The Panel, May 2023 - Volume 72, Issue 1

TRAVAGLINI ELECTED PRESIDENT

Luke Travaglini ’24 Voted as the 2023-2024 School President

By Executive Staff ’24 Panel Staff

Leading the school in Belmont Hill’s 101st academic year will be recently elected president Luke Travaglini. Luke is ready to lead the student body into its next century. Since his entry to the school in the First Form, Travaglini has been one of his class’s most distinguished leaders. He has worked hard to create lasting relationships with as many classmates as possible. This past year, he’s served as Form V’s class president, representing in the senate his classmates thoughtfully and respectfully, along with working with other Form V political office members. He works hard to listen to everyone in order to determine what the grade wants and how to best seek those goals to help the greatest amount of people. Luke has led many successful initiatives such as grade wide dodgeball and tug-of-war tournaments. Through these tournaments along with other grade-wide activities, Luke has tried to accomadate all members of the grade while providing moments of recreational competition and fun in what otherwise may be a stressful school day, filled with tests and homework. Athletically, Luke has proven his leadership skills

as well, being elected by his teammates to be one of the captains of the football team next season. Luke has many aspirations for the Belmont Hill student body next year, focused mainly on giving back to the brotherhood has helped him grow as both a person and a leader, “My goal as school president is to help foster a supportive community that strives to achieve the level of excellence that Belmont Hill prides itself on. I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me over the past five years.” Luke loves this school and even more, this communnity; he will do everything in his power to ensure everyone is making the most of their time at this great school. He is not afraid to try new things on a personal level and will not be afraid of taking calculated risks to try and best help the community.

Next year will be a signigicant year for Belmont Hill as the school proceeds after celebrating its Centennial. The student body of Belmont Hill will be in good hands with the leadership of Luke Travaglini.

The Panel conglatulates Luke for his recent election as school president and looks forward to the many accomplishments he and entire Belmont Hill community will achieve next year! ☐

BELMONT HILL LAX BEATS ST. SEBASTIAN’S @ BU

Luke Travaligni in front of the Chapel BH Communications

Classics Students Excel in the National Latin Exam

By T.Z. Snail ’26 Staff Writer

As Belmont Hill reaches the end of this centennial school year, it has strived to celebrate all aspects of this wonderful school. Over Belmont Hill’s 100 years of history, many important items have been accomplished, ranging in athletic, artistic, and academic achievements. April has been dedicated to celebrating 100 years of academic excellence at Belmont Hill. The National Latin Exam, a test given annually to Latin scholars across the country and world, is an excellent marker of the incredible academic success of Belmont Hill students. Taken just before March break, many see it as the last step before freedom from the third marking period. However, the NLE, despite its bland conception, has a rich history and has played huge roles at Belmont Hill.

The NLE was created in 1976 at Georgetown University, after receiving a three-hundred dollar loan from the American Classical League (ACL) and National Junior Classical League (NJCL). The NLE’s mission has been to “promote and support the learning and teaching of the Latin language.” Its founders believed that by giving this test, they gave all Latin students around the globe a chance to experience a sense of personal achievement in the study of Roman culture and language. Hundreds of hours every year are spent

creating each test, with a committee of over a hundred people. This committee strives to incorporate historical events from the time of Ancient Rome and delve deep into areas of Latin literature and culture in order to find intriguing and new information every year. By striving to make these tests

worldwide took part in the test. 192 of which were from Belmont Hill. Of these students, 145, or 77%, of them received an award. 63 (32%), were awarded the highest achievement, Gold Summa Cum Laude. And to top it off, 9 students scored a perfect 100%. 8 boys obtained their fourth con-

earned this nine times, the highest rate nationally. To receive an award, students must first score over the national average, which is typically around 25 out of 40, and then enter the threshold for the awards. Ranging anywhere from 28 to 40 out of 40, these awards have given students at Belmont Hill something to try for. A big reason why students at Belmont Hill score so highly is solely because of Dr. Davis, Mr. Richards, Mr. Cofield, Mr. McDougal, Mr. Davis and the rest of the Classics Department, who prepare the students well before test day.

Although the NLE in many ways is seen as a tough test, it has influenced Belmont Hill traditions and classes in different ways, such as wearing togas to midterms and finals. During the last week of school before Winter and Summer break, students wear homemade togas as a way to show off their Latin expertise. In addition, some projects in Latin classes incorporate many topics on the NLE. One, in particular, is the Caesar News Project in Mr. Richards’ Latin 2A class. Students are given two weeks to film, edit, and create a brief newscast regarding the Gallic Wars, using the maker space and theater.

not only based on Latin itself but on Rome’s origins and history, they propel the test takers, teachers, and college professors, to learn more about Latin’s rich and powerful history. In this past year, 100,000 students from all 50 states and 13 other countries

secutive Gold Medal, earning the Maureen O’Donnell book prize from the ACL, the highest ever in one year according to Dr. Davis. Finally, the ACL gives out 20 college scholarships nationally per year, and in the past 8 years, Belmont Hill boys have

Latin studies are just one part of Belmont Hill’s diverse academic excellence in all areas of student life. Students over the last 100 years have thrived in Belmont Hill’s vigorous and exciting academic environment and will continue to make amazing new memories and traditions and learn new things through the future of this school. ☐

Pentagon Russo-Ukrainian War File Leaks

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff

On April 13, Massachusetts Air National Guardsmen Jack Teixeira was arrested in association to the leak of classified Pentagon documents on the popular communication platform, Discord. Teixeira was alleged to have taken photographs of sensitive information and posted them on a Discord server, from which the documents were disseminated across the internet. The leaked files appear to be part of a briefing for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including information about the Russo-Ukraine conflict, China, Turkey, Israel, and South Korea. The documents are also sourced from various American intelligence agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Recon-

naissance Office, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s own intelligence wing, the J2. Most of the documents were reports on the war between Russia and Ukraine. One of the files indicates that certain Ukrainian air defense systems could run out of ammo by May 2, 2023, while another leaked document discovered by the Wall Street Journal claims these weapons could last till April 13. Either way, without these critical air defense weapons, Ukraine will be left even more vulnerable to Russian air attacks. Furthermore, one document analyzed by CBS aimed to estimate air and ground capacities from Russian and Ukrainian forces. It put Russian ground forces at 63% capability, but air forces at 92% capability, while Ukraine was 83% and 63% respectively. Another document reported on overall casualties on both sides with an estimated 189,500223,000 soldiers on the Russian side and

124,500-131,000 on the Ukrainian side.

Other leaked documents also contain information on the United States’ top geopolitical rival, which described China’s development of an “intermediate range

“ballistic missile-class multirole hypersonic glide vehicle.” Another file demonstrates American interest in China’s growing global presence with reports on Chinese influence in Jordan and Nicaragua.

Party With a Purpose Brings Another Year of Fun

By Lev Tolkoff ’24 Panel Staff

On April 9th, Belmont Hill held its annual Party With a Purpose (PWAP) fundraiser with over 800 attendees from a wide array of schools. Collectively, the event raised tens of thousands, one of the largest events since its creation. Returning PWAP leaders Daniel Drucker ’23, Leo Montoya ’23, and Quinn Healey ‘23 and additional team members Davin Roy ‘24, Ethan Sidman ’24, and Cord Vallis ‘24 helped organize this year’s amazing event, in partnership with student teams from Dana Hall, Newton County Day, Rivers, and Winsor.

This year’s event boasted a variety of activities for participants to enjoy, including cornhole, karaoke, ping pong, spikeball, and bouncy castles, also brining back the much anticipated inflatable Toxic Meltdown machine.

