Issue 5

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

Volume CXVIII, NO. 2 Volume CXIX, NO.2 VOLUME CXIX, NO.5

March 5, 2021

h-term: a three month Hiatus Smeena Gill ’24 enjoys time with family.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SMEENA GILL ’24

Hill boys hockey poses for a team photo during LRP. PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN PARKER ’21

Amanda Hudak ’24 bakes cookies. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA HUDAK ’24

Josh Painter ’24 plays soccer for his club team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH PAINTER ’24

Timmy Woodward ’24 plays squash in the LRP. PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMMY WOODWARD ’24

Mia Keane ‘22 receives the COVID-19 vaccine.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIA KEANE ’22

Our plane for quarantine in Singapore from Shanghai.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMER JIN ‘23

Elle Lagor ‘21 works as a ski instructor in Lake Placid, N.Y. PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLE LAGOR ’21 Soph Coan ’22 goes snowboarding.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPH COAN ’22

Students arrive on campus for the first day of the quiet period .PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAIRE HARTEMINK ‘21

Jason Zhou ‘23 spent his H-Term coaching children’s soccer. PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON ZHOU ’23

Derek Schmaeling ’21 holds a goat. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEREK SCHMAELING ’21

Hill girls hockey celebrates senior day. PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA WEISS ’21

MoniYah Person-Henderson ’23 goes ice skating with friends.

COURTESY OF MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23

PHOTOS SOURCED BY ANNA CARROLL ‘23 AND DIEMMY DANG ‘24

How do we return to campus after months of political unrest and record-breaking COVID-19 cases?

By BELLA BASILE ’21 STAFF WRITER

With great unrest in the world, there is no doubt that the last few months have made it more difficult to be physically separated as a school community. Between the Capitol insurrection, President Joe Biden’s inauguration, record-breaking COVID-19 cases and months of political unrest, what is it going to be like as students flock back to campus? How do we return, and what should we expect?

Students will return to school in the spring in a similar manner to how the Hill community returned in the fall -- still in the midst of a pandemic and in the aftermath of

more political unrest. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rev. Kristi Adams offered her thoughts on the upcoming spring term and how the DEI Committee plans on moving forward.

“Though we live in a tight community here at Hill, we would be remiss if we ignored the reality that what happens in larger society and the world does affect us as individual citizens and human beings,” Adams said. “Our focus right now is getting our students and employees back safely and in good health, but we are also aware that these issues will need to be addressed in various spaces when the time is right to do so.”

According to the Co-Pres-

ident of DEI, Naomi Ude ’21, students should expect many exciting events and speakers in the spring specifically centered around the voices of women of color. Ude stated, “As we approach this spring, the DEI is focused on amplifying the voices of those silenced.

There are so many stories to be shared and lessons to be learned.”

This amplification of unheard voices echoes the sentiment shared to the Hill community on Jan. 6 by Headmaster Zachary Lehman, who wrote of healing as a country, as a school, and as individuals.

Dean of Students Ari Baum said, “I think Mr. Lehman’s messages to the Hill community throughout

H-term are good reference points for the school’s perspective regarding the political unrest and events that occurred when we were away. There is a spectrum politically, and boundaries, which we must hold one another accountable for, including any disrespectful discourse or actions, just as previous years before. As Dean of Students, I look forward to being back on campus and living that vision of a pluralistic society within the appropriate boundaries for discourse, together in person.”

When asked about their thoughts or any plans for the upcoming spring term, SGA Co-presidents Sasjha Mayfield ’21 and Andrew Chirieleison ’21 issued this joint statement:

Students receive 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Students return from quarantine around the world

This year, four Hill students, Jasmine Wang ’23, Yoseph Kim ’22, Chloe Han ’22, and Adelyn Sim ’24, were recognized regionally for their artwork.

Examining Hill’s international community brings these disparities to light as students travel back to campus from their respective home countries and the restrictions and freedoms that came with it.

Long Journey Back:

LOCAL NEWS | Page B3

“We’re very excited to get back and be together again. And we fully understand that returning to campus after months away means that there will be an adjustment, but we have full confidence that we can all work together once again to ensure the safety and health of our entire community.

Although we are not entirely sure of all the details surrounding this spring, we have no doubt the student body will continue to make the most of our on-campus experience, together.”

Yet, how are the students feeling? Many are feeling overwhelmed, stressed and nervous about returning due to the given COVID-19 circumstances. Lauryn Fudala’ 21

*Editor’s Note: The following is a first-person account from Staff Writer Jason Zhou ’23, written as he traveled to campus from his home in Shanghai amidst the heavy travel regulations dictated by the pandemic.

SPECIAL | Page B4

Contents

Minus the fans; add the masks: Winter sports amidst the pandemic For three of our biggest winter sports, basketball, wrestling and hockey, these changes seemed difficult. Even with those setbacks, these teams managed to have a productive season.

ARTS & LEISURE | Page E7

said, “The thought of having a senior spring really excited me, and 6th formers are in such a transitional period in our lives in terms of high school to college, so I’m trying to live in the present as much as possible.

But it is definitely challenging when stress and anxiety come to my day-to-day life.”

No matter what the circumstances, political or health-related, will be as students arrive back to campus, make sure to check for updates from the SGA, DEI Committee, Student Life Association and The Hill News for updated events, procedures and what students should expect for the spring term.

SPORTS | Page F8

CAMPUS NEWS.............. A2 LOCAL NEWS................... B3 LONG JOURNEY BACK.....B4 OPINION........................... C5 FEATURES........................ D6 ARTS & LEISURE..............E7 SPORTS...............................F8

Discussing Democracy: Should the EU cooperate with China?

OPINION | Page C5

A2 | CAMPUS News

CAMPUS NEWS The Hill News

MARCH 5, 2021

Students and faculty arrange Hill’s admissions plans for upcoming spring term continues in the face of COVID-19, prepares for spring

By PAIGE TIMBROOK ’22 STAFF WRITER

Knowing the spring term at Hill is not going to be the same as previous years, the administration is currently evaluating different options and considering the interests of students in all forms. . According to Katy Hudak, the academic dean, “We have great hope to retain some of these traditions and they will be beautiful no matter what.”

Events such as Parent’s Weekend, Commencement, the Strawberry Festival, yearbook signing and Sixth Form Dance are still in question. Depending on how the spring term unfolds and the condition of Montgomery County in May, these events will either be conducted in the virtual world or on campus with specially adjusted COVID-19 protocols.

Director of Student Life David Hoffman ‘01 explained, “It might not look exactly the way that it has in the past, but we will pull out all the stops when it comes to creatively finding new avenues to make this a fun spring term for our community.”

According to the sixth form SGA representatives, Sasjha Mayfield ‘21 and Andrew Chirieleison ‘21, the Hill School administration is currently in the process of setting up a variety of events: Prom, food trucks, the Dorm Cup and a lot of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events. Throughout the months of March and April, speakers are lined up to discuss topics centered around DEI to all forms.

The first event will be in honor of

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 STAFF WRITER

ILLUSTRATION BY TINA WANG ’22

National Women’s Day on March 8, along with a movie on the quad on the weekend of March 13.

Mayfield stated, “I am most looking forward to the little things, including spring dress for the sixth form and all of the movies on the quad for DEI.” Chirieleison commented, “I am really looking forward to the Strawberry Festival because we missed this last year, in addition to enjoying the warmer weather outside with people.”

