Issue 4 2021-22

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

VOLUME CXXVI. NO.4

January 10, 2022

Hill continues to combat COVID-19 with the rise of Omicron

By EMERSON LEGER ’25 STAFF WRITER

“The Omicron variant presents a new and unique challenge,” Head of School Zack Lehman stated in a Dec. 30 email to the Hill community. Lehman is ready to take on the challenge. “We choose to prioritize the learning and mental health benefits of in-person participation and believe that we can proceed safely.”

If more students are affected during or after H-Term, Lehman stated in an email that Hill will “continue following our COVID-19 protocols in terms of isolating positive students off campus.” For close contacts, Lehman stated they will follow “mask, monitor, test” protocols with close contacts if vaccinated, and quarantine off campus if unvaccinated. Students returning back to campus after winter break must do so “through the CFTA, provide a record of their pre-arrival PCR test, and complete a rapid antigen test before entering campus,” as stated in the Winter Term webpage.

“We’re not making a lot of changes to what students can and can’t do, at least relative to a good portion of December.

The only thing is masking. Masking will be very important, and we’ve upgraded our masking requirements to be a medical grade mask. We’re not allowing leaves for the most part, at least until next weekend, Jan. 16,” Dean Ari Baum said in a Zoom interview.

Students have put forth their thoughts on what the school has done. Meg O’Halloran ’25, a boarder, stated in an email that she is “all for COVID restrictions” and that within Hill she realizes “the authority in our community has to strike a delicate balance between keeping us students’ lives as enjoyable as possible, while being safe.”

“Unfortunately, as school’s progressed, I do think their response has been convoluted at times. We can’t sit and eat with our friends in some spaces; in the Dining Hall, for much of the year, we sat shoulder-to-shoulder. After summer break, we all got tested right when we came on campus; but, after Thanksgiving, we were tested over the course of three days. I think these contradictions in our policies have caused a little bit of annoyance throughout the student body,” O’Halloran stated.

Alyssa Diwale ’25, a day student, stated in an email that, with these COVID restrictions, she feels “as if it is the beginning of another pandemic,” but that she is “willing to do anything to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.”

Chelsea Mills ’22, a boarder, stated in an email that, as a 6th former, she appreciates “Hill’s efforts to keep our ‘Hillness’.”

However, she “can’t help but worry that our current COVID restrictions won’t be able to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant on campus. For now, I am grateful for Hill’s high vaccination rate.”

Suzanne Grace and Jim Swahl (pictured below) have restored the historic dwelling of Dr. Elmer Porter.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM SWAHL

Retelling the history of Dr. Porter and 344 High Street

By JASON ZHOU ’23 OFF-CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

The houses and roads of Pottstown are all witnesses of history. 344 High Street was built all the way back in 1821, which is 30 years before the Hill School was founded. It belonged to the long-time Pottstown resident Dr. Elmer Porter, one of the founders and the first chief of surgery of Pottstown hospital. The current residents, Jim Swahl and Suzanne Grace, owners of High Street Steaks, carry on the legacy of history.

Swahl moved into 344 High Street in 2011 after buying the house from the bank that was managing Dr. Porter’s last heir’s stake. “I kept everything pretty much the same and basically just brought the house back to health,” Swahl said proudly.

The house originally used gaslights with open flames. Swahl’s hung lamp was attached to a gas line, which was used as a pipe to pump gas into the old gaslights in the old days.

“I had to replace all the knob-andtube wirings. The porcelain knob and tube, if you touch it you could get shocked and start a fire,” Swahl said. “I had to place a new heater; I had to place a roof; I had plumbing issues as well. I didn’t really change anything, but rather restored it if you will.”

Grace, whose mother worked as Hill School Wellness Center staff in the ’60s, visited the Pottstown His-

torical Society on High Street and gathered photos and documents about the house and the life of Dr. Porter.

According to the historical society, Dr. Porter was very successful as a doctor, businessman, and local politician. He owned local businesses that today are thought of as public utilities. The Pottstown Gas and Water Company and the Boyertown Gas and Fuel Company were both under his name at a certain time. Porter was also the burgess, a member of the parliament, of the borough of Pottstown from 1903 to 1905, later earning a place on Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Democratic Party’s National Nominating Convention in 1912 and 1945.

“The accomplishments of Dr. Porter are amazing; he was just into everything,” Swahl said. Swahl was close with the former housekeeper of Dr. Porter’s lodging when it was idle for 25 years. He shared that Dr. Porter had a total wealth of around $70 million at his time, which is equivalent to over $200 million in the present time.

Dr. Porter also used his wealth to give back to the Pottstown community. Swahl said that Dr. Porter was a philanthropist and that he would give money out to help better the community. “He would see people in his office for free on Monday morning. He’s serving the poorer community members by offering free office hours,” Swahl said.

However, Swahl also mentioned that many thought of Dr. Porter as a very “extreme” and “eccentric” person. Dr. Porter’s daughters were forbidden to marry by Dr. Porter because he was sure that someone just wanted his money.

In addition, Swahl said that the housekeeper described Dr. Porter as “stingy”. There used to be double-hung windows that had two weights attached to the ropes which counterweighted the window. The ropes would break sometimes, and the windows would stay shut. The housekeeper said that Dr. Porter would hire people and told them to replace only one of the ropes to avoid paying for another.

“I got reports from people who knew him that he wasn’t that nice of a guy,” Swahl said. It was widespread knowledge that Dr. Porter would throw workers’ belongings on the curb if they were late for work.

Grace added that her grandmother used to work under Dr. Porter, and she wasn’t a big fan of Dr. Porter. “He wasn’t really a caring man,” Grace said.

“I don’t mean to disparage him; you can’t argue with success. He was a really smart man,” Swahl said. The current residents are collecting all the information they can get so that people would learn and know the history of their house. Swahl and Grace run a restaurant called High Street Steaks. Their local business is supporting the Pottstown communi-

Internships, independent studies and new courses: students reflect on H-Term

ty just as Dr. Porter did back in the days.

To learn more about High Street Steaks, scan the QR code below:

New laws restrict cram schools and could alter their effectiveness

Continued on Page B3

Guardians of Beech Street — Hill Security Spotlight During the two-week H-Term, which began Dec. 2, students were offered the opportunity to explore non-traditional courses with more opportunities for collaboration and creative learning, as well as off-campus internships and independent study projects.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

CAMPUS NEWS | Page A2

The radio rang; he switched the channel on his walkie-talkie and pulled up the zip of his jacket. Driving through campus with a golf cart, he greeted everyone with a big smile. A breeze blew by, the “Hill Security” badge on the back of his jacket stood out dazzlingly.

FEATURES | Page C4

Recipes of Hill’s faculty families: A Taste of The Hill From Southeast Asia to Italy, the recipes represent a small fraction of the many delicious offerings on campus.

Even though the new policy was carried out with a sound intention for this generation of students, does it really successfully accomplish its objectives?

FEATURES | Page C5

OPINION | Page D6

Campus News

The Hill News | A2

January 10, 2022

Hill Film and TV Club encourages students to explore filmmaking

By DIEMMY DANG ’24 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

With three short films already in their portfolio and a five-episode sitcom on the way, Hill’s Film and TV Club has kept themselves extremely busy throughout their past few months on campus. The club’s work covers a diverse range of genres and shows that it is capable of dealing with drastically different cinematic themes.

Their short film “Citizen of the Year” is a comedy that follows a bet between a student council president and an unassuming underdog, while the film “Gordian’s Knot” is a drama about a murderous man who must learn to let go of his ex-partner. Now, the group’s sitcom “Student Government” is set to follow a high school student named Jack McGuffin as he navigates life as a student council member.

Every aspect of the club’s productions is led and carried out by students, including the script writing, prop and set design, acting and camerawork. According to club president Martin Tran ’22, the Film and TV Club’s primary focus is learning the necessary skills that come with filmmaking, as the club aims to give students the chance to participate in cinematic activities not otherwise offered on campus.