While the wide range of activities were enjoyed by all, the real highlight of PWAP, as always, was welcoming Boston Children’s Hospital patients and their families. Once the guests arrive, they are paired with one or more PWAP student leaders who served as their host for the evening, accompanying them as they enjoyed the various activities. Midway through the evening, the guests headed to the Fritz Gym for a ceremony in their honor, where the attendees lit the room with cell phone lights and cheered each of the guests as they walked the red carpet.

Once again, this year’s PWAP was a remarkable success, giving many guests the spotlight that they deserve, while also donating money to charity in the process. PWAP had a special effect once again, not only for the kids that the event supports, but also for everyone who attended the event. Mr. George, the faculty advisor for Belmont Hill’s PWAP team, noted that “every year

PWAP offers Belmont Hill and the other PWAP partner schools a chance to do something extraordinary to support Boston Children’s Hospital patients and families, and the event itself is such a positive and meaningful occasion to celebrate them.” The PWAP leaders expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the Belmont Hill faculty, staff, and

parents who pitched in to help make the evening a success. Altogether, the various PWAP fundraising efforts this school year raised nearly $40,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital. The Panel congratulates all those who contributed to the event and know they will continue such efforts in the future.

2022 Belmont HIll Classics Students Achievements Belmont Hill Communications

Aerial View of the Pentagon Google Images

Introduction to Volume 72 Panel Staff

By Executive Staff

Welcome to The Panel Volume 72! The whole staff of Volume 72 hopes to continue building upon the work of Volume 71 to bring you the best newspaper possible, complete with Global and Belmont Hill News, Student opinions on topical events, BH Sports updates, the beloved backpage, and more! We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to bringing everything about Belmont Hill right to your hands.

The Executive Staff is excited to release this first issue and begin work on Volume 72, ready to implement their ideas and ensure the best product is being made. Editor-In-Chief Kevin Weldon ’24 says, “I think that this is going to be a great year. The Staff all seem really excited about their respective sections and article topics, so I am really excited to get to work. We are excited to hopefully debut fun new aspects of The Panel , while keeping the same product that we all love”. Kevin says that new aspects, like innovative designs, competitions, and more are being developed for future issues. Brian Lee ’24, the Executive Editor of Writing and Operations, says “It is a huge privledge to be one of the leaders of the next Volume of The Panel , and I’m really excited to see what our new staff can bring to the table—we have a really talented group of writers this year, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them as the

Executive Editor of Writing and Operations to produce high-quality articles that everyone will enjoy reading”. Noah Farb ’24, the Executive Editor of Layout, Design, and Print, is ready to get Volume 72, saying “I’m happy to have the opportunity to be a part of The Panel Executive Staff.

handled seamlessly.” Noah will be working to ensure that each new Issue makes it into the hands of the Belmont Hill Community quickly upon release. Additionally, Luke Trevisan ’24, the Executive Editor of Community Development and Special Initiatives, states, “I’m excited to be a leader

citement and readership of The Panel

My role as executive editor of Layout, Design, and Printing is concerned with everything to do with the Layout, Printing, and Dissemination of The Panel . This job includes tasks such as helping Section Editors lay out articles and connecting with Belmont Printing to ensure each issue is

on The Panel staff this year and I look forward to both working with the writers and reaching out to the community. Hopefully, this edition of The Panel will be the most engaging and fun volume yet!” Luke is working with the Back Page Editors and the Editor in Chief to increase the ex -

In addition to the Executive Staff, a promising field of Editors will be working on Volume 72. Alex Laidlaw ’25, the new Online Editor, says that he is “hoping to help enhance the Online Experience and reach a broader audience”. Alex will be developing new Online initiatives to help make the website more interactive and engaging. Opinions Editor Aaron Stanger ’24 wants to bring “dynamic perspectives on the ever-changing Political and Social Climate of our school, country, and world,” and hopes to do so by diversifying perspectives and discussing topical affairs. The Sports Editor Christopher McEvoy ’25 wants to continue providing “Informative and exciting content about all aspects of Sports”, and he wants to ensure that the Belmont Hill Community information about Varsity Sports is up to date and informative. The Arts Editor Lev Tolkoff ’24 believes that “Arts are an essential part of Belmont Hill”, and he hopes to help spread the amazing work done by the community to Belmont Hill. The News Editor Luke Guleserian ’24 is excited to spread “the most important News for the Belmont Hill Community to know”, and he is ready to have News stories that cover a variety of topics and stories. Duncan Kilbride ’24, Aidan Lee ’24, Nathan Pappas ’24, Daniel Xie ’24, and Andrew Bittner ’24 will also be joining The Panel Staff. Thank you for reading this first issue and we are excited for the coming year. We hope you enjoy The Panel Volume 72! ☐

Classics Students Take On Rome

By Luke Guleserian ’24 & Luke Trevisan ’24 Panel Staff

During the first week of March break, the classics department offered a trip to Rome and surrounding areas for all Upper School boys taking Latin or Greek. The trip was headed by Dr. Davis, along with chaperones Mr. Cofield, Mr. Bracken, Ms. Wallace and Mr. O’Connell. In past years only about 15 students had been allowed on the trip, but since the pandemic and travel restrictions had ruined any plans over the past few years, Dr. Davis thought it was best to allow everyone who signed up. In total, there were 32 students on this year’s international excursion.

Over the course of the trip, the students saw a myriad of impressive sights

ranging from religious monuments. Of course, there were the all-star attractions, like the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, as well as the famous baths and magnificent Forum. Every step of Rome took the students through, above or under millennia of history. As Rome is the center of the Catholic Church’s authority, churches, cathedrals, and basilicas dot the streets and avenues. Students visited renaissance church’s rich with baroque art with one, the Basilica of San Clemente, featuring a pagan shrine underground. Among other popular sights were the Vatican, and its Laocoon display, a sculpture of a figure prominent in the Aeneid, which all AP Latin students read, as well as Pompeii, the ancient city engulfed by pyroclastic flows from Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Students could see grafitti and ancient engravings, which are

Sierra Nevada Trip

By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff

Over the first half of spring break, a group of 23 students visited the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. The students were accompanied by three faculty members: Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Leonardis, and Mr. DeCaprio. To reach their destination, they flew to San Francisco and drove to Convict Lake, near the border of Nevada. This year was a historic snowfall year in California, forcing the group to make a few detours. Having arrived, they found their accommodations in a cabin with a gorgeous view of the lake. Due to the high altitude, the entire Belmont Hill group had to briefly acclimatize themselves by going on a light hike.

Encumbering the otherwise beautiful conditions were the preponderance of blizzards and avalanches. The average temperature was around 25 degrees fahrenheit. While on hikes, the group spied foxes, big birds, and lizards. In total, they went on seven hikes. The longest hike being a nine mile

trek through a volcanic caldera, taking nine hours. Down from the mountains, the group visited Alabama Hills, which was a very rocky hike. Then, they visited Fossil Falls, where the students got to see a volcano, as well as some obsidian arrowheads. Being the ‘STEM’ trip, science scholars learned that obsidian is formed from cooled magma. Adjacent to the volcano was a heated creek which reached a scorching 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest place they visited was Death Valley, which holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded.

At the end of their stay in the Sierra Nevada, they went to the Great Orion Stargazing festival. There, they learned about astronomy and looked at stars. To conclude their trip, they visited Fort Funston in San Francisco, a former nuclear missile launch site.

