The Pelican Vol. LXXII, No. 5
St. Paul's School
POET LAUREATE RICHARD BLANCO VISITS SPS Cristina Baron '25 Nationally-acclaimed poet Richard Blanco visited St. Paul’s School on Oct. 24. The Cuban American poet and engineer has received several of the highest honors in the literary world. Blanco became the youngest Presidential Inaugural Poet in United States history when President Obama selected him for that honor in 2013. He was also the first latinx and gay poet to receive this honor. In 2023, Blanco was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden. During his visit Blanco spoke in Chapel and visited Spanish classes and meals, where he shared his story and discussed the driving forces behind his work. Blanco was born in Spain to Cuban Exile parents and raised in Miami, Florida. He studied engineering in college and began his career as a civil engineer. He says he soon realized his love for language—as he spent most of his time writing—and began to
compose poetry. Blanco writes most of his poems in English, but says it is important to him that the person who translates his work into Spanish shares his identity as a Cuban and gay individual, so that his ideas are accurately maintained. The overarching theme in Blanco’s poetry is home. He told the Spanish Seminar and Spanish 3 Honors classes that he is an “emotional historian.” and aims to answer universal questions from an emotional and psychological perspective. His guiding questions, “Where am I from? Where do I belong? Who am I in this world?” are listed in an autobiographical section of his website, richard-blanco.com. During his visit, he told Spanish students that his own life has been spent searching for a place that feels like home. Ultimately, according to his website, he “never found just one home,” adding that he once felt MiContinued on Page 2
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WHATS THE SCHOOL'S AI POLICY? Theo Christoffersen '26
With the growing use of AI tools in everyday life, St. Paul’s School leadership has formed a team to investigate the potential uses of AI on campus. In mid-September, Dean of Academic Affairs Megan Drinkwater and Academic Technologist Melissa Poole assembled a group consisting of faculty members and three fifth form students to work toward a more informative and clear policy. Drinkwater explains the goals of the group: “We hope to arrive at a policy for SPS that modifies, clarifies, or affirms our stance about AI use on campus,” she says. “Our hope is that greater clarity about how AI may be used, or not, on campus will help ease student concerns about accidentally incurring academic integrity violations.” Currently, SPS policy treats the use of AI the same as any unauthorized resource in any academic work, which is clearly stated in Continued on Page 2
Fall foliage on Library Pond // Photographed by Vin Chutijirawong '25
MY DC EXPERIENCE Why it wasn't all that bad Lulu Mangriotis '25 Last February I went to the disciplinary committee (DC) for breaking a major school rule: Respect for Self and Others (3.4.3 in the Student Handbook). If you take a look at the 2023-24 edition you can find the rule I broke bolded (uses of candles). This was a difficult and reflective time for me and I definitely grew through the experience. Students might tell you that the DC is the worst thing that could ever happen to someone. Yes, getting a DC is something you want to avoid. But the process, for me, was not nearly as bad as what I’d feared. Before I get into this article, I want to acknowledge that every experience with the DC is different. In no way am I trying to minimize the experiences of others or make any broad generalizations of a process that is unique for each person. What I hope to do with this article is address some of the rumors about what the DC process is, and also share some insight into my own experience. The purpose of the DC is to address students who have broken a major school rule and to have a conversation about it. “It’s not a trial, kids think it’s a trial,” says Humanities Teacher Daniel Murphy, Head of the Disciplinary Committee. Rather, he explains that it’s “an opportunity to address what you did, reflect on it, reflect on your thought process in the moment, and consider what your thought process would be when confronted with a similar situation.” My own DC process spanned the course of a week. I broke a major school rule on a Sunday and met with the Deans later that afternoon. I learned that I was going to the DC on Monday and later that night I had my meeting with the committee. From the start, I was honest and owned up to my mistake and because of this, I feel I was treated with empathy in the meeting. “By telling the truth and being honest,” says Murphy, “we humanize our interactions and create a level of empathy and compassion for one another.” When I walked into the meeting space, I saw a Harkness table with Murphy at the head of the table, two other faculty members of the discipline committee, a member of the Dean of Students office, two Sixth Form Officers, and my advocates. While I can’t speak Continued on Page 2
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News MY DC EXPERIENCE: IT WASN'T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE Lulu Mangriotis '25
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about the events during the meeting, I will say that the room didn’t feel hostile or tense, despite many students having told me it would be. I knew I had people who supported me in that room, and this made the room feel safe for me.
"Coming out of that room, I honestly felt great." Coming out of that room, I honestly felt great. This is not how I was expecting to feel, nor how people told me it was going to feel. But I think I felt this was because one, I got closure, and two, I felt supported by those who advocated for me. Obviously, I was over-
whelmed, but I felt so relieved to have a weight lifted off of my shoulders. Immediately after I left the DC, I felt like the big unknown entity of the DC wasn’t so terrible after all. The next morning, I was informed of my consequence after Chapel and went on with the rest of my day. I spent my time with my restrictions as productively and positively as I could. I checked in at 7:30 pm to my dorm and went straight to my room. This would have been much harder for me in a single, but having a roommate during On Bounds definitely made it easier; together, we stayed productive and when our work was done we would watch movies together. The thing that affected me the most negatively was the SPS rumor mill. The announcement in Chapel, although anonymous, led to students whispering and making speculations within seconds. Through that infamous rumor mill, people get the details
POET LAUREATE RICHARD BLANCO VISITS SPS Cristina Baron '25
Graphic by Kennedy Hinojosa '24
happy to talk about how I handled the experience and how I’ve grown from it. I feel like my character has developed so much since that dreaded fourth form winter. I have become comfortable enough with my situation to embody the idea that you can be resilient from a DC in actively redeeming yourself to become a role model. It’s just as important to grow from your mistakes as it is to own up to them. My DC does not define me. The DC process is not meant to ruin you, it’s in place to help you grow and learn from the experience, and I promise I’m not being forced to say this. However, from my personal experience, I think we can all do better as a community to minimize the gossip and rumors that spread after DCs are announced in Chapel. Everyone makes mistakes, but in order for students to grow from their mistakes we cannot drag them down by creating stories based on speculation.
