THN Issue 3 2022-23

Delayed fourth meal program highlights equity concerns at Hill

By LIZZIE HOPPER ’23 STAFF WRITER

Recent inflation at the Grille highlighted some confusion about the financial aid demand at Hill. The rise in prices also revealed more extensive concerns particularly around the future of the “fourth meal card,” a financial aid program available to some students.

The Business Office titled the program the “fourth meal card.” The program, however, has been colloquially known by students as the “stimmy card.”

“The purpose of this program is to make sure students who are hungry outside of traditionally offered mealtimes have access to food to eat,” Assistant Head of School for Student Life Ari Baum said.

The initial program began two years ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allotted a small weekly stipend for students to spend at the Grille, which is then replenished weekly. There were no specifications on the allotted time of use.

“The students who have access to the program come from families who have demonstrated financial need,” Baum stated, adding that “financial aid at The Hill School is

granted on a need basis to families.”

The status of these individuals was kept confidential to protect students from being treated differently in any sense, ensuring that all Hill students are guaranteed the same opportunities within the community.

The rollout of the fourth meal program this year was delayed beyond the fall semester this year for administrative reasons, resulting in students questioning the program’s possible disbandment.

Some students on financial aid commented that they do not frequent the Grille often during the fall due to recently increased prices.

“Not only did the prices go up, but now these students, myself included, aren’t even getting stimulus checks,” said a student that spoke on condition of anonymity. The student’s identity remained protected to respect their financial privacy.

When asking Richard Wood, the chief financial operating officer, if the program was still in place, he stated that the program is still accessible to students; however, “its implementation got delayed this year,” Wood said, nipping ideas of discontinuation and making clear that the program will be reinstated.

At the start of H-term, students who qualified for the program were given newly titled “Grille cards,”

Editors’ note on anonymous source policy

By ANNA CARROLL ’23 & JASON ZHOU ’23 Co-Editors-in-Chief

The Hill News holds its principle in seeking truth and reporting it, on the premises to protect and minimize harm to our sources. Ethical journalism treats all our sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. Per our guidelines, the anonymous quotes in our feature article are essential to the story could not be acquired if they were not under the condition of anonymity and have factual knowledge of the story.

exhibiting an anticipated return of the program. The fourth meal card program officially resumed on December 2 under the revised name.

Like their previous incarnation, the new Grille cards continue to have a specified credit relative to student financial need and are refreshed weekly. The cards are intended for use after 5 p.m. until closing and are exclusive to Grille spending.

“I like the program and find it impactful because I can get food during the day without asking others to get me a snack or take leftovers from the pantry,” Aryanna Bodge

Aidan’s Christmas Picks

’23, who agreed to speak on the record about her experiences with the new Grille card.

The continued rollout of the Grille card program underscored an important shift in Hill policy. The school over the years highlighted a renewed dedication to addressing equity concerns on campus. The implementation of these initiatives followed the recent opening of the Warner Center for Spiritual Life and Equity during the previous school year.

“Where your resources go reflects your priorities,” Wood said.

“The whole school is not in any way, shape, or form like a professional sporting event where some seats are better than others, and you pay more for those better seats.” Baum said.

These changes ensure that the administration provides opportunities for all Hill students protecting the Hill experience regardless of financial needs.

According to Baum, the school’s continued commitment toward equity, through programs like the Grille card, is “sustenance to the soul of the community.”

By AIDAN MA ’23 VISUAL MANAGEMENT CO-EDITOR

It’s a Wonderful Life

A certified Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life” tells the story of a downtrodden man who’s given up, before a guardian angel sweeps in shows him just how lucky he really is. This movie truly doesn’t age, and is still one of, if not the best Christmas movie ever made. If you’re looking for a safe watch this holiday season, you can always count on this movie to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Wendell & Wild

I’m all for the Jordan Peele-ification of the movie industry, and “Wendell & Wild” is no exception. If “Coraline” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (another movie you should put on your holiday watchlist, even for a rewatch) had a lovechild, this would be it. While this one does veer more towards Halloween territory than Christmas, the anti-capitalist sentiments of this movie are always relevant during the holiday season, so if you like your holidays with a dash of gore and not-so-subtle political themes, “Wendell & Wild” is for you.

It’s that time of year again. The snow is falling, the sky gets dark before 5 p.m., and Mariah Carey is defrosting as we speak. That’s right, it’s the holidays! And if you’re tired of watching “Elf” for the 20th time in a row, there’s a plethora of other Christmas movies available to you, dear reader. From explicitly Christmas-related movies to movies that are filled with the Christmas spirit, these four films should brighten your holidays with merry, cheer, and good feelings—so sit tight, pour some hot chocolate, and put on any of these movies to get yourself into the holiday mood.

KLAUS

Who doesn’t love a good Santa Claus origin story? A light-hearted animated movie that can rival the Christmas classics, “Klaus” has all the key elements for a good Christmas movie, and just a good movie in general: character development, lovable heroes, and a satisfying ending. It’s surprisingly good quality for a Netflix original, so give this one a shot.

Tokyo Godfathers

From the director of acclaimed psychological thriller Perfect Blue comes a wildly fun, lighthearted adventure through Tokyo in “Tokyo Godfathers”. A testament to Satoshi Kon’s directorial versatility, this film is heartwarming, funny, and always original. A found family story of a group of homeless misfits who found each other (and the Christmas spirit), watch this if you want to be immersed into a world where miracles do exist and everything turns out all right, in the best way possible.

ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL HWANG

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

Reading group provides space for alumnae and women on campus

By EMERSON LEGER ‘25 STAFF WRITER

Women walk past the Dell with books in hand and enter the Boyer Gallery, their usual meeting place. Women on the Hill book group has been around since the 1980s. Named a “book group” instead of “book club” to feel more inclusive, the community started with Winifred O’Shaughnessy, the mother of Senior Master Teacher of the Arts Ellen Nelson and former instructor of the now-defunct reading department, a reading support group that later expanded into an academic support department.

