The
Whittier Miscellany
October 2026 • Wilmington Friends School’s Community Newspaper • Wilmington, DE
The Universality of The Odyssey
Aria Stout ‘30 Staff Writer
O
ften considered one of the most influential works of literature, The Odyssey—an epic poem attributed to Homer and written sometime between the late eighth and seventh centuries BC—has recently been adapted into a film by Christopher Nolan. The Film Verdict praises Nolan’s work as “an epic saga of an epic saga, worthy of its source,” highlighting his editing and visual storytelling, specifically his “cutting out the middleman of Homer’s oral narrator,” according to ScreenRant. While critics largely agree that Nolan made an exceptional film, others argue The Odyssey did not carry out its promises as an adaptation. One of the most outspoken critics of Nolan’s film is Emily Wilson, whose modern translation of The Odyssey Nolan openly described as his inspiration. In an essay for the London Review of Books, Odysseus’ Crew Under Attack Wilson stated Nolan’s adaptation is “a family-friendly Photo: picryl.com audiovisual spectacle, like an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display–and with about the same level of narrative and emotional depth.” She further describes her issues with the adaptation: how the film followed the same structure as many of Nolan’s other works, how the characters failed to portray any convincing emotional arc (specifically the male ones), and how she believed “Nolan’s affinity [for] Homeric themes might push him to new heights”; however, in her eyes, it failed to do so. Specifically, she believes he made “Nolan’s Odyssey, not Homer’s”—a movie that did not do justice to the book. But in today’s landscape, is it better to appeal to a modern audience or appease ancient standards? Should an adaptation speak to people today, or to people in its time? Continued on page 6... the left side of your brain, Meet the New Teachers! The Benefits of use whereas when you speak a new lanZoe Mooney-Doyle ‘27 Staff Writer you use both sides. Gray matLearning a Second guage, ter is the brain and spinal cord tissue As the 2026-2027 school year begins, that helps the brain process inforWilmington Friends School welcomes three Language mation, learn new information, and Isla White ‘29 Staff Writer
In most schools, a graduation requirement is a language credit; many schools offer classes in Spanish, French, and Chinese. At Wilmington Friends School, to earn your credits, you must reach at least Spanish 3, French 3, or Chinese 3, but you can go further by taking the IB course. Learning a new language offers many benefits, including career and business opportunities, stronger connections with others, a better understanding of different cultures, and greater confidence. Noa Romero-Feito ‘28, a student at Friends who speaks both English and Spanish and recently went to SYA in France, said that learning a new language has “definitely opened up my perspective and has made me able to communicate with many more people, which makes it more eye-opening.” Learning another language stimulates your brain because it is complex and challenging. When you speak your native language, you
plays a big role in memory. Practicing new faculty members to the Upper School. a new language increases gray matter While the freshmen are learning the ropes of in your brain, which may help reduce high school, the new Upper School faculty members are beginning their own journeys. the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The There are new faces in every corner of WilmingWFS Upper School Chorus Teacher ton Friends School, with two new teachers and Margaret Anna Butterfield has been learning French since seventh grade, one new college guidance counselor joining the WFS community this year. and she says learning a second lanThe English department welcomed guage “helps maintain brain health Lisa Lindgren, the new ninth-grade English because you have to think a lot.” The teacher. Ms. Lindgren taught across numerous Upper School French teacher, Bradey states before coming to Wilmington Friends. Bulk, also says that “it's good brain She started her English profession at Stony exercise. I know a benefit is that it Brook University, receiving a B.A. in English. helps you age less quickly and inNew WFS Teachers She then minored in English Education at Hofsvolves higher-level thinking.” She also Photo: Morgan Kim tra University, earning her M.A. says that she wishes that more people After completing her education, she moved on to teaching. Her teaching career began knew that one of the benefits of learnwith a 7-year run at a public school in Long Island, New York. In a change of scenery, she then ing a new language was that “it makes moved to Atlanta, Georgia to continue teaching. After 14 years in the public school system, she you a more versatile thinker and a spent 6 more years working at a progressive private high school, before eventually moving to sensitive world thinker. It makes you Pennsylvania. Once in PA, she taught writing at the University of Delaware and Penn State Branaware of others' culture and able to dywine. Finally, all her years teaching brought her to WFS, where she now teaches 9th grade see that through language.” English. Continued on page 5... Outside of her academic and professional career, Ms. Lindgren loves to read. During her free time, she enjoys seeing live music with her husband and says “I am frequently found at my son’s sporting events.” Besides spending quality time with her family, something you may not know about Ms. Lindgren is that she loves to travel! She travels with her family and friends, but she also travels solo. She says, “Traveling by myself has been one of the most educational
Page 2
LeBron “LeGOAT” James is joining the Sixers! Blaire Princilus ‘29 Staff Writer LeBron James, one of the NBA’s most famous and impactful players that has ever entered the league. Since his debut in 2003, his feats include, the all time leading scorer in the entire association with over forty thousand points made, winning the NBA finals four times, and the current oldest player in the league at 41. He has played for the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron has proven himself as a key player on each national team he has been a part of. Ryan Berry, part of the WFS faculty, described, “...James is a well seasoned player that has extensive experience on championship level teams and has dedicated himself to a championship standard of play”. His career in the sport has been a long-lasting and inspiring journey, and one many fans consider the best of all time. Following his 23rd season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James announced he would not return to play with the Lakers in his 24th season. Fans became stunned and eager to know which team James would close his career with. Some fans believed James would not return to the NBA to play professionally, due to the fact he is getting older and may want to prioritize his health, as playing professionally past the age of 40 is already an impressive and rare accomplishment. Although James was seriously considering retirement, he announced publicly he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract, granting himself one final chance to win another championship. It is no secret that here in Wilmington, many people refer to themselves as fans of the local NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers. When LeBron James, one of the