“Our main goal is to let people have that experience of being involved in film projects. We have an amazing theater program here; we have opportunities for singers, for people who want to do studio art or sports, but there are no opportunities that have film as a main activity. The Film Club is very involved; we teach a lot of skills,

and that’s our first and foremost goal.

If we’re able to put out a film, we’re already successful, and we’ve already had a lot of success in the past in that sense.”

Atticus Short ’24, who serves as the Film and TV Club’s vice president, explains that the club provides experiences for all aspects of filmmaking as well as all levels of skill. Short, for example, mainly works on the process that comes prior to the actual filming, doing things like script writing, plot development, and camera operation.

“There is something I have always enjoyed about coming up with an idea, seeing it snowball into a script, watching it develop as it is recorded, and bringing it all together in post production to make a presentable final product. The club provides an opportunity to be a part of this process,” Short said.

As for the Film and TV Club’s coming future, Tran explained that the group is considering their films “Gordian’s Knot” and “Citizen of the Year” to be submitted to various film festivals.

Their sitcom “Student Government” is set to be released episodically, with a first episode to be released sometime in February. The exact platform and screening method of the show are yet to be determined.

Those interested in taking part in a future Film and TV Club project can contact club president Martin Tran ’22 for further details. Club members can choose which productions they wish to participate in but must commit to attending all relevant meetings once given a role. Meetings usually take place on Saturdays and Sundays in the CFTA.

Filming equipment is set up in the McNally room in preparation for a shot.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTIN TRAN ’22

Harry Whaley ’25 (left), Lizzie Hopper ’23 (center), and Luke Gerdeman ’23 perform Hopper’s “Red Flags” in the CFTA.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BENDER/HILL SNAPSHOTS

Internships, independent studies and new courses: students reflect on H-Term

By MARTIN TRAN ’22 STAFF WRITER

H-Term is The Hill School’s distinctive, experiential, and interdisciplinary mini-term, held this year between the Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks. During the two-week H-Term, which began Dec. 2, students were offered the opportunity to explore non-traditional courses with more opportunities for collaboration and creative learning, as well as off-campus internships and independent study projects.

Through the vast array of course offerings, from “Introduction to Fly Fishing” to “Constitutional Law,” students were able to have fun while discovering new topics of interest and interacting with teachers they might not encounter during their typical academic schedule.

One such program was the “Short Play Festival,” run by Director of the CFTA Christopher McGriff. Lizzie Hopper ’23, whose short play was featured in the showcase, shared, “We were given a week and a half to write, direct and produce our own short plays.

For me, I wrote a play called ‘Red Flags,’ which is a romantic comedy about a girl who has insecurities when going into a

relationship because of trust issues. I spent the majority of the time writing the play before I gathered a cast and a crew.”

Although most students on campus chose to do two H-Term courses, fifth and sixth form students had the unique chance to participate in a hybrid option where they were enrolled in one H-Term course in addition to an internship or independent study.

While others hurried to their classes after lunch, Nam Dao ’22 settled into a quaint corner of the cozy Ryan Library as he examined the works of Marx and Nietzsche.

“I am integrating their philosophies into a comprehensive overview of 21st century socialism,” Dao said. “The majority of my research work requires primary sources only available to the Ryan Library. It’s unparalleled resources have brought me access to essential works. H-term has allowed me, under the mentorship of Hill teachers, to explore a complex topic much beyond the school’s usual curriculum.”

Aside from being able to pursue special academic interests, students felt that H-Term provided them with invaluable time outside of their courses.

By having this time on campus, they could utilize facilities such as the 3D

printer and the auditorium, along with Hill’s experienced faculty and staff. Students such as Artem Kyselov ’23 used this to his advantage as he completed an independent study on developing a product that he hopes will enhance sport performance for his team.

“H-Term is a good time between the holidays; it’s a good opportunity to speak with teachers and to apply what you learned in class,” Kyselov said. “I had more time to read than during the school year. I was able to read multi-science and interdisciplinary papers, because now that we have more time, we can use the 3D printer, where we created very cool stuff such as dragons.”

Leaving for the holidays, Dao offered his thoughts: “H-Term is a wonderful opportunity for students to truly explore topics in greater detail and explore new ideas with rigor under Hill’s supportive academic environment.”

Overall, the time and flexibility of H-Term allowed students room to both flourish and relax. International students such as Gaby Henao ’22, who assisted a nursery school, were offered time to be nearer to home.

“It’s nice to be able to take a break from Hill and recharge!” Henao reported from Colombia.

Hill establishes its first rock climbing extracurricular

By CLAIRE WANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

Luke Gerdeman ’23 performs his stand-up gig as part of the “Student Government” film.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTIN TRAN ’22

Film and TV Club President Martin Tran ’22 has been creating independent films since freshman year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTIN TRAN ’22

The Hill School has officially launched its rock climbing program, with Mckenna Edwards being the faculty adviser as the winter term starts.

“We’re certainly blessed with a lot of resources; but, you know, rosters are smaller on winter teams. We can’t have quite as big rosters as we can with some of our outdoor sports,” said Seth Eilberg, the director of athletics and co-curricular activities. “So, with all that in mind, it made perfect sense to add another activity.”

As for more reasons to include this afternoon activity, Eilberg explained that some students expressed “strong interest,” as well as many prospective families with rock climbing backgrounds who are looking for schools like Hill with such a program to continue their interest or career in rock climbing.

The school takes students who participate in the program over to the Philadelphia Rock Gyms – Oaks to practice three days a week, and students do training at the school during the other two days. Currently, around 11 students are on the team, and most of them are novices.

McKenna Edwards is the new instructor of Hill’s new rock climbing activity PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BENDER/HILL SNAPSHOTS

“As the program grows, and we get more students, perhaps, involved who have the level of experience and interest in competing against other schools, we are certainly going to continue to explore,” Eilberg said. “There is a league down the Maryland Virginia area. Nearby, Westtown school is starting to fill the team.”

Eilberg also mentioned that “rock climbing competitions are individual in nature,” which allows some students to compete as representatives of the school.

An experienced rock climber and the founder of the climbing club on

campus, 5th former Cameron Beckey shared her insights and experience with rock climbing.

“Rock climbing is one of the most important things to me,” Beckey said.

“It’s just a really fun sport, and I like how inclusive it is. There is no set body type you need to do rock climbing, and it’s a pretty accessible thing.”

Beckey also acknowledged that she has built life-long relationships with people through rock climbing.

“I was on a competitive team, and the kids there we’ve gotten so close over the years, like some of my best friends.”

Off-campus News

January 10, 2022

B3 | The Hill News

Hill students learn life lessons through a firefighting internship

By COLE BILOTTA ’23 STAFF WRITER

Throughout the span of a few weeks, as a part of Hill’s H-term internship program, I learned firsthand what first responders in our community do for a living.

This winter, students at Hill were given the opportunity to partake in an out of school internship. This internship would fulfill students’ H-term requirement and would be a great way to learn something new.

One of my fellow Hill students, Anthony McMullan ‘23, who serves his community at home as a volunteer firefighter, told me about the chance to learn what it takes to be a firefighter.

I didn’t know what to expect going into my first day at the firehouse. McMullan described his experiences at his fire station at home as something he enjoyed doing. Naturally, I was excited to find out what this profession had to offer and what the next few weeks would have in store for me.

On the first day, we went down to Good Will Fire Company (Station 69A), where we would be doing the majority of our work. We met the firefighters on duty and they were all down-to-earth, nice people. There was no shortage of work to be done the first day, however.

After we met the firefighters, they

gave us a tour of the station. As well as trained firefighters, the station also has trained EMTs and paramedics who work out of Good Will. I learned that there are not a lot of fire calls, so the majority of calls that come into the station are Emergency Medical Service calls.