“After the Women’s Club was no longer an official organization, there was a loss of getting together as a group, and the Book Club just naturally filled the bill. It just grew from a desire to share ideas and thoughts with other women,” O’Shaughnessy stated in an email.

Nelson also noted that “it was, in the 1980s, a predominantly male environment.”

“I think my mom just felt like we needed some girl time, but intellectual girl time,” Nelson said.

This book group is place where women who work or live at Hill can come together. Nelson first joined the group in 1987 and has since been an avid participant. She enjoys reading nonfiction or historical fiction as they are books where she learns something new, but in a creative way.

That desire to share thoughts with other women has continued to today, as new members join the book group such as Lauren Mellander, Instructor of English. She joined last year, in addition to her first year at Hill. How she joined was by finding out about it in an email.

“There’s a Woman of The Hill email listserv, which I was added on to even before I started working here and saw the book group in one of those emails,” Mellander explained.

Women on The Hill’s Book Group is for “female identifying faculty, staff, and faculty spouses to get together and meet up once a month if we’re available,” Hobart’s Run Administrative Coordinator Jacqueline Steinman stated. If most

are available, then they meet once a month to hold a discussion of the book currently being read. Every spring of the previous year, members gather to choose books to read for the next year.

“Last year I was the first person ever to suggest a graphic novel for the Book Group,” Steinman stated.

Darlene Bainbridge, administrative assistant to the dean of students, looks over and approves the book suggestions. She has been a member of the book club since she started working for Hill in 2019.

“I help organize the list of book choices for the year and decide what dates will hold the book group discussions,” Bainbridge explained.

The discussions generally last about two hours, taking place mainly in the Boyer Gallery, faculty houses, or even off campus. In December, the tradition is that they read a short story, with a mini gift swap at the end of the discussion.

The Women on The Hill book group recently held a discussion on December 2 about “Rage is a Wolf,” a young adult novel by K.T. Mather, which they just previously finished. Mather used to be an English teacher at Hill.

The book group has also started a book called “The Dressmakers of Auschwitz” by Lucy Adlington, which they will read over the next month.

When asked what is most enjoyed about being a part of Women on The Hill’s Book Group, Bainbridge added, “I would say how it exposes me to different genres of reading. Part of why I got involved was to branch out and to not continue to read the same type of books.”

Mellander mentioned that she most enjoys the comradery among the fellow women in the book group.

“The women in the book group are wonderful, and it has allowed me to spend more time with people from different departments, who serve this community as a whole,” Mellander said.

Other members feel the same way, echoing Mallander’s sentiments.

“It really has become sort of a sisterhood, and it is a very special group of women to be a part of,” Bainbridge said.

The Hill’s school colors reflect a history of division

By SRINIDHI PASUMARTHY ‘26 STAFF WRITER

Four scores and 9 miles from Gettysburg stood our magnificent campus, a then calming presence over the Civil War. Even during

times of turmoil, Hill has stayed true to its principles of connection and above all else truth.

Just 10 years after Hill’s opening, the Civil War broke out. Many then-current students joined the battlefield, and those who gave their lives in service can be found

in the Memorial Room. During this time of separation, Hill took a formidable first step in unification, by adopting blue and grey as its official colors. The Union blue represents the enrolled from up north, and the Confederate grey for those from the south, resulting in our split H. Paul Chancellor describes this in his book published in 1976, informing readers that our H is split in half to represent the entirety of the United States during that time.

Hill was put in a unique position, unlike most boarding schools, due to its location. As Lou Jeffries, the head of archives, describes it, Hill is either “the northernmost southern boarding school” or the “southernmost northern boarding school.” Either definition of our beloved school caused conflict thus leading to Hill’s decision.

161 years after this adoption was made our current community has expressed many opinions about the Hill’s blue and grey. Richard Liu ’26, a 3rd former, said that he believes the colors to be “a symbol of unity, between the Confederates and the Union.” He goes on to say that while understanding the historical significance is necessary,

we should treat them as “colors that simply represent The Hill School.”

Many other community members express similar perspectives about our colors. While the war will always be a part of our history, it has now become a beautiful aspect of Hill, symbolizing truth and togetherness.

“Since the war, the colors have since evolved from Union Blue and Confederate Grey to just Blue and Grey,” Brody Family Intern Chris Schiavone ’16 said. “The Hill during the Civil War and The Hill now is very different, and that the war doesn’t have much to do with how we currently operate or run.”

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history, we are made by it.” Eight score and 11 years ago our school was founded with one motto: “Whatsoever things are True.” Through times of turmoil, Hill has never wavered from this line. When we enroll at Hill, we become part of its history while also taking up the responsibility of continuing the legacy of its time-honored traditions and values.

As our nation and the world around us continue to be thrown into tumultuous times, let us re-

member Hill’s legacy after the Civil War, a place to bring people together to create something as unique as the colors on our logo. “Since the war, the colors have since evolved from Union Blue and Confederate Grey to just Blue and Grey,” Brody Family Intern Chris Schiavone ’16 said. “The Hill during the Civil War and The Hill now is very different, and that the war doesn’t have much to do with how we currently operate or run.”

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history, we are made by it.” Eight score and 11 years ago our school was founded with one motto: “Whatsoever things are True.” Through times of turmoil, Hill has never wavered from this line. When we enroll at Hill, we become part of its history while also taking up the responsibility of continuing the legacy of its time-honored traditions and values.

As our nation and the world around us continue to be thrown into tumultuous times, let us remember Hill’s legacy after the Civil War, a place to bring people together to create something as unique as the colors on our logo.

Patty Bell and Andrea Chirieleison decorate a Christmas tree at WOTH Tree Trimming and Ornament Exchange Party.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN NELSON

Rishi Sunak elected as the new English Prime Minister

By LAYLA CHOUDHRI ’26 STAFF WRTER

Rishi Sunak was named as the next prime minister of the U.K after Liz Truss’ sudden resignation. Four leading candidates, including Boris Johnson who served as Prime minister in 2019, competed head-to-head in the special emergency election. No votes were cast, as Rishi Sunak, a member of the Conservative party, was the only one to receive the necessary 100 nominations. On Tuesday, October 25, Sunak was officially appointed as the first prime minister of color.

