Vol. LXXI, No. 6
the winterim issue
December 19, 2019
Digging SPS Out of a Snowstorm Addie Selch '22
Graphic by Virginia Lawrence '21
After a snowstorm, whether big or small, SPS students rarely worry about getting to class. AIt seems that aAlmost miraculously, the paths are cleared before the sun rises and maybeoften even before the storm ends. But it’s no miracle - it’this massive effort is simply the work of the School’s ten-person groundskeeping team. They work year -round, but winter is by far one of the most demanding times of the year. The groundskeeping team starts preparing for snow well before the end of the Fall Term. By November, they’re already gathering salt and checking that their snow plowssnow plows are in good condition. Before a snowstorm, the groundskeeping team meets to discuss all the details, like what time the crew members will come in to
start clearing the campus. The grounds crew has six plow routes, which include main roads, parking lots, and two sidewalk routes. Roads, brick sidewalks, and paved sidewalks all require different plowing machines. During a snowstorm that starts or lasts overnight, there are always two members of the crew on campus. Mr. Bryan Coady, the head of the grounds crew, said that the crew plows all hours of the day and night to make sure the campus is in the best shape possible for the next morning. They plowmaintain their efforts all day for the convenience of students and to keep the roads ready in case of an emergency. In fact, the School can be open and ready for class in three and a half hours after a huge storm. The groundskeeping team arrives at
4:00 am to start the work on days when a big storm is coming in. If snowfall is less than a foot, the grounds crew works alone to clear the campus. However, if there is a larger storm, all of of the trades employees help out. No matter the length of the storm, the grounds crew works until theall snow is cleared. If the storm lasts more than 24 hours, they rotate grounds crew workers out in 12-hour shifts. The grounds crew doesn’t leave until the storm is over. In total, the grounds crewy plows 30 acres of parking lots and roads, and eight acres of sidewalks per storm. All their hard work is necessary to keep the campus running, and their large efforts have already begun.
The 2019 Holiday Feast Chloe Abbruzzese '22
The Holiday Feast, previously known as Boar’s Head, here at St. Paul’s School, is certainly a meal to remember. In preparing for the event, the food services staff takes note of what food they made the prior year, how much they made, and how they can make it better. A great effort is put into making a tasty meal, and also into the decorations, lighting, and props; they all combine into the whole scene. The food service staff spends all
day setting up for the huge effort of feeding nearly 800 people. Some changes were made to the menu this year, which came with some uncertainty for the Upper Staff. Those alterations included no oyster or sushi bar as well as the implementation of a vegetarian table with some plant-powered meals. The Upper is specially decorated with an enormous cookie table and ice sculptures. Mr. Stinnett, the SPS Chef, was the mastermind
behind the construction of the Polar Express ice-sculpture which guests see as they enter. It is built using dry ice to create steam which smokes out of a vacuum cleaner and connects to the ice sculpture made by the same company we have worked with for over twenty years now. The Upper Staff continues to work hard putting together a whimsical and creative scene. The dinner is definitely not one to miss.
Graphic by Virginia Lawrence '21
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The Vol. lxxi Editorial Board
How to: Survive Winter Term Anna Solzhenitsyn '21
Editor in Chief Isabel Maney '21
trudging all over campus? On some unfortunate days, the weather can drop well below freezing, so it’s imperative to have a nice, warm coat that will carry you safely and cozily from building to building. And no, it doesn’t have to be a Canada Goose.
Layout & Design Editor Nikhil Vootkur '21 Senior Print Editors Alexander Rowley '21 Khuan-yu Hall '21 Copy Editors Victoria Chen'21 Ellie LaVoie'21 Nina Parker '20 Photo & Graphics Editor Isabella Pargiolas '21
2. Make sure you are getting enough sleep!
Faculty Advisers Ms. Elizabeth Engelhardt Ms. Elizabeth Little contact pelican@sps.edu for comments
NH Primary Rocco Burdge '21
Every four years, presidential candidates come to New Hampshire hoping to win the first primary in the nation. During the months leading up to the New Hampshire Primary Election on February 11, politicians visit every corner of the Granite State hosting town halls, holding rallies, and connecting with voters. Because the sitting president is Republican, the field is predominantly filled with Democratic candidates. There are, however, a few Republicans running trying to beat President Trump. With more than a dozen Democratic candidates still vying for the nomination, the election cycle is in full swing with many events happening every week, some only being ten minutes away from the SPS campus. Because New Hampshire is the second state to weigh in on determining the nominees, politicians are deeply invested in winning the
Granite State’s endorsement. At the beginning of the year, most politicians kicked off their campaign by visiting New Hampshire, kicking off a grueling nine months of campaigning until the vote on February 11th, 2020. As the final weeks of election season grow near, campaign events are starting to truly ramp up in the Concord area. Almost every day a Democratic candidate is somewhere in Concord. On a recent trip to Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign, SPS students were able to meet, shake hands and even have a conversation with him. One student described the event as “a once in a lifetime experience.” Another student said, “it's astonishing how you could be shaking hands with the next president of the United States.” With candidates from Elizabeth Warren to Tom Steyer, politics have never been closer and more accessible for SPS students.
