THE
VOL. 99 ISSUE. II
NOVEMBER 11 2022
DA Y TIMES ARE YOU DOWN FOR THE SPIRIT SHOWDOWN? Show your spirit DCDS! T D T N S
Spirit Showdown Posters for: the September 24th field hockey game, the 4:30 tennis match vs. Stoney Creek and the September 27 volleyball game. All courtesy of Atlas Harris.
SPORTS are back and better than ever at DCDS! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were not allowed to come to sports games, or if they were, at a limited quantity. This year, as those restrictions have been lifted, the Student Council has decided to design an initiative to get students to support other students at sporting events! During “spirit showdown”, the Student Council picks a spotlight event for the week and gives points to students for attending. These points are earned for a student’s grade level, and the winning grade level wins a class outing for their grade. Games so far have included Field Hockey, Volleyball, Sailing and Women’s Swim. Spearheading the initiative is William Beachum, the vice president of the DCDS Student Council. We were curious to learn about Beachum’s mission for this initiative. “Solene and I had sensed that in the community there was a lack of student buy-in for their peer’s sporting
events, either because of ignorance or disengagement. We wanted to craft something that would direct students to a specific game at a specific time and make it as easy as possible for them to come”, said Beachum. The Student Council picks the games each week based on a variety of factors, but mostly the timeframe and relevance of the event. “We have also made an active effort to spotlight under-represented sports and women’s sports. We wanted to try to make it so everyone is able to have their moment where a full student section is cheering them on, no matter what sport they play”. The Student Council has also spotlighted specific charity events, including the Orphan Invitational and the Dig Pink breast cancer awareness volleyball game. The efforts of the swim team drove a large crowd to the event, and helped to raise $1,457 for the “Donate to the Duras”
charity, founded by DCDS senior Graham Doman. Field hockey captain Amara Tariq adds, “What I enjoyed most about the spirit showdown was actually having a real student section for once, and hearing the crowd cheering during announcements when all our names were being called felt special, considering it was a 10 am game and it felt amazing that so many of my classmates came out to watch. Also, hearing everyone cheer during the game when there was a great tackle or our team won the ball was amazing since it wasn’t just parents cheering us on.” In terms of results, the seniors currently hold a runaway lead, with freshmen closely trailing behind. It will be interesting to see if the seniors can hold their lead and if the other classes can rally together. Show your spirit, DCDS!
STUDENTS: ASSEMBLE!
DCDS’ New & Improved Weekly Assemblies CONNOR KALKANIS
EVERY Thursday, all the DCDS students and teachers gather in the Performing Arts Center for the school’s weekly assembly put on by the Student Council. Over the past few years, with COVID constraints allowing little room for community activities, the general format of these assemblies devolved into what many viewers saw as an unimaginative pattern: a series of announcements from various school groups followed by the occasional Senior Speech, and finally dismissal. But this year, with DCDS having relaxed nearly all school-wide COVID restrictions, the Student Council is looking to pay tribute to the advice of many students and faculty by bringing the apparently missing energy back to the weekly assemblies. One such Senior Trey Archer gives his opinion about how the assemblies developed into something far less valuable during COVID. “The zoom assemblies were horrendous, it was just a place to sleep - no one really wanted to watch them. Once we were back in the PAC but still during the pandemic, the mood in the assemblies was sort of happy, just because we were glad to be in the assemblies at all. But still, it was kind of boring and just didn’t really have that level of energy. Those assemblies were a bit monotonous, and occasionally they tried to make it fun, but it still didn’t feel good going - it was just a requirement,” said Archer.
There’s no doubt that the school’s assemblies, like nearly all other in-person events, were dealt a major blow when COVID hit. For over two years following the initial shutdown, the weekly event carried on with a fraction of the energy and quality it once delivered to students and teachers. The Vice President of the Student Council William Beachum speaks to the watered-down nature of the school’s assemblies over STUDENTS SHARE THE stage with faculty in a game of tug-of-war the past couple of years. “In the past, we felt that we had The next step for the Student Council was really no control over assemblies. They were to decide what they would do differently really run by Mr. Cappelletti: He would get moving forward, and how they would ima list of people, and then [Student Council] plement those plans to build an all-around would introduce the assembly and let the superior assembly. announcements go - it was super low effort “Our goal is to try not to waste from our end, especially in my Freshman students’ time. We’re trying to make it and Sophomore years. As we moved on- so they get the relevant information they line, [assemblies] got shorter and short- need (like hearing about why the Japanese er and people were not paying attention, exchange students were here a few weeks announcements were getting lost in the ago), while also giving students a space to shuffle. We had 40 minutes a week when have fun in a non-academic and non-athwe could get everybody together, and we letic setting. We had our rock band perforweren’t using it. When it was Solene and mance at the very first assembly, and we got I’s turn to come in, we said that we should some very positive feedback on that - it was be using this 40 minutes for better, which such a great moment of community bondis why we decided to make a change,” said ing. We also had Musical Chairs, we had Beachum. our pep band perform, and looking to the Recognizing that many members future we have our all-star tug of war comof the DCDS Community thought assem- ing up too. And not only are we planning blies needed work was only half the battle.
these fun events, we’re also giving affinity groups chances to present and bring in speakers to educate the community about something they find important. So not only are we planning fun events, but also informative events,” said Beachum. Students and teachers seem to agree that these redesigned, reimagined assemblies are a major step up from what DCDS had grown used to. The community has the Student Council to thank for decidedly putting the assembly time to better use. Rather than assemblies being 40 minutes for various groups to tell you their agenda for the week, they’re now 40 minutes for talented performers, for important messages from affinity groups and speakers, and for the DCDS community to grow closer as a whole.
2 OPINIONS NOVEMBER 11 2022
THE DAY TIMES
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SEAT STEALERS TAKE ADVISORY COUCHES Should advisories be allowed to keep couches for students to relax? JOSIE PACHLA A CURRENT topic of conversation at our school has been whether couches should be allowed in advisories or not. Before the start of this school year the administration decided that couches should not be allowed; they had been removed them from classrooms due to COVID. Some students and faculty agreed with the decision, but many were upset. “In Jwil’s advisory, it's always been a tradition to have couches. When COVID hit we had to get rid of them, so last year we all chipped in and bought Jwil new couches for christmas. It was sad to see something so special get taken away,” said senior Lola Bagby. Bagby makes a good point when talking about the tradition of the couches. Many advisories at Country Day have had couches for countless years, making the pieces of furniture a symbol for the heart of the classroom and the soul of the people who enter it. Teacher and advisor John Wilson also made a comment about having couches in advisory. “I’ve always viewed having furniture in the room for the advisory as a way to make advisory a home at school. I think that eliminating that element takes away a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish here, which is forming meaningful relationships with our advisees and making them feel like they have a safe and comfortable place.”
