The
MEADOWS SENTINEL Volume XXXVIII Issue I
The Meadows School
October 2021
Girls Golf Wins State Championship
Engage Your Curiosity With Community Courses
Spotlight on Fall Athletics
Welcome New TMS Teachers Included Inside: - Letter from the Editor - A Sneak Peak Inside College Admissions - Choosing Chinese - Coping with COVID - Welcome New Students - Camp Mustang Makes a Splash! - Student Council Plans 1
Sentinel Staff Editors Natalie Vo Keira Ward
Staff Writers Tessa Maddox Maesen Peshina Onah Nwapa Natalie Hsu Katie Anderson Nathan Kessler
Choosing Chinese
A Sneak Peak Inside College Admissions
New to World Languages this year: Mandarin By: Katie Anderson (freshman) As many of you may already be aware, The Meadows Upper School is offering a new language course to all grades: Mandarin. This course is now one of four core language options students can take in order to fulfill the language requirements necessary to graduate, along with Spanish, French, and Latin. Mandarin is the most ubiquitous dialect spoken in China, as well as the official Chinese language. According to writtenchinese.com, it is made up of about 50,000 characters, each of which stands for either a sound or a whole word. The typical educated Chinese adult is fluent in about 8,000 of these symbols. However, because native-English speakers are generally accustomed to using an alphabet, it can be challenging to learn such a different language since Mandarin consists of symbols and sounds rather than letters. The new teacher of the Chinese course, Ms. Lu, has been conquering this difficulty for the last nine years.
Having a unique teaching career, Ms. Lu was born in Taipei, Taiwan, where she lived with her two sisters until she moved to America thirteen years ago. For nine years, she has been teaching Mandarin Chinese to American students. Ms. Lu mentioned the obstacles COVID-19 has presented to her teaching, including the need to show students how to pronounce words, but being unable to do so with masks. However, despite these challenges, Ms. Lu’s students continue to make progress in the subject. Freshman Anthony Terry (a new Mandarin student) said the fol-
Helping seniors reach the finish line.
By: Onah Nwapa (sophomore)
lowing about Ms. Lu: “She seems like a very understanding person. Because English was her second language, she knows how the language learning process goes, and she is good at starting very basic and making sure everyone in the class gets exposure.” Anthony, who is very interested in Asian culture, also commented on how difficult it can be to learn a language so different from his native tongue, but Ms. Lu’s understanding and patient ways provides an easy introduction to Mandarin for her students. World Languages Department Chair, Sr. Clement, has foreseen the addition and development of a fourth language – specifically Chinese – at The Meadows Upper School for several years, noting that this extension is the first of many. The choice to incorporate Mandarin was heavily based on the influence of Meadows’ parents. This year, the vast majority of new Mandarin students consist of freshmen, and Mr. Clement predicts that, as the years progress, Mandarin will grow into a solid world language branch offered at our school. Because The Meadows is not yet offering advanced Mandarin classes, Ms. Lu is currently only a parttime teacher, and at first this proved difficult to find a solid part-time candidate. Because of this, Ms. Lu wasn’t able to start until June when students were on summer vacation, and therefore high schoolers didn’t have the chance to meet the new Chinese teacher and learn about the subject. Mr. Clement saw this as another obstacle for new Mandarin students this year, one that will now be avoided in the future as other students can now see the great things Ms. Lu is doing in her classroom. Despite her late arrival, roughly ten freshmen joined Ms. Lu’s brand new class this year - a remarkable turn-out for such a young course. As the years pass, who knows what impressive interest in Chinese language, literature, and culture this new class will spark? Ms. Lu, her students, and faculty and staff here at The Meadows are excited for the bright future that
As the new school year rolls onward, this year’s graduating class of 2022 finally begins taking small steps towards finalizing college applications. The pressure and tension of applying to colleges across the country, and in some cases around the world, can seem a heavy burden to high school seniors everywhere. Applying to colleges can be perceived as a time consuming and difficult process for seniors when completed alone with no aid or guidance. That is why, at the Meadows School, an exemplary college counseling program has been a strong part of the high school curriculum. The college counseling program that is solely dedicated to helping our seniors through the college application process. The college counselors work with the juniors so that they are even more prepared as seniors to establish their goals and understand their needs entering the college of their choice. This process helps seniors discover the colleges that are the best fit. While helping the seniors through this process, the stress levels that appear for seniors can often be high. As a college counselor at the Meadows School, Melissa Lustig, states that the key to helping seniors alleviate stress is how they give seniors college knowledge, college research tips through presentations, conversations and etc, during the earlier years of high school which she knows will help the seniors be comfortable knowing they are prepared. Senior Emma Thalgott alleviates stress and stays calm during the process by “just realizing her application is set in stone” and how “the only part left during her senior year of high school is to fill out the application completely.” But even with all of these tips and guidance from the college counselors, it is inevitable that seniors will face stress. Senior Kristine Ndubisi elaborated on which part of the college process causes her to feel the most pressure and makes her nervous. “I think the part that makes me most nervous in the admission pro-
this new Chinese course has in store.