The Whittier Miscellany Fall best players in the league, announced his commitment to joining the 76ers, here at WFS, many members of the community would describe it as the best news they have ever received regarding basketball. Ava Okolo ‘28 has
LeBron James Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sports so happy”. Berry says, “My initial reaction to LeBron joining the Sixers was excitement and anticipation”. The day the news broke was a thrilling and hopeful day for most Sixers fans, especially locally. The new addition to the 76ers has many fans wondering what the future holds for the team. Students and faculty at WFS have a positive outlook on what will happen next. When Kaylee Ogbeide ‘28 was asked what she believed was next for the team, she confirmed, “A chip [championship victory] is definitely inbound for the team”. When reflecting upon the upcoming season as a whole, Berry included, “This season the Sixers will most likely make it beyond the second round of the playoffs which has been their limit these last few years. Additionally, I believe LeBron gives us, the fans, something to cheer for and look forward to in the upcoming season, unlike the seasons in the past”. Fans hope and believe James’ professionalism and leadership skills can help the team have a more successful season. Sydney Jenkins ‘27, confidently stated, “The Sixers are for sure the next winners of the [NBA championship]”. James has won championships with every previous team he has played with, which makes many Sixers fans hopeful and excited about what is to come in the approaching season. The anticipation and excitement continues to grow daily as fans are keen to see James play with the Sixers. James already holds the record for the most seasons played in the league with 23 seasons, and fans still are not tired of watching him play. In fact, the new addition has already shed light on James in the east coast area. As Grant Burns ‘29 says it, “They call Bron LeGOAT for a reason”. The upcoming season is sure to entertain viewers, and all eyes will be on James as he approaches the grand finale of his legendary career.
been a fan of the 76ers “since birth”, and stated “When I heard that LeBron was joining the 76ers, I cried. I was In September 2026, Manchester City was found guilty of 114 charges of financial rule violations from 2009 to 2018. Manchester City denies the accusations and has appealed the ruling. Manchester City could face huge punishments, including a points deduction or even relegation from the Premier League. The punishment has not Micheal DiPrinzio ‘29 Staff Writer been decided yet. These allegations have sparked controversy across England and the transfer market, particularly surrounding Cavan Sullivan. Sullivan has recently stated, A World Cup run that promised excitement quickly after the Manchester City drama, that he still remains keen on turned to disappointment as the USMNT fell short of viewers’ exjoining the English club. pectations due to poor performances. Many players made substanBig European clubs still have Sullivan on their watchlist, tial errors, but the greatest disappointment for fans was Christian ready to sign him if Manchester City faces large punishments. Pulisic. Despite his successes in Europe with Borussia Dortmund, These clubs are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and AC Milan, Pulisic, nicknamed “Captain America,” Borussia Dortmund, and others. Chris Wolfe 30’ believes that failed to rise to the occasion at the World Cup, appearing invisible “The best team for Cavan Sullivan when he leaves for Europe to and having no impact on the game. With the USMNT seeking really start his career would be Borussia Dortmund, because it change, fans are ready for a new “Captain America” to step up and is known for having confidence in their teenagers and really translead: Cavan Sullivan is that hero. forming them into top players, unlike Real Madrid, who rarely Sullivan rose through the U.S. youth soccer system, give teenagers a chance.” starting with Footbal club DELCO in Pennsylvania, joining the Following the disappointing World Cup Performance MauPhiladelphia Union Academy, and eventually making his way to ricio Pochettino, the USMNT coach, had to make changes and the Union’s professional development team, Union II. At age nine, improvements regarding his squad after the World Cup. Since Sullivan was already playing two age groups up, alongside his the World Cup disaster for Americans, the USMNT announced brothers, who were 11 years old. Sullivan continued to improve that they will include eight new teenagers on the roster. Who is and eventually made the move to the Philadelphia Union Acadmissing from the new roster? Christian Pulisic. The team’s focus emy. In his new academy, he continued to play two age groups on young players and the removal of Pulisic and other older older and defying the odds. players shows that the USMNT is trying to rebuild their team As Sullivan worked his way through the youth soccer around youth, similar to what Spain has done with wonderkinds system, he also received opportunities to represent his country like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. on the U.S. youth national team. Sullivan put up impressive sta- Philadelphia Union Midfielder Cavan Sullivan Fans of Manchester City were excited about the adPhoto: Wikimedia Commons tistics and won many awards, like most goals scored at several dition of Sullivan. Local supporters, who have seen him play for tornuments. Sullivan put in years of hard work and eventually moved up from Union’s the Union, appreciate his great attitude, strong confidence, and awareness of the pressure second professional team to the Philadelphia Union’s first team at the age of 14 years and to perform. Sullivan lived up to expectations in his U.S. debut, creating the most chances 293 days. He finally reached his dream of becoming a professional soccer player while and scoring his first international goal. also joining his brother Quin Sullivan at the professional level. Sullivan has already achieved successes at just age 14 that most professional Sullivan’s success is not just limited to America. He signed his first large prosoccer players would have achieved at age 18 or 19. He has embraced challenges and fessional contract with Manchester City at 14 years old for roughly 5 million dollars. opportunities with confidence and style. Kernan Slease 29’ says, “Cavan has taken on his Due to rules preventing international transfers of under-18 players, Sullivan is not yet challenges with a lot of confidence.” This kind of confidence is rare for any player, seeing allowed to play for Manchester City until he turns 18. As agreed upon when he signed it in a teenager is even more rare. U.S. soccer fans believe the nickname “Captain Ameriwith Philadelphia Union, he will then leave the club and move to England to begin ca” suits Sullivan, and cannot wait to see his future heroics on the pitch. training and playing games with Manchester City.