The students and faculty greatly enjoyed this trip, having witnessed many beautiful views and unique landscapes. Everyone on the trip is grateful for the opportunity to be able to go on amazing trips, and would like to thank Belmont Hill and the teacher chaperones who made this possible. ☐

not prominent anywhere else in the world. Another highlight of the trip was the ability to experience lots of new and different foods. The native culture of Italy offered richer sauces, tastier cheeses and softer bread than anything experienced at home. New and interesting pasta styles, such as potato-based gnocchi or bird’s nest shaped cappellini. Another highlight was the gelato, and Aaron Stanger ‘24 commented that “no american ice cream will ever top the gelato in Rome (we made sure to stop at least twice a day).” During the surprise trip to the fortress city of Orvieto, a few boys tried pigeon, which was a specialty there due to the town’s ancient pigeon farming caves. Although Rome is Italy’s largest city and thus very urban, students were able to find quiet moments and places throughout the city. At breakfast, there was a breathtak-

ing rooftop view of Rome, stretching over the Tiber, Fortress of the Popes, the Vatican, and the Villa Borghese. Given the high athletic goals of Belmont Hill teams, a dozen students woke up early every day to run in the Villa Borghese, a park dotted with museums, walking trails, sculptures and fountains. Some students also went birdwatching. Overall, the trip was truly a wonderful experience for both the teachers and the students. James Mullowney sums up the trip gratefully “It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. At Belmont Hill, we read and learn about Ancient Roman history, but in Rome, you really see it and the experience is beyond any pictures in the Jenney Book.” Thank you to Dr. Davis, the chaperones and the parents for enabling trips like this to happen and we look forward to what will come in the future! ☐

BH France Trip

By Nathan Pappas ’24 Panel Staff

The first week of March break, nineteen Belmont Hill French students from Forms III-VI visited France with Mrs. Montanaro. After landing in Paris, the students spent the first day taking a bus tour of Paris and acclimating themselves to the fifth district of Paris. On the following day, the group visited the Louvre Museum where they participated in a scavenger hunt created by Mrs. Montanaro. The students then took a trip to the Champs-Elysees where they were given time to explore all the fancy stores and the Arc De Triomphe as the Place de la Concorde. That night, the group visited the Eiffel Tower and took the trip to the viewing deck at the top of the tower.

On the fourth day in Paris, the students visited the Gardens and Palace of Versailles. Finally, on their last day in Paris, they visited the Catacombs in the morning before getting on a train to Rennes, a city about an hour and a half Southwest of

France.There, each student was assigned a French host family from a local school who provided us a place to stay as well as introducing us to many French traditions and foods. Students loved engaging with their host families in French, as well as taking in the different cultural intricacies of the host families. For the first day in Rennes, the students took a trip to Saint-Malo, a town on the northern shores of France with rich history and beautiful beaches. On the second day, students attended two classes with their French host sibling before heading off to explore the city of Rennes.

On the last day of the trip, the host siblings of each student accompanied the group to visit Mont-Saint Michel where we explored the island and took a walk out on the vast expanses of quicksand at low tide. The group then returned home the next morning concluding the week-long France Trip.☐

Brian Lee (left), Kevin Weldon (right), not pictured: Luke Trevisan and Noah Farb

Belmont Hill Welcomes Renowned Poet Regie Gibson

By Brady Paquette ’25 Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill community welcomed to campus, poet, songwriter, and author, Regie Gibson. Throughout his career, Mr. Gibson performed, taught, and lectured at schools and universities. His goal is to help teach and mentor young men. He was once a young man trying to find his way, and needed someone to help guide him. He mentions that he “sees it as a responsibility.” When Regie was a little kid, he realized the importance of having someone to look up to. He originally fell in love with poetry because of his passion for words. Comparing two things that are not supposed to make sense and combining them into one meaning helped Mr. Gibson with writing and understanding literature in school. For instance, a “train” and a “thought” would not normally be thought of as two individual things that should go together. However, once merged into a phrase, it makes perfect sense.

Regie’s great-grandfather was illiterate, forcing him to tell Regie stories rather than read them himself. When he was young-

er, his love for Shakespeare and language inspired him to take a more creative path in writing and music composition. Some of the people Regie also looked up to were Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda because of their larger, broader voices. They both influenced society in their own way as South American and American Democratic poets.

Mr. Gibson performed poems and highlighted the importance of connecting with an audience throughout the week. Each day, Mr. Gibson and Dr. Tift worked together to put on gatherings where students could perform original poems and attend writing workshops where the students learned how to craft and rehearse a poem of their own. At the beginning of the week, every boy in the school was assigned to memorize and rehearse a poem in front of their English class. The boys in the class would then vote for one boy to send to the finals, where they would present their poem in front of the whole school in the Hamilton Chapel. This annual Belmont Hill tradition has been carried on since the origins of school history. The boys finished their poetry week by gathering in the chapel to hear

the finalists perform and listen to a not only powerful, but moving poem by Mr. Gibson.

When asking Mr. Gibson about the finalists’ performances, he mentioned that only two boys, the youngest of the group, chose poems by females. “Their youth allowed them to open up more than some of the older boys,” Regie said. He talked about the importance and acceptance of being different and how being emotional in such situations is okay. Regie said that he does not talk about him much, but Bill Clinton had one quote that stuck with him; “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”

“Memorization is key to a powerful performance. We truly don’t do it enough!”

These words highlighted Mr. Gibson’s opinion on how Belmont Hill has incorporated poetry into everyday life. He mentioned that we must “wrestle with the fact that poetry becomes a part of us.” Through his final days, a common theme he emphasized was the simplicity of poetry. He highlighted that human beings are complex and that we must recognize that in order to grow. Leaps of progress will not happen

immediately. Slowing things down and not judging people too quickly are two ways in which Regie believes that we can fully embrace the meaning of art and poetry.

It was clear that Mr. Gibson impacted the boys and helped to shape their interest in poetry and public speaking in a significant way. Dr. Tift is “grateful to Regie for bringing a starburst of wonderful ideas, perspectives, wisdom, and—of course—poetry to our community during his week in residence. And I am grateful to the students for embracing their time with him.” She also thanked the “Rashes family for their support of the Dr. Jeffrey A. Fast Visiting Authors and Writers Fund that made Regie’s visit possible. It allows Belmont Hill to bring writers to campus each year to share their art.” We can only hope that future visiting authors are as witty, entertaining, and impactful as Mr. Gibson!

The community sincerely thanks Mr. Gibson for helping each and every one of us understand what it means to be a true poet and for being so generous with his expertise in such an amazing art form! ☐

April Poetry Month Brings The Poem of the Day

By Luke Glueserian ’24 Panel Staff

Every morning in the month of April, members of the Belmont Hill community begin their days by seeing an email from Dr. Tift freshly appearing in their inbox. The email’s subject line is in a template of: Poem Title by Student Name ‘XX’. In order to celebrate national poetry month, Dr. Tift exposes the broader Belmont Hill community to rich and contrasting styles of poetry. Some speak of natural vistas, others paint honest portraits of themselves without glorifying for the sake of appeal. Some poems are as short as a haiku, while others use more complex forms and span to almost 30 lines. Although some authors choose not to disclose their identity, publishing their poems simply as by an anonymous author, the majority of poets decide to display their name in the subject line. Accompanying the Poetry Fest, these ‘Poems a Day’ have become bastions

of poetic thought and expression at Belmont Hill in recent years. While the poems which are selected for an all-school email are pre-

People call me names and laugh behind my back

They don't seem to care if I hear I move on as if I don't care

They say my stride is like an earthquake

They ask if I can see my own two feet

I put my head down and pace

Surrounded by skinny boys and girls I guess I'm just the bigger person

Regie Gibson performing for National Poetry Month

Google Images

The Bigger Person Derek Potamis ’24

dominantly authored by Dr. Tift’s students in the Upper School, many students have composed works worthy of the distinction. ☐

The Landau Art Gallery: 100 Years of Excellence in Arts

By Jaiden Lee ’26 Panel Staff

As Belmont Hill celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the importance and impact of the Arts at the school cannot be overlooked. The Landau Art Gallery, is a non-profit exhibitional gallery, situated in the Robsham Center for the Arts, which can display both student artwork and individual professional artwork. The school website states that “the primary function is to provide a good learning environment for our students by showing the best in current professional work in a top-quality setting on campus.”