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-cess is recalling my whole life’s experience and condensing it all into one essay for college.” As well as helping seniors through the stressful times, The Meadows college counselors support the students through methods of positive thinking. Thinking positively and having an open mind, especially during the college admission process can help lower levels of stress and allow seniors to enjoy their final year. College counselor Barabara Stewart reminds seniors about how the “application process is a summary of their hard work” and how it represents “their time to shine.” Melissa Lustig also expressed that “seniors should be excited about their choice” which produces a “sense of positivity, motivation, and enthusiasm for the future.” Interestingly enough, some seniors have looked at the future and what that means for their journey throughout college and the experiences they will face. Emma Thalgott related what being able to complete the applications process and begin college means for her. “I think during my first year of college, I am just excited to continue my education which is going to make me more productive. I think this will be a lot better for my career.” Kristine Ndubsi indicated that she is excited to “have new experiences” such as “meeting new people while walking around campus.” Ultimately, as the seniors make progress through the application process with the aid of the Meadows School college counselors, they are given an opportunity for achieving their goals and finding the college that is the right fit for them. Working in a positive environment with the understanding that college counselors are here to help, seniors can feel a sense of accomplishement as well as a sense of pride knowing they are able to complete the process and end their senior year on a high note. Good luck Seniors on your college admissions journey!
Community Courses How did this great, new program come to life? The start of the new school year also brought the start of something else: Community Courses! Brand new and unique courses are now offered on Wednesday mornngs, introducing students of The Meadows community to a variety of subjects and opportunities to learn. Student-driven and passion-filled, the courses are carefully designed by student leaders, instructors, and course managers. Already, half of the Upper School student body has signed up for a community class, including courses in Real Estate, Self-Defense, Web Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Law 101. Although these courses hit the student body by surprise, the whole process took a lot of behind-the-scenes work and was planned by multiple members of the Meadows school community. Social Sciences teacher Mr. Rosenfels, one of the people who helped develop the Community Courses, expressed his excitement for the start of the new program. When asked what inspired him to come up with such an innovative idea, one person immediately came to his mind: alumni Josuha O’Campo (2018). During the last school year, O’Campo emailed Mr. Rosenfels and expressed interest in starting a design thinking project. Mr. Rosenfels then proceeded to gather a small group of interested upperclassmen together. After a few meetings, the group quickly realized that there was something bigger yet to be discovered here. Through a year-long investigation that included interviews with current students, students who transferred, faculty, administration, and parents, the group uncovered an academic culture that they wanted to change. After hearing about the stress and anxiety that many students talked about during their interviews, Mr. Rosenfels and his team of leaders decided to put their fingers on possible solutions to cultivate ideas that would contribute to a healthier learning environment. After a period of brainstorming, the group began to design a program that at the Meadows is now know as the Community Courses: “The program is fundamentally rooted in the fact that human beings are curious and eager to learn, and that knowledgeable people are happy and willing to share,” said Mr. Rosenfels. The group wanted to augment the current curriculum by offering courses that were voluntary and ungraded, and also allow parents, alumni, and the greater community to join in on the learning experiences. They wanted to provide productive opportunities for students who wanted to explore different non-traditional topics or
By: Natalie Vo (senior) even career paths. After the group of students pitched their ideas to the department chairs and US Director Ms. Larson, they were faced with both appreciative comments and questions that pushed the students deeper into their pursuits. After a bit more development, the administration decided to officially schedule a change in the weekly calendar to include a period for the Community Courses Wednesday mornings in the following school year. Fast-forwarding to now, the 2021-2022 school year has officially started and these plans have been put into action. During the second week of this school year, the Upper School gathered together in the CFA to hear about the different courses that they could sign up for. Students who were managing or leading a course marched up on the stage and proudly introduced their courses to the study body. The assembly was not only captivating but also created tons of excitement and buzz! The audience applauded generously after each group presentation and seemed to be impressed at what their fellow peers had to offer. When asking students what class they were looking forward to the most, senior Sofia Pelaez expressed her excitement and said, “I can’t wait for self-defense class!” Another senior, Brooke Fitzpatrick, applauded the concept of having a stress-free environment to learn in: “It’s a great way to develop new skills in a non-stressful, but still academic, environment.” While some students are enthusiastic about the chance to learn a new topic, others are excited about being given the opportunity to teach a class. Carson McCue, one of the student leaders who helped develop the Community Courses with Mr. Rosenfels, is now watching his efforts come to fruition. When asked what he thought the biggest benefit of the Community Courses would be, he stated that “letting students explore interests is important to a liberal arts education.” Students are encouraged, but not required, to sign up for a community course that is designed to last for 5 weeks but may be extended further. New courses will start to roll out in the second quarter, and into the second semester. If the program is successful, Mr. Rosenfels hopes that “there will be a new slate every year.” The student body received this news positively, and many are planning to participate or lead their own courses. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of an innovative group of students and teachers, the Meadows School can further advance and continue its mission in offering a unique, fun, and well-rounded education!
