Day Times January 2023

DAY TIMES

ARTIFICIAL INTELLEGENCE:

by KAITLYN HOPKINS editor in chief

than a classic analysis essay. The goal of these assignments is to prove the extent to which you believe that a knowledge claim (a statement that is presented as the truth) is relevent using a real life situation. I wondered if ChatGPT could successfully execute this kind of writing style, as it is not an assignment with a typical academic formula. I plugged in one of the prompts from a paper assigned in goal one. Within 2 minutes the machine spat out an essay. The next day I read the first paragraph and Mr. Parrish. Good reviews. He said that it was all true, and very convincing. One of Mr. Parrishes main critiques of the essay was it’s use of the word “deluge.” Deluge is not a word that he would expect to see an essay written by a student. After I told him that the essay was AI, minor details like fluency and vocabulary that didn’t match the capabilities of an average 17 year old. He only recognized small discrepancies after I revealed that the paper was written by artificial intelligence and acknowledged that this was potentially because of hindsight bias.

On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment. That speaks nothing to the ever present temptation I have had to paraphrase the things that I consider busywork and call it a day. I have it on good authority that I should feel a catastrophic sense of guilt for this, but for some unknown reason it doesn’t keep me up at night. For some of us, the urge to take short cuts on our assignments is way more present than we’d like to admit.

I’m not taking a stance against the honor code. I think students should appreciate it a little bit more. I think that we as a community are lucky enough to have a system set up where we can defend our integrity in a trial of our peers. Not a lot of schools have implemented this, and I think that we are very fortunate to be given this kind of opportunity..

But what if I said that my success is more important than an ethical code established to protect people that I have no allegiance to. They are just my classmates. So in the end, who really cares? No skin off my bones.

Shout out to all my past and present teachers who read that and are now questioning everything I have ever turned in. Rest assured that my ego is way too incongruous to submit someone else’s writing. Even if it wasn’t, before the end of December 2022 it was much simpler to detect whether or not my writing was stolen because of plagiarism detection technology like Turnitin. But in an effort to make them squirm, I’ll go out on a limb. I just see the value in making my life easier.

ChatGPT has captured the attention of millions of

people within the past two weeks. “I am Assistant, a large language model trained by OpenAI. I am not a real person, but a computer program designed to assist with a variety of tasks, including answering questions and providing information,” says the Chat Bot. “As a large language model, I am able to understand and generate human language. I am also able to engage in conversation. I do not have the ability to perform physical tasks or interact with the real world. However, I am constantly learning and improving my ability to assist with a variety of tasks.”

ChatGPT doesn’t even scratch the surface with it’s capabilities with that answer. When it says that it can generate language, it means that it can write pretty much anything you tell it to write. It is capable of writing poems, songs, limericks, sonnets, scripts, and jokes. It can write lesson plans, emails, resumes, applications, and cover letters. Any medium of writing you can think of, ChatGPT has the ability to execute. That’s all a testament to how insane computing has become since it’s introduction to society, but with every advancement comes consequences.

The biggest concern when it comes to artificial intelligence is the extent of which it opens the door to dishonesty. Language generated by the ChatGPT is almost impossible to recognize as unoriginal content. When I ran a ChatGPT essay through turn it in, it came out clean. And therein lies the dilema that our education system will inevitably face. How can a teacher know the difference between an assignment written by a student and an assignment coded to seem like it was written by a student?

Theory of Knowledge papers are executed differently

ON

by CONNOR KALKANIS news section editor

The Student Council’s “Spirit Showdown” has arrived at its grand finale, with the seniors emerging victorious in the end. For their superior showing of spirit on the sports fields, engagement in the school community, and general enthusiasm for competition, they’re all invited to a class trip to the Pistons vs. Bucks game on January 23rd. This past semester was marked by a nail-biting, unpredictable race between each of the four classes in the Upper School. The founder of the competition Senior William Beachum speaks more about some of the turning points of this allout battle between the classes.

“It was cool seeing the seniors get such a big lead in the first couple of events, and then having the other classes rally together to make a comeback. That catch-up really showcased the spirit of this event, and I was super happy to see that competition take hold in the same way we hoped it would,” said Beachum.

Even after this initial breakaway by the Seniors followed by the slow crawl forward of the other classes, nothing was settled - many more inflection points in the spirit race were yet to come. Every class held on right to the very end, making for an entertaining ride and an ever-fluctuating scoreboard.

“At the Brother Rice football game, a ton of Freshmen showed up, and it kind of served as their introduction to the competition. Then there was the weekend of the fall play and volleyball game, which was another huge tide-turner - that’s when the Juniors and Sophomores really started to gain some points. The weekend of those two events were really special because not only was it a great way to get people out to the playoffs and support our athletics, but it also shined a spotlight on our arts - it really encapsulated

what I wanted Spirit Showdown to be.”

If there’s one thing that nearly all of the DCDS student body has in common, it’s their competitive nature. If you’ve ever been to a playoff football game or so much as been in the hallways after a teacher posts a test grade to canvas, you’d know this to be true. But for years, much of this competitive spirit was lost when it came to various sports events. While specific games like a season-opener football game would consistently garner large fan turnouts, the vast majority of games or performances would sadly go unnoticed by the DCDS community. Beachum defines this as the driving mission that put the initiative into motion. While the seniors will surely enjoy their time at the Pistons game, this initiative seems to have most effectually benefitted the sports teams who, with the help of the Spirit Showdown, have had massive newfound increases in attendance. Senior captain of the women’s field hockey team Amara Tariq shares her experience regarding the Showdown’s influence on her sport this past fall.

“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. It 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 awesome, since it wasn’t just parents cheering us on,” said Tariq.

It’s clear to see the impact the Spirit Showdown has made over the course of the last few months. And looking to the future, fans and players alike are eager to see a competition like it come back in the years to come.

Senior Ben Luu reached out to me suggesting that we formally put ChatGPT to the test to see if teachers would recognize the difference between stutent generated responses and AI generated responses. He created a quiz called “Spot the Bot” asking a few of his friends the same 8 questions he asked ChatGPT, and mixed the answers together. He had Mr Parrish take the quiz first, which helped to identify whether or not the discrepancies he recognized in the paper were really a result of hindsight bias. When he took the quiz, he got none of the questions correct. To assure Mr Parrish that this article is not just me taking an advantage of my editorial power to dunk on his observational skills, I’ll say that he wasn’t the only one who fumbled the bag, with this quiz. Out of everyone we tested, nobody got all 8 questions correct. Good luck to the teachers who have to deal with this in the next coming months is all I can say about that.

While it’s easy to predict how a student like me might use this technology, it might do everyone some good to try it out for themselves. There are some really clever tricks that this Chatbot is capable of. I strongly encourage not just students, but also teachers to experiment.

The debate over where to draw the line when it comes to artificial intelligence and technological advancesments within the education system has been around for years. As we face a future of rapid advancement in technology it is important to acknowledge that these things can be scary. We as a community might be in need of a new definition of plagiarism. We can either find ways to adapt to this, and view it as a tool or we can reject it. In terms of education, things will certainly change. Is ChatGPT cheating, or is it a tool for success? I’ll leave that up to you.