Ever since 2010, a conservative leader had been elected. Sunak continues to lead this streak. Now in office, Sunak’s goals are certain. Though his plans lack certain detail, Rishi Sunak plans on working on creating jobs and securing society from crime and safety problems. He issued a 10-point plan for Britain, covering areas as diverse as tackling crime, cutting backlogs in the National Health Service, and transforming education.

“Despite the extraordinary support we’ve already provided, we face profound economic challenges. The world’s economic activity has slowed, with

the IMF expecting the deepest global recession since records began. Taken together in just two months, our economy contracted by 25%. The same amount it grew in the previous 18 years. The Independent Office for Budget Responsibility and Bank of England are both projecting significant job losses, the most urgent challenge we currently face,” Rishi Sunak said. He mentioned that the government has the job to protect, support, and secure jobs and businesses under the £160 billion plan.

“The government I lead will not leave the next generation, your children and grandchildren, with a debt to settle that we were too weak to pay ourselves,” Sunak declares in his first speech as prime minister. Mixed opinions swarm U.K. news. He previously ran against Truss and his viewpoints and goals were relatively clear; however, this early in his ministry leaves no plans determined. Sunak is said to be a minister who cares, following the quote from his speech. Sunak firmly believes that he will create a stronger impact than his predecessor Liz Truss has created.

Democrats sweep important midterm elections in Pennsylvania

By KIERN LIM ’25 STAFF WRTER

The recent midterm elections were avidly followed and dissected by many across the United States, especially in those in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was one of the key races in determining which side would have control over the senate for the remainder of the term. Following the high-voltage race for the vacant Senate seat between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican nominee Mehmet Oz, Fetterman narrowly edged out Oz to succeed Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican who opted against seeking re-election. This marked the end to one of the ugliest and most expensive campaigns of the year as both parties treated it as a possible turning point for control over the senate.

Unlike other senate races in the United States, there was only one formal debate between Fetterman and Oz before the election. Many issues plaguing the nation like abortion laws, fracking and inflation were raised during the debate. Another topic that was frequently brought up was that of Fetterman’s health following his stroke in May.

Due to audio processing issues caused by his stroke, Fetterman was allowed to have television monitors in the studio that displayed a live transcription of the debate. However, many felt like this

prevented Fetterman from participating in the kind of rapid-fire comments and verbal combat that characterizes American political debates. His responses were typically brief, and at times Fetterman struggled to answer. Although Fetterman was able to land some rehearsed attacks on his opponent, his impairment hindered his engagement.

Following his win over Oz, Fetterman promised to aid the Democrats in establishing foundational laws protecting people’s rights to abortion, healthcare, samesex marriage, unions and voting. He also wants to raise the federal minimum wage.

Another important race in Pennsylvania was that between Democrat Josh Shapiro and far-right Republican Doug Mastriano for governor where we saw Shapiro defeat Mastriano with a margin of 14.6% to become governor.

Lastly, Democrats netted 12 seats in the state House race, giving them a slim majority for the first time in 12 years. This trail of victories reversed previous election expectations and gave Democrats additional buffers to Republican attempts to enshrine the right to life in the state constitution.

However, due to an unprecedented number of voter turnout, there was an issue of paper shortages at some polling stations around Pennsyl-

vania on Election Day.

One specific example is in Luzerne County where a judge had extended voting hours by two hours due to lack of supplies at polling stations. This later resulted in a deadlock

on whether to report official vote tallies to the state, which effectively prevented their certification of the election results before the November 28 deadline.

Two Democratic mem-

bers of the Luzerne County Board of Elections and Voter Registration voted to certify while both Republicans voted “no.” The fifth member, Democrat Daniel Schramm, abstained.

It was only after a tense public meeting on November 30 that the election results were finally signed off, ending the deadlock and marking the official end to the Pennsylvanian midterm elections.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

Rishi Sunak assumes the role of UK Prime Minister.

Sixth formers reflect on the college process so far and look ahead to what is next

By ELLA GRINDLE ’24 FEATURES EDITOR

With H-term in full swing, students at The Hill are taking a well needed break from many stresses of the school day. That is, except for the sixth form. Often deemed as “the extra class,” the college process has faced much disruption over the recent years due to COVID-19 restrictions. These anomalies, in addition to the rigor of Hill student’s daily commitments have produced an in-

teresting terrain for the 6th form to navigate.

“For the sixth form, the covid pandemic has been a part of their story. Last year, students doing gap years became super common, and many colleges overenrolled their classes.

Testing is also a concern, as many students who apply to schools abroad may seem less competitive without certain test scores. But for the most part, we have seen a return to where we were before the pandemic.”

Within the 6th form class, 90% of

students submitted an Early Decision or Early Application form as of the November 15 deadline. Students will receive a response within the December-January timeframe.

“With the initial submission, you feel elated and accomplished. But the waiting game produces a lot of anxiety. A lot of students just do not know what to expect, so they need some time to reset,” Co-Director of College Counseling Lauren Hoyt said.

Maggie Classon ’23 found her college admission experience to be similar to the one described by Hoyt.

“It is a lot less stressful having submitted an Early Decision,” Classon said. “When you submit an ED, that is the one you are really concerned about, so a lot of the stress is relieved. But it is also really nerve wracking because that is the one school you really want to get into.”

Though Classon felt some sense of relief after submitting her applications, she also found the overall process to be “discouraging” and pointed out that the experience also brought negative aspects to student life.

“This is culmination of whole high school career, then you get to it, and you realize how incredibly

competitive it is,” Classon said. “It also created a sense of competition between students who are applying to the same school, you can’t help but compare yourself.”

Despite this anxiety, some 6th formers had a much different experience. A few students had an easier time applying to college.