Mr. Wilson makes a great point about having couches in the classroom. Along with many other teachers and students, he feels that the furniture makes the advisory more comfortable, which helps bring advisees together. Advisories are such an important and unique factor of Country Day and the bonds and experiences made inside the advisories are even more important, which is why making the room more comfortable is crucial. On the contrary, Head of School Mr. Dempsey made some comments about why couches present a problem to the school. “I would like to have comfortable places where people can interact and socialize but I want that to be in public places, not behind closed doors.” Dempsey provides an important concern that having couches in classrooms may bring students away from each other. He mentioned that in the future he plans to create more comfortable spaces outside of the classroom for students to congregate because he would rather have students spending their time together, than separated in different classrooms. “We’re trying to create a look and feel in the classrooms that focuses on teaching and learning and not having big oversized furniture in the classroom,” Dempsey added.
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C T D T : T D T D C D S W. M R. B H, MI () -
THE STATE OF STUDENT DRESS
The editorial represents the opinion of the Editorial Board, which is comprised of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, the Senior Editors of the Day Times.
DCDS recently brought the stricter dress code back with the repeal of many COVID restrictions. While COVID rules were in effect, the administration loosened the dress code. The fluctuation of dress standards has called into question the legitimacy and merit of these rules. When polled, nearly 80% of students believed the dress code needed change, and over 60% preferred the COVID dress code. In considering the dress code, we must think of the ever-changing times we live in. The DCDS dress code is outdated in modern professional dress standards and gender norms. Professionalism has changed greatly over the past decades. Despite its intention-- preparing students for office attire-- the dress code does not reflect this. Expectations for employees’ clothing, accessories, and body
modifications have loosened. The dress code is also rigidly defined by gender. It restricts male-identifying students to masculine dress; only female-identifying students may wear both skirts and pants. In addition, it only requires male-identifying students to wear a tie. The dress code should adhere to a standard of formality and remain current. We at the Day Times believe that restoring the dress code to its previous state neglects a prime opportunity to improve student life and recognize gender non-conforming people. The DCDS dress code should reflect modern workplace expectations and be completely gender-neutral. Instead of returning to what is familiar, we must take advantage of recent fluidity to better reflect and teach students about our current situation.
“Risk increases when we allow students to spend a lot of time behind closed doors. It's not that there is a lack of trust, but when you have a structure where the population is not visible, then their work is not observable and interruptible.” Mr. Dempsey concludes that the couch decision has to do with the future plans for the school, which center around a look for the classrooms that “focuses on teaching and learning”. He also comments that there is some risk involved with letting students have couches in advisory and letting them congregate in the room alone. Mr. Dempsey presents many solid reasons for the decision behind the couches, but it is still difficult for students to let go of something that has been so pertinent in their culture at Country Day. Most students who have had couches talk of experiences where their whole advisory is in the room, including their advisor, and the couch is being used in a fun and comforting way, rather than in an unequal and risk-involved way. Regardless, some trust should be held in the future plan for the school that is in motion. We just need to remember that each decision is made for the well being of the students, but also keep in mind that feelings about such decisions are always encouraged to be shared.
3 OPINIONS NOVEMBER 11 2022
COLLEGE APPLICATION STRIFE
SENIOR COLUMN Sameeksha Sampath
What advice do seniors give to rising college applicants?
SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH
ARYA CHAL ASANI FROM the start to the end of your high school career, everything you have worked for and achieved will be assigned value through one place -- college applications. Applying to these colleges, however, is not as easy as just clicking a button. With a complex process of writing essays, supplements, recommendation letters, etc., students often stress over how to do these things. It is important that underclassmen know the process beforehand and establish a plan before it gets hectic. The best start to creating this plan is understanding the advice that upperclassmen give you about the application process. Senior Arthur Gayden says, “I finished my common app two months in advance of the due date and let me just say, it was the best decision I ever made. Teachers still cram you with work when you have these applications, so the earlier you get started on it, the more you will be able to manage your workload.” Senior Arnav Modi says, “Make sure you have an idea of what you want to study and which schools you want to go to. You don’t want the year to start and be confused about where you want to go and what you want to study.” Applying to college can get stressful; however, the earlier you start, the earlier you can submit your application and manage your workload in a calm and peaceful manner. You never want to be in a position where you are submitting your application last minute, especially with all the technological difficulties that college apps and websites can have. Apart from just the whole common app application, students can also find stress in various sorts of areas with grades, extracurricular activities and social life, as well.
Senior Alyssa Ramhani says, “You always want to give yourself a break, but not too much of a break where you are stuck in your room writing college applications. It’s all about balance. Go out with your friends, go to parties, go to sports games, but make sure you have a plan as to when you are going to work on your applications.” Senior Alexis Corrigan says, “a vacation out somewhere can also help where you can write your college applications. You don’t want to be stuck in your room just writing it. It’s nice to change your location as to where you write it because you can articulate more thoughts when writing and applying to colleges’’ It is a good idea to write when you want. This lets your thoughts flow naturally and elegantly. Exploring new places and giving yourself a break will only help you for future endeavors and give you the ability to gather your thoughts together. College applications are stressful. The feeling of opening your decision with the click of a button is nerve-wracking. However, your confidence can be measured through your ability to work hard. We believe that students have the ability to lower the degree of that stress. The earlier you start, the better! But it is always important to balance your work accordingly as you do with school. To build a fortress takes planning, vision, and efficiency. Similarly, college applications can be approached with the same methods. These are not something that can be done overnight, but rather something that takes time and requires great effort from the students. The effort you invest comes down to how you want that desired college of yours. At the end of the day, where you go is defined by you, and no one else has better control of it than you.
SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH TAKES a senior pic
Growing up, my parents lived by a common phrase from the Bhagavad Gita: “Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well.” As a result, academics were always a priority. I often spent my evenings pouring over Kumon packets. By the age of six, times tables rolled off the tip of my tongue. My weekends were often stacked with back-to-back dancing and singing lessons. For years, I mechanically followed a pattern of being pushed to the limits; however, I could never decide on what I truly enjoyed. In the summer of 2015, I picked up a basketball for the first time. As a girl of Indian descent, the expectation was to immerse myself in the graceful art of dance, an activity better suited to the athletic ability of an Indian woman. Basketball was a foreign world meant to be left unexplored. But to me, the physical demands of dance paralleled those of basketball. A hesitation crossover required the same coordination needed for each dance move. Leaping into the air for rebounds resembled the frequent jumping in dance. Though I was discouraged by family and friends, I kept on dribbling the ball. I felt captivated by the swift nature of the game, the rhythmic bounces of the ball, and the camaraderie it cultivated. After two years of casually playing in the driveway, my parents finally enrolled me in a local league. I had reached the baseline, but the court
still awaited me. Due to my parent’s work schedule, an all-boys league was the only viable option. On the first day of practice, the boys all greeted each other with high fives, while I was welcomed with glares. During layup drills, they mocked me for my lack of skill and coordination. On game days, I simply ran in circles, not touching the ball once. To them, I was merely a spectator, not a teammate. I spent countless hours shooting, dribbling, and watching film to build on my knowledge. I embraced my failures and made repetition my home. My challenges were overshadowed by my genuine love for the sport. To me, basketball was not only worth doing, but it was worth doing well. By cultivating my love for baskteball, I realized the power of passion. My passion for basketball pushed me to find a place on the court where I was both the only female and Indian. It helped me break the cultural norms I had been bound to my whole life.
SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH DRIVES to the hoop
COMPETITION WITHIN A COMMUNITY
How will DCDS keep its community within such a competitive environment? ELLA JEUP
STUDENTS BEN FARAH and Stephen Brentano work hard in the classroom STUDENTS COMPETE over classwork (courtesry of Zach Yeh)
COMMUNITY is an aspect that DCDS is proud to represent. With class sizes as small as 150, the school contains 753 students in total. Students and faculty, wish to see a large bond within this small community, and there are many opportunities to do so. Required blue, gold, and silver points allow students to meet others outside their classes. Friendships between all grades are often formed from in- and outside-school activities. Long-lasting relationships can be made through these experiences, such as Georgia Pavlou’s experience on the Varsity Field Hockey team. Because she didn’t know many of the girls beforehand, daily practices and team bonding played a huge role in the connection of her team and community. Georgia explains how bonding with her teammates allowed her to have a community inside and outside of school. She would be able to see her teammates, no matter their grade, and “say ‘hi’
to them in the halls and laugh about inside jokes from practice.” Pavlou also says that “games and playoffs created an even greater bond” for her team. Despite many of the girls’ main sports being something other than field hockey, they all came together to share something in common. They play on the field as a team with the same drive to succeed and the same value to believe that they are “playing for everyone else, not just yourself.” As Pavlou says, “This is a team. It is a team sport, so you must play for and with everyone in order to overcome the obstacles we face.” Considering the bond students share because of common similarities, an anonymous student mentions how students bond over the academically rigorous schedule, courses, and workload received at DCDS. The student states that “DCDS students, in particular, go through a lot of stress,” believing this popular similarity makes our sense of community stronger
STUDENTS CHEER ON the DCDS football team against Brother Rice (courtesy of Zach Yeh)
because each student recognizes they are all in the same boat. Yet, both this student and senior William Beachum believe that these similarities can often lead to the wellknown competition amongst Country Day students. Beachum, Vice President of Student Council, mentions his perspective and sees the DCDS community as very “segmented.” Beachum states students “are put on different paths, through clubs, schedules, and activities” where he often sees students treating the community at school similarly to “a store; taking what you can get out of it and then leaving.” Mr. Corrigan, the Upper School Director takes into account our school’s competitive nature. In his words, he describes the situation as “a double-edged sword” because of the benefit of allowing people to strive through competition but states “the challenge is to find your own path through it.” The problem within our community comes when students compete
with each other, rather than focus on pushing themselves. Pursuing the best version of yourself will help students at the Upper School find a sense of community rather than try to fit into one. We often compare ourselves to our fellow classmates, and out of competitive spite, create a rivalry amongst each other. Competition, as I see it, is a characteristic amongst DCDS students that will never seem to change. This may be problematic at times, but our school strives on competition and drive in order to see our remarkable success in sports, arts, and academics. I acknowledge where competition may separate us, but I can begin to see where it may bring us together to recognize our similarities rather than noticing the differences. As Mr. Corrigan says, “You must be happy with who you are and try to push yourself to be the best you can be,” not the superficial version of a student you think you should become.
4 NOVEMBER 2022
STUDENTS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL How students got involved with this year’s Midterms
FRESHMEN IN DCDS
How 9th graders are acclimating to the Upper School life
CONNOR KALKANIS LUKE ZHANG
THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS just took place, and for many Michigan citizens, this was a momentous occasion for change. In this year’s gubernatorial race, Republican Tudor Dixon took on incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, and voters all across the state showed up to support their preferred candidate on November 8th. Right here at DCDS, students got involved with campaigns, working to make sure their opinions were heard and ultimately hoping to expand their knowledge of politics. One such student, senior Lila Barron, got busy volunteering on Governor Whitmer’s campaign. “I wanted to volunteer on Whitmer’s campaign because personally I think we hold a lot of the same values, and I feel like a lot of my values aren’t being represented right now,” said Barron. While the gubernatorial race occupies the majority of headlines, also on the ballot this November were candidates running for Congress. Representative Haley Stevens is a Democrat running for reelection to the House of Representatives from Michigan’s 11th congressional district. Senior Arthur Gayden speaks about the experience and perspective he’s gained over the past few months volunteering on Stevens’ campaign. “I was part of an intern team that essentially carried out the day-to-day operations, like canvassing, making connections with voters, fundraising, going to campaign events and meeting with labor unions and client groups. Also, especially nearing the Primary Election date itself, we were talking to voters directly at their doors. I strongly believe in Haley Stevens and what she stands for - independent of the party. I don’t necessarily consider myself a Democrat strictly speaking, but I very much support Haley Stevens and the policies she stands
for. I noticed that it’s really easy to spot the problems with politics and in society, and the only way that you can really change it from the grassroots level is by helping to campaign for candidates that you believe in, and not necessarily by being a part of the way of society - it’s about driving that change,” said Gayden. Many DCDS students were not of voting age in time for this November’s Midterm Elections, but are absolutely looking to vote in the future. And for high school students especially, it can be difficult to organize and form opinions on each candidate on the ballot. This obstacle is exacerbated by today’s age of politically motivated social media ads and biased news headlines. Having spent months working on Haley Stevens’ campaign, Gayden shares some valuable insight with the students of DCDS who weren’t old enough to participate in this year’s elections, but who will be eager to do so in the coming years. “Now more than ever, do your own research instead of having trusted people, media outlets, and social media dictate your political views and political choices,” said Gayden. It’s impressive to see students at DCDS getting involved with politics and voicing their opinions. Not only does this showcase their strong and independent characters, but it also means that the next generation of voters is enthusiastic about finding ways to better our society. It’s crucial to encourage young people - especially high schoolers - to get educated on the world and work to make their voices heard. This year’s midterm elections were an opportunity for students to do just that, and it will be exciting to see how the first-time voters of future elections choose to engage with the world of politics.
GRETCHEN WHITMER and TUDOR DIXON on the campaign trail courtesy of Google Images
NATHAN MAIBACH
A GROUP OF freshmen wear their 26’ class shirts
THIS year the high school welcomed 173 new Freshmen. These Freshmen all come with their own unique opinions about our high school. Some of them like their new environment, and others believe the Upper School should make much-needed changes. Lunch is a hot topic. Most freshmen who went to the DCDS Middle School liked the switch to the high school lunch, especially the free time they are given after leaving the cafeteria. These are freedoms they didn’t have in middle school, which they now take full advantage of. “I really like the lunch, the cafeteria, and the free time afterward. I think it is a lot better than the middle school with the salad bar,’’ said Freshman Helena Fakhoury. These first weeks of school are a big transition for the new freshmen. They are just beginning to acclimate to the schedule, clubs, classes, and academic workload. The workload, in particular, is something the freshmen have had a more challenging time acclimating to.
“It is a lot; there are a lot more quizzes and tests which take up much of my time,” said Freshman Gianna Kirakosa. Freshman Tayor Lopenz mentioned, “It’s so much because now I have homework every night, which is very hard to manage.” When students have a lot of work and not much time, it creates tremendous stress for them, which can result in a decline in mental health. Some freshmen are already experiencing this decline. “With the never-ending homework and quizzes, I can’t find time to de-stress and practice self-care, so my mental health has not been great,” said Freshman Noor Mahmoud. After speaking with several freshmen about their feelings on high school, it’s evident that they’re still adjusting and transitioning. On the bright side, they seem to be excited about the new aspects and opportunities that are available in the Upper School.