“I also love when we have the student shows at the end of each semester, and seeing everyone’s hard work come together.”

Previous exhibits at the gallery include: the photography of Caroline Kenney (Aug. 29 - Oct. 31), the fiber art and mixed media of Christina Marcantonio (Nov. 1Feb. 3), Belmont Hill’s 100 Years Celebration of the Arts (Jan. 3 - Feb. 3), the Semester 1 Student Art Show (Feb. 6 - Feb. 24), and the art of Rafael Rodriguez Montgomery ’24 (Feb. 27 - March 10), and the Art Educators Group Show with Ms. Worthington and Ms. Bradley (Mar. 27 - April 27). Currently, the Belmont Hill and Winsor Student Show is on display, until May 13. All exhibits represent-

ed in the Landau gallery are open for public viewing. Anyone may come and visit to look at the numerous pieces of art in the gallery.

Ms. Bradley stated that her favorite part of the gallery was “just being exposed to artwork during my regular day at work, since it’s literally right across from where I hang out all day.” Ms. Bradley noted that she remembers when she was younger, her father would bring her to school to see when there was a particularly interesting exhibit of painting or ceramics that

he thought she would like. She also stated, “It’s cool that I don’t have to go out of my way to see whatever is being shown there. I also love when we have the student shows at the end of each semester, and seeing everyone’s hard work come together.”

Additionally, since the Belmont Hill/Winsor show is part of this year’s exhibit schedule, Ms. Bradley was able to get in touch with her old art teacher from when she was at Winsor. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Winsor student work,

“I’m looking forward to seeing the Winsor student work, just because it reminds me of when I was that age at Winsor, just starting to make drawings and paintings more seriously.”

just because it reminds me of when I was that age at Winsor, just starting to make drawings and paintings more seriously.”

Ms. Bradley also said that it was a really cool opportunity for her to bring in her paintings and ceramic work for the previous show, to show her students and just get it out of the house for a while. She loves sharing her work with others so she appreciates being able to show the Belmont Hill community what she spends most of her time at home doing. While Ms. Bradley is an art teacher, she is also an artist with loads of talent and creativity, and this gallery is a way of showing her work to many interested art-viewers.

Finally, she concluded, “I’d love for more students to take an interest in the gallery, and for there to be more info about what’s going on there, so they can stop by to see the exhibits even if they don’t usually go in the art building on a regular day.” ☐

Belmont Hill Spring Coffee House a Smashing Success

By Nathan Zhang ’26 Panel Staff

On Friday, April 14th in the Kraft Theater, Belmont Hill hosted its Spring Coffee House. The show featured many student and faculty performances under the dazzling color-changing lights and smoke effects of the theater.

There were 18 separate performances ranging from instrumental groups to vocals to electronic Garageband performances. Some notable performances included the Middle School Rock Band performing two songs, Yellow by Coldplay and Valerie by The Zutons. The Upper School Rock Band also performed a song, Ragoo by Kings Of Leon. Seniors made up a lot of the show, with Will Kelly, Cam Connell, Dave LoGrasso, Leo Montoya, Sam Atalla, and Riley Goodman

all performing throughout the night. There were also classical performances on the piano such as Adrian Tan’s performance of La Campanella, a very difficult piece full of action. Sam Atalla also played a traditional organ Tocatta by Bach on the piano. Lastly, Ryan Chang-Wu performed a portion of a concerto on his violin. Numerous faculty members also made appearances on the stage. Mr. Schneider sang a song that he had last sung at his wedding with his guitar. Mr. DiResta sang an all-time classic in Take Me Home, Country Roads. Mr. George utilized his GarageBand expertise to back him up while he performed Enjoy The Silence on the keyboard, a song that was popular when he was a senior in high school. The Spring Coffee House was magnificent and would not have been possible without the organization of the faculty in the Music Department.

Artist of the Issue: Dave Lograsso

By Lev Tolkoff ’24 Panel Staff

Dave LoGrasso ‘23 has been an integral part of our school’s performing arts program for the past few years. As a commanding and outspoken voice he has truly elevated the B Flats to new heights. Highlighted by his rendition of Hallelujah at an all school chapel, as well as singing the centennial song with the rest of the B Flats, Dave has given lasting memories to all of us that will stand the test of time.

Growing up, Dave did not partake in any formal singing group, however music was always a key part of his identity. His love for music began when he was six listening to the Gorillaz, and soon he could recite the entire hit song, “Feel Good Inc.” Dave remarks, “That’s where my love and appreciation for music really started.” While also a star on the football team, music has always been part of his life, “Music is one of the only things I re-

ally think about all the time. There is always some song in my head whether that be a song that I’m learning for a performance or that I hear in passing when out and about.”

Throughout his time at Belmont Hill, Dave sang in the B Flats, a time he cherished deeply, “B Flats is the thing I look forward to everyday when I’m at school.” Dave adds, “ I can’t thank all the fine young men in this group enough for all the hard work they put into the group and how much fun we’ve had this past year.” In Dave’s eyes, the future is bright for the program despite his departure after this spring, “I can’t wait to see the B Flats grow over these next few years. The future is very bright. And most importantly I can’t thank Brother P enough for everything that he has done for when joining the B Flats. For teaching me how to actually sing, a piano for me for all of my performances.”

Dave wishes to emphasize one message, “SING! No matter what people think about your singing, just sing. I think it’s one of the best ways to de-stress and the

B-Flats are always looking for more brothers to sing with.” The Panel thanks Dave for all his contributions to the arts program

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and wishes him luck as he looks to sing in Bucknell’s acapella group next fall!

Ms. Bradley in Front of The Landau Art Gallery Belmont Hill Communications

Musicians Performing at Coffee House Belmont Hill Communications

Winsor: The Banner Executive Staff Switch Day

PREFACE: Each year, near the end of the school year, members of the executive staff of The Panel and the executive staff of our Winsor counterpart, The Banner, participate in a “switch day” at each other’s school. The Winsor students who participated in switch day wrote an article about their experiences!

By Anna Halfman ’23 and Natalie Pan ’23 Banner Staff

Cookies and milk, boys wearing suits, and bells ringing between classes… These are just a few of the many differences between Winsor and Belmont Hill. On April 18, we, two executives of The Banner, were fortunate to partake in the annual Switch Day with Belmont Hill’s The Panel. Our hosts were Panel executives Mac Bobo ’23, David Cho ’23, Alex Lo ’23, and Cooper Nelson ’23.

Bright and early at 8:00 am, we were welcomed into a brief advisory meeting, where students recounted the events of their weekends and lamented about upcoming homework assignments. This meeting, while brief, proved an engaging way to start our day by connecting with friends.

One immediate difference we noticed between Belmont Hill and Winsor is the presence of school uniforms. At Belmont Hill, all students must wear a suit, tie, and dress pants. Winsor, on the other hand, does not require a uniform and has a less formal dress code. We personally prefer the freedom to dress how we choose, but we also understand that a uniform can put you into the mindset to study and work hard, and we greatly respect Belmont Hill’s commitment to this tradition.

