Issue 1 2021-22

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

VOLUME CXXIII. NO.I

September 13, 2021

COVID-19: Vaccinations and Variants

By HARLIV SINGH ’23 STAFF WRITER

COVID-19 is here to stay. With the emergence of more contagious variants, any illusions that we had of a short-term pandemic were dashed.

Specifically, the Delta variant, first identified in December 2020 in India, has emerged as the dominant global strain of COVID-19. Transmissibility is comparable to other viruses such as varicella (chickenpox) and measles primarily due to the high viral loads Delta produces in infected carriers.

Prior to the discovery of varicella and measles vaccines, these illnesses were considered endemic across the world, meaning everyone would at some point become infected. The emergence of the Delta variant guarantees indefinite, worldwide spread, especially across unvaccinated populations. As of August 2021,Delta represents 99% of active cases in the United States.

While strict lockdowns and mask wearing have proven effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19, vaccination represents the primary strategy to further open economies and societies. In the United States, high COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths directly correlate with the percentage of unvaccinated Americans per state. Many states have introduced incentives to push people to get vaccinated. For example, Delaware enters vaccinated students between the ages of 12 and 17 into a statewide raffle for a full scholarship to Delaware University.

In Louisiana, participating businesses are offering “a shot for a shot”: free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks to those who provide proof of full vaccination. Leadership across states varies in the promotion of vaccine uptake and mask wearing and other

CDC-recommended protocols have become increasingly politicized.

Dr. Kristin Spencer, the medical director of Hill’s Wellness Center, strongly supports vaccination against COVID-19. Hill is offering vaccines to all eligible students. “By vaccinating as many people as possible and providing fewer people who remain highly susceptible, we will gain traction again in reducing the burden of disease,” she said. All CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Delta variant, in particular protecting recipients against hospitalization and death, but immunity may slightly wane over time.

On Sept. 20th, booster shots will become available for double-vaccinated individuals. Immunocompromised patients will be offered the booster immediately. In a recent interview with the White House press corp, Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the president, promoted boosters and stated: “You want to get ahead of the virus.”

Internationally, COVID-19 has devastated populations in India and Brazil but has spared nations such as Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand where geographic isolation and population adherence to nationwide lockdowns has proven successful.

The arrival of Delta has pushed many countries back into lockdown as they await vaccine shipments and delivery into arms.

As a world, we remain in the thick of the coronavirus pandemic.

With full FDA approval of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine, there is hope that vaccine-hesitancy will diminish. For those of us living in vaccine-rich countries, the off-ramp clearly lies in vaccination; but the question remains: will a critical number of our families, friends and neighbors take it?

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

BY THE NUMBERS

499: 17: 29:

SGA Co-Presidents Sarah Jiang ’22 and Noah Toole ’22 lead the Convocation procession with flags.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

Faculty and staff plan for a return to normal this fall

By PAIGE TIMBROOK ’22 STAFF WRITER

With around 85% of the student body and 98% of the faculty expected to be fully vaccinated by the opening days of the fall term, the administration has been working on returning to normal for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.

Head of School Zack Lehman reported those vaccination numbers and said the school will continue to provide unvaccinated international students with access to the vaccine during the first five weeks of arrival on campus. Dr. Kristen Spencer, Hill’s medical director, explained, “Typically, students who have a temporary international exemption due to the lack of the availability of the vaccine at home will be vaccinated the morning after arrival at Rite Aid.” As of now, wearing masks indoors will be the most noticeable restriction during the first two weeks on campus. As stated by Lehman, students will need to be masked in most indoor situations throughout the pre-arrival, arrival, and two-week opening period.

There are very limited distancing and testing requirements, though the school will continue to monitor the COVID-19 levels locally, across the state, and the country.

Many activities, such as Convocation and form retreats, are scheduled to take place in-person.

The administration is in the process of organizing athletic contests, off-campus activities, Lawrenceville weekend events, and more. Director of Student Life David Hoffman ’01 explained, “Our office is currently planning a lot of activities, especially the L’Ville weekend events such as the dance, pep rally and bonfire. We are doing everything in our power to get back to business as usual.”

Knowing Hill is not the same without the huge Hill vs. Lawrenceville weekend rivalry, Dean of Students Ari Baum said, “L’Ville weekend will be bigger this year than it has ever been before, with many exciting alumni events.”

Some students who missed many activities put on hold last year are very hopeful for their return this fall.

“I missed L’Ville weekend so much last year because it falls at a great time of year, and it is a huge mood booster,” Anna Lignelli ‘22 said. “I am hopeful the freshmen will get to experience a normal weekend, because it has really been one of the best parts of my Hill experience so far.”

Another tradition restricted

by COVID-19 was seated dinner on Tuesday nights. Anabelle LaVan ‘23 stated, “Seated dinner was something I really missed last year.

It was a great time to meet with students and teachers who I did not interact with on a daily basis.”

Many plans created by the SGA

co-presidents were also put on hold last year. SGA Co-President Sarah Jiang ‘22 stated, “Noah Toole ‘22 [SGA co-president], the SGA, and I are eager to implement new ideas and reintroduce events back into our community, but the biggest priority is still the health of everyone at Hill.”

All that being said, the administration is aware of the emergence of a new Delta variant. According to Spencer, the new strain of the virus is the reason for the initial mask and testing requirements.

Unvaccinated students will have a few other restrictions, including, but not limited to, no dorm access for unvaccinated day students and limited off-campus risk. Most notably, vaccinated students will only be tested if they are symptomatic or under special circumstances, while unvaccinated students must be tested twice a week, at least for the opening two weeks. Aside from this, much of the COVID-19 restrictions are similar for both unvaccinated and vaccinated students.

Still, Hill remains confident for the upcoming year as they continue to follow the CDC guidelines.

Baum explained, “With our high vaccination rate, we think we are in very good shape. We do not make decisions about COVID-19 to avoid people being frustrated and upset. We make decisions to best preserve health in a community with hundreds of people.”

SATIRE: Dear Blue: A survivor’s guide to The Hill School

Vaccinated students Students who’ve received one shot Students who’ve not received any shots SOURCE:

Dr. kristin spencer, hill’s medical director (numbers as of sept. 4)

Athletes aren’t immune to mental health issues With the global spotlight on the Sixth formers collaborate in Tokyo Olympics this summer, athletes Throughout the year, if you ever pursuit of music ambitions dominated headlines and flooded soneed advice, feel free to contact Dear cial media. Simone Biles’ withdrawal Sixth former Johnny Dai has had Blue, The Hill News’ very own anony- a busy summer writing and recording from the Olympic Games stirred dismous advice column. cussion about mental health issues music from his home. within professional sports.

OFF-CAMPUS NEWS | Page B3

FEATURES | Page D6

ARTS & LEISURE | Page E10

Campus News

The Hill News | A2

September 13, 2021

Hill School implements new financial literacy requirement

By CARRIE SHANG ’23 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

As students prepare for another year at the Hill, they will begin to hear the news that Hill’s Academic Council is implementing a financial literacy graduation requirement, which will be effective starting this school year.

This requirement is unlike other academic requirements since there will be several different ways to fulfill it. For example, students can complete the requirement with coursework if they are taking or have taken Entrepreneurship, Applied Mathematics, or one of the economics classes. Other students will also be able to fulfill the requirement during H-Term, whether by taking a class or completing an internship approved by the Academic Office.

The school will also be offering workshops throughout the year that can help students meet the requirement. Josephine Phillips, a new intern at Hill, will be leading these workshops, and she plans on covering topics like budgeting, managing credit, and planning for college. Phillips also

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

intends to incorporate real-world case studies so that students can learn how to apply the knowledge to their lives.

“I believe financial literacy is probably the most important thing for students to know,” Phillips said. “Everyone has goals and hardships at times, and understanding how to work with finance can make those situations a lot better.”

The consensus among Hill faculty is that financial literacy is

something necessary and beneficial for students.

“I am a firm believer that the more human beings are exposed to basic financial literacy, the more we are able to solve many underlying problems in the world,” Ari Baum, dean of students and instructor of economics, said. Baum believes that equipping students with financial knowledge will help them become better prepared for life beyond Hill.

Academic Dean Katy Hudak also agrees that financial literacy is a crucial skill for students to have.

“As a liberal arts school, our job is to teach kids how to think critically,” Hudak said. “Part of that is being able to think critically about money.”

When it comes to the importance of understanding economics and finance, the students of Hill generally share a similar sentiment with the faculty.

“I am in support of a financial literacy requirement,” Martin Tran ’22 said. “Implementing a requirement like this would lead to a greater opportunity for students to learn about investing their money wisely. As I see it, people are always joking that schools should teach us how to do our taxes instead of focusing solely on academia, and I think this is where our education can really be improved.”

However, many have mixed thoughts about the requirement itself. Some students are concerned about how this requirement can impact their course plan.

“I agree that it would benefit us in the future if we learn about

finance,” Benjamin Wang ’23 said. “However, most of us upper formers have already planned out the classes we wish to take before graduation and, with the sudden news of this new requirement, we would need to reorganize our plan. For some students, that would have a huge impact.”

Others worry that making financial literacy a requirement will make students less eager to learn those skills.

“I think in order to prepare us for life, we should have some knowledge on money,” Carmelita Robinson ’23 said. “But, testing students on the knowledge will only make students dislike it and forget the importance of this life skill.”

When asked about how she might address such apprehension, Phillips stated, “What I hope to do is make financial literacy very relatable to students, which could potentially help them understand it and also enjoy learning about it. I want to show them how this can really affect your life -- not just now, but 10 or 20 years from now, it will always be important.”