With a similar viewpoint, sixth form SGA senator Poppy Otten ‘21 stated, “In the coming spring term, I would really be interested to see what kind of modifications we can make for the Strawberry Festival.” Otten continued, “The spring term symbolizes a lot for the sixth form; these coming months are a very important

time for us and the postgraduates because these are our last few months in high school.”

Other exciting events which students enjoyed throughout the fall term and hope to bring into the spring term include the carnival, the silent disco party, the nail salon, strawberries and chocolate fondue at the Headmaster’s Garden as well as the petting zoo.

“I am hoping the administration will loosen up the restrictions towards the end of the year, and I am excited for more events, especially the petting zoo,” Mary Kate Barnhart ’24 said.

The Hill News will be following and reporting on the development of these much-anticipated spring events as the administration continues to plan the conclusion of the year. Please stay tuned for a dedicated page coming soon to our website.

Evaluating H-term: pro or con?

By SARAH WISNESKI ’21 OPINION WRITER

I genuinely enjoyed taking the course “Recipes for Life” with Assistant Dean of Students and Day Student Dean Donna Eilberg throughout the six weeks of H-Term. Not only was she passionate about helping us to become better cooks, but she also took student input to heart and was supportive regardless of the type of food we chose to prepare.

Two of our cooking classes were led by students, and I had a fun time learning how to make quiche and crepes from my peers. I learned how to make

By CASSIDY BEEDING ’21 OPINION WRITER

Being at Hill last fall, while sometimes hard, was a gift that I know not many students around the world can say that they were given. However, changes to students’ learning forced teachers to adjust their curriculum to accommodate the pandemic’s safety measures. The most glaring error was Hill’s yearly academic schedule.

Despite the obvious challenges that the new schedule presented, students and teachers alike were crammed for time, and, instead of focusing on learning, oftentimes focused on plowing through content.

H-Term, in theory, was a great idea. It was innovative, interesting, and a great way to keep students engaged in the community while away

a variety of entrees and desserts, and learned about different cultures as well.

One of my favorite aspects of the course was our weekly Monday Zoom meeting, during which we talked about the food that we made the previous week. As a result of my participation in “Recipes for Life,” I gained confidence in the kitchen and my love for cooking and baking grew. I hope to be able to find time when I’m in college next year to get in the kitchen and improve upon what I’ve learned!

Aside from cooking, I think H-Term was a unique and successful approach to remote learning. It is great that students had the opportunity to ex-

plore their interests through working, internships, or independent studies.

With normal classes at a pause, H-term allowed me to have flexibility with my schedule. I was able to plan out my week according to what I wanted to accomplish each day, and was able to choose when to do my assigned review work. I was also able to make time for other things I love, such as spending time with family, painting and playing the piano. Although I definitely would have preferred to be in the classroom on campus, I enjoyed and appreciated the new learning experience.

from school. But, where I believe administrators failed and what they failed to consider when planning, was the lasting effects this “break” would have on students’ performance in the classroom. While away from school for three months, there were only 18 days of virtual classes. Other than that, the only way in which students were required to complete school work was in non-graded discussion posts or in College Board review assignments. Put plainly, this was not enough and this lack of instruction will have negative effects on students who have chosen to take a wide variety of APs or even just one.

I know myself and many of my peers feel as though we have lost so much information from the fall.

Moreover, we feel we will struggle in the spring even more so than before.

Students were forced to absorb large

amounts of content-heavy information in a short period of time, and then, after a short break, unload all of it again with precision. After H-Term, this unloading is going to be expected again because our schedule doesn’t give teachers time for review. While I commend this reason and believe H-Term was a genius way to ensure the safety of our community this winter, I wonder at what cost? The Hill School is a school; and, right now, I feel as though my academics -- the reason why I am here -- have taken a backseat.

Hill, please understand that we acknowledge that we are living in unprecedented times and nothing is for sure. As we saw this fall, college applications don’t stop and pressure doesn’t let up for Hill students to be and do their best. I just wonder how we’re supposed to do this when it appears as though we are set up to fail?

Temperature taken, hand sanitizer applied -- now you’re welcomed onto the Hill School campus. As the virus shut many other boarding and day schools in various ways, Hill continued to keep its doors open to allow for not only in-person classes but also in-person tours conducted by faculty members.

“Things have been extremely busy this year … we are one of the only boarding schools that allowed tours,” said Chris Bala ’97, the senior associate director of admissions.

Although student tour guides are currently unavailable to conduct in-person tours, they, including faculty members like Christopher McGriff, the director of the CFTA, and Margie Neiswender, the director of instrumental music, contribute to the admission process by reaching out to prospective students and their families to answer any questions they have.

“Personally, as a tour guide, I really enjoy meeting prospective students and talking about my experience at Hill. Unfortunately, due to COVID this year, we were unable to give tours. However, while prospective students can’t ask questions and talk to the students of the community, we have seen great responses to the postcards and emails. I definitely think this method of reaching out can be more strongly implemented in the future!” Head of Tour Ellie Lee ’21 stated in a text.

“I engage with applicants interested in Hill’s instrumental music. I get to know them through email and Zoom chats, finding out what instrument they play, their ensemble experience and how long they’ve played their instrument,” Neiswender said.

According to Tom Eccleston IV ’87, the assistant headmaster for enrollment management, Hill has received about 1,300 applicants this year. That is a 15% increase in applications. International student

applicant numbers have remained even with last year. Hill, along with the majority of colleges and universities in the United States, has gone test-optional.

“We have had numerous numbers of positive feedback from families on how well we have handled things during the virus, including admission. I am extremely proud of the way our office helped families,” Bala said.

Revisit Day is one way The Hill community interacts with their newly accepted students. It gives prospective students a way to get to know the campus and get familiar with the environment. This year, while Revisit Day might look slightly different, the energy is still high.

“We’ll be doing virtual events again just using a high-end new platform, and we’ll also be offering on-campus tours as we did all fall,” Eccleston said.

“Touring was pretty simple and fun,” said prospective applicant Ellie Macielag from Rock Hall, Md. “I was inspired to go to Hill because of my brother Noah, but also because of the sports team and good community,” she said.

Tamin Kim, a prospective international applicant from South Korea, said that applying was shorter and simpler than he thought. “They asked me questions to get to know me. I met with a very pleasant admission officer, Mrs. Dougherty and a couple of pupils who are studying at The Hill School. Thanks to that, my application was done quite easily!”

Compared to many other boarding schools, Hill was one of the few schools that offered on-campus outdoor tours only. As many applicants await answers, decisions are planned to be announced March 10.

Hill has received about 1,300 applicants this year, a 15% increase. PHOTO BY NOLAN RICHARDS ’21

MARCH 3, 2021

LOCAL NEWS The Hill News

Local NGOs adapt and seek to foster community

By JOJO ZHU ’22 STAFF WRITER

The pandemic has reached all parts of society, including groups dedicated to serving the community.

Whether they support the homeless, the hungry, or underprivileged children, local NGOs continue to persevere and push forward and support their communities when they are needed most.

Working closely with many local NGOs, Amy Lehman, director of partnership programs at Hill, observed: “Many local non-profit organizations in and around Pottstown have faced increased demand since the pandemic began, especially those that serve people living with food insecurity and others that provide shelter or support finding affordable housing.” She also pointed out that, since many volunteers are older, these organizations need to be extra careful about maintaining a safe working space.

