Day Times March 2022

The Day

Times

| Detroit Country Day School |

22305 West Thirteen Mile, Beverly Hills, MI 48025

Musical theater’s “Holy Grail”

Come see the DCDS Theater Program’s production of “Spamalot”

By ACHYUT REDDY and CONNOR KALKANIS News Staff Writer and News Co-Section Editor

Photos courtesy of William Beachum

said Mathews.

Alex has worked on a great number of plays and musicals that DCDS has put on over the years. He is one of the most experienced students involved in the theater program, and yet he still finds new ways to improve the production and focus on new aspects of each play or musical.

Mathews said, “‘Spamalot’ is a show where we all are trying to find the comedic timing in the scripts. This is also one of the best shows for stage set moving and fast-paced changes that I have worked on. This is true theater.”

Premiering later this month, “Spamalot” is the final theater production that will be put on by the Upper School this year. Being a senior who has established himself as somewhat of a veteran of the DCDS Theater Program, Alex shares what it’s been like for him to work on his final high school play.

“It’s heart wrenching. This place has been my home for so long and I’m going to be sad to leave” said Mathews.

The members of the DCDS Theater Program are working hard to put on an entertaining show for anyone interested. Come see the talented cast perform the hilarious musical “Spamalot,” running from Thursday March 10th to Sunday March 13th. Tickets will be available ahead of time through the DCDS Portal, or purchasable at the door. Mark your calendars, and bring your friends and family to enjoy DCDS’s production of Monty Python’s “Spamalot”!

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Read about this chemistry teacher’s double life!

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Check out the biggest contenders for the Oscars!

Read about this groundbreaking effort helping young women.

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Meet the young leaders of the Varsity Baseball team!

ALEX MATHEWS and ELIZABETH UPTON pose.

DCDS continues to evolve as the pandemic wanes A look back on the DCDS community’s progress since March 2020

By CONNOR KALKANIS News Co-Section Editor

Photo courtesy of Zachariah Yeh

March 13, 2020: a date that will live in infamy. For people all over the world, this was the day that marked the very start of the pandemic. On that Friday, DCDS, along with nearly every other school in the country, closed down because of the threat COVID-19 posed to public health. And as hard as it may be to believe, in under two weeks from now, it will have been a full two years since that day. An unbelievable amount has happened in the time between then and now, and while the world may never be the same, it’s important to acknowledge the progress that has been made since everything first shut down.

The school’s closure affected faculty, students, and staff alike. The majority of the students attending middle school at that time are now well into high school. In the case of the class of 2024, those students were only two thirds of the way through their eighth grade year when the shelter-in-place order went into effect, and the next time they were together with their peers, their high school careers had already begun.

Sophomore Nishan Inampudi said, “Everything is so much different than how things were in eighth grade. I had to make the

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The Day Times | March 2022

transition from middle school to high school alter the lunch schedule to be more aligned with “I feel like not much progress was during quarantine, which is supposed to be students’ priorities. Many students and teachers made in the first year of COVID, but in the past a big transition, but I wasn’t really able to feel also long for the pre-pandemic schedule, where 12 months (especially with vaccinations and the the change because of COVID. I’ve never eaten classes were slightly shorter, but would meet Pfizer pills) there has been a push for progress in in the high school cafeteria or experienced the more times per week. This aforementioned team the world. In all honesty, I think the pandemic normal schedule.” is also working towards making DCDS’s sched- is close to turning back into an epidemic. I’m This year’s freshmen have also felt the ule more appealing to everyone in this way. obviously not a doctor and I don’t know how effects of the two year long pandemic. Freshman In terms of what’s to come, there far along we are. I doubt we will have to wear Marc Farah said, “I remember thinking ‘Let’s go! seems to be a general feeling that the pandem- masks as much in the future, but COVID might No school for two weeks!’ Then it became two ic is dying down, at least to some extent. Just become something we all just have to live with,” more weeks, then two more weeks, then the rest recently, the school lifted the indoor mask re- said Inampudi. of the year. When we first left school, I can viv- quirement following Oakland County’s latest Looking back at the past two years, it’s idly remember the lunch room being packed the guidelines. Some students feel that much prog- easy to see that there have been both many high days before; everyone was talking to each other ress has been made in lessening restrictions, points and low points. There have been times [as] friends. Now, we spend most of our time in and that the school has never been closer to its when it seemed to all be ending, and then a new small classrooms, and I don’t feel like, as a class, pre-pandemic functionality than it is right now. variant struck and shut things down again, or we are as close as before.” there was simply another massive spike in case On a more uplifting note, a lot has numbers. Even at DCDS, there was an instance been done in the past two years in the way of not too long ago when students and faculty all battling the pandemic, and people are well had to get PCR tests before returning to school. aware of the ongoing efforts being made to get However, the community is at a point now things back to how they were before. where people have seen these ups and downs, Students often talk about how nice and are now prepared for whatever COVID-19 it would be to return to eating lunch as a large throws at them. So whether cases continue to group in the cafeteria. Although this hasn’t yet stay down or there is an unforeseen spike, the been achieved, a team of administrators and stuDCDS community, through its proven resildent leaders are looking into possible ways to STUDENTS STAND IN line unmasked on Culture Day. ience over the past two years and counting,

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

Photos courtesy of Laura Luckins, Jerica Williams, Tyler Inge, and Joshua Campbell

Get ready to laugh out loud with important in high school, as it has encouraged me “Spamalot,” the DCDS Theater Program’s newest to try new things,” said Hopkins. musical production. The musical comedy focuses The cast also stars Ella Jeup, another on the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find freshman, who is playing the Lady of the Lake, a the Holy Grail with his band of eccentric knights. diva who possesses mystical powers. Ella has exThe quest forces King Arthur and the Knights pressed her excitement over the script and the exof the Round Table to encounter unusual characters and journey to odd places, demanding them to keep things straight or face exceedingly unusual deaths. The musical is a sharp comedy, similar to the DCDS Theater Program’s previous play “I Hate Hamlet.”

Junior Daniel Upton will be playing King Arthur in the cast. Having participated in the theater program since 7th grade, he expressed his excitement about the musical.

“I’ve been a huge fan of the film ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ for as long as I can remember, and getting the opportunity to bring the character of King Arthur on stage has been so much fun. It has been really fun getting to pay homage to Monty Python sketches that I’ve TECH CREW WORKS on the set of “Spamalot.” enjoyed since I was a little kid,” said perience.

Upton.

“It’s a fun way to bond with the cast With the musical’s comedic style and before the show ends and all your work is over. hilarious scenes, Daniel indicated his love for act- Even though some nights feel quite torturous being in the musical. ing under bright lights for hours on end, we end “I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of per- up getting to go through it together! We make forming this style of very dry and sarcastic British many great memories as cast members and end humor. I’ve always been a comedian at heart; do- up laughing about it all in the end,” said Jeup. ing stand-up comedy was what got me into theWhile these acting roles are vitally imater, so doing a comedy like this is such a blast,” portant, an equally important piece of Spamalot’s said Upton. production can be attributed to everything that The DCDS theater program is also fea- goes on behind the scenes. As the stage manager, turing several underclassmen in their production Senior Alex Mathews is in charge of communiof “Spamalot.” Jacob Hopkins, a freshman, is play- cation between all creative and technical departing Dennis, a piteous local mud farmer encoun- ments, serves as the right-hand man to the directered by King Arthur. When asked about his ex- tor of the musical, and oversees all props, lights, periences during his time in the musical, he found and sound. it to be truly exciting and new for him.

“I am involved with both the tech crew “Having a good role has allowed me not and the cast. When it comes to performing the only to meet new people, but it is also a confidence show, any tech movements, costume changes, and booster in showing me that I can do things that light changes - I’m the one who makes sure they seem difficult and out of reach. This confidence is all go off at the same time and when they need to”

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See what students and teachers have to say about DCDS’s new mask policy.