From the Cunningham Pool to the Tokyo Olympics: Alumni Alberto Mestre ’17 and Alfonso Mestre ’19 qualify for the Tokyo Olympics

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 STAFF WRITER

This past summer, Hill alumni Alberto Mestre ’17 and Alfonso Mestre ’19 participated in the Tokyo Olympics; Alberto finished seventh in the first heat of the semifinals of the men’s 50 meter freestyle and finished fourth in the fifth heat of the men’s 100 meter freestyle, while Alfonso placed first in the second heat of the men’s 400 meter freestyle and second in the third heat of the men’s 800 meter freestyle. During their time at Hill, both brothers participated in the swimming, diving, and water polo teams, breaking outstanding records, such as Alberto taking first in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at Easterns Swimming and Diving championship his sixth form year and Alfonso holding school records for the 200 and 500 freestyle. Both were swim captains their fifth and sixth form years while at Hill.

“They were both intense and dedicated swimmers. They were determined to follow in their father’s footsteps, so we worked hard together to develop workouts that would challenge them and hone their skills,” Amy Agnew, Athey family master of English and director of aquatics, stated in an email.

A recurring message is that the Mestre brothers worked very hard while at Hill and beyond.

“I do not think many people are surprised that they qualified for the Olympics and subsequently swam well there,” Agnew said.

“Personally, I was so excited for them. Their work ethic truly paid off.”

Besides swimming, Alberto participated in other sports, such as basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer. “I decided to choose swimming over all of those sports because of the team I had. The people on my teams were very uplifting and positive; they truly became some of my closest friends.”

The “Mestre” last name is well-known in Venezuela through their father, Alberto Mestre Sr. ’82, who was an Olympic athlete and, all-around, one of the best Venezuelan swimmers in the country’s history. Thus, swimming was always an option for the brothers. “Swimming was always part of my life because of my father, but at the age of 10 or 11, I decided to start competing nationally,” Alberto said.

Although many would expect that the pressure of their dad being an Olympian could be overwhelming, Alberto went on to explain that he used this to his advantage. “I turned these expectations into motivation to be better at what I did,” he said.

Every day at college consists of constant hard work for them to become the best swimmers they can be. “Each morning before classes or the start of my day, I do half an hour of swimming in the morning around 6:30 a.m. After that, I have a gym session and get ready for the day,” Alberto said.

“Throughout the day, I eat breakfast, then a snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and a snack.” He stressed the importance of eating steadily, being healthy, and sleeping well as an athlete. “My advice for high school athletes is to go to bed ontime, so you are not tired in the morning.”

While Alfonso’s day has some similarities, it looks a bit different. He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to prepare for a 5 a.m. swim practice that lasts until 7 a.m.. “After breakfast, I lift weights for about two hours; classes start a little bit after this, depending on the day,” he said.

He practices more after classes end too.

When it came to swimming at Hill, Alberto was challenged by his teammates during his first two years. “I had to work hard as I was new to the team. After time,

Alfonso Mestre ’19 (left) Alberto Mestre ’17 (right) are pictured together in the Cunningham Pool.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY LARISSA SYNDER

I gained understanding and discipline being on the team.” At Hill, Alfonso or Alberto would typically be training alone or with a faculty member. However, outside of school, there are many more people working out with you.

Faculty that knew the two speak highly of them. “It is no surprise that the two went to the Olympics. They are both hard working, sweet people,” school counselor and instructor of psychology Doug Jones said.

Heidi Eccleston, associate dean of students and Alfonso’s advisor at Hill, said, “His peers and teachers describe him as authentic, genuine, and trustworthy.”

She continued to describe him as optimistic and coachable. “His

daily two-a-days were beginning with a 5 a.m. alarm to walk across a dark campus to get into a chilly pool while others were nestled under their down comforters to break the 200 free record,” Eccleston stated. After every morning swim, he would continue on his day to take four AP classes.

“He also challenged himself not to settle and to break his own 500 free record that he had only set the year before.”

Larisa Snyder, instructor of English and assistant swimming and diving coach, wrote about how dedicated the boys were to their sport. “Alberto and Alfonso tended to be more reserved on the pool deck. They were not necessarily inclined to be super

outgoing or excited at the pool; they led their teammates by the example of their dedication to the sport.”

When the Mestre brothers qualified for the Olympics, it was a big deal for the brothers and their family name. “My goal was to make the A-Cut; if I did, that meant I qualified for the Olympics. I was so grateful to reach the deadline four days before the cutoff to qualify,” Alfonso said. With this outstanding achievement for both of them, their peers, family, friends, and country were excited for them both. “The amount of support we got was insane. It was great.”

“It was different warming up on a stage with 20,000 spectators.

There were huge screens, news anchors, photographers, journalists, and more all there,” Alberto said. The same routines and rituals had to be done before the games, and although there were nerves, the brothers turned the nerves into motivation. “Tokyo was amazing and surreal; it felt good to realize I was on the same stage as everyone else, basically competing at the same level,” Alberto said.

For now, the brothers are figuring out their upcoming plans as they look towards the future. “I do not necessarily want to make a career out of swimming, but I do want to continue practicing, getting good grades, finishing college, and qualifying for Paris,” Alfonso said.

“I plan to continue school at Stanford in the business field.

After that, I will do the master’s program at the University of Florida and hopefully swim with my brother again! This then leads up to the 2024 Paris Olympics where I want to work to get a podium finish,” Alberto said. “The best advice I have for aspiring high school athletes is to work towards your goal no matter how hard it may seem. Listen to your coaches also because they only want what is best for you.”

Off-Campus News

September 13, 2021

B3 | The Hill News

Learning on the road— Blake Groff’s ’22 Arabic study in Morocco Excelling in Arabic study, Blake Groff ‘22 visited Morocco and lived with a local host family this summer to further his studies in Arabic language and culture.

Groff applied to the Arabic Honor Society scholarship program with the help of former Chair of the World Languages Department Yassine Benzinane P’21. Groff had to pitch his detailed study plan and design his own trip for the program to approve.

“Mr. Benzinane was a big part of my motivation for picking Morocco.

He was raised there and strongly recommended me to visit there,” Groff said. “From Arabic classes with Mr. Benzinane at Hill, I was already a little familiar with Moroccan culture so it would’ve made for a more enjoyable first time leaving the country.”

Groff attended the Qalam-WaLawh academy at Rabat, where he studied modern standard Arabic. With the flexible timetable, he was able to explore the capital through alleys and bazaars.

Besides time in the classroom, Groff experienced the lives of the locals firsthand. He joined a group of Bedouin nomads and traveled into the heart of the Sahara Desert. Groff was completely immersed in an authentic

Arabic environment during the hike, in which he communicated with the Bedouins in Arabic, rode camels, and had traditional desserts.

“It was interesting to see how they were all affected by COVID, certainly much worse than us Americans were, because their whole industry relied on tourism,” Blake said. “My tour guide said that he’s trying to feed his family with the income of two or three guests a month instead of upwards of a 100 a month like usual, which I can only imagine how hard that would be for him.”

Being alone in an unfamiliar country can be overwhelming; however, the hospitality and friendliness of the locals made Groff feel like no stranger.

“There was a bakery two blocks away from where I stayed, and I would chat with the lady at the bakery who would recommend a dessert for me every day,” Blake said.

“Although there were incidents where the locals tried to take advantage of me since I’m a foreigner; overall, the people were welcoming and willing to help me get better at the language,” Blake added.

Visiting Morocco was an unforgettable experience for Groff, and his interest in Arabic study will only take him higher in life. “I wish that I can bring the joy of learning Arabic to my fellow classmates and carry on the passion of Mr. Benzinane,” Groff concluded.

Blake Groff tours the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY BLAKE GROFF ’22

By JASON ZHOU ’23 OFF-CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH JIANG ’22

Athletes aren’t immune to mental health issues

By ANNA GUO ’22 STAFF WRITER

With the global spotlight on the Tokyo Olympics this summer, athletes dominated headlines and flooded social media. Simone Biles’ withdrawal from the Olympic Games stirred discussion about mental health issues within professional sports.

In an unexpected event, Biles withdrew from the individual allaround competition. She announced that she needed to focus on her mental health and that she would be evaluated daily to determine whether she would continue to compete.

Biles is an American gymnast with a combined total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals; she is regarded as the most decorated gymnast of all time. Pressure to defend her all-around title, coupled with the fears and restrictions of COVID-19 protocols, immensely impacted her mental health.

The response from social media and fan behavior is also a factor to take into account. Professional athletes want to live up to expectations, and that includes those of fans. Fan support can help athletes thrive; conversely, blame and criticism can deter athletes’ performance.

Lisa Roethling, director of counseling at Hill, shared that “despite

the fear of letting her teammates (not to mention a worldwide viewing audience) down, Biles chose herself–a courageous move that should make its way into everyone’s mental health playbook.”

Over the past few years at Hill, there has been a greater transparency around issues of mental health in the sports world. Seth Eilberg, director of athletics at Hill, said that “we have worked very hard to destigmatize mental health and have come a very long way in supporting this important area in our community.”

Student-athletes have additional pressure to maintain their grades, co-curriculars and relationships while navigating the decision to play on the collegiate level. This can build stress and exacerbate injury to one’s mental health – something that isn’t as highlighted because it’s an invisible injury.