“I definitely think the Spirit Showdown should be held more often. It created a sort of incentive to want to go in order to help your class win, and I think that was a great way to increase school spirit and attendance at school events!”

As for the Student Council and its future plans, Beachum leaves a message of inspiration for the years ahead.

“I do hope that the Student Council continues this in the future - maybe not with as big a prize as this year’s, but I hope that the idea continues. I think it’s been a great way to get people to come out and bring them closer to one another. Bringing people together is all about contact: the more points of contact people have with each other, the stronger and closer together the community will be.”

A NEW WAY

might change the education system, but it’s kind of cool.

Photo

THE DAY TIMES

editorial staff

Editors-in-Chief: Tanisha Khare Kaitlyn Hopkins

Managing Editors:

Sameeksha Sampath William Beachum

Content Editor: Hiba Asadula Josie-Marie Pachla

Layout Editors: Atlas Harris Grace Liu

Senior Staff: Jiu Won Arya Chalasani

Photo/Graphics: Grace Liu Abigail Burdette Zach Yeh

Section Editors:

Arya Chalasani Riley Mcalpine Achyut Reddy Connor Kalkanis Raj Rao Amnmar Siddiqui Zach Rodger Stephen Brentano Atlas Harris Daniel Kiarash

Interns and Staff Writers:

Arjun Atwall, Andrew Brentano, Sharon Chang, Alex Eby, Jiya Gill, Ella Juep, Nathan Maibach, Matthew Metrose, Jamie Nation, Zeheng Nie, Mei Quinn, Maddy Rocchi, Lila Salamin, Nell Stover, Eddy Wang, Naomi Zakalik, Luke Zhang

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HEATHER HUHN MATTHEW SADLER

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MID-IGATING A MIDTERMS CRISIS

How do DCDS students feel about Midterm exams?

by NATHAN MAIBACH and ELLA JEUP opinions staff writers

WHEN WE HEAR the word “exams”, why do our stomachs begin to churn as our entire bodies become paralyzed with fear? The dreadful weeks approaching Midterm exams form extreme stress among students. Tension roams the halls once the burden of Midterms has finally arisen, and despite the grade level, the same amount of unease embodies itself throughout the students. With all the time, support, and preparation we are given, the unknown is what floods students’ minds. The last time conventional Midterms were taken was 2020, right before COVID. While we all know and recognize Midterms, the thought of taking Midterms is a foreign concept to much of the student body. The anxiety and stress are not what makes Midterms fearful, rather it is the unknown surrounding these exams that haunt students’ minds.

As Academic Dean, Miss Mahabir , mentions how the weeks leading to midterms are preparatory stages, not a time to “stop everything and prepare for something new”. Instead, it becomes a time of self-reflection and recollection where students openly discuss their habits and agendas for successful and non stressful. DCDS is fortunate enough to have well-built student and-teacher relationships, where the student-to-teacher ratio is 8:1 and class sizes are often up to 15 students.

It is a privilege to have numerous amounts of educators surrounding your school, willing to help students in need of additional support after class and more. Teachers understand and notice the stress that students often feel, especially now with midterms approaching. Teachers intend to answer students with questions and hope to decrease the stress and apprehension of midterms by preparing students for what they have already learned in the year thus far. Still, with all of the wonderful aspects within our support system, the term midterms lie over one’s head with a taxing sensation. One must truly wonder what is the root of student’s anxiety and if their daunting view of midterms is valid.

Senior Catherine Hiemstra shares her view of midterms, considering the last time she took one was as a Freshman. She was pleasantly surprised in her first year of high school to realize the exams were “much easier than they seemed”. As a Freshman, Catherine and many others imagined the worst of what their exams would look like because they didn’t know what to expect. As of now, it seems that the class of ‘24 to ‘26 could be viewed as Freshmen because they too lack the experience of taking midterms. Not anyone of these grades has participated in a midterm, and the unknown lingering ahead of them is

what troubles them the most. When trying to prepare, many put excessive amounts of stress on themselves. The Seniors may have an advantage in understanding they are the only grade in the school to have taken a true DCDS midterm, but they are also a valuable source of input. Both Faculty and Seniors attempt to help other students by relieving stress and providing them insight into the mystery of midterms. Miss Mahabir reminds students who are feeling this concern and doubt that “the pressure feels even heavier because you guys haven’t had the experience”. Whether students have been given the experience of taking midterms or not, we have the ability to prepare ourselves for this unknown and alleviate the stress brought with from reaching the support received and the knowledge we have received. All things considered, the student body should spend less time stressing about the unknown characteristics and possible outcomes regarding Midterm exams and instead, use that preoccupied mental space in a beneficial way. Allowing oneself to take the time to prepare their confidence and knowledge, with the support of our school’s resources, will allow many to succeed without the unnecessary need for extreme fear.

NEW ADVISORY ACTIVITIES

Students reflect each week in advisory

This year in advisory Mr. Cappelletti decided our advisories needed a change. One of his thoughts was that advisory needs to be about building relationships and having a good time, not just getting your homework done. Students had mixed feelings about this change. There isn’t anything drastically different about advisory this year, but there is more emphasis on students bonding with their advisory. Advisory is more than just a study hall or a time to stress about school. Mr.Cappelletti wants this years advisory to be more friendship/family oriented.

Mr. Cappelletti said, “I wouldn’t really say we’re doing anything new. As a community, we need to work on building empathy

by LILA SALAMIN opinions staff writer

and having awareness about how your actions affect others outside of yourself. Hopefully the opportunity is used for people to listen to one another and get to know each other. ”

Sophomore Abigail Burdette said, “Advisory isn’t that different-- it’s just shorter in time and not a study hall anymore.”

Another student agreed with Abigail’s statement. This student said, “I feel like students need that time for a study hall, especially if they don’t have a study hall in their schedule already; bonding is important, but it doesn’t need to be every advisory time. Students need that study time.”

Although some students dislike the new programming, others have enjoyed it so

THE RISE OF AI

far. Freshman Anna Sadler said, “I feel like bonding with your advisory is very important, and it’s good to have time to hang out with your advisory.”

I personally like the new advisory program; it’s fun to play pictionary and bond with your advisory and get a friend group from that. During the advisory time, I have noticed that the people in my advisory are building genuine friendships. I think it’s really nice that we are able to have time during the school year dedicated to making and maintaining relationships with our peers. Now, what do you think?

How does artificial intelligence impact the world of education?

by CHAT GTP guest writer

As the use of chatbots and language models such as GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer) become more widespread, there are growing concerns about their potential impact on education.

On the surface, chatbots and language models like GPT seem like a valuable tool for educators. They can provide instant answers to students’ questions, helping them to learn faster and more effectively. But some experts warn that relying too heavily on these artificial intelligence (AI) tools could have serious drawbacks.

One concern is that chatbots and language models are not as intelligent as they may seem. While they are able to generate responses to questions with impressive speed and accuracy, they lack the ability to understand context and provide nuanced answers. This can lead to students receiving incomplete or even incorrect information, which can hinder their learning.

Another issue is that students may become too reliant on chatbots and language models, leading to a lack of critical thinking skills. If students are always able to get quick answers from a machine, they may not develop the ability to research and analyze information on their own. This could lead to a lack of creativity and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in the modern world.

