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THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

VOLUME CXXIX. NO.7

May 2, 2022

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

Every morning when the birds are still asleep, Hill Dining Hall worker Tanya Johnson is getting ready to cook breakfast for the entire community. At 5:30 a.m., on the dot, Johnson clocks in, changes into her working suit, puts on her favorite 50 Cent and dances her way into the kitchen. This is the beginning of a day in the life of a Sodexo worker. Sodexo is a food services and facilities management company that partners with the Hill dining Hall to serve community members. Johnson is one of the veteran Sodexo workers at the Hill School. She has

been serving the Hill community for over 25 years: from the Grille to the back kitchen, morning shift to night shift – Johnson has done it all. “I have only been late twice in my 25 years here, overslept,” Johnson said proudly, face full of smiles. “I want to be that first person who comes in, because it’s always hard to find somebody who’s willing to come in this early in the morning,” Johnson said. She explained that she has been doing this for a long time and that she doesn’t want to put other workers in this hard position. “I know I can bear it, and I enjoy having the kitchen all by myself in the morning,” she shared.

Collage Captions: 1. Sodexo employee Dale Greenly takes a break from working to smile for the camera. Photo by Moniyah Person-Henderson ‘23 2. Mark Hinkle, executive chef, cuts chicken breast in preparation for dinner. Photo by Kade Davidheiser ‘23 3. Tanya Johnson has worked for over 25 years at Hill. Photo by Jason Zhou ‘23 4. Mark Hinkle, executive chef, smiles at the camera as he works in his office. Photo by Moniyah Person-Henderson ‘23 5. A Sodexo employee places Poptarts out for grab-and-go snacks. Photo by Anna Carroll ‘23 6. Various spices aligned neatly on Sodexo’s workstation. Photo by Moniyah Person-Henderson ‘23 7. Delicious chocolate cupcakes being displayed in the pantry. Photo by Anna Carroll ‘23 8. A collage wall in the Sodexo work area commemorates the memories and major events involving Sodexo over the years. Photo by Moniyah Person-Henderson ‘23 9. Executive chef Mark Hinkle and chef Steve Taylor Sous prepare pesto chicken wraps for lunch. Photo by Kade Davidheiser ‘23

Hill Sodexo staff dishes out love By JASON ZHOU ’23

Through years of working under multiple experienced executive chefs, Johnson has accumulated and learned much cooking knowledge. She loves making soups, and she tries to make them appealing and taste good. “I didn’t go to culinary school, but I have experiences that other people don’t have throughout my years,” she said. Morning shift supervisor Jill Hanley is another 25-year veteran worker at the Hill. She started working in the Dining Hall when the school was still an all-boys school. “I witnessed a lot of changes here since I started. It’s just like my second family here honestly. A lot of us

have been here for over 25 years. I just love what I do,” she said. For full-time workers like Hanley, balancing work and family time is just as important as serving the community. “I have four kids, so I’m a full-time mom too. I’m here from 6:00 to 2:30 every day, and I go home, cook dinner and do all that stuff and hang out with my kids also,” she shared. Besides working in the Dining Hall, Sodexo staff also have a lot of other hobbies. Supervisor Jesse Batdorf is currently writing a book about Italian history. “It’s based on the Italian Renaissance. I’m not actually Italian, but something about it just makes me love their history,” Batdorf said. His book features life in Venice and its architectural styles.

Both Johnson and Hanley commended the close relationship that the Hill Sodexo team has. “I love everyone I work with. Honestly, if I didn’t have the people that worked with me, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Hanley said. The back kitchen is often filled with music, laughter, and a lot of talking. As Johnson would say, “We are a big family, and we have loads of fun at work.” Sodexo workers like Johnson and Hanley enjoy talking to students. Johnson shared, “When I was at the Grille, I got to see everybody; I got to know so many kids and their backgrounds, where they were from, and it was really fun.” Staff Writer Kade Davidheiser ’23 contributed to this article.

New daily schedule announced for 2022-23 introduces a change to students’ academic routine By JENNIE KI ’23 OFF-CAMPUS EDITOR

The 2022-23 academic calendar will include a mix of short and long blocks with fewer classes per day than the current schedule, as well as fewer class meetings per week. The new schedule consists of two 73-minute blocks and one 45-minute block for each class during the week. This is a change

Locals make efforts to support Ukraine

FEATURES | Page C5

Brazil is likely to triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup

OFF-CAMPUS | Page B3

Dear Blue: Prom Edition

OPINION | Page D6

from the present schedule, which consists of seven 45-minute blocks on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays and three or four 70-minute blocks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. “It was a very lengthy process. Briefly, the process grew out of feedback we received after the 2019-20 year through student and faculty surveys,” stated Katy Hu-

dak, the academic dean, through email. She explained that there were some elements from last year’s COVID schedule that students wanted to retain, so the Academic Team made the decision to build off of the current schedule and last year’s COVID schedule while capturing elements of both.

ARTS & LEISURE | Page E7

Rivals seek revenge on the J-Ball field

Turn up the volume with these summer hits

Continued on Page A2

SPORTS | Page F8

Campus News

The Hill News | A2

May 2, 2022

New daily schedule announced for 2022-23 introduces a change to students’ academic routine Continued from Page A1: According to Sylvia Rodriguez Vargas, the assistant head of school, the changes in the daily schedule for 2022-23 will provide greater time for discussions and group work, such as research or labs. Since there is less of a time limit for each class, students will be able to fully engage in classes, increasing opportunities for class engagement and a wider variety of activities during the academic day. One of the most noticeable changes to the schedule is the addition of a “Flex Period” that will be used to finish academic work or to meet with teachers. Additionally, during these two flex periods, teachers will hold extra help sessions, replacing present extra help times that take place after school. The email Vargas sent out to the student body stated that students would be able to create stronger bonds outside the dorm and also have a chance to ask faculty members for support and finish given work. There are varying opinions on the changing schedule. Some students commented that having fewer classes per day will ultimately

Students enjoy their time outside playing J-Ball. PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

