The Panel - November 2023 - Volume 72, Issue 5

Ian Connor ’10 Delivers Veteran’s Day Chapel Talk

By Luke Guleserian ’24 Panel Staff

On November 10, the Belmont Hill community welcomed alumnus and Navy veteran Ian Connor ’10 back to campus to give a Veteran’s Day address in the Chapel. Mr. Connor had an illustrious career at Belmont Hill, at Brown, and in the Navy. At Belmont Hill, he was a captain of the Varsity Crew team, where he won NEIRAs three times and the National Championship in his senior year. After Belmont Hill, Mr. Connor studied economics at Brown and rowed for four years. Having graduated from Brown, he then graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport and successfully completed SEAL training. Mr. Connor spent five years on Seal Team 10, serving as a SEAL Squad Commander, Current Operations Officer, and Fire Support Officer. He deployed to Africa to assist Operation Enduring Freedom and Special Operations Command - Africa. In 2022, Mr. Connor retired from the Navy and now lives in Chicago with his wife.

Mr. Connor focused on two cen -

tral themes in his speech - gratitude and integrity. Belmont Hill’s opportunities come at a cost - a cost that is difficult for many to cover, making that exceptional Belmont Hill experience something to be proud of and cher-

ished. Speaking to this, he said “I say proudly, with a deep sense of gratitude, that I’m proud of the school and its mission, to develop young men of character in mind, body, and spirit. I’m forever grateful for the exceptional faculty

and staff that give so much of their lives to make this place all that it is.” Another part of Belmont Hill’s and Mr. Connor’s identity is military service, with dozens of graduates going on to serve our country. Out of those, 15 made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard American values and interests. Mr. Connor also spoke on gratitude to those who have served our country, “Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor them, and it is a day to express our gratitude for all of those who have served through the course of our nation’s history.”

To Mr. Connor, integrity and strong character are two of the most important values to leading a successful and honorable life, as he so clearly staated, “It is your character, your integrity, your virtues alone, that will guide you through the fog…When the day comes that your character is truly tested, and it will be, stand tall, be bold, and never give an inch.” Integrity whether in academics, athletics, and even in friendships is crucial to the success and enjoyment of each of these endeavors. The Panel thanks Ian Connor for his Veteran’s Day address and his service

the United States. ☐

2024 Presidential Election Draws Near, Tensions Grow

By T.Z. Snail ’26 Panel Staff

With the 2024 elections drawing near, tensions between different political groups grow higher as people question who should be elected the next President of the United States of America. Electing the President of the United States in a time of domestic turmoil given its significant influence on international politics is a crucial decision for American citizens and one that will be scrutinized by many worldwide.

Despite an overwhelming number of candidates for the elections, most, if not all, of them lie in the shadow of the two men who battled for the presidency in 2020: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. President Biden, who recently turned 81, has drawn much skepticism with regard to his age, an issue already debated in 2020. Former President Donald Trump’s troubles in his recent NY fraud trial and the tumultuous end to his presidency have, like Biden, brought skepticism to his campaign.

Recently, the Biden administration has worked with the Israeli cabinet in order to negotiate a deal with Hamas to de-escalate the conflict. Working with outside countries such as Qatar and Egypt, the administration has

also sought to close an agreement that would free three American hostages; the end goal being, to free all U.S. hos -

to resolve and support other crises, including the war in Ukraine. The Biden administration will highlight

tages. On November 21st, the President stated, “I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.” In addition to the aid for Israel and Gaza, the Biden administration has also worked

both of these attempts to resolve and aid foreign countries in its campaign. Donald Trump’s campaign will seek to highlight his reforms in illegal immigration and national aid during his presidential term from 2017-2021.

So far in his campaign, Trump has touted plans to further crack down on illegal immigration as a way to secure the country, bringing safety and order to both Americans and immigrants seeking to enter the country. Many immigrants have been injured in attempts to cross the border, and Trump argues that he will eliminate this through more security measures. Trump has already received an endorsement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, whose state holds the longest border with Mexico. Additionally, the Trump campaign plans to bring military aid “closer to home.” While in office, he considered using the military as a mechanism to reduce, and eventually eradicate drug cartels in Mexico. The cartels have not only run in Mexico but have also spread their supplies throughout the globe, including in the United States. Trump’s campaign hopes that this strategy will appeal to voters.

While both men have their shortcomings, they and their administrations strive to reform and aid the country and its foreign allies to resolve many worldwide problems. With this in mind, are their policies logical and beneficial to the world? And if not, what is the best course of action to lead to better living for all? ☐

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Ian Connor ’10 Speaking at Chapel BH Communications

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Presidential Election Candidates

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Why Israel Is Not Committing Genocide

By Noah Farb ’24 Panel Staff

Editors Statement: This piece is the opinion of one writer and does not represent the views of Belmont Hill or the rest of the members of The Panel.

The term “genocide” was first used as a term in 1944 to describe Nazi policies against Jews throughout the Holocaust; the word comes from “geno” the Greek word for race or tribe and “cide” the Latin word for killing. The U.S. Department of Justice defines it as “violent attacks with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.”

Lately, due to IDF’s military response to terrorist group Hamas’ horrific 10/7 attack, many around the world have accused Israel of committing genocide. Whether it’s ravenous chants of “Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” at prominent college campuses like the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA, a UN report warning a “risk of genocide,” or accusations against Israel from the governments of nations such as South Africa, Iran, Spain, and North Korea, numerous people, nations, and organizations are accusing Israel of genocidal actions (or intent) against the Palestinian people.

Most ironic, is Hamas’ claim (published in the New York Times and numerous other mainstream media sites), that Israel committed “crimes of genocide” in bombing the the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. This explosion was later proven (and independently verified) to be a misfire into the hospital’s parking lot from a missile fired by the Gaza-based and Hamas aligned terrorist group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Given that Hamas’ founding charter literally declares their goal to “obliterate it [Israel]” and their desire to systematically kill all Jews around the world until “the enemy is vanquished.” These calls for the obliteration of Israel and the vanquishing of Jews are quite literally calls for genocide. Given this, it’s hard to comprehend how and why the New York Times

and other prominent organizations would give credence to their allegations of genocide at the hands of Israel.

By contrast, never since the founding of the State in 1948 has Israel ever tried to systematically kill Palestinians or destroy the Palestinian people. This does not deny that war against Hamas is being pursued aggressively and coming with extensive collateral damage, but the IDF’s actions in this current wave of conflict are solely out of an interest in defending the Israeli people and de -

Had Israel pursued a policy of genocide, it would neither recognize Palestinians as citizens of Israel nor would it have tolerated conditions that fostered such Palestinian population growth.

Outside of the internationally recognized borders of Israel, in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza, there has been a similar population explosion. As of mid-2022, there were 5.36 million Palestinians living in these two territories, 3.19 Palestinians in the West Bank and 2.17 million

stroying the terrorist and political infrastructure of a neighbor who seeks to murder, rape, and pillage the Israeli populace and Jews around the world.

Raw population data shows that Israel has never attempted to eliminate the Palestinian people. Before the founding of Israel in 1948, there were less than 1.4 million Palestinians. 1.6 million Palestinian-Israelis today who comprise over 20% of the Israeli population as a whole. These Palestinians come from the 150,000 who remained after the 1948 war, which resulted in the displacement (and expulsion) of nearly 750,000 Palestinians from Israel. Today, Palestinian-Israelis, are more numerous than the entire population of Palestinians in 1948, and they enjoy full legal and political rights of Israeli citizens, and are allowed to serve in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset.

living in Gaza. Including the 1.6 Palestinians living in Israel, since 1948 the population of Palestinians living within the area of the famed “From the River to the Sea” chant has increased almost fivefold, from 1.4 to 6.95 million in only three quarters of a century. From 1973 to 2005, Israel was engaged in a complete military occupation of Gaza. In 1948, there were only 70,000 people living in Gaza; since then the Palestinian population has increased by at least a factor of 27 on the Strip. In the West Bank, the population of Palestinians has increased at a less drastic yet still impressive factor of 6.5. If Israel was trying to kill off the Palestinian people systematically, they wouldn’t allow for this sudden increase of Palestinians. If Israel decided recently that they needed to limit the Palestinian population by preventing births, they’d be failing to an embarrassing extent; 47% of Gaza residents and 42% of the West Bank Palestinians are younger than 18, compared to only 33% of Israelis. It is clear that Israel is not trying to destroy the Palestinian people.

The claim that the IDF is attempting to eliminate the Palestinian people in its current military operation is unfounded. The reported death totals from Gaza due to Israel’s bombing campaign and subsequent invasion are sickening, and even though these numbers are reported from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, and therefore do not differentiate Hamas operatives from civilians, it is undeniable that thousands of civilians have died in Gaza since 10/7 as a result of the IDF military campaign. Israeli attacks are not meant to cause harm to civilians, but as Hamas (and other terrorist cells in Gaza) routinely position weapons, soldiers, and military strategic bases within hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure. The placement of military centers by these terrorist groups is purposeful. Using humans as shields is strategically beneficial to them as they do not value the lives of Palestinian civilians, and any harm done to these civilians by the IDF equates to positive PR for Hamas and

other associated groups. Israel is put in the impossible position of trying to quell these terrorist groups who hide among civilians. In order to achieve their security and military goals of defending the state of Israel and defeating Hamas, Palestinian civilians are unfortunately part of the crossfire.