Furthermore, the use of chatbots and language models in education could exacerbate existing inequalities. Not all students have access to the same technology, and those who do may be at an advantage over those who do not. This could create a divide between students who are able to take advantage of these AI tools and those who are not.

Despite the potential drawbacks, chatbots and language models like GPT do have some valuable applications in education. They can be used to provide additional

support and information to students, and can even help with tasks like grading and providing feedback. But it’s important for educators to use these tools with caution, and to ensure that they are not being relied upon to the exclusion of critical thinking and independent learning.

Overall, the use of chatbots and language models in education has the potential to be a powerful tool, but it’s important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks and ensure that they are being used in a way that supports, rather than hinders, student learning.

BRIGHT MINDS, BRIGHT FUTURE

Quiz bowl team number one in the nation

by LUKE ZHANG staff writer

THE DCDS Quiz Bowl team just concluded one of the most successful seasons in its history, reaching the number one spot in the entire nation for high school Quiz Bowl teams. As one might guess, such a feat has only been made possible by outstanding teamwork, expert coaching, and hardcore dedication from all parties involved.

During the height of the season, the team practiced three times a week after school in Dr. McNellan’s room. Junior Kenji Farrell tells more about the dedication of Dr. McNellan.

“Dr. McNellan has been an integral part of our team. He is very knowledgeable and does whatever it takes to improve. He is definitely the most committed coach out there.” Says junior Kenji Farrell.

The team also has a unique way of studying. While other teams use binary association, the practice of making thousands and thousands of flashcards and learning to associate a certain concept with a word, Aeres Zhou and his team have used a method known as real knowledge. “We put a lot of emphasis on using Real Knowledge, not binary Association. Other teams will make thousands upon thousands of flashcards and learn to associate certain keywords with certain concepts but at the higher-level, things just break down.” Said Aeres Zhou.

“Our team’s synergy is like that of everyone having the same brain”, says Aeres Zhou, a senior on the DCDS quiz bowl A team which is currently ranked number 1 in the nation. The quiz bowl team has put a lot of effort into preparing for their past two tournaments this fall. When other teams simply read the Wikipedia article on a topic, Aeres and his team go to the sources that Wikipedia cites, giving them

an even more in depth view.

When asked what sets them apart from the rest of the pack, Zhou replied, “We put a lot of emphasis on using Real Knowledge, not binary Association. Other teams will make thousands upon thousands of flashcards and learn to associate certain keywords with certain concepts but at the higher-level, things just break down.”

The quiz bowl team has put a lot of effort into preparing for their past two tournaments this fall. When other teams simply read the Wikipedia article on a topic, Aeres and his team go to the sources that Wikipedia cites, giving them an even more in depth view. The team has practices three days a week after school in Dr. McNellan’s room. “Dr. McNellan has been an integral part of our team. He is very knowledgeable and does whatever it takes to improve. He is definitely the most committed coach out there.” Says junior Kenji Farrell. The team has already had 2 tournaments in the fall, with another coming up in the spring which they are very excited for. When you see Arthur Gayden, Costas Pavulo, Reece Chae, and Aeres Zhou in the hallways, make sure to congratulate them on their achievement!

QUIZBOWL SAMPLER

Try your hand at some real Quizbowl questions!

Q1.) William Duane and Louis McLane were dismissed for their support of this organization.

One leader of this organization wears a hat labeled “Penn” in a cartoon depicting this organization as a “many headed monster.”

A 1819 court case involving this organization ruled that Congress had implied powers via the “necessary and proper clause” to regulate interstate commerce.

A1.)

Q2.) This team fielded a starting lineup nicknamed “P-T-S-D” after the players’ initials during a playoff series against Denver.

In 2016, one player for this team scored sixty points against the Pacers while taking only eleven dribbles.

In December 2021, a player for this team surpassed (*) Ray Allen to set the record for career three-pointers.

A2.)

Q3.) X-ray photography revealed that a Renoir painting titled after these objects had been reworked to depict the central figure in a simple black dress.

A René Magritte painting depicts a glass of water balanced upon one of these objects.

In the foreground of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of la Grande Jatte, a woman holds one of these objects while walking a monkey on a leash.

A man in a black top hat and waistcoat holds one of these objects while walking through the Place de Dublin in a Gustave Caillebotte painting.

A3.)

HOW MUCH HOMEWORK IS TOO MUCH HOMEWORK?

Country Day students reflect on homework and stress loads in school

by TANISHA KHARE & SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH editor-in-chief & managing editor

ACCORDING to a U.S. News Article, schools should follow the 10-minute rule when assigning homework, which claims that there should be 10 minutes of homework added on for each grade level, so that 4th graders have 40 minutes of homework, and 12th graders have 120 minutes of homework.

Still, at DCD, students find themselves doing several hours of homework each night.

“Every night, I have 5-6 hours of homework on average,” states senior Amara Tariq.

This number seems too large, but after talking to other students, freshman Raina Prasad claimed that she said 3 hours of homework every night and sophomore Mario Gjinali said that he had 2 hours of homework every night -- all of these averages significantly above the recommended amount of time through the 10-minute rule.

On top of the countless hours that these students spend doing homework, they also have several extracurricular activities: sports, clubs, volunteering, and more. Judging from the busy schedules the upstanding members of our community have, it is quick to recognize that several hours of homework result in long nights and severely low amounts of sleep.

“I have too many activities to do on top of homework, and often my homework involves a lot of repetition which is not always necessary for me to grasp a concept,” says Gjinali.

Homework is supposed to help students learn and gain a deeper understanding of the material they are learning, but the lack of time and sleep that students have raises an important question: How can students be expected to improve their performance through homework and meet high academic expectations if it is near impossible to meet the basic need of a good night of sleep?

The U.S. News article offers several approaches to reducing the amount of homework students truly need to do. It suggests that the point of homework is to show students that activities done outside of school can directly relate to class material, and to create homework assignments that are interactive and entertaining.

Junior Nishan Inampudi reflects this when he claims “I do not learn as much as I want to from doing homework. Often, I am interested in the topic but bored by the homework. I learn more when I do interactive activities in class or projects with my peers.”

The effectiveness of homework for students

has been a long standing debate. Research from studies coupled with the takes of multiple students from the DCDS community have indicated that homework in small quantities will most help students achieve success. However, overloading students with hours of homework each night will defeat its purpose altogether.

STUDENTS HARD AT work completing their many tasks for the day (photo courtesy of Matthew Sadler)

THE ADVENTURES OF MODEL UN

A look into the happenings of the Model UN team

by ACHYUT REDDY and ARJUN ATWAL news section editor and staff writer

In early December, the DCDS Model UN team took their trip to Lansing for the Canadian-American Security Councils Conference (CASC), marking their first in-person conference after two and a half years. Senior Om Jaipati shares his opinion on the return to in-person conferences.

“Through the online conversations over the last few years, it’s really hard and weird because the whole point of Model UN is to go to big conferences and meet new people around the world. We got to really connect with other people,” says Jaipati.