The wintery cold is slowly disappearing as the grass begins to grow and longer days are approaching. As Hill enters its spring term, so enters its traditions. This spring term will be the first spring in a long time where masks are not required and the Hill community can enjoy the spring like they did before the pandemic. Strawberry Festival is one of the many Hill traditions, and it has been going on for almost one hundred years. An article provided by Archivist Louis Jeffries states that “a first mention of Strawberry Festival to raise funds occurred at a Women of The Hill meeting in March 1927.” Legacy Tea is another tradition. Jeffries stated in an email that Legacy Tea “honors sixth form students whose father went here, as Hill has

Shannon Quintana ’21 at the Legacy Tea.

decrease the amount of homework and tests students have to prepare daily. “The new schedule is better than the current schedule. I personally dislike the long blocks because it requires a longer period of concentration. However, I am pretty sure that the changing schedule will release academic stress and provide a longer period of time for students to study freely. It is a plus factor,” Summer Jin ’23 said. Diemmy Dang ‘24 said that the new schedule will help students relieve stress in terms of workload. “I like how the school is pushing for flex periods where they can get time to get extra help from peers and teachers,” she explained. Not everyone is excited about the change. “The changing schedule is interesting, but I would rather have an early release on Thursday. Fewer blocks per day mean I won’t be meeting the teachers often. I feel that I will be more stressed outside classes without the teacher because I don’t feel like learning and engaging,” Heather Marley ’23 said.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

Spring at Hill: traditions are in full bloom not been coed long enough to have a mother to have gone here.” There is also J-Ball which, stated in an article provided by Jeffries, “was an organized sixth form privilege played on the Quad,” originating from the game of stickball. Tom Eccelston ‘87, assistant head of school for enrollment management, said that “they didn’t let baseball players play; we had to be the umpires.” This was so the game would stay fair to students who did not play baseball. Some Hill traditions have not been continued today. English Department Chair Courtney Neese ‘00 recalled an all-school trip day that would happen in the spring. “It was a day when each student signed up for a trip – anywhere from Balti-

By EMERSON LEGER ’25 STAFF WRITER

more to NYC – and spent the day there with a group of Hill kids.” While there is a lot of fun going on in the spring, there is also a lot of work behind the scenes. David Hoffman, the director of student activities and enrichment, is in charge of making students have as fun-filled weekends as possible. He said he “really spends time a couple weeks before looking through events that are happening in our area and a group of students called the Student Life Association helps me pick things that students want to do.” For Head of School Zack Lehman, the spring term is a very busy time. He stated in an email that he is

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

“very focused on admission of new students, planning for Commencement, and watching spring sports outdoors.” As Head of School, he makes sure that all students enjoy the last term at Hill before the summer begins – especially this year as tons of students at Hill haven’t had a normal spring term because of the pandemic. One of these students is Frankie Halvey ‘24, who stated in an email that COVID-19 meant students “could not experience a lot of these traditions, because they were not safe during that time.” MoniYah Person-Henderson ‘23 expands on the feeling of abnormalness the past two years have had. “As a three-year day student, this is my first ‘normal’ spring.” This spring she is taking in

The Strawberry Festival is in full swing.

Students sign yearbooks at the Strawberry Festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

every moment before she and her fellow peers become the new leaders of the school next year. The current leaders of the school are leaving the nest very soon, and, even though it is a sad moment as this is their last term at Hill, there is also fun and humor to it as well. “I think 6th formers have the most fun during the spring, as we can spend more time with friends rather than worry about the next year in high school,” stated Holly Perna ‘22 in an email. The spring term is full of many traditions, warm weather, and late nights hanging with friends, creating memories that last a lifetime. So go out and enjoy the warm weather and all the traditions Hill has over this term, because before you know it, it will be summer!

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

May 2, 2022

Off-Campus News

B3 | The Hill News

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

EDITOR’S NOTE from Jennie Ki ’23, off-campus news editor The Hill News would like to first thank the student body and the faculty who show endless support for their community. As the Ukrainian crisis is settling as an ongoing phenomenon today, it is creating a ripple effect to schools and countries around the world. As global citizens at Hill, it is crucial for all Hill members to show greater attention to those affected by the tragedy of the war. On April 18, Ukraine

claimed that Russian forces caused numerous deaths and the flee of thousands in Lviv, Ukraine. The United States is encouraged to take in 100,000 refugees, while other European countries such as Poland have already accepted more than 150,000 refugees. Two months into the war, the great migration of Ukrainian Refugees and the ongoing slaughter of civilians shows that the tensions between Ukraine and Russia increased drastically with a rising

death toll. The Hill News will continue to cover stories of the Ukrainian War to highlight the work of advocates in our community. As Hill goes into the last month of the 2022 spring term, we all hope that the crisis will be shortly resolved. Hill members, Hill News, and Community Service teams should hold hand in hand to create awareness and international cooperation to those suffering in Ukraine.

Locals make efforts to support Ukraine By DIEMMY DANG ’24 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

With food drives, fundraising dinners, donation funds, and more, many local residents have found ways to support Ukraine from abroad. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine catalyzes an enormous humanitarian crisis, many residents of Pottstown and the greater Philadelphia area have not allowed distance to stop them from trying to help. The escalating war between Ukraine and Russia, which continues to leave devastating effects on millions of Ukrainian citizens, has spurred a myriad of local residents to act on funding relief efforts. Through venues like church fundraisers, community organizations, and online donation sites, residents of Pottstown and the greater Philadelphia area have made numerous efforts to support Ukraine locally. In Pottstown, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recently ran a drive to collect donations for Ukrainian refugees. Volunteers sorted and packaged items that included hygiene products, food, medical supplies, toys, and clothing, to be sent to the Paul Chester Chil-