One way Israel has tried to limit civilian deaths within Gaza has been to try to clear out Northern Gaza; they warned residents to leave before beginning the ground invasion through online videos and by dropping tens of thousands of leaflets and mass calling Gaza City phone area codes. Hamas, in response, has tried to keep Gazans from leaving the North by physically blocking exits and bombing main roads to increase the loss of Palestinian life, which both helps to galvanize their base and gain international support as the death toll rises. The IDF is doing the best they can to limit civilian deaths, and if their goal was the destruction of Palestinians they would be completely indiscriminate with their targets, causing the death total to skyrocket far higher than the current totals.

There is room for improvement in how the IDF operates within Gaza, but they are not pursuing the destruction of the Palestinian people. Already, as combat becomes more face-to-face, it appears as if the IDF is being more careful to limit civilian casualties, which should continue as the war wages on. This operation is not a genocide and anyone claiming so only works to rile up people on both sides of this conflict around the world, continuing the seemingly endless cycle of hate and violence. The IDF is doing what they must to ensure the safety of their country and to save the rest of hostages still in the captivity of terrorist groups. As of 11/30, temporary ceasefires have led to the release of over 100 hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, but over 140 still remain trapped in the coastal enclave. Hamas officials, on the other hand, have said they hope for a “second, third, [and] fourth” version of 10/7. This is why calls for a permanent ceasefire benefit Hamas immensely. They yearn for the opportunity to systematically murder Jews and Israelis; on 10/6 there was a ceasefire, will Hamas and other terrorist groups within Gaza honor this hypothetical permanent ceasefire for long? As of 11/30, a week-long temporary ceasefire has led to the release of over 100 hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, but over 140 still remain trapped in the coastal enclave. Already, Hamas has proven they won’t fully abide by these temporary ceasefires meant for the transportation of humanitarian aid to Gaza and continued negotiations over the release of hostages.

If every terrorist in Gaza put down their weapons, would the IDF continue to wreak havoc on the region?

If the IDF placed down their guns and disabled the Iron Dome, how would Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and their allies react? Would they be peaceful, or would they enter Israel with the goal of killing every Jew they could get their hands on? How can Israel stay complacent with a murderous neighbor on their doorstep, waiting to pounce whenever they have the chance? The group that wants genocide, as they have proudly stated over and over for decades is Hamas, not Israel or the IDF, and that should not be forgotten. ☐

One of the villages ransacked by Hamas terrorists

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Parking lot outside al-Ahli hospital after misfire of PIJ Rocket Human Rights Watch

Modern Marketing Campaigns: Good or Bad?

By William Achtmeyer ’26 & Brandon Li ’26 Panel Staff

Have you ever wondered why advertisements from the ancient times of black-and-white television are so different from modern-day advertising? Instead of wholesome slogans and/ or descriptions of how great a product is, companies now post memes on Twitter, make references to the latest Gen Z culture, and generally try to be “relatable” to their audience. The rise of the Internet and social media networks in the 21st century introduced the possibility of virality (being able to be widely circulated), where a well-positioned marketing campaign could spread to every corner of the Internet and result in a massive increase in brand recognition among consumers almost overnight. This fundamentally changed the optimal way to advertise: appeal to relatability and social/emotional arenas began to take precedence over appeal to objective reason. In some cases, this new form of “neo-advertising” can lead to great success for the companies using them; however, at times, they flop in spectacular ways.

Modern advertising fails are particularly common in social media marketing, especially when companies attempt to inject “hip” humor into ads. This social media marketing craze began in 2017 when Wendy’s began to use a provocative, Gen-Z style of tweeting to enforce brand “personality,” resulting in nearly a 50% growth in profit. However, this style of social media marketing is quickly beginning to annoy consumers. For example, we showed a recent Twitter ad from McDonald’s to Belmont Hill students and asked them 1) if they thought it was cringe, and 2) if it made them want to buy the product more. All participants responded “yes” to the first question, and “no” to the second. While the ad certainly didn’t deter students from going to McDon -

alds in the future, it certainly didn’t \ prompt them to go more frequently. In other words, the ad’s sole contribution was to remind students of McDonald’s existence. This personality that companies attempt to develop to be more “hip with the kids’’ ends up coming across

as hollow and money-driven rather than funny, having lost any authenticity that came with the original Wendy’s phase; no one wants to see Domino’s proclaiming that “pizza hits harder at 2 am” or Burger King asking users for “pick-up lines that are cheesier than our tots” on Twitter because it’s clearly not genuine and no longer unique.

In addition to developing their corporate “personality” on Twitter, companies have now begun to take sides in America’s ongoing culture war as part of their marketing efforts. Some companies have done this to great effect, such as Nike’s Colin Kaepernick campaign, which ABC News reports to have led to a 10% increase in sales over that quarter. This worked because Nike was able to understand its customer base (mostly young liberals), something that many companies are unable to do. The iconic example

of failed political advertising is Anheuser-Busch, which used transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a marketing campaign for its Bud Light beer products. Rather than recognizing its consumer base as primarily blue-collar and conservative, Anheuser-Busch hired the contentious transgender TikToker, resulting in many conservatives boycotting the brand, and Bud Light’s revenue falling 13% from July to September according to Fortune. It’s not just Bud Light who falls victim to this

blunder: Disney’s shift to promote progressive values within its content has alienated conservative fans and has ultimately caused its box office revenue to plummet. Fashion and clothing companies/publications such as Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated have attempted to include overweight models to the detriment of their brands. This is a cautious lesson for any corporation that wants to get involved with America’s political firestorm: Make sure that your consumer base agrees with you before you speak.

Overall, modern marketing is here to stay. Realizing the potential to utilize virality, companies adopted new marketing techniques to create an online presence. At times, this can result in great success and an extremely strong brand image, as Wendy’s and Nike have achieved. At times, this can be meaningless and inauthentic, as McDonald’s and Bud Light should have come to realize. However, the authors of this article personally hope to see less of this style of marketing in the future, and a more objective presentation of the products and why they are better than competitors’ alternatives, in accordance with capitalist principles. ☐

The Ultimate Ranking of BH Water Fountains

By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff

Water fountain, bubbler, fuente de agua--call it what you want, but we can all agree that these infinite H2O serving apparatuses help us through our days. The Elkay LZS8WSLK is a magical piece of machinery that serves us (usually) clean and (sometimes) cold water. I timed how long each water fountain on campus takes to fill up a new dining hall plastic cup and judged the water on taste and temperature. After testing the bubbler for water pressure, temperature, and taste, I devised an ultimate list of rankings. Below are the top three and bottom three water fountains on campus:

Top 3:

The water fountain by the athletic trainer’s room is magnificent, filling up a medium-sized cup in 5 seconds flat. “[It] has good power and very cold [sic],” said one passionate Fourth Former. Spewing chilly water at an unfathomably fast rate with high water pressure, this fountain is an excellent go-to before a challenging football practice, hockey game, or workout. Thank you to the maintenance team for bringing this fountain from zero to hero (if you know, you know): 10/10.

There is something special about a water break in the middle of a Mr. Bracken long block. Tied at second place are both Melvoin fountains. Releasing its limpid liquid in 4.9 seconds, the upstairs fountain provides drinkers with privacy and speed—this is the quickest fountain on campus. One student described this fountain as having the “coldest and best water,” and another stated, “It is very convenient.” Downstairs, a 7.7-second fountain provides parched students with a cold and scrumptious solution: “My water bottle is filled before I can blink. Truly a work of art,” detailed the Iker Casillas of JV A soccer. To the designers of Melvoin: bravo. 9/10.

Though many quality fountains were contenders for this bronze medal position, one candidate demonstrated a stellar time and water taste factor: Ceramics. Though out of the way for many students, those who take art recognize how great this fountain is for all water-requiring situations. I recommend you not only take Ceramics but also experience the pure joy of using this water fountain. Yes, this is a hot take. Yes, this is a top-three fountain on campus. 8/10.

Bottom 3: Yellow filter status: the biggest fear a thirst-quencher can take note of

on a water fountain. If you are as scared of the yellow filters as I am, file a restraining order on the laughingstock that is the Morse upstairs water fountain. The bubbler barely bubbles and fills up an average-sized cup in a full 14.3 seconds. Whatever liquid comes from this fountain is undoubtedly not

water. This mystery juice tastes like lukewarm water mixed with the entire Fall 2018 series of quarters straight from the U.S. Mint. “Sooooo slow… it just takes too long and too many awkward conversations waiting and talking to random teachers,” opined one student. There literally is nothing worse than small talk with an English teacher who subbed for your C block class three times in Form II: 1/10.

Another abysmal fountain, the double-bubbler across from the trophy case in Jordan, has absolutely nothing to offer a thirsty fella. Yes, the bubbler itself is actually quite nice; however, it took 16.9 seconds (yes, 16.9!) to fill up a dining hall cup. After wasting about half of my Friday afternoon to be blessed with some water, I was shocked. The warm and nasty fluid spewed from this fountain probably gave me COVID. Don’t be a sheep; don’t drink from this fountain. 2/10.