Model UN simulates real-life conferences to broaden people’s knowledge about the world and global events. In these simulated conferences, different Model UN teams from the nation will come together in one place and converse about specific topics, with each school assigned a side to speak on behalf.

“My favorite part about Model Un is finally being in person and meeting new people.”

Apart from the return to in-person conferences, eight students received recognition. Of all the schools that attended CASC, DCDS obtained the most awards, with two first-place and six second-place finishes.

Advisor for the Model UN team Mrs. Rosales shares her insight regarding the recent tournament.

“The students this year did very well. It was a very good learning experience for the brand-new students for whom it was their first major conference. Overall from my experience, this was a good intermediate conference where there were only about 300 students competing in the entire conference. I enjoy seeing the kids getting involved. The fact that they are interested and motivated by global issues and I really enjoy watching them succeed and becoming more confident” says Mrs. Rosales.

For those interested in joining MODEL UN, there will be several opportunities so stay tuned!

THE KICKSTART HEARD ROUND THE GLOBE

Rebirth of the Global Scholar program

by NELL STOVER Staff writer

Three years later… and the DCDS Global Scholar Exchange Program is back! Thus far in the 2022 academic school year, Country Day has hosted three groups of exchange students: the first, a group of three students from Shiga, Japan, here for most of September; the second, a group of fifteen middle school students from the Netherlands; and the third, a group of fifteen students from Yssingeaux, France, here for about a week in early October. These mark the upstart of the program after a nearly three year gap. Suffice to say, the program has made a strong comeback.

During midwinter break in February, a group of Country Day’s Spanish students will visit Terrassa, Spain, where they will stay with students from the Collegi Mare de Deu del Carmen. Over spring break, two groups of DCDS students will exchange. Fifteen middle schoolers

will travel to Vught, Netherlands, and live with students from Maurick College. As for the Upper School, fifteen French students will visit Yssingeaux, reuniting with their friends at Lycee St. Gabriel School.

As students embark on their travels, first-year program coordinator Dr. Burns-Ross hopes the exchanges will “foster new language skills and [help them] become participants in the global community.” So far, students report that the program has done just that. Senior Sabrina Warner, who hosted a student from France, speaks on her experience in the program.

“It honestly helps to just be surrounded by everyone speaking French, because then you get in that mindset where you start thinking of the words and thinking in French rather than making a sentence and then trying to translate it,” said Warner.

Ultimately, the exchange program is what students make of it. As Burns-Ross said, “you would have to talk to each and every student to understand what they are taking away.’’ Still, everyone’s experiences seem to have common threads: connection and friendship. Burns-Ross recalls details of the bonding that occurs between students as they exchange.

“They’re nervous at first, meeting each other, but as they live together [...] and go on these little excursions we plan, they become closer and closer. And what is so sweet is that at the end they’re often crying as they have to say goodbye. So it’s a short time together but they really do bond and form a quick relationship,” said Burns-Ross.

As much as students learn from the global scholar exchange, the true heart of the program is the international friendship and the connections forged along the way.

French exchange students attend a DCDS football game with their American hosts. PC: Dr. Laura Burns-Ross

LiLa Barron, soLene degaynor, ava dukas, himani yarrLagadda, sophia kitsopanidis, catherine hiemstra and Lauren kim ceLeBrate their victory! pc: himani yarrLagadda

EXPLORE THE ARTS

A colorful event in the DCDS Art Department

The DCDS Art Department is known for its wide variety of art programs and opportunities, allowing students to immerse themselves in the wonders of art. This year is no exception with the continuation of the colorful program, “Explore the Arts!”

Senior William Beachum created Explore the Arts to connect Upper School students and Middle School students through the use of art. Through this program, an Upper School student represents one of the 7 categories of art (ceramics, metals/jewelry, photography, drawing/ painting, film, theatre, and music) and works with Middle School students through a variety of fun and engaging workshops.

“I want kids to find somebody in the high school that shares their interest and can help grow their interest in the specified area of art. When I was little, I always felt that I wasn’t good at art. In reality, I just hadn’t found my

by ACHYUT REDDY news section editor

right medium and didn’t realize it until I joined the Upper School,” said Beachum.

Apart from giving students the opportunity to recognize their field of interest in art, Beachum hoped to create a community through the program. “I've seen that people who have met through exploring the arts can now further expand their projects through scale and helpful tricks that expedite their success in art,” said Beachum.

With 28 Upper School students expressing 7 art forms and teaching countless Middle School students, the “Explore the Arts” program allows students to both learn and express any art form about which they are passionate.

Laine Mihalich, who volunteered for the painting/drawing program, spoke about her experience in the program. “After we gave students a demonstration of how to do the printmaking, we were encouraged to work on our own personal pieces to show the middle schoolers the kind

of art that we create,” said Mihalich.

Apart from showing their work to the middle schoolers, they also found joy through their work. “They were blown away by the amount of creative freedom we receive in developing our portfolios, and you could really tell that they were excited to experience it for themselves once they reach the Upper School. Their excitement really showed me that I should take advantage of the opportunities the arts program has to offer,” says Mihalich.

After a long day of sharing everyone's work in the Upper School with the Middle School students, Will shares his reason for why he runs the program every year: “My favorite part about this program is walking around and seeing the genuine reaction between the high schoolers and middle schoolers. I love the idea that we are providing the opportunity for kids to see older students that they can look up to!”

photos from explore the arts, clockwise: Mr. Schwarz explains the process of clay-shaping; middle schoolers learn printmaking; Zach Yeh describes how to label a slate; prospective theater students play a game; Nicole Pasto and Mr. Salamin explain camera functions; Atlas Harris makes a ring with a middle schooler; Daniel Upton and Veer Agarwal perform a piano duet.

DETROIT A Winter Wonderland

by MADDY ROCCHI entertainment staff writer

With the first snow occurring as early as November, it is quite obvious that winter is upon us. Students across Michigan have the delight of being able to visit downtown Detroit: a place filled with activities, restaurants, and businesses. Throughout the year, Detroit experiences all four seasons, each with different activities and adventures. Winter time downtown is magical, covered in snow and colorful lights; it is an experience you do not want to miss.

The iconic Campus Martius ice skating rink is open during winter for many different levels of skaters to go and enjoy. With a light fee of $10, anyone can enjoy skating in downtown Detroit this winter. If you are not into the intense thrill of skating, Cadillac Park immediately next to Campus Martius is filled with mini glass stores filled with items. Throughout the winter small businesses and pop-up food shops sell items for people to browse and enjoy something other than skating.

Exploring the outdoors of Detroit during winter is interesting, but the weather tends to be cold and snowy. If you are

not interested in the freezing cold Detroit temperatures, there are many museums to visit. Detroit has a vast variety of museums that are typically overlooked. One being the DIA, which displays art of all cultures and styles. Another popular museum is the Motown museum, which features the extensive music history of Detroit. The museum is located in the old Hitsville Studio purchased by Berry Gordy, the man credited for creating Motown in 1959. Visitors can view the old studio where music was recorded and learn about the history of Motown Music in Detroit.

