The Suffield Academy Bell by Suffield Academy

www.suffieldacademy.org

Esse Quam Videri

The Suffield Bell Volume LXXXIII, NO. 2

Established 1835

March 2017

Will Moryto ’16 by Pat Cordes ’18

Photos from the Moryto family

William George Moryto ’16, brother to Matt Moryto ’18, good friend to many past and current students, and a student remembered fondly by his faculty, passed away suddenly on Monday, January 16, 2017. Will Moryto’s unexpected death shook our community. He graduated last May, along with 113 of his fellow seniors in the Suffield Academy Class of 2016, but his influence reached beyond his classmates and touched a myriad of facets in our community. An honors student, a cross-country runner, wrestler, and baseball player for the Tigers, Will was a valued classmate and teammate. He also was a committed four-year member of our Political Action Club, rising to senior leadership last year, and he devoted four years to our jazz ensembles. Will enjoyed umpiring Little League baseball during his summers, as this gave him the opportunity to teach skills and model good sportsmanship to young baseball enthusiasts. Will was also a young patriot and led the effort to refurbish the town’s Main Street American flag display. In his little free time, Will enjoyed playing guitar, video games, and Airsoft, as well as bodysurfing waves at the beach. Family, friends, and the Suffield Academy family gathered on January 23rd at the Second Baptist Church to honor and celebrate Will’s life. Headmaster Cahn spoke of Will’s kindness and strong work ethic, including

an anecdote about how he went the extra mile to help a customer while working at Staples on a cold winter’s day. “We should remember him for the positive moments he played in our lives, and for being the kind of person who not only helped someone find the (reams of) paper but had the graciousness and thoughtfulness to take these to their car. This kindness is timeless and makes our world a better place.” Brett Vianney ’70, who was Will’s advisor over his four years at Suffield Academy, also spoke during the memorial, remembering Will’s gentle spirit. He explained that despite his quiet nature, Will eventually grew into an assertive, bright young man. Mr. Vianney said, “…it was an honor to be one of Will’s teachers and coaches and, even more importantly, his advisor; I will cherish the memory of Will as a kind, warm, and moral young man who had a wonderful and wry sense of humor.” Will, who was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, was the son of William and Maureen Moryto and brother to Matt. A freshman this year at Stevens Institute of Technology, Will was pursuing his passion for naval engineering, and there, too, he had made his mark. Several of his classmates and the Dean of Students made the trip from Hoboken to be present for Will’s memorial. Representing these new friends, Sara Zakrinski remembered with affection her brief but uniquely memorable friendship with Will, and Raouf Laamed recalled Will’s generosity in the way he opened his dorm room to friends, encouraging them to help themselves to his store of snacks and hang out to talk, listen to music, or play video games. Tatianna Francelj, a childhood neighbor and friend, spoke fondly about growing up together and how, even though she had moved away to Utah, their friendship continued to grow stronger over the years. Our community said good-bye to a promising young man last month, one who we will carry in our hearts as we move forward. The Moryto’s are a true Suffield Family, and we are all praying that Mr. and Mrs. Moryto and Matt will find peace and comfort in understanding how widely Will was loved. He made an important impression on the fabric of our school and will be forever missed and remembered.

On Campus

2 | The Bell March 2017

Feeling Sad? Isabella Attianese ’18

Recently I consulted with the Counseling Center about what to do when you’re feeling sad. Here is what I learned:

The Bell Staff Editors Editors-in-Chief Devina Bhalla ’18 Sarah Swanson ’18 Layout Aashi Patel ’19 Hattie Bauchiero ’18

Contributors Writers Isabella Attianese ’18 Devina Bhalla ’18 Pat Cordes ’18 Caleigh Horrigan ’18 Nicole Lee ’19 Kate Rookey ’18 Sarah Swanson ’18 Nick Vardakas ’18

Photographers Nadezhda Dolyakova ’17 Jason Louro ’17 Amber McKenzie ’18 Anna Wilson ’17

Faculty Advisors Tanya Andrysiak Molly Gotwals P’09 Design & Layout Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16

Surround yourself with positive people and close friends that will improve your overall mood

Reach out to a trusted person either on campus or at home that you feel comfortable talking to when you are having a difficult time (like advisors, dorm parents, proctors, parents, siblings)

If you feel the need to talk to a counselor there is always a counselor on call at the number 860-463-0467

There is also always a nurse on call, just call 860-463-5805

Remind yourself that you are not alone and there are always people that care about you and are willing to help in times of need

Focus on the things that make you happy and bring you joy

Make sure to make time for these things in your life

HOT or NOT? The Sit Down Lunch Edition Aggressive waiters

vs.