Coping with COVID New counselor, Dr. Pugliese, gives advice about mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic By: Nathan Kessler (freshman)
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During the past year and a half, much has happened with everything between political drama and deadly new diseases, but along with these difficulties comes more internal issues of the global populace. These issues, such as depression and anxiety, have increased tremendously and affects everyday life. We’ve all experienced, in one form or another, the overabundance of media reports on events that have occurred. This takes a toll on the general mental health of everyone, everywhere. The vaccine may have prompted some feelings of relief, but the general consensus is that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is still spreading and isn’t planning on slowing. The question is, how are students and teachers alike affected by this crisis, and how well are they handling it? Moreover, what is some advice from counselors to people currently struggling from ongoing worry? As a new counselor of the Meadows High School, Dr. Pugliese gives advice to struggling students and provides insight on the challenges they could be facing. She also shares her thoughts on COVID in general, as well as her experiences in the past months. Dr. Pugliese states that a common issue among our society is high levels of stress. She states that people are used to getting a lot done on time, but when COVID hit, it slowed everything down. However, since people try to still get a lot done on time and quickly ALL the time, it can be the main root of our feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. Teachers and parents as well try to carry these massive burdens of work, which can eventually weigh down their minds and cause anxiety and stress. When asked how people can cope during these situations, Dr. Pugliese advises, “For me, I recognize what I can control, for some that might mean wearing a mask or getting vaccinated when eligible... Or maybe talking to a friend, maybe even giving ourselves a break… Having patience is very beneficial. I don’t need to get it all done, and I can give myself grace for that.” When interviewed about her stress and what she does to counteract it, Dr. Pugliese explains, “I was juggling a lot (at the time COVID hit)...with finishing my dissertation, along with having a baby…” She then said that she learned to be flexible and that “learning how to give myself grace is very important.” She
states how people often don’t prioritize rest, even though it’s a healthy way for people to take a break and come back to what they were doing more energized and refreshed.
TMS student Anthony Terry speaks of his separate experiences throughout the past year and a half. He states that, through COVID, people have tried to “rush through” this pandemic, and when they try to make things “normal,” things just take a turn for the worse. His solution to this would be to not take things too fast and to try to socialize, even if it’s online. Throughout the free time COVID has “provided,” he says that students should find their passion and what speaks to them. Anthony’s thoughts on when the crisis will be over is “next summer.” Freshman Aaron Frome described some ideas gained from his experence last summer: “Humans no longer need personal communications to interact,” Aaron states,“but with the 21st century, and how it is, it was sort of inevitable.” His advice and what he did to cope when he was struggling was to listen to music and stay as healthy as possible. When asked about when he thinks COVID-19 will end, he responded, “I think it will be over by spring of 2022 at the latest.” So, to the people who have been struggling with mental health concerns throughout the time this pandemic has been raging, remember to stay healthy and rest. Be flexible with time and find your passions. Listen to music that speaks to you and talk with friends, even if it is online. Know that you are not alone. If you have any issues, be sure to speak with counselors such as Dr. Pugliese, and stay safe.
Let’s Go Mustangs!
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Fall Sports Back In Action!
By: Tessa Maddox (sophomore)
Fall sports season is back, and The Meadows community is more excited than ever! After the Fall athletics season was canceled last year due to the COVID restrictions, student athletes are back on the fields, courses, and courts, and are very excited to participate. Sports including football, volleyball, cheer, cross country, golf, and tennis have returned for a full season. Fall sports provide an outlet not just for student athletes but for the entire Meadows community to come together and show their enthusiasm. School spirit is abundant, and everyone is thrilled. With all the summer training, practices, and workouts that the student athletes engage in to get ready for the season, the Meadows community is thrilled to see how everyone’s hard work has paid off. As this issue of The Sentinel goes to print, many athletes are in first place teams and currently in finals or playing for State championships. Earlier this Fall, Athletic Director Mr. Grubair conveyed his expectations for the season, particularly about the preseason training and preparation. When discussing his hopes for the teams, Mr. Grubair indicated that playing the games is not solely about winning or losing, but rather about building camaraderie, creating strong bonds, and representing The Meadows School with pride. “This season is not just going to be about working out and being in great shape, and playing just to win. It’s really about how our teams are going to gel, how selfless these players will become, and not just in their own locker rooms but toward the other teams they play.” Grubair continues, “What determines success is the kind of character the players display during the year. If they respect their teammates and do the work in a very genuine, sincere way, all the teams will have a great experience. ” Mr. Grubair also emphasizes the importance of girls’ sports being in the spotlight this Fall season, and for the opportunities being presented to female student-athletes for them to feel valued and become the best they can be. Mr. Grubair has been working hard to show the student body the importance of the opportunities being presented to all student-athletes. “This is all about ‘Who’s going to work the hardest?’ and understanding that all hard work will lead to something greater.” Mr. Grubair can’t wait to see the teams put their best feet forward. Football
With the start of the football season, many of the student-athletes are eager to get to participate and be on their team this year. The Meadows football team kicks school spirit into gear with the excitement of their games this season. After training for weeks in preparation for the start of the season, football players are feeling good about their coming competition. Sophomore Derek Baine states his feeling about the upcoming season, saying, “I feel pretty good, I feel like we’re probably going to make it to State this year. It feels really good to get to play, we played a few games last year, but it’s a whole season this year.” Athletes on the football team have been training hard for this season, and are ready to play their hardest and build strong bonds with eachother! Cheer
With the opportunity to bring their dynamic energy to games this season, like football, the Cheer team is very prepared for the sports that are being played this fall. With the in-
corporation of the creation of their Meadows dances and cheers, their season will prove to be successful. Cheer helps to initiate student spirit in the stands of games, and plays an important role in getting school enthusiasm up. Taylor Wolfe, an 11th grader on the cheer team conveys her excitement for the fall season, “I’m excited for everything to be back to normal because we didn’t have a regular football season last year. This year will feel a lot more normal, especially without masks.” Cheer finally gets the opportunity to bring life back into the stands at football games, and the cheerleaders are as thrilled as ever.
