The Pelican Issue 1: 2022-2023

The Pelican

Vol.

Policy Changes for Non-School Activities

William Mao '23

The St. Paul’s School policy for partici pation in non-school activities, like travel teams or music competitions, has changed as of the 2022-23 academic year.

Per this year’s Student Handbook, stu dents engaging in outside activities must now submit written requests to leave campus for non-school activities before the start of each term. Students must also return to the grounds before 9:45 p.m. Additionally, the time limits for these activities are now more consistent: students are allowed to miss no more than two nights per week, ten class meetings per term, or six “program days” (classes or LinC days) per term for nonschool activities. This limit of ten missed classes is known as the “seat time” rule.

These updates come in response to stu dent safety concerns regarding the “absolute

dents Thomas Gregston, Assistant Boys’ Var sity Hockey Coach Mark Bozek, Head Boys’ Varsity Hockey Coach Daniel Murphy, Di rector of Athletics Richard Muther, Vice Rec tor for Student Life Theresa Ferns, Director of ASEP Sarah Boylan, Associate Director of College Admissions Myra Singletary, and El linwood.

This change represents both an increase and decrease in regulation. Prior to this up date, the Student Handbook limited partici pation in non-school activities to Sunday evenings and one school night per week, as opposed to the two nights a week now per mitted. But guidelines had also allowed par ents to schedule leaves ad hoc and did not require written requests before the start of the term.

The committee favored doubling down on enforcing check-in times to ensure stu dents were accounted for. It also introduced the formal written requests so deans and stu

Students Enjoy House Renovations

Miya Zhang '25

explosion” of participation in off-campus ac tivities last year, according to Dean of Stu dents Suzanne Ellinwood. “There were stu dents leaving campus all year that never told anyone,” Ellinwood said. “And we only found out when they weren’t here and we were look ing for them at check.”

Some students also returned to campus around midnight, and needed Safety officers to let them back into their houses. Since the adviser on duty had often left by then, these students weren’t signed back into campus or into their house for their check-in time. This was a safety issue for the deans, who didn’t know who was or wasn’t on campus.

In response, a committee of coaches and administrators met over the summer to dis cuss how to remedy these unofficial leaves. The committee was composed of Dean of Studies Lori Bohan, Associate Dean of Stu

dents alike could better plan for upcoming terms. Specifically, the committee hoped these written requests would ensure students know beforehand how many off-campus ac tivities they can participate in—without ex ceeding the “seat time” limits of ten missed classes and six missed program days. “We want to make sure that people don’t exceed the maximums,” Ellinwood said.

But while the committee increased regu lation of non-school activities, it also ex panded the per-week limit from one day to two. Ellinwood says this change was added to acknowledge the importance of these offcampus commitments to students.

“We really want to encourage everybody to pursue their passions,” Ellinwood ex plained. “That's why we've opened up the two evenings.”

Although this new policy was commu nicated via email to students and families at the start of the year, few students seem to know about it. Tessa Demain ‘23, a student athlete who travels often for club hockey, said she had not heard of the change, but so far

As students returned to St. Paul’s School on move-in day, some found that the familiar spaces of their houses seemed fresher and brighter. Kitchens were outfit ted with stoves that only heat pots with a specific type of bottom, the walls were freshly painted, and communal study pods were back. All this is part of a threeyear process undertaken by the school to renovate all houses on campus. Last year saw the refurbishment of Drury, Nash, Warren, Kitt I, II and III and the Upper dormitories (Center, Wing and North). This year, residents of Armour, Middle and the four Quad dorms (Brewster, Ford, Manville and Simpson) get their turn.

“This year we really tried to take a good look at the common rooms in hous es. The renovations mainly focus on im proving these communal spaces: making them functional and creating effective study environments,” said Thomas Gregs ton, Associate Dean of Students, of the changes.

These goals seem to have been ful filled. Lauren Edouard ‘25, a resident of Brewster, enjoyed the changes. “The new

Features Upperformers Offer Advice Pelicans Read Student Life Guide to Dining Editorial Board from

renovations are great! There are more spac es for people to hang out, like the common room, kitchen and study pod,” she said. “The new study pod is especially nice be cause anyone can use it; it’s just free space in the dorm that’s helpful to have outside of our own rooms.”

