The Belfry - Spring 2017

The Belfry

A Norfolk Academy Upper School Publication — 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 — May 2016, Issue No. 5

Senior Sendoff Season Upper School Life

‘Got Dirty Hands?: A Review of the Upper School’s Hand Hygiene’ page 2

Advice ‘Dear Belfry: How Do I Prepare for College Over the Summer?’ page 5

Seasonal

‘Farewell From The Editors’ page 7

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Upper School Life Got Dirty Hands?

A Review of the Upper School’s Hand Hygiene Nathalie Danso ‘17

The Belfry Issue No. 5

Norfolk Academy

In the beginning of the year, 225 students in the Upper School took an anonymous survey in their math classes. The point of this survey is to show how well, or how poorly, Upper School students wash their hands. The survey consists of five questions about students hand washing habits regarding the duration of each handwashing, the use of soap when handwashing, the frequency of handwashing after urination and after defecation, the frequency of handwashing or the usage of hand sanitizer before eating lunch, and the number of school days missed annually due to illness.

The results revealed the following selected conclusions:

1585 wesleyan Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23502 www.norfolkacademy.org

Co-Editors-in-Chief Lizzie Bond ’17 Alix Galumbeck ’17

Conclusion 1: Girls tend to wash their hands longer than boys but the majority of students wash their hands for between 5-15 seconds, which is less than the optimal 20 seconds.

Faculty Adviser Mrs. Charlotte Zito ’99 Contributors Hannah Auerbach ’17 Emily Batts ’18 Amanda Caplan’17 Hans Christoffersen ’18 Mila Colizza ’18 Kevin Duan’19 Solomon Duane’19 Larson Kaidel ’17 Jillian Levin ’17 Holly Power ’17 Daniel Prohaska ’18 Lindley Richardson ’17 Reagan Richardson ’18

Conclusion 2: In general, Upper School students do a good job about remembering to use soap when washing their hands.

Conclusion 3: The grand majority of

students consistently fail to clean or sanitize their hands before lunch.

Conclusion 4: Girls more diligent with handwashing after urinatingi than are boys.

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Upper School Life Oh, What A Night...of Prom Fashion!

Lindley Richardson‘17 April 22nd was the day—the red carpet event of the year glamourous. Not to mention, two-pieces allow for much (at Norfolk Academy, of course)—the highly-anticipated easier dancing! Senior Tracey Whalen wowed with her prom. It was a night full of dancing, great 80’s music from The Deloreans, and stunning dresses. This year’s prom fashion included bright colors, trendy silhouettes, lots of jewelry!

Different shades of blue, green, and yellow were especially

prominent on the dancefloor. Complementing the beautiful spring weather, these bright hues are flattering on every skin tone and are sure to dazzle. For a look that really pops, wear another bright color in earrings! Junior Sally Izard paired a bright yellow dress with hot pink bauble earrings, while senior Julia Minder paired a yellow dress with turquoise tassel earrings.

Ever since the revival of the crop top, two-piece dresses are taking the stage! The style is equally ultra-feminine as it is

wine colored ensemble. Pair a two piece dress with pinstraight hair for an edgy look or soft curls for an ethereal look.

With the summer season around the corner, new styles of jewelry are launching in stores worldwide. Vanessa Mooney has debuted new tassel earrings in several colors, Baublebar released a new line of stacked-sphere earrings, and Sheila Fajl’s new hoop line is all the rage. Seniors Haley Young and Jamie Levin both rocked tassel earrings this year at prom. Earrings aren’t the only jewelry we saw on Saturday, though. Junior Reid Mason combined two trends with her snakeskin choker to complement a black dress. •

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Upper School Life

Bulldog

News

March 20th: U.S. Foreign Policy with North Korea explored in International Relations Seminar Day april 22nd: Juniors and Seniors dress up and dance the night away at Prom April 24th: The Upper School slings paint-filled balloons, watches performances by a performing group and their fellow senior classmates during Fine Arts Day April 27th: Virginia Poet Laureate, Tim Seibles, reads his poetry and imparts wisdom to the Upper School as the 2017 Alumni Speaker May 1st: Senior Tyler Windsor, with his singing talents and adoration of Harry Potter, wins the Mr. N.A. competition May 5th: The Bell Tower, The Belfry’s namesake, rings once more in the Wynne-Darden Stadium Dedication Ceremony May 6th: Norfolk Academy enjoys Field Day, “Bulldog Touch: Reconstruction Fun!” May 8th: Seniors celebrate their college destinations and don their college t-shirts May 9th: Seniors Lizzie Bond, Jaden Baum, and Caitlin Fisher present their speeches in the Senior Speech finals and compete for the Class of 1952 Award May 23rd: The incredible work of Upper School clubs and Fellows programs are acknowledged in the “Year in Review” event June 2nd: Graduation proceedings are held for The Class of 2017

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Advice

Dear Belfry,

What are some fun ideas for a summer staycation?