Anna Schlegel ‘22, captain of the Hill girls water polo team, supported Biles in her decision to prioritize mental health. “From experience, I know your mentality is ultimately how you’re going to end up playing, regardless of how much training you’ve done,” Schlegel said. Áine Farrell, captain of the Hill girls basketball team, further emphasized the impact of mental health. “I know mental exhaustion can turn into physical exhaustion after a rough day,” Farrell said. “How-

ever, I find that being surrounded by my teammates immediately increases my spirits and energy going into practices and games.”

Mental health does not discriminate and affects everyone. Athletes and students alike need to remind ourselves that we can only feel and perform our best when we show up for ourselves, Mrs. Roethling stated.

Being candid about resting, recharging, and reevaluating is what Simone Biles did, and, in doing so, she created a moment for mental health discussions.

The Hill Counseling Center has five licensed practitioners to help students better understand their mental health. Three of the five counselors have also competed at a collegiate level and can relate to the difficulty of finding balance. Kelsey Engman and Kayleigh Summers, Hill’s school clinicians, will be working alongside Hill’s athletics department in providing prevention and awareness around this topic. Students at Hill are encouraged to utilize these resources, especially given the significance of mental health on one’s wellbeing.

Please visit the counseling website at www.thehill.org/families/counseling-program for more information on services, or email counseling@thehill. org.

Hill community members reflect on their summer experience

By SAAGAR SHARMA ’22 STAFF WRITER

Summer is a time where members of the Hill community get to embark on multiple experiences that allow them to come back with diverse perspectives to share with the community.

As for students, incoming SGA Co-President Noah Toole, had a summer full of adversity.

He stated that it was a tough sequence of events after he tore his ACL. He was on the brink of accepting an offer to play sports at the collegiate level had it not happened. He is, however, extremely optimistic that he will return to sports by the spring.

Ari Baum, dean of students, travelled extensively to 30 different states. He said, “My whole summer was a highlight.” He got the chance to meet with multiple members of the Hill community miles and miles away from the campus. Mr. Baum even reconnected with the Mestre brothers before their Olympic debut. He also saw Matthew Gettings, senior master of mathematics, and Mark Nelson, senior master of science, in Maine. A summer like no other, Mr. Baum made sure to spend it with the people who mattered most, as he also had an opportunity to go to Traverse City, Mich., with his boarding school advisor. Mr. Baum emphasized the notion that ties never truly sever!

Another Hill community member, Jace White, stated that his favorite moment of the summer was racing at nationals for crew. He said, “It was nice to see familiar faces while keeping in shape.” These summer highlights from a few members of the Hill community show diverse experiences that will bring back new perspectives to share.

Opinion

The Hill News | C4

September 13, 2021

It is time to acknowledge poverty and disparity in Philadelphia

By JIHWAN SUNG ’22 STAFF WRITER

The city of brotherly love: Philadelphia. Unfortunately, poverty has been embedded in Philly’s identity for a long time. According to the U.S. Census, Philly’s poverty rate only increased since 1970. In a 2004 Johns Hopkins article, a study concluded that the racial-ethnic disparities in health are closely tied to economic disparities and the influence of socioeconomic forces on urban populations. 58% of Black residents resided in high poverty areas, while only 18% of white residents were in the same areas. The age-adjusted mortality rate in the high poverty areas was 47% higher for women than in the low poverty areas and 60% higher for men in high poverty areas than men in low poverty areas. In a 2017 Pew report, numbers also suggest a serious racial disparity. One indicator of this discrepancy is the share of Philadelphians living in poverty and non-poverty areas.

People of Black, Hispanic and Asian descent disproportionately reside in high poverty areas. The fact of the matter is that Philly is the “poorest” large city, according to the Economy League, with severe disparities in race, gender, and age, and this did not happen by chance.

Not creating an environment for people to prosper is the major issue.

Of course, this is an international dilemma, but Black and Hispanic people in Philly are blatantly hindered from

having higher-paying jobs. For example, Philadelphia construction unions make it difficult for people of color to join, according to James McGinnis of The Philadelphia Tribune. It was so severe to the point where the government initiated a model for affirmative action. However, the Philadelphia plan failed dreadfully. According to the most recent demographic information about union membership, the majority of the construction unions had less than 10% black members. Tony Wigglesworth, who negotiates labor contracts for large Philadelphia building projects, asserted that “the story told today could have been told 50 years ago.”

Another component is zoning.

While the federal government made ways for middle-class residents and jobs to move out of the city, suburban areas have used zoning to limit the availability of low-cost housing, constraining the poor inside the city.

What is the best way to at least make a dent? Upskilling is the most practical and low-risk / high-reward method. Upskilling educates people in low-income groups to eventually rise to middle-wage jobs. Targeted job training to become well-rewarded jobs such as home health aides. The best places for people to learn tech-specific training are community colleges. However, community colleges in Philly have been focused on four-year programs and there was disdain for people who chose

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

career tech. If this changes, people will be allowed to freely learn skills. Distributing cash in impoverished areas worked for Kenya, according to an experiment explained on a Freakonomics Podcast in 2013. However, rather than promoting common prosperity,

providing equal opportunity through multiple ways such as upskilling or cancelling zoning will work better for Philadelphia.

Obviously this isn’t the complete solution packet. In fact, this is just the tip of the iceberg to solve such a mul-

tifaceted problem. However, with more available data and technology, we are closer than we’ve been in the past to alleviating poverty. The question is: Are people willing to admit the racial-ethnic disparity and proceed?

Disadvantaged Colombians take the streets to protest corruption

By ANDRES AREVALO ’22 STAFF WRITER

At the beginning of the spring of this year, outraged by the president’s new tax reform proposal, Colombians took over the streets with protests and marches to express their disapproval of the current government. The form that the protests took is known as “paro” which translates to “stop.” It involves labor unions and communities, like students and industries, stopping their usual activities/ work and marching to request change.

The “paro” creates economic and social unrest, which, if the government decides to ignore, can create long-lasting consequences. However, the protests this year had much more participants than any previous one, finally reaching the attention of international media. Every major

city had thousands of protesters from different social classes, backgrounds, and interests. The impact of the “paro” reached every part of Colombian’s life, creating months of uncertainty and fear of the danger generated by the clash between cops and protesters. The situation furthered the already strong polarization Colombia suffers, perfectly delimiting two groups against each other: anti-protesters/government vs. protesters/opposition.

The economic impact of the protests completely shocked industries through the takeover of highways or the destruction of transportation, stores, and warehouses, without even mentioning the consumer slowdown due to the panic.

For the latter and social issues regarding the disrespect of authority, many people,

especially from privileged backgrounds, were heavily against the protests. Although their arguments are validated by some of the actions performed in the “paro,” such as the destruction of public and private property, the economic unrest, and the violence, most of the anti-protest groups are motivated by maintaining the status quo as it is. In the same way, there are no limits those groups are willing to cross for their own interests. In Cali, amidst the wave of marches, many citizens decided it was up to them to stop the situation and used their guns to shoot protesters, more specifically, indigenous tribes who came from their reserves. Inhumane acts were not only perpetrated by particulars but also by the government to de-escalate the “paro.” Policemen infiltrated marches to incriminate

and invalidate the protests. Policemen infiltrated the marches to incriminate and question their validity. 80 protesters were killed, and impunity was common in most of the cases.

It would be biased to portray the actions of the state without also referring to the downsides of the protests.

The “paro,’’ although it starts with a fair reason, is taken advantage of by criminals to steal, destroy, and create further unnecessary unrest and violence. Some examples among many are: the destruction of public transportation, the looting of stores and homes, and vandalization.

In the same way, the opposition has also been found committing illicit acts, like paying citizens to commit crimes to trigger more agitation. Nonetheless, the destruction and economical stop

ILLUSTRATION BY AIDAN MA ’23

the protests legally bring about may also seem counterproductive as it generates more problems for the state to fix. However, without that pressure, there are few motivations for the government to make changes happen. It is considered a necessary evil. Some people ask me why the protesters want to see the world on fire – the truth is that their own world is on fire. The people protest because they are denied their human rights, a decent salary, affordable healthcare, security, and the opportunities to provide themselves and their families a worthy life.

When I talked about the importance of the right to protest in Colombia with Horacio Serpa, a Colombian senator from the Liberal Party, he said (the quote is translated from Spanish), “The protest is, in itself, one of the largest social and democratic expressions envisaged by our constitutional legal system. Unfortunately in Colombia we have not been able to understand the importance and essence of this right, many times stigmatized, other times abused.”

In the past two decades, a new reality has stricken almost every Colombian citizen: change is necessary. Famine kills thousands a year. New generations are forced into working inside the same cycles of poverty. The wealth gap increases exponentially year after year. Government corruption continues to steal millions of dollars from the people. Both Locke and Rousseau assured that the government was for the people, instead of its own Kafkaesque entity, and that the people have the right to protest when the government fails to provide worthy lives.

That right is the reason why protests have happened and will continue to happen until the necessary change occurs. However, the infamous ”paro” has to change its customs. Illicit acts can’t be a part of the protests for them to have a long-lasting impact. Nevertheless, the fact that the protests require change does not invalidate its purposes, which is what the government did. A few weeks after the protests died down, a similar tax reform was sent to congress for approval. The situation hints at a severely rare characteristic of the human psyche: humans tend to deem an action as wrong if it is performed poorly, and it is one of the biggest tools to invalidate and oppress.

Opinion

September 13, 2021

C5 | The Hill News

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

The urge to liberalize China could prove costly for U.S.-China relations

By JERRY LI ’22 OPINION EDITOR

As the tension between the United States and China always seems to grow, the world will be in danger if these two countries fail to address the cracks in their relationship. The United States should start to seriously consider the possibility of a world order shared by the two countries and characterized by their very different forms of government.