dren’s Hope Foundation, which is working to aid Ukrainians. Numerous other local congregations have run similar operations, with 13 regional congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints working together to collect more than 9,000 pounds of donations. “It was an amazing effort and so many people contributed to its success,” said volunteer Sarah Stapley in a statement printed in the Reading Eagle on March 10. “The spirit of the Lord was with us and so many expressed thanks for being able to serve our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.” According to Cathy Skitko, senior director of institutional public relations and Hobart’s Run communications at Hill, many local residents are pitching in to promote relief efforts through collection drives. “There are numerous organizations in the Jenkintown area -- which has a large Ukrainian population -- which are conducting various drives,” Skitko stated in an email. Jenkintown is also home to the local Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center. Skitko explained that the organization’s website is a great resource for students hoping to learn more about fundraisers and ways to do-

nate to the Ukrainian war effort. Numerous other Montgomery County organizations have also started campaigns to help the people of Ukraine. Many churches continue to hold fundraising dinners and donation drives to collect money and supplies. The United Ukrainian American Relief Committee Inc. launched an online fundraising campaign that has so far raised more than $596,000. In addition to supporting refugees abroad, efforts are also being made to support Ukrainians who have come or are coming to America. As the United States is expected to take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, Philadelphia is expected to become a main arrival city. While the total number of expected refugees is unknown, Philadelphia’s strong Ukrainian community makes it a good place for refugees to resettle. The Nationalities Service Center is one agency which will help refugees resettle in the city. Gretchen Shanfeld, senior director of program operations at NSC, explained that the group is currently working with Philly’s Ukrainian community to help the incoming refugees, particularly with housing.

Features

The Hill News | C4

May 2, 2022

Community service students take action in Pottstown By PATRICK GAO ’25 & YINA YAO ’25 STAFF WRITERS

Community Service at The Hill is an afternoon activity that not only connects students to the Pottstown neighborhood, but has a lasting impact on the local community. A spring afternoon activity, the program brings students to volunteer at local organizations aimed at helping the underserved members of Pottstown, such as the Young Women’s Christians Associ-

ation, the Centro Cultural Latino Unidos, and the Ricketts Center. It also provides students the opportunity to work on their own service projects. “I like just being able to do something that’s not as stressful as some people might think it is. Of course, the classic answer is giving back to the community. But beyond that, I’m trying to detach

Caroline Grable ’25, Morgan McMahon ’24, and Nimala Sivakamur ’23 organize children’s books.

myself … I’m trying to detach my Of course, the classic answer is self-identity from the entire world and realize there’s a lot more outgiving back to the community. But side of me. And this is a great way beyond that, I’m trying to detach to do that, and meet some pretty myself … I’m trying to detach my cool kids,” Nimala Sivakumar ’23, self-identity from the entire world a student participating in Commuand realize there’s a lot more outside nity Service, remarked. The week of April 11, Commuof me. And this is a great way to do nity Service traveled to the Young that, and meet some pretty cool kids. Women’s Christians Association or YWCA. Its mission is to establish a —Nimala Sivakumar ’23 safe place where racism is eliminated, kids are empowered, and where kids learn and grow. The YWCA provides more services than many people realize. Kate Lockett welcomed Hill students to the main academic building located on King Street in Pottstown. She wishes the organization could get more volunteers. There, they walked up the stairs to a modest space where books are scattered about the room. The students quickly move and start their work by organizing books by color for the kids to read. In the one hour there, a big change could be seen, but still, there is a long way to go. “Our goal is to give students a safe environment, a learning environment, a PHOTO BY YINA YAO ’25

happy environment, and to be part of our community to teach the children about the community,” Lockett said. Then she explained: “We have YEP, that’s a youth empowerment program … They work in the school districts, and they work with our children here. We have rental assistance help; we have educational help over at the YWCA, we help adults with their education, getting their GED, and it’s just not kids.” Similar to the YWCA, many other organizations in the Pottstown community reach out to the Director of Hobart’s Run Communications and Community Relations at the Hill School, Cathy Skitko, who communicates with the local organizations to find service opportunities for students. “Well, one thing that we tried to do is match the students, so some students might prefer to work with elderly people, some students might prefer to work with little kids,” Skitko said. The 18 students enrolling in Community Service this spring are choosing the organizations to work with depending on what they are passionate about. Skitko continued, saying, “An obvious goal is to have an opportunity for students to give back to the community we all share here, living in Pottstown, and to really be able to make an impact, even if it’s only for a short amount of time. I think a longer-term goal is that students who get involved with community service are going to find that it is so worthwhile for them.”

Springtime shenanigans ensue on The Hill: The art of the senior prank in creativity, as many classes stuck to varying themes of “chairs,” such as the Class of As the spring season flourish‘02, where the chairs es across The Hill’s campus, the air throughout campus grows warmer with excitement. were taped together. For the 6th form class, mischievous These pranks are schemes are afoot. Hill is no strangseen as a reflection of er to absurd shenanigans, as every the class’s dedication, 6th form class plots the best way to creativity, and spirleave their final mark on the school. it, so it should make Though perhaps not viewed from the sense that execution same perspective as sixth form tea, varies tremendously. J-Ball, or seated dinners, faculty look Patrick Lake P ‘24 ‘25 back upon these antics as an integral remarked, “A great part of the spring term. concept for a prank This tradition dates as far back as was to fill the Dell with the early 1900s, and has been presrubber duckies. But in ent throughout national high school The Class of 2011’s Sixth Form Prank involved filling the Student Center with balloons. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUIS JEFFRIES execution, those duckand college campuses. During Hill’s ies only filled about ten from staying up and working. Ties police and set up the following prank; percent of the surface area, and it were barely on. The sixth form had The entire 6th form went to the police was a bit depressing! A few years broken into the Dining Hall the night station after check-in the night before ago (five perhaps), a successful before and removed every single table graduation. They then had the Chief and feel-good prank involved and chair, then reset the table clothes of Police call the Dean on Duty to rean elaborate and pretty exten- on the floor, folded to the exact size of port that he had a few Hill students sive mass artwork on the walk- every table, and set the plates and all in custody. The Dean and Headmasways of the school with sidewalk right on top. It looked like a magician ter arrived only to find the entire 6th chalk. There were a few … very had simply disappeared the furni- form in ‘jail’ enjoying ice cream with few … things written that were ture. It was amazing. We didn’t know all of the Officers on duty that night,” at a PG rating, but nothing truly what to do so we sat cross-legged on recalled Mark Nelson P ‘10 ‘13. inappropriate.” the ground and ate breakfast. Mr. And so, it appears that the Class Other pranks have sought to Watson, our Headmaster at the time, of ‘22 has their work cut out for them. have a bigger impact on the day- went to the podium at the end of the As the time of action draws closer, reto-day function of the school. meal and said something to the effect spect and dignity must be considered William Yinger recalled his fa- of, “Nicely done gentlemen, I am sure beside risk and ingenuity. A prank is vorite, “Spring of 1993, we still that Lunch will take place as nor- a reflection of the class, and must be had the sit-down breakfast re- mal…..”. observed as a means of legacy. The quired, 7:10 a.m., full academic However, other classes strove to Class of ‘22 will be sure to continue dress. Brutal mornings for sure. think outside the box, or rather, the this tradition in such a manner, leavWe all walk into the dining campus. “[One time,] the 6th form ing their final mark on the school. For their Sixth Form Prank, the Class of 2013 placed Mr. Lehman’s golf cart in the dining hall with his chair strapped to the top. PHOTO FROM THE HILL SCHOOL FACEBOOK hall, bleary-eyed and exhausted president contacted the Pottstown