2 Opinions The Day

Times

Editorial staff Editors-in-Chief: Clara Yuhn Nick Kalkanis

Managing Editor: Mariya Khan Content Editor: Safia Siddiqui Vivek Santhapur Layout Editor: Aren Shah Anthony Ge Jonathan Abraham Senior Editor-at-large: Connor Adams Beren Akpinar Annika Chinnaiyan Caden Kuang Tanmai Nimmigadda Senior Staff: Emir McGreevey Chiara Sessa Aayush Dagar Sara Qasim Zhilng Yang Photo and Graphics Editor: Kunwoo Kim Kennedy Tidjani

S TA F F W R I T E R S : Andrew Brentano, Abigail Burdette, Armaan Dev, Alex Eby, Steven Fu, Kian Kiarash Miles Kohn, Riley McAlpine, Arvin Pandiyin, Raj Rao, Achyut Reddy, Ammar Siddiqui, Jiale Wang, Jui Won ADVISORS Heather Huhn Matthew Sadler The Day Times will serve the best interests of the Detroit Country Day School community by preserving the freedom of press through honest and accurate reporting.

Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editors, guest articles and original comics regarding topics covered in the paper. The Day Times reserves the right to edit content for clarity and space.

DCDS students state their case for a pool The “Swimmin’ Women” on why we should build a pool JIU WON Staff Writer Walking through a snowing parking lot in the dead of winter to get to your destination is arguably one of the worst feelings. Your coat does little to stop the frozen daggers that slice your skin. Now imagine the same icy torture, but in a bathing suit. The DCDS women’s swim team didn’t have to imagine.

“We had to swim in an outdoor pool the entire year. Whether it snowed or not, it didn’t matter,” junior swim team member Zoe Zikowski said. “Before getting in the water, we had to wait in only a coat and a hat for the previous team to finish up their practice. During the practice, we couldn’t see the clock because of the steam. It was like swimming in fog. Although it was a heated pool, it didn’t matter because the moment we left the pool, our hair would freeze immediately.”

“I got into states, and there’s just too many good moments with the team that I can’t remember them all,” freshman Zara Rehman said. “But I’m so irritated they don’t have a pool! They don’t even have a locker room!” Rehman said.

Zikowski, a 3rd year swimmer on the team, said her sophomore year, the year when COVID struck, was the worst. “With COVID, we were struggling with what we needed to get done,” Zikowski said. Having no pool and no locker room worsened their circumstances: “We even had to swim during Flex. Flexes, Saturdays, and Monday mornings were the only times we could swim”. However, Zikowski, having a Flex class, had to miss those practices, meaning she could only swim twice a week. “That’s not ideal. Swimming twice a week isn’t sufficient for a swimmer. And because of the loss of time, [women’s swim team head coach] Fazio made the practices harder”. Zikowski said.

Rehman similarly discussed how the lack of a pool negatively affected the team. “Our swim team could be a lot better if we had a pool. If we had a pool, we would be able to swim every single day,” Rehman said.

Fortunately, the team was able to swim at Berkshire Middle school for the 2021 season. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the most ideal situation. “Their pool is so bad. The humidity is awful. The locker room is disgusting. The water barely gets cleaned. There’s blood in it and big bugs,” Zehman said.

Furthermore, the girls conveyed their discontent with the exclusion of the team from the school. “A few weeks ago, there was an assembly about which fall sports are still going on and they only said football and volleyball, but not swimming. No one really knows about us. People think swimming is a fake sport.

More people would join the swim team if they knew the team and having a pool can really help with that issue!” Zehman said.

Kim felt the same way. “It didn’t really hit me until I went to one of the meets [at a different school] and they had posters of their team which made that place like their own home. We can’t make Berkshire our home. Our swim team felt like we didn’t belong both at Berkshire and DCD,” Kim stated.

According to Kim, most meets are far away from DCD. With a home pool, more meets would be conducted at DCD rather than going to meets an hour

The Day Times | March 2022

DCDS WOMEN’S SWIM team posing for a picture at a meet.

Homework overload: the daily strain

Is it ok for teachers to have assignments due when class is not in session?

ARYA CHALASANI Section Editor

With the new addition of our “AB schedule” being implemented in the system this school year, many students and faculty have mixed opinions regarding this new schedule. For many teachers, this provides a smaller amount of time to get the material covered thoroughly, often leading to making homework assignments due for students when they do not have class that day. Because of the changes this has become a more prominent problem.

Many students have been getting stressed due to the addition of homework assigned on days in which they don’t have class. However, this makes it easier for the teachers to fit in content with limited class time.

Mr. Dougherty, the teacher of AP Psych, says, “When we had our previous pre covid schedule, there were 129 class meetings scheduled. With this schedule, we only meet 79 times. That is 50 class periods that we just lost. That is a lot of class that is being missed. That is almost a 40% reduction of in-class hours. I’m

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away. “More people would come to our meets to cheer for us. Currently, only like five parents come to cheer for us, especially because our meets are so far away”.

Implementing a pool at DCD would fix a lot of the current problems the swim team faces. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

“We’ve had communications about having a pool. We have a few barriers: First is space. Is there a place, facility, or space on our campus to have a reliable pool? And then of course, the safety of the pool. And lastly, funding. It’s a big undertaking to have a pool,” Athletic Director Dan Luft answered.. He does state that having an indoor pool would benefit a lot- not just to the swimmers, but also to the kids in the lower schools, and teams outside of DCD. “We think it’s an important aspect for all kids to learn how to swim,” Luft stated. Therefore, he said communications on a pool are never shut down completely and that the conversations did come up again at a recent meeting.

Coach Fazio also claims the influence of a pool would be immense: more people would come to DCD to swim, meaning it would attract a base of students who are able to pay full rides at DCD. Building a pool would benefit everyone at DCDS. Even though it is costly, it will be safer and more comfortable for the swim team, it will invite outside swim teams, and it will attract possible future students, providing economic benefits to the school in general.

going to tell you right now, it’s impossible. It’s impossible to cover 3 units of Psych in 18 class meetings.”

Mr. Williams, the headmaster of our school, says “The administration’s stance is that for daily homework, we generally want it to be assigned on days that class is in session.”

With the lowered class times, many of the teachers at Country Day are facing this problem as well, resulting in them assigning homework on days that students do not have class. Because of this, many students now have an extra load of homework in classes that they don’t have that day.

In an informal poll given to DCDS faculty, 50% of DCDS teachers responding supported the rule and the rest were not in favor of it. Many teachers supported the rule because they believed that students can better manage their coursework and time. However, many of the teachers also didn’t support the rule because the teachers wanted some flexibility to help students manage their time properly.

The vast majority of opinions had the student’s best interests in mind.

Mr. Sadler, an English teacher, says, “I like the rule. I think it sets clear and predictable expectations of our students”.

Many students agree. Sophomore Hannah Redman says, “It’s unfair for the students when they are supposed to have days off of a class to have work assigned for that class. I already get very few hours of sleep just doing work for the classes that I have that day”.

Students, however, tend to get more and more stressed as they are assigned double the amount of work than usual. Because of this, many students have been tending to take the late penalty on their homework this year as they have to manage other classes with extracurricular activities.

Although this school year has been filled with ups and downs so far, I feel like assigning work pertaining to that specific day seems like the best option. Doing this can lower the stress of DCDS students. Because of extracurricular activities that many students have to attend after school, assigning a heavy workload can reduce the amount of sleep that one gets every night.

In conclusion, there are two valid sides to this problem. Whether it be the stress it’s causing or the uneven amount of time that the teachers get to teach, we look forward to returning to our pre-covid schedule in the coming years.

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AN EXAMPLE OF a week’s schedule in Canvas.

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

Photo courtesy of Tess Harris

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Section Editors: Will Beachum Connor Kalkanis Arya Chalasani Sam Sampath Tanisha Khare Hiba Assadullah Kaitlyn Hopkins Ryan Ignatowsky Zach Rodger Grace Lui Josie-Marie Pachla Tess Harris

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Senior Column: It’s Okay to Move On After attending DCDS for seven years, I have learned many valuable lessons. The most significant being the importance of friendships. Throughout my time at DCDS, I have made and lost several friendships. It was difficult to accept when friendships were no longer meant to be. I would become fixated on resolving them, even when they were past the point of mending. Carrying that fixation into high school had a negative effect on me, and began to affect future friendships I would make. It was not until I learned which people were worth investing in that I felt fulfilled in my friendships.

My senior year was when I learned to be more open, and, as a result, I slowly deepened my relationship with more people. I stopped obsessing over what others were doing, and rejected the idea of having a restricted “friend group”. Instead, I chose to make meaningful connections that I know will last a lifetime. In doing so, I have been able to create friendships with people I never thought I would be close to. I now have friends that support my decisions and bring out the best in me. Once you surround yourself with people who care about you, your quality of life improves tremendously. Through this experience, I have adopted a much healthier mindset and am so much more confident in myself.