Throughout the next couple weeks, I saw firsthand what EMS is about. I responded to a man who had a stroke, a woman who had a diabetic emergency, and another woman who took too much medication and needed to be sent to the hospital.

Our first call was for a woman who was seeing things and was being delusional. McMullan said, “I felt sad seeing the effects of the medicine she was taking and how that was negatively affecting her mental state.”

The next call was an older man who got hit by a car just outside of the Walmart in Pottstown. He had severe head trauma, and they rushed him to the hospital. His head trauma was so bad that he couldn’t remember things that were being said to him 15 seconds prior.

In Pottstown, there are three different fire stations: Good Will, Philadelphia (Phillies), and North End. McMullan and I spent our time at Good Will, which is right across from Hill. We ended up getting tours of all three.

All three stations were of different siz-

Anthony McMullin ’23 enters the cabin of the Station 69A firetruck.

es and had various trucks and tools other stations did not have. Good Will is the biggest station in Pottstown because EMS runs out of the station and needs trained paramedics.

The firefighters in all stations showed us different tools that they use on the trucks when they go to a fire. On most of the bigger trucks, there was every different size and shape axe you could think of.

H-Term field trip courses bring students outside

By PAIGE HARTSHORN ’23 STAFF WRITER

Many of the H-term courses held in December gave students the opportunity to go off campus and experience local businesses or get closer to nature. These field trips marked a highlight of H-term.

Mark Nelson’s “Get Outdoors PA” class put a twist on traditional classroom courses. This class got students into nature and let students discover local adventures that they might not know about.

Mr. Nelson created this course so he could share his love of nature with students. Unlike many students at Hill, Mr. Nelson is very familiar with the nature surrounding Pottstown. He spends much of his time in local nature spots, and, he said, “Hill kids rarely get to go out and enjoy them.”

The course was set up so that students took three hikes weekly. Mr. Nelson explained that students were broken into groups and assigned an area each week.

After that, a leader researched the area and then guided their group on a hike.

The students got to know the area on a deeper level than what just meets the eye.

“Introduction to Fly Fishing,” taught

by Karl Mellander, was an immersive course that taught students everything

they needed to know about fly fishing.

The course started with the history and background of fly fishing, and after that students had the opportunity to learn and try it out themselves. Students began by learning the skills needed for fishing on the quad; shortly after, they took their skills to the Dell. The class was extremely successful and collectively caught 85 fish from the Dell throughout H-Term.

Jesse Corser-James ‘23 signed up for this course as soon as he read the course description. Corser-James said that students like him will benefit from taking this course because there might be something they’ve never experienced before.

He also said that the thought of getting to go outdoors for a class seemed awesome to him.“Sitting in a class all day can get boring, but going outside would be a new adventure each day,” Corser-James said.

“Upcycling” with Vanessa Giannikas was another hands-on class in which students were able to turn old clothes and other materials into something new.

Students were instructed to bring things from home that they no longer use, and the class also had the chance to go to Liberty Thrift to find things that they could make new.

Giannikas gave the students ideas, but the projects were totally up to them.

It really gave the students a chance to use their creativity while also getting guidance from an expert. Elle Molyneaux ‘23 took this class and loved being able to use her creativity. “Everyone in our class takes it seriously and has created some really amazing things out of old clothes,” Molyneaux said. Giannikas hopes to offer this course next year so that students can keep making things they love.

“Up Close & Personal: Connecting with Pottstown Nonprofits & Businesses” with Cathy Skitko immersed students into the places and people of Pottstown.

The group visited a variety of organizations that help make Pottstown a great place to live. Meeting the people behind all of these organizations gave the students a much better look at the town that they live in.

Along with visiting non-profits, the students also visited local small businesses where they were able to learn the history and entrepreneurship in Pottstown.

This course was a great way for students to connect with Hill’s shared hometown.

Sam Cifra ‘23 took this course and truly benefited from learning about these organizations. “This class really taught me about our community and allowed our class to connect with many small businesses and nonprofits,” Cifra said.

Hill continues to combat new COVID-19 variant Continued from Front Page Baum and Lehman state that they will “carefully monitor COVID-19 developments and booster shots will be the best defense against” the Omicron variant.

The FDA has now approved the booster shot for ages 12-15, so now more students who have been vaccinated for five months may get it.

Lehman stated, “Our students and employees are both 98% vaccinated with either two shots of MRNA or one shot of Johnson & Johnson. We now have a February 1 booster requirement for all students and employees.”

Responding to the new booster shot age announcement from the FDA, Baum said, “That opens up a lot of students to be boosted either on campus or over the break. I think our two shot vaccination rate is the highest it has been, but we have a ways to go to get our community fully vaccinated in terms of two shots plus a booster up to that same level.”

Regarding booster shots, Diwale stated, “As a day student, I feel grateful that I

have a much better access to many clinics.”

As the winter term is starting, many students will be joining classes online due to a variety of reasons. Many face late campus arrival as a result of positive COVID results or delays with travel and COVID testing. Nhi Nguyen ’24 will be participating in her first week of classes virtually due to harsh weather that caused her initial flight to campus to be canceled.

“I was supposed to arrive on campus on the 4th, but after my flight was canceled I could not find another one until several days later. Until then, I will be staying with a host family in Vermont and joining classes on Zoom. I’m grateful that the school has accommodated those that will not be on campus,” Nguyen said.

Academic Dean Katy Hudak stated in an email that there will be the “use of the OWL cameras” for the students online. Hudak stated that for the in-person students there will be “continued indoor masking and a modified schedule to accommodate buffet lunches.”

Athletics as well as academics at Hill

have new procedures. Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg stated that the new procedures are “masking at all times during the Quiet Period, except for swimmers and wrestlers during active competition, and a more limited spectator policy.” Hill Athletics stated on Instagram that “outside spectators will not be allowed to attend any athletics competitions at Hill until at least January 16.” Students and employees who would like to attend the competitions “must follow very strict seating and masking guidelines or will lose the privilege of attending.” Immediate family members of the students in the competition may only attend if they are “fully vaccinated with a booster shot or can provide a negative test result collected within 24 hours of the event.”

“Overall, I’m proud of the work the school is doing and other parts of the country are doing to try to limit the spread. That way fewer people get sick, fewer people get hospitalized, and fewer people die,” Baum said at the end of the Zoom interview.

PHOTO BY COLE BILOTTA ’23

There were compartments surrounding every inch of the truck; if you had a need for a specific tool, it was on these trucks.

When they are not fighting fires or helping out the community, I learned that they have a lot of down time where they have to find something to do. In Good Will, they have a gym where they can workout. They also have a break room with couches, a TV and a kitchen.

When I asked multiple firefighters what the best part of their job was, they all had similar responses: helping others.

McMullan told me, “The firefighters we got to work with at station 69 were very down-to-earth. Sometimes firehouse culture will start with a form of hazing, but that was not the case. The 69 brothers are people I would want to work with the rest of my life.”

International students spend the holidays at home with family

By JENNIE KI ’23 STAFF WRITER

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Pennsylvania and many other countries, long periods of social isolation and masking have left many people searching for a spark of joy during the holiday season. However, with classes not resuming until January, more and more students planned to go back home for the winter holidays and stay with their families for the extended period.

Ariana Polevshchikova ’23, who is from Russia, spent the winter holidays with her family and friends back in Moscow. After being away from home for the last fall trimester, she was delighted to reunite with her family members and spend the most exciting time of year at home.

Russia is known for celebrating Christmas on Jan. 7, according to the Russian Orthodox Church. The traditional celebration initiates on Christmas Eve with a Сочельник (saCHYELnik) meal, which signifies the end of the prior national fasting period.

“We don’t follow numerous rituals Russians used to do during traditional Christmas. The meal and fasting choices are eclectic, but we still view Christmas as a holiday of love. Therefore, the holidays are a crucial part of our overall culture and national sentiment,” Polevshchikova explained.