Her sentiments were echoed by the residents of Ford, the other girls’ house lo cated in the Quad. “I think the renovations help students appreciate being in the dorm a lot more, and [it] also helps promote keeping the dorm clean and organized. Having the dorm be as modern as it is makes for a better living experience,” said Liz Esteves ‘23, a Ford prefect.

Overall, both students and faculty re port that the renovations have helped up grade these houses to be more hospitable and welcoming to students, both new and returning. Up next: Con/20, Foster and Ke haya.

In this Issue

Features, cont.

Worldwide Supply Chain Issues Summer Explorations

Meet the Sixth Former Officers

All About ASP

Saturday Night Lights

Updated common room

Photo by Lily Fitzpatrick '25

Upgrades make houses more hospitable and welcoming

This change represents both an increase and decrease in regulation

Sports Girls Varsity Soccer Highlight

SPS Home Games

F eaT ures

Upperformers Offer Advice

St. Paul’s School can be intimidating at first for new students. Spending time away from home and adjusting to the rigorous aca demic and extracurricular schedule is not an easy transition. As high school students, whether new or returning, we all know by now that mix of excitement and nervousness you feel as you attend your first class or prac tice.

To alleviate some of this anxiety and highlight the excitement, The Pelican talked to some SPS students for advice. Here is what they said:

JJ Detweiler ‘23 gave the following ad vice: “Call your parents. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially from other stu dents.”

Attending a one hundred percent board ing school may mean students spend less time talking with their parents, but it’s important to stay in touch with them. And at St. Paul’s we also have much to learn from other stu dents. Although it may be difficult initially, asking for help will enhance our experiences here and help us grow.

Isa Martinez ‘24 offered multiple pieces of advice. “Don’t be afraid to ask someone to lunch! Never in my time here has anyone ever said ‘No’ to getting a meal—especially if you’re walking out of the class you just had with them.” Martinez is right: stepping out of your comfort zone and asking someone to get a meal together can be a great first step in fos tering deep relationships.

Martinez continued, suggesting that “on nights when you are not too overloaded with work, spend the last twenty minutes before check in Friedman. This is a great way to meet new people and give yourself a mental break.” It’s helpful to take breaks from studying. Stu dents are only human and can’t continue to gather and process information without af fording themselves a respite.

Finally, Martinez added one last tip: “Be involved in clubs and groups that spark your interest. It’s crazy how one person you meet at a random event may very well lead to mean ingful friendship. Some of my best friends to

Pelicans Read: "Stoner" by John Williams

“Stoner” by John Williams is one of those books that reminds you of why you read. I read it over the summer, and it has become one of my favorite books of all time. “Stoner” tells the simple story of a man, William Ston er, who dedicates his life to teaching at his lo cal university in Missouri. He begins his jourMadison Andree '24

“Sometimes, immersed in his books, there would come to him the awareness of all that he did not know, of all that he had not read; and the serenity for which he labored was shattered as he realized the little time he had in life to read so much, to learn what he had to know.”

-John Williams, “Stoner”

this day are among the first people I met when I made the volleyball team my first year here.” When we pursue our interests, we in variably meet others who have similar inter ests. As with sharing a meal, signing up for a club or participating in an afternoon activity could be the start of a meaningful friendship.

Andrew Choi ‘25 talked about the im portance of taking time for ourselves. “It’s okay to spend time alone. Even I feel nervous and anxious when spending time alone,” he admitted. “But everyone needs a time of soli tude, and it’s really okay to be alone. Listen to music or take a walk.” Since we all live togeth

ney into academia at his father's request, in order to get a degree in agriculture so he can help out more on their family’s farm. While fulfilling his required English literature course, he falls in love with the subject and decides to major in literature instead. Stoner never returns to work on his family farm. He takes up a low-ranking position at the univer sity and stays there until the day he dies. Throughout his life he avoids fighting in the first and second world wars, lives through the Great Depression and has an unhappy mar riage that results in one child, his daughter Grace. While the storyline might not seem exciting, the plot is not what makes the book so great. It simply acts as a background to the character study of William Stoner's life, which like any life is full of small joys and heart breaks. That being said, if you are looking for a book that will keep you on your toes the en tire way —with an obvious inciting incident,

er on the same campus, it’s rejuvenating to spend time by ourselves occasionally. Alone time refuels our energy and improves our psychological well being.