Detroit's gorgeous Art Deco style architecture can be seen incorporated throughout the city. Commonly overlooked by locals, Detroit's architecture is cherished by many around the world. Snow and ice cover old buildings, giving the city the effect of a Winter Wonderland. Many Detroit Country Day students had the privilege of reading Great Gatsby, set in the 1920's. One can imagine the elegant setting with dark red velvets, gold tassels and lavish furniture. Fulfill your Great Gatsby fantasy and visit The Siren Hotel. First

opened in December of 1926, the Siren is almost 100 years old. You do not have to book a room to enjoy the Siren; instead you can visit a restaurant located inside of the Siren: Karl’s. As if changing decades, one experiences the 1920’s art deco decor, and stumbles into a retro 50’s diner - a quirky

place to visit for a meal in Detroit. Detroit is full of fun winter activities. Although the constant snowfall seems endless, enjoy winter while you can. Utilize the opportunity to visit such a historical and unique location that during winter time, is truly a wonderland.

A REVIEW OF 2022 HIGH FASHION

by RILEY MCALPINE entertainment section editor

New York Fashion week is an event many look forward to. It’s a chance for small or big designers to showcase their work to the world in a glamorous way. Many runways stick out, but 2022 seemed to have a lot of unique styles.

Throughout the 7-9 days of fashion shows, people will see many different kinds of styles and designs, created by many different kinds of artists. Some choose to do something unique for their runway. SMA My Way, a collaboration that supports people with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), partnered with Open Style Lab (OSL) to create a fashion show. All the designs were fitted to the models’ own personal style to show the world that they are not known for just their disabilities, but their individual styles. With unique styles comes unique people. Dr. Maaya, establisher of Dr .Maaya Design Labo., is no exception. After working as a neurosurgeon for 10 years, she became a fashion designer. Her designs are colorful and exotic. She uses scraps and other materials to create artwork.

Everyone has a different style and opinion on other people’s styles. Many like to laugh at Ruby’s work. Ruby or Not Ruby is a fashion designer who started out as a Chinese Streetwear designer. Her designs soon became Hip-Hop inspired and have involved colorful, baggy, and oversized clothing. Her collection is said to have received the most laughter. She wanted to influence people to feel joy by becoming a psychologist. Instead, she became a designer and influences people through colorful designs and art. While some fashion designers create clothing, Jessica Rich focuses on just shoes. Her 2022 collection was inspired by and dedicated to powerful women. She is very passionate about women empowerment and has recognized the struggle women have had throughout the past years after COVID. Her collection’s theme is Happiness. It uses bright colors and has a stylish look. Neon and LED lights have been a big theme in fashion and artwork this past year. Neon Cowboy is the first ever fashion tech brand to debut their technology during NYFW. Their designs use LED lights to create a colorful take on apparel. Everything from cowboy hats to face jewelry, has neon lights you can see for miles. Their 2022 collection is inspired by the pioneer spirit of Americana culture.

2022 has proven to be a great use of new technology, designs, and unique ways of showcasing them. From simple and elegant to loud and colorful, there is no limit on creative designs from 2022. There is a little something for everyone - you just need to go looking for it. We can only hope that 2023 can top last year’s New York Fashion Week.

After twelve incredibly successful albums, six of which reached over 10 million sales, Taylor Swift’s new album ‘Midnights’ was bound to be a hit, and that it was. Being her first pop album since 2019, the album was released on October 21 of 2022, and its quick success has left the music industry speechless.

Within only its first few days, Midnights reached over 486 million streams, the largest amount ever reached by a female artist as well as the highest amount by a non-hip hop album. Additionally, following its release, the new album did not fail to claim all top ten spots of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Such record breaking numbers, though, are not surprising considering the major anticipation of the album.

After a four year hiatus during which Swift did not go on tour, it was only inevitable that, not only was she to announce an upcoming tour, but that her fans would have quite the eagerness to buy tickets. It’s called ‘The Eras Tour,’ which Swift described as “a journey through the musical eras of her career (past & present)”. In her tweet announcing the tour, the star singer also revealed that her tour will include a variety of accompanying artists, such as Paramore, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, MUNA, HAIM, Gracie Abrams, GAYLE, OWENN, and beabadoobee. She additionally shared the presale verification link, meaning that fans had to literally verify themselves as fans in order to enter into the presale.

The extraordinary high demand on ticket sales, however, has left many both stunned and frustrated, even prompting action from the US senate.

Before the presale, fans were encouraged to sign up for ticketmaster’s “verified fan” system, in which they could receive an exclusive presale code. However, on the day of the presale, several fans weren’t emailed these codes and some that were sent didn’t even work.

Ticketmaster encountered “historically unprecedented demand” because of how many

fans rushed to the site to purchase their presale tickets. Such a large rush prompted glitches, long wait times, and eventually, the site’s crash.

Fans had to wait in the sale’s queue for hours on end, leaving many annoyed and infuriated at not being able to buy their highly anticipated tickets.

Unpredictable wait times along with the eagerness to purchase tickets prompted some to even rearrange their entire schedules in order to accommodate the sale.

Taylor responded to this issue by

A Success or a Disaster?

M i d n i g h t s

saying, “It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them.”

The release of ‘Midnights’ contained surprises that no one expected to occur, and the complications and controversies involving the presale are not likely to subside any time soon. Despite these complications, however, there is still a chance to see Taylor this coming summer at Ford Field, so get tickets while you still can!

PeoPle gather at Campus Martius to indulge in some annual ice skating under holiday lights PC: Downtown detroit partnership

The innovation of technology and fashion has shocked the world and brought real color into people’s lives.

SMa My way//Pc: faShionweekonline

ruby or not ruby//Pc: globalfaShioncollective coM

JeSSica rich// Pc: globalfaShioncollective coM

by Naomi Zakalik

*Thank you to my brother for helping me with some of the writing. *guapa/bonita = pretty

At Detroit Country Day School, we believe that it is important for students to have the confidence and skills to express themselves and their ideas. Across the various extracurricular clubs and organizations at our school, students have numerous opportunities to develop their communication skills and to share their thoughts and opinions with others. The Forensics Club, which is affiliated with the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association (MIFA), is one such opportunity. Through participation in MIFA competitions, students can hone their speaking abilities while also building friendships and earning recognition for their accomplishments. The DCDS community is proud of the many talented individuals who have taken advantage of this unique opportunity to grow and succeed.

“Forensics is a public speaking competition with categories including poetry, storytelling, prose, broadcasting, improvisation, sales, and extemporaneous, as well as some multiple and duo. For competition, for most categories, you have to compose a piece that is 5-8 minutes long, memorize it, and present it to a group of judges while your peer competitors watch along. Throughout the multiple preliminary rounds, you are scored based off how well you perform and then the top scorers move on to the Semi-Finals and Finals,” said Zoe Zikowski, DCDS Senior and Forensics Captain.

The Forensics team begins to compete in tournaments shortly after Winter Break, an experience that can be hectic, but is still fun and cultivates team unity.

“The tournament environment has a

MIFA 2022

A look inside the DCDS forensics tournament

by Raj Rao and Ammar Siddiqui features section editor

ton of people and runs all day—12 hours—as we must be at the tournament by 6:00 AM and awards tend to occur around 6:00PM. We have a quick team meeting to start the day, then we usually have some time to practice alone or with a teammate before the first round. There are 3 rounds prior to a lunch break, and after lunch there are semi-finals, then finals. Once finished, awards last for around an hour. Despite being pretty long, these tournaments are fun for the team. Spending the day with your teammates and friends who all share the same desire to win is an amazing feeling. We have so much fun cheering for each other and seeing each other win awards,” said Zikowski.