Another notable difference was the 45-minute class blocks, which are 30 minutes shorter than classes at Winsor. Furthermore, a bell ringing over the loudspeaker marks the end of each class and the start

Staff were particulary intrigued by Luke

of passing time, whereas Winsor students come and go as their teachers dismiss them.

The bell seemed a bit like High School Musical at first, but as the day went on, we began to appreciate the bell ringing at the official ends and beginnings of different classes.

Next up, we traveled to our hosts’ math class, which was Multivariable Calculus. Mr. Feldman, the teacher, guided us on an exploration of the different math courses we could take in college.

Afterward, we had cookies and milk, a Belmont Hill daily tradition in which students gather outside to feast on, you guessed it, cookies and milk. As dessert doesn’t happen quite as frequently at Winsor, we were delighted that Belmont

Hill incorporated a sweets-based community time into the schedule every day.

We continued our day with an impromptu tour of the school. The most obvious difference between the campuses of our two schools is that Belmont Hill consists of multiple buildings that are spread out from one another—that’s right, we had to walk outside to get to different classes! Coming from Winsor, where we can spend the whole day without ever leaving the building, we couldn’t decide if it was nice to get some fresh air or simply too cold. Regardless, it was an exciting change. We also stopped by their Innovation Lab, home of a Vex robotics team headed to the World Championship, music rooms, the chapel, and the library, where we caught up with Panel advisor Mr. Hegarty during his class on immigration.

The day continued with Panel Carving, a Belmont Hill tradition. Each year, every senior individually carves a wooden panel to commemorate the end of their time there. Walking through the school, you can see hundreds of panels on the walls, as every student’s panel is displayed. At Winsor, one similar tradition is that the sophomores create banners for the seniors, but the entire sophomore class collaborates with making one banner, and the banners are only displayed during reunions for classes with the greatest donations. We did have to leave panel carving due to a promotional video being shot, so we instead wandered into a nearby ceramics class (taught by Winsor alum Ms. Bradley!), where we learned about different wheel-throwing techniques.

Next up was Greek, where students took turns translating lines. The classroom had an innovative Smartboard that students could both project their computer screen and use their fingers to draw on the board. It was interesting to see everyone engage with a different technology from the whiteboards we use at Winsor.

Dr. Davis, the Greek teacher, commented that his course takes students from “zero [knowledge] to reading Homer” in just one year. The class collaborated on several activities, including translating lines and “scanning” lines for syllables. We noticed that Belmont Hill teachers tended to engage their students with cold-calling, while at Winsor, this practice is uncommon and students instead opt to participate themselves.

For lunch, we had chicken shawarma, rice, salad, hummus, falafel, and lemon bars, which we grabbed from the cafeteria before heading to the Alumni House. The food was delicious, and

we were decidedly jealous that Belmont Hill students get to experience dessert not just once, but twice a day. Next period, we sat in on an English elective titled “God, Mythology, Humanity,” where we had a group discussion. We enjoyed how the classroom was set up around one table, as it allowed everyone to participate with more ease. The discussion was led by the teacher, Mr. Leonardis, with many student contributions, and we ended the class by talking about our excitement and worries about heading off to college.

Last period was Economics, where we learned and watched videos about economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Nelson described this class as a place for them to learn about “solving problems.” The students examined many real-life case studies to learn about issues such as hyperinflation, corruption, and the lack of coordination among NGOs. One interesting difference is that this classroom had hand fidget tools for students to squeeze to help them focus during class.

Overall, our day at Belmont Hill was engaging, informative, and a unique window into one day in the life of one of Winsor’s brother schools. We thank Belmont Hill’s newspaper staff for hosting us and look forward to continuing this tradition in the future. ☐

Banner

Trevisan’s ’24 3-d model of BH’s campus

Banner Staff

The Banner staff had the pleasure of expereince M+C for the fist time! Banner Staff

Anna Halfman ’23 Banner Staff

DOTI: Should There Be a Maximum Amount of Clubs?

By L. Tolkoff ’24 and L. Trevisan ’24 Panel Staff

Luke Trevisan (YES): Every year in early September, students fresh off of summer break enter into the school looking for a new start and ways that they can make an impact. One popular idea is to test out and try clubs. They can be a way to make new friends, learn more about a different topic or just a place to relax and have fun. However, this spike in club popularity typically only lasts for a few months. Once classes start picking up, schedules become busier and extracurriculars get put on the back burner.

After Thanksgiving break, as midterms loom on the horizon, many students will hold off on club visitations until their schedule frees up. But, in reality, it never does. Following midterms, Belmont Hill boys take up to sixteen days off for winter break only to arrive back with two weeks of the first semester still remaining for them to complete. From there, club participation into the rest of the year drops off significantly, as boys become burnt out, overworked, and too occupied to worry about the fun aspirations for club engagement that they had at the beginning of the year.

Given this, it would be better to limit the number of clubs formed. This would ensure that available clubs receive much more focused attention and attendance, as niche-interest clubs would no longer pull students away from larger foundational clubs, like publications, language clubs, and personal development clubs. If students are also limited in the number of clubs that they can engage in, then they

will be able to put more of their time and effort into those clubs. In turn, the clubs would be able to create more thoughtful work, develop deeper understandings of the material, and have more in-depth conversations, as students would no longer be distracted by their overfilled schedules.

“relegated” in favor of more popular ones, ensuring constant, engaged participation. If the clubs were limited to a certain number of high-functioning organizations, then both students and clubs alike would see massive benefits in their performance at school.

Lev Tolkoff (NO): One of the most

to get slammed with homework and stop attending. While some may think of that as a negative, it is actually a positive. If certain new clubs fail in the first few months, then they will dissolve, but if a new club gains popularity then it will continue to meet and create a great environment for trying new things. This sharpens the blade of the quality of clubs. Only the most engaging and well run clubs remain. And if there were to be a club cap this would limit the amount of new clubs that could potentially become well-liked and beneficial to the community.

Additionally, outside of boosting club participation and improving club standards, students would be able to complete more work. With fewer clubs taking up X-block, 2:15 and 4:00 periods, students can utilize their time in more efficient and productive ways, such as spending more of their time getting homework done, seeing teachers for extra help or participating in arts and music groups.

One might argue that the restriction on clubs would be a hindrance to the creative aspect that comes with creating clubs spontaneously. However, a rotation could be put in place to cycle out old clubs that have seen low attendance with rising clubs that show a lot of interest. Similar to the premier league in the UK, the waning clubs would be

unique aspects of Belmont Hill is its club culture. Students come together with primarily little teacher support to create something that does not exist at other schools. A large part of this stems from the flexibility and free nature of clubs, ranging from Lego Club to Drone Club to French club: there is a place for everyone to excel. Some of the best clubs have started simply from two students wondering why Belmont Hill doesn’t have a club about X, Y, or Z and then taking the initiative to start the club. A club cap would limit this creativity. While many clubs seem to drift off as the year progresses, that is just the nature of school. At the beginning of the year most people want to do things differently this year and sign up for a few clubs, only

As well, because of the large quantity of clubs, some students either over-book themselves or forget because of the amount of emails sent out. However, if a club is truly engaging and is an actual interest of the student, not just for a college application, then they will make the time to attend and participate in the club. So, if someone makes the argument that a club cap is necessary to achieve better attendance, then perhaps they just run boring clubs.

Finally, it is imperative that students feel they have the necessary creative space to develop and grow their interests and skills, and clubs allow students to do that in an environment that supports them. Some,like the VC club, would never have existed and hosted a speaker series from professors and actual venture capitalists. Co-head Brian Lee ’24 remarks, that: “bolstered our club’s experience and let students have experiences no one else in the country could have,”. It is not only important not to cap the amount of clubs, but also to encourage students to take risks and find their passions and to explore them further. ☐

Should Belmont Hill Use Ranked Choice Voting?