This author's own advice is to ask for help and ask questions of peers and teachers. We shouldn’t worry about what others think of us, and never be afraid to speak up and share our concerns. Let’s step out of our com fort zones and reach out to people. We all de cided to attend this prestigious institution to learn, grow as students, become informed citizens and meet new people.

climax, and resolution—then this is not the book for you. But if you want a devastatingly beautiful book about love and loss, life and death and the joys of dedicating your life to learning, I cannot recommend “Stoner” enough.

Sarah Lee '24

"A devastatingly beautiful book about love and loss, life and death and the joys of dedicating your life to learning"

Our book reviewer reflects on her favorite summer read

Andrew Choi '25 smiles at the camera

Photo by Blue Han '24

sT uden T l i F e

Student Guide to Dining At SPS

treat, from pie to decorate-your-own cookies, and on Sunday nights, pick up an ice cream bar as a reward after a long week.

Flik accommodates most allergies and dietary restrictions, so students who don’t see any foods that fit into their diet can go up to any of the friendly workers to ask for a meal option.

Anna Liu '25

At St Paul's, students are incredibly for tunate to have many options when it comes to food. Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there are spots all around campus to grab a meal.

On weekdays and Saturdays from 6:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m, Coit Dining Hall offers a healthy breakfast spread with a hot food line, omelet bar, oatmeal station, yogurt bar, pas try table, and waffle station. For omelets or scrambled eggs, we recommend arriving at Coit ten minutes earlier than usual; there can be a bit of a line, and it takes a few min utes for the chef to prepare a fresh omelet or scramble.

Lunch is typically served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and in addition to the hot food line, diners can choose from the salad bar, sandwich bar, soup station, and secondary line, which offers pasta. While the salad bar is certainly a favorite because of its wide va riety of healthy mix-ins, tasty ingredients and dressings, the most popular food on the lunch menu is buffalo mac n cheese, which we wish was served every day. Soup is the most underrated item on the menu. As a soup fanatic, this author always grabs a bowl of clam chowder if it’s available. Sometimes during lunch, a “center station” will offer fun

Students who don’t have time to walk to the Upper or crave something outside of the dining hall’s open hours can head to Friedman Community Center for Grab and Go or the Kwok Cafe. The Cafe’s most popular items are chicken tenders ($6.99), kwokies ($1.99), and breakfast sandwiches ($4.99), but there are many other options on the menu to purchase as well. Grab and Go is provided by the school, and it is a convenient and free alternative for lunch, especially for a quick sandwich or soup and a bag of chips.

Of course, snacks are an important part of the day too! Erica Mumford, the St. Paul’s

Editorial Staff

treats such as make-your-own trail mix, warm chocolate chip cookies, or crepes.

Dinner is usually the most crowded mealtime. After sports, students are raven ous. This time is as much a social hour as mealtime: the day is done, there is no rush to get to chapel or classes, and students can see all their friends. From 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m you can choose from a hot line, salad bar, pasta station, and soup bar. But instead of a sandwich station, Flik whips out their des serts! Every night features a different sweet

School nutritionist, sends out weekly emails about healthy snacking, so be sure to read any mail labeled “Food for Thought” that pops up in your inbox. The lower level of Lindsay always has fruit, bagels, yogurt, and bars. Students with a little extra time during the day can also purchase snacks from the bookstore, which is open from 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m on Saturdays.

As busy students, athletes, and leaders, St. Paul’s students need to be well-fed to per form their best, so be sure to take advantage of the food around campus. Happy eating!

Maddie Rosato '23 Ashley Zhou '23

Editors in Chief Managing Editors

Lidia Zur Muhlen '24

Skylar Christoffersen '24

Photo Editor

William Mao '23

Assistant Editor

Matthew Letourneau '23 Art Sam Seeley '23 Adviser

Ms. Sarah Ludwig

Editors' Note

As we arrive back on campus returning to a more “normal” St. Paul’s School, stu dents begin to reintegrate themselves into the activities and pursuits they have longed for in the past few years. The Sixth Formers are delighted that SPS is finally restoring the beginning of the year activities that Sixth Formers experienced just three years ago. Welcoming new students to the grounds is a favorite time of year for all returners, so being able to resume the traditions, such as playfair, that disappeared in 2020 has given the year a most wonderful opening.