THE BUTLER DID IT!
A review of the DCDS Theater Program’s Murder on the Orient Express CONNOR KALKANIS ACHYUT REDDY -
OR MAYBE IT WAS THE CONDUCTOR? The DCDS theater program searched for clues to answer this question in their production of Murder on the Orient Express. The story follows esteemed detective Hercule Poirot as he travels through Europe. When someone on his train is murdered, he must put his analysis skills to the test in order to devise who the killer is, and stop them from striking again. Each step of this old-fashioned murder mystery was as unpredictable as the next, keeping the audience on their toes throughout! There are many different pieces that go into the production of a play, the most obvious being the cast. Sharing some insight on the work that went into the performance of the show is Junior Atlas Harris, who played the lead Hercule Poirot. “The set we worked with to replicate the train was an
interesting yet welcome challenge. Figuring out routes, where certain cars are in relation to one another, and how to work with the smaller, limited space made blocking the show a struggle at times. The characters in the play are very interesting to me: everyone on the Orient Express has a secret, or something to hide. There was also ample opportunity for members of the cast to take initiative on aspects of directing, which has taught me and my cast-mates a lot,” said Harris. While the actors are up on stage, the tech crew is working tirelessly backstage to make sure the lights, props, and other equipment are all in order. Additionally, they handle all set-up work in the months before the show, like set building and blocking. Explaining these tasks in more detail is Sophomore Caitlyn Davis, the Stage Manager for this Fall’s production.
CAST MEMBERS REHEARSE their lines in preparation for the show
A TECH CREW artist paints set materials for the play
“I’ve been involved with theater my whole life, but I just started doing behind the scenes work last year. I stick by the director and kind of help him out with everything, and during performances I’ll call the show - I give everyone on tech crew their cues over the headset and I’m kind of like the second runner of the show, the first being Mr. Oliphant. Most of my work involves taking down all the blocking notes for the actors, and working with the director and tech director on how we might work with what we have for a set. One of the biggest challenges is being the only stage manager and having to do all the blocking notes on my own. I’m also a little worried about how I’m going to do calling the show during performances, because I’ve never really done that before,” said Caitlyn. There’s no doubt that there is lots of work that goes on behind the scenes, both before and during the show, that audiences don’t always recognize. And of course, the performers are always hard at work to put on the best show possible as well. But how do these groups organize and work together to form one glorious final product? Mr. Oliphant explains his role as the director. “The first change we made was that I am directing the play this year. I have never directed a play before here at DCDS so it is a learning experience for me as well as the cast,” says Mr. Oliphant. Even as a new director of the play, Mr. Oliphant has done a great job creating a well organized cast. “This cast has been extraordinary to work with as our cast has amazing chemistry with each other. We have had leaders emerge from this cast, including upperclassmen and returning rockstars, and we are so glad to be sharing these faces with everyone!” The play ran through the weekend of November 4th, and viewers from across the DCDS community and beyond showed up to watch the master Hercule Poirot solve this classic whodunit mystery! One audience member, sophomore Jacob Hopkins, had a particularly positive review to share. “I thought that each of the actors in the play was able to give their characters funny, memorable, and unique personalities that added tremendously to the overall production. Certainly, this year’s play was a fun experience and I cannot wait for what the theater department has in store for the future!”
5 NEWS NOVEMBER 2022
HOW HAPPY IS CAMP HAPPY?
A first person feature on the experience of the football training camp CONNOR COOPES and JIU WON
DCDS SENIORS LINE up on the beaches of Camp Happy
I boarded the bus to Camp Happy, filled with anticipation. My friends and I were confident that our annual football training camp would be filled with hiking trails, games, and fun. The 4-hour trip went quickly as we told stories, laughed, and made prank calls to unsuspecting friends at home. After a few hours on the road, we stopped at a rest area where the coaches treated us to Taco Bell and Wendy’s. When we arrived at the camp, we were told to do 100 down-ups in the wet grass before going to our cabins. This was our first lesson in discipline, and a painful one. For those who had eaten generously, the down-ups felt like carrying a hundred-pound sack on your back. Several boys began to vomit. I nearly fainted from exhaustiion. Day 1--At 6:30 in the morning, we woke to Coach J Wil’s infamous morning saying: “Wakey, Wakey! Eggs, and Bakey!” I did not move, pretending with the utmost skill to be sound asleep. There was no escape; soon, we were on the field surrounded by swarms of mosquitoes and heat so thick you could see it rising from the ground. We broke into groups of 8 and began our conditioning exercises. This was the Camp Happy Special - we had to do ten push-ups with our feet on each other’s backs. If one of us fell, we would need to start over. After five restarts, our team gave up. I was the weak link, embarrassed and wanting nothing more than to go home. Exhausted, my teammates tried to cheer me up. “We will get it next time,” they assured me. This was another Camp Happy lesson - the team will keep you from giving up when the chips are down. You might not be successful the first time, but you keep trying. Evening 2--That evening a monsoon hit our campground. The trip from the lodge to the cabin was endless. We waded through 6 inches of water that settled uncomfortably above our ankles. The field was filled with muck, causing several people to lose their shoes and balance. At the cabin, we found our bedding and clothes drenched from the rain coming in from the windows. Despite being exhausted, we went to the other cabins to help our teammates. We bonded as a team, and everyone’s focus was supporting each other. We stayed up late that evening, confident practice would be canceled in the morning due to the poor field conditions.
Day 2--The heat of the evening had evaporated the settled water on the field, and although slightly wet, the coaches had determined practice could go on. Wearing soaked clothes, we began our drills. New bugs with long wingspans and spiraling tails emerged from the rainfall, dancing in the humid conditions. My legs and arms ached with the intense pain. Our coaches pushed us to do more, testing our limits. The entire team was dragging - the humidity was so thick we could hardly breathe. Several people yelled words of encouragement, demanding we not give up. We finished. I was confident it was divine intervention – a force that pushes you forward when you can’t feel your body any longer. This lesson would serve us well in future games with poor conditions and tough competitors. Evening 2--Our last evening proved to be the most memorable. One of the freshman cabins found a huge rat scurrying across the floor. We grabbed our broomsticks and a bag and headed out to help them. We spent an hour in the cabin trying to catch the elusive beast but came up empty-handed. We overturned every bed and dresser. That night, I dreamt of hundreds of rats scampering across our floor. The only lesson I could find in this adventure was to prepare for anything and never underestimate a rat, no matter how small. Day 3--Our last day played out just like the days before. After running the final dreadful Green Bay, we had something to look forward to, going home. As we made the trip home, I reflected on my experience at camp. The name was ironic, as the experience was the opposite of happiness. Camp Miserable is what it should have been called. I wondered why so many positive stories had come from previous trips. It wasn’t until the fourth game of our season that year that I realized how much the Camp Happy trip meant to our team. We were down by 14 points with two minutes left to go in the game. Nevertheless, we pulled out a surprise upset victory. We were a cohesive unit and looked out for each other. We knew we could endure anything and played with heart in the game’s final minutes. We had each other’s back, stepped up, and played harder despite our best player being out of the game - all lessons we had learned from Camp Happy.