Signed, Static Summer Somebody Lucky for us, Virginia Beach is already a hot destination for beach vacations! If you’re looking for something a tad more adventurous than tanning by the ocean; however, there are a ton of fun options in the surrounding area. You can visit some of our amazing parks including Busch Gardens, the adventure park at the aquarium, Motorworld, and (my personal favorite) Oceanbreeze!! These destinations guarantee a day jam-packed with fun times while creating a surplus of great mems:) If the park life isn’t the life for you, you can check out some the fine dining in our area: Zeke’s Beans and Bowls, Taste Unlimited, Java Surf, The Grilled Cheese Bistro, Tupelo Honey Cafe, Bay Local Eatery, etc....

Each of these restaurants is sure to deliver an insta-worthy meal that will make you feel like you’re miles away from home! Whatever you do this summer, just remember that we are beyond lucky to live in a town designed for vacationers. Just step outside and your staycation can begin!

Dear Belfry,

How do I prepare for college over the summer?

Signed, Fearful Almost-Freshman The idea of college seems absolutely, undeniably AHMAZING until a few months before that fateful day in August when it’s time to go. And then suddenly...things get real really fast. We are leaving home for the first time ever and, yes, that’s pretty terrifying. But the more you prepare over the summer, the better off you will be during those first few months of (almost) adulting.

1. Pack in advance and pack everything. The last thing you want is to be stressed the night before your departure because you aren’t packed- trust me, there will be too much other stuff to stress about.

2. Get to know your future classmates! I know, Facebook messaging a stranger is super awkward, uncomfortable, painful, and downright horrible. But, the more people you meet before stepping on campus, the better! Be able to have a few people who you can text to grab lunch or hit the bookstore with in those first few weeks. You don’t have to be best friends forever, but it helps to have a familiar face.

3. Register for classes ASAP. School is a lot better when you’re learning material that you’re actually interested in- take advantage of the many different classes offered!

4. Last but not least: Live it up this summer with all of your “high school friends.” We may all be scattered across the nation next year, but we still have three months together. Make the most of it! Twelve years worth of memories are dedicated to our NA classmates. Never forget that. Keep in contact next year--text, snap, Facebook message. New friends will come (and that’s great!) but the friendships we have developed at NA are forever.

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Seasonal Picking up Momentum: The Design and Demand of Roller Coasters Solomon Duane ‘19

Any self-respecting human with an ounce to thrill all who dared to ride it: a circle. of logic would look at a roller coaster and roll their eyes. They are 300 foot tall steel structures that cost 20 million dollars and simply push people around a track very fast, sometimes so fast the people lose their vision for a few seconds, altogether making a 2 hour line for a 2 minute ride.

What is it about roller coasters that draw people’s attention, and why would we need 4317 of these machines running in the world today?

Let thrill seekers go jump off bridges and do more dangerous activities so natural selection can occur, instead of strapping them into a cart that will give the same experience. The answer to these questions is simple: stand at the exit.

As you watch people flood off of each and every ride, take time to notice their expressions. 90% of the time, the expression is pure joy. That is why roller coasters are not extinct. However, a careful evolution process had to take place in order to bring roller coasters to where they are today.

The fundamental roller coasters originated in Russia. Guests would ride wooden sleds down carved ice slopes, sometimes 70 feet tall, into a sand pile at the bottom.

French engineers then attempted this feat, but had to use wax slides due to the warmer climate. Soon after, the French began to add tracks to their rides, so more carts could operate at the same time.

The Russes à Belleville (Russian Mountains of Belleville), located in France, is known as the first “roller coaster” with a track. Later, a chain life was added, so the carts would not have to manually pushed back to the peak of the ride. This also allowed for rides to have complete circuits and go on slightly more complex layouts.

However, the small g-forces were getting bland, and something new and unexpected had to be added--something terrifying and bold, something out of the ordinary

Grand Centrifugal Railway, France, 1846 The French Centrifugal Railway, built in 1846, was the first roller coaster to go upside-down (not including unfortunate sledders who happened to lose their balance halfway down an ice slope). With only a drop and a loop, the Centrifugal Railway had a simple layout, but its novelty attracted guests for miles around.

However, the loop was a perfect circle, causing several complaints of the intensity of the ride. It was later found that the teardrop shape lessened the vertical forces put on the riders, and rides have since used that layout.

As soon as roller coasters came to America, they spread like wildfire. The Roaring Twenties produced several theme parks across the nation, and thousands of rides were built. Then, the biggest evolutionary change occurred: roller coasters became steel.