“The photo is with my younger brother and my best friends. We used to have a lot of fun every holiday before I came to Hill, but at least I am happy to spend a lot of time with them during the winter holidays,” Polevshchikova said.

Caeli Robinson ‘23, though originally from Hong Kong, wasn’t able to

Ariana Polevshchikova ’23 meets her little brother and friends for a holiday dinner.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARIANA POLEVSHCHIKOVA ’23

see her big family for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Robinson was not returning home this winter break, she recalled memories of the holiday season in her hometown in Hong Kong.

“There are many displays of lights on skyscrapers and fireworks. I used to watch the New Year countdown outside with my friends,” Robinson said. Having meals with all of her family members was her most enjoyable memory. “I love the big meal times with my grandparents and cousins during Christmas holidays. The small talk and jokes across the table delights me,” Robinson said.

This year, Robinson had to stay in the United States due to the elongated quarantine weeks and field hockey practices. Nonetheless, she was still able to meet some of her family members to enjoy the holidays.

“I wanted to go back to Hong Kong to see all my friends, so staying behind in the U.S was very disheartening. However, the fact that I got to spend time with my cousins and grandparents still gave me time to enjoy the holidays with my loved ones,” Robinson exclaimed.

Caeli Robinson ’23 gathers around the table for a big winter meal with all her family members.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAELI ROBINSON ’23

Features

The Hill News | C4

January 10, 2022

Hobart’s Run aims to restore Pottstown Pride: how The Hill School plays a role in its neighborhood

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 STAFF WRITER

Foster inclusivity, provide incentives for home ownership and property pride, and generate quality business development: this is what Hobart’s Run does for the Pottstown community. Established in 2016 as a nonprofit launched by The Hill School, the organization focuses on a 900-parcel area to revitalize the neighborhood. It began with a 600-parcel area that focused on Queen Street in the south; N. Adams in the west; Beech, Grant, and Jackson in the north; and Keim Street.

They then added N. Washington Street in July 2020, expanding their focus area.

Hobart’s Run works with students who attend The Hill School on events to uplift the community. One of the most recent events was the community day of service. On Dec. 1, The Hill School and Hobart’s Run came together to have a day of service in Pottstown. “This was a way for Hill students to truly learn about the town that

they are in,” said Twila Fisher, the director of community and economic development for Hobart’s Run. The Hobart’s Run staff was excited to get students together to do this, but it was not easy preparing such a huge event.

Gathering the entire school together to do such a thing was a project on its own, as there was not a predetermined way to do school-wide community service. “During the summer we were trying to come up with dates to hold this. Having it in the winter was a bit of a concern, but we are so delighted with the way it turned out,” Fisher stated.

The plan was to get Hill students into Pottstown while doing something beneficial for the borough as well. “Many of the students only knew a small part of town such as Wawa, Dunkin, and the other fast food restaurants down on High St. We wanted to show them that there is more to Pottstown than

Stephanie Trauner (left), Twila Fisher (center), and Cathy Skitko (right) stand outside of Hobart’s Run’s office in Pottstown.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY SKITKO

they think,” Fisher said.

When planning this day of service, the Hobart’s Run staff called around to Pottstown businesses to see what they needed done. Cathy Skitko, director of communications for Hobart’s Run, said, “The businesses were so happy. We asked around to figure out what they needed help with and sent students to fulfill these duties.”

Something as simple as dusting made a difference.

The Hill School hails students from 31 states and 31 countries, but something about

being from Pottstown truly touched the heart of Belle DiCampello ‘24, a Pottstown day student: “I went out with the girls indoor track team and picked up trash around the Hobart’s Run office. As a day student, seeing my friends from across the country help clean and care for the town I live in was heartwarming. Although Pottstown may not be their home, they treat it with utmost respect.”

Hill students were seen around Pottstown by many community members, and

Monica D. Henderson happened to be one of them. “I have lived in Pottstown for 14 years now, and I have always had such pride living here. Seeing so many young people do things to make this neighborhood even better was incredible. I truly feel Hobart’s Run is Godsent.”

Hobart’s Run has an “adopt a trash can” program where residents who live outside of the focus area can help keep their street litter free. They can request to get a durable Hobart’s Run branded trash can to show their collaboration and support for Hobart’s Run. “My family and I recently adopted a Hobart’s Run trash can, and it encourages people to throw away their trash rather than litter,” Henderson said.

Besides holding events such as street cleanups, the organization has also received grants to keep the neighborhood in good standing. According to the website, in the spring of 2019, Hobart’s Run received a $100,000 Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development Multi-Modal Grant and

a $37,000 pledge from The Hill School to improve street lighting, repair deteriorated side walks, and raise awareness by integrating “Share the Road” safety markings down on Beech St. The new street lights can be seen across the street from the Ricketts Center, a community center where many Pottstown children and families hang out.

Security cameras have also been installed at the Ricketts Center and on many other streets in the Borough of Pottstown to keep the area safe.

Hobart’s Run hopes to continue to work directly with Hill students through clubs like Pottstown CARES and the Hobart’s Run club. Students in the Hobart’s Run club are planning to hold business events with Hill students and local businesses soon. Students can get involved by becoming a part of these clubs or by visiting the Hobart’s Run office at 701-703 E. High St in Pottstown, located off campus directly behind the Lehman’s residence. For more information, contact Skitko or Fisher.

Guardians of Beech Street — a spotlight on Hill security

By JASON ZHOU ’23, COLE BILOTTA ’23, LUKE RASMUSSEN ’23 STAFF WRITERS

The radio rang; he switched the channel on his walkie-talkie and pulled up the zip of his jacket. Driving through campus with a golf cart, he greeted everyone with a big smile. A breeze blew by, the “Hill Security” badge on the back of his jacket stood out dazzlingly. This is a day in the life of a Hill school security team member.

There are many parts of Hill that make students’ dayto-day lives run more smoothly. The security team at Hill is one of those parts that are essential to the way our school runs. They are a huge part of our campus but are often left without the recognition they deserve.

The security team is here to help the students and faculty, and they care deeply about doing their job well. Rodel Magpantay, a new member of the 2nd shift security staff said, “We just wanted you to know that we are here for you. Especially you guys like students and the faculty, anything that you need. You can just call us.

Any problems just call us personally. That’s alright. We’ll try our best to help you.”

Magpantay is especially passionate about his job. He wants to make sure everything runs smoothly and things are done to his best. He said, “I’m a very religious man. So I prayed to God, you know, to guide me throughout the day, to be safe all the time. And I could do my job really well.”

During Halloween, the security team also had fun. Magpantay shared that the second shift supervisor Tom Butler pranked his colleagues and wrapped the security golf carts with caution tape. “Our work is not always serious, sometimes we tease each other as well,” Magpantay said.

Magpantay’s favorite thing about working here is the peo-

ple he is surrounded by. “It’s like working with you guys [students]. Because I am a kid at heart. I love working and talking to people. So yeah, the thing I really love about here is the diversity of the people here.

The smiles of you guys.”

The ties of the Hill security team never sever as well.

Second shift supervisor Tom Butler followed his father’s footsteps and Butler continued his legacy at the Hill security team for 35 years. “My dad left me with some big shoes to fill,” Butler said.

“My dad and I always seem to work together. No matter what job he has, I always seem to follow,” Butler shared. He said that back in the days his dad and he used to hang out at Upper School at night. They would keep an eye on things because there were kids from off campus who would just come in and take boomboxes or anything they could get a hold of.

Cherishing these memories, Hill campus is the place

where Butler remained ever since his father retired. With his experiences, Butler explained his standards of a good security member.

He explained that securities staff should be friendly and approachable to everyone. The attitude needs to be right, and they should be able to handle any situation that’s coming their way. “I think it’s important that the faculty members like you to a point where they would call you personally and ask your opinion with things.

That is what I have going on with me to this day,” Butler said.

The team all talked about how much they like working with each other and how they can learn things from each other, even if they have been working in security for decades.

