The Spectrum Newspaper November 2024

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the SPECTRUM

Thursday | December 5 | 2024

Students Spend First Semester Away

School year abroad brings unique experience and allows for new, impactful friendships and connections

Ella Evans | Contributing Writer

What does studying away look like? Where are some students now?

Studying abroad offers students an opportunity to immerse themselves into new cultures, languages, and academic environments. Right now, several blake students are studying away in destinations such as Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. Dion Crushshon, Social Studies Teacher and Director of Global Programs, said that eight to 10 students usually study away each year, although there are currently seven.

Lucia Heathcote ‘25 and Macaella Sikhoya ‘25, shared information about their recent adventures abroad. Heathcote, who spent the 2024 spring semester in France, described the significant impact her host family had on her experience, emphasizing how essential a good host experience is to making the most of studying abroad. She also described her classes at School Year Abroad (SYA), where her history and language courses were taught in French, while math and English classes were taught in English with American teachers. “The classes were quite different from

at Blake,” she explained. Heathcote experience included learning about architecture through reallife examples through field trips. The structure of her classes were more “lecture based,” as she puts it, with less group activities and partner work.

Similarly, Sikhoya, who studied in Italy, emphasized the impactful, lasting friendships she made with her peers on her trip that she maintains to this day. Crushshon addressed some common concerns that students have when considering studying abroad. “Many students are nervous about how the Blake curric-

ulum will match up with the curriculum of the classes that they take while away,” he explained. For programs like the Swiss Semester, the academic rigor can

be even higher than at Blake, which can have an impact on the student’s grade, according to Sophia Peterson ‘25

Additionally, homesickness has become a prevalent issue for some, but Crushshon reassures students that it is a natural aspect of the experience. As of right now, there are seven students studying away. Campbell Arthur ‘27, Raina Prigge ‘27, and Chloe Kern ‘27 in Switzerland, Nick Gajdusek ‘26 in Spain, Aryanna Rossi ‘26 in Italy, Teddy Bower ‘26 in Washington D.C., and Ava Mittra ‘26 in France.

Students in Switzerland do not have access to their cell phones. So to capture some of Arthur’s experiences in Switzerland, his mother shared on Instagram: “He has been busy hiking, studying and spent the weekend in France. He is loving it and thriving” She later added that, during a parents’ weekend when she visited Arthur in France, “We did ice caves, gorging, helicopter tour, and a killer hike with 3 [kilometer] vertical (up only) in only four miles.”

Studying abroad offers students a unique experience filled with opportunities and experience that extend far beyond the classroom. As students studying away make friendships and adapt to new academic atmospheres, they are also learning about and engaging with different geographical and cultural parts of the

Custodians Work to Make Positive Impact

New staff looking to improve community

After a chaotic start to the year in the custodial staff, Bobby Ferguson will join us as Assistant Maintenance Lead and Thomas Bradley will join us as Junior Maintenance Technician. Before coming to the Upper School, Ferguson worked at a Toyota car dealership and at a Discount Tire. Ferguson spent three and a half years in management at Discount Tire, which helped prepare him to oversee the main-

“My heart plummeted and my eyes began to water as the entire crowd shakily sat soundless, taken aback by the sullen scene on stage.”

tenance department of the Upper School. What prompted his decision to come to Blake was that he felt it was somewhere he was “not just somebody…and has meaning.”

Ferugson’s job can be summarized as “ensuring [the school] is working like a well oiled machine.” Bradley added onto Ferguson’s description, saying one of his duties is to “make sure that this place isn’t falling apart… at least at a cosmetic level.”

Ferguson noted that he works hand and hand with faculty to make sure that the physical aspects of the building are unkempt and working nice.

As for students, Bradley says the most important things students can do to keep their jobs easy is following signage. “The biggest offense is you guys [students] not using those racks for your backpacks, just throwing them on the floor,” said Bradley. Alternatively, Bradley appreciates the school community for their understanding of a custodian’s duties. “It seems like everyone does understand that what we do and what specifically I do is a necessity…[most people] have been expressing gratitude.” Additionally, Bradley acknowledged that he feels extremely welcomed in the school community

Students voice their opinions on Taher’s best and worst lunches.

Ferguson and Bradley joined the Upper School community as custodians this year.

so far, saying that students and teachers have come up to him in the halls and start simple introductory interactions such as asking for his name.

Although Bradley hasn’t been at the school for very long, he loves the flexibility of his job. “I can do things at the pace of Tom, which is my pace,” said Bradley.

After only losing two players to graduation, Boys’ Basketball is ecstatic to get back on the court and contend for a state champtionship.

Gajdusek (red shirt) and his other classmates enjoying visits to various caves and sites in Spain during their free time.

Andrew Jetton | Staff Writer

Gajdusek and his peers visiting the Monument to Philip IV of Spain in the centre of Plaza de Oriente in Madrid.

Nick Gajdusek

Submitted by Nick Gajdusek

Submitted by Nick Gajdusek

Faith Zhao

Gajdusek and his peers touring and walking through the castle on top of Montjuïc, Barcelona.

Forum Reps Seek Change

Student council works to improve community

Evan Darmawan | Staff Writer

The purpose and goal of Forum is to have students become representatives for people who believe said person will do their best to carry out. It does take some time to get used to the role of trying to fulfill the needs of many students, but now that they have had the time, lets go find out what they have done, what they are trying to accomplish and why they’re are representing you.

Starting off with the ninth grade representatives Victoria Li ‘28, Ved Bastodkar ‘28, and Rihaan Vora ‘28. They explained the very rigorous process of getting presented ideas to the table and how it takes a lot of time and work to have it go through the many committees to which such ideas may apply. For example, they have been recently trying to change things regarding the vending machines. They have been trying to implement cheaper prices and a wider selection of products but there is a catch. This type of request takes a long time to complete as it requires approval from many parties that are somehow intertwined. They are also trying to remove lock-

ers, noticing their redundancy, and have proposed to “create more lounges or study spaces.” The ninth-grade representatives enjoy the input given by their peers and strongly suggest coming to their meetings every once in a while every Thursday in the NAR during the second lunch.

One of the tenth grade representatives is Stella Wyatt ‘27. A common request most representatives tend to make is always to try to ask them or bring potential ideas to the table. In the words of Wyatt “We value their opinion” and “talking about things that need to be changed and try to put them into action.” She has been working on a special box that will eventually live in the cafeteria and will serve as a feedback or food request box, except to see it in around a month. Secondly, Wyatt has been working toward a blood drive. The idea is still in the works, but please do reach out to her if you are interested in donating blood soon, the two dates that have been arranged so far are Jan. 22 and Apr. 9.

Eleventh grade representative Cole Eckes ‘26 was also interviewed and for those interested in what will be coming soon, particularly for the eleventh graders, here is what we know so far. “Second semester off-campus privileges” is the main thing that was mentioned and is a very arduous task as communication with people like “Joe Ruggerio

last year, and now Maren Anderson [this year], and we’ve been speaking about it.” Eckes finds a lot of significance in staff of the month as before, it was evident that not much thought or respect was given to the hardworking staff of our school and he recognized how spreading this will help build relationships with the faculty community. “The point was to try to introduce staff members to kids on a conversational level…in order to facilitate those connections and facilitate that respect.” Again, if you ever have any ideas that could be implemented into our committee, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the forum representatives.

Last of the grade representatives, twelfth grade Omar Kaba ‘25 and Karin Lund ‘25 who shared their time to answer some questions about recent developments with forum. Similar to other representatives, they emphasize the importance of coming to them in any way and requesting or bringing up any matters; “we truly want to elevate your voices” said Lund. They have been working on improving the lunch system and its menu and vending machine related matters. The bigger matter that they say has been taking most of their effort is preparations for defend the den as it encompasses a lot of sub-projects requiring the approval and support and many teams to enure the success of the event. Kaba

mentioned that during meetings, someone there is usually entrusted with taking notes of the main topics conversed about, these notes are freely accessible through Veracross “so that people know what happened during meetings,” said Kaba. Though the date is far, they sincerely hope that many people turn out to defend the den and are counting on the support of all of the seniors. Lastly, there is the student body president Zellie Olson ‘25 The main project that she has been working on has also been defend the den for this upcoming spring, the process is quite rigorous, “you have a lot of moving parts and the parents, athletic directors, administration, sports directors and the alumni”. As there has been a lot of work poured into these projects Olson and the rest of the upper school representatives hope that the turnout will be big and are counting on everybody being there. Olson mentioned how the role of student president is a somewhat rigorous job, with a lot of talking to staff, setting the agenda for upcoming meetings, planning and more, though this is what she describes as “a busier scenario.” Lastly, Olson, like everyone else, strongly believes that forum depends not just on them but everybody else, encouraging conversations; “you can come and talk to me whenever you want, we like to connect with people.”

2024 Elections Reveal Differing Interest Levels

Students less inclined to participate in political process

Eva Gleason | Staff Writer

On Nov. 5, citizens throughout the nation used their voice, casting a vote which ultimately resulted in former president Donald Trump’s re-election. Mixed emotions reverberated throughout the country, and on a smaller scale, through school. But as the election brings new leadership, it also brings up doubts about youth participation in politics.

Government and politics may seem inaccessible to many students, most of whom cannot participate in the most obvious form of political involvement: voting. And especially in such a polarizing environment, it can

feel discouraging to even attempt to engage in politics–a feeling that has translated to an overall sense of inaction. When asked about this year’s election, David Zalk said, “It just seems as if there was much less engagement and interest.” Students appear to be more timid about participating in the political process, which can be attributed to a variety of sources. “One reason of what I perceive as a lack of involvement, is they don’t feel like their voices are heard,” Zalk shared. However, there are many opportunities for students to get their voices heard. Tony Liu ‘25 agreed with Zalk in that there are opportunities for students to become more involved and engaged. “You can do a lot of things in your local community. You can volunteer by canvassing for candidates and you can make

your voice heard that way.”

But despite the exclusivity of politics and government, motivated students seek opportunities where they can. Michelle Dallow Elliot ‘25 has been involved in several political initiatives on both the local and national level.

Elliot said, “There are so many other forms of civic engagement that aren’t just door knocking or running for office.”

For youth, social media provides a platform for political discussion, but it also poses a serious risk when consumed irresponsibly. “I think it’s had an immense influence if in other capacity then as a distraction, and people seem to be much more interested in the latest tik tok video than in anything substantive. People who rely on social media for their news are just being deluded” said Zalk.

On a national level, the 2024 election created a seismic shift in the political landscape for the future, from Republicans having control of all three branches of government to the DFL party having majority control in Minnesota.

Many people’s beliefs regarding the national election were “very negative” as Emery Niles ‘28 put it. Greg Jones ‘27 said that he was “disappointed and worried for us [the American people].”

Lucia Heathcote ‘25 had two emotions regarding the national election results, saying “Initially, I was kinda disappointed. Since then, I’ve been frustrated.” Heathcote had a form of hope that many cling to currently, “Trump has been president before, so I think everything will hopefully be less dramatic than people are predicting.”