FUELING THE APPETITE OF DCDS ACHYUT REDDY and CONNOR KALKANIS
Our lunch staff this year has returned to pre-covid lunch operations - fueling our classes, sports, extracurriculars, and of course, our appetites! Every school day, DCDS is able to provide an impressive one-thousand eight hundred meals per day between all three campuses. Now, before we get too excited about lunch, let’s take a step back and recognize the essential workers that act as the backbone of our health and nutrition, and spotlight the work done to run the DCDS kitchen! Karen Kubek, director of Plum Market DCDS said, “Just about every aspect of our operation has changed coming out of the pandemic. Supply chain issues and shortages are one of the biggest obstacles that we are facing.” To combat these issues, Kubek and her team have come up with an interesting solution.“Keeping the lines of communication open with our vendors is key to reducing shortages. The school menus are written one month in advance and we send expected usage to each vendor. “It’s not a full-proof solution, but it helps,” said Kubek. The lunch staff also cites their support from other DCDS services as a key to their new operation.“The help of the bus drivers during lunch has helped us be successful. A phenomenal amount of teamwork takes place to prepare and serve lunch every day We appreciate all they are doing to help,” said Kubek. The work of the lunch staff deserves respect and support from the student body. Along with this hard work, the lunch staff stands out for their enthusiasm. As Kubek states it, “The best part of our day is seeing the faces of students and faculty and getting to know all of you!” So, the next time we receive a meal from the counter, stop by the salad bar, or grab another glass of chocolate milk, let’s recognize the workers that feed our appetites behind the scenes!
STUDENTS LINE UP
for lunch under the new operation
6 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2022
DON’T WORRY DARLING DRAMA
All the behind the scenes info about Olivia Wilde’s project you need to know RILEY MCALPINE
FLORENCE PUGH AS Alice in Don’t Worry Darling courtesy of Warner Brothers
DON’T Worry Darling has been circulating through every social media platform since the movie was announced. From the problems between Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh to rumors about Harry Styles spitting on Chris Pine at the premiere, the controversy surrounding the cast and production crew has garnered a lot of attention. Though the rumors are very messy, the movie itself is far from that. The story that is told is something you wouldn’t expect in a normal mystery movie. Key details that can be placed in the background all add up in the end and there are small parts that leave you wondering what is really going on. Many people left the theater with more questions than when they arrived. Florence Pugh has gotten a large amount of praise from her work on the movie. Pugh is widely known for her starring role in the movie Midsommar (2019) and her supporting role in Little Women (2019). While Pugh has been in many films, her role in Don’t Worry Darling was a big step in her career. Pugh is said to be a delight to work with and a wonderful member of the team, but Olivia Wilde seems to privately find her disagreeable. However, even in the midst of Wilde’s drama, ‘Miss Flo’ decided to ignore the internet gossip and be the bigger person.
Meanwhile, Harry Styles stepping into a big supporting role was quite a shock, being one of the most famous pop singers to date. Viewers continue to speculate the reasons as to why he was cast as the leading man in such a heavy film. Some theories point to the controversy between the other actors, while others think he earned his part. Nevertheless, fans of the singer were excited to see him take on such a demanding role. Harry may have performed better than expected, but critics and fans alike do not see him acting in a Hollywood movie anytime soon. Florence Pugh was not the only uncontroversial cast member watching the madness unfold. Chris Pine was doing his best to stay in the shadows, when the speculation of Harry Styles spitting on him during the Venice Film Festival made headlines. Though Pine cleared the air, many still think Stiles is guilty. There’s no way to know what actually went down. There is much to be said about the effects the movie has on the audience. With many amazing performances from big-name actors and a lot of madness behind the scenes, Don’t Worry Darling is a memorable movie with a ton of behind the scenes drama.
FALL FAVORITES
Activity suggestions for this season! MADELINE ROCCHI
APPLE CIDER DONUTS courtesy of Franklincidermill.com
| Comic by Eddy Wang |
SEPTEMBER, October, and November are arguably the most comfortable months of the year. The Autumn season brings classy fall fashion, exciting activities, and flavored foods. What are some highlights of fall that you can partake in before the season ends? Pumpkin spice is arguably the most popular fall flavor. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin spice candles (etc.) are in high demand; within these months, the pumpkin spice is unlimited. Pumpkin carving is another fall tradition that dates back to the nineteenth century and is still a common fall activity. Pumpkins can be bought at local grocery stores, orchards, and even pop-up stands! Sophomore Elena Tatai talks about her elementary school memory of pumpkin carving: “When I was in 2nd grade, we did pumpkin carving in class and nobody wanted to carve the pumpkins but me. No one wanted to gut them, but I did it!” Sports fans also get excited about the football season. Football fans can keep up with the exciting rivalries, and non-football fans can still enjoy the festivities and camaraderie. Stadiums are fun, but watching home games brings watchers comfort and warmth. Cider mills, crisp apples, and leaves circulate through fall thoughts. Familiar smells and tastes waft throughout the air around many popular cider mills. Senior Annika Thakur recommends Blake’s Apple Orchard, where she went with her field hockey team. Annika states, “We got scared on the haunted hayride, and it was very fun, very spooky, and we drank apple cider!” We are halfway through fall, and it is rapidly coming to an end. Before winter approaches, cherish the exciting activities surrounding fall! And get excited about upcoming winter activities!
7 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2022
A ROYAL TRAGEDY
Queen Elizabeth is not immortal after all....