December 19, 2019
Graphic by Alex Li '21 Do you hate winter? Do you find the constant frigidity intolerable as you walk around campus? Do you detest how early the sun sets and how much of the day is filled with darkness? Are you saddened by the constant ubiquity of snow and slush and by the knowledge that it won’t melt for another six months? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then this guide is for you. Read on for some quick tips on how to get through the unbearable cold and darkness that is Winter Term at St. Paul’s School.
1. Get a good coat. This seems like a no-brainer, but many people still walk around in hoodies in December. Why should you have to suffer through the cold any more than you have to when
This is a big one. During winter, the sun sets extremely early. This can throw off your whole internal clock and make you want to go to bed earlier. You should listen to this feedback from your body and sleep when it says it’s time. It’s incredibly important to establish a good sleep schedule and keep it all year round (allowing some occasional late-nighters for particularly difficult Humanities essays, of course), so put that phone on the other side of your room and focus on catching those amazing Z’s.
3. Exercise. If you have a winter sport, that’s great. But for those of you who don’t: even if you can’t make it to the gym every single day, that’s okay. Try to go as much as you can. Exercise helps maintain a positive energy and attitude, making the dread of winter much easier to face. It might seem like getting into bed and watching Netflix is the better choice, but trust me, you’ll be happier if you go to the gym. Also, if you feel drowsy when doing homework or studying, try stopping
for a quick exercise break. Even just a one-minute plank or 20 jumping jacks can get you pumped up so you can get back to work feeling energized.
4. Have a go-to friend. Winter is cold (have I mentioned that yet?), dark, and it lasts a very long time. When put together, all these factors can make you get a little down sometimes. When this happens, the best thing you can do is go see a trusted friend. Even if you’re not sad—maybe you’re stressed or angry or just want to go home for the holiday break—life is just better when you share it with someone else. So just talk it out. Relax. Enjoy yourself and have a good laugh.
5. Try something new. Winter seems to go on forever up here in New Hampshire, so it can be helpful to shake up your routine and do something out of your comfort zone. Maybe you can find a way to get some intellectual stimulation on the side, perhaps by memorizing the order of all the US presidents. Or maybe you can take up an artistic project, like knitting or drawing. Or maybe you’d like to finally pick up that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for months. Whatever it is, you can use it to get out of your rut and make life just a little more exciting while waiting for temperatures to soar so you can go back to sunbathing on Chapel Lawn.
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December 19, 2019
Ms. Blackmer Eve Ye '21
Before working at St. Paul’s School, Humanities teacher Ms. Jill Blackmer was a lawyer for 25 years. Ms. Blackmer started her career focusing on medical malpractice and then became an employment lawyer focusing on problems faced by companies. In Ms. Blackmer’s words, “Lawyers are problem solvers,” as she often approached a case “first assessing, then evaluating and eventually influencing the process.” Ms. Blackmer applies the same process to teaching her students, trying to understand each student before giving suggestions. For example, Ms. Blackmer always asks her students to “Tell me how you write” during extra help sessions, wanting to understand the student’s writing process in order to generate a plan. Ms. Blackmer takes the same professionalism of her job as a lawyer into the classroom and believes that a “classroom is a student’s job.” Thus, while maintaining a bubbly class-
room environment where students can love their “work,” Ms. Blackmer also tries to push students to face bigger challenges. Aside from her experience as a lawyer, Ms. Blackmer had also volunteered in multiple charitable and professional organizations, including acting as a trustee of Concord Hospital and the co-chair of ex-New Hampshire Governor John Lynch’s Judicial Selection Commission. When asked why she chose to participate in so many organizations, Ms. Blackmer simply replied, “Life is to be lived.” For nine years, Ms. Blackmer has enthusiastically guided teenagers at SPS. “I think this stage of life is so full of potential because teenagers are all trying to figure out everything around them!” said Ms. Blackmer. Ms. Blackmer finds value and joy in illuminating the minds of the “generous-hearted, funny, and curious” young people at SPS.