When U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, he sewed a groundbreaking thread in the two countries’ relationship. It was unthought of at the time for the leader of the western world to open diplomacy with a Chinese government that was closer than ever to advancing the spread of communist revolutions worldwide.

It was clear what the main objective was for Nixon and his successors during the Cold War. They wanted to skew the balance of power against the Soviet Union in favor of the United States by improving ties with China. Their geopolitical needs could be met too due to China’s location.

However, as the century turned, the United States and China seem to be progressively slipping into Thucydides’ Trap, which describes a tendency towards war when an emerging power challenges the hegemony of an existing one.

No, the slip did not occur simply because of Xi’s assumption of power or former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, although they certainly played a part in exacerbating the divide.

It is important to note that during the Cold War, U.S. engagement with China was largely unsentimental and for the purpose of realizing geopolitical goals. Of course, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan additionally all promoted China’s economic development, which was long overdue as the sleeping giant

had the greatest number of poor and hungry people in the world at the time.

However, that was mainly motivated by humanitarian reasons as none of them could foresee then how fast China would develop into a challenger for global hegemony.

Although situations have changed since then, the key to unlocking a successful diplomacy with China remains the same, a “non-encroaching approach.” The presidents during the Cold War did not seek to influence the power of the Chinese Communist Party. Reagan commented famously in 1984: “I’m an anti-Communist if you talk about Communism for the United States … but I have never thought that it was necessary for us to impose our form of government on some other country.”

Although this intention to keep the CCP in power did not matter at that time due to the significant difference of power between the two sides, the logic can be applied now to safeguard their relationship from Thucydides’ Trap.

In fact, U.S.-China relations really worsened after the Cold War, when the euphoria of victory inspired President George H. W. Bush and President Bill Clinton to form a new global order marked by liberal democracy and market capitalism. Perhaps due to their colonial history, China and the CCP, politically synonymous terms for some time, perceive all foreign attempts to bring about political change, and specifically the U.S. ones, to be a challenge of their sovereignty. Beijing has believed for some time that Washington has plans to westernize and split up the country, which are seen as direct threats.

The problem with many American diplomats is their view that the CCP’s power is waning and that efforts can be made to crumble the party’s rule in China as they did with the Soviet Union in the late 20th century. However, the CCP is unlikely to fall from within without a modern global war. If the United States intends to avoid that outcome out of

concern for its own safety or for that of the rest of the world, they should learn some lessons from history and try to comprehend what China and the CCP really want.

The absence of communication is the root of the plight and the United States can start to fix its relationship with China by paying close attention to media press conferences offered by the Foreign Ministry Information Department of China. For instance, on July 17, Hua

Chunying, a spokesperson and the director of the ministry, directly answered questions from foreign journalists about potential pathways to a healthier and more peaceful U.S.-China relationship.

She stated that China has never tried to replace the United States as the sole global hegemon, but rather that the country of 1.4 billion people just wants to protect its interest, people, and sovereignty. Claiming some U.S. diplomats have repeatedly tried to vilify the CCP

Editors-in-Chief

Campus News Local News Features Layout Social Media Head Illustrator Staff Writers & Staff Contributers

Faculty Advisor

Olivia Mofus ’22, Aleksandr Glamazdin ’22

Visual Mananging Editors

Portia Sockel ’22, Tiffany Wang ’22

Carrie Shang ’23, Diemmy Dang ’24 Jason Zhou ’23 Anna Carroll ’23 Jasmine Wang ’23 Ariana Polevshchikova ’23 Chloe Han ’22

Opinion Arts & Leisure Sports Photo & Illustration Website Head Photographer

Jerry Li ’22 Wesley Connelly ’22 Rose Flaherty ’23 Sarah Jiang ’22 Ginta Harada ’23 Erick Sun ’24

Paige Timbrook ’22, Anna Guo ’22, Callie Connelly ’22, Jihwan Sung ’22, Andres Arevalo ’22, Ella Scott ’22, Saagar Sharma ’22, Sela Muto ’23, Pierce Hart ’23, Hunter Sloan ’23, Harliv Singh ’23, MoniYah Person-Henderson ’23, George Burkov ’23, Nimala Sivakumar ’23, Aidan Ma ’23, Angela Jin ’24, Vicky Xiao ’24 Ms. Elizabeth DeOrnellas

Content Policy The Hill News is the student-run newspaper of The Hill School. Content is determined by and reflects the views of the student editorial board and staff and not school officials or the School itself. The Hill News acts as an open forum for student expression.

@hillnews

and what it represents, she said eliminating biases and prejudices are key for successful coexistence and longstanding peace between the two countries.

By carefully evaluating a history of relations with China and actively listening to the CCP today, the United States will surely find a way out of Thucydides’ Trap and into the days when the two countries were considered allies and friends.

@TheHillNews1

Want to contribute to The Hill News?

Come to our weekly meetings TBA or contact a member of our staff. To submit a letter to the editors or an opinion piece, email omofus22@thehill.org, aglamazdin22@thehill.org, psockel22@thehill.org, tiffwang22@thehill.org.

thehill.news

/whatsoeverthingsarenews

Features

The Hill News | D6

September 13, 2021

SATIRE: Dear Blue: A survivor’s guide to The Hill School

By ANONYMOUS As The Hill welcomes a great number of new students to its campus, it feels appropriate to provide a guide on how to survive The Hill School and its sometimes confusing rules, unknown expectations, and definite prohibitions. So here are some do’s and definitely don’ts for all things Hill:

• Table waiters: no one’s really that hungry, so please just walk as slow as humanly possible.

• If you’re a fan of standing by yourself and making awkward eye contact, then arrive early to the Dining Hall.

• Make sure to choose the stack of plates when cleaning up, especially if you aren’t too strong.

• But if you’re a germaphobe, well then, go for the utensils because used silverware is so clean.

• Girls, if you can’t tell if your skirt is too short, then just roll it some more.

• I’m sorry but you just can’t wear white after Labor Day. (And don’t even think of wearing a red and black outfit: we’re not in New Jersey.)

• Wave says you’re “on dorm.” Oh really?

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

• Day students, you sound 10 times cooler if you call the locker room the DSL- trust me. Oh, and don’t bother storing anything in your locker, you’ll know what you need days ahead of time.

• Boarding students, if you want to finish your work, make sure you have an unlimited data plan.

• Think your roommate will become your BFF? Psych, your best friend will be Doordash.

• Lights-out, noun, meaning: unknown.

• Walk against the flow of stairwell traffic and don’t get trampled if you fall.

• Just ignore people when they pass you and say hi — it always brightens their day.

• Reserve a bed at the Wellness Center during your exam period because you feel a “headache” coming on.

• Make sure to bring an apple to eat in class, especially on test day -- everyone will love you.

• Not in the mood for practice? Go spend a much-needed hour with the trainers because you’re “injured.”

• New students, don’t know what to expect? Don’t worry, neither do the rest of us thanks to COVID! In all honesty though, the whole school community is excited to welcome you to our family and is grateful that you chose Hill. And, throughout the year, if you ever need advice, feel free to contact Dear Blue, The Hill News’ very own anonymous advice column.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Hill plans for the new school year

By DIEMMY DANG ’24 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

Last year, in light of a summer that brought the country’s issues of racial injustice to the foreground, Hill’s community saw a bold shift in the way that it treats matters of social injustice. A part of this change was the school’s improved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, which is to see even more large developments in the new school year.

The end of the 2020-21 school year brought an overhaul of the council’s leadership, with the addition of many new positions and student leaders. The council is now composed of seven subcouncils, and students were chosen as representatives for religious life, international students, underrepresented minorities, accessibility, LGBTQIA+ identifying students, young women and gender minorities, and students of color. This new, expanded council has many plans for the upcoming school year.

One of the things that Tofe Akinyami ’23, a new member of the DEI leadership council, is most excited for is the opening of the Warner Center.

“The Warner Center is going to be where the brick house used to be – down next to the laundry building. It’s DEI headquarters and a general

hangout for our team, as well as the whole school.

It’ll be open for study halls and, hopefully, on weekends. We want it to serve as a safe space for everyone. I think it’ll be a sight to see, and having another space for students and our own meeting space will be great,” Akinyami said.

Amanda Hudak ’24, another DEI leader, said she is looking forward to a new initiative, Courageous Conversation Week, which will replace the bi-weekly DEI talks that were formerly held in advisories. During Courageous Conversation Week, DEI representatives will use platforms like advisory discussions, Chapel Talks, and Today on the Hill to bring awareness of a variety of different topics to the Hill community.

“It is dedicated to not only bringing awareness, but also education, initiatives, and action to different areas,” Hudak said.

Many of the DEI subcouncils have been working on plans of their own. The new student representatives will be implementing a mentoring program for new students of color when they arrive at school in the fall. Cultural Week will be a new initiative put into place by the international student representatives, with plans to represent every country that Hill’s student body hails from. The week will incorporate and teach about aspects of various different cultures, with food, games, and more.

Another part of the many changes made to

The new DEI team gathers at the Headmaster’s Garden.

the DEI council’s leadership was the appointment of John Ju ’23 and Olivia Kalu ’22 as co-chairs of the council. When asked about her hopes for the upcoming year, Kalu responded with enthusiasm.