I find myself no longer clouded by the loss of what I thought were important friendships.

My advice to the underclassmen: don’t be afraid to lose friendships. High school comes with a lot of growing pains. Over these four years, you will change in numerous ways. Your likes/dislikes, interests, hobbies may slowly change over time and your friendships will reflect your ever evolving persona. If you lose friends along the way, it’s okay.

“I chose to make meaningful connections I know will ast a lifetime.

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Students and Faculty respond to new changes

By MARIYA KHAN Managing Editor On Monday, February 28th students and faculty members were given the opportunity to walk onto the DCDS campuses without wearing a mask for the first time in almost two years. From waiting in car lines for covid tests to receiving emails listing numbers of cases, DCDS students have kept up with changing protocols in order to keep the school environment as safe as possible. As cases have begun to drop, the lifting of the mask mandate proves to be a giant step towards normalcy.

I applaud Mr. Dempsey and his medical advisory panel for lifting the mask mandate for our school.

The science on masks has not changed. Making masks optional will also improve social interaction, emotional health and improve learning” says Mrs, Lamb.

DCDS TEACHERS SMILE for their headshots “It’s a matter of personal preference, because everyone’s situation in their home is different. My wife and I decided that because we are double vaccinated we feel comfortable not wearing a mask, however, in large group settings I may don one” says Mr. Masuda.

“I think removing the mask mandate probably won’t have a huge effect on cases because most people already see each other outside of school. I am continuing to wear the mask because I want to minimize my risk” says Senior Abhinav Reddy.

DCDS STUDENTS pose for a photo

Photo courtesy of Mariya Khan

Photos Courtesy of Safia Siddiqui

By SAFIA SIDDIQUI Senior Content Editor

News/Opinions To Mask or not to Mask?

“ I really like how much it makes our school year feel more like the precovid times. At the same time, I hope it doesn’t lead to any cancelations in sports” says sophmore Will Thompson.

Parking Passes Debated

New rules cause cofusion for student drivers

By JOSIE PACHLA and ARYA CHALASANI Opinions Section Editors

SAFIA SMILES FOR a photo with a friend

Am I in the right class?!

Day Times editorial

The editorial is included in every issue of The Day Times and is written on an important topic in the DCDS community. It represents the opinion of the majority of the Editorial Board, which is comprised of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, the Senior Editors, and the Editors and Interns of each section.

Regardless of location, it’s no secret that a schedule controls a school. At the onset of the pandemic, when DCDS implemented the COVID-response schedule, the Upper School changed in more ways than anyone could have imagined. While many enjoy some of the changes the new schedule has brought the Upper School, there remain significant barriers to academic success and school spirit that must be rectified.

First, one must examine the problems with the current schedule. While it was obviously beneficial to construct a schedule that naturally separated people at the peaks of COVID-19, as the community moves beyond the virus, the same social regulations will no longer benefit the Upper School. For example, the one hour lunch period -made up of 30 minutes to eat with one’s grade, with another 30 minutes to have freedom in the school for meetings, teacher questions, etc- was an utterly valuable point of every student and faculty member’s day. Moreover, while many initially enjoyed the 80-minute ‘free period’ of Flex, the non-class time, for the majority of the student body, has become a seeming waste of time for a quarter of every other day.

This, coupled with the frequent burnout of overly-long 80 minute classes, has led students and faculty both to yearn for a schedule

The Day Times | March 2022

similar to that of pre-pandemic times. While many agree that the 7-block, 40-minute-each craziness of Mondays (in the old schedule) can be left behind, there remains significant value in the procedure of the past.

In other words, some things about the COVID schedule have worked well: longer passing times (for mental decompression after long classes), 2-week rotations (so students can start and end days on different classes throughout the year), etc. However, for the Classes of 2022 and 2023 who recall the old Upper School schedule, there is something invaluable about the special gathering of one’s friends in the library during lunch. Or, perhaps, the memories of the PAC full with all four grades, providing crucial time for underclassmen to watch and learn from upperclassmen. Or, maybe it was the time during lunch to not only eat with one’s classmates, but spend engaging time at lunch meetings with clubs, or go out for the afternoon with their friends.

In short, while some have been beneficial, many adjustments of the COVID schedule have deprived DCDS of opportunities to engage with our community. However soon it may come, the Upper School is ready for a schedule change.

English teacher and football coach John Wilson says “I like the parking passes because they make me feel secure that if someone hits my car I will be notified with the details of the crash.”

Similar to Charlie and Mr. Wilson, the security have many reasons for the necessity of the parking passes.

Security Supervisor Lismarie says “If a student parks on the curb and we have to ask them to move their car, they need to have a parking pass so we know who to contact.”

It is evident that it is important for a school and from a security standpoint that the school should be maintained in a nice and organized manner. This prevents many issues like traffic, lost cars… etc.

Whatever the operations that are necessary to obtain organization and security should be practiced, but in the most efficient way possible. Being efficient means erasing any potential confusion for the students who are involved with said operations. For example, sending more notice towards the students stating the urgency for acquiring parking passes. Once the confusion is erased, there is room for the people involved to understand and follow the practices being implemented.

PARKING PASS PICTURED

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

Photo courtesy of Kunwoo Kim

SAFIA AND FRIENDS at homecoming

With the addition of many new drivers in our school year, the security has started to administrate parking passes to individuals who choose to drive their cars to school. With many students not having parking passes in the previous years, this caused a huge controversy.

Senior Sunny Challa says “I strongly dislike the parking passes. I do not believe I should have to pay to park at my school on top of the tuition. As a senior I believe I have the right to park as I please without being disciplined.”

Junior Alexa Thomas says “I’m not a fan of the parking passes. Having to pay for them is excessive, especially on top of our growing tuition.”

Like Sunny and Alexa, many students are in confusion as to why the school would charge twenty dollars for parking passes.

Apart from just the cost, they also are confused as to why other schools throughout Michigan get free parking for their students as well.

Although several students don’t love the parking passes, many think they are necessary and think it makes sense for our school to have them.

Junior Charlie Dolan says “I think the parking passes are smart as long as they don’t sell more passes then they have spots.”

4 News

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What’s new in the school

The innovation lab and PAC renovations help students find new ways to learn

By AREN SHAH Senior Layout Editor Over the past several months, the DCDS IT Department has been working to incorporate new technologies as a way of enhancing classroom learning. In the room next to the IT helpdesk, the new Innovation Lab has writable workspaces, 3D printers, and virtual reality experiences, and it is now available for use. With the virtual headsets, students can visualize and interact with models. Many teachers look forward to incorporating the resources in the Innovation Lab as part of their curricula.

IT Director Dean Haratsaris said, “The new room is an innovation lab that will include collaborative and cutting edge workspaces allowing teachers and students to learn, explore, create, discover, design, engineer, build and collaborate.”.

“The goal of the room is to provide another space where we can advance, enhance, and enrich the student learning experience. Imagine an area where a student can go to put on a virtual reality headset that propels them into the lungs of a person. From the perspective of the size of a molecule they observe the inner workings of a healthy lung and can then compare it to one that has COPD or cancer....this is just one example,” said Haratsaris.

With all that being said, the lab is geared towards innovation, so we are hoping our faculty/students find other innovative ways to utilize the space...the sky’s the limit and we will constantly evaluate other ways to use it” said Mr. Haratsaris.

Teachers are also excited to use the new technology as part of the curriculum and feel that the lab can drastically enhance learning experiences. For example, students using virtual reality headsets can visualize organs of the human body for Anatomy and Physiology.

Upper School science teacher Karen Lamb said, “The Innovation Lab will be utilizing virtual reality. For Anatomy and Physiology, I am familiar with the Visible Body software....using virtual rality technology, students can view a surgery or a 3 dimensional model of an organ. The new technology will allow students to compare a healthy heart with a diseased heart. I am looking forward to it because it’s so difficult for some students to look at a diagram or a video and really understand the interworking of an organ and how an entire system works. I think that this Innovation Lab will be a game changer not only for science classes but for other subjects as well.,.

The Innovation Lab will benefit visual learners and students who learn best in collaborative environments. The virtual reality technology will allow students to observe objects 3 dimensionally, which can help students visualize difficult concepts. With several projects, students can also easily collaborate and engage in group discussions.

“In my class, I will likely divide students into small groups that will examine topics, such as how the immune system

creates T-cells. Students can illustrate various projects using virtual reality and each of the small groups can easily collaborate” said Ms. Lamb.