Meet Mako Irisumi Audrey Biles '22
Graphic by Nikhil Vootkur '21
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Geting to Know Mrs. Vo Linda Pang '21
Graphic provided by Mrs. Vo Whether it’s at the erg room of the Athletic and Fitness Center, at the head of the Harkness table on the second floor of School House, during meetings of JSEA, the Tides, or Christian fellowship, Mrs. Deborah Vo is an active member of the St. Paul’s School community. Before coming to SPS, Mrs. Vo taught for eight years at an all-girls high school just outside of Washington, DC. She wasn’t looking for a new job when a rowing coach friend phoned her about a position that seemed suited for her. Each year, St. Paul’s School and Seikei School participate in an exchange program that dates back 70 years. SPS students taking Japanese are able to visit Japan, and students from the Seikei School come to SPS for a year. Mako Irisumi, a Fourth Former, is a new exchange student. She was born in Japan and attended the Seikei School for four years. When the opportunity arose to come to SPS, she was eager to take advantage of it. She wanted to improve her English because she believes it is “an important skill to have in this world,” and hopes that fluency will open doors to more opportunities. She also wanted to immerse herself in Ameri-
Mrs. Vo said that “there was only one school that I would consider and it was St.Paul’s." When accepting the job offer at SPS, Mrs. Vo remembered the pleasant experiences she had when she was in high school and her rowing team came to the crew races that SPS hosted. Mrs. Vo says the “community is a huge part” of her great experience here. Arriving while seven months pregnant with her first son, Mrs. Vo recalls that the cohort of faculty kids formed a very special “community around [her] children." In addition, Mrs. Vo values the “diverse student body” that is unique to SPS. Mrs. Vo says she “really enjoys meeting parents from all over the world during Family Weekend and seeing the origin of the traits and characteristics of each student.”
always pleased to see the tremendous growth that her students undergo as they “transform in Humanities V during the course of the year to become more confident speakers and writers.” Being a college athlete, Mrs. Vo’s training and racing experiences had a significant influence on her teaching and coaching. Mrs. Vo says that she loves crew because “it is such a team-focused sport…Being a rower has made me teamoriented.” She has found her strength in “being part of the team,” and she excels personally when the team excels as a whole. “I have learned to put the team before myself, regardless [of whether] it’s the crew team, the Hum V team, or the advising team,” says Mrs. Vo.
As a Humanities teacher, Mrs. Vo says she appreciates and is can culture. She set out to see first-hand the diversity of the United States and “wanted to experience and meet different types of people.” Mako describes her experience at SPS thus far as tough but also very transformative. “In Japan, I expected I would miss my home and my friends, but I haven’t felt homesick.” Her biggest struggle is the language barrier. Participating in Humanities is difficult because while she wants to share her opinion, she feels as though she doesn’t have the ability to say it in English. “In conversations, friends and teachers understand what I want to say, and they suggest words that I should say. It is helpful and
comforting for me. But, Humanities is hard, and there are many words I do not know.” While Mako’s transition hasn’t been easy, she loves the culture and atmosphere here on campus: “I feel that everyone at St. Paul’s is really friendly and says ‘Hi’ whenever and wherever. They are always talking and interested in making friends.” She is inspired by the hardworking student body and enjoys the rigorous curriculum and knowledgeable teachers. Mako will spend her remaining three years of high school at SPS. She is always open to sharing her story and looks forward to meeting as many people on campus as possible.