She stated that she looks forward to adding on to the work that last year’s council has already done, hoping to promote an involved and passionate community at Hill through initiatives, education, and policy changes.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY OLIVIA KALU ’22

“DEI has made noteworthy progress over the past year. This year we’re working on a very strong foundation thanks to last year’s members. We want to build on what has already been done to improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Hill,” Kalu said. “Through open and active dialogue, we hope to promote community awareness and amplify and uplift student voices. I am very excited to work with the members of the council.”

Features

September 13, 2021

D7 | The Hill News

Hill returns to its former course schedule

By GEORGE BURKOV ’23 STAFF WRITER

With the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools, including Hill, had to drastically change their normal routines in order to adjust to the demands of social distancing, mask wearing, and other CDC requirements.

This period of uncertainty caused numerous changes to Hill’s usual school year, so much so that many students who are accustomed to the makeshift block-style schedule have no clue what a “regular” day at Hill looks like. Fortunately enough, starting this September, Hill will return to smooth sailing, starting with the reintroduction of a more familiar course schedule.

After considering the successes and failures of our last year’s schedule, the Academic Office has unanimously agreed to return to the seven 45-minute-long classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays; as well as three 80-minute classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“We’re doing a modified schedule for the first two weeks of the term; but, as far as the school year goes, we’re really following the previous schedule,” Director of Studies and Instruction Bo Kim said.

Indeed, the modified two-week schedule starting on Sept 6 will look quite different from the rest of the year. After Monday’s set of mini classes, schedules will consist of three or four 70-minute-long classes for two days of the week; the remaining days of the week will be seven 45-minute-long classes. All the while, there will be two different lunch and Chapel/advisory periods, similar to last year.

Some things might get moved depending on student arrivals and general safety; however, it’s safe to say Hill has returned to its former self.

Dean of Students Ari Baum made it clear that the hour-long class rotations of the 2020-21 school year were created entirely out of necessity. “Not to say that there weren’t any positive things, there were certainly some surprises, but last year was done entirely out of necessity,” Baum said. One of those positive surprises, he noted, was H-term.

Even before COVID-19, the idea of H-term floated around the Academic Office. The op-

ILLUSTRATION BY VICKY XIAO ’24

portunity to try it for the first time arose last year since classes started earlier in August. “We thought that giving students the opportunity to explore other interests outside the formal academic realm would be amazing,” Baum said.

After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and faculty, the Academic Office decided to keep a shortened H-term for the upcoming following school year - a welcome decision to the many students who enjoyed it.

“I had a lot of fun because my course was discussion-based more than lecture-based, and we were able to watch really interesting movies and videos that we could take and relate to our

own lives, as people who are interested in STEM but haven’t stepped into the workforce itself,” Dami Odubona ’23 said, regarding her experience taking the Science, Race, and Social Justice class during last year’s H-Term.

This step back towards the previous schedule is not without debate. Just as many students were in favor of a return to the usual schedule, others were against it.

“The disruption in the flow of classes made getting used to complex material much harder,” Andres Arevalo ’22 said when asked about his experience with the COVID-19 long block schedule.

However, others hold a different opinion,

preferring the comfort of prolonged classes with longer breaks. “The days went by faster, which significantly helped with motivation; I also liked the longer lunches,” noted Zaara Sahgal ’23.

Though students’ opinions differ, the Hill administration seems confident in their change.

For the many students and faculty who supported their decision, the return to the previous schedule signifies a return to normalcy, as Hill along with the rest of the world takes steps towards recovery. Any additional information regarding the new academic schedule, as well as campus events, can be found on the Hill Calendar on thehill.org.

New student spotlight ALYSSA DIWALE ’25

By SELA MUTO ’23 STAFF WRITER

Upon her arrival on campus this fall, day student Alyssa Diwale ’25 has nothing but high hopes and immense excitement as she awaits unopened doors.

“Originally, I had heard of the school from its very prestigious reputation. I have also been made familiar with the Hill from friends and neighbors attending this school,” Diwale explained. “What makes the Hill School so unique is its diversity of the student population. Working and being able to meet with international students is amazing to me. It certainly is an attribute of the school that I would not have been able to find anywhere else.”

This school year, Diwale will be taking the dive into Hill’s wide selection of water sports, specifically water polo, swimming, and crew. Diwale will be making her mark in the Hill community by delving into groups and clubs such as Orchestra, the Women of Color Association, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

When asked about an opportunity that she is looking forward to exploring at Hill, Diwale turned to her future plans. “I am excited for the opportunity to try Engineering. This class sounds fun since it involves some subjects I love like math, science, and art. Although I am not taking it as a third former, I am planning on trying it out in a later year.”

Despite the next year being full of firsts and new experiences, Diwale is nothing short of optimistic. “I’ll say I am immensely excited for the upcoming year and the many adventures I will have,” Diwale stated. “At the same time, there is a mix of nervousness. Getting used to the campus and dealing with an academically challenging year is causing much of the stress for my third form year. Nevertheless, I am grateful for this opportunity.”

JAELEN TOOLE ’25 Over the years, Hill has been home to generations of families, both currently enrolled and alumni. This story is much the same for the Toole family, who will be introducing Jaelen Toole ’25 into the Hill community as a third former this fall. Though he is familiar with Hill already due to his two older brothers, this month his personal Hill journey begins.

“I feel more so excited than nervous coming to Hill because I’ve known of the Hill for about eight years now, and actually being a student is very exciting,” Toole said. “I have heard great things through my brothers. I also felt like I fit in at the Hill through the academic and athletic challenges that I will face.”

For his third form year, Toole is excited to meet new people from all over the world, as well as to participate in a wide variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, and strength and conditioning. He is also interested in taking woodworking this year. “I have never done anything ever with wood, and I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone.”

Although Toole is preparing for his future at Hill, he mentioned his fascination with some of the school’s favorite traditions. “The main Hill tradition I have heard about is Lawrenceville weekend. Me personally, I think of Lawrenceville weekend as a time to bond as a school and have fun activities. Of course, we have to win L’Ville weekend!”

While his first year as a Hill student himself might bring about experiences both exciting and challenging, Toole is ready for these opportunities. “A new opportunity at Hill that I’m looking forward to is mainly becoming a better student and a better athlete.”

RENA ZHANG ’25 For many students from around the world this past year, the Hill School’s name found its way into their homes. Yue Rena Zhang ’25 is among the large group of international students from across the globe who will be joining the Hill family this year in Pottstown, Pa. “Because my older sister is also currently a student at a U.S. high school, and also since I’ve been to many summer schools in the states a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them, I’d easily decided that I wanted to attend a U.S. high school,” Zhang stated. “I’ve heard many good reviews and comments on the Hill School from a friend of my mother’s, whose daughter had just graduated from the school, prior to my application process. Later on, I went on findingschool.com and looked through all the schools, including all their rankings and other important information. I selected a few, one of which was the Hill.”

When asked how she reached her decision to attend Hill, Zhang recalled how she knew Hill was the right choice for her: “Other than the great school infrastructure, I looked at the high school student-to-teacher ratio and knew that the Hill would provide us with many learning opportunities and excellent academic resources. I also saw all the positive reviews of the school as I was browsing through the internet, and read all about the great faculty, curricular/extracurricular activities, and student life on the Hill website. I even saw a video about student life at the Hill on YouTube; I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Zhang added, “The Hill School is such a tight-knit and supportive community, just like a big family of unique, caring individuals from all around the world. I felt that the Hill School was the best fit for me; when I got my offers and saw that I had been accepted into the Hill, I was ecstatic and made my choice right away!”

Upon her arrival this fall, Zhang is looking forward to learning her way about campus, getting to meet her new friends, dormmates, and classmates, and exploring their cultural backgrounds. She is also thrilled to meet her advisor and to be taught by the teachers of Hill as she embarks on the next step in her academic and personal journey.

“I am a little nervous, but super excited,” Zhang said. “I know that it’s going to be a great year!”

Features

The Hill News | D8

September 13, 2021

Hill welcomes new faculty

By ANNA CARROLL ’23 & OLIVIA MOFUS ’22 FEATURES EDITOR

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

In this 2021-22 school year, The Hill welcomes 20 new faculty members and eight new interns, including three returning alumni. This multitude of new faces on campus hail from a variety of places, ranging from Trinidad and Tobago to Australia, and vary in positions from new science instructors to administrative assistants. However, they all share the excitement of becoming a part of the Hill family, looking forward to meeting fellow students, colleagues, and community members. Here is a selection of their profiles.

Jeré Andrews

Jeré Andrews joins Hill as a new French teacher. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she appreciates the international environment and the overall diversity of the school, as well as the welcoming community. Apart from teaching, she is a huge fan of sailing and swimming and hopes to continue this while in Pottstown. “I really look forward to meeting the students.

I really want to share that passion and that eagerness to learn about a different culture with my students and to show them how much they can do with learning a foreign language.”

Gavin Harter

Growing up in Berwick, Pa., a small town just below Scranton, Gavin Harter has returned to his home state to join Hill as a new science instructor, teaching a combination of Chemistry and Integrated Science. “My favorite part about teaching is interacting with students so Hill will give me a better opportunity for me to do that.” He will also be coaching boys football in the fall and helping with throwers in both winter and spring track. In his free time, Harter enjoys playing video games and spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and hiking. He is also an amateur strongman.