While the Innovation Lab is not yet finished, students have had the chance to use the writable workspaces. Many share the same excited opinions as their teachers, as they look forward to experimenting with new resources and technologies.

Junior Liam Hounsell believes that the Innovation Lab provides great learning opportunities for students and teachers, and that progress is “going great”.

Hounsell states, “In history, we are planning to use the area to tour a virtual battle using the new VRs. I’ve also seen plenty of teachers host meetings in there and even some of the middle school staff coming up. For me personally, it was a great place to set up Esports Club and it’s amazing to see the progress we’ve made.”

Senior Jack Freeman said, “I think the Innovation Lab is a very interactive and hands-on environment. The room allowed students to be more creative and open-minded. I was able to write on the tables, which was unique to me.”

The IT Department has been making remarkable progress over the last several months. When the room becomes fully available, students and teachers will be able to utilize the equipment offered in the lab to provide new opportunities for students to learn.

THE INNOVATION LAB is awesome!

The BSA: here to stay

The BSA’s activism during black history month

By WILLIAM BEACHUM News Section Editor

The Black Student Alliance is one of the founding affinity groups at Detroit Country Day school, and with the arrival of black history month, the spotlight was put on them and their work. The Black Student Alliance is led by faculty advisors Chris Garland and Jerica Williams, and is led by student leaders Vivian Williams and Brian Singleton, among others. The Black Student Alliance has planned wonderful events in the past, such as their BSA family movie night, as well as holding informative and welcoming meetings in the PAC every Friday.

Because of their work in tying the community together in the past, we were curious to see how they felt about the MLK day of community engagement on January 27 and its impact on the student body. The first half of the day was focused on identifying problems in the DCDS community and creating solutions under the guide of MLK’s ideals.

“I believe the community as a whole was given an opportunity to benefit from the student body’s ideas. Although, I believe that the most beneficial aspect of this day was the birth of a culture that promotes community-wide introspection and a persistent effort towards improvement” says senior Vivian Williams.

After the day of community engagement and its subsequent discussions, the BSA took the attention of Black history month to educate on other issues in their community. The BSA said that they took this route of education in order to honor their club mission statement, which is “To cultivate an environment in which black students of Detroit Country Day feel a sense of community. We strive to be conduits for change and eradicate the lack of inclusivity for black students while molding leaders within the Country Day walls.”

On Monday, the Black Student alliance started their discussion with a quote from MLK himself, which says ““Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”, which twisted the traditional sense of love into the more powerful symbol it is. The video

March 2022 | Issue 4 | Vol. 98

on Monday aimed to explain the meaning behind black history month, and enlightened viewers on the founding and original goal of black history month.

On Tuesday, the Black Student alliance chose to highlight Dr. Mizzkebia Corbett, an immunologist who had a key role in finding an effective vaccine for COVID-19. They focused on the medical side of things because of this year’s theme for black

BSA STUDENTS MEET in the PAC on Friday clubs history theme, black health and wellness. The Black Student Alliance promoted this inclusivity by highlighting real-world contributions of people of color that are underrepresented in the media.

Wednesday’s video expanded on this theme highlighting important black people of the past who have made contributions that the average American has never recognized them for. Black History Month is not only about highlighting the people who fought for civil rights, but also people who have made significant contributions to culture, and black history shouldn’t be relegated to the

black struggle. On Friday, the BSA sent out inspirational quotes form black leaders to highlight black voices and philosophies.

To close out the month, the Black Student Alliance contributed to the culture day celebrations by bringing in various foods from black culture. Table runners were decked out in Black Lives Matter t-shirts, emphasizing the balck voice in a sea of other cultures.

The Black Student Alliance consistently advocates with inclsusivity in mind, inviting others to celebrate their culture and the figures that helped define it.

The DCDS community is held together by our diversity, and the different voices that define that diversity.. Affinity groups like the BSA, as well as others like SAGA(Sexuality and gender alliance), APISA(Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance), and the MSA(Muslim Student alliance), help to make sure that all members of the DCDS community feel included, no matter their race, sexuality, or religion. Although Black History Month helps to start an annual conversation, as BSA president Brian Singleton put it, “BSA is committed to honoring the legacy of black americans year round, not just during black history month. Our meetings are open for anyone who wishes to gain more understanding or familiarity with black culture or the BSA community.”

In terms of the future for the Black Student Alliance, big thingsare in store, especially with the lifting of the mask mandate and the decline of COVID case numbers.

“We want the BSA to continue to thrive and as COVID restrictions go on, hopefully be able to contribute within the Country Day community and contribute to the local community.

We also hope to build onto the high school BSA by introducing the BSA to those at the middle school. All in all, we want to continue to make a difference at DCD.” says Williams The BSA holds meetings every Friday, in the PACand as previously mentioned, they are open to a. If yodon’t have an open Friday club, check out the BSA and help plan some exciting events!

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Mrs. Luckins double life as a hero The story of a firefighter and a chemistry teacher

By JONATHAN ABRAHAM Senior Editor most dangerous.

Luckins described one of the craziest moments of her career when a Mt. Pleasant methamphetamine lab exploded. That morning, Luckins was on her way to the lab when she felt the heat of the fire half a mile away.

“I knew I was gonna remember this awful moment for the rest of my life,” Luckins said.

As Luckins arrived on the scene, dispatchers told her that the suspect was failing to comply with arrest and trapped his 5 and 7-year-old children with him inside the lab.

Luckins said, “My heart dropped and I knew I had to do all I could to save those kids’ lives.”

Because of the smoke, Luckins held her breath, and when she entered the lab, the fire had created alot of debris. Running low on her oxygen tank, Luckins quickly lifted the heavy debris to get to the basement and saw the children hysterically crying.

Luckins, wiping away tears as she remembered the scene, said, “The children were confused that the man they trusted all their lives compromised them and left them to die.”

Although they were successful that day, many days on the job are unsuccessful and firefighters are stuck with that horrific truth for the rest of their lives. Luckins and other firefighters experienced day to day how corrupt the human race is and they have suffered mentally. To recover, Luckins has to live by the simple fact “It was not my fault.”

Throughout her career, Luckins has been hit with the hardest truths of the world. Luckins successfully came out of every horrific situation not beating herself up because she did everything she could. Luckins overcame her hurt and did not let the pain she felt destroy her character. Instead, Luckins used her experiences to shape her into the kind, compassionate, brave human being she is today. Mrs. Luckins is a model for how all people should live their lives. “Be the best part of someone’s worst day.”

“Be the best part of someone’s worst day” -Laura Luckins

Photos courtesy of Laura Luckins

“Sometimes in my dreams, I can see some of the people I didn’t save,” says DCDS Organic Chemistry teacher Mrs Laura Lukins. “Honestly, it’s been years and years of therapy trying to unsee some of the stuff I’ve been through.”

The most respected career across America are our first responders. Firefighters are the only group of people who can be empathetic about every situation because they have seen it all. They know how it feels to lose a sibling; they know how it feels to see domestic violence; they know how it feels to see a child in flames.

Although they didn’t know the deceased, they pull the dead from car wrecks and cover bodies at fire scenes so the news cameras won’t bring the horror into the nation’s living rooms. Firefighters protect us from more than just the physical, they conceal us from what the news doesn’t show: the truth.

The lifestyle of a firefighter is unimaginable. Let alone understanding it through the perspective of Mrs. Laura Luckins.

Prior to teaching at Detroit Country Day, Luckins spent hours tutoring chemistry students at Oakland County Community College, and every day on her commute there she would see the Oakland County Fire Department. One day, Luckins saw an opening, and spontaneously - without any experience- decided to apply because she thought it would be “fun”.

Luckins earned the job and immediately started training. She underwent numerous fitness tests, such as a 75 pound weighted stair climb, forcible entry using a10-pound sledgehammer, crawling at least 70 feet, and dragging a 210-pound mannequin out of a house. Luckins described the training as “extremely exhausting”.

Before training, Luckins knew that, as a woman, she would have to prove herself, and she did that by successfully completing the fitness tests faster than most male firefighters in her department. Because of her success, Luckins specialized in small space rescue and big fire rescue: fields that are considered the

TOP LEFT: MRS. Laura Luckins with her fellow firefighters; Top Right: Luckins hard at work; Bottom: Luckins as a role model in the community.