By Kevin Weldon ’24 Panel Staff

As the spring comes into full swing, class elections arrive at the forefront of the minds of many students: incumbents run against challengers in the ever-changing dance of electing class and school officers. However, unlike the standard seen in local, state, and federal elections, Belmont Hill operates with the ranked choice voting system. While there is obviously some hesitancy about using a voting system different from our country, I believe that ranked choice voting is the best system.

When US citizens visit the polls to elect a new president, they check off one name and place the ballot in a box. When Belmont Hill boys open their computers to vote on Google Forms, the ballot awaiting them is different. Each of the candidates are listed, but instead of selecting only the amount of candidates to be elected, they

rank each candidate from first to last. The former system is known as “First Past the Post,” the latter is the aforementioned “Ranked Choice Voting.” First Past the Post seems logical at first. If the candidate with the most votes wins outright, they win as they are the favored candidate in the opinion of the majority. However, the system quickly collapsed under the weight of more than two candidates, as evidenced by any US election in which three parties run with a significant platform. The tertiary party consumes votes from one of the other two, and thus a candidate perhaps favored over the other by a majority loses due to the splitting of votes.

Ranked Choice Voting remedies this issue by having voters select candidates on a scale, with a first choice representing their favorite candidate and decreasing in order of preference from then onward. If there are three candidates in a Ranked Choice Voting system, the three candidates all receive their first place vote. If a candi-

date wins the majority, they are elected and nothing changes from First Past the Post. However, if no candidate receives a majority of votes, then the candidate with the least first choice votes is eliminated, and those who voted for that candidate have their votes transferred to their second choice. This process continues until one candidate has a majority of votes and is declared winner.

Ranked Choice Voting is a massive step in the correct direction, especially for Belmont Hill Elections, where many candidates run and a First Past the Post voting

system could result in the election of a candidate who did not even win the majority, and was not preferred by the majority of voters. While both systems have their advantages, Ranked Choice Voting is a far better alternative to First Past the Post, and should be implemented at Belmont Hill, in our country, and around the world, wherever voters wish to select their first choice free from worry of their vote being “wasted,” and they do not want to compromise by voting for a less appealing candidate. ☐

A Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Google Images

Texas Judge Rules Against Mifepristone Abortion Pill

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff

Earlier this month, A recent Supreme Court order rejected a ruling from the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which declared that the widely used and two-decade-old abortion pill, Mifepristone, should be banned from being either mailed or prescribed without an in-person prescription from a doctor. Despite the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ten-week approval, the ruling also sought to limit the drug’s use to only the first seven weeks of pregnancy. This decision was a restricted version from the one made days before by a Trump-appointed Texan judge,Matthew Kacsmaryk, which outright suspended the FDA’s approval of the drug. He also upheld the 150-year-old inactive Comstock Act which “plainly forecloses mail-order abor-

tion.” This decision came out of a lawsuit in November in which an anti-abortionChristian legal group, Alliance Defending Freedom, claimed that the FDA “exceeded its regulatory authority and ignored safety concerns” about the drug. FDA officials vehemently disagree with this, arguing, “Mifepristone was safe and effective when the FDA first approved it over two decades ago, and has remained that way ever since. Study after study has found medication abortions to be an exceedingly safe and effective way to end a pregnancy.” From there the Biden administration brought the case to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which also had Trump appointees on it, where the decision was narrowed. To some surprise, the clearly anti-abortion Supreme Court, as demonstrated in the overturning of Roe v. Wade case, froze the ruling as the case returned back to the fifth

circuit court with arguments on May 17.

Although no reasons were presented for the decision, general Supreme Court precedent often follows FDA approvals:“If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks,” writes Biden after the Judge Kacsmaryk’s ruling. It is not a permanent fix as the case will be reviewed again,this time it might not come out in favor of abortion rights . If the ban were to have gone in place, many would have been left helpless as Mifepristone alone constitutes half of all medical abortions in the U.S. It would have also caused a rise in surgical abortions which could overwhelm already strained abortion clinics across the country.

Despite the far reaching and potentially devastating consequences of this case, this case and similar ones are highly

common. Even now Republican Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy refuses to raise the federal debt limit as a battering tool against his Democratic adversaries in order to achieve federal spending cuts. The U.S. has already gone over the limit and is using “extraordinary measures” (which are on track to run out very soon) to keep the federal government from defaulting on its debt which would not only cause a national recession, but damage the global economy. Cases like this and attitudes regarding it show how divided the country have become. Now, half of the population is not even allowed to control their own bodies because a judge in Texas says so, and our government weaponizes critical economic policies against itself. Although there is no solution any one person can make, only so much damage can be done until either the people again or the system collapses entirely. ☐

The Venture Capital Club

The Sundial

Masters Golf Recap

By Christopher McEvoy ’25 Panel Staff

The Master’s Tournament has run since 1934, and it is a valued, long-standing tradition within the golf community and the world as a whole. Golfers from all across the globe compete in this competition not just for the monetary incentive but for the everlasting pride and honor achieved through winning.

This year saw Spanish golfer Jon Rahm win the tournament with a score of -12. This was Jon Rahm’s seventh year of competing in the master’s tournament. Rahm has been a competitive member of previous Masters, and although he has been unable to overcome steep competition in the past, Rahm was finally able to seal the deal and collect his second Majors tournament win. Jon Rahm joins a long list of historic golfers to dawn the Green Coat and win the masters, including Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and the esteemed Jack Nicklaus.

This year’s Masters was marked by more than just the success of Jon Rahm. The weather was a point of emphasis this week, as the third round of the tournament was suspended due to the weather at Augusta National. In addition to the suspension,

multiple trees fell during the tournament, blocking the course and nearly hitting a crowd of spectators. Luckily those under the trees were able to move out of the way and no one was hurt. This was also the first time that the newly founded LIV tournament had its golfers compete in the Masters.

The LIV Tour gained popularity last year as many PGA golfers left in order to sign lucrative contracts with the LIV Tour. One such player was Brooks Koepka, who held a strong lead for most of the tournament before Rahm overtook him on the final day. Koepka signed a contract with LIV last year with a signing bonus of $100 million.

Arguably the most surprising player in this year’s tournament was Phil Mickelson who shot a 65 despite being fifty-two years old. Mickelson has not been playing particularly well since joining the LIV tour but his performance at this year’s Masters was vintage, proving that he’s still able to turn back the clock. A three-time Masters winner, Mickelson is clearly still comfortable playing at Augusta National his performance was a surprise to many. This year’s master’s was undoubtedly an exciting one and left little to be desired. Hopefully, more tournaments like this are to come for the PGA. ☐

BH Tennis Bounces Back

By Brady Paquette ’25 Panel Staff

Entering the core of the season, the tennis team has started off strong with a 2-1 record. Although early, Belmont Hill has already started to face some of their tougher matchups, such as Roxbury Latin. Roxbury Latin was ranked No. 1 coming into the season and favored to win the ISL championship. Belmont Hill put up a good match, only losing 4-3. The top of the ladder played strongly, with Captain Bobby Cooper ’23 encouraging the team. Ernest Lai ’25 at no. 2 and Morgan Rich ’28 at no. 3 played hard and pulled out a victory for their singles matches.