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear reader,
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ami—existing “in between” the United States and Cuba—was the only place that understood him. Later, he says he felt drawn to the “other side of the hyphen” in the term CubanAmerican, and moved to the old American town of Hartford, Connecticut. Blanco’s new book, Homeland of My Body, was released on Oct. 24 and contains new and selected poems about the “psychology of home.” The COVID-19 pandemic, Blanco says, caused him to reconsider the definitions and implications of mortality and home. He writes about how homes are not found only in tangible places, but deep inside one’s own mortal body. The book “provides a retrospective of how I came to the emotional conclusion that my body and my art are my current respite and psychological home,” writes Blanco on his website of Homeland of My Body. “The biggest mystery in my life is myself,” said Blanco during his visit, and this book is his way of exploring this mystery by diving deep into his nuanced and complex identity.
wrong. In fact, I had someone come up to me and tell me they heard I was a practicing pyromaniac, which in no part was true. In reality, I broke rule 3.4.3 in the handbook. Specifically, I lit a candle. Getting DCed is not a good thing, but for me, getting DCed was only as bad as I let it be. A DC should be a wake up call, and an opportunity to come back from it stronger. Ever since the end of my time On Bounds and my completion of active restoration, my DC has been left behind me, but I’m always
It has been a marathon of the term. First and foremost, we want to congratulate the Form of 2024 on making it through a very stressful part of the college process: early applications. With that said, the end of the fall term can signify something different for everyone. Third form: you’ve made it through the first milestone - congrats on learning the ropes! Fourth form: you’re chilling, getting acclimated with new friends and classes. Fifth form: we understand your pain with standardized tests and the beginning of college talks, and we are all here for you. As we make the transition to winter term, we hope everyone can take the Thanksgiving break as a time to rest and reflect on all the work you have put in thus far. It can be hard to stay motivated because we know the Winter term tends to feel ominous. St. Paul’s students are notorious for complaining about the bleak winter days when it feels like you have entered the heart of darkness (if you know, you know), but do not feed into this. There are some super exciting parts to look forward to, especially in Winterim: The Nutcracker, Christmas feast, Lessons and Carols, and the beautiful snowy scenery that will surround campus. Our personal favorite is the annual gingerbread contest. So, comrades, do not fear; winter term is not ALL bad. We are excited for what’s to come, so let’s put the W in winter. Skylar Christoffersen and Lidia Zur Muhlen Photo courtsey of Richard Blanco
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News GENERATIVE AI IN THE ART WORLD Melody Zhang '27 In a world where technology continues to reshape every facet of our lives, art and design are no exceptions. Generative Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has ushered in a new era in the arts world, altering the creative process, challenging conventions, and blurring the lines between human and machine-generated art. Generative AI is reshaping how artists and designers approach their work. By using algorithms, neutral networks, and machine learning, AI provides artists with a new source of inspiration and assists in overcoming an artist’s block. When artists are stuck or seeking inspiration, AI can provide fresh ideas and break the monotony. By analyzing a diverse range of artworks and styles, AI algorithms can suggest new directions, helping artists to explore unexplored areas and rekindle their creativity. AI’s ability to generate unique content can serve as a starting point, offering a spark of inspiration that artists can then build upon. Additionally, AI can automate time-consuming and repetitive tasks,
freeing artists from doing tedious work and allowing them to focus on the more imaginative and innovative aspects of their art, ultimately helping to overcome creative obstacles. This transformation extends to other domains as well, including architecture and urban planning. AI tools can generate and optimize innovative designs: aesthetics, functionality and sustainability. In fashion, AI’s influence is equally significant. Brands leverage AI to forecast fashion trends, generate clothing designs, and streamline production processes. AI tools can analyze vast datasets of customer preferences and historical designs to help designers create innovative and on-trend clothing. They can generate new designs and patterns, speeding up the creative process and offering fresh ideas. In addition, AI-driven virtual prototypes and simulations can streamline the design process, reducing the need for physical samples and minimizing waste. This leads to a more sustainable and cost-effective process, which lowers the environmental impact and pro-
duction costs. However, Generative AI raises ethical questions on authorship and originality. To what extent can AI-generated art and design be considered human creativity? Who owns the rights to art or design created by AI? While AI algorithms are tools designed by humans, the actual creative output is driven by the machine’s ability to process and generate content. The issue challenges traditional notions of artistic authorship, as AI blurs the lines between human and machine creativity. Can AI truly be creative, or is it merely a tool for replicating existing styles and ideas? While the full consequences of Generative AI cannot yet be seen, it is clear that the impact on art and design is dynamic and multifaceted. AI has redefined creative processes, expanded styles of artistic expression, and questioned the ethical concerns of authorship. It has not only served as a source of inspiration and innovation for artists and designers but has also found practical applications in various industries, from fine arts to fashion.