For a while now, most of our lives have been focused on the subject which pre sented itself to us: academic work. However, as the “real” world reopens, students are able to engage with more topics relating to activism. Our thinking is no longer limited to the SPS bubble, and we are able to bring current issues to campus as a means of improving our community.

As this country continues to face internal conflict pertaining to justice and national safety, and as these challenges begin to impact our daily lives, St. Paul’s stu dents support one another: “we are all in the same boat.” We bring these issues to light and decide as a school how we can navigate them and use them to better our own community. Student newspapers are truly the voices of the student body. Through these publications, whether we’re reading or writing them, we form a unique kind of connection with our broader community.

We hope that The Pelican will continue to serve as a platform for all to engage with the issues of our community, as it has throughout St. Paul’s history, and act as a window into the environment of the school at the time each issue is produced. This new issue will explore topics such as new student advice, dorm renovations, fall sports kickoff, and more. We want to reflect the positive, welcoming spirit that SPS has nur tured thus far. St. Paul’s has certainly demonstrated the kindness that resonates throughout the community. We hope you enjoy this issue and the many more that are to come!

Madison Rosato & Ashley Zhou

All the places to get food on the St. Paul's grounds

"St. Paul's students need to be well-fed to perform their best."

sT uden T l i F e

Weekend Activities

Saturday, Sept. 24

Rectory Open House 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Welcome Back to School Dance - Club Cup Theme Saturday, 8-10:30 p.m. AFC

Sunday, Sept. 25

Bagels & Coffee Feed 1 p.m. Friedman

Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods Trip

Departs AFC at 1 p.m., departs TJs at 2:45 p.m.

Limited spots available. Sign up link will be in SPS Connected

School News in Brief

House Visitation Begins

The Dean of Students office on Monday Sept. 19 reopened visitation between Houses. Students may visit each other's houses during the first hour of duty: School nights from 7 and 8 pm, 8-9 pm on Saturday. Students may now visit the common rooms of other houses by invitation and at the discretion of the adviser on duty. All students are reminded of their obligation to be good hosts and visitors.

Ohrstrom Library Celebrates Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week, an initiative of The American Library Association, runs from Sept. 18 - 24 and is an an nual event celebrating the freedom to read, spotlighting current and histori cal attempts to censor books in librar ies and schools. Stop by the library to check out one of 2021’s most chal lenged books.

International Society to Host Pizza Party for New Students

The International Society will host a pizza party on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 pm in the garden level of Sheldon for new interna tional students. Organizers say that the event will be a great way to meet and con nect with other international students.

Office of Admission Seeks Tour Guides

The Office of Admission and Student Admission Officers are currently accept ing student tour guide applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Tour guides welcome prospective families to campus and share their experiences at St. Paul's. Interested students should apply via the link in SPS Connected and reach out to Mr. Ricard or Mr. Bernier in the Admis sion Office for more information.

Handbook Changes

Continued from p. 1

has experienced little change in setting up leaves for non-school activities.

“There’s a lot of flexibility with the deans,” Demain said. “I’m not sure these regulations are fully set.”

How students will be affected is uncer tain. One potential pitfall is that students may not know their schedules far enough in ad vance. In Demain’s case, while she can sign up for tournaments early, she does not receive her game schedule until a week or so in advance. She has been able to schedule Reach requests

through September; October and November remain unplanned.

Despite these updates to the new policy, the deans have so far accommodated De main’s plans. It seems this approach to en forcing these rules may stay.

“If somebody gets stuck in traffic or something else happens, they're not in trou ble,” Ellinwood said. “But we're not going to accept a program where the only way to do it is to come back at midnight.”

sT uden T l i F e

Supply Chain Issues Worldwide and at St. Paul's

Cora Partridge '24

When food deliveries arrive at your dorm, do you ever notice that unasked-for items are arriving in quantities that no dorm could possibly consume, and that requested items are nowhere to be found? The Cov id-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change provoked natural disasters, too many raisin boxes: what do all these things have in common? They all impact the daily lives of people the world over through the disrup tion of the global supply chain. This is a re sult of dysfunction in the system that is sup posed to get the right things to the right places at the right time.

