house, and tend to vegetables. Then, as I got older, I got very involved in my student government. Later, I led my school’s Model UN chapter, I was president of my class, and was president of my church’s youth group.

Voice: What are some of your hobbies, what do you do on the weekend, etc?

Reinke: I still have pretty strong ties to Northern California and I care a lot about people who have developmental disabilities: Autism, Down Syndrome, things along those lines. My brother, whom I took care of over the past decade, has mild Autism and is developmentally delayed in many ways. So I spend a lot of time with him. I enjoy fostering animals, although I am not fostering any right now, except for my cat. I was pretty active in my church in Oakland. I have 21 nieces and nephews, so they keep me pretty busy. I enjoy hiking and have found a few good trails in Los Angeles. Probably like many people in the faculty here, I write and secretly hope to publish my great American novel.

Reinke’sPicks

Braunschweiger set to announce new service program to students JamesBernstein ‘14 editor-in-chief Christine Braunschweiger, community service director, is currently working on a new community service program for the year to be announced to students sometime early this month.

The previous program, which required Upper School students to complete a mandatory 20 hours, was reviewed by James Busby, head of school, and Peter Reinke, assistant head of school, as well as Braunschweiger, all of whom deemed it ineffective at fulfilling the school’s

commitment to service. “…Talk about abuse of a system. Kids were getting their uncles to sign their sheets and stuff and then telling me about it openly,” Busby said. “I don’t really feel like it’s any radical thing; I just feel like the system was morally bankrupt and didn’t work anymore.”

According to Reinke, who will oversee the program, the school will encourage students to establish a “sustainable partnership” with one organization. Instead of collecting several hours from several different agencies, students will complete their service requirement with only one

agency or site of their choosing.

“We’d like to move from this idea…of ‘service earning’ to ‘service learning’, so as opposed to [students] just trying to get all [their] hours in, that [they] actually say: ‘Well, what am I interested in? What do I see going wrong or right in the world around me that I think I could actually offer some support and help some particular agency address that particular issue?’” Reinke said.

Though students will probably no longer be required to submit a set number of hours by a certain date in May, the new program will still require students to submit something to describe their service and their experience. This aspect of the program is still under consideration.

Because the previous system fostered detachment between students and their

service agencies, Reinke and Busby hope that if students have a genuine connection to their service they will be honest about their experiences and not falsify or exaggerate their contributions.

“Can they still make stuff up? Of course.

But I’d rather, instead of counting hours, it be their own conscience we’re dealing with at the end of the day,” Busby said.

Reinke said he also would like to establish a community service board made up of students who will generate ideas for and find solutions to flaws in the program, like forging the requirement. He hopes the end result will be that students view the program as an opportunity to give back and as well as to gain personal growth, rather than “another hoop these teachers are holding for [them] to jump through.”

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

School grants seniors black denim privilege MichaelLen ‘14 features editor Black is the new black.

This year, the senior privilege is the option of wearing black denim jeans instead of the typical Dennis uniform pants, and wearing boots over those jeans.

“It’s a nice sideline for them to be comfortable, and set them apart a little,” George Russo, Upper School dean of student life, said.

“I’m really excited about wearing jeans every day. I think as the winter months approach, jeans will be very helpful. It’s a good step towards a more relaxed environment,” said senior Madison Grubb.

Class reputation does not really go into the selection process of the senior privilege.

The grade is given a clean slate for their senior year according to Russo.

“We just try and come up with a privilege that a class will enjoy. There is so much pressure in senior year because of your classes and college, that we don’t really take into account the past.

We look for what will make them happy,” said Russo.

In the past, senior privileges have led to uniform changes for the entire school’s uniform.

This year is not a trial for future

uniform changes, but it will act as a glimpse into a possible future according to Upper School principal, Deborah Monroe.

“There is no secret plan. That being said, we have had problems with girls and skirt length. We asked Dennis to design slimmer cut pants for girls, and they have yet to deliver. With the current privilege, we at least get to see what it might be like if girls had another option,” said Monroe.

The school is currently under contract with Dennis, so there aren’t many options in pants.

Eventually allowing students to get their pants from somewhere like the Gap is a possibility.

Past privileges have included free dress for shoes, the addition of shorts, and jeans on Mondays.

The privilege is unisex and effective five days a week.

“There is so much pressure in senior year because of your classes and college, that we don’t really take into account the past. We look for what will make them happy.”

“The senior privilege is great because jeans are so comfortable to wear.

It also gives us more options to choose from within our uniform.”

I think it would be an amazing privilege if it was pus lunch like it was last year.”

“The privilege is really nice because the [Dennis] pants are really uncomfotable but the jeans are really comfortable.”

Dean of Student Life

Photos courtesy of Nick Boswell

Come to the dance Sunday, October 12

Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion 7-11 PM

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Russo named as dean of student life Former director of student activities switches roles, steps into a brand new position on campus.

MeredithWells ‘16 a&e editor No longer overseeing student activities, George Russo has taken the role of dean of student life.

Since 2 0 0 2 , Russo has taught P . E . , Courtesy of Nick Boswell coached sports teams, run the student calendar, arranged assemblies, and organized a great many student activities.

But now, Russo has stepped into a new role.

The job of the dean of student life entails keeping track of the students, enforcing the proper disciplinary actions, and keeping attendance, is all part of his regular day. Russo is also still working with student council, club fest, and ninth and tenth grade academic advising.

“It’s basically learn as you go, but I’m enjoying it so far,” said Russo.

Mr. Russo is prepared for the ups and downs of his new job.

According to Russo, dealing with discipline and making sure that all the students are following the rules and upholding the Commitment will be challenging.

“I anticipate there is going to be a lot of difficulty, but I’m hoping my relationship with the students will make it a smooth process,” said Russo.

From supervising student council to coaching soccer, Russo has found all his jobs over the past 11 years fun and enjoyable.

“My favorite has always been coaching the high school girls soccer team--that has always been fantastic,” said Russo. “Even after a full day of school and despite the after school practices, the group remained a happy and enthusiastic team.”

russo’s director of student activities dean of student life girls soccer coach admissions committee

7

opinion friday, october 4, 2013 |

STAFF EDITORIAL

Service should be up to the students

Construction As our community welcomes its second brand new building in as many years, we find ourselves at a crossroads. These twin architectural masterpieces looming boldly at the heart of our campus boast educational facilities ripe to revolutionize learning. And ladies and gentlemen, after a whirlwind of physical, practical and economic obstacles, we’re now ready for the real phase two of our campus upgrade: the one that stops focusing on the quality of the buildings, and starts focusing on the quality of the learning.

Don’t get me wrong. Beautiful buildings and new facilities are great, and there’s nothing wrong with having them to promote better educational, artistic, athletic, and social programs. The problem would come, if it ever came, should we resort to hiding behind these tangible luxuries to mask our deficiencies in the realm of the intangible (i.e. how good is a Buckley education, really?).

Please keep in mind that this is a precautionary concern, not a reflective one. If I am to peer at the pandemic sweeping across our nation’s elite colleges and universities that causes them to be so image-focused that the real treasures (learning environment, quality of professors, curriculum, “There’s a etc.) get masked part of me lurking behind the fools’ underneath the gold (looks and excitement about statistics, for our new and example), what improved campus am I to think wondering if about what might we’re next too.” or might not happen soon at elite preparatory schools which have shown to, in the course of time, mirror the trends set by higher education? Our conspicuous effort to veer toward progressivism (look at our initiatives in diversity, technology, etc.) in our educational model makes this mimicking pattern all the more pertinent.

Why has this pandemic occurred? It’s easy to show a prospective student a dorm that’s too large, a cafeteria with food that’s too good, and a pamphlet with facts and numbers that seem too improbable (those statistics about average class sizes being an exception because one, those are can’t be falsified or exaggerated; and two, they reflect something important about the quality of a school’s education). It takes more energy for a prospective student to get down and dirty during a college visit and find out what separates one college from another in the realm of educational opportunity—and these distinctions are much harder to pin down, especially with the fool’s gold planted right in front of our faces.

There’s a part of me lurking underneath the excitement about our new and improved campus wondering if we’re next too. Not because we’re destined to be—we can choose our own path. But in order to avoid this trap, mustn’t we act swiftly to detach ourselves from the symptoms (our gorgeous new facilities)? But then, we also love these facilities. My advice—love them away, but never let them take center stage.