Magpantay said, “They’re pretty cool. I’ve learned a lot from them. Even though I’ve worked in the security field for a long time. I welcome all their suggestions, and I’m still eager to learn a lot from them.” He

A Hill Security car can often be seen parked next to the Music House.

said, “Especially in this kind of setting. This is the first time I work in a school, so it’s new to me.”

The security team ranges from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences. Magpantay said that he had been working in the security field for more than two decades. Director of Security Trish Haas said, “I’m a 25-year law enforcement retiree; I worked for the Sheriff ’s Department for 20 years, retired from there and went to work for the attorney general as a special agent, retired from there, and then came to the Hill School in August.”

The team has lots of different hobbies outside their jobs.

“I love traveling, that’s my passion,” Magpantay said. He also shared that photography and video games were a big part of his life. Moreover, Magpantay and his Filipino family love to do karaoke on his day off.

Although things tend to run pretty smoothly, Magpantay said that there are still a lot of improvements that the security team can make. Specifically, Magpantay said that the team could add more cameras

Security team member Rodel Magpantay (left)

Second Shift Supervisor Tom Butler (right) PHOTOS BY JASON ZHOU ’23

to campus. “I just know that we need to improve more or add more cameras around the campus. For the safety of everybody, I can see that some areas in here are kind of, like, blind.

We don’t have any cameras in here. I don’t like that. For me, it’s a hazard for students, a hazard for your faculty.”

Not only does Magpantay feel like the school can improve their camera systems, but he also feels like they can make other improvements. “We need more reliable security cars. Because, you know, some of our cars are really old. And it really needs some service. And, yeah, we need something that we

PHOTO BY JASON ZHOU ’23

could use on our day-to-day shift. Especially in the winter times coming.”

Next, Haas was interviewed for a greater understanding of the security team at The Hill. She reflected on her co-workers and how they make her job better and easier.

“I heard about the Hill when I worked for the Sheriff ’s Department and we used to come up here. Once a year, they used to do Pottstown cleanup day. So I used to come up here with my sheriff ’s deputies from the Sheriff ’s Department, we used to come up to help the kids from the Hill School go out to the community and help clean up,” Haas said.

Also, Haas takes part in a life outside of when she is working with security. “I’m very active in sports. I like to play sports. I like to ski, bike, ride, run. I have a five-year-old that I’m raising. So spend a lot of time with him,” Haas said.

Other than working as a team, being a part of the security team is very laborious.

“Days are very busy, a lot of paperwork, a lot of putting out fires, as I call them, a lot of things pop up and you just have to deal with it on a day-today basis,” Haas explained.

Haas is very incorporated into the team values that it takes to run a security team. “My guys are good guys. They’re, you know, they’re on the ball.

They care about the kids; they care about the school.”

Features

January 10, 2022

C5 | The Hill News

Recipes of Hill’s faculty families: A Taste of The Hill

By HARLIV SINGH ’23 STAFF WRITER

The eilbergs

In one of Hill’s most popular H-term offerings, Assistant Dean of Students and Day Student Dean Donna Eilberg’s cooking class recently made lumpiang shanghai, which are a type of Filipino egg rolls. This special recipe has been passed down through the Eilberg family. “Filipinos love to eat and serve food at all gatherings - food is a huge part of Filipino culture. Egg rolls are very popular and are almost always one of the foods served,” Mrs. Eilberg shared.

For the past 170 years, Hill’s faculty has played a central role in establishing and continuing many of our school traditions. Faculty families form the heart of our community, link us to our collective past and guide us towards our future. In the kitchens of the Hill, faculty find time to share and continue their own personal, family traditions and recently, I have discovered, when it comes to family recipes, there is a rich collection within the homes and dorms of The Hill.

lumpiang shanghai

Ingredients 2 pkg of super thin wrapper (in the freezer at Asian grocery stores) 3 lbs ground pork 1 head of garlic (or more) minced and finely chopped 2 small cans or 1 large can of water chestnuts- drain & cut in fine cubes 1 cup carrots cut in fine cubes 2 beaten eggs 3 TBS worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper Instructions 1. Combine all ingredients.

2. Place a few tablespoons of filling on one end of the wrapper and spread out in a thin row. Tightly roll up like a cigar. Fry on medium heat, seam side down, in a layer of vegetable oil deep enough to come up halfway on the egg roll. Flip once brown, cook the other side, then drain on paper towels.

3. Serve with white vinegar mixed with salt and chile flakes.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

The ecclestons

Growing up, Heidi Eccleston, associate dean of students, moved every three years, typically in the summertime. “While the move was being completed, my brother and I would spend time with my Italian immigrant grandparents and cousins who all lived on the same property. Family mealtime at my grandparents, who owned a grocery store, extended to my grandparents’ many siblings and their children, as well as the customers who were shopping in the store, so there was much commotion at the table. However, the best part was making the homemade Italian eats and treats, from gnocchi (my favorite) to warm pizzelles. Since gnocchi takes a lot of patience, here is a pizzelle recipe which is said to have originated in the Abruzzo region where my grandparents were born,” Eccelston explained.

Pizelle

The edlemans

George D. Senter Chair in Mathematics Jen Edleman and her husband bonded by cooking together while they dated. They especially got to know one another after meals while washing and cleaning their dishes sans dishwasher. Spicy sausage pasta is one of their “favorite, easy meals” and they have personalized it by adding zucchini and using ground sausage. The recipe is courtesy of kevinandamanda.com.

spicy sausage pizza

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1lb smoked sausage 1.5 cups diced onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, mild ½ cup heavy cream 8 oz penne pasta ½ teaspoon salt and pepper 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded ⅓ cup thinly sliced scallions Instructions 1. Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir.

Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low.

Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.

The nelsons

Senior Master of the Arts Ellen Nelson’s molasses cookies are held very near and dear to her heart, not only because of how delicious they are, but also because of who the recipe came from and how it was transcribed. “Phyllis Little was the wife of the Science Department at The Hill School back in the 1970s & ’80s, and she was a wonderful cook. One day, my mother sent my youngest sister over to the Little’s house [Pine House - where the Eilbergs live now] to ask Mrs. Little for the recipe for her famous molasses cookies. My sister carried over a pen and paper to copy the recipe. When my sister asked Mrs. Little for the recipe, Mrs. Little pointed to the kitchen stool and told my sister to sit. Mrs. Little then proceeded to dictate the recipe from memory. She was the type of cook who had her greatest recipes stored in her head,” Nelson said.

molasses cookies

Ingredients

3 Eggs 1/2 c Sugar 1 1/4 c Flour 1/4 c Oil 3/4 t Baking Powder 2 t Flavor: Typically, anise extract, but all flavors work. My choice is vanilla or lemon.

A pinch of salt Instructions 1. Begin by whisking the three eggs until they begin to thicken. Next add 1/2 c of sugar and whisk for a few minutes.

2. Next, add in the oil (1/4 c) and extract.

3. Whisk in the dry ingredients, flour (1 1/4 c), baking powder (3/4 t) and a pinch of salt.

4. Once the batter is made, preheat the pizzelle maker. Depending on the model, you may or may not need to use cooking spray.

5. Place a tablespoon size of batter in the middle of the pizzelle maker. It typically takes about 45 seconds for the pizzelle to turn a light golden brown.

Ann scrouged this recipe from Mrs. Little. They really are worth her effort: the cookies are slim and chewy. I’ve ever frozen rolls of the dough for future use, because this recipe makes a lot of cookies.

In Ann’s words from Mrs. Little’s mouth: 1. Melt 1 lb oleo in large pot (you did write “oleo”, Ann!) 2. Mix together: 5 cups of sugar, 3 tsp cinnamon, 3 tsp cloves. Add to oleo mixture and let cool. Add 2 eggs one at a time and beat in.