By ELLA GRINDLE ’24 FEATURES EDITOR

early years, as technology was less sophisticated, some of the first recorded pranks include placing mattresses on the roof of Upper School dormitory, turning fire hoses on sleeping boys, and, on one rare occasion, rewiring the electricity of the Upper School to be connected to one room. Later, in 1981, a sign was displayed on the soccer field, “For Sale: 29 buildings, 1 newly renovated. If interested, call Chuck [Headmaster Charles. C Watson].” The class of ‘00, however, saw backlash from the administration for their hijacking of the Alumni Chapel speaker system, having it blare ‘obnoxious’ music at 3 in the morning. The noise lasted until security could resolve the issue. The subsequent discipline unfortunately saw the new millennium’s decline

Features

May 2, 2022

C5 | The Hill News

The center for campus operations makes sure Hill runs smoothly be done on campus and they han-

By PETER GALINDEZ ’23 dle all of our buildings except the STAFF WRITER

Package management isn’t the only thing Korinne Blackwell handles. As the manager of facilities operations, she oversees the heating, water, and cleaning services along with much more behind the scenes. The mailroom logistics are handled by Rhonda Custer. “She comes in. She sorts whatever’s leftover from the day before she picks up the mail from the post office. Does her campus rounds, usually in the morning to like all the offices, departments,” Blackwell remarked. The cleaning staff is employed through Moonlight Office Cleaners, with around 30 employees who are managed by Blackwell and Moonlight liaison Pam Worthen. Blackwell said, “A lot of those folks have full-time jobs. They do it kinda part-time.” Each cleaning staff member has their schedule, with dorms cleaned in the morning, offices at night, and athletic facilities over the weekend. There are some areas of cleaning which require more intensive work. Blackwell said, “They do emergency cleanup for anything that needs to

guest house. The Wellness Center is covered, you know 24/7.” The owner of Moonlight Office Cleaners, Gregg Vermeesch takes a lot of pride in making sure the Hill School is clean. “I don’t try to take advantage of them. I think there’s a lot of trust between them and us and you know, we care about our reputation,” Vermeesch said. Moonlight Office Cleaners started working for the Hill in 1995 by competing with the existing company at the Hill. “We got in and it was an opportunity to make everybody else look bad and as it turned out, we did a better job for less money than the original company,” Vermeesch said. Vermeesch has had to face many adversities over the years as his business expanded. “As they were opening up floor by floor we were putting equipment in, training people, and putting employees into cleaning and then they bid it out. I guess they just wanted to make sure we were being fair with our price,” Vermeesch said. Head librarian, Nancy Body, appreciates the effort that both li-

The shelf where the Moonlight Office Cleaners’ staff store their everyday needs.

brary cleaning staff put in. One of the lead maintenance employees, Jim Potts, cleans during study hall hours and regularly interacts with the Hill library staff. “Jim is part of the library family. He does a good job of maintaining the library and is willing to help wherever needed with special projects,” said Body. Body continued, “Jim is often in here on weekends when there is a special event to be sure everything is neat and tidy. We all enjoy working with Jim.” He con- Korinne Blackwell makes sure the mailroom runs smoothly. Hill Associate Chaplain Reversistently goes above and beyond to ensure that the library end Anne Confer Martens is grateful for her housekeeper. “[Fouzia] is stays clean for students to enjoy. The other maintenance em- just so friendly and so helpful and ployee, Mike Zwolak in the library supportive. She will also water the isn’t seen around as much due to plants among other things while we his schedule but greatly contributes are out of town,” Confer Martens to the library’s cleanliness. He cleans said. Confer Martens hopes the staff the upper floors in the evening. “Mike is quiet, pleasant, dependable, gets the recognition they deserve. and does a great job keeping those Confer Martens said, “You see them arriving at campus late in the afterspaces in good shape,” said Body.

PHOTO BY PETER GALINDEZ ’23

noons or early in the mornings, the job is really necessary but often goes unnoticed.” Larissa Snyder, dorm head of US West, is impressed with the efficiency of her cleaning staff. Snyder said, “It always amazes me how thoroughly and efficiently they’re able to clean our entire dorm in a relatively brief amount of time.” There are some things Blackwell would like to remind students.

The cleaning supplies closet has all of the staff ’s needs.

Blackwell said, “Just make sure your trash gets to the trash cans and break your boxes down before you put them in recycling…maybe make sure the stuff is picked up in the bathroom more.” Overall, Blackwell thinks the facilities staff are doing a great job at maintaining the Hill campus. “Everybody seems to enjoy what they’re doing and is getting the job done,” Blackwell said.