To many, the results on a national level were hard to understand because, as Heathcote noted, the upper school is “surrounded by this liberal school neighborhood and, community.” With a drastic shift towards the Republicans, Heathcote continued: “We have three branches to monitor each other. So if they’re all one party, it’s a little bit concerning.” Ethan Coddington ‘28 continued, expressing that he is “worried about the full sweep of the house[s].”

Unfortunately, people seem to be unaware of local results. Jones stated, “I wasn’t paying attention to those [local races].” Still, these races are vital to the local function of Government. In Southern Minnesota, Brad Finstad (GOP) won the first district. In what many thought would be a very tight race, Angie Craig (DFL) won the second district by over 13%. Kelly Morrison ‘87 (DFL), an alumni won against Tad Jude (GOP) for the seat given up by fellow alumni Dean Phillips ‘87 in District three.

Phoebe Balfour ‘25’s artwork that depicts a reaction to the election.

Minneapolis’ youth engagement coordinator Caryn Scheel facilitates cooperative efforts between students and government. Scheel emphasized the importance of youth involvement in dictating our future. “The decisions that are happening now are going to affect you for the rest of your lives.”

Betty McCollum (DFL) won out in a rematch against the first Hmong Republican to win a primary for a House seat, May Lor Xiong. In District 5, Ilhan Omar (DFL), the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress won against Dalia Al-Aqidi (GOP) by more than 50%.

U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (GOP) who has held the seat since 2014, won District six against Jaeanne Hendricks (DFL). Michelle Fischbach, who failed to be endorsed by the GOP, but was endorsed by PresidentElect Trump, beat out challenger John Peters (DFL). In a traditionally Democratic part of the state, incumbent Pete Stauber (GOP) won against Jen Schultz (DFL). In the US Senatorial race, Amy Klobuchar (DFL) triumphed against Royce White (GOP) by over 15% of the vote.

Faith Zhao

Forum Representatives Olson, Vora, Bastodkar, Lund, Eckes, Shoumili Tarafder ‘26, Raiden Chen ‘26, and faculty representative Gina Housman listening to and discussing ideas at a Forum meeting during lunch on Thur., Nov. 7.

Ben Aviles | Opinions Editor

Gabriella Marmet

Where are Recent Grads Now?

How has college impacted the lives of alumni?

Izzie Miller | Staff Writer

In the next four years, the classes of ‘25, ‘26, ‘27, and ‘28 will graduate and set off to start their lives. Whether this looks like going to college or starting a career, this next step can seem daunting at times. That being

said, there are people who have already been down this path…our alumni! So, what are our former bears doing now?

As a previous year-round athlete, Payton Smith ‘24 has discovered much more free time she has since starting her first year of college at

The biggest difference I’ve noticed is how much more independent I’ve had to be. It’s all up to me now.”

the University of Southern California. She says, “In the past, I’ve always had sports all year, so I’ve definitely had a lot of time free up since graduation.” She has been spending this free time doing various activities California has to offer. “I’ve done a lot of exploring,” Smith

states, “There’s a lot of stuff to do here in LA, so I’ve been taking advantage of that by going to different concerts, events and restaurants.”

Prior student body president Karn Kaura ‘24 is studying in sunny California at Stanford University so far, he has started a college con-

Don’t throw away second semester. Have late night car rides and hangouts.”

Connecting I

Strings

Students and faculty share ways to stay in touch with extended family throughout the holiday season

Caitlin Strauss | Staff Writer

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it can be challenging to find ways to connect with extended family if seeing them in person is not always possible. Many Blake students and staff share this painful experience of missing loved ones during the holidays, especially when extended family lives far away.

Sanvi Kurdikar ‘28 shares, “I have cousins who live in Europe, and my grandparents live in India.” She adds that the time difference can have a significant impact, explaining that “it’s usually midnight” for her when she is able to talk to her family, while it is “early in the morning for my family who lives far away.”

Although the time differences can often be difficult, Kurdikar says that she still enjoys doing “WhatsApp video calls and messaging” with her extended family. Similarly, Rio Hanson, the lead security officer for the Upper School, describes that staying connected with family, especially during the holidays, is often through “texting, calling, and mail.”

Encouraging extended

The empty table represents the lack of family members present during Thanksgiving.

family to visit during the holidays, when possible, is another great way to connect with them. Rosenberg ‘25 explains with a smile that her aunt, who lives in Colorado, “is coming to Minneapolis to celebrate Thanksgiving” with her family.

However, seeing extended family in person during the holiday season is not always a possibility. Kurdikar notes, “I see my cousins in Europe every year, but I can only see my grandparents in India about once every two or three years.” Rosenberg shares that she only sees

her aunt “once or twice a year, and sometimes during the summer.” Hanson, who has family living in New Jersey, adds: “I’ve only seen them twice in my life, so not that much.”

Connecting with family is a significant aspect of the holiday season, and even if you cannot see your extended family in person this year, there are many other creative ways to stay in touch with them. So, have fun during the holidays this year, and remember that even a short phone call with a family member could make their day.

sulting business with Curtis Ying ‘24 and created Plato. ai. He says “I think I’m just blown away by the talent and the drive and the ambition that a lot of people have here.”

Jackie Wethington ‘23 is studying at the University of Minnesota. She walked on the

D1 Rowing team this year and she describes college life: “With college you’re obviously not in the classroom all day and so it’s a lot of my time is taken up studying with friends and just making sure that I’m just staying up to date with the information I’m learning in class.”

There’s just so many opportunities in college and you have so much more time to get involved and figure out where your interests are.”

Submitted by Wethington

Hooray!

Test Day!

“Test” replaced with a “celebration of learning”

Minha Ali | Contributing Writer

nstead of using the term “unit tests,” the term “celebrations of learning” has been coined by both students and teachers in classes like Honors Chemistry.

How many times have you groaned or rolled your eyes at the mention of an upcoming test, for whichever course it may be? The answer is almost certainly more than once, and that is understandable, considering the dread accompanied by this news. But that doesn’t have to be the case anymore, especially as “tests” are being replaced by “celebrations of learning.”

The phrase has gained popularity this school year largely due to the accompaniment of sweet treats on testing day. When asked about this newfound tradition, Chemistry teacher Kirstin Holm expressed gratitude for the evolution of the practice: “I think that helped keep this tradition alive, because if students kind of roll their eyes and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, it’s still a test,’ it diminishes the celebration.” She went on to

explain how instrumental it was to “have a community and be able to bond together in something.”

Being the first student to bring confections to class, Connor Briand ‘27 noted the effect of his actions: “The little bit of work that I put in for the first test [will] all pay off,” elaborating, “every test I’ll be able to enjoy cookies.” His words summarize the overarching sentiment of many students in these courses.

But reframing the word ‘test’ hasn’t just provided students with a satisfying snack—it also has changed the perception of testing culture at Blake.

“A “test” is just a place to show your teacher what you know,” Holm affirms.

Math teacher Jonathan

Osters agrees: “All [you] need to do is project what [you] know and get that on to the page.” By making the concept of testing more lighthearted, “we’re able to bond together over our learning,” Holm finishes.

In such a high-pressure environment, stressful events like testing can easily be distorted into high-stakes, single-function affairs. By bringing in snacks and really treating tests more like celebrations, “it sort of takes the ‘scary’ out,” science teacher Jacqui Niederschulte reasons.

Seeing as how the term has taken the science wing by storm, many are hopeful that the term continues to spread and along with it, a more easygoing testing culture.

Ben Aviles

Holm eagerly stands next to the event on Tuesday on the Honors chem calendar: Unit 3 celebration of learning.

Students diligently take notes to prepare for their celebration of learning on Unit 3. Faith Zhao

Payton Smith‘24

Karn Kuara ‘24

Jackie Wethington

Submitted by Smith

Submitted by Kaura

Faith Zhao

Les Misérables Returns to Minneapolis

Broadway musical comes to Orpheum

Gabriella Marmet |

Co-Editor-in-Chief

My heart plummeted and my eyes began to water as the entire crowd shakily sat soundless, taken aback by the sullen scene on stage.

The booming blare of the bullet directly bashed into a child who fought with the resistance; he directly fell into the arms of his friend, dead. All music students were invited to watch the musical traveling Broadway cast of “Les Misérables” at the Orpheum on Thursday, Nov. 21.

This world’s most popular and eight-time Tony Award-winning musical takes place in France after the French Revolution. The plot emphasizes stories of love, sacrifice, and justice.

Protagonist Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) finally is released from prison, due to stealing a loaf of bread for a sick relative, and attempts to begin a new, wealthy life away from his intense past by becoming mayor. Throughout the entire show,

he is pursued by inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger), the antagonist police officer who assumes the worst in everyone. After revealing his secret identity to the public, Valjean follows a promise to adopt and protect a child, Cosette (Delaney Guyer), who lives similar to a slave in a house

of greedy criminals. After taking Cosette into his care, Valjean hides and stays on the run from the inspector for countless years. As the plot thickens, love stories are discovered and more and more significant cast members pass away. The title of the musical translates to The Miserables, em-

phasizing those who had to fight for what they believed suffered immensely during the revolution.

As “Les Mis” was one of the first musicals I was introduced to as a child and one of the main reasons why I loved musical theater, watching this performance live served as nostalgic and

heartwarming. Even though I already knew what would occur next, the emotional performance was immensely moving, leaving me sitting in awe of the amazing singers and performances.

While the storyline may be hard to follow as someone who watches the musical for the first time, each

individual had a unique and powerful singing voice that left me astonished. Valjean, Fantine (Lindsey Heather Pearce), and Éponine (Mya Rena Hunter) stood out because of their abilities to connect to their role and how touching their roles were for an audience member. Although each of these characters suffer immensely and go through hardships, they all have a singular hope and goal that pushes them through to the end of their lives. Their vocal ranges were also incredible, strongly hitting each high note that was sung with the perfect tone.

“Les Mis” teaches the audience of the hardships of economic disparity in France in the early 1800s but also demonstrates how people can change through taking second chances and having mercy. All of the characters develop significantly throughout the plot, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and try to be better people. The more they suffer, the more the characters learn what to be grateful for and when they should fight for their rights.

Secrets of Library’s Hidden Attic Revealed

Lesser known areas explored

Charlie Dean | Puzzle Master

Did you know that the Donald Dayton Library has an attic? And if so, have you ever wondered what exists up there, and how you access it?

The answers, for the most part, are not very surprising. The attic is accessible by a ladder that lies within a janitorial area past a door near the gender-neutral bathrooms. According to Nat Gilsdorf , who has access to the attic, “I don’t think students are supposed to be up here… It probably wouldn’t be good to be

hanging around in here.”

The description of the attic is generally not very interesting: dusty, gray concrete floors, silver pipes lining that floor, and red and yellow labels on those pipes lining that floor; the sound of an over 40-yearold HVAC system humming in the not-so-distant background.