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6 Entertainment

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Euphoria Season Two

By NAOMI ZAKALIK Staff Writer

However, the pandemic brought the show’s production to a halt, and Season Two was put on a three-year hiatus. To the fans’ relief, filming started again during 2021, and the first episode of the new season was released in mid-January. This season is set to be more graphic and shocking than the last; actress Zendaya, who plays Rue Bennet, took to Instagram to warn her younger fans that the show was meant for mature audiences only.

Photos courtesy of IMDb.com

Four years ago, HBO released a show that shocked audiences with its graphic depiction of modern high school culture.

The show tackles heavy topics, like addiction in teens and toxic relationships, in an analytical and almost cathartic way. Known for its makeup and special effects, Euphoria has become a phenomenon over the past few years.

Season One follows Rue Bennet, a struggling drug addict. When the show first starts, Rue is fresh out of rehab and she makes it very clear that she “has no intention of staying clean.”

However, when she meets Jules, played by Hunter Schafer, things begin to change. Rue and Jules quickly become best friends and spend almost every minute together.

Although the show has a few dark aspects, the impact that it has made on teens and young adults around the nation is clear. It is not uncommon for a teen to be scrolling through social media to find an influencer wearing intense, glittery, or neon makeup, imitating the infamous “Euphoric” look. Many other popular trends have also become mainstream as a result of Euphoria’s unique fashion, including bright colored clothing and experimental styles.

From the trailer and Zendaya’s thoughtful warning, viewers are excited and anxious about the new season’s intensity. From talk of new relationships between old characters and the introduction of new ones, the trailer ensures watchers that there is no lack of drama this season. Despite the prolonged wait, Euphoria has risen quickly to the top of the popularity list, just as it did back in 2019.

Harry Potter

Photos and information courtesy of wizardingworld.com and Warner Bros. Studios

20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

By MADELINE ROCCHI Staff Writer “Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (761). Albus Dumbledore speaks these words to the young students of Hogwarts. Nearly 20 years later, the Hogwarts students are speaking these words to the next generation. The Harry Potter Anniversary special has been released on HBO Max for Harry Potter fans all over the world.

In the special, the Harry Potter cast, including Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), are reunited for one last time. Nostalgia is the one word used to describe both what watchers and cast members feel during this premiere. The sets are very authentic to those in the original movies, and it feels like you are going back in time to when the movies were first released.

The special opens with shots from London during Christmas time - dated cars and Christmas decor surrounds the street. Cast members receive a mysterious red wax sealed letter, very similar to the one Harry Potter first received when he was accepted to Hogwarts. The letters welcome the characters back to Hogwarts for one last time, to experience the magic they first felt when they attended.

It is fascinating to see the cast members older, yet they still have the same connection to when they first started filming. One wonders if the original cast members have reflected on Dumbledore’s quote regarding youth, and whether they are able to reflect on the significant impact the Harry Potter franchise has had on their careers. It is emotional for both the fans and the cast to travel back in time to scenes that take place in the Hogwarts dining hall and the Gryffindor Commons.

For Harry Potter fans around the world, this anniversary brought nostalgia and heartfelt feelings. Noticeably, J.K. Rowling did not participate in the reunion special because of her controversial views towards the transgender community. Despite the author’s absence, fans were still excited to see the characters they grew up loving reunite for the first time in years. Overall, this anniversary special brought the cast together one more time and gave Harry Potter fans an opportunity to reflect on the success of the franchise.

The Day Times | March 2022

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

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7

By RILEY MCALPINE and KAITLYN HOPKINS / Staff Writer and Section Editor

On March 27th, 2022, millions of viewers will be tuning in to watch this year’s most acclaimed films get recognized by the Academy.

The Oscar nominations were released on February 8th and fans all around the world are waiting in anticipation, excited to see whether their choices win or lose. Some of the nominees are included below, so everyone can familiarize themselves with the best performances and films of the year before the big day.

FOR ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

The Power of the Dog

ANDREW GARFIELD tick, tick...BOOM!

DENZEL WASHINGTON The Tragedy of MacBeth

WILL SMITH King Richard

FOR ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

JAVIER BARDEM Being the Ricardos

KRISTEN STEWART Spencer

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES

ENCANTO

FLEE

LUCA

JESSIE BUCKLEY The Lost Daughter

FOR ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

J.K. SIMMONS Being the Ricardos

CIARÁN HINDS Belfast

JESSE PLEMONS The Power of the Dog

JESSICA CHASTAIN The Eyes of Tammy Faye

OLIVIA COLEMAN The Lost Daughter

PENÉLOPE CRUZ Parallel Mothers

FOR ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

NICOLE KIDMAN Being the Ricardos

KODI SMIT-MCPHEE The Power of the Dog

ARIANA DEBOSE West Side Story

JUDI DENCH Belfast

KIRSTEN DUNST The Power of the Dog

AUNJANUE ELLIS King Richard

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

TROY KOTSUR CODA

DONT LOOK UP Adam McKay and David Sirota

KING RICHARD Zach Baylin

LICORICE PIZZA THE WORST PERSON

Paul Thomas Anderson

IN THE WORLD

Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

BELFAST

Kenneth Branagh

All photos courtesy of IMDb.com

FOR BEST PICTURE

BELFAST

KING RICHARD

WEST SIDE STORY

LICORICE PIZZA

DON’T LOOK UP

NIGHTMARE ALLEY

CODA

THE POWER OF THE DOG

DRIVE MY CAR

DUNE

The Day Times | March 2022

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

8 Features

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Senior Spotlight: Katarina Ammann Galloping through high school and beyond!

By TANISHA KHARE Fetaures Section Editor

tage of every opportunity they are given.

“High school is the time to explore all your interests, so take every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how small. You never know what you’ll discover about yourself and what you’ll be able to accomplish,” states Ammann.

Ammann clearly exemplifies the dedication of a model Country day student. Her accomplishments are truly incredible, and she has certainly made the Detroit Country Day community proud, setting an example for all future Country Day graduates.

Photos courtesy of Katarina Ammann

As a Country Day student, trying to manage a rigorous academic schedule coupled with numerous extracurricular activities can be next to impossible. Katarina Ammann takes this challenge to the next level with her primary extracurricular activity: horseback riding.

Ammann started horseback riding at a young age to escape the bustle of Manhattan, the city in which she grew up.

“Riding was a weekend and summer hobby that quickly became a really great passion of mine!” says Ammann.

Since the first grade, Ammann has continued this journey and now has a busy practice schedule that requires time management and persistence.

“During the winter season, I normally ride anywhere between three to eight horses a day, which takes up to six hours if you take your time,” Ammann stated.

Ammann loves horseback riding and has learned many important lessons from it.

“You’re always responsible for everything that happens, which creates a sense of accountability. Showjumping is a complicated sport with many obvious risks involved and requires a lot of grit. As you may guess, as one goes up the ranks of the sport, the room for error gets significantly smaller due to the difficulty levels. This determination is what really keeps me hooked,” said Ammann.

To manage her time, Ammann has had to leave behind any sources of procrastination and finish all of her required assignments before being able to do what she truly enjoys. She admits that it has taken some trial and error to find the perfect balance between school and sport, but in the end, she has found a healthy way to take part in both of these vital parts of her life.

AMMANN AND HER horse bounding over a hurdle.

With Ammann’s passion for horseback riding has come a desire to go to the Olympics.

“I think it’s every rider’s goal to make it to the Olympics, so it’s always been a dream of mine. I started training with Olympian Charlie Jayne a couple years ago, and it was he who made me realize this was actually an attainable goal. Over the years, with the help of my coaches and parents, I’ve put in the time and effort, as well as the results, so why not see what can come from all these years of blood, sweat, and tears?” said Ammann.

Ammann has reached her final semester as a student at Country Day, which is a big accomplishment all by itself. She feels excited to open a new chapter of life next year and is looking forward to an adventure-filled last semester. Ammann urges all other students to get out of their comfort zone and to take advan-

AMMANN POSES FOR her senior picture.

An unexpected life

Mr. Masuda’s journey to find himself and his passion

By JOSH GUO Guest Writer

MASUDA IN THE metals studio.

The Day Times | March 2022

poorly, but because I didn’t do all eight of the required assign- “Heaviest job I ever did! I got to involve a lot of my students and ments. I turned in twelve assignments, though.” they got credit for it. When you go to Wayne State’s campus, you But as it turns out, he was uniquely suited to art. His can actually still see it.” father did woodworking as a hobby, and without realizing it, MaMasuda is extremely grateful for the path that his life suda learned all the elements of design from him from a young has taken and would not trade it for anything in the world. age. His mother, a florist, was all about aesthetics. “So without “It––my life––has been a lot of fun. I didn’t have many expectaknowing it until much later in life, a lot of my ideas about what tions. Working here, it’s been really cool. It’s been a total blast. I made things aesthetically pleasing, I actually learned from her,” was extremely lucky.”