The Lessig-Booth Family Residence shelter provided by the Salvation Army of Pottstown is a shelter housing and supporting people through their homeless periods. After gradually bring back the families, they implemented new safety practices. As of now, Wendy Egolf, the director of housing programs at Salvation Army says that safety is still the number one priority.

“Our primary goal continues to be maintaining safety and health for all families and staff members. We also continue to ask questions related to the current health

status of each family member being admitted to the program,” Egolf said. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to change the way we view the safety and function in the family residence,” she continued. They were able to properly deal with two incidents of COVID-19 quickly and constrain any further spread of the virus.

Good Samaritan Services is another NGO that works to address the full spectrum of housing needs in the Pottstown community. According to Richard Baxter, Director of Residential Services at Good Samaritan Services, intakes are what have been impacted most.

“The biggest change we have had to make in our Phoenixville shelter and the transitional program was with intakes. We used to accept people into the program on a rolling basis as space opened up, but now we are only doing 1 intake into the program every 10 days. A new arrival stays in an isolation room for 10 days and then we move them into the general population in the emergency shelter and then begin with a new person,” said Baxter. However, Baxter is still hopeful.

“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our staff and board remained focused on our mission: to serve those experiencing and at risk of homelessness, and to support stability in the lives of those we serve,” said Baxter.

Additionally, Lehman noted that “other organizations, such as those support-

ing youth, have pivoted to online programming. ArtFusion created art kits for pick up and use during online classes and The Foundation for Pottstown Education focused on helping students get computers and WiFi access for remote learning, an effort that was supported by a generous gift through The Hill School.”

The JT Dorsey Foundation, a non-profit aiming to promote youth growth through sports programs, directed more attention to virtual services as well.

“We have not been able to deliver our normal program but are trying to find ways to reach our families in a safe way,” said CEO Julian Dorsey. “We have not really focused on delivering soccer, though we have dropped off soccer balls to kids who want to stay active at home. They use our online curriculum or get on Zoom. We have started to create some online cooking videos that show families how to make low-cost healthy meals and are putting together some family workout videos they can do at home.”

After almost a year following local non-profits’ pandemic responses, Lehman comments on the effect their tenacity has had on the community at large.

“Overall, it has been inspiring to see how many people have stepped up to support non-profits during this crisis because they value the work being done and recognize the increased need.”

B3 | Local News

Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Hudak ’21 Campus News Nari Tung ’21

Features Olivia Mofus ’22

Tess McArdle ’21 Arts & Leisure Mofe Akinyanmi ’21

Local News Philippe Jin ’21

Layout Tiffany Wang ’22

Opinion Raina Shah ’21

Photography & Illustration Claire Hartemink ’21

Multimedia Efi Miller ’21

Sports Tess Gray ’21

Staff Writers & Staff Contributors Bella Basile’21 Cassidy Beeding’21 Lauryn Fudala ’21 Michael Soland ’21 Edward Deng ’21 Nolan Richards ’21 Sarah Wisneski ’21 Andres Arrevalo ’22 Jojo Zhu ’22

Sarah Jiang ’22 Tina Wang ’22 Paige Timbrook’22 Ella Scott ’22 Jason Zhou ’23 Carrie Shang ’23 Nimala Sivakumar ’23 Corbin Cartagine ’23 Luke Gerdeman ’23

Anna Carroll ’23 MoniYah Person-Hender son ’23 Pierce Hart ’23 Ryann Holladay ’24 Diemmy Dang ’24 *Bolded text denotes staff membership

Adviser Ms. Elizabeth DeOrnellas @hillnews

@TheHillNews1

/whatsoever thingsarenews

thehill.news

Want to contribute to The Hill News?

Our weekly meetings are on hold, but you can contact a member of our staff to get involved. To submit a letter to the editors or an opinion piece, email ehudak21@thehill.org or tmcardle21@thehill.org

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.

Students return from quarantine around the world

By SARAH JIANG ’22 STAFF WRITER

As it approaches a year since COVID-19 made its way across the world, the differences in the varying conditions and viral severity in each country, as well as their government’s response, are clear. Examining Hill’s international community brings these disparities to light as students travel back to campus from their respective home countries and the restrictions and freedoms that came with it.

Nigeria had its first case on Feb. 27, 2020, and closely following was its first twoweek lockdown on March 30. During this time, all public-nonessential organizations were shut down, such as movie theaters, street shops or workplaces. While international flights were halted, the government still coordinated evacuations for their citizens back into Nigeria.

Fifth former Olivia Kalu ’22 was one of the many able to return home aboard one of

these evacuation flights.

“Upon arrival, you had to give your passport to the airport authority, get tested and quarantine for two weeks before getting your passport back. You would get your passport back if your result was negative, if positive you were sent to the isolation centers” Kalu said. Today, Nigeria’s peak has passed, allowing public communities and organizations to reopen.

However, this case reduction was only the result of the strict mandates of negative viral tests and stay home quarantining. Now all shops and restaurants require extensive sanitation and health checking. Even so, close to 40% of Nigerians live under the poverty line, and the steep price of testing is still an obstacle for the country. Scientists have recently developed a cheaper and faster COVID-19 test kit that will enable testing to be ramped up and hopefully combat these shortages.

In Turkey, mandated quarantine has been reoccurring since March of last

year when the first case was reported. The public had to abide by a consistent weekend lockdown; and, without a working permit, citizens could not leave their own gated communities. Around April 1, Turkey began monitoring the population more strictly. Travelers quarantined in hotels or even public dorm rooms. To this day, many restaurants have yet to be reopened, leaving contactless delivery to be a widely popularized method for outside dining. To enter larger public areas, it is required to have an app holding a personalized code. “[It] tracks where you have been and if you have been around people with COVID. Everyone at that place within the hour gets notified,” said Lal Yatagan ’21, who was in self-quarantine throughout H-Term before returning to Hill. Today, as the number of new daily cases decreases, larger chain companies such as Starbucks have begun to reopen for the public to enjoy.

Though many restrictions

Hill’s early arrivals used various passports. PHOTO BY CLAIRE HARTEMINK ’21

are still in place, the tourism industry remains relatively open as foreign visitors are exempt from the curfew.

One of the first countries the virus reached was South Korea, with the first case reported on Jan. 20 of last year, but the government was strict from the very start. As a result, the tough upsurge of cases was also quick to subside, and the country has been lauded for its successful containing of the virus. It is the only country among the ones mentioned in this piece to be named in the “moderate” level by the CDC, with Nigeria and Turkey two levels above in “very severe.”

First, arrivals go through a detailed process including a confirmation of a quarantine location. Next, either at home or at a designated hotel, arrivals install a required country-wide app, where everyone fulfills three check-ins per day. Within three days of arrival, the government officials provide a COVID-19 test and the public is notified of any new confirmed cases.

Ellie Lee ’21 was in South Korea under the country’s public restrictions until her return to Hill. “In almost every building / facility you must check-in through an online QR code and get your temperature checks,” Lee said.

“Only five people can meet in one area, and all facilities must close by 9 p.m.” With the country’s mask mandate and tight security, South Korea has been and is now one of the best virally safe countries.

As Lal begins her return to Hill, she is hopeful for a more lenient spring term. “I am really happy Hill decided to take a new approach where it is strict week by week then we can move phases along,” said Yatagan. “As a senior we have had a completely different year than we expected. I think we might have a more normal year with this approach and might even get to have a normal prom or graduation.”