DISTRACTING CONSTRUCTION NOISES "Building tomorrow's campus, disrupting today's studies" Lucas Conrod '25 The construction of the new Fleischner Family Admissions Center is vital to developing the St. Paul's campus and Sheldon’s upcoming transformation into a social center. The process has generated excitement among the student body, but some students expressed their frustration with the noise of the construction process since arriving on campus this fall. The effects of constructing the soon-tobe admissions center, which will neighbor Lindsay, have been at times difficult to ignore during classes. Charlie Voge ‘25 has class in Mr. Heitmiller's third-floor room: “It’s been impossible to focus on any of my quizzes or tests because sound travels through the windows,” she said. The noise problems on campus have not been exclusive to Lindsay, but at times have extended across the academic quad to Schoolhouse. While students acknowledged the value of the building’s construction, some remained frustrated by the lack of a solution to the noise problem. Closing the windows–
–a seemingly adequate solution to noise–– can lead to overheated classrooms in Schoolhouse. “Hearing constant drilling during a Humanities long block made it so much harder to focus, but the only other option was to bake in the Schoolhouse with the win-
"While students acknowledged the value of the building’s construction, some remained frustrated by the lack of a solution to the noise problem. "
dows closed,” said Carter Corbett ‘25. Unfortunately, the temporary disruption proved unavoidable. Senior Director of Facilities and Planning Jamie Kolker explained that planning a new building involves many
people and spaces: “The planning and design is the result of a multidisciplinary team of architects and engineers,” he said. “There are many inspiring precedents throughout St. Paul’s grounds, and the diverse immediate context of Lindsay, the Red Barn, and Alumni House are among them.” The planning for the building, Kolker said, began in 2022. “Throughout that process, we studied multiple options, and the renderings you see today are the result of a lot of design work and discussion with SPS community members.” Construction on the Center will continue through 2024, with a plan to open and be ready for occupancy in 2025, and will even carry on throughout the cold New Hampshire winters. “Construction methods make the work possible even in the coldest temperatures,” said Kolker. Responding to students’ concerns, Kolker acknowledged that construction creates noise but said that most of the noisiest construction is complete. “As construction continues, there will be periods of intermittent noise,” he said. “But the plan is that it will be less impactful than the site preparation that occurred over the past weeks. Thanks to all for your patience and understanding.”
PELICAN MASTHEAD EDITOR IN CHIEFS
Skylar Christoffersen ‘24 Lidia Zur Muhlen ‘24 MANAGING EDITORS
Andrew Choi ‘25 Lucas Miller ‘25 Cole Hamilton ‘24 LEAD C O PY E D I T O R
Cora Partridge ‘24 C O PY E D I T O R S
Kelly Sung ‘25 Nausicaa Chu ‘26 Will Ekstrand ‘24 Eden Knight '24 Sarah Lee '24 NEWS EDITOR
Lulu Mangriotis ‘25 OPINIONS EDITOR
Michael Nechipurenko ‘24 STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
Henry Dennis ‘24 SPORTS EDITOR
Sam Bentley '24 PHOTO EDITORS
Temi Johnson ‘24 Vin Chutijirawong '25 MEDIA EDITORS
Declan Schweizer ‘24 Henry Wilson ‘26 LAY O U T T EAM
Elle Ruminski '26 Aedyn Kourakos '26
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Student Life WHAT'S IN THE WATER? HOUSE MUSIC
Musical genre of House is a beat that many students can't stop listening to Jack Bretl '24
Graphic By Julia Koeman '25
The genre of house music has, is, and always will be second to none. So much has changed since the genre developed in the late 1970s in Chicago. Today, people listen to house music worldwide and it is one of the most popular genres of music. Kitty Diamond enjoying herself at a restaurant // Photo Courtesy of Kitty Diamond '25
"To me, house music is morning doing homework in the Upper, DiaChar Machiels '25 mond brings a true sense of individuality to effectively thepaMeow, meow! What’s that you hear? Dr. everything she does. ry in that it will Before coming to St. Paul’s, Diamond reDuclos's two cats, Sticky Rice and Steamed Bun? No. Even better. It’s Kitty Diamond. An members being embarrassed by her name. “I eventually solve icon of the fifth form, Kitty Diamond is as wanted to change my name because I was unique of a person as her name entails. At the afraid that no one at St. Paul’s would take me all of my probripe age of two, when asked to introduce her- seriously,” she says. But that changed. “I’ve self in preschool, she changed her name from learned to love my name. It tends to be a relems, but at no ally good conversation starter. ” Katherine to the unconventional ‘Kitty.’ From cost" Diamond’s fun and approachable perWHAT'S IN THE NICKNAME?
"Diamond remebers being embarassed by her name."
then on, the name stuck. Whether she’s killing it on the theater stage in her breakout role as the ‘Non Stereotypical Maid’ in Clue, crashing people into the JV ice hockey boards or up early in the
sonality, along with her unique name, allow her to form an initial connection with almost anyone. “Kitty is always the first person to get everyone hype. In other words, she hypes meow up,” says Jaeleen Baffour ‘24. Just like her special name, Diamond carries a distinctive ability to connect with all different types of people and is consistently a warm and welcoming presence. Ava Detweiler ‘25 calls her the “most pawsome friend.” Above all, Kitty Diamond is defined by her capacity to stay one hundred percent true to herself in all aspects of life, and her rare individuality radiates throughout campus.
Many people on this campus claim they are house music fans, but a few of us are completely reliant on it. I am one of those people. Upon returning to my dorm after a long day of classes, I turn on the closest bluetooth speaker and toss on some house to de-stress. The collaboration of drum, bass, and synth waves is the perfect mixture of sound to get me in the right headspace after a long day. To me, house music is effectively therapy in that it will eventually solve all of my problems, but at no cost.
I would not be doing my job well as a self-declared house enthusiast without putting you onto the right people to listen to. I highly suggest you dive into Dom Dolla, Mild Minds, and Fred Again. Keep in mind that everyone claims they are Fred fans after listening to one song. I believe that in order to become a true Fred fan you must listen to him religiously for an entire term (I survived my junior spring because of Fred). When you are looking to slow down with your house music, throw on some Flume: a true staple of house music. Once you have completely immersed yourself in house, put on some Rüfüs Du Sol, It’s Murph and without a doubt, Folamour. The most beautiful thing about this genre is that it can be listened to at any time or place and it immediately brings people together. The energy that this type of music carries with it has the potential to bring friends together and put smiles on everyone’s faces. In a sense, house music will always be at the core of all my friendships. Some of my favorite and happiest moments have taken place when house was playing.