Cavan Sullivan: The New “Captain America”
Sports
The Whittier Miscellany Fall
Page 3
More than a Game: A World Cup to Remember WFS Archives Unearthed: Nat Turner Colton Loeffler ‘29 Staff Writer African-American History Through WFS’ Records shattered, new nations debuted, and legends took the field in what Historical Penny Collection
could be their final World Cup. The 2026 World Cup will go down as one to remember. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, “Did you know that the first successful 4 new countries made their World Cup debut, open-heart surgery was performed by a and unforgettable moments on the world’s negro? biggest soccer stage. Did you know that the City of Chicago was Entering the World Cup, many founded by a negro? fans worried about the staggering ticket prices, Did you know that the street plan for with many tickets costing people well over Washington, D.C was created by a negro? $600. This didn’t limit attendance or take away Did you know that the first man to locate from the booming atmosphere, with 6.8 miland stand on the North Pole was a negro?” lion fans attending matches, averaging 65,000 These are the opening lines from IMPACT volume one, a historical calendar World Cup at the Lincoln Financial Field per match, according to FIFA. Owen Newmark, Photo: Samara Alexander Elam ‘30 28’ attended two games, one in Philadelphia exploring African-American history and and one in Boston, says, “It was worth the monexperiences, founded by George A. Beach. ey; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that happens once every 4 years, and you may never get The first volume featured the history The Coin of Nat Turner to experience something like this again. The atmosphere was amazing, with constant cheering and creation of a unique coin collection Photo: Terry Maguire, Archivist highlighting fascinating and prominent and everyone being completely involved in the game.” FIFA also held fan fests in 13 host cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington African-American historical figures. The D.C., with 9 million attendees. Uday Bhuva, 29’ attended both the fan fest and a match: “The collection is The American Negro Commemorative Society’s Coins, fifty coins fan fest was definitely fun, but I don’t think it was better than the actual game. The game had developed from 1968-1974. Each coin features a single person. On one side is a portrait, the year of their birth, and their year of death. On the other, a depiction of so much energy put into it. The fan fest was very fun, don’t get me wrong, but watching them actually play soccer in person was a different level of fun. The level those players play at is difthe a major moment in their life. ferent from any MLS game I have ever watched.” In 1972, the Falcon family gifted part of the collection to WFS. Some are As attendance went up, so did viewership numbers; the World Cup Final, in fact, was well-known historical figures, while others, such as W.C. Handy and Crispus Attucks, are lesser-known but incredibly important in the fight for equality through- the most-watched soccer game in US history, with 39 million American viewers and 51 million around the world on FOX. Viewership for the final went up 132% compared to the 2022 World out U.S. history. This coin collection commemorates these outstanding advocates. Our school Archivist, Terry Maguire, works with passion and dedication to Cup final and up 240% from the 2018 World Cup final. Viewership outside the final was high maintain WFS’ archives and historical records. He presented the idea of highlight- as well on FOX, with an average of 7 million viewers per game, 2 games hitting over 30 million viewers, 5 games hitting over 20 million viewers, 11 games hitting over 15 million viewers, and ing the coin collection in the Whittier to us this year. Welcome to the first edition of our column, WFS Archives Unearthed. This 9 games broke the previous record for most-watched games. More records were broken on the field, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe each broke column’s mission is to unearth precious parts of history that are kept in our school’s basement. For our first edition, I have chosen to highlight Nat Turner: preacher and Miroslav Klose’s record for all-time World Cup goals. Mbappe got 22 goals, and Messi got 21. Eloy Room broke Tim Howard’s record for most saves in a game, getting 16 saves against rebel. He is honoured for leading a rebellion against slavery in Virginia on August Ecuador and helping Curaçoa get their first ever World Cup point. Gilberto Mora became the 21, 1831. His story stands out because it is more controversial than most. Turner was born on October 2nd, 1800, in Southampton County Virginia. youngest player at a World Cup at 17 years old. Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to He was born on a rural plantation; he knew little of his father, who was believed to score in 6 consecutive World Cups. Records are not the only reason the World Cup will go down in history. A diverse have escaped slavery when Turner was a child. Unlike many slaves, Turner learned range of cultures from different countries around the world came together and bonded over a to read and write. He was described as a remarkably smart child and was greatly influenced by religion throughout his entire life. In 1821, Turner escaped from slav- game, putting all other views aside. Scots drink Boston dry, the Mexicans and South Koreans ery; after a month, he returned, saying he received visions from God. His vision was bond in Guadalajara, normal American people from Lawrence, Kansas, rooting for Algeria, Australians going to Walmart before a game, people from around the world loving American about impending bloody conflict between blacks and whites. Turner was popular and known to be a prophet at times. He waited years for a sign to take action; final- culture, and many Americans falling in love with the sport of soccer. It wasn’t just the electric atmosphere that drew Americans to the game, but also the excitement and entertainment the ly, it came in February 1831. World Cup delivered. His initial plan to attack was delayed from July 4th to August 13th, a day Four new countries played in the 2026 World Cup for the first