The international students of Hill have experienced different levels of quarantine through their journeys to school or back home. Every experience may have been stricter or looser than the last, but all their experiences reflect global attempts to manage the ongoing pandemic.

B4 | Local News

The Hill News

MARCH 3, 2021

Long journey back: documenting a 16-day return to Hill from Shanghai through Singapore

By JASON ZHOU ’23 STAFF WRITER

*Editor’s Note: The following is a first-person account from Staff Writer Jason Zhou ’23, written as he traveled to campus from his home in Shanghai amidst the heavy travel regulations dictated by the pandemic. A remote student during the fall term, this will be Zhou’s first time back at Hill since last winter. This log was updated consistently on our website throughout his journey and culminated with an Instagram takeover on Feb. 25 as he finally flew into New York. All photos contributed by Zhou.

SHANGHAI- As spring term approaches, Hill students are finding ways to come back to campus from all across the globe.

The Hill Chinese community is facing challenges in coming back since the CDC announced that any foreign nationals who have been in China along with several other countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States. This means that most of the Chinese international students cannot fly direct to the United States under any circumstances. To counter this travel restriction, some of my fellow classmates and I planned a detailed trip to Singapore before returning to the States. We are set to begin our journey on Feb. 11. I will be recording and writing live to bring you the full coverage of this long journey back to Pottstown.

shanghai New york

preparation work

singapore ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE HARTEMINK ’21

Feb. 11: first leg, shanghai to singapore SHANGHAI- There were only three flights on the day when we left Shanghai.

Almost everything is closed, and I have never seen such a sleepy airport in my life.

FEB. 11: arrival IN singapore Jasmine Wang ’23 stands in the empty PVG airport.

Students travel through the Changi Airport in Singapore.

SINGAPORE- We arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore in the morning. The airport officials strictly performed social distancing, and we were asked to do so right after we stepped off the plane. After entering the immigration, our TraceTogether app got activated. We proceeded to the swab test center.

We already paid for our swab test before flying to Singapore and printed out the receipt and a QR code for officials. We registered with the official after handing in our materials and we received a green sticker, which means we are eligible to get tested. We were brought to separate cubes for our swab test. The nurse that got me tested was the nicest guy I met, but he surely gave me a hard time while he stuck the swab into my nose. After I was done I received a pink sticker, which means that I am cleared to leave the airport.

In Singapore, quarantine rules are different and pretty lenient because of the small population and the well-controlled situation. We were asked to put in a declaration when we arrived at our hotel, and we were brought to our hotel rooms with a single-use room card. This is to prevent people from going out while being quarantined. The rule is, before we get our PCR swab test result, we have to stay in our hotel room. There will be meals that were sent straight to our rooms, and all we had to do is to wait.

The wait wasn’t long at all. Around 9 p.m., I received my negative test result via email and I am allowed to leave my hotel room.

SHANGHAI- First of all, the paper work. Due to COVID-19 regulations, both Singapore and the United States took a lot of precautions in preliminary paperwork. Besides the usual I-20 visa, I have to prepare for my Singapore journey too. Any passenger going to Singapore is required to submit an Air Travel Pass application before being allowed to enter the Singapore border. In addition, a valid Singapore visa issued by ICA is needed. For minors like me, we have to prepare a COVID-19 related insurance and a minor travelling consent signed by our guardians as well.

Singapore officials developed the TraceTogether app similar to our Hill Trace system. We have to download the app and set up our account before entering the country. It actively tracks our locations in order to prevent potential risks. Wherever we go, we have to scan a QR code and check in in order for the app to trace us.

Feb. 11-25: days in singapore

Students enjoy a Spring Festival meal, a surprise from Hill.

12 p.m. Feb. 26 - Feb. 27 seconD leG: singapore to new york SINGAPORE- We got COVID-19 tested again in Singapore two days prior to our flight and received the negative result. After filling out the passenger disclosure and attestation declaration, we had everything we need to come back to the States. When we checked in at the airport counter, we were told to wait until past 12, then go through security checks and departure to have fully stayed in Singapore for 14 days and met the requirement of the U.S. travel restrictions. It was an 18-hour-flight, but we made it safe and sound. Upon arrival, we also had to fill out a digital New York state traveler health form to enter the border.

Jasmine Wang ‘23 flys to JFK from Changi.

Our flight boarding gate.

The first part of the trip in Singapore actually turned out really good. I look forward to my time at Hill.

- Jasmine Wang ’23 Staying in Singapore is so much better than my previous Cambodia trip. With the Singapore government’s policy, I’m free to move around the city and get some fresh air. I’m really enjoying my time here.

Seeing the number of COVID-19 cases decreasing and the distribution of vaccines in the States, I feel less worried. I believe that the school is making our community safe with solid safety protocols and precautions.

- Tiffany Wang ’22

Hill Chinese students enjoy their time in Singapore.

A health form needs to be completed before arriving in New York.

Scan for Jason Zhou ’23’s Instagram takeover and “Year Long Flight” vlog made by Jasmine Wang ’23

OPINION

MARCH 3, 2021

The Hill News

C5 | Opinion

Discussing Democracy The EU can’t stand for democracy until it stops sitting for China and Russia

By EDWARD DENG ’21 & MICHAEL SOLAND ’21 STAFF WRITER

The European Union claims to be a beacon of democracy and equality. EU members dominate the top 10 list in the democracy index (7 out of 10), offer extensive welfare and social programs, and form one of the largest and most closely tied bloc of sovereign nations in the world.

However, over the past four years, the EU has been cozying up to Russia and China while allowing dictatorships to begin within their member states.

At this point, China’s status as not-being-the-best at political freedom, respecting the sovereignty of other nations, and human rights has been well-established. The list seems to stretch past the horizon, consisting of Uighur concentration camps, dystopian social credit scores, 18 territorial disputes (China borders 14 nations), disappearing reporters and state dissenters, and the subjugation of Hong Kong.

China has shown time and time again that they are heavily expansionist, treat international laws as suggestions, and do not play by any rulebook. They are a threat, not just to America but to the very notion of democracy itself. The same goes for one of China’s staunchest allies. Russia has been actively subverting Europe since the fall of the USSR through assassinations, lobbying, and even outright invasion in Crimea and Ukraine. Despite all that, the EU still dove headfirst into

signing the Nordstream 2 natural gas pipeline deal, handing the reins to Germany’s natural gas market and a vital bargaining chip directly into the hands of the Kremlin. The EU is also facing anti-democratic threats from within, namely Viktor Orban’s dictatorship in Hungary, despite one of EU membership requirements being “stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.”

The EU has also made statements condemning China’s actions, describing Beijing as an “increasingly oppressive regime” and the Hong Kong security bill as “deplorable.”

With such bold and righteous rhetoric, the question becomes: why does the EU refuse to weaken its ties with China? As of 2018, China either fully or partially owned 10% of all European ports. Beijing has also built up railways in the Balkans, purchased numerous energy companies, and even bought professional soccer teams. Moreover, now the EU is compromising its firm stance on human rights to appease Beijing. In 2017, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights canceled its reports on Chinese human rights abuses after a Greek government veto.

