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Volu m e 6 6 , Issu e 2
Ju ne 5 , 2 0 1 7
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
THE END OF AN ERA Dr. Wachtmeister Retires After Thirty Years At Belmont Hill
By Charlie Donahue ‘19 and Charlie Booth ‘19 Panel Staff It is with a heavy heart that at the conclusion of this school year we say goodbye to a staple of the Science Department for over three decades, Dr. Wachtmeister. When Doc joined the faculty in 1987, Reagan was president, gas cost 89 cents per gallon, and biology was still taught on blackboards. Despite this, Doc has changed very little and has been a constant presence on campus who has guided generations of boys in the same thoughtful, intuitive, and caring manner. In preparation for his campus visit on March 5, 1987 for an interview, a colleague in Virginia sent Headmaster Wadsworth a letter of recommendation which read, “He has always been well liked and respected by his students, and has a reputation of really knowing the material. Probably his greatest strength is his love of teaching. He really cares about his students and works hard to help them achieve success.” Twice his student, I can confirm that this holds true today, maybe even more so than it did then. With every class it is more and more evident that he loves teaching. Beloved colleague Mr. Goodband called Doc a “scholar of teaching,” which in my opinion sums up what makes him so good at it. Despite knowing the material like the back of his hand and practically being able to recite the textbook, Doc arrives at school every morning before 5:30 to brush up on the day’s lesson. This desire for improvement and perfection even after thirty years speaks to his personal-
Photo (left) by Johhn Gillooly and (right) from Harvard Business School
ity and work ethic. If there is one thing I know for certain: the Science Department will not be the same next year without its Charles Darwin lookalike at the helm. As many people know, Doc grew up on a beef-cattle farm in Fauquier County, Virginia. His dad purchased the farm in the 1940s and it is where Doc will retire. Many of the stories that he tells as part of his lessons come from his childhood
“on the farm.” According to Mr. Trautz, “Doc is a master story teller...On one particular day I visited [his class], he started by telling some interesting stories to the boys about cattle reproduction, castration of bulls, and his beloved bull John Henry. This somehow segued into getting ‘the talk’ from his dad back in the day on the farm.” Doc often uses these stories to help his students understand
the material. As he explained to us: “One thing I love about teaching is it’s like being an actor. You get to act out different things, or use stories or metaphors to help kids remember the material. We all need positive reinforcement and when I do I just ask the class a question knowing that someone will have the answer. When they do it makes me feel good about what I do.” continued on Page 2
Back to Back to Back: Lacrosse Wins 3rd Consecutive ISL Title Tribute to the Artists By Brian Antonelli ‘18 Staff Writer
By Austin Kwoun ‘18 Panel Staff
On a warm and clear-skied Friday night, the entire season hung in the balance for the varsity lacrosse team. After a key victory against Nobles, the team faced a dangerous Rivers team who arrived to Danehy Park with a world class goalie and a potent offense. However, the boys from the Hill refused to back down. After Belmont Hill scored the first goal of the game, Rivers answered with two quick ones before Christian O’Neill, as he has done all season, tucked one past the Rivers goalie to tie the game at 2-2. Belmont Hill took control as they went into the half up 10-3. At that point, the boys in white had confidence and there was no turning back. As Rivers tried to claw back into the game with a goal to make it 12-6 midway through the third quarter, senior long pole Zach Shpilner plunged a dagger into the heart of Rivers with a
Where do the renowned artists of Belmont Hill’s senior class go after they’ve passed on? Rumor has it, there’s a promised land for the legends of BH theater, visual art, and music, a Valhalla of hearty prose, sculpture and song. In this special haven, the orchestra’s Vice President and longest tenured member Andrew Kaneb determinedly pulls the bow across the strings of his violin in the final bars of the Violin Fantasy for Orchestra and Chorus and Piano (may it Rest In Peace, until next year); his aggressive tremolo comes under the watchful eye of the piece’s conductor and composer Armin Thomas. President Armin never had a chance to conduct his finest composition as a Belmont Hill student, but the “stunt piece” is a smash hit in Senior Haven. Horns blare continued on Page 10
goal to make it 13-6. Rivers would never recover as Belmont Hill finished off the game with a 15-7 victory. The win was a real statement in the league, as Rivers had recently beaten St. Sebastian’s, who Belmont Hill had fallen to earlier in the season. Another notable game of the season was against Middlesex, which would be the last time the seniors would put on their
Look Inside The Panel
Sports 5 4-Peat: Track & Field Wins 4th NEPSTA Title
Special 6-7, 12 Prize Day & Matriculation Lists
As per tradition, The Panel presents the official 2017 Prize Day and Class of 2017 Matriculation Lists.
News 4 Class of 2017 Leaves Enduring Legacy
An endearing look back at the accomplishments and memories that defined the Class of 2017.
navy blue uniforms and trot out onto their beloved home field. The game started out with everything going Middlesex’s way. Belmont Hill could not buy a goal until once again Christian O’Neill got Belmont Hill on the board. After that, it was all Belmont Hill. Stellar defense and a very productive offense led the team past Middlesex and into the continued on Page 5
The team also captured the ISTA title, breaking a 6-year dry spell.
Sports 8 Athlete of the Issue: Evan Ricci ‘17 “While most of the athletes covered in Athlete of the Issue have spent many years perfecting their craft, Evan Ricci ‘17 started running the hurdles less than two years ago...”
Arts 11 Sister Act Impresses The third annual Senior Talent Show impressed faculty and students alike.