In our hyper-globalized society, almost no product is manufactured in solely one lo cation, leaving aside the question of where resources are sourced from. The number of parts needed to manufacture a product can range from “3,000 or 4,000 for a smartphone, for instance, and maybe 30,000 for a typical gasoline-powered car,” according to an Aug. 22 Wall Street Journal article. From the start of the pandemic, one critical problem imme diately emerged. With the number of suppli ers responsible for the production of a prod uct, any one could shut down, as many businesses did during the pandemic, and subsequently halt the entire production pro cess. The more steps there are, the more points of failure exist.

This brief examination of production malfunction neglects entirely the numerous failures of distribution that have increased in recent years as a result of factors such as labor shortages. On the surface, distribution is simple. The product exists, so simply trans port it from point A to point B. Manufacture, ship retail: it’s as easy as counting to three. In reality, the great distance products need to travel drastically increases the complexity of the chain and the likelihood of breakdown or communication failure.

Summer: a Chance to Explore your Passions

Miya Zhang '24

In the long run, supply chain issues may lead to a decrease in consumerism world wide, as consumers no longer feel they can count on their desired products being pro vided at the desired times. At St. Paul’s, stu dent food requests have become increasingly infrequent as those requests continue to go unheard. The systems we previously counted upon will continue to be unreliable at best, disastrous at worst. Until the dust settles, we can only take shelter.

Excitement for the new school year is everywhere: from the crowds filing into Chapel in the mornings to the renewed chat ter in common rooms and Ohrstrom Li brary. Third Formers navigate a new school away from home, Fourth and Fifth Formers quickly fall back into their busy schedules and Sixth Formers prepare for their last year as high schoolers. The red brick buildings and campus have welcomed students back with open arms. Soon, fall colors will start settling into the trees, and St. Paul’s School will have us back on our feet with a heavy backpack and loaded schedule. This year will be especially stress-inducing for Fifth and Sixth Formers plagued by college admis sions. Some students took advantage of sum mer’s flexibility to prepare for the admis sions process.

This past summer, Aryan Mitta ‘23 took part in the St. Paul’s School Applied Science & Engineering Program (ASEP), through which he joined a bioengineering-focused externship at Northeastern University. He worked on finding ways to more effectively deliver drugs to treat osteoarthritis through exosomes, while also modeling proteins and exploring different computational modeling and software.

summer rowing was really fun for me.” However, Jones also stresses the importance of trying to develop multiple interests before eventually deciding your main activities.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” she laughs. “I’m probably not going to go to the Olympics for crew, so I also did an intern ship at a government office for a month.”

“For me, ASEP was a go-out-and-try-it kind of thing,” says Mitta. “I’ve always liked the idea of engineering and biology, and I took this as an opportunity to see if that’s for me.” Turns out, it is! Mitta hopes to continue these subjects into his college career, espe cially after experiencing the resources at Northeastern and the freedom he had with a lab. Mitta’s advice for fifth formers is to try something unique in a field they’re interested in over the summer, so they know what they’re getting into before college.

Edie Jones ‘24 spent part of her summer with Row American Rye, a competitive crew team she competed with in the Summer Na tionals. “It was great to be able to just focus on rowing during summer,” says Jones. “At St. Paul’s, I can’t row all year round, and I have a lot of other work, which is why

On the faculty side, Director of College Advising Erin Ainor’s views on summer pro grams seem to be parallel to those of Mitta and Jones.

“Summer programs can be really good for a college application if it’s doing some thing that interests you, and works to en hance that interest. It should hopefully give you a deeper intellectual understanding of the subject,” explains Ainor. “Of course sum mer programs aren’t something that colleges are looking for: a college won’t admit you be cause you attended a certain program. It’s more about your personal exploration and understanding.”

In other words, summer should be a time for you to do things you genuinely en joy. It’s not worth attending a camp or work ing on some initiative because it “looks good on your college app.” St. Paul’s students work hard, and summer should allow for some down time. Good luck to the upperformers, and wishing everyone all the best news!

"The systems we counted upon will be unreliable at best, disastrous at worst."

Students share what they explored and learned this summer

"Summer should be a time for you to do things you genuinely enjoy"

sT uden T l i F e

Sixth Form Officers Look Ahead

It seems that summer has ended just as quickly as it started, and the grounds of St. Paul’s School are full of students once again. While students often find the beginning of the school year overwhelming, Student Council leaders are eager to offer words of encouragement and advice to the student body.