French President Emmanuel Macron even said the EU should side with the Chinese on disputes between the CCP and Amer-

ica. Furthermore, even more concerning, on Dec 30, 2020, the EU completed an investment/trade deal with China that not only sidelines the United States but also wholly ignores human rights abuses in Xinjiang concentration camps in favor of easier access to Chinese markets.

While the EU claims to hold a strong commitment to democracy and freedom, this institution’s foundations do not bind its members very strongly. If a nation falls for an authoritarian nation’s rhetoric, there is not much the EU can do to keep them from straying. As election season comes around in the major EU nations over the next year or so, it will be highly telling how the citizens of the EU choose their future.

The case for cooperation with China one of the most powerful

By CORBIN CARTAGINE ’23 pieces on the global ecoSTAFF WRITER

In the words of the former national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, “A great deal of world politics is a fundamental struggle, but it is also a struggle that has to be waged intelligently”. The Chinese government has engaged in a multitude of acts that violate the fundamental values of the European Union, but it is not a clever diplomatic move to break ties with China because of the strategic and economic importance of European Union-China relations.

If the EU were to eliminate ties with China, they would be losing one of their most valuable trade partners. China’s rapid economic growth and increasingly prominent position as

nomic chess board makes it a virtually unavoidable trade partner for the European Union. In fact, China just became the EU’s single largest trade partner.

Trade between the EU and China reached an all-time high of $706 billion in 2020.

The EU purchases industrial and consumer goods, machinery and equipment, and footwear and clothing from China. China is also one of the EU’s main customers for machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, aircraft, and chemicals. It is apparent that the EU relies on China for selling many of its exports and purchasing many of its imports. If the EU wishes to provide a stable and fruitful economy for its constituents, it is incredibly unwise to cut off

relations with their primary trade partner.

The EU has a multitude of responsibilities, but promoting international peace and security is one of its chief purposes. It maintains a valuable partnership with China in various issues of international security.

Leaders from both parties meet annually to discuss pressing issues of international security in areas such as the Middle East and the South China Sea. These are conflict hotspots, so it is important to have international cooperation in the suppression of conflict in these areas. The EU also hopes to work with China on pressing issues of international security such as international arms control, counter-terrorism initiatives, and cyberspace security. In the interest of international security, the EU should continue its relationship with China.

The European Union faces a tough crossroads in its dealings with China. While the Chinese government’s behavior is concerning, China is an increasingly important partner in economic development and international security. The many wrongdoings of the Chinese government are very apparent, but the European Union cutting ties with this international powerhouse is not a suitable option.

The United States isn’t the only country debating its relationship with China. PHOTO BY ANNA YAO CARROLL ’23

Mental health must be higher on our priority lists

By LAURYN FUDALA ’21 STAFF WRITER

I remember back to the first email I drafted to counseling@thehill.org during the beginning of my fifth form year at Hill.

I was going through a lot emotionally, which many external factors were playing a role in, and did not know how to properly give those emotions a healthy outlet. I perpetuated my habit of internalizing my issues by procrastinating sending the email to sign up for counseling. When I would do that, I would then make myself feel dumb for stressing over a simple email that could read, “Hello, I would like to sign up for counseling, thank you.” This cycle continued for quite a while until I finally hit “send” months later.

Once I started, I found it hard to open up at first. It felt strange to discuss my personal issues with an adult who did not

know me at all, and that contributed to my discomfort. On top of this, I gaslit myself by degrading my mental health issues and what I was going through because I believed that so many people had it worse than me.

It can be very challenging to prioritize your mental health at a place like Hill. From 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., we are asked to balance academics, athletics, extracurriculars, and social life to the best of our ability. By the end of each day, we are exhausted and simply want to slip into bed, but usually cannot due to other tasks we did not have time to fit into our busy schedule.

This makes us fall into a cycle of neglect to take care of ourselves. This can be detrimental not only to mental health, but physical health as well. I felt the negative effects of this demanding lifestyle and found myself lost in a sea

of stress and anxiety.

In my experience, Hill’s innate values of success and hard work, although beneficial in many ways, also contributed to the decline of my mental wellbeing. As a third former, I did not understand how to manage my time, commitments, and needs well enough to keep my head above water. Although I am better at this now being a sixth former, I am still trying to figure out ways to balance every aspect of my life when it seems like there is so little time in the day. Some ways I practice self-care are journaling, dancing, talking to friends and family, and listening to music.

Allowing a set amount of time per day designated to taking care of yourself and truly indulging in the things that make you feel happy can make a huge difference in your day-today life.

Students can reach counseling@thehill.org no matter what the season. ILLUSTRATION BY TINA WANG ’22

Coming back to Hill this spring will be challenging for many of us, so I encourage you to utilize the resources that are presented to us in order to preserve your mental health, such as counseling, spending time with friends, doing afternoon activities that you actually enjoy, etc. In an environ-

ment where mental health might be low on your priority list among academics, athletics, and more, try to give your mind the same care that you give every other aspect of life.

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact counseling@thehill. org, and remember that there is always someone

that wants to listen. Don’t hesitate to hit “send” the way I did.

Additional Resources: LRoethling@thehill. org SAMH on IG: @MentalHealthAtHill

D6 | FEATURES

FEATURES The Hill News

Twenty Hill students are honored at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

By DIEMMY DANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

The Scholastics Art and Writing Awards is the most prestigious and longest-running national recognition and scholarship program for young artists and writers. Each year, the awards recognize students for their creativity, skill, and unique style on a regional and national level. This year, four Hill students, Jasmine Wang ’23, Yoseph Kim ’22, Chloe Han ’22, and Adelyn Sim ’24, were recognized regionally for their artwork.

Wang received one Gold Key, two Silver Keys, and two Honorable Mentions for her photography. She took the photos on a trip to various places in China, such as the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in Gansu. Her Honorable Mention pieces were two landscape photos titled “Anhui” and “Qing Hai.” “The scenery was breathtaking,” Wang said. “I may never see something like that again, so I wanted to capture it.”

Her Silver Key portraits, “Woman Washing Clothes’’ and “A Monk Playing Basketball,” along with her Gold Key portrait, “The Rotisserie Owner’s Daughter,” all depict moments that are quite genuine. They show a unique side of the locals that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

“People from rural areas seemed very humble, sincere, and honest,” Wang said. “To me, these moments are rare and very impactful. I didn’t know monks played basketball, so that was interesting to see. Also, the little girl had a very pure look in her eyes that I liked.”

Kim received a Silver Key for his photo “Hall of Light.” He took it in Paradise City, a resort located in Seoul, South Korea. The image

“The Blues” gain recognition for plans to innovate transportation

By ANDRES AREVALO ’22 STAFF WRITER

PHOTO SOURCED FROM SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING WEBSITE

features Paradise Walk, which is a bridge connecting two main spaces of the resort.

“I chose to photograph this hallway because it summarized the city’s vibe very well,” Kim said.

“The lighting was also unique and beautiful.”

Kim wanted his work to show how there will always be light in the world, even when the situation seems dark or bleak. He finds this message especially relevant to current events in the world, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want the audience to feel hopeful and euphoric while looking at my photo,” Kim said.

Han received two Honorable Mentions, one for her sculpture “A Person in a Hand Sanitizer” and one for her painting “The Vertical Concavity.”

“I wanted to create something related to COVID-19,” Han said when talking about her sculpture.

“I thought about how much we depend on hand sanitizers and how effective they are. I also wanted to emphasize the importance of keeping our personal hygiene.”