Masuda said.

The DCDS community is equally lucky to have Mr. “I liked the challenge of metals,” Masuda said. “Met- Masuda as a faculty member. He has truly shifted the culture of als––it kind of set up the ground rules and forced me to play by the school, increasing the impact of the Fine Arts department on them. I liked that metals forced me to interact with it on a very teachers and students alike. conscious level.”

Between his sophomore and junior year of college, he interviewed for and got a job at a jewelry store, spent three years in the business, and learned about the processes and techniques of the industry, as well as the economic and business side of things. Eventually, he decided to leave and go back to college. His professor, however, had no graduate students able to teach an introductory course in metals, and so asked Masuda to do it. He accepted, hesitant.

After a semester, he realized he really enjoyed teaching and asked his professor how he should continue going about it. Soon enough, he started exhibiting in the university show, garnering attention from local galleries who wanted to show his work.

“I never really thought about becoming an artist until I was halfway through the process.

It just kind of snuck up on me,” Masuda laughed.

“Making pieces that other people enjoy, that’s the essence of being an artist for me.”

Masuda got to work on some truly intriguing projects throughout his journey to fulfill his artistic career.

“I worked as a lecturer at Wayne State, and the new president decided that instead of living inside one of the more modernist-type flats, he wanted to renovate one of the historical buildings on campus and restore it back to a residence.

That building had been a brothel before Wayne State,” he said. A lot of the ironwork had deteriorated, so the project manager came to him to ask him if they could repair it and replicate it for the new side of the house.

Masuda was able to restore twenty-five feet of old iron work and create around sevenMASUDA POSES WITH a student in the studio. ty-five feet of new iron work.

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

Photos courtesy of Kunwoo Kim.

Jiro Masuda––the Metals teacher and Arts Department Chair at Detroit Country Day––never expected to become an artist. Originally, he majored in mechanical engineering for two years, switched to philosophy for one semester, management information for business for another semester, and eventually ended up with a major in metals and jewelry. It was clear from the start that he was well suited to metals.

“It was sheer luck becoming an artist, I think,” Masuda said, a distant look on his face. “I just happened to go to a school with an outstanding metals program and lived in a city where it was possible for a bench jeweler with little to no experience to find a job. It’s always been an easy fit for me in metals. The fact that it found me was pretty unique.”

Masuda––born in Canada but raised in Michigan–– went to Detroit Country Day for high school where he joined the metals program and learned the basics of wax carving and design during and after his sophomore year. After graduation, he went to the University of Houston, and, having a free elective class, he saw that they had a metals program. He decided to enroll in the class, thinking that he’d done it before and that it would be easy.

“I was not at all prepared for it,” Masuda chuckled, eyes crinkling. “It was all fabrication. Skills that I knew nothing about.

Funny thing is, I got a C+ in my first semester, not because I did

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MLK Day of Community Engagement

9

An outstanding effort by the DCDS community to honor Martin Luther King

By TANISHA KHARE, SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH, JIU WON, and HIBA ASADULLA Features Section Editor and Staff Writers Nearly sixty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. moved The day began in students’ advisories where they the world and made history with his powerful and bold “I have a learned and remembered the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream” speech. Sixty years later, MLK is celebrated as a hero for They watched several videos of Dr. King’s most famous speeches, helping the world take a giant leap forward with the race struggle and analyzed readings of his letters. Perhaps the most constructhat has prevailed since the foundational days of our nation. This tive part of the day was the time when students were assigned to year, to celebrate MLK and to help the DCDS community grow random rooms with a student leader to discuss how to implement and feel more connected, student leaders proposed to hold the Dr. King’s sense of community and togetherness within the DCDS first ever MLK Day of Community Engagement. Students were community. given the opportunity to reflect and openly express their thoughts, “This morning session allowed students to express any advocating for change in our community. Overall, the day demon- built up feelings about the past couple of school years. With so strated a semblance of unity at DCDS and truly helped to deepen many unprecedented changes, students and faculty have drifted the bond within our community as we celebrated MLK. apart and the DCDS community has slightly faded. However, the Initially, this Day of Engagement was created to honor morning peer group discussions started the difficult conversation MLK. In order to accomplish this, coming together as a communi- about how to get back to the family-like culture that is so strong at ty was vital. The unity within our community on this day allowed DCDS,” said student leader Ella Thompson. for students to be heard and seen, to brainstorm ideas for future Student leaders Ella Thompson, Brian Singleton, Mia outreach to other communities, and to ensure continued discus- Timban, Nick Kalkanis, Vivian Williams, Graham Doman, and sion.

Laine Mihalich were able to sit down with school administration “We wanted this event to firmly establish a new, school- to discuss student concerns later that day. This discussion allowed wide tradition to develop a culture of productive dialogue result- for student concerns to be voiced to a higher level of authority. ing in positive change,” said co-chair Brian Singleton.

The hope is that the innovative ideas of the student body will be

refined into action plans that will one day become a reality.

“This meeting went extremely well and we are excited to continue working with the administration to address the student body’s concerns and create a stronger sense of community going forward in honor of MLK,” said Thompson excitedly.

Leaders also expressed how students enjoyed the day and the growth and change it opened the door for.

“I think the DCDS community greatly benefited from this day. Many students enjoyed being able to express things they missed about the “old” DCDS community while still acknowledging the strengths of it. Students may not recognize it now, but this day could turn into a larger legacy of change that will impact future DCDS classes,” said Thompson.

The Detroit Country Day community surely benefited from a day of tribute and appreciation for MLK and his accomplishments. Hopefully, this first Day of Engagement will allow for a long-standing tradition in years to come so that students can come together in a trusted and secure community to openly express themselves.

Photos courtesy of Ella Thompson.

STUDENT LEADERS SIT with administrators to discuss innovative ideas.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS REVIEWING student leaders’ action plans.

Coach Jerica Williams on LIVE4GEN

STUDENTS ELLA THOMPSON and BRIAN SINGLETON, organizers of the Day of Engagement.

Honoring friend, athlete, and teammate: Genevieve Costello

By SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH Features Section Editor

Breast cancer is one of the most prominent types of cancer in women; it has affected women across the world and has taken loved ones from families. Detroit Country Day School’s varsity women’s basketball coach, Jerica Williams, has been affected by breast cancer on a personal level. In April of 2015, she lost her longtime teammate and friend, Genevieve Costello, to breast cancer. To honor her legacy and what she stood for, Williams created LIVE4GEN with its primary objective is to highlight how Genevieve Costello led her life. Though it has been left to rest, the organization took a unique approach, using basketball as a way to spread honor Genevieve Costello’s legacy.

LIVE4GEN HOSTS A fundraising event.

The Day Times | March 2022

Photos courtesy of Jerica Williams.

Williams initially created PRAY4GEN when Costello was first diagnosed with breast cancer, but later renamed it to LIVE4GEN after Costello passed away.

“I created LIVE4GEN in honor of my teammate, my basketball teammate. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2015, and she passed away three weeks after she was diagnosed. So when we found out she was diagnosed ... we created PRAY4GEN, and we ended up changing it to LIVE4GEN,” said Williams.

Basketball served as an integral way to honor Costello’s legacy, as it was a common language for her and her teammates.

This then helped other people connect with the effort to honor Costello.

“Costello was a basketball player and so a lot of our connections came from our teammates. Our existing relationships that we had through sports was an easy connection to make and so it allowed us to cast a wide net. A lot of people can relate

COSTELLO’s DAD WITH a recipient of an award named after Costello. to sports, so when you throw this story out, it reels people in,” explained Williams.

Williams organized a charity basketball game, which truly helped bring LIVE4GEN into the light and led to its formation as an organization. With the creation of LIVE4GEN, Williams wanted to highlight Costello as an individual and keep alive what she stood for.

“LIVE4GEN stands for living for Genevieve Costello in the sense of honoring all that she stood for when she was alive.

She had a lot of resilience, she was strong, she was confident, she was a leader, she always tried new things, she was fearless, and we wanted to lead with that. I think it ensures that we continue to carry out her legacy, so when we live for her we are ensuring that all that she stood for lives on,” said Williams.