A locker room water fountain must be better. 11.3 seconds for a small cup is blasphemy. Not only does this fountain waste time before practice, but it also provides you with water that you will not want to imbibe even in the middle of the Sahara. We should all expect better from this water fountain. When in Jordan, opt for the one right by the trainer, not in the locker rooms. 2/10. ☐

A poor attempt by McDonald’s to create an advertising meme Twitter

The Elkay LZS8WSLK Google Images

Another Wendy’s Meme Twitter

A traditional advertisement that capitalizes on affordability Google Images

Hot Take: JV Sports Are Suited For High School Level

By Luke Trevisan ’24 Panel Staff

Belmont Hill is known for its excellence in the student-athlete model. Boys go from dedicated, scholarly work up on the hill down to the fields to practice or compete against other teams. Many strong athletic superstars have emerged, getting recruited to colleges or even moving on to a professional or Olympic level. However, the success of these players comes from years of practice and pressure from below them in the field of Junior Varsity sports. These programs train and sustain boys through the beginning and possibly end of their athletic careers. And so, I believe that for the average Belmont Hill boy, JV sports are better, being more fun, less stressful, and more engaging. JV sports are simply more fun than varsity sports. Without the cutthroat and toxic competition that comes with higher-level sports, JV athletes can still enjoy a healthy amount of competition in their contests. They still play other teams around the ISL or out of the league. They still have a substantial amount of opportunities to play these teams in games. And, like Varsity, they foster a competitive environment within the team just as Varsity does. Additionally, without the fear of trophies or the school’s reputation on the line, coaches and players are more at liberty to have fun in prac -

tice. Coaches can draft up fun games like shootout competitions or even let athletes guide their own practices, where they can create the workout or draft teams. All the while, athletes get the same opportunities to exercise

JV teams typically playing fewer games against opponents. This schedule gives athletes the time to pursue pastimes that are equally-if not more important-to them than their seasonal sport.

Finally, JV sports serve as the

and become healthy in mind and body.

The schedules for JV athletes are also more forgiving, allowing students more time to pursue other endeavors. As avid ornithologist Mark Price ’24 said, “there is much less pressure, and practices are generally less of a time suck.” On top of less busy practices, the game schedule is also more open, with

best fitting level of commitment for the student-athlete model at Belmont Hill. Most boys enter the school having little to no experience in a sport, such as full tackle football or more niche sports like sailing and crew. JV sports provide the crucial point where rising or veteran athletes can come together and excel. When asked about his experience

playing on the JV tennis team, Price ’24 recalled that “with the unparalleled coaching expertise of Mr. Harvey, I was able to pick it up pretty easily and play at a competitive JV level.” Also, JV sports provide the opportunity for athletes to gain experience before moving on to a varsity sport. As both a Varsity and JV coach, Mr. Trautz described the benefits of the lower level: “[JV athletes] are familiar with the daily routines of practice and are subjected to the same workouts as the Varsity. [They] can see firsthand what it takes to make it to the next level and are inspired and motivated to move up.” Also, upperclassmen who would otherwise be riding the bench of a varsity team can provide leadership and knowledge to the younger players while engaging on a JV team.

JV sports are less stressful for boys and engage them more in learning a skill and building a community. That is what Belmont Hill’s mission is: “encourage students to discover and pursue passions, seek excellence, and face adversity with resilience” as well as “embrace camaraderie.” Varsity sports may look better for representing the school. They may provide better opportunities for athletes looking to play in college. However, they fail to take into consideration a sizable amount of the Belmont Hill population: boys who just want to have fun playing sports. JV sports account for this, and, at the end of the day, who doesn’t want to have fun? ☐

Belmont Hill: Meal of the Month

By Rhett Curtis ’26 & Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff

Welcome back to our second edition of the Meals of the Month! We are excited to discuss and converse about all of the dishes provided by the FLIK Staff and chef Randi Burger. Since our last article, lunches and desserts have both impressed and underwhelmed us; the highest-rated dessert was the best our tongues had ever tasted, while the worst-rated meal for the month ranked among the lowest of dishes in our history of reviewing lunches. Let’s dive in!

To begin, our reviewers did enjoy the lunches overall but thought that the quality of food could have been better. The entries averaged a score of 5.76 out of 10, a decrease of over 1 point from

our last issue. The reason behind this poor performance centered around poor execution, and not a lack of ambitious ideas. That being said, many meals from November stood out, including the Beef Ziti dish served on the 14th - which was heralded as a “flavor-packed delicacy.” Served on the day before, the Chicken Shawarma Bowlwhich won last month’s Meal of the Monthmade its second appearance and once again pleased many boys. In the end, the Pulled Pork Cubano earned this issue’s accolades, earning a score of 9 and 9.5, respectively. Pictured below, the Cubano was filled with sensational flavor stemming from the tangy mustard, slow-cooked pulled pork, and ham packed into the hearty sandwich. The dish also came with pickles and sliced cheese. Upon taking his first bite, one reviewer stated: “From each side of the bread exists serenity and exquisiteness”. A special

The

treat, the Cubano would always be welcomed back to the menu rotation.

Additionally, our reviewers were very pleased with the desserts crafted by the kitchen crew; the average score across all of the desserts was 7.39. The desserts

resembled the highs of last year’s lunch in chocolatey-rich and flavorful snacks. The Chocolate M&M Brownies were a fan favorite among many students. Our highest-rated dessert for the issue is the Chocolate Cake & Cherry Sauce, at a whopping score of 8.5 and 9.5 out of 10. The dessert’s elegant design, which included a sauce that students could pour on themselves, allowed the boys to improve their slice’s flavor profile. The chocolate itself contained just the right ratio of batter to frosting.

Overall, the meals and desserts of the past month have shown flashes of potential from the FLIK team. While some mishaps like the soggy pulled pork sandwiches have occurred, we certainly hope that the improvements will be made to make the school’s lunch a highlight of the day. ☐

A Guitar Lesson Experience: Matthew Griffin

By Matthew Griffin ’26 Exchange Student South Africa

As an exchange student at Belmont Hill from Bishops Diocesan College in South Africa, starting guitar lessons has easily been one of the best decisions that I have made so far. Having only picked up and started the guitar a month prior to coming to Belmont Hill, and quite successfully so, I was definitely looking forward to starting something new, even if I was quite a novice. My excitement grew exponentially when I learned that I would be able to practise at Belmont Hill with the help of an instructor as well as have my very own guitar.

Seeing as I had barely gotten to strum the guitar in the preceding weeks, I was delighted to know that Mr. Wright would help me begin from scratch rather than go off of my barebones knowledge and the white noise that I believed was guitar music. He quickly helped me learn a few chords, but this wasn’t before correcting a few technical errors. I recall Mr. Wright asked me “what my thumb was doing” as I fumbled to hold the guitar in a comfortable yet functional position.

From there, I learnt a few chords and went onto different progressions, which I have been practising regularly ever since. Looking back approximately

Around my second week of exchange, I decided that I wanted to try the guitar and was advised to reach out to Mr. Patterson regarding how I would schedule lessons. Very swiftly (and enthusiastically), Mr. Patterson arranged for me to have lessons with Mr. Wright every Tuesday.

four weeks after I started, I can definitely say that starting guitar and, ultimately, being in the music building have been a privilege and joy. It has been easy to assimilate and blend in with all those that frequent the music building, thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and the presence of such friendly and accommodating teachers and personnel.

The music building (and any vacant room that is available for me to use) has now become a place and space that I regularly frequent in most of my free time due to how great the facilities and people are, as well as my newfound inspiration and genuine interest in guitar. Guitar as a whole has been a fantastic and enriching experience, especially in the way that it has helped me figure out that I really enjoy it and have a great fondness for it. ☐

Matthew during a lesson

Mrs. Zener

Belmont Hill JV Football Game

Luke Trevisan ’24

Cubano BH Dining

Fortnite’s Original Map from 2018 Makes a Return

By Rhett Curtis ’26 Panel Staff

In late October, Epic Games announced that Fortnite would return to its Season 5 (summer of 2018) format on November 3, 2023. The previously discontinued game map would be returning, along with old weapons, items, and modes of transportation. This “OG Season” announcement immediately interested former players who had left the game in recent years. Capitalizing on a “less is more” mindset and the nostalgia of original players, Epic Games reached its highest daily player count, with 44.7 million players loading in on Saturday, November 4th. This popularity has continued throughout the month, with the number of active players rivaling those of 2018.

First released six years ago, Fortnite took advantage of a greater trend in the gaming market: the ultra-popular Battle Royale format. The battle royale scheme works by putting players across

a large and slowly shrinking map, forcing players to eliminate one another to win. Using this formula, the game amassed millions of players and dominated pop culture for years. Thus, the free game generated over $5.4 billion in 2018 by selling in-game currency.

The number of users rose to 250 million in 2019, and many more watched on sites like YouTube and Twitch.

The success of Fortnite was unparalleled in these early years. However, the dominance couldn’t last forever, and increasingly unpopular updates

and the focus of the game shifting too far from the original Battle Royale concept pushed many original players away from the game. Form IV student Jack O’Brien said, “I played in seasons 4 and 5 (2018), but I lost interest after that.” Despite a surge in players during the 2020 lockdowns, the game’s downfall gradually continued.

The reasons for Fortnite’s return to relevance are pretty clear. Epic Games saw what their players missed from the game, brought that back, and got rid of much of the fluff. When asked about the state of the game, Jack said, “The old map and loot pool is great, but it’s really nostalgia that pulled me back.” The nostalgia experienced by many who grew up on the game brought back memories from childhood. For many, friendships that continued over the years were formed on the game. Whether the game will continue to succeed after the “OG” update is unknown as December 2nd was the last day of OG Fortnite. ☐

The Panel Attends Annual News Conference at Columbia

By Nathan Zhang’26 Panel Staff

On November 6th and 7th, Luke Trevisan ’24, Alex Laidlaw ’25, Jaiden Lee ’26, and Adrian Chen ’28 represented The Panel on a journey to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association conference in New York City. There, they sought to acquire further knowledge about journalism to improve our newspaper’s content and operations.