3. Dissolve 2 tsp soda in 1/2 cup + 2 tsp water, and add to mix.

4. Add grated rind of 1 orange, 1/2 tsp lemon extract, 1/2 cup molasses. Add 7 cups flour, pinch of baking powder $ salt 5. Mix well. Refrigerate. Roll into rolls. Cut into slim rounds.

6. Bake 10 minutes at 350. Cool a little before removing from pans.

From Southeast Asia to Italy, the recipes above represent a small fraction of the many delicious offerings on campus. As we all head home for the holidays, enjoy your own traditions and buon appetito!

Dear Blue: Friendships that fall apart: How to deal with relationships that end

By ANONYMOUS DEAR BLUE: I have a friend that hasn’t been the nicest to me and claimed to be my best friend! She’s changing a lot, and it’s super upsetting to me to see the friendship end because she’s stopped talking to me.

Any ideas on how to handle this?-- Flustered Friend DEAR FLUSTERED: Unfortunately, as people change over time, it becomes easy for friendships to grow apart. Usually, this happens naturally, as friends mature apart from each other. However other times, this happens as a result of a fight or just a buildup of past tension, leading to the breaking up of a friendship rather than simply growing apart. Although I don’t know the specifics of your situation, I can offer you the following advice:

First and foremost, it is important to know that sometimes it is healthy to take a break before trying to respond to the situation. Let each other cool off. Try and identify what caused this friendship to end. Was it a disagreement or a misunderstanding? Or did someone hurt the other person?

This will impact how you respond to the friendship falling apart. Although it may seem unfathomable to many to not attempt to repair the friendship, you do also have the option to let it go. Reflect upon the details of your situation and see which option seems most appropriate. It’s really up to you.

1. Leave it alone: If the other friend has responded by hurting you and just ignoring you, as you say, then maybe it’s time to reconsider the friendship. I understand it is hard to think

of permanently ending a friendship; but if they have changed as much as you say and they are no longer respecting you, then maybe it’s best to leave it alone.

Moreover, it is important to note if they are choosing to ignore you for a long period of time, rather than even attempting to approach you about it. If they don’t care enough to even attempt to fix the friendship, how good of a friend are you losing?

Don’t focus on your past with them, but instead see who they are slowly becoming and decide if that is a person with whom you really want to be friends, especially in your case in which you say they are changing quite a bit.

2. Attempt to fix: I don’t have all of the specifics, so truly how you choose to respond is solely up to you and your unique situation.

If you genuinely value this

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE CHI ’23

friendship, try to approach your friend and have a calm discussion about it. Don’t just unjustly take all of the blame for the sake of the friendship, but talk it out. If they don’t maturely address this, however, and contin-

ue to ignore and disrespect you, it may be time to leave it alone.

It’s always horrible when friendships fail or break apart, so I wish you and all others undergoing this strength and support. Know

that just because one friendship didn’t work out, despite its former significance, this does not mean that all hope is lost. Surely, you will find someone who respects you and reaches out during disagreements.

Opinion

The Hill News | D6

January 10, 2022

New laws restrict cram schools and could alter their effectiveness

By DAPHNE WONG ’24 STAFF WRITER

Cram schools have been an integral part of the Chinese education system for a long while; they are designed to cram students with intensive class/test materials and to prepare them to get better exam grades as college admission exams are the only selection criteria.

According to ABC News and SCMP, around 75 percent of Chinese students attended intensive tutoring on a regular basis before new tutoring restrictions were put in place earlier this school year.

Parents would spend far more than a month’s salary on tutoring, which is an average of 120,000 yuan (U.S. $17,400) a year; 10,000 yuan (U.S. $1,450) a month. Take GaoKao (the Chinese college admission exam) as an example: all students would drill on past papers and practice as many questions as they could prior to the exam. There are some extreme cases where elite schools tried to finish teaching the exam syllabus by junior year so that students could spend the entire senior year only studying and practicing by doing test papers.

It is common knowledge that the more you stand out (positively speaking), the more likely you’re going to be admitted to a “better” college or get better opportunities. Hence, the “first bar” to college would be the GaoKao. With the aid of tutoring, more students are able to “beat the bar,” thus defeating the initial purpose of the examination: to assess academic competence amongst students. Ironically, the bar will

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

be raised even higher, resulting in the examination getting harder and harder. Eventually students will have to study even harder just trying to catch up with the rising bar. In the opinion of a retired Shanghai high school teacher Ms. Kan, who asked to be identified solely by her surname, “The difficulty of GaoKao differs amongst provinces, which puts additional pressure on students making the entire process harder and more stressful.”

Students have long com-

plained about the cruelty of admission exams, and some even blamed the alarmingly low birth rate as one major consequence of tough admission exams. The term “inward spiral of involution” was created in Chinese to describe the reality of increasing competition where there is diminishing reward despite additional efforts or input.

In hopes to put an end to this vicious cycle and to promote a healthier school life, the Chinese government made the executive

decision earlier this year to ban tutoring schools.

I believe that this decision cannot do much. The demand for tutoring remains unchanged, college admission is still highly competitive due to the limited space at top universities. Without external aid, children with more educated/ experienced parents will have an unrivaled advantage over their peers. This might damage the upward mobility for underprivileged children and end up with even more severe social injustices.

Now, instead of competing simply on exam scores, admission officers will resort to extra curricular activities – sports, arts etc. – as selection criteria for applicants. This might just encourage the students to participate in these activities just to fulfill their primary objective: enriching their CV. This differentiates them from those who are truly passionate or have better abilities. Overall, these aspects of applications are far more subjective and might even result in more opportunities for

bribery and corruption. Just take the United States as an example: some desperate parents cut corners just to get their children to their dream schools. That is why no matter how many complaints Chinese parents might have on college exams, they still see it as the most transparent and fair method.

Another intention of the government was to create a more fair and level playing field for all students, so that students whose families can afford tutoring no longer have a significant advantage. It is naive to believe such, mainly because there are too many loopholes around this.

Simple economic theory applies: if there is demand, there will be supply with a given price. A lot of tutors and practitioners are carrying out private or online tutoring classes that don’t require a license or official permission. This “underground’’ private tutoring ring created is inevitable, and many students still participate. Private tutoring costs way more than “class/group-styled tutoring” that would occur in learning centers previously; by logic, the wealthy would be the ones taking advantage of it. In a brief conversation I had with my cousin Celine Chen last week, she mentioned that her parents now pay her tutors in cash to avoid “suspicious bank activity” and “despite E-Payment and mobile transactions taking over China, cash still comes in handy, especially at times like this.”

Even though the new policy was carried out with a sound intention for this generation of students, does it really successfully accomplish its objectives? I don’t think so.

Proposing a different kind of cultural revolution: confronting gun violence

By CORBIN CARTAGINE ’23 STAFF WRITER

The American citizen is forced to ponder a multitude of issues such as an insufficient health care system, an educational system that consistently leaves children behind, and, chief of all, an epidemic of gun violence that has taken the lives of many. This epidemic of senseless violence has only worsened in recent years.

To reduce an issue such as gun violence to aggregates and averages is rather difficult; however, the numbers depict the clear message that this is an issue that, if left

unbridled, will only prove to be cancerous in nature. According to a recent article by CNN, “At least nine major cities have broken their previous annual homicide records with about three weeks left to go in 2021.” These cities include Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Nashville, Louisville and multiple others. The majority of large cities within the United States have seen an increase in homicides since 2019. Furthermore, the FBI reported a 30% increase in homicides between 2019 and 2020.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE CHI ’23

These tragedies have consistently plagued impoverished and disenfranchised communities as well.

There is no singular factor contributing to the increase in gun violence. Many attribute it to spikes in firearm sales. The logical train provided is that an increase in firearm sales inevitably leads to an increase in gun-related violence. Others attribute the increase in homicides to a divide between law enforcement and disenfranchised communities due to the evident racial targeting of African Americans by the police. Many argue that this divide has led to decreased interaction between law enforcement and disenfranchised communities.