LIVE4GEN has also helped spread breast cancer awareness, specifically targeting younger populations where breast cancer isn’t always addressed and isn’t considered a major concern.

“LIVE4GEN helps encourage and spread awareness around prevention. It’s affecting people at a much younger age, and that’s how we chose to raise awareness by emphasizing prevention,” stated Williams.

Through the years, LIVE4GEN has used basketball as a vehicle to grow as an organization and raise money in Costello’s name.

“We did seven charity basketball games that garnered a lot of awareness. We were able to raise a lot of money that we donated to UC Davis, which is where she went to school. They have a breast cancer fund in her name, and we were able to write

checks to give to them,” said Williams.

Even though the organization is no longer active, LIVE4GEN continues to honor Genevieve Costello and her legacy. Her spirit has touched and continues to touch the lives of those who were in her presence.

“LIVE4GEN is really about Genevieve. Not necessarily about breast cancer, but her. That’s a big reason why we wanted to let it rest. Her parents didn’t want her to become a poster child for breast cancer, so it’s now something we are doing for Genevieve.

We want to highlight how she lived her life and how she would want us to attack every single day, which is by living each day as if it was our last. I feel like that mentality has carried over into all the people she affected, and we are able to translate that message to people that she didn’t know,” said Williams.

While LIVE4GEN has left an impact on the community, it has also transformed Williams’ outlook on life.

“Since she’s passed, I’ve been able to attack life in a totally different manner. I’ve really been able to embody what LIVE4GEN means: to be the best version of myself every single day and really just be reminded that tomorrow isn’t promised,” said Williams.

LIVE4GEN has left an impact by spreading breast cancer awareness to the younger population by honoring Costello’s legacy. Using basketball as a gateway to spread awareness and honor Genevieve Costello has been effective in touching and connecting with others. Williams’ philanthropic work with LIVE4GEN embodies dedication and is truly remarkable. Her efforts will keep Costello’s spirit and legacy alive for the world to admire and appreciate.

A PICTURE FROM the 4th annual LIVE4GEN game.

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

10 Sports

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Competition heating up in a winter wonderland A look at the DCDS snowy sports

Photos courtesy of Aryan Mistry and Lily Higgins.

By ARVIN PANDIYAN Sports Staff Writer The winter season often brings a different environment to sports at Country Day. While most fall and spring sports look forward to bright, sunny days, traditional winter sports, such as basketball and hockey, are held indoors and continue regardless of sun, rain, or snow. Some winter activities, such as boardercross and ski, rely on the snow as an integral part of their sports.

For those who are unfamiliar with competitive boardercross, it involves attending snowboarding competitions in which snowboarders race down a specified course. Skiing involves similar-style races and competition layout, but boardercross and ski have separate teams and practices. Members of both teams reflected on the underrated aspects of these two sports, as well as their important memories from previous seasons.

Varsity boardercross is a unique sport that not many people have heard of. As a result, the team is comprised of a tightly-knit community that has formed amazing memories. One of these memories is the team’s annual bonding trip to Boyne.

Senior captain Meghan Stankovic said, “Boardercross has been such a great experience these past four years.

Our team is super close and we have a fun trip to Boyne every year. Unfortunately, we could not go to Boyne this year because of Covid precautions. The Boyne trip is great for team bonding, and it really brings our team together.”

The boardercross team puts in long hours to im-

BOARDERCROSS TEAM MEMBERS pose at states in 2022.

prove their race times on different courses. They practice both on the courses and on dry land in order to push themselves daily.

While winning is ultimately the goal of every sport, it is not the most important aspect for a great team. Traits such as togetherness and teamwork define an incredible team experience.

“Our team is one of the kindest teams I’ve ever been on. Last year, I had a really bad snowboarding accident. I was in the hospital for two weeks and I had a six month recovery ahead of me. During this difficult period, my team supported me and checked in on me frequently. I am so thankful for this team and all the amazing memories I have made,” said Stankovic. Senior captain Aryan Mistry echoed the importance of unity in boardercross: “I think the uniqueness of the sport brings out a special quality in the entire community. It brings together people from

different schools and communities, and we treat others almost as if they were our friends rather than our competitors.

Skiing is another of Detroit Country Day’s winter sports - skiers compete at races and constantly work to improve their own times. While some people may have experienced skiing with family and friends, competitive skiing comes with a different atmosphere, and requires different types of training and equipment. “Recreational skiing is more just skiing for fun and enjoyment,” said senior captain Lily Higgins. “There are no gates and you just go down the hill however you would like. Competitive skiing requires concentration because you need to navigate through the gates on different courses. We have two different types of courses that we run: Giant Slalom and Slalom. There are different kinds of gear you need for each and there are different rules as to which gates you need to go through and how you are supposed to approach them,” continued Higgins.

Skiing practices can often look very different depending on the weather. The team is not always able to go out to the hill and ski unless there has been sufficient snow. Higgins said, “the lack of snow did affect us at the beginning of the season. We were not able to get out to the hill until the last week before winter break.” Competitive skiers need to have high levels of endurance and balance, and the team makes sure to work on these skills regardless of the weather. If the slopes do not have enough snow to allow for skiing, the team practices on land in order to stay in shape. “The lack of snow meant we did a lot of dry lands, but at least we were still active,” said Higgins.

The ski team also has many important team bonding moments. “My favorite memory is when we would go to Boyne and go to the pool after our races. We were all really tired and it was a great bonding experience,” reflected Higgins. These bonding moments become much more important as the ski team becomes more popular.

“One challenge that we faced this winter was that we had a really big team. It has been really great, but the coaches and captains have had to learn how to balance such a big team,” said Higgins.

As the school slowly begins to lessen Covid restrictions, potential members will be able to get the full experience of the boardercross and ski teams. As the season draws to a close, make sure to wish members of both teams good luck at their respective competitions.

HIGGINS POSES WITH other members of the ski team.

Young men, big leaders

What Tyler Inge and Joshua Campbell bring to the DCDS baseball team

Photos courtesy of Tyler Inge and Joshua Campbell.

By ANDREW BRENTANO, DANIEL KIARASH Sports Staff Writters Detroit Country Day has many successful spring sports teams, including baseball, lacrosse, women’s tennis, women’s soccer, etc. The baseball team is one of those sports that has had some great lineups consisting of many D1 athletes. After last year’s tough loss in the district finals to Saint Mary’s, the team is looking to redeem themselves this season.

Some young athletes to look out for this season are sophomore Tyler Inge and freshman Joshua Campbell, both committed athletes to the University of Michigan.

Inge was part of the varsity team this past season starting as a freshman at shortstop. He played a big part in the team’s defense, and got some crucial hits for the team.

Inge reflected on this past year and his goals for next season.

“Our goal for this next season is to mainly compete and battle throughout the whole season. Obviously we want to get to the State Final and win it all, and we know that will be a challenging task to accomplish,” said Inge.

All sports teams require a lot of hard work and dedication to prepare for the season, including team and individual training. Inge gave us an inside look at what the team is doing to prepare.

“As of right now the team is practicing twice a week, although sometimes it is hard to get a lot of players to show since a lot of the team plays a winter sport. With that being said, the players that do show up work hard to improve their skills and athletic ability. Individually, I try to work out at least four times a week and do some hitting at least once a week.

Something that I think most players should do is some skill work depending on their position. It may be hard to do,

The Day Times | March 2022

INGE’S COMMITMENT TO Michigan photo. but if you are able to, it is a really good way to improve and prepare for the upcoming season,” said Inge.

Inge’s work ethic has influenced Josh Campbell too.

Campbell discussed his preparations for his first season with the varsity team. “Having Tyler as a mentor has really helped me become a better athlete and teammate. Being able to get along and grow with your teammates before the season starts already puts you ahead of the game. Team chemistry is a must to be successful and I think our team has really embraced that.

Tyler has included me in all of his training to prepare for the season. Whether it be after school, on the weekend, with or without the team, Tyler has let me be a part of his journey and gives me a sense of belonging on the team,” said Campbell.

CAMPBELL’S MICHIGAN COMMITTMENT photo.

Josh discussed the jump from middle school baseball to varsity.

“The pressure has definitely increased. In middle school, there isn’t a problem with losing, but with varsity the consequences are greater, and each player has a substantially higher amount of responsibility. I have played in many out of school leagues, so I feel as if I am a little more prepared for the difference of skill, and I have also made sure that I got my body physically ready to compete at the varsity level. Training multiple times a week and making sure my diet is healthy has allowed me to feel more confident with the transition from middle school,” said Campbell.