And yet, the attic does have its interesting spots. A door that gives access to the school’s roof, a large dark gray expanse covered with small puddles and brown fallen leaves. Hundreds of yearbooks stored in white, dated and boxed, ranging

from the 2023-24 school year to “school yearbooks that go back to 1900.” And hundreds, if not thousands, of the same book, Expecting Good Things of All: 100 Years of Academic Excellence, sitting in boxes, likely never to be used again.

Gilsdorf says that the book is about “[school] history, and it used to be the case that whenever the school hired someone new they would give them this book…but then the book got kind of out of date, and so now we have like a ton of copies.” Hopefully, hundreds of books about academic excellence sitting in closed

boxes in an attic aren’t a sign for the rest of us. Or maybe that’s a sign for the

school. Besides yearbooks and other old books, the attic isn’t used for much. Gilsdorf says “I could see the school using it for [other storage] ... storage is always a premium here…there’s often people debating who gets which closet to store things in, so I could definitely see them storing things [here].” While there is some space in the attic, Gilsdorf “[doesn’t] think [it] has been used for anything else.”

While Gilsdorf describes the attic as “not a super exciting place,” it’s also “a space nonetheless…in the school that not a lot of people see.”

Music Portrays Emotions, Life Experiences

Lyrics provide escape from reality

Ben Aviles | Opinions Editor

Music is the accompaniment to life. You can’t know why it moves you, why the sound makes you want to smile, cry, agonize, or laugh. It simply just does. The best and the lowest points of my life have all been accompanied by music. It’s the sound that lets

me know I’m not alone. It reminds me that in this cruel and beautiful world, there are people experiencing, living, loving, and hurting just

like me.

Listening to Tracy Chapman’s self-titled album collects the moments of oppression, hope, and desperation in raw emotion. She begins with “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” and a sound of aspiration.

Next, comes a ballad to the human spirit, “Fast Car,” detailing a life of hope, love, and failure. Following a life of aspirations, hope, and failure, she tells the listener a solo vocal story that brings me to tears each time I listen to it in “Behind the Wall.” She, in a weeping voice, tells the story of an abused woman and her inability to help her.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the highs of

summer nights that seem to have no end to the hot and humid dreamland are best seen through Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” album, which captures the excitement, emotion, and hope that comes with summer.

Springsteen begins with “Thunder Road,” which details a young man with the rash exuberance that comes with youth and freedom, questing to escape his hometown with a girl named Mary through Springsteen’s gravelly and excited voice accompanied by the fastpaced instrumentation of the E-Street Band.

To close the album, he gives the listener a masterful ballad of music, youth, and joy involving a fittingly titled “Jungleland” of music

and life. The song epitomizes rock and roll with many guitar solos and a long, nearly two-minute saxophone solo from the late

saxophonist, Clarence Clemons, which enthralls me. Lyrically, Springsteen takes me on a journey that leaves me upheaved and ready to take on the world. Truly, the dramatics of the music and the excitement of the lyrics leaves me feeling more alive.

These two albums make me feel. They make me hurt, they make me live and love. Music binds us. My humanness, my experience singing and feeling with your humanness and your experience.

The Orpheum marquee flashes the featured musical, Les Misérables. This Broadway hit ran from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1.

Gabriella Marmet

Natalia Romero Arbeláez, Kai Capistrant ‘25, Ava Broll ‘25 and Alan Hodder ‘25 eagerly await the performance.

Gabriella Marmet

A steep ladder leads to access into the hidden attic.

Evie Chow

Chapman’s single “Fast Car” is one of her biggest hits.

Evie Chow

Courtesy of Chapman Chapman’s debut album contains profound themes.

Courtesy of Springsteen “Born to Run” is Springsteen’s distinguishing album.

Within the attic lies a door that leads to the rooftop.

Evie Chow

Springsteen’s album paved the way for future successes.

Evie Chow

The stage tells the story of Les Misérables, which is set in 19th century France following the French Revolution.

Gabriella Marmet

BEST LUNCH VS WORST LUNCH

Taher’s delights

Lilah Johnson | Sports Editor

Whether you’re generally a fan of Taher’s lunches or not, everyone has the lunch that they look forward to most when they see it on the menu. In my opinion, there are three lunches that stand out as the clear favorite for the best school lunch option.

My favorite lunch is the pasta bar. I am not alone in my enjoyment; almost every student I asked immediately answered that they loved the pasta bar. Its popularity is likely attributed to the variety of sauce options available, including meat, marinara, and my personal favorite, alfredo, along with the fact that pasta is a classic. There’s some-

thing for everyone here, especially since there’s typically breadsticks to go along with it.

Another classic lunch is pizza, served every Tuesday and Thursday as the grab and go option. This is a classic, and is so widely enjoyed that almost everyone has something delicious to eat twice a week. Although pizza is served so frequently that it can start to get redundant after a while, you can always take a break by eating the main course. The big debate about pizza is whether thin crust or thick crust is better. Minha Ali ‘27 says, “As long as it’s not burnt, the thin crust is better.” However, Lula Alter ‘27 says, “The thin crust is too crunchy.”

The final best lunch is a classic: mac and cheese. Mac and cheese is my favorite food no matter

where it’s from, and it’s a pretty hard meal to get wrong. Many students say that the school mac and cheese lacks flavor, and although this is true to some extent, I still look forward to lunch every time mac and cheese is served.

In terms of desserts, the best is the brownies and blondies. These aren’t served too often, but when they are, they’re always the perfect texture and have good flavor. However, cookies, which are served at least once a week, are also a great dessert option, especially for on-the-go. I like the rotation of sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies, but Alter suggests that “they should have the oatmeal cookies that are out during parent-teacher conferences” on a more regular basis.

Meals to avoid

Oliver Brown | Staff Writer

Stupendously renowned for its prestigious academic accolades, breathtaking athletics, and bright, bustling students, the Blake School of Excellence fails to fall short of any outspoken qualities. This includes our almost always delectable lunches. I say “almost” as a reminder to everyone that nothing is perfect. And while the Blake cafeteria has been granted many titles, the accolade of “One Full School Year of Delicious Lunches” is apparently not one of them.

With this notion in mind, I’ve recently ventured out across the four walls of our school, observed, noted, and heard the vital opinions of stu-

dents, and conjured an article exposing the not-soappealing lunches of our school.

Issac Lundholm ‘27 dislikes the egg rolls as “it doesn’t seem to have any that much like nutrients or anything.... It’s not very filling or anything.”

The egg rolls are often served as a grab and go option when orange or General Tso’s chicken is served. The lackluster content of food inside the egg roll lead to a significantly worse option compared to stables such as pizza.

Sulayman Syed ‘26 dislikes the seafood offerings by Taher. “They don’t do a good job with seafood...it tastes like a little bit off sometimes,” Syed said.

Garrick Bennett ‘28 did not hold back on his heavy criticism for Taher’s coooking. Bennett believes

that the lunch is “terrible” and expressed his displeasure for the chicken dishes with the simple question, “What are they doing with the chicken?” The chicken is often dry and underseasoned.

Another interesting perspective was given by Madhav Kumar ‘27 who dislikes “the days that there’s just tofu. It’s just such a repeated option. So anything with tofu, I kind of don’t like.”

On the contrary, I believe no matter what is being served for lunch on any given day, we should always appreciate the tremendous amount of work that the cafeteria staff put into their jobs to create the best meals possible. We as students owe them a tremendous thanks for all that they have done and continue to do to feed us.

An alfredo pasta with green beans serves as one of the popular options for pasta bar lunch. The Pesto and Tomato Pasta was met with mixed reviews on its taste and enjoyability.

Steven Cao Oliver Brown

One of the less successful power bowl options by Taher: grilled chicken with rice and barbeque sauce. Steven Cao

Steven Cao

James Thornton ‘25 dines on fresh cheese pizza, one of the most consistent and popular choices.

Boys’ Basketball Back In Action, Shooting For State

Experienced team has ambitious goals

Rayan Nasir | Sports Editor

After a stellar performance in the section playoffs last year, the Boys Basketball season has officially started.

Last year was special for the team, as they made one of their deepest section runs in a few years. Unfortunately, they fell short in the semifinals to Breck in a neck and neck game. However, after returning all but two players, the team is ecstatic to get back on the court and win the state championship.

Carson McMichael ‘26, a first year captain for the team, is gearing up for a stellar season. After dominating the past two years, including a game winning threepointer versus St. Paul Academy in his freshman year, McMichael is excited for the student body to see the team play. He said, “A couple of games that I am excited for and think people should attend are our season opener vs Minnehaha on Dec. 3 and vs Breck on Jan. 7.”

Last year, the team

beat Minnehaha Academy in an amazing fashion, beating the Redhawks for the first time since 2014. With the team’s growth from the previous season, this matchup is primed to be a great game. The team doesn’t just have a goal of winning these key rivalry matchups: their goal is to win state. McMichael said “The main goal going into the season is to win state. It will be a hard goal to achieve but we all believe in our ability to do so.”

Moreover, the team not only hopes to win state but believes that they can. McMichael goes on to say, “The players we have this season have a lot of experience at the varsity level and we believe that we can compete

with anyone in the state.”

Many players on the team not only have multiple years of varsity basketball under their belt but also have many years of experience playing with each other.

Through playing together for multiple years, the team has grown as a group. McMichael expanded on this by saying, “Throughout the years of playing together, we have learned how to trust each other, play with resilience, and be willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

With the chemistry and years of experience this team has, it makes this season different from others. McMichael said, “What makes this team different than teams in

the past is the time we have put in together to make this a special season. We have all worked very hard over the offseason and will continue this during the season.”

The offseason consists of players playing AAU basketball, attending camps, and going the extra mile to make sure they are primed for a great season.

This team wants to leave their mark, not just in the record books but in how the team is remembered. McMichael said, “This year's team wants to be remembered as a hardworking and resilient group. We want everyone to remember us for how well we worked as a team and played the game with the right mindset.”

Mental Health in Sports: Closely Tied, Beneficial or Detrimental?

Athletes describe experiences

Isabella Valdesolo & Evie Hjelm | Staff Writers

The benefits of exercise and sports cannot be overstated. From their major health benefits to helping manage stress and providing increased energy, physical activity can make a huge difference in anyone’s life.

Piper Fuhr ‘26 , a competitive Irish dancer for almost eleven years, finds that the sport allows her to escape from stress in other aspects of her life: “I can always just rely on my dance friends to help me have a good time at dance and

take my mind off things that are stressful, like school and other stuff.”

English teacher Patrick Barry , a distance runner and six-time marathon finisher, believes that such physical activity provides “a good way to clear your head, tuning everything out. And, conversely, it can be a good way to dial in on something and work through it.”

Barry phrases running as “everything and nothing,” meaning that you must work your hardest and give it everything, but regardless of the outcome, it does not define you.

Much of the time, exercise and participating in

athletics are very important and beneficial. However, given the strong ties between sports and mental health, it's important to recognize the challenges. Ruby Souvignier ‘28 , a varsity hockey player, struggles with anxiety, stating “I think I’m a bit of an overthinker, a lot goes through my head.” This is the case for many athletes, especially in high levels of sports.