This decreased interaction has led to a corresponding increase in gun-related homicides. Last but not least, many argue that the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an overwhelming burden on law enforcement, causing an increase in gun-related homicides. There is no singular factor that has led to this widespread issue, but the issue must be solved nonetheless.

While it is important to talk about these issues, we must also attempt to actively solve them.

There may not be a singular solution; however, we must utilize our resources to mitigate the harms of this epidemic of violence within our culture. Our acknowledgement is not enough.

We must actively attempt to solve the issue. As acclaimed sociologist Dashanne Stokes said, “Thoughts and prayers won’t stop a speeding bullet.”

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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.

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Arts & Leisure

January 10, 2021

E7 | The Hill News

Community members gather to celebrate Hill’s Christmas Festival

By OLIVIA MOFUS ’22 CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Alumni Chapel was decorated with Christmas ornaments and wreaths. The ceremony commenced with a solo by Johnny Dai ’22, who performed “Ave Maria” on the cello. Then, for a moment, the lights dimmed to display the glow of candles strewn along the pews. This was the scene as members of the Hill community gathered in the Chapel to take part in Hill’s Christmas Festival on Dec. 15, 2021.

Designed by students in the Hill Christmas Festival H-Term course, this year’s Christmas Festival was enriched by an updated format and increased student involvement.

“Because it is an H-Term class, the students had a lot to say in what was going to be a part of the service and how it was going to look,” Yoon Soo Lim, Oaklawn-Tuttle director of vocal music, said. “If you look at the program and compare it to what we’ve had in the past, it has an updated look in the way that it’s

Hill students lead the Christmas Festival procession in the CFTA.

going to feel.”

One noticeable change was the widened scope of languages spoken at the ceremony.

“We’re actually featuring four different languages as well as En-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH BENDER/HILL SNAPSHOTS

glish. So we have Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, and Dutch. Four individuals will read in those languages, and that’s going to be translated into English so the congregation will be able to hear

Bible scriptures in different languages,” Lim said.

Kyle Murray ’22 recited “The Story of Mary” in Spanish, which was then re-read in English.

In addition to the inclusion

of different languages, there were also many soloists and small groups who were singing songs.

In a word, Clarie Wang ’24 described the night as “inspiring,” saying that the ceremony “really brought me into the holy moment.”

Parents too were moved by the Christmas Festival’s inclusiveness and cheer. “We enjoyed hearing the different languages being spoken, and the choir was beautiful,” Todd and Stephanie Timbrook, parents of Paige Timbrook ’22 and Madison Timbrook ’23, stated in a text. “We also think it really put everyone in the holiday cheer.”

Since this ceremony was designed and executed with a lot of student involvement, the fate of future Christmas ceremonies at Hill rests much in students’ hands. Lim believes that Hill students will continue to care about this tradition.

“When this course was designed, it was like, ‘We’ll see if this Christmas tradition will continue if students really feel like this.”

Is “A Deeper Understanding” a classic in the making?

By GUSTAVO CARDENAS ’24 STAFF WRITER

The War on Drugs is a genre-defying band. On “A Deeper Understanding,” the band incorporated many layers and blends of psychedelia and indie pop, with influences like Talk Talk’s famous “Laughing Stock” and Tom Petty’s “Full Moon Forever” shining through fiercely on the influence and production of the album. On “Lost in the Dream,” the band worked well to balance the psychedelia part of the sound with the country part of the project. Which Is why “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” was a shock to listen to: almost all elements of psychedelia are gone, and the indie part of their sound seems to have faded also.

“I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” for many obvious reasons, is a very different sounding album for the band. A lot of the sound weighs more to the side of the sound of country and Americana of heartland rock rather than the indie and psychedelic sound we have seen in their past projects.

A lot of the songs are centered around acoustics, and the band seems to have dropped a lot of the

psychedelic touches of their music. The War on Drugs has been known to have a lot of country and acoustics in the mix, so it’s no surprise to see this sound once again in their music – the surprise is to see it shine this loud.

This type of sound had sort of always been in the background of the band and had stayed as more of an extra element with the indie and psychedelia shining bright on the front row; now the roles are reversed.

We also see a big change in Adam Granduciel’s vocals. Unlike past projects where we had experienced Granduciel giving a more soothing and background-like singing, we now get more upfront and loud vocals. “Living Proof ” shows us how the entire song is centered around the lyrics and singing from Granduciel, as is the case with a lot of songs on the album.

Previously, the vocals tended to stay in the background, and the singing added to the atmosphere rather than being a focal point; it was more of a part of the instrumentation. We now witness

This is the “A Deeper Understanding” album cover.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATLANTIC RECORDS

Granduciel really putting himself out there front and center as he sings in a more confident way.

However, he has a long way to go if he wants to continue singing this way. There are a lot of moments where I wish he would’ve been louder, quieter, or added more variations to his singing on a chorus or verse, but he doesn’t. His singing manages to stay on the same volume and the same flow throughout the entire album, which I find ironic as he is supposed to be more out there and abrasive with this new style of singing. If he would’ve added more volume and diversity to his singing, it wouldn’t be so flat as it is sometimes. “Victim” shows how much potential a song would’ve had if he would’ve simply added more complexity or volume to his singing, instead the song manages to stay flat and even repetitive sometimes.

The mixing used in this album is weird. With the new style of singing by Granduciel, and the different sounds and genres they are experimenting with, the band is forced to find an alternative on the production side of things.

The mixing really brings out Granduciel’s voice both in a negative and positive way. Although the effort to bring out the vocals is appreciated, the way in which it’s done leaves something to be desired. At times, Granduciel’s voice sounds tinny, as if coming through a drive-through speaker.

The song “Old Skin” gives us a perfect example of this. Although “Old Skin” is a great song, I have a tough time listening to it due to the unusual vocal sound. The same goes for “Wasted” and many other songs on the record—good songs ruined by production issues.

It is good to see the War on Drugs experimenting with their sound. Although some of these tracks miss the mark, I’m not dissatisfied with the album. It was high time they tried something new, and, while it won’t go down as an all-time-great, “A Deeper Understanding” is still a pretty good project.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” drew millions of viewers to theaters.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY

Which web-slinger swings supreme: Tobey, Andrew, or Tom?

By LUKE GERDEMAN ’23 STAFF WRITER

Like many others, I have been revisiting the different cinematic interpretations of Peter Parker in preparation for “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The famed web-slinger has had his fair share of franchises and sequels, and now seems like the perfect opportunity to compare and contrast these actor’s portrayals before Tom Holland’s third outing.

In my honest opinion, Tobey Maguire stands as the most comic-accurate depiction of Spider-Man. In short, he’s a downtrodden nerd who faces countless struggles because of his choice to be the masked vigilante. His life is a nightmare, and he consistently deals with criticism from his friends and Aunt May. This is the responsibility that comes with his “great power.” Sam Raimi, the director of the first trilogy, imbues each of these films with a “camp” tone that fits the Spider-Man mythos so well. Of course, there are a few aspects of these films that don’t necessarily age well. Webs literally come out of Maguire’s wrists.

The next incarnation of the hero is Andrew Garfield from the “Amazing Spider-Man” films. Garfield is an incredibly talented performer (just watch “Tick, Tick…

BOOM!”), but it’s pretty clear he wasn’t given much to work with in this series. The first film is mediocre, with the one bright spot being Garfield’s noticeable chemistry with co-star Emma Stone.

Where “The Amazing Spider-Man” franchise truly fails is in its sequel.

Sony, the studio responsible, was so dead set on this film leading to spinoffs and other sequels that they introduced way too many storylines and characters for one film.

It’s so focused on future storylines that the actual film just feels under-developed.

In contrast to Garfield, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man series is the only one to successfully pull off an interconnected franchise. For the first time, audiences were able to see their favorite wall-crawler team up with the Avengers and deal with events inside the well-known Marvel Cinematic Universe. The director, Jon Watts, took steps in the story process to make sure the narrative felt fresh and different from the other two incarnations.