“For me, the college process was not stressful at all. I never had to worry about writing multiple essays,” Hunter Sloan ’23, who committed to Bucknell University last June for wrestling, said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be committed, I

mean I see how hard my peers work and how stressful this process really is.”

Some students even found the college admission process to parallel a growing sense of maturity as they also became young adults through high school.

“I have thought about it in the sense that there are responsibilities I have to fulfill,” Colette Zidek ’23 explained. “Being held accountable is so important throughout this process. It has been encouraging, but it is hard not to be worried about the future.”

H-term shifts gears on its third year after lifted pandemic restrictions

By MICHELLE LAWRENCE ’26 STAFF WRITER

Many attributes of H-term from its inaugural term until this year’s H-term have outstanding distinctions. Many 5th and 6th formers who attended Hill during the 2020 school year can support this assertation. From the change in the time of year to the changes in the class schedule, H-term has evolved over the past three years to better the experience of the Hill community

According to the school’s website, “H-term is The Hill School’s distinctive, experiential, and interdisciplinary mini term held between the Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks.” Established in 2020, H-term allows students “to explore non-traditional courses that offer more opportunities for collaboration and creative learning, as well as off-campus internships and independent study projects.” However, H-term in 2020 looked very different from its current design. For example, in 2020, H-term was completely remote. During the months of January and February, faculty members taught virtually several hours a day, five days a week, for six weeks to various groups of students who were grouped together by form.

“H-term was a way for us to keep the community engaged while every-

one was remote,” Dean of the Quadrivium Jared Courtney explains. After receiving feedback from students, the administration decided that H-term would return the following school year. The Hill community liked the idea of having a time of learning with classes that you wouldn’t traditionally see in high schools.

Preceding the 2021-2022 school year, the administration worried about a wintertime surge of COVID-19 cases at Hill. Therefore, they decided to push back H-term to December to combat the COVID surge, as well as aid international students who faced travel restraints and quarantine restrictions. During this time, H-term consisted of two in-person classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each for two and a half hours. Afterwards, the administration collected feedback again through a community-wide survey and spent the remainder of the calendar year redesigning H-term.

A common theme in student and faculty responses highlighted the need for more than two classes, as well as a mix of some shorter classes and some longer classes. Acting upon this feedback, the administration and teaching faculty designed shorter morning classes such as math, sewing, and humanities, each for one hour and 15 minutes. These

morning classes were to be generally suited for an academic setting. An afternoon period would last for two and a half hours and be more experi-

“I think H-term is a wonderful time for students to learn about their interests outside of the classroom from truly wherever in the world. I am excited to see how it advances for future students.”

—MoniYah Person-Henderson ’23, boarding student from Pottstown, Pennsylvania

ential. Courtney added, “We wanted students getting out of seats, doing things and collaborating. Some classes go off-campus.”

Moniyah Person-Henderson ’23 witnessed the evolution of H-term firsthand. H-term was created during her 4th form year at Hill. During this time, Person-Henderson was a virtual student who completed an independent study project in addition to her weekly classwork. She even took a step further and created her own company alongside a close friend. “It

was truly a time for us to step outside the box and try something different that we would not otherwise normally do,” Person-Henderson explained. The following year, MoniYah Person-Henderson took an online Harvard course about advanced topics in computer science, worked on an independent study and finished another course where she was able to design her own prototype of a “green” home in the future. This year, for her 6th form year, Person-Henderson completed an independent study, but she also enrolled in two H-term classes. She enjoyed that all students who were working on an independent study project were placed in a classroom together, which was a change from last year when she was lonely in the library working for two hours.

While many students at Hill enjoy H-term because it provides an opportunity for students to relax and still learn by taking unique courses that would not be found elsewhere, others believe that H-term is a setback regarding their academic work.

Layla Choudhri ’26 is part of the group that believes that H-term is beneficial. Choudhri commented, “I think that this is a great adjustment period. These two weeks are at an awkward time and starting new topics would not carry out well into Jan-

uary. This is also a great time to spend time with other friends in forms that you normally would not have.”

On the other hand, Ella Lee ’24, finds that H-term can have negative effects on teachers and students alike. Lee explained, “I think as a junior it’s tough losing that much academic time with AP’s. Despite the fact that Hill chooses not to continue academic work, the rest of the world does, and the AP test doesn’t change. I think H-term has an impact on the pacing of work, especially for honors and AP’s which puts a lot of stress on teachers, which is negative. With that being said, I am grateful to have found a productive way to spend my H-term interning.”

Although H-term has certainly changed, Hill students are still optimistic about its place here at Hill. Person-Henderson concluded, “I think H-term is a wonderful time for students to learn about their interests outside of the classroom from truly wherever in the world. I am excited to see how it advances for future students.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGHAN TOOMEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BENDER

Hunter Sloan ’23 commits to Bucknell University for wrestling.

Dark clouds gloom behind the ongoing 2022 Qatar World Cup

By JASON ZHOU ’23 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The 2022 Qatar World Cup is in full swing. Aside from the beautiful games, the ugly truth behind FIFA’s decision of choosing Qatar as the host country should not be overlooked.

Investigative journalist and FIFA corruption whistle-blower Heidi Blake said that “FIFA conducted its own objective analysis and found that Qatar was an unsuitable place to host the World Cup.” Back in 2015, 14 executive members of FIFA are arrested on suspicion of corruption. The controversy of Qatar World Cup brought attention to the long-time corruption allegations inside FIFA.

Here are some simple facts: 1. The summer temperatures of Qatar would be a hazard to the health of professional soccer players and the fans. 2. To host the FIFA World Cup, Qatar would have to build nine new stadiums, and there wasn’t enough space in Doha so they would have to create a whole new city for lodgings and transportations.

3. Migrant workers would need to work double time in the scorching heat to build these stadiums. It just doesn’t seem plausible for Qatar to host the biggest soccer event in the whole world without la-

bor abuses, and that is exactly what happened.