PHOTO BY PETER GALINDEZ ’23

SATIRE: Dear Blue: Prom Edition By ANONYMOUS Prom, the most discussed topic of the year—sorry I meant The Sixth Form Dance. An exquisite dance where female students spend exuberant amounts of money to look top dollar, while male students wear their favorite academic casual outfit-– or academic if you’re lucky. First things first, you need a

An exquisite dance where female students spend exuberant amounts of money to look top dollar, while male students wear their favorite academic casual outfit-– or academic if you’re lucky.

ILLUSTRATION BY CECI FANG ’24

date. Even though it’s not a requirement, trust me, you need a date. Girls go with boys, and boys ask as people say, but af-

ter the Sadie Hawkins fiasco it’s not always that way. Of course for girls, asking at Hill typically means staring at a guy and crossing your fingers for a while. The music will probably be something along the lines of a radio lineup from two years ago with the volume high and pumping bass. Definitely worth your ticket, which is worth approximately 20 months of Spotify Premium, but who’s counting? Congratulations to the underformers though, for you will have the time of your lives attending the mandatory fun that weekend. How could Prom possibly compare to standing awkwardly in the student center with pizza? Now, though a quick scroll on @hillprom22 may make it seem like everyone’s wearing the same dress, ladies, worry not. I’m sure your choice for bubblegum over fuschia will make you the Prom queen– in your

own mind that is; for all the undercover royalty that probably attend Hill, we don’t have it at prom. Not that anyone misses it, but I’m sure some overachieving fifth formers would love to add it to their college applications. Don’t let the cheesy promposals get you too excited… Do you really think he came up with that pickup line on his own? As for those of you without a date, don’t fret, screaming “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo and jumping around for three hours is just as fun with your closest friends, trust me. Don’t get trampled by the football players in the moshing though, they may be in the off season, but they’re pretty strong. Fifth form’s got it pretty tough. Good luck getting ready in three hours and still getting enough sleep for school the day after! Bottom line, have fun, make memories and get your groove on. Happy Sixth Form Dance!

Opinion

The Hill News | D6

MAY 2, 2022

War in Ukraine proves Russian military isn’t indestructible

By BENNETT CERRULO ’23

Editors-in-Chief

STAFF WRITER

The Russo-Georgian war of 2008 and the Russian invasion of the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbas saw Russian forces quickly and effectively conquer territory while maintaining low amounts of casualties. This created an aura of an unstoppable force that would quickly overtake enemies with overwhelming force. However, during the ongoing 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian armed forces have had difficulties in the way of assuring victory. Russian capabilities are certainly not something to snuff at. Researchers for the European Parliament stated in 2021 that Russian forces stood at 900,000 active duty personnel and weapons capabilities which exceeds 12,000 main battle tanks (for context, the same report stated that number was roughly double that of the U.S. armored force at the time). Although not all troops or tanks are used in any conflict, it is safe to say the Russian armed forces have been endowed with heaps of equipment in which they can use. Past utilization of these capabilities in Georgia, Crimea and Donbas reveal that the Russian armed forces are certainly capable of rapid, overwhelming victories, especially against what are considered technologically and numerically inferior forces. However, on the ground in the current conflict in Ukraine, we have seen a dramatic shift in this pattern of Russian military success. Sources disagree on how many Russian casualties have been sustained since

Visual Managing Editors

Olivia Mofus ’22, Aleksandr Glamazdin ’22 Anna Carroll ’23, Jason Zhou ’23 Portia Sockel ’22, Tiffany Wang ’22 Carrie Shang ’23, Aidan Ma ’23

Campus News Carrie Shang ’23 Social Media Managers Diemmy Dang ’24 Ryann Holladay ’24 Off-Campus News Jason Zhou ’23 Jennie Ki ’23 Features Anna Carroll ’23 Opinion Ella Grindle ’24 Layout Jasmine Wang ’23 Arts & Leisure Emilie Kirschner ’23 Online Editor Jaewan Lee ’25 Sports Multimedia Editor Oluwatofe Akinyanmi ’23 Head Illustrator

ILLUSTRATION BY HELEN ZHANG ’25

the start of the war. In an April 25 address to the House of Commons, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated that Russian forces had sustained 15,000 casualties, 2,000 armored vehicles lost or captured, including 530 tanks, 530 armored personnel carriers, and 560 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as 60 aircraft lost. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces have lost 22,100 personel, as of April 26; meanwhile the Russian Ministry of Defense – as reported by Russian news source “Gazeta.Ru” – claims casualties of 1,351 on March 25. (Disclaimer: Sources may need to be translated for an English-speaking audience.) Of course, with the war still going on, and the desire on each side to appear more successful, all three sources stated above are certainly

not neutral – especially with NATO’s recent attempts to sustain and support Ukraine. Because of this, it is safe to say that none of these three data sets can be confirmed to be accurate. Either way, we know that casualty numbers are likely within this range. Ultimately, we do know that, whatever the true casualty numbers are, they appear to have been deemed unacceptable by the Russian military, and we have seen a dramatic shift in the war goals. After a concerted push to surround and take Kyiv appeared to have faltered, forces have been moved towards the East and the Donbas. This shows that Russian military capabilities were not what they seemed at the beginning of the war and that clearly, the conventional arms of the Russian military is not nearly as much of a threat as seen in the past.