enthusiasm for the tennis team. “I’m really excited, more psyched than usual. I think the underclassmen have a lot of excitement and skill. We have some good work ethic which is really nice to see and I think we have a really nice team this year,” says Lee about the Fall season for the Meadows tennis team. LATEST UPDATE: Tennis goes to state after demolishing competition at southern regionals!
golf, the team is expecting a season quite up to par. Mizara Norton, member of the girls golf team, is Cross Country excited to step up this season and show what Meadows is made of. “I’m looking forward to being not only the first official girls golf team but winning state as well.” Norton says. Having to travel on a bus for each practice, and having practices every week, the golf team is well prepared for their season ahead. The golf team is “swinging” into Fall, and doing it with good effort. LATEST UPDATE: Girls golf Running into the action, the Cross wins the state championship! Country team is ready to take names this fall season. Getting to do cross Tennis country in the fall instead of spring like last year, not only gets the student-athletes excited to get to play a sport so early in the year, but also allows them to beat the heat just a little bit, in comparison to the time they were spending under the sun last spring. Putting effort into every step, the cross country team is ready for their season. “It is really nice getting to play sports without any form of restrictions as my first year With the Fall season “swing- at the school I had to sit out for 180 ing” into motion, tennis players are days then covid happened almost eager to have their sports season taking out 2 full years of sports,” starting. After an epic win for both says Elena Sands, 12th grader. Student-athletes are taking the girls and boys team in their first match, the tennis team is proving initiative and taking the steps necto be in the works for a very suc- essary to have a good season. This cessful season. Players are excited intriguing athletic news is providto get the chance to develop and ing the entire Meadows communidisplay their skills on the court. Not ty an abundance of excitement and only that, but the tennis team has a school spirit, not just by providing massive amount of players, ranging athletes the chance to play, but also from 9th graders to 12th graders. bringing eagerness and anticipation Senior Marcus Lee expresses his for games into the Meadows school.
Volleyball
Not only is the ability to play their sport this fall hyping up school volleyball players for the season, but so is the addition of the new coaches for the Meadows JV and Varsity teams. With new instruction, and a longer season this year, volleyball players are eager for their fall season. Sophomore Maesen Peshina expresses her excitement, “I’m really excited for volleyball season this year, I love playing with the girls on our team.” After taking part in practices over the summer, the volleyball teams have been preparing for this season. The players are determined to put their best foot forward on the court, and not “pass” up the opportunities of playing in games. Golf With a new season of golf, and the second season ever for girls 5
The Meadows Opens its Arms to New Faculty An introduction to new teachers in the Upper School By: Keira Ward (junior) and Maesen Peshina (sophomore) English Department: Dr. Vance
The Meadows School community is excited to welcome a new educator in the English department, Dr. Mary Vance! Dr. Vance will be teaching all 11th grade students in their honors or AP European Literature and Composition classes, while also leading the Meadows Yearbook crew. Dr. Vance worked very hard to earn her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD Degrees, all at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With her many years of experience learning and teaching the vast world of literature, Dr. Vance is devoted to sharing her knowledge with a new generation of students. Though it may come as a surprise, Dr. Vance did not plan to study in the English field during her first years of higher education. She entered college with a major in theater, rooted from her
Math Department: Mr. Swiecionis
love for Shakespeare. This helped form Dr. Vance’s love of teaching. One of her main goals as a teacher is to, “give students a newfound love for topics that they wouldn’t normally enjoy.” While Dr. Vance’s love for Shakespearean literature played a large role in guiding her on the path of becoming a teacher, her teaching career didn’t start at the Meadows. Dr. Vance taught at Bishop Gorman High School, in Las Vegas, for six years before coming to the Meadows. Dr. Vance expressed her excitement to “take the community feeling at Meadows and develop it more in a classroom setting through collaboration and working together.” She is looking forward to exploring new topics with students at the Meadows and creating strong connections. Faculty and students at our school are excited to see what Dr. Vance’s inclusion in our community will bring to our eager students. One of Dr. Vance’s favorite quotes is to “bloom where you are planted,”which she interprets as a way to look at everything as an opportunity to grow. We are immensely grateful to have Dr. Vance at the Meadows teaching valuable lessons of life and literature to our eager students.