Additionally, the team aspect is a big part of why so many students participate in athletics and can be a great coping mechanism for stress. For Souvignier, “the community and the people [she] play[s] with” are valuable in

Girls’ Hockey Gears Up For New Season

Roster combines rivals in new co-op

Esther Lee | Contributing Writer

The girls’ hockey program is known for its commitment to both individual skill development and team dynamics coached by head coach Kristi King

The captains this season are Malika Chebaclo ‘25 and Charlotte Palmby ‘25 , along with the assistant captains, Addie Wethington ‘27 , Callie Arthur ‘27 , and Janie McGawn ‘26.

The team has a strong roster this season, combined with Providence Academy, Minnehaha Academy, and new addition St. Paul Academy. Seven players on the roster come from the other schools.

Wethington described the experience of having other teammates from different schools. “It can

definitely affect the team dynamics and the relationships that have already been established, but we have been getting along very well,” she said.

Arthur belives that having teammates from other schools isn’t very different because they are still a part of the team: “It doesn’t matter where we go to school, we all

come together to play and have fun,” she added.

The season began with their first game against Osseo/Park Center with a five to zero win. The girls are more than ready. Through building relationships with teammates on and off the ice, the girls’ hockey team is determined to make this season one to remember.

her growth as an athlete. This is a common answer. Community in sports helps many manage mental struggles and is a huge reason why so many participate in sports. Hunter Simon ‘26 , a distance runner and Nordic skier adds, “You always meet new people every year, and

you get to work together with people and watch others improve and support each other. It feels like you have a ton of people cheering you on.”

Souvignier adds, “Some of my teammates really help me overcome [my anxiety] and calm down.”

Through both the tough moments and the

uplifting times in sports, one thing rings true: “It's how you find yourself,” remarks Barry. Both the benefits and negatives of sports on mental health can help you improve in many aspects of life and show what all of it is really for: growth, both as an athlete and as a person.

Members of the hockey team huddle on the ice during their five to zero win at the Osseo/Maple Grove Ice Rink on Nov. 9.

all photos by Isabella Valdesolo

Jax Newberry

Barry coaches the cross country team. Fuhr is a member of the cross country team as well as an Irish dancer. Souvignier is in her second year on the varsity hockey team.

Benji Dillon

Players meet in the locker room before tryouts begin.

Senior Looks Ahead to Final Season

Tarun Gopalakrishnan | News Editor

What role do you see yourself playing in mentoring the younger and less experienced fencers?

“We don’t have as many male épée fencers as we did in previous years, so forming that team cohesion is going to be really important. I think part of that is getting more of the fencers involved during our practice time.”

“He is a super dedicated leader and I have never seen him take a day off. He is never cutting corners. He’s completely willing to do his best for the team because he understands that’s how we all grow and that’s exactly the type of person that deserves that spot at captain. He wants to see everybody grow. He will often help them [newer fencers] out. Everytime I see him coaching a novice fencer it’s super inspirational because it shows that there’s people like Liam who are willing to do what’s best for the team.”

-Jeffrey Chen ‘26, Coley’s teammate

Q&A with Liam Coley ‘25

Coley and Chizoro

practicing and working on their lunging skills.

Is fencing a tough sport mentally? “Because [fencing] is such an individual sport, when it comes down to it it’s just you and the guy in front of you. It [fencing] is almost a battle of wills. Being able not only to out reach your opponent but also being able to out-think them is just as if not more important.”

Are you sad to leave the fencing team? “Yeah, I’m sad to leave the fencing team. Ever since I came in ninth grade it’s always been such a welcoming community.”

What are you looking forward to most this season? “Last year, since I came in late, I wasn’t able to foster much of a connection with some of those new members. I really hope to make up for lost time in that regard. I hope to bring our community back together. Having that cohesion…not just being a team but forming these personal relationships can really make us stronger and really make us better fencers.”

Star Athletes to Watch and Support This Upcoming Winter Season

AOlivia Besikof and Connor Briand | Staff Writers

Alpine Skier Vivien

Pihlstrom ‘25 is looking forward to bonding with her teammates. She says, “It should be a really fun season this year because we have the opportunity to go to state.”

The alpine skiers unfortunately didn’t go to state last year, but they have for the two years before then.

Pihlstrom says “Some of the challenges I face relate most to my schedule” and “I don’t really have anything that’s so challenging because I love it so much.”

Pihlstrom also faces a little “personal pressure” but “[She] just tries to have fun and that relieves most of the pressure.”

ddie Wethington ‘27, assistant captain of the Girls’ Hockey team, is excited for a promising season and to move past their lackluster season. The team has made many changes throughout their team, as well as new additions to this promising team. Nine new players have joined this Bears varsity roster, with this influx stemming from their new co-op team combining St. Paul Academy, Minnehaha Academy, and Providence. Wethington, excited for the improvements across the board, said “The biggest thing this year is communication and just getting to know each other.” This crucial key for their future success will be needed as the team’s end goal of the state tournament, though tough, is still very achievable.

Swimmer Alex Du ‘27 is looking forward to the swim season this winter with making state and their ninth peat. Du has been swimming for around eight or nine years. He says a challenge he faced was “probably swimming when practices were in the morning, 4:30-7:30, that was really a mental test and I got through it by my parents and my friends.” Du has morning practices which are hard for him as well as many other swimmers, but he’s glad his parents and friends are so supportive of him and his athletics. Du also talks about his confidence throughout his swimming career, “I used to face lots of pressure, but now you just become more confident and you just go to every single practice you know you’ve done everything you could and you don’t face anymore pressure.”

Building off this shared goal among sports teams, sophomore point guard Micah Wagoner ‘27 is helping pave the way for Blake Boys’ Basketball in their potential run at state. Though having a heavily contested conference with Minnehaha Academy and Breck, Wagoner expects big things from a fairly familiar team. “We’re returning every player but two from last year.” Like the boys hockey team, harmony between players is key necessary to achieve their aspirations. Wagoner acknowledges the importance of chemistry adding “We have very good players that will be hard to beat if we play the right way.” With this mindset the team is refining their skills in preparation for a very possible deep playoff run.

Basketball player

Charley Bowles ‘26 is looking forward to the basketball season and to “hopefully making it further in playoffs than we have.” Bowles has been playing basketball since third grade, and this season will be her fourth season on the Blake Girls’ Basketball team. Bowles talks about a challenge she faced in her sport from when she was younger, “I struggled a lot with confidence when I was younger but having coaches and teammates that believed in me was really helpful.” As a star player, she feels pressure but she says, “I try to have a lot of fun with it, it takes the stress and anxiety off of it and not worrying about mistakes.” It’s been a common theme for both athletes Pihlstrom and Bowles to think mostly of having fun with their sport and spending time with teammates to relieve stress and pressure.

Joe Erickson ‘26, assistant captain for the boys’ hockey team, is ecstatic for the season and the chemistry with his teammates. He said “We already have such a great locker room.” This small yet pivotal key to success has already impacted the players as they continue to grow their relationships translating to chemistry on the ice. As said several times during the interview with Erickson, “The boys are buzzing,” referencing both their uncontrollable excitement for the season but also their great performance on the ice. Erickson expects nothing less than 18 wins for the Bears this coming season while expecting to play 25 games, followed by a deep section run or even a potential state appearance.

Boys’ Hockey Victorious in Home Opener Against Mounds View

Key plays and highlights from the game

Yoni

Zacks

| Co-Editor-in-Chief

Acrowd of 327 that featured a mix of students, alumni home for the break, and family and friends of the players spent their first night of break watching the Blake Bears defeat the Mounds View Mustangs 5-2. At the start, the team couldn’t break out of their zone for the first minute. But once they did, they started firing shots at goalie Sam Moen

and kept play in the offensive zone due to their consistent forecheck. A broken play led to a chance that Fuzz Aafedt ‘25 denied. The ensuing possession led to a goal by Drew Cheng ‘27, his first on varsity. A turnover by Cheng led to a two on one for the Mustangs, but they missed the net. A beautiful pass by Grant Matushak ‘25 went right to the stick of his brother Kellen Matushak ‘25, who scored his first goal for the Bears. They continued to apply the pressure, with the shot margin being 16-2 with two minutes left in the first. George Mark ‘28 made an excellent play in his

varsity debut at Blake Arena, stopping the puck from crossing the goal line by inches. Aafedt made one more save to end the first period with a 2-0 Bears lead.

An early second period faceoff loss led to a chance and a save by Aafedt. The Bears then threw off five shots in a row but Moen turned them all away. The Bears continued to pressure throughout the period, throwing shot after shot at the net. The pressure continued with a James Thornton ‘25 chance ended by his stick breaking. A faceoff loss led to a chance down the ice that Mustangs forward Jame-

son Barrows capitalized on, cutting the lead in half. The Bears finished the second period with 18 shots to the Mustangs’ 12.

The Bears came out firing with Charlie Moore ‘26 scoring on their first shot of the period 30 seconds in. Another shot found the back of the net a minute later, this time by Landon Bell ‘26. Aafedt stopped two odd man chances and the Bears continued to put the pressure on Moen. The Mustangs put one behind Aafedt by creating chaos in front of the net. The game settled into a rhythmwhich included another goal by Bell, who celebrated alongside the student section. A Mustangs roughing penalty with three minutes left all but sealed the deal, and the high sticking penalty on the next play made it a 5-on-3 for the Bears. Although they couldn’t capitalize, it was enough to hold off the Mustangs. A huge hit by Thornton and a save by Aafedt closed out the 5-2 win. “[We] could’ve played better as a team, but [we’re] glad to be in the win column,” Thornton said. The team’s next game is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5th against St. Michael Albertville at the Blake Ice Arena.

Submitted by Wethington

Rayan Nasir

Submitted by Wagoner

Submitted by Erickson

Gabriella Marmet

Noah Zacks Aafedt watches the action on the other side of the ice.

Varsity stars share personal and team goals

Charlee Jones

Camila Pardo

Nwokocha ‘25

S E A S O N A L

Traditions, whether good or bad, are a part of everyone’s summers. What happens during the summer varies, but some aspects always stay the same.

The most common tradition is celebrating with family. Benji Dillon ‘27 explains “I celebrate the Fourth of July with my family…it’s a fun time.” Other celebrations include birthdays, out-of-state get-togethers, and Fathers’ Day. Vivien Pihlstrom ‘25 says “we have oysters for my mom’s birthday,” while Rowan Kalar ‘27 says that every year “For Father’s Day, we go to Madeline Island, [Wisconsin]...it’s very serene, I like it a lot.” Sawyer Guider ‘25 says that his family “go[es] to [an] airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin…I’ve done it for as long as I can remember, but not as long as I’ve been alive.”

Another common tradition is going to summer camps. Ben Sznewajs ‘27 says “I go to camp every year in California. It’s called Catalina Island Marine Institute.” Sznewajs has attended the camp for six years, and describes that “there’s a lot of things you get to experience that you can’t in Minnesota” such as “camping [and] sailing…on a small island.” He further explains that “because I get to meet new people and see old friends there,” it’s been “one of the best experiences of my life.”