Migrant workers’ rights have been a massive shadow covering the construction of Qatari stadiums. Qatar’s Kafala system between workers and their employers is a restrictive regime of laws, regulations that ties migrant workers’ legal residency to their employers. To put it simply, workers cannot leave or change jobs without their employers’ consent. Their passports are often taken away by their employers. A guardian article revealed that over 6,500 migrant workers died in Qatar since World Cup was awarded to Qatar.

Dean of the Shirley Quadrivium Center and soccer fanatic Jared Courtney constructed the H-term course FIFA World Cup 2022: Fantasy & Reality in hope to not only let students enjoy the world cup but also think about the implications of FIFA, the social oppression, and the cultural impact of the world cup.

Courtney found Qatar hosting the world cup ridiculous. “It was the most outright flagrant sort of corruption that could have happened within FIFA,” Courtney said. This occasion also fueled him in educating students about the corruption and human abuses behind the world’s biggest soccer event.

For fans around the world,

Courtney thought that we should first enjoy the game. At the same time, he called on us to all engage in our communities and create a healthy soccer community that we are all proud of.

Courtney wishes his students to be mindful of the implications that draws us away from the experience that we would like to have in sports games.

Students in Courtney’s world cup class strongly enjoyed the course. Varsity soccer team member Will Reger ’23 said that he never thought there would be so much scandal behind FIFA. “It is nice to learn something while enjoying the world cup. I love watching the game with the class, it is a lot of fun,” Reger said.

Senior researcher at Human Rights Watch and leading advocate on migrant workers’ rights Nicholas McGeehan said in an interview that a lot of coverage of the FIFA scandals and migrant workers abuses “all vanished as soon as the first whistle blew, and everyone became captivated by the football.”

Courtney hopes his students be aware of the abuses. “It’s really important to consider the other side of the sport. There’s always going to be human nature that detracts from sports itself,” he said.

Staff Feature: Eli Eisenstein captures the spirited environment of Hill

By DAVID SLAVTCHEFF ’24 STAFF WRITER

He is seen everywhere on campus. From the classroom to the field, he is there, capturing the essence of Hill on film. Few people, however, know the man behind the camera: Eli Eisenstein.

Eisenstein, also called Mr. Eis, is a new faculty member this year who works as the school’s cinematographer. It was his creative force that is behind the infamous athletic hype videos and theater recordings alike.

In between living in Pennsylvania most of his life and attending Germantown Friends School, he has always been familiar with The Hill School. Since he was a kid, Eisenstein has had an affinity for the arts, especially cinema. In high school, this passion only grew, so much so that he took to making his own videos and posting them online. As a young cinematographer, Eisenstein took issue with filmmaking’s inaccessibility and founded the Philly Youth Film Festival to bring together other young cinematographers.

The COVID-19 pandemic struck while Eisenstein was attending college at the University of Pennsylvania, working towards a degree in linguistics. When he was able to, he took an opportunity to study abroad in London, and, after graduating, worked in Israel making branded content videos for tech and gaming

companies through Onward Israel, an organization that connects Jewish students and recent graduates to Israeli companies

During this time, Eisenstein was contacted by Head of School Zach Lehman about a job opportunity. Eager to get out of the realm of freelance work and begin a rewarding, stable career, he accepted.

“My philosophy is that there are modern trends and older trends. Older trends cater to the older audience, so I try to find a balance by making content that parents want to see, and that students are excited to be a part of.

—Eli Eisenstein, Cinematographer

Just as any new student discovers, The Hill School can be a wonderfully strange place. For Eisenstein, the biggest adjustment has been the academic dress code and boarding school environment. However, he was incredibly stuck by the school’s intense spirit and student involvement. From our steadfast loyalty to honored traditions to the rowdiness of our student section, Eisenstein has found the experience to be “awesome and inspiring.” Coming into this job,

he did not anticipate just how much time he would be spending with teams, but the student’s enthusiasm continues to inspire him.

Eisenstein recalls that at his first blue light game he had so much fun capturing and being a part of the experience. Furthermore, the sheer number of fans was something he “had never seen before.”

However, Eisenstein’s job is more than just holding a camera. He is

tasked with creating content that appeals to the whole Hill community: alumni, trustees, parents, faculty, and most importantly, students.

“My philosophy,” Eisenstein explains, “is that there are modern trends and older trends. Older trends cater to the older audience, so I try to find a balance by making content that parents want to see, and that students are excited to be a part of.”

Mr. Eisenstein wants to say thank

you to the Hill community for being more welcoming than he could ever imagine. He encourages any and every student to reach out to him if they want to talk about videography, a cappella, or life. He also asks that students with recordings from Hill events send them to him. However, his main ask of the Hill student body is that they continue being excited about helping him make his videos memorable.

Cinematographer Eli Eisenstein provided key footage for recent Lawrenceville Weekend hype videos

ILLUSTRATION

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 where they have complete control over the content produced.

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 acarroll23@thehill.org, zzhou23@thehill.org, ama23@thehill.org, hshang23@thehill.org.

“Wednesday” will satisfy your every weekend binge

By EVAN LUO ‘25 STAFF WRITER

Netflix exhausted us with its recent catalogs of subpar shows that only seem to be canceled after the first season. Yet, “Wednesday” is not one of them. Released on November 23, “Wednesday” takes the audience through an addictive eight episode long murder mystery through a unique perspective of Wednesday Addams, a sociopath turned sleuth who investigates Nevermore Academy’s uncanny past with her newfound psychic abilities.

Written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and directed by Tim Burton, “Wednesday” pleasantly renews “The Addams Family” series. Clocking in over 341 million hours watched in its first week, “Wednesday” triumphs against even season four of Netflix’s blockbuster “Stranger Things,” which logged in only 335 million hours.

The series stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci—yes, the same Ricci who played Wednesday in the 1991 “The Addams Family”—as botany teacher Marilyn Thornhill, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Wednesday’s mother Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmán as her father Gomez Addams, Isaac Ordonez as her brother Pugsley Addams, and Gwendoline Christie as Principal Larissa Weems.