MADELINE ROCCHI NAOMI ZAKALIK AT 1:30 pm on September 8th, 2022, operation “London Bridge” was launched into effect. Flags across Whitehall, London were lowered to half-mast and a moment of silence occurred across all of England. Tragedy had suddenly struck the world. Hearts were broken, tears were shed, and the cause of such despair, you may ask? Queen Elizebeth II, at the age of 96, had died. Queen Elizabeth, England’s longest reigning monarch, was crowned in 1952, and has continued with her rule up until 2022, living through the terms of 15 prime ministers. She represented, in a sense, the modernization of the English monarchy, having her coronation be the first ever to be televised and being the sixth woman to rule over Great Britain out of over 60 monarchs. Countless people, both British and non-British, shared a love for her majesty and were devastated by the passing of such a revolutionary ruler. But despite her death, love for the queen still remains prevalent among people across the world. In fact, the line for paying respects to the queen had a wait time of up to 24 hours. According to a CBS interview, when presented with the question of how long they were willing to wait, several in line responded with, “as long as it takes.” But what does the Queen’s death mean for Great Britain? First, King Charles III, the former Prince of Wales, will ascend to the throne and be crowned King. However, King Charles’s faulty past has, for years, made his eminent, and now current rule, one of much controversy. Ever since his notorious scandal regarding his treatment towards his late wife Diana, Princess of Wales, countless royal family enthusiasts have thought of him as incapable or unfit to rule. Diana was a beloved inspiration for all, not only for those during the 80s and 90s, but for many today. She sought to break the traditional boundaries most royal women were expected to follow: she was an activist for HIV/
AIDS and fought, without fail, the prevalent stigma which surrounded the disease during that time. So, as more and more evidence arose exposing the mistreatment that Diana withstood from Charles, so did the controversy surrounding him and his family. In addition to a new monarch being crowned, other changes will happen, including: a new national anthem, new bills, coins, passports, and stamps. On another note, news about the Queen's death spread like wildfire on social media platforms, including TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and more. Conspiracy theories began to circulate regarding Princess Diana’s death, accusing several royal family members of being a part of her death, including at the time, the Queen, Prince Charles, and Princess Camilla. Although these accusations are unprovable, people around the world felt as if they were mourning not only Queen Elizabeth’s death, but also the painful memories of Princess Diana’s death. Many were harsh towards the new King and Queen, as Diana could have been the new Queen Consort if she did not unfortunately pass away. This has led to a lot of hate towards Camilla. The Queen’s death has also sparked those on social media platforms to talk, gossip, and of course, make jokes. One such rumor that surfaced was when social media star, Trisha Paytas, was accused by fans on TikTok of naming her new-born daughter Elizabeth the same day the Queen died. Many speculated that Trisha's newborn was a reincarnation of the Queen. However this speculation was quickly denied because Paytas had her daughter several days after the Queen’s death and named her Malibu-Barbie Paytas. Drama amongst the royals will never end; nevertheless, the Queen's death will forever remain a sensitive topic for the world. She was a beloved royal, and her legacy will never be forgotten.
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S LAST portrait courtesy of Vogue.com
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA APPS BEING USED AT DCDS Keep up with the latest internet trends and tools! NAOMI ZAKALIK
STUDENTS SHARE THEIR saved
BeReals, revealing fun moments throughout their days courtesy of DCDS students
“The BeReal just went off!”; “Do you want to get in my BeReal?”; “Someone just voted for me on crush!” These are just a few of the many phrases which can be heard among teens both at DCDS and around the world. If you are an adult who does not keep up with the recent trends or are simply someone who has never heard of these apps, you may be curious as to why these phrases are being exclaimed so often. Well, this is due to the two social media platforms which have recently sprung up to captivate not only the majority of the DCDS community, but many teens in the Midwest. You may have heard of them, you may have not, but the fact still remains that they are unquestionably the biggest new thing. These new apps are known as BeReal and Gas, formerly known as “Crush.” The first, and probably the more popular app of the two, is BeReal. BeReal was created in 2020. After two years of basically being completely unknown, in early to mid2022, the app’s usage and popularity began to reach unprecedented levels. BeReal is probably one of the most popular apps in the U.S. The central premise of the app is to, well, be real. At any random point throughout the day, the BeReal app notifies the user, who will have two minutes to snap a photo of themselves. To view their friends' posts, they must take their photos first. If they fail to take their BeReal within two minutes, their friends will be able to see how many minutes or hours they took to post after the initial time. Posting late will also result in a notification being sent out to one's friends saying that they "posted late." Although these conditions seem like consequences of late posting, it's pretty standard for people to do so. One thing that separates BeReal from apps like Snapchat is the requirement to take photos from both sides of the camera at the same time. So when people ask others to “get in their BeReal,” they can take either pose within the frame of the front camera or the back. It's not uncommon for users to ask non-users to take their BeReal since they'd be oblivious that the camera would capture them with the front camera despite it showing the view from the back camera. Some other trends include having singers or teachers take a person's BeReal - the various ways people use this app are endless.
Overall, BeReal’s intention is to take away the many superficial aspects of the modern social media apps in which Gen-Z is constantly immersed. After all, the app makes posting curated content quite difficult and encourages users to be authentic. The app is genuine, relatable, and very popular. BeReal is so popular, in fact, that some have even added features onto their apps in imitation of BeReal. TikTok, for example, now has a feature called “TikTok Now” which sends out a daily notification, inviting users to capture their moment using their front and back camera. This new addition is almost identical to BeReal. The most recently created app with the quickest spike in popularity is Gas. Because of its being such a new app, Gas’s popularity has not yet stretched farther than the mere Midwest, but the places in which it has gained popularity have teens buzzing with excitement. Unlike BeReal, Gas is not based around posting pictures at random times, but rather, anonymous voting polls. When one downloads the app, they join their school, informing the app of people whom they may know and the area in which they may live or go to school. It then provides the user with recommendations on friends they should add. Based on all of these factors, when one downloads the app, voting polls are created. These polls essentially prompt questions to the user and provide them with four people - either friends they have added or people they may know due to their school and location. Out of these four people, users must choose who best fits the given prompt. The students also have the option to shuffle the names to generate new ones. For example, a prompt may say, “Who is most likely to become rich and famous?” and four people’s names will be provided, one of which must be chosen as the person who best fits the question. When a person is chosen in a certain poll, they are notified that they were voted for; however, they are not informed who chose them. Look out for these apps being used at DCDS!
8 FEATURES NOVEMBER 2022
BELLA COOK
Senior Spotlight on Bella Cook’s photographic talent SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH
Kindness is a quality that senior Bella Cook exemplifies. Both within the DCDS community and outside of it, Cook strives to treat everyone with compassion and care. Cook has excelled at DCDS, finding her passion in the arts. Though art can be a demanding profession, Bella Cook has achieved a perfect balance between her academics and her passion, while also using her voice to make impactful change in our community. After witnessing the fear children face when going to court, Cook was inspired to start an organization to provide comfort to these kids. “I am the founder of an organization called Comfort 4 Kids in Court that serves to educate children before they go into court in order to reduce stress levels. As part of this project, I wrote and published a book on Amazon called Justice the Court Dog and the Missing Gavel,” said Cook. Cook is driven by a desire to give back to children in the community. “I work on the weekends at Dream Scene Parties. I work as a lead host to read books, lead crafts, and direct games for kids,” said Cook. A major component of Cook’s life has been her love for photography. “Being a photographer is now such an important part of who I am and I am so thankful that I found something that I love so much,” said Cook. Though Cook’s favorite piece of art work varies from day to day, she has a favorite collection. “My greatest pieces of art are the collection of black and white photos that I am putting together for my portfolio based on a poem that I read in Dr. K’s sophomore honors English class called ‘The Captured Goddess’ by Amy Lowell,” said Cook. In her four years at DCDS, Cook has served as the captain of the Varsity Swim and Dive Team, a dedicated member of the Honor Council, co-president of Mens Sana Club, and a Girl scout Ambassador. Despite all the challenges life has thrown at her, Cook has thrived. Cook’s life has been full of adventure and devotion to the activities she enjoys. She is excited to carry her enthusiasm and love of the arts to college, where she intends to start her career with a double major in English and visual arts.