Although traditions are usually considered positive, negative traditions exist as well. English teacher Mike Bazzett says he “start[s] every summer off…[doing] a house project, something deeply unpleasant for three to four days that needs doing…This past summer…I mitigated the mold in the back

SUMMER

part of my basement and then put up like a latex barrier… after four days, I’m like so damn happy, and I’m like now I have 10 weeks off.”

Social Studies teacher Ben Cady says that when he was a kid, he was “Always going to see [his] mom’s parents.” Cady “hated my grandparents…So going to my grandparents' house…my parents would often take a trip with just the two of them, and my mom’s mom would come and she’d make me sleep in the same bed with her, like a twin bed, and she snored and she smelled awful, and she was like mean.”

Traditions provide a structure to summer and give people something to look forward to. Yet, Spanish teacher JJ Kahle says “what I love about summer is when I wake up and I don’t know the date…and I’m like ‘oh, it’s just another day.’ And it’s beautiful and there’s all these possibilities…I can kind of let myself be chaotic.” Regardless of whether your summer is full of traditions or not, as Kahle says, “everybody who has the summer off mourns the end,” so enjoy these short three months when you can.

SPRING

Each year, spring brings blossoming flowers, chirping birds, and warmer days as members of the Blake community honor the end of brutal Minnesota winters with a variety of family traditions.

Piper Fuhr ‘26 says, “something I value about spring is going on walks with my family because it’s becoming nice outside.”

Choir teacher Natalia Romero Arbeláez shares the same appreciation for the warmer weather, saying, “I love spring because I grew up in Texas and Colombia where it was always warm. So, after Minnesota winters I need spring.” One way that Romero celebrates the spring is by making her “family recipe” berry cobbler. “It’s a funny story,” she explains, “In high school, my best friend Casey taught me her family’s cobbler recipe, and I made it so much that people began to ask where the recipe was from, and I would just respond ‘oh it’s a family recipe’ because it was easier to just say. But one time when she came to stay with me, we made this cobbler and another friend’s mom said ‘what a great recipe where’d you get it?’ and I responded ‘oh it’s a family recipe’ and Casey turns and says ‘who’s family?’ and I was like ‘your family.’ It was such a funny perfect storm and now every time I make the cobbler I text her ‘I’m making our family recipe.’ That’s my spring tradition. It’s warm, so I’m gonna get blueberries and raspberries and blackberries and make a cobbler.”

Alaena Bohrnsen ‘25 shares a similar spring baking tradition in which “every spring my family makes a strawberry cake, it’s like a basic cake with strawberries and sugar on top and it’s really scrumptious. It makes me feel happy because I like cake and spending time with my family making it.” In addition to seasonal baking projects, students also make the most of their two week spring break.

Harry Wallace ‘27 shares that his family often travels during the break, saying, “It is always good to get away from home for a bit and spend meaningful time with family.”

Kai Capistrant ‘26 also values the opportunities that the two week break provides, saying, “honestly spring break is probably the greatest time of the year for me because I love traveling and we always go to some place out of the country. Like two years ago we went to Greece and last year we went to Spain. It’s just a really fun way to experience different cultures and travel the world with my parents.”

Wallace

Bohrnsen

Charlee Jones | Staff Writer

Charlie Dean | Puzzle Master

Staff Artist | Willow Overcash

Gabriella Marmet

Evie Chow

Yoni Zacks

Faith Zhao

Ben Aviles

Lilah Johnson

Fuhr

Kahle

Sznewajs

Kalar

T R A D I T I O N S

As the crispness of autumn air begins to settle, and the leaves transition into hues of reds, oranges, and yellows, people across North America and beyond start preparing for their fall traditions. This time of year is all about celebrating the harvest, family togetherness, gratitude, and the comforting, earthy flavors of the season. From traditional Thanksgiving feasts to apple picking, fall welcomes a unique set of customs that resonate with many.

A seemingly burdensome activity that comes along is raking leaves; however, Patrick Barry finds some enjoyment in the time-consuming task. Despite showing reluctance at first, “Once I kind of submit to the task and find myself out there, it's usually like a crisp Saturday and it’s something I end up not hating, but kind of enjoying.” A satisfying pleasure comes from completing the task and seeing the instant results of your effort. Raking leaves also provides a chance to appreciate nature up close. Louisa Cohen ‘27 enjoys the “colors of the trees and the weather.”

Thanksgiving fosters a plethora of traditions ranging from vacationing to baking pies. One of Barry’s traditions consists of a “pie night where the night before Thanksgiving we’ll bake a bunch of pies” including apple, chocolate silk, pecan, and pumpkin. Traditions differ widely across families as some are grounded in tradition. Fall traditions are deeply rooted and shaped by the practices of one’s ancestors and can serve as tributes to them. Barry’s family truly embraces the principle of gratitude as they “usually take a portion of the dinner to remember my grandparents.” Gratitude is at the heart of Thanksgiving because it shifts the focus from what is lacking to what must be appreciated. Barry’s family pay their respects to those who have gone before them by

Winter serves as one of the most tradition-filled times of the year and is jam-packed with holidays that bring families and friends together such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Diwali, and more. Along with these holidays, the winter season comes with an abundance of unique traditions. While some traditions are cultural, some are religious, and others neither, traditions play an important part in bringing joy to people’s lives, whether it be with family, friends, or by oneself.

One of the most prominent traditions around the world during the winter season is cooking or baking. People will often bake cookies during the winter time; From Scottish shortbread to French macarons, to Ukrainian fried Khrustyky pastries, winter is a time for culinary traditions. Even in the community, we can see a variety of these culinary traditions, such as Oscar Alcazar-Aguilu ‘28 who likes to “make pasteles.” Pasteles, a Puerto Rican dish, are traditionally made with pork and adobo stuffing and are encased in a green plantain dough wrapped in banana leaves. Another more well-known and controversial drink associated with the winter holidays is eggnog.

“stand[ing] up and serv[ing] them a plate” which is then followed by a “speech in which they usually start out by saying, ‘I promise I won’t cry’ and then immediately start crying,” Barry illustrates. Barry finds this tradition to be “a celebratory tribute to my grandparents.” Similarly, Cohen spends Thanksgiving with her family, neighbors, and family friends as they cook and each makes a dish for the feast. “My dad makes popovers which were his grandma’s recipe,” Cohen says. Traditions oftentimes span over generations and serve as tributes to those who ignited them. While fall is rich in tradition, it isn’t necessarily confined to the simple repetition of routines year after year. Barry explains, “I've done apple picking with my family in the past or pumpkin carving. I wouldn't say those are definite yearly traditions, but we’ve definitely done them in the past.” Cohen typically goes apple picking during the fall and sometimes carves pumpkins with her sisters. Together, these simple traditions form treasured memories that bring families together.

Fall fosters a warming sense of familial connection, gratitude, and tradition embedded in each family. Whether it’s the simple pleasure of raking leaves or the exciting adrenaline rush while watching a close sporting game, each custom holds a special place in the hearts of those who practice them. These traditions also serve as tributes to those who have passed, embracing their impact on future generations, and preserving cherished memories and recipes along the way. As new memories are forged day after day, fall remains stagnant, connecting people to nature, others, and simple yet meaningful moments.

Eggnog is a spiced drink with a base of usually an emulsion of milk and/or cream, sugar, and raw pasteurized eggs. While being one of Lilah Mairose’s ‘28 favorite winter drinks, it often sparks controversy around the community as Tyler Harki ‘28 describes it as “God awful.”

Whether celebrated religiously or as a cultural tradition, Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States for Mairose and Harki, this involves watching movies such as Elf and the Christmas Chronicles.

On top of Christmas, holidays including Hanukkah have their own traditions where families light the menorah each night and play Dreidel. Like many holidays, Hanukkah offers a time for community and family bonding where families will often sing traditional songs and indulge in food such as potato latkes, challah, and matzah ball soup.

Regardless of religion, winter also holds time for other simple yet fun traditions. One of Aguilu’s favorites is “winter football” with his friends. Further fun traditions include sledding, drinking hot cocoa, and watching holiday movies with family.

Camila Pardo | Managing-Editor

Ben Passi | Staff Writer

Gabriella Marmet

Faith Zhao

Camila Pardo

Faith Zhao

Alcazar-Aguilu

Mairose

Cohen

Barry

The Blake School 511 Kenwood Pkwy

Issue IV December 3, 2024

Co-Editors-in-Chief:

Gabriella Marmet | Yoni Zacks

Managing Editors:

Steven Cao | Camila Pardo

News Editor:

Tarun Gopalakrishnan

Student Life Editor: Faith

Zhao

Variety Editor: Evie Chow

Sports Editors: Rayan Nasir, Lilah Johnson

Opinions Editor: Ben Aviles

Business Manager: Sam Tomczik

Adviser: Anna Reid

PUZZLE MASTER: Charlie Dean

STAFF WRITERS:

Anna Tao, Charlee Jones, Dillon Kaiser, Eva Gleason, Izzie Miller, Caitlin Strauss, Evan Darmawan, Ben Passi, Andrew Jetton, Oliver Brown, Isabella Valdesolo

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS:

COLUMNIST: Ethan Klaiman

BECOME A STAFF MEMBER:

Contribute to the paper three times consecutively to be promoted to a staff writer!

JOIN SPECTRUM:

Spectrum meets in Room 351 during both lunches every Wednesday. Please come if you are interested in writing, drawing, designing, podcasting or taking pictures for the newspaper.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Disagree with something that’s in the paper? Have an opinion you want to share? Like to draw editorial cartoons? Take a stand and speak out. E-mail letters or editorial cartoons to spectrum@blakeschool. org or deliver them to room 351. Please limit letters to 400 words.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The primary purpose of the Blake School Spectrum is to report news and to explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions.

STYLE STATEMENT:

Spectrum uses Associated Press (AP) Style as of the February 2020 issue.

Five Thoughts About "As You Like It" Harsh Reality

1 3 2 Use of Music

Although existing within the concept of a traditional fall play, director Taous Kahzem rightfully intertwined musical performances of the cast, furthering the strong sense of the ‘70s. The guitar musings of Charlee Jones ‘26 during depictions of bonfire circles between cast added to the decade’s iconic emphasis of a freed spirit. I found the homage to the original intentions of Shakespeare himself to be the best way to bend tradition.

Costuming

The persona of each character was displayed seamlessly in various aspects of the play, the most eye-catching of which was costuming. From bold, chunky necklaces to electric, bright wrestling capes, both the groove of the flower child’s decade and antique iambic comedic effect were portrayed stunningly. In the final scene, the adornment of cast in flowered crowns felt as if the peacemaking generation enclosed the end of the elaborate play and further elevated the flora riddled path each character experienced. While a small detail, this wrapped the end wedding scene, full of merriment and love between friends and lovers, very nicely.