Achieving recognition through accolades is no simple feat. The team must put in a lot of hard work to see success at tournaments.

“Every club meeting we practice and review our pieces. Then we do one-on-one practices with our head coach, Mrs.Kay, or our assistant coach, Courtney. We do these practices once every other week, and twice the week of a tournament to ensure readiness and the ability to compete,” said Zikowski.

The Detroit Country Day School Forensics program has a history of excellence, with many of its members achieving State Champion status in previous years. As the team prepares for the start of the 2023 season, we hope that this tradition of success will continue and that our talented competitors will once again bring honor to our school. Forensics is an incredibly challenging and rewarding activity, and we are confident that this year’s team has the skills and determination to achieve great things.

THESPIAN FESTIVAL

A review of the 2022 festival held in Lansing

by Sharon Chang features writer

The work never ends for theater students at DCDS. From putting on a show, entertaining an audience, to even representing the school at a well-known festival, the performers have done it all. Last December, students of the theater studio ensemble and the advanced performance practicum classes traveled to East Lansing to compete in the annual Michigan Thespian Festival.

The Michigan Thespian Festival was a two day event starting December 9th where students attended workshops and competed in troop teams. Competition events include monologues, songs, group acting, etc. This year, DCDS went with their own troop consisting of Megan Kenney (‘24), Cosette Keil (‘24), Dasia McKinnon (‘23), Elizabeth Upton (‘23), Veer Agarwal (‘23),

Jacob Hopkins (‘25), Amaris Grubaugh (‘25), Caitlyn Davis (‘25), Ella Jeup (‘25), William Beachum (‘23) and Atlas Harris (‘24).

“At the festival we competed in two main categories: musical theater and theater. We performed in front of judges and were judged based on talent and talent alone. On December 10th, there’s a showcase where each troop performs in front of everyone. At the end of the day awards are given. The awards are superior, excellent, and honorable mention.” said troop leader Dasia McKinnon .

Although there are a lot of returning performers, there were also a lot of new competitors craving to showcase their talent. We asked new performers what they

were looking forward to before heading to the festival.

“I am looking forward to workshops during the event to learn about the various aspects of productions,” said Sophomore Jacob Hopkins.

The Thespian Festival not only provided students with the opportunity to perform

KISS AND CRY

Spotlight on figure skater Addison Kunnath

by Jiu Won senior editor

The dramatic music fades out, and you stand beaming in the center of the ice rink. You feel energized by the thunderous applause. Your excited coach is eagerly waiting at the gate and gives you a high five. The flags of Olympic champions or World champions decorate the walls of the rink, greeting you as you walk nervously to the Kiss and Cry, where celebrations or devastation happen. You hear the heart-stopping words. “The scores please”. Holding your hands tightly, you exhale slowly.

This is a frequent experience of Addison Kunnath. Kunnath, a sophomore at DCDS, started figure skating at age 3 after getting inspired by her skating mother. She’s a member of the DCDS figure skating team and the Onyx-Suburban Skating Academy. Due to her passion for this graceful sport, Kunnath skates frequently and even leaves class early to train.

However, a tragic picture plagues figure skating, especially in the wake of a recent doping incident at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. Kunnath hopes to change this impression.

“Figure skating is about showing everyone what I worked so hard for”, Kunnath says. “This sport is special and unique because it combines both artistic appeal and technical skill.

Composition, presentation, and skating skills are the artistic components of figure skating. Here, the skaters’ interpreted ability is evaluated.

Figure Skating’s technical elements include spins, spiral + step sequences, and of course, the jumps.

“I love jumping, and I can jump up to a triple flip. I’m working to get my triples consistent. My favorite jump is the triple salchow- they just come natural to me”. Toe loop, salchow, loop, flip, lutz, and axel are the six possible jumps. To put Kunnath’s accomplishments in perspective, the majority of competitive fe-

and learn from workshops, it also gave students an opportunity to make friends with different interests. Through this unique experience, bonds were created and friendships were strengthened within the theater community. This memory gave students unparalleled knowledge of what it is truly like to be a Thespian.

male skaters jump triples in their programs. The triple lutz is a notoriously challenging jump. “I’ve practiced triple lutzes before, and I even managed to land them!” said Kunnath.

On the flip side, “I hate falling, which is what we usually do. Ice is slippery” Kunnath says. “But what motivates me to keep going is my love of the sport”. She treasures the virtually endless creative possibilities that skating gifts her. Her imagination runs wild on the ice, allowing her to express herself. Kunnath performed a rink show in May, skating to Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” “High-energy shows like that are always a blast to be a part of; these are the programs I love to do” Kunnath says. However, when it comes to competitive programs, things can go awry and so, skaters are often on edge. Together with her coach, Kunnath must determine the elements with the highest success rate and the highest score. Currently, she is in the junior level, which is the second-highest level after senior. Therefore, the stakes are high, and nerves can sometimes spiral out of control. Kunnath discovered a means to cope with the nervousness.

“Positive self-talk is my ritual. It’s always helped me skate to my best ability ever since I tried it in a competition. I reassure myself that I am capable of performing all of these jumps” Kunnath says.

Her efforts paid off: “In the 2021 season, I placed 2nd in the national qualifying series, and 58th overall in the entire nation!” Currently figure skating is not included as a college competitive sport in the NCAA. The inclusion of figure skating as an NCAA sport would be extremely advantageous for skaters in college, according to Kunnath. She wants to continue pursuing her love of figure skating while also taking time to lay back and relax.

LAST YEARS MIFA team (courtesy of Zoe Zikowski)

PARTICIPATING THESPIANS AWAIT competition results (courtesy of Amaris Grubaugh)

ADDISON KUNNATH SKATES with grace.

Photo courtesy of Addison Kunnath

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: NICOLE PASTO & LEXI CLARK

Meet the directors of the Winter Film

by Jiya Gill features

staff writer

When we watch a film, we often focus our attention on the actors we see on the screen. Sometimes we don’t recognize the work the directors and the crew put in to provide the backbone of the film. Directing this year’s Winter Film are seniors Nicole Pasto and Lexi Clark. The Winter Film gives students an opportunity to create, as well as act. Both Pasto and Clark have been in the film program since their freshman year.

“I wasn’t that interested in film during my freshman and sophomore years because quarantine and COVID changed what film classes looked like and made them not as fun. However, when I joined the Winter Film I learned a lot and I found a passion,” said Clark. Many students don’t realize what a great opportunity film is until they join the program. “I first joined film in my freshman year at DCDS. I took Foundations of Film, a course solely meant to fulfill my art requirement. It was there I discovered my passion for filmmaking. I fell in love with telling my stories and presenting them in a visual manner. I first joined the after-school silver point film in my sophomore year, and this was the first time I truly got to dive into the world of filmmaking. Since then, I have been fully committed to the after-school film program, taking on the biggest roles such as producer, director, and director of photography,”

MUSIC TO REMEMBER

A review of the winter orchestral concert

by Rick Nie features staff writer

said Pasto.