The editors, selected for their roles in the school paper, engaged in five 45-minute sessions where keynote speakers guided them through the essential components of reporting news. The variety of topics covered in these talks included sports writing, interviewing, photography, press laws, and reading through misinformation. The Panel staff chose their own preferred lectures based on individual interests.

’24 noticed that many other schools had incorporated journalism into their curriculum, meeting multiple times a week. He hopes that in the near future, new

courses will be added at Belmont Hill to enhance the quality of news reporting.

Additionally, Alex Laidlaw ’25 plans on applying his experiences with teachers

from the St. Mark’s School of Texas to refine the sports writing section, incorporating more articles about school sports for future editions of The Panel

Based on their experience, Trevisan ’24 and Laidlaw ’25 already plan to advocate for several other specific initiatives for The Panel in coming years, including a revamp of the sports section and higher-quality interviews throughout the sections. In Trevisan’s vision of the future, he wishes for “more color to the [sports] articles,” urging sports writers to attend every Belmont Hill game for richer descriptions of unfolding events in the newspaper. Internal improvements are also on the horizon, aiming to enhance the efficiency and quality of The Panel

In this collaborative program, other schools from around the nation shared their findings and methods in the field of journalism.

The trip to Columbia University was a great experience for the students and in the near future, there will hopefully be similar opportunities for editors and staff writers to come. The Panel thanks Mr. Zellner for graciously chaperoning the trip. ☐

Luke Trevisan

Belmont Hill Hosts Inaugral Vex Robotics Tournament

By David Luo ’25 Panel Staff

From battling bots to bustling crowds, Belmont Hill’s inaugural Vex Robotics Tournament was a huge success. Under the lights of the Jordan Athletic Center, 24 teams competed for victory. This year’s Vex robotics challenge, the Over Under challenge, was a game that centered around getting as many “tri-balls”(triangle-shaped balls) under the opponent’s net while keeping them out of your own. While complex, this task gave space for creativity, ingenuity, and strategy building.

The event began with a few practice matches to test the robots and make any minor adjustments. Then, the teams went straight into the qualifying matches, which ultimately decided their seeds for the bracket stage of the tournament. The first qualifying matches were entertaining and educational, as many of the teams could finally see what the other teams were doing with their robots. These matches lasted for the majority of the day,

and after they ended, teams began the bracket stage of the tournament. In this stage, the top teams in the qualifying match of the tournament could choose their alliance partners, with whom they would be teamed for the remainder of the tournament with the goal of winning the bracket. Competitors carefully chose their alliances by consulting with other teams and determining whether or not their robots would work well together. Once teams had been formed, the quarter-finals began: a showcase of the strategies developed by different alliances. The semifinal matches were arguably even more exhilarating than the earlier rounds prior as the competition became more intense and high-scoring. In the finals, two teams prevailed and pulled ahead of the rest with their effective strategies and robots, “Soar” from Lexington and “Olympus” from Milton Academy.

While performing below their high standards with the Upper School team dropping out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, the Belmont Hill robotics teams learned a lot at this

competition. They aim to improve for future tournaments with the ultimate goal of qualifying for and competeing at Regionals and Worlds. The Upper School team captain, Connor Emmert ’25, says, “The tournament was a good test, but we still have a lot to

work on if we want to qualify for any other tournaments.” Overall, thanks to the hard work of Mr. Ziff, Ms. Allen, who gave commentary throughout the day, and many more faculty members, participants, and fans, the tournament was a well-organized and fun event. ☐

OG Fortnite’s Game Poster

Epic Games

Students on the trip

Mr. Zellner

Brown University Simulation of the United Nations

By Alex Laidlaw ’25 Panel Staff

Excitement was vibrating off of the thin metal walls of the small white school bus. As the boys packed the van, tossing their backpacks and suitcases toward the back row and climbing on top of each other to snag the best seat, they filled the narrow chamber with their anticipation for what lay ahead: three days of action-packed Model UN. Within two hours, the team had made their way into the Hilton Providence, their home for the next two nights. After re-gathering themselves and ensuring that they were dressed to the nines, the guys reloaded the bus and ventured towards the weekend’s main attraction: Brown University Simulation of the United Nations.

Opening ceremonies were

not without some chaos. After failing to find the proper building, the group wandered into a lecture hall to watch a live stream of the event.

Per tradition, the ceremony consisted of a short speech from the Secretary-General, followed by a panel of three student activists on campus. Finally, the Secretary-General returned to the podium and struck the gavel, thereby declaring that the simulation of the United Nations was in session.

Quickly, the group dispersed to attend their first committee sessions. Assuming the position of different characters and countries, the guys took the stand to make their positions on their respective issues clear. After three long hours of debate and deliberation, the team reconvened and traveled back down the hill toward the hotel, exchanging stories along the way.

The sun rose with haste and ushered in a brisk fall Saturday. After an early wake-up and quick breakfast, the squad ventured up the hill once again, ready to take on the day’s obstacles. The delegation strapped in for what would prove to be the most trying day of the lot. For over seven hours, the boys discussed and compromised on contentious issues, ranging from the China-Taiwan issue to human rights. At last, as the clock struck seven, the group came together and departed for the Hilton once again.

As the world welcomed another fine fall morning, the group could feel the weekend coming to a close. Nonetheless, the team wandered back up College Hill and scarfed down breakfast at a small bagel shop on Thayer Street. Then, the group dispersed for one last committee session. There, they made

their closing arguments and passed final resolutions. At noon, the sounds of gavels striking tables, and chairs ending debate echoed through Brown University. Shortly thereafter, the boys loaded back onto the bus one last time.

After saying goodbye to the beautiful city of Providence, the guys made the journey back to Belmont, planning next year’s return on the ride home.

The Belmont Hill Model UN Club would like to thank Belmont Hill, Ms. Zener, and Ms. Chiu for making this trip possible. For the guys in this delegation, the weekend proved to be a meaningful and valuable experience.

Surrounded by like-minded individuals, the boys had the opportunity to discuss world issues, learn the art of debate and compromise, and grow closer to one another. Needless to say, the club cannot wait for the next conference! ☐

Joe Toscano Speaks at Belmont Hill Chapel

By Brady Paquette ’25 Panel Staff

On Friday, October 27th, Joe Toscano came to deliver an empowering message to the Belmont Hill community in the Hamilton Chapel. The speech focused on the importance of data privacy and how companies like Google are impacting our everyday lives more than we might think.

Mr. Toscano started as an engineer and, after college, went to one of the biggest companies in the world: Google. After working at Google for several years as a software engineer, Mr. Toscano left Google over privacy and ethical concerns. After Google, he wrote Automating Humanity, a book focusing on the ethics and morals of industries that deal with privacy regulations as well as the increase of technological literacy. Mr. Toscano was featured in Netflix’s widely known The Social Dilemma and now travels the world as an international keynote speaker, spending his days analyzing the risk within data transactions and informing others about it.

Under the chapel lights, Mr. Toscano made it clear to students that companies all over the world are breaching their privacy through technological advancements they have grown accustomed to— using Google as an example. He shared much of his research gathered within Google about its data misuse. His solution to prevent further misuse of data by these large tech corporations focused on political ordinances that would force companies to stop gath-

ering data on people. Mr. Toscano made it clear that the importance of safeguarding sensitive information is often overlooked.

After the eye-opening chapel, facul-

a girl who decided to buy unscented lotion rather than scented lotion. Target was able to data-mine consumers’ buying habits and noticed patterns that women who switch

over to scent-free products are most likely in their second to third trimester of pregnancy. Target then started sending coupons for baby items, which happened to reach the parents of the targeted women. After the Mr. Toscano with Mr. Schneider BH

ty, staff, students, and various peer leaders gathered in the chapel basement to further the conversation. When asked about the impact data tracking technology might have made in his own life, he mentioned some positive takeaways stating, “It’s highly convenient when Spotify knows my music preferences and sends me notices about a concert coming up in my area—it’s helpful.”

Mr. Toscano wrapped up his speech with a couple of examples of how companies in the past have exploited consumers. One of the most shocking examples consisted of

Nordic Skates into Season

By Kevin Weldon ’24 Panel Staff

Last year, the days where substantial snow fell on the ground could be counted on one hand. For most Belmont Hill students, this lack of snowfall meant just one snow day, but for the Nordic Skiing team, it meant their entire season was threatened. Captain Lev Tolkoff ’24 describes the frustration, saying “[The season] was really tough. It was tough to get a good workout when we spent most of our time sharing a one kilometer loop, or not even on the snow.” Thus, the skiers spent much of their time last year working out on campus and using roller skis to supplement their time lost on snow. Despite the hardship faced by the conditions, the team was still able to place 3rd in the Lakes Region and 4th in New England.

This year, headed by returning Captains Brian Lee ’24 and Lev Tolkoff, the team has grown massively, and they have set lofty goals for the season ahead. Discussing the season ahead, Brian Lee says, “this is the biggest team we’ve ever had, and the fastest team I’ve seen. We had a really strong season last year, and the potential of both the returning skiers and new skiers is really exciting.”

Brian is referring to the fact that all six racers who were ranked top twenty in the Lakes Regions last year remain on the team, and the team has grown to a record high twenty-seven racers.

As the winter season begins, the Nordic Skiing team has the opportunity to have one of the most successful seasons in its history, and the team might just be one of Belmont Hill’s best come February and March. ☐

parents found out, the women sued Target for a breach of data privacy and the unregulated profiling of an unaware consumer.