Modern Elements

This depiction of a Shakespeare classic incorporated modern-day twists to engage the audience, even including Beatles music as transitions. Existing within the parameters of the ‘70s, this production of “As You Like It” brought familiarity through modernity, enhancing audience understanding of an antiquated script. The task to present an Elizabethan play to a largely high school crowd is mighty—majorly evidenced by semi-successful attempts to appeal to viewers. Fast pacing and a nostalgic decade immensely increased my own viewing experience; however, I question the continued attempt at showcasing Shakespeare to a younger audience. While charming, I found the 2023 spring musical “Twelfth Night” to be my Elizabethan adaptation of choice.

Physicality

Performances from all actors and actresses were able to capture the essence of Shakespeare’s play, exactly encapsulating the desperation of love despite the hurdle of a complex and difficult script. Saléya Scott ‘25 flawlessly portrayed the comedic depiction of Duke Senior’s runaway daughter disguised as a forest dwelling man, wherein Alaena Bohrnsen ‘25 perfectly executed the ridiculous trope of love at first sight with her extreme physical overexaggerations of a woman desperately in love.

Set Movement

As always, the Upper School Theatre’s set design never fails to enhance the momentum of the show by inventing and utilizing unique set pieces. Despite slight shortages of crew, Khazem smartly employed the mobility of the cast to move set pieces. Doing so, the movement of the set furthered the development of Rosalind’s journey throughout the Forest of Arden. From an audience perspective, the visible use of pre-established cast additionally aided in the comprehension of plot progression.

Pain stings, causes frustration

Ethan Klaiman | Columnist

Ugh. Pain. Pain like a thousand daggers. Pain that is so indescribable that Google has to rely on describing it as a terminal illness. Nobody likes pain, unless that somebody is trying to prove that they are the true alpha. To me, there is no greater pain than a stomach ache. They can upset an entire day and cause discomfort to anybody unfortunate enough to experience one.

Allow me to paint you a picture. It’s Friday, and you’re slouched down on your stained yet momentarily perfect chair. The chair has absorbed you to the extent where dragging your pencil across the paper feels like a task that isn’t worth your time. You begin to regain your consciousness so you push your feet off the ground and establish perfect posture just to show the rest of your table that you’re locked in. With your back straight and a flashy smile, you look at the clock just to see you have 30 minutes left of school. Excited, yet mentally exhausted, you return back to your senses as you realize it is too early to be fully checked out. Then, you feel it. A sharp, inhibiting pain. You try to take your mind off of it, but you cannot. You are trapped within the confines of your body as a stomach ache is eating your body from the inside out. Defeated is the only word that you can use to describe yourself as not even tums can fix your misfortune. Then, you realize that all of your plans for that day have to be postponed because of the cauldron cooking within you. I am sorry for anybody who has to experience this pain. Although there are options to help you like pepto bismol or tums, their success rates seem to be faltering. I wish luck to those suffering from a stomach ache, and iIf anybody has good tactics to solve the unfaltering problem, please tell me as I am still on the search for my own cure.

Wooden pencils are better than mechanical pencils.

The best way to wear sandals is with socks.

Caribou > Starbucks.

California is not overrated.

Life Savers and gum are by far the best vending machine purchases.

Amazon Prime is the best streaming service.

Salad works best as a dessert.

Annotating in pencil > annotating in pen >>>> using highlighters

Painting the walls in a home gray is the single worst interior design choice someone can make.

Anna Tao | Staff Writer

Noah Zacks, Axel Bisbee

Jewish Identity, Frusturation, Political Independence

Zacks left stranded between political parties

Yoni Zacks | Co-Editor-in-Chief

I’m an independent. There, I said it.

American politics can often be seen as a chess game, with two distinct sides and no crossover between them. In chess, pieces can move forward and backward. Politics is the same. However, in the chaos of chess, sometimes a few pawns fall off the table; I am one of those pieces. Both sides have tried to claim me as their own, yet both lost in the end. I’m moving in ways that pawns shouldn’t, a “forbidden move” in chess.

The middlegame has always been there, but I never truly understood it until recently. Both Democrats and Republicans maneuver to try and win over Jewish voters, but there is one fatal flaw in both of their plans: hypocrisy. Both parties are guilty of antisemitism, failing to properly condemn it and tokenizing Jewish voters.

This problem is not exclusive to Jewish people. However, as a Jew, I witness antisemitism from both Democrats and Republicans. It is not “free[ing] Palestine” when anti-Israel protesters attack Jewish businesses or perpetuate theories that the Holocaust was overexaggerated without being condemned by their party’s leaders. It’s not acceptable that a Nazi march can happen on college cam-

puses such as UW-Madison. Demonstrations of open hatred of Jewish people should never be tolerated. No exceptions.

Just because one side isn’t right for me does not mean that the other side is where I stand. When the Republican Party runs a presidential candidate who claims a month before the election that if he loses, blame can be placed at the hands of American Jews, it leaves me stuck in the middle. This is not a one-off incident as some might lead you to believe. The previous statement comes from the man who said after Charlottesville “There are very fine people on both sides.”

In chess, flaws can be hidden if the strategy is executed well enough. However, neither Democrats nor Republicans are executing their strategy prop-

“Sorry, party traditionalists, I’m breaking the chessboard.”

erly. Rather than acknowledging the antisemitism in their own ranks, both sides blame the other — and use the pitch of “at least we’re better than them” as the pitch to win the votes of Jewish voters. This pitch can be simplified into “our antisemitism is not as bad as the other side,” but without acknowledging the first part. As a human, I cannot fathom the fact that antisemitism (or any form of hate) has become so normalized that both sides are fighting over who has the LEAST amount of antisemitism.

Trump has called out the Biden administration in the past for failing to combat antisemitism. While I am glad that he acknowledges antisemitism, he ruins his image and shows hypocrisy not even a second

later by claiming there is no antisemitism in the Republican Party. Mark Robinson, the candidate that he endorsed to run for governor of North Carolina, as pointed out by the article, has made several statements that are antisemitic, including referring to himself as a “Black Nazi.” Trump is perpetuating antisemitism in this situation by normalizing it, meaning I am less likely to vote for him. By letting accusations of Zionism run rampant, the Democratic Party is just as at fault as the Republican Party in the horrifying rise in antisemitism that’s taken place across the country and the world. Some people may believe that I could make more change by speaking up about antisemitism from inside the party, but I have to be realistic.

I know that I am one person, and I cannot change an organization as massive as a political party, especially one dedicated to politics. Partisan pollsters may say that by not joining a party, I don’t care about politics at all. However, I believe that being an independent means that I care more. I’m making an informed decision about my personal politics based on what I think will be the best decision for me.

I do not want to be part of any party that preemptively blames Jews for their losses, nor do I want to be in one that attacks Jewish-owned businesses because they’re run by Jews. Sorry, party traditionalists, I’m breaking the chessboard.

Will the EPL Favorites Fall?

Resume building full of benefits, ethical perils

get into prestigious universities can be motivating. We see the research they conducted, the passion projects they did, and the number of people they helped. It’s motivating: “I can do so much too.”

However, when does doing activities get to a point where the point is to get into a prestigious college? The mindset can immediately shift from

opportunity to try and develop interests. Furthermore, there are so many programs, competitions, and projects for high school students to dive deeper into their interests and discover something new about themselves or the world around them.

Internal motivation will get students farther

A slow start to season raises questions

Oliver Brown | Staff Writer

Mre you doing this for yourself or for

Resume building re quires the space and time to evaluate who you are as a person–interests, identities, etc. Resume building can be a help ful mirror of yourself but with the increase in com petitiveness to get into a good college, where do we draw the line? Do we still see ourselves in the mirrors of our resumes?

With the increase in competitiveness to get into colleges, applicants fit themselves into a mold of their resumes. Seeing neighbors, family friends, or family friends’ friends

“I can do so much” to “I have to do so much.”

Extrinsic motivation could lead to involvement in multiple clubs and activi ties with no interest. It’s harder to develop a true passion when the focus is just on the end goal: a straight line from point A to point B. In reality, nothing is a straight line. Instead, life is nuanced, complicated, and colorful.

High school is a great involvement.

When we take the time to reflect on ourselves, whether on resumes or just in general, let’s ask the simple question “Why? Why am I doing this?”

anchester City’s dominance in the English Premier League (EPL) has been near unquestionable over the last few years, but there’s a growing sense that they might be vulnerable to a title bottling this season. With the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool improving, Rodri out for the year, previously underappreciated teams like Brighton and Nottingham Forest climbing the standings, and the subtle cracks beginning to show in City’s seemingly invincible armor, it’s worth asking: could this finally be the year that Pep Guardiola’s men slip up?

First off, injuries. Manchester City has been relatively fortunate in recent years, avoiding long-term injuries to key players like Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland. This season, in contrast, both stars have already spent time on the sidelines. While City has some flexible strikers to fill Haaland’s shoes, like Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku, none are generally used to that central striker role. This is in addition to

the loss of Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner and key to Manchester City’s defense. Manchester City has lost their last six games of their last seven on the trot. Most notably, they lost 2-0 to Liverpool, 4-0 to Tottenham, 2-1 to Brighton, and 4-1 to Sporting CP. These

results are incredibly unlike the typical Manchester City squad which has traditionally barely shown a crack of uncertainty.

In the game against Liverpool, they were untraditionally dominated. Manchester City looked far inferior to their opponents, who were not without their faults as Liverpool is currently going through drama surrounding the renewal of Mohamed Salah’s contract.

Towards the end of the game, Pep Guardiola stood on the touchline as a shell of himself with the Anfield faithful chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” They were lashed by a Tottenham team who have had a mediocre start at best to the season, currently sitting in 7th place on the table. Additionally, they were embarrassed by a Sporting CP side with Viktor Gyökeres outshining their main man, Haaland. Given the facts, it’s fair to assume Manchester City’s previously wrappedup Premier League trophy might not be so easily accessible as in years prior. It seems it is any team’s title for the taking, the question is: who wants it the most?

Charlie Dean

Courtesty of Manchester City Instagram

VOICE OF THE STAFF

As antisemitism runs rampant among both major parties, many Jews feel left behind by the current political system.

Erling Haaland preparing for a game where they lost 4-0 to Tottenham.

FALL PLAY RECAP

Camila Pardo | Managing Editor

As You Like It

Students Photographed:

Hazel Alexander ‘27

Hannah Barisonzi ‘26

Alaena Bohrnsen ‘25

Anna Craig ‘25

Jack Dillon ‘26

Theo Gartner ‘28

Zach Gartner ‘25

Ali Girk ‘26

Greta Guider ‘27

Ann Gustafson ‘27

Alan Hodder ‘25

Charlee Jones ‘26

Kyan Norberg ‘27

Logan O’Connell ‘26

Bristol Pann ‘26

Saleya Scott ‘25

Khanak Shukla ‘26

SPECTRUM CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Charlie Dean | Puzzle Master

Teacher Quirks Spark Wonderment Faculty members’ odd interests highlight uniqueness,

individuality

Izzie Miller | Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered what exciting hidden talents or interests your teachers have? From every department comes educators with different backgrounds and hobbies. Our diverse population of teachers are all experts in their fields of study, but what about outside the classroom?