time. Uzbekistan and when the sky was claimed to have turned a blue-green color, which Turner interpreted as a sign to start his rebellion. On August 21, 1831, Turner and his support- Jordan had tough times in their first World Cups, finishing last in their groups and failing to ers revolted against the white people of Southampton County. They murdered fami- get a point. Curaçoa finished last in the group but managed to get a point against Ecuador. The lies as they slept, stole horses and ammunition from plantations, recruited slaves for final newcomer, Cape Verde, stunned the world in their first match by tying Spain after a masterclass performance from goalkeeper Vozinha. After becoming fan favorites with their perforthe rebellion, and killed white people they encountered. Turner and his supporters planned to move onward to steal and continue mance against Spain, Cape Verde stunned the world again by drawing with Uruguay. A draw the bloodshed; however, they were stopped by white militia. Turner escaped to the against Saudi Arabia secured them second place in their group and a spot in the round of 32, where they pushed defending champions Argentina and taking them to the final whistle before woods, but the rebellion’s effects were catastrophic. In response to the four-day falling 3-2 in overtime. Other Cinderella stories saw Paraguay beating Germany in penalties, rebellion, white mobs took to the streets; they murdered and lynched around 120 black children, women, and men, many of whom were not involved in the rebellion. Norway knocking out Brazil to get to the quarter-finals, and Egypt nearly beating Argentina in Turner evaded capture until October 30th. On trial, he pleaded not guilty the round of 16. The semi-finals saw Spain knocking out the favorites, France 2-0, and Argentina beatas he believed God commanded his rebellion. While awaiting sentencing, Turner ing England 2-1 by scoring 2 goals in the last 10 minutes, sending Argentina to back to back made several confessions to his lawyer, later turned into a book, “The Confessions of Nat Turner.” Eventually, Turner was found guilty and sentenced to death on No- World Cup finals. England took down France in the 3rd place match in a 10-goal thriller. In the final, Spain took on Argentina in what was described as the passing of the torch from Lionel vember 11th 1831. Turner’s rebellion had many immediate effects in the South such as spread- Messi to Lamine Yamal. Spain dominated the game, but Argentina’s defense wasn’t letting up; in the 90+3’ minute, Argentina would go down to 10 men after Enzo Fernández got a red card. ing fear to slave owners, creating harsher slave codes, and halting gradual emanAnd going into extra time, Spain had the advantage up a man, and finally, in the 106’ minute, cipation. The North experienced the opposite, intensifying the abolitionist movement. The rebellion dramatically increased societal tensions leading up to the Civil Ferran Torres broke the deadlock and would win Spain their 2nd World Cup. The 2026 World Cup would see the greats play their final World Cup. Such as Lionel War. Although Turner’s rebellion catalyzed the abolition of slavery, innocent people Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer, Mo Salah, and many more. were murdered in cold blood, defining Turner as a controversial figure in history. Nevertheless, his actions inspired movements and motivated the fight for freedom. These are the players who’ve made the World Cup so entertaining over the years, and cemented 2026 World Cup’s place in the history books. Stay tuned for our next edition of WFS Archives Unearthed! Nora Abd El Kader ‘27 Staff Writer
The Whittier Miscellany Community Fall Issue 2026 the Wild Things Are, Dog-Man, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus.” While the Clothiers didn’t always finish these books, Mr. Clothier says, “We didn’t usually get Gavin Gray ‘28 Staff Writer through one fully, but we tried to read part of a book every night.” He says, “‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ was a favorite.” How do childhood books shape the people we become? Many characters stay Dr. Gallagher remembers many childhood books. He says “My favorites are with people throughout their lives for many different reasons. Perhaps a character was ‘Where the Wild Things Are’, Star Wars and Ghostbusters bedtime stories, ‘Hungry memorable, or funny, or even a bit weird. Caterpillar’, and really anything that is a movie from the 80s.” He explains that he didn’t Along with college applications, homework, extracurriculars, and first grade buddies, always like books: “My love of books came from a 5th grade librarian who saw my disseniors also have to think about which book they will pick for their senior bookmark. engagement in books and asked what I liked to do. I said watching movies about ghosts, Some seniors might pick a book that their parents read to them when they were young. and she showed me a whole bookshelf full of ghost books.” In fact, Dr. Gallagher added While other seniors might pick a book they read as a teenager. a cool memory, “My first job was at that school, and kids were checking out ghost books Dylan MacBride ‘27 says, “I’ve considered what I might pick, maybe Harry Pot- with my name in them.” But which childhood character does Dr. Gallagher align with? ter or Percy Jackson because those were my favorite book series when I was younger.” He He says, “Max from ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ because I had two older sisters, a mom, adds a memory from his childhood, “One memory I have is reading the last Harry Potter and no dad, so I was wild and imaginative, and I would create my own places in my book. I read it in one sitting during COVID, but I didn’t get up for food or feel hungry. I head.” Perhaps Dr. Gallagher still has some of these qualities. ate the words instead of food.” MacBride ‘27 also adds a few of his favorite books, saying, Books stay with people because of the characters that they connect with. “I was always kind of against reading, but I ran through the Percy Jackson books and The Whether they are an avid reader or not, many haven’t ever read a book outside of school, Long Walk by Stephen King.” His enthusiasm surprised his father: “I remember reading or haven’t read a book since their parents read to them; there must be one character they it on the way to baseball practice, and my dad was confused; he asked what I was doing.” remember deep down in their heart. Perhaps that character is very similar to the person; A character MacBride ‘27 most aligns with is “Rowley, from Diary of a Wimpy maybe that character even helped shape who they are today. Kid.” MacBride ‘27 isn’t the only senior who aligns with a character from Diary of a