Cooper said that “RL’s doubles point ended up changing the course of the match” and led to their hard-fought loss. It was clear that Cooper was impressed with the team’s depth of William Sandor ’28 and Morgan Rich ’28 as they added talented youth to the already talented team. Bobby was im -

BH Lacrosse Dominates

By Christopher McEvoy ’25 & Andrew Hildebrandt ’25 Panel Staff

Entering the 2023 season, the lacrosse team had a significant amount of pressure on them after a successful season last year and a roster loaded with talented players. So far into the season, the lacrosse team has not disappointed. Eight games into the season the team is yet to lose a single game, boasting an impressive 9-0 overall record. This record is highlighted by a dominant performance against St. Georges, where the team traveled to St. Georges and defeated them 20-2. Another highlight of the season so far was a 6-5 thriller win against Avon Old Farms, and a 6-4 win against a loaded top team in Deerfield. Most recently, the squad defeated ISL rival St. Sebastians 8-5 in a Friday night under the lights game at Boston Univesity’s Nickerson field. This year’s team is spearheaded by Finn Fox ’24 along with captains, Eli Goldstein ’23, Mathew Torrey ’23, and Charlie Hazard ’23. In the National Lacrosse Federation’s most recent high school power ranking, Belmont Hill cracked the top ten in the country. The allstar group looks to continue its dominant streak in the games ahead. When asked

what was one thing the team had done well, head coach Tim Sullivan answered, “The team has done an incredible job of practicing with a purpose and competing at practice. We graduated a large senior class and players have stepped up and into larger roles than they had in previous years.” When asked what the team could improve on, Coach Sullivan said “Playing a full 48 minutes with no let downs, especially the occasional penalty. We are getting there and getting closer to that every day.” It had been readily apparent that the captains this year have had a lasting impact on the team and Coach Sullivan could not have agreed more, “The captains have been tremendous in setting the tone for the team and being an extension of the coaching staff on and off the field.” Finally, in response to the question of which win he found most impressive, Coach Sullivan simply stated “The next one.” Looking ahead the teams seek its 14th ISL title since the foundation of the league and to avenge their playoff loss last year to Governors. The tenth-ranked team in the country looks to continue their dominant streak with only six games remaining this season. The Panel wishes good luck to the lacrosse team and in the rest of their games throughout the season! ☐

BH Crew Aims High

pressed with Morgan’s development from last year and is excited about his prospect at being the top tier of the ladder. Everyone is dialed in during practice and that seems to be the leading factor in the team’s success. Effort and hard-work have always been one of the Tennis team’s prime characteristics. When asked about the team’s new Instagram account, Cooper says that there will be “weekly updates” on how the team is doing as well as their match outcomes. Team morale seems to be high with the prospect of their new Head Coach, Mr. Speer, mentioning that he is not only a “focused guy,” but “maintains a focused mentality.”

Their next big match is against a well-rounded Andover team, however, the team is excited about their chances after coming off a well-fought RL team. After Andover, the team looks to take on Groton and continue their run into New Englands and the ISL’s, hoping to get their revenge on RL from last year. The Panel wishes Coach Speer and the team luck! ☐

By Alex Laidlaw ’25 Panel Staff

The Crew Season starts long before Spring. Throughout the winter, the sound of ergs fills the air adjacent to the basketball court. During mud week, the Wrestling Room is transformed into a crew team workout haven. But finally, the time has come for the boys in the boat to get on the water, marking the start of an exciting season for Coach Richards’ team.

Led by Captains Luca Mezzanotte ’23, Sean Egan ’23, and Mac Bobo ’23, the 45man squad, composed of 36 rowers and nine coxswains, marks one of the largest in Richard’s tenure. When asked if leading such a large team is challenging, Luca quickly dismissed this, stating that the entire group is “committed to the same goal and everyone wants to be there.” In addition, he pointed to the positive atmosphere around the team, particularly during workouts and erg tests.

On the other hand, the weather has been a nuisance. Consistent rain and chilly winds blowing in from the

ocean have made practices cold and wet. However, it has brought its fair share of memorable moments, most notably when Bennett Carroll ’23 convinced the team to row, even though it was bitterly cold and the Charles river was choppy. With only one real race in the books, the season is far from over. In the team’s first race against Pomfret, all nine boats dominated, and the Belmont Hill 9v4 was able to beat Pomfret’s 4v4 by open water, an encouraging sign for things to come. When asked about how he was feeling about the season, Coach Richards stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” and ecstatic to be getting the season rolling. With seven races in the next month, the team hopes to carry this momentum into the rest of the season, with eyes on the NEIRA team trophy. The Panel wishes good luck to the crew team and the rest of their races throughout the season! ☐

Bruins Season Recap and Playoff Preview

By Benjamin Hack ’24 Panel Staff

The Boston Bruins finished the regular season with the most wins and points in NHL history. Their record was 65-12-5 with 135 points. David Pastrnak finished with 61 goals and 113 points. Pastrnak had the second most goals only behind Connor McDavid who had 64. Brad Marchand had the second most points with 67 points in 73 games providing constant stability for the Bruins forward core.

On the back end the Bruins were led by defenceman Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy. Lindholm was a key to the Bruins success this season by leading the way when McAvoy was hurt early in the season. Lindholm led defenseman in points with 53 which is his career high, as well as leading the league in the +/- category with a +49. Even though McAvoy missed 15 games, he still had a tre -

mendous season both offensively and defensively by collecting 52 points.

One breakout player for the Bruins was forward Pavel Zacha. Zacha was acquired back in the summer for Erik Haula. At the time many people questioned the move, but Zacha proved the haters wrong by putting up 57 points, a career high, while playing with fellow Czech teammates David Krecji and David Pastrnak.

At the trade deadline, GM Don Sweeney was very busy by making two fantastic trades to boost the depth of the Bruins by trading for Garnett Hathaway, Dmitry Orlov, and Tyler Bertuzzi. Hathaway was a good depth addition for the 4th line, adding a dynamic physical game with getting a few gritty goals in the process. Orlov boosted the Bruins defense and was a dynamic two way player for them, posting 17 points in 23 games with a +10. Bertuzzi was great for the second and third line by putting up 16 points in 21 games.

Another key player for the Bruins

was goaltender Linus Ullmark. The future Veznia winner secured the triple crown for goalies by having the most wins (40), a .938 save percentage, and 1.89 goals against average. Without Ullmark the Bruins would definitely not be where they would be. When the Bruins hired Jim Montgomery in the offseason many fans questioned the move and would rather have former coach Bruce Cassidy at the helm.

However, Montgomery proved the doubters wrong and, with his presence and coaching tactics, led the Bruins to the best regular season of all time.

So far the Bruins are leading the Florida Panthers 3-1 in their best of 7 series. If the Bruins win Wednesday night, they will face the winner of the Maple Leafs Lightning series where Toronto is currently leading 3-1.☐

Athlete of the Issue: Davi Souza Ribeiro ‘23

By Noah Farb ’24 Panel Staff

In this issue, The Panel would like to highlight Davi Souza Ribeiro ’23 as the Athlete of the Issue. Davi is a valuable member of the Varsity Football team and was selected to be a captain this season for Varsity Track and Field. Davi’s leadership has helped to propel the team to start the season unbeaten with a 4-0 record.