He doesn’t show Spider-Man’s origin because he assumes the audience is already familiar with it. However, it’s not all good. The main issue with Holland’s films is that they are a little too dependent on the character of Tony Stark for a lot of Parker’s characterization.

He creates Spider-Man’s suit and is the driving narrative force for both “Homecoming” and “Far From Home.”

Despite their differences, these portrayals of Spider-Man all have their own strengths and fanbases.

Hopefully “No Way Home” will take the web-slinger’s cinematic legacy in a new direction.

Sports

The Hill News | F8

January 10, 2021

Hill girls JV ice hockey team piques a lot Wrestling at Hill plans on defending their of interest this winter titles this season

By JOEY ASTERINO ’23 & COLE BILOTTA ’23 STAFF WRITERS

This school year, a growing number of girls had interest in playing hockey. The initial girls interested in playing JV weren’t sure it was possible. As others signed up, there was a wide variety of skill levels, so the team wasn’t sure it was going to be realistic.

Soph Coan ’22, assistant captain of the JV girls ice hockey team, said that she was inspired to play hockey by talking to her roommate, Molly Riggi, assistant captain of the varsity girls ice hockey team.

Coan took her dream of playing hockey and made it a reality when she went to talk to the athletic department. She said, “We met

with Ms. Gaitan and Mr. Notebaert; they asked us questions, and I told them we couldn’t skate, but we were eager to learn with a good attitude.”

However, with anything that is good comes a little bit of struggle.

Girls JV hockey has had no shortage of obstacles so far this season.

Coan said, “Due to the fact that the majority of us have never skated, or even stepped on a rink, it was quite entertaining yet frustrating to learn how to get the basics of hockey down.”

Sam Cifra ’23, a member of the JV ice hockey team, said that none of the girls have played hock-

Hill girls JV ice hockey team poses after an away game.

PHOTO BY SAM CIFRA ’23

ey before. “The major challenge the team faced was skating,” Cifra said. Despite the challenges before them, Cifra continued, “I will play next year.”

JV girls coach Samantha Walther said, “A challenge that the team has greatly overcome is their ability to persevere through the difficulty of learning how to skate. All of our brand-new players have made such great progress this season, despite how challenging I know skating can be. It has been extremely rewarding to watch.”

Walther has maintained a wonderful attitude towards the program and the players. “I wish we could stay out for hours at a time to keep playing and learning,” she continued.

The general pulse of the JV team is very ambitious. According to Cifra, the team is a “great group of girls, and is a lot of fun.” She concluded by saying, “It is always good to learn something new and try something you haven’t done before.”

Although most of the players impulsively decided to hit this ice this winter, they are pleased with their decision. The idea originated when “someone brought the idea up and it spiraled from there,” Cifra said.

Kelvin Griffin ‘22 looks for the fall during an Oct. 10 competition.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KADE DAVIDHEISER ’23

By KADE DAVIDHEISER ’23 STAFF WRITER

The Hill wrestling team started the year ranked eighth in the country among all prep teams. They have returned four of five last year’s National Prep All Americans, including Hunter Sloan ’23, who placed fourth last year at 106 pounds; Kade Davidheiser ’23, who placed first at 113 pounds; Kelvin Griffin ’22, who placed second

at 138 pounds; and Colby Isabelle ’23 who placed fifth at 160 pounds.

Luke Cawley ’22 said he was “looking forward to seeing how the team pans out as the year goes on. See how much better we get. We have a lot of new kids this year, and I just would like to see how everything works out.

Things are gonna be fun.”

As a whole, the team, similar to most at Hill, lost a season last winter. However, some had to make the decision to go remote to keep attending tournaments. As a team, they have not competed together in two years.

Cawley said, “I don’t really think it affected the team that much.

We had a lot of new kids come in; we went from not competing to being back in full swing, and a lot of people didn’t experience that.”

Kelvin Griffin ’22, who participated in remote schooling at Hill last year, said, “Personally, I didn’t miss a ton of competition last year. I left campus; but, as a team, I feel like it makes kids a little more excited to use the opportunities they missed out on last year.”

Robert Pavlek ’25 said, “There will probably be a lot of bonding with the team this year.

I think we have a really good chance of placing highly this year and doing well.”

Overall, the team is competing in a lot of high-level tournaments this winter in hopes of finishing well. Despite the year off, they are more than prepared to have another successful season.

Behind-the-scenes work proves vital for success in Hill athletics

By AUGUSTUS GERHART ’23 & CADEN OLENCZAK ’23 STAFF WRITERS

When students think about football’s victory over Lawrenceville, everyone thinks of rushing the fields and no one thinks of who washes the uniforms, tapes the athletes, or maintains the facilities.

These days are neither light nor easy, and the work never stops mounting up for Brian Artim, the equipment room manager.

Brian Artim is responsible for maintaining the image of Hill during athletic events.

This means cleaning all the uniforms, practice gear, and any other Hill-issued athletic equipment.

Artim spoke on the workload of having to clean every team’s uniforms, especially after a busy weekend of games: “It’s totally non-stop because I come into piles and piles of uniforms, which, with only having two washers, two dryers, takes me all day.”

Artim works hard to keep Hill’s athletes looking great in their respective uniforms -- a process that is long and

tedious but vital to the teams’ success.

With ice hockey and the school’s own rink being such a large piece of Hill athletics, the maintenance of said rink is a large operation as well.

Simply getting the ice down is a monumental task.

“So it’s a long process.

Obviously, we have to start the refrigeration system up.

So it freezes 24 hours, it’s frozen solid and we start layering the water. We put multiple layers of water down, and then we paint white and then put a little bit more water down to install the lines and logos and put a bunch more water down until we have it skateable,” Athletics Facilities Manager Bill Swartz said.

Swartz continued by saying, “Obviously running the Zamboni is a big part of the operation. Also keeping the ice temperature the same, you know, which is difficult with the outside temperatures.”

Another key aspect of Hill’s athletics program is their trainers. With injuries

Hill’s athletic trainers are stocked and ready to treat injured athletes.

being inevitable during a long season, having a seasoned staff there for support is key.

“I believe this is going into my ninth year now,” said Chris McGuigan, the assistant athletic trainer. McGuigan, who departed Hill in December to take a new job as an athletic trainer in an industrial setting, was charged with the task of keeping athletes healthy or rehabbing them to get back to their sports.

Athletic trainers are on the front lines of keeping Hill’s athletes safe and able to play. “I would probably say that we do more than just taping ankles. So I always try to think of us as kind of like a physical therapist and the EMT squished together,” McGuigan said. “So we’re here for stuff as it happens on the field, whether that’s an emergency or just the first time you’ve rolled your ankle, and we’re here the day you get back out onto the field.”

McGuigan continued, “It can be a common misconception that athletic trainers are just getting water and taping

PHOTO BY EMILIE KIRSCHNER ’23

Brian Artim is responsible for maintaining uniforms and athletic gear.

ankles.” He explained that the trainers are also responsible for guiding athletes through the healing process by “carrying out rehab, making sure you’re evaluated at full strength, full motion, you’re able to do everything, before getting back out there.”

Head Athletic Trainer Stephanie Schaldonat commented on the work McGuigan contributed to the

Hill community. “Mr. McGuigan has delivered the highest level of care to countless student-athletes. From the most minor injuries and giving advice to some very serious injuries and some emergencies, he has always remained professional, thorough and level-headed. I will miss working with him, and have really enjoyed his sense of humor. I wish him the

The facilities management team sets the rink up for the 2021 ice hockey season.

PHOTO BY PETER GALINDEZ ’23

best of luck and know he will do an outstanding job in his new role, just as he has done at Hill.”

Whether it’s a fresh pair of shorts, a clean sheet of ice, or a healed injury, Hill is working constantly to ensure that its athletes are always fully equipped and prepared to be successful in their sports seasons.

PHOTO BY JESSE CORSER-JAMES ’23