Graphic By Kennedy Hinojosa '24
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Student Life WORKING TOWARD A NEW AI POLICY FOR THE MAKING OF SPS SPS ADMIST NEW AI TECHNOLOGY CONNECTED it will be in specific and limited ways to enThe group is looking to find a balance Theo Christoffersen '26
Graphic By Kennedy Hinojosa '24
the student handbook. While the use of AI for personal work or recreation is allowed, the group also recommends that AI be used with caution due to potential biases or errors. “Should we choose to permit AI tools be used,
hance the learning experience,” Drinkwater says. Drinkwater explains that the group is still identifying places of concern regarding the use of AI and figuring out what areas need improvement before they start to lay down a full policy on the matter. “Students should be able to use it for studying and learning information. However, when they use the source they need to accept the fact that what they may be learning may be incorrect and that their number one resource should be their teacher,” says member Diego Gonzalez ‘25. He anticipates that the group “will continue to support the full ban on ChatGPT on graded assignments, like essays. That includes idea generation and doing all the writing for them.”
EVIDENCE-BASED STUDY PRACTICES FOR FINALS Lucas Miller '25 November at St. Paul’s School means a lot for us students: Thanksgiving turkey, football and the overwhelming wave of foreboding that overshadows the grounds before finals week. The word “finals” often brings thoughts of latenight cram sessions fueled by alarming quantities of caffeine. Below are a few study practices to help you beat the stress. The Pomodoro Technique: Developed by university student Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, the traditional Pomodoro Technique breaks study sessions into twenty-five-minute intervals followed by five-minute breaks.Dr. Amrita Mandal of the National Health Institute names numerous benefits to this method, including more focused work over shorter periods. A 2011 study by University of Illinois Professor Alejandro Lleras suggests that short mental breaks dividing extensive periods of deep focus improve productivity and concentration over time. The Pomodoro Technique can also help prevent academic burnout, a widespread malady during finals week. Spaced Repetition: Spaced repetition, or the idea of spreading the memorization of sections over longer periods of time, “leads to
more robust memory formation than does massed training,” according to a 2016 study by Dr. Yili Zhang of Georgetown University and colleagues. Coupled with Hermann Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve, which shows that humans’ steepest loss in memory retention occurs shortly after learning new information, spaced study sessions prove to be a valuable tool for memorization. Blurting: The blurting technique is a method of active recall designed to test knowledge. Best used as a review practice after the bulk of studying, blurting asks the practitioner to recall notes from memory and create a new note sheet. First, review your notes and pull out the most important concepts. Next, cover the new sheet you made and attempt to replicate it by memory. Add the points you were not able to recall and highlight them. As you move through the material, repeat the process with the terms you struggle to recall from memory. Numerous other study practices can help SPS students survive the exam season, but no matter how you break it down, finals week can be a stressful time for all. Just remember that a long and well-deserved Thanksgiving break awaits.
between AI and student learning. “We recognize the impending ubiquity of AI tools and want to ensure that they are not used at SPS in ways that undermine the learning process,” says Drinkwater. As they look to the future, Drinkwater says they are working to solve this problem while addressing the challenges. “The chief challenge is the incredibly fast pace of change in AI and its applications. Things are changing so quickly that no policy can be definitive; we will have to continue to adapt,” she says.
Edie Jones '24
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Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, all St. Paul’s Community members receive an email from Dean of Students Suzanne Ellinwood: SPS Connected. The newsletter, which includes all of the important information for the day, has become a St. Paul’s staple, especially since no current student has experienced the school without it. However, lots of care goes into it, and the story of SPS Connected is just as interesting as the newsletter itself. Ellinwood initially came up with the idea for SPS Connected at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Chapel was held only two afternoons per week on Zoom,
STELLA AT SYA Stella's experience with french fashion and the cultural differences involving style Stella McNab '25 My initial expectations of French fashion are far from the reality of this country, especially Rennes. I consider Paris the exception of the generalizations I’m going to make as that is one of the places in the world to test new styles of fashion. It’s important to note that no one wears color here. I brought pink, green, and yellow dresses to France, expecting to fit in with my presumed preppiness of the country; I couldn’t have been farther from the truth. High schoolers here will occasionally experiment with a warm gray top or brown pants;
Graphic By Michaela Hope '24
however, this is rare. On a regular school day, French teenagers might wear dark wash denim jeans, a white or black long sleeved shirt, and Adidas Sambas. Girls often slick their hair back into a braided ponytail and boys will maybe have showered the night before. Unfortunately, I did not pack for the kind of France I just described. My biggest hurdle, besides the language barrier, has been figuring out how to fit into French society with my colorful closet. My first day of school I was caught wearing a white Zara mini dress, something no real French teenager would ever wear to school. Luckily, I quickly fixed my mistakes. You might be wondering: how, Stella? How did you fix things so quickly? My answer to this question would be shopping. Plain and simple. Although clothing selections are much wider in the States, the French still have a few places they love to shop at. My favorites are Bershka and Pull&Bear. In conclusion, if you would like to fit in with the French, I recommend going as minimalist as possible. Focus on the basics: white, gray, and black. Choose tops, jeans, and dresses wisely. Dressing like a French person is within your grasp!