We all love our bear student athletes, but what about our teachers? Socialstudies teacher Dion Crushshon ‘88 states, “I play basketball all the time,” about “three times a week.” He enjoys setting up fun basketball games, earning the title “the commissioner” from his peers. “My hidden talent that I like to pull out on Legacy Day is walking on my hands.” When his Legacy group is on the turf he will “just empty [his] pockets and walk on [his] hands for tenfifteen yards, and everyone’s like “Oh my gosh, what are you doing!” What is dancing without music? Spanish teacher Laura RodríguezDurán, who was raised in Spain says that “ever since moving to

the U.S., I like to listen to Reggaeton music very loudly in the car.” She suspects that many people wouldn’t think she likes this type of music based on her calm, collected personality. Rodrí guez’s favorite artist is Karol G, a Columbian singer and songwriter who produces reggaeton music. She describes how she also likes listening to music in different languages, depending on the country she is in, stating “I don’t listen to Spanish music in Spain, and will listen to music in English when in

Spain. “I take to different

ends.” This game is relaxing to him and is “highly addictive”. A favorite food of Chandiramani is one many of us share: pizza. As an American staple and a food served on our school’s lunch menu every Tuesday and Thursday, almost all of us have grown to love the quick, tasty dish. “Specifically Costco pizza,” Chandiramani states when asked where

sonalities when I’m in one country or the other,” Rodríguez states when asked why she may do this. Who would have guessed that English teacher Anil Chandiramani would be into video gaming?

Chandiramani says that one of his interests outside of teaching is “playing and being good at League of Legends,” a popular multiplayer battle-game that inspired the Netflix show “Arcane: League of Leg-

zines people place on their household tables?

Bill

Do you read the decorative maga-

Col burn ‘88 says that he reads ist

books.” These books are often left untouched, and according to Colburn, “They always have essays and I always read the essays.” These essays often give a more personal view that provides unique insight into the book’s topic. Colburn also states that these books are “not easy reading but interesting to me,” and “what they’ve chosen to write in the coffee table book is fascinating.” We are extremely lucky to have such a great group of teachers and staff helping us learn and grow. Next time you see your teachers, inquire about their interests! Who knows, maybe you’ll share a similar passion with them!

Recent Clubs Emerge, Stimulate Engagement

Esther Lee ‘27 and Madhav Kumar ‘27 in an intense game in the library during their free block.

Ben Passi | Staff Writer

OHACKY SACK

Winter invites students to join Library Council on Friday, Nov. 15

Ben Passi | Staff Writer

pen to beginners, advanced players, or anyone in between, the chess club provides a welcoming space to play chess with peers. As a low-commitment club, chess club is a great opportunity to meet new people and improve your chess skills. Chess Club is primarily student-led with one of the leaders being Teddy Bower ‘26, an experienced player who describes Chess Club as a place where “you will be welcomed into a passionate community of strategic and fun-loving people. Whether an inexperienced patzer or a well-versed expert, your contributions to our club will be valued.” Just as “every different chess piece has the opportunity to influence the position,” whatever you bring to the table worth showing up for. Chess club meets weekly on Thursdays in Room 253 during both lunches. Bower states “Chess Club gives members the opportunity mentally ‘square’ up against their rivals, and forge new friendships. When not clashing over the 64 squares, members of all skill levels come together to learn new skills, analyze tactics and develop strategy.” Chess Club’s mission is ultimately to get the student body more engaged in the game of chess while helping others meet new people and create an inclusive community where people can engage in the game of chess with a tight-knit community.

AAskew and Charlie Moore ‘26 playing with the hakcy sack in the library at 11:53 on Monday, Nov. 11.

s a new club this year, Library Council stands as a platform not only to meet new people but to also have more student input on the library and its setup. While Library Council is very student-run it is also facilitated by a new high school librarian: Bethany Winter. As a new librarian, when asked about Library Council, Winter touched on how “It is beneficial to a school library because it encourages students to take ownership of their space.” Similar to the goals of the Middle School’s Library Council, the Library Council at the Upper School aims to improve the quality of the content and student experience within the library while also “Involving the students,” said Winter. As a very student-focused group Library Council appreciates student feedback for the improvement of the library. As also referenced by Winter the library “program is about much more than books.” From the “art on the walls” to the overall “community” the library is an important space for representing student voice in all sorts of ways. Feel free to drop by the library at any time to sign up and join the email list.

TRaiden Chen ’24 performs a piano piece during one of Songs For Smile’s volunteer events. The students performed at Mainstreet Lodge in Minneapolis.

he unsuspecting sport of hacky sack has emerged rapidly as a common activity among students within the halls of the Upper School. The catalyst of this rampant growth, Atlee Askew ‘27, had this to say when asked about why he believed Hacky Sack has grown at such a rapid rate: “One day I just brought the hobby to school and from there it spread pretty fast due to the fast paste nature of the game.” The game has no time constraints so finding time to play is very easy, as said by founder Soren Reyes ‘26 “Regardless if it’s a two-minute brain break or a seventy-minute study hall I always find time to take my mind off of school and play hacky sack.” This newfound club meets very frequently though not having set times in which they play, primarily found throughout the halls in groups ranging from two to eight. Askew claimed that “The competitiveness that many athletes possess was probably the main reason for the growth of Hacky Sack,” building off this removing ones mind from school and enjoying some time with friends brings joy to all. You can learn more about the hacky sack club by following them on instagram @Blakehackysack.

Community service he unsuspecting sport of hacky sacextremely apparent when looking at all the service-based clubs and groups around the school. One of the lesser-known of these is Songs for Smiles, a group that is made up of all kinds of musicians, singers, and instrumentalists. The group meets monthly at senior homes such as Mainstreet Lodge in Minneapolis. Here members perform a variety of music for elders. Not only is Songs for Smiles an amazing opportunity to share any musical talent one might have but also for bringing joy into the lives of our elderly community members. As one leader of the leaders of Songs for Smiles Aanya Pandey ‘25 says, “We started Songs for Smiles last year to address the issue of loneliness and isolation among senior citizens and that’s been an issue that has gotten worse after the pandemic.” As one of the most important portions of our population bringing joy to the lives of senior citizens is important for the community. Pandey explains that Songs for Smiles is extremely “low commitment,” meaning that one is not obligated to attend all performances. Putting in just a couple hours of one’s entire month makes a significant impact on the lives of the senior community. Songs for Smiles meets the Friday before any weekend performances, for more details and upcoming performances reach out to leaders Pandey, Catherine Lin ‘25, or Gabi Marmet ‘25

Drew Chang

Connor Briand | Contributing Writer

Ben Passi | Staff Writer

Photos by Camila Pardo, Yoni Zacks and Izzie Miller SONGS FOR SMILES

Camila Pardo

Gabi Marmet

Camila Pardo

Second Gen Students Reflect on Experiences

Classmates provide insight into culturally diverse identities

Faith Zhao | Student Life Editor

From 1988-1999, Shucayb Harir ‘26‘s parents immigrated to the U.S. to escape war in Somalia. They started off in the lower class and slowly worked their way up, battling through the tough trials as an immigrant in the U.S. Jay Ali ‘26 brings his parents’ story to the table, saying “It was a hard process, I know that. Documentation…and housing, find[ing] somewhere to live.” Racism was very prevalent in his parents’ lives, explaining that “[my dad] took some big position at some power plant and every time he went there to work, there would always be cops looking for anybody that wasn’t the same skin color as your average citizen living in America. My dad got stopped eight or nine times in two years and another one of his co-workers got stopped like 21, 22 times.” Coming to America can be seen as the greatest form of love and care for a family: “They just wanted a better life for me in

America and for me to be able to study here and honestly, at least in their community, the best thing that you can do is to leave India,” explains Krisha Pillai ‘26. “A lot of people end up going to college internationally and the best thing you can do for yourself is to leave, that’s the smartest thing you can do.” Pillai’s parents came to America just to give birth to her: “My parents are definitely like ‘we came here just to have you’ and ‘for you to have a better education,’ so ‘you better do stuff.’ Especially since I came to Blake late, they’re like ‘we’re spending all this money for you to go to a private school.’” The pressure from parents to do well is often corroborated with a comparison between a parent’s life in their home country to a child’s in America. “She [Pillai’s mother] always brings up how she was independent at fifteen and she went to college at that time and she was all by herself at fourteen, fifteen” Pillai said. Familial pressure inces-

Ali’s parents fled from Somalia to Sweden in the early ‘90s where his brother Bile Ali was born. In the early 2000s his family moved to Minnesota where they encountered adversities as Ali illustrates, “[There is] stuff like helping my mom understand things that are foreign.”

santly knocks, sometimes bangs, at the back of students’ minds.

At last year’s conferences, Anna Reid praised Harir on his memoir project. Harir recalls her saying, “Oh, his poetry is so good!”

Away from teachers, when he left conferences, his parents yelled, “What is this school trying to do, trying to make you a poet or something?! That’s not what I wanted for you, why do you like English?’”

“My parents, as much as I love them, they threaten me like if [I] don’t become this [they’ll say] ‘I’m not going to be proud of you’...it can be hard sometimes,” said Harir.

The background and experiences that immigrant parents go through are drastically different from their own experiences in America. The woven basket of the stories between a child and a parent will often have wide gaps that students have to fill.

Ali helps his mom, “[There is] stuff like helping my mom understand things that are foreign. Even now like group events like Blake and stuff [like] the Steiner thing–my mom was so confused.”

“Even today my parents still don’t understand the interims when they come out. They still think that they’re supposed to be great, and then when there’s nothing, they like getting mad at me, saying, ‘you’re trying to hide your grades?” Harir jokingly laughs. “Like they’re more used to the traditional system, you get As, Bs, and Cs, but there are just certain classes where teachers might take longer to put out grades. I don’t know how to describe it, [but] they’re not really used to this different system.”

Parents’ cultures differ not only in societal systems but also in mindsets. Michelle Elliott ‘25 whose parents immigrated from Liberia to America to escape war, describes some of her family discussions; they’re like parallel lines, ideas sometimes don’t touch.

“If [my dad and I] have disagreements sometimes I feel like I can’t necessarily have a conversa-

tion about it cause this is the way it is by the book. And I understand that maybe because when he was going through war and trying to get out, like if his mom said there [was] no food, there was no food. I feel like it helps me under stand [them] in that way.”

Knowing that the viewpoint of a parent is “like a whole other world” as Ali puts it, understanding family stories of building a new life in America allows for an intersection between the two parallel lines of ideas.

Although there is a building connection between self and parent, there can be a divide between the “American” world and one’s own family. “When I was younger I was embarrassed, Ali continued, [There] were these parents who were fluent and my mom and dad were from like another world.”

In the sea of white American parents, Harir immediately

was kind of embarrassed because my mom wears a niqab. She really sticks out…At first I was not really proud of it and even today I’m not really sure if I’m proud of it.”

All of these interweaving and

Minneapolis restaurant serve up memorable, tasty cuisine

Ben Aviles | Opinions Editor

Legacy. History. These two words come to mind at the thought of Emily’s Lebanese Deli in Northeast Minneapolis. Open for the last 51 years, there have been four generations of families working to remember, sustain, and cook memories.