Devandria Bernard ’14

Graduating from the Hill in 2014, Devandria Bernard is returning to her alma mater as the new assistant director of admissions and as a coach for both track and basketball. During her time at Hill, the idea of possibly returning as a faculty member never crossed her mind; however, in college, after she discovered her interest in leading panels and presentations, she started to think about the possibility. “I started to think about what I wanted to do in the future, and I thought about my experience at Hill: I thought about my interview, Mrs. Dougherty being my dorm parent, Mrs. Neese, and thought about all these fun things. And I thought, ‘I want to go back and be that faculty member for students too!’” Bernard is incredibly excited to be back on Hill’s campus and is looking forward to getting to know the students. Fun fact: her first name is actually a combination of her parents’ first names (Devon and Andria)!

Nasser Hajjaj

“I just feel The Hill School is where I can do something that can make a difference. This is one of the most positive environments I can work in.” Dr. Nasser Hajjaj will be the new remote adjunct instructor of Arabic this school year. Specifically, he is looking forward to exposing students to the Arabic culture, as well as planning to introduce students to its sister languages: Hebrew, Pharsi, Turkish, and Swahili. “Language is about culture. So when building bridges among these languages, that means building bridges among these cultures, these people, and all of these communities.” Hajjaj is also an avid, award-winning calligrapher and writer who is hoping to implement both of these passions in his course.

Sally Belasco Having previously taught in a boarding school, Sally Belasco is excited to become a member of the Hill community and is looking forward to making connections with students through her various roles on campus. This year, she will be teaching Chemistry and Integrated Science 2, as well as coaching JV girls basketball and assisting with throwers in spring track and field. “Just to see a place that is so invested in their science program was really refreshing for me.” Belasco also loves going on road trips with her two dogs, Spiro and Buffy, having one summer traveled (a little more than) cross-country, covering over 13,000 miles.

Dr. Catriona Miller ’08

After graduating in 2008, Dr. Catriona Miller is rejoining the Hill community as a history instructor and a Humphrey Family Writing Scholar. This year, she will be teaching World History: Middle East and Social Justice, a new course being offered, as well as working alongside Mark Pearson in the Writing Center to train and work with writing fellows and teachers. “The ability to come back and work in the History department and the Writing Center and live in the dorm and coach is really appealing to me because it is such a close knit community and you get to do all of these different kinds of work that you don’t typically get to do at other schools. So I am really excited to dive into that!” In her free time, Dr. Miller enjoys walking her dog, Sunny, and likes to hike, camp, and travel.

Karl Mellander

An avid fly fisherman and Buffalo Bills fan, Karl Mellander will be joining The Hill as a new math teacher, teaching both Integrated Mathematics 11 and Integrated Mathematics 21. He, his wife Lauren Mellander, and his two children hail from Ithaca, New York, where he worked at the local high school as both a math teacher and student activities director. “[At Hill], I love the structure of students doing things for the school that aren’t necessarily just academic: you know, sports, extra-curriculars, co-curriculars. I’m looking forward to that being more of an assumed, automatic part of everyone’s life. There’s a lot of things I’ve been pushing for at the public school level that are already here so it’s a smooth fit for me.” He is also looking forward to being an adviser and a coach to students.

Lauren Mellander

“I like the idea of the family school and that that includes having advisees that we get to welcome into our family and have our boys get to know. One of the things I always felt was missing from my teaching experience, not in my classroom but in the larger, institutional level, was that community - that coming together and those shared values that help support each other and lift each other up.” Lauren Mellander is looking forward to joining the tight-knit Hill community, moving from Ithaca, New York with her two sons and her husband. This year, she will be teaching English 1 and English 3, as well as coaching JV girls field hockey and lacrosse. She loves being active, reading, and baking, as well as exploring art and fashion.

Sean O’Brien

Sean O’Brien will be Hill’s new Director of Ice Hockey and head boys varsity hockey coach, as well as a student-athlete college recruitment coordinator. He, his wife, and his three children, two of whom will be Hill students, are moving to Hill’s campus from Boston, Massachusetts. “The history and tradition of the school was very attractive, as well as the strength of the academics, the community, and the strong alumni network. I think Hill is one of those special boarding schools that sets itself apart from many others.” O’Brien is excited to join a boarding community and looks forward to experiencing the overall family-aspect of Hill. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing golf, boating in the summer, and spending time with family, especially by attending his children’s sports games.

Jennifer Pelletier

Ontario native Jennifer Pelletier comes to the Hill as a new instructor of history and the head coach of girls varsity squash.

After playing and coaching squash professionally, she started teaching and coaching squash at boarding schools. “When I started interviewing, it was the kindness of the people that I met that convinced me that this was the right place for me and my partner (and our two dogs!),” she stated in an email.

In coming to Hill, she is looking forward to teaching a new course, as well as working with new students, colleagues, and athletes. In addition to squash and teaching, Pelletier enjoys hiking, having trekked the Colorado trail just this past summer.

Orlando Patterson Joining the Hill from Boston, Massachusetts, Orlando Patterson is the new head football coach and assistant director of admission. Having previously attended a boarding school, he sought to rejoin a boarding community, as he greatly appreciates the possibility to form connections with students and colleagues and is thus looking forward to being an advisor.

“Establishing those relationships throughout your life is important to me and if I can have a lasting impact on any student I work with, whether it be with a football player, someone in the classroom, or even through the admissions process- it’s very important to me.” Patterson also loves contemporary art, being a member of The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and having seen The Jean Basquiat Exhibit in Boston at least a half a dozen times between February and his move to Pennsylvania.

PHOTOS BY SARAH BENDER, HILL PHOTOGRAPHER

Stay tuned for more new faculty and staff profiles in our future issue!

Features

September 13, 2021

Dr. Hoda Ehsan

“I am very interested in working with young people. I do believe that our future is in your hands, and I would be so grateful to contribute to your lives, to be here for you, and to contribute to all the amazing things that all of you young people are going to do.” As the new associate director of engineering, Dr. Hoda Ehsan hopes to grow the engineering program by developing students’ ability to problem solve, as well as by having engineering students engage with real clients in the local Pottstown community. After growing up in Iran, Dr. Ehsan moved to America to receive her Masters in teaching and is coming to Hill from Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was a research faculty. In her free time, Dr. Ehsan enjoys cooking and painting, especially with her four-year-old son and has also recently taken up gardening. One of her new passions, however, is writing engineering books for children.

Kelsey Engman

“I have worked in schools before, and I really enjoy meaningful work with students, and supporting them in reaching their goals. There is nothing more rewarding to me than watching students develop, grow, and achieve their goals,” stated Kelsey Engman in an email. She is joining The Hill as a school clinician with the counseling staff and as an assistant squash coach.

“I was very drawn in by the counseling clinic at Hill, because I think it’s a great way to support students in this environment, and I’m excited to be a part of that.” Before she became a counselor, she was a squash coach at the collegiate level, working with players from all around the world. In her free time, she loves to be outside and spends time hiking, walking with her dog, camping, running, and, of course, playing squash!

Samantha López

Originally from East Harlem, New York, Samantha Lopez will be teaching Integrated Mathematics 21 and 43 as a new Mathematics Instructor at the Hill. After previously working for The National Science Foundation, analyzing data of Global Warming Trends, she decided to go back to school to get her postbaccalaureate and then pursued teaching in Philadelphia under The National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Fellowship for STEM education. “I used to work at an all boys school for the last six years, and something I have been really passionate about is teaching girls and getting involved in women in STEM initiatives.” In joining the community, López is looking forward to getting to know Hill’s diverse population of students. “I feel that everyone comes to new places with a different story and a different outlook on life. So, I think it’s really interesting to get to know different types of people and get to know where they are coming from.” At Hill, she will also be coaching JV softball and will be involved with Community Service. She describes herself as an “eclectic vinyl collector” and enjoys film photography, planting, and, of course, spending time with her cat Rhuby.

Colleen Taylor “I love snowboarding- it’s probably one of my favorite things to do,” said Colleen Taylor, a new instructor of mathematics, who will be teaching Integrated Mathematics 31, 42, and 33. She described how it was Hill’s focus on their academics and the family aspect that interested her in joining the community. “I think I love the math department most; I just love the technology available, the collaboration they have and how well they work together.” Additionally, she is excited to be able to get to know students outside of the classroom through various school events and extracurricular activities. “I think I am really just looking forward to living on campus and having more involvement with the students and the community as a whole. It’s almost being a parent to the students and not just a teacher, which is exciting.”

Kendra Clarke

Born in Washington DC and raised in Maryland, Kendra Clarke will be teaching one section of World Religion and she’ll be the teaching assistant for two sections of Religion and Film. Clarke, who doesn’t like to choose between academics and athletics, found a balance between the two at Hill as she’ll also be co-coaching JV girls soccer, strength and conditioning, and softball. “I’m looking forward to everything. I’ve got a lot to learn as a teacher, as a dorm parent, as a coach” Clarke said. “I don’t think there’s anything where I don’t have anything to learn.” In her spare time, Clark enjoys powerlifting and working out.

Samantha Walther

Samantha Walther, from Annapolis Md, will be teaching Arabic classes, a War Series class, and 20th century history and she’ll help coach ice hockey. She’s attracted to Hill’s high standard of academics, and is excited to see where Hill students will go to college and what they’ll do beyond. “I’m looking forward to being back on a campus and in a community,” Walther said, “I went to a boarding school myself for all four years and just loved being on a campus and knowing everyone that you’re around everyday, so I’m excited to be back in a boarding school community.” Walther enjoys photography in her spare time, and looks forward to designing a counter terroism H-Term course, something in which she has a Masters degree.