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Student Life THE SPS BUZZFEED QUIZ Lulu Mangriotis '25
Graphic By Michaela Hope '24
STUDENT COUNCIL ADVOCATES FOR TWO END-OF-TERM DANCES Chiza Ilozor '27 The week of Oct. 23 was full of spirit, sweatpants, and Amazon packages—all thanks to Student Council. We had a funny and creative spirit week to lead up to the Halloween dance on Oct. 28. But it wasn’t easy to create all these events. “Coming up with a Halloween dance was new this year,” says Sixth Form Officer Vice President Kaden Roy ‘24. Though Fall Ball was originally scheduled to take place on Oct. 28, this year’s StudCo members proposed that the school host both a Halloween-themed dance and Fall Ball. Once the Dean of Students office approved this idea, StudCo members faced
their next hurdle of changing around the dates to fit in two dances in the few weeks that remained in fall term. Students say they took several different factors into consideration when figuring out a date with the least number of conflicts. The final weeks of fall term are packed with important events including the sixth form college application deadline, the fifth form talent show and time for the entire student body to study freely for their fall term finals. However, student leaders managed to propose dates for both dances that would not clash with other events. The Hal-
loween dance took place on Oct. 28 and Fall Ball is scheduled for two weeks later on Nov. 11. Next, student leaders say they consulted with members of the student body for their opinions on the dances. In house meetings, students voted on whether they’d prefer to have one dance or two. By a slight margin, the more popular option was to have two dances. Students then began their preparations for the event. They started off by rallying school spirit through hosting spirit week. Members suggested themes including onesie day and Disney day, and the members of StudCo came
to an agreement with the Deans on what the theme of each day of the week would be. “StudCo is all about community,” says Secretary Kiki Hillery ‘24. Though student leaders say the process of planning dances and spirit week leading up to Halloween may have been a long and stressful one, they were happy to work through it in the hopes that everyone at SPS would have fun and feel included. And there is more to come. “Trust, we got y’all for the rest of the year because we have big things planned for the formals,” says President Cris Ramirez ‘24.
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Student Life 73 QUESTIONS WITH MR. SCHROYER Nel Peter '25 and Elizabeth Johnson '25 Looking for “the premium sherpa experience?” Look no further. Artful5 has been leading “!Rookies” to their first clear. What is a sherpa? What is a rookie? What is a clear? How has Artful5 revolutionized Bungie’s Destiny 2? Wonder no more. Let us guide, or should we say “sherpa,” you through the life and passions of Artful5, affectionately known in our community as Art Teacher Brian Schroyer. Schroyer describes his audience as “small children that don’t listen to their parents” and “middle-aged dads” who tune in daily to watch Artful5––affectionately called ‘Art’– masterfully and courageously leads “!Rookies” to life-altering clears. For all those wondering what the heck we are talking about, let us enlighten you: A clear = a win. A sherpa = a mentor. A “!Rookie” = a beginner. Artful5 = our humble leader. Have we rocked your world yet? Let us continue. After watching Art’s stream, we can confirm he is the #12 sherpa in the world, a standing propelled by Art’s 18.2K loyal followers. Art prioritizes a family-friendly PGrated stream, an intriguing niche on Twitch, his preferred platform. Art makes sure to keep his content appropriate. “I spend every minute pretending that the Rector is sitting on one side of me and my mother is on the other,” he says. Art says he found streaming through a student at St. Paul’s almost eight years ago. The student, who is now Art’s manager, recognized Art’s fanbase and saw an opportunity. In cahoots with Mrs. Schroyer, the student persuaded Mr. Schroyer to embark on the streaming journey. Through rigorous training sessions in which he learned to check the
chat and divide his attention between screens, Mr. Schroyer became “Artful5” like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Schroyer asserts that streaming feels just like teaching.“I treat it like a digital classroom,” he says. His favorite part about the stream is his relationship with the game Destiny 2. By separating it from his work, Art preserves the integrity and authenticity that his fans are looking for. Artful stays loyal to Destiny 2, even amidst recent controversy swirling around Bungie, the game developer. He encourages anyone looking to start a stream to be themselves and to stick to a fixed schedule. Although Schroyer told us he believes anyone can stream with these two components, we would like to recommend patience as another key principle of the craft. After seven hours of streaming, we remain cloutless and cannot match Art’s success. Artful5 makes it look easy, and building a following that rivals his is no small feat. It's common nowadays to use the term ‘married to the game’ to express true commitment to one’s craft. Is Artful5 married to the game? Perhaps. At the very least, he’s literally driven by it: his wife’s license plate is a reference to the popular video game Halo. Art wishes his highlight reel contained his most seamless snipes and triumphant clears; instead, it includes his run-in with what he calls a “big spider,” which he says was not his best moment. Mr. Schroyer is an excellent art teacher in the same way that Artful5 is an excellent sherpa; he acts with patience, resilience, and tact. To all those “!Rookies” reading this, we recommend checking out Artful5’s streams.
Pumpkins on Chapel Terrace // Photographed by Vin Chutijirawong '25
A HALLOWEEN BASH Sarah Ernst '24 The clock struck 8 pm on Oct. 28 as students and deans dressed in spooky, friendly and fun Halloween costumes. As students entered the dance, they were greeted by Dean of Students Suzanne Ellinwood in her devil costume and Associate Dean of Students Thomas Gregston in his Violet Beauregarde costume. Veryyyyyy spooky. “My favorite part of the dance was seeing everyone’s creative costumes,” Ellie Ward ’24 said. The costumes were creative indeed, with students dressing up as vampires, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz characters and many more. There was an assortment of cookies and candy. Per usual, water was scarce and Lila Coleman ’24 felt Raffini was like “walking into a hot, sweaty sauna.” Many haunted creatures could be seen fanning themselves or going for a nice walk outside to cool themselves off after the steam room that was Raffini. When the clock struck 10:30 pm and the lights eerily flicked on, many Sixth Formers retreated to the basement of Friedman Community Center for an afterparty.
In addition to costumes and treats, we can’t forget about the music. “The dance was great! The DJs were especially FIRE,” said Miru Nam ’24. The DJs in question—Lucas Salazar ’24 and Jack Sulger ’24—who previously made their debut at EcoFest, provided a non-eco remix that even had the deans and faculty raving! With Salazar and Sulger on the elevated platform as student DJs, the dance was off to a fantastic start. “This was the first dance since the Sixth Formers arrived that we have had students hit the DJ board, and it was definitely a big hit,” Salazar said. Many students took the advice of Bianca Ihekwoaba ‘24 in the SNL Chapel announcement into consideration when she suggested that students make good decisions. When everyone arrived at Sunday brunch, students could be heard raving about the dance and costumes as they gorged themselves with waffles, bacon and pastries after last night’s activities.