Page 4
The Characters and Books That Shape Us
Wimpy Kid. Nya Parker ‘27 says, “Probably Greg Heffley from Diary of A Wimpy Kid.” She says about her bookmark, “I might pick Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but I’m still considering.” She recalls a memory from her childhood, she says “When I was younger, I remember non-stop reading the Magic Tree House series every night.” Parker ‘27 ponders over her three favorite books and decides on “Pete the Cat, No David, and Smile.” However, the three favorite books of Pamela Moore ‘27 are “The Giving Tree, Hungry Caterpillar, and If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” All of these books are great, but one may stand out more than the others. “The Giving Tree, maybe, I’m not really sure, yet,” Moore ‘27 says about her possible bookmark book. She also provides memories of her childhood: “My dad read ‘The Giving Tree’ and ‘If You Give A Mouse A Cookie’ to me. I would always want a cookie whenever I read ‘If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.’” and When I read ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ I was scared of the monsters, but I loved the book and would read it a lot.” Moore ‘27 got over her fear of the monsters and was able to enjoy “Where the Wild Things Are.” This is one trait of the character she feels she aligns with most; she says, “Winnie the Pooh, because he is kind, loyal, and simple-minded.” While seniors align very easily with childhood characters, Upper School history teacher Mr. Clothier says, “I never saw myself like that, but I loved the ‘choose your own adventure’ books (Ex., read 6 pages and choose to follow the mad scientist on page 10 or your friends on page 18).” He says, “I wish I had used them with my children, but I think they were recalled or something.” However, the classic children’s books that Mr. Clothier read to his children will never be recalled. Some examples are “Dr. Seuss, Peppa Pig, Goodnight Moon, Where ....continued from page 1 The next teacher starting her Wilmington Friends School journey is Julianna Melnik. Ms. Melnik is the new Spanish 2 teacher. Although this is her first year teaching at Friends, Ms. Melnik is already very familiar with Wilmington Friends School. Ms. Melnik was a student at Wilmington Friends from kindergarten until 12th grade, and graduated in 2022. For college, she attended Dickinson, where she also took Spanish. Later, she went abroad to Spain, specifically Málaga, a coastal city in the southern Andalusia region. In her free time away from school, Ms. Melnik likes to make crafts; recently, she’s been making things out of seashells, like jewelry holders and more. Alongside crafts, she also enjoys reading, singing, and listening to music. A little fun fact about Ms. Melnik is that she has a second-degree black belt in Tung Suto, a Korean form of martial arts. The last new faculty member is Zoe Osborne. She is the new college guidance counselor taking the place of Kathleen Martin. She came right in time for application season and the start of many junior college processes. Zoe Osborne went to a Quaker school growing up and is excited to get back into the Quaker community again. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and went on to work in their admissions office after graduating. Outside of helping students with the Common App, Zoe is a big walker. Right now she is making her way around the border of Philly; she has already completed 3/4s of the walk. She lives in Philly with her cat, Pancho, and loves to go out for food and/ or ice cream. In the summer, you can catch her at a baseball game or hiking and camping. A hidden talent of Zoe’s is that she can knit and drive a manual car. All of these teachers bring a lovely new personality and experience to the Wilmington Friends community. So if you see any of them in the hallway or in class, don’t be afraid to say hi.
Children’s Books Photo: Claire Vinton ‘30
Arts & Culture
Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Festival
Bruna Novias ‘29 Staff Writer
The Whittier Miscellany Page 5 Fall Issue 77.4%. Seeing these talented female artists come together to raise awareness for women’s rights is a powerful statement. On top of that, every artist on the festival lineup donated their time and performed for free.
On August 29th, 23-year-old Olivia Rodrigo hosted the Daisy Chain Fields Festival in Irvine, California. The event drew a crowd of over 45,000 people and raised $20 million, which she then donated to ten nonprofit organizations to help women’s well-being. Olivia Rodrigo donated the money to several organizations, including Baby2Baby, which provides diapers, clothing, and other necessities for children and babies. Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a Black women-led organization that works to ensure Black moms have the resources and rights to have a good pregnancy from beginning to end. The National Women’s Law Center connects and helps people who are facing sex discrimination, and they fight for gender justice. Many other organizations also make a real impact and help women.
Olivia Rodrigo has a very big influence on people. Olivia has been in the public eye since she was 13. She is well known for speaking up for what she believes in and supporting the causes she cares about. A good example is the Daisy Chain Fields Festival, which she created herself to help women and girls across the United States. Such influence has many benefits; Clara Kurz ‘29 says, “The benefits are that people in need could definitely get a lot out of it.” Ryan Berry also says, “Having a big influence can steer the public to create a positive change.” We see that in action with the 10 organizations being helped and supported by what Olivia created with Daisy Chain Fields Festival.