In terms of the message that Mr. Toscano was trying to convey, the takeaway seemed to hit differently for many of the students. Mr. George thought that students should focus “less on the security threat and more on the awareness of companies using and keeping your data for their own benefit.” One example Mr. Toscano touched on was how Amazon bought Whole Foods and collected data for strategic and financial benefit for themselves.

When asked if there is one thing he wants the community to know, Mr. George stated, “I hope students are more aware of what they are putting on social media. Don’t be afraid to take that extra second to make sure you’re not agreeing to something you don’t want a company to have access to.” ☐

Athlete of the Issue: Miles Sandoski ’24

By henry Buckley Jones ’25 Panel Staff

Miles Sandoski ’24 never planned to be a runner–much less one who competes on the national level. In fact, in 6th grade when confronted with the need to choose a spring sport, he chose ultimate frisbee. Unfortunately, the frisbee team was full, and Miles decided to settle for the track team. Little did he know, that small decision would lead to six years of excelling in running and some of the best memories he has with teammates.

Through middle and high school track and cross-country seasons, Miles has always been a team leader. When asked about his goals for the recently concluded 2023 cross country season, the first thing he said was simply, “I wanted to help the team do as well as they could.” This season, Miles enjoyed being a captain, and he emphasized that one of his favorite parts of the season was “[making] a lot of close relationships with other people on the team” and “branch[ing] out” to make sure he got to know and support everyone on the team.

This season, Miles not only stepped into his role off the course but also was a team leader on the XC course, finishing second on the team at ISL’s with a time of 16:36. This per-

formance achieved his second-season goal of setting a new personal best and helped push the team to a strong thirdplace finish. Despite struggling in the beginning of the season, he ultimately achieved his goals and remarked that “if you put in the work, you put in the effort, its gonna pay off eventually.” Af -

ter just finishing a strong cross country season, Miles’s sights are immediately set on the spring track season–most importantly the 800m and 400m. Recounting his favorite memory from Belmont Hill sports, Miles mentioned this year’s competition at New England’s with the XC team. Grin -

Soccer Season Recap

By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill Soccer Team, coached by Jorge Montoya and captained by Alex Vittal ’24 and Sean Scales ’24, finished a successful season with a 13-4-1 record. Despite ending the season with an impressive four consecutive victories, the varsity team was unlucky to miss out on NEPSAC playoffs, finishing 4th in the ISL. Alex Vittal ’24, Jack Bartlett ’26, and Will Umscheid ’25 earned AllISL recognition for their performances, and Adonai Samuel ’26 earned an ISL Honorable Mention. Alex finished the season with an impressive sixteen goals and six assists and led the team on one of their most successful years of recent memory, while Jack also scored fourteen goals and provided eight as -

sists and looks to lead the offense next season. Will Umscheid ’25 served as a staple of an incredibly successful defense this season for Belmont Hill.

Coach Montoya has worked closely with the players, achieving significant progress this season. With some valuable players departing this Spring, next years team is likely to look very different, but hopes are high that the team will replicate this years success under next years captains, Will Umscheid ’25 and Blake Dacosta ’25. The Panel Staff congratulates the Belmont Hill Soccer team for a great season! ☐

ning, he said, “I had a really fun time… it was overnight, and we played a lot of poker.” According to Miles, poker is a cross-country team staple, and was “probably [his] highlight of the trip, besides the race of course.” All of this highlights how important the team environment is to Miles, and how much he values time spent with teammates outside of running. The team and coaches will certainly miss Miles next year both for his athletic talent and his tremendous leadership. In addition, his friendship and positivity will be greatly missed not only on the athletic side of campus but also on the academic quad.

Looking forward, Miles hopes to run track in college, both indoors and outdoors. Given his success at Belmont Hill, there is no doubt that he will continue to thrive at the collegiate level. Although his time as a runner at Belmont Hill is coming to a close soon, Miles still looks to have a long athletic career ahead of him. The Panel Staff wishes Miles the best in his upcoming track season and in his athletic pursuits at the college level.☐

Squash Season Preview

By William Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill squash team, coming off their fourth consecutive ISL title-winning season, is looking to have another successful campaign. This year’s captain is Leighton Calhoun ’25. On December 2nd, the team travels to Brooks to compete in the Jackson Tournament, before playing at home against Phillips Andover on December 6.

Coach Brownell’s hopes for the season are to win another ISL title and make a splash in the national circuit. The team was on the bubble of the top 16 teams nationally last year, which is considered Division I.

The team is young but is showing lots of potential. Belmont Hill’s squash team has dominated the ISL

since the beginning of the league, but Mr. Brownell points out that this year Milton and Tabor should offer some good competition.

Belmont Hill has had a relatively low turnover from last season, as just three seniors graduated, including captain Aaron Green ’23. The team will be headed by veterans Leighton Calhoun ’25, Jai Karande ’25, Hayden Okurowski ’25, Angus Harrison ’24, and Griffin Calhoun ’26.

Mr. Brownell said, “I think that the team will be very successful if everybody commits to making each other better in practice. I believe that having a successful team will take sustained hard work this year, but that this team definitely has a high ceiling.” The Panel Staff wishes Coach Brownell and the entire Varsity Squash team good luck with their season! ☐

Wrestling Season Kicks Off

By Brady Paquette ’25 & Gavin Zug ’25 Panel Staff

Over the years, wrestling has become a staple of Belmont Hill athletics. And every year, goals seem to become expectations which seem to become realities, this year being no different. Leading the team for the 2023-24 season will be three seniors: Haden Bottiglieri ’24, Will Stewart ’24, and Cord Vallis ’24. Along with an amazing coaching staff full of Belmont Hill alumni and highly successful wrestlers in their own right, the team welcomes coach Bryce Anderson ’19, a former Belmont Hill wrestler, to the squad.

With the annual Germantown tournament in the rearview mirror, the team is ready for ISL Season to start back up. After leading the team for over fifty years, Mr. Bradley is excited about both the returners and some of the newer boys. When asked about the expectations for the year after coming off

one of the best seasons in Belmont Hill wrestling history, Mr. Bradley states, “Our expectations are pretty much the same every year: to get better, to maintain the tradition of camaraderie, and to win.” Looking towards the end of the winter, Mr. Braldey also mentions that success at the Graves Kelsey Tournament, New England Tournament, and the National Prep Tournament are all

goals as well. After sending many Belmont Hill wrestlers to the All-American podium each year, he is confident that this year will be no different.

This year, the boys also look forward to getting to know one another and forming bonds all across the team—ranging from Brody Sayers ’28 wrestling at 106 lbs to Ford Webb ’25 wrestling at 285 lbs. The cohesive dy -

namic across the team seems to stem from the older boys helping to mentor some of the younger guys, both on and off the mat. Family always seems to be a recurring theme that the wrestling team embodies to the fullest. Looking towards the more important matters, many are excited for the redesigning of new singlettes: a chance to show the ISL who has the best swag. Opportunities to wrestle at Harvard, wrestling against Blair Academy, and hosting the annual ISL tournament excite the team as well. After talking with one of the captains about what he is looking forward to most, Haden Bottiglieri mentions, “I’m super optimistic to see a lot these younger guys who are enthusiastic about the sport.” Haden also talks about the upcoming seasons after he graduates and his “optimism in the team’s success in the coming years.” The Panel wishes the team good luck for the upcoming season and cannot wait to see the success that lies ahead. ☐

Miles Sandoski Adams Richins

Belmont Hill Varsity Wrestling

Adam Richins

Michigan Sign Stealing Scandal Sparks Controversy

By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff

The Michigan Wolverines, who currently hold an undefeated record of 11-0 as well as boasting the third best NCAA football team across the nation and a huge win over Ohio State, have faced an ongoing scandal that questions the character of the team itself.

The issue centers around coach Jim Harbaugh, who was recently sentenced to a 3-game suspension by the Big Ten Conference - the league of NCAA football in which Michigan plays. However, more punishments in the future may come as some argue that the sentence has not nearly made up for the acts committed by the organization.

While no specific rule in the NCAA guidelines prohibits the deciphering of signals of different teams, recording signals or in-person advanced scouting has been restricted for nearly three decades. Allegations against Michigan accuse the team of purchasing tickets and sending people to record and scout teams throughout their games. The team was also accused of using monetary rewards for those who did attend and scout games.

Multiple pictures have surfaced on social media, including a photo of a staff member at a game on September 1st, dressed up in the opponent’s

gear. Although Michigan has suspended the staff member identified in the photo, the NCAA and many coaches of Big Ten schools are still pushing for more penalties for the team.

NCAA commissioner Tony Petitti has headed the investigation for the past few months, and now awaits word from a judge to find out whether the penalty will stand or not. Michigan argues that the commissioner has “no right” to suspend Harbaugh, especially when the investigation has not yet been com -

pleted. Furthermore, the team claims that many other schools within the Big Ten Conference have been stealing signs by similar means. While Michigan waits for the issue to be resolved in the presence of a judge, its players have spoken out against the NCAA’s penal -

ties and protested in numerous ways. Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy received online attention after wearing a shirt that said “Free Harbaugh.”

The organization of Michigan has also declared that they will take the

issue to court if necessary and “100% back up” coach Harbaugh and the staff.