THE JOY OF LIVE MUSIC Liv MacMillan '25
Graphic By Kiki Hillery '24
As we approach the long-awaited Thanksgiving break and ten days of freedom, I’m sure many of us are deciding how to make this time worthwhile before returning to school and locking into winter term. While I know many of us are preparing to hibernate, I want to propose another idea. Over this short period of time, wherever you may go, I strongly encourage you all to get out into your local area and see some live music. I could talk for hours about my concert or festival memories, or how each individual show was “the best moment of my life,” but to be honest if you know me you’re probably sick of it and have heard it all before. While I do attribute some of my most “life changing” experiences with live music to high production values, large crowds and maybe even lasers, that’s nowhere near the point of why I
encourage you all to see some live music this break. It doesn’t even have to be good music, and I’m not joking. Listen to the man singing on the street corner or go to a local band on a flier on a telephone pole. To me, there is no better way to get into touch with humanity than to go see someone else do what they are passionate about— especially music. Over the summer, I tagged along with my metal-punk-obsessed friend to maybe four or five different shows. To be completely honest with you all, it was really not my thing. So why did I keep going back? Because I had never seen a crowd and band so in love with the music. There was no subtle head bopping, or people standing still and filming everything, just people who cared deeply and passionately about their music and expressing themselves. My friend and I were probably about half the size and age of most people there, and with 35 year old men stage diving and moshing I will admit I feared for my life. But I don’t regret a moment. Whether you’re a music buff like me or not, I promise you there is nothing better than feeling the music from the ground or feeling the energy of a crowd. It might even make you feel human long enough to get you through the cold winter in Concord.
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Student Life SPS CROSSWORD Henry Dennis '24
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Student Life THE SPS COMIC Luke Wolfram '27
THE MAKING OF SPS CONNECTED Continued from Page 5
and there were no announcements. “My original goal was that there would be no more allschool emails ever,” Ellinwood says. Ellinwood sent the first SPS Connected email on April 1, 2020. It included a virtual hymn from Director of Chapel Music Nicholas White, a reminder to stop shipping packages to the Package Center, and a set of Zoom backgrounds to use for online classes that Ellinwood made herself (including a Dunder Mifflin background and a toilet paper background, to acknowledge the toilet paper shortage of 2020). When in-person school resumed on the grounds in fall 2020, SPS Connected emails included Red Zone rules and community members’ birthdays. “SPS
Edie Jones '24 Connected is a good thing that came out of the pandemic,” says Ellinwood. As St. Paul’s transitioned out of its COVID-19 era, though, SPS Connected continued to be necessary. Before the pandemic, Chapel announcement scripts were sent out each morning after Chapel. But unlike SPS Connected, those didn’t include reminders about library hours, peer tutoring, and town hours. The newsletter also allows for longer versions of chapel announcements, so that Chapel doesn’t impinge on class time. As well as being beneficial to the school, SPS Connected has also been a positive addition to Ellinwood’s job. “I don’t have to do it,
but I really enjoy it,” says Ellinwood. In addition to keeping her fully aware of all of the events happening on campus, making SPS Connected is an opportunity to be creative. “One of the hard things about being a dean is that I’m really kind of a crafty person, but there’s no time for being crafty. So I really like it when someone doesn’t have a little graphic for their event announcement and then I can make one,” she says. Ellinwood explains that she makes the graphics on Canva and assembles the newsletter on Smore. Her creative side also comes out in the emojis in the subject line, which she says makes the email easier to find in people’s inboxes. The envelope emoji means
newsletter, and plug emoji means that it’s online. On special occasions, Ellinwood ventures past these two emojis, like the winter break edition of SPS Connected last December, which included a snowflake. “My emoji game is incredibly weak,” she says. On what she calls a good day, Ellinwood gets the newsletter done by the time she leaves her office the night before she sends it. Schedule-send, she says, was a game changer for her. “I’ve been doing it now for so long that it really doesn’t take me a long time to make it,” she says. She reports that most days’ newsletters take her 15-20 minutes, but Friday’s takes her a “solid hour and a half.”
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Opinions WHERE DID THE SPORTS JINGLE GO?
WHY SATURDAY CLASSES? The lifelong SPS question
The Op-ed that led to the return of the Sports Jingle Cole Edwards '24 Editors Notes: This article was intented for publication on October 20, 2023. On November 7, the sports jingle returned to chapel.
On Sept. 19 in Chapel, we were betrayed in the place that we’d called home for so long. Ever since I was a fourth former listening to services in the aptly-nicknamed “Sleepy Hollow,” there was one moment I looked forward to more than anything: the single, brief instant where the entire school was on the same page. Two of the school’s panoply of star athletes took the podium and sang to the tune of the ESPN SportsCenter jingle: “da-na-na, nana-na.” The entire student body, Pelicans in a triumphant flock, shouted back: “Sports!” Once the school’s attention was focused, the athletes would share news about upcoming games and celebrate the athletes of the week. It was tradition. Every so often, students would even offer a twist, where they gave the call, received the response, and answered with “no,” before sharing news about their own clubs. Such a simple introduction spiced up an otherwise unseasoned announcement. When two captains of the girls soccer and lacrosse teams stepped to the podium on Tuesday to share SPS’ athletic news, and we
were greeted with a simple “good morning,” my sixth form peers and I were shocked. Those of us who remembered the good old days scratched our heads with blank expressions not unlike the faces we made when looking at our first Honors Chemistry test. What happened to the jingle? Where had it gone? The one moment of Chapel where the school joined in harmony was ripped from our unsuspecting grasp. The once-unique sports announcement is now no different from a fifth form seminar reminder. We do not know whose decision it was to scrap the iconic tune, but we have no shortage of opinions on it. “It made chapel interactive, everyone shouting. It had us excited to cheer for the Big Red,” says Bianca Ihekwoaba ‘24. Boys Crew Captain Jack Sulger refers to the subtraction as “outrageous.” Several anonymous sixth formers went as far as to say that they “hate it” and one captain simply gave a thumbs down when asked to comment on the change. Unfortunately, the fun introduction to sporting news has gone the way of Kwok breakfast and scrolling through Instagram on the paths. I offer this advice to the community as we mourn the loss of the jingle: don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Don’t let this kill your spirit. Stay loud, stay proud, and stay positive. Go Big Red.