The festival featured an all-women lineup, including Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Mitski, and many others. This is incredibly significant because most major festivals are heavily male-dominated. In 2025, across 9 major Olivia Rodrigo music festivals, women made up only 22.6% of Source: Wikimedia Commons musical headlines, while men made up the other ...continued from page 1 Knowing languages can help with many other hobbies like music, and even learning other languages. Bruna Novais ‘29 speaks both English and Portuguese and learns French at school, saying that knowing Portuguese has made learning French easier because “they are both Romance languages so they are very similar and structured the same way.” Since Spanish and French aren’t very similar, Romero-Feito ‘28 says that, “for writing, knowing Spanish has made it harder because of the different accents and conjugations, so it makes it harder; like, when I don’t know a word in French I just use the Spanish word for it.” Another way learning a language can help is with learning music; Butterfield says that for both, “there are rules, lots of rules like the agreements and the particular orders, but there are some exceptions.” Wilmington Friends offers IB courses in all languages, at both standard and higher levels. Bulk says she notices students becoming more confident as they improve in the language because “IB contributes to their confidence and it’s very rewarding for the students to see their IB results.” Butterfield also knows that students who take languages get on stage because they feel more confident speaking and expressing themselves. WFS also offers school trips to Puerto Rico, France, China, and Spain that language students can take to learn more about cultures and the language overall. Students can also do SYA, a school year or semester abroad where they learn in different countries and stay with host families. Bulk says, “Students who do the summer trips or SYA come back more mature and with more confidence.” Romero Feito ‘29 did the second semester of her sophomore year in France and says that, “It was definitely more immersive, because you got to live with a family and you are forced to speak in that language, and I personally found that easier to learn because that’s your environment, and so it’s a lot easier than being in a classroom in school when you have to study it, and it doesn’t come as naturally.” For some students, learning a language may feel like another requirement to graduate, but languages offer many benefits, like connecting with cultures, understanding others, and building confidence.
Even though not everyone could attend the festival, people could still get a glimpse of the experience through social media. Clara Kurz ‘29 says, “I know about it because of TikTok and Instagram, and Lily Winchell ‘29 says, “I’ve seen it a lot on TikTok.” So even though the festival could only be attended by 45,000 people, many, many more saw its impact through social media. A great example of what people saw through social media is what Clara Kurz ‘29 says, “I think what resonated with me the most is what I’ve seen through social media, is how great the community was there, and how people there were just having fun.”
Overall, Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival was an entertaining, fun event that still focused on raising awareness of, talking about, and supporting women’s rights and well-being.
The Influence of the Late Dolly Parton
Sofia Velastegui-Fratticci ‘28 Staff Writer
Dolly Parton, known as the “Queen of Country,” was one of country music’s most successful performers. She wrote some of the genre’s biggest hits, including “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5.” Dolly was a highly talented singer, songwriter, and musician, with over a hundred million records sold. But Dolly’s music isn’t the only thing she’s known for. While Dolly’s music is a significant part of her popularity, it’s more than just “a catchy beat” and being on “the top of the charts;” that’s not all her music is to people. The meaning and emotion behind her songs impact listeners. Dolly turned her personal experiences and those of others around her into songs that people from many different backgrounds could connect with and understand. Storytelling has long been a main component of country music, but Dolly’s ability to write about poverty, family relationships, and emotional struggles made listeners feel their experiences were worth singing about. People experiencing financial hardship, difficult relationships, or strong family ties could recognize parts of their own lives in Dolly’s songs. By not erasing her past and openly discussing certain topics, her music helped ordinary people feel that their experiences mattered rather than insignificant. For example, Dolly’s 1971 song “Coat of Many Dolly Parton Colors” tells the story of her mother making her a coat from Cartoon: Micah Davenport scraps of fabric. At school, Dolly was teased for the coat, but the song emphasizes the love behind it rather than its value or what it reflects about their financial situation. The song’s deeper message is that a person’s worth isn’t determined by clothing, money, or social status. This message has really helped others feel okay and heard about experiences similar to that one. Along with Dolly’s music came her career in the industry; she needed a public image that was unmistakably her own. When her career began, women in country music faced expectations about how they should look, behave, and present themselves. But not Dolly, with her elaborate hairstyles, colorful clothing, rhinestones, and willingness to joke about how people perceived her appearance. She wanted to keep her playful personality intact while still asserting her place in the industry by insisting on being taken seriously as a songwriter and businesswoman. Dolly continued to write and perform her own songs rather than letting a company define her career. Dolly developed a distinctive style even as industry insiders worried her fashion choices might distract from her talent. By doing this, she showed that a woman can build a long career by staying true to herself and controlling her professional identity. She also helped expand the image of what a successful woman in entertainment could look like. Dolly never chose between being funny, glamorous, talented, ambitious, and business-minded; she was all of it! Her example encourages women and girls to pursue their ambitions without feeling the need to fit into someone else’s expectations. Continued on page 7...