After a shocking, yet satisfying, trademark act of calculated violence expels her from school, Wednesday’s parents Gomez and

Wednesday herself is stunning. Her cold, emotionless personality ironically makes her the most interesting character in “Wednesday,” likely because of her unconventional and controversial nature. Her humorous, deadpan affronts and threats dotted throughout the show perfectly display her emotionlessly snarky, beyond bold, and extremely comedic persona. Not to mention, she can fight multiple people, fence a saber, sharpshoot a bow, and mesmerizingly play the cello.

The cinematography, choreography, and lighting are stunning, making for an immersive experience. The VFX and CGI, however, are ludicrous. It’s honestly so bad it’s funny, but in a good way. While this blunder would degrade most shows, it actually adds to the show’s humor. However, the obvious must be stated: Jenna Ortega absolutely carries the show. Her dedication to Wednesday combined with her excellent acting highlights her from the rest of the characters, who—to be honest—are quite cliche and lacking. Without her, the show would just be another formulaic, Harry Potter-esque drama.

Overall, “Wednesday” is a must watch for its interesting storyline and character arcs, if not for Wednesday herself, who easily marks herself as one of the best protagonists in television history. In an age plagued with creative fatigue and lackluster television, “Wednesday” will definitely satisfy your Wednesday binge.

Hill’s arts students return for a stellar H-Term season

By MARGARET O’HALLORAN ‘25 STAFF WRITER

As we get further into the holiday season, H-term presents an opportunity for artistic events to ramp up at The Hill School. The Ellis Theater Guild envisions an H-term musical with the pick of “The Fantasticks” by Tom Jones. Students, challenged to put on a musical in only 10 days, were cast in the open-call auditions for this year’s Ellis Theater Guild productions. Director Bobby Goodrich says that “The Fantasticks” is, “...driven by poetry—a lot of the dialogue and lyrics are just beautiful poetry,” and that the students will each bring “an organic energy” to the show. The production is set to be performed from January 6-8 at 7:45 p.m. in the Blackbox Theater and is open to anyone in the Pottstown community.

Choral instructor Yoon Soo Lim’s H-term course, “Concert Choir: Collaborative Concert Experience,” will hold a joint showcase with Princeton GirlChoir on Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Chapel. The choirs will be singing a mixture of classic Christmas songs along with more seasonal

pieces. The “Rise, Shine!” unity concert has no entrance fee, but audience members are en couraged to donate to Hobart’s Run’s non-per ishable food and moisture wicking sock drive.

The H-term short play festival will be returning for its third year. Students will write, cast, direct, costume, and light a ten-min ute play on a topic of their choice. “This is their voice; this is their issues, what they’re

concerned about,” Director of the Center for the Arts Christopher McGriff said. After a crash course in theater, the students will showcase their creations to the Hill commu nity. A winner of the short play festival will be crowned based on the plays’ artistic and technical aspects. The H-term Short Play Festival tookplaceon December 13 at 8:30 p.m. in the black box.

Morticia Addams enroll her at Nevermore Academy in Jericho, Vermont, a school for supernatural outcasts once attended by her parents.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

’23, David Slavtcheff ’24, Faisal Choudhri ’24, Angela Jin ’24, Cici Fang ’24, Emerson Leger ’25, Kiern Lim ’25, Margaret O’Halloran ’25, Evan Luo ’25, Lolade Palmer, ’25, Srinidhi Pasumarthy ’26, Michelle Lawrence ’26, Layla Choudhri ’26

Faculty Advisers Alec Swartz, Nancy Body

College admissions puts pressure on the middle-class

By EVAN LUO ’25 STAFF WRITER

If you are currently applying to colleges from a middle-class background, you have likely wondered why the college admissions process is so expensive. With the U.S. economy moving away from blue-collar jobs, higher education increasingly acts as a gateway to better career opportunities and economic success. More and more people are thus applying to college, increasing competition, lowering admission rates, and raising college tuition.

Structural barriers and a lack of resources have always made a college education more inaccessible for low-income students—a problem many universities are trying to change—but this problem poses a particular challenge to students from middle-class families. The problem boils down to a simple one: middle-class families make too much to qualify for federal education grants, institutional financial aid, and fee waivers, but not enough to pay for the

sticker price for most colleges.

Many private, and even public, universities cost upwards of $80,000 per year. While the rich may barely bat an eye at the price, and those from lower-income families receive generous financial aid packages, the middle class is stuck between a rock and a hard place in the race for higher education.

A large part of this burden on the middle class comes from how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—which is used to determine federal financial aid— calculates Expected Family Contribution. The FAFSA not only considers yearly income into the EFC, but also all liquid assets and investments. That means all stocks, savings, and properties are included as well. Combined, these assets can result in an exaggerated EFC, assuming that families are willing to sell their homes, assets, and even dip into their retirement savings in order to pay for college.

Likewise, most middle-class families do not qualify for application and testing fee waivers. For many middle-class students taking AP courses, multiple SATs, and an array of colleges, these fees can easily add upwards of thousands of dollars.

Moreover, most middle-class families [also] cannot afford college counseling, which can exceed tens of thousands of dollars. Like before, they make too little to pay out of pocket, and too much to qualify for pro bono aid.

Consequently, the middle class is at a disadvantage in a system where wealth influences everything, from superior standardized test scores to impressive extracurriculars. As it stands, the college admissions process burdens the middle-class with exorbitant fees and debt, just for the chance at more prospective career opportunities in the future.

Hill should implement a community service requirement

By CORBIN CARTAGINE ’23 OPINION EDITOR

Throughout one’s time at Hill they may hope to develop themselves in a holistic fashion to become successful young adults. They are taught the importance of critical thinking, steadfast studies, and serving our community. All of these ideals are actively upheld by the student body. However, the lack of an orientation towards and emphasis upon community service leaves a lacking part in our development as young people. It could be incredibly beneficial to the student body and the greater Pottstown community if the school implemented a mandatory community service requirement.