Audrey Zhang '26 In many schools and workplaces around the world, five-day workweeks are the norm. Some businesses have even begun to transition to four-day weeks to improve employees’ work-life balance and increase their motivation. Though six-day workweeks are uncommon almost everywhere else, they remain a defining characteristic of the St. Paul’s School schedule. Many students agree that the length of the SPS “weekend” is inadequate. Tesla Pratt ‘26 says she struggled with ad-
"One day of weekend is way too short for me" -Tesla Pratt '26 justing to school on Saturdays as a new student. “Friday nights still feel so weird to me because I’m not used to doing homework then. One day of weekend is way too short for me, especially since I often spend them
doing my work for Monday anyways,” she says. Mack Barrette ‘26 agrees, and says she also believes that a two-day weekend would help her feel more rested and prepared for the upcoming week. However, she says that six-day weeks benefit student-athletes. “Sometimes I think the six-day weeks are nice because they give me more time for practice, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I like having that extra time to run spread out during the week.” Despite the variety of benefits and drawbacks of 6-day weeks, both Pratt and Barrette believe that the schedule provides St. Paul’s students with life skills that will be useful in the future. “Even though Saturday school might be annoyingly painful in the moment, going back to 5-day weeks will feel easier than what we experience right now,” Pratt says. “By the time I get to college and work, I will have been conditioned to work hard for long periods of time.” Barrette agrees, saying “SPS got me used to planning for the 6-day weeks, and I think those time management skills will definitely be useful in college and beyond.” Though there may be potential longterm benefits to the 6-day work week, SPS students continue to view them in a generally negative manner.
HAVE YOU NOTICED THE SPARKLY SHOE? BECAUSE WE HAVE One of my favorite books when I was younger was Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It made me feel validated to know that someone could become successful for doing something I did every day: drawing kind of weird stick figures. I enjoyed the adventures of Greg and Rowley, but most importantly, I loved the infamous “cheese touch.” For those who aren’t familiar with the cheese touch, I’ll explain. One day, a moldy piece of swiss cheese appeared on the basketball court of Greg and Rowley’s school, and no one knew why or how. Instead of investigating its appearance, a kid decided to touch it. The cheese touch was born. Right now, you may be asking yourself: “Why does the cheese touch matter?” Bear with me, because the cheese touch has, in
Gretta White '25
fact, appeared on this very campus. However, our piece of moldy swiss cheese is the foot of a small man. And what is so fascinating about this man is that he secretly controls all those who see him, but he never speaks. I bet some of you have even fallen under his spell. That spell? A foot rub. If you now have an idea of who this man is, you’re probably right. The little aviator of the Upper, also known as the statue in the Upper common room, has slowly expanded his web of control over the student body. Every day, he receives multiple foot rubs from students who pass by his statue, a phenomenon that intrigued me. When I asked some of my peers why they did this, they firmly responded that rubbing his boot is “good luck” or “tradition.” But where did this tradition
come from, and should we be all touching his boot? As I sat in my room thinking long and hard about this little man and our student body as a whole, I thought back to the cheese touch. Some believed in the power of the cheese and some didn’t, and the same can be said for the golden foot. When I asked my adviser, Profe Finch, whether or not she would participate in the rubbing of the foot, she gave me a short but sweet answer: “absolutely not.” This answer, combined with the sentiments of “luck” and “tradition,” have captured the minds and hands of our student body. And it leaves me wondering: is this why we all have hand, foot and mouth disease? Graphic by Julia Koeman '25
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Sports TEAM HIGHLIGHT: BALLET COMPANY Madeline Rick '26 and Grace Guang '27 The SPS Ballet Company has been hard at work this fall with rehearsals. Over Family Weekend, dancers performed snippets of Don Quixote, a classical Spanish romantic comedy. The BC was fortunate to welcome Byam Stevens ‘71, Artistic Director of Chester Theatre Company, as a visiting artist. Under Stevens’ guidance, the SPSBC learned more about artistic expression and the cultural landscape of Don Quixote. "Don Quixote is one of the few ballets in which the female protagonist is a commoner and not royalty,” said Company member Alana-Kaye Morgan ’25. The play was also considered a radical piece for its time because it was cen-
tered around the “common folk,” rather than the upper classes. Knowing this historical background allows us to give the choreography more depth and substance in our performances. While teaching the dancers how to use space effectively, Stevens shared strategies on how to best present yourself. “Think of your movement like you are moving molecules,” he said, “and be aware of both figure and ground,” said Stevens ‘71. The Ballet Company provides a unique opportunity to train in ballet at the pre-professional level while pursuing a rigorous secondary education. SPSBC is made up of approximately 20 dancers, many of whom say the Ballet Company was a significant factor
TEAM HIGHLIGHT: VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY Helen Berger '24 Varsity Girls Field Hockey has had a great season. Led by captains Cami Bell ‘24 and Eliza Ekstrand ‘24, the team has held high expectations for themselves throughout the season. Despite the loss of key seniors from last year, the team has been able to find success. Players say their team culture is among the strongest on campus. Students might see the team around campus in their bright red jackets walking from “team brek” in the mornings or hear them chanting at 7:50 p.m. on nights before their games during their iconic “Fee” chant at the flagpole. These are just a few of the team’s unique traditions that contribute to their strong connection, which reaches even beyond the field. “These are my best friends,” said Char-
lotte Wensley ‘24. Despite being ruled out for the season due to injury, Wensley continues to look forward to time spent with her teammates. “This season has been the time of my life. The highs and lows of girls field hockey are my most unforgettable moments in SPS sports” Fellow player Sam Moyer ‘24 agrees. “I expected greatness this year, and the team delivered beyond my wildest expectations,” she says. This year, the team is a force to be reckoned with. From their outstanding defensive line to their aggressive offensive attack, the team is well-rounded in their play. Furthermore, they are a gritty, hard-working group with an unbreakable spirit. These attributes, along with their signature braids and strong SoundCloud mixes, makes the team a formidable opponent for any team.