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Some Advice From Mrs. Engelhardt Jackie Chen '22
Many students know Ms. Elizabeth Engelhardt, one of the three Classics teachers at St. Paul’s School, for her warm personality and passionate teaching skills. Her lively and informative classes in Latin 2, Latin 4, Latin 5, Latin 5 Honors, and Greek 1 show her deep dedication to and interest in the ancient Classical worlds. One would believe that Ms. Engelhardt has been interested in and learning the Classics her whole life, perhaps since childhood, but surely, she must have started college with her whole path and future as a classicist all planned out? Not quite. In an interview with The Pelican, Ms. Engelhardt shared her story of unexpected yet welcomed change and following her passion, which has led her to SPS and a career she loves. Believe it or not, “when I went to college,” Ms. Engelhardt revealed, “I was going to be a physics major.” She entered Swarthmore College with a plan on majoring in physics, but she needed Humanities and language courses to fulfill her requirements. “I was interested in Humanities and language courses and things like that,” she said, “ ... but I was going to take Spanish.” At her high school, Ms. Engelhardt took Spanish, so it seemed natural to continue it in college. However, Ms. Engelhardt ended up not taking Spanish in college, and she shared the story behind this change: “At a big departmental advising fair that took place orientation week of my freshman year ... I was standing in line to talk to the English depart-
ment, she recounts. “ ... I was and even more surprised when switch to Classics in her first in a line that was long ... and I I actually knew the alphabet.” year of college truly shaped ended up standing in line sort After continuing to show up to her life in many great ways, of directly in front of the Clas- Greek class and learn the noun and SPS is fortunate to have sics table, which did not have declensions (conjugations of a teacher like Ms. Engelhardt anyone coming up to it and nouns) she remarked “I found educating the Classicists of the asking questions. So, I started that Greek was something that future. chatting with the professor was really cool, and I was pretMs. Engelhardt also shared who was behind the Classics ty good at it.” some wisdom for SPS students table.” With a chuckle she tells, “I was eighteen and very “By the end of that week, I de- who may be approaching colstupid and said something cided to switch my language lege or college applications like ‘Why would anybody take from Spanish to Greek.” She and have no idea what they Greek and Latin? They’re dead added with a laugh, “Also, it want to major in or do for the languages. Nobody actually was gyro day at the cafeteria rest of their lives. “It’s crazy to speaks them, what’s the use in when I was contemplating me, and I feel like we’ve failed doing that?’ and the professor switching my language and I as adults, as a society, if we’ve who was very ... patient with took that as a sign that the uni- given the message to people very stupid mouthy eighteen- verse wanted me to take Greek.” that they need to know by the year-olds said ‘Well, let me tell She believes it was destiny, and age of 15, 17 what they need you all the ways Ancient Greek “those gyros were speaking to to do with their lives,” she said. will influence your life in ways [her].” Ms. Engelhardt eventu- “You’re still developing so much, that are not accessible to you ally switched her major com- you have so much growth and unless you actually learn the pletely from physics to ancient change in front of you as a person when you’re 16 years old Greek that year. language.’” that you do not have to, and in The Classics professor’s con- It was not without some back- many cases, should not feel like vincing worked. He “explained lash, however. “That was a you need to commit yourself to me that there were ways that very rough phone call with to one thing.” Her own story I would never be able to fully my mom,” Ms. Engelhardt re- of embracing change, starting appreciate Greek literature vealed. Her mother expressed as a physics major in college to unless I read it in the origi- concerns over her finding a job becoming a dedicated Classics nal. That was intriguing,” Ms. with a Classics degree. “She’s teacher, can give students the Engelhardt said. Swarthmore’s come around,” she adds, “but hope and comfort in realizing “open shopping period” for a number of my family [mem- that there is no need to go into classes allowed Ms. Engelhardt bers] were deeply skeptical that college knowing exactly what to attend the professor’s Greek I could get a job with a Clas- you need your path in life to be. course on the first day of class sics major.” Fortunately, Ms. Twists and turns may very well “on a whim,” she described. “It Engelhardt discovered that bring greater opportunities was just really interesting to she had a passion for teaching than staying in the same place me and the assignment the first the Classics. Classics “is what and in one’s comfort zone. “I night was to learn the Greek al- caused me to look seriously at hope,” Ms. Engelhardt conphabet so I did. It was really fun teaching as a profession, which cluded, “that [students] take writing the letters and practic- I am really happy that I did,” away that it’s good to explore things that you’re interested in ing and learning the alphabet. she said. The next day, I went back and “[Classics] has given me re- just because you’re interested the professor, quite under- ally great opportunities,” she in them.” standably, did not think I was revealed, adding: “I met my going to be very serious about husband!” in reference to Dr. this,” she laughed. “He was David Camden, another Classurprised to see me back there sics teacher at SPS. Her sudden
December 19, 2019
Steering Clear of Club Probation Jackie Chen '22 In the St. Paul’s School Student Handbook, there is a whole section dedicated to the 66 clubs at SPS, outlining rules such as how many times a club must meet in a term. This rule is integral to a club’s survival at SPS. A club is placed on probation if it does not meet these expectations. The rule is that, in order to continue receiving funding each term, a club must meet at least once a month. The club must use the online meeting reporting form showing who came to each meeting. If a club does not meet these requirements, it is put on a probation list and the club’s future is put up for review. This year, Mr. Gregston is also emailing clubs that are on probation as a reminder to meet before the term ends. The simplest piece of advice to club leaders or students wanting to create their own clubs for avoiding club probation is to hold meetings! The advice also works for clubs already on probation; to be removed from the probation list, a club must start holding regular meetings in the remainder of the term to satisfy the requirement. The whole system of club rules and probation is designed to make sure clubs are staying active on campus and to encourage regular meetings and a healthy club life at SPS as a whole.