Our students have participated in a community service program for many years that our head of school James Busby now deems “morally bankrupt.”

Busby, Peter Reinke, assistant head of school, and Christine Braunschweiger, community service director, are now set to introduce a new service program, which they hope will be more effective than the last one.

While the new focus on encouraging students to engage with one particular organization is slightly better than the push to get students to turn in 20 hours a year, the staff of The Student Voice believes that community service needs to be approached from a different angle entirely: Letting the students have authority over their own service goals.

Once community service becomes a requirement, as it was before and will, in all probability, continue to be this year, it loses its value. Community service should not be forced, but should be the voluntary effort on the part of the student to make a difference in his or her community.

While the staff believes that the school holds a responsibility to educate students on service opportunities and the value of service both for the students and for our community, the school’s involvement in community service can and should end here.

With all due respect to our administrators in charge of the community service program, the

requirement does very little to promote genuine commitment to service. Those students who would otherwise do community service might be recording their hours honestly; however, many students forge the hours, and the administrators know it. The new program will be just as easily forgeable.

If the ultimate goal is to phase out of a requirement, but to get the idea of a “sustainable partnership” with one particular organization in students’ minds, because that type of service is more rewarding than service-hopping and hour-logging, then the steps being taken with regard to the program are the right ones. Otherwise, those who run the program cannot in all likelihood expect it will cause more initiative to do service.

It will look, to students, like replacing one arbitrary requirement with another.

The staff, however, would like to moderate this opinion by addressing students directly. Students: Just because the school shouldn’t make service a requirement doesn’t mean service is not important. Service is important for the good of the community and for the good of your internal moral development.

Don’t use the ambiguity of the school’s requirement as an excuse to forget about community service. You signed up for moral excellence by signing our school’s Commitment—your parents, mentors and peers expect it of you. But most importantly, so should you expect it of yourselves.

The editorial board voted 7-4 in favor of this editorial.

spot...

What’s the best part of our new campus?

“I really like the new band room because it has really good speakers and acoustics.”

Alec Gondobintoro Sophomore

the student newspaper of The Buckley School Contact The Voice at: 3900 Stansbury Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 818.783.1610 ext. 461 studentvoice@buckley.org voice.buckley.org editor-in-chief James Bernstein ‘14 faculty advisor Ellen Samsell Salas, Ph.D. news editors Meher Singh ‘14 | James Bernstein ‘14 assistant news editor Josh Miller ‘14 opinion editor James Bernstein ‘14 features editor Michael Len ‘14 focus editors Philip Singh ‘16 | arts and entertainment editors Joyce Chamoun ‘16 | Meredith Wells ‘16 sports editors Salim Chamoun ‘14 | Andrew Friedman ‘16 assistant sports editor Billy Wilson ‘14 Meredith Wells ‘16 photography editor Philip Singh ‘16 copy editor Billy Wilson ‘14 business manager Gina Ahmar ‘14 Katherine Herzer-Hansel, Rachel Beinus, Dashiell Gordon, Imogen Harbinson-Firth, Ana Nikolov

MISSION STATEMENT The Voice strives to inform and educate the students of the school as well as provide the school community.

EDITORIALS ion of the Board of Editors of The Student Voice and not necessarily the student body’s.

“I like the new building because of all the technology. I get to learn a lot through all of the amazing features. ” Jordan Semprevivo Freshman

“It’s a lot more open and everything is a lot bigger. It is like a mini college campus.

Greta Pasqua Sophomore

the writer’s opinion.

GRAPHICS Illustrations and artistic renderings may or may not represent the opinions of the artist.

ADVERTISING Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or by the school. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

EDITORIAL POLICY Writers and editors adhere to the highest

“I love the new biology room. The giant screen is really useful for viewing organisms up close.”

Anthony Romm Senior

“I really like the new building because it adds a touch of color to the bland campus.”

Aydin Yalniz Freshman

ing accuracy, honesty, respect, integrity, and precision.

DISTRIBUTION 1200 copies are distributed free of charge on campus and mailed to subscribers.

READER INPUT The Voice values reader input via letters, guest columns and story ideas.

Printed on recycled paper.

Photos courtesy of Nick Boswell

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

Be careful, your rights may not apply inside these gates Despite what many students think about their Fourth Amendment rights to privacy, the school has the authority to conduct locker searches--and should.

MeredithWells ‘16 a&e editor The Fourth Amendment states that no person in authority can search you or your property without your consent or a search warrant. However, is this true even on our campus?

Since the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, we, the students, have been able to use our phones during the school day for checking emails and texting, but that is not the only thing students do on their phones.

New tie policy beckons new era One student struggles to adjust to the casual change.

KathrineHerzer-Hansel ‘15 staff reporter When I first heard of the “No Tie Policy,” allowing teachers to no longer have to wear ties, I’m not going to lie, I was not pleased.

The tie, as simple as it may seem, actually acts as a barrier between teachers and students.

That barrier is similar to seeing a teacher outside of school. It shouldn’t necessarily be weird or uncomfortable considering that teachers have lives and need to do things like go to Target or the supermarket, but we

Social media sites are flooded with images of girls and boys hanging out and having fun both at Buckley and out of school. Sometimes these images are perfectly innocent, and other times they are inappropriate content. When Buckley allowed phones on campus, they were to be used only between classes, and during free periods for communication uses only, like texting; taking pictures while on campus is off limits. It is these images that can negatively affect the student’s reputation, and the reputation of the school, and it is these images that make the Fourth Amendment important to us.

The lockers where we put our belongings during the school day are for our convenience. The lockers provide a safe location to leave all of our textbooks, notebooks, lunch boxes, and backpacks; however, these lockers do not belong to us. Those lockers are only on loan to us for the duration of the academic school year. They are a privilege that as student don’t see our teachers as having lives. We see teachers only existing in the confines of Buckley.

When a teacher doesn’t wear a tie, the atmosphere becomes a more casual setting, which a lot of students just do not want to have with their teachers. And for this, I truly appreciate those teachers who still wear ties.

But as time has progressed I have come to realize that not all teachers had this uncomfortable effect. Being against the policy from the start, I was worried about how campus life would change. It also changes Buckley as a school, as surprising as that may seem. By not having to wear a tie, teachers are creating a more open and less conservative environment. Some teachers have taken the no tie policy a bit too far by having their shirts buttoned just one button short, allowing for that uncomfortably to seep through. Overall I have learned to accept this new change, but hope that all the teachers not wearing ties will make sure to keep that top button buttoned for everyone’s sake.

Although this policy may seem trivial, it marks the start of a new era at Buckley. It has opened up possibility for a more casual dress, not only just for teachers, but also for students.

submit your letter The Student Voice invites all readers to submit letters to the editor.

Letters are typically in response to an article in a previous issue of The Voice or to an event on campus.

If you have an opinion, let your voice be heard.

Please e-mail all letters to: studentvoice@buckley.org

friday, october 4, 2013 8

can be revoked, and they are also subject to searches by school authorities.

Our lockers and our phones are all kept locked for privacy reasons, but we all know that they are still subjected to searches.

This is because the school is “loco parentis,” meaning they must act as our parent or guardian. The school is responsible for the safety and well being of all the students while they are on school property. Therefore, any faculty members who suspect that a student is keeping drugs or dangerous items in their locker must talk to an administrator to get the student’s locker checked and confiscate those items in order to protect the safety of the student.

Our school has good reasons for performing these phone and locker searches.

The school is attempting to teach the students of the dangers that these photos could pose. All photos, not just the ones taken at school, can be hurtful, either to ourselves, our friends, or our future. Some students may not be aware that universities and colleges often access the social media accounts

of prospective students/applicants to see what sort of person they are enrolling onto their courses.

Our lockers, while we keep locks on them for privacy, are still subjected to searches because, again, the school is “loco parentis.” Teachers are responsible for the safety and well being of all the students while they are on school property.

“Our school has good reasons for performing these phone and locker searches.”

I don’t know

a&e editor

STUDENTPOLL Should the school have the right to conduct locker checks?

Yes

18% No

71% 11% 124 responses collected from September 30 to Ocotber 1

From the lens of a lifer: What she’ll remember of our campus Lifers, students who have been at our school since the second grade or earlier, remember the old days, the construction days, and now, the new days. But what will they remember most years from now?