The Meadows School is excited to welcome a new teacher into the math department, Mr. Kevin Swiecionis! Although Mr. Swiecionis is new to The Meadows, he isn’t new to the Las Vegas area. Before coming to our school, Mr. Swiecionis taught at Adelson for a few years. Before that, he went to graduate school at the University of the Las Vegas, Nevada. In fact, during his time in graduate school, he did an assistantship which formed his love for teaching. The Meadows students have already impressed Mr. Swiecionis with their “scholarly attitude,” and we are excited to see what Mr. Swiecionis will bring to our school. Mr. Swiecionis will be teaching the PreCalculus and Calculus classes here at the Meadows. As difficult as these classes may be, the students are lucky to have a teacher as qualified for this position as Mr. Swiecionis. Within the first few weeks at Meadows, Mr. Swiecionis is impressed with the quality of education here at TMS. He is especially amazed with the advisory program here at the Meadows. He says, “The students don’t shy away from a challenge or adversity.” Mr. Swiecionis is eager to create more connections with students and strength
World Languages Department: Ms. Lu (see page 2)
English Department: Instructor Bugni
World Languages Department: Sr. Borjas Sr. Julio Borjas is the new long term substitute teacher at The Meadows School for Dr. Aned Muniz-Gracia. We are happy to welcome Sr. Borjas into the Meadows family and to watch him in his journey of teaching the Spanish language to our students. Although Sr. Borjas has three years of Spanish teaching experience, from teaching at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, this is his first year teaching high school students. Sr. Borjas graduated from UNLV with a Master’s degree and was a member of the division 1 soccer team. Soccer is a big part of Sr. Borjas’ life as he has been playing the sport for over twenty years.
en friendships with all people in the Meadows community. When asked about what Mr. Swiecionis likes about his students, he explained, “I love when students ask questions, not only to get more information but to signal to the teacher that you care about the class and the subject.” Mr. Swiecionis is passionate about the mathematics and is excited to share his knowledge with many generations of students to come. When Mr. Swiecionis isn’t hard at work grading student work or teaching, he loves to garden and landscape. Mr. Swiecionis has many passions that he is excited to explore here at the Meadows, and he is eager to help facilitate the growth of his students! Welcome to the Meadows Mr. Swiecionis!
As the Meadows continues to provide a welcoming experience He also occasionally coaches young soccer players, which he enjoys be- for all new students and faculty, we cause he wants to support young are happy to see that Instructor Valpeople to continue to work towards erie Bugni is settling into teaching their goals, no matter how big these at TMS very comfortably! Instructor goals are. Although Sr. Borjas does Bugni, joining the English departnot play for UNLV anymore, he ment, is excited to get to know her continues to play for the Las Ve- students and become immersed in gas Legends and hopes to con- the Meadows community. Her expetinue his passions of playing rience as an English teacher is outand training younger players. standing, with the numerous years Sr. Borjas is very excited spent dedicating her time to providto teach high school students at the ing knowledge of English literature Meadows. He “enjoys the profes- to young generations of students. Instructor Bugni began sional atmosphere at the Meadows” and is impressed with how wel- teaching English in 1989 when she coming and friendly the Meadows lived in North Carolina. She taught community has been. Sr. Borjas there for three years before decidis immensely family oriented and ing to stay home to care for her four he is hoping to bring that familial children, one of whom is another spirit into the classroom to “build teacher at the Meadows, Instrucstrong connections with students.” tor Cotter! Instructor Bugni decid Sr. Julio Borjas hopes ed to move to Nevada in 1994 and to teach students the beauty began to pursue a career as an arof the Spanish language along chitectural sociologist. This career with teaching them to “be them- path allowed Instructor Bugni to selves, without pretending to explore topics of sociology and the be someone that they are not.” architectural influences on society. Instructor Bugni returned to We are happy to welcome Sr. Borjas into the Meadows fami- teaching in 2005 and arrived at the ly and to watch him create strong Meadows this school year. When bonds with students and facul- asked what her favorite part of ty during his time at our school! teaching is, Instructor Bugni said, 6
“I love watching students explore writing and literature and having ‘aha’ moments.” As the school year rolls on, Instructor Bugni is focused on teaching her students to “stand in the light of integrity” and to “never relinquish your intellectual essence to a third party.” We are looking forward to watching Instructor Bugni inspire many students in her coming years at The Meadows. Instructor Bugni has an impressive past and her experience for this role as an English teacher are outstanding. We are honored to have her as an Instructor at the Meadows and cannot wait to see the impressive work that she is bound to do.