First off, a mandatory community service requirement could be incredibly valuable to the Pottstown community. Hill students could be

presented with more charitable organizations in Pottstown to help with the active implementation of a requirement. This would provide free help to these charitable organizations in a time where many of them are struggling and in need. Pottstown has its obvious struggles, so the help of the Hill students would be even more impactful to them.

Furthermore, Hill students could glean a tremendous amount from being mandated to do community service in Pottstown. Many of the students who come to Hill are from very privileged backgrounds. Community service can have incredible educational value. It can foster a sense of humility and a greater understanding of the community’s issues as well. It would help to foster an orientation towards

service within the students at the the Hill School. The school has the amazing opportunity to ensure that all students experience another layer of their education through community service. A mandatory community service requirement could effectively help the surrounding Pottstown area as well as serve as a fantastic learning experience for the students.

An orientation towards service is an incredibly important aspect of education, and it is important that we recognize that. An experience with and desire to continue community service should be a characteristic of all Hill students. To accomplish this, the Hill School should mandate community service for its students.

How consumerism stole Christmas

By BENNETT CERULLO ’23 STAFF WRITER

Americans like to spend. From a Fourth of July sale at Toyota to promotional events for labor and veterans day, the combination of holidays and spending has been ingrained into the national identity for a long time. Even cultural institutions such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began as an advertisement for the store. So, it is only natural that one of the most important holidays on the Christian calendar would also eventually become a bastion for consumerism. Christmastime is ripe with advertisements, special products, and holiday themed events that are major sellers.

Large scale producers release themed products like Sprite Cranberry and local farms and stores thrive on the selling of Christmas trees and other decorations. Americans will buy Christmas lights in the millions, some on premade figures. Video games will run promotional events, and even as I opened my computer to type this article, Google has changed to Christmas mode, with holiday theming for its search engine. The bottom line is this, Christmas is being used to sell Americans products. These products can range from a cheap piece of plastic that will never be used again, to basic necessities that Americans may use every day.

Where they draw the line and the problems occur is its effects on the holiday itself. During Christmas, there seems to be an intention of fo-

cusing on the pleasure of the time. Presents are a focal point. Kids waking their parents early in the morning to open their presents has been a cliche of the American Christmas for a long time. Pleasure is found all over, in these cheap products that we buy or in the superficial one-upmanship in Christmas lighting. However, I challenge anyone here to remember their most cherished Christmas memories, specifically the moments that pop up in your head. They, most likely, are moments of joy or bliss. For me, the time I spent with my grandmother during the season before she passed. Christmas is a season of joy. Pursuing this joy, is in my opinion the point of the season.

However, there is, in a lot of ways, a wall of consumeristic, vain, pleasure in the way to finding this joy. Propagated by many of our own selfish desires, this wall clouds our path to discovering the joy of this season. Instead of inundating ourselves with the materialistic pleasures that all of us, including me, fall into, we should all strive to find joy this season. Share your time with others, do right by other people, and discover the beauty of this season. None of this is beholden to electronics, or toys, or money, but within the connections we form with other people. This season is the most wonderful time of the year, and it gets even better when you learn to live it with joy.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE CHI ’23

Student Athlete Spotlight: Avery Cohen ’26

New face at Hill Avery Cohen ’26 cannot wait for winter athletics to begin and is ready to shine on the ice. Cohen, a hockey player from Canada, has big plans for this season and is ready to make her mark on the Hill community.

Why did you start playing hockey?

Cohen: I’ve grown up playing hockey and it has become a major part of my life. My whole family plays hockey so it was my childhood. I fell in love with the game, and I’ve always had a passion for hockey. It has taught me many life lessons and I’ve met so many people through this sport. I also like that it’s not a formulaic game, and you must react on the spot and make fast decisions while under pressure.

What brought you to Hill?

Cohen: “Mrs. Toomey first introduced me to Hill because of her connections with my mom, (both playing NCAA hockey together in college) I was looking for a school where I could play hockey and bring my game to the next level, but also be challenged in the classroom and most importantly become a better person.

The Girl’s Ice Hockey program was what really drew me to this school. Although there were so many more things I loved about Hill, the hockey team and coaches separated their program from any other. I chose Hill because of the people. Hill’s welcom-

ing community was something I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of. As soon as I met the students and faculty, I knew Hill was where I was meant to be. Here I can become a better athlete, student, and person. Hill is different because it offers so much. It gives me the opportunity to be well-rounded and excel in all areas. I can pursue my athletic career and my passion for music, while also being a serious student. Coming from Canada, I’m far away from home, but being here has felt like having a 2nd family and home. I was considering schools closer to where I live, but Hill has only made me feel closer to home.”

What are you looking forward to the most this winter?

Cohen: I’m looking forward to the hockey season this winter and the opportunity to grow and get better each day while being surrounded by the best hockey players and people. I can’t wait to spend every day with my team, get to know everyone better, and create more lifelong friendships. I’m looking forward to lots of fist bumps and encouragement from my team. I’m excited about the moments and memories I’ll share with the girls. I know winter will be long and there will be hard moments, but I’m excited to see what this season has in store! I’m ready to “get after it” every day.

What are your goals for this season?

Recent Eagles success galvanizes Hill fanbase

By FAISAL CHOUDHRI ’24 STAFF WRITER

The Philadelphia Eagles strong start for the year places them within striking for the playoffs. The recent success of the team invigorated the local fanbase, including students and faculty on Hill’s campus.

Currently, the team has a 12-1 record and the single best record in the NFL.

They have done this with the coaching of Nick Siriani, and the playing of dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts, along with newly signed receiver A.J. Brown from the Titans who is “the best signing by the team in recent history” according to Reagan Basile ’23.

“It’s great! They’ve been getting better over the year so it’s encouraging,” Instructor of Mathematics Ernest Higginbotham said.