Student Council, or StudCo, works closely with the SPS administration to repre sent the student body’s voice. It is led by the Sixth Form Officers: President Natalie Thay er, Vice President William Mao, Secretary Ridder Morton and Treasurer Lizzie

and returning students; each year, even re turning students experience change. Mao and Diamond agree that students should push themselves more than just academically, and meet new people on campus. “By reaching out, we’ll all develop new connections, strengthening the community tapestry that is so crucial to making St. Paul’s, St. Paul’s,” says Mao.

The Sixth Form Officers say they are looking forward to hearing students’ opin ions and ideas in order to foster a strong sense of community. Thayer said, “unless it concerns [the surprise fall term holiday] Cricket, StudCo should be an open book,” when collaborating with the student body. All four officers are excited to hear student input as well as share some of their own. Morton believes there are a lot of positive changes he wants to make this year. “We need bonfires, and overall more hype around student activities to bind our community to gether,” he says.

Diamond. Although they are now upperformers, they can all recall their first days at St. Paul’s.

Diamond says she was “absolutely terri fied” in her early days at school. “It was diffi cult for me to introduce myself to my teach ers, let alone to my peers.” Because Diamond and the rest of the Sixth Form Officers have been in the same position as any new stu dent, they say they understand how the first days can feel. All share that they want to en sure all students feel welcome and supported as they adjust.

The officers agree that there are a num ber of ways for new students to find balance in their lives on campus. Though new stu dents can experience challenges in the first days of the fall term, Thayer recommends “joining a team or talking to someone in the dorm can help establish a sense of familiari ty.” She says her advice applies to both new

Morton also believes in the importance of being good citizens of the community “I don’t want anyone to get DC’d. It is not a fun process for anyone,” he says. As important as

it is to have fun, the Sixth Form Officers urge students to look out for each other. In order to have the best year possible, everyone needs to have each other’s best interests in mind.

Even as the first weeks can feel nervewracking, these student leaders want to have a good start to the school year. “When every one steps on campus, we hope they feel good energy and enjoy themselves,” Mao says. Dia mond agrees. “I want us all to have fun! It will take consistent, small things to improve everyone’s overall happiness,” she says.

Lidia Zur Muhlen '24

StudCo talks about their hopes and wishes for the School Year

"I want us all to have fun!"

Sixth Form Officers Ridder Morton, Natalie Thayer, William Mao and Lizzie Diamond

sPorTs

Team Highlight: Girls' Varsity Soccer

Morgan Boone '23

Girls’ Varsity Soccer kicked off their 2022-23 athletic season with the annual team prep camp in Casco, Maine. Captains Avery Barton ‘23, Teaghan Casey ‘23 and Olivia Connolly ‘23 reported that the prep camp was a good place to meet incoming soccer players and to ensure that new students would see a friendly face when they arrived on campus in the fall.

Despite the rigorous soccer training, the captains reflected that team chemistry flowed from the start. According to all three, the bond they created was especially evident when they went head-to-head against other schools in the yearly dance competition. Bar ton described the team's dancing as “very Funkdafied-esque,” comparing the players’ moves to those of the celebrated St. Paul’s dance troupe.

Now that the regular season has begun, practices have picked up and the team has grown closer with each one. Casey shared that going to soccer practice is a great release after a long academic day.

excited and nervous about the upcoming season. “There are a lot of new members on the team that I am excited to play with and connect with on the field,” she said.

The team’s first scrimmage against Kimball Union Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 14 was on Hunt Field, the “Premier League” field of St. Paul’s School. “We never lose on Hunt,” said Barton before the game. Players feel that Hunt Field makes them perform ten times better; the perfectly cut grass helps the team to use the length and width of the field to their advantage. The Big Red team did in fact pull out a 2-1 win against a strong KUA squad.

All three captains found themselves reflecting on their time on the soccer team as they looked ahead to their senior season. It is a “surreal experience to be a role model for the younger players,” Barton said. According to Connolly, the soccer team was one of the first things that helped her feel like she belonged at SPS, and “stepping back into the jersey makes me feel at ease.” The captains shared that they hope to uphold long-standing team traditions like candlelight, team breakfast, and having the starting lineup hype

The team huddles up

With a finalized roster, the soccer team is anxious to be back on the pitch and in competition. This is the team’s first season without the threat of Covid-19 shutdowns looming.