Fine Arts Department: Ms. Tao This year at The Meadows, we are grateful to welcome Ms. Tao to our community along with the new classes she will be teaching, Animation, Graphic Design, and Digital Art. While these courses are from a digital perspective, they are very different from each other. Ms. Tao describes Graphic Design as a course that focuses on “giving voice to communication” and doing so in an “instant visual way.” She mentions how the class helps students “hone their skills and learn how people’s eyes work.” The other course is described by Ms. Tao as focusing on “taking all the things you learn and applying it in a digital format.” Digital Art “tends to use a lot of tools that are the most relevant to people like Discord and video games.” Ms. Tao explains how there are different parts of digital art: “another part of digital art is animation, art of motion, and frame by frame drawings that are blended between photographs.” Ms. Tao has personal experience in both these fields, as she was an artist turned digital artist. Ms. Tao uses her life experiences to help teach students the importance of art and design. Ms. Tao is new to Las Vegas this year, moving here from Southern California. She brought her
Performing Department: Mr. Judd A new class has been introduced to the CFA this year: Contemporary Vocal! Taught by a new teacher, Mr. Judd, the class offers students the ability to harness and improve their vocal skills. Mr Judd explains how “This is the first year this class has been offered because there wasn’t a specific class for choir.” In the class, students have the freedom to pick songs that they would like to sing, making their experience more enjoyable and unique since they are able to explore their various interests and passions. To facilitate creativity, Mr. Judd asks them what they would like to do, and he keeps an open mind with their suggestions. He even opens rap as an option because of the rhythm rap songs possess. Furthermore, the year started with learning how to do vocal warm ups, as that is an important start. From there, they have progressively gone into singing songs, starting off with the Star Spangled Banner. Mr. Judd explains how “It’s a very difficult song to sing acapella with no music” and how he is hoping that they can sing it before some of the athletic events. Other opportunities the Contemporary Vocals students will have to showcase their voices are also in future concerts. Although Mr. Judd is the teacher of a course focusing on vocals, his love
miniature dachshund Bobbie with her to start a new chapter of their lives together here in Vegas. One major difference from California to Vegas is the warmer weather, but Ms. Tao is able to escape the heat by going swimming in the pool she has in her backyard. Other than taking a dip in her pool, Ms. Tao also likes to cook, particularly when she’s stressed. Even though stress is the motivator for her cooking, she ends with a delicious snack and feeling more relaxed. The addition of Digital Art and Graphic Design classes will benefit students who are interested in these newer types of art. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact Ms. Tao and her new courses have on The Meadows community.
Letter From the Editor Welcome to the new year! By: Natalie Vo (senior) Hello Mustangs! I hope you all had a great summer break, and are having another fantastic school year with Quarter 1 now complete. My name is Natalie Vo, and I am this year’s Senior Editor of The Meadows Sentinel, working alongside Junior Editor Keira Ward. I wanted to take a moment to share our our goals for this publication and how we plan to contribute to the Meadows community. Fortunately, we are lucky enough this year to have a reporting team that ranges from grades 9-12, who all together are working their hardest to represent the voices of the Upper School student body. We plan to create a layered newspaper by writing about a variety of topics; our pieces will be informative, investigative, and sometimes opinionated, with in-depth articles and features on topics such as sports, entertainment, special events, etc. We intend to be as connected to the community as possible, through either conducting interviews or sending out surveys, which will help us further our goals in representing our school and its student body/faculty. I am so excited to have the opportunity to lead such a passionate and driven team of writers, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for us. My hopes are that the Meadows community will see The Sentinel as a fun and insightful source of news, one they can enjoy reading, and walk away knowing they learned something new. Of course, we thank you immensely for taking the time to read our articles, and I hope everyone has an amazing rest of their school year! Sincerely, Natalie Vo
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for music didn’t start with just singing. He started on piano at a young age, and was an instrumentalist for a large part of his life. In his twenties, he traveled the world with his band, One Nation, and lived in multiple different places, such as Bangkok, Tokyo, Malaysia, and Guam. He loved playing music in front of large crowds. “After that I settled down and I started writing my own music, so I have a bunch of original songs. That’s when I really dove into singing”. Outside of school and music, Mr. Judd enjoys running and outdoor activities, participating in many activities such as hiking. He says “Anytime I’m outdoors it’s good for me.” We are very excited to welcome Mr. Judd and Contemporary Vocals to The Meadows this year, and we can’t wait to hear what he will have for us in the future.
Welcome New Students!