The Eagles have the sixth-ranked offense with Hurts, Brown, and Devonta Smith just behind the LSU duo of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase-led Cincinnati Bengals and ahead of their division rival Dallas Cowboys led by Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The Eagles bolster the third-best defense led by Fletcher Cox, Darius Slay, and free agent signing Hassan Reddick. Their defense is only behind Micah Parson’s Dallas Cowboys, and Nick Bosa’s San Francisco 49ers.

By KATE LONGO ’23 STAFF WRITER

Cohen: This season, I want to elevate my game and get to the next level. I have specific goals like improving my footwork and agility, getting multiple shots on the net every game, maintaining a positive +/- average, being a part of special teams, and strengthening my offensive abilities. It’s also my goal to gain more confidence on the ice and be able to perform in important situations and under pressure. In general, I want to do whatever I can to make my team better and continue being a good teammate. I know my coaches and team could help me get closer to my goals. Off the ice, I am always looking for how to become a better teammate and leader. Even as a 3rd former, I want to play an important role on the team and really strengthen my communication skills, with the help of my captains and older teammates. As a team, it’s our goal to win championships and get better every day. We expect to win every game, even though we might not, but we hold high expectations and set goals for ourselves as individuals and as a team.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

Cohen: As an individual, I hope to continue my athletic and academic career through university. I want to continue to pursue my passion. One of my goals was to play prep hockey and now my next long-term goal is to play college hockey. While being an

elite athlete, I also want to maintain a high GPA and be an active community member as much as possible.

I’m not sure what my career path will look like, but I want to help as many people as I can in my life. In just a month, our team hopes to win

Hill field hockey alumna Kennedy Cliggett ’21 takes home the hardware

The team’s prospects for this year look good. Statistically, this year’s Eagles team is better than the one led by Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, which hoisted the Lombardi in Minnesota after beating New England in the Super Bowl. At that time, they had the fourth-best defense and the seventeenth-ranked offense.

As Hill is just an hour from Philadelphia, many students and faculty are excited about the recent success of the team. Eagles fans are not bashful in general about their love for their team as they “bleed green” according to Jake Voynar ’23.

The Eagles fans can be found across America and the world as Gavin Grady ‘23 who is from Jacksonville, Florida remarked that his “whole family is from the Philly area, so I naturally fell in love with the team.”

Anthony McMullan ’23 hopes that the Eagles will be able to bring back a trophy to Philadelphia, especially after the city’s recent championship disappointments in baseball and soccer. In particular, McMullan feels that the “World Series was rigged,” referencing the Houston Astros’ historical legacy of cheating in past events. No evidence, however, has been found of the Astros cheating during their current World Series win.

After the Eagles reigned victorious over the Giants last weekend, they clinched their fourth berth and their third NFC East title since their last major championship.

“I don’t think I’ve been as excited for this team since 2017,” Jake Voynar ’23 said.

By EMILIE KIRSCHNER ’23 LAYOUT EDITOR

It is no secret that Kennedy Cliggett ’21 was a star in her two years at The Hill School. Cliggett, a member of the 2021 graduating class, earned her fair share of accomplishments before and during her time at Hill. This has held true for her time after Hill as well, as she has newly been crowned a Division 1 NCAA Champion.

Previous to attending Hill, Cliggett committed in the spring of her sophomore year to the University of North Carolina for field hockey. At the time of her commitment, UNC was coming off of their first of what became three consecutive national championships.

Cliggett went into the top collegiate program in the country ready to work for her spot on the field. As a true freshman, she played in all 20 games of UNC’s season and put up nine points throughout her first season. Although UNC didn’t take home the championship, her contributions on the team helped set her up for success in her sophomore year.

In 2022, she made contributions in all 21 games of the Tar Heels’ season, scoring seven goals and assisting one other. Her commitments earned her the opportunity to play in almost the entirety of the NCAA National Championship game on November 20, 2022. The Tar Heels took down Northwestern with a thrilling last-minute goal and took home the cham-

pionship with a narrow 2 to 1 lead.

A native of Warrington, Pennsylvania, Cliggett did not grow up too far from Pottstown. She attended Mount St. Joseph’s Academy for her first two high school years before coming to Hill, where she made an immediate impact on the team.

“Kennedy was someone who you knew would work hard for her teammates and our team every single day. Kennedy was a true competitor and found a way to demand the best out of herself. In doing so, she brought the best out in her teammates. Kennedy will forever be a part of HFHF,” says Hill field hockey head coach, Jennifer Weissbach.

Hill field hockey assistant coach, Gabriela Gomez also enjoyed working with Cliggett. “Each year our team has raised the bar and keep setting higher expectations. Kennedy not only did she bring amazing talent, but the pace and energy of her execution was next level. There was no in between, she only had one speed: all out,” says Gomez.

In her fifth form season, she won local awards such as AllState First Team, Mercury-All Area First Team, and All-MAPL first team, and national awards such as All-Region

Second Team and All American Watch List. She also helped lead the Blues to a MAPL title and the first ever state championship game in program history.

Cliggett’s accomplishments earned her a spot on MAX Field Hockey’s Top 10 in the Class of 2021.

As a sixth former, her season was canceled due to the pandemic but her stellar reputation on the field still earned her spots on the NFHCA Senior IMPACT Team and on MAX Field Hockey’s Top 40 PA Players to watch list, and she was voted captain of the 2020 Hill Field Hockey team.

Cliggett’s role as a captain did not go unserved even without a season. “Kennedy was a great leader on our team, especially during COVID when we weren’t able to play games. She knew how to support her teammates and make us laugh. We still keep in touch today and it’s amazing to see her accomplishments at UNC”, said Kerry Elliott ’23, a current member of the Hill field hockey program.

the Exeter and the Dexter Southfield tournaments in December. We can’t wait to see Cohen grow and flourish in the Hill community and are excited for the talent she brings to Hill.

Avery Cohen ’26 listens to the next drill for practice.

PHOTO BY LOLADE PALMER ’25

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

Kennedy Cliggett ’21 takes the field in the PAISAA State Championship.