The entire sculpture took her four to five days to make. She used hand sanitizer bottles filled with resin and placed miniature people in those bottles. She encountered some challenges when making the smaller details.

“I struggled a little bit trying to come up with an idea on how

to show the contrast between the people in the sanitizer and the ones outside,” Han said. She chose to make the miniatures that are submerged in sanitizer colorful and the ones outside black.

Han’s painting “The Vertical Concavity” combines images from her real-life experiences and her dreams.

Sim received an Honorable Mention for her pencil drawing “Blow-Up,” which features three different perspectives of a miniature car.

“I chose a miniature car because there are many details I can concentrate on,” Sim said. “I didn’t want my work to be simple.” In her drawing, she chose to illustrate the front of the car, which had both dark and light areas, and the logo.

Ensuring the ratio and details were accurate was the most challenging part of Sim’s creative process.

“I took a photo of the car and measured the ratios such as distance between wheels and the ratio of the front bumper to the door,” Sim said.

MARCH 3, 2021

Editor’s Note: The writer of this article is a member of “The Blues” team. .

Since 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has been conducting a statewide competition for teams of high school students. This year, as part of the “Innovations Challenge” competition that deals with real and modern transportation issues, teams had to find a viable and plausible solution to the department revenue insufficiency, improve their reputation, and educate Pennsylvanians.

Hill’s own team, “The Blues,” was selected as a regional winner. The team is composed of team captain Eddie Proffitt ‘22, Juan Hinostroza ‘21, Rohan Dondeti ‘21, and Andres Arevalo ‘22, with Athey Family Master of History Chris Chirieleison as an adviser.

After the initial proposal, regional winners were selected and invited to display their idea to judges. A statewide winner will be selected from the pool of regional winners and awarded with certificates and an engraved trophy.

“We believe that PennDOT can take advantage of the ever-expanding market of online advertisement and apps to provide a new revenue source and reach Pennsylvanians,” Hinostroza said regarding the ideas behind their pro-

“I’m so proud of all the winners of the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards,” said Ellen Nelson, senior master of the arts. “Students showed a great deal of self-initiative and creativity through their entries.”

posal.

The PennDOT competition is not the only challenge for “The Blues”; they are also part of the boys varsity squash team. “What makes this group so special is that they are so much more than just teammates, they are brothers. Together they push each other to greater heights and are constantly seeking excellence in everything they do,” Director of Squash Chanel Erasmus commented on the team.

“The four of us are already used to working together as a team, and we all have similar goals, which made it easier to arrive upon efficient and innovative ideas,” Dondeti said.

Speaking on the team’s goals, Proffitt stated, “We are looking forward to being young innovators and learning more about what that looks like as we approach adulthood. We’re grateful for the opportunity to participate in this challenge and for our supporters.”

The team presented their project to three regional PennDOT staff serving as judges on Feb. 26. Their proposal is against seven teams for the district 6 spot in the statewide final phase of competition. The regional winner will be announced on March 5.

More information about the competition can be found on PennDOT’s website: https://www.penndot.gov/aboutus/PennDOT2020/Pages/Innovations-Challenge.aspx

PHOTO SOURCED FROM PENNDOT WEBSITE

Hill welcomes new Capital Construction Project Manager Rich Bouher and bids Robin Rhoades farewell

By ANNA YAO CARROLL ’23 STAFF WRITER

Hill is welcoming a new Capital Construction Project Manager, Rich Bouher, as the community says goodbye to Robin Rhoades.

Rhoades has been in this role for the past eight years, overseeing the variety of projects taking place around the school.

“My role in all projects is to meet with the consultants to develop the design or engineering, bid the project out with the contractors, coordinate the work on campus, monitoring the work once the project begins all while making sure the project is completed to the required schedule and timeline the school wants and needs,” Rhoades said.

As the capital construction project manager, he is also responsible for monitoring ongoing projects taking place on campus and resolving any issues that occur.

“There is a tremendous amount of coordination that must occur with certain projects so that disruption to campus is kept to a minimum,” ex-

plained Rhoades.

He has managed around 75 projects during his time here at Hill, from high-profile jobs like the Dining Hall and the Quadrivium to less obvious jobs like replacing the floor in the Counseling Center. Rhoades noted that he is most proud of the upgrade to the campus’ electrical infrastructure, which will allow for possible future expansions and renovations to the campus.

After working in construction for 45 years, Rhoades is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, family, and grandkids upon retiring.

He has enjoyed his past seven and a half years here at Hill, and explained that, upon leaving, he will miss the community.

“The Hill has become an extended family for me. The people here have been helpful, supportive, understanding and overall great to work with. Many of the projects I’ve done caused disruption to the lives and work of faculty, staff and students. Everyone met those challenges with support and understanding

and for that I’m truly grateful,” Rhoades said.

Hill has hired Bouher as the new Capital Construction Project Manager. Before taking this job, Bouher was the Construction Manager for DOW Chemical Research Development Facility in Collegeville, Pa., where he was in charge of all of their new construction and renovations in both Pennsylvania and Texas. He is looking forward to taking on this job and becoming a member of the Hill community.

“The community engagement and the vision of the Hill align with my personal visions, so it’s an easy transition to make,” remarked Bouher.

He and his wife Jennifer are familiar with the Pottstown area, having recently moved to Beech Street and being active volunteers of Hobart’s Run. In fact, Bouher is planning to volunteer with the organization in his free time.

“I really am excited about the opportunity to work with Hobart’s Run and to give back to the commu-

nity. Part of that aspect of what The Hill School does is one of the reasons why I took the job,” Bouher said.

For the first three weeks of February, Bouher worked with Rhoades to be familiarized with the campus, the community, and all ongoing projects.

“Everybody I have met here has been warm and welcoming, and it’s a nice change of pace. I look forward to spending the next 20 years here,” Bouher said.

Rhoades will be departing Hill after 8 years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HILL SCHOOL

Bouher will be stepping into the role of capital construction project manager. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HILL SCHOOL

MARCH 3, 2021

ARTS & LEISURE The Hill News

E7 | Arts & Leisure

Students receive recognition for their artwork from the 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

By CARRIE SHANG ’23 STAFF WRITER

The Scholastics Art and Writing Awards is the most prestigious and longest-running national recognition and scholarship program for young artists and writers. Each year, the awards recognize students for their creativity, skill, and unique style on a regional and national level. This year, four Hill students, Jasmine Wang ’23, Yoseph Kim ’22, Chloe Han ’22, and Adelyn Sim ’24, were recognized regionally for their artwork.

Wang received one Gold Key, two Silver Keys, and two Honorable Mentions for her photography. She took the photos on a trip to various places in China, such as the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in Gansu. Her Honorable Mention pieces were two landscape photos titled “Anhui” and “Qing Hai.” “The scenery was breathtaking,” Wang said. “I may never see something like that again, so I wanted to capture it.”

Her Silver Key portraits, “Woman

“HALL OF LIGHT” BY YOSEPH KIM ’22

Washing Clothes’’ and “A Monk Playing Basketball,” along with her Gold Key portrait, “The Rotisserie Owner’s Daughter,” all depict moments that are quite genuine. They show a unique side of the locals that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

“People from rural areas seemed

“ANHUI” BY JASMINE WANG ’23

very humble, sincere, and honest,” Wang said. “To me, these moments are rare and very impactful. I didn’t know monks played basketball, so that was interesting to see. Also, the little girl had a very pure look in her eyes that I liked.”