Ariana Polevshchikova ’23 MoniYah Person-Henderson ’23 Diemmy Dang ’24 Jerry Li ’22 Corbin Cartagine ’23 Wesley Connelly ’22 Luke Gerderman ’23 Rose Flaherty ’23 Chloe Han ’22 Adelyn Sim ’24

Staff Writers & Emerson Leger ’25, Yina Yao ’25, Patrick Gao ’25, Nicole Kwan Staff Contributers ’24, Daphne Wong ’24, Peter Galindez ’23, Marshall Welch ’24, Cici Fang ’24, Angela Jin ’24, David Slavtcheff ’24, Angie Chi ’23, Rachel Hwang ’25, Helen Zhang ’25, Joey Asterino ’23, Jesse Corser-James ’23, Kade Davidheiser ’23, Luke Rasmussen ’23, Augustus Gerhart ’23, Cole Bilotta ’23 Faculty Adviser

Ms. Elizabeth DeOrnellas

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

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

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Brazil is likely to triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup By JASON ZHOU ’23 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The World Cup is the ultimate festival for all football fans around the world. It is held every four years, and multiple stars have been made in the beautiful game. The World Cup will be held in Qatar this year, and it will kick off on Nov. 21. This will be the first time the tournament has been held in the winter. The abrupt change in season is because summer temperatures in Qatar can reach above 113 degrees Fahrenheit due to its location. It is also the first time the tournament has been held in a Middle Eastern country. Furthermore, the Hill student body will be on campus when this year’s World Cup takes place. It will surely be a fun opportunity to celebrate the game of football. A total of 29 of 32 teams have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the host nation. That leaves three spots to be filled in June. In addition to the host nation of Qatar, there are 12 nations from Europe, four from South America, four from Asia, five from Africa, and three from North America that qualified for the tournament. There are a lot of big names in this year’s World Cup. This will also likely be the final World Cup for Messi and Ronaldo, two of the biggest sensations in the modern soccer scene. In my opinion, Brazil will end up winning the trophy simply because of how excit-

ing their attackers are. In the starting lineup, Neymar Jr. has already proven his special place in the world of soccer. Anthony from Ajax put on one of the flashiest showings on the wings this season. Anthony displayed his prominence in the game by smashing 12 goals and 10 assists, leading the Dutch giant Ajax on track to another league title. Vinicius Junior had his breakout year at Real Madrid, his shiftiness and pace could be the sharpest weapon in Brazil’s arsenal. Furthermore, Brazil’s bench has a lot of depth. Youngsters, Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal, and Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City all are reliable players playing in the Premier League. Aside from attack, Brazil has two of the best goalkeepers in the whole world: Alisson and Ederson, playing for two of the best club teams in the world, Liverpool and Manchester City. On the defense, Thiago Silva is a three-time World Cup participant. The veteran will surely carry the team with his experiences and lift up younger players. Another World Cup favorite, Portugal, had a lot of expectations on them. However, I doubt they will go far. In the European qualifiers, Portugal struggled to score against weaker countries like Azerbaijan and Ireland. Serbia came on top of the group ahead of Portugal in the end. The slow-to-warm-up playing style would surely hurt Portugal in the big stage. In addition, key players like Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo are having a tough

year in Manchester United. It is questionable whether they could turn their momentum around and play good soccer. In comparison, I am really excited to see what Canada can do in this year’s World Cup. This is only the second time in history that the Canucks qualified for the World Cup. Their last appearance was 36 years ago. In the North America qualifiers, Canada was on top form and clinched the World Cup spot over USA and Mexico. Left wing-back Alphonso Davies and striker

Jonathan David would be a huge threat for any teams that play against Canada. The Netherlands cannot be ignored as well. The new generations of the tulip army are aiming for big breakthroughs in this year’s World Cup. Some names to remember besides the world-class players like Virgil Van Dijk or Frankie De Jong are Arnaut Danjuma and Steven Berguis. Memphis Depay would be a World Cup golden boot contender in my opinion. Hill soccer enthusiasts

have a lot to say about this year’s competition as well. Brazilian Kaio Reis ‘23 believes his home country will win the title: “We have the most balanced team out of everyone, and we are going to put on a show this year in Qatar.” Blake Groff ‘22 has other thoughts: “I think that Portugal is going to win it all. Cristiano Ronaldo is like an idol for me when I was young, and I really want to see him shine in his potential last World Cup.” He said that the

hot weather in Qatar is a big factor. “Colder countries like Canada, Netherlands, and Switzerland are going to suffer a lot from the weather as they are not used to playing in the heat,” Groff said. Jesse Corser-James ‘23 is rooting for his country Australia. He also hopes Canada will play well. “They are sick,” James said. Similar to James’ remark, Rachel Maier ‘22 and Saager Sharma ‘23 raised their hands and started chanting “USA, USA” when asked.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

Arts & Leisure

May 2, 2022

E7 | The Hill News

Jared Leto doesn’t suck as Morbius

By DAVID SLAVTCHEFF ’24 STAFF WRITER

DISCLAIMER: Any and all grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or lost trains of thought are due to the frequent meetings I have had to have with my therapist to process my “Morbius”-related emotions.

ILLUSTRATION BY RACHAEL HWANG ’25

Turn up the volume with these summer hits

I cry myself to sleep every night, but it wasn’t always this way. Last week I saw “Morbius” in theaters and I will never be the same again. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment my life was changed forever, but in those greasy faux-leather seats, the veil was lifted and my eyes opened for the first time. I emerged from the dark, humid theater as a freshly minted child emerges from the womb. “Morbius” is such a fantastic movie, that it has, in a sense, completed me. From the masterful effects to the gripping plot (a vampire but modern, fantastic), I was enthralled for the entire movie. As I watched my beloved Dr. Morbius trying to save his own life, a void was filled in my heart. The drama, the tragedy, and the comedic garnishes make “Morbius” the perfect movie for all audiences. It’s so good, in fact, that my love of “Morbius” has taken

over my life. Don’t get it twisted, I eat, sleep, and breathe “Morbius”. My family kicked me out of the house after I covered the windows with posters of Jared Leto’s face. I guess they

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE CHI ’23

just don’t understand the commitment of a true fan. Overall, “Morbius” is a must-see, and it may just be the next “Bee Movie”.

By LUKE GERDEMAN ’23 ARTS & LEISURE EDITOR

With the warmer weather making its debut for the season, check out these hot tracks:

1. “Love Grows” by Edison Lighthouse Coming in strong with a TikTok favorite, this song rose to popularity in the summer of 2021 as users recorded their adventures to share on the platform. It’s no doubt that this trend, as well as this song, shall return in the coming summer months, remaining an essential addition to any summer playlist.