D9 | The Hill News

April Tischler April Tischler is joining the Hill as the new learning support coordinator and assistant girls soccer coach. “Living in the area, The Hill School was always that mythical place you would drive by and go ‘what is that beautiful place?!’ So when the job opening for Learning Support Coordinator came about, I HAD to check it out. One step onto this campus and I was hooked!” stated Tischler in an email. She is extremely excited to be a member of the Hill family, specifically looking forward to introducing her two children, Bridget and Taylor, to the Hill community and to bringing them to school events. Tischler enjoys spending time with her family and watching college football (WE ARE!). She is also a huge fan of pumpkin spice.

Jake Tischler

“The whole school feels very family-oriented and supportive of each other. I’m excited for the camaraderie and pride in our community,” wrote Tischler, a new mathematics instructor and H-Term coordinator. Throughout his teaching career, he has taught various levels of mathematics, ranging from 7th grade to college, as well as having taught physics and exploratory engineering courses. Outside of the classroom, he is very passionate abouts sports, having coached golf, basketball, and rugby. “I would spend every day on a golf course if given the chance!” Only living a couple miles away in East Coventry, Tischler, his wife April Tischler, and their two young children, Bridget and Taylor, are excited to join The Hill. “I’m looking forward to exciting athletics, entertaining performances, and working alongside esteemed faculty in support of dedicated students. I’m excited for my family to be a part of the Hill community in every way!”

Alana Kenyon

Coming to The Hill from Jamaica Queens, New York, Alana Kenyon will be a new instructor of science at The Hill, teaching Physics 1 AP and one section of Honors Physics, as well as specifically assisting third formers in engineering. “After college I was thinking about what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t really sure so I decided I was going to join Teach for America, which is basically a teaching service program where you serve a high need community for two years. I ended up teaching and loving it!” She is looking forward to having more opportunities to connect with students through being a part of a boarding community.

“I think being able to collaborate with more teachers is really cool.

Here, there are at least four other teachers that I am going to be working with alone this year, which is exciting!” In her free time, she loves to bake, especially when she is stressed, and enjoys hiking. Congratulations are also in order, as Kenyon recently got married this summer!

Kris Donaldson

Coming straight out of university, Kris Donaldson will be helping in AP and Regular Economics with Dean of Students Ari Baum. Born and raised in Jamaica, this will be Donaldson’s first experience with a boarding school like Hill. “There’s a real family sense, like a huge community that’s always there to help you which I really saw and helped me to make my decision to go here right after I graduated,” Donaldson said. He loves soccer and likes to read. “If I’m not watching soccer, I’m reading about soccer,” Donaldson said. In fact, he recently read “The Expected Goals Philosophy” by James Tippett, a book that combines data analytics and soccer. Donaldson also has two dogs: Milo and Cooper.

Josephine Phillips

Hailing from North Wales, Pa., Josephine Phillips is joining the Hill community as a teaching assistant for AP Economics as well as the entrepreneurship classes. A Pennsylvania State University graduate, she was a Financial Literacy Ambassador, counseling students and giving presentations about financial literacy and what it means to be financially literate. “When I got the opportunity to do that at the Hill School, I jumped on the offer because it’s something that I really love to do,” Phillips said. Aside from finances and research, Phillips enjoys service work, something she participated in in high school. She hopes to continue doing service work through Hill’s own programs in and around Pottstown.

Vimbai Mawoneke

From Bulawayo Zimbabwe, Vimbai Mawoneke will be helping out with STEM in the Shirley Quadrivium. She’ll also be helping out with DEI. The Bryn Mawr University graduate can speak five languages (English, Ndebele, Shona, Zulu, Xhosa and a little bit of French) and enjoys video editing, making animations, dancing, and singing in her free time. “I’m looking forward to meeting students and forming relationships with them beyond the classroom,” Mawoneke said. “Hopefully, I can help in ways that are beyond just the textbook.”

Benjamin Bala ’16

From Clinton, New Jersey, Benjamin Bala ’16 will be teaching English 1 and 2, as well as coaching strength & conditioning in the fall, boys varsity ice hockey, and lacrosse. “Even as a student here, I knew I wanted to find my way back to Hill and contribute to the community in some capacity. I have truly never experienced a sense of community as strong as the one that continues to grow here,” Bala said. He looks forward to re-immersing himself in Hill’s traditions and seeing students’ achievements throughout his time here.

Bala likes to go outside in his free time, hiking and biking.

Arts & Leisure

The Hill News | E10

September 13, 2021

Sixth formers collaborate in pursuit of musical ambitions

By CALLIE CONNELLY ’22 STAFF WRITER

Sixth former Johnny Dai has had a busy summer writing and recording music from his home. An accomplished cellist, pianist, guitarist, and vocalist, he, in conjunction with Hill students Tina Wang ’22 and Isabella Moranheras ’22, is working towards releasing both a full album of seven songs, currently untitled, as well as a single, tentatively named “The Words We Say.” In an interview, Dai outlined both his inspiration and process for this musical endeavor. An excerpt of our conversation is included below.

Callie Connelly: So far, what have you written and recorded?

Johnny Dai: This summer I decided to work on an album and a single. For the album I decided to work with various people, including some from the Hill School. There are seven songs/pieces; the album is going to consist of four songs and three instrumentals. I collaborated with Isabella [Moranheras ’22] and Tina Wang ’22 on a few of them.

CC: What’s the name of the single?

JD: “The Words We Say” — I actually haven’t decided, but I think I’m leaning towards “The Words We Say.” CC: And does the album have a name?

JD: There are a few names floating around right now.

CC: What made you want to create this?

What was your motivation or inspiration?

JD: At the start of the summer, I actually wasn’t sure what I wanted to do musically because this summer I wanted to feel like I got something done. I’d been working on various projects – college applications, that kind of thing -- but I decided I needed something a little more creative. I wanted to work on some music things, and I didn’t have too much to work with, in terms of resources, but I decided to make do with what I had. I realized I had a few songs lying around here and there that I wrote through the past three years, and I decided to choose the ones that would be most thematic with each other. I decided to try to make the most out of it, I guess.

CC: I know you play the cello and sing,

but what is the music that you are actually recording for this? What do these pieces consist of?

JD: So I’m doing a combination of a few things -- two of the pieces are going to be cello solos with piano accompaniment. Each of the songs/pieces are linked by a common theme, but they use various musical mediums. So, for example, one of them has piano as well as guitar as well as vocals; another one just has piano and vocals; another is just piano. There’s piano and cello, piano, cello, and vocal. The idea is that I don’t have the luxury of having all these different instruments, so I decided to just work with what I can.

CC: You mentioned that you collaborated with a couple people. Who are they and what role did they play in this?

JD: So, I was able to get some other people involved -- two of them are vocalists; for example, the single is actually a duet. Another song -- I wrote the lyrics but someone else is singing. Another person, Tina Wang ’22, is going to help me with the piano parts, particularly, and on top of that she is also helping me with the cover art of the album.

CC: What was your process for this? Did you have a recording space? What did you use to put the songs together? How does that all work?

JD: I use GarageBand because I’m too lazy to get a real program. Well, it’s not out of laziness; I’ve just been working with GarageBand for a while -- it’s a little inefficient, but it’s fine. In terms of a recording space, I’m just using my house. One day I decided to go around the house, testing different rooms for

The (un)reality of Outer Banks

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 STAFF WRITER

For many Netflix subscribers, July 30 felt like Christmas morning. All over social media, impatient creators (lacking original ideas) made videos and posts expressing their excitement for the new season of “Outer Banks.” It was quasi-impossible to go on TikTok without hearing the show’s theme song or main heartthrob John B saying, “The Outer Banks, paradise on Earth...” Strap in everyone. Because with hype like this, you know the show will live up to expectations. Warning: spoilers ahead.

The show “Outer Banks” is set in what is allegedly the real world, the main difference being the characters are all stuck in a permanent VSCO filter.

Throughout the whole show the “appropriately aged actors” are living life without parental guidance, without school requirements, and seemingly without the ability to change out of their sweaty tank tops more than once every few episodes.

The season begins with permanent underdog John B and his wealthy ex-rival turned girlfriend Sarah Cameron (never seen that trope before, right?) washing up in the Bahamas. Everyone back home in the Outer Banks assumed the two died in a terrible storm, but as you learn after watching only a few epi-

sodes of this creative opus, no one truly dies. The characters must be invincible, surviving gunshot wounds, multiple strangulations, car crashes, drownings, kidnappings, alligators, and a whole manner of blunt traumas that would be enough to take out a mortal.

But these aren’t your average people, mind you. These are the Pogues.

And somehow, almost nobody ever gets caught doing anything wrong! The ruthless bad guys can’t be defeated, not by the law, not by their own failures, and certainly not because of those scrappy Pogues. Let’s begin by talking about dreamboat villain Raif Cameron. I know many of you young ladies out there find it hard to root against his baby blues, but newsflash — that dude is bad news! He tried to kill his own sister!

He killed the sheriff and framed John B! And let’s be real here, his haircut isn’t great either. And his dad Ward isn’t much better. He uses the same tacky excuse of family ties to justify all sorts of violent criminality.

Charm and good looks only gets you so far, when you’re straight up evil.

So, if you’re looking for a show where everyone dies twice, changes their shirt once, and commits countless felonies and general suspect activities without ever getting caught, then “Outer Banks” is the right show for you! Or maybe you should just read a book.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Johnny Dai ’22 is working toward producing an album.

various acoustic measurements, and I found that my kitchen, actually, was the best one to work with. So typically I would write the songs in bed with my guitar, and then figure out the mediums, like which instruments to use, and then I would go to the kitchen to record. Then I’d edit.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JOHNNY DAI ’22

CC: Any final thoughts?