Absent waiters

Sushi

vs.

Gyross

Seniors who bring sushi for the table

vs.

Being called last as an underclassmans

Girls dress code

vs.

Blazers

Standing and eating in the survery

vs.

A silent tables

Team pictures & buffet lunch

vs.

Keeping the same table for a week and a halfs

Work job announcements

vs.

Amazing Race videoss

When there’s no line for the banana bread

vs.

Waiting in line for soups

Winning athlete of the week

vs.

Standing up as a nominee for athlete of the weeks

Menu sent out on Sunday night

vs.

Menu sent out Wednesdays

3 | The Bell March 2017

Editorial

Women’s March Kate Rookey ’18

Photos by Molly Gotwals

On January 21, 2017 an historic event took place across the world. The Women’s March was a protest advocating for immigration reform, healthcare reform, women’s rights, the environment, racial equality, LGBTQ rights, freedom of religion, and workers’ rights. It is estimated that about 5 million people participated in the 673 marches worldwide. There was even one in Antarctica! A few Suffield students joined the protests; I spoke with two who shared their experiences.

Julia Murphy ’17

Isabelle Lussier ’20

What are you hoping will result from the protest? I hope that people will see how incredible the results of the marches were and feel hopeful about the state of our country, no matter how dim things may seem. I hope that above all, people realize that we all have the power to be part of change. The power of the people is what makes our democracy work and I never really felt like I had the power to do something significant until I was a part of this.

What inspired you to attend the Women’s March? My mom inspired me to go. She has always taught me to have a voice and to never be silent about something that it is important to you. She told me about the march and what a great life experience it would be and I agreed. The march was my first experience of standing up for what I believe in.

Is there anything you would like to share about your experience? “The March was really a life-changing experience. I was fortunate enough to share the experience with my mom, who grew up in a time where rallies and calls for social justice happened all the time. It put things into perspective because I came to the understanding that simply saying we are unhappy with the way things are isn’t going to do anything — if we want change, we have to stand up and do something about it.”

What was your favorite moment at the march? My favorite moment about the march was when Sophie Cruz spoke at the rally. She is a six-year-old activist whose parents are undocumented immigrants. She spoke about how we need to protect our families. She said to us, ’let us fight with love, faith, and courage so that our families will not be destroyed.’ She also told the kids in the audience to, ’Not be afraid because we are not alone. There are still many people that have their hearts filled with love.’

On Campus

4 | The Bell March 2017

Post-Season Depression

Photos by Anna Wilson ’17 / Nadezda Dolyakova ’17

Devina Bhalla ’18

The half of the year without “NFL Sunday in the Union” is here, the half without gripping games and fierce rivalries taking hold of the union from 1pm to study hall. Though most of the campus is still glowing from the Patriot’s incredible Super Bowl LI victory, many are thoroughly lost on Sundays without football. Jonah Perry ’17 reflected on how the hardest

part of the NFL offseason is “the lack of something to look forward to each week.” Even fans who do not religiously follow the game can appreciate the excitement that the NFL brings to the weekend. When considering the offseason, Michaela Domino ’20 revealed that although she is not a big NFL fan, she loves the way the NFL brings her family together with its unpredictable and thrilling games and , off season, she misses this time watching football with her family. The worst part for many avid fans is the realization that months of empty Sundays lay ahead. Sundays without football are especially hard for Zak Kidd ’18. Zak shared how the first Sunday after the Super Bowl is always the hardest because it’s the first one without football for months. Tim Casey ’18 also struggles when he watches “the hype for next year and realizes [he] won’t be able to watch football until August.” All around campus students are struggling to survive knowing that it will be months until NFL Redzone returns. Sasha Derby ’18 admitted that “it’s really hard for me because I have withdrawal from the league and I miss my players and my team.” Furthermore, with such an exciting ending to the 2016-17 NFL season, it’s hard not to anxiously await the return of football in the fall. Hopefully the NFL Scouting Combine in late February and the NFL Draft in late April can help to tide fans over. In the meanwhile, however, Suffield will have to adjust its weekend activities and wait to see if basketball and baseball can fill the void until September.