2. “As it Was” by Harry Styles I’ll just say what we’re all thinking. Appearing on his album “Harry’s House,” this track became instantly popular, and for good reason–the beat is on point, the remixes are fire, and the vibes are immaculate.

3. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel You didn’t think that the king himself would be absent from this list, did you? Play this song with the windows down and the volume up. Say no more.

4. “Fireball” by Pitbull (feat. John Ryan) This is a summer party essential so make sure that you are in proximity to a dance floor. Dalé.

5. “sunburn” by almost monday It’s new, it’s indie, and it’s a total vibe. Whether you’re relaxing on a sunny beach, or in the backyard with some lemonade, turn up the volume and let your troubles float away. No sunscreen required.

6. “Dangerous” by Set It Off Perhaps you’re up to no good, and a laid-back, indie track just will not cut it. Caution: This song may induce feelings of confidence, euphoria, and drive. Listen at your own risk.

7. “Starman” by David Bowie This is a classic for sure, and perhaps an odd choice for summer, but for that drive home from the beach, Bowie can do no wrong. Bonus points if your Dad is in the car with you.

8. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA Enough said. One cannot simply live through summer without paying homage to these Scandinavian icons. Age is irrelevant in this tango of seasonal euphoria, for being the dancing queen is most definitely a state of mind.

Members of the Ellis Theater Guild rehearse music for their student-run production, “Forum.”

PHOTO BY CARRIE SHANG ’23

Students make history in Hill’s first student-run theatrical production By MARSHALL WELCH ’24 STAFF WRITER

While the current spring play on the docket is “Hunger Games”, a select few students involved in The Hill School’s theater program are working diligently under Daniel Schlegel ’23 on a new platform for Hill theater, an entirely student-run production. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” a musical comedy directed by Schlegel’s will be performed May 14 on the Mary DeLan Amphitheater–the newly installed outdoor theater behind the Hill’s CFTA. Tickets will be first come, first serve. “Not only is the show a kick starter for what will be future student-led productions, but it’s also dipping our toes into our individual creative abilities,” Schlegel explained. He believes that the essence of “Forum” is the energy the cast inputs into the rehearsals, all of which are held during the students’ free time on the weekends. “The most surprising

part of the process was how we put this together in our off time, outside of our extracurricular activities. The level of commitment the cast and crew brings is something truly special, and it most certainly will not disappoint,” With “Forum” being an additional commitment on top of the students’ prior Co-Curricular commitments taking place after the academic day, Schlegel has taken this into consideration to make alterations to the overall formatting of the production. “What the show will be, and what is to be expected, is a staged read-through concert. What that means is the actors will all be reading the scripts aloud, along with song and accompanying staging. For purposes of time’s sake and practicality, the show has been shortened, but not re-arranged. It’s basically ``A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”: in concert.” Mr. McGriff plans to use this setting to host productions outside and allow this new medium of theater to

allow The Hill School to take on new endeavors and tackle even greater theatrical accolades. “Forum” is looking to be an amazing potential start to an addition of a 4th smaller show taking place each year alongside the 3 term-based productions directed by McGriff. With a strong show led by a passionate director, both “Forum” and Schlegel are looking to make significant history in Hill’s theater department.

The most surprising part of the process was how we put this together in our off time, outside of our extracurricular activities. The level of commitment the cast and crew brings is something truly special, and it most certainly will not disappoint. —Daniel Schlegel ’23

Sports

The Hill News | F8

THE

GAME

J-BALL

STAFF WRITERS

THE TENNIS RACKET

FIELD RULES There should be no more than 10 players from one team on the field at a time. There is some debate on when OTHER the game originated, but most research EQUITMENT says it started in the 1960s.

Sam Cifra '23 participates in opening day of J-Ball 2022. Photo by Rose Flaherty '23

Hill alumni athletes describe student athlete experience at college By AUGUSTUS GERHART ’23, COLE BILOTTA ’23, & LUKE RASMUSSEN ’23

J-Ball is very similar to the game of baseball; but instead of a bat and a baseball, the game is played with a tennis racket and a tennis ball.

May 2, 2022

The game is played like a normal baseball game (pitcher, outfield, basemen, etc). A runner can be tagged with the ball. Two outs start a new inning.

For many years, the Hill School has been a breeding ground for prospective student-athletes looking to play at the collegiate level. We highlighted four Hill alums playing in college. Susanna Soderman graduated Hill with the Class of ’21. Now at Villanova and playing soccer, Soderman highlighted what it’s like playing at the collegaint level, how Hill has helped, and much more. An excerpt of the conversation is below. Cole Bilotta: What’s your favorite part about playing soccer at Villanova? Susanna Soderman: I mean, I love my teammates. Like, if I didn’t have them, I probably would have transferred by now. Yeah, I mean, the team is just awesome, and playing in college you just get so many benefits. CB: Just walk me through your day to day.

SS: Well, right now, it’s the postseason. So right now we practice almost every day of the week except for Sundays. We wake up around seven, get picked up at 7:30 for training, we train from like eight to like 9:30. Then, we lift from 9:30 to 10:00. Then I go to class, which is practically like the whole day. And right now I go to PT every day. But that’s practically it; it just repeats every day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLANOVA WOMEN’S SOCCER

You can throw the ball at a runner to get them out, as long as it's thrown below the head. Games begin at 7:15 p.m. and end at 7:50 p.m. no matter what. Attending Cornell, both Isabella Palde ’19 (left) and Sarah Rogalski ’21 (right) are members of the field hockey team.

After graduating Hill, Susanna Soderman ’21 now plays for Villanova’s women’s soccer team.