“A Pond for Poets” from Autobiography of the Goddess BY BELLA COOK
“Tendrils and Trees” BY BELLA COOK
“Cocoon” from Autobiography of the Goddess BY BELLA COOK
“Disco Ballet” from Autobiography of the Goddess BY BELLA COOK
9 NOVEMBER 2022
LIGHTS,CAMERA, ACTION A firsthand look at the DCDS film department JIU WON On September 7th, I walked into the class I had been eagerly anticipating for what felt like ages: Advanced Film Studio Productions. As a beginner filmmaker, I expected everything from the workload to simply sitting in class to feel overwhelming and intimidating - which it was. I only had the summer to squeeze a vast amount of knowledge into my brain in a desperate attempt to catch up to my peers. Regardless of how underprepared I felt, I had never been more excited about a class before. I had wandered into the film classroom a few times over the past year and the room was always buzzing: there was always a scene being shot in one corner and a project being made in another. The film studio continues to captivate my eyes despite my now comfortable familiarity with the beloved room. There’s nothing more exciting than a protected shelf lined with high quality cameras and boom microphones! The fully renovated kitchen and bedroom we use as sets elevate the quality of our scenes. As my eyes gaze upon our luxurious studio, it doesn’t escape me how fortunate we are to have unique sets and film equipment. My admiration grows deeper as I see how much time,
energy, and effort is put forth behind the scenes. The extreme attention to minute details that I previously paid no mind to caught the keen eyes of our filmmaker students. My respect for our film team grows daily. Every single step of filming has me on cloud nine. A film student who was in the same boat before is Aunvi Mahajan, a current DCDS senior. Similar to me, she joined the film program later than her peers, in her sophomore year. “I was pretty excited when I first joined. I did feel behind at first, but Mr. Salamin (the film teacher) helped push me to the point where in my junior year, I felt like I had caught up,” said Mahajan. Mahajan’s favorite aspect of film is having a close community. “In film production, you have to be talking with other people, getting new ideas and getting creative, so you can’t be by yourself. It’s really fun to talk to others who have the same interest as you,” Mahajan said. Though I have just dipped my feet into the film experience, I am eager to explore filmmaking at a deeper level in my future. Being an amateur means there’s so much room for growth and learning, which is the most exciting part of my film journey!
DCDS’ FILM STUDIO: The kitchen & family room set (courtesry of Brett Salamin)
AUNVI MAHAJAN WORKS on editing a film (courtesey of Brett Salamin)
A LIFE OF HER OWN
Mrs. Hannet broke DCDS’ glass ceiling REGAN HARKINS
MRS. HANNETT LEADS class discussion courtesy of Mr. Jay Vannatter
MRS. HANNETT VISITS her granddaughter courtesy of DCDS Vidigami
MRS. HANNETT POSES for a photo the DCDS Yearbook courtesy of Mr. Jay Vannatter
In a male dominated society, women aren’t often given the opportunity to live a life fueled by passion. It takes nothing less than a strong, independent woman to pursue a life of her dreams. A woman of such qualities, Mrs. Beverly Hannett, was the first female teacher at Detroit Country Day School. She graduated from Albion College in 1959 with a degree to teach high school English. Mrs. Hannett spent a total of 11 years in the public school system: three years at Parma High School, two years at Albion High School, one year at Derby Junior High, and five years at Groves High School. Her teaching job at Detroit Country Day almost came by chance: former headmaster, Dr. Richard Schlegel had a son, Michael Schlegel, who attended Groves High School after getting expelled from DCDS. One day, Dr. Schlegel called and offered Mrs. Hannett a job at DCDS, an all boys, all male faculty school then, for English. He was impressed with how his son at Groves was reading the classics, writing more analytical papers, and studying more vocabulary for the SAT. This prompted Mrs. Hannett to come to the all male school of Detroit Country Day in 1969. Throughout her 65 years of teaching, she has experienced numerous accounts of disrespect and attempts
to limit her success as a woman. Mrs. Hannett describes two reactions when she first joined DCDS: “Either I was ignored, or they over compensated by being too effusive or too welcoming. But young men at Country Day were always polite. They had been taught to be polite. And it didn’t take long (to be respected) because I taught so differently than the other male teachers did. They found they could come in and talk to me about papers or English questions that they didn’t feel comfortable talking about with their male colleagues”. After Mrs. Hannett had proved herself as a teacher, she applied for a job as Chairman of the English Department. The job had been given to a man, and the explanation, she says, was: “‘You are more than qualified. You have proven yourself.’ But these are his exact words: ‘I do not want to feminize the department.’” She was denied an opportunity at success because the school did not feel a woman was fit for a position of leadership. Society may have regarded women as inferior, but Mrs. Hannett would not have that image of herself. When Mrs. Hannett was first hired at Detroit Country Day School, her husband was teaching there as well. Her male coworkers would not mess with her, and her husband played a crucial role in that. However, she explained that that wasn’t
the main reason. She gained the respect of those around her. “I have always been confident in who I was and what I was… a teacher means business,” said Mrs. Hannett. She was respected, because she demanded respect. Mrs. Hannett never lacked the confidence for a man to limit her success. Mrs. Hannett always knew she wanted to do what she loved. From a young age, she knew that she wanted to be a teacher, and she did not let challenges get in the way of that. She said, “I have never in my life, 65 years [of teaching], ever had a bad day teaching. Never have left the school wishing I were doing anything else with my life.” Mrs. Hannett loves teaching, and she broke ground by following her passion and becoming the first woman to teach at DCDS. [Most of us, students, only lived about ⅓ of Mrs.Hannett’s teaching career. Her 50 years here at DCDS began by chance and students are still benefiting daily from this chance. I’m sure there will be times when, as a woman, I will be looked down upon, but I’ll remember the lessons that Mrs. Hannett has taught me. Life is too short for me, or anyone else for that matter, to live confined to another person’s ideal.
10 SPORTS NOVEMBER 2022
A RETURN TO GLORY
DCDS varsity soccer team bounces back
This fall, the 2022 DCDS Varsity Soccer team looked to bounce back from last year’s loss in the district finals. The early exit was very disappointing for the team but they have been working hard to make a longer run this year. The three captains this year are all seniors and have many years of experience at the Varsity level. Headlined by an all state first team forward, the team looked very strong in the run up to the playoffs. Senior captain Gabe Hunter says, “This year we looked to bounce back strong and made a few tweaks to our lineup that will help us get further in the tournament than last year.” The main thing the team is working on this year was implementing a different play style. The coaches and players are focusing on possessing and passing the ball more. This playstyle showed its benefits as the Jackets got off to a great start. Earlier on in the season, the Jackets won the 44th annual Bartoshuk tournament for the first time in 10 years. The captains were all seniors this year, with Ben Farah and Alex Zargami joining Hunter to lead the squad. Farah and junior Zach Rodger led the team in goals with 17
each. Finn Hounsell and Oliver Aason tended goal for the team. Going in to the playoffs, the team had serious momentum. They went 15-4-3 on the season, won the district with victories over Centerline and Clawson, and won the region by beating Flint Powers and Imlay City. “The playoff run was amazing. The team was ecstatic. We started dreaming about winnning the state championship,” said Junior Andrew Weir. Unfortunately, the team finally fell in a hard fought battle 1-0 to Grosse Ile in the state semifinal match. “The loss was heartbreaking,” said Weir. “But despite the loss, I have never been prouder of the team.” While they didn’t meet their goal of winning states, it’s hard not to call this season a success for the boys. Junior Ammar Siddiqui said, “The season didn’t end the way we wanted, but it was still a great season for us. The team came together in the playoffs and the younger players on the team gained a lot of experience from the deep playoff run, experience we hope will push us even further next year.”