The sidelines during a Varsity Field Hockey game // Photographed by Temi Johnson '24
in their decision to enroll at St. Paul’s. Members of the Ballet Company take ballet for both their art class and afternoon commitment all three terms of the school year. While athletic teams are away at games every Wednesday and Saturday, the SPSBC is hard at work in the Dance Building preparing for their performances. This year, the company is led by captains Serena Li ‘24, Holland Goss ‘24 and Lila Coleman ‘24. With the Christmas season quickly approaching, dancers have been in the studio working for their upcoming performances of The Nutcracker, an annual tradition at SPS. “The Nutcracker is one of the most wellknown ballets,” said Audrey Zhang ’26. Suffice it to say, the dancers are excited for this
popular performance: “The Ballet Company can’t wait to put the holiday in this holiday season,” said Olivia Van Stone ’25. The Nutcracker will take place at Memorial Hall on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. Looking ahead, SPSBC is thrilled to welcome back one of their favorite guest choreographers, Carlos Lopez, who created a piece for the Company last spring called Raíces. Additionally, some dancers have the special opportunity to choreograph their fellow dancers for the Company's Winter and Spring performances. “The St Paul’s School Ballet Company is off to a wonderful start and we cannot wait to share our hard work with you,” said Captain Serena Li ‘24.
TEAM HIGHLIGHT: BOYS JV SOCCER
Boys JV Soccer in action // Photographed by Hal Johnson '25
Ryan Su '26 The JV boys soccer team impressed Big Red fans with their stunning performances this season. This year’s team comprises a diverse set of players ranging from eager thirdformers to seasoned fifth-form veterans. Under the experienced leadership of captain Luka Clark ‘25, the team maintains an undefeated record in Lakes Region play. Clark’s leadership and ball control, along with his strong presence in the midfield, are critical to the success of the team. “Every time Luka touches the ball, it is poetry in motion,” said defender Rhys Henrikson ‘26. After graduating four seniors from the previous season and losing some key players to the varsity squad, boys JV soccer was in the market for new players who could fit their demand. This year’s squad boasts talented new players in almost every position
group, each bringing a uniquely physical play style––their strongest new attribute. However, this does not mean the team is without its weaknesses. “The team is doing well, but we can’t score,” says Clark. The team’s 2023 campaign began with three tough losses against Brooks, Worcester, and NMH. With dogged determination and an eagerness to win, boys JV soccer remained disciplined as they stepped up their play, going undefeated in their in-conference games. “This year we have more fight and ambition in us,” said Clark. The team adapted well to the changes this year, and new players say they have felt the loving community that the team fosters. “What makes this team special is that we are all friends and we support each other,” said Felipe Gonzalez ‘27. Boys JV soccer looks forward to maintaining their winning record this fall as they play Exeter, Cardigan Mountain, and other Lakes Region opponents at home.
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Sports A RECAP OF THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA St. Paul's students competed in the world renowned regatta that takes place on the Charles River Kevin Wu '25 On a beautiful, crisp fall Sunday on Oct. 22, six St. Paul’s School rowers and one coxswain took part in one of the largest competitions in the rowing world: The Head of the Charles Regatta. Taking place on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, this competition is the largest multi-day rowing competition in the world and welcomes the world’s top rowers every year. This year, St. Paul’s sent two boats: one competing in the Youth Men’s Fours and the other competing in the Youth Men’s Doubles. George Nichols ‘24, Kaden Roy ‘24, Sebastian Brigham ‘24, and Theo Christoffersen ‘26, along with Lila Paterson ‘25 sitting in the coxswain seat, represented the Big Red in the Men’s Four Plus boat, and the dynamic duo of Jack Sulger ‘24 and Lucas Salazar ‘24 raced in the Youth Men’s Doubles competition.
Boys Crew Coach Colin “Chip” Campbell led the boys into battle on a beautiful Sunday morning. After a day of hard racing, the Four Plus boat placed 74 out of 90 boats and the double placed 12 out of 50 boats. “It was a bit of a wake-up call,” said Christoffersen of the four’s performance. “We had a lot of fun, but there is much to improve on.” On his race with Salazar, Sulger weighed in: “We felt like we did everything we could in a limited amount of time to have a cracker of a race.” In addition to racing, the boys had the pleasure of connecting with many of their former SPS teammates who were racing with their new college teams. Members of the boys crew program are anticipating their spring season with excite-
ment. “The spring season is going to be lit. We’re going to, as the team says, ‘huzz,’” said Brigham. In his preparation for the spring,
Sulger shared that his training regimen includes “big winter training, 5:30 in the Erg Room. 60 minutes. Working hard, getting fit.”
George Nichols '24 and Kaden Roy '24 rowing in Head of the Charles // Photo courtesy of Kaden Roy '24
Written by Sam Bentley '24 // Graphic by Cole Hamilton '24