In order to prepare for the film, Pasto and Clark have been doing hours of pre-production which is the phase before shooting begins. The process includes booking locations, selecting cast and crew, storyboarding, and creating schedules. Despite the moths of hardwork, participating in the film has been an opportunity for learning.

“From participating in the film I have learned to collaborate, to delegate, and to be able to grow confidence in my voice and opinions and make sure I am heard and never undermined,” Clark said.

Pasto’s most important takeaway from the film is how it has taught her is how to work with others.

“Filmmaking is all about teamwork; it wouldn’t exist without collaboration. In every movie you see on the big screen, hundreds of people work together to make it what it is. The director cannot create a film on their own,” said Pasto.

The Film Program, specifically the Winter Film has given students like Lexi Clark and Nicole Pasto an opportunity to find something they love to do and offered them a chance to lead the film. Together, Lexi Clark and Nicole Pasto have put together an incredible production with the winter film.

The Upper School Instrumental Concert was held on December 7th and it was a success! The concert is made up of the Concert Band, String Orchestra, and Honors Symphonic Orchestra which is separated into the two sections band and orchestra. The concert band, directed by Mr.Oliphant and Mr.Velic, played “Carpathia,” “First Sun,” and “Lullaby to the Moon” with the Wing Symphony. The string orchestra, directed by Mrs.Bowen, played “Shepards hay,” “Overture to Alcina,” and “Frontier

Phantom”. The HSO Wind Symphony played “Blue Dances,” “Train of Thoughts,” “ Havana Nights” while the HSO String symphony will be playing “October” and “Hoberg Street,” and both played a combined piece of “Wander”.

The performers felt prepared going into the concert.

“We have practiced these pieces a lot so I feel like we are going to do well at the concert,” said oboe player Matthew Dyson of HSO Wind symphony.

Some were excited about specific pieces.

“My favorite is Frontier Phantom because of how it sounds,” said Haochen Tian of String Orchestra when asked what his favorite piece was.

“I like carpathia because I like the pace of the song,” said Micheal Wang of Concert Band.

After a great performance, the performers had some comments about it.

“The band made some mistakes but overall I think it was a great perfor-

ON THE ROAD ONCE AGAIN Film Students go to Sundance Film Festival

The DCDS film program is an exciting experience for students part of the program. While students have a captivating experience in school, they have an opportunity to enhance and heighten their film experience with their trip to the Sundance Film Festival as junior and seniors. The festival is held annually between January 19-29 in Park City, Utah. The festival is very prestigious and happens to be one of the most renowned film festivals in the world, making this a very rewarding experience for students.

This trip truly allows the students to grow a deeper understanding and love for the various films they make, while giving them new opportunities to pursue their love for films. Collaborating with other filmmakers is a great way to hear other ideas and interpretations, also allowing them to form bonds over the common passion for these films.

“Students get the opportunity to watch world premiers of feature films as well as short films (the genre of films they make everyday in class), and the best part about it is the opportunity to speak with producers, writers, director, and actors after the film screenings because the people come out after and provide talkbacks and discussions,” said Mr. Salamin.

There are so many new and cool things the

by Mei Quinn Features staff writer

students will be able to experience at the festival that can spark their interest in something new, or grow a current passion.

“There’s virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, there’s different vendors showing different types of equipment you can practice and play with, and just a wonderful opportunity to, as a conservatory group, come back after watching a film and discuss the merits of the film,” said Mr. Salamin.

It has been a while since our students have gone on this trip and things will look a little different in their housing situation. “It has been four years since the last time Country Day students were able to go to the festival. We used to rent this huge house so we were all in a family situation with a girls wing and a boys wing, we made breakfast every morning, bonding and having discussions at the house,” said Mr. Salamin.

Unlike previous years, students will be staying in a hotel, but will still get the opportunity to form tight bonds with each other and have a great time. This trip is going to be a very inspiring experience and is one of the highlights of these student’s years. The students are excited to get the chance to go to the festival since none of our students have after Covid.

mance,” said Evan Huang of HSO Band

“The concert was a fun and interesting experience,” said Micheal Wang. This performance was a great showing of the skill, talent and preparation of the orchestras. After the fall concert the orchestras are going to be preparing for the festival in March. The festival is a performance in which judges will give orchestras a grade between 1-5 with grade 1s going to a statewide competition.

PASTO AND CLARK in action producing , Courtesy of Brett Salamin

Talented Country Day students sing at the Winter Cabaret, Courtesy of Ryan Ignatowski

STUDENTS POSE AT the Sundance Festival, Courtesy of Brett Sala-

BOWLING IS BACK

A Competitive and Fun Option for Country Day Athletes

by stephen brentano sports staff writer

Bowling was introduced in Michigan as a high school sport in 2002. Country Day is fortunate enough to have our very own varsity and junior varsity teams.

First-year bowler Andrew Vartanian said this about the environment of the group, “the team is super competitive yet supportive of one another. I came into the tryouts expecting scores of mid 100s to get me on varsity. I couldn’t have been more wrong, the varsity players were exceptional and many of them were able to score mid-200s consistently.”

For those who don’t know how bowling scoring works, the game consists of 10 frames, and each player is allowed two throws per frame. One point is scored for each pin that is knocked over. If a player bowls over three pins with the first shot, then six with the second, the player would receive nine points for that frame. If a player knocks down 9 pins with the

first shot but misses with the second, the player would also score nine. When a player fails to knock down all ten pins after their second ball it is known as an open frame. If all ten pins are knocked over by a player in a single frame, bonuses are awarded.

Freshman Chase Inge had this to say after his first day of tryouts, “ I originally was looking for a sport that didn’t take up too much of my time yet was still fun and competitive, and bowling was all that and more. The junior varsity team was not as time-consuming as varsity and I felt it would be the perfect winter sport for me. Every day I was doing something I enjoyed while also being able to socialize with my friends.”

The Bowling team has been one of the few sports that is not recognized enough by our community, but the sheer skill and dedication the players display is simply remarkable.

SPOTLIGHT: CONNOR PFLUGER

A Look at Pfluger’s athletic accomplishments

by

With its challenging curriculum and required participation in two sporting activities, DCDS demands well-rounded, versatile students. Connor Pflluger, senior leader of the Men’s Varsity Hockey team exemplifies these ideals.

The practice and game schedule for the hockey team is very demanding. “Busy would be an understatement for the hockey schedule. We start training for the season in August with early morning practices, and later conditioning off-ice. From the second week of school and onwards until the official start of the season, we would work out in the weightroom everyday and have practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. When the season starts, we practice every day from 4:00-6:00 and games would usually be on Fridays or Saturdays,” said Pfluger. The demanding practice schedule allows the team to have success down the road.

Connor, specifically, works hard away from the team to get better individually. He also holds many responsibilities as an upperclassman.

The obvious extra training would be working out in the weightroom or running- not surprising. However, the upperclassmen on the team tend to have unwritten roles. The older guys need to be leaders, and more importantly inspiration for the younger guys on the team. The sport of hockey breaks the underclassmen down physically and mentally, so they need inspiration to dig deep and bear down on their commitment,” said Pfluger.