The Whittier Miscellany Page 6 Fall Issue 2026 thirteen cameras. Similarly, in Michigan, over ten thousand dollars of damage has been done to Flock equipment just this year. Even though a large number of people are outraged, it’s important to see the ultimately good intentions behind Flock cameras. There have been multiple examples of Flock cameras helping people. For Quinn Bukowski ‘30 Staff Writer instance, an elderly woman went missing from her nursing home and was returned In the city of Wilmington, Delaware, thousands of people move to and to her family within twenty minutes of a police report being filed due to the camerfro every day, silently being observed. Flock cameras were first implemented on as’ license plate tracking technology. the roads of the United States in early 2024. The cameras were initially intended to The topic of Flock cameras is a complex one, to say the least, but time will track license plates to help catch criminals, but after a myriad of controversies, they tell whether this is a perfect counter to criminals, missing people, and car theft, or raise the question: what price are we willing to pay for safety? if it is simply a step towards a surveillance state. Flock Safety was founded in 2017 by Garrett Langely, Matt Feury, and Paige Todd, originally as a project to create safe and affordable security for consumers; however, what the company does today has been diluted from its original purpose. After Flock Safety reached an estimated value of $ 8.6 billion in April 2026, over 2,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States now use its services. However, recently the morality of implementing cameras on eventually every road in the U.S. is beyond question. At face value, if the cameras were just used to check license plates of criminals or to make sure cars are going at a safe speed, there is no problem with that. However, when one realizes that Flock is a private company and thus can do whatever it wants with the data and videos it collects, it starts to be a problem. Now a person might think that at least their data is safe with trusted law enforcement; simply look at the case of Zachary Klein, a Texas police officer who used the Flock cameras in his jurisdiction to stalk his ex-girlfriend. He was convicted of 100 counts of misuse of official information. The Angelina County District Attorney’s Office stated that Mr. Klein made more than 25,000 non-law-enforcement-related searches from July 2024 to May 2026. After cases like Mr. Klein’s and several others, there has been public backlash around what feels like the beginning of a surveillance state in the U.S. Lisa Lindgren, an English teacher, said, “When I was a kid, surveillance was my mother looking out the window of our apartment onto the street where we played.” People who grew up in the eighties or nineties are not the only ones noticing what seems like a violation of rights as Americans, as the popular social media platform, TikTok, has seen younger people engage in the trend of “de-flocking.” The trend features videos of masked individuals cutting the wires of Flock cameras, showing how to bring down the tall metal poles the cameras sit atop. In Dallas, Texas, Flock Camera twenty-five separate attacks have been carried out on Flock camera hardware Cartoon: Micah Davenport ‘28 since March of this year. In Virginia, one man faces charges for dismantling up to
News
Flock Cameras: The End of Crime, or the End of Freedom
...continued from page 1
Soduku
Source: sodukuleader.com
According to WFS seniors who have read and watched the Odyssey, the answer is unanimous: they enjoyed how the adaptation spoke to them through a modern lens, including introducing a modern, diverse cast, dialects, costume design, and most of all, modern characterization. Nolan’s narrative of a civilization on the brink of collapse strikes a terrifyingly familiar chord with modern audiences, adding intrigue to a story the average viewer might dismiss as ancient. By condensing Odysseus’s journey into distinct parts and making it more concrete, the film made it easier to consume than the book. Jack Byrnes ‘27 said that Emily Wilson’s opinion was valid, as “specific details from the book didn’t translate fully to the movie.” Despite Wilson’s criticism, 100% of students polled enjoyed the movie more than the book. Another 80% of students who watched only the movie said it was “too long” in its more introspective parts, but they still enjoyed the action beats. Additionally, 60% said they are interested in reading the book after watching the movie, which matters especially amid a literacy crisis, with 32% of high schoolers scoring below the 50th percentile as of 2024, according to NAEP. The film’s awareness has led to a 76% increase in sales after the release of The Odyssey, according to Circana BookScan. Nolan created something that students and people of all ages can think deeply about. Despite Wilson’s objections, Nolan has achieved something rarely seen today in a landscape of highly consumable adaptations: connecting audiences back to the original source. The Odyssey continues to influence generations, giving the world a chance to watch something seemingly ancient yet highly applicable to modern times.
News
The Whittier Miscellany Fall Issue
Youth Candidates Aren't Winning Congressional Seats Toni Opawumi ‘29 Staff Writer
Young people are often told and even encouraged to voice and share their opinions. They are told their opinions are valued and that they can help make the world a better place. But in spaces where it matters, like the professional office, it is difficult, and sometimes even impossible, for youth to voice an opinion; turning those ideas into reality through political power can be difficult. From invisible financial barriers and age requirements, the struggle the youth face in having a voice is one of the biggest challenges yet. One of the greatest challenges that youth face is that they often have ideas for change, but do not have the connection or money to make them happen. Mr. Childers, an upper school history teacher, says, “I think young people have no shortage of ideas and a willingness to create change but lack the political influence and connections needed to turn those ideas into reality”. He explains that young people understand the problems in their communities, but they do not always have the resources to put their ideas into action. Even when young people want to make a change, it can be difficult to get their voices heard by their community.
Page 7
even though buying books can be difficult for financially challenged families. The program’s impact is not simply the number of books distributed; it’s impactful for parents, allowing them to receive practical resources for supporting early learning at home; for communities, giving local organizations a way to work together to support children’s education; and for future generations, helping establish healthy habits early on that children may carry into school and adulthood. It doesn’t guarantee that every child will become a strong reader, but it addresses the issue of kids not having access to try. Most people know Dolly Parton was a singer and made music, but how many people really know she was also an influential figure with a big impact on our world? Julia Provo ‘28 expresses that she enjoys Dolly’s music and knows that she was an amazing music artist, as well as knowing her impact: “I know that Dolly created her own library to provide more accessible reading to children. She also was just a super sweet lady in general, and from what I hear, she has always been a sweetheart.” Middle school and upper school head Librarian, Kate Hendrix, has also shared her view on Dolly: “I love her voice, and I appreciate her music, but I do not seek it out. Although when I find Dolly in something, it makes me happy.” She also said that Dolly’s positive impact is part of why she loves her so much as a person. There’s so much more to Dolly than just having been a music artist, and it seems some of our WFS community knows that! Dolly was an actress, a businesswoman, and a philanthropist; her influence reached not just music, but also education, popular culture, and charitable work. She used her success not only to entertain people but also to tell stories about ordinary lives, support children’s education, challenge expectations, and encourage others to embrace their true selves. Her influence will live on in today’s culture, and now you know how. .