Kim received a Silver Key for his photo “Hall of Light.” He took it in Paradise City, a resort located in Seoul, South Korea. The image features Paradise Walk, which is a bridge connecting two main spaces of the resort.

“I chose to photograph this hallway because it summarized the city’s vibe very well,” Kim said. “The lighting was also unique and beautiful.”

Kim wanted his work to show how there will always be light in the world, even when the situation seems dark or bleak. He finds this message especially relevant to current events in the world, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want the audience to feel hopeful and euphoric while looking at my photo,” Kim said.

Han received two Honorable Mentions, one for her sculpture “A Person in a Hand Sanitizer” and one for her painting “The Vertical Concavity.”

“I wanted to create something related to COVID-19,” Han said when talking about her sculpture. “I thought about how much we depend on hand sanitizers and how effective they are. I also wanted to emphasize the importance of keeping our personal hygiene.” The entire sculpture took her four to five days to make. She used hand sanitizer bottles filled with resin and placed miniature people in those bottles. She encountered some challenges when making the smaller details.

“I struggled a little bit trying to

“THE ROTISSERIE OWNER’S DAUGHTER” BY JASMINE WANG ’23

come up with an idea on how to show the contrast between the people in the sanitizer and the ones outside,” Han said. She chose to make the miniatures that are submerged in sanitizer colorful and the ones outside black.

Han’s painting “The Vertical Con-

cavity” combines images from her real-life experiences and her dreams.

Sim received an Honorable Mention for her pencil drawing “Blow-Up,” which features three different perspectives of a miniature car.

“I chose a miniature car because there are many details I can concentrate on,” Sim said. “I didn’t want my work to be simple.” In her drawing, she chose to illustrate the front of the car, which had both dark and light areas, and the logo. Ensuring the ratio and details were accurate was the most challenging part of Sim’s creative process.

“I took a photo of the car and measured the ratios such as distance between wheels and the ratio of the front bumper to the door,” Sim said.

“I’m so proud of all the winners of the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards,” said Ellen Nelson, senior master of the arts. “Students showed a great deal of self-initiative and creativity through their entries.”

“THE VERTICAL CONCAVITY” BY CHLOE HAN ’22

The mystery of “WandaVision” H-Term provides opportunities for student exploration

By LUKE GERDEMAN ’23 STAFF WRITER

By NIMALA SIVAKUMAR ’23 STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

This year, amongst COVID-19 regulations and making sure students could join enrichment activities safely, Hill decided to try H-Term, which took place from Jan. 3 to Feb. 11. Students were afforded many options, from independent projects to courses at the Hill School.

H-Term was organized by many faculty, with Head of College Counseling Ellen Deitrich sending emails to students about registration and courses at the beginning of the year. One of the more prominent figures in organizing H-Term, Mrs. Deitrich regarded the experience as “rewarding and challenging.”

When asked what could have been changed, Mrs. Deitrich referred to the separation of the forms and said the idea could be revised.

Many students took on the opportunity to pursue an independent project. Ryann Holladay ‘24 decided to do both an independent project and the H-Term engineering class. When asked about balancing both, Holladay explained that, although she intended to do both equally,

engineering “decreased the amount of time I could dedicate to writing.”

Though H-Term was a great respite from Zoom classes, there were still downsides. Geordie Ravara ‘22 wrote and produced her own play for the Short Play Festival. When asked about the balance between weekly classwork and the H-Term class, she said, “It was fine; however, when I added preparing for college and mental health, it became more stressful.”

Trying to strike the proper balance, between H-Term options, college applications and regular school homework, was a common factor in students’ experiences during H-Term. However, despite the difficulty of balancing all aspects of life, when asked if she would consider doing H-Term again, Holladay said that H-Term afforded her the opportunity to explore her interests without fear of failing and also helped her create a great foundation for her book. This view is shared by many, and Mrs. Dietrich said she hopes H-term “remains a permanent part of the Hill curriculum.”

On Jan. 15, the world of entertainment shifted in a major way. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney’s $23 billion franchise, made its first venture into streaming television.

The show, titled “WandaVision,” isn’t exactly what the average audience member would expect. When someone hears “a TV show based on Marvel characters,” they wouldn’t think of a comedy-drama series that forces the viewer to figure out what’s going on. Long gone are the days of formulaic action films about saving the world; “WandaVision” has more in common with “The Truman Show” or “Twin Peaks” than any of its predecessors.

Opening on a title sequence right out of a 1950s sitcom, “WandaVision” takes the typical Marvel structure and turns it on its head.

Instead of having everything spelled out to the viewer, the show opts for a more “off the beaten path” approach to its material. The first three episodes don’t explain anything, instead acting as a seemingly normal sitcom about characters from “The Avengers” trying to attain a suburban lifestyle. The result of this eccentric form of storytelling?

A show that gracefully departs from the blandness that plagues much of the Marvel Studios filmography and genuinely tries something new.

In many ways, “WandaVision” is the return of so-called event television. Its week-by-week release

schedule and ever increasing mysteries allows the show to be the subject of conversation. What executive producer Kevin Feige has done here is remarkable; but, like many stories based around questions, the overall quality of the program is entirely dependent on the quality of answers.

Will “WandaVision” meet the expectations presented by its numerous set-ups, or will it flounder and disappoint its large audience?

So far, “WandaVision” has been

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

an interesting viewing experience that expertly weaves its narratives of grief and perplexity with the detailed world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hopefully it pays off its many mysteries and continues to innovate the existing Marvel Studios formula.

“WandaVision” was created by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman, and it can be seen on the Disney Plus streaming service.

SPORTS

F8 | Sports

The Hill News

MARCH 3, 2021

Minus the fans; add the masks: The trials of Winter sports amidst the pandemic coaching during a pandemic

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 STAFF WRITER

As a result of COVID-19, Hill sports looked a bit different this year. Stands were empty, masks were on, and students received COVID-19 tests each week. It was hard to imagine a positive playing environment with all these restrictions. For three of our biggest winter sports, basketball, wrestling and hockey, these changes seemed difficult. Even with those setbacks, these teams managed to have a productive season.

Chris Bala ‘97, boys ice hockey coach from Hill, talked about coaching during the pandemic: “I’m very proud of the guys for not complaining and being resilient. It was challenging adapting to the rules, but since they were kind of like the fall everything began to fall into place.”

Many agree that the highest point of the season was competing against other teams. “Having to play the same team back to back was also really odd. That’s something I’ve never done before,” said Noah Macielag ‘23.

Louis Gimbert ‘21 discussed his experiences as a winter varsity athlete during H-Term and how there is a lack of energy at the games: “The rink is normally hyped up at Friday and Saturday night games. It’s weird having only us leave the rink at the end of the game.”

While H-Term classes and school work were still taking place during the Low Residency Program, Hill made it accessible to do both. “It is great because it’s only in the mornings so we have more time to worry about hockey,” Gimbert said.

Despite not having a typical senior banquet and senior night, Gimbert said, “It’s great that we are able to practice and make most of what we have.” In November, Hill

announced that Coach Bala was resigning from his spot as hockey coach. “This is a special year, not just for me as a senior but for the rest of the players since these are our coaches’ last season.”