Student Council Excitement
A look into the first few months for new students. By: Natalie Hsu (freshman) As we enter the 2021-2022 school year, there are many incoming freshmen new to The Meadows School. Some new students come from other schools in Las Vegas, and some come from schools out of the state or country. Since most students have been going to The Meadows for a long time already, it’s hard to remember what being new to the school feels like. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new challenges have arisen. New students have not been able to get the full Meadows experience that others have gotten, but the school has made the necessary adjustments to make sure these students feel welcomed. The school has hosted a number of welcoming events for freshmen, such as Freshman Orientation. During Freshman Orientation, freshmen were given their advisory groups and introduced to other students in their grade. The freshmen in each advisory collaborated on ideas and decorated group flags. Lunch was served and everyone participated in several exciting games. This is just one example of all the welcoming events hosted for students by the school.
I, myself, am a new student and an incoming freshman, so I know first hand about the challenges and opportunities a new student are experiencing. In terms of my opinion, I can say that the Meadows School is such a wonderful community, with friendly staff and a comforting atmosphere. The teachers and students are all very welcoming, and they make it very easy to adjust to the school. This is the experience the school wants us to have, right as we walk through the doors on the first day. New students have given us their feelings about the first weeks of school, so let’s take a look. New Meadows students gave us a peek into their daily lives at The Meadows, and how COVID has affected their Meadows experience. When we asked new Meadows student Karola Garcia (freshman) about her time here so far at The Meadows, she expressed feelings of excitement. Before Meadows, Karola attended Alexander Dawson. When asked about what her favorite classes were so far and why, Karola explained that “my favorite classes so far are probably Studio Art and World History. I like Studio Art because Mrs. Welsing is really nice and the class is a lot of fun for me. I
A sneak peak at all the fun events Student Council has lined up.
also like World History because Mr. Zimring is a very nice teacher, and he puts a lot of thought into his lessons. A lot of my friends are in my class, so it makes the learning experience a lot more fun. I also like the discussions we have in class about different topics.” She also said that COVID does not affect her performance this school year. “I don’t think COVID will affect my performance this year because the teachers are all very supportive and can help us with anything we need help with. We are also in person this year, so I think it makes learning a lot easier.” We also asked Karola about her opinion on the teachers at The Meadows, and she said “I think the teachers are all very nice and supportive, and they help us a lot with school. They also give us a lot of good feedback on our work.” Karola gave us many good views into her first weeks at The Meadows School. Now let’s look at another new student and see what her opinions are on The Meadows School. We also asked new Meadows student Sydnee Clark (freshman) about her first experiences at the Meadows School. Before Meadows, Sydnee attended Cadwallader Middle School. When we asked Sydnee about her opinion on her fellow classmates, she says “My classmates are all supportive and inviting to all new and old Meadows students, and with Meadows being so small, it’s like its own little community.”
During last school year, many school events were canceled because of COVID-19. Restrictions in place last year hardly allowed for some highly anticipated events to occur, such as homecoming. Yet this year, the Student Council team is working tirelessly to help bring back popular events that were held pre-pandemic. At the Meadows school, for the entirety of the school year, the Upper School student council formulates the outline of school-wide events, social events and community projects. Our student council team works very hard to help plan school affairs and activities, providing opportunities for students to raise spirit, and fostering community relations between students. Student Council’s goals this year are to reintroduce old ideas and also introduce new ideas. Our 2021-2022 Student Body President, Elizabeth Becker, hopes to bring back much anticipated ideas and events to help bolster school spirit. “We’re looking to bring back games and music for lunch on Fridays, and the student council is working on getting more dress days during school to help bring up the spirit. For games, there will be dress days that the crowd can join in, and of course, we’re always making posters to help pump up the crowd and environment.” It is very evident that the student council is looking forward to these new ideas and events being presented in school. As well as planning enjoyable events, the student council is also determined to elevate school spirit for our athletes and the different sports teams. Sports at the Meadows school help to foster inclusion and can assist in the exponential growth of school-wide . The members of the student council have currently been making plans to incorporate new ideas for the fall sports season this year. President Elizabeth Becker highlighted that there have been “a lot of fun dress days planned for different games” which was similar to the “tie-dye touchdown day for the football game.” Becker also emphasized there will be “a lot more surprises in store, especially for homecoming.”