The Evolution and Legacy Behind Suffield Academy’s

Amazing Race

Photos by Jason Louro ’17

Nick Vardakas ’18

Suffield Academy’s own Amazing Race has emerged into a staple of the school year over the past few years. First started in the 2014-2015 school year, the Amazing Race is now an annual tradition which pits two person teams against each other in many grueling challenges designed to test the abilities of each teammate. These challenges can be either physical or mental, always testing teammates’ relationships. During the course of the past three years, the Suffield Academy community has seen teams struggle and fight with each other over challenges posed by the event, but we have also seen many teams bond and demonstrate great teamwork. Each year a new host of the Amazing Race is selected to direct challengers and act as the voice of the Race in the videos created by Jason Louro ’17. Gray Johnson ’15 first created the Suffield Academy Amazing Race during his senior year at Suffield Academy. Immediately it was a huge success and many teams participated in the first season. He took pride in the Race as its creator and first host. Although many teams battled during the event’s inaugural season, the duo of Nick Alfano ’15 and Owen

Hern ’15, referred to by many as the power couple, were victorious and created a legacy for themselves as the first champions of Suffield Academy’s Amazing Race. Their interviews were the highlight the Amazing Race videos throughout the season and helped the event gain traction so it could return in years to come. Last year, Dan Bennett ’16 was selected to lead the event and be the face of the Amazing Race. Season two brought changes that allowed the teams to complete the race more smoothly. More teams signed up for the race than the year prior resulting in greater competition between the teams. In the end, Daniel Krasemann ’19 and Jonathan Walker ’19 were the champions of season two with Mrs. Warren and Ms. Balaban-Garber following behind them. Now we are in the midst of the third season of Suffield Academy’s Amazing Race. More teams than ever signed up to participate, making this the most competitive and cut-throat year yet. Who will fail? Who will prevail? Keep your eyes on the videos created by Jason Louro ’17 during lunch to find out!

5 | The Bell March 2017

News & The Arts

Dancing with SADC This year Suffield Academy’s Dance Show’s theme was competition. However, it was not a competition between the dancers; it was a competition between the dances the team worked on together. The dancers worked in unity to perfect their numbers and then the audience was able to select the dances that would be performed in Telethon. The program this year invited a new choreographer, Jeannette Cox, to teach multiple numbers to the team. Jeannette has been dancing for as long as she can remember, and earlier in the season she explained, “Teaching at a school is totally new for me, so I’m really excited to see the final product in just a couple weeks!” Matthew Wiggin ’2007 also returned to teach a trio from the Broadway Show Sweet Charity. Overall, the team put in countless hours in and outside of practice, working incredibly hard to prepare for the show. It is also important to recognize the people that made this production possible. Mrs. Nahmens, the director of the show, put endless amounts of time into finding costumes, cleaning dances, scheduling practices, and making sure the show happened flawlessly. Laura DeLosSantos ’17, the dance manager, has worked hard preparing the music, working with stage crew, and organizing important information for the team. In addition, winter stage crew was extremely

helpful in creating the set and assisting backstage during the performances. Lastly, the team’s captain Cari Cyr put in great effort to help her teammates and, when asked about her experience the last four years with the Suffield dance program, reflected that “The dance program has truly grown over the four years I have been on the team, not only with the new dancers that join the program, but also the different types of genres performed. Since I was a freshman, I have been given the opportunity to perform my favorite style of dance, tap. Junior year, I was honored to be given the position of captain and continue to lead the girls this year. Reflecting back on the 14 years I have danced, my years dancing at Suffield have by far been the best years I have performed. I have been able to become a better dancer through learning from the instructors, as well as the dancers.” The dance program at Suffield permits dancers to try new styles of dance, choreograph their own numbers, and work with people of all different experience levels. The show proved to be a time for the dancers to share their passion for dance with their peers and families and to display the months of dedication and hard work. The winners of the competition performed at Telethon.