Let’s Talk About Therapy Abby Terrell ‘27 Staff Writer
Campaign Poster for Sarah McBride Photo: Claire Vinton ‘30 Another challenge is that youth have little chance to participate in government choices because of the age requirements. Decker Reitemeyer ’27 says, “While these ages do pose a challenge to younger generations, they are necessary for the democracy”. His response suggests that while some say that young people deserve to be heard, Decker thinks these rules were put in place for a reason. Although age requirements are intended to ensure that representatives have experience, they can also simultaneously make young people feel excluded from decisions that affect their futures. Young people can also feel like they and their generation have little say in important decisions. Henrik Maansson ’27 says, “I think that our generation has little power over decisions in the present. Nearly all of the congressmen and senators are over 50, the president is over 80, and the Boomer generation holds 77 trillion dollars in wealth.” He agrees that older people hold power while the youth lives with the consequences of those decisions about education, jobs, and housing. Giving young people more opportunities to participate in discussions and share their opinions could help make government more representative of different generations. Overall, young people should have more opportunities to participate in government and have their voices heard. Although age requirements and financial challenges can make political involvement difficult, young people still have valuable ideas and perspectives to contribute. Creating more opportunities for youth to speak with lawmakers, participate in local government, and be involved in political organizations could help close the gap between generations. Their voices matter now, since the decisions made today will shape their future.
...continued from page 5 While Dolly has influenced many women and girls, she’s also influenced young kids all around. One of her most significant achievements is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In 1995, she began a program in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she grew up. The program sends free, age-appropriate books directly to children enrolled in school from birth to their 5th birthday, regardless of family income or financial status. The program began locally and then expanded through partnerships with communities and organizations that help fund and distribute the books. Dolly’s motivation was personal; she saw that her father, though a hard-working and intelligent man, missed opportunities because he never learned to read or write. Seeing how literacy shapes a person’s opportunities, she was inspired to help children develop a love of reading early in life. Children with access to books have more opportunities to explore language, develop
“I go to therapy.” For some people, saying that is no big deal. For others, it is something they would rather keep to themselves. As therapy becomes a more common part of conversations about mental health, people seek it out for all kinds of reasons, from dealing with stress and relationships to simply wanting someone to talk to. How do you bring up therapy in conversation? How do you know it’s normal? These are questions we will explore in this issue of the On Your Mind column. There is no single reason someone goes to therapy. For some, it’s school stress or balancing extracurriculars, while others seek help with anxiety, family issues, or relationships. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to work through these challenges alone. When I was a kid, I started going to therapy, and I hated it. My therapist made me fill out worksheets that turned my anxiety into a monster. I would never look my therapist in the eye, and I would do anything to fight back tears. I thought crying in front of my therapist was even worse than seeing one, so I stopped going. Years later, I brought it up to my parents that I felt very nervous in social settings and thought I should go back to therapy. I started seeing a new therapist, and it made all the difference. I still fought back tears and hardly ever looked her in the eyes, but with each session, I became more comfortable with her. A lot of the time, she would have me “sit in the silence.” Those moments have stayed with me because they remind me how difficult it can be to be vulnerable. I may not understand every high school student's experience with mental health, but I know my own. Therapy challenged me to feel all of my feelings, even the ones I wanted to avoid. Recently, someone admitted to me that he goes to therapy. He said he didn't know how to feel about it. I believe that is a normal experience, especially for teenagers who may still be figuring out how they feel about therapy and what it means to them. Even when therapy is something you choose for yourself, opening up to another person can feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, just getting yourself to show up is the hardest part. Talking to friends and family can be helpful, but therapists offer trained, unbiased support. Even the friend who always knows what to say can feel overwhelmed by carrying someone else’s struggles. Therapy provides a separate space to talk openly without worrying about burdening loved ones. Why therapy? There isn’t one universal answer. For some, it is a place to work through depression and anxiety; for others, it is a chance to talk, process their feelings, or better understand themselves. Therapy doesn’t mean figuring everything out or solving life's problems. It means being vulnerable enough to try something new with someone you don’t know. Sometimes, it takes more strength to ask for help than to keep everything inside. Ultimately, only you can decide why therapy is right for you. One session may not fix everything, but sometimes, it’s about being willing to keep showing up.
Page 8
The Whittier Miscellany Spring Issue 2026
All pictures from Wilmington Friends School Facebook
The
Whittier
Miscellany 2026-2027 Masthead Editors-in-Chief: Olivia Agne ‘27 and Scarlett Murphy ‘27 News Editor: Ellie McQuillan ‘28 Arts & Culture Editor: Gabby Hamilton ‘27 Science & Technology Editor: Liza Green ‘27 Sports Editor: Annie Rosenthal ‘27 Community Editor: Victoria Gasta-Domínguez ‘29 Managing Editor: Ethan Halaby ‘27 Faculty Advisor: Carrie Simpson Staff Writers: Colton Loeffler ‘29 Gavin Gray ‘28 Blaire Princilus ‘29 Abby Terrell ‘27 Zoë Mooney-Doyle ‘27 Michael DiPrinzio ‘29 Isla White ‘29 Toni Opawumi ‘29 Nora Abd El Kader ‘27 Quinn Bukowski ‘30 Bruna Novais ‘29 Aria Stout ‘30 Sofia Velastegui-Fratticci ‘28 Photographers: Morgan Kim ‘27 Samara Alexander Elam ‘30 Claire Vinton ‘30 Cartoonist: Micah Davenport ‘27 The Whittier Miscellany is published five times during the school year by high school journalism staff of Wilmington Friends School, 101 School Road Wilmington, DE 19803. To access the Whittier Miscellany online, go to www.wfswhittier.net.