And when we asked whether COVID will affect her performance this year, she says “No, because our teachers are still teaching us valuable lessons while following social distancing guidelines.” We also asked Sydnee how she felt about the balance of academics and extracurriculars. She tells us “I feel that the teachers put a lot of time and effort into our lessons so we can get the best in-class learning experience. But on the other hand, Meadows offers a variety of sports for students to participate in. Many of our teachers and staff attend those games. They also provide a vast range of clubs and activities, making school more enjoyable for the students.” Both new Meadows students have expressed positive opinions about the school, and they are excited to continue the rest of their freshman year. New Meadows School students have gotten a one-of-a-kind experience this school year, and being incoming freshmen adds a level of excitement to the mix. The Meadows School is truly a special community, and we can’t wait to see what the new school year has in store. 8
By: Onah Nwapa (sophomore)
Without a doubt, the Homecoming dance has been heavily emphasized after its cancellation last year due to COVID. The homecoming dance can usually be noted as a “memorable night” for any attendee. The dance can raise tremendous school spirit because it is held in honor to celebrate the football game that same weekend. The excitement for the Homecoming dance is clear because of its ability to make memories and help bring the community together. New ideas for this year’s homecoming have been thrown around by the Student Council to leave students with the feeling of what to expect this year. Student Council members have spotlighted fun things that have been planned. Becker once again emphasized what students could look forward to concerning Homecoming. “The number one thing would be the actual dance! We have a lot of fun things in store for it but it’s gonna be as close to normal as it possibly can be! We’ve all been working really hard on the games and events for the rest of the week though but they’re all super fun and everyone can join in, and possibly win a free homecoming ticket, but hopefully we can make Meadows the happiest place on Earth for the day!”. The Student Council has brought upon new ideas to promote school engagement. Ranging from a variety of games to dress days for sports games, Student Council has heavily integrated new ideas and new ways to boost school morale and help bring the Meadows community closer together. With events such as Homecoming not being held last year, the Student Council has doubled their effort to guarantee a fun event for Meadows high schooler students.
Camp Mustang Makes a Splash! Camp Mustang provides both campers and camp staff a fun summer experience
By guest contributor: Chloe Gastwirth (junior)
This past summer held an exciting program for the Meadows community: Camp Mustang! Offering specialty camps ranging from hiking, to robotics, to art, to tennis, Camp Mustang ensured that kids had a wide variety of activities available to choose from that would allow them to maximize the benefit from their summer. By bringing youth both from within the school and across the entire Las Vegas valley to the Meadows campus, Camp Mustang provided kids with an enriching and fun experience as well as granting students with the opportunity to work a summer job that would both hone in their leadership skills and allow them to become more involved in their community. Camp Mustang’s director drew on inspiration from past camp experiences! Mr. Orman, the Director of the Arts, brought Camp Mustang to the school and served as its director. Taking inspiration from his previous institution where he “helped run and develop a camp formatted similar to Camp Mustang,” Mr. Orman altered the camp model to “be more content-specific.” “I saw how happy the kids and their families were at my previous institution when they got to try out different things and have new adventures,” he says. When asked what the most valuable outcome of holding Camp Mustang was, he responded: “It was great seeing the families and the students happy. I really enjoyed seeing how our camp counselors grew in their leadership abilities and resilience and received much joy from leading the campers.” One of his favorite aspects of the summer was seeing how “the little kids worked with the Upper Schoolers.” He felt that the biggest challenge throughout the process was that “every day held a new challenge, whether it was the wifi not working or the fire alarm going off during carpool.” Although inconveniences like this made things a little tough for the team of counselors and coordinators, Mr. Orman thought that “it brought [them] closer together and challenged [them] to think and problem solve in order to provide the safest, best camp possible.”
The recommendation that Mr. Orman gives to students who are considering being a counselor at Camp Mustang next summer is to “try it. Whether you do it for pay or for community engagement hours, you are going to get as much out of it as you put in.” He thinks that “If you talk to the counselors that did it, you will discover that they learned a lot about themselves and the community.” Mr. Orman truly believes that any students that commit to this role will thoroughly enjoy it and have an opportunity to shape themselves as a person. Students who worked as counselors for the camp ultimately found the experience to be immensely rewarding across the board. Sydney Sher, a Meadows junior, “worked with 3-5 year olds as a part of the under the sea and cooking camps.” Being a counselor with these kids granted her a unique outlook on the school by allowing her to have meaningful interactions with the future of the Meadows community: “It really helped me see Meadows from a different perspective. Just 10 years ago, I was one of those kids sitting in the beginning school classroom, and through this camp I was able to reconnect with my childhood teachers and be reminded of the very beginning of my long Meadows journey.” It was very interesting for her to be able to be a part of the early educational process, allowing her to watch these students both grow as they interacted with all those around them and learn a lot through camp instruction. Another Meadows student who had great appreciation for her involvement with Camp Mustang is Sabrinna Ionescu, a junior at the Meadows. She stated that she “worked with a pretty wide age group, ranging from kindergarten to 7th grade.” She took part in many different specialty camps but “spent most of [her] time as an instructor for the cheer camp.” Her time working was thoroughly enjoyable in that she was able “to bond with all of the kids, as many of them really liked conversing with all the counselors about anything on their minds.” These connections she fostered with the Meadows youth have even carried over past the conclusion of the summer. She asserted: “It really warms my heart to reconnect with some of them at school events such as football games; they’ll run up to me and give me the biggest hugs, even though it’s been weeks since I’ve been with them at camp.” This feeling of having such a valuable experience through Camp Mustang seems synonymous with the opinion held by all those who participated. The community seems thrilled to have had Camp Mustang brought to the Meadows School. It has truly granted both students working as counselors and kids attending the camp a great summer experience that combines education with fun and leadership! It will be exciting to see how Camp Mustang will continue to grow throughout the years and foster these meaningful connections within and beyond the Meadows family. 9