Will Hennigar ’26 noted that Michigan did break the rules and that coach Jim Harbaugh “has not been punished enough for his actions” - a popular take among many viewers of college football. Ethan Ho ’26 also proposed the idea that teams should simply be able to communicate with their coaches through helmets as the NFL has been doing for the past few decades. The student argued that this change would stop the issue of sign-stealing entirely while letting teams play at a “higher level.”

Whether Jim Harbaugh is ultimately banned from coaching college football or not, the sign-stealing scandal will go down as a monumental event in the NCAA. In the coming months, a judge will make a decision that would either release Michigan from the allegations or possibly tear down all of its achievements. Either way, avid college football fans should be sure to monitor the situation closely, especially in the coming months.☐

Hockey Season Preview

By William Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill hockey team is looking to have another successful season and win the ISL for the third year in a row. This year, the team will be led by captain Jake McManus ’24. Before their first game against Nobles on December 3rd, the team had four scrimmages against St. Sebastian’s, Upper Canada College, Proctor, and Brunswick. When asked about the team’s expectations for the season, Coach Phinney stated, “My hope for the season is that everyone gets better every day. I already see a coachable group that wants to work hard.” This year, 45 kids tried out for the team, with only 7 non-returners making it. Nine seniors graduated last year, all guys who had a tremendous impact on the team. Coach Phinney

says “This year, the team will have to play as a strong, cohesive unit to find success.” Some returners who will step up to be leaders this year include seniors Lucca Micciche ’24, Ben Hack ’24, Steve Kilcoyne ’24, and Marico Beshere ’24, along with juniors Grayson Cohen ’25, Jack Duffy ’25, Evan Dresser ’25, Andrew Waugh ’25, Jin Lee ’25, and Mikey Sullivan ’25. Mr. Phinney expressed “In order for the team to be successful this year, they will need to be a selfless group with a high compete level.” Following multiple incredibly successful years under Coach Phinney, the 2023-2024 Varsity Hockey team has some hefty expectations on their shoulders. Despite this the Panel Staff is confident in captain Jake McManus ’24 and the entire team. The Panel Staff wishes the entire Varsity Hockey and Coach Phinney good luck with their season! ☐

Wembanyama Starts Strong

By Justin Li ’26 Panel Staff

On Friday, April 21st, Victor Wembanyama declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. He was extremely hyped up and called a generational talentsome even compared him to LeBron James and predicted Wembanyama to be a future NBA Hall of Famer. However, considering all the praise directed towards him before the season began, it seems that his performance so far is disappointing. Jackson Hurd 26’ encapsulated his play this season to be “not at an all-star level…but [people] had unreal expectations [for him].”

Wembanyama so far has averaged 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game; the 45th, 15th, and 6th best in the league, respectively. Fortunately for his fans and the San Anto -

nio Spurs, Victor hasn’t missed a single game yet due to injury; unfortunately, said Spurs are currently last in the Western Conference with a less-than-stellar record of 2-14, who are on a 12-game loss streak. The 7-foot-4 center put up 38 points in San Antonio’s win against the Phoenix Suns on November 2nd.

Victor Wembenyama has been subject to head-to-head comparison with many players in the league - one interesting head-to-head is with him and fellow rookie center Chet Holmgren (who missed almost the entirety of his first season due to injury). Overall, Wembanyama “has the potential,” said Jackson, “but needs a little refining.” If Wembanyama is able to stay in relatively good health for the remainder of his career and is able to develop is few week spots his future is bright.☐

College Basketball Season Ramping Up

By Ben Adams ’25 & Christopher McEvoy ’25 Panel Staff

The offseason for college basketball was packed with big transfers and new freshmen who could make an immediate impact on their respective teams. First off is center Hunter Dickinson who, after a few years at Michigan, is now at Kansas. This impacts the Kansas basketball program hugely as the modern college basketball game is mainly carried by star Centers, the tallest position on the court. Guard Caleb Love has also transferred from the University of North Carolina to Arizona this off-season which, combined with big man Oumar Ballo, has brought great spacing to this offense, propelling them to a hot start including a win against Duke. Thirdly, Max Abmas, who is known for leading Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16 as a 15-seed two years ago, is

now on Texas. As for the freshmen, the main talk has been about the University of Southern California’s Isaiah Collier who has come out to a hot start alongside Boogie Ellis. His scoring abilities make USC an instant contender. After a disappointing last couple of years, Kentucky has gotten three highly touted freshmen: Rob Dillingham, DJ Wagner, and Justin Edwards. These players make an intriguing case for Kentucky to be looked at as a national title contender. Lastly, Ja’Kobe Walter of Baylor is having a tremendous season so far and is somebody to look at as a difference-maker deep into this season. Kansas led off the year as the number-one ranked team in the country, and for good reason. As previously mentioned, Hunter Dickinson can make anybody a contender. He has averaged over 18 points per game 3 seasons in a row. Plus, Kansas also has Dajuan Harris, Jr.; Kevin McCullar, Jr.; and KJ Adams, Jr. all returning from last year’s 1-seed

team. We see anything other than a top 4 finish as a disappointment for Kansas this year. Purdue returns with a very similar roster to last year, mainly 7’4 Zach Edey who was dominant last year. After getting upset by 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in last year’s tournament, We unfortunately see a similar path for the Boilermakers this year. We see them finishing the year as probably a 2-seed, then getting eliminated from the tournament early. Marquette, like Purdue, brought back their entire core–notably Tyler Kolek (last year’s Big East conference Player of the Year), Kameron Jones, Oso Ighodaro, and David Joplin. Michigan State was also a preseason favorite, although they have had a shaky start to the season. We suspect they will earn about a 3 or 4 seed, and then surprise everyone with a deep run in the tournament because of their experience and top-tier coaching.Finally, you can’t talk about favorites without mentioning the defending champs, UConn.

The Huskies lost their two best players, Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, this offseason, but other veterans–like Tristan Newton and Alex Karaban–have stepped up to keep UConn a top10 team. We think UConn will have another successful year and will have a good shot to go far in the tournament.

Out of all these teams, our pick to win the tournament is Duke. They have veterans like Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, and Kyle Filipowski–and new additions like Jared McCain.

Although the Blue Devils had an early loss to Arizona, We think they will get it back and potentially win the national title. When asked for his title favorite, Ryan Pohl ’25 said, “Creighton because they have two really good guards and center Ryan Kalkbrenner.” Overall this looks to be a very exciting college basketball season. ☐

University of Michigan Sign Stealing

Google Images

Messi Wins Ballon d’Or

By Henry Buckley Jones ’25 Panel Staff

On October 30th, Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami) won the 8th Ballon d’Or of his career, the most a single player has ever won. The Ballon d’Or is an individual award given to the player who is deemed to have been the best player in the world throughout the most recent season. The rankings are determined by journalists, captains, and coaches from around the world who vote for who they think are the top five best players from the most recent season.

The final rankings included Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City) at 2nd, Kylian Mbappé (France, Manchester City) at 3rd, Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City) at 4th, and Rodri (Spain, Manchester City) at 5th.

Messi’s achievements included winning the World Cup with Argentina while being the 2nd top scorer and Player of the Tournament, as well as winning Ligue 1 with PSG. Although Haaland broke many goalscoring records in the process of winning the treble (Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup), many deemed Mes -

si’s achievements as more impressive. Mbappé, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final against Messi’s Argentina and finished top scorer, said, “Messi deserves it. If he wins the World Cup, he has to win the Ballon d’Or. He is one of the best in history, if not the best.” However, with opposing opinions, Cotter Healey ’26 said, “I think that Messi did have a great run in the World Cup, but [the Ballon d’Or] should not be decided by one tournament; it’s for the whole season, and Haaland had a better season. Both players deserved it, but Haaland should have won it.”

Sharing a similar view, Henry Buckley-Jones ’25 said, “Messi did well in the World Cup, but considering Haaland’s achievements in everything else, I think he should’ve won.” It’s clear the interntional soccer competition has arisen in the past so many years, highlighting how difficult it is to obtain such an award such the Ballon d’Or.

Overall, despite some levels of controversy, Messi is still very deserving of the award. Haaland should have plenty more opportunities in his stillyoung career to achieve more awards.☐

Belmont Hill Basketball

By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff

Belmont Hill Varsity Basketball has a lot to look forward to this season. Last year a talented young team ended the year with a disappointing 11-14 record. But a past of excellence will hopefully prove a different outcome this season. Last year, a strong sophomore core gained experience and emerged as strong players and solid leaders.

Captains Isaiah Langham ’25 and Will Yakoobian ’24 will look to lead the team this year. 3rd-year players, Giacomo Kaplan ’25 and Jamari Robinson ’25 are other elite players who look to lead this rising team. In previous seasons, Kaplan has torched defenses with his rangeless three-pointer and effortless passing matching Robinson’s elite ball handling and decisive defense.

When asked about this upcoming season, junior returner Ben Adams ’25 said, “Every boy on the team has been working extensively over the off-season. Last year we didn’t get the results we wanted but this is a new year and

we’re excited to finally put our hard work to the test.” When asked about what has changed for this season, he stated, “Coaches Cofield, West, and Baker have all emphasized Belmont Hill culture and how we need to bring energy and commitment to every game and practice. This has motivated us to work hard and have fun while doing it.” The team was very successful in their Beantown Slam preseason league finishing 10-0 and winning the entire tournament. They are determined to carry on that winning mentality through this season. The basketball program has plenty to prepare for this year as they look to build and improve upon last year’s stellar season. ☐

Alpine Skiing Starts Season

By Bradford Adams ’26 Panel Staff

Coming off a disappointing 202223 season, the Belmont Hill Alpine Ski team looks to start fresh. After winning the ISL title the year before, the team had high hopes, but a lack of snow and training meant the team got off to a slow start. However, after fighting through the middle of the season, the team went into the final race with a great chance to clinch the ISL championship once again. After the first run, Belmont Hill was in pole position and looked poised to once again win the ISL. However, disaster struck on the second run and after several key DNFs, the team lost out on the title and ended up finishing 2nd.