Although the main focus on the men’s baseball team are the seniors playing their final year, these two will be able to put on a show for a multitude of seasons. The baseball season hasn’t started yet, but when it does come around, these stars

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

11 Sports What inspires the coaches of DCDS?

By CONNOR ADAMS Sports Section Editor

Photo courtesy of The Detroit News

Throughout DCDS history, legendary coaches have inspired generations of future athletes and leaders. People like Paul Bartoshuk, a Hall of Fame Varsity Men’s Soccer coach, and Frank Orlando, the winningest Women’s Varsity Basketball Coach in Michigan, laid the groundwork for future athletic success.

Mark Bray, the Men’s Varsity Basketball coach, shared his coaching idols. “I have taken pieces of all of the mentors and coaches I have come in contact with, from reading Phil Jackson and John Wooden, being coached when I was younger by Dan Young and Glenn VanWieren, and working with experienced coaches at DCDS like Dan MacLean,” said Bray.

Bray also detailed his formula for coaching success.

“There is no secret recipe. There are certain standards that are essential, but I don’t think they are secret or profound. Everyone knows that consistent hard work, doing the right things, is essential to improvement. This year our guys have decided to focus on effort, accountability, and communication. Also, success has many different definitions. Some people define success as wins on the scoreboard. That’s not wrong, but if that’s the only thing that equals success for you, then I think you are

BRAY PROVIDES WORDS of encouragement to a player.

missing the point of team sports. Hard work, improvement and relationships are really what success is about. If you learn to do your best, make your best better, and build positive lasting relationships, then win or lose you will have success as a team,” said Bray.

As the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse coach, Christopher Garland seeks to build upon last season’s district championship victory. When questioned about his coaching style, Garland said, “My coaching style is inspired by my commitment to the players, their families, and the school. I look forward to being with my teams each day and I give them all that I have in the gym and on the field; the expectation is that they do the same for their teammates. We ask the coaches to bring energy and purpose to all that they do. If coaches and kids are unable to do that, our teams aren’t a good fit for them.”

Garland further elaborated on his principles. “Our core values are as follows: loyalty, humility, and servant leadership. We avoid thinking about success in terms of wins and losses,” said Garland.

Varsity Track and Field Coach David Wilson believes that no secret formula exists for team success. “My secret recipe is that there is no secret recipe - I am always looking for new and better ways to organize and prepare my teams. If there is any constant, it is that we have to have fun - athletes and coaches alike - and to be willing to learn from our experiences, especially losing, or else it is all in vain,” said Wilson.

Wilson credits his past coaches as influences for his own coaching style. “My own high school football coaches, George Lovich and Armand Vigna, are my inspirations. Both were very competitive, very intense, but very personable. They had high expectations of their teams and of themselves, but they were outgoing, friendly, team-first leaders. I would add that my brother J Wil is also an inspiration to me, as he exemplifies the kind of highly dedicated and generous coach I aspire to be,” said Wilson.

GARLAND OBSERVES TEAM warmups.

Contrasting Wilson, Women’s Varsity Basketball coach Jerica Williams could not cite a single influence on her coaching beliefs. “I don’t think one particular person has inspired my coaching style; I believe it’s been a collective. Taking from many of my coaches who I played for and worked with, I’ve been able to take what I believe works and does not work from all of them to mold my own coaching style. I would describe my style as loving yet firm. I am able to push my players to be the best versions of themselves and to levels beyond their own limits because they know I love them. That style carries over to my personality on the court and in the game when you see me sitting down as much as I stand up. I always say I don’t yell - I project - so my players can hear me, but I always intend to lead from a place of calmness and groundedness. In sum, I would describe my coaching style as holistic and balanced,” said Williams.

To achieve success, Williams tries to deemphasize the concept of winning: “My secret recipe is to set standards and not goals. Oftentimes you’ll hear teams set goals such as ‘winning a championship.’ In our program, you will never hear us talk about winning because my belief is that it takes away from the process. When you focus on the process, the results take care of themselves,” said Williams.

Despite their different sports and varying ideologies, one thing is clear: all coaches at DCDS demonstrate a strong commitment to their players and their beliefs. These principles ensure continued success, regardless of wins and losses, as well as a bright future for DCDS’s illustrious athletics program.

Senior Spotlight: Vivian Williams

An exclusive interview with the senior track star sensation

Photos courtesy of Vivian Williams

By ZACHARY RODGERS and ALEX EBY Sports Section Interns

As seniors round out their time at DCDS with college applications, difficult classes, and academic competitions, a select few go further to excel in athletics. One such athlete is Track and Field star, Vivian Williams. Vivian has never been a stranger to the running atmosphere, having completed her first 5k alongside her mom at five years old and falling in love with the sport ever since. Top-end speed, quick bursts of acceleration, and body control found in track and field are the cornerstones of all sports, so Vivian explained her preference for track and the origin of her passion.

“I did cross country all the way through eighth grade and started track in the spring of my eighth-grade year. I played volleyball and basketball, as well. Although I enjoyed all these sports, I quickly realized that I enjoyed track the most. I felt like it was a sport where I could work with my teammates while having my own personal goals and duties at the same time. By the end of my eighth grade track season, I realized that I would put track as a priority over all the other sports I played,” said Williams.

As all athletes know, pure passion is not enough to breed success. During the season, Williams maintains a strict regimen, implementing her own workouts alongside school practice. “I maintain my speed by constantly training and exercising. I usually try to do cardio 3-to 4 times a week.

Sometimes it’s running a mile on the ground or the elliptical, sometimes it’s riding my peloton, and sometimes it’s running sprints in the field house or out on the track. I usually do these types of workouts on my own. Sometimes I’ll bring my mom or dad along and they’ll help me with my workout plan, and sometimes I’ll implement some of the things Coach Wilson, the varsity track coach, does with us during practice into my workouts,” said Williams.

While Williams puts in substantial effort during the season, she has an extensive array of exercises during the offseason to retain her speed. “I work out as much as possible.

Working out and exercising has always been something that I have enjoyed and found as an escape. During the year and offseason, I try to work out every day. I usually do upper body twice a week, lower body three times a week, and cardio at

The Day Times | March 2022

least three to four times a week. I have found that weight lifting has been a big game-changer when it comes to improving my times, and I saw a lot of change in my times last season as I started lifting heavier. On days when I want to take it easy, I usually just do an ab workout and yoga or stretching. I have also found that stretching and yoga have helped make me become faster,” said Williams.

WILLIAMS CELEBRATES HER commitment to Northwood University.

WILLIAMS POSES FOR a photo with her 4x400 relay teammates.

Looking forward to this season, Williams of course wants to improve on her times to reach the all-state level.

Along with her measurable goals, Williams wants to establish herself as a leader and enjoy her last year with her teammates.

“As this is my last season of high school track, I want to make it my best one yet. My goal is to try to become all-state in the 200m, 400m, and hopefully a relay with my teammates. We were really close to being all-state this year, and I feel like as a team, we could really accomplish that this year. I also just want

to improve my techniques, discipline, and personal times and try to leave my mark on the track team this year as a leader. I also just want to have fun with my teammates. Our team is like a track family, and some of the closest friends that I have made have been from track, so I want to continue to have fun with my friends and make memories while putting work in,” said Williams.

Vivian has committed to continue her track and field career at Northwood University. Despite the complications and even a missing season brought on by Covid-19, Vivian continued to work throughout high school to earn her dream commitment. “The recruitment process was kind of crazy because of Covid. Being a college athlete has always been a dream of mine since I was little. When I got into high school, I realized track was the sport I wanted to focus on. I missed my sophomore track season because of Covid, which is an important season for getting yourself out there for recruitment. My junior season was when I started talking to coaches. I had been talking with the Northwood coach since the beginning of this school year, visited, and fell in love with the school. I’m just really excited that I get to live out my dream, and I’m proud of myself for the work I’ve put in, but also very thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way,” said Williams.

Vivian is an exemplary Country Day student, as she is successful inside and outside of the classroom. Congratulations on your commitment and we wish you all the best in your senior season!

Vol. 98 | Issue 4

Photo courtesy of USA Lacrosse Magazine

Uncovering the Playbook

Culture Day is Back!

March 2022 | Issue 4 | Vol. 98

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