As a time consuming sport, Connor is forced to manage his time. Keeping grades up and also performing well on the ice is a difficult challenge for most athletes. “Balancing both hockey and academics requires sacrifice. You’re either going to sacrifice your free time, or you’re not sleeping- your choice. It’s such a disruption to your schedule, so a lot of times, days get planned around hockey, and what I can manage before and after,” said Pfluger. As a whole, the hockey team has enjoyed a successful season this far. We wish the DCDS men’s hockey team and Connor the best of luck on their quest to win a state championship!

NEW SEASON, NEW TEAM, NEW COACHES

A Conversation with the Men’s Basketball Team

by DANIEL KIARASH sports section editor

The Men’s Varsity Basketball team has an entirely different look this year. The team’s roster has brought in 12 new players after 13 seniors graduated last year. Seniors Hunter Riutta, Lucas Shallal, Eric Grenadier, and Carrinton Thomas are the only returning varsity players for this year. New transfer student J’Mari Wiggins talks about the new look of the team and his experience with the team for the first time.

“Everyone was so welcoming to me. I have already made great friendships with some of my teammates. I was able to meet with Coach Nobles over the summer during workouts and I love the way he coaches,” says Wiggins. “He understands the talent we have on our team and

the potential we have. Being an undersized team we need to spread the floor and shoot more threes, so Coach Nobles tells us that anyone can shoot if they’re open even the big men.”

Along with many new players, the team has also brought in a new coaching staff. Country Day alum Coach Darryl Nobles was a 4-year varsity basketball athlete and All-State in 2007. With Nobles coming in as the head coach, his brother Jordan Nobles, Dale Brundidge, and Jeremy Turrentine are also joining the coaching staff as assistant coaches. Senior Collin Batts talks about the new coaching staff and the difference between this season and last year.

“Coach Nobles and his coaching staff bring an energy that allows us to grow as a team on and off the court. They all know modern-day basketball and understand how we see the game,” says Batts. “One thing that I think is very different from this year and last year is that our team is almost entirely new. Lots of the seniors weren’t a part of the varsity team last year so it is a learning experience for the players and the coaches.”

The Yellow Jackets have started off their season at 1-6 but going into the new year, they look to add more wins to the board. They have established their effort and look to apply that to every game going forward and bring back the identity of the team. Go Jackets!

BOWLER AIMS FOR a strike, Courtesy of Ryan Ignatowski

cOnnOR

stephen brentano sports staff writer

J’AMARI WIggInS on the court, Courtesy of Denisa Molnar

NEW FACES ON THE COURT

Women’s Basketball has a new head coach

by MATTHEW METROSE sports staff writers

The Day Times had the opportunity to interview the new Women’s Head Basketball Coach, Amber Deane. Deane graduated from Country Day in 2012 and was a part of the 2009 Women’s Basketball State Championship Team. Deane also played in college and professionally overseas. “Playing overseas came with its own unique challenges like being away from friends and family as well as adjusting to a different place with a different culture. However, I loved playing and traveling to different places during my time overseas,” said Deane when asked about her experience. Now with her playing days behind her, Deane will take up a new endeavor in coaching at her high school alma mater. When asked what was behind her decision to return to her alma mater as a coach, Deane said, “Everything about Country Day. The people, the school, the legacy. Everything.”

A vital aspect of a successful program is a strong team culture. When asked about the culture she is looking to build as a first-year head coach, Deane said, “A culture built upon genuine relationships, hard work, humility, and joy. I want everyone apart of our family to work as hard as they can while simultaneously enjoying every moment,” It will be exciting to see a new team culture bloom under Deane.

Deane’s squad is a team full of

guards, leading many to wonder how the offense would attempt to counter their size defect. “We want to play up-tempo and have proper 5-out spacing for dribble drive motion,” said Deane when asked about her plans for the team’s offensive strategy. The dribble drive motion offense is an up-tempo motion offense. In its most basic form, the ball handler tries to drive in for a layup and takes it if available. If the layup is made unavailable by the defense, the ball handler finds an open player on the wing or in the post.

Though the team has a new coach, a team is still nothing without its players. When asked about which players impressed her during the offseason, Deane said, “Jaidyn Elam and Naiya Krispin were in the gym almost every day this off-season. I was so impressed by their commitment and consistency. Peja Liles, Sam Sampath and AriYanna Wiggins were other players who were consistently working on their games. Honestly, the entire team has been so impressive. Their chemistry, focus and yearn to get better has been an absolute joy to be around.” This year’s team will be guided by experienced upperclassmen and talented freshmen rallying behind their new coach to achieve a State Championship. Whether this goal is achieved or not, in the end, this coming season will be thrilling for all of the DCD community. The team’s record is currently 5-4.

WADING INTO THE DCDS MEN’S SWIM SEASON

Sitting down with some of this year’s members of the Men’s Swim Team

by ZACHARY RODGER sports section editor

As all fall sports have concluded at Country Day, winter teams replace them. The Day Times had the opportunity to dive into the dynamics of the Men’s Swim Team this 2023 winter sports season.

Mayer Krieger, All-State Junior swim athlete, spoke about the team’s performance last season. “Last year, the team did way better than we were supposed to. We had two kids qualify individually for States. One made it back to score points on the second day and both of our relays placed 12th overall. With only four events scored, we ended the meet in 15th place. Overall it was a very good year, all credit to how close the team was and the amazing chemistry,” said Krieger.

The team had a solid season last year considering the number of swimmers. That being said, Krieger is still hopeful for even more improvement this season. “We look forward to improving on everything from last year. We lost a lot of seniors but gained as many, if not more, amazing freshmen,” said Krieger.

Krieger, one of the fastest swimmers in the state, has always loved the sport and expressed his passion. “I have been swimming for almost my entire life, starting before I was two years old. It is absolutely something that plays a huge part in my life. It very much influences the plans I have and the times that I am free. Also during the school year I need

to plan my study schedule around swimming, which can be challenging,” said Krieger

Losing seniors in sports signifies a new set of Senior captains. For the 2022-23 season, the team has a lone senior captain Om Jaipati. When ask about being taking on a new position of leadership, Jaipati said, “As a captain of swimming my role is to make sure that the team has good morale and is functioning smoothly. My role is also to make sure that everyone is having a good time and staying focused. I also take on the responsibilty of making sure that there are no conflicts with the swimmers on the team in order to ensure a smooth 22-23 swim season,” said Japiati.

Outside of the pool, the swim team is known for their camaraderie and Jaipati detailed the bond. “I am most excited about the social aspect of our team. Since my freshman year we have always been a tight knit group who hang out and have fun outside the pool. We become very close and help each other succeed whether it is in the water or helping out with homework. Other than that it is always fun to see how much time we drop at the end of the season with our league and state meets,” said Jaipati.

After a solid season last year, the team looks to go further with the addition of some strong freshmen. They have participated in two relay meets so far. To guarantee improvement, they have been practicing hard over break with two practices a day. Good luck boys!

jaidyn elam shoots a three pointer. Photo courtesy of Zach Yeh.

Courtesy of Connor Lee, Denisa Molnar, Grace Liu