Ron Awaijane has lived his life in this restaurant. As he recalls, “I went to grade school right across the street. There used to be a grade school where that parking lot is now [a parking lot across

house and sell flatbread… just immigrants finding a way to make a little extra money.” This grew slowly to a restaurant once he was eighteen.

After his mother got sick, he says, “I got thrown into it and I learned real quick [how to cook].” Awaijane and his father ran the restaurant for much time in anything but harmony. As he recollects, “My dad liked to argue, he didn’t like it that I was basically in charge. So we argued a lot.” Despite this, his father worked until he was 90

grew up about eight blocks away from here.” He remembers the community as nearly all immigrants.

As to the beginning of the restaurant, he recalls, “My ma and dad originally would bake bread in our basement at the

Now 69 years old, Awaijane and his Tom Awaijane run the restaurant. For Tom, it is the only existence, the only job he has ever known. As

Tabbouleh full of rich flavors and freshness is avalible from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m excluding Tuesday at 641 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Ron described, “It’s the way of life. It’s been the way of life my whole life. It’s 51 years.”

This is the truth for many others in the restaurant. As Ron says, “My niece, who’s working over there, this have been her only job. My nephew, he’s off picking up some stuff. It’s been his only job.” For them, the impact is unquantifiable as “it’s dominated our lives more than anything else.”

Having so much family is “a unique dynamic with good and bad about it,” as Ron says. On the upside, “It keeps the family heritage alive.” One of the great powers of keeping family heritage is that “a lot of cultures and families identify through family recipes and that’s a thing that doesn’t stick around as much these days. You don’t see that and we’ve had the luxury of staying close and keeping old traditions, and recipes alive.”

On the downside, Ron believes family has cost him many gray hairs as he details “When they come late, I can’t do anything, because I want to have them around.”

Looking towards the future, Tom has given thought to legacy and believes sincerely, “We’ve got four generations now that are working here, so I’d like to keep it going.”

Tom would like to keep the old-world feel of the restaurant while modernizing through a modern webpage and an online ordering system, but Ron will not let this happen, saying “That’ll happen when I’m a memory.” They attribute

complicated experiences are integral components of a bigger growing story. “I feel like everything that they went through and what they are still going through as an immigrant in [all] a part of this thread. Harir comments, “we’re all a part of America.”

they were alive they were involved in the war and [they saw] their family members die. I can see why they like America so much. I’m starting to realize why I like America too.” Harir notes.

plains how he has to translate for his parents’ text messages.

“Knowing how hard and knowing the struggle and journey to get here just for a better life, like I know I have to perform and meet their expectations because they didn’t come here for nothing right? It adds pressure but that’s just life man.” Ali articulates his drive to do better.

“Growing up with parents who don’t understand the culture as much as other people who do and having to navigate being that third party.”

The story unfolds and lines touch. “I kind of realized this place was a sanctuary of peace because for the part of the time

“I would still wish that it happened because it’s such a part of my identity.” Harir doesn’t want to erase the negative experiences. “It’s just there. It’s a part of me.”

Emily’s Lebanese Prolongs Family Heritage

their ability to stick with history and their 51-year legacy to the community surrounding them saying, “A lot of people have been coming here for many years… [and] the Lebanese church across the street has supported us.”

Not only was I excited to be missing Senior Speeches, but also to delight in the historybathed food. The first two things that were brought out were the Baba Ganoush and Tabbouleh. The Baba Ganoush was enjoyable and preferable to frequently seen brands in grocery stores as it was fresh and homemade. This though, was not the item that blew my socks off.

That title goes to the Tabbouleh. This is the best tabbouleh in the city and I would fight over those words. Simple in palet yet tangy and heavily influenced by cinnamon, the bulgar, the fresh vegetables, and the juice mixed to create a zappy and exciting experience in my mouth. It had many comforting qualities but also was addicting. I was near to being in need to be physically restrained. After putting the leftovers in the fridge after the meal, the Tabbouleh didn’t survive the night.

Do you know what also barely survived the night? The spinach pie. This witchery was the surprise of the meal. I’d heard them say that it was one of their most popular dishes, so I thought that I ought to try it, but did not come in with high expectations… I cannot understate how wrong I was.

You have to go try it yourself as this was a warm hug of my stomach. The pallet was traditional and focused upon a singular goal. By no means will this be the most extravagant thing you eat, but it is simply sublime and makes me feel like Bob Marley’s words “every little thing is gonna be alright” are true. Now on to a labor of love.

The Stuffed Grape Leaves (also known as Dolma) were delicious. As I conducted the interview, my eye kept on lingering toward Alicia Awaijana because she was individually wrapping rice and meat into the grape leaves. Individually wrapping those grape leaves would make me go insane. I will salute anyone willing to do that.

The Stuffed Grape Leaves also had a great deal of flavor and pop with an intriguing textural profile between the rice, meat, and grape leaf. The grape leaves had an animated zing to them as I crunched through them and the rice and meat soothed the taste buds.

Finally, the Lebanese

Chicken and Rice. Now, this is not your typical chicken and rice that gym bros endlessly push. No, this is a masterclass in the department and would put the gym bro chicken and rice to shame. It was perfectly comforting to the soul and the pine nuts interspersed throughout the dish added a fun addition to an otherwise homogenous dish. The rice and chicken were perfectly seasoned with cinnamon and whatever else went into that concoction. The flavors of the seasonings added complex depth to the tender chicken. Only the most finicky and fussy eaters would fail to love this. It tasted like the food of a Lebanese grandmother I never had, and before I could even blink my eye, half of the food on the plate was gone. Stuffed to the brim with delicious food and long-lasting memories, Emily’s Lebanese Deli is a reminiscent and necessary stop for anyone in Northeast on University Ave. While you’re there, pick me up a spinach pie.

Stuffed Grapeleaves are prepared daily by hand in the front of the kitchen. The family begins preparations at 3 a.m.

Ben Aviles

BenAviles

Above: Harir with parents in 2008 at a park near his house. Left: Pillai with her parents in Chicago in the year 2008.

SubmittedbyHarir

Submitted byPillai

JayJay Deng ‘28 ex

Building Your Resume as a High Schooler

College application season is a stressful time in any young person’s life. As acceptance rates go down and requirements get more prestigious, many students are trying to load their college applications with as many extracurriculars and activities as possible to make themselves stand out. This brings up the question: how can one create a narrative representative of their entire life’s work on a single sheet of paper?

A common way for students to pad their college applications is joining/ creating clubs. Colleges differentiate students with similar grades and test scores by looking into other aspects, such as their extracurriculars. Clubs, especially in one’s interest area, can show commitment and leadership that transcripts can’t. However, with students’ applications getting increasingly similar, many students are trying to set themselves apart from others. But are students using clubs to enhance their high school experience, or are they using clubs to help their chances of getting into colleges?

Another way for students to enhance their resumes is by applying for scholarships. While there are many esteemed and highly competitive college

scholarship programs like the National Merit Scholarship Competition, some students have been applying for more unheard of or rare scholarship programs in recent years. These types of scholarships in particular can be used as a filler on college applications, or just as an added accolade on their resume.

Another huge aspect of resume building lies in course curriculum, or the difficulty of classes one chooses to take throughout their high school career.

Associate Director of College Counseling Jim Mahoney says that college counselors support incoming seniors by “helping them find the best possible schedule for their needs” while “balancing rigor with sanity.”

While college counselors can offer some helpful guidance in this field, many students face the choice between taking a class that is easier but will also result in a better grade, or taking a more advanced course that will potentially result in a lower grade. With many different Honors and AP courses available, the subjectivity of college admissions presents many students with stressful decisions on their course loads that can impact the trajectory of their life.

Leadership Opportunities Galore

Cao | Managing Editor

Why do we need a good resume?

PARTICIPATION AMONG JUNIORS

Upper school students are constantly searching for experiences that help build a stronger resume towards future colleges and job opportunities. These experiences range from school clubs to part-time jobs and projects. Focusing on building a strong resume will open up more opportunities. I feel like having a strong resume is one of the most important things a person needs. I have been working on things such as photography and media internships with sports teams to build my resume. Bosses are looking for work experiences and things such as internships will show companies that a person is fit to start the job right away.

Many clubs or jobs on the resume can show others a person’s commitment and willingness to go out of their comfort zone. These experiences will offer students insights into what they enjoy and want to pursue. Charlie Wright ‘26 builds his resume by working at Breadsmith, and as a PA announcer for school

Activity Participation Among Upper School Students

*Based on a survey with 101 responses*

Number of Students

Type of Activity

Focus on Passions Instead of College

*Based on a survey of 101 responses with 19 junior and 27 senior responses, students could select multiple*

sports teams. Wright states, “I’m not going to do a club or an activity that I don’t truly enjoy and find fulfillment in…if it’s something I enjoy, I can pursue it and it also helps my resume.” Working on these roles give students valuable insight on working and responsibility, while strengthening their resumes.

I believe that students should find an area that they would want to pursue, and build their resumes around that one focus. This focus on a specialized field of interest can allow students to build deep connections in that certain field. Having these connections can allow them to learn more about the field.

Have you ever found yourself volunteering just because you think you have to for college applications? Or taking an advanced course because you want to improve your class rigor, only to find out that you don’t enjoy the subject and it’s proving too difficult? Feeling motivated to resume-build for college admissions is a common experience for high school students, but it can often lead to unfulfilling experiences and missed opportunities.

Taking honors or advanced cour-

ses is one of the most common forms of resume-building, however, when a student is only taking the class because they feel like it’s what colleges want them to do, it can be a struggle.

I have been prone to sign up for classes for this reason, but I’ve definitely learned that it’s usually not worth it. This year, I dropped an advanced class in order to enroll in one I was more passionate about. Another common form of resume building is signing up for clubs. Students will often sign up for many clubs at the club fair, then only attend a few meetings. Other times, students will start a club in order to hold a leadership position, but then treat club meetings as a joke. Volunteering for college applications is the equivalent of joining clubs: it’s not a meaningful experience. Volunteering just for hours lacks the feeling of connection and fulfillment that is the essence of community service. This isn’t to say that joining clubs, volunteering, or taking harder classes is wrong, or to say that you shouldn’t do it. The key thing is making sure that you are doing these things because you enjoy them, not because you feel like you have to. It is important to consider your intentions when doing any of these things. It’s more important to pursue activities that you are passionate about over activities you think you have to do.

Students Speak: Why do You Participate in Activities?

“They provide something fun to do while not thinking about the academic pressures.”

“They allow me to connect more with the Blake community and further my interests.”

“They help me feel accomplished in what I do and they also help me feel like I’m actually making a difference.”

“Mostly for fun, but I hate to admit it, any interest based clubs I sign up for are usually for college apps.”

“They help me differentiate my school life from out of school life.”

“For volunteering, I love to help people, communities, and the earth.”

“To pursue and improve on my interests and for applications/resumes.”

“To get to know upperclassmen and build connections.”

Evie Chow | Variety Editor

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Lilah Johnson | Sports Editor