JD: I’ve spent mostly the past month working on it, and it has been a very interesting experience. I think the important thing is that you kinda just have to keep trying new things, continue experimenting, until eventually you get somewhere.

Hill School Director of Instrumental Music Margaret Neiswender said this about one of Dai’s demos: “I know Johnny mainly as a cellist - a talented cellist - but his musical aptitude is evident. It’s not often you see a student who is able to transition so seamlessly between instruments.” While Dai’s creative pursuits this summer haven’t been released yet, they will soon be available on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube Music, under the name Johnny Day. Have a listen and check out his kitchen acoustics for yourself.

Comic Corner (That’s so 2020!)

COMIC BY JULIA KAPUR

Sports

September 13, 2021

F11 | The Hill News

Ten new coaches bring excitement to the Hill community

By HUNTER SLOAN ’23 STAFF WRITER

After a year of cancellations, uncertainties, and modified schedules, the Hill community is gearing up for the 2021-22 athletic season. The Rams are excited to introduce 10 new coaches to their staff, each one bringing enthusiasm, expertise, and excitement to the sports they love.

New head coach of boys soccer Wyatt Fabian said, “It will be great to get back to competing as a team.” Fabian added, “Much of the focus for this year will be getting back to doing what we love and enjoying this opportunity.” He later stated, “Our focus will be to continue to be the best that we can be, as it always has been.”

All of these coaches have prior experience of not only playing but coaching the sport as well. New head coach of football, Orlando Patterson, said his greatest moment as a coach was being one of the youngest coaches in Virginia history to win the VISAA state championship.

Patterson hopes to instill a mindset of hard work into his players. He stated in an email, “We are going to work harder than everyone else. We are going to have fun while working hard.” Similar to Patterson, the new head coach of softball, Jon Mckee, noted, “Our mindset will be to get better each day, working hard together we will strive to take steps forward each day.”

To be a great coach requires more than being a leader on the field. Head coach of girls soccer Elena Dauphinais feels “it was those off-field connections and additional opportunities to mentor that led me to Hill and allows me to have more of these great coaching moments today.”

Having been players themselves, these coaches understand the physical and emotional challenges of their respected sport. Newly appointed coach of girls squash, Jennifer Pelletier, feels her greatest strength is “having been a high-level junior athlete, I have experienced many of the highs and lows of competition firsthand, which helps me understand and empathize with what my players are dealing with both on and off the court.”

Being a coach isn’t all about winning; it’s about unlocking the true potential of each athlete. The new coach of boys squash, Josh Cardwell, feels his greatest strength is being able to “effectively communicate lessons in relatable ways to the individual athlete. As a coach, I must be malleable in my delivery in order to get through to the individual, so that I can help them reach their desired outcome more effectively.”

The best coaches pass down lifelong lessons and advice to their athletes. Recently announced head coach of boys lacrosse, Dave Page, hopes “that these guys head off into their lives with a clear example of ‘if I work hard and throw myself into the process of being great at something, the short term sacrifice is worth it,’ and that bleeds into all areas of their lives.”

Hill also welcomes Sean O’Brien, the new head coach of the boys ice hockey team; Katie Scanlan, joining Hill as a fencing coach, and Deanna Mayza who was recently appointed to head coach of the girls basketball team.

Crossword

Mike Murphy coaches the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club.

PHOTO COURTESY @LAXCOACHMURPH / INSTAGRAM

Michael Murphy takes assistant coaching job at Penn State

By PIERCE HART ’23 STAFF WRITER

With students looking forward to the start of school, unexpected news came to the Hill athletics community. Head lacrosse coach Michael Murphy decided to step down and accept the assistant coaching job for the Penn State men’s lacrosse program.

As this is a shock to all, it was a shock to him too. Mr. Murphy has always been happy at Hill and didn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. “I was not looking to move, but when the opportunity presented itself and the offer was made, it was tough to say no,” Murphy said.

“I wasn’t going to leave for just any job. I was going to leave for a place that cares for athletics and for a coach who I think can help me become a better mentor, coach, father, husband, and person,” Murphy continued.

Before coming to Hill, Murphy had an extensive coaching background at the college level. Being with the players every day is what he loved most, and, at Hill, he felt that he didn’t get to do that as much.

As Murphy’s time at Hill ended, alumni Dave Page was named the new head coach. Page was recently the assistant coach of the men’s lacrosse program at the

I wasn’t going to leave for just any job. I was going to leave for a place that cares for athletics and for a coach who I think can help me become a better mentor, coach, father, husband, and person.

—Former head lacrosse coach Michael Murphy University of Pennsylvania.

Sixth form defensemen Will Schaller said, “Coach Page is a wonderful new addition to our Hill family. He is someone who understands the importance and tradition of Hill’s community. He has a fantastic lacrosse mind with strong accolades and is motivated to take our program to the next level.”

Coach Murphy has done a lot for the boys lacrosse team and has impacted the team beyond the field. He always preached three things: accountability, commitment, and loyalty. Murphy concluded by saying, “I want people to be there for each other and sacrifice their ‘me’ for ‘we’.”

Down: 1. You better be wearing this during the academic day.

2. This school is the reason we eat raw meat.

5. Can be a laptop, can also be a pond.

7. Violating this can result in a demerit; check those ties and skirts.

9. The Millhiser Family what?

12. Home of the grilled muffin.

Across: 3. Come here to watch a play or listen to music.

4. You’ll find Dr. Mark Pearson here.

6. Zachary Lehman, formerly called Headmaster, now called...

8. Newly renovated STEM building.

10. One of the dorms on the pitch.

11. Because calling it bedtime is lame.

13. Twice a week, every week!

14. We elect co-presidents for what?

15. This app shares its name with a common greeting.

Sports

The Hill News | F12

September 13, 2021

Fall sports preview

By ELLA SCOTT ’22 STAFF WRITER

VARSITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Chris DeLucia, the varsity boys cross country coach, said that this will be an interesting year for boys cross country. He has a young team in rebuilding mode, and, without a real season in 2020, only a handful of runners know what it’s like to even race a 5K against Lawrenceville. They start the year an uncarved block of wood; by Lawrenceville weekend he hopes to sculpt a masterpiece of a season.

VARSITY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY With several new girls on the team and few who were around for the historic 2019 campaign, girls cross country coach Daniel McMains’ first goal is for the girls to come together as a team. They need to train and compete together but also to support each other to ensure that everyone on the team has a great experience.

McMains believes that, if they can do that and stay healthy, they’ll give Lawrenceville a good run!

VARSITY FOOTBALL Hill varsity football competes against Episcopal Academy.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

Hill football has a new coach this year, Orlando Patterson. His biggest priority for the football season is for football athletes to get re-acclimated to the rigors of football. The team will be preparing to compete each week and build on the hard work the young men put in last spring and the summer. In short, the football team will have realistic goals of competing at their best, remaining healthy, and reestablishing the excellence of Hill football.

VARSITY BOYS GOLF Varsity boys golf coach Joe Lagor wants the boys to say that they learned some values that they carry with them beyond the golf course. He would like them to be prepared for the next level, whatever that level might be. The goal is for players to understand that an individual sport is still very much a team game.

VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS Avi Vemuri, girls tennis coach, set a goal this year to develop a program founded on a tough work ethic and competitive spirit. He believes that they have a strong team this year, and their success will depend on their ability to play high IQ tennis and to play their best tennis when it matters the most.

VARSITY BOYS WATER POLO Boys water polo coach Doug Jones emphasized the importance of big picture goals. Every day, he wants his players to strive to become better people and better water polo players, while also having fun.

VARSITY GIRLS WATER POLO Led by Mark Nelson, the girls water polo team looks forward to returning to competition this fall after losing the 2020 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. The team looks to be highly competitive with a veteran fifth and sixth form group.

Mallory Horner ’22 defends during preseason girls water polo practice.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY This will be a special season for field hockey no matter what happens after last season being cancelled.

Jen Weissbach will not take the opportunity to compete together and build relationships for granted. She hopes that the team continues to embody what HFHF (Hill Field Hockey Family) stands for both on and off the field. Their goals on the field remain high, and she believes they have the group of athletes to attain everything we want and more.

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER Boys soccer captains Noah Toole ‘22 and Jordan Samuels ‘22 are aware of a new culture emerging. They are very pleased with how the team has accepted their new coach, Wyatt Fabian. They note that Hill is traditionally a winning team and this year is their redemption year, from 2018, from 2019, and from COVID-19 taking their season. The boys soccer team has a lot of new players, and they are excited to have the returners lead the old Hill traditions, as well as to have this squad start new ones.

VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER Andrew Mannato ’23 completes a play against Episcopal Academy.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

Girls soccer coach Elena Dauphinais is looking forward to defining goals with the team during preseason. Her own personal coaching goal for this season is to help bring competition and cohesion to the group. Last fall was challenging given the limitations with COVID, so she would like to see the group finally come together as a team and find ways to enhance their chemistry on and off the field!

Upcoming home competitions: Go Hill!

VARSITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

VARSITY FOOTBALL

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

VARSITY BOYS GOLF

VARSITY BOYS WATER POLO

MAPL CHAMPIONSHIP OCTOBER 27, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

vs. pottsgrove SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

VARSITY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY

VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER

VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS

VARSITY GIRLS WATER POLO

MAPL CHAMPIONSHIP OCTOBER 27, 2021

vs. academy of notre dame SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

vs. episcopal academy SEPTEMBER 17, 2021