The team has taken a big roster this year, which Barton said makes everyone work harder during practice.

Kiki Hillery ‘24, a starting center defender on the team, said that she is both

each other up in their huddles.

“This team is the family you get to be a part of within the school at the end of a long, hard day of work,” Hillery said, going on to say that being on the soccer team feels like a privilege. The bond this team has created between the players and the coaching staff is unmatchable, and will only grow as the season progresses.

Saturday Night Lights

Matt Letourneau '23

The atmosphere both on and off the turf was electric when, on Saturday night, the St. Paul’s boys’ varsity soccer team faced off against the Groton Zebras for the first night game of the year. Every second of the game, which ended in a 1-1 tie, was punctuated with ecstatic cheers from a massive redout of fans supporting their fellow Pelicans charging up and down the pitch.

The players fought vigorously under neath the lights. “Our team showed grit and passion,” said Cohen Williams ‘23, co-captain of the team, “but we should have focused more on sealing the game with another goal rather than our defense.” Williams scored a goal for the Pelicans in the game’s 68th min ute, causing the crowd to go wild. After standout player Ben Thompson ‘23 was fouled, Williams took the free kick.

“I trusted my captain and his abilities,” Thompson said. “I knew he would put that thing in the back of the net.” His belief proved well founded.

Although the game itself was a tie, it was a win for those watching. “It was the most fun soccer night game I’ve been to,” said Dylan Biggs ‘23. Fans appreciated the awe some red shirts provided by the Athletics De partment, the gorgeous September night and the chance to all be together.

The team is excited to get the season go ing and are hopeful for future wins. “It was a

Boys' Soccer inspires a redout crowd in an electric game

good performance for our first game,” cocaptain Cooper Bailey ‘23 said. “The boys are hard workers, and we can only go up from here.”

Photo by Liz Esteves '23

Fans cheer on the Big Red

Photo courtesy Chris Smith

sPorTs

This Week's Game Highlights

Girls' Cross Country Girls' Varsity Soccer

The Girls' Cross Country team opened the season with a 21-35 win against Groton. Kate Taylor won the race outright with a time of 21:50. Newcomer Aedyn Kourakas came in second overall with a time of 22:18, and Phoebe Opler, running her first ever XC race, came in third overall with a time of 22:36. Katie Allen, also running for the first time for the Big Red (23:39), placed as did Skylar Christoffersen (23:48). The rest of the team hit or bested their projected times.

A promising start for GXC!

-Coach Kate Daniels

In a tightly contested game, the Big Red came away with a 1-0 win against the Groton Zebras as Avery Barton scored the game winner two minutes into the start of the 2nd half. On a Zebra goal keeper clearance, Caro line Briggs found Milly Kirkman in the mid dle of the field who then fed Barton some 30 yards out. Barton then skipped by a couple of Groton players and sent a right-footed shot into the side netting past the diving keeper.

The 2nd half saw Groton come close to scoring, and Senior Keeper Olivia Connolly was up to the task as she made several saves from the speedy Groton attack. In the 70th minute Barton hit the crossbar from 30 yards. Groton’s speed was an asset, and the Big Red defended well on the break to pre vent conceding a goal. The defensive combi nation of Casey, Hillery, Bohan and Wang played well, and Iler contributed off the bench. Bussey came close a few times, and worked tirelessly, checking back to help the midfield. Freshman holding Midfielder Ru minski did a nice job in earning her first start for the Big Red.

The Big Red has made a lot of progress since September 6th and look forward to fac ing the Rams of Tilton next in Lakes Region League action.

-Coach Derek Johnson

Calling all writers, editors, artists, and graphic designers!

Are you looking for an outlet for your creative side? If so, The Pelican is for you! year! Friday Sept. 23, we will have our first of ficial meeting in the Publications room at 7pm, with cookies. Anyone who is interested should come to learn more about the Pelican.

Watch SPS Connected for an application to be part of The Pelican staff. Once completed, attach it to an email and send it to the editors-in-chief or Ms. Ludwig (sludwig@sps.edu). We can't wait to begin!

Avery Barton

Photo courtesy St. Paul's School