“In many ways, I felt like I was walking into an entirely was not the Buckley that I, and so many others in my grade have grown to know. “ MeherSingh ‘14 news editor Fifteen years is a long time to attend one school. Since beginners, I have spent 35 hours of my week at Buckley, just like many other of my “lifer” peers.

Naturally, as a senior, I should know just about everything about how this campus operates, and I do. I know to sign out before I leave, to follow the uniform policy, to always bring an absence note, etc. But on the first day of senior year, I couldn’t find where my first class was.

In many ways, I felt like I was walking into an entirely new school. This definitely was not the campus that I, and so many others in my grade have grown to know.

While the new building is aesthetically pleasing and technologically progressive, I could not help but feel a little sad knowing that I felt just as unfamiliar as the underclassmen in a place that by now should feel like home.

It’s hard to reconcile nostalgia for the old campus with the new and improved version. Some of my best memories took place in the seventh grade locker hall, or near the patches of grass, now replaced by the beautiful, Commitment-inspired steps. I remember having some of my most fun and memorable lunch periods in the milk-house or the Oak Courtyard— both of which are now gone.

I completely recognize the need for change and progress. A school has to change with the times and update their

standards to compete with other schools.

The new buildings do just that.

Inevitably, some senior classes will have to experience that change right at the end of their high school career. It just so happens that the Class of 2014 will remember three Buckleys—preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction.

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

At least we will have some memories from these new buildings, and when we come to visit as alumni, nothing will seem foreign or out of place. We are getting to use the latest technology, and so many other great facilities, including the gorgeous senior locker lounge area.

Change might be uncomfortable for a while, but soon enough, this new school will become home, filled with new memories and experiences—just like the old campus.

2014 Senior Class

69 Students 2014 Senior Lifers

16 Students

9

features friday, october 4, 2013 |

JOYCECHAMOUN ‘13

Taking a hike from the library Pursuing interests he discovered through reading, librarian Matthew Wittmer, well-known for his tight-rope-walking exploits, used the summer to scale mountains, explore FBI tapes, and build furniture.

L

ibrarian Matthew Wittmer’s adventurous summer literally elevated quickly, when he found himself at the peak of a summit, tackling steep hiking for the first time. Based on the recommendation of science teacher Rich Edelen, Wittmer joined Edelen to attend a one-day snow mountaineering skills class before summiting North Peak, a 12,242’ peak , in the Inyo National Forest north of Mammoth.

Before Edelen and Wittmer t o o k this snow mountaineering training

course, Wi t t m e r noticed that Sierra Mountain Center also offered a guided ascent to teach skills about how to summit a small “c l a s s i c ” peak. Edelen and Wittmer both ascended North Peak after their crampon, ice axe, and winter mountaineering skills course. Sleeping near the site for two nights helped their bodies acclimatise to the higher altitude in preparation for their summit.

Wittmer read the book “Into Thin Air” and began watching Mount Everest documentaries prior to the ascent.

He and Edelen discussed plans for a future climb.

“I just got into this extreme hiking; it is not technical climbing with your hands per say that I am doing; this is hiking with ‘vertical exposure’ or near steep drops over 1000 feet high. I just decided, ‘why not’ since in California we are very lucky because in just a matter of hours you can be on a snowy mountain, in

the desert rock climbing, or discovering the view behind the Hollywood sign,” said Wittmer.

Wittmer then summited Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, Mt. Lee, and Calabasses Peak in Los Angeles. A month later he traveled to Zion National Park in Utah where he summited Angel’s Landing Peak (1,500’), Observation Point (2,100’), and traversed a ledge in Hidden Canyon (900’) after learning of all these routes from Edelen.

His next excursion took the librarian to Waco, Texas where every year he researches the Branch Davidians, an interest he has pursued since 1999. Wittmer has spent the past 14 years researching the BATF raid and FBI assault on the Branch Davidian complex, which according to Wittmer was a law enforcement failure, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives.

He began his research in Waco after seeing footage of the raid on television because he didn’ t know who the group was, and found elements of the 1993 raid questionable.

And so his research began.

For the past decade, Wittmer has listened to the 1993 FBI negotiation tapes which helped inform his writing that has been published about the event. Also, he looks at the court transcripts and records to further the research.

Wittmer said that while commuting to and from work he is usually listening to the tapes in hope of helping with another documentary, as he was consulted in 2011 by CNN, when he helped producer Andy Segal find audio sound bites from the transcripts CNN was looking for.

“Last year I co-authored a book that is one of the Branch Davidian survivor accounts. When I listen to the tapes I can better put the pieces together from the stories survivors tell me when they are recounting what they went through. I will hear those stories backed up from the FBI’s point of view,” said Wittmer.

Wittmer gave a presentation at a symposium in Waco this past April alongside FBI Chief Negotiator Gary Noesner who was in charge of the negotiations in 1993.

“I’ve always liked to make models and I always like to create things. When I was in graduate school for fine art I was creating models and making prints of places most people thought were weird. So many people were killed in that building outside of Waco in 1993. I had seen footage of government tanks pushing the building walls over and people can be seen scrambling, trying to escape the burning

Wittmer’s Adventures 6/22 Winter Mountaineering Skills class, Inyo National Forest in the Eastern Sierras outside of Lee Vining

7/19-7/21 Attended Independent School Library Exchange Consortia retreat at the Thacher School in Ojai, CA

6/23 Classic Ascent of North Peak (12,242 feet) in the Inyo National Forest

Missouri

Librarian Matthew Wittmer tests the chair he built (Left) and trains with an ice axe and crampons in the Inyo National Forest, northern California (Above and Right).

Photos courtesy of Matthew Wittmer

8/12-8/16 In Zion National Park

7/29-8/4 Visited parents in

building.

Seeing that footage was when I became committed to learning more and developing a more informed insight into what happened there,” said Wittmer.

This interest led Wittmer to begin sketching that Branch Davidian building that he drew from T.V. footage and newspaper photographs 14 years ago. He made a paper model of the Branch Davidian complex, and finally built a wooden model of it, so that he could get a feel for what the building had looked like and how it functioned.

Wittmer donated that model to the survivors’ visitor center museum where it was on public exhibit where the actual building once stood between 2001 and 2006. After donating the model, Wittmer began speaking to more surviors and tried to convince them to record and donate their stories to two archival repositories in central Texas.

A man of many and diverse interests, Wittmer also found time to make furniture over the summer. His inspiration came from a hotel he visited last summer, The Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon made famous as the locale setting in The Shining.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go and see The Timberline Lodge ever since I was in forth or fifth grade and saw The Shining. . . . When I was inside the Timberline, they had these really cool chairs that were springy. The chairs had these large wood arm rests. I took pictures of them. I measured them very carefully. I then started making sketches and decided that I would figure out how to weld and recreate two of these chair,” said Wittmer.

With wood and steel in hand Wittmer created the frame (and has since made the wood backing) for the chairs and is now working on making the unique spring seat cushions.

“I want to try to finish it by winter break, but might give in and have someone help upholster the seat cushions, but I have figured out how to do it. It’s just a matter of when I can get to finishing them,” said Wittmer.

Wittmer also made time to attend a weekend retreat with the Independent School Library Exchange Consortia that is a group of other Independent School Librarians at The Thacher School in Ojai where librarians shared how they are building better services for middle and upper school students.

8/27–8/30 Continued ongoing Branch Davidian audio negotiation tape research at the Texas Collection Repository in Waco, Texas

8/19–8/23 Cut and welded structure for two WPA era chairs from Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge at Art Assist Studio in North Hollywood

9/1–9/5 Built 3 wall mountable phone/ipad chargers for the Robert Young Library

OCTOBER

10

[ MATH ]

[ SCIENCE ]

[ ARTS ]

PhilipSingh ‘16

JoshuaMiller ‘16

PhilipSingh ‘16

Jason Kafil The Student Voice

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

Jason Kafil The Student Voice

he Upper and Middle School math rooms in the new Math and Science Building feature interactive projectors with a full-blown, magnetic wall whiteboards. Courses such as AP Calculus and other advanced subjects are now able to easily use eBook textbooks on the iPad. The classrooms also feature smart podiums which allow teachers to face the students and turn to the board only occasionally.