In 1959, Matterhorn Bobsleds was built at Disneyland using steel tracks. This provided a much faster, more exciting ride, as well as endless possibilities for the layout. As soon as this discovery was made, the roller coaster industry became a race between competing companies to break as many records as possible. Rides are becoming taller and faster, have more inversions, and use unique elements nev-

er seen before, all in order to keep roller coaster enthusiasts around the world captivated at the development of these towering thrill machines.

For a while, Arrow Dynamics held the record for the best roller coasters around.

Some of these include Loch Ness Monster and (now defunct) Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens. In fact, at the time of its opening in 1978, Loch Ness Monster was the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the world, attracting thrill-seekers from miles around. Looking back on this, the ride seems quite tame compared to the other steel giants at the park.

Currently, the two prominent roller coaster engineering firms are Intamin Amusement Rides and Bolliger & Mabill

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure

ard. These two companies spend millions attempting to outdo each other, and are in fierce competition. Some rides you may know by B&M are Griffon, Apollo’s Chariot, Alpengeist, and Dominator. Intamin does not have rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, but they crafted Volcano, The Blast Coaster, and Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion as well as Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest coaster at 456 feet.

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Seasonal In fact, wooden rides are also making a comeback. Busch Garden’s newest ride, InvadR is a hybrid coaster, with wooden track but steel supports. Rocky Mountain Construction is a firm that takes old wooden rides and adds a steel track to create a much more exciting ride. Although unannounced, Kings Dominion’s Hurler is being transformed into a hybrid, with a much faster, smoother, more

exciting layout.

This summer, if you happen to find yourself at a theme park, take a second to reflect on the years of crafting and refinery that went into these machines. Looking back at the simplicity of the Russian ice sleds, it is hard to imagine that rides could evolve to where they are now. Roller coaster design has become more than just an art; it has become a game. A game

to see who can attract the most crowds, who can break the most records, and who can release the most screams. Maybe new speeds will be accessed, maybe the 500 foot height will be reached. But one thing is certain: the popularity of roller coasters will never die, as new generations come in waves to experience the excitement of soaring through the air. •

Al-Paca My Bags: Summer Attractions at the Virginia Zoo Daniel Prohaska ‘18

Never seen a Yellow-Backed Duiker or female White Rhinos. In celebration of Crocodile. It will house over 100 frogs, just want to pet a Nigerian Dwarf Goat?

Then pack your bags and hop on down to the Virginia Zoo. The V.A. Zoo features endangered animals from across the globe to spread awareness of the importance of species diversity and protection. Some of the most popular animals include the Malayan Tigers - Christopher and Api - and the Rothschild Giraffes - Billy, Noelly, and Imara.

The newest members of the zoo are two

their arrival, the Virginia Zoo is hosting its annual “Zoo To Do” party in their honor on June 3rd. During this event, you can dance like a quiver of cobras and feast like a cloud of bats, all while supporting wildlife conservation.

Opening later this year is the World of Reptiles exhibit, aiming to redefine the way that people think of giant reptiles like the Reticulated Python, which can grow to be 20 feet long, and the Orinoco

snakes, lizards, and invertebrates, and include a custom-built marsh habitat for multiple species.

If you have any questions about the Virginia Zoo, or zoos in general, you can contact me. As a senior member of the V.A. Zoo’s education department, I would be more than happy to share my experiences or answer any questions you may have. •

• • • • • Farewell from the Editors • • • • • In its highest purpose, The Belfry serves as a platform to cultivate and celebrate the capacity of Up-

per School students to form a unqiely powerful and personally-informed voice. It is through words and through journalism that The Belfry empowers thoughtfulness and reflection, thus rendering the crafts of reporting to opinion writing as greater mediums for the prosperity of the entire Norfolk Academy community. Abounding with gratitude at the immeasurable efforts of our wonderful sponsor, Mrs. Zito, staff writers, and those who have continued to support us as a publication, I remain profoundly hopeful that our legacy and mission will endure and sonorously ring like the toll of the bell tower that inspired our namesake. —Lizzie Bond •

Three years ago, The Belfry was a modest online publication with a staff of eight journalists.

Now, after three years as a staff member and two years as co-editor of The Belfry, I am proud of the current status of the school newspaper. My father was on the staff of The Belfry years ago. He told stories about the art of laying out articles to fit the newspapers’ dimensions, which spurred my interest in recreating an actual, not virtual, newspaper. Last year, I experimented with different layouts and designs. This year, with the assistance of my hardworking co-editor, Lizzie Bond, we have created a unique and recognizable layout and our staff has increased dramtically.

As the school expands, I hope The Belfry continues to grow, as well. Good luck to next year’s editors, Emily Batts, Mila Colizza, and junior editor, Solomon Duane! —Alix Galumbeck •

Norfolk Academy

1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 757-461-6236 www.norfolkacademy.org