Photos by Amber McKenzie '18

Isabella Attianese ’18

Telethon: On the Stage and Beyond Preparation for Suffield Academy’s long-awaited Telethon began this October when our Student Council and Yash Patel ’17 met to reflect on the success achieved in past years and to develop a plan for the Spring of 2017. Yash shared that by December, they had already prioritized “school wide participation and spreading the word outside of school.” Since then, Max Toczydlowski, Yash, and Student Council have been busy purchasing both a new backdrop for the event and an improved video and sound system which Yash expects will provide an enhanced digital experience for online viewers. Updates like these are imperative because tweaking Telethon each year renews interest amongst returning students and viewers and improves the entire production. In addition to organizing the event’s logistics, Student Council has been actively recruiting students to participate in acts and to volunteer on the day of the event. With regard to this planning, Yash admits, “the most difficult part is trying to represent everyone at Suffield.” He recognizes that there is a vast range of talent present amongst our diverse student population, but students, especially as underclassman, are often hesitant to display their abilities on stage. For those who are wary of the limelight, there are several opportunities to help off-stage. Students from every grade will gather in the development office on the night of the event to take phone calls from viewers making donations. These volunteers, as well as those who set up and dismantle equipment, are an indispensable part of making the night a success. Concentrating on advertisement is another crucial element of coordinating such a massive fundraiser. Student Council has already made efforts to make lunch announcements and design posters to inform students of Telethon. This Winter, Yash oversaw that mail was sent home to parents, grandparents, and alumni regarding Akshaya-Pātra and the livestreamed event. Additionally, there are currently plans for an announcement to be made on a local television station in early March. Although Yash did not articulate a specific monetary goal for the event, it is clear that Telethon is a substantial step towards providing 800,000 meals and a distribution vehicle to Akshaya-Pātra. Attracting expansive support within and beyond our own community is essential to making a meaningful impact on Akshaya-Pātra—one act at a time. Yash said it best when he exclaimed, on March 2nd the Suffield Academy community will join together “and remind the world of the power of 400!”

Photo by Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18

Sarah Swanson ’18

Sports

6 | The Bell March 2017

The Spring Play is a Spring Sport?

Photo by Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18

Isabella Attianese ’18

This year Mr. Dugan decided to have the play take place as an after school activity that fulfills the spring sport requirement. However, this poses a potential problem for those interested in participating in the play as well as athletics. In order to capture how the Suffield Academy community is reacting to this change, I interviewed two students who are directly affected by this

decision. Graham Shannon ’17, an active participant in Suffield Academy’s performing arts program, decided not to audition for the play in order to continue playing golf. When asked how Graham made this difficult decision he responded, “Golf has always been a big part of my life, and if it was any other sport I would have chosen the play over it. But I have to side with athletics.” However, Graham still has a positive outlook on the change overall saying, “I think that it’s great for the theatre department and it will allow much more time to practice and memorize lines. The performances will be better because of it.” I also spoke with Mac Keating ’18, who was in both the play last year and the musical this year, and has chosen to be a part of the play rather than continuing to play lacrosse. He elaborates on the difficulty of his decision saying, “I’ve upset my teammates since they weren’t happy to hear, and my coach understood but he wasn’t excited about it.” When asked how he came to his conclusion, Mac said, “It was hard, but I was encouraged to do the play and I really enjoyed being a part of Sister Act. I talked to my parents and thought about it for a long time, and I figured why not?” While Mac still disagrees with the play being a sport, he believes it will benefit the performance as a whole and attract a cast with more students devoted to theatre. This change in the Suffield Academy theatre department has certainly had mixed reactions, but it is overall viewed as an improvement that will be advantageous to the performance and members of the cast.

New Additions to Winter Sports Suffield Academy is currently undergoing a significant change in its winter athletics program. Every year, Suffield Academy provides choices of different afternoon activities. This year, the athletic department has made two significant additions: winter varsity conditioning and fitness and yoga. This is not the first year the school has offered the fitness program; however, it is their first year yoga has been included as part of the program. Moreover, it is the first year they have formally provided the varsity-conditioning program. This change was made possible as a result of the athletic department’s commitment to providing students with more variety of choices and indepth athletic experiences. Mr. Gamere said that, “the fitness program had been in place for a number of years, but we felt that emphasizing yoga, particularly with our state-of-the-art facility (balance barn), would enhance the student experience.” He also added “exposing our athletes to proper techniques in strength and conditioning is a critical component to athletic achievement. Most athletes at the varsity level are doing some form of strength and conditioning and we wanted to make sure that we were providing this opportunity for our students.” The programs have attracted a significantly larger number of people compared to previous years. There are currently 23 people participating in the conditioning program and 28 people participating in the fitness and yoga program. According to the statistics that the athletic department has provided, there is a distinct influx in the percentage of people participating in fitness and conditioning program. Over the course of five years, the number of participants in the yoga and fitness program has increased from 15 to 28.

Please Recycle!

Photo by Tobye Cook Seck, ’88, P’16

Nicole Lee ’19