When it came to games and matches, schedules were not set in stone. “We were unsure what to expect on the weekend, so practice was just practicing for who knows what,’’ said Luke Wareham ‘22.

A recurring theme that many athletes noted is how undetermined things are. “It’s hard practicing as we don’t really know what we are practicing for. The weekends are very uncertain since we don’t know what is planned and what may be canceled,” said wrestler Samuel Beckett ‘22.

Jared Treat ‘24 expressed his thoughts on his H-Term experience as a new varsity player. “I was going into this year with very low expectations for athletics, but having H-term certainly improved the year for all winter varsity athletes. I am very thankful that I was able to play hockey and work every day for hours.

I know most schools aren’t able to have this luxury due to COVID-19, but Hill did an excellent job making it happen for us. Even though we only had two games, having a present audience would have been exciting and memorable for my first game and others.

I definitely enjoyed my first season of Hill hockey, and I am looking forward to next year. The improvement I saw in myself, and my teammates made this season worth it. Hill’s precautions with COVID-19 surely got on a lot of people’s nerves at times.

Still, they handled and are handling the pandemic perfectly for the Hill community,” Treat stated.

By ELLA SCOTT ’22 STAFF WRITER

Bala with his team on his last practice as head coach. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACK LEHMAN

Noah Macielag ‘23, a returning Hill hockey player, said, “Last year I was JV, so moving up to varsity was fun but a little disappointing because of the pandemic. Game days were different, and, although it was nice, it was sad only having Mrs. and Mr. Lehman in the stands cheering us on. Our season was cut short, but I feel many of us are relieved too; practice every day can really wear you out.”

One good thing that came out of teams boarding on campus was the bonds made. “The best part of all of this is that the boys got to bond in the dorms and found a new love for Formula One,” Macielag said.

“We came out of this learning more about each other than we did before,” said Grisham Vazirani ‘21.

Hill girls basketball player Riley Neiswender ‘23 said, “Playing a varsity sport in the midst of a pandemic was definitely hard at times, but the relationships and experiences I got out of it were unbelievable.”

As Bala said, “Hill has done an excellent job with keeping everyone safe while having fun. As a coach and alumnus I am impressed and proud of our school.”

On Feb. 13, the wrestling team traveled to Saltsburg, Pa. to verse Kiski School in a match. “Kiski didn’t have too many guys; some people

got two matches as others got one,” Grisham said. In a normal season wrestlers have to watch their weight and compete every weekend. “Things weren’t as uptight and everyone could worry about working on their skills. I had low expectations as nothing was guaranteed. We practiced with them and also played small games like dodgeball and spikeball,” Grisham added.

While wrestling is all physical contact, it was hard to come up with alternatives for the sport. Hunter Sloan ‘23, a new student this year at Hill, said: “Wrestling is very difficult to do during COVID as it’s an all contact sport. I didn’t get to wrestle that much in the summer as my parents were concerned about COVID. My dad’s a doctor, so we were hoping everything would be cleared up by now for the season, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. It’s hard seeing some of the top 20 ranking guys when I used to beat them pre-COVID. If there were any competitions it was in Florida or other states which was hard to travel to while being at Hill.

The good thing is we haven’t had any outbreaks on the team or bad injuries, so that’s good. We also have a dual tomorrow at Kiski so I am excited to see how that goes. It’ll be fun to wrestle again!”

Coaching at Hill during a normal year is chaotic in itself.

However, coaching during a global pandemic brings even more changes and variables. Leading a team during COVID-19 has proven to be a challenge in many ways, especially with changing guidelines and a constant need for safety. Hill has tried to give safe options for playing sports, which has been quite difficult but has resulted in some small but meaningful positives. Hill coaches and student-athletes have been given a unique opportunity this winter, where students may enroll in specific courses and train on-campus.

Especially during this period called H-Term, Hill coaches worked toward personal and team-wide development, combining old and new strategies for team bonding, building skill, and finding satisfaction in practices.

The fall term was especially strange as student-athletes got used to new guidelines on campus and even stricter rules for team practices. Mark Nelson, the head coach of the girls water polo team, stated in an email, “Practices were limited to non-contact drills and our interscholastic competition season was canceled.” For any team sport, finding new drills and formatting practices was

a huge change from previous seasons.

For winter sports, contact was once again limited to small groups of three to five student-athletes on campus.

Head coach of girls varsity hockey, Ari Baum, said that “a big challenge for ice hockey, as well as other sports, are that the locker rooms are very COVID-dangerous, and you can’t gather in ways that you used to that are culturally important to the sport.” However, winter coaches like Mr. Baum and Mr. Eilberg have found that Zoom is a great tool for keeping student-athletes, prospective students, and remote athletes connected.

Mr. Baum noted that he “gives more credit than [he] can possibly articulate to Dr. Spencer and the medical team, as well as Mr. Eilberg, Ms. Gaitan, Mr. Notebaert, and our whole athletic team as well as coaches and athletes” for being able to safely participate both in the fall and winter. He said, “It is an incredible point of pride for Hill to be able to recreate the Hill athletic experience in a safe way.”

Although coaches have been faced with tough decisions and situations, Hill coaches are doing their best to use time, especially during H-Term, wisely and help to further team development and individual strengths.

Lacross practice started in the fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

Wyatt Fabian ‘14 takes the field as new soccer coach

By PIERCE HART ’23 STAFF WRITER

As school kicked off strongly this year, there were high hopes in these times of doubt for the fall sports teams to have some games. The boys soccer team had a difficult start

to the season with the resignation of the varsity head coach Chris Drowne.

Even though the teams did not get to play this year, a new beginning was soon to come.

Wyatt Fabian, Class of 2014, was announced the

Fabian played on the soccer team while at Hill. PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

head coach of the varsity soccer team after the season was canceled. Most of the returning players knew who he was and knew the outstanding reputation he had on the field and as a coach, which made them excited for the future of the team.

Fabian said, “It was always a place I could see myself coming back to and was actively pursuing coming back to it at some point in my future, so I jumped at the opportunity.”

Fabian said, “My heart’s always been here; and, if the opportunity arose, I would definitely pursue it; and I hoped that

I could find my way back to Hill.”

With the resignation of Drowne, the school also lost a spot in the history department. Fabian was up for the challenge and said, “I’ve really wanted to be a head coach and also I’ve wanted to get back into teaching as well.”

Before taking the job opportunity, Fabian was one of the assistant men’s soccer coaches at Franklin & Marshall College. He said, “The past two years I have been out in Lancaster Pennsylvania where I was one of the assistant coaches for F&M men’s soccer programs; I have also been

working on my master’s degree at Millersville University.”

With Fabian’s impressive background and reputation, he seems like the perfect fit for the head coaching position also as a teacher in the classroom.

Fabian has had various Zoom meetings with the team, opening it up for any questions or even just a free space to catch up with some teammates. He has also invited Hill alumni and college programs such as Johns Hopkins, Stevens Tech, F&M, and Connecticut College to join a Zoom and talk with the team. He has a lot of hope for next

season and said, “It can only get better from here.”

Noah Toole, a fifth former this year and next year’s captain, said, “I think the next season is going to be interesting, we have a new coach who played in the Hill system, and I think he will make our young team a national powerhouse. We have a lot of work to do but it is feasible we are all bought in.”

Fabian and other alumni have watched from afar and have seen how far the program has come under Drowne; he sees that it is his time to continue the excellence of this program, and he will strive to do so.