“The best feature of the room is definitely the podium.

We are able to combine the Smartboard classnotes with our TI-Navigator/TI-Nspire CX CAS calculators; in addition, all my students have their AP Calculus textbook in ebook form on their iPads, and I can access the textbook on the publisher’s website to incorporate images from that source as well,” Ryan said.

Math department chair Joanne Ryan said the student response is mostly positive.

“The students seem more engaged and, especially for our seniors; they are getting a taste of the university classrooms they will enjoy next fall,” she said.

“I can feel the excitement; several students have described to me how many of their teachers are using the display to show their outline, another display to project an experiment. The feedback is amazing and that is what has shaped this building,” Jose Tagle, director of technology, said.

he features in the Math and Science Building will greatly improve the student experience in all science classes. The labs accomodate Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, Life Science, and other science-based subjects.

The chemistry room alone features an abundance of new technology: wall talkers, video cameras, LED TVs, and fume hoods, enabling students to avoid contact with chemicals and handle experiments safely.

Life Science and Brain and Behavior teacher Brian Rector is excited about all of the ways to improve his curriculum.

One feature is the ability to display multiple microscopic images on to the TV’s placed around the room.

“In the past, I would have to run around and look through the microscopes; this allows me to see real time what they are seeing,” Rector said.

Not only does Rector believe the technology will make the learning process more efficient, but he also believes it will increase learning quality and the level of creativity.

“We can cover more material, but more than that, it opens up creative possibilities. For example, when we record stuff under the microscopes, I can more easily get that recorded stuff to students. They can work with it in video editing, add music, add educational comments, voiceovers, splice in other stuff, we can be more creative with the technology,” he said.

he Digital Arts room features the best of equipment for recording to post production with piano digital keyboard connectivity to digital software, to an electronic drum set – all of which means instant creativity.

“Students are going to be able walk out of that room and what they learn in there and walk into any studio in town and be able to work instantly. The room is the gem of the campus at this point, and the state of the art equipment in there for recording, engineering, and producing music which helps the next generation of composers,” music theory and band teacher Thomas Marino said.

Film teacher Steven Rollman plans for the AP Music Theory students to be able to score music for all sorts of projects.

“I think the best feature of the new room is the way that I can display any of the computers on the main screen so that everyone can see each other’s work. This also allows me to help students individually as well as collectively,“ Rollman said.

Also enhancing the arts program, the band room was reinvented over the summer. The ceiling was punched out and acoustical panels added, changes that have radically improved the sound.

“We also have the ability to now record with a whole new sound system and I can play it back with my iPad,” Marino said.

T

T

T

[ OUTDOORS & EXTRAS ]

N

+ 309

+ 723

Sq. Feet

Sq. Feet

Chemistry

Physical Science

+ 350

+ 258

Sq. Feet

Sq. Feet

SQUARE FOOTAGE INCREASE IN MATH AND SCIENCE BUILDING

Old square footage

Life Science

New square footage

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

ot only have the two new buildings and the renovations to the Hillside Building reinvented the classroom experience on campus, but the already pleasant campus environment has also been radically transformed.

Now filled with comfortable benches--padded with a spirited black and white stripe pattern, small gathering spots dot the upper outside deck of the Math and Science Building and the areas between that building and the Pavilion. To the east of the building, a nifty amphitheater has been crafted into the small hillside and includes the precepts of the Commitment on its walls.

Mirroring the natural brush of the campus’ canyon, drought-resistant landscaping weds the campus to its surrounding hillsides. A multi-trunk California Sycamore greets visitors as they enter the school gates, and dozens of other Sycamores and Gingko trees line the parking lot and the planted areas outside the new buildings.

Soon to be ready and available to students is an additional covered eating area adjacent to Café Commons.

Physics

R 4, 2013

11

[ [

‘WOW’ FACTORS

The Voice gives an in depth look into the new Math and Science Building and other renovations around campus.

]

]

“The campus looks beautiful. It’s Alex Estrada , Plant Operations

“

Although it was possible to teach students by writing notes and lecturing, it didn’t allow the lesson to fully come to life and engage the students.

”

Brandon Hogan

“

The students are in large, bright, modern classrooms with the best teaching technologies available. They seem more engaged and, especially for our seniors, they are getting a taste of the university classrooms they will enjoy next fall.

“

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

TOUCH: Logan Light ‘07 tries out the interactive keyboard in the new digital media room, located Building.

“Kudos to whoever picked the Ryan Kopelowicz, senior

“It’s a very nice place to hang out during lunch or a free periSam Bierman, senior

Joanne Ryan

The biggest face lift we had is actually raising the ceiling, it was about an eight foot ceiling before with horrible acoustics and now it’s pitched all the way up, and is about 16 to 17 feet in the center.

With these nice acoustic panels, that really makes the band sound great.

Thomas Marino

”

”

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

J

unior Gavin Michaels wants to be the very best, “like no one ever was.”

This July, Michaels took a huge step toward that goal when he became a Pokémon champion. and won the national tournament in the masters division (those of at least 15 years in age).

Pokémon

was

playing

my

prestige tournaments, but this well,” said Michaels.

Competition at the tournait is open, meaning anybody can enter. who were in college. The majority of people who play the game competitively are in college or have graduated college; however, recently, high school students are the ones that have been doing really well,” Michaels said. with the Pokémon games was actually secondhand, and it did not leave a good impression.

then they have to pick the four Pokémon of their own that they about their Pokémon besides

idea that there was a competimon were automatically the best around,” said Michaels.

The tournament is both strategic during and before the matches. Competitors have to pick out Pokémon to bring to the tournament ahead of time. use or just a general concept. move or a play style. The rest of the team usually covers the What goes into consideration of those threats are that some Pokémon are very popular on the competitive scene, and you need to be prepared to counter them,” said Michaels.

Though each player can nament, they can only use four during an actual match. Before every round, the players get to opponents have brought, and

friday, october 4, 2013 12

adds a lot on the strategy end,” he said.

Though a lot of us grew up with Pokémon as kids, the competitive side of the tournament is very complicated. Each Pokémon knows four moves, has an item, an elemental typing, and various stats that the player has to keep tabs on. Since there are so many variables, competitive play leaves a lot of room for strategy. control of the situation. Even which makes it much easier to predict what they are going to do,” Michaels said.

Through his win at nationals, Michaels secured himself Canada, where he will go with his family. Who knows what the future holds for him. Maybe an international title?

649 total Pokémon 337 masters division challengers

17 elemental types 1 move per turn

The tournament is split into divisions by age. Gavin competed in the senior division, where the oldest players compete. Within this division there were 337 challengers. The top 32 seeded competitors moved on to the mon to the tournament. Before each match mon, and each pick four of their own that each side can use two Pokémon at a time. to be customized. They are allowed four moves, one item, one ability, and varying or one or two types that dictate what other types they are weak to. Every turn, one move is allowed per Pokémon.

VICTORY: After winning the national tournament, junior Gavin Michaels is interviewed. He discusses his strategy, and his battle style.

Courtesy of Gavin Michaels

Meredith Wells The Student Voice

arts & entertainment 13 friday, october 4, 2013 |

insidearts&entertainment

MUSICAL THEATER INTENSIVE Courtesy of Laura Bamford

GOOD EATS Courtesy of The Tuning Fork

Courtesy of Musical Theater International

SUMMER MUSICAL THEATER INTEN SIVE| page 14 13 students who wanted to improve their acting, dancing, and singing skills.

GOOD EATS | page 15 Sophomore Joshua Miller explores the Studio City area for some great places to go chow down.

JUST PRESS PLAY| page 15 Michael Len recommends his favorite remixes.

FALL MUSICAL| page 16 “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” to take the stage in November.

NEW DANCE TEACHER| page 16 Meet Shai Rosen, the new Middle and Advanced Dance teacher.

INTRODUCING SHAI ROSEN

CHANGE IN CHAIRS| page 16 The new arts chairs, Nash and Hendricks, open up about their new roles in the arts program.

Courtesy of Shai Rosen

Comingthis thisNovemer...

October...

Coming

12 5 12 12 31 20

Monotones Monotonesannounced Showcase

Choral director John Hendricks 1:00 p.m.

- 3:00 p.m.

Saturdayto reveal the 2012-13 members.