Isabella Palde ’19 and Sarah Rogalski ’21 were both star field hockey players at Hill during their respective years. The two girls are now at Cornell pursuing the life of a student-athlete. Both Palde and Rogalski spoke about life as a college athlete, the most difficult parts, and how Hill prepared them for their future. A portion of the interview is below.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CORNELL FIELD HOCKEY

Each team is allowed only one glove. If you use your shirt or hat to catch the ball, the play continues and it is not an out. ILLUSTRATION BY JESSE-CORSER JAMES ’23

Rivals seek revenge on the J-Ball field By ROSE FLAHERTY ’23 SPORTS EDITOR

J-Ball is a tradition that is deep-rooted in the culture at Hill, and it surely gets the students excited. This season, which started April 26, will feature a mix of top veteran players, as well as rookies who are experiencing this tradition for the first time. David Hoffman, director of student enrichment and activities at Hill, described J-Ball as “a tradition at Hill where students put together teams and compete, playing a game similar to baseball with a tennis racquet and tennis ball. Its official name is Javelin Ball.” Each year features a wide range of teams: those who are willing to do anything for the trophy and others who are out there to have fun. A handful of current students commented on how they’re feeling about the J-Ball tournament this year. Kimaura Schindler ’23 is ready for her second J-Ball season with Katy Gray and Team after her team worked hard last year, yet fell short of winning much-needed games to advance into the playoffs. “We had a lot of grit; we had a lot of passion, but we didn’t win a game,” Schindler said. Kerry Elliott ’23, who also is a part of Katy Gray and Team, was a top player in the J-Ball tournament last year. She said, “I am going to set my standards really low and then exceed them.” Elliott seemed ecstatic to play this season and said she is ready to get some wins under her belt.

That vibe was pretty consistent for most of the J-Ball players interviewed. Nick Jarmain ’23, a new student to Hill this year, is joining the popular Captain Daddy Banana Boats with boys in the fifth form. Even as a newcomer, he said, “I’m willing to sacrifice my body and my time.” Lukas Zimovcak ’24, who is also new to the game, said, “I’ve never played it before, but I heard the Banana Boats are the most hated team on campus. We got a lot of new guys on the team this year, but I feel like we are going to beat the Banana Boats in the championship.” Tyler Chenevert ’22, captain of Tune Squad, the defending champs from last season, said, “The only team that can beat us this year is ourselves.” Chenevert feels that the other teams aren’t a threat to him. Commitment and competitiveness are two traits that run deep in the foundation of many J-Ball teams. Captain Daddy Banana Boats are seeking revenge this year and are aiming right at the heart of the defending champs: Tune Squad. Quin Craig ’23, a returning Captain Daddy Banana Boat player, said that last year “we were first-round exits, made a lot of rookie mistakes, but we’re coming back for vengeance this year.” Chenevert finished with, “Now it’s time to win another championship.”

Scan this QR Code for more, including a video!

Augie Gerhart: “What has your experience been as a college athlete?” Isabella Palde: “I would say my experience as a college athlete has been a really great experience. I think trying to play a sport in college has been the best decision I could have made. At Cornell all the athletes are very close so not only are you close with each other [field hockey team] but all the other groups as well.” Sarah Rogalski: “Coming in, it was really stressful at first, with being in season and being thrown into the rigorous academics at Cornell. Having your team as a support system is really helpful. I couldn’t imagine getting through a lot of what you’re expected to do in college without my teammates and my coaches. Playing a sport not only keeps you active throughout

Trey Hicks ’21 now plays basketball for Longwood University, after attending Hill as a postgraduate. PHOTO COURTESY OF LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL

Trey Hicks was a post-grad with the Hill Class of ’21. After a big PG year, Hicks committed to play Division I basketball at Longwood University. Longwood went on to win the Big South Conference and play in March Madness. Hicks talks about what that experience was like, and how Hill helped to prepare him. A portion of the interview is below.

the day but it’s also something I look forward to and we just have a ton of fun. AG: “What’s been the hardest part about being at Cornell?” IP: “The school, the school for sure. Here they make it very difficult. Cornell is the easiest Ivy League to get into, but the hardest to stay in. Once you’re in it’s really hard.” SR: “The academics. It’s hard because Cornell is different because inside Cornell there are different schools and some of them help you out more than others. The classes themselves can be really difficult, so that’s probably the hardest part.” AG: How did Hill help you prepare for the college process and Cornell? SR: “The boarding aspect pre-

pared me for dorm living. Even though it’s very different, it still prepared me for dorm living and communal bathroom, doing your laundry, stuff like that.” IP: “I think it helps with structure. I remember when I was a freshman and I first came to college, it was like wait, we don’t have check-in? We don’t have a study hall or a bedtime? So that was an adjustment. I remember when I first came in I actually still followed the routine from boarding school. I would do work from 7-9:30 and then I would be in my bed by 10:30 because we had morning practice. It actually really helped me transition from highschool to college where other freshmen might have struggled.”

Luke Rasmussen: How has the transition from the Hill School to Longwood been basketball-wise? Trey Hicks: Basketball-wise, I obviously played during covid so we definitely got some good games in, and I would say the grind is really different once you get to college. I feel like I didn’t understand going to Hill, but now I do. I spend a lot of time in the gym, whether it’s working out or playing basketball, and in that regard it’s totally different. LR: What are the similarities between Hill and Longwood? TH: I would say the work ethic you have to have. It’s more here, but I came to The Hill School to play basketball and obviously for school. You know you just have to stay focused on your mission. That’s why I’m here and that’s why I came to the Hill School. These are the big similarities for me: the work ethic, being able to stay in the gym, and how I have to get things done on and off the court. LR: What about school work? Has the transition been smooth? TH: At Hill, I feel like I was challenged for the first time, but in college it’s a whole new thing. You set

your own schedule, and you set your own classes. It’s definitely more time consuming because you have to balance it. It’s a juggling act of basketball and school. I feel like Hill kind of prepared me in a way for that. LR: How was March Madness, and like how was that experience in all? TH: You grow up, and it’s like a dream. Getting to March Madness was crazy. The love and support from all the people asking you how it was and the treatment from the NCAA was great. We got police escorts everywhere we went and charter flights for a small school like us was special . It was crazy. It wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I had a good time. We went back to Indianapolis, which is kind of closer to my family so it was a good time. LR: I saw your dunk that you had. How was that experience? TH: Yeah, that was one of the craziest moments in my basketball career. So many people texted me after, people that I may have not remembered but grew up with and played AAU with.