Despite the frustrating result, the team this year is looking to make a comeback with another ISL title. Under new head coach Mr. Creedon, and with new captains Nathan Pappas ’24 and Vince

Mezzanotte ’25, the team is optimistic.

This season, the squad looks to be defined by its younger talent, with sophomores Griffin Vail ’26 and Topher Batchelder ’26 being two of the teams most outstanding talents, as well as Charlie Crowley ’25, who capped off an outstanding season last year with a spot on the All ISL team. The team’s energy was expressed by Captain Vince Mezzanotte ’25, stating, “I’m hungry. I’m famished. We have to eat. We have to win every race and win the ISL.” Coach Trautz expressed similar sentiments, stating, “I think we have a very good team this year, and I think we could have a great season and win it this year.”

Time will tell whether the Alpine Ski team can bring home another championship this year, but the athletes will most certainly be up to any challenge that stands in their way. The Panel Staff wishes the Alpine Ski Team good luck with their season! ☐

Bruins & Celtics Hot Start

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

After multiple decades of complete domination, Boston sports have regressed in some aspects. Despite this, the Bruins and the Celtics have had terrific starts to this season and look to be championship contenders. With disappointing seasons for the Patriots and Red Sox, Boston fans now rest their hopes and dreams on hockey and basketball. The Bruins came into this season with expectations of falling back in the standings. Former captain and long-time star Patrice Bergeron retired this past off-season, along with many other pivotal players from last year’s team left in free agency. In the face of this criticism, the Bruins have relied on young talent and veteran leadership to obtain an impressive fourteen wins and four losses as of November 29th. The team is led by star forward David Pasternak and young talent Matthew Poitras. Despite a disappointing loss on November 20th, the team should be in the middle of the race for the Stanley Cup. On the other hand, the expecta -

tion for the Celtics was similar to the past few years. With trades for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingus in the off-season, the Celtics have among the highest odds for a championship title. With these expectations, the team has not disappointed, holding a similar record of fourteen wins and seven losses as of November 29th. Despite the losses, the team has yet to be blown out in a game and has overall looked very competitive. On November 20th, the team suffered perhaps their most frustrating loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a perennial bottom-feeder of the league. Ben Adams ’25 said, “I truly believe that this is the Celtics year, and we will see them raise their 18th banner. They have perhaps the most complete team they have had in years and I believe in Joe Mazulla as our head coach. In a year with almost no prep time he led us to the Eastern Conference Finals and almost won.” With a long season ahead of both teams, nothing is certain, but it seems that Boston sports will be in good hands for the next several months. Hopefully, come June, Boston will raise two new banners at TD Garden. ☐

BH Football Season Review

By William Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff

The varsity football team had a great 2023 campaign, finishing 7-2 and winning the ISL outright. Although they were defeated by Deerfield Academy 27-14 on Saturday, November 18th, in the NEPSAC Danny Smith Bowl, the team battled until the end against one of the top programs in New England. However, this loss does not sour the amazing season this team had.

Belmont Hill convincingly won their last two games of the season, crushing Milton 37-6 on Friday, November 3rd, and beating Governor’s 41-21 the following Saturday to secure the ISL title. Belmont Hill also had the most players in the league (7) win all-ISL honors, consisting of the following boys: Peter Fiumara ’24, Nick Andersen ’24, Finn Fox ’24, Tommy Rupley ’25, Sampson Onuoha ’25, Réis Little ’26, and Marcus Griffin ’26.

Four players also earned ISL honorable mentions, including Luke Travaglini ’24, Nolan Bibbo ’24, Luis

Kuehberger ’25, and Antwane Mills ’26. Pete Fiumara ’24 also won the Souza/Healy ISL Lineman-of-the-Year award. Coach Fulham, one of the many football coaches, gave his thoughts on the season saying, “Everyone worked super hard. The seniors should be proud of all the work they’ve done to turn the program around. I’m fired up to play again next year and use the Deerfield game as motivation.”

What this team accomplished this year was truly remarkable, especially considering that a preseason poll had the team finishing 8th out of the 16 teams in the ISL. The team has made the entire Belmont Hill community proud and will hopefully continue to excel next season.

The Panel congratulates the Varsity Football team on an amazing season and with next year’s captains being Jordan Summers ’25, Myles Beckett ’25, and Luis Kuehberger ’25, the community cannot wait to see what they have in store for next year.☐

XC Season Recap

By Eita Fuse ’26 Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill Cross Country team finished another successful season, with a 10-3 record in dual meet competitions. Coached by Mr. Trautz, Mrs. Gorman, Mr. DeCaprio, and Mr. Harder, the team was also led by captains Miles Sandoski ’24 and Aaron Stanger ’24.

One of the biggest victories for the team came at the beginning of the season during the the Bobcat Invitational meet in Lee, NH. At championship meets the team finished 3rd in the ISL meet, losing to Roxbury Latin by a tiebreaker, and came in 4th at the NEPSTA Division 1 meet in a very competitive race.

The JV team also proved to be equally robust this year, showcasing the depth of the squad. As well as having a 12-1 dual meet record, they also won the aforementioned Bobcat Invitation -

al and ISL meets in the JV race. At the NEPSTA championship meet, the team finished 3rd behind two very strong opponents to cap off an impressive season.

Several members of the team received awards for their performances in the championship meets: Will Trautz ’27 finished 3rd as well as captain Miles Sandoski ’24 finishing 13th in the ISL race, both winning All-League honors. Nate Voss ’24 finished 21st and was rewarded with an All-League Honorable Mention. Meanwhile, at the NEPSTA race, Will Trautz ’27 ran his way to 11th place and earned All-New England honors while Henry Buckley-Jones ’25 (23rd place), Miles Sandoski ’24 (33rd place), and Nate Voss ’24 (36th place), all won All-New England Honorable Mentions.

The Panel Staff congratulates the Belmont Hill Cross Country team for a wonderful season and wishes them luck for the seasons to come.☐

A Continuation of Tradition: The Men’s Choral Festival

By TZ Snail ’26 Panel Staff

The Men’s Choral Festival, a tradition held by Roxbury Latin, Catholic Memorial, and Belmont Hill, was successfully reestablished after almost a 3-year break due to COVID. PreCOVID, Belmont Hill, Roxbury Latin, and Catholic Memorial recognized a singing tradition that took place at the beginning of November. Hosted by RL, the night consisted of various arrangements of songs, ranging from church to pop. Due to a lasting friendship between Mr. Patterson and Roxbury Latin and Catholic Memorial’s chorus directors, this tradition has remained running.

The event was held in Roxbury Latin’s Rousmaniere Hall, an elaborate space furnished with a lower and upper deck for chairs, and an organ to the left of the stage. The antique room displayed its rich history through a shiny, ashbrown interior. Upon arriving, an assistant led the B-Flats to a warm-up room where Brother P’s energy and motivation readied the boys for their big night.

The first group to sing was Catholic Memorial’s 8-man Chorale, performing an array of church songs, harmonizing through solos and backgrounds. Soon after came the B-Flats, with matching bow ties and an ecstatic jump to their steps. “Bringing life to the party,” the B-flats started strong with Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon,”

featuring Riley Marth ’27. Riley’s expressive and uplifting solo set the tone for what the B-Flats had in store. After a long applause, the Flats’ performance of “I’m a Believer” with Henry Hagedorn ’25 as a soloist led the audience to incorporate a clapping rhythm. The

garitaville,” the Flats’ dedication to his recent passing. Through Brady Palladino ’26 and Thomas Danahy’s ’26 electric solos, and the well-known “wasted away again in Margaritaville” chorus, the audience joined in with the performance. Both singing and illuminating

song ended, once again, with a round of applause. The next piece, “I Open My Mouth,” allowed the boys to exemplify their own talents in harmonizing and singing in a canon. The interchanging pitches and Brother P’s conducting created a heartwarming experience. Second to last came Jimmy Buffett’s “Mar-

the room with their phone’s flashlights, the crowd encouraged the Flats to sing more expressively and created an unreal experience. To end their performance, the Flats looked to “Good Ole Acapella,” and presented it, as the title entails, without reinforcement from the piano. Going off of their brothers’ voic -

es, the Flats intertwined the melodic and euphonious melodies of the upbeat song, receiving a standing ovation and a memorable Brother P. holler. Walking back to their seats, the boys could see the proud and delighted expressions on their friends and families’ faces.

Following the lively performance of the B-Flats came the 100+ student Roxbury Latin Glee Club. Blowing the Belmont Hill boys away with their immense size, the Glee Club performed a variety of pieces similar to those sung by the Chorale. With the incorporation of Scottish and Hebrew folk songs, traditional spiritual songs, and even a showing of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” the night still held one more song. “River in Judea,” a song with many underlining interpretations, seemed best fit to end the wonderful night for all three groups. As both RL and CM are Catholic schools, the Flats spent the time to learn the piece and joined in with RL’s Glee Club, and CM’s Chorale for the finale. Barely fitting on the stage, the boys from all three schools followed the conductor’s movements as the harmony from the tenors and baritones weaved into the basses. The melodies lifted the spirits of everyone and when the song ended, the acclamation of the crowd brought joy and exhilaration to all the performers; as a parent from another school put it: “I wish I could experience it again.” ☐

The Fall Concert: An Extraodinary Night for the Arts

By David Luo ’25 and Ethan Xie ’26 Panel Staff

From classical orchestral pieces to modern pop songs and from Bruno Mars to Miles Davis, various Belmont Hill performing arts groups showcased their musical talents with this year’s annual fall concert on November 7th.