Monotones debut performance at Open House.

Senior Dance Mexican heritage culture presentation 7:00 p.m. -Roy 11:00 a.m.Family Saturday Assembly, Disney Pavilion The theme for this year’s highschool dance is ‘Viva Las Vegas’

Halloween Senior Dance 7 PM, Roy Disney Family Pavilion and enjoy a night free of worrying about school.

Theme to be announced at promo M period assembly on the 17th

13 4 20 5 24 21

Pier del SolBack’ charity shopping event ‘Give a Lot 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 7 PM, Century Cityp.m., Mall Sunday, Santa Monica The Montones perform at the 17th Anniversary of the Pier del Sol Leukemia/Lymphoma at Santa Monica pier. Society hosts a private shopping event for candy and other “sweets and treats” as well as a “braid bar”

ShermanNight Oaks Fair Opening of You’re in Urine Town 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Santa Sunday The Lounge Theater, Monica Blvd.

Monotones and the Advanced Strings perform at the annual Alumna Jessica Cymerman ‘07 directs musical to debut from the Sherman Oaks Fair.

5th until the 28th

World Dance Workshop Performances at Sherman Oaks Street Fair 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Time TBA , At Fair on Ventura Blvd around the world.

Monotones, Advanced Strings, Jazz Band, and a few selections from the fall musical, Bye Bye Birdie

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

friday, october 4, 2013 14

44 Hours, 11 Days, 13 students, 5 guest artists Thirteen students participated in a two week Summer Musical Theatre Intensive where they both improved and learned how to dance, sing, and act from special guest artists.

JoyceChamoun ‘16 a&e editor

From July 15 to 26, 13 students interested in learning more about singing, dancing, auditioning, and acting participated in a Summer Musical Theatre Intensive where they also learned about careers in the arts, and how to jump start a professional career and get into college programs.

“They were very supportive of each other and the energy was so positive. They were all there because they wanted to learn and they were hungry to understand more about the arts, and to have this really rich experience. By the end they became a very supportive little family and really helped each other through the couple of weeks,” said Laura Bamford, Upper School dance teacher.

Guest artists, either award-winning in their field or alumni who experienced performing arts program and then worked professionally after they left, kicked off week one.

Emmy award-winning actress, Sandahl Bergman, who has been part of a number of Tony award-winning dance productions and worked under Bob Fosey, taught the students about Fosey’s legacy in dance and movement style, and she even shared choreography from the musical Chicago, in which she was an original cast member.

Other Tony award musical theatre actors, casting director, vocal coaches, and alumni Kayla Foster and Heather Boyd also taught.

In week two, students turned their energy towards creating a cabaret, where every student sang, acted, and danced. The show opened with a montage of dances from

Chicago, solo, duet, and trio’s in the middle, and closed with everyone singing “Seasons of Love” from Rent.

“The transformation the kids showed in those two weeks was remarkable, so much so that the kids that came back to audition for the musical this year showed noticeable improvement and confidence. When they auditioned for the show, we all noticed that the kids who auditioned this fall who did that workshop did a better job and were more confident,” said Bamford.

According to Bamford, sitting back and listening to the guests’ stories opened her eyes to concepts she has either forgotten or should think about more when teaching, so the program also included professional development for the faculty as well as inspiration for the students.

“I had an amazing time, and I learned and gained so much knowledge. It was amazing meeting people that had been on Broadway, and that had done so many amazing things with their lives. I definitely gained so much through all the lessons they had learned, and it was great to accumulate all that we had learned, “said freshman Camille Moridian.

Bamford, Nash, and Hendricks hope to bring back the intensive annually or every other year. Nash hopes to add a field trip where students can see theater in another city. Based on student feedback, the guest artists that worked with the students versus those who only talked to them created a more useful and enjoyable experience, so if the program returns Nash hopes to have all the artists work with the students.

“I loved the whole experience, and I would definitely do it again. We all got to work with such talented performers and they gave such great advice about auditioning and performing. Performing for the cabaret was my favorite, and we all became a family in those two weeks. I hope they have it every summer,” said sophomore Rio Thorogood.

Do you remember when...?

“All of us agreed that Mr. Nash’s voice was really calming, and it sounded like oatmeal, which is really calming. So we all started calling him ‘Oatmeal’.”

Senior Samantha Fett

“We all came up with this inside joke about one of the guest artists. The joke was because whenever she would talk, she would stick her hand out in front of her and say ‘he he.’ So we all started saying that.”

-Freshman Camille Mordian

“A few girls made the couch in the theatre room their territory; they would sit there every day, so one day a few girls and I came early and hung out on the couch. The girls soon came in and didn’t even care we were there. They all sat on top of us and we were all squished and uncomfortable for an hour while Tony winner Gregory Jbara spoke to us. It was hilarious.”

- Sophomore Rio Thorogood

Photos courtesy of Laura Bamford

15 friday, october 4, 2013

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reviews

“Let’s eat out tonight” Pizza places, burger joints, gastro pubs. One nearby area always delivers. In the past three years, Studio City has become a hotspot for good food. Whether you’re grabbing a casual meal for authentic Mexican at Loteria, or a nice sushi dinner in what is often referred to as the sushi capital of Los Angeles, have chosen Studio City as the city of choice for their new restaurants.

by JoshMiller ‘16

A

remix. A cover. A mashup. When a song grows old, they will always be there to give it new life.

Inspiration can be fresh, but it can also be derivative, but that isn’t a bad thing. When an artist remixes a song, he or she is merely mixing his/her inspirations and those of the original artist. In addition, remixing a song is sometimes harder than making one from scratch, because one has to find a way to make it original.

So what makes a good remix? That question has no right answer. A good remix should take a song in a new direction, or build on and refine the song. Flight Facilities’ popular song “Crave You” is a really great song on its own.

It’s classy, its fun, and the beat is excellent. Then Adventure Club remixed it. The build is stronger, the singer’s voice is chopped and layered expertly, and the drop is exhilarating.

The remix has 16.4 million views on Youtube, trumping the original’s still sizable 9.6 million. That’s how you know the remix is excellent.

Remixes are also great when they take the song and make it their own instead of making a few basic changes to enhance the original. A collective by the name of RAC (Remix Artist Collective) really embodies this ideal. Their remix of Foster the People’s “Houdini” is phenomenal because it preserves all the fun that made the original my favorite Foster the People song, but with an an electronic twist that makes the listener want to get up and move your feet. The vocals aren’t touched too much, but the entire musical composition is taken to new heights Covers generally follow the source materiel more than the average remix. The goal is to take the original’s emotions and funnel them through one’s own work. Covers allow artists to explore their own musical style in the domain of something that has been already been built for them. Those of you who listen to the Gorillaz know their very distinctive sound. It is typically haunting and minimalistic. The XX also finds beauty in minimalism, creating songs that are harmonious and catchy. When the Gorillaz covered a song by The XX titled “Crystalized,” I was intrigued. When I heard the cover for the first time, I smiled. Though the two versions are similar, they both ooze the personality of the individual artists. The original keeps the plucky instrumentals and murmuring lyrics The XX is known for, while the cover is off kilter and has an almost childlike quality, probably due to the xylophone’s innocent sound.

Plain and simple: mashups are at its best when the two songs stand at polar opposites. My personal favorite mashup is one between Notorious B.I.G and Vampire Weekend.

The track is entitled “Notorious Vampire,” and it mixes the songs “Oxford Comma” and “Can I Get Witcha.” When you think of Biggie, I doubt Cape Cod and button downs come to mind, but thats why the songs work so well together. The mixture of classic rap and prep rock make a strange pairing, but boy are they are great together. The song has broadened my appreciation of both genres, fulfilling the major goal of a mashup Whether you are listening to a dance version of a classic rock tune, or a recreation of your favorite rap song, remixes, covers, and mashups offer new sparks to a song that was once familiar.

The Village Courtesy of The Village 12345 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

price: $$$ service: Very friendly atmosphere: Crowded all night recommended dishes: Crispy Cauliflower and Lamb Burger

Right in the middle of Ventura Boulevard, The Village, a trendy gastro pub, delivers plenty of good food and vibes. The decor has a very “Saturday night” feel with indoor and outdoor seating and music playing in the background. Their tapas style menu means that all items are always for sharing, making it a great place to go with friends. The menu clearly states all vegetarian and vegan options, and the staff takes great care with dietary restrictions. The food at The Village is fairly untraditional as the kitchen puts their spin on many classic recipes.