Davi has worked hard throughout his three years at school to become an essential member of the Track and Field team, competing in the events of the discus and shotput. Davi said that in his “first year I didn’t really have a role on the team, I had fun and threw the discus. Then, junior year, I stepped out of my comfort zone and demonstrated who I am and how my parents taught me how to be a leader.” In order to achieve all of his athletic and leadership prowess he has had to work hard both on and off the field noting that “in the past years, I have really crossed some boundaries in my lifestyle and really stepped up to what Belmont Hill has to offer. I am lucky to have been the Senator in the student government, elected as peer leader and elected vice-president of the jazz band. I am really proud of myself, because If I did not take steps out of my comfort zone, I wouldn’t be the same person that I am today. I always give 100%

effort and when in the Belmont Hill Community I implement the phrase “we over me” into my lifestyle.” Being elected as a captain for the track and field by his peers was a huge honor for Ribeiro, as it proved others had noticed his commitment to both leadership qualities and athletic skill: “I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportu-

nity to represent this school and this team. When I found out that I was going to be a Captain I was excited; I know I am ready to take on a more significant leadership role with the other captains [Miles Sandoski ’24 and Will Lloyd ’23]. I always carry the 3 C’s with me: Caring, Courageous, Consistent.” Davi is ready to prove that he is willing to

BH Golf Aims For ISL Title

By Noah Farb ’24 Panel Staff

With the Spring season rolling around, Belmont Hill golf is back! After an extremely successful 2022 season culminating in an undefeated 21-0 record and an ISL Championship, this year’s team led by Coach Doar and Coach Duarte looks to have another strong season. Although over half of last year’s title-winning squad graduated, the team still has ISL title aspirations after starting the year 12-2. In ISL play they have played especially well with a current 11-0 record.

Even with the lack of seniors, the team is striving to repeat their success from last year. Coach Doar, when asked about the golf team’s goals in 2023 responded, “We have three very solid returning players and

have five newcomers who are already integral to our overall team performance. We know we have the talent to compete for the league title, and we’ll give it our best shot.”

Captain C.J. Winchenbaugh ’24 echoed similar statements, speaking specifically to the youthness of the squad: “this year we have one of the younger teams Belmont Hill has had in a while, but there’s a ton of talent, [which has] shown already in the matches we’ve had the last couple weeks.”

With the season winding down and the final standings becoming clear the players hope to finish strong with crucial ISL Matches against Nobles, St. Sebs, and Tabor. The Panel wishes Coach Doar, Coach Duarte, and the rest of the golf team luck for the rest of the season and in their quest for the ISL Championship. ☐

hold himself to a higher standard in order to inspire the rest of the team, “I need to hold myself to a standard of giving 100% effort in every practice and game. I cannot cut any corners.” Throughout the years, Ribeiro has many fond memories of Belmont Hill track and field, most prominently last season when the team won the ISL title: “My favorite memory in my years at Belmont Hill was the ISL championship day at Thayer last year. We won due to amazing performances from guys like Will Lloyd and James Donahue ‘22. We were so happy we threw a full water jug at Coach Harder.” Davi is setting his own personal sights high this year, but always puts the team first and is looking forward to helping teammates get better and trying to win a second straight ISL Title. “[My] first priority is to see that everyone is to get better every day and compete for a back-to-back ISL championship,” he said. Looking towards the future, Davi is a committed student-athlete to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and is ready to represent the colors of the Polar Bears for the next four years. For Bowdoin, Davi plans on throwing the shot put and discus while also learning a few new events that Belmont Hill does not currently compete in. The Panel wishes Davi Souza Ribeiro and the rest of the track team the best of luck with the rest of their season and their quest for a second straight ISL title. ☐

BH Baseball Strives Forward

By Benjamin Adams ’25 Panel Staff

After an impressive season last year that just came up short of an ISL Co-Championship, the Varsity Baseball team is heavily equipped to win it all this year. Captains John Milewski ’23, Anthony Pelligirini ’23, and Jack Farrell ’23 have led the team to a 4-1 ISL record so far, with their only loss against Thayer Academy.

Captain John Milewski said that their most impressive game so far of the season was when they handed Tabor their only ISL loss up to this point this season, recalling, “We played absolutely terrible at their place last year, so it felt really good to grab this one. Brady (Miller) pitched great as usual, and our lineup pretty much

won the game for us in one inning with some big hits and smart base running. ” He also noted that the team’s hitting has massively improved since the start of the season, along with their teamwork.

The varsity baseball team has some big games coming up. Notably, they played St. Sebastian’s on April 26th but due to bad weather the game was postponed. The team will face off against Rivers on May 13th. To quote John Milewski, “Our only goal is to win an ISL championship, especially after coming up one game short last year.” As a school, we should all get excited to watch baseball this year and hopefully, they can bring home a ‘chip to Belmont Hill. The Panel wishes the varsity baseball team good look with the rest of their season and playoff goals. ☐

Track and Field News and Update

By Aaron Stanger ’24 Panel Staff

As the track and field team begins their spring season, new stars are emerging from all grades and events. In the distance squad, several cross country stars from this fall are taking on the 3k and 1500 events. In the 3000, Will Trautz emerged as a top ISL contender. Having run a 9:46.91 on April 15th, Will has already qualified for Nationals in his first track season. Meanwhile several other young distance runners are making strides in the 1500. Nate Voss ‘24 and Davis Woolbert ‘25 both ran within 2 seconds of 4:40. While they look to break into the 4:30s, the team’s depth is also shown through Max Roman ‘25 and JP Fernandez ‘25, who are both in the low 5:00s.

In addition, the team has several strong middle distance runners and sprinters. Miles Sandoski ‘24 continues to dominate the 800m, running a 2:03 on April 15th and looks to break well under 2:00 as the season progresses. Among the rest of the middle distance runners, James Lyon ‘25 and Cole Sparks ‘24 remain top ISL contenders. Several sprinters, including Ashton Cruz ‘25, Chris Milm-

oe ‘23, and Anthony Galvagna ‘24 are all under 25 seconds in the 200m, while Max Ramanathan ‘25 and Jordan Summers ‘25 are making strides in the 100m, each looking to progress sub 12 seconds.

Among the jumpers, Justin Li ‘26 is consistently leaping over 18 feet in the long jump and over 40 feet in the triple jump, making him one of the best Belmont Hill freshman ever in the event. Meanwhile, Jackson Pagan ‘24 continues to dominate the 300 hurdle, running a 42.15 on the 15th. Will Lloyd ‘23 is picking up right where he left off, hitting 6’ 2’’ in the high jump.

Tying for first at the first meet, Nick Gleason finished with 9’ 6’’ on the pole vault. Although the team’s throws have been historically weak, this season’s lineup is very promising. Josiah Gomes ‘24 won the first meet of the season with a 48’ shot put, while Scott Black ‘24 and Nick Ascione ‘24 dominated the javelin, throwing 142 and 135 respectively. The depth of the throwing team is lastly exhibited in the discus where Thomas Rupley ‘25, Josiah Gomes ‘24, and Samson Onuoha ‘24 took first through third in the first meet.

Unlike football, golf, or most other ISL sports, there is no regular season tro-

phy. Instead everything comes down to one ISL meet at the end of the season. With the main competition being Milton, Middlesex, Roxbury Latin, and Thayer, the team looks to continue last year’s momentum and take home another ISL championship. Given this postseason, Coach Harder remarks, “So on, given that day, everyone’s gotta be

healthy and gotta perform well.” Up until ISLs and New Englands, the team will continue to build on the momentum from their first meet, where they beat Milton, Thayer, Middlesex, and Lawrence Academy on April 15th. The Panel congratulates the track and field team and wishes good luck to them in their remaining meets! ☐

Davi Souza Ribeiro ’23

Adam Richins

Pete Fiumara ’24

Adam Richins

THE BACKPAGE

Where your tuition increase is really going:

Every Friday morning:

BREAKING NEWS:

Mr. Schneider gets into screaming match with fire alarm, scares students

This past week, Mr. Schneider, Head of School, continued making an announcement in the lunchroom as the fire alarm went off. As he continued on about prom, Max Glick ’24 executed “stop, drop, and roll” in perfect form Mr. Schneider denied to comment when we approached looking for answers.

Last year’s Executive Staff goes to Winsor

(article still hasn’t been written)

O’ BOTHER