SENIOR BEN FARAH dribbles past defender (courtesy of Farah)
NEW KICKERS DRIVE FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYOFF RUN Take a look at the school’s first female kicker
The DCDS Men’s Football Team started off its season with a clean slate. As they head into another deep drive into the playoffs, they now feature new additions to the team, new uniforms, and a female player on the team for the first time in Country Day history. 11th grader Victoria Miller is now the starting kicker. Miller, committed to Ohio State for soccer, has been kicking for Country Day since the start of this season after their other kicker, Graham Doman, was injured due to a meniscus injury. Miller says, “It’s been so much fun playing for the team and for the program. I’m so grateful for being a part of such a historical achievement for Country Day.” Other additions to the team include 12th grader
Ben Farah and 11th grader Shafeek Halabi. Farah, also a kicker, has rotated with Miller on extra point kicks and field goals and multitasking with another varsity sport in soccer. Halabi is taking the role of doing kickoffs for the team while also playing for the junior varsity soccer team. These two athletes have been able to bring success to the team while also handling another sport at the same time. 11th Grader Aiden Bergin talks about the significance of the new kickers. He says, “I think these new players complete our team and signify the position as a whole. We aren’t a team without them. It brings a different aspect of skill to our team because soccer uses a lot of precision and kick power
that many football guys do not have.” Bergin also talks about how precise Miller has been for the team. “Victoria hasn’t missed an extra point all year and those are the points that make or break our close games. We only beat Michigan Collegiate by one because Victoria did not miss,” says Bergin. “If we don’t have Ben or Victoria it’s like losing anybody on our football team, they have just as high value as any starter on the field.” The team continues to strive with these new kickers helping lead the way. The team has had a great start in the playoff so far and looks to continue their successful run into the state championship tourney. Let’s go Jackets!
VICTORIA MILLER KICKS at pink out
THE FOOTBALL TEAM gathers together on the sideline
VICTORIA MILLER PREPARES to kick
(photos courtesy of Miller)
11 SPORTS NOVEMBER 2022
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: CLAY HARTJE Clay Hartje to play baseball at Johns Hopkins MATTHEW METROSE
The Day Times had the opportunity to interview and shine the spotlight on Senior Clay Hartje. Clay Hartje has had a brilliant baseball career at Country Day and has recently committed to Johns Hopkins for baseball. He is also a member of the varsity tennis team and the varsity hockey team. On top of his athletic success, Clay has excelled academically. Throughout high school, he has been a summa cum laude. In his junior year, he was inducted into the highly selective cum laude society. Clay’s baseball success quickly put him on college coaches’ radar; he ultimately committed to Johns Hopkins. “Year in and year out, they have a chance to compete for a National championship,” said Hartje. Clay also talked about the
outstanding academics at Johns Hopkins and the role of his DCDS education in his preparation for college. “I think DCDS prepared me as well or better than any high school could,” said Hartje. Finally, Clay was asked about his goals for his final high school baseball season. He stated, “I am really looking forward to competing for a state championship.” Country Day students should anticipate big things from Clay and the rest of Country Day’s baseball squad this spring. In short, Clay Hartje has exemplified what it means to be a student-athlete. CLAY HARTJE POSTS his commitment on Instagram
MEN’S TENNIS SEASON RECAP Rebuilding the Men’s Tennis Program
The Men’s Tennis Team rounded out a successful season by placing 2nd at Regionals and 3rd at States. Senior Captain Clay Hartje placed 1st at States. Senior Captain and 1 doubles player, Arnav Modi, described the changes the team has undergone this year. “We lost ten seniors last year out of our twelve person lineup, which was a pretty big hit. We lost a lot of experience and leadership from the 2022 class. Given that, our team looks young this year, but they’ve done a really good job of handling the pressure and keeping up with the rest of the team,” said Modi. To rebound from the loss
ZACH ROGER
of seniors, the team has been working harder than ever to make up for the deficit. Varsity freshman and 4 singles player, Luke Zhang spoke about the effort the team has put in. “We have had lots of weekend practices. The captains get it all together then we go out and play hard. The captains are extremely flexible and we really enjoy them,” said Zhang. To shine some light on the camaraderie of the tennis team, Zhang discussed how he has enjoyed his time off the court with the team. “It’s the most fun I have had in a while. All of the coaches, Rob, Nick, and Marina, are really nice. We went to Rob’s house last
weekend and munched on some enchiladas. It was a ton of fun,” said Zhang. Despite its younger players, the team still placed 2nd at Regionals and 3rd at States. Junior Nishan Inampudi said about the team’s state championship bid, “We felt good about our performance at states, considering the circumstances of the team this year and are going to come back next year stronger than ever to compete for a state championship.” With this year’s success, the team hopes to see the winning streak continue in 2023!
SENIOR CAPTAIN ARNAV Modi shows intense focus during a match
DIVING INTO THE FALL SEASON A conversation with the Women’s Swim and Dive Team ANDREW BRENTANO
When thinking about fall sports, most people think about football, soccer, and tennis. One sport in the fall season that is highly ignored is Women’s Swim and Dive. The team has been doing good so far this season, and they are going into the final 3rd of the season ranked 5th in the state. Although swimming is underrated, it is not an easy sport. The team puts hours worth of hard work behind all of their success. We asked Junior Marin Norlander to describe what her practice schedule looks like. “We practice every day from 4-6 after school and from 8:30-11 on Saturdays. Our practices are a lot harder this year than they were last year and I think all of us can say that we’ve improved so much from it. We also do morning dryland practices on Mondays before school with Coach Novack, and those also help a lot with our conditioning outside of the pool,” said Norlander.
WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM bonds in the water
Swimming has been known to be a physically demanding sport that also requires mental toughness. Zoe Zikowski, a senior captain, describes how she prepares for her meets both mentally and physically. “Mentally, I reassure myself that I am the athlete that I have worked so hard to be, and that I have worked too hard and faced too much judgment by those around me to stop now. Physically, I do a lot of wall practices right before the start of the meet and of course work 100 percent at practice no matter how fatigued my body feels” said Zikowski. , When thinking about the attributes of swimming, it being a team sport doesn’t really come to mind. Lucy Pund, a senior captain, detailed the team aspect of swimming, and the importance it has in the sport. “The team aspect would be pushing and encour-
aging one another, and I think that is an important factor in the success of the team,” said Pund. Lastly, one of the surprising things about DCDS is that we don’t own a pool. The team has to go to Cranbrook Swim Club’s outdoor pool to practice everyday. Tanisha Khare, a senior captain, reflected on the advantages of DCDS owning a pool for the team. “Having a pool would be amazing because this way we would be able to swim indoors, which is especially important when it gets cold in October and November. We haven’t really been inside since 2019, but I hope soon we’ll be back to our normal schedule,” said Khare. We are so proud of these girls for persevering through these interesting conditions and can’t wait to see them compete at their state meet in November!
GOAL 1
WITH THE HIVE