The Tuning Fork Courtesy of The Tuning Fork 12051 Ventura Place Studio City, CA 91604

price: $ service: Very friendly atmosphere: Early 20’s and crowded recommended dishes: Grilled Artichoke, French Fries

Along with The Village, The Tuning Fork is a very new and delicious restaurant. Located right off of Ventura, this trendy restaurant prides itself on the music playing in the restaurant and their warm and friendly environment. This restaurant focuses on fresh, farm-to-table ingredients in all of their dishes.

They also take a great care to all food restrictions, both allergy and preference. They have new twists on classic dishes such as their mac & cheese pops or their sweet and spicy chicken wings.

Laurel Tavern

featuredsongs

Crave You Original: Flight Facilities Remix: Adventure Club Houdini Original: Foster the People

Remix: RAC

Crystalized Original: The XX Remix: Gorillaz

Joshua Miller The Student Voice

11938 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

price: $$ service: Self-service atmosphere: Very crowded after 7 recommended dishes: Grilled Artichoke, French Fries

Another exciting eatery on restaurant row is Laurel Tavern, a bar and restaurant that always serves great food. They have great burgers and fries, but the real star here is the grilled artichoke.

It is full of flavor and has a great kick at the end.

The downside here is that they don’t have waiters, so to order food, you need to go up to the bar and order which can be a little bit of a hassle. Laurel Tavern can get very loud at times, but the volume is never a problem.

Studio City has plenty other restaurants, both family owned and chains, that attract people from all walks of life. Joan’s on Third, one of the most popular gourmet shops in Los Angeles is opening up their second location in Studio City.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

friday, october 4, 2013 16

Courtesy of Musical Theater International

Sharpen you pencils, because the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will open in November.

MeredithWells ‘16 a&e editor The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee released its cast list on Saturday September 14 and will open for the public November 13-16.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a oneact musical comedy, and unlike previous musicals, has a small cast, only 12 roles, and no ensemble like in last year’s Bye Bye Birdie. Due to the small cast, the competition was much tougher for getting one of the parts, and fewer people auditioned this year.

“Ms. Bamford, Mr. Marino, and I have been saying all along that it’s a small cast, so be ready for some intense competition; that may have scared some people away,” said Nash, director of the fall musical. Although auditions may have been light, there were plenty of people to fill up the cast list.

Stepping into new shoes Meet the new Advanced and Middle School Dance teacher, Shai Rosen.

JoshuaMiller ‘16 assistant news editor He has worked on America’s Got Talent, Shake It Up, and even a Pepsi commercial. Shai Rosen is the new, Advanced Dance and Middle School, dance teacher.

Rosen grew up in Los Angeles and attended Milliken High School where he began seriously and won and national awards. graduated from UCLA bachelor’s degree in Arts and Cultures.

Rosen now specializes in Hop dancing.

dancing regional He later with a World Hip-

The Spelling Bee can take advantage of the Pavillion where it is performed because the play takes place in a school gym.

“Other theaters that perform this musical spend money to make their stage look just like our Pavilion,” said Nash.

The musical is about six middle school students who compete for the title of spelling bee champion. It includes many comical moments, amazing songs, and heartfelt moments, according to Nash.

Out of all the musicals that have been performed, Nash thinks that this is his favorite.

“The more time I spend on it, the higher it goes on my favorites list” said Nash. “It’s funny, it’s contemporary, and I am so excited about this musical.”

Tickets for the musical will go on sale for $20 on October 17, and shows will run from November 13-15 and a special matinee showing November 16.

One of his former dance teachers was Ralinda Watts, a big part in helping to shape him into a versatile dancer according to Rosen.

Happy with how he is fitting in with all the staff, Rosen likes having the opportunity to be around teachers with a lot of teaching experience.

“I like the dynamic and that I am on the younger side, because I really have the opportunity to [learn] from those with experience,” said Rosen.

Starting his professional career while still in school, Rosen worked in television shows and commercials. In 2006, The WNBA hired him to dance with the the Los Angeles Sparks. He also performed at the London New Year’s Day Parade and the Santa Pier.

This is Rosen’s first teaching job at a school; however, he said he been teaching his five siblings and other children for a long time.

According to Rosen, he really enjoyed teaching them, so when the number of students he taught grew he began looking for professional teaching opportunities.

Rosen has not always wanted dancing to be a part of his life. He explained that at first, he never saw dance becoming such a big part of his life.

“One day, it just switched. I saw some performance that I thought was really cool and then I started taking it more seriously,” said Rosen.

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

CAST LIST Rona – SIBELLA DOWAD Panch – RYAN O’DONNELL Mitch Mahoney (the female version) – LILIANA WILCOCKSON Olive – SYDNEY BANNER Barfee – GAVIN MICHAELS Chip – DUANE ERVIN Marcy – CAMILLA REVAH Schwartzy – RIO THOROGOOD Coneybear – KELLY MORAN Olive’s Mom, Leaf Coneybear’s Mom – TARA BITRAN Carl Dad/Jesus – JOSH SUPER Assistant Director – NATALYA SANDS

Hendricks, Nash promoted to department chairs JoyceChamoun ‘16 a&e editor After 28 years as chair of the performing arts department Vincent Houser, orchestra teacher, decided to step down at the end of last year. The department is now under the leadership of co-chairs, John Hendricks, handling the musical aspect, and Neil Nash, handling the theater and dance aspects.

“I think the role of a leader is really to bring out the best of the people in the department, creating a tone that is collaborative and where people feel creative, and where people bring their own experiences in the spirit of moving forward,” said Hendricks According to Nash, as co-chairs they will be able to focus on the individual components of the divisions as well as the totality of the performing arts program.

“I am very excited. I felt like the former performing arts department was so big, there were about nine faculty, and it was just an enormous job, and Mr. Houser did an incredible job staying on top of it, and so I think the split in the department is just really great,” said Nash.

Nash hopes all performing arts faculty will continue to discuss new curriculum choices that would enhance the students’ experience, while keeping most of the strong current offerings. Both said that investigating advanced options for students and opening a wide variety of creative opportunities are central to their goals.

Hendricks too is excited about his new leadership role in helping maintain a vibrant arts program.

“I wanted the respon-

sibility of chair; fortunately, over the years through being president of the Southern California Vocal Association… I had access to a lot of music programs at other schools, and met a great number of people of music.

So, I am excited to take what I am learning and what I have learned from other people and bring that here, especially now that we have all of these new facilities and the digital arts curriculum,” said Hendricks According to Hendricks, other possible changes include lunchtime concerts, and other opportunities to see students perform in larger or smaller groups.

“It is time to move forward and we have an administration that is really supportive of the arts, and wants to move us forward so it is a great time for all of us to be our absolute best again, it is all about the students,” said Hendricks.

Houser said he is happy to have passed the reins to Hendricks and Nash and is looking forward to having more time to give to his students as well as help with alumni events.

sports 17

friday, october 4, 2013 | SALIMCHAMOUN ‘14

And they’re off...

The boys cross country team looks to earn a spot in the state championship this year after losing three seniors.

After losing three seniors, including first-place Liberty League alum Nick Martin ’13, the boys cross-country team is young and looking forward to preparing for seasons ahead, according to coach Chris Mack.

With only one senior, captain Sam Bierman, the team includes three freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior.

In this week’s meet, the second of their season, they were led by Bierman who put together an 18:08 run on the Woodley Park 5K flat course.

Finishing the course below 22 minutes were sophomore Liam Winston (21:15) and junior Adam David (21:30).

The boys have great chemistry according to Bierman and look up to the upperclassmen, acknowledging their experience and accomplishments. But they know they have work to do on the track, as their times are slower than last season’s team.

Even with the team’s youth, the team goal is to win league finals and qualify for state championships.

Every week the team completes a long run early in the week to improve endurance. The two focuses in practice are endurance and speed.

Summer training included a noncompetitive meet over the summer at the Seaside Invitational at San Buenaventura State Beach. Led by Bierman with a time of 18:47.

“Last season, the team was small but the runners were faster. This year is all about rebuilding, and I’m very happy about our five new members,” he said.