The concert began with a spectacular performance from the B-Flats and Mr. Patterson. The first piece was a solo rendition of “Fly Me To the Moon” by Bart Howard piece sung by Riley Marth ’27. Next, the B-Flats altogether sang “I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond, which featured solos from both Henry Hagedorn ’25 and Myles Beckett ’25. Afterwards, the B Flats performed “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett and “I Open My Mouth” by Raymond Wise, and to close they sang “Pompeii” by

Bastille which shook the whole chapel.

After the B Flats was the orchestra and their performance of “Basile’s Galop” by Basile Bares, arranged by Jef-

frey S. Bishop which featured a solo from Yareh Constant ’25. Next was “Capriccio Espagnol” by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov arranged by Sarah Dackow.

The Middle School Jazz Band performed afterward, and despite being lower in numbers was able to put on an amazing performance. Their performance of “Blued By Five” by Miles Davis featured solos from Ryan Ho ’28, Ben Qin ’29, and Roger Zhang ’29. They then performed “So Nice” by Marcos Valle featuring a solo from Marco Pena ’28. The final performance of the concert was by the Upper School Jazz Band and their performance of “Treasure” by Bruno Mars which featured a solo from Brandon Li ’26 on the alto saxophone. The last piece was “Blues Walk” by Clifford Brown and featured solos from Alex Zhang ’26, Henry Amenhauser ’26, TZ Snail ’26, Carson Yoo ’26, and Jake Ma ’27. Overall this concert was a huge success and many props should be given to Ms. Allen on her inaugural Belmont Hill concert. ☐

November Artist of the Issue: Daniel Xie ’24

By Ethan Xie ’26 Panel Staff

Daniel Xie ’24 has paved a new route for Belmont Hill Art. This can be most clearly seen in his drawing of Rome hanging boastfully in Upper Melvoin and demonstrating his immense love and skill in the displine. Daniel creates art through both drawing and photography.

From a young age, art fascinated Daniel. As time has gone on, he has learned to appreciate the fine details, which are often missed in different mediums. Daniel expressed that he “learned to understand that photography is more than just sunset and lifestyle pictures.” Daniel finds art to be interpretive, with many different visions; he believes that art can’t have boundaries, and is only an expression of the artist.

Due to his expertise in photography and drawing, he has accumulated a list of awards consisting of:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (National Gold Medel, 2020), Congressional Art Competition (Honorable Mentional, 2021), and Celebrating Art Contest (High Merit, 2022).

When asked about the impact of art on his life, he simply stated, “art has transformed my overall perception of life. It has taught me that expressing my inner feelings and thoughts can be harder than it looks, but definitely a worthwhile experience. I hope that my art can impact its viewers as much as I intended it to.” Art has shaped Daniel in many ways which have directly impacted his life. His art allows for him to truly express himself and is another route for self-discovery. As a senior, he hopes to “create at least one more piece as a way to end my legacy here at Belmont Hill.” The Panel praises Daniel for his outstanding artistic expression, and wishes him the best of luck in any future endeavors.

The B-Flats Performing at Roxbury Latin Belmont Hill Parent Photographer

Daniel Xie’s ’24 Illustration of Rome in Melvoin

Daniel Xie Website

Orchestra Performing at Fall Concert

Adam Richins

This Sceptered Isle: A Resounding Success

By Will Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff

Three weeks ago, the Upper School performed This Sceptered Isle, a production written and directed by Mr. Conway. The play follows the journey of an island-marooned prince, who has just become king after the death of his father in a shipwreck. The prince is accompanied by a spirit as he traverses the mysterious island, meets its inhabitants and king, and slowly comes to terms with the loss of his father and his position in the new world he finds himself in. T.J. Cannistraro ’24 played the leading role with J.P. Fernandez del Castillo ’25 playing the accompanying spirit . The rest of the cast was comprised of Julian Boutin ’24 playing the king of the Isle and Jack Lehrman ’24, Boston Ezedi ’26, Stephen Agular ’25, Thomas Folan ’25 and Will Achtmeyer ’26 acting in various supporting roles.

The year before the production, Mr. Conway had hoped to direct a play that would introduce students to the works of Shakespeare, but thought that a full Shakespeare play seemed impractical. Given that there was a shortage of short Shakespeare-inspired plays, Mr. Conway decided to write his own. Over the summer, he compiled scenes from various Shakespeare plays and developed an original piece. He said that “most of Shakespeare’s plays had to do with magical islands or for-

ests,” and so, those aspects served as inspiration for the location of This Sceptered Isle. After that, he said, “the rest of the story sort of fell into place.”

The set, assembled by Mr. Capelli, and costuming, put together by Ms. Michelle, included some incredible visual components, including an all white background, contrasted with characters in both solid color (inhabitants of the Isle) and Elizabethan costumes (shipwrecked crew). Mr. Conway explained that the purpose of this was to “display the interplay between the ‘historical version’ of Shakespeare and modern, artistic versions that often include visual minimalism (solid color costumes).”

At 40 minutes long, This Sceptered Isle expertly explored themes of loss and acceptance while also incorporating some classic Shakespearean humor to lighten the mood. Combined with incredibly engaging visual components, the production provided an entertaining and heartfelt experience for viewers. ☐

The Library: Will Achtmeyer ’26 Debuts as Director

By Davis Woolbert ’25 and Adrian Tan ’25 Panel Staff

In a chilling cinematic display, Form IV student Will Achtmeyer ’26 recently unveiled his Halloween-themed video to the Belmont Hill community during the annual Boo Chapel, leaving students and teachers alike captivated and haunted by the mysterious narrative.

Inspired by a mundane moment in the library, Achtmeyer ’26 said that his motivation for the project first was sparked by a simple sound outside the door, which, even though he knew it was nothing, prompted the thought: “What if it was something?”

The video, a short horror film, revolves around the protagonist, Randy, and takes a dark turn that leaves viewers in suspense. Achtmeyer ’26 explained that the ambiguous ending was intentional-

ly crafted to leave the audience guessing. The narrative loops back to the inciting incident, where Randy hears a bump in the library bathroom, triggering his mental deterioration and eventually leading to a fatal encounter. The open-ended conclusion challenges its viewers to reflect on whether they would acknowledge or ignore an ominous situation in their own lives.

When asked about directorial influences, Achtmeyer ’26 pointed to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, particularly drawing inspiration from its portrayal of mental deterioration. The homage extended to the font used in the video’s title, reminiscent of the iconic text displayed in The Shining However, Achtmeyer ’26 admitted that while he was inspired by Kubrick, other influences may have seeped in during the creative process. Achtmeyer ’26 identified his “trademark” in the video as the liminal shots of the school, capturing blank moments that

added a chilling atmosphere to the narrative. Acknowledging the learning curve of the filming experience, he expressed a desire for better preparation and planning for future productions, highlighting the need for pre-production organization to streamline the process and minimize improvisa-

tion during filming. In a gracious nod to collaborators, Achtmeyer ’26 would like to thank Mr. DiResta and Mr. Duarte for supplying the cameras, Jayden Chen ’26 for his filming contributions, and the dedicated actors who brought the chilling tale to life. ☐

Orchestra and Upper School Jazz Band Update

By Benjamin Gong ’26 Panel Staff

Ms. Allen currently directs many of the Belmont Hill ensembles, including Orchestra, Middle and Upper School Jazz Bands, and Rock Band. She has worked closely with these groups and made great progress this year– showcased in the Fall Concert, which Ms. Allen deemed “a huge success” for the Jazz Ensembles. The orchestra will be learning film score music soon (with a live scene). Some more good news for the Jazz Band is that the push for Belmont Hill’s first-ever Jazz Festival in March was approved. When asked about some goals for the Jazz Band, Ms. Allen said, “My focus is on preparing the group to meet our sort of unspoken goal to rock the house at BH Jazz Fest in March!” This Jazz Festival will involve many other New England private schools and

possibly some public schools and will take place on Saturday, March 30th.

Furthermore, Ms. Allen says that her favorite part of Upper School Jazz is “the joy we collectively experience in that class. The excitement I see when the band nails a new concept or piece for the first time is one of the best feelings I could ever ask to experience. I truly have so much fun working with them, listening to them, and watching them grow and learn.” Brandon Li ’26, saxophonist and leading soloist in the Jazz Band, said, “I think the energy this year has been great so far. I’m excited to see how the Jazz Festival in March goes.” Her favorite aspects of the orchestra are the wide spectrum of ages and the energy and positivity that the musicians bring– “It’s really amazing to have a setting where the entire spectrum of BH students gets together, especially for something as collaborative as Orchestra.” Ms. Allen hopes to continue to make progress in each ensemble while continuing to help broaden students’ horizons.☐

T.J. Cannistraro ’24 (left) and Julian Boutin ’24 (right) Performing at Upper School Play Edward Monigan

Andrew Bittner ’24 (left) and Babikir Saeed ’26 (right) in Jazz Band Adam Richins

Boston Ezedi ’26 in Scene from “The Library” Will Achtmeyer

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