Bierman feels confident in the team’s future as long as they make the most of their potential by consistently practicing and conditioning their bodies.

“Sam is an outstanding, mature and knowledgeable team captain. He leads by example. I could not ask for a better champion,” Mack said.

VOLLEYBALL 1 win 5 losses

After relying on veterans last year, the girls hope to reconstruct a winning squad through mental toughness.

Finishing last season with four topplacing runners, the girls cross country team now lacks any veterans and consists of five rookies.

Led by sophomore captains Sabine Obagi and Sarah Cookson, the team’s remaining three members are freshmen.

Four meets into the season, the girls remain focused. In their October 2 meet at Woodley Park, the fastest member of the squad was Cookson who placed 25th.

For practice, the girls run to Van Nuys Sherman Oaks park (VNSO) and once there, they stretch and run around the park for two to four miles.

It is crucial that the team members take care of their bodies and prevent injuries because they are so limited in size.

Therefore, if one of the five runners is injured, they do not meet the required number of people for a team to participate in a run.

After forming a squad last year with senior leadership that included Elle Wisnicki ’13, Samara Roman-Holba ’13, and Michaela Murphy ’13, this year’s team has no juniors or seniors.

“Odd enough, none of the girls this year, including me, have any experience doing cross country. It’s all our first years, which is super cool because it is a passion we have in common,” Obagi said.

The team is going through the ups and downs of the season together, and motivating each other as they experience their first cross country season.

“Cross country is cool because you are racing against other people but, you are also your own opponent,” Obagi said.

The girls approach each race as 50 percent running and 50 percent mental toughness. Obagi added that the team needs to improve their focus and have more self-discipline in order to win races. Once they establish the right mindset about competing in long distance runs, they will improve their times.

SCOREBOARD Boys Cross Country

17:47

best individual time

Sam Bierman

12

Jordan Semprevivo

9

Liam Winston

10

Adam David

11

Collins Mills

9

Francisco Moncada

10

Charlie Oldman

9

Max Pratts

9

times taken from 3 mile course at Woodridge Classic

17:47 19:04 20:27 21:33 21:29 22:24 23:29 DNC

Courtesy of Fred Bierman

KICKING INTO SIXTH GEAR: Captain Sam Bierman sprints the final leg at the Bell-Jeff Invitational at Griffith Park on September 28. Bierman and four other teammates finished in the top 40.

GIRLS TENNIS

GIRLS GOLF

4 wins 1 losses

0 wins 5 losses

CROSS COUNTRY

5 vs. Venice High School

8 vs. Yeshiva

8

5 In Honor of Conor Run

10 vs. Yeshiva

10 vs. Archer

10

25 vs. Mt. Sac Invitational

15 vs. Oakwood

15 vs. South Pasadena

29 vs. League Meet

17 vs. New Community

17 vs. South Pasadena

14 15 vs. Archer

OCTOBER

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

friday, october 4, 2013 18

Girls prepared to capture third CIF title in four years The 4-1 girls tennis team is ready to get back to the CIF finals. If so, it will be their third time in four years.

Katherine Herzer-Hansel The Student Voice

HITTING A WINNER: Senior Remi Alfallah hits a forehand down the middle for a winner against Archer School at Balboa Park.

Golf team eyes first win of the season

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BillyWilson ‘14 assistant sports editor After losing in the quarterfinals to last year’s eventual Division III CIF Southern Section Champion, Laguna Hills High School, the girls tennis team is looking to get back to where the program is so used to being, CIF finals.

The girls started their journey to the finals by adhering to an extremely rigorous training program, which consists of twohour sessions of either tennis or working out with strength and conditioning coach Robert Wright.

“Most of the girls trained individually in the offseason which helped us stay on top of our game. Obviously, our number one goal is to win Liberty League and advance to CIF finals,” senior captain Lindsay Wilson said.

The season was started off in the right fashion, by beating non-league opponents Milken and Archer 18-0 and 16-2 respectively. After these matches the girls traveled to Santa Clarita to take on Hart High School, losing 15-3.

“I think as a team, we need to work on playing our game and not sinking down to our opponent’s level. But overall, I thought

In team’s third year, six girls attended the two-day Chappy Wheeler Tournament in Palm Springs.

“We have been working extremely hard on doubles, training together as one doubles team by not letting the ball come through the middle of the court.”

Susan Sherman Tennis Coach

that we played well considering the fact that all three of our doubles teams were playing their first match together,” Wilson said.

The team will lean on its captains, Wilson, senior Sheridan March, and junior and number one singles player Naomie Rosenberg, along with senior starters Gina Ahmar, Remi Alfallah, and Roxanna Abrishamchian to provide the leadership needed to endure the grind to CIF finals.

“As captains, Sheridan, Naomie, and I are going to work hard to be the best leaders we can be and make sure we get to where we think we can go as a team. We have leaders in both singles and doubles who are experienced when it comes to advancing in playoffs,” Wilson said.

The team has focused on strengthining their doubles draw in order to win matches.

“We have been working extremely hard on doubles, training together as one doubles team by not letting the ball come through the middle of the court,” Sherman said.

Junior Emma Marciano has been sitting out the entire year with a sprained shoulder injury.

BillyWilson ‘14 assistant sports editor The girls golf team is looking to build off last season’s momentum in which they won their first match in school history.

The team traveled to Palm Springs this summer to compete in the Chappy Wheeler Tournament, in which 11 others schools competed.

“There were over 100 golfers in this tournament. As a team, we finished the tournament, which is a huge accomplishment in itself because of the amount of holes we had to play in 115-degree heat. We played the equivalent of four practice matches in two days, since in league matches we only play nine holes and in this tournament we played 18 holes a day,” head coach Andrew Lotts said.

With incoming freshmen Berkley Morgan, Blaine Goldberg, and Eden Burkow, along with returning starters senior captain Ali Eicher, junior Sarah Jayne Johnson, and sophomore Joyce Chamoun, the program is finally stable.

Eicher added that she is proud of the team’s energy as they head into the second part of the season.

“We now have real golfers, who truly enjoy being on the course. All of the girls have been putting in work all summer and some are additionally taking lessons from golf professionals,” Lotts said.

Although the team lost its first three matches, two to Westridge, the other to Azusa, Lotts is encouraged by the team’s effort and sees them playing even more competitive matches.

“We lost by under 20 for two of our combined matches.

If we get a few putts here and there, I think we will start inching closer towards winning a couple,” Lotts said

“We now have real golfers, who truly enjoy being on the course. All of the girls have been putting in work all summer and some are additionally taking lessons from golf professionals.”

Courtesy of Ali Eicher

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE: Captain Ali Eicher tees off on the back nine at the Chappy Wheeler Tournament in Palm Springs. In up to 115 degree heat, the girls played the equivalent of four matches in two days against 10 other schools.

Golf Coach

19 friday, october 4, 2013

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

Junior Paulina Vokulich, the team’s main setter, aces a serve against Yeshiva.

Volleyball draws largest squad in school history The girls volleyball program fill rosters for both varsity and junior varsity teams. New coach Monique Lui brings her Division I CIF experience to the program.

AndrewFriedman ‘16 sports editor This season, the volleyball team has grown, having one of the largest rosters in team history. The players intend to keep their enthusiasm high, while working towards building a CIF-contending program.

“I would really like to be league champions. I think we have a lot of potential on the team and once we build stronger team chemistry, we’ll be in a good position for league,” senior captain Adiya King said.

In King’s opinion, the team needs to work on communicating, serving more aggresively, increasing agility, and working past nerves.

One of the main objectives for this year will be maintaing good attitudes and supporting one another, so that the team can avoid a string of errors after a single mistake.

“As a leader, it is always been most important to me to build chemistry off the court so that we can translate that teamwork and trust during the games.

We lost two seniors last year, and this year we have three new sophomores and two new juniors. We’ve definitely already been bonding as a team,” King said.

According to senior captain Sammy Siciliano, the team’s rapport will be key to their success this year.

“Since many of us

played together last season, the chemistry is really great and will help us as we dive into our season. This year, I will try to lead by example and I think my teammates will respond well to that; I wouldn’t ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do,” Siciliano said.

In the eyes of head coach, Javy Martinez, the team will greatly benefit from the leadership and experience of seniors, King, Siciliano, Nikki Nahai, and, junior, Paulina Vokulich , since so many of the girls are new to the program.

“We had over 30 girls tryout for the team which means the sport is growing. I am excited about this year and for the future of the program. We might even have three teams next year. It’s exciting,” Martinez said.

Monique Lui, who joins the volleyball team as assistant coach, is a two-time Division I CIF champion middle blocker from Long Beach Poly. She continued to coach at Long Beach Poly as the freshman and sophomore coach where her teams went undefeated the past two years. In addition, she was the varsity assistant to the team that won the CIF championship two years ago. Lui coaches at the Elite level club, Long Beach Mizuno West, in the off-season.

“I always put together a very tough preseason. We have been losing matches in five games to very tough teams, which means we can hang with upper level competition, but we can’t quite finish. We haven’t found that killer instinct to put teams away when we have them

Andrew Friedman The Student Voice

SPIRIT TEAM GETS GOING: Senior Nia Renee Cooper and sophomore Jalyn Taylor prepare a dance routine in the Roy E. Family Pavilion on September 27 to perform at home games.

Spirit team incorporates new dance styles to diversify routine Under new coaches Ralinda Watts and Gauri Kuwadekar ‘11, the spirit team looks to gain respect on campus through cheerful perfomances at home games.

AndrewFriedman ‘16 sports editor With two new coaches, the spirit team looks to redefine itself and incorporate new types of performance dance.

After teaching dance at school for seven years, co-head of diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion Ralinda Watts is taking over as head coach. Watts brings her experience as director of the cheer

program at Harvard–Westlake prior to joining the Buckley faculty seven years ago. In addition, Watts has danced for professional teams and, recently, choreographed a half-time show for the Los Angeles

down. The next couple weeks we will focus on fighting through being down and finishing an opponent,” Martinez said.

According to Martinez, he sees a lot of inherent talent in the team and hopes to build a stronger program modeled after the hardwork and CIF success of tennis coach Sue Sherman’s teams.

“The team has a lot of potential and I would love to see everyone rise to their full capabilities this season,” King said.

playerstowatch VARSITY

Clippers.

“My goal for the season is to bring awareness to the new system so that girls look at the spirit team not only as an opportunity to be challenged but also a way to explore different areas of performance. Long term, I hope that the team members feel empowered and feel like cheer is a well respected team,” Watts said.

Gauri Kuwadekar ‘11, who attends USC, joins the spirit team as an assistant coach. Kuwadekar cheered on the school team for three years and started calling cheers her junior year. Moreover, she plans on joining the USC dance team later this year.

“This season, I hope to make cheer routines really spirited and full of students who truly feel like they want to contribute to the game and support their fellow Griffins. I love to perform and I want to teach the students to express themselves through dance,” Kuwadekar said.

The team this year will incorporate elements of performance, dance, spirit, and some aspects of cheerleading. According to Watts, this format will fit into the school community really well because it goes against the traditional model for cheerleading and allows people to explore different elements of performance.

The school implemented a model a few years ago where the dance and cheer teams were a joint squad. Now, the school is returning to a model with the two teams merging into one.

“My goal is for the team to

Top Spiker

Adiya King Top Setter

Paulina Vokulich JUNIOR VARSITY Top Spiker

Claire Cashdan Top Setter

Chloe Farhadi

be more recognized on campus. I really hope that people will enjoy coming to games and watching us perform,” senior cheer captain Nia Cooper said.

Tryouts for the spirit team will be held in early October. Until then, veterans of the team meet twice a week for practice.

“Long term, I hope that the team members feel empowered and feel like cheer is a well respected team.”

Ralinda Watts Spirit Coach

STUDENTPOLL Would you like to see the spirit team lead monthly pep rallies?

124 responses collected from September 30 to Ocotber 1

sports 20

friday, october 4, 2013 |

For two of our school’s most competitive basketball players...

BALL IS LIFE A look at how they used their summers to become even better

Purvis and her club team made it to the national championship for their division this summer, causing quite a few colleges to take an interest in her.

Gray plays many roles on her club basketball team, but embarked on another project this summer with a nutrition company for whom she trained and worked for.

Leah

Tyra

PURVIS

GRAY Philip Singh The Student Voice

DOMINATING ON THE NATIONAL STAGE JamesBernstein ‘14 editor-in-chief Two years ago, one of our own went on to become a national champion. This summer, we did it again.

Back in 2011, Olivia Esse ’12 was the first to stand in the national spotlight for equestrian. But from July 28-31 of this year, junior Leah Purvis lead her U-15 club basketball team, the Cal Sparks, to compete in the Nike Nationals girls basketball tournament in Augusta, S.C. The girls lost in the final game to the Philadelphia Belles 64-56.

Purvis, captain and point guard, was her team’s highest scorer with 19 points in the nation’s largest college viewing tournament this year. That’s right—the Nike Nationals invitational tournament is the elite of the elite in girls basketball, and Purvis made it to the top.

And now that she is a junior, it is legal for colleges to contact Purvis, and she is receiving much interest from recruiters.

“What college coaches have told me is that they look at everything you do from the minute you get off the bus to how you are in the games, and how you are before the game. So they view how you interact with your teammates, like if you’re losing

“I would rather go to a school that’s not just a basketball school, but also just an amazing academic environment.”

Junior

in the game they don’t want to see you sulking. They want to see you being positive,” she said.

In fact, September is the first time coaches can reach out to players. And since the beginning of school, Purvis has received frequent calls, texts, emails and general “harassment” from college coaches.

But she isn’t just looking for a school with a good team.

“Some people pick their school based on the basketball team, and basketball teams change. Coaches change. Players change and get hurt,” Purvis said. “So I would rather go to a school that’s not just a basketball school, but also just an amazing academic environment.”

This belief might explain why Purvis chose Buckley, with a Division V basketball team at a much lower difficulty than her club league with Division I players. She said she “fell in love with the campus and the general environment.”

Purvis started playing club basketball, where she has worked her way up to captain of the Cal Sparks, in eighth grade. But her first appearance on a basketball court, which happened for her in third grade, has a more unusual twist.

“I didn’t do team sports. I did gymnastics and karate and they were really individual sports, and my third grade teacher was like, ‘does she play team sports because she’s really, really bad with people.’ She [told my parents]: ‘you really need to get her into a team sport.’ So they put me in basketball because it was a physical sport and I was a physical kid, it took a lot of endurance and running and I just got better and better at it…And now I love it.”

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE GAME SalimChamoun ‘14 sports editor For senior Tyra Gray, in order to improve her game on the court, she would need to work on fitness off the court. By changing her eating habits and training over the summer, Gray developed a stronger and fitter body.

Gray plays for the nationally ranked Cal Sparks girls basketball club. Junior Leah Purvis is also a member, but in a different age group.

For the Sparks, Gray plays shooting guard, small forward, and power forward; all positions she plays for the Buckley team. But club basketball is much more competitive as she goes against Division I prospects who are stronger and faster than she is.

“Competition varies from game to game. Sometimes I feel very confident about who I am matched up against, and other times I feel nervous,” Gray said.

Both Buckley and Cal Sparks coaches want Gray to become a shooter because of her height. At 5’ 5”, she is neither tall or short. So as an averaged size player, she must score most of her points outside of the paint.

“Club basketball is fun and something I have done since starting to play basketball.

It’s good for college recognition because we play in many viewing tournaments,” Gray said.

As of now, Occidental College, UC Irvine, St. Johns University, New York University, and Emory University have contacted Gray.

“I am still waiting for more responses, I

want to look at all my options before committing to one school,” Gray said.

This summer, however, Gray’s training has helped her slim down and develop more speed on the court. The transition has been tough, and she admits it will take a while to get used to her new shape.

She credits the Herbalife program for her new healthy lifestyle. Gray says the program is not just a weight loss program, it is lifestyle change. She is even representing the company.

She has relied on healthy shakes and proteins bars to improve her fitness. She also takes vitamin supplements three times a day to build muscle and stamina.

“Right now I am not leading a class because I am still fairly new to the business buy because I’m now in school and playing basketball, I try to go a few times a week,” Gray said.

Training Routine

30-second circuits: 1. Leg Press 2. Squats 3. Jumping Jacks 4. Lateral Pull Downs 5. Bicep Curls 6. Planks 7. Push Ups 8. Box Jumps